Author: Momo Chan

After five years of marriage, the man I snatched from my stepsister’s hands was taken back by her. Everyone around me said I deserved it. They were childhood sweethearts, a perfect match, while I was just the other woman who came along later. The man I had schemed so hard to steal said my blood was too dirty to bear his children. Yet after I miscarried, he brought my pregnant stepsister to my door: “Didn’t you want a child? I’ll give you one.” I chose to take the money and leave. But he begged desperately: “You can have as many children as you want, even if they’re not mine.” After five years of marriage, I finally got pregnant with Gabriel and my first child. But it happened right after he reunited with his first love. I stared at the report in my hand, feeling dazed. Would Gabe welcome this child? “What are you looking at?” The bed dipped, and a familiar voice sounded near my ear. A warm arm wrapped around my waist. My heart tightened, and I quickly stuffed the report under my pillow. “Nothing, nothing.” Gabriel didn’t notice my unease and pulled me into his arms. “Did you miss me?” His thin lips pressed urgently against mine, passionate enough to make one want to drown in it. The next second, feeling the weight on my stomach, I suddenly woke up and struggled to move away. “No, Gabe, I’m not feeling well today.” Hearing this, Gabriel’s handsome face suddenly darkened, and he sprang away from me as if afraid of touching something dirty. “I thought your period wasn’t due for another two weeks. It’s half a month early this time, isn’t it?” If it were anyone else, hearing that their husband remembered their special time of the month would only feel sweet. But I knew Gabriel was afraid I might get pregnant with his child. “Gabe, actually I…” I tentatively began. Probably sensing something was off, Gabriel’s expression immediately turned serious. “You’ve been taking the morning-after pill every time, right?” His eyes were sharp, his gaze intense, his tone brooking no argument. “You know I don’t want children.” “Mm.” I hid my bitter smile and nodded in response, “Don’t worry, I always remember.” Seeing this, he finally seemed to relax. “Sophia, don’t forget how you became my wife.” “We agreed, just be content being Mrs. Young, and don’t even think about having children.” Gabriel tidied his clothes and left the room. The sound of the front door closing followed shortly after. I looked at the empty space beside me, my heart sinking deeper and deeper. Mrs. Young? I felt more like a bedmate for hire. Laughably, in these five years, we had never slept in the same bed. Every time Gabriel finished satisfying his desires, he’d leave with a reminder not to forget the pill. He gave me the status, position, and money of Mrs. Young. But when it came to children, he remained stubbornly opposed, not allowing for any deviation. Yet a month ago, I had secretly stopped taking the pills. And now I had this child. I used to think his opposition was simply because he disliked children. Until my phone lit up at that moment. The photo in the message shattered my illusions. It was an identical hospital report. Clinical diagnosis: 8 weeks pregnant Patient: Rachel Sullivan [Sophia, it’s time to return what you stole to its rightful owner.]

I had stolen Gabriel from Rachel. The golden boy of the Young family, the eldest daughter of the prestigious Sullivan family. They were the perfect match in everyone’s eyes. And I was just a lowly orphan adopted by the Sullivans. Back then, when Gabriel married me, Rachel went abroad to nurse her broken heart. People in our social circle gossiped endlessly about it. They said I had shamelessly schemed my way into Gabriel’s bed. That Gabriel had been forced to marry me against his will. And that was indeed the truth. Perhaps because of our inglorious beginning, I always felt insecure when facing Rachel. It seemed she could effortlessly take away everything I had. Ding— A new message notification. It was from Rachel again. In the photo, the man who had been kissing me half an hour ago was now lying with his eyes closed next to her. Rachel snuggled in his arms, mockingly smiling at me through the camera. [Gabe says he’s really looking forward to our baby’s birth.] So, Rachel’s child was acceptable? I suppressed the nausea in my chest and scrolled up through the messages. [Little sister, how does it feel to sleep alone in an empty bed?] [Gabe was so wild, he left hickeys all over my neck.] … [Gabe said he missed me so much.] The screen was full of taunting words and photos. They had been coming non-stop every day since Rachel returned. I had always known who Gabriel was spending his nights with recently. Counting the time, Rachel had been back for two months and was eight weeks pregnant. They really were like newlyweds after a long separation! I put down my phone. Once again, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep in the dead of night. When Gabriel pushed open the door in the morning, I was sitting on the couch in the living room. He looked up and met my gaze, his eyes flickering for a moment. “Why are you up so early?” “I had an urgent document to deal with last night, so I went back to the office.” I walked up to him, and a familiar scent wafted into my nose. “Gabe, will you stay with me tonight?” I hugged his waist tightly, burying my face in his chest. As if doing so could dispel the scent on him that didn’t belong to me. Gabriel froze for a moment, then raised his arms to hug me back. “Okay.” I savored the warmth of Gabriel’s embrace, greedily wanting more. He also didn’t push me away for a long time. Until a phone ring broke the silence. Rachel’s familiar voice came clearly from the other end of the phone, piercing and harsh. “Gabe, where are you? My stomach hurts so bad.” Hesitation flashed across Gabriel’s face, but he still hurriedly left. Before leaving, he looked back at my pale face. “If you’re not feeling well, call someone to take you to the hospital later.” “I’ll come back to stay with you tonight.” I nodded, not saying anything. Gabriel probably forgot. In my world, apart from him, there was no one else I could rely on. That night, I didn’t wait for Gabriel to return as promised. I only received new photos and messages on my phone. He had accompanied Rachel to the hospital for a prenatal check-up. [Gabe was so worried about me and the baby, the doctor said he’ll definitely be a good father.] In my memory, I was always waiting for him. Waiting for him to notice me. Waiting for him to come home. Waiting for him to fall in love with me. But it’s okay, I’m good at waiting. However, my child can’t be like me.

For the next three days, I didn’t see Gabriel. When it was time for the monthly Young family dinner, I had to go to the Young mansion alone. “Well, if it isn’t our high and mighty Mrs. Young?” As soon as I entered the main hall, Felix couldn’t help but mock me. “You’re alone today? Where’s my dear big brother?” The Young family usually treated me with disdain. When Gabriel was around, they would restrain themselves somewhat out of respect for him, not giving me too much trouble. Seeing me alone this time, they naturally couldn’t resist taunting me. Felix was Gabriel’s half-brother, and they had been rivals for a long time. In his eyes, I, the wife from a humble background, was Gabriel’s biggest flaw. Usually, when he lost out to Gabriel, he would come to pick on me. “Your brother is busy dealing with company matters. He’ll be here soon.” My calm response seemed to ignite a fire in Felix. He exploded instantly. “What do you mean?” “Don’t think you’re the CEO’s wife just because my brother became CEO. You’re nothing but a gold-digger who slept her way to the top. You can’t even compare to a single finger of Rachel’s!” Felix’s sudden outburst against his sister-in-law was far from a pleasant scene. With the Young family elders absent, the younger generation present merely watched disinterestedly. Waiting to see me make a fool of myself. But my expression remained unusually calm. I just found Felix’s anger rather amusing. An illegitimate son of a mistress, self-righteously calling me a gold-digger – it certainly fit the Young family’s style. I almost forgot, this one was also a loyal supporter of my stepsister. He hated Gabriel so much, yet still attacked me for him and Rachel. I wonder if he knows that his dear Rachel is about to give him a little nephew or niece. “That’s a question you should ask your brother, it has nothing to do with me.” My face was surprisingly calm, my attitude colder than usual. Felix was momentarily taken aback. In the past, when he said such things, I would usually look upset and then turn to Gabriel for help. “Without my brother around, you’re not even pretending anymore!” “I should let him see your true colors!” It was at this moment that Gabriel appeared. But he didn’t come alone. The handsome man and beautiful woman walked side by side, as if announcing something.

Seeing the newcomers, Felix forgot about taunting me and eagerly greeted her with a delighted expression. “Rachel, why didn’t you tell me you were back in the country?” Rachel, arm in arm with Gabriel, giggled in response, “I wanted to surprise you!” Gabriel stood beside them, his expression unreadable. The two feuding brothers, suddenly so cordial because of Rachel. Making my situation all the more awkward. The others looked at Gabriel and Rachel, then at me standing alone on the other side. Trying to find a trace of distress on my face. But they were disappointed. I ignored all of this, turning to find a seat at the dining table. The seating arrangement for Young family dinners was always fixed. Mr. and Mrs. Young sat in the middle, Felix and his mother to Mr. Young’s right, while Gabriel and I sat to Mrs. Young’s left. The rest were mostly the younger generation. The Young family didn’t have many relatives, but thanks to Mr. Young’s prolific nature, Gabriel had quite a few younger brothers and sisters. Apart from Felix and his mother who lived in the Young mansion, the others only came back for family dinners. With Rachel’s arrival, there was one seat short. Gabriel, accompanying her, didn’t rush to sit down. “Gabe, can I sit next to you?” As soon as Rachel spoke, all eyes at the table fell on me. Now there was only one empty seat left beside me, Rachel’s intention was clear. Felix was the first to chime in, “Sister-in-law, why don’t you give your seat to Rachel?” Hearing his tone that left no room for negotiation, I didn’t move. I was waiting, waiting for that person to make a decision. “Uncle Wang, add another chair next to me.” Gabriel finally spoke. The servant tactfully added a chair between me and Gabriel. The space was originally empty, so it didn’t affect much. If the rift between Gabriel and me was a crack, Rachel could easily slip into it. Rachel sat down, pressed close to Gabriel. The looks from others at the table towards me became even more contemptuous. I could probably guess what they were thinking. No doubt they thought I was willing to endure such humiliation just to keep my status as Mrs. Young. But what I cared about was never the seating arrangement at the dinner table. The year I first arrived at the Sullivan house, I was ten years old. At a similar dinner table, I was isolated to one side. Rachel threw a tantrum, yelling that I didn’t deserve to eat at the table. At that time, it was Gabriel who spoke up for me. “Your name is Sophia, right?” “I’m Gabriel.” Fifteen-year-old Gabriel was like a ray of sunshine, illuminating my gloomy world. He asked someone to add a chair for me, let me sit beside him, and slowly taught me table manners. And now, he had become the one who embarrassed me the most. “Gabe, can you move that plate of shrimp away? The smell is making me feel sick.” Rachel’s delicate voice pulled me back from my memories. She covered her nose and mouth, half-leaning on Gabriel. As she spoke, her glance towards me was full of provocation. Everyone present was shrewd enough to see through Rachel’s intention. They casually swept their gazes over Rachel’s belly. Gabriel’s brows furrowed slightly, “Uncle Wang, please remove the shrimp.” “Oh no, brother, Sophia loves shrimp the most. She’ll be upset if you do this.” Apparently, someone decided to pour salt on the wound. Felix put on a show of standing up for me. I continued eating, not looking up, “It’s fine, the smell is indeed a bit nauseating today.” I had smelled this scent on Gabriel many times before. I didn’t know what expression Gabriel had, but his words seemed to hide some guilt. As if he suddenly remembered the existence of his lawful wife. “Your sister-in-law hasn’t been feeling well lately, she can’t eat shrimp.” “Sister-in-law, you’re feeling nauseous and unwell, could it be that you’re pregnant?”

As soon as Felix finished speaking, the gazes on me suddenly became heavier. I slowly put down my chopsticks and looked straight into Felix’s eyes. “If you want to be an uncle, I’m afraid I can’t help you right now. Why don’t you ask your dear Rachel? She might have a solution.” Mrs. Young chimed in at the right moment, “You’ve been married for so long, it’s about time you had a child.” I wondered, if she knew that both Rachel and I were carrying children at this moment, what would her reaction be? Probably the same as Gabriel’s, thinking that the child of Miss Sullivan was more precious than the child of an orphan like me. “Everyone, I’m done eating. I’ll leave first.” I suppressed the nausea in my chest and stood up to leave the table. If I stayed for one more second, I was afraid I would really throw up. “Sophia, what are you upset about now?” Gabriel reached past Rachel and grabbed my arm, “Sit down, we’ll go home together later.” The familiar sensation on my arm involuntarily made me flash back to the photos on my phone. It was these same hands that had caressed Rachel’s body… The nausea intensified. I pulled away from Gabriel’s hand, “No need, you and your sister haven’t seen each other for a long time. I won’t interrupt your reunion.” “Sophia, you…” Gabriel wanted to follow, but was held back by Rachel beside him. “Gabe, I feel unwell.” Those five short words were enough to stop Gabriel from following me. I listened to the lively chatter resuming behind me as I walked out of the Young house, step by step, out of the cage I had schemed to put myself in. That night I had a dream. I dreamed of myself, Gabriel, and Rachel when we were young. I was like an ugly duckling hiding in a dark corner, peeking at the happiness of the prince and princess. But one day, I appeared in the prince’s eyes. That day, I accidentally witnessed Rachel confessing to Gabriel. Gabriel rejected her. He gently patted Rachel’s head, “Rachel, I only see you as a sister.” “I don’t want to be your sister!” “You’re lying! You weren’t like this before. It’s all because of Sophia! Ever since she came, you’ve changed!” Rachel screamed hysterically. I was surprised to hear my own name. The ripples in my heart gradually amplified. Would I be different to Gabriel? Perhaps it was greed at work, but I decided to confess. In the summer of my sixteenth year, I used up all the courage I had accumulated over the years to grasp at a possibility. “Gabriel, I like you.” I still remember clearly Gabriel’s expression after hearing this. He smiled at me, his eyes bright, “Sophia, you’re still young. Let’s talk about this when you grow up, okay?” When I was eighteen, Rachel said Gabriel had agreed to be with her. So, I waited until I was twenty-one. It was also that year when I learned Rachel was going to drug Gabriel to force him into marriage. I despicably schemed against them. I took Rachel’s place and slept with Gabriel. After that night, Gabriel’s look towards me changed completely. He said, “Sophia, how could you be so cheap?” But I had already grown up… Then came these five years after our marriage. I got my wish to stand by Gabriel’s side, even if I wasn’t the only one. At the same time, I completely lost the light I had longed for. Sometimes when he was in the mood, he would call me “Sophia” just like when I was sixteen. But more often, his eyes only held contempt when he looked at me. “Your blood is too dirty.” “I don’t want to have a child as shameless as you.” … I waited from the summer of my sixteenth year until I was twenty-six. And I finally got an answer. But it’s really so dirty! The next morning when I woke up from my dream, I opened my eyes to see Gabriel beside me. I didn’t wake him up, but got out of bed and left on my own. “Dr. Lewis, I’ve made my decision. Let’s schedule the abortion for today.”

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The Oscar-winning actor married me to spite his first love. For three years, they were caught in a tangled relationship. During filming, they would embrace and kiss, and in interviews, they spoke in suggestive tones. Online, people say I’m just a pathetic substitute. I never got angry. I simply smiled and helped him dispel every rumor. Until one day, I accidentally got pregnant and secretly had an abortion. He was furious and heartbroken, harshly demanding to know why. I gently caressed his brow and replied calmly, “Because I don’t love you.” The one I loved was his deceased brother. Everyone knows Declan married me to make Nora Carter jealous. They broke up before their wedding, and she left the country in a fit of anger. Declan didn’t chase after her; instead, he turned around and married me. I wore a wedding dress that wasn’t meant for me and married a man who didn’t love me. People said that when Nora came back, Declan would discard me. But in the third year of our marriage, Declan seemed to start liking me. He made breakfast for me, coaxed me out of bed, and kissed me when I acted playfully. At our sweetest moments, we were deeply entwined. In the quiet of night, he would softly urge, “Sweetie, give me a child, one just as sweet as you.” We were like a typical loving couple. Until the day I found out I was really pregnant. Before I could tell Declan, Nora came back. That day, they reconciled.

Nora returned on the day of their class reunion. I heard her family went bankrupt, and she was borrowing money from everyone. When Declan walked in with me, he saw a wealthy classmate pressuring Nora to drink. He said for every glass she drank, he’d lend her a hundred thousand. Nora’s eyes watered as she forced a smile and drank it all. When she saw Declan, she panicked, feeling embarrassed, and quickly lowered her head. Someone egged her on, “Nora, if you’re short on cash, ask Declan.” “Given your history, a few nights with him, and he wouldn’t deny you anything.” Declan glanced over coldly and said slowly, “Stop it.” With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he leaned against my shoulder and continued, “Anyone who upsets my wife can shut up and leave.” Everyone laughed, calling me “sister-in-law,” envious of Declan’s affection for me. No one knew that if Nora hadn’t shown up, Declan wouldn’t have been there. Nora glared at me, biting her lip to hold back tears. The man who had forced her to drink kneaded her shoulder and asked, “What now? Looks like Declan doesn’t want you.” “But it’s okay. If he doesn’t, I do.” “If you’re willing to undress and please me in bed, I’ll give you some pocket money, how about that?” Declan stubbed out his cigarette, visibly displeased, his face icy. He still cared. Nora fought back tears and looked up at Declan. She softly said, “I don’t want to.” “In this life, I love only one person. Even if he doesn’t want me, I won’t let anyone else touch me.” Declan suddenly tightened his grip, hurting me. The male classmate, having lost face, laughed and cursed Nora. “You think you’re some pure maiden? Damn, you don’t appreciate the kindness. I’ll definitely sleep with you today.” He dragged Nora outside, Nora drunk and weakly leaning against him, struggling half-heartedly. Declan’s eyes were fixated on Nora. I could tell he was ready to kill for her. Just before they left, Declan couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped forward, kicked down the man holding Nora, and pinned him to the ground, beating him. With reddened eyes, he cursed, “If you dare touch Nora again, I’ll cut off your filthy hand!” The scene became chaotic. Someone was recording, and I quickly grabbed Declan’s sleeve, trying to stop him. He turned around and coldly asked, “Who do you think you are to interfere?” I froze, lightly releasing my grip. Nora rushed over, hugging him, crying, “Declan, don’t fight for me. If you get hurt, I’ll be heartbroken.” “I was so scared just now that you would really leave me…” Declan didn’t push her away. He held her in his arms, protecting her. Everyone watched as he took Nora away. Leaving me behind.

That night, Declan didn’t come home. Nora tweeted in the early morning, “You said you’d never hold anyone else’s hand again.” The picture showed ten fingers interlocked. The hand in the photo had a red mole on the back—Declan’s. And I was the “someone else” he wouldn’t hold hands with again. Ten minutes later, the tweet was a trending topic. My haters left messages for Nora, “Go, Nora, you and the Oscar-winning actor are a perfect match! You must get back together!” “I’m throwing away my values. I support the Oscar-winning actor cheating! Just can’t stand that scheming witch, Lydia, being happy!” Many were waiting to see me humiliated. Some left messages for Declan, “Bro, that’s not you, right? I’ve been your fan for so long, I know how good your wife is to you. Don’t let her down!” Declan and I were tied to many couple endorsements, with sky-high penalties for breach of contract. A scandal was the last thing we needed. The agent couldn’t reach Declan, so they called me, asking me to find a way to fool the netizens by saying Declan and I were still together. I flipped through the photo album and realized how few pictures I had with Declan. In those few pictures, only I was smiling. Finally, I posted a photo from long ago, of Declan reading under a lamp. The hazy light enveloped him, reminiscent of the person who always appeared in my dreams, making me cry. As soon as the photo was posted, netizens began commenting. “See, Declan’s at home with his wife! Anyone saying our Declan’s cheating, I’ll tear their mouth apart!” Everyone started cursing Nora for being shameless and loving to stir up drama. Until a few minutes later, Declan retweeted Nora’s tweet. Under that hand-holding photo, he said, “It’s me.” He openly admitted they were together, exposing my self-directed clarification. Once again, he abandoned me for Nora. Nora’s fans flooded my Twitter, mocking me, “Pretentious b*tch got slapped in the face, love it, Lydia, you lying b*tch.” “Sister Nora gave you three years, and you still couldn’t win Declan’s heart, you’re useless.” Who said I wanted Declan’s heart? I deleted everything in my phone related to him. I wanted a divorce.

The next morning, the company called me in to handle Declan’s rumor crisis. Unfortunately, I ran into Nora. Declan probably couldn’t bear to leave her alone and brought her along. As soon as she saw me, she apologized, “Lydia, sorry about last night. I got drunk and tweeted nonsense, and Declan joined in, causing you trouble.” “I’ve already told him off. He only thinks of me and not you at all, such a big dummy.” “The things people say online are so harsh, calling you my stand-in. It’s hilarious.” “They don’t know how much I want to thank you for taking care of Declan all these years…” She smiled sweetly at me. I smiled back, “I’m Declan’s wife. A wife taking care of her husband doesn’t need thanks from outsiders.” “But you, being called the other woman last night, don’t take it to heart.” Nora’s expression changed. She glanced me up and down, suddenly fixating on my ring. She smirked, “Lydia, you’re wearing my wedding ring, you should return it to me.” She reached for my hand, and I, annoyed, swung my arm, accidentally hitting her face. Nora suddenly swung her bag at me, the metal scraping my forehead, drawing blood. She used so much force, it made my ears ring. I raised my hand to hit back but someone grabbed my wrist from behind. Declan appeared, coldly warning me, “Lydia, try touching her.” When I turned, he saw the blood on my face, paused, frowned at Nora, and asked, “Did you do this?” Nora, with teary eyes, shook her head, “Declan, she called me the other woman and tried to hit me. I dodged, and my bag accidentally hit her. I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry!” When she cried, Declan’s heart ached. Hearing her, Declan ruffled her hair, praising her. “Anyone hits you, hit back. With me here, you don’t need to apologize to anyone.” I suddenly envied Nora. Actually, I’m quite the crybaby too, but the one who cared for me is gone. Agent Fiona couldn’t take it anymore and pointed at me, yelling at Declan, “This is your wife! Declan, are you blind? Holding onto a green tea witch and not letting go!” “How is Lydia any worse than Nora?” “Did you forget you said you wanted a child with Lydia? Did you forget you said being with Lydia felt like home?” “Now you’re hurting her like this, are you sure you won’t regret it later?” I subconsciously touched my belly. Inside my body was a budding child. Declan chuckled, casually glancing at me, emotionless, speaking calmly. “Lydia, Phoebe, Cora—they all need to step aside.” Perhaps, at one time, Declan’s feelings for me were fleeting and superficial. But now that Nora has returned, he’s ready to love her. I removed the ring from my finger, a ring that was never truly mine, and handed it back to Declan. His smile slowly faded. After a brief pause, he reached out to take it. Aunt Hazel caught my arm, glanced at my stomach, and gave me a meaningful look. “Lydia, don’t be foolish, you’re already…” Nora interrupted, grabbing the ring. She tried it on, but it was a bit tight. Her smile stiffened slightly, and she tossed the ring into the trash. “Forget it. Declan, don’t be upset for my sake. I don’t want a ring that’s been worn by another woman. It’s tainted.” Declan ignored her, keeping his eyes on me as he asked in a serious tone, “What’s going on with you?” I looked at him indifferently, then turned and walked away. Declan, I’m pregnant, but you don’t need to know. 5 Declan is extremely perceptive. Aunt Hazel’s hint was obvious enough; I think he can probably guess most of it. I’ve been on medication for a long time, which isn’t good for the baby’s development. This pregnancy was unexpected, and the doctor suggested I terminate it. I don’t want to be entangled with Declan because of this child. Before the abortion, I moved out to avoid running into him and causing any trouble. Although, Declan probably… doesn’t care at all. He didn’t come looking for me; he’s still living his life as usual. Aunt Hazel sent me a video. It was at an auction where Declan gave Nora a lavish diamond ring; she laughed and threw herself into his arms. A perfect match. Oh right, I almost forgot. Declan said Nora is back. Whether it’s Nora or Nora’s child, they all need to step aside. It’s all fine. 6 The day before the procedure, I suddenly felt very anxious. I remembered the jade pendant my mom got for me before she passed was still in the home safe, so I planned to go get it. When I got home, I found the entry code had been changed. Standing at my own front door, unable to get in, I suddenly felt quite pathetic. I called Declan in anger. But the one who answered was Nora. Her voice was smug as she laughed, “Nora, today’s my birthday. Declan insisted on taking me to watch the meteor shower, so we won’t be home tonight.” “I once told him that couples who make a wish on a shooting star will be together forever. I didn’t expect him to remember; I’m so happy.” “But I can’t give you the code. After all, we’re not home, and it’s not appropriate for someone like you to be in our house…” I hung up immediately, opened the password lock, and entered today’s date. The door opened. The code was Nora’s birthday. Inside, all traces of my life were erased. Our wedding photo on the TV cabinet was replaced by a photo of Declan and Nora. They looked so young. Declan was holding her, both smiling happily. My succulents were thrown out, pots and all. My study had turned into Nora’s piano room. I was stunned for a moment, then rushed into the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. It was filled with a line of sexy lace nightgowns, none of which were mine. The safe was at the bottom. I pressed my fingerprint, my hands shaking, and took out all the jewelry, cash, and documents inside. But I couldn’t find the jade pendant my mom left me. It was the only thing she left me. Nora knew that too. So she threw it away. 7 Nora has always hated me and my mom. When I was in school, my mom worked as a nanny at Declan’s house. Nora came over with her parents, and when they first met, Declan’s parents introduced me, saying I was obedient, sensible, hardworking, and smart. Nora pretended to be friendly, saying she wanted to be friends with me. Behind my back, she said, “So what if she studies well? Even if she gets into a good university, she’ll still work for us.” “Her mom is annoying too, always smiling. What’s a nanny so happy about? Old miser giving birth to a little miser, it’s disgusting.” When my mom picked me up from school and met Nora, she would laugh and call my mom a b*tch in English. My mom, not understanding, would praise her for being pretty and cute, even giving her homemade sweet potato snacks. Nora would turn around and throw them in the trash, mocking my mom, saying, “It smells, even a dog wouldn’t eat it.” My mom was so flustered, her face turned red, and she couldn’t lift her head, which made everyone around laugh. I threw down my backpack and went to pull Nora’s hair. My mom saw me getting hit and rushed to shield me. She got kicked over by Nora’s friend, and suddenly a lot of blood flowed from her. That day, my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Those horrible cancer cells appeared silently, then quietly took my mom’s life. That jade pendant was something my mom secretly prayed for me, bowing step by step up Ling Mountain before she died. She said the Buddha on Ling Mountain was the most powerful one. I held back my tears and asked her why. She smiled and said it was a secret and couldn’t tell me. But I knew she prayed to Buddha when I was seriously ill as a child. She wished to exchange half her lifespan for my health and peace. Later, I got better. The compassionate Buddha took my mom away. After Nora found out, she mocked my mom, saying, “All the poor know is superstition. What’s the use of leaving garbage behind? Better to sell a kidney or liver for some money for her daughter.” 8 At two in the morning, Declan came back with Nora. As they entered, Nora clung to Declan’s neck, purring, “Declan, will you sleep with me tonight? I want to give myself to you…” As she spoke, she leaned in to kiss him, but Declan dodged. I sat on the sofa, watching Nora act shamelessly. Declan’s gaze landed on me. Nora paused, turned back to see me, and smiled provocatively. “Nora, if I’d known you were home, I would have asked Declan to come back earlier.” “We didn’t see any shooting stars tonight. He was afraid I’d be disappointed, so he insisted on taking me to set off fireworks.” “Nora, I’m sorry. If you want to blame someone, blame me, not Declan.” I had a bit of alcohol, feeling drowsy as I stood up and approached her, directly asking, “Where’s my jade pendant?” Nora blinked guiltily, still smiling, “Are you talking about that jade pendant from the safe?” “I accidentally broke it while packing. It didn’t seem valuable, so I threw it away.” My tears fell suddenly. A chill spread through my limbs, and my lips trembled uncontrollably. My mind filled with the afternoon my mom died, holding me tightly and wiping away my tears repeatedly. She told me not to be afraid, that she wouldn’t leave. She said she had already spoken to Buddha. “As long as the jade pendant is here, so is Mom.” I threw the wine glass at Nora, the glass shattered on the marble, and shards cut her leg. She was scared, took two steps back, and hid behind Declan, pitifully crying out, “It hurts.” I grabbed her collar, hysterically asking, “Where did you throw it? Where did you throw it?” Declan came to stop me. I slapped him, cursing, “We haven’t divorced yet. Why did you bring her back? Why did you let her touch my things? Why!” “Are you that desperate to sleep with her? Declan, aren’t you disgusted!” He held me tightly, soothing my hair, overpowering my voice as he said calmly, “Nora, calm down.” “I’ll take you to find your jade pendant, okay?” “Please stop crying. It hurts me to see you cry.” 9 Nora threw away my jade pendant this morning, so it probably hasn’t been processed yet. Declan drove me to the landfill, speeding all the way. He rummaged through the trash with me, not caring about dirt or smell, getting mud all over his hands. From nightfall until dawn, I found nothing. When the sun rose, I suddenly felt utterly helpless. The golden light pierced my eyes. I bit my lip to hold back tears, forcing myself not to cry. An elderly couple at the landfill took pity on me and helped me search. Finally, when I was about to give up hope, the grandma called out, “Dear, come see if this is it?” I stood up abruptly, the world spinning, but I didn’t care. I ran over, pulling on my shoes from the trash pile. Grandma held a sandalwood box, inside were scattered pieces of jade. It was my jade pendant, but it was truly broken. I should be happy, I suppose. At least I found it. I tried to smile, but as soon as my mouth moved, tears fell in large drops. Mom, you said as long as the jade pendant is here, you are too, right? But now it’s broken. Will you still be here? Please don’t leave me. Don’t abandon me. Declan pulled me close, attempting to comfort me, “Don’t worry, I’ll find someone to fix it.” I shook my head, telling him it was fine, unnecessary. A moment later, Declan’s voice hardened, almost gritting his teeth, “Nora, every time you say it’s fine, I swear I want to shake some sense into you. Can you rely on me just once? Is that too much to ask?” I watched him quietly. His phone rang—Nora was calling. He hesitated briefly before answering. On the other end, Nora was sobbing, “Declan, I wanted to come and apologize to Nora properly, but I got lost, and now some guy is following me. I’m terrified…” Declan rushed off, leaving me behind. Just then, I received a message from the hospital, reminding me of my scheduled abortion later that day.

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On my birthday party, Lucas, my childhood friend and fiancé, brought a girl with him. He said she was strong-willed, resilient, and radiant – his true soulmate. And that a proud and aloof rich young lady like me could never be his future wife. The arrival of this girl disrupted my birthday celebration. But then I discovered she was the sister of a boy Lucas had bullied and disabled in high school. I had been told by Lucas’s friends that he’d been getting close to a girl recently. But I never expected him to bring her to my birthday party. Under the fiery glare of Mr. Thompson, Lucas still said those words: “This is my girlfriend, and my future wife.” The girl he was holding hands with blushed, her eyes shy. She didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with crashing my birthday party. Mrs. Thompson’s face clouded over. Catching sight of my mother’s darkened expression, Mrs. Thompson rushed forward and pulled Lucas aside. Lucas refused to let go of the girl’s hand, so they were both dragged to a corner of the banquet hall. Mrs. Thompson scolded in a low voice: “What do you think you’re doing?” Lucas glanced at me watching the show and said without any courtesy: “Lily is kind and strong. The moment I saw her, I knew she was my true love. I can’t cater to a snobbish heiress like Rachel.” If it wasn’t my birthday party and I wasn’t the one being embarrassed, I would have applauded for this pair of star-crossed lovers. But the Rachel he mentioned was still me. Whispers and murmurs spread around us, with many people giving me curious looks. They seemed to want to see how I, the pampered heiress of the Deer family, would handle this situation. I folded my arms and tilted my head slightly: “If you don’t want to cater to me, does that mean you’re looking for someone to cater to you?” There was no need for further words. Understanding my implication, Lily’s face turned pale. Lucas reached out and shielded Lily behind him: “Rachel, I know you’re angry that I broke our engagement, but Lily and I are truly in love. Nothing you say will change my mind.” I asked him: “Are you done?” Lucas stared blankly for a moment, then nodded. “If you’re done, then I’m going to cut the cake.” I turned and walked to my mother’s side. Mrs. Wilson, our housekeeper, pushed the cart with the cake closer to me. I picked up the knife, glanced at Lucas, smirked, and viciously cut the little figures on the cake in half. My parents’ friends were tactful. Despite the drama that had just unfolded, they still said things like: “Your Rachel has grown into such a beauty. My nephew is still single, why don’t we have dinner together someday?” As if I had never had Lucas as a fiancé, they dissolved the awkwardness of the scene Lucas had created with just a few words. I smiled slightly, occasionally responding with a word or two. In my peripheral vision, I saw Mr. Thompson angrily slap Lucas. The sound of the slap was so loud that it drew everyone’s attention again. In this tense atmosphere, Lucas grabbed the girl’s hand and left. Before leaving, Lily glanced at me. I felt her face was somewhat familiar. It wasn’t until the party ended and I was about to go to sleep after a rose petal bath that I finally remembered. The girl looked about 80% similar to one of my high school classmates. And that classmate had been bullied by Lucas, eventually becoming disabled and dropping out of school.

Lucas, like me, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But unlike his name suggested, he wasn’t a gentle young man, but rather had a violent streak. In high school, a poor student transferred to our class. But on his first day, this boy wore a pair of Air Jordans. For Lucas, Air Jordans weren’t anything special. But he couldn’t stand what he saw as poor people pretending to be rich. So he picked a fight, asking the boy where he got the money to buy Air Jordans, and if he had become a male prostitute. The boy wasn’t one to take things lying down, and immediately punched Lucas. But what he didn’t know was that Lucas’s aunt was one of the school’s shareholders. From that day on, the boy’s school life became a living hell. Lucas had strong backing, and bullying a powerless poor student was a piece of cake for him. The boy realized how powerful Lucas was and didn’t dare to fight back anymore. When Lucas was in a bad mood, he would kick the boy, and sometimes even drag him into the bathroom for a beating. Later, things got serious once when the boy fell down the stairs and became paralyzed. The Thompson family paid a sum of money to send away the poor student’s mother who came to make trouble at school. And Lucas was unaffected, graduating smoothly. I thought I would never see that boy again, but today, Lily’s face stirred my memory. Their faces looked as if they were cut from the same mold.

I asked my mother’s secretary to investigate this “Lily”. Within a day, the information was in my hands. Lily Ho, a barista at a coffee shop, met Lucas at the café. Lucas fell in love with her at first sight, pursuing her madly for several months, spending a fortune just to make her smile, and finally won her heart. I wasn’t so interested in these details, but Lily’s former name caught my attention. Lily’s parents were divorced, and she was given to her mother, taking her mother’s surname. Her original surname was Fung. Turning to the next page of the report, I got the result I wanted. Lily had an older brother named Felix Fung. He was that poor student who had been bullied.

Mr. Thompson brought Lucas to my house to apologize. When Lucas saw me, his suppressed resentment surfaced again: “I just wanted to pursue true love! I don’t like Rachel, why should I be with her?” Mr. Thompson was about to slap him again. I interrupted with a smile: “It’s okay, Mr. Thompson.” Lucas glanced at me: “Don’t pretend to be nice!” “I’m not speaking up for you,” I leaned back on the sofa, “I have suitors lined up from here to New York. If you’re gone, there’s always the next one. Who cares?” Hearing this, Mr. Thompson’s face darkened even more, probably thinking my words were unpleasant. “Lucas, I don’t care if you want to find true love and go against your family, but why did you bring someone I don’t even know to ruin my birthday party?” I looked him up and down. Probably because of the issue with Lily, he looked unusually haggard today, even wearing the same suit from yesterday’s birthday party. You should know that in the past, Lucas always carefully coordinated his outfit from head to toe to maintain his image as a young gentleman. He would never let others see him in such a state. Mr. Thompson apologized first. “Rachel, I’m sorry about this,” Mr. Thompson said, “but I will never allow Lucas to be with that girl…” Lucas, who had always been willful, went crazy upon hearing this: “What right do you have to control my life?” “Because I’m your father!” “I don’t want you to manage me!” Lucas turned and ran. Mr. Thompson’s face turned red with anger: “Do you believe I’ll cancel your credit card?” I laughed so hard my shoulders shook: “Mr. Thompson, Lucas isn’t a child anymore, don’t threaten him with that.” After graduating from university, Mr. Thompson had invested in a clothing company, and Lucas became the general manager. The threat of canceling his credit card couldn’t scare him anymore. Mr. Thompson forced a smile: “This rebellious son, I won’t cover for him anymore.” Lucas was arrogant and self-centered, never considering market demands, just producing whatever clothes he wanted. The clothes he made either violated ergonomics or went against popular aesthetics. The designers in his company often complained bitterly. But he would say: “The clothes I make were never meant for the lower-end market.” His clothing line was ignored as soon as it hit the market. Each time, Mr. Thompson had to dig into his own pocket to cover Lucas’s losses. Lucas’s fragile ego was bruised, and when facing me, he would make excuses: “Those people just have no taste.” To protect his little bit of self-esteem, I never said anything negative.

After Mr. Thompson chased after Lucas and left, Mrs. Wilson placed a bowl of noodles in front of me. She nervously wiped her still-wet hands on her apron: “Miss, in our hometown, we eat longevity noodles on birthdays. It means wishing for a long life.” “You ate cake yesterday and went to bed early, so I thought I’d make this for you today.” Mrs. Wilson was hired as a maid when I was born. She had worked for our family for over twenty years, always diligent and never overstepping her boundaries. I took the chopsticks from her hand and put two strands of noodles in my mouth. Seeing that I had finally eaten, Mrs. Wilson relaxed and smiled: “Although it’s a bit late now, but, Miss, happy birthday.” There were tears in her eyes, as if she was looking at someone else through me.

I thought Lily would be patient. But to my surprise, just a week later, she came to find me. My mother had an entertainment company, which she had handed over to me to manage before I graduated. Perhaps one of Lucas’s friends had let it slip. Lily waited for me at the company entrance when I came to work. I glanced at her and walked straight into the company building. Lily followed behind me, looking as if she wouldn’t leave until she talked to me. So I instructed my secretary: “Get a cup of tea for that young lady.” After I finished dealing with some urgent matters, I finally had time to see Lily. Her face was already displeased, but she still didn’t say a word. I laughed at her: “You’re quite patient.” She finally spoke: “Lucas’s card has been canceled by his dad. Can you tell his dad that you voluntarily gave up the engagement, so he’ll unfreeze the card?” I was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing: “Is this how you ask for a favor?” Lily said: “What’s the use of holding onto him? If this continues, he’ll only hate you more.” Seeing that I didn’t respond, Lily played her trump card: “Don’t worry, I’ll just make a quick buck from Lucas and leave. He’ll still be yours in the future.” Lily’s words made me laugh. I asked her: “Are you sure you just want to make a quick buck and leave?” “Isn’t it because Lucas’s card was canceled, making it impossible to pay for your brother’s medical bills, that you came to find me?” “Or are you trying to completely ruin Lucas to avenge your brother?” Lily’s face turned ashen the moment I mentioned her brother, and when I spoke of revenge, she turned pale. The next second, her face flushed red as she slammed the table: “You investigated me?” I shook my head: “I just thought you looked familiar, didn’t expect to dig up something big.” She asked me: “You remember my brother?” In my mind, I recalled the boy who always sat in the back row, his eyes hidden behind long bangs. Probably because his bangs were so long, it was hard to see his face clearly, which is why Lucas couldn’t see the resemblance between Lily and Felix. A tear fell from the corner of Lily’s eye: “Then why didn’t you help him back then? If you had said something, Lucas and the others would have listened, right?” I said: “At that time, Lucas and I weren’t that close anymore. Boys and girls needed to keep their distance. I had other friends to hang out with, and although we were in the same class, I didn’t interact much with Lucas and his group.” “I’m sorry about what happened to your brother.” Lily collapsed onto my desk, sobbing. A moment later, she raised her head, looking at me with tear-filled eyes: “Can you help me?” “Help you with what?” Her eyes turned cold: “Help me bring down Lucas.” “But what’s in it for me?” “You can take over his company. Isn’t that good?” I raised an eyebrow: “That’s not a bad suggestion. After all, who doesn’t like more money?” Lily added: “But after it’s done, you must ensure my safety.” I pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly: “Alright, I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”

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Five years into our marriage, I discovered a hickey on Adrian’s neck – one that didn’t come from me. When I confronted him about it, he just laughed it off. “You could try it too, you know. I wouldn’t mind. But do you have the guts?” He knew all too well about my feelings for him – how I’d secretly loved him for years before we got together. And he took full advantage of that knowledge, confident I would never leave. He assumed, quite arrogantly, that I would forgive him yet again, tears and all. What Adrian didn’t know was that his best friend had been sending me shirtless photos every day. Later, when my body bore marks that weren’t from my husband, Adrian demanded answers. I simply smiled and said, “Didn’t you tell me to try it? Well, he’s got a lot more stamina than you do.” Adrian flew into a rage, his eyes rimmed red. “Who gave you permission to take me seriously?!” “Stop hiding and look at me!” Adrian’s voice was cold and hoarse, barely containing his anger. Blue veins bulged on his forehead as he forcibly gripped my chin, making me face him. I couldn’t move, trapped in his icy gaze. Adrian smiled with satisfaction. “Eight calls a day, even dragging my mother into this… Chloe, you went to all this trouble just to get me to come home. Why act like this now?” I pushed against him as hard as I could. “Is being full of yourself the only thing you’re good at?” He still couldn’t believe that I was utterly disappointed in him. Gripping my chin tighter, he sneered, “For years, you’ve always had endless excuses to get my attention. It’s annoying…” I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. As he turned away, my palm stung and trembled. Never had I regretted anything more than I did at that moment. I regretted falling in love with Adrian. I regretted marrying him. But Adrian hadn’t always been like this. In the beginning, things were different. Somewhere along the way, everything changed. A shrill ringtone broke the tense silence. Adrian answered the phone, his face still cold but his tone suddenly gentle. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll have Kevin take you to the hospital. I’ll be there soon.” A woman’s voice on the other end sobbed that she was scared. After hanging up, Adrian got up without hesitation. But instead of leaving right away, he roughly pulled me up from the bed and held me tightly against him. Out of nowhere, he said, “Chloe, if you beg me to stay, I will.” He seemed to have forgotten that I had begged him before. The first time he left me alone for that female secretary of his. I had pleaded with him not to go: “Adrian, my stomach hurts so much…” But he had walked out expressionlessly, that woman in his arms. That time, I lost my first child. I looked at him, my wet hair clinging to my cheeks. Weakly, I patted his face and asked with a bitter smile, “Beg you? Are you even worth begging?” Adrian’s expression darkened. He sneered, “Fine then. Get lost.” Despite his words, his hand gripped my waist like an iron vise. I lowered my head and pried his fingers off one by one. The phone rang again. This time he put it on speaker. “Adrian, are you almost here? I’m alone at the hospital and I’m scared…” He stood up, looking down at me with cold eyes as he replied, “Be good, wait for me. I’ll be right there.”

After Adrian left, I heard the sound of tires screeching from the underground garage. The car sped away, betraying the driver’s urgency. Less than 30 minutes later, Amber’s Instagram was updated right on schedule. The photo showed a private hospital. In the background, a man’s half-visible body could be seen. His hand, adorned with a diamond ring, gently touched her forehead. Amber smiled with closed eyes, tilting her head up to meet him. If there was anything different about Amber compared to Adrian’s previous women, it was that she truly was special to him. She was his first love, once cherished deeply before leaving for another country. Today marked exactly three months since her return. During these three months, Adrian spent all his time either working or with Amber. That’s why Adrian’s mother had been insisting I keep calling to urge him to come home. Amber had debuted as an idol overseas for the past few years. Now back in the States, she found the idol path difficult and switched to acting instead, becoming a C-list actress. Since her return, Adrian had been showering her with resources, as if to make up for lost time. He gave her whatever he could directly, and for what was out of reach, he wasn’t above lowering himself to schmooze with others on her behalf. In just three short months, Amber’s popularity skyrocketed and her fanbase grew exponentially. This was compounded by her daily “rekindled love” diary updates on Instagram for the past three months. Out of boredom, I took a peek at her posts. In Amber’s narrative, she and Adrian were childhood sweethearts separated by a misunderstanding. When they reunited, he was a handsome, wealthy CEO and she was a cool, stubborn starlet. Fans were eating it up. Looking back on these five years now, I could only laugh at my own naivety back then. If someone doesn’t love you, time only becomes a knife, leaving you scarred and bitter in the end. I lit a cigarette and glanced back at the messy bed sheets. If Adrian had been more attentive, or if he still cared about me even a little, he should have noticed that my belongings in this house had dwindled to almost nothing. When I first married Adrian, I was truly happy, feeling blessed by fate. When we moved into this house, I would smile from ear to ear just seeing our suits and dresses hanging side by side in the closet. But now the vanity was empty, and the huge closet only held his suits and shirts. The dresses that once hung next to his clothes had vanished without a trace. The phone on the nightstand rang. I ignored it, but it rang again. By the fifth persistent call, I finally answered. It was Amber’s voice, taunting me sweetly: “Mrs. Walker, don’t say I’m bullying you. I gave you five whole years. It’s not my fault you weren’t good enough to keep him.” I replied flatly, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose you as the other woman to the media?” She suddenly raised her voice shrilly: “I’m not the other woman! If you hadn’t taken advantage of my absence when I went abroad, you never would have married Adrian. If you didn’t look a bit like me, he wouldn’t have given you a second glance!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. “Fine, you’re so capable. Then please convince Adrian to agree to divorce me. I sincerely wish you both the best – a scumbag and a homewrecker, perfect for each other.” Amber was speechless for a moment before angrily hanging up. She knew that I had asked Adrian for a divorce two weeks ago. At the time, she had even rushed over to celebrate in front of me. “Smart of you to know when to give up. First love is something that can never be erased unless you’re dead. So you proposing divorce is the wisest move,” she had gloated, wearing the designer outfit Adrian had specially ordered from Milan for her. Who knew that the next second, Adrian would suddenly appear, glaring at me with eyes like a venomous snake. He grabbed Amber by the hair and said coldly, “Who the fuck told you I’m getting divorced? Get out!” I remember vividly how Amber had run out crying that day.

After hanging up, my phone lit up with several notifications. I dealt with some work messages and exited the app, when suddenly I noticed a red dot on a muted conversation. For some reason, I tapped on it. The contact had no name, just the character “Yi” as the username and a faded mountain-top photo as the profile picture. If I remembered correctly, this was Lucas, Adrian’s current best friend. I heard they met at a cocktail party and somehow became as close as brothers. Compared to Adrian’s business background, Lucas’s background was heavily guarded, layers upon layers of protection. Even Adrian only knew the general outline. Yet this man had sent me a selfie. Black bangs partially covered his deep-set eyes, a child’s fever patch stuck to his forehead. His thin jacket was unzipped halfway, revealing hints of abs. He looked damp all over. The message below read: [Sis-in-law, I think I have a fever. I feel awful /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~] I zoomed in on his abs, then scrolled through his previous messages. Although I had never replied, he seemed to have made it a daily routine to send one message and one photo every day. If it wasn’t his long, slender fingers, it was his well-defined abs. It was as if he was persistently and shamelessly trying to steal me away from my husband. Coincidentally, the first time he sent me these messages was the day Adrian was caught cheating with his secretary. I returned to the chat and casually typed a reply. [Nice abs.] As if holding my breath, I sent it without a second glance and immediately exited the app. Early the next morning, Adrian’s mother was sitting on the downstairs sofa, her expression unreadable. Seeing me come down, she asked coldly, “Where’s Adrian? Gone to that hussy again?” I nodded calmly, taking breakfast out of the fridge. I even politely offered, “Mom, would you like some?” She looked startled, seemingly surprised by my attitude. After all, in the past, I had desperately tried to please her for Adrian’s sake. When she said she didn’t like Walkers’ daughters-in-law to be in the public eye, that marrying Adrian meant being a proper housewife, I even gave up my beloved dance career. “Are you useless?” Her face darkened with anger. “Five years and you can’t even keep a man’s heart. If Adrian wants to divorce you someday, don’t expect me to help you!” I suddenly put down my fork and looked at her with a mirthless smile. “You couldn’t keep Mr. Walker’s heart for thirty years either, could you? If there’s anyone to blame, it’s the Walker family’s inferior cheating genes, passed down from generation to generation.” The elegant lady stood up like a fury: “You! You’ve gone too far! I’ll tell Adrian to throw you out! I want you two divorced!” I looked at her and quickly said, “I’m sorry.” I had lost my temper for a moment. No matter what, I shouldn’t have provoked her with this. Years ago, when she was pregnant with their second child, Mr. Walker was caught in bed cheating. The other woman was Amber’s mother. Adrian’s mother and Amber’s mother had been best friends. After Amber’s father died, she took pity on the mother and daughter, even buying them a house in the same neighborhood. Who would have thought that Amber’s mother and Mr. Walker would have an affair behind her back, sneaking around for five years? When she found out, the shock and anger caused her to miscarry. The scandal blew up, and Amber’s mother was sent to the countryside by Mr. Walker, but the car overturned on the way. At the time, Adrian and Amber were already an acknowledged couple, but Adrian’s mother could never accept the daughter of her husband’s mistress as a daughter-in-law. So Amber was forcibly sent abroad. This incident was the greatest pain of her life. I really shouldn’t have used it to attack her. Hearing my apology, she sat back down. After a while, she got up to leave. Before going, she threw out one last sentence: “Your father is still in the hospital. You should know what to do!” My father? She didn’t know that the doctor had already called me, saying my father only had a few days left.

Five years ago, when my father was driven to desperation by bankruptcy, he jumped from the roof of our apartment building. Fortunately, he was caught by some trees and survived, but he’s been kept alive only by expensive machines and medications ever since. All these years, the money has been paid monthly by Adrian’s mother according to our original agreement. That evening, my phone rang. It was my best friend Rachel’s voice: “Chloe, DM Club, come save me quick!” She hung up immediately. Worried something had happened to her, I rushed to DM. But when I arrived, I found her excitedly playing drinking games with a group of male models. Seeing me, she blinked innocently: “It wasn’t me who called you…” “Then who did?” I asked, confused. “I did.” A deep voice sounded behind me, tinged with nervousness. I turned around and came face to face with the abs guy from the phone. Lucas wore a black jacket. At 6’3″, he cut an impressive figure standing there. Before I could speak, Rachel eagerly pointed at him: “Girl, this model won’t even let me touch him. Says he’s exclusively for one person. Hey, you try him out for me! Your scumbag husband has cheated how many times now? Why are you still holding back? Go for it!” “He’s not a model…” I kindly reminded her. “Don’t spread rumors outside.” After we left, Lucas followed closely behind me. He was indeed handsome – calling him a model would be an understatement. There weren’t many in Hollywood who looked this good. Back when things were occasionally still okay between Adrian and me, he often praised this good friend of his. Sometimes even Adrian wondered how he had the fortune to befriend someone of Lucas’s background and status. I felt a headache coming on. I shouldn’t have impulsively replied to that message. “This is…” I stumbled over my words, awkwardly saying, “This isn’t right. You know this makes you the other woman, right?” Lucas coughed lightly, standing just an arm’s length away. Gone was his online flirtatiousness, but he was still direct: “So, does this mean I’m officially acknowledged now?” “But I haven’t actually done anything yet, have I?” he reasoned shamelessly. “I accept criticism and correction, but I’m still firm in my goal!” “What goal?” “To steal you away!” “He’s supposed to be your best friend. Aren’t you afraid he’ll beat you up?” “What kind of good person is he anyway? At worst, I’m just seducing a married woman, a bit morally bankrupt. But what he’s done is truly despicable… Ahem, of course, I’m not badmouthing your husband.” Maybe it was the dim lighting, the temptation of his good looks. Maybe it was the exhaustion and torment from these years with Adrian. I stared at him intently and suddenly said, “Wait a little longer. While I’m still married, I won’t do anything immoral.” At least on the surface, I was still Adrian’s wife. Lucas’s eyes lit up: “When do you plan to… get divorced?” “Soon,” I smiled.

When Adrian came home, I was feeding the cat. I looked up – it was already dusk outside. He took off his coat and crouched down, reaching out to pet the cat just like he had done many times before. Fluffy turned her head away, hissing angrily at him, refusing to let him touch her. Cats are more sensitive than humans. She could smell that Adrian had been petting another cat. Amber’s Instagram often featured photos of a white ragdoll cat. An unfamiliar perfume wafted into my nose. I wrinkled my brow. Turning my head, I saw Adrian’s shirt collar open, revealing a dark hickey on his pale collarbone. It looked like someone had deliberately marked their territory. Adrian followed my gaze, lowered his eyes, and smiled arrogantly, as if trying to fool an idiot: “Tch, the cat scratched me.” I felt neither sadness nor joy. I just lowered my head to pour water into the cat’s bowl. “When can we sign the divorce papers?” “In such a hurry?” Adrian leaned close, his lips brushing my ear. I recoiled in disgust. He laughed: “You care that much about me? Trying to test me with divorce talk over and over? Don’t worry, there’s only one Mrs. Walker, and no one can take that from you.” I looked up at him, my gaze utterly calm. If only he knew… Never mind. Adrian’s body stiffened for a moment before his face turned cold: “Is this too much for you already? When you and my mother schemed against me back then, didn’t you anticipate this day would come?” I said quietly, “I regret it. I shouldn’t have walked into that room back then. I shouldn’t have married you.” Adrian suddenly kicked the table, sending it flying. He grabbed my chin roughly: “Regret? What right do you have to regret? Did I give you permission to regret?” I no longer had the energy or desire to argue with him. In the past, when he was angry, I would think of all sorts of ways to cheer him up, not bearing to see even a frown on his face. But now, the closer he got to the edge of rage, the more annoyed I felt. I could refute him with countless words, but on this matter, I could only remain silent whenever he brought it up. I just said softly, “Since what we had was wrong from the start, and things have come to this point, divorce is the only way out.” Adrian didn’t respond immediately. He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, eyes lowered as he lit a cigarette. Then, from a distance, he slowly blew a puff of smoke in my direction. The smoke momentarily blurred his chiseled features. He tapped his forehead with his finger, then pointed at the hickey on his collarbone, curling his lips: “Is it because of this?” “Actually, if you like, you could try it too.” He shrugged carelessly. “I don’t mind. But Chloe, do you have the guts?” I looked into Adrian’s eyes – those upturned phoenix eyes that seemed alluring whether he smiled or not. I used to love those eyes. I had thought that even if he didn’t love me, he would at least have some respect for me. The first time he crossed the line, I nearly went insane. Back then, I hadn’t loved him to the point of exhaustion, and I still held some hope for Adrian and our future. I couldn’t accept betrayal. I made a scene until everyone knew, until I lost a child, in exchange for his promise that it wouldn’t happen again. I was willing to take another gamble, only to lose even more thoroughly in the end. In Adrian’s eyes, I didn’t have the guts or the heart to cheat. But cheating was never about guts – it was about self-control and moral constraints. The biggest difference between Adrian and me was that I was a person with marital morals. But even the most moral person, when pushed into a corner, can fall. Just then, my phone lit up with another message from Lucas. I opened it to look – it was a photo of abs, face not shown, looking quite tempting. Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. Adrian’s presence loomed close. Adrian… he saw the photo. I gripped my phone tightly, my heart skipping a beat. I looked up at Adrian. He gazed at me with a mocking smile, his tone sarcastic: “Looking at some risqué male model photos online? Chloe, this is about all the guts you have.”

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When I Found Out My Sugar Baby Was Using My Money to Support Other Women When I discovered that the young man I was supporting was actually using my money to keep other women, I was furious. I immediately decided to break up with him and even considered suing him for fraud. But he was quite the charmer. On a rainy night, he stripped naked and knelt in my yard all night with tears in his eyes. He claimed he was young and foolish, and only made this huge mistake to repay his first love who had supported his education. Looking at his rain-soaked body, I had to admit he was incredibly handsome. I thought to myself, at least he knows how to show gratitude. In a moment of weakness, I chose to forgive him. Little did I know, he would soon conspire with his first love to blind me and steal all my assets. This time, I didn’t hesitate. I immediately called my seven ex-boyfriends… 0 “If it weren’t for your money, do you think I would have put up with you until now? You blind bitch, how dare you act like some rich princess in front of me?” Lucas Evans slapped me hard across the face before kicking me out the door. “Don’t come back until you realize your mistakes!” he shouted. I clutched the medical report confirming my restored vision tightly in my hand, my mind in turmoil. I had wanted to share the joyful news that my eyesight had returned to normal. But Lucas, who had always been gentle and caring, suddenly flew into a rage when I asked him to pour me a glass of water. He violently smashed the glass on the ground. Shards scattered everywhere, instantly cutting my cheek. Blood beaded up and dripped to the floor. I stood there stunned, staring at him in disbelief. This usually kind man was now coldly throwing me out of our home without a shred of mercy. My heart was filled with hurt and confusion. Tears I could no longer control streamed down my face. Just as I turned to leave, I unexpectedly ran into Amber Sullivan – Lucas’s unforgettable first love. She stood a short distance away, watching my misfortune with obvious glee, as if she had anticipated this all along. “Well, if it isn’t Miss Thompson! What’s the matter, dear?” she said mockingly. I shot her a cold glance, wiping the tears from my face. Not wanting to engage with her, I started walking away. But Amber wasn’t done. She blocked my path. “Is Miss Thompson too high and mighty to acknowledge me? Can’t you see I’m talking to you?” I pursed my lips, not wanting to waste my breath on her. She then feigned a sudden realization. “Oh my, silly me! Of course Miss Thompson can’t see – she’s blind after all.” With that, she burst into shrill, grating laughter. I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Being blind isn’t so bad. At least I don’t have to watch you shamelessly flirting with other people’s boyfriends,” I retorted. “Mia Thompson!” Amber shrieked in fury, charging at me. “I’ll tear that mouth of yours apart!” I was prepared for this. I stepped aside slightly, causing her to stumble and fall face-first onto the ground. Passersby stared, some even laughing out loud. Amber got up from the ground, glaring at me viciously. Her face was contorted, though I couldn’t tell if it was from the fall or from anger. “Didn’t I just tell you to get lost? What are you still doing here?” Lucas’s angry voice came from nearby. He immediately started scolding me without bothering to find out what happened. My heart ached. He always chose Amber over me, every single time. Yet I was supposed to be his girlfriend. 0

Seeing Lucas appear, Amber instantly transformed back into a pitiful damsel in distress. “Lucas, I’m so sorry,” she whimpered. “I just wanted to say hello to Miss Thompson, but she suddenly pushed me down.” “Maybe I shouldn’t have come to see you?” Amber put on an act of being bullied. Sure enough, Lucas’s heart melted instantly. He rushed to wipe away her tears. “Amber, you poor thing.” He turned to glare at me fiercely. “Mia Thompson, I can’t believe you’re still so vicious even after going blind!” “Apologize to Amber right now, or I’ll never forgive you.” Seeing that I remained silent, his anger grew. “If you won’t apologize, then get out of my sight!” He then instructed the security guard, “Don’t let her into the complex again without my permission.” With that, he took Amber inside, not sparing me another word. I clutched the medical report tightly once more, crouching down and bursting into tears. It turns out my seven ex-boyfriends were right – he only loved my money, not me. At this thought, I sobbed uncontrollably. When my phone rang, passersby were still pointing and whispering about me. They were saying I must be some rich man’s mistress who got kicked out by the wife. I held back my tears and answered the phone with a sniffle. The moment I heard Ethan North’s deep voice, tears started flowing again. Hearing my cries, he immediately panicked, asking if someone had bullied me. A warmth spread through my heart. At least they still cared about me. In that instant, I made up my mind to end this one-sided cold war with them. From now on, even if they kept telling others they were my exes, I wouldn’t get upset anymore. I grew up with those seven boys since childhood. They were all my ex-boyfriends. Officially “crowned” as such, in fact. I was young back then, obsessed with the story of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. Every day I imagined myself as the chosen empress, inducting all seven childhood friends into my “harem”. I even gave them official rankings, with Ethan as my “empress” since he was the oldest. As we grew older, I started to feel embarrassed about it and gradually distanced myself from them. But they uniformly claimed to others that they were my abandoned ex-boyfriends, making it hard for me to find a new boyfriend for a while. Finally, after college graduation, I met my current boyfriend. Gentle and obedient, with a baby face but an incredibly sexy inverted triangle physique – he made my heart race uncontrollably. I was so smitten that I even bought him an apartment to keep him as my secret lover. Who would have thought things would turn out like this? In the end, I only have myself to blame for being blinded by his looks. Fortunately, I still have seven ex-boyfriends who adore me waiting for me. After hanging up with Ethan, I immediately headed back to North City. I decided to give them a big surprise! The thought of seeing them soon filled me with excitement I could barely contain. But when I arrived at the usually quiet mansion gates, I found them crowded with young girls holding up banners. How strange. 0

Before I could think too much about it, I walked straight towards the gates, only to be stopped by the security guard. “I’m sorry, only residents are allowed in!” I was taken aback. I had sold my house in the complex before going to Sea City. “I’m a friend of Ethan North. I’m here to see them,” I said. Surely a resident’s friend would be allowed in. The guard gave me a look that said “I knew it”, his tone full of impatience as he pointed at the group of young girls, “Every woman who comes here claims to be here for them.” “And they all say they’re their girlfriends too.” He started pushing me away, “You’re so young, don’t you have anything better to do? Chasing after celebrities all the way to their homes.” “Have you no shame!” Suddenly I remembered Ethan mentioning something about their debut a while back. I hadn’t paid much attention then, but it seems they’ve become quite famous now. But how was I supposed to get in? “Wang, do you still want this job? How could you let someone rush in like that?” A familiar female voice came from behind just as we were at an impasse. The guard immediately put on a respectful demeanor, apologizing profusely, “I’m sorry, Miss Sullivan. I’ll send her away right now.” Miss Sullivan? I didn’t know many people with the surname Sullivan! Curious, I turned around, startled to see Amber’s face. It was her! Wasn’t she with Lucas? What was she doing here?! Amber looked equally surprised, but only for a moment before switching to a mocking tone, “Well, if it isn’t Miss Thompson! Just got dumped by your boyfriend and now you’re here to chase celebrities?” “Aren’t you moving on a bit too fast?” I felt extremely annoyed. Who did she think she was?! Trying to control every aspect of my life! She clearly thought I was easy to bully. Well, it was time to show her who Mia Thompson really was. “None of your damn business!” I snapped. Before Amber could respond, the guard roughly shoved me. “How dare you speak to Miss Sullivan like that!” “So vulgar. Dressed like that and claiming to be friends with Mr. North and the others. Have you no self-awareness?” “If you want to get close to celebrities like Miss Sullivan, at least buy a villa in our complex first!” Seeing the guard’s arrogant attitude, I couldn’t hold back my anger. “You think I can’t afford it?” Amber and the guard were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. Especially Amber, who was laughing so hard she could barely stand straight. “This is hilarious, Mia. I think it’s not just your eyes that are messed up, but your brain too!” She came closer, whispering in my ear, “Do you still think you’re some millionaire sugar mama?” My heart sank suddenly, an ominous feeling washing over me. I stared at her intently, my voice trembling uncontrollably, “What… what do you mean by that?” Seeing my panicked expression, Amber’s face lit up with a smug smile. She turned to instruct the guard, “Wang, make sure you guard the gate well. Don’t let any riffraff slip through.” “Especially blind ones like her. Be careful she doesn’t try to scam you later.” The guard agreed eagerly, turning to drag me out. 0

I quickly pulled out my phone and showed the call log to the guard. “I really am Ethan’s friend. Look, we just talked on the phone this afternoon.” The guard looked carefully, his expression wavering slightly. “It really is Mr. North’s number.” Amber’s face changed, but then we heard the guard continue, “But there are so many people who save a random number under a celebrity’s name. This trick is so childish.” Getting anxious, I pressed on. This guard was really difficult to deal with. “Just call Ethan and tell him Mia Thompson is outside. He’ll come out to get me.” At this point, I didn’t care about the surprise anymore. Getting inside was the priority. Plus, I wanted to know what Amber meant by her earlier comment. What happened to my money? To my dismay, the guard looked even more suspicious after hearing my suggestion. “You know Mr. North has a performance down south today, yet you’re asking me to call him. I think you’re just a scammer.” Ethan wasn’t here today? What a coincidence. “Fine, then I’ll call Ryan Frost,” I said, dialing his number immediately, praying that Ryan would pick up quickly. I glanced at Amber inadvertently. Her expression seemed a bit odd. She walked in front of me and waved her hand before my eyes. “Mia, can you see me?” The call still hadn’t connected, and I was getting impatient. I was about to tell her to shut up. Just as I opened my mouth, I suddenly realized something. Was Amber suspicious of me? Pretending to be angry, I said, “You know I can’t see. Why are you asking this?” Amber looked unconvinced but didn’t press further. I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. The person on the other end of the line finally answered, “Hello! Mia, you finally remembered to call me?” “The signal here is bad, we might get cut off…” “I’m at…” The call abruptly ended, and I felt like cursing. Damn Ryan and his jinxing habits, still the same after all these years. Holding my phone, I tried to explain to the guard, “At least this proves I know them, right? Can you let me in now?” The guard shook his head, his attitude unyielding. “Who knows if you’re using some AI call simulator? With technology these days, it’s easy to fake a call with a celebrity.” My blood pressure was rising rapidly, but remembering Ethan and the others’ current celebrity status, I forced myself to calm down. I turned to leave, planning to wait at a nearby hotel for them to contact me. Uncharacteristically, Amber called out to stop me. “Mia, let me take you in.” As if afraid I wouldn’t agree, she added, “You can’t see, so it’ll be faster if I guide you, right?” I looked at her smiling face, feeling a chill run down my spine. She wasn’t this kind-hearted. Was she planning something sinister? “What’s wrong? Are you scared?” Amber narrowed her eyes at me, her tone somewhat challenging. Yeah, right. I’ve lived here for over a decade. Why would I be afraid of her? Besides, I wanted to see what she was up to. Amber led me into the complex, finally stopping in front of my old villa. She had bought my villa! 0

As soon as I stepped inside, Amber swiftly locked the door behind us. Realizing something was wrong, I immediately turned to run out, but Amber forcefully pushed me into the bathroom. I shouted, “What are you doing? Let me out!” Her face was gloomy, her eyes filled with anger as she looked at me. “You’re not really blind!” “Lucas praised you for being pure-hearted, but I never expected you to be so cunning.” I mentally rolled my eyes. “This has nothing to do with you. If Lucas is what you want, congratulations, I’ve already broken up with him.” At this point, I just wanted to leave. Amber’s hostility was making my skin crawl. She didn’t answer me, just kept advancing step by step, her eyes seeming to drip with venom. “Mia Thompson, why do you always have to steal what’s mine!” “I finally managed to move in here, become the top fan in their fan club, get close to those seven guys, and even had a chance to go further.” “Then you suddenly show up with that seductive face of yours, claiming to be their friend.” “Do you think I’ll just sit back and let you take my place?”

