Author: Momo Chan

On the wedding day, my chosen bridesmaid fell ill suddenly. Theo quickly arranged for his close friend, Quinn, to fill in. He joked with me, “Quinn is such a klutz; even in a dress, she might not seem very ladylike.” But when he saw Quinn all dressed up, he was taken aback. He instructed the wedding car to pick her up first, then come for me. When I found out, I was upset with him for his poor handling of the situation. He said impatiently, “Quinn is a good friend of mine. Can you please not be so particular?” Fine! I turned the wedding into a breakup scene. “Ella, I’m really sorry. I can’t make it. You’ll need to find a new bridesmaid.” On the wedding day, the first call I received brought bad news. The friend who was supposed to be my bridesmaid had acute gastroenteritis. She was too sick to attend. This unexpected change made my heart sink. I shared the news with Theo while frantically searching for another candidate. But after going through my options, I realized there wasn’t anyone particularly suitable. In my anxiety, Theo messaged me: “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll sort it out.” Shortly after, he video-called me. “Babe, I’ve found someone. Quinn. She was supposed to be one of the guys today, but she’ll step in as your bridesmaid.” Quinn? Hearing her name stirred an inexplicable irritation in me. Quinn was a childhood friend of Theo’s. She was outgoing, treating everyone in their circle like family. Several times, she even hugged Theo in my presence and took sips from his bubble tea. She didn’t care if Theo had just used that straw. I would get visibly upset, but Theo didn’t see the issue. After it happened a few times, I earned the reputation of being the jealous, possessive girlfriend in their circle. The last time, his friends tried to reassure me: “Sis, Quinn is just like that. We don’t see her as anything more than a buddy. It’s just how she is!” What nonsense! I was about to explode! I told Theo, “I can’t stand this. If you continue having no boundaries with Quinn, we’re done!” After that, Theo did make some changes. But Quinn wasn’t happy. She complained about me in their group chat and seized every opportunity to mock me to my face. “Sis, see? I didn’t drink Theo’s bubble tea this time, satisfied?” “Theo, if your wife says drink less, then do it! Don’t upset her again.” “Oh, we’re going out later. Theo, the henpecked one, better head home!” I never let her provocations slide. Theo told her to stop, but I could tell he was uncomfortable. Back to the present, Theo was smiling in the video: “Ha, Quinn is so clumsy; even in a dress, she might not seem very ladylike.”

Time was running out, so I agreed to let Quinn be the bridesmaid. Just after I finished my bridal makeup, my phone rang again. My eyelid twitched. Friend A: “Ella, did you know Theo instructed the wedding car to pick up Quinn first, then come for you?” “And during their video call just now, Theo couldn’t take his eyes off Quinn all dressed up.” “What?” Those words changed my expression. Anger surged, my temples throbbed. I immediately called Theo. “Did you tell the car to pick up Quinn first, then me?” Theo paused before replying, “Isn’t she being your bridesmaid? Of course, she needs to be picked up first.” Is that a reason? I questioned him, “There are a dozen cars. Any of your friends could have gone. Why you?” He seemed at a loss for words. After a few seconds, he reluctantly explained: “Baby, don’t be mad! I’ll be honest. This was Quinn’s condition for being a bridesmaid. I had no choice.” At that moment, it felt like something in my head snapped. I couldn’t help but recall how she always fought for the front seat. The first time was on my birthday when Theo came to pick me up. As I reached the car, I saw Quinn in the front seat. Smiling brightly, she waved at me: “Hey, sis! Mind if I hitch a ride? I get carsick in the back. I’ll give the seat back when we get there.” Acting all carefree and playful. Theo opened the back door, seeing me standing still, he quickly added: “We just ran into each other. I was just giving her a ride. She really does get carsick; otherwise, I wouldn’t let her sit in front!” I was about to speak when Quinn clicked her tongue, playfully pouting: “Theo, you’re really all about your girlfriend now. What, want to kick me out of the car?” “If you dare, I’ll kick you out of the brotherhood group, hmph!” Once Theo was in and buckling up, she suddenly reached to tug his ear. Just touched it and then pulled back, sticking her tongue out: “Oops, Theo’s taken now. I better watch my boundaries.” Ugh! Such a fake act! I confronted Theo over this. He was frustrated: “I told you, there’s nothing between Quinn and me. Why can’t you believe it?” Once or twice, I could ignore it. But with her appearing every now and then, Theo finally realized it was inappropriate. After refusing her a ride two or three times, things improved. I didn’t expect her to pull this stunt on our wedding day! I frowned, “Theo, turn around now. Have someone else pick her up!” He sighed. “I’m already at her place! Ella, Quinn is my buddy. She’s being your bridesmaid today. Can you please just let this go?” Sending the main wedding car for the bridesmaid before the bride? This was clearly his mishandling, yet he blamed me for being petty? Ridiculous.

I hung up the phone abruptly. Theo called back over ten times wanting to apologize, but I didn’t answer. Until he came with a big group of friends. After they got the door opened with a red envelope, Theo, surrounded by his buddies, came to my room. Quinn stood beside him, wearing a pink bridesmaid dress, looking cute and charming. “Baby!” Theo called out sweetly, opening his arms to hug me. I discreetly pushed him away. “Sweetheart, today’s our big day. Be happy, okay?” As he whispered in my ear, Quinn pulled him away. “The groom’s in such a rush! We still have games to play.” Her words were for Theo, but her eyes provocatively glanced at me. While my friends arranged games, Theo and his friends started the wedding games. Unlike the joyous atmosphere, I remained expressionless. Watching Theo actively participating in each game, I felt an indescribable feeling. I’ve liked Theo since college. He was the campus heartthrob, poor but talented, exceptionally hard-working. We officially got together at a class reunion after graduation. By then, he was working at a multinational, envied by many. I, with my parents’ help, had started my own company early on. As outstanding graduates, we became the focus for drinks. He was gentlemanly, helping me block drink after drink, eyes firm and gentle. If it weren’t for the issues with Quinn, he’d make a great husband. Sadly… Today’s events were the last straw. Someone who can’t sort out relationships before marriage can’t be trusted to do so after. Maybe, this wedding shouldn’t go on.

A scream pulled my thoughts back to reality. The wedding games were nearing the end. Theo and his friends were playing the last game, passing cards mouth-to-mouth. They were hugging, laughing, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Just as Theo tilted his head to take the card from the previous buddy, Quinn moved. In a flash, she pushed the buddy behind Theo. Then stepped forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Theo’s neck. Their bodies pressed close, intimately embraced. The room erupted. Everyone’s gaze darted between the three of us. Full of surprise, gossip, and anticipation for the drama. Theo was at a loss, quickly glancing at me. He turned his head slightly, trying to push away and distance himself from Quinn. But Quinn grabbed his face, pulling him close, and kissed him. “Wow!” A louder cheer erupted from the crowd. I widened my eyes, staring dumbfounded at the scene. It felt like those few seconds of passing the card were stretched infinitely, and my heart sank. The game ended amid laughter and cheers. Quinn, as if she won a prize, waved the card, laughing gleefully. Theo pushed her away, looking serious: “That was silly. Who let you play this game?” Quinn pouted, dissatisfied: “I’m both a bridesmaid and a buddy. So what if I play a game?” My best friend, Chloe, seeing my unhappy face, was also furious. She couldn’t help but nudge Quinn, scolding her: “Today is their big day. Why are you causing a scene? You’re really bold!” 5. Quinn blinked her big, innocent eyes, biting her lip in frustration. The atmosphere turned awkwardly silent. One of the groomsmen chuckled to ease the tension, “Hey, it’s just a game. Why get upset?” He turned to me, “Quinn was just trying to lighten the mood. I’m sure you won’t hold it against her, right?” I wasn’t having it, “What? Trying to guilt-trip me?” Theo looked a bit guilty. He rubbed his nose and walked toward me. “Listen, honey: Quinn’s just being her usual playful self. Let’s not take it to heart.” “Quinn, apologize to your sister-in-law already.” Quinn rolled her eyes and blurted out, “Apologize for what? I didn’t do anything wrong!” “Sis, I’ve already told you, there’s nothing between Theo and me. If there were, you’d be looking at a different bride today.” Hiss! The crowd murmured. I sneered, almost ready to slap her. But then I noticed the photographers in the corner and thought of a better idea. Forcing a smile, I said, “Forget it! It’s getting late, and we shouldn’t miss the perfect time.” Surprisingly, everyone seemed shocked at how quickly the matter was settled. Especially Quinn, her mouth wide open in disbelief. Theo sighed in relief. He took my hand with a loving expression. I resisted the urge to pull away and reminded him, “Hurry up and find my wedding shoes, silly.” Theo finally realized and started looking for the shoes. He quickly found them behind the curtain and helped me put them on. With the shoes on, I took Theo’s arm and walked out of the room. Quinn watched from the side, her expression unreadable. I chuckled to myself; the real show was yet to come. 6 The wedding was at the Glorious Hotel. After settling in, Theo and I stood at the entrance to greet our guests. Quinn, being a bridesmaid, naturally stayed close by. But she couldn’t help but inch closer to Theo. Under the pretext of conversation, she moved closer and closer. The two of them stood side by side, occasionally whispering and laughing loudly. To an outsider, it might seem like she was today’s bride. Meanwhile, I observed with a blank expression. Enduring it, waiting… Even the groomsmen couldn’t stand it and signaled Theo to pull Quinn away. But she pushed him aside, “What are you doing, Logan? Got a twitch?” Heh. Playing dumb while fully aware. I didn’t bother with them, and as I turned, I saw a familiar figure approaching. “Hey, Ella!” Ethan waved. He was sharply dressed in a suit, looking quite dashing. “Ethan, I’m so glad you could come.” I beamed brightly, hugging him. “Of course, Miss Ella’s wedding, I had to be here. Plus, I’ve got a big red envelope for you!” Ethan said, helping to straighten my slightly messy veil. His slightly intimate gesture made Theo uncomfortable. He immediately came over, wrapped an arm around my waist, and distanced me from Ethan. Then he asked irritably, “Are you Ella’s friend?” “Hi, I’m Ethan.” Ethan extended his hand to Theo, acting graciously. “I’m Theo, Ella’s husband.” Theo stared at the man in front of him, his eyes filled with hostility. I pretended not to notice and warmly invited Ethan, “Go on in, Chloe’s inside.” “Alright, we’ll chat more later.” Ethan gracefully turned and headed to the banquet hall. Theo noticed I hadn’t looked away and grew increasingly sullen. He tightened his grip on my waist, his jealousy evident. “What’s your relationship with that guy?” “A friend,” I replied nonchalantly. “What kind of friend hugs you in front of me? Remember, you’re my wife!” “Oh, so you know hugging isn’t appropriate?” I shook off his arm and retorted, “Haven’t you and Quinn hugged enough today? Oh, and not just hugged—you kissed too.” That left him speechless. Quinn jumped in to defend, “Sis, Theo and I are just good friends.” “Funny, Ethan and I are just good friends too!” I deliberately dragged out the words, “We’re good friends~”

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I was born as an illegitimate child after a billionaire drugged my mother. My mother and I have always been ridiculed, even humiliated by my aunt’s family. “You shameless woman, and your daughter is nothing but a bastard.” Unable to bear the insults any longer, my mother took me to seek help from my wealthy father. To our shock, he refused to acknowledge us and even accused us of extortion! “You bitch, I know you’re just after my money. I won’t give you a penny. Take that bastard child and get out of my house!” Not only that, but the billionaire’s son even beat and insulted us, throwing us out onto the street like stray dogs! I endured it all silently, until the billionaire’s son met with an accident, and I became his sole heir! “Mom, I’m home. School ran late today,” I called out as I returned home, but I didn’t see my mother’s familiar silhouette busy in the kitchen. “Mom?” I searched the house but found no trace of her. I decided to check with the neighbors. “Mrs. Zhang, have you seen my mom?” I asked at the neighbor’s kitchen window. “I saw your aunt come by earlier. I guess your mom went out with her,” she replied. My heart sank. My aunt had always been at odds with us, looking down on my mother. Why would they go out together? Sensing trouble, I hurried down the street. Sure enough, I found them in front of a shoe store, locked in a heated argument. “Wendy, stop playing innocent! You’re nothing but a shameless slut. Quit acting like a victim!” My aunt was pointing at my mother, her nose in the air, looking utterly disgusted. “What are you doing?” I rushed forward, shielding my mother behind me, glaring fiercely at my aunt. “Well, well, look who it is. The bastard child herself. Like mother, like daughter. You both make me sick,” my aunt pretended to cover her nose, clearly repulsed by our presence. It wasn’t just my aunt’s family. My grandparents, all of my mother’s relatives – almost none of them liked to associate with us. All because I was born out of wedlock. My mother had just started working when she got her first project with a billionaire named Lucas Wilson. He was a difficult client, and my mother’s project team had to drink with him several times before he even agreed to look at the contract. They thought Lucas just enjoyed drinking, but it turned out he was also a lecher. He set his sights on my mother from day one. During the final drinking session, he had his assistant drug her drink and took her away. What happened next goes without saying. The bastard didn’t even take responsibility afterward. He didn’t even sign the contract! He even blamed my mother, saying she was incompetent. Her boss, being an inconsiderate jerk, fired her on the spot. My mother, still naive and inexperienced, had no way to fight back. She could only return home, devastated. Soon after, she discovered she was pregnant. Accusations and insults came at her from all directions. Everyone thought she had been promiscuous. But she still endured the pressure and gave birth to me, naming me Zoe. “If you want to insult someone, insult me. Leave my daughter out of this!” My mother stepped forward, glaring angrily at my aunt. “Oh, spare me your mother-daughter act. You’re both just trash discarded by men. I was kind enough to offer you a job at the hair salon, and you refused. Now you dare to act high and mighty with me? Know your place!” My aunt rolled her eyes. I let out a cold laugh. “I think you were trying to sell my mother out. Everyone in the neighborhood knows the salon owner is a greedy pervert who’s had his eye on my mom for ages. I bet you got some kind of kickback for this ‘kind’ offer. Don’t insult the word ‘kindness’.” Seeing her scheme exposed, my aunt became even more furious. She pointed at us and started hurling insults like a fishwife. “Zoe, you little bitch! Don’t think you’re innocent in all this. A slut’s daughter is bound to be a man-stealing vixen too. Aren’t you ashamed? How dare you talk back to me? I’m your elder!” “So what if I am a vixen?” I sneered. I’d heard this kind of insult countless times since middle school. It no longer had any effect on me. I looked at my aunt challengingly and said with contempt, “At least I inherited my mother’s good looks. Unlike you – your face could ward off evil spirits if we hung it on the door for New Year’s.” My aunt’s eyes bulged with rage, her face contorted, but she couldn’t utter a single word. “That’s enough, Zoe.” My mother took my hand. She hated it when I insulted myself like this. “Let’s not stoop to her level. Let’s go home.” My mother tried to lead me away, but my aunt, still stinging from my retort, wasn’t about to let us leave. She lunged forward and grabbed my mother’s hair, and the two women began grappling in the street. The commotion drew quite a crowd of neighbors, gathering in small groups to watch the spectacle. “What’s going on? Why are they fighting?” “It’s just more drama from Wendy’s family. Her sister’s come to shame her again.” “Shame her? It’s just the truth. If she hadn’t messed around and had a bastard child, would her sister be this angry? She must be upset about the family losing face.” “Really? Wendy always looks so prim and proper. Who knew she was actually loose behind closed doors? And so careless too!” “Exactly! Her sister comes to make a scene every other day. I heard…” The gossiping neighbors’ cruel words pierced our ears painfully. “Enough!” I rushed forward to separate the fighting women. “Rachel! If you hate us so much, just stop coming around. Don’t take out your frustrations with life on us. We don’t owe you anything!” My voice shook as I shouted at my aunt. This was the first time things had gotten so out of hand. “Bullshit! If I wasn’t standing up for the family, if Mom and Dad weren’t hanging their heads in shame in front of the neighbors, why would I waste my time dealing with trash like you? You loose woman! Shameless!” My aunt spat on the ground, utterly disgusted. “What will it take for you to leave me and my mom alone?” I was tired of arguing with her. They had believed from the start that my mother was in the wrong. At this point, no amount of explaining our innocence would convince them. They’d just think we were making excuses for our “dirty deeds.” “That’s easy.” My aunt looked down her nose at us, fixing her disheveled hair. “Get out of our family. Get out of this neighborhood. Never let me see your faces again. You’re an eyesore!” My aunt’s demands were completely unreasonable. My mother and I were already living hand to mouth. If we left this neighborhood, we’d have nowhere to live. “Impossible! Zoe is still in her first year of high school. This house was given to me by Mom and Dad. Why should I leave?” My mother protested, ready to continue arguing with my aunt. “Fine then. If you won’t leave, I’ll make sure everyone at school knows about this. Let’s see how your daughter holds her head up then. Being called a bastard every day won’t be pleasant, especially one born to such a shameless, loose woman. Don’t come crying when people bully your daughter.” My aunt had found my mother’s weak spot. A few words were all it took to break down my mother’s psychological defenses. “It’s okay, Mom. We don’t want to stay here anyway!” My mother had become very timid after everything she’d been through, but I was different. I was tough, and I wasn’t about to let us face any more abuse in this neighborhood. I accepted my aunt’s unreasonable demand. After this incident, my mother could no longer show her face in the neighborhood. Moving away was our best option. I used the money I’d earned from part-time jobs and what my mother had saved over the years to rent a place outside the neighborhood. It was just a one-bedroom apartment, but it was enough for the two of us. “Mom, we can’t keep living like this. We have to go find that bastard and demand justice!” This was the first time I’d ever suggested confronting Lucas Wilson. He had always been my mother’s worst nightmare, so I’d never brought it up before. But now the time was right. We had to make him take responsibility for what he’d done. “He won’t acknowledge you. That beast probably doesn’t even remember who I am. Why should we go looking for more trouble?” My mother had become very introverted after everything that had happened. She didn’t have the courage to stand up for herself, so of course she rejected my suggestion. “But he’s the one who did wrong!” I stood up, agitated. “Why should we be the ones suffering? We’re being punished for his actions. It’s not fair! We need to get some kind of resolution – money, recognition, even just an apology. There has to be some kind of result!” I had made up my mind. We couldn’t keep being trapped in this whirlpool. If not for myself, then for my mother’s sake, I had to make that bastard pay.

Once I’d made this decision, I dug through our closet and found the business card my mother had thrown away long ago – the one Lucas had given her during their business dealings. Using the phone number on the card, I tracked down his current home address and found his information online. Looking at the family photo of him with his wife and son, all smiles and happiness, I clenched my fists. How could such a despicable man deserve a happy life while my mother and I endured ridicule and shame from others? Using the money I’d saved from my part-time job, I resolutely bought two train tickets to the city where Lucas lived. “I’m sorry, but you can’t go in without an appointment,” the receptionist politely informed us when we arrived at Lucas’s company building. “Just tell him his daughter is here to see him,” I said firmly. My mother tried to pull me away, but with my stubborn personality, there was no way I was backing down now. “As far as I know, Mr. Wilson doesn’t have a daughter,” the receptionist looked at us uncertainly. “You don’t need to worry about that. Just pass along the message,” I insisted. Seeing that I wouldn’t be deterred, the receptionist contacted the CEO’s office and relayed my message word for word. “What nonsense is this? Since when do I have a daughter?” Lucas clearly wasn’t going to admit anything. “Tell them to wait. I’ll be right down.” The receptionist hung up and showed us to the waiting area. Soon enough, Lucas appeared. He was stocky, of average height, with a weasel-like face that was instantly dislikeable. “Who put you up to this? Trying to extort money from me?” Lucas seemed unsurprised, sitting down with the air of someone above it all. A contemptuous smile played on his lips – he clearly didn’t take us seriously. “I guess with all your affairs, you’ve forgotten your misdeeds from over a decade ago.” I let out a cold laugh, placing the documents about my mother and me in front of him, along with a photo of my mother when she was young. “Open your damn eyes and look carefully. See who we are. Think hard about the dirty things you’ve done!” Lucas hadn’t been taking us seriously, but when he saw the photo of my young mother, the smile froze on his face. “Do you see clearly now? Fifteen years ago, you used a business dinner as an excuse to drug my mother. I don’t need to spell out what you did after that, do I? Do you have any idea how my mother and I have lived all these years? We’re here today to demand justice and settle accounts for all these years!” “Lucas, I never wanted to have anything to do with you again. Just seeing you makes me sick! But the mud slung at me and my daughter over the years has been too much, and it’s all because of you!” My mother and I tag-teamed, our eyes blazing with anger as we glared at the scumbag before us. Lucas suddenly laughed, looking at us mockingly. “It was consensual. Now you’re here trying to get something out of me? How unsightly.” “Who said it was consensual?” My mother shouted, enraged. “You said you’d discuss the contract if I drank that glass of wine. All my colleagues were watching! But you, you beast, you drugged my drink! And now you’re slandering me? You’re despicable!” “Let me ask you this – do you have any proof that it wasn’t consensual? Or any evidence that I drugged you? If not, stop making a scene in front of me! Crawl back where you came from!” Lucas threw the documents at us, snorting derisively. “What if I go to the police?” My mother stood up, shaking with anger as she glared at Lucas. I quickly pulled my mother back, signaling her not to be hasty. Seeing Lucas’s nonchalant attitude, I knew that a wealthy businessman like him must have connections in this area. That’s why he could commit such wrongs without punishment. Otherwise, how could he have kept all his shady business dealings hidden all these years? Someone must have been smoothing things over for him. “We don’t need compensation. Just let me be your daughter officially, take my mother back, and we can put this behind us,” I said, thinking of a better approach. If we could get some kind of recognition and get close to Lucas, how hard could it be to find some dirt on him? “What kind of daydream are you having? Two country bumpkin bitches like you, thinking you can waltz into my family? Take a good look at yourselves and see if you’re worthy! Ridiculous!” Lucas laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke ever. “So you’re refusing to acknowledge me as your illegitimate daughter?” I asked, my gaze darkening as I clenched my fists. “Since you’ve already called yourself illegitimate, you should stay in the gutter where you belong. Why bring it out in the open and make everyone uncomfortable? Besides, I’m not the one who’ll be embarrassed. I bet your mother’s been called all sorts of names, hasn’t she? Let me guess – a shameless whore?” Lucas taunted us, showing no fear at all. “You bastard! I won’t let you get away with this!” I gritted my teeth and grabbed the glass from the table, smashing it against Lucas’s face. After a series of crashes, Lucas’s face was bleeding, and water had splashed all over the three of us. “You crazy bitch! Do you have a death wish?” Lucas, enraged by my actions, grabbed my hair and glared at me viciously. My mother screamed and rushed forward, but Lucas shoved her to the ground with one hand. “What acknowledgment? I can see you’re just after money. Let me tell you, you won’t get a single cent from me! Take this bastard and get out of my company! Stop making me sick!” Lucas threw me to the ground, looking at my mother and me with utter disgust from his superior position. “What’s going on here? Why are they fighting?” “I heard this woman brought her illegitimate daughter to confront Mr. Wilson, but he wouldn’t acknowledge them. Then they started causing a scene.” “I bet it’s just this woman being promiscuous. So many people try to latch onto Mr. Wilson shamelessly. Who knows if this daughter is even real? How disgraceful.” “And they dare to act so righteous! If I were Mr. Wilson, I’d teach them a good lesson they won’t forget!” Our commotion had attracted the attention of many company employees. They whispered among themselves, their words unspeakably harsh. “Dad? Are you okay? What happened?” A young man about my age came running in from the company entrance, looking worriedly at Lucas’s injuries. I recognized him from memory as Lucas’s son, his legitimate heir. “It’s nothing, just dealing with two bitches trying to extort money. What are you doing here?” Lucas looked at us with disgust before turning to smile at his son. “What are they here for?” Lucas’s son, Max, eyed us maliciously. His piercing gaze made me extremely uncomfortable. “We’re here to demand justice from your father,” I said, seeing Max as another potential breakthrough. I decided to try and work on him. “Do you know how many disgusting things your father has done outside? My mother was one of his victims. He drugged her, had a one-night stand, and I was born as a result. Doesn’t that make you sick? Your father isn’t faithful to your mother. Your family is falling apart!” I tried to provoke Max, hoping to drive a wedge between them. I could see Max’s expression freezing bit by bit. Just as I thought my attack was working, he said something that shocked me to my core!

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Dad said he was bringing home a scholarship student he was sponsoring for the holidays. My first thought: Oh no, could this scholarship student be Dad’s secret daughter? I secretly did a DNA test for both of them. No match. I relaxed and got along well with Ivy Greene. The day before school started, I went to ask Dad to sign the share transfer agreement. Just as I reached his bedroom door, I heard moaning from inside. “Honey, will Melody really transfer all the shares to you? They say it’s hard being a stepmother. I don’t want to live under your daughter’s thumb.” “Of course she will. I can’t bear to see my sweetheart suffer.” Hearing the familiar voices, I froze. Damn it. I was careless. She wasn’t his secret daughter, but his mistress. 0 “Dad, why did you lock the door? I need to talk to you about something.” I knocked loudly, shouting. The noises inside stopped abruptly, followed by the rustle of clothes being put on. Five minutes later, the door opened. Dad blocked the doorway, his face wearing the usual loving smile. “Melody, what’s the matter so late?” “Let’s talk inside,” I said, pushing past him despite his attempt to block me. “Huh? It’s already 10 PM? Ivy, why are you in my dad’s room?” I feigned surprise upon seeing Ivy. Faced with my question, Dad looked guilty, avoiding my gaze. Ivy, on the other hand, came forward and linked her arm with mine. “Well, since school’s starting soon, I wanted to discuss with Mr. Sullivan about moving into your dorm as a surprise for you.” Ivy’s smile was as natural as ever, showing no signs of deceit. Ivy was a scholarship student sponsored by my family. She had worked hard and got into Starling University. This year, she was invited by Dad to spend the holidays with us. We got along well, so I let Ivy stay until now. I never imagined she’d team up with Dad to give me such a big “surprise”. “It’s all your fault for coming suddenly. Now the surprise is ruined,” Ivy said, half-pouting and half-reproachful as she clung to my arm. I laughed coldly inside. Thank goodness I came suddenly, or I might not have been able to handle this “surprise”. No wonder Ivy, who’s my age, could seduce my dad. With her psychological resilience and quick thinking, she truly lived up to her reputation as a top student. “Oh, I see. I thought you came here in the middle of the night to do something with my dad,” I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. Ivy’s smile almost faltered. She chided, “Melody, what are you saying?” Dad had regained his usual composure and came over to scold me, “Melody, reputation is important. Don’t talk nonsense.” “But the room smells funny, just like those bushes on campus that reek during spring,” I said, pretending to be wronged. “Oh my, it was like this when I came in too,” Ivy chimed in. “Melody, you need to understand Mr. Sullivan. You know, men sometimes… well…” Ivy trailed off, looking bashful. “In short, single men have certain needs. We girls shouldn’t ask too much about it.” Dad nodded approvingly at Ivy’s words, then turned to me. “Melody, why did you come so late?” I waved the share transfer agreement in my hand. Dad and Ivy’s eyes lit up simultaneously. “Melody, I won’t disturb your father-daughter talk then,” Ivy said. “Goodnight, Mr. Sullivan.” 0

Now that I’ve discovered Dad’s affair, I certainly won’t sign the share transfer agreement. The shares were left to me by my late mother. If I gave them to Dad now, who knows who he’d use them to support? I made an excuse that my grandparents’ shares also needed to be transferred, so it would take a few more days to process. Dad was overjoyed and agreed immediately. He even transferred me $10,000 as pocket money. You should know, Dad had never transferred more than $1,000 at once before. My monthly allowance was only $300. Most of my other pocket money came from my grandparents. The excuse was: to cultivate my spirit of frugality. Then I remembered the monthly transfers Dad made to Ivy after she started university. It was never less than $1,000 each time. “You’re the heir to Sullivan Corp, you’ve seen the world since you were young.” “Ivy is just a girl, and a scholarship student. She hasn’t seen much of the world.” “If we don’t give her enough money, what if some thug takes advantage of her now that she’s at Starling University?” I thought it made sense at the time. Now, thinking back, it’s laughable. They must have been involved even then. Once the veil is lifted, everything becomes clear. Ivy likes to cook, but 90% of her dishes cater to Dad’s taste. Dad’s favorite fish dish is always placed on his right side. Ivy loves hearing about Dad’s work. She either praises his brilliant decisions or sympathizes with how hard he works, always boosting his ego. Ivy is knowledgeable and likes to chat with me about various topics, but in front of Dad, she always has questions she doesn’t understand. … Ivy has been deliberately seducing Dad. Subtle, silent, unnoticed. If such tactics were used on me, I might not be able to resist either. But while Dad can remarry, he shouldn’t have a mistress. Ivy is clearly after Dad’s money. After packing my things for school, I lay on the couch, pondering how to wake Dad up and set him back on the right path. 0

Taking advantage of Ivy’s absence, I decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with Dad. After explaining the rules of no concealment and no lies, I sat down opposite Dad. The game began with some trivial matters. I seized every opportunity to pour Dad more drinks. Dad can’t hold his liquor well. After two bottles, his face was already flushed with intoxication. I took the chance to ask. “Dad, is there anything big you’re hiding from me? Anything related to relationships!” I emphasized deliberately. Dad gripped his glass, his gaze evasive, his lips opening and closing several times. My heart leaped with hope as I stared intently at Dad’s lips. If he confessed, it would prove that Dad could still be saved. That he wasn’t completely in cahoots with Ivy. Finally, Dad spoke. “Sigh, I do have something I’ve been keeping from you.” I sat up straight, already formulating comforting words in my mind. “All these years, I’ve never really gotten over your mother. I still love her.” “After your mother passed, I’ve been managing the company wholeheartedly, working day and night, pouring my heart and soul into it.” “But it’s been so hard.” “I have few shares, little influence. If I had more shares in my hands, Sullivan Corp would have reached new heights by now.” The words of comfort I had prepared died in my throat. My heart sank with each word Dad uttered. “Dad, we can’t bring back the dead. I hope you can find your own happiness. I would give you my blessing.” Dad shook his head, “I just want to expand and strengthen the business your mother left behind.” “Recently, I’ve set my eyes on a project, but unfortunately, no one else sees its potential.” “If only Dad had a few more shares in hand…” Every sentence, while not directly asking, was clearly aimed at persuading me. Dad lay back on the sofa, his face flushed, but his eyes kept darting towards me. His gaze was clear; Dad was just putting on an act to deceive me. My heart turned cold, but I maintained a smile on my face. “The CEO of Lancaster Corp just remarried, but I know Dad is the most devoted to Mom. I feel at ease entrusting the shares to you.” “However, there’s still a little trouble with Grandpa and Grandma’s side. Dad, you’ll have to wait a bit longer.” 0

Dad wants the shares Mom left me. Ivy wants Dad’s money. The two of them, equally despicable, truly deserve each other as a “match made in heaven”. I lay on my dorm bed, feeling irritated and restless. “Melody.” The dorm door opened. Ivy pulled back my bed curtain and leaned in close, acting intimate. “Do you have any sense of boundaries?” I shifted back, feeling annoyed. Under my dad’s arrangement, Ivy had moved into the same dorm as me. Ivy said this was to make it easier for her to repay the kindness, but I hadn’t seen any gratitude. Instead, she had ended up in bed with my dad. Ivy was taken aback. Then she looked a bit hurt. “Melody, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were in a bad mood today and easily irritated. I apologize.” With one sentence, she shifted the blame for her lack of boundaries onto my bad temper. Noticing the glances from our other two roommates, I suppressed my anger: “What do you want?” Ivy’s lips curved into a slight smile as she sat down and showed me her phone. It displayed a new necklace from Celestial. “Melody, look, isn’t this beautiful? And it’s limited edition.” “We could buy two, one for you and one for me.” It was indeed beautiful. I glanced at Ivy’s designer outfit. Before I discovered the affair between my dad and Ivy, I would always buy things for Ivy when I shopped for myself. This outfit she was wearing was bought by me. But now, I wasn’t going to be the sucker anymore. “It’s pretty. You can pay for it.” Ivy was stunned: “Melody, I’m a scholarship student, I…” “I know, but Dad gives you at least $1,000 for living expenses every month. Don’t tell me you’ve spent it all?” I feigned surprise, then continued. “I could buy it, even though Dad only gives me $300 a month, but I have some savings.” “But Ivy, all these things you’re wearing now were bought by me. If I pay for everything, it wouldn’t sound good if word got out.” “At best, people might say you’re friends with me for my money. At worst, they might think you have something going on with my dad.” A flash of embarrassed anger crossed Ivy’s face. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes. “Of course not, Melody. I’m genuinely your friend.” “And there’s absolutely nothing unsavory between Mr. Sullivan and me.” Ivy pulled out a DNA test report. It showed no blood relation between Ivy and Dad. My two roommates looked at me accusingly. “Melody Sullivan, I have to say, you’re really thinking the worst of people.” “Only a person with a dirty mind sees everything as dirty.” Ivy was well-prepared, wasn’t she? Well, I initially thought the same and secretly did a DNA test for both of them. Who could have imagined that a top student like Ivy would become my dad’s mistress? Seeing the other two roommates on her side, Ivy wiped her tears pretentiously. “Melody, this Celestial necklace costs $8,888. It’s very expensive for me.” “But we’re good friends. If you like it, I’ll buy it for you even if I have to sell a kidney.” “No need for that, no need,” the two roommates chimed in. I calmly watched Ivy’s act. I agreed with a simple “okay”. Ivy’s expression froze. I didn’t bother with her anymore. I quickly packed some things and drove to my grandmother’s house. I knew I couldn’t figure out a solution on my own. My grandparents have far more life experience than I do. They must have a way to handle this. 0

Ivy took a leave of absence from school, and when she returned, she gave me the necklace. At the same time, rumors about me started circulating around campus. As I went to class, I overheard: “That’s Melody Sullivan. She bullies scholarship students just because she’s rich, even making them buy her necklaces worth nearly $10,000.” “That’s right.” “Remember the entrance exam results? Ivy Greene scored higher than Melody Sullivan.” “Last semester, Melody Sullivan’s grades were better than Ivy Greene’s. Isn’t it obvious she achieved that by suppressing Ivy?” “Hmph, what’s the use of winning in grades if you lose in character? We should stay away from people like her.” I ignored it all. After class, I headed to the library with my books. Ivy was busy seducing my dad; it would be strange if her grades didn’t slip. On the way, Ivy approached me. “Melody, don’t take those people’s words to heart.” “I’ve already clarified to them that I bought it for you voluntarily.” “Rumors are just rumors. Don’t let them bother you.” I laughed coldly inside. Weren’t these rumors spread by Ivy herself? “Mm, okay, I got it,” I replied. Ivy continued to follow me. I knew Ivy must have something to ask me, but she hadn’t figured out how to bring it up yet. Since that was the case, I suddenly stopped. “Ivy, just one necklace isn’t very convincing. If you buy me a few more things, the rumors will naturally die down.” “I recently saw a dress that I like…” “Melody,” Ivy hurriedly interrupted me. “I came to you because I have something to discuss.” “Melody, I remember you like Lucas Graham. I have an idea that can help you win him over.” Lucas Graham is a senior in our major. He mentored me for a while during an activity I participated in. I had also expressed my admiration for him. I don’t know how Ivy concluded that I liked him. I stopped and raised an eyebrow: “Oh?” Seeing my interest, Ivy’s eyes gleamed with pride. “You know, as women, we shouldn’t be too strong.” “Be smart in public, give men enough face, but when facing men directly, we should act a bit naive.” “Being a bit naive makes men’s hearts flutter and brings out their protective instincts. All men fall for this, Lucas Graham is no exception.” “Men focus on their careers, we just need to know how to please them.” “This applies to husbands, and to fathers too.” Ivy was sharing her experience as a mistress with me, acting as if she was bestowing a great favor upon me. Finally, she revealed her true intention. She wanted to help Dad persuade me to quickly transfer the shares to him. I was speechless. This speech was so disgusting that I lost the desire to even rebut it. I turned away from Ivy and went to the library. Just as I arrived at the library, Dad called. Over the past few days, the frequency of Dad’s calls had been increasing. From subtle probing attempts, it had now become outright urging me to hand over the shares. “Melody, if there are still issues with your grandparents, why don’t you transfer your shares first?” I remained silent, thinking of excuses to delay. Dad seemed to have lost his patience. “Melody Sullivan, you weren’t lying to Dad about transferring the shares, were you?” “Ding dong.” A text message popped up on my phone. [Sweet Melody, Grandpa has taken care of everything. Sign with him!] I smiled. “Dad, how could that be?” “The issues with Grandpa and Grandma have been resolved. I’ll come home today to sign the contract.”

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My childhood sweetheart, Jack, is the director of one of the most expensive plastic surgery clinics in the city. He always complained that my nose wasn’t high enough, my lips weren’t full enough, and my eyes weren’t big enough. “I can do the surgery for you for free anyway,” he would say. “Lily, don’t you want to be more beautiful?” I never cared, believing that what my parents gave me was the best. After a car accident, my face was completely ruined. My husband finally got his chance. He reconstructed my face to look like the love of his life. 0 After the car accident, I lay semiconscious on the operating table, and the last thing I heard was: “Quick, bring that photo over here.” “Make sure the patient’s face after the surgery looks exactly like the one in the picture.” A nurse hesitated and said: “The patient hasn’t regained consciousness yet. Is it okay to do plastic surgery directly?” A voice I knew all too well spoke up. “It’s fine, she’s my wife. I’ll decide what her second face will look like.” I woke up from the excruciating pain all over my body. What I heard was the noisy beeping of machines and my husband’s voice. He excitedly said, “Lily, you’re awake! You’re finally awake!” “Do you know? You’ve been in a coma for nearly three months.” I looked around in confusion. As my memory returned, I realized I had survived a car accident. At this moment, I felt that my face was wrapped in bandages. It hurt so much. I asked Jack desperately: “Honey, what happened to my face? Is it disfigured?” His eyes reddened, and he nodded painfully. “After your car accident, the vehicle exploded immediately. It’s a miracle you survived. But your face…” Jack trailed off, seemingly unable to continue. I pleaded, “Can I see what I look like now?” “Okay, you’ve recovered enough now.” He slowly, carefully unwrapped the thick bandages for me. With trembling hands, I held up the mirror. The face reflected in it shocked me to my core. This, this was clearly the face of the pianist he adored! Every line, every contour, matched that person’s face perfectly. At this moment, The way Jack looked at me was full of fascination and intoxication. As if he was admiring the most perfect work of art in the world. It gave me chills. Eyes wide, I screamed in horror: “Jack, what have you done to me?!” “Why? Why do I look exactly like Emma Rose?” He looked pained, gripping my shoulders tightly, and said: “Lily, that accident completely destroyed your face.” Then, he spoke with difficulty. “To restore it, I tried everything I could and did my best to make you look beautiful through plastic surgery.” “I know this is absurd…” “Maybe I’ve watched her performances too many times, and I couldn’t help but reshape you to look like her during the surgery.” In the past, my husband often flew to watch Emma Rose’s performances. He never missed a single one, whether at home or abroad. Even if it meant missing our son’s first birthday party. Even if it meant missing my mother’s funeral, leaving me to bear everything alone… And I simply thought he was just a fan, trying my best to understand him as his wife. At this moment, my hands trembled uncontrollably as I clawed at my face. My nails dug deep into the skin, wanting to peel off this face that didn’t belong to me. Seeing this, Jack quickly pounced on me, using all his strength to control my hands. “Lily, can you just pretend you’re her twin sister?” “I promise I’ll love you more and give you everything you want.” He held me in his arms, his tears soaking my clothes. “Just don’t leave me…” That night, I slept deeply. I had no idea that he was intimately holding Emma Rose, standing by my hospital bed. “You like my son Tommy very much, don’t you? In a few years, when he gets used to this face, I’ll let you be his new mom.” “How could I let you go through childbirth? This is an opportunity for you to become a mother painlessly.” 0

A week later, I was discharged from the hospital. My husband wanted me to rest well at home. He made soup for me every day, cooked meals, and did physical check-ups. He not only picked up and dropped off our son at school but also took care of all the housework. I was happy to see this change in him. I reached out my right hand, gently stroking my cheek. If this new face could make me receive so much love, I would try hard to adapt to it. Even if every time I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, Looking at this unfamiliar face in the mirror, It was like wearing a creepy mask. One afternoon, I needed to use the computer to look up some information. I saw that Jack’s document account was still logged in. Among them, there was a blank document that stood out among a pile of work files. I opened it, and inside was a record of the girls he had known before. The first one was Emma Rose’s profile, along with her photo. It detailed her likes, birthday, and so on. And at the bottom was written: [In heaven, in my heart, just not by my side] My body suddenly froze, as if electrocuted. I quickly scrolled down to view the profiles of other girls. [Looks very similar, hard to control] [Voice identical, too ugly] [Can play the piano, bad temper] Finally, at the bottom, I saw my photo. I couldn’t believe my eyes, staring at those words as if trying to see through them. [Name: Lily Grant] [Body shape most like hers, suitable for marriage] My heart instantly sank to the bottom. I always thought I was his true love, the only one in his heart. No wonder his favorite position was to hug me from behind… Every time I wanted to lie on my back in bed, he would make me turn around. He always said gently, “Lily, your back is the most beautiful.” “Don’t be shy, let me admire it for a while.” I closed my eyes and bit my lip, the taste of blood filling my mouth. I took out my phone and called my secretary: “How’s the investigation on that car accident going?” The secretary told me that the parking lot’s surveillance had been damaged. But the dashcam in my car had picked up a fragment of sound. However, the sound was broken. Only “don’t blame me” and “bomb” could be clearly heard. It had been sent to technicians for restoration. It would take at least 72 hours to recover a small part. The secretary sighed, “Ms. Grant, although the hope is slim, we’ll do our best.” I sent Jack’s recording to him. “Use this audio clip for matching.” I looked at the date, today is February 10th. [Countdown remaining: 3 days] 0

Somehow, Jack was particularly proactive today. He came home very early and went to take a shower as soon as he got home. Soon after, he came out, his body exuding the fragrance of bath products. Wrapped only in a towel, revealing his muscular abs. Jack carried me to the bed, his voice somewhat cautious. “Lily, shall we have another child?” I was stunned. For the past few years, whenever I suggested having a second child, he always made excuses. With a hint of confusion in my voice, I responded, “Why bring this up suddenly?” “You’ve always been unwilling before.” Then he leaned down close to me, gently caressing my cheek. “You know, after this car accident, I feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world, successfully snatching you back from the hands of death.” “I’m afraid that when we’re old, our son will be lonely without siblings to keep him company.” Tonight, his tenderness in bed was irresistible. My heart was shamefully softening. Perhaps he had realized that I was the woman most suitable to spend his life with. After a night of intimacy, Jack gently got up and went to the bathroom to shower. I picked up my phone to check unread messages, my fingers sliding across the screen, my mind still savoring the intimacy we just shared. Suddenly, a message popped up: [Your VIP notification just posted a tweet.] “Emma Rose: Thank you to my loyal fan of ten years who bought 2 million digital copies of my album for me. I’ve received your enthusiasm, and this money will be donated to a charity foundation in both our names. I hope my music will become more valuable because of this.” The comments below were updating quickly: “Emma is so kind, no wonder I’ve been a fan for so long.” “A full two million copies of the album! My God, that’s over 20 million dollars!” I opened her new album, and the sound came out from the speaker. Such beautiful music, yet it stabbed into my heart like a sharp knife— That music was exactly what my husband had played on the stereo while we were intimate just now. Just now, I had been so moved by Jack’s sudden romantic gesture. My nails dug into my flesh, unable to suppress the overwhelming hatred. [Countdown remaining: 2 days] 0

In the afternoon, I was lying at home reading a book. Suddenly, my best friend sent me a message saying she saw my husband on a date with a woman. I quickly changed my clothes, put on a mask, and hurried to the marked location. It was an elegant café. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I immediately saw the familiar figure. Jack was holding her hand with such adoration. He bowed his head reverently, constantly kissing those hands that had played countless melodies. “Don’t worry, tomorrow’s concert will go smoothly. I’ll be sitting in the front row watching you perform.” Emma Rose smiled gently, even her smile was so elegant. “Jack, I knew you would come to every performance.” “With you in the audience, I feel very secure.” Jack embraced her: “Darling, I’ve prepared a surprise for you, I’ll tell you after the concert is over.” “Get a good rest tonight, call me if you can’t sleep.” He drove Emma Rose home, and I followed closely behind in a taxi. To my surprise, Jack came down shortly after sending her up. The time was so short. Not enough time for him to do more to betray me. However, it wasn’t until the evening that I understood the reason for all this. The unfamiliar scent on Jack’s body told me: He simply didn’t want to tire her out, he came back to exhaust me instead. That night, he hurt me a lot. He had pure love with his ideal woman. Yet he played cruel games with me, his childhood sweetheart of over twenty years. At this point, I finally understood. True feelings can change in an instant, love cannot be begged for. [Countdown remaining: 1 day] The next day. Jack took me to the concert together. I was also curious about what gift he would give to Emma Rose. I have to admit, hearing the music played by my husband’s lover. No matter how beautiful the melody, to me it was like a saw cruelly cutting through my body. After the concert ended, Jack told me to go home first by myself. I agreed verbally but secretly followed behind him. My footsteps were light, but my heartbeat was heavy. From inside the dressing room came their voices. I saw Jack’s eyes full of deep affection as he solemnly handed her a stack of papers. “Emma, this is my gift to you.” Emma Rose took it and flipped through it, asking: “What do you mean by giving me two medical reports?” He slowly leaned forward, pointing at the words on the report: “This is my medical report, and Lily’s pre-pregnancy check-up.” “You’ve always wanted a baby, right? But I can’t bear to let you go through childbirth, it’s too painful. And pregnancy would affect your global tour schedule.” As he spoke, he gently stroked the back of her hand with his other hand. “So we just need to implant our fertilized egg into Lily’s womb, and she will take good care of our baby.” Emma Rose was stunned for a moment, her brows furrowed: “Wouldn’t that be very risky?” At this point, the corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a cruel smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything – the hospital, the doctors. As for that stupid woman, she’ll be too happy to have a child for me to suspect anything.” “Everything is prepared, just waiting for your consent.” Jack’s body leaned slightly forward, his face full of anticipation, waiting for the answer he most desired. I stood motionless like a statue outside the door. Silently listening to the whole process. The scene before me was truly sickening. My teeth bit down hard on my lower lip, almost drawing blood. Jack, are you even human anymore?! My womb will never be the sinful cradle for your child. With such humiliation and pain, I just wanted to escape this terrible place immediately. I turned and left, melting into the crowded crowd, slowly walking home. At some point, the mask on my face was squeezed off by the crowd. The fans next to me, who had been excitedly chatting, suddenly caught sight of me and uncertainly called out: “Emma Rose! Is that you?” But quickly, he shook his head, denying himself: “No, how could she be here, and Emma isn’t this short.” I quickly lowered my head, trying to use my hair to completely cover this face of mine. As soon as these words were spoken, several fans around gathered over, one of them couldn’t help but swear: “Holy shit, how does this woman look exactly like Emma Rose!” They all cast strange glances at me, taking out their phones to photograph and video me. Some even suddenly became enraged, grabbing a bottle of mineral water and throwing it at my head. “Where did this bitch come from, trying to imitate our idol’s face, so disgusting!” The moment the bottle hit my head, I felt dizzy. “I’m not, I didn’t…” I opened my mouth, but my voice got stuck in my throat, unable to defend myself. A young man with dyed yellow hair rushed over, slapped me hard, and said viciously: “How dare you imitate her!” Then, someone else threw their drink at me, instantly soaking my clothes. Those strangers, driven by emotion, instantly turned into demons, angrily punching and kicking me. It wasn’t until security guards hurriedly arrived that they managed, with great effort, to disperse these people who had lost their reason. In the early hours of the morning, standing on the empty street, I wiped away the blood from the corner of my mouth. Just then, my phone rang. I numbly answered the call from my secretary. “Ms. Grant, the original audio matches 98.99% with the voice you sent over.” “Hello? Ms. Grant, are you still there?”

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Ryan and I had been together for seven years. When I went to deliver some documents to him, I saw him holding his young sweetheart close, proudly saying: “The one you’ve nurtured yourself is always the sweetest.” He was drinking the ginseng chicken soup I had prepared for him this morning. Amidst the envious voices of others, he said: “Zoe is suitable as a wife, but she’s terribly boring.” This man, who had proposed to me and promised a lifetime together just three days ago, was now kissing another woman amid cheers and whistles. I’m a person who loves cleanliness. A man who’s been dirtied? I don’t want him anymore. 0 Half an hour ago, I received a message from Ryan. He said he was entertaining clients at a club and needed me to urgently bring him an important document he was missing. But when I arrived, barefaced and sweating, I saw Ryan embracing the delicate Holly in his arms. I understood immediately. This must have been orchestrated by Holly, the young sweetheart in Ryan’s arms. There were no clients. It was just a gathering of Ryan and his friends. Holly had been pursuing Ryan for nearly half a year. Impatient to become Mrs. Yates, she had secretly used Ryan’s phone to message me. She tricked me into coming here, wanting me to see how cherished she was. I don’t know how much effort she put into this plan. When I arrived at the club, surprisingly, no one stopped me. Actually, I should thank her. I’m a person who loves cleanliness. A man who’s been dirtied? I don’t want him. Inside, Holly seemed to be acting coy, demanding to eat the ginseng from his bowl. Ryan’s voice carried a hint of contempt: “What are you thinking? Zoe woke up two hours early to make this. How could I give it to you?” “I’m a man of principle. You need to know your place.” Initially, I only felt a dull ache in my heart. But hearing this, I almost laughed out loud. Such absurd words, yet he seemed quite proud of them. “Ryan, you said you’d be good to me!” Holly’s voice grew louder, filled with a tearful grievance. “Now you won’t even let me have a bite of ginseng. How am I supposed to trust you in the future?” “Do you really love me or not?” Frank, Ryan’s subordinate, laughed and tried to smooth things over: “Sis, you don’t understand. Of course he loves you.” “But a wife is someone you both respect and love.” “Don’t you girls love watching those royal drama series? Zoe is like the queen, and you’re naturally the favored concubine.” “A wise king never neglects his queen for a concubine.” Ryan laughed loudly, slapping the table as he shouted, “Exactly!” “A virtuous wife and a beautiful mistress – that’s the perfect recipe for a good life!” Holly continued to protest, but her words were drowned out by the knowing laughter of the men. 0

Holly seemed to be pouting and throwing a tantrum. “Alright, alright. She’s just young and likes to be pampered,” Ryan said. “If you want to eat, I’ll have Frank go out and buy some later, okay? Anyone else want anything? We can get it all together.” Ryan stroked Holly’s head affectionately and kissed her forehead. “Holly’s only 19. Don’t tease her too much, guys.” “If she gets upset, I’ll be the one who has to comfort her tonight.” He seemed quite proud of his innuendo. Using borderline jokes to liven up the atmosphere in the private room. Ryan’s lips were close to Holly’s ear, whispering something. Holly blushed and pretended to push him away. Frank chimed in: “Ryan, Zoe’s pretty smart. Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out?” Ryan replied casually: “That woman is so dull.” “She’s either buried in her lab or at home cooking for me.” “As long as you all keep your mouths shut, she’ll never find out.” Frank asked with a smile: “I heard Zoe’s planning to switch to a teaching position for you?” Ryan grunted in agreement: “It’s not much money. She might as well stay at home to cook and take care of the kids.” “But being a university professor sounds prestigious, so I’ll let her play around for a couple of years.” “She’s so boring, yet you still want to marry her,” Holly pouted, watching Ryan’s expression. “Don’t be silly,” Ryan patted her back. Holly twisted her body slightly and pleaded: “Then say you love me the most. Just say it, and I’ll believe you, okay?” Ryan chuckled: “Alright, of course I love my little Holly the most.” He hugged the girl like a child and sighed: “The one you’ve nurtured yourself is always the sweetest.” Outside the door, I could barely stand. My body was shaking violently. My heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly, making it difficult to breathe. Three days ago, Ryan had proposed to me. The moment I nodded, he hugged me tightly, choking with emotion: “Zoe, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” “You don’t know how happy I am to be able to marry you.” Promises made so earnestly, without a thought for the consequences. Seven years together, and in his mouth, I was just a “good wife” and “boring”. Like a handy tool in his laboratory. The confession under the moonlight, the boy’s sincere and dazzling eyes. The dreams we fought for together, the tears after lifting the trophy. I never doubted the sincerity of our past. But the human heart can’t withstand the test of time. How could I have been so blind! Ryan. It was you who betrayed our love. 0

The next morning when I woke up, Mrs. Ross, our housekeeper, told me Ryan had slept in the study. I’m a light sleeper; even the slightest noise wakes me up and makes it hard for me to fall back asleep. So when Ryan comes home late from work, he usually sleeps in the study. But what used to happen only once or twice a month has become a frequent occurrence over the past six months. The signs had been there for a while. Three years ago, I first met Holly at the Yates family’s old house. At that time, Ryan held my hand and casually patted her head: “Holly? You’ve grown quite a bit.” He turned to me with a smile and introduced her: “She’s the daughter of our housekeeper, Mr. Lambert. She comes to play at our house occasionally.” “The little girl is well-behaved and sweet-talking, my mom really likes her.” I smiled and greeted Holly, but I noticed a hint of hostility in her eyes. I encountered her once or twice after that. One time when I had a migraine, Mr. Lambert asked Holly to bring me some painkillers. Thinking I was asleep, she threw the medicine on the table. She spat in my water glass and said viciously: “Old hag, one day, I’ll drive you away from my brother’s side.” Such blatant malice, spewing from her flower-petal-like mouth without any restraint. I knew teenage girls could easily go astray. I gently suggested to Ryan that he should be careful to maintain distance from the young girl. But he was completely unconcerned, “Holly’s just a kid. Are you really jealous of her?” Ryan leaned in to kiss me: “Honey, I’m just happy to know you love me so much.” I knew that a young girl’s crush was often confused with admiration. But an adult’s indulgence had led this relationship down the wrong path. But this was their fate, and I had no power to interfere. … As I was about to leave after breakfast, Ryan woke up. His hair was a mess, and with sleepy eyes, he reached out to hug me. I discreetly stepped back two paces: “I have an important meeting today. Don’t wrinkle my clothes.” Ryan’s face was full of guilt: “I’m sorry, honey. I’ve been really busy lately.” “I haven’t been able to spend much time with you. I’ll pick you up after work today and take you out for a nice meal.” I looked at his slightly dark chin, already showing some stubble. “Did you go out drinking with clients again last night?” I asked. Ryan nodded with a wry smile, saying without a hint of guilt: “You have no idea how clingy Mr. Lucas can be.” I withdrew my gaze and asked flatly: “So, you smoked too?” I hate the smell of smoke. When Ryan occasionally smoked due to social obligations, he would shower and clean up as soon as he got home. Moreover, we had agreed to start trying for a baby, and he had promised to quit smoking. But now, his breath reeked of tobacco. Knowing he couldn’t deny it, Ryan’s face fell. With a hint of pleading, he asked: “Honey, are you angry?” “I really couldn’t refuse. I just took a couple of puffs, honestly.” “In the future, I’ll…” I shook my head, interrupting his words: “It’s fine. I understand it’s not easy for you.” “I’m running late. I need to go.” “Oh, and don’t pick me up tonight. I need to prepare for my classes, so if it gets too late, I won’t come home.” As I turned to leave, Ryan seemed to think he was off the hook and let out a sigh of relief. He laughed heartily, telling me to drive carefully and remember to eat well. We both played our parts well. He hid all his false pretenses. I hid all my sadness and disappointment. Our paths had converged for seven years. But now we were heading in different directions. 0

When I arrived at the lab, my junior colleague Liam was distributing souvenirs he had brought back from his business trip. Seeing me arrive, he quickly brought over a few bags of seafood. “Zoe, try this dried squid. It tastes amazing.” I usually love seafood. But today, as soon as Liam approached, I felt my stomach suddenly churn. Without time to say much, I rushed to the restroom at the end of the hallway. The cool water splashing on my face gradually eased the discomfort in my stomach. When I raised my head, the mirror reflected a tired face. I stared blankly. Suddenly, sadness and grief overwhelmed me like a tidal wave. All my strength crumbled at this moment. Tears fell in large drops. Seven years. Seven years in which I had given my whole heart. Only to be repaid with utter betrayal. “Zoe, are you okay?” Liam called from outside, his voice not loud but very anxious. “I’m fine,” I said. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and walked out. Liam sighed with relief when he saw me come out, but his brow remained furrowed. He wanted to take me to the hospital. I refused and called my best friend, Mia. Mia works at a private hospital, and I arranged to meet her an hour later. Liam wanted to drive me there, but I didn’t agree. Ever since I got together with Ryan, I had deliberately maintained distance from all other men. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see Liam’s fondness for me. But I had constrained my behavior with moral principles, never giving any other man room for imagination. Ryan often hugged me and marveled at how lucky he was to have found such a good wife. Back then, I would pinch his face and say: “Honey, I won’t check up on you or constantly ask about your whereabouts, but trust and respect are mutual.” “What I do, you must do too. Otherwise, if I ever decide to leave, I will never look back.” Ryan laughed and pleaded: “Okay, okay, I’ll do whatever you say, my dear wife. I wouldn’t dare to have a wandering eye.” Thinking back now, the rift had started long ago. When I needed a commitment, he was brushing me off with jokes. At the hospital, Mia accompanied me through the examination. As expected, I was pregnant. My period had been delayed by almost a week this month. So when I first felt unwell, I suspected I might be pregnant. But this child came at the worst possible time. When Mia heard I was pregnant, she was initially overjoyed. But seeing my hesitant expression as I touched my belly, the smile on her face gradually disappeared. “Mia,” I looked up, forcing an ugly smile. “I’m not keeping this baby.” “Can you keep this a secret for me?” After hearing my story, Mia was furious. She cursed Ryan vehemently, then looked troubled. She held my hand and said: “Zoe, the doctor just said you have a condition that makes it difficult to conceive. If you terminate this pregnancy…” I lowered my eyes: “But I don’t intend to endure Ryan’s betrayal for the sake of this child.” “Nor do I plan to give birth to this child alone, sacrificing my future for it.” “If I’m not ready, then I won’t have it.” “I don’t want to be an irresponsible mother.” Mia sighed and said: “You… you always seem so gentle, but once you’ve made a decision, nothing can change your mind.” She stroked my face with a pained expression: “That ungrateful Ryan, he’ll regret this one day!” Mia quickly helped me schedule the procedure for the next day. That evening, after packing my clothes, I saw Holly had posted on social media. It was a selfie, with a blurred male figure in the background. But I easily recognized the man as Ryan. It looked like they were in a hotel. Holly’s caption read: “Tonight, you belong to me.” My phone dinged with a new message from Ryan at the top of the screen. It said: “Honey, I’m too busy to come home tonight. Remember to eat well at work.” When I came to my senses, my face was ice-cold with tears. I simply replied “Okay,” then buried myself in the blankets and cried silently. This is the last time, I told myself. Ryan, after tonight, I will never cry because of you again. 0

The procedure went smoothly. I stayed in the hospital for three days. Although Ryan’s messages never stopped, I used the excuse of being busy with work, and he didn’t suspect a thing. During these three days, Mia helped me rent a new apartment. I still had quite a few things at Ryan’s place that I needed to pack up. The building had an elevator that required a key card to access. As the elevator doors opened, I saw a magenta high heel at the doorway. Not far away, the other shoe had been kicked into a corner. The front door wasn’t locked properly, slightly ajar. A pair of black stockings hanging on the doorknob made me feel like an intruder. I took out my phone and discreetly started recording. From inside the room, amid the blaring music, came the intimate sounds of a man and woman. Soon, the music volume decreased. I could hear their conversation in the living room. Holly whined: “The floor is so hard. Ryan, can’t we go to the bedroom?” Then came the sound of a lighter. Ryan exhaled and said with a hint of impatience: “Zoe is a clean freak. It’s good enough that I let you into the house. Don’t ask for too much.” “But Ryan, don’t you always say Zoe is boring? If I could always be by your side, you definitely wouldn’t…” Ryan snickered: “Holly, don’t misunderstand your position.” “You’re just a plaything to relieve my boredom occasionally. If you behave, I’ll treat you well.” “But if you dare breathe a word to Zoe, I won’t hesitate to find someone more obedient.” Holly was silent for a moment, then pleaded: “Ryan, please don’t abandon me.” “I’ll never let Zoe find out. I don’t expect to become your wife.” “As long as… as long as you let me stay by your side, that’s enough. I’ll be good.” I blinked my dry eyes. It felt like watching a play that had nothing to do with me. Behind me, the elevator made a sound. I instinctively hid to the side. It was Mrs. Ross coming for her routine cleaning. A few seconds later, there were several exclamations from inside. As I left, I had only one thought. How could such a disgusting person dare to imagine spending a lifetime with me? … On my way back to the lab, I happened to pass by a cake shop we used to frequent. Back then, we had just graduated. I was still on probation, earning only $1,500 a month. Ryan wanted to start his own business and refused to join his family’s company, so his father cut off all his cards, hoping he would give up. Those times were really tough. But every time I got my paycheck, when Ryan came to pick me up from the lab, we would come here to choose a small cake. A $10 sweetness could ease a month of bitterness. Back then, we would huddle at the small table, our bodies and hearts so close. I would always complain about the cake being too sweet after just two bites, and Ryan would pick out all the fruit from the cake base to coax me into eating. At that time, there was light in his eyes and dreams in his heart. He held my hand tightly then. “Zoe, when we have money in the future, I’ll buy you the biggest, most expensive cake.” “Trust me, I’ll never let you suffer with me.” Later, Ryan’s company still went bankrupt. He returned to his family’s business and was promoted to general manager in less than a year. As money increased, he began to scorn his dreams. The cakes became more and more luxurious. But they became increasingly tasteless. I didn’t linger at the cake shop. Even remembering the past didn’t stir much emotion in my heart now. Memories belong to the past, and I’m walking towards the future. 0

Back at the lab, I first went to see Professor Wilson. I asked her if I still had a chance to join her research group. Professor Wilson was surprised at first, then asked: “Didn’t you say you were getting married and considering having children, so you were planning to switch to a teaching position?” I lowered my gaze and shook my head. “Zoe, did something happen between you and Ryan?” I smiled bitterly and nodded: “Professor, he cheated on me.” Professor Wilson looked regretful: “I thought Ryan was quite a smart boy. How could he be so foolish?” “But this research group is part of a national project. The participants will need to conduct closed research at a base for at least three years without returning home.” “You need to think it through. Once you go, there might be no chance for reconciliation between you and Ryan.” I fought back the surge of bitterness in my heart and nodded firmly: “Professor, didn’t you always say I was stubborn when I was a student?” “I’m still the same now.” “Once I’ve made a decision, I’ll never look back.”

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I had been in a relationship with James for nearly 10 years, and as he approached 30, his performance in bed was declining. His temper and behavior were becoming increasingly erratic and unpredictable. After returning from a business trip, I was shocked to find that James seemed to have reverted to the state he was in when we first started dating. Our intimate life was becoming more and more in sync. But what puzzled me was that every time we made love, he would insist on blindfolding me. At first, I thought it was just a kink. Later, I realized that during our intimate moments, I would unconsciously caress a scar on his back. But James never had any scars… Today is Thursday, and it’s been over two weeks since I returned from my business trip. Strangely, since my return, James and his mother Linda have been treating me better and better, but also more and more oddly. At first, I didn’t think anything was wrong, assuming it was because I had been promoted to manager while James was still a low-level employee with no prospects for advancement. I thought it was just because I had become the main source of income for the family. Since my return, James seemed like a different person, seeking intimacy with me every night. It left me feeling dazed and confused. My mother-in-law would also bring me a cup of white fungus soup every night before bed and in the morning. She claimed it was to nourish my body. I felt like the goddess of fortune had smiled upon me.

That day, a package I ordered arrived. It was a see-through nightgown. I thought, since James was putting in so much effort, I shouldn’t disappoint him. Coincidentally, my mother-in-law called in the afternoon to say she was going to their hometown to bring back some things. So tonight, I wanted to give James a surprise. I picked up the package and went home early. James hadn’t finished work yet, so I took a shower and carefully pampered my body. My skin was fragrant and smooth, intoxicating. I changed into the see-through nightgown and hid in the bedroom closet. After a while, I heard the door open. It was James. “Hello, Mr. Robert. Yes, I’ll send you a message when everything’s ready for you to come over.” “Mr. Robert? Why does he sound so respectful and submissive?” I thought when I heard this title. “Is a guest coming? Then I better not come out dressed like this.” Just as I was about to leave the closet, I heard James walk in. I thought it would be embarrassing to come out dressed like this, so I kept waiting. After a moment, James took a phone call and left. I came out of the closet and changed into regular pajamas with a camisole underneath. It was dinner time, and I found the white fungus soup Linda had left in the pot, still warm. “How nice,” I thought, and drank half a bowl. Just as I finished, James came back. He was surprised to see me, “Lily, why are you home?” I didn’t want to tell him about the nightgown, so I made up a lie, “Oh, I wasn’t feeling well, so I took off early.” I noticed his expression was a bit off, “Is something wrong? Problems at work?” James seemed to snap out of it, forced a smile, and came over to hug me, “It’s nothing, I just missed you, honey.” I leaned into his embrace, feeling extremely warm. At this moment, James noticed the bowl on the table, “Did you have the soup?” “Yes, I was a bit hungry, so I ate some.” “How much did you eat?” “About a bowl.” Hearing this, James seemed to relax. His hands holding me started to become restless, his lips teasing my ear, making me feel ticklish and my body soft. He picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. Just like the past two weeks, he took out a black lace blindfold, intending to cover my eyes. Seeing his actions, I pouted, “Can we not use the blindfold? I want to see you when you’re… you know.” James’s face suddenly tensed up. Thinking he was angry, and not wanting to ruin the mood, I quickly said, “Okay, okay, let’s use it. Go ahead.” James then covered my eyes. The lack of vision made my skin even more sensitive. James leaned down, continuously kissing my forehead, nose, lips, neck, and then gradually moving lower. My mind was becoming hazier, but not as severe as the previous times. At this point, I felt the warmth on my body disappear. The haziness in my mind only allowed me to express my dissatisfaction with soft moans. “Be good, I’m going to get a condom. Wait a moment.” Hearing his voice, I relaxed. After a while, I felt someone on top of me again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, accepting his increasingly rapid rhythm.

At this moment, my hands, which were restlessly roaming his back, felt a scar. It wasn’t long, about 6-7 centimeters. Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind – James didn’t have any scars… I wanted to use my hand to remove the blindfold and look at James. The next second, my hands were pinned above my head. With a shudder, the person on top of me got up and left. I waited a moment, then reached up to remove the blindfold. What I saw was James’s pale face. Seeing me move, James looked as if he had discovered something terrible, his voice shaking, “Why are you awake?” Afraid he might think he hadn’t performed well, I said, “I’m very tired and sleepy. I want to sleep again.” Then I hugged him, acting coy. James brought a face towel, “Be good, let me wipe you down.” I kissed him, “Okay!” Afterwards, James brought the white fungus soup, “Be good, drink this to replenish your energy.” I was a bit hungry, and since I had been drinking it every night, I didn’t think anything was wrong. “Okay, thank you, honey.” After that, I fell into a deep sleep.

After everything was over, James went to the hallway to make a phone call. “A total of 10 times, that should be enough! I hope you can keep your promise. Next week, I want to hear the news of my promotion to regional director.” James’s face was filled with anger, his eyes bloodshot, his fingers digging into the wall until his fingertips turned white. The person on the other end laughed, “Oh, James, James. You’re so lucky to have such a beautiful and soft wife. What can I say? I’ve become addicted.” James’s eyes widened in disbelief, “What do you mean?!” “I mean, I want one more time. One last time, and I’ll guarantee you become the regional director.” Seemingly shocked by the other party’s shamelessness, James’s face contorted, his eyes blazing red. “Absolutely not! Robert, you’ve slept with my wife 10 times already, I want to kill you!” Robert seemed unaffected by James’s anger, his tone full of confidence, “One last time, and I’ll make sure you become the head of the main office. How about that?” James’s anger seemed to dissipate instantly, replaced by disbelief tinged with excitement, “Really? The head of the main office is a much higher position than regional director!” “Of course.” James replied without hesitation, “Fine! Tomorrow night!” He hung up the phone, the hatred in his eyes instantly replaced by joy, without a trace of guilt. Naturally, he didn’t notice me behind the corner, struck by lightning, my expression devastated, yet desperately covering my mouth…

After I fell asleep, I woke up needing to use the bathroom, probably from drinking too much water. Although my body felt weak and limp, I didn’t want to wet the bed. Mustering my last bit of strength, I opened my eyes. I found that James was gone. At this moment, I heard voices from the hallway. I listened closely, it was James. I opened the door and went out. As I reached the corner, I overheard James’s conversation. “10 times”, “promotion”, “tomorrow night” Each word was like a knife stabbing into my heart, the pain unbearable. I covered my mouth tightly with both hands, my limbs growing cold, my thoughts blurry. An overwhelming hatred threatened to consume me. I needed to understand what was really going on. I struggled back to bed, lay down, and pretended nothing had happened. Moments later, James returned. I felt James kiss my forehead, murmuring, “I’m sorry, Lily. Just one last time.” I kept my eyes closed, desperately trying to suppress my body’s urge to tremble with hatred… Early the next morning, Linda returned from the countryside. Today, I noticed many things I had never paid attention to before. For instance, the white fungus soup at night and the next morning was only served when James and I had been intimate. For instance, when drinking the soup, Linda always had to watch me finish a bowl. For instance, Linda’s delighted expression and James’s unnatural attitude every time I finished the soup. For instance… every time James stopped to say he was getting a condom, but I had never seen any used ones in the house.

That day, I pretended everything was normal, drank the soup, and left for work. In reality, after leaving, I took a sample of the soup from the pot and sent it to a testing center. I requested urgent results within 8 hours. Throughout the day, thinking about what was happening at home, I felt anxious and uneasy, as if I were on pins and needles. I didn’t want to believe that the man I had been with for 10 years was a monster who would offer his wife to others for a promotion! After work, as soon as I entered the door, Linda put on a fake smile, her face full of wrinkles, “Oh, Lily’s back! Quick, quick, sit down. Mom made white fungus soup again tonight. Drink up, it’s good for your beauty and health.” I took the soup and brought it to my lips, but kept watching Linda out of the corner of my eye. Her cunning expression was disgusting. I pretended to put down the soup, “Mom, I’m not feeling well today. I don’t want to drink it.” Hearing this, Linda’s voice suddenly rose by 8 octaves, becoming piercingly shrill, “Not drinking?! How can that be? You must drink it!” She then forcefully made me drink it all. Seeing that I had finished the whole bowl, she resumed her kind and gentle demeanor, “Good Lily, you’re truly a blessing to our family.” As she spoke, she kept eyeing me up and down with a sickening gaze, like a man would. Suppressing my nausea, I said, “Mom, I’m going to take a shower.” “Good, good, go ahead. A shower is good!” I went into the bedroom bathroom and started to make myself vomit until I had thrown up all the soup! I raised my head, my fingers tightly gripping the sink. My eyes were bloodshot from the forced vomiting, filled with tears. “James! Linda! If you’re really this inhuman, don’t blame me for what comes next!” That night, I went through the motions with James as before. Having thrown up the bowl of soup, I clearly felt that today I wasn’t as dizzy as usual, but rather unusually clear-headed. As I had guessed, after blindfolding me, he got up to get a condom, and after a while, a man came. When he entered me, I clearly felt that the size was different! Every time before, my thoughts had been so muddled that I hadn’t noticed at all! I listened to his voice, my hand as always finding that scar… It was indeed him! In an instant, I tore off the blindfold. The man seemed not to expect this move from me, was startled, and immediately climaxed. I looked at this unfamiliar face, “Who are you?!”

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I’m Chloe Quinn, the orphan adopted by the Foster family and Luke Foster’s sister. He cherished me dearly. For five years after my parents passed away in a car accident, he spoiled me like a precious princess. Yet, after I confessed my feelings for him, he ignored me for three whole years. On the day he went to propose to someone else, I also accepted another’s proposal. “I’ll marry him,” I said. After I agreed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Grandma Foster smiled, “Good girl, you can prepare for the wedding this month.” She and other relatives happily discussed the wedding plans as they walked out with light steps. I sat by the window, staring blankly at the scenery outside. Sophia stood aside with red-rimmed eyes, “I’ll try to persuade Luke again. Maybe there’s still a chance things could change.” I looked at her teary eyes and chuckled lightly, “Isn’t marriage supposed to be a happy event? Look how thrilled they all are.” My agreement to marry probably relieved Luke the most. Silly Sophia still didn’t understand. “But Luke used to care for you the most,” she said with a voice on the verge of tears, pulling my thoughts back to years ago. That year, when my parents died in a car accident, relatives like wolves divided up my family’s assets, leaving only my fate undecided. “Who wants this little girl?” “I can’t afford to raise her.” “We can’t either.” They pushed the responsibility around. I huddled in a corner, shivering. A tall teenage boy appeared like a divine figure, shielding me, “I’ll take her!” He brought me home. From then on, I became the Foster family’s adopted daughter and Luke’s sister. Though he seemed cold, he was attentive enough to notice my fear of the dark and stayed up all night telling me stories. Even when he worked outside, he never forgot to search for interesting gifts for me. He took my childish words seriously. He said, “If Chloe doesn’t want to get married, the Foster house will always be your home. I’ll protect you forever.” He spoiled me to the bone, letting me grow up safely, becoming the most precious princess in our social circle. I took his vow as truth. Unnoticed feelings gradually sprouted. I also naturally felt that Luke would be mine forever. So on that Valentine’s Day, when he handed the bouquet he won to another girl, I unhesitatingly smashed the flowers and declared my feelings in front of everyone. “Luke, I don’t just see you as a brother. I like you.” I was adopted by the Foster family anyway, and Luke and I grew up together like childhood sweethearts. If it worked out, it would be a good match. But Luke avoided me like the plague ever since. I still didn’t want to give up. I thought he loved me but just wouldn’t admit it. If he didn’t love me, why was he so attentive to me? If he didn’t love me, why would he get jealous whenever he saw me interacting with other guys? I even went to his company. But day after day, year after year. This infatuation eventually became a joke. People no longer said, “This could be a good match.” Instead, they said, “That adopted daughter of the Fosters is really shameless, pestering Luke every day.” I waited and waited, but Luke never said he liked me. I only waited for dark nights with no one to keep me company. In the gift boxes, presents gradually gathered dust. The once earnest boy who told me stories had grown into a cold, emotionless man. I stubbornly refused to marry anyone else, gradually passing the suitable age for marriage. Grandma Foster finally revealed the truth, “Years ago, when he took his little sister out to play, she got lost, and he felt extremely guilty.” “Later, when he saved you, he treated you like his own sister.” “Luke only has sibling affection for you. You’re getting older now, you should wake up.” I finally realized the truth. It turned out that this doting love was just borrowed from someone else. That day, Luke went to visit the Sanders family. To discuss marriage, the target being Rachel Sanders, the girl whose flowers I had smashed. That day, I also agreed to Grandma Foster’s suggestion, “If someone is willing to marry me, I’ll do it.”

At dawn, I left the house with money. I had made an agreement with a friend. His mother needed treatment, and his brother needed to go to school. As long as he fake-married me, I would give him half of my money. I had once rashly thought about just leaving everything behind. But after calming down, I immediately rejected this idea. No matter what, the Foster family had raised me, and they hadn’t wronged me in any way. After confirming the details with my friend, I left the money and departed. When I returned to the Foster house, it was bustling with activity. It turned out Rachel Sanders had come to visit. At the dining table, she sat between Luke and Grandma Foster, chatting and laughing, creating a harmonious atmosphere. They looked so much like a family. I wanted to make an excuse that I had already eaten and leave. But Luke’s voice left no room for refusal, “Sit down and eat.” I had to sit down reluctantly, but I wisely chose to sit next to Grandma Foster, keeping the farthest distance from Luke. I remained silent, focusing on my food. Suddenly, an extra piece of food appeared in my bowl. This gesture startled me. Luke quickly withdrew his chopsticks, as if trying to hide something, and said in a serious tone, “You haven’t been to class for half a month.” I was surprised he had noticed, considering he had been avoiding me for months. I gave a light “Mm,” since I had decided to get married and leave, there was no need to go anymore. The young man raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone cold, “You should still go. Learning more will help you understand things better.” I was taken aback. In the past, he would always smile and pat my head, saying, “Chloe is the most sensible.” Rachel joked, “If she doesn’t like studying, don’t force her.” She tugged at Luke’s sleeve intimately, “It’s Valentine’s Day. Why don’t we take your sister out with us later?” Luke’s brows furrowed slightly. Rachel was magnanimous, “A girl her age would love such excitement.” She looked at me, “You’ll come, right, sister?”

This was a gesture of goodwill from my future sister-in-law, I couldn’t refuse. I nodded. Throughout the meal, I listened to Rachel talking about where they would go later, with Luke quietly agreeing. The atmosphere was harmonious. The food in my mouth tasted like sawdust, but I forced myself to swallow it, maintaining a calm appearance. On Valentine’s Day, the city was truly lively. Flower stalls were everywhere, and malls had various activities. Shouts, laughter, and conversations rose and fell all around. I followed behind the two of them. Watching Luke buy a necklace for her. Watching Luke participate in an activity, win a grand prize, and give it to Rachel, surrounded by envious voices. Rachel turned back and said considerately, “Why don’t we give this prize to your sister? I remember she likes this the most.” With one sentence, she brought back memories of when I childishly tore apart the bouquet years ago. Luke’s sharp eyes swept over me, his expression indifferent, “This is my gift to you.” Rachel glanced at me, her eyes curved in a smile, “Your sister isn’t an outsider. As her future sister-in-law, I should take care of her more.” She put the prize in my hands, her tone gentle, “Luke had a diamond necklace custom-made for me, unbreakable. This ordinary prize, let’s give it to you.” She touched the exquisite necklace on her neck and stepped back, linking her arm with Luke’s again. Behind them, I was swallowed by the passing crowd, stumbling. A motorcycle sped by, grazing me and knocking me down. A sharp pain shot through my leg. There was a commotion around me, but I keenly heard Rachel’s clear voice in the distance. “Didn’t you say you’d take me to a nice place to see the night view?” A group of people surrounded me, but through the gaps in the crowd, I met his starry eyes. He looked at me for a moment, then was pulled away by someone beside him, withdrawing his gaze. I was still in a daze. “Are you alright?” With the help of those around me, I stood up, limping. I thanked the kind lady, “It’s fine.” But my thoughts had already drifted far away. He had told Rachel about that place too? When I first discovered how beautiful the view was from the hilltop, I immediately dragged Luke there. “This is my secret spot, we can’t tell anyone else.” I put my finger to my lips, winking playfully at the young man. The corner of his mouth turned up imperceptibly, “Alright.” In the darkness, his gaze burned like flames, particularly warm. We admired the night view together, made wishes devoutly, and watched the stars twinkle. Every year, my wish was to be with Luke. It turns out, wishing upon stars doesn’t work after all.

I limped home with difficulty. Sophia tenderly applied medicine for me. The next day, Rachel heard I was injured and came to see me. Luke waited outside to avoid suspicion. I only saw half of his sharp profile, softened by the morning light. Rachel fussed over me and had someone bring some things. I let Sophia receive them, intending to make some excuses to send them off, but Rachel suddenly sat down and started talking about the beautiful night view from the hilltop last night. She spoke of Luke’s gentleness and the beauty of the night scenery. “Is that so?” “That’s nice.” “Sounds good.” As I listened, I maintained a calm expression, responding with these three phrases. It was as if all the past rumors didn’t exist. I was just a sister sincerely wishing her brother well. Finally, she stood up and looked around my room. Her gaze was deep, “This room is nice.” The room itself was spacious and had been decorated particularly cozily. With the small ornaments Luke had collected over the years, it looked quite stylish. I thought, soon I would be leaving, and these things should be returned. Sophia helped me up to see Rachel out. She stood beside Luke, looking particularly petite next to him. “Is your leg better?” he asked, his expression cool. I nodded, but noticed the watch he usually wore on his wrist was gone, replaced by a couple’s matching watch. Correspondingly, Rachel was wearing the other one. The original watch was a birthday gift I had given him. Thinking about it now, that watch was too ordinary and didn’t suit him. I no longer felt the anger of the past, but asked calmly. “Have you set a wedding date?” Luke was silent for a moment before speaking, “After I return in a month.” He had been assigned to a business trip by the company. “Congratulations.” A thousand words crossed my mind, but in the end, they all faded into silence. I opened my mouth to congratulate them. His gaze was like stars sinking into a cold night, looking at me deeply for a moment before nodding. Finally, I watched their silhouettes walking away side by side. And sincerely said, “They really are a good match.”

It was just letting go of a dream that didn’t belong to me. My friend came as promised. Grandma Foster was still hesitant about this poor office worker, but seeing that I didn’t object, she tacitly agreed. I had no other requests, except one: to get married before Luke returned. Grandma Foster understood and didn’t want to make a fuss, keeping everything simple. But three days before the set wedding date. Luke came back early. Grandma Foster was clearly a bit flustered. I hadn’t expected it either. When I returned, what greeted my eyes was a room in complete disarray. Messy clothes, fallen bookshelves, broken vases. My clothes were carelessly thrown on the floor, covered in dust. After such a disturbance, it looked nothing like the room of someone about to get married. Among them, several servants were bossing others around, “Search carefully, it could be anywhere.” Sophia was angry, “What are you doing!” The servant wasn’t afraid of Sophia at all, “Miss Sanders’ necklace is missing. We’re following Mr. Foster’s orders to search for it.” My expression darkened slightly, “I didn’t take any necklace.” The servant was about to say something disdainfully. Two figures stepped in from the courtyard gate. Rachel’s eyes were red, “Sister, if you like it, I can have another one made just like it. That one was Luke’s token of love for me, I can’t give it to you.” Luke was in a suit, his face slightly dark, “Chloe, hand it over.” “I thought you had grown up, but I didn’t expect you to still bully Rachel after I left.” I took a deep breath and looked at his distrustful eyes, “I never took any necklace.” “You said to let go, so I did.” “I haven’t interfered with your marriage either.” “Why won’t you let me have peace?” Suddenly, a servant laughed mockingly, “If you’ve really let go, why is there still a wedding dress in your room!” A white wedding dress was pulled out and thrown in front of everyone. Whispers immediately spread around, “How shameless, did she still want to replace the bride?” Luke’s expression was calm, but I was particularly familiar with the disappointment in his eyes. “Still so obsessed.” He turned his head, “I’ll have a new necklace made for you.” Rachel’s eyes gleamed with hidden joy as she nodded. A sense of weariness suddenly rose in my heart. He was experienced in business, smart and wise. How could he not see through this clumsy trick? He just didn’t want to believe me anymore. As they were leaving, Rachel whispered in my ear. “Years ago, you smashed my bouquet.” “Now, this is my payback to you.” The crowd left in a noisy mess. Leaving behind only chaos. Sophia, seeing familiar things scattered in pieces, began tidying up with teary eyes. I stepped over broken vase shards, over scattered books, picked up the wedding dress despised by everyone, and dusted it off. Sophia came over, “This is…” The room was in such a state, it would be hard to restore in a short time. I lowered my eyes, “Tell Grandma I’ll leave from a hotel for the wedding.” I took the dowry left by my parents and left this home of ten years. Wishes made in youth finally became empty words.

My wedding was a quiet affair. My friend, Peter Chen, was a college classmate who unfortunately couldn’t continue his studies due to poverty. In this small apartment, we lived in separate rooms, agreeing that I would leave after his mother recovered from her illness. By then, we would part ways, and no one would know my background. These days, the most sensational news in the city was about the wedding of Mr. Foster and Miss Sanders in a week. It was said that Mr. Foster had returned several days early for this. Walking on the street, I overheard gossip. “With such a big event, hasn’t that person caused any trouble?” “Who knows, maybe she’s accepted her fate.” “It’s a pity, Mr. Foster used to bring that person here to volunteer often. Who would have thought…” Hearing the sighs, I was about to hurry away when I accidentally bumped into a child. Before I could apologize, the child exclaimed happily, “Big sister!” This reaction made me instinctively cover my face. The child understood and tugged at my sleeve, “Come with me.” After winding through several small alleys, we arrived at a somewhat dilapidated orphanage. Several children were still living there. Seeing me arrive, they all came to greet me. “Big sister.” In my younger years, Luke and I had helped these orphaned children and promised to visit them from time to time. Seeing them so lively now, I felt some comfort. Walking into the courtyard, I saw the osmanthus tree in the center was blooming. I sighed, “I didn’t expect this tree to still be alive.” The promised meeting day had passed by two months. The children chattered around me. “Yes, you and big brother haven’t come for these past few months, but we’ve been taking good care of it…” Mentioning Luke, the boy’s voice suddenly lowered, glancing at me carefully. Clearly, he had also heard the news of Luke’s impending marriage. Seeing their awkward expressions, not knowing how to comfort them, I burst out laughing, “It’s okay, I’m married too.” “Luke is still good, but from now on, he’s just my brother.” As soon as I finished speaking. The wooden door creaked open. I turned my head. Luke stood there in casual clothes, looking like a jade tree in the wind, standing between light and shadow. While I was stunned, a child beside me exclaimed happily, “Big brother!” “Why are you here?” A child scratched his head shyly, “I brought big brother here. Didn’t he and big sister promise to visit us together? Today I saw only big sister alone, and I happened to meet big brother on the street, so…” A group of children gathered around him, unable to resist asking. “Big brother, are you really getting married?” “What about big sister?” I felt a bit uncomfortable and quickly interrupted, “We’re already married to different people, we have nothing to do with each other now.” Luke looked at me, his dark eyes seeming to want to say something. But he said nothing. We carried on as usual. Cleaned up the yard. Replenished what the children needed. When saying goodbye to the children, Luke and I walked out of the yard side by side. The sunlight fell on our shoulders, giving me a sense of déjà vu of returning to the past. Luke spoke softly, “You didn’t need to lie to them about being married.”

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The day I urgently needed a kidney transplant, my wife postponed my surgery to pick up her first love from the airport. To avoid me ruining their reunion, my son yelled that they shouldn’t save his fake dad, and my wife reported me for marital rape. When I was released from prison, she looked at me with disgust: “I bet you faked being sick just to prevent him from coming back, didn’t you?” “If you really want to die, I’ll save you then.” Watching Lily and her perfect little family walk away, my heart finally died. Later, as she wished, I really did die on the operating table. But why did my wife and son dig up half the city’s graves looking for my ashes? Upon my release from prison, I made my first call to Lily. “Lily, it’s snowing outside. Can you come pick me up?” “Ahem…” The cheerful voices on the other end of the line suddenly went quiet when they realized it was me. “You’re out so soon?” “I’m busy. Just take a cab yourself.” The call abruptly ended. I huddled behind a tree, hugging myself tightly. I watched silently as my son happily surrounded Lily and her first love, Jack. So this was what she meant by being busy? Seeing the three of them walking away happily, I wanted to step forward. But my feet seemed rooted to the spot. Even after they were long gone, I still couldn’t take that step. Three years ago, when Lily and I first got together, her first love Jack had insisted on going abroad for a promotion. Seeing the woman I admired left alone with her two-year-old son, I finally gathered the courage to confess my feelings. To my surprise, she agreed. After we got married, I became a stay-at-home husband to take care of Lily and Tommy. I thought our married life would always be this peaceful and uneventful. But Jack’s sudden return shattered that tranquility. Unfortunately, that day I had a kidney attack and was admitted to the hospital. The lead surgeon was none other than my wife, Lily, known as a medical genius. Just as I had been given anesthesia and my side was cut open, Lily received news of Jack’s return. She left. She just abandoned me and left. I lay helplessly on the operating table, watching her leave. Just like now, I didn’t know how to ask her to stay. Clutching my painful incision, I had to walk to the hospital because I couldn’t afford a cab. In prison, rapists were the most despised, so I was often tormented. With each step, I felt like my kidneys were bouncing around inside me. Finally, just as I was about to collapse, I reached the hospital. “Dr. Rose, there’s a patient here! Come quickly!” Dr. Rose? It must be Lily. But she’s with Jack, would she come to save me? I gripped the bed sheets tightly, my Adam’s apple bobbing painfully. I didn’t dare open my eyes, but I hoped she would really come. “Dr. Rose, here’s the patient’s examination report. His kidney has ruptured. We need to notify the family immediately to prepare for surgery.” Lily rushed over, her voice turning cold when she saw it was me. “No need.” The nurse looked confused. “I am the family.” Hearing this, the nurse brightened up. “Then what are we waiting for? The kidney donor will be here soon. Let’s prepare for surgery, Dr. Rose.” Hearing the nurse’s words, Lily remained unmoved. Instead, she kicked the hospital bed. “Had enough pretending? Get up already.” Lily kicked hard. Lying on the bed, I felt my kidneys violently shaking along with it. Just as I was about to speak, I coughed up blood. A flash of surprise crossed Lily’s eyes, quickly replaced by a cold sneer. “Quite the convincing act.” “Come on, is this all because I was busy and didn’t pick you up? Is such a small matter worth making such a big fuss?” Faced with Lily’s questioning, I choked out, “I’m not pretending, Lily. I really feel terrible.” In prison, inmates used me as their punching bag. Whenever they were dissatisfied, they would grab me and beat me. So the pain I’m feeling now is real, not an act. Hearing this, the nurse became anxious. “Dr. Rose, this is the patient’s medical record. Mr. Foster’s condition is extremely urgent. If we don’t treat him soon, his life could be in danger.” Seeing the nurse repeatedly speaking up for me, Lily grew impatient. “It’s bad enough that he’s trying to fool me, but now you’re in on it too?” “Do you not want your performance bonus this month?” Lily crossed her arms, her brows furrowed. “I’ll count to three. If you don’t get up…” Before she could finish, Tommy called. “Mom! Dad’s gone!” “What?!”

Tommy’s voice on the phone sounded panicked and urgent. Lily visibly panicked and was about to rush out the next second. It was the nurse who grabbed her hand for me. “Dr. Rose, where are you going? The patient urgently needs surgery, you can’t leave!” Lily violently shook off the nurse’s hand, completely losing her patience. She pointed at me, her tone ice-cold. “Jack is missing, and you’re still playing these stupid games with me.” “Adam Foster, I’m warning you, if anything happens to Jack, I won’t let you off the hook!” With that, Lily turned and left. I lay on the hospital bed, tears finally streaming down my face. I couldn’t hold back anymore. It had been three years. Jack was the one who abandoned Lily first. Why was he still more important to her than me? Even my son called him “Dad” at every turn. Why? Why was this happening? No, he’s not my son. I’m just a stepfather. Jack is his biological father. But Jack had never raised him for a single day. I was the one who watched him grow up from his first words. I was the one who saw him go from crawling to walking with a baby walker. Why did my wife and son abandon me as soon as Jack came back? Have they forgotten that it was Jack who abandoned them first? My brow furrowed deeply, my heart feeling like it was being stabbed by needles, unable to breathe. The hospital bed was so cold, just like the cement floor in prison. When I coughed up blood, Lily didn’t even spare me a glance. But as soon as she heard Jack’s name, her expression changed completely. I took a deep breath. But the pain in my heart continued to spread. Before I knew it, a large amount of blood gushed from the corner of my mouth. The nurse called Lily. “Dr. Rose, please come back quickly! The patient’s condition is out of control!” “Dr. Rose!” The nurse was frantic. But Lily hung up the phone without a care. I opened my mouth, my face deathly pale. “Give it to me.” Taking the phone, I dialed that number once again. Lily had already abandoned me once for Jack. Was she really going to leave me alone on the operating table again? I couldn’t believe she could be so cruel. “What do you want now? Adam Foster, are you never going to stop?” Faced with Lily’s accusations, the words I had prepared were scattered again. I clenched my fist. “Lily, I’m begging you, you’re the only one who can perform this surgery.” “I’m begging you to save me, please? I’ll really die without it.” “For the sake of our three years of marriage, where I’ve been nothing but devoted to you, please save me?” My voice choked up again towards the end. There was a pause on the other end of the line. A glimmer of hope rekindled in my previously gloomy heart. I knew Lily wouldn’t really be so heartless as to watch me die. I knew she had seen all my dedication over these three years. Just as I was about to speak again, I heard Tommy’s voice from the other end. “Mom! We found Dad, but he’s unconscious. Is Dad going to die?” Hearing my son’s voice, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Yes, Dad is going to die…” I listened to the sound of Lily running through the phone. Her voice was harsh. “How can you be so vicious? What did Jack ever do to you to deserve such a curse?” My voice was a bit hoarse. “Lily, I didn’t… I was talking about myself. I really am about to die.” I wanted to say more, but Lily cut me off sharply. “Enough! Adam Foster, I’ve tolerated you for far too long!” “If you keep playing these stupid games and targeting Jack, we’re getting a divorce!”

Divorce? The word “divorce” shattered what little rationality I had left. I stared at the phone in shock. All the memories from before flashed before my eyes. When Jack abandoned Lily and Tommy, I drove sixteen hours to pick them up, just to give them a place to stay. Later, when we got married, Lily hugged me and cried, promising to live a good life together. She said meeting me was her greatest fortune, and she would never leave me. But now she wanted to divorce me for Jack? I coughed, blood gushing from my lungs and blurring my vision. I clutched my kidney, my forehead covered in beads of sweat. The pain from my injuries in prison had numbed me. I had completely forgotten that I was still a kidney patient. Now that I was out, it seemed like the pain in my kidneys had come back tenfold, a hundredfold. “It hurts… it hurts so much… cough cough…” “Nurse, I think I can’t breathe. Am I dying?” The nurse was alarmed and quickly called for other doctors. “The patient is showing symptoms of late-stage kidney failure, with respiratory difficulties. We need help here!” I was rushed to the operating room. Without Lily, the medical genius, to perform the surgery, all the hospital could do was help me clear the inflammation. Just as I was about to be pushed into the operating room, Lily appeared. “Help! Someone help! We have a person who’s fainted here!” Lily pushed Jack into the operating room ahead of me. The nurse hurried forward to stop her. “Dr. Rose, this is Mr. Foster’s operating room. He urgently needs to have his inflammation cleared. You can’t do this!” Before the nurse could finish, Lily had already put on her white coat and closed the door of the operating room. This was the last available operating room; all the others were unfortunately occupied. I could only lie on the stretcher, the cold wind in the hospital corridor making my head spin. As my vision blurred, I could hear the cries of adults and children from inside the operating room. “Jack, you’ve already abandoned me once. Are you going to abandon me again?” “Wake up, please. It’s Lily. Please wake up and look at me, okay?” “Dad, don’t leave me. Dad…” I don’t know how much time passed before the green light above the operating room lit up. Jack was wheeled out. “Sorry, Adam. I just tripped and scraped my foot a bit. You don’t mind, do you?” I ignored Jack and struggled to lift my head to look at Lily. “Can you save me now?” Lily looked at me with disgust. “Save you? Aren’t you fine now?” “I think you just pretended to be sick because you didn’t want him to come back, didn’t you?” “If you really want to die, then I’ll save you.” In the end, Lily’s tone was full of contempt. I clutched my chest, gasping for air, tears falling uncontrollably. “Lily Rose, how can you be so heartless after all we’ve been through as husband and wife?” “I’m just asking you this one time to save me. Can’t you grant me this one request?” “Slap!” I held my swollen cheek in disbelief, staring at Lily. “Husband and wife? If Jack hadn’t gone abroad back then, do you think you would have had the chance to marry me?”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to do. Lily had never spoken to me like this before, let alone hit me in front of so many people. My kidney hurt so much, but my heart hurt even more. A crowd of onlookers gathered around us. Not far away, a doctor came running with a box. “Make way! Make way! The kidney donor is here!” “Dr. Rose, the patient’s condition is critical. What are you waiting for?” Lily looked at the box in the doctor’s hands, her expression somewhat dazed. “Is this really the kidney donor?” I nodded. “Lily, I really wasn’t lying to you.” “I’m in so much pain right now, I feel terrible. You’re the only one who can perform the surgery for me.” Lily’s eyes trembled as she saw my pained expression. Just as she was about to check my injuries, Jack let out a hiss of pain. “What’s wrong, Jack?” “It’s nothing, nothing.” “Let me see!” Lily crouched down to carefully examine Jack’s ankle. “It’s all bruised. Why didn’t you tell me?” Lily’s tone was reproachful but full of concern. As long as Jack was around, I would always be the loser. Everyone around us was criticizing Lily for being heartless and unfaithful. But she didn’t seem to care. “Lily, I’m begging you, please save me. I’m really about to die.” Lily forcefully pried open my white-knuckled fingers that were gripping her sleeve. “I want to see if you’ll really die without me. If you don’t die, then let’s get a divorce!” Watching Lily walk away with Jack and Tommy, I felt like my heart had been completely hollowed out. My hands still retained Lily’s warmth. The scent of her perfume lingered around me, but I felt suffocated. “Lily… why won’t you believe me?” I was pushed into the operating room. Without Lily performing the kidney transplant surgery, it was like a race against the Grim Reaper. Whoever could outrun time would win. I lay weakly on the operating table. The surgical lights made it hard for me to open my eyes. In my hazy vision, I saw my reflection, so thin that I could barely recognize myself. Everyone was preparing to save my life. But I felt so cold, constantly curling up my body. My lips, cracked from dehydration, suddenly felt smooth as if moistened. A sweet, metallic taste exploded in my mouth. “Doctor, the patient’s blood system is having problems. We need to transplant the kidney now!” The nurse took out the kidney donor. A foul smell permeated the operating room. “How is this possible?” “The kidney is rotten!” I suddenly woke up from my near-unconscious state. Even the only kidney donor was gone? I laughed bitterly. The blood in my body seemed to flow out uncontrollably. The nurse wanted to seek help from other hospitals for a kidney donor, but I stopped her. “Cough cough… don’t, don’t waste your efforts on me.” “I know I don’t have much time left. Can you help me with one thing?” “Before I die, I want to divorce my wife, Lily Rose. And after I’m gone, please help me bury my ashes. Don’t tell Lily where they are.” The nurse nodded. I struggled to pick up a pen and scrawled three words on the divorce agreement. “Adam Foster.” … In an instant, my soul was pulled away by some force. Just as they pronounced me dead, the door of the operating room was suddenly pushed open. Everyone was stunned. “Dr. Rose?” I floated in mid-air, feeling a bit confused. It made sense though. Lily must have gotten the news so quickly because she came to mock me. From the operating room door to the hospital bed, Lily’s few steps seemed particularly heavy. She trembled as she pulled back the white sheet covering my body. Instead of the expected mockery, I heard a choked sob. “How did this happen? How did Adam die?”

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My wife, Evelyn, is a ballet dancer. To maintain her figure, she never wanted to have children. But suddenly, she told me she was pregnant with boy and girl twins. I was overjoyed and moved to tears. Unexpectedly, her brother was diagnosed with uremia. Following her mother’s advice, Evelyn insisted on having an abortion to donate a kidney to save her brother. To keep the babies, I volunteered to donate my kidney to my brother-in-law. However, she turned around and sold our house to compensate her brother: “Honey, my brother is the only son in our family. He just had surgery and needs more money. Please understand.” Meanwhile, I was suffering from unbearable pain due to a post-surgery infection, with no money to buy medication. On my deathbed, I discovered my wife cheating with the attending physician: “Baby, he’s finally dead. Everything we planned was worth it.” “Honey, I have great news for you today. Do you want to hear it?” Evelyn, my wife, held a report in her hand, smiling at me. “I’m pregnant! Three months along, and it’s boy and girl twins!” Before me stood my wife’s graceful figure, smiling as she covered her belly, inviting me to feel the babies inside. But I was stunned. How could this be our old home? In my previous life, I had donated a kidney to my brother-in-law and contracted a serious infection. Fearing I would burden Evelyn and our twins, I gave her all our assets and rented a small apartment, planning to die alone. When I ran out of money for anti-rejection drugs and went to the hospital for cheap painkillers, I discovered my pregnant wife cheating with my attending physician. As I stood there shocked, I overheard them plotting my death. Just as I was about to confront the adulterous couple, I was hit by a car and died instantly. Remembering all this, I snapped back to reality. Evelyn looked at me puzzled and hugged my arm, saying, “What’s wrong, honey? Are you shocked by my surprise? I know you’re overjoyed. I can finally give you children!” In my previous life, I was indeed overjoyed, even moved to tears. I took meticulous care of my wife every day, fearing the slightest mishap. I took her to the best hospitals for check-ups, hired the most expensive nanny to care for her, and took her wherever she wanted to go, afraid she might be unhappy. But in this life, hearing this news, I couldn’t help but sneer. I looked at my wife’s slightly swollen belly indifferently and said coldly, “Is that so? Honey, three months along, boy and girl twins? But I remember neither of our families has a history of twins.” Her expression changed slightly, but she quickly smiled and said coyly, “It’s all because you’re so healthy that we’re having twins.” Hearing her words, I sensed something was off. Could the children be her ex-boyfriend’s? In my previous life, I believed until my death that the children were mine. But now, her expression made me doubt. Seeing my suspicious look, she immediately became upset and started throwing a tantrum: “What’s wrong, James? I gave up the chance to study abroad to marry you, and now you doubt me like this?” I smiled and comforted her as I used to, but in my heart, I already had my answer. The next day, I took the medical report I had found in my wife’s bag the night before to a doctor friend. He looked at it, puzzled: “Brother, this clearly shows just one baby, almost four months along. Where did you get twins from?” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh coldly. I was out of town on a business trip three months ago, so how could this be possible? Indeed, Evelyn, even the children were a lie. This time, I want to see what game you’re playing, Evelyn Song.

When I returned home, my wife was wearing a tight short skirt and high heels, with exquisite makeup, about to go out. “Honey, aren’t you pregnant? Why are you going out so late? Did something happen?” I asked, looking at her glamorous appearance. She looked at me impatiently and said, “So what if I’m pregnant? Can’t I go out drinking and dancing? Besides, someone invited me, and I couldn’t refuse.” In my previous life, she loved drinking and dancing. Before her pregnancy, I didn’t stop her and even thoughtfully followed her, always ready to pick her up no matter how late it was. After she became pregnant, I didn’t let her go drinking and dancing, watching over her constantly, afraid something might happen to her. This time, I just smiled faintly and said, “Well, honey, be safe and have fun.” This time, I turned off my phone and didn’t prepare her usual hangover soup that she liked to drink after a night out. When I woke up, I was greeted by a slap from my mother-in-law. Evelyn looked at me angrily: “James Wilson, why didn’t you come to pick me up last night? Do you know how long I waited for you?” She threw her purse at my face in anger. My mother-in-law also looked at me fiercely: “James, my daughter is pregnant, and you still take her to bars? You scumbag.” Apparently, at three in the morning, Evelyn got tired of partying at the bar and called me to pick her up. In the past, I would have been waiting outside the bar with soup, ready to embrace her and take her home as soon as she came out, giving her the hangover soup. After waiting for a long time and unable to reach me, she had to call her ex-boyfriend, but he hung up after one ring. She had no choice but to call her mother to pick her up. Feeling the stinging pain on my cheek, I looked at my wife on the couch and couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “Mom, Evelyn loves partying and drinking. I’ve tried to persuade her, but she doesn’t listen. She says she has friends outside and can’t refuse. Besides, didn’t you say I should listen to Evelyn in everything?” “Honey, I was too tired recently. There’s a good project worth $3 million, so I didn’t hear the phone.” As soon as I said this, Evelyn, who had been throwing a tantrum, immediately stopped.

My mother-in-law’s eyes lit up when she heard this: “Three million dollars? That’s perfect. Your brother is about to get married and wants to buy a house. Since you’re his sister and brother-in-law and have money, your father and I plan to pay a down payment of $100,000. The rest of the loan, $1.4 million, you two can pay. It’s a way to help your brother.” My wife nodded in agreement: “Mom’s right. James earns a lot anyway, so we can take on the loan. My brother is the only son in our family, the one to carry on the family name. Mom, just call us when it’s time to buy the house.” Watching the two of them playing off each other, ready to saddle me with over a million dollars in debt, I smiled faintly: “I’m afraid not, Mom. The company’s project needs investment, so I’ve put our money into it. I don’t think we have enough to help with my brother-in-law’s loan.” Hearing this, my wife’s expression changed slightly. She looked at me and said: “What? You invested the money without telling me? That’s all my money!” “Well, James Wilson, you’ve grown quite bold. Now you’re making such big decisions without telling me? I’m the head of this family.” I laughed coldly. All her money? She does work, dancing for a living, but all that money goes to buying luxury goods. I pay for all the household expenses. She said she didn’t want to do housework, so I hired a housekeeper. When she wanted to travel abroad, I immediately arranged all-inclusive services for her. She even required me to pay for her mother’s entire family, including her brother’s tuition and living expenses, as well as the daily expenses of the whole family. I used to think it was fine, as long as my wife was happy. After all, a happy wife means a happy life, right? But in my previous life, just before I died, I accidentally discovered that my wife had been sending the money I worked so hard for to support her ex-boyfriend’s graduate studies abroad. Meanwhile, I was drinking and socializing every day, just to provide her with a better living environment, even developing a gastric ulcer that put me in the hospital. At that time, she only sent a caregiver to check on me once and then left, saying: “It’s just a gastric ulcer. Besides, making money and supporting the family is what you’re supposed to do. It’s just a minor illness, you won’t die.” Yet she turned around and used the money I earned to buy her ex-boyfriend a watch worth tens of thousands of dollars. How ridiculous. I never thought I’d have to support her ex-boyfriend too. Did she really think of me as nothing but a cash cow to milk dry? She even flew abroad to celebrate her birthday with her ex-boyfriend while I was on a business trip, posting on social media: “You are the love of my life.” She confronted me aggressively: “James Wilson, how dare you? That’s so much money. Don’t you know the two children in my belly need to live? You… you…” My mother-in-law, hearing that I had invested the money, immediately pointed at me and started cursing: “Oh my goodness, you used to say how good you’d be to my daughter, how you’d take care of our whole family. Now you won’t even take on a loan for her brother? It’s laughable. If my daughter weren’t pregnant now, I’d definitely make her divorce you.” I smiled and took out my phone, showing a pre-prepared program: “Honey, don’t worry. The company’s investment has already received double the profit, at least several million dollars. Look, I have so much money here.” Evelyn immediately took my phone to look. Seeing that the invested money had doubled, her expression changed instantly as she hugged me: “You naughty boy, why didn’t you say so earlier? You made me worry for nothing.” I handed her a bag she had been wanting and smiled: “This is a gift for you, to thank you for enduring the hardships of pregnancy.” I also gave my mother-in-law a handbag, saying: “Mom, I’ve remembered everything you said. This is a token of my appreciation.” My mother-in-law saw that the bag was worth tens of thousands of dollars and immediately beamed with joy. Little did they know, I had already installed voice recorders and trackers in these bags, and surveillance cameras in the house.

Sure enough, as soon as I left for work, my beautiful wife immediately called a man: “Oh, come quickly! I have some great news to tell you. And the baby misses you too.” Not long after, the door opened, and Ryan embraced Evelyn, kissing her: “Baby, what’s the good news? Tell me quickly.” Evelyn, held in the man’s arms, smiled broadly: “You don’t know, that doormat of mine, his investment has doubled. We can make another big score!” Hearing this, Ryan immediately said excitedly: “Really? Then get your mom to tell him your brother has uremia. I have connections here, we can trick him into giving up his kidney, and we can even sell it for some money. Once he’s dead, all the assets will be ours.” Evelyn smiled, covering her belly: “Alright, that doormat is so annoying, always not letting me go out and play. You’re the best, you understand me the most.” Ryan heard this and smiled, hugging Evelyn: “Baby, after all, you married that fool to support my studies abroad. You’ve suffered such a great injustice, I’ll definitely be devoted to you.” Hearing their conversation through the surveillance, I was stunned. The kidney donation in my previous life was fake, it was all a scam by her family to get my kidney. So I had been played for a fool by her entire family. Knowing the truth, I couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. I had given my all, only to be considered a doormat. The child I thought was mine turned out to be her ex-boyfriend’s. I never thought even the uremia was a lie, just waiting for me to fall into their trap. The two in the video were entangled together, but I just laughed coldly. Since that’s how it is, don’t blame me for being too ruthless.

When I got home that evening, I received a call from the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital, Evelyn was sitting up with a rosy complexion. Mrs. Song and Zack were sitting in chairs, with Ryan standing nearby. The atmosphere was tense. As soon as I arrived, Evelyn covered her belly and started crying: “Mom, what’s happening to our family? Dad died early, leaving just my brother and the three of us. My brother is the only son of our Song family, and now he has uremia.” Beside her, my brother-in-law Zack was crying, but his eyes couldn’t hide his smugness. “Yes, sis, brother-in-law, mom, what should I do? I’m about to get married, what am I going to do now?” My mother-in-law was crying, her face full of tears. I suppressed my anger, looking at the family putting on an act before me: “What should we do? Mom, Zack, what can we do now that he’s sick?” Suddenly, my mother-in-law knelt before Evelyn: “The doctor said you’re the most suitable. Please, Evelyn, I only have one son. Just donate one kidney to your brother, just one, okay? Mom is begging you.” In my previous life, hearing this, I immediately pulled my wife aside and said: “Honey, you’ve just gotten pregnant, and it’s twins. You need to think this through carefully.” My wife pushed me away and cried to her mother: “Mom, I agree. Zack is our family’s treasure. I can live without children, but our Song family can’t be without its only son. He’s the one to carry on our family line.” In this life, my wife reacted the same way, crying and saying she was willing to abort the babies and donate a kidney to Zack. Everyone was waiting for me to step up like in my previous life, willing to donate a kidney for the sake of the children and my wife. But to their disappointment, I directly hugged my wife and said to my mother-in-law: “I think my wife is right. We can have more children, but Zack’s life is irreplaceable. I support my wife’s decision to give up the babies to save Zack. I’ll take good care of her, don’t worry. Honey, I won’t look down on you for having only one kidney.” As soon as I finished speaking, my mother-in-law was stunned. My wife, hearing my words, couldn’t help but blurt out: “Honey, that’s not right, you shouldn’t…” Ryan, standing nearby, also looked at me in disbelief: “You… how can you let your wife abort the babies to save her brother?” I put on a pained expression, my voice tinged with helplessness: “You don’t understand. My wife values her mother’s family very highly. If she’s willing to abort the babies and donate a kidney, what can I do? Besides, I support all of my wife’s decisions. We can always have more children, right, honey? When is Zack’s surgery? I need to request time off to take care of you.” My wife, Evelyn, was shocked by my words. She couldn’t help but ask: “I’m going to have an abortion, honey. An abortion, do you understand? Our children will be gone.” I nodded and said: “I understand. Honey, you’re so brave to do this for your brother. It’s truly admirable.” These children aren’t even mine, why should I care so much? Besides, would Evelyn really be willing to abort the children she had with her ex-boyfriend? My mother-in-law and Zack hadn’t expected me to actually agree, and they were also stunned. Unexpectedly, the next second, Zack fainted and fell to the ground.

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In our neighboring town, there was a peculiar phenomenon – the production of so-called “vase maidens”. These women, seemingly living inside ornate vases, were known for their extraordinary beauty, especially their delicate, alluring lips. Men from outside the town would spend their last penny to marry one and bring her home. My father, Jack, had always been envious. He finally borrowed money to marry one himself. But late one night, I discovered the terrifying secret behind these vase maidens. The town was buzzing with excitement that day. Tom Short, who had been single for decades, was grinning from ear to ear as he carried a vase maiden out of a wedding carriage. Everyone craned their necks to get a better look. The vase was about waist-high, adorned with intricate, lifelike patterns that seemed to shimmer and move. From the top of the vase emerged a woman’s neck, slender and pale. Her face was covered by a bridal veil, obscuring her features, but her exquisite lips were visible, slightly parted to reveal perfect white teeth. Several men nearby were practically drooling, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy. I unconsciously touched the scar on my right cheek. If I hadn’t been scalded by hot water as a child, would I have been as beautiful as her? “That Tom Short is one lucky bastard,” someone muttered. “He looks like a potato, but he managed to snag a vase maiden.” “I heard these vase maidens prefer shorter men,” another chimed in. My father’s interest was immediately piqued. “Why’s that?” he asked, his own lack of height suddenly seeming like an advantage. The crowd burst into laughter. “Makes it easier to take care of them, doesn’t it?” Jack rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I’m going to borrow money and get one tomorrow.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. My father was notorious in our town for never paying his debts. He still owed money for drinks all over town. Who would lend him anything? But to my surprise, the very next day, my father brought home a vase maiden of his own. The woman was breathtakingly beautiful, with skin like porcelain and eyes like works of art. Beneath her high, straight nose were lips so luscious they seemed to beg for a kiss. Even I, another woman, couldn’t help but feel my heart flutter at the sight of her. I could only imagine how men must feel. My father was completely smitten, holding the vase and staring at the woman with such intensity that he was practically drooling. The woman, too, was looking at my father with bright, inquisitive eyes, seeming to grow fonder with each passing moment. I was utterly confused. My father was well into his forties, dark-skinned and far from handsome. Years of smoking and drinking had left him with bad breath and blackened teeth. How could this vase maiden possibly like him? Then the vase maiden noticed me standing in the doorway and let out a startled cry. “Who is that? She looks terrifying!” The scar on my right cheek was uneven and ugly, like a twisted vine clinging to my face. My father rushed to comfort her. “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. This is my daughter, Lily. Rose, this is your new stepdaughter.” Rose glared at my father, clearly displeased. “Stepdaughter? I’m still a young virgin! How could I possibly have a daughter this old? Besides, I’m probably not much older than her.” She glanced at the scar on my face, her expression full of disdain. My father chuckled nervously. “Well, then, she can just call you by your name. I’ll treat you like my own daughter.” “Oh, stop it,” Rose giggled coyly. My father, unable to contain himself any longer, carried Rose off to the bedroom. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw the patterns on Rose’s vase move. Soon, the sounds of my father’s pleasure echoed from the room. For the next few days, my father barely left the bedroom, not even coming out to eat. One day, I went to call him for dinner. When he emerged, his steps were unsteady, but his face wore a satisfied smile. Rose looked even more radiant, her little mouth like a ripe cherry, juicy and inviting. I’m not sure if it was my imagination, but the patterns on Rose’s vase seemed more vibrant and lush than before. As my father carried her out, Rose pouted, saying she wasn’t satisfied yet. “Be patient, darling. We’ll eat and then go back to the room,” my father said, placing Rose on a chair and attentively offering her a piece of meat. This meat had cost us a month’s worth of food rations. But Rose flew into a rage. “Have you gone senile? Do you think I eat this pig slop like you do? I wasn’t satisfied earlier, and if you can’t provide for me properly, you should send me back home right now!” I was puzzled. Rose had been in the room with my father the whole time, and I hadn’t seen him bring any food in. My father looked embarrassed and tried to soothe her. “I’ve been feeling a bit weak lately. I’ll eat some supplements tomorrow, I promise I’ll satisfy you then.” But Rose wouldn’t let it go, insisting she was hungry and wanted to eat now. Just then, there was a loud banging on our front door. Several menacing-looking men barged in.

I recognized the leader – it was Mike Bull, a notorious loan shark from town. He had once crippled a villager who couldn’t repay his debt. “Jack Smith, your loan is due today. Pay up, with interest,” Mike growled. I was shocked. Had my father really taken out a high-interest loan to marry Rose? My father stammered, and Mike threatened to take one of his legs as payment. Terrified, my father pointed at me with a shaking finger. “This is my daughter. Take her as payment.” But Mike wasn’t interested in me, saying I was too ugly. “But she’s healthy!” my father insisted. “You could sell any part of her body and clear my debt!” I felt my eyes burning with angry tears. I knew my father was a beast, but I never imagined he’d stoop this low, trading his daughter’s life for his own safety. Mike reconsidered, eyeing me like a piece of merchandise. Just as he was about to drag me away, Rose’s voice came from inside the room. “Who’s making all that noise out there, disturbing my beauty sleep?” Mike turned and saw Rose in the room. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. “A vase maiden! You old dog, you know how to live it up, don’t you?” One of Mike’s men whispered in his ear, “Boss, I heard these vase maidens are made from young virgins. They might not have bodies, but those lips, man…” The man grew more excited as he spoke, rubbing his hands together and eager to get a closer look. I thought my father would refuse, but to my horror, he offered Rose as a bargaining chip. He said if they went in to “appreciate” the vase maiden, he could have a few more days to repay the debt. Mike agreed immediately, grinning as he and his men entered Rose’s room. They didn’t come out until the next morning, looking thoroughly satisfied. I had expected Rose to be devastated by the violation, but to my surprise, she wore a content smile, with traces of fluid still visible at the corners of her mouth. I felt a chill run down my spine. For the next few days, Mike and his men didn’t come back to collect the debt. As I passed by Rose’s room, I heard her throwing a tantrum inside. “They say men in their forties are like wolves, but how did I end up with such a wimp? If I had known, I would have married someone strong like Mike Bull. Send me back right now, I can’t stand another minute here!” I was stunned by what I heard. Rose wasn’t disgusted by the men who had abused her, but rather longed for their strength? When she first arrived, she had seemed pleased with my father, but now she was full of contempt. It seemed she didn’t care for my father as a person, but wanted something from him. Curious, I peeked through a crack in the door. What I saw left me shocked. The woman who had been so vibrant and alluring that morning now had dull, lifeless skin. Her once luscious red lips were now dry and thin, as if all the moisture had been sucked out of them. Even stranger, the lifelike patterns on her vase now looked wilted, like plants that hadn’t been watered. What secret was this woman hiding? To please Rose, my father actually invited Mike back. Mike was delighted, of course, and stayed in Rose’s room for three days and nights. But when he emerged, I was horrified by his appearance. The once strong and robust man was now skin and bones, with sunken eyes and protruding cheekbones. He looked so frail that a gust of wind could have knocked him over. I watched as he stumbled out of our house. When he reached the river, he lost his footing and fell in. By the time they fished him out, he had already drowned. That night, Rose forced my father to find her another strong man. Remembering Mike’s transformation, my curiosity got the better of me. I snuck around to the back of Rose’s room and peered through a gap in the window. What I saw inside made my eyes widen in shock and horror.

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