Author: Momo Chan

After a drunken one-night stand with my best friend’s brother, I became his secret girlfriend. Eight years into our secret relationship, my family forced me into an arranged marriage. “Dennis, my family gave me an ultimatum. I have to get married this year.” He paused, then lightly kissed my forehead, repeating his usual, “Just wait a little longer.” But then I scrolled through Anna, the intern’s, Instagram. The picture was her and Dennis’s marriage certificate. The caption: Got the CEO! Easy win! Eight years I spent chasing him with no results, and she got him in three months. Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, I liked the post. My comment: “Congrats! Wishing you everlasting happiness.” After that, I agreed to the wedding date my family had set. Suddenly, my phone rang. For the first time, Dennis’s voice was panicked: “Chloe, don’t misunderstand. I just lost a game with friends, that’s why Anna and I got married…” I cut him off: “Dennis, I’m getting married.” A two-second pause on the other end of the line. Dennis’s voice came through, laced with impatience, mixed with a girl’s soft laughter in the background. “Here we go again.” “Are you that desperate to get married? The company’s cash flow is tight; can you please stop making things worse?” I stood in the evening breeze, holding my phone, my voice flat, without a ripple of emotion. “I’m not making things worse. I really am getting married.” He scoffed, as if he’d heard the funniest joke. “You don’t even have a guy you’re casually dating. Are you marrying thin air?” I was about to say Nelson’s name. But he was already rushing to hang up: “Alright, I have another call. Getting married was just a dare I lost, don’t overthink it.” The dial tone buzzed. I stared at the disconnected screen, my fingertips cold and stiff. Eight years. He always said, “Don’t overthink it.” The next day, I walked into the office carrying a few boxes of donuts and my wedding invitations. The office was buzzing. Anna was surrounded by a crowd, her face flushed crimson. “Anna, you’re amazing! Mr. Dennis is such a cold person, and you got him in three months?” “You’re our boss’s wife now! Don’t forget about us!” Anna covered her face, giggling, her voice just loud enough to carry across the entire office. “It’s not what you think, really. We just lost a game and got the certificate. Please don’t spread rumors.” I sneered. She announced it to the world on Instagram; how is that not spreading rumors? Her sharp eyes caught sight of the donuts in my hand. She trotted over in her high heels, took my arm, and shook it. “Did Mr. Dennis ask you to prepare these little gifts for us? Thank you!” I was about to say no. She snatched the donuts, pushing them into colleagues’ hands. “Everyone, try some!” The crowd cheered their thanks, praising Mr. Dennis for being so romantic and thoughtful. Just then, Dennis stepped out of the elevator. Everyone cheered, shouting, “Thank you, Mr. Dennis, for the little gifts!” Anna shyly looked up at him. Dennis froze for a moment, then forced a smile, responding, “Glad you all like them.” “Those are mine.” The moment I spoke, the entire office fell silent. All eyes were fixed on me. Dennis’s face instantly darkened, a hint of panic in his eyes. “Chloe, this is the company, not a place for your tantrums.” “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I met his gaze. “The donuts are my treat. I’m getting married next Saturday.” His face went dark, as if ink was dripping from it. He strode over to me, grinding out in a low voice: “Do you have to push my buttons like this?” Someone nearby snickered: “Chloe, we’ve never even seen you with a boyfriend. Who are you marrying? You’re not going crazy with jealousy because Anna married Mr. Dennis, are you?” Anna’s eyes instantly reddened. She bit her lip and chimed in. “Ms. Chloe, I know you used to like Mr. Dennis, but he’s just not interested in you.” “When rumors about you two started, Mr. Dennis privately clarified to us that you were just ordinary colleagues.” At her words, the way everyone looked at me changed instantly, like I was a failed gold-digger now lashing out in anger. I looked at Dennis. He turned his head away, his gaze fixed on the window, not even offering a single word in my defense. Eight years of a secret relationship. How many times had I endured client dinners for him, secured how many vital deals, how many times had he played dumb when people gossiped about me throwing myself at him? Now, he wouldn’t even grant me this small bit of dignity. Someone else joined in the taunting: “Ms. Chloe, Mr. Dennis and Anna are married now. If you keep bothering him, you’ll be a mistress. If that gets out, how will our company land any clients?” “Exactly. Trying to steal a junior colleague’s husband, how pathetic.” I looked at these colleagues I had personally trained and mentored, and suddenly felt a bitter laugh rise in my throat. I had originally planned to send them wedding invitations, but now, there was no need. My hand, hanging at my side, gripped my phone tightly. I swept my gaze over everyone. “Since that’s the case, I should introduce my fiancé.” I was about to open my photo album to show the picture of Nelson and me. Suddenly, my wrist was grabbed. Dennis snatched my phone, his face looking utterly terrible. “Everyone, get back to work!” He yelled at everyone, then dragged me by the arm toward his office. Behind us, I heard voices comforting Anna, and felt the contemptuous stares aimed at me. Inside the office, he slammed the door shut and irritably tugged at his tie. “I told you the marriage certificate was just a game! Do you have to make a scene and embarrass everyone?” “If it was just a game.” I looked up at him, my voice as cold as ice. “Why didn’t you clarify earlier? Why did you let them call me a mistress?” He choked for a moment, then spoke with a touch of self-righteousness. “Anna’s thin-skinned; I couldn’t possibly embarrass her in front of everyone, could I?” So my dignity could be trampled on. I reached out, pulled my phone from his hand, and turned to walk toward the door. My hand touched the doorknob, and I paused, not looking back. “My wedding is next Saturday. You and Anna are welcome to come.”

As I reached the underground parking garage, my phone rang. It was the HR recruiter who had contacted me before. “Ms. Chloe, about the Marketing Director position at that listed company we discussed, they’re willing to increase your salary by another twenty percent. Could you reconsider?” This salary was top-tier in the industry. “I accept,” my voice was steady. “Additionally, I’ll bring a multi-million-dollar deal with me. Please help me secure the corresponding commission.” The HR on the other end almost shrieked with excitement: “Don’t worry! We’ll make sure everything is perfectly arranged for you!” I hung up, got into my car, and my finger slid over Nelson’s name in my WhatsApp contacts. I sent him a message: “Hold off on signing the contract for now. Wait for my update.” Dennis said the company was struggling and told me not to make things worse. But in these eight years, which company crisis hadn’t I fought tooth and nail to overcome? This collaboration with the Nelson Group was something I had swallowed my pride and humbly begged Nelson for three times to get. It was a deal that could save Dennis’s company. The car exited the underground parking lot, and the scenery outside flashed past. Just like my eight years with Dennis, gone in the blink of an eye. I first saw Dennis outside my university dorm. He was my best friend Mansoor’s older brother, picking her up for summer break. He stood under a tree in a white shirt, a small mole at the corner of his eye when he smiled. I fell for him at first sight. Later, at our graduation party, we both drank too much and ended up sleeping together. I naturally joined his startup, starting as an entry-level intern. At first, he said we couldn’t go public because he was afraid people would say I got ahead through connections. I waited. After I used my own abilities to rise to the top position in the marketing department, he said he was afraid it would affect my friendship with Mansoor. I still waited. I always thought he would give me a title eventually. It wasn’t until I saw the marriage certificate on Anna’s Instagram that I finally woke up. He wasn’t unwilling to get married; he just wasn’t willing to marry me. I drove back to the apartment Dennis and I had shared for five years. Leaving the company would take a few days to process, so I decided to pack my things and move out first. I pulled out a suitcase and opened the closet; his clothes took up most of the space. I used to tell him his style was too dull and asked him to try bright hoodies. He’d say he was the boss and needed to be serious. But now, in the most prominent spot in the closet, hung several bright, trendy hoodies. It wasn’t that he wasn’t willing to change; he just wasn’t willing to change for me. I folded my clothes one by one into the suitcase when I suddenly heard the lock turn behind me. Dennis walked in. He saw my open suitcase and frowned. “Anna and I really have nothing going on. Can you please stop this?” He walked over, intending to take my hand. “Getting married was too rash of me. I’ll go to the city hall with her this afternoon to get divorced. Once the contract with the Nelson Group is signed and the company is stable, we’ll go public, okay?” I opened my mouth, about to say, “Let’s break up.” He suddenly interrupted me, glancing around the room: “Oh, right, where did you put the keys to the Flower Gardens apartment?” “In the bottom drawer of the nightstand,” I paused, then still asked, “Are you selling the apartment to cover the cash flow gap?” He paused, then smiled, his tone very casual. “Selling? No. It’s just sitting empty. Anna’s lease is up, so I told her she could move in there for now.” My heart felt like it was severely blocked by something, aching dully. The Flower Gardens apartment was the one he said he bought for us as our wedding home last year for my birthday. Now he was letting another woman live in it. He seemed not to notice my pale face and spoke again: “Oh, and the Nelson Group contract, once you’re done with it, just hand it over to Anna. Her probation period is almost up, and this deal will help her get permanent employment. Don’t worry, I’ll still give you the full commission.” Before I could speak, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, answered immediately, his voice impossibly soft. “Mmm, I’ll send you the address. Just have the moving company go straight there…” He walked out the door while talking on the phone, not even sparing me a glance. The door clicked shut. I stood in the empty living room and suddenly let out a laugh. Turns out, my eight years of youth meant less to him than an intern who had only been there for three months.

I pulled my suitcase out of the apartment without looking back. I went straight back to my parents’ house. Ever since I agreed to marry Nelson, my mom’s smile hadn’t left her face. She rushed to greet me as I came in, taking my suitcase. “I told you Nelson was reliable. We watched him grow up; we know him inside and out. Your father and I will absolutely be at ease if you marry him.” Nelson and I grew up together. My mom and his mom are best friends; they even joked about arranging our marriage when we were babies. If I hadn’t met Dennis in college, I probably would have married Nelson a long time ago. I knew he had always liked me. This time, when Dennis’s company’s cash flow was breaking, and he was at his wit’s end, it was I who swallowed my pride and went to Nelson, begging him to give Dennis a chance for a collaboration. He was silent for a long time, but finally nodded. Thinking about it now, I was incredibly stupid. After dinner, I hid in the study to organize my work handover documents. My phone vibrated. It was a WhatsApp message from Dennis: “Coming back late, don’t wait up for me.” I looked at the message and immediately deleted his chat. By the time I finished organizing, it was past ten. I showered, lay in bed, and casually opened Instagram. The first post was Anna’s update from half an hour ago. The photo’s background was the living room of the Flower Gardens apartment. Dennis and a few friends were arm in arm, playing a drinking game, with a pile of empty bottles on the table. The caption: He called me his darling in front of all his brothers. I’m so shy. The comments below were all teasing, saying Mr. Dennis was too doting. I stared at the screen for two seconds, then calmly pressed exit. No sadness, no anger. Eight years of affection had already burned out completely the moment he allowed my colleagues to call me a mistress. A new WhatsApp message popped up. It was from Nelson: “Are you free tomorrow? The bridal shop said the custom dress is altered. Want to go try it on?” I replied, “Okay.” The next day, Nelson came to pick me up early. My mom smiled as she saw me off, even packing two boxes of his favorite pastries. In the car, I felt a little embarrassed. I scratched my head and told him: “Could you please keep the Nelson Group contract on hold for me? I’m planning to switch to a new company and want to use it as a strong start.” He turned his head to look at me and smiled: “Why not just come work for my company?” “It’s better to keep business and personal separate,” I smiled back. At the bridal shop, the consultant immediately greeted us with a smile, holding a mermaid-style wedding dress. “Mr. Nelson specifically instructed us to alter it three times to your measurements. It’s sure to look beautiful on you.” I changed into the wedding dress and stood in front of the mirror, frozen for a long time. Before, when Dennis and I passed bridal shops, if I lingered a little too long, he would say he would design a one-of-a-kind dress for me later, so there was no need to rush now. I waited eight years and never got a dress designed by him. Instead, I wore one custom-made by Nelson. “Want to take a photo for Instagram?” Nelson stood behind me, his voice very gentle. I nodded and handed my phone to the consultant: “Could you please take a photo of us together?” He paused, then his eyes crinkled in a wide smile. He quickly walked to my side, gently and courteously placing his hand on my waist. The photo came out beautifully. I uploaded it to Instagram, editing the caption: Next Saturday, Cloudtop Chapel. Everyone is welcome to join Nelson and me at our wedding. One minute after I posted it, the comment section exploded. “OMG! Is that Mr. Nelson from the Nelson Group? Chloe, you kept that a secret!” “Who was saying she was throwing herself at Mr. Dennis before? Their faces must be so swollen right now!” “Mr. Nelson is a million times better than Mr. Dennis!” As I was scrolling through comments, my phone suddenly rang. It was Dennis. I answered, and from the other end came his drunken mockery, sharp and piercing. “Chloe, you’re something else! To force me to marry you, you actually got Nelson to put on an act with you? You’ll stop at nothing for a title.” I was about to speak when Nelson suddenly reached out, took my phone, and put it on speaker. His voice was calm, yet undeniably firm, echoing through the receiver. “Mr. Dennis, Chloe and I are really getting married.” “She waited for you for eight years; I waited for her for twelve.” “Thank you for not marrying her.” On the other end, there was a deathly silence. After several seconds, Dennis’s frantic roar came through: “Impossible! Chloe, say something!”

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The night before my engagement party, my fiancé’s childhood friend said she had a surprise for me. She tricked me into going to the hotel’s rooftop glass conservatory, locked the door, and turned on all the sprinklers. It was a stormy December night. Ice-cold water crashed down on my head, and the conservatory walls were all transparent glass. Downstairs, guests held up their phones, watching me shiver in misery. She smiled, innocent and malicious. “Aria Hayes is always so high and mighty, isn’t she? Let everyone see what she looks like begging for mercy when she’s frozen.” My fiancé, Ethan Vance, stood downstairs, watching me through the rain. His voice was cold. “Just don’t kill her.” “Someone from her small-town background needs to learn the hard way that the Vance family isn’t easily impressed.” Later, I smashed the glass and came down from the rooftop. Wiping the blood from my face, I called my lawyer. “Notify the board. Withdraw investments, freeze accounts, and halt all project payments for Vance Group first thing tomorrow morning.” “Also, send tonight’s video to the police.” “Unlawful imprisonment, intentional assault, invasion of privacy—don’t miss a single charge.”

The moment the icy water hit me, I could barely breathe. The glass conservatory door was locked from the outside. All four walls were transparent, and the lights were blindingly bright, illuminating my pathetic state with nowhere to hide. The terrace of the banquet hall downstairs was packed with people. They stood, champagne glasses in hand, as if watching a meticulously planned performance. Some laughed, some whistled. Others held up their phones, their cameras pointed at my rain-soaked face. “This show is intense!” “Mr. Vance really knows how to have fun, arranging this kind of surprise for his fiancée the night before their engagement.” “What surprise? Didn’t Tiffany Blackwood say? It’s a test.” “A test to see if she’s worthy of joining the Vance family!” One taunt after another, they pierced through the sound of the rain and into my ears. My fingers gripped the doorknob, but the door wouldn’t open. An electronic lock hung outside the glass conservatory, its screen glowing red. Tiffany stood outside, wearing a pristine, beautiful evening gown, her makeup flawless, like an untouched gardenia. She held a white umbrella, a wide smile on her face, and waved a remote control at me. “Aria, don’t look at me like that.” “Everyone just wants to see how much you truly love Ethan.” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was just enough for those nearby to hear, and another burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. I raised a hand to wipe the water from my face, my voice trembling. “Tiffany, open the door.” She tilted her head, as if she’d heard something amusing. “But the game has just begun.” “We made a bet to see how long you can last without begging for mercy.” She took a step closer, looking at me through the glass. “Haven’t you always said you’re independent, strong, and capable?” “Well, prove it to us.” I looked at her innocent face, my heart growing colder by the inch. Tonight was the eve of my engagement party with Ethan. The Vance family had booked the entire mountaintop hotel. Tomorrow morning, all the media would be present. Ethan had said it was the proper recognition he owed me. He said I had stood by him through the Vance Group’s toughest three years, helped him rise from a marginalized illegitimate son on the board to his current position of power. He owed me a proper status. I had once felt truly happy. For this engagement party, I had canceled three important meetings, personally reviewed every guest list, and every financial transaction. But now, the man who was supposed to give me that recognition stood in the center of the terrace downstairs. He didn’t come up, nor did he tell anyone to open the door. The rain was blocked by the eaves. Ethan stood in the warm, bright light, wearing a black suit, watching me with cold eyes as I shivered under the icy water in the glass conservatory. I shouted at him through the glass. “Ethan! Tell her to open the door!” I thought he would at least frown, but he merely flicked his cigarette ash, unhurriedly. “Aria, Tiffany Blackwood just likes to play games.” “You’re older than her, and more sensible. Don’t hold it against her.”

At that moment, the icy water pierced into my very bones like knives. I stared at him, my eyes red-rimmed. “You know I’m afraid of this!” When I was eight, I was trapped in a collapsed old warehouse. Outside, the rain poured down relentlessly, water rising above my knees. It was dark, surrounded by broken wood. My mother, trying to save me, was crushed by a fallen beam. She pushed me out, but she never made it out herself. Since then, I’ve been afraid of confined spaces, of the continuous sound of water, of any night I can’t escape. All these years, I had never told anyone. Only Ethan knew. Because back then, when the Vance Group was cornered by debt collectors in the underground parking garage, he was also locked in his car for an entire night, protecting project documents. When I accompanied him for psychological counseling, he held my hand and said, “Aria, from now on, I’ll protect you from your fears.” Now, he stood downstairs, turning my fear into everyone’s amusement. Tiffany laughed, chiming in. “Ethan said it himself, I just like to have fun.” “Aria, don’t be so petty.” She turned to face the guests downstairs, her voice suddenly rising. “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s bet officially begins.” “If she cries and begs Ethan to save her within half an hour, I lose.” “If she endures without begging, I’ll transfer a hundred grand to each of you.” The crowd erupted. “Miss Blackwood is generous!” “Well, then we’re definitely betting she can’t hold out.” “A woman from a small town, does she really think a designer gown makes her fit for high society?” “Is Mr. Vance really going to marry her? I always thought it was just a fling.” My fingertips went numb. Rainwater streamed down my hair and into my eyes, stinging them open. I pounded on the door. “Ethan, I’m telling you one last time, tell someone to open the door!” Ethan finally looked up at me. His expression showed no guilt, only annoyance at being publicly challenged. “Aria, do you really have to make this scene so ugly?” “Tiffany has been spoiled by us since she was little. Why are you being so serious with her?” “Besides, aren’t you the best at solving crises? You can’t even handle this small matter?” I stood there, stunned, and then a smile, grim and cold, stretched across my face. So, in his eyes, my fear, trapped in a downpour, was just a small matter. All the crises I had shouldered for him these past three years had ultimately become his reasons to humiliate me. Tiffany’s face twitched when she saw me smile. She hated this look on me, hated that even at my most pathetic, I still refused to bow my head. She raised her hand and pressed the remote control. The next second, the water pressure from the conservatory’s sprinklers suddenly intensified. Colder water poured down, and my knees buckled, almost making me fall. A collective gasp rose from downstairs. It wasn’t worry; it was excitement. “She’s about to break!” “Quick, record it! This video is definitely going viral tomorrow!” “Mr. Vance’s fiancée is quite stubborn…” Tiffany leaned closer to the glass, lowering her voice so only I could hear. “Aria, stop pretending.” “I know you’re terrified of places like this.” “Ethan told me himself.”

My heart plummeted. Her smile grew sweeter. “You thought he kept your secrets?” “Sorry, he tells me everything when he’s tucking me into bed.” “He said you were trapped as a child, so you never sleep soundly when it rains.” “He said you seem tough, but deep down, you’re still that little girl afraid of darkness and water.” My ears buzzed. These words were colder than the storm itself. Ethan and I had been together for three years. I had shielded him from the board’s power grabs, secured overseas financing for him, and revised acquisition plans for him at four in the morning. The night he had a stomach hemorrhage, I stayed by his side in the hospital all night. When he was framed by Julian Vance for embezzling public funds, I found the accounting loopholes and pulled him out of the mess. He knelt before me and said, “Aria, without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” “When I reclaim the Vance Group, I’ll marry you.” I thought it was a promise, but it turned out, to him, I was just a useful tool. Someone who would work tirelessly for a little kindness. Tiffany tapped on the glass. “Aria, don’t blame me.” “I just want you to recognize your place.” She looked up at Ethan, her voice suddenly softening. “Ethan, you won’t blame me, will you?” Ethan stubbed out his cigarette. “Don’t go too far.” Tiffany immediately pouted, looking wronged. “How am I going too far? You clearly promised me I could have fun tonight.” “You even said the engagement was just a temporary arrangement.” ‘Temporary arrangement’ cut through my heart like a dull knife. I looked up at Ethan. “Is she telling the truth?” Ethan frowned. He seemed not to have expected Tiffany Blackwood to let it slip in public. But quickly, he regained his aloof composure. “Since you heard it, there’s no need for me to hide it.” I was drenched, standing in the icy water, looking at him. “So tomorrow’s engagement party is also a sham?” He said calmly, “It’s not a sham, it’s just an engagement, not a marriage.” “Aria, you should understand that a Vance family marriage can’t just be about love.” “Tiffany has the Blackwood family behind her. She’s the most suitable person to stand by my side.” My nails dug into my palms. “Then what am I?” A hint of impatience finally flickered in Ethan’s eyes. “Do you have to ask such unpleasant questions?” “I haven’t treated you badly these past three years.” “You wanted a position, I gave you Vice President.” “You wanted respect, who in Vance Group dared not call you Miss Hayes?” “As for marriage, I can’t give it to you, and there’s no need to deceive you for a lifetime.” He spoke calmly, as if my three years of dedication were only worth a Vice President title. Tiffany laughed, leaning close to him. “Aria, you should be grateful for what you have.” “Someone with no connections, no family name, no parents to back you up, to get as far as an engagement with Ethan, that’s already incredibly lucky for you.” Someone nearby echoed, “Exactly.” “If Mr. Vance really married her, where would the Vance family’s reputation be?” “What good is being capable? High society wives are all about pedigree.” “Aria should wake up. She’s at most a meritorious figure on Mr. Vance’s path to power. A loyal servant doesn’t become the queen.” I looked at those who had once nodded and deferred to me in meeting rooms. They called me Miss Hayes when they respected me. Now, seeing Ethan not protect me, they immediately changed their tune. A man in a grey suit, Mark, smiled and raised his phone. “Miss Hayes, would you like me to take a picture for remembrance?” “After all, starting tomorrow, Miss Blackwood will be standing by Mr. Vance’s side.” “This look tonight, it’s your last time as the leading lady.” I didn’t say anything more because the most intense wave of fear had passed. When a person hurts to the extreme, they often become clear-headed. I raised my hand to my right ear; my earring was still there. It wasn’t an ordinary earring. Three months ago, when I noticed irregularities in the Vance Group’s internal accounts, I had my security team create an emergency device for me. By pressing it three times consecutively, it would automatically pinpoint my location and send an alarm to my lawyer, assistant, and private security. Ethan didn’t know. He always thought I had entrusted all my trump cards to him. But he forgot that someone who had climbed out of a ruin would never truly surrender their life into anyone’s hands. I lowered my head, pretending to be choked by the rain, and raised my hand to cover my ear. Once, twice, thrice. The earring vibrated slightly. The signal was sent.

Tiffany thought I was about to break, and her eyes lit up. “Ethan, is she about to cry?” “I knew she couldn’t pretend for long.” She took out her phone and pointed it at me. “Come on, Aria, look at the camera and say you were wrong.” “Just admit you’re not worthy of Ethan, and I’ll open the door.” I looked up at her. “Tiffany, are you sure you want to continue?” She froze for a moment, then scoffed. “It’s come to this, and you’re still threatening me?” “Aria, you don’t really think you’re still Miss Hayes, the one everyone at Vance Group reveres, do you?” “Your position was given by Ethan. He can give it to you, and he can take it back.” I slowly straightened up. “Then ask him if the Vance Group can still take back my position now.” A dark flicker crossed Ethan’s eyes. “Aria, what do you mean?” I looked at him through the rain. “It means you’d better pray I’m okay tonight.” “Otherwise, tomorrow, the Vance Group won’t have an engagement party, only a liquidation meeting.” The crowd laughed again, thinking I was just bluffing. Tiffany Blackwood bent over laughing. “Liquidation meeting? Who are you going to liquidate? The Vance family?” “Aria, are you frozen stupid?” Ethan’s face darkened. “Enough.” He looked up at me, his voice lowered. “Aria, don’t overestimate your importance.” “The projects you’re working on are ultimately the Vance Group’s.” “Your connections were also made on the Vance Group platform.” “Without the Vance Group, you are nothing.” I looked at him, and the last shred of pain in my heart burned to ash at that moment. “Alright. Ethan, then we’ll see tomorrow.” “We’ll see who truly becomes nothing without whom.” Tiffany didn’t like that look in my eyes. She wanted to see me cry, wanted to see me beg, wanted to see me lose all dignity in front of everyone. But I didn’t, and the smile on her face gradually faded. “Aria, you’re really tough.” She handed her umbrella to someone nearby and walked to the electronic lock herself. “Since you won’t admit you’re wrong, let’s make it harder.” She pressed another button. The automatic blackout blinds around the conservatory suddenly dropped, thick black curtains slowly covering the transparent glass. Light was cut off, and my breathing instantly became ragged. Confinement, darkness, and the sound of water pressed down on me simultaneously. My vision blurred. Tiffany stood outside the door, watching me through the last remaining gap. “You said you wanted to liquidate them?” “Come on, walk out of here first, then talk.” The curtains completely fell, plunging the conservatory into a dim twilight. Only the white lights above flickered like a malfunction, on and off. The water kept falling, each drop like the rain leaking into that old warehouse. I heard my mother calling me, “Aria, crawl out. Don’t look back.” I bit down hard on my lower lip, the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth. I couldn’t collapse, at least not now. There were still people outside waiting to laugh at me. Ethan was still standing there, waiting for me to bow my head and surrender. I fumbled my way to a corner. There was a decorative iron flower stand in the conservatory. I used all my strength to lift the flower stand and slammed it hard against the glass door. The first strike only left a crack in the glass. The people outside were startled. Someone shouted, “Is she crazy?” “That’s bulletproof glass; she can’t break it.” “Aria, stop struggling. It’s better to just admit you’re wrong.” I didn’t stop. The second strike, the third. My wrists were numb from the impact, the web between my thumb and forefinger split open, and blood mixed with rainwater dripped onto the floor. The cracks in the glass grew denser. Tiffany finally panicked. She banged on the door, shouting, “Aria, don’t do anything reckless!” “If that glass breaks, you’ll get hurt!” I scoffed. “Now you’re afraid I’ll get hurt?” Tiffany’s face went pale. She looked back at Ethan. “Ethan, she’s really going to smash the door!” Ethan frowned deeply. “Aria, stop.” “You’re just making things worse.” I swung the flower stand again, smashing it down. With a loud crash, a corner of the glass door finally shattered. Cold wind rushed in. I kicked hard at that.

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We were watching the Northern Lights in Iceland when Ethan suddenly moved the camera from me, aiming it at a stranger standing nearby. “Let’s break up. The truth is, it was her who saved me on that snow mountain three years ago. I always thought it was you.” My lips were purple with cold, and I stared in disbelief at the boyfriend I’d dated for three years. He casually adjusted the girl’s scarf as he spoke. “I proposed to the wrong person back then. I saw you were pathetic and just played along, pretending to be your boyfriend for three years.” “Now that my true savior has appeared, I can’t possibly let her feel wronged.” “I promised her I’d propose ten seconds after seeing the Northern Lights.” “Ten, nine, eight… The countdown’s over. You can leave now. Don’t ruin our proposal video.” The aurora blazed brilliantly, but my heart felt colder than Iceland’s snow. He didn’t know. That girl three years ago just happened to pass by. The one who actually dug him out of that snow pit was me. But now, it didn’t matter anymore.

The sound of glacial water was grating in the cold wind. I didn’t turn back to watch Ethan Blackwood put a ring on Serena Davies. Behind me, I heard cheers and shouts from the people we came with. But in the vast, empty ice field, the sounds were quickly swept away by the wind. It was ten kilometers to the hotel. Ethan had driven me here in his SUV. Now, the car keys were in Ethan’s pocket. I pulled my thin windbreaker tighter, stepping through the snow, walking back one step at a time. I hadn’t gone far before my legs were already frozen numb, leaving me to move forward almost instinctively. Three years ago, on that snow mountain, it was just as cold. It was on an untouched mountain in Alaska. I was originally a jewelry designer looking for inspiration, but I got caught in a sudden avalanche. During my escape, I saw Ethan buried in a snow pit. The rescue team couldn’t get in at all. I used my bare hands to dig in the ice and snow for four hours until I finally pulled him out. His face was blue and purple from the cold. My fingers were frozen stuck to the snow then; I couldn’t pull them apart. Before he lost consciousness, he gripped my wrist tightly, feeling the scar there. He said he’d remember that scar, that he’d repay me. Later, when he confessed his feelings, I thought he’d finally remembered. Looking back now, I was incredibly naive. I walked the ten kilometers of snow for a full three and a half hours. The moment I pushed open the hotel doors and felt the warmth hit me, an uncontrollable shiver ran through me, and I collapsed onto the carpet, utterly drained. Next to the lobby sofa were two familiar suitcases. The receptionist explained that the gentleman I was with had checked me out of my room and had my luggage moved here. I propped myself up using the sofa, my fingers so stiff I couldn’t even pull a zipper. The hotel doors swung open again. Ethan walked in, arm around Serena, both laughing and chatting. Serena was wearing the matching white down jacket I’d bought for ten thousand dollars. I’d planned to wear it tonight to see the Northern Lights and had left it in the hotel closet. Seeing me standing helplessly by my luggage, Ethan immediately dropped his smile. “What are you still doing here?” He released Serena, walked up to me, and calmly scanned me. “Didn’t I tell you to get lost? Who are you trying to play the victim for, hanging around the lobby?” I lifted my face, red from the cold, and looked at the man I’d loved for three years. “Did you check me out of my room?” My voice was hoarse as if I’d swallowed sand. “Serena is delicate; she can’t stand the cold wind in a polar tent.” “Your room faces south, it’s warm, so what’s wrong with letting her have it?” Ethan pulled at his tie, his tone self-righteous. “You even slept in a tent on the snow mountain back then. The lobby sofa is good enough for you for one night.” Serena peeked out from behind him, looking at me timidly. “Scarlett, I’m so sorry.” “Ethan said you’re tough and can handle the cold, so he insisted on giving me your room.” “He also made me wear this down jacket, said you’re thick-skinned and don’t need such nice clothes.” She said “sorry,” but deliberately stroked the fur collar of the jacket. The huge diamond on her ring finger glittered blindingly under the lobby lights. Looking at that diamond, I didn’t cry, nor did I argue with him like I used to over a single word. Because when a person is truly heartbroken, even getting angry feels like a waste of energy.

I bent down, using my stiff fingers to open the combination lock on my suitcase. My hands trembled so much it took me three tries to get it open. Ethan frowned, pressing down on my suitcase. “Scarlett Hayes, what trick are you pulling now?” “Why are you opening your suitcase in the middle of the night? Trying to throw your clothes all over the floor to force me to give in?” He snorted. “I’m telling you, Serena is the one who truly saved me.” “You usurped her place for three years and enjoyed the benefits of being my fiancée for three years. Now, giving her a room is what you owe her.” I slapped his hand away. It wasn’t a strong blow, but Ethan quickly recoiled. I pulled my passport from the inner compartment of the suitcase, then stood up, took out my phone, and opened the calculator. “What are you doing?” Ethan watched my actions, his tone impatient. “Calculating.” I didn’t look up, my fingers rapidly tapping on the screen. “For three years, we lived in the downtown apartment. Rent was fifteen hundred a month, fifty-four thousand over three years. You never paid, I covered it all.” “You were hospitalized three times for stomach issues; medical bills totaled eighty-six hundred, which I paid upfront.” “Your car maintenance, and household utilities and property management fees, let’s say five thousand.” “And this trip to Iceland, the plane tickets and hotel were booked by me with my credit card half a year in advance, a total of ninety-two hundred.” I pressed the equal sign and held the screen up to Ethan. “Total: seventy-six thousand eight hundred.” I looked calmly into his eyes. “Transfer the money to me, and we’re even.” “Propose to whoever you want, let whoever you want wear my clothes.” Ethan froze. He stared at the numbers on the screen, taking ten seconds to react. “Scarlett Hayes, have you gone insane with greed?” Ethan pulled out his phone and opened his bank account. “Calculating with me? Don’t forget, you’ve been supported by me for three years. How dare you ask me for money?” “What did I ever take from you?” I met his gaze directly. “Besides giving me an empty title of girlfriend, did you ever pay a single penny?” He choked on his words, his face instantly turning ashen. Serena grabbed his arm. “Ethan, don’t be angry.” “Scarlett probably just can’t accept us being together and is trying to get your attention with money.” “Just give it to her, consider it charity for a beggar.” Ethan took a deep breath, his fingers flying across the screen. *Ding!* My phone received a deposit notification. One hundred thousand. “Take the money, grab your junk, and disappear from my sight immediately.” Ethan shoved his phone back into his pocket, avoiding my gaze. “Scarlett Hayes, the way you throw away your dignity for money is truly disgusting.” I looked at the balance in my account, didn’t argue, and simply put my phone away cleanly. “The extra twenty-three thousand two hundred is for you buying that second-hand down jacket.” I zipped up my suitcase, turned, and walked up the steps to the hotel entrance. The wind and snow were still heavy. I didn’t look back. Ethan stood rooted to the spot. He watched my unwavering back as I left, a frown creasing his brows. But he quickly turned, pulling Serena into his arms. “Don’t mind that crazy woman. Let’s go back to the room.” Dragging my two suitcases, I walked to the roadside in the dead of the Icelandic night. I was lucky; I happened to find a local taxi that had just dropped off passengers. I sat in the warm car, but I couldn’t stop shivering. At the airport waiting lounge, I curled up on the cold chair, and three years of memories flooded my mind. To care for Ethan’s delicate stomach, I gave up an opportunity to study in Paris, cooking different dishes for him every day. For Ethan’s career, I used my severely injured hand, staying up late to help him organize documents. I thought it was love. Turns out, in their eyes, that was “throwing away my dignity for money.” I touched the scar on my wrist and smiled.

The plane took off four hours later. I boarded the plane with a high fever, and slept for over a dozen hours in my seat. When I landed, it was already late at night. I took a taxi directly to the hospital. My high fever had turned into acute pneumonia. I lay in the hospital for three days. During these three days, Ethan didn’t call or text once. Of course. Ethan was busy being affectionate with Serena under the Northern Lights; why would he remember a greedy, insatiable liar like me? On the day I was discharged, I made a point to see an orthopedic specialist. My hands, frostbitten on that snow mountain years ago, had been aching more and more lately. Especially my right hand; sometimes I couldn’t even hold a water glass without it trembling. The old specialist examined my X-rays, frowning. “Ms. Hayes, the frostbite on your hand was too severe back then.” “Although nerve repair was done, have you not taken proper care of it these past few years? Did you often use cold water? And do heavy labor?” I stayed silent. Ethan was a picky eater; he’d only eat vegetables I’d washed and cut myself. He was a germaphobe; his clothes had to be hand-washed. “Now, nerve necrosis has worsened, and there’s severe cartilage damage due to overuse.” The doctor sighed, putting the X-rays back in the bag. “From now on, forget about drawing intricate designs; even lifting a heavier plastic bag will cause a tearing sensation.” “I recommend you arrange conservative treatment as soon as possible, or this hand will truly be useless.” I walked out of the hospital with the diagnosis in my hand. I turned back to the apartment I’d lived in for three years. Pushing open the door, a faint scent of the air freshener I’d used when cleaning before I left still lingered. I dragged out several large cardboard boxes from under the bedroom bed and started packing. Actually, I didn’t have many things. Most of the items in the house were Ethan’s clothes. And his favorite ornaments and the tea set he habitually used. My belongings consisted only of a few old clothes, plus a box of design sketches I hadn’t gotten around to throwing away. The lock suddenly clicked. Ethan walked in with Serena. Seeing me squatting on the floor, packing boxes, Ethan paused, then frowned. “Scarlett Hayes, what kind of drama are you stirring up now?” He loosened his tie, habitually tossing his jacket onto the sofa, and strode to the coffee table to pour water. “After all that hassle in Iceland, my stomach trouble flared up again. Go make me something to eat.” His tone was completely natural, as if we had never broken up, as if nothing had happened that night in Iceland. Ethan was convinced I’d taken the money and was just throwing a tantrum. He thought if he just asked, I’d obediently go to the kitchen and get to work. I stopped what I was doing, stood up, and looked at him. “There’s no hot water in the kettle, and no food in the kitchen.” My voice was flat. “Also, we’ve broken up. I have no obligation to wait on you anymore.” Ethan’s hand, pouring water, paused, and water spilled on the coffee table. He turned, his face dark. “Haven’t you made enough of a scene? I gave you the money, what more do you want? Threatening me by leaving?” Ethan pointed at the cardboard boxes on the floor. “Put your things away, and I’ll pretend none of this happened today.” “Serena is generous; she won’t hold it against you for impersonating her. You can just stay at the company and continue to be my assistant.” Serena looked around the room, then walked to the master bedroom door and peered inside. “Ethan, this apartment is so small.” She turned, smiling sweetly at me. “But since Scarlett is moving out, we can just knock down the wall of the guest room to turn it into my walk-in closet.” “Finally, my bags will have a place.” I looked at this couple, talking as if I wasn’t there, and my lips twitched. “The apartment is rented, and the lease expired yesterday. I’ve already terminated it with the landlord.” I sealed the last strip of tape on the cardboard box. “If you want to live here, you’ll have to sign a new contract yourselves.” “Though the landlord said the rent has increased to two thousand.” Ethan’s face darkened. “Scarlett Hayes, that’s enough!” He took a few steps towards me, kicking one of the cardboard boxes. “I admit it was my fault for not telling you Serena would be joining us in Iceland.” “But you already took a hundred thousand. What more drama are you causing?” “Do you really think the world revolves around you?” I looked at the gray shoe print on the box. “Ethan Blackwood, it’s been three years.” “You wouldn’t even bother to find out who I really am, or what truly happened on that snow mountain.” I picked up the tote bag next to me, which contained my usual sketchbook. “If you think I was after your money, then so be it.” I walked past Ethan towards the door. “Stop!” He grabbed my arm. Ethan’s gaze dropped to my black tote bag. The zipper on the tote bag wasn’t fully closed, revealing a corner of the black sketchbook inside. Serena suddenly shrieked. “Oh! That’s my design sketch!”

Serena snatched the bag from my hand, and the sketchbook slid out. I had drawn that three years ago when I was recovering from my injuries at the foot of the snow mountain. It contained all my inspirations, and there was even a page with a sketch of Ethan sleeping. “Give it back to me.” My face went cold, and I reached out my hand to her. Serena hugged the sketchbook, hiding behind Ethan, her eyes red-rimmed. “Ethan, those are my preliminary sketches for this jewelry competition. How could Scarlett steal my things?” Her voice trembled with feigned grievance. “I know she’s jealous that I’m with you, but she can’t steal my dream!” Ethan stood in front of Serena, looking at me with disappointment. “Scarlett Hayes, when did you become so malicious?” He accused. “First, you stole Serena’s identity as my savior for three years, and now you’re even trying to steal her design sketches?” I stared at the man in front of me. “Ethan Blackwood, do you even use your brain?” I pointed at the notebook. “Open it and see whose handwriting it is!” “What’s drawn on the first page? Do you dare to look?” The first page was a drawing of an old pocket watch. It was a family heirloom left to him by Ethan’s grandfather, which had been damaged by the cold three years ago on the snow mountain. It had taken me half a month to draw its entire structure. Ethan snatched the notebook and flipped it open. He didn’t look closely, just glanced at it and then threw the notebook on the floor. “If Serena says it’s hers, then it’s hers.” The man said coldly. “What kind of design sketch could a cripple like you, who can’t even hold a paintbrush steady, possibly draw?” Hearing that, my chest tightened. Why couldn’t I hold a paintbrush steady? Because of *him*. I took a deep breath, squatting down to pick up the notebook. Just as my fingers were about to touch the notebook, Serena stuck out her foot, her high-heeled shoe stepping on the sketchbook. “Scarlett, stealing is wrong.” “If you really want it, I can make you a copy.” She said, smiling. I didn’t say anything, pulling hard at the notebook with my left hand. Serena used the force of my pull, cried out, and fell backward. With a crash. She fell onto the living room coffee table, and the fragile glass instantly shattered. “Ah! It hurts so much!” Serena clutched her leg, crying loudly. Ethan’s eyes went red with fury. “Scarlett Hayes, you’re asking for trouble!” He spun around, lifted his foot, and kicked me hard in the shoulder. I was squatting on the floor, and unprepared, I tumbled backward. My right hand, which the doctor had just declared its nerves necrotic, pressed hard onto the scattered glass shards to brace myself. A piercing pain shot through my palm. Several glass fragments pierced my palm, and blood gushed out, staining the carpet. My whole arm trembled with pain, and cold sweat broke out. Ethan froze when he saw the blood on the floor. He instinctively took half a step forward, reaching out to me. “Ethan… my leg hurts so much. Is it broken? I’m so scared…” Serena behind him was still crying, clutching his pant leg. Ethan’s outstretched hand paused. He pulled his gaze away, bent down, and picked up Serena. As he walked past me, Ethan’s leather shoe stepped on the scattered sketchbook. The sole rolled over the sketch of him, leaving a muddy imprint. “Scarlett Hayes, since your hands enjoy stealing, they deserve to be useless.” He looked down at me. “If you dare to upset Serena again, I’ll make sure you can’t work in this entire industry!” The front door slammed shut. Silence fell over the apartment. I sat in a pool of my own blood, looking at the ruined sketchbook and my bloody, mangled right hand. Strangely, I didn’t shed a single tear. I used my uninjured left hand to pull out my phone and dialed that number I hadn’t called in three years. The call connected quickly, and a deep male voice answered. “Scarlett?” “Mr. Sullivan.” I looked at the bloodstains on the carpet, my voice eerily calm. “You said before that the Sullivan family needed a marriage alliance. I agree.”

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Caleb’s grip on my hand tightened sharply when the repairman pulled a piece of sensual lingerie from the washing machine’s drain. It wasn’t my size. The repairman looked a bit awkward. “You should probably handwash these kinds of things in the future. A washing machine doesn’t really get them clean, does it?” Caleb held my hand so tightly, as if he was terrified I’d lose it the next second and completely humiliate him in front of a stranger. But I didn’t react at all. I just smiled gently. “The repairman is right. I definitely won’t do it again.” After the repairman left, I picked up the lingerie from the floor. The wet, cold, clammy touch on my fingertips made me sick to my stomach. I examined it closely, trying to imagine what kind of woman would wear such a thing. And what kind of woman would steal away Caleb, the man who once said he’d die for me? “Caleb.” My voice was hoarse. “Do you have anything to say?” Truth be told, Caleb was never good at hiding things. He tried to be careful, but emotions are impossible to conceal. Just like when he used to love me. The peach scent he accidentally picked up, the adjusted passenger seat… Each detail pricked at my heart, not enough to kill me, but enough to hurt. The real moment I realized he might have strayed was during a shopping trip to the mall. He was a fitness fanatic, meticulous about his body fat percentage, never cared for things. But when we were ordering, he suggested: “Let’s get the peach iced coffee. It’s their new flavor.” I looked at him and said softly, “I’m allergic to peaches.” He froze, then hugged me, sounding guilty. “I’m so sorry… I’ll put it in my notes app right now, I promise I’ll never forget again…” At that moment, in his cedar-scented embrace, my heart refused to settle. More than trying to figure out who he’d had peach iced coffee with, what hurt me was that he needed a reminder just to remember my allergies. The young man who used to remember everything about me felt like a distant dream. But looking at Caleb, silent with his head bowed, all my questions got stuck in my throat, choked by his silence. What was the point of asking? What if… I pointed to the lingerie on the floor and said softly, “You can clean that up. I have plans tonight, so I won’t be back.” I’d take that chance… just one last opportunity, for the Caleb of our youth. Caleb let out a sigh of relief and began cleaning up. In the living room, my thoughts drifted. I have bipolar disorder. At my worst, my studies almost completely halted. My parents even gave up on me, leaving me to fend for myself, but Caleb caught the blade as I cut my wrist. Our blood mingled as he said hoarsely, “If you die, I’ll die with you. I won’t live alone. Please, just live. For me.” Later, my condition stabilized. I finished my studies and built my own career. Caleb was always there. The love of our youth, his companionship later on, became the reason my heart softened now. It made me willing to take that chance for him, until I saw it with my own eyes. My assistant, Maria, called. “Eleanor, that expense you asked me to look into? I found it. Caleb used the company account to buy clothes for that woman. The shipping address is on record. I’ll send it to you.”

I drove to the apartment complex and quietly watched the dark, gaping entrance. What kind of woman would be inside? The kind who could change Caleb, the man who once offered to die for me. The kind who could transform his countless pities for me into endless indulgence and tolerance for her? The roar of an engine shattered my thoughts. A familiar car pulled up to the apartment building. It was Scott, Caleb’s friend. The door opened, and Scott fist-bumped Caleb as he got out. “Told you you were lazy! You even need a ride from your buddy for a hookup? Am I your chauffeur? Come on, I’m coming up for a drink.” I gasped, my knuckles white as I gripped the steering wheel. If the car hadn’t stalled, I might have crashed right into Scott’s. Two weeks ago, when Caleb drove me to the office, the GPS directly showed this address. I asked him, curious: “Whose place is this?” He laughed then. “Scott’s place, that jerk. You wouldn’t believe it, he brought back a ton of stuff from his hometown, heavy and awkward to carry. He keeps asking me to help him move it.” Later, that address disappeared from the GPS. If I could still tell myself to take that chance earlier. But now, the truth was laid bare before me, stark and brutal. Even after being discovered, even though I was only staying home for one night, he was so eager to see her. I thought, the Caleb of our youth was dead. Now, it was a stranger wearing his skin. I called Caleb. “Caleb, where are you?” His end of the line was quiet, but then I heard the sound of two breaths intertwining, just like ours used to. “Eleanor, I’m working late at the office. I’m on my way now. Did you get home?” “Yeah… I’m home.” I hung up, let out a shaky breath, and as I opened the car door, my legs felt weak, and I stumbled. But I quickly steadied myself. I decided to go up and see for myself. I had to see how rotten this relationship had become, so I could finally let go of the reluctance in my heart. And never give him another chance. As I went upstairs, Scott’s voice drifted down. “Dude, honestly, I still don’t get what’s so attractive about this woman. Eleanor isn’t bad, after all. You two have been through so much over the years.” I hid downstairs, my heartbeat exploding in my ears. Right, why? The click of a lighter, then Caleb’s slightly hoarse voice. “You know Eleanor has bipolar disorder, right? I asked the doctor about her condition, it’s hereditary. If she has a child and it turns out like that, I don’t think I can handle it.” Scott voiced the question in my mind. “Holy crap, didn’t you two say you were DINKs? Why are you talking about kids now?” “I’m a man, after all. I need an heir.” I couldn’t listen anymore. I turned and left, hiding in my car, like a wounded animal licking its wounds. Before we got married, I asked him countless times, “But I have bipolar disorder, and if you marry me, I won’t have children.” He held me, promising solemnly, “I love you, the person. In sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, it’s you I love. Don’t listen to gossip. I’m a sugar baby, aren’t I?” Was the sincerity then real? Is the sincerity now real? I wiped away my tears and messaged my trusted attorney. “Please draft a divorce agreement for me.”

I sat in my car for a long time until my attorney sent the divorce agreement, adding a reminder: “Eleanor, based on your description, if you can get evidence of infidelity, there’s a strong possibility your husband will leave with nothing.” “Okay.” I went to the convenience store at the entrance, bought some cigarettes, and headed to the security office. “Excuse me, Frank. I’m so sorry, but I lost a gold bracelet in this complex yesterday. Would you mind pulling up the security footage for me?” Frank took the cigarettes and didn’t make things difficult for me, readily bringing up the surveillance footage. I watched segment after segment. It wasn’t just tonight; every time I worked late at the office, trying to contribute to our home, Caleb was indulging in his secret life here. Frank saw me staring blankly at Caleb’s figure and asked, “You know Caleb?” “Oh, let me tell you, Caleb is the model husband of our complex!” I turned my head blankly, repeating softly, “Model husband?” Frank got animated, pulling up more footage for me. “Look, this is when Caleb and his wife, Brittany, first moved in. Caleb handed out donuts and coffee to everyone. He said he was busy with work and asked us to keep an eye out for his wife! I thought, being apart so much, how hard that must be. But Caleb and his wife are just living in marital bliss. Caleb is a sweet-talker, and hardworking too. Look at this one, this is Caleb taking his wife for a walk. His little wife was fussy, complained about being tired after two steps, and Caleb carried her back. And this one, on Valentine’s Day, his wife said she wanted a wedding. Oh, still so lovey-dovey after a few years of marriage, but Caleb didn’t hesitate for a second! I still have some of their wedding candy, here, try some.” The girl in the footage, wearing a white wedding gown, was beaming with joy in Caleb’s arms, and Caleb was elated, just like he was on our wedding day. The candy was incredibly bitter, yet incredibly sweet, choking my throat so I couldn’t speak, only tears fell, drip, drip, drip. Frank saw my tears and fell silent, cautiously asking, “Who are you to Caleb?” I tried to force a smile. “I’m his wife.” Then, I grabbed my phone, which was recording the footage, and fled. I hid in my car, watching the surveillance footage I’d recorded, my thoughts drifting back to my wedding day with Caleb. He was just like that, holding me and spinning around, shouting to the crowd: “I married Eleanor! Eleanor is my wife now!” He had been the only order in my collapsing mental world, but now, that order had crumbled. I stood downstairs, looking up, and saw the lights on in their apartment. Two figures were silhouetted against the French windows. Caleb and Brittany embraced tightly, their lips met, and I felt my world slowly crumbling before my eyes. I felt like my breathing stopped for as long as they kissed, and only when they separated did I seem to breathe oxygen again. I gagged and threw up, leaned against the wall, and called him. The first call went unanswered, ringing for a long time before going to voicemail. The second call rang for a long time. Brittany pushed Caleb, and he reluctantly answered, “Hello, Eleanor, why are you calling?” He yawned, as if utterly exhausted. “Work at the office is so demanding. I’m so tired, I need the best wife in the world to give me a shoulder rub.” Brittany heard this and angrily turned away. Caleb, pleading with her and trying to appease her, looked like such an extra as I watched their two figures by the French windows. How could someone’s heart hold so many people? He asked me again, “Eleanor, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?” I looked at him and asked softly, “Do you remember what you told me on our wedding day?”

The person by the window stiffened. He was silent for a long time, either too guilty to speak or having completely forgotten his vows. I said softly, “You said, ‘Favoring the new and disliking the old is human instinct.’ But love is humanity’s choice to overcome instinct, to defy its own nature. For you, I will spend my entire life defying my instincts, fighting my own nature, loving you boundlessly, forever and always. If you fail, then I shouldn’t hold back. Exact revenge on you as I would on my most hated enemy. Because that person is no longer you; the fearless you who would have died for me has been killed by him. You wanted me to avenge you.’ Do you still remember?” My voice was choked with emotion by the end, but inside the apartment, Brittany reached for Caleb’s hand and guided it under her clothes. Caleb’s voice was hoarse as he quickly mumbled to me, “Eleanor, I have an urgent task here. I need to take care of it, so I’m hanging up now?” He quickly hung up. He didn’t hear my last words. All that responded was the dial tone. I thought, there was no need to waste any more breath. I sent all the evidence to my attorney. That night, I sat blankly in a hotel, not going home. Because our memories were etched everywhere in that house. The scarf he knitted for me, the painting he drew for me, the matching couple mugs he bought… But now, they all felt like a mockery. I used to express my emotions whenever anything happened, but now, all my words were stuck in my throat, I couldn’t say anything. What could I say? Who could I talk to? I stayed up until dawn and went to the office the next day, running right into Caleb at the entrance. “Good morning, Mrs. Eleanor.” He winked at me. “Eleanor, isn’t it time to announce my promotion to director today?” I suddenly remembered: Caleb had been drifting after graduation, so I got him a job at my company to give him something to do. That day, I promised to promote him to director. I smiled at him. “There’s a surprise waiting for you later.” He beamed with joy, reaching for my hand. “You’re the best, Eleanor!” The morning meeting began. Caleb adjusted his tie. I had to admit, time had been kind to him. Nearing middle age, it had only added a touch of maturity to him, making a few young women in the office frequently glance his way. But his smugness quickly crumbled. I opened the large screen, and displayed there was exactly what he didn’t want to see. He stood up, looking at me frantically. “Eleanor…”

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The day of Ashley Reed’s wedding, my mom got a call from the police department. A dismembered female body had been pulled from the river. The killer was already arrested, and the head had been identified, but no one knew who the body belonged to. The media swarmed the police station, desperate to know whose body it was. “Do you want to know? She’s the daughter of your most brilliant forensic expert’s acquaintance.” The killer licked his lips, a chilling smile spreading across his face. “Someone paid me a million to kill her. She kept screaming ‘Mom’ and her fiancé’s name when she died, but too bad neither of them loved her.” The media laughed at the killer’s outrageous claim. Everyone knew Dr. Eleanor Vance’s daughter, Ashley Reed, had it all — love, family, everything. She’d never even cried, let alone died. Only my mom and Liam Hayes, standing behind the cameras, had a profound look in their eyes. They both thought of me, thrown out of the house two years ago. “Mom, could it be her?” Liam frowned, staring at the stitched-together female corpse. The head’s owner had already been claimed; it was a head cut from another body. That girl’s parents had cried hysterically, cursing the killer for not even sparing the dead. But this killer’s even more monstrous act was killing another girl, the owner of the body before them. It had been a week. Even the killer had been caught and brought to justice, but the body’s owner remained unclaimed. The death was extremely brutal. Every bone was shattered, all ten fingernails ripped out, exposing raw, bloody flesh. Moreover, a large amount of stimulants was found in the body. The victim had been killed while fully conscious. “Impossible. Chloe is such a coward; she’d rather hide than die. Even if everyone else in the world died, she wouldn’t.” Mom spoke calmly, a face flashing in her mind, filled with disgust. But she didn’t know I was standing right beside her. “Mom, if this body really is me, would you feel even a tiny bit of heartache?” Mom looked in my direction. I stiffened, lost in her gentle, loving gaze. “Mom… can you see me?” “Ashley, why are you here? You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be in places like this. It’s not good for you or the baby.” Mom hurried over, walking right through me. In front of her, whether I was dead or alive, I was no different from air. “Mom, Liam, you’ve run into a tough case. You’re not even coming home for dinner tonight, so of course I had to come see you. I brought food.” Ashley smiled, holding up the food. Mom quickly took it. “Our Ashley is such a thoughtful girl.” “Ashley, once this case is over, I’ll make it up to you with another wedding. You’ll still be the most beautiful bride.” Liam looked apologetic, gently stroking Ashley’s hand. “We rushed off today. I didn’t get a chance to properly apologize.” “We’re a couple, why apologize?” Ashley smiled sweetly, patting her belly, her face filled with happiness. “For the baby’s sake, I’ll forgive you.” Liam and Mom laughed heartily. Their laughter, however, felt incredibly harsh to my eyes. I turned my head away, hearing Mom say, “Ashley, the vegetable cream soup you made today tastes different from before.” A flicker of nervousness crossed Ashley’s face as she chuckled. “Mom, maybe being pregnant has made me rusty in the kitchen. I’ll practice more.” “You’re pregnant. You should cook less. Let the housekeeper do it.” Mom said, smiling with concern. I stood by, a chill running down my spine. That vegetable cream soup was all made by me. Ashley had kept me locked in a hidden cell in the basement of the villa for two whole years.

The noise outside continued, the media crowding around the killer, Dennis Black. “Whose body is it really? Why did you kill her so cruelly? Did you have a vendetta against her?” “I told you, it’s that forensic expert’s daughter, your assistant’s fiancée. Someone paid me a million to kill her. For every bone I shattered, I got an extra ten thousand, so I shattered every single bone in her body.” Dennis licked his lips, smiling at the camera. I shivered. I’d never forget that face. Two years ago, he ruined me. Two years later, he killed me. “How did I do?” “Excellent.” I saw Ashley mouth those words, then cover her belly and walk towards the corpse. “Ashley, you’re easily scared. Maybe you shouldn’t look.” Liam pulled Ashley’s arm, looking worried. “I’m fine, Liam. You and Mom are both forensic experts. I’ve seen plenty since I was little. It won’t scare me.” After saying that, she walked closer to the corpse, examining it carefully. “All her bones shattered?” “Yes, a brutal death. I can’t imagine the hatred or grudge involved.” Liam sighed regretfully, shaking his head. “The victim is likely a young woman, aged between twenty-three and twenty-five. The body fluids found were Dennis Black’s. It’s been confirmed.” My stomach churned. Thinking of that night, I felt like I died all over again. Ashley chuckled softly. “The body probably hasn’t been claimed because it’s missing its head, right? I think we should post nude photos of the body online. Anyone who recognizes it will naturally come forward.” A chill ran down my spine. I shook my head. “No… no… Liam, Mom, I beg you, don’t do that.” I was already dead. I didn’t want to be humiliated any further. “Ashley, you’re so smart! You’re truly your mother’s daughter.” Mom suddenly understood, showering Ashley with compliments. I wanted to scream, to tell everyone that I was the one who died, to beg them not to strip away my last shred of dignity. But no one could hear me. My body was posted online, drawing mostly mockery. “Gotta say, that body is truly beautiful. I bet she had a pretty face too.” “I really wish I could see what the owner of this body looked like. Such a shame to die like this.” “Thinking about a corpse? You guys must be desperate.” Ashley admired the body for a while before leaving. Liam and Mom escorted her to the door. “Ashley, once this case is done, we’ll come home and spend time with you.” Ashley nodded with a smile, then got into the car. I heard her say quietly, full of sarcasm, “Chloe Vance, I put your body right in front of them like this, and they still won’t figure out where you went. Too bad you kept screaming their names that night. How laughable.” “Now, everything you had is mine. I won.” I trembled uncontrollably, feeling utterly disgusted. Ashley Reed was the orphan I had begged Mom to bring home from the orphanage. When I met her at age ten, she was much smaller and thinner than other kids her age, sitting silently under a tree. I saw her strangle a cat. I screamed, terrified, wanting to hide, but then I saw her looking at me with pitiful, deer-like eyes. “Does everyone fear me?” Hiding behind the tree, I hesitated, then walked up to her and said, “I’m not afraid of you, but you hurt the little cat.” “Its leg was broken, and other cats bullied it. I just put it out of its misery.” Ashley assessed me, then said ingratiatingly, “I saw you today. You’re Dr. Vance’s daughter. A lot of kids went to play with you when you came.” “Why didn’t you go?” “The director told me not to get close to you.” My heart softened, an indescribable feeling. That day, I begged Mom to adopt Ashley and brought her home. But that was the mistake of my life. I shouldn’t have wished to save someone whose heart was inherently dark.

“Tell us, who is the owner of that body?” Mom and Liam sat opposite Dennis Black, their eyes filled with intense disgust for the killer. “I’ve been a medical examiner for so many years, and I’ve never seen such a brutal method of killing. Who ordered you to do this?” Mom stared at Dennis’s hardened face. “I’ve told you several times! It’s your daughter, your assistant’s fiancée. When I was hammering her bones, she kept screaming ‘Mom’… ‘Mom’… ‘Liam’… ‘Liam’… Her voice was just delightful.” Dennis spoke, gesturing with his hands. Everyone present couldn’t bear to listen. “A lying bastard.” Liam’s eyes were filled with impatience. “If you curse my fiancée again, I’ll feed you to the wolves.” “Dr. Hayes, Dr. Vance, for all your sharp eyes, you’ve searched the entire city and couldn’t find whose body it was, yet you can’t even recognize the person once closest to you. I truly pity that unloved woman.” Dennis clicked his tongue a few times, looking at Liam and Mom’s faces with a smile. “Think about it, who is it?” I stood by, watching the scene, and heard Dennis’s next words. “Chloe Vance, remember her?” Mom and Liam’s eyes widened instantly. Someone hearing that name immediately stepped forward and slapped Dennis hard twice. “How dare you say such nonsense!” “Why would I lie? I won’t live to spend the money anyway.” Dennis’s lips were bleeding, but he smiled triumphantly. “She begged me for so long, begging me to spare her life and let her see her mom and fiancé one last time. I just poured hot water down her throat, so she couldn’t scream anymore.” Liam and Mom’s faces turned grim. “Shut up, now!” Someone punched Dennis twice and dragged him away. “Dr. Hayes, Dr. Vance, Chloe couldn’t have been harmed.” “What could possibly happen to her? Fifty thousand goes missing from her card every month. What could happen to such a selfish person?” Mom said directly, “I wish she’d die out there. I wish I’d never given birth to that daughter.” I felt like I’d been plunged into an ice cellar, chilled to the core. “I’ll never forgive what she did to Ashley back then. Selfish and utterly irresponsible.” Liam’s face was filled with disgust when he mentioned my name. “Ashley’s life is far more important than hers. If she thinks she can use this method to get our attention, she’s delusional. She’s not even worth a single strand of Ashley’s hair.” Every single word pierced my ears. I gave a bitter laugh, my heart aching with a dull pain. That kidnapping two years ago, everyone believed I was selfish and wicked. But I was a victim too. Liam and I were supposed to get married two years ago, but I was kidnapped on our wedding day. Ashley was beaten within an inch of her life, yet I was returned unharmed. Everyone concluded that I had pushed my stepsister forward to save myself, but I knew nothing of that night. Everyone naturally sided with the perceived victim, and I became the worst kind of criminal. Driven out of the house, I was then locked in the basement by Ashley for two years, and all because she was jealous of me. “Why do you get all the love while I have nothing? Chloe Vance, if you hate, then hate that you brought me home.” Liam and Mom returned home, both looking distressed. “Mom, Liam, what’s wrong?” Ashley sat beside them, asking with a worried expression. “Ashley, you won’t believe it, that killer was bribed by Chloe Vance. She faked her death to make us pity her. She’ll stop at nothing, even playing with human lives.”

Mom was disgusted whenever my name was mentioned. “How did I give birth to a daughter like that?” “Chloe always loves to draw attention. I even heard she went to a hotel with a man a few days ago, and private photos were posted online…” Ashley saw their grim faces and covered her mouth. “Mom, Liam, did I say something wrong?” “No, Ashley, she’s fallen so low. Even if that female corpse is her, I wouldn’t be surprised.” Mom cursed, then saw the private photos Ashley took out. My eyes widened. These photos were taken the night I was attacked. Ashley was using photos of my forced assault to slander me. Liam threw the photos to the floor. “Disgusting.” I turned my head away, my nose burning. “She should have died two years ago, not still be alive to sicken us.” Liam’s brows were tightly furrowed, and Mom’s face was pale. “If I had known she would be like this, I should have left her at the orphanage… Luckily, our family is fine, and she won’t bother us.” “Mom, do you smell something bloody in the house?” Liam suddenly asked. As forensic experts, they were always sensitive to the scent of blood. “I smell it too. Something needs to be cleaned up quickly, or it won’t be good for Ashley and the baby.” Mom looked worried and was about to stand up but was stopped by Ashley. “Mom, it’s just some pork I bought. I haven’t had a chance to clean it yet. Don’t worry about it. Just get some rest.” Mom’s wrist was held, and she paused, then smiled and said, “Okay, you rest early too.” After saying that, she went back to her room. Inside the room, Mom saw a photo tucked inside a book on the table. She gently pulled it out. It was a picture of me, smiling radiantly, at eighteen. On my eighteenth birthday, Mom had given me a stunning pink sapphire necklace. My name was engraved on that necklace. “Chloe.” She found it an eyesore and tore the photo to shreds, throwing it into the trash can. “Chloe Vance, you truly are heartless, not coming home for two years just because of one slap, and now trying to deceive me by faking your death.” “Mom…” I called out softly, but she couldn’t hear. “Mom, right now, I hope you won’t recognize that it’s me.” Late at night, there was a sudden, urgent knocking at the door. “Mom! Wake up!” Mom opened the door to see a distraught Liam. He rarely looked so anxious. “What’s wrong? Is something wrong with Ashley?” Mom’s heart leaped to her throat. “Not Ashley, it’s about Chloe Vance.” Liam hesitated before speaking. “The police just called. Dennis is sticking to his story that it’s Chloe Vance, and… and he even pulled out a necklace.” Liam showed his phone, and Mom saw the necklace on the screen. It was that pink sapphire necklace. Her mind went blank instantly. The name “Chloe” engraved on the necklace stung her eyes. Even more striking than the pink sapphire were the dried bloodstains on it. Mom stumbled backward. I instinctively wanted to reach out. Liam steadied Mom, his lips trembling. “Also, Dennis said he knows where the head is, but we need to go to the scene ourselves.”

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It was the fifth year of our secret marriage. At a get-together with old college friends, someone tried to set my wife, Sarah, up with another guy from our class, Jason. Sarah and I were secretly married, so everyone thought she was single. Sarah glanced at me, then said, “No.” I let out a sigh of relief. But the next moment, Jason abruptly leaned in and kissed her cheek. “But I really like you, Sarah. I’m serious about pursuing you.” Amidst a chorus of laughter, Jason, grinning, pulled her into his arms. I counted to three in my head. Sarah didn’t agree. Nor did she push him away. For the rest of the dinner, Jason practically waited on Sarah hand and foot. He kept putting food from his plate onto hers. He even put shrimp on her plate, the one thing she was allergic to. Sarah didn’t even blink, just ate the shrimp. “Tastes good, right?” Jason asked. “Mmm, it’s really good.” Everyone burst into laughter. “See, Sarah might have rejected Jason, but she’s clearly into him!” “When William spoke to her earlier, she completely ignored him.” “Everyone knows what’s up, right? Time to start thinking about wedding gifts!” Amidst the noisy room, I sat quietly in the corner, not saying a word. Sarah and I had been secretly married for five years. She was still in grad school and didn’t want her professors or classmates to know she was married. “If the professor knew I was married, they might think less of me, believe I wasn’t as academically diligent as other girls.” I’d agreed to her request to keep our relationship a secret. Even at this dinner, I deliberately sat at the furthest table from her. And now I was stuck watching her get cozy with someone else. “Everyone bring a plus-one to the wedding!” Jason laughed, then turned to me. “William, you should bring your wife too! In all these years, I’ve only seen you post one photo of her on Ins, and it was just her back.” His tone suddenly shifted, becoming oddly subtle. “Is she… not allowed to be seen?” “Or is your relationship… a secret?” The air froze for a second. A dozen pairs of eyes shot to me, but Sarah didn’t even lift her head. My heart suddenly ached. Thinking of the agreement in my bag, a spark of resentment flared. I asked Sarah, “Sarah, what do you say?”

Sarah froze, her face hardened. “What does that have to do with me?” “How would I know anything about you and your wife?” But her eyes still shot me a warning glance. “Right?” Jason chuckled, covering his mouth. “You don’t have to be embarrassed. These days, marriage is just a piece of paper, nowhere near as practical as a limited edition watch, right?” His words were clearly pointed, and everyone around us exchanged curious glances. Once, I’d accidentally run into Jason at a store. To avoid revealing my identity, I’d lied, saying my wife gave me the watch. I hadn’t expected him to remember. I gave a small smile. “Why would I be embarrassed if my wife bought me a watch?” I asked Jason, “So concerned about my wife, are you trying to poach her?” Jason’s smile vanished instantly. He almost instinctively looked at Sarah, and my heart plummeted. Did he know about Sarah and me? That was even more sickening than him being clueless. The room fell silent. His voice, when it came, was a fumbling mess. “William, I didn’t mean anything by it. I didn’t know you were so sensitive about this topic… Don’t be mad.” He suddenly grabbed Sarah’s small drink, downed it in one go, then started coughing, tears streaming down his face as he collapsed into Sarah’s arms. Sarah’s brow furrowed, and she turned to snap at me. “Do you even realize how nasty you sound? Do you think it makes you look superior to maliciously slander someone?” I stared at her, enunciating each word. “Who started the malicious slander first?” “He was just curious!” Sarah’s tone was icy. “Do you always have to be so aggressive?” She shielded Jason in her arms, confronting me across the round table. But *we* were supposed to be married. Someone tried to smooth things over. “William, don’t mind Jason, he’s young and speaks without thinking.” “Sarah’s clearly on his side now, William. Just drop it.” “Don’t fight, guys, it’s not worth it. We know you’re not like that.” Sarah’s lips pressed into a thin line. That was her tell, right before she exploded. For a guy like that. She used to stand in front of me, defending me when I was wronged. Now she was protecting Jason, who’d just slandered me. Fatigue washed over me, a relentless tide threatening to drag me under. I was truly fed up with this marriage. I took one last, long look at Sarah, then turned and left the hotel, leaving Jason sniffling behind me.

Once in the car, I pulled the divorce papers from my bag. A few days ago, I gave Sarah the rental agreement, and the divorce papers must have gotten mixed in by accident. She’d signed it without even looking. All I needed was my signature… A fountain pen suddenly rolled out of my bag. Just hours ago, Sarah’s ears had flushed as she kissed me softly in the passenger seat. She’d said she saw our classmate, Lena, buying one for her boyfriend, so she followed suit. I’d immediately clipped the pen to my shirt pocket, even though it was a dip pen, something I never used. That vague, lingering thought resurfaced. I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t resist getting out of the car, lighting a cigarette at the street corner. “Maybe we should talk first,” I reasoned. “Then I’ll sign.” A whole pack later, the others started leaving. “Where did Sarah go, anyway?” I asked. No one answered, instead they started trying to convince me. “William, we know you like Sarah. But… you have a wife.” “William, have you considered your wife’s feelings? She even bought you that expensive watch.” “This is cheating, and emotional cheating is still cheating…” I took a deep breath and cut them off. “So where did Sarah go, anyway?” “Sarah took him upstairs to get a room,” someone said. “Jason was drunk and throwing a tantrum about not wanting to go back to the dorm.” I looked down at the pile of cigarette butts on the ground, feeling like a complete fool.

Sarah once told me I was fearless, that I’d even try to peek if the sky fell. But standing at that hotel room door, I felt a genuine tremor of fear. Once that door opened, there would be no turning back for us. My phone buzzed. It was Sarah. “Hello?” Her voice sounded breathless. “I’ll be home late tonight.” “Who is it?” Jason’s voice was groggy. “…Just a roommate.” I couldn’t help but laugh outside the door, but the laughter soon turned to tears. Ever since I could remember, I’d always known I would marry Sarah. Our dads had jokingly suggested we’d make a good pair when we were kids. No one took it seriously, except me. Because I loved her. So when Sarah’s family lost everything, I still married her without hesitation. I started from nothing to build us a life, paid off all her family’s debts. …And then I became her “roommate” while she was hooking up with someone else. Something inside me truly died. “Sorry,” I whispered, slowly wiping away my tears. “I can’t do that.” A cold laugh echoed from the phone. “Trying to lock me out again? How many times will you pull this stunt before you get tired of it?” “This time it’s different.” “You think I’ll believe that?” Her voice rose, cutting through the door and the phone’s static. I stared blankly at the door, then slowly raised my hand and pressed the doorbell. “Open the door.”

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The day my wife, Fiona Blanchett, found out she was pregnant, she booked a flight abroad. Her best friend saw the ticket and spoke in shock. “Are you really going to find Oren? But you already have Mason Warhol’s baby in your belly.” But Fiona’s voice was sweet as honey. “It’s exactly because I’m having his baby that I need to see Oren.” “Oren doesn’t like clean, boring young girls. He likes married women, especially pregnant ones.” “Now, I’ve finally become the type he likes best.” Fiona’s best friend was silent for a long time. “What about Mason? You guys have been married for years, and he treats you so well.” Fiona gave a soft laugh. “Mason will never know. I’m just letting loose for ten months.” “Once the baby is born, I’ll come back and be a good wife to him.” “The three of us will be a happy family.” I stood outside the door, my blood running cold. So Fiona was ecstatic, not because she was having a child with me. But because this child finally made her into what Oren liked. I didn’t push the door open. I just texted my lawyer. “Get the divorce papers ready.” “I don’t want her, and I don’t want the baby.” Fiona’s best friend still hesitated. “Fiona, aren’t you afraid Mason will find out?” Fiona laughed. “Mason loves me so much.” “Even if he finds out, a little coaxing and he’ll get over it.” I looked down at the baby shoes in my hand. The store clerk said this was the best-selling style this year, a popular pick for new dads. I had stood in front of the shelf for a long time, picking them out. But it turned out, Fiona had already figured out what to do with this baby long before I did. I didn’t push the door open. I just turned around, went downstairs, and threw the baby shoes into the trash. The shoebox made a very soft thud. Like something else falling and hitting rock bottom with it. By the time I returned to the living room, Fiona had come out of the study. Her hand still rested gently on her lower belly. Her expression was as soft as a mother truly looking forward to the birth of her child. If I hadn’t heard those words just now. I probably would have really felt happy in this moment. Fiona looked up at me, her eyes sparkling. “The doctor says the baby is very healthy.” “Mason, we’re finally having a baby.” “Are you happy?” My hands hanging at my sides stiffened for a long time. Finally, I gently placed one on her shoulder. “Happy.” Fiona smiled even sweeter. “I’m happy too.” “I’ve never been this happy.” These words fell into my ears like a fine needle. She really was happy. So happy she immediately booked a flight. So eager she couldn’t wait to go see another man while carrying my child. Fiona leaned into my arms and started excitedly talking about the nursery. “I want to buy an imported crib for safety.” “And a nanny, I’ll have my assistant screen a few candidates in advance.” She spoke so seriously. As if she were truly planning our future. But I suddenly remembered, she used to be just like this. Thoughtful, decent, flawless. For my birthday, she would book a restaurant a month in advance. Outsiders all said Fiona loved me very much. For an heiress like her to be willing to take care of a man to this extent was already rare.

I used to think so too. Until I accidentally saw the notes app on her phone. Oren only drinks hot lattes. Oren’s old injuries hurt every winter, remember to remind him to use pain patches. Listed one by one, crystal clear. And of course, she remembered my birthday too. It’s just that every year, her assistant would deliver the gift home in advance. She would post a photo of us on Instagram with the caption: “Happy birthday to my husband.” But on Oren’s birthday, she would bake a cake herself. Even after failing three times, she refused to let the nanny help. I stood at the kitchen door, watching the back of her hand get burned red by the baking pan. I asked her, “Who is it for?” Fiona paused for a moment, then quickly smiled and said, “An old friend.” I didn’t think much of it at the time, and even helped her whip the cream. Only later did I find out that old friend’s name was Oren. He was the one Fiona could never have in her youth. The one who got away, hiding in her heart for years. Fiona was still leaning against my arms, asking softly: “Mason, who do you think the baby will look like?” I suddenly felt how absurd this was. This child hadn’t even been born yet. And was already her excuse to run off to someone else. I said, “I don’t know.” Fiona looked up at me. Probably finally noticing my coldness, she frowned slightly. “What’s wrong with you?” “Is it too sudden? You haven’t processed it yet?” I looked into Fiona’s concerned eyes. In this moment, I couldn’t tell if she had even an ounce of sincerity. She seemed to treat me really well. But the person she loved was never me. She never took the initiative to hug me, never came close to me at night. Every time we were intimate, she was quiet to the point of indifference, never making a sound. I used to think that was just her personality. But in the study just now, when she mentioned Oren, her voice was as sweet as an eighteen-year-old’s. I finally understood, it wasn’t that Fiona wasn’t passionate. It was just that her passion never belonged to me. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a reply from my lawyer. “Mr. Mason, the divorce agreement has been drafted.” “Since it involves a divorce during pregnancy and child custody, things might get a bit complicated later.” I looked at the lawyer’s message, my fingers hovering over the screen. Fiona leaned in and asked, “Who is it?” I locked my phone and spoke plainly. “Work stuff.” She didn’t suspect a thing. Or rather, she never thought I would actually leave her. She just looked down and stroked her belly, her voice very soft. “Mason, I have to go abroad for a business trip tomorrow.” I looked into Fiona’s eyes. There wasn’t a hint of guilt in them. Only the anticipation of going to see someone. I was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. “Yeah, go ahead.” Fiona smiled in satisfaction, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed my cheek. “You’re the best.” I used to fall for this every time. Whenever she called me that, all my anger would vanish. But now, that bit of warmth on my face just felt so dirty I wanted to wipe it off. That night, Fiona asked me to help her pack. With her hand resting on her belly, she ordered me around as if it were her right. “Pack those dresses too. And the perfume in the drawer.” “Oh, and take out that box in the very back of the closet.” I did as she said, packing everything into the suitcase one by one. Until I opened the box in the very back of the closet. Inside was a wine-red slip dress with very little fabric.

My fingertips paused. Fiona saw it, and instead of looking embarrassed, she smiled. “Just because a woman is pregnant doesn’t mean she can let herself go.” “If I meet a client, I at least need to look nice.” So she called Oren a client. I put the dress in the suitcase and saw the perfume she asked me to pack. It was a strong rose scent. But Fiona usually didn’t like perfume. She said the smell was too strong and gave her headaches. Once, I bought a bottle of woody fragrance and tentatively asked if she liked it. She just frowned and said: “Mason, don’t copy others with this flashy nonsense.” I never used it again after that. But now, she carefully placed that bottle of rose perfume in a shockproof bag. Like she was taking it to a very important date. Fiona reached out and grabbed a passport holder. There was a photo tucked inside. Fiona was looking up and smiling at Oren. It was a smile I had never seen before. Passionate, bright, and completely unreserved. I suddenly thought of our wedding day. Fiona walked toward me in her white veil, the look in her eyes so calm. When we exchanged rings, she even zoned out. I softly asked her what was wrong. She said, “Nothing, just suddenly thought of someone from the past.” I thought she was just nervous. Now I understand. At the moment she married me, the person she thought of was Oren. The next second, a men’s watch fell out from the lining of the suitcase. I completely froze. That watch was a gift I gave Fiona in our first year of marriage. She said at the time that the style was too masculine and didn’t suit her. I smiled and said: “Then let’s treat it as a token of our love.” “You don’t have to wear it, just keeping it is fine.” When Fiona saw the watch, her expression finally changed. But she quickly recovered and acted naturally. “Oren has always liked this brand.” “I figured I’d bring it to him.” I slowly looked up at her. “I gave that to you.” Fiona was taken aback. Probably not expecting me to speak in this tone. She frowned, her tone growing a bit impatient. “Mason, it’s just a watch.” “Why are you making such a big deal out of it?” “Oren is all alone abroad right now, with nothing around him.” “You have me, a home, and a baby. Why are you being so petty?” So my grievances could be pushed aside. My things could be given away. My marriage could be used as her fallback plan after a brief fling. I looked down at the watch and suddenly laughed. “Yeah, it’s just a watch.” Seeing that I didn’t press further, Fiona’s expression softened. She reached out to take the watch back. But I picked it up first and placed it in the outer compartment of the suitcase. “Put it here, it’s easier for you to grab.” She looked at me, seeming to feel something was off. “Mason, why are you acting so weird today?” I zipped up the suitcase, my voice very calm. “No.” “Just thinking that you’ll probably be really happy on this trip.” Fiona paused, then laughed. “Of course I’ll be happy.” She stroked her belly, a very gentle light appearing in her eyes. I watched her smile. The last bit of warmth in my heart completely froze over. She still didn’t know. As she was getting ready to fly to Oren’s side. My lawyer was already on his way. That night, Fiona did something rare and took the initiative to hug me before bed.

“Mason.” “When I get back, I promise I’ll be a good mom.” I closed my eyes and didn’t move. Fiona fell asleep quickly. Her breathing steady, the corners of her lips slightly tilted up. As if she were already seeing the person she wanted to see in her dreams. I sat up and picked up my phone. The lawyer sent the final version of the agreement. After reading it, I replied directly. “Deliver it tomorrow morning.” “I want her to sign it before she boards the plane.” The next morning, when the lawyer delivered the documents, Fiona only gave them a quick glance. “Buying a house? And I need to sign for that?” I didn’t answer. She seemed to have already assumed the answer. “Mason, I’m really in a hurry.” “Whatever house or car you want to buy, just buy it.” “You don’t need to specially bring these little things to me to sign in the future.” Fiona looked down and signed her name on the last page. After signing, she shoved the pen into my hand. “Happy now?” The lawyer stood to the side, his expression a bit subtle. I gently closed the document. “Yeah, we’re good.” Fiona seemed relieved and pulled her suitcase toward the door. Just before leaving, she turned around and kissed the side of my face. Like giving a little reward to an obedient pet. “I’ll bring you back a gift.” “Be a good boy at home.” At 3 PM, Fiona’s flight landed. She called me. I watched her name flashing on the screen, stayed silent for a few seconds, but answered anyway. “Mason, I’m here.” “The flight was smooth, and the baby was well-behaved, didn’t bother me at all.” Suddenly, Oren’s low laugh came through the phone. “I don’t know if the baby is well-behaved.” “But you’re much more obedient than before.” Fiona seemed to lightly swat him. “Oren, stop it.” “I’m letting Mason know I’m safe.” She told him to stop, but her voice was ridiculously soft. That shy tone was something I had never heard before. Oren leaned in closer, his voice almost coming through the receiver right against it. “Letting him know you’re safe?” “Do you want to tell him we’re in the same bed right now?” Fiona let out a sweet laugh. Like a teenage girl finally meeting the boy of her dreams. “Don’t be like this, he’ll hear you.” Oren’s voice got even lower. “Isn’t it more thrilling if he hears?” My hand gripping the phone slowly tightened. My knuckles turning white bit by bit. The next second, the sound of fabric rustling came from the other end. Along with Fiona’s suppressed, heavy breathing. She seemed to hurriedly cover the receiver. But some sounds only become clearer the more you try to hide them. “Oren… not here.” The call was hastily hung up. I sat on the couch, not moving for a long time. Actually, I had known all along she was going to see Oren. But to actually hear with my own ears how softly she laughed while beside another man. My chest still felt like it was being slowly squeezed by a hand, aching to the point of numbness. I had been married to Fiona for five years. To me, she was always decent, always thoughtful, always restrained. I used to think that was just the kind of person she was. But it turns out, no. She just saved all her loss of control, shyness, and passion for Oren. And what she gave me was the position of a husband. A home she could return to at any time after her ten-month fling. My phone suddenly vibrated. An unknown number sent a photo. Under the warm yellow light of the hotel room, Fiona’s cheeks were flushed, and the corners of her eyes were moist.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “409885”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

“Serena, sign it.” Outside the courtroom, my husband Julian threw a letter of understanding in front of me, his gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses as cold as ice. “You don’t want Leo to bear the crime of defamation even after his death, do you?” Chloe had just driven my brother to jump off a building to his death. And my husband was holding her shoulders, gently wiping her tears. “Julian, my heart hurts so much…” Chloe pouted, snuggling into his arms. “Serena, you only have thirty seconds left.” He didn’t even look at me. I stared fiercely at the man and woman in front of me, my voice trembling, “What if I don’t sign?” Julian finally looked up, slowly tapping into the live broadcast on his phone. In the cemetery, several bodyguards holding shovels stood in front of my brother’s unsealed tombstone. “Be good,” he smiled. “Can you bear to let Leo have no peace even after death?” At that moment, I finally understood that the love I once believed in was nothing but a joke. Serena’s POV Just because my brother got in the way of the industry’s little princess on a talent show, he was framed for drug possession. He was bullied across the internet. Finally, he leapt from the rooftop of Starlight Entertainment. The day I took that arrogant Chloe to court, she was released on the spot due to “insufficient evidence.” And standing at the defendant’s desk, protecting Chloe, was the city’s most powerful financial tycoon, the president of Starlight Entertainment. Also my secretly married husband of three years, Julian. After the trial ended, the handsome, noble man walked to the plaintiff’s desk and threw a letter of understanding and apology in front of me. “Serena, sign it. You don’t want Leo to be cursed and slandered by the whole internet for defamation even after his death, do you?” His tone was coaxing, but the gaze hidden behind his gold-rimmed glasses was as sharp as ice. I looked at him, my voice shaking. “Why, Julian?” I couldn’t understand. I was his wife. He had loved me so much. Even if it meant defying his family’s marriage arrangements, even if it meant being put under house arrest by the Sterling family, he still insisted on marrying me. I was just a small-time star with no background. But after my brother died, I begged him crying countless times. Even this morning, I knelt at his feet, threatening him with divorce, begging him not to intervene in this case. But what did he say? “Serena, don’t force me! Chloe got into a car accident trying to save me. Her legs were almost crippled, and she can never dance ballet again. I must protect her, even if… the enemy is my most beloved wife.” As he spoke, he tapped his tablet, showing me a live broadcast feed. “You have two minutes to consider. Even if you aren’t thinking for yourself, you should think of Leo. Sign it, and I’ll have someone return Leo’s ashes to you.” The video showed the cemetery, where several bodyguards in black holding shovels were standing in front of Leo’s unsealed tombstone. With one move… My tears fell instantly. “What are you doing?!” But he didn’t even frown. “Be good, don’t waste time. Can you bear to let Leo have no peace even after death?” “Julian!” I stared fiercely at the man in front of me, biting my lip until it almost bled. “I want a divorce.” But in this cruel confrontation, he remained relentlessly calm. “Serena, you only have thirty seconds left.” At that moment, my heart felt as if pierced by a needle. How ironic; this man had once loved me with all his life. Three years ago, he fell in love with me at first sight in Starlight’s practice room. I was a nobody small star practicing desperately, yet he confessed his love a full hundred times. He would book an entire sea of flowers overnight just because I casually mentioned I liked them; He would also hold me distressed and carry me across three streets when I sprained my ankle during dance practice. It was also then that I learned there was a daughter of the Walker family who grew up with him and had been chasing him for years. But he had no one else in his eyes. “Serena, I only love you; I only have sibling feelings for Chloe!” The turning point happened half a year ago. Chloe was in a car accident abroad, and to save Julian, both her legs were severely injured. Since then, his attitude toward this friend completely changed. He canceled cross-border meetings to accompany her personally, and even to pave the way for her entry into the entertainment industry, he forcibly canceled all my schedules. At first, I believed him. Until the day my brother had the accident. I was blocked by crazy anti-fans downstairs at the company, and Julian’s phone couldn’t get through no matter what. Out of helplessness, my brother Leo went alone to confront Chloe, but this trip led him to fall from the 33rd floor, never to return. Everyone insisted it was an accident, saying Leo committed suicide out of guilt. Even Julian, who happened to be absent from the scene when the incident occurred, believed this statement. But that day, I clearly received my brother’s last voice message. I heard the chaos on the other end of the phone, mixed with Chloe’s cold mockery and my brother’s desperate cries. My brother was driven to his death! Over the past six months, I suffered in pain and self-blame, and finally found a shred of evidence through my breakdown. I begged Julian countless times to help me. But during this trial, he stood on the opposite side without hesitation. He protected the murderer who killed my brother, and to force me to apologize to her, he even used my brother’s ashes as a threat… At this moment, looking at Julian in front of me, I only felt he was so unfamiliar, as if he came from hell. I despaired and accepted my fate, trembling fingers signing crooked handwriting on that statement. “Satisfied? Then tell them to get the hell out of the cemetery…” But as my hoarse voice just fell, a sudden exclamation came from behind. Chloe suddenly clutched her chest and lay on the defendant’s desk. “Julian, help me, my heart hurts so much!” At that second, Julian panicked so much that he directly dropped the tablet and rushed quickly behind him. On the other end of the live broadcast, the countdown had already ended. Without receiving Julian’s order to stop, the bodyguards had already swung their shovels… “No! I’ve already signed! Julian, tell them to stop!” I screamed, but how would those bodyguards listen to my orders. I wanted to pounce and grab Julian, but the man’s heart was entirely focused on Chloe; he even slammed his elbow into me as he rushed out holding her. I fell hard to the ground, my forehead hitting the corner of the desk. Blood slid down my cheek, and tears smashed onto the tablet one after another. It was too late, already too late… I saw the white porcelain jar holding the ashes brutally smashed. Against the cold wind, the ashes scattered bit by bit onto the muddy ground. Heart-wrenching self-blame tore at my heart. My brother loved cleanliness the most when he was alive, but now, not only did he die unjustly, even his ashes were being trampled into the dirt. “Leo, I’m sorry…” My crying broke down completely. Suddenly I regretted it so much, regretted falling in love with Julian, regretted marrying him. Endless regret struck my mind like a dull bell, and my vision suddenly went dizzy. In a world that darkened frame by frame, I only heard Julian’s anxious voice outside the courtroom. “Chloe, hold on, as long as you’re okay, I’ll promise you anything!”

Serena’s POV When I woke up again, I was in the hospital. The young associate lawyer stood helplessly by the bed. “Serena, this case has already been settled. You need to look on the bright side; your health is the most important.” I snapped out of it amidst the lingering pain in my heart, ignoring the IV needle in my hand, and sat up to quickly rummage through my bag. “Could you please check if this agreement is valid?” My voice trembling, I handed over the document I had dug out. The other party quickly gave an affirmative answer. “Serena, your husband has already signed this divorce agreement. You only need to sign and submit it, and you can get your divorce decree in a month.” This morning, I had kneeled in front of Julian with this document. Perhaps he was in too much of a rush to leave, or maybe he didn’t believe I would actually divorce him. He assumed the agreement was fake and actually signed it without even looking. But he would never guess that everything I said was true. I didn’t want to wait another moment. I pulled out the IV needle and rushed to submit the paperwork. After completing the procedures, I made one last trip to the cemetery. In the cool, drizzling rain, I knelt straight in the muddy ground, scooping up the ashes mixed with dirt bit by bit. “Leo, I will avenge you.” I don’t know how long I knelt there before I wiped away my tears and made a phone call. “Hello, I’d like to schedule a faked-death rescue.” “In one month, the cause of death will be ‘accidental fall into the sea.’ I will arrange the location, and you only need to prepare a brand new identity for me, rescue me, and send me abroad.” Yes, I wasn’t just going to get a divorce. In a month, I would also personally claim my justice and leave Julian an unforgettable surprise. By the time I finished all this and returned to the villa, it was already dark. The lights were on in the living room. Julian was holding a bowl, feeding Chloe spoonful by spoonful. “Julian, I posted that apology letter online.” Chloe said, tilting her head to lean on the man’s shoulder. “Serena’s fans have been cursing me all this time. Now that the truth is out, she deserves a lesson. You’re not allowed to interfere.” Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he still agreed. “Alright, she made a mistake and should be punished.” I suddenly recalled the curses online; they said my brother deserved to die, called me a bitch who climbed up through capital, and said I wasn’t even fit to compare to a single hair on Miss Chloe’s head… A sharp pain hit my heart as I walked into the living room. “Where did you go?” Seeing me, Julian paused, his tone inexplicably softening. “The wound on your forehead… how did that happen?” I ignored him. It was Chloe who squeezed her throat and changed the subject. “You’re back, Serena. Perfect timing. I’m about to debut as a singer soon, and Julian said I should stay here first so it’s convenient to discuss music. Come look at my schedule with me.” Julian cleared his throat lightly, looking a bit hesitant. “Serena, Chloe hasn’t fully recovered yet, so she’ll be staying here for a while. You need to put more effort in normally; her throat is delicate and she can’t drink cold water. You’ll guide her daily vocal practice, and also… pick out a few of your stage outfits that fit her and alter them for her.” Every word was like a knife stabbing into my heart. I was so incredulous that I let out a cold laugh. “What, you want me to be her assistant and vocal coach?” “Be good, Serena. The past is in the past, let’s not pursue it anymore. You’re the main vocalist of the group; I feel at ease leaving it to you…” He consciously stopped the rest of his words. On one side of the dining table, Chloe’s debut proposal was densely written, while on the floor lay some of my most cherished stage outfits, thrown about crookedly and cut into a complete mess. It turned out the so-called guidance was just trampling on everything I worked for. Many years ago, an investor merely called me a “singing girl,” and Julian flew into a rage, pulling all their investments that very night. “Serena is my wife. Whoever dares to belittle or bully her is slapping my face!” But now, he was going back on his word, making me an exclusive assistant for my enemy. What deep love, what vows. They were just that fragile. I would never believe them again. I forced back the wetness in my eyes. For the last thirty days, I had to endure everything… But who would have thought that on the very night she moved in, Chloe would throw a fit about having a nightmare. When she rushed barefoot into the master bedroom, Julian had just finished showering. “Julian, I can’t sleep alone.” She looked fragile and spoiled, getting directly into bed and burying herself into Julian’s bare-chested embrace. “The mattress in the guest room is so hard. I’m scared; I want you to sleep with me.” Hearing this, Julian’s handsome brows slightly furrowed. I knew his heart ached for her. It ached so much that, ignoring my presence, he wrapped his arms around Chloe in a soothing embrace. His gaze looked toward the left side of the double bed. “Serena, Chloe has been through trauma. You see… could you go stay in another room for now.” At that moment, I saw a fleeting provocation on Chloe’s face. I grabbed my pillow and got out of bed. “Since Miss Chloe likes it, I’ll give this bed to you.” Yes, not just this master bedroom, this bed, but also this man. I didn’t want any of them anymore.

Serena’s POV In the following days, with Julian’s company every night, Chloe quickly regained her vitality. When she was occasionally bored, she would invite a few socialite friends over for afternoon tea. “Chloe, Mr. Sterling definitely has you in his heart. During the half-year you were in the car accident, he went to the hospital every few days, and even made a wish that as long as you could stand up again, he would divorce Serena for you!” I happened to pass by and heard this sentence; my heart felt like it had been slit open by a knife. Julian wasn’t around, and Chloe couldn’t be bothered to pretend. She called out to me in a put-on tone. “Serena, why is the cup of tea you brewed so hot? It makes me sick just looking at it.” I was just about to take the cup away when someone grabbed my wrist. “Wait, what’s with your attitude? Our Chloe is about to become the most famous person at Starlight. Is pouring a glass of water too much for you? Stop acting so high and mighty!” Receiving Chloe’s glance, one of her friends scolded me fiercely. Before I could react, the other party grabbed my hair, and a full cup of hot water was instantly splashed over me. “Stop!” But the next second, a suddenly appearing male voice broke the standoff. Julian had just walked through the door and saw this scene. He rushed over with a cold face, shielding me behind him. “Who allowed you to bully her?” As his roar fell, Chloe, who had been watching with a smile, instantly reddened her eyes. She incredibly smoothly covered her throat. “Julian! It’s not like that!” “Don’t blame my friend. She did it for me. She deliberately added peanut powder to my water. My throat hurts so much, I can’t breathe.” Julian’s movements abruptly stopped. He looked at me with scrutiny, his gaze turning completely cold. Peanut powder? “Peanut powder? Serena, I clearly told you that Chloe is severely allergic to peanuts. It will affect her vocal cords!” How ridiculous. From protecting me to pushing me away, it only took one lie from Chloe. “I didn’t!” Water dripped from the tips of my hair, and my eyes ached. “She’s faking it.” But my explanation was drowned out by Chloe’s superb acting, coupled with the lies of her friends… Julian finally lost his temper, violently smashing the cup on the table. He stepped forward and scooped Chloe up in his arms, saying sternly. “Serena, stay at home and reflect on your actions!” But Chloe was clearly unsatisfied, crying pitifully. “I’m not going to the hospital. I’m about to record my debut single soon; what if my voice is ruined? Julian, just let me die in pain.” Chloe threw a tantrum and refused to go to the hospital, until Julian completely hardened his heart and coldly called for the bodyguards. “Take the madam to the underground recording studio!” The underground recording studio was the place Starlight Entertainment used to punish disobedient artists. The soundproofing was excellent, and the air conditioning was kept at the lowest setting year-round. I trembled and struggled under the bodyguards’ grip. “No! I don’t want to go!” But no matter how I cried and screamed, the figure carrying Chloe as he rushed out of the villa never looked back. For a full five hours, I was locked in the recording studio that was like an ice cellar. The bodyguards Julian arranged stood outside the door, coldly relaying orders through the microphone. “Mr. Sterling said that since the madam doesn’t know how to protect a singer’s throat, the madam is to sing Miss Chloe’s debut single a hundred times in here. Not one less, or you’re not allowed out.” That debut single was full of extremely high notes throughout; it was a highly vocal-taxing show-off piece to begin with. I was shivering all over from the cold. I tried pounding on the soundproof glass, but no one paid any attention. I knew that if I didn’t sing, Julian had plenty of ways to torture me, and he might even implicate the sisters in my group. I gripped the microphone tightly, singing over and over again in the sub-zero air conditioning. By the fiftieth time, my throat was already hurting as if it were tearing; By the eightieth time, every vocalization was accompanied by a strong taste of blood. Until the hundredth time ended, a mouthful of blood suddenly surged up in my throat, dyeing the microphone in front of me red. I slid weakly onto the cold floor, so numb I forgot what pain was, with only a single tear sliding past the corner of my eye. I closed my eyes, letting despair overdraw the last bit of love… “Serena, don’t sleep, wake up, okay?” As the familiar male voice pulled my consciousness back, I opened my eyes. What met my eyes was the crystal chandelier of the guest room. Julian, sitting by the bed, finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw me wake up, his tone softening. “I know you’re angry, Serena, but you really did the wrong thing. No matter what, you shouldn’t joke about Chloe’s throat.” Facing his accusations the moment I woke up, I couldn’t help but sneer, only to find I couldn’t make a sound at all, only able to emit a hoarse, ugly gasp. “Do you believe her that much?” Julian frowned, looking a bit impatient. “Enough. I’ve already had someone handle Leo’s matter again; don’t make a fuss about it anymore. Right now, Chloe’s condition is the real problem.” “She’s been frightened, and her throat isn’t in good condition. The recording hasn’t been going smoothly. The producer said we must have a better original track to make her an instant hit.” I froze. So, he stayed by my side, hoping I’d wake up, just for Chloe?

Serena’s POV My hoarse voice was full of trembling. “Julian, can’t you see how I am?” I pointed to my neck wrapped in gauze. The doctor had applied cold compresses to relieve the torn vocal cords. My throat was ruined. As a main vocalist, my career was practically destroyed by his own hands. But Julian fell silent for a moment, still speaking ruthlessly. “The doctor said you’ll recover as long as you rest for a few months. But Chloe’s debut press conference is next week; she can’t wait!” “What if I say no?” I had no more tears left to shed. “Are you going to lock me in the recording studio again and make me sing until my voice is completely ruined?!” Julian closed his eyes. “Serena, bear with it. Once Chloe successfully debuts, and once I’ve repaid her for saving my life, we’ll be just like before.” He seemed to be making a promise, then placed a “Copyright Transfer Agreement” on the bedside table, his attitude returning to calm. “Remember, if you don’t sign, the resources for those sisters in your group will all be cut off tomorrow. That songbook filled with your original hard work will just be your apology to Chloe.” The guest room door slammed shut with a “bang”. Several bodyguards dutifully stood by the bed. “Madam, don’t delay. Mr. Sterling said you must sign this agreement and hand over the songbook.” That night, I was forced by the bodyguards and didn’t sleep a wink. My fingers trembling, I signed my name on the agreement, watching the bodyguards take away the original songbook I treasured like gold, my heart aching as if cut by a knife. Finally, at dawn, Chloe’s satisfied chuckle came from the master bedroom. “Julian, these songs are written so well. The moment I sang them, I felt they fit my voice perfectly.” Julian responded to her gently. “That’s great, be good, practice a bit more, I’ll stay with you.” I curled up little by little in the corner of the bed, listening to the songs I wrote for my brother being trampled on recklessly by my enemy, my eyes stinging so much I wanted to laugh. Once, when I was stuck writing songs and stayed up late, Julian would feel pained and blame himself for a long time, canceling all work to accompany me in finding inspiration. Now, he could actually use my painstakingly created work to make another woman happy. Julian, oh Julian, you actually said we’d be like before? How could it be the same? My love for you has clearly been used up… The next day, Chloe was in a great mood because she got the excellent songs, pulling Julian out to relax. I only found out they went to Paris to watch a fashion show through her daily updates shared online. The photo showed the night view of the Eiffel Tower, with Chloe being tightly held by the man’s slender fingers. The caption read. “The tenth year of liking you, wishes come true…” I stared at the photo, my heart so empty it felt like wind was blowing through it, yet unexpectedly, I no longer felt pain. I silently took off the wedding ring on my ring finger, then went to the walk-in closet, cut up all the haute couture dresses Julian had ever given me, and threw them into the trash can. After doing this, I turned on the computer, logged into the Ins account full of malicious comments, set a scheduled post for a month later, and wrote. “When this letter is posted, I will probably already be gone…” I wrote that planned “suicide note” for a very, very long time. Just as I typed the final period, the sound of a car parking suddenly rang out in the yard. Julian rushed into the villa with hurried steps. “Why did you destroy those dresses, Serena? Didn’t you like them the most? I personally flew to Milan to have them custom-made for you back then.” For some reason, his face was a bit pale, and a barely noticeable trace of panic showed in the depths of his eyes. I looked at him calmly, didn’t ask anything, and just snapped the laptop shut. “They’re dirty. I’ll wear something else from now on.” Hearing me mention “from now on,” Julian finally suppressed that bout of unease. “Alright, I’ll buy you new ones from now on.” The night Julian returned, there was a top-tier charity gala in our circle that required my attendance with him. In the evening, before the Rolls-Royce headed to the banquet venue, it made a trip to the styling salon first. Julian got out of the car to pick her up personally. Chloe was wearing a current-season haute couture dress worth millions and a rare pink diamond necklace, yet she stood there motionless. The man awkwardly opened the rear door. “Serena, you see…” But before he could finish speaking, I silently got out of the car and directly sat in the passenger seat next to the driver.

Serena’s POV The charity gala was held at a manor hotel. In the banquet hall on the first floor, light and shadow interlaced under the crystal chandelier. When Chloe appeared on Julian’s arm, she instantly became the center of attention. A group of socialites and artists from the circle consciously gathered around. “Chloe, Mr. Sterling is too good to you! You’re the first in the world to wear this haute couture!” “Yeah, I heard a few days ago abroad, to snatch this pink diamond necklace from a certain European financial tycoon, he stayed up negotiating with them for three nights straight and even got a stomach ulcer?” So, he suffered like that to get the jewelry for Chloe… Chatting about this, Chloe’s eyes even reddened. “Don’t mention it, my heart aches so much. But I just said I liked it, and he…” “He clearly loves you so much he doesn’t even want his life.” The few of them offered compliments all at once, and someone even sneered a glance at me. “Some people, wearing a bunch of out-of-season rags from five years ago, think they’ve changed their status. In reality, they’re not even fit to tie Chloe’s shoes!” I glanced at the dress on my body; it was something Julian had his assistant prepare casually. I pinched my fingers tightly. Halfway through the banquet, Chloe took a fancy to the global spokesperson position for an international top luxury brand. But it just so happened that the president of that brand was a notorious pervert. Holding a wine glass, his eyes roamed unscrupulously over the female artists. Chloe pouted, tugging at Julian’s sleeve. “Julian, I really want that endorsement. If I don’t get it, the momentum for my debut will be weakened by a lot.” With just one sentence, Julian privately sought out that Mr. Wallace himself. “Mr. Wallace, name your price. As long as you can give the endorsement to Chloe, you can pick any of Starlight’s resources.” The man opposite laughed with a pfft. “Mr. Sterling, you should know my rules. I don’t lack resources. It’s just that drinking alone has been too boring lately, and I happen to be short of a beauty to keep me company. How about this…” When I went to the restroom, I accidentally overheard their conversation at the corner. “Your wife is quite pleasing to my eyes. If she can keep me company for a few drinks alone, I’ll sign that endorsement right away.” Julian’s face sank. “I’ll think about it.” At that moment, I felt as if I had fallen into an ice cellar. What did he mean… he’ll think about it? That Mr. Wallace was a notorious playboy in the circle. Rumor had it he had a kink for spiking drinks; none of the female artists he set his sights on could escape unscathed. My body trembled faintly, and I turned to leave quickly. But not long after, in a corner of the banquet hall, I was grabbed by someone. “Serena, there’s something I want to discuss with you.” Julian paused, eagerly handing me a glass of wine he had mixed himself. “You’ve seen it too. Chloe’s condition has been much better lately. As long as we secure this endorsement, she can completely establish her footing, and she won’t bother us anymore in the future. It’s just… Mr. Wallace specifically asked for you to drink with him today.” “He said that as long as you’re willing to go to the VIP room and have a drink with him, the endorsement can be signed to Chloe. You see…” “Impossible!” I suppressed my trembling and shoved him away. “Julian, what do you take me for?!” Immense bitterness washed over my heart. I tried to suppress the surging emotions and drank the fruit wine in my hand in one gulp as if to vent. But just as I walked out of the banquet hall, my brain suddenly felt a hazy dizziness, and my whole body fell backward uncontrollably. There was something wrong with that glass of wine… As my consciousness blurred, I vaguely felt Julian catch me. His murmuring voice was stifled with reluctance. “I’m sorry, Serena, this is the last time. I promise it’s just having a drink, and I’ll be guarding the door for you.” The VIP room door was heavily shut, and I opened my eyes in the overly glaring lights. I was lying on a wide leather sofa. That pot-bellied Mr. Wallace was rubbing his hands, approaching with a face full of lecherous smiles. A chill instantly swept through my whole body. I panicked and curled up my body, but my weak covering was useless, and the feeling of powerlessness all over made me unable to get up. “Miss Serena, you are so beautiful, even more alluring than on the screen.” The man pounced on me with evil intentions, his thick, fleshy hands reaching to tear my skirt. “You pervert! Get away! I’m calling the police!” I screamed in despair. “Oh? Are you going to report me? Or your husband?” The man sneered. “This room was personally booked by Mr. Sterling. It’s nothing more than having you sleep with me in exchange for an endorsement. After all, I promised Julian I wouldn’t hurt you. But if you have other needs, I…” “Get away!” At that moment, I could no longer hold back my tears. I mustered all my strength to grab a bottle of wine on the table, smashed it hard against the corner, and held a sharp piece of glass against my own neck. “Don’t come over! If you come any closer, I’ll die right here! Then Starlight Entertainment and your brand will both be tied up in a wrongful death lawsuit!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “409884”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

On our fifth wedding anniversary, Nate Thorne locked me in an industrial freezer, forcing me to chisel out my discarded wedding ring from a one-ton block of solid ice with my bare hands. My hands were frozen purple, blood dripping down the chisel. “Nate, I really can’t chisel anymore…” He stood a few feet away, his expensive coat untouched by the cold. “Can’t chisel? When your parents drove drunk and killed my whole family, why didn’t they say they couldn’t hit the brakes?” Just then, his new girlfriend, Sera Bloom, walked in in high heels and kicked over a bucket of ice water, drenching me. “Nate, she won’t die, will she?” Nate Thorne didn’t even glance at me. “Don’t worry about her. She’s not going anywhere.” Then he wrapped an arm around Sera and turned to leave, his voice as gentle as if he were soothing a child: “Are you cold, Sera?” I lay in the biting ice water, watching him embrace her and walk away. This was the man I had loved for ten years. Five years ago, he knelt and put a ring on my finger, promising to treat me like a princess. Now, he was doting on someone else, and he wanted me dead.

Elara Vance pov On the fifth anniversary of our marriage, Nate Thorne forced me into an industrial freezer, demanding I use my bare hands to chisel out the wedding ring he’d thrown away, from a one-ton block of solid ice. The freezer room was bitterly cold, the white mist stinging my face like needles. I knelt on the freezing, biting floor, clutching a rusty chisel, repeatedly striking the massive ice block before me. My hands were already purple and swollen from the cold, blood streaming down the chisel, staining the pure white ice with shocking red. “Nate, I really… I can’t chisel anymore…” My voice was hoarse, my teeth chattering uncontrollably. Nate Thorne stood a few feet away, dressed in a perfectly tailored black designer coat. “Can’t chisel?” Nate sneered, “When your parents drove drunk, speeding, and smashed my mom, dad, and sister into bloody pieces, why didn’t they say they couldn’t hit the brakes?” “I’m sorry…” Desperate tears welled up, freezing on my eyelashes. I’d uttered those apologies millions of times over the past five years; it had become a habit. “But my parents have already died to atone for that accident. Isn’t that… isn’t that enough?” “Their deaths won’t bring my family back!” Nate Thorne suddenly kicked the ice block, shaking me to the ground. My palm scraped against sharp ice shards, instantly drawing blood. “Elara Vance, it’s only been five years, and you can’t take it anymore? When you begged me to marry you, didn’t you say you’d do anything for me? Now I’m just asking you to find a ring, and you’re feeling wronged?” He abruptly let go, pulling out a handkerchief with disgust to wipe his fingers, then gave a look to the bodyguard behind him: “Watch her. Keep chiseling. She’s not allowed out until she finds the ring.” The freezer door was left ajar, and bitter cold wind continuously poured in. I trembled all over from the pain, my stomach cramping, yet I was powerless to resist. When would this torment finally end…? I didn’t know. “Nate, didn’t we say we’d go to the concert? What’s going on here?” A sweet, delicate female voice suddenly came from the freezer doorway. I looked through my blurry vision and saw Sera Bloom standing there in a pure white down jacket, a soft red scarf wrapped around her neck. She was like the only warm presence in this icy world, her features pure, radiating an innocent charm. My breath hitched, my heart squeezed tight by an invisible hand. Sera did… she looked exactly like my twenty-two-year-old self. No wonder Nate chose to keep her by his side. Upon seeing Sera, the ice in Nate’s eyes instantly melted. He hurried over, naturally adjusted her scarf, his voice so tender it could drip honey: “Sera, can you wait a bit? Today is Elara’s and my wedding anniversary, and I’m giving her a gift.” Hearing this, Sera glanced at me dismissively, then tugged at Nate playfully: “Don’t waste time on someone not worth it, okay? It’s so cold in here, I’m going to catch a cold.” Nate fell silent. Clearly, he couldn’t bear for Sera to suffer the cold. So he took off his coat and draped it over Sera’s shoulders, gently changing the subject: “Good girl, are you hungry? I’ll take you to dinner right now.” With that, he took Sera’s hand, ready to leave. However, as she passed me, Sera deliberately ‘slipped,’ kicking over a bucket of ice water meant for the ice block, sending it pouring directly over me. The ice water splashed down on my head, and I shivered violently. The biting cold instantly pierced my bones, freezing my breath. “Ah!” Sera gasped, hiding in Nate’s arms. “I didn’t mean to! Nate, she won’t be hurt, will she?” Nate didn’t even glance at me: “Don’t worry about her. Evil ones always cling to life; she won’t die.” He took Sera’s hand, frowning slightly. “Your fingers got splashed with water.” Just a tiny bit of water on her fingertip, yet Nate treated it like a fragile object, tenderly blowing on it at his lips: “Cold? Let’s get back to the car and turn on the heat.” Sera leaned into his embrace, tilting her head to kiss his cheek: “Just hold me, and I won’t be cold.” Nate cupped her waist, deepening the kiss. I lay in the biting ice water, listening to the sounds of their lips intertwining, my heart aching as if torn by knives. “Sera…” In a moment of passion, Nate gently whispered Sera’s pet name. After the kiss, Nate half-embraced Sera, and without looking back, told the bodyguard: “Keep an eye on her while she chisels. If she doesn’t finish, keep her in the freezer overnight.” He paused, his voice as cold as ice, “This body of hers is the only thing left worth tormenting.” I watched him embrace Sera and walk away, my heart feeling torn in two.

Elara Vance pov The time when Nate and I were in love felt like a very distant memory now. On this day five years ago, we should have been the happiest newlyweds. Nate held me in his arms, kissing my forehead, saying: “Elara, I’ve finally married you. From now on, my life is yours.” But now, he held another woman in his arms, and he wanted my life. They grew up together, from kindergarten to college, always inseparable. Everyone knew how much Nate loved me. Late at night, I’d casually mention wanting cake from the west side of town, and he’d drive two hours in a snowstorm to buy it; When I had period cramps, he’d stay up all night rubbing my stomach; On the day he proposed, he knelt and put a ring on my finger, saying he’d pamper me like a little princess for the rest of my life. Until the day our wedding was supposed to happen, a car crash changed everything. My parents, rushing to attend the wedding, drove drunk and sped, killing Nate’s entire family. That day, a joyous occasion turned into a tragedy, and lovers became enemies. He lost his father, his mother, and his sister. From then on, he was the only one left of his family. His hatred was boundless. He used his connections to send my parents directly to prison. The last time I visited them, I was informed that my parents had taken their own lives. The two elders had already been tormented and emaciated in prison, clinging to their last breaths. They gently stroked my cheek, sobbing and comforting me: “Elara, your parents did wrong and deserve to atone for their sins, but you did nothing wrong. You must live well…” “Nate hates you, but he once loved you deeply… Please, your parents are begging you, no matter what happens next, you must hold on for five years. If after five years, you still can’t find hope to live, then… then come and join us.” That day, my parents died. And I became the one to continue atoning for Nate’s family. Five years, over 1,800 days and nights, I was tormented by Nate in various ways. Kneeling in the snow in winter, locked in an air-conditioner-less room in the scorching summer, forced to eat foods I was allergic to… Countless times I wanted to die, but because of that five-year promise, I was pulled back from hell again and again. Until three months ago, Sera appeared. She looked like me from back then, her demeanor also similar. She was a carefully chosen replacement for Nate. He gave all his love to this stand-in, and vented all his torment on me, the original. His methods of torture were already bizarre; I should have been used to them. But watching them kiss countless times, hearing him call her “Sera,” witnessing him dote on her just as he used to dote on me, I still felt a suffocating pain. Now, only seven days remained until the five-year mark. In the cold freezer, I touched the family photo hidden in my pocket, my fingertips already numb from the cold. The three people in the photo smiled brightly, a dream now out of reach. “Dad, Mom…” I whispered softly, my body slowly tilting towards the icy surface. “I’ll hold on for seven more days… After seven days… I’ll come find you…” When I woke up again, it was already noon the next day. I lay on the cold, hard bed in the guest room, my wet clothes having been casually changed by a maid. A high fever made my body burning hot, and my bones ached from being soaked in ice water. My hands were covered in chilblains and cracks, and the slightest movement caused piercing pain. I touched the family photo over my heart, remembering the five-year promise with my parents— Six days left. I had to listen to my parents and try to find hope to live.

Elara Vance pov I glanced at the calendar on the nightstand, seeing that special day circled in red. I remembered it was Nate Thorne’s birthday. Just one last try. I forced myself to endure the stinging pain in my hands and the dizziness from the high fever, working in the kitchen for a whole afternoon. My fingers, numb from frostbite, wouldn’t obey, and the whisk dropped to the floor several times. Each time, I picked it up, washed it clean, and continued. The cake batter burned twice, but I patiently started over. By evening, a delicate Black Forest cake was finally complete. It was Nate’s favorite flavor from before. I then dug out old photo albums, selecting a few pictures of us from our youth, and, enduring my trembling hands, made a handmade photo album. Finally, I gathered my courage and sent Nate a message: [Nate, I’m waiting for you at our usual spot. I have something I want to tell you.] After the message sent, I left and went to the riverside restaurant we used to frequent. I arrived half an hour early, placed the cake and gift on the table, and waited nervously. Nate was an hour late. When he pushed open the door, he was dressed in a well-tailored black suit, his eyes stern. Upon seeing the cake on the table, his expression instantly turned extremely grim. “Did you forget I don’t celebrate my birthday after my parents died?” He said coldly, walking forward and mercilessly knocking over the cake. The delicate Black Forest cake crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces, cream splattering onto my skirt, but I didn’t flinch: “I know… but after all these years, my parents have died to atone for their mistakes, and I’ve suffered so much torment…” My voice trembled, and I looked up at him, with a last sliver of hope, “Can we let each other go and start over?” “No!” Nate answered decisively, “The torment you’ve endured is far less than a tenth of what I experienced back then!” He leaned in close, hands braced on the table, his eyes brimming with immense hatred: “Elara Vance, because of your parents’ drunk driving, I watched my mom, dad, and sister die right in front of me. My loving grandfather saw their bodies and died of a brain hemorrhage from grief. Overnight, my family was destroyed!” He suddenly reached out and squeezed my chin, his nails almost digging into my flesh: “You want me to let it go? How can I? Every time I see your face, I remember how my parents died!” My tears rolled down, hitting his hand: “I’m sorry… I really…” “Nate!” A clear voice interrupted her. Sera Bloom, wearing a white sweater, ran in, holding a delicate glass jar filled with colorful paper cranes. “Happy Birthday!” Her smile was bright, and she handed the jar to Nate, seemingly oblivious to my disheveled state. “I folded them myself, a thousand of them. From now on, every time you take one out, you can make a wish to me.” Nate froze, his hand clutching my chin abruptly loosening. My heart felt like it was gripped by an invisible hand, and even my breaths tasted of blood. This scene was too familiar. When I was eighteen, I had also given Nate a jar of paper cranes just like this, saying the exact same words. “Sera…” Nate’s voice was a little hoarse, the hostility in his eyes instantly dissipating. He took the jar, his fingertips gently tracing the glass surface, his gaze distant. The next second, he suddenly pulled Sera into a hug, his voice so tender it could drip honey: “I love this gift. Thank you, Sera.” Sera shot me a triumphant glance, then hugged Nate back: “As long as you like it.” I sat there, my fingers stroking the neglected handmade photo album, my heart feeling like it was being sliced by a dull knife, instantly a bloody mess. I hadn’t expected that it wasn’t someone else who defeated me, but my past self. Nate would always hate the current me, but deeply loved the girl from his memories. Watching the two embrace intimately, I didn’t have the courage to watch anymore. I stood up, stumbled out of the restaurant, and drove into the night. The neon lights outside the car window blurred into a streak, and tears fell uncontrollably. I wiped them away, but new tears welled up, endless. I thought I had long since become numb, but it turned out I still felt pain. Just as the car was about to pass an intersection, a white figure suddenly rushed out from the roadside.

Elara Vance pov With a loud bang, the car slammed to a halt. I trembled all over, my mind blank. I looked up to see a figure thrown from the front of the car, landing heavily on the ground. It was… Sera? I scrambled out of the car, my legs weak, and ran over. Sure enough, I saw Sera lying on the ground, a striking pool of blood spreading beneath her. “Sera!” Nate Thorne’s agonizing shout came from behind. He had clearly followed me out. He rushed forward like a madman, pushing me aside and scooping up the unconscious Sera. “Elara Vance! Wasn’t it enough that your family killed all of mine? Why can’t you leave even her alone now?!” I was pushed to the ground, trembling all over: “It wasn’t me… she just rushed out suddenly…” Nate didn’t listen at all. He got into the bodyguard’s car that had just arrived, carrying Sera, only throwing back one instruction: “Take her to the hospital. Make her kneel outside the emergency room to atone!” Two bodyguards stepped forward, roughly grabbed me, and shoved me into another car. Outside the emergency room, Nate stood at the end of the corridor, his back tense. I was forced to stand on the cold floor, my vision blurring from the high fever, but I dared not move. “If anything happens to her, Elara Vance, I’ll make you pay with your life.” Nate’s voice was as cold as ice, every word like a knife piercing my heart. I lowered my head, tears silently hitting the ground. Time ticked by, minute by minute, until finally, the emergency room light went out. The doctor walked out, removing his mask, his expression grave: “Mr. Thorne, Ms. Bloom’s kidney was severely damaged in the accident, leading to a major hemorrhage. She urgently needs a kidney transplant, otherwise her life is in danger.” Nate’s face changed drastically: “Arrange for matching immediately! No matter the cost, she must be saved!” The doctor nodded: “Ms. Bloom has a rare RH-negative blood type. She needs a compatible donor, and the blood bank is currently short on blood, let alone a suitable kidney source.” Nate’s gaze shifted, fixing on me, kneeling on the ground, his voice chilling to the bone: “She’s RH-negative. Make her get tested for a match.” I looked up, my body trembling as I stared at him. He wanted me… to donate a kidney to Sera? I tried to stand up, trembling, but was instantly held down firmly by the bodyguards. Nate walked over, looking down at me, his eyes devoid of any warmth: “Elara Vance, this is what you owe me, and what you owe her. You have no right to refuse!” I trembled all over, tears blurring my vision. “Nate…” My voice choked, carrying a desperate plea, humble to the bone, “Are you really going to do this to me? Without a kidney, I…” “You won’t die.” Nate coldly cut me off, then turned to the doctor, “Arrange the surgery immediately! Take her blood, use her kidney!” I was forcibly dragged into the examination room. The matching results came quickly—a perfect match. Before I was pushed into the operating room, Nate, as my spouse, signed the surgical consent form without hesitation. I lay on the cold operating table, looking at the dazzling surgical lights above, the cold clinking of instruments echoing in my ears. The anesthesiologist walked over with a syringe. In a daze, I remembered the past. Fifteen-year-old Nate carrying me, feverish, running three blocks to the hospital, sweating profusely but refusing to put me down. Eighteen-year-old Nate, crying with concern because I accidentally cut my hand while chopping vegetables, and from then on, never letting me into the kitchen again. Twenty-year-old Nate, when I broke out in hives from a seafood allergy, stayed by my bedside all night, applying medicine. Once upon a time, if I felt even a tiny bit of discomfort, he would be heartbroken, his eyes red, wishing he could suffer in my place. “Elara, I’ll protect you from now on. I won’t let you suffer any harm.” But now, it was also him who personally sent me to the operating table, brutally stripping me of my organ. Cold liquid was pushed into my veins. I closed my eyes, and a tear slid from the corner of my eye, disappearing into my hair. After the surgery, I was wheeled back to the most secluded general ward. The anesthesia gradually wore off, and the incision in my abdomen hurt so much I trembled all over. I bit my lip hard to keep from crying out, cold sweat soaking my hospital gown. A nurse pushed a cart in to change my dressing, murmuring to her colleague as she worked: “That Mr. Thorne in the VIP room is so good to his fiancée. He stayed outside the operating room the whole time, never leaving. When Ms. Bloom woke up just now, he even personally fed her water.” “Right, such a handsome and rich man, yet so devoted. I really envy their relationship. Ms. Bloom is so fortunate.” Hearing these words, I could no longer hold back my tears. The ward door opened a crack, and Nate stood outside. For the next three days, I lay in the hospital bed. No one came to see me except the nurses. Until the afternoon of the fourth day, the vibration of my phone woke me from a groggy sleep. I struggled to reach my phone. The screen showed a message from an unknown number: [Your kidney is doing great~ From now on, not just your kidney, but everything you have—including Nate—will be mine!] Below was an attached photo: around Sera Bloom’s pale neck, there was a perfectly preserved necklace. That was… the last heirloom my parents left me! My blood instantly froze. I ripped off the IV needle from the back of my hand, not even bothering to wipe away the blood that spurted out. I clutched my bleeding abdomen, stumbling out of the ward and running towards the VIP ward area.

Elara Vance pov When I pushed the door open, Sera Bloom was leisurely leaning against the headboard, eating imported cherries. Seeing me enter, Sera’s lips curled into a triumphant smile: “Oh, isn’t this our kidney donor hero? What, here to visit your kidney?” I stared intently at the necklace around her neck, my voice trembling: “Give that back to me!” Sera gently stroked the necklace, smiling innocently yet maliciously: “Why should I give it to you? Nate said it looks beautiful on me, and that I look a lot like you used to, so he put it on me himself.” I felt cold all over. That was the only memento left by my parents. I reached out to grab it, but then stopped midway, afraid of damaging the necklace. I swallowed all my pride and pleaded: “This necklace is very important to me. I can trade it for something else, anything you want, anything I can give…” Sera tilted her head, feigning innocence as she thought: “There’s nothing I really want. The only thing I lack… is the status of Mrs. Thorne.” She chuckled softly, her eyes full of provocation, “How about you give that position to me?” I closed my eyes, my heart filled with despair, my voice hoarse beyond recognition: “Okay, as long as you give me the necklace back, I’ll divorce him immediately and let you become Mrs. Thorne!” The words had barely left my lips when the ward door was violently flung open. Nate Thorne stood at the doorway, holding a thermal container, his face terrifyingly grim: “Elara Vance, in your heart, my wife’s status is worth less than a dead object?!” I froze, my throat tight: “This is my parents’… last heirloom.” “Parents?” Nate sneered, hatred swirling in his eyes. He strode over, snatched the necklace from Sera’s neck, “I almost forgot, everything related to your parents, I want to destroy!” With that, he turned and walked towards the wide-open window, raising his hand to throw the necklace out! We were on the eighteenth floor! “No!” I screamed, throwing myself forward without a second thought. The moment I collided with Nate, the necklace flew from his hand. And I, due to inertia and extreme weakness, couldn’t stop my momentum. Half my body went out the window, and I plunged straight down— “Elara Vance!” Nate’s voice was almost a shriek. He lunged to grab me, but only caught empty air. The feeling of rapid descent lasted only a brief two seconds. Fortunately, I landed on the awning of the seventeenth-floor balcony. The immense impact felt like all my organs had shifted. The necklace shattered beside me, sharp fragments piercing my palm, making it bleed profusely. In a daze, I heard Nate’s frantic roars from upstairs: “Elara Vance! Elara Vance!” Followed by a flurry of footsteps. Not long after, Nate rushed to the seventeenth-floor balcony. He scrambled over the railing without a care for his appearance, knelt on the awning, and with trembling hands, lifted me into his arms. “Doctor! Call a doctor! Save her!” His voice held a panic and fear I’d never heard before, tears splattering onto my blood-stained face. Just like that fire many years ago, when he rushed into the flames to find me, he had screamed my name just as desperately. My consciousness was blurry. The abdominal wound, from the violent impact, had completely ripped open, and blood soaked Nate’s white shirt. A faint glimmer of hope ignited in my heart. Did he still worry about me? Was it… was it possible he still cared about me a little? When I woke up again, my whole body ached as if it had been crushed and reassembled. In the hospital room, a doctor was quietly conversing with Nate: “Mr. Thorne, your wife has multiple fractures and internal organ damage. Combined with her recent kidney removal surgery, her body has completely broken down. She must rest well, or she’ll suffer severe sequelae, or even…” “Give her the best medication.” Nate coldly cut off the doctor. “No matter what equipment, she must stay alive.” The doctor nodded and left. Nate turned, his eyes meeting mine. Our gazes locked. The concern in his eyes instantly replaced by coldness, as if his earlier panic had been my imagination. “Don’t think that just because I’m giving you the best medication, it means I still care about you.” He approached the bed, looking down at me, his voice as cruel as an ice-tempered blade: “I just want you to live longer so I can torment you better. If you die, who will I find to pay for the lives of my family of three?” “From the moment your parents killed my family, our ending was destined—” “Only endless mutual destruction!” I stared at him blankly, the last spark of light in my heart completely extinguished, tears silently falling. It turned out… I was just fooling myself. I slowly closed my eyes and whispered softly: “Okay, then I’ll die.” He frowned, leaning closer to me: “What did you just say?” I opened my mouth, about to repeat myself, when the ward door was suddenly pushed open. A nurse hurried in: “Mr. Thorne, Ms. Bloom needs to go for her check-up, but she can’t find you and is refusing to cooperate…” Nate’s brows furrowed. He turned and left, not even sparing me a single glance.

Elara Vance pov The moment the ward door closed, I pulled out the IV needle from the back of my hand. I endured the intense pain, ignored the doctor’s dissuasion, and forcibly checked myself out of the hospital. My time was running out. The five-year promise, only three days left. Since I had decided to die, I should take care of some arrangements beforehand. Nate Thorne… wouldn’t help me with my burial. I dragged my broken body to a photo studio and had a portrait taken for my memorial. Then I went to the suburbs, bought a plot in a cemetery, and chose a small urn. When I returned to the villa, I heard the pitter-patter of paws from the living room. A golden retriever joyfully rushed over, its tail wagging like a propeller, its wet nose affectionately nudging my leg. My eyes welled up. I crouched down and hugged it: “Pudding…” This was the dog Nate and I adopted together when we were eighteen. Back then, they had just moved in together. He held this puppy and smiled, saying: “Elara, from now on, we’re a family of three. We’ll grow old together.” But now, with home gone, love gone, growing old has become a luxury. Pudding brought a toy ball, looking at me expectantly. I stroked its head, tears falling onto its fur: “Good boy, Mom will make you something delicious.” I forced myself to cook meat porridge for Pudding. Watching it wolf down the food, my heart ached. In three days, I would leave this world. Pudding was getting old; I needed to find it a good home. After searching all day, I finally found a suitable adopter. A retired couple of teachers, they had a yard, had experience with golden retrievers, and were very experienced. I packed Pudding’s toys and dog food. Just as I was about to take Pudding out, the villa door suddenly opened. Sera Bloom walked in, followed by two bodyguards. Her gaze fell on Pudding, and a cold sneer curled her lips: “Elara Vance, Nate hates you. He’s destroyed almost everything you cherish. Now… there should only be this dog left, right?” I froze, instinctively shielding Pudding behind me: “What do you want?” “Nate hasn’t even said anything. You have no right to touch it!” My voice trembled. “This is our dog, we’ve had it for ten years…” Sera scoffed: “You’re too naive. He hates you, he hates everything connected to you!” With that, she clapped her hands, and the two bodyguards immediately rushed in, roughly grabbing Pudding’s collar! “No!” I lunged to stop them, but a bodyguard pushed me away. Pudding, startled, frantically struggled to protect its owner, but was hit by the bodyguard’s high-voltage stun baton, yelping and collapsing in convulsions. “Pudding!” I screamed hysterically. In the chaos, I accidentally bumped into Sera. Sera took the opportunity to fall backward, tumbling down the steps from the entryway, clutching her stomach and wailing. “What are you doing?!” Nate’s voice came from the doorway. Seeing this scene, he immediately rushed over, helped Sera up, and looked at me with icy eyes: “You pushed her? She just had a kidney transplant, are you trying to kill her?!” My face was covered in blood, and I trembled as I pointed to the dying Pudding: “She had her people kill Pudding first! It didn’t do anything wrong!” Nate froze for a moment, his gaze falling on Pudding’s body, his eyes showing a momentary flicker of distraction and pain. But quickly, he masked his emotions and said coldly: “It’s better dead.” “Any proof of our love shouldn’t remain.” Those words completely crushed me. I looked at him, heartbroken, and tears I could no longer hold back streamed down my face. Yes… it shouldn’t exist anymore. After all, even he himself no longer loved me.

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I signed the application to dissolve our Mate Bond, but Alpha Nathaniel thought it was a gift I wanted. After he signed, he pretended to dotingly pinch my cheek: “For our child, I’d give you anything you want.” He didn’t know our child had died the night he was with his first love. One hundred and one missed calls, met with his excuse: “The Pack has urgent business.” Later, when I received the Silver Moon Order, the highest honor among werewolves, he was gravely wounded, near death. His last wish was to see me. I brought my new Mate with me. Evelyn POV I had just finished watering the white roses on my windowsill when Judge Benjamin Hayes from the Werewolf Arbitration Council called. “Ms. Shaw, the application to dissolve the mate bond has been sent. Please note that both you and your mate need to sign it before the Council can proceed.” “Okay.” I hung up, my fingertips tracing the damp rose leaves. The doorbell rang. The delivery driver handed me a document envelope. I signed for it. Just as I closed the door, I heard footsteps outside again. Nathaniel was back. He walked over to me, stopped, and bent down, pressing his cheek against my flat stomach. “I’m home,” his voice was low, laced with fatigue and apology. “I’ve been so busy these past few days, I didn’t get a chance to reply to your messages.” I felt his warm breath, penetrating my thin loungewear, touching my skin. “How’s the baby? Why does the scent seem so faint?” I lowered my eyes, looking at the crown of his head. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been taking some medication to protect the baby recently. Nathaniel,” I said, using his full name. He looked up, his eyes confused. I hadn’t called him by his full name in a long time. I avoided his gaze. I turned, picked up the document envelope from the console table, tore open the seal, and took out the papers. I flipped to the last page, covering the terms with my palm, revealing only the signature line at the bottom. “This is the gift I want,” I said. “A gift after the baby is born.” Nathaniel paused, then chuckled. He took the pen, didn’t even glance at the content I’d covered, and smoothly signed his name, his movements swift and practiced. After signing, he handed the document and pen back to me, dotingly pinching my cheek. “It’s yours if I give it to you,” he chuckled softly. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll take my entire fortune?” I looked at his name on the paper and found it utterly laughable. I didn’t want his wealth or power. I wanted freedom. Just then, Nathaniel’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at it, the screen light illuminating his face. Caller ID: Isabella. His expression remained unchanged. He simply turned off the screen and put the phone back in his pocket. But he lost all patience for asking about the baby. “The Pack has some urgent business,” he stood up, adjusting his shirt cuffs. “I need to go handle it.” He headed for the door, then stopped after two steps, as if suddenly remembering something. “Oh, right, why did you call me so many times the other day?” I looked up at him. “It’s nothing.” Nathaniel didn’t ask further, turned, and left. I was left alone in the living room. I looked down at the application to dissolve the mate bond in my hand. Nathaniel’s signature, sharp and decisive, just like him. Nothing? How could it be nothing? Five days ago, I went out to buy some things for the baby. On the way back, a sharp pain suddenly pierced my mind. Then my lower abdomen. Waves of cramping pain racked me, leaving me unable to speak. I was losing the baby. My hands trembling, I dialed Nathaniel’s number. I just wanted him to see our child one last time. First call, unanswered. Second call, unanswered. Tenth call. Fiftieth call. One hundred and first call. On the other end, there was always only the automated voicemail prompt. Finally, his phone was off. I eventually reached the Pack’s physician, but she just glanced at me when she arrived and declared the baby was gone. Then, she looked at me with pity. I looked into her eyes and suddenly understood. That sudden, excruciating pain wasn’t for any other reason – it was because my mate had betrayed me. While he was ignoring all my calls, he was with Isabella, who had just returned from abroad, on a mountaintop outside the city, having sex under a rare supermoon. Isabella later posted photos on her TikTok account. In the photo, she leaned on Nathaniel’s shoulder, smiling sweetly. The caption read: “May the Moongoddess bless us forever.” Four years of marriage, I had always believed that even if Nathaniel didn’t love me, he at least respected me as his Luna. Only then did I see the truth. I was just Isabella’s substitute. A shadow used to maintain the Pack alliance and superficial stability after his fated mate left the country. Now, the real person was back. It was time for this substitute to leave the stage. I picked up the signed application and gently traced the still-damp ink on the paper.

Evelyn POV Nathaniel left, probably to find Isabella. I picked up my phone and called Judge Benjamin Hayes back. “He signed it.” The judge on the other end was visibly surprised before regaining his professional composure. “That fast?” He paused. “Without expedited processing, it usually takes two months to complete all arbitration procedures and receive a final ruling. Regarding the division of joint assets and related compensation, we can begin drafting the detailed plan whenever you’re ready.” “No need,” I said. “I’m giving up all property. I just want to dissolve the mate bond and leave the Silver Crest Pack.” “Ms. Shaw, are you sure? According to the laws set by the Moongoddess, the unfaithful mate is required to compensate the other. Therefore, after dissolving the mate bond, you are entitled to at least…” “I’m sure,” I interrupted him. “Just follow the process, Judge Hayes.” “Alright.” That night, Nathaniel came home very late. The next morning, he rushed back early. “There’s an urgent Pack meeting today, so I can’t go with you to your prenatal check-up,” his voice was apologetic. “I brought you breakfast. I’ll bring you your favorite honey-glazed ribs tonight.” I almost laughed out loud. Prenatal check-up? The baby was gone; what check-ups did I need? The day I miscarried, the Pack physician had advised bed rest, but I only stayed at the infirmary for less than twenty-four hours before leaving. Nathaniel still didn’t know about it. Had he truly not noticed, or did he simply not care about me? I no longer cared. I just nodded. Nathaniel changed into a suit, tied his tie, and examined himself in the mirror. Once satisfied with his appearance, he habitually pointed to his cheek, signaling for me to come over. For four years of marriage, I had kissed his cheek every day before he left. I didn’t move. “You’re going to be late,” I said. Nathaniel’s movements stilled. He turned to look at me, shaking his head with a small, knowing smile, assuming I was still angry about him not coming home last night. “Then I’m off.” I also went back to my room, changed, and drove to the Werewolf Academy in the state capital. It was my alma mater, a place I had left for four years. Everything was just as I remembered, yet somehow different. When I arrived, a combat demonstration had just finished in the main training field. I walked against the flow of people, hearing the excited and admiring discussions of the cadets around me. “Instructor Reed is truly amazing, no wonder he’s the youngest chief instructor at the academy.” “Yeah, he’s even stronger in person than in rumors. His aura is incredible, that powerful demeanor is so captivating.” “During the Q&A, he demonstrated a counter-technique I’d never seen. I need to go practice it right away.” I walked into the gradually emptying training field and immediately spotted the man surrounded by cadets and assistant instructors in the center of the arena. Jonathan. The Alpha of the Moonclaw Pack, an elite instructor at the Werewolf Academy. And my senior. He wore a simple training uniform, patiently answering the last cadet’s question. Compared to his student days, he had shed some of his youthful awkwardness, gaining the calm and composure of a mature, strong Alpha. I had intended to leave and contact him later. As I turned, Jonathan looked up, his gaze piercing through the crowd, finding me precisely. The surprise in his eyes was unmistakable. He apologized to the surrounding cadets and colleagues, squeezed through the crowd, and quickly walked toward me. “Evelyn? Is that really you?” “Jonathan,” I smiled. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, I got straight to the point. “Jonathan, I’d like to return to the academy as an instructor.” Jonathan froze, immense joy flooding his eyes. “Of course, you can! The Principal will be overjoyed to know you’re willing to come back.” He looked at me, his eyes filled with undisguised regret and concern. “You were the most talented cadet the academy had ever seen. Everyone thought you’d become a top-tier elite warrior. Who knew your family would force you to give up the offer to stay on staff for a Pack alliance marriage, making you abandon your passion for combat and training?” His tone was indignant, feeling indignant on my behalf. “And now?” he asked, a hint of worry in his voice. “Your mate… will he agree?” “I’ve applied to the Arbitration Council to dissolve the mate bond,” I said. “The initial application has been approved. But it will take another two months to complete the arbitration process before I can officially report to the academy.” “Good,” Jonathan smiled. “I’ll wait for you.”

Evelyn POV A soft chuckle interrupted us. Nathaniel had appeared at the training field entrance, I hadn’t even noticed. He walked slowly toward us, still in his expensive suit, but the warmth from this morning was gone from his face. His expression was grim, his gaze fixed on Jonathan. It was the first time I’d seen such unconcealed jealousy and possessiveness in his eyes. I was puzzled. His true bond was with Isabella, so why bother pretending to care in front of me? “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Nathaniel walked over and stood beside me, subtly shifting his body to stand between me and Jonathan. “This is my senior, Jonathan, the chief instructor at the Werewolf Academy,” I introduced. Then, I gestured to Nathaniel, my voice flat, “And this is my mate, Alpha Nathaniel Lawson of the Silver Crest Pack.” The two men shook hands, their expressions outwardly normal. But I saw the distinct red marks left on the back of their hands when they released their grip. “So, Instructor Reed, it’s an honor,” Nathaniel said with a tight-lipped smile. “I never realized my Luna and Instructor Reed were such good friends, making a special visit to her alma mater.” “Alpha Lawson, you’re too kind. Evelyn is a once-in-a-century talent at our academy. We are friends,” Jonathan replied, neither servile nor arrogant, his gaze open and direct. “Jonathan, I should go now. I’ll contact you later.” The atmosphere felt off, so I proactively bid Jonathan farewell. Nathaniel and I walked side by side, not looking back. I didn’t want to cause him trouble, so I didn’t see the look of disappointment and concern in Jonathan’s eyes as he turned away. As we walked out of the training field, Nathaniel’s figure was bathed in sunlight, yet the coldness emanating from him hadn’t dissipated. “What are you doing here?” Nathaniel demanded coldly. “Just came back to the academy to look around,” I replied dismissively, then countered, “What about you? Was your urgent meeting held at the Werewolf Academy?” Nathaniel didn’t answer, his face growing even darker. Reaching the parking lot, I instinctively headed for the passenger seat. Nathaniel pressed the unlock button, and I was about to open the car door— The window slowly lowered, revealing a delicate and striking face. It was Isabella. She was sitting in the passenger seat of that very car. My hand froze on the door handle. “Just met a friend, catching up on old times,” Nathaniel said, his expression unchanged. My gaze fell on the paper bag in his hand. It was from a famous red velvet cake shop behind the academy. I remembered, Isabella loved that cake. His so-called urgent meeting, it turned out, was a four-hour drive to revisit old haunts with his ex-girlfriend and reminisce about their college romance. Isabella, from the passenger seat, greeted me familiarly, her tone intimate, yet her posture subtly superior. “Evelyn, what a coincidence, are you here to visit the academy too?” She showed no intention of moving, instead watching me with an amused expression, a hint of undetectable challenge in her eyes. I silently withdrew my hand, opened the back door, and got in. Throughout the drive, Isabella chattered and laughed with Nathaniel as if I weren’t there, reminiscing about their college days. She even took a piece of cake from the bag and offered it to Nathaniel’s mouth. “Ah—” she cooed sweetly. Nathaniel instinctively opened his mouth and took a bite. “Oops, you bit my hand,” Isabella feigned annoyance, pulling her hand back, but her eyes were full of flirtatious charm. Nathaniel glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing my expressionless face in the back seat. I sat quietly leaning against the window, my gaze fixed on the rapidly receding street outside, my thoughts miles away. I was even wondering which direction the first training session after my return should be set. My lack of reaction frustrated Isabella’s provocation, leaving her to grudgingly give up. She said to Nathaniel, with thinly veiled sarcasm, “Your mate has such a good temperament, so sensible.” Nathaniel let out a soft chuckle, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened. “She’s very obedient.”

Evelyn POV Back at the main residence in the Pack territory. “Isabella and I have a get-together tonight,” Nathaniel said, rolling down the car window as I walked away. “You’re pregnant, so that kind of event isn’t suitable for you. Get some rest early.” I didn’t turn around, just waved my hand and walked into the house. In the middle of the night, an unknown number called. “Nathaniel is drunk, come pick him up.” It was Isabella’s voice. She hung up immediately, then sent an address: an exclusive private club downtown. I decided to go. I also wanted to see what other tricks Isabella had up her sleeve. I changed my clothes, didn’t put on any makeup, and drove there with a bare face. When I arrived, several servers were gathered outside the private booth, seemingly hesitant about going in. Through the half-open door, I saw the booth was a blaze of neon lights, filled with loud chatter. Nathaniel and Isabella sat on a sofa in the center of the crowd, with everyone around them cheering them on. They were playing a mouth-to-mouth card game, the atmosphere intimate and exhilarating. Soon, the card reached Isabella and Nathaniel. The crowd began to whistle and cheer loudly. Isabella held the card between her lips, looking at Nathaniel with a hazy gaze, slowly leaning in. Closer, even closer. The card fluttered to the ground. Their lips met. The cheers grew even louder, threatening to lift the roof off the place. Nathaniel didn’t push her away. Under the influence of alcohol, he even reached out, cupping the back of Isabella’s head, deepening the kiss. His eyes were closed, his expression lost in a wild intoxication I had never witnessed before. Watching him from outside the door, my heart turned utterly cold. I was about to leave silently when Isabella suddenly rushed out, as if she had known I was there all along. “Did you see?” Isabella stood before me, a triumphant smile on her face. “Nathaniel has always loved me. He only married you because your face somewhat resembled mine, and your personality was more docile and easier to control.” She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a low, venomous whisper. “I advise you to get rid of the baby and get out early. Otherwise, when he tires of you, you’ll just be thrown out, left with nothing.” I asked, my face devoid of emotion, “Does Nathaniel know that his ‘fated mate,’ whom he’s held in his heart for years, is such a two-faced person?” With that, I ignored Isabella’s stunned and furious expression, walked past her, and entered the private booth. The booth instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at me, the sudden intruder, with varying expressions. I walked straight to Nathaniel, oblivious to the stares, and helped up the man who was utterly drunk and unconscious. His body was heavy, most of his weight pressing against me. I supported him, turned to leave, and didn’t spare anyone another glance. Back in the car, I dumped Nathaniel into the passenger seat. He leaned against the seat back, mumbling Isabella’s name incoherently. “Isabella… don’t go…” I gripped the steering wheel, started the car, and looked at the dark road ahead. “Just a little longer.” Just a little longer, and I’d be free. When Nathaniel woke up, his head was splitting, with only a vague memory of last night. He only remembered drinking a lot, and then I seemed to have picked him up. “I didn’t do anything out of line yesterday, did I?” he asked, rubbing his temples, a hint of nervousness in his voice. I was changing in the walk-in closet and simply shook my head calmly. “No, you just fell asleep after getting drunk.” I finished changing, ready to leave. “Where are you going?” Nathaniel grabbed my hand. My coldness seemed to irritate him. “To see Jonathan.” Nathaniel’s face immediately darkened. “Stay away from him,” he warned. “Men understand men best; the way he looks at you isn’t right.” I found it laughable and retorted, “You look at Isabella the same way.” Nathaniel was choked by my words, momentarily speechless. He impatiently let go of my hand, but his tone remained firm. “I didn’t bring you honey-glazed ribs yesterday, but I prepared something else for you…” He didn’t finish his sentence. A document slid out from a crack in the drawer he had just opened, fluttering down to his feet. It was the acknowledgment of receipt for the mate bond dissolution application from the Werewolf Arbitration Council.

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