Author: Momo Chan

My boyfriend, David Huber, was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I worked three jobs to help him, but one day, I accidentally overheard a conversation between him and his doctor. “You’re letting Ella Jefferson and Alyssa Lyons get too close, aren’t you worried she’ll find out you’re faking it? And that you plan to run back to Thalwell and marry Ella?” the doctor asked. David’s voice sounded weak. “Ella’s family went bankrupt. If I don’t marry her, she’ll be sold off as a mistress. But I’ve always loved only Alyssa. “I’ve already proposed to Alyssa,” he continued, “Before I leave, I’ll give her an unforgettable wedding and enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life. So keep your mouth shut. I’ll handle everything.” I felt a chill run through me. I raised my hand and listed the wedding ring for sale on a secondhand platform. If this marriage was destined to be incomplete and short-lived, then I’d rather not keep it. Their conversation pierced my heart like a needle. I touched the money I had saved up from working, and all the hope I had vanished. Ever since David’s diagnosis, I’d been working triple shifts to raise money for his treatment, only to find out it was all a lie. Thalwell’s heir didn’t need my money. This was just his excuse to leave me. But why not tell me the truth? Why keep this from me? Before I could come to an answer, the nurse came to change David’s bandages. “Ms. Lyons, you’re here to see your boyfriend? He’s looking better lately. I suppose even the heavens don’t want to break up a couple in love,” the nurse remarked. I smiled awkwardly, but bitterness flooded my chest. David had always been so kind to me. Even lying in a hospital bed, he would make little things to cheer me up, telling me more than once, “Alyssa, my illness can’t be cured. You should keep the money for yourself. Don’t waste it on me.” I naively thought he was just trying not to burden me, and worked even harder to save more, hoping I could make him live even one more day. Everyone around us was moved by our love, sighing at the fact that we couldn’t end up together. But who could have guessed? All of this was just an act David put on to leave me. I opened the door for the nurse, only to see a woman lying in the other bed. It was Ella, resting with noise-canceling headphones on. When she saw us, the doctor subtly woke her up. Ella awkwardly took off her headphones, apologizing. “Alyssa, don’t misunderstand. I noticed you weren’t at the hospital last night, so I came to help take care of David. He’s in bad shape, and he needs someone by his side.” Ella had started appearing in David’s social circle a week before his cancer diagnosis. At the time, I thought of David’s friends as my friends, and I treated her like a sister. Now I realized perhaps that was when they had already planned this whole escape. The day before, when David proposed to me, I couldn’t sleep, imagining how our future would be. We’d have a beautiful life together, raise a child full of love… but the next day, David told me he only had one month left to live. My dream was shattered before I even woke up. Ella needed him, and he immediately went to her side. Meanwhile, I had to endure the despair of losing my loved one alone. I fought back tears and smiled awkwardly. “How could I misunderstand? Since you’re here, I’ll go back to work. Please take care of David for me.” I turned to leave, but David grabbed my hand, asking helplessly, “Alyssa, aren’t you staying longer? I really miss you. Don’t you want to make more memories with me?” He looked at me pleadingly. I trembled as I pulled my hand away and gently touched his face. “Don’t say things like that. We still have countless months to be together, right?” David didn’t answer right away. He just kissed my palm over and over. Was he so unwilling to even lie to me?

Ella couldn’t hold back anymore, noticing we were still lingering. She spoke up, “David, don’t you have an appointment for an examination soon? Shouldn’t we get going?” She even winked at the doctor standing nearby. “Oh, right,” David reluctantly pulled away from me, looking impatiently at the doctor. “How come I didn’t know about this?” “Oh, David, you’ve been through so much with your treatments. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of these things for you,” Ella said, affectionately linking her arm with David’s and helping him get up. David was half-dragged, half-assisted by Ella and the doctor toward the door. He turned back one last time, anxiously asking me, “Alyssa, aren’t you coming with me for the check-up?” I wiped my hands discreetly and smiled, reassuring him, “You’re in good hands with Ella and the doctor. I still have some work to finish. I’ll head off now.” As I turned to leave, walking in the opposite direction, the tears I’d been holding back streamed down my face. Years of love had deeply embedded themselves in my heart, and now, it felt like I was digging out pieces of myself, piece by piece. I could hear David struggling behind me, but when I looked back, I saw him quietly letting Ella smooth his hair. I felt rooted to the spot, unable to move. I stood there, torturing myself by watching them laugh together, disappearing from my sight. Was this really all just to help Ella avoid being sold off to another man? Was their relationship really just friendship? The answer seemed clear. David must have spent so much time, energy, and money on that wedding ring for me. When I returned to my rented apartment just three hours later, I noticed that the ring had already attracted a lot of attention. A kind girl told me that the value of the ring was far higher than the five thousand dollars I had listed it for. If I didn’t want to lose too much, I could have it appraised at a high-end jewelry store. I played with the ring, my mind drifting back to the time when David had given it to me. “Alyssa, I made this ring myself. But the stone, I had it set by someone else,” David had said, holding my right hand gently. He carefully ran his fingers over the simple band with the dark green gem on my finger. I remembered what he’d said. “Alyssa, I know you’ve had a hard time with me these years. But I promise you, one day I’ll make sure you live a good life.” His eyes, sparkling like a puppy’s, gazed at me earnestly, making those words seem more believable. The next day, I took the ring to a high-end mall in the city center. Everything in the store was priced so high I could lose everything I owned just by walking in. The staff at the jewelry counter examined the ring. “The stone is really valuable. From the color and quality, I’d say it’s worth around 300 thousand dollars.” I stood by the counter, feeling awkward as I waited for the appraiser. Despite preparing myself, I was still shocked by the price. Three hundred thousand dollars, more than I had earned from three jobs combined. I had the staff remove the stone and sold it to them on the spot, keeping only the plain band. As expected of a high-end store, the money was transferred to my account immediately. As I was preparing to leave, I saw Ella at another counter, browsing jewelry and talking on the phone. “David, you got that 300 thousand dollars stone for Alyssa. How about buying me some jewelry too?” Ella’s voice was sweet and playful. I couldn’t hear David’s reply, but I saw Ella hang up the phone and proceed to buy all the jewelry she had picked out, happily swiping her card. “Got everything, thanks, Mr. Huber,” she cooed as she sent him a voice message, her voice dripping with affection. “All for two million dollars.” I felt a bitterness rise in my chest. When I was with David, spending two hundred dollars at once felt extravagant. Now, Ella was spending two million as if it were nothing. Without thinking, I walked back to the staff and handed them the cash in my pocket. “Can you ask that lady over there if she’d be interested in buying my stone? I think it would suit her.” The staff took the stone over to Ella. She immediately commented, “Oh, can you set this stone into a ring for me? I’ll take it. I’ll come pick it up in a few days.” Ella, the well-mannered young lady, could easily recognize the value of the stone at a glance. I couldn’t help but imagine how David would react when he saw that same stone on Ella’s finger.

After leaving the jewelry store, I impulsively ordered a lot of food. The dishes I usually loved now felt stuck in my throat, hard to swallow. I kept stuffing food into my mouth. The day I first met David, I had just watched my last relative get cremated. I wandered aimlessly down the street, holding the urn when suddenly, a teddy bear blocked my way. “You look so sad. My hugs have magical powers. They can bring you luck. Want to try?” Without thinking, I buried my face in the teddy bear’s chest. Feeling the rhythmic pats on my back, I couldn’t hold back my tears, and I cried out loud. When I finally calmed down, the costume was soaked with my tears. “Such a lovely girl should smile more. It looks better on you.” David took off the headpiece, revealing his handsome face. We exchanged contact details, and over time, our feelings grew uncontrollably strong. “Alyssa, the moment I saw you in that teddy bear costume, I couldn’t take my eyes off you,” David said, his face and ears turning bright red, yet he stared at me intently. “I like you! Will you give me a chance to be your future support?” Years later, he truly kept his promise. But it didn’t change the fact that in his heart, Ella might have always come before me. Memories rushed back, and tears poured from my eyes. “Do you want a hug? Mom and Dad always say that hugging me makes them feel full of strength!” A little girl in overalls was trying to stand on her tiptoes, using her chubby little hand to wipe away my tears. I choked, my tears flowing harder. “Yes, I need it.” The child in my arms patted my back, just like the teddy bear did back then. Yeah, no one was irreplaceable, and no one must depend on anyone else. I should be my own future support. In the days that followed, we were both busy. David was making calls to arrange our wedding, while Ella was updating David’s situation on Instagram every day. [David ate only a little today.] But in the picture, David didn’t look thin at all. A hand with bright red nails was feeding him soup. And I, with only a few belongings, set off on my journey alone. While David was drafting the invitations, I was at the beach, enjoying the sun and replying to his messages. [I don’t know which invitation style to choose. Ask Ella.] Ella was a great excuse. Whenever David asked me something, I just said: [Ask Ella’s opinion,] and he’d reply with clingy lines like: [Alyssa, I love you,] and [Alyssa, I’m looking forward to that day] before logging off to find Ella. I was looking forward to it too because I couldn’t wait either. On the wedding day, David still didn’t forget to apply some foundation to look more like a sick patient. He eagerly prepared everything, from the high-end wedding dress shipped from abroad to the smallest details like what kind of side dishes to have, everything was carefully planned by him. But when the day arrived, the bride couldn’t be found. The makeup artist and the wedding procession returned empty-handed from our rented apartment. “Mr. Huber, the landlord said Ms. Lyons moved out half a month ago.” David refused to give up, calling me again and again, but each time, no one answered. “Has anyone reached Alyssa yet? Aiden, check her itinerary. I need to know where she went!” He anxiously searched for any news about me while also making arrangements for the guests who had been waiting for a long time. Soon, his assistant, Aiden Malone, found my whereabouts. “Mr. Huber, Ms. Lyons left half a month ago. She’s been changing cities every couple of days. I guess… she’s traveling.” David quickly grabbed the tablet to check my booking information, muttering to himself, “How is this possible? Alyssa can’t just leave me. She accepted my proposal. She promised me…” Just then, Ella walked up to David in a form-fitting mermaid dress, gently comforting him, “Maybe Alyssa doesn’t want to see her lover leave, David. Don’t be too sad.” It was at that moment that David noticed the gem on Ella’s hand. He let the tablet drop, grabbed Ella’s right hand tightly, and glared at her with barely controlled rage in his tone. “Why is this gem on your hand?!”

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On Christmas, my husband’s sister, Evelyn Johnson, and her family asked if they could hitch a ride with me back to their hometown. Without hesitation, I agreed. On the day of the trip, there were five of them, and my car couldn’t fit everyone. Evelyn shamelessly said, “I’ll buy you a bus ticket for the ride back, and my husband can drive the car. Otherwise, we can’t fit everyone in. “We’re family. You can’t make us split up just because you’re an outsider.” I refused, but they simply tried to take my car anyway. So, I called the police. “I need to report a car theft.” This year, my husband, Keith Harding, had his holiday early, so he went home ahead of me. I was stuck working overtime and wouldn’t be heading back until Christmas. Evelyn’s family was also heading home for the holiday and decided to hitch a ride with me. Since they were family, I agreed right away and double-checked with Evelyn, confirming that there would only be four people in total. But when the day came, Evelyn showed up with a colleague tagging along. I looked at the number of people and hesitated. “Evelyn, my car can only fit four people. Five won’t work.” Evelyn didn’t seem concerned. “Oh, it’ll be fine. Your car looks big enough, and we’ll squeeze in. We’ll just hold the two kids,” she said. But it wasn’t about squeezing in. It was about safety and rules. I explained, “Evelyn, my car isn’t allowed to carry that many people. We could get fined for overloading it.” Evelyn’s face soured, and she snapped, “What’s your problem, Cynthia Morgan? Are you worried about saving a few bucks?” I quickly denied, “Evelyn, you’re misunderstanding. I’m just saying it’ll be uncomfortable for all of us with an overloaded car, especially on Christmas.” But Evelyn wasn’t listening. The group just pushed open the car doors and started piling in. Her kids, who were both in elementary school, had grown so fast. Her son was even a bit chubby, and there was no way he could fit. Reluctantly, I tried to find another solution. “Evelyn, there really isn’t enough space. “How about I order another car for you guys? That way, we won’t be cramped.” Evelyn’s colleague suddenly objected, “Taxis are so expensive during the holidays! I can’t afford that.” I was a bit speechless. “I’ll pay for the ride, so let’s not make a fuss.” Just as I was about to book a taxi, Evelyn grabbed my phone out of my hands and refused. “No, I need to talk to my colleague on the way. Let’s keep things as they are.” I was getting irritated. Why were they making this so difficult? But I kept my cool and suggested, “How about your husband take another car?” Evelyn shot that down immediately. “No, he has to stay with me. And my kids need to stay with us too. I can’t let them go separately.” I couldn’t take it anymore. “Ugh, what do you want from me? Are we going home or not? Are we going to have Christmas dinner or not?” Evelyn thought for a moment, then handed my phone back and pulled me aside. “Hey, why don’t you just order a taxi for yourself? We’ll take your car. My husband can drive it.” I was livid, my voice sharp with anger. “Are you serious, Evelyn? You’re saying my own car isn’t good enough for me to drive, and I have to pay for my own ride home?” Evelyn didn’t see the issue. Instead, she pulled out 50 dollars from her bag and handed it to me. “So this whole thing is about money? Here, take fifty bucks, buy a bus ticket, and we’ll use your car.” I was so mad, I almost laughed. How shameless could they be? Since they were acting like this, I wasn’t going to let them get away with it. I tore off the mask and said, “Fine, you want to do this? Get out of my car. Take a bus home. You’re not riding with me anymore.”

When Evelyn and her family heard me, instead of feeling guilty, they turned around and blamed me. “Cynthia, what’s wrong with you? We’re family, and you want to separate us? You’re all alone, just take the bus by yourself,” Evelyn said. How could she even say that? I shot back, “Evelyn, get this straight. This is my car.” Evelyn rolled her eyes. “When you marry someone, you marry everything that comes with them. You married my brother, so everything you have is ours now.” Her husband, Bobby Johnson, chimed in, “Exactly, Cynthia, your car is our family’s car. You’re the only one going back, so just take the bus. We’ll look out for each other.” They were so bold about taking my car and kicking me out of it. It was unbelievable. My anger flared, and I snapped, “My car is mine, and it’s got nothing to do with you! Don’t flatter yourselves. “Anyway, my car can only fit four people, so you can sit or not, it’s up to you.” With that, I slammed the car door shut and was about to leave. But Evelyn blocked the door with her hand, and in the process, she somehow managed to pinch her hand badly. She cried out in pain and ran straight to her husband. Her entire family turned on me, pointing fingers. “Cynthia, what did you do? You hurt Evelyn!” Seeing her hurt, I did feel a little guilty, so I apologized. “Sorry, Evelyn. I didn’t notice your hand when you put it there.” But instead of being grateful, Evelyn turned on me, spitting out, “Cynthia, you’ve been married to my brother for how long, and you still don’t respect me?” Then she grabbed me and pulled at me. “Get out. We’re taking this car.” She really had no shame. I shoved her away. “Evelyn, stop overstepping.” The two kids, seeing the struggle, rushed over and kicked me. “Don’t hurt our mom!” Though they were just kids, their kicks were surprisingly strong, and one hit me hard enough to leave me in pain. I couldn’t take it anymore and shouted at them, “You two uneducated brats, how dare you lay hands on me?” Bobby immediately stepped in, blocking the kids and pulling me out of the car, shouting, “Cynthia, what the hell is your problem?!” I put my hands on my hips and shot back, “If you can’t control your own kids, then it’s up to me to teach them some manners. They’re already learning to hit people at such a young age.” Evelyn stood by, clapping and cheering them on. “Good job! These are my kids, after all. See? Your aunt deserved it. She has no respect.” After hearing their mom’s encouragement, the kids got even bolder. They grabbed me and said, “Get up. Let Dad drive the car.” They were so strong for their size, and I refused to let go of the car, shouting, “Is there no law anymore? This is my car!” Evelyn jumped in to help, and together with the kids, they pulled me out of the car. She shoved me so hard that I landed on the ground, hurting all over. I couldn’t get up. Seizing the chance, the whole group hopped into my car, started it up, and sped off, leaving me sitting there, stunned and in pain.

I stood there, watching my car drive off into the distance, my face burning with anger. Slowly, I managed to get up, feeling pain all over my body. I couldn’t swallow the humiliation, so I dialed the police. “Hello, I need to report a theft. Someone took my car. The license plate is…” The police immediately intercepted the car at a highway exit. Evelyn was completely stunned when they stopped her. After the police explained the situation, she glanced at me, who was standing there with a cold expression. Evelyn’s anger flared up, and in front of the officers, she lunged at me, shouting, “Cynthia, you bitch, how dare you call the police? Don’t you have any conscience? I’ll beat you to death!” Thankfully, the police pulled her away in time. I hid behind the officers and said, “Officers, you saw it, right? They didn’t just steal my car. They tried to hit me.” The police gave Evelyn’s group a stern reprimand. “What do you think you’re doing? You’re trying to hit her right in front of us?” That was enough to calm Evelyn down. She quickly started explaining, “You misunderstood, this is my brother’s wife. We’re all family. Don’t listen to her. She’s just being unreasonable. We’re in a rush to get home. Please let us go.” The police asked, “Is that true?” I nodded and added, “Yes, they’re relatives, but they did steal my car. They dragged me out of the car and even tried to hit me.” I rolled up my sleeves and showed them the bruises on my arms and neck. We were all taken to the police station for questioning. Even though they were family, I refused to forgive them and demanded compensation. When Evelyn heard that, she exploded. “What do you mean compensation? Your money is the same as my brother’s money. If I pay you, I’m just moving it from one pocket to the other!” But I stood firm. “So what? You deserve it. You stole my car and even hit me. “If you don’t pay, you’ll be going to jail.” Evelyn gritted her teeth and hissed. “You bitch, you wait. I’ll pay today, but you’ll regret this. Let’s see if my brother still wants you.” I scoffed, “Pay up.” I was certain that my husband, Keith, would stand by me. We’ve always had a strong relationship since we got married. Evelyn’s colleagues kept complaining, “Why does it always cause so many problems when I take your car? I’m not paying for this. Don’t drag me into your family drama.” Evelyn didn’t have much to say and reluctantly handed me 20 thousand dollars. Once we left the police station, I rushed to get my car back and head home. But Evelyn stood by, glaring at me. I shot her a warning glance. “If you touch me again, the compensation won’t just be this amount.” With that, I got into my car and drove off, leaving them all behind, stomping their feet in frustration. The delay on the road had eaten up a lot of time, and by the time I got home, it was already dark. I knocked and entered, only to find my husband, Keith, waiting for me with a dark face. The moment he saw me, he started questioning, “I’ve been calling you non-stop. Why didn’t you answer?” I pulled out my phone and realized it was completely dead. I was exhausted from the day, so I pouted and hugged him. “My phone died. You have no idea how hard it’s been for me today.” Instead of comforting me, my husband shoved me away and scolded, “Tell me, what good did you do today?”

I was completely stunned, and after a moment of thinking, I realized he must be talking about what happened with Evelyn. At that moment, his mother, Marie Harding, came out of the kitchen and shot me a cold look. I quickly explained, “Evelyn’s family had a lot of people. The car was too small, but they insisted on taking mine and made me take the bus. So, I had no choice but to come back on my own.” Marie wasn’t buying it. She angrily scolded, “Evelyn, you’ve really gotten bold! How dare you treat Evelyn like that?” She then turned to my husband, Keith, and lectured him. “Keith, you’d better handle your wife. If I did something like this years ago, your dad would’ve slapped me.” Even Marie couldn’t be this unreasonable. This wasn’t even my fault! I protested, “It was Evelyn who started bullying me. “They even left bruises on me!” I added. Just then, the door creaked open, and Evelyn and her family walked in. Without a word, Evelyn slapped me across the face and yelled in front of everyone, “Cynthia, you had the nerve to call the police on us and demand compensation. Let’s see if I don’t teach you a lesson today!” I slapped Evelyn right back, firing back. “You were in the wrong first! I was just trying to get my car back.” Evelyn looked at my husband with teary eyes. “Keith, look at her! You just let her bully me, and you’re not going to do anything? “She’s only been in the family for a short time and already called the cops on me. She even made me pay her 20 thousand dollars!” She held up her hand, which had been caught in the car door, and complained, “Look, my hand’s like this now. And she still says I’m bullying her! “See? My hand is black and blue.” Keith looked at her hand with pity in his eyes. I defended myself. “She did it to herself! I was closing the door, and she insisted on sticking her hand in, then tried to pull me out of the car!” But Keith, instead of standing by me, raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. The pain was immediate and sharp, and I covered my reddening cheek, staring at Keith in disbelief. “You hit me?” I asked, my voice trembling. Keith didn’t look guilty at all. He simply ordered, “Apologize to her, and give her the 20 thousand dollars back.” All the frustration inside me boiled over, and I couldn’t hold back my tears. I cried out, “They were in the wrong from the start! It was my car, and they forced me out, making me take the bus home. Why should I just let that go? “I only called the cops to protect my rights! Why do I have to apologize? Keith, I’m your wife. Don’t turn your back on me like this.” Evelyn looked all innocent. “It’s because we’re family. How could we go home separately? She’s an outsider, so it’s totally normal for her to take the bus. “As for family, Keith and I are family. We’ve been together for decades, and you’ve only just married him. Of course, he’s closer to me.” My anger flared, and with a cry in my voice, I shouted, “Evelyn, you’re shameless! Get this straight. It’s my car, not yours!” Keith, instead of defending me, snapped back, “The car is yours, but we’re married now. That car belongs to our family. What’s the problem if I want my sister to use it? “Cynthia, I didn’t expect you to be so cold-hearted. You don’t care about family at all, and you called the cops on Evelyn. Fine, here’s the deal. apologize to her, transfer the car to Evelyn’s name, and we’ll consider it done.” Evelyn didn’t say a word but looked at me with a smug grin. I stood my ground. “No, I won’t. Why should I?” Keith, usually so gentle, now pointed at me with a warning in his eyes. “If you don’t apologize, you won’t be having Christmas dinner tonight.” Looking at the veins bulging on his forehead and the fire in his eyes, I suddenly felt a chill in my heart. But I wasn’t going to just take this. I walked over, flipped the table, and declared, “Then no one eats.”

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On our tenth wedding anniversary, my husband, Noah Bennett dragged me, despite my thalassophobia, to go freediving and “accidentally” ran into his childhood sweetheart, Ruby Fraser. When a massive sea creature appeared, Noah ripped away my oxygen tank. He abandoned me with my foot trapped in the coral reef, choosing to save Ruby instead. After being rescued, I begged Noah, an avid gamer, to keep the noise down as I was having a nervous breakdown. Instead, I was forced to listen to their passionate lovemaking next door all night long. Noah blamed me for being immature, while my own mother, Ashley Ford, advised me to learn to tolerate it. Little did anyone know that I had already accepted my professor, Edward Langley’s offer to study abroad that night. Noah, you wouldn’t be able to catch up to me. My feet throbbed with excruciating pain as the coral had torn through my ankles, leaving them bleeding badly. I hunched over, my hands trembling as I desperately tried to free myself from the coral branches. Even with my broken nails, I couldn’t make any progress. Yet I remembered Noah insisted on bandaging even the slightest bruise whenever I got hurt. “Please, Noah, help me!” I begged. As I waved my arms frantically, seawater rushed into my mouth while I tried to call for help. With only one lung, I was on the verge of suffocation and quickly pulled my breathing mask back on like it was my lifeline. “Noah, I think I’m running low on oxygen,” Ruby said sweetly, her fingers trailing suggestively across Noah’s muscular chest beneath his diving suit. Noah gently took Ruby’s hand in his. “Zoe, switch tanks with Ruby,” he ordered. The color drained from my face as my bloodied hands instinctively clutched the oxygen tank on my back. How could you do this to me? I shook my head frantically. Fear crept over me like an invisible net, squeezing the breath from my lungs. The deep blue water surrounding me seemed to close in as the feeling of suffocation wrapped around my throat like an invisible hand. Dizzy and lightheaded, I gave up trying to free my feet and hunched over the coral, taking deep breaths through my mask. The underwater current shifted suddenly. Small fish darted away as a large, dark shadow slowly approached from the distance. “Oh my God! What is that monster? Grab the oxygen tanks, and let’s get out of here!” someone screamed in panic. Noah was freaking out, too, swimming frantically towards me. “You should have given them to us earlier! Are you trying to get us killed?” he shouted as he roughly yanked the oxygen tank off my back, causing me to stumble and sink toward the ocean floor. My foot got caught on something, leaving me hanging upside down. The combination of weightlessness, suffocation, and pain was unbearable. I felt like I was dying! In the last second, before losing consciousness, I desperately grabbed the edge of Noah’s clothes. A sharp pain shot through my chest as my body swayed from the impact. Did he… just kick me? Through my fading vision, I saw Noah clutching Ruby with one arm and gripping the oxygen tank with the other, his fins moving at lightning speed. I had given Ruby one of my lungs, let him force me to get an IUD, and now he kicked me and left me to die?

The massive sea creature finally revealed itself before my eyes. It was a giant octopus! Its eight enormous tentacles swayed as it glided past me, not even sparing me a glance. The octopus’ slimy secretions splashed onto my skin, releasing a nauseating stench of decay. I tried to console myself with the small mercy that octopuses weren’t known to eat humans, though it felt like cold comfort in my despair. I let my body go limp as the seawater flooded into my lungs. As death approached, my most bitter memory played over and over in my mind. It had been an ordinary evening, with me lying anxiously on the cold operating table. Ruby lay unconscious on the bed next to mine. During this surgery, one of my lungs would be transplanted into Ruby. Noah had promised that if I saved his cousin, he would get a vasectomy and commit to our child-free lifestyle. Though he had agreed to this before marriage, he only backed out because of pressure from his parents. On the operating table, I naively thought that I should make some sacrifice for Noah, even if I didn’t want kids. I spoke up, “Doctor, I have a low tolerance for anesthesia. Noah must have told you about this.” The lead surgeon, a middle-aged man in his fifties, just frowned and silently signaled the anesthesiologist to increase the dosage. I froze. Hadn’t Noah mentioned it? As the anesthesia started to kick in, I drifted in and out of consciousness. However, I could still hear the clinking of surgical instruments. The harsh fluorescent lights above were blinding, and through the haze, I felt them cutting into my stomach. Sharp, stinging pain shot through my nerves, making me cry out. I heard the medical staff whispering among themselves. “What’s going on? Why is she still conscious?” a female nurse asked. The lead surgeon lowered his voice, “Her husband never said she was this resistant to anesthesia! We shouldn’t even be doing this surgery!” “What do we do now? We’ve already cut her open!” “Keep going. Actually… her husband slipped me some cash and said his wife had a high pain tolerance.” An eerie silence fell over the operating room after those words. Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt the cold surgical instruments moving through my organs. The pain was unbearable, with every cell in my body screaming in agony. My limbs twitched helplessly as I lay there, unable to speak. At this point, I had no choice but to let the doctors finish the surgery. It was either that or die. The torture-like procedure seemed endless, and in my hazy state, I watched as they removed my blood-soaked lungs. Finally, it was over, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. By the time they started stitching, I must have been too numb to feel anything anymore. “Can we start closing her up now?” asked the squeamish nurse, her voice trembling. “Yes, we’ll do the IUD insertion after the sutures.” IUD? Wasn’t that for sterilization? He promised he would get a vasectomy instead! My heart sank, and the tears I’d held back streamed uncontrollably down my face. My body started to move slightly in protest. No! Please stop! I told him about my uterine fibroids! An IUD was dangerous for me! The two doctors forcefully spread my legs and inserted the IUD through my body into my uterus. The combination of rage and unbearable pain made me pass out. When I regained consciousness, it was dawn. I struggled to open my eyes, feeling like every bone in my body was broken, consumed by pain. In the morning light, the man I had loved for years was leaning over the adjacent bed, his arms braced on either side. He placed a tender, lingering kiss on Ruby’s forehead. Ruby’s sleeping profile suddenly matched the lock screen I had glimpsed on Noah’s phone. It wasn’t just some random picture from the internet! The girl on Noah’s phone was Ruby all along!

I smirked bitterly as the cold ocean water surrounded me. Suddenly, a hand grabbed my waist and pulled me up from the water. I instinctively wrapped my arms around my rescuer’s neck, staring into his worried eyes. Oliver Reed? What was he doing here? We were both PhD students under the same advisor. Before I could speak, his lips crashed into mine. He was giving me rescue breaths, and I froze in shock. My conservative upbringing made me want to push him away, but he pinched my side hard to keep me still. Too weak to resist, I let him carry me back to shore. I collapsed on the beach, coughing and gasping for air, feeling half-dead. My anger and disappointment peaked when Noah approached with his fake concern and that smug smile. I slapped him across the face hard. Ruby jumped to his defense. “What’s wrong with you? He’s your husband! How could you treat him like that?” I said, “Oh, so you remember he’s my husband? Funny, that didn’t stop you from throwing yourself at him, you cheap homewrecker.” The three of them stood there stunned, shocked to hear such crude words from my mouth. Noah’s guilty eyes darted between me and Oliver, finally fixating on Oliver’s mouth. His face contorted with rage. “You’ve got some nerve! Here I was feeling bad, and you’re cheating on me? You slut! You whore!” Following Noah’s gaze to Oliver’s mouth, everything suddenly clicked into place. During our struggle earlier, I had accidentally bitten Oliver’s lip. Oliver, ever the gentleman, furrowed his brows in disgust. He spoke calmly but firmly, “What kind of monster tries to feed his wife to the fish?” Then, with a knowing smirk, he added, “By the way, you can’t afford this brand of diving equipment on your salary.” He was right. I had paid for all our diving gear and even covered most of our daily expenses. Noah’s face and neck flushed red with shame. He stood there speechless momentarily before shaking off Ruby’s hand to hug me. He tried to sound casual, “Let’s put this behind us, okay? How about we go get some dinner?” With false cheerfulness, he added, “You’ve been looking forward to that seafood feast!” What a joke! Me? Looking forward to it? I was allergic to seafood, but he insisted on going! He just told me to order something else at the restaurant! Ignoring him completely, I turned to Oliver. “Let’s go eat together. Thank you for saving my life!” Oliver smiled warmly, “I’d love to!” Noah stood frozen in place, his face darkening with anger.

