Author: Momo Chan

Nine months into my pregnancy, my husband’s first love, Evelyn, moved into our house under some pretext. Every time she saw me, she would clutch her chest, feigning heartache. My husband, Alexander, was convinced that I was deliberately flaunting my pregnancy to upset Evelyn. “Evelyn is too weak to bear children! You’re constantly showing off your baby bump in front of her to provoke her! Looks like you won’t learn your lesson unless I teach you one!” He ordered his men to lock me in the long-abandoned attic and forbade anyone from bringing me food. I struggled and begged, telling him that the ultrasound showed the twins were too large, and the doctor had advised me to be admitted to the hospital today for delivery. But he laughed as if he had heard a joke, his voice as cold as ice shards: “Your due date isn’t for another three days! Stop playing the victim! Go to the attic and reflect on your actions! This is what you get for upsetting Evelyn!” My contractions were so painful that I broke my nails clawing at the door, but no one came to open it. My agonizing screams echoed in the attic for a long time. Until I was lying in a pool of blood, with the unformed fetuses still stuck in the bloody hole between my legs. Three days later, Alexander, sipping a bowl of rice porridge that didn’t suit his taste, said: “Tell Lily to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then apologize to Evelyn. If her attitude is sincere, send her to the hospital to give birth.” No one dared to respond. Because the blood from the attic had already spread to the second step of the stairs. …

“Why isn’t that jealous woman Lily wailing anymore?” “Sir… could something have happened to Mrs. Frost? Last night, her screams were heart-wrenching, she sounded like she was in terrible pain…” Alexander took a sip of porridge, snorting dismissively. “No one knows Lily better than I do. She’s just putting on an act! This time I must teach her a lesson so she won’t dare to provoke Evelyn again!” The butler glanced towards the attic, hesitating before speaking: “But Mrs. Frost is carrying twins, and the doctor said she needed to be admitted to the hospital early…” Alexander paused mid-sip, his expression softening slightly. “Is that so?” He stirred his porridge for a while, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: “Fine, tell Lily to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then get over here and apologize to Evelyn! Today is her due date, if her apology is sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital.” Alexander heated up a cup of milk and walked into the guest room. On the bed, Evelyn’s breathing was steady, the blanket had slipped down to her shoulders, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her chest. Alexander’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared at her for a long moment before reluctantly tearing his gaze away. He bent down and placed a kiss on her lips. Evelyn slowly opened her eyes, stretching languidly, and pouted coyly: “Brother Alex~ You’re bullying me again~” Alexander parted his legs to let Evelyn sit in his lap, his fingers idly massaging her waist. “Who could resist when you sleep like that?” Evelyn buried her head in Alexander’s chest, letting out a few contented murmurs. “But, sister Lily is working hard carrying your child. We’re both women, I can’t let you betray her when she’s at her most vulnerable!” Suddenly, as if remembering something, she looked up anxiously: “Last night, sister Lily was screaming so loudly, is she going into labor? Sigh… Even though it hurts to hear sister Lily in such pain, I’m envious! Being able to carry Brother Alex’s baby, even if childbirth is painful, it would be sweet happiness for me.” Sweet happiness? By now, I had already become a ghost floating beside them. On the attic floor, red blood had spread across the entire room. On the walls were deep scratches I had made in my intense pain, with bits of fingernails and flesh still clinging to them.

Not to mention how I had torn myself apart down there trying to give birth to the children. When I pulled out the first child, it was already not breathing. Blood gushed from the gaping wound between my legs, and the second child became stuck in the torn, bloody hole. With blood matting my hair, I held the blood-covered fetus, my eyes wide open as I stopped breathing. I wonder how Alexander will react when he sees this scene? But for now, he was only focused on holding Evelyn close. His voice was full of guilt and self-reproach: “It’s my fault! I shouldn’t have let the pregnant Lily appear in front of you and make you sad! I swear, this is the last time that woman will carry a child for me! You won’t see any more pregnant women in this house in the future.” “You don’t know, Lily even lied to me to try to soften my heart, saying she was afraid the babies were too big and might cause a difficult delivery, and that the doctor recommended immediate hospitalization.” “She can survive in the wilderness for three days and nights without food, yet she tells me she’s afraid of giving birth!” My heart ached, almost unable to breathe. A pregnant woman’s constitution is far different from a normal person’s, let alone the fact that from the day I became pregnant with twins, the discomforts of pregnancy had nearly exhausted me. Several times, due to my poor pregnancy constitution, I had even been hospitalized to prevent miscarriage. When I was first locked in the attic, I begged and pleaded with him to let me out. Because if I was really locked up for three days, it would surely result in three deaths! But Alexander, right in front of me, loudly instructed the butler: “Go! Throw the key into a stinking river, and don’t let anyone secretly open the door for Lily! After three days, I want her to kneel and apologize to Evelyn!” To survive, I tore down the wall paintings, piercing my hands with blood, and to pry open the attic window, my nails were forcibly broken off. Enduring the excruciating pain, I mustered my strength to climb out of the window onto the rain gutter outside, gripping the tiles tightly with my hands, inching along bit by bit, trying to jump to another room to escape. But then. In the garden below, Alexander was forcefully holding Evelyn in a deep embrace, kissing her passionately. The two were kissing so recklessly, it looked like things were about to get out of hand. Evelyn suddenly pushed Alexander away, looked up towards the attic, and let out a piercing scream. Alexander raised his head, saw me desperately trying to escape, and flew into a rage. He was convinced that I had deliberately appeared in front of Evelyn again. He ordered someone to bring a crane, and personally operated it, using the shovel to press against my belly, forcibly ramming me back into the attic. Intense pain shot through my abdomen, and blood seemed to flow endlessly from between my legs. In the end, my eyes were wide open, holding the blood-covered children in my arms. And that’s how I stopped breathing. Alexander brought the cup of warm milk to Evelyn’s lips. “I’ve already sent someone to bring Lily over to apologize to you. If she’s sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital. If not, she can give birth in the attic!” Evelyn sipped the milk in small mouthfuls, but still choked a little, coughing with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful and delicate. “Brother Alex, you can’t treat sister Lily like this. Childbirth is very dangerous for women!” Alexander sighed, looking at the girl in his arms with doting eyes: “You’re just too kind-hearted, that’s why you get bullied by women like Lily! Lily is a survival expert, she can survive for three days without food or water in the wild! You, on the other hand, little one, are so delicate you choke on a sip of milk.” He gently tapped her nose: “And you talk about childbirth being dangerous as if you’ve given birth before!” Evelyn’s eyes flashed with panic for a moment, but she quickly lowered her head, her voice tinged with grievance: “Only Brother Alex… can see through the fragile heart beneath Evelyn’s strong exterior…” She looked up again, her eyes misty, her lips bitten to a glossy sheen. She hooked her arms around Alexander’s neck, deliberately pressing her chest against his heart.

Alexander could no longer resist, kissing her with heavy breaths as Evelyn softly murmured. Their lips entwined fiercely, and they began to hungrily demand more from each other’s bodies. But at the last moment, Evelyn suddenly pushed away the heavily panting man: “We can’t, you’re a married man now, and sister Lily is carrying your child. Evelyn doesn’t want to be a homewrecker!” Alexander’s eyes were burning with desire, his voice hoarse: “Alright, I, Alexander, will never betray Evelyn’s true heart! Wait for me a little longer! Only when I’m clean and free will I be worthy of touching someone as pure as you!” With that, he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, as if cherishing a priceless treasure. A flash of triumph gleamed in Evelyn’s eyes. Alexander couldn’t see it, but I could. Not wanting to be a homewrecker? I found it ridiculous, laughable! Then what about the many times she came to me, brazenly saying that even though I was pregnant, I was just paving the way for her, and that even the children I gave birth to would call her “mom” in the future? What does that count as? Using the poor excuse of being sick with no one to take care of her to move into my home. Openly flirting with Alexander at the dinner table, to the point where even the house cook couldn’t stand it and made a few sarcastic remarks about her. She immediately tattled to Alexander, saying the cook didn’t wash the ingredients properly, causing her to get gastroenteritis, and demanded the cook be fired. At that time, I had no appetite due to my pregnancy, and only the food made by this cook suited my taste. Out of hospitality, I approached her and offered to hire another chef to cook for her, but she slapped me across the face. “It doesn’t matter if the food tastes good or not, what matters is knowing who the real mistress of the house is! Lily, I just want to tell you, there’s only one Mrs. Frost, and that’s me, Evelyn!” To prove that she would be Mrs. Frost, she curled up in Alexander’s arms like a kitten, whimpering and sobbing. Crying that she was unfortunate, that she couldn’t bear children for him in this lifetime. And seeing me with my pregnant belly every day inevitably made her feel lost and heartbroken. “I’ve already tried my best to avoid sister Lily, but I still can’t help running into her every day! I should move out! Evelyn can’t live in such pain every day, it’s making me so unhappy!” Alexander lost control of his emotions in an instant, his face turning cold as he rushed over and slapped me to the ground. “You know very well that Evelyn gets upset just by seeing pregnant women, yet you still parade around with your big belly in front of her every day! What are you trying to do!” “Such a vicious woman! You don’t deserve to be a mother! Today I’m going to lock you in the attic! Let you have a taste of suffering!” Several bodyguards grabbed my limbs and threw me into the dust-covered attic. “The doctor told me to go to the hospital today for delivery! If I go to the hospital, she won’t see me either!” I desperately clung to the doorframe, pleading tearfully. Alexander sneered: “If you’re going to lie, at least get your facts straight. Your due date isn’t for another three days!” He no longer listened to any of my protests and slammed the door shut. My fingers were caught in the door, the sudden, piercing pain making me curl up and retract my fingers, unable to say anything more. Alexander looked on with satisfaction and locked the attic door. And now, as the two of them were still passionately entangled, the butler came running, out of breath and panicked: “Madam… Madam is gone!” “Gone?!” Alexander suddenly raised his head, looking annoyed at having his mood disturbed. The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying fearfully: “The attic is full of blood… Madam… she…” He dared not continue. Alexander straightened his rumpled shirt. “What blood? Oh, she’s probably just spotting, is she going into labor? Send her to the hospital.”

The butler swallowed hard and forced himself to continue: “Madam… she’s not breathing…” There was a hint of panic in Alexander’s voice, but just as I tried to listen more closely, his tone became harsh again. “Acting! She’s still acting! I want to see how long she can keep this up!” “She’s survived in much harsher conditions in the wilderness, she can hold her breath underwater for over ten minutes! She’s just trying to fool you all because you don’t have any medical knowledge! She’s holding her breath to scare you! Call my private doctor, I want to expose her tricks in person!” The butler’s eyes widened, “Mr. Frost, Madam’s children are…” “Who do you listen to?!” Alexander impatiently interrupted him. “Am I the one paying your salary or is that woman?” “Yes… I’ll go call the doctor right away…” The butler sighed helplessly before leaving. Evelyn softly pressed herself against Alexander. “Brother Alex, don’t be angry. Anger is bad for your health.” “That woman Lily is just good at winning people over! It’s only been a few years, and she’s already acting like she runs this house!” Alexander’s words were like a slap, waking me from my delusions. In just three short years, he had already forgotten his promises from the past. On our wedding day, Alexander had looked at me with eyes full of love and said, “This is your home now, and from now on, you’ll be the only mistress of this house.” Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Just moments ago, I had foolishly imagined that if Alexander knew I had died from complications during childbirth, He might feel a bit of regret and guilt… How ridiculous I am now, and how stupid I was then. I actually believed Alexander when he said he would love me forever. Back then, Alexander and Evelyn were childhood sweethearts in an arranged marriage between prominent families. But Evelyn unexpectedly discovered that due to health reasons, she couldn’t conceive naturally. So she left for a foreign country without looking back, cutting off all contact with Alexander. She kept saying that as the sole heir to the Frost family, she couldn’t bear to marry Alexander and end his bloodline. To forget the pain of their breakup, Alexander joined a wilderness exploration team. And I happened to be the team leader. Later, when he proposed to me, he said I was brave and strong, the embodiment of all that was good in the world. I was his guiding light in his darkest times, the one he knew instantly was his soulmate. After we got married, he felt that wilderness exploration was too dangerous. So he asked me to quit my job and stay at home to prepare for pregnancy, to give the Frost family an heir. But during those days when Alexander had broken up with Evelyn, he had been drinking heavily and staying up late, which had severely weakened his body. Under the pressure from the Frost elders to produce an heir, I worked on improving his health while actively trying to get pregnant. Finally, in the third year of our marriage, I successfully became pregnant with twins. The Frost elders were so delighted that they immediately held a press conference, declaring that the children I would give birth to would be the sole heirs to the Frost Group. It was at this time that Evelyn returned to the country. And she brought back a statement: “I have no interest in inheriting the company. As long as I can be with Alex, Evelyn will be satisfied for this lifetime.” Alexander began staying out all night, his white shirts stained with indelible red lipstick marks. I decisively brought up divorce, but Alexander said the children in my womb were the heirs to the Frost Group, and he wouldn’t let me go. He also said Evelyn was sick and needed someone to take care of her, so he brought her to live in our home. And because Evelyn couldn’t have children and couldn’t bear to see pregnant women with big bellies, he locked me, who was about to reach my due date, in the abandoned attic. Alexander truly deserves to rot in hell! The doctor arrived quickly. As Alexander’s personal friend, Dr. James had always been in charge of Alexander’s health management. Alexander followed behind Dr. James with his arms crossed, fuming, “Lily, let’s see how much longer you can keep up this act!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295602”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

On the fifth anniversary of our relationship, my girlfriend, having rejoined her wealthy family, posted my photo on a platform similar to Craigslist. [One dollar for a loyal admirer of five years.] I thought she was joking until I received a friend request on Snapchat. Then my girlfriend called me: “I’m the heiress of Miller Bank. We’re not on the same level; you’re not suitable for me.” “The person I’ve introduced to you is a wealthy woman my family knows. If you treat her well, fortune and success will be yours. No need to thank me.” She hung up, only to announce her engagement to the sole heir of the Carter Miller Group on Snapchat. Looking at the unfamiliar face in her post left me utterly confused. He’s the heir of the Carter Miller Group, so who am I? “Let’s break up.” “I was with you because we were equals. That’s no longer the case. You couldn’t reach my level in several lifetimes.” “Don’t tell anyone we dated; it disgusts me.” The call ended abruptly, leaving me stunned. I couldn’t believe these words came from my girlfriend, Emma. Emma was an ordinary employee at a small company. She was smart and capable, and despite a tough upbringing, she never complained. Her smile was like a ray of sunshine that drew me to her. For five years, she cared for me with thoughtfulness. Just yesterday, we were planning to earn more money to build a future together. And today, she suddenly wants to break up? She once told me I was the person she loved most and never wanted to part from me. Even if she told me herself, I couldn’t believe it! I had to find out what was really going on! I kept calling her, but she didn’t answer, and eventually, her number became unreachable. While I was still anxious, a friend suddenly sent me a screenshot. It was Emma’s announcement on Snapchat: “Meeting you made me realize how beautiful life is. Everyone is welcome to my engagement party with Liam Carter, the heir of the Carter Miller Group.” The comments section was filled with congratulations. But I was left in confusion. Carter Miller Group? How many Carter Miller Groups are there in the city? Not only did the company’s name match my family’s, but all other details matched too. Even our parents’ names were the same! Could there really be such a coincidence? I quickly asked a friend to get a photo for me. It wasn’t long before I saw the supposed heir of Carter Miller Group. Then I realized. Yes, it’s my family’s engagement. But the groom is a fraud! He’s not Liam Carter! He’s a university student I sponsored, named Ethan Johnson. For years, I quietly stayed by Emma’s side, while he attended business events with my mom. I wanted him to gain some experience for the future. But I never thought… He would deceive me! I couldn’t accept that a five-year relationship would end so ambiguously. So, I went straight to the engagement venue that day. As soon as I entered, I saw Emma in a white wedding dress, a scene I had dreamed of countless times. The emcee asked them to drink a ceremonial toast. Emma maintained a perfect smile, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Emma, our family’s prosperity depends on you. You won’t let your mom down, right?” That must be her mom speaking. Emma looked pained, forcing a smile as she glanced at Ethan. I understood her forced smile. She didn’t want to leave me! “Emma, you don’t have to struggle like this!” I shouted toward the center of the ceremony, releasing my pent-up anger. Everyone turned to look at me with strange eyes. Emma’s face turned pale. “Didn’t I tell you we broke up? Leave and stop causing trouble!” Emma’s eyes reddened upon seeing me. Afraid I’d see her, she turned away. How could I leave without understanding? “Emma, I love you. I might not know what’s happening, but trust me, I can solve it!” From her back, I could tell Emma was about to lose control of her emotions. She turned around, tears in her eyes. Before she could speak, her mom interjected. “Young man, this isn’t a place for someone of your status.” I couldn’t help but scoff internally. Usually, such a high-end banquet hall requires an invitation to enter. But I didn’t need one; the banquet owner drove me here personally. He’s hoping I’ll rent the hall to him next year. I knew my purpose today and didn’t mention these things. Emma’s mom looked me up and down. “Are you Emma’s friend? Knowing her is already a highlight of your life.” “Young man, just because you dress nicely doesn’t mean you can cross social classes.” “Emma has feelings for you, but you must know someone as poor as you isn’t worthy of her.”

