One week before our wedding, my fiancé Theo Lambert told me he had to marry his first love before he could marry me.
His first love’s mother had passed away, leaving a dying wish for them to get married.
“Megan’s mother always hoped she would marry a good man. I’m just fulfilling the old lady’s last wish. Don’t overthink it,” Theo said.
But our company had already decided to launch the True Love jewelry collection on the day of our grand wedding.
He impatiently replied, “It’s just a billion-dollar project. How can that compare to Megan’s filial piety? If you really want to earn that money, go find someone else to marry.”
Faced with his cold words, I understood everything. I turned and dialed my family’s number.
“Brother, help me find a new marriage partner.”
My brother asked in disbelief, “You’re calling off the wedding?”
“No, he’s marrying someone else,” I said with a bitter smile.
To be with Theo, I had fought tooth and nail against my family’s objections to finally get my parents’ approval. We even scheduled the True Love jewelry collection launch for our wedding day.
But now, everything had fallen apart.
My brother was stunned for a long while before saying, “Then Arlo Shaw is our only option. His family has been pressuring him to get married, and he’s been looking for a partner recently.”
I frowned. Arlo Shaw was my sworn enemy. On my engagement day, he had even cursed that my marriage would fall apart. I never expected his prophecy to be fulfilled.
Time was tight, so I could only say, “Alright, it’ll be him then. Help me ask about his intentions. If he refuses, I’ll think of another way.”
My brother replied quickly, “No need to ask. He’ll definitely agree.”
“What?”
Before I could ask anything more, a group of people surrounded me.
“Are you Theo’s fiancée? You’re so beautiful!”
“Are you here to wait for Theo to get off work? He’ll be down soon. You two are so sweet together.”
I gripped the steering wheel, lowering my eyes to hide the self-mockery in them.
Theo had introduced me to his colleagues and friends early on. In everyone’s eyes, we were an enviable model couple.
But who could have guessed that he was about to marry someone else?
After saying goodbye to everyone, Theo got into the car and handed me a necklace.
“Megan asked me to give this to you. You embarrassed her at the funeral yesterday, so take some time to apologize to her.”
This necklace was clearly a free gift that came with a purchase. I had seen it in Theo’s shopping cart a couple of days ago.
I said flatly, “I don’t want it.”
Theo frowned. “What are you upset about now? You barged into the funeral and said I wasn’t her fiancé, embarrassing her. She didn’t hold it against you and even thought to bring you a gift. How can you be so ungrateful?”
The man who once protected me was gone. Now, he cherished someone else.
Theo irritably opened the window to let in some air. After a long while, seeing that I wasn’t going to comfort him, he finally said, “Fine, we’re supposed to go try on wedding dresses today. I won’t argue with you.”
This was the first time he had backed down this year.
When we arrived at the bridal shop, the sales assistant greeted us:
“Mr. Lambert, Miss Quinn, the twenty custom wedding dresses and tuxedos you ordered are ready.”
But Theo’s gaze wasn’t on these clothes. He was looking down at his phone, his expression somewhat urgent.
After noticing my gaze, he quickly put away his phone, his face showing a hint of apology:
“Genevieve, something came up with Megan. I need to rush over there right away. Try on the wedding dresses yourself, and just pick a tuxedo for me. I trust your taste.”
With that, he hurriedly hailed a taxi and left, leaving me alone.
The sales assistant quickly approached me and tentatively asked, “Miss Quinn, would you like to personally select the tuxedo?”
I looked away and nodded.
Of course I would choose a tuxedo. Just not for Theo.
After all, the groom had changed.
I drove home, thinking Theo wouldn’t return all night. But he came back before dinner.
He strode over to me, holding a takeout box.
“I went all over town to buy this for you. It’s from Harry’s Bakery.”
I looked at the box of Swiss rolls.
There were three fewer than usual, and one of them had a bite mark, obviously having been eaten.
Half an hour ago, I had seen Megan’s Instagram post.
The photo was of the Swiss rolls in my hand.
“Hubby bought me a midnight snack even though it’s so late. Thanks for working so hard, babe! XOXO!”
I put down my chopsticks with a self-mocking smile, instantly losing my appetite.
“I don’t want to eat it. Just throw it away.”
Theo immediately looked at me with displeasure but held back from lashing out. He sat down beside me and complained:
“You have no idea how pitiful Megan was today. My parents went to her house and scolded her family for being poor, saying they couldn’t even afford decent jewelry. She was so upset she cried.”
“Megan just returned to the country and doesn’t have much money. I was thinking of lending her your jewelry.”
His tone left no room for argument, making me feel sick.
I looked at him sarcastically. “So I have to provide jewelry for your wife?”
In the past, I cared about Theo so much that I would give him anything he asked for and do anything for him.
But now he had personally woken me up.
Thinking back, ever since Megan returned to the country, everything he did was for her.
He had forgotten that I was supposed to be the one spending the rest of my life with him.
My response angered Theo. “What do you mean by that? You’re not willing? You’d better understand this: Megan is my best friend. You’d better make her happy, or I might not marry you!”
With that, he slammed the door and left.
Feeling frustrated, I went downstairs to jog in the park.
After running one lap, I received a call from Arlo Shaw.
Thinking of Arlo’s perpetually stern face, I hesitated for two seconds before answering.
“Once you’re on my ship, you’re my person. If you dare to run, I’ll tie you up and bring you back!”
Arlo’s first sentence was a direct hit.
I remained silent, and he continued:
“Let’s get the marriage certificate.”
“I’m afraid you’ll change your mind.”
Arlo Shaw, you’re acting strange.
I had already imagined tens of thousands of scenarios in my mind where he would use our marriage to torment me.
In the end, I could only muster up a sentence: “See you at the wedding, Mr. Shaw.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Theo appeared behind me out of nowhere:
“You’re inviting Arlo Shaw to our wedding? I forbid it!”
He stared at me as if facing a great enemy:
“Genevieve Quinn, didn’t I tell you not to associate with Arlo Shaw? His intentions towards you aren’t pure. If you insist on inviting him to our wedding, don’t blame me for getting upset!”
Before I could say a word, he had already laid down his threat.
Theo had always disliked Arlo Shaw and harbored an inexplicable hostility towards him. When we first got together, he even became jealous because Arlo and I often bantered on SnapChat. After that, I gradually cut off contact with Arlo.
But he actually said… Arlo Shaw had impure intentions towards me?
I was about to ask further when Megan suddenly leaned against Theo’s neck.
“Theo, you’re hurting me…”
Only then did I notice they were holding hands while taking a walk.
Theo coughed awkwardly twice but showed no intention of letting go of her hand.
Megan looked at Theo with deep affection, then turned to me with a pretense of helplessness:
“Sister Genevieve, I’m sorry. Theo and I were just practicing the wedding procedure in advance. Please don’t mind.”
“I won’t tell anyone about you hitting me or damaging my mother’s grave. But please don’t hurt Theo. True love can’t withstand tests.”
Not wanting to watch her act, I turned to leave:
“Since you’re so looking forward to it, I’ll find someone to beat you up tonight and then dig up your mother’s grave!”
Slap!
Theo slapped me hard across the face.
“Genevieve Quinn, how can you be so vicious?!”
His brows were furrowed, and his chest heaved.
I’m vicious?
He believed someone else’s manipulative words, but five years of our relationship couldn’t earn me even a bit of his trust.
I suddenly felt a surge of anger and wanted to confront Theo, but Megan stepped in front of him:
“Genevieve, please, I’ll return Theo to you as soon as the wedding is over.”
“Please have mercy and don’t hurt the people around me, or Theo.”
As she spoke, she was about to kneel before me.
Theo quickly wrapped his arm around her waist, preventing her from kneeling, while glaring at me angrily.
“Genevieve Quinn, stop playing your rich girl bullying games!”
“You know I hate that the most. If you still want to marry me, stop making trouble!”
With that, he warned me not to appear in front of them during the time before the wedding.
Unexpectedly, Theo contacted me the very next day.
He started with a barrage of scolding: “Genevieve Quinn, did you really go and dig up Mrs. Lee’s grave?! I never thought you were this kind of person!”
Filled with confusion, I called my assistant to investigate, only to uncover an extremely shocking fact.
Megan’s mother… wasn’t dead.
No wonder Megan could be so ruthless as to dig up her own mother’s grave to frame me.
It turns out death was all a scam.
I sent Theo a text message: “Megan’s mother isn’t dead. The truth is in the email I sent you.”
Whether he looked at it or not was no longer my concern.
The flight was booked for three days later, personally arranged by Arlo.
When Theo returned, he saw me packing my things.
Half of my clothes were thrown away, with a small portion being shipped to South City.
“Why are you starting to pack clothes?” Theo asked with a dubious expression.
I casually replied, “Moving.”
He fell silent for a moment, not noticing anything amiss, and continued talking to himself:
“The Quinn family company is in South City. We’ll settle there after getting married, so it’s good to start packing early.”
After saying this, he fixed me with a stern gaze.
“Apologize to Megan’s mother as soon as possible. Don’t make things difficult for me. How about on the wedding day? What do you think?”
He tossed his phone aside and went to look for his ID card. Today was the day he and Megan were getting their marriage certificate.
He didn’t return until late that night. I opened my phone to find a message from Megan pop up.
The picture showed Theo and her wearing matching outfits, sharing a bed.
I closed my eyes, my heart still aching despite my efforts.
I suppressed that feeling and turned off my phone.
Late at night, the phone by my pillow started vibrating every hour. Each vibration was Megan sending me videos of her and Theo to taunt me.
Until early the next morning, when I received a message from Arlo.
“Miss Quinn, the flower has bloomed.”
The accompanying image showed a marriage certificate and a pot of vibrant red roses.
I was surprised that he had kept the plant I casually gave him years ago.
Inexplicably, a strange emotion welled up in my heart.
I replied with a single word: “Okay.”
I put down my phone and went to pack up my work files on the computer. I didn’t notice when Theo had returned.
He was packing his daily essentials: “I’m moving in with Megan for a few days. She’s too busy preparing for the wedding alone. Remember to show up on time for the wedding the day after tomorrow. Don’t be late.”
After saying this, he explained at length that he was just going to help normally and told me not to cause trouble again.
“Mm, I won’t go,” I said, lowering my eyes.
After last night, my last bit of affection for him had completely dissipated.
Theo looked at my calm demeanor, and a nameless panic swept over him. He suddenly became hesitant.
But thinking of Megan’s cloying clinginess, he loosened his grip on his phone.
Genevieve loved him so much, what could possibly go wrong?
Thinking this, he breathed a sigh of relief and no longer lingered with me, disappearing from my sight.
I watched his departing figure and made a phone call.
That evening, a helicopter landed in the square.
A man approached me: “Miss Quinn, the helicopter you ordered has arrived. It will safely transport you to South City in half an hour.”
I nodded, then handed him an envelope.
“Deliver this envelope to the wedding venue tomorrow. It’s my wedding gift for the bride and groom.”
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After my mother passed away, I entangled myself with her lover’s son.
In a heated moment, he tightened his grip around my neck and asked, “Is this how you seduced my father?”
Later, his half-brother also became infatuated with me.
He was consumed with jealousy, “Getting along well with the little bastard, huh?”
On the outside, I appeared fearful, but inside, I laughed with satisfaction.
Let them go mad, let father and son clash, let brothers turn against each other. How entertaining!
My mother fell to her death from a building.
For years, she was trapped in a high-rise, treated like a plaything.
She was forced to endure it all for my sake.
On the day I came of age, her fragile form, as delicate as porcelain, fell from the attic and shattered before my eyes.
The one responsible for her death was Gideon Everett.
The head of the Everett Family.
After my dad died, he took over our family business. He also seized my beautiful mother.
Gideon Everett, that beast, fell for his best friend’s wife.
To possess my mother, he plotted to kill my father and took away our family’s wealth.
Now that my mother is gone, he’s set his sights on me.
I need to protect myself, seek revenge, and make Gideon Everett pay in blood.
He took everything from my father; I will destroy all he has—wealth, status, even life.
I want him to feel the same pain of losing a loved one as I do.
The first step in my revenge is to ruin his most prized son.
His own son falling for his kept “canary.”
Father and son struggling, turning against each other.
How amusing, just imagining it makes me eager.
Revenge starts tonight.
Wesley Everett, hailed as a business prodigy, is the most promising heir of the Everett Family.
At just twenty-four, he founded his own company, becoming Harbor City’s most sought-after elite.
I gently traced Wesley Everett’s features with my hand.
What would it be like for such a proud and noble man to fall under my sway? I am very curious.
Gideon Everett recently went on a business trip to Europe, leaving the family home.
This gave me the perfect opportunity to seduce his son.
That night, I chose a white lace dress. It had a touch of innocence with just the right amount of allure.
I quietly pushed open Wesley Everett’s door.
He didn’t have the habit of locking his door.
At this hour, he was in the bathroom showering.
I slipped under the dark covers of his bed, which carried his cool scent.
The bed beside me sank a bit; he got on.
I knew Wesley Everett had the habit of sleeping naked.
Sure enough, as soon as he got on the bed, he noticed me pretending to be asleep.
I knew I looked enticing.
With glossy red lips, a face flushed from sleep, and a skirt that had ridden up to my thighs.
The sight of my full, unrestrained curves further stirred the nerves of a man inebriated.
Feeling Wesley Everett’s intense gaze.
I deliberately let out a soft murmur and rolled over to embrace him hesitantly lying beside me.
His firm muscles instantly tensed; he was restraining himself.
Am I not tempting enough?
It seems I haven’t ignited enough desire.
I deliberately rubbed against him as if in a dream.
Wesley Everett finally couldn’t hold back, gripping my chin with intense eyes, “Are you trying to seduce me?”
Suddenly, my lips felt soft as his cold lips pressed against mine.
I pretended to be startled awake, looking at him with innocent and naive eyes, “What are you doing?”
My sweet, gentle voice carried a hint of desire.
The thin strap of my nightgown slipped, exposing my creamy chest, pure yet seductive.
Hearing my voice, Wesley Everett paused.
Then he overwhelmed me with kisses, “Be good, let me kiss you.”
His deep, husky voice carried an irresistible passion.
Pinned under him, I struggled frantically, “Brother, you can’t do this.”
Just then, footsteps suddenly approached the door.
“Click, click, click!”
Mrs. Everett was coming.
“Wesley, I made you some hangover soup. Get up and have some.”
Fiona Taylor pushed the door open directly, knowing her son went socializing tonight and drank a lot.
I shrank back in fear.
Deliberately brushing against Wesley Everett’s sensitive, aroused spot.
He gently kissed my forehead to soothe me.
Then pulled the quilt up to hide me underneath, his dominant presence completely enveloping me.
In this position, he completely trapped me in his embrace.
Wesley Everett impatiently replied, “Mom, I need to rest.”
Fiona Taylor walked in and placed the hangover soup on the desk.
“Wesley, why is your face so red?”
Of course, Wesley’s face was red. He was naked, pressed against me, even our hearts were beating in sync.
If his own mother saw this, how thrilling would it be?
The forbidden pleasure made Wesley Everett break out in a thin sweat, droplets rolling down his throat.
Fiona Taylor wanted to come closer but was stopped by Wesley Everett.
“I’m going to rest now, please leave!”
Fiona Taylor knew her son was always proud and didn’t dare defy him, “Remember to drink the soup.”
She gave a couple of reminders before turning to leave.
Wesley Everett was near the brink, my hot breath brushed against his chest, each pant like a tickle to the heart.
I certainly wouldn’t let him off so easily.
I deliberately squirmed, my soft lips pressed against his chest. My fingertips accidentally brushed against his almost erupting desire.
“Ah!”
He let out an unbearable gasp.
“Wesley, what’s wrong?”
Fiona Taylor, just about to leave, returned with concern, leaning in to check on her seemingly unwell son.
“I’m fine!”
Wesley Everett grumpily pulled the quilt up, covering himself entirely. Underneath him, I was pinned, unable to move.
I propped my hand against his pressing chest.
My soft, boneless hand touching his hot, firm chest nearly drove his sensitive nerves to the edge.
Fiona Taylor suspiciously glanced at the unusually high bulge on the bed.
She seemed to sense something.
The shape of the quilt… is there someone else inside?
Fiona Taylor held back and didn’t expose her son.
Her son was her only support in the Everett Family; she didn’t want a direct conflict with him.
Fiona Taylor suppressed her shock and anger, closed Wesley Everett’s room door, and instructed the servants not to disturb him.
After Fiona Taylor left, I pushed Wesley Everett away.
I sat weakly on the bed, gulping fresh air. The big movement made my nightgown completely fall off.
My graceful figure was fully exposed.
Wesley Everett’s drunkenness had mostly faded, and he looked at me with a grim face.
Just as he was about to question me.
I was a step ahead, getting off the bed, tears in my eyes, and running away in panic.
Wesley Everett was stunned, watching me flee.
For a moment, he felt a bit annoyed.
Was she disgusted by him?
After I left, Wesley Everett didn’t sleep. He replayed the scene of me pinned beneath him, releasing again and again.
He didn’t know, as he called my name in ecstasy, I was outside the door watching him.
……
The next day was a rest day, and I was painting in the studio.
Fiona Taylor stormed in with people, “Grab Lydia Kane for me!”
“Slut, just as cheap as your mother!”
She was furious, dragging me into the conservatory and throwing me to the ground.
The conservatory was her domain; she loved using needles on me there.
Gideon Everett didn’t allow me to have visible injuries.
So, she could only use needles.
After pricking my back, she still wasn’t satisfied. She wanted to stab my fingers with needles.
I was actually scared inside.
Childhood memories of her abuse almost made me faint.
I was gambling, betting that Gideon Everett or Wesley Everett would come to rescue me.
Sure enough, just before the needle pierced my finger. Gideon Everett kicked open the door to the conservatory.
He pulled Fiona Taylor away.
“Fiona Taylor, I warn you, don’t forget your place.”
Pushed away, Fiona Taylor screamed uncontrollably.
“Do you know what she did? She seduced Wesley. Just like her shameless mother. All sluts!”
Gideon Everett ignored her.
He picked me up and headed straight to the attic.
That’s the forbidden area of the Everett Family, where my mother lived before she died.
Gideon Everett threw me onto the carpet, standing before me, leisurely unbuckling his belt.
He didn’t save me; he just changed the way he tortured me.
My hands and feet were tied, unable to move.
Gideon Everett drank a lot, and with each sip, he whipped me. The belt lashed my body, burning with pain.
Exhausted, he collapsed on the sofa, panting.
The opportunity was coming.
I silently counted the time, waiting for him to get drunk.
Gideon Everett grabbed my hair, forcing me to look up at him, “Lydia Kane, you know very well why I keep you.”
With that, he threw away the belt, untied me, and began tearing at my clothes.
I struggled desperately, crying out to remind him.
“Uncle Gideon, you promised my mom you wouldn’t touch me.”
His hands paused briefly, then resumed tearing me apart even more violently.
I calmed down, trying hard to imitate my mother’s voice, speaking coldly, “Gideon Everett, are you an animal?”
Gideon Everett froze, his eyes dazed as he looked at me…
“Sophie, we met first, I loved you first. Why did you…”
He tossed aside the belt, freed me from my restraints, and started to pull at my clothes.
I struggled desperately, crying out to remind him.
“Uncle Gideon, you promised my mom you wouldn’t touch me.”
His hands hesitated for a moment, but then he attacked even more ferociously.
I calmed myself, trying hard to mimic my mother’s voice, speaking coldly, “Gideon Everett, are you an animal?”
Gideon froze, his eyes glazed as he looked at me…
“Sophie, we met first, I loved you first. Why…”
His voice was thick with emotion.
I knew I had succeeded. Gideon mistook me for my mom.
I pushed him away, picked up the belt from the floor, and pressed my foot against his fervor.
I struck him hard with the belt.
He didn’t evade, enduring the pain with a twisted sense of excitement.
Gideon Everett, this twisted monster.
“Kneel!”
I lashed him again, and Gideon trembled as he knelt upright. It seemed he enjoyed it that way.
Suppressing my revulsion, I used the handle of the whip to lift his chin.
“Gideon Everett, do you realize how filthy you are? You disgusting creature!”
He didn’t flinch, his eyes dazed as he looked at me.
“Sophie, I just love you too much. Please, give me, give me a child of ours.”
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After our company’s successful financing, I had planned to surprise my wife. Instead, I accidentally overheard her whispering with her male assistant. Adam, half proud and half worried, said:
“Boss, when you officially announce later, I’ll play a little joke and pretend to be your partner. James won’t get angry, right?”
My wife, Cora, affectionately ruffled Adam’s hair and said generously:
“He wouldn’t dare. I’ll also squeeze you into his project team. Once you’ve gained some experience, I’ll promote you to department head.”
Hearing this, I kicked open the office door. All my colleagues gathered around, waiting to see me make a fool of myself.
Instead, I hung the project manager’s badge around Adam’s neck and said coldly:
“No need to wait that long. This project is yours now.”
Bang!
I kicked open the office door.
The surrounding employees who were busy working all turned to look, craning their necks with curiosity in their eyes.
Inside, Cora was still ruffling Adam’s hair.
The next second, she moved to shield Adam behind her and frowned angrily:
“James, are you trying to rebel? Damaging company property like that, don’t expect to get your salary this month!”
Adam pretended to look pitiful and said:
“James, did you overhear Cora saying she wanted to go public with me and arrange for me to join your project? She was just joking with me…”
Hearing this, everyone’s eyes widened, and they started whispering:
“So the CEO and Adam have that kind of relationship! What’s going on with Manager James making such a scene?”
“Are you stupid? It’s obvious James has a crush on the CEO and he’s just lost it. This is going to be interesting.”
I had long since gotten used to these rumors and didn’t care anymore.
Since Cora was so eager to help Adam climb the ladder, I decided to fulfill her dream!
I stepped forward, took off my project manager badge, and hung it around Adam’s neck.
I patted his shoulder and said earnestly:
“No need to wait until tonight. The project is yours now. Work hard and aim for a promotion to VP soon.”
Instantly, all the onlookers were stunned.
After all, everyone knew I had worked day and night on this project, even ending up in the hospital on IV drips several times. I was known for my upright character and despised those who got ahead without hard work.
But now, the atmosphere was awkward. People could only help save face for their boss by applauding loudly:
“James is so generous! No wonder he’s been with the CEO for so many years!”
Cora’s face darkened, and she looked at me ominously, as if I had done something wrong.
I couldn’t be bothered with her. I packed up my things and said calmly:
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now. Our partners need to see me.”
Without waiting for Cora’s response, I walked straight out of the meeting room.
I had worked tirelessly on the project’s core patents, conducting experiments day and night. Recently, we’d made good progress, and our partners were very satisfied. They wanted to help our company with additional investment for our IPO.
I had originally wanted to share this good news with Cora, but now it seemed unnecessary.
I walked out of the company, looking at the dark alley I had taken for seven years, and couldn’t help but laugh at myself.
Cora and I had been secretly married for seven years. To avoid suspicion, she never commuted with me, fearing colleagues would notice our routes were the same. She even made me park far away and take a detour home.
Now, I didn’t need to worry anymore. I could drive however I wanted.
As I walked towards the parking spot, I took out my phone to use the GPS.
On the phone screen, the florist suddenly sent a message saying he had delivered the bouquet to the company’s front desk, along with a photo.
I suddenly remembered that Sophia had said she would go public with me once the company was stable.
For this day, I had specially bought her favorite roses and booked a private movie screening.
How ridiculous that when I rushed to the company, what I heard was her once again showing boundless favoritism towards Adam.
But now, none of that mattered. It was like feeding a dog.
Just as I was about to leave, someone suddenly blocked my way.
It was Adam.
Adam fiddled with the badge on his chest, clicking his tongue:
“James, Cora was originally going to officially announce your relationship tonight, but you just had to come out and make trouble.”
“But you know, she told me that after this project is completed, not only will she promote me to project manager, but she’ll also give me company shares. You won’t be angry, right?”
His face was written all over with the words “small victory”.
In the past, I was often angered by his private provocations, making Cora mistakenly think I was targeting him, leading to endless arguments.
But now, I couldn’t be bothered to deal with him.
Sure enough, the next second, I heard the sound of high heels clicking behind me.
Adam suddenly leaned back and fell on his butt, then quickly got up, hastily taking off the badge on his chest, and said pitifully:
“James, I know you’re not happy. Take your anger out on me if you must, just don’t blame Cora. I just wanted to learn from you. If you don’t want me to, I won’t join this project.”
“You’re right, such an important position as project manager can only be handled by you. I’m not worthy!”
His tone was humble, his eyes slightly red, as if I had scolded him, carefully handing the badge towards me.
Cora walked quickly over, raising her hand as if to slap me.
Fortunately, I was somewhat prepared and blocked it with my hand. There was still a dull thud, and my arm felt numb from the impact.
She grabbed my collar and scolded harshly:
“James, I’ve turned a blind eye to you bullying Adam before, but now you’re actually hitting him. Don’t you know this is workplace bullying!”
I smirked sarcastically.
Adam was obviously faking it, and only Cora, blinded by concern, couldn’t see through it.
I turned and reached out to Adam, intending to push the badge back to him directly.
But Adam thought I really wanted to take back the badge. A flash of panic crossed his eyes, and his fingers tightly hooked the ribbon, pulling it back.
The next second, he suddenly groaned, clutching his chest and saying his heart hurt.
The act was too fake, but some people still fell for it.
Cora immediately stopped scolding me and hurriedly supported Adam, then took out some heart medication from her bag and gave it to him.
She was flustered and shouted at me:
“James, why aren’t you helping? Take Adam to the hospital!”
I rolled my eyes internally. How annoying.
I should have just taken a taxi and left directly.
I walked towards the roadside, raising my hand to hail a taxi.
But Cora blocked my way, her expression serious, clearly not letting me go:
“He got sick because you scared him. How can you just leave?”
Chapter 2
I scoffed coldly.
Before, when I drank too much at a business dinner and ended up vomiting blood from a gastric hemorrhage, Cora didn’t care at all and just told me to take some stomach medicine.
Now Adam was just pretending to be sick, but Cora, who was usually so commanding in the business world, was completely flustered, standing up for him like a shrew.
I frowned and reluctantly called an ambulance.
At the hospital, after hearing the doctor say Adam was fine, Cora let out a relieved sigh, her eyes full of gratitude.
I didn’t want to watch their melodrama anymore and turned to leave.
Cora hurriedly chased after me in the hallway and grabbed me.
I frowned, thinking she wanted to scold me again for making Adam sick.
I instinctively tried to dodge.
The next second, she hung the badge around my neck and gently touched my arm where she had hit me earlier.
She said softly:
“James, you know Adam likes to joke around. There will be plenty of opportunities to officially announce our relationship. Just wait a little longer, okay?”
“The project manager position is too important. Don’t be impulsive with it. I’ll let it slide this time.”
I responded with an indifferent “Mm.”
Cora looked at me for a while, seemingly reluctantly compromising, and handed me a crumpled box.
“Alright James, I saw the roses you bought. I really liked them. Why don’t you put them in the vase at home? Actually, I prepared a gift for you too.”
I knew this was Cora’s usual tactic – give a little sweetness after the stick.
The box in Cora’s hand looked familiar. I remembered Adam had posted about it on social media half a month ago.
At that time, Adam had accidentally stained the tie Cora gave him with oil and had to throw away both the box and the tie. He had sighed and complained, but was actually showing off.
Cora had commented that she would buy him ten more.
I took the gift box and opened it.
Inside was a fake tie. I just touched the edge and the color faded. The receipt was even still inside.
She didn’t bat an eye buying Adam luxury brand ties, but now she was just perfunctorily giving me a fake.
I couldn’t be bothered to expose her and just casually responded:
“I see. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
Turning around the corner, when I saw the trash can, I threw the gift box directly into it without hesitation.
Then I took out my phone and called the tech company that had been trying to recruit me:
“I accept your company’s invitation.”
This tech company was a Fortune 500 company that had never given up on trying to poach me over the past few years.
But for Cora’s sake, to realize our dream from back then, I had always politely declined.
On the phone, HR kept telling me about their company’s great benefits and how much they welcomed talent like me.
As we talked, I unconsciously drove to their front door.
Looking at the hour-long call record, I tightened my grip on the phone.
Back then, for Cora’s sake, I gave up a high-level management position that was within my grasp, to start from scratch with her.
All these years, I had worked tirelessly for the company, exhausting my body and keeping my mind constantly on edge. I was completely burnt out, both physically and mentally.
Finally, Cora and I had gone from having nothing to having everything, but Cora’s heart had quietly flown away.
From now on, I just wanted to live for myself.
I thought for a moment, then sent a message to our project partners, informing them about the change in project manager.
The partners approved of me, which is why they invested in this project and even helped the company with financing.
Now that I was leaving, I naturally had to let them know.
After sending the message, I bought a plane ticket for the next day and started packing my bags.
From the bottom of the closet, I took out my coat, not noticing that the photo album pressed at the very bottom had been flipped open. A photo of Cora and me caught my eye.
It was a photo from eight years ago, when Cora and I had just gotten together. We looked young and shy, leaning close to each other.
I picked up the photo album and flipped through it page by page.
Come to think of it, Cora had insisted on taking all these photos, saying she wanted to document our life, record all the hardships we went through, so we could make up for it later.
Cora and I had been through thick and thin, living a hard life in the beginning.
We used to curl up in a tiny rented room watching pirated movies.
On New Year’s Eve, we would argue over who should have the last piece of meat.
But those moments of hardship were all happiness to me, and they were my motivation to work hard.
Gradually, the people in the photos wore increasingly fancy clothes, the backgrounds became more luxurious, but the photos became fewer and fewer.
From one every few days, to one a month, then to one a year.
Until Adam appeared, there were no new photos at all.
Cora’s interactions with me gradually reduced to just work handovers between superiors and subordinates.
I don’t know when it started, but Cora stopped caring if I skipped a meal, if I drank until I had a gastric hemorrhage, or if I got injured during experiments.
But she protected Adam very well, canceling business dinners just to eat with Adam who had mild gastritis. It was as if she was trying to make up for something, spoiling Adam to no end.
I used to feel wronged and asked her why.
She just looked at me coldly and said we had both been through hardships, and she couldn’t believe I was still so sensitive at my age, that I wasn’t as mature as Adam.
She said she admired Adam’s pure kindness and didn’t want him to suffer like we did.
Coming back to my senses, looking at this photo album that was once filled with Cora’s and my love, I suddenly felt it was meaningless and threw it into the trash without hesitation.
I continued folding clothes when my phone in my pocket suddenly rang.
It was a call from the cinema:
“Mr. Gray, the private screening you booked is about to start. If you don’t arrive within ten minutes, we may have to open the theater to other customers.”
Perhaps because we could only curl up in a small room watching pirated movies back then, Cora had an unusual obsession with watching movies in theaters. Even when I proposed, I did it in a movie theater.
Today, thinking we could finally go public, I had booked the largest theater in the city to relive old memories with her, but she stood me up in the end.
I calmly replied:
“I won’t be going. You can give it to someone else.”
Just after hanging up, Cora sent me a message:
“I have a business dinner tonight. Can’t go to the movie.”
This short sentence seemed strange to me.
Cora never bothered to inform me before. She would just stand me up directly.
But soon I understood why.
Just now, Adam suddenly posted on social media.
In the photo, Cora was holding popcorn in one hand and feeding Adam soda with the other.
The caption read: I like peace and quiet, so the boss rented out the whole theater for me. The soda she fed me herself was so sweet!
What a coincidence. So the “other customers” the theater manager mentioned were the two of them.
I didn’t ask Cora why she lied about having a business dinner, nor did I feel sad at all.
Now my heart was as still as water. I just wanted to get a good night’s sleep.
After washing up, I fell into a deep sleep, the best sleep I’d had in years.
But in the middle of the night, I was awakened by the sudden bright light in the bedroom.
I blinked, finally adjusting to the strong light, only to find Cora standing by my bed.
She stared at me with disbelief and exclaimed:
“James, you actually fell asleep?”
Chapter 3
I was drowsy and looked at my phone screen. It was already 3 AM.
This late, and Cora hadn’t stayed out overnight?
In the past, whenever Adam had a stomach ache, Cora would stay up all night taking care of him, afraid it would recur.
Now, Cora seemed very unhappy, her face dark as she complained:
“James, I come home so late, and you don’t even send a message to check on me or wait up for me at home. Isn’t that too much?”
I’m too much?
I rolled my eyes internally.
In the past, when I worried about her safety and called her, she would say I was deliberately checking up on her and didn’t trust her.
When I waited for her to come home late at night, prepared a midnight snack for her, massaged her, washed her feet, she would say I was too idle and couldn’t sleep, and that she needed to give me more work.
Now that I wasn’t serving her, she was still unhappy.
A woman’s heart, unfathomable.
I just mumbled a response and was about to turn off the light to continue sleeping.
Cora pushed me and leaned on me like she had no bones:
“James, I’m so tired today. Aren’t you going to prepare a foot bath for me?”
I smelled Adam’s cologne on her.
How disgusting.
In the past, I would have eagerly served her without her asking, until I saw her fall asleep.
Now I just thought she was being troublesome.
I pushed her away.
I frowned deeply, my tone a bit harsh from being woken up:
“I’m very tired. Take care of your own things.”
Cora looked stunned, as if she hadn’t reacted to me pushing her away yet.
After a long while, her hand gripping her purse strap turned white from the force, and she said through gritted teeth:
“James, just because I didn’t have dinner with you, you treat me like this? You’ve really changed!”
“You think I want to come home?”
With that, she stormed out, slamming my door so hard it shook.
I heard the sound of her taking her keys and leaving.
In the past, I would definitely have gone out to make up with her, begging her not to leave.
Now I just turned off the light and went straight to sleep.
The next morning I slept in and woke up feeling refreshed.
I had originally planned to make breakfast but was surprised to find Cora was at home.
In the past, without me coaxing her, she would give me the cold shoulder until the very end, always leaving early for the company.
She was sitting on the living room sofa with an exquisite gift box on her lap, her fingers weaving a butterfly knot.
Seeming to hear movement, she turned her head.
Cora stepped forward, grabbed my wrist, and fastened the watch from the gift box onto it.
The cold touch made my wrist tremble.
Cora held my wrist and looked at it again and again, very satisfied, and said:
“It’s really nice. The size is just right, and the style is low-key and elegant.”
I had seen this watch in a magazine. It was this year’s latest model, worth several hundred thousand dollars.
But before I could pull my hand away, she deftly took off the watch, carefully wiped it with a handkerchief.
As she put it back in the gift box, she muttered:
“It’s a good thing you and Adam have similar wrist sizes. If it fits you, he’ll definitely like it too.”
Looking at the top of Cora’s head, I felt it was ironic.
Of course, Adam was the one who liked luxury watches. How could Cora possibly turn back?
Cora put on her coat, took the gift box, and walked towards the door with light steps.
But I reached out and stopped her, taking out the papers I had printed yesterday:
“Cora, could you sign these documents?”
Cora frowned, not even looking up, somewhat impatiently:
“Sign them when we get to the office.”
I pushed the documents towards her:
“It’s not company business. It’s important and won’t take much of your time.”
Cora took a deep breath and grabbed the documents from my hand with a resentful look, muttering:
“Always giving me trouble.”
Her gaze moved to the documents in her hand, and the next second, her fingers flipping through the papers froze.
Because it was a divorce agreement.
Chapter 4
Cora was stunned for a moment, then slammed the divorce agreement hard on the shoe cabinet.
She sneered:
“James, I thought you had something new, but it’s just divorce drama.”
“Fine, you think you’ve done a big project and your wings have hardened?”
“I’m too busy to deal with your little temper.”
I continued to hold the divorce agreement in front of her eyes and calmly said:
“I’m not throwing a temper, Cora. I’m setting you free. You can give Adam official status now.”
But Cora frowned fiercely, grabbed the divorce agreement from my hand and crumpled it. Seemingly not satisfied, she tore it a few times, scattering paper like snow.
She pointed at me, her eyes cold:
“You say you’re not jealous, James, but I’m warning you not to bring up divorce again.”
“My care for Adam is just because I see our past selves in him. It’s appreciation for talent, not as dirty as you think!”
“I was planning to find a chance to officially announce our relationship. You’re really disappointing me like this!”
With that, she turned and stormed out without waiting for my response, her high heels clicking loudly on the floor.
I had expected this result and wasn’t very disappointed.
Since we couldn’t part on good terms, I had a lawyer draft a divorce lawsuit for me.
Additionally, I sent my resignation to HR.
Soon, HR called, asking me to bring my documents to the company to process my resignation in person.
But as soon as I entered the door, I heard my colleagues’ compliments.
“Mr. Chen, that watch on your wrist is this year’s latest Patek Philippe model, right? The CEO really cares about you!”
“CEO Cora and Mr. Chen make such a perfect couple. With both of you leading, our company will definitely develop better and better!”
Adam pretended to scratch his head sheepishly, showing off the brand new watch on his wrist.
As soon as he saw me, he quickly walked over, enthusiastically grabbing my hand and smiling:
“James, you’re finally here. Cora said I’ll be quite busy with the project coming up, so she wants to treat everyone to milk tea to take care of me. What flavor do you want? Hurry and tell me.”
I shook off his hand.
But before I could speak, Cora, who had been coldly watching me from the side, stepped forward and shielded Adam behind her.
“James, you’re late, and you still dare to ask for milk tea?”
“I’ll have HR dock your perfect attendance bonus. Also, how can someone with such poor time management handle the project manager’s job? I think you’d better not get involved in the company’s important projects.”
“Start from an intern position and learn the company’s rules properly!”
Adam pretended to be surprised, tugging at Cora’s sleeve and advising in a low voice:
“Cora, isn’t this a bit too much? The project is almost done. Even if James doesn’t have any merit, he’s put in the effort.”
Cora looked me up and down, raising her chin like a proud peacock, and snorted coldly.
“If everyone was as petty as him, we couldn’t compare to you at all. It’s his own fault for not being ambitious!”
“Adam, from now on, you take over James’s projects. You’re the real project manager now.”
Adam’s face was full of greed, but his mouth was still refusing:
“Cora, this isn’t right. After all, I’m still young and inexperienced…”
The seasoned office workers present saw that Cora was displeased with me and chimed in:
“CEO Cora is so wise. Little James has gotten a bit cocky. He didn’t work overtime yesterday and was late today. I think he needs some strict management!”
“I’ve always felt that Mr. Chen is very talented. Although James has some experience, he’s no match for the new talent.”
Cora raised an eyebrow, looking extremely reluctant, and said haughtily:
“If you perform well, I might consider keeping you…”
I really couldn’t listen to these people’s back-and-forth anymore and directly interrupted Cora.
I frowned and said coldly:
“I’m sorry, CEO, but you seem to have misunderstood. I came to the company to process my resignation.”
Cora was stunned and exclaimed:
“What?”
Someone from HR came over and whispered something in her ear.
Cora’s face grew darker, the crease between her brows deepening:
“James, you’re really making a scene, aren’t you!”
“First divorce… resignation, then sarcastic remarks. Don’t forget, the company’s financing was successful, and we’re about to go public!”
“When that happens, I’ll give bonuses to all employees. This is a great company that others would kill to get into!”
I just looked at Cora indifferently:
“I know, CEO. Please approve my resignation request as soon as possible. Otherwise, I’ll have to file for labor arbitration.”
Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what was happening.
Cora clenched her fists, her fingernails digging deep into her palms. She seemed not to feel the pain, sticking out her neck stubbornly:
“Fine, go ahead and leave. I’ll sign it myself! Once you’re gone, I’ll immediately promote Adam to project manager!”
She snatched the documents from HR’s hands and made a show of signing, but her eyes were fixed on me, closely observing my reaction.
Seeing that I still had no expression, she added a few more sentences:
“After the company goes public, I’m not only going to promote Adam and give him a raise, but I’ll also buy him a car and a house. This is how we treat our key contributors!”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
I knew she was deliberately using Adam to provoke me, wanting me to back down.
But she didn’t know that just now, our partners had contacted me, saying they wanted to come to the company to claim compensation. They were already downstairs.
Cora stared blankly at my raised corner of the mouth, somewhat annoyed:
“What are you laughing at?”
I said coldly:
“Let him explain it to you.”
As I spoke, I smirked sarcastically and stepped aside.
The next moment, the representative of our partners walked in from behind me.
He looked very serious:
“CEO, we will be suing your company for breach of contract and terminating all cooperation!”
🌟 Continue the story here
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I was bound to a flattery system – the better I flirted, the more money I made.
So I flirted with three men at once. Within six months, I’d earned enough for a villa.
Just as I was raking in the cash, all three men suddenly appeared and cornered me.
Their faces were grim as they said: “Choose. Who do you actually like? You can only pick one.”
I sent a message to “Zane, 6’2″ celebrity heartthrob”: “Missing you.”
A few seconds later, Zane replied: “Don’t miss me. I’m taking three girls on a road trip tomorrow. It’s gonna be wild.”
Without missing a beat, I quickly responded: “Oh, you’re going on a trip with girls? Please be safe!”
Zane: “…”
I took a sip of my Earl Grey tea and opened a chat with the second guy on my list, “Finn, 6’1″ CEO”: “Good morning.”
Then I started watching a period drama while waiting for a response.
By the time I finished the entire show, there was still no reply. As expected.
Unfazed, I sent a second message: “I looked it up – your zodiac sign is known for not replying to messages. I totally understand.”
Finally, he responded: “If you’re that bored, you should get a job.”
I seized the opportunity: “Does Mr. Finn need a secretary? I’m great at polishing desks.”
Finn: “…”
When he didn’t take the bait, I moved on to the third guy on my list, “Xavier, 6’3″ campus hunk”
“Happy birthday, baby!”
Then I initiated a money transfer.
After a moment’s thought, I added: “Don’t be a party pooper – you have to accept it!”
A moment later, the transfer was accepted.
Xavier replied: “Thanks sis, you’re the best~”
Tsk, college boys really know how to sweet talk.
I asked kindly: “How are you planning to celebrate?”
Xavier: “With the campus queen~”
Smiling, I sent another $520 transfer: “This is for the campus queen’s hard work keeping you company on your birthday in my place.”
He probably didn’t expect me to be so magnanimous. After a few seconds of hesitation, he accepted the transfer and sent an adorable cat emoji.
“It’s so nice having you, sis~”
Having taken care of everything, I tossed my phone aside and let my housekeeper massage my legs and back as I smiled at the floating text in the air.
[System calculating rewards…]
[3 basic flattery actions completed. Total income
400
,
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n
s
e
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e
i
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400,expensereimbursement140, total earnings $540 deposited.]
Seeing my assets grow a bit more, I stretched lazily.
My best friend’s birthday was coming up – maybe I’d buy her a house.
Or how about adding a supercar to go with it?
If that’s the plan, I can’t slack off. I’ll need to work even harder these next couple days.
After some thought, I called Zane: “Bro, which hotel are you staying at tomorrow with those three girls? I want to send you some condoms.”
Zane: “?”
As you can see, when it comes to flattery, I’m a pro.
It’s not that I want to flatter – it’s just that the system pays too well.
The next day, I showed up at the resort carrying a bag of contraceptives, looking shifty.
The security guard quickly stopped me: “What’s your business here?”
I showed him the contents of my bag and said seriously: “Delivery. Bringing condoms for the boss.”
The guard was shocked, but his professional demeanor accepted it all: “Hurry on in then.”
When I found Zane, he was doing fancy swim strokes in the outdoor pool.
Three bikini-clad beauties of different nationalities were cheering for him on the shore.
Seeing me, Zane leisurely got out of the pool, shaking his head in slow motion, letting crystalline water droplets roll joyfully and beautifully down his eight-pack abs.
I took half a step back to avoid getting my designer outfit wet from the water on his body.
Zane noticed my movement, raising an eyebrow with an amused look: “Playing hard to get? Hazel, your pursuit tactics have improved.”
Dude, you’re overthinking it.
I shyly bent my swan-like slender neck, a faint cherry blossom pink spreading across my cheeks. I stomped my dainty foot and pouted coyly: “Big bro, you meanie~ Why do you always see right through me?”
Zane’s face showed a hint of “I knew it” smugness. Noticing the bag in my hand, he asked: “You really brought them?”
“I bought eight boxes,” I said obediently. “Let me know if you need more.”
Zane chuckled lightly, magnanimously lifting his chin: “Sit.”
Sit? Your sister doesn’t have time to sit with you. I still need to go flatter the next guy to make money.
I waved my hand considerately: “I won’t disturb you, big bro. You have so many people here, you’d find me annoying. I’ll be going now…”
Zane seemed to want to say something, but the three beauties gracefully surrounded him, blocking his view of me.
I slipped away as smoothly as an eel.
But as soon as I got in the car, I unexpectedly received a text from Zane.
“Accidentally ordered too much for lunch. Stay and eat?”
Me: ?
What’s going on? I’ve only been flattering him for half a year, he couldn’t have fallen for me, right?
When I first chose these guys, I specifically checked – Zane was a playboy by nature but picky about looks. He only liked bombshell 36D types.
He had 800 girlfriends for each strand of hair, always recruiting new girlfriends, never long-term ones.
Difficulty level: five stars. I chose him without hesitation.
He’s one of my money trees. He absolutely cannot fall for me!
I didn’t dare reply. Didn’t dare reply at all.
I focused on driving, stopping at a red light.
A string of messages came in succession.
Zane: “Why aren’t you replying?”
Zane: “Crying?”
Zane: “(helpless facepalm) I told you I was taking three girls out to play. You insisted on coming to see. Now you’ve seen and you’re upset. Silly girl, I really don’t know what to do with you.”
Zane: “Alright alright, I’ll transfer you $3000. Go buy yourself a bag.”
Two minutes later.
Zane: “? Why are you still not saying anything.”
Zane: “Don’t tell me you’re crying from being moved again?”
Me: Black person sweating awkwardly.jpg
I nervously asked the system: “What happens if the target tries to pursue me?”
The system’s tone was cold and merciless: “Deductions from your earnings based on severity.”
Damn it!
I decisively sent back a vicious voice message: “You think a measly $3000 is enough to move me? I spend more than that on a manicure! Keep it for your retirement fund! I’ve been sick of you for a long time, you good-for-nothing dirty cucumber man!”
That felt good.
Hopefully this voice message will erase any budding interest he had in me and help him return to being that elusive playboy.
The phone was quiet for a long time.
Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a message notification buzzed.
Nine resolute, earth-shattering words from Zane:
“You’re quite cute when you’re jealous.”
The system’s cold voice sounded: [Detected flattery received. $200 deducted.]
Damn it all to hell.
I immediately blocked and deleted Zane to prevent any more flirty words from costing me money.
Not a great start.
I frantically dialed Xavier’s number. I remembered he didn’t have class today.
The phone rang for a long time before Xavier’s half-asleep voice came through: “Sis?”
I put on my best rich lady voice: “I miss you. How about sis takes you for a ride on a private jet?”
After a few seconds, Xavier replied with a hint of amusement: “Sure, I’ll get ready.”
“It’s a promise then. I’m coming to pick you up now.” I hung up and floored it towards my second money tree.
What I lost from one man, I’ll reclaim from another.
Xavier seemed to have dressed up a bit today – pure white hoodie, American-style embroidery, giving off a first-kiss-still-intact vibe.
I helped him fasten his seatbelt, narrowing my eyes: “You look very handsome today. Sis likes it a lot.”
Xavier smiled innocently: “That’s great. I hope she likes it too.”
She?
Just as I was about to ask who “she” was, a girl got into the car.
Matching white hoodie, mini skirt, pure and sexy makeup. Who else but the campus queen.
The campus queen smiled sweetly: “Thanks for taking us out, sis~”
I looked at Xavier. He smiled calmly: “You don’t mind bringing along one skinny girl, right sis?”
I don’t mind at all. Not one bit.
As long as the plane can fit them, you could bring eight girls for all I care.
Sis just loves guys like you who are already taken. How is this any different from an iron rice bowl?
I was so happy I could die. But I made sure to look at Xavier and say sincerely: “As long as you’re happy, that’s sis’s greatest fortune.”
That was definitely the truth.
Xavier gave me a long look, the corners of his lips curling up slightly without saying anything.
The three of us took the private jet to my vacation island.
The campus queen “wowed” all the way from the west side of the island to the east, starry-eyed the whole time.
I quickly entered money-making mode: “Xavier, what flavor crepe would you like? Sis will make it for you.”
“Vanilla, thanks sis.” Xavier glanced at the campus queen. Before he could open his mouth, I already knew what he was going to say.
“What flavor crepe does your girlfriend like? Sis will make an even bigger one for her,” I said kindly.
The ultimate move of a top-tier flatterer – love me, love my dog.
Xavier choked for a moment: “She’s not… never mind.”
He seemed to want to say something but held back, turning to ask the campus queen who was busy taking selfies what flavor she wanted.
I’m a crepe-making pro. In less than five minutes, I had two ready and delivered to their hands.
You ask why I’m so skilled? Because I’ve made them for other men before. Practice makes perfect.
After eating the crepes, I took them out on a yacht.
Along the way, I fussed over the campus queen, worried she was too hot or too cold, worried she was hungry or too full.
When the campus queen got seasick, I fed her medicine. When she took photos, I showered her with compliments.
It got to the point where Xavier couldn’t get a chance to show off in front of the campus queen at all.
Finally Xavier got impatient. When the campus queen stumbled from drinking too much champagne, he rushed to catch her before I could.
He carefully held her, his eyes full of concern.
The sun was setting, casting the two of them in a warm orange glow. They looked good together.
I tactfully headed towards the cabin: “I suddenly need to use the bathroom. You two carry on.”
I flopped onto the bed, watching the total assets in my account jump up by tens of thousands after the system’s calculations. I couldn’t help but cheer: “Woo-hoo!”
Then I put on some jazz music and started dancing.
Just as I got to the hip-thrusting part, I looked up and met a pair of dark eyes by the door.
“Xavier?” I froze, quickly stopping my hip movements. “Weren’t you with the campus queen…”
Xavier’s eyes were gloomy and filled with discontent: “You really want us to be together?”
Me: ?
A bad feeling washed over me. I cautiously said: “Aren’t you already together?”
Xavier narrowed his eyes: “No. I bribed her to act. I wanted to make you jealous.”
Sis isn’t the jealous type by nature.
Is today the end of the world? Why is everyone changing their personalities?
On the verge of collapse, I asked: “Why did you suddenly want to do that?”
Xavier tugged at his collar. His collarbone was flushed from alcohol as he lowered his gaze and said softly: “It wasn’t sudden. It’s been bothering me for a long time. At first I was just after your money, but you went too far. You love me so excessively. Even my mom expects something in return from me, but you don’t ask for anything.”
I slumped onto the round bed. He crouched down, like an obedient tipsy puppy, looking at me with moist eyes.
“The internet says love is possessiveness, but you’ve never been jealous over me. I want to know, is it because you love me too much, or because you don’t love me at all?”
The last question shook me to my core. His gaze nearly pierced through my eyes to probe my heart.
I instinctively held my breath, thinking to myself: “Stay calm, Hazel. You can handle this.”
In this critical moment, inspiration struck and I steadily uttered two words: “Loved you.”
Xavier: “?”
I wiped my face, feeling like a melancholic midnight rose: “Bro, let me be honest with you. Sis did love you, but sis suddenly feels like she doesn’t love you anymore. Sometimes a woman’s heart is just like that.”
What young man can accept being dumped so abruptly?
None of them can.
Self-esteem is an extremely fragile thing, especially for men, and even more so for young men.
He would definitely lose interest in me in an instant, viewing me as the person he hates most in this life.
Then I could continue flattering him again.
Just as I was feeling smug, I was suddenly pushed down onto the bed, my hands tied above my head with a strap.
Xavier pressed down on me, playing with a peeling knife that appeared out of nowhere. His eyes held a craziness I’d never seen before.
“Sis, you can’t do this.”
“You’ve loved me for so long, you can’t just stop loving me. Won’t you fall in love with me again?”
“If I don’t have your love, I feel like I’ll go insane. Your love for me died, so why don’t we die together?”
His breath fell on my neck, making my whole body break out in goosebumps.
Shit, this guy turned out to be a yandere psycho!
The system chimed in again: [Detected strong flattery received. $300 deducted.]
Xavier slowly traced the back of the knife along my skin, the corners of his eyes tinged red, his voice husky like aged wine: “Didn’t sis say that as long as I’m happy, that’s enough? I’ll be happy as long as sis loves me again.”
He gripped my chin, his tone coaxing: “Be a good sis, say you love me.”
[Deducting $400.]
I blurted out: “Fuck!”
Xavier’s whole body trembled, his voice taking on a quivering tone: “Curse at me again, sis. It feels so good.”
?
Who can understand this?
When crazy opens the door for crazy, crazy comes home.
Just as I thought I was going to die at his hands today, there was a loud bang from the sky and the campus queen made a dazzling entrance.
Seeing our compromising position, the campus queen let out a “Hi!” and threw Xavier onto the floor, then crawled on top of me.
With flushed cheeks and reeking of alcohol, she buried her face in my chest and nuzzled: “Sis, don’t like him anymore. Like me instead, okay?”
Me: Uh, miss?
The campus queen said passionately: “Only a girl truly understands what another girl wants. I won’t let you get hurt. I only like you, okay?”
I looked troubled: “That sounds great, but—”
Xavier gritted his teeth and crawled up from the floor. Just as he brought his face close, the campus queen smiled and threw a punch, knocking him out cold back onto the floor.
“Learned some Muay Thai,” the campus queen smiled gently. “Please continue, sis.”
I swallowed hard: “Well, I suppose it’s not impossible.”
The campus queen hugged me contentedly and fell asleep.
I struggled with all my might to undo the restraints and fled to shore in the middle of the night.
Just as I caught my breath, I received a new message.
From Finn.
“Come pick me up from work.”
I stared at those words, lost in thought.
In the past, I would voluntarily go pick him up from work every day, since each time earned me $500.
But given the two mishaps today, to be on the safe side, I called him.
I cut straight to the chase: “You’re not planning to transfer me $3000, are you?”
Finn: “?”
Me: “You don’t have any other women around to make me jealous, do you?”
“…” Finn was silent for three seconds. “Hazel, did you take the wrong medication?”
Hearing him scold me as usual felt warm and reassuring.
I sighed: “Wait for me, I’ll be right there.”
At the bottom of Finn’s office building, Finn stood in the wind.
He was cupping his hands to light a cigarette. Seeing me get out of the car, he immediately put it out.
My voice was so gentle it could squeeze out water: “Let’s go, Finny. Let’s get in the car.”
Finn raised his chin, gesturing for me to look at the Porsche Cayenne nearby.
Oh, Mr. CEO is tired of my Maybach.
No problem, I can drive any car.
I scurried over and pulled open the driver’s door, saying to the driver inside: “Brother, get out. Shift change.”
The driver was dumbfounded: “Miss, you?”
Finn seemed to sigh, walking over to open the back door: “Get in.”
“Huh?” I was a bit confused but did as he said.
Finn also got in and the car started driving smoothly.
I asked: “Finny, where are we going?”
Finn said: “You’ll know when we get there.”
An ominous feeling vaguely rose in my heart.
Thirty minutes later, the car pulled into an amusement park that had already closed for the day.
What’s going on? Amusement park horror night?
As soon as I got out of the car, I heard Finn snap his fingers coolly. In an instant, lights came on all over the amusement park, as if a dormant fairy tale world had suddenly come to life before our eyes.
I understood.
I grinned widely: “If you wanted me to accompany you to the amusement park, you could have just said so.”
Finn held my wrist through his sleeve and led me inside, stopping in front of the carousel.
Golden neon lights flickered, dreamy music enveloping us.
Fragments of memories flashed through my mind, briefly making me lose focus.
I sniffled and pulled out my phone, patting his butt: “Go on, go on. I’ll take photos for you.”
Finn was first shocked by me patting his butt, but eventually held back and snatched my phone: “You go. I’ll take the photos.”
“?” I flew into a rage. “Why don’t you just rob me directly?”
Does this guy know how much money this will cost me?
Finn: “?”
After a two-second standoff, Finn pressed his lips together: “I like watching people ride the carousel.”
“?” I suddenly understood.
So he brought me here because he has that kind of fetish.
I patted his shoulder understandingly: “You should have said so earlier. Sis will satisfy you.”
I happily ran towards my favorite horse.
The music turned romantic and beautiful, the lights around us slowly rising and falling, a gentle breeze caressing my face.
In the past, I had only watched others ride.
So this is what it feels like to ride a carousel.
After going on several rides together, my stomach growled as we got off the mini train.
He suddenly asked: “What flavor crepe do you want?”
I was stunned for a moment.
No one had ever asked me that question before. It was always me asking others.
I thought seriously: “I want durian flavor.”
Finn nodded and rolled up his sleeves, walking into a crepe truck.
I was dumbfounded again.
I thought he would just buy me one at most. I didn’t expect him to make it himself.
He skillfully spread out the batter, the aroma wafting out with the heat.
When handling the durian flesh, his facial expression was very stiff, most likely holding his breath.
Watching him concentrate on plating under the lights, I suddenly felt my heartbeat become more noticeable in my left chest.
He brought the plate over, a hint of anticipation hidden beneath his calm expression: “Try it.”
I took a bite. Wow, it tasted better than mine.
He asked: “How is it?”
I was about to say “Super delicious” when a harsh female voice sounded in my mind: [Mid-level flattery received. $500 deducted.]
Anger burst out of my mouth: “It’s okay. Just okay.”
Based on my judgment of Finn, he would definitely get angry, grab my neck and growl “Woman, you’re playing with fire.”
But he didn’t.
🌟 Continue the story here
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The company distributed a box of oranges, so sour they could make your teeth ache.
My pregnant coworker loved them, so I handed them over without hesitation.
When my mother-in-law heard about this, she stormed into the company and made a scene, demanding my coworker return the oranges.
Shaking with anger, I asked her, “Don’t I have the right to give away my own things anymore?”
She sneered, “You belong to our family now, let alone your possessions!”
Suddenly, it dawned on me. I had treated them as family, but they saw me as a slave. It seemed some accounts needed to be settled.
I was shaking with anger as I asked her, “Don’t I have the right to give away my own things anymore?”
She sneered, “You belong to our family now, let alone your possessions!”
Suddenly, it dawned on me. I had treated them as family, but they saw me as a slave. It seemed some accounts needed to be settled.
0
I had just finished lunch when I saw my mother-in-law, Linda, walk into the office carrying a thermal lunch box. As soon as she entered, she started looking around suspiciously.
I quickly stood up to greet her, “Mom, what brings you here?”
“I brought you lunch,” Linda said, slamming the lunch box on the table with a loud thud that startled my coworkers.
After living together for half a year, I had come to understand her a bit. Her hands were shaking slightly – a sign she was suppressing her anger.
Besides, she had never brought me lunch before.
I opened the lunch box to find only some sandwiches, which I disliked. Clearly, bringing lunch was just an excuse.
“I heard your company gave out oranges?” Linda got straight to the point.
Our company often gave out things as perks, so it wasn’t unusual.
This time, the oranges they bought were organic and sugar-free, but they were so sour they could make your teeth ache.
My pregnant coworker, Olivia, who was dealing with morning sickness, actually found them appealing. I gave her my oranges to avoid wasting them.
Was Linda here for such a trivial matter? Olivia was sitting right across from me; it would be awkward if she overheard this.
“The oranges were sour, so I gave them to my coworker. If you want some, I can buy you some after work,” I said in a low voice.
“How dare you! You just give things away without asking me?” Linda slammed her hand on the table and shouted. The entire office went quiet, all eyes turning to us in shock.
Olivia had just gone to get water and was now waddling back, sensing something was wrong.
“Mom, please don’t make a scene. It’s not a big deal. I’ll buy you two boxes, okay? Please go home now,” I tried to calm the situation, feeling utterly embarrassed for the first time in my life.
“I’ve never seen such a disrespectful daughter-in-law! What do you take our family for? You just give away things without consulting us?” Linda’s voice grew louder, ignoring my pleading looks. She kept glancing at Olivia, probably guessing from her belly that she was the one I had given the oranges to.
I was breaking out in a cold sweat. Olivia’s pregnancy was hard-won, and she had been on bed rest. What if this upset her?
“Stop it! Leave now!” I was trembling with anger as I tried to drag Linda towards the door.
“Look everyone, this is my wonderful daughter-in-law, beating her mother-in-law!” Linda cried out dramatically as my grip on her arm tightened.
My coworkers stood awkwardly to the side, unsure whether to intervene.
“Was it really necessary to come here and make a scene over such a small thing? Don’t I have the right to give away my own things?” I asked, my voice shaking with anger.
“You belong to our family now, let alone your possessions!” Linda’s words ripped away all pretense between us. So this was how it was. The harmonious family life I thought we had was just my own delusion.
“I didn’t take the oranges home, I only opened the box and ate two. Here, take them back, please don’t be angry!” Olivia, also frightened, hurriedly pulled out the box from under her desk. Her coworkers quickly stopped her and went to help.
“Emma, come here for a moment,” my manager, Ms. Smith, beckoned to me.
My coworkers got the hint. Two of them led me to the manager’s office, while three or four others gently pushed Linda out the door, along with the box of oranges.
Linda left clutching the orange box. She had probably come just to humiliate me, and her goal was achieved.
Ms. Smith had always been kind to me. She poured me a glass of water and handed me some tissues.
Only then did I realize how disheveled I looked.
“I’ve been a daughter-in-law and now I’m a mother-in-law myself. I understand this game. It’s an obedience test,” Ms. Smith said. Her words hit me like a revelation. So that’s what it was!
0
I met Ryan at the hospital where he was my father’s attending physician.
To be honest, Ryan was quite a catch. A 32-year-old medical PhD, he was the youngest chief of cardiothoracic surgery at their hospital. He was handsome and kept himself in great shape.
That period was my lowest point. When my father was suddenly hospitalized, our world fell apart. My mother and I had been so sheltered by my father that we had little life skills. I was running around with a stack of papers, completely lost, when I literally bumped into Ryan.
He helped me pick up the scattered papers and patiently guided me through each counter, being gentle and kind. I followed him obediently, tears in my eyes, afraid of losing him even for a moment.
From that day on, whenever we had any issues, my mother would remind me, “Ask Dr. Zheng.”
Soon after, my father passed away. Ryan helped me handle the funeral arrangements, taking care of everything personally. Our relatives even mistook him for my boyfriend. Later, we naturally got together.
He had a clean dating history, being a studious man focused solely on his career. Despite his good looks and no shortage of admirers, he never gave them a second glance.
“I feel like I’ve been waiting for you to come along,” he would say. His romantic lines were cheesy, but I loved them.
When we were preparing to get married, my mother had a serious talk with me.
“You’re my only daughter, and all our family assets are yours. Ryan’s family is from out of town, and he hasn’t been working for long, so he probably doesn’t have much savings. We’ll contribute more financially. You have a long life ahead, and I believe he can give you a happy life.”
My mother was heartbroken after my father’s passing, seeing his memory everywhere. She decided to move south to stay with my aunt for a while.
We held our wedding at my family home. At that time, Linda was still living in the countryside and hadn’t moved in with us.
Linda still maintained the image of a hardworking rural old lady. She had made an appearance when my father was critically ill, bringing some farm-raised chickens at Ryan’s request.
After my father passed away, she would occasionally send me some homemade health supplements.
In my mind, she was a simple and kind old woman, lacking in education but honest and sincere.
After we got married, we were both busy with work. Ryan had a sensitive stomach that needed care, and I didn’t know how to cook, so we hired a housekeeper. But Ryan was extremely picky about the housekeepers, so eventually, we decided to have Linda move in with us.
We gave Linda $1,500 a month for groceries, and whatever was left over was her pocket money.
At first, she was diligent and uncomplaining, but recently I felt she had changed. Whenever Ryan wasn’t home, she would just throw together something simple for me to eat. I didn’t think much of it at the time.
It wasn’t until today, when she pointed her finger at me and scolded me, that I saw her true colors.
I spent the rest of the day feeling dejected, constantly reflecting on my marriage with Ryan, wondering where things had gone wrong.
Ms. Smith was right, my mother-in-law was testing my obedience. But was this her idea, or Ryan’s?
0
I called Ryan several times, but his phone was off. I understood this, as he couldn’t answer calls during surgery.
Some things couldn’t be said over text, so I wanted to talk face-to-face.
Just before leaving work, I noticed I had missed a message from Ryan saying he had back-to-back surgeries and wouldn’t be home for dinner.
Before entering the house, I took a moment to prepare myself mentally. After what happened earlier, it would be awkward for anyone to face each other.
Hearing the door open, Linda poked her head out of the kitchen. Seeing it was just me, her face darkened.
“Where’s Ryan?” she asked.
“He’s not coming home for dinner,” I replied.
Hearing this, Linda turned back into the kitchen. After I finished showering, I found the house unusually quiet. The lights in the kitchen and dining room were off, and there was no food on the dining table.
I could have sworn I smelled something delicious when I first came in.
Curious, I walked into the kitchen. The stove was clean, and there was only half a sandwich left.
Was this an open challenge? Well, fine then. It’s not like I don’t have hands of my own.
I took out my phone and ordered a steak dinner set. Luckily, a new restaurant was offering a 12% discount, so the single-person set was only $14.
After placing the order, I lazily scrolled through my phone on the bed until the doorbell rang.
I have to say, the service from the new restaurant was excellent. The set I ordered came with extras, filling the entire table.
I don’t know if it was the aroma wafting into Linda’s room or if she was trying to monitor me, but she suddenly opened her door and came out. Seeing me heartily digging in, she was stunned.
“What… what are you doing?” Linda stammered.
“Eating. Can’t you see?” I replied without even looking up.
“What kind of daughter-in-law are you, indulging like this every day?” Linda angrily slammed the table again.
“What kind of daughter-in-law doesn’t need to eat?” I retorted, not even bothering to lift my eyelids.
“Didn’t I leave you a sandwich? That’s what I ate too. What are you complaining about?”
“If you want to eat that, go ahead. I don’t like it,” I said.
I had already finished eating. I stood up and packed the leftover food, then threw it straight into the trash. Linda’s face turned green.
“How much did this meal cost?” Her eyes were sharp. She picked up the receipt on the takeout box, looked at it, and cried out as if she’d been bitten by a snake, “14 dollars! You spent 14 dollars on one meal?”
“Yes, and it was on discount. Usually, it costs 20,” I said with a smirk, looking at her. “But the taste is really good. I might order it more often!”
“You wasteful thing! You’re going to be the death of me! This is unbearable!” Linda exclaimed.
Just as Linda finished speaking, there was a sound at the front door. Ryan was home.
“Weren’t you working overtime? You’re too late to see how impressive your dear wife is. She ordered a whole table of steak just for herself!” Linda rushed to tattle.
“You didn’t make dinner?” Ryan frowned, asking Linda.
Linda didn’t answer, lowering her head and retreating to the kitchen. In no time, a feast was laid out on the table, and she called Ryan to eat.
“If you’re not coming home, this food isn’t for me. Half a sandwich is all I get,” I said, looking at the mother and son pair with my arms crossed, waiting to see what would happen next.
“You didn’t ask me if there was food. By the time I came out, you had already ordered,” Linda lied, her expression unnatural.
“Can you two please stop? I’ve had a long day, my legs are so stiff I can barely bend them. Please…” Ryan slammed his plate on the table and headed upstairs.
Linda glanced at me, then ran back to her room crying.
I felt like there was a stone pressing on my chest, making it hard to breathe.
Were they ganging up to bully me now?
0
I decided to go upstairs and have a proper talk with Ryan.
Ryan came out of the shower to find me waiting sternly in the bedroom. Seeing my expression, he sighed.
“Emma, I’m really tired today. My mom’s getting old, just ignore her,” he said.
“Do you know what she did today? She came to my office and made a scene,” I said coldly, staring at him. He froze for a moment, then threw up his hands and paced around the room.
“God, just kill me now. Can’t I catch a break today?”
“You need to understand, it’s not me causing trouble, it’s your mother. It’s not me making your life difficult, it’s her making our lives difficult!” I was at my breaking point. I’m a victim here too, you know?
“I get it, I’ll talk to her. She’s just bored. Come on, let’s make love. Let’s give her a grandchild to keep her busy,” Ryan said, leaning in towards me.
“What are you thinking? We’re having conflicts without a child, and you think having a baby will solve them?” I pushed him away, clear-headed.
“Then what do you want me to do?” Ryan was clearly impatient now.
Suddenly, my phone rang. Seeing it was my mother, I quickly answered.
“Emma, I’m downstairs. Can you come help me? I have too much luggage to carry up myself,” my mother said.
“Mom! You’re back? Why didn’t you tell me in advance?” I said, rushing out. Ryan hesitated for a moment before following.
My mother was standing downstairs with two large suitcases. The taxi that dropped her off had already left.
“Mom, is everything okay?” I asked worriedly.
“I’ve got a minor health issue. I wanted to come back to recover, but I didn’t want to worry you, so I didn’t tell you in advance.”
It turned out my mother had developed some skin problems due to the change in environment.
Back at home, Linda was also alerted by the commotion. She stood at the door in her pajamas, giving my mother a cold look as she entered.
“Sorry for the intrusion,” my mother said with an apologetic smile. She then pulled out a gift for Linda from her suitcase.
“You didn’t need to bring anything from so far away,” Linda said, quickly accepting the gift and exchanging a few pleasantries.
“It’s too late today, let’s go to the hospital tomorrow. Mom, you must be tired from the flight. Get some rest first,” I said, noticing my mother’s weary face.
That’s when I saw Linda and Ryan exchange a glance, and I suddenly remembered the room situation. Linda was staying in what used to be my mother’s room, and the other spare room was occupied by Ryan’s younger brother. He was about to graduate from college and was supposedly staying temporarily.
On the second floor, apart from our bedroom, there was a small study, but it had no bed and was quite cramped.
Linda exchanged a look with me, then turned her face away.
“She can stay in the small room for now,” I said decisively, walking towards Ryan’s brother’s room. He was away at school for exams these few days.
Opening the door, I was shocked. A foul odor hit me.
I usually didn’t go into his room, and I never imagined a nice room could turn into such a pigsty. The room was a complete mess, with garbage, takeout boxes, and crumpled tissues everywhere. The desk and shelves were cluttered with action figures, and there was barely any space to step.
“We’re not allowed to touch Kevin’s room. Last time I tried to clean it, he got angry and chased me out,” Linda said loudly.
It was too late to clean the room now, so I turned my gaze back to Linda.
“Mom, my mother has bad knees and can’t climb stairs easily. Could you sleep in Kevin’s room for now and let my mother have the bigger room?”
“What if Kevin gets angry? I can’t afford to upset him!” Linda immediately refused.
“I’ll go find a hotel then. I didn’t mean to cause trouble,” my mother said apologetically.
“What trouble? This house is yours, you shouldn’t be the one staying at a hotel,” I said. My words were directed at my mother, but my eyes were fixed on Ryan’s face.
His face tightened, and he bit his lip before pulling Linda aside. They whispered something, and Linda reluctantly took her bedding into Kevin’s room.
I quickly helped my mother settle in. I hadn’t seen her in a while and missed her terribly, so I insisted on sleeping in the large bed with her that night.
Next door, Linda was making some noise, with occasional loud thumps startling us.
My mother looked like she wanted to say something, but held back. I knew what she wanted to ask, but I didn’t want her to worry while she was still unwell, so I put on a brave face.
0
The next day, I took a day off to take my mother to the hospital.
In the morning, we rode in Ryan’s car. Ryan’s face was gloomy, and my mother kept smiling and trying to make small talk, but he remained cold.
Finally, when my mother went to the bathroom to provide a urine sample, Ryan and I were alone.
“What are you doing? Keeping that sour face, as if someone owes you something,” I said, almost bursting with anger.
“You’re asking me? Yesterday was so awkward. Did you consider my mother’s feelings at all? This is all because you didn’t plan well…”
I was about to retort when I saw my mother pushing through the crowd. I quickly shut my mouth. Ryan also stopped talking, playing along.
After a morning of tests and consultations with specialists, we learned that my mother had a weakened immune system, and the dampness at my aunt’s house had triggered her condition.
“With your constitution, you’ve adapted to the local environment all these years. Don’t change locations. Come back and take good care of yourself,” the senior specialist said kindly, out of respect for Ryan.
But as soon as he said this, Ryan’s face darkened.
He made an excuse about having surgery and left us.
I called a taxi to take my mother home. Linda was sitting in the living room watching TV. When she saw us come in, she immediately turned off the TV and came over.
“How did it go? I told you it wouldn’t be anything serious.”
“It’s not too serious. The specialist said she just needs to rest and recover,” I said.
My mother had been quiet on the way back, and now she looked so tired she could barely sit up.
“Mom, why don’t you go lie down in your room?” I suggested quickly.
“Yes, get some good rest. It must have been tiring coming all this way,” Linda said, her words loaded with meaning. My mother stiffened, then slowly walked towards the bedroom.
“My mother is not leaving,” I said, lowering my eyes as I walked past Linda.
“Not… not leaving? Where will she stay?” Linda exploded.
I stopped my mother from coming out of the room, gave her a look, and firmly closed the door.
“I shouldn’t have come back so suddenly. I’ll book a hotel,” my mother said, panicking.
“Mom, this house was given to us by you. At the very least, there should be a room for you. Why should you be the one to leave?” I said.
“That’s true, but I came so abruptly,” my mother said with a bitter smile.
“Mom, have you thought about this? If I give in to them on everything, what will happen in the end?” I said.
“Mom, you need to think about this. If I always give in to them, what will happen in the future? If you can’t be my support, they’ll torment me to death. Mom! Dad is gone, you need to live well and protect me!” I said, bursting into tears.
“Alright,” my mother’s voice became firm.
I couldn’t count on Linda now, so I went to the kitchen to toast some bread and ordered takeout.
Linda seemed to be on the phone in her room. I couldn’t hear what she was saying.
I took my mother’s dirty clothes and went to the balcony to put them in the washing machine. To my surprise, when I opened it, a rancid smell hit me. Looking closer, I saw that Linda had washed Kevin’s clothes and forgotten to take them out.
Just then, Linda hurriedly came out of the inner room. Seeing the situation, she forcefully pushed me aside and took out the clothes.
“Kevin is coming back to stay tonight. I can’t stay in his room anymore. Find a hotel for your mother,” she said, not even looking at me.
“Why should my mother go to a hotel?” I felt anger rising.
“Then where am I supposed to stay? Your mother is a mother, but am I not a mother too? She can’t climb stairs because of her knees, but what about my knees? Why can she not climb, but I have to?” Linda put her hands on her hips and started yelling at me, spitting as she spoke, forcing me to take a couple of steps back.
“This house was given to us by my mother to live in. How can she not even have a room when she comes back?” I said.
“That’s not how it works. That was the condition when you and Ryan got married. That was given by your family! You’ve married into our family now, what does it have to do with your family anymore?” Linda’s words made me laugh bitterly.
“Oh really? So I’ve given you such a big house? Then what did your family give?” I asked.
“Look at your conditions. Are you worthy of my Ryan? You should be grateful he even married you!” Linda said.
I suddenly realized that marrying for love was the biggest lie. I had always considered their family’s interests, but was I wrong?
In her eyes, Ryan was too good for me, and I had actively bought the house. If it weren’t for this house, Ryan might not have even wanted me.
Just then, the doorbell rang. It must be the takeout arriving.
I brought the takeout in, and the toast was ready too. I took it all to my mother’s room.
My mother wasn’t lying on the bed but sitting up straight. She must have heard the argument earlier.
“Mom, eat first. Don’t listen to that dog barking,” I said.
I had just finished speaking when my phone rang. It was a call from the company. There was an important contract that had to be signed in the afternoon.
I told my mother to eat well, and that I would go to the company for a while and come back soon.
0
I got busy as soon as I arrived at the company, and it wasn’t until after 6 PM that I finally had some free time.
“I’m so sorry, you guys work overtime first. I really can’t get away from home. I’ll make it up to you later!” I thanked my team members with my hands clasped. They all expressed understanding and told me to go quickly.
As I was leaving, I ran into Ms. Smith. Seeing me about to call a taxi, she lowered her car window and offered to give me a ride.
“I remember you have a car. Why haven’t you been driving these days?” she asked.
“My brother-in-law borrowed it. He’s about to graduate and has a lot of errands to run. It’s not convenient for him to take taxis,” I explained with a bitter smile.
“Your in-laws are quite problematic, aren’t they? Is the whole family ganging up to try and tame you?” she said.
I fell silent. Looking at it now, it did seem that way. Only my mother’s arrival had suddenly disrupted their plans.
I told her about what happened last night.
Ms. Smith listened and got so upset her breasts felt clogged.
“I shouldn’t interfere in other people’s family matters. But in your case, I can’t keep quiet. I’m afraid you and Ryan won’t be able to continue like this,” she said.
We had reached my neighborhood. I wanted to buy some fruit to take up, so I thanked Ms. Smith and got out of the car.
As I entered the elevator with my bags, I noticed the neighbors looking at me strangely.
I didn’t know what was improper about me, so I secretly adjusted my dress.
When I got to my door, I still felt something was off. The welcome mat at the entrance was crooked.
I opened the door to see Linda cleaning the house, with a pile of garbage by the door that hadn’t been bagged yet.
I was too lazy to deal with her now and strode towards the ground floor bedroom. I pushed open the door and froze. My mother wasn’t there, and even her suitcase was gone.
I quickly turned back to ask Linda, “Where’s my mother?”
“Oh, her? She’s got such a good son-in-law, she’s gone to a nursing home,” Linda said with an eye roll.
I was completely confused. I called my mother’s phone, but it was turned off. I had no choice but to ask Ryan.
“A colleague came to my place today on business, and I mentioned Mom’s condition. He said they have a specialist there, and even special medication. He suggested Mom stay there for a while,” Ryan said slowly and calmly, making me feel at ease again.
“Why is my mother’s phone always off?” I asked.
“Maybe it ran out of battery? I’ll give you a number, you can call and ask. It’s the number for the nurse on duty,” he said.
“Never mind, I’ll go see for myself. Give me the address,” I said.
I was still uneasy. Even if my mother was going to stay in a hospital, I needed to see it with my own eyes to be reassured.
“I’ll go with you tomorrow. It’s about to rain, and the nursing home is in the suburbs, too far away,” Ryan said kindly, back to his patient self from before we were married.
I ignored him and focused on checking the address he sent. It was indeed far, halfway up a mountain in the suburbs. The environment looked nice, but the transportation was very inconvenient.
Suddenly, my phone started ringing. It was a video call request from my mother.
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My mother was stunningly beautiful.
But during the years my father was abroad, she was long abused by another man.
On the day my father returned home, he accidentally discovered this.
I thought he would be shocked, enraged.
Instead, he simply closed the bedroom door quietly.
Coldly locking my mother’s humiliation and tears behind that door.
Mother’s body was discovered by the maid the next morning.
Sinking to the bottom of the crystal-clear swimming pool.
It took quite an effort to retrieve her, as a huge rock was tied to her body.
The corpse was laid out by the pool.
Her white dress was stained with blood, all crumpled.
Burns, whip marks, and rope burns covered her entire body.
The wounds were soggy, the flesh turned over and blurred, a horrifying sight.
I saw that terrifying scene from afar and turned to bury my face in my nanny Rose’s embrace.
She gently patted my back: “Don’t be afraid, Miss. That’s your mother.”
“That’s not my mother!” I cried urgently.
“I don’t want such a scary mother. You’re my mother!”
Rose smiled gently: “Alright, alright, good girl, don’t cry.”
As she carried me away, she said:
“What a sin. With such a heavy stone tied to her body, she really didn’t want to live anymore.”
I looked over Rose’s shoulder, staring fixedly at my motionless mother on the ground.
How could such a delicate and beautiful person turn into a pile of rotting flesh in the blink of an eye?
She had given me a sweet kiss just last night.
The soft lamplight outlined my mother’s graceful silhouette as she leaned down and, for the first time ever, placed a goodnight kiss on my cheek.
It was the first time I saw a glimmer of light in her beautiful but vacant eyes.
It was also the first time I received a kiss from my mother.
She turned off the lamp and left, but I was too happy to fall asleep.
In the middle of the night, I vaguely heard a woman’s muffled sobs from outside the door.
It sounded like Mother.
So I got out of bed barefoot, following the sound along the dark hallway towards my grandfather’s bedroom.
To my surprise, my father, who had just returned earlier that day, was standing at the bedroom door.
“Robert…” Mother’s trembling cry came from the crack in the door.
“Save me…”
In the darkness, Father’s back was ramrod straight. I thought this was a sign of his anger about to explode.
But he just slowly raised his hand and gently locked the door.
…
That year, I was six years old.
The same age as when Grandfather George brought Mother and me home from the orphanage.
That year, I didn’t understand what Grandfather and Father had done to Mother.
But I knew Mother was dead.
The only person in this world who loved me was gone.
Suddenly, many construction crews entered the estate.
Rose said the swimming pool where Mother died was to be turned into a flower garden, on Grandfather’s orders.
She also said all the ponds and shallow depressions on the hundred-acre estate were to be filled in, leaving not a single body of water deeper than an ankle.
I was just a six-year-old child. Hearing that Grandpa wanted to build a flower garden, I couldn’t help but feel a bit happy.
Rose pinched my nose and asked with a smile:
“Your mother just passed away like that. In life, she was the lady of the Turner family, but in death, she didn’t even get a funeral.”
“No coffin, no grave, and no one will remember her in the future.”
“Aren’t you sad at all?”
I asked innocently in return:
“Why should I be sad?”
“You raised me. I don’t recognize that crazy woman as my mother.”
Mother was crazy.
—I had heard this more than once from the servants, including Rose.
Mother was spotted by the wealthy George Turner when she was six years old and became his child bride.
After coming of age, she married the third young master, Robert. Two years later, Robert went to France to study.
After that, Mother became mentally unstable.
During the day, she would arrange flowers, read books, and brew coffee, looking ethereally beautiful, breathtaking to behold.
But when night fell, she became a different person.
She would cry, get angry, and smash things for no reason.
I once tried to approach her, but she pointed a knife at me and yelled:
“Filthy thing, don’t come near me, get away!”
No one could control the young mistress when she went crazy, except for the Turner family patriarch, George.
When Grandfather returned home late from social engagements, he would carry the out-of-control Mother into his bedroom.
Once the door closed, it would be for the whole night…
I didn’t know how Grandfather “comforted” Mother, but the next morning, she would be docile beyond belief.
This cycle repeated day after day.
Until recently, when a letter arrived saying Father would soon return from abroad, Mother’s mental illness suddenly improved, and she became radiant.
She waited eagerly for a full month before Father finally returned in his suit.
Mother had waited for her savior, but it couldn’t change her fate.
That night after dinner, Grandfather still led Mother into his bedroom—right in front of Father, me, and all the servants.
That night, she had desperately sought help from Father.
But Father’s indifference extinguished her hope of survival.
And so she hastily ended her short life.
George Turner’s renovation of the garden at this time was nothing more than an attempt to bury Mother’s remains on the spot.
They wanted to cover up Mother’s death.
How could I let them get away with it?
While everyone was busy, I secretly instructed Leo, the son of a servant, to sneak out and report to the police.
Leo was the same age as me and could come and go freely without anyone noticing him.
I waited anxiously at home.
As it was getting dark, the police really came, and it was even a chief.
Leo was brought before Father Robert with his hands tied behind his back.
Father politely shook hands with the chief: “This child needs discipline. He filed a false police report. I’m sorry for the trouble, Chief Johnson.”
Leo struggled a bit and shouted defiantly:
“I didn’t file a false report! The young mistress really did die! I saw it with my own eyes!”
“Tired of living!”
Robert kicked Leo, then took out a thick stack of bills from his suit’s inner pocket.
Chief Johnson accepted it, smiling from ear to ear.
“No worries, Mr. Turner. If you encounter any trouble in the future, just let me know.”
A young police officer suddenly interjected: “Sir, I noticed some suspicious traces around the pool. May I investigate further?”
“Have you lost your mind!” Chief Johnson knocked the officer’s head hard, “Don’t you know whose estate this is? How dare you investigate casually?”
Hidden behind a beaded curtain, I witnessed this entire process of collusion between officials and businessmen, and I remembered the face of that young police officer.
As they were about to get in the police car, I ran out of the house and smiled as I handed candy to Chief Johnson:
“Uncle, you’re so impressive. This is chocolate my father brought back from France. Please try some.”
Robert patted my head approvingly, and Chief Johnson happily accepted the candy.
The young police officer stared at me for a few seconds, then pulled me over and asked seriously:
“You’re the Turner family’s young miss, right? Did something really happen to your mother?”
His eyes were frighteningly bright.
I grinned at him: “Uncle, have some candy.”
After the police left, Father interrogated Leo:
“Tell me, who put you up to this?”
Leo gritted his teeth and said: “No one put me up to it.”
Father waved his hand, and the servants dragged Leo to the outer courtyard.
Soon after, the sound of punches and kicks mixed with Leo’s wails echoed in the courtyard.
I had been raised on the estate since childhood and had no friends. Only Leo, who was the same age as me, was willing to play with me.
I cried and begged Father not to beat him, but Father coldly pushed me away.
I rushed into the courtyard, trying to shield Leo with my small body, but Rose forcibly carried me back into the house.
A boy not yet seven years old was beaten to death like this.
Two young lives, gone just like that.
Just because they were born humble, their lives were as cheap as grass.
This resentment pressed on my chest, enough to make a child breathless, and enough to make a child grow up in an instant.
The swimming pool was filled in.
Many blooming flowers were transplanted to the estate.
The hundred-acre estate became even more beautiful than when Mother was alive.
After Leo was beaten to death in public, no servant dared to mention Mother’s matter again.
Mother disappeared from this world without a sound, without a trace, as if she had never existed.
In the blink of an eye, another six years passed.
I learned to hide my hatred and learned how to survive in the Turner family.
One day when I was twelve, I was alone in the flower garden, fiddling with the white chrysanthemums that Mother loved most in life.
Suddenly, I overheard a conversation between Rose and Father.
“I’ve been with you for ten years now. When are you going to give me a proper status?”
Ten years?
It turned out that even before Mother passed away, someone had already coveted the position of the Turner family’s mistress.
Father pinched Rose’s fat bottom: “Tonight, okay?”
This scene stung my eyes.
It seems that being two-faced is a hereditary skill of Turner men.
Soon after, I really did have a new mother.
Rose, having turned her fate around, became the mistress, her triumphant expression obvious.
Even her tone when speaking to me was no longer as gentle and patient as before.
She eagerly took possession of Mother’s jewelry and even secretly wore Mother’s clothes, forcibly squeezing her stout body into the form-fitting dresses.
When the dress split, she angrily tore the entire wardrobe of dresses to shreds.
I happened to see it and wanted nothing more than to tear her to shreds as well.
But a second before she noticed me, I quickly suppressed my hatred and hugged Rose’s thick waist like I used to when I was little.
“Aunt Rose’s tummy has so much meat, it’s so soft and comfortable. Not like my mother who died early, she was like a willow branch, trembling in the slightest breeze.”
Rose, upon hearing this, suddenly pushed me away, put on her loose clothes, and stormed off in a huff.
At dinner, I deliberately put oily braised pork in Rose’s bowl.
“Aunt Rose, this is delicious.”
Rose swallowed: “I’m not eating it.”
Father glanced at her: “No appetite?”
I laughed out loud: “Aunt Rose burst Mother’s dress today, her butt was showing. Auntie must not be eating meat because of this, haha!”
Father glared at me: “How can a young lady speak so rudely?”
Grandfather hurried to support me: “A child her age is straightforward. Why bother arguing with her?”
I stuck out my tongue playfully.
But as soon as I said that, everyone unconsciously glanced at Rose… and the fat around her waist.
Rose’s face, which wasn’t very fair to begin with, became even darker, but she didn’t dare lash out at me because of George’s presence.
Seeing her frustrated look, my appetite grew, and I didn’t forget to sweetly please Grandfather.
“Grandpa, have some vegetables.”
George was so happy that he drank a few more glasses of wine.
When I was sending him back to his room to rest, he suddenly grabbed my hand.
Staring blankly at my face, he murmured softly: “Yvonne…”
I froze.
Yvonne had become a taboo word in the Turner family over the years.
If George hadn’t suddenly mentioned it, people might have forgotten that it was my mother’s name.
“Grandpa, I’m Fiona, your darling granddaughter.”
George came to his senses: “Fiona has grown up. Grandpa is old now, my eyes are failing me.”
I giggled coquettishly, casually withdrawing my hand.
Back in my own room, I pulled out an old photograph hidden in a secret compartment of my wardrobe.
On the yellowed photo paper, a young woman was holding a baby in swaddling clothes, smiling serenely and happily at the camera.
It was a photo taken on my full-month birthday, and the only photo of me and Mother together.
At that time, Mother was still immersed in false happiness, her smile untainted.
Rose had once told me some old stories about Mother.
Mother was malnourished as a child and had a weak constitution. She nearly lost her life due to massive bleeding when giving birth to me.
Because of her postpartum weakness, she could hardly produce any milk.
And I was a particularly greedy baby, often sucking Mother until she bled, refusing to let go even then.
To avoid starving me, Mother carefully selected Rose from among a hundred wet nurses.
Rose told me these things intending to boast about herself.
But what I cared about was how difficult it was for Mother to give birth to me, and how much it hurt when I sucked her raw.
My thoughts returned to the present.
My gaze slowly moved from the photo to the dressing table mirror.
I hadn’t noticed that I was looking more and more like Mother.
Looking at that overly delicate face in the mirror, only twelve years old.
Thinking of the way Grandfather held my hand and called me “Yvonne.”
I finally understood what Grandfather had done to Mother every night during those years Father was abroad.
Rose was determined to lose weight.
At first, she just didn’t eat rice at each meal.
Later, it evolved into not eating anything after noon each day.
She did visibly lose weight, but her originally rosy and healthy complexion also turned sallow.
But I thought this wasn’t enough.
So I deliberately provoked her by buying posters of popular movie stars and bringing them home.
I would say in front of her: “Aunt Rose, look, why are these celebrities all so slim nowadays? Do they not eat or drink at all?”
Hearing this, Rose really stopped eating and drinking.
Half a year later, Rose was transformed, having developed a waistline.
I exaggeratedly exclaimed to the sallow and thin Rose: “Aunt Rose, did you secretly take diet pills? You’re even more beautiful than movie stars!”
Rose became overconfident and intensified her dieting, almost to the point of fasting.
At one dinner, Rose only chewed a few lettuce leaves before saying she was full.
Robert asked: “Have you been feeling unwell lately?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“You’ve lost so much weight, and your appetite is so poor. Are you sick?”
“You’re the one who’s sick!” Rose’s face darkened, and she put down her chopsticks.
In the past, Rose wouldn’t have dared to speak loudly to Robert.
Father looked at Rose in disbelief: “Have you gone mad?!”
“I said I’m full, I’m full. Why do you suspect I’m sick?”
Rose completely lost control of her emotions and started yelling.
Robert, after all, was the young master and had never been yelled at by a woman before. He raised his hand and slapped Rose.
Rose was stunned by the slap.
I really wanted to continue watching the show, but I heard George’s car driving into the courtyard, so I had to quickly join the act.
“Father, Aunt Rose doesn’t want to eat much because she’s afraid of getting fat. Isn’t it normal to want to look beautiful?”
I smiled, smoothing things over, and added a large bowl of rice to Rose’s bowl, packing it down firmly.
“Aunt Rose, you’re too thin. It’s okay to eat a proper meal occasionally.”
George walked into the dining room just in time to see this thoughtful and caring side of me.
“Grandpa, you’re back so early? We thought you wouldn’t be home for dinner tonight.”
I enthusiastically welcomed Grandfather to the dining table.
“My sweet Fiona, Grandpa missed you, so I canceled my social engagements to come back and have dinner with you.”
The family started eating again.
Rose stared at the rice hesitantly for a moment, then began shoveling it into her mouth like a starving dog.
During the meal, I chatted wittily, making Grandfather laugh heartily.
Rose, however, didn’t seem to be feeling so well, as I heard her retching in the bathroom.
“Father, is Aunt Rose pregnant?” I mischievously winked.
“Is that so?” Robert got up and walked towards the bathroom.
As soon as he opened the bathroom door, he saw Rose kneeling by the toilet, using chopsticks to make herself vomit.
There was filth everywhere.
“Oh!” I covered my mouth dramatically.
“You crazy woman!”
Robert cursed in disgust and slammed the door shut.
Crazy woman.
Six years ago, people had talked about my mother the same way.
Now, it was Rose’s turn.
Looking at the shocked and disheveled Rose, I fanned my nose:
“How disgusting.”
At sixteen, I was of college age.
I pleaded with George, holding his hand:
“Grandpa, all my classmates are going to college. I want to go too!”
George looked at me indulgently, his eyes revealing emotions that were clearly more than just a grandfather looking at his granddaughter.
“Fiona, how can other people’s children compare to you?”
“If you want to learn something, can’t Grandpa just invite teachers to teach you at home?”
He wanted to keep me caged, just like Mother had been years ago.
“What can I learn at home? Those teachers you hire only teach simple things. The professors at university are ones you can’t hire even with money!”
I pretended to be angry and shook off George’s hand.
“Grandpa doesn’t really love me.”
“Oh, my precious darling!” George wrapped his old hand around my shoulder, “Grandpa promises you, whatever you want, Grandpa will give you!”
At the same tender age.
Mother chose to get married, while I chose to go to school.
I majored in medicine.
The medical knowledge I had accumulated since childhood, combined with cutting-edge Western medical theories, led to a qualitative leap in my understanding.
I also found an internship at a private clinic through a professor.
When I didn’t have classes at school, I would help out at the clinic.
One day, I saw a familiar figure sneaking into the consultation room.
I put on a mask and followed, peeking through the door crack. It really was Rose.
“Doctor,” Rose said, “I haven’t had my period for a long time.”
The doctor adjusted his glasses: “How long?”
“Six months.”
“Are you pregnant?”
“That’s the problem…” Rose said embarrassedly: “I don’t seem to be pregnant, but…”
How could she keep her period when she wasn’t eating to lose weight?
“Lie down and let me take a look.” The doctor examined her while asking: “You’re married, right?”
“Yes.”
“Have you had children before?”
“No.”
I was suddenly shocked.
Never had children? Then how did she breastfeed me before?
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The company demanded our team work overtime to meet a deadline, causing everyone to forget to clock out.
I went to HR, who told me to talk to the boss.
I went to the boss, who told me to “learn my lesson.”
Seriously? The company makes money, the client gets their project on time.
And I, just a lowly worker, pull an all-nighter, damage my health, and lose my monthly attendance bonus?
Am I some kind of doormat?
I quit!
I hate working on projects for Indian clients.
The Indians messed up the timeline, demanding our security platform – originally scheduled to launch in two weeks – go live 10 days early.
In just 5 days, we have to complete performance optimization, bug fixes, security audits, OS compatibility testing, comprehensive testing, gather user feedback and make improvements.
I’m exhausted. I feel like jumping out the office window.
At 3 AM, to meet the deadline, all 12 members of the “Cloud Shadow Intelligent Security Defense Platform” project team are still working in the office.
Everyone knows we’re on a tight schedule, so no one has gone home.
As the project lead, I’m truly grateful for everyone’s dedication.
But little did we know, our conscientiousness in staying to work overtime without leaving the office even once would backfire.
It caused our entire team to be marked as leaving early the previous day for not clocking out, and absent today for not clocking in.
When Emma came to me with the attendance records, I thought it was a minor issue that could be easily fixed by talking to HR.
After all, the office security footage would prove we all stayed in the office working overtime.
Even the usual slackers cut down on their bathroom breaks.
I immediately grabbed my phone and headed to HR, planning to sort it out and get some fresh air.
My fingers were practically turning to stone from coding for so long.
Entering the HR office, I found three women chatting away.
One was showing off her new manicure, another complaining about her mischievous kid, and the third laughing hysterically at some TV show.
I felt a pang of envy. When would I get to enjoy such a relaxed workday, gossiping during office hours?
Seeing me, the happy atmosphere in the office instantly evaporated.
The three women froze, clearly not expecting anyone to come to HR so early. They silently returned to their desks.
I wondered if I’d come at a bad time and ruined their fun.
The woman closest to the door, with an elaborate updo and full makeup, was the manicure lady. She rolled her eyes, glanced at me, and asked coldly: “What do you want?”
I showed her my attendance record: “Can you remove these early departure and absence records? Our project team got notified yesterday that we need to launch the platform 10 days early. Everyone stayed late last night, so we didn’t…”
“Hold on,” Manicure Lady raised her left hand, her right hand tapping away at the keyboard.
My unfinished sentence got stuck in my throat. I could only wait silently.
Manicure Lady’s brow furrowed, then relaxed, then looked suspicious: “Tsk, what’s going on with your team? 12 people, all without clock-outs yesterday, and all absent this morning.”
When asking for a favor, you have to be polite:
“We were working overtime yesterday and forgot to clock out. We even slept in the office. If no one had reminded me this morning, I wouldn’t have realized we missed clocking in twice.”
Manicure Lady kept staring at her computer screen, clicking her mouse incessantly: “Ugh, so annoying.”
She suddenly slammed her mouse on the desk, leaned back in her chair, looking very irritated:
“I can’t remove this. There’s not even a leave request. How am I supposed to fix it?”
I stood there stunned, not expecting such an attitude from Manicure Lady.
Lack of sleep, plus all the coffee I’d been drinking like water these past two days, made my temper flare up quickly.
Before I knew it, I slammed my hand on Manicure Lady’s desk, pointing at her nose: “What’s with your attitude? Who are you giving attitude to?”
The three HR women looked at me in horror.
Looking at the three of them, I suddenly regretted my outburst.
Our company’s HR department was nicknamed the “Wives Club” because it was staffed by the wives or female relatives of company executives.
I’d gotten bold today and actually yelled at the Wives Club.
The HR ladies were used to throwing their weight around, but Manicure Lady clearly hadn’t expected me to be so forceful. She deflated a bit.
She muttered: “Why are you getting angry? If it can’t be fixed, it can’t be fixed. If you’ve got a problem, go talk to the boss.”
I grabbed my phone and practically ran out of the HR office.
Oh no, I’m in trouble now. Who knows which executive’s wife Manicure Lady is.
But after leaving the office, I calmed down.
What am I afraid of? I’m a tech backbone of the company, doing real work and making money for them.
Surely no brain-dead executive would fire me, right?
The more I thought about it, the more I felt I could still hang on at the company. After all, the value I create for the company is much higher than the Wives Club.
But I’ll probably face some trouble. If they don’t teach me a lesson, where would those self-important executives put their faces?
I sighed, resigning myself to my bad luck.
This society was never fair. If my husband outranked their husbands, I bet Manicure Lady wouldn’t have dared use that attitude with me.
The boss’s office was on the top floor. I’d been there once before for a project report, but rarely had the chance to go to the executive level.
Outside the boss’s office was a slightly smaller office for his secretary.
As I was about to knock, the secretary’s door opened a crack.
A woman in a gray suit poked her head out, asking coldly: “Who are you?”
I recognized this secretary – she was often seen following the boss. I couldn’t afford to offend her.
I quickly replied: “I’m Rachel, the project lead. I’m here to see the boss about removing some absence records.”
Understanding my purpose, the secretary frowned slightly: “For such a small matter, you should just go to HR. Why bother the boss?”
I explained: “HR said they can’t remove it without a leave slip.”
The secretary’s frown deepened. After a few seconds of silence: “The boss isn’t in the office now. He usually comes in around 3 PM.”
What? The boss doesn’t come in until 3 PM?
I almost blurted out in surprise but managed to hold it in.
After thanking her, I prepared to come back at 3 PM and turned to leave.
“Wait,” the secretary called out, “Come register and I’ll make an appointment for you.”
“Huh? Do I need an appointment even though I’m an internal employee?”
I must have looked very foolish, as I really don’t interact with upper management.
I couldn’t believe our crappy company required appointments just to see the boss.
The secretary gave me an annoyed look: “Of course. The boss arrives at 3 PM and leaves promptly at 5:30 PM, not a second later. Even directors and managers can’t always get on his schedule. How could a team lead like you not need an appointment?”
As she spoke, the secretary tapped on her tablet: “I’ve scheduled you for 5:20 PM. You only have 5 minutes. When time’s up, you have to leave whether you’ve finished or not.”
I nodded numbly, indicating I understood.
This boss puts on airs like an ancient emperor.
If I didn’t need this money to live, I would have quit long ago!
Let whoever wants to serve him do it. Is it easy for us working folks to earn money?
As soon as I got back to the office, everyone crowded around asking if I’d gotten the absence records removed.
I told them we didn’t have leave slips, so it couldn’t be removed.
As soon as I finished speaking, Emma exploded. She’s a young girl who just graduated and joined our company 6 months ago.
Emma shouted: “That’s ridiculous! We pulled an all-nighter to meet the deadline, and end up with absence records. We might as well have let the project be delayed. It’s not like it’s coming out of my pocket anyway.”
Emma started packing up her things: “Since I’m marked absent anyway, why should I stay at this crappy company? I’m going home to sleep!”
Several others also looked like they were thinking of packing up and going home.
I tried to calm everyone down: “I’ll definitely get the boss to approve removing everyone’s absence records this afternoon!”
After much persuasion, Emma finally put down her half-packed bag and sat in her chair sulking.
Olivia is a middle-aged woman like me, with elderly parents and young kids to support. She never thinks about her own feelings, only money!
After I promised to talk to the boss about removing the absence records, Olivia was still worried: “You must explain it well to the boss this afternoon. The monthly perfect attendance bonus is $300, and the year-end bonus is also tied to this. Without perfect attendance, we could lose thousands of dollars.”
I reassured Olivia: “Don’t worry, the boss should have that much perspective.”
At 5:10 PM, I was waiting outside the boss’s office 10 minutes early.
Time ticked by second by second. The wall clock soon showed 5:25 PM.
I got anxious. Why hasn’t the previous person come out yet?
I asked the secretary. Without looking up, she replied: “Mr. Davis is discussing a project with the boss. If you want to listen in, you can go in.”
How could I dare? A big boss and an operations director.
I’m just a nobody. I could only wait patiently.
Soon the minute hand reached 35. Voices came from the door.
The boss and Mr. Davis walked out chatting and laughing. I hurriedly stepped forward.
Respectfully: “Hello, boss. Hello, Mr. Davis.”
Mr. Davis’s face flashed with displeasure. He still wanted to chat more with the boss, but I’d interrupted.
After saying goodbye to the boss, Mr. Davis left.
The boss didn’t linger either, heading straight for his private elevator.
I followed behind the boss like a tail: “Boss, I’m Rachel, the project lead for the Cloud Shadow Intelligent Security Defense Platform. Our project was originally due in two weeks but suddenly needs to be completed in 5 days.”
Seeing we were just steps from the elevator, I sped up: “The team members have all been working overtime. Last night no one went home, causing us to miss clocking out last night and in this morning. Because we don’t have leave slips, it can’t be removed. HR said we need your approval.”
I finished in one breath, feeling a bit short of air.
But I’d finally seen the boss. With just one word from him, our absence records could be removed.
We reached the private elevator. The secretary had already pressed the button, and the elevator was quietly waiting.
The boss walked in and turned to look at me: “Rules are rules. If I make an exception for you today, what about when others ask me tomorrow? Do I help them or not?”
The boss looked at his secretary: “Sarah, just handle these things yourself in the future.”
The secretary nodded in acknowledgment.
I was about to say more, begging the boss to be lenient, when the elevator doors slowly closed in front of me.
The secretary left without lingering, turning back towards her office.
I was left alone, staring at the closed elevator doors, feeling lost.
Everyone on the project team sacrifices their time for money, staying late at the office.
But what’s the result?
The company’s project is successfully delivered, money goes into the boss’s pocket.
Employees work diligently for a month, then lose the $300 perfect attendance bonus at month-end, and thousands in year-end bonus.
Even someone like me with a thick skin is thinking of quitting.
How am I supposed to face the people on the project team?
I’d made such confident promises this morning, only to have reality slap me in the face.
I don’t remember how I got back to the project office. In the blink of an eye, I was surrounded by everyone.
“Rachel, did the boss agree?” Olivia asked anxiously.
Looking at everyone’s expectant faces, I didn’t know how to answer.
I just shook my head. This simple gesture seemed to drain all my energy.
The hopeful looks in everyone’s eyes instantly dimmed. Olivia’s eyes reddened with urgency: “How can this be? Why didn’t the boss agree? Rachel, did you not explain it clearly?”
Looking at Olivia, I suddenly felt we were all so pitiful.
We do the work, but don’t get a share when it comes to the money.
This world is truly absurd. I smiled self-mockingly, feeling I’d learned another important lesson.
“I explained it clearly to the boss. He said ‘rules are rules’ and told the secretary to handle these things herself in the future, not to bother him.”
Olivia’s hand resting on the desk was shaking. The color drained from her face at my words: “Why? How can this be?”
Seeing Olivia like this, Emma, who had been holding back, finally exploded. She pulled over a chair, stood on the desk, and waved her arms: “Look at this everyone! We give our all to the company, and the company treats employees like slaves! How can they bully us like this?”
Suddenly, Emma turned to look at me, her eyes red: “I’m going home today. Whoever wants to work this crappy job can work it. Don’t try to stop me!”
For some reason, I also felt the urge to follow Emma, abandon the project, and go home for a good sleep.
🌟 Continue the story here
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In the fifth year of my marriage to Asher, it was revealed that he had been maintaining a relationship with a girl hidden away in a hotel, and the news spread everywhere. To protect her from being branded as the “mistress,” Asher approached me with divorce papers, saying, “Mr. Johnson once helped me, and before he died, he asked me to look after Adeline. Now that this has come out, I can’t just walk away.” Over the years, Adeline had always been Asher’s priority. In my previous life, when I heard these words, I was devastated and refused the divorce, which eventually led to severe depression. Asher dismissed my condition as an act, based on Adeline’s comment that “My sister doesn’t look sick.” He set me up for infidelity and directly filed for divorce. It was then that I realized I couldn’t compete with a deep-seated debt of gratitude, leading me to end my life in despair. But when I opened my eyes again, I signed the divorce papers without hesitation.
1
“Cora, after all this blows over, can we get back together?”
While sitting on a stone bench in the villa’s courtyard, lost in thought, Ezra approached me with Adeline. Just three hours earlier, Adeline had been caught by paparazzi as possibly being Ezra’s lover, causing the entire internet to dig into her past and label her as the intruder who wrecked my happy marriage with Ezra. Ezra’s image as the devoted husband fell apart, and the stock of Ezra Corporation began to fluctuate. In my past life, when Ezra came to me with divorce papers, I was furious and destroyed the roses he had planted for me in the garden, hysterically questioning his relationship with Adeline. She was merely the daughter of a mentor, and there were countless ways to resolve the situation. Yet he chose to sacrifice me, simply to prevent Adeline’s depression from worsening. What Ezra didn’t know was that during the trending topic period, I was also diagnosed with moderate depression. “Cora,” Ezra called out again, pulling me back from my reverie. I lowered my gaze to the divorce papers on the stone table. He knelt on one knee beside me, his deep eyes meeting mine, his warm palm enveloping my hand. His tone was persuasive. “Cora, do it for me, okay?” “We’ll tell everyone that our marriage has been over for a year and that we’ve been planning to divorce, but just hadn’t found the right time.” I remained silent, and behind him, Adeline, in a white dress with Ezra’s jacket draped over her shoulders, looked pale and teary-eyed. “Sister Cora, please help me, won’t you?” “My mother took her own life due to cyberbullying and depression. I don’t want to go down the same path. Sister, I’m begging you…” Just as she was about to kneel, Ezra quickly stood up, supporting her and protectively holding her close. His face darkened as he softly reprimanded, “What are you doing?” Adeline choked back a sob, her voice frail and tearful, then lowered her tear-filled eyes. “I… I just want my sister to feel better.” Ezra’s brow immediately furrowed with impatience, and he looked at me, the tenderness in his eyes completely gone. “Cora, I’m not here to negotiate.” “I’ve already made up my mind, and if you don’t want to divorce, don’t blame me—” I calmly met his gaze, and his words stopped abruptly. But I knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to say, “Cora, you know what I’m capable of. I have countless ways to make you sign.” “If it comes to a divorce lawsuit, you can’t win against Ezra’s lawyers.” These were his exact words in my past life. Later, I was set up with several male models, and the evidence of my infidelity was irrefutable. Overnight, I became the woman accused of cheating, subjected to public scorn. While he and Adeline became the innocent victims. “I can sign, but you have to promise me one thing,” I said after a long pause.
2
Ezra looked up at me and nodded in agreement. He handed me a pen, and I took it, signing my name on the divorce papers without any emotion. “Aren’t you going to look at the agreement?” Ezra frowned and asked me. I smiled slightly, “No need.” He was practically leaving empty-handed, giving me all the assets, just for Adeline, to repay a debt of gratitude. “Make time to go to the County Clerk’s Office tomorrow.” “Okay,” I said. Ezra’s hand paused slightly as he took the divorce papers, looking at me with a bit of confusion, but in the end, he said nothing. As they left, Adeline turned back and gave me a mocking look, her thin lips silently mouthing, “You lost.” I did lose. I lost my entire life, and now I don’t want to lose anymore. After a while, my phone screen lit up, showing a message from Ezra. [I’m sorry for what happened today, Cora.] [After this is over, I’ll give you a grand wedding, and we’ll remarry.] [I can’t just watch Adeline’s depression worsen. You can understand me, right?] I looked at the message and couldn’t help but laugh, tears in my eyes. It was the same in my past life. To force me into a divorce, Ezra sought advice from his friends and got drunk. But he forgot his friends were also my friends. Finn tried to persuade Ezra not to sacrifice his marriage for Adeline. Meanwhile, he was mediating with me, asking me to understand Ezra, saying Ezra was a man of deep emotions. If it weren’t for Adeline’s father recognizing Ezra’s talent and investing in him, helping him start his business, Ezra wouldn’t be where he is today. Back then, I tearfully retorted, “Ezra could have clarified this in countless ways. Why must he divorce me?” Finn was silent. He had asked Ezra, and Ezra had replied, “I have to wrong someone, and I can only wrong Cora. She loves me and can understand me.” Because I loved him, I was sacrificed. What logic is that? Luckily, I get another chance.
3
When it comes to Adeline, Ezra always acts quickly. In the day, he signed the divorce papers with me, and by evening, he arranged a press conference and had an assistant invite me to attend and clarify. I hadn’t even spoken yet. The assistant, thinking I would refuse, quickly relayed Ezra’s message to me. He said, “Miss Cora, you should attend this press conference, if not for Mr. Ezra, then for your reputation.” I paused for a second, then snorted. Ezra was threatening me. He was trying to use the same tactics from my past life to force me to compromise, to smear me, and leave me to struggle under public opinion. Ultimately, I would have to bow down. I never understood whether Ezra saw me as his wife or his adversary…? Now he wants to publicly clear up our relationship. So do I. The press conference was arranged in the most luxurious hotel lobby in North Beijing, and the invited journalists were some of the industry’s most influential. When Adeline appeared in a qipao, holding Ezra’s arm, the journalists swarmed them. Ezra instinctively shielded Adeline, smiling as he blocked the microphones, “I’ll answer your questions one by one shortly.” “Please, make some space, okay?” His voice was gentle, and when he looked up, he met my eyes, also surrounded by reporters. In that moment, I still hoped Ezra would come to my rescue. But in the next second— He calmly looked away, smiling, holding Adeline’s hand, and walked to the stage, as if he hadn’t seen me. I curled my lips in mockery. The closest reporter to me was probably an intern, timidly handing me a microphone and asking, “Miss Cora, have you really divorced Mr. Ezra?” “Yes,” I smiled, nodding in response. The intern adjusted her glasses, “But you and Mr. Ezra have known each other since high school, dated for seven years, and been married for five.” “Just last month, Mr. Ezra spent a fortune to buy you an island and named it after you.” I kept smiling, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “That was something he owed me.” He missed my birthday to care for Adeline, and that was the makeup gift. In my past life, I was pleased about this, only to later learn it was Finn’s idea, the island chosen by Ezra’s assistant, and Ezra didn’t even know where it was. “Do you still love Mr. Ezra now?” She looked at me nervously, and the reporters around me fell silent, even Ezra on the stage looked at me. His brows furrowed slightly. I calmly glanced at him and then smiled, saying, “Not anymore.”
4
I didn’t stay for the end of the interview. After Ezra clarified that our marriage had been dead for a year, I left. Overnight, I became the unwanted second-hand by Ezra. While Adeline became the only innocent victim in this narrative. The interview was pinned on the social media platform for days, the topic’s heat never subsiding. Especially the part where Ezra said, “Cora and I planned to divorce a year ago, just waiting for the right time. We intended to handle it quietly, but now it’s affecting an innocent person, so we have to clarify publicly. Miss Adeline is not the cause of our relationship’s breakdown.”
Overnight, I became Ezra’s discarded baggage, while Adeline emerged as the sole innocent party in this storm of public opinion. The interview from that day remained pinned on social media for several days, and the interest in the topic never waned. Particularly striking was when Ezra said, “Cora and I have been considering divorce for a year, just waiting for the right time. We wanted to handle it quietly, but since it’s affecting innocent people, we have to clarify publicly. Miss Adeline was not a third party in our relationship breakdown. She was my teacher’s only concern in this world, so it’s natural for me to take care of her. I hope everyone views this rationally.”
Some fans were misled to think that the reason for our relationship breakdown was my inability to tolerate the pure sibling bond between Ezra and Adeline, which they saw as something sordid. They also accused me of being petty and lacking generosity, claiming that after five years of marriage, I hadn’t learned any loyalty or righteousness from Ezra. The topic simmered for several days, and I became the target of public criticism.
After obtaining the divorce certificate from the County Clerk’s Office, Ezra called out to me, “Don’t take the things said online to heart. People will forget soon enough.” I stopped and couldn’t help but chuckle. The same insults were hurled at me online, yet the difference was stark. “Cora, in two months, it’ll be New Year.” “How about we remarry early next year?” He looked at me and was about to approach, but I took a step back, shifting my gaze to the reporters held back by bodyguards not far away. Ezra seemed to realize the inappropriateness and stopped.
“Ezra, I’m going back to Port City.” “You haven’t been back in a long time. It’s good to return for a visit, and I’ll pick you up for the New Year—” “I’m not coming back,” I interrupted Ezra calmly. His faint smile froze, and confusion appeared in his eyes. I added, “When I agreed to sign the divorce papers, you promised me something. Now it’s time to fulfill it.” Ezra stared at me blankly. When I was reborn, it took mere seconds to process my love and hatred for Ezra. The moment I saw the divorce agreement, I thought about going crazy and tearing it up, causing another scene, but reason ultimately prevailed.
After a long pause, I smiled slightly: “Ezra, I hope you never appear before me again.”
5
Cora smiled and gracefully disappeared into the crowd, leaving Ezra unable to react for a long time. For a moment, he felt an inexplicable panic, as if he was about to lose something most important. Just like when Cora calmly signed the divorce papers, he felt a vague unease. She didn’t make a scene, seemingly having predicted all the outcomes. Yet not long ago, Cora had been furious because he forgot her birthday, even slapping him. He thought he was proposing a fake divorce. Cora would lose her mind and cause a fuss, and he was ready for it. But she didn’t; she picked up the pen with an expression as calm as still water. He had thought about stopping her, but in the end, he did nothing. He thought it was okay; Cora loved him very much. They were only getting a fake divorce, and he would make it up to her later.
But Adeline was different. She couldn’t suffer any harm because of him. If it weren’t for Adeline’s father appreciating his talent and taking the risk of being kicked out of the shareholders’ meeting to invest in his project, helping him grow and become a new elite in North Haven, he wouldn’t be where he is today. Nor would he be worthy of Adeline. Before Adeline’s father passed away, he hoped Ezra would protect Adeline’s well-being. He didn’t want to be an ungrateful person.
Finn once asked him, “If one day, both Adeline and Cora fell off a cliff, who would you save?” He laughed, thinking it was a silly question. He would save Adeline, but he would die with Cora. Finn laughed with him but asked, “What if Cora doesn’t want to die?” “Ezra, you can’t keep mistreating Cora because she likes you. If she doesn’t feel your love, she’ll despair too.” That day, he didn’t take it seriously. He never considered it. But in the end, the prophecy came true.
At night, Ezra still returned to the villa. Since marrying him, Cora had lived in the villa halfway up the mountain. She was an outstanding painter, recognized at ten for a landscape painting as a young prodigy painter. Everyone thought her accomplishments in traditional Chinese painting were exceptional, and she would become a leader in the industry, which indeed happened. But after marriage, her painting style changed, losing its former brilliance. Cora’s teacher tried to guide her, but it didn’t work, and later, Cora gave up painting and even resisted picking up a brush. Ezra walked into Cora’s studio. When he saw the landscape painting on the easel, he was momentarily stunned. A few strokes, yet vivid.
Mrs. Chen saw the studio lights were on and was slightly surprised to see Ezra: “Sir.” Ezra looked up, “When did she paint this?” Mrs. Chen replied, “The day you came back with Miss Adeline.” Ezra nodded, trying to smile, but couldn’t. After leaving the studio, he returned to the room he shared with Cora, telling himself countless times it was just a fake divorce. Once the storm passed, he would propose to her again and give her a grand wedding. But somehow, his heart felt empty. He dismissed Cora’s words today as her angry nonsense. In North Haven, they had their home with Cora; how could she not come back?
“Knock, knock—” The master bedroom door suddenly knocked. Sitting at the foot of the bed, Ezra looked up; it was Adeline. She wore a thin dress, her face slightly flushed, standing at the door, quietly looking at Ezra. “Why are you here?” Adeline pursed her lips, “I was scared being alone at the hotel, so I came to find you.” “Did I—” She lowered her eyes, “Disturb you?” Ezra frowned slightly but still said, “It’s okay; it’s a bit late today.” “I’ll have Mrs. Chen prepare a guest room for you.” As he was about to call Mrs. Chen, Adeline stepped into the room, her tender eyes looking at Ezra. “Brother Ezra, I don’t want to stay in the guest room.” “Is that okay?” she asked softly.
Ezra’s frown deepened, his lips parted to refuse, but seeing her slightly red eyes, he softened.
When the plane landed in Port City, Jasper came to pick me up. At eighteen, he was wrongfully accused of assault after saving a girl and served three years. With a criminal record, no company would hire him. I met him at an art exhibition; he never interacted with others, always looking down. When people approached, he only retreated timidly. Later, one night, on my way home, I encountered thugs and was nearly assaulted. He happened to pass by, and I thought he’d ignore it. But he didn’t; he acted without hesitation. That day I asked him, “What if I falsely accused you too?” He smiled bitterly, “Then I’d accept it.”
I used my family’s influence to clear his name. When the truth came out, he stood far away, looking at me through the crowd with red eyes, bowing in gratitude. Three years in prison hadn’t erased his goodness. My father, grateful for saving me, offered him a chance, bringing him into the company. Starting from the bottom, he’s now my father’s most trusted aide. “Miss, long time no see.” Jasper, wearing a trench coat, took my suitcase. I nodded, feeling an inexplicable sadness. Five years ago, after marrying Ezra, I moved north with him. In my previous life, when I had an accident, Jasper was sent to Country A for training by my father. I never saw him again before I died.
“Miss, once you’re back this time, are you leaving again?” he asked. I said, “I’m not leaving.” Jasper smiled slightly, “Mr. Cora was delighted to hear you’re back.” I paused, my hand in my pocket tightening, a tinge of bitterness in my heart. My divorce with Ezra was a public debacle. My father, worried about me, flew from Port City to North Haven overnight, earnestly advising me: “Ezra always misjudges things.” “Back then, he chose to work with the Johnson family instead of accepting your help. If you put it nicely, he didn’t want to rely on you. But relying on the Johnson family’s investment is still relying, isn’t it?” “Cora, if you’re divorced, then it’s done. Ezra isn’t right for you.”
He wanted to take me back to Port City. But I refused, crying and insisting on staying. I tearfully said, “I love Ezra, and I don’t want a divorce.” “Why should I sacrifice myself for his debt? Even if it kills me, I won’t divorce. I won’t leave.”
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In the end, I upset my father so much that he had a heart attack and was admitted to the ICU, with multiple critical condition notices issued. Overnight, my mother’s hair turned white. When my father regained consciousness, he didn’t say a word, but I knew he was disappointed in me. Even as she was leaving, my mother tried to persuade me: “Your father has always respected your decisions all these years.”
“But Ezra is not a good man.”
Back then, I wouldn’t listen to anyone and stubbornly pursued my own path, even at the risk of my life, only to finally realize that I wasn’t that important to Ezra.
“Are they all doing well?” I asked Jasper.
Jasper nodded, “The corporation is thriving, and Mr. Carter and Mrs. Carter are in good health.”
I smiled, meeting his calm gaze. “Thank you, Jasper.”
Thank you for taking care of my family duties.
Jasper shook his head, saying it was the least he could do. If it weren’t for the help from my father and me back then, he might have ended up in some forgotten corner.
On social media, trending topics kept emerging. From Adeline being Ezra’s mistress, it had now shifted to painting me as heartless and ungrateful. Yesterday, the paparazzi caught photos of Jasper and me at the airport, and now they’re claiming I had been cheating all along, which led to my relationship with Ezra breaking down. I couldn’t help but laugh. When I glanced down, there was a message from Adeline, using a fake account, on my phone.
It was a picture of her spending the night at the villa on the hillside.
[Last night, Ezra invited me to stay over. What do you think he’ll do tonight?]
[Ezra is very responsible; now that the shackles are gone.]
[Cora, your husband is mine now.]
She tried to provoke me, but I was already at peace.
Jasper poured me a cup of tea and handed it to me, glancing at my phone screen with concern, and said in a deep voice:
“Miss.”
“I will make sure you get back all the justice you deserve.”
I didn’t respond to his words, instead, I asked, “I heard my father introduced you to many eligible women, hoping for you to settle down.”
“Why did you refuse?”
Jasper seemed surprised by my question, lowered his eyes, and rubbed the rim of the teacup with his thumb.
After a long silence, I asked again, “Is it because of me?”
He suddenly looked up, and when our eyes met, he avoided my gaze with a guilty expression.
Over five years, although Jasper and I hadn’t seen each other, he always sent generous gifts on my birthdays. He spent lavishly and occasionally transferred money to my account. He practically gave me everything he earned. I refused many times, but he persisted.
Later, I called him, and for the first time, I lost my temper with him.
I said, “Jasper, you saved me once, I helped you once, we’re even.”
“My father brought you into the corporation, and you’ve come this far on your own.”
“You don’t owe me anything, I’m not your creditor. Doing this will only ruin my marriage and make Ezra misunderstand my relationship with you.”
After that conversation, Jasper stopped transferring money to me. The gifts were just the bare essentials.
“Jasper, I said you don’t owe me.”
Just as I finished speaking, Jasper said, “No.”
“What?”
He looked at me, with a slight smile on his face and love in his eyes:
“I like you, Miss.”
“I know I’m worlds apart from you.”
“I never dared to hope you would look back at me, but my heart belongs to you. I don’t want to deceive myself, nor do I want to waste anyone else’s time.”
As Jasper’s words lingered, I quietly observed him. Although we were the same age, he matured much faster than I did. When I first saw him, he seemed timid and out of place. Now he has become the backbone of the corporation, the person my father values the most.
Last night, when I returned to the old house, my father talked to me for a long time about the future of the corporation and my future. Finally, he asked me two questions.
The first was, “Do you still like Ezra?”
I shook my head, giving a negative answer.
But to the second question, I remained silent.
He asked me, “Are you willing to marry Jasper?”
My father was planning to retire, and although Jasper had been with him for many years, he was not part of the Carter family. Initially, I was a bit confused, but now I have an answer.
“Jasper, are you willing to marry me?”
Two days later in North Haven.
Ezra sat in the studio, looking down at the recording of Cora being interviewed by an intern.
The intern asked curiously, “Do you still love Mr. Gu now?”
Cora smiled and replied, “No.”
Those simple words inexplicably depressed him.
He played that clip countless times, trying to find something in Cora’s eyes. Ultimately, he found nothing.
Frustrated, he opened the chat with Cora, only to find the last message was him reminding her to get the divorce certificate at the County Clerk’s Office at nine o’clock. She had replied with a simple “Okay.”
And then there was nothing more.
In the past, Cora used to cling to him, sharing everything with him, big or small. He would respond promptly when he saw her messages. He scrolled back through their chat history. Many times, it was just Cora talking to herself.
Occasionally, he only replied with a “Okay” or “I know.”
The corporation kept him busy.
After Mr. Johnson passed away, Adeline developed depression and attempted suicide multiple times.
He couldn’t handle everything.
Suddenly, Finn sent a message.
[Cora is going to marry Jasper.]
Ezra stood up abruptly, accidentally knocking over the easel. The landscape painting fell to the ground, and when he hurriedly picked it up, a medical report was pressed beneath the canvas.
He paused for two seconds, and after reading all the contents, his fingertips trembled slightly.
[The patient experiences severe emotional fluctuations, repeatedly showing suicidal tendencies, and has severe sleep disturbances. It is judged that the patient has moderate depression tendencies.]
The date at the bottom was the day he proposed a fake divorce to Cora.
“Brother Ezra, what happened?” Adeline hurried over from the master bedroom after hearing the commotion.
When she saw the medical report in Ezra’s hand, a calculating look flashed in her eyes.
“Can I see that report?” Adeline asked softly.
Ezra said nothing, only feeling a tightness in his chest.
She took the report from his hand, flipped through a few pages, and then pretended to be relieved, patting Ezra’s shoulder to comfort him:
“Brother Ezra, don’t worry.”
“Did you forget? I’m also a depression patient. You’ve seen how I am when I have an episode.”
“I saw Sister that day; she looked so healthy, not like someone who was ill at all.”
“She might have been too angry and used a fake report to deceive you.”
Adeline looked at Ezra.
Just as she was about to continue speaking, Ezra, suppressing his emotions, took the report from her and walked out.
After taking a couple of steps, he considered something and turned back to say:
“After tomorrow, don’t stay in the master bedroom anymore.”
“If Cora finds out, she’ll make a fuss again.”
With those words, Adeline stood frozen in place.
When she finally reacted and tried to chase after him, “Brother Ezra…”
Ezra had already gone downstairs, in such a hurry that he didn’t even take his coat.
Whether the report was real or fake.
Whether Cora was going to marry Jasper or not.
The only thought in his mind now was to see Cora and bring her home.
Jasper took our wedding very seriously. He personally oversaw every detail. During the day, he ran between the company and the wedding venue. At night, he sat in the living room, writing invitations one by one.
“Jasper, you can let the assistant arrange these things. You’re already working hard enough; there’s no need to put in so much extra effort.”
I held a cup, standing at the top of the stairs, speaking to Jasper in the living room.
He put down his pen and smiled at me, “No matter what it is, I want to give you the best, Miss.”
“I know you may not have me in your heart, but I hold you dearly.”
At that moment, meeting his gaze, I was momentarily dazed, my heart stirring after so long.
“You don’t need to feel any burden.”
“Just be a beautiful bride.”
Jasper continued smiling, his eyes no longer hiding his emotions.
Eventually, I smiled and nodded.
I never expected Ezra to find his way to Port City.
Jasper and I had just finished trying on the wedding attire when we saw Ezra standing under a camphor tree across the street.
He wore a simple white shirt, his hair messy, his face slightly pale, with no light in his eyes.
His gaze lingered on the hands Jasper and I held for a moment before shifting away.
Ezra forced a smile, looking at me, “Cora, I’m here to take you home.”
“Let’s not wait until next year. Let’s go back and remarry now, okay?”
With those words, he took a few steps closer to us.
Jasper instinctively wanted to stand in front of me, but I stopped him.
While fixing his slightly crooked tie, I softly said:
“Wait for me in the car.”
“I’ll be back soon. Mom made your favorite dish tonight. Let’s go home together later.”
Jasper looked down at me, the corners of his lips slightly upturned, and replied, “Okay.”
He then gave Ezra a light glance before heading toward the car park.
Now, it was just Ezra and me by the roadside.
He instinctively tried to get close to me, but I subtly stepped back, softly saying:
“Mr. Gu, let’s keep some distance between us, or else the paparazzi might capture this.”
“There’ll be rumors on social media about me deliberately entangling with my ex-husband.”
No matter the situation, people are always harsher on women.
The incident with Adeline is a clear example. Even though it was Ezra who was inconsistent, I was the one labeled as not being magnanimous enough.
“Cora, I…”
Ezra’s eyes dimmed, his bitter smile not reaching his eyes.
At that moment, just Ezra and I remained by the roadside. He instinctively moved closer, but I subtly stepped back and softly said, “Mr. Ezra, we should keep our distance, or the paparazzi might snap a photo.”
“People on social media will start rumors that I’m trying to get back with my ex-husband.”
No matter the circumstances, people are always harder on women. The situation with Adeline highlights this perfectly. Ezra was the indecisive one from the start, yet I was labeled as lacking grace.
“Cora, I…”
Ezra’s eyes clouded, and his bitter smile didn’t reach them. “I’ve asked my assistant to sort things out on the platform. I’m sorry for the trouble you’ve been through.”
“I didn’t realize how much distress this caused you, didn’t know—”
“Ezra, you knew,” I looked at him calmly.
If he hadn’t known how painful public opinion could be, he wouldn’t have divorced me to help Adeline.
In my past, I was accused of having affairs with several male models and divorced by Ezra. My reputation was shattered, my career plummeted, and everyone ridiculed my fall. Some even confronted me, asking, “Cora, after being treated like this by your ex-husband, how do you still have the courage to live?”
“If it were me, I’d have jumped off a building.”
“They call her Mrs. Ezra, but Ezra never really cared about her, or he wouldn’t have driven her to such a fate.”
Later, I suffered from sleepless nights, sitting by the window, watching the city lights.
I burned down my studio. I also destroyed everything Ezra gave me, as if that could erase him from my heart.
I poured out all my grievances.
I hated why the boy who once only had eyes for me would send me down such a path.
In the end, I slit my wrists and took my own life.
To this day, I still remember the feeling of blood slowly leaving my body.
Ezra opened his mouth to explain, but no words came out. He could only lower his head helplessly.
“Cora, I’ll make it up to you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I’ve heard that promise too many times.
After Adeline’s father passed away, Ezra left on the night of our engagement party, saying, “Cora, something happened to Adeline, I have to go check on her.”
On our wedding day, Adeline attempted suicide again. After sending me back to the bridal suite, he didn’t return all night.
At that time, I wavered on whether to continue this relationship.
But seeing Ezra’s exhausted appearance, I endured. I loved Ezra, so I was willing to go through all the hardships with him.
Every broken promise would end with a sentence: “Cora, I will make it up to you in the future.”
Ezra always thought we had a lifetime, but he forgot that love can be worn out.
In the end, in my previous life.
I couldn’t tell if I loved Ezra or was just obsessed.
After a while, I mocked, “Ezra, actually, I want very little, but you still can’t care for me.”
“I’m also cherished by my parents. Why should I let you treat me this way?”
“So let’s just forget it.”
As the words fell, I retracted my gaze and turned to leave when Ezra frantically grabbed my arm. His tall frame nearly stumbled, and his pale lips moved.
“I don’t agree.”
“It can’t just end like this.”
“Cora, you’re my wife, you can’t abandon me…”
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My stepsister framed me for causing her allergic reaction, so my three brothers locked me in a cramped, airless cellar and chained the door shut.
I weakly pounded on the cellar door, begging my brothers to let me out.
James, my oldest brother and a business tycoon, coldly scolded me before leaving:
“It’s bad enough that you usually bully Lily, but deliberately feeding her seafood when you know she’s allergic? Were you trying to kill her? Stay in there and think about what you’ve done!”
William, my second brother and a rising music star, and Henry, my third brother and a genius painter, both sneered:
“Someone as vicious as you is still making excuses and playing the victim? You can just stay in there and suffer the consequences!”
With that, they carried my trembling stepsister Lily in their arms and rushed her to the hospital.
As the oxygen slowly ran out, each breath became more labored until I finally died in that cellar.
Three days later, when my brothers returned home from the hospital with Lily, they finally remembered me.
But by then, I had already suffocated to death in that cramped cellar.
I died from lack of oxygen in that cellar.
When I regained consciousness, I found my spirit hovering next to my three brothers.
They had just returned to their mansion. James and William were gently helping Lily, speaking to her kindly:
“Thank goodness we got you to the hospital in time. You’re recovering so quickly.”
Henry fussed over her with obvious concern:
“The doctor said your body is still weak and needs proper nourishment.”
He then eagerly served Lily a large piece of meat.
A servant hesitantly spoke up: “Young masters, Miss Rachel hasn’t made a sound in the cellar for three days now…”
James snorted and cut her off: “Today is a happy day – Lily’s coming home from the hospital. Why bring up that troublemaker?”
The servant tried to continue, but William and Henry’s cold glares silenced her.
“That wretched girl must have known about the seafood allergy and deliberately made an entire seafood dinner,” William fumed.
“And here I thought she was finally starting to accept Lily. Turns out it was all premeditated!” Henry added angrily.
Lily put on a frightened expression and timidly said:
“Big sister is being punished because of me. She’s been alone in that cellar for so many days. What if she’s angry when she comes out?”
James’ expression hardened. “Don’t worry, Lily. We’ve been too lenient with her before. She’s never faced real consequences. After this lesson, she won’t dare bully you again.”
As he spoke, he instinctively pulled out his phone and refreshed our chat history. But our last messages were still from three days ago. In those three days, I hadn’t sent a single message or made a single call. James’ eyes flashed with anger.
“That ungrateful brat! It’s been days and she hasn’t even sent one message asking how Lily is doing!”
At that moment, Lily deliberately grasped James’ hand and said in a tearful voice:
“I just wanted big sister to spend time with me. I never meant to steal anything from her.”
James quickly set down his phone and stroked Lily’s head affectionately. “Lily, you’re so kind. Not like her – she’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch.”
William’s eyes filled with cold disdain as he thought of me. “That’s right. She dares to harm family just to get attention? She’s truly despicable!”
Henry nodded in vehement agreement and sneered, “Unless she’s learned her lesson and is willing to kneel and apologize to Lily, I’ll throw her out of this house myself!”
I stood nearby, listening to my brothers’ words, and could only laugh bitterly at the absurdity. But my spirit’s actions went completely unnoticed by the living.
Ever since our parents died when I was young, my three brothers had devoted all their attention to me.
One day I said I wanted a playmate my own age, so my brothers went to an orphanage and adopted Lily as my stepsister.
I opened my heart to Lily’s arrival, but in front of my brothers she repeatedly framed me, causing them to grow more and more distant from me with each passing day.
Including this time – my three brothers locked me in that tiny cellar without a second thought.
I struggled desperately, but could only feel the air in the cramped cellar growing thinner and thinner.
Pounding on the cellar door, I begged my brothers over and over to let me out.
But my brothers only looked at me coldly, angrily saying:
“What are you yelling about? This is all your own fault. If it weren’t for you, why would Lily be suffering from such a bad allergic reaction?”
“We’ve clearly been too nice to you, that’s why you keep bullying and tormenting Lily. Just stay in there and think about what you’ve done!”
With that, William personally wrapped chains around the door, while Henry piled heavy objects in front of it, eliminating any chance I had of saving myself.
Now, watching Lily fake-smile at my brothers, I let out another bitter, mocking laugh.
Brothers, the sister who loved you most in this world has been killed by your own hands!
Lily tugged on James’ sleeve and said in a pitiful voice:
“Big brother, don’t be angry anymore. It’s my fault for being so weak and having food allergies. I’m sure big sister didn’t mean it. Please don’t blame her!”
James’ expression instantly darkened. He said coldly:
“That wretched girl! We’ve clearly spoiled her too much, letting her develop such an arrogant and domineering personality!”
William’s eyes flashed with surging anger:
“The older she gets, the more narrow-minded she becomes. If it weren’t for her, how could Lily have ended up in this state?”
At this point, Lily deliberately exposed her limbs, which still showed faint traces of the allergic reaction, to the three brothers. There were still a few red marks visible.
Henry gently stroked the skin that still bore slight redness.
“Does it still hurt, Lily?”
Lily lowered her head, her voice trembling as if she was about to cry:
“It doesn’t hurt… really, it doesn’t…”
The anger in William’s heart was thoroughly ignited. He shouted furiously:
“If we’d gotten to the hospital any later, it could have been life-threatening for Lily. And after all these days, she hasn’t even sent a single message. She truly shows no remorse at all!”
James spoke with even greater fury:
“Go bring that wretched girl here to apologize! I don’t believe she can keep refusing to say sorry!”
William and Henry joined in angrily:
“It’s all because she’s relied on our support. Now that she’s done something wrong, she must face proper punishment!”
They turned to the servants and thundered:
“What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and bring that ungrateful brat here. And bring our disciplinary cane too. If it weren’t for Rachel deliberately putting seafood in the meal, how could Lily have suffered in the hospital for three days?”
“It’s time to set the rules straight in this household!”
The servants didn’t dare disobey and hurried off in my direction.
I let out a despairing, bitter laugh. My brothers hadn’t even investigated the truth before arbitrarily deciding I was guilty.
Three days ago, Lily said she was hungry, so I wanted to do something nice and cooked for her.
She even gave me a small packet of seasoning, saying she wanted to eat that. I tasted it and it seemed like normal seasoning.
Who could have known it contained her allergen?
James is supposed to be a business genius, yet he couldn’t even see through such an obvious ploy for attention? If that’s not favoritism, what is?
In my brothers’ hearts, I would never be as important as stepsister Lily. I felt increasingly desolate.
But it didn’t matter anymore. I had already died in that cellar. Now my brothers could give all their love and favor to Lily.
“Young master, we’ve been calling Miss Rachel for a long time, but there’s been no response at all.”
“We can’t hear any breathing from inside!”
James frowned deeply, stood up abruptly, his face cold with anger:
“What new game is that wretched girl playing now? Does she think it’s beneath her dignity to apologize to Lily?”
“Does she still not understand that she nearly killed you this time?!”
Lily tugged on James’ sleeve again and said sadly:
“Big brother, it’s okay. I’m just an orphan. I don’t deserve to have big sister apologize to me.”
The anger in James’ heart was thoroughly provoked:
“Using such a lowly tactic for attention – does she really think I can’t see through it?”
“She must think she’s so clever, thinking if she plays mute she can get away with it. It seems the punishment I gave her was too light!”
“Let’s go. Drag her out here. I’d like to see how she tries to hide now. She must kneel and apologize to Lily!”
I involuntarily followed my three brothers’ footsteps, my heart growing heavier with sorrow.
Fueled by their rage, my three brothers soon arrived at the cellar door.
“Rachel Harper, do you think hiding in there silently will let you escape punishment?”
But there was no sound from inside the cellar.
William’s face grew even darker:
“Rachel Harper, what are you still pretending for? Come out right now and kneel to apologize to Lily!”
“Don’t think that hiding in there, turning off your phone, and not contacting us will let you avoid the consequences of deliberately hurting Lily!”
Henry’s eyes were blazing with anger as he shouted:
“Rachel Harper, you’ve really gotten bold. You just can’t stand to see us being nice to Lily, so you’re deliberately staying silent to provoke us!”
“Do you really think hiding in the cellar and refusing to speak will make us give in first?”
There was still no sound from inside the cellar.
James turned to look at the trembling servants and coldly commanded:
“Why are you all shaking? Tell me the truth – did that wretched girl bribe you? Did you secretly let her out?”
William snorted, “Given her despicable nature, she probably couldn’t stand being in the cellar after we left and had these servants open the door to let her out.”
Henry’s eyes were filled with disappointment:
“You nearly killed Lily, but you can’t even face the consequences of your actions. Is this really the sister I know?”
“Do you really think we only have you as a sister?”
At this point, a servant finally spoke up trembling:
“Young master, we wouldn’t dare let her out without your orders!”
“Miss Rachel has truly been in the cellar for three whole days now.”
Henry looked at the still silent cellar, a flicker of unease passing through his eyes.
He walked up and pulled hard on the cellar door several times, but couldn’t open it.
“Rachel Harper, enough is enough. I’ve unlocked all the locks. Are you still stubbornly holding the door shut from inside?”
I looked at the twisted cellar door and could only laugh bitterly.
At the time, desperate to save myself from suffocation, I had repeatedly slammed against the door, just wanting to survive.
But the cellar door was exceptionally sturdy. I couldn’t even create the slightest gap, and could only suffocate to death in that cellar.
Brothers, when you see my corpse, will you be able to give me even a tiny bit of love and bury me next to mom and dad?
James grew increasingly agitated. He started kicking the door forcefully.
The twisted cellar door opened a larger crack, and a foul stench wafted out.
A servant trembled as she spoke: “It smells like… a decomposing body!”
The other two brothers also approached, full of rage.
“What decomposing body? She clearly ran away long ago and just threw a dead rat in there to trick us!”
“Rachel Harper, do you really think we’re that easy to fool?”
The three brothers grew even more impatient and all started kicking the door together. The entire cellar entrance shook again.
With a loud bang, the door was kicked wide open. Along with an even stronger putrid smell, the small dark cellar was exposed to everyone’s view.
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Juliette had always been foolish, trapped in the routine of sewing clothes, her heart lost in the past.
Her childhood mate, Liam, repulsed her with his arrogance.
On her wedding day, she made a grave mistake, marrying his best friend instead of him.
Little did she know, that misguided union would awaken her—stripping away her foolishness.
As Liam, the alpha, frantically searched for her, Juliette finally found clarity, discovering her true mate and realizing she was no longer a fool.
The river that separated the two packs had always been a quiet reminder of the boundaries they lived by.
There was the Serrin River Pack, known for its strength and leadership along the western shore, and the Serin River Pack, its eastern counterpart, known for its tradition and wisdom. The two packs shared so much—practically identical in culture and practices—that even their own people sometimes struggled to tell them apart.
The ferry rocked gently on the water, its wooden frame creaking under the weight of its passengers. I huddled in the corner, clutching my small, embroidered bundle of belongings tightly to my chest.
I could feel the ferry swaying with each passing wave, but all I could focus on was the harsh reality that awaited me back home. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was supposed to be with him.
As the sun dipped lower, casting a fiery red hue over the waters, I watched the ripples spread like gold dust.
It was beautiful—so beautiful that I couldn’t stop myself from pausing. But just as the last bit of sunlight gleamed off the waves, the quiet chatter of the men at the far end of the ferry cut through my reverie.
“Alpha still hasn’t taken a mate? He’s killing everyone with his indecisiveness,” one of them laughed, shaking his head.
“No, no,” another corrected, “Our alpha has an arranged mate. Rumor has it the wedding’s soon.”
A flicker of warmth bloomed in my chest, and my lips curled into a secret smile. It was me they were talking about, and they didn’t even know.
It had been arranged when we were children, a promise made when we were barely old enough to understand its weight. Liam and I had grown up together, and as soon as I was old enough to wear lace and learn how to sew, it was decided I would be his mate.
He’d always been kind—too kind, really. He gave me flowers, his favorite bites of food, and the best of everything. He cared for me in ways that seemed far beyond friendship. And when he drank that cursed sweet soup, he handed it to me, telling me to drink first, always.
I drank it because it was for him. Because he was my Liam.
But when the world turned dark, and I woke to the healer’s quiet whispers of “permanent damage,” I didn’t understand the depth of it. I was five. What did I know of forever?
The elders, in their guilt, promised that when I turned eighteen, Liam would make me his mate in the full, sacred way. He would claim me, mark me as his, and we would be united.
“Wait for me, Juliette. When you’re eighteen, I will make you mine,” he had promised, his hands gripping mine, his eyes filled with unspeakable affection.
I waited.
But when I was finally old enough—when I had waited long enough to finally say those words to him—I was met with nothing but coldness.
Two years ago, I ran to him, so eager to finally share my joy. I was ready.
“I can be your mate now, Liam. I’m ready.”
He didn’t smile. He didn’t even look at me properly. His gaze was distant, almost disgusted.
“You’ve got it wrong, Juliette. You wait for eighteen years, not just a few,” he sneered. His eyes flickered away as if I were a nuisance, not the promise he had made.
As the rich, influential guests entered, including his best friend Garrick, Liam barely spared me a glance.
“Liam, I envy you. Your betrothed is so quiet and refined, so well-matched.”
I sat in the courtyard on a stone, trying to breathe through the pain that gripped my chest. I had loved him for so long. And yet, as the years went by, I wondered if I had been wrong. But it didn’t matter. I wasn’t angry. Not yet. There was still time.
So I would wait. Even if it took another eighteen years.
The ferry swayed violently against the rising tide, the scent of saltwater mingling with the damp earth beneath my feet. My heart hammered in my chest as I clutched my embroidered bundle, my fingers trembling with each shift of the boat.
As the boat drifted closer to shore, wedding music drifted through the air, full of joy and celebration. This is where I belong, I whispered to myself. This is where I belong.
The ferry bumped against the dock with a low groan, balloons soaring into the air . The scene before me was beautiful—too beautiful. But then, my gaze shifted to the far end of the ferry, where a bride sat hunched in sorrow, her face hidden behind a veil.
I approached her quietly, whispering, “Sister, why do you cry on such a joyous day?”
The bride wiped her eyes, but didn’t respond. Her shoulders shook as she wept, her sobs muffled by the veil.
I reached into my bundle, pulling out a small doll. “Here,” I said softly, offering it to her. “Take this. Don’t cry anymore.”
But instead of calming, the bride’s sobs deepened. She looked up at me, her eyes wild with desperation. “I don’t want to marry him!” she cried.
My breath caught. “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice tight with confusion.
She gasped, struggling to speak through her tears. “I’m not his true mate. Alpha ‘s real mate ran away. The clan leader forced me to take her place.”
My stomach dropped. “No… That’s not true! Alpha is mine! He’s always been mine!”
The bride blinked, her tears halting. Her gaze softened. “Then… you’re the one he’s meant to be with?”
I nodded, a fire igniting within me. “I’ve been promised to him since we were children. I’m going to find him. No one can take my place.”
Her face broke into a bittersweet smile. “Go. You must go. Don’t let anyone stand in your way.”
Days later, the ferry finally reached the shore. And there, standing tall and proud, was Alpha —his scent thick in the air, rich with the power of his Alpha aura. My heart raced, beating in time with the rush of emotions that flooded me.
As I stepped off the ferry, my veil fluttered in the wind, and I saw him. Taller now, his muscles rippling beneath his clothes, his eyes locked on me. His gaze was fierce, and a growl rumbled low in his throat.
A growl rumbled in his throat, low and guttural.
“My Alpha!” I called out. But before he could speak, a voice shouted from behind us.
“Alpha! The outcasts are at the border! They’re trying to cross into our territory!”
“Stay here,” he ordered, his voice rough with authority. “Don’t move. Go to the pack house. Lock the doors.”
“But Alpha—” I protested, vailing under the vail.
His gaze softened just a moment, but the urgency was undeniable. “I’ll return soon. I promise you that.”
I watched him turn, his powerful strides taking him toward the pack’s heart. The Alpha was needed. His pack needed him. And I… I was left standing at the edge of his world, powerless.
I whispered to the empty night, my voice carrying on the wind, “I’ll wait for you, Liam. I’ll always wait.”
The hours stretched endlessly, the moon rising high in the sky, its silver light casting shadows across the land. Still no sign of him.
His Beta sent word that Alpha was still engaged in the fight. My heart clenched. The pack was under siege, and there was nothing I could do to help.
Alone in the small room, I stared at the firelight flickering and the chest of old clothes. My fingers traced the worn fabric—garments that had once been full of his strength, now faded, their seams frayed.
I had to do something. I couldn’t be the helpless mate, waiting forever. He needed me. I would show him I was more than just a promise. I would be his Luna, in every sense of the word.
I took a needle and thread, beginning to mend his clothes. Each stitch was a vow to him—quiet, but powerful. I will stand beside you, Liam. Always.
The needle pressed through the fabric until the sky began to lighten, and I finally drifted into sleep, clutching the mended clothes.
In the haze between dreams and wakefulness, I felt him—sitting beside me, his gaze burning through the quiet darkness.
He moved quietly, tucking the blanket around my shoulders with care, brushing my hair gently, a touch that said more than words ever could.
I heard the creak of the door as he stepped out, his boots barely making a sound. His voice, commanding yet soft, reached me from the hallway.
“Grandmother arrives tomorrow. Remember her temper. Keep things smooth, for her sake.”
I closed my eyes, feeling the ache of him already gone. My heart pounded. Every moment he was away, the pack was at risk. The rogue wolves—always circling, waiting for weakness.
I wanted him beside me, to not leave, even if just for a moment. But the pack needed him. He was Alpha.
Liam’s claws dug into the wooden armrest, his chest tightening with every passing moment. His eyes never lifted from the papers scattered before him. His mind, however, was elsewhere.
“Elena,”
Liam growled, his voice low and dangerous. His gaze remained fixed on the reports in front of him as he heard her hurried footsteps approach.
She came closer, but hesitated just at the door, taking a moment to gather her breath before entering.
“Liam, Juliette… she’s—” Elena’s voice cracked, her words trembling.
“What now?” he barked, the words sharp, dripping with impatience.
“Another dress? Did she make some new foollish designs and expect me to praise her for it?”
“No, alpha Liam,” Elena hesitated, finally stepping forward. “It’s… Juliette’s not at dinner..”
Liam’s jaw clenched. Not at dinner?
“She’s been missing since this morning. We’ve looked everywhere, but she’s—” Elena’s words faltered, her voice softening with a hint of unease. “Liam, she’missing. ”
He stood abruptly, knocking his chair back as he glared at her.
“If she wanted to skip dinner, fine. Let her. If she’s throwing some tantrum, let her starve.”
Elena backed away, fear flickering in her eyes, but Liam wasn’t finished.
“She’s probably just sulking. And if she is, she’ll learn her lesson.”
As the evening dragged on, Liam couldn’t help but glance toward the door, expecting to see her there.
Dinner came and went, but her seat remained empty. The smell of roast meat filled the air, but the weight of her absence crushed every bite.
Liam’s hands clenched into fists beneath the table, his wolf pacing restlessly within him. Every time he glanced over at her chair, a sharp pang of longing struck him.
After the meal, the sound of the wind howling outside seemed to punctuate the emptiness that had settled over the room.
It was only after the last plate was cleared that the thought hit him like a thunderclap. She’s not coming back tonight. Where is she?
He rose from the table, walking toward the window.
The wind shook the panes, and in the pale light of the moon, Liam could make out his dresses swaying in the breeze, each one hanging like a silent, waiting ghost. Each one was stitched by her hand. Juliette’s work.
His breath quickened as memories flooded him—the last time she’d been in danger, the last time he’d been too late to protect her. That human… The trafficker. Two years ago.
He had barely arrived in time to stop the bastard from taking her, and yet… he’d failed her.
“You’re not smart enough for this world, Juliette. How could you be so foolish?”
“He… he told me he had the latest fabric,” Juliette whispered between sobs, her voice breaking on every word, “He said it was the finest cloth—something you’d love. I thought I could use it… to make you something new. Something special.”
“Does it hurt?” he whispered, a distant echo of the moment when he’d seen her hands bleeding, the needle stuck deep in her skin. “No,” she’d said, smiling through the pain. “It doesn’t hurt, Liam. Wait until you see the dress I’ve made for you.”
He growled under his breath.
Liam’s dreams were plagued by Juliette.
Every night, her face—tear-streaked, fading into shadows—haunted him.
He woke with a jolt, heart racing. The moonlight spilled across the room, but it was too cold.
“Alpha! Alpha!” a servant’s voice snapped him from his thoughts.
Liam’s heart thudded. “Is she back?Tell him I won’t blame her, tell her I have chosen the date,”
“No… Alpha, it’s the rings your booked for Garrick for his wedding gifts. They’ve arrived.”
Liam’s chest tightened. He took the box, hands trembling. Inside, two rings—silver and jade, intricate, symbolic of bond and loyalty.
Juliette’s pov
Liam’s absence dragged on, each day more unbearable than the last. I knew, as long as the Outcast was still on the border, he would not return.
I sat near the window, stitching winter clothes for Liam, trying to focus on the rhythm of the needle.
But Violet, the servant who usually styled my hair, broke the silence with a teasing smile. “Yesterday, the Alpha kept staring at the clothes you mended, but he refused to wear them,” she said, a playful lilt in her voice.
Maybe he doesn’t like the style.
“Go buy more fabric—something for Liam’s winter clothes.”
Violet left, but as she did, I overheard the murmurs from outside.
“She’s already thinking of special fabric, just days after marrying him. What’s next? Gold?” The voice was sharp and accusing.
I leaned out to see who was speaking, only to find an old lady standing in the courtyard, her gaze cutting through the air. “Already scheming for better clothes?” she sneered, eyes narrowing as she took in my unfinished work.
I stepped forward, meeting her gaze with as much grace as I could muster. “I am making clothes for the alpha,” I said, swallowing my nerves.
Her eyes flicked to the half-cut fabric, and for a brief moment, something like approval flashed in her sharp features. “Making his clothes yourself, huh?” she muttered, her tone softening ever so slightly. “I suppose there’s some honor in that.”
But then her expression turned calculating, the matriarch in her reasserting itself. “But clothes won’t solve anything here, child. You need more than fabric to survive in this pack.”
She left.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, but before I could respond, the door creaked open. Another servant, Grace, entered with two unfamiliar women carrying a heavy chest between them.
“This is from some locals,” Grace said, her eyes darting nervously toward me. “They heard you were in need of fabric.”
The chest was opened, revealing bundles of luxurious cloth, sparkling jewels, and a thick stack of notes. But something didn’t sit right. One of the women stepped forward, her smile too sweet, her eyes too calculating. She leaned in closer, her voice low but dripping with malice.
“I’ve heard alpha… well, some say he has enemies in the pack. You could help us with that, right?”
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. I glanced at Grace, who looked away uncomfortably. Liam had always forbidden me to get involved in the pack’s politics, telling me it was dangerous.
But now, as his mate, how could I not? His enemies would target him.
…
Garrick had been so busy these past few days that he hadn’t had the chance to return home. His main worry wasn’t the weight of pack matters, but whether his grandmother approved of his new Luna. However, the servants’ whispers told a different story—despite her sharp tongue, the matriarch seemed oddly satisfied with his wife.
The first day his grandmother arrived, she disembarked from her ship with a stormy expression.
“I never liked that scheming Alice,” she declared. “You should’ve sent her packing ages ago.”
By the fourth day, Garrick heard that his wife had been visiting his grandmother’s quarters daily, chattering endlessly.
“Your mate is like a sparrow,” his grandmother complained through a messenger. “Chirping on and on until my head spins. I have no patience for her.”
On the fifth day, the tone of her message changed.
“…She’s got a knack for handiwork,” was all she said.
By the sixth day, there was no message at all. Suspicious, Garrick sent someone to inquire. His grandmother dismissed the servant with a cryptic reply.
“What’s between me and your Luna is none of your business, boy. Stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Garrick allowed himself a rare chuckle, feeling a weight lift from his chest as the matriarch seemed to have found some grudging respect for his wife.
But the relief was short-lived. His desk was piled high with unopened messages, one of which caught his eye—a message from his old friend, Alpha Liam, sent over a month ago. He opened his phone and read it during a rare quiet moment at his meal.
“Brother Garrick, what would you do if you were forced to marry someone you did not love—a dull, unworthy mate—bound only by an unbreakable childhood pact? What course would you take against such a wind?”
Garrick frowned as he stared at the message. Before he could form a response, the door to his dining hall swung open with a soft creak.
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