Author: Momo Chan

I saw the nanny swap her baby with my sister. Just as I was about to switch them back, a the live commentary scrolling across my vision **[This must be the start of Alice’s nightmare, right?]** **[Her biological sister is actually a born devil.]** **[At three years old, she’d stab her sister’s eyes with a fork.]** **[At ten, she’d put mercury in her sister’s milk.]** **[At eighteen, she’d sell her off to some remote place just to claim the inheritance…]** **[She’s nothing like the nanny’s girl – so sweet and docile!]** **[The choice of who gets to be her sister is entirely up to Alice now.]** I quickly put the baby down. Actually… blood ties aren’t *that* important, right? Who truly cares for me is what matters most. My mom was being rushed into the delivery room, and my dad and I were pacing anxiously in the hospital corridor. The doctor’s warning before he entered the emergency room still echoed in my mind. He’d said the baby was in a difficult position and might require a C-section after attempting natural birth, so we should prepare ourselves. We waited for nearly four hours, until finally, my dad and I heard a baby’s cry. Mother and daughter were safe. When the nurse wheeled Mom and my sister out, Mom was still groggy from the anesthesia, completely lost in a deep sleep. Back in the hospital room, Mrs. Davis, our nanny, who had been waiting since early morning, immediately came forward, eager to care for Mom. My dad quickly waved her off. “No, no, Mrs. Davis. You just gave birth yourself; you should go rest first.” It was a strange coincidence; Mrs. Davis and my mom had given birth on the same day. But Mrs. Davis had a natural delivery and was out of the delivery room much earlier. She was still quick on her feet and, as soon as she was cleaned up, she hurried to Mom’s room. When my dad insisted, she just waved her hand, looking completely unfazed. “We’re not that delicate, Mr. Peterson. My mother-in-law was back working in the fields the day after she had my husband.” Mrs. Davis’s honest husband, Mr. Davis, stood beside her, nodding in agreement. Even though my dad tried to protest further, Mrs. Davis had already taken the warm towel from his hand and gently wiped the cold sweat from Mom’s forehead. Mrs. Davis then nudged me forward. “Alice is still young, and she’s been hungry for a long time. Mr. Peterson, you should take Alice out to eat.” She added that my dad was a big man, clumsy with babies, and would only be in the way in the room. My dad looked a bit awkward but also seemed to relax. Clearly, he was quite pleased with Mrs. Davis’s initiative to stay and look after Mom. Besides, Mrs. Davis had worked for our family for many years and had never made a single mistake. After a moment of hesitation, my dad agreed. “We’ll be back soon.” Then he picked me up and carried me downstairs. On the way, he said, “See, Alice, Mrs. Davis is so good to you. You must never bully her daughter, Chloe, when she grows up.” I nodded obediently. But when we reached the car, my dad realized he’d forgotten the car keys. Just then, his phone rang. He pointed to the hospital building and quietly asked me to go up and fetch the keys for him. Thankfully, I remembered the way back to the room. I ran back to the hospital room with light steps, only to find the door locked. I stood on tiptoes, about to knock and ask Mrs. Davis to open the door. The next second, through the glass panel, I saw her pick up the baby lying beside Mom. Then she placed the unfamiliar baby she was holding into the spot where my sister should have been. She even carefully swapped the wristbands on the infants. My eyes widened, and I held my breath, my entire body tense. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man swaying as he walked towards the room. Instinctively, I opened the door to the next room and ducked inside. It was Mrs. Davis’s husband, Mr. Davis. Through the slightly ajar door, I heard Mrs. Davis, holding the baby, complaining incessantly to him. “I told you to stand guard at the door, but you just *had* to go take a pee! What if the Petersons find out we swapped the babies?” “If we get caught, neither of us will get off easy, and your daughter won’t be a little lady anymore!” Mr. Davis offered a placating smile. “Oh, come on, I saw them go downstairs to the car. How could they possibly come back? Don’t scare yourself.” Their voices gradually faded away. I tremblingly left the room where I had been hiding, feeling like my whole body was shaking uncontrollably. Terrified, I couldn’t stop crying. I went to Mom’s bedside and kept pushing her, wanting to wake her up and tell her that my sister had been swapped. But Mom was still under the effects of the anesthesia, completely unconscious. No matter how much I pushed, she wouldn’t wake up. I gritted my teeth, intending to pick up the swapped baby and switch her back with my sister. But at that exact moment, the live commentary overlays inexplicably appeared before my eyes— **[Go on, swap them back. Bring your family’s born devil home, and then you’ll learn your lesson.]**

The strange words that had appeared seemed fixed in front of me. Even if I waved my hand to scatter them, they would reappear seconds later. And the content of the words grew more and more alarming. **[That devil, at three years old, she’d stab her sister’s eyes with a fork. At ten, she’d put mercury in the milk her sister was about to drink. Her sister was lucky to even survive to adulthood.]** **[Yeah, and she only lived to adulthood, right? At eighteen, the devil sister sold her off to some remote place…]** **[If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t swap them back. This sweet girl from the nanny’s family is so much better. At least you wouldn’t have to worry about dying any day.]** My hand, poised to pick up the baby and swap my biological sister back, froze in mid-air. I didn’t know what these sudden, strange words were, but I felt an overwhelming fear growing inside me. If I swapped my sister back, would I really end up like they said? Living in constant anxiety and danger until I was eighteen, only to be sold off to the countryside by my sister before I could truly enjoy the world. I instinctively wanted to wake Mom, but she wouldn’t open her eyes no matter what. All I could do was clutch my dress, squatting on the floor and sobbing uncontrollably. Before my sister was born, Mom and Dad had told me countless times to be good to her. Because I was the older sister, and older sisters were naturally supposed to be good to their younger siblings. I knew I should run to the hospital front desk and tell the nurses and doctors that my sister had been swapped. But I was too scared. I didn’t dare. I was terrified that if I brought my sister back, my future would be ruined by her. My eyes were red from crying, gasping for breath. Just then, my dad came panting up the stairs. He’d just finished scolding me for dawdling and taking so long to fetch the keys. The next second, he saw me sobbing, almost collapsing, and quickly hugged me, soothing me gently. “What’s wrong, Alice? Don’t cry, don’t cry. Did someone bully you?” I clutched my dad’s shirt collar, shaking my head through my tears. After finally catching my breath, I blurted out a flimsy excuse with red-rimmed eyes. “No, I just… suddenly missed Mom.” My dad sighed helplessly, stroked my head, and said I was a good daughter. Then, telling Mom and my sister to rest well, he picked me up and carried me out. Before he closed the door, I glanced back at the bassinet. The baby Mrs. Davis had given birth to was awake. Her big, clear eyes stared directly at me. Then she smiled, showing off her soft, pink gums. In that moment, I suddenly made my decision— I’d take a chance. I’d trust the the live commentary just this once. Staying alive was what mattered most!

What happened in the following years made me incredibly grateful for my decision as a child. Because I kept silent about Mrs. Davis swapping the babies, she was able to remain our nanny. To verify the truth of the the live commentary , and also to ensure my real sister wouldn’t truly disappear. I even suggested to Mom and Dad that, to make it easier for Mrs. Davis to balance family and work, she should bring “her daughter,” Bella, to live with us. And it was precisely because of this that I confirmed those the live commentary hadn’t lied to me. Bella, that girl, was truly a born devil! During infancy, Mrs. Davis’s biological daughter, now my sister Chloe, was an angelic baby. She rarely needed to be woken up at night, didn’t cry much, and just smiled at us when she was full. Bella, however, couldn’t be put down; she insisted on being held to sleep. Otherwise, she’d scream her lungs out, which eventually caused Mrs. Davis to develop chronic back pain. As they grew, the contrast between the two girls became even more apparent. Chloe started feeding herself at a very young age. Though she ate slowly and sometimes spilled a bit. She wasn’t picky and sat there obediently. Bella, on the other hand, was three years old and still demanded Mrs. Davis feed her. And when Mrs. Davis was a second too slow, Bella grabbed her kiddie fork and brutally stabbed Mrs. Davis right in the eye. Blood gushed. Leaving her with permanent vision damage in her right eye, nearly half-blind. In that moment, I clamped my hand over my mouth, desperate not to scream. Thank goodness… I hadn’t swapped the babies back then, or I would have been the one blinded. Mrs. Davis was getting her just deserts, in a way. As Bella grew, her lack of empathy and cruelty became increasingly obvious, and her destructiveness grew stronger. At ten, Bella smashed the thermometer at home and poured the mercury into Mrs. Davis’s thermos. If Mrs. Davis hadn’t had her stomach pumped in time, she probably would have died that day. We all witnessed Bella’s actions towards Mrs. Davis. And throughout those eighteen years, her frequent acts of bullying classmates were atrocious. Every time Mom and Dad saw her like this, and then looked at Chloe, who was always trailing behind me like a little shadow, excelling in both academics and character. They couldn’t help but sigh. “Mrs. Davis’s daughter…” “What a difficult life she’s had…” But I couldn’t help but inwardly sneer. Serves her right! If she hadn’t come up with such a sinister scheme to swap the babies, *I* would have been the one suffering, *our family* would have been suffering! So, just before Chloe’s eighteenth birthday celebration. As my parents and I were discussing how to throw a grand coming-of-age party for her. Bella suddenly burst into our house, shouting that she was the real long-lost daughter and Chloe was a fake. My parents’ first reaction was that she was lying.

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Liam and I grew up together in the same orphanage. On my tenth birthday, I made a wish: to marry Liam when I grew up. But then, a group of older kids started bullying me. Liam shielded me, yelling for me to run. I ran from the orphanage like crazy. And then, I time-traveled ten years into the future. The orphanage was now a ruin. A man stood in front of the wreckage. I recognized him as Liam at first glance. But the woman he was embracing wasn’t me. Liam glanced at me, then said to the woman beside him: “Damn it, Stella, that kid looks exactly like Mia.” Stella, the woman he’d called out, squatted down, scrutinizing me with a gentle smile: “She certainly does. It’s been ten years since you two split. If Mia remarried and had a child, they’d be about this age.” “If that messy incident hadn’t happened back then, our child would be taller than her now, wouldn’t they?” She measured my height with her hand again, her eyes suddenly welling up. Liam seemed momentarily stunned, resting his chin on her head, his voice soft: “It’s okay. It’s all in the past.” His gaze fell back on my face, and he couldn’t help but ask: “Is your mom named Mia?” He frowned, a hint of barely concealed disgust in his tone: “So dirty. Exactly like she was when she was little.” Liam had changed. He seemed to really dislike me. My hand, clutching the hem of my clothes, tightened. I nodded gently: “Yeah, I’m lost.” Liam didn’t waste words. He pulled out his phone and tapped a couple of times: “Mike, find Mia’s address for me.” After a long moment, a reply came through. He hung up, walked to his Maybach, and opened the door: “Get in. I’ll take you home.” His tone was flat, devoid of emotion. I slipped into the car gingerly, pulling a crumpled tissue from my pocket. I padded it under my butt before I dared to sit down lightly. “You actually have more manners than your mother.” Liam glanced at me. I couldn’t tell if it was mockery or an observation. Stella in the passenger seat leaned against the seat and nudged his arm: “Why are you arguing with a kid, Liam? She’s so well-behaved.” Liam caught her restless hand and kissed it openly, as if no one else was there. I quickly lowered my head, feeling awkward. The Liam from my childhood said he’d be with me forever. It was a lie. My nose stung with a pang of sadness, and my stomach rumbled unruly. It was exceptionally loud in the quiet car, and my face flushed. Stella smiled, handing me a beautifully wrapped cream cake: “Hungry, aren’t you? Have this to tide you over.” I shook my head, my voice faint: “No thanks. Could you please stop the car? I want to buy a couple of pastries.” I added: “I’ll pay for them myself. It won’t take long.” The car slowly decelerated, stopping in front of a bakery. Liam got out with me. “One savory pastry, one plain roll.” I reached into my pocket for money, but Liam was faster. He tapped his phone to pay, and the person behind the counter immediately handed me the pastries. I was startled: “It’s so advanced!” A rare smile touched Liam’s eyes: “What, does your mom usually raise you like a cave dweller?” “Then again, she was so clumsy. At your age, she couldn’t even tie her shoelaces, let alone raise a child this old.” As he spoke, his lips involuntarily curved upwards. But soon, the warmth faded from his face, replaced by cold indifference: “Eat quickly. I don’t have time to waste with you.” “Mhm.” I took a bite of the savory pastry, and instinctively offered Liam a flattened piece of the plain roll. At the orphanage, we used to flatten the rolls, making them bigger, as if that would fill our stomachs more. Liam’s gaze fixed on my actions, his pupils constricting. I realized what I’d done, my face flushed crimson, and I awkwardly pulled my hand back. I quickly finished the pastry and got back into the car. I instinctively took out a tissue and folded it under me. When I looked up, I met Liam’s gaze. He said nothing. The car started, eventually stopping in front of a kids’ clothing store. “Try this one.” He took down a white tulle dress, adorned with delicate pearls. When I put it on, the sales assistant couldn’t help but compliment: “Sir, your daughter looks beautiful in this, like a little angel.” “Yeah, just like her mother.” He didn’t correct her, a faint smile gracing his lips. Stella’s face stiffened, and the warmth in her eyes lessened as she looked at me. She reminded him: “Liam, let’s not waste time. Mia will be worried if she can’t find her daughter.” Liam nodded and strode back to the car. The car drove for almost an hour, eventually stopping in front of an old, dilapidated apartment complex. The paint was peeling from the walls, and clutter was piled in the stairwell. Liam frowned but said nothing. He led me up to the sixth floor and raised his hand to knock. I felt a flicker of excitement. What would my grown-up self be like? But an old lady opened the door. When she heard we were looking for Mia, she tilted her head in thought for a moment before suddenly tapping her forehead: “Oh, you mean her? She died ten years ago.”

Liam’s car keys clattered to the floor, but he didn’t notice. Staring intently at the old lady, he choked out the words with difficulty: “What did you say? How is that possible…?” I was stunned too. The wind blew in from the stairwell, carrying a chill. I instinctively shrank behind Liam, feeling a little scared, and an indescribable sadness. “Why would I lie to you?” The old lady sighed: “She rented my place. Her husband ran off, and with postpartum depression, she committed suicide by hanging.” “Her body hung from the old ceiling fan, creaking for a week before anyone found it. I only found out when I came to collect the rent.” Her tone held a hint of reproach as she mentioned this: “Made this place unsellable, so I, this old woman, had to live here myself.” “Impossible!” Liam suddenly pointed at me, his emotions flaring: “Mia, who was afraid of even a fall, how could she commit suicide?” “Besides, if she died, how did her daughter grow up to be this old?” “That girl did have a daughter back then, but I heard she was sent to an orphanage after birth.” The old lady’s clouded eyes fixed on me: “You certainly look like your mother.” She paused, then remembered something else: “Oh, and she left a pile of belongings. They’re just taking up space in the storage room. If you want them, take them.” The old lady hobbled inside. I cautiously explained to Liam: “I was also trying to find my mom through you. I didn’t know she…” Liam didn’t listen to me, walking straight in. The interior was dilapidated, with large patches of peeling paint on the walls. He stared at the creaking ceiling fan, muttering to himself: “How could she have ended up like this? Back when she left, I gave her half my assets, at least a few million.” No one could answer his question, and neither could I. He took a large box of belongings from the old lady, walking downstairs dejectedly. I followed closely behind him. Stella, who had been waiting in the car for a long time, looked at me in surprise: “Liam, haven’t you sent her away yet?” “Mia… is dead.” Liam choked out the words, his shoulders trembling almost imperceptibly. Stella gasped, covering her mouth: “How could this happen? Liam, did you ask where Mia’s grave is? Let’s go visit.” “Even though she did those things back then, we were still friends.” She leaned closer to Liam, her eyes slightly red-rimmed. I couldn’t help but wonder. From the moment we met, I felt a barrier between the grown-up Liam and me. What happened ten years ago to break us apart, even causing me to leave? “No need.” Liam’s voice was cold: “I said I’d hardly ever see Mia again, whether she was alive or dead.” “Stella, didn’t you have a salon appointment? I’ll drop you off.” He pulled open the car door. Stella pointed at me: “What about her? Maybe send her to an orphanage.” Liam glanced at my restless self: “Let’s take her back first, we’ll figure it out.” A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes, but she still smiled and nodded: “Okay.” Soon, the car arrived at the beauty salon. Liam kissed Stella’s forehead: “Go on, I’ll pick you up when you’re done.” “Mrs. Stone is so lucky!” The wives waiting at the salon joked: “I heard that whenever you go out, you don’t even have to put on your own shoes; Mr. Stone drives you everywhere and even carries you out of the car.” Stella blushed and waved goodbye to Liam. Hearing those words, a pang of sadness hit me, and I stared blankly out the window. Liam, however, was clearly more distracted than me. Not long after driving off, he accidentally cut off another car. The driver opposite immediately rolled down his window, leaned out, and was about to curse. But when he recognized Liam, his expression suddenly turned to surprise: “Liam!” “Do you remember me? I’m Brenda, Mia’s classmate from grad school.” Brenda leaned in to look into the car, her gaze falling on me with delighted surprise: “Is this your child with Mia? She’s all grown up and looks just like her mother!” After saying that, she couldn’t help but sigh: “Everyone in our department was envious of Mia back then. She’d be busy with experiments until midnight, and you’d always be waiting downstairs with hot soup for her.” “I thought that after what happened, with her stubborn personality, she’d never end up with you.” “Guess I was overthinking it.”

Confusion flickered in Liam’s eyes: “Something happened? What happened?” “Mia and I always had a great relationship during grad school, we never even argued.” “No wonder people always sugarcoat the mistakes they made back then.” Brenda’s gaze towards Liam grew cold, filled with scorn and condemnation: “That year, Mia cried for a day and a night because you cheated. She called you hundreds of times, even flew to A-City overnight to find you.” She pulled out her phone, scrolled for a long time, and finally brought up a photo. The pixel quality from over ten years ago was blurry, but it was vaguely identifiable as a photo of Stella and Liam. In the picture, Liam’s collar was open, his neck covered in suggestive hickey marks. Stella lay in his arms, smiling at the camera. My heart felt like it was being pricked by needles, hurting intensely as I looked at the photo. So the grown-up me was with Liam, but he cheated. Brenda grew angrier as she spoke: “Even on our university’s anniversary, Stella, visibly pregnant, publicly slandered Mia as a homewrecker in front of hundreds of faculty and VIPs.” “The incident became a huge scandal. Mia was crushed by public opinion, unable to hold her head high, and was eventually forced to drop out of school.” “Liam, did you even have a heart back then?” Liam stared at the photo, his eyes filled with shock: “I had no idea about any of this.” “That year, I was drinking all night for a tricky project. The next day, I had no record of Mia’s calls on my phone, and I didn’t know she came to find me.” “Even when she dropped out, she only told me she wasn’t feeling well and wanted a short break…” His throat tightened, and he involuntarily gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. Liam didn’t remember how he got home. Exhausted, he instructed a maid to prepare a room for me: “Get some rest first. Call me if you need anything.” After that, he walked straight to the liquor cabinet, opened a bottle, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Smoke quickly filled the air, blurring his expression. From upstairs, I watched Liam curled up in the corner, feeling an inexplicable ache in my heart. His phone buzzed. Liam glanced at the screen, then silently turned it off. In the evening, Stella returned. She stomped her foot, pouting dramatically with feigned grievance: “Liam, didn’t you say you’d pick me up? Why didn’t you answer my calls?” She naturally threw herself into Liam’s arms, not noticing the pile of empty bottles on the floor. Liam looked at her, then after three seconds of silence, he abruptly grabbed her by the neck: “Why did you go to Mia’s school and cause trouble that year? Do you even know that her biggest dream since childhood was to study?” Liam’s grip slowly tightened. Stella’s face turned crimson, gasping for breath, as she weakly tried to argue: “I was just a jealous young girl back then. I didn’t know it would affect her so much.” She cried harder and harder, tears splashing onto Liam’s hand. He paused, then withdrew his hand. Stella collapsed into his arms, sobbing: “Liam, it’s been so many years. Please forgive me.” “Besides, didn’t I get punished too?” “Mia pushed me down the stairs. I miscarried, and it’ll be difficult for me to have children for the rest of my life.” Liam’s fingers curled, but he ultimately pulled her into his embrace. For a long time, he stood on the balcony, cigarette butts littering the floor. “She bullied my mom. Are you just going to let her get away with it?” Liam turned around and saw me standing in the darkness, my eyes fixed on him. That gaze almost made Liam squirm with shame. Especially looking at my face, so similar to Mia’s, he couldn’t even meet my eyes. “Adult matters aren’t as simple as you think.” He touched my head, a bitter smile on his face: “Your mother also did something very wrong back then.”

Watching his retreating back, I suddenly felt Liam was a stranger. Perhaps feeling guilty towards Mia, Liam poured all that compensatory guilt onto me. He arranged for my adoption, and took me to amusement parks on weekends. Any doll I casually mentioned would appear by my bedside the next day. But the longer we spent together, the more complex his gaze became. My habit of chewing on pen caps, or licking the milk mustache before drinking, would make him stare blankly for ages. He would also murmur: “So similar.” Stella watched this scene, her nails digging deeply into her palms. The next morning at breakfast, she suddenly clutched her throat, recoiled, and slapped me hard across the face: “Why did you put peanut butter in my toast? Don’t you know I’m allergic to peanuts?” Stella’s body rapidly broke out in a dense rash, visible to the naked eye. Liam rushed over at the commotion. The maid chimed in: “Sir, we’ve followed your instructions. No peanut products are allowed in the house. This child must have snuck them in.” “Yesterday, she even specifically asked me about Ms. Stella’s likes and dislikes, saying she wanted to get revenge for her mother.” Liam supported Stella, his eyes full of disappointment as he looked at me: “How could you become like this, as vicious as your mother?” Before he could finish, I scratched my arm. A patch of rash also appeared on my arm. Stella and I were both sent to the hospital. The diagnosis was that I was also allergic to peanuts, and it was hereditary. Liam seized on the word ‘hereditary’ and stormed into Stella’s hospital room. Grabbing her hand, he sharply questioned: “Eleven years ago, you almost went into anaphylactic shock because of a peanut allergy, and you claimed Mia loved peanut butter so she forced you to eat it.” “But the doctor just said this is a hereditary allergy. Mia couldn’t eat peanuts either.” His grip was so strong it almost crushed Stella’s arm. Stella, her face pale, tried to argue: “It happened so many years ago, how could I remember clearly?” Liam let go of her, the disappointment in his eyes intensifying. He turned and left. Stella frantically chased after him, tugging at his clothes, tears streaming down her face: “Liam, please listen to me. I must have said the wrong thing back then because I was so scared.” “But my allergy is real, and Mia forcing me to eat it is also real. Let’s go back to the room and talk properly, okay?” Liam looked at her tear-reddened eyes and finally gave in, letting her pull him into the hospital room. The door clicked shut, and ambiguous gasps came from inside. I stood at the stairwell, my heart sinking bit by bit. So the grown-up Liam was so easily swayed. His kindness to me before didn’t seem so steadfast anymore. With Liam backing her, Stella became emboldened, and her tactics grew even more malicious. She would deliberately paint me as vulgar and uncouth in front of him, saying I chewed with my mouth open, and always spoke ill of her behind my back. She would even suddenly scream while showering, then rush into Liam’s arms wrapped in a towel, claiming I was secretly filming her. After a while, Liam grew annoyed. When Stella again suggested sending me to an orphanage, a clear flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. At dinner, Liam sat across from me, hesitating before speaking: “I’ve asked Mike to find your biological father. In the future, I’ll pay you five hundred thousand dollars in child support annually, as compensation from me to Mia.” I nodded numbly: “Okay.” Liam’s phone suddenly vibrated. He answered the call. Mike’s voice came from the receiver: “Mr. Stone, the child with you isn’t Ms. Mia’s at all.” “And Ms. Mia’s death isn’t as simple as it seems!”

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Luke deleted Tiffany’s number and wiped out every trace of her from our place. He even fixed our busted wedding photo and hung it back up above our bed. I thought, maybe I should give him one more shot. Then, bam—two envelopes show up on the same day: my prenatal appointment reminder… and Tiffany’s damn wedding invite. He didn’t even hesitate—drove straight to her wedding. Right in front of everyone, he pulled Tiffany behind him and slammed a check on the groom’s chest. “Here’s $880,000. Now get the hell out.” The video blew up online. Everyone was obsessed with the runaway bride and their so-called epic love story. That’s when it hit me—Luke never let Tiffany go. And that night, I lost the baby. When my friend sent me the wedding-crashing video, I was making soup for Luke. “Is that him?” “What the hell happened?” “He and that massage girl are back together?” Countless messages flooded my phone. It was exactly like three years ago, when Luke got into a brawl and threw a guy off a third-floor balcony for Tiffany, landing himself all over the news. The same damn story. And of course, people in the comments recognized him. “OMG, this guy’s crazy streak showed three years ago!” “If you’re not marrying me, I’ll crash the wedding! We’re destined to be tangled till we die.” “Right? This is like a dark romance novel come to life, the kind of toxic love-hate saga everyone secretly binge-reads!” I slowly scrolled through the comments, forgetting to turn off the stove. The ceramic pot cracked. Boiling soup scalded my skin. But I barely felt the pain. I just silently called Luke. His phone was off. I let out a laugh, my heart growing colder. He had promised me this morning he would come with me for my prenatal check-up after work. He had sworn on his knees by my hospital bed that he would be a good husband. Was I sad? Was I hurting? I wasn’t sure. After all, I’d already experienced the deepest despair three years ago. I calmly cleaned up the kitchen. Then I called the hospital. “Please cancel my prenatal check-up. Could you book an abortion for me instead? The sooner, the better.”

Luke got home at three in the morning. I sat on the couch, my eyes raw from exhaustion. Our gazes met. A heavy silence stretched between us. On the table, the tablet played his wedding-crashing video on loop. “Here’s $880,000…” Once, twice, three times. Luke strode over and shut it off. Then, slowly, he knelt. He was kneeling for that woman. The thought alone was pathetic. “I know it’s too late for excuses,” he said, his voice rough. “But I swear, this is the last time I help her.” “Her dad has lung cancer, he needs money for surgery.” “She came to me first, but I refused to see her. That’s why she was selling herself to that man.” “I just felt sorry for her, you have to believe me…” Just pity. How many times had Luke said that? He probably lost count long ago. But I remembered every single time. Because every time he said it, I was the one who suffered. Funding her education, out of pity. Arranging her job, out of pity. Buying her a house, out of pity. Getting into a fight for her, out of pity. And now, even stopping her from marrying someone else, he still claimed it was out of pity? “Your compassion knows no bounds.” The sarcasm hit its mark. He stood to hug me, but I shoved him away. “Claire, are you going to leave me again?” Luke knelt on one knee, his eyes watering. “Luke, the one who gave up first doesn’t get to make demands.”

I never imagined Luke would cheat. The day I discovered his betrayal marked exactly 5,200 days since we first met. Childhood sweethearts. High school lovers. Married young. Over a decade of shared history. All of it shattered by the tears of a massage girl. In those days, Luke was always working late. Friends would joke, asking if I ever worried he was having an affair. I’d just smile serenely and say. “Why worry? If a man is tainted, you simply throw him away.” But I had overestimated Luke’s loyalty, and underestimated the depth of my own love. To love anyone more than you love yourself comes with a price. And my punishment arrived on schedule. Luke had spent half a million dollars at that massage parlor. The truth slipped out from his friend over dinner. A sudden silence swallowed the table. That was the day I most wished I could forget. Because it was the same day I discovered I was pregnant. I had planned to share our happy news with everyone at that table. Instead, I shattered. I demanded to know which parlor, which woman. When I confronted Tiffany, the man who usually walked on eggshells around me, suddenly stood in front of her and yelled at me. “Are you done making a scene?!” “I’m so sorry, Claire. I’m the one who seduced Luke. If you want to hit or scold anyone, just direct it at me.” Losing all reason, I pushed Luke aside and slapped Tiffany’s pitiful face. Luke held the sobbing woman, glaring at me with furious hatred. “Claire, don’t you dare go too far!” “You’re always so bossy with me, forcing me to do this and that, so what if I just want to spend some money on her?!” His words felt like an ice-cold punch to the gut, making me tremble with rage. From that day on, Luke and I fell into a continuous cold war. Everyone thought he would be the first to back down. After all, it was clearly his fault, and for so many years, he had always been compliant with my every wish. But in the end, it was me who had to use the pregnancy to get him back.

I never realized how much I loved Luke. From our student days, he was always the one chasing me, the one giving everything. The moment I realized I couldn’t lose him, I even started to wonder. Was I really too strong-willed with him? So that day when I called him, I poured out every soft, pleading word I could think of. “Just come back, just cut ties with that woman, and we can pretend nothing ever happened, okay?” My voice was so careful, so pathetic. But he said no. He said he had to protect Tiffany. “She’s had such a tough life, I just feel like I owe her, I have to make it up to her.” To get him to come home, I agreed to give Tiffany a monthly allowance. I thought that would finally be enough. But Luke kept finding excuses to see her every single day. If a friend brought delicious pastries, he would immediately take them to that girl so she could try. If he got concert tickets, his first thought was to take that girl so she could see the world. He even opened a bar for Tiffany, naming it “The Siren’s Gaze.” When a drunk man harassed Tiffany, Luke didn’t hesitate to throw him off a balcony. Fortunately, the man’s fall was broken by a tree. After we paid a hefty settlement, the case was closed. “When you did that,” I asked, my voice trembling, “did you ever think of me? Of our child?” “Do you want our child to be born with a criminal for a father?” But Luke just accused me of having no compassion before he started destroying our home. When our wedding photo shattered, the glass cracked perfectly between us – separating his image from mine forever. Broken mirrors are hard to restored. The tragedy is, I was too young back then to understand that simple truth. On our wedding anniversary, I waited at a restaurant we’d booked months ago until closing time. What I got instead was a post on Tiffany’s Ins. “Thank you for showing me that even if you’re not perfect, you can still be loved.” In the photo, she was wearing the latest Chanel haute couture dress, carrying a Louis Vuitton bag. All identical to mine. She was telling me that everything I had, she would have too. Luke was raising her all over again, using my lifestyle. In that instant, nausea and an unspeakable sense of grief overwhelmed me. I drove, tears streaming down my face, directly to the villa Luke had bought for her. The moment I pushed open the door, I froze. There was Tiffany, wearing my wedding dress. They were kissing. I think I truly lost my mind then. I screamed, a raw, hysterical sound, and rushed forward to tear them apart. In the struggle, Tiffany shoved me. I fell to the floor. And then I felt it – the warm blood spreading beneath me.

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I took thirteen stab wounds for Jacob. After I got out of the hospital, he married me. But at the wedding, right after he slipped a ring on my finger, he pulled out an even bigger diamond ring and walked straight toward his first love, Celeste. “Celeste,” he choked out, “I never forgot my promise to put a wedding ring on your finger. I’m sorry I failed you.” Jacob started sobbing in front of everyone. Celeste held him gently, her eyes lifting over his shoulder and locking on mine. “Maya, you saved Jacob, so he should marry you. Besides… I’m dying. Promise me you’ll take care of him. I’ll watch over you both from heaven.” Then the two of them kissed—completely lost in each other. Everyone laughed at me. I slipped off my ring. “Jacob, go marry this bitch. I wish you both the best.” My few words seemed to infuriate Celeste. She clutched her heart, coughing and twitching violently. I knew it was an act. But Jacob didn’t. “Maya Hayes, you are absolutely vicious!” He roared, his voice raw. “I’m marrying you! What else could you possibly want? Celeste is dying, and you’d curse her? Do you have any heart? Are you even human?” He screamed these words at me in front of all our friends and family. Then, gnoring the desperate pleas from both our parents, he scooped Celeste into his arms and stormed out of the wedding. His exit was absolute. There wasn’t a shred of hesitation. Not a flicker of regret for me. It was as if he’d forgotten the story behind every scar that marked my skin. In the lavish wedding hall, only I, the bride, remained. The mocking whispers of the guests echoed in my ears. “This was supposed to be a beautiful wedding, and she ruined everything. Couldn’t she just suck it up? She had to make such a scene, it’s completely disgraced the Reed family.” “She can’t keep a man’s heart, and then she throws tantrums. She’s hopeless. We should have just made some food at home, just a casual meal, instead of this ridiculous wedding.” “We’re out of patience. You’re on your own.” Jacob’s parents unleashed all their anger on me, making me their scapegoat. No matter what, the Reed family was blameless, Jacob was blameless. No one spoke up for me. Because I grew up in an orphanage, with no family, no connections. My eyes welled up as I watched Jacob’s parents and the guests leave. I looked up at the bright chandeliers. My pristine white wedding dress, at this moment, felt like a shroud, mourning seven years of my pathetic, unrequited love.

Seven years. I alone knew the truth of my sorrow. Thinking back, I couldn’t hold back my tears. Jacob had told me his family was old money, and his parents valued heritage. To gain their approval, I had to work hard. I loved Jacob, and I knew the path ahead was difficult, but I rushed headfirst into it, like a moth to a flame. I always obeyed Jacob’s parents, giving up my dream of becoming a detective to be a housewife. Even then, I wasn’t allowed to sit at the dinner table. Because of my humble origins, Jacob’s parents found me ‘unclean’. They saw me as beneath them, tainted by my background. I thought with time, I could warm them up. But Jacob’s passion for me steadily dwindled, while his interactions with Celeste became more frequent. Even so, I clung to a sliver of hope. So, when Jacob was attacked by thugs, I didn’t hesitate, shielding him and fighting them off, taking thirteen knife wounds! Blood soaked my clothes, blurring my vision. As I lay bleeding, consciousness fading, I heard Jacob screaming my name. In that second, I felt Jacob’s love and thought dying for him was worth it. But it was all my hallucination. Jacob had always truly loved Celeste… I sighed, wiping away my tears, and was the last to leave the hotel. To my surprise, Jacob’s father was waiting outside. “I’ll arrange a press conference. You’ll admit your mistake and take all the blame, don’t you dare affect Jacob.” He saw me and spoke, his tone an order.

“Mistake? What mistake have I made?” I shot back. “If you still want to remain a Reed, and be Mrs. Reed, then do as I say. Otherwise, don’t bother coming home!” Mr. Reed’s face darkened. He delivered his harsh ultimatum, then got into his car and drove away. I clenched my fists. Even if I was as obedient as a dog, wagging my tail at their slightest gesture, overjoyed by a scrap they threw me. Even if I offered my life, I still wouldn’t get their approval. Celeste’s status would always be higher than mine. The weather bureau had announced a possible hailstorm today, but I didn’t call the Reed family to beg for forgiveness as I usually would. I refused to be threatened, refused to compromise anymore. I thought about finding shelter back inside the hotel, but the security guard stopped me. It was definitely the Reed family’s doing again. They wanted to force me to behave like a dog. I still refused to comply, walking alone on the street. My phone was in my car, so I couldn’t call a ride. The sky grew darker, and finally, the hail began to fall. I had nowhere to hide. I let the hailstones pelt me, feeling like I was being stoned. My head was bleeding, and I collapsed onto the ground. My white wedding dress was stained red again. Suddenly, I felt ridiculous. Seven years of my youth had led to this pathetic, desolate end. My consciousness started to fade. “The choice I gambled my life on… in the end, it was wrong…” I finally succumbed and passed out. When I woke up, I was in a hospital’s VIP room. My entire body was wrapped in bandages. I asked the nurse and learned that a patrol officer had happened to pass by and saved me. Otherwise, I might have been killed by the hail. After all, my old wounds hadn’t fully healed, and now I had new ones. Even a person of iron couldn’t endure it. “Mr. Reed, there’s already someone in this room. She’s very badly injured.” “So what? The last VIP room is for Celeste! I’m Jacob Reed, the heir to the Reed fortune, and the hospital has my family’s shares. Who dares defy me will be fired!” Suddenly, I heard Jacob and a nurse arguing outside. Before I could even process it, the door flew open. Jacob stormed in, carrying Celeste in his arms. Without so much as a glance toward the bed, he yelled, “You! Move the patient in this bed to another room, now! I’ll take full responsibility for any consequences!” “And I want Celeste taken care of immediately! Or everyone gets fired!” Only when his orders were given did he finally look up and saw me. He froze, startled. “What are you doing here?”

His surprise lasted only two seconds before Jacob frowned, an impatient expression on his face. “Maya, you must be very angry for following us here!” “I’m so sorry, I had an episode, that’s why Jacob dropped the wedding and rushed me to the hospital.” “Blame me, don’t blame Jacob.” Celeste squeezed out a few tears, looking pitifully at me. She acted like she was apologizing, but her saccharine words were pure poison. This, of course, made Jacob’s heart ache all over again. “Maya! Celeste is like this, how can you still blame her? Can’t you be more understanding?” He snapped at me, annoyed. “Have I said a single word since you both walked in?” I retorted, my voice cold. My entire body was wrapped in bandages, an IV drip in my arm, yet Jacob didn’t ask about my condition or show any concern. His eyes were only on Celeste. True love, indeed. Jacob was momentarily speechless, knowing I had a point, but he quickly went back to his accusing tone. “Even if you didn’t say anything, you deliberately followed us, then faked an injury to compete with Celeste for the VIP room. You’re truly malicious.” “I honestly regret ever knowing you!” “Give up the bed to Celeste immediately, and I might still forgive you!” His icy words were like a command to a dog. “Jacob, don’t be angry. Maya certainly didn’t mean it…” Celeste feigned concern, tugging on Jacob’s clothes, trying to ‘calm’ him. In reality, she was just adding fuel to the fire. “Celeste, you’re just too kind.” Jacob’s gaze softened the moment it landed on Celeste. When it flicked back to me, it had iced over completely. “Maya, stop this nonsense. Move.” He urged. He was desperate to appease his first love. The old me would have shuffled aside without a word, anxious not to cause him any trouble. But not this time. “I’m a patient here, too,” I said, holding his cold stare. “Why should I be the one to move?”

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Three years after my death, I suddenly ‘woke up.’ No flesh, no memory, just a wisp of a soul. I was trapped, tethered to Jason’s side, forced to watch him and his wife in their blissful ignorance. Then, one day, his wife was cleaning out the attic and stumbled upon a photograph of me. “Who’s this?” she asked offhandedly, a casual chuckle on her lips. Jason’s voice was flat as he tossed the photo into the trash. “Just a dead person. Elara, I think? I can barely remember her name anymore.” Elara. So that was my name. A forgotten ex-wife. But that very night, I saw Jason secretly drugging his wife. Through the reflection in the glass, his eyes met mine. “Elara,” he whispered. “See? I’m avenging you.” For a moment, I almost believed Jason could actually see me. My soul quivered, the words right there. But Jason simply held the milk, turned, and walked away. Such a shame. He still couldn’t see me. Seraphina, suspecting nothing, drank the milk and fell into a deep sleep. The moment she did, Jason rushed to the trash and carefully retrieved my photo, clutching it to his chest. “I’m sorry, Elara. I’m so sorry.” “I made you dirty, did it hurt when you fell? It’s all my fault.” Jason’s voice was low and hoarse, filled with guilt. He repeatedly wiped the glass frame with the cuff of his expensive suit, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. He pressed his warm lips to the glass, gently coaxing. “Just a little longer. Soon, five days at most.” “I’ll make Seraphina lose everything. Her wealth, her reputation, everything she stole from you. Then I’ll send her down to apologize.” “And then, Elara, we… we can be together again.” Jason picked up his phone and dialed a number. His voice instantly turned cold. “You can proceed. Make sure it’s clean.” After that, Jason held my photo, practically frozen in his study. Sometimes he would weep uncontrollably, large tears splashing against the glass. Other times, a gentle, yet chilling, smile would twist his lips. And then, he’d press his forehead to the frame, letting out strangled, guttural sobs. For three whole hours, Jason acted like a madman, crying and laughing. He was more terrifying than I, a mere ghost. A belated realization dawned on me. This man, Jason, he seemed to… truly love me. Until his phone screen lit up again, a distinctive vibration breaking the silence of the study. Jason snatched up his phone. The message was concise. “Mr. Jason, it’s done. Mr. Thorne fell to his death after drinking too much.” He didn’t reply, simply putting my photo frame away carefully. He rose and walked towards the master bedroom, pushing the door open forcefully. Seraphina on the bed seemed disturbed by the rough sound, stirring uneasily. But the sleeping pills worked their magic, and she didn’t wake. Jason walked to the bedside, gazing at her for a few seconds. His eyes were as cold as if he were looking at an inanimate object. Suddenly, Jason did something utterly insane. He lunged out, not to wake Seraphina, but to grab her hair viciously and smash her forehead hard against the solid wooden headboard! A dull, sickening thud echoed in the room. Seraphina jolted awake from the extreme pain and terror, letting out a piercing scream. The moment her eyes flew open, I watched the coldness vanish from Jason’s face, replaced by feigned concern. He pulled her into his arms, his voice soft. “Seraphina, what’s wrong?” “How did you manage to hit your head just sleeping? Was it a nightmare?” “Shhh, it’s alright now. I’m here.” Before she could even begin to collect herself, her phone on the nightstand erupted with a shrill ring. “Hello?” The next second, Seraphina’s pupils constricted, her face turning ashen. “No! Dad! That’s impossible!” She desperately grabbed Jason’s arm, sobbing incoherently. “Jason! My dad… my dad had an accident. They said he fell from a building, and he’s gone.” “What do I do, Jason! What am I going to do!” Jason reacted quickly. He immediately pulled Seraphina tightly into his embrace, his voice carrying just the right amount of shock and grief. “What! How could this happen?” “It’s okay, I’m here for everything. If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you. Calm down, tell me slowly.” Seraphina clung to Jason even more. Her face buried in his chest, she wept, murmuring words. But where Seraphina couldn’t see, I clearly saw Jason’s expression. There was no grief on his face; instead, he smirked at me with a twisted, eerie smile. Yet, the words he spoke were so gentle and reassuring. “Seraphina, your family’s problems are my problems!” “I’ll handle everything!”

“Jason, thank god you’re here.” Mrs. Thorne wiped her tears, clutching his hand. “With her father gone… who knows what those vultures outside might do to our family without you here.” Jason’s face was a mask of sorrowful resolve. He squeezed her hand in return. “As long as I’m here, no one will ever dare touch the Thorne family.” Then, he drew a sealed envelope from his pocket. The words “To My Dearest Wife” were written on the front. “I… came across this in Mr. Thorne’s study,” he said, his voice gentle as he handed it to her. “It must be for you.” He paused and handed it to Mrs. Thorne. “Perhaps you should read it when you feel a little stronger?” With that, Jason left. Mrs. Thorne’s trembling hands tore open the envelope. That letter was a fake. I had watched Jason forge it. He seemed to have practiced Mr. Thorne’s handwriting for a long time, his fingertips calloused. As he wrote each word, a pang of sorrow and melancholy welled up in me. I vaguely sensed that the Jason I remembered shouldn’t be like this. He should have been the bright, flamboyant young man, pure as a fresh breeze and clear moonlight. Not this… this twisted, dark, ruthless man, almost a demon driven to madness, all for me – someone who didn’t remember him at all, someone who had been dead for three years. Jason, you should have lived your life well. When Mrs. Thorne returned after reading the letter, her expression was already dazed. Jason feigned tenderness, stepping forward to support her, and whispered words that pierced her heart. “Mrs. Thorne, what Mr. Thorne said in the letter is true, isn’t it?” “It was you, thinking you were so clever, working with Seraphina to murder Elara. It was you who raised Seraphina to be just like you, a useless person who only knows how to kill to solve problems. The Thorne family has been caught red-handed; there’s no way to recover. “The Thorne family was destroyed by your hands. He’ll never forgive you, even in death.” Mrs. Thorne’s body began to tremble violently, her gaze fixed on her husband’s portrait. “I didn’t! I never mean to kill Elara.” She mumbled. “She was just an orphan. Who cared if she died? It’s been three years. No one will-” “Won’t they?” Jason cut her off, his voice dropping to a venomous hiss. “After Elara fell to her death three years ago,your people chopped her body into twenty-eight pieces. Each piece cemented into the building.” He continued, the words cold and precise. “I hear they’ve started renovations on it recently. They might have already dug her up.” “If someone discovers it, the Thorne family will be completely finished. Tell me, will you also be chopped into twenty-” Jason didn’t finish his sentence. Mrs. Thorne suddenly let out a shrill, ear-splitting shriek, pushing Jason away violently. She had completely lost her mind. She lunged towards Mr. Thorne’s altar, screaming, laughing, falling into complete delirium, repeatedly yelling. “I didn’t mean it! Old Thorne, I did it all for Seraphina.” “That slut was hogging Jason, so I killed her. Only then could my daughter take her place! I wanted to throw her down! To chop her up!” Mrs. Thorne then grabbed Seraphina’s hand, trembling and pleading through tears. “Don’t come for me, I already cemented you in the concrete.” “Elara, you’re dead. Why don’t you reincarnate? Why are you tormenting me! Don’t extort the Thornes anymore, we’re out of money!” Seraphina had been lost in grief over her father’s death, but hearing her mother’s words, she was utterly terrified. She grabbed her mother, blurting out. “Mom! What are you talking about? Are you crazy?”

But it was too late. The altar, which had been deathly silent, erupted into a greater uproar. Everyone’s eyes darted frantically between the delirious Mrs. Thorne and the ashen-faced Seraphina. Some people even started recording videos. Just then, Jason steadied the swaying Seraphina. His voice was grave and urgent. “Seraphina, listen. Your mother is having a mental breakdown right now; she’s speaking nonsense.” “So many people have heard it, and some are secretly recording. If someone makes trouble and calls the police, they’ll definitely investigate. Then not only will your mother be finished, but you’ll also be questioned repeatedly. The Thorne family will be completely ruined!” Seraphina was stunned by Jason’s words, clutching his clothes, trembling. “Then… then what do I do? Jason, I’m so scared.” A cold glint flickered in Jason’s eyes, but his tone grew even calmer. “There’s only one way. forcefully send your mother to a mental hospital.” “You must maintain a consistent story externally, saying that your mother suffered too great a blow from your father’s sudden death. That she’s experiencing severe schizophrenia and delusions. This is the only way to protect her, and to protect you. Understand?” A dazed Seraphina had long lost her judgment, relying completely on Jason. Tears streaming, she nodded frantically. “Okay!” Under Jason’s ‘guidance,’ Seraphina shakily signed the admission papers. Several burly ‘staff members’ in uniform stepped forward, unceremoniously grabbing the still delirious, screaming, and struggling Mrs. Thorne, one on each side. “Let me go!” “Seraphina, I’m not sick! I’m your mother! Say something, they’re trying to hurt me!” “I don’t want to go! Seraphina, don’t let them take me!” Mrs. Thorne shrieked as she was forcibly dragged from the altar, her black high heels kicking off and clattering to the ground. I floated out after them. I saw that the vehicle waiting wasn’t an ambulance at all, but an unmarked black van. She was shoved roughly into the back seat. Her struggles lasted only a moment. A cold-faced man in the passenger seat raised his hand and slapped her, again and again. Smack! Smack! Smack! “Be quiet! You murderer!” Mrs. Thorne was knocked sideways into the seat, left with only terrified whimpers. The man emotionlessly pulled out his phone and reported. “Mr. Jason, the person has been picked up. Following your instructions, we’ll ‘take good care’ of her!” By the time I floated back to the altar, the guests had left. A funeral that should have been solemn and dignified had turned into a deeply embarrassing farce. Seraphina, shocked and enraged, simply fainted. But this time, Jason didn’t help her. He watched her coldly. Then, with the tip of his shoe, he disdainfully and scornfully prodded Seraphina’s limp body. His contempt was undisguised. “Wake her up.” A bucket of ice water was splashed on Seraphina. Seraphina jolted awake in the biting cold. “Jason, what… what are you doing? Why…” Jason curved a cold smile, leaning down to look at her. “Why what?” “I just don’t want to pretend with you anymore.” Seraphina’s voice instinctively trembled. “Pretend? Is it because the Thorne family has fallen, and you think I’m useless now?” “Jason, you weren’t like this before, you used to constantly say you loved…” Jason angrily cut Seraphina off. “Enough! What right do you have to speak of ‘love’! In that villa, there was never a single photo of Elara. Everything that belonged to her, I took care of three years ago, cleanly, not a trace left.” “When you deliberately let me see it, I knew. You were testing me.” Jason took a step forward, the invisible pressure almost suffocating Seraphina. “You asked me who she was, didn’t you?” “Now, I’ll give you the answer.” Jason’s gaze drifted upward, all pretense gone, his cruel nature laid bare. “Her name was Elara. She was the only wife I’ve ever had.” “Three years ago, at the abandoned factory west of the city, you pushed her. Your mother had the body dismembered into twenty-eight pieces to cover it up. Your father arranged for them to be cemented into the factory’s foundation during the renovation.” I floated in the air. I watched, cold and detached, as Seraphina trembled in absolute terror, too afraid to even sob. Jason gripped Seraphina’s neck, his eyes burning with monstrous hatred. “I married you,” he snarled, “to get close to my wife’s murderer. Closer and closer…” “…until I could kill you. Slowly.”

The body beneath his hand went limp. Seraphina, overwhelmed by terror, fainted again. “Mr. Jason, should we wake her up again?” A bodyguard whispered, seeking instructions. “No need. Lock her in the basement. The game… is more fun when played slowly.” Jason’s voice was devoid of emotion. He turned and walked directly towards the study. The moment the wooden door closed, his shoulders sagged slightly. Looking at his back, I instinctively felt a bone-deep weariness and vulnerability. Jason walked to the bookshelf, pressing certain book spines. With the sound of mechanical movement, a hidden compartment popped open. I expected top-tier jewelry, confidential documents, or something similar. But no, there was only a neatly folded, old dress, a faded hair tie, a few polaroid photos with worn edges, and… my meticulously clean photo frame. A sense of familiarity and fragmented memories surged. I knew those were my things. “Elara…” Jason murmured, his voice terribly hoarse. “Did you see? I made her afraid, she’s finally afraid.” He chuckled, but as he laughed, tears unexpectedly streamed down, turning into suppressed, painful sobs. “Elara… twenty-eight cuts. Were you scared then?” Jason questioned, clutching the photo frame. Standing behind Jason, my soul trembled. I frantically shook my head, hoping he wouldn’t continue to torment himself like this. But I was just a wisp of a soul, only able to helplessly float around him. Jason’s tone grew increasingly obsessive and deranged. “I was your husband, and I failed to protect you. I couldn’t get there… I’m guilty.” “Elara, I should also suffer twenty-eight cuts!” As soon as he spoke, Jason abruptly pulled a sharp utility knife from the study drawer. I gasped in alarm, immediately wanting to grab his hand to stop him, but I could only watch my soul fruitlessly pass through Jason’s arm. Jason didn’t hesitate, raising his hand and savagely slashing his left arm. Blood instantly gushed out! “Does it hurt? Elara.” He stared at the photo, his eyes unfocused. It was as if he was looking through it at me, who had suffered all those years ago. I was frantic with tears, silently comforting him. It doesn’t hurt anymore. Jason, it stopped hurting a long time ago. “Was it… was it this painful back then?” The second cut was deeper. Blood instantly stained most of his white shirt. I was in unbearable agony, but no matter how I pleaded or cried out. Jason couldn’t hear or perceive me. Just as I tried to stop Jason’s self-mutilation again, my “hand” desperately brushed against the computer keyboard. Clack! One of the keyboard caps pressed down ever so slightly, yet distinctly. I could actually press a key! The sound was faint. But in the study’s deathly silence, a silence broken only by the blade slicing through flesh, it echoed like thunder. Jason’s movements froze instantly. His hand, poised to make another cut, halted mid-air. His bloodshot eyes stared in disbelief at the computer screen. There, on the screen, in a blank document I had personally pulled up, a few words slowly appeared. “It doesn’t hurt” Time itself seemed to freeze.

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My wife came home from her business trip and found me in a compromising position with the nanny on our living room couch. She exploded. She called her family. They dragged me outside, tying me to a tree in our courtyard for a public shaming. “Leo Thompson, why?” Chloe wailed in front of everyone. “Was I not enough for you?” Her intern, Alex, hit me with a branch. Called me scum. I tasted blood and tears. I looked straight at Chloe. “Does this scene look familiar, Chloe? It’s just like the day Lily died.” Chloe froze. “You… you remembered?” “Leo Thompson!” Chloe’s voice was a raw, furious roar, her eyes blazing. “Our daughter has been gone for a month. One month! And you’re already screwing the nanny in our home? Do you have no shame?” Chloe’s eyes were blazing red, her voice a furious roar. I calmly lit a cigarette. “Feel free to cheat too. I wouldn’t mind.” “Stop acting so innocent. You’re never home. You’re probably already screwing someone else.” The nanny, Maya, pulled on her black stockings with a smirk, twisting the knife. I chuckled. Chloe completely lost it. She lunged at Maya, hand flying toward her face for a slap. But I caught her wrist in a tight grip. And I let Maya walk away. “Leo! You’re actually protecting some outsider? You scumbag! You bastard!” Chloe’s eyes were wide with shock. She started wildly punching my chest. “Stop being crazy!” I impatiently shoved her away. Just then, Alex, Chloe’s intern, arrived with her family. They saw Chloe collapsed on the floor, and everyone erupted. Alex charged at me, grabbing my collar. “Leo Thompson!” he snarled. “Not only are you cheating, you hit your wife? Are you even a man?” “Do you have any respect for Lily’s memory?” His spit sprayed across my face. “You don’t get to talk about my daughter!” I snapped. My fist connected with his jaw, sending him stumbling back. Chloe panicked. “Have you gone rabid? Why did you hit Alex?” Her family saw I wouldn’t back down. Rage burned in their eyes. “My daughter gave you everything! he didn’t care that you came from nothing, with no car and no house, and she still married you.” “How could you betray her?” “We shouldn’t have been soft-hearted! Even if you’d knelt in the rain until you died, we shouldn’t have allowed this marriage!” “Today, I’m going to let everyone see your true colors! And I’ll make sure you can never work in the medical field again!” All her relatives swarmed me. I was overwhelmed. They dragged me, helpless, to the center of the complex and tied me to a tree. They ripped my clothes off, leaving me in nothing but my boxers. “Everyone, come look! Look at this cheating, wife-beating bastard!” “Someone tell me,” a relative wailed, “why is my niece so pathetic? She gave her all to her family, and her husband runs off with the nanny!” “This animal was fooling around with the nanny right in front of his own daughter’s memorial photo! It’s an outrage!” Chloe’s family cried and screamed, drawing the entire neighborhood to crowd around. When people heard what happened, they stared at me with pure fury, cursing me as subhuman, saying I deserved to die. “You were hospitalized after your accident, and Chloe cared for you day and night! After just a few days, this is how you repay her? Where is your conscience?” “You pathetic, weak pig! I’ll kill you!” Chloe’s parents slapped me wildly. Encouraged by this, some in the crowd spat on me. Others grabbed dirt and rocks and started throwing them.

I was utterly humiliated. Chloe’s eyes were hazy with tears as she questioned me. “Leo Thompson, tell me! Why did you cheat?” I let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh. “You know why.” “Was I not enough for you? But that closet full of lingerie, I bought all of it for you! What more do you want?” Chloe cried even harder, almost screaming in despair. That was all the provocation the crowd needed. Their fury ignited. “Chloe, this bastard is hopeless. Today, I’ll make sure you get your revenge.” Alex first wiped away Chloe’s tears, then picked up a branch from the ground and savagely lashed me. “You rotten scumbag!” Again and again he struck, until my body was a mess of bloody welts. And the crowd cheered. “Hit him harder!” Chloe’s family yelled. “Don’t let him off easy!” Only Chloe stopped Alex. “Leo, we’ve been together for ten years, it wasn’t easy.” “If you admit your mistake and promise in front of everyone that you’ll change, I’ll give you one last chance.” The crowd praised her for her kindness, lamenting that such a wonderful woman was wasted on a man like me. “Admit my mistake?” I ground my teeth until I thought they would crack. “Chloe, doesn’t this scene look just like the day our daughter, Lily, died?” Chloe’s pupils immediately constricted. “You… you remembered everything?” “It was over a hundred degrees,” I pressed on, seeing her freeze. “Lily was surrounded, being screamed at by a crowd.” “Your favored and beloved intern, Alex, didn’t help. He locked her in a dog cage to ‘teach her a lesson’.” “Do you have any idea how desperately she cried?” Chloe’s fists clenched tightly, and she murmured, “Alex didn’t mean to.” Hearing her words, a few blood-tinged tears slid from my eyes. “Chloe! Lily was your own daughter! How could you be so heartless?” “That day, Lily couldn’t even get a sip of water. The sun peeled her skin, and her lips cracked and bled.” “When you saw her dead, didn’t your heart ache?” My accusations rang out. Chloe trembled all over, and Alex beside her looked nervous. The residents of the complex all stared at them, their gazes becoming strange. “Her own daughter was killed by her intern, and the mother still keeps him around? Is she sick?” “They probably have something going on.” “No wonder the husband cheated for revenge, his heart must have turned to ice.” Besides that. Mrs. Thompson also glared at Chloe, demanding, “Didn’t you say Lily’s death was an accident?” “Alex, what exactly happened?” Mr. Thompson glowered at Alex, waiting for an explanation. “It’s all my fault…” Alex slapped himself, feigning remorse and sobbing, “That day, I took Lily out to play. I just went to buy water for a second, and when I turned around, Lily was gone.” “Later I found out she ran into a bakery to steal bread, was caught by the store owner, thrown into a cage, and put on the roof as punishment.” “During that time, Chloe was busy with surgery. I sent messages and called Leo, but no one answered.” “I’m sorry, I didn’t watch Lily properly, I deserve to die!” After saying that, he wildly slapped himself again. “Okay, stop hitting yourself.” Chloe was heartbroken and quickly stepped forward to stop him. “I didn’t get any calls or messages from you that day, you killed my daughter…” Before I could finish. Chloe turned and slapped me, raging, “How many times have I told you? It has nothing to do with Alex! It was the bakery owner who committed the evil act, and he’s currently wanted by the police.”

“Besides, if you hadn’t abused Lily, not given her food, would she have stolen bread?” I suddenly froze. “As a mother, don’t you know your own daughter? Would she really steal like that?” “Don’t you know how much Lily adored me?” Chloe was always busy with work, performing multiple surgeries every day, so I decisively quit my job at the hospital to care for Lily. If Lily wasn’t eating enough or dressed warmly, she would have been malnourished long ago. Moreover, Lily was a sweet and well-behaved child, she would rather starve than steal bread! Chloe remained silent. Alex, however, indignantly said, “Leo Thompson, stop making excuses!” “I investigated at the daycare. The teacher said Lily fainted a few times, but always recovered after eating something or having a drink.” “I have surveillance footage as proof!” With that, he pulled out his phone and played a video. The teacher was playing games with the children. Lily suddenly fainted. “I have dozens of videos like this! Leo Thompson, what more do you have to say?” Alex said coldly. “You bastard, you actually didn’t give Lily food? What kind of father are you?” “My poor granddaughter must have been starving to steal bread. It’s all your fault, you irresponsible father.” Mr. and Mrs. Thompson cried out, rushing forward to hit and curse me. The other relatives followed suit. The surrounding residents cheered again, wishing they could all rush up and strangle me on the spot. Chloe looked at me, saying disappointedly, “Alex kept this quiet out of respect for me.” “But what about you? You repay kindness with cruelty, actually slandering Alex!” “Killing Lily wasn’t enough, you want to kill Alex too? When did you become so malicious?” Hearing her righteous accusation. I smiled bitterly, tears in my eyes. “Chloe, some things aren’t facts just because you see them with your own eyes.” “What if I told you Lily had low blood sugar? Would you believe me?” Chloe momentarily froze. Alex sneered, “Leo Thompson, are you trying to use this to say you didn’t cheat? That what Chloe saw was all fake?” “Exploiting your deceased daughter, you’re truly disgusting!” At his words, Chloe raged, “Leo Thompson, I’m not just Lily’s mother, I’m also a doctor!” “Do you think I wouldn’t know if she had low blood sugar?” “Don’t try to twist the facts to justify your cheating!” Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and the others cursed me as an animal. In the endless barrage of insults, I stared intently at Chloe and shouted, “I never cheated! You and Alex framed me!” “Bullshit!” Alex immediately retorted, “You were caught red-handed and you’re still denying it! You have no shame!” “Still spouting nonsense, I’ll smash your mouth!” Mr. Thompson pulled off his shoe and viciously threw it at my mouth. My mouth bled profusely. Yet my attitude remained unchanged. I said coldly, “I can prove my innocence in a moment, but some people won’t be so lucky.” I stared fiercely at Alex and Chloe, my eyes filled with hatred. “Enough!” “Do you really think people will believe you with empty words? Are you treating us like I was born yesterday?” Chloe put a hand on her hip, indignant. “I’m telling you now!” “The moment you admit your mistake today, is the moment we let you go. Otherwise, you’ll stay here under the blazing sun!” I didn’t utter a word. The surrounding residents all said I was stubborn to the core, utterly despicable. I was still under the scorching sun, like a skewer roasting, burning from the inside out.

Sweat soaked my clothes. But evaporated just as quickly. Dehydration left my mouth parched, my lips cracked, and my head spinning. I thought of my daughter. She was in this very weather, alone on that rooftop, calling out to no one, crying for help that never came. Her tiny life, slowly slipping away, eventually dying of dehydration. She must have been so desperate, so in pain. She surely wished her mommy and daddy would suddenly appear like superheroes, handing her a bottle of water and a popsicle. “I bought watermelon and popsicles, and various cold drinks, everyone can have them for free!” Alex’s shout broke my thoughts. He had someone bring a cart of watermelons and three portable ice chests, offering relief to everyone around. “Alex, you’re so thoughtful.” Chloe took the cold drink Alex offered, a happy smile playing on her lips. “It’s nothing, just what I should do.” Alex smiled, then distributed cold drinks and popsicles to Chloe’s family. “This young man is so capable.” “He’s eighteen times better than some scumbag!” Mr. and Mrs. Thompson praised him profusely. The surrounding residents also gave thumbs up. Only I felt sick to my stomach. Alex took a popsicle, walked up to me, and sneered in a low voice, “Hot and thirsty, aren’t you?” “Just call me ‘Dad,’ and I’ll give you some. Otherwise, you’ll just end up like your daughter, baked to a crisp.” “I even recorded how pathetic she looked back then. I rewatch it every night…” My eyes were bloodshot. I spat a bloody phlegm at Alex, cursing, “You monster!” Chloe rushed over, glanced at the bloody phlegm on Alex’s face, and immediately lashed out at me. “Leo Thompson!” “Alex was kindly offering you a popsicle, and you repay his kindness with cruelty, you ungrateful jerk!” “I must have been blind to ever fall for someone like you!” Still not satisfied, she raised her hand to slap me. “Keep your filthy hands to yourself!” Just then, a playful female voice cut through the air. Everyone looked over. It was Maya, the nanny, who had returned, followed by a team of police officers. They immediately untied me. Chloe was furious, glaring at Maya. “You homewrecker, you actually dared to come back!” “I’ve seen shameless people, but never someone this shameless. Being a homewrecker and then having the nerve to call the police!” Alex also cursed her with disgust. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson’s fists clenched, grinding audibly, as if they wanted to tear Maya apart. “Anyone can talk big.” “What evidence do you have to call me a homewrecker?” Maya asked. “I… I saw it with my own eyes!” Chloe gritted her teeth. “So, you have no evidence, huh?” Maya’s lips curved into a smile. She turned to the police officers and said, “Chloe Thompson and Alex slandered me as a homewrecker and deliberately assaulted Leo Thompson.” “Please arrest them!” At her words, I, who had played along, also smiled. The show was just beginning! Alex immediately panicked. “You homewrecker, you’re actually playing the victim! You’re utterly despicable!” “Can’t afford to live anymore? A homewrecker being so arrogant!” Chloe frowned, looking at me. “Leo Thompson, if you’re still a man, admit it!” I took a sip of the cold drink Maya handed me. “I’m innocent, why should I admit to anything?” “If you think I cheated, then show me the evidence.” Hearing me, Chloe threw the popsicle in her hand, indignantly saying, “I saw you two intimately close on the sofa with my own eyes!”

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I found a box of condoms in my husband’s gym bag. I didn’t confront him. I just quietly poked a few holes in each one. Two months later, my best friend told me. She was unexpectedly pregnant and wanted someone to take responsibility. My husband, Ryan, had been a different man lately. Suddenly, he was pinching the fat around his waist in front of the mirror, eating like a bird. Even more out of character, he’d splurged on a top-tier gym membership. Before, he’d come home from work and flop onto the couch. Now, come hell or high water, he’d grab his bag the moment he walked in, heading straight for the gym. Something was definitely off. While he was in the shower, I snuck into his gym bag. The canvas pocket reeked of sweat. My fingers delved inside, brushing against a square, hard box. My blood ran cold. I pulled it out: condoms. My hands shaking, I pried open the box. The foil packets were neatly arranged. My gaze swept over them, freezing instantly. One, two… Any last shred of doubt withered and died. Two were missing from the box. My fallopian tubes were severely blocked, making natural conception impossible. We never used condoms. He had used them. With whom? A buzzing roar filled my ears. My body went numb, as if plunged into an icy abyss, chilling me from head to toe.

I stealthily retrieved his phone. The screen lit up, the lock screen still our Maldives wedding photo from three years ago. Ryan’s arm was around my waist, and my eyes curved into crescents from smiling in the sunlight. My fingerprint still unlocked it. He hadn’t thought to hide this from me yet. My SnapChat was pinned at the top, our chat history stopping at this morning’s – Remember to buy milk. His text messages were all delivery notifications. The call log for the past week only showed me, his mom, and the delivery guy. I tapped on the DoorDash app; all the order addresses were for the Downtown Tech Hub and Maplewood Residences, Unit 902. His Uber rides were strictly between work and home. Too clean. Clean like a meticulously scrubbed crime scene. I was about to lock the screen. Ding! A Mobile Legends notification popped up: Your friend “InvincibleRyan” has invited you to a ranked match. My finger, seemingly of its own accord, tapped open the game. It led me into a private chat. There were only two people: my husband and “SugarBaby.” I scrolled through the private chat. The world spun around me.

“Baby, did you enjoy that?” [InvincibleRyan] “You were moaning so loud against the glass, the whole building probably heard, hehe~” [InvincibleRyan] “Where’s your wife? Still playing dead fish, waiting for you to honor her with your presence?” [SugarBaby] “Her? She’s long asleep. Having sex with her is like having sex with a corpse, she doesn’t even make a sound. Every time we finish, I’m so disgusted I have to come find you. Nothing like you, baby, last time you screamed so loud my ears were ringing~” [InvincibleRyan] “So, are you coming over tomorrow night? I bought a new lace collar you’ll love~” [SugarBaby] “Yeah, I’ll be there, baby. I’ll make you come so hard you’ll see stars.” [InvincibleRyan] “Okay~ But, do you think she’d burst into tears if she knew you had to think about me just to get hard every time you were with her?” [SugarBaby] “Her? She’d probably just cower in her bed, too scared to even breathe.” [InvincibleRyan] “Then I want to do it right under your wedding photo, let her stare blankly at the headboard every day. Since her belly can’t produce anything, why not let me carry one?” [SugarBaby] …

Reading those chat messages… The raw mockery, the vile obscenities, the venomous personal attacks – they made my whole body tremble with rage. Suddenly, my stomach lurched, bile rising in my throat. I clapped a hand over my mouth, stumbling to the balcony. Clutching the cold railing, I dry-heaved a few times. Tears mixed with snot, a pathetic mess streaking my face. How could this be? This was Ryan, the man who once ran several blocks in a downpour to save cab fare, soaking wet but meticulously shielding the hot soup he was bringing me. This was Ryan, who spent his first paycheck on a necklace for me and ate cheap ramen for a month. This was Ryan, who woke up at 5 AM to stand in line for two hours just because I casually mentioned I wanted a pastry from that popular spot across town. This was Ryan, who cried more than I did at our wedding, declaring, “Marrying you is the greatest blessing of my life.” … Three years ago, when I had that terrible flu. I was burning up, drifting in and out of consciousness. He stayed awake all night, constantly cooling my forehead, neck, and hands with a warm cloth. In the early hours, I was so parched, I rasped out a soft moan. He startled awake, immediately got out of bed, and went to the kitchen for water. The water was too hot, so he poured it back and forth between two cups, repeatedly, until it cooled. He blew on it, tested the temperature himself, and then carefully brought it to my lips. “Slowly, drink slowly…” His eyes held nothing but anxious concern. During that time my career hit rock bottom. My boss was making things difficult, my proposals were rejected again and again. I’d come home late, exhausted, and collapse onto the hallway rug. He always heard me, always came over in silence. He never asked why. He just quietly knelt down and opened his arms. I’d bury my head deep in his embrace, like a lost ship finally finding its safe harbor. He would simply hold me gently. His embrace held a quiet power, shielding me from every storm. Even when my check-up revealed blocked fallopian tubes, meaning I couldn’t conceive naturally. He just held me tight and said, “Don’t be silly! I’d be jealous, a kid would just steal your love from me!” I even felt guilty for his boundless acceptance, believing I owed him a complete family and should repay him with boundless love and devotion. But who would have thought… One person could wear so many masks. Behind that gentle affection lay such repulsive filth. He hadn’t just betrayed his vows. He had casually, brutally, shattered everything we had built together, my genuine heart, my unwavering trust!

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The night before my wedding, I was scrolling through TikTok when a video popped up. The location? My fiancée’s apartment complex. “One last night as lovers, then we’ll be the closest strangers.” I opened the caption, and my entire world imploded. “At 18, sponsored by my adoptive parents, I became her nominal brother.” “At 23, we burned with passion, and she cried out, lost in pleasure beneath me, so beautiful as she begged for more.” “At 24, she bore me a son. I thought we’d have a happy family.” “But fate, with a cruel twist of its pen, dictates she’s marrying someone else tomorrow.” “My love, the mother of my child, I wish you a happy wedding.” In the video, the blurry child’s hand wore a distinctive thick gold chain. It was the high-end custom bracelet, engraved with his initials, that I had personally given to my fiancée’s nephew, Leo. “Dude, how could you post something so messed up? You put this out there on purpose, hoping the groom would see it, right?” “OMG, my eyes are burning! Is this something a normal person would say?” “Bump this! Get the groom to see it, he needs to run! If he marries into this family, he’ll be dealing with baby mama drama and a secret family for life.” Staring at the familiar gold chain, the familiar address, even the familiar shape of the child. I swallowed the shock churning in my gut. I just couldn’t believe something like this was Chloe Miller, my girlfriend of five years. I screenshotted the video and immediately dropped it into our family WhatsApp group. “Was the gold chain I gave Leo stolen?” Less than a minute later, the video’s privacy settings changed; it was no longer viewable. Chloe quickly responded. “No way! He loves it, never takes it off.” “What video? Why are you still up so late? We have the wedding tomorrow, stop scrolling and get some rest.” A chill crept through me. I didn’t reply. That disgusting phrase, “one last night as lovers,” echoed in my head. Right then, I initiated a group FaceTime call. “Chloe, Liam, pick up the phone. I need to talk to you.” The next second, Mrs. Miller, who always played dumb and stayed hidden in group chats, sent a message. “What’s going on? Calling so late? Can’t it wait till tomorrow? Liam’s exhausted from groomsman duties, he’s already asleep.” Chloe quickly followed. “Yeah, tomorrow we’ll be legally married. Why call when we can see each other every day after that?” “Plus, you know we have this tradition, a superstition that the bride and groom shouldn’t see each other the night before the wedding, it brings bad luck.” Mr. and Mrs. Miller chimed in, echoing her words. I frowned, my voice unwavering. “If you don’t pick up in one minute, the wedding is off.” The group chat instantly fell silent. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, rushed into my room. “Ryan, you’re not joking, are you? What on earth is going on?” I recounted the entire video content. My parents’ expressions instantly turned grim. “No way, really? Could it be a coincidence?” I looked at them, my resolve firm. “I don’t believe in coincidences like this. If this isn’t cleared up, I’m not marrying her!” Soon, the group chat exploded. “What does this mean? He’s canceling the wedding over some random video?” “Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, you be the judge! Does the world revolve around him? He’s canceling the wedding over a minor disagreement? Is that reasonable?” My dad glanced at me. “Traditions don’t matter as much as whether someone is trustworthy! If they’re truly committed! My son has his reasons, and we support him.” At his words, the group chat seemed to go quiet, as if suddenly guilty. A minute later, the FaceTime call connected. Chloe and Liam were in their separate bedrooms, in their own beds. “Ryan, I was going to take Leo home, but Mrs. Miller said it was too late, so I just stayed here. Don’t get the wrong idea.” Her words made it sound like I was being unreasonable. I didn’t say anything, just noticed that Leo, who usually never left his dad’s side, was sleeping next to Chloe. I couldn’t ignore any suspicious detail. “Why isn’t Leo sleeping with Liam?” Chloe’s eyes, still red-rimmed, paused. “He probably just misses me.” Just then, Leo seemed to stir, startled by my voice, and rolled into Chloe’s embrace. As he shifted, a sheer pair of boxer briefs, half-hidden beneath him, became visible.

My heart plummeted. I’d seen Liam wearing an identical pair when he tried on his groomsman’s suit last time. “Wait, Ryan, don’t misunderstand…” As she stammered, I quickly took a screenshot and sent it to the group chat. “There’s a clear distinction between genders. Aren’t you worried about misunderstandings if you’re so careless?” Soon, Liam’s voice, hoarse and low, cut in. “I’m so sorry, Ryan… The main bathroom pipe broke, so I just used Chloe’s bathroom to shower. I might have forgotten to pick them up.” “Don’t get the wrong idea, it was just this once. It won’t happen again.” “I forgot, I actually washed it with their clothes this afternoon. It was probably an oversight when I was putting things away.” “It might have even hung on Leo’s clothes hook and accidentally got carried over. It’s nothing serious, really!” Three different explanations for one item. The more they explained, the guiltier they sounded. I couldn’t help but remember that Chloe had undergone a vaginal rejuvenation surgery. My fists clenched. “Alright. Then I want to see a DNA paternity test for Chloe and Leo. We’ll get married when the results are in.” Silence again filled the group chat. But almost immediately, Mrs. Miller’s message popped up. “Hey, what exactly do you mean by this? First the gold chain, then a video late at night, and now you want a DNA test? Are we even getting married tomorrow? You’re pushing it too far, acting like our feelings don’t matter!” Through the audio message, I could faintly hear suppressed sobs. Chloe disconnected the FaceTime and called me directly. “What do you want? We’re getting married tomorrow, why are you acting crazy? They already explained it, it was an accident with the laundry! Is it really that big of a deal?” I took a deep breath, steadying my voice. “We’ve moved past that. I’m talking about the paternity test now. Chloe, if you have nothing to hide, take Leo for the test. Otherwise, this wedding is off tomorrow.” A few seconds of silence on the other end. Her voice was helpless. “I have nothing to hide, but Leo just fell asleep. And it’s so late, where can we even go for a test? What if he throws a tantrum? Please, just listen. We’ll get married tomorrow, and I’ll take him for the test right after, okay?” She was trying to appease me, just like she always did. But a cold dread spread through me. “Do you know that when you’re guilty, you’ll accept anything, no matter how outrageous?” “You haven’t once asked why I’m asking you for a DNA test with a child who’s supposedly your adoptive brother’s. A normal person would find such a request absurd. Only you find it normal. What does that tell you?” She was silent for a while. The next instant, Leo started crying. Mrs. Miller’s angry voice came through the phone. “This is a disaster! This son-in-law hasn’t even entered the family and he’s already tearing our home apart! Liam may be a sponsored child, but I’ve raised him as my own!” “Chloe! Is this the good son-in-law you found me?! Insulting family like this, are you trying to kill us with anger?!” Chloe sighed. “Ryan, you can mess with me all you want, but please don’t mess with my parents. They have to get up early tomorrow.” “And I told you, Liam was tricked into raising a child that wasn’t his when he was younger.” “Stop fighting, go get some rest.” She hung up. I pulled on my clothes and headed straight for the Miller house. I wouldn’t find peace until this was cleared up. My mom looked at me hesitantly. “Ryan, are you really sure? The video’s gone, what if they manipulate us? Her mom is already difficult, and now…” I shook my head. “I trust my gut.” When the three of us arrived at the Miller house, it was in chaos. Liam was wailing hysterically. “I should just die! Why did I ever come back? Why was I soft-hearted enough to take in this child and be misunderstood like this?!” Mrs. Miller glared at me, annoyed. “Are you determined to cause trouble? You’ve come to our house now. Do you just want to see us fall apart?”

I looked at them calmly. “I’m not causing trouble. My demands are simple: First, I want to see Liam’s phone gallery and any hidden videos on his social media. Second, I want Chloe and Leo to get a DNA test right now. If these two things aren’t resolved, I will not get married.” They stared at me in shock. Chloe frowned. “It’s one thing to fight on the phone, but to come to my house and cause a scene? Do you think it’s appropriate to keep my family up all night with your drama?” Before I could speak, Liam knelt on the floor and handed me his phone. “Ryan, you can look all you want. I really don’t know what you’re talking about with that video! Are you misunderstanding something?” “I don’t know why you’d misunderstand me, or Leo, but he’s truly just a child I was tricked into taking in. Do I really have to rip open old wounds for you to believe me?” I ignored him, opening his phone. His social media profile showed no activity and no hidden drafts. A flicker of doubt rose within me. But when I clicked on his photo gallery and saw it was completely empty, even the recently deleted folder, I knew he’d tampered with it. Meeting his feigned innocent eyes, I let out a light laugh and tossed the phone onto the floor. “What does this prove? Phones can be faked, who knows if you deleted everything beforehand. I only believe what I see with my own eyes and my first instinct!” His face was pale, his eyes downcast. “I’m sorry, Ryan. I shouldn’t have mixed my clothes with theirs. I shouldn’t have forgotten my place as an outsider.” “But there’s nothing going on between us! If you think it’s inappropriate for me to have a child and be here, if you don’t want to see me, I can leave. I promise after tomorrow, I’ll never bother you again!” “Please, don’t insult me like this. I’m begging you!” Mrs. Miller immediately sat on the floor, hugging Liam and Leo, and burst into tears. “This is a tragedy, a tragedy! If you leave, I’ll leave too!” “He’s so arrogant now, who knows what life will be like after they’re married! I might as well just leave too, so I won’t be despised!” Mr. Miller’s face was ashen, clutching his chest, gasping for air. “This is the kind of person you picked, Chloe! Our whole family is in a mess! Causing such a scene the day before the wedding, where do we put our faces? He looked at the phone, what more does he want?!” Chloe looked exhausted. “Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, he’s being childish and making a fuss, but why are you two going along with it?” My dad’s expression was serious. “Whether it’s a fuss or not, you just do what my son says. If he truly is making a fuss, I’ll discipline him and give you a satisfactory explanation.” “But my son is always sensible and reasonable. He wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t serious. Besides, that video had your family’s location.” “The bracelet on the child’s hand was a gift my son custom-made for Leo for the engagement. He’s three years old this year. Liam is twenty-seven, and he’s your sponsored child. If you’re innocent and have nothing to hide, then openly go get that test done!” At his words, the entire family’s faces darkened. Liam’s eyes welled up with tears. He hugged the child tightly and abruptly rushed to the balcony, his voice trembling with despair: “Fine! Since you see us as a stain on this family, since you can’t tolerate us… then I’ll take Leo and go! We’ll disappear completely, just as you wish!” Chloe’s face instantly went ashen, her voice shaking: “Liam! Calm down! Bring Leo back, it’s too dangerous up there!” “We’d rather die to prove our innocence than let our presence jeopardize your marriage with Chloe!” Leo cried hysterically. “Grandma, Grandpa, I’m scared!” Chloe’s eyes immediately turned red, her body trembling. “No, no! Liam, don’t be crazy. Bring Leo down quickly, it’s too cold up there, don’t scare Leo. Can you let me handle this?” Liam gritted his teeth and pushed open the balcony safety screen. “Mr. Miller, Mrs. Miller , I’m so sorry. It’s my fault for being so foolish and soft-hearted, becoming a stain in Ryan’s mind. I’m willing to die to ensure their marriage is happy.” “I’m just sorry I can’t repay your kindness in this life. I’ll repay you well in the next!”

With that, he extended one foot outside the window. The biting cold wind made the child cry ceaselessly. Mrs. Miller rushed forward, grabbing his leg. Mr. Miller seized the opportunity to pull the child back inside. “No! No one can kick you out of this house! You didn’t do anything wrong, why should you sacrifice yourself? We don’t need a son-in-law who’s so aggressive anyway!” “Liam, your adoptive mom can’t live without you, can’t live without Leo. Don’t be impulsive, I’ll stand up for you. Come down now, don’t let Leo catch a cold!” The group clung to each other, unwilling to let go. Liam looked at me sheepishly. “But if Ryan doesn’t want me, then I still don’t want to live!” Before he could finish, a resounding slap landed on my face. After a moment of dizziness, I saw Chloe’s furious, bloodshot eyes. “Ryan! When did you become so unreasonable? These are two human lives, are you really going to make them pay with their lives for your baseless suspicions?!” In our five years of dating, this was the first time she had ever laid a hand on me. My dad, furious, moved to strike back, but I held him off. I gritted my teeth, looking at her coldly. “Chloe, remember that slap. You’re going to regret it.” After a moment of surprise, a flicker of guilt crossed her eyes, and she reached for my hand. “Ryan, I…” I dodged her grasp and strode towards Leo. In his frightened gaze, I carefully removed the gold chain. “Since you’re being so evasive, the wedding is canceled. I’ll return the dowry in full. You can inform your own relatives.” With that, we turned and left. My dad shot her a scathing look. Downstairs, my mom looked conflicted. “Ryan, are you really canceling the wedding?” I looked at the bracelet in my hand, its design almost perfectly matching the video screenshot, and nodded. “Mom, I can’t accept someone who’s constantly lying.” I had asked Chloe for a strand of Leo’s hair to be woven into the chain when it was custom-made. That strand of hair was still inside the bracelet. Getting a DNA test from it would confirm everything. Back home, I dug out the “lovers’ knot” bracelet Chloe had given me years ago, woven with her own hair. Back then, she’d said she’d shield me from harm and weather any storm. I swallowed the bitterness, taking both strands of hair to the hospital that very night, arranging for an expedited DNA paternity test. An hour later, staring at the result showing 99% certainty, I felt as if I’d plunged into an ice-cold abyss. My parents were equally disbelieving. “That damn Chloe, she actually… she actually had another man’s child!” “This is a disaster! Why did this have to happen to us?!” Seeing my parents’ grief, I suppressed the ache in my chest. Cutting my losses now was what mattered most. I posted on Ins about our “relationship issues” and the “wedding cancellation.” As expected, my phone was bombarded with inquiries. Then my phone rang. It was Ashley Smith, my childhood friend. “The invitations are out, the venue’s booked. And you’re just canceling it like that?” “You can be reckless, you can do what you want, but what about Mr. and Mrs. Hayes? They’re old enough, do they have to clean up your mess? What will all those relatives think of them?” I choked back a sob. “What do you mean? Are you kicking me while I’m down too?” She had never approved of Chloe, always feeling that Liam had ulterior motives and that their dynamic was strange. I’d thought she was being a little harsh and hadn’t paid much attention. It turned out she was right. She sighed. “No, what I mean is, don’t cancel the wedding. And don’t let your parents become a laughingstock.” “We’ll switch brides. I’ll stand by you and put on a respectable show.”

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I was the Sterling family’s true heiress. But when Briar, the girl they raised as their own, and I were kidnapped, and they could only redeem one of us… My parents, who swore they’d never play favorites, didn’t hesitate for a second. They chose Briar. Even Julian, my fiancé, who’d vowed eternal love, made the exact same choice. Five years later, Lysander Thorne, the long-lost heir to a powerful international conglomerate, was photographed at the airport. My slightly weary figure, holding my child, was also captured, making headlines. Someone immediately recognized me as Elara, the true heiress of the Sterling family, who was supposedly murdered by kidnappers five years ago. Before the Thorne family’s evening gala, my parents saw me. The moment we met, my father, Richard, slapped me across the face. “Elara, I can’t believe you’d stoop so low as to get pregnant by a kidnapper just to save your own life. How utterly disgusting.” My mother, Victoria, wiped away tears, accusing me, “You’re a Sterling. Even if you were forced, you shouldn’t have given birth to a bastard child. It’s utterly disgraceful!” Briar, the fake heiress, pretended to intervene, “Richard, Victoria, don’t talk about Elara like that. She was just trying to survive. But Elara, you really shouldn’t have brought that mongrel back.” Julian, my ex-fiancé, sneered, “Good thing I married Briar later. I couldn’t be with a woman like you, utterly devoid of dignity.” But seeing Briar holding a child who looked nothing like Julian, all I felt was bitter irony. When I didn’t respond, my parents finally looked at me with condescending pity. “As long as you get rid of that illegitimate child, we can take you back and you can be a Sterling heiress again.” Later, as my son and I were being tormented, a dark, low voice echoed from behind us. “Who are you calling a bastard child?” They all spun around, and when they saw who it was, their faces drained of all color.

“This is our final concession. We hope you’ll think carefully.” Victoria had just finished speaking when Richard cut her off. “Think carefully about what? Why would you throw away a perfectly good life as a Sterling heiress to work as a servant and raise an illegitimate child? We can’t afford that kind of shame.” “Elara, quit your job right now, come home with us, and cut ties with that bastard. We can’t afford this embarrassment. If people find out the Sterling heiress is working as a servant, where do you think that leaves our reputation?” I smirked inwardly. How did they figure out I was a servant? I glanced down at myself. My clothes were dark gray, the fabric looked plain, and I was holding a platter of sliced fruit. It certainly made it easy for them to misunderstand. But that was only because Leo had been begging for the fresh peaches from the backyard, and I, seeing it was still early for the gala, hadn’t changed into my dress yet. I’d just thrown on some casual clothes to go pick the peaches. Who knew I’d run into them all? Dressed in their exquisite evening wear, they must be here for the gala, which is why they assumed I was a servant. I coldly dodged Richard’s outstretched hand. I looked him straight in the eye, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “The Sterling heiress? If I recall correctly, in front of the kidnappers all those years ago, you explicitly stated that the Sterling family only had one heiress: Briar.” That painful memory instantly flooded back—when the kidnappers ordered them to choose only one of us, they hadn’t hesitated for a second. Victoria had cried to the kidnappers, “Let our Briar go! She’s the Sterling family’s only daughter, our future hope!” Richard’s face flashed with a hint of guilt, as if recalling his words from back then. He was about to speak, but Briar cut him off. Briar looked at me with a pained expression. “Elara, don’t throw a tantrum about what happened back then. We’re here today at the Thorne’s gala for their grandson, hoping to secure an important partnership. If they find out you’re working as a servant in their home, what will they think of Richard and Victoria?” “You should quit quickly, before they find out. Otherwise, if you prevent our cooperation, you’ll ruin the Sterling family.” “And that bastard child of yours, while not many people know, you should send him away immediately. Otherwise, it’s the Sterling family’s reputation that will suffer.” I sneered, looking at her with mockery. “I won’t send my son away. Because he’s not a bastard child.”

Because he was the guest of honor at tonight’s gala: Leo Thorne’s welcome party, the only son of Lysander Thorne, heir to the international conglomerate. Mr Thorne had initially thought his son, Lysander, had died in a shipwreck and had been heartbroken and despondent for a long time. Now, not only had his son returned, but he also had a grandson. He couldn’t be happier. He’d give Leo the moon and the stars. Just one day after his return, Mr Thorne had already transferred fifty percent of his assets to Leo. Now, if he were to find out that someone called his grandson a bastard child, I doubt they’d ever be allowed into the Thorne mansion again, let alone dream of any cooperation. Julian sneered, “A child of yours and those thugs, what else would it be but a bastard?” “Elara, we saw the news reports. That child looks at least four years old. You were kidnapped five years ago. Whose child could it be if not the kidnapper’s?” “Now, come back with us immediately. Stop making a scene. We might still throw you a bone. Otherwise, don’t blame us for being rude.” With that, he roughly grabbed my arm. The platter in my hand clattered to the ground, and the freshly picked peaches were ruined. These were the two freshly ripe peaches from the tree, Leo had been talking about eating them since last night. Enraged, I forcefully pushed Julian away. “Enough! Stop calling him a bastard. My son has a name. He’s called…” Smack! Richard slapped me again. “I knew you were trying to deliberately cause a scene here, didn’t I?” “News of your return is already out. Everyone’s talking about you. The gala hasn’t officially started, not many people have seen you yet. Come home with me right now. Otherwise, once more people arrive, do you want us to become their laughingstock?” I clutched my stinging face, staring at Richard in disbelief. This was the second time he’d slapped me today. He wanted to take me away, not because he cared for me, but because he thought I was an embarrassment. My eyes burning red, I looked at him. “I’m not leaving. And this is the Thorne estate. You can’t take me away.” Seeing my defiance, Richard’s chest heaved with anger. He grabbed my arm and started dragging me towards the gate. “We’ll see about that! I won’t let you stay here and disgrace us, no matter what.” I struggled fiercely. “You have no right to take me! Let go immediately, or I’ll scream for help!” Looking at the empty backyard, I suddenly remembered that my husband and I didn’t like too many staff around, so the servants weren’t present before the banquet. Julian also came over to help Richard drag me. “Enough! Stop struggling, or we won’t be so polite.” Briar, her eyes red, pretended to console me. “I know you resent Richard and Victoria for choosing me, Elara. That’s why you’re being so rebellious and embarrassing them.” “If you just listen to Richard and Victoria this once, don’t work as a servant here, and send that bastard away when you get home, I’ll even leave the Sterling family and let you have Richard and Victoria all to yourself.” Victoria, looking heartbroken, pulled Briar into a hug. “Briar, what are you saying? Richard and I have raised you for so many years. You are our most beloved child. No one can make you leave us.” Briar shot me a triumphant smirk. I was already being dragged out of the mansion, about to be forcefully shoved into a car. Just then, an angry shout came from behind. “What are you doing? Let go of my mom!”

It was Leo. He must have come looking for me since I’d been gone so long. He rushed over, pushing fiercely against Julian. “Let go of my mom! If my dad finds out, he’ll never forgive you!” Julian’s eyes flashed with disdain. He lifted his foot and shoved Leo hard, sending him sprawling to the ground. Leo’s elbow scraped against the concrete, immediately leaving two red marks. My heart ached as I tried to run to him. “Leo!” “Mommy, my arm hurts so bad!” Leo sat on the ground, his eyes red, looking at me. But my arms were restrained by Richard and Julian. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t break free. Tears streamed down my face as I watched Leo. “Do you know who Leo’s dad is…” “Shut up!” Victoria glared at me fiercely. “Still shouting? Afraid people won’t know he’s a bastard? “His father is an animal! Why are you still yelling? What, can he come help you? “If he dares to show up, I’ll make sure he never leaves!” Just as I was about to be shoved back into the car, Leo, crying, started punching Richard. “Let go of Mommy! Don’t take Mommy away! Or I’ll tell Grandpa!” Richard’s eyes turned cold. I screamed at Leo, “Leo, watch out!” But it was too late. Richard kicked Leo, sending him flying to the ground. “No!” Leo’s forehead hit the hard concrete path, and blood immediately started to flow. Richard scoffed, spitting on the ground. “What a piece of trash, daring to touch me!” “First ‘Daddy,’ now ‘Grandpa’? What, are your whole family a bunch of kidnappers and thugs? Do you think I’m scared of them? Let them come, I’ll kill them all!” Leo sobbed indignantly, yelling, “My Grandpa isn’t a kidnapper or a thug! You’re trying to steal Mommy, you’re the bad guys!” “I’ll tell Grandpa to have them all locked up!” “How dare you curse my grandfather, you little mongrel! I’ll beat you to death!” Briar’s son, Cody, rushed out, straddled Leo, and started punching and kicking him. “No!” I screamed, then used all my strength to break free and lunged towards Leo. Cody was pushed away and fell to the ground, instantly crying loudly in pain. I hugged Leo tightly. Seeing his tender, pale face bruised and swollen, my heart shattered. “I’m so sorry, Leo. Mommy didn’t protect you well.” “Mommy will take you home to Daddy, okay?” “Mm-hmm.” Leo nodded tearfully. “Let’s tell Daddy, and he’ll deal with these bad guys.” I picked up Leo and started to leave, but they blocked me. Briar, eyes red, looked hurt. “Elara, how could you hit Cody? Look, his hand is all red from falling.” I looked at the small red mark and couldn’t help but sneer. “Did you not see him hitting Leo just now? All the bruises on Leo’s face are from him!” Victoria pointed at me, yelling, “How can you compare your bastard to Cody? Cody is our precious darling! Yours is just an illegitimate child!” Julian spoke up, “Exactly! You laid hands on my son, you’ll have to pay the price!” I held my son, looking at him. “And how do you intend to make me pay?” “Kneel down and apologize to my son right now, or don’t blame us for being impolite!” Cody’s eyes gleamed with malicious joy. “Yeah! And I want that bastard to kneel and kowtow to me, and let me ride him like a horse!”

“What?!” I looked at them in disbelief. “You want me to kneel and apologize to him, and make my son let him ride him like a horse? You people wouldn’t live long enough for that.” Briar put on a weak, fainting act. “Elara, I only asked for an apology, but you’re cursing my son and Julian’s. That’s too much!” I looked at her with a half-smile. “Briar, he might be your son, but is he really Julian’s?” A flicker of guilt crossed Briar’s eyes, then she slapped me across the face. “Elara, you’re going too far! I know you resent me for replacing you and marrying Julian, but we didn’t know you’d ever return back then. You can’t just make up lies because of that!” “Julian, you have to believe me! Cody is our son!” Julian put his arm around her, looking heartbroken. “Of course I believe you. Don’t worry, I’ll make her apologize to our son right now.” Then Julian walked towards me coldly. “Are you going to kneel down yourself, or should I help you?” I tried to run, but he grabbed me. He tried to snatch Leo from my arms, but I held on tight. But Richard and Victoria joined in. Richard kicked the back of my knee, and I stumbled, almost falling. Leo was then easily snatched away by Julian. He squeezed Leo’s neck. “Are you going to kneel or not?” Leo’s small face turned deathly pale, but he still shook his head at me. “Mommy, don’t kneel! Leo isn’t scared!” Terrified, I collapsed to my knees with a thud, begging them. “Please, let go of Leo! He’s not a kidnapper’s child, he’s…” Smack! Briar reached out and slapped me. “Elara, I didn’t want to hit you, but you’re slandering my name. I have to teach you a lesson!” She slapped me a dozen times before stopping. My cheeks burned with agonizing pain. I looked at her coldly. “You’ll regret this. My husband is…” Before I could finish, Richard grabbed my hair, forcing my head down to hit the ground. “Still daring to use your low-life husband to threaten us? You’re going to bow to Cody now until he’s satisfied!” I resisted stubbornly, refusing to bow, so he threatened me, “If you don’t bow, don’t blame me for being rough with that illegitimate child of yours!” Leo’s cries continued. I instantly lost all strength to resist, and Richard forced my head down, making me hit the ground repeatedly. I don’t know how many times. He only stopped when the ground was stained red with my blood, and blood flowed continuously from my forehead. “I told you not to spout nonsense. This is your lesson!” I felt the world spinning, and Richard flung me aside like a piece of rotten meat, sending me sprawling to the ground. “Mommy!” Cody cried, trying to help me, but Julian held him down firmly. “You little bastard, you haven’t given my son a ride yet!” Leo, eyes red, screamed, “I won’t! You’re not allowed to do this to me! I’ll tell Grandpa to come save me!” “No! Let Leo go!” I weakly crawled on the ground. Briar stepped on my hand, grinding her heel into it. “You little mongrel, if you don’t let my son ride you like a horse, I’ll teach your mom a lesson!” “I will!” Leo immediately knelt on the ground. “I will! Please, let my mom go!” “Haha, I didn’t realize you two had such a touching mother-son bond!” Leo knelt on the ground, carrying Cody, crawling around in circles. Cody punched him on the head, but Leo didn’t dare to resist. My heart was breaking. “When you see his father, you’ll regret this!” “Hmph, just a bastard. Why would I be scared of a bastard’s dad?” Just then, a dark, low voice echoed from behind us. “Who are you calling a bastard child?” They all spun around, and when they saw who it was, their faces drained of all color.

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My brother called me to his school, and his serious tone totally freaked me out. I rushed to his teacher’s office, only to find him, his teacher, and the female student I’d unexpectedly helped last semester, all sitting inside. The girl, clutching her slightly bulging belly, dropped to her knees in front of me, right there in front of the teacher. Tears streamed down her face. “Honey, I know this unplanned pregnancy is a lot to handle, but you can’t just abandon me and our baby because of it!” She reached out, trying to grab my shirt, but I sharply stepped back, turning to leave. Her cries behind me were absolutely gut-wrenching: “How can you be so heartless?! If I’d known you’d just use me and then forget about it, I never would’ve gone to that hotel with you!” The teacher shot me a look of pure resentment: “Look, being young is no excuse, young man. A guy needs to step up and take responsibility!” A crowd of onlookers was gathering outside the door, their whispers and disdainful stares practically drowning me. In the middle of all this chaos, my brother, Alex, leaned against the wall and casually chimed in: “Hey, sis, aren’t you going to stick around and see your unborn child?”

At his words, Brittany’s tears fell even harder. “Honey…” She gazed at me mournfully, her voice choked with grievance, “Even your brother admits this baby is yours. Why can’t you just accept it?” Alex, caught off guard, stumbled over his words, quickly interjecting: “Wait! Is there a chance I just called her ‘sis’?” “Alex, do you think I’m deaf?!” Brittany shot up, her fingers trembling as she pointed at me, her voice catching: “Ever since I got pregnant, you’ve been calling him ‘brother’ in front of me!” “You two brothers are ganging up to lie to me. How long do you plan to keep this up?!” I stared, shocked, at Alex, who was in the corner with his hands clasped together, his eyes practically screaming: *Hayden, I was just messing with her to embarrass her! I didn’t mean to screw you over!* “I’m pregnant and unmarried; my reputation is ruined… I just want the baby’s father to take responsibility, is that so wrong?” Brittany gently stroked her belly, looking at me with tear-filled eyes: “Hayden Hayes, my mom always says bald men are the most heartless… I didn’t believe her, but you’ve disappointed me so much!” *What the hell is with ‘bald men’?!* Okay, yeah, I’m 5’11”, and my voice is pretty low. But seriously, come on! If you’re going to scam someone for money, at least make sure you’ve got my gender right! *I’m a woman!* I touched my prickly, recently shaved head, feeling like snowflakes were suddenly drifting outside the summer window. If I’d known this was going to happen today, I never would’ve taken her to the hospital when she passed out from period cramps! “Brittany, you’ve seriously got this wrong. I shaved my head just to keep cool, actually, I’m—” “Enough!” Mr. Thompson sharply cut me off. “I know you’re young and scared of responsibility! But Brittany is a girl; she’s paying a much bigger price! And you just dismiss everything with a ‘misunderstanding’?” He looked at me, still trying to argue, with a disappointed expression: “Look at you. You don’t look like a man at all!” *Exactly!* *Where do I look like a man?!* “Teacher, I’m really a—” “That’s it!” He waved his hand, cutting me off again: “Call your parents, now!” He paused, then continued: “Brittany’s parents are divorced, and her family situation is special. It would be best to have your parents come discuss the baby’s situation first!” As soon as Mr. Thompson finished speaking, Brittany lunged at me: “Honey! I have no one else in this world! If you abandon me and our baby too, I won’t be able to live!” “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” I frantically waved my hands, backing away in a panic: “Don’t call me honey, I…” “I know!” Brittany cut me off, her voice choked: “You’re mad that I didn’t use protection and got pregnant, but I promise, if you just acknowledge me and the baby, I’ll listen to everything you say from now on!” At the same time, the crowd of onlookers outside erupted: “Holy crap! My fists are clenching! What kind of man gets his girlfriend pregnant and then tries to run?!” “Look at his shaved head, you just *know* he’s bad news! Scumbag!” “Record this! Record this! He needs to go viral on campus feeds! Let the whole school judge him!” “You guys, seriously! I caught a live scumbag right outside the teacher’s office! Drop a Super Chat, and I’ll go in and film for everyone!” Phone cameras, like black muzzles, aimed straight at me. Alex clearly hadn’t expected things to escalate this much. He stepped in front of me, his forehead veins throbbing with anger: “What the hell are you filming?! This is my sister—”

But the mockery and slander didn’t stop; they only intensified: “Alright, stop making stuff up! You two brothers are both bad news!” “These days, scumbags have seriously deep schemes. Girls, remember this if you ever scroll past it!” In less than an hour, I, who had done absolutely nothing, became the target of online hate. I stopped Alex from trying to defend me and looked at Brittany, who appeared so fragile and easily victimized. *Okay, so you want to sling mud, huh?* *We’ll see who ends up standing clean in front of everyone!* I looked at Brittany, still sobbing, and curved my lips into a slight smirk: “What evidence do you have to prove that the baby in your belly is mine?” The crowd instantly quieted. Those holding phones to livestream instinctively pointed their cameras at Brittany, awaiting her answer. A flicker of panic crossed Brittany’s face, but it was quickly masked by an even more torrential flow of tears: “Evidence? You’re asking me for evidence? That night at the hotel… you, you mean you’ve forgotten everything?” “Which hotel? Which night?” I asked calmly, as if discussing the weather. “What was the room number? Where’s the booking record? Or…” My gaze swept down to her abdomen: “Can you produce anything that proves I had physical contact with you? Anything that proves I have a biological connection to the child in your belly?” A trace of embarrassment flushed Brittany’s face: “How can you ask me to talk about something like that? Isn’t the baby the best proof?” Mr. Thompson frowned, seeming to think my questions were a bit much. “Hayden, this is getting out of hand! How could Brittany, a girl, produce specific evidence for such intimate matters?” “Can’t produce it?” I raised an eyebrow, my voice suddenly louder, sweeping my gaze over the cameras at the door: “So, you’re saying it’s all based on her word? Whoever she *says* the father is, *is* the father?” “Then today, could I stand here and point to any male student, or even to *you*, and say the baby is yours?” “You’re talking nonsense!” Mr. Thompson was furious. I scoffed, finally letting my anger show: “Teacher! Before you accuse me of being out of line, why don’t you consider this: based solely on her unilateral accusation, with no substantial evidence, you’re forcing me to take responsibility for her. Is that fair to me?” No sooner had I spoken than Brittany’s voice rang out again: “You want evidence? Fine!” She pulled out her phone and displayed several screenshots: “This is the movie ticket you bought for us, this is the receipt from the dinner you treated me to, and this… this is the record from the first time we stayed in a room together…” She paused, lowering her voice, but it was loud enough for everyone present to hear: “The baby in my belly was conceived the third time we stayed in a room. Honey, are you still going to deny it now?” *No wonder she kept asking me out after that first meeting—she’d been planning to frame me all along!* I glanced at those so-called “evidence” pieces, a cold smirk playing on my lips: “A few questionable tickets and receipts, plus a record that could easily be Photoshopped. And you think you can make a fool out of me? Not cool!” “Oh my god! This guy is disgusting! Didn’t he ask for evidence? Now that she has it, he denies it!” “Jerk, he’s clearly just trying to shirk responsibility!” Hearing the public opinion overwhelmingly against me, Brittany’s tears welled up again: “Honey, how can you slander me like this?!” “I know our families are very different, and you think I’m not good enough for you, but the baby is innocent!”

Mr. Thompson, even more disgusted, stepped directly in front of Brittany, his voice filled with disappointment: “Brittany is a young woman; would she really stake her innocence and reputation to falsely accuse you?!” He shook his head sorrowfully, as if looking at a lost cause, a degenerate youth beyond saving: “I initially thought you were just young and afraid of responsibility, but now, it seems you have a serious character issue! You can’t tell right from wrong, you twist facts and deny reality! No school would tolerate a student like you!” He took a deep breath, seemingly making a firm decision: “This matter is severe. It’s no longer just a private emotional dispute, but a serious violation of school rules and regulations that harms the school’s reputation! You must immediately and sincerely apologize to Brittany and fulfill your responsibilities as a man! Otherwise, I will contact your university’s leadership, and you will face serious consequences, up to expulsion!” Behind Mr. Thompson, Brittany flashed a triumphant smirk. She tugged at the teacher’s sleeve, speaking softly: “Mr. Thompson, please don’t! Hayden is just confused right now. I believe he’s not bad at heart… As long as he acknowledges me and the baby, I don’t need his apology!” This display of understanding instantly won over everyone’s sympathy, indirectly nailing me to the wall as a heartless jerk. Online discussions were spiraling out of control. Seeing the worried look in Alex’s eyes, I knew that simply stating I was a woman wouldn’t work anymore. More and more people would jump on the bandwagon, believing it was just an excuse to escape responsibility. If that happened, I wouldn’t just fail to prove my innocence; my gender and orientation might become public gossip. I took a deep breath, deciding to escalate the situation even further. Turning to the nearest camera, I spoke softly: “Fellow students, netizens, what’s happening here is not only unexpected but utterly absurd.” I paused, my gaze sweeping over the varied expressions of the crowd: “But now, I know any feeble defense seems powerless in the face of so-called evidence and a victim. In that case, I am willing to use a more scientific, more direct method to prove my innocence.” I looked at Brittany, my gaze calm but with an undeniable pressure: “Brittany, since neither of us can convince the other, let’s go to the hospital. Now, immediately, in front of everyone, let’s get a prenatal paternity test. Let science tell us whether I am, in fact, the father of the child in your belly.” Brittany’s face instantly went ashen, and she refused almost immediately: “No… no way!” This sudden refusal was too abrupt, instantly drawing everyone’s attention, even Mr. Thompson looked at her, confused. I pressed on: “Why not? Isn’t this the most definitive way to prove who’s lying? Brittany, you’re feeling guilty!” Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Brittany’s gaze darted around, and her fingers instinctively twisted the hem of her clothes. Soon, she seemed to make up her mind: “Fine, let’s go! Hayden Hayes, you’re forcing my hand! If… if the test results come back proving the baby is yours, you *must* take full responsibility for me and the child! In front of everyone, admit your wrongdoing!” Her reaction was somewhat unexpected, but that momentary guilt didn’t seem faked. I scoffed internally, readily agreeing. And so, a farce moved from the teacher’s office to the city’s most authoritative testing center. News spread like wildfire, attracting not only students from the school but also several sharp-nosed media outlets and some local big influencers, who packed the hospital corridor. No one wanted to miss the first-hand scoop on this story.

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