The famous seafood restaurant’s large wooden table was loaded with abalone, crab, sea cucumber, and more delicacies. Noah was focused on picking the crab meat, carefully placing the tender white flesh onto my plate. “Zoe, I was wrong before. Can you forgive me?” Noah asked. I remained silent, staring blankly at the crab meat on my plate. I told him about my seafood allergy when we were dating, but he had forgotten. I had even reminded him again before this trip. His first formal apology should have meant something, but I couldn’t find any joy. “She’s allergic!” a voice called out. “Waiter, bring some pasta and a light salad!” the same voice commanded. Oliver whisked away my plate and replaced it with a portion of pasta from the waiter. “You just had surgery, and you’ve had a rough day. You need something gentle on your stomach,” he said softly. “Thank you,” I gave him a grateful look. How ironic that my boyfriend of nearly 10 years knew me less than a senior classmate I’d only known for just over a year. “Ungrateful bitch,” Noah muttered under his breath as he dumped the plate on the ground, where several stray dogs immediately scrambled for the food. My heart sank even further as I watched Noah peel off the crab roe and feed it directly to Ruby’s waiting mouth. Ruby made a show of it, deliberately running her tongue across Noah’s fingers in a suggestive way. I turned away in disgust, the warm pasta in front of me now tasting like cardboard. In the past, Noah would always eat whatever I was having. He never complained and never chose differently. His answer was always the same. “Whatever Zoe loves, I love it too.  Because I love Zoe.” Now I realized it had all been an act. My chest felt heavy with emotion as tears began to blur my vision, dropping into my pasta. Under the table, where no one could see, Oliver discreetly slipped two tissues into my palm. Noah was too busy flirting with Ruby, constantly calling her “baby” and “sweetheart” loud enough for everyone to hear.

After enduring the long dinner, a new problem arose when we returned to the hotel. Ruby looked at Noah with teary eyes. “Please, I’m broke. Can’t you let me stay with you? Pretty please?” Her mascara was starting to run from the fake tears. Noah shifted uncomfortably, his beady eyes darting around. “But… my wife might not like that!” Wouldn’t I like it? It was as if he couldn’t afford to pay for his mistress’ room. I turned to head to my pre-booked double room. I was absolutely exhausted. Ruby yanked my arm, her sharp acrylic nails leaving scratches on my bare skin. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing? This is Noah’s room!” I shot Noah a tired look, hoping he’d show some decency. He scratched his head and said, “Why don’t you… let Ruby have the room? Don’t worry, she’s just like a sister to me!” Great. Just great, Noah! I’d had enough of this drama. Without another word, I headed to the front desk to book a single room. “Hold on, Zoe! Let’s exchange WhatsApp. I’ll pay you back another day,” Ruby said with a sweet smile, though her eyes gleamed triumphantly. I took a deep breath to calm my irritation before adding her contact. Money matters were not something to mess around with. The receptionist informed me that the only available single room was next door, freshly cleaned after the previous guest had left. I nodded in agreement. Once I got to my room, I collapsed onto the bed. I thought I would spend the night crying and tossing in bed after everything that happened. Instead, I fell into a deep sleep. “Oh yes… Noah, you’re still such a beast in bed!” “Scream louder, baby! I love hearing you moan like the little minx you are!” “She’s nothing like that nerdy bookworm who just lay there like a corpse! It’s no fun in bed!” The noises from next door jolted me awake. As I listened to Noah’s words, everything became crystal clear. He was nothing but a complete fraud! He had performance issues, and I wasn’t interested in putting on a show… Did I want to spend my life with someone like him? After so many years of marriage, my desire for divorce had only grown stronger with each passing day. Unable to sleep, I mindlessly scrolled through Instagram on my phone. The first post I saw was Ruby flaunting herself in a bikini on the beach. In the comments, Noah wrote: [Wait for me to bump into you! My love!] All the bitterness I’d been bottling up inside finally reached its breaking point when I saw that post. Like a fish out of water, I clutched at my collar, struggling to breathe through the pain. So, even our annual honeymoon trips have been part of your shopping list. What a fool I had been, covering all our expenses because I worried about your self-esteem over not having an income. Without hesitation, I got up to pack my bags and booked a red-eye flight. I quickly told Edward: [Professor Langley, I’ve decided to pursue further studies abroad.] Noah, you wouldn’t be able to catch up to me.

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I crossed over, becoming the sister of the CEO, Matthew Campbell, Lois Campbell. Right now, I was holding the eight-million-dollar necklace Kathryn Barnes, his fiancée, gave me, feeling quite pleased with myself. But the next moment, my hopeless brother suddenly brought back a woman from the slums, Nancy Decker, and claimed that they were truly in love. “I object!” I immediately shouted, standing up. My dad froze for a second just as he was about to explode, and everyone in the room turned to look at me. “Matthew, how could you do this!” I quickly walked over to them, gazing at their tightly intertwined hands, and spoke with a pained expression, “Such an important matter, and you didn’t even give us a heads-up. You had to bring it up in front of both families? “Dad always taught us to be considerate and know our place. Look at you now, acting like you’re forcing everyone’s hand. What kind of example is this!” As I spoke, my dad’s expression softened, and he looked at me with a hint of approval, nodding slightly. Matthew was shocked that I, usually so clueless, could say something like that to educate him. He stood frozen, his face turning red with embarrassment. I sighed and, with my hands behind my back, continued seriously, “And on top of that, you chose such an informal occasion, not only embarrassing yourself but also showing a lack of respect for the lady beside you!” Matthew, the mighty CEO, went from confident to deeply ashamed. He looked down and mumbled. “I… I didn’t consider this properly. I’m sorry.” With that, the two of them awkwardly left the house hand in hand. I turned around, put on my sweetest smile, and obediently sat next to Kathryn, Matthew’s fiancée. “Kathryn, don’t mind them. Please continue telling me about your studies in Virelia.” Kathryn smiled shyly and continued talking with me. Meanwhile, my dad had taken Kathryn’s father aside, likely discussing something important.

I thought after yesterday’s incident, Matthew would have learned his lesson. But to my surprise, early this morning, that slum girl showed up again in our living room. If I wasn’t mistaken, she was even holding… a dirty duck?! I widened my eyes, quickly hurrying down from the second floor in my slippers, and rushed to stop her. “No!” The stupid duck seemed to be especially out to get me, immediately jumping onto my exclusive lounge chair and leaving big, messy prints all over the cushion! Damn it, I was too late. I stood there, glaring at it, my fists tightening with anger. That chair was made from royal-grade fabric, specially brought back from Havendale by my dad. I only allowed myself an hour to sit on it each day just to avoid wrinkling it. And now it smelled like a disgusting duck! “Quack.” Suddenly, a devilish sound completely shattered my hope. It actually… dared to poop on it! I was going to kill it! Seeing the murderous look in my eyes, Nancy quickly shielded the duck in her arms, staring at me with caution. I forced myself to hold back my anger, gritting my teeth, and said, “Ms. Decker, do you have any idea how expensive the thing it just ruined is?” Nancy straightened her neck, unashamed, and replied, “Sorry! I’ll work to pay you back. You can yell at me, but please don’t hurt it!” I was stunned. How could anyone be so shameless, even when apologizing? I rubbed my forehead, feeling both furious and absurdly amused. Just as I was about to argue with her more, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Today, the butler was out with my parents, so I had to open the door myself. As soon as I opened it, I saw Kathryn coming toward me with a whole entourage in tow. Yes, an entourage. And each of them was carrying bags of finely packaged clothes and accessories. The scene was overwhelming. Kathryn took my hand gently and said in a soft voice, “Lois, I was in such a rush yesterday that I could only bring you a necklace. “I feel bad about it, so today I had someone buy a few more little gifts. Think of them as a welcome present from me.” I casually glanced at the bags, all international luxury brands, and limited edition ones at that! Things people couldn’t even buy with money! Suddenly, my eyes sparkled, and I eagerly ran over to inspect each item. After running about two hundred yards, I thought the line of gifts had finally come to an end. But then, a sharp turn revealed an endless line of bags and packages behind! I was stunned, my gaze darting toward Kathryn, who smiled shyly and covered her mouth. “I didn’t know which brand you liked, so I just had them buy some of everything.” I thought, “Wow! You’re so generous!” I rushed up and hugged Kathryn, but I moved to tears. Kathryn, however, noticed Nancy standing nearby, looking on longingly. She politely said, “Ms. Decker, if you like any of these, feel free to choose something.”

Nancy scoffed, rolling her eyes disdainfully. “I don’t want any of these! “You people are too wasteful. I can’t stand the hypocrisy of the rich! “Everything you do is extravagant, living in luxury. You don’t understand the struggles of ordinary people, so stop pretending to be so kind!” Kathryn, raised with manners, was stunned by this outburst. She’d never been spoken to like this before, and she didn’t know how to respond. But I was different. I crossed over from another world. “If you don’t like it, then don’t stay in my house! Shameless! “Also, Kathryn only offered you clothes because you look so poorly dressed. What’s so fake about that?!” Nancy sneered at me, “Tch, kindness? Don’t kid yourself. I can’t afford them. “You rich heirs have everything handed to you, high and mighty, never knowing what it’s like to struggle. But we poor people have our dignity!” I thought, “Not know what it’s like to struggle?” I reached into my bag and pulled out a stack of donation certificates, slapping them onto her face. “These are from five years ago, after the floods. I donated a million dollars. “This is from last year’s Luminor earthquake. I donated five million dollars. This one is from a platform’s program to provide supplies for girls in need, I’ve personally donated to over ten thousand girls.” I proceeded to explain each event, showing that my donations weren’t just for show. I thoroughly researched and carefully considered each one before donating based on the specific situation. “Moreover, these funds were all from my own pocket. I worked hard for every penny, and never once asked my parents for a cent.” I stared her down, my voice firm. “And what about you? What have you contributed to the people, to the country?!” Nancy was gradually losing ground, her face shifting in color like a painter’s palette. She pointed at me, her voice faltering. “You… you rich people, it’s easy for you to do surface-level work, acting all fake!” With that, Nancy shot us an angry glare and stormed out of the house.

I rolled my eyes and then turned around with a sweet smile and said, “Kathryn, stay for dinner today! I’ll make you some soup!” Kathryn, looking a little confused, nodded dazedly. “Ah… okay.” I glanced at that damned duck and couldn’t help but show a victorious grin. An hour later… “Lois, I didn’t expect you could cook! This is even better than the three-star Michelin chef at my family’s place. You’re amazing!” Kathryn took a bite and nodded furiously, her eyes sparkling as she looked at me. I looked down in embarrassment and chuckled, “Kathryn, it’s just a simple home-cooked meal. I thought you wouldn’t like it.” We were enjoying the meal when suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud bang. The sound startled me, and I almost dropped my fork. I glanced at the door frame, wincing in pain. This door was worth millions of dollars! Matthew was at it again, full of that unshakable arrogance! “Kathryn, I’ve put up with everything you’ve done in the past, but this time, you’ve gone too far!” Matthew stormed in with cold eyes, locking them onto Kathryn. I immediately put down my fork and cast an ambiguous glance at Nancy, who was standing behind him. The person I had a conflict with was me, but she went and told Matthew about Kathryn’s situation. How typical! She knew exactly how to pick the easy target.

Noticing the sharp look in my eyes, Nancy hurriedly tugged at Matthew’s shirt and hid behind him with a pitiful look. “Matthew, I didn’t…” Kathryn’s face turned pale as she hurried to explain. Matthew sneered, “I leave for half a day, and you’ve already bullied Nancy like this. Now you’re pretending to be innocent? Nice tricks.” I was immediately accused, and Kathryn’s eyes filled with tears as she helplessly looked at me. Remembering all the glittering luxury items scattered around the house, I quickly spoke up, “Matthew, how do you know it was Kathryn who bullied her?” Matthew furrowed his brows in irritation and replied matter-of-factly, “Nancy told me herself. Can it be wrong? Clearly, Kathryn was using her position to bully her, and Nancy was so scared she cried!” I sneered and quickly pulled up the morning’s surveillance footage on my phone, showing him the evidence. The footage was crystal clear, with multiple angles, and even the voices were perfectly restored. Nancy’s eyes flickered nervously, and she muttered under her breath, “This footage… it has sound?” I thought, “Oh, so she thought she could falsely accuse someone as long as there was no sound, huh?” I exaggeratedly covered my mouth and smiled, giving her a pointed side-eye. “Well, well, well. Didn’t you say our family is rich? But we wouldn’t be so desperate as to use a silent surveillance system, would we?” Seeing Nancy’s face drain of color, I held up the phone again and pushed the screen into Matthew’s face. “See? She started the argument herself and even cried. Ridiculous!” Despite the overwhelming evidence, Matthew still stood in front of Nancy, his expression cold and unyielding. “Nancy’s not good with words. You all were too aggressive, and that’s why she only managed to retort a few times. She’s alone and weak. Why do you have to pick a fight with her?” I thought, “Okay, so all my efforts of digging up surveillance footage and explaining things were pointless, huh?” I glared at him fiercely and decided to throw in the towel. “Right, right, Nancy is the kindest. I apologize. Are you satisfied now?” “Since you know you’re wrong, then…” Matthew didn’t finish his sentence before Nancy screamed, “Lois, where’s my duck?!” She finally noticed! I leaned back in my chair, content, and exaggeratedly burped, gesturing at the pile of bones on the table. Nancy was on the verge of fainting from anger. “It wasn’t for eating! It’s my pet!!” “Oops, sorry. I didn’t mean to. You won’t blame me, will you?” I stood up, sincerely bowed, and innocently blinked my eyes at her. Nancy, however, suddenly buried her face in her hands and collapsed into Matthew’s arms, crying uncontrollably. Matthew’s face, which had just softened, immediately turned as cold as ice. “Lois, I see now that our father has spoiled you too much! You’re capable of anything!” Nancy wiped away her tears, sobbing as she spoke. “I’ve never had parents. My grandparents raised me. This duck has been with me since I was little. It’s like family to me.” She looked at me through tearful eyes, her face drenched in sadness. “Ms. Campbell, I know you dislike me, but why did you have to hurt it? It’s innocent!” After she finished speaking, Matthew looked at her with heartache, then shot me a look filled with hatred as if I had killed a living person instead of just a duck… Before I could say anything, Matthew suddenly took the initiative. “Kathryn, you must have encouraged my sister to do these things. Why are you so evil?” I thought, “What does she have to do with this??” “I will never marry you. So, you can just forget it!” He then picked up the crying Nancy and marched out the door, not giving Kathryn a chance to explain herself. That was the first time I saw Kathryn, who was always so graceful and elegant, appear so lost and distraught.

On the way back from dropping Kathryn off, I couldn’t help but ask, “Kathryn, now that Matthew is treating you like this, do you still want to marry him?” “I… I don’t know,” Kathryn replied, her gaze drifting out the window, her eyes filled with rare confusion. “But if I don’t marry him, who else could I marry?” She whispered this, her voice as soft as a falling feather. “Do you like him?” Kathryn furrowed her brows and slowly shook her head. “Like? Actually, I don’t really know him, so it’s hard to say I like him. But since I was little, everyone around me has told me Matthew is the best person to marry. They say marrying him is the best choice. Even my parents always say so…” I thought, “Here it comes again. I know Matthew isn’t that great! But the male lead halo really is powerful…” Unfortunately, Kathryn didn’t hear my internal complaints and continued on her own path. “From childhood, I’ve never made my parents angry. So I think if I don’t marry Matthew, they’ll be really disappointed in me.” At this point, a fleeting look of pain flashed across her eyes. “You won’t disappoint them.” I quickly grabbed Kathryn’s soft hand, looking at her seriously. “Your looks, your background, both are top-tier. You’re calm, kind, and fluent in eight languages. You even earned your PhD in engineering from Virelia at a young age. “You’re so outstanding, how could they possibly be disappointed in you?” Kathryn paused, her eyes seeming to light up with a spark. “Really? Even if I can’t marry him… it doesn’t matter?” I nodded firmly. “Of course. You’re already an amazing person. Whether you marry someone or not won’t change your own perfection. “If you don’t like him, then call off the engagement. Your parents will surely understand. “So, Kathryn, be brave and follow your heart.”

Kathryn stayed silent for a long time that day and didn’t say anything more as I dropped her off. In the following days, I didn’t see her again. On Monday, I arrived at the office as usual. I was already dreading work, but things were about to get worse. Nancy was standing beside Matthew, wearing the Campbell Group uniform, nervously holding some documents. We ended up taking the same elevator together. I decided to turn a blind eye and ignored both of them. Of course, they didn’t seem to care much about me either. “Mr. Campbell, I don’t understand these materials…” Nancy shook her head, acting distressed, as she looked at the papers in her hands. Matthew let out a deep, amused laugh, replying indulgently, “Well, silly… Come to my office later. I’ll teach you.” In the blink of an eye, they were sticking close to each other like magnets. A tight knot formed in my chest, and I closed my eyes with a pale face… Those few seconds felt more unbearable than a math class. The crisp sound of the elevator arriving at the floor was a small relief. As the elevator slowly opened, I couldn’t wait to rush out, sprinting straight back to my private office at full speed. Sara Hale, my assistant, stood in the hallway, looking bewildered. “Ms. Campbell, there are still five minutes until the workday officially starts. You usually like to live on the edge, barely making it on time.” I propped myself against the door, catching my breath and weakly waving my hand. “It’s not that… I… There was… a ghost behind me.” Sara, confused, turned around to glance behind her. “A ghost… in broad daylight?” When she saw Matthew and Nancy, she immediately clamped her mouth shut, her expression understanding. never underestimated Nancy’s ability to stir up trouble. As expected, she didn’t disappoint me. “Ms. Campbell, Matthew asked me to bring you a cup of coffee… Ah!” Before I could even raise my head, Nancy used her signature move. She tripped, spilling the entire coffee pot all over my desk. If it was just a cup, it wouldn’t have been such a big deal. But Who the hell brings an entire pot of coffee to someone’s desk?! Given the angle of her fall, she managed to splash it evenly. Documents and my computer were all drenched. If I hadn’t ducked, I would’ve ended up taking a coffee bath myself! With a loud thud, Nancy elegantly collapsed onto the floor. Hearing the noise, Matthew rushed in and immediately scooped Nancy up into his arms. “Lois, how dare you hit her?!”

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My roommate, Joan Bryan, was short, ugly, and messy. She never showered, and her voice was unbearable. But she was incredibly confident and relentlessly pursued the school’s heartthrob every day, making herself the laughingstock of the whole school. After Shawn Caldwell rejected her for the fiftieth time, she was, as usual, mocked by the other roommates. But she just said, “I was once a beautiful mermaid. I traded my beauty and voice for these legs with a witch, and this is what I became. But we’re destined to be together. No matter how I look, he will love me and be with me!” Chapter 1 As soon as she finished speaking, the room went silent. No one dared to argue with her anymore, thinking she had lost her mind. Although everyone had the right to pursue the one they loved, she really didn’t deserve Shawn in any way. Sometimes, I thought she didn’t look human at all but more like a sea creature, a blobfish. The fact that she could say such ridiculous things had to be the result of being rejected so many times, her obsession growing deeper and twisting her mind. She was such a poor thing. But one day, when I returned to the dorm after work, I found her kneeling on the floor, crying. Pearls were rolling around on the ground. I looked more closely and saw that those pearls were falling from her eyes! Tears turning into pearls… Could she really be a mermaid?!! Chapter 2 In that instant, my entire worldview seemed to collapse. I stared in disbelief, too shocked to even blink. The fear crept in, and I instinctively took a step back. I had only wanted to run away, but then I saw the pearls rolling across the floor. Each pearl was large and round, shimmering with a colorful glow. They poured from her palms like they were free, spilling out in a constant stream, rolling wildly across the floor. I couldn’t move. My legs felt like they were made of lead, and no matter what, I couldn’t make myself move. The flickering light from the pearls kept flashing in my eyes, making it impossible to look away. It felt like the pearls were crying babies, reaching out to me with their tiny arms. The light of the pearls reflected in my eyes. I swallowed hard and couldn’t help but ask her, “Joan, where did you get all these beautiful pearls?” Chapter 3 As soon as I spoke, she quickly stood up. Her already ugly face, distorted by crying, looked even worse. Her lips were twisted downward, her red eyes were bloodshot, and at that moment, she looked more like a toad than a person. Though it was rude, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of disgust in my stomach when I saw her like this. Her eyes were red and swollen with tears, which slowly slid down her face, turning into pearls as they fell. The pearls sparkled with a dazzling light, hitting the floor with a sharp “pop” before rolling into the corner. I instinctively reached out to pick one up, but I stopped myself, embarrassed. I thought, “Damn it, why did I suddenly feel that Joan had this strange kind of charm?” She rubbed her eyes furiously, then glared at me with those bloodshot eyes, staring as if she could burn a hole through me. Suddenly, she reached out with her hands, claws-like, and grabbed my arms tightly. “Please, please, Teresa Santana, you have to help me! Only you can help me!” she begged, her hoarse voice sounding even more unpleasant than usual. Her desperate gaze was crazed and sickly, making my skin crawl. I froze, horrified, trying to pull my arms free, the struggle sending sharp pains through my arms. Chapter 4 She held onto me tightly, refusing to let go no matter what. Her small body had surprisingly strong strength, and she kept pleading with me, saying frantic words of desperation. As she spoke, she started crying again, tears falling like a string of pearls. Seeing those pearls, I suddenly had a flash of realization, almost forgetting the situation we were in. Without thinking, I stretched my hand toward her eyes and finally caught one of the pearls. I gripped it tightly, not wanting to let go. The smooth, round texture of the pearl sent a jolt through my heart. It felt like this was something that was meant for me. In that instant, I seemed to overcome my fear, steadying my thoughts. I gazed at her, my eyes burning with intensity, and asked. “What do you want me to do for you?” She was overjoyed, crouching down to gather a handful of pearls and placing them in front of me. “You like them? From now on, all of these are yours, as long as you help me!” I stared at the pile of pearls, swallowing hard, unable to resist the urge to reach out and take them. “How do you want me to help you?” “Teresa, I want to swap bodies with you. If you agree, I’ll give you all my pearls from now on. Please, I beg you, agree to this!” Her voice grew more excited as she sized up my face, her eyes starting to sparkle even brighter. “Teresa, you’re so beautiful. With your looks, he’ll definitely like you. I’m too ugly. He never notices me. I can’t stand the look of disgust he gives me. I want to use your body to go after him!” Her gaze was intense, full of longing for Shawn, almost burning with desire. “Teresa, you have to help me! I’ll give you anything you want, anything at all!” I reached out and grabbed her wrist, holding the hand full of pearls. I smiled and replied. “Alright, Joan, I promise. “I don’t want anything else. Just give me all of your pearls.” “Okay, everything now and in the future, they’re all yours!!” Chapter 5 My mind was clouded by greed, and without thinking twice, I agreed to her. I figured these pearls must be worth a lot of money. With these pearls, with money, I wouldn’t have to work multiple part-time jobs every day, running around, struggling to make ends meet. She handed me two pills. I took one and swallowed it immediately. She watched me swallow it before she popped one into her mouth as well. The moment I swallowed the pill, everything went dark. My ears rang, and a sharp pain hit my head. In an instant, I opened my eyes again, only to see my hands looking like clawed fingers. At that moment, I realized I had become her. I looked at her, now in my form, smiling smugly, and she did the same. Now, I had truly gained something on both fronts. Because I had always hated the way I looked. Chapter 6 I was born into a poor family, but my mother was extraordinary. When she was younger, she was the star performer in a dance troupe. She was beautiful and talented. She could sing and dance. Someone like her, so stunning and talented, ended up marrying my dad, a complete scumbag. She was the kind of person who believed in love wholeheartedly, sacrificing everything for him. I remember the most precious thing to my mother was her hair. It was beautiful, like seaweed, and many people envied it. She herself was very proud of it. But when she lost all her hair because of illness, and instead of comforting her, my dad called her ugly. Afterward, she left, leaving me with a face that resembled hers and a father who only knew how to drink and gamble. So, I grew up learning to survive in the cracks of life. In such a family, beauty was actually my curse. In sixth grade, I was sexually harassed by the old bachelor next door. He grabbed me and touched me all over. After I stomped on his foot hard, I broke free and ran to my dad, crying to tell him. But instead of comforting me, he said I was just like my mom, with a pretty face, and I would only attract men, called me a slut. I was still young, weak, and timid, but somehow, I found the courage to pick up a beer bottle lying on the ground and smash it on his head. He collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from his head. My eyes were red, and I wasn’t sure whether it was anger or the sight of blood that did it. My mind went blank, but my mouth didn’t stop. “Don’t talk about my mom like that! Don’t talk about my mom!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, repeating the same words over and over. It wasn’t until he lay motionless on the floor that I finally regained my senses. I searched through his filthy pockets, grabbed his broken phone, and called 91

Since then, everyone in the neighborhood knew I was crazy. At such a young age, I sent my own father to the hospital and called the police to have our neighbor of over a decade arrested. After that, no one dared to bother me again, and no one dared to approach me. Even my bastard father didn’t dare say a single bad word about my mother in front of me. Chapter 7 But it seemed like I just had bad luck. Even after all that, I still ended up in these kinds of situations. Maybe it was because of how I grew up, but I had always been a solitary person. I was fierce and strange, constantly giving off a vibe that kept everyone at a distance. I was never popular. In middle school, I was the target of malicious jokes from the boys in my class. Of course, I didn’t tolerate it. During class, I flipped their desks over without a second thought. In high school, someone spread rumors about me. When I found him, I didn’t hold back. I shoved him to the ground and left deep scratches on his face. I always handled things with a heavy hand, sharply and directly. Yet even then, I couldn’t avoid such problems. Sometimes, I felt like my appearance was a curse. I thought, “Though I knew being beautiful wasn’t a crime, I was scared. Mom, I don’t want to be coveted by people like Dad. I fear I’ll fall into the same trap as you did and end up dying with regrets. I’m sorry, Mom. I never cherished your last keepsake. I even traded it away. But I believe you wouldn’t blame me.” Chapter 8 After Joan and I swapped bodies, we both lived the lives we always dreamed of. My face finally brought me some benefits. She used my body to relentlessly pursue Shawn, the school’s heartthrob, and I was sure she’d succeed soon. Meanwhile, thanks to her pearls, I earned a small fortune. Her pearls, big, full, and beautifully colored, were highly sought after. I sold just a few of them and made a lot of money. With that money, I bought an LV bag, Gucci perfume, a Chanel necklace, a Bvlgari bracelet, and other luxury items. I was a bit puzzled. With all these pearls, why didn’t Joan sell them and use the money to get plastic surgery? Was it because her base wasn’t good enough? But it turned out the designer clothes she wore were all real. I remembered Joan, the one who knew fake from real, had once told me they were all fake. But none of that mattered because one thing was certain. Everything I wore now was real. With her body, no matter how I dressed, it didn’t look great but felt like wasting good things. But I didn’t care. After all, I bought these things for my own happiness. Chapter 9 I walked through school in her body, and people would always give me sideways glances. I could always hear chattering behind me, but I didn’t care at all. I was as happy as I could be. One day, as I was heading back to the dorm after class, a group of girls suddenly grabbed me and dragged me into an alley. The leader was wearing thick black eyeshadow, her face full of piercings, and her hair dyed in rainbow colors. She looked fierce and very alternative. She grabbed my collar and glared down at me, threatening me with venom in her voice. “Ugly bitch, stop harassing Shawn every damn day. You’re not even worthy of licking his shoes. I’ve been annoyed by you for days!” This was such a hassle. I sighed helplessly. Living in her body was not easy. I looked up and met her gaze, unafraid, and said, “I told you. I’ve stopped bothering with him. Don’t you see? He’s nothing. Do you like him that much?” The group was stunned by my response. They all stared wide-eyed at each other, not knowing what to say. The leader wasn’t happy with my cocky attitude. She scowled and snapped, “Stop pretending. Everyone knows you threw away your dignity just to chase after Shawn! And what makes you think you can look down on him? Who do you think you are…” I really didn’t feel like listening to her talk any longer. Before she could finish, I spat directly in her face. She got splashed by my spit, opened her eyes, and her face turned red with anger. After cursing a few times, she raised her hand to hit me. I casually swung my LV bag in front of her, threatening her nonchalantly, “Go ahead and hit me. If you break it, don’t worry about the cost. This bag’s worth just a few hundred thousand dollars.” They were taken aback and questioned, “Someone like you can afford such an expensive bag?” I answered arrogantly and smugly, “Just because I’m not pretty doesn’t mean I don’t have money. Everything I’m wearing and carrying, you’ll never be able to afford in your whole life.”

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On the first day of our marriage, my husband’s father, Henry Bailey, asked me to hand over my salary to him every month. I refused without hesitation, not saying another word. However, my husband, Kayden Bailey, stepped in to persuade me. He said, “My dad has always been in charge of the family, so it’s only right that he manages our income. If you need anything, just ask Dad, and he’ll give you the money.” My husband’s mother, Emma Bailey, immediately lashed out, “Why are you even talking to her? We don’t keep freeloaders in this family. If she doesn’t pay up, she can leave!” How ridiculous. Who exactly should be leaving? Don’t they have any self-awareness? The meal wasn’t even finished when Henry, furious, slammed his fork down. The atmosphere suddenly became tense. “Kayden, I really must have been blind to think the woman you insisted on marrying was someone with no respect for elders or basic manners! “If you don’t handle her now, you’ll regret it later!” Henry’s scolding echoed throughout the room. Kayden, clearly overwhelmed by his father’s anger, looked even more anxious. He turned to me with pleading eyes, but I continued eating my pie expressionlessly, though I was boiling with rage inside. Who could have guessed that my usually gentle husband would have such unreasonable parents? We had just been married for a day, and already, his whole family was ganging up on me to hand my salary over to Henry for safekeeping. This was absolutely absurd! My own parents never even suggested such a thing. What did they think they were? Without any hesitation, I refused. “No way!” But to my disappointment, Kayden didn’t take my side. Instead, he tried to calm me down. “Jasmine, please don’t be mad. My parents are just looking out for us. Keeping our money with them is a form of security. “You know we both tend to spend too freely and can’t save. When we need money, we can just ask them for it.” Seeing that I wasn’t responding, he paused, then continued, “My dad has always managed the family, so our income should be under his care. “If you need anything, just ask my dad, and he’ll give you the money.” His words were like pouring gasoline on a fire, and my anger only grew. I mimicked Henry’s earlier action and forcefully threw my fork down, the clatter ringing loudly through the room. I didn’t even care to look at their expressions. I directly confronted Kayden. “What did you say before we got married? “You swore to me and promised my parents that I would be in charge of our finances, and we would make all decisions together. You said your parents would never interfere with our life. “Didn’t you say all of that yourself? Was that all a lie?” I glared at Kayden, but his eyes darted nervously, avoiding mine. The truth was, I didn’t even care about managing our finances. My salary was enough for me to live on, and with the support from my parents, I never intended to ask Kayden to hand over his salary. But now, he and his parents were conspiring to control my finances. Emma, at this point, tore off her gentle façade. She no longer acted kind or friendly, and instead, she started yelling at me. “Who do you think you are? Do you think you can control my son’s money? My son is a master’s graduate, earning two or three thousand dollars a month! Why should you be in charge of that? Just because you’ve got a big mouth? “You tramp, your intentions aren’t so simple, are they? Don’t you know what the proper behavior for a woman is? Now that you’re married to my son. This family is your world! “Do you want to challenge that? In this house, you’re going to follow the rules!” Emma’s words made me see her true colors. The gentle, kind woman who had treated me so well the day before our wedding had now shown her true, vicious side.

Kayden’s face was flushed with embarrassment as he gently tugged at Emma’s sleeve, speaking in a low voice, “Mom, please, just stop. Jasmine is new here, I’ll explain the family rules to her later.” I thought, “Rules?” I raised my head, glancing at the man I had just married, and a cold laugh formed in my chest. How had I been so blind to marry him? My parents had opposed me marrying Kayden at first, but I had been so swept up in love that I couldn’t hear their concerns. Kayden’s parents seemed so humble. They had even visited my family, promising my parents that they would treat me like their own daughter. They played their part so well, and I, naively believing it was love, thought I would have a happy life once I married into their family. But now, it was all a façade, a ploy to get me to marry Kayden. Kayden came from a small town. Henry was a middle-school teacher at a third-rate school, and Emma was a housewife, just scraping by. Meanwhile, I had been raised as the only child in a well-off family in the provincial capital. My father was an executive at a Fortune 500 company, and my mother worked as a civil servant. My parents were giving them so much face by having me marry into their family. It was so obvious. My parents gifted me two million dollars in cash as a wedding gift, bought me a house worth over four million dollars, the one I was living in now, and even gave me two cars, both valued over 50 thousand dollars. Kayden and I each drove one to work. At yesterday’s wedding, my husband’s parents were treated like royalty. The Bailey family’s relatives and friends surrounded them, singing their praises. If people didn’t know the truth, they’d think it was Kayden and Emma who were getting married. I could tell that this was the first time they’d been so flattered. But just one day after the wedding, they started showing their true colors. I tried to calm myself and asked coldly, “Kayden, is this your attitude? Do you think I should hand over my salary to your father?” Kayden looked at me, clearly uncomfortable, his lips trembling as he stammered, “I… I… “Jasmine, listen, I’ll explain everything to you later,” he hurriedly said. Before I could respond, Henry said, his face flushed with anger. “What do you mean your money? Since you’ve married Kayden, everything you have belongs to us now. “Don’t just talk about your salary. Even your wedding gift belongs to us! You should hand it over to me respectfully!” Henry’s shameless remarks left me stunned. How could someone who had been a teacher for decades say something like that? Not only were they after my salary, but they had also set their sights on my wedding gift. The fire inside me blazed as I raised my trembling hands and clapped slowly, mocking them. “I didn’t expect you to be such good schemers! I thought you were a humble, decent family. Now it’s clear you’re just a bunch of wolves in sheep’s clothing!” “What did you say? Who’s a wolf?” Henry roared.

Emma was about to explode, but I ignored her. “Regardless of what happens, neither my salary nor my wedding gift has anything to do with the Bailey family. It’s all mine, and if you’re jealous, go earn your own!” Before they could interrupt, I turned back to Kayden and said, each word cutting through the air. “Think carefully about what happened today. I’m giving you time and an opportunity. Figure out how we’ll live from now on. If you can’t figure it out, we’ll head straight to the courthouse and file for divorce!” Seeing that I wasn’t joking, Kayden panicked. He grabbed my hand and apologized desperately. “Jasmine, I’m sorry. I didn’t handle things well at home. Give me some time, and I’ll talk to my parents.” Emma saw that Kayden’s attitude was shifting and immediately stormed over in anger. “Why are you wasting your time talking to her? We don’t keep freeloaders in this house. If she doesn’t pay up, she can leave!” “Mom, please, just stop talking!” Kayden pleaded. Kayden’s demeanor was tense as he tried to hold me back with one hand while using the other to restrain Emma from continuing her tirade. But the more he tried to pacify her, the more Emma resisted, her voice rising like a storm. “She’s five months pregnant! I don’t believe she’ll leave you! “Don’t let her fool you. If she dares to divorce, with a second marriage and carrying a child from our family, no one else will want her, she’ll be stuck with this used label forever!” I should’ve been angry, but instead, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Back when Kayden and I were dating in college, he had confided in me about his family situation. His mother, Emma, was also his father’s second wife. She had concealed her past marriage when she married Henry. At first, Henry had no idea. However, since Emma was still somewhat attractive, the two quickly became involved. When Henry found out that Emma had a son from her previous marriage, it was already too late. Emma was pregnant with Kayden by then. She came with her family to confront Henry, who was furious. At first, he refused to marry her, but, as a teacher, he was afraid it would ruin his reputation. Eventually, they married, albeit with lingering resentment. This conflict had never truly been resolved between Henry and Emma. I smirked as I recalled those. “Used goods? You’re calling me that, but let’s be honest, Emma, you’re the used goods here, no doubt about it. “Right, Henry? You’re a proud teacher, but you ended up marrying someone like her. I feel sorry for you.” I deliberately glanced at Henry, my words sharp. The room’s atmosphere shifted immediately. Henry’s face turned from red to black, then to a deep shade of blue. Emma, on the other hand, went berserk, lunging at me and grabbing my hair. Fortunately, Kayden was quick to intervene. Otherwise, I might not have been able to defend myself. In the end, Henry showed signs of losing composure, and, wanting to avoid further embarrassment, he stormed out after yelling a few harsh words. Emma collapsed onto the floor, sobbing in Kayden’s arms. She lamented how hard she had worked raising him, how difficult it had been, only to have her son’s wife insult her now. She wept and even made exaggerated gestures to bang her head against the wall, playing the victim. Kayden, with pity in his eyes, grabbed her and tried to calm her down. As for me, the entire situation felt suffocating. The atmosphere in this house was toxic, and I couldn’t stand to be there for another second. I quickly packed a few clothes and left for my parent’s house. Before I left, I caught Kayden’s gaze. His eyes held a mixture of disappointment and confusion. He didn’t try to stop me from leaving, but I could see he was frustrated. I couldn’t believe it. He was upset with me! It was a weekend, and my parents were both at home. They were surprised to see me walking through the door alone in the middle of the afternoon. “Have you eaten? What happened?” My mother, knowing me well, immediately recognized something was off. I had never faced any real hardship in my life, and as soon as I saw my parents, I couldn’t hold back the tears. They fell uncontrollably as I recounted everything that had happened. “Such a shameless family!” My dad, sitting on the couch, quietly smoked his cigarette. My mom, shaking with anger, slapped the table and scolded me, “Jasmine Arnold, you’re our only daughter! We told you from the start not to get involved with Kayden, but you wouldn’t listen! You even got pregnant before marriage. You nearly drove your father and me insane. Now you see the consequences, don’t you?” My parents had strongly opposed me dating Kayden. I had been too blinded by love to listen to their warnings. All I knew was that Kayden was reliable and kind-hearted. He always took my feelings into consideration. He was the kind of person who, even if he had only 10 dollars left in his pocket, would spend nine of it on me. I was convinced that no one else would love me as much as he did. In the end, my persistence wore my parents down, and they reluctantly accepted him. Looking back, I wished I could slap myself for not listening to their advice. Why didn’t I pay attention to their warnings back then? “Well, what’s the use in talking about it now?” My dad pressed out his cigarette, his voice low and serious as he said, “Jasmine, the Baileys, your husband’s parents, are traditional and care deeply about their reputation, and they are unpredictable and calculating. You’re no match for them. “Then there’s Kayden. He’s a good person, but being honest doesn’t mean he can’t do bad things. “You should see by now that, in Kayden’s heart, you’ll never be more important than his parents. This is just the beginning. Anytime family issues come up, he’ll always choose them over you. Your relationship doesn’t stand a chance when compared to family ties. How long do you think you can hold on?” After I heard my dad’s words, my emotions slowly settled.

I didn’t know what the future would hold, but Kayden’s attitude today was already clear. Maybe I wasn’t that important to him after all. I thought about it, my eyes welling up with tears again. But what about the baby inside me? Was I really going to let him grow up without a father? Besides, this was about Kayden’s parents, not him. Our years of love couldn’t have been fake, could they? I helplessly glanced at my parents sitting beside me, trying to comfort me, but I still couldn’t make up my mind. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and in came Kayden, disheveled and anxious. I had expected him to stay home and work things out with his parents, not to come running after me so soon. That meant, deep down, he really did care about me. A wave of the anger I had been holding back for so long suddenly started to fade. I thought about the five years we had spent together and how we had just gotten married. I hadn’t even had a chance to experience the happiness I’d imagined for our married life. After all we had been through, maybe I shouldn’t give up so easily. At the very least, I would never be able to let it go. Kayden rushed in, greeted my parents briefly, and then sat down next to me. “Jasmine, we’re family. Can you please not hold this against me? “I messed up. I didn’t communicate well. Actually, my parents didn’t mean any harm. Once you get to know them, you’ll see they’re really kind-hearted.” “Today, you shouldn’t have been so unreasonable with my mom.” None of us spoke, waiting for Kayden to finish. But the more I heard, the more upset I became. So, his parents were good people, and I was just a petty, unforgiving person? I turned my head and saw my mom holding back a sigh, rolling her eyes. She was about to speak when my dad raised his hand to stop her. Then he glanced at Kayden, his tone calm yet authoritative, a presence he had earned from decades of leadership experience. “Kayden, it’s normal for young couples to have disagreements. But you two just got married. This should be the sweetest time for you both. And Jasmine is pregnant, so, morally and logically, this shouldn’t have happened.” “Right.” Kayden nodded repeatedly in response to my dad. He was always cautious around him. Not only was my dad, but also his superior’s superior at work. Without my dad, how could Kayden have gotten into such a big company right after graduation, earning two to three thousand dollars a month with no experience? Kayden’s attitude was always respectful, but my dad didn’t soften, continuing, “I have only one precious daughter. I’ve said this before. If anyone causes her even the slightest harm, I will make them pay ten times over, no matter who they are.” When my dad said this, his eyes were full of determination. Kayden visibly shook. In the past, I had thought Kayden’s caution around my parents was simply due to his sincerity and humility. But now, it only irritated me. “I was wrong this time. I didn’t take care of Jasmine properly. I came here to apologize. “I’ll talk to my parents and make sure this doesn’t happen again. I promise I won’t make Jasmine angry anymore.” Kayden was the same as before our marriage; whenever he was questioned, he would promise to treat me better over and over. But now, his promises didn’t seem to mean much. “What are you going to do about it next?”

