Author: Momo Chan

On Christmas Eve, I was forced to brave the bitter cold to deliver food, all in an attempt to earn money for my father’s medical treatment. As I handed the delivery to a customer around my age, he suddenly tipped the cake over. “What kind of delivery service is this? Do you know this cake was specially made for me by my mom?” he snapped. I was about to retort when two familiar figures appeared in the luxurious house behind him. It was my parents! My usually frugal father was now exuding an air of extravagance. “It’s just a cake. Our Jack is so outstanding, I’m giving him this house as a reward.” My typically modest mother, now dressed in high-end designer clothes seen on TV, gently held his hand. “It’s our precious only son’s birthday. We can’t let some dirty delivery girl ruin his mood. Here’s the watch you’ve always wanted, don’t be upset.” Jack threw the cake at me, giving me a meaningful look. “You can have it. Consider it dog food.” I was about to speak, still holding the cake, when my phone buzzed with a negative review notification. Looking at my frostbitten hands and the holes in my shoes, I felt a wave of desolation wash over me.

Because of Jack’s complaint, I had to compensate him for the four-figure cake. That was equivalent to my wages for delivering 300 orders! But at that moment, I couldn’t dwell on these details. The hallway of the mansion was so warm, yet why did I feel ice in my heart? The door opened again, and Jack threw out a gold necklace. I immediately recognized it as the birthday gift I had bought for my mom. Jack looked at me provocatively, “My mom didn’t know where to throw this trash. I think it suits a dog like you perfectly. Come on, bark for me.” He crossed his arms, laughing arrogantly. Seeing my silence, he continued: “You’re just an abandoned child. Born but not raised by your parents.” Faced with his repeated provocations, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I clenched my fist and rushed towards him, only to be met with the sound of a slamming door. Unwilling to end things so pathetically, I stood at the door, knocking repeatedly, trying to get my parents’ attention. But what came instead were several burly security guards. “The owners inside are my parents, you can’t kick me out,” I pleaded. The security guard looked me up and down with disdain, “In this community, houses start at eight figures. You don’t look like you’re worth more than 800 bucks. If you want to dream, do it at home.” With that, they all burst into laughter. One of the guards approached me with a taser, “I advise you to get lost. This isn’t a place where you can cause trouble as you please.” I had no choice but to pick up the broken necklace from the ground and flee. The cold wind cut through my delivery uniform like a knife. Just then, someone collapsed on the road ahead. To avoid causing further injury to the fallen person, I chose to fall deliberately. The cake rolled out, smearing my face. Lying on the ground, looking at the snowflakes falling from the sky, I could no longer hold back my tears. At that moment, a familiar ringtone sounded. It was the special ringtone I had set for my parents in case they needed to reach me urgently. My mom anxiously asked, “Why did it take you so long to answer the phone, son? I thought something had happened to you. It’s our fault for making you deliver food on Christmas Eve. We’re so sorry.” I tightened my grip on the phone, wanting to ask them why they had lied to me, but all that came out was a choked sob. My dad’s cough came through the line, “It’s all dad’s fault for being useless and burdening you.” On any other day, I would have immediately refuted this, patiently comforting them. But now, I didn’t want to bother. Hearing my silence, dad thought I was tired. “Child, tomorrow’s Christmas Day. Take a break, and let’s have a good holiday together as a family.” Mom added mysteriously, “I have a surprise for you tomorrow.” I managed to squeeze out a “Okay” through my sobs. A passerby, seeing me motionless, was about to call for an ambulance. Hearing that it would cost money, I instinctively got up. “I’m fine, no need to call 911. But she might need help,” I said, pointing to a figure not far away. Under the hat was an elderly woman with white hair. “You’re young, so we dared to help. But her? That’s probably too much. You’re just a delivery girl, better not get involved,” the passerby advised. The snow was falling heavier, and out-of-control vehicles were becoming more frequent. Looking at the lonely old woman lying on the ground, I thought of how no one cared about me either. Without hesitation, I helped the conscious but immobile old woman to safety and called for an ambulance. It was already 4 AM when I got home. Looking at myself covered in cake and dirt, I quietly said, “Happy birthday.” Today was my 22nd birthday. And my parents were spending it with love and money on someone who wasn’t even related to them.

I shivered through a quick shower and hurried back under the thick but ineffective blanket. Because we were poor, we rented a house in a remote suburb, and to save money, we hadn’t paid for heating. I used to wonder why my dad would always fall seriously ill every winter, and my mom would use the excuse of taking care of him to go with him. Now I understood they were just afraid of the cold and had hidden away in a luxurious house, living like royalty. When I was little and got sick, they would brave wind and rain to carry me to the hospital. Mom would try her best to keep the umbrella over me, not caring if she got wet herself. And dad, even when he tripped over a tree branch and fell into a puddle, would still protect me wholeheartedly. They only cared if I was hurt, not themselves at all. But how could these parents who loved me so much now bear to deceive me with fake illnesses, pretending to be poor and making me give up my studies to support them? I covered my eyes and suddenly laughed out loud. I was so presumptuous. The house they were in now was in the most upscale community in the city center. I couldn’t even afford the property management fees, let alone claim to support them. I was nothing more than their plaything. Their real son must be that Jack they doted on. Light gradually filtered through the rag-covered window. The alarm went off. It was 5 AM, time to start delivering food. Although the bed was cold, I indulged in a rare lie-in. This was the first time I had rested in the four years since I started delivering food at 18. The 8 AM alarm went off. Usually, this was when I would check on my dad’s condition. Looking at the alarm note: “I’d trade my life for dad’s health,” I suddenly found it laughable. It wasn’t until the sun was high that I finally felt some warmth. At 10 AM, my parents called. “Son, why didn’t you call today? Did something happen? Are you sick? You didn’t fall, did you?” Their anxious voices echoed in my ears, but I couldn’t feel any warmth. I didn’t know their acting skills were so good, performing their “concern” for their son so convincingly that I had always believed they truly loved me. “Lucy, Lucy, why aren’t you saying anything?” Faced with their constant calls, I sighed deeply, “I’m tired.” My parents were stunned, anxiously asking, “What’s wrong? Is work too hard?” But all they got in response was my heavy breathing. Since I started delivering food when I came of age, I had never once complained of being tired in front of them. After a moment, their voices sounded again. “Son, it’s dad’s fault for being useless. You’ve worked so hard. It’s too cold, don’t go out delivering today. If you get hurt, we’ll be heartbroken.” Mom immediately chimed in, “That’s right, today’s Christmas Day. Let’s have a good family reunion. Didn’t you always want to eat at that fancy steakhouse? My friend gave me some coupons, let’s go there today to celebrate your birthday!” “We’ve brought a cake for you too.” Their joyful tone couldn’t touch me. But I still obediently agreed, “Mm.” I wanted to see how long they could keep up this act, how real they could make it seem. I put on my best clothes and arrived at the agreed mall. This was my first time stepping into such a high-end place. Just as I was about to cross the road, a sports car suddenly stopped in front of me. I immediately recognized the person in the driver’s seat. Jack lowered his sunglasses and smirked at me, “Well, if it isn’t yesterday’s dog?” He patted his car, “My mom’s coming-of-age gift for me. Not bad, right?” He then flashed his wrist, the diamonds on his watch dazzling in the sunlight. “Huh? How come your mom didn’t give you a watch? Oh, I forgot, your parents don’t love you. This watch is worth seven figures. You couldn’t afford it even if you delivered food for a lifetime.” “Oh right, my parents specially stayed up with me until midnight yesterday. Mom even cooked a big feast for me herself. I remember we have the same birthday. I wonder what your parents prepared for you?” With that, he deliberately sped off in front of me, leaving me covered in dust. Watching his arrogant and unrestrained behavior, my heart sank even further. When I turned eighteen, my parents personally handed me the delivery kit, saying, “Our son is grown up now, he can earn money for the family.” Arriving at the steakhouse, my parents looked at me with tears in their eyes, hoping to see joy on my face. After all, this was the first time in my 22 years that I was eating at the fancy steakhouse I had always dreamed of. “Happy birthday, son. Make a wish and blow out the candles.” On the table was half of the cake that Jack had left over yesterday.

My mom followed my gaze to the cake, her expression a bit awkward. “Your dad is still undergoing treatment, but we still wanted to give you some sense of ceremony. The cake might be small, but it’s enough to carry your wishes. Tell us what gift you want, and we’ll get it for you.” Perhaps feeling guilty about giving Jack a mansion and an expensive watch yesterday, they were unusually generous to me today. “Really?” I asked. My parents nodded, “Of course. You’re our only child. If we’re not good to you, who else would we be good to?” Looking at the old clothes they had deliberately put on, I couldn’t help but laugh. Remembering Jack’s words, I looked intently at my mom and slowly opened my mouth. “I want to eat a meal you cook yourself.” My mom was taken aback. She clearly hadn’t expected that I, who had always been understanding and independent, would make such a request. As far as I could remember, she had never cooked a meal for me. I thought she didn’t know how to cook, so from the age of seven, I took on the responsibility of cooking, never complaining even when my hands were scalded or cut. Now I knew that her culinary skills were actually excellent; she just wasn’t willing to cook for me. She avoided my gaze and mumbled, “Son, mom wants to cook for you too, but mom has never cooked before. I’m afraid it won’t taste good. Choose another gift, okay?” “Then can you buy me a watch?” I pointed at the watch worn by someone at the next table. With these words, my parents fell silent. They exchanged a glance, and dad coughed a few times, covering his mouth. “Son, you have a phone, why do you need a watch? You know our current situation doesn’t allow for that. Look…” Mom immediately chimed in, “Lucy, we know you’re the most obedient. We don’t need to compare ourselves with others. Being together as a family is more important than anything. Such an expensive watch, we can’t afford it. Your dad’s illness, who knows how much more it will cost.” She wiped away a tear, her face full of sorrow. “You work so hard delivering food, you shouldn’t waste money like this.” My internal contempt reached its peak. It was just a watch worth a few hundred dollars, yet they thought it was expensive. But when they bought gifts worth millions for Jack, they didn’t hesitate at all. Seeing my silence, my parents immediately pulled me to sit down, putting the only chicken leg on the table into my bowl. “Son, eat up. You need to eat well to grow. You’re too thin now.” I forced a smile. How could I not be thin when I only ate one meal a day? If they really cared for me, why did they deceive me? Why did they say dad had cancer and needed treatment? Why did they say the family was so poor we could barely make ends meet? And why did they make me give up my studies to deliver food when they knew I wanted to study? “Mom, Dad, I want to go to college.” They instinctively exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing contempt. “Lucy, you’re not cut out for studying,” Mom said hesitantly. “Don’t you remember how low your SAT score was?” They even dared to mention the SAT. After I finished the math section, they put on an act of a relapse of an old illness. I had to give up the test and rush home. But what I faced was an empty room. They said they were already in the hospital, but when I rushed there, they said they had been transferred. By the time I finally found them, the test was long over. And all they said was a casual, “We’ve already been treated.” My dream was so easily destroyed by them. “Lucy, eat up.” The taste of the steak in my mouth was so bitter. Seeing my low spirits, my parents actively put food on my plate. After just half an hour, mom’s phone rang again. A flash of guilt crossed her eyes, and she immediately hung up. “These telemarketing calls are really frequent nowadays.” But as soon as she hung up, it rang again and again. She laughed dryly and stepped aside to answer the phone. A few minutes later, she returned, her face pale, and exchanged a glance with dad. “The hospital needs to do an urgent check-up. I need to take your dad there first.” I pretended to be anxious, “Mom, let me go with you.” They were startled and quickly waved their hands, “You’re tired from delivering food. Just go home and rest. I’ll take care of your dad. Someone in the family needs to earn money.” “This is my only day off in four years. Can’t you let me stay by your side?” I finally couldn’t suppress my grievance. With tears in my eyes, I looked at them stubbornly, begging them. My humble request seemed to make them waver. “Well… let’s sit for a bit longer.” But before they could sit down, their phones rang again. Dad showed the phone to mom, and their faces grew more anxious. “Lucy, you’re an adult now. Don’t be childish. You need to know what’s important. Your dad’s attending physician just messaged us to come over immediately.” I grabbed her hand, begging like a dog wagging its tail. “Can’t you stay to finish my last birthday before leaving?” Mom frowned, very impatient. “You have birthdays every year. What’s so important about one stupid birthday? Lucy Thompson, you’re being very inconsiderate.” She forcefully pulled her hand away, her nails leaving a long scratch on the back of my hand. Am I really that annoying? They’re not even willing to stay a bit longer. I’m supposed to be their biological child. Why can’t they spare even a little love for me? Why did they have to deceive me? I could no longer suppress the fact that my parents didn’t love me and buried my face in my hands, crying. Just as I was about to leave, someone suddenly sat down in the chair in front of me. “If you want to continue your studies, I can sponsor you. However, my team needs a semi-closed research period of ten years. I hope you’ll think it through before making a decision.” Suddenly, my phone received a message from an unknown number. [I just said I sprained my ankle, and your parents abandoned you to come to me. What does it matter if you’re blood-related? In your parents’ hearts, you’ll never measure up to me!] I tightened my grip on my phone, suddenly wanting to be willful for once. [Mom, I’ve been in a car accident.] The next second, my phone immediately rang. “Son, are you okay? Where are you? Mom and Dad will come right away.” I was about to speak when I faintly heard Jack’s exclamation, “My foot hurts so much! Is it broken? How am I going to attend Harvard if it’s broken?” Mom’s tone became even more urgent, but not for me. She casually brushed me off with a sentence, “If you’re hurt, go to the hospital quickly. Your dad’s condition is more critical, I have to go there first. I’ll come see you later. Mom knows you’re tough, you’ll be fine.” The black screen of my phone now seemed to be mocking me for how foolish I was. How dare I try to compete for affection with their beloved son? I looked at the person in front of me and finally made up my mind. “Alright, I agree. I’ll join your team.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295532”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #狼人Werewolf

Who would have thought that the boyfriend I bought on a second-hand website would turn out to be my direct supervisor? After meeting in person, my grudge-holding boss transformed into a sweet puppy. Later, rumors spread throughout the office. He locked me in his office, cornering me, “I heard you’re dating that guy? What about me? What about the promises we made?” “Don’t worry, you’re still my favorite.” #Selling second-hand boyfriend. We’ve been chatting for a week. He plays all kinds of games, has a magnetic voice that’ll make your ears pregnant. He’s quite funny and great for boosting mood, perfect for gaming together. #I heard in real life he’s handsome, 6’1″, with a six-pack and still working out. He says he wants to be a lean muscle boy. He can also play piano and sing pop songs. You can just use him as a tool. I haven’t told him any of my personal info, so you can chat safely. Scrolling through this post, I felt like I was doomed. Who would sell their boyfriend? And this was from someone I followed. Who was this? Looking closer, I realized it was an online gaming buddy I’d met a few days ago. I couldn’t help but ask: “Girl, are you really selling your boyfriend?” Before I got a reply, I received a call from my mother. As soon as I answered, unsurprisingly, it was about marriage – “You’re already 26, almost 30, and you still haven’t found a boyfriend! What will you do in a few years when your dad and I are gone? All alone, you…” I could recite Mom’s spiel by heart at this point. “It’s just that I haven’t found anyone suitable…” Before I could finish, she interrupted, “No excuses. You must come home next weekend for a blind date! Otherwise, I’ll… I’ll disown you.” It seemed Mrs. Wilson had been “inspired” by some friend, to the point of threatening to disown me. I quickly agreed, and Mrs. Wilson was finally satisfied enough to end the call. But not before warning me, “Don’t you dare try to trick me, or I’ll bring someone straight to your little apartment for the blind date.” The thought of those blind dates made me shudder. They were either as plain as a potato, as short as a turnip, missing a few teeth, or divorced with two kids… No way, not for me.

“Yes, yes, girl! Do you want him? I’ll give you a good price.” “We’re so close, I’ll be honest with you.” “The main thing is, I found someone with decent conditions in real life, so I don’t really want this online one anymore. I thought I’d sell him and get some money back.” While I was on the phone with my mother, this girl sent me a bunch of messages. “Look, here’s his photo and some videos to prove it’s him. I think he’s really quite good.” “video.mp4” I didn’t rush to reply to her messages. I was curious if what she said was true, so I clicked on the video to feast my eyes. He walked ahead, turning back to look at the camera. The young man’s lips curled into a particularly dazzling smile. A simple white T-shirt looked like an expensive suit on him. Sunlight fell on his hair. His youthful aura was overwhelming. He was so handsome! Much better than those duds from blind dates! I want him. Blinded by his looks, I transferred money to the girl, and she sent me his friend request.

After adding him as a friend, I came to my senses. How could I go after a younger guy! I felt a bit heartbroken. My principle was never to go after guys younger than me, but now I’d spent a lot of money to get a “second-hand boyfriend”. I didn’t know whether to call myself stupid or foolish. “Hello, baby.” Since I’d already bought him, might as well chat. Worst case, I could come clean about the truth. The girl told me his name was Ethan. She had just asked Ethan to add her main account – which was my account. This completed the account transfer. The girl also sent me a document titled “Things We’ve Discussed”. I skimmed through it. It was mostly information about Ethan, with very little about Ethan’s “girlfriend”. “This way, you can chat with him yourself and reveal your own preferences.” Looking at the pile of information about Ethan, I couldn’t help but comment – he was way too gullible. He’d spilled everything without the other person saying much. He didn’t even need to be tricked, he’d just give you his social security number.

I discovered that Ethan was really too easy to fool! He believed everything I said. I had no doubt that if I told him there were lychees growing in the sky, he’d believe it without question. There weren’t many people as pure as him left in this world. “Olivia baby, I have to go to work now. When can we meet?” Ethan’s one downside was that he really wanted to meet. In the few days we’d been chatting, our relationship had rapidly heated up. I was thinking of just bringing Ethan home for the weekend blind date. Having someone was better than no one, right? Mom shouldn’t say much then. From what I understood, Ethan was in the same city as me, working in the same district! What could be better than that? We might even bump into each other on the street. “Baby, are you free this weekend? Would it be okay to come home with me?” “Really? I can?” Seeing this exclamation mark, I could imagine how excited he must be on the other side of the screen. “Baby wants to meet me, I’m so happy, so excited!” “Baby baby baby, this is great, I can finally meet you! Five days until the weekend! I need to think about how to dress myself, hehe.” His messages came one after another like an excited puppy. I looked at them helplessly. It was just a meeting, was it really such a big deal? “Olivia, has anything exciting happened recently?” My coworker Sarah asked from the desk opposite. It was just after lunch break. I didn’t like squeezing into the cafeteria with everyone else, so I usually waited a bit to eat. I didn’t expect Sarah to still be here too. “Why do you ask?” Sarah tidied up her desk and picked up her phone. “No reason, I just noticed you’ve had a non-stop smile on your face. I thought maybe you saw some funny video, or…” Sarah leaned in with a mischievous grin, her eyes narrowing to slits, “Could it be? Has our beautiful Olivia found love?” “What are you talking about? Don’t be silly. If anyone’s going to find love, it’ll be you before me.” I quickly locked my phone screen and joked, “Alright, alright, I’m going to eat now. Want to join me?” “Sure.”

While eating, I glimpsed a handsome guy at a nearby table that I hadn’t seen before. I whispered to Sarah, “Quick, look at the guy behind me. He’s so handsome. Look at that high nose bridge, tsk tsk…” The handsome guy wore a simple white T-shirt, shoveling food into his mouth. If this was in high school, he’d be the quintessential hot guy. I’d say one sentence, then take a bite of food, my eyes never leaving the guy next door. “Look, his profile is so handsome, his full face must be amazing.” Sarah quickly tugged at my sleeve, whispering so quietly I could barely hear, “Olivia, lower your voice. You’re speaking a bit loudly, he might hear you.” I noticed the guy’s ears turning visibly red. Crap, he heard me talking about him behind his back. I slowed down my eating, not wanting to run into the handsome guy. The company was so big, I’d never seen this handsome guy before, so I probably wouldn’t see him again. As long as I didn’t feel awkward, the awkward one would be someone else. I kept trying to convince myself. But reality slapped me in the face that afternoon. “Now, let’s welcome our newly appointed Manager Ethan.” The former manager walked in with a somewhat familiar face. I was secretly stuffing fruit into my mouth, trying to get some vitamin C. I looked up and suddenly met eyes with the new “Manager Ethan”. Oh no, did he recognize me? I could feel my heart pounding frantically. I didn’t want to be targeted by the new boss, then ostracized by everyone, and finally leave the company in disgrace. Manager Ethan only glanced at me for a moment before looking away, greeting everyone casually, “I’ll be working with all of you from now on. Please take care of me.” Everyone applauded. “Alright, everyone get back to work. Oh, Olivia, come to my office for a moment.” Manager Ethan said mildly before walking to his office. As soon as he said this, everyone in the office seemed to smell some juicy gossip and stared at me. I felt uncomfortable and looked at Sarah. Sarah gave me a helpless expression. I thought I could avoid it, but it seemed I couldn’t. Looks like he was going to confront me about what I said in the cafeteria. I steeled myself and walked to his office.

“You’re here, have a seat.” Manager Ethan still had that smiling expression, inviting me to sit on the big sofa nearby. As I was considering whether to fall to my knees and immediately apologize for gossiping about a colleague at lunch, ruining the company atmosphere… Manager Ethan handed me a document, “Take a look at this project. Can you handle it?” As long as he wasn’t pursuing the matter, I could climb mountains of blades or dive into seas of fire. Anything was fine. I immediately relaxed, quickly skimmed the project, and confidently assured him, “No problem, you can count on me.” Manager Ethan waved his hand, telling me to go back and work on the plan, “Can you give me a proposal by Friday?” I nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken. As I nodded, I walked backwards and knocked over a vase on the sofa. “Crash!” The crisp sound of breaking porcelain. I didn’t dare turn around, afraid this was all just my imagination. “Hehe.” I looked at Manager Ethan sheepishly, wishing the office floor would open up and swallow me. Gossiping about a colleague at lunch, then breaking a vase in the office in the afternoon. I must have forgotten to check my horoscope before leaving home today. Such bad luck! “Are you okay?” Manager Ethan rushed over, looking very concerned. “The vase seems to have a bit of a problem. I’m sorry, Manager Ethan, I’ll compensate for it at the original price.” I quickly bowed, hoping Manager Ethan would forgive me. I didn’t want to be the first target of his new leadership. A manager who just started on his first day surely couldn’t be asking if I was okay. “I’m asking if you’re alright. The vase breaking is just a small matter, as long as you’re not hurt.” Manager Ethan looked me up and down. Only after seeing I was really okay did his tense expression fade. “As for the vase, let’s just consider it breaking for good luck. No need for compensation.” “Then I’ll get back to work.” I slipped out, leaving those words behind.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295531”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #狼人Werewolf

My sister-in-law, obsessed with becoming a social media influencer, constantly livestreams her pranks on me. If I dare to resist, my in-laws scold me for being ungrateful and accuse me of hindering their daughter’s path to stardom. My husband even resorts to physical violence, telling me to stop making a fuss. For a measly $250 bounty from her viewers, my sister-in-law’s family locks me out on the balcony. Crying, I tell my husband I’m pregnant, begging them not to treat me this way. But upon hearing about my pregnancy, my sister-in-law excitedly urges my husband to keep me on the balcony, claiming pregnant women are more resistant to cold. That night, the temperature plummets from over 90°F to 14°F as a terrifying Ice Age Apocalypse descends upon us. I freeze to death on the balcony. Within a month, the temperature drops to -94°F, and the world is encased in ice. When I open my eyes again, I’ve returned to the day my sister-in-law decided to become an influencer. This time, it’s my turn to sit inside, enjoying hotpot and barbecue while livestreaming their miserable fate!

“Mom, look! My video pranking my sister-in-law got so many views. I need to make more of these,” Lily exclaimed, waving her phone proudly at her parents in the living room. “Once I become famous, I’ll be rich enough to treat you to all the good stuff!” Hearing that familiar voice, I couldn’t help but shiver. Even standing in the sunlight, my whole body trembled. The bone-chilling cold that had seeped into my very marrow in my past life was impossible to shake off. After all, I had been frozen to death! I pinched my arm hard, and the pain finally made me realize I had been reborn. At this moment, my in-laws were praising their daughter for being smart and destined for great things. Martha, my mother-in-law, then glared at me viciously. “You useless girl, did you hear that? You better cooperate with the videos. If you ruin my daughter’s chance at fame and fortune, I won’t let you off easy!” She had said the same thing in my past life. Back then, I had privately asked Lily to change her content. But Lily had gone to her parents in tears, claiming I was jealous of her success. George, my father-in-law, had immediately flown into a rage, calling me a jinx who couldn’t stand to see their family prosper. Martha had pointed at me, yelling that I was worthless and trying to obstruct her daughter’s path to stardom. My husband, Jack, had beaten me black and blue, warning me not to cause trouble. Later, for a $250 bounty in Lily’s livestream, the whole family had locked me out on the balcony. Even when I cried and told Jack I was pregnant, begging them not to do this to me, the family remained unmoved. Lily had excitedly said, “It’s even better that she’s pregnant! Pregnant women are more resistant to cold. Brother, quick, put her on the balcony. More and more people are joining my livestream. I’m about to become a big star!” In the end, they had locked me on the balcony. I had planned to divorce Jack and abort the baby once this was over. That night, the temperature had suddenly dropped from over 90°F to 14°F as the terrifying Ice Age Apocalypse struck. I kept banging on the balcony door, begging them to let me in. My hands were bruised and bleeding, but they still refused to open the door. Desperate to survive, I had tried to break the glass with my body. When the glass cracked, Lily quickly told Jack to move a cabinet to block the door. In the warm interior, Lily had eaten a popsicle in her short sleeves, laughing at me, “Sis, you’re pregnant. What are you afraid of? A little cold won’t hurt you.” With my bloodied fingers clawing at the door, I had begged, “Lily, please, if you leave me out here any longer, my baby and I will die!” But Lily had just pointed her phone at me, telling her viewers, “See, guys? Pregnant women really are tough. Look, my sister-in-law isn’t dead yet.” Lily’s cruelty had chilled me to the bone. Eventually, I had succumbed to exhaustion and died on the balcony, my tears freezing on my face. Thankfully, heaven had taken pity on me and given me a chance to be reborn. Now, it was still a hot summer day with temperatures in the 90s. The cicadas were chirping loudly outside, with no sign of the impending Ice Age Apocalypse. But in just a week, one night, the temperature would suddenly drop from over 90°F to 14°F. After that, it would get colder each day until it reached -94°F, and the whole world would be frozen. The fire of revenge burned fiercely in my heart. This time, I would definitely get my revenge and send this whole family to hell with my own hands!

Pretending to be meek and obedient, I replied to Martha, “Yes, Mom. I’ll cooperate with Lily’s videos.” Martha seemed somewhat surprised by my compliance but still scolded me, “You useless girl, don’t you know it’s time to make dinner? Why are you just standing there like an idiot? Go cook now!” I clenched my fist tightly, reminding myself not to act rashly. Then I walked into the kitchen and started preparing dinner. As we were about to eat, Jack came home. I had just washed my hands and was about to sit down when Jack kicked me. “What are you doing? The supermarket shelves are empty. Go stock them.” Holding back my pain, I agreed and grabbed the keys from the shoe cabinet, heading downstairs without another word. When I got married, my parents had given me a commercial property as part of my dowry, which we had turned into a small supermarket. Since opening the supermarket, no one in this big family had gone out to work. They all relied on this small business for their livelihood. Not only that, but they had dumped the most tiring and dirty jobs of restocking and shelf arrangement on me. To maintain the household expenses, I worked part-time during the day and came back to organize the supermarket shelves at night. So no one knew this supermarket better than I did. After restocking the shelves, I grabbed some sausages, bread, and drinks, and went to the storage room where we kept our supplies. After eating, I called my parents who still lived in the suburbs. Hearing my parents’ voices through the phone again, tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably. In my past life, after I died, my parents had called me several times but no one answered. Then they had called Jack to ask about me. Originally, Jack had been afraid of being exposed, so he had replied to my parents using my WeChat account, making them believe I was still alive. Later, when the temperature dropped suddenly and the Ice Age Apocalypse came, my parents had asked me on WeChat if I could send them some food. The temperature had dropped too quickly, and they couldn’t buy anything in the suburbs. Lily had seen the chat history and instigated Jack to trick my parents out of their money. So Lily and Jack had conspired together, making up an excuse that I was sick. Lily had even worn my clothes to pretend to be me. My parents had believed them and immediately transferred all their money. After getting all the money from my parents, they had made a video call to my parents, calling them big idiots and fools, saying no wonder their daughter was also a fool. They had told them their daughter had already frozen to death, and even sent photos of my corpse to my parents. This had immediately triggered my father’s heart condition, and he had collapsed. The last thing I heard was my mother’s panicked screams before the video call was cut off.

Thinking of this, my voice choked up as I called out, “Dad, Mom.” My father thought I was upset about something and immediately tried to comfort me, even threatening to come over and beat up Jack. My mother told me to divorce Jack immediately and come back home. I shook my head, saying I wasn’t mistreated. In my past life, my parents had been tragically killed by Lily and Jack. This time, I definitely wouldn’t let these two dogs off the hook! But I also wouldn’t let my parents get involved. They were getting old and should enjoy their retirement peacefully. I would handle everything. My parents still didn’t believe that I wasn’t being mistreated, so I changed the subject and said, “Mom, Dad, can you rent the house next door?” My parents were confused about why I wanted them to rent the house next door. I explained to them that extreme weather would occur in the future, and the previous owner of the house next door was a foreigner. Foreigners naturally liked to dig various basements to store things and use as shelters, so there was a large basement under the house. After the foreign owner left, the house had been listed on a second-hand platform for sale. Because it was in the suburbs, it had been on the market for a long time without any buyers. In the future extreme weather, temperatures would eventually drop to -94°F. By then, having food and drink wouldn’t be enough. A safe shelter would also be crucial. Although my parents didn’t quite believe that extreme weather would occur – after all, it was still blazing hot outside – they still did as I said. After hanging up the phone with my parents, I contacted a moving company. Under the guise of restocking goods, I secretly transported some items from the supermarket storage room to my parents’ place. There was about a week left before the Ice Age Apocalypse arrived. By moving a portion every day during this time, I could empty the entire warehouse without anyone noticing. This time, it would be my turn to sit inside with my parents, eating barbecue around the fireplace while livestreaming the miserable fate of Lily’s family!

By the time I finished all this, it was already dark outside. I had just gone upstairs but hadn’t entered the door when I heard Lily’s coquettish laughter, “Brother, look! This person is as stupid as my sister-in-law.” Opening the door, I saw a harmonious family scene. The whole family was gathered around Lily, like stars revolving around the moon. Lily was the late-born daughter of my in-laws and was extremely pampered. Martha especially doted on Lily, saying Lily was her little cotton jacket. Jack also adored Lily, saying he was Lily’s eternal support and that with him around, Lily didn’t need to get married for her entire life. Hearing the door open, the family looked in my direction. As soon as Martha saw it was me, she immediately put on a stern face and scolded, “You useless girl, what are you standing there for like a door god? You scared me!” Lily held her phone in one hand and a bowl of fruit salad in the other as she walked towards me. “Sis, we forgot to save you some dinner. Here, have some fruit to fill your stomach.” I looked at Lily, who was smiling with ill intentions. In my past life, I had eaten it without suspicion, only to find out the fruit salad contained mango, which I was allergic to. My whole body had broken out in a rash. Lily had laughed loudly while holding her phone, telling her livestream viewers, “Look, guys! My stupid sister-in-law ate it. Look at her allergic reaction.” Martha had laughed along, saying, “Our Lily is so clever, making that useless girl look foolish.” Jack had pointed at me, saying I looked ugly like that. At that moment, my heart had completely turned cold, and I realized I couldn’t stay in this family anymore. I had thoughts of divorce. But soon after, the Ice Age Apocalypse had struck. This time, since they could prank me for a $250 bounty, they could just as easily prank someone else for the same money. I decided to test it out. I pretended to have a stomachache, bending over and saying, “My stomach doesn’t feel good. I need to use the bathroom first.” But Lily insisted I eat before going. I pushed Lily away and quickly ran to the bathroom. Martha cursed behind me, “Lazy people always need to pee.” I ignored Martha’s words because she would soon taste the bitter fruit of her actions. In the bathroom, I took out my phone and entered Lily’s livestream. I directly put up a $250 bounty in Lily’s livestream – to prank her own mother. At the same time, I commented, “Pranking the sister-in-law is boring now. Let’s try something new, like pranking your own mom.” I wanted to see just how much their so-called family affection was worth. Sure enough, the next second I heard Lily excitedly tell everyone, “Dad, Mom, Brother, look! Someone just donated to my livestream. I’m about to become a big star!”

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I’m the top salesperson who brings in millions in revenue for the company. Just because I didn’t compliment her looks in the company SnapChat group, she fired me without hesitation. She replaced me with her cousin. Until later, when the company’s sales plummeted to zero. She came to apologize to me in person. “Please come back. My boyfriend said he’d break up with me if you don’t return.” The boss went on a business trip for a month and left his girlfriend in charge of the company. Who knew that her first act as the new boss would be to target me? At 10 AM, I arrived at the office on time. I saw my colleague looking nervous, pointing at the boss’s office and whispering, “Tiffany’s here. She wants to see you!” Tiffany Fox was the boss’s new girlfriend, known for her arrogance and bullying. She would curse at anyone she didn’t like. Once, when a female colleague stayed a bit longer in the boss’s office to report work, Tiffany spread rumors that she was a prostitute. She bullied that girl so much that she was forced to resign. But because Tiffany was sweet-talking and good at flattery, the boss usually let her do whatever she wanted. I didn’t expect her to target me now. I put down my coffee and pushed open the door to enter the office. As soon as I entered, a file flew towards my face. “Do you know what time it is? Company policy states work starts at 8 AM. Why are you coming in at 10?” The sharp edge of the file folder left a bloody cut on my forehead. I held my head, looking at Tiffany who was throwing her weight around behind the desk. My 10 AM start time was a perk for being the top salesperson. Everyone in the company knew about this unwritten rule. Years ago, when the boss’s company was about to go bankrupt, they accidentally hired me. In my first month, I generated $5 million in sales, bringing the company back from the brink of death. Since then, the boss had treated me like a precious asset, usually listening to my opinions on major decisions. She slammed the table, her face contorted with rage: “Look at your punch card. You’ve been coming in at 10 for a whole month. Do you think you’re above company rules?” “According to company policy, three consecutive days of tardiness can result in termination!” “You can get out now!” I looked at Tiffany in disbelief: “You’re firing me? Did you ask the boss?” I created 80% of the company’s profits, and she dared to fire me? Tiffany snorted coldly, looking at me with disdain: “You’re just a salesperson. A lousy peddler. What’s wrong with me firing you?” “This is my boyfriend’s company. I’m the boss’s girlfriend, I can fire whoever I want!” The boss had treated me well, so I couldn’t just leave like this. I sat down on the sofa: “You should ask for the boss’s opinion first.” Tiffany rolled her eyes: “Who do you think you are?” Saying this, she directly called the boss. The boss’s voice on the other end sounded tired: “What’s the matter?” Tiffany, who had just been yelling at me in a shrill voice, immediately softened her tone, cooing, “Honey, I miss you.” The boss sighed: “Just tell me what you want.” Tiffany glanced at me triumphantly: “There’s a salesperson who doesn’t follow the rules, always coming in late. I want to fire him.” “Whatever, I need to rest now.” The boss casually agreed and hung up. Tiffany looked at me arrogantly: “Did you hear that? I can fire whoever I want. Now get out!”

I laughed coldly, looking at Tiffany: “Are you sure?” “If the boss comes back and finds out you fired me, he might get angry.” I kindly reminded her. After all, headhunters had been trying to poach me with high offers for years, but out of loyalty to the boss, I had always stayed. My leaving wouldn’t affect me at all, but Tiffany might not be so lucky. Tiffany glared at me, her face twisted with arrogance and tyranny. “Who do you think you are? You’re just a salesperson. I’m my boyfriend’s future wife, the mistress of this company. Do you think he’d choose you over me?” Hearing her say this, I shook my head. If that’s how it is, so be it. I turned and left the office. Outside, my colleagues had heard our argument but didn’t know what happened. They kept looking at me. “Boss, what’s going on?” I started packing my things efficiently, smiling: “What’s going on? I got fired, that’s what.” My colleague’s eyes widened, looking at me in disbelief: “Fire you? Has Tiffany gone crazy? Everyone knows you’re the boss’s golden goose. Isn’t she afraid the boss will break up with her?” I shook my head and chuckled: “Well, that’s not my problem anymore. After all, it’s her decision, she’ll have to bear the consequences.” “Besides, I’ve been working for so many years, it might be nice to take a good rest.” I had long ago saved enough money to be financially independent, but I had never taken a break and felt too embarrassed to ask. This was a perfect opportunity. My colleague was furious: “But why did she fire you? Did you offend her somehow, boss?” I frowned, thinking carefully: “I guess it’s because last time when she spread rumors about Zoe, I stood up for Zoe, remember?” “Since then, she’s been picking on me, always finding fault one way or another.” Yesterday, Tiffany uploaded a photo of herself to the company WhatsApp group, and everyone was flooding the comments with compliments. I was the only one who read it without replying. I guess that was the final straw. “Should I call the boss now? You’re the backbone of the company, you can’t just leave like this.” I shook my head, smiling lightly: “Forget it. If I ever come back, it’ll be after Tiffany and the boss break up. I really can’t stand her behavior anymore. We’ll see in the future.” I finished packing my things and headed to the finance department to collect my salary for the month. I had only worked for ten days this month, but my salary and commission amounted to $100,000. I informed the finance staff about my termination and asked her to transfer the salary to my account later. Unexpectedly, Tiffany suddenly appeared at the company entrance, glaring at me: “Jack Wilson, didn’t I tell you to get lost? What are you doing here?” I looked at her calmly. She was gloating, thinking she had found a good boyfriend, looking particularly disgusting. Seeing that I didn’t respond to her, Tiffany became agitated. She came forward and grabbed my clothes: “Are you deaf? What are you doing in the finance department? These are all important company documents. Get out now, or I’ll call the police!” I frowned and forcefully shook off Tiffany’s hand. “Let go!” “Now that I’ve been fired, is there a problem with me collecting my salary for this month? I’m already being nice by not asking for severance pay.” Tiffany glared at the young girl in front of me: “How much is his salary?” The finance girl answered honestly: “One hundred thousand and five hundred dollars.” Tiffany’s face immediately changed: “How much?” After the finance girl repeated it, she pointed at me and said: “You violated company rules by being late, so your salary for this month is forfeited.” I laughed coldly: “A $200 deduction for each tardiness, is that how you calculate? Did you even graduate elementary school?” To my surprise, Tiffany looked at me righteously: “It’s a new rule I made. Three tardies and your whole month’s salary is gone. Now get out!”

“What right do you have to make rules?” Tiffany crossed her arms, her mouth gaping like a shark, shamelessly saying: “I’ll have a share in this company in the future. What’s wrong with me making rules?” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her: “Then you can expect a lawsuit from me.” With that, I strode out. I drove home and had just put my things away when I saw a group message from Tiffany in the company SnapChat group that I hadn’t left yet. “From now on, everyone must reply to any messages I post on SnapChat or WhatsApp. Those who don’t reply will be fired like that person today.” It seems she really fired me because I didn’t join in praising her. The boss really hit the jackpot with this girlfriend of his. Everyone started replying to the group message. I found it annoying and simply left all the groups. My phone suddenly became much quieter. However, since Tiffany wouldn’t let me take my last month’s salary, I decided to teach her a lesson. All the important clients were saved in my contacts, so I sent out a mass message to these clients, basically saying that I had resigned and would no longer be handling business for the company. Most of these people were clients I had brought in, and they were mainly working with the company because of me. If I left, they would likely follow me. Sure enough, within two minutes, former clients started messaging me, asking which company I had gone to and expressing their willingness to transfer their contracts. I explained the situation to each of them, saying that I hadn’t found a new job yet, but I would contact them as soon as I did. There were so many clients on my contact list that I kept replying until it got dark, and finally fell asleep from exhaustion. When I woke up the next day, a colleague had sent me a message: “Boss, many of our business partners are saying they want to terminate their cooperation and won’t renew their contracts. Was this your doing?” It seems the plan had worked. I chuckled: “I didn’t do anything. I just told them the fact that I’m no longer working there.” “You’re still the best, boss. When Tiffany came in this morning and heard about this, she blew up at several salespeople, demanding to know why they couldn’t retain the clients. Now several salespeople are planning to quit, saying they won’t put up with this crap.” It seems quite a few people in the company were unhappy with Tiffany. I wondered how she would handle the fallout. On my end, I was preparing to contact a lawyer to file a major lawsuit to get my salary back. After all, I didn’t really need the money, but I couldn’t let her off easy. Unexpectedly, after just a few days, Tiffany called me. I was surprised and answered uncertainly: “What is it?” As soon as I picked up, I was met with a barrage of abuse from the other end. “Jack Wilson, are you even human? I’m asking you, where did all the company’s client contacts go? They said you have them all. Give me those phone numbers right now. That’s company property. Don’t think I won’t sue you!” I was stunned for a moment, then realized that Tiffany must be getting desperate. “How can you be so disgusting? Give me the client contacts right now! Or I swear I’ll destroy you, you believe me?”

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My sister and my boyfriend never got along. She didn’t believe that the charming and flirtatious heir would ever settle down for me. Even after my boyfriend proposed, she still tried to stop us from being together. To convince her, I registered a new account to test my boyfriend. Evan’s attitude was as cold as ice, always ignoring my messages. Just as I was secretly feeling pleased, I received a voice message from Evan. He said, “I’ve told you, except for you and your sister, I’m not interested in other women. “Grace, you’re so unsatisfied. Who will fulfill your needs if I get married?” Grace was my sister’s name. Hearing these voice messages, I felt like my entire body had frozen in an instant. In a panic, I pinched my thigh to confirm if this was just a nightmare. Amid the intense pounding of my heart, the harsh reality hit me. Evan and my sister were involved. And I was just a substitute for my sister. But… how could this be? Hadn’t they always disliked each other? My sister always said that Evan, apart from his prestigious family background, was just an utterly useless playboy. Evan, on the other hand, thought my sister was a meddling busybody. Every time we argued, she would try to convince me to break up. My phone suddenly rang with a call, pulling me out of my thoughts. I blankly rejected the call. Evan: [Why didn’t you pick up the phone?] [You’re not crying, are you?] [Come to the Nightshade Villa. I’ll satisfy you properly tonight.] [Don’t worry. Marriage is just a formality.] [Everything Mia has, you won’t miss out on.] [That includes me.] I stared blankly at the screen, a buzzing sound in my ears, feeling as if my body had frozen. Tears uncontrollably streamed down my face. Through my blurry vision, I couldn’t help but recall the first time I took my sister to that villa. Without me guiding her, she easily found the bathroom and the facial cleanser in the storage cabinet. When I checked her phone, I found that she had already connected to the Wi-Fi. She said she had accidentally entered my social account password. Evan’s corgi was incredibly affectionate towards her. She said it might be because it picked up my scent. But the dog totally ignored me, even when I offered a frisbee or a bone. Yet, it wagged its tail happily at my sister, whom it had just met. And at my sister’s house, there were limited edition bags, high couture dresses, and jewelry, just like mine. Some of them were things Evan had asked me to pass on under the guise of trying to please my sister. The rest, my sister said, were gifts from her suitors. I eagerly asked her about them, but she stammered and dodged the question. I thought she was shy, but it turned out she was hiding something. I also remembered when we went shopping and they bickered for my attention in front of me. Several times, the tense atmosphere was suddenly broken by laughter. I naively thought they were making up, happy that their relationship was improving. This pair of shameless lovers had been treating me as just a part of their game, playing me for a fool. I cried until my eyes were swollen and my head dizzy. Grabbing the car keys, I sped towards the Nightshade Villa. Nightshade Villa was Evan’s private club, and now it was hosting the groomsmen’s gathering. Evan was there. To my surprise, my sister was there, too. I stood outside the wall, watching them at the outdoor bar. Evan seemed to be drunk, his handsome face flushed red. He drunkenly held my sister’s neck, whispering in her ear. My sister frowned in disdain but mischievously pulled his tie. The surrounding men teased them with suggestive jeering. Evan, however, playfully swept his bangs back and purposely leaned back, flashing a mischievous grin, having succeeded in his prank.

My sister gasped and collapsed onto his lap. Evan wrapped his arms around her slender waist, kissing her lips under the dim lights of the outdoor bar. The crowd erupted into cheers and whistles. Some people opened champagne to celebrate, while others raised their phones to take pictures. Others laughed and teased, “Evan, you’re marrying Mia the day after tomorrow. Is it really appropriate to get intimate with her sister today?” “Haha, don’t tell anyone. Even if Evan takes care of Grace here tonight, Mia won’t find out.” “This is the Evan I know! Before, you were so obedient to Mia, always acting so devoted and faithful. Turns out it was all just an act? I really thought you’d changed!” Evan finally ended the passionate kiss. He was drunk, exuding a touch of arrogance. He said, “The one I’ve always loved is Grace, from the beginning to the end. But who’s to blame when Grace, this flirtatious woman, refuses to settle down for me?” Evan let out a light laugh, then kissed my sister on the cheek. “Guess I’ll have to settle for second best and be with her little sister. “Mia might not be as wild as Grace in bed, but as far as body and looks go, she’s not bad at all, tsk…” Evan helped my sister stand up and leaned her against the bar to rest. Someone handed him a coat, and he draped it over her shoulders. Someone asked, “Evan, are you going home tonight?” My sister looked up at him, her eyes dazed. Evan bent down, affectionately pinching her cheek. “Mia cares about her sister the most. I’m always second. Now that her sister is so upset, I naturally have to comfort her first.” He waved his hand behind him. “John, send Mia a message saying I’m drunk and won’t be coming back tonight. I’ll pick her up for rehearsal tomorrow.” As tears blurred my vision, my phone vibrated. John had sent a message. John: [Ms. Jones, Mr. Taylor is drunk and won’t be coming back tonight. Please rest early. He’ll come to pick you up for rehearsal tomorrow.]

I stood there for a long time, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Since we were little, my sister and I had always depended on each other. After our parents passed away, we were fostered by our uncle. My cousin constantly bullied me, and my aunt turned a blind eye. I was too scared to fight back, but my sister stood up for me. I didn’t dare to strike, but she was the one to teach them a lesson. In terms of academics, I was smarter than my sister. She didn’t like studying much, so in her senior year of high school, I stayed up every night to help her review, breaking down the material and explaining it to her. I painted a picture of a bright future for her, and we both ended up getting into university in this city. When we graduated, I found out my boyfriend was cheating. Without saying a word, my sister rushed to the hotel and beat up the cheating couple. Later, we shared a bedroom in a rented apartment, both uncertain about the future. Every night, we squeezed into one bed, promising each other that we’d take care of one another once we became successful. “We can’t forget our roots. “I’ll leave you the biggest room when I make it.” Since childhood, I’ve always considered her the most important person in my life. Maybe love for family always has its conditions, but I believed she would love me forever. So, witnessing her betrayal, I didn’t even dare to confront her. The one who once fought for me against the other woman had now become the mistress of my fiancé. My wholehearted trust was met with ruthless betrayal. I left the outdoor bar, the cold moon hanging high in the sky, the night air biting with chill. I remembered the first time I met Evan. At twenty-five, I had become the most renowned jewelry designer in Hamscent. At an international auction, after working nonstop for three days and nights, I nearly collapsed in front of the display booth. It was Evan who caught me just in time. Dressed in a suit, he was impossible to look away from. His gentle gaze made my heart race. Later, I heard he was the heir of a prestigious family and notorious for his flirtations, so I deliberately kept my distance. But to win me over, he gave up all his bad habits and pursued me relentlessly for a whole year. That year, during Christmas, I went back to my rural hometown to visit my seriously ill grandmother. Due to poor signal in the mountains, I couldn’t be reached. Worried that I might be in danger, he drove through mountains to find me. Seeing him in the heavy snow, wearing only a thin shirt, anxiously asking the villagers at the village entrance about my whereabouts, I knew then that I was meant to be with him for the rest of my life. During three years of dating, he always pampered me like it was the beginning. He would fix my hair at jewelry exhibitions, remember every vital day and surprise me, and carefully prepare before introducing me to his family. On every occasion, he proudly introduced me, “This is my fiancée, Mia, the youngest jewelry design master in Hamscent. “Her works have won numerous international awards, and even the royal family has appointed her to design their wedding jewelry. If you want to book her now, you’ll have to wait until next year. “Actually, you’ll have to wait until the year after next! “Because next year, we’re having a grand wedding. We’ll definitely invite everyone!” The love he gave me was perfect, but there was a fatal flaw, making everything fragile and easy to shatter. I went to the hotel alone and cried my heart out.

I kept telling myself that this was just betrayal, just being deceived. The wedding hadn’t happened yet. There was still time. I could run far away, leave this painful place, and stay away from these two. But why should I leave? They were the ones who were wrong. They would pay the price! And I should reflect on my lack of sharp judgment, not on my sincere efforts. I was not at fault. I was fine. The next day, during the wedding rehearsal, I returned to the apartment early. When Evan came to pick me up, I had already adjusted myself. But he still noticed my swollen eyes. “Why are your eyes so red?” He bent down and gently kissed my eyelids. I forced back my disgust and said, “I miss my parents.” Evan smiled, squatting down to help me change my shoes. “Your parents must be happy for you up in heaven.” I stared at the top of Evan’s head, my mind filled with a thousand thoughts. I thought, “Since you can’t be faithful, why choose me? Don’t you know that betrayal is the one thing I can’t stand? When you were having an affair with my sister, did you ever think about how much it would hurt me, how hopeless I would feel when I found out?” I held back those thoughts. Evan always boasted to the others that he would give me the most luxurious wedding the city had ever seen. I was going to turn this grand wedding into a ridiculous farce with my own hands. And Evan would be the saddest clown of all. The rehearsal went on until evening. Before leaving, I asked Evan and my sister to wait for me in the parking lot. I called in the wedding planner. This million-dollar wedding would be led by me and executed by her. After speaking with her, she looked troubled, as if she had something to say but didn’t know how. I acted as though I didn’t see. I knew my request was unreasonable. Such last-minute changes would bring a huge workload. But I had handled many high-society weddings and had dealt with more willful brides than me. Now that it was my turn to be the bride, why couldn’t I be willful just once? The driver was gone when I got into the car. Evan was sitting in the front seat, and my sister was in the back. The silence in the air was suffocating. I looked at my sister’s flushed face and sneered. Every time I saw this scene before, I thought they were just arguing, but it turns out they were sneaking around behind my back… I was really such a fool. I sat in the back seat, tired, and closed my eyes. “Where’s the driver?” Evan answered, “He went to the restroom. I’ll call him right away.” I gave a slight nod. Evan turned around, offering me a cup. The fragrance of coffee wafted through the air. “Are you tired?” he asked softly. Then he turned to my sister, commanding, “Grace, sit in the front.” “No need.” I opened my eyes, grabbed my sister’s hand, and turned to smile at her. I continued, “I still have so much to say to my sister.” Evan frowned, clearly displeased. “What is it that I can’t hear?” I smiled even more deeply, “It’s just some trivial talk, nothing important. If you overhear it, you’ll probably accuse my sister of trying to stir up trouble.” Evan snorted, “Grace, no matter how much you object, your sister and I are getting married now. You need to show me some respect in the future.” My sister seemed to sense something was wrong and didn’t retort like usual. Her expression froze, and she looked at me nervously. Free Point

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ChapterI was Emma Miller, and my husband wanted to kill me. After a car accident, I went blind. The doctor said the chances of me recovering were slim. I lowered my head and said nothing. The accident came suddenly. According to the investigation, the other driver was drunk and crashed into us. Fortunately, besides me, the rest of my family was unharmed, and my child was sent to my parents’ house. “Everything is fine, and I’m here with you…” My husband held me tightly, his tears and snot soaking the back of my clothes. I patted his head, trying to reassure him. “I’m blind, not dead. There are many blind people living happy lives, aren’t there?” He nodded. After a long while, we returned home. He held my hand as we walked slowly back, taking it one step at a time. He said he would find a nanny to help me. I agreed. He also had a job and couldn’t be with me all the time. But it would take a few days. He made sure I was comfortable and placed my phone and other things in front of me. He said that all I had to do was press the power button three times to call him. I nodded and forced a smile. After saying goodbye, he reminded me to take my medicine regularly and that he would check when he got back. He then closed the door behind him. As soon as he left, I broke down in tears. Having once seen the light, how could I bear to live in the dark? His tenderness only made it harder to bear, and I cried harder. I met him in college. He was handsome, considerate, and skilled in everything, such as cooking, cleaning, and so on. He was truly exceptional. His name was Neil Taylor. He was originally introduced to my best friend, and I had gone with her on a blind date. But unexpectedly, he was interested in me. I also liked him, so we ended up getting married. After marriage, we started a business, and everything went smoothly. Our family was happy. But… I cried uncontrollably, but there was nothing I could do. “Knock, knock…” A knock on the door, followed by a phone call. I quickly wiped my tears, relying on my memory to answer the phone. “Emma, I’m here to see you.” It was my brother, Davis Miller. I was about to stand up to open the door when I heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. “Neil asked me to take care of you for a few days and gave me a key.” My brother pushed the door open and entered. We had a very good relationship. He was independent and, since adulthood, had never asked me for money. “I brought some food,” he said, closing the door behind him. Then, he sighed, comforting me, “Don’t worry, the doctor said there’s still hope.” I nodded. I knew, though, that it was just a polite way of saying there was little chance. But I nodded anyway, pretending nothing had happened. If I could see, I would have noticed my brother’s worried gaze on my red-rimmed eyes. He turned on the TV. Even though I couldn’t see, hearing the sound helped prevent me from feeling so lonely. He paced back and forth in the living room, and suddenly, I shouted, “Can you be quiet? It’s so annoying!” “Sorry…” I could feel him sitting back down beside me. He took my hand and wrote on it: [This whole thing seems a bit suspicious.] I was taken aback and thought, “Suspicious? What’s suspicious?” My brother worked as an editor at a newspaper and had a keen eye, often noticing things others missed. And if something was going on, why couldn’t he just say it out? I tilted my head slightly, confused. Chapter

My brother continued to write on my hand: [Since the accident, I haven’t come to see you. I’ve been investigating instead.] It was true. He hadn’t visited me even once since the accident. He kept saying he was busy, and I had received only three or four phone calls from him. He continued writing: [I checked nearby surveillance footage. It seems the driver was waiting for you.] [I’ll explain more later, but for now, this is just my guess.] [By the way, when the accident happened, were you sitting in the front passenger seat?] I nodded and asked, “But what does that matter?” I knew he would understand. [But usually, you sit in the back to take care of the child, right?] I suddenly stood up, a chill running through me. Yes, I usually did sit in the back seat. The child was still young and didn’t know better, but this time, the child had fallen asleep, so Neil had said, “Sit in the front passenger seat. Show your status.” I hadn’t thought much of it at the time. [This is just my guess. I’ll look into more details later and let you know.] I nodded. “You need to be careful,” he said. But I understood the meaning behind his words. The phone rang. My brother helped me answer it and put it on speaker. “Emma, it’s time to take your medicine.” “Okay,” I replied. “Make sure to eat something, too,” he said before hanging up. I could hear his light panting. Was it that hot? My brother was staring intently at the phone. “Take your medicine,” he said suddenly, standing up to get me a glass of water. The pills were on the table, many of them all different shapes, making them easy to identify. He looked at the pill bottle and asked, “How many should you take?” “Four pills per bottle.” There were more than ten bottles in total, meaning I needed to take over forty pills and divide them into four doses. “But the bottle shows just one or two pills?” My brother was confused. I was momentarily taken aback. I hadn’t known that. My brother smiled, “Maybe I misread it.” I thought, “Maybe?” Then I heard the sound of a phone camera clicking. “Take the medicine,” Davis said, pouring out the pills. After taking the medicine, I felt very dizzy. My brother covered me with a blanket, and I fell into a deep sleep. At that moment, he stood up and looked toward the upper left corner of the living room. There was a small black dot in the corner. He worked as both an editor and a reporter, so he was sensitive to these things. There was a hidden camera in the house. It made sense, though, considering the situation. He kept an eye on it anyway. Sitting back down beside me, he took a look at the pills and searched the names online. Strangely enough, the pills were all normal medications, and they all looked similar. The dosage depended on the situation. “I think I’m overthinking it,” Davis mumbled. He then put the pills in his bag. He thought, “This is something for professionals to check.” But this whole incident was filled with too many suspicious points. Initially, he had wanted to do a report, but so many things had happened unexpectedly. Davis rubbed his forehead and started reaching out to friends… He suspected Neil was involved in something shady. He would investigate it subtly, hoping nothing would go wrong… When I woke up, all I could smell was the fragrance of food. “Time to eat,” Davis said, placing a plate in my hands and continuously adding food to it. “Don’t take any more of the medicine…” he whispered, “I suspect there’s something wrong with it.” Chapter

I froze for a moment, then nodded, continuing to eat. After the meal, I asked him to take me outside for a walk. The weather was nice today, quite cool. “What do you think?” Davis asked me. I shook my head. I completely trusted my husband. “Do you know about the camera in the room? It’s high definition and can pick up sound, too.” He led me to a pavilion. I shook my head again. My husband had never mentioned it to me before. “In that room, you need to be extra cautious,” Davis said very seriously. I forced a smile. No matter what, he wouldn’t harm me. “He’s almost back. Let’s head back.” My brother took my hand. We had only walked a few steps when I felt a car stop ahead. Neil’s voice came from the car, tinged with a hint of reproach. “Why did you bring her out? What if something happens?” “I wanted to come out,” I said. “Be careful. It’s better if you don’t go out too much,” he said softly. He then drove into the parking lot, starting the car, which stirred up a gust of air. I could smell a faint fragrance from the perfume in the air. Since losing my sight, my other senses had become unusually sharp. My brother led me back home. “Take care of yourself,” he said, gripping my hand tightly. “And you really shouldn’t take that medicine anymore.” “Okay, okay. Just go,” I said. His job was to take care of me while Neil was at work. Once Neil came back, he could rest. My brother nodded and quickly left. I then heard footsteps. Neil came up behind me, wrapped his arms around me, and whispered in my ear, “What do you want to eat tonight?” I fell silent, a wave of disgust flooding through me. What had he done? I had a rough idea in my mind. He sighed and went to cook. After dinner, he brought me the pills. One by one, he poured them out. It was still divided into four doses. Even though my brother had told me not to take them, I had no reason not to, right? Neil gave me the first three doses, and I counted. Ten pills. For the fourth dose, I noticed there was an extra pill. I frowned but swallowed it without saying anything. Then, the dizziness hit again. Neil looked at me, sighed, and kissed my forehead deeply. He whispered, “I’m sorry…” Meanwhile, Davis was driving to a small clinic. Although it was a small place, the doctor was a legitimate medical student. “Hey, Mr. Miller.” “Don’t mess around. Help me check these pills…” Davis handed over ten pills. The doctor took them, sniffed them, and said, “Wait a few days.” Davis nodded. When I woke up, I had no idea how much time had passed. The last time I ate was around seven. Now, it seemed like it was midnight. I rubbed my head. It hurt, and some of my memories seemed fuzzy. I reached out beside me. The bed was empty and cold. Chapter

I paused for a moment, wondering where he could be at this time of night. “Neil!” I shouted his name, but all I heard was the echo of my own voice. I paused again. According to my usual habit, my phone should be on the bedside table. I fumbled around and finally grabbed something. A crisp sound rang out as glass shattered on the floor, a few drops of water splashing onto my face. I withdrew my hand with a tremor, my eyes reddened. It seemed I had to accept the fact that I was useless, and Neil had already left me. With tears in my eyes, I called out to the phone’s voice assistant. “I’m here…” My phone only echoed from the living room. “Call Davis!” “Dialing…” “Hello?” “Davis…” “I’ll be there soon.” A moment later, I heard rapid footsteps, followed by the door suddenly opening. He quickly came into the bedroom, seeing the shards of glass scattered on the floor, and I curled up at the bedside. “Davis…” I rushed towards him. He gently held me, comforting me, “It’s okay… It’s okay.” His eyes scanned the room, ensuring there were no cameras. “Why don’t you come stay with me for a few days…” he suggested. “Mm…” I nodded. I sat in the passenger seat, the wind blowing through the window. “What time is it?” “Three in the morning,” Davis replied. “Why aren’t you asleep?” “Just working late,” he said. I nodded, then added, “The pills seem to have a problem.” “How so?” “After I took it, I felt really dizzy,” I frowned and said, “And a lot of my memories… I can’t remember them.” “Then don’t take it anymore.” Davis parked the car and helped me out. As we walked, Davis spoke, “I looked into the guy who was driving drunk. It seems he’s never even drunk before. “Also, he only got his driver’s license less than two months ago.” I fell silent, an answer vaguely forming in my mind. Just then, my phone rang. “Neil,” Davis said. “Answer it.” “Where have you been? Why are you running around like that? Why didn’t you call me?” He bombarded me with three questions. I scoffed, “Where were you?” “Working overtime,” he said helplessly. Davis then coldly remarked, “Oh, my sister wants to stay with me for a few days. Is that a problem?” “You…” I immediately hung up the phone and powered it off. “This man isn’t worth it,” Davis said angrily. I forced a smile. “But there’s no concrete evidence, is there?” “There will be.” Davis’ tone was cold. Chapter

He settled me down, sitting at the edge of the bed. “Tomorrow, I plan to meet with that family. Do you want to come?” I remained silent for a moment. “I’ll go.” “Alright, I’ll rest for a bit…” I knew he hadn’t slept the whole night. I was also feeling exhausted and mentally drained. The next day, we left early. Davis said Neil was sure to come over. I sat in the passenger seat, feeling the breeze. At that moment, my phone rang. Davis glanced at it, answered, and put it on speaker. “Mr. Miller, the medicine’s been checked. It’s a normal drug, just with a higher sedative content, but that’s common. There are many like it on the market. Just don’t take too much.” “How much is too much?” I asked. “Uh… taking a small amount leads to drowsiness and memory loss. If you take more, it could reduce your mental capacity to that of a child.” “Goodbye.” Davis hung up the phone. “As expected.” I scratched my head. “But there’s no concrete evidence.” Davis didn’t respond immediately but simply said, “Don’t take that medicine anymore.” “The driver’s family is poor. His father just recovered from a major illness, and he has two kids, so he might be desperate enough to do anything for money,” Davis continued. I nodded. I turned my phone back on, and as soon as it powered up, there was a call. I didn’t need to check the number to know who it was. He started by scolding Davis, asking why he took me out without informing him and what would have happened if something had gone wrong. He had found a nanny and told me not to be angry, assuring me he would accompany me more often. He also questioned why I didn’t bring the medicine with me. I sneered and immediately hung up, powering the phone off. “He probably suspects something,” Davis remarked. After a while, the car came to a stop, and we still had to walk a bit on a dirt road. Another half hour of travel, and we finally arrived. “Even worse than I imagined…” Davis clicked his tongue. He described the house to me. A mudbrick structure with a cracked roof. A dark, strong-looking middle-aged woman was washing clothes while carrying a child on her back. Seeing us, she didn’t seem surprised. Without lifting her head, she coldly said, “Didn’t we already pay the compensation?” She suddenly burst into tears, shouting, “Isn’t five hundred thousand dollars enough? Our parents sold the house, and they’re old but still have to live in a rented place…” The child behind her woke up and started crying as well. She quickly forced a smile, trying to comfort the child. “She’s a good actress,” Davis commented, amused. I took out a bank card from my pocket. “One million dollars. How about returning my eyes?” I said. She was momentarily stunned, her body stiffening. Davis took my hand and slowly approached her. I could smell a faint scent of skincare products on her. It was a luxury brand, the cheapest of which cost five hundred dollars, a luxury for a family like hers. “I ask, you answer.” She snorted coldly. “I ask, you answer!” Davis suddenly shouted, tossing a photo in front of her. The photo was of a little girl with twin ponytails. “I…” “I ask, you answer,” Davis said, showing no mercy. Chapter

She swallowed hard, the child in her arms still crying loudly. “Does your husband drink?” Davis asked, suddenly speaking in a gentle tone. “Yes, he drinks liquor,” she replied, lowering her head to comfort the child. She continued, “He likes to drink liquor and beer together.” Drinking liquor and beer together made it easier to get drunk. I sneered inwardly. She seemed well-prepared. “How long has he had his driver’s license?” “Less than two months.” “Where did the car come from?” She bit her lip. “We bought it a while ago.” Davis nodded. It was indeed bought a while ago. The car was in poor condition due to age and lack of maintenance. However, the compensation amount far exceeded the cost. Davis glanced inside the house, spotting numerous liquor bottles. “Nothing useful here. Let’s go,” Davis sighed. “You… you didn’t do anything, right?” The woman’s eyes were bloodshot. “Nothing much. Just bought a few things for her,” Davis replied with a smile. Just then, a young girl wearing a brand-new outfit walked over. Davis walked ahead, and I followed behind him. “Bought off, huh?” I sighed. “Such smooth skills. She’s a professional,” Davis sighed as well. “I’m going back to Neil,” I said, “I need to figure out his motives.” “Mm… I’ll give you something later.” Once we were back in the car, he handed me a pair of glasses. They were similar to mine, though I preferred wearing contact lenses. There was a button. It was a surveillance device. The video would be uploaded online. “Press it three times, and it’ll automatically call the police. I’ll also get the information.” I touched it and felt the small bulge. “I’m going to visit the driver in prison,” Davis said. He dropped me off at a café. I let Neil to pick me up. Soon, Neil arrived and drove me home, saying nothing. It wasn’t until we were nearly there that Neil spoke, “The nanny’s already at home. “She’ll tell you the information. “I have something else to take care of tonight.” Neil led me inside the house. I caught a strong, unpleasant smell. Neil frowned, telling the nanny to take good care of me before leaving. “Did you use my skincare products?” I asked as I sat on the sofa. “I… I…” She sounded flustered. Free Point

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When my girlfriend was in high school, she was humiliated by a rich kid from her class, who tricked her into eating something that made her embarrass herself in front of the entire school. Because of that, she developed a deep resentment toward the wealthy and started scratching luxury cars wherever she went. In order to be with her, I carefully hid my identity as a wealthy heir. On her birthday, I decided to come clean and bought her a ring worth ten million dollars as a gesture of my love. But when I arrived, I found her kneeling in front of a rich man. “Dominic, can I be your dog?” she asked. Tina’s voice rang through the phone as she excitedly told me, “Baby, guess what? I scratched another luxury car today!” Absently, I responded, “Baby, you’re amazing!” Tina had a deep-seated hatred for the rich. She told me that back in high school, she attended a prestigious private school where most of the students were either from rich families or well-connected. They tormented her, trying to break her spirit. The most humiliating memory she had was when she was a sophomore. A wealthy classmate slipped a laxative into her food, and during a ceremony, she had an unfortunate accident that left her deeply embarrassed in front of the entire school. Now, every time she saw a luxury car parked on the street, she couldn’t resist taking out her nail clipper and scratching it. To her, it was a way to fight back. I didn’t mind this habit of hers, not in the slightest. If she destroyed another person’s car, I’d simply pay the compensation, no questions asked. Why? Because I was Ryle City’s top-tier rich kid. In fact, seventy percent of the wealth generated in Ryle City came from my family’s businesses. But I couldn’t let her know that. I knew how much she despised wealthy people. If she found out who I really was, I wasn’t sure if she’d still accept me. I stepped out of the jewelry store, where I had just bought the ring, and the staff there asked for my number. I politely declined, telling them I had a girlfriend. I caught a cab to meet Tina, still holding the box with her present. But when I arrived at our meeting spot, I froze. Tina was kneeling in front of a young man. My heart dropped into my stomach. Tina must’ve been caught scratching a luxury car, and now she was facing the consequences. She used to be cautious when scratching cars, and I always contacted the cars’ owners afterward to discuss compensation. I walked over quickly, my voice tense. “She’s my girlfriend. She damaged your car, and I’ll take full responsibility.” The young man looked me up and down, disdain written all over his face. “This is a Bentley, at least worth hundreds of thousands. You really think someone like you, a poor loser, can afford to pay for it?” I swallowed my pride and nodded, trying to maintain control of the situation. “I’ll find a way to pay you. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll write you an IOU.” The young man demanded the IOU. Then, Tina insisted that they exchange numbers. This made my stomach churn, but I didn’t say anything. As soon as he left, I noticed the license plate on the Bentley. Wait a minute. Wasn’t that my father’s car? She shrugged sheepishly, giving me a playful look. “I know you’re upset about me adding the guy’s contact, but it was my fault. I scratched that car.” I gently touched her nose. “No need to explain.” Then, Tina leaned into my arms. We returned to the apartment, and I fell asleep almost immediately, exhausted from the tension of the day. But in the middle of the night, I heard Tina’s phone buzzing nonstop. I couldn’t make out who she was texting, but I had a bad feeling. When I woke up the next morning, Tina was gone. I tried calling her, but her phone went straight to voicemail. Panic crept up my spine as I paced around the room. I thought for a moment and then remembered. She must have gone to meet that guy. I already told her I would compensate the car owner. What a silly girl. Besides, that Bentley was my father’s. Frustrated, I pulled up the location of the Bentley on my tracking app. It was parked at BlackJack Pub. I hailed a cab and rushed to the bar, my heart racing. When I arrived, I saw her electric scooter outside. Tina was inside. Thinking that the young man might torture her, I didn’t waste any time and stormed inside. Through a door crack, I saw Tina in a private room with the young man. There were several other people around. Worst, Tina was kneeling in front of him. I was about to go in, but my blood ran cold as I overheard her say, “Dominic, can I be your dog?”

I stood frozen, unable to believe the words that had just come out of Tina’s mouth. She had always hated the rich, calling them nothing but crawling maggots. How could she now say such a thing, offering to be that man’s mistress? I instinctively stopped and watched the situation unfold. The young man’s friends started egging him on, “Dominic, she’s offering herself! You should accept her!” Dominic, the young man, casually lifted his glass of red wine, took a sip, and then commanded Tina, “Crawl over here.” Tina obediently crawled toward him. He lifted her chin with one hand and, with the other, poured the rest of his wine over her head. Squinting, he said, “Want to be my mistress? You’re not good enough for that. But I could use a dog.” Tina, ever obedient, started barking like a dog, “Woof, woof!” Dominic and his friends burst into laughter. Dominic turned to her, “The one who made the IOU for me today was your boyfriend, right? Does he mind you being a dog?” Tina scoffed, “That poor bastard? What right does he have to mind?” Dominic, intrigued, asked, “Tell me, how poor is he?” Tina, completely unaware that Dominic and his group were just looking for amusement, let out a sycophantic laugh. “My boyfriend Nicholas can turn a pair of cotton underwear into silk. He’s been wearing the same pair for three years and still won’t throw them away. “Once he bought me a purse, but it was clearly a knockoff luxury brand. What girl would like that? “Then there were those cosmetics he gave me, all stored in mineral water bottles. I’m scared to use them, afraid my face will break out.” Tina went on listing off things one by one. I clenched my fists tightly, anger rising in me. The bag I gave her was one I had intentionally had the servants disguise as a regular bag. The cosmetics were high-end, but I put them in water bottles so she wouldn’t catch on. I had always tried to be considerate of her feelings, but now it seemed like all of that had just become fodder for her ridicule. Dominic looked over at me. “I noticed you came in. Come on.” I pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Dominic’s expression was mocking, knowing full well he wanted me to witness how my precious girlfriend was degrading herself in front of him. He wanted to see me beg her to come back to me, while she would look at me with disdain. He was hoping for a dog-eat-dog spectacle. Tina suddenly turned her head, her voice trembling. “Nicholas, you shouldn’t be here. If you hadn’t shown up, things could’ve stayed the same between us.” So it was my fault for being here. If I hadn’t shown up, how would I have known that Tina’s supposed hatred for the rich was just a facade to stand out? Her scratching luxury cars wasn’t because she hated them. It was to get the attention of the owners and then flirt with them. I took a deep breath. The Tina I had once thought was charming now seemed like nothing but a pile of trash. Tina said, “Nicholas, from now on, I’m breaking up with you. A poor loser like you will just end up playing with yourself.” I replied coldly, “Yes, from now on, we’re done. But remember, it was I who dumped you, not the other way around.” I gave Dominic a dismissive glance. “Tina, you’re kneeling to a clown, and you’ll never realize what you’ve lost.” With that, I turned to leave. Dominic’s voice rang out behind me, “Don’t be in such a hurry. Did I say you could leave?” Two young men blocked my path.

I turned my head and stared directly at Dominic, “What do you want?” One of the men blocking my way asked, “Dominic, should we break one of his legs or an arm?” Tina cackled like an old hen. “Dominic, you’re amazing!” When others wanted to harm me, she actually cheered them on. Dominic stood up and patted me on the shoulder. “Loser, have you ever seen a rich guy?” I pushed his hand off my shoulder. “Careful. Dirty my clothes, and you won’t be able to pay for them.” Dominic and his group laughed wildly. He pointed at me and said to Tina, “Can’t say you don’t give credit where it’s due. This ex-boyfriend of yours sure knows how to put on a show. What clothes, huh? How could I not be able to afford them?” Tina buttered him up. “Dominic, his clothes are all from street vendors. They don’t even have a brand. I heard that some street vendor clothes are recycled from old ones, refurbished, and sold again.” I retorted, “Custom-made, you get it?” The clothes my family wore were all bespoke, specially requested not to have logos. Dominic and his group looked at me like I was some kind of circus act, laughing uncontrollably. Tina smirked. “Nicholas, you look like a clown right now. You’re poor but still trying to act rich.” Dominic slapped his thigh, “Haven’t seen someone try so hard to act like this in ages. You know what? Let me show you what a real rich person looks like.” His friends chimed in, “Well, he would probably feel so embarrassed that he might kill himself on the spot!” Another said, “Never seen anyone try so hard to fake it. It’s honestly eye-opening.” Dominic raised an eyebrow at me. “Come with me!” We all left BlackJack Pub. I was dragged to the backseat by two men. Tina asked, “Dominic, where should I sit?” Dominic gave her a disdainful look, “There’s no seat for you. You can ride your electric bike.” He handed Tina the address, Cloudgaze Hotel, started the car, and drove off. When I heard the name Cloudgaze Hotel, I froze for a moment. Yesterday, my dad had called me, saying some people of modest wealth were hosting a banquet there and wanted to meet me to build connections. I had turned it down. But now, Dominic was taking me to that very same banquet. What a small world.

We arrived at the banquet hall of Cloudgaze Hotel. As soon as we walked in, a few well-dressed people surrounded Dominic, fawning over him. Their flattering behavior made me sneer inwardly. Someone noticed me and asked Dominic, “Who’s this?” Dominic glanced back at me. “This is Nicholas Owens, a super-rich kid!” The way he said “super-rich kid” was laced with sarcasm. The people surrounding Dominic picked up on the mockery and began eyeing me suspiciously. One overweight middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle said, “The boss of Polerian Group is surnamed Owens. You’re also an Owens. So, are you Mr. Owens’ son?” I replied, “You guessed it right. I am Mr. Owens’ son.” The fat man grinned, showing his yellow teeth. “They all say like father, like son. If Mr. Owens had a son like you, he’d probably die from anger.” He slapped my cheek, “You look like a sick hen, and you dare pretend to be Mr. Owens’ son? How dare you!” I snapped. “Take your filthy paw off me. If I’m not Mr. Owens’ son, then are you? Even if you kneel in front of my father, he wouldn’t recognize you.” The people around me laughed even louder. “Mr. Owens does have a son, someone about your age. But he’s supposed to be well-groomed and elegant. You, on the other hand, look like a street rat. Your whole family must have been garbage pickers.” “Oh, really?” I pulled out my phone, ready to call my father. Just then, Tina arrived late, rushing up to grab my phone. “Nicholas, are you done throwing a tantrum? You think this will make me notice you, maybe even reconsider and get back together?” I snatched my phone back. “You have the nerve to talk? A woman like you is nothing but trash. You want me to beg you to get back together? Dream on.” I didn’t even want to look at Tina anymore. The thought of her made me nauseous. Tina, her chest heaving in anger, pointed at me. “I was with him for five years, and he’s nothing but an orphan, a piece of trash from the lower class.” She thought she was revealing some deep secret, but what she didn’t know was that I had deliberately hidden my true identity to be with her. The crowd erupted in laughter. Once again, the middle-aged man pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it on the ground. He whistled at me. “Nicholas, right? If you kneel and pick up that money, it’s all yours.” I gave him a blank stare. “What’s wrong with you? You think that little money can make me kneel?” There were about ten thousand bucks on the floor. For someone to test me with that amount was just ridiculous. The middle-aged man’s face turned livid at my words. Tina was the first to react. “Nicholas, you can barely earn three grand a month. The money on the ground is worth three months of your salary. You’ll be a real fool if you don’t pick it up.” Dominic squeezed Tina’s buttocks. “If he doesn’t want it, you can have it.” Tina hesitated. “Darling, I’m your woman. You’ll be humiliated if I kneel.” Dominic’s expression turned cold. “You think you deserve to be my woman, you cheap whore? If you don’t take that money, I’ll have the cleaning lady pick it up.” Dominic wasn’t just humiliating me; he was humiliating Tina, too. He saw us as the same kind of people. Tina knelt on the floor, picking up the money one by one. She looked no different from a dog. Free Point

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The imposter daughter exposed her identity to bring me back, only to make me marry her crippled fiance. She put on a show in front of the whole family, trying to sow discord between me and them. But what she didn’t know was that we could all hear her thoughts. When she slashed her palm with a fruit knife to frame me, she was secretly thinking, “Why isn’t that useless father of mine hitting her yet?” When she tumbled down the stairs and accused me, she was cursing in her mind, “Stupid old hag, why don’t you teach her a lesson?” And when she snuggled up to my brother in feigned innocence, she was thinking, “You’re really a loyal dog, my dear brother.” The expressions on the faces of the three of them shifted in an instant, their anger rising to the point of madness. I just smiled faintly and turned away, ignoring her, only wanting to get this “special” task over with as quickly as possible. When Kendra Miles found me, I was fishing by the river under the blazing sun. She grabbed my hand with joy, tears welling up in her eyes. “Sis, I finally found you.” Before I could react, a group of people rudely yanked me off the fishing boat and shoved me into a Rolls-Royce Phantom. As soon as the car door slammed shut, Kendra’s smile vanished, and her icy gaze shot at me like an arrow. Her lips didn’t move, but I could clearly hear her cursing in her mind. “How infuriating! This unlucky fool is actually so good-looking. What good is being pretty? She’s destined to be my stand-in and marry that cripple! “It’s all my useless mother’s fault. She couldn’t even get rid of the engagement. If it weren’t for that, I would never let this freak come back! “Even if she returns to the Miles family, I won’t let her live a day in peace.” Half an hour later, we boarded a private plane and arrived at the top of the most luxurious skyscraper in Priemon before nightfall. The place was lit up like a dazzling star, hosting a grand banquet. Kendra led me through a side door to a luxurious suite. Before entering, she pulled a fruit knife out from somewhere, the blade glinting menacingly. She raised an eyebrow at me, and the next moment, blood started flowing from her palm, and I found the knife in my hand. She slammed open the door, threw her arms wide, and threw herself into a noblewoman’s embrace, screaming, “Dad! Mom! Leonard! Help!” Blood trickled down her arm as the people in the room rushed to her, their eyes filled with shock and sympathy. Leonard Miles quickly ripped off his handkerchief to wrap her wound. “Aurelia… Aurelia is trying to kill me! “Aurelia, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to steal your life. Why don’t you believe me?” Her biological parents and brother, who had never met me before, gathered around Kendra, all frowning in unison. They looked at me with clear disdain. I stared at the united front of this family, a faint sorrow tugging at my heart, before I calmly said, “She hurt herself. It has nothing to do with me.” My so-called brother clenched his fist. “The weapon is in your hand, and you still dare to argue? Just like the private investigator said. You’re truly malicious!” They had hired a private investigator to look into me? How did I not notice? My elegant and dignified mother, clutching the sobbing Kendra, comforted her gently before turning to glare at me. “Even though we know you have a bad nature, Kendra still begged us to find you, worried that you’d suffer out there. How could you be so heartless to hurt her?” My successful father sighed in deep disappointment. “If you want to return to the Miles family, you must kneel and apologize to Kendra. We don’t have ungrateful, knife-wielding scum in this family. Kneel!” Kendra raised her chin smugly, her eyes full of provocation. I had imagined the scene of meeting my biological parents, but I never expected it to unfold like this. I stood still, staring at them without moving. “Leonard, if she doesn’t kneel and apologize to Kendra, break her legs!” Leonard stepped forward, closing the distance. I gazed at him with cold eyes, fingers flexing, the fruit knife twirling between my fingertips as I watched them wide-eyed. With a snap of my fingers, the fruit knife flew through the air, and when it fell, I caught the blade steady, then flicked my wrist. The knife whistled through the air, grazing Leonard’s head and embedding itself in the wall. I slowly walked into the room, my voice frigid. “I don’t leave anyone alive if I strike. But since you’re my family, I’ll overlook this. Remember, never again.” Leonard stiffly shut his mouth, swallowing hard. My father instinctively pulled my mother closer, his eyes full of panic. At that moment, Kendra’s thoughts echoed in my mind. “Go ahead, stupid dog, you’re already scared? Didn’t I tell you she’s learned acrobatics? That was all to trick you idiots. “Are you just standing there brewing shit? Aren’t you the ones who claim to love me the most, unwilling to let me suffer a bit? Why don’t you teach her a lesson?” The three of them froze in place, their gazes unintentionally shifting toward Kendra, the tension in the room thickening. I gave a slight smile. She probably still didn’t know that we could all hear her thoughts. With Kendra in the picture, this whole mission just got a lot more interesting.

“Mom, I believe Aurelia didn’t hurt me on purpose. Once she marries into the Anders family, she might stop making things difficult for me,” Kendra said, tears streaming down her face. But her thoughts betrayed her. “Stupid old woman. Why is she not making a move? Hurry up and get rid of her!” My mother, as though gripped by a poisonous snake, suddenly shoved Kendra away, her voice sharp. “What… What did you just say?” She was trembling with anger, her face darkening. She pointed a shaking finger at Kendra, opening her mouth to speak, but no words came out, as if she were about to faint. Kendra collapsed to the floor, her face full of feigned innocence. “Mom, what… what’s wrong with you?” Her expression was desperate, but her thoughts revealed her true nature. “What the hell is this crazy bitch doing? Has she gone mad and about to die? Oh, that’s great. Those two loyal dogs will be much easier to control.” My mother’s chest heaved violently, her eyes bloodshot from the fury boiling inside her. Before I could enjoy more of the drama, someone suddenly knocked on the door, and a servant informed us it was time to go to the banquet hall. Leonard stepped forward, helping my mother catch her breath. My father pointed to a set of high-end formal wear on the sofa bed, his tone reluctant. “Change into this dress and join us in the banquet hall. Remember, your name is Aurelia Miles.” Only then did I realize I was still wearing my black fishing outfit. Once they left, two beautiful ladies came in to help me. One quickly touched up my makeup while the other helped me into the formal gown. After the preparations, I was escorted into the banquet hall, where my parents and brother were already mingling. On the way here, from Kendra’s thoughts, I learned that this banquet was supposedly my engagement to the son of the richest man in Priemon. However, the heir had been paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident five years ago, unable to walk. Originally, Kendra had been the one promised to him, but she refused to marry a cripple. Not to mention that her husband’s mother, Regina Anders, had a notorious reputation for being ruthless. This heir wasn’t a first-time groom; he had two previous fiancées, both of whom had mysteriously died not long after their engagements. Kendra always suspected that Regina was behind their untimely deaths. So, rather than marry a cripple, Kendra had chosen to expose her identity and find me to take her place. Coincidentally, my mission was here in Priemon. Since she had found me, I had to play along. The banquet hall was packed with Priemon’s most influential figures. Now, I needed to find the man with a wolf-head tattoo on his wrist. I casually picked up a glass of wine from a passing servant’s tray, staying alert as I moved gracefully through the crowd, my eyes scanning every corner. Suddenly, a group of exquisitely dressed women, whose cheap airs were unmistakable, closed in on me, sizing me up with condescending glances. “You must be Kendra’s sister, Aurelia?” The ringleader was one of Kendra’s closest friends, Monty. “Kendra told us that when she found you, you were fishing in the river.” Monty laughed out loud, a high-pitched giggle escaping her lips as she dramatically covered her mouth with her hand. “You still smell like fish! So foul! You’ve completely ruined this beautiful banquet.” The others immediately stepped back, sneering as they fanned their noses and exaggeratedly sniffed the air. Kendra, hiding among the crowd, watched from a distance, clearly enjoying the spectacle. As they spoke, I was herded away, pushed into a secluded corner of the hall.

I slowly scanned the crowd, unhurriedly correcting Monty. “That’s a kind of sturgeon, known as a living fossil. It’s a level-one protected species. Its cartilage and spinal cord contain anticancer factors, making it of great academic and economic value. I’d say none of you here are worth as much as it is.” The socialites flinched as though I’d struck a nerve, glaring at me with fury. “Hmph, daring to catch a national protected species? Bet you’re just trying to make a living by selling it. How pathetic you are.” “Your return doesn’t mean you and Kendra are at the same level. The social ladder is not that easy to climb. You’ll never be better than Kendra.” “Exactly. It was Kendra’s kindness and generosity that saved you from the slums. You should be on your knees thanking her.” At that, a few of them came over to push down on my shoulders. I seized their wrists, shifting my body down, and with a swift move, I knocked them both to the floor. Since they liked kneeling so much, I thought I’d give them a bit more practice. Everyone froze, mouths hanging open, wide-eyed. “What? Never seen someone who knows martial arts?” I shook my head in exasperation. “I don’t argue with mediocrity. While you all may be shallow and ill-mannered, I’ll kindly offer some advice.” I turned to Monty, my voice measured. “Look at your face. It’s a clear sign of overindulgence. You shouldn’t be so frequent with your… activities.” “And you,” I said, turning to another one, “your face is swollen, your skin’s turning purple, and your fingertips are thick. Your heart’s in bad shape. Go get yourself checked before it’s too late.” I turned to another girl, raising an eyebrow. “The bad breath… Doesn’t anyone tell you?” The group turned bright red, both humiliated and angry, gnashing their teeth but unable to retaliate. Seeing the situation unfold, Kendra quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. “My sister is from the countryside,” she said, offering a sheepish smile. “She’s used to speaking harshly. Please don’t take her words too seriously. “Monty, you wanted that Lady Dior bag, right? I just got one today and brought it for you. And here’s your Pandora bracelet. Don’t worry. Everyone’s got something.” Monty clutched her bag to her chest, jumping up and down with excitement, her eyes sparkling. As she and the others prepared to shower Kendra with praise and flattery, their faces suddenly froze. They had overheard Kendra’s inner thoughts. “No wonder they’re so good at flattering me. Just a few knockoffs, and they’ve got them spinning. “Ugh, I can’t believe I brought them into this prestigious banquet to show them a bit of the high life. What are they even wearing? I’m embarrassed just standing next to them. “Monty’s such a slut. How does she even get such a handsome boyfriend? I’ve tried so many times and failed. She’s obviously blind. “What are they still standing there for? Why haven’t they come to worship me yet? Are they really that happy to see me?” I nearly burst out laughing. Monty and the others were so furious their faces twisted, looking like they could kill Kendra on the spot. But they couldn’t dare to make a move, not with the Miles family’s power behind Kendra. Just then, the glittering golden doors opened, and a woman with a cold, aloof aura entered, pushing a handsome man in a wheelchair. I narrowed my eyes. The man in the wheelchair… It was him! Free Point

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295525”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #狼人Werewolf

When my husband’s mother, Sarah Brown, was hospitalized due to illness, I took care of her around the clock, never leaving her side. After Sarah’s condition finally stabilized, Rita Brown, the wife of my husband’s brother, finally showed up, appearing at the door of the hospital room. Though she arrived empty-handed, Sarah couldn’t stop praising her for her devotion, showering her with compliments. I rolled my eyes in frustration and quietly left the room, feeling a mix of emotions in my heart. Once Sarah was discharged and recovered, I suggested that she stay with Rita for a while so that Rita and her family could have the chance to show their filial piety to her. I couldn’t help but smile coldly when I saw Rita hesitating and reluctantly trying to avoid my suggestion. She had to experience some things herself. “Cynthia Brown, what kind of food did you bring me? Is there anything here that I actually like?” Sarah’s angry shout suddenly rang out, and at the same time, food splashed all over me. The metal lunch box hit my abdomen hard, making me feel a sharp, dull pain. I looked down at the food all over the floor and then at my wet clothes. The sticky feeling was unpleasant and uncomfortable. Not wanting to disturb others’ rest and to maintain my own dignity, I chose to remain silent. With a sigh, I began cleaning up the mess. Once the mess was cleaned up, I changed into fresh clothes before explaining to Sarah. “Sarah, the doctor said you shouldn’t eat greasy food right now, so I made you some light soup and vegetables.” Even though my tone was full of helplessness, Sarah stubbornly turned her head away and kept yelling at me. Knowing that further communication with Sarah was pointless, I quietly reminded her to follow the doctor’s advice before shutting my mouth. Sarah huffed disdainfully and turned away, no longer paying me any attention. It was nearly noon, and everyone else had gone out for lunch. The room was left with only Sarah and me. An oppressive silence filled the air, so thick that even the sound of a falling needle would have seemed loud. I was about to step out of the room for some fresh air when suddenly, I heard the sound of a woman crying uncontrollably. Before I could react, a figure quickly rushed toward Sarah’s bed. “Sarah, how are you feeling? Is there anything else bothering you? I’ve been so worried these past few days. I can’t even sleep at night thinking about your suffering in the hospital…” A stream of concerned words poured out like rapid fire. I looked up and saw that it was none other than Rita Brown, the wife of my husband’s brother, who was sobbing as she clung to Sarah. Seeing her fake display of concern, I felt a wave of disgust wash over me. Just a month ago, Sarah’s chronic condition flared up again, and this time it was quite serious. I rushed Sarah to the hospital and called my husband, Jeffrey Brown. Because it was an emergency, I had no choice but to sign the surgery consent form as the doctor advised. By the time Jeffrey arrived, sweating and panicked, Sarah had already been wheeled into the operating room. We hadn’t even had a chance to inform Jeffrey’s brother, Earl Brown, about the situation yet. And now, Rita, like a latecomer, appeared to lament how much she cared about Sarah. Her insincerity left me feeling completely contemptuous.

Although the doctors had clearly told us that the chances of success for the surgery were quite high, Jeffrey and I still paced nervously outside the operating room, our minds filled with worry about the unknown outcome, fearing any unexpected complications. Luckily, our fears turned out to be unnecessary. When we saw Sarah safely wheeled out of the operating room, the heavy weight that had been hanging over me finally lifted. Though the surgery was a success, the doctors recommended that Sarah stay in the hospital for a month to rest to monitor her recovery closely. I had no objections to the doctor’s advice and readily agreed. However, the reality of the situation presented a challenge. We had a young child at home to care for, and both Jeffrey and I had demanding jobs, making it hard to find enough time to stay with Sarah. After giving it some thought, I called Rita, hoping we could work out a shift plan to help care for Sarah so we could all share the load. Unfortunately, as soon as I mentioned that Sarah was in the hospital, Rita quickly ended the call, citing the busyness of her own household. I tried calling several more times, but no one answered. It was clear that Rita didn’t want to be involved in caring for Sarah. Faced with this reality, we had no choice but to take on the responsibility ourselves. Since Jeffrey worked in sales and was currently in his peak season, his hours were unpredictable, though his income had increased significantly as a result. After weighing the options, I decided to take a month’s leave from work to devote myself entirely to taking care of Sarah in the hospital until she fully recovered. At the same time, considering that Jeffrey couldn’t manage the children, I used my lunch breaks to drop our child off at my mother’s house for her to look after. Despite all my efforts, I never earned Sarah’s full approval. She often criticized my work, either pointing out something I hadn’t done well enough or complaining about things I had done wrong. I tried to bear her criticisms, but what hurt the most was how often she would say that if Rita were taking care of her, she would do a much better job than I did.

I had countless moments when I wanted to directly tell Sarah that Rita, upon hearing the news of her hospitalization, had coldly hung up the phone and, over the past few days, neither showed up nor even bothered to call and check on her. But each time I saw Sarah’s pale face, weakened by her illness, my impulse to say that was quickly suppressed, as I didn’t want to upset her and risk interfering with her recovery. Honestly, I could understand why Sarah might not like me; conflicts in family life were nothing new. What I found hard to accept, though, was Sarah’s clear favoritism toward Rita. Over the past ten years, since Jeffrey and I got married, Sarah has lived under the same roof with us. Our child, Keith Brown, was already seven years old now. I had done my best to show filial piety, but I had never earned Sarah’s genuine affection in return. My thoughts drifted back to the time when Jeffrey and I got married. Both our families were ordinary, living simple lives. When we discussed our wedding, I only symbolically proposed an engagement gift of sixty-six thousand dollars, and after the wedding, I brought it all back as start-up money for our little family. However, when Earl and Rita got married, she immediately asked for an engagement gift of two hundred eighty thousand dollars. As far as I know, this money ended up in her brother’s hands, and it was used to buy property. Not only did she not bring back a penny, but she also often moved things from her home to her parent’s place. So, whenever I saw Sarah’s preference for Rita, a deep sense of injustice would rise in my heart. At that moment, Rita sat on the hospital bed, her eyes full of tears as she expressed her concern for Sarah. Sarah, equally emotional, tightly grasped Rita’s hand, tears streaming down her face in response. Seeing this scene, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Rita’s hypocritical face any longer. I rolled my eyes and turned, walking out of the room. I wasn’t surprised at all by Rita’s sudden appearance at the hospital today. Yesterday, the doctor informed Jeffrey and me that Sarah was recovering well and would be discharged soon. Hearing the news, I was genuinely happy. Even though Sarah had always been cold towards me, I sincerely wished for her to be healthy and free from illness. Jeffrey was also glad. Although he held a grudge against Rita’s family for their indifference, the bond of brotherhood was not so easily broken. After thinking it over, he still decided to share the good news with his brother, Earl.

As for why Rita showed up today, I was well aware. She probably thought that since Sarah’s condition had improved, they no longer needed to pretend to care for her. So, she rushed over to act as the good wife and good son in front of Sarah. After all, when she came, I made sure to glance a few times. She didn’t even bother bringing a box of supplements or anything. She showed up empty-handed. I sat outside for a long while, watching as the evening sky grew darker. It wasn’t until I realized how late it had gotten that I slowly walked back into the hospital. However, when I returned to the room, I found that neither Sarah nor Rita were there. Since Sarah wasn’t due for discharge yet, and with it being so late, where could Rita have taken her? With this question in mind, I quickly pulled out my phone to call Rita. But before I could dial, Joan Arnold, who was in the bed next to Sarah’s, suddenly looked at me. “Cynthia, Rita gave Sarah something to eat a while ago. Not long after, she started vomiting. They’ve taken her to the emergency room…” Joan’s words froze me in place. But as soon as I snapped back to my senses, I widened my eyes and rushed towards the ER, not even bothering to thank Joan. By the time I reached the emergency room, I saw Rita sitting on a chair outside. But I had no time to question her. Instead, I focused on calming myself down and waited anxiously at the door. Fortunately, the panic didn’t last long. The doctor came out quickly. He removed his mask and calmly spoke to me, “We just induced vomiting in the patient. She’s fine now. But you need to follow the doctor’s advice on what to feed her. Don’t give her anything random. She’s elderly and can’t handle this kind of stress repeatedly.” The doctor’s tone held a hint of reproach, but once I heard that Sarah was okay, my worried heart finally eased. Not bothering with further explanation, I kept nodding and thanking the doctor. After the doctor left, I let out a long breath and turned to glare at Rita. “What did you give Sarah to eat just now? What happened? Don’t you know that she’s elderly? If something serious had happened, it would have been too late by then!” As I looked at Rita’s careless attitude, my voice was filled with unmistakable reproach. “Sarah told me you didn’t feed her, and she was hungry. So, I ordered sandwiches and fried chicken for her. You know how much Sarah loves this kind of food.” I noticed her pouting as if she was in the right, which made me even more frustrated. “Even if she loves it, she should consider when it’s appropriate. Sarah’s in the hospital, and she needs to eat lighter to help with her recovery. Sandwiches are hard to digest, and with all the condiments, it’s basically just going to upset her stomach. She’s still taking medicine; how can her body handle such irritating food? And by the way, do you see anyone else eating like this in the hospital?” Before I could finish my scolding, I heard Rita mumbling. “I didn’t come here to take care of her, how should I know? Besides, isn’t she fine now? Do you really have to talk to me like this? Like I’m some kind of villain.” Her words instantly set my anger off. So now, her family didn’t come to take care of Sarah, and yet they still had the nerve to complain? Was I just supposed to suffer through this? Day and night, taking care of her? Just as I was about to completely lose it and confront Rita, Sarah suddenly spoke up. “Cynthia, that’s enough. The doctor said everything was fine. And Rita didn’t mean to, how could she know what Sarah can and can’t eat? But I know in my heart, she’s a good kid. She even remembers what I like to eat.” After saying this, Sarah looked at Rita with a loving gaze. I couldn’t help but think back to how, every time Sarah looked at me, there was nothing but cold indifference and disdain in her eyes. When I saw this, the anger that had been building up inside me suddenly dissipated. If even Sarah, the one involved, wasn’t bothered, why was I so worked up over it? Realizing this, I quietly sat down on a chair beside the bed, not saying another word.

However, the brief calm was soon interrupted by the doctor’s arrival. After everything that had just happened, the doctor suggested we stay a few more days for observation before discharging Sarah, just to make sure everything was truly fine. We nodded in agreement with the doctor’s advice. But as soon as the doctor left, Rita was already at Sarah’s side, looking guilty. “Sarah, you know how busy Earl and I have been with work. We just couldn’t find the time… You’re not mad at me, are you?” Before Rita could finish, Sarah immediately patted her hand and took over the conversation. “Rita, I understand. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on your work. As long as I know you’re thinking of me, that’s enough. Besides, Cynthia’s here, right? She can take care of me. Though she’s not my first choice, she’ll do… so don’t stress, okay?” When I looked at Rita’s fake expression and saw Sarah openly criticize and disdain me in front of her, a deep sadness spread in my heart. I had never imagined that, after all these years of carefully managing our family and serving Sarah with respect, I would be seen as so unworthy in her eyes. Just as I was about to give up and refuse to take anymore, suddenly, an idea flashed in my mind, and it quickly took shape. Given the current situation, it was clear that Sarah had figured out I would continue taking care of her. If I outright refused, with Rita’s persistent personality, who knew what kind of trouble she might cause? So, instead of refusing directly, I decided to go with the flow and keep this last bit of duty intact. Once Sarah was discharged, I could carry out my next plan without anyone being able to find fault with me. With that thought, I immediately switched gears, turning to Rita with a bright, reassuring smile. “Rita, don’t worry about it. Go ahead. I’ve got this. I was just a bit hasty earlier and said some harsh words. Don’t take it to heart, just let it go. There’s no need to argue with me.” Free Point

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I, Louise Keller, and my boyfriend, Billy Jordan, went to a supermarket near the mall to buy some snacks. The store owner, Susan Adams, was a woman in her fifties, and I was a regular there. She immediately said the total was 196 dollars. I was confused, but I still paid. When I got home, even if I overestimated the price of the ice cream, it still didn’t add up to that amount. I told Billy the price was wrong and that I was going back to ask. Billy frowned. “It’s not like it’s a huge difference. She’s not having an easy time either.” I was stunned. Was my money just blowing in from the wind? I went shopping at the small supermarket I often visit. It was located near the college. When I was checking out, Susan fiddled with the register for a long time. She wasn’t just inputting numbers one by one, either. The machine made sounds like “20 minus 3,” leaving me even more confused. “Total is 196 dollars.” I was about to ask how much each ice cream cost, but Billy impatiently said, “I’ll wait for you outside.” With a line of people waiting to check out, I didn’t want to take up too much of their time. I went back to my rented apartment, feeling down, and put the ice cream in the fridge. As I took them out one by one, my face grew darker. Even if I overpriced the ice cream, the total still didn’t reach 196 dollars. I’d picked the cheaper ones, too. Billy saw me sitting on the floor for a while and frowned. “What’s wrong?” I pointed to the neatly arranged ice creams and asked, “You heard the price, right? Susan said the total was 196 dollars.” Billy just lay on the sofa when he came in, absentmindedly saying, “Yeah, well, how could she possibly charge you less? Hurry up and cook something.” I pieced the whole thing together and thought that Susan might have overcharged me, which made me feel frustrated. “I’m going to go back and ask Susan if she charged me too much.” I started getting dressed, but Billy was still lying on the couch, unmoved. When he saw I’d put on my shoes, he finally slowly got up. Billy furrowed his brow and tossed his phone onto the couch. “It’s not like it’s a huge difference. She’s not having an easy time either.” I was stunned again. Was my money just blowing in from the wind? “She took extra money from me. Is it wrong for me to ask about it as a customer?” Billy pressed his lips. “If it’s just ten or twenty bucks, do you really need to make a big deal out of it? We’ll be going there again, and we don’t want to offend her.” I immediately lost my temper. Billy wasn’t defending me and was actually defending her. “Is she your mother or something? Why are you protecting her? When you need something, you never think about things from my perspective.” Billy saw I was really angry, so he gave me an awkward smile. “I was just saying it casually, no big deal. I’ll go with you.” I naively thought Billy would help me gain some courage by going with me. But little did I know, he was just making things worse.

I took the bag of things I bought and went downstairs to grab a taxi to the supermarket. There were still quite a few people in the store. As soon as I walked in, I knew I was right. Susan immediately avoided my gaze and quickly unlocked her phone, making a million tiny movements in a second. Every single movement screamed guilt. And at the critical moment, Billy went silent. As soon as we walked in, he shut down and left everything to me. I wasn’t about to let it slide. I slammed the plastic bag onto the counter. The sound echoed loudly. A few customers looked over. I got straight to the point. “Susan, can you recalculate how much the items cost? You might have made a mistake.” Only then did Susan slowly put her phone down, glance at the items, and reluctantly stand up. “You young folks are always in a hurry. I wouldn’t cheat you out of a few dollars.” I stared at her, my eyes sharp. As winter was settling in, a bead of sweat appeared on her forehead. I could tell she was just brushing me off. She pressed a couple of buttons on the calculator, then casually said, “I have a record on my calculator. I remember you two. It should be 169 dollars.” My anger flared up immediately. I raised my voice. “You told us it was 196 dollars, you never mentioned 169 dollars.” Susan frowned and countered, “So how much did you actually pay? You are just talking, I can tell exactly how much you paid.” I pulled up the payment record on my phone and showed the number 196 dollars. She quickly switched her tone and gave a sheepish laugh. “Oh, you must have misheard me. I said 169 dollars. If you didn’t catch it, it’s not my fault.” Her nonchalant attitude pushed me over the edge. She had even asked me to help promote her supermarket in the school group before. I had gladly shared the posts, and now I was being taken advantage of. Her scheme was clear to me. She probably thought she could take advantage of a college student, assuming I wouldn’t notice or wouldn’t make a fuss. I pointed to the security camera footage nearby, my voice full of anger. “Then check the footage, and see what you actually said. If I misheard, fine. But two people mishearing? Come on.” “It may not seem like a big deal, but the way you’re dodging responsibility, do you think I’m that easy to fool?” “Or do you think I’m stupid and won’t come back to you when I’ve been scammed?” Customers in the store had stopped to watch, making it so that others couldn’t even come up to the counter to check out. They had cleared the counter space for us. Susan froze for a moment, glancing at the footage. “What’s wrong with you? It’s just a little over twenty bucks, and you’re making it into such a big deal. I will just refund you, and it’ll be over. “Why do you need to watch the footage? This supermarket is busy. If everyone were like you, the store would be out of business. “Learn some respect for your elders, kid. I’m around the same age as your mom. You should be polite when you speak to me. Twenty bucks is nothing, but you are messing up my business!” The customers gathered closer, their eyes on us, making Billy feel uneasy. He tugged at my sleeve and whispered, “Enough, okay? Susan already said she’ll refund you. Stop making a scene. “There are so many people watching, this is so embarrassing.” I stared at him, my heart sinking. As my boyfriend, he wasn’t standing up for me, and now he was accusing me of making a fuss. Wasn’t I the one losing out here? I took a deep breath, pulling my arm away from Billy. “Is this really just about the money? I come to your store every week. You don’t even have a scanner. How can I know if you’ve overcharged me a dollar or two? Isn’t it you who’s stubborn and won’t admit you overcharged me? “Just show me the footage and clear this up. It’ll be better for both of us. “Unless you’re lying, and you know you deliberately overcharged us, too scared to let us see the footage.” The customers seemed to have caught on to the situation, and they began discussing it in a flurry of voices. “That makes sense. Last time, I bought one big and one small bucket of instant pasta, and she charged me at the large one’s price.” “I knew something didn’t add up. I felt like I hadn’t bought much, but the total was still high. So, it was the ice cream that got me.” “If that’s how it’s gonna be, I won’t come back next time. I thought Susan was nice, handling the cash register at her age, but turns out she’s been treating us college students like fools.” At these words, Susan’s ears turned red, and she hurriedly responded, “Don’t make up lies. The worst thing that happened was that I forgot, but you must have been a competitor sent to cause trouble. “I’m so mad, my chest hurts.” Susan clutched her chest and sat down. I glanced over, and some customers had already pulled out their phones to record her. I did the same, just in case I needed evidence later. Seeing that I wasn’t scared, Susan’s pained expression quickly faded. She picked up the plastic bag and, with a feigned look of regret, said, “I won’t take the money, I’ll give it back to you!” I wasn’t about to take it. Who knew how she might try to pin the blame on me later? “No, just refund the difference, and be more careful next time.” Reluctantly, Susan transferred the difference back to me. Billy, who had been waiting, rushed out faster than I did. Before I left, I glanced back at Susan, muttering to herself. I could tell from her lips that she was saying it was an accident.

When we got home, Billy was in a bad mood. He rolled his eyes, moved the sofa around on purpose, and made noise as if he were throwing a tantrum. Annoyed, I asked, “What’s your problem? I was the one dealing with Susan the whole time, and you barely said anything to help. “You’re still mad after we get home?” Billy stormed toward me. I was a little scared he might get physical, so I stepped back. “You’re just bullying her, aren’t you? “For just a little over twenty bucks, you had to go to the store? By the time I get to eat, it’ll be seven-thirty. What’s the point of all that? “Maybe she really just made a mistake. Didn’t your parents teach you that sometimes it’s good to take a loss?” I felt a little dizzy. Now, I had to listen to Billy complain even after I got home. Did I do something wrong? Just because I was kind, did that mean I deserved to be taken advantage of? I answered firmly, “Just because she’s having a hard time doesn’t give her the right to scam people. There are plenty of people with tougher lives than hers! “We walked into the store, and she was clearly avoiding eye contact. With all her shady actions, how could you not see that? And you’re blaming me? “Talking about not being able to eat, can’t you make your own meals? After you scold me, I’m the one who still has to cook dinner for you. How pathetic am I?” Billy had pulled this kind of thing more than once. These past two years, I kept asking myself, what was it about Billy that made me fall for him? Before we started dating, he would bring me food, and when it rained, he’d make sure to give me his umbrella. His careful attention was what made me fall for him. But once we were officially together, all that was gone. Outrageous things kept happening. On my birthday, he went off to play games with his buddies. His TikTok was full of suggestive content featuring young women. The worst part was when we argued. He went out to drink with friends, then shamelessly asked me to pick him up and pay for it. All these past memories flooded back. But since Billy was my first love, I somehow healed from all the mistreatment. “Billy, let’s break up.” Billy’s eyes went wide, and his mouth hung open for a few seconds before he finally spoke, “Are you serious? Can you stop taking it out on me just because you’re mad?” He waved his hands repeatedly. “Next time, I’ll speak up for you. Don’t be so petty. It’s not like you never let it go before. Did Aunt Flo visit early this month?” I smiled faintly, my gaze cold. This month, Aunt Flo had just left. “No need, just go. The house is rented under my name.” Billy immediately flew into a rage. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you understand the principle of compromising for happiness? I’m doing this for your own good!” We stared at each other in silence for over a minute, and when Billy saw I wasn’t giving him an out, he angrily put on his clothes, breathing heavily, trying to act as though he was in pain. But even as he opened the door, I chose to ignore him completely. “Fine, Louise. Just wait and regret it later.” That night, it felt like a double celebration for me. My mind was clear, and for the first time, I felt at peace. However, what I didn’t expect was that the supermarket incident would bring me huge trouble.

I had just woken up when my roommate, Dorothy Clarke, sent me a video. I clicked on it, and all the sleepiness disappeared instantly. Someone uploaded a video of me confronting the supermarket yesterday. The account name was the supermarket’s own. But the video wasn’t complete. My face had been blurred, and the footage mainly focused on me arguing my case. It had been edited, leaving out the backstory. The video made it look like I was bullying them, while Susan came off as the victim. Even worse, the supermarket had labeled the prices of the ice cream in the freezer. No matter how people looked at it, I didn’t seem like I was standing up for my rights. I looked more like I was picking a fight. The person who made the video was clearly an expert. The title was: [Do Older People Just Deserve to Be Bullied?] A group of outraged netizens flooded the comments, attacking me. Comment 1: [Who raised this lady? Your supermarket’s too kind. The blur is unnecessary. Just show her face!] Comment 2: [Someone checks if she’s a student nearby. We should tag the nearby universities. We can’t let one bad apple ruin a whole generation. This kind of person should publicly apologize!] Comment 3: [She’s a setback to society, but I sincerely hope people won’t overdo it with the online bullying. If we do, we’ll be no different from her.] As the shares went viral, the comments kept coming in, and one comment was pinned to the top. The person made up a story. They said I had bought ice cream without checking the price, then got upset and blamed Susan for everything. I made my mistake but made someone else pay for it. Their version of events sounded so convincing, like they were eyewitnesses. They corrected the one error, the price was clearly marked. In the video, I had no argument at all. The nearby universities were all tagged, and it seemed like there was an invisible hand stirring the pot behind the scenes. I gritted my teeth and immediately received a call. It was Paul Butler, the agent who handles my family’s business affairs. The year was ending, and rent collection was coming up. “Miss, are the rents for those stores the same as last year?” I answered flatly. “Everything’s the same, except for the supermarket. They don’t need to rent anymore.” Sometimes, people really couldn’t afford to be too kind. Free Point

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