Author: Momo Chan

It was the third year of me being his stand-in when Alexander’s first love returned. Before he could even open his mouth to dismiss me, I dutifully packed my bags. With all the money Alexander had given me over the years, I left the country to study. Five years later, I earned my Ph.D., joined a top-tier law firm, and fulfilled my youthful dreams. But I never expected my first case to be Alexander. It was his divorce from his first love, Seraphina. I skimmed through the thick stack of documents; things didn’t look good for him. Alexander didn’t recognize me. He rambled on about asset division, debt classification, and other such matters. Mid-sentence, his voice suddenly hitched, his gaze fixed on a long scar beneath the collar of my shirt. I met his eyes directly, my voice light and easy. “Long time no see, Alexander.” “Long time no see… Anya.” I raised an eyebrow, following his gaze, and looked down myself. This scar across my chest—I once saw it as my shame. It was about six or seven years ago, back when I was still Alexander’s mistress. To make me more like his first love, he demanded I replicate even Seraphina’s heart condition. For that surgery, I was practically forced onto the operating table. I resisted, I struggled, but he threatened me with my gravely ill mother. He watched as they forcibly injected me with anesthesia, watched my humiliated tears. I still remember how he looked at me back then, full of appreciation. “That defiant spark in you, it’s just like hers.” When I woke up, he was sitting by my bed, smiling as he congratulated me. “The surgery was a success, Anya. You’re more and more like her, and I’m very pleased.” “I’ve had the special medication for your mother flown in from abroad, and your brother’s tuition is paid. Don’t worry, I won’t let you down.” A congenital heart condition, yet he made me acquire it. That scar was carved onto my chest, and I always found ways to hide it. Alexander was very pleased. Seraphina had the same scar, and she hid hers too. I was more like her. But now, I wore a revealing low-cut blouse, openly displaying that scar. “Anya, you’ve changed so much, I didn’t recognize you at all.” Alexander’s voice had aged considerably too. In my memory, he always spoke with full confidence, often with a hint of menace. I smiled politely, responding with decorum. “Mr. Blackwood, you as well.” The door opened, and my mentor walked in, smiling as he looked at me. “Anya, don’t be nervous. Although this is your first official case, you’re my most brilliant student. I’m confident you’ll win this perfectly.” Alexander stood up, extending his hand politely to my mentor. “Mr. Harrison, I’ve heard so much about you. We’ll be relying on you for this case.” My mentor took his seat, and Alexander sat down right after. My thoughts slowly drifted. In my memories, I had never seen Alexander so polite and cautious. It was as if, when he was around me, he had always been ruthlessly unyielding, never so subservient. I shook my head, trying to clear those messy thoughts. Finally, I lowered my gaze and began to read through the documents. His wretched marriage with Seraphina was now laid out before me. I couldn’t help but recall. Actually, after I left the country, I had heard some things about him and Seraphina. Grand declarations of love, a wedding of the century, and him lavishly spending millions at auctions to dote on her. What surprised me most was two years ago, when he transferred all his shares to Seraphina. I was graduating with my master’s then, thinking I had moved past all the old memories. But seeing that news, I was stunned for a long time. During my three years by his side, I understood better than anyone how much he cared about his career, about his company’s interests. Once, someone secretly approached me, trying to turn me against him, to provide them with inside information. When Alexander found out, he first broke the limbs of their people and committed them to a mental institution. Then he locked me in the basement, strapped me to an electric chair, and warned me again and again: “If you dare to betray me, I swear I’ll make your life a living hell.” Even though I cried and explained that I wouldn’t, absolutely wouldn’t. He still showed no mercy. That time, he tortured me half to death, until blood flowed from beneath me – that’s when he stopped his brutality. That was my first child with him, and my last. The continuous torment cost me my uterus. But after my surgery, he merely said casually: “This punishment was a bit heavy, but it’s also to make you remember that the company is my bottom line. Don’t get any wild ideas.” “As for your uterus… Seraphina is child-free, so you being unable to conceive just makes you more like her.” That company, which he considered his bottom line, his treasure, and for which I lost my uterus without even touching it. Yet, he so easily bestowed it upon Seraphina. I didn’t know what to think, only that I felt pathetic. But now, looking at the divorce papers, written in black and white, demanding Seraphina return the shares. I suddenly couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Realizing my lapse, I immediately apologized. Looking up into Alexander’s uncomfortable eyes, I stiffly controlled my inexpressible emotions. “Anya, about what happened before, I apologize to you.” “I should find another law firm for this case. I’ve bothered you enough.” He stood up, just about to reach for the documents on the table. Quick as a flash, I pressed down on them. “Oh, don’t be silly, Mr. Blackwood.” “Didn’t you used to tell me often not to let emotions affect work? I’m sure you’ve researched it; my firm is the top in the industry. Entrusting it to us is the most reliable choice.” “Don’t worry, I’ll handle this strictly professionally for you.” I stared directly into Alexander’s eyes. These eyes, now tired, withered, even utterly defeated. But eight years ago, it was these same eyes, sharp as blades, that flayed me alive. My relationship with him, actually, I had pursued it. For a girl from a small town with nothing but her looks, landing a wealthy, eligible bachelor like him was the best possible outcome. Not to mention, Alexander had a handsome face and a great physique. Noble and reserved, he was even more attractive than a movie star. In the private club room, one girl after another was sent in and then dismissed. Only I, he chose me to stay. The reason was simple: I was the most like Seraphina. I had done my homework long ago – the same mole, the same hairstyle, the same white dress. Even the curve of my smile, I practiced it again and again, mimicking Seraphina’s photos. He took me home and methodically signed a contract with me. A three-year term. I would be his secret lover, and he would pay me a monthly salary. He told me I was just his distraction, warning me not to harbor any ulterior motives, just to stay by his side obediently. I looked at that long string of zeros on the contract, so delighted I could barely hold the pen steady. Three years. With that much money, I would have enough to start a new life. I was too naive then, not understanding what kind of nightmare awaited me. From that day on, I began diligently acting as a stand-in. Seraphina, at the time, was dead set on pursuing her art and wandering the world with a painter. She promised Alexander that if things didn’t work out after three years, she would return and marry him. So Alexander signed the contract with me, knowing that after three years, he wouldn’t need my comfort anymore. I thought, “Isn’t it just learning to impersonate someone?” It seemed so straightforward. But I never expected the first thing Alexander made me learn was being sent to a private cosmetic surgery clinic. “To be like her, it couldn’t just be about external appearances.” “You’re my lover, you have your purpose. I want you to be like her in every aspect.” The anesthesia took effect. I could only feel the knife moving back and forth over my body. I shouldn’t have felt pain, yet tears kept falling. Humiliation, pain, helplessness, until after the surgery, Alexander meticulously inspected and compared. “It’s perfect.” From then on, he became increasingly obsessed with me. Often, I wouldn’t leave the bed for days and nights. I told myself repeatedly that he and I were just a contract. But so many years have passed, and those marks are like brands, indelible on my skin. It took me five years to truly let go. Sitting here now, with such a brilliant life, I think perhaps I should thank him. He stood frozen, as if unsure how to react, the thick stack of documents still pinned to the table by my hand. I tilted my head slightly. “Mr. Blackwood, my being here today owes something to your support as well.” “I will do my utmost to win this case for you. Trust me.”

Alexander was stunned for a long time, but finally signed the retainer agreement. This case offered a substantial fee. The firm took it seriously, my mentor took it seriously, and so did I. My mentor shrewdly noticed the unusual connection between Alexander and me. “Do you and Mr. Blackwood have a history?” I answered without hesitation. “I used to be his mistress.” My voice wasn’t loud, but the atmosphere clearly went silent for a few seconds. Facing my mentor, I offered a slight curve of my lips. “It’s not a bad thing. At least, my being able to stand here today is partly thanks to him.” The year I left Alexander, my account balance grew by over four million dollars. As I boarded the flight abroad, my parents’ calls nearly blew up my phone. In those three years, relying on the money Alexander gave them, they clawed their way from poverty to a comfortable middle-class life. My mother’s illness wasn’t just cured; nourished by money, she was radiant and full of vitality. My brother not only attended a good school but also underwent a complete transformation, acquiring the latest Apple products and luxury brand sets he’d never dared dream of before. Desire is insatiable. Their calls for money grew more urgent, their tone increasingly entitled. “The Blackwood family is rich anyway, so you should ask for more. Help your brother get ahead, and you’ll have more support later.” Until the three-year term ended. I excitedly told them I could finally leave Alexander. What I got in return was a torrent of insults. My parents asked me: “What else can you do? What kind of job can a girl do to earn this much money?” My brother asked me: “Did Alexander dump you? Did you upset him? Anya, go back and beg him! Men are soft-hearted but hard-mouthed. If you really break up with him, how will I ever find a wife?” I didn’t know how to respond. Three years was so long; the scars Alexander left on me had already healed. With time, I almost forgot how much it had hurt. They all took it for granted that money could heal all wounds, believing I shouldn’t let Alexander, this big catch, go. But I was still glad I had been resolute back then, leaving the country alone. When I first arrived here, it was unfamiliar territory, everything frighteningly strange. I endured the most helpless days all by myself. Back then, Alexander had contacted me too. He transferred a sum of money and sent a particularly jarring message. “Seraphina’s return doesn’t mean I’ll kick you out. There’s still a place for you by my side.” “She’s too precious; I can’t be rough with her. Anya, just stay with me. I need you, and I’ll pay you well.” I didn’t reply. A strong wave of nausea made me toss my phone straight into the trash. Another five years passed. I completed my studies and returned home; everything had changed irrevocably. I always congratulated myself for stopping just in time, until today, standing in court, I had the confidence to face Alexander and Seraphina directly. The two were at loggerheads, no longer the picture of a match made in heaven, celebrated by all. Alexander’s face was grim, but his gaze kept darting uncomfortably in my direction. Seraphina didn’t recognize me, glaring coldly at Alexander. “You gave all that to me yourself. How dare you want it back now? Alexander, are you really that heartless?” Alexander’s voice was hoarse. “Yes, I once loved you, cherished you, wanted to give you everything best.” “But what about you? You used my money to support that struggling painter, and even… to have his child.” “You said you were child-free, afraid of pain. For years, I’ve touched you so carefully, but you…” Alexander’s words stopped here, and he inexplicably turned his gaze to me. I understood the guilt in his eyes. I once had a child with him too. When I miscarried due to his torment, I was in agony, devastated. But he told me coldly: “You’re just a contract mistress; you were never meant to have my child.” He even said it made me more like the child-free Seraphina, and he was very pleased, paying me a large sum in compensation. With that money, I hesitated for a long time, ultimately choosing to compromise. But I never expected that a month later, I would see my child again with my own eyes. It was at Seraphina’s art exhibition. Holding the microphone, she thanked, word for word: “Here, I must thank my good friend, Alexander, who provided me with inspiration.” “He specifically prepared a painful recording of a mother losing her child, allowing me to fully grasp the model’s anguish, which enabled me to create this painting.” On the canvas, I lay on a hospital bed, crying uncontrollably as I looked at the bloody remains. Displayed right next to the painting were images of my lost child and my uterus, presented starkly for everyone to see. I should have broken down, but back then, I just laughed blankly. My phone rang—a call from home again. I numbly answered; it was my brother, hounding me for money as if I owed him: “Anya, I heard Alexander gave you a lot of money again. Why haven’t you transferred it to Mom? Her health hasn’t been good lately; she needs supplements. I know you’re busy, so just transfer the money, and I’ll go buy them.”

My thoughts abruptly halted again. In court, Seraphina’s voice was slightly choked: “Alexander, don’t think I don’t know that you could never forget your previous little mistress. You say you couldn’t bear to touch me, but I saw you with her photos… Sometimes in the middle of the night, you’d even call out her name in your dreams.” “You lie beside me, but your heart holds someone else. What right do you have to accuse me of betrayal?” Her voice grew more confident. She pulled a notebook from her purse, opened it in front of everyone, and read aloud. “I don’t know why I thought of you again, Anya. I always regret how I treated you back then. If I could do it over, I would never let you go.” Seraphina looked up, her eyes red, almost screaming her accusation at Alexander. “You just couldn’t find her! Your heart hasn’t been with me for ages. I couldn’t feel your love, so what’s wrong with me seeking other comforts? What did I do wrong!” Seraphina continued her self-indulgent breakdown, but my mentor’s gaze quietly shifted to me. I remained impassive, calmly proceeding with the formalities, and ignoring Alexander’s repeated glances. For the rest of the hearing, Alexander didn’t say another word. Only I rationally argued and debated, ultimately securing victory in that case. Seraphina was still breaking down, but Alexander didn’t spare her a glance. He followed me all the way back to the law firm. I offered him a polite smile. “Congratulations. Your demands have been met.” He smiled too. “And congratulations to you on your first professional victory.” I nodded unreservedly. “Thank you. I earned it.” He paused, opened his mouth, hesitated for a long time, and finally said: “That diary… I wrote it haphazardly when I was drunk. I never thought she’d find it. Don’t overthink it.” I waved my hand dismissively, responding casually: “It’s nothing. I’m not overthinking it.” He gave an awkward laugh, and I politely nodded, my voice indifferent. “Is there anything else?” Alexander’s gaze darted around a bit, then he pulled out two amusement park tickets. I couldn’t quite describe the sudden rush of emotions tearing through me. “I don’t know if there’s still a chance to invite you.” His voice was soft, but it ripped a huge chasm in my heart. It hurt, deeply. Many years ago, Alexander had also taken me to an amusement park. It was my first time ever at an amusement park. Everything seemed fascinating. I chattered excitedly, pulling Alexander along, talking non-stop. Until we rode the roller coaster together. He initially held my hand tightly, his eyes crinkling in a smile, telling me not to be afraid, that he would stay with me. To be honest, in that single moment, looking into his eyes, my heart pounded so fast. I even secretly wondered if, at some point, he might have loved me too. Excitement, exhilaration, and a hint of love enveloped me, so tightly that I didn’t even feel fear. Everything just felt wonderfully perfect. I never expected Alexander’s face to darken the moment we got off the roller coaster. “Anya, you’re smiling so happily, you’re not like her.” I was startled by his sudden coldness, tried stiffly to explain, but he cut me off. “Seraphina is timid; every time we rode a roller coaster, she’d burrow into my arms and even cry from fear afterward. She wouldn’t be as excited as you; this isn’t right.” So he took me for a second, then a third ride. For some reason, I just couldn’t cry. All those self-important, ridiculous feelings instantly turned into a joke. I only felt humiliation. Finally, he got angry and took me straight to his company. On a hundred-story building, he tied me directly outside the window and slowly, bit by bit, cut the ropes holding me with a dagger. I finally became afraid, starting to cry hysterically. I cried for a very long time, but he never stopped until the rope was completely severed. I thought I would truly fall to my death, but then he violently yanked me back. I was so terrified I lost control of my bladder. I couldn’t even cry anymore, just trembled uncontrollably from extreme fear. Alexander was finally satisfied. He smiled and spoke. “Now you’re like her.” He then pulled me into his arms. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. How could I let anything happen to you?” Yet now, he stood there with two amusement park tickets, shamelessly saying to me. “Anya, I still remember you once told me you longed for an amusement park, and I remember your happy expression.” “I just didn’t appreciate it back then. If I could, I want to take action to help you overwrite those bad memories.” His eyes were so sincere. I looked and looked, unable to find a trace of guilt. “Anya, will you give me another chance?” But as soon as he finished speaking, someone violently pushed him aside. The man who stepped in front of me spoke with an icy tone. “Who allowed you to approach her?” Alexander, perhaps never having been treated so roughly, struggled to his feet, his face full of fury. “Who are you? I’m speaking with her. What right do you have to interfere?” The man calmly adjusted his suit cuff, impossibly elegant. “Me? Who I am, Anya will tell you herself.” He turned to look at me, his eyes tender and affectionate. I immediately linked my arm through his. “Allow me to introduce you. This is my fiancé, Julian.” I stood on my tiptoes and unhesitatingly kissed Julian’s cheek.

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I was applying a face mask when my son suddenly burst into tears, shoving his dad’s phone right into my face. “Mom, Dad’s chatting with another woman! He called her ‘baby’! Am I… am I going to lose my dad?” I quickly clapped a hand over his mouth, listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom. I snatched the phone, putting it back exactly where it was. “Shh, don’t make a sound. That lady is a good person. The prestigious private school you go to? She arranged all of it. Our house and car? She bought them. Your dad and I even got promotions thanks to her. You absolutely can’t let your dad know we found out, got it?” My son looked up at me, his eyes brimming with tears. “Mom, are you… are you out of your mind?” I led my son to the balcony, wiping his tears dry. “Sweetheart, all you need to do right now is focus on your studies. Your dad and I aren’t getting a divorce, and you’re not losing your dad.” “That lady is truly a wonderful person. She’s not here to break up our family. Everything we have now, it’s all because of her, you understand?” “So, just relax, okay? Focus on your schoolwork.” He was still a bit confused; he was only ten, after all. But seeing how serious I was, he wiped his eyes and stopped crying. “Mom, I get it. I’ll pretend I don’t know anything.” I patted his head. “Good boy. Finish your homework, then go to bed. “Mom has to go to work tomorrow, too.” My son suddenly asked another question: “Mom, you said your and Dad’s promotions were arranged by that lady. Is she really that powerful?” I smiled. “Oh, she’s incredibly powerful. “Because she’s your dad’s boss… and mine.” He looked surprised, then a flicker of worry crossed his face. “Will she… will she bully you?” Now it was my turn to be shocked. “Why would you think that?” He bit his lip. “I just feel like you two should be enemies, and since she’s your boss, she’d definitely bully you.” I chuckled. “Don’t worry, Leo, she won’t. “Now, go do your homework.” He didn’t ask any more questions, turning and running back to his bedroom. I stood alone on the balcony, a gentle breeze blowing, my mind a complete blank. I mean, I never imagined that one day, discovering my husband’s affair would actually lead to so many benefits.

Finding out Daniel was cheating was completely unexpected. We worked at the same company, started at the same time, and had similar abilities, yet his promotions were much faster than mine. At first, I thought it was because I’d gotten pregnant and had a child, which put me behind. But later, I found out that wasn’t it at all. Daniel had slept his way into Eleanor’s bed. It was the annual company gala. Eleanor not only gave Daniel numerous awards but also a whopping $500,000 bonus. Even during the group photo, she made sure Daniel stood center stage. She herself retreated slightly, standing intimately close to him. This didn’t necessarily mean anything, until dinner when Eleanor suddenly came to sit at our table. As drinks flowed freely, she took a sip from Daniel’s glass. After drinking, she handed the glass back to Daniel, who immediately picked it up and drank from the exact spot with her lipstick print. Everyone was enjoying themselves and didn’t notice this small detail. But I did. My whole body was trembling at the time. A few minutes later, Eleanor seemed to get tipsy, and Daniel was the one who helped her up, saying he’d take her home. No one objected, and neither did I, of course. But after they left, I secretly followed them, wanting to find out what was really going on. I thought it would be hard to get answers, but it turned out to be incredibly easy. They assumed no other employees had followed them, so as soon as they exited the hotel banquet hall, Daniel pressed Eleanor against the corridor wall. “Eleanor, you were deliberately trying to provoke me tonight, weren’t you? “Drinking from my glass in front of everyone, and purposely leaving your lipstick mark.” Whether it was because of the alcohol or because of Daniel in front of her, Eleanor’s face was flushed, glowing with excitement. “Yes, you caught me.” Daniel fiercely kissed her cheek. “Aren’t you afraid someone will see? “What if someone tells your husband? That would be trouble. “Especially since Mina was there.” Oh, the Mina he was referring to was me. Eleanor just chuckled softly. “I know. Isn’t that just more thrilling?”

My hands and feet began to tremble, a wave of anger surging from my core. Just as I was about to rush out and confront them, Daniel spoke again. “You little temptress, you’re so daring. But I absolutely love it. Even knowing your husband could kill me if he found out, and knowing this is like a moth to a flame, I’m still completely hooked. “Though, doing this, I feel terrible about Mina and Leo.” Eleanor, however, cupped his face, pouting. “Just make it up to them, you know? If there’s no love, there’s always money. “And I’ve got plenty of that. “You can’t divorce now, and neither can I. We just have to keep them pacified for now. “Tonight’s bonus? I got it for you by handing you a project I negotiated myself. Give it all to Mina. “I’ll transfer another $500,000 to your personal account, and your salary will go up to $15,000 a month. You can give Mina more of that. “Also, your car and house need an upgrade. I felt uncomfortable last time I was at your place. “The VP of the projects department is leaving soon, and I’m considering Mina for the position. It’ll be a good way to compensate her. “I’ve already arranged for your son to attend a prestigious international private school, and I’ve paid all the tuition. You can find an excuse to enroll him when the time comes.” My foot, which had just stepped forward, instantly pulled back. I suppressed the storm raging inside me and continued to listen. Daniel was clearly shocked too. “Eleanor, you’ve done so much for me. I don’t know what to say. “I’m truly overwhelmed.” Eleanor pinched his cheek. “It’s nothing. As long as you stay with me, I’ll take care of your wife and child, too. “Only by keeping your home front secure can we truly be together. “After all, I don’t want a big scandal. If I end up walking away with nothing in a divorce, it won’t be good for any of us. “Mr. Thorne won’t let me off the hook.” Daniel nodded. “Being together is definitely difficult. We just can’t risk being discovered. “Eleanor, when can we finally be together openly? “I hate this sneaking-around feeling.” Eleanor’s eyes narrowed, a flash of ruthlessness crossing her face. “Mr. Thorne is paralyzed, but he’s not going to die anytime soon. “Not only that, he’s worried I’ll cheat, so he’s got a few people watching me. “He even sent Chloe, who pretends to be my husband’s sister. She’s not family, but she’s incredibly obedient. “She’s in Mina’s department. “So, tonight, I truly let my guard down. “If any of them had found out, we’d both be finished.”

Daniel’s face showed some helplessness. “It’s a shame we can’t both just quit our jobs; then we could be together.” Eleanor just smiled. “What are you talking about? “Quitting is definitely not an option. Mr. Thorne is still the biggest boss in the company. If I quit, how would I get money from him? “If you quit, how would you earn his money? “Actually, this is pretty good. We work hard to earn his money, and that makes me feel a little better.” Daniel agreed wholeheartedly. “You’re right. In another company, I might not have the position I have now. “Mina certainly wouldn’t be benefiting from my success.” Eleanor chuckled softly. “Well, what can I say? I fell for you. “So, I guess I just have to accept your family, right? “I’ve thought about it – why are you married? If only you were single. “But then I think, if you were single, I might not have even noticed you. “I’ve seen plenty of single, fresh-faced guys, many of whom approached me with an agenda. You, on the other hand, needed me to hint and pursue you to finally get you.” Daniel clearly loved hearing this. He suddenly lifted her chin and kissed her. “I never thought you’d even look at me back then. I actually thought I was misinterpreting your signals.” What followed was a passionate kiss. I quickly retreated, then quietly slipped away. Standing on the hotel balcony, I slowly began to calm my heart, which had almost leaped out of my chest. I never, ever thought Daniel would cheat on me. And I certainly didn’t expect it to happen this way. Thinking about the $500,000, and my son’s international private school, and Eleanor raising Daniel’s salary, and then preparing to promote me… My initial anger morphed into a strange excitement. After all, these were things I wouldn’t even have dared to dream of in my entire life. But now, they were all about to come true, and in such an unexpected way. It left me utterly stunned. For a moment, I felt only exhilaration and happiness about Daniel’s affair, not a shred of sadness. Even if he divorced me later, I would still have plenty of money. But then, Eleanor’s words made me feel a touch of worry. Mr. Thorne was her husband and the ultimate boss. He even had several spies watching Eleanor in the company. One of them, Chloe, was in my department, closest to me. What should I do to avoid her suspicion?

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A bombshell hit my wedding. The Harrington heiress Seraphina was back and she was dying. Terminally ill, covered in sores, with two weeks to live. My stepbrother Jeff collapsed, sobbing. “Take my place or I’ll kill myself!” I calmly brushed off my formal suit, unmoved. “Seraphina chose me. You begged Dad to switch our names. You stole my wedding. Now she’s dying, the money’s gone, and you have regrets? I’m married, Jeff. You think I’d walk into hell for you? Dream on!” To my utter disbelief, my fiancée, Celeste Blackwood, rushed to embrace Jeff. Then she turned on me, her eyes full of scorn. “The wedding hasn’t started! The papers aren’t signed! None of this counts!” “I can’t bear to watch Jeff suffer. He has to be the groom today. You’re his older brother. You should sacrifice for him!” I stared, struggling to process her words. My father and my stepmother, nodded in frantic agreement. They threw my identification documents at my feet. “Seraphina’s notorious for her wild parties and reckless behavior. She swore to have one last fling as a bride before she dies. Jeff’s too delicate to risk sickness or become a widower. The Harringtons will destroy us if we back out. You will marry into that family.” The people closest to me in this world were shoving me straight into a death trap. I closed my eyes, my heart shattering, and let out a cold, bitter laugh. “Fine. Have it your way.”

The moment I gave my groom’s suit to Jeff, he slid his arm around Celeste. “Celeste,” he asked, his face flushed, “Do I look good?” Celeste’s gaze was full of open admiration. “Perfect,” she said softly. “When I was designing this, I must have been thinking of your measurements. It fits you like it was always yours.” I flinched. So that explained the tight waist. She’d designed the suit herself. I’d thought I’d gained weight. She was always sewing it for him. Seeing my compliance, my stepmother Veronica held back her usual eye-roll. For once, even my father Robert offered a shred of approval, stating I was finally starting to act like an older brother should. I watched the four of them laughing together. I let my voice drip with cold sarcasm. “You didn’t honestly think I’d marry into the Harringtons for free, did you?” The laughter died. “What do you want?” Robert asked, his tone strained. “Ten percent of Sterling Corp.” My father’s face darkened. “You greedy bastard! That’s your brother’s legacy! I thought you were finally being reasonable, and now you’re trying to steal from him? You don’t deserve a cent!” I’d always known his bias, but the words still cut deep. “That company was built by my mother,” I shot back. “If your bastard child gets a share, why shouldn’t I? Or have you forgotten I’m also your son?” Robert’s face turned purple. If he weren’t terrified of delaying the wedding, he would have struck me. He forced the rage down. “Your mother was my wife! Everything she had belonged to the Sterlings, including that company! I decide who gets shares! I’ve fed and clothed you your entire life! You should be on your knees with gratitude!” He had been saying that ever since he brought Veronica and Jeff into our home. I used to wonder why other fathers saw providing for their children as a given, while I was expected to grovel for it. Eventually, I stopped thinking about it. What could you expect from a man who installed his affair partner before his wife’s body was cold? Celeste saw the redness in my eyes. She stepped closer, linking her arm with mine, her voice softening to a venomous purr. “Alex,” she cooed, “are you afraid of being alone after Seraphina dies? Or are you just scared of getting sick with no money?” “Don’t worry. When it’s all over, I’ll take you back. I’ll find you a doctor. It’s not that I’m cruel. Jeff is just so… sensitive. I can’t bear to see him suffer.” A wave of nausea hit me. I ripped my arm from her grasp. Then, mimicking Jeff’s earlier pathetic display, I pressed a knife to my own wrist. “No shares?” I sneered. “Then I’ll end it right here. You’re the ones who said the Harringtons can’t be crossed. Seraphina chose a Sterling. If I’m dead, Jeff can face the consequences himself!” On hearing this, Veronica quickly tugged on Robert’s sleeve. “Honey, we absolutely cannot let Jeff go into that hellhole!” “Seraphina is dying. The Harringtons will pick a new heir. Do you want Jeff to become a widower? To catch her disease? His life would be ruined! If anyone’s going to die from that illness, let it be Alex. He’s expendable. But not our Jeff!” Jeff’s eyes welled up with tears again. Robert immediately snapped for his assistant, who produced the share transfer agreement. He signed it without another word, then turned to reassure a trembling Jeff that he’d compensate him with even more shares later. A cold laugh echoed in my mind. Go ahead. Give him whatever you want. I’ll be taking it all back in the end. My mother’s life’s work would not remain in the hands of these vultures. The officiant urged. “The ceremony is ready to begin. Groom and bride, to your positions.”

Celeste’s eyes shone with triumph as she locked arms with Jeff, leading him away like a prize. My father forced me to stay for the wedding, claiming it was about family respect. A last-minute groom swap was the joke of the season among the city’s elite, and I felt the weight of every mocking, curious stare. As soon as it was over, I tried to slip away. Celeste stopped me. “Alex, I’m sorry about today.” “I know I wouldn’t be where I am without you. The moment Seraphina is gone, I’ll bring you home and make it right. Jeff won’t mind.” Celeste and I were college sweethearts. Back then, she was a broke student. and I was disowned by my family. We were each other’s only support. We dreamed of building our own empire, without the Sterling fortune. For her, I humbled myself, gathering investors for her startup. I studied relentlessly to be her advisor, her shield against a cutthroat world. She had once held my hand and sworn she would give me a home, that I would never be bullied again. But she broke her promise. I had no patience left for her hollow apologies. I turned and walked away. I bumped into Jeff, who was holding a glass of wine. “Alex,” he said timidly, “let me propose a toast. Thank you for stepping aside for Celeste and me… and for taking my place with the Harringtons.” Celeste gently praised him for being considerate, then looked at me. “Alex, Jeff means well-” I cut her off coldly. “Celeste, do I need to remind you that I’m allergic to alcohol?” “And you. You knew his exact size. You knew his body well enough to tailor that suit blindfolded. Tell me, how long have you been sleeping with him? Save your toast. I don’t accept drinks from a bastard and his mistress!” I didn’t bother to lower my voice. The remaining guests turned to stare. Jeff’s face instantly paled. He covered his face, sobbing. “I know you’re angry, Alex. If slandering me as a homewrecker and ruining my reputation makes you happy, then so be it. It’s my fault for not knowing my place.” The moment he finished, Celeste’s face turned glacial. “Alex, just drink the wine. Or I’ll have someone pour it down your throat.” When I met her threat with a cold stare, she let out a scornful laugh, snatched a full bottle of hard liquor, and slammed it on the table between us. “Drop the act. I know about all those nights you spent drinking with your rich cougars. Since when are you suddenly allergic?” “You embarrassed Jeff in public. A glass won’t cut it. You’re not leaving until you finish this entire bottle.” Whispers and sneers spread through the crowd. “How much do you think Alex Sterling charges for his services? Those old women must pay well.” “No wonder Celeste switched grooms. Who would want used goods? He’s perfect for that promiscuous Harrington girl. Jeff, at least, is pure.” My eyes widened in disbelief, my nails digging deep into my palms. Celeste had always prided herself on being above begging for favors. To secure projects and investments, I had no choice but to schmooze, drinking until my stomach bled. Yet, I had always remained pure. Coupled with long hours and irregular meals, my immune system broke down, and I suddenly developed an alcohol allergy. I hadn’t told her, afraid she’d worry. Before I could speak, Celeste lost patience. She turned and ordered her bodyguards, “You have three minutes. Force that bottle down his throat. Jeff is tired and can’t stand here much longer.” My arms were pinned, my mouth forcibly pried open. The fiery, acrid liquid poured down my throat, making me choke and bringing tears to my eyes. Almost visibly, my face and neck erupted in a rash. I clutched my throat, collapsing to my knees, suffocating. Celeste’s face changed drastically. She kicked away the bodyguard who was trying to force more alcohol down my throat. “Get out! Don’t touch him!” “Call 911! If Alex suffers any harm, I’ll end you all!” When the ambulance arrived, Celeste rushed over, trying to get into the vehicle with me. “Alex, I’m so sorry, I thought you were lying to me, I…” Despite the doctor’s repeated objections, I pulled off my oxygen mask. I spat directly into her face, enunciating each word. “Trash. Don’t touch me. You’re disgusting!” Celeste froze. Behind her, Jeff cried out, “Celeste, I twisted my ankle, it hurts so much, hurry and help me up…” She hesitated for a moment, then turned and ran to Jeff. I was taken to the hospital. After treatment, I could finally breathe normally, and the rash gradually faded. The next day, Celeste and Jeff went shopping. Pictures of their interlocked fingers flooded social media, a grand romantic gesture for all to see. No one came to see me. Only my father’s assistant stopped by, on his own accord. Seeing my pale face, Mr. Davis sighed with compassion. “Mr. Alex Sterling, you’ve been through a lot.” “It’s just a pity that beyond secretly visiting you, I can’t stop you from falling into the Harrington family’s hellhole seven days from now.” He was trained by my mother and stayed to help protect the company. After my mother passed, he remained by my father’s side, assisting him, and often looked out for me in private. I curved my lips into a knowing smile. “You’re wrong. That won’t be a hellhole.” “Mr. Davis, interested in a partnership?”

No sooner had I been discharged from the hospital than I heard my father had given Jeff another 15% of Sterling Corp. He even complained that Jeff and Celeste’s new home was too far from their mother’s family, fearing he would miss his son, and insisted on buying Jeff another mansion nearby. He and Veronica spent their days busy decorating Jeff’s new place. The entire social circle mocked me, the son of the first wife, saying I was worth less than the illegitimate child born of the mistress who climbed her way up. I didn’t care. With them gone, I was happy to have some peace. While I was replying to Mr. Davis’s messages, when Jeff suddenly pushed the door open, carrying a bowl of something dark and murky. He placed the bowl on the coffee table, sat beside me, and linked his arm through mine, smiling. “I heard you were in the hospital by yourself for two days, brother?” “It’s all Celeste’s fault. She kept dragging me to lavish auctions for my wedding gifts. I thought it was a waste, but I couldn’t bear to spoil her fun, so I didn’t have time to visit you, brother. Don’t be angry.” I stared at his theatrics with cold eyes. “What do you want, Jeff?” Jeff’s gaze swept over the safe in my room. His face flushed as he smiled. “Celeste also wants us to have a baby so soon after marriage. I heard a Blessed Mother painting can help with fertility, and I wanted to get one for our living room, but I haven’t found one I like.” “I heard your mother was a devout believer and an excellent painter. She once painted a Blessed Mother. I was hoping you’d let me have it, brother…” “I won’t take it for free. I told Celeste that if you stay healthy, she should take care of you on the side. After all, successful women always have men chasing them, so instead of letting some unknown creeps have you, it’s better if brother…” I violently yanked my hand free and grabbed his collar, yanking him closer. “That Blessed Mother painting is the only relic my mother left me! My father, the company, women-I can give all of that up, but that painting, no one touches it!” “Only you and your mother, you despicable opportunists, would eagerly become mistress and illegitimate child. I, Alex Sterling, wouldn’t stoop so low!” When I was six, I fell gravely ill, and nothing seemed to cure me. My mother, desperate, turned to faith. She painted a sacred image, had it blessed, and knelt before it. For three days, without food or water, she prayed without ceasing, begging a higher power to spare her son. n the end, my health returned. But not long after, my mother was taken from me. Her final act was one of courage, a sacrifice that took her from me. That painting embodies my mother’s love for me. No one can take it away! Jeff was thrown to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. “Brother, you misunderstand me. I just wanted to repay you.” Celeste suddenly appeared, pulling Jeff into her embrace. She raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face. Her eyes were as cold as ice. “I’m the one who chose the new groom. Jeff was never a homewrecker. He was even worried you might get sick, that the Harrington family wouldn’t care for you as a widower, and no one else would want you. That’s why he begged me to find you a doctor and care for you for the rest of your life.” “You can bear to lay a hand on such a considerate brother, yet you care so much about a painting from a dead person. You’re truly unreasonable!” Celeste pinned me down with one hand and ordered the bodyguards, “Since he won’t hand it over willingly, saw open the safe now and get the painting.” Her words stabbed at my heart like a thousand knives, hurting far more than the slap. Soon, they retrieved the painting and handed it to Jeff. I stared at Celeste, a cold laugh escaping my lips. “So, you’re completely on Jeff’s side now, helping him steal my things, is that right?” Celeste knew my history. Her past sympathy was now replaced by a barely concealed guilt. She released me, her tone softening slightly. “Alex, it hurts me when either of you is sad.” “Anyway, your mother isn’t coming back. It’s just a worthless painting. Just let Jeff have it. If you like, I’ll buy you a hundred more, okay?” I grabbed the glass from the table and smashed it against Celeste’s head without hesitation. “No!” Seeing blood stream from Celeste’s forehead, Jeff screamed and ran over, shoving me hard. “How dare you hit her?! It’s just a painting! We don’t want it anymore, take it back!” The scroll suddenly unfurled in his hands. The next second, the Blessed Mother painting was torn into two halves. One half was in my hand. The other half, Jeff tossed into the nearby fish tank.

“Ah, brother, I… I didn’t mean to…” I ignored him, rushing to the fish tank to retrieve the half of the painting. The colors were already ruined by the water, beyond repair. I couldn’t even protect the last memento my mother left me. My heart felt torn to shreds, tears falling onto the floor. Celeste’s eyes flashed with pity. She gave Jeff a reproving look. “Alex…” Jeff suddenly remembered something and quickly handed me the bowl from the coffee table. “This is a folk remedy I found for you. They say it can prevent all kinds of illnesses. Drink it and you’ll forgive me~” A pungent, fishy odor emanated from the black liquid, and I could vaguely make out the corpses of scorpions and maggots. I snatched the bowl and smashed it against Jeff. “You want me to forgive you? Over my dead body!” It had been sitting out for a while, so the liquid in the bowl was already lukewarm. Yet, Jeff clutched his arm and shrieked, “Ah, it’s so hot…” Veronica burst in. Taking in the scene, she rolled up Jeff’s sleeve, revealing the red patches on his arm. They exchanged a knowing glance before she pulled him into a hug, sobbing. “My poor Jeff! Why trouble yourself over that ungrateful wretch? Has he ever treated you as a brother?” “You’ve been delicate since birth. What if it leaves a scar? Daughter-in-law, are you just going to stand there and watch your husband get bullied?!” Celeste looked at me with immense disappointment. She closed her eyes, then spoke in a deep voice, “Get a basin of boiling water.” At her signal, the bodyguards pinned me to the ground. A basin of scalding water was placed before my eyes, the steam stinging them shut. A sense of foreboding instantly filled my entire being. “Celeste, what are you doing?!” She looked down at me from above. “Alex, you’ve repeatedly betrayed Jeff’s good intentions and hurt him. You have to pay the price.” Vaguely guessing her intent, I struggled desperately. “The liquid in that bowl was already cold! Jeff is just acting with his mother! Can’t you see?!” At my words, Jeff immediately began to wipe away tears. “Brother, it’s bad enough that you bully and target me, but Celeste has been so good to you, how could you bear to lie to her?!” “Are you saying my injury isn’t severe enough? Fine, I’ll scald myself with boiling water again right now, as compensation for your mother’s painting!” He had barely lifted his foot before Celeste pulled him into her arms. “Jeff, you’re just too innocent. That’s why he always slanders and bullies you. I believe you.” Jeff whimpered pitifully. “Actually, since Seraphina is so promiscuous, perhaps ruining your skin with boiling water would be a good thing, brother. Maybe she won’t want to touch you then? At least you wouldn’t get sick.” Celeste actually nodded in agreement at such an absurd suggestion. “Jeff, you’re so clever.” I burst into maniacal laughter, tears streaming down my face. “Celeste, I misjudged you completely. You and Jeff truly are a perfectly vile pair, a match made in hell!” Celeste frowned, her expression grim. “Alex, if you’re angry, you can curse me, but do you really need to target Jeff at every turn? He’s thought about you enough. You can’t be so heartless!” “Jeff is right. Perhaps this is also a way to protect you. Besides, you owe him this!” “Don’t worry, even if you’re covered in scars, I won’t abandon you. The moment Seraphina passes, I’ll come take you away!” As her words fell, the entire basin of scalding water was poured onto my back. The pain was excruciating, tearing through me, yet I couldn’t move. My whole body convulsed and trembled uncontrollably. My father rushed in, his voice anxious. “Stop, all of you! The Harrington family is here! Their heiress is critical. The doctors say she has three days left, tops. She wants a wedding, right now. She’s determined to go out with a bang.” “The Harrington family wants to take him now. They said they’ll hold a small ceremony at home first, so Miss Harrington won’t have any regrets!” When the butler changed my clothes, he was terrified by the shocking blisters covering my back, afraid of bursting them and causing bleeding or infection. My father, upon hearing this, showed no pity, only blame. “It was I who told Jeff to get the Blessed Mother painting from you. I can’t believe how disobedient you are, even slandering Jeff. You’ll never change!” I violently looked at him, hatred practically spewing from my eyes. So, he was the one who told Jeff about the painting! “Don’t look at me like that. Are you regretting it? Do you think being injured will get you out of the wedding?” “Let me be clear,” my father snarled, “the Harringtons have promised Sterling Corp a substantial reward for this. A single project from them is worth a decade of our profits. I’ve fed and housed you all these years. Now, you will repay me. You will marry into that family today!” He ordered the butler to suit me up, injuries be damned. “Dark fabric hides blood.” My back was raw, the pain blinding. When the car moved, the suit was already stained dark. Through the window, I saw Celeste silently form the words. “Alex, just endure it. I’ll come for you.” Three days later, news came that a Harrington had died. Celeste, counting the days, was certain it was Seraphina, the city’s darling heiress. She rushed to the funeral home with Jeff to pay their respects. But when she looked into the coffin, she froze. The body lying there wasn’t a young woman at all. It wasn’t the heiress. It was 102-year-old Grandfather Harrington, with a shock of white hair.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306748”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #校园School

I always thought Ethan hated my guts. That’s why, when thugs dragged me into a dark alley and assaulted me, he was the last person I’d call for help. I ended up in the hospital, my body a map of pain. A doctor looked down, his voice thick with pity. “Any last words for your family?”. “Tell Ethan I’m dying. He’s finally free.” For three years of marriage, Ethan had demanded a divorce ninety-nine times. He once even drugged me and left me in another man’s bed, all just to be rid of me. Now, with me gone, he was finally free. But at my funeral, Ethan’s eyes burned crimson. He beheaded my killers, offering their heads at my coffin. His bloodstained hands trembled, crumpling the hidden cancer diagnosis. Then he swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills and lay beside me. “Aubrey, I’m coming with you.” My eyes snapped open. Time had rewound. Ethan stood before me, thrusting the divorce papers at me for the ninety-ninth time. “She’s pregnant. She needs me to do right by her. Don’t be a roadblock. Sign it.” I snatched the papers and tore them to shreds. I grabbed him, pulling him close, my voice breaking. “You’re sick! And you didn’t tell me? You think this is noble? Suffering alone? Waiting to die?”

Ethan looked up at me, startled. A flicker of light shone in his beautiful eyes, then died just as quickly. He lit a cigarette and leaned back lazily on the sofa, a cold smirk playing on his lips. “Aubrey, have you been watching too many cheesy dramas?” He gave a dismissive laugh, deliberately blowing a cloud of smoke in my face. “I’m completely over you. This marriage is broken. Let’s end it cleanly and make room for my new girlfriend.” The thick smoke stung my nostrils, threatening to make me cough. I had to admit, Ethan knew me all too well. He knew how much I hated the smell of smoke. Using it to provoke me while discussing our divorce was a deliberate, calculated move. I pulled out the printed copy of the cancer diagnosis. Tears welling in my eyes, I thrust it toward him. “Then explain this to me.” His gaze slowly fell on the paper. His face was emotionless, giving nothing away. After a long moment, he let out a derisive snort. Then he tore it to pieces. “A fake medical report? Late-stage cancer? Aubrey, if you don’t want a divorce, just say so. There’s no need to put a curse on me.” With a flick of his wrist, he sent the confetti of paper fluttering down around us like snow. Ethan was done. “If you tear up this agreement, I’ll just print another. When you come to your senses, you can sign it yourself.” “My girl is waiting for me for a date. I don’t have time for this.” With a final, languid look, he stood and walked away. I hesitated for only a second before chasing after him. “Ethan, don’t think you can get rid of me.” I called out. “You want a divorce? Well, I’m not signing anything. Let’s see what you do then!” I was being stubborn. Ethan paused, then shot me an icy glare. “Suit yourself.” So I went full-blown clinger. When he went to the office for meetings, I was waiting at the entrance. When he drove off to see his new girlfriend, I hailed a cab. “Driver, can you go faster? don’t lose that car.” The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Sweetheart, that young couple looks real happy together. Why are you following them?” I gritted my teeth. “That man is my husband.” The driver’s expression shifted instantly to one of sympathy. He straightened up and thumped his chest. “Don’t worry, I won’t lose them.” They pulled over in front of a shopping mall. Ethan got out first, then turned and opened the passenger door. A young girl launched herself into his arms. They laughed and chatted, linking arms as they walked into the mall. I bit my lip. Even though I knew it was all an act, a sharp, familiar pain shot through my heart. It was just like the provocations he’d used in our last life to pressure me into signing the divorce. He even brought the girl to our bed, stripped her naked, and held her close, flaunting their intimacy in front of me. It was that time that my heart truly died. I signed the divorce papers, packed my things, and planned to move out and find a new place, only to be dragged into a dark alley by a group of thugs. They abused me, treating me like a rough toy. Excruciating pain shot through me as they tore out a large chunk of my hair. My teeth felt like they’d been knocked out, as they grabbed a brick from the street and smashed it against my head. As my vision blurred, I remembered that purest year. Ethan had held me gently, setting his number as the emergency speed dial on my phone. “Aubrey, if you’re ever in danger, call me immediately. I’ll always be there.” I struggled to find Ethan’s number, but hesitated the moment I was about to dial. I remembered his disgusted look. He was probably flirting with his new girlfriend, not wanting to be disturbed by me. Later, even when I was battered and bruised, hospitalized, and clinging to life, I still didn’t contact Ethan. It became a final goodbye. Now, across the street, Ethan had his arm around the girl’s waist, whispering and chuckling in her ear. His gaze occasionally flickered in my direction. I steeled myself, getting out of the taxi and rushing towards them. Noticing my raw stare, Ethan and the girl paused, turning back to look at me strangely. “Honey, didn’t you say you’d divorce that old hag at home? Why is she chasing us again?” Ethan’s gaze slowly settled on me, his brows furrowed, but he said nothing. He seemed to be waiting for an explanation from me. I shrugged with a smile. “Don’t mind me. You two carry on.”

I remembered Ethan’s new girlfriend, her name was Chloe. She looked pure and sweet, completely unlike me, the “shrew.” Ever since Ethan started frequently mentioning divorce six months ago, he’d spent every night out with Chloe. Seeing me follow them like glue, Chloe seemed uneasy. She kept looking back at me, clinging to Ethan’s arm and whining. “Honey, is your wife crazy?” “Why is she still following us? Is there something wrong with her?” Ethan finally lost his patience, turning to glare coldly at me. “Aubrey, you’re scaring my girl.” He shielded her behind him, as if I might hurt her. But six years ago. He had protected me in the same way, without a second thought. He’d watched the stars with me, traveled to the desert with me, and even when close to dying of thirst, he saved the last sip of water for me. Even though I’d been entangled with my ex-boyfriend, betraying him many times. He still loved me. In my last life, I could never understand. Could such a devoted person suddenly change his heart? So, I went wild with jealousy, focusing all my envious hatred on that young, beautiful girl, Chloe. Jealousy can drive people mad. It blinded me to Ethan’s true intentions. But now that I knew the whole story, I crossed my arms, enjoying Ethan’s expression, and suddenly I laughed. “Ethan, your acting still needs some work. It’s really hard to fool me.” Ethan averted his gaze, saying nothing. He leaned down and kissed Chloe’s lips. The girl’s face immediately flushed. She shyly looked up at him, her eyes full of joy. I, however, stood frozen, my face pale. Ethan looked at me with a calculated stare, then casually put his arm around the girl’s waist. “Still think I’m acting?” He even pulled up hotel reservation details on his phone, shoving it in my face. “See clearly. I’ve really fallen for someone else. My heart has changed.” “Aubrey, stop thinking I’m just playing along with you, or you’ll seem incredibly narcissistic.” Seeing my silence, Ethan smiled faintly and invited me. “We’re checking into a room tonight. If you’re interested, maybe you’d like to watch?” I was so furious my eyes blurred. I turned and ran. After I furiously got into a taxi and disappeared from the street, Ethan finally withdrew his gaze, releasing Chloe with a blank expression. “I’ll have a driver take you back.” Chloe’s rosy face instantly turned white. She bit her lip hard, timidly tugging at Ethan’s sleeve. “But you promised to go shopping with me? And tonight we were going to…” Seeing Ethan’s cold expression, the girl’s voice trailed off. “Ms. Chloe, she’s gone. No need to keep up the act.” “I’ll settle today’s payment with you as planned. Go shopping on your own.” Hidden around the corner, I saw this scene and smirked. Ethan had no idea I was so clever. I pretended to get into a taxi, drove a short distance, then told the driver to turn back. I wanted to see with my own eyes how they’d wrap things up. I’d actually thought they were going to book a room, film a video, or even stream it for me. Turns out Ethan’s tricks were limited. As Ethan turned to leave, his face was a little pale. His hand was pressed to his stomach, making my expression suddenly change. No wonder he looked like he was forcing himself earlier. Was his condition flaring up? Chloe, unaware of any of this, was still caught up in her sadness, turning to walk back into the mall alone. “Chloe.” I called out to her. “It’s you again?” The girl turned back, surprised. “How do you know my name?” I stood tall and confident, handing her the investigation report from the private detective. “I know everything. Ethan is sick, late-stage cancer. He didn’t want to burden me, so he found you to act this out and force me to divorce him.” A look of guilt flashed across Chloe’s face. She stammered, “You’re lying! Ethan and I are real. Otherwise, how could I be pregnant with his baby?” She gently placed her hand on her slightly swollen belly. There was clearly a little life inside. But my smile grew wider. “That baby is your boyfriend’s, isn’t it? It’s not Ethan’s at all.” “Because he has never touched you.” The girl’s face instantly turned ashen. “All this… how did you know?”

In my last life, that girl came to me, crying, saying Ethan was spitting blood and that I should go see him. She said Ethan had always loved me. At the time, I was consumed by the anger and jealousy of betrayal. I thought she was taunting me. My gaze fell on her belly, and my tone was sharp. “If he really loved me, how could he get you pregnant?” “He hates me.” “I’ll agree to divorce him. You two ‘lovebirds’ can just be stuck together forever.” Later, I found out that was one of the worst times Ethan had bled, staining the entire bathtub red. His assistant rushed him to the hospital, tears streaming down his face, saying he wanted to call me. But Ethan weakly raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t… don’t bother her.” “She should forget me and have a new life.” It wasn’t until after my death in the last life that I realized Ethan had never betrayed me. He had hidden his love very, very deeply. Even before his death, by forcing me to divorce him, he was doing everything he could to pave the way for my future. How could I ever let down such a good man? I pulled out a bank card and handed it to Chloe. “If I’m not mistaken, you took this job because you needed money, right?” “Chloe, whatever Ethan paid you, I’ll give you double. Only one condition-” “Next time Ethan calls you, make sure you refuse him.” No one turns down money. Chloe took the bank card, hesitated for a moment, then agreed. As I was leaving, she called out to me. “Aubrey, Ethan really loves you. You’re very lucky.” “I think so too. Even if he only has a few months left, you two should be together, cherishing every precious moment.” I smiled at her, then turned and left. After sorting everything out, I took a taxi home, wanting to talk things through with Ethan. I wasn’t afraid of being a burden to him. I loved him. Even if he only had one day left to live, I wanted to be with him. But I searched every room in the villa and couldn’t find Ethan. I called his assistant, who also said he didn’t know; Ethan had gone out alone without a driver. I was frantic and scared, terrified that something might have happened to him alone outside. I searched everywhere he loved to go, but there was no sign of him. Finally, I went to the place where we first met. Ethan was there, just as I expected. He was leaning alone against an old oak tree by the river, his gaze distant, smoking a cigarette. His eyes were pale, and he occasionally winced in pain, clutching his stomach with his other hand. I knew he was hurting again. “Come on, to the hospital.” I forced back a sob, reaching out to pull him. Ethan was surprised to see me there and froze for a moment. But only for a second, then he coldly scoffed and shook off my hand. “Aubrey, aren’t you annoying?” “I told you, I hate you. Can’t you take a hint and stop constantly showing up around me?” I watched his mouth open and close. I didn’t hear anything he said. I only saw his lips, utterly devoid of color. My emotions overwhelmed me, and I stepped forward to hug him again. “Ethan, didn’t you say it? Through sickness and health, you’d be with me.” “Why, why are you pushing me away?” “You forgot how many times I betrayed you for other men, how you forgave me every time, cleaned up my messes, and continued to love me. Why are you changing your mind now?” “You went through so much trouble to win me over and marry me. Now that I’ve finally fallen in love with you, how dare you push me away?” Since my rebirth, It was the first time I’d lost control, practically screaming and crying all this out. Ethan froze. He stared at me blankly, a hint of panic in his eyes. He even started to reach out, as if to wipe my tears. “Aubrey, I’m sorry. I said some harsh things. Please don’t cry.” I didn’t give him another chance to push me away, seizing the opportunity to throw myself into his arms. “Ethan, believe it or not, if I divorce you, I’ll die.” “No way!” Ethan blurted out, without hesitation. His expression shifted. “Aubrey, don’t say that. Don’t curse yourself like that.” I let out a wet chuckle, wiping my tears and sniffles on his sleeve. But it wasn’t a curse. It was a memory. That was exactly what happened in my past life. Signing those papers was what sent me to my death. “I’m telling you the truth, Ethan.” “The moment the divorce is finalized, I will die.” “Maybe this is fate. Heaven has decided you’re only meant to be a widower, not a divorced man.”

Perhaps because I was so shameless, Ethan stopped mentioning divorce and no longer tried to push me away. He even uncharacteristically took me for ice cream and to watch a movie. We were like any normal couple again. Time felt like it had been rewound six months. During the second half of the movie, I fell asleep leaning on Ethan’s shoulder. In my sleep, I mumbled. “Ethan, please don’t send me away.” He silently watched me, his gaze gentle yet heavy, then leaned down and kissed my forehead. It got dark, and Ethan drove me home, silent the whole way. No matter how I tried to lighten the mood or start a conversation, he’d only respond with a faint “Mhm,” “Oh,” or “Got it.” That night, while Ethan was in the shower, I tiptoed into his bed. We had started sleeping separately six months ago. I’d been disgusted, thinking he was messing around outside and was “dirty.” He never bothered to explain. He’d sleep in the guest room or the study every night. But now, I was in his bed, wearing my nightgown. Ethan, fresh out of the shower, pulled back the covers and saw me. He was visibly stunned. “Aubrey, what’s gotten into you?” Seeing what I was wearing, he paused, took a step back, and looked away. “Get out.” I was a little disheartened. Tonight I’d specifically put on a revealing nightgown, Ethan’s favorite style. During the good times in our relationship, whenever I wore this nightgown. He’d instantly turn into a beast. Now he was like a different person, indifferent, and wouldn’t even look at me. “Ethan, do you really hate me that much?” “No.” “Then why can’t you look me in the eye?” I deliberately clung to him, even actively kissing him, teasing him. Ethan’s breathing grew ragged. He grabbed my hands. “Aubrey, I told you I lost interest in you a long time ago. Why humiliate yourself?” He looked me up and down with disdain. “I’m sick of this body; I don’t want to touch it even once.” I gritted my teeth, furious. This guy could be truly venomous when he wanted to. But I didn’t care. I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed him hard. He still resisted, until I whispered something in his ear. “Ethan, if we actually divorce, this might be our last time.” “Our last time. Don’t you want to enjoy it properly?” “Who knows, after the divorce, we might be separated by life and death, never getting a chance to meet again.” I remembered my past life, how I died after signing the divorce papers. But Ethan was thinking he had late-stage stomach cancer and only a few days to live. A heavy and sorrowful atmosphere hung between us. Ethan indeed stopped resisting. His hand pressed against the back of my head, and he kissed me deeply. “Alright, then, one last time.” The next morning. My entire body felt like it had been torn apart. Ethan’s strength was so intense; who knew how long he’d been holding back? When I woke up, Ryan wasn’t in bed. I heard movement in the bathroom and walked over. In the pristine sink, there was a puddle of red blood. My body stiffened. “Ethan…” My face was pale. I wanted to go to him, but Ethan quickly turned on the faucet to rinse it away, giving a nonchalant smile. “What are you looking at? Just a nosebleed. You’re going to mock me for that?” My heart ached, but I didn’t expose him. I smiled and replied. “Probably just too much heat. I’ll make you some herbal tea to cool down later.” But there was no “later.” A few days later, Ethan slipped something into my juice and tried to send me to Ryan’s bed. What he didn’t know was that I’d already lived through this twice. I knew what was in that drink. I pretended to sip it, then rushed to the bathroom, shoved my fingers down my throat, and forced myself to vomit it all up. I was fully conscious when Ethan carried me into the hotel room. I clearly heard their conversation. “Ryan, take good care of her from now on.” Ethan’s voice was hoarse, more than I’d ever heard. “If you ever dare to hurt her again, I’ll haunt you even as a ghost.” I stood with my back to them, my body stiff, so heartbroken I could barely breathe. Ryan was my ex-boyfriend. In my last life, Ethan had forced Ryan to sign an agreement, stating that if he ever changed his mind and hurt me, he’d have to pay me ten million. I thought this time he finally understood my true feelings, but he still had this plan in mind. But I’m a person, not an object. Ethan, how dare you hand me over to someone else? Did you even ask me? Even Ryan, who usually argued with him, was too shocked to speak, pulling him back, unable to bear it. “Ethan, are you sure?” “Have you even asked Aubrey if this is what she wants?” “You’ve been married for three years, Aubrey isn’t as fragile as you think. Even if you tell her the truth, she can handle it.” “She’s not a heartless person; she wouldn’t leave you just because you have cancer…” “And more importantly, we’re ancient history. Aubrey loves you now!” Ethan looked down and smiled, his gaze gently resting on my unconscious form. “Of course, I know she loves me.” “But that’s exactly why I can’t let her grieve.” “I can endure any torment, I can walk through hell itself.” “But I can’t bear… to see her cry for me.” But Ethan, if you just looked at me, you’d see that I’m crying right now. Ethan took one last look at me, slipped a strawberry-flavored condom into Ryan’s hand, and turned away without a word. He never returned to the hotel that night. He sat in his car, lost in thought for a long time, then pulled a two-inch photo of me from his suit pocket. His thumb gently traced its surface. He smiled softly. “Aubrey, you used to love Ryan so much. You’ll fall in love with him again.” “Forget about me. Go live a happy life.” It was almost dark when he drove alone to the cross-river bridge and pulled over. No assistant or driver followed him. He only left one last message in his notes, his final letter to the world. “I don’t want to live in pain. For the rime I left, I want to be free.” With that resolve, he walked steadily toward the river. Just then, his phone rang frantically. Ethan silenced it, but it rang again almost immediately. He sighed in frustration, saw Ryan’s name, and answered, his voice tight. “Ryan?” A frantic, panicked voice answered. “Ethan, get over here! It’s Aubrey! She found out what you did, lost it, and then she got jumped by some thugs! They dragged her into an alley!”

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“Chloe is sweet and innocent, she’d never do something like that. She’s not twisted and malicious like you!” Later, Chloe accidentally electrocuted herself while abusing another cat, becoming a high-level paraplegic. He clutched their wedding photo, looking like he’d aged decades overnight from grief, begging me for forgiveness. I just smiled. “Stop crying, Dean. Chloe’s bedpan is probably overflowing. Time to go play nursemaid.” 0 My cat went missing yesterday. I wasn’t home, but Dean, my boyfriend, insisted on coming over to drop off some fruit. He left without properly closing the door, and my cat, Spud, just wandered out. The security cameras didn’t catch anything, and our search turned up nothing. *Pop! Pop!* Mini fireworks suddenly burst in the dim room. Dean walked in, holding a bouquet, pulled out a ring, and knelt before me. “I was careless yesterday, and Spud went missing. But honestly, they say pets can cause problems when you’re trying to start a family, right?” “Now that Spud’s gone, isn’t it like fate made the decision for us?” “Rowan, let’s get married. Please, marry me. We’ll have a baby, and give all our love to this family.” A crowd of friends, holding cakes and gifts, rushed into my place, cheering and surrounding us, recording videos. And I, tears streaming down my face, looked as if I was deeply moved by this “devoted” man. “Say yes! Say yes!” Someone started the chant. Dean confidently smirked, took my hand, and slowly began to slide the ring on. But I stopped him. The next second, I grabbed the entire cream cake and smashed it right into his face! “Who the hell gave you the right? Go propose to your damn self!” The lively proposal ended in chaos. My friends, sensing the tension, wisely left. Only Chloe remained, standing outside the door, consoling Dean. “Rowan’s just throwing a little tantrum, you need to coax her more, hehe.” “But seriously, no matter how angry she is, all this fuss over *a cat*? She’s so disrespectful to you in public. Did her mom just never teach her any manners?” The old building had poor sound insulation. Chloe’s soft, sweet voice drifted in through the doorframe, fueling my rage. I poured a large glass of water and marched towards the door. Just then, Dean spoke up. “Rowan’s parents passed away years ago, so yeah, she kinda grew up without proper guidance.” “Chloe, I’m giving that cat to you. My parents won’t approve of my wife having a cat. I need to get rid of it before she can marry into my family, so I had to trick her like this.” “If Rowan wants to unleash her fury, she can direct it all at me. I’ll take it. I won’t let her hurt you.” Suddenly, his words caught in his throat. I flung the front door open, glaring menacingly at the two of them. Chloe had her back to the door. Just as she was about to turn, I raised my hand and splashed the entire glass of water in her face. “My parents didn’t raise me well? How about *your* parents? Wash your filthy mouth!” “Ah!” Chloe shrieked. I then backhanded her, throwing the glass directly at Dean’s head, where it shattered. “Are you insane? You gave away my cat, my companion for six years? What, is your family the monarchy? Why would I be desperate to marry into it?!” 2. Dean was stunned, his face flushed crimson with explosive anger. But he was a polished corporate professional after all; he didn’t curse or retaliate. He just instinctively pulled Chloe behind him. “Rowan, calm down. Chloe’s trying to help us!” Chloe was a classmate from college, now working as a psychology assistant lecturer at our alma mater. She was a slender, tall beauty, who spoke in a gentle voice, earning her the reputation of the campus goddess. She was also a charity influencer, specializing in rescuing stray animals, with her accounts constantly sharing posts about cats needing adoption. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with Dean. I just extended my hand, demanding my cat back from Chloe. “Rowan, you’re misunderstanding me.” Chloe calmly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her sweet voice carrying a hint of annoyance. “You really shouldn’t be so hostile towards all women. I love cats and dogs, but I would never accept attention or gifts from someone else’s boyfriend. I refused anything Dean sent, I left it all outside my door.” My mind went blank with a sudden rush of shock. Dean gave a bitter smile, whispering to Chloe. “You’re a woman of such integrity, not accepting it was the right thing to do. I’m sorry to have caused you trouble, Chloe.” But what about my cat? They were being so polite to each other, but where was Spud now? “What’s your address? Give me back my cat!” No sooner had the words left my mouth than all three of our phones buzzed with a trending news alert: **[Show-Quality Purebred Ragdoll Cat, Valued at $25,000, Countdown to Death: Uncovering the Online Cat Abuse Cult]** The moment I clicked the link, tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. I saw Spud, my beautiful Ragdoll, strung up with wire through its spine, hanging like cured meat in a dark room. Every time it tried to curl its body, the abuser would connect a power source, electrocuting it until its body stiffened, screaming in agonizing pain… This was [Killer], a notorious online platform that posts cat abuse videos. You had to pay to even like a video, and this one already had over a hundred thousand likes. Killer promised to upload the “execution” video as soon as the likes surpassed half a million. Countless deranged users flooded the comments, celebrating. In their twisted world, torturing and killing a hundred stray cats was nowhere near as satisfying as abusing a purebred show cat. It was an absolutely thrilling spectacle for them. With each agonizing cry from my cat, the color slowly drained from Dean’s face. Before I could even speak, he instinctively tried to defend Chloe. “…That cat might not even be your Spud. And even if it is, it must have gotten lost and *then* Killer caught it! Chloe is kind and innocent, she could never abuse a cat. She’s not manipulative and twisted like *some* women. Don’t accuse her!” 3. “She’s not like other women? So she’s a man? What the hell are you talking about?” My voice trembled with fury. I restrained the urge to slap Dean and instead reported the theft of property to the police. The police immediately found evidence that Dean had stolen my cat from my house. Last night, Dean had carried the cat to Chloe’s place, left half an hour later, and the cardboard box containing the cat was left outside Chloe’s door. In the early hours of the morning, a dark shadow ran out of the box. Dean vehemently insisted it was all his responsibility, that he was unilaterally trying to please Chloe with a gift, and he didn’t want her implicated. While Chloe ran a charity account and was a well-known “cat goddess” in the pet community, I couldn’t ethically blame her for not taking care of my cat. After the police left, Chloe blinked her soft eyes a few times, then pouted as she lectured me. “Honestly, this has nothing to do with me, right? Someone gave me something, I refused it, and it got lost. That’s not my fault, you know.” “Rowan, you really shouldn’t be so hostile towards every girl you meet. This is all your boyfriend’s fault, isn’t it?” As she finished speaking, the cat abuse video’s likes had already climbed to 150,000. Spud’s life was on countdown. What could I do? I frantically messaged the [Killer] account, and contacted the cat-finding team to review the footage again and again. We staked out the route Spud had disappeared on, hoping to catch Killer. But the chances were tiny. I was despairingly crouched outside Chloe’s house when Dean quietly approached, squatting down to grasp my wildly trembling hand. “This is all my fault. Let it end with me, okay? Please, don’t bother Chloe anymore.” He said softly, “I can’t get twenty-five thousand dollars in cash right now, but I’m selling my car. I’ll compensate you at full value, and I’ll take all the responsibility.” “But if I pay this, we might not have enough for our wedding… I hope you don’t mind these small things. After we get married and have a baby, I’ll help you get more cats.” The harsh sunlight glinted through Dean’s glasses, falling into his calm, dark eyes. I used to love those steady eyes. Back when my parents had just passed away, I drifted through college in a daze, sometimes crying for no reason even while eating. He silently wiped my tears, quietly stayed by my side, accepting all my anxiety and pain, always so steady and reliable. Only today did I understand: he wasn’t without emotion. It was just that his fervent, mad love belonged to another woman he couldn’t have. Every word he spoke was about Chloe. Just how desperately did he want to protect her? I spoke slowly. “You sound so self-pitying, as if I’m deliberately extorting twenty-five thousand dollars from you. And you’re still thinking about marriage and babies right now?” “My parents owned a cattery specializing in show-quality purebreds. They died in a fire, and Spud was the only cat rescued from that blaze.” “It’s the last thing they left me. You stole it, you lost it. Do you know what that means?” The words hung in the air, and for the first time, Dean’s composed, self-controlled face cracked. It was as if all the strength had drained from his body; his gaze, dull and ashen, was fixed blankly ahead. I shoved him hard to the ground, kicking his glasses away. “Keep that money for your parents’ retirement! I don’t want compensation. I want to see you rot in jail! Stealing property worth twenty-five thousand dollars, that’s a serious felony—you’re looking at a minimum of three years!”

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The perp hijacked the school bus. My husband, a renowned negotiator, sent his intern, Scarlett, to handle it. Soon, Scarlett enraged the perp, and a toddler was shot. Afterward, my husband held Scarlett, who was weeping uncontrollably. “It’s not your fault.” Then, he patted my shoulder. “Leo dying was just bad luck. It has nothing to do with Scarlett. She was brave and smart, which is why there weren’t more casualties.” It took me a moment to realize he thought the child who died was *our* son. My husband, Derek Henderson, rushed to the scene with his intern, Scarlett Davis. “Scarlett, you handle this. This is a rare opportunity for real-world experience.” Scarlett pouted her lips just so, her voice turning syrupy-sweet. “Derek, I’m so nervous. It’s my first negotiation, I’m really not sure what to do…” I couldn’t believe my ears. I surged forward and grabbed Derek’s arm. “Are you insane? There are 22 kids in there! This is Scarlett’s first live negotiation? That’s way too risky!” Derek impatiently shook off my hand. “Briar Hayes, what do *you* know about this? I know Scarlett’s professional capabilities! Don’t make a scene here!” Derek turned to Scarlett, patting her back with a doting expression. “Don’t be scared. Negotiate however you think best. Be bold and try it. I’m here to help you.” A chill ran down my spine as I watched their intimate interaction. Parents, who had rushed to the scene, were already sobbing. The whole area was chaotic. The negotiation call connected. Scarlett took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound sweet. “Hello, sir, I’m Scarlett Davis, the negotiator. Please calm down. What are your demands…” Before she could finish, the perp’s rough shouting roared through the receiver. “Negotiate my ass! Get lost! If you don’t get me a car and money, I’ll start killing people!” Scarlett was stunned by the outburst, her face instantly flushing crimson. In her shame and anger, she lost her composure and shrieked into the phone. “You can just wait to die! Do you know whose kindergarten bus this is? The principal’s son, Leo Hayes, is on that bus too! If you lay a hand on those children, she will never let you off the hook, and the police will take you down!” “Shut up! Scarlett!” Hearing that, I nearly went mad with shock. Because I was the principal of that kindergarten. “How could you say that? That’ll just enrage him!” Scarlett shot me an annoyed look after my outburst. “Principal Hayes, if you don’t understand negotiation tactics, don’t butt in! I’m applying psychological pressure!” She turned, her eyes welling up, and complained to Derek. “Derek, look at her… she’s interfering with my work…”

Derek glared at me, his tone harsh. “Briar Hayes, quiet down. Scarlett is a professional. I trust her judgment! Stop messing things up!” On the other end of the line, the perp was indeed thoroughly enraged, his voice wild. “Leo Hayes? The principal’s son? Fine! Fine! I’ll make an example of him first!” “Who’s Leo Hayes? Get out here, you little punk!” Inside the bus, children’s terrified screams erupted instantly, their tiny figures huddling in fear behind the windows. My heart, along with the other parents’, clenched. Several mothers nearly fainted. But Scarlett, as if to prove herself, continued to provoke the perp through the phone. “Go ahead and try it if you dare! You won’t get away even if you kill someone! You’ll die too! I can’t stand cowards like you who only pick on the weak!” I couldn’t take it anymore. I rushed to her, shouting in a sharp voice. “Scarlett, if you don’t care about other people’s children, what about your own? Owen is on that bus too!” A flicker of surprise crossed Scarlett’s face, quickly turning into a cold sneer. “Briar Hayes, what nonsense are you spewing? My son isn’t even one of your kindergarten kids. He’s at my mom’s house today, how could he possibly be on the bus?” She turned to Derek, whining. “Derek, she just can’t stand me, she’s deliberately trying to mess with my emotions…” Derek’s face darkened completely. He yanked me away. “Briar Hayes, did I not tell you to get lost? If you interfere with the operation again, I’ll have the police remove you by force!” In the instant we were arguing, a small corner of the school bus curtain was violently yanked open. The perp fixed his gaze on a small figure huddled in the corner of a seat. The name embroidered on the child’s backpack was clearly visible. The perp roughly dragged the child over, screaming hysterically out the window. “I found him! The principal’s son, Leo Hayes! All of you, back off! If you keep surrounding me, I’ll kill him right now!”

The perp pressed the child’s back tightly against the bus window, a knife held to the child’s neck. “Retreat! All of you, retreat! Get me a car! Or I’ll stab him to death immediately!” Captain Miller, commanding the scene, looked grim as he quietly ordered into his comms. “All units, sniper in position? Look for an opening. Negotiation team, try to stabilize him, buy us time…” “No!” Derek suddenly cut in. “Captain Miller, give Scarlett another chance. The perp is agitated, but Scarlett has a read on him. Changing negotiators or going in now will only provoke him further. Scarlett, quickly, talk to him, make demands, calm him down!” Scarlett took a deep breath. She picked up the megaphone again, her voice brimming with righteous conviction. “Listen, perp inside! We will never compromise with evil!” “Put down your weapon and release the hostage now! That’s your only way out!” “Threatening the innocent and weak, what kind of strength is that? Go ahead and kill if you dare, but remember, once you kill, the full wrath of the law awaits you—the death penalty!” I and the other parents were stunned, staring at Scarlett in disbelief. “What is she saying?” “Is she insane? How can she not care about the child’s life?” Sure enough, the perp was completely enraged. “Fine! Fine! You’re forcing my hand! You’re all forcing me!” The perp’s desperate roar echoed from inside the bus. Immediately, a large gush of crimson blood splattered across the bus window. “Ah!” Scarlett, who was closest, witnessed the horrific scene firsthand. She let out a piercing scream and collapsed to the ground with a thud. Her phone shattered as it fell, and she began to sob despairingly. The perp’s crazed voice sounded again. “See that?! If you don’t retreat—” “Bang!” Before he could finish, a crisp gunshot rang out. The perp’s voice cut off abruptly. He had a bullet wound in his forehead and fell to the ground. The scene descended into chaos. Police officers carried crying children off the bus, handing them back to their parents. I stood frozen, my gaze fixed on the blood-stained bus window, cold all over. Just then, Derek hurried towards Scarlett, who was slumped on the ground. He pulled Scarlett tightly into his embrace, gently patting her back. “Scarlett, it’s over now, it’s over…” “It’s not your fault. Negotiations are like this; no one can guarantee 100% success. The perp was just too depraved. It’s not your mistake.”

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I’m a player trapped in a horror game, and my sole mission is to sleep with the game’s BOSS. The monsters and other players in this game couldn’t touch me, but they never stopped sneering: “Just a slut who climbed her way up using her body.” Then, one day, a new female player arrived. The chat exploded. [OMG! That girl looks EXACTLY like the Boss’s first love!] [Hahaha, finally, we won’t have to watch that slut, Sera, fawning over the BOSS all day long.] [Seriously? I remember Sera’s only skill is releasing hypnotic gas to knock out all players before she ‘does it’ with the BOSS every night, right? Well, good! If she dares to pull that stunt on the new girl, the BOSS will absolutely kill her with his own hands!] I read it all and breathed a sigh of relief. After all, the core rule of this game was: as soon as Boss Valerian found a new lover, I could finally leave this place. I’d been waiting for this day for *three agonizing years*! After a car crash, I accidentally stumbled into a horror game. On my very first day, I was torn to shreds by monsters. But no one, *not even me*, expected Valerian, the coldest, most ruthless BOSS in this game, to pick me up and put me back together. All because he was utterly obsessed with my scent. And just like that, when I woke up again, I became Valerian’s sexual partner. Because of this, all the monsters in the game dared not provoke me; some even feared me. As the supreme BOSS, Valerian could kill not only players but also *monsters*. At first, Valerian just treated me as his private possession, holding me while he slept. Every night, he’d bury his head deep into my neck, breathing in my scent. Later, I can’t remember which day, he came back after killing someone and pinned me to the bed. His blood-stained hands clamped over my mouth, and he took me, *roughly*. The overwhelming stench of blood and the brutal force nearly made me *gag*. To stop smelling that sickening blood, I decided to use my one unique skill: to emit a scent that forced all players and monsters into a deep sleep every night. Finally, Valerian stopped killing before he came back. But because of this skill, everyone cursed me. The players scoffed at me: “She’s just the BOSS’s sex toy, and she thinks she can control us? How pathetic!” Even the monsters were annoyed: “It’s all because of Sera! Now we can’t go out and kill anyone every night. So boring!” But I didn’t care. As long as I’m alive, there’s still hope! The game rules stated: as soon as Valerian found a new companion, I could leave this place and return to real life. But Valerian was incredibly picky. Over these three years, other female players had tried to make a move on him. Only to end up with their throats crushed by his bare hands. Until this day, a new player arrived in the game. The chat exploded. [OMG! This girl looks *exactly* like the BOSS’s first love from when he was alive!]

It wasn’t the first time I’d heard about Valerian’s first love. The last time was three years ago, when I first arrived. According to Valerian’s backstory, he died trying to save his first love. Honestly, I was a little curious. So that night, instead of heading straight to Valerian’s room… …I stayed hidden in the shadows, watching the other players. A few minutes later, these players became excited. “Yes! Camilla! You’re the BOSS’s first love! You can totally win him over and help us clear this game!” The girl, Camilla, paused, a faint smile touching her lips before she quickly frowned. “But I don’t even know who the BOSS is yet. How am I supposed to approach him?” “Just stand there, and the BOSS will naturally come to you.” “But didn’t you say the BOSS already has a girlfriend in this game?” “Girlfriend? Pffft. She’s nothing but a sex toy. Now that *you’re* here, the BOSS will get rid of her in a heartbeat.” “Really?” A blush crept onto Camilla’s cheeks, and her eyes shimmered with a hint of eagerness. Finally, she puffed out her chest a little and declared to all the players, “Okay, if you all think I can do it, I’ll give it a shot. Even if I don’t succeed, I’ll be happy to have done something for everyone.” At the same time, I also heard the whispered chatter of the monsters hiding in the dark. “I heard our BOSS died and became so brutal all because of *this* girl?” “That’s awesome! With her here, maybe the BOSS will finally go easy on us!” “Finally, we won’t have to watch that slut, Sera, strutting around all the time! She should be out of here, right? Once the BOSS gets a new girlfriend, we can finally roam free at night again!” “Listen up, all of you! No one lays a hand on her!” And just like that. On Camilla’s very first day, everyone in the game worshipped her like a goddess.

The clock quickly struck midnight. According to the old routine, at this hour, I would release my scent, enveloping everyone and lulling them into a deep sleep. Then, I would return to the tallest, grandest room in the cathedral, waiting for Valerian to arrive. But tonight, I didn’t. Instead, I followed behind the players. Honestly, tonight’s scene was unprecedentedly strange. The five players, led by Camilla, seemed incredibly green, yet no one dared to harm them along the way. Players could even kill each other to snatch resources in this game. Two or three groups of seasoned players had eyed Camilla’s party, trying to make a move in the shadows, but they were all torn to shreds by monsters lurking nearby. Camilla and her companions watched, wide-eyed, as one burly tough guy after another was ripped to pieces right before them. At first, they were terrified. But later, they realized these monsters only attacked other players. They wouldn’t harm *them*. It was more like… they were *protecting* them. Suddenly, Camilla’s companions became excited again. “Oh my god, Camilla, you’re amazing! With a face like yours, do we even need to worry about clearing this seven-day game? We’ll definitely survive!” “If we run into the BOSS, he might even help us clear it!” Camilla heard this and couldn’t help but smile. But she demurely and reservedly said, “Oh, don’t say that… it might just be a fluke. What if he doesn’t like me…?” Despite her words, a blush crept onto her face. She was clearly quite eager to meet Valerian. Some players in the chat chimed in. [Don’t worry, Camilla, with that face of yours, everyone will fall for you.] [Exactly! When the time comes, make sure you get rid of that seductive woman, Sera. I can’t stand her cheap act.] [I used to wonder about the BOSS’s taste, why he’d like a woman with a hot body and a bold attitude. Seeing Camilla, I’m relieved. His aesthetic is clearly normal. Maybe he just kept *her* around because there weren’t any decent female players in this game.] Hearing their words, I instinctively glanced at my own body. Too curvy. Camilla, on the other hand, was different. Slim, pure, elegant, and even more delicately captivating when she was scared. I couldn’t help but sigh, so Valerian liked *this* type. But I guess it had nothing to do with me anymore. Yet, for some reason, my heart felt strangely empty.

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To test my loyalty, Asher Hayes drugged me and sent me to his best friend’s bed. They had placed a bet, ten million dollars, to see if I would uphold my integrity. Furious, I went to confront Asher, only to overhear his conversation with his friend outside the door. “Chloe is so proud. Don’t you think you went too far this time?” Asher scoffed, “She wasn’t a virgin to begin with. If she cheated, it’d just give me a reason to dump her. But Serena gave her first time to me; I can’t let her down.” Five years of devotion, and this was the betrayal I received. The next day, my explicit photos were splashed all over the internet. But what I didn’t know was that the man in those photos wasn’t Asher’s friend, but a homeless man. At the entrance of a dimly lit club, Asher’s friend, Leo, teased him. “You just wanted to prove Chloe couldn’t live without you, but you played way too dirty.” “Drugging her was bad enough, but posting it online? How do you expect Chloe to ever live this down?” Asher idly scrolled on his phone. “Without this, my old man wouldn’t have given his blessing.” Leo retorted, “You still have feelings for Serena, don’t you? So why string Chloe along in the first place?” “I was giving her a chance. If she passed the test, I’d marry her. Now that she’s been ‘played,’ it saves me the trouble of breaking off the engagement.” “Serena was right. People who’ve been violated easily lose their moral compass.” I collapsed at the door, listening as Asher nonchalantly spoke of the nightmare buried deep within my heart, drawing laughter from his friends. Once upon a time, Asher would tenderly hold me, reassuring me again and again that he didn’t care about my past. The door swung open. The moment Asher saw me, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but the disgust in his eyes was undeniable. “Good, you’re here. Come back to the Davis mansion with me.” In the living room, Serena Davis sat ramrod straight, a picture of demure silence. Only my parents were wringing their hands in distress, sighing while facing Asher. “Asher, it’s all Chloe’s fault. We were so close to the wedding, and she pulled a stunt like this.” My stepmother dabbed at her eyes, echoing his sentiments. “I just pity my Serena. Her reputation is also tainted by association, and it’ll be tough for her to find a suitable partner now.” Asher tapped his fingers idly on the chair. “I’ll marry Serena.” A lightning bolt struck me, and the words burst out emotionally. “No!” “After doing something like that, how dare you say ‘no’? Asher marrying Serena now is already a huge favor.” Serena had left Asher to fend for himself when his company went under, jetting off for her studies abroad. I’d stayed by his side, helped him build everything back up from nothing. Asher had been withdrawn, trusting no one, but I’d been there for him, day in and day out, for five years, eventually receiving his proposal. I opened my mouth, wanting to demand why he’d orchestrated this cruel test, but then I saw the possessive longing in Asher’s eyes as he looked at Serena. It was like he was looking at a long-lost treasure he’d finally reclaimed. My stepmother exclaimed, her face alight with relief. “Back then, Serena had to leave the country for ‘your sake,’ but now, after all these years, you two still found your way back to each other…” There was nothing left to misunderstand. I swallowed all my questions, silent tears streaming down my face. “As for Chloe, Mr. Harrison doesn’t care about your scandal. Marrying him would at least salvage some dignity.” I sat numbly on the bed. Serena walked in without knocking. After surveying the room, she started collecting the jewelry Asher had given me. There was a simple, hand-braided ring he’d given me when he was broke, and a million-dollar necklace he’d bought after he’d made it big. “Who said you could take those?” I croaked, grabbing the necklace she had just picked up. Serena looked at me as if I’d said something ridiculous. “I’m marrying Asher, so how could you possibly keep these things?” My eyes were red, but I refused to let go. That ring was a young man’s earnest affection, one of the few genuine gestures of love I’d ever known. Serena winced in pain from my grip. She simply gave a vicious yank, then dramatically collapsed to the floor. The loud thud drew attention from downstairs. Less than a minute later, Asher pushed open the door. Seeing Serena’s tear-filled eyes, he pulled her into a comforting embrace. My father, who rushed in right after, witnessed this very scene. A stinging slap, no questions asked, left my ears ringing so loudly I couldn’t make out the barrage of insults that followed. “She was trying to steal my things!” Despite Asher’s icy glare, I still tried to explain. No one listened, just like every other time I had been framed.

Serena bit her lip, her hands clenching the hem of her dress into wrinkles. “She did something like that; those things should stay…” She buried her head in Asher’s chest, sobbing softly. “I just didn’t want you to be upset.” Asher’s voice softened with tenderness. “Shh, I’ll get you something much better. Those are… soiled anyway.” “But the bracelet your mother gave you, it’s your only keepsake.” Asher’s brow instantly furrowed. Other things could be discarded, but that bracelet was his mother’s sole relic. At the thought, Asher’s eyes grew even colder. “Hand over the bracelet.” I bit back my tears, reaching to take off the simple white bracelet, but it was stuck on my wrist. Asher lost his patience, stepping forward and using force. My wrist bones creaked, and I gasped in pain. All I got was a cold remark. “Don’t play the victim.” Asher had gently placed that bracelet on my wrist himself, the day he secured his first big project. Under the soft glow of candlelight, his eyes had sparkled as he’d whispered, “Chloe, I’ll cherish you forever.” “You once said…” Asher glanced at me, seemingly knowing what I wanted to say. He interrupted, “If you hadn’t constantly provoked Serena, I wouldn’t have grown so tired of you.” After Asher finished his business, he was about to leave. Serena, in the struggle, had cut her hand and was taken by my father to get it treated. I grabbed Asher, who was about to get into his car, and spoke bitterly. “I don’t want to marry into the Harrison family.” Now that my father’s mind was made up, I only hoped Asher would speak up. Even not getting married was better than marrying into the Harrison family. Asher stared at me for a long moment, then suddenly spoke softly. “I have to take responsibility for Serena. She’s not like you; she gave her first time to me.” “However, for the next three years, if you can keep a low profile and not bother Serena…” “I won’t let you want for anything – clothes, food, amenities. There’s still a place for you in my heart, as long as you don’t make trouble or try to undermine Serena.” His words, unspoken, made it clear he was asking me to be his mistress. I bit my lip, unable to believe these words came from Asher. “What if I don’t agree?” Asher’s face darkened, his voice laced with a threat. “Then you’ll go to the Harrison family and learn your place.” At Asher’s signal, the black Maybach drove away. Inside the car, Jake, Asher’s assistant of seven years, asked, “Asher, do you think Miss Davis will agree?” Asher chuckled lightly, his words full of certainty. “Given her current predicament, keeping a low profile and accepting her lot is the best she can hope for.” He then sighed. “I didn’t want things to escalate like this, but Chloe is so stubborn. If I didn’t do this, Serena would have a hard time.” “As for the rest, I’ll compensate her later.” The old wound on my wrist from the struggle with Serena had already scabbed over, unnoticed, just like when I was first brought back to the Davis mansion. If my mother were still alive, she’d be heartbroken for me. She’d never have let them push me into this abyss. I bit my lip, the blood seeping from the corner of my mouth bringing a semblance of clarity. But who would help me now? Suddenly, I remembered Asher’s friend, the other person involved in the “scandal.” I searched for days, finally cornering him in the restroom of a nightclub. “Please, help me,” I pleaded. The casually dressed young man in front of me looked helpless and annoyed. “Miss Davis, I already told you, with your situation, who would dare to help you?” “Asher said he’d blacklist anyone who helps you. If I were you, I’d just quietly go along with the plan.” Swallowing down the shame and nausea, I spoke again, refusing to give up. “You and I… did what we did. Do you really think he doesn’t mind?” I was ready to crush my dignity completely, just to escape all of this. I could find a quiet place to live out my life. Leo looked left and right, then bit his lip. “Chloe, don’t you dare threaten me. The truth is, it wasn’t me who took advantage of you that night.”

“I never even went into the hotel that night. Who knows how you ended up with that homeless guy later?” For a moment, my vision blurred. “What…?” Before I could finish, Asher’s voice, laced with fury, grated behind me. “Serena was right. You truly are a social climber.” I turned to face Asher’s disgusted gaze. “To avoid marrying into the Harrison family, you’d even crawl back into my friend’s bed, wouldn’t you?” Serena, clinging to Asher’s arm, spoke hesitantly. “Sister, I didn’t want to tell you, afraid of hurting your pride.” A metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. I spoke like a madwoman. “Asher Hayes, wasn’t all of this orchestrated by you, including the drugs?” After burning all my bridges, I hoped for a flicker of remorse from Asher. But Asher was merely startled for a second, then scoffed coldly. “Chloe, that was just a convenient excuse, a cover-up I fabricated for you.” “That tiny dose wouldn’t even knock out a mouse. It wouldn’t make anyone lose control.” “My friend didn’t even go. You’d even go for a homeless man. You sicken me.” No, that’s not right. After that drink, I lost all sensation. How could it have been such a small dose? I rambled on, as if possessed, trying to explain. “Impossible, impossible, I…” Asher’s eyes were filled with disappointment and anger. “Chloe, maybe even back then, when you claimed to be raped, you were actually willing?!” As if deaf to the scattered, cruel laughter of the onlookers, I walked away, completely distraught. When Asher’s company faced bankruptcy, I attended a late-night meeting to raise funds, which was when that terrible thing happened to me. To avoid adding to Asher’s stress, I gave him the million dollars in startup capital and kept silent about the incident. Watching my retreating figure, Serena spoke, “Asher, don’t be too sad. I know the pain of having given your heart to the wrong person.” “I was always so good to her too, but Chloe, she simply has no heart.” Asher pursed his lips, saying nothing. Leo, nearby, muttered to himself, “She won’t run away from the wedding, will she?” A cold, emotionless voice answered, “Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her escape. I want to see her marry that old man.” My phone buzzed with a new Ins post from Serena. In the photo, she wore a haute couture wedding gown, the diamond bracelet on her wrist sparkling softly. The caption read: “Always led me back to you.” Another picture, taken candidly, showed Asher, his eyes brimming with a tenderness and love that sickened me.

That wedding gown was custom-designed by Asher himself, who’d said he wanted to give it to the woman he loved most. I’d waited for it for so long. Only now did I realize that the woman he loved was never me. Tomorrow was the Harrison family engagement party, my last chance to escape. My phone vibrated with a new friend request on SnapChat: ‘Ryan Harrison’—the name felt vaguely familiar. I ignored it, picked up my suitcase, and quietly left through the back door. But as I turned a corner, someone clamped a hand over my mouth and nose until I lost consciousness. “This is her. Have you memorized all of Miss Davis’s instructions?” a hoarse, unfamiliar male voice asked. “Got it. Just keep her here, then tomorrow, during the Harrison family engagement party, strip her clothes off and dump her at the entrance.” Suffocation and terror washed over me like a flood. I forced myself to calm down. I feigned sleep, quietly pressing the panic button hidden in my bracelet. Asher had custom-made it for me, fearing something might happen. I could only hope this would work. The old wound on my wrist was bleeding from the ropes, and each press was excruciatingly painful. Meanwhile, Asher saw his phone’s notification light flashing repeatedly. He frowned, hesitating. Serena walked over, dressed in a wedding gown. “I remember the first time I wore a dress was on my birthday, but she ruined it in the end.” “But it doesn’t matter now. I get to wear the most beautiful wedding dress and marry the man I love most.” Asher’s heart softened. He pulled her into his arms, then freed a hand to permanently silence the flashing notification. I, on my 23rd press, heard an enraged male voice beside me: “Boss, this woman has an alarm!” The Harrison family was a big name, but C-City was just a smaller branch. Mr. Harrison, over 60 and a widower for many years, was still quite spirited, but couldn’t quite compare to the Davis family, bolstered by Asher’s connections. Even so, the engagement was planned to the highest standards, but Chloe, the main protagonist, was nowhere to be found. Asher, an invited guest, basked in the flattery of the crowd. He occasionally glanced towards the door. Since he’d cut off the notification light, Chloe hadn’t sent any more messages. Serena had said that Chloe was safely at home, so he figured it was just a small trick because she didn’t want to see him get engaged. If Chloe were to humble herself now, he could even go negotiate with Mr. Harrison. As long as she behaved and didn’t make a fuss, he wasn’t set on her marrying a sixty-year-old widower. Serena looked at the message on her phone: ‘Miss Davis, it’s all taken care of.’ Immediately, the entrance erupted into a commotion of screams and gasps. Serena’s heart leaped with joy. She clung to Asher’s arm. “What’s happening, Asher? Come with me to see.” At the hotel entrance, a crowd had gathered in a short time. Serena, holding Asher’s hand, walked forward. Seeing the figure struggling inside a large sack, the corners of her mouth curled up uncontrollably, yet she feigned a worried expression. “Asher, is it some troublemaker? Today is my sister’s big day.” Asher frowned, gesturing to his men to open the sack. Serena stared intensely at the sack, but gasped in fright when she saw the familiar scarred face. The moment the gag was ripped from Mick’s mouth, he saw Serena standing before him. “Miss Davis…” “Asher, he’s clearly a bad guy, hurry and drag him away!” Serena cried out in alarm, cutting off Mick. Perhaps Mick’s voice wasn’t loud enough, or Asher simply didn’t care to hear. He waved his hand, and the man was dragged away. The crowd hadn’t dispersed when a black Maybach slowly pulled up. The 60-year-old Mr. Harrison still looked quite energetic. Behind him followed an unfamiliar but distinctly refined face. Serena tugged on Asher’s arm. “Is that Chloe’s fiancé?”

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When my husband’s mistress showed up, pregnant and demanding, I actually sighed in relief. No one knew how long I’d been waiting for this exact moment. The woman looked at me with open disdain. “Daniel’s heart belongs to—” I cut her off swiftly. “To you, I know.” The very next second, I pushed the wheelchair from behind me. “So, this old lady is all yours now.” The woman’s face instantly went pale. “No! That’s impossible, Daniel told me his mom died ages ago!” I waved my hand dismissively.”You misunderstood. This isn’t his mother. This is his father’s former mistress.” The woman was completely stumped. “You… are you out of your mind? His father’s mistress? What does that have to do with you?” I nodded in agreement. “Nothing at all, but she’s got everything to do with you now.” Then I pulled out the divorce papers and shoved them right into her shirt collar. “From now on, you’re responsible for this woman’s medical bills, her nurse’s fees, her living expenses. Oh, and a little extra, you’ll be covering my and Lily’s support too.” With that, I quickly dragged my suitcase and strode toward the door. A heavily pregnant woman simply had no time to react. Ever since I found out about her, I’d been plotting how to turn the tables. Assets? No, Daniel had transferred most of his wealth a long time ago. Guilt? No, a man with no morals feels no remorse. “You stop right there! His father’s mistress… why are you dumping her on me?” “Because Daniel loves you! You’ve successfully climbed to the top, so you’re the lady of this house now!” Bang! The door slammed shut with a resounding thud. I let out a long, heavy breath. This security door required a fingerprint to unlock, both from the inside and the outside. So, she wasn’t getting out. She wanted to force her way in and take over, right? Well, she could skip the forcing part. She was already in. My phone rang just as I stepped into the elevator. It was Daniel. I quickened my pace. After all, I’d messed with his precious little thing. He wouldn’t let this go easily. He’d called over thirty times, but I ignored every single one. Texts immediately flooded in: “Get home within half an hour and give me a proper explanation!” Explanation? “Nothing to explain. What goes around comes around, right? And hey, a stepmom is still a mom! So, let your precious mistress take good care of your daddy’s mistress. What a heartwarming family saga that’ll be for everyone to hear!” When we got married, Daniel told me he had a terribly unhappy childhood. His father’s mistress moved right into their home when Daniel was fifteen, driving his biological mother to her death. He hated that scumbag father and that conniving woman with a burning passion. But fate has a twisted sense of humor. Less than two years later, his good-for-nothing dad died suddenly from a drunken heart attack. And that stepmom, who had sworn she’d take care of Daniel, ran off overnight with every penny the family owned. She only left behind a historic family estate that had belonged to his biological mother. I thought my love could heal the scars of his childhood. But only now did I understand. He’d become just like his father. “Bullshit! What does this have to do with Chloe? Why should she have to take care of that btch?” Daniel’s rage practically dripped from every word. I quickly typed back: “Because she loves you. Because she’s your soulmate. Because she isn’t after your money and just wants to build a life with you.” If she loved him that much, what was a little sacrifice? I once tearfully asked him why, despite hating scumbags so much, he was following in his father’s footsteps. He was silent for a long time before giving me a truly gut-wrenching answer: “You’re great, Grace, but Chloe makes my heart race. When I’m with her, every struggle feels meaningful. I finally understand now, you can’t force feelings. I… I finally understand my father.” I looked at his shameless face and felt a wave of blackness wash over me. He said he understood his father. Understood the irresistible pull of “true love.” Yet he forgot his mother, who jumped to her death. Of course. Sons can never truly empathize with their mothers. But they’ll always find a way to excuse their fathers’ sins. Since you understand your father so well, Daniel, then let me make you relive those pains you conveniently forgot.

Daniel ran a small company. As for his income, I honestly had no idea. For the first few years of our marriage, he deposited a fixed amount for household expenses each month. But ever since Chloe, his mistress, started working for him, Daniel changed completely. He constantly complained about the company’s poor performance. So, he mortgaged this pre-marital historic estate for $400,000 in cash. And I became the guarantor. Later, things only got worse. He stopped giving me a single cent for household expenses, claiming the business was struggling. Yet, Chloe was always impeccably dressed in designer clothes, radiating affluence. Only Lily and I were his old world, slowly being abandoned. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. Otherwise, one day, Lily and I would surely be thrown out. A plan began to form in my mind. The process was smoother than I’d imagined. Daniel’s father and Martha hadn’t actually divorced. After much searching, I finally tracked down Daniel’s father’s former mistress. When I actually met her, I was still taken aback. She was covered in unexplained scars and was frightfully thin. Her medical report listed various infectious and chronic diseases, including late-stage syphilis. It seemed that life after running off with the family’s money hadn’t been so sweet for her either. She scrutinized me, a hint of calculation in her murky eyes.”You… you’re Daniel’s wife?” I didn’t answer. For women like her, I felt nothing but visceral hatred. Legally, she was Daniel’s stepmother. In terms of marriage, she was his father’s spouse. So, after local social services had tried contacting Daniel multiple times without success, they sent the old woman right to his doorstep. I processed the paperwork as quickly as possible. Once inside the house, her cloudy eyes instantly lit up. She quickly pushed her wheelchair around, surveying everything in the house. It was as if she was already prepared to be the new lady of the house. However, she didn’t know Daniel hadn’t stepped foot in this house for over six months. But I still took excellent care of her, raising money for her medical treatment. After all, the best way to punish a mistress is to make her suffer the consequences of her own actions. She thought she was coming to claim her spot. She didn’t realize she was just there to take over my mess.

I pulled out my phone and opened the home surveillance app. Daniel was back. He looked completely bewildered by the scene before him. Chloe, heavily pregnant, was weeping in his arms. And Martha in the wheelchair was groaning incessantly, clutching the armrest. Daniel, meanwhile, was continuously pinching the bridge of his nose. Soon, a second message popped up: “Grace, don’t think bringing this woman back will give you leverage over me. Get rid of those stupid ideas of yours. I was going to give you more compensation, but now, I see no need.” A slight smile played on my lips. “You’re overthinking it. We can talk about compensation later. For now, settle the medical and nurse fees that woman owes. All the detailed breakdowns are attached to the divorce papers.” Through the monitor, Daniel slowly flipped through the stack of documents. His expression gradually twisted into a grotesque mask of fury. “Late-stage syphilis?” “Ah—!” Chloe instantly sprang to her feet. “What did you say? Who has late-stage syphilis?” Yes. That was the real reason local social services had delivered his father’s old mistress to our door. Nursing homes wouldn’t take her, hospitals wouldn’t keep her, and out of eight nannies, nine bolted. The only remaining option was for family members to personally care for her. So, I was even more eager for this day to come than Chloe. “All expenses related to your mother during this period were personal loans. A total of $25,000. Please settle it as soon as possible.” On the screen, Daniel kicked over the coffee table. Amidst the shattering glass, both women shrieked in unison. The woman in the wheelchair shuddered, and a puddle of waste dripped down her leg. No one dared to approach her. The pregnant Chloe, catching a whiff of the smell, immediately threw up… Moments later, she grabbed her bag and fled. Daniel followed closely behind. I kept my eyes on the woman in the wheelchair. Sure enough, she shakily pulled out her phone. The people from social services had carefully instructed her. If her children refused to support her, she could call the police. The police would charge Daniel with abandonment. So, during this time, the threats I heard most often were hers: “If you don’t give me imported medicine, I’ll report you!” “If you don’t hire me a nurse, I’ll report you!” “If you don’t make me delicious meals, I’ll report you!” For the sake of today’s show, I had been utterly compliant with her every whim. The tonics in her bowl, the gold jewelry on her body, all inflated her confidence and greed. “Hello? Police?” Her voice echoed through the monitor. “My son abandoned me, a sick person, at home to die! I want to report him!” Two hours later, Daniel was brought back. The once dashing man now looked like a humiliated stray. He squatted dejectedly by the door, fingers deeply buried in his hair. “Mr. Miller, abandoning a gravely ill relative carries criminal liability. We hope you resolve your family dispute properly. If we receive another report, we will legally open a case.” Chloe, the pregnant one? Legally, Daniel had no obligation to her. But this woman, who had once run off with his family’s money and driven his biological mother to her death, he had to support. That was the law. A taste of his own medicine. I used his legal responsibility to block his path to his “true love.” He had finally understood his father, hadn’t he? Well then, in the dead of night, he could explain to his mother just how grand and self-serving this “true love” of his really was. The wheelchair slowly rolled closer. Martha reached out, not a hint of remorse on her face. “Daniel, why bring up old things? Haven’t I come back now? That Chloe doesn’t look like the type to settle down. Listen to me, Grace is easier to handle. Hurry up and coax her back.” “Shut up!” Daniel suddenly stood up. “When you ran off with the money back then, why didn’t you think about whether I’d starve? Now you’re diseased, at your wit’s end, and you remember you have a son? Where do you get the nerve to lecture me?” Seeing Daniel’s resolute attitude, Martha waved her hand nonchalantly. “Fine. Since you’re acting like you have no family, I have nothing more to say. Anyway, I’m your mother. I raised you for two years, so you have to support me for life! I don’t like that cheap hussy, Chloe. Bring Grace back now!” With that, she went straight into the master bedroom and slammed the door shut. My phone buzzed, receiving another message from Daniel: “You brought Martha back, so you’re responsible for her! I don’t have time to play games with you. This has nothing to do with Chloe, she has no obligation!”

See? That was the scumbag’s calculation. Marriage, to him, was a game he could exploit. He found the perfect loophole. Let Chloe, in the name of “true love,” enjoy all the benefits. And me, in the name of responsibility, bear all the risks. The people from social services simply followed procedure, pushing that foul-smelling woman in front of me. It was like the whole world was conspiring with him to exploit his wife. Was he stupid? Not at all. He knew exactly how to use the shackles of marriage to legally plunder his own wife. I sent him the $25,000 bill again. “Settle the debt first. This is for your mother’s medical treatment.” His call came immediately. “I’ll say it again, that woman is not my mother. She’s a btch. Don’t expect me to pay a dime for this. You treated her without my consent; that’s your personal debt!” Then he hung up. A buzzing sound filled my ears. If that’s how you want to play, then so be it. I then sent the recording to Daniel’s stepmother. “Martha, you heard him. Daniel isn’t acknowledging this debt. This $25,000, you’ll have to repay yourself.” Martha instantly panicked. “Grace, you know I don’t have any money! If I had that kind of money, I wouldn’t have ended up…” I cut her off. “You forgot, when Daniel’s father passed away, he left behind a house. You legally inherited 25% of it.” Martha looked bewildered. “A house?” “Yes, that house was Daniel’s biological mother’s personal property. But after she passed, Daniel and his father each inherited 50%.” “When Daniel’s father passed, his 50% was split between you and Daniel again, so you own 25%, and Daniel owns 75%.” “Daniel will definitely challenge your share. After all, you ran off with the money, so it’s like a worthless piece of paper. But if you assign that share to me, it’s a completely different story. Not only will I continue to pay for your future medical treatments, but your previous debt will also be cleared.” Martha fell silent. The reason Daniel kept that house was not out of sentimentality, but because Martha’s disappearance all those years ago meant the inheritance procedures couldn’t be executed. “Fine!” Martha texted back: “I’ll sign! But you have to put it in writing, clearly stating that you’ll be responsible for my treatment! Don’t let me end up homeless again!” “It’s a deal.” The next day, after dropping Lily at school, Martha immediately came home and signed the “Debt Assignment Agreement.” The entire process didn’t require Daniel’s consent. This 25% ownership was my first trophy. Though it originated from a woman I once despised, I now firmly believed: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. But my mortgage debt was still a marital joint debt. Subsequently, I moved Martha into a newly rented apartment. She had an infectious disease, and this was a necessary isolation measure to protect Lily. This new rental expense, like her previous medical bills, once again became another clear marital joint debt under Daniel’s name. After all, I was fulfilling his legal obligations. Upon returning, I began a systematic liquidation of our home. I sold off all the valuable items at low prices. The cash was used to repay the medical debts I had incurred earlier. Next, I put the house up for rent. This pre-marital property of his, with a monthly rent of $2,500, could precisely cover his mother’s treatment costs. Lily was temporarily being picked up and dropped off by my parents. You see, fate can sometimes be so ironic. He thought he had defined the rules of this game, and I was destined to be the trapped player. But he forgot that rules are a double-edged sword. If he could build high walls, I could carve out a path to survival. With these maneuvers, that pile of rotten debt he left behind was completely revitalized by me. Days later, seeing that I was no longer hounding him, he smugly assumed I had finally given up. It wasn’t until his fingerprint couldn’t unlock his own front door, and a strange tenant slowly appeared at the entrance, that he truly panicked. All traces of me and Lily had been erased from the house. He furiously called my phone, but was met only with a cold “phone is off” message. Soon, he received a thick envelope. The first document was the “Deed of Gift” for that 25% property share. Next to the agreement, I’d attached a sticky note: “Friendly reminder: No need to find Martha for a signature, the ownership has already been transferred. Awaiting division. If you wish to sell the house, please consult with me.” Following that was his stepmother’s rental contract for $3,000 a month, with an attached doctor’s note recommending separate isolation due to her condition. Then came the nurse’s contract, with a monthly salary of $5,000, and a note in the remarks section: “Special infectious disease caregiver, high-risk position allowance.” Finally, there was a densely itemized “Summary of Advanced Expenses,” including medical fees, living expenses, nutritional costs… all shockingly high. He threw the documents to the floor, roaring in front of everyone. “Grace! If I give you one damn penny, I’m a dog!” Finally, he sued me for property damage, demanding that I immediately cease infringement and return his pre-marital property! He demanded that I return all his rent money. He demanded that I bear all legal costs. I calculated the court date. How convenient, Chloe was about to go into labor. This was truly a double celebration. So, I would use this trial as their wedding gift.

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My husband died in another woman’s bed. When I got the call, my first reaction was pure disbelief. It wasn’t until they clearly stated my husband’s name and age that I rushed over to deal with his remains. Everyone around cried and cursed him for being a heartless man, but I calmly covered him with a blanket. David’s ghost hovered beside me, asking, “How come you’re not angry at all?” When I arrived at the hotel, the small room was already packed with people. Chloe, David’s young girlfriend, was trembling as she answered the police’s questions. The officer asked her, “Did the deceased show any unusual signs before his death?” Her slender, pale fingers clutched the towel draped around her, and she nervously replied, “Nothing unusual, he just had two bottles of alcohol.” The officer saw me approach and, as a matter of routine, asked me, “You’re the deceased’s wife. Did your husband show any unusual signs before he left?” I glanced at the naked man lying on the bed, confirming it was my husband, David. I spoke, “No. At eight tonight, I asked him to pick up some soy sauce. He said traffic was bad and he might be home late.” Now, the soy sauce sat on the table beside the bed. The officer’s expression was hard to read, full of unspoken thoughts, but he eventually finished his questioning. Soon, he concluded, “David already had a congenital heart condition. After drinking alcohol and engaging in strenuous activity, he suffered sudden cardiac arrest due to excitement.” After he finished, he looked at David’s young girlfriend, then at me. “The cleaning lady called the police. She heard screaming from inside. The girl initially tried to hide it, but couldn’t. When we arrived, it was just the girl and David. No one can really be blamed for this.” He seemed to fear I might react violently if I got too angry, so he half-shielded the girl behind him. But I just calmly replied, “Understood.”

Next, I called all our relatives, one by one, to tell them the news of David’s passing. The small hotel room quickly filled with people. Every relative who arrived was furious with him, cursing David. “How could he just die like that? You heartless bastard.” “Of all the ways to die, why in another woman’s bed?” “He’d finally made something of himself, becoming a university professor, and he died such a pathetic death.” I watched everything calmly. David’s young girlfriend saw an opportunity and tried to slip away, but I spoke up, “You’re David’s student, aren’t you? When did you two start?” The girl stammered, saying nothing, completely different from the defiant person she’d been when she came to see me before. Many relatives spotted her, and some, highly agitated, immediately moved forward. “It’s you, isn’t it? You had to be a homewrecker! I’ll beat you to death!” The police couldn’t hold back so many relatives. Slaps rained down on the girl’s face. I didn’t intervene. David’s anxious voice echoed beside me. “Don’t hit her! Hit me instead! We had true love, it’s not her fault.” “Chloe and I have been together for over a decade. I truly had no feelings for my wife anymore.” It was only then that I realized David’s ghost had been in the room the whole time. He anxiously shielded the girl, watching the relatives punch and kick her. After he spoke, he seemed to remember something and quickly turned to me. “Serena, you’ve always been able to see ghosts, haven’t you? I’m sorry, I cheated on you after all these years, but I really couldn’t control myself.” “Don’t be angry. Please help me. Don’t let them hit Chloe anymore.” “If you help me, I’ll tell you where I hid my bank card. Leo wants to take an interest class, doesn’t he?” I turned to look at him. He thought I’d agreed and was overjoyed. But the next second, I turned my head away again. He floated in the air, relentlessly asking me, “Serena, can you really see me? If you can see me, just answer me.” “You shouldn’t be lying, right?”

I didn’t answer David. I just watched him fret and pace in circles. David’s parents were the last to arrive. As soon as they came in, they hugged David’s body and began to wail. “David, how could you just leave us like this? What will become of us?” “What about Serena?” Their cries were heart-wrenching, and many shed tears. It was then that everyone realized a life had truly been lost. Chloe, the girl, crawled over then. “You can hate me all you want, but please let David rest in peace first. It’s all my fault.” “You can do whatever you want to me later.” She sobbed loudly as she spoke, which made David’s ghost quickly float to her side to comfort her. The entire room instantly burst into tears. Those who could cry, and those who couldn’t, now tried to squeeze out a few tears. But at that moment, I wanted to blast some celebratory music. I just couldn’t shed a single tear, so I lowered my head and gently covered David with the blanket. It was then that he suddenly realized something. He stood beside me and asked, “Serena, you’re not sad at all that I’m dead?” Sad? Why should I be sad? Just as he said, we had been together for over a decade, and he wasn’t the only one who had lost feelings. I had lost feelings for him a long time ago. In fact, David’s young girlfriend had come to see me half a month ago. She looked at me defiantly. “Are you David’s wife? Are you as young and beautiful as I am? You’re not good enough for him.” “You two should get a divorce quickly.” The young girl, blinded by love, came to confront me in a fit of passion. I told her, “If you can convince David to get a peaceful divorce with me, I’ll do it immediately.” I don’t know how she resolved it, but she never came to find me again. The next time we met was in this hotel. David’s body was still lying on the bed. Everyone was in a frenzy. Amidst the clamor, I spoke, “Let’s send David for cremation first. The funeral arrangements still need to be made.” My in-laws were sobbing uncontrollably, clutching my hand and saying, “Serena, thank goodness for you.” I contacted the funeral home staff. After everyone arrived, I suddenly remembered that Leo was still at home. He didn’t yet know about his father’s scandalous death. I lowered my head and opened Daniel Anderson’s chat. I typed and deleted lines of text until he sent a message first: “Serena, what’s wrong?” Only then did I send the message I had prepared: “Can you bring my son to the funeral home? Something happened to his dad.” He replied quickly: “On my way.”

David’s ghost hovered beside me, reading every word of my conversation with Daniel. He furiously questioned me, “When did you two reconnect?” “Didn’t you two unfriend each other ages ago? How did you add him back?” “Have you no shame?” Daniel was my first love. We were young then, and a small misunderstanding led to neither of us wanting to back down. The end result was an unhappy breakup. When I was older, my family pressured me to go on blind dates, and that’s how David and I met. Our families were a good match, and he seemed decent enough. After less than six months of dating, we decided to get married. A month before the wedding, Daniel sent me a message: “You were always so critical in relationships, agonizing over every little thing. How come you’re not agonizing over something as big as marriage?” I didn’t reply to that message, but David saw it. He angrily asked who it was. I told him everything, but he was still bothered. So, I deleted Daniel in front of him. I thought I would never have any contact with him again. Until Leo was one year old. I discovered David was cheating and posted on Ins, looking for a divorce lawyer. Daniel sent a friend request. The verification message read: “My divorce lawyer is really good. I used him when I divorced my ex-wife. I’ll recommend him to you.” That divorce didn’t happen because there wasn’t enough evidence of David’s infidelity, and his family threatened me with Leo. Everyone advised me to turn a blind eye, and ultimately, I swallowed my pride. It was during that time that Daniel and I reconnected on SnapChat. We hadn’t chatted in years, until last month. He sent me a photo. A young woman was walking hand-in-hand with David, looking intimate as they shopped. He asked me, “Get a divorce.” Having learned my lesson from last time, I wasn’t in a hurry. I waited to find more evidence, but I never imagined I wouldn’t find evidence, and David would just die instead. Daniel arrived quickly. Leo held his hand, looking up at me and asking, “Mom, what happened to Dad?” I took Leo’s hand. David’s ghost anxiously said beside me, “Tell him I died in a car accident. At least let me keep my image as a father in his eyes.” “Serena, I know you can see me. Help me come up with an excuse.” But I didn’t come up with any excuse for David. I told Leo the truth, every detail: “Your dad cheated, and his emotions got too intense, leading to sudden cardiac arrest.” He’s five this year, and still a little confused. “So, I don’t have a dad anymore?” Then he tugged on Daniel’s hand. “Can I have Mr. Anderson as my dad?” As soon as he said that, Daniel gripped Leo’s hand tightly, staring at me. David’s ghost was utterly dumbfounded. He couldn’t understand why his son wasn’t at all sad about his death and was instead eager to call someone else his father.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306464”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #校园School