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For three years of marriage, I, Evelyn, had been preparing to have a child for Jack, the gentleman from a wealthy family. However, Jack, without consulting me, directly adopted his sister-in-law’s child. Jack held his sister-in-law’s child’s hand and explained to me with a smile, “Honey, my sister-in-law’s child is our child now.” I thought he was just being partial, but I never expected that his sister-in-law’s son was actually his biological child. I was devastated. Later, with my belly swollen, I found myself in the arms of Jack’s arch-enemy. Jack, however, was crying and begging me to have his child. On my birthday, Jack’s sister-in-law, Chloe, brought her child to our home. “Evelyn, Jack has already adopted my son. You don’t mind, do you?” Chloe asked. My heart sank, and I unconsciously covered my belly, forcing a smile. “Chloe, Jack has been quitting smoking recently to have a child with me. How could he adopt your child?” I questioned. Chloe’s face was filled with smugness as she feigned shock, “Jack didn’t tell you that I was his first love?” Hearing her confident tone, I took a step back. I pretended to be calm and smiled, “Jack doesn’t mention this to me, probably because he only sees you as his sister-in-law now.” Seeing that I wasn’t angry, Chloe’s smile became more arrogant. She called Jack right in front of me. “Son, call daddy. From now on, Jack is your father,” Chloe said. Her six-year-old son, Tommy, sweetly called out to my husband on the video call, “Uncle, mom says you’re my dad now. Dad!” Jack on the other end of the video responded, “Good boy, dad will come home and cut you some cake.” Hearing Chloe’s son and my husband addressing each other so intimately, a wave of bitterness washed over me. With a stiff body, I called out to Jack in the video, “Honey, it’s my birthday today. When are you coming home to celebrate with me?” Jack’s cheerful voice paused when he heard me. “Don’t rush, I’ll be back soon,” he said. After the call ended, I looked at Chloe, who was still lingering, and made a “please” gesture, feeling not so good. “Chloe, Jack has arranged a five-star chef for my birthday dinner. You should head back first.” But Chloe just rolled her eyes at me. “I’m waiting for Jack to come home. He promised to buy cake for my son,” she said. My cake… Jack gave it to someone else?

Jack came home with a cake and saw that both Chloe and I looked upset. He bypassed me, his wife, and went straight to Chloe, asking with concern, “Chloe, who upset you? Why do you look so unhappy?” Chloe let out a coquettish huff towards Jack and glanced at me sideways. “It’s your wife. She’s trying to kick me and my son out with a cold face. You need to handle this, Jack. Don’t let someone overstep their boundaries. I am her sister-in-law after all.” Jack turned to look at me, his eyes clouded with displeasure. He spoke coldly, “Evelyn, apologize to Chloe.” I looked at him in disbelief and tried to explain, “Chloe barged in with her son, saying you were going to adopt Tommy. We were about to go out, and Chloe wouldn’t leave. Was I supposed to lock her in the house?” Jack ignored my explanation and apologized to Chloe on my behalf. “I’m sorry, Chloe. Evelyn doesn’t know better. I’ll teach her a lesson later. Let’s sit down and cut the cake for Tommy.” Seeing Jack treat Tommy like his own son, my heart ached. With tears in my eyes, I asked him, “Weren’t we supposed to go out for dinner? Is the cake you’re going to eat the one for my birthday?” Jack impatiently opened the cake box and said in front of them, “Evelyn, how have you become so petty after three years of marriage? What’s wrong with letting Tommy eat a bit of your birthday cake? He’s just a child.” With red-rimmed eyes, I questioned him, “I’ve been preparing to have a child for you for three years. Now you’re adopting someone else’s child without even discussing it with me. What does this mean?”

Jack and I had an arranged marriage between wealthy families. Originally, I started trying for a baby right after the wedding to secure my future. But over the three years of marriage, our feelings for each other grew rapidly. Before today, I really wanted to have a child with him. But now Jack said coldly, “My brother has left all his business for me to inherit. I have an obligation to help raise his child. Don’t overthink it.” I raised an eyebrow and said bitterly, “I’m not overthinking, it’s Chloe who…” Jack interrupted me, “Enough, I’ll explain this to you later.” Just as I was about to ask how we were going to celebrate my birthday, Tommy threw a piece of cake at my head and cried to Jack. “Dad, this bad woman was bullying mom earlier. Quick, kick her out!” Jack immediately looked at me with cold eyes, as if I had really done such a thing. I wiped the cake off my head and defiantly denied it, “I didn’t do anything like that. Tommy is lying.” Chloe wiped away non-existent tears and complained, “Jack, Evelyn is jealous that I have such an excellent son. She called my son a bastard. I just argued with her a bit, but I didn’t expect her to call me a shameless slut. I really didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted my son to be treated well. Is that wrong?” I laughed coldly, “I never said that. Chloe, why are you throwing dirt on me?” Jack shouted, “Enough! Evelyn, apologize to Chloe for this. Tommy is just a child, he wouldn’t lie, would he?” Looking at the biased Jack, my eyes filled with tears as I asked him, “Jack, why don’t you believe me?”

I didn’t wait for Jack to explain and drove out of the house. Jack didn’t come after me either. Before leaving, I took Jack’s hidden red wine and brought it to the riverside, drinking myself into a stupor. Unexpectedly, I ran into Ryan, Jack’s business rival. Because of Jack, he recognized me at a glance. “What’s this? Has that gentleman from a wealthy family, Jack, neglected you? You’re out here drinking alone on your birthday?” Drunk as I was, I looked at this man who was slightly more handsome than Jack and asked confusedly, “Ryan, how did you know today is my birthday?” He didn’t answer my question, instead snatching the wine bottle from my hand. “Stop drinking, it’s bad for your stomach. Let me take you home.” I brushed off his hand, my tone cold. “I’m not going back. That jerk Jack adopted his nephew without even telling me. I’ve been trying to get pregnant for three years, who wants his sister-in-law’s kid?” Seeing my intoxicated state, Ryan didn’t say another word and carried me to his car. Ten minutes later, Ryan brought me back home. Ryan carried me towards my front door. I complained, “Why did you bring me back here? I don’t want to go in.” The next second, Jack appeared with a dark face, looking at me in Ryan’s arms. “Evelyn, you’ve really outdone yourself. I say a few words to you, and you run into someone else’s arms? Do you still consider me your husband?” I got down from Ryan’s arms, drunkenly snorting, “If you really cared about me, would you adopt someone else’s child without discussing it with me, and even let them live in our house?” Jack glanced warily at Ryan, then quickly pulled me back into the house. “Evelyn, it’s not what you think between me and Chloe. She’ll move out in a couple of days, just bear with it for now.” After explaining, Jack took me upstairs to rest. I watched his retreating figure, irritably went downstairs for water, and secretly saw Jack and Chloe embracing each other. My breath caught in my throat.

Jack sat on the sofa, with Chloe lying in his arms, all lovey-dovey. “Jack, don’t you think it’s fate that we’re together?” Jack held her gently, as if Chloe was his wife. “Behave yourself, Evelyn isn’t asleep yet.” Chloe said with a giggle, “If it weren’t for your brother being sterile, we wouldn’t have our Tommy. Evelyn hasn’t given you a child in three years, why don’t you divorce her and marry me?” Jack frowned and said, “No, my marriage to her was arranged for business reasons. We can’t divorce easily.” “You heartless man, if it weren’t for my advice back then, could you have married into the Lin family?” Faced with Chloe’s complaints, Jack kissed her and said, “Wait until Evelyn is asleep, and I’ll make it up to you properly.” Hearing their conversation, I could no longer hold back my tears. That “gentleman” image is all bullshit. It’s all lies. But for the sake of our families’ alliance and interests, I didn’t want to directly confront them. Having discovered Jack’s secret, my attitude towards him cooled considerably. Three days later, Chloe and her son still hadn’t left. That night, I coldly asked Jack. “Didn’t you say they would leave after a few days?” Jack frowned and made excuses, “Chloe has been sick these past couple of days. How can you treat a sick person like this? Chloe is our sister-in-law, what’s wrong with her staying for a few days?” I looked at him angrily, “If she doesn’t leave, I will.” I packed some personal items and was about to leave with my suitcase. Chloe walked into the living room wearing a semi-transparent silk nightgown, looking at me with a victorious and mocking expression. “What’s this? Has Jack kicked you out? Having to leave in the middle of the night?”

I didn’t want to respond to her words and continued walking with my suitcase. Jack suddenly ran in front of me to block my way, coldly rebuking me: “Evelyn, stop making a scene. You’re not a three-year-old child, don’t keep running away from home. Put your suitcase back now, and I’ll forgive your childish behavior this time.” I didn’t even look at Jack, continuing to pull my suitcase out the door. Jack stood at the doorway and sneered, “Where else can you go besides your parents’ house? If you go back to your parents, aren’t you afraid of worrying them?” Hearing the implication in Jack’s words, I knew he was afraid I would go back to my parents and tell them everything. But Jack knew me well enough to know that I would worry my family if I went back, so I never intended to return to my parents’ house. I drove to the riverside where I had been drinking last time. I tossed my suitcase aside and started drinking. To hell with Jack and everything else. Coincidentally, I met Ryan again. He seemed to know where I was, always able to find me. Seeing me drinking to drown my sorrows, Ryan suddenly asked, “If I wanted to steal Jack’s wife, would you let me?” I was stunned for a moment. He was speaking English, but why did it sound so confusing when put together? But I was drunk and didn’t care about all that, so I said very frankly, “I’m willing. But are you willing to marry into my family?” Ryan nodded, “Sure, as long as I can steal Jack’s wife, I’ll give you all my money.” Although his words sounded nice, with Jack’s precedent, I was still a bit cautious. “No, I don’t want your money. I want you to marry into my family, with a written contract and everything.” Ryan quickly had his secretary print out two copies of a marriage contract and send them over. I signed the contract in a trance, then sat on Ryan’s lap, pinching his chin and drunkenly laughing, “You better not lie to me. If you do, I’ll make you a eunuch, and Jack too.” Ryan nodded and pointed at my phone, smiling, “Now that we’re engaged, shouldn’t you divorce Jack?” Having solved a big problem, I nodded seriously and dialed Jack’s number. Jack’s roar came from the other end, “Evelyn, where the hell have you been?” I wrapped my arms around Ryan’s neck and nuzzled his face. “I’m cuddling with Ryan. Young people have such nice skin, not like you with your crow’s feet.” I heard Jack grinding his teeth, “Evelyn, where are you? I’m coming to get you.”

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Three days before our silver anniversary. I stumbled upon his secret—a hidden basement. Every inch from floor to ceiling was covered in photos of another woman. I realized that from his thirties to his sixties, his heart belonged to someone else. Those crucial business trips, those mysterious souvenirs—they all made sense now, seeing the radiant smiles in the photos. I stared at my own hands, marked with the signs of hard work. Suddenly, I felt exhausted. Declan was away on a business trip, but his assistant showed up at my door. “Mrs. Carter, we really need that document. It’s important to us.” Standing at the door, Declan’s assistant looked at me with respect. I tried calling Declan three times, but there was no answer. “Are you sure it’s in the study?” The assistant nodded politely. I reluctantly went upstairs to search for it. I rarely entered Declan’s study. He didn’t like to be disturbed while working. As I fumbled around the desk, a pen holder caught my eye. It seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen it before. The assistant’s voice urged me from downstairs. As I exited, I accidentally knocked over the pen holder. With a loud thud, an opening appeared behind the bookshelf. I was taken aback, hearing the assistant calling from below. I quickly went down and handed over the document. The assistant seemed concerned by my expression. “Mrs. Carter, is everything alright?” I pressed my lips together and shook my head. After he left, I went back to the study. Staring at the lit basement, I hesitated. My instincts screamed not to enter. But my legs moved on their own, leading me inside. The room was bathed in a warm yellow light. Yet, upon entering, I was completely frozen. The walls were filled with photos of one person. Some were faded, others discolored, clearly aged. Yet, they were carefully framed by the owner. I stepped closer and gently touched a photo. Not a speck of dust—indicating the owner’s deep care for these photos. The subject was always the same person. She looked familiar—I recognized her at once. It was Declan’s first love, Nora. The wall was covered with photos of young Nora. Reading, shopping, dining—captured in many moments. The most recent showed her, with some gray hair, feeding pigeons. She was wearing a blue traditional dress, timelessly elegant and graceful. Her smile was bright as she looked at the camera. The thought that Declan might have taken this photo inexplicably upset me. Nora was Declan’s first love. Back when he was at his lowest. She left without a word to study abroad. But the travel expenses were covered by my father, who felt sorry for her troubled home life. Because of this, for a long time after I married Declan. He treated me coldly. I quietly endured a lot of grievances. Looking closely at these photos. There were quite a few of them together. Declan appeared relaxed in front of the camera. I rarely saw him so carefree. I looked at my hands, marked with the toll of labor, dull and lifeless. I sat quietly in the room, staring at the wall of photos. I thought about many things. Years ago, to be with Declan, I had a falling out with my parents. I almost missed seeing my father one last time. During Declan’s three years of studying abroad, I managed the household through all its ups and downs. I took care of his bedridden mother every day. I even financially supported him during his studies. We had a harmonious time together. During that period, we had our son, Theo. But back then, Declan’s career was just starting. He didn’t have time for household matters. I took on everything so he could focus on his career. During that time, he treated me very well. Though it was tough, it was also happy. When did things change? It was when Nora returned from her messy divorce abroad. I remember when I heard the news, Theo was only two. I worried that what I had was just an illusion, like a moonlit reflection on water. Sensing my unease, Declan comforted me for a long time. He said many things, promising he wouldn’t look back. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, without a hint of guilt, I felt relieved. Looking back, perhaps he did have genuine feelings, but true feelings can change in an instant. Suddenly, my heart felt swollen and heavy, like a sponge soaked in water. My hands trembled uncontrollably. He must have struggled to hide it from me. It’s been most of a lifetime.