I took her words as her concern for Emma’s future and didn’t take them to heart. I didn’t respond. Emma, afraid her mom would say more outrageous things, quickly stepped up beside her mom. “Mom, I’ve already told him clearly. I have no feelings for him. Let’s not argue with him; our company still wants to go public, and this could hurt our reputation.” Miller Bank has been planning to go public since the beginning of the year. They repeatedly sought cooperation with the Carter Miller Group. Two years ago, when Miller Bank faced a financial crisis, we helped them, and now they want my dad to finance them to go public, but my dad ignored them. But Miller Bank was persistent, always looking for opportunities to cooperate. With this in mind, I suddenly realized. Could Emma’s mom be forcing her to marry this fake heir to get help from our group? It must be. Emma loves me too much to leave me just because she’s an heiress of Miller Bank! The imposter Ethan, who had been observing, snorted at me. “Kid, you have some nerve, disrupting my engagement to the Carter family heir!” I almost laughed. Talk about greed. I’ve supported him for years, showed him the world, and he dares to impersonate me and commit fraud! Such an ungrateful person! “Carter family heir? Are you?” My smile seemed to sting his sensitive pride. “You poor loser! Do you know how serious your disrespect is?” “I’m the Carter Miller Group heir. If you don’t want my father to kill you, kneel and apologize.” My tone was slightly mocking. “Too bad, if the Carter Miller Group chairman finds out, you’re the one who’s dead, not me.” “Did all your knowledge go to waste? This is a society ruled by law. No one can kill anyone! If you’re brainless, read more books.” As soon as I finished speaking, the atmosphere turned icy. My parents have always respected my choices and decisions. They know I’m not a spoiled brat and have always helped me build a good reputation. If my parents knew the student we helped was biting the hand that fed him. Using our son’s name to commit fraud, they would make him pay. Ethan’s face turned livid with rage. “You poser, dreaming of the unattainable! Get lost!” “Out of respect for Emma, I’ll let you go today! Don’t push it!” Seeing Ethan angry, Emma quickly tried to calm him. “Don’t get mad; it’s not worth it over a poor loser.” After comforting Ethan, Emma turned to me with a stern face. “Don’t you understand? We’re not on the same level. Stop dreaming and get out! I don’t want to see you!” She gestured to the security to escort me out. I thought that was the end of it, but Ethan stopped the security. “Wait!” “This poor loser is talking nonsense and ruining my engagement. How can I face the Carter family?” Ethan, dressed in the latest Dior suit, swaggered toward me. Ha, I had my mom give him that suit, thinking he’d look presentable at important events. I never imagined he’d betray us. He punched me hard, and I fell to the ground, unprepared. “Don’t let me see you again, or I’ll take your leg off next time!” I wiped the blood from my mouth. And punched him back. As soon as he raised his head to hurl insults, I swung a left hook. My boxing coach was a national champion. I do anaerobic exercise every day, and my muscles outweigh Ethan’s fat. Comparing fists with me is a futile effort. Everyone was shocked by my actions. Emma quickly reacted, indirectly protecting me. My boxing skills were honed under the guidance of a national champion. I maintain a rigorous daily regimen of anaerobic exercises, and my muscles are more defined than Ethan Johnson’s excess weight. Trying to take me on in a fight is as futile as trying to crack a rock with an egg. Is Ethan Johnson really so caught up in his act that he’s convinced himself he’s the real deal? After I landed two punches on him in front of everyone, Ethan Johnson was furious, yelling at me in a rage. “You’re finished! You’re done for! Tell your family to prepare for the worst!” “Security! Security!” Has he watched too many gangster movies, or does he think he’s some kind of mob boss? Everyone was taken aback by my actions. Emma Miller quickly stepped in to protect me. “Liam Carter, are you deaf? Get out of here now!” She exclaimed while pushing me out, though we were stopped by security halfway. “You think you can hit the young master and just walk away?” Emma trembled with fear. But I remained unfazed. I ignored the security. “Emma, you got engaged to him for your family’s business, right? Don’t be fooled by this impostor. Marry me, and I promise you and your company wealth and prosperity.” Ethan Johnson, who was raised by his grandmother, got into a prestigious university on his own merits, and with his father’s connections, landed a job at a public company. If word got out that he was impersonating me, all his efforts would be in vain. I’m willing to give him another chance. I took Emma’s hand and gave her a reassuring look. “Emma, trust me.”

But she didn’t catch my meaning. The crowd erupted in laughter at my words. “This guy’s watched too much TV. He’s so poor, hasn’t he looked at himself lately?” “In simple terms, he wants the high life but lacks the ability, so he’s looking for a free ride.” “As a man, being this shameless is utterly disgusting.” Emma’s mom chimed in with mockery. “Emma, it’s all my fault for not finding you sooner and letting you be fooled by this delusional guy.” Emma looked helpless, her brows furrowed. “Liam Carter, I’m no longer the carefree Emma you once knew. I have the responsibility of my entire family’s business on my shoulders. I don’t want to disrupt your life.” “Stop provoking Ethan. Forget me and live your life.” After saying that, she turned to Ethan with a pleading expression. “Young Master Ethan, please let bygones be bygones. Let’s continue our engagement ceremony without letting him disrupt it. Please let him go.” Ethan, looking smug, said. “Fine, you’re lucky Emma pleaded for you.” He pointed at his shoes. “But this guy got my shoes dirty. Kneel and clean them, and I’ll let it go.” Emma thought his demand was too much and couldn’t help but speak up. “Young Master Ethan, isn’t that going too far…” Ethan, annoyed, retorted at Emma. “I’m the heir of the Carter Miller Group and this loser disrupted my engagement and hit me twice. Am I overreacting?” Ethan nodded, still angry. “Fine, then Emma, you do it. Do it for him, and I’ll let him go.” Emma pressed her lips into a line, steeling herself, and knelt down. The bystanders who were on Ethan’s side earlier now began to question. The guests whispered among themselves. “Isn’t Young Master Ethan going too far? How can he treat his fiancée like this?” “Exactly. Even if this guy was wrong, it’s not Emma’s fault. Isn’t this taking it out on Emma?” “Why is Emma so humble? It’s embarrassing for us women! Even though the Carter Miller Group is powerful, she’s from a noble family too. Why bow down to Ethan like this?” “But you can’t say that. You don’t understand the Carter Miller Group’s influence. If they cut ties with Miller Bank, it would be disastrous. Didn’t you see? Even with Ethan treating Miss Miller like this, her family dare not speak up.” Emma lowered her head, hands on the ground. “I’m sorry, Young Master Ethan. It’s all my fault. I hope you can calm down.” “Emma, get up!” I couldn’t believe the proud Emma would kneel like this. A few years ago, her ex-boyfriend returned, offering her a high-paying job and everything she needed. But she didn’t even look at him, outright rejecting him, even as she was burdened with her adoptive mom’s medical bills. Yet today, she’s humbling herself for me in public. Emma blocked out my calls. My heart felt as if it was being stabbed! With sheer force, I broke free from the four or five security guards restraining me. Even if it costs me my life today, I won’t let the woman I love be humiliated. “Ethan Johnson, don’t be ungrateful! I am the real heir of the Carter Miller Group!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295601”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

I sprained my ankle while helping my friend Eloise, who runs a store that sells contraceptives. I agreed to deliver a package for her since it was on my way home. Little did I know, I was delivering condoms that my husband would later use while cheating with another woman. I was still grappling with the shock of discovering my usually gentle and loving husband was unfaithful, when I unearthed another secret. My husband wasn’t just some guy barely scraping by on a $4500 monthly salary, struggling to pay rent. The company he works for is actually a branch of his family’s business. He’s a legitimate rich heir! On New Year’s Day, Eloise called, saying she twisted her ankle and needed me to deliver a package for her. The delivery address was in a luxury neighborhood not far from my home, conveniently on my route. As I was about to leave, I hesitated, looking at the shelves filled with products. Eloise noticed my hesitation and quickly grabbed a few boxes, stuffing them into my bag. “Consider it a reward for helping me out.” Life with Oliver was financially tight. After covering the mortgage, car loan, and utilities, there wasn’t much leftover. We’ve only been married for half a year, and we’re still very much in love, so we go through these quickly. To save money, we usually buy discounted brands. Cheap products aren’t great; they make me uncomfortable. Last night, I realized we were running low. Eloise’s gift was just what I needed. But admitting to a friend that I’m struggling to afford something as basic as condoms was a bit embarrassing. Then Eloise said something that made me uneasy: “This house regularly orders from me, but this time they changed the delivery phone number. When I checked, guess what?” Still embarrassed, I stayed silent, and Eloise lowered her voice, “It’s Oliver’s! Last time I delivered, I saw Oliver’s car downstairs! I thought he was there for business, so I didn’t mention it. But now, thinking about it, you should be cautious. I hope it’s just my imagination.” I checked the order phone number several times. It was indeed my husband’s. But Oliver comes home four nights a week; how could he have the energy to see someone else? Besides, this is a luxury neighborhood, five times the price of ours. How could Oliver, with his $4500 monthly salary, be involved with someone here? I wanted to believe it was a mistake, but when I knocked on the door, I was stunned. I saw a very familiar face—Oliver’s childhood friend, Juniper. But Oliver had told me she went abroad and didn’t know when she’d return. Through the open door, I could see that Juniper’s home was clearly lived in for some time. My mind was racing again, and then I heard a familiar, impatient voice from inside. “Juniper, haven’t you got it yet? Come in, I’ll show you a special trick I just learned. You’ll love it.” The voice was very similar to Oliver’s when he’s being intimate with me. Juniper gave me a knowing smile. “I know who you are.” “But I’m busy now, so if you have questions, save them for next time.” Then she closed the door, shutting out the sounds of intimacy inside. I had no proof, so I couldn’t just burst in. I had to wait for Oliver to come home and keep a close eye on him.

On the way back, I was in a daze, thinking my husband was just an ordinary employee who couldn’t afford such a house. He couldn’t possibly be cheating. But as soon as I reached the entrance of the luxury neighborhood, Oliver’s younger brother, Liam, pulled up in a luxury car right in front of me. He still had that playful grin. “Sister-in-law? Have you finally realized my brother is a rich heir and decided to spend his money to move out of that old place?” Rich heir? The term felt foreign when it hit my ears. To me, Oliver was the kind of guy who compared prices on toilet paper just to save a few cents. Being with him, we stretched every dollar, exhausted after work, yet still set an alarm to rush to the store for discounted groceries. Now someone in a luxury car tells me he’s a rich heir. It feels like a huge joke to me. I met Oliver through a blind date. He was honest, reliable, and caring, so I happily married him. I didn’t think life was hard; buying a house was our shared goal, just like our life together. Besides, Oliver’s passion and affection in bed made me feel he couldn’t do without me. But with everything happening today, I couldn’t help but wonder if his gentleness was real or a facade. Liam, seeing me silent, laughed heartily. “Judging by your look, my brother hasn’t told you the truth, huh?” “But I heard someone was living in the house he bought here. I thought you two talked it out, so I came to congratulate you on the move. Since you didn’t know, who is living in that house?” Liam seemed to know everything, watching me with that playful look. I knew he and Oliver didn’t get along. They almost fought at our wedding. Later, Oliver refused any contact between us, and now Liam had a chance to embarrass him, he wouldn’t let it go. He wanted me to fight with Oliver and make a big scene. But honestly, I could endure hardship with Oliver and work to improve our life. But I can’t tolerate his deceit and cheating. Delivering the condoms for my husband and his mistress myself is ridiculous! I clenched my fists. Liam wasn’t much better, waiting for this moment! I didn’t know how he tracked me down, but I knew causing a scene wouldn’t help. Liam is more cunning and dangerous. I held back my anger and went home, then searched the house for anything about Oliver.

He hid things well, like he was preventing me from discovering he was wealthy. I couldn’t find any evidence! Oliver came home three hours later. He seemed in a good mood, smiling as he hugged me on the couch. “After a year of work, we can finally take a break. Did you buy condoms? We can have a good time. The company was busy at year’s end, we haven’t been intimate. Let’s make up for it today.” My stomach churned, finding his behavior disgusting. I pushed him away and sarcastically asked, “Oliver, you’re probably drained, right? How does it feel cheating with Juniper behind my back?” Oliver’s pupils dilated instantly, then he forced a laugh, “Honey, what are you talking about?” I raised my voice, “I want a divorce! You went to great lengths to pretend to be someone else, making me suffer here while you’re keeping a mistress in a luxury neighborhood. Aren’t you disgusting?” Oliver, frustrated, said, “I did it for you! When we met, you wanted $30 bubble tea. You’re a gold digger! I hid my identity to help you change your ways!” “You being frugal and a good wife is thanks to me! You should be grateful!” “And I wasn’t planning to hide it forever. But you can’t stick to a budget every month. How can I trust you?” “Enough!” I couldn’t listen anymore and shouted, cutting him off, “I was fooled by your facade! Once exposed, you showed your true self?” “Fine, let’s divorce, before City Hall closes for the holidays.” Oliver paced the small living room; he was really angry, a far cry from his usual self. He liked controlling me in bed, guiding me by day, but things had spiraled beyond his control. He couldn’t handle it and said, “Fine! We can divorce! But don’t think of taking any of my money! I’ll generously give you this house.” Generous? I paid most of the down payment, and I’m paying most of the mortgage! I couldn’t believe he said that with a straight face! He expected me to beg, “If a gold digger like you enters my home, who knows what trouble you’d cause? I’ll divorce you eventually!” “Really going through with it?” Eloise sat in front of me, looking awkward. After a night of thinking, I calmed down. “You asked me to deliver the package not just because of your twisted ankle or it being on my way, right?” “What else do you know? Can you tell me now?” Eloise, a friend since childhood, felt guilty as things escalated. “Actually, a few days ago, Liam came to see me.” “Are you really going to get a divorce?” Eloise sat across from me, visibly uncomfortable and unsure. After a night of reflection, I was able to calm myself. “You asked me to help deliver something, but it wasn’t just because of your sprained ankle or because it was on my way, right?” “What else do you know? Can you tell me now?” Eloise, my childhood friend, looked guilty. “Actually, a few days ago, Liam came to see me.” “He told me about Oliver’s infidelity, but I knew with your personality, you wouldn’t believe it without seeing it yourself. So, I helped him stage the scene.” “But I really didn’t know he was a wealthy heir! I only knew he was cheating!” At this point, whether he was cheating or hiding his wealthy background from me no longer matters. Both prove he didn’t truly love me. He was full of deceit. This marriage has to end! I suppressed my anger. “What else do you know? You can tell me everything now.” Eloise shook her head. “That’s all. I’m not really familiar with either of them.” “But Liam coming around suddenly, who knows what he’s up to. You should be careful.” I nodded to show I understood. I have no desire to return to the house Oliver and I bought. I plan to sell it before the divorce and split the proceeds evenly. I won’t take a penny more than what’s mine. Whatever he takes, I can easily get back by visiting home. I’m not bothered at all! Having seen his true colors, I just want to cut ties quickly. No more contact! I’ve decided to stay at Eloise’s place until the divorce is finalized. After reclaiming his rich heir identity, Oliver ditched his beat-up van and flea market clothes. On the day of the divorce, he arrived in luxury attire, driving an extravagant car. In the passenger seat was his childhood sweetheart, Juniper. When Oliver wasn’t looking, Juniper wore a smug expression. I think she’s been waiting for this day for a long time. Oliver is truly blind, having a gold digger like her by his side and not realizing it. From deep within, I genuinely wish them well. May they stay together forever and not harm others. After getting out of the car, he leaned against the door, speaking in a sarcastic tone, “Leaving me will be the biggest mistake of your life. If you could have endured my test, a year later, you’d be enjoying this luxurious life too.” “Blame yourself for being too greedy and impatient. Seeing your recent behavior, I’m more convinced that keeping secrets from you and testing you was the right decision!” I have no idea where his sense of superiority comes from! I rolled my eyes at him, inadvertently revealing my Cartier limited edition earrings. “Who is this country bumpkin?” 4. He noticed them too. “There’s no need to pretend in front of me. I know exactly how much money you have. Wearing fake flea market goods to save face is just embarrassing.” “But for the sake of our marriage, I’ll split the house 60-40 after the divorce.” The house isn’t worth much. In the end, he’s essentially giving me an extra $70,000. Yet, he acts like he’s offering me the world. I’m more disgusted with Oliver than ever! I don’t want to stay with him any longer. “If we’re divorcing, let’s hurry up. I’m in a rush.” My disdain for him was obvious, but he thought I was just being irrational. To prevent him from continuing his act, I didn’t hesitate to turn and walk into City Hall. In less than half an hour, Oliver and I came out again. Juniper couldn’t help but approach us, holding Oliver’s hand and cautiously asking, “Did you get divorced?” After being deceived by Oliver for so long, I had no intention of letting him off easily. So, before he could answer, I quickly said, “No, we didn’t.” Juniper panicked instantly. She went from a delicate flower to furious. “How come you aren’t divorced?! Didn’t you always say you would divorce?!” “Oliver! Are you lying to me? Didn’t you say that after divorcing her, you’d be with me? You even called her a gold digger! Why aren’t you divorced now?!” Then she suddenly thought of something, her voice sharp with disbelief, “You’re not still hung up on this gold digger, are you?!” Oliver, frustrated by her shouting, couldn’t help but raise his voice, “Divorce cooling-off period!” Only then did Juniper calm down, quickly regaining her demure demeanor. She snuggled into Oliver’s arms. “I knew it. How could you still be hung up on her?” “You promised me you’d be with me. You wouldn’t lie to me, right?” She spoke softly, but her eyes were full of desire for possession. This kind of woman is ruthless, but Oliver, the miser, insists she’s the one who can endure hardships with him and withstand tests. If anything happens in the future, it’s no one’s fault but his own. It’s his just desserts! Oliver deliberately flaunted his affection for her in front of me. “That’s right. I’ll give you a grand wedding.” I chuckled coldly. Oliver thought I was jealous and was about to mock me when he saw me get into a luxury car. It’s a limited edition. Just one of its tires could probably buy him a car. Oliver’s eyes sparkled as he rushed over, angrily questioning me, “Where did this come from? You haven’t even properly divorced yet, and you’re already clinging to someone else’s leg!” “You just love sleeping with older men, don’t you? How did I not see that you’re such a cheap gold digger before?” I pried his hand off. “Please show some respect. Do you think everyone is like you, a worthless cheater?” “This car is mine. Don’t think your family is the only wealthy one in the world. It’s utterly ridiculous!” The driver, seeing him blocking me, couldn’t stand it any longer and got out to pull him aside, then escorted me into the car. Under the bewildered gaze of Oliver and Juniper, the car drove me away from there. If Oliver likes to pick fights, then I’ll play along. I am not afraid of trouble. Whatever harm Oliver does to me, I’ll make sure to pay it back! As soon as I got back from City Hall to Eloise’s place, my brother showed up. He had always tried to stop me from marrying Oliver, but I stubbornly believed Oliver was a good person. Though poor, he was hardworking and kind to me. He always acted like he couldn’t live without me. So I was willing to endure hardships with him, willing to leave everything behind and start from scratch with him. Now, with my brother suddenly showing up, I didn’t know how to face him. The person I believed in, the one I chose, deceived me so terribly. If only I had listened to him. I thought my brother would lecture me as before, but he only glanced at the designer bag I was carrying. “Finally willing to use the stuff I bought for you.” I felt awkward. Today, to keep up appearances, I used a lot of the gifts my brother had given me. When I got divorced, I was confidently saying that I could build a big company from scratch on my own. But now, I still have nothing behind me. Yet, he didn’t blame me at all. He just came in and looked around the room. Then he said, “If you don’t want to go home yet, go to the house I bought for you. This place is too small and uncomfortable.” He gave me a way out, and there was no reason to refuse. I agreed, quickly packed my things, sent Eloise a message, and moved out. Who would’ve thought, passing by a luxury neighborhood, I’d see Oliver and Juniper all lovey-dovey at the corner. Juniper sat in front of the car, with Oliver’s arm around her waist, kissing her passionately. My brother, who knew Oliver, impatiently honked several times to urge him. Oliver was startled and probably deflated instantly. Then, with a face full of anger, he looked up and locked eyes with me. Seeing my face, Oliver sneered. “Is this the sugar daddy you’re clinging to?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295600”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

My Roommate’s Sinister Secret Every night, my roommate would spike the milk I drank with a sedative. Then she would secretly let different men into our apartment. I remained completely oblivious to what was happening. Until one day, feeling unwell, I went for a check-up and discovered I had contracted an STD. When I returned home, I overheard my roommate on the phone with someone. “So, how was my roommate? An Ivy League graduate, and at that price – I’d say you got quite a bargain.” I was utterly heartbroken. In the ensuing argument, my roommate pushed me down the stairs, and I died on the spot. When I regained consciousness, my roommate was standing in front of me, offering that same drugged glass of milk. “Lily, haven’t you been having trouble sleeping lately? Here, have some warm milk,” my roommate Yvonne said with a smile as she handed me a mug. As I saw the milk, my mind started racing. In my previous life, I had been fooled by Yvonne’s fake kindness and unknowingly drank this drugged milk. In the days that followed, my sleep indeed improved significantly. However, every time I woke up, I felt strange, as if something was off with my body. Despite thorough self-examinations, I couldn’t find anything wrong. It wasn’t until two weeks later when I experienced itching and swelling in my private area that I realized something was seriously wrong. When the hospital diagnosis came back, my world shattered. I had contracted an STD! But how was this possible? I hadn’t been in a relationship for three years. How could I have gotten such a disease? Feeling dejected, I returned home. As I approached our apartment, I overheard Yvonne on the balcony, talking on the phone: “So, how was it? My roommate is an Ivy League graduate, a good girl from a respectable family. The price I gave you is a steal. Want to come again? Alright, tonight at midnight. Same rules apply: no visible injuries, and clean up thoroughly when you’re done.” I burst into tears and confronted her. “I saw you didn’t have a boyfriend for so long. I was just being kind, worried you might be lonely. You should be thanking me. Who knows where you got that nasty disease from anyway,” Yvonne said with a look of contempt. Enraged, I started to fight with her. But Yvonne was stronger than me. She pushed me from the tenth floor, and I died on the spot. Afterward, Yvonne spread rumors that I had committed suicide by jumping off the building because I got an STD from sleeping around. My parents were subjected to gossip and judgment. Now that I’ve been given a second chance, I must make her pay for her sins!

Coming back to my senses, I pretended to stand up casually. “Oh no!” I exclaimed as I deliberately bumped into Yvonne’s arm. The hot milk spilled all over her face and hair. “Oh, Yvonne, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to do that,” I apologized frantically, grabbing a rag I had just used to clean the floor and started wiping her face with it. “Lily! What are you doing with that filthy rag? It’s disgusting!” Yvonne screamed, dodging away from me. I put on an apologetic face. “I’m so sorry, Yvonne. I’ve been overworked lately, and I’m not in the best state of mind.” Yvonne glared at me, gritting her teeth. But thinking about what she had planned for later, she swallowed her anger. “It’s okay, Lily. I’ll go get you another glass,” Yvonne said, turning back to the kitchen. Soon, she came out with another glass of milk. “Here, Lily. Drink it while it’s warm,” Yvonne said, watching me expectantly. I calmly took the milk but didn’t drink it. “Why aren’t you drinking it?” Yvonne asked, starting to get anxious. “Yvonne, why don’t you have some too? I feel bad drinking alone,” I said, shaking my head and putting the glass down. “Oh, alright, I’ll drink too,” Yvonne said hurriedly, rushing back to the kitchen to make another glass of milk. “Let’s drink together, okay?” Yvonne urged me again. I smiled and brought the milk to my lips. Yvonne watched me nervously. But just as the milk touched my lips, I stopped. “What’s wrong now?” Yvonne asked, her tone tinged with impatience. I smiled sheepishly. “Yvonne, I prefer my milk a bit sweeter. Could you get me some honey?” Yvonne’s cheeks puffed up in frustration, but she finally gave in and went to the kitchen to fetch the honey jar. With lightning speed, I switched the positions of the two glasses.

“Is this good enough, princess?” Yvonne said sarcastically. I made a face at her, then slowly drank the milk under Yvonne’s watchful gaze. Yvonne let out a subtle sigh of relief. “You watch some TV. I’ll go wash the dishes,” Yvonne said, humming a tune as she quickly cleared away the milk glasses. When Yvonne came back, I pretended to be drowsy. “Yvonne, your milk really works wonders. I’m feeling sleepy already. I think I’ll head to bed now,” I said, yawning as I walked towards my room. Yvonne’s eyes lit up immediately. “Of course, of course! You go right ahead. I’ll make you milk every night from now on,” she said enthusiastically. Looking at her scheming face, I laughed coldly to myself. Soon, she’d learn who would truly suffer the consequences of her actions.

Back in my room, I quickly got under the covers and closed my eyes. Soon, I started making soft snoring sounds. Yvonne listened at my door, trying to gauge if I was asleep. Hearing no movement, she called out tentatively, “Lily, are you asleep?” I didn’t answer. Finally, Yvonne showed her true colors. “Slut, you’re in for a treat tonight,” Yvonne cursed under her breath. She immediately sent a voice message: “Everything’s ready on my end. Just follow the instructions I gave you, got it?” After sending the message, Yvonne yawned. “This really wore me out. I need to get some good sleep too.” As Yvonne’s door closed, my eyes snapped open.

Yvonne hadn’t closed her door properly. I pushed it open a crack. Yvonne was sleeping deeply; the noise of me opening the door didn’t wake her. “Yvonne,” I called, shaking her gently. Yvonne didn’t respond at all. I had to admit, the sleeping drug was potent. I unlocked Yvonne’s phone using her fingerprint. What I found shocked me to my core. Yvonne was part of a group chat called “Lost Forest” with over a hundred members. Scrolling through the chat history, cold sweat broke out on my back. This group was dedicated to providing unconscious girls for perverts to abuse. Yvonne was one of the perpetrators. Her target, naturally, was me, her roommate. She mixed sleeping drugs into my milk, making me fall into a deep sleep. Then she would let people in. Afterward, they would leave cash in the living room. No one would ever know. The more I read, the colder my heart became. The Yvonne online was vastly different from the seemingly innocent and lively girl in real life. She was vicious and cunning. Today, she had found the first “client” for me. She had left the key under the doormat for the person to let themselves in. I was shaking with anger. I created a new account, used Yvonne’s account to add myself to the group, then deleted each other as friends. Then I found the chat with that person and sent a message: “I’m sorry, I made a mistake. It’s the room on the east side. Don’t go to the wrong one, okay?”

After receiving the person’s reply, I deleted these two messages and put the phone back exactly where I found it next to Yvonne’s pillow. As I left the room, I looked at Yvonne’s oblivious face and felt a surge of emotions. You never truly know someone, even if you live with them. Who would have thought I was sharing a room with a wolf in sheep’s clothing! I had to get my revenge! I went to the kitchen and started searching for clues. Soon, I found two cans of milk powder in the food cabinet. The only difference was that one can had my name taped to it. It seemed Yvonne was afraid of mixing them up, ensuring I would always drink the drugged milk powder. I let out a cold laugh, then switched the labels on the cans and swapped their positions. To gather more evidence, I took out the hidden cameras I had bought online last month. Coincidentally, my makeup had been mysteriously disappearing. To get to the bottom of it, I had bought two mini cameras that I hadn’t used yet. I went back to Yvonne’s room and hid one of the cameras in the eye of the teddy bear facing her bed.

I locked my door and quietly waited for the person to arrive. Just after 10 PM, I heard the sound of the front door opening. My heart immediately started racing. The person tiptoed towards our bedrooms. After a moment’s hesitation, they pushed open Yvonne’s door. My heart was pounding. After the door closed, I turned on the surveillance feed. The man was burly. When he saw Yvonne sleeping on the bed, he couldn’t help but swallow hard. “Damn, she’s so young and fresh,” he muttered. Without wasting any more time, the man eagerly pounced on her. What followed was an extremely disturbing scene. I turned off the camera in disgust. Half an hour later, I heard the door opening and closing again. Soon after, the person left our apartment. I finally let out a sigh of relief. I gently opened my door and saw a stack of cash on the coffee table in the living room. Through the slightly open door, I could see Yvonne still sleeping soundly. Her clothes and bedding had been tidied up, looking no different from when she went to sleep. I felt relieved. Now, it was time for Yvonne to get a taste of what I had experienced in my previous life.

Early the next morning, Yvonne saw the cash on the coffee table and started counting it with satisfaction. “Yvonne, where did this money come from?” I asked curiously. Yvonne turned to look at me with a cryptic smile. “Oh, this is from my part-time job,” Yvonne said, her tone containing a barely noticeable hint of amusement. I nodded, rubbing my sore neck. “Yvonne, I woke up this morning feeling achy all over. I wonder if I had sleep paralysis or something. I’m a bit scared. When the lease is up next month, I’m thinking about moving out.” “No way!” Yvonne exclaimed urgently. Realizing her reaction was off, Yvonne quickly put on a smile. “Lily, aren’t we good living together? Besides, I’d be scared living alone.” Yvonne clung to my arm, acting coy. “But,” I furrowed my brow in concern, “our company is still behind on our wages. I was thinking of moving to a cheaper place.” Naturally, Yvonne didn’t want to lose her cash cow. “Come on, Lily, please stay with me. How about I help you with the rent?” Yvonne suggested, clearly calculating. Compared to her daily illicit income, the thousand-dollar rent seemed trivial. This was perfect, allowing me to save up more money to move out sooner. “Alright then, thank you, Yvonne,” I said, hugging her with a smile. A flash of mockery and triumph crossed Yvonne’s face. The corners of my mouth turned up in a wild grin. Soon, Yvonne would receive her just punishment.

n the days that followed, Yvonne made me a cup of hot milk every night. To allay my suspicions, she would drink with me each time. After drinking the milk, Yvonne always slept exceptionally well. Sometimes she would grow suspicious, but I always managed to brush it off. Plus, with the cash appearing on the coffee table every morning as promised, Yvonne couldn’t be bothered to think too much about it. Meanwhile, in Yvonne’s evil group chat, many people were sharing their success stories. Including Yvonne. “My roommate is as dumb as a pig. I give her drugged milk, and she drinks it happily, lying there making money for me without a clue,” Yvonne boasted proudly. The group members praised her cleverness. Thanks to Yvonne’s promotion, more and more people came to her for “business.” Yvonne’s pockets grew increasingly full. Her attitude towards me became even worse. After all, in her mind, I was nothing but a cheap slut. I didn’t care at all. I lurked in the group chat, saving all the incriminating evidence. I was just waiting for the day when everything would come crashing down, ready to destroy all these vermin in one fell swoop. And it seemed Yvonne’s downfall was coming sooner than expected.

“What are you looking at? Have you no shame?” Yvonne started arguing with Butcher Bill at the farmers’ market. It all began because Butcher Bill kept leering at Yvonne. Yvonne couldn’t stand it anymore and started a fight with him in the middle of the market. “You old pervert, haven’t you ever seen a woman before? What are you staring at?” Yvonne yelled, hands on her hips, pointing her finger right in Butcher Bill’s face. Butcher Bill, in his forties and built like a tank, flushed red with anger at being berated by a young girl in public. “Young lady, watch your mouth,” Butcher Bill said, his face darkening. Yvonne, never one to back down when she thought she was right, got even more fired up seeing the crowd gathering around them. “I thought you looked like an honest man, but you’re actually so disgusting. I’m young enough to be your daughter, you old lecher. Stop staring or you’ll go blind!” Yvonne’s tone was particularly harsh. Butcher Bill was feeling embarrassed under the crowd’s scrutiny. “Get on your knees and apologize!” Yvonne demanded, ignoring Butcher Bill’s murderous glare. “You slut, you think you’re still a pure virgin? Who knows how many men have had you, and you still have the nerve to act like an innocent little flower!” Butcher Bill exploded, pointing at Yvonne and letting loose. Hearing such humiliating words, Yvonne became even more enraged. “Are you spreading dirty rumors about me?” Yvonne glared, threatening to call the police. Butcher Bill sneered, “Rumors? You have a red birthmark below your belly button, right? And three moles on your butt.” At these words, Yvonne was stunned. These were indeed marks on her body. “You… how the hell do you know that?” Yvonne was shocked. Butcher Bill just smiled meaningfully. The crowd around them grew even more excited hearing such juicy gossip. They all thought it was some scandalous affair. Yvonne fell silent. I stood by, quietly observing. Suddenly, Yvonne jerked her head up, glaring fiercely at Butcher Bill: “You fucking old pervert, have you been peeping on me in the shower?!”

At these words, not only Butcher Bill but even I was stunned. After thinking for so long, this was the conclusion Yvonne had come to. Butcher Bill opened his mouth, but before he could defend himself, Yvonne exploded. “You shameless creep! No wonder you can’t have a son! You scumbag!” Yvonne grabbed a chunk of pork from the chopping board and hurled it at Butcher Bill. In an instant, the entire farmers’ market was in chaos, with pork flying everywhere. Butcher Bill dodged the flying meat while glaring viciously at Yvonne. But Yvonne, completely oblivious to the murderous intent in Butcher Bill’s eyes, continued throwing meat and cursing. Seeing the situation getting out of hand, I grabbed Yvonne’s arm. “Yvonne, stop fighting here. It’s embarrassing. Let’s go home,” I said, trying to persuade Yvonne while dragging her out of the crowd. Yvonne kept cursing as we left, while Butcher Bill’s eyes grew colder by the second. Back home, Yvonne was still fuming. “Damn it, ran into a ghost when I went out. What rotten luck!” Yvonne angrily swept the cups off the coffee table. I watched silently as she raged. Why was Butcher Bill leering at Yvonne? Why did he know about the birthmarks on Yvonne’s body? That’s because Butcher Bill was one of Yvonne’s “clients.” The information in the group chat was confidential, so Yvonne didn’t know that the person she had arranged was Butcher Bill. But Butcher Bill had seen everything clearly. After being humiliated by Yvonne today, would he just let it go? Just after dinner, that evil group chat started buzzing with activity. A user named “Rainy Night Butcher” openly tagged Yvonne: “I’m coming to your place again tonight.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295599”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

My CEO girlfriend Celeste docked my entire bonus and gave a car to the least competent assistant, calling it his year-end bonus. That evening, the assistant boasted about it on Snapchat. “Thanks to my generous boss and my own excellence.” The picture showed them standing next to the new car, forming a heart with one hand, smiling sweetly. This time, I didn’t have a meltdown, nor did I get jealous or confront her. Instead, I quietly maxed out her credit card to buy cars for all my colleagues. Take them together to thank. “Thanks to a generous boss and to everyone’s excellence.” Barely two minutes after posting, Celeste called me. “Asher, are you out of your mind?” “If Finn hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known you’d do something so outrageous.” “Sort this out before I get back, or face the consequences!” She hung up in anger. Just before the line went dead, I heard Finn’s pitiful voice. “I’m sorry, Celeste, for putting you in this position.” “You have nothing to apologize for. He made the mistake, not you.” Celeste’s gentle, reassuring tone was completely different from before. I knew she said it for my benefit, expecting me to clean up the mess as usual. The old me never dared stand up to her. But she doesn’t know that this time I’ve completely lost hope and won’t help her anymore. A colleague anxiously said, “Asher, does Ms. Celeste not know about this? Maybe we should return the cars, or she’ll hold you responsible.” Others agreed, trying to sound relaxed but visibly disappointed. When I told them about the cars earlier, I only said it was a year-end bonus, nothing more. They assumed it was Celeste’s doing and praised her for the surprise. Now, the surprise turned into a shock. One colleague, worried about my punishment, rushed to cancel the sale. I came back to my senses and stopped him, assuring everyone I’d handle it. Then I went home, relaxed, and took a nap. By the time I woke up, it was already early morning. I heard noise at the door and found Celeste entering the living room with a dark expression. Seeing me, she slammed her bag onto the table, making a loud noise. I knew she was trying to intimidate me, forcing me to admit my mistake and find a way to appease her. In the past, I would have done just that. But now, I just glanced at her, yawned, and said, “You’re back.” Seeing this, Celeste grew even angrier. “How can you still have the face to sleep?” “I told you to take back everything you gave away. Why haven’t you done it yet?” “Asher, you’ve got some nerve. I’m giving you a chance to fix this, and you still don’t care.” I used to fear this side of her, not because she was angry, but because it was bad for her health. After her outburst, I’d rush to comfort her, admit my mistake, and try to fix things. But now, I calmly said, “Why should I fix it? I didn’t do anything wrong.” Maybe hearing me talk back for the first time stunned Celeste. “What did you say?” I scoffed, “Even the worst performer gets a year-end bonus. So why shouldn’t everyone else, who’ve worked themselves to the bone for the company’s success, get one too?” Celeste’s face turned red with anger. “Finn may not be outstanding now, but he’s new, and for a rookie, he’s doing quite well. I’m sure he’ll be a top performer by next year.” “Besides, do you even know how many mistakes they’ve made this year? It’s good enough I didn’t dock their pay. Why should they get a bonus?” “…” Celeste kept listing their faults, and I found it amusing. Her examples were trivial mistakes she kept repeating, like forgetting to water the plants or mistakenly submitting an extra invoice. These were outside of work tasks. Besides, they always corrected their mistakes promptly. Everyone understood that starting a business is tough, so they often worked overtime without complaint for four years. Now that the company has grown, Celeste not only didn’t acknowledge their efforts but also shamelessly assigned them more work. Finn joined last year, making fewer mistakes because he relied on Celeste’s favoritism and didn’t actually work. His mistakes were in his primary duties, almost always detrimental to the company. From sending hundreds of messages to partners in the middle of the night to misreporting product prices in contracts, causing a lawsuit that cost the company eight million. Finn claimed I distracted him with work, which I found laughable, and so did everyone else. Yet Celeste believed it and unhesitatingly docked my entire year’s bonus. Seeing I wasn’t speaking, Celeste assumed I was reflecting on my actions like before. Her tone softened slightly. “Right after the call, Finn said it was tough for me and wanted to return the car. Can’t you learn from him?” “He’s just an ordinary employee who joined the company last year, yet he cares about me. And you…” Before she could finish, I interrupted, “Fine, then let him return the car. If he does, I’ll have everyone else return theirs too.” Celeste was speechless. I knew she wouldn’t let Finn return it. This wasn’t the first time this had happened. Celeste, though thrifty, would always fight for Finn’s benefits under any pressure. And Finn’s offer to return was just lip service. She might know this too, yet she still supports him unconditionally. Caught off guard by my firm stand, Celeste was furious and finally poked my forehead, annoyed. “Why are you so childish?” “Asher, this is your last warning. Tomorrow, take back everything you gave out, or don’t bother staying at the company. Just resign.” “Even if you’re my boyfriend, I can’t accept someone who doesn’t follow orders in the company.” She looked at me condescendingly, sure I’d never leave. But this time, I didn’t compromise or go against my conscience to please her. Instead, I handed her the prepared document. “I was thinking the same.” “This is my resignation letter. Just sign it.”

Celeste was momentarily stunned, not expecting me to resign. I had given up a high-paying opportunity to support her startup, even invested half of my savings into the company without asking for any shares. I drank with clients till dawn, putting up with being treated like a clown. To perfect projects, I worked on just three to four hours of sleep, pushing myself to multiple cardiac arrests. Now that the company is big, anyone would think twice before leaving. Celeste, realizing this, laughed coldly. “Think carefully, resigning means no compensation. Even as my boyfriend, there’s no exception.” “I know. But I’ll take them all with me.” “Here are their resignation letters. Have a look.” I handed her a stack of resignation forms from the colleagues who had their bonuses docked. They had long been fed up with Celeste’s exploitation and favoritism towards Finn. They’d been submitting resignation applications to me, which I had been holding back. I tried convincing them to hang on, assuring them Celeste wasn’t always like this. Maybe she just needed time for Finn to adapt. They didn’t believe me, but for my sake, they stayed. This incident, however, left us all disheartened. Celeste’s face darkened. “A bunch of ingrates. I supported them for four years, and they show no gratitude.” “Forget it, I’m too tired to argue.” She quickly tore up the resignation letters and tossed them into the trash. “Let’s just forget about this incident. I won’t hold it against you, okay?” Celeste acted magnanimous. But I knew she didn’t have the luxury to hold a grudge. Despite her disdain for us and favoritism for Finn, she was well aware that most of the company’s operations were in our hands. If we left, the company would collapse. Perhaps fearing I might press further, Celeste tried to ease the tension. “Let’s just end this matter here.” “Knowing you were so stubborn, I shouldn’t have set a year-end bonus.” “These cars add up to over five million, you know. Don’t forget it’s your money too. We’re now further from getting married, it’s heartbreaking.” Celeste sighed, but I found it mildly amusing. She often said things like that. She had a bank card where she deposited money each month, telling me we would marry once it reached ten million. I believed her completely, often secretly adding money to it myself. It wasn’t until last month that I stumbled upon the fact that the card, which should have contained nine million, had only five million left. Upon checking the statements, I discovered she spent the money on dates and gifts for Finn. Shoes costing twenty to thirty thousand each pair, and she had given over twenty pairs in just half a year. Underwear costing two thousand each, and she once bought eighteen pairs. A seafood banquet for their dates cost at least eighty thousand per table. These were luxuries I couldn’t even dream of. Yet, whenever I wanted to buy a new outfit for a hundred bucks, she’d scold me for being wasteful, questioning if I was serious about marriage. It was absurd. I often blamed myself, not realizing that she was the one not serious about marriage. I couldn’t understand how she could lie so effortlessly. Just as I was about to speak, her phone rang. Celeste dismissed me, stepping onto the balcony to take the call. Whatever was said seemed to lift her spirits, as she returned humming a tune, looking pleased. Seeing me, she suddenly seemed to remember something, her smile fading, her expression turning awkward. “A business partner needs to see me. I have to go, take some time to think things over at home.” I didn’t bother to confront her. I watched her pick an outfit from the closet, choose a different purse, and then leave. I checked the bank card details. Just then, another hundred thousand was withdrawn. The payee was a bar she frequented with Finn. After a few moments of silence, I picked up my phone and called the police.

When I arrived with the police, Celeste and Finn had just finished a toast. Amidst the loud music and chatter, their spirits were unusually high. “Sister Celeste, I can’t believe you’re still with Asher after all his reckless behavior.” “You have such patience. You’ve founded a company and have so many assets, you’re a modern-day leading woman, yet you still humor him.” “Anyone else would have switched boyfriends long ago and avoided such trouble.” Finn was indignant on Celeste’s behalf. Celeste sighed, her tone somewhat helpless. “I can’t help it. He did contribute when the company was founded. If we break up now, everyone would think I’m ungrateful.” “Blame it on my poor judgment. I never thought he’d turn out like this.” “Once the time is right, I’ll find a way to get rid of him.” Her words were clear to my ears, but I only found them amusing. I had asked Celeste early on why she chose this path. At the time, I was a manager at a multinational company, earning a substantial salary, more than enough to support us. But starting a business came with many uncertainties and could be tough. Back then, Celeste looked me in the eye and sincerely told me she didn’t want me to struggle alone. She wanted to stand by my side and walk further together. I stepped out of my comfort zone to help her reach her current position. She had indeed come a long way, but not only did she not want to be by my side, she felt she had every right to kick me aside. Yet, I wasn’t sad. Her words confirmed what I had suspected for a while. The police gave me a sympathetic look. To avoid causing a scene, they had the manager call her out. After explaining the situation to Celeste, she looked at me, incredulous. “Asher, what are you doing now? Reporting to the police over a little money, is it really necessary?” Finn clutched his chest, coughing violently. Celeste hurriedly soothed him, her eyes full of worry and anger, then glared at me: “Don’t you know Finn’s health is poor and can’t handle stress? If something happens to him, how will you take responsibility?” But I remember during our hardest winter, when I was feverish with a temperature of 104 degrees, she wasn’t this concerned. Instead, she told me to endure it to boost my immunity. I ended up with a chronic condition, struggling to breathe when the weather turned cold, and she never cared. I couldn’t help but snicker. “You’re still laughing! Asher, you’re so cold-hearted!” Celeste looked at me coldly: “If you’re making a fuss over this little money, I think you’re not fit to be my boyfriend. Let’s just break up.” “Fine, let’s break up.” I nodded. Celeste looked at me, shocked, her eyes widening. I knew she didn’t believe I would break up. In the past, whenever she mentioned breaking up, it was just a tactic to get her way, a means to threaten me. We both knew that, but I always found a way to appease her, even apologizing and asking for forgiveness when I wasn’t at fault. This was the first time I truly agreed to break up. Celeste’s lips quivered, as if she wanted to say something. Finn hastily chimed in: “Asher, I know you’re jealous, but Sister Celeste only said that out of anger. She doesn’t really want to break up with you, don’t agree to it.” He seemed to be pleading on my behalf, but I could still see the faint pride in his eyes. Sure enough, Celeste snorted: “Finn, no need to explain for him. Let’s break up, just hope he doesn’t regret it later.” With that, she grabbed Finn’s hand and started to leave. I raised my hand to stop them: “Since we’re breaking up, shouldn’t you return the money too?” I gestured to the police. When I made the report, I had already shown all the evidence, proving that Celeste had taken a large sum of my money without permission. The police nodded, advising Celeste to return the money if the situation was true, to avoid escalating it to court. Celeste didn’t respond, but Finn protested: “He used Sister Celeste’s card to buy dozens of cars before, yet she didn’t report it.” “If you want to report, go ahead. Now that we’ve broken up, you can settle our accounts too.” I looked at Celeste. I knew she didn’t want to report because she was afraid. If we really settled our accounts over the years, what Celeste owed me was far more than just four million. Finn wanted to argue, but seeing Celeste’s pale face, he wisely kept silent. Celeste gritted her teeth, glaring at me, then worked her phone for a while. “I transferred it. Are you satisfied now?” After saying that, she shot me a glare, grabbed Finn’s hand, and left. I thanked the police, went back to file the report, and then headed home. Just as I walked in, a colleague from the finance department called. “Asher, Ms. Celeste just withdrew over four million from the company’s funds.”

“The reconciliation is coming up, will you cover for her again this quarter?” Celeste often withdrew money from the company account. Initially, she remembered to pay it back, but eventually, she always forgot. She’d have the finance department wait until she couldn’t cover it at reconciliation, then they’d come to me. Each time, I’d use my own savings to fill the gap. I’d mentioned it to Celeste, but she called it trust. It wasn’t until last month that I discovered a large portion of Celeste’s expenses went to Finn. She didn’t trust me; she just saw me as a fool. “I won’t cover it this time. Report it as is,” I said calmly. “And don’t come to me for these things anymore; we’ve broken up.” Hearing this, the finance officer actually sighed in relief. “You finally came to your senses. I was going to advise you this time. Covering the company’s shortfall often takes a quarter of your total income. The company doesn’t seem like Ms. Celeste’s, it feels more like yours.” “After all, you’ve been managing it diligently for years. Even her tax evasion was covered by you. Without you, she wouldn’t have made it this far.” After hanging up, I reflected for a moment. I used to think we were one unit, that Celeste’s problems were my problems since we’d eventually marry. In hindsight, my thinking was laughable. Even outsiders could see my contributions, yet Celeste couldn’t. She was still trying to shake me off. I knew Celeste wouldn’t let this go easily. Sure enough, in the following days, she and Finn became bolder. Where they used to hide, now they held hands openly, fingers intertwined. Celeste used to find excuses. Now she directly assigned my projects to Finn, crediting him instead. Just as I entered the company doors, Finn handed me a mop. “Sorry, Asher. Sister Celeste said the company just paid out year-end bonuses, so funds are tight. We won’t be hiring cleaners for now, so internal staff will handle cleaning.” “Management should lead by example, and since you’ve done it before, you can start.” He looked at me, eyes full of mockery. I knew he was doing it on purpose. This wasn’t the first time. Once, when Finn broke a contract, I scolded him in public. Celeste claimed my emotions were unstable and made me clean the toilets for a week. As soon as I arrived at work that day, Finn handed me a mop. “Sorry, Asher,” he said. “Celeste mentioned that the company just paid out year-end bonuses, so funds are tight. We can’t afford a cleaning service right now, so we’ll have to handle the cleaning ourselves.” “Management needs to set an example,” he added with a smirk. “Since you’ve done this before, you should lead the way.” I knew he was doing this on purpose, mocking me with his smile. It wasn’t the first time. Previously, Finn had broken a contract, and when I called him out publicly, Celeste punished me by making me clean the bathrooms for a week, claiming I was being too emotional. “That’s too much!” Finally, a colleague couldn’t hold back and spoke up for me. “Why don’t you clean up for Asher then?” Finn sneered at him. “Clean what?!” The colleague grabbed the mop and tossed it back at Finn. “Asher, why are we still here? So many companies have tried to poach us, but we’ve stayed loyal to this company, to her. And this is how she repays us. She’s clearly trying to push us out.” Other colleagues chimed in, expressing their agreement. Soon enough, Celeste walked in with a stern expression. Finn, seeing her as his savior, exaggerated the story to her. “You want to leave? Then go ahead!” Celeste sneered. Another colleague tried to defend me, but Celeste retorted, “You must all have been bribed by Asher to speak for him.” The colleague was left speechless. I found her accusations laughable. Whenever anyone defended me, she would accuse them of being bribed, effectively shutting them up. Staying seemed pointless now. I began packing my things to leave. Seeing this, my colleagues also started packing. Celeste paused in shock and then got angry. Just as she was about to speak, Finn whispered something to her, and her expression softened. “Those who want to leave, may do so. But for those who stay, there’s a $5,000 monthly raise, and when the company goes public, you’ll receive stock options.” Several people paused and looked at her. I knew they were surprised that Celeste still hadn’t realized the company couldn’t go public anymore. Recently, the finance department had repeatedly raised concerns about the accounting issues, but she ignored them. They finally reported everything truthfully. They planned to inform her later, but last night, our competitor had already taken her to court. Celeste was oblivious, mistaking their pause for hesitation to leave. She looked smug. “I’m pleased with your decision. Tonight, our investors will be coming to evaluate us. As long as you all perform well, I won’t disappoint you.” “This year’s year-end bonus is a car, and if you do well, next year’s will be a house.” She glanced at me triumphantly, then whispered, “See, Asher? No matter how much you try to get them cars, in the end, it’s all about the money.” “As long as I offer enough, I can keep them here.” I was about to respond when the receptionist rushed in to inform Celeste, “Ms. Celeste, someone is here…” Before she could finish, Finn interrupted loudly. “Is it our business partner? They weren’t supposed to arrive until the evening. Maybe they see our potential.” Celeste also realized and sneered at me. “You’ll regret this now.” Just then, there was a commotion outside, and Celeste hurried to the door. She froze when she saw who it was. Two police officers entered. They presented their badges and said coldly, “Celeste, you’ve been reported for embezzling company funds and tax evasion. Please come with us for investigation.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295598”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

“Julia, stay with me. You’re the only one I want, alright?” That was the only romantic thing Jack ever said to me. I had admired him for years as a younger classmate. Among all the women Jack had been with, I was the one who obeyed him the most. I genuinely loved him, but that didn’t matter to him. He was always indifferent, dismissive, and contemptuous toward me. My love for him faded, and I moved on. But then Jack changed completely; he went off the deep end. He accused, “Julia, you looked down on me from the beginning…” The fields where we first met were filled with blooming starry flowers, yet he never understood their significance. Deep down, Jack had no respect for women, including me. His father was the chairman of a leading corporation, and his mother owned the largest pharmaceutical company in the city. After Jack was born, they each went their separate ways, indulging in affairs. This environment influenced Jack profoundly. I, too, was inexplicably drawn to him, captivated by a mysterious allure. When my first feelings of love emerged, I couldn’t resist him. Whenever he was drunk, he would hold me and say, “Julia, you’re different…” I heard those words countless times. I had met his first love, who was just like the women his father pursued. Young Jack spent lavishly on her at nightclubs every night. After a week of their affair, she vanished from the scene, and I never saw her with Jack again. Out of curiosity, I asked my best friend’s brother, who owned a nightclub. He told me that Jack’s first love wanted to climb the social ladder for someone she truly loved. She frequented nightclubs, seeking out inexperienced rich kids, and Jack’s reputation as a playboy made him her target. While she moved from bed to bed every night for her beloved, that man got engaged to a wealthy young lady. When the truth came out, she was discarded like an old shoe by the man she loved. On my way home, I thought for a long time about many things and ultimately didn’t know whether she felt deep affection or was just obsessed. Perhaps it was her way of expressing love… Back home, I recalled what my friend Bob said. He asked, “Is Jack treating you well?” I was at a loss for words. Was he treating me well… “Julia, you’d be better off just going after Jack’s money,” Bob sighed and gently patted my head. For money? Just for money? I don’t think I can do that. “Julia, I want to see you.” Jack’s message popped up on my phone. Without hesitation, I took a cab to the address he sent. It was a lovers’ hotel. When I knocked on the door, a large bouquet of starry flowers greeted me, followed by Jack’s handsome face, smiling like a memory from the past. The first time I was captivated by him, it was just like this. I met Jack when I was 18, and I stayed with him for five years. I was timid and introverted, orphaned and raised by my uncle. My aunt treated me well, but my uncle looked down on me. Luckily, my uncle was henpecked, so I grew up fine. I became best friends with my neighbor, Rose. When my aunt was away on business trips, I’d often stay over at their place, and over time, I got to know Bob. He was gentle, always looking at me with kind eyes. Unlike Jack’s gaze, which was full of feigned affection… Yet, despite everything, I still fell for Jack. A message from my uncle’s friend said my uncle was drunk and needed to be picked up before someone else took advantage. Despite my uncle not liking me, he raised me for many years, and my aunt was abroad on business. I hurriedly took a cab there. I slowly pushed open the private room door. “Oh! A college student? You’re in for a treat today.” My uncle sat in the middle, not the least bit drunk, while the pot-bellied man beside him laughed, looking at me with lustful eyes. I realized I had been tricked and fearfully looked at my uncle.

“She’s just a waste of money, a parasite. Anyone who wants her can have her. Just have fun, brothers.” Hearing my uncle’s words, I turned and ran out, but this was the innermost room. Without the bartender from earlier, I couldn’t leave. With a crash, I felt dizzy, blood on my forehead, and fell to the ground. My palms were pierced by shattered glass. “Run, why don’t you!” The pot-bellied man’s blurry figure appeared before me. It was over. It was really over this time. Tears streamed down my face, my vision blurred, and the pain was so intense I couldn’t stand. “Get lost!” Before fainting, I heard a pleasant voice and saw a blurry figure… I woke up in a hotel bed, my forehead and hands bandaged. “You’re awake.” It was the first time I met Jack. His youthful face was clean, with handsome and bold features. I was momentarily at a loss. “Did you save me?” The boy looked at me for a while, then glanced away and nodded. I quickly thanked him. He didn’t look at me or speak. Did he want money? But he didn’t seem like he needed it. “Snapchat, maybe?” I asked softly. He looked at me, but his gaze was no longer the same. Now it was full of disgust and disdain. I looked down, feeling helpless. That look was just like my uncle’s. “Jack.” He threw his phone in front of me, his voice cold. “Julia.” I quickly added him on Snapchat, noticing his dark profile picture. “Julia, the name suits you, acting all innocent.” He raised an eyebrow, his tone casual. I looked up in shock, seeing a mischievous smile on his face. “Automatic transfer of ten thousand dollars.” The mechanical voice came from Jack’s phone, for the medical and hotel expenses I just sent. This hotel looked expensive, and I only had twelve thousand left in my account. “What does this mean?” “Medical fees and hotel expenses.” “Did you add me on Snapchat for this?” Jack’s handsome brows furrowed, disbelief in his voice. I slowly got out of bed, my head finally feeling better. Seeing me silent, Jack suddenly pulled me, his expression dark and uncertain. He looked at me with hesitation before finally speaking. “Julia, stay with me, and from now on, I’ll only want you, alright?” At the time, I thought it was a question, but it turned out to be a statement. He was notifying me, not asking or negotiating. And yet, I inexplicably nodded and agreed. But there was no joy in his eyes. It seemed as simple as saying, “Let’s have breakfast.” After that, I left my uncle’s house and was placed in a villa by Jack. Rather than respect, it felt more like disdain and contempt. He never touched me. But for anniversaries, birthdays, and every holiday, he always gave me gifts, never missing one. He frequented the nightclubs every night without exception. Yet I fell for him. I wondered if asking certain questions would mean losing even what little we had. I never spent the money he sent to my account. I continued working part-time at the flower shop with my best friend. I didn’t tell Jack any of this, afraid he would look down on me even more. To someone like him, a privileged young man, I feared being seen as a blemish…

“Hey, it’s my birthday today. Can you spend some time with me?” I read the message that popped up on Jack’s phone and watched him head to the bathroom. The baby’s breath on the table caught my eye, and I let out a rueful smile. Julia, you’ve got to wake up and let go. Did you really think Jack loved you? The sound of running water stopped. I closed my eyes, wiped away my tears, and looked at Jack in his bathrobe. My heart felt a pang of sorrow. His eyes remained the same—aloof, cold, with a smile that never reached them. It felt so insincere. Who was he trying to fool with this act? Me? Well, he was quite the performer. After all, I’ve been with him for five years. “What’s up with you?” Jack looked puzzled after I stared at him for a while. I slowly removed my top, leaving only my undergarments and a thin white dress. “Jack, what do you really think of me?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck. It was the first time we were this close—close enough for me to feel his heartbeat. “Julia, what’s going on?” Jack grabbed my arm, a mix of urgency and a hint of panic in his eyes. “Why are you giving me so much money? What do you want?” “Just stay by my side. I’ve got things to do today, so I can’t have dinner with you.” With that, Jack left. Right. I slumped to the floor, knowing from the start it was all in my head, yet I still walked straight into humiliation. I took off my clothes and took a shower. It should’ve ended sooner. “Hey, look, Jack’s spending his birthday with that girl,” Rose messaged me on WhatsApp. I scrolled down and saw it was from Lily, one of Jack’s flings. I looked at myself in the mirror and slapped myself hard three times. It was time to wake up completely. I’ve always been the one to blame for my own downfall, delusion, and consequences. “Rose, I’m tired. I don’t want to like him anymore.” After sending that message, I dressed in a daze. As I left, I caught sight of the baby’s breath on the table, its beauty almost blinding. Back at the villa, the couple’s slippers at the door were my doing. Overall, all the double items in the house were my doing. The first time he used them, he didn’t say he disliked them. I liked to deceive myself into thinking he liked me. I looked at the cold, empty house and let out a bitter laugh. I thought, it’s okay. I’ll leave soon too. Give it more time, and I’ll surely forget him. Everyone will be happy. Letting go of Jack means letting go of myself too. I picked up the photo album from the bedside table. It was full of photos I secretly took of Jack. In one, he smiled unintentionally, a young man at the peak of his youth, running with vigor. There was also a photo of the first time he gave me baby’s breath. Memories flooded back, and I seemed to smell the fresh scent of the baby’s breath and the sweet mountain breeze. A gentle breeze brushed Jack’s face as he awkwardly took the bouquet from behind and shoved it into my hands. “Jack, can I take a photo?” It was the first time I asked him for something. He hesitated but then nodded awkwardly. I quickly took the photo, fearing he might change his mind. As I reached for the flowers, he tossed them aside. “I have something to do. You should go back.” With that, Jack left. I slowly walked back, holding the bouquet of baby’s breath he’d thrown on the ground.

The last warmth I had with Jack was when he clung to me after getting drunk, like a rascal. But I cherished even this little warmth. Love pierced my heart—this phrase, I really seemed to feel it. But Jack completely forgot his vow. Lily, his childhood friend, had been with him longer than I had. His friends often called her “sister-in-law.” Jack never denied it, only said Lily was special to him. Jack started saying I was being unreasonable, and his tone grew impatient. I was holding the anniversary gift I planned to give Jack, thinking we’d talk today since he hadn’t cheated. Suppressing my heartache, I was about to call him when I unexpectedly saw him and his mom get out of a car. A young girl was holding Jack’s arm, and when she stumbled, Jack quickly held her tight. That girl was no one else but Lily, Jack’s childhood friend. So their relationship wasn’t just rumors. I dialed Jack’s number and watched him carefully support Lily into the restaurant. He didn’t answer at first, but soon called back. “What’s up, Julia? I was in a meeting and couldn’t answer.” Jack’s voice was as cold as ever, not even bothering to add a hint of warmth to his lie. I forced a smile and said slowly, “I’ll pick you up from work. I’m off now.” “No need, it’ll take a while here. I’m quite busy. You should go home and rest.” Busy? What exactly are you busy with? My heart ached. “Alright.” I hung up. The phone rang again, this time it was from Jack’s mother. She started scolding right away: “Julia, stay away from my son. Lily’s back, and they’re planning to get married. They’ve already picked out rings.” The line went dead with a beep. Rings? I suddenly remembered the ring Jack had hidden in the bedside table a few days ago. Why was he being so secretive? I went to my friend’s house, feeling lost. Rose gently rubbed my head and said softly, “Julia, if you’re tired, let it go. He’s Jack, a reckless wanderer.” “I thought even if he was a wanderer, he would come back for me. He said he’s only for me.” I cried so hard my stomach churned, feeling nauseous, dry-heaving with nothing coming out. The next time I saw Jack was the following evening. He was in the kitchen, cooking soup. My heart suddenly felt warm, hoping he might explain things to me. But after a long while, as he poured the soup into a thermos, I watched him. He seemed a bit flustered and spoke softly, “My friend isn’t feeling well. I’m taking this over. You order some takeout for yourself, okay? Don’t worry, it’s a guy.” I threw the gift I was holding into the trash, smiled, and looked at him. At that moment, I was completely exhausted. “It’s obviously for your childhood friend Lily. Why lie to me?” “If you’ve fallen for someone else, just tell me. I can let you both be together.” “Jack, your past vows, the vow that you only want me, don’t worry about it. I just hope you’re with the person you like.” “I, Julia, am not that cheap. I just thought you turned back for me.” “Just take it as me being delusional, alright?” For the first time, Jack’s indifferent face showed panic. “Julia, I said I only want you. Don’t overthink.” That rare panic. I avoided his embrace. “Jack, I’ll ask once. What’s the deal between you and Lily?” As he was about to reply, I added softly, “Don’t lie again, or else… we’ll never see each other again.” The air suddenly went silent, and we could only hear each other’s breathing.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295597”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

I stumbled upon a message from another woman on his phone: “I got a new dress. Want to come over tonight and see it?” The photo attached showed a skimpy piece of black lace, barely covering anything. Enraged, I confronted him. He brushed it off as a joke with a coworker, even turning it on me, suggesting I was making something out of nothing. Worse, he insinuated I had something going on with his brother. So, I actually turned to his brother. His brother is 6’2″, muscular, handsome, wealthy, and influential. I wasn’t really at a loss. **Chapter 1** The black lace in the photo was ridiculously small, delicately held between two fingers with red nail polish. Due to the angle, a hint of cleavage was visible in the photo. Evan emerged from the bathroom. “I have a party tonight. I’ll probably be back late, so don’t wait up.” “You know you don’t enjoy these parties; otherwise, I’d have taken you with me,” he said while getting dressed. “I want to go today.” His hands paused while tying his tie, but he quickly resumed as if nothing had happened. Maybe my tone was a bit harsh, and he sensed something was off. He chuckled lightly, his back to me. “You don’t like these parties, right? It’s just a bunch of guys; you wouldn’t enjoy it.” “What kind of party only has two people?” He spun around, his scrutinizing gaze shifting from my face to the phone on the table. “You checked my phone!” He unlocked it with his fingerprint, glanced at the new message, and then stuffed it back into his pocket. I hadn’t even started questioning him, but he was already on the offensive, looking fierce. “Coco, you never used to check my phone. You’ve changed!” “Evan, who really changed here? You haven’t even explained yourself. After all these years, how could you do this to us?” I was furious, my fists pounding the sofa. He irritably loosened his tie. “I told you, she’s just a colleague. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.” His eyes darted around as he slumped on the sofa armrest. I stood before him. “A colleague showing you lingerie, huh?” He pursed his lips, impatient, eyes red, looking up at me. “I haven’t even mentioned how you and Mike were sketchy last time. Who knows what you two were up to?” That was just a department dinner that ended late. I happened to run into Mike, so we came back together. Suddenly, I wanted to laugh. It was just like the videos I’d seen, where men raise their voices and counterattack when feeling guilty or exposed. “You two have been together all along, right? You look down on me, couldn’t handle being alone, so you went for my brother.” Desperate? It was the first time I realized he had this side. My hands shook at my sides, but I held back the tears. “Yeah, you’re right. I do like your brother. He’s better than you in every way.” He stared at me, incredulous. “Say that again!” “I like your brother. We’ve been together for a while now. Satisfied?” Evan’s fiery gaze moved from my face to the doorway, where Mike, his brother, stood. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, a dark suit, hands in his pockets, standing tall. His cold gaze through the lenses landed on me, making my cheeks burn. I sobered up a bit, unsure how much he’d heard. His leather shoes clacked on the floor, and a shadow loomed over me, making my heart race. Evan spoke first, pointing at me. “Big brother, she’s lying, right?” I frowned, about to speak, but his actions stopped me. Mike walked up to me, reaching out his hand, a ring on his left index finger. Under his calm gaze, I inexplicably placed my hand in his. **Chapter 2** Evan stormed downstairs. Rain pounded on the car roof, the engine roared, and he drove off. Rain surrounded the balcony, enclosing it in a tight space. I wrapped a shawl over my silver silk pajamas and sank into the sofa. Before this, he showed no signs of anything unusual. I always thought we were the happiest. Even if we might never have kids together. He was busy with work but called me every day. If he was coming home late, he’d let me know in advance, so I wouldn’t wait up. He’d tuck me in at night, always prepared surprises for holidays. When he had time, he’d cook for me, even if his skills weren’t great. He said he wanted to make it for me. So, when I saw the message from that woman, I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a misunderstanding. To confirm my suspicions, I scrolled far up, hoping to find it was sent to the wrong person or that Evan had rejected her advances. Clearly, I was disappointed. They chatted every day. I couldn’t reach the top of their messages, which meant they’d been together for a long time. It was all real, not a misunderstanding. When the lies were exposed, and the truth was out, he showed his ugly side. It felt like all the past tenderness was an illusion. He was furious and made wild accusations, so different from the Evan I remembered. Memories flooded back, the sound of my phone hitting the floor snapped me back. Looking up, I saw him on the third-floor balcony—Mike, Evan’s brother. Black trousers, black shirt. Holding a glass of red wine, his expression indifferent, as if he always was like this, showing no emotion. Maybe because he was the head of the Johnson Corporation, years of business ups and downs had given him such a calm demeanor. I wanted to apologize, but he was gone from the balcony. Since Evan left, he hadn’t come home for days. Today, his assistant helped him back. “Ma’am, the young master drank too much today. I’ll leave him to you.” He was sprawled on the sofa, his face flushed and reeking of alcohol. He rarely drank this much. If he occasionally drank too much during social events, I’d help clean him up. I felt sorry for him, drinking so much to socialize. Now, seeing him like this, I stared at him for a long time, though my heart was already in turmoil. Countless raindrops fell on my heart, cold enveloping me, making it hard to breathe. After all, we were once so perfect. Together since sophomore year, it’s been six years now. I wanted to take a knife and cut open his chest, to see what’s inside. What kind of person can maintain a calm and beautiful life with me, while having another family outside? I don’t understand. I don’t understand why there are such people in the world. Lying in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, even though I was exhausted, I couldn’t sleep. I was a child left behind by parents who worked away from home, sometimes not returning for a year. Later, they died in a car accident, and my grandmother passed too. I had too little love. Compared to other children left behind, I was even more hesitant to believe in others’ sincerity. I was afraid of gaining something only to lose it again. But I was cautious. Why did it end like this? Back then, he was the famous rich kid on campus. I was the well-rounded school beauty. His pursuit was intense, but I was unmoved. I didn’t believe someone like him could be sincere. Besides, I was busy with studies and work, had no time for such thoughts. But after a class-organized event, I was moved. It had rained the night before, and we walked along the winding mountain road. When I got in the car, the only seat left was the front passenger seat, and Evan was driving. It was our first outing, everyone was excited, discussing what to play when we arrived, unaware of the impending danger. A landslide blocked the road. Evan was about to get out to check, classmates in the back were craning their necks to look out the window. “Be careful, Evan…” Before the words were out, a rock rolled down and hit the hood hard. By the time we reacted, it was too late. Mud and rocks flowed down. It was too late to reverse. In panic, he pulled me into his arms. He let out a few grunts and then went silent. In the hospital, I accepted his confession. He took out a simple ring and put it on my ring finger. He wore an identical one. Tears fell down my temples, soaking the pillow. A loud knocking at the door pulled me from my memories. The knocking sounded like it would break the door down. **Chapter 3** “Mom, what are you doing here?” She stormed in, glanced at the bed behind me, then at Evan sprawled on the sofa. “Mom? You still remember I’m your mom? Is this how you treat your husband?” “He hasn’t been home for days, and now he’s back, you don’t even clean him up and let him sleep on the sofa while you sleep comfortably in bed.” I didn’t want to explain. She never liked me anyway. She started lecturing me again, about how a husband is like the sky, and a mother-in-law’s words are the rules. I used to endure because of Evan, but not anymore. “Someone else can clean him outside; I don’t need to.” The door swung open and someone stormed in with an air of hostility, casting a glance at the bed behind me before looking over at Evan, who was sprawled out on the sofa. “Mother? So you do remember I’m your mother. Is this how you treat your husband?” “He’s been gone for days, and when he finally returns, you don’t even bother to clean him up. You let him lie on the sofa while you sleep comfortably in bed.” I had no desire to explain anything to her; we’ve never really gotten along. She started on the usual lecture about how a husband is everything and a mother-in-law’s word is law. I used to put up with her for Evan’s sake, but not anymore. “Someone else can deal with him outside; I don’t need to.” She was dressed in opulent attire, carrying herself with the air of a wealthy lady, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she pointed at me. “That’s because you’re useless. All this time and you haven’t even managed to bear a child. Maybe you should look into your own shortcomings.” So she knew all along about her son’s affair. “Just as I thought, you should always consider a man’s parents. With a mother like you, it’s no wonder he lacks any moral direction.” I’m usually quite mild-mannered, but this was the first time I spoke so disrespectfully to her. She pointed at me, her finger trembling. “This is unbelievable! How did my Evan end up with such an unworthy woman?” “What era are we in? Still harping on about being ‘virtuous’?” She had the nanny help Evan clean up, and amidst her curses, I turned my back on her and returned to my room. Lately, I’ve been out of sorts at work. My colleagues commented that I looked worn out. This wasn’t some trivial spat that would blow over in a few days. It was years of trust collapsing in an instant. Warm memories shattered by the bitterness of mutual hurt. A woman, dressed to the nines, blocked my path. Her face was full of arrogant disdain. I knew who she was. Lily, the woman sending Evan messages on WhatsApp. “Coco, I assume you know who I am by now? Let’s not beat around the bush.” “Evan has agreed to marry me, so you’d better get the message and step aside. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I smirked slightly. “Are you sure he’ll actually marry you?” She rolled her eyes at me. “Of course. Do you know how much he likes me? He’s been with me for so long, and he hasn’t even touched me.” I laughed out loud. She was furious. “Have you lost your mind? What’s so funny?” I moved a little closer. “I just want to tell you, if a man and a woman are in bed together, and he’s not interested, then he’s just—” Before I could finish, a slap landed on my face, ringing in my ears. It was Evan, standing there while Lily laughed mockingly beside him. My face burned, and he dragged me a few steps away. “What nonsense are you spouting?” With a slap, I returned the favor. Chapter 4 He stared at me in disbelief, his expression one of shock. To him, I had always been gentle and understanding. But hadn’t I always seen him as a considerate family man too? Now, everything was different. He pulled me into the car, and my legs, encumbered by my dress, banged against the door frame. Before I could even fasten my seatbelt, the car lurched forward. It screeched to a stop suddenly, and he dragged me up to the second floor. I was powerless against his strength. “Coco, admit it, you look down on me! So why did you marry me?” “You women are all the same, right? Just after money. If I had none, you’d have left long ago!” I couldn’t help but cry—was it the pain in my knee or the hurt in my heart? “Evan, you were the one who pursued me first. Have you lost your conscience?” He picked up a cup from the table and smashed it on the floor. The flying glass cut both of us. I touched the cut near my eye, and it stung sharply. His eyes narrowed, a flash of danger in them. “I have my issues, but didn’t you know that before we married? What now, can’t handle being alone?” “If you want a man, find one outside, not at home, Coco. You’ve got some nerve.” His words were harsh, as if he were the victim. I’m not good at arguing, and at this point, there was nothing left to say. I pulled out the divorce papers from my bag. Half a month ago, I never imagined we’d end up here, after five years of sharing a bed and whispering to each other every night. Seeing the words “divorce agreement,” he rushed over and tore it in half. A cool breeze swept in from the balcony, and at some point, it had started raining outside. The rain splattered on his black leather shoes, and the droplets pounded on the umbrella, sliding down, surrounding us in a curtain of rain. “What are you doing? Divorce would be good for both of us, right?” His eyes were bloodshot, truly looking like a victim: “Divorce? Not a chance!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295596”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

My father had a severe gambling problem, amassing a massive debt that lingered even after he disappeared. To settle it, I became entangled with a local billionaire, Jack, agreeing to a deal of five million a year. But secrets have a way of surfacing. One day, a member of Jack’s family arrived at my door, offering me twice the money and stripping away my dignity. It was Jack’s son, his handsome face expressionless as he handed me a substantial check and asked, “Is this enough?” As I exited the private room, I heard him say, “You could have been Mrs. Jack openly. Do you regret it, Judy?” I didn’t turn back after hearing those words. My eyes filled with tears, but I held them back, not wanting to cry in front of him. I wanted to apologize, but my throat was too dry to speak. Jessica’s voice came again, asking, “Knowing I’m Jack’s son, do you regret it, Judy?” I couldn’t bear to listen any longer and quickly left. Standing at the shop entrance, the relentless snow outside was biting cold. It was December in North City, and the chill cut to the bone. A message from my mom appeared on my phone, asking why I hadn’t returned yet since Mr. Jack was waiting for me. My eyes dimmed as I clutched the check in my bag. Just then, my phone rang—it was Jack. I stared at the screen for a moment before answering. His voice came through, slightly distorted, as he got straight to the point: “Did Jessica come to see you?” I shivered, unsure if it was due to the cold or him. “Yes.” Hearing my response, he clicked his tongue and said, “I’ll send you abroad. Come back in two or three years. After all, Jessica is my only son.” He was suggesting I leave for a few years and return as though nothing had happened. I wanted to object, but I heard my mom’s voice on the phone. “We’ll do as you say. Judy doesn’t have much of an opinion.” Jack grunted in agreement and added, “Keep the money Jessica gave you. But don’t even think about running away.” He chuckled softly and said, “You can try if you want, right, darling?”

The call ended, leaving me standing in the snow, feeling frozen and unable to move. I heard the shop door open behind me, followed by footsteps crunching on the snow that stopped right behind me. Turning with difficulty, I saw it was Jessica. He was wearing a black coat, but his scarf was gone. “Let’s go, I’ll give you a ride,” Jessica offered. I looked at him in surprise. His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened. Sitting in his car, I was still processing the situation. The warmth inside and the familiar teddy bear cushion on the passenger seat provided a comforting environment. “We had planned to see a movie next weekend,” Jessica suddenly said. “What were you thinking then, Judy?” In the rearview mirror, I saw his mocking gaze. It felt like he wanted to torment me. “I’m sorry,” I managed to say. “Ha…” Jessica laughed coldly. Unable to face him, I looked down. Jessica asked, “Why didn’t you come to me if your family needed money? I told you before, I could support you no matter what.” Tears filled my eyes, but I couldn’t find the words to defend myself. “I… I don’t know…” I stammered. “You didn’t know Jack is my father,” Jessica said. “You didn’t know I am his son, did you?” After saying that, he exhaled, paused, and added, “Judy, you’re really something.” My gaze fell blankly on the expansive snow outside the car window.

I quietly bore Jessica’s harsh words, but he couldn’t handle my silence. The road was icy and difficult to traverse, but he continued to speed up. I felt the car losing control and turned to look at him. Jessica looked back at me, smiled, and said, “Judy, you’re not afraid to die, are you?” I heard the tires skidding on the icy surface and the startled cries of pedestrians. My gaze must have been full of sorrow—I didn’t want to die. I still had so much to do. He seemed to sense my thoughts and turned away from me. The car kept picking up speed until we slid off the road and into a snowbank. The windows were coated in snow, leaving the inside of the car dark. He didn’t turn on the lights, and I found myself gasping for air, relieved to be alive. Jessica, however, remained very calm. He said, “Last night, I found out my father was having an affair, and it was with you. Judy, can you guess what I wanted to do most at that moment?” The air felt thick and my breathing quickened. Then, Jessica leaned closer and gripped my neck tightly, slowly squeezing. I shook my head, trying to escape the suffocation, but he bit my lip mercilessly, and I tasted blood. “I want to kill you,” he said, “Judy.” The suffocation left my mind blank. He wiped my lips and then turned on the car’s light. Jessica’s face appeared before me, his lips also stained with blood. He leaned in and bit my earlobe hard. “Judy, I won’t let you go.” My heart ached, nearly breaking. The fear of dying and the pain of suffocation were unbearable. In the rearview mirror, I saw his fingerprints on my neck. Just now, Jessica truly wanted me dead.

The car was lifted, and we were rescued. Someone checked on me and looked at Jessica with reproach. I just shook my head and said it was nothing. Jessica’s eyes fell on my neck and lips, his gaze dark and silent. I eventually caught a taxi home. The reflection in the car window showed me looking disheveled. The driver joked, “Had a fight with your boyfriend?” “A big one,” he added. I forced a smile and didn’t reply. He pointed to the rearview mirror, “Your boyfriend’s still there.” I turned to look back. Jessica stood there, his black coat covered in snow. Back home, Jack wasn’t there. I sighed and sat on the bed. My mom, however, came in without knocking. I frowned and said, “Mom, please remember to knock.” She dismissed it, saying, “Mr. Jack isn’t here.” Hearing this, I felt a slight sting in my heart, but that was all. “How much did Mr. Jack’s son give you?” she asked, glancing at my bag. I lowered my eyes and said, “I’ll pay off the remaining five million debt.” My mom wasn’t satisfied with my answer and wanted to ask more, but I said wearily, “I want to take a bath and rest first, Mom.” She finally stopped talking and left. Watching her leave, I took the check out of my pocket and hid it where she wouldn’t find it. After bathing, I looked at the slightly messy table and sighed deeply. With a gambler in the family, it’s not just Dad.

Mr. Jack has been out of touch for several days. My mother is anxious, but I feel oddly at ease. The heavy snowfall has closed schools and businesses, bringing the city to a standstill. Yet, the morning news continues to air punctually. [A prominent businessman in the city, Jack, and his wife, Yan Shu, were discovered dead in their home around 10 PM last night…] I froze, feeling as if the blood in my veins turned to ice. My mother rushed out from the kitchen, her face a picture of shock. “Mr. Jack! How could Mr. Jack be dead?” she cried out. “What do we do now?” I sat on the sofa, paralyzed. Her cries echoed around me, but I could barely hear them. How could this have happened? How could his mother…? The doorbell rang, snapping me back to reality. My mother wiped her tears, ignoring the bell. I dragged myself to the door, my feet heavy. Opening it, a gust of cold wind hit me. The person at the door was wrapped in the bitter chill of snow and wind. Dressed in a black suit, with dark circles under his eyes and light stubble on his chin, it was Jessica. I stared at him, taking in his weary face. My heart ached with a bittersweet pang. Jessica was supposed to be proud, dazzling, full of life—not like this, defeated and drained. “Jessica…” I whispered. He looked at me, his eyes empty, and said, “Come home with me.” My mother protested loudly behind us, unaware of who Jessica was. I grabbed a coat and followed him, leaving behind my mother’s curses. “What are you doing with that boy? Such a worthless thing…” Jessica paused, and I nearly bumped into him. I heard his rough voice say, “Like mother, like daughter.” In the icy cold, his words felt like a splash of freezing water. I stood frozen. Jessica opened the car door and looked back at me. “You owe me, Judy,” he said.

He didn’t drive; we sat together in the backseat. Jessica didn’t say a word to me the whole way. When we arrived at Jack’s house, I was taken aback. Everything seemed perfectly normal. Jessica turned to look at me, as if he knew what I was thinking. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Judy.” Jessica was unusually gentle with Judy. Holding my hand, he led me into a study, where he moved some devices, revealing an underground passage. My heart sank. I resisted, standing at the entrance, unwilling to enter. Jessica’s demeanor changed; his expression turned dark. He tightened his grip on my wrist. “You need to know, Judy,” Jessica said. He pulled me into the passage. Dim lights lined the way, seemingly placed there on purpose. My body trembled; I resisted more and more. “Please, Jessica. I’m begging you,” I cried. But Jessica merely paused, then pulled me along faster. My heart felt dead. We reached a room with chains on the door but no lock. He gently pushed the door open, and the dim lights inside illuminated our faces. There was a red bed and countless objects and recording equipment. The screen in the middle of the room displayed my face. I collapsed at his feet, all strength gone. Jessica crouched down to meet my gaze. His eyes were too clear. I could see only hatred. “Father wasn’t home yesterday. Mother found this place,” Jessica said calmly. “She’s really stupid. She actually believed Father loved her.” My body couldn’t stop shaking, but he gently lifted my chin. “You think so too, don’t you, Judy?” Jessica said. He pushed me forward, making me face the big screen showing my image. “You killed them, Judy. You destroyed Jack’s family and me,” he said. I trembled, trying to speak, but he clamped his hand around my throat. The suffocation was more intense than yesterday, overwhelming my entire body. My limbs flailed helplessly as Jessica’s face began to blur. When I woke up again, I was lying on that despised red bed. I got up, only to find the door locked from the outside. There was no water, no food. I hugged my knees, sitting on the bed. My gaze began to drift into emptiness. I thought, perhaps dying here wouldn’t be so bad.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295595”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

To avoid the relentless marriage pressure, I told my parents I lost my job and had racked up a huge debt, figuring no one would want me then. I didn’t expect to be disowned and kicked out that same night. “We don’t have a daughter who brings such shame to our family!” “Get out, get out, get out! If debt collectors come knocking during the holidays, how are we supposed to face anyone?” “Angel, you’re an adult now. You need to take responsibility for yourself. We’re too old to bear this burden for you.” Should I tell them it’s their son who’s in debt, not me? Chapter As New Year approached, the marriage pressure calls became more frequent. “Daughter, you’re already in your late twenties. What are you going to do if you don’t get married soon?” “Your elementary school classmate, I forget his name, already has two kids!” “How can your father and I hold our heads up? People think there’s something wrong with our daughter! If you don’t marry, your brother will struggle to find a wife too!” “Listen to me, your aunt set you up on a blind date. The guy is honest and doesn’t talk much! He’s really good! You have to meet him when you come back for New Year, got it?” “There are also other men introduced by relatives. I’ve lined them up for you. It doesn’t matter if they’re good or bad, as long as someone wants you! Otherwise, in a couple of years, even the guys at the village entrance won’t want you!” By the end of the year, it was almost like clockwork, four calls a day, perfectly timed with meals. Colleagues who witnessed all this were secretly mocking me: “Is your family breeding livestock?” “Even for breeding, you’d want a strong one to ensure the quality of offspring. Your family… not even the village guys?” I was blushing from the ridicule. My manager’s gaze was also becoming strange. With my limited work experience, I guessed they either wanted to make me more compliant or suspected I was about to get married and become unsuitable for work! I was both restless and angry! I’m only 23, in the prime of my youth! At the beginning of the year, I joined a big company. Every day, my parents would call me with workplace survival tips like “be diligent, serve tea and clean up, give gifts, sweet talk, and use connections.” After being overheard, I was ridiculed and became a minor office joke. At the end of the year, because of countless marriage pressure calls, I became the office laughingstock again. I walked to a quiet corner, and another call came through. “Stop pressuring me! I’m only 23!” I ruffled my hair in frustration and pleaded into the phone with a tearful voice. “I was just negotiating a business deal! Your calls ruined the cooperation, and I’m about to get fired and held accountable!” “The deal was worth millions! Are you going to compensate for that?” “Stop calling.” The marriage pressure call ended. My mom didn’t say anything. Before I realized it, she hung up with a “ding.” I was stunned for a couple of seconds, then exhaled a breath of relief, finally able to enjoy some peace. Days passed without any marriage pressure calls, and I was in a great mood, even eating two extra bowls of rice. “Finally got through it!” I packed up my things, ready to head home. “Next year is a new year, with new gossip. Everyone will forget.” I comforted myself. Chapter

When I got home, it was dinner time. “Dad, Mom, Brother,” I greeted each one. Seeing my brother and his new girlfriend was a bit of a surprise. “Hi, hi, I’m Angel, Jack’s sister. Make yourself at home!” They seemed surprised to see me, their chopsticks frozen in mid-air, and the atmosphere felt a bit tense. “What’s up? Didn’t I text you that I’d be home today?” I looked at my silent family, feeling a bit strange. “No, uh, my phone broke, didn’t see it.” My mom awkwardly smiled, pointing with her chopsticks. “You’ve eaten, right? We’re halfway through our meal, you… want some more?” I looked at the leftover food, a bit helpless: “I sent the message to the family group chat.” My dad’s face darkened, frowning as he scolded me: “Just come home, it’s not a big deal!” “Daughter.” My mom quickly stopped him and then hesitated to stop me from getting more dishes. “Yeah? What is it?” “Well, Mom’s phone broke, and I’m getting old, don’t understand these electronic products. Can you buy me a new one?” “Sure.” I didn’t catch any hidden meaning and agreed readily. Since I started working, they’ve often asked me for gifts. She finally showed a smile and went to get me some dishes. “Daughter, it’s good you’re back. We all missed you!” “While everyone’s free for the New Year, I’ve arranged for you to meet your aunt and a few other men introduced by relatives. One every hour! Just check them out, pick one, and aim to get married this holiday.” “You’re still young, you have choices. Wait a couple more years, who will want you then?!” I was so shocked that I dropped my food, the beef roll falling back into the hot pot, quickly picked up by my brother, who glared at me. “This year? Are you kidding?” Seeing their serious expressions, I put down my chopsticks and addressed a reality check about marriage. “Marriage requires a lot of preparation, especially financially.” “For example, how much are you expecting in dowry? How much are you giving me as a bride price?” My mom gave me a pinch of cabbage, giving me a playful look. “You young people love shortcuts, hoping to get rich through marriage! Cars and houses will come in time! Don’t fuss over these! A reliable man is what matters most!” My dad’s face was grim, displeased with my questions. “We’re not selling our daughter, why ask for benefits? You want people to gossip about us?” My mom quickly filled his glass, soothing him. “Listen to Mom, money isn’t important in life. When your dad and I got married, we didn’t care about these things. We had nothing but still made it work.” Seeing I wasn’t moved, she began tearfully lamenting how hard it was to raise me, and how not getting married would be an eternal shame, leaving them restless forever. I got fed up with the pressure, recalling the words that made them quiet before, ready to use the same trick. “It’s not that I don’t want to get married, but marriage involves living together, buying a house, a car, having kids, needing a stable financial base, right?” “Before… you kept calling at inappropriate times, ruining several contracts, and now I’ve been fired. The client is demanding compensation, and I’m in debt by millions. Who would dare marry me? Marry me and share my debt?” The familiar tense atmosphere returned, broken by my dad slamming his chopsticks down. “Who are you trying to fool? You agreed to buy the phone for your mom without hesitation, how can you be in debt?!” “Don’t think we don’t know your little schemes!” “You just don’t want to get married! How are we supposed to hold our heads up in the village?” I stared in disbelief. Were they testing me from the start, setting a trap? No way, we’re family, right? I shook my head, pushing the odd thought away. “Take out a loan! If you’re deep in debt, what’s one more? If you’re covered in lice, you won’t feel itchy!” I said casually, trying to continue eating, but my brother blocked me, so I gave up, not caring anymore. “Anyway, I’m deep in debt now! No job! Anyone who marries me is unlucky! Definitely can’t get married!” “My focus next year is to find a good job, then work for promotions and raises! Be filial to you, alright?” “As for marriage, I’m not considering it for now. Don’t rush me. I’ll marry when I find the right person!” They stared at me, seemingly confirming the truth of my words. Finally, after a moment, my mom clutched her chest, trembling, and began crying again. My image of being obedient and honest since childhood was deeply ingrained, so they probably believed me. But what they didn’t know is once someone starts working, they learn to tell little lies with ease! Watching my mom cry, I felt at a loss. Is not marrying at 23 such a big deal? Is it worth crying over? “So you’re blaming us…” “You want us to pay your debts?” My mom pointed at me, crying as if she was about to faint. “How did I give birth to such a debt-collector?!” Chapter

“I…” Before I could finish my sentence, my dad took a deep breath, threw back a shot of baijiu, and slammed the glass on the ground, asserting his authority as the head of the family. “Impossible! Don’t even think about it!” “Other people’s children go out to work and earn money to support their families. But you? You’re like a failure! Not only didn’t you make money, but you also ended up owing millions!” “I don’t have such a disappointing daughter!” His harsh words left me stunned. Pointing to myself in disbelief, I asked, “Me? Disappointing?” I finally understood what they were implying. They thought I wanted them to help pay off my debts? But the debt isn’t real! Even if it were, shouldn’t a family face hardships together? “What if it was my brother Jack who was in debt?” I asked, not giving up. My dad’s face darkened even more. “Don’t even think of comparing yourself to your brother! He’s the pillar of our family! After a hundred years, everything we have will be his. Don’t even dream of getting a penny!” “Besides, your brother wouldn’t do something like that!” Jack had been looking uncertain, but hearing this, he immediately raised his head proudly. I found it absurd. They say a father’s love is conditional, while a mother’s love is selfless. Could my mom be this heartless too? My mom clutched her chest as if she couldn’t breathe. “What do you mean? Are you blaming us?” “We’re urging you to get married for your own good, so there’s someone to take care of you! If you can’t secure a contract, it’s because you’re not capable!” “If we made a mistake, it’s in raising you too well, making you arrogant! You couldn’t see your place and insisted on working in the big city!” “If you’d dropped out and worked early on, you’d already be married, and you wouldn’t have all these problems!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. In middle school, they wanted me to drop out and work. It was my teacher’s home visit that brought me back to school. I worked hard, finished college with scholarships and part-time jobs. I always thought we were poor, as they always said, raising me was a huge favor. Until last year, when they suddenly took out two million yuan to buy Jack a house. That’s when I realized we weren’t poor; they were just poor to me. By then, I was financially independent, so I didn’t dwell on it. After all, we’re family! My mom continued, “Daughter, you made this mess, you should clean it up yourself! We’re old, how can you bear to let us suffer with you?” Suffer? I’ve never made them suffer. As she bragged, when she was seven months pregnant with me, she was still working hard. I was quiet and obedient. When she argued with my grandma and accidentally fell, I was born with a “splash.” She wanted to earn money and have another child, so she barely raised me, leaving me with my grandparents. They fed me rice soup. Once I started school, being diligent and sensible, I never caused them any trouble. When I was two, my brother was born, and I helped take care of him like half a nanny. Suddenly, I wanted them to suffer a bit. Tears started flowing uncontrollably. “I’m not asking for much. Didn’t Jack prepare 188,000 yuan for his wedding? Lend it to me for now. I’ll pay it back after the Lunar New Year, double!” I gritted my teeth, looking at them hopefully. 188,000 yuan is definitely within their reach. As long as they say “yes,” I’ll repay it double next year! I wasn’t sure what I was fighting for. Maybe this would prove they saw me as family! Chapter

“Angel, what do you mean?” Jack, who had been silent, jumped up excitedly. “Who do you think you are? Do you deserve it?” I looked at him in shock, unable to believe the sweet brother on the phone could become so vicious. “I’ve wanted to say this for a long time. So what if you owe debts? Just ask for more benefits!” “Go ask around, how many college students are there in our area? We endured hardships to send her to college, wasn’t it for this? Why are you being so pretentious?” He shouted at my mom, then looked at me smugly. “You probably don’t know yet, right? Aunt found you a match whose wife just died, leaving him a big inheritance!” “You did pretty well, worth some money! He’s willing to pay 188,000 yuan to marry a college graduate!” “Don’t look so shocked, as if you’re innocent! You’ve worked so hard studying, trying to please mom and dad, isn’t it to find a better husband? If not to attract a man’s attention, why work so hard?” I was furious and slapped him across the face. Before high school, I spent all my vacations on him, teaching him homework and life lessons. In high school, I spent more time studying and working part-time, always buying him snacks and gifts when I had extra money. The effort I put into him wasn’t any less than what my parents did. His words hurt me more than my parents’ schemes. “He’s your brother, how can you hit him?” My mom shrieked, raising her hand to hit me. I dodged quickly, avoiding her hand, but tripped over a chair and fell to the ground. Jack seized the opportunity to kick me in the stomach. The girlfriend he brought home was so scared she dropped her chopsticks, quietly standing up and heading for the door. I curled up, in pain all over, unable to believe these were my family, who claimed to love me and have my best interest at heart! My dad approached, and I thought he was going to help me up. I propped myself on my arms to get up, only to see him looking down at me arrogantly. “Lock her in the room, let Aunt come to pick her up tomorrow.” My heart went cold, finally recognizing the truth. This isn’t my home, and they’re not my family. I bit down on Jack’s hand, drawing blood. He used his other hand to choke me. “You dare hit me! You’ll marry whether you want to or not! That’s your fate!” “If you refuse, I’ll break your legs!” I grabbed his hands, trying to loosen his grip, but I couldn’t match his strength. Asphyxiation set in, and my head started spinning. Tears blurred my vision, and I saw my mom leaning on a chair, crying harder than I was. “Enough! It’s a holiday, don’t you find this unlucky!” “Once you’ve vented, that’s it. We’re still waiting for her to bring in benefits!” I finally got a moment to breathe. “Wait!” “You can’t lock me up…” My dad, impatient, was about to kick me again. I covered my head and shouted, “I said the debt is real!” “They’re already here, right at the village entrance!” “They have knives and axes!” “Let me go, I’ll lead them away!” “Otherwise, none of us will survive tonight!” He paused, looking at me mockingly. “If you’re going to make something up, at least make it believable!” I struggled to look up. “Listen!” My voice was hoarse from the choking, like a ghost. Chapter On my way back, I saw people at the village entrance, smashing things. I wanted to watch but was worried they’d wait too long for me at home, so I quickly asked what was happening. “What else? Debt collecting!” “It’s a good time to collect debts during the holidays!” There are many who drink and gamble in the village, losing a car over the New Year is common. I’ve known that since I was young. But collecting debts during the holidays, this was a first for me. But it doesn’t matter to me, I just want to get away! They’re not family; they’re demons!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295594”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

I’m Jack’s cherished wife. When I learned I would die on the operating table during the birth of my fourth child, I became aware of my fate. My future husband stands before me now, a vulnerable young man, showing me his injuries. “My dad, the gambling addict, hit me again.” “Rose, why does everyone else have a happy family, but I have nothing?” Looking at his bloody wounds, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Your dad did well; he’s meting out justice!” Chapter 1 On the way home from school, Jack showed me his injuries as usual. His hands were clenched tightly, and his face was full of restraint. I felt terrible, worriedly asking him, “Did your dad hit you again?” Jack nodded, feeling wronged: “Last night, he lost at gambling and started hitting me again.” “Why does everyone else have a happy family, but I don’t?” Jack looked at me with red eyes: “Rose, it’s good to have you with me.” “If my mom hadn’t left with someone, my dad wouldn’t have turned out like this.” He made it sound as if his mom was to blame for his dad’s gambling addiction. Something felt off to me. Even now, Jack was defending his dad. Looking at Jack’s bruises, I felt unbearably sad. I didn’t voice my doubts. I just thought about how I could give him more money to pay off his dad’s gambling debts. Even though I’ve given money many times, it still couldn’t satisfy his dad’s appetite. I said, “Why don’t we call the police and let them handle it?” Jack immediately shook his head: “No, if people find out I have a gambling addict dad, how will I face anyone in the future?” He’d rather take the beatings than seek help from the police. I had no choice but to think about how to give Jack the money without hurting his pride. I handed him a card from my bag: “Here’s three hundred thousand dollars, my mom gave it to me as pocket money. You can take it first.” Jack waved my hand away, angrily saying: “What do you take me for? How could I take money from a woman!” I said, “Everything at home is bought for me; I don’t need to spend money.” “You’re so good at studying; you’ll definitely be successful in the future. This amount of money is nothing to you.” Only then was Jack satisfied. Just as he hesitated to take the card, a truck suddenly rushed straight at me. Jack noticed it first and dodged to the side alone. I couldn’t react in time, frozen in place with fear. My mind exploded in a roaring sound, and it felt as if my soul floated upwards. Images flashed before me like a carousel. I saw my future. Chapter 2 The images showed my life with Jack. The first scene was how Jack and I met and fell in love. Jack’s path to adulthood was tough; his dad was a gambling addict, and his mom was missing. He grew up in a violent environment. In his hardest times, he met me. I was his only hope during his youth. The second scene was Jack and I ending a ten-year relationship and getting married. After college, Jack rose rapidly, becoming the CEO of a public company with our family’s help. We entered marriage amidst everyone’s blessings. We became the model couple everyone envied. The third scene was my married life. It gave me chills. To my current self, it seemed more like a horror story, exhausting my future life. After having the third child, I was required to stay home with the kids. Endless household chores drove me crazy. The kids resented me, and Jack stopped coming home. This marriage turned me from a wealthy and leisurely rich girl into a complete madwoman. Later, I got pregnant again, and Jack wanted to keep it. He said, “Children are a blessing. They are the hope for the future.” “Since we have a bond with this child, let’s have it.” I listened. On the day I died of massive hemorrhage giving birth to the fourth child, Jack was in the office flirting with his secretary. Another image showed him chatting with another woman. “I wanted to drive her crazy and send her to a psychiatric hospital, but dying works too.” “I’ve had enough of her for so many years.” “Now her family’s company is mine too. Who dares say I live off a woman now!” “That old hag is dead, Lily, we can finally be together openly.” A piercing screech brought my soul back. The truck screeched to a halt just in front of me, its bumper grazing my knee. Jack finally reacted and ran towards me. “Rose, are you okay?” He pretended to care, but his first reaction was to reach for the bank card in my hand. I dodged him. He asked confusedly, “What’s wrong? Weren’t you going to give it to me?” As he spoke, he accidentally showed me the wounds on his arm again. I originally wondered if the images I’d seen were just illusions in my mind. But Jack’s series of actions made me realize that was my future! I suddenly became clear-headed. Everything was just his ploy. He wanted me to willingly become his endless source of support. Don’t count on bad genes to win the lottery; he’s just like his dad. I smiled brightly and put the card back in my bag. “You’re right; taking money from a woman is indeed shameful.” “I was thinking too much. Your dad hitting you is deserved,” “If he doesn’t vent at home, he’d take it out on society. Bear more of it, consider it a contribution to society.” Jack was instantly angry: “Rose, what’s wrong with you? You never talked like this before.” “Do you know how hurtful it is to talk like this? Don’t say things like that again!” I laughed: “Being beaten by your dad every day is fine, but a few words from me hurt you?” “I really don’t know whether to call you fragile or thick-skinned.” Chapter 3 Jack didn’t expect me to say that. He clenched his fists, his face changing slightly. It took him a while to calm down. Then he started his pitiful routine again. But I didn’t care now and called the driver to pick me up. In the car, the driver took it upon himself to offer Jack a ride home. “Jack, why don’t you get in, and I’ll give you a ride?” I interrupted impatiently: “Emma, remember whose driver you are?” Emma apologized: “Sorry, young lady, I just felt bad for him having such a hard time alone.” I sneered: “If you feel bad, you can play his dad, not use my family’s resources to show charity.” I didn’t avoid saying this in front of Jack, knowing he heard it all. As the car started, I saw Jack glaring at me with resentment in the rearview mirror. Thinking of the conversation he had with others in the visions. He said he had enough of me. Judging by the current look, he must have approached me with ulterior motives from the start. Hah. You can really act, Jack. After spending so much time together, I didn’t even notice. Thinking back on how I gave up luxury car rides to walk home with him every day to care for his sensitive nerves. I wanted to slap myself. Misery seems to find those who can endure it, and that was probably me. Otherwise, would I have died on the operating table for a fourth child? Chapter 4 The next day at school, Jack followed me around. Our classmates egged us on like savages. I used to feel secretly proud. Now I just wanted to sew their mouths shut. Jack’s first reaction when he sat down was to open my bag and help me with my homework. I snatched it back. Kidding, I’m nearly scared to death by my future self. How could I not do my homework? I’d rather read the books to pieces than live that life. I overdid it yesterday and went out today with dark circles. My best friend Eva noticed something was up. “Rose, did you have a fight with Jack?” “Oh, you’re such a spoiled young lady. Jack must suffer a lot from you.” Her words filled my mind with question marks, so I asked her: “Tell me, how did I bully him?” She said flatteringly: “Your relationship is so good. He’s in trouble now. How can you not help him with such a bond?” I was puzzled. Jack usually avoided talking about his dad’s issues. How did Eva know he was in trouble? Before I could think further, Jack interrupted my thoughts. “I thought about it all night. Was it because I only cared about getting myself out of danger yesterday that you’re mad?” “I’m sorry, I swear that no matter what happens in the future, I’ll stand up and protect you first.” I wouldn’t believe that for a second. I took off my shoe, tossed it aside, and teased him like a dog: “Sure, go fetch my shoe and put it on for me, and I’ll believe you.” Jack looked at me in disbelief, full of grievance: “Rose, if you’re mad, you can hit or scold me, but why humiliate me like this?” He placed himself in a humble position, drawing everyone’s sympathy. Classmates echoed in support, criticizing me for being wrong. Eva stepped in to mediate: “Yeah, Rose, Jack’s a guy. How can you make him do that?” She picked up the shoe and put it on for me: “I’ll do it. Don’t make it hard for him.” Anyone who didn’t know would think Eva was Jack’s friend, always speaking for him. I felt something was off. It wasn’t until Eva bent over to put my shoe on and revealed half of a necklace pendant that I finally got it. These two were probably already together. He played the victim, winning everyone’s sympathy. Classmates chimed in, criticizing me for being in the wrong. Eva stepped in to mediate: “Rose, how can you make Jack, a guy, do something like that?” she said, picking up a shoe and putting it on for me. “I’ll do it; don’t make it hard for him.” To anyone watching, it would seem that Eva was Jack’s ally, always speaking up for him. I sensed something was off. It wasn’t until Eva bent down to put on my shoe and I saw half of a necklace pendant that it all clicked. These two have likely been involved for a while. Now they are teaming up to take everything from me. That conversation in the kaleidoscope… The girl named Eva across from me must be the same Eva standing before me. The necklace was a birthday gift I gave Jack for his eighteenth birthday. It was the first time he asked me for something, saying he wanted to give it to the aunt who took care of him. It was one of three limited editions worldwide; I spent a lot of time getting it. Turns out the ‘aunt’ is her. I sneered at Jack: “Why don’t you tell everyone how much money you’ve taken from me over the years? If I had given that money to a stray dog, it would at least bark twice at me.” “And now you’re unwilling to put on a shoe for me?” The classmates immediately turned into gossiping faces upon hearing this. Jack couldn’t keep his composure and suddenly became embarrassed and furious. “Rose, spreading rumors can get you in legal trouble. How could I possibly use your money?” he said in front of the entire class. “Today, I’m inviting all classmates to dinner. I hope everyone can make it.” I chuckled. That’s Jack for you. Playing pitiful in front of the rich and acting like a big spender in front of the poor. His buddy chimed in: “Yeah, how could someone like Jack be a kept man?” “Everyone doesn’t know, last time a girl gave him a strap worth thousands, and Jack threw it in the trash.” That girl was me, and the strap was something he begged me for. It was just to show off in front of his ‘brothers.’ Chapter 5 A group of people grandly went to a high-end revolving restaurant. I didn’t join them; instead, I booked a private room to watch the drama unfold. They didn’t know I was there. Eva sat next to Jack, inviting everyone to eat and drink, acting as if she were the hostess. Jack swapped his usual cowardly attitude in front of me for authority at the dining table: “Let me tell you, even if you gave me someone like Rose for free, I wouldn’t want her.” “Why does she deserve anything, isn’t it just because she has a rich mom? Who knows if it’s dirty money from doing shady things?” His brothers echoed: “Exactly, how dare she throw a fit at you. Let her stay far away in the future.” “Not to say anything, but you and Sister Eva are a perfect match. What interest could a boring woman like Rose have?” Eva was all smiles at the comments, happily ordering more food. But her happiness didn’t last long before the waiter came to ask Jack to pay the bill. Jack ostentatiously threw out a black card, saying to everyone: “This place is still lacking. Next time, I’ll take you to the most expensive restaurant.” Shortly after, the waiter rushed to him, whispering a few words in his ear. Jack’s face turned dark instantly. He went to the corner and picked up his phone. It wasn’t long before my phone rang. As soon as I answered, I heard Jack’s questioning voice: “Why is the money in the card gone?” I calmly said: “That’s my card. If I don’t use it, I cancel it.” “Stop messing around. I’m treating people to a meal, transfer me some money first.” These days, even beggars can stand and demand money. “Aren’t you very capable? Go earn it yourself.” After saying this, I hung up and watched Jack, shaking with anger, holding his phone. After a while, Jack pulled Eva aside. “Rose took my money. You pay for today’s meal.” He said it as if I stole his money. Eva instantly got angry. “Jack, are you kidding me? You invite, and I pay?” “Are you crazy?” Jack: “Don’t you like me? Why are you unwilling to spend this little money? Didn’t you say you’d do anything for me?” “Isn’t your family rich? This money is just small change for you.” “Trust me, I’ll definitely pay you back later,” Jack added when Eva wouldn’t relent. Eva gritted her teeth and agreed. Jack got what he wanted and happily went to ask the waiter to add more dishes. From my perspective, Eva’s expression was quite ugly. Chapter 6 After parting unhappily that day, I thought Jack would have some backbone. I underestimated the power of money. Less than a week later, Jack showed up at my house waiting for me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295593”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic