Author: Momo Chan

I held back my anger and called her, wanting my daughter to see her one last time. “Jack, are you sick? Ethan is ill and needs me. If you’re going to be like this, we should just divorce.” As she wished, after the divorce, she regretted it and knelt before me begging for forgiveness… “Daddy, save me, save Emily, I’m scared…” I was speeding down the road, my mind filled with Emily’s desperate voice. Today was her fifth birthday. My wife Sarah had taken our daughter to a summer resort to play. I was originally supposed to go too, but was discouraged by Sarah’s coldness. “Jack, I want to spend Emily’s birthday alone with her. If you go, I won’t go.” Sarah, who had previously been cold towards Emily, making such a request angered me. But Emily’s hopeful eyes made me nod in agreement. Now, hearing the fear in her trembling voice, I regretted it. “Daddy, Mom left with Ethan and Uncle Mark. I don’t know what to do alone…” “Emily, be good. Daddy’s here. Run towards the place with the police badge, the uncles there will take care of you.” Hearing that Sarah had left Emily alone, my heart filled with bitterness. Although anxious, I could only comfort her on the phone. Just then, heart-wrenching cries mixed with the roars of wild beasts came through. I suddenly remembered there were black bears kept at the resort. I tried to keep my voice steady as I called Emily’s name on the phone, while reassuring myself everything was fine. When I arrived at the resort, I saw a crowd gathered in a circle. “This poor little girl, how could she have gone to the bear enclosure alone? This is too cruel…” One sentence made my suspended heart plummet to rock bottom. I collapsed on the ground, weakly raising my hand to cover my chest. I struggled to crawl forward, seeing the phone watch on her small hand, and completely broke down. Using all my strength to stand up. I saw the girl’s white tulle dress had turned blood red. It was the one I had put on her myself this morning. Before leaving, she had hugged my neck and said in her sweet voice: “Daddy, tonight Emily will blow out the candles with you. You have to give Emily a teddy bear, okay?” After saying this, Emily stole a kiss on my cheek. Seeing her mischievous look, the frustration in my heart disappeared. But now she was lying on the ground like a lifeless doll. A piece of flesh had been torn from her face, with only a bit of skin still connecting it. Her limbs were twisted, and much of her hair was gone. Even the delicate skin on her body had been clawed open by sharp talons. This horrific sight made it hard for me to breathe, and my body began to sway. I took out my phone to call 911, but couldn’t aim at the screen for a long time. The feeling of helplessness made me break down. I knelt on the ground begging the onlookers. “Please help me call 911, save my daughter…” Hearing the ambulance was on its way, my panic subsided a bit. I turned to pick her up, but the bite marks on her body left me at a loss where to touch. I could only carefully kneel beside her, softly calling her name in a choked voice. “Dad… hurts… I… Mom…” Emily’s painful mumbling with closed eyes was her response to me. Thank goodness, she was still conscious. I understood her broken words – she wanted her mom. Seeing my daughter so fragile and miserable, hatred grew in my heart. But not wanting to disappoint her, as she was being sent into the emergency room, I called Sarah.

“Sarah, come to the city hospital.” I said, tightly gripping my hands to hold back the anger in my heart. Sarah was choked by my cold voice, then exploded in anger. “Jack, are you sick? Not having a good meeting, but monitoring me instead?” She’s at the hospital too? “Downstairs in the emergency room. Emily is seriously injured and wants to see you.” “Heh, Jack, you really are sick. You’d make up any lie to keep me from accompanying Ethan. He has no mother and is autistic. Now that he’s sick, if I don’t stay with him, he’ll be scared. Can’t you be more generous?” Sarah’s continued outburst made me look towards the emergency room, feeling sad for my Emily. Ever since Mark brought Ethan back to the country three years ago, my daughter had lost her mother’s love. And our marriage had reached a freezing point. To prevent Emily from growing up in a single-parent family, I endured the frustration in my heart and played the role of a good husband. Even so, I still couldn’t win back Sarah’s heart. Sarah was originally my secretary. After repeated collaborations, I developed different feelings for her. After I confessed to her, she looked surprised. I thought she would refuse me, but unexpectedly she walked straight to my side and nestled into my arms. “I like you too.” After getting together, she didn’t want to hear the company employees gossiping, so she quit her job to stay at home. At first, we lived very happily and comfortably, and soon had Emily. I thought I was the happiest man in the world. Successful career, beautiful wife, adorable daughter – a perfect life. But all this disappeared the moment Mark returned to the country. Only endless arguments remained. “I’m not coming home tonight, I need to stay at the hospital to take care of Ethan…” “Enough! Today is Emily’s birthday. You only have eyes for Ethan. What about my Emily?” Hearing her words of concern for Ethan, my rationality completely disappeared. She worried Ethan would be scared, but didn’t think about how terrified Emily would be after being abandoned. But Sarah’s next words further confirmed my intention to divorce. “Doesn’t Emily have you? She’s just a little girl, how delicate can she be?” Hearing the call disconnect, I raised my phone high in anger: “Fuck!” Just as I was about to throw it down, the emergency room door opened. The doctor appeared before me looking exhausted, wearing a blood-stained surgical gown. His heavy expression made my heart tremble. With a choked voice, I begged. “Doctor, no matter how expensive the medicine is, I can afford it. Please don’t give up!” “The child has multiple organ failure. Besides the external injuries, the internal ones are worse. Only one rib is still connected, and she had brain swelling when brought in…” “I’m sorry, my condolences.” The doctor patted my shoulder in comfort, letting me go see Emily one last time. I don’t know how I walked to Emily’s side. The wounds on her face had been sutured by the doctor, but she was so swollen I couldn’t recognize the little girl from this morning. “Emily, are you mad at Daddy for being late, so you’re pretending to sleep? Wake up quickly, or I’ll tickle you…” “Emily, my baby, please wake up. Daddy is begging you. It’s Daddy’s fault for handing you over to her.” “Does it hurt a lot? Daddy will blow on it. Wake up and blow out the candles…” “Emily, my Emily…” Sorrowful cries echoed through the room. The nurse stood to the side wiping tears, not disturbing me. I sat like this holding Emily’s dislocated hand until evening. Only when the doctor forcibly sent Emily to the morgue were we separated.

I stood in the hallway watching Emily slowly disappear from my sight. My heart felt like a piece of flesh had been carved out, making it hard to breathe. Thinking of how Emily had looked forward to blowing out birthday candles with me, I prepared to go home and get the cake to accompany Emily. Unexpectedly, just as I reached the lobby, I saw Sarah struggling to carry Ethan, following behind Mark. Even so, her face still wore an expression of deep maternal love. Watching them walk further away, I quickly followed. I had originally thought to let Sarah go see Emily first, so Emily wouldn’t have any regrets. But just as I reached outside the hospital room, I heard the conversation inside. “Do you think Emily’s injuries are serious? If not serious, will Jack still not divorce?” Sarah chuckled lightly, leaning against Mark in her red dress, tapping his nose with her finger. “Look at how cowardly you are. As long as there’s a threat to Emily, he’ll definitely propose divorce himself. Then we can split half his assets. If once isn’t enough, we’ll do it twice. As for Emily, she’s just one of my children. As long as it’s not life-threatening, I can accept her getting a bit hurt.” Only then did I realize they had deliberately abandoned Emily. Six months after Mark returned, Sarah had proposed divorce to me. At the time, I made her back off by offering to leave with nothing. She promised not to mention divorce again before Emily turned 18. Her only request was to let Mark work at my company, and as a vice president position. These past two years, whenever she came home, I turned a blind eye. But why suddenly make things difficult for Emily now? The next second, Sarah’s hand caressed her belly, and Mark proudly placed his hand there too. “Auntie, when can we leave the hospital? I feel suffocated here.” “Be patient a little longer, sweetie. Once Auntie has resolved everything, our family of four will leave.” Sarah’s voice was full of tenderness, stunning me. Shameless, and unworthy of being a mother. Killing my daughter for her own selfish interests, unforgivable. I kicked the door open forcefully. The loud noise made the three people in the room stand up. Seeing me walk in, panic appeared on Sarah’s face. Mark hid behind her, not daring to come out. “You… why did you come here instead of taking care of Emily? Are you even a man?” Sarah stuttered, shouting out of guilt. I didn’t give them a pleasant expression either, coldly raising my palm. Feeling the pain in my hand and Sarah’s flushed cheek, I felt it wasn’t enough. I wanted to kill them, to make them pay for my child’s death. But that wasn’t enough. I wanted to torture them, to make them lose everything. Sarah looked at me in disbelief, her eyes full of hatred. “Jack, are you sick? How dare you hit me.” “Why? Because you’re a heartless mother who abandoned my daughter at the resort to have a child with another man, causing her tragic death. Even if you all died, it wouldn’t be enough to quell the hatred in my heart.” Sarah’s face turned pale. She took a step back looking at my flushed face.

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When my best friend, a doctor, diagnosed me with cancer, my life fell apart. My wife, Emily, drained our savings, sold our house, and even took out a loan with a sky-high interest rate—all to save me. I was deeply moved by her unwavering love and sacrifice. After I was discharged from the hospital, I worked three jobs to pay off the debt, but the interest kept piling up. Soon, loan sharks were breathing down my neck. One day, while running for my life, I accidentally stumbled toward our old house—the one we had sold. But just as I was about to leave, I heard voices inside. Voices I recognized. It was Emily. And my best friend, Nathan . “That idiot still thinks he actually has cancer,” Nathan said, followed by a burst of laughter. How could it be Emily’s voice? And… my best friend, Nathan? This house was supposed to be sold. Their conversation hit me like a freight train. “That idiot still thinks he actually has cancer,” Emily said with a laugh. “What if he finds out? Are you sure he didn’t suspect anything?” Nathan asked. “Please. Lincoln? He’s so clueless it’s almost cute. Now that his money and the house are ours, even if he finds out, what can he do? The loan sharks I introduced him to aren’t exactly the forgiving type. He’ll be too busy running for his life to worry about us.” “Oh, Emily, you’re brilliant,” Nathan said, laughing. I clenched my fists as rage boiled inside me. These two snakes! Just as I was about to kick the door open, a shadow loomed behind me. It was the loan sharks. “No… no, please—” Before I could finish, several burly men grabbed me, covering my mouth and dragging me to a van parked outside. When the blindfold came off, my eyes stung under the harsh fluorescent lights. I barely had time to adjust before a deep, cold voice spoke near my ear. “If you can’t pay back the money, don’t blame us for taking your organs instead.” Panic surged through me. I tried to scream, but my mouth was gagged. The icy blade of a knife pressed against my skin, and white-hot pain shot through me. My body trembled violently, but I couldn’t make a sound. The world around me blurred, the pain faded, and everything went dark. So this is how it ends, I thought. How unfair. Why do the wicked always seem to thrive while the good are left to suffer? My consciousness slipped away. Suddenly, I jolted awake. Opening my eyes, I found myself in a familiar place—the hospital room where I had been “diagnosed.”

“Lincoln, based on the results, it’s clear you have cancer,” Nathan, my trusted friend, said as he glanced at my medical file. “No… that’s impossible…” Emily gasped, covering her mouth in shock. “Nathan, you’re Lincoln’s best friend. Please, you have to do whatever it takes to save him!” Emily pleaded. “Thankfully, it was caught early,” Nathan replied. “There’s still hope, but the treatment will be expensive. You’ll need to prepare yourselves.” “Even if it costs us everything, I’ll make sure Lincoln gets the care he needs,” Emily said firmly, her voice filled with determination. The scene felt eerily familiar. This was exactly what had happened before. Nathan, sitting at his desk, delivering his grim diagnosis. Emily standing by my side, her unwavering support bringing me to tears. Last time, I had been overwhelmed with gratitude. I had handed Emily the bank card that held all my life savings, trusting her completely. But this time, things were different. The memories of that night—of their betrayal—echoed in my mind. Nathan’s voice pulled me back to the present. “Lincoln, are you okay? You seem a bit shaken. Don’t worry, with treatment, your chances of recovery are good. For now, Emily can take care of the initial payment.” I stood up abruptly. “I’m not paying a dime,” I said flatly. “What are you talking about?” Emily grabbed my arm. “Lincoln, are you crazy? This is your life we’re talking about!” Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and patted her hand gently. “I’m not refusing treatment,” I said calmly. “But all our savings are in fixed-term accounts. I can’t withdraw them immediately. I’ll need to speak to the bank tomorrow.” Emily’s eyes flickered, and she exchanged a quick glance with Nathan. “Fine,” she said after a pause. “We’ll wait for you to sort it out.” “Just don’t take too long,” Nathan added with a reassuring smile. “Time is of the essence, after all.” I nodded, suppressing the storm of emotions brewing inside me.

The next morning, I went to a different hospital and underwent a thorough check-up from head to toe. The results? I was perfectly healthy, not a single sign of illness. Staring at the test results in my hands, I felt the fire of rage burning so fiercely in my chest it threatened to consume me whole. So it was all true—my beloved wife and my most trusted friend had conspired to deceive me. I wanted nothing more than to confront them immediately, to demand answers. But as my fury subsided and my rationality took over, I realized that acting on impulse would be the worst possible move. If I stormed into the hospital and confronted them with the test results, they could easily dismiss it as a “mistake” or a “misdiagnosis.” The memory of the knife cutting into my flesh in my last life was still vivid in my mind. The cold, sharp pain was etched into my brain, as clear and real as if it had happened yesterday. This time, I wasn’t going to let them off the hook so easily. If fate had given me another chance, I wasn’t going to waste it. Reckless revenge wouldn’t do justice—I needed a plan, something meticulous and foolproof. When I got back home, Emily rushed to greet me. “Did you get the money? Nathan and I already agreed we need to head to the hospital today to pay for your treatment and pick up the medication.” She couldn’t even wait another second. Feigning regret and shame, I put on my best “guilty husband” face and sighed. “Emily… I wasn’t being honest with you yesterday. The truth is, I invested all our savings. And… I lost everything. There’s nothing left.” I buried my face in my hands, pretending to be overwhelmed with remorse. “What did you just say?” Emily shot up from the couch, her disbelief turning into anger. “It’s true. Look for yourself.” I pulled out my phone, opened my banking app, and held it up for her to see. The balance was zero. Of course, I had withdrawn the money earlier that morning and invested it in a new restaurant. The restaurant’s owner was someone I had gotten to know in my previous life while working as a delivery driver. He was a man of great integrity and exceptional culinary skill. I knew his restaurant would thrive and bring in substantial profits before long. But Emily didn’t need to know any of that. “Lincoln! What kind of person does that? How could you gamble away all of our money without even asking me?” Emily shouted, pointing her finger at me accusingly. “I’m sorry, Emily. I really am. Maybe… maybe we should just forget about the treatment.” I lowered my head, pretending to be utterly defeated. At the mention of “not getting treatment,” Emily’s fiery demeanor instantly deflated like a popped balloon. Her tone shifted to forced concern. “No, we can’t just give up on your treatment. It’s life or death, Lincoln. I’ll figure something out.” Of course, she wouldn’t let me stop treatment. If I didn’t take the medication or go through with the procedures and still stayed healthy, their entire scheme would crumble in an instant. “I’m so sorry for putting you through this, Emily. From now on, I’ll do whatever you say.” I squeezed her hand and looked at her with what I hoped was an expression of pure devotion, suppressing the nausea rising in my chest. “Fine, fine. I’ll think of something,” she muttered, pulling her hand away and heading out the door. I watched her leave, curiosity sparking in my mind. What exactly was she planning?

It wasn’t until late evening that Emily returned home. “Lincoln, I’ve thought it through.” She hesitated for a moment, then continued, “We should sell the house. I found a buyer who’s willing to pay in full immediately. That way, we’ll have the money for your treatment.” “No way!” I blurted out, rejecting the idea on the spot. In my previous life, Nathan had prescribed me outrageously expensive medications. Within days, all of our savings were gone. Desperate, Emily had suggested selling the house, claiming she had already found a buyer who could pay in cash. Back then, overwhelmed by the pressure to fund my treatment, I had blindly followed her lead. I even felt grateful to her for being willing to make such a sacrifice for me. We sold the house in record time, and I moved into a tiny, dingy basement apartment she had supposedly rented for us. Emily, on the other hand, claimed she was staying with a friend and never came back. I never saw a penny from the sale. Emily told me all the proceeds had gone toward paying for my medication. In reality, the entire house sale was nothing but a scam. “You can’t be serious, Lincoln. If you don’t get treatment, you’re going to die!” Emily snapped, trying to scare me into submission. My mind raced as I searched for a way to buy time. I sat down next to her and gently placed my arm around her shoulders. “Emily, it’s just… it’s cancer. Even if we spend all the money, there’s no guarantee the treatment will work. If the worst happens, and I don’t make it, I’d feel terrible leaving you with nothing.” “What are you trying to say?” she asked impatiently, pulling away slightly. “I want to leave the house to you. Next month, let’s go to the courthouse and transfer the deed into your name. That way, no matter what happens to me, you’ll at least have the house to fall back on.” In my last life, the buyer had been someone I didn’t recognize—clearly not a close friend or relative of Emily’s. If I suggested transferring the house directly to her, it would minimize her risk and make her more inclined to agree. I was betting that she’d see the logic in my proposal and take the bait. Sure enough, a flicker of surprise and greed flashed across her face. “Lincoln, you…” “This way, even if the treatment doesn’t work, you won’t be left with nothing,” I added, my voice full of fake sincerity. Emily’s eyes darted back and forth as she weighed her options. Finally, unable to resist the temptation, she nodded. “Alright. Let’s do it your way.” Just as I’d expected, she couldn’t resist the offer.

After calming Emily down, it didn’t take long for Nathan to grow impatient and show up at my door himself. “Lincoln, I noticed Emily hasn’t come by the hospital to handle the payments. Is everything okay? You know your condition can’t wait—it’s critical.” Feigning gratitude, I poured him a glass of water. “Thanks for checking in, Nathan. You know how tight things have been for us. It’s hard to scrape together such a large sum of money right now.” “No matter how hard it is, you’ve got to prioritize your life. And besides…” Nathan paused, his tone becoming calculated. “Even if you don’t have savings, your house would fetch a good price on the market, wouldn’t it?” Blunt. No attempt to hide his intentions. I nodded, pretending to take the bait. “Emily and I already talked about it. I’ve decided to leave the house to her. Next month, we’ll transfer the ownership. That way, if… well, if I don’t make it, at least she’ll have something to fall back on.” “Oh? Is that so?” Nathan’s expression froze for a moment. His eyes flicked to Emily, who immediately avoided his gaze. The tension in the room thickened as the silence hung between us. It was clear that Nathan hadn’t expected this turn of events. After an awkward pause, Nathan forced a smile and stood up. “Well, it’s getting late. I should get going. Lincoln, you really need to start your treatment as soon as possible. Delaying it could be life-threatening. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” His words were polite, but I wasn’t about to let him leave without taking advantage of the situation. “Actually, there is something.” Nathan froze mid-step, turning back to face me. His surprise was evident. “Oh? What is it?” I hesitated, clasping my hands nervously and biting my lip as if unsure whether to speak. “Nathan, you know… with my condition, I can’t work anymore. Things have been really tight at home. Could you… could you lend me some money? I’ll pay you back as soon as I can. But if it’s too much trouble, I understand.” Nathan’s face twisted through a series of emotions—shock, annoyance, and something akin to panic. Before he could respond, I wiped at my eyes as if fighting back tears. “I hate to ask, but I’m desperate. If it weren’t for Emily and how tough things are, I’d never put you in this position.” Emily, standing beside me, tugged hard at my sleeve, clearly signaling for me to stop. Taking the cue, I quickly added, “I’m sorry, Nathan. That was inappropriate of me. Forget I said anything.” But to Nathan, it probably looked like we were playing a coordinated act. His jaw clenched as he pulled out his phone. “Come on, Lincoln. We’re friends. Don’t say it like that. I should’ve thought of this sooner.” The notification of the deposit came through on my phone moments later. I raised my eyebrows in mock surprise. Though it wasn’t a significant amount, it was satisfying to bleed him a little. I kept my tone genuine. “Nathan, thank you so much. It means the world to me that you’d do this. Emily, why don’t you walk Nathan out? It’s the least we can do.” Emily didn’t protest, and the two of them headed downstairs together. Quietly, I followed behind. I’d set the stage for them. Now it was time to enjoy the show.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295490”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring #魔幻Magic #校园School #惊悚Thriller

The day I stood by Ethan Quinn as he claimed his inheritance from the Quinn family, he made the entire city of Riverton stop and watch. Ethan had bought out every major ad space in the city to propose to me, declaring to the world that I was the only woman he would ever love. People envied me. They said I had married for love. And for a while, I believed it too. But less than a year later, Ethan swallowed up my family’s wealth and waltzed in with his “true love,” Lydia, by his side. He locked me in a basement, leaving me at the mercy of Lydia’s endless humiliation. It wasn’t until the moment I died in that cold, damp darkness that I realized—the love Ethan had proclaimed for me was nothing but a lie. A carefully planned deception from the start. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of Ethan’s grand proposal. “Willow,” Ethan said, kneeling before me. I was surrounded by a sea of flowers, our closest friends, and nearly every influential figure in Riverton. The proposal was nothing short of extravagant. Ethan had spared no expense. This wasn’t just a private moment; it was a city-wide broadcast. Every screen in Riverton was tuned into this “romantic spectacle.” I looked at Ethan, my chest tightening as memories flooded back—memories of suffocating darkness, the metallic stench of damp air, and Lydia’s cruel laughter. The pain from that nightmare felt all too real. My body trembled at the memory, and I couldn’t stop myself from shivering. Ethan’s voice broke through my thoughts, his eyes red with emotion as he spoke. “Willow, I’ve loved you my entire life. You’ve been my light, my only salvation. You stayed with me through the darkest times, when no one else would. You are my happiness, my everything. Please, marry me.” My past and present collided in that instant. I snapped back to reality, stepping away from him as he stared at me in shock. “Ethan,” I said, cutting him off mid-sentence. The surprise on his face was evident as I continued, “We’re not right for each other.” I turned to the lighting technician and signaled for them to stop the romantic effects. Then, I bowed slightly to the gathered crowd, apologizing for the disruption. Facing the live broadcast, I smiled politely and said, “Ethan, I’ve always thought of you as a friend. I’ve never felt anything romantic toward you.” Ethan Quinn wasn’t just any man. He was the illegitimate son of Harold Quinn, the patriarch of the powerful Quinn family. His mother had clawed her way into a life of luxury by giving birth to Ethan after a single night with Harold. But she was never satisfied, always scheming for a way to replace Harold’s wife and claim the family’s fortune. When we were children, Ethan’s mother orchestrated a fake kidnapping to force the Quinn family to acknowledge her son. But her plan backfired. The criminals she hired turned on her, cutting her out of the deal and planning to kill Ethan to keep the ransom money for themselves. It was my father who saved Ethan that day. Risking his own life, my father pulled Ethan out of that nightmare. My parents and I stayed by Ethan’s side, nursing him back to health. For two weeks, we barely left his bedside. Out of pity, my father intervened and convinced the Quinn family to take Ethan in. That’s how Ethan and I grew up together. I thought the bond we formed through those harrowing events would last a lifetime. I stood by Ethan as he fought his way into the Quinn family, earning their respect and ultimately inheriting the family fortune. I believed our love was inevitable, forged through shared struggles and strengthened by time. But I was wrong. Ethan wasn’t my soulmate. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The man I gave my heart to would later destroy my family and claim everything we owned. I still remember that day, one year after our marriage, when Ethan revealed his true colors. He had seized control of both the Quinn and Linwood family assets, solidifying himself as the most powerful man in Riverton. Standing beside him was Lydia, the woman he truly loved. “Willow,” he said, cold and detached. “If your parents hadn’t meddled in my life, I wouldn’t have suffered all those years in the Quinn family.” His words were like knives, cutting into my heart. “To get back at you, I’ve been planning this for years. Look at you now—you’re no longer the Linwood heiress. You’re nothing more than a useless pawn under my control. Do you regret saving me back then?” He gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his venomous gaze. “And just so you know,” he added, his voice dripping with malice, “it was me who set your parents up. The charges that sent them to prison? All my doing. They’ll live out the rest of their days rotting behind bars. You can thank me for that.”

Ethan’s eyes glinted with malice, like a snake tightening around my neck, suffocating me. Beside him, Lydia twisted the knife deeper into my wounds. “I’m already carrying Ethan’s child,” she said, her voice dripping with smugness. “The two of you have been married for years, and yet… no baby, Willow.” “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Lydia’s grin widened, her tone as sweet as arsenic. “It’s because Ethan’s been drugging your food. You’re barren now. A hen that can’t lay eggs. Isn’t that hilarious?” I stared at Ethan—the man I used to share my life with, whose every touch once felt tender—and then at Lydia, whose flat stomach now carried his child. Hate surged through me, so fierce and hot that I thought it might burn me alive. I clenched my teeth so hard I thought they might shatter. “I’ll make sure you both pay for this,” I spat, my voice trembling with rage. But Ethan only laughed as if my words were a joke. Without another word, he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me like a ragdoll to the basement. Ethan knew I was scared of the dark. And so, he locked me in a pitch-black basement, where the damp air clung to my skin and the silence was broken only by the occasional drip of water. Standing in the doorway, he sneered down at me. “From now on, this is where you’ll stay. Take your time reflecting on all the terrible things you’ve done to me.” I’ve been afraid of the dark for as long as I can remember. The moment the door slammed shut, the fear wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket. My chest heaved, and I clawed at the walls, desperate to find something—anything—to hold on to. When the door opened again, I rushed forward, throwing myself at Ethan’s feet. “Please,” I sobbed, clutching at the hem of his pants. “Don’t leave me here. I’ll do anything. Just don’t leave me in the dark.” I begged with every ounce of dignity I had left, lowering myself to a level I never thought possible. Ethan’s only response was laughter—cold, heartless laughter that echoed off the damp walls. “Oh, did I forget to mention something?” he said, crouching down so his face was level with mine. The dim light from the hallway cast shadows over his sharp features, making him look almost inhuman. “Willow,” he drawled, his voice sickeningly soft, “do you remember that time you were locked in the equipment room overnight as a child?” My entire body froze. “That was me,” he said casually. Ice shot through my veins as he continued, his tone almost conversational. “I planned it all. Timed it down to the minute. And then, when I showed up the next morning to ‘rescue’ you…” He smiled, as if savoring the memory. “You thought I was your savior. You fell for me completely after that, didn’t you?” I couldn’t breathe. “You were so easy to manipulate,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “And look at you now. Everything you are, everything you’ve done—it’s all because I made you believe in me. I’ve had you wrapped around my finger this whole time.” The weight of his words crushed me, like a boulder pressing down on my chest. I let go of his pants and scrambled backward, away from him, as though the darkness behind me was less terrifying than the man in front of me. He straightened, his shadow stretching long against the walls. “To me, you’ve always been nothing more than a toy. Something I could control, something I could break,” he said. And then, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him. Now, back in the present, I stood in front of Ethan as he tried desperately to save face. His expression shifted between anger and forced composure, the weight of the crowd’s murmurs pressing down on him. People in the audience were whispering to one another, casting glances at me and then back at Ethan. “Did he do something to upset her?” “Why would she humiliate him like this? He’s nothing without her family’s support.” “Isn’t her family the most powerful in Riverton? If she’s mad at him, he’s finished.” The Linwood name carried weight in this city. As the only daughter of the Linwood family, I had been spoiled and protected my entire life. Everyone in Riverton knew that Ethan’s rise to power had been made possible only because of me. Without the Linwoods, he was nothing. Ethan must have realized this as well. Though his face had darkened, he quickly plastered on a smile and stepped forward, reaching for my hand. “Willow,” he said, his voice soft and full of concern. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” I stepped back, dodging his touch. “I don’t understand,” Ethan said, his forced smile faltering. “You told me once that if I ever proposed, you wanted the whole world to witness it. You wanted everyone to see how happy you were. That’s all I wanted to do—make you happy.” He paused, his voice growing quieter. “If I did something wrong… tell me. I’ll fix it.”

Ethan Quinn remained every bit the perfect boyfriend—patient, charming, and composed. Even after I publicly humiliated him, he kept his head low and tried to appease me, his voice soft and apologetic. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, and it didn’t take long for people to start blaming me. “Willow really doesn’t know how good she has it. Ethan’s proposal was so heartfelt—what more could she possibly want? If I had someone like Ethan, I’d cherish him forever.” “Exactly! Ethan treats her like a queen. Everyone knows he’d do anything for her. And on top of that, they’ve been childhood friends! Honestly, Willow’s just lucky to have him.” “Maybe she’s fallen for someone else? Why else would she reject him?” “Last week, I saw them on a date. They looked so happy—what could’ve happened?” “Look at Ethan! He’s about to cry. I think Willow’s being completely unreasonable.” The whispers surrounded me like a swarm of bees, but one voice, in particular, cut through the noise. It was a voice I could never forget, one that was burned into my soul after years of torment. I turned, scanning the crowd, and found her—Lydia Wright. She stood quietly among the onlookers, her appearance modest and unassuming. But the jealousy in her eyes was unmistakable, burning so fiercely that it nearly betrayed her facade of innocence. Ignoring Ethan, I walked straight past him and stopped in front of Lydia. Under the confused stares of the crowd, I slipped the engagement ring off my finger and tossed it at her feet. “If you think Ethan is so perfect, then why don’t you take him? You two seem like a match made in heaven.” The diamond caught the sunlight as it arced through the air, landing with a sharp clink on the ground. Lydia’s face flushed bright red, her composure cracking under the weight of my words. I smiled at her, a sharp, knowing smile. In my previous life, Lydia had boasted endlessly about her “unbreakable bond” with Ethan. She once told me, with a smirk on her face: “I’ve loved Ethan since high school.” “I wrote him 99 love letters, each one carefully written by hand. And do you know what he did with them? He kept every single one. He carried them with him everywhere, tucked safely in his briefcase. You never even noticed, did you?” “On the back of the letters, Ethan marked the dates. He always planned to marry me—on the day your family fell from grace.” Now, I looked her dead in the eye and asked, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Didn’t you say you’ve loved Ethan since high school?” Lydia’s face paled. “And didn’t you write him 99 love letters?” I continued, my tone dripping with mockery. “How many was it again? 99, right?” Lydia’s embarrassment turned to rage. She pointed a trembling finger at me and shouted, “Don’t think you can just throw around your status as the Linwood heiress to bully people!” Someone from the crowd stepped forward, touching my arm lightly. “Willow, is there some kind of misunderstanding here?” Ethan rushed over as well, his expression frantic. “Willow, are you rejecting me because of these baseless rumors? That’s all they are—rumors!” He turned toward the crowd, desperate to clear his name. “I don’t even know her! She’s lying. Don’t believe a word she says.” Ethan’s devotion to me was no secret. Everyone in Riverton knew the stories. When I had a high fever that wouldn’t break, Ethan stayed by my bedside for days, barely sleeping until I recovered. When I woke up and casually mentioned craving a bowl of clam chowder from a restaurant in a distant city, Ethan chartered a plane that very day to bring it to me, still warm. On my 18th birthday, someone had made an inappropriate comment toward me at the party. Ethan didn’t hesitate to start a fight right then and there, risking not only his place in the Quinn family but also nearly getting arrested. He told me once, “Willow, I would give my life for you.” To him, I was more important than anything—even himself. Or so he said. But what the world didn’t know, what I hadn’t known until it was too late, was that Ethan’s love was a lie. And so, on the day he proposed, the day he claimed to love me in front of the entire city, I didn’t just reject him—I humiliated him. When he tried to explain himself, insisting that he and Lydia had no connection, I responded by slapping him across the face. The sharp crack of my palm against his cheek silenced the crowd. I didn’t hold back—I put every ounce of anger, betrayal, and hatred into that slap. But even that wasn’t enough. Not compared to the pain he had inflicted on me and my family in my previous life. “You say you have nothing to do with her?” I said, my voice cold and unwavering.

I shook my stinging hand, the sharp pain grounding me as I walked to an unassuming corner of the floral stage. There, I picked up Ethan’s plain, seemingly ordinary briefcase. The live broadcast of this entire debacle was still rolling. Ethan didn’t understand what I was doing. Instead, he hurried after me, his face swollen red from the slap but still managing to look concerned. “Willow, does your hand hurt?” he asked, his tone soft and full of worry. “If I’ve upset you, just tell me,” he continued, his voice trembling with sincerity. “Honestly, if one slap makes you feel better, it’s worth it.” Even now, he kept up his act. But in the next moment, I unzipped his briefcase. Guided by the memory of Lydia’s smug boasts, I found the hidden compartment. Inside, just as she’d described, I pulled out dozens of folded letters. And then I turned to face Ethan. The change in his expression was instant. His ever-gentle, composed mask cracked, his features twisting into something stiff and unnatural. He reached out instinctively, his hand moving toward mine, desperate to snatch the letters away. I sidestepped, and with a single look, my security team stepped forward, forming a wall between us. They pushed Ethan back, keeping him out of reach. Calmly, I unfolded the first letter, holding it up for everyone to see. And then, I read it aloud. “‘Sunny today. I saw you having breakfast with that tramp again. You even took out the trash for her. Ethan, you’re so much better than that. You’re a king, so why lower yourself to be with someone like her? You belong with me.’” The crowd gasped. This was one of Lydia Wright’s so-called love letters. I moved on to the next one. My voice rang clear, cutting through the silence. “‘Ethan, it’s been 1,000 days since I fell in love with you. I dreamed about you again last night. Don’t think it’s improper—how could it be, when it’s you? Please, leave that worthless woman and come to me.’” The words were raw, obsessive, every sentence dripping with malice toward me and longing for Ethan. By the tenth letter, the tone had shifted. “‘Ethan, you kissed me today. I couldn’t believe it. Even if you didn’t say you love me, I’ll take it as a sign that you do.’” The truth was unraveling before everyone’s eyes. Lydia had once bragged to me about their college affair, about how they’d been inseparable. And now, as I read these letters, the puzzle pieces fell into place. The signs had always been there. I had just been too blind in my so-called love to see them. Lydia, unable to hold back anymore, lunged toward me like a wild animal, her hand outstretched to grab the letters. But the crowd recoiled from her, parting like the sea, leaving her isolated and exposed. Ethan’s face had gone pale, his lips pressed into a thin line. I flipped to the back of one of the letters, revealing more incriminating words scrawled in Ethan’s handwriting. “‘Day one with Lydia. For the first time, I feel like I understand what love is. Lydia, wait for me. I’ll take down the Quinn family and the Linwood family. The countdown to marrying you has begun.’” The crowd gasped again, louder this time. I didn’t stop. I read the next one. “‘Lydia, I drugged Willow today. She’ll never be able to have my child. Don’t worry—her body isn’t worthy of carrying my bloodline.’” Even now, my nerves, dulled by hatred and determination, trembled with cold fury. I let the stack of letters fall from my hands, scattering them at Ethan’s feet. The crowd whispered in disbelief. I stared at him, my voice icy and sharp. “Well, Ethan? Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Ethan’s eyes locked on mine, wide with shock and disbelief. For the first time, his mask of calm was completely shattered. “Willow,” he stammered, his voice cracking. “It’s not what it looks like.” He stepped forward, his expression carefully shifting into one of pain and remorse. “Please, believe me,” he said, his voice low and shaky. “It’s really not what you think.” He paused dramatically, taking a deep breath. “I admit it,” he said, his voice trembling just enough to sound sincere. “I made a mistake—a mistake that any man could make.” The crowd murmured again, some buying into his act, others still horrified by the letters. “I don’t love her,” Ethan continued, casting a quick glance at Lydia, whose face was now beet-red with humiliation. “She pursued me relentlessly, and I… I was weak. I gave in. But it didn’t mean anything—it never did.” The man who once told me he loved Lydia more than life itself, the man who spent years plotting his rise to power for her, now discarded her in the face of public scrutiny. She was nothing more than collateral damage to him. “It was her,” Ethan said, his voice growing firmer. “She seduced me.”

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I financially supported the person I’d secretly been in love with for years. But her heart belonged to someone else—a man who had been dead for years. When she was happy, she went to his grave. When she was sad, she went to his grave. No matter how big or small the occasion, if I couldn’t find her, I knew she was at the cemetery. I tolerated it all because she said yes to my proposal. But on the day of our engagement party, she ran. I found her again at the cemetery, crying her heart out in front of his grave. “I’m sorry, Alex,” she sobbed. “He forced me to say yes. Whether you’re alive or dead, I’ll always love you and only you.” I stood there, empty and defeated. My hand loosened, and the engagement ring slipped from my grasp, disappearing into the grass. When she returned to the villa that evening, her things were already packed and waiting by the door. The butler greeted her coldly, his expression devoid of sympathy. “Mr. Hayes said you should leave by tonight.” The engagement party began, but one of the main characters was conspicuously absent. A bodyguard hurried over to my side and leaned in to whisper, “Sir, Miss White is at the Bayside Cemetery again.” Five years ago, the White family went bankrupt, and I stepped in to clean up the mess. The once-untouchable socialite, Sophia White, became my kept lover. She hated me for it. She hated me for ruining her pride. Hated me for tarnishing her purity. Hated me for tearing her apart from the man she called her “one true love,” even though he had been gone for years. In the years we’d been together, I’d lost count of how many times I had found her at that cemetery. And there she was again, drunk and sprawled over Alex’s tombstone. “I’m sorry, Alex… I’m so sorry. I don’t want to get married…” “But what can I do? My parents begged me, forced me. They made me say yes to him. I’m sorry, Alex. I love you. I’ve only ever loved you. I’ve never felt anything for him. Please don’t hate me.” I walked up behind her, my footsteps quiet on the damp grass. “Not even a little?” I asked softly, my voice almost drowned out by the wind. Sophia froze. Slowly, she turned to face me, her tear-streaked face twisting with anger. “This is all your fault!” she yelled. “It’s your fault I betrayed him!” She threw herself at me, pounding her fists against my chest in a weak, drunken rage. I grunted, grabbing her wrists tightly as my vision blurred with emotion. “Tell me you don’t mean it,” I demanded, my voice hoarse. “Five years together—day and night. Not once? Not even for a moment?” She looked up at me, her eyes sharp and defiant, her voice unwavering. “I hate you. Every time you touch me, I feel disgusted.” “I’ve never loved you—not even for a second.”

Her words were like a blade, slicing through the fantasies I’d built over five long years. I thought it didn’t matter that she had her ghost. After all, he was dead. I thought that time would change things. That if I treated her well enough, if I gave her everything she wanted, she’d eventually fall for me. Over the years, I gave her everything. When she wanted to break into the entertainment industry, I handed her the best resources. When she offended a powerful director, I personally smoothed things over. When the White family fell from grace and she was mocked at parties, I stood by her side and promised her no one would ever hurt her again. But none of it mattered. All my love, my devotion—it had earned me nothing but her hatred and contempt. I stared at her face, twisted in anger, and finally realized how pathetic I was. My so-called love was a joke. I let out a soft, bitter laugh as the engagement ring slipped from my fingers, vanishing into the grass. The party went on without her, and by the time she returned to the scene, the bride had already been replaced. That night, Sophia called me. “Darling, I drank too much at the club,” she said sweetly, her voice soft and sugary. “Come pick me up, okay?” She spoke as though nothing had happened, as though she hadn’t just escaped from our engagement party. As though she hadn’t cried over another man that same morning. I paused, the phone cold against my ear. For the first time, I didn’t immediately agree. “I’ll send a driver,” I said flatly. “I don’t want a driver!” she snapped, her voice suddenly sharp. Then, after a beat of silence, she chuckled softly, her tone shifting back to a playful purr. “Please, darling? I don’t want anyone else. If you don’t come, I won’t leave.” “Come on,” she whispered, her voice dripping with drunken seduction. “Please?” I stayed silent for a long moment before finally relenting. When I arrived at the club, the scene was all too familiar. Sophia was draped across the lap of some fresh-faced boy, her arms looped around his neck like a scarf. When she saw me, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, her eyes locking onto mine with a smirk. Her gaze seemed to say, What are you going to do about it? In the past, I might’ve dragged her out of there, warned her not to pull a stunt like that again. But tonight, I simply looked at her, my expression calm. “Are you coming or not?” I asked. Sophia blinked, momentarily caught off guard by my lack of reaction. Then she laughed and stumbled to her feet, her movements unsteady in her high heels. “Of course I’m coming,” she said, her words slurring slightly. “My husband came all this way to get me.” She took two steps before tripping, and I caught her easily, steadying her against my chest. She wrapped her arms around my neck, nuzzling against me like a cat finally returning to its owner. “You caught me,” she murmured. “You still love me.” She laughed softly, her voice light and carefree, as though she hadn’t just torn my heart to pieces.

Sophia White had lived a life of luxury—until her family went bankrupt. She’d never experienced hardship before, which is probably why she couldn’t understand or care about anyone else’s struggles. After a drunken night out, I brought her back to the apartment I’d put under her name. In the elevator, she leaned her entire body against me, her balance gone. I steadied her with a firm grip on her waist. “Stand up straight,” I told her. But she didn’t move, her warm fingers tracing the line of my jaw as she leaned in closer. The elevator doors slid open, and in that split second, I made a decision. I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her off the ground, carrying her out with hurried steps. She laughed softly, her breath warm against my neck. She knew. She always knew. I could never resist her. Sophia had mastered the art of manipulation—push me away with one hand, then pull me back with the other. She wielded it like a weapon, and I fell for it every time. Later that night, I woke up to find her lying peacefully beside me. I didn’t wake her. Instead, I quietly got dressed and left the bedroom. This apartment was the first gift I’d ever given her. After her family sold off everything they owned to pay off debts, this was the first property under her name. She loved it. She’d personally hired the designer and overseen every detail of the renovation, refusing to let anyone else interfere. There were four rooms in total: a bedroom, a study, a dance studio, and one last room across from the master bedroom. That door had always been off-limits. Out of respect, I’d never tried to enter it. But tonight, standing in front of that door, something inside me snapped. I placed my hand on the doorknob, turned it, and pushed it open. The room was filled with photos. Everywhere I looked, there were pictures of Sophia and Alex—her “true love.” Memories of their time together, pieces of a life they’d shared, remnants of a man who had been dead for years. I stared at it all, and then I laughed. How foolish I had been to think I could ever replace Alex in her heart. Sophia had always been cruel in the way only the privileged could be. Raised in comfort, she took everyone’s kindness for granted, as if it were her birthright. She never cared about the sacrifices I made for her. But here, in this room, she had preserved every tiny thing Alex had ever done for her—every memory, no matter how small. Even the time he’d picked up her pencil in high school had been enshrined in her mind. She remembered everything about him. But everything I had done? None of it mattered. Because I wasn’t Alex. Sophia wasn’t the biggest name in the entertainment industry, but after years of me backing her, she had carved out a place for herself. When I walked into my office the next morning, the head of PR handed me a draft of an article that hadn’t yet gone viral. It was gossip about a rising star who had been publicly dumped at her engagement party. The piece didn’t name names, but anyone with a brain could tell it was about Sophia. The article twisted the truth, making it seem like she had been humiliated when, in reality, she was the one who ran away. The head of PR hesitated. “Sir, should we issue a warning to the press?” Before I could answer, my phone buzzed with a message from Sophia. “Why did you leave without saying anything?” “Are you still mad at me?” “I’m sorry, okay? I know I was too impulsive this time.” “I’m heading out of town for a shoot. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.” I turned off my phone and looked at the PR director. “Leave it,” I said coldly. “Don’t bother with her anymore.” That night, I returned to the villa. The butler greeted me at the door. When I started heading upstairs, a thought struck me, and I turned back. “Pack up all of Miss White’s belongings and move them out,” I said. The butler hesitated. “Did you two have another argument?” Sophia and I fought often enough that it wasn’t unusual. Sometimes it was over her drinking, other times because I’d caught her sneaking off to the cemetery again. Whenever we fought, she’d storm off to the apartment I’d given her, only to come back a few days later once she’d cooled down. But this time was different. I didn’t look back as I climbed the stairs. “Don’t let her into the villa again,” I said. For the next four or five days, Sophia bombarded me with messages. This had never happened before. In the past, I was always the one to apologize first. Always the one to give in, because I loved her and couldn’t bear to lose her. But this time, she must have sensed something had changed. She called me several times, but I didn’t pick up. On the eighth day after Sophia left, a typhoon hit the region, bringing heavy rain and chaos. That afternoon, I received a call from Sophia’s assistant. “Mr. Hayes,” she said, her voice trembling. “Miss White went into the mountains with the crew to film, but there was a landslide. Her car got separated from the others, and we haven’t been able to contact her.” “When did this happen?” I demanded. “They entered the mountains yesterday, and now…” The assistant’s voice broke into sobs. I hung up and immediately called my aide, asking him to book me a flight. I knew Sophia had been filming in a nearby city, closer to the coast. My hands shook as I gripped my phone, dread pooling in my chest. “Sir,” my aide said, returning with bad news. “All flights have been grounded because of the typhoon.” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “Contact the local rescue team,” I said. “We’ll drive there.” After four hours on the road, we arrived in the middle of the night. With no time to rest, I joined the rescue team immediately. The rain was relentless, turning the mountain roads into dangerous pits of mud. At one point, our vehicle got stuck, and I climbed out, drenched in rain, to help push it free. By the time we reached the landslide site, it was nearly impossible to see anything. The rain and darkness made the search almost futile. We searched until dawn, but there was no sign of Sophia. At 8 a.m., the rain finally stopped. Exhausted, I sat on a boulder overlooking the mud-covered slope. The thought of Sophia buried beneath all that debris was like a knife to my chest. As rescue crews prepared to bring in excavation equipment, a man approached me and tapped my shoulder. “Someone has been trying to call you,” he said. “Your phone’s been off.” My phone had died the night before. I borrowed his and called my aide immediately. “Sir,” my aide said, his voice urgent, “Miss White has been found!” “The crew canceled the shoot after checking the weather forecast. She’s been at the hotel with her assistant the whole time.” I hung up, my grip tightening on the phone. The mountain was silent except for the distant sound of digging. And I stood there, drenched and exhausted, feeling like the biggest fool in the world. 5 I spent two days in the hospital after coming down from the mountain. During that time, Sophia White lingered outside my room, demanding to see me. My aide, Jack, made sure she didn’t get in. But on the day of my discharge, she slipped past him and barged in. Jack glanced at me with a helpless expression, unsure of what to do. “It’s fine,” I said. “Leave us.” Sophia smugly tilted her chin at him as if she’d won some great victory. The door closed behind him, and the second we were alone, her demeanor changed completely. She threw herself into my lap, her voice soft and pleading. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to lie to you.” “I just missed you so much,” she continued, looking up at me with wide, tearful eyes. “You wouldn’t answer my calls or texts, and I didn’t know what else to do. That’s why I lied. I was desperate.” She reached out to touch my face, her voice trembling. “Please forgive me this once, okay? I promise I’ll never lie to you again. I’ll listen to everything you say from now on. Don’t stay mad at me, okay?” I sighed and pressed my fingers to my temple, the exhaustion weighing heavily on me. “Are you done?” I asked flatly. Sophia froze, her big, beautiful eyes suddenly filled with panic. “Go back,” I said, looking away from her. “Don’t you have a shoot today?” “But you—” She reached out, her hand trembling as she tried to touch my face again. Smack. Her pale hand turned red where I’d slapped it away. Sophia stared at me in shock, her eyes immediately welling up with tears. She’d never been treated like this before. “You still haven’t forgiven me!” she cried, her voice breaking. I leaned back against the couch, my energy completely drained. “Does it even matter?” I asked, my voice hollow. “Does my forgiveness mean anything to you?” “You only care about Alex,” I continued bitterly. “Nothing else matters. Nothing I do matters. So what difference does it make if I forgive you or not?” Her expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, as though she were looking at a stranger. After a long silence, she suddenly stood up, a bitter smile curling her lips. “Of course nothing else matters,” she said, her tone sharp and cold. “You think I’d be with you if Alex were still alive?” she spat, her eyes blazing with fury. “No one in this world can compare to him. Not you, not anyone. You’re not even worthy of saying his name!” Her face twisted with rage, her eyes bloodshot. This was the real Sophia—the one who emerged every time Alex was mentioned. The sweet, playful Sophia who called me “husband” and acted coy was just a mask. But when it came to Alex, she’d rip herself apart, exposing the raw, ugly truth beneath. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Get out,” I said, my voice rising. She flinched, startled by the force of my tone. “I said get out! Right now!” I’d never yelled at her like that before. Never once raised my voice, no matter what she did. For a moment, she seemed too stunned to react. Then, as the reality of my words sank in, tears spilled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, hugging herself as she sank to the floor. “I didn’t mean to say those things. I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” She looked up at me, her face streaked with tears, and crawled forward on her knees. “Please,” she begged, grabbing my hand with trembling fingers. “I’ll change. I promise I’ll change. Just give me one more chance.” I slowly pulled my hand away, closing my eyes as a wave of bitterness washed over me. “It’s over,” I said softly. She froze, her sobs cutting off mid-breath. I opened my eyes and repeated, “We’re done. I don’t want you anymore.”

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The night my son had a high fever, I overheard Jack flirting with his secretary, Scarlett, in Spanish on the phone. Jack’s lips curved into a smirk as he said, “Emma’s had a kid. She’s not as tight as you are. Don’t worry, she’s busy taking care of Tommy’s fever. She won’t notice I’m gone.” Scarlett’s coquettish voice came through the speakerphone, “Where should I wait for you, Mr. Harrison?” Jack glanced at me, “The usual hotel. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied tonight.” I held my son close, my fingers trembling with heartache. Jack didn’t know that I had minored in Spanish in college. I understood every word he said to his secretary tonight. Jack put on his coat, turning to leave. I stroked Tommy’s feverish little face, looking at Jack anxiously, “Jack, could you please take Tommy and me to the hospital first?” Jack frowned, “There’s an urgent matter at the company. I can’t delay.” Urgent matter? Urgent to have an affair with Scarlett in bed? I held back my anger, “Tommy’s fever is so high. He could have a seizure at any moment. What urgent matter could be more important than our son’s life?” Before I could finish, he had already slammed the door shut. Looking at my son who had fallen unconscious from the fever, I hesitated for a moment before calling Jack’s brother, “Daniel, Tommy has a high fever that won’t break. Jack said he has an urgent matter at the company tonight. Could you take us to the hospital?” A steady male voice came from the other end of the line, “Of course, I’ll be right there.” I hung up the phone, tears welling in my eyes. I was once the daughter of a wealthy family in New York, growing up alongside the two brothers of the city’s wealthiest family. Both brothers had deep feelings for me. Jack was lively and outgoing, while Daniel was calm and reserved. In my youth, I was captivated by Jack’s sweet talk and went on a private island vacation with him. I often wonder now, if I hadn’t drunk that spiked wine he gave me, would my life be completely different from what it is now? In less than twenty minutes, Daniel arrived. The headlights of his Bentley cut through the thick darkness of the night. He drove steadily, and I could smell the familiar scent of his cologne, a fragrance both silent and domineering. When Tommy’s fever finally broke after receiving IV fluids in a private hospital room, I felt relieved at last. I went out to the corridor and gratefully looked at Daniel, “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done without you tonight.” He replied softly, “It’s my duty to take care of my nephew. I’ve sent a message to my brother. He’ll be here soon to take you both home.” Under the dim light, his cold, handsome features softened with a touch of tenderness. Suddenly, my eyes welled up with tears. “Why are you crying?” Daniel raised his hand to wipe away the tears on my face, but then, as if realizing something, he quickly withdrew his hand. I shook my head, covering my face. Suddenly, a cold laugh came from behind us. Jack strode towards us, “Emma, Tommy’s fever has broken. Instead of taking our son home to rest, you’re here getting cozy with my brother in the hallway. Hm? What’s this about? Tired of the younger brother and want to play with the older one now?” My face turned pale. Daniel frowned deeply, “Jack, what nonsense are you talking about? Tommy was burning up so badly he passed out. Instead of taking your son to the hospital first, you rushed off to the company. What could possibly be more important than your child?” Scarlett, following behind Jack, her face still flushed with passion, chimed in, “Mr. Harrison recently closed a big deal with Spanish clients. He’s been busy with the contract signing these past few days. Isn’t Mr. Harrison working hard to provide a better life for Tommy and you, Emma?” No one responded to her. Jack pulled me into his arms, looking at Daniel provocatively, “Brother, thank you for tonight. I’m taking my wife and son home now. In the future, unless it’s absolutely necessary, you shouldn’t meet Emma alone. You understand the concept of avoiding suspicion, don’t you?” I struggled out of his grip, my eyes red, “Jack, the doctor said if we had brought Tommy in any later, the fever could have damaged his brain. Can you stop throwing dirt on your brother and me?” Scarlett blinked and giggled. Jack suddenly glared at her, “What are you laughing at? Go home now. Don’t be late for work tomorrow morning, or I’ll dock your attendance bonus.” Scarlett smiled seductively, “Yes, yes, of course. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Mr. Harrison.” As she brushed past me, I caught a whiff of her strong rose perfume. My face immediately changed.

When I was two months pregnant, I had smelled this same scent on Jack’s shirt. Perhaps it was a woman’s keen sixth sense, but even then, I felt that Jack might be having an affair. But Jack was extremely attentive to me at that time. He always informed me about his business dinners, never stayed out all night, and frequently gave me expensive gifts. During his vacations, he would turn off his phone to spend time with me wholeheartedly. He even hired a specialist to give prenatal education classes for our baby. So apart from that perfume, I couldn’t find any evidence of Jack’s infidelity. Looking back now, Jack had mastered the art of “counter-surveillance,” keeping everything perfectly hidden. If it weren’t for overhearing him flirting with Scarlett in Spanish tonight, I might have continued to be deceived, constantly reflecting on what I had done wrong, wondering if my postpartum recovery wasn’t good enough, unable to give him ultimate pleasure at night, causing his mood swings! After returning home, I looked at Tommy’s adorable sleeping face, tears streaming down uncontrollably. Tommy is only three years old this year. I don’t want him to grow up in a broken family at such a young age, nor do I want his childhood to lack a father’s companionship. I’m really afraid that when he grows up, he might say something like, “I don’t need a lot of money, I just want a lot of love.” In wealthy families, pearls and gold may be plentiful, but love and companionship are especially precious. So even though I knew Jack had betrayed me and was having an affair with his young and beautiful secretary Scarlett, I didn’t bring up divorce. But I never expected that my forbearance wouldn’t awaken Jack’s conscience. Instead, it invited Scarlett’s provocation. On Sunday night, Jack actually had Scarlett move into our villa. This was our marital home, where he once stood at the front door, smiling and vowing to love only me for the rest of his life. But now, for another woman, he had forgotten all those vows. As he helped Scarlett carry her suitcase into the guest room, he said to our housekeeper, “Mrs. Johnson, please make some Sichuan dishes tonight. My secretary loves spicy food.” I stood on the second floor, coldly watching them, “Tommy just recovered from his illness. He can’t eat spicy food.” Jack’s eyes flashed with guilt, “Oh right, my son was sick recently. Mrs. Johnson, could you also make some seafood porridge?” Perhaps he knew this situation was inappropriate. That night, he came to my bedroom to explain, “Emma, listen to me. The reason I let Scarlett stay at our house is because this Spanish business is urgent. It’s not unprecedented for a personal secretary to temporarily stay at the CEO’s home. Please understand, this is all for work.” I smiled faintly, “Mm, I understand. Work is important.” Seeing that I wasn’t arguing or making a fuss, Jack kissed my forehead with satisfaction, “Emma, you’re so good. Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll take you and Tommy to Lake Tahoe for a few days.” I watched his back as he left, then took out a tissue to wipe the spot he had kissed. The kiss of an unfaithful person is truly dirty.

Early the next morning, Scarlett was busy in the kitchen, wearing a tight-fitting nightgown that accentuated her slim waist and shapely buttocks. Moments later, she brought milk and sandwiches to the dining table. Jack’s eyes kept lingering on Scarlett. He took a bite of the sandwich, “This is really good. The cheese is melted perfectly.” I looked at the sandwich, feeling no appetite at all. “Tommy, try Aunt Scarlett’s cooking. Is it good?” Scarlett smiled, pointing at the sandwich in front of Tommy. Before I could stop him, Tommy had already grabbed the sandwich and taken a big bite. Suddenly, he started coughing violently, his cheeks turning bright red. “Baby, what’s wrong!” I panicked, picking Tommy up and patting his back to help him breathe. His coughing got worse. I grabbed the sandwich he had eaten and looked at it, only to find it was spread with a large amount of peanut butter! I couldn’t help but scream, “Call 911 quick! Tommy is allergic to peanuts! He can’t eat anything with peanuts in it! He’ll have an anaphylactic reaction!” Standing in front of the emergency room, Jack’s face was grim. Scarlett’s face was pale, her eyes red. She said softly, “Emma, I… I really didn’t know Tommy was allergic to peanuts.” I sighed, “From now on, let’s leave the cooking to Mrs. Johnson.” Scarlett’s tears fell, “It’s all my fault. Emma must be angry with me. Mr. Harrison, I should move back to my apartment.” Jack frowned, “Move back? What for? This wasn’t intentional. You didn’t mean to harm Tommy. Just stay here.” I stared at him in disbelief. Two weeks after the sandwich incident, Jack suddenly called me into his study. Scarlett was there, wiping her tears pitifully. Jack looked at me unhappily, “Emma, can you stop making things difficult for Scarlett?” I laughed bitterly, “When did I ever make things difficult for her?” Jack tapped the desk, “You and Mrs. Smith cleaned the guest room where Scarlett is staying, right?” I nodded. His eyes were full of anger, “The window in Scarlett’s room won’t close properly, and the draft is giving her headaches. She likes spicy food, but when I’m not home, you always have Mrs. Johnson make such bland dishes. She’s not used to it and has lost weight. And can you stop letting Tommy bother her all the time? We don’t want another incident like last time where he ends up in the emergency room!” The truth was, Scarlett had specifically requested a well-ventilated room. The truth was, I had asked Mrs. Johnson to prepare two different flavors for each meal. The truth was, Scarlett often wanted to play with Tommy, and I was afraid she might unintentionally harm him, so I kept Tommy away from her. Now she had turned everything around and blamed me! I silently looked at Jack, not defending myself at all. After all, no matter what “grievances” Scarlett suffered, Jack was willing to stand up for her. No matter what mistakes she made, Jack was happy to find excuses and cover for her. My expression darkened. Suddenly, Scarlett looked at me timidly, “Emma, I’d like to speak with you alone.” The study door was closed, and Scarlett sat on the desk, her eyes seductive, “Emma, let’s be frank. I’m pregnant with Jack’s child.” My expression remained calm, “What do you want?” Scarlett smiled charmingly, “I want the position of the mistress of the house. I hope my child will be an only child, with no one to compete for the family fortune. I want Jack to stop hiding me under the guise of a secretary. Emma, are you willing to give him to me?” So everything had been her machination behind the scenes. For this wealth and status, she had repeatedly distorted facts, played mind games, pretended to be pitiful, and even tried to harm my son with peanut butter. Looking at her confident smile, I felt both ironic and pitiful. Men love the feeling of “stealing”. Having an affair with a mistress under the pressure of the original wife is an intense stimulation for men. If the original wife lets go, the man will quickly lose interest. By then, even a passionate rose-like mistress will become a boring mosquito bite. That night, I prepared two copies of divorce papers, slipping one into the documents Jack was to sign the next day. Early the next morning, I took Tommy on a flight back to my parents’ home in New York. As I left, I smiled at Jack and Scarlett. By the time he discovers the signed divorce papers, I should have already arrived at the New York airport.

“Emma? Why didn’t you tell me you and Tommy were coming back? I could have asked our housekeeper to prepare a table of your favorite dishes,” my mother said with a surprised look as she saw Tommy and me. Our housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson, took Tommy back to the bedroom. I sat down next to my mother, tears suddenly streaming down my face, “Mom, I’m divorcing Jack.” My mother’s expression changed slightly, “He wronged you, didn’t he? Your father and I never approved of Jack. When you insisted on going on that island vacation with him alone, I tried to persuade you for so long, but you wouldn’t listen. You even snuck out with fake IDs. Sigh, we wanted you to marry his brother Daniel back then, but then Tommy came along…” I sniffled and interrupted her, “If it weren’t for Tommy, I would have cut ties with him long ago.” My mother sighed, lovingly patting my head. “He and his secretary…” I choked up, unable to continue. “Emma, men who crave novelty never end up well,” my mother said with a cold smile. At 10 PM, I lay in my childhood bedroom, lost in thought. In our teenage years, Jack was always the one with witty words to make people laugh, while Daniel was like a gentle and silent shadow. I was too young then, always captivated by Jack’s grand promises and sweet talk, forgetting to pay attention to the one who consistently took action. I remember one snowy night in New York when I was playing chess with the two brothers at their house until late. Jack looked at the dancing snowflakes outside the window and yawned, “It’s snowing heavily today, so cold outside — Emma, since our houses are close, could you just wrap your scarf tightly and go home by yourself?” Before I could respond, Daniel silently stood up, put on his coat, ready to brave the snow to send me home. Under the dim streetlight shrouded by wind and snow, Daniel stood there looking at me, his eyes full of endless cherishment and tenderness. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively avoided Daniel’s gaze, rushing towards the gate of my family’s house in a few quick steps. I also recalled the incident during the island vacation with Jack. Unknowingly, I drank the glass of spiked wine Jack handed me, falling drunk into his arms, leading to a night of passion. Afterwards, he apologized pitifully, “Emma, I love you so much that I resorted to this. I just wanted to make you mine before anyone else could. I know my brother has feelings for you too, and I was so afraid he would steal you away.” When the doctor diagnosed me as one month pregnant, Jack caressed my belly with a joyful expression, “That night’s effort wasn’t in vain after all. Now that you’re carrying my child, I can rightfully marry you.” I lowered my gaze, hesitating for a long time before deciding not to tell him about my application to study oil painting abroad. The next day, I quietly canceled that application. After all, at that time, the aunts and sisters around me were all women who sacrificed themselves for love and family. I thought my sacrifice was also necessary. Later, when I married Jack while carrying our one-month-old child, everyone was smiling and applauding in congratulations. Only Daniel stood in the crowd, his expression solemn as he gazed at me from afar. After that, Daniel never got involved with any other woman. He immersed himself in his archaeology career, using his skilled hands to restore many precious and rare artifacts. I took a deep breath and covered my face with my hands. Perhaps, I had loved the wrong person from the very beginning? When I woke up again, I found that Jack had called me twenty-six times. What was he in such a hurry for? I rubbed my temples and called him back, “Hmm?” Jack quickly picked up the phone, his voice hoarse, “Emma, you want to divorce me?!”

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That summer when I was 18, Ryan took my virginity. I endured the pain, but secretly felt happy all night long, thinking my six years of secret love had finally come to fruition. Until the next day, when I overheard his friends teasing him: “Not bad, you scored with the class beauty.” I felt embarrassed and was about to quietly leave. Then I heard Ryan’s casual reply: “I want to pursue the school beauty, but I’m afraid she’ll think I’m too inexperienced. “So I’m using Mia to practice my skills first.” I didn’t say anything. At the last moment before the deadline, I silently changed my college application from New York to Florida. Ryan’s words hit me like a bolt from the blue, completely catching me off guard. My mind went blank instantly. On such a hot summer afternoon, I felt chills all over my body. The conversation in the classroom continued. The others seemed stunned for a moment before speaking again. “As expected of Ryan, even the class beauty is just practice for him.” “Doesn’t that make her like, you know, a maid for ‘special services’ in those old wealthy families?” Ryan laughed carelessly: “Don’t talk nonsense. It’s not like she’s losing out.” Someone immediately agreed. “That’s right, the class beauty has gotten a bit thin. Compared to the school beauty, her figure is…” Ryan irritably threw a book at him, interrupting his comment. “It was just a moment of impulse. The mood was right, and she seemed to be struggling to hold back too…” The others exchanged knowing looks and teased him: “Who would’ve thought the class beauty was the sultry type.” “Tsk tsk, it’s our Ryan’s irresistible charm. Might as well eat the meat right in front of you.” “The class beauty has been chasing after Ryan for so many years. I guess she finally got her wish. She probably wanted to jump him long ago.” The laughter in the room grew noticeably louder. I bit my lip hard, my hands clenched into tight fists. It took all my strength to keep steady and not collapse at the classroom door. Footsteps approached from the end of the hallway. I snapped back to my senses and fled the scene in a panic. In my confusion, I hid in a bathroom stall.

Tears of heartbreak and humiliation were already flowing freely. Ryan’s words echoed in my mind over and over, nearly destroying all of my self-esteem. If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears, I never would have believed that he was the same person who had been so passionately intimate with me just last night. So it turns out you can do such intimate things even without love. Even in the most passionate, irrational moments, it’s possible to lie and deceive. What I foolishly thought was the culmination of our relationship was nothing more than a joke to others. The more I cried, the more upset I became. But I didn’t dare make any loud sounds. My body kept shaking uncontrollably. After a long while. My phone buzzed with a message notification. It was from Ryan. [Take a cab home yourself. My class is having a party tonight, so it’s not convenient for me to take you.] I didn’t reply. He added another message. [Remember to buy the morning-after pill yourself. I’m too busy today. Make sure to take it, be good.] I stared at these two messages for a long time, speechless. Last night, from dusk till dawn, Ryan had worn me out over and over again. Before falling asleep exhausted in each other’s arms, he had whispered twice: “I wasn’t fully prepared for our first time. I’ll definitely buy you the pill tomorrow.” He even reminded me that girls need to protect themselves, and that I must take the morning-after pill or it could be very harmful to my body. At the time, I thought he was being so responsible towards me. I thought I had finally found my happiness. But now… In an instant, I sobered up considerably. I pinched my palm hard, forcing myself to stop crying. I wiped away my tears, composed myself, and left the bathroom. Too embarrassed to go to the pharmacy, I just ordered the pill online. After the delivery driver left it at the door, I waited a long time before I dared to sneak out and retrieve it. After swallowing the pill with tears in my eyes, I seemed to lose all my strength. I just sat numbly on the carpet, staring blankly. Ever since Ryan’s family moved in next door, I had followed him around like a little puppy for ten years. I had never imagined what a world without him would be like. I didn’t dare to imagine it. But from now on, I would be alone. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, lights came on one after another, then gradually went out. I don’t know how much time passed before my best friend Lily video called me. “Mia, why didn’t you come to our class party with Ryan tonight? “That Claire from the liberal arts class showed up instead. She’s been clinging to Ryan while you’re not here. The two of them are being so gross.” Lily turned the camera to show me.

In a dark corner of the private room, Ryan and Claire, the school beauty, were sitting very close together. Claire was wearing a crop top and tight jeans tonight, showing off her slim waist and long legs. The two of them were clearly separated from the rest of the group. Even when they talked, it looked like they were whispering sweet nothings to each other. The flirtatious atmosphere was palpable even through the screen. My chest tightened uncontrollably. Ryan had just said this afternoon that he wanted to pursue her. It seems he had already succeeded by evening. Claire drew a “Truth or Dare” card that required her to do push-ups with a guy on top. She had to choose a male participant. Unsurprisingly, Ryan immediately volunteered. Everyone started cheering and teasing them. Claire’s face turned red as she obediently lay down on the sofa. Ryan positioned himself above her and easily did dozens of push-ups. He was very restrained the whole time, carefully avoiding touching Claire’s body. Until the very last one, whether he finally lost his strength or did it on purpose. He couldn’t hold himself up and collapsed directly on top of Claire. The screams around them grew even louder, nearly taking the roof off. Ryan and Claire’s faces turned even redder. Amid the crowd’s frenzied cheering, Ryan simply lowered his head and kissed Claire. The two of them made out passionately, oblivious to everyone else. It went on for a full three minutes before they reluctantly separated. During those endless three minutes, I stared at the screen unblinkingly, so shocked I almost forgot to breathe. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. I wanted to cry, but I had cried too much earlier without drinking water, so I had no tears left. “Tsk tsk tsk, Mia did you see that clearly? They were French kissing with tongue and everything. He’s totally into her.” Lily sighed as she turned the camera and left the private room. She found a quiet corner and earnestly advised me: “Mia, don’t blame me. If I didn’t let you see it with your own eyes, you wouldn’t give up on him.” My throat was dry and the sounds I made were barely audible. “Mm, I don’t blame you.” I only blame myself for being so stupid for so many years. I thought that since I was always allowed to follow Ryan around, that position by his side would always be mine. “I just can’t stand Ryan. What gives him the right to string you along for years, knowing you like him, pretending to be an innocent boy while watching you fall deeper and deeper. “Now you’ve seen it clearly. I really hope you’ll seriously reconsider. Don’t let him waste another four years of your life in college…” “I won’t, Lily.” I interrupted her, stating calmly. “I won’t give myself another chance. “Lily, I’ve decided. I’m going to college in Florida with you. “But you have to promise to keep it a secret for now.”

After saying that, to prevent myself from hesitating again, I opened my laptop in front of her. Without any hesitation, at the last minute before the deadline, I changed my first choice to that famous university in Florida. Lily was of course overjoyed. She had been begging me to apply to the same school for a long time. But when we first started high school, I had already made a promise with Ryan that we would work hard together and go to his dream school in New York after the SATs. That’s where his favorite aerospace program was. So even though I didn’t particularly like the cold North, and didn’t have much interest in that engineering-focused school, for all three years of high school, I still made it my goal. After being neighbors for so many years, both sets of parents were happy for us to go to the same college. Everyone, including me, thought that Ryan and I would naturally become a couple after we became adults. But now, I couldn’t find any reason to go to New York anymore. Or rather, after today, if I still clung to Ryan like before. I would despise myself. Now I just wanted to hide far away. It didn’t matter where, as long as Ryan wasn’t there. If he was in the North, then I would go South.

Before bed, I filled the entire bathtub, wanting to thoroughly wash myself clean. But when I took off my clothes, the bruises on my skin were still very visible. Memories of last night came flooding back uncontrollably. The scorching heat of the young man’s skin as we embraced tightly, the burning breath in my ear as we made love, the lingering warmth still seemed to surround me. I shook my head vigorously, trying to get rid of these wild thoughts. I found the roughest loofah and scrubbed my skin over and over again, only stopping when my whole body turned red. Clumsily trying to erase this most shameful memory of my life. As a result, I was in so much pain that I couldn’t sleep well all night. Ryan indeed didn’t send any more messages. Breaking the habit we’d had for six years, ever since we got phones, of saying goodnight to each other without fail. This was for the best. It would have happened sooner or later anyway. Might as well start detoxing from tonight. I dozed off fitfully until nearly dawn. The next morning while I was still sound asleep, I suddenly felt someone plant a light kiss on my forehead in my dream.

I woke up with a start. But what I saw when I opened my eyes was a familiar chin and Adam’s apple. The scent enveloping me from above was Ryan’s favorite cedar fragrance, along with a faint, unfamiliar hint of lemon. I had almost forgotten, Ryan still knew the passcode to my front door. Seeing that I was awake, Ryan simply moved lower, chuckling as he tried to kiss my lips. I hurriedly turned my head to avoid it. I pushed him away and retreated to the other side of the bed. Ryan was stunned for a moment, then laughed at me: “Why so shy now? Hmm?” I didn’t say anything, just pulled the covers over my head. Ryan scolded me while trying to pull off my blanket. “Mia, you’ve gotten bold, huh? You didn’t even say goodnight to me last night, and you dared to turn off your phone and go to sleep. “Now you’re hiding from me?” He deftly slipped under my covers. Before I could react, he had wrapped me in his arms. “Be good, how many times have I told you not to skip breakfast. “I went for a 30-minute run specially to get you those crab roe buns you love. I queued for ages. “Do you want to get up and eat now, or do you want to… be eaten first…” His breath was very close to me, and his hands started roaming. Fully awake now, I struggled desperately. But at 5’3″, I was no match for a 6’2″ man. I really couldn’t understand what he was thinking. He already had Claire, why was he still messing with me? After struggling hard for a while, I was panting heavily. I hadn’t broken free, but was held even tighter. “What are you throwing a tantrum about now? “Are you angry? Just because I didn’t take you to the party last night? Such a trivial thing?” I didn’t say anything. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, laughing out loud. “Let me guess, your good friend Lily tattled to you? “It was just a game, is that worth being jealous over? “Why are you still like before, getting all sulky whenever I get a little close to other girls.” I was furious beyond words, with no idea where to even begin. Remembering what I learned during freshman orientation, I suddenly raised my knee and kicked him between the legs, then quickly ran off the bed while he was in pain. “Mia!” Ryan gritted his teeth, his face turning red. I hurriedly threw on a shirt over my pajamas and rushed to the living room. I didn’t want to be in the same room as him, especially not my bedroom. Not long after, Ryan also came out, looking both angry and helpless. After a long while, he seemed to suddenly remember something and casually asked: “By the way, you took the pill yesterday, right?” “Don’t cause any trouble. We can’t explain it to our parents.” Ryan walked to the dining table and picked up a soy milk, handing it to me. “Be good, eat something before you get angry. Your stomach isn’t great to begin with.” I didn’t say anything, nor did I take it. Ryan’s hand holding the soy milk hovered in the air for a long time before he finally lost patience. “What exactly is the matter? “Mia, even if you’re throwing a tantrum, there should be a reason and a limit, right?” I coldly replied: “I’m not worthy.” Ryan got angry too, slamming the soy milk down hard on the coffee table. He used too much force. The plastic cup cracked and all the soy milk instantly spilled onto the carpet. “What do you mean? “Who do you think you are, Mia? “We just slept together once by mutual consent, and now you want to control me? Don’t you know how suffocating that is?” His tone was unprecedentedly fierce. In an instant, tears streamed down my face without any buildup. Yesterday’s humiliation and grievances all came rushing back. Ryan seemed unprepared for my sudden intense crying and was at a loss for what to do. He apologized regretfully: “I’m sorry, I drank too much last night. I spoke impulsively just now.” Ryan crouched down beside me as he spoke, reaching out to wipe away my tears, but I dodged him again. He was stunned, his hand frozen in midair. Just as he was about to continue comforting me, his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at it once, his expression changing drastically. He immediately got up to leave. “I have an urgent matter to attend to. Calm down by yourself first. “We’re in college now. You can’t always act like a child. Who else could put up with that in the future?”

Less than half an hour after he left, Lily sent me a screenshot. It was Claire’s social media post. [Claire: Just said I was hungry, and a loving breakfast magically appeared! Feels like my crush and I are moving towards each other~] The photo showed packaging identical to the crab roe buns on my dining table. I didn’t reply. I just silently wiped away my tears and crouched down to carefully clean up the soy milk Ryan had spilled. After trying for a long time, I sadly discovered that the stain had seeped deep into the wool carpet and couldn’t be removed no matter what. In a fit of anger, I simply threw out the entire carpet. It was the one Ryan and his parents had carefully chosen and carried back for me after an entire afternoon of shopping during their trip to Nepal anyway. While I was at it, I gathered up all of Ryan’s things left at my place, as well as all the big and small gifts he had ever given me. I even collected all our photos together. It took me all day to pack everything up and throw it away. I guess he wouldn’t want these old things anymore either. After Ryan left that day, there was no news from him for several days in a row. I suppose things were going well with the school beauty. Or maybe he was waiting for me to give in first. In the past, I had always been the one to make up first after every cold war, without exception. But this time I didn’t reach out to him. There was no need to reach out anymore. I blocked his SnapChat and phone number, changed my home’s door passcode, and deleted all my social media accounts. After doing all this, I called my parents who were away on business trips. I told them I wanted to visit my aunt in America during the summer break. My plan was to spend the summer there, then go straight down south with Lily to start college when the break was over. Except for Lily, no one else knew I had applied to a school in Florida. This plan should perfectly avoid any chance of running into Ryan. Mom still teased me on the phone, “Oh my, are you and Ryan going on vacation together?” I made up an excuse to deny it, not wanting to explain too much. I just told her I wanted to spend time with my aunt and grandmother. I begged Dad to buy me a ticket on the soonest flight. I was planning to fly out that very night. As I was leaving, I unfortunately ran into Ryan’s mom at the entrance of our building. She warmly greeted me: “Mia, why are you alone here? Didn’t Ryan come to pick you up? “Didn’t he say he was taking you skiing in New Zealand? Go and have a great time, Auntie fully supports you two.” I was a bit confused. During our intense SAT prep period, I had indeed mentioned to Ryan that I wanted to go skiing in New Zealand to experience winter in the Southern Hemisphere. But given our current situation, how could we possibly go on a trip together? However, I was running out of time, so I just hastily made some vague replies before leaving. But what I didn’t expect was that at the airport, I actually ran into Ryan.

He was with a group of friends. Claire was there too. Ryan was carrying a woman’s handbag in one hand, his other arm around Claire’s waist. They were walking at the back of the group. From time to time Claire would turn her head to say something to him, and Ryan would always cooperate, patiently bending down to listen. Not like with me. Ryan had always been a head taller than me since we were kids, and he kept getting taller. When I was with him, I always had to jump up and down and lift my head to talk to him. It turns out he will lower his head for someone he truly cares about. I took a deep breath. Telling myself I must have some dignity. Whatever he does has nothing to do with me anymore. If I keep overthinking, I’ll slap myself. But there seemed to be only one path to the departure gates. I could only follow far behind them. Finally, we reached a fork in the path. Ryan seemed to be getting a bit distracted. He made several phone calls that didn’t go through, then fiddled with his phone for a while. In the end, he borrowed a friend’s phone and walked to a nearby restroom with a gloomy expression. Not long after, my phone suddenly rang. It was an unknown number. “Mia, you’re really angry this time, huh? You won’t reach out to me unless I contact you first? “You even blocked me? “If you have the guts, then just keep not contacting me. Let’s see who will take care of you when you’re all alone in an unfamiliar place in New York.” Ryan’s tone was harsh as he berated me nonstop. I didn’t say anything. There was really no way to respond to that. But Ryan seemed to get even angrier. “I won’t say much more. Hurry up and add me back on SnapChat. “I’m about to go abroad with some friends for a couple days, so I might not be reachable by phone. Don’t worry and cry.”

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My brother claimed his IQ was 180 and no woman was worthy of bearing his children. So after kicking his wife out, He boasted that without a woman, he as a man could still get pregnant. And he guaranteed it would be a boy. At first I didn’t believe him. But unexpectedly, after just a few days my brother’s belly swelled up, and miraculously there was even fetal movement. But common sense told me men can’t get pregnant. To find out if he had some serious illness, I forcibly dragged him to the hospital for an examination. Unexpectedly, the ultrasound showed my brother’s belly was full of octopus tentacles attached to it. To save his life, I begged the doctor to perform emergency surgery. But he hated me for killing the child given to him by the gods. My mom even said I was jealous of my brother and demonizing her grandson. In a fit of rage, I was hacked to death by my brother and mother. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the time when my brother was pregnant. “I’m warning you, your brother is pregnant now, there will be a lot of expenses in the future. You must hand over all the money you earn to me for safekeeping,” my mom ordered me imperiously with her hands on her hips. “Did you hear me? Are you deaf?” Seeing no reaction from me, my mom reached out and pinched my arm. “Speak up, don’t pretend to be mute!” The pain brought me back to reality, dispelling my previous daze. My thoughts were suddenly pulled back to the present. Looking at my mom cursing in front of me, I felt a bit confused. Wasn’t I dead? How did I end up here? The scene before me was so real that for a moment I couldn’t tell if this was reality or a hallucination before death. I quickly scanned the living room. At this moment, my brother was lying on his side on the sofa, leisurely eating from a box of cherries while watching our mom scold me. His smug expression reminded me of how crazily he laughed when hacking me to death in my previous life. It sent chills down my spine. “Have you looked enough? Has this month’s salary been paid?” My mom only cared about money when she opened her mouth. She completely failed to notice the goosebumps that had risen on my skin from fear. Looking at my arm that she had just pinched, now bruised purple and painful, I realized I had been reborn. Seeing my mom constantly pressuring me for money, I readily took out my bank card. After all, this was the crucial moment of my brother’s self-destruction. I should play my part too. Whatever they wanted, I would give. “Mom, you don’t need to tell me. Since finding out about my brother’s pregnancy, I’ve already saved money for my nephew on this card. Now that my brother needs nutrition, you can use this money to buy supplements. Whatever my brother likes to eat, just buy it. Don’t hold back on my account.” My mom started to feel confused, after all in the past I would always argue with her at least a bit. But seeing the bank card I held out with both hands, she didn’t think too much. My mom smiled as she took it, “That’s more like it.” “The money you earn should be spent on family. Besides, that’s your own nephew.” “Of course!” I smiled and agreed! My brother was also very satisfied with my response. He said, “Sister, you should have had this realization earlier. Don’t worry, you don’t need to get married in the future. When this child grows up, I’ll have him support you in your old age.” I secretly sneered inside. Support me in my old age? Have a belly full of octopuses support me? Just thinking about it made my scalp tingle. I wouldn’t dare! I waved my hands repeatedly to refuse, “No need, brother. It doesn’t matter if my nephew supports me or not. As long as he supports you and mom, that’s enough. I don’t want the child to have too much burden when he grows up.” Seeing how sensible I was, my mom and brother looked gratified. Their gazes towards me held a hint of kindness.

In my previous life, my brother got a pregnancy secret recipe from a so-called master, saying men could also get pregnant and give birth. At first I thought it was just a joke. But unexpectedly, three days later, my brother came home whistling cheerfully. As soon as he got back, he said he had found a master. The master had even cast a fortune for him, saying he was destined to be an emperor in this life. The child he would bear would be blessed with gold and silver, and he himself would have great fortune and longevity. The master also said this child must be born from his belly for him and the child to have this good fortune. For this, he even spent thousands of yuan to get the pregnancy secret recipe from the master. As he spoke, my brother took out a package of sticky brownish stuff and started chewing it. I didn’t know what it was, I only knew the wind was a bit strong at the time. When a gust of wind blew by, I could smell the odor of rotting raw meat. I almost vomited. My mom also covered her nose and mouth, listening in bewilderment. Although she was uneducated, it was the first time she had heard of men being able to get pregnant. Watching him swallow it, my mom worriedly spoke up. “Son, won’t eating this stuff give you a stomachache?” My brother didn’t waste a bit, just focused on licking the sticky stuff left on the paper wrapper. Seeing him so absorbed, my mom’s heart tightened again. “Son, you haven’t been scammed, have you?” “Mom, you can rest assured, I guarantee I haven’t. The master is truly divine!” My brother licked up the last bit with a satisfied look. Then he put his arm around my mom’s shoulders, “Mom, your son can have a child without relying on a woman, and it will even be a boy. Aren’t you happy?” “A boy?” When my mom heard “boy”, her previously worried expression instantly turned joyful. “Son, are you telling the truth?” “Mom, it’s absolutely true. You just wait to hold your chubby grandson!” “The master also said as long as I take this secret recipe on schedule, I can naturally get pregnant in a few days, and successfully give birth in two months.” Although my mom was excited, she was still half skeptical. But I didn’t believe a word of it. A man getting pregnant? That would only happen if pigs could climb trees. But three days later, my brother actually did get pregnant. And his belly kept getting bigger. Miraculously, there was even fetal movement in his round belly. My mom was overjoyed! She prayed to the ancestors and gods. Thinking about how their combined intelligence was just 250, I kept trying to reason with them, saying it was physically impossible for a man to get pregnant and give birth. There must be something bad growing in my brother’s belly. If it wasn’t removed, it could be life-threatening. But my brother thought I was just being alarmist and cursing him. My mom said I was just jealous and couldn’t stand to see my brother doing well. They firmly believed the fetus in my brother’s belly was human. Faced with my pig-brained brother and uneducated mother, I forcibly dragged my brother to get examined. After a series of tests by the doctor, My guess was indeed confirmed. Under the ultrasound, countless octopus-like tentacles were attached to my brother’s belly. They varied in size, and each one was very strong. The doctor was horrified at the sight. The fat in my brother’s belly had been consumed by the octopuses, making his belly skin very thin. If not careful, it could be torn by the tentacles. If emergency surgery wasn’t performed quickly to remove the octopuses, they would move to other parts of the body and continue feeding. The end result would be my brother reduced to a skeleton. To save his life, I begged the doctor to arrange surgery for him immediately. Unexpectedly, not only were he and my mom not grateful to me, they even started hating me. My brother said I had cut off his path to fortune, that this was a divine child given to him by the heavens. My mom went further, saying I was jealous of my brother and had colluded with the doctor to put on this act. Killing her grandson and demonizing him. At the time, the doctors at the hospital all felt sorry for me, having to take care of two mentally ill people alone. They suggested that after my brother recovered, I should take him and my mom to a psychiatric hospital to get their brains checked. Finally back home, I busied myself taking care of them. I didn’t get a single kind word or look from my mom and brother. Instead, I was hacked to death and dismembered by them in the kitchen. “I finally got the master to help me get pregnant, and it’s all ruined by you, you bitch. I’ll send you to apologize to my son right now.” My brother’s eyes were red with killing intent as he stabbed me harder and harder. My mom didn’t even blink. She said it didn’t matter if I died since I was just a girl, I couldn’t support her in old age or carry on the family line anyway. Then she helped my brother deliver the fatal blow. Afterwards, to destroy the evidence, my mom and brother dismembered me together. Thinking of everything from my previous life, I felt I was somewhat to blame. After all, some people’s brains just aren’t normal. You try your best to save them, but they think you’re trying to harm them. Living again, I will no longer be a busybody caring about things that don’t concern me.

This life, I chose to watch coldly from the sidelines as they self-destructed together. Until they worked themselves to death. When necessary, I would even lend them a helping hand. “Brother, what are you saying? I’m your sister. Never mind whether my nephew supports me in old age or not. Just sharing the same surname with him means I’ll be his servant for life.” After saying this, I thoughtfully massaged my brother’s swollen legs from the pregnancy. “Brother, you’re truly our family’s great contributor. Our ancestors would be so happy to know our family produced a man who could get pregnant.” “After all, this is our family’s purest bloodline!” “That’s right! Not just the purest bloodline, if it inherits my high IQ it will be incredibly impressive.” My brother was quite confident. I laid on the flattery thick, making my brother and mom beam with joy. “Oh my, you’re absolutely right. When I was pregnant with your brother, I always dreamed of dragons and phoenixes and such. I knew this child would be special! See, it’s come true now. Your brother is so capable, actually pregnant with a divine child.” “Unlike that jinx who came into our family for three years and couldn’t even lay an egg.” The “jinx” my mom was referring to was actually my sister-in-law. My brother had been married before, but divorced. It wasn’t that my sister-in-law was bad, or that she was lazy. It was that my brother looked down on all women from the bottom of his heart. He claimed his IQ was 180, that no woman in the world was worthy of him or fit to bear his children. Especially my sister-in-law who hadn’t gotten pregnant in three years of marriage. My mom saw her as a thorn in her side. She would make sarcastic remarks at the slightest provocation, calling my sister-in-law a hen that couldn’t lay eggs. My brother was even worse. It was clearly his own problem, but he blamed the inability to have children all on my sister-in-law. He smoked, drank, and fooled around. His body was already ruined. To have a child sooner, my sister-in-law told him to quit these bad habits and then go to the hospital together for a checkup. But unexpectedly, he stomped on her stomach with his foot. “Your belly is useless, and you blame me?” “I’m warning you, I’ll play however I want. I don’t need you to teach me!” “A woman like you not being able to have my child means you’re not worthy.” When he got carried away with the insults, he even extended it to all women, “I’m warning you, not being able to have children is always you women’s problem. It has nothing to do with us men.” Seeing my sister-in-law groaning in pain on the ground, I kindly tried to persuade him that he should listen to her and go for a checkup. But I got beaten up along with her. My mom even said I deserved it. She said I was helping an outsider speak against my own brother. Because of this, I was often verbally abused by my mom. While my brother would beat my sister-in-law every few days. My sister-in-law was in tears, often complaining to me, but I was powerless to help. After all, in this family that favored boys over girls, I really had no say. Let alone her being my mom’s daughter-in-law, even I as the biological daughter was often mocked and ridiculed by my mom. In my mom’s eyes, only my brother who crawled out of her belly existed. I didn’t deserve to exist.

From childhood to adulthood, no matter whether it was my brother or I who was wrong, I was always the one who got beaten. She was just that biased. My brother never studied hard since he was young, but my mom sold everything to send him to expensive private schools. While I was ordered to drop out. Fortunately, my dad was still alive then and he treated me well, so I was able to continue schooling. Then I finally made it through to university graduation. Just as I started working, my mom and brother began to squeeze me dry. My meager intern salary was sucked up by them like leeches. I didn’t even get a single kind word or look from them. Although I sympathized with my sister-in-law, I was really powerless to help. Later, my sister-in-law became discouraged. My mom and brother also found her annoying, so they kicked her out with divorce papers. “Mom, why bring up that jinx out of nowhere? It’s bad luck!” “Alright, I won’t mention her anymore, I won’t!” Listening to their conversation on the side, I could only force a smile. After massaging for a while, I diligently went to the kitchen to make soup for my brother. But my mom took one look and said it was too bland. She jabbed my head hard, “How can such bland soup be good for pregnancy? Are you trying to abuse your nephew before he’s even born?” Then she cursed as she dumped it out and made a new pot, adding a large amount of supplements. Damn, I was so speechless I nearly died. I turned around and rolled my eyes. I had already added plenty of supplements to that soup. She still said it was bland? Hah~ If she wants my brother to die sooner, then I’ll just let her add whatever she wants. I put on a smile, “Yes, yes, mom, you’re right. This soup is a bit bland. So mom, you can take over making the soup!” Over the next few days, under my mom’s attentive care, my brother’s belly grew increasingly round. The octopus fetus inside his belly, having absorbed enough nutrients, moved more vigorously. It would even show through my brother’s belly skin from time to time. Because of this, my brother was often tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He still didn’t think to go to the hospital to get checked. He just kept spending large sums of money drinking the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine bought from that so-called master. Originally over 130 pounds, he had been fattened up by my mom. After drinking my mom’s heavily supplemented soups and that so-called master’s pregnancy-stabilizing medicine, my brother looked like a withered tree. His pale, sallow face looked like a dying person’s. But my experienced mom still hadn’t realized the seriousness of the situation. She held my brother’s hand with immense concern. “Pregnancy is always this uncomfortable. When I was pregnant with you, it was much harder than this. Just hang in there a bit longer, it’ll be better once the baby is born!” My brother had become gentler in temperament since getting pregnant. He had also gotten used to life as a “pregnant woman”. “I know, mom. For my son, it’s fine if I suffer a bit. But don’t forget what you said – once I give birth to your grandson, when the demolition money for the old house comes through, it all has to be given to me.” My mom rubbed my brother’s belly, bending down to whisper to it. “Don’t worry, it’s all yours. Mom will give it all to you. Oh, my precious grandson!” At this moment, another bump rose on my brother’s belly, clearly visible. My mom thought it was the baby’s hand. She grinned from ear to ear, “Oh my, it moved, it moved! My dear grandson!” Watching their excited expressions from the side, I really couldn’t help but mock them. How could people these days be so crazy, not even able to tell the difference between a baby’s hand and an octopus tentacle. They’ve truly lived in vain.

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I couldn’t believe my eyes as I stared at the divorce papers in my hands, my stomach churning with pain. “You know damn well I took the fall for Aaron’s crime! Why are you doing this to me?” I shouted, my voice cracking with emotion. Rachel, my wife, sneered. She raised her high-heeled foot and pressed it against my chest. “You’re nothing but a rapist!” she spat, pushing me backward with force. The man beside her laughed heartily. “Still dreaming about Aaron taking care of you in your old age? He doesn’t even…” Rachel’s face changed slightly, and she quickly covered his mouth. Aaron rushed out of the room just in time, dragging the adulterous couple back inside. He then turned to me and kicked me in the forehead. “Get lost, old man!” BANG! The security door slammed shut with such force that it caused the peeling paint on the surrounding walls to crumble and fall to the ground. As the air filled with the smell of dust, I struggled to my feet and began pounding on the door. “This is my house! It’s the property my father left me. You’re the ones who should get out!” I roared, feeling like my heart was about to explode with rage. … My name is Jack Wilson, and I’m 47 years old. I’m an only child. My father’s generation caught the wave of urban renewal, and we were given two houses and over $100,000 in compensation. Even though I didn’t have much talent or education, I could have lived a comfortable life with any job. Later, I met my wife Rachel at a massage parlor. She was masseuse number 78, and she was the first truly beautiful woman I had ever been close to since entering society. Later, she even transferred back to me all the money I had spent on her massages over two and a half years, saying, “I’ve saved up all the money you’ve spent on me these past two and a half years. I’m giving it all back to you now. Don’t come back anymore!” She even cried and said that if there was a next life, she would never do this job again and would definitely want to be my wife. That night, Rachel took the initiative to keep me there. She said she wanted to turn in an answer sheet for her youth, even if she didn’t pass, she wouldn’t regret it. It was my first time experiencing a woman’s touch. The bone-melting tenderness broke down all my psychological defenses. Afterward, I saw a pool of bright red on the bed and realized it was her first time too. I have to admit, I had a thing for virgins. To be honest, I was a virgin myself. So when I saw the red on the bed, I made up my mind to take her home! I hid Rachel’s job as a masseuse from my father, saying she was an accountant at a company. Later, Rachel became pregnant, and we had a shotgun wedding. All my friends envied me for finding such a beautiful wife. I was very content myself. … After raising our son from birth until he graduated and landed a high-paying job, before I could even enjoy the moment, the terrible news of Aaron sexually assaulting a female classmate came. I thought to myself, I’ve raised this son all my life, I can’t let him be ruined like this, can I? So, at my son’s pleading, I stepped forward and took all the blame upon myself. But I never imagined that karma would come back to hit me three years later. For my son’s sake, I was willing to be a criminal, because I am his father. But now, I don’t think that way anymore. Anyone can call me a criminal, except my son and wife! I clenched my fists tightly and went downstairs. My stomach growled embarrassingly. I dug out the innermost pocket of my clothes and handed the little money I had earned from prison labor to the noodle shop owner in the community: “One beef… no, one vegetable noodle, please.” I could eat more meals if I stuck to vegetable noodles. “Old Jack?” The shop owner quickly recognized me, though he seemed unsure of my identity. Looking at the shop owner, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity. Someone still remembered me. “It’s me, you…” My pupils constricted slightly. The shop owner ducked into the kitchen without a word, and the next second he rushed out with a kitchen knife, looking fierce: “You shameless old bastard! I’ll kill you!” I was terrified and ran away. But I bumped into a young girl face-to-face. CRASH— The bowls and plates Lily was carrying shattered on the ground. “Lily, are you okay?” I had just helped Lily up when I felt the gaze behind me become even more murderous. “Your father’s gone mad!” I let go of Lily and ran. Until I had left Lily’s father, who was chasing me with murderous intent, far behind. It was the height of summer. My worn-out shoes burned on the hot ground. I tried several small restaurants, but was thrown out of every one without exception. Because I lived in the old town by the river, everyone in the neighborhood knew me. They didn’t want to serve a rapist. Finally, in a newly opened convenience store, I used the shop owner’s hot water to make a cup of instant noodles to fill my stomach. “Sigh…” I ate while tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. The shop owner gave me a boiled egg, thinking I was a beggar. He didn’t take my money. But when I left, I still quietly put the money I owed under the noodle cup. As soon as I stepped out, a wave of scorching air hit me in the face. Accompanied by a sweet fragrance. It was Lily. She fanned her fair cheeks with her snow-white hand. “Uncle, I’ve finally found you!” I felt a bit awkward. “Tell your dad to be more careful next time. His temper is so bad, always threatening to chop people up. I haven’t even offended him!” Lily pursed her lips and smiled. “That’s just how my dad is. You know his temper. So I came to apologize to you!” Lily’s skin looked even whiter in the sunlight. I don’t know if it was because I had been in prison for too long, or if my vision was playing tricks on me. The way she looked at me was clear and bold, with a hint of shyness. What Lily said next surprised me even more. “Uncle, if you have nowhere to stay, you can stay at my place for now. I’ve heard a bit about what happened with your family.” I refused outright. Why would I stay at Lily’s place when we weren’t related? Besides, Lily was being too “friendly.” Faced with my refusal, Lily just laughed and convinced me with one sentence: “Aaron is my boyfriend, so isn’t it right for me to take care of you?” “…” Well, I guess I couldn’t refuse her kindness then. Lily didn’t prepare many living supplies for me, just saying I could use whatever was in the house. After giving me an old phone, she left. Although I was a bit nervous, I had nowhere else to stay, and Lily had extended an olive branch, so I couldn’t refuse. “Well, my future daughter-in-law is really not bad,” I sincerely praised her before settling in. The sky outside gradually darkened. Only one single room in the house was habitable, while the other two rooms were empty and very dusty. I couldn’t possibly stay in Lily’s room, so I planned to make do on the couch for the night. But the air conditioner in the living room was broken. I tried opening Lily’s bedroom door and turning on the air conditioner inside, but the cooling effect was still poor. “Nobody will see anyway, I’ll just make a bed on the floor in Lily’s room!” I got to work immediately. I pulled down the duvet cover Lily had hung on the balcony, spread it out on the bedroom floor, and was about to lie down when I noticed women’s intimate items on Lily’s bedside table, even some risqué styles. I couldn’t help but swallow. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t have any dirty thoughts about Lily. I had just been in prison for three years and was missing my wife a bit. “Damn it!” The thought of my wife Rachel instantly made me furious. How could she find another man while I was in prison? How did she convince my son Aaron to accept that man! Just as I was about to go to sleep, Lily came back. I got up again, preparing to rest outside. Lily grabbed my wrist. “It’s hot outside. Uncle, you can sleep on the floor. I’ll sleep on the bed, it’s fine.” I couldn’t help but blush. “Is… is that okay?” She nodded with a smile. “Of course it’s okay, but you need to turn off the surveillance camera first.” I was confused. She nodded towards the ceiling. Only then did I notice a surveillance camera with a small light on in the corner of the ceiling. “The remote control is on the bedside table. Go get it,” she added. “It wouldn’t look good if someone saw us.” I obediently did as she said. … I don’t know if Lily slept well, but I hardly slept at all that night. The next day, when I got up with dark circles under my eyes, I found breakfast on the table, along with $5,000 in cash and a note. [Uncle, I thought about it last night, and it’s not really appropriate for us to live together. I have some business to attend to and will be back late. Here’s $5,000 for you to use first. Let me know if you need more.] This girl is really considerate. However, the next second, the door suddenly opened. “Lily, I have some good news to tell you… Jack Wilson?” It was my son Aaron. He was shocked. “What are you doing here?!” I was calm. “I’m staying at Lily’s place. You seem very surprised?” “You old bastard! Who told you to stay here?” After the initial shock, his face was filled with anger. I was confused, not understanding where my son’s anger came from. But I didn’t care too much about that. What I cared about was what was going on with my wife Rachel now. “Where’s your mother? Who was that man with her yesterday?” Speak of the devil. Rachel came in arm in arm with the man from yesterday. “Son, is Lily ready? We’re supposed to go wedding dress shopping together today. How…” She was very surprised to see me. “Jack? What are you doing here?” “Who’s this man next to you?” I asked Rachel, pointing at the man. Rachel didn’t say anything, but the man spoke up first. He adjusted his collar and explained, “As you can see, I’m Rachel’s boyfriend. Let me introduce myself. My name is Brian Smith. You can call me Brian.” After speaking, as if to assert his dominance, Brian deliberately took my wife’s hand. Their fingers intertwined as they gazed at each other. The way they looked at each other was so affectionate that if I wasn’t the rightful husband, I might have been moved. After Rachel and Brian finished their display of affection, she took out the divorce papers she always carried in her pocket and threw them at me. “Please sign the agreement.” I picked up the agreement and laughed bitterly. Without even looking at it, I tore it to pieces. “Rachel, please get this straight. The house you’re living in is mine, and the money you’re spending is mine too!” “We must get divorced, but it’s not me who’s leaving with nothing. It’s you, Rachel!” I hadn’t slept all night, partly because of Lily, and partly because I had been thinking a lot. If my wife wasn’t good enough, I could replace her. If my son wasn’t good either, then I would take back what was rightfully mine. As tensions rose, Lily returned. She seemed to have been wronged outside, her eyes red as if she had just been crying. When Aaron saw Lily return, he took her hand and asked what was wrong. The next second, Lily raised her hand and pointed at me. “It was Jack Wilson. Yesterday I kindly let him stay at my house, but he actually tried to take advantage of me!” Aaron instantly became furious and rushed over to punch me in the face. “You old bastard, how dare you bully my woman?” I took the punch squarely. It wasn’t that I couldn’t dodge, but Lily’s inconsistent attitude had shocked me so much that I forgot to avoid it. “Lily, what are you saying? That’s not how things happened at all!” I was even angrier now. Meeting Lily’s cold gaze, I suddenly realized something. Lily and Aaron were boyfriend and girlfriend, and yesterday she had deliberately shown me kindness… There was a conspiracy! Rachel shouted, “What are you waiting for? Call the police!” Brian also gave me a look of contempt. “Once a rapist, always a rapist. It’s like a dog that can’t stop eating shit.” Soon, the police arrived. They handcuffed me and took me to the station without a word. After all, I had a criminal history. I told the police that the surveillance footage could prove my innocence. The police went to ask Lily to bring the footage. In fact, they had also noticed some suspicious points. But the pieced-together surveillance footage couldn’t prove that I had assaulted Lily, nor could it prove that I was innocent. So, my case was temporarily put on hold. After I was put in detention, Lily came to visit me on her own initiative. She said something shocking: “Do you remember that girl you raped years ago, the one called Bella?” My pupils contracted, instantly becoming as small as a needle point. “You know her?” I had never even seen that girl myself. Lily chuckled. “Bella was Aaron’s high school classmate. The summer of their graduation year, Aaron lured her to a bamboo grove under the pretext of having a barbecue to escape the heat, and then assaulted her.” “Afterward, he even used the video to threaten Bella. If she dared to tell anyone about what happened, he would send her video to the class and teacher group chats, ruining her reputation.” The more I listened, the more confused I became. “How do you know so much? Is Bella your sister?” That couldn’t be right. I had been neighbors with Lily’s father for many years, and we knew each other’s families inside out… Lily pursed her lips, revealing an eerie cold smile. “Don’t you know, Uncle, that the police like to use aliases to protect victims’ privacy?” “Bella… is me!”

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I spent three years as a doormat for the ice-cold campus queen. She shamelessly spent my money while pretending to be a high-class beauty. Until that night, when a rich kid pinned her down in the backseat of his luxury car. Hearing her cries for help, I rushed to play the hero and even accompanied her to the police station to file a report. Little did I know, the next day, she would turn around and accuse me of raping her. The rich kid destroyed the evidence and found people to give false testimony. My reputation was ruined, and I ended up in jail. My parents searched everywhere for evidence to prove my innocence. But on their way to the police station, they were killed in a head-on collision with a truck. I didn’t even get to see my parents one last time. When the campus queen came to visit me in prison, she smiled smugly at me: “You worthless dog, I was having a great time with Brandon. You had to come and ruin everything. Now look what happened, even your parents got what they deserved!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the night the campus queen was dragged into the car by the rich kid. Hearing the lustful sounds coming from the car, I turned and walked away.

“Help… please, someone help me…” Faint cries for help echoed through the parking lot late at night. I heard the commotion and followed the sound. In the distance, I saw a luxury car parked in the corner, its body shaking slightly. In my previous life, it was in this very car that I witnessed Lily Snow, the campus queen I had a crush on for three years, being pinned down in the backseat by Brandon Chase. Back then, I had rushed over and yanked open the car door, punching Brandon in the face and kicking him hard in the groin. While Brandon was writhing in pain on the ground, I helped the disheveled Lily to the police station to file a report. Little did I know that the next day, Brandon would show up in class with his arm around Lily, accompanied by the police. Lily tearfully accused me of attempting to rape her in front of the entire class. Everyone chose to believe Lily. After all, who in our class didn’t know that I, Connor Quinn, was Lily’s doormat, chasing after her for three whole years? Lily sobbed as she made her accusation. “He’s been harassing me for so long. I saw through him a long time ago, which is why I rejected him.” “I never thought he’d be so despicable. Knowing I would never accept him, he… he… in the parking lot…” “Thankfully, Brandon arrived in time to save me.” Lily buried herself in Brandon’s arms, sobbing. Brandon patted her back gently, but his eyes shot a cold glare at me. The crowd buzzed with chatter as the police handcuffed me, not even giving me a chance to explain. Through the back window of the police car, I saw Lily and Brandon exchange smiles, their eyes full of triumph. My parents, however, never stopped believing in my innocence. They ran around trying to get justice for me. They were turned away when they tried to meet with school officials, and when they tried to access the security footage, they found it had been deliberately deleted. In just a few days, my parents, both in their fifties, had aged visibly from the stress. On their final attempt, as they were driving to the police station, a large truck suddenly lost control and crashed into them head-on. A month later, Lily and Brandon came to visit me in prison. Brandon sat in the chair, his eyes filled with hatred. “You deserved this! If it weren’t for that kick of yours, I wouldn’t be impotent now.” It was then that I finally understood why they had gone to such lengths to destroy me. Back in the present, I watched the rocking luxury car in the distance and took out my phone, hitting record and aiming it at the car’s interior. The car windows were wide open, clearly showing Brandon on top of Lily. In my previous life, I had rushed in hot-headedly to play the hero. This time, I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t make the same mistake again. As I was leaving the parking lot, I heard someone approaching. Soon, there was a commotion behind me. I guess that person had stumbled upon their little tryst, and now others were running towards the parking lot. I quickened my pace, swiftly leaving the scene of trouble. Back in my dorm room, I saw my parents’ video call on the screen, and my eyes instantly welled up. The last memory I had of them was how haggard they looked. Seeing them now, still healthy and well, filled me with overwhelming emotion. My dad used to be a businessman, always dressed in a suit and tie, looking sharp and energetic. But in my previous life, when he visited me in prison, his face was unshaven and his eyes were heavy with dark circles. My mom had always taken good care of her appearance, but back then, her brow was furrowed with worry and her hair had turned gray. In just the few days I had been in jail, they both seemed to have aged a decade. My mom noticed something was off and asked with concern: “Connor, are you just getting back to your room? Is the coursework very stressful lately?” “Stop revolving your life around that Lily girl. You only have two months left, focus on getting into grad school,” my father paused, then added, “After that, you can start getting involved in some of the company’s business.” Fighting back tears, I promised, “Yes, Mom and Dad, don’t worry. I won’t let you down.” “By the way, Dad, I think I could start helping out with some business matters now.” “You cheeky boy!” My father laughed as he hung up the phone. I smiled as I ended the call, but my expression immediately turned cold. In this life, I was determined to make those two animals pay for what they’d done. I opened my phone and carefully reviewed the video I had just recorded, smirking as I said: “You like to play games, huh? Well, let’s play then!”

The next morning, as soon as I walked into the classroom, Lily came strutting over in her high heels. She looked down at me haughtily, wearing her usual arrogant expression. “Connor, I’m not feeling well and need to go to the hospital for a check-up. Can you lend me a few thousand dollars?” The eyes of our classmates were drawn to us, but no one seemed surprised. Who in school didn’t know about my infatuation with the campus queen? Lily came from an ordinary family. Her father was a construction worker, and her mother worked as a sales clerk in a department store. She had even been receiving financial aid for low-income students. Ever since I publicly declared my intention to pursue Lily, this woman had been treating me like an ATM. Designer bags, cosmetics, luxury items – she never asked for them directly, always under the guise of “borrowing.” In our freshman year, she would at least write IOUs. But after “borrowing” five thousand dollars from me at once to buy luxury goods, she became completely shameless. In just three short years, she had swindled nearly thirty thousand dollars from me, with only about seven thousand covered by IOUs. Looking at her smug face now, I felt nothing but disgust. In my previous life, I must have been blind to fawn over a woman like this. I had kept those IOUs, foolishly thinking I was preserving her handwriting. “No,” I said coldly. “And it’s time you paid back what you’ve already borrowed.” Lily froze, her fake eyelashes fluttering dramatically. “What did you say?” A wave of gasps echoed through the classroom. Someone whispered, “Did Connor take the wrong meds? Is he done being a doormat?” I pulled out a stack of IOUs from my drawer and leisurely flipped through them. “Just pay back the principal. I’ll waive all the interest you added.” Lily loved to add phrases like “2% monthly interest” to the IOUs, as if it made her look more responsible. Her face clouded over, and she suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Hah, Connor, who do you think you are? It’s your privilege that I even borrowed money from you. Don’t take yourself so seriously!” “There are plenty of rich guys who’d love to give me money. You think I need anything from a nouveau riche like you?” Lily stepped closer in her high heels, pointing a red-nailed finger at my chest. I stared back at this bitter and sarcastic campus queen with a blank expression. I couldn’t believe how blind I had been before. “So many people are giving you money? That’s great. So, when are you planning to pay back the first IOU for $3,200?” I waved the piece of paper in my hand. “There’s still over ten thousand more waiting for you to deal with.” Seeing that I kept mocking her, Lily became furious. “It’s just some dirty money. What are you so smug about? You think I’d ever agree to be with you just because you give me money?” “In my eyes, you’re nothing but a doormat, a dog who’s been licking my boots for three years!” Lily glared at me, her eyes venomous. “Someone like you? I wouldn’t even look at the campus security guard over you! Even if you got down on your knees and begged, I wouldn’t give you a second glance!” With that vicious remark, she stormed out of the room. The other students in the classroom looked at each other in disbelief. Some whispered, “The campus queen went too far with those words.” “Bro, what’s going on? Did you finally wake up? Didn’t you just say yesterday that you’d chase after the queen for life?” My roommate Henry looked shocked. I calmly replied, “I just suddenly saw things clearly. Now I just want to settle the accounts. Nothing else matters.” “Good for you, man! You’ve finally come to your senses!” Henry gave me a thumbs up. “But you’d better be careful. That girl is bad news.” I knew Lily wouldn’t let this go. Sure enough, before noon, she had already hooked up with Brandon, ready to cause trouble for me.

I had just finished class when Brandon, accompanied by his gang of lackeys, cornered me at the door. This young Mr. Chase was notorious for his arrogance, relying on his family’s wealth and his father’s position on the university board. “I heard you dared to ask Lily for money?” Brandon leaned against the doorframe, looking haughty. “Don’t you know she’s my girlfriend?” His cronies behind him glared at me menacingly. I leaned against a desk, sizing him up with amusement. In my previous life, I might have been intimidated by his background. But after being reborn, I really wasn’t afraid of his tactics anymore. Besides, with my family’s financial power, I had the means to fight back. In my previous life, it was only because of the urgent situation that I was pushed step by step into that fiery pit. “Lily said she wouldn’t even look at the campus security guard over me. I guess she was talking about you?” I retorted. Brandon slammed his fist on my desk with a loud “bang.” I smirked, “Is that all you’ve got?” Brandon’s face turned ashen. He then gritted his teeth and said: “I know your family has some connections, but they’re nothing compared to the Chase family! I’ll give you one chance today. Apologize to Lily, and we’ll let this slide.” I almost laughed out loud. “What’s the matter? Your woman borrows money from me every day to spend. Don’t you feel embarrassed?” Brandon’s expression froze. Before he could speak, Lily quickly intervened with a coy voice. “Don’t listen to his nonsense! I just didn’t want to spend Brandon’s money.” A crowd of curious classmates had gathered at the classroom door, with people in the hallway craning their necks to see inside. A few girls discreetly took out their phones and started recording videos. Henry, sitting in the back row, sneered. “Tsk tsk, so the campus queen is picky about whose money she spends? She freely spends Connor’s money but won’t dare touch Brandon’s? What kind of high-class act is this?” “Pretending to be a rich princess with a doormat’s money. That’s a new low.” Lily pretended not to hear and instead clung to Brandon’s arm, speaking in a sickeningly sweet voice. “Brandon, don’t mind him. He’s just trying to get my attention. In a few days, he’ll be back to giving me money obediently.” She tried to leave, but Brandon held her back. Brandon looked at me with a cold smile. “Connor, don’t go too far. You’re making a fuss over a bit of money? You know how difficult Lily’s family situation is.” “Are you trying to push her into a corner?” Looking at his hypocritical face, I couldn’t help but mock him. “Mr. Chase makes it sound so easy. Why don’t you support her then? Or can’t you even afford to take care of your own girlfriend?” Brandon was nearly speechless. “Lily said she didn’t want to spend my money!” I smiled faintly. “I see. Well, let me tell you both: I can lend money to anyone, but a woman like Lily? Don’t even think about it.” Lily’s face turned bright red, but she stubbornly retorted: “As if I’d want your dirty money! Come on, Brandon, let’s go!” I pulled out a stack of IOUs from my bag. “Is that so? If you don’t want it, how do you plan to deal with these IOUs? Don’t think I won’t sue you.” “Connor, how dare you treat me like this!” Lily gritted her teeth. “Fine, just you wait. I’ll make you pay for this!” Watching this pair of scumbags slink away, I smiled silently. Did they really think I hadn’t learned anything from my previous life? I was looking forward to seeing what kind of waves they could make. Henry came over and said, “Bro, are you really serious about this? Aren’t you afraid Brandon will come after you?” I looked at the IOUs in my hand and smiled coldly. “I don’t care. I’m waiting for them to dig their own graves.”

By evening, the whole school was in an uproar. Word spread that Lily Snow, the campus queen, had been sexually assaulted in the school parking lot the night before. Lily had skipped classes that afternoon, and a group of gossip-loving girls surrounded her roommate to dig for information. Apparently, her roommate had accidentally seen Lily making an appointment for a gynecological exam and buying emergency contraception. “Connor, I heard you were supposed to walk Lily back to her dorm last night?” A few guys rushed over to inquire. I looked up from my review materials. In my previous life, it was at this moment that I was caught off guard by Brandon’s lackeys due to a momentary loss for words. Those bootlickers had taken turns accusing me, and even a few friends who were usually on good terms with me had played dumb. This time, I was going to take the initiative. “Walk her home? I wasn’t even there last night.” I feigned confusion. “Did something happen to her?” One of the lackeys frowned and said, “Come on, everyone knows you follow her around every day, saying you’re worried about her safety at night.” “That was before,” I explained. “Last night I went back to my dorm early. I even studied late into the night. If you don’t believe me, check the surveillance cameras downstairs.” “We heard Lily was raped. You don’t know about it? Then why did you suddenly give her the cold shoulder yesterday?” someone asked in a low voice. I continued looking at my book, maintaining my composure. “That’s because my parents told me to focus on my studies. That’s why I decided to stop being her doormat. I really don’t know anything about this.” Seeing that I genuinely seemed unaware, the crowd dispersed. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I had avoided a group of people who would have jumped to conclusions based on a mere rumor. Taking advantage of the break before evening classes, I went to an electronics store and bought several high-definition cameras. After the faculty had left, I installed the equipment in the administrators’ offices, just in case. This was the first step in my plan for revenge. Over the next few days, Lily didn’t come to class. Various versions of rumors were flying around. It was said that the student who first spread the news had already been warned by Brandon not to talk. I focused on my studies, waiting for this pair of scumbags to walk into my trap. Soon enough, Lily returned. The teacher was in the middle of a lecture when the classroom door suddenly burst open. Brandon walked in with his arm around Lily, followed by a group of his lackeys. Four police officers also entered the room. Lily reluctantly left Brandon’s embrace and sashayed towards the podium. When she looked at me, a flash of hatred crossed her eyes. Wiping her tears, her voice trembling, she began to speak. “It was him. That night, I was passing through the parking lot when Connor followed me… He covered my eyes and dragged me into a car…” The class immediately erupted in an uproar. Her voice grew softer, as if she couldn’t continue, her face turning pale. “He was so strong… I couldn’t break free. I begged him to let me go, but he said… he said this is what a slut like me deserved…” As she spoke, she seemed to collapse to the ground. Brandon immediately rushed forward to catch her, looking concerned. Lily buried her face in his chest, sobbing, “Brandon, I’m so scared. I’m really so scared.” She deliberately acted as if she was about to faint, instantly stirring up anger among the crowd. The classroom immediately filled with curses and condemnation. In my previous life, I had lost my composure in this situation. But this time, I was going to show them who the real prey was.

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On my birthday, my dad gave me a car. I posted about it on social media to show it off a bit. But when my boyfriend’s father saw it, he came over pointing at me and yelling: “What’s a girl buying a car for? What a waste of money!” “Hurry up and sell that car, and give the money to my son!” I was stunned. Was something wrong with this man’s brain? What business was it of his if I bought a car? But to my shock, he actually rushed at me trying to grab my car keys! And that wasn’t all. When I wouldn’t give them to him, he started demanding I pay his son a “gene usage fee”! That’s right, a “gene usage fee”! I was furious and immediately posted the video of this online. Netizens were speechless. [Is this old man some kind of clown?] [Today I learned what true shamelessness looks like!] [This old man’s face is thicker than the Great Wall!] [First time hearing such a ridiculous reason, I’ve learned something new!] I had been with Ethan for two years. This was our first New Year as a couple, so I bought gifts and went with Ethan to his family home, hoping to gain his parents’ approval. Who knew that as soon as Ethan’s father saw me, his face darkened: “My son finally comes home for once, and you have to come drag him down!” I bit my lip, not wanting to argue on New Year’s, and could only force a smile: “Uncle, these are gifts I brought for you…” “Tsk, what a bunch of useless junk,” Ethan’s father didn’t even look. “All flash, no substance!” He turned to Ethan and said: “At least my son is filial, bringing back good cigarettes and alcohol. Much more practical than the trash you brought!” I almost laughed from anger. I had brought high-quality tea, supplements and health products. The cigarettes and alcohol Ethan brought were bad for his health. Which gifts were really more practical? But out of respect for him as an elder and Ethan’s father, I held my tongue and didn’t argue. Instead, I rolled up my sleeves and went to the kitchen to help make dinner. I thought, if I help out, surely he’ll see my good qualities? However, I still underestimated how shameless Ethan’s father could be. After dinner, he looked me up and down before asking: “I hear your family is quite well-off?” I pressed my lips together and nodded. “How many properties do you own? What brand is your car?” Ethan’s father asked. I frowned, feeling annoyed, but still answered: “I’m not sure how many properties, the car is just the one I drive now.” “Oh,” Ethan’s father seemed disappointed. “Well, that’s not bad.” Before I could feel relieved, he asked: “So what do your parents do? High salaries?” Suppressing my irritation, I replied: “Their salaries are decent. They have formal jobs.” Ethan’s father nodded, finally stopping his questions. I thought that was the end of it, but the next second, Ethan’s father said: “I hear you and our Ethan have been dating for a year?” I nodded. “When do you plan to get married?” Ethan’s father asked. I frowned: “That depends on both people’s wishes. It can’t be decided unilaterally.” “So you’re not planning to marry yet?” Ethan’s father instantly became angry. “Why are you stringing my son along!” I was speechless: “How am I stringing him along? Isn’t your son involved in this too?” Ethan’s father sneered: “My son is such a good catch, girls are lining up for him! You’d better hurry up and marry him while he still has some interest in you. Otherwise, you’ll be crying with no one to hear you!” “Besides…” he looked me up and down, “With your conditions, you should consider yourself lucky to have my son!” I was so angry I could barely breathe. Pointing at the door, I shouted: “What do you mean by that!” Ethan’s father crossed his arms, looking at me with disdain: “You’re two years older than my son, your education isn’t as good, and your job isn’t as good. If that’s not marrying up, what is?” I glared at him, wanting to smash the teacup on the table into his face. “And…” Ethan’s father’s eyes shifted, “If you’re willing to sell your car and transfer the money to my son, I suppose I could reluctantly agree to you two being together.” “Hah,” I was so angry my hands were shaking. “Sell my car and give your son the money? Keep dreaming!” Ethan’s father frowned, looking at me with contempt: “It’s just a car, what’s the big deal? With my son’s conditions, good girls would be lining up for him.” “I’m only agreeing to let you be with my son because you have some looks. Otherwise, you think you’d be able to step foot in our house?” I was so angry I wanted to flip the table: “I don’t care about stepping foot in your house!” “Hey, don’t speak too soon.” Ethan’s father waved his hand. “My son is great in every way. His only flaw is that his genes are too good.” I was stunned for a moment, not understanding: “What?” Ethan’s father said matter-of-factly: “My son has good genes, he’s strong in that area too. When you’re together, if you get pregnant, that would be a premium product!” “I didn’t create this for free, you need to pay our family a gene usage fee!” I forced a smile, holding back my anger: “Uncle, you must be joking.” Ethan’s father’s face darkened: “Who’s joking? I’m serious!” “Hurry up and sell the car, transfer the money to Ethan!” “When you two are together, all the money should be managed by Ethan. Your money is my money, my money is still my money!” “Your car should be for Ethan to drive. You should buy Ethan a car, that’s the right thing to do!” I really couldn’t listen anymore! I was shaking with anger. This person was simply unreasonable! I grabbed my bag and turned to leave, but Ethan’s father was still shouting behind me: “I’m telling you, our Ethan’s genes are very good!” “His sperm motility is much higher than average. Being able to have his child is your good fortune!” “You should be paying our Ethan a gene usage fee!” I was completely speechless. I had always thought that even though Ethan’s conditions were average, he was at least an educated person, so his family shouldn’t be too bad. But I never imagined his family would be like this! To say such things, what kind of upbringing did they have!

On my birthday, my father gave me a car. I happily posted on social media to show off: “Thank you Dad! You’re the strongest and best dad I’ve ever seen!” Ethan liked the post but didn’t say anything else. But that evening, he suddenly called me: “You bought a car?” I nodded: “Yeah.” “How could you buy a car!” Ethan sounded unhappy. “Weren’t we saving money to buy a house and get married?” I was stunned for a moment before explaining: “This was a birthday gift from my dad, I didn’t spend money to buy it.” “You still should have refused!” Ethan frowned. “You don’t even know how to drive, it’s a waste to buy one. It would be better to have your dad transfer the money to me for investment!” “Or…” he hesitated, “You could sell the car and transfer the money to me.” I almost laughed from anger: “Is something wrong with your brain? Asking me to sell the car and give you the money?” Ethan looked serious: “Yeah, you don’t know how to drive anyway, it’s a waste to buy one. Might as well give it to me to do something more useful!” “Besides…” he paused, “A man should be the head of the household. The family finances should all be managed by the man!” I sneered: “Do you live by the ocean? Trying to control everything?” “I don’t agree. Give up on that idea!” I said and hung up the phone. I thought that was the end of it, but the next day, Ethan’s father actually showed up at my door! “Bang! Bang! Bang!” The deafening knocking was accompanied by Ethan’s father’s loud voice: “Come out! You come out right now!” I looked through the peephole and saw it was Ethan’s father. I didn’t want to open the door. Outside, Ethan’s father was still shouting: “I’m telling you, don’t try to hide from me, I know you’re home!” “Come out right now! Let’s get things straight!” Afraid the neighbors would hear and gossip, I had to grit my teeth and open the door: “What do you want!” Ethan’s father snorted: “When I’m not around, you try to drive a wedge between Ethan and me, huh!” I frowned: “When did I drive a wedge?” “I heard all about it!” Ethan’s father looked disdainful. “Just asking you to sell the car and transfer the money to my son, and you whisper in my son’s ear that his father is no good!” I laughed angrily: “I said his father is no good, is there a problem with that? Do you think you’re good?” “Furthermore…” I paused, “Why should I sell my car and give your son money? Your son hasn’t said anything, and you’re already trying to call the shots!” Ethan’s father frowned: “My son is a man, men need to save face, of course he’s embarrassed to ask you for money!” “Hah.” I sneered, “He’s too embarrassed to ask, but you’re not?” “And…” I glared at him, “This is my own family’s money, I can spend it however I want. What business is it of yours!” Ethan’s father snorted: “You’re with my son, so you’re part of our Gu family! Your money is Ethan’s money, Ethan’s money is my money!” “I can’t manage it? Who else can manage it!” I was shaking with anger: “How can you be so shameless!” “I’m warning you…” I pointed at his nose, “If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police!” “Go ahead and call!” Ethan’s father said disdainfully, “Let’s see if you dare!” “You think I don’t dare?” I was so angry I took out my phone and dialed 110. To my surprise, Ethan’s father snatched my phone, smashed it on the ground, and stomped on it twice: “Go ahead and call! You believe I won’t smash your car too!” “Give me the keys!” He held out his hand. As he spoke, he reached out to grab my keys. I was completely stunned. How could this person’s face be so thick! He was actually trying to rob me! I struggled desperately, shouting: “Let go of me! Let go!” “Give me the keys!” Ethan’s father stared at me with bloodshot eyes. I was terrified, crying and dodging. Fortunately, the police arrived quickly and took Ethan’s father away. That day, Ethan never showed up. The only time he called, it was to criticize me for treating his father that way, saying I was making a big deal out of nothing. I angrily argued with him: “Your father came to my house, smashed my phone, and tried to steal my car keys. What’s wrong with me calling the police!” “You know if I had been a second later, he would have wrecked my house!” “That’s my dad!” Ethan’s voice came through the phone. “If you don’t respect my dad, you don’t respect me!” “Hah.” I was shaking with anger. “What kind of robber’s logic is that!” “Ethan, let me tell you…” I said through gritted teeth, “We’re done!” I thought that after breaking up with Ethan, this matter would be over. But Ethan’s father came looking for me again. He would call to curse at me from time to time, or wait outside my company to ambush me, saying I wasn’t good enough for his son, that I was shameless, and that I still wouldn’t listen to him and sell the car to give his son money… Even more terrifying, he actually brought up the “gene usage fee” again.

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