An indescribable sadness spread from my chest to my entire body. I wanted to ask him why. Why did he do this? But as I picked up my phone, all my strength left me. I collapsed to the ground, letting the overwhelming emotions consume me. I carefully put everything back in its place, as if they had never been disturbed. But only I knew that beneath the seemingly flawless exterior, everything inside was already in ruins. Quietly, I packed my things, one by one. I had lived here too long. There were many scattered items, fortunately, Declan was away. It took me almost three days to pack everything. There were many things, but none of value. The valuable items I brought long ago had been sold during tough times. Leaving the house, I felt an indescribable lightness. I looked back at the house I had lived in for most of my life, still feeling reluctant. But I knew, no matter how long I stayed, it was never truly mine. It always bore someone else’s mark. I got into the car to go home. Since my parents passed away, I hadn’t returned home. In my years of wandering, I thought I had finally settled down. But it turned out to be a sugar-coated poison. I was coaxed into willingly consuming it. Three days after I returned to my hometown, someone finally called me. “Mom, where did you go?” “Tomorrow, Theo has a holiday. Leo and I are too busy. I’ll bring Theo over tomorrow.” My son’s voice was full of energy, with a hint of dissatisfaction and reproach. “Mom, did you hear me? In bright daylight, it’s so sunny. Stop running back and forth. I’ve been there several times for nothing.” His nagging continued in my ear. I was a bit dazed. I don’t think I ever complained about my parents like this, did I? I shouldn’t have. It’s been too long; I can’t remember. “Theo, let your mother-in-law bring him. I’m not convenient right now.” I calmly finished speaking and hung up the phone. Lying in the room I slept in during childhood, I felt especially at ease. A sense of security filled me. Unexpectedly, the person who should have returned in a week was standing at my door, looking worn out. Seeing Declan’s travel-worn appearance, I was surprised. “Maeve, what are you doing? Do you know the paparazzi caught you? Now everyone is saying we’re getting a divorce. The company is asking questions. It’s a big deal.” Declan’s words shattered all my illusions. I felt ridiculous for still holding onto fantasies about Declan. I thought he rushed over because he was worried about me. But his first instinct was to think about something else. “But if you don’t say and I don’t say, who knows I’m your wife?” My tone was dismissive. Noticing his harsh tone, he changed his approach. “Maeve, these days, you weren’t home. Our son and I were worried about you. What happened?” “Tell me, I’ll stand up for you.” “Did the assistant say something offensive?” Declan’s gritted teeth made it seem like he’d fight for me. Turns out, all these years, I was deceived by his act. “Declan, let’s get a divorce.” His endless chatter stopped immediately. He paused, seemingly thinking about what I just said. “Maeve, what’s wrong?” Declan’s voice was urgent. “I don’t agree. Who upset you? Let’s confront them, okay? Don’t say things in anger.” I just looked at him coldly. I never noticed before how well he acted. The praised good husband was secretly a hopeless romantic collecting photos of his first love. “Declan, I discovered the basement.” His expression froze completely at my words, his face turning visibly unpleasant. “Didn’t I tell you not to enter the study?” See, this person whom I had adored since my youth—once his secrets were exposed, his first reaction was to lash out and blame me. In that moment, all the small incidents from the past rushed into my mind. Without exception, they were all about Declan’s disdain and barely veiled contempt. Yes, a nouveau riche family like mine, being able to reach the heights of someone as educated as him, was indeed considered a stroke of ancestral luck. Reflecting on this, I couldn’t help but recall the numerous past events. “You should go back. Next time, bring a lawyer, alright? I won’t shortchange myself even a cent.” I stood, blocking the doorway, indicating for him to leave. Declan’s face turned grim.

He frowned, “Mabel, everyone has a past. Could you stop clinging to it and let it go?” “Besides, we’re both at an age where nothing could happen between Nora and me.” “And at our age, announcing a divorce would be laughable. People will gossip about you.” Declan’s words seemed to consider my welfare, yet they were continuously faulting me for being immature. “There’s no need, Declan.” “You should go back.” “I keep telling you, there’s nothing between Nora and me. Why won’t you believe me? Think it over.” Declan left, his expression stern. I had seen him off to study abroad on a ship. Sent him off on countless flights for field research. Every morning, I saw him off to work. And now, I watched him leave in a huff. I felt a whirlwind of emotions, an indescribable discomfort. Yet, I also felt an unusual sense of relief. I took all my belongings home. He should understand the firmness of my decision this time. I waited for the lawyer to arrive. After all, his company was built on the hard-earned money of my parents, whom he regarded as mere merchants. I waited and waited, but it was my son’s family who showed up instead. As soon as they entered, my son covered his nose in disdain. “Mom, this place reeks of mold. How can anyone live here? It’s covered in dust. Come back with us, okay?” Even my four-year-old grandson, Theo, mimicked him, covering his nose. In a sweet voice, he said, “It’s stinky here. Grandma, come back with us.” With that, he tried to grab my hand. I quietly avoided his hand. “Why did you bring the child here?” “Isn’t it because of you, Mom? Dad told me everything. Why are you still fussing over this? You’re both so old now. Why not just stay home peacefully with Theo?” “Why do you have to follow the young people’s trend of getting divorced? It’s a mess.” “I met Aunt Nora. She’s honest and straightforward with Dad. There’s nothing improper between them.” Declan Junior scolded me thoroughly over the phone. My expression gradually turned cold. “So why are you here? To be your dad’s messenger?” His expression paused for a moment. “I’m here to check on you. You moved out in a hurry, with no one to look after you. Of course, we worry about you.” He said that, but his eyes couldn’t help but glance around the slightly shabby house, failing to hide his disdain. My daughter-in-law stood obediently to the side. “Alright, you’ve seen me. There’s nothing wrong here. You should go back.” Declan Junior didn’t say anything, just had Theo come over and hug my leg. I patted his head. Suddenly, I remembered, Declan Junior used to be just like that. He looked so soft and fair. When I stayed up late worrying about making ends meet, working on side projects by lamplight, he would wake up and cling to me. He’d massage my forehead with tiny hands, promising to buy me a big house and ensure I lived a good life when he grew up. His hands were so small back then, his words naive, his voice soft. But now, he’s looking at me with impatience, looking at this house with disdain. He used to love visiting his grandma’s house. Children you raise with your own hands can grow so distant when they grow up. Let alone a spouse. Maybe it’s because I never really understood them. I pushed Theo back. Gestured for my daughter-in-law to take the child outside. She didn’t say much, just took the child out. I looked at the child who was now two heads taller than me. I felt a bit dazed. Time flies, and Theo has grown so much. “When did you meet Aunt Nora?” My voice was steady, but Declan Junior was impatient. “Mom! This isn’t the time to dwell on that. The company is affected. Can you stop fighting with Dad? He’s so old now, and he can’t do anything with Aunt Nora. Can’t you just see her as an ordinary old friend?” “Besides, at this age, who doesn’t have friends? You’re always at home, not interacting with others. You should go downstairs and chat with the neighbors more often. I think you’re too idle, that’s why you overthink everything.”

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Twelve-year-old Luke Wilson picked up two things at the farmers market. One was a newborn female puppy, and the other was me. Luke brought us both home and named me Lily. He provided for me, taught me, and hoped I would grow up safe and sound. Fifteen years later, Luke rebuilt his family business. Everyone thought he loved me more with each passing year. But only I knew he wouldn’t care so much about a little trash he picked up. Finally, the person Luke had been waiting for returned to the country. Without a second thought, he handed me over to his friend: “The female dog at home started breeding with different male dogs when she was two years old.” “What makes you think you’re special?” The Hillside Club was built halfway up the mountain. Without a registered license plate, one had to walk up. Luke’s urgent text messages kept coming. By the time I reached the private room door, my heels were already blistered and bleeding. I dared not delay and pushed the door open. All eyes in the room turned to me. I immediately spotted Luke sitting in the middle of the crowd. He was intimately kissing a woman on his lap, their tongues intertwined. Their hands roamed each other’s bodies. “Well, well, if it isn’t Wilson’s little adopted pet. Cute little thing, isn’t she?” A man on the couch whistled at me, making kissing noises. I clutched my coat tightly, lowering my head in silence. Hearing this, Luke finally released the woman and beckoned me over. “What are you standing there for? Come sit.” Luke, still fondling the woman’s slender waist, pointed at an empty spot on the table: “There’s still room on the table. Make do with that.” “And didn’t I teach you how to greet people properly?” At this, everyone in the room snickered, waiting to see my performance. The woman on Luke’s lap playfully hit him. “Why are you being so mean?” The man grabbed her mischievous hand and kissed it. “She’s young. I’m just teaching her, that’s all.” He then turned to me: “This is your future sister-in-law, Vanessa.” “Come on, call her sister-in-law. Let’s hear it.”

I obediently called her “Sister-in-law” and placed the newly bought stockings and condoms on the table. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.” As I said this, I turned to leave. But the next second, Luke suddenly kicked the table: “Who said you could leave?” “You’ve really gotten spoiled. You don’t even listen to me anymore?” “I told you to sit on the table!” Luke grabbed my hand and threw me towards the table. I lost my balance, and my waist slammed against the table edge. I was in so much pain that I started sweating, my hands pressed against the table as I struggled to stand up. Everyone in the room burst into laughter. Vanessa coquettishly pushed him: “Luke, don’t be like that. She’s still a girl, not really a dog you adopted!” Luke suggestively thrust his hips against the woman: “Oh? Are you finally jealous?” The two continued their intimate behavior. Vanessa held the man’s hand, pretending to be angry: “Stop it, your sister is watching.” Luke immediately gripped Vanessa’s thigh and pressed his lips to hers: “What sister? She’s just a bitch I picked up.”

As the two kissed passionately, the surrounding men became excited and said with malicious intent: “I heard… a bitch in heat can’t be satisfied even by ten dogs!” “Is that true, Luke?” The men around started rubbing their hands and unbuckling their belts. Luke glanced at me from the corner of his eye: “Why don’t you try and find out for yourselves?” I frantically wrapped myself tighter, curling into a ball. My eyes, filled with fear and pleading, looked towards Luke: “Brother… please… don’t…” But seeing my expression only seemed to excite Luke more. He stood up, cupping the woman’s bottom in his arms and bouncing her heavily. Looking down at me, he said: “The female dog we brought home together started breeding with different male dogs when she was just two years old.” “What makes you think you’re special?”

As soon as Luke gave his permission, the surrounding men surged towards me. In my confused state, someone took off my coat and pressed a glass of wine to my lips: “A little drink will make you feel better, puppy!” Luke intervened. “Don’t give her alcohol, she’s allergic.” I foolishly thought he would save me. I struggled desperately to break free from the grip of several men, crawling urgently to his feet, placing my forehead on the surface of his shiny leather shoes: “Brother! Save me, I promise I’ll be good from now on…” “I’ll listen to you and sister-in-law! I swear!” “If you tell me to leave, I’ll go! I won’t ever appear in front of you again!” But the next second, I felt a cold liquid being poured onto my back. The people around went wild: “Luke knows how to play!” “Wine on the back, double the fun!” I was thrown onto the table once again. Someone was filming nearby, saying extremely vulgar things. A sticky tongue licked across my skin. Although there was a table behind me, I felt like I was falling endlessly. Countless hands covered my body, tearing at my clothes. In my confusion, I saw Luke take a sip of wine and pass it to Vanessa with his mouth. “That’s enough, guys. She’s my only sister.” “Don’t break her.”

In my desperation, I caught sight of a wine bottle not far away, slowly rolling towards me due to the shaking table. Seeing it as my lifeline, I grabbed the bottle and smashed it on the head of the man in front of me. Once… twice… In an instant, glass and blood were scattered everywhere. The pungent liquid also splattered onto my face. Vanessa immediately let out an ear-piercing scream. The man I had hit felt the blood flowing from his forehead and fainted shortly after from shock. The bottle was smashed, leaving only a sharp half. I held it, pointing it at the men who tried to rush towards me. They all stopped in their tracks, no one daring to come closer. Luke tried to come up and stop me: “Lily, calm down. We were just playing around…” Luke bet that I wouldn’t hurt him and slowly approached me. My hand couldn’t stop shaking, tears had long been flowing uncontrollably. Seeing Luke less than two meters away from me, my emotions became even more uncontrollable. I pressed the sharp end against my own neck. Luke was too scared to come any closer: “Lily! Are you crazy?!” “I gave you your life! You have no right to decide your own death!” Tears messily stuck to my hair strands, my vision starting to blur. “It’s just one life. I’m giving it back to you.”

If I had known this day would come, I would have rather lived with cockroaches in the sewers of the farmers market. Years ago, Luke’s father was exposed by the media for his evil deeds — behind the facade of a children’s philanthropist was a perverted pedophile. With multiple pieces of irrefutable evidence presented, Luke’s father was sent to prison, where he soon committed suicide, unable to bear the shame. The Wilson family’s assets were frozen for investigation, and the company, deeply affected by public opinion, never recovered. Luke’s mother followed in his father’s footsteps not long after, screaming her innocence until her dying breath. But no one believed her. Overnight, their world turned upside down. That year, Luke was twelve years old. Relatives stayed far away from the Wilson family, and no one wanted to take in Luke, seeing him as a burden. So, just starting middle school, he used the little cash left in the family to rent a small house outside and lived alone for years. To save money, he would always go to the nearby farmers market at dusk to buy cheap, leftover vegetables that others had passed over. Until he met a little girl stealing buns. The bakery owner was chasing her with a rolling pin, determined to teach the little girl a lesson. Luke originally wanted to quickly pay for his items and leave, but he heard the vegetable vendor complaining: “It’s that unwanted little beggar again.” “I wonder what her parents are thinking.” Luke was stunned. He thought, wasn’t he also an unwanted child? He stopped the bakery owner and paid for the buns. When he found the little girl in the sewers of the farmers market, she was feeding the stolen buns to a newborn puppy. But the puppy couldn’t eat what the little girl saw as a delicacy, only whimpering weakly. “Newborn puppies need milk.” The little girl looked at Luke in terror, immediately becoming defensive. Luke just walked up, handed the buns he had just bought to the little girl, and patted her head. “Come on, let’s go home with big brother.” “I’ll make sure you have buns to eat every day from now on.” And so, under the puzzled gazes of onlookers, he took away a little beggar girl and a female puppy. In the rented room, Luke used a warm towel to clean the little girl’s body. “Big brother doesn’t have a family anymore. Will you be big brother’s family?” The little girl didn’t have a family either. She didn’t understand what family meant, she only knew that the brother in front of her wasn’t a bad person. That day, Luke named the little girl Lily. Hoping she would grow up safe and sound, year after year.

I didn’t die, but I wasn’t really living either. I was locked in a room Luke had specially prepared for me in the Wilson house, existing in a state between life and death. The windows were locked from the outside, airtight. Inside the room, there was nothing but a bed and a bathroom, nothing else. I looked at myself in the mirror, bandages wrapped around my neck, my face already gaunt and haggard. Just like before, whenever I angered Luke, he would starve me for days. He would starve me until I had no strength to argue with him, and only when I begged him for food would he be satisfied enough to let me out. But this time, Luke noticed something was different. Because I was getting thinner day by day, but there were no signs of me begging him. So Luke changed his strategy. He started tormenting me day and night. He violently forced himself on me, ravaging my mouth. My stomach, already empty of food, kept churning with bile. I wanted to vomit but couldn’t bring anything up. Obviously, a body so thin it hurt to touch didn’t arouse much interest in him. Until one day, I started eating on my own. Luke rushed home from the company, overjoyed, stroking my head and apologizing. “I was wrong last time, it won’t happen again.” “Will you forgive your brother, Lily?” I put down the soup spoon, looked up at him, and agreed with a smile. I had figured it out. I couldn’t just die so easily. I wanted to make Luke suffer unbearably, to make him experience pain worse than everything I had gone through.

I finally stepped out of that hell, but when I returned to my room, I found Vanessa living in my bedroom. Vanessa was wearing a loose white shirt, her legs exposed. Seeing me, she pretended to be surprised and hugged me: “Oh my God, Lily, how did you get so thin?” “Have you not been eating well? When Luke gets back, I’ll scold him for you!” I didn’t have the energy to play act with her. I looked past her into what should have been my room. “Where are my things?” Vanessa took a small step back, seemingly at a loss: “Oh… were those your things?” “What should we do… I asked Luke and he said they were useless trash, told me to deal with them myself.” “I threw them all away!” “Threw them away?” “Those were my things, what right did you have to throw them away?!” Having not eaten properly for several days, this shout made my heart ache terribly. “What’s all this shouting about in broad daylight?!” Luke had appeared behind me at some point, passing by me to embrace Vanessa. “Lily, what are you doing blocking the way?” “Luke, what should we do? I think I threw away all of Lily’s things.” “Did I make a mistake? I didn’t mean to! Those things really looked like…” Luke glanced at me, carelessly wiping his still damp hair with a towel: “If it’s thrown away, it’s thrown away. It was all useless trash anyway.” “The house is so big, you can just sleep in any guest room.”

In the middle of the night, someone knocked violently on the door of the room I was sleeping in. I opened the door sleepily to see Luke, his face satisfied from recent intimacy. “Go upstairs and change the sheets, and boil some water while you’re at it. Vanessa’s throat is a bit sore.” I obediently agreed: “I have some throat lozenges here, I’ll bring them to sister-in-law in a bit.” But Luke seemed to be in a strange mood. He looked at me oddly and forcefully gripped my shoulder: “Lily, you’re not jealous, are you?” “Don’t you know that from the beginning, I’ve only ever loved Vanessa?” “You volunteered to be Vanessa’s substitute, clinging to me.” … No one knew that the reason Luke cared about a little trash he picked up was because he would embrace me on countless nights. After entering college, during summer break, Luke worked four jobs a day to save money. I wanted to follow him and work too, but he wouldn’t let me, saying male bosses outside always took advantage of young girls. He was afraid I would be treated the same way. So all I did every day was wait for him to come home. By chance one time, I saw the small box that Luke usually kept locked was accidentally left with the key together. Normally, Luke never let me look at what was inside the box, or even get near that area. Driven by curiosity, I turned the key, wanting to see what treasure was hidden inside the box. It turned out there was only a yellowed photograph and two floral hair clips inside. In the photo, a young boy shyly avoided looking at the camera, while a young girl hugged him intimately, smiling happily. That was the first time I saw Vanessa. I finally understood that the box Luke wouldn’t let me open was his last sanctuary, belonging to him alone. The box contained his most precious treasure. Out of jealousy, I hid the key. When Luke came home, he frantically searched for the key but couldn’t find it anywhere. He tried to pry it open with his fingernails in desperation, but all attempts failed. I was too scared to speak, but seeing Luke’s bloodied fingernails, I tremblingly handed the key I had hidden in my pocket to Luke, who was crying with his head down. That was the first time he got so angry with me, and he didn’t come home for several days. A week later, Luke finally came back. I clumsily tried to hug him like the little girl in the photo, hoping to earn his forgiveness. I only remember that night, he kept saying “I love you so much.” But at the end of his passionate confession, it was Vanessa’s name he uttered.

When I entered the room with fresh sheets, Vanessa had just come out of the bathroom. I greeted her and then buried my head in changing the sheets. She walked to the bed wrapped in a towel, eyeing me: “Luke really has no shame, calling you to clean up so late.” “I’m sorry, Lily, we made the sheets too dirty…” Vanessa had intended to provoke me, but found I was unmoved. Her expression changed slightly, and she quickly adopted a different tone: “But come to think of it, Lily’s sexual desires must be hard to satisfy alone, right…?” “For a bitch… does it take five? Or ten?” Memories of the private club suddenly filled my entire mind, and my body felt unbearably cold. “Last time when so many men were on top of you, tell your sister-in-law honestly, you actually enjoyed it…” Before Vanessa could finish speaking, my palm landed on her face. Vanessa was stunned by my slap, holding her face frozen in place. And this scene was just witnessed by Luke, who had just pushed open the door. “Have you fucking lost your mind?!” Luke strode over to me, and the next second, a burning red handprint was imprinted on my face. My mouth was full of the taste of blood. I watched as Luke embraced Vanessa, comforting her with utmost tenderness. Vanessa nestled in Luke’s arms, crying heartbrokenly. “Luke, I just wanted to check if Lily was scared by what happened a few days ago, and she just…!” “It’s okay, Vanessa, don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Luke looked at me like I was garbage: “You’re just a dog picked up by the Wilson family, don’t forget your place.” “It seems you won’t know your mistake without some punishment.”

Once again, I was locked in that hellish room. But this time was different. Luke brought meals to my room on time every day, watching me finish before leaving. After more than a week, I finally understood his purpose for doing this. After dinner, Luke didn’t leave. He reached out and patted my face: “If it weren’t for me, you would have rotted away in that farmers market long ago.” “You should be grateful to me,” “I’ve provided for you so well for so many years, it’s time you repay our family.” Luke wanted to send me as a gift to the boss of a rival company. He dressed me in strange clothes that barely covered anything. “I heard Mr. Qin is quite the playboy.” “Women who end up in his bed never dare show their faces in public again.” “If you can please him,” “I might consider letting you be Vanessa’s bridesmaid at next month’s wedding.” … Gradually, my body began to lose strength. By the time I realized the dinner had been drugged, it was too late. 13 My body was bound with ropes, unable to move. I didn’t know where I had woken up. My eyes were blindfolded, everything was pitch black. When the sense of sight is deprived, the remaining senses become infinitely amplified. I don’t know how long it had been when the door was opened. I shuddered in shock, the scenes from that day at the private club playing on loop in my mind. The sound of leather shoes came closer and closer until it stopped near me. A man’s breath pressed down on me. It was a familiar scent. The next second, the blindfold covering my eyes was lifted. Due to the effects of the drug, my head was pounding, and my vision was blurry. I could only vaguely see the man loosening his tie, speaking with a suppressed voice: “I’ll untie the ropes first. Tell me if it hurts.” The ropes on my body were finally untied, and the man immediately covered me, barely dressed in scraps of fabric, with a blanket. The effects of the drug intensified as time passed. I still lay on the bed unable to move, with the effects growing stronger. Luke had used a potent drug, intending for me to die on this bed. I struggled to focus my vision, trying to make out the man’s face clearly. The man used a damp towel to wipe my sweaty forehead, tucking my hair behind my ear, and spoke again: “Don’t remember me?” “That’s going to be a problem.” “Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t forget me?” 14 In an instant, memories of the past flooded back to me. In college, there were quite a few boys who pursued me, but I had forgotten almost all their faces. Except for one person. We had chosen almost the same courses, and even in a gender studies course with only three students in the entire year, he and I were already two of them. He sat in the farthest position from me, yet always looked at me without trying to hide it. Until one day, I finally couldn’t stand it anymore. After class, I stopped him and asked: “Hey classmate, you’re going to stare a hole through my head.” “Can’t you show some restraint?” I had noticed before when passing by him, he always smelled like… baby powder. It wasn’t unpleasant, it was the kind of scent you could become addicted to. The boy was very tall, always wearing a white polo shirt like he was some kind of inspecting leader. In stark contrast to the color of his polo shirt were his ears, now red as blood. “I’m sorry… it won’t happen again.” “What’s your name—?” [Ethan.] “Have you forgotten me?” The man spoke with some disappointment. I remembered now, that familiar scent from earlier was the smell of baby powder. 15 “Sleep here for the night, I’ll take you back tomorrow.” I had finally managed to leave that hell, and now he wanted to send me back? My will broke through the control of the drug’s effects, and I shouted: “No!” “Help me, I can’t go back there…!” “Please, for the sake of our college friendship…” I grabbed Ethan’s hand. I heard him mutter very quietly: “Just college classmates and you still forgot me…” But soon, Ethan regained his proper demeanor.

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I landed a multi-billion-dollar deal for the company, but at the celebration party, the CEO’s wife gave all the credit to a new assistant who’d only been with the company for six months. I turned to my wife for some support, but she only looked at me with frustration. “Brandon is the heir to the Johnson family from the state capital. Building a good relationship with him will benefit the company’s future. You’ve been here a long time; can’t you step aside a little?” “Besides, if you were a rich heir from some big family, would I need to be so deferential to others?” Later, the assistant was promoted and received a huge bonus. My wife snuggled into his arms for a picture. They gazed into each other’s eyes sweetly, like a real couple, receiving everyone’s blessings. I sat quietly in the audience, watching it unfold. Everyone expected me to be insanely jealous. But I just smiled and called the family butler. “Mr. Fortune, let’s hold off on that multi-billion-dollar investment.” As soon as the meeting ended, the CEO’s assistant, Brandon Johnson, who’d been with the company for just under six months, became the center of attention. “Oh my goodness, Assistant Johnson is incredible, casually negotiating such a big contract.” “Yeah, no wonder he’s the heir to the Johnson family from the state capital. His demeanor is unmatched; even his elegance is different from ordinary people.” “Assistant Johnson’s clothing style is also impeccable. That must be a custom-made designer piece.” Brandon just smiled silently at the flattery, but his eyes showed his pride. My wife, Sophia, stepped in to defend him. “Come on, don’t bother Brandon anymore. He just landed such a big order for the company. He needs to rest.” I was about to stand up when her words stopped me cold. Because that order was something I begged my family to help with. When did it become Brandon’s achievement? Also, I’d never heard of a Brandon Johnson from the Johnson family in the state capital. In my confusion, Sophia pulled out a bank card and a Porsche key, handing them to Brandon. “Brandon, thank you for your contributions to the company.” “There’s a million on the card. Let me know if it’s not enough.” “And here’s this car. You always say your commute is too far. I’ll get you a house near the company soon…” I stared blankly at my wife. Her eyes were full of warmth I’d never seen before. Subtle laughter echoed around us, and some employees who knew about my marriage to Sophia looked at me mockingly, whispering to each other. In the past, I’d have been overwhelmed with jealousy, rushing to confront Sophia. But now, I just wanted the truth. I picked up my jacket and left, planning to call my family to get some answers. Someone suddenly noticed, “Hey, isn’t Vice President Ethan’s jacket the same as Brandon’s?” I paused and realized they were very similar. But my jacket was a custom birthday gift from an overseas designer who had since retired and vowed never to design clothing again. So my jacket was the only one of its kind in the world. As for where Brandon’s jacket came from, I had no idea. Brandon nonchalantly waved it off, “No worries, it’s just a jacket. I just bought it on a whim. If Vice President Ethan likes it, I won’t wear it tomorrow.” Everyone praised Brandon for his generosity. Brandon even had the nerve to lecture me, “Vice President Ethan, I’m glad you like my style, but I hope you find your own style instead of imitating others.” Laughter erupted. “People rely on clothes; horses rely on saddles. Even with the same clothes, it depends on who wears them. Vice President Ethan, have you heard the story of the ugly duckling?” “Wearing the same outfit isn’t scary; it’s embarrassing if you’re the ugly one!” The taunts were sharp, but I didn’t want to argue about clothes. I just wanted to sort out the investment issue. Just as I was about to leave, Sophia blocked my way, her expression cold. “Take off the jacket!” Her gaze was as sharp and cold as a knife, piercing through my shell and stabbing into my heart. I looked at her, unfamiliar. “You don’t even believe me?” Sophia was full of doubt. “The designer of this jacket is Roly from Australia, worth at least hundreds of thousands. Do you think I don’t know how much you’re worth?” “Where did you get the money to buy such an expensive jacket?” With Sophia saying this, others were even more convinced I was imitating Brandon. They urged me, “Vice President Ethan, just take it off. It’s embarrassing.” “Yeah, even if the crow is dyed white, it can’t become a swan.” Brandon kindly shook his head, “Vice President Ethan, if you really like it, I’ll give you mine.” “You keep wearing knock-offs. Even if you don’t feel embarrassed, we all feel embarrassed for Ms. Sophia!” Sophia’s expression darkened at this, and she ordered sternly, “Ethan, I command you to take off the jacket now!” I knew Sophia was genuinely angry now. In the past, I’d have taken it off immediately, begging for her forgiveness. But now, I just stubbornly looked at her, “What if I don’t?” Sophia was taken aback. I’d always been obedient to her, accepting even her most unreasonable demands without hesitation. But today, why was I defying her in public? She felt a bit embarrassed, biting her lip. Then, she pulled a box cutter from her pocket, threatening me fiercely, “If you don’t take it off, I’ll tear it apart!”

The room fell silent. Everyone stared, not daring to make a sound. I couldn’t believe Sophia was making such a fuss over a jacket. Brandon stepped forward with fake concern, breaking the silence. “We’re all family here. No need to make a scene. If Vice President Ethan likes this jacket, I’ll just give him mine.” He smiled as he took the box cutter from Sophia’s hand, then removed his jacket and handed it to me. I could tell at a glance that his jacket was a knock-off, so I pushed him away disdainfully. “Get lost!” Brandon’s eyes flashed with malice. Before I knew it, he lunged at me, the box cutter in hand. Not only did he tear my jacket, but he also slashed my arm, leaving it bloody. The pain made me gasp. But before I could speak, Brandon was on the ground, crying, “Vice President Ethan, I was just trying to help you, and I even offered my jacket. How could you push me?” His poor acting convinced some. Sophia rushed over, cradling Brandon, and shouted at me, “Ethan, are you crazy?” “Brandon even gave you his jacket, and you pushed him? Are you even human?” “Apologize to Brandon right now!” Her blatant favoritism was too obvious, stabbing at my eyes. I stood my ground, “I won’t apologize. He pushed me first. If you don’t believe me, check the surveillance.” The truth was just a glance away. But Sophia’s expression was cold, “So many people saw you push Brandon. How dare you argue?” “If that’s your attitude, I don’t think you need to be vice president anymore.” She held her head high, looking down on me. Whenever she made that face, it was a sign for me to admit my mistakes. But this time, I wasn’t wrong, and I wouldn’t admit it. I coldly laughed, tore off my ID badge, and threw it on the floor. “Fine, then I quit.” My attitude froze Sophia’s expression. “Ethan, what do you mean by this?” “Come back and explain!” “Ethan!” Sophia kept calling after me, but I ignored her and walked away. I thought I’d feel upset, but as I stepped out of the company, I felt like a bird freed from its cage. My heart was calm and light. Taking a deep breath, I called the family butler, Mr. Fortune. Within seconds, he answered, “Young Master.” “Mr. Fortune, have you ever heard of a Brandon Johnson from the Johnson family in the state capital?” Mr. Fortune paused, then replied calmly, “Never heard of him.” I smiled, “Good, then I know. Mr. Fortune, please investigate this Brandon Johnson’s identity.” After a pause, I added, “Oh, and hold off on that multi-billion-dollar order.” “Everything is as you command, Young Master.” The call ended, and I looked up at the darkening sky, my emotions mixed. Once, I was blinded by love, wanting to give Sophia the best of everything without reservation. But now, I’ve woken up, questioning if Sophia is worthy of handling a multi-billion-dollar order. I didn’t go home. Instead, I took a cab to a nearby bar. After three years of marriage, my world revolved around Sophia. Now, I wanted to give myself a break, to relax. I partied until late, stumbling home in a haze. But when I got there, the lights were on, and surprisingly, Sophia was waiting for me. The call ended, and I gazed up at the darkening sky, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. There was a time when I was so smitten that I wanted to give Sophia everything without hesitation. But now, clarity has set in, and I find myself questioning whether Sophia is truly capable of handling the responsibility of a billion-dollar deal. Instead of heading home, I hopped into a cab and went to a nearby bar. Three years of marriage had me revolving around Sophia, but now I needed a break, some time to unwind. I stayed out until midnight, returning home in a daze, only to find the lights on and Sophia waiting, which was quite unexpected. She was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed, a chilly expression on her face. “Do you even know what time it is, coming home this late?” I didn’t answer her directly. Instead, I asked, surprised, “Isn’t tonight Brandon’s celebration party? Why are you back early?” Since Brandon showed up, Sophia seemed to cling to him every chance she got. On a night like this, I thought she’d stay out. Sophia looked disheartened. “Tonight wasn’t just Brandon’s celebration; it’s also our anniversary!” “I ended things early to bring you a gift and spend time with you, but you forgot such an important day. Do you even care about me as your wife?” In the past, I meticulously planned every anniversary, booking the best restaurants. But each time, she’d leave me alone at a table for two, watching the food go cold. This time, I didn’t plan anything and instead spent the night at a bar. Sophia pushed a gift toward me. “Try it on; I picked it out just for you.” I glanced at it. The so-called gift was just an oversized t-shirt from the supermarket, priced at $39.50, with the tag still attached. Sophia rarely gave me gifts. Once, I wanted a watch priced under $500, only to get a scolding from her. “Ethan, do you think money grows on trees?” “Since when did you become so materialistic?” “I provide for you; do I need to give up my life too to make you happy?” Yet, she didn’t hesitate to give Brandon a million-dollar bonus and a brand-new Porsche. My voice turned hoarse as I said, “Just get to the point.” Sophia’s face turned tense, and she awkwardly said, “I was wondering if you could transfer your shares to Brandon?” 3 Boom! It felt like a storm had erupted in my mind. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. These shares were something Sophia had begged me to accept. “Ethan, without you, the company wouldn’t be what it is today. These shares symbolize our love. If you don’t take them, you don’t love me.” I had no choice but to accept them, with the promise that I could return them whenever she needed. But I never imagined it would end like this. Seeing my dark expression, Sophia immediately complained, “What’s your problem?” “You know today was Brandon’s celebration, and you made a scene and left early, embarrassing him.” “I had to comfort him for ages and promised to transfer your shares to him so he’d forgive you. I did it all to cover for you…” Brandon again! Just hearing his name made my blood boil. I brushed past Sophia and headed straight for the bathroom. Sophia blocked my way, her face full of resentment. “Ethan, what’s wrong with you today? I just want you to apologize to Brandon. Is it that hard?” A lump formed in my throat. Sophia sniffed, noticing the smell of alcohol and smoke on me. Her face turned displeased, “You drank?” “You promised me that after marriage, you’d never go to such places.” “I ended the celebration early to spend our anniversary with you, but you were out partying?” “Is that fair to me?” Seeing her so aggrieved felt like a bitter irony. Back then, against my family’s wishes, I gave up everything to be with her. She wanted to start a company, and I used all my resources to help her secure funding. When she failed and lost millions, I begged my family for money to cover the loss. I gave everything silently. And she, in turn, gave my credit to Brandon. Even our wedding anniversary was just an excuse to negotiate terms to please another man! Now she had the audacity to accuse me of being irresponsible. Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly, “Yes, I do owe you. If someone else suits you better, go find them.” My words seemed to ignite a ticking time bomb. Sophia, tears in her eyes, shouted at me, “I get it. You’re just jealous of Brandon, mad that I’m too good to him, right?” “But who am I doing all this for?” “It’s for this family, for our future!” “Brandon is an heir from the Johnson family in the state capital. Being close to him helps the company’s future. You’re a veteran of the company and my husband. Instead of thinking for me, you just get jealous and argue with me all day!” “If you were an heir from a big family, would I have to lower myself like this?” Her words left me breathless. I finally understood why Sophia was drifting apart from me! Because I had no money, I wasn’t the heir of a big family! I clutched my phone tightly, my knuckles whitening. On it was the real information about Brandon, which I had planned to share with her. But now, I didn’t see the point. For a moment, I felt dazed, as if I was back three years ago. After arguing with my grandfather, I ended up on the streets, destitute, until Sophia appeared like an angel, giving me food and a temporary place to stay. Her clear eyes made me fall head over heels, willing to give up everything for her. But over time, harsh reality stained those beautiful eyes with a worldly stench. What was once pure had become murky and filled with self-interest. All I wanted was simple happiness, but Sophia drifted further away without realizing it. “Sophia, let’s get a divorce.” I croaked out the words, ignoring the stunned Sophia, dragging my exhausted body to the bedroom, and collapsing into sleep. In a half-awake state that night, Sophia climbed into bed, hugging me from behind, whispering softly in my ear, “Honey, let’s have a baby. Then you won’t always be overthinking.” The familiar tenderness made my heart skip, but the next second, I caught the unpleasant whiff of cheap men’s cologne I despised. The scent made me nauseous, and I pushed her away in disgust. Sophia was hurt, slamming the door as she left, “You’ll regret this!” 4 I thought she’d run to Brandon that night. But the next morning, as I woke, Sophia came out of the kitchen smiling. “You’re up, come have breakfast.” The table was filled with heavy, greasy foods like fried dough sticks and buns. I preferred a light breakfast, and the smell made me nauseous. I forced down the urge to gag, frowning, “I’m not hungry. You eat.” Just then, Brandon came out of the kitchen with a pot of soup, grinning, “Breakfast is served!” A wave of gamey steam wafted over, and I turned pale, covering my mouth, “What is that?” Sophia smiled slightly, “Weren’t you jealous? After finding out, Brandon offered to reconcile. He made you lamb offal soup this morning.” “Have a taste.” But she knew I never ate organ meats and that even looking at them made me sick. “Take it away!” I stifled my nausea, speaking lowly. All I wanted was to escape the house and breathe some fresh air. But Sophia, with a cold face, served me a big bowl of lamb offal soup, threateningly whispering, “Brandon gave you an out. Don’t be ungrateful.” “Drink this soup and apologize to Brandon…” Before she could finish, I couldn’t take it anymore and rushed to the bathroom to vomit. Instead of being concerned, Sophia stood outside, looking disgusted, scolding loudly, “It’s just a taste, and you’re acting like this?” “You’re wasting something so good. Do you appreciate Brandon’s effort?” After scolding me, she turned to apologize to Brandon, “I’m sorry, Brandon. How embarrassing. He’s like a boar that can’t handle fine feed.” “I’ll join you for breakfast.” She then happily linked arms with Brandon, sitting at the table, chatting and eating with him, blushing at every casual touch. Completely ignoring me as I continued to vomit. By the time I managed to stop and came out of the bathroom, Brandon had already left. Seeing me, Sophia’s face turned cold. “What a way to start the day. Someone treats you to a meal out of kindness, and you just keep throwing up. It’s revolting.” “Don’t you realize that if we could connect with the Johnson family from the state capital, our future would be secured? You almost ruined such a golden opportunity!” “Thankfully, Brandon is generous enough not to hold this little mishap against you. You should call and apologize to him later.” I stood there, staring at her. This version of Sophia felt completely unfamiliar to me. Seeing my lack of response, Sophia shouted, “I’m talking to you. Are you deaf?” I took a deep breath, calmly retrieved a divorce agreement from the drawer, and said, “I’ve already signed it. I’m leaving everything—company, house. I don’t want a cent from you.” Sophia froze, staring at me in shock. I gently pushed an open pen toward her. “Sign it.” I expected her to quickly sign and then rush off to Brandon. Unexpectedly, Sophia looked hurt, tears welling up in her eyes. “Is it just because I gave Brandon slightly more benefits than you that you want a divorce?” “I did it all for your future, the company’s future, for this home.” “Do you think you deserve all my years of devotion?” “You promised to love me forever. You’re a liar! A liar!” I couldn’t comprehend why she accused me. Seeing her unrepentant, I shook my head and silently picked up my packed luggage, leaving this home. Some people never change, and some words are better left unsaid. After leaving, I called Uncle Felix. “Cancel the billion-dollar order for Sophia’s company and open it up to all businesses in Johnson City. I’ll lead this investment conference.”

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I had just opened my eyes when I saw a little girl timidly leaning on my knee, saying: “Mom, I’m hungry.” Looking at this face that resembled Lucas Gray’s, I was instantly overjoyed. After all, my lifelong dream was to form a small family of three with him. Before I could rejoice for two seconds, I turned my head and saw our wedding photo shattered on the ground! I called Lucas: “Honey! There’s been a break-in!” The next second, I heard a woman’s coquettish laughter from the other end of the line. And then, Lucas’s voice, cold as ice: “Lily Johnson, what new trick are you trying to pull? Even if you died, I wouldn’t come back!!” Before he could finish speaking, the phone was abruptly hung up. My heart was instantly filled with a whirlwind of emotions. It wasn’t long ago that Lucas was holding me, crying non-stop because he had finally married me. In the blink of an eye, he was now holding another woman and wishing me dead?! I didn’t understand what had happened in these ten years, so I turned to look at the little girl standing beside me, looking confused. The little girl was smart. In just two or three minutes, she had figured out that I wasn’t the mother who had been by her side all along. She calmly walked up to me, her big round eyes looking straight at me as she asked: “When did you come from?” “Ten years ago.” “Are you my mom?” I didn’t know how to answer, so I gently smoothed her hair: “Ten years ago, I had just married your dad. You weren’t born yet. You can think of me as your new mom.” “My name is Emily, I’m seven years old. Can you make me some noodles?” She pulled me to the kitchen. Faced with a fridge full of vegetables, I felt a bit lost. After all, I had never cooked before. After getting together with Lucas, he had created a special menu just for me. He had hand-drawn every dish I loved. “As long as I’m by your side, I’ll never let you eat takeout. I guarantee it won’t be long before I’ve kept you healthy and happy!” But Emily clutched her stomach and mumbled: “Mom’s a great chef. She always makes everything I love to eat.” Looking at the shattered wedding photo on the ground and remembering the woman’s laughter on the phone, I suddenly realized that the love I had once been so proud of had finally crumbled. I fiddled with my phone for a while, and an hour later, I finally managed to order takeout for the girl. Seeing me sitting aside, lost in thought, Emily took the initiative to hand me her phone. On the screen was the surveillance video from last night. In the footage, I was sitting on the sofa from 6 PM, waiting until midnight. Lucas finally came home, drunk. Ridiculously, he had a pair of black stockings tied around his waist. “You went to see her again, didn’t you? What’s so good about her? Don’t forget who gave you everything you have today! If it weren’t for my uncle, do you think you’d be where you are now?!” He pushed me to the ground before I could finish speaking. A slap landed on my face. “A useless woman who can’t even give birth to a son, you have the nerve to bring this up? Don’t think I don’t know about you and that uncle of yours who’s not even related by blood. If you didn’t have two cents to your name, I would have kicked you out long ago!!” “Lily, I’ve put up with you this long already, that’s more than enough face for you! If you have any brains left, wait until I bring Zoe here, do your job as a housekeeper, and to the outside world, you’ll still be the glorious Mrs. Gray!” “Lucas, if you don’t love me, why did you risk your life to save me when I was cornered in that alley back then?” I asked him, my voice hoarse.

In the video, I had puffy eyes and was wearing a plain T-shirt. I couldn’t believe it. I used to be someone who loved beauty so much that I would dress up even at home. How could I have become like this after just ten years? I carefully picked up the photos from the ground. I remembered that the wedding dress I was wearing was bought by Lucas with cash he had saved up for a long time, just because I fell in love with it at first sight. But the wedding dress was a custom-made piece from a luxury brand. When we heard the price, I immediately grabbed Lucas’s hand and started to walk out. He understood that I was trying to save money for him. As soon as we left the bridal shop, he apologized to me with tears in his eyes: “Lily, I’m sorry. We’re about to get married, and I can’t even afford a wedding dress you like.” To comfort him, I quickly said: “Actually, I didn’t like it that much.” To my surprise, Lucas pulled me into his arms, “Don’t worry, Lily. I’ll definitely buy you that wedding dress! I won’t let you down!” The next morning, I saw that dazzling wedding dress in the living room. Later, I found out that he had sold his family heirloom bracelet to buy me that wedding dress. “Now I don’t even have the startup capital for the company. I’m afraid you’ll have to bear with me through some hard times.” Seeing my beloved crying in front of me, I went to my uncle without hesitation. Despite his objections, I insisted on giving all the inheritance from my parents to Lucas. But after I settled Emily and finally managed to find Lucas’s company after great effort, I went there with a heart full of anger and questions. I couldn’t believe that he, who had seemed to love me so much ten years ago, would cheat on me! But when I saw Lucas embracing a woman in his office, my already shaky heart finally shattered completely. I was about to push the door open and beat up this cheating couple. But when I saw the bracelet on the woman’s wrist, my hand froze in midair. Wasn’t that the family heirloom bracelet that Lucas had sold?! The next second, I saw the woman laughing as she put her arms around Lucas’s neck: “You won’t give me a fake wedding dress like you did to your wife when we get married, will you?” Lucas fondly tapped her nose: “How could I bear to let you wear a fake? If I hadn’t tricked her back then, how could I have gotten that $500,000 startup capital? Besides, how could she be worthy of such an expensive wedding dress?!” The woman burst into laughter at his words. Remembering how I had been showing off the wedding dress to my best friend before the time travel, my head full of fantasies about a beautiful married life. In that moment, I felt utterly ridiculous. I don’t remember when I left, but when I came to my senses, I found myself at a familiar villa. Before I could escape, the door behind me suddenly opened. “It’s cold outside. Come in and talk.” The familiar voice came, making my heart tremble. “Uncle…” Before I could finish speaking, my body suddenly lifted off the ground. Smelling that familiar scent, the grievances and insecurities that had been building up in my heart for the past two days finally burst forth as tears. “Why are you crying? If you want money, just say so. There’s no need to use this trick to force me to give money to that husband of yours.” “You know I can’t stand to see you cry.”

Before the time travel, I had just had a complete falling out with my uncle. To prevent me from marrying Lucas, he had tied me up and taken me to the mountains in the middle of the night. “Open your eyes and look carefully! This is where he grew up! A gambling father, a selfish mother. You’ve been pampered and spoiled by me. Do you really think you can endure it?” “I can! No matter how bad he is, he’s still better than a coward like you!” I shook off his hand and walked down the mountain on foot. The next day, my wedding with Lucas went ahead as planned. The socialite marrying a lowlife. I became the laughingstock of the entire city. But looking at the wedding dress I was wearing and Lucas’s hand tightly holding mine, I still smiled sweetly. It wasn’t until I saw that scene earlier that I realized how naive I had been. Uncle’s gaze moved to my feet, his brow furrowing deeply. It was then that I noticed my shoes had come off at some point. I realized that the soles of my feet were raw and bloody. I watched as he reached out to touch me, then pulled back. Finally, he sighed: “I’ll have the housekeeper send the money over later. You should go now. There’s no need to see someone you don’t want to see just for money.” Seeing him about to leave, I quickly grabbed him: “I don’t want money. I want you to help me divorce Lucas!” Although Uncle didn’t understand what had happened, he nodded at me. When I returned home, I saw a seductive-looking woman wearing my pajamas. She was holding my husband, looking at me provocatively. Before I could speak, Lucas questioned me first: “Lily, why are you running around outside instead of cooking at home? Don’t you know Zoe and I are starving?” “Mom, my hand hurts.” Emily ran to me, dropping the spatula. I saw that her little hand was covered in blisters. “Lucas, if you were hungry, couldn’t you order takeout? Emily is only seven years old, how could you let her cook? She’s not even as tall as the stove! You’re her father! Are you even human?!” Lucas strode over and slapped me hard. With a loud “smack” — I fell to the ground, completely defenseless. “Who do you think you are to yell at me?” Lucas’s cold rebuke made me wonder if he was still the same boy who had blushed and asked me to marry him before the time travel. Zoe stepped forward disdainfully, stepping on my hand. “She’s just a little girl. It’s her honor to cook for me. After all, I’m carrying the Gray family’s son!” I looked behind her and saw a flash of reluctance on Lucas’s face. A moment later, he resumed his cold demeanor. “As long as you obediently take care of Zoe and her child, and do your job as a housekeeper, I promise no one can threaten your position as Mrs. Gray!” Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. I forced a smile: “Of course, I’ll take good care of Miss Parker!” After saying this, I struggled to my feet and made a table full of dishes for them. Lucas looked at the blackened mess on the plates. His face darkened, and he directly stood up and flipped the table. “Lily Johnson, what do you mean by this! Who do you expect to eat this stuff! Don’t think you can pretend you can’t cook to stop me from moving Zoe in! Let me tell you, even if you leave this house, Zoe is staying!” My luggage was thrown out of the bedroom by Zoe. At that moment, Uncle sent a message. “Everything’s taken care of.” I took Emily’s hand, listening to Lucas and the woman flirting in the bedroom. I smiled: “Since you love each other so much, I’ll give you my blessing!”

I took Emily back to the villa my parents had left behind. Strangely, I hadn’t returned here since my parents passed away. But all the furniture in the house was brand new, without a speck of dust. Looking at the family photo of me, my parents, and Uncle hanging on the wall, I was extremely surprised. Because this photo had been torn to pieces the night I confessed to Uncle. But now it was hanging intact on the wall. Before I could figure out what had happened, I saw Uncle coming out of the kitchen with prepared meals. It was then that I realized that since I got married, Uncle had moved here. He had never left, always carefully looking after every blade of grass and every tree in the villa. Even the hydrangeas in the backyard were blooming more vigorously than before. At the dinner table, Uncle pushed a card in front of me. It was then that I learned that the assets my parents left me were far more than $500,000. Even the building where Lucas’s company was located was my parents’ property. “They said that this money should be given to you when you could stand on your own feet. I think now is the best time.” Uncle paused after speaking. He stared at me hesitantly for a long time, and finally said: “Are you sure you want to divorce Lucas?” Before the time travel, I saw Lucas as my salvation. With just one word from him, I gave him all my savings for his business. Even with just one promise from him, I gave my mother’s gold ring to his cousin to marry his wife. But I gave him all my heart, and what did I get in return? His betrayal. He made our seven-year-old daughter cook for him and his mistress. He kicked me out of the house in the middle of the night, almost leaving me homeless. “I’m definitely getting this divorce!” I firmly told Uncle. But when I looked down at my clothes still stained with oil, I realized that I didn’t even have a job now. If the other party sued, I definitely wouldn’t have a chance to win custody of Emily. Uncle seemed to see through my concerns. He patted the girl who was eating with her head down. “Don’t worry about the divorce. I’ll help you hire the best lawyer in the city.” Before returning to my room, I anxiously called out to him. Uncle smiled and tapped my forehead: “Don’t be afraid. No matter what happens, I’ll be with you. I won’t leave you alone again.” The blush on my cheeks spread to my ears. But I didn’t notice Ethan’s heavy breathing. When I returned to the Gray mansion the next day to pack my things, I opened the door to find Lucas sitting on the sofa in the living room. His gaze fell on me with intense pressure. “Lily, don’t you have anything to say to me?” I ignored him and walked straight towards the bedroom. But he grabbed my wrist tightly: “Who allowed you to see Ethan Johnson without telling me? Don’t forget we’re married, you’re Mrs. Gray now!” I shook off his hand and retorted without mercy: “You’re allowed to fool around and hook up with other women, but I’m not allowed to see my own family? Lucas Gray, when you can control your lower half, then you can try to control me!” Lucas stumbled as I pushed him away, and he was about to charge at me again. Just as his hand was about to fall, his phone suddenly rang. A few seconds later, he asked with furrowed brows: “Lily, that building where the company is located belongs to you?!” “Why didn’t you tell me in the ten years we’ve been married!” I looked at his shocked expression and said slowly: “For the rent of these ten years, considering we’re still husband and wife, I’ll give you a 90% discount. You only need to pay another $50 million, and I’ll throw in an extra gift.” I took out the divorce papers and threw them in his face: “Lucas Gray, let’s get divorced! From now on, you can have children with whoever you want, it’s none of my business!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295683”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring