Author: Momo Chan

In my previous life, my husband Edward Wilson had saved me first because I was pregnant. By the time he turned back to save his childhood friend, Jessica Mitchell, Jessica had already been bitten by a viper. Edward had hated me ever since. A month later, I was chained up in a secret room with hundreds of vipers roaming the floor. I screamed for help in terror, but Edward’s grim voice came from outside the door. He said, “Elizabeth, you asshole. You got Jessica killed, and I’m going to give you a taste of what it’s like to be bitten by vipers.” In the end, I was bitten by hundreds of vipers, and my body was eaten up. Opening my eyes again, I went back to the day of the encounter. There was a sharp pain coming from my body, and I slowly opened my eyes to find myself at the bottom of a cliff in the forest. If it weren’t for the soft dirt beneath me, I would have died. I was a guide at Ailfa Mount Forest Park and was 12 weeks pregnant. I was supposed to be resting at home, but my husband, Edward Wilson, insisted that I be a guide for his childhood friend, Jessica Mitchell. I was furious. “I’m pregnant now. Why are you making me give Jessica a tour guide?” Edward said, “If Jessica’s personal tour guide hadn’t had a temporary commitment, I wouldn’t be asking you to do this, Elizabeth. Besides, you’re only 12 weeks pregnant. It won’t hurt.” I got angry and said angrily, “I’m not going.” “Go or get a divorce,” said Edward. I could only compromise. In my previous life, I had taken Jessica walking in the safety of the forest park. But she took advantage of my inattention and ran into the primitive forest of Ailfa Mount, which was infested with poisonous insects, miasma, and crisis. I couldn’t leave her alone and had to chase after her. When I came to a cliff, Jessica said that there seemed to be a person at the bottom of the cliff, so I went over to look. But she suddenly pushed me off the cliff. Jessica said, “Elizabeth, go to hell. As long as you die, I can be with Edward.” Luckily, the bottom of the cliff was soft dirt, and I survived. I endured the excruciating pain and groped for half an hour on the ground full of rotten and withered leaves before I finally found the micro-recorder. In my previous life, after I awakened, I had been eager to save myself. Only after I was saved did I realize that the micro-recorder was gone. Without the micro recorder, no matter how I explained the truth, Edward just didn’t believe me. I took a closer look at the micro-recorder and was relieved to find that it was not broken. I had a habit of taking the recorder with me when I did one-on-one guided tours so that I could have proof if something happened that I couldn’t explain. The one thing I could be sure of now was that Jessica had dared to kill me in the primeval forest because she had traveled this road with her private guide. But she overestimated herself. The primeval forest of Ailfa Mount was like a labyrinth. Even if she had walked through it dozens of times, she would still get lost, let alone without a guide, which was why she was also in danger. After I bandaged my injured leg at the bottom of the cliff, I immediately followed the route I had taken in my previous life to leave the mountain. In this life, I didn’t want anything to do with Edward and wouldn’t ask him for help. Coming to the tree I had seen in my previous life, I realized that there were two paths in front of me. In my previous life, I chose the left one, which led to getting lost before I asked Edward for help. In this life, I chose the right path and headed for the right side. After I had walked 1250 yards, there was a sudden chill of cold air in front of me, and then I realized that a white mist had risen from the ground. I hastily retreated. The white mist was miasma, and I would die if I inhaled it. I was forced to the tree again. Looking at the time, it was already past three in the afternoon. Ailfa Mount would be dark by five. At night, Ailfa Mount was infested with poisonous insects and wild animals, and it was very cold. It would be dangerous for me to lose my warmth. I had no choice but to take the left side of the road. After an hour or so, it was dark. I climbed up a tree and looked for a signal source. At this time, my cell phone battery was only 2% left. Luckily, as in my previous life, I got through to Edward at the last minute. “Edward, I’m in distress, probably southeast of Ailfa Mount, within 9100 yards upstream of Snake Lake. Come and help me,” I yelled. Edward said, “How could you, as a veteran guide at Ailfa Mount, not get out? You’re such a vicious woman. How dare you take Jessica into the primeval forest of Ailfa Mount? Do you want to kill Jessica? I know what’s in your mind. Don’t pretend to be lost. I’ll settle the score with you when you get out. Right now, I’m going to save Jessica.”

With that, Edward hung up. I froze. What was going on? In my previous life, he would have obviously come to my rescue first, and he didn’t say those words. After thinking for a moment, I suddenly understood. Edward had also been reborn. This time, he chose to save Jessica first. I tried to call the rescue center, but my phone was dead. I felt a wave of fear enveloped me. On all sides were interlocking and strange trees, and the weird noises were emanating from the gloom. I couldn’t delay any longer and had to get out of the mountain quickly. At the moment, I was lost in reverse, but I had to keep going. My injured leg went from pain to numbness. As I walked, it got dark. I was exhausted. The water and food in my backpack had been eaten up by Jessica not long into the primeval forest of Ailfa Mount. I sat on the ground panting heavily as the temperature reached 23 degrees Fahrenheit and the branches of the trees lit up with eerie silver “lights”. They were night birds staring at me. In the distance, there was a horrible hissing of wild animals. I was a bit desperate, not knowing whether I could get out alive. Just then, a few lights penetrated through. It was the rescue team coming. “Elizabeth, why aren’t you out yet?” The two team members who came, Henry Carter and Kevin Parker, were Edward’s men. “Henry, Kevin, it’s good you’re here. Hurry up and get me out of here,” I said breathlessly. “But we have a mission. Edward told us to search and rescue Jessica,” said Henry. “Aren’t you guys going to rescue me?” I questioned. At that moment, Henry’s satellite phone rang, and it was Edward calling. Edward asked, “Did you two find Jessica?” Henry replied, “Edward, we didn’t find Jessica, but we did find Elizabeth. Should we take Elizabeth out first?” “Don’t bother with her. She’s just trying to delay you guys from getting to Jessica. You guys hurry and head downstream to Snake Lake,” said Edward anxiously. “Henry, Kevin, I’m really dying. Why don’t one of you two take me out first, and the rest of you keep looking for Jessica?” I pleaded. “Elizabeth, the rescue team has a rule that two people are required for an action. Going alone would be dangerous,” explained Henry. “Elizabeth, our whole team knows that you hate Jessica. But you went too far this time. How could you take Jessica into the primeval forest? You should know very well the danger of Ailfa Mount.” Kevin complained about me for Jessica. Henry said, “Kevin is right. Elizabeth, you really went too far this time. If anything happens to Jessica, you are legally responsible. “Also, how could you get lost? You’re the guide of Ailfa Mount. You should be more familiar with the geography here than us.” I was a guide for the Ailfa Mount attractions, not for the Ailfa Mount primeval forest. Henry said, “Elizabeth, stop pretending.” “I’m not pretending. Can’t you guys see that my leg is hurt?” I said angrily. Henry looked at my leg and said, “Then you wait for us here, and we’ll go search and rescue Jessica first.” Wait? How long would I have to wait? I didn’t know if Jessica had been bitten by a snake right now. If a snake had bitten her, they would have waited in place for a helicopter rescue. At that time, would they be able to come back and rescue me? I said, “Give me water, food, and an outdoor jacket, and I’ll get out on my own.” I decided to save myself. After giving me the supplies, they both continued to swim down towards Snake Lake. I was less tired after I put on the outdoor jacket, drank water, and ate cookies. I couldn’t continue walking at night. A campfire was built, and I was too wary to sleep. Just after six in the morning, a faint bright light shone through the cracks in the branches of the trees to the ground, and I started to move. After six hours of walking, I finally made it to the exit. Just at the moment of relief, the stabbing pain in my leg and exhaustion suddenly hit me, and I passed out.

When I woke up, I found myself in the hospital at the Ailfa Mount. “Elizabeth, would you like some water?” A girl asked me. “Kayla?” She was Kayla Watson, my coworker. She had happened to find me fainting at the exit and took me to the hospital. “How did you get into the primeval forest?” asked Kayla, puzzled. I said, “It’s complicated.” Just then, Edward’s voice came from the corridor. “Where is she?” Kayla immediately walked over. “Edward, your wife is here.” The door to the ward was open. I looked over at Edward, and his eyes were so cold. A man said, “Edward, Jessica is in Ward 8.” “How is she?” Edward asked. The man replied, “She’s fine, just losing her warmth.” “That’s good.” Edward went straight to Ward 8. Kayla was shocked. “Why didn’t your husband come in to see you?” I smiled bitterly and didn’t explain. The next day at noon, I saw Edward walking through the corridor with a lunch box. He didn’t even glance toward me as if I didn’t exist. I had bought that lunchbox. I would often go to the rescue unit to bring food to Edward. Now, he was carrying my lunchbox and delivering food to his beloved. It was kind of ironic! I was getting ready for bed around ten o’clock at night when Jessica pushed open the door and came in. I asked, “What do you want?” Jessica said wickedly, “I really didn’t think you were so tough that falling off a cliff didn’t kill you.” I said, “Are you going to turn yourself in, or am I going to call the police on you?” Jessica laughed, “Do you have any evidence? Who would believe you?” “There’s always a day when the truth is revealed,” I said. Jessica said smugly, “The truth? The truth right now is that you took me into Ailfa Mount and tried to kill me. I desperately ran away from you and was saved. “By the way, are you having a hard, aggravating time right now? Edward chose to save me instead of you.” After experiencing my previous life, I was now utterly disappointed in Edward. If I hadn’t encountered the miasma, I wouldn’t have asked Edward for help. “Have you finished? Get out when you’re done,” I said in a cold voice. Just then, the sound of steady, heavy footsteps came from the corridor. The footsteps were all too familiar to me. It was Edward. Suddenly, Jessica slapped herself. Then, she collapsed on the floor and looked at me with tears in her eyes. “Edward and I are just friends, Elizabeth. I can understand that you don’t believe me. But why did you hit me?” The door to my ward was pushed open. Edward dropped the food he was holding and ran over, heartbroken, to help Jessica up. “Elizabeth, you’re a mean, vicious bitch. Jessica wasn’t wrong. Why did you hit her? Don’t you realize she hasn’t recovered from the distress?” “Did I not get in distress? Did I recover physically?” I asked. Edward said, “You deserved it. If you hadn’t lured Jessica inside the primeval forest, not so much would have happened.” “Do you believe anything she says?” I questioned. Edward said firmly, “Yes, Jessica doesn’t lie.” I roared, “Fine. I don’t want to argue with you guys. You’re both assholes. Get the fuck out of here. I don’t want to see either of you.” “My face hurts.” Jessica cried, covering her cheek in aggravation. Edward was outraged and reached out to slap me hard. I was dazed from the slap and stumbled, falling to the ground. A sharp pain came from my belly. Looking between my legs, I realized that blood was flowing out.

After coming out of the emergency room, the doctor told Edward and I that the baby was fine. “You rest easy and nurse the baby. Deal with our marriage after the baby is born,” said Edward icily. “Do you still care about the baby?” I sneered. Edward said, “Of course. The baby is my bloodline. How could I not care?” His words were so ironic. In my previous life, he had ignored the fact that I was pregnant, locked me up in a secret room full of poisonous snakes, let me be bitten alive by the snakes, and then watched as the already-formed child and I were eaten clean by the snakes. But in this life, he cared about the baby. After Edward left, I approached the doctor. “Doctor, please perform an abortion on me.” I thought, “My child, don’t blame me for being cruel. Even if I give birth to you, you won’t be happy. Living a new life, I don’t want to have any involvement or ties with Edward. Forgive me, my child.” After being discharged from the hospital, I returned home and opened my computer to draft the divorce agreement. Just after ten in the evening, Edward came home. “I have something to say to you.” We both surprisingly spoke in unison. “Go ahead,” I said. Edward said, “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to Jessica to apologize, and you’ll have to beg her forgiveness.” I laughed, “Are you insane? Are you asking me to beg her for forgiveness?” “Shouldn’t it be? Jessica and I are just friends. I just think of her as a sister. But you’re so petty and vicious that you always think Jessica and I have something to hide,” said Edward stubbornly. “Are you sure you really just see Jessica as a sister? What sister would ask you to go to her room in the middle of the night to install a light? What sister would come to my house when I’m on a business trip and watch TV in your arms in a miniskirt?” I retorted. Edward blushed, obviously knowing I was right. “Regardless, it was your fault for luring Jessica into the primeval forest of Ailfa Mount this time. You were so evil that you tried to get Jessica killed. Shouldn’t you apologize?” He said loudly. I was furious and took out my micro-recorder, placing it in front of him, then roared, “See for yourself exactly who harmed whom.”

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After receiving my year-end bonus, I took my four-year-old nephew, Oliver Blackwood, to the supermarket. “Oliver, pick anything you like. I’ll pay for it.” Oliver scratched his head, his soft, tender voice replying, “Thank you, Aunt Aurora. I don’t need anything.” I thought he was being considerate about how hard I worked to earn money, and I was deeply moved. But what he said next felt like a bucket of cold water being dumped over me. “Mom said the snacks and fruits you buy are too cheap. She told me to ask you for jewelry and then coax you into saving money to buy me a house and a car! “Aunt Aurora, Mom said you’re single and won’t get married. When you get old and die, all your money will be mine. I want to live in a big villa with a playground!” Staring at his innocent face, I was lost in thought. “Oliver, did your mom really tell you that?” I squatted down and held Oliver’s little hand, speaking softly. Oliver nodded earnestly. “Of course! I’m a good boy; I never lie! “Mom said that as long as I say sweet things to you, you’ll give me anything I want!” Forcing a smile, I said, “You’re a good boy, Oliver, but I don’t have enough money. How about today we buy some fruits and toys? If you keep being an honest and good kid, I’ll take you to the amusement park next time. Does that sound good?” “Yay!” Oliver cheered, throwing his arms around my neck and planting a kiss on my cheek before dragging me enthusiastically toward the supermarket. Watching his joyful, innocent smile, I heaved a long sigh. If not for Oliver’s candid words, I’d never have imagined the kind of schemes his mother, Celeste Langley, had been hatching. Celeste was my age, always wearing a warm, gentle smile, appearing kind and simple. When she started dating my brother, Elliott Blackwood, I treated her exceptionally well. She mentioned liking a particular brand of cosmetics once, so I spent a month’s salary to buy it for her as a birthday gift. She admired a certain singer, so I camped out in front of my computer for two days to snag concert tickets for her. Elliott was unreliable, lazy, and lacking ambition. Feeling guilty about their son’s shortcomings, my parents treated Celeste even better. They had always been willing to fulfill her every request, carefully attending to her, afraid that she might suffer even the slightest grievance. When Celeste and Elliott began discussing marriage, my parents insisted on buying their marital home in the same neighborhood as ours. That way, they could eat at our house daily, have their home cleaned, and get help with childcare in the future. Celeste made no objections, instead linking arms with my mom and praising her thoughtfulness. My parents emptied a large portion of their savings to fund a lavish wedding for them and handed Celeste a bank card with seed money for their new family. After she married into our family, Celeste would come over to my parents’ place for meals every day. At first, everything was great, but over time, the tensions between her and my parents grew more and more. She complained that my mom’s cooking was too salty and not to her liking. So, after work, I would study recipes and cook lighter meals that suited her taste. She criticized my mom for not cleaning thoroughly enough, so I started cleaning their home every few days. She complained that my dad’s voice was too loud and annoying, so he began speaking in hushed tones. She even threw a fit when my parents didn’t wish her a happy birthday at midnight. “Now that I’m married, I guess I’m not important anymore! I see how it is. I’ll always be an outsider in this family! “Forgetting my birthday shows how little you care! Don’t tell me you treat me like your daughter. It’s obvious I don’t matter!” She would even get upset over fruit in the fridge. “You’re hiding the fruit from me, aren’t you? Afraid I’ll eat it all? Your family is just too much!”

My parents didn’t dare to defend themselves, fearing it would make her angry, treading on eggshells. Every time Celeste came over, they instructed me to wash the fruit, arrange it neatly on a platter, and repeatedly invite her to eat it. She liked eating durian, so my mother would send it to her home. She loved shopping, so my mom would frequently slip her money, ensuring she never went without. Yet Celeste treated me with extraordinary warmth. She’d link arms with me, chat endlessly, and even buy me collectibles I adored or treat me to late-night snacks. She said, “Aurora, you work so hard cooking and cleaning for me. I can’t thank you enough! “I like you the most. From the moment I met you, I knew we’d get along so well! “Aurora, you’re the person I feel closest to in this family!” I sympathized with Celeste for leaving her own parents and trying to fit into our family. It seemed natural for her to have some friction with my parents. Whenever my parents complained that Celeste was two-faced or had changed, I always defended her. “Celeste left her parents to come to our home for love. She has to adapt to a new environment and adjust to living with us. It’s completely normal for her to feel anxious, upset, and frustrated. “We need to understand her and show her more love and tolerance. “Mom, Dad, treat Celeste like your own daughter. Stop being so critical of her all the time! “Celeste is actually a really good person; she just has a bit of a ‘princess syndrome’, but it’s not a big deal. Just pamper her a bit, and she’ll be fine. She’s both gentle and innocent! Stop nitpicking over every little thing! “She only pays attention to details because she craves love and attention. What’s wrong with that? “How would you feel if someone called me two-faced in another family?” My parents would fall silent, guilt-ridden. They stopped nitpicking Celeste and tried even harder to please her. My mom tried hard to please Celeste, taking her shopping and buying her anything Celeste liked. During holidays, she would even prepare gifts for Celeste in advance They would do their best to make her happy, always managing to get Celeste smiling They would even occasionally pay for the items she added to her Amazon shopping cart! This effort seemed to improve their relationship. When Celeste became pregnant with Oliver, we treated her like royalty. She quit her job to focus on her pregnancy. My mom accompanied her on walks and to yoga classes. To ensure Celeste’s health, my mom bought numerous pregnancy nutrition books. After work, I would go to Celeste’s home, cooking meals from those books and caring for her as best I could. I would often buy her maternity milk powder, fruits, and calcium tablets, taking great care of her. When Oliver was born, Celeste complained about the financial burden on Elliott. Heartbroken, my parents dipped into their retirement savings to support their little family. I volunteered to cover Oliver’s milk and diapers, even though it left me pinching pennies for years. But whenever Oliver smiled at me, I convinced myself it was all worth it. In my mind, family should always support and help each other. Celeste had just given birth and was emotionally unstable. She was so good to me, so I definitely couldn’t let her worry about money. While money was no longer an issue, childcare was a massive challenge. I was busy working, often returning home late at night. Elliott was too tired from work during the day and lacked patience. One night, while trying to put Oliver to sleep, he almost dropped him. He broke six bottles trying to prepare formula. All the burdens fell on my mom. Not only did she take care of Oliver during the day, but she also stayed overnight at Celeste’s house. After several days of this, she became seriously ill and had to stay in the hospital for several days. Three days later, Celeste, disheveled and desperate, came to me. “Aurora, these past few days of taking care of Oliver have been nothing but fights with Elliott. Our life is in shambles. “I’m so exhausted! I feel like I have no freedom. Everything revolves around the baby! “I can’t breathe. It feels like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel! “Sometimes, when Oliver is crying nonstop, I just want to jump off the building with him! “Aurora, I can’t stand his crying. It drives me crazy. What’s wrong with me?”

I panicked, thinking this was a textbook case of postpartum depression. After discussing it with my parents, my mom became so anxious she discharged herself from the hospital that very day. My parents gave Elliott a stern scolding, but Elliott shrugged nonchalantly and said, “I can’t help it. I’m already exhausted every day, and now you expect me to take care of the baby? That’s impossible. “Mom’s out of the hospital now, right? You can just take the baby and care for him yourselves! I’m your only son; if you won’t help me, who will?” My parents sighed in resignation. To give Celeste some much-needed rest, we decided to bring Oliver to our home. Worried that my mom was overworked, I took the initiative to care for Oliver on weekends and after work. Once Oliver was with us, Celeste’s depression completely vanished. Elliott and Celeste also stopped arguing. Celeste would visit occasionally to see Oliver, but sometimes, she wouldn’t come by for an entire week. She spent her days dressed to the nines, going shopping and eating out. I looked at the crying Oliver in my arms, feeling hopeless. She was the one who gave birth, yet I was the one left to deal with the stress and exhaustion. Still, I never once complained because Celeste truly understood me. Whenever my parents pressured me to get married, she was the only one who firmly stood by my side. “Aurora doesn’t want to get married, so don’t force her! “Does marriage guarantee happiness? You’re just pushing her into a pit of fire!” I was deeply moved as she linked her arm through mine and smiled warmly. “Aurora, staying single is great! Who says you have to get married at a certain age? “You earn your own money, have a promising future, and are surrounded by family and friends who care for you. Isn’t being single so much freer? Don’t let others’ opinions bother you. I’ll always support you! “Just focus on raising our Oliver! When he grows up and becomes successful, how could he possibly forget his dear aunt? “When you’re old, Oliver will take care of you!” I genuinely believed Celeste cared about me, and I grew even closer to her. And now, I realized that she intended for me to spend all my money on Oliver. She was kind to me simply because she was worried that once I had my own family and child, I wouldn’t be as good to Oliver. Over the years, I poured my heart and soul into Oliver, giving him everything I could. From the moment he was born, I paid for his formula and diapers. As he grew older, I bought him clothes and toys. I took him to amusement parks, bought him snacks and fruits, and even enrolled him in early education classes. But it turned out that wasn’t enough for Celeste. What she really wanted was for me to buy Oliver a house and a car and even fund his wedding! I thought to myself, “Why on earth should I take on Celeste’s responsibilities?” It was laughable, utterly absurd! When we returned home from the supermarket, Celeste was already there. She looked at the large shopping bags in my hands and smiled brightly. “Oliver, you’ve made Aunt Aurora buy you so many things again! That’s so naughty of you! “Next time, you can’t do this again. Aunt Aurora works so hard to earn her money!” Oliver nodded with an innocent expression. Perhaps my earlier encouragement stayed with him because he glanced up at me thoughtfully. Then, he turned to Celeste and blurted out, “I get it, Mom! These things are all too cheap. We should have Aunt Aurora save up to buy me jewelry, a house, and a car!” Oliver’s words left everyone stunned.

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I Supported My Wife in Her Career, Only to Find Out She Betrayed Me When her grandmother passed away, my wife, Patricia Rowland, claimed she needed to mourn and refused to be intimate with me for two years. She landed a major project in Ganlria and left for six months. The day before my birthday, I noticed a payment record for a maid outfit. I thought it was a surprise for me. Traveling 1,242 miles to see her, I discovered the truth. On her computer’s WhatsApp, a man had sent her a private message: [Baby, wait till you see how I punish you tonight!] A moment later, Patricia replied: [I can’t. Leopold Benton is here today.] He responded instantly: [Such a nuisance!] [Don’t let him touch you!] Patricia replied with a laughing emoji: [You’re such a jealous guy.] I stared in disbelief at the messages. Then, I glanced at the unwrapped maid outfit and the accompanying adult toys. What I thought was my birthday surprise was meant for someone else. I scrolled through their chat history. It was filled with flirty, suggestive exchanges and everyday musings, from work projects to little things like flowers and random musings. I closed my eyes helplessly. Suddenly, I understood why Patricia, once so eager to share her life with me, had grown distant. I thought she was busy with work, but it wasn’t her work keeping her preoccupied, it was another man! I clicked on his profile. His WhatsApp ID was Can’tHelpTeasingYou, while Patricia’s was SweetSurrender. I once thought she chose that name because of me. But the fool here was me. On his Instagram, I found a recent post. The two of them stood on Ganlria Tower, kissing passionately. Patricia tilted her head back, eyes closed, utterly immersed. The image stabbed at my heart. I remembered the first time Patricia and I rode a Ferris wheel. I was so terrified that I was drenched in sweat by the time we got off. She hugged me, promising we’d never ride one again. The woman in the photo seemed like a stranger to me now. I scrolled further. There was a photo of the man holding a new drone with the caption that read, “Birthday gift from my baby!” Last month, Patricia had asked me about the trendiest drones, saying she needed to buy one for a client. I recommended that exact model. Continuing, I saw a picture of her wearing a large diamond ring on her left hand. The man held her hand, kissing it gently. The diamond overshadowed the tattooed ring from our wedding vows, vows which she promised. Her promise from back then still seemed to echo in my ears. “I’ll engrave your name on my finger, so we’re bonded for life.” Now, she accepted another man’s ring, erasing those memories. Their shared life played out in the photos, attending concerts, wearing matching outfits, and adopting a pet together. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply before opening them again. I gritted my teeth. Suppressing the ache in my chest, I calmly recorded everything, their chats, his WhatsApp number, every detail. Then, I carefully wiped my fingerprints off her computer mouse.

When Patricia returned, she came back carrying a cake, her tone cheerful. “Happy birthday, honey!” After lighting the candles, she urged me warmly. “Make a wish, dear.” I smiled, reaching to touch her face. “It’s been so long… How about tonight?” Her expression shifted, and she instinctively stepped back. “Stop it. I’m not in the mood today.” A smile froze on my face, and my expression darkened. Sensing my change, Patricia grabbed my arm. “Don’t overthink it. I’m still mourning my grandmother’s death. You know how close I was to her. She practically raised me while my parents were away. I promised to mourn her for two years.” I sneered, “From what I know, there’s no custom in your hometown about avoiding intimacy during mourning, is there?” “It’s my fault, Leopold. Can you give me a little more time, please?” she said. When she saw my gaze fall on the open package, a flicker of panic crossed her face. She explained, “Honey, don’t misunderstand. This is something Barbara DeLeon bought and sent here. She’s new to dating and shy. I was planning to give it to her tomorrow.” Recalling the messages I had just seen, I clenched my fists quietly. I already knew she’d refuse me, but it still stung. She pulled a box out of her bag and handed it to me. “Here, a birthday gift for you.” It was a pair of ordinary running shoes. When I thought of that drone worth tens of thousands of dollars, bitterness rose in my chest. “Oh, by the way, how long are you staying this time?” she asked. I sneered, “How long do you want me to stay?” She froze for a moment and then smiled, “Of course, I wish you could stay with me forever. But you know, the company’s project is just getting started, and I really can’t take much time off.” She added, “I’m afraid you’ll get bored by yourself. How about this? I’ll take a break tomorrow and show you around Ganlria. That way, you can get back to work sooner, too.” Hearing the distance in her words, I pretended to be considerate and nodded. The next day, she took a cab to work. I installed two cameras, one in her apartment and another in her car. I knew the priority now was to gather evidence. She took a half-day off and spent the afternoon showing me around Golden Park. The whole time, she was busy replying to messages, occasionally laughing softly. When I looked over, she explained it was work-related. At dinner, she meticulously picked the spices out of my food, just as she always did. For a moment, I felt like she was still the woman I once knew. Then her phone rang. She instinctively rejected it. She gave me an apologetic look. “Honey, there’s an emergency at the office I need to handle. “Take your time. I might be back late tonight.” She kissed my cheek before leaving. I swallowed the wave of disgust that rose in me. Not long after, I heard her car start. I hurried to pay the bill and then flagged a cab. The driver asked, “Where to?” “Follow that red BMW,” I said.

Later, I turned on the camera in Patricia’s car. “I told you not to call me today,” she said sharply. The man chuckled, “I missed you.” “Ugh, you’re so smooth-talking,” Patricia replied, her tone playful. “I’m heading to the office. Wait for me there.” “We could go to a hotel,” the man suggested. “It’s too risky. Leopold has friends around here. Fine. I’ll make it up to you later,” Patricia cooed him for a while before hanging up. Her car pulled into the project department. I went to a café across the street and sat in a booth by the window. From there, I could see her in her office through the window. At some point, a man appeared in her office. His face wasn’t clear, but I knew he was the one. Patricia called me. “Honey, are you asleep?” I forced myself to stay calm, and I knew this wasn’t the right time to confront her. “Not yet.” “Ugh, something went wrong with the handover this morning. I’ll have to work late tonight.” “Don’t overwork yourself,” I replied, pretending to be understanding as usual. “Okay, I’ll bring you some late-night snacks when I get back. Go sleep now.” After hanging up, I watched through the window as the man grabbed her phone and tossed it aside. He pushed Patricia against the desk. In one swift motion, he lifted her onto the desk, positioning himself between her legs. Patricia resisted weakly, but the man walked to the window and pulled the curtains closed. Even with the curtains drawn, their silhouettes were cast clearly against the fabric. A sudden clap of thunder shook the sky, and heavy rain poured down. Raindrops pelted against the windows, making a loud, rhythmic sound. My wife was cheating on me with another man on a desk. I sat in a private booth, holding up my phone to record the scene. I wanted to rip them apart! I wanted everyone to see these two despicable cheaters. But I knew that blurry footage wouldn’t be enough. I needed to calm down and plan my next move. As I stared at the glowing city lights outside, my mind drifted back to five years ago.

It was the year the pandemic broke out. I was juggling a part-time job while studying at Moonria University. One day, I got an order to deliver medicine. That was the first time I met Patricia. She was burning with fever, barely able to stand as she clung to the doorframe. I couldn’t ignore her condition. I made her some medicine, but we both ended up quarantined in her house. Patricia was seriously ill. I couldn’t relax for a moment, caring for her around the clock. When the lockdown lifted, we got together. After graduation, I stayed by her side as we started a business in Moonria. We lived in a tiny basement and survived on dry bread and cold water. But I never imagined that one day, she’d betray all we had built together for another man. I first heard the name Brian Ellison in the second year of our startup. Post-pandemic, starting a company was incredibly tough. One day, she came home excited, practically glowing. “Guess what? I met someone amazing today. He gave us a five-million-dollar deal in one go! Our company is saved!” After that, she always prepared gifts for him on holidays. She said it was necessary to maintain a long-term partnership. But I never thought she’d one day offer herself up as part of the deal. They said love without a strong foundation crumbled like sand. I stayed up late coding, building our website, and assembling our core team. I worked hard to study finance, law, and management, all to support her. But against wealth and power, my efforts seemed utterly worthless. I lifted Patricia to new heights, only for her to play the part of a heartless betrayer. I didn’t blame her. I blamed myself for being blind. When Patricia got home, I pretended to be asleep. She set down a late-night snack by my side. “You didn’t eat well tonight, right? I brought you some steak. Try it. I noticed the hickeys on her neck. I smirked coldly. “What happened to your neck?” “Oh, the mosquitoes in Ganlria are so much worse than the ones up north. They’re driving me crazy. I’m going to take a shower,” she said, quickly covering her neck as she avoided my gaze. It was such a poor excuse. Yet it took me until now to see through her lies. I chuckled bitterly and threw the steak straight into the trash. That night, Patricia snuggled up to my arm in bed. I casually turned over, pulling my arm away. The next morning, I packed my suitcase and left early. “I got called back to Moonria for work,” I told her. Patricia sat up groggily. “I’ll take you to the airport.” “No need. Get some more sleep.” She opened her arms for a hug. “Call me when you land, okay?” “Sure,” I replied, ignored my physical discomfort, and played along with her act. I thought of the time years ago when I returned from studying in another city, arriving on a late-night flight. My flight was delayed, and Patricia waited for me outside the airport for five long hours on the freezing winter night. She caught a terrible cold because of it, and I felt guilty for days. After that, I never let her come to pick me up again. As I reached the boarding gate, Patricia texted me. [Are you at the airport yet?] I snapped a photo of the terminal and sent it to her. Then I tore up my plane ticket and called a friend.

My friend Jimmy Andrade was a travel livestreamer with millions of fans, and Patricia’s parents happen to be among his most loyal followers. I asked him to bring Patricia’s parents to Ganlria as part of a special event for his fans. After arranging everything, I sat down in the airport lounge. To avoid raising Patricia’s suspicions, I put my phone on airplane mode. Then, I connected to the surveillance cameras in Patricia’s apartment. I had seen her chat history with Brian before. Today was Brian’s birthday, and Patricia had already planned to celebrate it at her apartment. But my arrival disrupted her plans. Now, I was helping her fulfill them! As expected, Patricia left work early. She came home carrying a large cake along with bags of groceries. She once said cooking would hurt her skin, so I had taken the time to learn and cook for her, always trying new recipes to surprise her. The person I had cared for so much was now happily cooking for someone else. I felt women were truly shameless. Patricia had just set the dishes on the table when Brian entered the apartment. He acted like it was his own home, effortlessly punching in the door code and even slipping into my slippers. He hugged Patricia from behind. “With a lover like you, what more could I want?” “Stop sweet-talking me!” Patricia teased, tilting her head with a playful pout. “Wash your hands and eat.” “No, I want to taste you first!” “Stop it. Leopold left in such a rush today that I still feel uneasy. Let me make a quick call first.” Brian looked annoyed, but Patricia tiptoed and kissed him to calm him down. After that, she picked up her phone and stepped onto the balcony to call me. When she heard the out-of-service message, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. I checked the time, turned off airplane mode, and called her. “Hey, honey, have you landed?” she asked. “Yeah.” “Alright, then, when you get to the office, could you… Ah!” I watched through the camera as Brian suddenly wrapped his arms around Patricia from behind, his hands wandering all over her. My throat tightened, but I feigned ignorance and asked in a hoarse voice, “What happened?” Through the phone, I heard Patricia’s shaky moan. “Nothing… I just spilled water on my hand. I’ll call you back… Ah!” I called again on purpose, but Brian snatched her phone and turned it off. “What are you doing?” Patricia grabbed his misbehaving hand. “Humph. You care so much about him. It’s making me jealous.” “I’ve already given you my heart and body. Isn’t that enough?” “No, I want you to have my child,” he declared arrogantly. “A child? That depends on whether you’re up to the task.” “How dare you question me? Fine, I’ll make you beg for mercy tonight!” When he mentioned having a child, I thought she would refuse. She once told me she disliked kids and wanted to be child-free with me. I respected her wishes and never pushed her. Now, she wanted to have a child with that scumbag. Listening to their vulgar words, I thought I had grown numb. But why could I still feel the sound of my heart tearing apart? She was blatantly cheating with another man, yet still acted like she loved me deeply. I thought, “How shameless! Since you’ve decided to throw away your dignity, why should I bother preserving it for you?” Jimmy texted me to confirm the plan. Without hesitation, I packaged the footage I had just recorded and sent it to Patricia’s family group chat. Then, I turned off my phone.

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On our third wedding anniversary, I tricked my husband, Benedict Gabor, into signing the divorce papers. The reason was that the doctor said I had stomach cancer and wouldn’t live past three months. Benedict thought I was throwing a tantrum. Annoyed but dismissive, he signed the papers and then whisked his precious Tylor Gabor away on a scenic overseas getaway. Later, when he realized I was serious, he used every method possible, threats, schemes, even outright vengeance, to try and bring me back. But all he got was a final goodbye at my funeral, delivered through a video I left behind. “Benedict,” my recorded voice began, calm and steady, “if you’re watching this, I’m already dead…” That day, the proud and unshakable Benedict finally lost his mind. I first sensed it was over when I landed in the hospital from overworking myself into a bleeding stomach. At that very moment, Benedict was at home, hosting a private fireworks show for Tylor in the backyard. When reporters shoved their microphones in my face, I forced a smile through my pale, exhausted expression. “Don’t speculate,” I said. “Benedict and I are doing fine. The girl you saw with him is just his cousin.” The journalists looked unconvinced, their disdain and disbelief practically dripping off their faces. The truth was, I wasn’t entirely lying. Tylor wasn’t his real cousin, though, just an orphan taken in by Benedict’s family. Our marriage had always been a calculated business arrangement. Benedict had played his role well until Tylor came back three months ago. Since then, he’d stuck to her side like glue, completely forgetting he even had a wife. The “perfect husband” image that the media had painted for him was nothing but a façade. That night, while the entire household staff was preparing fireworks for Tylor, I called Benedict over and over again. He didn’t answer. Left with no choice, I discharged myself from the hospital and took a cab home. The house was alive with celebration, the vibrant colors of fireworks painting the night sky. I stepped into the yard, cold and silent, entirely out of place amidst the revelry. Under the fireworks that illuminated the backyard, I saw Benedict tidying Tylor’s hair and feeding her a piece of cake. Suddenly, I felt like an outsider. The autumn leaves covered the ground. As I stepped on them, they crackled softly. Tylor noticed me first. She jumped out of Benedict’s arms like a frightened rabbit, her delicate expression painted with innocence. “Kendra!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling. “Please don’t misunderstand! We were just celebrating the company’s revival!” Huh. Revival? A celebration? Was she serious? The company did revive, yet she had no part in its recovery, none at all. As my disdainful gaze swept over them, Benedict charged toward me, shielding Tylor like she was a priceless treasure. “Kendra, can you stop wearing that poker face all day?” he snapped, his voice sharp and full of irritation. “Enough with the innocent routine in front of the cameras. Haven’t you had enough? “What do you want? My sympathy? My pity? Dream on!” Behind him, Tylor clung to his arm, her eyes glistening with crocodile tears. “Benedict, please calm down,” she whispered, trembling. “You’re scaring me.” The scene was absurd, a soap opera unfolding in my own home. But I was too exhausted to focus on this drama. To their surprise, I forced a smile, closing the distance between us. “Benny,” I said softly, my tone full of practiced sweetness, “don’t be mad. I didn’t misunderstand. I just wanted to remind you… today’s my birthday. I know you’ve been busy and must’ve forgotten, but it’s okay. I don’t blame you.” For a split second, he froze. A hint of guilt flickered across his face before being quickly buried beneath his usual indifference. “Birthday?” he repeated, scoffing. “Didn’t you always say you hated celebrating your birthday?” Yes. I used to say that. My mother had died giving birth to me. My birthday was also her death anniversary. My father, who worshipped her, would spend every year mourning her with grand ceremonies. For years, I avoided celebrating my birthday. But Benedict had once changed that. Over the first two years of our marriage, he’d celebrated with me, helping me shake off the shadow of grief. I could still remember his gentle words, whispered in my ear with a warm smile. “Kendra, from now on, you’ll never feel alone on your birthday. You’re not a curse. You’re my good luck charm.” Looking at him now, standing in front of me to shield Tylor, I realized those words had long since lost their meaning. But it didn’t hurt anymore. He didn’t know I’d already tricked him into signing the divorce papers a week ago.

The stomach bleeding today wasn’t a fluke. A week ago, I had been diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, with only three months left to live. That scene was still fresh in my memory. It was our third wedding anniversary, and I sat alone in the hospital hallway. Sweat soaked through the diagnosis report in my trembling hands. My legs felt like lead; I tried to stand several times but failed. My frayed nerves finally snapped after I called Benedict for the tenth time. “Kendra! Are you insane? Just because you have nothing better to do doesn’t mean others aren’t busy!” he roared. He wasn’t wrong. I was very sick, and it was indeed driving me insane. Before I could respond, a woman’s honeyed voice floated through the phone, turning my unsaid words into a lump in my throat. “Benedict! I knew you’d come! You missed me, didn’t you?” I heard Benedict’s low chuckle before the call was abruptly cut off. It wasn’t the first time. The first time he stood me up was to pick up Tylor when she returned to the country. The first time he hit me was because Tylor had damaged my piano. At first, I was shocked, but gradually, I stopped caring. The searing pain I once felt dulled into a faint ache. I made excuses for him over and over again, convincing myself it was all because Tylor was his cousin, and he had no other choice. But eventually, I had to face the truth—he wasn’t powerless and chose this willingly. To Benedict, I was nothing more than a distraction when Tylor wasn’t around, a pastime he could step on. My dignity and love were crushed beneath his feet. So, I decided he would taste the bitterness of unrequited love. I would make him fall for me and be haunted by me. If he refused to care about me now, I would make myself a thorn in his heart. While I was alive, I would be a constant, nagging pain. After my death, I would leave him utterly broken. I recorded three videos, preparing to leave Benedict a gift he would never forget.

In my last month alive, I set aside my pride. I tolerated Tylor’s blatant provocations, pretending not to notice. But she wasn’t planning to let me off so easily. One evening, I discovered razor blades hidden in my piano keys. When Benedict came home, he saw me shouting at the teary-eyed Tylor. “Did you really have to go this far?” he scolded, his voice sharp and cold. Silently, I raised my hand, showing him the blood dripping from my wrist. “Benedict! Don’t you know what she…” Before I could finish, Benedict’s gaze fell on Tylor, trembling in the corner with fearful eyes. His face twisted in anger. The next thing I knew, a sharp slap landed across my cheek. “If your hand’s injured, go to the hospital. Stop making a scene here! You really are just a piece of trash with no one to teach you any better!” Every ounce of pride and ambition I had built up in my life crumbled in that moment. The man I had once leaned on now mocked me with disdain. “If you can’t play piano, then don’t. It’s just a tool you use to fish for attention, anyway.” My desperate, hysterical questioning only made me look like a lunatic in his eyes. He scoffed, “How dare you compare yourself to Tylor? She plays piano because it’s her dream. You? You only do it for your pathetic vanity and self-interest.” Tylor picked up a glass of water, pouring it over her head before smashing the glass onto the floor. With her drenched face and trembling lips, she looked pitiful as she turned to me. “Kendra, I didn’t mean to… Is this enough for you?” Benedict immediately rushed to her side, cradling her in his arms as he led her away to change clothes. Before leaving, he threw a cold glance my way. “Kendra, Tylor is like a sister to me. Watch yourself.” His gaze lingered on my bleeding hand, softening for just a second. Tylor seemed to notice this change. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she collapsed dramatically into Benedict’s arms. “Tylor!” he shouted, his voice panicked. Without another word, he carried her away. That extinguished the last flicker of hope in my heart. Left alone, I hailed a cab and went to the hospital to get my wounds treated.

I sent all the pre-recorded videos to my brother, who knew about my diagnosis and was fully aware of my plan. Ours was a family devoid of warmth. Raised under my father’s influence, my brother had always resented me, blaming me for our mother’s death during childbirth. “Kendra, your cancer is karma. You should’ve paid with your life for my mom a long time ago.” That was his first response upon hearing the news. I promised him the company, and he promised to play my videos at my funeral. My phone screen blinked on and off, and the messages came in nonstop. They were from Benedict, his location pinging from abroad. [Kendra, don’t worry. I’ll make it back for the family dinner tomorrow.] [You’re not mad, are you?] [Kendra, you have to understand. Tylor threatened suicide. I couldn’t just ignore her.] [She’s a living person! What kind of man would I be to let her die?] Each new message brought a numbing sensation to my lips and drained the strength from my limbs. As the screen filled with more notifications, I lost consciousness. When I collapsed to the ground, my final question lingered in my fading mind. Benedict, I just wondered how miserable your end would be. My soul detached from my body. I floated above, staring down at my pale face and lifeless body sprawled across the floor. Perhaps my unfulfilled rage moved the heavens, granting me this chance to witness their inevitable downfall. My phone, now running on its last bar of battery, showed over 99 unread messages. The final one from Benedict popped up: [Kendra, stop causing a scene. I might be late from the airport. Wait for me at Gabor Estate.] I let out a cold laugh and willed my consciousness to Gabor Estate, ready to watch the drama unfold. Soon, Benedict arrived in a rush, his tie crooked, his breaths uneven as he stormed into the estate. “Grandfather, where’s Kendra? I need to speak with her privately,” he asked. Anton’s furrowed brows deepened at his grandson’s frantic demeanor. “Benny! Must you always act so recklessly? And you’d better rein in Tylor’s antics from now on. Our family isn’t yet free from relying on Kendra’s family’s support. “If it hadn’t been for Tylor’s tantrums about studying piano abroad and your secret misuse of company funds, the company wouldn’t have ended up in such a dire situation. You can’t afford to push Kendra away. Watch your temper!” Benedict’s expression twisted, a mix of annoyance and frustration darkening his features. “Grandfather, is this really the time to bring that up? If Kendra hears about this, everything will be ruined!” A pang of bitterness coursed through me. So, the financial crisis I nearly died trying to save them from was Tylor’s doing. Benedict’s past kindnesses were never about love; they were about greed, about using me to revive his failing company. “What?” Anton asked, confused by Benedict’s accusatory tone. Benedict froze for a moment, his composure cracking. “She… hasn’t arrived yet?” He sighed, pulling out his phone. He dialed my number over and over, but no one picked up. By the time he had called three times with no answer, panic began to creep into his expression. “Pick up, Kendra! Answer the phone!” He started pacing, frustration boiling over as he stomped his feet in agitation. Anton suggested they sit down, reminding him that the family dinner couldn’t be delayed since everyone was already present. Benedict reluctantly took his seat at the table, but no sooner had he settled than his phone rang. Excitement lit up his face, only to be replaced by confusion and unease as he listened to the voice on the other end. It was my brother, Victor. “Benedict, make sure to attend Kendra’s funeral tomorrow.”

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I was about to get engaged, and my boyfriend suggested we visit a nearby nail salon. However, when it was time to pay, I was told the bill was thirty thousand dollars. I asked the staff if there was a mistake since I hadn’t agreed to sign up for any membership. “That’s the price. You’re so rich; what’s the big deal about paying it?” she replied smugly. Holding back my anger, I demanded to speak with the manager. But before I could finish, my boyfriend cut in, looking annoyed. “You make millions of dollars a year. Why are you giving this poor girl a hard time? Stop embarrassing yourself.” I could not believe what I heard. I went home, packed all his belongings, and threw them out the door. “My money didn’t fall out of the sky! Goodbye. You jerk! Go with your nail salon girl!” With our engagement photos scheduled for next week, I decided to get my nails done. While browsing online for recommendations, my boyfriend, Orson Hawke, leaned over and suggested a new nail salon in our neighborhood. “The place looks nice. Why don’t I go with you to check it out?” It was rare for him to offer, so I happily agreed. When we arrived at the salon, I noticed a sign on the door: [Grand Opening! Membership Discounts Available!] A young woman who looked like she hadn’t even finished high school greeted me enthusiastically. “Hey, gorgeous! What kind of nails are we doing today?” I glanced at her name tag: Vivienne Grey. Turning around, I saw that Orson hadn’t come inside; he was standing outside, busy on a phone call. I sat down and told her, “Just a simple color manicure.” She gave me a quick once-over, then peered out the door at Orson. “Are you getting married soon? Why not get a fancy manicure?” “Just burgundy,” I replied. She didn’t press further and started working on my nails, trimming and shaping them. But after she had only trimmed two nails, I winced in pain. I suspected that Vivienne might be a trainee; her technique was rough and unrefined. “Could you be a little gentler? That hurt,” I said. “Your natural nails are so ugly I have to fix them properly. Otherwise, they’ll ruin the polish,” she replied loudly, making the other employees glance over. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, feeling a bit offended. I quickly requested a different technician. But as I tried to withdraw my hand, Vivienne held it tightly, smiling as she looked up at me. “I’m the only one here. No one else is available. “By the way, we’re running a promotion: top up one thousand dollars and get five hundred dollars free. Interested in a membership?” I rolled my eyes and ignored her, instead texting my best friend, Eliana Baker: [This salon is a total scam.] After an hour, I stood up to pay. “That’ll be thirty thousand dollars. You can pay by card,” the cashier said casually. I froze. I thought, “Thirty thousand dollars for a solid-color manicure? Surely, it’s a mistake. Maybe Vivienne thought I wanted to buy a membership.” I turned to Vivienne for clarification. She rolled her eyes at me and walked straight to the register, dismissing the cashier. Crossing her arms, she looked at me smugly. “That’s right, thirty thousand dollars.” I stared at her in shock, thinking to myself, “Am I being scammed right now?”

I took a deep breath to compose myself. “I only got a basic solid-color manicure. How is that thirty thousand dollars? Please call your boss, and I’d like to speak with them.” I didn’t want to waste any more time arguing with this girl who looked barely out of her teens. I thought I had spoken politely enough, but Vivienne sneered. “If you have a problem, talk to me. My boss doesn’t have time for this.” Everyone else in the salon kept busy, showing no interest in getting involved. Before I could respond, Vivienne suddenly raised her voice. “Sure, it’s not the most expensive service, but that doesn’t mean you can just skip out on the bill! You look so respectable. How can you try to stiff us like this?” Her voice was so loud it drew the attention of the other customers. Even Orson, who was sitting at the door playing on his phone, walked over to check what was going on. I explained the situation to Orson and said to Vivienne, “I need to speak to her boss. This place is scamming me.” I glanced around the salon, but the other employees continued to mind their own business as if nothing was happening. Vivienne came out from behind the register and sidled up to Orson. “Handsome, how can you let your girlfriend act like this? Can’t you calm her down? She’s almost 30, throwing a tantrum over a manicure bill.” She leaned closer to Orson as she spoke, her behavior reminiscent of a cat in heat. The sight made me sick. “Your prices are shady, and you won’t let me speak to your boss?” Then I turned to Orson. “And do you think he’s on your side just because you’re being inappropriate? He’s my boyfriend.” I was sure Orson would take my side, but to my shock, he placed a hand on my shoulder to stop me. “Enough,” he said, his eyes showing a hint of disdain. “Just pay the bill, and let’s leave. There’s no need to make a scene.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I thought, “I’m the one being ripped off here. Why should I pay? As a consumer, is it shameful to stand up for my rights in a situation like this?” “No way! I refuse to accept this price. I need to talk to their boss to find out how this charge was determined,” I said firmly. Seeing that I wasn’t backing down, Vivienne’s eyes reddened, and tears began streaming down her face. She wiped them away stubbornly and looked at Orson. “Why do you have to make things so hard for me? I’m just a staff…” The more she spoke, the more tears she shed; it seemed like she was performing in some tragic drama. I turned to Orson, hoping he’d finally see reason. “Do you really think this price is fair? Do you also think this is my fault?”

Vivienne stood there with an innocent, pitiful look, as if she had suffered some great injustice. I was speechless. “All I asked was to speak to your boss. When did I ever make things difficult for you?” She had the face of someone clever, but she couldn’t seem to understand plain words. Orson, on the other hand, looked genuinely distressed by Vivienne’s apparent misery. His eyebrows furrowed in concern as he pulled out his card. “Stop making this hard for her. Fine, I’ll pay. Happy now?” I tried to snatch his card but he dodged me. “Making things hard for her? What do you mean by that, Orson? This is thirty thousand dollars, not three thousand! No one is paying anything!” I snapped. “I want a reasonable explanation for this price today. If she can extort me like this, how many other people will she scam in the future?” Besides, if I really paid the money, I’d basically be admitting that I was trying to cheat her out of it in the first place. Orson was never like this. I felt there was something off about him today. “Adalyn, what’s gotten into you today?” he asked, his tone annoyed. I glared at him, stunned that my boyfriend was siding with someone else. “Don’t be mad, handsome. I’ll just take the blame for today’s incident,” Vivienne said tearfully. “I’ll pay for this myself, okay? Sure, I’m just a poor working girl, so I deserve to be cheated out of my time, right?” Vivienne practically shouted that last part at me. Her loud voice attracted more onlookers, who began to surround us and chatter among themselves. “She’s dressed so well. Does she really look like someone who can’t afford it?” “Some people these days, I tell you…” “Just pay already. Look how upset you’ve made that poor girl.” “That girl worked on her nails for over an hour. How can she say something so heartless?” Soon, even two middle-aged women were scolding me, saying I had no manners and no decency. I couldn’t believe it. I thought, “Is money so easy to earn these days? Thirty thousand dollars for a manicure, and no one even bats an eye?” When I noticed someone at the door filming with their phone, I realized that if I didn’t resolve this properly, it might blow up online. I took a deep breath and addressed Vivienne, who was still crying. “I’m not trying to make things difficult for you, nor am I refusing to pay. I just want to understand the pricing for this manicure. “As a consumer, it’s not wrong to protect my rights, is it? “You keep accusing me of trying to skip out on the bill. Frankly, I think you’re the one acting in bad faith.” At some point, Vivienne had moved to stand next to Orson. Still crying, she said in a trembling voice, “Handsome, do you think I did anything wrong? “I worked so hard for over an hour, and now I’m being bullied… Just because she’s a white-collar worker, she thinks she’s above people like me?” I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly saw the back of my skull. As more and more people gathered around, Orson’s face showed increasing impatience. He shoved me aside and said, “Enough already. Why are you causing such a scene? “You make millions of dollars a year, and you’re yelling over such a small amount? Aren’t you embarrassed?” The onlookers, emboldened by Orson’s attitude, began to attack me verbally even more. I was furious. “Exactly. Why make life hard for a young girl? If you’re broke, why even bother getting your nails done?” “I don’t understand young people these days, and they just love taking advantage of others.” I thought, “It’s bad enough that strangers aren’t on my side. But why is Orson siding with her, too?” Seeing Vivienne’s tear-streaked face, her smugness barely hidden beneath it, I wanted to slap her. But logic held me back. “My money doesn’t fall from the sky! Is it so wrong for me to ask for the breakdown of this bill? You just open your mouth and tell me to pay, but whose boyfriend are you supposed to be, exactly?” Orson reached out, trying to drag me out of the store, but I shook off his hand. Just then, one of the women in the crowd muttered under her breath, “Make millions of dollars a year, but she wants to skip out on an 89.9-dollar manicure? She shouldn’t bother next time.” Her words made me freeze. I turned and asked, “Did you say a solid-color manicure costs 89.9 dollars?” Vivienne, now visibly panicked, raised her voice. “I don’t want to argue with you anymore! Forget the money; just leave, okay? I’ll take the loss for today. Is that enough?” Her words made her intentions crystal clear. Vivienne’s expression turned sour as she stepped forward, seemingly trying to grab me. I shook her off immediately. When I refused to leave, she turned to Orson, her face pitiful once more. “Fine, handsome. I won’t take the money. Just get her out of here so I can go back to work, okay?” “Let’s go,” Orson urged me. “She’s not taking the money. Let’s not drag this out anymore.” But what Orson said wasn’t right. If I left now, it would look like I was guilty of what they were accusing me of. If the person who was recording at the door had posted that video, I would have been doxxed and harassed online.

The more I thought about how quickly Vivienne’s attitude had changed, the more suspicious I became. “That woman just now said a solid-color manicure is 89.9 dollars. So why were you charging me thirty thousand dollars?” I held up my hands for everyone to see. “This is the most basic design, no embellishments, nothing extra. And I didn’t sign up for a membership. “So what’s the extra charge for? “If your shop sets that price for everyone, fine. But why is it 89.90 dollars for others and thirty thousand dollars for me?” Everyone stared at my nails in silence, saying nothing. I continued, “Are your hands so special, or did you think I’d be an easy mark? If you can’t explain this, I’ll report your shop immediately!” Orson tried again to pull me away, but I blocked him and warned in a low voice, “Don’t touch me.” Vivienne’s expression shifted; gone was her pitiful demeanor. “You’re lying!” she shouted. “I never said thirty thousand dollars! “You’re just making excuses because you don’t want to pay. And you kept insisting on speaking to my manager.” I almost laughed out loud. “Wow, this girl is good at twisting things,” I thought. I turned to Orson and asked, “You heard her earlier? How much did she say it was?” I knew he thought I was being embarrassing right now, but he had also heard Vivienne’s claim earlier. To my shock, he said, “I don’t know.” The crowd erupted in murmurs again. “What’s going on here?” “Is this girl trying to scam someone?” I remembered the cashier from earlier but couldn’t see him anywhere. Pulling out my phone, I prepared to call the police. “Do you really have to make such a big deal out of this?” Orson stepped in again. “She’s just a young girl working hard to make a living.” I sneered at him, “If she really understood how hard life is, she wouldn’t be pulling a stunt like this! Yes, I’m going to make a big deal out of it. “Let everyone see how this shop cheats its customers! I thought, “If we can’t resolve this here, I’ll take it to law enforcement!”

After I made the call, Orson completely lost it. He snatched my phone and threw it to the ground. “Adalyn Creed! What the hell are you doing? Are you out of your mind!?” I froze, stunned by his outburst. I knew Orson cared a lot about appearances, but his behavior today was unusually erratic. Calmly, I started piecing things together. He was the one who brought me to this salon, and his words had consistently supported Vivienne. And now, he was panicking because I had called the police. “Is Orson hiding something from me?” I wondered. I turned to him and asked directly, “Are you two working together to scam me?” The room went silent. “Vivienne, you’d better come clean before the police get here,” someone chimed in. “Are you two really in on this together?” “Girl, I’m with you. Let’s wait for the cops!” Vivienne, overwhelmed by the speculation, finally snapped and started screaming. “Fine! Talk about me if you want, but why drag him into it? Okay, maybe I made a mistake with the bill. Happy now? “I don’t even want the money anymore! It’s all my fault. Is that enough for you?” Crying, she tore off her work jacket and ran out the door. “Vivi!” Orson glared at me, grabbed her jacket from the floor, and ran after her. I stood there awkwardly, watching my boyfriend chase after another woman. “Wait, was that girl your boyfriend’s or yours?” someone asked. “What kind of shop is this? It’s terrifying.” “People always say big shops scam customers, but even new ones are pulling this crap?” Amid the chatter, the cashier from earlier reappeared. Everyone turned to him with questions. “Vivienne said the customer wanted to sign up for a membership,” he explained. I thought, “Oh, so that’s it! Vivienne was trying to pocket the difference.” Looking at the two of them, now long gone, I realized something wasn’t adding up. Just then, the police arrived. I stepped outside to look for Orson, only to find him with Vivienne under a tree near the shop, cozying up. Orson was holding her in his arms, gently kissing her hair and whispering something I couldn’t hear. I pulled out my phone and recorded a short video. Then I went back into the shop, grabbed my water bottle, and returned outside. Walking straight up to them, I poured the water over their faces. “Are you insane? What’s your problem!?” Orson shouted. Looking at the disheveled Vivienne, I smirked, “Had enough sneaking around? Good. The police are here.”

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My childhood friend Richard Davis complained about the stress of grad school applications, sweet-talking me into being intimate with him. Afterward, he couldn’t get enough, pursuing me relentlessly for an entire year. Finding him too unromantic, I teased with a smile, “When chasing a girl, remember to bring flowers.” He kept kissing me, murmuring his agreement. Then came the day when Alicia Tate, the department beauty, confessed to him. Richard asked to meet me. “Help me pick out some flowers later. You girls usually have similar tastes. Whatever you choose, I’m sure Alicia will love it.” So, he did know that confessions should start with a bouquet. When Richard told me he’d accepted Alicia’s confession, it felt like all the air around me froze. When he mentioned Alicia, he couldn’t hide the smile spreading across his face. In all our years together, I’d never seen that expression on him before. I mumbled random responses, afraid that if I said too much, he’d notice something off in my voice. “Janet, are you about to cry?” He asked teasingly, raising his voice playfully. My hands trembled as I gripped the hem of my shirt. Richard knew me too well. He could pick up on my emotions from even the slightest change in expression. I couldn’t lie to him, but I still tried to put up a front. “I’m just tired from all the stress lately.” “Perfect timing then. Help me pick out some flowers. It’ll help you unwind.” When he said “unwind”, I couldn’t help but feel a pang in my heart. Richard always used this same excuse to coax me into bed. The excitement in his voice was unmistakable. “You’re both girls, and you picked it out. Alicia’s bound to love it.” Alicia was our department’s beauty queen, gorgeous and pursued by many admirers. But I never knew Richard had feelings for her, too. And where did that leave me… “Richard, what about me?” I asked, biting my lip. He fell silent for a few seconds, his face darkening. When he finally spoke, his expression was dead serious. “Janet, don’t tell me you’re taking this seriously. You’re just a childhood friend. Some things are just about mutual benefit, aren’t they?” His tone was calm, but each word cut like a knife. I’d taught him to give flowers when dating girls. In the past, he could never seem to remember. “You never need to teach those who truly want to learn,” as they say. He tucked my stray hair behind my ear with a mischievous smile. “You’ve lived in my home for so many years. Everyone sees you just like my little sister. Who could accept being with their sister? If I did that, what kind of person would that make me?” His words hit me like a bucket of ice water, leaving me frozen to the core. I stared at the ground, fighting back tears. “Finals are coming up. I need to get back to my practice problems.” With that, I rushed back to my dorm.

I thought Richard saw me as his girlfriend. We rode Ferris wheels together and watched sunsets. He took me to see the Northern Lights. He’d kiss me passionately just as the sun rose. He’d make all those romantic promises. Richard said I was like a sister to him. Yet every time we spent the night together, in those intimate moments, he’d call me his wife. Turns out, in Richard’s eyes, it was all just a game. From start to finish, I was the only one who fell deep. The phone ringing snapped me out of my thoughts. “Janet, have you been crying?” My aunt, Yvonne Watson, could hear something was wrong. I pulled myself back from the memories. My reflection showed tears streaking down my face, and I quickly wiped them away. “Just stressed lately and coming down with a cold.” She finally let out a sigh of relief. “Don’t forget to take your medicine, and if you’re really not feeling well, have Richard take you to the hospital.” I nodded along to everything she said. Mentioning Richard made Yvonne seem to remember something. “Oh right, Janet, have you told him about going abroad after your exams next month? He won’t try to stop you from leaving again, will he?” The year my parents passed away, Yvonne had planned to take me abroad, but Richard had grabbed my sleeve, begging me to stay. He said his house had many rooms, and I could live in any of them. His home would be my home, and he would be my family. Those words touched me deeply, and I turned down Yvonne’s offer. Now, thinking about my future, Yvonne has invited me again to develop my career overseas with her. I had planned to tell Richard about this today. I’d even written a whole page of explanation a week ago. I was planning to give it to him today. “Don’t worry, Aunt Yvonne, we’ve grown up now. We won’t be as stubborn as we were when we were kids.” “What about you, Janet? Will you miss him?” Whenever I chat with Yvonne, I somehow always end up mentioning Richard. How could she not understand the look of a young girl’s first love? After spending so many years abroad and with relatives keeping their distance from me, an orphan, this departure would likely be permanent. The thought that time heals all wounds brought me peace. “I’ve already contacted a renowned artist overseas to teach me. Besides studying, I just want to spend time by your side.”

While I was doing practice problems, my roommate Emily Walker suddenly exclaimed, “Janet, quick, look at this!” Before I could react, her phone screen was right in front of my eyes. In the video, Richard was down on one knee, holding flowers. “How could I let a girl make the first move? Alicia, will you be my girlfriend?” His nervous, bashful demeanor made everyone around him squeal with delight, calling him a true romantic. Yet just last night, he’d asked me out for dinner, pinned me against the hotel room door for a deep kiss, and promised to bring me flowers. Looking back now, those were just empty promises made in the afterglow of satisfaction. “Man, I really thought Richard was into you,” Emily said. She pulled her chair next to mine, looking disappointed. “He always invited you everywhere he went, got you gifts for holidays and birthdays. Now you’re telling me I shipped the wrong couple?” I forced a smile, fighting back tears that threatened to fall. I dug my fingernails into my palm. Maybe if it hurt enough physically, my heart wouldn’t ache so much. That evening at the cafeteria, I ran into the new couple holding hands. I instinctively lowered my head, wanting to get away from them as quickly as possible. “Janet, why are you in such a rush?” Richard grabbed my collar and pulled me back. “Why didn’t you respond to my message this afternoon? I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” He looked incredibly handsome today, not a hair out of place, his eyes lighting up when he looked at the girl beside him. “This is my girlfriend, Alicia. Say hello.” Over the years, I’d grown used to him introducing me to others as his non-blood-related sister, but this time I couldn’t bring myself to speak. When I didn’t respond, Richard suddenly reached out and pinched my cheek. “What are you spacing out for? Making your big brother lose face?” Our eyes met, and he saw the humiliated tears in mine. Richard’s hand froze, and his gaze turned uncertain. It reminded me of back then, when a classmate from the next class confessed to me, and I didn’t know how to respond. Richard had just returned from basketball practice and, seeing the scene came over and squeezed my cheek, his hand resting on my neck. What did he say back then? “What are you spacing out for, Janet? Need me to reject him for you?” The guy asked Richard what right he had to decide for me, what business was it of his. “What business?” he chuckled softly. “We live together. I’ve got plenty of pictures of Janet drooling in her sleep, want to see?” That night, after chasing the guy away, Richard used to study as an excuse to pin me down and kiss me all night. Playing with the necklace at my throat, he whispered a warning in my ear, “Janet, we grew up together. I won’t let you get distracted from me.”

“Come on, Richard, we’re all classmates here. No need to be so serious!” Alicia tugged at his sleeve. Richard finally relaxed, letting out a deep breath. “I got too worked up. It’s fine. It’ll get better once you two get to know each other.” I pressed my lips together, gripping my lunch box tighter. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first.” In my heart, I thought, “Richard, there won’t be a next time.” Alicia’s voice came from behind me. “Hey, come do karaoke with us later! It’s Richard’s treat. You’re his sister. It wouldn’t look right if you didn’t come.” I thought Alicia had invited me because she wanted to get to know Richard better. But I’d been naive to think it was that simple. Richard was chatting with others while Alicia sat down next to me. She’d been overly friendly to me since the moment we entered the karaoke room. “Janet, I heard you and Richard grew up together. You two would make such a gorgeous couple. How come you never got together?” She had her arm linked through mine, making it impossible for me to dodge the question. “Richard only sees me as a sister. He’d never be with someone he thinks of that way.” I wanted to ease Alicia’s concerns. After all, they’d just started dating, and both lacked the security that comes with trust. But she pressed on with a provocative tone. “So what you’re saying is you’ve got unrequited feelings for my boyfriend?” “No, that’s not…” I opened my mouth but couldn’t find the words to defend myself. “Richard, that necklace looks really nice on you.” Richard was sitting next to Alicia, handing her a piece of fruit. “Oh, my parents gave it to me when I was little. Said it would keep me safe.” “Do you like it?” Alicia stopped him as he started to take it off, snuggling against him with exaggerated sweetness. “I just noticed Janet’s looks like a matching couple’s set with yours. But whatever, I guess she wears it every day because she likes you…” Richard looked at me, his eyes fixed on my neck. “Janet, give me your necklace.” Before I could react, he reached for it. “We’re all family here. Since Alicia likes it, consider it your welcome gift to her.” I instinctively backed away, dodging his reaching hand. He froze for a moment. Then anger flashed in his eyes. “Being disobedient, are we? Don’t forget, this belongs to our family. I have the right to take it back.” The chatter around us suddenly stopped as everyone turned to stare at me. “Richard, what are you saying? Don’t you remember? You got that necklace when Janet had a three-day high fever! You were crying, begging your parents to take you to get it for her.” The person who spoke up was a friend who’d grown up with us. Richard seemed to come to his senses suddenly and instinctively pulled his hand back. “I just thought since we’re all grown up now, we don’t need its protection to be okay anymore. Never mind… I was wrong. If you like it, keep it.” “No need. I’ll give it back to you right now.” I pulled off the safety necklace from my neck. “Now, I don’t owe you anything anymore.” He stared at the necklace in his hand, frozen in place.

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I spent ten years devoted to Nolan, choosing to stay in this world for him. But in the third year of our marriage, he started an affair with a young, beautiful actress. He pampered her excessively, almost cradling her in his arms all day. His parents knew, his brothers knew, and they all conspired to keep it from me. Everyone believed Nolan loved me as if his life depended on it, and would go mad if I disappeared for even a moment. Now, as the man beside me happily discusses the plans for our seventh wedding anniversary celebration, I realize it’s time for me to go. Quietly, I activated a long-unused system and initiated a countdown to my staged death. The date was set for our seventh anniversary. I looked at the anniversary gift box sent by the actress—inside was a USB drive with over 100GB of their intimate videos and photos of her with his family. I felt a bitter taste in my mouth, yet no tears came. Everyone knew Nolan was having an affair, yet they all helped him hide it from me. They knew I was his Achilles’ heel, and if I vanished for an hour, he’d lose his mind. So, on the day I discovered his infidelity, I did three things to break him. First, I gave away the 9 pounds of gold jewelry and the $30 million diamond necklace he had gifted me to a beggar. Second, I saved the provocative messages and 100GB of intimate videos Celeste had sent me onto the USB drive. Third, I activated the system again and arranged a fake death, with the date set for our seventh anniversary. On that day, I plan to leave this world entirely, leaving only a body behind. Never to meet again for all eternity. Three days before the anniversary, Nolan was still oblivious to my plans to leave and continued discussing the details of the anniversary banquet. He even drove me to a luxury boutique in Capital City, photographing all the latest necklaces. Then, I saw a woman in a purple dress walk in—it was Celeste. She ran over to Nolan, clinging to his arm and coyly thanked Mr. Nolan for boosting her jewelry endorsement. The staff exchanged awkward glances between the two. “This actress is really bold, sticking so close to Mr. Nolan.” “Well, I heard her sugar daddy is very powerful, and this jewelry brand is just a stepping stone for her fame.” My face turned pale, and I bit my lip hard to maintain my composure. I tried to act as though I hadn’t noticed, but Celeste’s flirtatious gaze and the scent of her hair brushed past Nolan’s nose. She shamelessly draped her arms over his shoulder under the guise of showing the jewelry. My heart ached, and I could only turn my head away to mask my distress. I was completely unfocused during the rest of the showcase until a piece of jewelry with 99 diamonds set in amethyst appeared. My eyes trembled slightly; it was a relic my mother left me before she passed, auctioned off years ago to pay Nolan’s debts, and I never expected it to be here. Nolan, seeing my interest, was ready to buy it without hesitation. Before he could speak, a soft voice chimed in from beside me. “Mr. Nolan, this necklace is so ugly. Why not let me reluctantly buy it for my pup?” I looked over abruptly, breathing heavily. The woman just gave me a provocative glance. Nolan’s face was displeased, his gaze warning her. The woman didn’t seem to care and grabbed him to stand up, going off to choose jewelry to show him. Celeste pretended to need help, raising her hands for Nolan to put jewelry on her. They were very close, practically no gap between their bodies. I saw Nolan’s expression was impatient, but his breathing quickened. Nolan knew there was something ambiguous between them and noticed my silence on the sofa, panicking as he shook off the woman’s hand to run over to me. Celeste almost stumbled when released, looking over with teary eyes after being steadied. I saw the man’s anxious face, then a hint of annoyance, followed by a deep breath as he pretended to be relaxed, pulling me into his arms. He asked, “Wife, how about I buy this set of jewelry for you? It would look great on you.” Exhausted, I nodded and agreed. At that moment, the woman’s eyes filled with tears, pouting and stomping her foot before glaring at me and running out of the room. Once she left, Nolan’s expression turned gloomy, his long legs constantly shifting, showing impatience. Soon he found an excuse to go out for a smoke. I gestured for everyone to leave, tears flowing like a fountain. Half an hour later, Nolan hadn’t returned. I got up and went to the restroom, and as soon as I entered, I heard familiar voices. It was Nolan! I covered my mouth tightly, masochistically listening to the sound of the woman crying and Nolan’s comforting voice inside. After a while, the sound of kissing and intimate noises echoed through the restroom. Unable to bear it any longer, I quickly fled the scene. I sat in the empty room, clutching my heart, crying out loud. When the two returned, it was two hours later. Nolan had a satisfied smile on his face. “Wife, diamonds are tacky. How about I get you a unique gift next time?” Celeste walked over, and I saw the relic my mother left now tied around the woman’s ankle. My mind went blank for a moment as she fiddled with it, her eyes filled with mockery and ridicule. “Mrs. Nolan, Mr. Nolan gave me this necklace. Does it look good?” Nolan’s face turned pale, glaring at her in warning, holding my hand to explain. “It’s just to thank her for the endorsement.” I acted like I believed him and turned to leave. He watched my figure disappear from sight, then suddenly grabbed Celeste’s wrist, his expression dangerous. “You’re crazy! I told you if you dared to appear in front of Sophie, we’d be done!” The woman pouted, acting coquettishly, “Alright, I know I was wrong.”

That night, as expected, he didn’t return until late. Leaving only a message: “Wife, I have to handle some company business. Go to sleep without waiting for me.” Expressionless, I stood there, watching the man who claimed to be going to work overtime at the company appear on the trending topic with Celeste. On the trending topic, #Celeste with Mystery Boyfriend at Hotel!, the words felt like a slap in the face. Then Celeste sent a photo of the man coming out of the bathroom. “Men like young bodies. Who would stay with an old wife?” I was exhausted, numbly packing everything. Since I decided to fake my death and disappear, I wanted everything about me in this world to vanish too. The next day, the man finally appeared, burying himself in my arms, talking about how much he missed me. “Wife, I missed you so much after not seeing you for a night.” A cold smile appeared on my lips; if I hadn’t seen Celeste’s provocative photos not long ago, I might have been swayed by his acting. Juggling new and old loves, Nolan, you’re quite the actor. He looked around, his tone curious. “Wife, why is all your stuff in the villa gone?” I pushed him away and went upstairs. “Nothing, just didn’t want it anymore.” His heart tightened, his gaze flickering, a bad feeling rising in his mind. He instinctively wanted to say something but finally stayed silent. I stood upstairs, listening to the man’s questioning voice over the phone. “Who orchestrated the trending topic? Don’t you know Sophie is my weakness?” The woman on the other end pretended to cry twice. “Sorry, I just love you too much!” The man’s expression softened suddenly. “Don’t let it happen again!” “Okay, I’ll finish shooting tomorrow night, Orange Hotel 3603, are you coming?” The man’s eyes darkened, breathing heavily, and he said fiercely, “Little thing, you wait for me!” After hanging up the phone, he turned to see my figure on the stairs, forcing a stiff smile. Perhaps feeling guilty, he had people refill the villa with my things. I didn’t question or expose him; my heart no longer stirred.

The next day, I told Nolan, “Come with me to visit my parents’ grave today.” His expression flashed with discomfort. “Isn’t it not the anniversary of your parents’ death? Why go now?” Thinking of my parents, my heart ached. I was about to leave this world and wanted to see them one last time before I left. I looked up. “No reason, I just miss them.” “Okay.” It was sunny before we left, but the temperature dropped and it started raining when we reached the cemetery. Looking at the photos on the gravestones, I couldn’t help but cry, my heart filled with desolation. Suddenly, Nolan’s phone beeped with a message. His face changed after reading it. I looked at his troubled face, puzzled, and opened my phone. As soon as I did, a provocative message from Celeste came through. “Sophie, aren’t you just relying on Nolan’s love? I’ll show you who he really cares about. I advise you to leave on your own before you’re kicked out.” I chuckled, replying to her for the first time, “Dirty things aren’t wanted by everyone. You can have him.” I saw the man suddenly run off, leaving only a curt message: “Something came up at the company, I’ll come get you as soon as I’m done.” He never came even as night fell, leaving me alone in the eerie darkness of the cemetery. I glanced at his unappealing face, confused, as I unlocked my phone. Just then, Celeste’s taunting message lit up the screen again. “Sophie, you’re just leaning on Brother Nolan’s affection, aren’t you? Watch as I show you who’s truly in his heart. My advice? Leave on your own so you won’t be disgracefully sent packing later.” I chuckled softly and replied to her for the first time, “Who wants something dirty? You’re welcome to him.” I watched as he suddenly dashed off, leaving behind a terse message: “Something came up at work. I’ll pick you up as soon as I’m done.” But he never showed up, leaving me alone in the eerie darkness of the cemetery. The rain poured harder as I huddled in front of my parents’ graves, eventually falling asleep. As dawn broke, Celeste sent a few photos. One was a trending topic about Celeste’s safety harness breaking and her falling from a great height! Another showed her with minor bruises, being held tightly by Nolan, who was sobbing uncontrollably. Then Celeste sent a video. In it, she revealed bruises on her body, while a man slept soundly with his arm around her waist. On the floor were several used pills and scattered clothes. “You’ve lost. His heart belongs to me now.” I calmly accessed the system, applying to leave this world behind. The system sighed. “Host, everything is prepared. The information records and USB drive will be delivered at the seventh wedding anniversary banquet.” “You’ve worked hard over the years. Once you depart from this world, you’ll assume a brand-new identity, fulfilling all your wishes. A loving family, parents from this world, close friends, and a partner who will never betray you, courtesy of the system.” “From this moment on, you will no longer exist in this world.” I nodded. Nolan, I said if you ever betrayed me, I would vanish forever. I’ll ensure you understand the price of your deceit and betrayal over the years. I felt my soul leave my body, ready to embrace a new beginning. Nolan, From now on, you’ll never see me again.

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After My Mom and I Met Our Deaths, They Were Driven Mad With Regret When my mom failed to win over my dad, she left me with a billion dollars. But after my boyfriend, Ronnie Douglas, repeatedly abandoned me for his true love, my heart finally broke. I turned my back on everything and bought a deserted island. “Ms. Gardner, you’ve successfully secured permanent private residency on this uninhabited island, along with a custom-designed partner service. He will love you unconditionally and remain forever loyal, the agent informed me.” On the day Ronnie went skydiving with his so-called true love, I vanished from the shore. From that moment on, I ceased to exist in this world. “Donald, have you forgotten? I told you that if you ever betrayed me, I would disappear from this world forever,” Brynlee Herring, my mom, cried, her voice breaking. My dad, Donald Gardner, however, looked utterly bored. “Enough! Systems, strategies, how many times have you spun the same lie over the years? Aren’t you tired of it? Irene is pure and innocent,” he replied. “She doesn’t care about my money, only about love. You still own half of Gardner Group, so what’s your problem?” My mom froze for a moment and then staggered back a few steps. “Her promises to you, you remember them clearly. But what about the ones you made to me?” “In this circle, who doesn’t keep a young, pretty one? The truth is, I’ve been too indulgent with you all these years!” With that, my dad stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I had always known that my mom was part of a system, a strategist. She had successfully completed her mission to win over my dad, choosing to stay in this world permanently. But the cost was clear. If he ever betrayed her, the system would erase her. And now, my dad was tired of my mom aging and losing her beauty. He was openly involved with Irene Costa, his secretary, who was two years younger than me. I couldn’t understand. They had spent decades together. How could everything change so suddenly? I held my mom as she collapsed in my arms, her strength gone. My eyes reddened with unshed tears. She suddenly smiled weakly, “Andrea, your dad will never understand. What kept me here was never the money.” That night, I returned to the villa with a heavy heart. Ronnie, drunk, greeted me by pulling me into a tight embrace. “Baby, you’ve been gone at your mom’s place for so long,” he murmured. “I missed you so much.” Feeling his arms around me, I touched the wedding ring on his hand, finding a sliver of comfort. Ronnie and I had been together since our school days, from uniforms to wedding gowns. We’d been married for three years. Everyone said he, as a cold and aloof heir in Joria, was utterly devoted to his wife. He handled everything personally, never once complaining. At auctions, he spent millions of dollars on jewelry as if it were nothing, just to light up my world. Morning and goodnight kisses were a constant ritual. When I was gravely ill and hospitalized, the man who never believed in God went to every church, praying to give up half his life for my recovery. He even cried when he saw me in my wedding dress. “Andrea, I finally get to marry you,” he whispered that day. He loved me deeply. The wedding ring I designed for him never left his finger, and he never allowed another woman near him. Before I could finish my shower that night, Ronnie burst in, wrapping his arms around me impatiently. His cool lips brushed my ear. “Andrea, help me,” he whispered. After an intense and passionate night, we fell asleep in each other’s arms. Ronnie, who usually stayed awake until I slept, dozed off quickly that night. But I couldn’t sleep, restless over everything that had happened earlier. “Judith… Judith…” Half-awake, I heard him murmur a name. My heart clenched instantly. That name had nothing to do with me.

At that moment, I looked at Ronnie’s phone lying next to his pillow and couldn’t resist picking it up. In all our years of marriage, I had never checked his phone. Quietly, I unlocked it with his fingerprint and was shocked to see the pinned chat at the top. It was with a girl. She looked a lot like me. Her Instagram location showed she had recently been in Andor. That was during the days I was visiting my parents, and Judith had just returned to the country. Suddenly, I recalled how Ronnie, always so composed, had inexplicably gotten drunk that night. When he murmured, “I miss you so much,” who was he really looking at through me? Tears fell unconsciously. He had fooled me and everyone else. Then, I found a folder in his phone containing a journal, all written about one person. Judith Mosley, his high school crush, the heiress to a wealthy conglomerate, his unreachable dream. Back then, Ronnie hadn’t yet inherited his family business, and when he confessed, Judith rejected him. Now, she was back and had reached out to him. She loved shopping at high-end stores. I created a fake account as a beauty store manager and added her. Judith didn’t suspect a thing. The next day, Ronnie still drove me to the design conference himself. In the audience, he sat in the front row as usual, watching me with admiration as I presented my work. The presentation ended with thunderous applause. Then, suddenly, something caught his attention. He stood abruptly, apologizing to me in haste. “Andrea, something urgent just came up. I’ll join you later.” Before I could clearly see the anxiety on his face, he had already left me behind. Looking down, I instinctively checked Judith’s Instagram. Five minutes ago, she had posted a tearful selfie with the caption that read, “It’s such a sunny day. I even made breakfast, but I dropped a plate and cut my hand. I feel so strangely calm. I just want to die.” Her makeup was flawless, her red-rimmed eyes against her pale face evoking pity. Thinking of Ronnie’s anxious expression just now, I tightened my grip on my phone. Still, I kept my composure and finished the day’s activities. Afterward, I didn’t return to the home I shared with Ronnie. I went back to my parents’ house instead. The moment I saw my mom, I couldn’t hold back anymore. Choking on tears, I said, “Mom, Ronnie… he has someone else.” It wasn’t even someone new, it was the love he never let go of. I was just a laughable substitute. Mom once told me that when she was young, she gambled everything on love, her life, and her belief in a man’s devotion. It was absurd. Back then, I didn’t understand her words, but now, I felt them in my bones. They were fighting over the phone again. Mom spoke calmly, “If you’ve fallen for someone else, let’s divorce.” But Dad only thought she was threatening him. “Brynlee, you just want to take half of my wealth and leave. Listen, unless you walk away with nothing, it’ll never happen!” The line went dead abruptly, leaving Mom with a bitter smile. “See? Men are all the same. Andrea, maybe neither of us needs to stay with them anymore.” I felt my heart shatter into pieces. “Mom, is there really no way to save the price we’ve paid?” She chuckled softly and shook her head. “In three days, I’ll leave this place.” Mom told me she had accumulated millions of points over the years from her missions, converting them into real-world money, a billion dollars. She had already transferred it all into my private account. “The freedom I couldn’t have in my lifetime, I hope my baby can have instead,” she said. I held her tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

The system gave Mom one month. If she could make Dad change his mind within that month, she could avoid the fate of being erased. But Mom firmly refused. Her feelings for Dad had completely died. She didn’t want to cater to him, not even a little. Dad took his young secretary to Mangria for business, but I saw on Irene’s social media that their location was tagged on Santo Island. They were clearly out there enjoying themselves, hiking and sightseeing, with no word from them. On the day Dad left, he never came home. I stayed by Mom’s side until dawn, watching as her breathing slowed and stopped. Her warmth faded bit by bit in my hands. Tears blurred my vision. That night, after Mom passed, I called Ronnie, my voice choked with emotion. “Hello?” There was no immediate reply, just the sound of his labored breathing. I knew that sound all too well. Ronnie only breathed like that when he was making love. After a long pause, he finally sighed and said, “Babe, I know you’re hurting, but I really can’t leave right now. Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, I’ll be there to help you make all the arrangements for your mom.” Then, the call ended abruptly. When I tried calling Dad, it was the same busy signal. Holding back my grief, I made all the arrangements with the hospital and the funeral home on my own. Later, I saw Ronnie’s chat logs with Judith. She told him she had severe depression and thought about ending her life every day. This trip back home was, she said, to spend time with him and check off 100 things she wanted to experience before she died. She had sent him a long, detailed list, including talking with someone all night, drinking until blackout drunk, watching the sunset on an island, making love seven times in one night with someone she loved, going skydiving… Ronnie had promised her with utmost sincerity. [Judith, I’ll help you fulfill every item on your list. I just hope, after completing these 100 things, you’ll find the courage to keep living.] Her 100th wish was to wear a wedding dress and hold a wedding with her one true love. Tonight, they were probably working on the third item. I spent that night alone at the funeral home, keeping vigil over Mom. I watched as she was reduced to ashes. But my mind was startlingly clear. By the time I left, the sky had fully brightened. I received a call from the contact I had reached out to a while ago. “Ms. Gardner, congratulations. You’ve secured permanent private residency on this uninhabited island, along with a custom-designed partner service. It will be activated once you arrive.” Using the money Mom left me, I spent 100 million dollars creating a private island for myself. On this deserted island, no one would ever find me again. If no one in this world loved me, then I would love myself. “Alright, I’ll head over as soon as I’m done here.” Outside the funeral home, I finally saw Ronnie rushing toward me. He noticed my red, swollen eyes and pulled me into his arms with a pained expression. “Andrea, I’m so sorry. I came back too late. How could Brynlee pass away so suddenly?” In his hurry, Ronnie hadn’t noticed that he still smelled faintly of another woman’s perfume, a detail someone as careful as him would never usually overlook. I stood there, cold and unmoved. These hypocritical people and their lies disgusted me. What Ronnie didn’t know was that soon, Andrea Gardner would no longer exist in this world.

After I finished my mother’s funeral, it happened to be our third wedding anniversary. Ronnie said he wanted to take me on a vacation to help me relax, back to the beach where we had our honeymoon. These past few days, he stayed by my side day and night, just like when we first fell in love. Ronnie held my hand gently, looking down to kiss my fingers. “I’ve chartered a plane, Andrea. I hope you can move on. I hate seeing you this upset.” His words sounded full of affection, but I could only laugh bitterly inside. Why pretend to care when he had already fallen for someone else? Before boarding the plane, I thought this would be our last trip together. When we landed, Ronnie walked with me along the beach, smiling, “Andrea, remember? This is where I proposed to you.” I nodded, my tone flat. “I remember. It’s just not the same as it used to be.” His face stiffened, and his expression turned uneasy. “Different? What do you mean by that?” A sharp pain stabbed at my heart. I wanted to ask him, when he knelt to propose, pretending to love me, had he ever meant it, even for a moment? Before I could speak, someone in a uniform called out to him. “Mr. Douglas, your assistant said there’s an urgent email that needs your response.” My gaze shifted to the woman wearing a baseball cap. Her strikingly beautiful face held an unmistakable hint of smugness. I recognized her immediately. It was Judith. Ronnie pinned the chat with her at the top. Ronnie frowned. “Can’t you see I’m with my wife? What could possibly be so urgent?” Judith feigned nervousness, her voice trembling. “It’s critical. If it’s delayed any longer, it’ll be too late.” He turned to me, squeezing my hand nervously. “Andrea, why don’t you wander around? I’ll handle this quickly.” I responded lightly, “Alright. I’ll head back on my own later.” As Ronnie walked away, I quietly followed him. Under a banana tree, he caught up with Judith and pulled her into his arms. “Judith, why did you have to be here? I’m only keeping my distance because I have no choice.” Judith leaned into him her tone playful. “Ronnie, didn’t you promise to help me complete the fourth task? Don’t go back on your word!” “Don’t show up in front of my wife again. I’ve arranged everything. Tomorrow, we’ll go skydiving.” “I’ll do whatever you say. But right now, there’s something more urgent…” He playfully tapped her nose, and they laughed as they headed into a secluded pavilion. I stood outside, listening to their laughter and whispers of lovemaking. Though I had already decided to leave, my heart still ached bitterly. I looked up, wiped away my tears, and told myself this would be the last time I cried for him. When I was back at the hotel, his assistant avoided my gaze. “Mrs. Douglas, Mr. Douglas has been busy… Would you like to rest in your room?” So, they all knew. Everyone but me. I nodded indifferently. Whether Ronnie was truly busy or spending time with Judith didn’t matter anymore. The next morning, Ronnie looked rushed and apologized. “Andrea, there’s another emergency at work. I need to attend a video call.” “Go ahead,” I said, interrupted with a smile before he could finish. Ronnie hesitated his smile awkward. “Why don’t you go snorkeling with the instructor? I’ll join you tonight.” I looked at him quietly and let out a soft laugh. I thought, “No more waiting. Never again.” Ronnie seemed inexplicably uneasy. Even he didn’t notice it, but the feeling quickly vanished as he stood up and hurried out of the hotel. While he and Judith went skydiving, I stood alone at the edge of the tallest cliff by the sea. The wind carried the wild grass, leaving no trace behind. The place was remote, but the security cameras would capture everything. Staring at the abyss with the deep ocean below, I closed my eyes and leaped into it.

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When I returned from my business trip, I found my five-year-old daughter, Selina Whitaker, sitting alone at home, nibbling on some cookies. Feeling a pang of guilt, I embraced her tightly and asked, “Selina, where’s your mom?” Selina pouted, her face full of grievance, and burst into tears. “Mommy is at the hotel downstairs marrying Mr. Blackwell. She told me to stay home by myself… Daddy, I’m so hungry…” After settling Selina down, I rushed to the hotel. And sure enough, it was true. There was Ophelia Whitaker, dressed in a wedding gown. When she saw me, her face turned pale with shock, and she quickly pulled me aside. “Dorian, don’t misunderstand! This is just me helping Nathan act out a scene. His mom kept pressuring him to get married, and this was the only way…” Furious, I let out a cold laugh. “Congratulations. May your life together be filled with love and laughter, and may your arguments always be short!” Later, at my wedding to her younger sister, she begged me to take her back. But instead, I made her listen to the sounds of us making love all night. Chapter 

“Congratulations. May your life together be filled with love and laughter, and may your arguments always be short!!” Everyone present thought I was an invited guest, and they applauded my blessings to the groom and bride. Only the bride, Ophelia, looked at me in disbelief, thinking I must be joking. When she realized I wasn’t kidding and saw the seriousness on my face, she reluctantly let go of Nathan Blackwell’s arm and dragged me into a corner, visibly annoyed. “Dorian, what’s the meaning of this?” I couldn’t believe she had the audacity to ask such a question. Last week, during my business trip to Frandel, I had taken a shortcut, desperate to get back early out of concern for her and our daughter’s safety. That choice had nearly cost me my life in a foreign land. But when I finally returned home, the first thing I saw was my five-year-old daughter sitting alone, nibbling on some cookies, while my beloved wife was downstairs marrying her first love. When I walked into the hotel earlier, I saw her and Nathan locked in a sweet embrace, making their vows with sincere devotion. “In wealth or poverty, in sickness or health, through good times and bad, I vow to stand by Nathan for the rest of my life…” She looked utterly devout, her eyes even sparkling with tiny stars of emotion. Yet when we got married, she had asked the officiant to skip the vows altogether, saying it was “too much trouble.” It turned out it wasn’t about the vows being troublesome, and it was about the person she was vowing to. With Nathan’s parents, she was warm and natural, the perfect picture of charm. But in our six years of marriage, she had never once treated my parents with such enthusiasm. If this wedding with Nathan was just an act, then what had our years together been? My heart felt like it had turned to ash. In a flat voice, I said, “I mean what I said. You two belong together, and I’ll bow out.” Ophelia’s brows furrowed, and she let out a derisive snort. “Dorian, stop being unreasonable, will you? My patience has its limits. “I’ve already explained everything to you. Nathan and I are just staging a fake wedding to put his parents at ease. And here you are, making a scene. Can you not let it go?” I let out a cold chuckle and replied indifferently, “Don’t overthink it. I’m genuinely stepping aside. Rest assured, I’m not the clingy type. I’ll file for divorce as soon as possible and won’t drag you down.” Ophelia looked at me in stunned disbelief, as if she couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. “You…” Before she could finish, I turned and started to leave the hotel. But Nathan stopped me, his face full of guilt as he repeatedly apologized. “I’m so sorry, Dorian. Let me explain. “My parents have been pressuring me about marriage, and I didn’t want them to worry, so Ophelia and I staged this. We should have told you beforehand. I truly apologize.” Before Nathan could finish, Ophelia grabbed his arm, her voice icy. “Why are you apologizing to him? He’s just being petty. If he wants to sulk, let him! We don’t need to bother with him.” When I married Ophelia, I had known she still harbored feelings for her first love, Nathan. I had naively thought that with time and my love, I could win her over. But she treated my sincerity as nothing more than the behavior of a pathetic fool. I no longer wanted to play this one-sided game of giving without receiving. If someone else wanted to take my place, they were welcome to it. I felt nothing toward her shameless, outrageous behavior—not anger, not indignation. All I wanted was to sever ties with this woman completely. Chapter 

Seeing my silence, Nathan put on an aggrieved expression. “Dorian, how about this? I’ll explain everything to the guests and publicly apologize to you in front of them. “It doesn’t matter much to me. The worst that can happen is that I’ll lose face in front of my relatives and friends, and my elderly parents will worry about me. As long as it doesn’t hurt the relationship between you two, I’m willing to bear these sacrifices.” He sounded so self-righteous, but I could hear the insincerity dripping from every word. Yet Ophelia seemed completely moved by his performance. She glared at me and was about to scold me when Nathan’s father walked over. Nathan’s father asked, “Ophelia, what are you doing? This is your wedding. Why are you here arguing with another man?” The moment Ophelia saw Nathan’s parents, her demeanor shifted instantly into one of meek compliance. “This is just my neighbor. He happened to be passing by and stopped in to congratulate me.” To protect an outsider, she could so casually refer to me, her husband of six years, as merely her “neighbor.” That was probably all I was to her—a man who shared a roof but held no place in her heart. When I met her gaze, I saw a flicker of panic in her eyes. “Fine. Let’s grant her wish,” I thought. Faced with the curious stares of Nathan’s family and friends, I decided to help them keep up appearances. “Yes, I’m just her neighbor. I came by to wish them well. I’ll leave now. Enjoy the party.” Perhaps my resoluteness caught Ophelia off guard. For a moment, it looked like she might come after me. But Nathan grabbed her hand. “Ophelia, don’t go. My aunt and uncle are waiting for us to toast them. “After everything’s settled, I’ll go with you to find Dorian and clear things up. Once he’s calmed down, it’ll all be fine.” At Nathan’s words, Ophelia stopped in her tracks. However, I walked out of the hotel without looking back. When I got home, Selina threw herself into my arms. “Daddy! You’re finally back. I don’t have to sleep alone tonight! “Daddy, the wind outside was so scary last night. I was hiding under the blanket all by myself, and I was so scared.” When I looked at her sweet, innocent face, my heart ached. I deeply regretted leaving her with her unreliable mother while I went on that trip. Seeing the empty croissant box on the table, I praised her, “Wow, my little princess is amazing! You finished all four croissants I bought for you.” Selina pouted and mumbled, “Daddy, I’m still hungry. Mommy hasn’t cooked for me in three days. She said she’s been busy with Mr. Blackwell…” A lump formed in my throat, and guilt washed over me. Gently stroking her head, I pressed my cheek against hers to comfort her. “Daddy’s here now. I’ll make you something delicious to eat right away.” Selina cheered and jumped up. “Yay! Daddy’s back, and I can have real food again!” Her words brought tears to my eyes as I headed to the kitchen to prepare a meal for her. But when I opened the fridge, I found only some pasta and nothing else. Clearly, no one had cooked at home for days. In the end, I made a simple creamy pasta soup for Selina. Even so, it lit up her face with joy. “Daddy, this is so good! You’re the best!” Hearing her childlike praise filled me with mixed emotions. Just then, the door clicked open. Ophelia walked in, her face sullen, holding a takeout box in her hand. She tossed the box onto the table and glared at me. “What’s wrong with you? All you made for Selina is some lousy pasta? Is this how you take care of your daughter?” Chapter 

In front of Selina, I didn’t want to argue with Ophelia, so I gave her a warning glance, silently telling her not to go too far. Seeing my expression, Ophelia seemed to remember our agreement not to argue in front of our daughter. She refrained from saying anything more but still shot me a defiant look. Nathan, who had come in right after her, immediately tried to diffuse the tension. Squeezing between us with a cheerful smile, he opened the takeout box. “Dorian, we had the hotel pack this for you. Knowing you and Selina might not have eaten, we thought to bring it over.” I glanced at the contents: the remains of a fish with nothing but bones left. It was clearly leftovers. Selina is allergic to fish, and I didn’t want her to be affected even by proximity, so I pushed the box aside. Upon seeing this, Ophelia’s expression darkened. She seemed to think I was insulting Nathan and immediately snapped. “Nathan, don’t bother with them. If they want to eat, fine. If not, who cares?” I hadn’t intended to argue, but I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Ophelia, have you forgotten that Selina is allergic to seafood and fish?” Ophelia’s brow furrowed as if she had just remembered. My family has a history of allergic reactions to fish, and Selina was no exception. I had repeatedly reminded Ophelia not to expose Selina to fish, but she never seemed to take it seriously. However, Nathan loved fish and chips. Whenever they ate out together, he would order it and sometimes even take Selina along. Every time they came back, Selina’s face would be covered in rashes. I had to carefully apply ointment to soothe her skin while reproaching Ophelia for bringing Selina near fish. Yet she remained indifferent. “Oh, it’s just a little rash. Girls her age get these things. It’s no big deal,” she would say. It wasn’t until one incident when Selina’s allergic reaction became severe, causing her throat to swell and her breathing to become labored, that she finally seemed to take it seriously. Thankfully, we got her to the hospital in time to save her. After that, Ophelia seemed to learn her lesson and stopped bringing Selina along to her outings with Nathan. But it didn’t last long. To continue dining out with Nathan, she began leaving Selina home alone, distracting her with snacks and toys. Once, Selina nearly choked on a snack while she was home alone. Luckily, I arrived just in time to save her. She had brought fish back for Selina to eat. It seemed that, just like me, Selina didn’t matter to her as much as Nathan, the one who had once abandoned her. Seeing Ophelia’s embarrassment, Nathan quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Oh, my apologies. I packed this, and I completely forgot about Selina’s allergy to fish…” Ophelia looked at Nathan gratefully, her tone softening. “Nathan was just being thoughtful. Dorian, can you stop nitpicking? “It was inconsiderate of me today. I’ll cook a big meal at home tomorrow to make it up to you and Selina. Will that do?” Before I could respond, a commotion erupted outside the door, followed by the sound of someone unlocking it. I was puzzled, wondering who else besides Ophelia and I could have a key to our house. The voices of Nathan’s parents bragging to their guests provided the answer. “This is my son’s marital home. It’s enormous! “Ophelia is amazing, and she paid for it in full. Nathan didn’t have to spend a penny!” Chapter 

Nathan’s parents entered, cheerfully leading their friends and relatives into the house, only to freeze when they saw my furious face. I was about to explode when Ophelia grabbed me, her eyes pleading. Nathan’s parents’ smiles faltered, and they looked awkwardly at their guests. As everyone exchanged puzzled glances, Nathan’s mother, Hailey Blackwell, avoided confronting me. Instead, she stormed over to Selina, who was eating her pasta and slapped her hard across the face. “Whose child is this, so ill-mannered? Sneaking into someone else’s home and eating their food!” Seeing Selina struck, I lunged forward, ready to kick that vile old woman, but Nathan held me back with all his strength. “Dorian, please, I’m begging you…” “Mommy, she hit me! My face hurts!” Selina, now wailing in pain, tried to run to Ophelia for comfort, only to be pushed away. “Selina, I’m not your mommy. You’re just the neighbor’s kid here for a visit. Don’t call me that… “Sorry, everyone. She’s the neighbor’s child who comes over to play sometimes. I jokingly told her to call me Mommy. Don’t misunderstand.” Ophelia’s face was full of embarrassment as she explained herself to Nathan’s family, desperate not to tarnish his image. “Mommy… Mommy…” Selina, now utterly helpless, tried to inch closer to Ophelia again, only to be stopped by her icy glare. I wanted to comfort Selina, but Nathan still held me back tightly. Nathan’s father, witnessing this, was livid. He picked up a bowl of creamy pasta soup from the table and poured it over Selina’s head, shouting obscenities. “Where did this little bastard come from, calling Ophelia ‘Mommy’ in my son’s new home? How disgusting!” The scalding soup spilled onto Selina’s head, making her scream in pain. I kicked Nathan aside, rushed to hold Selina, and tried to take her to the bathroom to rinse off the burns. But Hailey blocked my way with a group of their guests. “This is my son’s new home. What do you think you’re doing, barging around like this? “Get out of here! You’re bringing bad luck!” I couldn’t hold back anymore. “To hell with you! This is my goddamn…” Before I could finish, Nathan and his people dragged me toward the door. He shouted loudly at Ophelia, “Ophelia, talk to your neighbor! Tell him to leave and not ruin our big day!” Selina and I were thrown out, and Ophelia stood at the door, tears streaming down her face, begging me. “Please, just let this go. I’ll get them to leave tonight. Don’t embarrass Nathan in front of his family…” Looking at the blister forming on Selina’s face and hearing Ophelia’s outrageous words, I couldn’t hold back my rage. “You shameless woman, Ophelia! I want a divorce! “And unless you drag those bastards out of my house this instant, I’ll make sure all of you spend your honeymoon in a jail cell!”

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During an Antarctic expedition, an avalanche struck. I desperately saved my wife, but ended up trapped forever in that frozen land. Afterwards, not seeing me, my wife mistakenly thought I had abandoned her and escaped alone. She fell into another man’s arms, saying, “Timothy, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have survived. I want to divorce him and be with you!” Later, our expedition was certified by Guinness World Records. My wife signed a contract with the Antarctic research team to be their guide for future Antarctic expeditions. However, during the Antarctic journey, another avalanche struck. My body was washed out by the snow, and the truth was suddenly exposed. My wife knelt in front of my corpse, wailing inconsolably, wishing she were dead! At the Guinness World Records award ceremony. I watched Lily Graham accept the award, smiling bitterly. Our team of five, led by me, formed an expedition group. During the Antarctic extreme night, we trekked on foot and recorded the entire phenomenon. This feat filled a gap in human historical records, thus being certified by Guinness World Records. Thinking back on this journey, dangers were everywhere. But thanks to the route I planned, we were almost at the end point. However, before I could rejoice, a massive avalanche suddenly erupted. I desperately saved Lily, but ended up permanently buried in the snow mountain myself. Now, what’s present here is my soul. A reporter at the scene asked: “Miss Graham, you’ve now become a world-renowned female explorer, and many young women look up to you as their idol. Do you have anything you’d like to say to them?” Lily looked at the camera, her eyes twinkling. “When choosing a partner, everyone must keep their eyes wide open. It’s during hardships that you see someone’s true colors.” “This trip to Antarctica also made me realize my ex-husband’s true nature. I must also thank Timothy for saving me.” Seeing this, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. When Lily was rescued after the avalanche. She couldn’t find any trace of me and searched everywhere. Timothy, seeing this, added fuel to the fire, saying I had abandoned her, and even produced a video. The video showed me running away, and he also took credit for saving Lily. Lily was furious because of this and filed for divorce upon returning home. Now, a year has passed, and she has successfully regained her single status. The reporter, seeing this, asked a provocative question: “Miss Graham, as we know, you’ve just successfully divorced. Do you really have no lingering feelings for your ex-husband at all?” Hearing this, Lily’s face immediately darkened. “None! In fact, I’d like to use your cameras right now to tell him!” “Zack Quinn, when the avalanche hit, you abandoned me and ran away alone, and you’ve been hiding from me for a whole year out of guilt! Now that the divorce proceedings are over, I have nothing to do with you anymore!” Hearing this, netizens in the live stream began to condemn me. “Taking his girlfriend to Antarctica and then running away alone, how disgusting!” “Birds of a feather flock together, but each flies alone in adversity. Our ancestors weren’t wrong!” Seeing the live stream’s popularity soaring, the reporter asked another question. “After the avalanche, Mr. Quinn never appeared again. Miss Graham, is there any possibility that Mr. Quinn died in Antarctica?” Hearing this, Lily shook her head. “First of all, I have video evidence proving he ran away at that time.” “He also had a life information monitoring device on him, and I can see that he’s healthy now.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. If Lily had paid a little more attention to me, she would have discovered that I truly disappeared forever in that beautiful snowy night. At this moment, in the spotlight, Timothy came on stage and knelt on one knee in front of everyone. “Lily, from now on, let me be your husband, to protect you in times of difficulty, and to walk hand in hand with you in happiness. Will you marry me?” The whole venue erupted in cheers. Seeing this, Lily nodded vigorously, tears in her eyes. “From the moment you saved me from the avalanche, I knew you were the one destined for me!” Then, she and Timothy embraced tightly, kissing passionately. Watching this scene, my face turned pale, my heart feeling as if it had been sprinkled with broken glass.

After the proposal, the venue moved on to the next agenda. This wasn’t just a Guinness award ceremony. It was also the signing ceremony for Lily with the Antarctic research team. Afterwards, she would lead the research team members across Antarctica, exploring the extreme night phenomenon and filming a documentary about it. The signing was completed smoothly. A month later, Lily and Timothy came to meet with the research team. But when she saw one of the team members, she frowned. “Ethan Dawson, why are you here?” Ethan sneered, “I’m also a member of the research team, why shouldn’t I be here? I’m going to Antarctica to investigate the truth!” “Lily Graham, for the past year, you’ve been saying Zack abandoned you when danger struck, you said he’s still alive, but I’ve waited for him for a whole year, and he never showed up!” “You said he abandoned you so he’s hiding from you, but why would he hide from me?” Watching this scene, I sighed. Ethan was my friend, the youngest research member of the Antarctic expedition team. When I went to Antarctica, he had asked me to help collect some research samples. I never thought that while I got the samples, I would end up permanently buried in that frozen land. After my death, he was the one who cared about me the most. He had come to ask Lily about my whereabouts more than once. But he was always driven away by Lily, who even reported him for sexual harassment. He almost lost his position as a research team member because of this. Seeing this, Timothy spoke calmly: “Ethan Dawson, the route Lily and I took before was too dangerous, even we almost died in the avalanche in Antarctica.” “So this time, I’ve redesigned the route, and we won’t be following the previous one.” Hearing this, Ethan became angry, “You’re just trying to cover up the truth, Zack must have been killed by you!” Lily spoke coldly, “You may be professional in research, but when it comes to outdoor exploration, we are the professionals!” “If Zack had listened to Timothy last time, we wouldn’t have encountered the avalanche at all.” “If even he couldn’t manage, how could you?” Hearing this, I immediately felt indignant. Timothy was actually like my apprentice, having only been involved in outdoor activities for a year. If it weren’t for Lily’s strong insistence on bringing him to Antarctica, I would never have taken him. The route he designed seemed shorter and safer, but was actually full of dangers. That route not only had to pass through mountains infested with snow wolves but also cross dangerous rivers. Any accident at any point could have led to casualties in the team. The route I had planned, on the other hand, was very safe. If it weren’t for the unexpected avalanche, we wouldn’t have had any problems at all. Lily didn’t trust me, a person with ten years of outdoor experience, but instead trusted Timothy, who had only been doing outdoor activities for a year. It was really laughable. Hearing this, Professor White immediately pulled Ethan back. “Don’t worry, leave professional matters to professionals.” “We will strictly follow your route.”

Soon, under the escort of helicopters, they landed on the Antarctic ice. Lily immediately spoke: “From now on, everyone must strictly follow what Timothy and I say, to avoid accidents, understand?” The research team members all nodded. Even Ethan did the same. On the first day, they were safe on the outskirts of Antarctica. The second day was the same. However, on just the third day, problems arose. They entered the hunting grounds of a wolf pack. The male students of the research team, holding hunting rifles, were carefully guarding against the wolves. In the middle of the group, Ethan, with an unpleasant face, questioned Lily: “It’s only the third day, and we’re already being targeted by a wolf pack. According to their habits, they’ll definitely keep following us, we can’t conduct any research at all!” “How did you plan this route?” Lily also had an unpleasant expression, “This might be an accident, we didn’t know the wolf pack had migrated here.” Timothy, shrinking behind Lily, spoke timidly. “It’s okay, maybe these wolves just happened to come here by accident, we’ll keep walking for a few more days and they might leave.” Professor White spoke up, and Ethan finally gave in. On the fifth day, one of the male students fell ill and couldn’t go on. Immediately, a snow wolf charged up. Bang——! Timothy shot and killed a wolf. Just as he was about to be praised by Lily, he was scolded by the people around him. “Don’t you know you can’t fire guns randomly in Antarctica? What if it causes an avalanche?” “Moreover, gunshots won’t drive away the wolf pack, it will only provoke their ferocity, you’re worse than a novice!” Lily anxiously protected Timothy behind her, “Timothy just wanted to save someone urgently, he didn’t think that far.” I watched this scene, couldn’t help but mock myself. If it were my route that had such problems. She would probably have cursed me out loud by now. She wouldn’t have explained for me at all. But for Timothy, she was so tolerant. Seeing this, Ethan’s face darkened. “Professor White, I think we should cancel this scientific expedition.” “If we continue, we might lose lives. We can sacrifice our lives for scientific research, but not for something like this!” Hearing this, Professor White hesitated. “This time, the investment in the research team from above is huge.” “It would be too much of a waste to give up halfway.” Ethan became anxious, “But if we don’t retreat now, and encounter more dangerous situations later, it will be too late!” Seeing this, Lily spoke coldly: “Ethan Dawson, you’re just being alarmist!” “Antarctic research is inherently dangerous and difficult, if we retreat at every little setback, I don’t think you should have come!” I knew that Lily was worried that if they returned now, it would affect her reputation. Ethan looked at her with an iron-gray face, “You call this a little setback? Do we have to wait until someone is bitten to death by wolves before we leave?” Hearing this, Professor White’s face seemed to soften. Lily saw this and gritted her teeth: “You just want to force me to take the route my ex took, don’t you?” “Fine, let’s do it! Professor White, we’ll take the route we took before, now you should feel at ease, right?” Hearing this, the professor nodded, “A route we’ve taken before should be much safer, so let’s continue.” Ethan didn’t object either. I knew he didn’t trust Lily and Timothy, but he trusted me. After all, when the whole internet was cursing me for abandoning my wife and running away, he still insisted that I wasn’t that kind of person. When they started following my route, it became much safer. The wolf pack retreated on the fifth day. The research team began to set up camp and conduct research. A month later, the research indicators were completed, and they continued to traverse. I followed beside Lily, looking at the snow-capped mountains in the distance. My body was buried in that place. Only, my body was covered with thick frost, there was no day it would see the light again. “Is this the place where you encountered the avalanche back then?” Ethan walked over and suddenly asked. Lily sneered, “Yes, this is where Zack Quinn abandoned me. Didn’t you want to know if he died here?” “Go find him now, I also want to see if that man who abandoned me can be found here.” Hearing this, Ethan’s face darkened. At this time, a research team member came over from afar. “Professor White, we found a seal nearby that seems a bit unusual, it’s too quiet around here, in case…” Hearing this, Professor White frowned and immediately ordered: “Everyone gather together, hold your guns tight, let’s go take a look together.” The atmosphere immediately became tense, the team members with guns surrounded the outside, carefully observing the surroundings. Soon, they saw that unusual seal. “Why does that seal seem to have something on it? Could there be people nearby?” Ethan was a bit confused. “Catch it and take a look, be careful not to fire your guns,” Lily frowned. As they spoke, everyone worked together to catch the seal, finding that it actually had a sensor attached to it. Ethan’s pupils suddenly contracted, “Wait! Isn’t this the one Zack Quinn wore a year ago?”

“I’ve seen this style before, it’s definitely his! Zack Quinn must be dead for this device to be stuck on this seal!” Saying this, Ethan grabbed the sensor and suddenly raised his head to glare at Lily angrily. “Lily Graham! How do you explain this!” At this time, Timothy stepped forward, frowning: “Impossible, I saw him run away with my own eyes, you must have mistaken it, many explorers have this kind of device.” Hearing this, Lily also sneered: “That’s right, it can’t be his. The direction of the avalanche was to the north, we’re in the south now, this must be lost by someone else.” Hearing this, Ethan suddenly laughed, with two clear tears flowing out. “There’s a name abbreviation engraved on this device, and it happens to be ZQ!” “Lily Graham, what else can you say! Zack Quinn is dead, he was killed by you!” Lily looked at the ZQ abbreviation on the device, completely stunned. “Impossible! This is a coincidence!” Ethan gritted his teeth, full of resentment, “The evidence is right here, what are you still pretending for!” At this time, someone else discovered a corpse, but the appearance of the corpse was unrecognizable. Ethan’s gaze immediately locked onto the action camera on the corpse. “When the camera video comes out, I’d like to see how you explain!” As soon as he finished speaking, the monitoring device video lit up under the manipulation of the research team members. But the screen was full of green light and mosaics, and the sound was very sharp and piercing. The research team member scratched his head, “It seems to be broken?” Seeing this, Lily snorted coldly, “I would recognize Zack Quinn even if he turned to ashes, this corpse is definitely not him!” Timothy also echoed beside her, “That’s right, Zack Quinn abandoned us and ran away at that time, he ran in the northern direction. Even if he really died, his body shouldn’t be here, right?” Ethan tightly clenched his fists, his eyes full of bloodshot. Seeing this, Lily sneered, “That bastard Zack Quinn, he used to say how much he loved me, but when the avalanche came, I fainted alone on the spot!” “He thought I was a burden and abandoned me directly! If it weren’t for Timothy saving me, I might have died! This kind of selfish bastard couldn’t have just died like this!” “The corpse on the ground can’t be him!” Hearing this, many research team members were infected by her words and indignantly condemned me. At this time, the research team member who had just been working on the device suddenly looked happy, “It’s fixed! Everyone come and see!” Everyone gathered around. Lily looked at the figure appearing in the screen and sighed, explaining: “These are the other two teammates who were exploring with us. When the avalanche hit, they happened to be outside getting fresh water, so we lost contact with them.” “I had always prayed that they had just gotten separated from us, I didn’t expect their bodies to be here so close.” “And it looks like they survived the avalanche, but died due to losing their equipment and freezing after getting separated from us. Ethan Dawson, they are not the Zack Quinn you’re looking for.” Seeing this, I also sighed. At that time, after the avalanche, I was worried about the safety of these two teammates, and because the campsite I had set up had a snow barrier, I immediately went out to look for them. That’s where the video in Timothy’s hands came from. “But, what’s the situation with this sensor?” “Could it have fallen onto the seal when he was running away?” Lily looked at the little device in her hand, frowning deeply. Hearing this, Ethan laughed angrily, “Lily Graham! Can the monitoring information of humans and animals be the same?! You can’t even figure this out! Did you ever really care about Zack Quinn?” Hearing this, I also smiled bitterly and asked Lily: “Yeah, did you ever really care about me?” After saying this, I shook my head. She couldn’t hear me anyway. But, the next moment, Lily said coldly, “Of course I cared.” Hearing this, I was stunned. “I once saw him as my only one, I loved him more than anyone else in this world, I was willing to die for him.” “But what about him? When difficulty came, he abandoned me and ran away alone! Ethan Dawson, tell me, is such a person worth loving, worth caring about?” As she spoke, Lily’s eyes reddened. I knelt in the snow, grabbing my hair and shouting loudly: “Lily Graham! I didn’t abandon you! I really didn’t abandon you!!” But only the desolate cold wind responded to me. I turned my hopeful gaze to Ethan, hoping my friend could explain for me. Because he knew what my real purpose was for going to Antarctica. Ethan sighed, “Lily Graham, if I tell you that Zack Quinn took you across the extreme night because he wanted to declare his love for you to the whole world when the extreme night ended.” “Would you still think he would abandon you in public?” Hearing this, Lily was stunned, she opened her mouth but couldn’t make a sound. At this time, a team member excitedly shouted, “Wait, there’s more video!”

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