Author: Momo Chan

## After five years of marriage to my husband, I finally got pregnant with our child. Overjoyed, I went to share the news with him, only for him to respond coldly: “Having Ethan as my child is enough for me.” It wasn’t until I discovered that my husband had been sending flowers to his ex-wife every Valentine’s Day that it finally hit me: He had never truly moved on from her. All he ever wanted was to have a child with the person he actually loved. Without hesitation, I scheduled an appointment to terminate the pregnancy and handed him a printed copy of the divorce papers. “This relationship? I’ll be the one to walk away.” When I brought home the pregnancy test results, my husband was in the kitchen helping his stepson bake a cake. “Claire, come over here! Look at the fruit Ethan cut himself—isn’t it great?” The way he looked at his stepson was full of tenderness. He was, without a doubt, a wonderful father. For five years, I had often wondered if my husband would treat our child with the same love and care he showered on Ethan if I ever got pregnant. “Babe, I’ve got some great news to share!” He smiled at me, his face lighting up. “Look at how happy you are! What’s going on?” I walked quickly to his side, holding the test results up like a trophy. “Zach, I’m pregnant! Once the baby’s born, Ethan won’t have to play with his toys by himself anymore!” But suddenly, his expression darkened. His voice turned cold. “Having Ethan is enough for me.” Ethan, overhearing this, threw a tantrum. He grabbed the finished cake and smashed it onto the floor. Frosting splattered everywhere. “Dad! If she has a baby, I’m leaving! I’ll go live with Mom! She already told me that if she has a baby, you won’t love me anymore!” Tears streamed down his face as he cried uncontrollably. My husband immediately hugged him, trying to calm him down. “Ethan, I promised your mom you’d be my only child, okay? Don’t cry.” Ethan sniffled and finally stopped crying but turned to glare at me with resentment. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. After five years of marriage, had my husband never considered having a child with me? Sensing my disappointment, my husband sighed. “Claire, I’m just not ready to have another child yet. Can you give me some time?” I quietly went to the bedroom to manage my emotions. On the nightstand sat a model airplane my husband had built for Ethan and a scarf he had hand-knit for him. I couldn’t quite describe how I felt. I collapsed onto the bed, resting my hand on my stomach. He only wanted Ethan. But what about our child? Feeling overwhelmed, I ended up taking an afternoon nap for the first time in years. When I woke up, my husband was sitting by the bed with a jewelry box in his hands. “Claire, I’m sorry about earlier. While you were sleeping, I went out and bought you something—a necklace. Let me put it on for you.” He opened the box, revealing a delicate gold necklace. He swept my hair to the side and fastened it around my neck. “Claire, your health has always been fragile, and I’m worried about the risks of you having a baby. I didn’t mean what I said earlier—I wasn’t thinking clearly. And as for what my ex-wife said, I don’t care about that. Ethan’s just a kid; I’m more concerned about how he’s feeling.” Seeing that I was still upset, he added, “Claire, my ex-wife left me when I was at my lowest, but you stayed. You’ve been with me through it all, and you’re the one I love most. Don’t overthink this, okay?” I thought back to the year I met him. He couldn’t even scrape together $300 and had to move from place to place with his son, struggling to make ends meet. After we got married, I sold my dowry to help him start his business. Over time, he earned more and more money and treated me like a queen. He even made an effort to bring Ethan and me closer, knowing his son might feel uneasy about me being in their lives.

I caved. Since my husband had taken the initiative to explain things, I decided there was no point in holding a grudge. Just as I was about to say something, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, then stepped out onto the balcony to take the call. For some reason, I could sense that something was off. When he returned, his tone had changed. “Claire, let’s keep the baby. It’s our child, after all. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of so you can have a safe pregnancy.” I nodded slightly, but something about his sudden change of heart didn’t sit right with me. That evening, Zach cooked dinner himself. He even took a picture of the ultrasound report and posted it on Facebook with a caption about how excited he was. But that very post brought his mother to our door. “I was wondering why Ethan’s been so upset lately. Turns out, it’s because *you*—this little homewrecker—managed to get yourself pregnant with Zach’s child! You’re manipulative, aren’t you? Trying to use a baby to tie him down, huh?” Her words were like daggers, sharp and unrelenting. She had never liked me. When Zach and I got married, he didn’t have much money, and my parents had asked him to contribute at least a little financially to the wedding. That small request had become a source of endless criticism from her. She had clung to that grudge, accusing me of making things unnecessarily difficult for Zach, and she loved to remind me that, in her day, no one asked for dowries. Now, she had found the perfect excuse to berate me again. “I only recognize Ethan as my grandchild! When Zach married his ex-wife, Jessica, they didn’t spend a dime on the wedding!” To make her point even clearer, she didn’t hesitate to bring up Zach’s ex-wife, Jessica, just to spite me. I turned to Zach for help, desperation in my eyes. He sighed and said, “Mom, Jessica and I have been over for years. Can we not do this?” His mother’s eyes widened in disbelief. “But you still love her, don’t you?” Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I couldn’t help but wonder—did Zach still have feelings for his ex-wife? I tried to silence that thought, reminding myself to trust my husband. But the sound of a chair being kicked over snapped me out of it. “Enough, Mom!” Zach’s voice boomed, startling her into silence. “I said not to bring this up anymore! And don’t mention Jessica in front of Claire again—it’ll just upset her.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated, then gently helped me back to the bedroom to rest. Lying there, I chastised myself internally. Zach had done so much to protect me—how could I let myself doubt him like that? The next day, I woke up to the smell of food. It was already 11 a.m., and Zach was setting the last dish on the table. “Wait, is that bell peppers?” I asked, surprised. “I thought you hated them? Why’d you cook them today?” Before he could answer, the doorbell rang. Zach’s mother hurried to open the door. It was Ethan and Jessica, his ex-wife. His mother’s face lit up as she ushered them in. “Jessica, come in! You know, Zach still thinks about you. Look! He even made bell peppers for you—just like he used to. Go ahead, try them and see if they still taste the same!” Zach froze, panic flashing across his face. He leaned in close to whisper to me, “Claire, I made them for Ethan.” He reached out as if he wanted to hold me but stopped himself halfway, withdrawing his hand with an apologetic look. “Ethan’s here. I don’t want to make him feel uncomfortable.” The three of them looked like a picture-perfect family, while I, the one who was supposed to be his wife, felt like an outsider. Jessica’s gaze drifted to my stomach. After a pause, she said, “Once your wife has the baby, I’ll take Ethan to live with me. You’ll have your own child, so there’s no need for you to worry about mine anymore.” Her words seemed like an attempt to draw a clear line between her and Zach, but I could tell she was testing him, waiting to see how he would react. Zach didn’t respond. Instead, he quietly placed a piece of beef on my plate. But I’m allergic to beef. Jessica gave him a long, searching look before saying, “Zach, do you even know what you really want?”

My husband’s sharp gaze swept over Jessica, but she just laughed unabashedly. “It’s time you figured it out,” she said, grabbing her bag. “I’ve got things to do. Ethan can stay with you for a few days.” With that, she walked out the door. My husband’s eyes lingered on her retreating figure for a moment before he quickly looked down, avoiding my gaze. Ethan stared at him, wide-eyed. “Dad, Mom says you love her the most. So why are you with Aunt Claire?” My husband frowned, his voice curt. “You’re too young to understand.” Under the table, he squeezed my hand, signaling me to stay calm. His mother snorted. “Your dad’s just trying to upset your mom, that’s all!” I could tell she said it to get under my skin, and honestly, it worked. My mind was already spinning. “I have work to do,” Zach said, setting his fork down and getting up to leave. But Ethan clung to his sleeve, his voice trembling. “Dad, I hate you! Mom’s always crying because of you!” My usually gentle husband suddenly snapped, shouting, “Go study! If you don’t finish by eleven, don’t even think about going to bed!” Ethan froze for a moment before bursting into tears, but Zach didn’t flinch. After that day, Zach started treating me better than ever. To the point where, if I’d asked for the stars, he might have tried to pluck them from the sky for me. When I was about six weeks pregnant, Zach suddenly threw on a jacket late at night, getting ready to leave. I handed him a thicker coat. “It’s cold outside. Are you heading back to the office this late?” He hesitated for a moment, then placed his hands firmly on my shoulders, looking serious. “Jessica has a high fever. You know her family isn’t around, so I…” “Go ahead,” I said, cutting him off, my face expressionless. He seemed anxious, worried I might be upset. “I’ll be back soon. I don’t have feelings for her anymore. I’m just taking her to the hospital because she’s Ethan’s mom.” I pushed him gently toward the door, slipping the car keys into his hand. The next morning, he called me from the hospital, asking if I could bring Ethan over to see his mom. I didn’t hesitate. I woke Ethan up, got him dressed, and took him to the hospital. “Claire, you haven’t eaten yet, have you?” Zach asked when we arrived. “I’ll go grab breakfast for all of us. Wait here.” As soon as he left, Jessica pointed to the phone Zach had accidentally left on the nightstand. “Zach and I have always loved each other,” she said, her tone dripping with smugness. “If you open our chat history, you’ll see exactly what I mean.” Her words were like a lure, and against my better judgment, I picked up his phone and unlocked it. The first thing I saw was a recurring order: every Valentine’s Day, Zach had been sending Jessica flowers. Oddly enough, I didn’t feel angry. Instead, I felt a strange sense of relief. Ethan, oblivious to my emotions, laughed and pointed at me. “Mom, look! Aunt Claire’s eyes are red!” The hospital was twenty kilometers from home. I didn’t take a cab or a bus. I walked the entire way, letting the cold wind clear my head. When I got home, I calmly drafted a divorce agreement, printed it out, and scheduled an appointment for a termination. Later that evening, Zach came home carrying a bag of hot food. “Claire, why’d you leave? You haven’t eaten yet. Come sit down.” His mother, who had been lingering nearby, rolled her eyes at me and said mockingly, “What’s next? Do you need my son to spoon-feed you too?” Zach’s face hardened. “Mom, can you stop being so rude to Claire?” But I wasn’t in the mood to watch him play the role of the perfect husband anymore. I handed him the divorce papers. “I’m done. This marriage is over. I’ll take the house and the car—as compensation. You don’t love me, so let’s not pretend anymore. I’ll terminate the pregnancy. There’s no point in bringing this child into the world.”

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At my cousin Aria’s engagement party, her fiancé showed up with a heavy metal safe, claiming it was filled with gold bars as part of his engagement gift to her. Aria was overwhelmed with emotion and was just about to open it, but he stopped her. He sweet-talked her, insisting she shouldn’t open the safe and instead suggested moving it straight to our family’s safe deposit box for safekeeping. Naturally, he asked my parents to guard it for Aria. But here’s the thing—those “gold bars” were obviously fake. His plan was to pass the problem to my family, so later, when the truth came out, Aria would blame us for stealing the gold. That way, he could call off the wedding and demand the engagement gift money back. I exposed his scheme on the spot, but Aria just laughed it off and forgave him. The wedding went ahead as planned. However, on the wedding day, it was Aria’s bold move that completely shattered him. “Luna, this is the engagement gift from our family to you,” Colin’s mom said warmly. “I bought a few gold bars years ago when the price was low. We’re not wealthy and don’t have much to give, but we hope you’ll accept this gift with no hard feelings.” She carefully set a polished, elegant box on the table. I blinked, feeling momentarily disoriented by the familiar scene. It was as though I’d been transported to that exact moment from my previous life. But soon, I snapped back to my senses. I glanced toward my parents, and my eyes stung with emotion. Taking a few steps forward, I threw my arms around them tightly. In my last life, my biggest regret before I died was leaving my parents behind. I was afraid they’d be heartbroken, unable to cope with losing me. Colin, Aria’s boyfriend, held her hand and gave her a heartfelt declaration: “Babe, I’m sorry for putting you through so much. I promise, after we’re married, I’ll take care of you like a queen.” Aria lowered her head shyly, her cheeks flushed. “It’s not a hardship at all,” she murmured. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.” My aunt and uncle were beaming with joy, practically unable to contain their excitement as they stared at the dazzling box. “You’re too kind,” my uncle said to Colin’s mom. “We’re lucky to have such a generous gift. Without Aria, we’d never see this much gold in our lives!” In my previous life, this was the exact moment I started getting suspicious. Colin’s family wasn’t wealthy—how could they afford to give such an extravagant gift? Something felt off. Later, when Colin left, I discreetly advised Aria to double-check the gold bars to make sure everything was legitimate. Her face immediately darkened. “You’re just jealous of me,” she snapped. “You can’t stand to see me happy!” My parents quickly stepped in to smooth things over, and I decided to drop the subject. But the truth was, the gold in that box was fake. This was all part of Colin’s plan to break off the engagement without taking the blame. Under Colin’s sweet talk and endless promises, Aria never even opened the box to check. Instead, she insisted on moving the box into our family’s safe for safekeeping. That box of fake gold bars wasn’t just a scam—it was the beginning of my death countdown.

Aria and Colin didn’t start dating until after college. Aria had fallen for him at first sight during freshman orientation. Colin was handsome and aloof, which only made her more determined to pursue him. She spent all four years chasing him relentlessly, despite his indifference. It wasn’t until after graduation, when Colin broke up with his ex-girlfriend, that he finally agreed to date her. Once they got together, Aria became completely obsessed. She saw every woman in Colin’s life as a threat, convinced that any female interaction was a potential rival. Even I—her younger cousin, whom she met only once on their engagement day—wasn’t spared from her suspicions. In truth, Colin was exhausted. He’d tried to break up with her several times because of her unhealthy possessiveness, but every time, Aria would spiral into threats of self-harm to force him to stay. I only learned about this from my aunt when she came to our house, crying about the situation. So, when Colin finally agreed to marry Aria, she was over the moon. Her obsessive love for him blinded her to everything else. On the day of the engagement, under Colin’s sweet words and grand promises, Aria happily placed the engagement gift—the box of purported gold bars—into our family’s safe for safekeeping. The very next day, Aria showed up at our house in a hurry, saying she felt uneasy and wanted to keep the gold bars closer to her. Thinking nothing of it, I retrieved the box from the safe and handed it to her. She opened it on the spot and was horrified to discover its contents—cheap, fake gold ornaments, not real gold bars. Her face turned pale as she clutched the box and ran out the door. I assumed she was rushing to confront Colin, so I didn’t think much of it and moved on with my day. But what came next was something I could never have imagined. Aria burst into my house in a frenzy and stabbed me to death. Not only that—she dismembered my body. It wasn’t until after my death that I learned the truth. Colin had used Aria as a scapegoat, claiming she had lost the engagement gift. Then, he turned around and married another woman. When Aria tried to reconcile with him, he not only rejected her but also demanded she repay the “missing” engagement gift worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Consumed by rage and despair, Aria blamed everything on me. In her twisted mind, I was the cause of her humiliation and loss. That’s why she showed up at my door and killed me. The pain of dying like that was indescribable—pure agony. No one would ever want to experience it again. Just thinking about it sent a shiver down my spine. This time, I vowed to stay far away from Aria and her obsessive, toxic love life. I was determined to live, and to live well.

At this moment, Colin was gazing at Aria with tenderness, as if she were the only person in the world. “Sweetheart, this engagement gift is really important. It’s tied to our wedding and our future together. Your cousin’s family has a safe—we could leave it with them for safekeeping. What do you think?” And here it was—the same tired routine. I could already see Aria, swept away by his sweet words, getting ready to stash the six-figure engagement gift at our house again. Before she could agree, I quickly stepped forward. “Colin,” I said with a smile, “our family’s safe broke down a few weeks ago. I’m afraid we can’t take on the responsibility of guarding something so valuable. If something went wrong before the wedding, it’d be terrible.” My parents, standing nearby and unaware of the brewing tension, looked like they were about to offer help. I discreetly stopped them with a glance. Hearing my comment about potential wedding issues, Aria hesitated and seemed to snap out of her daze. “Maybe we should just keep it at my house…” But Colin frowned. “Your cousin’s neighborhood has better security. Fewer people coming and going. Even without a safe, it’s still safer to leave it there.” Aria mulled it over and nodded, eyes sparkling as she turned to my dad. “Uncle, would you mind keeping it for us for a little while? Once we move into our new home after the wedding, we’ll take it back.” I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they’d fall out of my head. They really weren’t going to let this go, were they? My dad, thinking it wasn’t a big deal, was about to agree, but I jumped in again. “You know, nowhere’s safer than the bank,” I suggested. “Why not rent a safe deposit box and store it there instead?” Colin’s face immediately tensed, and his parents, who had been quietly observing, started shifting nervously in their seats, stealing glances at Colin. Their reaction made me laugh bitterly to myself. So, they all knew the gold bars were fake. And here they were, trying to drag my clueless family into their scheme. “Is there a problem?” I asked innocently. “I think it’s a pretty good suggestion.” Colin’s mom smacked her knee and exclaimed, “But I heard gold prices are still going up! Storing it at the bank now would be a huge loss!” Colin quickly chimed in, “Exactly! Selling it or storing it would cost too much in fees.” I nodded along as if I agreed. Then, with a smile, I added, “That’s true if you sell it. But you could just store the gold bars in a safe deposit box. That way, you don’t lose value, and you get the added security. “Plus, no one’s home security system can compare to a bank’s. If something happens and it’s stolen, the bank’s insurance will cover it. At home, once it’s gone, it’s just gone.” Colin’s face turned sour, and he looked down, playing the part of a heartbroken man. “This engagement gift is our family’s hard-earned savings,” he muttered. “I just wanted Aria to be able to see my sincerity whenever she wanted…” Aria, moved by his “sadness,” quickly jumped in. “There’s no need to take it to the bank. We’ll just keep it at home.” Every time Colin and Aria disagreed, all it took was a sad look from Colin to make Aria cave. But I’d already lived through this story once before, and there was no way I was letting myself get dragged into their drama again. If Colin wanted to act, well, two could play that game.

I put on my best sincere smile and said to Aria, “How about this? Our family will gift you a safe as a wedding present. That way, you don’t have to worry about the engagement gift being stolen, and you can always see Colin’s sincerity whenever you like.” “Congratulations in advance, Aria and Colin! Wishing you a happy marriage that lasts forever.” If buying a safe was all it took to get these two out of my life, I’d gladly pay for it. Colin’s parents were now frantically signaling to him with their eyes, but Colin seemed momentarily at a loss for words. Aria, on the other hand, beamed at me. “That’s such a thoughtful gift! Thank you!” Colin hadn’t expected her to agree so quickly. He immediately tried to wave it off. “That’s really unnecessary! These gold bars are worth over a hundred thousand dollars. Buying a safe would be expensive, and it’d take too much time. We have plans to meet friends later, so we’re in a bit of a rush.” “Yes, exactly!” his mom added. “There’s just no time!” I turned to Colin with a pointed look and threw his own words back at him. “But Colin, this is your way of showing Aria your sincerity. Isn’t it worth spending a little extra time and money?” “Besides,” I said brightly, “I know a jeweler nearby who could come over in just a few minutes. They can even verify the gold bars’ authenticity for you while they’re here!” The room fell silent. I could see Colin’s panic setting in. His lips twitched as he stammered, “Th-there’s no need for that. It’d be such a hassle for you to call someone…” “Not at all!” I said cheerfully. “In fact, here they are now.” I pointed to the jeweler walking into the room. I grabbed the box of “gold bars” off the table and handed it to the jeweler. Colin’s face turned pale as he lunged forward to stop me. “What are you doing? You can’t just make decisions without asking the adults first!” Oh, he was panicking now. I calmly pushed his hand away and passed the box to the jeweler, who opened it right there in front of everyone. Inside the box, instead of gleaming gold bars, were cheap, fake gold decorations that couldn’t fool a child.

When the jeweler opened the box to reveal a set of cheap, gold-plated trinkets wrapped in red velvet, the entire room fell silent. Not even Aria said a word. Honestly, even I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. No wonder Colin didn’t want to store them in a bank or have anyone verify them. He couldn’t even be bothered to spring for convincing props—he was trying to frame me with the cheapest fake gold imaginable. And yet, these fake gold bars were the reason I lost my life in my last life. I couldn’t help but wonder what terrible thing I must have done in a past life to deserve being tangled up with people like Aria and Colin in this one. Colin’s entire family sat there with faces as pale as ghosts, unable to say a word. My aunt and uncle, furious and humiliated, tried to drag Aria out of the restaurant, but Aria just sat in her chair, sobbing uncontrollably, refusing to leave. “Colin, explain this! Tell me this isn’t true!” she cried. But Colin stayed silent, refusing to meet her gaze. I didn’t waste any more time watching their drama unfold. I grabbed my parents and left the restaurant, leaving them to sort out their mess on their own.

When we got home, I sat my parents down and told them everything that had happened in my previous life. In that life, I never even knew what was going on. One day, I opened the door, and Aria came charging at me with a knife like a lunatic. After I died, my parents were devastated. My mom was so grief-stricken she had a severe asthma attack and ended up in the hospital. My dad, holding back his own heartbreak, handled all the funeral arrangements and spent the rest of his days taking care of my mom in the hospital. It wasn’t long before he collapsed too. When I finished telling them the story, both my parents had tears in their eyes. My mom pulled me into a tight hug, gently patting my back. “You’ve been through so much, sweetheart. It’s all in the past now. We’re together, and we’re safe. That’s all that matters now. And we’ll stay healthy and happy, I promise.” My dad clenched his fists, his voice shaking with anger. “That Aria’s nothing but an ungrateful brat. She wouldn’t dare lay a finger on that scumbag Colin, but she had no problem taking it out on you. If she shows up here again, I’ll deal with her myself.” My mom was quick to agree. “Exactly! She isn’t setting foot in this house again. Not ever.” I wiped the tears from my face and calmed them down. “Mom, Dad, we can’t act impulsively. We don’t want to do anything illegal. But if they try to mess with us again, we’ll fight back with everything we’ve got.” A few days later, after the engagement fiasco, my parents went to work, leaving me alone at home. That’s when I heard a knock at the door. When I opened it, I was stunned to see Aria standing there. Before I could say a word, she stormed in and slapped me across the face. “You jealous little b****! You just can’t stand to see me happy, can you?” she shrieked.

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Dad always claimed he had a connection in the admissions office at Sunshine University. My younger brother, Gavin, barely scraped by with a GPA that would get him into a third-rate college. But Dad insisted Gavin should apply to Sunshine University, the best university, saying his “connection” could pull some strings. As someone who worked in the local education department, I thought Dad’s plan sounded ridiculous. Connections like that rarely worked the way people thought. So, I went through every college admissions guide I could find and helped Gavin apply to a second-tier university abroad—one that matched his grades and seemed like a good fit. Years later, Gavin graduated but couldn’t find a decent job. Dad wouldn’t let it go. “If Stella hadn’t stopped me from getting you into Sunshine University, you’d have companies lining up to hire you by now!” The more Gavin thought about it, the angrier he got. He stewed over it for weeks. Then, one evening, when I came home for dinner, he snapped. He poisoned my food with pesticide. I didn’t even see it coming. The next thing I knew, I opened my eyes—and I was back on the day of Gavin’s college application deadline. This time, I didn’t argue. “Dad’s the expert, right?” I said with a smile. “Let him handle it.”

I woke up to find myself reliving the day of Gavin’s college acceptance party. At the moment, Dad was at the dinner table bragging to everyone about how Gavin was about to be accepted into Sunshine University. He proudly explained how he’d been working his “connections” since Gavin’s junior year of high school. Recently, he’d met someone who claimed to work in the admissions office at Sunshine University. This so-called admissions officer had assured Dad that as long as Gavin put Sunshine University as his top six choices, the acceptance letter would arrive in the mail within a month. Some of the more practical-minded guests tried to talk Dad out of it. “You’ve got to be careful with people like that. He sounds like a scammer.” “No way!” Dad shot back indignantly. “We’ve known each other for a while now. He hasn’t asked me for a single penny. In fact, every time we’ve gone out to eat, he’s the one who pays the tab. You tell me, where are you going to find a scammer that generous?” Then Dad turned to me, throwing me squarely under the bus. “And isn’t Stella working in the education department? Stella, you tell them—don’t colleges sometimes admit students even if their grades don’t exactly meet the requirements? That’s how these things work, right?” All eyes turned to me. For a moment, my mind drifted to my previous life. I remembered this exact scene playing out before. Back then, I had given Dad a serious, straightforward answer. I told him that college admissions were one of the few truly fair opportunities for ordinary people to change their lives. There was no way someone could get into a top-tier school like Sunshine University through “connections.” I even gave him examples—cases where desperate parents had been scammed out of their life savings by people pretending to be college recruiters. These scammers would strike up casual conversations, claim they had “connections,” and promise the world, only to disappear once they got their money. Dad didn’t take it well. Right there in front of everyone, he slapped me across the face. After that, he confiscated my phone and my wallet and kicked me out of the house in the middle of a thunderstorm. But later that night, after being pressured by relatives and friends, he reluctantly dropped the idea. I spent a week researching schools and helped Gavin apply to a second-tier university in Germany that matched his grades. That decision haunted me for years. Any time Gavin faced even the smallest challenge in school, Dad would blame me for not letting him go to Sunshine University. Over time, Gavin’s resentment toward me grew deeper and deeper. It all came to a head one evening when I came home for dinner. Gavin handed me a glass of juice laced with pesticide. Even as I lay dying, struggling to breathe, Dad stood there watching. He didn’t call for help. Instead, to protect Gavin, he dismembered me and fed my remains to the neighborhood’s stray cats and dogs, bit by bit. When the deed was done, he told everyone I had run away with a man, abandoning my family. One night, I saw him sitting alone in my empty room, staring at the walls. “Stella,” he muttered to himself, his voice heavy with guilt. “I’m sorry. But you were already gone. I had no choice. I had to protect Gavin.” I was there, my soul floating above him. I couldn’t contain my rage. I had been alive when he made his choice. He had seen me fighting for my life, and still, he did what he did. Now, back at the dinner table in this new timeline, I looked up at Dad, who was waiting for my answer. His eyes were filled with pride, eager for validation. “I mean, I don’t know all the ins and outs of how these things work,” I said with a smile. “But Dad, you’re Gavin’s father. You’d only want what’s best for him, right?” Hearing my response, Dad beamed and turned to the guests. “You see? Even Stella, who works in the system, isn’t against it. So why are you all so worried? Just wait! When Gavin gets into Sunshine University, I’ll throw another party to celebrate, and you’re all invited!” I couldn’t help but smile. Dear Dad, I can’t wait to see how far your “connection” gets you this time.

A few days after the party, Dad called me over for dinner. “Stella,” he said, patting my shoulder. “You know how tight money is around here. Gavin’s admission to Sunshine University is going to cost a little extra. Can you help out your brother this once?” He leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Don’t worry, as soon as Gavin graduates and lands a good job, he’ll pay you back, every cent.” In my previous life, I fell for this line. Back then, I thought about how hard Dad had worked to raise me and decided to give him the money. But that was just the beginning. Gavin took it as a blank check. Every month, he’d come to me asking for $300, sometimes $400. If I refused, he’d show up at my workplace, crying and causing a scene until I gave in. I once suggested to Dad that he step in and talk to Gavin. “Oh, boys mature slower than girls,” he said dismissively. “Don’t hold it against him. You’re his sister—you should know better.” Looking back, it was laughable. Did being a sister mean I had to let Gavin bleed me dry? No. Not this time. “Dad,” I said, tilting my head, “didn’t you say that admissions officer was your best friend? And that he wasn’t charging you anything?” Dad’s face stiffened for a moment before he forced a smile. “Well, sure, but the guy’s been pulling a lot of strings for us. I can’t let him go unpaid, can I? You work in the system—you should understand how these things work.” “And besides,” he added, trying to change tactics, “as Gavin’s sister, shouldn’t you at least give him a little gift? Something to celebrate getting into Sunshine University?” I smiled politely but didn’t budge. If Dad wanted to waste his money on a scammer, that was his choice. But he wasn’t getting a dime from me.

About a week later, I got a call from Gavin. “Stella,” he said, his voice dripping with entitlement, “it’s already a done deal—I’m going to Sunshine University. So when are you going to buy me a new phone and laptop?” He didn’t even wait for me to reply before adding, “And they’d better be the latest models! If they’re not, I’m not going to school!” His words hit me like a flashback to my previous life. Back then, I had already enrolled him in a decent state school, with plans for him to transfer after a year and continue his studies abroad. But Dad had filled his head with fantasies about Sunshine University, convincing him it was his birthright. To keep him happy and on track with the plan I’d worked so hard to create, I ended up buying him a new phone and laptop. But let’s be real—he’s the one going to college, not me. If he doesn’t want to go, why should I care? So this time, I wasn’t in a rush. I popped a strawberry into my mouth, sipped some tea, and replied lazily, “Oh, that’s not happening. I don’t have the kind of money to buy you all that stuff. Besides, wasn’t it Dad who promised you those things? You should probably ask him.” There was silence on the other end of the line. Gavin was clearly caught off guard. I’d never said no to him before, especially when it came to things Dad had already promised. He huffed, but instead of blowing up, he asked, “Fine. If you can’t get it now, will you buy it for me after your next paycheck?” I laughed softly, unbothered. “Absolutely not. I’m your sister, not your mom. I’ve bought you snacks and small things here and there, but we’re talking about thousands of dollars. Why on earth would that be my responsibility?” That set him off. He practically screamed into the phone, his voice cracking, “Dad spent all his money on your stupid work gifts! He can’t afford it anymore! And everyone knows government employees like you are swimming in bribes—don’t tell me you can’t spare a little for your own brother!” “Stingy jerk!” I froze for a moment, then calmly hit the record button on my phone. “Excuse me?” I said, my tone sharp. “Who told you government workers are taking bribes? Why don’t you bring that person to me, and we’ll have a little chat?” “Let me be clear: I’ve never taken a single penny beyond my salary and benefits. If someone’s spreading nonsense like that, they’d better be ready to face the consequences. So tell me, Gavin—who’s your source? I’d be happy to report them for corruption.” The line went dead silent. Of course, Gavin didn’t actually know anyone. He had just made it up, hoping to guilt me into buying him what he wanted. The silence dragged on until I heard muffled shouting in the background. It sounded like Gavin and Dad were arguing. Then, with a loud slam, the call disconnected. Curious, I pulled up the security camera feed from home. Sure enough, Gavin hadn’t gotten any money from Dad. Worse, his old phone had been smashed in the middle of their argument.

In the end, Dad gave Gavin the brand-new phone I’d bought him earlier this year. To placate him even further, Dad promised to get him the latest model before school started, so he wouldn’t “lose face” at Sunshine University. As for Dad himself? He dug out an ancient Nokia brick phone and resigned himself to using it. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. Thinking back to my past life, I remembered how I’d been using a five-year-old, barely functional phone while spending half a year’s salary to buy Gavin the latest Apple products. And what did I get in return? Snide comments. “You’ve been working for years, and you still can’t afford a decent phone?” he’d said. “You’re just cheap, Stella. Admit it. This phone is your way of making up for not letting me go to Sunshine University. And even then, it’s last year’s model—couldn’t you at least get me something new?” Well, if last year’s model wasn’t good enough for him, then this time he’s getting nothing. Let’s see how he manages without me footing the bill. I didn’t bother keeping up with their drama after that. I did hear that Gavin started strutting around town, bragging about how his dad had “pulled strings” at Sunshine University. He even claimed he was already set to attend a top-tier school like Harvard or Stanford. His lies stirred up quite a bit of chaos in the community. Parents stormed the local education office, demanding answers. “Don’t worry,” I told them during a public meeting. “We can assure you that the college admissions process is fair and transparent. It’s one of the few opportunities for students to change their lives based on merit alone.” I continued, “Please don’t believe rumors about buying admission spots. If anyone claiming to be from an Ivy League or top-tier school approaches you asking for money, report them immediately. “Think about it—if college admissions could really be bought, why would wealthy families bother sending their kids abroad? Wouldn’t they just pay for them to attend school nearby?” Most of the parents calmed down after hearing this. They were scared, not malicious—just worried about their kids falling behind. Once they realized they weren’t being left out of some secret system, they backed off. Of course, there were still a few who clung to the rumors. But honestly? Some people are determined to believe what they want, no matter what you say. If I couldn’t stop my own father and brother from making fools of themselves, how could I possibly stop strangers?

Time flew by, and soon the first round of college acceptance letters started arriving. Gavin watched as other students proudly showed off their letters, and for the first time, he started to feel a little anxious. He badgered Dad to contact the “admissions officer” and ask about his acceptance letter from Sunshine University. This time, it took a while for the call to go through. “Hello?” a lazy voice finally answered. Dad immediately switched to his overly polite tone, practically groveling over the phone. “Oh, no rush, no rush! Just wanted to ask—when is my son’s acceptance letter going to be mailed out? He’s just a kid, you know, getting a little impatient. Think you could speed things up for us?” The man on the other end didn’t miss a beat, responding with absolute confidence, “Of course! Don’t worry, I’ll get it sent out in the next couple of days.” Hearing that reassurance, both Dad and Gavin relaxed, their worries melting away. Gavin’s confidence returned in full force. He waited eagerly, day after day, for that letter to arrive. Whenever he saw other students on the street crying tears of joy over their acceptance letters from state schools or second-tier universities, he couldn’t help but mock them. “You call that a college?” he’d sneer. “Pathetic. I’m going to Sunshine University.” A few days later, the “admissions officer” called Dad again. This time, he told him that Gavin’s letter had already been mailed. To back up his claim, he even sent a photo of the acceptance letter with Gavin’s name on it. Seeing that photo was all the proof Gavin needed. He practically vibrated with excitement, going around town boasting to anyone who would listen. “If you losers are proud of getting into those garbage schools,” he’d say, “you’ll be blown away when you see my letter from Sunshine University. It’s already on its way!” Then he’d whip out his phone, showing off the photo of his “acceptance letter.” Some people were impressed, looking at him with envy. But not everyone bought it. “Why doesn’t it have an official seal?” someone asked skeptically. “No legitimate university would send an acceptance letter without one.” Gavin’s response? A murderous glare and a string of curses so vile he practically insulted their entire family tree. Five more days passed, and still no letter. At this point, Dad called me, clearly starting to panic. “Stella,” he said, his voice filled with urgency, “Gavin’s acceptance letter was mailed five days ago. Even if it was sent from California, it should’ve arrived by now! Do you think someone at your office intercepted it because they’re jealous Gavin got into Sunshine University?” Before I could respond, he barreled on, “Or worse—what if someone else stole Gavin’s spot? You’ve heard of those cases where people bribe their way into college with someone else’s acceptance letter, haven’t you?” Listening to his ridiculous accusations, I could tell Dad was spiraling. The fact that he still hadn’t questioned whether this “admissions officer” was real was almost impressive. Was he just naïve, or straight-up gullible?

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###My fiancée and her co-star shared a passionate kiss on stage during their play. The audience was moved, swept up in the romance of the characters. But I knew—there was no such scene in the script. For a brief moment, guilt flickered across her face, but she quickly defended herself: “It’s just acting! What, am I never supposed to take on romantic roles again?” I didn’t respond with a dramatic argument or accusations. Instead, I handed the bouquet of hybrid roses I’d specially bred for her… to one of the extras. Without another word, I turned and walked out of their cast party. Once outside, I called my mentor. “Professor, I’ve decided. I’ll take the offer to go grow roses out west.” I was at home filling out application forms when my phone suddenly rang. Without thinking, I reached for it and answered. On the other end, there was no greeting—just the sound of chaotic chatter, as if the phone’s owner hadn’t realized they’d accidentally dialed me. “Dorothy, it’s your turn!” someone called out. Hearing the familiar name, my hand froze over the hang-up button. “If you could go back, would you still choose to date your current boyfriend?” I already knew what her answer would be, but when I heard her say it aloud, it still felt like a knife twisting in my chest. Laughter erupted in the background. “Exactly! I mean, what’s so great about Brian anyway? He’s just some guy who grows flowers.” “That whole flower thing is so lame. His taste is awful.” “Roses? Every time? Seriously? Could he be any more basic?” I let out a bitter laugh. So this is what they thought of the roses I carefully bred by hand. Roses that, once upon a time, were Dorothy’s favorite flower. Yet, not once did she speak up for me. Not a single word in my defense. Dorothy and I had met in college. She’d been standing in front of my research project display for ages, trying and failing to get the perfect photo. I happened to walk by to check on the exhibit and offered to help her. One thing led to another, and before long, we were dating. Because she loved roses, I even based my graduate research project around them. But back then, I didn’t know she was still holding on to an impossible love—her so-called “one that got away.” The chaotic conversation on the other end of the line continued. No one seemed to notice that the call was still active. Someone joked, asking Mason if he’d crash the wedding if his partner ever got married. Mason’s calm voice replied, “No, I wouldn’t.” The room on the other end fell silent, the sudden awkwardness palpable even through the phone. Someone quickly tried to lighten the mood. “Come on, it’s just a game! Don’t take it seriously. Let’s drink!” I couldn’t help but wonder what Dorothy’s expression looked like in that moment. Probably drowning her feelings in alcohol, pretending everything was fine. Funny how, when you’re not loved, we all end up looking equally pathetic. The phone call abruptly ended as someone finally noticed the accidental dial. I put my phone down in silence. By the time I finished my work, the clock read 11 PM. Turning off the last light in the living room, I headed to bed. I’ve always been a light sleeper—any bit of light keeps me awake. But no matter how late Dorothy comes home, she always leaves a lamp on in the living room. Soon, I’ll be heading out west. She might as well start getting used to the dark. Like many nights before, Dorothy didn’t come home. She stumbled through the door mid-morning, still glued to her phone, and without looking up, called out: “I’m starving.” I didn’t even glance at her, still focused on my work. “Then order takeout. I’m busy.” She frowned, putting her phone down and stepping in front of my computer. The smell of alcohol hit me immediately. “Brian, can you not?” she said, annoyed. “We were acting. What’s the big deal about a kiss when you’re in character?” She crossed her arms, her tone defensive. “Do you even know how many people bought tickets just to see Mason and me perform? Our chemistry is what sells!” I nodded lightly, my eyes drifting to the computer screen behind her. “You’re right. You acted beautifully.” She mistook my calmness for anger and grew more impatient. “Brian, seriously. You can’t expect me to stop taking romantic roles just because I’m with you.” When I didn’t respond, she turned around, intending to shut my laptop. But her hand froze when she saw the words on the screen: Wedding Plans. It was supposed to be our wedding. Yet from start to finish, she hadn’t been involved at all—not even in picking out her dress. I’d handled everything, only to realize I was the only one looking forward to it. For a split second, guilt flickered across her face. When she spoke again, her voice was softer. “I’ve just been so busy with rehearsals lately. Once this is over, I’ll make it up to you, okay?” Busy. Too busy to come home, but not too busy to stay out drinking all night with her friends. Was she underestimating how much I noticed… or just didn’t care? But I didn’t want to argue anymore. I simply nodded and said, “Alright.”

Maybe it was guilt, or something else entirely, but Dorothy actually stayed home all day and cooked an entire meal from scratch. During dinner, my advisor sent me a message. I meant to type a reply, but I accidentally hit the audio playback button instead. “Brian, your application has been approved. You’re all set to leave on the 11th.” Dorothy’s ears caught the key detail immediately. “What application? Are you transferring somewhere?” I calmly explained, “No, it’s just a favor for a coworker. I submitted the application for them, but I guess my advisor thought it was mine.” I casually replied to the message with a quick “Got it.” Dorothy, seemingly satisfied, picked up some food and placed it in my bowl. “Oh, that’s too bad. Your coworker won’t be able to come to our wedding then. Make sure to send them some of the party favors later,” she said with a hint of regret. I laughed to myself, bitterly. Not only would my coworker miss the wedding—I wouldn’t be attending it either. The next morning, Dorothy woke up bright and early, fully dressed and made-up, and dragged me out of bed. Groggy, I glanced at the calendar, trying to remember if today was some special occasion. She tapped my head with her makeup brush, rolling her eyes. “Are you serious? You forgot we’re taking our wedding photos today?” Wedding photos. Right. I’d almost forgotten. Months ago, I’d planned to surprise her by booking a session at the city’s most sought-after studio—six months in advance, no less. But when she found out, she’d scolded me for being wasteful. “Why would you book something so useless? What a waste of money,” she’d snapped. I remember blaming myself for not understanding what she wanted. Then one day, while cleaning, I found a stack of photos tucked behind her awards—pictures of her and Mason in various poses, dressed in coordinated outfits. Turns out, she wasn’t against taking photos. She just didn’t want to take them with me. Since the studio had a no-cancellation policy, the whole thing was left unresolved, and honestly, I’d nearly forgotten about it. On the way to the shoot, Dorothy hesitated before speaking up. “Mason wants to be one of the groomsmen for our wedding.” I let out a dry laugh. So this photoshoot was just her way of buttering me up to agree. I shrugged. “Sure, whatever you want.” A smile spread across her face, and she continued, “He’s my partner, so his groomsman suit shouldn’t be like the others.” “It also can’t be cheap. It should match the quality of your suit, at least.” She might as well have just asked me to hand over my suit and let Mason wear it himself. I nodded. “Alright, I’ll get him a suit.” When we arrived at the studio, she got a phone call. Her expression darkened as she stared at her screen. I asked, “What’s wrong?” She quickly hid her phone behind her back and snapped, “Can you stop being so possessive? I can’t even talk to my friends without you overreacting?” She waved me off. “Go get dressed. I’ll join you in a bit.” But when everything was ready—my suit, the set, the photographer—Dorothy was nowhere to be found. Her phone went unanswered. The staff stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do. The photographer, clearly a little nervous, cautiously asked, “So… should we start?” I stayed calm, as if I’d seen this coming. After all, her phone screen before she left had been open to a chat with Mason. “Yeah,” I said evenly. “Might as well. It’d be a shame to waste such a beautiful backdrop.” After all, I’d be leaving this city soon. These photos would be my last keepsake. When it was time to leave, I discovered Dorothy had taken the car. Stranded at the remote location, I ended up hitching a ride with the equipment truck. Squeezed between piles of lighting gear, I must’ve looked pretty pathetic. Still, I was grateful they gave me a lift. Without them, who knows how long I’d have been stuck out there. Back home, I reached out to the editor working on our wedding video. “Hi, sorry for the trouble, but there’s been a change. The couple in the wedding video has… shifted. I’ll need you to re-edit it.” Then I sent over a folder with several gigabytes of photos and videos. It wasn’t long before the editor replied, almost excitedly: “Oh, now this is a real couple! The chemistry is undeniable!” “The last two people looked like they hated each other. Every photo had this huge emotional gap between them—it was impossible to edit!” Even a stranger could tell who Dorothy was closest to. How could she not?

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Dorothy finally texted me an explanation: “Mason’s sick, and we have a show coming up. I can’t just leave him hanging.” It was a sloppy lie. Just a few hours earlier, I’d seen Mason’s Instagram story: “Helping a friend escape her controlling boyfriend,” accompanied by a picture of two hands making peace signs. “Just reschedule the photoshoot,” Dorothy added. “We’ll redo it later.” No. There’s no need to reschedule. There’s no need for a wedding at all. But I still replied politely: “Got it. Take care and focus on rehearsals.” I could see the “typing” indicator linger for a long time, as if she hadn’t expected me to be so calm. Finally, she sent a short response: “You too.” For the next few days, Dorothy didn’t contact me. Instead, her social media updates became more frequent—a steady stream of posts about rehearsals, low-calorie meals to stay in shape, and other curated snippets of her life. It felt deliberate, as if she wanted to make sure I saw everything. I obliged, liking every single post. Meanwhile, I stayed busy. I sorted through years of accumulated belongings, donating anything unnecessary. In the greenhouse, the roses I’d cultivated were in full bloom. I cut every last one, bundling them into two bouquets. Then, I headed to my advisor’s office. “Professor, thank you for everything these past few years. Please, take these.” My professor looked surprised. “I remember when you first planted these roses,” he said. “You told me you’d save them for someone important.” A sharp pang hit my chest, but I forced a smile. “Well, you are important to me.” We both knew it was a lie, but neither of us said anything more. My professor looked down at the vibrant roses. “They’re stunning. My wife will love them.” After saying goodbye, I went to the orphanage where I’d grown up and gave the other bouquet to the director. The children were playing outside, their laughter filling the air. As we sat in the garden, I told the director that I’d be heading out west soon to grow roses. She didn’t get a chance to respond before the kids swarmed her, reaching for the flowers. “They’re so pretty!” “Wow, these are amazing!” She smiled and began handing out the roses, one by one. A brave little boy looked up at me and asked, “Can you really grow roses in the desert?” I grinned mischievously. “Of course I can. Just wait and see.” “Whoa, that’s so cool!” When I left the orphanage, my phone was flooded with missed calls. I finally answered one, only to be met with an angry tirade: “Brian, you’re still Dorothy’s fiancé! It’s her 100th show, and you couldn’t even bother to show up? And don’t even get me started on your stupid roses—you couldn’t spare even one for her?!” “Marrying someone like you is the worst thing that could ever happen to her!” The same people who mocked me for giving Dorothy roses were now upset that I didn’t. I held the phone away from my ear, letting them rant until they ran out of steam. “I forgot,” I said flatly. “I’ll Venmo you some money. Buy whatever you want.” I opened the app, found their profile, and sent over a generous amount. Without waiting for a response, I hung up. They were probably already celebrating, even though tomorrow was supposed to be our wedding. As I finished packing my bags, ready to leave, Dorothy stormed through the door. Her face was cold and unreadable as she shoved past me, heading straight for the bedroom. I knew this routine. She wanted to start a silent war. In the past, I’d always been the one to break first, finding ways to win her back. And she’d always used that to her advantage—secure in the knowledge that I cared too much to let her go. But now? I was exhausted. The taxi was already waiting downstairs. As I walked out with my suitcase, I spotted Mason leaning casually against a car. He gave me a smug smile. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll take care of your bride tonight. I’ll return her to you tomorrow.” His words dripped with mockery, but I didn’t care anymore. I gave him a glance before getting into the taxi. As the car pulled away, I sent Dorothy one last text: “Congratulations on your wedding.” Congratulations to you and Mason.

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On our fifth wedding anniversary, I carefully selected a luxury sports car as a gift for Jack. Just after completing the payment, I happened to see an Instagram update from Lily Reed, the scholarship student I was sponsoring: “Celebrating my birthday with my beloved, enjoying the most beautiful scenery.” In the photo, her sunglasses inadvertently captured the reflection of a familiar male figure. I smiled, liked the post, and left a warm wish. Not long after, Jack called in a hurry, his voice filled with displeasure and reproach: “We’re not what you’re imagining. How can you be so narrow-minded? Are you jealous of someone young and beautiful?” “Stop doing things that make people look down on you.” When Jack walked in, I changed my mind. I slowly put the fifth anniversary cake I was about to throw in the trash back on the table. He saw the cake on the table and frowned, “It’s not anyone’s birthday, why are we having cake?” I remained silent and opened the packaging in front of him. The cream was covered with fruit. When he saw me insert the “5th Wedding Anniversary” topper in the middle, his mocking expression instantly froze. In just a moment, he quickly regained his composure, but his guilty eyes didn’t dare meet mine. “I… I was too busy. I forgot about such an important day. I’m sorry…” I dodged his attempt to touch me and cut a piece of cake, putting it on a plate and shoving it into his hands. “Eat up, at least you made it in time.” He was displeased. “Opal, what do you mean? I just forgot, do you have to give me the cold shoulder? We celebrate our wedding anniversary every year, what’s wrong with missing one?” Since I had put effort into preparing the cake early in the morning, I decided to cut a piece for myself as well. Seeing that I wasn’t responding, he snatched the knife from my hand, and due to using too much force, he cut my palm. I cried out in pain, clutching my bleeding wound, tears streaming down uncontrollably. Jack frantically searched for gauze and antiseptic to stop the bleeding. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…” I walked to the third cabinet on his right, took out the first aid kit myself, and proceeded to treat the wound step by step. I winced in pain. He tried to help me disinfect with a cotton swab, I avoided him. He tried to help me bandage, I avoided him. He tried to check how I was treating it, I avoided him. This time he finally frowned, “Is this about what happened earlier today?” “Is it really necessary? I was just helping take a few photos.” How could it not be necessary? My husband had time to help someone else celebrate their birthday and enjoy beautiful scenery, but forgot our own wedding anniversary. How ridiculous? I finished cleaning up and continued eating the remaining cake. He grabbed my wrist, advising, “It’s dirty, don’t eat it.” Following his gaze, I finally saw the spots of red plum on the cake that I had stained. What a pity, I hadn’t even taken a bite. If it’s dirty, let’s throw it away. Before I could act, Jack beat me to it and put the cake back in the box, “Don’t move, sit and rest, I’ll go throw it away.” Bang. The sound of the door closing behind me came, separating my world from his. I sat at the table for a long time, long enough for Jack to leave and not return. The next day, I indeed saw Lily’s update on Instagram again. “Glad to have you by my side.” It was a side profile of Jack listening intently to a doctor’s instructions in the hospital room. Last night, Lily’s mother had a cancer relapse, and he was urgently called to the hospital. I very generously liked the post. Jack’s call this time came a bit late, probably because he had to run errands for everything at the hospital, and Lily hadn’t had time to “pour out her troubles” to him yet. “Opal, can you stop making a fuss? Lily is young, and it’s only right that I help take care of her a bit in this unfamiliar city? Don’t be so cold-hearted?” Lily was also on the other end, begging me not to misunderstand. Her affected voice irritated me to no end. I pinched the bridge of my nose and said, “Jack, I got hurt yesterday too.” I thought I could use his causing my injury as a reason to evoke his guilt. He should be taking care of me, not some irrelevant person. Unexpectedly, he suddenly flared up: “Is that little injury worth constantly dwelling on? Lily’s mother has cancer, you should be able to distinguish what’s important, now is not the time for you to make unreasonable demands.” I fell silent. He noticed my lack of response and realized his attitude had been a bit too harsh. So he softened his tone: “Does your hand still hurt? Be good, I’ll come home early today and we’ll…”

Huh. I hung up the phone. I went out and got into the car that came to pick me up, heading straight to the hospital. Seeing the wound on my palm, the doctor scolded, “It’s so deep, why didn’t you come earlier? Any later and you might have needed a tetanus shot.” I was at a loss for words, after a while I replied, “I forgot because I was angry.” Walking out of the hospital, I ran into Jack and Lily walking side by side, going out to eat. I felt instantly annoyed. I wanted to avoid them at first. But then I thought, I’m the legal one after all, it would be too cowardly to just walk away like this. I didn’t approach them, but Lily’s sharp eyes noticed me. She clung to Jack’s arm, her challenging gaze meeting mine. They were chatting and laughing, occasionally whispering in each other’s ears, looking exactly like a perfect couple. Just as Jack was about to see me, Lily’s exaggerated performance voice rang out: “Jack, your wife is here. Did she misunderstand something? Is she jealous of someone young and beautiful?” Jack pulled her behind him, clearly taking on the role of her protector, frowning impatiently as he questioned me: “Why are you here? Opal, can you stop picking on a young girl?” I laughed bitterly. “When did I pick on her?” I hadn’t even opened my mouth or moved my hand, how was I picking on her? “You came here just to make things difficult for her, didn’t you? If you have any issues, come at me. Her family situation isn’t good, I’m just helping her out, don’t make a big deal out of nothing.” As Lily’s scholarship sponsor, I knew which hospital her mother was in. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with this delusional couple, and had specifically asked the driver to avoid it this morning. I didn’t expect they had changed hospitals. And made me run into them again. I turned to leave. Ouch, Jack grabbed my injured hand as he tried to stop me. I’m particularly sensitive to pain, and tears immediately welled up in my eyes. Seeing this, he let go, his expression changing to panic. The hand that reached out to grab my bandaged hand was dodged as I hid it behind my back. “Go ahead and take your little girl to eat, don’t let her starve.” Ignoring Jack’s ashen face, I strode past them, leaving them behind. Arriving at the parking area, I indeed saw the sports car I had bought a few days ago waiting for me. I opened the door and sat in the passenger seat. Maddox’s concerned voice came through: “You were fine this morning, why do you look like someone bullied you now?” I shook my head, “It’s nothing, take me to the law firm.” “Alright, considering you gave me that car, I’m at your beck and call.” While waiting at a red light, Jack walked past the front of the car holding Lily’s hand. Maddox’s surprised voice sounded beside my ear: “Wow, that guy who just passed by really looks like your husband.” “If it weren’t for him holding the wrong person’s hand, I would have mistaken him for Jack.” I pressed my lips together and nodded, “You didn’t see wrong.” “What?” Going to work, I saw Lily’s figure at the company. Jack had arranged for her to intern at the company. The company recruits some soon-to-graduate students to work every year, and if she could contribute to the company’s revenue, I certainly wouldn’t object. What I didn’t expect was that a week later, Jack assigned her a big project. If she succeeded in negotiating it, she would get a higher commission. If she didn’t negotiate well, the company would suffer a significant loss. Such actions that harmed the company’s interests were opposed by many people, including me. But Jack didn’t listen. As the project approached a crucial point, he came to me. “Lily doesn’t understand many things, can you guide her?” I stared at Jack indifferently: “Now you remember me?” I heard that Lily’s negotiations hadn’t gone well, and the other party demanded a change of personnel, otherwise they wouldn’t continue cooperation. They didn’t outright say they would stop future cooperation only because of the pleasant cooperation in the past few years. I didn’t expect him to be so muddle-headed, confused in emotions and now confused in work as well. Entrusting such an important matter to the newcomer Lily. I started to not understand him anymore. Did I really make the wrong choice back then? He put his arm around my shoulders and sighed: “Still so angry? Still upset?” “No.” He lowered his head to kiss my cheek, but I pushed him away. “We’re at work, mind the impact.” I noticed his body go from stiff to relaxed. The frost on his face melted instantly: “Mm, I’ll kiss you when we get home.” The next second, he remembered he hadn’t been back to that so-called home for a long time, and his eyes flashed with discomfort. “I’ll definitely come back today.” I agreed to go save the situation. The RG boss and I were old acquaintances. Back then, they were willing to cooperate with a small company because of me. Jack was clear about this point. To salvage the company’s reputation, this trip was necessary. After work, I thought I wouldn’t see Jack’s figure as usual. I had just prepared my own dinner. The doorbell rang. Opening the door, Lily greeted me with a bright smile: “Sister-in-law, I’ll be troubling you again tonight.”

I was confused. Jack spoke up behind her: “You have to go to RG early tomorrow morning, right? Lily lives far away and definitely won’t make it in time tomorrow, so she’ll stay at our place tonight.” I watched him brazenly bring another woman into our home. He showed Lily around the layout of our house. I walked back to the dining table and suddenly lost my appetite for the dinner I had just served. In my ears was the sound of Jack patiently answering Lily’s curious inquiries about the decorations in the house. “Jack, this ceramic doll is so cute. Where did you buy it? I want to buy one too.” She picked it up and waved it at Jack. “This was a gift my wife gave me back then, she painted it herself, isn’t it cute?” “Wow, your wife is so talented, can she paint one for me too?” She looked at me expectantly. Before I could speak, the ceramic doll I had once given to Jack fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. Just like my mood, broken into pieces. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry… It’s all my fault, I wasn’t careful when I put it back.” My face darkened. Lily apologized repeatedly, making a show of crouching down to pick up the pieces. Her hand had just reached out when it was cut. Jack’s eyes suddenly tightened as he glared at me: “What are you doing scaring her, it’s just a broken doll?” That ceramic doll was something I bought when we traveled abroad together after he successfully proposed to me. When I first bought it, it was all white, and I used paint to change its colors. When I gave it to Jack, he said it looked like me, and he would treasure it like he treasured me. I never thought that in just the fifth year of our marriage, it would become a “broken doll”. Jack went to the cabinet to find the first aid kit. Only Lily and I were left in the living room. She changed her weak demeanor, smirking as she said proudly: “Looks like I do have some status in your husband’s heart.” I nodded and said, “Then I wish you success.” The next morning as I was leaving, Jack’s car was parked by the roadside waiting for me. Lily’s head popped out of the passenger window, waving at me: “Hurry up and get in, we’ve been waiting for you.” Maddox’s car had just arrived. I said perfunctorily, “Let’s go separately.” Before Jack could say anything, I walked around his car and got into the sports car behind. Arriving at RG Company, Jack and Lily were waiting for me in the lobby. He looked at Maddox following behind me, and the arm he was about to put around my shoulders tightened. His eyes flashed with anger as he smiled insincerely: “Opal, aren’t you going to introduce us?” I pried his fingers off, saying coolly: “A friend.” Lily smiled and spoke up: “Let’s go upstairs quickly. Don’t keep everyone waiting.” Unexpectedly, Jack’s face turned cold, and he yelled at her: “Isn’t this all because of the trouble you caused?” Lily’s smile froze on her face, and she looked at Jack awkwardly: “I’m sorry, Jack…” Her pitiful appearance made even me feel sorry for her. No wonder she could hold onto Jack. As we went upstairs, Maddox whispered in my ear: “Is this the man you insisted on marrying back then?” “Your taste is much worse than mine.” I followed his gaze to Jack walking in front, not refuting. Walking into RG’s CEO office, Jack and Lily were left outside. Jack was stunned, pointing at me and saying: “I came with my wife.” The secretary apologized: “I’m sorry, you can’t go in.” He then pointed at Maddox: “What about him?” “He’s a friend of our CEO, of course he can go in.” The secretary led Maddox and me into the office. Jack’s burning gaze felt like needles on my back. The RG CEO was Maddox’s good friend, and we had known each other for a long time. The communication went smoothly, and they didn’t make things difficult for me. I agreed to their reasonable requests and finalized the terms for renewing next year’s cooperation. After saying goodbye, Maddox and I left together. Jack caught up and grabbed my wrist tightly, causing me pain. Maddox’s eyes darkened as he also grabbed me, telling Jack: “Let go.” Jack, overcome with anger, swung a punch at Maddox’s face: “I’m grabbing my own wife. What’s it to you?” Lily and I quickly pulled them apart. I shook my head at Maddox, apologizing: “Go wait for me in the car, I’ll come find you after I resolve this.” After he left, Jack said in a low voice: “You’re not allowed to leave with him.” I pulled my hand away, looking at him seriously and said: “Jack, let’s get a divorce.” He frowned, incredulous: “Just because I hit him?” I pressed my lips together, not knowing where to begin. I had previously consulted a law firm about divorce matters. “If that’s what you say, then so be it.” I turned and left without looking back. Behind me, Lily spoke up to persuade: “Jack, she must be saying it out of anger. I’ll go help you talk to her.” He said: “No need.” “When she’s done throwing her tantrum, she’ll naturally come back!”

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After being Klein Barrison’s secret lover for three years, I found out I was pregnant. He made it clear he didn’t like children and was preparing to marry a wealthy socialite of equal status. Not wanting to lose my child, I packed my things, took his money, and fled Rey City overnight. For four years, I raised my child alone, away from that world. My little one grew up stunningly beautiful that he accidentally went viral online. I started live-streaming with my son and managed to build a thriving career from it. When people dug into my background and realized I was a single mom, I had to save face by explaining, “Well, I’m widowed.” Life without a man turned out just fine. I gained a devoted following of independent women who admired my strength. Then one day, I noticed something familiar about the profile picture and IP address of the top donor on my streams. Looking closer, I thought, “No way. This can’t be real.” Klein? Watching short videos? With his uptight, serious demeanor? Impossible. But then he showed up at my doorstep in the middle of the night. He cornered me against the wall, his eyes dark and dangerous, and growled through clenched teeth, “Widowed? Funny, I don’t recall dying.” He grabbed my son, Edmund Croft, by the collar, dragging him forward. His bloodshot eyes burned into mine as he demanded, “And what about this? Care to explain?”

My name was Labia Croft, and I used to be the secret lover of Rey City’s most prominent CEO, Klein. For three years, our arrangement had been… satisfactory. Until today. Holding my pregnancy report, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety as I went to his office to see him. Klein was still in a meeting, so his secretary told me to wait. As I sat in his office, my eyes fell on a bridal magazine lying near his computer. Since when did Klein start looking at wedding dresses? Could it be because I’d casually mentioned wanting to take wedding photos before? A small, hopeful flutter stirred in my heart. Maybe I did mean something to him after all. But then I caught sight of him through the office window, walking with a tall, elegant woman who clung to his arm. I recognized her immediately. I’d seen her photo in Klein’s private album before. It was his first love. My heart sank as I lowered my gaze and smiled bitterly. Of course. Klein would never remember something I said in passing. His true love was back, and he was choosing a wedding dress for her. Was he going to marry her? I grew up in a blended family. After my mom passed, my dad remarried and had a son with his new wife, leaving me to be raised by my grandfather in the countryside. When my grandfather suffered a stroke and became paralyzed, I took on the responsibility of paying his medical bills. By the time I was in college, I was supporting myself and him entirely. During my junior year, someone told me nightclub jobs paid well. What I could earn in one night there was equivalent to three or four days working at a café. Desperate, I applied and got a job as a server. That was how I met Klein. That night, he was drunk and heartbroken. I happened to be serving his private room. He pulled me into his suite, and the next morning, I could barely walk. My manager assumed I’d slacked off and ignored my duties all night. Without hearing me out, they fired me. I couldn’t explain the truth, nor did I dare to. So I asked Klein to compensate me for my lost wages. Surprisingly, he was generous and offered me a lucrative job instead: as his companion. If I kept him satisfied, I could earn tens of thousands a month. The arrangement was degrading, but what choice did I have? I couldn’t let pride stand in the way of survival. I’d already given Klein my first night; there was no point being sentimental about it. Besides, he was tall, fit, and ridiculously handsome, with bronzed skin and abs like a model straight out of an action movie. If I had to sleep with someone, it might as well be him. After two seconds of deliberation, I accepted. We signed a contract. Three hundred thousand a month, on the condition that I was at his beck and call. When we signed the agreement, he made one thing clear. “Don’t fall in love with me. I won’t take responsibility,” he said. He didn’t want love, and I pretended not to either. For three years, I played my part, hiding my feelings while we kept things strictly transactional. But now, the woman he truly loved had returned, and he was ready to settle down. He didn’t need me anymore. Not as a lover. Not even as a transaction. And to top it all off, I was pregnant. The timing couldn’t have been worse. I quietly folded the ultrasound report and slipped it into my bag just as Klein walked into the office. I looked up at him. He seemed immaculate as always, his tailored suit sharp against his cool, chiseled features. Sitting down at his desk, he asked, “What do you need?” I’d come to tell him about the pregnancy, but now… what was the point? He was getting engaged. Our arrangement was ending. There was no way he’d let me keep this baby. But after three years of being hidden in the shadows for him, I wasn’t the naïve girl I used to be. Besides, I knew I wouldn’t fall for another man. This baby might be the only family I’d ever have. And I wasn’t about to lose that. I walked over to Klein and poured him a glass of water, feigning ease as I made up an excuse. “I saw a jewelry set I liked.” Klein extended his arm, pulling me into his embrace. His deep, magnetic voice brushed against my ear. “What jewelry? Wasn’t the last set I bought you enough?” “Orvis just released a new emerald-diamond necklace. It’s not too expensive, just over 200 thousand. I really want it,” I replied playfully. “Have Mars take you to get it later,” he said without hesitation. Feigning delight, I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Klein.” A barely perceptible smile played on his handsome features. His warm fingertips brushed across my cheek as his thick lashes lowered slightly. His gaze slid down to my lips, smoldering with suggestiveness. “That’s all you wanted?” As someone who had been his mistress for three years, I’d learned how to read his mind. Catching on immediately, I giggled softly, feigning shyness as I climbed onto his lap. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tilted my head upward to kiss him, cautiously yet seductively. Even when he was sitting still, his presence was overwhelming, exuding a quiet intensity. As our lips met, the faint scent of pinewood filled the air around him. Before long, he took control, tightening his hold on my waist and prying my lips apart with the heat of his tongue. Breath mingling, I could feel the warmth of his exhale against my skin, his restraint unraveling as he carried me into the lounge and pressed me onto the sofa. Just as he leaned over me, a sharp pang shot through my lower abdomen. The sudden discomfort jolted me back to clarity. Protectively cradling my belly, I pushed him away with all my strength. He frowned, his annoyance evident as he stared at me. “I… I’m on my period,” I quickly lied, offering an awkward smile. “It should be the next week, isn’t it?” His scrutinizing gaze pinned me down as if he could see right through me. Flustered, I forced myself to sound confident. “I’ve been staying up too late recently. My hormones are all over the place. Can’t I have an irregular cycle?” He sighed softly and shifted off me, a rare trace of complaint lacing his tone. “And yet you still tried to seduce me.” Adjusting his disheveled tie, he sat up and smoothed out his suit. I followed suit, fixing my own appearance, and hesitated before asking, “Klein, do you like children?” “No,” he answered without a second’s thought. The chill in my chest deepened. Of course. Then, lifting his gaze, he asked, “Why the sudden question?” Feigning nonchalance, I chuckled. My voice came out soft and slightly hoarse. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just ran into a lost little boy at my apartment earlier. He was adorable.” His eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. “You want a child?” “Not at all. I just think they’re cute. If I had to have one, I’d pass,” I replied casually. “Good,” Klein said coldly as he got up, straightened his suit jacket, and left the lounge. I trailed behind him, hurrying to leave the company. Once outside, my resolve solidified. I had to leave. Checking my bank account, I realized I only had 500 thousand. It wasn’t nearly enough. My grandfather was still in the hospital, and I had to ensure his medical bills were covered before disappearing. I had to leave my 500 thousand to him. After all, I wouldn’t come back until I gave birth to my baby a year later. So, I must get all the money I needed from Klein. This seemed to be an urgent mission that was impossible to complete. I was already pregnant, and it wouldn’t take long before my belly became obvious. My time with him was running up. After much consideration, I decided to sell all the jewelry and handbags Klein had given me over the years. At the shop, the owner appraised everything, tallying up the amount. “Five hundred thousand,” she said. Shock rippled through me. These were luxury items, some even limited editions that Klein had spent millions on. How could she only offer me 500 thousand? The owner explained that second-hand items depreciated significantly in value compared to gold, which retained its worth. Though disappointed, I gave her my account information and waited for the transfer. Once the money was in my account, I turned to leave. That was when a well-dressed, dignified middle-aged woman called out to me. Turning around, my stomach knotted. It was Klein’s mother, Marina. “Labia, are you that desperate for money? Looks like my son doesn’t treat you very well,” she sneered. “Not at all,” I murmured softly, overwhelmed by the oppressive aura of an elite matriarch. Instinctively, I wanted to walk away. “Wait,” Marina said, stopping me. “I need to talk to you.” In a nearby café, she casually slid a check across the table and said in disdain, “Klein’s engagement is imminent. Here’s a million. Leave him.” My heart leapt. I snatched the check eagerly, unable to suppress my joy. With this million, along with the 500 thousand I already had, I could start fresh with my baby. Marina’s eyes flickered, her expression shifting from scornful to mocking. “A million was all it took? I thought you’d demand far more.” I didn’t care about her opinion. All I could think about was the money in my hand. Now, I could leave Klein as quickly as possible. “Thank you, Mrs. Barrison. I’ll keep my word and ensure there’s no further…” “Nothing further between us?” A voice, as cold as ice, cut through the air. Turning my head, I froze. Klein’s flawless face loomed before me, his sharp features carved with an icy chill. My body stiffened as I inhaled sharply. “What kind of deal are we discussing?” Klein’s gaze flicked to the check in my hand. His lips pressed tightly together, his eyes filled with frost. I immediately looked down, avoiding his piercing stare.

Marina’s voice was sharp with arrogance. “See? This woman is willing to leave you for just a million. She’s only after our family’s money.” Klein let out a sneer, gripping my wrist tightly as he dragged me out to his car. Once inside, he turned to me, his gaze icy. “The check.” I didn’t dare make a sound and handed it over with trembling hands. Without hesitation, he tore the check into pieces, letting the scraps fall to the floor. My heart clenched at the sight, but I didn’t dare protest. Klein’s eyes darkened, his voice laced with mockery. “Feeling bad for it? Tell me, Labia, is that all I’m worth to you? Just one million?” My chest tightened, his words slicing through me. Was this supposed to be some grand act of wounded pride? The same man who once told me we were only a transaction was now upset that I treated it like one. He was the one getting engaged. What right did he have to scold me? I stayed silent. A million meant nothing to him, but to me, it was life-changing. I bit back my frustration, knowing I couldn’t afford to upset him just yet. The money wasn’t in my account. “You’re getting engaged, aren’t you?” I asked softly, my eyes filling with tears. I made sure I looked as pitiful as possible, a picture of heartbreak. Klein’s cold demeanor faltered. His eyes softened, guilt flickering in their depths. After a long silence, he finally muttered, “Maybe.” Maybe? That was laughable. He was clearly getting married, yet here he was, acting conflicted. Tears slipped down my cheeks as I forced a tremble into my voice. “We’ve been together for three years. I didn’t expect to feel so deeply for you, but I respect your decision. I just… hope you’ll be happy.” Now I had the upper hand, making him the one who needed to apologize. Klein’s guilt hit him in full force. His grip on me tightened as he whispered, “I’m sorry. “I know my mother is the one pressuring you to leave. But if there’s anyone who should compensate you, it’s me. I’ll transfer one million to you.” Yes! My guilt worked perfectly. Relief washed over me. The deal was still intact. We sat in silence for a while before he finally looked up, his expression hesitant. “How about… we break up next month?” Seriously? A scheduled breakup? What kind of person would treat relationships like a business calendar? Rage simmered beneath my calm exterior, but I forced it down. After all, the money wasn’t in my account yet. I leaned into him, playing the obedient, heartbroken lover. “Even though it hurts, I’ll do whatever you say.” Klein’s guilt deepened at my words. He brushed his cheek against mine, his voice soft and apologetic. “I’m sorry.”

The next few days passed with me pretending nothing had changed, dutifully playing the perfect companion. Today was Klein’s birthday. He had a refined palate and would only eat the custom cakes from the Crown Hotel. Months ago, I’d secretly taken lessons from the hotel’s private kitchen to learn how to bake his favorite cake, hoping to surprise him. That morning, I headed to the Crown Hotel to make the cake myself. But fate seemed determined to toy with me. Before I even started, I ran into Christie Anderson, Klein’s first love. I instinctively turned to leave, but she spotted me immediately. “Labia, isn’t it?” she said, her tone carrying a hint of superiority. Since she knew who I was, hiding would be pointless. Someone of her status could uncover my identity with ease. “I didn’t think you’d know me,” I replied casually, picking up the baking tools and ingredients as if unfazed. “Are you making a cake for Klein?” she asked, her tone tightening when I didn’t give her the attention she wanted. “Mm-hmm,” I answered indifferently. “I’ve already ordered his birthday cake. There’s no need for you to make another. It’ll just go to waste,” she said with an air of authority. Her words lit a fire in me. “How do you know it’ll go to waste? He can eat yours during the day and mine at night. After all, he spends every night at my place. I’d say our relationship is far more intimate than yours.” Her face turned pale, then red. “How rude! How could Klein have anything to do with someone like you?” “And yet, here we are,” I shot back with a smirk. “If you have a problem, take it up with him.” Ignoring her, I returned to my baking, leaving her fuming as she stomped off. For the past three years, I’d been the one celebrating Klein’s birthday. Now that his first love was back, I was clearly no longer needed. But that was fine. If he didn’t eat the cake, I would. I’d been craving sweets anyway. Baking wasn’t easy. It took me over a dozen tries to get the decorations right, but I found the process oddly satisfying. The chefs were also patient, teaching me repeatedly. When I finally finished and brought the cake home, it was already late afternoon. Exhausted from the morning’s effort and my pregnancy, I collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep immediately. When I woke, the sky outside was dark. A wave of loneliness swept over me as I lay in the quiet, empty house. Klein hadn’t come home. Of course, Christie was more important to him now. He was probably with her, celebrating his birthday, blowing out candles together. I closed my eyes, trying to will myself back to sleep. But then the mattress dipped beside me, and the familiar scent of pinewood filled the air. I opened my eyes to find Klein’s face inches from mine. “Awake?” His deep, magnetic voice carried a surprising warmth. “Were you planning to skip my birthday entirely?” His familiar yet distant face blurred as my chest tightened. My nose stung, and tears welled up in my eyes. I asked, my voice thick with emotion, “Why did you come back so late?” Klein raised an eyebrow. “I left work at 4:30 and came straight home. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up. It’s already past six.” “I thought… you weren’t coming back,” I murmured. “Why wouldn’t I? You mentioned you had a surprise for me. Don’t tell me you didn’t prepare anything.” “Of course I did!” I exclaimed, quickly getting up. I went to the living room, opened the fridge, and pulled out the cake I’d worked so hard on. “Ta-da! I made this just for you. Isn’t it a nice surprise?” I asked with a bright smile. Klein’s gaze softened as he looked at the cake. “You put in a lot of effort, didn’t you?” “Of course! So, where’s my reward?” I teased, leaning closer playfully. “Later, I’ll have Mars transfer a million to your account,” he said casually, “and the title to this property as well.” My heart leaped at the unexpected bonus, but I kept my excitement hidden behind a facade of sorrow. “Klein, I don’t care about things like that,” I said, pretending to be emotional. He cupped my face gently and kissed me. “But I care. I want to make it up to you.” We ate the cake together, laughing and chatting, and ended up curled up on the couch watching a show. Klein, who usually only had a small piece of cake on his birthdays, surprised me by eating more than half this time. I lay with my head on his lap, gazing up at his perfect jawline. He might not be a good man, but he was undeniably the epitome of male beauty. As I thought about it, my hand instinctively moved to my flat stomach. If my baby inherited his looks, they’d surely be stunning. Klein had said he came straight home after work. Did that mean he didn’t spend his birthday with Christie? Could it be… I still had a place in his heart? The thought made my heart stir, and I couldn’t help but call his name. He was engrossed in the movie but still responded with a soft, indulgent grunt. “If I got pregnant… would you want the baby?” I asked tentatively. His focus finally shifted, and he looked down at me, placing a warm hand on my stomach. “You’re pregnant?” My heart raced at the sensation of his hand against me. “No… I mean, what if?” Klein thought for a few moments before answering. “I don’t want kids, and I don’t like them. But if…” I hung on to his every word, waiting for the rest of his answer. But just then, his phone rang, cutting through the moment. He glanced at the caller ID, hesitated briefly, then picked up. From the faint sound on the other end, I recognized Christie’s voice. My heart sank. Klein kept his tone neutral, speaking only a few words before hanging up. I couldn’t help but wonder. Had they argued? Was that why he came back to me? As if confirming my suspicion, Klein turned to me after the call and said, “Labia, I need to stop by the family estate. Don’t wait up.” I forced a lighthearted “Okay” as he left, the sound of the door closing echoing in the silent apartment. He was probably going to be with Christie now.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295305”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #校园School #狼人Werewolf #擦边Steamy

One of my coworkers had a notorious habit of freeloading. Whether it was something as small as a ballpoint pen or as expensive as a pair of headphones or a phone, she would sneakily take whatever wasn’t hers when no one was looking. “We’re all coworkers, aren’t we? What’s the big deal if I use your stuff?” she’d say, completely unapologetic. “If anything, you should be thanking me! The cheap junk you’re using practically destroyed my hands. I haven’t even charged you for the medical bills yet!” Word around the office was that her family owned the company, so nobody dared confront her, no matter how angry they were. Until I joined. When I hosted a birthday party for the team, she managed to swipe an iPad off the cruise ship we’d rented for the event and then faked a heart attack to cover it up. Big mistake. I used to work as a professional in search and rescue. CPR was my specialty. “Sandra! Why did you take my phone again? I need it to call a client!” Laura’s voice trembled as she spoke, her face pale with frustration. “Why the shouting? Your phone was just sitting there on your desk. If you’re not using it, isn’t it a waste? I’m doing you a favor by putting it to use. You should be grateful,” Sandra replied lazily. She lounged at her desk, a sheet mask plastered to her face, watching a drama on her phone. The occasional giggle escaped her lips, the sound only adding fuel to Laura’s frustration. Laura clenched her fists but didn’t dare fully express her anger. Instead, she muttered under her breath, “Just make sure you give it back when you’re done. I need it too, you know.” Sandra ignored her completely, pretending not to hear. It wasn’t until another coworker couldn’t take it anymore that someone spoke up. “Sandra, Laura needs her phone. Give it back.” Sandra shot them an annoyed glance. “What are you yelling about? Her phone isn’t even with me.” Laura froze. “Then where’s my phone?” “It’s at the repair shop. Your phone broke, so I sent it in for you. Be a dear and reimburse me for the delivery fee. That would be 100 bucks.” Sandra reached out toward Laura, completely unfazed. Tears welled up in Laura’s eyes. “Sandra, that’s my brand-new phone! How could it just break like that?” “Come on, people drop dead all day. Why can’t a phone suddenly break?” Sandra said with a shrug, then leaned in with a smug smirk. “Or are you just trying to avoid paying the fee? Laura, think carefully. My family owns this company. If you want to ruin your career, be my guest.” Her veiled threat shut Laura up instantly. She wiped her tears and, shaking, handed 100 dollars to Sandra. I had just finished my onboarding paperwork when I walked into the scene. Curious, I asked the coworker next to me what was going on. They rolled their eyes so hard I thought they might disappear into their skull. Leaning closer, they whispered, “You’re new, so you don’t know yet, but Sandra loves freeloading. “Anything that’s not hers is fair game, pens, headphones, phones, you name it.” They sighed and continued, “Once she gets her hands on something, it’s as good as gone. This time, she took Laura’s phone. Poor girl just graduated and saved up for months to buy that phone. She guarded it like her life depended on it, but Sandra still found a way to take it. “I guess she has to save some money again to buy a new one.” Looking over at Laura’s desk, I saw her sitting there, her head bowed, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were swollen from crying. Sandra, oblivious or uncaring, continued watching her show. But the sound of Laura’s sniffles seemed to irritate her. “What are you crying about? If you keep this up, I’ll have the manager fire you!” she snapped. Laura immediately fell silent, her face pale with fear. I frowned, my frustration bubbling. “Is this what the work environment here is like?” I wondered. I was about to say something when my phone buzzed. It was my dad calling. Stepping out to take the call, I returned a few minutes later to find Laura had already left the office.

Afternoon snacks at the office came with a little extra flair: birthday perks. Whenever someone had a birthday, the company would prepare a special gift. Even the afternoon snacks would include an extra slice of cake for the lucky employee. It was my first week on the job, and I received the same treatment. But as I unwrapped the chestnut cake, I couldn’t help frowning at the flavor. A male colleague at the next desk noticed and offered, “Not a fan of chestnut cake? “I’ve got mousse cake. Want to trade?” “Thanks,” I replied with a smile, swapping cakes with him. Before I could take a bite, Sandra’s head popped up from her desk like a prairie dog. “Ugh, juice again? I’m so sick of it,” she said, wrinkling her nose. Her eyes darted to Pablo’s cake. “Oh, Pablo, you’ve got cake! Let me have a bite.” Without waiting for an answer, she reached out, but Pablo swiftly moved the plate out of her reach. Sandra’s hand grabbed at thin air, and her smile froze. “Wow, stingy much? It’s just a bite of cake. Why so selfish?” Someone nearby couldn’t help but tease, “Sandra, don’t act innocent. You’ve been eating Pablo’s cakes for ages. No wonder he doesn’t want to share anymore.” “Me? Please. He only has cake once a year on his birthday! How many chances do I even get to eat it?” Sandra scoffed, trying to sound indignant. “Besides, my family owns this company. What’s the big deal if I take a bite?” “Then why not buy Pablo a big one? We could all share!” someone joked, prompting a ripple of laughter. Sandra’s hand instinctively clutched her pocket. “This is the company’s way of showing care to employees. No need for me to overshadow that.” But her eyes lingered on Pablo’s coffee, and she wasn’t done yet. “Pablo, is that coffee from the hand-brewed shop downstairs? I hate juice. How about we trade?” Pablo didn’t even glance her way. Instead, he picked up the cup and took a deliberate sip right in front of her. Moments later, the supervisor called Pablo over to hand in some documents, and he left his desk. Sandra’s eyes darted around, and when she saw no one was paying attention, she swooped in, grabbing Pablo’s cake and all his birthday gifts. Back at her desk, she devoured the cake in a matter of seconds, washing it down with her juice before leisurely unwrapping the rest of his gifts to “test” them out. When Pablo returned and found his desk empty, he marched straight to Sandra, his face red with anger. “What’s your problem? Why did you take my stuff again?” Sandra didn’t even blink. “Watch your tone. What do you mean, ‘take’? I was just borrowing them.” “Then give them back!” Sandra smirked, tossing some ground coffee into her mug and taking a sip before handing it to him. “Here, your ground coffee.” Pablo’s frustration boiled over. He slapped the mug away, coffee spilling everywhere. “Sandra, can you stop? Can’t you go a day without freeloading?” Sandra’s smile turned icy. “Why are you so uptight? We’re coworkers. What’s the big deal about sharing a bit of coffee?” Her tone grew sharper. “Cheap people like you really are pathetic. This skirt I’m wearing cost 100 grand. Remember to pay for it if you damage it!” “You—” Pablo spluttered, too angry to speak. Sandra cut him off, smirking as she played her favorite card. “Don’t forget, my family owns this company. If I want you gone, it’s just one word from me.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. Everyone has their limits, and Sandra had crossed mine. My gaze flicked to her skirt, and I remarked casually, “Your skirt’s a knockoff.” Sandra’s head snapped toward me. “What did you just say? This is a designer piece I ordered from an overseas boutique!” I pointed to the fabric and stitching. “The material is wrong, the stitching is sloppy, and there are loose threads everywhere. “Are we supposed to believe a 100-thousand-dollar skirt would leave the factory looking like that?” Her voice rose. “What do you know? High fashion is all about craftsmanship. Hand-sewn details are what makes it authentic!” Sandra stormed toward me, tugging on her skirt indignantly. I took a step back and smirked. “Oh, I get it now. You must’ve swiped that skirt from a coworker too.” Sandra’s face turned crimson. “Are you insane? How would I even ‘swipe’ a skirt? Rip it off someone’s body?” “Why not? You’ve stolen phones out of people’s pockets before. This wouldn’t be much of a stretch.” The office erupted in muffled laughter, and Sandra’s blush deepened. Unable to out-argue me, she leaned on her usual defense. “Don’t forget, this company belongs to my family. If I want you fired, no one can stop me.” Ignoring her, I took a deliberate step back, pinched my nose, and said, “Stay away from me. “I’ve got a sensitive nose, and the stench of freeloading reeks of cheapness.” The office exploded with laughter. People doubled over, their chuckles echoing through the room like waves. Sandra stomped back to her desk, clearly rattled. In her haste, she knocked over her juice, spilling it all over her precious skirt. She let out a piercing shriek before darting out of the office, presumably to the dry cleaner. Pablo, barely containing his grin, brought over a small gift as thanks. But Laura approached me cautiously, her brows furrowed with worry. “Hey, Sandra’s so flashy and bossy. What if the company really is her family’s? Aren’t you afraid she’ll have her dad fire you?” I twirled my car keys in my hand, smirking. “Doesn’t matter. My family isn’t exactly struggling either.” Laura’s eyes lit up. “You’re amazing!”

It was the weekend, and coincidentally, my birthday. Hoping to bond more with my coworkers, I invited everyone to celebrate. “I have a friend whose family runs a yacht business. They’re letting me use one for free, so I’m inviting everyone to join me for a party at sea.” “That’s so generous of you! Are you sure? Maybe we can chip in to cover some costs?” My coworkers were kind and considerate, offering to help pay for the event. I smiled and waved them off. “It’s my birthday, and it only happens once a year. Let’s just have fun.” “Just bring yourselves,” I added with a grin. “Then we’ll make sure to prepare a fantastic gift for you!” someone chimed in, and the room burst into excited chatter. I called the yacht crew to request their most luxurious setup. Just as I hung up, Sandra slinked over, her expression eager but calculating. “I’ve never been on a yacht before, Feona,” she said. “Mind if I tag along?” I didn’t bother looking at her, replying bluntly, “I’m inviting friends, not freeloaders who steal from others.” Her face froze, but she quickly forced a smile. “Oh, come on. I’ll get you a big gift. Trust me, it’ll be something really nice,” she promised with exaggerated enthusiasm. Reluctantly, I agreed. Sandra practically skipped away in delight. The moment she was gone, the other coworkers swarmed me. “Why did you invite her? She’s going to ruin everything!” “Yeah, the last time I had a birthday party, she stole my favorite Lego set. I still have no idea how she managed to smuggle something that big out of my house!” “Feona, you’ve got to be careful. Don’t let her ruin your party or get away with anything.” I looked at their worried faces and smiled reassuringly. Deep down, I knew they all feared Sandra’s threat, so they never dared to defy her. “Don’t worry. She won’t get away with anything this time.” I glanced over at Sandra, who was eagerly stuffing plastic bags into her oversized purse, clearly planning to haul away whatever she could. “Not only will she not profit, but I’ll make sure she coughs up everything she’s ever taken from all of you,” I added with a wide grin. If she loved taking advantage, I’d show her what it really meant to pay for her greed.

The yacht was massive, and I suggested everyone start by enjoying the pool while we set up the other activities. My coworkers brought out their carefully prepared gifts: designer bags, headphones, perfume, and other high-end items. Even a few colleagues who had pooled their money managed to bring something thoughtful and elegant. Sandra, of course, showed up empty-handed. When everyone’s eyes turned to her, she crossed her arms, looking unbothered. “What? I brought a gift, but I forgot to bring it with me, that’s all.” “Sure, you did,” someone muttered. “You always say that!” “Sandra, can’t you at least come up with a better excuse?” “You didn’t prepare anything, did you?” Sandra huffed, feigning annoyance. “Fine, if it’s such a big deal, I’ll go back and get it.” She started climbing out of the pool, taking her sweet time and dragging the moment out for nearly ten minutes before I finally stepped in. “Forget it,” I said, shaking my head. “I believe Sandra. She’ll make it up to me later.” Everyone fell silent, though their expressions made it clear they weren’t happy. Out of respect for me, the birthday girl, they let it go. Later, when a staff member brought out an iPad for us to use to order services, it mysteriously disappeared after making its rounds. The staff was frantic, and all eyes turned to Sandra. “It’s her! She must’ve hidden it!” “She’s the only one here who’d pull something like this!” “She even brought her bag to the pool. I bet the iPad’s in there!” Everyone demanded to search Sandra’s bag, but she clutched it tightly to her chest. “Don’t you dare accuse me without proof! I brought my bag because it’s expensive, and I didn’t want anything stolen from it!” she protested, her voice shrill. “And for the record, it’s just an iPad. Like I’d care about something so basic.” Sensing the growing tension, I stepped in again. “Let it go. I’m sure it’s not difficult to find it,” I said, giving a resigned sigh. “If the iPad can’t be found, I’ll cover the cost.” Sandra beamed. “Feona, you’re so generous!” she said, stuffing her face with food from the buffet. She even slyly emptied dishes into the plastic bags she’d brought. When someone called her out, Sandra snapped back. “Aren’t we here to eat? That’s what parties are for! And Feona doesn’t mind, so why are you making a fuss?” She wasn’t content with just the food either. She even swiped game controllers from the lounge. After filling her bags with all kinds of items, she claimed she was feeling unwell and needed to rest. Someone tried to stop her. “Sandra, you promised not to freeload today.” She snapped, “How is this freeloading? Feona spent so much money. I’m just helping her get her money’s worth. “Besides, this is a yacht. How I’m supposed to escape? “Suppose you want my bag, fine. You can have one of them. I need the other to wash up.” Then, she covered her head and ran away. As soon as she disappeared, Pablo opened the bag she’d left behind, only to find used tissues. “That’s it! I knew she’d run!” Pablo exclaimed, his anger boiling over. “She’s stolen so much! Feona, you can’t let her get away with this!” I casually lined up my pool shot, the cue ball cracking sharply against the others as I sunk another ball. “Don’t worry,” I said with a smile. “She’s not going anywhere.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295304”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #校园School #狼人Werewolf #擦边Steamy

The Christmas family gathering was in full swing when my aunt Karen started mocking me as I reviewed some work documents on my laptop: “Stop pretending to be so busy. We all know you only make $3,000 a month! My daughter Rachel is a real high-earner – she’s such an important designer that she couldn’t even make it home for Christmas!” Seeing that I wasn’t responding, she encouraged her spoiled son Peter to delete all my files while I was in the bathroom. I was shaking with anger when I returned. “That proposal was due in 10 minutes! If I don’t submit it, I’m done for!” Aunt Karen shrugged nonchalantly. “He’s just a child, how could he know any better? Your job can’t be that important anyway. So what if you get fired? Maybe then you’ll finally settle down and get married so your parents can stop worrying.” I couldn’t help but smirk silently. If only she knew that the proposal was actually her precious daughter Rachel’s work – the one that would determine whether Rachel kept her job or not. And I was the client who would be making that decision!

On the second day of the Christmas break, our family of three returned to my grandmother’s house for the annual gathering. I had barely sat down when I received a text from my cousin Rachel: “Brynn, I just emailed you my proposal. Please, I’m begging you to review it ASAP. My whole career is riding on this!” Rachel currently works as an advertising designer. Her company isn’t doing well financially and is planning layoffs. They’re using this collaboration with my company as an opportunity to have employees compete against each other – whoever’s proposal gets selected gets to keep their job. Before Christmas, all of Rachel’s coworkers had already submitted their proposals. Only Rachel hadn’t finished hers yet. She said she needed to come up with a perfect proposal to outshine everyone else, so she’d been pulling all-nighters for over a month, sleeping only two hours a day. However, my business partner had already seen a proposal he liked and didn’t want to consider any more. It was only after I pleaded with him repeatedly that he agreed to give Rachel one last chance. My partner made it clear that meeting deadlines was also part of evaluating capability. To be fair, he said we must receive the proposal by 8 PM tonight – no exceptions! I reminded Rachel multiple times to submit as soon as possible. But after waiting all day, she only just sent it to me now. It was already 7:45 PM. In our group chat, my other two partners were getting impatient. They said if it weren’t for my sake, they wouldn’t be wasting their Christmas working overtime. I quickly forwarded Rachel’s proposal to the group chat. At least this way, I could say I did my part for her. Just when I thought the crisis had been averted, a red exclamation mark popped up. No internet connection. Sending failed! I looked up to see my 10-year-old cousin Peter waving the unplugged network cable at me and making faces. I sighed and said gently, “Peter, don’t mess around. Please plug it back in!” Before I could finish speaking, Aunt Karen’s shrill voice rang out: “Brynn! How dare you yell at a child?” The whole family turned to stare at me. I was baffled. I forced a smile and said, “I wasn’t yelling. I just asked him to plug the cable back in.” Aunt Karen brushed some snack crumbs off her hands and looked me up and down with disdain. “Working on Christmas Day? You must be SO busy! Even your Uncle John who runs a supermarket isn’t as busy as you! Who are you trying to impress?” I glanced at the time – only 12 minutes left. I didn’t have time to argue with her, so I decided to use my phone to send the email instead. But Aunt Karen snatched my phone away before I could. “Your elder is speaking to you! How dare you look at your phone? I hate you millennials always glued to your screens! It’s a family gathering and you can’t even be bothered to talk to your relatives. You’re just pretending to be busy to avoid us! Who do you think you’re fooling? We all know you only make $3,000 a month, you wage slave!” With that, she turned off my phone right in front of everyone. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Aunt Karen, this is about your daughter’s future!” Aunt Karen burst out laughing. “My daughter is a top designer! Her future has nothing to do with a bottom-feeder like you! You never tell us what you actually do for work. I bet you’re just too ashamed of your pathetic salary to say anything!” “We all know you’re just a regular office drone making $3,000 a month. Stop pretending to be so busy – it only makes you look ridiculous!” My mom could see I was getting upset. She quickly tried to mediate: “Karen, don’t say that. Brynn wouldn’t be working on Christmas unless it was really urgent. Please give her phone back. And Peter, hurry up and plug the network cable back in – we all need to use the internet!” My mom spoke very gently, but somehow it was enough to make Peter burst into tears. He pointed angrily at me and my mom, then stomped his feet and started wailing. Aunt Karen rushed to comfort her son and turned to berate my mom for bullying a child. My grandma, worried about her grandson, grabbed a pair of scissors and threatened to cut the network cable. The scene descended into chaos. I checked the time – only 8 minutes left. Rachel, your job might be ruined by your own mother and brother!

Come to think of it, no one in the family could out-pretend Rachel when it came to putting on airs. She only graduated from community college but told the family she had a bachelor’s degree. She works at a small advertising company but claims to be a designer at a top 100 firm in the country, making $400,000 a year. One lie leads to another. To keep up the charade, she, who only makes 4,500 a month, went crazy enough to borrow 150,000 and give it to her mom, saying it was her year-end bonus. Her mom had been bragging about it in the family group chat for over a month, always putting me down to prop Rachel up. But I understood why Rachel did it. With a status-obsessed, sexist, and overbearing mom like Aunt Karen, she was forced to pretend just to survive! She used to be honest before, but her life was miserable then. The incident that left the deepest impression on me was when Rachel was in 5th grade. She got a 69% on her final exam. I had gotten a 99%. As soon as her mom saw her test paper, she slapped Rachel across the face twice without a word. Rachel was stunned, humiliated, but didn’t dare cry. It didn’t stop there. Her mom grabbed her by the ear, cursing and kicking her, forcing her to kneel in the snow holding up her test paper. She wasn’t allowed to eat dinner. Every time they saw someone, her mom would humiliate her daughter in front of them, calling her useless for not getting top scores. Rachel used to be cheerful and outgoing, but her mom’s abuse gradually made her withdrawn and gloomy. From then on, she learned to alter her grades, only bringing home perfect scores. Aunt Karen isn’t very educated, so she’s easy to fool. When she saw the perfect test papers, she finally started treating Rachel better, buying her gifts and praising her in front of others. Rachel became addicted to her mother’s exaggerated praise, even starting to believe she really was a genius. In this daily self-deception that went on year after year, she could no longer accept her true self. When facing me, who knew the truth, she begged me not to tell anyone, saying she would kill herself if I did. She said that if she could land this deal with my company, she could slowly pay back the $150,000 debt. Her boss had said that after the layoffs, they would focus resources on developing whoever remained. If that was her, she could easily make $20,000 a month and gradually turn her fake persona into reality. The premise was that she had to keep her job. I wanted to help her, but I never expected this scene unfolding before me. There were only 5 minutes left! I strode over, snatched the scissors from my grandma’s hand, and grabbed the network cable from Peter. With a stern face, I said: “Just 5 minutes! In 5 minutes, I’ll be done!” Peter cried even harder, pointing at me and shouting: “You $3,000 loser! How dare you take my things? I’ll beat you to death!” Aunt Karen let go of him, allowing him to charge at me with his fists flying. My dad tried to hold Peter back, but before he could say anything, Aunt Karen yelled at him: “What are you doing?! Peter is just a child! His punches don’t even hurt. He’s just playing with Brynn!” My grandma slapped my arm, cooing at Peter: “Bad Brynn! Grandma hit her! Don’t cry, Peter, don’t cry.” She then smacked my back twice more. It didn’t hurt much, but my parents’ expressions darkened. My grandma, leveraging her seniority, scolded them: “What’s with those faces? You want to hit me or something? Brynn’s just a girl, a few smacks won’t hurt her. But if my grandson cries his eyes out, how will you make it up to him?” Aunt Karen smirked triumphantly at my parents. My parents aren’t ones to cause a scene, so they decided not to make a fuss, given it was a holiday. I had plugged the network cable back in and didn’t bother arguing with them. I rushed to connect to the internet and send the email. My business partners were already raging in the group chat, tagging me frantically, saying they wouldn’t look at any proposals after 8 PM, no matter how brilliant. I understood their frustration at having to work on Christmas. There were only 3 minutes left until 8 PM. I quickly sent the files to the group chat. The internet was a bit slow, but it should be fine. I urgently needed to use the bathroom, so I ran off. When I came out, it was already 8 PM. I thought the proposal had been sent successfully, just in time. Crisis averted. But when I returned to my computer to check my partners’ feedback, I was horrified. Rachel’s proposal hadn’t been sent at all – it had been recalled. Seeing they hadn’t received anything, my partners angrily declared they wouldn’t look at it anymore. I quickly tried to resend, only to find the files were gone. I looked up to see Peter making faces at me again. I asked him, “Did you delete my files?” He stuck his tongue out at me: “That’s what you get for being mean to me! This’ll teach you a lesson. Take that!”

Aunt Karen glared at me hostilely: “Brynn, what’s with that look? Are you going to hit my son? He’s just a child! What’s wrong with kids being playful? You’re an adult – aren’t you ashamed to pick on him?!” She scoffed coldly, then said: “It’s just some files. So what if they’re deleted? Your job that pays a few thousand bucks can’t have anything important. Worst case, you get fired. That’d be great actually – you can come back and get married so your parents can stop worrying.” I closed my eyes for a moment, suppressing my anger. I messaged Rachel on my computer, telling her to resend the files ASAP – there might still be a chance. Unexpectedly, Rachel didn’t seem to be checking her phone and didn’t reply immediately. I panicked and reached out to Aunt Karen for my phone so I could call Rachel. Aunt Karen walked up to me with my phone, saying ominously: “Learned your lesson, huh? If you know you were wrong, apologize properly to me and my son. Then I’ll give you your phone back.” I blurted out: “He’s the one who did something wrong. Why should I apologize to him? Being young is no excuse!” Aunt Karen’s eyes widened like saucers: “Big attitude for someone so useless! What right do you have to yell at me? You make 3,000 a month, you good−for−nothing ! My daughter makes 400,000 a year as a top designer!” As she spoke, she started dragging my mom into it: “Emily, I never imagined you could fail so spectacularly as a parent, raising such a useless and rude girl. How embarrassing!” My mom got angry: “Karen, you can say whatever you want about me, but Brynn did nothing wrong. You’d better watch your mouth!” Aunt Karen laughed coldly: “Why should I be careful what I say to a nobody like her? It’s a fact that your family is useless, isn’t it? You couldn’t give birth to a son, that’s useless. Your daughter can’t make money, that’s useless too. Which part did I get wrong?!” She crossed her arms smugly: “I’m different. I raised a daughter who’s a top designer, and I gave birth to a son to carry on the family name. I’ve got nothing to worry about for the rest of my life!” “That’s enough!” my dad finally lost his temper. At this point, my usually silent second aunt and uncle stood up to mediate, holding my dad back: “It’s Christmas, don’t fight. It ruins the mood. Kids will be kids, no big deal. You know how Karen is – she just speaks her mind. Don’t take it to heart.” Here we go again. Every time Aunt Karen attacked my parents, Aunt Sarah’s family always took her side, leaving my family to swallow our anger. Suddenly, I realized that in a way, I was also partly responsible for my parents being mistreated like this. Thinking of this, I wasn’t in a rush anymore. I shrugged and said to her: “Keep the phone if you want. I’m done working!” I turned off my computer too. It’s Christmas – wouldn’t it be better to just relax, play cards and eat snacks? Why bother with this thankless task that only gets me grief? Aunt Karen didn’t expect me to say that. She suddenly felt like she’d punched cotton – all the fight went out of her. She tilted her head back and yelled at me: “You think I want your crappy phone? My daughter has plenty of money – she can buy me whatever phone I want anytime! I only took your phone to teach you some basic manners on behalf of your parents! “Look, this is the year-end bonus my daughter gave me – $150,000! What about you? How many thousands do you have?” She turned on my phone right in front of me: “Let’s see how much money you have in your WeChat wallet. I bet you don’t even have $300.” As soon as the phone turned on, a message from Rachel popped up: “Sis, what’s going on? Why is our boss saying in the group chat that you guys have made a decision, but my proposal wasn’t even considered?!”

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I never thought my in-laws could be so biased. Three years ago, when I married Silas, they claimed they had no money to buy us a house or contribute to the wedding. So Silas and I just got our marriage certificate and had a simple dinner with friends to celebrate. But the very next year, when Silas’s younger brother Liam got married, it was a different story. My in-laws bought them a spacious three-bedroom apartment and even gave Sarah, Liam’s wife, an expensive gold necklace and a generous cash gift. I was furious. How could they treat their daughters-in-law so differently? When I confronted them, they had the audacity to say, “It’s different. You and Silas fell in love on your own. Liam and Sarah met through an arranged date. If we didn’t provide for them, no one would want to marry Liam.” I was so angry I couldn’t think straight. I had a huge fight with them. Eventually, when they couldn’t argue anymore, they started saying hurtful things. “It’s our money, we can give it to whoever we want. We just love our younger son more. He’s always been more obedient and caring. And you, you’re so shameless, willing to marry our son even without a dowry.” I burst into tears when I heard this. All my efforts to be understanding and accommodating had only made them think I was worthless. I left for my parents’ house that night and didn’t speak to my in-laws again. Silas eventually coaxed me back home with promises. He said we’d live our own life, just the two of us. He promised to make up for everything I didn’t get and ensure I wouldn’t suffer or face any conflicts alone. He vowed to protect and cherish me, never letting me feel wronged again. I was a romantic at heart, so I believed him. Thankfully, Silas kept his word. He truly treated me well, which helped me feel a bit better about the situation. However, I still harbored resentment towards his parents. I didn’t stop Silas from contacting them, but there was no way I would show them any respect or care. Last year, when I gave birth to our daughter, Silas called his parents to inform them. Not only did they fail to show any concern for me, but they also completely ignored their granddaughter. In the end, my mom had to travel from out of town to take care of me during my postpartum period. Later, I found out that Sarah, Liam’s wife, was also pregnant. My in-laws were doting on her, buying the best things for both the baby and Sarah. And of course, they were covering all the expenses. Sometimes, I seriously doubted if Silas was their biological son. How could parents treat their children and daughters-in-law so differently? Eventually, I resigned myself to the situation. I decided that I would treat them exactly how they treated me. 02 But then, my father-in-law fell ill. And to make matters worse, they wanted to stay at our place because it was closer to the hospital. Silas tentatively asked me, “Zoe, we have a spare room. Would it be okay if my parents stayed there?” I refused without a second thought. The house Liam and Sarah lived in was also in the city. The only difference was that their place was an hour away from the hospital, while ours was just half an hour away. Besides, they had a three-bedroom apartment, while we only had a one-bedroom. There was no reason for them to stay with us. Moreover, that spare room was for our nanny. Silas and I both worked full-time, and my parents were too old and not in good health to help with childcare. So we had hired a nanny to look after our daughter while we were at work. If Silas’s parents moved in, where would the nanny stay? And who would take care of our daughter? I certainly didn’t expect them to babysit. I asked Silas, “Doesn’t Liam have space at his place? Why do they have to come here?” Silas hesitated before explaining, “It’s Liam… well, Sarah doesn’t agree. She’s worried about the risk of infection. Their son is only a year old and has a weak immune system.” Little James was Liam’s son. Hearing this, I immediately got angry. “Oh, so their child is afraid of germs, but our daughter isn’t? Silas, don’t forget how they treated us before. Why should we suffer while they enjoy all the benefits? Are we destined to be bullied?” I ranted for a while until Silas begged me to stop and promised he wouldn’t make any decisions without my consent. Only then did I manage to suppress my anger. But I had a feeling this wasn’t over yet. Sure enough, the next day when I got home from work and opened the door, I saw three familiar figures. My father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Liam. At first, I thought I was seeing things. After all, it had been years since I’d last seen them. But upon closer inspection, it really was them. Silas saw me come in and said sheepishly, “Zoe, you’re back. My parents and Liam are here.” I responded with a noncommittal sound, thinking about how to handle this situation. Were they here uninvited? Or had Silas failed to inform me? Should I greet them? As I was pondering, I glanced at my in-laws sitting on the sofa. They looked like royalty waiting for a servant to pay respects. Remembering how they had never shown me any kindness, I turned and went into the side bedroom without a word. Our nanny was trying to put Lily to sleep. When she saw me come in, she started complaining. “Zoe, your in-laws are so heartless. They didn’t even look at their own granddaughter. Lily doesn’t know them and got scared when she saw them. She started crying, and your mother-in-law called her a bad omen. I quickly brought her in here.” “Don’t worry, I’ve disinfected the room,” she added. I hadn’t mentioned my father-in-law’s illness before, so the nanny must have overheard their conversation this afternoon. The nanny looked towards the living room and lowered her voice, “I heard them say they plan to stay here.” Hearing this, I felt even more upset. Just then, Silas opened the door. “Zoe, can you make some dinner? My parents and Liam haven’t eaten yet.” I was already in a bad mood, and hearing that they were waiting for me to come home and cook for them made me even angrier. I snapped, “Let’s just order takeout.” As soon as I said it, I regretted my tone. It did sound impolite. Silas was taken aback for a moment before saying, “Okay.” But Liam wasn’t having it. He started yelling from the living room, “What’s going on? Are we not welcome here? What kind of attitude is this? Coming home with that face, like we owe you something. Is this how a daughter-in-law should behave?” “Bro, you’re too soft. You’re letting a woman walk all over you. No wonder Mom and Dad don’t like her.” I had initially decided not to argue, but hearing Liam’s increasingly disrespectful words, I couldn’t help but confront him. “Who do you think you’re talking about?” I demanded. “You come to our home to stir up trouble? Did I invite you? Who asked you to come? If you don’t want to be here, then leave. Who wants to see you anyway?” Liam got angry. “I’m here to visit my brother’s home. It’s none of your business.” I laughed coldly at his words. “You said it yourself, this is your brother’s home. Your brother’s home is my home. So how is it none of my business?” I was about to say more when Silas intervened. “Zoe, stop it.” Why should I stop? I was about to protest when I saw Silas’s troubled expression and held back. As I was about to return to the bedroom, my father-in-law coughed loudly. “What a disgrace to our family,” he said twice. “Silas, how do you manage your wife? She doesn’t even know how to respect her elders. We’re your parents and brother, not your enemies.” “You clearly don’t welcome us. Fine, we’ll leave,” my mother-in-law said, grabbing her husband’s hand and heading for the door. I was more than happy to see them go and didn’t try to stop them. But Liam was different. He hesitated and said, “Mom, Dad, please bear with it for now. Sarah said the hospital is full of germs. You go there every day, and if you accidentally infect little James, that would be terrible.” “Don’t worry, I’ll come pick you up as soon as you’re better,” Liam promised. With that, Liam left quickly. I watched this scene unfold, finding it ridiculous. Now my in-laws were stuck, unable to move in or leave. In the end, Silas had to drag them back to the sofa. My mother-in-law, playing the victim, said to Silas, “Son, you won’t turn us away too, will you?” She glanced at me as she spoke. Silas quickly assured her they were welcome, and went to comfort them. I turned and went back to the bedroom, out of sight, out of mind. 03 Later, Silas ordered takeout for his parents. I brought a separate meal for our nanny. I had already eaten at the office and wasn’t hungry. Sitting on the bed, I pondered what to do next. I’m not a heartless person. Despite my harsh words, I couldn’t bring myself to turn away sick parents, even if they had treated me poorly. They were still elders, and seriously ill at that. If I forced them to leave, my conscience wouldn’t let me rest, and it might affect my relationship with Silas. Yes, even though Silas’s parents clearly favored their younger son to an extreme degree, and Silas himself felt conflicted about it, blood is thicker than water. He’s soft-hearted and can’t bear to see his parents suffer. But we really didn’t have space in our home. It was only about 800 square feet. We occupied one room, the nanny another. We couldn’t possibly make his parents sleep in the living room. I planned to discuss with Silas about possibly renting an apartment near the hospital for his parents. Of course, we’d split the rent with Liam and his family. I wasn’t going to be the only one footing the bill. But I never imagined that Silas’s father had been diagnosed with kidney failure. I looked it up online. It’s a difficult disease to treat. Time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive. He needed dialysis three times a week, four hours each time. And that was just to keep him alive. For a real cure, he’d need a kidney transplant. A transplant would cost at least several hundred thousand dollars, and there was no guarantee of finding a suitable donor. For an average family, it was a catastrophic expense. I had a feeling our peaceful life was about to be disrupted. The day of the diagnosis, Silas was silent for a long time. He smoked on the balcony all night, and finally came to me with red eyes. “Zoe, what should I do? My dad is sick,” he said, tears streaming down his face. It was the first time I’d seen him cry. I didn’t know what to say, so I just held him silently. The idea of renting an apartment for them now seemed unrealistic. I could only discuss with our nanny about coming during the day to look after Lily and going home at night to sleep. 04 After Silas’s father fell ill, he moved in with us. He went for dialysis three times a week without fail. Liam visited a few times at the beginning, but his visits became less and less frequent. He barely showed up after a month. He was clever, though. He’d check in with his parents via SnapChat every day, keeping them happy. But he never mentioned money. His parents didn’t bring it up either. Everyone was pretending not to understand the situation. It had been two months since Silas’s father fell ill, and we had been bearing all their living expenses and medical bills. I calculated that we had spent nearly $100,000. This was basically all the money we had. After all, we had only been married for three or four years, and without any help from family, we had to pay our mortgage, car loan, and the nanny’s salary ourselves. After our daughter was born, we also had to buy formula and diapers. We could barely save any money each month. If this continued, we would soon be penniless. I asked Silas to ask his parents for money, but he was too embarrassed. I told him to ask his brother, but he was still too embarrassed. Seeing Silas’s cowardice, I got angry. “Are you going to ask or not? If you don’t, I will.” “This isn’t right. They left everything to your brother, and now that they’re sick, they come to us.” “Your whole family is playing dumb. Are you all trying to take advantage of us?” Despite Silas’s repeated attempts to stop me, I called Liam. Liam knew I was calling about money, so he immediately started pleading poverty. “Sis, you know our James is only a year old. It’s an expensive time for us. Sarah and I aren’t as capable as you and Silas. Why don’t you cover Dad’s medical expenses for now, and we’ll pay you back when we can afford it?” I had never met such a shameless person. “Liam, that’s not how it works. Your dad has two sons, not just Silas. When you got married, your parents bought you a house and a car. We got nothing. You can’t expect to reap all the benefits and then push all the responsibilities onto us when your dad gets sick.” “Since your dad got sick, you haven’t contributed a penny. It’s always been Silas taking him to the hospital.” “If this is how it’s going to be, I won’t be reasonable anymore. I’ll have Silas drive your dad back to your place tomorrow.” Hearing this, Liam panicked. “No, please don’t, sis. If you send Dad back, Sarah will kill me. Besides, James is still young. Dad goes to the hospital every day, who knows how many germs he’s exposed to. If James gets infected by accident, that would be terrible, you know?” Can you believe what he’s saying? Is this how you talk about your own parents? He’s nothing but an ungrateful brat. And it’s not just their son who matters. My daughter is my precious baby too. Are they saying only their child is valuable? Anyway, my personal principle was clear: if the money didn’t come through, I’d send his father back immediately. Liam had no choice in the end. He transferred $20,000. It wasn’t much, but it helped ease our immediate financial pressure. I thought I had done a great thing. But I didn’t expect to offend Silas’s parents once again. After getting the money, I was quite happy. But Silas’s parents were visibly upset. When I asked why, I found out they were unhappy that I had asked Liam for money. What’s going on here? How did this become my fault? When I got home from work, I saw Silas’s father sitting on the sofa, his face ashen. His mother was muttering beside him. “Oh, poor Liam. He’s already struggling, and now he had to give up $20,000. What will they do?” “They’re not very capable and don’t have stable jobs. Where will they get the money?” “It’s been so long since we’ve seen little James. I wonder how the child is doing.” Hearing her sighs and complaints, I simply ignored them. But my tolerance only made them more overbearing, thinking they could bully me. That evening, because I didn’t have time to go to the supermarket after work, dinner was a bit simple. Two vegetable dishes and one meat dish. Feeling it wasn’t enough, I even cut up a sausage. I thought I had done well enough. But when Silas’s father saw the dishes on the table, he threw his chopsticks away. “If you want us to leave, just say so. No need for this.” I was bewildered. What had I done wrong? “Eating like this every day, there’s no taste in my mouth, no nutrition at all. I think you’re doing this on purpose!”

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The day I finally succeeded in proposing to my childhood sweetheart for the 99th time, news of Jason Gray’s proposal to her also went viral. On the giant screen, my fiancée Evelyn Song covered her blushing face as she shyly slipped on the ring Jason offered. Behind them, our families and friends showered them with blessings. No one knew that Evelyn had also accepted my proposal. Afterwards, she casually explained to me, “Jason has cancer. I’m just playing along to make him happy.” But as soon as she turned away, she wrapped her arms around Jason’s neck and cooed— “My wedding with your brother is in three days.” “I only said yes to you because I wanted to see you crash the wedding. Isn’t that romantic?” This time, I finally gave up and made a phone call— “The wedding’s in three days. Will you come? I need a bride.” On my wedding day, when I appeared before everyone with another woman on my arm, Evelyn suddenly went mad. “Vaughn Gray, can you stop being so unreasonable?” Evelyn snapped at me after rushing back upon receiving my call. She angrily removed her engagement ring and tossed it onto the couch. “Yes, I know you’ve suffered a lot in the past, but what does that have to do with Jason?” she continued, exasperated. “Do you really have to take out all your resentment on an innocent person?” My name is Vaughn Gray. Jason is my half-brother, and Evelyn is my longtime girlfriend and fiancée. When I was born, Jason’s mother, posing as a nanny, switched our identities. I was abandoned in the countryside, becoming a poor orphan, while Jason suddenly became the pampered heir of the Gray family. Perhaps out of guilt, my foster mother wasn’t kind to me. She would often beat me with thorny branches, leaving me covered in wounds. On freezing winter days, she’d force me to stand outside in the snow and ice, refusing to give me even a sip of hot water. During those dark days, Evelyn was my only support. She was the daughter of our neighbors – her mother was a gambling addict and her stepfather an alcoholic. When they fought, they’d take out their anger on her. I can’t count how many times I stepped in to shield her from their blows. In return, Evelyn would often sneak me half a bread roll when I was starving. Supporting each other this way, we made it through our difficult childhoods together. Even after my true identity was revealed and I returned to the Gray family, I never forgot to rescue her from that hellhole. I insisted on making her my girlfriend, supporting her life and education, elevating her from a poor girl to a pampered princess. She once tearfully cupped my face and told me I was the light of her life. If she ever left me, she would surely die. So I could never understand why she always hesitated and made excuses every time I proposed to her before. But now I finally understood— My fiancée had fallen in love with that impostor who stole my place.

Looking at Evelyn’s impatient expression, a dull ache rose in my chest. Instead of answering her question directly, I reached out to brush aside a strand of her hair that had fallen out of place in her anger. “Do you remember what you said to me when I first returned to the Gray family?” I asked softly. Even after reclaiming my true identity, I never truly fit in with the Grays. My parents preferred the son they had raised themselves, so Jason faced no punishment for his deception. They still took him to various social events and served his favorite dishes at dinner – dishes I was allergic to. Back then, Evelyn would hold my hand tenderly and say, “It’s okay. Even if the whole world doesn’t love you, I will. I’ll always be by your side.” But now even this one person had taken Jason’s side. Evelyn frowned and jerked away from my touch. She reluctantly replied, “I remember, of course I do. It’s just…” “Jason’s condition is critical now. We need to prioritize the patient’s needs.” Her tone softened as she tried to reassure me, “Don’t worry, I’ll play along with Jason and go through with this act. I just don’t want him to have any regrets. You’re still the one I’m going to marry.” But Evelyn was lying. Even though her words professed love for me, the impatience and hidden coldness in her eyes couldn’t deceive anyone. She had grown tired of me long ago and no longer loved me. Evelyn’s phone on the table buzzed. Though Jason’s photo flashed on the screen, she nervously tried to hide it from me, saying, “It’s probably my parents asking about the wedding preparations. You should go get ready…” She paused, then added meaningfully, “I’ll definitely give you a surprise on our wedding day.” With that, Evelyn hurriedly left. Frowning, I decided to follow her, still feeling uneasy. Sure enough, I saw Evelyn drive to another location. As soon as she entered the private room, I heard laughter from inside— “Evelyn, Jason, are you two really going to crash the wedding?”

Inside the room, Evelyn and Jason sat side by side. Jason playfully toyed with her fingers, raising an eyebrow. “I always keep my word. What do you think?” he smirked. Their friends burst out laughing, then continued fawning, “We just don’t understand – if you two want to be together, why did Evelyn have to accept Vaughn’s proposal? Isn’t all this back-and-forth a hassle?” Of course, I knew the reason. Because I had taken back Jason’s position as the Gray family heir. So Jason was going to extreme lengths to steal the woman I loved. He might be able to fool our parents with his innocent act and excuses, he might be able to deceive Evelyn, but he couldn’t fool me. But Jason certainly wasn’t going to reveal his true motives. He simply put on a meaningful expression and said, “Crashing a wedding – how romantic is that?” “It’ll be so much more dramatic this way, don’t you think?” The room erupted in laughter again. Someone turned to Evelyn and asked, “What about you, Evelyn? Aren’t you afraid Vaughn will be angry? Running off with Jason on your wedding day is basically cuckolding him in front of everyone. No man could accept that.” Evelyn leaned into Jason’s embrace, looking up at him coyly. “I’ll do whatever makes Jason happy,” she replied. Hearing those words, my heart sank. The laughter from inside, celebrating their public display of affection, felt like the cruelest mockery. I staggered back, my mind foggy, retreating from the scene. All I could think about was the image of Evelyn shyly accepting Jason’s ring, and their scheming plans for the wedding day. The winter wind was frigid, chilling me to the bone as it whipped around me. I closed my eyes, still hearing their final words echoing in my ears: “Mr. and Mrs. Gray know about this too.” “They agreed to it to fulfill Jason’s wishes.” “With the support of your parents, what are you afraid of?” I finally understood why my parents had been present at Jason’s proposal… It turns out, no one truly loved me. In their hearts, I was just a stepping stone for Jason to trample on his way to happiness. My parents felt this way, as did our relatives and friends. I used to think Evelyn was different. But twenty years of feelings, all my devotion and deep love for her, couldn’t compare to that simple phrase – “As long as Jason is happy.” So… why not just give them what they want? A sharp car horn jolted me out of my daze. I realized I had unknowingly wandered into the middle of the road. I sniffled, forcefully pushing down the dull ache in my chest. Finally, I made a phone call— “My wedding is in three days.” “Will you come? I need a bride.”

To satisfy Jason’s desire for a “dramatic” event, my wedding was arranged to be especially lively. My parents specially invited the media to broadcast the event from all angles. Those relatives and friends were also eagerly waiting to witness a shocking wedding crash. Everyone thought they had kept me in the dark. Evelyn arrived early in her wedding dress, sneaking off to be lovey-dovey with Jason backstage for quite a while. When I arrived, she emerged from the room with a flushed face. Seeing me, she jumped in surprise, nervously covering up: “The hotel lights were broken. I was waiting alone and got scared, so I asked Jason to come fix them.” Pretending not to know, I simply nodded. Evelyn smiled and took my arm. She pressed the ring into my palm and said, “During the ceremony, kneel down and put the ring on my finger yourself, okay?” I knew this was part of their plan. When I knelt to propose to Evelyn, Jason would suddenly appear and steal her away for maximum dramatic effect. This was the romance they were after. I nodded, but as Evelyn turned away satisfied, I pulled her back. Looking into her eyes, I asked, “You once said I was the light of your life, and that if I ever left you, you would surely die. Was that true?” Evelyn froze for a moment. After years together, our feelings had long since faded. She had probably forgotten her old vows. To placate me, she forced a smile and said, “Of course. Now hurry and get ready, the ceremony is about to start.” Watching her walk away, I gave a bitter smile. I really wanted to know if Evelyn’s past promises would prove true or false after today.

At the wedding venue, soft music began to play. Under everyone’s gaze, Evelyn walked towards me with anticipation. Unfortunately, her excitement wasn’t about becoming my bride – her eyes never left Jason. As we reached the ring exchange, the crowd held their breath. Jason stared at me intently, ready to rush up and steal the bride. Evelyn extended her hand to me. Even the background music cooperated, switching to a tense, dramatic tune. But I remained motionless. Evelyn grew impatient and urged me in a low voice, “Vaughn, what’s wrong? Hurry and put the ring on me!” I stayed silent. My parents stood up anxiously from their seats. “Vaughn, there are so many people watching!” Seeing that I still hadn’t put the ring on Evelyn, murmurs of confusion spread through the crowd. Evelyn’s face fell as she hissed at me again, “Vaughn, what are you doing? Didn’t you want to marry me? It’s our wedding day, with all our family and friends watching. You’re not going to humiliate me in public, are you?” I let out a sad laugh. So they did realize there were many people present, and that the bride and groom would lose face if anything went wrong. Then why did they plan such a scheme behind my back? After a moment of bewildered chatter from the crowd, I finally spoke: “I’m sorry, but my bride hasn’t arrived yet. Can we wait a bit longer for her?” Evelyn’s face instantly filled with disbelief. The crowd erupted in shocked whispers, unsure what was happening. Just then, the doors of the venue burst open. A familiar figure in a wedding dress rushed in— “Vaughn Gray, I’m here to marry you!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295301”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #校园School #狼人Werewolf #擦边Steamy