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The project my wife had been waiting for three years is about to breach the deadline, and she promised me that if it was completed by the end of the year, she would promote me to vice president. But after I worked tirelessly to finish it, she promoted the male assistant, who had been with the company for less than three months, to vice president instead. “Your abilities are impressive, but if it weren’t for him negotiating, the project would have failed long ago.” Everyone thought I would be jealous of the assistant. But instead of getting angry, I smiled and handed over my shares to the assistant. “You’re right. By the way, from now on, you’ll be the company’s new shareholder.” After all, no one knew that the reason the project had been allowed to be delayed again and again was because the client was my father. Without my connections, the so-called big project would be nothing but a house of cards, and my wife would be unable to repay the loans, doomed to a life worse than death. When I tossed the share transfer document to my wife’s assistant, Ethan Bennett, everyone in the company was stunned. For three whole years, many had worked hard on this project, pushing their bodies to the limit. Though I didn’t have many shares, once the project went live and the company went public, those shares could potentially skyrocket tenfold or even a hundredfold. And I, Daniel Parker, so nonchalantly, gave them up. These shares were worth far more than a vice president position. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the share transfer document, except for my wife, Ave Parker, whose face turned ashen. Her carefully applied makeup couldn’t hide the anger. “Daniel! If you’re unhappy with my decision, you could’ve just said so directly! “There’s no need for this behavior, disrupting the company’s atmosphere!” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Disrupting the company’s atmosphere? She sure knew how to put a label on things. Ever since she hired Ethan, I had become a villain in her eyes. No matter what I said or did, I was always wrong. Now, I had just handed Ethan a huge opportunity, why wasn’t she happy about it? What on earth was going through her mind? I was truly at a loss. Meanwhile, Ethan was clutching the share transfer document tightly, his greed flashing in his eyes before he quickly hid it. Then, he lifted his head, feigning a look of deep concern. “Daniel, are you upset because you weren’t chosen as vice president and think Mrs. Parker is biased? “Please don’t misunderstand. Mrs. Parker doesn’t think you’re incapable. “It’s just that she heard you’re allergic to alcohol, and as vice president, you’d need to attend social events and drink. She was worried it might harm your health. “Everyone knows how hard you’ve worked on this project, and I, as a newcomer, definitely can’t accept these shares. Please take them back.” Although Ethan’s words sounded nice, he showed no sign of handing over the document. Clearly, he wasn’t willing to part with such a juicy prize. As for what he said, it was laughable. Only Ave and I knew about my alcohol allergy. This was clearly a story they had already agreed on! And the idea that because I couldn’t drink, they would let a newcomer with less than three months on the job take the vice president position? Anyone with half a brain would know there was something fishy going on here. But I couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore. Instead, I patted Ethan on the shoulder, speaking earnestly, “Ethan, no, Mr. Bennett, I’m truly grateful for how you’ve considered my well-being. “Having someone as thoughtful as you in the company makes me feel at ease.” I even squeezed his shoulder to show my recognition and approval. At this, Ave finally smiled in satisfaction. “That’s more like it. “Of course, I won’t treat you poorly, such an experienced employee. “Later, at Ethan’s celebration dinner, I know you can’t drink, and I didn’t want to drag you into it, but since you’ve shown such understanding, you can come, too.” Seeing her act like she was doing me some huge favor, I nearly laughed in disbelief. She took the vice president position without a word and now she was acting all nice, thinking she could send me off with a dinner? I smiled with a fake grin and declined. “No need. I don’t eat with jerks. It’s too much of a stomach-turner.” Ave’s smile instantly froze. She slammed the table and yelled, “Daniel! Do you really think you’re that impressive? “If it wasn’t for Ethan’s negotiating skills, this project would have long since been overdue and we’d have been held accountable. What do you think you had to do with it? “Do you want me to fire you?” I looked at her furious expression, feeling no emotion at all, even suppressing a laugh. If she hadn’t insisted on promoting Ethan, causing errors in the data, and pushing the task back over and over, we wouldn’t have reached this point. It was Ethan’s fault. I ended up cleaning up his mess, and now it was being presented as his accomplishment. Her ability to distort the facts was nothing short of brilliant. With that thought, I pulled out the resignation letter I had prepared earlier, slamming it down on the table. “Alright, remember to sign it.” I turned and walked out. Just as I was about to hail a cab downstairs, a red sports car suddenly screeched to a stop in front of me. The window rolled down slowly, revealing Ethan’s smug face. Before I could react, he threw his coffee at me on purpose. The cold wind of winter mixed with ice cubes from the drink, soaking my clothes, making it feel like a thousand needles stabbing me. Ethan looked at me in my miserable state, no longer the humble figure he once was. His face twisted into a sneer. “Look at you freezing and waiting for the bus, Daniel. If you were vice president, it would be so embarrassing to let that get out. “Then again, not everyone has my great drinking skills to drag the client on like this. “Alright, enough talk. I’m heading to the celebration dinner. It’s almost the end of the year, so you can take your time finding a new job.” After saying that, he slammed on the gas and drove off. But as Ethan’s car disappeared, I couldn’t help but smile coldly. No one knew that the project had been allowed to be delayed this long not because of Ethan’s so-called business negotiation skills. Even with his drinking ability, the client wouldn’t be dumb enough to ignore the losses in the billions of dollars. The only reason was one thing. With that thought, I immediately called the client. “Dad, I’ve resigned. The project you gave to Ave’s company can be canceled now.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone. Then, my dad’s excited shout was deafening. “You’re finally coming around! “I’ve already paved the way for you, but you chose to turn down a position at a global Fortune 500 company and insisted on starting a business at that unreliable little company!” I listened to my dad’s furious rant and awkwardly rubbed my nose. Yes, the reason Ave’s project had been allowed to be delayed repeatedly was because of my dad. The project’s client was actually my father. My dad was the head of the Valora region in his group. Initially, Ave’s company, due to its lack of technical and financial advantages, was on the verge of being eliminated from the market and going bankrupt. I watched Ave every day, troubled and anxious, barely eating or sleeping, and I couldn’t bear it. Unable to watch her hard work go to waste, I proactively asked my dad for help. That was how I managed to secure the project that saved Ave’s company. It was thanks to the group’s investment that Ave’s previously unknown company started getting noticed by clients. Seeing Ave’s company grow and seeing her smile again, I also felt satisfied, working tirelessly. I thought we were building our dreams together, heading toward success. I never imagined that in the end, due to a male assistant who had only been with the company for less than three months, I would be completely discarded. “To keep that project, my bonus is being deducted! “To keep this project moving, I’ve been negotiating with headquarters every day, coming up with all sorts of excuses!” My dad continued to complain on the phone. I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. My dad had worked so hard to help me. Though he complained about Ave’s unreliable company, he had always secretly been helping me. He even sacrificed his own bonus just to secure the project for me. And here I was, like a fool, being played by Ave and Ethan. “Alright, alright, I got it, Dad. You’ve worked hard. “Just cancel the project. I don’t want anything to do with them anymore.” My dad quickly agreed. He added, “I’ll introduce you to some of my old friends when you’re back. They’re all industry elites and in the future…” My dad began rambling about my future. I listened, gradually calming down. Ave’s small company didn’t have enough capital, and to keep the project afloat, she had borrowed a significant amount of money. Without my connections, that so-called big project was nothing but a house of cards. She would be unable to repay the loans when the project was invalidated, and she would never recover from it. But right now, I didn’t need to explain it to her. I thought, “When disaster strikes, they will naturally realize who the real power behind this is.” With that thought, I hung up and began packing my things, preparing to sever ties with Ave completely. When I got home, I opened the wardrobe and as I was rummaging through the drawers, a photo album hidden in the corner fell out. In the photo, Ave was youthful and innocent, wearing a high school uniform, and smiling brightly. And standing next to her was a tall, thin boy whose features, surprisingly, resembled Ethan’s! I froze, flipping through the album. At the back of the album was a stack of love letters, with delicate handwriting. The recipient was Ethan. I suddenly understood why, on one occasion, I was just looking for socks in the drawer, and Ave had gone into a furious fit, pushing me out and not letting me in for the entire day. She was afraid I would discover her secret! No wonder, with Ave’s bad temper, every assistant, regardless of their education or ability, was fired after only a few weeks of being yelled at. But Ethan, the rookie, had been promoted and paid generously, advancing fast. It turned out he was her first love from school! Well, that explained everything. I sneered and closed the album, grabbing my nearly empty suitcase and leaving the cold, lifeless home. I sent my luggage home via courier, then called my dad to come pick me up. While waiting for the car, I saw a street vendor selling roasted chestnuts and thought it wouldn’t hurt to grab a quick bite since I hadn’t eaten all morning. But the next second, I ran into Ave and Ethan. At that moment, Ave, with a slightly drunken smile, looked at me smugly. “Hey, weren’t you so confident at the company earlier? Now you’re just standing here, waiting to beg for my forgiveness?” Hearing this, I was speechless. She really had a vivid imagination! I was the one who was unlucky. If I had known, I would’ve just taken a cab and left instead of indulging in my craving. Ethan looked at the roasted chestnuts in my hand with a hint of disdain, then said sarcastically, “Hey, Ave, look at Daniel here, waiting outside in the freezing cold, buying you your favorite roasted chestnuts! “Why not let him go back to the company? After all, Daniel’s got the experience. I can just assist Daniel from now on. “It’s hard to find work at the end of the year. How’s Daniel going to explain being unemployed to his family?” Ave, full of herself, responded, “Fine! But someone like Ethan, such a genius, shouldn’t just assist you. From now on, Daniel, you’ll be running errands for Ethan!” With that, Ave grabbed the roasted chestnut from my hand and took a bite. I was furious, but I snatched the chestnut back and threw it straight into the trash. “Such a self-righteous fool! If someone like you eats this, it’d be a waste of food!” Ave immediately flew into a rage, pointing at my nose and shouting, “You! Who do you think you’re talking to? “Daniel! I want a divorce!” This again. Whenever we had a disagreement, if she couldn’t justify her actions, she would throw out the divorce card to force me into submission. But now… I immediately started laughing and pulled out the divorce agreement I had prepared earlier. “Great! I’ve been waiting for you to sign it!”

“Divorce agreement… You had it prepared already!” Ave’s eyes immediately widened in disbelief. Seeing this, Ethan nearly couldn’t hold back his laughter from the side. After all, he was eager to be together with Ave. With me out of the way, he lost one less competitor. Naturally, he was delighted. But in an attempt to impress Ave, Ethan still pretended to be sincere as he said, “Hey, Daniel, I understand that being humiliated in front of so many people at the company made you feel embarrassed and upset. That’s normal. “But you and Ave just got married, how can you let a divorce be a way of taking out your frustration?” Upon hearing that, I looked at his expression, and a wave of disgust washed over me. I thought, “This guy acts so well. Back at the office, he’d stick to Ave like glue all the time, and now he’s pretending to be the voice of reason.” I pointed toward the nearby courier station. “Fine. I’ve packed my things. Hurry up and sign it. No need to waste our time.” Only then did Ave seem to realize I was serious. But the next moment, she suddenly seemed to remember something and sneered coldly, “Daniel, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to! “You just see the company expanding now and want to take some of my money, right?” Ave had a smug expression as if she had already seen through all the schemes. “I’ll tell you, the house and the company, everything was notarized before we even got our marriage certificate! “You won’t be getting a single penny from me! “If you want to divorce, go ahead!” Looking at her haughty demeanor, I suddenly understood. No wonder when we were getting our certificate, I wanted to do it on our anniversary and share it on social media, but Ave kept delaying. It turned out, behind my back, that she had already had her assets notarized! What a clever move, cutting at the root! Realizing I wouldn’t be taking anything with me, Ethan could barely hold back his laughter from the side, though he still made an effort to put on a concerned expression. “Yeah, Daniel, even if you’re considering your feelings, at least think about your future. “Now, if you divorce Ave, you won’t have anything left. “Ave is now a rising star in the industry. She has the attention of the industry leader, and her project is about to take off. “With that kind of network, Ave could easily blacklist you with a single word!” I looked at Ethan’s hypocritical face, and my stomach churned. He talked so much, but all he really wanted was to keep me around so he could continue exploiting me. After all, he was just a fraud. Without me managing the work, he would be exposed as the worthless vice president in no time. Then the company’s profits would drop, and Ave wouldn’t be able to protect him. Upon hearing that, Ave crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and looked down at me with a smug expression. “Exactly. I think some people just get too full of themselves after being in the company for so long. “You can’t even handle the projects, and Ethan manages them easily with a meal. “When the client gives their approval, not only will we receive 200 million dollars in funding… “The company might even go public! “Now, do you still think the company can’t go on without you?” She sneered arrogantly as if I were nothing more than a dispensable man. Looking at her self-satisfied expression, I couldn’t help but mock her inwardly. I thought, “She is completely fooled by Ethan’s sweet talk. She’s waiting for a huge investment and IPO? Wait for the company to collapse!” With that thought, I spoke in a cold tone, enunciating every word. I said, “Without my connection, just the fact that you’ve been delaying progress by relying on Ethan, causing delays, and breaking agreements for six months, is enough for Ascend Group to legally cancel the partnership and even seek damages! “And Ascend Group is the industry leader. If their investment credibility is harmed, forget about an IPO… “You might not even be able to get any orders in this industry anymore!” But in response to my warning, Ave merely laughed dismissively, “Your connection? Are you really going to praise yourself so much?” She pointed at me and said with a sharp tone, “You’re just an unemployed bum, who probably can’t even get through the doors of their company. “Why would such a large listed group listen to you?” Before Ave could finish her sentence, a black Maybach slowly pulled up at the gate of the community. Ethan immediately recognized it, exclaiming in shock, “Oh my! That’s the car of Ascend Group’s Valora region head!” Upon hearing Ethan’s words, Ave immediately stood straighter, a smug grin spreading across her face as she looked at me. “Did you see that? “For this project, even the head of Valora region from the industry leader came all the way to my house!” She lifted her chin, her tone dripping with arrogance as if she could already see her bright future ahead. What she didn’t know was that the person inside the car was none other than my father. “Oh, once the company goes public, I’ll be financially free. Then I’ll buy a big villa with Ethan, get some sports cars, and travel abroad, eating at all the nice restaurants! “As for you…” Ave glanced at me. She added with disdain in her voice, “Just wait for unemployment benefits and live on welfare for the rest of your life!” She said that then adjusted her hair, standing respectfully as she prepared to greet the guest. “Mr. Parker, about our collaboration…” But before she could finish, the person in the car ignored her outstretched hand and walked straight to me, pulling me into a hug. “You brat, it’s been a year, and you’ve lost so much weight! “Your mom’s going to say I’m a bad father when she sees you like this…”

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I was the daughter of some bigshot billionaire, Victoria Foster’s fake boyfriend. My brother Wesley Grant was doing the same gig, playing along as arm candy for Margaret Russell, this up-and-coming actress. We had this brilliant plan to milk the situation for all it was worth and then split town with the cash. But things didn’t quite go according to plan. They dumped us before we could score any real money. Wesley and I had no choice but to pack our bags and leave in the middle of the night. Two years later, Margaret tracked down my brother. I was just standing there, enjoying the drama unfold, when someone smacked me upside the head. “I could handle you ghosting me, but did you really have to steal my dog too?” Victoria’s voice cut through the air. Just as Margaret was about to reach her apartment door, Wesley grabbed my arm while holding an iPad, trying to pick out a birthday gift for her. When the sound of the keypad lock downstairs clicked open, Wesley tossed the tablet aside and whispered, “Quick, hide somewhere. She hates having other people here.” I quickly contorted my six-foot frame into a shrimp-like shape and squeezed myself under the bed. Wesley, who had been all business moments ago, suddenly transformed into a lovesick puppy, throwing his arms wide open to embrace his beauty. “Welcome home, babe!” Margaret impatiently shoved Wesley away from her. “It was you, wasn’t it? You leaked the story about Evan being illegitimate! His gallery just opened! This negative press could ruin him! If you’re upset about something, take it out on me, not him! Why did you have to go after Evan?” Wesley’s eyes started to well up with tears. “You really think I would do that?” Margaret angrily threw her bag down. “This happened right after you visited his gallery. He only told you about it.” Just as Wesley was about to respond, Margaret’s assistant came upstairs. “We can’t reach Mr. Evan Porter on his phone.” Margaret set down the water glass she had just picked up. She shot Wesley an icy glare before heading back downstairs. “Margaret, I swear I didn’t do it,” Wesley pleaded. Margaret let out a cold laugh. “Last week, you got all jealous about me supporting Evan’s gallery. If it wasn’t you, then who was it?” Wesley sniffled as tears fell onto the tip of his shoes. “Can we talk about this tomorrow? Today is your…” “Just shut up! I never thought you’d be this kind of person!” Margaret stormed out, slamming the door without even looking at him. “Did you ever have any feelings for me at all?” Wesley rushed to the door and called out to Margaret’s retreating figure. Her heels paused for a brief moment, but she didn’t answer. The only response was the sound of a car driving away downstairs. Wesley put away his tablet and rubbed his nose before flopping spread-eagled onto the bed. “Well, at least I won’t have to spend money on her birthday this year,” he muttered. I poked my head out from under the bed and gave him a thumbs-up. “Wesley, your acting skills are amazing. You almost had me believing you were really in love with her.” Wesley kicked me lightly. “Evan is your girlfriend’s childhood sweetheart.” “Hey, I didn’t do anything to hurt him!” I protested. “Are you suggesting that I did?” “What exactly are you saying?” My voice started trembling as I processed his words. “Let’s grab some cash and get the hell out of here!” Wesley stared at me with determination in his eyes. “What’s going on?” I asked with confusion. “I ran into Evan at the gallery last week, and he gave me this ultimatum. When I called him out for being shameless, he came after me today,” Wesley explained with a grimace. “Don’t forget that Evan is Margaret’s old flame and your girlfriend’s childhood sweetheart. Knowing your girlfriend’s temperament, if you mess with her beloved childhood friend, you might not live to see another day!” I quickly scrambled to my feet and started putting on my shoes. “Alright, alright, say no more. Let’s figure out how much money we can withdraw and make a run for it,” I said urgently.

Wesley and I were identical twins. He majored in Theater Arts while I studied Economics in college. He became Margaret’s personal assistant, and Margaret immediately offered him the position during his senior year audition. I was just a stand-in boyfriend for billionaire heiress Victoria. Right after graduation, Victoria claimed me in an underground parking lot when I went for a job interview. We both grew up in an orphanage, and our incredible stroke of luck came from looking precisely like Evan. For three years, we’ve been living the high life without any financial worries. As a top celebrity, Margaret naturally had to maintain her public image. Victoria is a different story altogether. As the sole heiress to a billion-dollar fortune, she was a wild beauty with a temper, and anyone who crossed her path would regret it. We thought life would just continue this way indefinitely, but things have changed. Evan, who once stubbornly refused any financial support from Margaret, had returned. After life beat him down overseas, he’s given up on the struggle for success. Now he was back, planning to choose between two golden tickets—the A-list celebrity or the billionaire’s daughter to secure an easy life for himself. “Back at the gallery, he told me that Margaret would give him everything he needed with just a snap of his fingers. Let alone something as simple as getting rid of me. Look how quickly he made it happen. I wouldn’t care much if it was just about getting fired, but Victoria isn’t someone you want to mess with. What if she decides to throw both of us into the river?” The memory of Victoria driving someone insane with her bungee jumping stunt sent me chills. It all started when someone called me a gold digger. Victoria had them tied up and forced to bungee jump by the river. The next day, they ended up in a mental hospital, babbling like a lunatic. “God, I’m just Evan’s stand-in for crying out loud. If Evan decides to turn against me next, will I make it out alive? He’s the one who grew up with her, after all. We need to get out of here, like, right now!” After our discussion, we headed home separately to grab our cards and withdraw cash for our escape plan.

I had just finished packing up most of my belongings at home. Suddenly, someone burst through the doorway and threw herself into my arms, whispering, “What are you doing here so late? Where are you headed?” The smell of alcohol lingered on her breath. She seemed a bit drunk. Even after four years together, I still didn’t dare confront her about her drinking, so I simply replied, “I was actually going to look for you.” She appeared to be in high spirits, looking at me through half-closed eyes as she snuggled closer into my embrace and pushed the door shut behind her. “What would you like me wearing tonight?” she purred. I nervously responded, “You look beautiful in anything.” Victoria’s mother had passed away when she was young, and her father was a womanizer who frequently brought different women home. She grew up believing all men were cut from the same cloth. One day, while running away from home, she met a little boy who wiped away her tears. Victoria always said he was the first person to shed her tears. That person must have been Evan. Tonight, she was unusually forward. Before I could sit, she straddled my lap with a mischievous smile and began pulling up her dress… I wasn’t like Wesley. For artists like Wesley and Margaret, spiritual connection mattered most. I preferred a more physical kind of intimacy. Afterward, a wave of sadness washed over me. I ran my fingers through her hair as she rested her head softly on my arm. The words slipped out before I could stop them. “Do you love me?” She froze, and I caught a glimpse of her eyes in the darkness, staring at the ceiling before closing them again. Her only response was the steady rhythm of her breathing. You can never wake someone who’s pretending to sleep. But tonight, I desperately needed an answer. “What am I to you?” I rolled over to kiss her, one arm holding her tight against me while the other tugged at her newly donned nightgown. “Jason, you’re crossing a line,” she said coldly. She pushed me away and got up to put on her shoes. “Get some rest. I’m sleeping upstairs.” Just moments ago, she’d been whispering in my ear, and now she might as well have been a stranger. “Are we gonna keep this relationship hidden forever? This isn’t the kind of relationship I want,” I said. “Oh yeah? Then there’s the door. We can end this right now,” Victoria barely spared me a glance. I fell silent, watching her with a stunned expression. “Please. I’ve got guys falling all over themselves for me,” Victoria snapped before stomping up the stairs.

What was I to her? I was some poor guy who looked a bit like her childhood sweetheart, nothing but a man hiding in the shadows who couldn’t bear the light of day. I was not fooling myself. I didn’t even have a ticket to the game of high-society marriage. Yet today, like an idiot, I had to go and ask her that question. I wiped the moisture from my eyes and let out a heavy sigh. Victoria’s pet dog, Dolly, jumped onto my bed, looking at me with sympathy, drool dripping from her mouth. Dolly was a stray mutt that Victoria had rescued from the streets, and I was the one who raised her. I have to take her with me. I carefully went downstairs, carrying Dolly in one arm and my luggage in the other. I texted Wesley as soon as I left: [I’m heading out now.] [Let’s meet at the airport in thirty minutes.] [I can’t take a plane; I’ve got my dog with me.] [Damn, we’ll have to take the bus then!! Meet at the bus station in thirty minutes!!!] Jason glared at me through gritted teeth as I stood there with my luggage and Dolly in my arms. I didn’t see what the big deal was, but Wesley showed up looking like a refugee with three massive suitcases, which really made me think. “What’s all this stuff you’re bringing?” “She dumped me and told me to wipe every trace of myself from her life, so I packed up everything that was mine.” “Did you really need to bring the broom, though?” “I bought that broom too.” I momentarily fell silent and said, “Well, I got dumped, too. Victoria said she had plenty of other options.” Wesley gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, his look indicating that he knew exactly how I felt. Then we both loaded our bags into the bus’ luggage compartment, looking like two rejected puppies, and squeezed onto the smelly bus with my dog. We slunk out of the city like a couple of defeated soldiers.

Margaret was bombarded with contract termination calls throughout the day. The media unleashed a ruthless attack on Evan’s identity as an illegitimate child, and vandals completely trashed the gallery. She had no choice but to take him to her home, but the paparazzi caught them and broke the news overnight. Wesley flew into a rage and stormed out of the house. Her investigation revealed that all the paparazzi admitted Wesley had leaked the information. “Margaret, Wesley took all his belongings with him. Should we…” her assistant whispered tentatively. “Let him go. Just leave him alone,” she snapped back irritably. Evan touched his bruised forehead and said, “Margaret, I’m grateful for your help, but you should go after him. I’d feel terrible if I caused problems between you two.” His eyes were deep and lifeless, and his dejected tone made Margaret feel even more disgusted by Wesley’s inhuman behavior. “Do you know who did it?” “When I met him before, I tried to comfort him about his insecurities. I told him that being poor wasn’t a big deal and mentioned how I was just an unwanted illegitimate child whose father didn’t love my mother. I said he was better off than me. Someone with ulterior motives must have overheard our conversation.” Margaret felt her heart tighten in her chest. She knew exactly who that “someone” was. Her investigation had revealed that Wesley himself had tipped off the paparazzi. At first, she couldn’t believe it, but after hearing Evan’s explanation, her last glimmer of hope vanished. Evan cast a subtle glance at Margaret. He stood up and said, “Margaret, you should check on him.” After taking a few steps, he pretended to lose his balance. Margaret rushed to support him, saying, “Forget about him. He can go wherever he wants. How are you feeling?” At that moment, the infrared beam from a camera swept through the window. After years in the entertainment industry, she had become susceptible to infrared lights and camera flashes. “Who’s there!” she called out. Evan continued his act of unsteadiness and collapsed against Margaret’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.” “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of everything while you focus on getting better,” Margaret said softly as she gently patted Evan’s shoulder. Within minutes, new headlines flooded the media outlets. [Rising Star Margaret Caught in Late-Night Embrace with Porter Family’s Illegitimate Son!] [One Night Stand or Secret Romance?] Social media notifications bombarded Wesley’s phone from every direction. Wesley heaved as his trembling hands removed the SIM card from his phone in the darkness, snapped it in half, and tossed it out the car window. My phone remained empty, devoid of any messages. To prevent myself from dwelling on the past in the future. Following Wesley’s lead, I pulled out my SIM card and threw it out the car window. “Your dog chewed up the window handle, and now it won’t close properly,” Wesley growled through clenched teeth, glaring at Dolly and me while struggling with the window. The wind howled through the broken window, sending dust swirling around us, and I couldn’t tell if the moisture on our faces was from tears or the damp evening air. Wesley and I took turns carrying the dog and dragging our suitcases, only to discover our cards had been frozen when we finally got off.

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On Valentine’s Day, Joyce got into a car accident while making a U-turn on the highway, all to save the cat of her first love. Both the cat and I were trapped under the car, and no matter who she saved first, the other would suffer more serious injuries from the imbalance. I endured the pain and called for help, but Joyce didn’t hesitate at all to save the cat. “This is Samuel’s favorite cat. I can’t let it get hurt. Don’t worry, even if you lose a hand, I’ll stay with you.” The car was hit again, the glass shattered, and my arm was crushed, flesh mangled. Yet Joyce was still entirely focused on checking the cat over and over. When the ambulance finally arrived, she even stood in front of the vehicle, ensuring the doctors treated the cat first. “William’s just got a minor injury. How can he compare to my cat? If you don’t save it, you’re not leaving today!” She forgot that I have a clotting disorder. With all this blood loss, I could die. “Joyce, what is this supposed to mean?” I let out a desperate growl and used all my strength to push her away. But the intense pain from my right hand made me nearly lose consciousness. Joyce gave me a complicated look. “William, don’t blame me. Luna is Samuel’s favorite cat. I have to do this.” Then she left me behind, walking straight to the side of the road and holding the cat. Blood poured from my wrist, and the wound was deep enough to see the bone. But Joyce still ignored me, continuing to check the cat for any injuries. Five minutes later, the paramedics finally arrived. They quickly moved me onto a stretcher, ready to transport me, but Joyce stopped them. “Don’t you have a first aid kit? Help me check on the cat first!” “What are you doing, worrying about a cat now? The patient’s lost so much blood, and if we wait any longer, it’ll be too late!” The doctors exchanged looks, their expressions full of disbelief. Upon hearing this, Joyce stood in front of the ambulance. “Do you know whose cat this is? It’s Samuel’s! If anything happens to it, you’d better worry about your jobs!” Samuel’s family was wealthy, and his grandfather had once been the hospital director, with powerful connections. The doctors knew Samuel’s name, so they hesitated slightly. They took the cat, examined it quickly, then handed it back to Joyce. “It’s just a little shaken up, not even a scratch. Don’t worry.” The sting from my wound made me groan involuntarily, and seeing my condition, the doctors rushed to close the door and start the journey. But Joyce was still unrelenting. “You just glanced at it to appease me, I’m not so easy to fool! William, you’re fine with just a little injury, why are you acting like this? “Move aside, check my cat again!” She then pulled out her phone and took a picture of each doctor’s ID badge. “If you keep messing around, I’ll send this straight to Samuel. Don’t regret it when someone gets fired.” The doctors, unable to do anything else, had no choice but to leave me aside and continue inspecting the cat. The blood kept flowing, and I felt myself growing colder. Three minutes later, the stretcher was almost completely soaked in blood. Seeing my condition worsen, Joyce finally relented. “Fine, let’s go. William, I barely put any pressure on you, why are you so fragile?” She cast a disgusted glance at me, then muttered under her breath, “Such a waste of time… I don’t even know if Luna’s really alright…” Earlier, when she knew I was cut by glass shards, she still cruelly pressed down on me, deepening my wounds. But now, she was accusing me of being weak. The hurt and humiliation overwhelmed me in an instant. I opened my mouth to defend myself, but no words came out. Joyce, seeing this, made no attempt to hide her disdain.

Joyce and I had been married for three years, and up until this incident, our relationship had been quite good. A while ago, she brought home this cat, saying she had just found it, feeling sorry for it. I believed her and took care of the cat, feeding it carefully and even making sure to clean its litter as soon as I came home from work each day. Who would have thought I was just being a fool, doing everything for someone else? I even almost lost my life today because of it. Tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. I shut them, feeling utterly disappointed in Joyce. Once we arrived at the hospital, the tension I had been holding in released, and I passed out completely. I didn’t know how much time had passed when I slowly regained consciousness. My right hand was wrapped in several thick layers of bandages. “We spent a long time resuscitating you. You mustn’t let this hand get injured again, or it will be permanently damaged,” the doctor said, his voice full of concern. He continued with a serious tone, “Rest well. If you get through the next few days, there may be a chance for recovery.” I nodded gratefully. After they left, I instinctively reached for my phone to call Joyce. But then I remembered she was the one who had hurt me, and the excitement I initially felt turned into bitterness. I closed my eyes in exhaustion, ready to rest, but Joyce called me. “I paid for the ambulance ride earlier. Transfer the money to me, I still need it. “The doctor already told me you’re fine. It was just a minor injury, right? You were just pretending to be so dramatic!” I clenched my phone tightly, my voice trembling. “You’re the one who hurt me, and now you want me to transfer money? Joyce, do you even have a heart? “Also, you still haven’t explained why you’re helping your ex-boyfriend take care of a cat?” I had been rushed into the emergency room, and she still thought I was faking it. My disappointment deepened, my throat tightened, and tears once again filled my eyes. The line fell silent for a few seconds, and then I faintly heard some voices, a man’s voice. I couldn’t make out the words, but I could tell Joyce was with Samuel. Just as I was about to hang up, Joyce finally spoke, “So now you dare speak to me like this? Samuel and I are just friends. He went abroad and left Luna with me for a few days. It’s just a small favor between friends. Is that so hard to understand? “I’ve been considerate of you. If I didn’t worry about you getting jealous, why would I have lied and told you Luna was a stray?” Hearing that, my heart hurt uncontrollably. No wonder, a month ago, Joyce started using business trips as an excuse, and the number of nights she stayed out kept increasing. During that time, her behavior became erratic. She kept her phone glued to her hand and was unusually defensive toward me. I had suspected something. After seeing the diamond ring on her finger, I even asked her about it. But every time, Joyce found a way to brush it off. At that moment, I already had a bad feeling in my gut, but I chose to trust her. I had been in love with her for seven years, ever since I first saw her at university. Later, when her family faced a crisis and she was dumped by Samuel, she had a breakdown and tried to take her own life. I happened to be there to save her, helping her through her family’s troubles and resolving the crisis. Joyce was moved by me, and six months later, she proposed to me. Though her temper grew worse after we married, and she frequently nitpicked at me, I stayed by her side without complaint, giving all my heart and love. But now, I suddenly didn’t want to keep lying to myself and holding onto this relationship. “You don’t have to worry about me anymore, Joyce. Let’s get a divorce.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, and then Joyce’s laughter clearly came through. “So now you’re threatening me with divorce? Fine, let’s get a divorce, but only if you can convince my parents to agree!” As soon as she finished speaking, she hung up. I let my wrist drop, lying on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Joyce’s parents had always treated me very well, and I owed them a lot. Even though they knew I was an orphan, they never once criticized my family background. In my heart, they were like my own parents. In the past, when Joyce and I had conflicts, I would always consider their feelings and try to let things go. But now, I couldn’t stand it anymore. After mentally preparing myself, I called her father. After explaining what had happened that day, he immediately transferred 50 thousand dollars to me. “William, you’ve been wronged. This is just a little compensation from me. “But about the divorce, please don’t act in haste. After all, in my heart, you’re the only one I recognize as Joyce’s husband! Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Joyce now and make her come to apologize to you.” I wanted to refuse, but then her mother joined in. Both of them sincerely tried to persuade me. After hanging up, I almost softened again. But then Joyce barged into the hospital room, with Samuel in tow, both of them furious. “You really complained? You got me scolded by my parents and even froze my bank card! “Do you know I was shopping for Samuel’s clothes? At the checkout, the salespeople were laughing at me!” Joyce cared so much about her pride, and now she was practically trembling with anger. She even reached out to grab me. I remembered the doctor’s warning and frowned. “Don’t touch my arm. The doctor said it can’t be injured again!” But to my surprise, she didn’t stop. Instead, she deliberately picked up a nearby vase and smashed it onto my injured arm. In an instant, I let out a painful scream that echoed through the entire ward. The wound was torn open again, bleeding profusely. I curled up, writhing in agony, almost passing out from the pain. “You deserve it! This will teach you a lesson. Let’s see if you dare to complain again next time!” Joyce stood smugly, watching me in pain, while Samuel stood next to her, holding her in his arms. “Joyce, your temper is still the same, so clear-cut in who you love and hate. It’s really cute,” he said. At his words, Joyce’s face flushed red. “Achen, stop it. There is an outsider here.” We were a legally married couple, but to Joyce, I was nothing more than an outsider. “Get out! Get out!” I glared at them, my eyes red with anger, gritting my teeth. Joyce rolled her eyes disdainfully. “Do you think I want to see you? What a nuisance. If it weren’t for you making trouble, Samuel and I could still have fun for a long time. “William, you’d better stay put and not cause any more trouble. Samuel just got back, and I’m just here to welcome him.” With that, she pulled Samuel with her and left arrogantly. I pressed the call button for the doctor, and when he saw my injuries and the broken pieces on the floor, his face changed dramatically. “How did this happen? Didn’t I tell you not to get injured here again? Your hand… it’s most likely beyond saving.” Tears flooded my eyes once more, and the hatred I felt for Joyce reached its peak. After the doctor managed to stop the bleeding, I immediately contacted a lawyer to draft the divorce agreement. Then I messaged my mentor, David Parker: [I agree to the project you mentioned.]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295704”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

My wife Naomi Chase sent me to a mental hospital just because her beloved Robert Dalton needed test subjects for his drug research. I had just finished surgery, but she didn’t care. They shocked me until I drooled and convulsed, and yet, she simply covered Robert’s eyes, clearly disgusted. “Disgusting, don’t look.” Due to this experiment, Robert was nominated for an award, and Naomi celebrated by lighting up the whole city with fireworks in his honor. Meanwhile, I, Lincoln Booker, lay in the freezing cold of a winter night, having my right leg amputated due to excessive electric shocks. To cover it up, Robert arranged for a prosthetic leg and threatened me not to tell Naomi the truth. He claimed my leg had been injured during the experiment. I numbly placed my amputated leg in a freezer. Seven days later, at Robert’s award ceremony, it would be presented as a gift in Naomi’s hands… Chapter 1 I begged the caregiver, Ian Flynn, to help me with this task, my eyes swollen from crying. Since I came here, Ian was the only one who treated me kindly. He mentioned having an older brother who looked like me. But of course, he couldn’t fight Robert and wasn’t able to rescue me. Seeing me holding my prosthetic leg and crying uncontrollably, he hesitated before agreeing to help. He held the freezer box, ready to leave, when he ran straight into Naomi. The smell from the freezer made Naomi cover her nose. She watched the nurse walk away before finally lowering her hand, frowning. But nothing seemed to be able to ruin Naomi’s good mood. She looked as if she had just returned from a victorious battle. Her voice was light and carefree as if she were talking to herself. “Robert’s experiment was a huge success. “His dream is finally coming true.” Since Naomi entered the room, her gaze had been fixed on the bright night sky outside the window, offering no sympathy for me. It wasn’t until she realized I hadn’t spoken a word that she glanced at me with a cold stare and furrowed her brows. “Lincoln, Robert came back just to ask you for this small favor. You’ve been recovering at home after your surgery for so long, with nothing to do. Why not come here, make some friends, and help him out? There’s no need to look so miserable.” I thought, “Let me think about it. The old lady came into my room and harassed me. The old man who strangled me and accused me of stealing his money. The one who kicked me to the ground, claiming I stole his woman. This was Naomi’s idea of friends.” I had been drugged by Robert and shocked repeatedly, causing my right leg to die. The doctor who treated me said that if I had come to the hospital earlier, I might not have had to lose my leg. But I had no freedom, so how could I expect treatment? Seeing my eyes red and my gaze still on the ground, Naomi finally leaned in to question me. “Lincoln…” But she barely got my name out before her attention shifted to her buzzing phone. The moonlight from the window illuminated her face, which held a truly happy expression, so much so that Naomi stayed in the room for over 20 minutes without noticing my abnormal right leg. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, Robert’s alumni came in to deliver my medication for the day. When I thought about my empty right leg, I spilled the pills all over the floor. She froze for a moment, then walked quickly to my bedside without hesitation, placing the pills near my mouth. Her cold voice filled my ears. “This is part of Robert’s experiment. If you don’t take it, how is he going to write his report?” I turned my head away, tears in my eyes, but she grabbed my chin and forced the pills into my throat. Naomi seemed ready to say something, but her phone buzzed again. She glanced down, then quickly left the room, not even taking her coat. I could guess why she left. I checked Instagram, and the first thing I saw was Robert with tissue stuffed up his nose, looking both silly and cute. [After watching fireworks all night, I caught a cold. I took an extra cold pill… hope I’m not going to die from it, right?] The comment section was filled with Naomi’s concerned messages. [You caught a cold? Why didn’t you say anything earlier?] [You’re such a mess! Get checked out at the hospital. Wait for me.] Chapter 2 That night, Naomi didn’t come back. After midnight, I silently wished myself a happy birthday. I remembered the days before I ended up in the mental hospital when Naomi still accompanied me to my check-up. The doctor had said my stomach cancer surgery was healing well, and she had been so excited. “Your recovery will coincide with your birthday. We’ll have a big celebration that day!” But time had passed, and she had set off fireworks all over the city for Robert just to celebrate a nomination that wasn’t even real. The next morning, as the first light of dawn broke, Ian brought me a small cake about the size of a palm. “I remember you said today’s your birthday, but… your leg…” Ian hesitated, unsure of what to say, but still lit the candle for me. Through all these inhuman days, I was grateful for his care. I closed my eyes, made a wish, and was about to blow out the candle when someone appeared at the door. Naomi stood in the doorway, her brow furrowing as if suddenly remembering something. “Oh, today’s your birthday,” she said. Flustered, she rummaged through the pocket of her coat as if she could pull something out to give me as a gift. But to my surprise, what she pulled out was half-used rubber products. She awkwardly stuffed it back into her pocket, stammering, “Maybe… maybe someone was messing with me. “I’ll get you a proper gift later.” I blew out the candle with a sharp exhale, responding without thinking. “No need.” As soon as I spoke, Naomi’s face darkened, and she impatiently shoved her hands into her pockets. “Are you really making a big deal over a gift? “I’m the one who paid for your father’s treatment when he was seriously ill. And now you’re throwing a tantrum just because of a stupid birthday? Don’t you think that’s unreasonable?” I just bit my lip and quietly listened as she finished speaking. Because she wasn’t wrong, she was the one who saved my family. I felt like I could never repay her, not in a lifetime. Ian, who had been sitting beside the bed, couldn’t take it anymore. As he stood up and walked out, he accidentally bumped into Naomi’s shoulder. Naomi stumbled, her expression growing even uglier. She shot me a resentful glance, then turned to leave but bumped into Robert, who was entering the room in his lab coat. Underneath his white coat, there were faint red marks on his neck. Naomi’s anger seemed to disappear for no reason, and she hurried over, speaking gently. “I told you to rest at home. Why did you come back?” Robert sneezed and waved it off, saying, “Yesterday, you took your clothes off to warm me up. I’m much better now.” He quickly realized there were others in the room and looked away. He flashed me a smile. “I’m here today for an important experiment. I need Lincoln’s help again.” My heart skipped a beat. I looked at Naomi desperately, shaking my head, silently pleading with her not to agree. But she gave Robert a bright, gracious smile and said lightly, “It’s fine. He’s been doing nothing anyway.” At that moment, the weight that had been hanging over me finally fell. Robert smiled back at her and then turned to me, adding, “This one might hurt a bit more, but if you can handle it, it’ll be fine. Lincoln’s helped so many times before, I’m sure he’ll manage.” A sense of dread crept into my chest. Chapter 3 Naomi had poured a huge amount of startup funds into opening Robert’s lab. She let Robert feed his experimental drugs to live subjects and even went as far as to allow him to use his bottomless methods of electric shock therapy. Every time, Naomi was the one cleaning up the mess. And she seemed to enjoy it. But I never imagined that one day, Naomi would stand by and let Robert torture me like this. I didn’t resist strongly because I owed her far too much. But once the experiment was over, I hoped I’d finally be able to repay that debt. The silence was broken by a few slaps from Robert, and a group of doctors with various tools rushed into the room. Once all the equipment was in place, Robert suddenly took Naomi’s hand and whispered close to her. “Naomi, I’m a little worried. What if this experiment fails?” She seemed to shudder, her heart aching as she grasped Robert’s hand with tenderness. “It won’t fail. Let’s step outside first, and then we can get the data later.” Inside the room, I lay on the cold hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as they bound my limbs. The light blurred into a mess, and my consciousness became more and more hazy. As the voltage increased, my body grew numb, but my mind occasionally stayed sharp. In a daze, I could hear people scrambling around and the sounds of objects clanging together. “Ugh, what are you doing? You can’t even control the voltage.” Then came the spasms, and I vaguely heard someone shout. “Hurry, get him to emergency! There might still be time!” I didn’t struggle, almost as if I’d been knocked out by a blunt force. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a new and unfamiliar hospital room. Before I could speak, a man’s voice sounded in my ear. “Thank you so much, Lincoln. This is your payment for your hard work.” Robert flashed me a mocking grin, then pulled out a bill from his bag and placed it on my pillow. He turned around and ran into Naomi, who had just entered. Immediately, the sinister expression on his face disappeared, and he looked down with a furrowed brow. “It’s my fault. I was too stupid. That’s why Lincoln passed out. I’ve already apologized to him.” Naomi barely glanced at me, then lovingly stroked Robert’s face. “You didn’t mean to. There’s no need to apologize.” But then she paused for a moment, as if remembering something, and walked over to my bed. “The doctor said there’s something wrong with your leg. Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” I stayed silent. At the time, she’d been busy watching fireworks with Robert, and I’d sent her countless messages, none of which got a reply. Ian, who had been by my side, was about to explain, but Robert quickly stopped him, giving him a threatening look before turning to Naomi and saying. “It’s my fault. There was an unexpected issue with the experiment, and I was too busy handling it to tell you about Lincoln’s leg injury.” “How could I blame you? He’s fine now. It’s okay.” Without me saying anything, Naomi casually forgave me. To prevent Ian from letting anything slip, Robert nudged him away. Naomi turned to look at me, showing a hint of guilt. “You’ve been holding it in all this time. Tonight, I’ll take you to a restaurant to celebrate.” Not waiting for my consent, Naomi dragged me straight to a clothing store to buy a suit. When she saw the bruises on my back, she stopped as she handed me the clothes. But in the end, she didn’t say anything. She just made an excuse to wait for me outside. Did she really think she’d feel guilty seeing me like this? It was laughable. Wasn’t all of this her doing? At the dinner table, Naomi’s eyes never left her phone. She even disappeared to the bathroom for over twenty minutes during the meal. When she returned, she finally remembered to ask the waiter for the menu. But Naomi was completely absent-minded, pointing casually. The waiter was totally confused because Naomi had pointed at the restaurant’s address. With a sigh, I took the menu, ordered our food, and handed it to the waiter. A while later, just as the food arrived, Naomi hastily stood up and grabbed her coat. “Robert’s being bullied at the party. I have to go now.” Chapter 4 Naomi was about to step out but paused for a moment, her tone cold. “Let’s go together. There won’t be any cars at this hour anyway.” On the way, Naomi had no intention of talking to me, occasionally glancing at her phone, worried she might miss some messages. We hurriedly arrived at the location Robert had sent, but the private room was buzzing with excitement. When Robert saw me, his smile disappeared in an instant, but he quickly adjusted his expression, looking down with self-reproach. “I didn’t know you were together. I only called you here because I lost a dare.” Naomi, rushing into the room, still out of breath but showing no sign of anger, said. “It’s no big deal. It’s just a meal with him.” As soon as she finished speaking, all eyes turned to me. I looked down, fiddling with my fingers, wanting to put an end to this farce. “I’ll leave if there’s nothing else.” But just as I turned to go, Robert suddenly stopped me. “Lincoln, my experiment isn’t over yet. You can’t go home now. You should stay a little longer in the hospital.” At that moment, a voice from the crowd mocked. “So he’s Robert’s lab rat? No wonder he’s covered in scars.” Another voice chimed in. “Scars are normal, but wearing such an expensive suit with a limp? What a waste, it looks ridiculous!” I turned away, squeezing the webbing between my thumb and index finger, trying to hold back the bitterness in my throat. Naomi, as if she hadn’t heard, continued defending Robert. “Robert’s right. You can’t give up now. Stay in the hospital for a while longer.” I gritted my teeth and endured it, but just before I could leave the room, I got a call from the hospital. “Mr. Booker, your father’s condition is critical. If you can, please come back and say your final goodbyes.” My mind exploded with shock. I tried to rush out, but I was stopped by a few large men who seemed to be bodyguards. I couldn’t break free. Red-eyed, I looked back, silently pleading with Naomi, but she only showed irritation. “Robert’s worked so hard to get to this point, and now you want to make trouble at the last moment?” Seeing me silent, she gave no room for negotiation. “You have to go back to the psychiatric hospital today.” At that moment, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I desperately tried to explain. “My dad is dying. I have to go see him!” Naomi showed a flicker of emotion, but Robert immediately tugged at her sleeve, looking pitiful. She quickly changed her tone and scolded. “Your dad’s hospital account has plenty of money. What good would it do for you to go now? “Robert’s been nominated, and the award will be presented in a few days. Can’t you just let him be happy for once?” My throat tightened, and a chill ran through my body, but Naomi’s face grew more impatient as she raised her hand. Seeing this, the bodyguards at the door grabbed me and forcefully dragged me outside, tossing me into a car sent by the psychiatric hospital. It was a long journey. I was locked back in a cold, dark room. Until I saw the devastating news from the hospital… In that instant, countless images spun in my mind. It felt like falling into an ice cellar. For the next few days, no matter how Robert tortured me, I was like a walking corpse, no longer resisting. On the last day, Naomi accompanied Robert to the awards ceremony, the flashing cameras focusing on them. And I regained my freedom. I got the plane ticket Ian had bought for me, carrying the heavy urn with my father’s ashes, along with my bruised body, back to my hometown. As soon as I got off the plane, my phone was filled with missed calls. All from Naomi. After thinking for a moment, I replied with just one message. [Naomi, let’s divorce.] Then, I blocked her and walked into the bustling crowd. Back in the dilapidated neighborhood, I finally let out a sigh of relief. I was halfway through packing when I received a call from Ian. “The city’s news channels are all reporting…”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295703”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn