Author: Momo Chan

My girlfriend always gives me a gift after meeting with Adeline, whom she refers to as her “white moonlight,” to alleviate her guilt. Over the course of a year, I’ve received six watches, fifteen bottles of Hermès perfume, and more than thirty ties. On our anniversary, she promised not to give me a gift but to spend the day with me. Yet, that night, she broke her promise. In the gift box she left behind, I found a Maserati key. At the same time, Adeline posted an update on her social media. It was a photo of a one-month pregnancy test. At that moment, I knew it was time to end things. — Lydia never checks her phone when she’s out with Adeline. So it wasn’t until the early morning that she returned, her heels clicking, completely unaware of the breakup text I had sent her nearly three hours earlier. “Finn, what are you fussing about now?” she said as she walked in, not even bothering to ask why, just assuming I was causing trouble. I stayed silent, packing my things. She seemed to be in a good mood, not upset by my silence. Instead, she looked over curiously. “Are you decluttering?” When you don’t love someone anymore, even if I’m hanging myself, it just looks like I’m swinging. “Yeah,” I said with a scoff, nodding. “The relationship too, time to cut it off.” Lydia’s face darkened slightly, and she sighed, speaking in a tone as if soothing a child, “Alright, it’s just that I didn’t spend tonight with you. Don’t be mad.” “I had to go to a friend’s gathering today. I actually wanted to come back, but they wouldn’t let me.” I could smell the men’s cologne unique to Jasper Grey on her. Seeing her contented expression, I held back from exposing her lies. “I’m not mad.” Lydia clearly didn’t believe me. After a few seconds of silence, she tentatively asked, “Did you see the post Adeline made on social media?” My hand paused for a moment, but I didn’t say anything. Lydia realized she guessed right and covered her mouth, releasing a tinkling laugh. “Are you really upset about that?” “That was a photoshopped picture from a truth or dare game Adeline lost. They thought it was fun, and I didn’t want to spoil the mood, so I let them.” “Finn, you’re too naive. Can’t you tell the image is fake?” I watched her laugh with a smug expression, as if she knew it all along. That’s how it always was. She knew why I was upset, why I was jealous, yet she still did things to make me misunderstand. Sometimes, she’d even turn my anger and jealousy into jokes to tell her friends. In the past, I might have argued with her, but now I felt nothing. No emotion at all, just a sense of pointlessness. I looked at her seriously. “I’m not joking. I’m serious.” “Lydia, let’s break up.” Lydia’s smile froze, her expression somewhat helpless. “Why can’t you get over it? You’re breaking up over such a small thing?” “Fine, I’ll have Adeline delete the post. Happy now?” With that, she sent a message to Jasper Grey right in front of me. That surprised me. In previous arguments over Jasper Grey, Lydia would always tell me not to be so petty and never thought Jasper Grey was at fault. But just as I was thinking this, I caught a glimpse of her conversation with Jasper Grey. [Sorry, Lydia, I was just joking. Didn’t expect Finn to get so mad. I’ll delete it now.] Lydia replied with a cute emoji: [It’s not your fault. Finn just can’t take a joke.] I found it amusing again. She was just trying to smooth things over. She still thought Jasper Grey was innocent. “Alright, see, it’s gone now?” Lydia handed me her phone. I said nothing, glancing at my own phone where the post was still there. I knew Jasper Grey just hid it from her. This obvious taunting had happened too many times. In the past, I might’ve complained, told her about Jasper Grey’s scheming, but now, I had no desire to. Even if I did, Lydia wouldn’t believe me. I calmly nodded, “It’s late. I’m going to bed.” I turned and headed to the bedroom. “I’ll join you.” Unusually, Lydia wanted to come along. Before she could enter, I closed the bedroom door and locked it. Lydia didn’t push the door, but she grew impatient, banging on it loudly. “Finn, are you done yet?” “All this fuss over a social media post, am I spoiling you too much? Open the door! I’m telling you one last time…” Halfway through, her phone rang. Only then did she stop banging on the door, speaking softly to the caller. Her tone was completely different from before. I didn’t need to guess to know it was Jasper Grey on the other end. Sure enough, she seemed to be taunting me, raising her voice on purpose, “Stay right there, I’m coming to you. We’re not going home until we’re drunk.” I knew she was provoking me. Before, whenever we fought, she’d say I couldn’t accept her and that she was going to find Jasper Grey. Each time, I’d compromise and give in to her. But now, I was unmoved. Soon, the door slammed shut with a deafening sound. I knew Lydia was angry, but I didn’t feel the panic I once did. Instead, it all seemed childish. She dared to do it because she thought I wouldn’t actually break up with her. But she was wrong. Whether she agreed or not, we were over. After a while, I made a call to my mentor overseas. “Professor, I’ve made up my mind. I want to join the research institute. Do you still have a spot?” —

“Of course, I’ve been holding one for you. I’m glad you’ve finally decided. I’ve been waiting for your call these past few days,” my mentor said cheerfully. The year I graduated, he invited me to join an international project. I had heard of it and was interested, but I stayed because of Lydia. I remember how disappointed he was, talking to me privately several times to focus on my career, but I didn’t listen. Fortunately, the opportunity was still there. After a few more words with him, setting a time, I left the bedroom. I planned to find my passport but saw a delicate gift box on the table. I knew it was another gift from Lydia. I opened a drawer beside it, revealing neatly arranged ties, perfumes, and designer watches. All gifts Lydia bought out of guilt after seeing Jasper Grey. It started on my birthday when she went to pick up Jasper Grey from the airport and shopped for him but bought me the same gift. I was so happy that night, I didn’t even question why she missed my birthday. Later, she repeated this trick. Seeing my emotions stabilize, she seemed to understand something. After every meeting with Jasper Grey, she’d bring me a gift. She thought I liked the presents, but she didn’t know it comforted me that she still cared about me. So no matter how Jasper Grey provoked me, I convinced myself that no matter how much Lydia interacted with him, the past was the past, and I was still the most important to her. But today’s pregnancy test brought me back to reality. Whether Lydia loved someone or not didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was her endless cover-ups, making me realize this pregnancy test could become real one day. I didn’t open the latest gift from Lydia, placing it with the others. After some thought, I put a bank card inside. It’s what I owe Lydia. In college, with my family struggling, she’d find ways to give me money under the guise of needing tutoring. When I was hospitalized, and my family didn’t care, she didn’t hesitate to steal a large sum of money from home to pay my medical bills and got scolded for it. I learned about this from others. She saved my life, so I let her do as she pleased. She wanted me to stay, so I gave up the chance to go abroad. She said her health was poor and needed care, so I gave up a high-paying job to take care of her. Even so, I still felt indebted to her. In my spare time, I worked part-time jobs. In seven years, I saved exactly 200,080, the same amount as the surgery cost. Maybe fate thought we should settle things. After packing, Jasper Grey sent me a message. I opened it to see a selfie of him and Lydia showing peace signs, with Lydia smiling in his arms, looking very intimate. Then he sent an emoji. A green hat. The meaning was clear. I ignored it. Ten minutes later, Jasper Grey sent another message. “Sorry, wrong send, Finn. I didn’t mean anything by it, don’t overthink.” I knew he was provoking me on purpose. But since Lydia and I broke up, whose green hat it was wasn’t clear. I forwarded the last message back to Jasper Grey. Less than a minute later, Lydia called. I didn’t hesitate to decline it. I knew Jasper Grey was stirring things up again. It’s a green hat. The implication is clear. I ignored it, but ten minutes later, Jude sent another message. “Sorry, sent it to the wrong person. Callum, I didn’t mean anything by it, don’t overthink.” I knew he was deliberately trying to provoke me. Since Lydia and I had already broken up, it wasn’t clear who exactly was being unfaithful. I forwarded the last message back to Jude. Less than a minute later, Lydia called. I didn’t hesitate to hang up. I knew Jude was stirring up trouble again. It was always the same. He would provoke me, then act innocent, while Lydia would blame me and mock my sensitivity. It seemed like every time we argued, I was always the one at fault. After packing my things, I left with my suitcase. I went to a hotel to check in, but when I tried to pay, the receptionist told me my card was frozen. I was momentarily stunned and checked my phone, only to see a message from Lydia. “Regretting it? This is your punishment for not answering my call.” Lydia had set up the card for me. She had convinced me to quit my job to take care of her, and to compensate, she deposited two thousand bucks a month for my living expenses. It was my only source of income. I knew she was using this to force me to apologize to Jude. The receptionist handed back the card, suggesting I use another card or pay in cash. But all my money was on that card. I never thought things with Lydia would reach this point, so I hadn’t made any backup plans. Seeing my hesitation, the receptionist looked at me with disdain and impatiently asked if I still wanted the room. “Sorry, could I use this as collateral?” I took off the ring and handed it to the receptionist. It was custom-made for our second anniversary. I had designed it, and when she first got it, she wore it all the time. But after Jude returned from abroad, her ring disappeared. I had asked her about it, and she casually replied, “Maybe I lost it.” Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but laugh. The rings were a pair, and if hers was already lost, why should I cherish mine? The receptionist examined the ring for a moment, then handed me a room key, muttering, “A grown man doesn’t even have a few hundred bucks and needs to pawn things?” I felt embarrassed and apologized awkwardly, then took my luggage into the hotel. With my card frozen, even tomorrow’s meals were uncertain, let alone a plane ticket. After thinking for a few minutes, I called a few friends, hoping to borrow some money. But when I called, they either made excuses or were evasive. Then, I got another call from Lydia. After a moment of thought, I answered. “Callum, what’s your problem?” “I froze your bank card, and now you’re trying to scam money off others?” “Your friends just called me, asking if I’m going bankrupt?” As soon as the call connected, Lydia started berating me. I didn’t explain. When she finished, I calmly said, “Unfreeze the card. The money is mine, and you have no right to touch it.” “What did you say?” Lydia sounded incredulous. I knew what she was thinking. In the past, whenever she confronted me, I’d either defend myself or apologize to avoid conflict. This was the first time I spoke to her with such authority. “I’ve been taking care of you all these years. Even a nanny gets paid.” “We’ve broken up. Consider the money my wages. You have no right to touch it.” I stated clearly. “Break up?” Lydia sneered. “Callum, haven’t you had enough?” “You’ve tried breaking up with me twice. Do you think I won’t do it?” “I suggest you think it through. You have nothing now. What can you do after breaking up with me? Who would want you?” “You want to split hairs over money, so should I return everything I gave you?” “They’re already in the drawer in the living room. You can go check.” I felt a chill in my heart. After thinking it over, I softly said to her, “I’ve decided to leave. Before I go, we…” Before I could finish, I heard Jude’s laughter. “Callum is so amusing. I really thought he was breaking up just now. I got a bit nervous, but it turns out he’s just trying to get you home.” “Lydia, maybe you should go back. I don’t want you two to quarrel over me.” Lydia scoffed softly, seemingly responding to Jude, “Don’t worry about him.” Then she sighed and said to me, “Callum, I see through your tricks. Stop it, it’s boring.” “You’re just worried about something between Jude and me? I’ll be honest, he’s not feeling well lately, and I’m taking care of him. I’ll return when he’s better.” “Stop being jealous, will you?” “I was going to unfreeze the card, but your earlier words upset me, so I’ve decided to wait three days. Think of it as a lesson.” Without waiting for my response, Lydia hung up. Before the call disconnected, I heard her and Callum laughing. I didn’t care. I had to leave the day after tomorrow, and three days would be too late. Since I couldn’t get the money from Lydia, I had no more hope. After thinking it over, I decided to get a part-time job. That night, I worked as a waiter at a karaoke bar, earning five hundred bucks. By the time I returned to the hotel with the money, it was morning. I was exhausted, but holding the cash gave me a rare sense of peace. Feelings may change, but money will never betray you. It’s a pity I realized this so late, but at least it’s not too late. I slept until noon. When I woke up and checked my phone, there were only a few spam messages. Lydia was afraid of the dark. When I wasn’t home, she’d call and message me constantly, but now she hadn’t contacted me, likely not returning home all night. But I didn’t care anymore. That night, I went to work as usual. Even through the thick doors, the noise from the private room was loud. Lydia often visited places like this, but I didn’t like them. One night, Lydia sent me a distress message from a karaoke bar. I rushed over in my sleepwear without changing, only to find Jude and her friends laughing at me when I opened the door. It turned out they were playing truth or dare. I was sweaty, in pajamas, and wearing flip-flops, starkly different from Jude in his suit. Lydia’s friends ridiculed me, and Lydia coldly blamed me for embarrassing her. Since then, I’ve had a strong aversion to such places. However, knowing I was leaving, I felt surprisingly calm. But some things were still unexpected. At midnight, the manager asked me to deliver wine to a VIP room, repeatedly reminding me it was a big client. I agreed without much thought. As soon as I entered, I heard a burst of cheering. Instinctively, I turned my head and saw Lydia and Jude surrounded on the sofa. The two of them were facing each other closely, playing a game where they both ate an apple. Their lips nearly touched. The atmosphere was charged with tension. “Kiss, kiss.” Someone cheered, and Lydia’s face turned red. “Time’s up, you two were too slow. There’s a penalty.” “How should they be punished? Let’s have the wine guy decide.” Someone pointed at me with a smile. Everyone’s eyes turned to me, Lydia included. Her smile froze when she saw me. Jude also recognized me, a flicker of disdain crossing his eyes before he quickly recovered and smiled. “Hey, isn’t this Callum? Why are you in a waiter’s outfit?” Lydia’s friends also laughed mockingly. “Lydia, what’s going on? How could you let your boyfriend work here?” They exchanged knowing glances and offered to order drinks to help me earn commission. I knew they intended to humiliate me. They never approved of me, thinking I was beneath Lydia. Despite my efforts over the years to prove myself and help them with problems, nothing changed. In the past, I might have felt hurt and disappointed. But now, I was unexpectedly calm. Their attitudes were ultimately because of Lydia. Since Lydia no longer mattered to me, why should their opinions? I politely recommended drinks to them, suggesting several expensive options, and then asked, “These drinks are sold by the dozen. How many would you like?” They were stunned, not expecting me to be so bold. They were left speechless. In the past, I would have felt hurt and let down. But now, surprisingly, I feel at peace. Their attitude towards me ultimately stems from Lydia Bennett. Since Lydia is no longer significant to me, what does their opinion mean? I immediately and politely suggested some drinks to them, highlighting several high-priced options before smiling as I asked, “These are sold in sets of twelve bottles. How many would you like?” They stood there, caught off guard by my boldness, momentarily speechless. “If that’s too much, you might not finish it all. How about 24 bottles?” I suggested kindly. “That’ll be 160,000. Could one of you please proceed to the front desk to pay?” With that, I turned away, ignoring their embarrassed faces, and prepared to leave. Just as I reached the door, Lydia Bennett caught up to me, her expression dark as she sharply questioned me. “Callum, are you done causing a scene? Why did you follow me here?” I calmly replied, “I’m not following you. I’m here to earn a living.” Lydia clearly wasn’t convinced, her tone becoming sharper. “Does our family need you to make money? Even if I cut off your card, selling just one or two of those gifts would support you for a year.” Not bothering to explain further, I nodded. “You’re right.” I thought Lydia would be satisfied, but her expression only worsened. Before she could say more, Ethan Quinn interjected. “Lydia, since Callum is already here, don’t rush him off. Let’s have a few drinks together.” I assumed Lydia would, as usual, refuse to let me stay, and I was ready to decline. But to my surprise, Lydia said, “You stay here for now. We’ll go home later.” I was a bit taken aback—she was always quick to dismiss me when we were out. And now she wants me to stay with her? Before I could ponder further, Ethan suddenly clutched his head, saying, “Lydia, my stomach suddenly hurts.” “What happened? Is it acting up again? I’ll take you to the hospital.” Lydia hurried back to Ethan’s side, her eyes filled with concern. She never seemed this worried when I was sick with a high fever. Seeing her concerned gaze, I smiled with a sense of acceptance. “I’m leaving. You guys take care.” “Wait,” Lydia suddenly called out to me. I turned back, puzzled, only to see her with an odd look in her eyes as she fiddled with her phone. “The card is unfrozen. Take a cab home.” “Wait for me at home; I have something to tell you.” This was the first time she thought of me while with Ethan. In the past, I would have been thrilled. I responded half-heartedly and left. The commission from the drinks was enough for me to buy a plane ticket. After booking the earliest flight, I returned to the hotel, grabbed my suitcase, and took a cab to the airport. As I boarded the plane, I couldn’t help but look back at this familiar yet unfamiliar city. I knew this was truly goodbye to Lydia. ——VIP——

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295451”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #校园School

My fiancé of sixteen years, who was my childhood sweetheart, was getting married. At the wedding, my fiancé ran away hand in hand with his secretary, wearing the wedding attire I had personally designed and handcrafted. In my moment of heartbreak, my fiancé’s brother dragged me to the registry office and directly registered our marriage. When I returned to the wedding venue, all the decorations I had spent two months overseeing were torn down, with flowers scattered all over the ground. My childhood sweetheart fiancé was holding his secretary, having a wild party with all the guests. “Look, I won the bet! That dog came back!” “So gullible, Jack, your family’s dog is really fun to play with.” My fiancé’s brother beside me also excitedly went forward to share with everyone: “I just casually tricked her, and she got this fake marriage certificate with me.” I stared blankly at the stage, where two men were happily laughing around that female secretary! Under the guidance of my childhood sweetheart and their secretary, I became a clown for everyone’s amusement. I dialed that number on my phone: “Mr. Wilson, about the marriage you mentioned before, I agree.”

“No problem, I’ll prepare for the wedding right away.” The message was instantly replied to, a treatment I hadn’t received from Jack and Tom in a long time since that secretary appeared. A phone call came through. I opened my mouth, wanting to say there’s no need to go to so much trouble, just getting the certificate would be fine. After all, we weren’t that familiar. Before I could speak, I heard his next sentence. “Emily, I’m very happy.” I panicked and nervously hung up the phone. The next second, I was pushed from behind and nearly fell. Turning around, it was Tom, with the secretary Olivia standing next to him, intimately holding his arm. “Sister Emily, you know I’m against marriage, I was just curious about what getting married feels like. I didn’t expect Jack and Tom to… I’m sorry.” I remained silent, but my phone was suddenly knocked out of my hand by Tom. “Are you deaf? Is this how the Parker family taught you? Olivia is pure-hearted, how can you be so petty, not even responding?” My fiancé Jack quickly walked in front of me, shielding Olivia behind him. The three of them looked so harmonious, while I, the fiancée, seemed like the third party ruining someone else’s relationship. The guests below whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with contempt and mockery towards me. “Look at her, she really thought she was going to be the bride today? This is a party specially prepared by the two Parker young masters for Olivia!” “I heard after the older brother ran away from the wedding, she wanted to marry the younger brother. Young Master Tom really spoils her, even willing to accept such a woman…” The guests were all friends of the Parker family, but at this moment, their eyes were full of malice and ridicule. And my two childhood sweethearts were now completely focused on Olivia, having long forgotten about me. I looked around and found that the romantic scenes I had carefully arranged were now completely destroyed. All the flower arrangements I had specially prepared were thrown on the ground, shattered into petals and trampled under everyone’s feet. Fallen into mud. Even this farce was planned to please Olivia and make her happy. My fingers trembled uncontrollably. Olivia seemed to notice my abnormality, her eyes instantly reddened, and she lowered her head, saying softly: “Sister Emily, I’m sorry, I suggested they give you a surprise, I didn’t expect it to turn out like this…” “I really didn’t know this wedding dress was yours, I just thought it was so beautiful. It’s all my fault, don’t blame others.” Jack tightly held Olivia’s hand and glared at me: “Can’t you be less petty? You’re a wedding dress designer, what haven’t you seen?” Hearing this, Tom became even more furious. He grabbed my wrist and threw me in front of Olivia: “Emily Wilson! Olivia is still a child, how can you treat her like this? Why are you pretending to be pitiful? Apologize now!” Enduring the pain, I steadied myself and slowly raised my hand to take off the ring I had designed myself. Jack’s face instantly turned extremely ugly. He instinctively covered his own hand—where he originally wore the handmade wedding ring I had crafted for him, now replaced with a matching ring with Olivia. I calmly spoke: “You’re right, today should be enjoyed properly.” They looked at me in surprise, seemingly unable to believe I would compromise so easily. After all, in the past, I would always argue with them endlessly about Olivia’s matters. But this time, I wouldn’t make a fuss anymore. I decisively threw the ring into the air. “Let’s break up.” Jack’s face instantly darkened. I smiled slightly: “The engagement is canceled, you’re single, aren’t you?” Tom finally couldn’t hold back, his brows tightly knitted: “Are you crazy? It’s one thing not to accept Olivia’s surprise, but for a major life event like marriage, you actually want to marry someone outside of our Parker family? Who else would want you besides our family?” My heart ached again, but I maintained a smile on my face. I smiled slightly, tore the fake marriage certificate to pieces, then threw it at Tom: “Don’t you want to satisfy Olivia? Then you should experience it properly.” Tom’s eyes widened, and he grabbed my wrist tightly: “How dare you—?!” The pain came through clearly, but I was already numb. I calmly responded: “What don’t I dare to do?” Tom’s face turned ashen with anger, and he threw the pieces back at me: “Enough! Emily Wilson!” Jack frowned and walked in front of me, his voice tinged with impatience: “Our wedding is about to start. If you dare to embarrass yourself in front of so many people again, I’ll cancel the wedding!”

Hearing this, I laughed. In the past, I might have begged pitifully for their forgiveness. My parents’ sacrifice left me without the protection of close family, and my grandfather developed a dislike for me, refusing to take on the responsibility of raising me. After that, I was adopted by the Parker family. From a young age, I tasted the flavor of living under someone else’s roof, feeling insecure and lacking self-esteem. When facing my childhood sweethearts, I always habitually lowered my head first, regardless of who was right or wrong. They were extremely sympathetic towards me, vowing not to let me suffer even the slightest grievance. As time passed, Jack, who had a gentler personality, and I developed feelings for each other and confirmed our mutual affection. When Tom found out at the time, he was furious but gradually accepted it. However, life is unpredictable. After Mrs. Parker divorced Mr. Parker, I also became a redundant existence, forgotten in a corner. The wedding I had been looking forward to with all my heart ultimately became a laughable joke, and I became a laughingstock along with it. The guests below whispered among themselves, with bursts of mocking laughter. “Dump this gold-digger, let her know what she really is!” My two childhood sweethearts held their heads high, waiting for my submission, with no warmth in their eyes. I laughed sarcastically: “Then I wish the three of you a long and happy life together, with children soon.” There was a sudden silence below. Tom, furious, reached out and grabbed my arm. The force was so strong it felt like he wanted to crush my bones. “Emily Wilson, what do you mean? Why are you still slandering Olivia? I didn’t realize you were so vicious!” But they all knew, didn’t they? This was originally the wedding I had poured my heart and soul into creating. Why did they have to speak ill of me for someone else’s sake? Why did things change? Why did they abandon me again? I was in extreme pain from being choked, looking at him with reddened eyes, but he suddenly froze. I took the opportunity to break free from his restraint and strode towards the exit. Tom instinctively wanted to stop me, but was halted by Jack’s calm voice. “Let her go! She’s just an orphan with no one to rely on, what can she amount to without the Parker family!” Tom’s footsteps faltered, and he cursed at me loudly. “I think raising you was worse than raising a dog for the Parker family!” I silently shed a tear, listening to his curses fade away, finally disappearing into the clamor of the banquet hall. Opening my phone, I saw a new message. “I’m waiting for you at the entrance of the banquet hall. Call me if you can’t find the car.” I walked towards the car by the roadside, where Ryan Wilson was sitting. Before he could exchange pleasantries, I spoke up. “Let’s go get our marriage certificate.” He opened his eyes wide in surprise: “Now?” I nodded. The moment I got the marriage certificate, I felt a bit dazed. Who would have thought that I’d marry a man I barely knew? Ryan Wilson was someone I met by chance during a business trip to discuss a project, and later found out he was also from North City. Since we’re already married, let me use the remaining week to make a clean break with the past. I returned home and started packing, calculating the money the Parker family had spent on raising me over the years. But the debt I calculated was something I couldn’t bear alone. With a nervous heart, I called Ryan Wilson, who transferred the money to me without hesitation. I felt really bad about it and wanted to express my gratitude. “Then design two of the most unique and luxurious wedding outfits in the world for us! I just bought a few sapphires, they’re all for you to use. Wait for you to come home.” Home… Do I have a home now? Ryan’s laughter was hearty and joyful, and a strange feeling of being moved welled up in my heart. From the moment we first met, he had been full of praise for my abilities. After our marriage of convenience, he went to great lengths to provide me with resources, allowing me to access more excellent resources and high-level clients. I could feel that he wanted to give me all the best resources, to see me grow to the highest level. The Parker family, on the other hand, had given all the best resources to Olivia, leaving me with only scraps. They even put Olivia’s name on my designs. Thinking of this, my smile gradually faded. Jack was right, I indeed couldn’t leave them in the past. But now, everything is different. It turns out that true love is not about constraining a person, but giving them freedom and support. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized the sapphires Ryan casually mentioned buying were actually top-tier gems from auctions. Each one was priceless. I couldn’t help but gasp.

It wasn’t until two nights later that I heard faint noises outside the door in my drowsy state. “I told you she couldn’t leave us. After speaking so decisively, she still obediently came back, didn’t she?” I struggled to get up, only to find Jack had snatched away the draft under my hand. “Our wedding is about to be held, what’s the use of doing this now?” Of course, it’s not for him and me. I silently snatched back the draft. He frowned slightly and changed his tone. “Olivia did it for you too. To apologize, she redesigned a new wedding dress for you. You should thank her. We’re getting married officially next week anyway, so don’t be angry, okay?” It’s always like this. Whether it’s our anniversary for the three of us, or my birthday. They always bring Olivia along, turning my main event into something unrecognizable, making her the most dazzling female lead on the scene. Just like now, they abandoned me alone for two days for Olivia’s sake, without even asking about me once. I was too tired to even lift my head as I perfunctorily responded. Only then did Jack breathe a sigh of relief, and Tom, who had been hiding outside the door, reluctantly walked in. “Emily, we were wrong earlier today. The Parker family will always welcome you.” I nodded faintly, and only then did Jack take out the gift box, breathing a sigh of relief. The lid of the gift box slowly opened, revealing a worn wedding dress with mud stains on it. They held the gift box as if it were a hot potato, instantly becoming flustered. I laughed, my gaze full of sarcasm.

Tom lowered his head and casually said: “Maybe someone put it in the wrong place, the boxes look similar, I made a mistake.” Jack chimed in from the side: “Some clients are just careless, you know…” The “client” they referred to was undoubtedly Olivia. Ever since she appeared, the passenger seat became her exclusive spot, while all traces of me were completely erased. However, my mindset had changed now, and I was unmoved by their explanations. Tom and Jack looked slightly uneasy: “Emily, have you calmed down?” I was about to speak when they quickly added: “If you have any issues, take them out on us, don’t make things difficult for Olivia.” “It’s nothing. In the future, I won’t make things difficult for you anymore.” The two of them exchanged glances, surprised by my unusual compliance. At this moment, my phone rang, and they made an excuse to leave. “Aren’t you going to give me the gift?” I asked softly. They looked embarrassed, dropped the gift box, and hurriedly left: “Open it yourself, there’s medicine in the first aid kit!” As the front door closed, the clock struck midnight. I knew that another birthday had passed, spent alone. “You forgot, today is my birthday,” I murmured to myself. I booked a flight for the day after tomorrow and went to the cemetery alone. My parents’ death anniversary is also my birthday. Every time I remember this, it feels like a knife twisting in my heart. On that birthday, I insisted on going mountain climbing, but we encountered a mudslide. It was my dad and mom who pushed me out with their lives. Ryan had always comforted me: “They sacrificed themselves to save you because they loved you more than themselves. What you should do most is to let them see that you are very happy.” This was the first time I had heard such words. In the past, everyone had been accusing me. Outside the cemetery, I encountered Tom and Jack, who were actually digging at my parents’ grave! I was shocked and rushed forward: “What are you doing!” They looked guilty for a moment, then became righteously indignant: “Olivia’s little rabbit died, the feng shui is good here, we want to change the location.” “This is my parents’ grave!” I shouted angrily. Olivia appeared, “You crazy woman! I won’t let you hurt them!” She tried to push me, but I blocked her with my hand. She fell to the ground. I tightly hugged the urn containing my parents’ ashes, tears falling. They had received so much care from my parents in the past, and now, for the sake of a pet, they wanted to dig up my parents’ grave! Seeing my tear-stained face, Tom looked a bit dazed. Jack was the first to crouch down, trying to comfort me: “The dead can’t come back to life, Emily…” I raised my hand, about to slap him. However, Olivia suddenly lunged forward, blocking the blow, then fell to the ground. “It’s okay, Jack, as long as you’re alright. I just hope Sister Emily can forgive me…” She knelt in front of me with a sob, apologizing. But I knew I had clearly held back, just lightly brushing her cheek! The next second, their sympathy for me turned into anger. Tom pressed my head, forcing me down towards the muddy ground. Jack also pressed down on my leg, forcing me to kneel in front of the overturned urn. “You caused your parents’ death, and now you want to kill Olivia too? You’re so vicious, your parents must have died because of your bad luck!” I struggled hard but to no avail. These words were like sharp blades, deeply wounding my heart. Behind them, Olivia gave me a smug smile. Then, she picked up the urn and smashed it hard on the ground! Jack froze for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said: “I’ll have someone clean up your parents’ ashes! The most important thing now is to fix your temper!” I screamed, trying to break free from their restraint, but was firmly held by their bodyguards. In my moment of despair, Ryan’s figure suddenly appeared at the other exit. Hope flashed in my eyes as I called out loudly for help.

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A week before the wedding, my fiancé Kendrick told me he would first marry his first love, Leonore Griffin before he could marry me. He said Leonore’s mother had passed away and left a will asking them to marry. “Leonore’s mother always hoped she would marry a good man. I’m just fulfilling her last wish. Don’t overthink it.” But the company had already decided to launch the TrueLove Collection jewelry project on the day of our supposed wedding. He impatiently said, “That’s only about a few billion dollars. Can it compare to the promise I made to Leonore’s mother? If you really want that few billions of dollars, go find someone else to marry.” Faced with his cold words, I didn’t hesitate anymore. I immediately dialed my brother. “Terrence, I need a new groom.” My brother, Terrence Benson, couldn’t believe his ears. “You’re calling off the wedding?” “No, Kendrick is marrying someone else.” I forced a bitter smile. To be with Kendrick, I had worked so hard, facing countless challenges from my family just to get their approval for our relationship. Moreover, I decided to launch the TrueLove Collection jewelry line on our wedding day. But now, it was all in vain. Terrence was silent for a long time before saying, “Well, that only leaves Phelps. His family’s been pushing him hard, and he’s been looking for a marriage partner.” I furrowed my brows. Phelps Cullen was my arch-nemesis. When I got engaged, he’d cursed that I wouldn’t get married, and now his words seemed to be coming true. Time was tight. I could only agree. “Then it’s him. Ask him what he thinks. If it doesn’t work, I’ll figure something out.” Terrence quickly blurted, “No need to ask. He’ll definitely agree.” “Why?” Before I could ask further, a group of people surrounded me. “You must be Kendrick’s fiancée! You’re so beautiful!” “You’re here waiting for Kendrick to finish work? He’ll be down soon. You two are so in love.” I gripped the steering wheel, lowering my gaze to hide the self-mockery in my eyes. Kendrick had introduced me to his colleagues and friends long ago. To everyone, we were the perfect couple. But no one would expect that he was about to marry someone else. After bidding them goodbye, Kendrick got into the car and handed me a necklace. “This is from Leonore. Yesterday at the funeral, you made her uncomfortable, so you should apologize when you have a chance.” The necklace was clearly a freebie that came with a genuine purchase. I had seen the purchase record of the real one in Kendrick’s shopping record a few days ago. I quietly said, “I don’t want it.” Kendrick frowned. “What’s your problem now? You were the one who stormed into the funeral and said I wasn’t her fiancé, embarrassing her. She didn’t even argue with you and still thought of giving you a gift. Are you really going to act like this?” I realized then that the man who once protected me no longer existed. Now, he cherished someone else. Kendrick rolled down the window in frustration, letting the wind blow. After a while, seeing that I wasn’t trying to appease him, he said, “Forget it. I’ll accompany you to try on wedding dresses today, and I won’t hold it against you.” This was the first time he’d backed down this year. At the bridal shop, the staff greeted us. “Mr. Collins, Ms. Benson, the twenty custom wedding dresses and suits you ordered are ready.” But Kendrick wasn’t focused on the clothes. He was staring at his phone, looking rather anxious. Noticing my gaze, he quickly put the phone away and looked at me apologetically. “Alisha, something’s come up with Leonore. I need to leave right away. You go try on the dress. Just pick a suit for me. I trust your taste.” With that, he rushed out and left me alone. The staff hurried over and tentatively asked, “Ms. Benson, would you like to choose the suit yourself?” I looked away and nodded. I would choose a suit, but it would not be for Kendrick. After all, my groom had changed. After picking up my wedding dress, I headed home, thinking Kendrick would be gone all night. But to my surprise, he returned before dinner. He walked up to me, holding a takeout box. “I made a special trip to get you Sugarland Sweetery’s snack.” I glanced at the box of doughnuts. There were three less than usual, and one of them had a bite mark on it, clearly taken by someone. Half an hour ago, I had seen Leonore’s post on Twitter. The picture in her post was of the doughnut I held in my hand. The caption read: [My husband buys me a late-night snack. He’s such a trooper. I love him!] I set down my fork with a bitter smile, suddenly losing my appetite. “I don’t want it. Throw it away.” Kendrick shot me a displeased look but held back from reacting. He sat down beside me and started complaining. “You don’t know how pitiful Leonore is today. My parents went to her house and yelled at her, saying her family had no money and couldn’t even throw a decent wedding. She was so upset she cried. “Leonore just returned to the country and doesn’t have much money. I want to give the money you gave me over to her.” His shameless words made me feel sick. I looked at him sarcastically. “So now I’m supposed to organize your wife’s wedding?”

In the past, I cared about Kendrick so much that I would have done anything for him. But now, his actions had opened my eyes. Looking back, it seemed that everything Kendrick had done since Leonore returned was for her. He had forgotten that I was the one who was supposed to spend a lifetime with him. My response angered Kendrick. “What do you mean by that? Do you want to refuse me? You better think carefully. Leonore is my best friend, and you better make her happy. If not, I won’t marry you!” With that, he slammed the door and left. I was frustrated and went downstairs for a run in the park. I had just finished one lap when I received a call from Phelps. Thinking of Phelps, who always had a stern expression, I hesitated for a moment but still answered. “Once you agree to this marriage, you belong to me. If you try to run, I’ll tie you up and bring you back!” Phelps’ first words were anything but pleasant. I stayed silent, and he continued, “Send me your ID card first and let’s get the certificate. “I’m afraid you’ll back out.” I suddenly felt something was off. A thousand scenarios of how he might use our marriage to torment me flashed through my mind. But at this point, I had no other choice. I sighed and said, “See you at the wedding, Mr. Cullen.” As soon as I finished speaking, Kendrick appeared behind me. “You’re inviting Phelps to our wedding? I won’t allow it!” He stared at me, his eyes intense. “Alisha, haven’t I told you not to associate with Phelps? He has ulterior motives. If you insist on inviting him to our wedding, I’ll fall out with you!” Before I could say anything, he had already made his threat. Kendrick had never liked Phelps. I didn’t know why he had such an inexplicable hostility toward him. When Kendrick and I first got together, he was jealous even when I and Phelps argued over messages. Over time, I stopped keeping in touch with Phelps. Hearing him say Phelps had ulterior motives made me feel puzzled. Just as I was about to ask him more, Leonore suddenly leaned against Kendrick’s shoulder. “Kendrick, you’re hurting me…” It was then I realized they were walking hand in hand. Kendrick cleared his throat awkwardly but didn’t pull his hand away. Leonore looked at Kendrick with affection and, feigning helplessness, apologized to me. “Alisha, I’m sorry. Kendrick and I are just familiarizing ourselves with the wedding process. Please don’t mind. “You know I won’t say anything about the people you hired to hurt me or ruin my mother’s grave, but please, don’t hurt Kendrick. True love cannot withstand testing.” I didn’t want to watch her perform her act and turned to leave. “Since you’re so eager, I’ll go find someone to beat you up tonight and dig up your mother’s grave!” Kendrick slapped me hard across the face. “Alisha, how can you be so vicious?!” His face was dark, his chest heaving. I froze. I hadn’t expected him to believe what others said so easily. At that moment, I realized that the five years of our relationship seemed to have earned me no trust at all from him. Fury rose in me, and I wanted to confront Kendrick, but Leonore stepped in front of him. “Alisha, please. After the wedding, I’ll give Kendrick back to you. “Please, don’t hurt anyone around me, and don’t hurt Kendrick.” She was on the verge of tears as she said that. Kendrick quickly comforted her and shot me an angry glare. “Alisha, I know you come from a rich family. But don’t think you can bully others just because you have a great background! “You know I hate people who use power to oppress others. If you still want to marry me, stop causing trouble!” After that, he warned me not to show up in front of them before the wedding. The next day, Kendrick contacted me again. He started scolding me as soon as the line was connected. “Alisha, you really dug up Mrs. Griffin’s grave? I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person!” I was filled with confusion and had my assistant investigate, only to discover something shocking. I found out that Leonore’s mother was never dead.

I thought to myself, “No wonder Leonore went so far as to dig up her own mother’s grave to frame me. It turns out her mother’s death was just a scam.” I sent Kendrick a text: [Leonore’s mother isn’t dead. The truth is in the email I sent you.] As for whether he would read it, that was no longer my concern. Phelps booked a flight for me to leave in three days. When Kendrick returned, he found me packing up. I had thrown away half of my clothes and sent a small portion to Nexura City. “Why are you packing already?” Kendrick asked, his expression hesitant. I casually replied, “I’m moving.” He fell silent for a moment, seemingly not picking up on the oddity, and continued, “Your family’s company is in Nexura City, and we’re supposed to settle there after marriage. Well, it makes sense to start packing early.” After that, he looked at me with a stern gaze. “You need to apologize to Leonore as soon as possible. Don’t make things difficult for me. Just apologize on the wedding day. What do you think?” With that, he put down his phone and began searching for his ID card. Today was the day he and Leonore were getting their marriage license. He didn’t return until late in the evening. I opened my phone and found a message from Leonore. In the picture, Kendrick and she were dressed in a couple of outfits, lying in bed together. I closed my eyes, but the sharp pain in my heart couldn’t be suppressed. I forced myself to push the emotion down and turned off my phone. Late that night, my phone beside the pillow vibrated every hour. Leonore kept sending me videos of her and Kendrick taunting me. The next morning, I received a message from Phelps. [Ms. Benson, the flowers have bloomed. It’s time for you to come back to me.] Attached was a picture of our marriage license. Behind them was a vibrant red rose. I never thought the flower I had casually given him years ago was still being cared for. A strange feeling stirred inside me. I replied with one word: [Okay.] I put down my phone and started organizing the work files on my computer. Just then, Kendrick returned. He was packing his things and said, “I’m going to stay with Leonore for a few days. She’s been busy with wedding preparations. The wedding is the day after tomorrow, so make sure you’re there on time.” Then, he explained a whole lot, saying he was just going to help out and asking me not to cause any more trouble. “Yeah, I won’t go,” I lowered my eyes and said quietly. After last night, any remaining feelings for him had completely faded. My calmness seemed to worry Kendrick a bit. He hesitated for a moment. But then, thinking of Leonore’s sweet face, his grip on his phone loosened. He thought, “Alisha loves me so much. She won’t leave me no matter what.” With that, he sighed in relief, stopped paying attention to me, and left. I watched his retreating figure and made a phone call. That night, a helicopter landed in the plaza. A man walked up and said, “Ms. Benson, your helicopter has arrived. It will take you to Nexura City in half an hour.” I nodded and handed him an envelope. “Tomorrow, take this envelope to the wedding venue. It’s my wedding gift for the bride and groom.”

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After the breakup, I immediately quit my job. Just as I was preparing to leave the country to start a new chapter, my ex-girlfriend Miranda Barrett, who also happened to be my former boss, suddenly appeared at the airport, trying to win me back. She told me that she had fired her assistant, Flint Ricardo, and from now on, she was offering me the position of her second-in-command at the company. However, just as I was about to abandon my plans to go abroad and return with her, she yanked her hand out of mine and, with a coquettish tone, called Flint. “Flint, you won the bet. This idiot really thought I was trying to keep him.” With a mocking laugh, she turned to me and added coldly, “It was just a joke, didn’t you get it? If you’re leaving, just go. No one’s stopping you this time.” The colleagues around us sneered, mocking me for being a lovesick fool, obediently turning around just because she waved her hand. But they didn’t know that the only reason I’d given up on going abroad was because my new company had just completed an acquisition, and I was about to become the new CEO there.

When Miranda smugly told me that her attempt to keep me was just a joke, I wasn’t angry. I simply took out my phone, ready to order a ride back to my place. The colleagues around us looked at me with mocking eyes, one of them sneering, “Anthony, Ms. Barrett already said she doesn’t want you to stay. What are you still waiting for? Go ahead and book your flight!” “You said you had an overseas offer, didn’t you? What now? Did they change their mind and reject you?” Miranda stood there, indulging their sarcastic remarks, not even trying to stop them. This kind of humiliating workplace bullying had been a constant presence in my life for years. In the past, I would have rebutted them, feeling wronged. After all, my girlfriend was the CEO, and yet she never stood up for me. But now, I felt nothing. To me, they were nothing but a bunch of clowns. “Don’t you think my affairs are none of your business?” I said, my tone flat. Miranda snorted dismissively and looked me up and down, her eyes full of disdain. “Still being stubborn? “With your abilities, if I hadn’t supported you all these years, you probably wouldn’t even have a job. “Want to go abroad? What a joke.” I was a graduate of a prestigious school. I’d given up a high-paying job that many would dream of and built the company from the ground up with Miranda. But in Miranda’s eyes, I was worthless, and it was only thanks to her help that I had come this far. I felt it was ridiculous. There was a time when I loved Miranda to the point of obsession. Even when I was stuck in a managerial position after working for decades, I never complained. But when she began giving my projects to her new assistant, Flint, and even dumped his messes on me to make me take the fall, cutting my pay and suspending me while promoting Flint, I finally realized that I had to end the love I was keeping alive single-handedly. So, I resigned on the spot, broke up with her, and decided to pursue my career abroad. I never expected that after all this, she would come to me with this “joke” when I was about to board the plane. At that moment, I wasn’t even sad, just perplexed. I couldn’t help but wonder, “How stupid have I been to fall for such a woman?” I shook my head, too tired to argue with her. “You’re right, I’ll leave now,” I said. I tried to walk away, but Miranda suddenly grabbed my arm and stared at me, a look of disgust on her face. “You’re quite a drama king! You’ve been caught in your own lie, and you’re still pretending? “I’ll give you a way out, just for the sake of our past. “I can accept you, and I’ll make you Flint’s assistant.” Seeing her so “generously” extend this offer, I finally understood Miranda’s true motive behind this “joke”. On the surface, it was about a bet with Flint, seeing if I would take the bait and step down. But in reality, she just wanted me to stay in the company and keep serving her and Flint like a lackey. I had to admit that Miranda was quite thorough in planning Flint’s career. She was setting him up for promotions and raises, even planning to send talented people to assist him. I helped her realize her dream of becoming a boss. And yet, she took everything from me without hesitation, solely to pave the way for Flint. I sneered, “Flint isn’t qualified for me to help him.” Miranda’s expression immediately darkened. “Anthony, it looks like I’ve spoiled you too much over the years for you to think so highly of yourself…” Before she could finish, a figure appeared in the distance. “Miranda!” Miranda’s expression immediately softened, and she walked to meet the person. “Flint!” Flint was the only person in the company who didn’t call Miranda “Ms. Barrett” but instead addressed her by her first name. Even though I was officially Miranda’s boyfriend, I didn’t have that privilege. Flint glanced at me, then smiled at Miranda. “See? I knew Anthony’s excuse for going abroad was just a cover. He won’t leave.” Miranda shot me a disdainful glance and said, “Some people think too highly of themselves as if the company couldn’t function without them! “He’s nothing like you, Flint. You’re both capable and humble. Anthony, since you didn’t seize the opportunity, forget it. “Let’s go.” Flint, however, grabbed Miranda’s hand, looking pitiful. “Miranda, we can’t leave yet. Since Anthony resigned, my watch has gone missing. “It was a family heirloom from my grandmother.” Then, he looked at me with pleading eyes. “Anthony, please just return it to me.” Before I could understand what was happening, Miranda glared at me angrily. “Anthony, you stole from him?!” I was about to deny it when Miranda cut me off coldly. “Don’t try to deny it. Do you think Flint would falsely accuse you? “You don’t even have a job now. Who knows if you will steal something to make money?” She then ordered a couple of others, “Open his suitcase and check it!” I stared at Miranda in disbelief. We had spent ten years together. I thought she knew me better than anyone. But just because of an unfounded accusation from Flint, she was about to open my luggage in public. Earlier, I had let her make cruel jokes without arguing with him. But now, this nearly bullying behavior was the last straw, igniting a blaze of fury within me. I felt no more disappointment or heartbreak. I felt just anger and disgust. “Stop!” I shouted, my voice trembling with fury. Flint feigned surprise. “Why are you so upset, Anthony? Could it be that you really took it?” Miranda gave me an even more disgusted look and gestured to two others to restrain me, her voice cold. “Don’t mind him. Keep searching.” As my suitcase was overturned and my personal items scattered across the floor, I reached my breaking point and shouted for airport security. Only then did they stop. “We didn’t find anything.” Flint said with a disappointed sigh, “Forget it. Let’s not make things harder on Anthony. He’s had a tough time, too.” But Miranda shot me one last hateful look. “I bet he sold it after stealing it.” Then, turning back to Flint, she softened her tone. “It’s okay, Flint. I’ll go with you to buy a new one.” As they walked away, Miranda gave me one final, icy glare. “Anthony, when you’re out on the streets someday, don’t come crawling to me.” With that, she then walked off with the group, and Flint shot one last provocative glance at me. I didn’t say a word. I just chuckled coldly to myself. What they didn’t know was that the company’s project had collapsed and was about to be acquired. And my decision to stay wasn’t because of her. It was because my new company had just appointed me as their new CEO.

My new company was headquartered overseas. It was a well-known multinational corporation. When I was about to graduate, I received an invitation from them, thanks to my outstanding grades. But Miranda persuaded me to stay and help her build her business, so I turned down the offer. After I broke up with Miranda and quit my job, the company called me right away, inviting me to join them. However, just before I was about to board the plane, I got a call. Their subsidiary had decided to acquire the company here and integrate resources. Miranda’s company was also on their acquisition list. They offered me the position of the new CEO. After dropping off my luggage at home, I arranged to meet Wilfred Frazier, the domestic head of my new company. I arrived early at the restaurant to wait for him, but to my surprise, I saw Miranda and Flint there, chatting and laughing. When Miranda saw me, she froze for a moment. She walked over with an impatient look on her face and said, “Anthony, why are you following me like a shadow? “You were so tough earlier. What, have you changed your mind?” Before I could respond, Flint, standing nearby, smiled and said, “Miranda, there were so many people earlier. Anthony must have refused because he didn’t want to lose face. “How about this? Anthony, if you apologize to Miranda properly, I’m sure she’d still be willing to give you a chance. “Right, Miranda?” Miranda looked me up and down with disdain, then pretended to hesitate. “Well, since Flint spoke up for you, I suppose it’s not impossible. If you drink this bottle of wine, I might consider letting you be an assistant.” She pointed to a bottle of wine on the table. I felt it was ridiculous. Miranda knew very well that I had stomach issues and couldn’t drink, yet she still set this condition. She was clearly trying to put me in my place, waiting for me to grovel. But she clearly hadn’t realized the situation yet. “You’re overthinking it. I’m waiting for someone,” I said. “Waiting for someone? Ha, you just couldn’t admit your loss, right?” Miranda scoffed. “I’ve known you for so many years. Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on in your head. “You just think being Flint’s assistant is beneath you, right? “But in your situation, you’d better just abandon your pride.” As she was speaking, Wilfred, the person I had arranged to meet, walked in. He extended his hand to shake mine. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Schultz.” I simply ignored Miranda and smiled as I shook Wilfred’s hand. “Wilfred, let’s go inside and talk. It’s too noisy out here.” “Of course, let’s go.” Miranda stood there, staring at me in disbelief. As I was about to walk into the private room with Wilfred, I overheard Flint say to Miranda in a voice loud enough for me to hear, “Looks like Anthony has a headhunter lined up to help him find a job.” The next moment, Miranda suddenly walked over and blocked my path. She sneered, “Anthony, you really think you’ve got what it takes now, don’t you? You’d rather find a job yourself than beg me for one? “But I want to remind you. Based on your past performance at work, I have already informed everyone in our industry within Nexalis State. No one is willing to hire you. “Are you regretting it now?” She gave me a half-smile, waiting for me to go back to my old job. However, I would make her down. After all, Miranda wasn’t even close to being capable enough to pose a threat to me. What she didn’t realize was that, after I resigned and Frank took charge of all the major projects, the company had been facing substantial risks, to the point of being on the brink of bankruptcy. I responded coolly, “Miranda, being confident is a good thing. I just hope you’ll still feel this confident when your company is acquired during the bankruptcy process.” “Anthony, you…” Miranda was so furious that she almost shouted at me, but she held it back and turned to look at Wilfred. She pulled out a business card and handed it to Wilfred with an air of arrogance. “I’m Miranda Barrett, the CEO of the Barrett Group. Anthony was one of my employees, but his conduct was subpar, and he’s just been fired. “I suggest your company think carefully before hiring him.” After saying that, she shot me a glance, then linked arms with Flint and walked off, her attitude as haughty as ever. Wilfred frowned, holding the business card and looking at me. “This…” “Just a clown,” I said with a slight smile. Wilfred casually tossed the card into the trash. Once we were seated in the private room, we discussed the acquisition of Miranda’s company. We decide to take advantage of the fallout from the Barrett Group’s failing projects and buy them out at a low price. Wilfred then pulled out a list of employees from the original company and asked me to help optimize it. I knew everyone on the list, how each person performed, and their behavior inside the company. I agreed to provide a solution as soon as possible. After the meeting, I went home. But as soon as I entered, I found Miranda sitting on my couch. She was sitting with her legs crossed, staring at me coldly. I frowned and asked, “What are you doing here?”

I glanced at the door and suddenly remembered that after the breakup, I had forgotten to delete her fingerprint access. Miranda didn’t answer immediately. She coldly asked, “Who told you about my company’s bankruptcy and acquisition?” I was busy taking off my coat and didn’t bother to respond. Miranda’s face darkened even further. “As you wished, the company did indeed go bankrupt.” I raised an eyebrow, surprised by how quickly Wilfred had acted. We had just discussed this over lunch, and by the afternoon, it was already done. Miranda continued, “Anthony, I don’t know how you found out about this so early, but don’t get too excited. “The company that acquired us is a big corporation. They will help me sort out the issues with the previous projects. “I’m still the head of the company.” I made myself a cup of coffee, not surprised by this news. I knew it well. This was because my optimization list hadn’t been finalized yet, so they had temporarily kept the original team in place. “So what?” I asked calmly. Miranda stared at me intently. “I want you to hand over your previous client resources to Flint, and I’ll arrange a manager position for you at the new company. “You should know, with the backing of the parent company, the Barrett Group will only get stronger from here. “I’m offering you your old manager role. This is a pretty generous offer.” I suddenly smiled. She was acting so self-assured as if she were offering me a huge favor. But I knew full well that after the acquisition, Wilfred would release the development documents, and one of the terms stated that after I took the new role, positions would be assigned based on merit. Miranda’s request was nothing more than to use my client resources to help Flint prove his capabilities, solidifying his position as vice president. I could tell that she was deeply in love with Flint. But sadly, she had bet on the wrong person. “Miranda, you’re quite naïve,” I said. At my words, Miranda’s face darkened instantly. She stood up abruptly and walked toward me, her eyes narrowing as she sized me up. “Anthony, I know you’re jealous of Flint,” she said, her voice colder than before. “You feel wronged, thinking I’ve changed while I’m treating him so much better than you. “But you need to understand, our roles have changed. I’m the boss now. I’m the capitalist. “And you? You’re just an employee. A man like you was never a match for me. “But Flint… Flint brings me excitement and the joy of being a woman. You can never compare to him.” Miranda looked deeply into my eyes, her voice soft and almost too kind. “I’ll give you one night. Think it over.” With that, she turned and walked away. I shook my head in helplessness. I quickly deleted her fingerprint from the system and opened my laptop, sending out the layoff list for the next day. The next morning, I officially started my new job at the company. When I walked into the office, my colleagues were gossiping about the company’s acquisition. Miranda was, as usual, trying to paint a rosy picture for everyone. She assured them that she was still part of the management and that if everyone worked hard, things would remain the same as before. When she saw me, her eyes briefly lit up. She walked up to me with a smug tone, as if she had expected me to come. “Have you thought it over? Are you willing to hand over the client list to Flint?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. Miranda’s expression darkened, and just as she was about to speak, Flint interjected with a smile, “Anthony, why are you doing this to yourself? “If you weren’t planning on handing over the client information, then what are you even here for? “You’re not going to tell me you came to work, are you?” His words made the others burst into laughter. I raised an eyebrow and nodded. “I did come to work.” At that, the colleagues watching couldn’t hold back their laughter. “Work? He’s probably here looking for a job, thinking that just because the company was acquired, he can sneak in.” “Isn’t that a pipe dream?” “Anthony, weren’t you supposed to go abroad? Why are you back here applying for a job?” Before I could respond, Miranda’s face grew even darker, and she snapped at me, “Anthony, are you done yet? “I’ve already given you a chance by asking you to hand over the client information. Are you really this stubborn? “Didn’t you hear me yesterday? Are you happy being unemployed?” I shook my head helplessly. “Miranda, the one who’s about to be unemployed is you. Maybe you should start planning ahead.” Miranda stared at me, then suddenly scoffed, “Look at this. Are you out of your mind? How dare you say that? “What? I am the boss of this company. Do you think you can fire me? “Anthony, do you believe that as long as I’m here, you couldn’t even land a job as a janitor…?” Just as her words hung in the air, two figures appeared at the entrance of the company. They were the people Wilfred had sent to help me restructure the company. Miranda recognized them, and her face changed instantly. She hurried to greet them with a smile. “Mr. Fowler, you’re here! I wasn’t aware our new CEO had arrived. Let me go greet him.” Hurst Fowler glanced at her briefly but said nothing. He walked straight up to me and nodded respectfully. He then addressed the group, “This is our new CEO, Mr. Schultz!” In an instant, Miranda’s smile froze on her face, and she asked, trying to cover her surprise, “Mr. Fowler, you’re not joking, are you? Anthony is a good-for-nothing. How could you…” Before she could finish, Hurst pulled out the layoff list I had prepared yesterday and threw it in her face. Pointing at her and Flint, he said coldly, “You two are fired. Pack up and leave, now!”

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The first thing I did after being reborn was to jump off the rooftop of my girlfriend’s apartment and die at her doorstep. Everyone thought I had gone mad, but as I lay there dying, I smiled in satisfaction. The apocalypse was coming in seven days, and anyone who died within this window would transform into a nightmare creature. This time, I would become the King of Nightmares, the most terrifying being of all. Only by doing so could I exact my revenge on Fiona, the treacherous ex-girlfriend who cheated on me and stole my inheritance. She would pay the ultimate price. At midnight, I leapt from the rooftop of Fiona’s apartment. As I fell, a calm smile spread across my face. I wasn’t insane; on the contrary, I had never been more clear-headed. This was all for my return in seven days. The apocalypse was only a week away, and anyone who died during this period would rise as a nightmare creature. I wasn’t just going to become one of them. I was going to be their king. The most powerful and horrifying nightmare of all. Only then could I take my revenge on Fiona, repaying her betrayal and the pain she caused me in my previous life. In my past life, when the apocalypse hit, my best friend, Ethan, died in a car accident and became a nightmare creature. It was thanks to him secretly protecting me that I managed to survive the chaos. But my story ended with Fiona’s betrayal. To please a powerful nightmare in a black suit, she personally carved out my heart. That night, she had invited me over for dinner and drugged my food. When I woke up, I couldn’t move. Like a fool, I thought she was just playing some intimate game and told her to stop messing around. Then, I saw her holding a sharp knife, her lips curled into a seductive smile as she sliced open my chest. The drugs numbed my nerves, so I couldn’t feel the pain of the wound, but the terror in my heart threatened to drown me. I’ll never forget how she cut me 53 times with that knife before reaching in and pulling out my heart. At that moment, I became a cold corpse, a monster without a heart. Even as I died, I couldn’t understand how she could be so heartless. In my final moments, I asked her why she did it, my voice filled with despair. She sneered coldly and said, “You idiot, you were just a game to me.” When Ethan found out what happened, he was furious and tried to avenge me. But the nightmare that Fiona had allied with was too strong. Ethan died protecting me, his soul obliterated. I was left utterly hopeless, my consciousness swallowed by darkness. But fate granted me another chance. This time, I would change everything.

My first mission was to save Ethan. Although dying within the seven days before the apocalypse meant becoming a nightmare creature, the process involved unimaginable pain. Ethan’s life was exchanged for mine in the last timeline. This time, it was my turn to protect him and ensure he lived as a normal human being. I glanced at my phone. It was five in the afternoon. In exactly one hour, Ethan would die in a car accident. Without hesitation, I dialed a video call. “Hey. I’m at work. What’s up?” Ethan said, looking up from his computer screen. Seeing that familiar face made my chest tighten with guilt. In the last timeline, he was obliterated because of me. Now, having another chance to see him alive was a blessing. I steadied my voice. “After work, don’t leave the office. Wait for me.” “What’s going on?” Ethan asked, puzzled. “Just trust me. Stay put, no matter what happens. Promise me.” At 6:30 PM, I met Ethan as he left work. As soon as we stepped out of the office building, a black van hurtled toward us. I yanked Ethan back, narrowly avoiding the vehicle, though it grazed my arm. It was just a scratch. That van… It was exactly the same as in my last life. No license plate. This wasn’t an accident. Someone wanted Ethan dead. “Ethan,” I asked quietly, “have you pissed anyone off recently?” Ethan, straightforward and kind-hearted, wasn’t the type to make enemies. I couldn’t imagine who’d target him. “No, not at all,” he said, scratching his head. “Think harder!” “Wait…” His face paled as he recalled something. “Are you saying… that van was aiming for me?” I nodded. Ethan gripped my arm, his expression darkening. After a moment of hesitation, he confessed, “I just remembered something. But it might have to do with you.” A heavy feeling settled in my chest. “Three days ago,” Ethan took a deep breath, “I saw Fiona with another guy. Something about him felt… off.” “And he saw me too.” Ethan glanced at me nervously. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to act rashly.” My eyes turned cold. It was Fiona. That woman wanted to silence Ethan. In my last life, I was a fool blinded by love. I would never have believed someone as seemingly sweet and innocent as Fiona capable of such schemes. But now, I knew her true nature. She was a merciless devil. “Go home,” I told Ethan, keeping my voice steady. “Stay safe for the next few days. Leave the rest to me.” After hailing a cab to take Ethan home, I gave him one last instruction. “If I die, don’t be too upset. “Just keep burning spirit money for me as fast as you can. Burn as much as you can.” Spirit money was essential for building power in the nightmare realm. When I returned, I wouldn’t be alone. I’d have an army of nightmares under my command. “What the hell are you talking about? You’re not going to die!” Ethan punched my shoulder, his tone frustrated. I smiled faintly, handing him my bank card. “Use every penny in this account to buy spirit money and burn it for me. Don’t leave a single bill unburned. Otherwise, I won’t rest in peace.” There was no one else I could trust with this. Clapping his shoulder, I turned to leave. “Damn lunatic!” Ethan shouted after me, his voice a mix of anger and worry.

After saying goodbye to Ethan, I headed straight for Fiona’s apartment. She lived on the 19th floor, but I didn’t take the elevator. The building’s exterior had air-conditioning platforms on each floor. Using the surveillance blind spots, I climbed my way up. Peering through a gap in her drawn curtains, I saw Fiona’s bedroom. On the bed, Fiona entwined herself around a man like a snake. My stomach churned, not because she was cheating on me, but because of who the man was. It was Rivers, the nightmare creature Fiona had cozied up to in my last life. My fists clenched so hard my knuckles cracked. I wanted nothing more than to burst in and kill them both. These two scumbags. I wasn’t letting either of them off the hook. Inside, they continued their shameless flirting. Rivers’ hands roamed over Fiona’s nearly naked body as he grumbled, “When are you going to dump that loser? This sneaking around is ridiculous.” Fiona pressed herself closer to him and purred, “Be patient. Once I marry him, I’ll kill him. All his inheritance will be ours.” She giggled wickedly. “I’ve already done the research. Once he’s dead, his parents’ 50 million dollars will be ours to enjoy for the rest of our lives.” A chill ran through me. This woman kept pushing the limits of human depravity. I had always suspected she only dated me for my money, but now I had confirmation. To her, I was nothing more than a walking ATM. Rivers laughed smugly, “That idiot still thinks he’s found true love. Little does he know he’s just your cash cow. “Savage. I like it.” Fiona chuckled and replied, “A woman’s got to be ruthless to secure her place.” Watching this nauseating scene, I nearly smashed through the glass to give them each a blade to the throat. But I knew I wasn’t a match for Rivers yet. Still, I wasn’t going to let them off without a parting gift. Biting my finger, I used my blood to scrawl a curse on the glass—a vivid account of their betrayal and greed. As the two continued their sordid tryst, I stepped onto the edge of the balcony, glanced at my watch. It was midnight. Spreading my arms like a bat, I plummeted from the 19th floor. With the apocalypse drawing near, the rules of the world had already begun to change. Though my body was dead, my soul lingered in the mortal realm. Until my body was cremated, I would exist as a wandering spirit. I wanted to see how Fiona reacted to my mangled corpse and how terrified she’d be when she realized the nightmare had only just begun. My death was such a mess, and the apartment would surely be sealed by tomorrow. The police would certainly investigate the affair between them.

At 6:00 AM, a security guard patrolling the Starhaven Apartments discovered my body. “Someone jumped! Looks like they fell from the 19th floor. There’s writing in blood on the window!” The pounding on Fiona’s door was frantic. She stumbled out, her face pale with fear. When she saw my mangled body on the ground, she nearly fainted. The security captain recognized me immediately. “Isn’t this the guy who was always visiting Fiona? Why would he jump from her balcony?” Rivers sauntered out of the apartment, clearly annoyed. “What the hell is all this noise about so early…” The moment he saw my corpse, he froze, his face draining of color. Standing beside them in my spirit form, I watched coolly. If Rivers was this shaken now, just wait until I returned as the King of Nightmares. An elderly woman from the neighboring apartment peeked out and gasped at the sight of Rivers. Her expression quickly turned scornful. “Shameless!” she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. Fiona opened her mouth, trying to explain, but no words came out. By the time the police and paramedics arrived, the scene was sealed off. The bloody curse on the window, exposing their affair and murderous intentions, was crystal clear. The police immediately deemed Fiona and Rivers suspects in my death and arrested them on the spot. The curse ended with a chilling warning. I would return as a vengeful spirit, forever haunting them. As they were escorted past my body, both were trembling. Fiona’s forehead was slick with sweat, her lips quivering, unable to form a coherent sentence. Rivers, on the other hand, was visibly shaking, barely able to stay on his feet. Watching them squirm brought me immense satisfaction. This was just the appetizer. When the apocalypse arrived, I’d deal with them properly. My body was sent to the crematorium. Ethan rushed over as soon as he heard the news. This iron-willed man broke down the moment he saw my lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably. “Why, Nathan? Why would you throw your life away over a woman like that?” he choked out, his voice hoarse. Standing beside him in spirit form, I felt a wave of impatience. “Damn it, stop crying and focus! Do you remember what I told you? Burning spirit money for me is the priority here!” Thankfully, Ethan pulled himself together. After seeing me into the incinerator, he wiped his tears and sprinted off. As the flames consumed my body, I felt the mortal realm slipping away. Then, an unseen force dragged me into the nightmare world.

The moment I entered the Nightmare Realm, the stench of blood nearly made me retch. The sinister aura was so suffocating, it felt like my soul might shatter under the pressure. The air was thick with an inexplicable sense of dread, as though countless unseen eyes were lurking in the shadows, watching my every move. Looking up, there was no sun or moon. Instead, three massive blood-red eyes loomed in the sky, their crimson veins pulsating as they scanned the warped land below. From my past life, I knew what they were—the Kings of Nightmares. When the apocalypse struck, these blood eyes would descend to rule the mortal world. As a newly dead nightmare creature, I was at the bottom of the food chain, a lamb awaiting slaughter. Surviving this newbie phase was my top priority. Here, strength was the only law. Powerful nightmares could crush weaker ones without a second thought, like humans stepping on ants. Around me was a twisted, broken urban landscape. Luckily, this area seemed relatively desolate and safe, at least for now. A battered Mercedes was parked by the side of the road. Without hesitation, I climbed in, seeking refuge. Minutes later, a colossal figure lumbered into view. It was a Famine Nightmare, towering three stories tall, bloated like a pig, with tusks jutting out of its mouth and bloodshot eyes oozing malice. Its stench of rot and decay filled the air as it searched for prey, its gaze filled with insatiable hunger. When it stopped near the car, I held my breath, silently praying it wouldn’t notice me. But the beast sniffed the air and turned its grotesque head toward me. My soul nearly shattered from sheer terror. Then, as if distracted, it lumbered toward a nearby building. A terrified newborn nightmare screamed as the Famine Nightmare ripped it from its hiding place. “Eat, eat, tasty!” the beast gurgled, saliva dripping from its maw. The newborn was as weak as me, and all he could do was to scream in despair. With a single gulp, it devoured the hapless creature. I curled up in the car, trembling. If it had spotted me, I’d have been dessert. Thankfully, I still had a chance to turn the tables. All I needed was for Ethan to burn spirit money for me. In the Nightmare Realm, spirit money was sustenance, fuel for growth and power. I had given Ethan my entire savings, enough to buy enough spirit money to catapult me into the ranks of the strongest nightmares. As I anxiously awaited his action, the Famine Nightmare finally moved on, satisfied. I let out a sigh of relief but stayed vigilant. Half an hour passed. My nerves were fraying, and I found myself silently cursing, “Ethan! Damn it, what are you waiting for?!” As I waited, I couldn’t help but curse myself. If only I’d prepared the spirit money in advance and had Ethan start burning it the moment I died, I wouldn’t be stuck in this mess. While I was busy berating my own stupidity, the situation escalated. Another powerful nightmare appeared. This time, it was a Hellhound Hunter, a monstrous creature with three wolf heads, each wreathed in ghostly blue flames. Its razor-sharp fangs gleamed as it snarled, exuding an aura even more terrifying than the Famine Nightmare. Its keen nose picked up my scent immediately.

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During the company’s video conference, a different girl’s face appeared on Byron Adams’ screen. The girl, seemingly innocent, was playing with his computer, completely oblivious to the fact that the camera was on. It wasn’t until Byron returned from the bathroom that she said in a sweet tone, “I didn’t know you were in a meeting. You promised to spend three days with me, but now you’ve been in meetings for days. How annoying.” The colleagues who had been speaking earlier fell silent. Everyone waited to see how I would react. After all, they had witnessed more than a few of our arguments in the office before. But this time, I didn’t make a scene. Instead, I coldly told the colleague, “Please continue, don’t mind the irrelevant things.” I watched as the room became quiet, and my eyes focused on Byron’s screen where the girl was still playfully cuddling him. I ignored it and asked the colleague to continue. If this had happened at another time, I would have probably snapped and confronted Byron, but today, I was calm. After all, Byron never let me, his wife, touch his computer. The way the girl was interacting with it seemed so familiar, and their closeness was undeniable. I had never seen him like this before. Every time I tried to be affectionate with him, he would coldly push me away, saying, “Lydia, don’t you have your own things to do? We’re adults. Just don’t do this.” Even when I wanted to use his computer, he would immediately take it away, saying he didn’t like anyone touching it. As the meeting continued, my mind kept returning to these thoughts until Byron called me and asked, “Did you see what happened just now?” I replied, my tone calm, “See what? I don’t have time to pay attention to things that aren’t work-related.” I could almost hear him sigh with relief on the other end of the line. Then, I added, “Did you do anything?” He quickly explained himself, and after listening, I nodded and hung up the phone. For the first time, I didn’t argue with him.

He probably didn’t expect me to hang up, so he sent a follow-up message explaining again. I ignored it, replying with a simple “OK”. His dissatisfaction with my indifferent attitude was clear. [Byron, I don’t want to argue with you.] I replied and then turned on the “Do Not Disturb” mode for his chat. Just then, a friend request notification popped up. It was from a girl with a little bunny profile photo. I accepted her application. She didn’t say anything after adding me. When I clicked on her recent photo, I understood everything. It was a fresh selfie of the same girl who had appeared on Byron’s screen earlier. She was holding his computer, and it captioned: [Oops, I disturbed baby during his meeting, but he didn’t get mad at me.] Her post and friend request were clearly intended to provoke me, but I didn’t delete her. Instead, I let it linger, observing in silence. The post that caught my attention the most was one from my birthday. Byron, who was supposed to be on a business trip, was in a photo with her. They were seated at the center of the table, and the girl was wearing a crown, looking incredibly happy. Byron’s friend commented under the photo: [You two look so happy. Byron has abandoned me.] Byron replied: [Shut up, man.] I could feel the joy in his words through the screen. I suddenly remembered how, on my birthday, I had waited at home for him to return, only for him to ignore my many calls. When he finally picked up, his voice was impatient, and he only told me to sleep early. My call must have interrupted his good mood. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself.

I scrolled through more of the girl’s posts but found them uninteresting. After washing up, I went to bed, intending to sleep. But Byron returned just as I was about to drift off. I heard his footsteps upstairs and pretended to close my eyes. Then I heard him undressing. After a while, I felt the bed dip as he sat down and pulled me into his arms. His body carried the scent of the cologne I bought him, mingled with a faint fragrance of gardenias. It wasn’t my scent. I couldn’t help but think, was she also wrapped in his arms like this? Was she leaving her scent on him too? The thought made me feel nauseous. Without making a sound, I pulled away from his embrace and resisted his intimacy for the first time. In the past, I would have snuggled closer to him the moment he lay down. I would have buried my head in his arms, greedily inhaling his scent. But now, I couldn’t stand it. He stiffened behind me, seemingly confused, and tried to pull me closer again. “Don’t hold me. It’s uncomfortable,” I said, my eyes still closed. He sat up, suddenly irritated. “What’s wrong with you? Did you hear something? Or is there something I’ve done wrong to upset you?” I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. What could I ask him? Who was that girl? Did he love me? Right now, those questions didn’t matter anymore. “I’ve worked all day and stayed up late to revise the proposal. I’m really tired,” I replied, my voice devoid of emotion. “Please, stop making this a big deal. I just want to rest.” He exploded. “You’re insane! I just wanted to hug you, and now I’m wrong?” With that, he slammed the door and stormed off, leaving me with his cold back. In the past, I would have chased after him, clinging to his hand, begging him not to be angry. But now, I just silently pulled the blanket back over myself and tried to sleep. My rest was more important than anything else. The wall between us felt thicker now, and neither of us reached out to the other. We stayed like that in a strange silence. For the next week, Byron didn’t come home for dinner or send me any messages. When he saw me at work, he only gave me a brief, indifferent glance. Colleagues whispered about whether we had fought, or if it was because of the events that day. But the girl kept posting frequently on her social media. I thought the cold war would continue indefinitely, until one evening, I received a message from home about a family dinner. I realized I had to reach out to Byron, but my message was met with complete silence. Reluctantly, I went to the house he had lived in before we got married. It was where he always went after our arguments, and this time was no different.

I stood at the door, listening to the laughter coming from inside the villa, and couldn’t help but frown. The familiar, coquettish voice sounded exactly like the one I had heard coming from Byron’s computer that day. With a scowl on my face, I pushed the villa’s door open. Suddenly, something white and fluffy pounced at me, knocking me to the ground. My back scraped against some small stones, and I winced in pain. I looked up to see a dog. Completely unsure of how to react, I froze. “Where did this dog come from? Get it off me!” I shouted. I had been terrified of dogs since childhood after being chased by a neighbor’s large dog. Now, with a big dog pinning me down, I couldn’t stop shaking. Just then, the dog was pulled off me. Byron’s hand reached out in front of me, his face filled with confusion. I ignored him, got up, and moved away to put some distance between myself and the dog. I took a good look at the dog. Its fur was well-groomed, and it even had a cute little butterfly ornament on its ear. When it saw me standing, it tried to pounce again. I instinctively stepped back a couple of steps. “Why are you here?” Byron said softly and squatted down to pet the dog. “Didn’t you see…?” “Byron, what happened? Where’s Peach?” A high-pitched, girlish voice called out, and the figure of the girl I had seen in the photos appeared before me. Seeing her face in person made my heart ache with bitterness, especially the way Byron looked at her—his gaze was full of warmth. He quickly stepped in front of the girl, blocking her from my view, and his soft expression disappeared immediately. “What’s wrong, Byron? Why are you standing in front of me? Did Peach have an accident?” The girl slipped from behind him, and as soon as she saw me, her smile faltered. She froze when she saw me standing there. As she came closer, I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her vibrant energy. “Who is she?” the girl asked, her voice filled with confusion as she looked up at Byron. But when her gaze shifted to me, there was an unmistakable hint of challenge in her eyes. She knew who I was, and after adding me on social media, she probably knew about me long before this. “She is…” “I’m his wife, legally his wife.” I interrupted Byron’s attempt to explain and smiled at the girl in front of me. As I expected, her expression faltered for a moment before she tried to regain her composure. Her little act only made me laugh. She took a few steps back, looking uncomfortable, and struggled to pull the large dog back inside. “Well, since your wife is here, you two can have a talk. I’ll go give Peach some water.” Her fake, sad demeanor made even me feel a little sorry for her. But Byron, of course, was completely captivated by her. After she left, Byron glared at me with clear frustration. “What are you even doing here?” he asked, his voice cold. “Your family invited us for dinner, and you didn’t respond to any of my messages, so I came.” I answered calmly, indifferent to his anger, as though I didn’t even feel it. My response shut him down, leaving him speechless. I ignored him completely and walked confidently inside the house. I sat down on the sofa and looked at Byron as he followed me in. “You have 20 minutes to get ready. We need to leave on time,” I said, my tone firm. As soon as I finished speaking, the same large dog that had tackled me earlier charged toward me, as if triggered by something. It viciously bit at my clothes. “Get off me!” I shouted, grabbing my handbag and swinging it at the dog. It hit the dog on the head, leaving a small cut. I called out for Byron, but by the time I was knocked down, he was already over by the girl, shielding her in his arms. Seeing that, my heart sank completely.

It wasn’t until the housekeeper came in to control the dog that I managed to free myself. My hand had been bitten, and I couldn’t stop myself from shivering when I saw the dog again. The girl, as if I had done something truly unforgivable, started crying loudly. “Why did you hurt my dog?! “It just wanted to play with you, and you broke its head!” She cried, burying her face in Byron’s chest. Meanwhile, I stood there, bleeding, listening to her accuse me. Was I supposed to just let the dog attack me? Should I have waited until it bit me to death? “I don’t understand what this lady is saying, but your dog kept pouncing on me again and again. “And this time, it even bit my hand. “I haven’t even asked you for compensation yet, and you’re crying?” I pushed my bloody hand right in front of Byron and the girl, showing her the wound. “Ah!” The girl gasped, terrified, and buried her head even deeper into Byron’s chest. Her fragile act only made Byron look even more concerned for her. His gaze toward me was full of reproach. “Lydia, Flora just said that Peach only wanted to play with you. “It’s because you’re afraid of dogs that Peach reacted like that and bit you. “You’re really becoming impossible to reason with.” Byron’s words made me feel utterly disgusted. He remembered that I was afraid of dogs but still took her side and blamed me. “Byron, you’re really being unreasonable,” I snapped. “Go ahead and pamper your dog and the girl in your arms. I don’t care anymore. “You can skip the family dinner.” With that, I straightened myself up, tidied my disheveled appearance, and left for the dinner on my own, without giving Byron a chance to speak. By the time the family dinner was over, Byron still hadn’t shown up. He didn’t come home that night, just like before. I was perfectly fine with the peace. But the girl’s social media updated again. [Thank you for always being there for me and taking care of Peach.] The accompanying photo showed a man’s back, who was lovingly petting the dog. There was no doubt that it was aimed at me, like a deliberate provocation. I didn’t feel much of anything. I simply turned off my phone and went to sleep peacefully. The next morning, I was woken by a loud knock on the door. I got up and opened it to find Byron, his face red with anger.

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After a night of drinking, I found myself in bed with the guy next door. Once sober, he proved to be a remarkably responsible man and asked me to marry him. It wasn’t until later that I discovered the woman he truly loved had left the country that very night. So, I buried my feelings and became his obedient, dutiful wife in name only. We shared countless silent nights, perfectly in sync yet never crossing the line. All my friends said I would never leave him, and I believed it too. Until today, when I discovered his second phone. While he was in the shower, a girl sent him a selfie. “Mr. Theo, thank you for the birthday gift.” She was a young girl, with delicate features. But her clothes, far too sophisticated for her age, made her seem a bit uncomfortable. I stared at the photo for a long time, until my eyes began to sting. I always knew there was someone around Theo, but I never expected it to be a girl like her. Besides feeling moved, I was surprised by my husband’s taste. I felt sorry for him, having seen Theo’s secret. Moments later, Theo emerged, still damp from the shower. “How much longer are you going to look?” He snatched the phone from my hand, glanced at me, and began to dress. His expression showed no embarrassment at being caught by his wife. I knew his confidence came from the control he held over our finances. Because I was the one he kept at home, even though I used to be a renowned pianist before we married. I didn’t confront him about the photo; I couldn’t afford to. Seeing he was about to leave, I hurried to speak up. “Theo, I want to talk to you.” He fastened his belt leisurely and looked at me. “I have five minutes. The driver is waiting downstairs.” I guessed where he was headed, and my heart sank. “Theo, I want to work.” Theo turned, studying me for a moment. Then he pulled out a checkbook, wrote down a number, tore it off, and handed it to me. “Isn’t being a full-time wife at home good? Working isn’t for you.” With that, he was ready to leave. I followed him, lowering my stance. “I’m not afraid of hard work. I want to work. I can play the piano.” He had no patience to listen. To him, I was like a delicate flower. Someone who had gotten used to being taken care of, unsuited for facing the world or enduring hardship. Theo glanced at his watch; time was up. He left without hesitation. I couldn’t stop him, only gripping the door handle tightly as I asked. “My dad’s birthday is this Saturday. Do you have time?” Theo paused for a moment. “We’ll see.” The door closed gently. After a while, I heard the sound of a car starting downstairs, growing fainter. A few minutes later, the maid came upstairs. “Sir is going to City H for a few days. He said it’s something important.” “Also, a batch of Mr. Theo’s clothes was just delivered. Madam, should I send them for cleaning or would you prefer to wash and iron them yourself?” They knew the relationship between Theo and me was just average. In this house, they acted as our go-betweens. I knelt on the sofa, lost in thought for a long time before I came to my senses and spoke softly. “I’ll wash them by hand.” Because Theo didn’t like the smell of dry cleaning solvents. So all of Theo’s clothes, including suits and coats, were washed by me and then ironed. Besides this, Theo had high standards in other areas too. He disliked outside food and any clutter in the bedroom, so I learned to cook and organize floral arrangements. He never truly cared for this wife, only marrying me because of an accident. I gradually became the perfect full-time wife, and my life almost solely revolved around Theo. But Theo still didn’t love me.

I looked down at the check. Last year, my family fell apart. My dad was so stressed that he developed an illness, and his monthly expenses were over six figures. Every time I went home, my stepmother complained that I didn’t take enough from Theo. “He’s the CEO of Taylor Pharmaceuticals, worth billions.” “Phoebe, you’re his wife. Isn’t what’s his yours?” I gave a bittersweet smile. How could Theo’s things ever be mine? Theo didn’t love me and was usually cold towards me. Our marriage was only about sex, not love. He wouldn’t even let me have his child. Every time we were intimate, he reminded me to take my pills. Yes, I had to take the pills. I reached for the bottle, poured out a pill, and swallowed it numbly. After taking the pill, I gently pulled open a small drawer. Inside was a thick diary, filled with my love for Theo since I was 18. Ten years, I’ve loved him for a whole decade, and I silently closed my eyes. This one-man show seemed to be reaching its end. I didn’t wait for Theo to come back. My dad had another acute episode and was rushed to the intensive care unit, critically needing surgery. I stood in the hospital corridor, repeatedly calling Theo, but no one answered. Just when I was about to give up, Theo picked up. Fearing he’d lose patience, I spoke quickly. “Theo, my dad—” But Theo interrupted me, sounding a bit impatient: “Do you need money?” “I’ve told you many times, if you need urgent money, go to Quentin. Phoebe, are you listening?” I looked up at the LED screen, dazed, which was broadcasting today’s news. Taylor Pharmaceuticals’ CEO rented out the entire Disney park for a night of fireworks just to make a girl smile. Under the brilliant fireworks, a young girl sat in a wheelchair, smiling sweetly. And there was my husband, Theo, standing behind her, holding a phone, talking to me. I blinked slowly, and after a long moment, spoke with a hint of brokenness: “Theo, where are you?” He paused on the other side, seemingly displeased with my questioning, but still responded perfunctorily. “Still busy. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up. Contact Quentin.” He didn’t notice my near-teary tone, but his gentle gaze towards someone else was very soft, very tender. My vision blurred. So Theo could be this gentle. Behind me, my stepmother’s voice came: “Did you get in touch with Theo? If he doesn’t help, there’s nothing we can do.” But she stopped mid-sentence when she saw the scene on the screen. After a long pause, she found her voice again. “He went to City A again.” “Phoebe, I can’t believe that when Theo was in a coma, this girl named Zora played the piano and woke him up.” “Even if that’s true, how is this paying it back? He can’t even remember your birthday.” My stepmother grew angrier as she spoke, and thinking about our family’s situation, she began to cry. “But Phoebe, you must keep it together. Don’t cause trouble with Theo now.” I clenched my hands, my nails digging into my flesh, yet I felt no pain. Cause trouble with Theo? I wouldn’t. Not because I’m a sensible Mrs. Theo. But because I have no right. An unloved wife, the title means nothing. I stared at the endless fireworks and softly said. “All these fireworks must cost a lot, right?” My stepmother didn’t understand what I meant. I lowered my eyes and began calling Quentin.

Disturbing someone in the middle of the night is always unpleasant. Quentin had been with Theo for a long time and held a high position. Moreover, he knew Theo didn’t care about his wife. So when he heard my request, his tone was cold and aggressive. “Mrs. Theo, you need to apply first. Only after Mr. Theo signs can you get the check.” “Just like your jewelry, you have to register it to use it.” “Mrs. Theo, do you understand what I mean?” I hung up the phone, lowered my head, and remained very quiet. After a long while, I lifted my eyes to look at myself in the glass, gently raising my hand. On my slender ring finger was the wedding ring. It’s the only thing I don’t need to apply for or register with Theo’s secretary. How pathetic I am as Mrs. Theo. I blinked in a daze and suddenly said, “Help me find someone to sell my wedding ring.” My stepmother was stunned: “Phoebe, are you crazy?” I turned slowly, the footsteps echoing in the lonely, late-night hall. After a few steps, I stopped and said firmly. “Auntie, I’m very clear-headed, more than ever. I want a divorce from Theo.” Three days later, Theo returned home. He pushed open the bedroom door and saw me sitting at the dressing table, organizing my things. He put his luggage down, loosened his tie, and sat on the bed, observing me. After getting married, I always enjoyed doing housework, organizing, and making snacks. If it weren’t for the title of Mrs. Theo, in Theo’s mind, I was no different from a nanny. I didn’t speak for a long time, and Theo, tired from his trip, didn’t bother to say anything either. He went straight to the closet, grabbed a robe, and headed to the shower. While showering, he probably thought that with my soft personality, I’d be over it by the time he came out. And I’d continue being the gentle wife. He was so sure I’d love him like this forever. So when he stepped out of the bathroom and saw his suitcase still in place, he felt it necessary to talk to me. Theo sat on the sofa, casually picked up a magazine, and after a while, he looked up at me and said. “How’s your dad’s condition?” “I’ve already reprimanded Quentin for what happened that night.” He went to the closet, picked out a robe, and headed to the shower. While he was in there, he probably assumed that my gentle nature would lead me to calm down by the time he was done. Then I’d go back to being the dutiful wife. He was so confident that I would always love him like this. So when he stepped out and saw his suitcase still there, he realized we needed to talk. Theo settled on the couch, casually picked up a magazine, and after a while, looked up at me. “How’s your dad doing?” “I already talked to Quentin about that night.” He said it so dismissively, with no sincerity whatsoever. I set down what I was holding and met his eyes in the mirror. In the reflection, Theo’s features were striking, and he wore a robe better than anyone else. I stared for a long time, until my eyes stung, then calmly said, “Theo, let’s get a divorce.”

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In the hallway, a gigantic snake skin was discovered. I quickly alerted my neighbors in the group chat to be cautious. “Make sure to close your doors and windows! Snakes can swallow things much larger than themselves. This one is enormous, and after shedding, it will soon be on the hunt for food!” However, my neighbors brushed off my warnings, laughing at me for being overly cautious. The property management promptly replied, “There’s no snake in this building. Some residents need to stop spreading panic.” “Hiss, hiss.” So, what’s out there in the hallway now? While cleaning, the neighborhood janitor found a large snake skin in the building. Initially, everyone thought it was just a prank and that the snake skin must be fake. How could a snake possibly find its way into a high-end apartment? Having grown up in the mountains with my grandfather, I recognized it immediately. It was a freshly shed snake skin, which meant the snake had grown even larger. I quickly warned everyone in the chat, “Close your doors and windows! Snakes can swallow things much larger than themselves. This one is huge, and after shedding, it will immediately look for food!” My caution was met with ridicule, as many believed that being in the city center, far from the suburbs, meant there was no chance of a snake being around. If there were a snake, surely someone would have seen it by now. The mom from Apartment 606 said, “908, stop trying to scare everyone! We’re not in the countryside, so where would a snake come from?” She had a point, but what if someone was keeping it as a pet? After all, it’s not unusual for people to keep snakes as pets. I couldn’t help but continue in the chat, “Maybe someone is keeping it at home. Everyone should still be cautious.” The chat filled with snake emojis, as no one took it seriously. Only the resident from 707 seemed concerned: “If someone really is keeping such a large snake, maybe its owner has already been eaten?” The chat fell silent after that. The property management tried to reassure everyone, sarcastically adding, “There’s no snake in this building. Some residents need to stop spreading panic.” Just then, my takeout arrived, and I was about to open the door when a scream erupted from outside. I couldn’t reach the delivery person by phone. Instinctively, I hesitated to open the door. After a while, I peeked through the peephole and saw a foot slowly vanish from view. Pressing my ear to the door, I heard a distinct sound. “Hiss, hiss.” There’s said to be no snake, so what’s in the hallway now?

The delivery person likely didn’t make it. This snake must be highly venomous to take down an adult so quickly. I immediately called emergency services and told the residents in the group chat not to leave their apartments until professionals arrived! A resident from 1008 joked, “Is this some new kind of prank? Maybe the delivery guy is just pulling your leg?” The resident from 707 said, “I can’t stay in; I still need to pick up a package later.” The mom from 606 chimed in, “Our baby needs to go downstairs for some sun every day.” You can’t reason with some people. If something happens, they’ll only have themselves to blame. Locking all doors and windows and waiting for professionals is all I can do for now. I suddenly remembered that my best friend, Emily Johnson, was supposed to visit in two hours. I quickly called her to tell her not to come over yet. But when the video call connected, Emily was all smiles, “Surprise! I’m already downstairs at your building; aren’t you going to come out and greet me?” “Don’t come up, don’t enter the building! There’s a snake!” The video froze suddenly! Judging by the background, Emily was already in the elevator, and her phone lost signal, cutting off the network. As long as she goes back the way she came and doesn’t leave the elevator, she’ll be fine. I quickly messaged her, praying she wouldn’t step out! Meanwhile, the previously relaxed homeowners’ group chat exploded in chaos. The property’s surveillance confirmed there was indeed a large snake roaming the apartment complex. The property management quickly changed their dismissive attitude and issued a notice for residents to stay indoors. They also asked if anyone was keeping a snake at home. There was a lot of swearing, but no one answered the question. If the snake is wild, it would be even more aggressive. It’s uncertain if professionals can even catch it. My best friend finally messaged back, “I’m almost on the ninth floor. Come out and help me with my stuff!” It seems my message was delayed, and she hasn’t seen it yet. Her chat window kept showing “Typing…” Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Could it be her?

“Liv, is that you?” I called out as I approached the entryway, but there was no answer, just incessant knocking. The knocking grew louder, as if something was chasing her. Emily called me again, breathless, “I was scared to death. Thank God I heard your voice message and closed the elevator. I ran out!” So, whoever’s at the door isn’t her! Anxiously, I approached the door and peeked through the peephole. It was the young girl who lived across from me. Her lips were purple, and she nervously looked around. We usually exchanged glances in passing, and I had a good impression of her. Just ten minutes ago, she was messaging in the group chat. Why was she outside now? “Help me! I left my keys inside!” she suddenly shouted, banging on the door harder. Her voice echoed through the hallway. The girl screamed desperately, and my compassion almost made me open the door. But then I heard her pleading voice. “Don’t bite me… I’ll find you new food…” “No!” “Hiss, hiss.” Then there was silence. I didn’t have the courage to look through the peephole again, but I could imagine the gruesome scene. Calming myself, I realized the girl across the hall wanted me to feed the snake so it would spare her. If I had opened the door, I could have been the snake’s next victim. But if this snake had already bitten the delivery person, how was it still searching for food? Could there be more than one snake in this building?

I informed the property management of the situation outside and urged them to check the surveillance to locate the snake. The residents were in an uproar, demanding the property management catch the snake immediately. But the property was powerless. The situation was unclear, and they couldn’t send anyone into our building. We could only wait for professionals to arrive. The property management finally responded, saying the snake that appeared on surveillance had suddenly vanished without a trace. They claimed to have checked all the surveillance footage but found no sign of the snake. Someone boldly speculated, “Could the snake have gained intelligence and learned to evade the cameras?” The group chat exploded with discussions. [Is someone keeping this snake? How does it seem so familiar with every floor?] I also suspected someone was hiding it, preventing anyone from finding it. The mom from 606 suddenly blamed me: [Is it 908 keeping it? Trying to catch a thief by shouting thief!] Good intentions were met with malicious speculation, and I chose to stay silent. The property then sent a photo of the snake skin, asking if anyone recognized it as their pet snake that had escaped. Upon enlarging the image, I realized that although it looked similar to the first snake skin I saw, the patterns were completely different. This confirmed my earlier suspicion; there was more than one snake in this building. And the snake skin shed by this snake was even larger. I hesitated about whether to inform the property management. Then a message came through the group chat saying the snake had been caught. I watched the video the property shared of capturing the snake. It was clear that the snake in the video couldn’t possibly have shed those two massive snake skins. Residents started celebrating, sending thumbs-up emojis to praise the property’s efficiency. I didn’t know how to voice my doubts. After all, I still had to live here. Exposing the property’s lie might make me a target. More importantly, I had decided not to meddle anymore. Reason prevailed over emotion, and I shared my assessment with them. The property manager was the first to dismiss me, calling my claims nonsense and insisting the snake had been caught. He even called me directly, berating me and resorting to threats. “You residents only cause trouble for us. I warn you, if you want to keep living here peacefully, you better shut your mouth!” Just in case, I recorded the entire call. The group chat divided into two factions: one believed I had a point and urged caution, while the other sided with the property and was ready to resume normal activities. I also warned Emily to head home and stay away from the building. She’s the type who loves excitement, and I feared she might get bitten if she’s not careful. But from twenty minutes ago, she hadn’t replied to any of my messages after the last emoji she sent. I remembered my balcony overlooked the area downstairs, so I stepped out to check. She wasn’t downstairs, so maybe she went home? Then I looked down and saw a massive snake tail hanging from the balcony of a downstairs apartment. The person inside hadn’t closed their floor-to-ceiling windows.

I quickly snapped a photo and posted it in the group chat, warning the downstairs residents to be careful. The mom from 606 freaked out, recognizing her son’s baby bib hanging on the balcony. Amidst a flurry of voice messages, she shouted, “That’s my house! Someone please save my baby!” “My mother-in-law and son are home alone! Why didn’t my mother-in-law close the windows?” The group fell silent, everyone knowing that responding meant they’d have to help. And no one wanted to take that risk. The mom frantically tagged the property, but they pretended not to see. Unable to stand by, I reminded her to call home and warn her mother-in-law to find a safe place to hide until the snake left on its own. Ten minutes later, the mom added me through a private chat. She made several video calls to me, but I didn’t answer. In this situation, everyone was looking out for themselves. “My mother-in-law and my son are the only ones at home! Why didn’t she close the window?” The group chat fell silent. Everyone knew that responding would mean having to help, and no one wanted to take that chance. The mothers kept mentioning property management, but they remained unresponsive, ignoring the calls for assistance. Feeling concerned, I suggested she call home to alert her mother-in-law. It would be best for her to find a safe place to hide and wait for the snake to leave on its own. Ten minutes later, the mom added me on the group chat and tried calling me several times through video, but I didn’t answer. In this situation, everyone was looking out for themselves, and I didn’t want to get involved either. The mom insisted that I should go to her house to assess the situation and bring her son and mother-in-law to my place for safety. But without knowing the snake’s location, going out blindly was risky. Even if there wasn’t a snake in the hallway, who could say if it had left her house? Going there might be dangerous. Waiting seemed to be the safest option. After all, I had done my part by warning her. I decided not to respond. She then began calling me out in the neighborhood group chat: “908, why aren’t you answering my calls? Are you just going to let them be in danger?” With the attention redirected, other residents joined in to criticize me. The messages came pouring in. “Yeah, since you saw it, you should help!” “We’re all neighbors here. 606 is a single mom and her child, 908, don’t be so selfish!” These people were quick to speak now, but they had stayed silent earlier. It made me angry, so I retorted: “If you’re all so concerned, why don’t you go?” “I’ve warned them numerous times to keep the windows shut and stay inside. If they didn’t listen, why blame me?” “608, 605! You’re right next door and across the hall, why don’t you go? It’s just a short walk!” The blame shifted, and 608 said they weren’t home, while 605 agreed with me. The mom was still desperate. Her latest private message pleaded for help. “My baby isn’t even a year old. Please help me!” She forwarded a video from her mother-in-law, showing the baby crying continuously, his face red and looking very pitiful. The grandmother was pacing the wooden bedroom floor, trying to soothe the child. I quickly advised her that snakes are sensitive to vibrations and suggested she stop moving. After my response, the mom thanked me repeatedly. She sent over ten videos in a few minutes, asking if I saw the snake. She even suggested adding her mother-in-law so I could keep an eye on the baby via video. How could someone be so demanding? I refused and told her to contact property management and emergency services if she was so worried. Speaking of which, why hadn’t the emergency services arrived? More than twenty minutes had passed. Suddenly, the mom messaged me: “My mother-in-law got bitten! Please save her!” How could that be? I had carefully checked the video and saw no snake in the rooms. The mom, with a sobbing voice, apologized: “My mother-in-law said the baby kept crying, so I thought it would be safer to run upstairs to you with the baby. But she got bitten as soon as she stepped out.” If it weren’t for the innocent child, I would block her. Isn’t she just making things worse? “My mother-in-law is still breathing. She crawled back home with the child. I’m begging you to help! You know snakes; surely you know how to deal with the poison, right?” I’m not a doctor. How could I know? It seems she can only rely on an ambulance now. The mom cried even louder, “There’s a city-wide marathon today, and all the roads are blocked. Not even a fly can get to our street, let alone an ambulance.” So that’s why the emergency services hadn’t arrived! But why today of all days? The mom then sent a screenshot from a video call. There was indeed the shadow of a large snake and a pair of sneakers. I’m committed to ensuring the content retains its original meaning while being articulated in a more natural English expression, making it easier to comprehend. Throughout this process, we will maintain the original formatting unchanged.

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Imogen got her first period, and I was the one who went out to buy her sanitary pads. When she filled in her college choices for the SAT, I helped her research and select schools. When she graduated and started job hunting, I helped her polish her resume and accompanied her to interviews. Later, I confessed my feelings to her, but she showed up with a guy from the construction site and told me she had found true love. I stepped back into the role of just a friend. When that boyfriend of hers beat her up and she ended up in the hospital, I confronted him on her behalf. Yet, she stood by him, blaming me instead. “Jasper, who asked you to interfere? Stop trying to drive a wedge between me and Jude.” That’s when I realized you should let go of a childhood sweetheart that has gone rotten. While I was working late, Imogen sent me a picture. She was lying in a hospital bed with her face bruised and swollen. She asked if I could visit her at the hospital tonight. Seeing her once beautiful face now covered in bruises made my heart ache. I simply replied, “Wait for me,” then grabbed my car keys and rushed to the hospital. Up close, her injuries were worse than in the photo. Not just her face; the doctor said her abdomen had been violently kicked, causing a rupture. Rage quickly filled my chest. “I’m going to deal with that jerk!” I stormed out in fury. “Don’t go!” Imogen clutched my arm tightly, stopping me. “It’s my fault. He came home late, and I nagged him a bit. I annoyed him, and that’s why he hit me.” I looked at Imogen in disbelief. She was beaten so badly over something so minor, yet she didn’t blame him but instead reflected on herself and defended him. I was so angry that my chest hurt, and I sarcastically remarked, “Didn’t you say he loves you? Loves you so much he’ll beat you up, right?” Imogen lowered her eyes, then looked at me with stubbornness. “He was just drunk today, lost control. He’s usually good to me.” “He cooks for me, knits bags for me, and texts me countless times a day saying he’s tired but doesn’t mind because I’m worth it.” “I’m the light in his life. He needs me.” I really wanted to knock on Imogen’s head to see if it was filled with water. His so-called cooking was just heating pre-packaged food in boiling water, and the handmade knitted bag was a cheap online purchase. I was genuinely puzzled. She wasn’t lacking love, so how could such cheap affection deceive her so thoroughly? Imogen’s family and mine are neighbors. She’s an only child, and her parents, both in government jobs, have doted on her like their treasure, never letting her lack anything materially. And as her childhood sweetheart growing up together, I always fulfilled her every need, always listening to her. Friends always said that Imogen had a loyal knight always following her. I also thought I would naturally end up with Imogen. But later, when I confessed to her, she was arm in arm with a man from the construction site and told me she had found true love. That man’s name was Jude. Just like his name, he always looked world-weary. He seemed to lack the spine to stand straight, always with a cigarette in his mouth, puffing smoke. When he looked at people, he tilted his head, chin up, his eyes half-lidded with arrogance. A typical rascal. But Imogen loved him obsessively. I asked her, frustrated, “Have you ever thought about how much your parents would hurt if they knew? You’ve never been scolded, let alone hit. If your parents knew you were beaten into the hospital, it would be like stabbing their hearts. Even if you don’t care about yourself, you should think about your family’s feelings.” Imogen was silent for a moment and then replied, “Then don’t tell them.” I took a deep breath and called the police. Imogen could endure it, but I couldn’t watch the woman I loved for so long be trampled by scum.

“Who called the police?” A male and female officer stood in the hospital room, asking in an official tone. “Officer, I did. The victim is my friend.” I pointed at Imogen on the hospital bed. “My friend was violently assaulted. You can see from her face how brutal the attacker was. He also violently kicked her stomach, causing a rupture. Please punish that inhumane attacker severely.” I handed the officer the doctor’s medical diagnosis. The officer glanced at Imogen, took the report, and frowned. “No… It’s not like that. My boyfriend didn’t mean to hit me. He was just drunk and accidentally pushed me. I got these injuries from bumping into things myself.” Imogen anxiously defended Jude to the police. “You said the person who hit you is your boyfriend?” the officer asked in confusion. “He didn’t hit me.” Imogen denied again. I was about to explain further to the officer, but he stopped me. He asked Imogen for Jude’s phone number and called him to the hospital. Jude arrived at the hospital smelling of alcohol. Seeing the police, his arrogance quickly diminished. He rushed to Imogen’s bedside, kneeling with a worried tone. “Baby, are you okay? How did you get so hurt? Does it hurt? Baby, you’re really breaking my heart.” I rolled my eyes and mocked, “Jude, what are you pretending for? Imogen’s injuries are clearly from you, and now you’re here playing the cat crying for the mouse. Do you have no shame?” Jude ignored me, continuing to softly and gently care for Imogen. Imogen was moved to tears. The police briefly asked about the incident. Since Imogen insisted Jude didn’t harm her intentionally, and Jude sincerely apologized, the police just gave Jude a verbal warning and left. After the police left, Jude glanced at me smugly and said sarcastically, “Baby, I told you to stay away from bootlickers, but you didn’t listen. Now he even called the police to try and drive a wedge between us.” “Some bootlickers just wish to break up true love, hoping to take advantage of it. Baby, you really need to keep your eyes open and stay away from those with ill intentions.” He finished with a meaningful look at me. “Jude, who are you implying? I…” “Enough!” Imogen sternly interrupted me, apologizing to Jude. “I’m sorry, Jude. I shouldn’t have called him. I didn’t expect him to meddle so much.” Then her blaming gaze fell on me. “Jasper, you should go. I don’t need you now.” Seeing Imogen forgetting the pain before her scars even healed, I sneered. “Fine, I must be a damn fool!”

After leaving the hospital, I was burning with anger with no outlet. I called Milo and dragged him out for a drink. We sat at an outdoor street stall, a table full of beer and barbecue. Without a word, I downed a bottle. Milo sat across from me, frowning, shaking his head. “Look at you. It’s just a woman. Three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged women are everywhere. The best way to heal a broken heart is to start a new relationship. Stop fixating on a crooked tree.” “My sister graduated from an Ivy League school, beautiful and elegant. Let me introduce you.” I kept drinking in silence, feeling like my heart was soaking in bitter melon juice. I asked Milo, unwilling to let go, “Tell me, how did I lose to that scum? In looks, education, job, family background, I beat him in every way. Why would Imogen choose him over me? And the worst part is he hit her.” Milo sighed and spoke softly. “Love is inexplicable, illogical. I advise you to respect others’ fates and let go of your hero complex.” Hearing that, I deflated. Yeah, if love were rational, why would I be so obsessed with Imogen? From the table not far behind us, I heard laughter. Someone asked, “Hey Jude, did the police give you any trouble for hitting your girl?” Jude snorted, “As long as Imogen doesn’t admit I hit her, the police can’t do anything to me.” “Damn, Jude, you’re amazing. How do you make her so devoted to you? Teach us.” “Yeah, Jude, don’t keep your secrets on how to handle women to yourself.” Jude curled his lips into a wicked smile, his voice laced with disdain, “It’s simple: just satisfy her in bed.” When men start talking about private matters, they become especially sleazy. As soon as Jude finished speaking, the men at the table burst into suggestive laughter. Hearing this, my anger surged. Milo tried to calm me down, “Relax, relax. Be careful, or you’ll be blamed for meddling again.” The conversation continued over there. Jude pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, and tossed it on the table. “Don’t believe me? See for yourselves.” Everyone immediately gathered around. “Damn, Jude, you really have a video.” “Hurry up and play it. I want to see.” Jude’s phone played a woman’s voice intermittently. I recognized it as Imogen’s. After watching, the group seemed unsatisfied. Jude said, “The more intense content requires payment to unlock. Anyone interested, send me 500 bucks.” I couldn’t hold back my anger any longer. I got up and walked toward Jude. His back was to me, and I raised a beer bottle to smash it over his head. Just as I was about to hit him, one of his sharp-eyed friends pushed him aside. The bottle shattered on the chair, glass scattering everywhere. Jude stumbled a few steps and turned back, his face full of rage. “Quick… open it, I want to see.” Jude’s phone sporadically played a woman’s voice. I recognized it as Imogen’s voice. Everyone looked dissatisfied after watching. Jude announced, “The next part is even more thrilling and requires a payment of 500 yuan to unlock.” I couldn’t contain my anger any longer and stood up, heading towards Jude. Jude’s back was to me. I raised a beer bottle, aiming for his head. Just before it hit, one of his sharp-eyed friends pushed him aside. The bottle smashed against the chair, shattering into pieces. Jude stumbled a couple of steps and turned around, his face full of anger. When he saw it was me, he smirked arrogantly. “I was wondering who hated me this much. Turns out it’s the loser I beat.”

“Jude, how can you treat Imogen like this? You have no shame.” Jude shrugged indifferently at my outrage, spreading his hands like a scoundrel. “You treat Imogen like a goddess, but to me, she’s just someone to warm the bed. Too bad for you, bootlicker, you’ve got nothing.” “I’ll make you regret it, you heartless bastard.” Fueled by alcohol, I lost control and charged at him. Jude’s friends quickly intervened to stop me. Even with Milo’s help, I was outnumbered and got the worst of it. Suddenly, they let us go. I heard Imogen’s voice from afar. “Jude, are you okay? Why are you fighting?” Imogen gently touched the corner of Jude’s mouth, which was bleeding slightly, her eyes filled with worry. Jude grumbled, “Ask your loyal bootlicker. He suddenly went crazy and attacked.” Imogen frowned, looking down at me on the ground with disapproval. “Jasper, why are you causing trouble with Jude again? I’ve told you I only love him. Stop trying to come between us like a fool. I have no romantic feelings for you. Wake up and face reality.” “You’re still defending him!” I shouted angrily. “Do you know this jerk is showing your private stuff to others, letting them talk about you with disgusting words?” Imogen looked alarmed and hesitantly glanced at Jude. “Jude, he…” Before she could finish, Jude cut her off angrily. “You’ll believe anything a bootlicker says. Why don’t you date him instead?” Jude tried to shake off Imogen’s hand, but she held on tightly. “I’m sorry, Jude. I shouldn’t have doubted you. Please forgive me.” She turned on me. “Jasper, you’ve gone too far. To break me and Jude up, you make up such ridiculous lies. I’m completely disappointed in you.” “Jude, let’s go home and ignore him.” Suddenly, Jude’s phone chimed with several notifications of 500 yuan deposits. He raised an eyebrow at me, smugly waving his phone in silent provocation. The tension in my mind snapped. I charged at him like a madman. But Imogen threw herself at me with all her strength, knocking me away. I fell to the ground, and a car suddenly drove over, crushing my leg. The sound not only broke my leg bone but also completely severed any past I had with Imogen in that instant.

My injury alarmed my parents. They learned from Milo that the incident was because of Imogen. They immediately called Imogen’s parents to the hospital. Imogen and Jude’s relationship couldn’t be hidden anymore. As soon as I came out of surgery, I saw my parents standing there with displeased expressions. Imogen’s parents looked thoroughly ashamed. Imogen stood in a corner, fiddling with her phone. The doctor told us my bone was set, but I needed to rest. Only then did my parents feel relieved. My mom, still upset, spoke with a pointed tone. “Son, you give your all to others, but they treat you like dirt. Next time you act foolishly, I won’t wait for others to break your leg; I’ll do it myself. It’s my fault for not teaching you not to meddle.” Our family and Imogen’s had always been on friendly terms. I’d always followed Imogen, and both families used to joke about being in-laws someday. Now, my mom’s words were merciless. My dad nudged her, signaling her to stop. Imogen’s father, feeling ashamed, dragged her to my bedside and ordered her. “Apologize!” Imogen was defiant. “Jasper’s leg wasn’t run over by me, and if he hadn’t attacked Jude, I wouldn’t have pushed him. The broken leg is his own fault, and it’s not…” A loud slap interrupted her. Imogen’s father slapped her hard. He looked at her, trembling with disappointment. “Where’s your upbringing? How dare you defend that scoundrel!” Imogen’s eyes reddened, and she looked at her father with resentment. “Dad, you’ve never even scolded me before, and now you’re hitting me for an outsider. You’ve really lost your mind.” Her father nearly lost his balance from anger. Her mother quickly supported him, frowning at her stubborn daughter. “Imogen, how can you talk to your dad like this? You’re being so unreasonable.” Facing everyone’s criticism, Imogen shifted the blame to me, glaring at me with red eyes. “Jasper, are you happy now? Everyone’s scolding me. Are you satisfied? I hate you. I’ll never speak to you again!” She shouted and ran off crying. From start to finish, I watched coldly like a bystander. With no joy or sorrow, I felt no pity for Imogen being scolded or hit. Her insults didn’t hurt me either. She seemed to turn into a wisp of smoke, drifting away from my life. After Imogen’s parents apologized profusely to mine, they left. My mom began to gently persuade me to move on. “Mom,” I interrupted her nagging, “don’t worry. I won’t think about Imogen anymore, and I won’t get involved in her life.” My parents exchanged glances, seemingly unconvinced. No matter. Time will prove everything. Imogen’s parents found out Jude was a penniless scoundrel who even hit Imogen. They were furious and hired someone to beat up Jude while demanding Imogen break up with him. But Imogen was rebellious. The more they opposed, the more she believed in her true love with Jude. In the end, her parents threatened to cut ties if she didn’t choose. Imogen stubbornly chose Jude. My mom sighed, wondering if Imogen was under some spell. I just smiled without saying anything, as it was all irrelevant to me. I started pouring all my energy into work. If I completed the new project excellently, I’d get promoted. While I was busy working day and night, Imogen called asking to borrow money. Her voice was tearful. “Jasper, I need 200,000 yuan. Please lend it to me, it’s urgent.”

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I noticed a message on my husband Theo’s phone. He had booked a luxurious ten-day trip to Europe for Independence Day. I chuckled. Theo always enjoyed planning mysterious surprises like this. However, the surprise never materialized by Independence Day. He told me he had to leave for a business trip. Then, I stumbled upon a social media post from his secretary, Celeste: “Under the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, the kiss touches my lips but reaches my heart.” The accompanying photo showed Theo and Celeste locked in a passionate kiss. I saved the picture and sent it to the Lewis family group chat with the message: “Congratulations on your new daughter-in-law.” 0 The Lewis family chat erupted. Messages poured in: My mother-in-law: “Yanyan, is this a misunderstanding?” Theo’s cousin: “Wow, my brother sure knows how to have fun.” Our aunt immediately tagged the cousin: “Kids shouldn’t speak recklessly.” Theo’s little sister: “Why does this woman look so familiar?” Theo’s cousin: “Isn’t she the secretary, Celeste?” Silence followed. After a while, Theo sent a message in the group: “I lost a game of truth or dare and had to post a kissing photo. She’s just a young woman working for me. I didn’t want her to feel awkward, so I took the picture. Let’s move on and not make this difficult for her.” Theo called me shortly after: “Yanyan, let’s not be childish, okay? How could you post such a picture in the family group? The Lewis family is quite traditional. Please take it down.” I replied calmly: “Is there something about the photo that can’t be seen? I think it’s quite well taken, and the caption fits perfectly.” Theo’s voice grew impatient: “I told you, she lost a dare game. Why are you making such a fuss over a young girl?” I sat up straight and spoke seriously: “She kissed my husband, so it matters to me. If you had no interest, you wouldn’t have let this happen. Theo, I hope you won’t make a mistake.” His tone softened: “Alright, I’ll be careful next time. I’ll bring you a gift when I return from the trip.” I checked the time and asked: “When will you be back from the business trip?” He gave a date that perfectly matched the travel agency’s ten-day tour schedule. Theo had finally betrayed our marriage. A few days later, when Theo returned, I went to the airport to pick him up. It wasn’t that I was clingy; today we had to attend a family gathering for the Lewis family together. Theo emerged pushing a cart full of luggage, with a demure Celeste following him. Upon seeing me, Celeste took a step back, looking bashful: “Mrs. Theo.” Theo gently hugged me and kissed my cheek: “Honey, you must be tired.” I could still smell traces of a woman’s perfume, likely from a recent kiss. I turned my face away, noticing a slight red mark on his shirt collar. I kept silent. Theo appeared unperturbed: “Honey, let’s drop Celeste off first, then head home.” He casually opened the passenger door, explaining that Celeste gets carsick. Celeste glanced at me from the passenger seat, looking cautious: “Mr. Theo, maybe I should take a cab.” Theo took my hand and spoke firmly: “You’re young. It’s not safe to be out alone at night. I’ll drop you off; it’s on the way.” On the way? An extra ten kilometers, if you say so. My eyes met Celeste’s in the car mirror, filled with unspoken understanding and a woman’s intuition. I lowered my gaze and softly asked: “Was it just you two on the business trip?” Theo casually replied: “No, other colleagues took different flights.” Before Celeste got out of the car, she handed me a box and tilted her head: “Mrs. Theo, here’s a gift I picked for you. I heard you like shawls, so I chose this one. I hope you like it. I’m just not sure if the color suits you.” Theo chuckled: “Yanyan is a bit older, not like you young girls who like playful colors. It’s perfect.” I choked slightly, sighing softly. 0

Once the car door closed, I sat up, distancing myself from Theo. He frowned: “What’s wrong?” I handed him a mirror to check himself. He quickly noticed the lipstick mark and frowned but explained: “Celeste almost fell when we got off the plane. I helped her, and maybe it happened then.” I took a deep breath, turning to look at him with sadness and an indescribable feeling: “Theo, we’ve been married seven years. There never used to be secretaries who couldn’t stand and left lipstick marks on you. When did secretaries start accidentally spraying perfume on you or getting lipstick on you?” He was silent for a moment, then apologized: “Okay, I’ll be more careful.” I felt suffocated. Even though our marriage was a business alliance, we dated for two years before marrying. There were feelings involved. Seven years of marriage now felt like it was ending. Before getting out to meet the Lewis family, he grabbed my arm, looking serious: “Are you upset? Because I didn’t spend Independence Day with you and went on a business trip with my secretary?” “When did you become so unreasonable? Acting like a little girl.” “You know Lewis Enterprises is at a crucial transformation stage. I really don’t have time to guess your thoughts. I’ve been abroad, busy for ten days. I’m really exhausted.” “You need to be a proper Mrs. Theo, not someone showing emotions on her face.” I suddenly lost patience with this charade, shaking off his hand: “Independence Day European luxury tour? Business trip? Am I the only fool in the world?” “Was the kiss under the Bridge of Sighs sweet? Do you like her heart?” I pushed open the car door and left without looking back: “Let’s play the perfect couple tonight, then take some time apart to cool down.” The family gathering left me exhausted. Pretending to be the perfect couple was draining both physically and emotionally. Back home, I took a bath, put on pajamas, and applied body lotion. Theo hugged me from behind, coaxing softly: “Honey, I was wrong. I’ll never talk to her again. If you want, I’ll transfer her to the branch office, okay?” I broke free from his embrace: “Theo, don’t hug me with other women’s perfume and lipstick on you.” He held me again: “I was wrong. Let’s wash it off together, okay? You can peel my skin off.” He started kissing me. I was about to slap him when his phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID: “Little Clumsy.” On the call, Celeste’s voice was coy and tearful: “Mr. Theo, what do I do? I messed up the data in the files I brought back. I don’t know how to fix it. The contract needs signing tomorrow, what do I do?” Her voice was filled with fear and a young girl’s dependence on someone in power. Theo frowned, responding: “What’s wrong with you? How could you be so careless? Wait at home, I’ll be there soon.” After hanging up, he put on his coat and told me: “This contract is important. I have to oversee it myself. You sleep first, don’t wait for me.” He left in a hurry, not even remembering his scarf. I sat quietly on the sofa, hearing a notification on my phone. I opened it. It was Celeste’s new social media post: “Serious men are the most handsome, whether in work or in other things.” The photo showed Theo painting Celeste’s nails under a lamp. My suspended heart finally shattered. I locked the door, put on an eye mask and earplugs. He wasn’t coming back tonight. The next morning, while having breakfast, the maid asked: “Is Mr. Theo not eating breakfast?” I put down my utensils and thought: “You probably won’t need to make breakfast for him anymore. I doubt he’ll be eating at home much.” I picked up my phone and opened Celeste’s social media. Sure enough, she posted another picture with a warm touch. Theo was sitting at a roadside stall, with steaming soy milk and buns on the table. The misty, warm scene was beautiful. Two pairs of chopsticks and bowls were on the table. The caption read: “Simple happiness is having you and me, the warmth of life.” This public display of affection seemed endless. Theo is so picky about food. He’s allergic to dairy and peanuts, and eating anything unclean gives him gastritis. Our chef’s standards are higher than those of a five-star restaurant. He ignores a breakfast comparable to a five-star hotel’s and eats at a street stall. Clearly, he’s blinded by love. I couldn’t resist liking the post. Quickly, the post was deleted. 0

My prediction soon came true. Theo was hospitalized for severe vomiting and diarrhea. When I arrived at the hospital, Theo was pale and receiving an IV. His secretary was crying with red, swollen eyes, looking a hundred times more upset than I was as his wife. Theo was still asleep. Celeste saw me and immediately stood up, whispering: “I’m sorry, Mrs. Theo, it’s all my fault.” I stopped her: “Of course, it’s your fault. You have a major role in his hospitalization. Have you thought about how to explain to the Lewis family that you single-handedly landed Theo in the hospital?” “Yanyan, it’s not Celeste’s fault.” Theo woke up, speaking weakly. When I arrived at the hospital, Theo lay there, looking pale as he received an IV drip. His secretary was beside him, crying so much that her eyes were red, appearing far more distraught than I, his wife. Theo was still asleep when Celeste noticed me. She quickly stood up and whispered, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Theo, it’s all my fault.” I interrupted her, “Of course it’s your fault. You played a significant role in Theo ending up in the hospital. Have you thought about how you’re going to explain to the Lewis family how you managed to get Theo admitted all by yourself?” “Adeline, it wasn’t Celeste’s fault,” Theo said weakly as he woke up. Celeste rushed to his bedside, her eyes as red as a rabbit’s. “I really didn’t know you couldn’t eat street food. Next time, I’ll cook for you myself, okay?” Theo gently cut her off, “You should go home. There’s no need for you to take care of me here.” I stood up from the sofa and stopped Celeste from leaving. “No, let her stay. She seems to be the best person for the job. I have business to attend to, and I can’t spend time at the hospital.” Theo hastened to explain, “I was up all night working on data, and Celeste felt bad and treated me to breakfast. Don’t misunderstand.” I grabbed my bag, shaking my head at his explanation. “Having an incompetent secretary is Lewis Enterprises’ issue, not mine. But I can’t help but be upset that my husband worked all night with a young girl and ended up hospitalized due to some ‘carefree joy.’ So, I don’t want to see you today.” Behind me, I heard Celeste’s anxious voice, “It’s all my fault. Should I try to explain and make Mrs. Theo less angry?” Theo comforted her with a hoarse voice, “Stop crying, or you’ll really look like a bunny.” That night, amid my mother-in-law’s constant worries and hints, being a daughter-in-law in a wealthy family felt burdensome. Fortunately, it wouldn’t be for much longer. In the end, I still brought some nourishing soup to the hospital. The door to the VIP ward was slightly open. Just as I was about to push it further, I overheard voices inside. “Theo, I kissed you because I genuinely have feelings for you. I don’t care if you’re married. I don’t want you to marry me; I just want to be by your side. Please don’t transfer me.” “Please, don’t abandon me.” Celeste’s soft, heart-wrenching cries reached my ears. Peering through the gap, I saw Celeste, tears streaming down her face, leaning against Theo, looking up at him with admiration and reverence as if he were a deity. She gently lifted her face and kissed him, pleading, “Please.” Finally, Theo responded, and their kiss deepened, becoming long and intoxicating, enveloping them both. With a loud crash, the thermos in my hand hit the ground, startling them apart. Seeing me at the door, Theo froze, and Celeste blushed and hid behind him. Theo quickly removed the IV needle and rushed to reach me, trying to explain. I slapped him hard, turning his face sideways. “Get away from me.” Celeste darted over to stand in front of him. “Mrs. Theo, how can you hit him? It’s all my fault. If you want to hit someone, hit me.” Looking at the two of them made me sick. I didn’t want to say another word and turned to leave. “Adeline, it’s not what you think.” I spun around sharply. “Not what I think? Then what is it? A five-minute make-out session, and you tell me it’s just a good working relationship? Comforting a scared young girl?” “Don’t touch me, Theo. You disgust me.” “I’ll have the Lewis family’s lawyer contact you, Theo. I want a divorce.” Theo chased after me into the elevator. I swung my bag at him. “Get away from me. I don’t want to share an elevator with you. Your presence makes me nauseous; I can’t stand being in the same room with you.” Theo stood pale and dazed at the elevator door, watching it close slowly, my disappointed gaze feeling like it could kill him. When my elevator reached the first floor, Theo, still in his hospital clothes, was panting as he ran down the stairs, blocking me at the hospital entrance. “Honey, I don’t want a divorce. Don’t say things in anger. We can’t divorce. Hear me out.” I shook him off. “A misunderstanding? You want me to forgive you? What can you even say with sincerity? Theo, I’m so disappointed in you.” Theo held onto my hand. “No, I admit I messed up. I was foolish. Maybe I felt trapped. She’s young and refreshing, and I lost my mind for a moment. But Adeline, don’t cry. When I saw you, I realized you’re the one I truly love. With her, it was just a fleeting dalliance.” I glared at him coldly. “A fleeting dalliance? Your act is never-ending. Theo, are you an actor? Why not go for the next Best Actor award?” “What did you say? It was just an act?” Celeste had come down in the elevator, and as it opened, she overheard Theo’s words. Her tears fell like beads, and she stared at Theo. “Was everything you said last night a lie? Were you lying when you said you loved me in bed? When you said she was boring? When you said you’d divorce her and marry me?” “What about me? I love you so much. Without you, I’d die.” She cried like a pear blossom in rain. Theo didn’t have time to comfort her and tried to catch up with me. There was a commotion behind us, and Celeste fainted softly on the ground. “Celeste!” Theo rushed over to hold her, looking back to find me gone as I drove off. “Adeline,” Theo shouted, but no one answered him. I inherited my fiery temper from my dad, direct and decisive. Back at the house I shared with Theo, I called a moving company to pack up all my belongings from the Lewis family’s place. The Lewis family’s old housekeeper was frantic, calling Theo’s phone, which was off, and then calling my in-laws. I didn’t take their calls. I just posted a video in the Lewis family group chat. This time, no one spoke up. It was a five-minute video of Theo and Celeste’s passionate kiss. The emotions and dialogue were intense, fiery, and passionate. I added a message: “Isn’t this kind of love worth me stepping aside for?” Then I left the group chat. From today on, I was no longer part of the Lewis family, with no ties whatsoever. Theo’s phone was off, so he had no idea the whole world was exploding outside his little love bubble. When I got home, my dad jumped up, ready to go break Theo’s legs in the hospital. My brother, stone-faced, called our partner companies, threatening to cut ties with anyone doing business with the Lewis family. The Lewis family’s legal team worked overnight to sort out our pre-marital and post-marital assets, drafting a divorce agreement. Celeste, still clueless, was posting about her happiness on social media, saying how much she loved seeing Theo wake up beside her. The photos showed Theo sleeping peacefully, clearly satisfied with their night together. I took the opportunity to save the photos and send them to my lawyer. I love how young girls share everything on social media when in love. It made gathering evidence so easy for me. Theo didn’t want a divorce, but it wasn’t up to him anymore. The collaboration between our families was in the process of being divided, handled by my dad and my father-in-law. Splitting the cooperation between two conglomerates wasn’t a simple matter. After Theo was discharged, he showed up at my house every day, trying to see me. My brother kicked him out each time, not even letting him in the door. But he kept showing up, rain or shine. My mom, unable to bear it, said to him with disappointment, “You say you love Adeline, but then you cheat. You say you don’t like her, yet you act like this. Why bother?” He knelt before my mom, begging, “Mom, please let me see Adeline. I truly care for her. I was foolish and kept making mistakes. Please let me see her.” “She can’t give me even one chance to explain. I’ll make it right with her.” My mom sighed and shook her head. “You should go back. Adeline said she won’t see you unless you sign the divorce papers.” Despite kneeling at our house, it was useless for him. I wasn’t even home. I had already embarked on a spontaneous trip with my best friend. My friend tilted her head, her eyes sparkling as she smiled at me, “You’ve been cooped up since you got married. You don’t know how exciting the world is outside.” We went to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to see the snow, to Shangri-La, and to Qinghai Lake. The beautiful scenery healed me, sweeping away my gloom, leaving only good vibes. The answers were on the road, freedom in the wind. I was determined not to be a fool for love. During this time, Celeste seemed to appear everywhere as Theo’s girlfriend. Friends sent me social media posts where Theo and Celeste were often spotted together. I found it amusing. Theo must have lost his mind, refusing to divorce yet flaunting his affair everywhere. Was he trying to make it obvious? When I returned to Seaside City, two months had passed. The answers lie on the journey, freedom is in the breeze, and I refuse to be a fool for love. During this period, Celeste openly took on the role of Theo’s girlfriend. My friends would often send me social media posts featuring Theo and Celeste together. I found it quite amusing. Theo must have lost his mind; he refuses to get a divorce while flaunting his affair. Is he afraid people won’t notice his infidelity? When I returned to Seaside City, two months had already passed. Upon arriving at the airport, I was taken aback to find Theo waiting for me with a bouquet of flowers. He approached with a tender expression, “Wife.” I took a step back, looking at him coldly, “There’s no need for this, Theo. Why haven’t you signed the divorce papers after two months? Aren’t you enjoying yourself with your little mistress daily? Why keep dragging me along? Wouldn’t it be better for both of us to move on with our lives?” Theo’s eyes flickered with a hint of guilt, “We’ve been married for so many years, do you truly not care about our past? I really need you.” I laughed, “You don’t need me. You need a wife who can enhance your public image, and I’m tired of playing that role.” He needed my status as the eldest daughter of the Taylor family to boost his standing both within the family and in society. Where else could he find such a wife? If I hadn’t been swayed by his looks back then, I wouldn’t have fallen for it. The women he’s with now are only good for amusement. I pushed my suitcase past him and left without looking back, regardless of how dark his expression became. The next day, Celeste reached out to me, asking to meet. I didn’t need to guess that this meeting was to persuade me to divorce, but I went anyway. Before she could speak, I raised my hand to stop her, “I want to divorce Theo more than you think. So, you’d better find a way to get him to sign.” “Otherwise, how will you become Mrs. Theo?” My words left Celeste speechless. She bit her lip, twisting her fingers nervously, and finally mustered the courage to say, “I know you won’t reconcile with him and want a divorce. I didn’t come to you for that. I came because Theo has another woman.” What??

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