Author: Momo Chan

Eight months pregnant, I accidentally discovered my Alpha husband Coran was cheating on me with my sister Mira, who had come to take care of me. When I caught them, his tone was flat: “You found out? Actually, I’ve been sleeping with her since your third month of pregnancy. These past few months, I’ve been taking her to hotels every night… Who told you to never let me touch you during your pregnancy?” I couldn’t help but raise my hand and slap him across the face. “You bastard! She’s my sister!” Mira dropped to her knees in front of me, tears streaming down her face. “Rowenna, don’t blame Coran. I was the one who started it…” My brain buzzed, and my body swayed. Coran caught me in his arms. I dodged his hands. “Why?” Mira bit her lip, struggling to speak. “I’ve always had feelings for him…” I slapped her across the face. Coran shielded her behind him, his eyes cold as ice: “I’m a man, and I have needs. Isn’t this arrangement better? She’s your sister—we’re all family. Would you rather I cheated with some stranger?”

I stood frozen in place, my throat feeling like it was stuffed with cotton. Coran sighed helplessly and gently wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. “Rowenna, it’s just your pregnancy hormones making you overthink everything. Don’t get so upset—it’s bad for the baby.” The familiar features before me suddenly seemed like a stranger’s. So he did remember I was still pregnant. Mira scrambled up and headed to the kitchen, her legs still trembling as she walked. “Rowenna, what would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you…” Their concerned expressions made me feel like everything that just happened was a dream. “When did it start?” Coran frowned slightly. “January 25th. That day you went for your prenatal checkup and asked Mira to bring me some documents. I couldn’t control myself…” The bright red hickeys on his neck stung my eyes. The baby in my belly kicked me again. My back hurt so much I couldn’t straighten up, and tears fell in heavy drops onto the floor. So it was that day. I had taken a taxi to the hospital alone, waited in line, got my number, went through the checkup. I asked Coran if he could come with me, but he said he had work matters at the pack that needed his attention. I asked my sister if she could help me, but she said after delivering the documents, a friend needed her help. My legs were swollen during pregnancy, and someone bumped into me at the hospital. I almost had a miscarriage. The two people closest to me were locked in passion on his office desk. And I kept making excuses for him, thinking he was just too busy. I never imagined he was busy in my own sister’s bed. It turned out I was the only fool. Coran suddenly crouched down and rubbed my legs. “If you hadn’t found out, you wouldn’t be sad. Wouldn’t it be better to just keep playing dumb?” “Every time we had sex, we deliberately chose hotels far from home so the mate bond wouldn’t affect you and make you uncomfortable.” My stomach churned, and I kicked him hard in the chest. “Coran, you disgust me!” He took advantage of the momentum to help me onto the couch. “If this makes you feel better, you can kick me a few more times.” As I struggled, my hand touched something on the couch. I lifted it to see—a pair of torn stockings. The blood in my body seemed to turn ice cold. Coran looked like he wanted to say something but stopped. Mira walked out carrying soup, saw what was in my hand, and her face went white. She rushed forward to explain in a panic. “Rowenna, it’s not what you think…” Coran calmly took the stockings, his tone casual. “No need to make such a fuss. Yesterday you said you were going back to your mother’s house and wouldn’t be home that night. That evening I tried something new with your sister on the couch. Not only that, we also went to the bedroom and had sex on your marriage bed. I have to say, it was pretty thrilling.” Tears blurred my vision. I suddenly stood up and rushed into the bathroom, vomiting violently. Outside the door came Mira’s worried voice. “Rowenna, are you okay? Coran’s just talking nonsense. Don’t get upset. Your health is most important—you still have a baby inside you.” The nausea only deepened. I looked at my swollen belly in despair. Why did it have to be at eight months? Why did it have to be Mira? Since childhood, I’d given in to her in everything. When her fated mate died, I stayed by her side through the night, constantly comforting her. She said my house was closer to her university, so I let her move into the villa I shared with Coran. The jewelry and luxury goods on her body—I bought them all for her. I opened the door and stared at Mira. “Haven’t I been good enough to you?” Mira ingratiatingly handed me a bowl of soup, her tone cautious. “Rowenna, please eat something. After you eat, we can talk, okay?” I knocked the soup bowl from her hands. The scalding liquid splashed on the back of her hand, turning it bright red. “I don’t need your fake kindness!” Mira’s eyes instantly reddened. “Rowenna, how can you say that about me!” Coran’s face darkened, glaring at me with displeasure. “If you’re angry, take it out on me. Mira’s just concerned about you. Do you have to make such a big deal out of nothing?” He rubbed his temples while gently wiping Mira’s tears. “See? I told you we couldn’t let Rowenna find out. Your parents were right—Rowenna’s temper is just difficult. If she knows, this household will be turned upside down.” Mira looked at me with tears in the corners of her eyes, her face full of grievance. I felt like I was choking. Since childhood, she’d always been like this. “I’m taking Mira to the hospital. You stay home and reflect on yourself!” He slammed the door so hard it shook. I slumped powerlessly into a chair, but soon a strange smell came from the kitchen. They’d left in such a hurry they hadn’t even turned off the gas… I struggled to move my body to open the door, only to discover that Coran had broken the lock when he slammed it. I desperately called Coran. Call after call, all rejected. Until the last one—he answered, his voice impatient. “Can you stop being so paranoid? Because of you, Mira cried herself hoarse, keep asking if Rowenna really hates her. She really cares about you.” I dragged my heavy pregnant belly, my whole body weak and powerless. “Coran, I…” “I’m busy comforting Mira. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.” The phone went dead with a beeping sound. The smell of gas had almost filled the entire house. I finally felt despair. Coran, I won’t love you anymore.

When I woke up, my mom was lying by my bedside. Overcome with grievance and fear, I instinctively hugged her, my voice choked. “Mom…” “Coran cheated on me.” My mom interrupted my tearful complaint. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand. “It’s such a small thing. Do you really need to act like you want to die? What man doesn’t cheat?” I became emotional. “But the person he cheated with is…” Her tone was calm. “I know.” I looked up in disbelief at my mother’s murky eyes. No guilt whatsoever, only dissatisfaction with me. I grabbed my mother’s arm, my voice hoarse with emotion. “You know? You knew and you still…” “Your husband is an Alpha. His work is stressful and he needs an outlet. As his wife, you don’t understand him—fine.” “Outsiders cost money. Your sister is clean. Isn’t it good that she’s sharing the burden for you? What do you have to make a fuss about?” Her mouth opened and closed, every word scolding me for being unreasonable. My mind went blank. Even though I’d long known her favoritism had no bounds. Even though I’d long known Mira was the apple of her eye. I still couldn’t understand. I broke down, screaming and questioning her. I thought she could at least show some concern for me, but instead she said, “When I gave birth to you, my body was ruined because of you. You’ve been ungrateful since childhood, always fighting with Mira over things. Now you even want to fight with Mira over a man!” My fingernails almost drew blood. My father was the previous Beta of Bronzefang pack. He died when I was young in a Rogue attack. I was still immersed in the pain of losing my father when my mom came up and slapped me twice across the face, pointing at me and cursing: “I knew it—you’re nothing but bad luck! It wasn’t enough that you ruined my body when you were born. Now you’ve brought your curse to your father, making him die so young!” Later, when I was eighteen, I became the fated mate of Coran, an Alpha. After we married, I became the pack’s Luna. I thought my mom would stop calling me bad luck. I thought my mom would finally like me. But it turned out she’d always hoped it would be Mira who married Coran and became Luna. My phone buzzed with a notification—one of my special alerts. Mira had updated her social media: “Feeling down. Coran rented out the entire Ferris wheel just for me.” I was lying in the hospital from gas poisoning. My husband was accompanying my sister to the newest Western restaurant, taking her to the amusement park, riding the Ferris wheel with her. “If you can’t keep your Alpha’s heart, who can you blame?” My mother’s flippant mockery made my red, swollen eyes look especially ridiculous. When Coran and Mira came back, I was still in the hospital waiting to give birth. “Rowenna, I’m so sorry. I forgot to turn off the gas when I was cooking. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have…” Mira cried pitifully, but I didn’t even bother to look at her. She cried harder. “Coran, is Rowenna mad at me? I’m so stupid—I can’t even handle such a small thing.” Coran comforted her gently. “It’s not your fault.” He looked at me, seemingly displeased with my attitude. “Rowenna, Mira is apologizing to you. Are you deaf?” I suddenly felt like laughing, but tears fell against my will. Coran realized his tone was too harsh and softened it. He pulled out two stuffed animals. “I know this scared you. I asked the doctor—you and the baby are fine. Mira is still young. She even brought you the stuffed animals you like.” The gemstone necklace on Mira’s neck was blindingly conspicuous. It was the wedding gift I’d asked Coran for over a year. To this day, my neck remained empty. Did I only deserve these cheap dolls? I bit my lip almost hard enough to draw blood. “In what capacity are you speaking for Mira? Brother-in-law? Lover?” Coran’s expression gradually darkened. He let out a cold laugh. “No wonder your mom doesn’t like you.” “Mira is sunny and cheerful, unlike you—petty, narrow-minded. If I were your mom, I would also…” I looked up in disbelief. Coran’s eyes showed panic. “That’s not what I meant…” For as long as I could remember, my mom hadn’t liked me. Even when there were two chicken drumsticks, she’d give both to Mira. When I was little, every friend I made would be drawn to Mira and become her friend instead. Every night in the quiet darkness, I hated myself for not being as likable as Mira. It was Coran’s appearance that told me even if I wasn’t perfect, he would always stand by my side. But now, even he was standing on Mira’s side. My tears flowed like an opened faucet, uncontrollable. I broke down, grabbing things and throwing them at him. “Get out! Just get out!” Over the next few days, probably out of guilt, Coran and Mira came to the hospital to see me every other day. Baby diapers and wipes, all kinds of pregnancy nutrition meals—an endless stream. “Rowenna, didn’t you say before that you really liked this necklace? I bought it specially for you.” The necklace I’d wanted for so long was placed in my palm by Coran, but it felt cold all the way to my heart. One year and three months. He knew I liked it, but never thought to buy it for me. I lifted my head and finally said the words I’d been holding in my heart.

“Let’s get divorced.” We spoke at the same time. I looked up in shock, only to see Coran’s face light up with joy. “That’s great! Rowenna, you know?” Confusion flashed across my face. Coran had already pulled out divorce papers. “This is the divorce agreement. If everything looks good, just sign it.” “After all, we as a married couple owe Mira. I’ll marry her, and you’ll give up your Luna position to her so she can participate in pack affairs as Luna. Consider it compensation.” “Don’t worry, we won’t break the mate bond. You’ll still technically be my wife. I’ll take care of you anyway. Being a housewife from now on isn’t bad.” By the time I finished signing, I finally processed what Coran had said. “Coran, do you remember what you promised me?” Coran paused, seemingly trying to recall. Clearly, he’d forgotten. When I spent two years trying to conceive, drinking countless potions from witches and taking countless fertility shots before finally having this child, he’d promised me, “You’ve sacrificed so much for me. I’ll make sure you become the most respected and happiest Luna among all the packs.” Now he wanted a divorce and to make Mira the new Luna. The door opened and Mira walked in. “Rowenna, are you feeling better?” Coran warned me with his eyes not to say anything. I smiled with tears in my eyes. “How can I be better with a bitch like you around? Seducing my husband wasn’t enough—now you want to steal my Luna position. Mira, you’re shameless beyond belief.” Her face went white as a sheet. Tears fell like broken pearls. Coran’s face darkened. “Rowenna!” “Am I wrong? She’s barely in her twenties and already knows how to climb into her own brother-in-law’s bed! Isn’t that slutty?” I raised my voice. People around us looked at her with mockery. Coran pulled her into his arms and sneered at me. “Who’s more slutty than you? At eighteen, you went to a bar and someone drugged you with an aphrodisiac. I took you to the hospital, but you refused treatment and insisted on having sex with me in the woods…” Contemptuous ridicule echoed around us. My face went from pale to red. I lunged at him in fury. Mira suddenly blocked his path and took the slap. “Rowenna, if you’re going to blame someone, blame me. Everything is my fault. Coran already works so hard.” “Rowenna, what’s wrong with you!” Pain flashed in Coran’s eyes as he pushed me away roughly. My belly hit the corner of the table hard. Blood spread beneath me. Coran shouted for a doctor in shock. Mira cried and hit Coran. “Rowenna, I didn’t mean to. Please don’t let anything happen to you…” Coran watched with tears as I was wheeled into the operating room. In the darkness, surgical clamps spread me open—a tearing pain. I cried my heart out. My life flashed before my eyes like a panorama. It was eighteen-year-old Coran on the grass, fingers intertwined with mine. “Rowenna, I’ll treat you well for a lifetime.” A lifetime—it turned out to only be seven years…

The baby was born premature and went into an incubator. Coran gripped my hand guiltily, his eyes red. “Rowenna, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to push you. When this summer ends, I’ll make Mira leave our house.” I turned to the side, tears flowing silently. After being discharged, Coran locked me in the house. He even hid my phone. The first day, they only brought three meals. I held my newborn baby and cried inconsolably. The second day, I smashed everything in the room and cut my hand. The third day, Coran finally came to see me. I broke down and demanded to know why he wouldn’t even give me the right to move freely. He frowned as he bandaged my hand, his expression helpless. “You’re too emotional right now. I’m afraid you’ll go out and ruin Mira’s reputation. She’s still a young woman. We can’t let your temper destroy her life, can we?” Mira beside him gave me a sympathetic look. “Rowenna, don’t worry. I’ll definitely be a good Luna for Bronzefang pack. I’ll help maintain your friendships too.” My heart felt like a piece of flesh had been carved out. I looked disheveled, my face bloodless. “Coran, what gives you the right to let someone else replace my life! Is this what you call love?” Coran froze for a moment, his patience exhausted. “When you learn how to be a gracious mother, I’ll naturally let you out.” He wanted me to learn to be a gracious mother while stripping away my marriage, my work, my freedom. Meanwhile, Mira enjoyed everything that should have been mine under his protection. I covered my face, laughing until tears streamed down. The baby beside me suddenly began wailing. I touched the child’s burning forehead, my heart twisting with pain. “Coran, let me out! Jack has a fever!” I pounded on the door hysterically, my nails leaving bloody scratches. The crying finally brought Coran. He frowned. “What are you making a fuss about now?” I begged without dignity. “Coran, please look at Jack. He’s your son! He could really die!” Hesitation and conflict flashed in his eyes. “But…” My mother suddenly entered. She glanced once and said flatly, “Making a big deal out of nothing. You had fevers when you were little too. Some fever medicine will be fine. You’re making such a scene—could it be because… today Mira is giving her speech as the new Luna? You wouldn’t be trying to sabotage her work, would you?” Coran’s expression instantly darkened. “Rowenna, enough is enough. When did you become so unreasonable? Using even your son as an excuse.” I laughed until my whole body shook. “I’m unreasonable?” He looked puzzled. “Mira is your sister. Why can she accept all this, but you can’t?” It was as if my breakdown and helplessness were trivial in Coran’s eyes. He took a phone call, a smile spreading across his face as he strode away. “Mom, Mira’s speech is about to start. Let’s go.” I looked at the child in my arms, his face flushed red. As if I couldn’t feel pain, I desperately kicked down the door. But I was covered in blood. Drivers who passed by didn’t dare let me in their cars. When I finally got a ride, I realized Coran had confiscated my phone, and I had no bank cards or cash—no way to pay. The driver kicked me out. By the time a kind person took me to the hospital, the doctor shook his head helplessly. “Why didn’t you bring him sooner? The child was already premature. You’re too careless as a mother.” Holding my child’s cold body as I returned home, my heart dead as ashes, I lit a fire. In the flames, the roar of a helicopter was particularly harsh. A figure slowly walked toward me… “I’m sorry. I came too late.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “394220”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I was working late when my smart home app pinged me. Someone had opened the front door. Only Emily and I had registered fingerprints. Emily was three months pregnant. Worried something had happened to her, I opened the live feed. I was about to call the police. But what I saw stopped me cold. She was naked from the waist up, her pregnant belly showing. She was on top of her childhood friend, moving up and down. “Tristan, be gentle. I’m carrying your child.” My heart sank. She had told me the baby was mine. I pulled up every security video from the past few months. They had been having sex all over the house while I worked overtime. I downloaded everything. Tomorrow was our wedding anniversary. At the party, I would give them a gift they’d never forget. Ethan’s POV Emily was three months pregnant. We were supposed to announce the baby at our first anniversary party. The party was at our house. She had picked the house herself. The day she got the keys, she told me this would be our home. Just the two of us. No one would ever take my place. But before the party even started, Emily invited another man to sit at the head table. Years ago, Tristan took a blow meant for Emily. His right hand was permanently injured. His arranged engagement fell apart because of it. The Hayes family felt they owed him. They’d been carrying that debt for years. All the way to today. Now Emily’s unborn child already had someone trying to claim a place for him. Emily’s mother, Linda, spoke first. “Ethan, Tristan isn’t a stranger. If it weren’t for him back then, Emily would be dead. When the child has birthdays in the future, surely he can at least sit at the family table?” Another person piled on. “You’re about to be a father. Be more generous. Tristan doesn’t want any title. He just wants to feel included.” I sat beside Emily, my fingers slowly tightening. Tristan kept his head down, his voice soft. “Forget it. Don’t make things difficult for Ethan. The child is his and Emily’s. What right do I have to interfere?” The moment he said that, the table went even quieter. Linda’s eyes reddened. “You’re too understanding. That’s why people keep taking advantage of you.” “Ethan wouldn’t be that petty, would he?” “Tristan’s hand is ruined. What’s wrong with letting him be close to the child?” Every sentence was a blow to my face. I’d been afraid of scenes like this since I was a child. Even when something was clearly mine, as long as someone else cried harder, I had to give it up. But Emily stood up. She was wearing a formal dress, her belly not yet prominent, her voice steady. “The child is Ethan’s and mine. This house is Ethan’s and mine. The Hayes family owes Tristan, and I’ll repay that debt. If his right hand needs treatment, I’ll pay for it. If he has no one to take care of him, I’ll arrange for someone. But his name won’t be written into the child’s trust, and he won’t have access to our house.” Everyone at the table froze. Linda’s face darkened. “Emily, don’t forget who he became like this for.” “I haven’t forgotten.” Emily looked at Tristan. “That’s why I’ll compensate him. But I won’t use my husband to do it.” I looked up at her. In that moment, I truly believed Emily still remembered what she had said. The day our house was completed, she placed the keys in my palm. “From now on,” she said, “no outsiders. No relatives staying over. No one rearranging your things.” I had said, “Not even your savior?” Emily had smiled and answered, “No one.” I believed her. Before the party, Linda called Emily away to change her dress. I went to the study alone. In the study drawer was an anniversary ring with the date of our house’s completion engraved on the inside. I had planned to put the ring back on Emily’s finger after we announced the baby. But the computer was on. A security footage backup file sat alone on the desktop, labeled with the date of the night I had been on a business trip. The home security system had been installed after Emily got pregnant. It only recorded the door access and hallway. I had never checked it before. Now that backup file sat right in the center of the screen. I clicked it open. At one in the morning, Tristan used the access code to open our front door, as naturally as if he were coming home. He walked straight toward the master bedroom. A few minutes later, Emily appeared in the hallway. She didn’t call the housekeeper. She didn’t stop him. The master bedroom door opened, then closed. The camera couldn’t capture inside the room, but Tristan didn’t come out all night. Just before dawn, the master bedroom door finally opened. Tristan came out first, with Emily following behind. They stood at the end of the hallway talking. Tristan laughed softly. “After the child is born, surely he can’t be the only one the kid calls ‘Dad,’ right?” Emily’s voice was tight. “Don’t make a scene tonight. Don’t provoke Ethan at the party.” “You know better than anyone how this child came to be.” Emily didn’t argue. She only said, “Remember what you promised me.” Applause suddenly erupted from downstairs. The host was calling for us. “Please welcome Mr. Hayes and Miss Emily to the stage. There’s good news to announce tonight!” I stared at the master bedroom door on the screen. The anniversary ring in my hand dropped onto the desk with a soft clink.

Ethan’s POV By the time I came downstairs, the lights in the banquet hall were blindingly bright. Emily was waiting for me at the side of the stage. Seeing my expression, she reached out to steady me. “Ethan, are you feeling unwell?” I looked at her belly, then at Tristan standing behind her. Tristan was holding a glass of wine, also looking at me. His face was clean, as if he hadn’t entered the master bedroom last night at all. The host invited us onto the stage. Emily took my arm and faced the room full of friends and family, her voice gentle. “Tonight, there’s also some good news. I’m three months pregnant.” Applause immediately filled the room. Linda smiled with red-rimmed eyes. The Hayes family applauded while urging me to say a few words. Emily continued, “This child is the greatest gift of Ethan’s and my marriage.” She spoke so calmly. You’d never know about the security footage. Never guess about the words in the hallway. “You know better than anyone how this child came to be.” Tristan raised his glass with a smile. “Emily, Ethan, congratulations.” Everyone was looking at me, waiting for me to say I was going to be a father. Emily’s fingers pressed lightly against my arm. I took the microphone and only said, “Tonight is indeed very important.” I handed the microphone back. The atmosphere stiffened for a moment. Emily quickly smiled and covered for me. “That’s just how Ethan is. The happier he is, the less he can say.” The room laughed again. No one knew my hands had already gone cold and stiff. The party continued. Family members gathered around Emily. Some asked who would accompany her to the next checkup, others said the nursery should be changed to the south-facing room, and some were already calculating who would wait at the hospital when the baby was born. Emily answered everything smoothly. I stood nearby, and with every sentence I heard, I thought of Tristan’s words: “He can’t be the only one the kid calls ‘Dad.’” I went to the terrace. I had just stopped when Tristan came over with a glass of wine. “Ethan, congratulations.” Tristan’s voice was very low. “But why didn’t you bring out the anniversary ring tonight? I saw it in the study.” I turned to look at him. Tristan smiled slightly, his gaze falling on Emily’s belly inside the banquet hall. “That ring is quite a pity. But what Emily should be wearing tonight might not be something you gave her.” He paused, his smile deepening. “Something from the child’s real father would be more appropriate.” My grip on the wine glass tightened sharply. But Tristan stepped back. “Don’t be angry. There are too many people here tonight. If you make a scene, the one who’ll be embarrassed is Emily, and the child. You wouldn’t want the child to be called dirty before it’s even born, would you?” I set my wine glass down on the terrace edge. The base struck the stone surface with a crisp sound. After the party ended, Linda brought a trust document for the child to me. “Ethan, sign this. It specifies which school the child will attend, where they’ll live, which funds will be used for medical care. Everything’s written out in advance so there’s no confusion later.” I opened the document. Tristan’s name was written clearly in the “Long-term Care Participant” section. I stared at those words and let out a short laugh. Linda frowned. “What are you laughing at?” I ignored her and looked at Emily instead. “Did you know about this?” Emily paused for a second. That second was enough. She said, “I knew, but this doesn’t affect your status as the father.” I pushed the document in front of her. “Status as the father?” Emily’s expression changed slightly. The Hayes family immediately chimed in. “Tristan was ruined back then for Emily’s sake. Now, before the child is even born, you’re already shutting him out. Isn’t that inappropriate?” Tristan sat to one side and said quietly, “Forget it. Emily, don’t argue because of me. I shouldn’t have asked for these things in the first place.” Linda’s heart ached even more. “Look how understanding he is.” Emily reached out to take my hand. “Ethan, you can take your time reviewing the document. Tristan won’t take anything away from you. He just needs to be accepted by this family.” I pulled my hand back. I closed the document without signing. “I’m tired.” With that, I turned and went upstairs. I stopped at the master bedroom door. This used to be the place where I felt most at ease. Emily had refused to let relatives stay over, and she had refused to let the elders come in and redecorate. She said the master bedroom belonged only to the two of us. Now the door was closed, but all I could see was the image of Tristan walking out of it in the early morning. Emily came after me, softening her voice. “Ethan, you’re being too sensitive tonight. Tristan won’t affect us, and he won’t affect the child calling you Dad.” Every sentence she spoke avoided the question of how the child came to be. I asked, “Does Tristan come to our house often?” Emily’s eyes flickered. “Occasionally.” She said, “His right hand isn’t convenient. My mother worries he’ll have an accident alone, so sometimes she has him come over for a meal or rest in the guest room for a while.” “The guest room?” “Yes, just the guest room.” Emily immediately responded, “Don’t make it sound so ugly.” I looked at her for a long time. If it weren’t for that security footage, I might have actually believed her. I turned and entered the guest room. The moment the door closed, I opened my phone and saved the security backup, the trust document, and the access log pages. Outside the window, Tristan still hadn’t left. He stood at the gate, looking up at the second floor. Through the darkness, he slowly raised his glass toward where I was.

Ethan’s POV The next morning, I didn’t go to Emily to argue. I sat in the study and pulled up the house access log. Tristan had come more than once. Emily said he only occasionally came for a meal and rested in the guest room for a while. But the times in the access log were all chosen for when I was on business trips, working overtime, or not coming home at night. Several times, Tristan entered late at night and didn’t leave until dawn. The access permissions had been opened by Emily herself. I stared at those lines of records and suddenly felt that Emily’s act of covering for me at the main table last night was like an even louder slap in the face. She wasn’t unaware that Tristan had long since stepped into this home. She just wanted to placate me in front of everyone first. At noon, Emily came to the study. She was holding a revised trust document, her tone very low. “I had it revised. Tristan won’t touch the child’s money and won’t make decisions for the child. He’s just participating.” I didn’t take it. “Why does it have to include him?” Emily pressed her lips together. “Ethan, if it weren’t for him back then, I might already be dead. His right hand still can’t function normally, and his engagement fell through. He could have had a good life, but he became like this because of me.” “So?” “I can’t just give him money.” Emily’s voice grew even lower. “He’s not a servant, and he’s not a stranger. I have to make him feel that all these years of suffering weren’t for nothing.” I looked at her. “Then give him a Hayes family house, give him your shares, give him the car and staff under your name.” Emily’s face went pale. I pushed the document back. “Don’t use my child and my house to compensate him.” When Emily heard “my child,” her eyes clearly stiffened. She quickly suppressed it. “Ethan, don’t say that.” She reached out to touch me. “I won’t let you be wronged.” I looked down at that hand. In last night’s footage, it was this hand that had pushed open the master bedroom door. I moved away. Emily’s expression finally darkened. “Then take a few days to calm down.” She left with the document. That evening, Tristan appeared outside the gate. When the housekeeper came in to report, Emily was sitting in the living room. She went downstairs and saw Tristan standing in the wind, his right hand hanging down, his face pale, yet he wouldn’t step inside. Tristan smiled first. “I won’t go in. I don’t want Ethan to see me and think I’m stealing his home.” Emily immediately frowned. “What are you doing standing outside? Come in first.” Tristan shook his head. “Forget it. I won’t come to the house anymore, and I won’t bring up the child again. No one likes having an outsider in their home. I understand.” The word “outsider” had just fallen when I happened to reach the stairway. Emily turned and saw me, her eyes first showing panic, then turning to reproach. As if I had truly driven a pitiful man to stand outside the door. I didn’t speak, nor did I invite Tristan in. Tristan laughed softly and turned to leave. Emily took two steps after him, then stopped. She turned back to look at me. “Did you have to push him to this point?” I stood on the stairs and asked calmly, “Did I close the door?” Emily was blocked. But after that night, calls from the Hayes family came one after another. Some cursed me for being cold-blooded, some said Tristan was understanding enough already, and others said that before the child was even born, I had already made the household restless. I didn’t argue with any of them. I just recorded all the calls and put them in the same folder. The next day, the trust signing was still scheduled. The Hayes family didn’t cancel it, and they even called Tristan. As soon as Tristan entered, he apologized to me first. “Ethan, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put Emily in a difficult position, and I shouldn’t have caused the child to be gossiped about before it’s even born.” His words sounded like a concession. Every word pinned me as the oppressor. Linda immediately looked at me. “Tristan has already said this much. You should at least give him some face.” Emily also looked at me. “The document can be revised later, but don’t make today too awkward for everyone.” I opened the document but didn’t sign. “The trust is suspended. We’ll discuss it after the child is born.” The room instantly went cold. Tristan lowered his head and laughed. The next second, he clutched his right hand, his face going white. Emily was the first to rush over and support him. The Hayes family also gathered around. No one looked at the trust document still sitting on the table. I stood in place, watching Emily tightly support Tristan. Tristan leaned on her and looked up at me. In that gaze, there wasn’t a trace of concession.

Ethan’s POV The trust signing ended just like that. Tristan clutched his right hand while Emily helped him sit down and had the housekeeper bring medicine. The Hayes family surrounded him, all asking about his injury with their mouths while their eyes stabbed at me. Linda was barely containing her anger. “Ethan, did you have to push him on a day like this? Don’t you know who his hand was ruined for?” Tristan immediately spoke. “Don’t blame him. I shouldn’t have come.” The more lightly he spoke, the more the people in the room thought I was cruel. Emily supported Tristan and looked up at me. “Let’s not talk about the trust today. Tristan’s hand hurts so much. Are you going to continue?” I looked at her protective posture and didn’t argue anymore. I gathered up the documents. “That’s it.” When Emily left with Tristan, she didn’t look at me. I returned to the study and reopened the access log. Every time Tristan entered late at night, the source of the permission was crystal clear. Emily had opened it. I saved those pages of records, then placed last night’s security backup beside them. Not long after, there was a knock on the study door. Emily pushed the door open. Seeing the access log on the computer screen, her face changed immediately. I asked, “How many times has Tristan actually come to our house?” Emily was silent for a few seconds. “His right hand isn’t convenient. Sometimes the pain is so bad he can’t sleep. I just let him rest in the guest room.” I clicked on one particular night. “This night, he entered at one in the morning and left at six.” Emily glanced at it and averted her eyes. “That night he was in very bad condition. I took care of him until very late.” “What about the night in the master bedroom?” Emily completely froze. She didn’t ask how I knew, and she didn’t deny it. She only lowered her voice. “I’m pregnant now. I can’t be stressed. Ethan, can we wait until after the child is born to discuss some things?” I laughed. “After the child is born, will Tristan be able to move in smoothly?” “I never thought of letting him replace you!” Emily was agitated. “He was ruined for me back then. Now seeing me with a child, it’s normal for his emotions to spiral.” “His emotions spiraled, so you gave him access to the master bedroom?” Emily’s eyes reddened instantly. She seemed finally pushed to her limit, and her voice grew cold. “You know exactly what I feel most guilty about. Why do you keep tearing it open again and again? I’m caught between you and Tristan. Can’t you be understanding just once?” I didn’t respond. I stood up and opened the study door. “You should rest.” Emily stood at the door and looked at me for a long time. For the first time, I didn’t follow along with her guilt. That night, Tristan suddenly moved out of the residence the Hayes family had arranged for him. He didn’t take much, only leaving behind a note. It was very brief. He said he didn’t want to put Emily in a difficult position anymore, and he didn’t want the child to be caught between adults before it was even born. He wouldn’t participate in the child’s trust, wouldn’t enter our house, and wouldn’t disturb me anymore. Linda saw the note soon after. Her eyes immediately turned red. “Tristan has suffered enough, and now even this bit of hope has been taken from him.” Emily’s first reaction was to call Tristan. No one answered. A few minutes later, Tristan sent a location. An old apartment. That was the place where he had lived during rehabilitation after his accident. Emily grabbed her coat and headed for the door. I stood at the stairway. “You’re pregnant. Going out late at night isn’t safe.” Emily paused, as if thinking I had finally relented. I continued, “I’ll have the driver take you. But Tristan’s house access won’t be restored.” The softening on Emily’s face vanished instantly. She left with anger. An hour later, Tristan sent me a video. In the video, Tristan sat in the living room with medicine beside his right hand. He wasn’t crying, only smiling bitterly. “Emily, I didn’t save you back then to be humiliated like this today.” Emily stood at the door, her chest feeling pressed. Tristan looked up at her. “Ethan can’t tolerate me. I accept that. But after the child is born, will I have to ask his permission even to look at the baby once?” Emily was silent for a long time. Finally, she said, “I’ll handle the access issue.” Tristan lowered his head. “Don’t fight with him because of me.” Emily didn’t say anything more. In the study, my computer displayed a notification. Someone was requesting to restore Tristan’s access.

Ethan’s POV When Emily returned home, she went straight to the study. I was still sitting at the computer. She said directly, “Restore Tristan’s access.” I looked up at her. Emily, as if afraid I’d misunderstand, immediately added, “Only to the guest room and first floor. He won’t enter the master bedroom.” I looked at her. “Do you think the problem is just whether he can enter the master bedroom?” Emily’s face tightened. “His right hand isn’t convenient. When the old injury flares up, he can’t even hold a cup. The access is just a precaution. If something really happens, at least someone will see.” “Then have him stay at a hospital.” “Ethan Hayes!” Emily’s voice dropped. “He became like this because of me. When he’s at his most humiliated, I can’t shut the door on him.” I suddenly laughed. “Then who will shut the door for me, your husband?” Emily was blocked by this statement. Soon, her face went cold again. “You’re making this too dirty, and you’re making me out to be too despicable.” I didn’t say anything more. Right in front of her, I clicked “reject.” A system notification popped up. Emily glanced at it and turned to leave. The next day at noon, Tristan’s friend called. Last night, Tristan’s old injury had flared up. He had tried to get to the hospital by himself, fell halfway there, and was sent to emergency. The caller didn’t directly curse me, but every sentence revolved around that door I had closed. “He used to live at the Hayes place where at least someone could look after him. Now living alone outside, in so much pain, he didn’t even dare to trouble Emily.” By the time Emily and I got to the hospital, the Hayes family was already there. Tristan lay in the hospital bed, his right hand re-immobilized. Seeing her, he smiled first. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. This has nothing to do with Ethan.” Linda’s eyes immediately reddened. “You’re still speaking up for him? If he hadn’t closed the access and forced you out, would you have ended up falling in the street alone in the middle of the night?” Emily stood by the bed and didn’t explain for me. Everyone looked at me. Linda struck first. “Are you satisfied now? Tristan is lying here, and you’ve finally vented your anger?” Tristan tried to sit up. “Stop it. It really wasn’t Ethan’s fault.” As soon as he moved, his face went white. Emily immediately pressed him back down. “Don’t move.” Tristan kept his head down. While she adjusted his blanket, he glanced at me. That glance was light but precise. Linda pointed at me. “Apologize.” I didn’t move. Emily looked up at me, exhaustion filling her eyes. “Tristan has already backed down this much. Even if you’re uncomfortable, you shouldn’t have pushed him to the point of getting hurt.” I asked, “Have you already decided this was my fault?” Emily was silent for a few seconds. “You closed the access. He also moved out because he couldn’t get into the house.” I looked at her and said nothing more. I turned and left the hospital room. That same day, I had someone pull the surveillance footage from near the old apartment and the hospital. The footage was quickly delivered to me. When Tristan left his place, his steps were steady, and his right hand wasn’t in uncontrollable pain. After arriving near the hospital, he deliberately went to a stairwell. Where he fell avoided vital areas but was just enough to reopen the old injury. I saved the video. That evening, I returned home. Emily was sitting in the living room waiting for me. Her first words were, “Tomorrow, go to the hospital and apologize to Tristan. And restore his access.” I placed the video on the table. Seeing Tristan walk toward the stairs himself, Emily’s expression shifted for a moment. I said, “Whether this was an accident or not, see for yourself.” Emily was silent for a long time, but finally said, “Even if his emotions spiraled, it’s related to your rejection these past few days. He’s already been pushed to the point where he can only prove his pain this way. Are you really going to keep provoking him?” I suddenly understood. Evidence was useless now. Emily could see it. She just wanted to blame every one of Tristan’s breakdowns on me. Emily softened her voice. “I’ll go with you tomorrow. The access doesn’t have to be restored yet, but at least give him an explanation.” I looked at her for a long time. Finally, I said, “Fine. I’ll go tomorrow.” Emily thought I had finally relented. I went upstairs to the study and sent a message to my lawyer. Move up the departure arrangements by one day.

Ethan’s POV The next day, I went to the hospital. Emily was already in the room. Tristan was leaning against the headboard, his right hand immobilized. Seeing me, he spoke first. “Ethan, I’m sorry. Whether it’s the access or the trust, I’ve made things difficult for Emily.” I didn’t respond. Emily looked at me, waiting for the apology I’d agreed to last night. Seeing my silence, Tristan said quietly, “I won’t enter the house anymore, and I won’t get involved with the child. After the baby is born, I’ll just look from a distance.” When he mentioned the child, his gaze fell on Emily’s belly. That look was too familiar. Like he was looking at something already his. Emily saw it but didn’t stop him. I asked, “Whose child are you really looking at?” The room went silent instantly. Tristan lowered his head. “I know I’m not qualified to mention the child. It’s only natural for Ethan to mind.” Emily immediately frowned. “Ethan Hayes, this is a hospital. Tristan just had an accident. Don’t provoke him again.” I looked at her. “Asking whose child it is counts as provoking him?” Emily’s face went white. “Don’t say things like that here. Family and doctors are outside. If someone overhears, it’s bad for the child.” What she protected first was still appearances. Tristan spoke at the right moment. “Emily, maybe I should leave. I’ll leave San Diego. After the child is born, I won’t disturb you anymore.” Emily immediately turned to him. “Don’t say that again.” I stood where I was, watching her rush to keep Tristan. That apology no longer needed to be said. Soon, the Hayes family entered the room. Hearing that Tristan wanted to leave, Linda was the first to object. “Your right hand is like this, and you still want to live alone somewhere?” Another person pushed the conversation straight to Emily. “Doesn’t the house have a guest room? Let Tristan stay for a few days. Once his injury stabilizes, we’ll talk.” I looked at Emily. Emily didn’t immediately refuse. She only said, “Ethan hasn’t been in a good mood lately. If Tristan moves in, there might be conflict.” Linda sneered. “As long as he doesn’t make a fuss, what conflict could there be?” Tristan shook his head. “Stop it. I don’t want to disturb Emily anymore.” But the more he said he didn’t want to, the more others wanted it for him. Emily finally looked at me. “It’s just the guest room. Tristan can stay a few days while he recovers, and I can make sure his hand is okay.” Just the guest room. Those words were like old nails being driven into my heart again. I remembered when I was young, every time relatives came to stay, my parents said the same thing. Just let them have one room. Just a few days. Just be understanding. I asked Emily, “Do you still remember why we originally didn’t let anyone stay at our house?” Emily froze. Back then, when someone from the Hayes family wanted to stay over, she had personally stopped it. She said our house wasn’t a place for people to crash temporarily. Now, she had trampled those words herself. Emily was silent for a long time, then her voice lowered. “The situation is different. Tristan isn’t like other people. He’s suffered because of me.” I asked, “So?””A guest room, an access card, a spot on the child’s trust. After this, will there be even more ‘just this’?” Emily’s eyes reddened. “Why do you insist on seeing everything as someone taking from you? I’m pregnant, I have to deal with Tristan’s old injury, I’m already exhausted. Can’t you just trust me once?” I didn’t look at Tristan anymore. I only looked at Emily. “Do you really want me to give in?” Emily avoided my gaze. “Consider it me begging you.” The hospital room went quiet. I looked down at her belly, then at Tristan’s immobilized right hand. Finally, I said, “I understand.” After leaving the hospital, I went straight back to the house. I didn’t enter the master bedroom. I went to the study. The lawyer sent a confirmation message. The house disposal had begun, and the withdrawal from the child’s trust signature was also in process. I placed the anniversary ring on top of the divorce papers. Next to them was the access permission cancellation confirmation. Emily’s and Tristan’s permissions would both be deactivated tonight. I organized all the evidence and sent it to the lawyer for safekeeping. That evening, Emily sent me a message. “Tristan is coming back to stay in the guest room tonight. Try not to be cold to him.” I didn’t reply. I dragged my suitcase out of the house. The housekeeper came after me. “Mr. Hayes, do you need a car prepared?” I only said, “Don’t touch anything in the study. When Emily returns, let her see for herself.” A few hours later, I sat in the law office. The lawyer placed the materials in front of me. “The surveillance footage, access logs, videos before and after Tristan’s fall, recordings of the family pressuring you, and the unilateral commitment Miss Hayes just signed. Everything’s here.” I paused briefly when I heard “unilateral commitment.” The lawyer said, “Once this document takes effect, the child’s trust and everything involving Tristan will be separated from your name.” I nodded. “Keep going.” The lawyer asked, “Do you still want to leave any instructions here in the old city?” I turned off my phone, stood up, and walked out. “Everything worth seeing is in the study. There’s nothing to explain.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “394219”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I was once the person Ethan loved most. Because I saved his life. Because he owed me that life. My brother Sebastian died in that accident, pushing both of us to safety. Then they reopened the case. Changed the ruling. Sebastian’s rescue choice killed Ethan’s sister. Vivian was the real savior. From that day on, Ethan decided I was guilty. Vivian casually said, “I wonder if she’d just wait there and die if we locked her in a freezer.” Ethan locked me in the cold storage. Right away. But I was pregnant. My child died in that cold. Lying in the hospital bed, I sent that man a message. “I won’t love Ethan anymore. I’ll go to New York with you.” Natalie’s POV I was once the person Ethan loved most. If a little hot water scalded my hand, Ethan would drop everything. He would leave all the company directors waiting to personally take me to the hospital. When someone laughed at me for being too delicate, the next day that person’s company was removed from the collaborator list. Everyone knew I had saved Ethan’s life, and that I’d lost my brother saving him. Back then, Ethan said he would protect everything I had left. But last night, at a dinner party, Vivian casually mentioned wanting to see if I’d also wait in vain for rescue if locked in a freezer. After a few seconds of silence, Ethan had someone send me in. The freezer door locked from the outside. By the time they found me, it was already the next morning. When the warehouse worker opened the door, he stumbled backward in shock. I lay on the floor, my lips completely colorless, my hands and feet stiff as if pulled from ice. The doctor lifted me onto a stretcher. When the needle pierced the back of my hand, I didn’t even have the strength to flinch. Ethan stood not far away, his face pale. He had taken half a step forward. Vivian stood beside him, fingers touching the old scar on her arm, her voice soft. “Ethan, don’t forget. Melissa waited like this for someone to save her too.” Ethan’s footsteps stopped. He didn’t come any closer, only instructed the doctor. “Take her to the hospital.” When I woke up, a warming blanket covered me, and an IV dripped into the back of my hand. The doctor said I was lucky they found me soon enough, but I couldn’t be exposed to cold for the next few days. Ethan frowned as he listened. I stared at his face. I remembered years ago, right after the accident. I’d developed a high fever from smoke inhalation. My brother Sebastian died at the rescue site. Ethan sat by my hospital bed, holding my hand, saying over and over, “From now on, I’ll protect everything you have left.” And he really had kept that promise. He personally placed Sebastian’s memorial plaque in the hall. When I was too afraid to sleep alone, he renovated the master bedroom in the villa so I could rest peacefully. Until they reopened the old case and changed the conclusion. Sebastian was found to have wrongly sealed off a rescue route, indirectly causing Melissa’s death. Vivian was the responsibility Melissa left behind, and also a survivor of that accident. She had old injuries. Whenever she hurt, Ethan would think of his sister. I pushed myself up in bed, my throat raw and aching. “Did you agree to throw me in the freezer?” Ethan didn’t answer, only said, “Rest first.” I stared at his averted eyes. “If I hadn’t been the one who saved you back then, would you have been more decisive? Would you have just let me freeze to death in there?” Ethan’s expression darkened. “Natalie, saving my life doesn’t cancel out another life.” He looked at me. “The person who died was my sister.” I gripped the blanket. “My father’s rescue decision wasn’t meant to harm anyone. Sebastian also died in there. He-” “The investigation results are clear.” Ethan cut me off. “What your family owes Melissa won’t be canceled just because Sebastian died too.” The hospital room door was pushed open. Vivian walked in, holding Melissa’s old belongings. She wasn’t crying, just stood in the doorway with reddened eyes. “Natalie, Melissa was also waiting for someone to open that passage. But no one came.” Ethan’s gaze left me. He turned to support Vivian, his voice low. “Don’t upset yourself anymore.” I watched his hand fall on Vivian’s shoulder. The words on my lips were choked back. After the hospital room quieted down, my phone lit up. Adrian sent a message: “I’ve secured a job opportunity for you in New York. I’ve prepared everything for you. As soon as you agree to come work here, you can enjoy it all immediately.” He was the person who had been providing legal assistance for Sebastian’s memorial project after the accident. Three days ago, he went to New York to prepare everything for me. I didn’t reply immediately. Adrian sent another message: “Sebastian didn’t save you so you could stay trapped, being punished by others.” Before I could respond, a text from Ethan appeared. It was brief: “After discharge today, go back to the villa and clear out the master bedroom. Vivian is moving in tonight. Don’t leave any of your things in the room or the closet. It makes her uncomfortable.” I stared at those words, my eyes slowly growing cold. That master bedroom was the one Ethan had personally arranged for me years ago. Sebastian’s memorial items were kept there. My nightmares from the accident had gradually disappeared in that room. Now Vivian was moving in. I finally replied to Adrian: “I’ll go with you.” The moment I sent the message, footsteps sounded outside the hospital room. Ethan’s assistant entered with discharge papers, his tone polite. “Miss Natalie, Mr. Ethan wants you to return to the villa now. The car is waiting downstairs.”

Natalie’s POV When I was sent back to the villa, the master bedroom door was already open. My coats had been thrown in the hallway. Medicine bottles sat on a suitcase, with a mug lying beside it. A maid stood by the door, head down, not daring to look at me. Inside the room, Vivian’s belongings had already appeared. The right side of the closet had been emptied. Her medicine sat by the bed. Vivian sat on the edge of the bed, wearing Ethan’s coat. Ethan was bent over examining the old injury on her arm. “The family doctor will watch over you tonight. Call him if you feel unwell.” That was the spot where I used to sit when I felt cold. During many nights after the accident, Ethan sat there keeping me company until dawn. Now he left that light for Vivian. Vivian looked up and saw me. “Natalie, good, you’re back. Please hurry and clean this place up. When I see things related to that accident, my wound hurts.” I didn’t argue. I walked into the master bedroom and packed Sebastian’s memorial items one by one into a box. Vivian leaned against the bed watching me. “Sebastian’s death was truly unfortunate, but if your father hadn’t made that decision back then, Melissa wouldn’t have died in there.” My movements stopped. Vivian continued. “You people caused someone’s death, yet your brother still got placed in the memorial hall. While you lived in the villa, did you not hear how the other families cursed you outside?” I placed the materials in the box. “Don’t touch my family.” Vivian laughed. “Isn’t your brother’s death the best leverage you have to bind Ethan? He lost his own sister!” I looked up at her. “You’re using Melissa’s death to live here, using old injuries to make Ethan punish me again and again. Vivian, you have no right to use the dead as your weapon either.” Vivian’s expression changed. She suddenly reached out to grab the memorial items from my arms. I instinctively protected the box. Vivian deliberately stumbled against the corner of the bed, her arm hitting the edge. She immediately began crying out in pain. The bathroom door was pulled open. Ethan came out. His first glance went to Vivian clutching her trembling arm. He didn’t look at me, only walked to Vivian’s side. “Where does it hurt?” Vivian’s eyes reddened. “I was just trying to help Natalie pack. She might still be stuck in past pain. She suddenly pushed me away…” I stood beside the scattered memorial items. “She insulted my father and brother first, and tried to grab Sebastian’s belongings.” “Shut up.” Ethan coldly cut me off. He helped Vivian up, his gaze falling on my face. “Vivian’s old injuries are from that accident. If not for your father’s rescue error back then, Melissa wouldn’t have died. And you still want to hurt her?” I clutched the box tightly and said nothing more. Ethan turned to instruct the maid. “Move her things to the guest room.” The guest room was at the far end of the villa, far from the master bedroom. Boxes were piled at the door. Sebastian’s memorial items were mixed in, and several pieces had been broken. I crouched down and carefully put them back together, one by one. My phone vibrated. Adrian sent a message: “In ten days, I’ll meet you in New York.” I replied: “Okay.” Outside the door, the maid whispered that Mr. Ethan wanted the pillow I’d used thrown out, and the bedside lamp removed too, so Miss Vivian wouldn’t feel upset seeing them at night. At dinner, Vivian sat beside Ethan, wearing a coat I’d left in the master bedroom. “Natalie, I’m just cold. You don’t mind if I borrow this, do you?” Ethan didn’t ask her to take it off, only instructed the maid. “Pour her some milk.” I sat in the farthest seat. Vivian glanced at my still-stiff fingers and deliberately pushed a plate toward me. “Natalie, my arm hurts. Can you help me tear open this package?” Ethan glanced at me. “Vivian’s wound hurts. Help her.” I lowered my head and did as told. My fingers, damaged by the cold, couldn’t grip the bag properly. I nearly dropped it into the plate. Vivian’s eyes immediately reddened. “Ethan, is Natalie still angry that I moved into the master bedroom?” Ethan set down his utensils. “Natalie, be careful. Don’t take your resentment out on Vivian.” I placed the opened package in front of Vivian. Ethan’s gaze landed on my trembling hands, then quickly moved away. After dinner, I carried my medicine back to the guest room. As soon as the door closed, another message from Ethan came in. “Go to the memorial hall tomorrow and remove Sebastian’s materials from the main exhibition area. Vivian is upset tonight. She doesn’t want to see your family name displayed alongside that accident anymore.” I looked at his message, then slowly raised my head toward the box by the door. My brother had died in that accident trying to save me. Later, Ethan personally funded the placement of his materials in the memorial hall. Now, because Vivian didn’t want to see it, Ethan was telling me to remove those materials myself. Knocking soon sounded at the door. The maid’s voice came through. “Miss Natalie, Mr. Ethan also said you should go tomorrow morning.” The maid added another line. “Miss Vivian will go with you.”

Natalie’s POV Early the next morning, the driver took me to the accident memorial hall. A colleague was already waiting at the entrance, holding the notice Ethan had sent last night. The notice contained only one sentence: “Remove all materials related to Sebastian from the main exhibition area and transfer to regular archives.” Ethan had personally selected that memorial plaque’s location years ago. Back then, he stood beside me and told the staff, “Sebastian saved me. He saved Natalie. He deserves to be remembered.” Now, he wheeled Vivian inside without even glancing at that plaque. Vivian sat in the wheelchair, her arm still wrapped in a stabilizing bandage. When she saw me, her voice was gentle. “I don’t want to upset you, but I really can’t stand it. Why should the name of the person who caused Melissa’s death be displayed alongside hers?” Ethan didn’t correct her. He only told the staff, “Begin.” The staff member stepped forward and reached for Sebastian’s memorial plaque. I stood nearby, fingers gripping my sleeve, and didn’t stop them. A colleague asked quietly, “Ethan, where should we put the removed materials?” Vivian spoke first. “Put them in the regular archive room. Don’t display them in such a prominent place anymore. It’s too painful for us victims.” I looked up at her. “Sebastian wasn’t someone who harmed people. He went in to save people.” Vivian’s face paled. Her eyes quickly reddened again. “But if your father hadn’t sealed off that passage, Melissa wouldn’t have died. Your brother saving people is true, but your father causing death is also true. You can’t just remember what benefits you.” “Don’t lump my brother together with the accident.” My voice was hoarse. “He died in there. He didn’t die so you could insult his name.” Vivian suddenly reached out to grab the memorial plaque. “Then I’ll take it down myself, okay?” I instinctively blocked her. Vivian immediately pulled her hand back, clutching her old injury and leaning back, tears falling. “Ethan, I was just trying to help…” Ethan quickly stepped forward to support her. When he looked at me again, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes was gone. “Do you have to make a scene here?” I looked at his hands. “Do you remember? Years ago, you were the one who put my brother’s name in here.” Ethan fell silent for a moment. Vivian trembled beside him. “When Melissa was waiting for rescue inside, she probably didn’t even have the strength to call your name.” Ethan’s silence shattered under those words. He said coldly, “Remove that plaque.” I stepped forward and finally pressed my hand against the memorial plaque. Ethan gripped my wrist, his force landing right on my still-healing injury. My face paled, but I didn’t let go. “Stop using Sebastian’s death to claim victim status.” Ethan’s voice was ice cold. “Natalie, what your family owes Melissa is already too much.” My hand slowly released. The memorial plaque was taken away. A space opened up in the main exhibition area. Vivian looked at that spot and said quietly, “Tonight I can finally have fewer nightmares.” After it ended, Vivian said the stimulation had upset her, and she wanted me to spend time in the rescue experience zone too. Ethan frowned. “Her body hasn’t recovered yet.” Vivian took out Melissa’s old belongings and asked softly, “So you’re going to forget how Melissa died again, just because she saved you?” Ethan stopped looking at me. He had the staff leave, keeping only medical personnel outside on standby. After the experience chamber door closed, cold air and mist pressed down together. Through the glass, I saw Ethan standing beside Vivian, head bent as he listened to her speak. When the door opened again, I could no longer stand. When I was sent back to the villa guest room, my fingers had swollen again, and my wrist bore marks from Ethan’s grip. A maid brought a stack of cards, saying, “Miss Vivian is holding a memorial service for Miss Melissa tomorrow. Mr. Ethan wants you to finish writing these cards tonight.” I asked, “What if I don’t write them?” The maid kept her head down. “Mr. Ethan said the materials removed from the memorial hall are still in his possession.” I sat at the desk and opened the first card. From downstairs came the sound of Vivian trying on clothes. I gripped the pen, my fingers trembling with pain. My phone lit up then. Adrian sent a message: “The documents for leaving are being processed. Wait for me a few more days.” After reading it, I set my phone on the desk and continued writing.

Natalie’s POV I wrote those cards all night. By dawn, my fingers were so swollen I could barely hold the pen. A maid came in to rush me to the memorial service, scooping up the cards without daring to say an extra word. The memorial service was held in the old auditorium. Vivian sat in the front row wearing a black dress. Ethan stood beside her, speaking quietly. “If you feel unwell, go inside and rest first.” I was assigned to a corner, responsible for handing memorial cards to attending family members. As soon as I steadied myself, I heard someone say in a low voice, “Her family caused Melissa’s death, yet she can still stand here. Ethan is very kind.” I didn’t turn around, just handed out the cards one by one. When the memorial service began, Vivian took the stage to thank Ethan for caring for her all these years. When she mentioned Melissa, her eyes reddened. “If Melissa were still here, she wouldn’t want to see the person who harmed her still occupying a spot in the memorial hall.” As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed into Ethan’s arms. The scene immediately descended into chaos. Ethan caught her, his first reaction to call for a doctor. Vivian gripped his sleeve, her breathing shaky. “I just touched the card Natalie handed over… As soon as I touched that card, my old wound started hurting.” Every gaze in the room fell on me. I stood in place. “I didn’t touch anything else. You can check right now.” Vivian closed her eyes, leaning against Ethan. “I’m just saying what I touched… I don’t have the energy to argue with you.” Ethan looked at me, his eyes growing colder. He had his assistant collect all the cards, but didn’t send them for inspection. He only said, “Preserve these items carefully.” I tried to speak. Ethan cut me off in front of everyone. “Why do you insist on making a scene at my sister’s memorial service?” With those words, I knew he had already decided I was guilty. After Vivian was taken to the rest room, Ethan had someone take me to the back of the auditorium. There was an accident experience chamber there. When I saw that door, my body instinctively froze. Ethan said coldly, “Go in and stay for half an hour. If you really didn’t do anything wrong, you can come out in half an hour.” I looked up at him. “I just came out of the experience chamber yesterday. The doctor said I can’t handle more stress.” Ethan fell silent for a moment. From the rest room, Vivian called out softly, “Ethan, Melissa waited so long back then, and no one asked if she could bear it.” Ethan’s expression completely darkened. He had the staff open the door. I was pushed inside. The moment the door sealed, cold climbed up from the soles of my feet. The mist grew heavier and heavier. I leaned against the wall. My injured fingers quickly lost strength. Someone outside reminded him, “Mr. Ethan, Miss Natalie’s vital signs are showing problems.” But Ethan first looked toward the rest room. “How is Vivian?” When the experience chamber was forcibly opened, I had already collapsed on the floor. After examining me, the doctor’s face changed. “She must be taken to the hospital immediately. Her body can’t wait.” On the other side, Vivian was also helped out, saying her chest hurt and she wanted Ethan with her. Two ambulances stopped outside the auditorium. The doctor told Ethan, “Miss Natalie is in greater danger. Miss Vivian is conscious. She can wait a moment.” Ethan stood between the two vehicles. His fingers twitched, as if about to come toward me. Vivian called out softly, “Ethan, just now I almost thought I was back in that accident again.” Ethan withdrew his foot. He got into Vivian’s ambulance first, leaving only one sentence behind: “Save her.” After seeing this scene, I completely lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital. A nurse was changing my dressing. “You were in critical condition for a long time. Your husband was just in the hallway yelling at the doctor. He nearly made the doctor cry.” When I heard the word “husband,” my eyes flickered. I asked, “Where is he now?” The nurse paused. “He just got a call from the other ward. He went to see Miss Vivian.” I didn’t ask again. I looked at the monitor by the bed, my voice soft. “He’s not my husband.” The nurse froze. I added, “Very soon, he won’t be.” The hospital room door was pushed open at that moment. Ethan stood in the doorway, his face dark. He’d clearly heard that last sentence.

Natalie’s POV When Ethan entered the hospital room, he slammed the door hard. He walked to the bed, his voice forced low. “What do you mean, I won’t be your husband soon?” I’d just woken up. My throat still hurt. I didn’t answer immediately. Ethan leaned down and gripped the bed rail, his knuckles white. “Natalie, do you think you can leave me? We have a marriage. We have that accident between us. Do you think our relationship can end so easily?” I looked at him. “If you hate me so much, why did you have the doctor save me just now?” Ethan’s eyes darkened. My voice was soft. “You could have let me die in the experience chamber. That way you’d never have to see me again, and Vivian wouldn’t be upset by me anymore.” “Die?” Ethan seemed stung by that word, his face suddenly ugly. “You think too lightly. If you die, will Melissa come back? If you die, will the consequences your family left behind disappear?” I smiled faintly. “So you saved me to keep me alive and suffering.” Ethan didn’t deny it. A nurse came outside, saying Vivian’s chest hurt again and she wanted to see Ethan. I looked at his profile and suddenly asked, “If Vivian and I both stood before you, would you always choose her first?” Ethan frowned. “That kind of question is meaningless.” “It’s meaningful.” I raised my eyes. “Just now outside the experience chamber, the doctor said I was in greater danger, but you still got in her ambulance. Ethan, every time, you know exactly who you’re choosing.” Ethan said nothing. The nurse urged him again from outside. Ethan’s hesitation was crushed. He said coldly, “Vivian has endured Melissa’s old injuries to live until today. I can’t ignore her. You saved me, but what you owe Melissa can’t be covered by one act of saving a life.” I went quiet. I nodded. “I understand now.” Ethan looked at me like this, his expression growing even colder. “Get up. Go apologize to Vivian.” The nurse tried to intervene. “Mr. Ethan, Miss Natalie just woke up. Her body still hasn’t-” “If she can talk, she can apologize.” Ethan cut her off. I was wheeled to Vivian’s hospital room door. Vivian leaned against the bed, her face pale. When she saw me enter, she first glanced at Ethan, and her eyes immediately reddened. I spoke. “I apologize for what happened at the memorial service.” My words were brief. I offered no explanation. But Vivian gently shook her head. “Natalie, one apology can’t make up for your sins. You ruined Melissa’s memorial service. When I close my eyes, all I see is her waiting for rescue that never came.” Ethan looked at her. “What else do you want her to do?” Vivian said quietly, “Tomorrow, let’s go to the old accident site. Hand over Sebastian’s materials to the hall for archiving. And let Natalie admit that her father’s decision back then truly harmed Melissa.” Ethan didn’t speak immediately. Vivian saw his hesitation, and tears fell. “If she won’t even do this, I’ll think about today every single moment from now on.” Ethan looked at me. “You must go. And Sebastian’s materials. They don’t need to go into any archive in the future.” My fingertips went cold. Finally, I said, “I’ll go.” After returning to the hospital room, I didn’t sleep all night. Adrian sent a message saying I could leave in a few days. The residence in New York was confirmed. After reading it, I put my phone on the pillow. I began organizing what I could take with me. Besides these things, I only had an old key and a backup authorization card for Sebastian’s memorial project. The old key was what Ethan gave me years ago. He said no matter what happened, that would always be my home. I put the key in the bedside drawer and kept only the authorization card in my pocket. The next day, I was taken to the old accident site. Several family members had come. The hall staff were also there. Ethan stood at the front with Vivian. Vivian held Melissa’s old belongings, as if she were the only victim in this old case. The hall staff asked me to step forward. I held Sebastian’s materials but didn’t release them immediately. Vivian spoke publicly. “Natalie, today isn’t for you to cause trouble. The family of the one who caused harm should know their place.” Someone quietly echoed, “Sebastian did save people, but it’s also true that their father caused deaths.” I looked at Ethan. Ethan avoided my gaze, only saying, “Hand over the materials.” I gave the materials to the hall staff. The staff member took them and placed them in an ordinary archive box. My brother’s name was completely removed from the main memorial area. My phone vibrated then. Adrian sent a message: “Leave in three days.” I stood at the back of the crowd, clutching that message in my palm.

Natalie’s POV This wasn’t my first time at the old accident site. In the first year after the accident, I didn’t even dare approach this place. Sebastian died in this area after pushing Ethan and me to safety, then got trapped by a secondary collapse and never came out. Back then, Ethan hadn’t yet been crushed by the reopened investigation. He stood here with me and placed Sebastian’s name in the memorial area. He told me, “Your brother saved us. He deserves to be remembered.” I truly believed him then. Later, when the investigation results changed and it was determined that my father had wrongly sealed the rescue passage, Melissa’s death overshadowed everything. Ethan began avoiding this place, and avoiding the words he’d said years ago. Now, Sebastian’s materials were packed into an ordinary archive box. Vivian looked at the empty space in the main memorial area and said softly, “Ethan, I want to add a new plaque for Melissa. She’s waited so many years. Finally she won’t have to be displayed alongside the name of someone from that family.” Ethan frowned. “The memorial hall has procedures. We can’t make changes arbitrarily.” Vivian lowered her head and touched the old belongings in her hands. “Melissa was most afraid of being left behind alone. She’s already been trapped in that accident for so long. Doesn’t she even deserve a separate place?” After a moment of silence, Ethan turned to the hall colleague. “Make a temporary plaque first. We’ll complete the paperwork later.” I stood nearby, watching the staff place the new temporary plaque in the spot that had originally belonged to my brother. I didn’t speak. I only walked to the archive box and, under the pretense of organizing materials, figured out where the materials were being stored. The backup authorization card was still in my pocket. This was my last chance to access my brother’s materials. In the evening, people from the memorial hall gradually left. I said I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t go back with Ethan. Ethan glanced at me, as if wanting to ask something. Vivian suddenly pressed her hand to her chest. “Ethan, I stood too long today. I want to go back early.” Ethan withdrew his gaze and instructed the driver to take me back to the villa. He left first with Vivian. I didn’t get in the car. After the car lights disappeared, I circled to the memorial hall’s side entrance and used the backup authorization card to unlock the archive room door. At the bottom of the ordinary archive shelf, Sebastian’s materials were pressed there. A label on the file box read “Removed from Main Exhibition Area.” I took out the materials, photographed and recorded them, then took a backup copy. I couldn’t let Sebastian remain only in that ordinary archive box in Ethan’s hands after I left. Just as I closed the archive cabinet, footsteps sounded behind me. Vivian stood in the doorway. Ethan wasn’t with her. She saw the document folder in my hands, and the weakness on her face instantly vanished. “You still want to get Sebastian back into the main exhibition area?” I tightened my grip on the folder. “I’m only taking backup archives. I’m not touching the hall’s original materials.” “What if you’re lying to us?” Vivian took a step forward, her gaze sweeping the corner. “There are no security cameras here. If something happens to the materials, everyone will only know you snuck into the archive room after closing.” I looked at her, finally understanding she hadn’t appeared by chance. Vivian suddenly reached out to grab the folder. I stepped back, protecting the materials. Vivian deliberately stumbled to the side, and file boxes from the shelf came crashing down. A box of old accident materials related to Melissa scattered across the floor. The next second, Vivian fell to the ground, clutching her arm and crying out. “Natalie, why did you push me? Melissa’s things were already destroyed once. Can’t you leave her alone?” Urgent footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway. Ethan and hall personnel rushed over. Ethan’s first glance went to Vivian’s bleeding arm. His face immediately changed. Vivian gripped his sleeve, crying and trembling. “I found Natalie sneaking into the archive room and tried to convince her not to touch the materials. To grab back the folder, she pushed me into the shelf.” I held the folder. “She tried to grab Sebastian’s materials first.”Ethan looked at what I was holding. “Why were you here after closing?” “I have a backup authorization card.” I said, “I have the right to keep a copy of Sebastian’s materials.” Ethan ignored that statement. His gaze fell on Melissa’s scattered materials. Vivian called out softly, “Ethan, I don’t want to see Melissa’s things trampled on the ground like this again.” Ethan’s expression turned completely cold. He stepped forward and took the folder from my hands. I gripped it and wouldn’t let go. My injured fingers ached as he pulled. Then he took my access card from my pocket and handed it to the hall staff. “Cancel it.” The staff processed it right there. I stood there, watching the cancellation confirmation flash on the screen. The last door I had to access my brother’s materials. Ethan shut it.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “394218”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

On the fifth anniversary of our relationship, Ethan stood me up. He didn’t answer my calls and ignored my SnapChat messages. I was starting to worry that something might have happened to him. Then a message popped up in our group chat. It was from Melissa. “My car broke down on the highway, but luckily Ethan came to save me! And we had some amazing sushi too.” The photo showed a table full of premium sashimi, along with a hand peeling shrimp. That hand was wearing the watch I’d spent half a month’s salary on for Ethan’s birthday last month. I actually laughed out loud. The rage burning in my chest instantly transformed into an indescribable disgust the moment I saw that photo. I directly tagged Ethan in the group chat. “So this is what you meant by ‘urgent meeting at the office and need to work overtime’?” The group chat immediately went silent. A full five minutes passed before Ethan slowly replied in the group. “Melissa’s car broke down on the road. How unsafe is that for a girl alone at night? I happened to be nearby, so I went to help her out. Do you really need to be this passive-aggressive?” I was truly speechless. “Nearby? Your office is in the east district, and she’s on the western ring highway. You call that nearby?” I called out his lie without mercy in the group chat. “Today is our fifth anniversary. Did you forget?” Before Ethan could respond, Melissa jumped in first. “Stella, I’m so sorry! I really didn’t know today was your anniversary. It’s all my fault for being such a tomboy and not paying attention to these details. Don’t be mad at Etha. If you need to blame someone, blame me.” Her practiced performance as the innocent third party directly triggered Ethan’s protective instincts. Ethan replied instantly. “Why are you taking it out on her? Melissa just sees me as a good friend. When a friend’s in trouble, shouldn’t I help? Can you please stop being so petty about everything? You’re so dramatic!” Ethan’s pack of friends in the group started chiming in too. “Exactly, Stella. Ethan just went to help out. It’s not that big a deal.” “Always going on about anniversaries. Ethan works so hard every day, how’s he supposed to remember?” “Melissa’s just got that buddy personality. Don’t overthink it, Stella.” Looking at all these messages defending him on my screen, I suddenly felt utterly ridiculous. Five years of my life. I’d given up better job opportunities for him. I’d moved with him from a cramped rental to our current small apartment, cooking and doing his laundry every day after work no matter how exhausted I was. And this is what I got in return. Him peeling shrimp for another woman on our important anniversary, then calling me dramatic in front of everyone. In the past, I would have cried from feeling so wronged, then frantically called him demanding an explanation, ultimately comforting myself through the cold war that followed. But now, I just felt tired. Completely and utterly dead inside. I called over the server and calmly paid the bill. Then I typed in the group chat. “Fine. Go ahead and enjoy your time with your good buddy.” “Ethan, we’re done.” After sending that message, I didn’t wait for any response. I left the group chat immediately.

Back at the apartment we shared, I pulled out my suitcase and started packing. Clothes, makeup, laptop. All my personal necessities went straight into the suitcase. As for the sneakers and clothes I’d bought him, along with the matching couple mugs and bedding sets I’d personally picked out, I didn’t even spare them a glance. Just as I zipped up my suitcase, the front door clicked open. Ethan walked in reeking of alcohol. He saw the suitcase on the floor and his brow furrowed tightly, his tone full of impatience. “What are you making a scene about now? I just went to help Melissa with her car. Making a fool of yourself in the group chat wasn’t enough? Now you’re playing the running-away-from-home card too? Is this fun for you?” I didn’t even look up, just grabbed my bag and prepared to change my shoes. “Whether it’s fun or not, you’ll find out eventually. Move. You’re blocking my way.” Not only did Ethan not move, he crossed his arms over his chest and let out a cold laugh. “Where are you going? Who else do you have in this city to rely on besides me? You think you can afford to stay in a hotel?” He was banking on my frugal habits, convinced he had me figured out, certain I was just bluffing. I actually laughed. I looked up at this face that I once found so captivating, but now it just seemed unbearably sleazy and arrogant. “Ethan, I’m telling you one last time. We’re broken up. This apartment’s lease ends at the end of the month. I’ve already paid my share of the rent. You figure out your own rent from now on. Don’t come looking for me again.” With that, I shoved him aside forcefully and dragged my suitcase toward the elevator without looking back. Ethan’s furious cursing echoed behind me. “Fine! Once you leave, don’t ever come back! I’ll be a complete idiot if I beg you even once!” I pressed the button for the first floor. Sitting in the taxi to the hotel, my phone buzzed. It was my best friend Jessica sending me several SnapChat screenshots. Jessica: “Has Ethan lost his mind? Look at this!” I opened the screenshots. They were from the chat group with Ethan and his friends. Jessica’s boyfriend happened to be in that group and couldn’t stand it anymore, so he screenshot everything and sent it to Jessica. Ethan had sent a voice message in the group, which when converted to text read: “What a buzzkill. Her temper’s getting worse and worse. She actually left with her suitcase.” His friend Marcus replied: “Is Stella serious this time? Ethan, aren’t you going to chase after her?” Ethan: “Chase after her? No way! She thinks twice about buying a cup of coffee because it’s too expensive. How many days do you think she can afford to stay in a hotel? She’s just acting spoiled.” Right after that, Ethan sent a large red envelope in the group. “Within three days, she’ll definitely come crawling back begging me to get back together. If she doesn’t come back, I’ll treat everyone to bottle service at the bar this weekend!” The group immediately erupted with laughter and comments praising Ethan. I saved the screenshots, then opened Ethan’s SnapChat and blocked and deleted him in one smooth motion. Then his phone number, Instagram, PayPal. Every possible way to contact me, all blocked. After finishing all this, I tossed my phone into my bag and turned to the driver. “Sir, please drive faster.” Three days? You’ll never see me again in this lifetime. I was finally free.

The next morning, I slept in until I naturally woke up in the hotel’s king-size bed. No Ethan’s snoring, no sound of him smashing his keyboard while cursing at video games first thing in the morning. The feeling was absolutely amazing. I quickly got up, washed up, and contacted a real estate agent to look at apartments. At ten in the morning, I found a nicely furnished one-bedroom apartment just a ten-minute walk from my office. Although the rent was a bit steep, now that I didn’t have to support that man-child Ethan, my salary was more than enough. I signed the contract on the spot, paid, and got the keys. Around noon, my best friend Jessica suddenly sent me several sixty-second voice messages, along with some screenshots. “I’m so angry! Look at what I sent you!” “That bastard Ethan? You’ve already moved out, and he still has the mood to game with that homewrecker?” “I seriously can’t believe this. Do they have any shame at all?” I opened the screenshots. The first one was a game stats screenshot. Ethan and Melissa’s duo queue record, from last night at eleven o’clock all the way until four in the morning today. The second was a screenshot of Melissa’s Instagram post from this morning. The caption read: “Even though my car breaking down on the road was unlucky, having Ethan stay up all night helping me rank up turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He’s so amazing!” Below it was Ethan’s comment: “Let’s continue tonight.” I actually laughed. I thought Ethan would at least have lost some sleep last night after making that bet in his chat group while so worked up. Turns out he turned right around and contentedly helped his good buddy rank up in games. Jessica was so angry she called me directly. “I want to reach through the internet and slap both of them! Does Ethan even know you two broke up?” I put her on speakerphone. “Of course he knows. But he thinks I’m playing hard to get. He bet Marcus and the others that I’d definitely come back begging him within three days.” “Disgusting!” Jessica cursed on the other end. “How inflated is his ego? Does he think he’s made of diamonds or something? So where are you now? You’re not homeless, are you?” “Don’t worry, I’ve already rented an apartment.” I said calmly. “Ethan’s trash. Whoever wants to pick him up can have him. I was just blind before.” “Exactly! Good riddance to bad rubbish! The next one will be better!” Jessica sighed with relief. “But what if he never comes looking for you?” I snorted coldly. “It’d be best if he didn’t. I’m just afraid he’ll shamelessly try to cling to me later. I’ve already blocked him everywhere. You don’t need to send me anything about his drama anymore.” After hanging up, I looked at my freshly decorated room, my mood soaring. That evening after work, I ordered myself a super large portion of lobster that I normally wouldn’t splurge on. No need to cook for Ethan, no need to listen to him complain that the food was too salty or too bland, no need to wash his socks for him. This life of not having to be a free maid in a relationship felt absolutely liberating, every pore in my body celebrating. Over the next two weeks, I threw all my energy into work. Not only did I complete my monthly tasks ahead of schedule, but the director publicly praised me at the morning meeting. Life without a scumbag boyfriend really did make even the air smell sweeter.

Friday evening, just before the end of the workday, it suddenly started pouring rain outside with howling winds. I pulled out my phone to call a rideshare, but there were over 300 people in queue. No way I could get one. A few coworkers who were also stuck at the office were complaining nearby. “This rain is crazy. I should’ve brought an umbrella this morning.” “My boyfriend said he’s coming to pick me up. I’m heading to the parking garage!” Watching my coworker happily get into her boyfriend’s car, I stood there as a memory suddenly flashed through my mind unbidden. It was also a rainy day last year. I’d gotten off work without an umbrella and was stuck at the subway station, so I called Ethan hopefully. “The rain’s too heavy and I can’t get home. Can you drive over and pick me up?” But Ethan responded extremely impatiently on the other end. “I’m in the middle of ranked! Can’t you just get a taxi or take the subway home? Can you be a little more independent and stop always relying on me?” Then he hung up directly. That day, I steeled myself and ran home through the pouring rain, getting completely soaked. That same night, I developed a 102-degree fever. But Ethan didn’t even pour me a glass of water. He actually complained that my coughing was keeping him awake. Looking back now, I was truly at a loss for words. What kind of spell was I under to waste five whole years on such a selfish man? Just as I was gritting my teeth, preparing to hold my bag over my head and just run through the rain to the subway, a low, gentle voice suddenly came from behind me. “No umbrella?” I turned around. It was Adrian Knight. The representative of our company’s newest major investor, who’d been at our office these past few days doing project due diligence. He was holding a black long-handled umbrella, his entire presence radiating a mature, steady aura. I froze for a moment, then quickly greeted him. “Mr. Knight, yeah, I didn’t bring an umbrella. Can’t get a ride, so I’m planning to run to the subway station.” Adrian frowned slightly, glancing at the torrential rain outside. “Where are you headed? I’ll have my driver drop you off on the way.” “No, no, I couldn’t impose on you like that.” I instinctively tried to refuse. But he didn’t give me a chance to refuse. “Let’s go.” He opened the large black umbrella, tilting it significantly toward my side without hesitation, sheltering me completely underneath. His shoulder was half-exposed to the rain. A black Maybach was parked steadily at the bottom of the steps. The driver quickly got out to open the door. Adrian let me get in first, then folded the umbrella and got into the back seat himself. Once inside, the driver immediately handed over a clean, dry towel. Adrian took the towel and passed it to me naturally. “Dry your hair so you don’t catch cold.” Then he said to the driver, “Turn up the back seat temperature by two degrees and adjust the vents away from her.” I held the towel, feeling the warm air in the car and the faint woody scent of the air freshener, completely stunned. “Thank you, Mr. Knight.” “After work hours, no need to call me Mr. Knight. Just call me Adrian.” Adrian turned to look at me, his gaze calm without any trace of superiority. “It’s not safe for a young woman to be caught in the rain alone. Next time you encounter this situation, don’t tough it out.” Hearing these simple words, an indescribable bitterness and relief welled up in my heart. They were both men, but the difference was bigger than between humans and dogs. Ethan wouldn’t even come downstairs to pick me up, while Adrian, a boss of such high standing, could attend to details so thoughtfully. I truly felt what it meant to be respected.

That night, I was suddenly jolted awake by severe cramping pain. The pain was so intense I was drenched in cold sweat, crawling and tumbling my way to the toilet where I vomited until I felt like I was dying. Acute gastroenteritis had flared up. Leaning against the cold bathroom tiles, completely drained, I fumbled for my phone wanting to call 911. But my hand slipped and I accidentally pressed a number in my recent calls. The phone was answered almost immediately. “Hello?” A deep, slightly nasal male voice came through. It was Adrian Knight. I froze, only then realizing I’d accidentally called him. “I’m sorry, Mr. Knight, I… I dialed the wrong number…” My voice was trembling from the pain, even my breathing was uneven. The other end went silent for a second, then Adrian’s voice turned extremely serious. “What’s wrong? Your voice sounds off.” “It’s nothing… just a bit of stomach pain. I called the wrong number…” I tried to hang up. “Send me your address.” Adrian didn’t listen to my excuses, his tone brooking no argument. “Right now!” “Really, it’s not necessary…” “Send your address, or I’ll look it up in your employee file directly.” I was in too much pain to argue with him, and that near-death feeling was too strong, so I could only weakly give him my apartment complex name and unit number. Less than twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I forced myself through the pain to crawl to the door. The moment I cracked the door open, Adrian strode in. He was wearing only a slightly disheveled shirt, his hair not as meticulously styled as usual. Seeing me curled up on the floor, he frowned and without a word, scooped me up horizontally. “We’re going to the hospital.” He carried me out, his steps quick but steady. In that moment, leaning against his broad, warm chest, I actually felt like crying. Back when I was with Ethan, I’d had gastroenteritis once too. It was two in the morning. I was rolling around in bed from the pain, pushing Ethan who was sleeping like a log beside me, begging him to take me to the hospital. But he groggily turned over, shaking off my hand and yelling at me impatiently. “What are you freaking out about in the middle of the night? You’re so high-maintenance! Just take some stomach medicine. Stop making a fuss. I have an early basketball game tomorrow!” That night, I forced myself to endure until dawn, then went to the hospital alone for an IV. And now, Adrian Knight, a boss who had no relation to me whatsoever, was speeding through the night to take me to the emergency room. At the hospital, he handled registration, payment, and getting medication, running around without letting me take a single extra step. By the time I was hooked up to an IV and lying on a bed in the emergency observation room, the sky was already beginning to lighten. Adrian sat by the hospital bed. Seeing my complexion improve slightly, he finally relaxed. “What did you eat last night?” he asked. “Well… I worked late and skipped dinner. I got hungry at night, so I ordered some super spicy chicken wings…” I said guiltily in a small voice. Adrian looked at me and sighed, pulling out a thermos from nearby. “The doctor said you can only eat liquid foods for the next few days. This is oatmeal porridge. Eat some to fill your stomach.” As he spoke, he opened the lid, and a light, pleasant rice fragrance wafted out. He blew on a spoonful to cool it, then brought it to my lips. I was so surprised I tried to take it from him. “Mr. Knight, I can do it myself!” He moved his hand away, his tone gentle but firm. “You still have an IV in your hand. Don’t move around.” I mechanically opened my mouth and swallowed that spoonful of porridge. My stomach felt warm, and my heart felt sour and full at the same time. This feeling of being carefully cared for and cherished. It had been so, so long. It turned out being truly cared about felt this good.

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I had just returned to the teacher’s dormitory when a group of people blocked me at the door. It was Rachel Morgan, the mother of one of my students, Vivian Morgan. The moment she saw me, she lunged forward, screaming at the top of her lungs. “It’s him! This scumbag assaulted my daughter! She just started freshman year. What’s going to happen to her now?” I was stunned! “What? That’s absolutely impossible!” The hallway filled with people. Some were filming videos, others were whispering among themselves, and some colleagues lowered their heads and slipped into their rooms. “What are you talking about? I’ve never done anything like that!” A young man burst out from the crowd. He threw a punch aimed right at my face. “What kind of teacher are you? You ruined my sister’s innocence.” Rachel slapped a piece of paper right onto my face. “Stop pretending! My daughter said it herself.” Principal Hayes pushed through the crowd and pulled me aside. “Just apologize. Compensate them one million dollars. Don’t let this blow up.”

“Principal, what exactly am I apologizing for?” Principal Hayes’s expression darkened, and he lowered his voice. “Shane, now’s not the time to be stubborn. The parents are emotional. Show them the right attitude first.” “Attitude?” I looked at him. “You want me to show an attitude for something I didn’t do?” Rachel rushed over shrieking. “You’re still pretending! My daughter was almost driven to suicide by you, and you still dare say you didn’t do it?” Ethan Morgan clenched his fists, veins bulging on his neck. “Shane Lawson, if you don’t kneel and apologize today, I’ll kill you!” “Kneel?” I looked toward Vivian Morgan standing behind the crowd. She kept her head down, her school uniform sleeves crumpled from gripping them. I was Vivian Morgan’s class advisor. The first time I entered the classroom, all the other students looked up to listen. Only she didn’t dare make eye contact with me. At the start of the school year, she could only score in the thirties on math tests. When others laughed at her, she would bury her head in her books. After I took over the class, I discovered she would secretly copy her mistakes three times. I had tutored her, explained functions to her. And when classmates mocked her, I once said: “Poor grades aren’t a crime. Giving up is.” As a teacher, I didn’t want any student to fall behind. Rachel was crying and wailing, sitting right on the floor and slapping her thighs. “My daughter is only a freshman! How will she live from now on? How will she get married?” “Shane! We’re the county’s top high school here!” “If this blows up, it’ll seriously damage the school’s reputation!” “Just admit to this first, then we’ll discuss it properly with the parents.” Principal Derek Hayes put his arm around my shoulder, trying to persuade me in a low voice. I shook off Derek Hayes’s hand. “Principal, I never did anything like this!” Derek Hayes’s expression turned grave. “Shane! I know you feel wronged.” “But think about it. You’re just an intern teacher with no permanent position, no connections.” “If this blows up, you won’t even be able to keep your teaching certificate.” “Just appease them for now!” Appease? By admitting guilt? I took a step forward. “Vivian Morgan, look at me.” Rachel immediately blocked her. “You still want to threaten my daughter?” “Everyone saw it! He’s still trying to intimidate the child in public!” Vivian’s shoulders trembled. Ethan immediately shouted. “You dare question her? Look how scared you’ve made her!” Derek Hayes quickly spoke up. “Mr. Lawson, don’t agitate the student.” “Vivian, don’t be afraid. The principal is here. No one can hurt you.” “Let me ask you, did Mr. Lawson often tutor you alone?” Vivian nodded. “Did he sometimes tutor you until very late?” Vivian nodded again. “During tutoring, was it just the two of you in the classroom?” I immediately said: “The door was always open, and there are cameras in the classroom.” “Vivian Morgan, when I tutored you, did I ever close the door when we were alone?” “Did I ever touch you? Did I ever say anything inappropriate?” Tears fell from her eyes, but she still didn’t speak. Derek Hayes sighed, as if deeply pained. “Shane, what’s the point of pressuring a child like this?”

Rachel cried even louder. “Everyone hear that!” “Private tutoring!” “Staying late!” “This inhuman monster!” I stared at Derek Hayes. My heart went cold. Derek Hayes asked again: “Did he buy you bubble tea and bread?” Vivian said quietly: “Yes.” I was almost laughing from anger. “evening study session runs until 9:30. She’s not the only one with low blood sugar. I bought bread for the entire group.” Derek Hayes ignored me and continued questioning. “Did he ever write on your test paper, ‘Don’t be afraid, I’m here’?” Vivian closed her eyes and nodded even more slightly. In that moment, I finally understood. Someone was taking all normal teacher-student care, breaking it into pieces, and assembling it into a knife to stab me with. Rachel rushed over, her fingernails nearly poking my eyes. “You still trying to make excuses? Why would a male teacher treat my daughter so well?” “Because I’m a teacher.” “Bullshit!” She turned around and cried while slapping her thighs. “Everyone look! He still says he’s a teacher. He’s just a scumbag in human skin.” “He targeted my daughter because she’s timid!” “She didn’t dare speak up, so you bullied her!” Derek Hayes spoke again: “Mr. Lawson did that kind of thing to you, didn’t he?” Vivian Morgan lifted her head slightly to look at me. Then she glanced at Rachel. Rachel pinched her arm hard. “Say it! What are you afraid of! I will stand up for you!” Vivian picked at her clothes without speaking. Rachel pressed down on her head. She stiffly nodded. Ethan rushed forward and threw a punch at my face. I dodged to the side. His fist hit the doorframe. “Fuck, you dare dodge?” I stepped back half a step. “Accusing me without evidence! If you attack again, I’ll fight back.” Ethan roared: “You ruined Vivian’s innocence. Even if I beat you to death, it wouldn’t be enough!” Derek Hayes stepped between us. “Everyone calm down!” “Mr. Lawson, your attitude right now is critical.” “Apologize immediately.” “Pay the compensation first and stabilize the situation.” “One million dollars. Transfer it today.” Rachel climbed up from the floor. “One million? You trying to send away beggars?” “My life is so miserable. I raised a daughter, her grades just started improving, and a teacher preyed on her.” “My daughter’s innocence is ruined! Her whole life is over!” Ethan sneered coldly. “My sister still has to get married, go to college, and be a person. Your school thinks one million can shut us up?” “Three million! Not a penny less!” Derek Hayes patted my shoulder and said: “One million is indeed too little, but three million is too high. How about this—I’ll make the call. Two hundred fifty thousand.” “No way. Three million is already cheap for that bastard. My sister was a virgin.” Ethan pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and threw it at my feet. “Three million is for emotional damages. You admit to hurting my sister and can’t go back on it!” “When Vivian graduates from college, you must pay us another five hundred thousand and marry her. Otherwise, you’ll pay a penalty of two million in damages.” I thought I’d misheard. “What did you say?” “You ruined my sister. You have to take responsibility to the end!” Rachel took over. “Our Vivian—if you hadn’t defiled her, she could have married a rich man in the future and earned way more than five hundred thousand. Now you’ve ruined her. You have to compensate!” I looked at that guarantee letter. “Where’s the evidence?” Rachel froze for a moment. “What?” “You say I committed a crime. You want money, a guarantee letter, a marriage promise. Where’s the evidence?”

Rachel pulled a piece of paper from her bag and slapped it onto my face. “This is the hospital’s examination report! It’s written in black and white that my daughter is no longer a virgin! You still want to deny it?” I looked down at the report. The seal of City General Hospital, the red stamp neatly pressed. The name on the report was Vivian Morgan, dated three days ago. The conclusion section had several glaring words. But what did this prove? “This only proves she had sexual activity. It doesn’t prove it was me.” Principal Derek Hayes cleared his throat lightly and stepped in front of me. “Shane, the examination report is right here. You’re Vivian’s class advisor. When something happened to the child, you’re the most suspicious.” After speaking, he gave Rachel a subtle glance. Rachel picked up the cue. “Fine.” “The principal has spoken. We’ll show some respect.” “Two hundred fifty thousand. We need an answer today! If not, tomorrow I’m going to the Board of Education, TV station, and court. I’ll sue you to death!” Rachel wiped her tears. “Once the money arrives, we won’t make a scene.” “We’ll all be family from now on.” I almost laughed out loud. “Family?” Rachel glared at me. “You ruined her. You have to support her for life.” Derek Hayes leaned close to my ear. “Shane, things have come to this point. It’s out of your hands.” “Just pay to settle this!” I stared into his eyes. “Principal Hayes, you’re twisting the truth! You’re planning to force this onto me!” Ethan lost patience. “What the fuck are we wasting words for? This kind of person just needs a beating!” He suddenly kicked toward my abdomen. I stepped to the left, grabbed his ankle with my right hand, and twisted and pushed in one motion. Ethan lost his balance completely and fell hard onto the concrete hallway floor. He gritted his teeth and got up, rushing forward to throw a punch again. In my four years of college, I trained with a coach from the sports academy for three years in boxing. I even won second place in a boxing competition. Against this punk, I could win with my eyes closed. I dodged his straight punch, deflected his forearm with my left hand. My right fist landed precisely under his ribs. Ethan bent over and stepped back three paces, unable to catch his breath. Before his second punch could come out, I’d already gripped his wrist. I twisted it backward, pinning him against the wall. “Don’t move. Move again and your wrist breaks.” Ethan refused to submit and struggled hard. I suddenly released my hand and pushed with the momentum. He stumbled forward, lost his balance. His face hit the ground first, knocking out his front teeth. Blood began seeping out densely across his face. Rachel hugged Ethan’s head, kicking her feet against the concrete floor, wailing. “He’s hitting people! He’s hitting people!” “Everyone saw it! First he raped my daughter, now he’s beaten my son! God! Is there no justice? Is there no law?” “He’s trying to silence us! Murder to silence witnesses! Everyone saw it! Everyone saw it!” Vivian Morgan walked out from the corner. She picked up the bloody tooth from the floor. Then turned to look at me. Her eyes were full of anger. “You really are a scumbag.”

I had tutored her for three months. Every night from seven to ten, rain or shine. Questions she couldn’t solve, I explained one by one. Concepts she didn’t understand, I explained in five different ways. The day she scored 89, I was happier than she was. Now, she was calling me a scumbag. “Shane, now you have another charge—assaulting a student’s family member.” Derek Hayes shook his head, his face full of regret. “Tell me, how do we resolve this?” At the end of the hallway, someone was holding up their phone. Comments were scrolling frantically. “I’m warning you one last time.” Derek Hayes’s tone became completely cold and hard. “If you won’t take a friendly offer, you’ll have to face the consequences. Your intern evaluation, teaching certificate, even your future employment records—you won’t be able to keep any of them.” “You’re just an intern fighting against the entire school? You think you can win?” He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a minimum. “I heard your aunt is quite wealthy. Hurry up and raise the money!” “Two hundred fifty thousand to buy your lifetime reputation. You’re getting off cheap.” The person livestreaming with their phone—the viewer count on their screen had already shot up to 23,000. The comments went crazy. “Predator teacher!” “This kind of person should be sentenced!” “How did the school let this kind of person become a teacher?” “Beat him!” Everyone was cursing me. Someone in the crowd shouted: “No smoke without fire.” “Why didn’t they go after other teachers, but specifically you!” “You definitely did it and won’t admit it!” I turned to look. It was my colleague, Marcus. Just last week he’d borrowed my lesson plans. Meeting my gaze, Marcus showed no guilt whatsoever. “Mr. Lawson, I’m not targeting you. I’m just calling it as I see it!” “Everyone, am I right!” The crowd echoed in agreement! Not a single person asked—where’s the evidence? Rachel had somehow gotten up from the floor. Her hair was disheveled, the tear tracks still visible on her face. “I’m telling you, Shane Lawson.” “As long as you sign today and transfer the money, this matter is settled.” She looked smugly at Derek Hayes. “We’re not unreasonable people, right Principal Hayes?” Derek Hayes nodded repeatedly. “Right, right. Mrs. Morgan’s family is very reasonable. Shane, as long as you settle this two hundred fifty thousand and sign the guarantee letter, Mrs. Morgan will treat you like her own son-in-law going forward. Let’s keep it in the family.” Rachel nodded cooperatively. “That’s right. Once the money arrives and you sign, we’ll treat you as one of our own. We’ll let bygones be bygones. From now on, my daughter is yours.” Ethan chimed in too. “Right, brother-in-law. Just pay up. Transfer the two hundred fifty thousand now, sign the guarantee now. I’ll go to the hospital to fix my teeth myself.” Vivian looked at me shyly, her face red. “Principal Hayes, you’re saying as long as I apologize and pay the money, this will all be over, right?” Derek Hayes nodded, his expression relaxing a bit, thinking I was softening. “Then I’d like to confirm once more.” “If I sign this guarantee letter and pay this two hundred fifty thousand, can you guarantee the Morgan family won’t pursue this further, and the school won’t keep any records?” Derek Hayes and Rachel exchanged glances. “Of course. You can rest assured. I’ll make the call.” Derek Hayes said, his voice more certain than before. I watched this farce coldly. They were extorting me. I pulled out my phone from my pocket. Derek Hayes, Rachel, Ethan, and Vivian all looked over. Their eyes full of hope, greed, and the satisfaction of a scheme about to succeed. “Hello, Sean!”

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As the only female doctor in the urology department, my surgical skills were so exceptional that every time appointment slots opened up, they’d be snatched clean by patients in seconds. But today, I’d been sitting in my office for a full hour without a single patient showing up. When I asked the young nurse what was going on, she looked me up and down with a scornful expression: “A woman deliberately staying in the men’s clinic—do you think I don’t know what you’re really up to?” The appointment system opened right on time. Three seconds later, all slots showed “Fully Booked.” This was my normal. As the only female doctor in the urology department, not only was my scalpel steady, but my precision reached millimeter-level accuracy. Patients seeking my care had to fight to snag appointment slots down to the very second. Yet today, I’d been sitting in my examination room for a full hour without anyone showing up. The wall clock ticked away steadily. I glanced at my computer screen—the queue list was completely empty. Maintaining my composure, I stood up to pour myself some tea. Just as I took a sip, someone knocked on the examination room door. John, a familiar patient, poked his head in, his face full of confusion. “Dr. Christie, aren’t you off work today?” I looked up at him. “What makes you say that?” “I camped out on the app last night to book an appointment, but the system didn’t even show your name. I thought you’d gone on vacation or something.” John waved his phone at me. Sure enough, the screen showed my name grayed out, unavailable for booking. I set down my teacup, already understanding what had happened. The hospital’s appointment system was managed entirely by the nursing station. Doctors only had scheduling privileges—we had no authority to change appointment availability status. I walked out of the examination room and headed straight to the nursing station. The new intern nurse, Fiona, was sitting with her legs crossed, scrolling through videos on her phone. When she saw me approach, she didn’t even bother to look up. “Nurse Fiona, why were all of today’s appointment slots closed?” I got straight to the point. Hearing my voice, Fiona tossed her phone onto the desk with a cold laugh. “They’re closed because they’re closed. If no one books, the system automatically shows it as closed.” “What, is Dr. Christie here to inspect my work?” “The system doesn’t automatically close slots that are fully booked,” I said calmly. “You’re new, so if you’re unfamiliar with the procedures, I can teach you. But the appointment slots need to be restored immediately.” Fiona acted as if she’d heard the world’s funniest joke. She suddenly stood up, leaning forward, her knuckles rapping against the desk one tap at a time. “Christie, who are you trying to fool?” “This is the urology department—a men’s clinic. Any man would blush just hearing about this place.” “And you, a woman, you force your way in here, dealing with all that disgusting stuff every day—aren’t you ashamed?” “I don’t think you’re here to treat patients at all!” “As a fellow woman, I can see right through what you’re really thinking.” I understood completely. This kind of malice born from gender discrimination— I’d seen it too many times. Arguing would only waste time. I pulled out my phone and, right in front of her, dialed the director’s internal line. “Dr. Christie?” “What can I do for you?” “Director, the urology nurse Fiona has closed all of my appointment slots today without authorization, and her attitude has been extremely poor.” The line went silent for half a second, then came the sharp sound of a chair scraping back. “What? Dr. Christie, don’t worry, I’m coming right over!” Fiona rolled her eyes and sneered. “What, calling for backup? Are you three years old?” I ignored her, hung up, and stood quietly against the wall. Less than five minutes later, urgent footsteps echoed through the hallway. The director arrived with beads of sweat on his forehead, practically running. When he saw me, he didn’t even pause to catch his breath. He rushed straight to the nursing station and bellowed: “Fiona! Who gave you the authority to touch Dr. Christie’s appointment slots!” Fiona hadn’t expected the director to actually come in person. Her face instantly went pale, but she still stubbornly held her ground. “Director, a woman bossing everyone around in the men’s clinic goes against protocol. I was just protecting the hospital’s reputation…” “Shut up!” The director was furious, pointing right at her nose. “Do you have any idea how much medical revenue Dr. Christie brings to this hospital with a single surgery?” “You’re here pushing gender discrimination? Are you here to work or to play boss!” Then he turned to the head nurse standing nearby and roared, “Right now! Immediately!” “Restore all of Dr. Christie’s appointment slots. If there’s still a system malfunction within ten minutes, you’re all fired!” Fiona was completely stunned by this display. She clutched the folder in her hands so tightly that her knuckles turned white from the pressure.

The next day, the examination room was as crowded as usual. I kept my head down, writing up medical records. Sitting across from me was a young man looking thoroughly embarrassed. He was a programmer who, due to prolonged sitting and irregular sleep schedules, had developed some unspeakable problems. “Dr. Christie, this condition… it can really be cured, right?” His voice was extremely low, as if afraid someone outside the door might hear. I didn’t look up, typing several lines of medical orders into the computer, my tone calm: “As long as you follow my treatment plan, all your indicators will return to normal within a month.” “Don’t worry. This is very common in clinical practice.” Just then, the examination room door was violently shoved open. Bang! Fiona strode in. “Door shut so tight—what kind of shady business are you doing in here?” She looked at the man sitting across from me and said sarcastically: “Dr. Christie, already scouting for targets?” “I think you’ve been working in urology so long you’ve developed some weird fantasies about yourself, haven’t you?” The programmer was so startled his face went pale. He nearly jumped out of his chair. I set down my pen and stared coldly at Fiona. “Get out. I’m seeing a patient. Don’t interfere.” But Fiona not only didn’t leave—she doubled down, walking right up to the desk and pointing at the patient’s nose. “Don’t let her fool you! Women like her specifically target young, good-looking guys like you.” “She pretends to treat patients, but we all know what she’s really after!” The programmer’s face turned bright red. He grabbed his medical records and tried to bolt. I reached out and pressed my hand against the edge of the desk, signaling him not to panic, then turned to Fiona. “Are you here to cause trouble or to work?” “Cause trouble? I’m exposing your true colors!” She sneered. “Everyone, come take a look at our so-called urology expert.” “Doors closed in the examination room—who knows what kind of inappropriate dealings are going on in here!” Her voice was extremely loud, drawing more and more curious onlookers from the hallway. Just then, my phone lit up on the desk with a crisp series of notification sounds. The messages were from a pinned group chat. “Dr. Christie, the prescription you gave me last time worked wonders. When are you free? I’ve prepared a gift for you.” “Dr. Christie, can you squeeze me in for an appointment? I’ll pay whatever you ask.” “Are you busy? When can you come over to the house? Mr. John’s chronic condition was cured thanks to you.” Fiona had sharp eyes. Before I could even grab my phone, she lunged forward and snatched it away. “Let me see exactly which men you’ve been fooling around with behind the scenes!” She shouted while eagerly unlocking the screen. The moment she looked, the light in her eyes changed completely. Because aside from me, everyone in the group chat was a top-tier figure from various industries. Not only did they praise my miraculous medical skills in the group every day, but they also frequently sent me private requests and invitations. Fiona held the phone high, showing the screen to the crowd gathered at the examination room door, her voice trembling with excitement: “Everyone, look clearly! This is her true face!” “What expert, what medical skills—it’s all gained by seducing men!” “Look, all these men are lining up waiting to date her. This is solid evidence!”

Instantly, the crowd erupted in discussion. I could feel various gazes sweeping over me—curious, contemptuous, eager to watch the drama unfold. But I simply stood there, watching Fiona coldly, watching her perform with such effort. Just then, a series of urgent footsteps approached. “What’s going on here? Making such a racket first thing in the morning—what kind of behavior is this!” The department head had arrived. He’d been passing by when he heard the commotion and came over with a furrowed brow. Fiona acted as if she’d found her savior. She immediately dropped her aggressive posture and rushed to the department head, her eyes brimming with tears as she pointed at me. “Chief! Your timing couldn’t be better! You must seek justice for the hospital, for us honest, hardworking nurses!” Fiona choked up as she handed the phone to the department head. “Look at this! Christie… she’s just too much!” “As a doctor, she’s carrying on with these shameful activities in the examination room, having inappropriate relationships with so many patients’ families!” The department head took the phone and glanced at the group chat messages on the screen. When he looked at me again, his eyes clearly showed disgust. “Christie! This is absolutely outrageous! As a doctor, where is your medical ethics?” “Where is your professional integrity? What is all this? You’ve completely disgraced the hospital!” I didn’t defend myself. I didn’t even blink. Seeing my attitude, Fiona became even more emboldened. “Chief, she was also reported by patients before, which is why I closed her appointment slots.” “Now she’s gotten even worse, acting like she’s so capable!” She embellished the story, bringing up the incident when I’d contacted the director, conveniently leaving out that she’d been the one who tampered with the system first. “People like this should be fired immediately, or else our hospital’s reputation will be ruined by her!” The department head’s face turned iron-gray. He glanced at the crowd of onlookers, then at my expressionless face, and finally slammed his hand on the desk. “Suspension! Christie, you’re suspended for one week effective immediately. Go home and write a thorough self-criticism and reflect deeply!” “After one week, we’ll hold a hospital meeting to discuss this further and make a final decision!” “Until then, you are not to set foot in the examination room!” The declaration caused an uproar. Everyone expected me to resist fiercely, or at least defend myself. After all, while I didn’t talk much at the hospital normally, I was always decisive in my actions, and my skills were universally recognized as top-tier. This kind of punishment was undoubtedly a deep humiliation for me. However, I simply walked straight to the desk and picked up my phone. Then, in front of everyone, I pressed the option to “Dissolve Group Chat.” Finally, I said coldly: “I apologize.” Apologize? To whom? For what? I didn’t give anyone time to react. I simply dropped those words lightly and left the hospital.

A week passed quickly. I’d just stepped through the hospital entrance with my resignation letter when Fiona raised her voice: “Oh, Dr. Christie actually knows to come back?” “I thought you’d just packed up and run off! How about it—did you write your self-criticism with tears streaming down your face?” “Did you deeply reflect on all those shameful activities of yours?” As she spoke, she deliberately covered her mouth and made exaggerated expressions at several nearby nurses watching the drama. I acted as if I hadn’t heard anything and walked straight to Human Resources. When my colleague received my resignation letter, a flash of surprise crossed their eyes. But they didn’t say much, just silently began processing the paperwork. Fiona was clearly infuriated by my indifference. She followed behind me relentlessly, her mouth running nonstop: “Acting so high and mighty? You think resigning will clear your name?” “A shameless woman like you should have been kicked out long ago! Save our hospital’s reputation from being tainted!” I never gave her a single extra glance from start to finish. After submitting my resignation, I began packing my personal belongings—a thermos, a few professional books, and my well-worn stethoscope. There wasn’t much. I finished packing quickly. Picking up my bag, I turned and walked out of the examination room without looking back. Fiona continued her sarcastic taunts behind me. I paid no attention, walking all the way to the hospital entrance. The sunlight was just right, warmly falling on me as if washing away all the gloom. However, just as I was about to step through the gate, a piercing screech of brakes suddenly rang out. Followed by a second, a third… Within seconds, ten identical top-tier luxury cars pulled up in perfect formation right at the hospital entrance. The spectacle immediately stopped every passerby in their tracks. The car doors opened almost simultaneously. Ten pot-bellied executives in suits practically ran out of their vehicles. Their gazes cut straight through the crowd, locking onto me as I was about to leave. “Dr. Christie!” “Dr. Christie, you’re finally here!” “Dr. Christie, why did you dissolve the group chat? Did something happen? We’ve all been waiting for you!” They surrounded me in a chorus of urgent voices. The entire hospital entrance fell dead silent. Every gaze, filled with disbelief, landed on me. I slowly turned around and smiled at Fiona, who still stood frozen in place, her face deathly pale.

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My housekeeper Martha has an intellectual disability. Out of sympathy, I took her in. Right before my wedding, I was about to invite my friend Tessa to try on her bridesmaid dress. Martha suddenly stopped me: “Miss Claire, don’t let Miss Tessa be your bridesmaid. Mr. Lucas will hit her!” I smiled, thinking she was talking nonsense again. Because my fiancé Lucas Hunt got along well with all my friends. Seeing I didn’t believe her, Martha grabbed my arm and continued: “It’s true! I saw it with my own eyes. That day Mr. Lucas pulled down Miss Tessa’s pants, pressed her against the bathroom wall, and spanked her bottom!” I froze. Martha might be simple-minded, but she never lied. Just then, Lucas’s call came through at the perfect time: “Babe, I have to go to Europe on a business trip tomorrow. There’s a really important project. Can we postpone the wedding a bit?” I let out a cold laugh and replied, “Fine!” After hanging up, I thought of the bet I made with my dad. If this wedding got postponed again, I would go back and accept the blind dates he arranged. So I obediently replied, “Okay, I have other plans next week anyway.” Martha tilted her head, watching me, still muttering: “Miss Claire, don’t be angry. Mr. Lucas isn’t hitting Miss Tessa for the first time. Before, he told me not to tell you. But yesterday I heard Miss Tessa screaming so loudly in the room… I was worried…” I glanced at her and interrupted, “That’s enough, Martha. I understand. Thank you!” After Martha left, my chest tightened with a stabbing pain. I couldn’t breathe. Just as I finished speaking, my phone rang again. It was my dad calling. “Claire, have you thought about it?” My dad’s voice was emotionless. “Dad, I agree. I’ll come back.” Dad fell silent on the other end for a few seconds. He seemed surprised I would give up on Lucas Hunt. After hanging up, I walked into the bedroom and took out the marriage certificate from the drawer. But suddenly I noticed the stamp on the marriage certificate was misspelled. I carefully compared my marriage certificate with the one on the city hall website. My tears finally fell. Even my marriage certificate was fake. Soon the doorbell rang. I wiped my tears and went to open the door. Tessa stood at the door, holding the little cakes I loved: “Claire, I’m here to try on the bridesmaid dress.” I let her in. I suddenly remembered the scene from two years ago when she came to stay with me. I enthusiastically helped her arrange work and housing. Lucas Hunt had always been thoughtful and considerate toward my friends. Gradually, Lucas Hunt even drove her to work. From that time on, the passenger seat was no longer my place. It became the exclusive seat for Tessa, who supposedly got carsick. But I never imagined they had already gotten together long ago. “Claire, what are you spacing out for?” Tessa waved her hand in front of me. “Nothing. The dress is in the closet. Go try it on.” She smiled and went in. I inadvertently caught sight of the Tiffany key necklace on her neck. That was the birthday gift Lucas Hunt gave her a few days ago. I’d known Lucas Hunt for five years. Apart from giving me money, his gifts were always just a hug or a kiss. Then he’d say affectionately, “You’re my wife. What’s mine is yours.” I used to be satisfied with that romance. But everything changed after Tessa came. He would give her limited edition necklaces and cream puffs from West Street. Tessa’s voice came from the closet: “Claire, come help me look.” I walked over and watched her turn in front of the mirror. “Beautiful,” I said. She sighed, “But it’s such a shame. I can’t be your bridesmaid next week!” A chill ran through me. I asked, “Why not?” She lowered her head, her ears flushing red: “I have other important life arrangements…” Seeming unwilling to talk more about it, she changed the subject: “By the way, Claire, have you tried on your wedding dress yet?” I shook my head. I had fought so hard for this wedding. Lucas Hunt was always too busy. The wedding kept getting delayed until it couldn’t be delayed anymore. Even that custom wedding dress—I could only pick it up from the shop tonight. Tessa continued talking to herself: “You don’t know, last time when I went to try on wedding dresses, the owner said that custom piece was particularly suited for me. Lucas also said it looked good…” I looked at her without saying anything. A while ago, Tessa suddenly said she was getting engaged. I asked her who her fiancé was, but she refused to tell me, saying she’d give me a surprise later. She dragged Lucas Hunt along to try on wedding dresses, smiling as if it were the most natural thing: “Claire, let me borrow your man for a bit. I need to pick out a groom’s suit for my groom. Lucas’s physique is just perfect…” Before I could agree, Lucas Hunt readily agreed without hesitation. They were gone the whole afternoon. When they came back, Lucas Hunt said Tessa’s wedding dress was beautiful. Now that I think about it, he thought Tessa in a wedding dress was beautiful. But I had never even worn a wedding dress. Every time I mentioned having a wedding, Lucas Hunt was always too busy… He’d been busy for three years. We’d set dates and postponed, postponed and set dates again. Over and over, I couldn’t even remember how many times it had been. “Claire, are you okay?” Tessa tilted her head to look at me. “I’m fine.” The door lock clicked. Lucas Hunt was back, coincidentally holding two cups of coffee. As if he already knew there would be two women drinking coffee at home today. Seeing Tessa in the bridesmaid dress standing in the living room, he raised his eyebrows: “Well, whose bride is this?”

Tessa shot him a coquettish look: “Don’t say that. I’m just trying it on…” Lucas Hunt laughed and handed her the coffee: “Less sugar, more milk, hot.” Then he glanced at me: “Yours is on the table.” This order of priority seemed to have always existed. It was just particularly glaring today… Tessa suddenly called out to him, “Oh no, the zipper on the back of this dress isn’t done up properly. Help me out.” I turned to look. It had clearly been zipped up before, but now it had slipped down, exposing her fair skin. Just as I was about to help her, Lucas Hunt had already stepped forward. He pinched the zipper and pulled it up. The practiced motion stung my eyes. He turned to look at me: “Where’s Martha?” I snapped back to reality, forcing my tears back: “She had to go back to her hometown. I let her leave two days early.” Lucas Hunt reached out and pinched my cheek, “Martha’s so lucky to have met such a kind mistress like you.” After speaking, he lowered his head to kiss me. A loud crash came from behind us. Tessa had knocked over the coffee cup and burned her hand, letting out a shriek. Lucas Hunt immediately let go of me and strode over: “How can you be so careless? Did you get burned? I’ll get the medicine.” He rummaged through the medicine box muttering complaints, then crouched in front of Tessa to apply ointment. He kept saying, “So clumsy. How old are you anyway?” I picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip. Bitter. So bitter. I put down the coffee and walked into the bedroom to start packing. Lucas Hunt appeared at the door: “What are you doing?” “Packing. Going home.” He frowned, “They want you back?” I didn’t look up: “Yeah.” “Claire,” he walked in, “I’ve told you so many times. Parents who don’t bless us aren’t worth keeping. Why do you have to go back and suffer?” My hands paused while folding clothes. He really had said it many times. From the first time my parents objected, he’d told me to cut ties with my family, saying parents like that weren’t worth it. But I didn’t listen. I kept trying to make my parents acknowledge that I’d married well. I’d been looking forward to next week’s wedding for three years. They say a wedding is a ceremony every girl wants. But for me, it was more about showing my parents that Lucas Hunt was worth it! I wanted to tell them he still remembered the promise he made me when he was at his lowest. That he was willing to give me a grand wedding to announce it to the world… But in the end, it was all just my self-deception. If he really loved me, how could he bear to make me cut ties with my parents? “We’re not having the reception either,” I zipped up my suitcase, “and you won’t be there anyway. What am I staying here for?” He was speechless. “I just said we’d postpone it, not cancel it,” his tone softened, “something urgent came up at the company. I had no choice. About your parents—once I’m done with this, I’ll go talk to them myself.” Tessa also came over carrying the bridesmaid dress: “Claire, don’t blame Lucas. You just stay home drinking coffee and watering plants every day. How would you know how busy he’s been at the company lately?” “As his secretary, I know exactly what he’s doing. He’s been working around the clock for weeks!” I paused: “Secretary? Aren’t you in the operations division?” Something suddenly flashed through my mind—employee gossip I’d overheard when I went to find Lucas Hunt at the company a few days ago: “Mr. Hunt’s secretary follows him around all day. They close the office door for an hour or two, and when they come out, her hair is all messy.” I’d laughed it off at the time. I thought Lucas Hunt’s secretary was still old Robert. He was used to him and wouldn’t replace him easily. Turns out… this secretary wasn’t that secretary! Tessa froze for a moment, quickly glancing at Lucas Hunt, then explained with a smile: “The operations division hasn’t been busy lately, so I volunteered to help Lucas share the load. He was too tired. I couldn’t just watch.” “Claire, I’m doing this because I feel bad for your husband. If you can’t help him, I will!”

It wasn’t that I couldn’t help—Lucas Hunt wouldn’t let me go to the company. He said I married him to enjoy life. That was all I needed to do. But he didn’t tell me that to enjoy this bit of comfort, I’d have to lose my marriage, my friends, my parents, and my dignity… Just as Lucas Hunt was about to chime in, we heard the door from the living room. Martha was back. “Mr. Hunt, Miss Claire!” “Didn’t you have the day off?” Lucas Hunt asked. Martha scratched her head: “I got halfway there and remembered I forgot the motion sickness medicine Miss Claire bought for me.” She looked at Tessa with her crooked smile, then at Lucas Hunt, and suddenly laughed twice: “Mr. Hunt, please don’t hit Miss Tessa anymore!” Tessa’s expression changed: “Martha, what nonsense are you talking about?” Martha tilted her head, looking confused: “I’m not talking nonsense.” The living room fell silent. Lucas Hunt was the first to react, frowning and scolding: “Martha, if your head’s not clear, go rest. Stop spouting nonsense.” Then he turned to me with a helpless tone, “You know her condition. You’d actually believe her crazy talk?” Tessa’s eyes also reddened, looking aggrieved: “Claire, just fire this Martha. She’s always talking nonsense.” She tugged at my sleeve. I lowered my eyes, then let out a laugh: “I know. Martha’s mind isn’t clear. I won’t take what she says seriously.” Lucas Hunt let out a breath of relief and walked over to squeeze my shoulder. “Alright, I’m going to the study to work.” Tessa, probably to “avoid suspicion,” didn’t eagerly follow him like usual. Instead, she pulled me to sit down. “Claire, I’d love to keep you company during the break, but remember when I tried on the wedding dress? Actually, I’m getting married next week too! It works out perfectly that your wedding got postponed.” I sneered inwardly. I could guess who the groom was, but I was too lazy to ask. She rambled on for a bit, then suddenly looked pleading: “There’s a very important document that needs to be signed for. Help me receive it before you go home, okay? You don’t have a job anyway. You can go back anytime. No rush for a day or two.” I hesitated for two seconds, then nodded: “Okay.” She happily hugged me: “I knew you were the best! I’ll leave first then.” The house fell quiet. My heart also completely quieted down. Early the next morning, I didn’t get up to see Lucas Hunt off. He sat by the bed, running his fingers through my hair and instructing: “Babe, when I get back, I promise I’ll give you a grand wedding that will make your parents happy too!” In the past, my heart would have been sweet for days. But now, every word felt like he was reading a script. Reading it to someone he had no intention of keeping promises to. Seeing I wasn’t responding, thinking I was still unhappy about postponing the wedding, he left on his own. The moment he left, I grabbed my suitcase and walked out. I ran into Martha at the door. I looked at her and smiled: “Martha, would you be willing to come back to my hometown with me? You could work there from now on.” Her eyes lit up: “That would be great! I know Miss Tessa is pregnant with a baby~ Mr. Hunt said when the baby’s born, he’ll give it to Miss Claire to raise. I don’t want to take care of someone else’s child!” I froze, instinctively touching my own belly. Married for three years, he had always refused to give me a child. A while ago I said I was bored at home. He suddenly said, “How about we adopt one?” “Childbirth is too painful for women. I can’t bear to see you suffer like that.” I’d actually believed his “concern” at the time. I was too foolish.

When I got home, Father was reading the newspaper in the living room. He looked up and saw me, frowning: “You really came back? Not having the wedding anymore?” “Not anymore.” I handed my suitcase to the servant. Father put down the newspaper and beckoned me to sit. “Why didn’t that girl Tessa come back with you? Hasn’t she been living at your place?” “She had something to do.” Father snorted: “What could she possibly have to do? She just likes clinging to you. Two years ago I arranged a good job for her, but she insisted on going to find you.” I didn’t respond. Perhaps she wasn’t going to find me at all, but to find Lucas Hunt. She was a scholarship student my father sponsored. Later, my father even brought her mother to work as a cook. During those years when I was fighting with my family over Lucas Hunt, she always supported me. And all along, she was working her way into Lucas Hunt’s heart… Father continued asking: “Did you handle the divorce paperwork? Back then you insisted I give him the cooperation rights for that project. If you two divorce now, I won’t be giving it to him anymore!” My eyes suddenly stung. I didn’t dare tell Dad that my marriage certificate was fake. I didn’t even need a divorce. I nodded: “Yeah, divorced!” Father nodded. There was heartache in his eyes, but he didn’t ask more. The next day, Dad arranged for my blind date to come over. His name was Xavier Moore. His family was as wealthy as mine. He was very handsome but rather quiet. We sat face to face for three minutes, and the wedding was settled. Yet Lucas Hunt and I had been together for three years, and he still hadn’t given me a wedding. How ironic… The wedding was held at a resort hotel owned by the Moore family. Although it was rushed, it was extremely luxurious. After the ceremony, we went straight to get our marriage certificate that afternoon. This marriage certificate was real. On our wedding night, I was nervous when my phone rang. It was a video call from Tessa. I hesitated for a few seconds, then answered. She was wearing a slip dress, smiling sweetly: “Claire, did you sign for that document for me?” There was a probing tone in her voice. I smiled, “Already signed for it. Don’t worry.” Her eyes brightened: “Good. Once my wedding’s over, I’ll come back to keep you company right away!” As she spoke, she deliberately turned her phone around. The screen swept across the hotel room. The bed was messy, her face flushed, unable to hide her smile: “Tonight, my husband and I did it three times. I told him to stop but he wouldn’t. My back hurts so much now!” A man’s voice came through the phone: “Only three times and you can’t take it? We used to be able to do it seven times in one night.” Tessa’s smile couldn’t be suppressed. She said coquettishly: “I know, you’re so annoying.” I held the phone without saying anything. Then Tessa spoke to me through the phone again: “Claire, guess who my groom is?” “No need to guess,” I said. “Congratulations on your marriage. I need to go to bed with my groom too.” The other end paused, as if not processing what I’d said. At that moment, Xavier came out of the bathroom, walked to the bedside, and suddenly reached out to embrace my waist, his lips brushing against my earlobe. Caught off guard, I let out a soft moan. Tessa was still in a daze when the man beside her suddenly sounded alert: “Who are you talking to? What groom?”

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He was famous for his strict adherence to propriety, taking the initiative to marry me and take responsibility after our wild night. But he didn’t love me. After we got married, no matter how hard I tried, he kept me at arm’s length. He was as cold and detached as a monk. Until a woman appeared who perfectly matched his criteria for a partner. He lost his mind over her, unable to sleep at night. So, it wasn’t that he didn’t have desires and emotions. He just didn’t have them for me. 01 At 1:00 AM, Carter finally came home. He seemed surprised that I wasn’t asleep yet. “I told you, you don’t have to wait up for me.” “But I want to wait,” I said, smiling and leaning against him. “It’s only natural for a wife to wait for her husband to come home.” He paused in taking off his watch: “Suit yourself.” Only a small lamp was on in the living room. In the dim light, the man’s features were so perfect he didn’t seem human. Every time I looked closely at him, I felt a deep sense of awe. “I missed you so much today—” My words were cut off. Carter frowned at me: “What are you wearing?” I said: “New lingerie, do you like it?” “Don’t do this kind of thing again.” He turned and walked towards the guest bedroom. “Carter,” I stopped him. “Today is my birthday, can’t you just spend some time with me?” He stopped in his tracks: “Happy birthday. I’m pretty tired today, we’ll talk about it later.” He went into the room and locked the door behind him. Leaving me alone in the living room, wearing semi-transparent lingerie, feeling like an absolute fool. We’ve been married for half a year, and Carter has always kept me at a distance. No matter how much I flirted with him, he remained unmoved. Like a monk devoid of human desires. The media always said Carter was different from those playboy trust-fund kids. The Vance family had strict rules, raising him to be the most proper gentleman in Manhattan’s elite circle. But I had seen his other side. His wild, unhinged side. Seeing it once made me crave it again. However, Carter’s actions told me that night was just an accident. My phone vibrated. My best friend, Lily, sent a message: “Have you seen the trending topics… if you haven’t, promise me you won’t get mad.” What happened? I opened Twitter, and a glaring headline caught my eye. #CarterVanceLateNightRendezvousWithBeauty# Oh, I knew this beauty. Carter’s new secretary. 02 The comment section was full of people watching the drama unfold. [Congrats to CEO Vance for finding true love!] [Bring the marriage registry here! Hurry up and divorce that manipulative Audrey Miller!!] [Audrey Miller even posted a PDA tweet today. Talk about a slap in the face.] [Is there anyone who doesn’t know Audrey Miller orchestrated a one-night stand to force him into marriage…] So, Carter was with his new secretary tonight. I had seen that girl before. Twenty-two years old, just graduated from college. Very young, very pretty, and full of energy. Most importantly, she perfectly matched Carter’s criteria for a partner. They met at a campus recruitment event. Carter went to give a speech personally, and the girl was bold enough to be the first to raise her hand to ask a question. After the meeting, Carter specifically pulled out her resume and studied it for a long time. Unexpectedly, this girl was appointed directly as his executive secretary. You have to understand, Carter’s secretarial team wielded immense power. The company’s HR department had no say; only he could personally appoint them. Following the information provided by netizens, I found the girl’s account. An hour ago, she posted a tweet. [Can’t handle my liquor. Thanks to my kind boss for driving me home, hehe.] In the photo, she was sitting in the passenger seat, showing Carter’s hands gripping the steering wheel. 03 Early the next morning. Carter walked out of his room and saw me. “You have a shoot today?” “No.” “Then why are you up so early?” “What were you doing last night?” “Team building with the executive office.” “Was it a team building for a group, or a team building for two?” “What do you mean?” I pulled up the trending topic. Carter glanced at it, downplaying it: “The media is taking things out of context. There were six people at dinner yesterday.” “Is that so? Should I believe you?” “Audrey, stop being unreasonable. You know better than anyone what the media is like.” He wasn’t wrong. After all, in the current entertainment industry, no female star gets hated on more than me. The media deserves a lot of the credit for that. But these are two different things. I cut straight to the chase: “Do you like her? That secretary fresh out of college.” “I don’t.” Faced with my blunt question, Carter remained calm and heavy. “And I don’t appreciate your wild guesses. If you have too much free time, I’ll have the management department schedule more shoots for you.” He spoke as if addressing a subordinate. Not his wife. I said: “I remember your criteria for a partner. Under 5’7″, long straight dark hair, a clean aura, energetic and smiley. She fits them all.” And I didn’t fit a single one. I was known for being cold and glamorous. Carter was getting annoyed: “Are you done? If you’re done, I’m going to the office.” “Fine, go. Today I will tell the media that Chloe is a homewrecker interfering in someone else’s marriage—” Carter stopped abruptly. When he looked back at me, there was actual anger in his eyes. “Chloe is only twenty-two. She’s just a kid. Do you want to destroy her life with rumors?” God knows how long it had been since I saw Carter angry. Raging for a beauty, only that beauty wasn’t me. I said: “Carter, do you remember how old I am?” “Yesterday, I just turned twenty-five.” “I’m only three years older than her.” “When I was getting torn apart by the public, did you ever feel sorry for me?” 04 My feelings for Carter began when I was eighteen. I grew up in a single-parent household. During my senior year of high school, my mom got seriously ill. I didn’t go to college. After graduation, I worked at a bar to scrape together money for her treatment. I worked a legitimate job, not selling anything inappropriate. But because of my standout looks, I occasionally faced verbal harassment from male customers. The manager said the customer is always right, and if I didn’t want to get fired, I just had to endure it. One day, I encountered a particularly difficult customer. “How old are you, little girl? Oh, eighteen. So young. Are you a waitress here? Do you offer any other services besides serving drinks?” A group of men started laughing sleazily. “You don’t? Stop pretending. Your uncle here isn’t just rich, he’s also very capable. Come with me tonight, and I promise you’ll experience pure bliss.” It was disgusting. He was about to continue harassing me when suddenly, a glass of liquor fell from the sky, soaking him from head to toe. “Who the f—” Seeing who it was, the male customer froze. “Mr., Mr. Vance, what is the meaning of this?” “Apologize to her.” 05 That was the first time I heard Carter’s voice. It was clear and cool, like pearls breaking off a string and clinking onto a porcelain plate. He was there to discuss a business deal. I figured if it weren’t for work, he wouldn’t have set foot in this place. Because he completely didn’t fit in here. Carter didn’t have the slightest smell of smoke or alcohol on him. He was as aloof as a god. After the man slinked away, Carter said to me: “People like that aren’t fit to do business with me.” “Thank you, sir.” “You don’t need to endure it. Next time, remember to fight back and protect yourself.” “I’ll lose my job.” He looked down at me: “Are you very short on money?” “Yeah, my mom is sick and needs medical bills paid.” “What about school?” I shook my head: “I don’t have the money for tuition.” “I understand.” Surprisingly, Carter didn’t show any pity. That was good. I didn’t like people pitying me. He left me a phone number. “This is my subordinate’s contact information. You can reach out to him. Our company has a charity project helping impoverished students. As long as your situation is verified, you can apply for a grant.” He paused, then said one last thing. “If you have the opportunity, you must study.” Later, I really did get the grant. After paying for my mom’s treatment, there was still some left over. I took a gap year, studied hard, and successfully got into college. It was only then that I learned he was the famous Carter Vance. The Vance family was a titan in the entertainment industry, terrifyingly wealthy. And Carter was the sole heir. In my sophomore year, I met him for the second time. I gathered my courage and walked up to Carter: “Mr. Vance, thank you.” He was confused: “You are?” He didn’t remember. The lighting was dim that night, and he barely looked at me. Helping me was just a casual gesture for him. But that was okay. I would work hard, and sooner or later, I would stand beside him. A year later, I became a signed artist at Carter’s company. I was finally able to confidently extend my hand to him: “Hello, Mr. Vance.” He would never know how many years I worked hard for this day. I didn’t dare to hope for the future; I was already content. But half a year ago, an accident completely changed our relationship. —Carter and I had a wild one-night stand. 06 I only remember the gist of what happened that night. The company hosted a gala, and many VIPs attended. I drank too much, and so did Carter. My guest room was 606. I was sure the room I entered was 606. But Carter was lying inside. I don’t even remember how we started kissing. I was intoxicated, and so was he. There were many rumors about Carter in the outside world. He kept his distance from women and strictly adhered to propriety. Some said his sexual orientation was a mystery. Others said he had a hidden illness. But that night, I experienced firsthand that it was all fake! When Carter lost control, it was fatal. … Early the next morning, someone rang the doorbell. My legs were weak as I went to open it. Because of the hangover, my mind was still foggy, and I thought it was housekeeping. In reality, it was full of reporters. Countless camera lenses were aimed at me. While I was standing there in shock, Carter also walked over. “Who is it?” He didn’t even have time to put on his shirt properly before he was caught on camera. 07 The scandal between Carter and me caused an uproar. The Vance family was strict and wouldn’t allow such an absurd thing to happen. Carter found me and proposed marriage. Of course, I agreed without hesitation. Happiness came too suddenly, going straight to my head. It caused me to ignore the scrutiny and coldness in his eyes at that moment. He asked me: “Wasn’t the room number 909?” I said: “No, it was 606. You read it wrong.” He was silent for a moment, then spat out four words: “As you wish.” It wasn’t until after we got married that I understood the deep meaning of those four words. It turned out that after that night, Carter went to the hospital for a check-up. They found traces of drugs in his system. The kind of illicit drug that makes you lose your reason and be controlled by lust. Though illegal, this drug wasn’t uncommon. Who drugged him? At the same time, that morning, I opened the door for the reporters. Who called the reporters? How did they conveniently gather right outside this room? Everything seemed planned. I was the prime suspect. Carter hadn’t originally intended to resolve this with marriage. But ruining the family’s reputation caused their stock to plummet, and the family elders were furious. He had no choice but to take responsibility. I had defended myself. “It wasn’t me”—I said those words countless times. But everything was just too coincidental. Carter said it was hard for him to believe me. During these six months of marriage, we slept in separate rooms. Even if he accidentally touched my hand, he would pull away as if he’d been electrocuted. I didn’t give up. I believed that one day, he would discard the misunderstandings and barriers. But it seemed I wouldn’t live to see that day. Because of Chloe’s appearance. 08 I had seen Carter reading her resume word by word. As if trying to study her past between the lines. He was so gentle, but not towards me. After fighting with Carter, I packed my things and left the house. We gave each other the silent treatment for days, and he never reached out. A week later, I went to record a talk show. Carter came too, bringing his new secretary. Having not seen him for days, when he saw me, he just gave a distant nod from afar. No intimacy whatsoever. Chloe followed beside him, curious about everything, constantly asking him questions. I remembered that Carter hated stupid people at work. But right now, facing Chloe, he was very patient, answering every single question. After a while, he came over to me. “Audrey,” he said. “I gave you the status you wanted. Don’t drag innocent people into this.” “We haven’t seen each other for a week, and this is what you want to say?” “Just a reminder.” I laughed: “Mr. Vance, do you still think I drugged you and called the reporters?” “What else?” I didn’t say anything more. There was no need. Disappointment flooded my heart and brain, sobering me up. Carter was truly good to his little secretary. Her probation period wasn’t even over, yet he let her appear on the show in his place. She was talkative and full of energy. Until the host asked about me. “Chloe, you just joined the company recently and you’re already on a show with the boss’s wife. Are you nervous?” Chloe glanced at me and said: “What’s there to be afraid of? I know there are some bad rumors out there, saying Audrey used to be a bar girl, and that she’s very manipulative and stuff. But I want to say, Audrey is a very good person. You shouldn’t be prejudiced against her!” The whole studio was dumbfounded. She just publicly listed all my scandals! Even the host, who had seen all sorts of situations, was stunned into silence. The host had to change the subject. “Ahem, next, let’s ask Audrey. Do you have any important plans coming up? Give the fans watching a little hint.” “I actually do.” I smiled calmly— “I’m, get-ting, a, di-vorce.” Every word was clear and resounding. Carter, who was off-stage, snapped his head up. His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief. 09 The studio was quieter than it had ever been. The host looked like she wanted to die. Probably in her entire career, she had never felt this awkward. “Why, why, why did you make this decision…” “You should ask Miss Chloe.” I tossed the ball to Chloe. The little girl was caught completely off guard. Did she think she was the only one who could play passive-aggressive? Sorry, I prefer the direct approach. “You’ve all seen the news lately, right? My husband has been acting ambiguously with his subordinate. If I don’t divorce a husband like that, am I supposed to keep him around for the holidays?” Facing the camera, I smiled. “I don’t like fighting with other people over a man. I have a lot of things to do. I have to shoot movies and record shows. Without love, I can still live a wonderful life.” “As for men, if they don’t behave, just get a new one.” As soon as I finished speaking, Carter seemed to finally snap out of it and forcefully interrupted the show. He pulled me backstage. “Audrey, what nonsense are you spouting?” “I’m not spouting nonsense.” I peeled his fingers off me one by one. It was so laughable. The man who usually dodged my touch was now refusing to let go. “Carter, listen closely.” “Starting today, I, Audrey Miller, am officially asking you for a divorce.” It was as if all the blood had been drained from Carter’s body, his face turning pale. “You’re fighting with me, right? You think if you bring up divorce, I’ll coax you.” He nodded to himself: “Okay, I’ll coax you. Giving you the cold shoulder these past few days was my fault. I apologize. I’ll have PR handle everything that just happened on the show. The company executives won’t say a word of blame. If you don’t like Chloe, I’ll transfer her out of the executive office—” “Not necessary.” I interrupted. “Wake up. I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket. It was a prepared divorce agreement. “Take a look. If you don’t have any objections, sign it now.” 10 The show was live. Even though it was halted midway, the things I said were broadcasted accurately. I instantly went viral on Twitter. The comment section was surprisingly supportive. [I’m siding with Audrey on this one. That Chloe girl was talking way too passive-aggressively, it was disgusting.] [I wanted to say this a few days ago: regardless of how Audrey got her position, she is the legitimate wife now, bound by law. A bunch of people praising the mistress as ‘true love’—what kind of messed-up morals is that?] [Support wifey getting a divorce. If you don’t leave, I’ll fight you.] [Off-topic, but Audrey’s face is truly stunning. I was mesmerized by her beauty watching the live stream today… is Carter blind?] People were also discussing what kind of person Chloe really was. Because the day after the scandal broke, Carter, while fighting with me, swiftly issued a clarification statement. The executives who attended the dinner that night also posted photos. The scandal collapsed on its own. But my interview seemed to confirm their ambiguity again. Could a man as proper and rigid as Carter really cheat? Suspicions were running high. Soon, the company’s disciplinary actions were announced. Because of her inappropriate language, Chloe received a severe warning and was transferred. Everyone said this was Carter trying to win me back. But was it really? I knew Carter’s temper too well. If any other employee had made such a mistake, it wouldn’t just be a transfer; they would usually be fired directly. Chloe merely being “transferred” meant he was still protecting her. 11 Looking back at the day of the recording, I brought out the divorce agreement. But Carter refused to sign. I couldn’t guess what he was thinking either. I decided to send a text to rush him. “Mr. Vance, after you fill out the divorce agreement, please send it to me so we can pick a day to get the divorce certificate.” Carter called me directly. “Rey-Rey, haven’t you caused enough of a scene?” Rey-Rey is my nickname. When I was little and couldn’t articulate well, I always mispronounced my name “Audrey” as “Rey-Rey,” so my mom gave me this nickname. Carter had always known this name. But this was the first time he called me that. “I am very firm on the divorce. Please hurry up, Mr. Vance, don’t delay me from finding my next partner.” “Next partner?” Carter practically laughed out of anger. “I’ve given you the status and resources you dreamed of. Who else do you want to find? Rey-Rey, you are my first, and you will be my last. I’ve never coaxed a girl before, but I can promise you, as long as you want it, the position of Mrs. Vance is always yours. No one can take it away!” I said: “But what I dreamed of was never those things.” Carter seemed stunned. “You still don’t know what it is I truly wanted… but it doesn’t matter, I don’t want it anymore.” With that, I hung up. My best friend, Lily, was also an employee at the company. She told me that Carter had been in a very dark mood these past few days and kept zoning out during meetings. Lily said: “Everyone is saying privately that you can’t bear to leave Mr. Vance and that you’ll be back sooner or later. It seems… Mr. Vance believes it too.” No wonder. Ever since I mentioned divorce, Carter had been initiating contact with me every day. But for the past three days, he had reverted to his cold and aloof self. So he was waiting for me to bow my head. Then I’ll give him what he wants. On Friday, I took the initiative to go to the company. When Carter saw me, his eyes lit up: “Rey-Rey, have you thought it through?” “I have.” I slapped a stack of documents on his desk. “Not only do I want a divorce, but I also want to terminate my contract.” 12 I signed a five-year contract with the company. This year was exactly the fifth year. I chose not to renew. Carter was in disbelief. He asked through gritted teeth: “Are you sure about this?” “Yes.” “Found a new agency?” I didn’t know which agency he was talking about. But I still said “Yes.” My attitude infuriated him. He hesitated no longer, took a pen, and signed both contracts. However, he pressed so hard he almost tore through the paper. With the signed divorce agreement, the rest of the process was very simple. The day I got the divorce certificate, I felt incredibly light. This one-sided crush that had lasted for seven years was finally over. As I was admiring the certificate, I heard Carter say: “Remember, today is the day you gave up everything from the Vance family.” “Oh, don’t worry, I won’t regret it.” “I hope so.” His tone was extremely cold, but when he looked up, I noticed. His eyes were red. 13 Whether his eyes were red or not, what did it matter to me? I threw myself into my new life without stopping. Of course, to say I wasn’t sad at all would be a lie. After all, I had loved him so much and tried so hard to get close to him. But clarity only takes an instant. My sadness was only for feeling that my efforts were not worth it. The Vance family had funded my education, and I figured working for them all these years was enough to repay them. A few days later, Lily told me she had also resigned. “Rey-Rey, if you go, I go. Men are unreliable, your sister will stay with you!” I was so moved I almost cried. Lily had been working behind the scenes for years and was very capable. We planned to start our own personal studio. Preparing the studio would take some time. Before that, I was going to record a reality show first. It was a heartwarming variety show. The guests had to bring a few old items and reminisce about the past. After much deliberation, I decided to bring my old backpack. It was the backpack I used during my gap year studying for the college entrance exams. It held a lot of memories. On the day of filming, Carter showed up. It wasn’t that surprising. I had accepted this gig while I was still with my previous company, and besides me, newcomers trained by the company were also on the show. Carter had a habit of being hands-on and came to check in with the production team. He stood behind the camera crew, his eyes fixed on me. I just pretended I didn’t see him. Halfway through the shoot, it was my turn to present. I opened my backpack and took out the items one by one. “This is a gel pen. During my gap year, I did so many practice tests I had to change pens every two or three days. “Oh, and this. The SAT prep book. Everyone’s done this, right? I call it a nightmare. “This is a notebook for mistakes. I have so many more like this. “And this—” I suddenly stopped. The last item was a yellowed diary. It used to be my most loyal listener. During the hardest and most exhausting times of studying, writing in my diary was my only way to relieve stress. My prolonged silence piqued the curiosity of the guest next to me. “Is there a secret in this notebook? You have to follow the rules of the game, no hiding.” She took my notebook and flipped it open. [September 2016. The teacher said the intensity of the gap year classes is very high, and many students can’t handle it. But I must persevere, because I have to go see Carter Vance.] She froze too. The whole studio went quiet.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “439066”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

To bathe my pet, I was influenced into buying a “Couples’ Bathroom Suction Cup Wristband.” But the package left at my door was mistakenly taken by my crush, the dentist next door. While walking the dog, I discussed the “wonders” of the wristband with an innocent college boy. When I got back, my neighbor backed me into a corner. “Who did you use it with? “If it could be just anyone, then why didn’t you choose me?” 01 My name is Penny Parker. Ever since I was a kid, my feet would glue themselves to the floor at the sight of good food. After I started working, my food expenses went through the roof, taking up a ridiculous chunk of my paycheck. To fund my eating habits, I racked my brain for ways to make extra cash and finally chose the path that suited me best—becoming a Mukbang streamer. My career was just starting; I only had a meager dozen or so followers. On my stream, I was complaining about how my Corgi, Waffles, never behaved during bath time. A fan mysteriously sent me a link, promising it worked like a charm. I obediently bought it. The next day, the delivery guy called to say it was delivered, but I didn’t see a ghost of a package. “I left it at your front door as you requested.” In the photo the delivery guy sent, the brown cardboard box was sitting quietly right in the middle between my door and my neighbor’s. “I went to the building manager to check the security footage. The neighbor thought it was his package and took it inside!!!” During my stream, looking dead inside, I reported this colossal mix-up to my fans. “I don’t know if the box has the product name written on it. “If he saw it, my lifelong reputation is ruined, hahahaha.” The live chat comments flew by, full of mockery and zero comfort. “I’ve had a crush on him for so long. If he gets the wrong idea, I seriously won’t have the courage to explain myself ahhhh.” Just picturing that scene was more than I could handle. When people feel awkward, they try to look busy, so I stuffed another fried chicken drumstick into my mouth. It was a little bland, but that was okay. Paired with my tears, it was just salty enough. [Don’t you bring him food all the time? Since he just took the package in not long ago, he probably hasn’t opened it yet. Go drop off some food and get it back on the way.] [Girl, she’s right! The longer you drag it out, the higher the risk he sees it. Just rip the band-aid off!] [I’m so anxious, I really want to know what happens next. Streamer, hurry up and go. Come back and restart the stream afterward; I’m pulling an all-nighter right here waiting for you.] Thinking it over, I really didn’t have a better solution. I had no choice but to hastily end the stream, pack up the table full of food, and knock on my handsome neighbor’s door. 02 My neighbor’s name was Arthur Hayes, a dentist at a top-tier hospital in our district. My crush on him originated from a brutally intense cavity filling. I had bad eating habits. Whenever I ate something delicious, I’d subconsciously bite down hard. One careless chomp on a bone fragment chipped my tooth. It hurt so much I couldn’t sleep all night, my cheek swelling up like a small hill. At the crack of dawn, I scrambled to the nearest hospital and registered. Clutching my swollen cheek, I opened the door to the clinic. One look up completely overturned my perception of the medical profession. He looked very unprofessional, because he was simply way too handsome. Fair skin, perfectly proportioned features, soft hair falling smoothly to his brow bone. He wore gold-rimmed glasses resting on a high-bridged nose, and his lips were full and an alluring shade. “Please, have a seat.” His clear, soothing voice pulled my thoughts back. I sat in the dental chair in front of him, obediently opening my mouth, leaving myself at his mercy. He briefly asked about my symptoms, then pinched my chin and meticulously examined me for a long time with his cold tools. I only understood “needs a filling,” “requires a root canal,” and “might need to come in a few more times.” Then, in a daze, I found myself lying back on the cold dental chair. “Pinch me if it hurts.” He placed my hand on his leg. “Tilt your head up. “Relax. “Open wide, don’t bite down…” His deep, gentle voice worked better than hypnosis. It was like I was under a spell, acting completely obedient. Whatever he said, I did. That was until an indescribable, aching, numbing pain spread through my mouth. I couldn’t help but pinch his thigh muscle hard. The texture was firm and elastic. A series of inappropriate images began popping into my head. Like that thirsty TikTok video of the muscle guy I scrolled past before bed last night. Tears spilling out from the pain flowed down my mouth and were sucked away clean by his suction tube. “Bear with it for a second. “A little pressure and pain at first is normal, it’ll be over soon.” The cold instruments brought a weird sensation, and the fear of the unknown tortured me. Only by staring at his eyes and brows could I alleviate a fraction of my anxiety. Luckily, he worked fast. After it was over, I sat dumbly on the edge of the chair. Arthur went over post-care instructions while scheduling my next root canal appointment. When I left, he said. “…Pinch a little lighter next time.” I was speechless. The second time I came, I recorded an audio clip on my phone. “Dr. Hayes, it hurts!” Every time it hurt, I just pressed play on the recording. My voice echoed in the small clinic room. “Dr. Hayes, it hurts! “Dr. Hayes… “Dr. Hayes, it hurts so much!” The young nurse beside us was bursting with joy, laughing so hard she bent over and couldn’t stand straight for a while. Arthur’s face turned red all the way to the tips of his ears. He kept saying, “Okay, I’ll be gentler. Hang in there, it’ll be over soon.” But his hand movements didn’t pause for a single second because of my audio clip. It wasn’t until I looked at him with teary eyes that he let me rest for a few minutes. Then it was a new round of torture. After the filling was done this time, we had no reason to meet and chat anymore. Even though I missed him, the painful memories of that dental chair were truly terrifying, always managing to nip my burgeoning crush in the bud. However, our next meeting didn’t take long. The flu hit hard, and the apartment complex organized a pop-up vaccination drive in the lobby. Arthur was the doctor assigned to our building. I came down late and was at the very end of the line. It wasn’t until I got my shot and he took off his protective gear that I recognized him. “What a coincidence, Dr. Hayes!” “I’ve been dealing with you for days, and you’re just now recognizing me?” “Huh? You recognized me the past two days?” “I recognized your teeth.” I laughed awkwardly. Chalk it up to him being unromantic, and me being overly sentimental. We chatted as we walked, only realizing we were walking the same path when we reached our front doors. “You live here too? “Looks like we’re neighbors.” Being close to the water gets you the moonlight first. Wasn’t this a godsend? I, Penny Parker, am indeed destined to feast on the best! Since then, I would find excuses to bother Dr. Hayes, making him cute bento boxes, asking him out to try new restaurants or watch movies. The fact that he never refused made me feel pretty good about myself. I had even thought of our future kids’ names. Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes. I believed our relationship was just one step away from the goal line. Now that this incident happened, if I didn’t handle it well, wouldn’t all this time spent chasing him be for nothing? 03 I knocked lightly three times. Not long after, the door opened. “Hehe, I’m here to use you as my taste tester again.” Arthur stepped aside, gesturing for me to come in. Just as I was about to take off my shoes and walk in barefoot, a pair of fuzzy slippers was handed to me. “I bought you these fluffy bunny slippers. They just arrived today.” The two little ears on the bunny’s head bobbed with his movement. A squeal of delight was right on the tip of my tongue, but to maintain my ladylike image, I swallowed it back down. “I saw these scrolling online just a couple days ago! They’re so cute!” Delighted, I slipped on the slippers and arranged the food on the dining table. Not forgetting why I was here, I kept my hands moving while secretly scanning every corner of the living room from the corner of my eye. By the shoe cabinet in the entryway, my delivery box lay quietly. It didn’t look like it had been opened. My heart settled halfway back into my chest. “I tried to replicate KFC’s crispy fried chicken at home today. I feel like it’s a bit bland, can you taste it?” I held out a drumstick to Arthur. I thought he would reach out and take it, but to my surprise, he just leaned in and took a bite right out of my hand. “It’s delicious.” I felt the temperature of my face rising steadily. Was this the beauty of flirting? I sat down, feigning calmness, and pulled out my homemade floral gin. It was October, the autumn breeze was crisp, and the scent of flowers filled the air. It was a great time for infused liquor. I figured knocking back a couple of drinks might make it easier to speak naturally, so I brought it without overthinking. Arthur brought out two glasses and poured a little for each of us. Worried it wouldn’t be enough liquid courage for me to perform, I topped them off with a bit more. “I didn’t realize you were such a good drinker?” He teased me, watching my actions. I just giggled. I was here to handle serious business, after all. After dinner, I sat on the sofa watching TV, preparing to get down to business once Arthur finished cleaning up the dishes. I was still brewing my words and hadn’t opened my mouth yet when he interrupted my casting. “That movie you missed in theaters is available streaming now. I rented it. Do you want to watch it together?” My mouth was faster than my brain. Before my brain could process it, my mouth had already said yes for me. The lights were dimmed, and coupled with the alcohol, sleepiness soon enveloped me. In a daze, I blindly grabbed something to hug and slept soundly. When I woke up, the movie was over. I was leaning against Arthur’s chest, my hands wrapped around his arm, and I had even left a suspicious drool stain on his shirt. Guiltily, I pursed my lips, but I felt a stinging, burning sensation on them. Seeing this, he leaned in for a closer look. “It might be an allergic reaction. Do you know what you’re allergic to?” Maybe because we hadn’t spoken for a long time during the movie, his voice sounded a bit hoarse. Seeing me shake my head, he continued. “Come to the hospital tomorrow for an allergy test. I’ll book the appointment for you.” Before leaving, as I was changing my shoes in the entryway, I pretended to casually notice my package. “Oh, this looks like my package. The delivery guy must have dropped it off at the wrong door.” He glanced at the box and handed it to me. The lighting was dim, so I couldn’t clearly see his expression. My probing had failed. “Is it? I just brought it in and didn’t look closely. You should take it back.” I thought to myself, Thank god I got here fast. He hadn’t opened it or seen it, so my image was safe. After bidding each other goodnight, I happily carried the box back to my place. I didn’t forget the girls waiting for me online, so I updated them on the progress. “Retrieved safely! I’ll dish the details on tomorrow’s stream! I just fell asleep at his place.” This was the first time I’d stayed at his place this long. My whole body was marinated in the nice woody scent of his apartment. As soon as I got back, Waffles circled me, sniffing for ages. When I showered and threw my clothes in the hamper, I was almost reluctant to wash them. How is my behavior any different from a total creep? Penny Parker, you are such a pervert. 04 Actually, the stinging on my lips was gone after my shower that night. I figured the allergen was probably inside Arthur’s house. However, since he had already booked the appointment, I woke up bright and early to get the allergy test done. As soon as I got the report, Arthur strolled up beside me out of nowhere. “Let me see.” I handed it to him. “Dust mites and cat dander.” “I fed some stray cats on my way home from work yesterday. I probably got cat hair on me.” The symptoms did appear right after leaning on him, and it wasn’t too severe. “Probably.” “Mhm. Next time you come over, I’ll change clothes and shower first.” “It’s fine, it’s fine, I’m not that fragile. It’s probably just because we were leaning so close yesterday.” Arthur gave me a meaningful look. “Last night, when you were rubbing my abs and sleep-talking, you said they felt good, that you loved touching them, and wanted to touch them more.” My eyes widened to the size of saucers. My little brain desperately scrambled for memories of last night—error 404, scene not found. How could a person make such a massive blunder after just a little alcohol??? My mind went completely blank, and I couldn’t utter a single syllable. “Allergies can be mild or severe; in the worst-case scenario, you could suffocate. “As a doctor, I obviously have to prevent my patient from collapsing in front of me.” The heart of a girl with a crush on her doctor simply shattered into pieces. The temperature of my face skyrocketed. If it were winter right now, I’d be blowing white steam out of my nostrils like a dragon. “I have to get to work. I’m leaving.” I muttered under my breath and hurriedly fled the scene, not even taking my allergy report. Sitting in the car, I couldn’t stop replaying Arthur’s words. I said I wanted to touch him, and he just let me? Did he think I was a creep, or was he indulging my handsy behavior? If I hit him up in the future, will he treat me like a pervert? If I read this completely wrong, does that mean I can never hang out with Dr. Hayes again? The more I thought about it, the worse my mood got, and I didn’t dare initiate conversation with him anymore. When I started my stream that night, my head was still full of this mess, so I talked a lot less. [Is Penny in a bad mood?] [You still haven’t told us about last night.] Seeing the chat mention yesterday, I couldn’t help but sigh again. “Ugh, don’t even bring it up. I made an even bigger mess yesterday.” I stopped eating and recounted the whole series of events from last night. The chat had people comforting me and people laughing at my obliviousness. But one particular comment buried in there was exceptionally explosive. [What a shame it was just an allergy! I totally thought he stole a kiss and kissed your lips swollen!] [Let them speak!] [User ‘BigSocks’, you have no filter.] What kind of wild, scandalous statement is that! If Dr. Hayes would actually do that, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams. “I’ve been flirting with him for so long and haven’t even gotten to hold his hand. How could he possibly steal a kiss!” The chat erupted into a sea of [Hahahaha]. [But he ate the chicken straight from your hand! He must have feelings for you to do that.] [Were his words this morning a polite way of telling you to keep your hands to yourself?] [Sister, you’ve definitely never dated. He’s obviously playing hard to get!] [+1.] [I think so too.] Seeing the chat debating so passionately, I felt a whirlwind of mixed emotions. They could guess whatever they wanted, but if I guessed wrong, I might just repeat past mistakes. Back in college, I pursued a guy too aggressively and mistook his polite rejection for shyness. Full of confidence, I went to confess my feelings. When he rejected me, he frowned, looking at me like I was a pesky mosquito. “Sorry, I think you’re just horny, you don’t actually like me.” After that, we completely cut ties. Thinking that if I said the wrong thing, my relationship with Dr. Hayes would reset to zero, my heart ached sourly, and my food lost its flavor. And if I ever needed to see a dentist again, I’d have to detour to a farther hospital. I don’t want that!!! “Sigh, I should just lay low and behave myself for a while.” 05 The wristband the fan recommended was actually pretty great. Once I secured Waffles, he couldn’t break free, and I finally didn’t have to play parkour with him in the shower stall. That evening, I took Waffles out for a walk. We bumped into a downstairs neighbor who also had a Corgi. The two of us strolled along the path by the community park. Waffles and the other Corgi, Marshmallow, ran in circles wagging their tails, having the time of their lives. Heh, little simp. Just like me. Marshmallow’s owner was a college boy. I rarely saw him walking the dog before because he was a busy high school senior; usually, his mom brought the dog out. Back in high school, he had a buzzcut and wore a uniform every day, looking like an average teenager. Now that he was in college, his hair was longer. Wearing a hoodie, calling me “Penny” with a sweet mouth, he gave off total “puppy dog” vibes. “I rarely saw you walking Marshmallow before.” “Yeah, I didn’t have much time in high school. Now that I have more free time in college, my mom stopped walking her for me.” “Oh, I see. Do you take Marshmallow to a groomer, or do you wash her at home?” “Washing her at home is more convenient, but it’s a huge hassle.” Hearing this, I couldn’t wait to recommend my new bath-time miracle tool to him. But since this thing’s original purpose wasn’t pet grooming and it looked a bit kinky, I had to lean in close and whisper to him. “Someone recently recommended something to me, and it works so well. “Go search these keywords: Couples, Bathroom, Wrist Cuffs.” Seeing me say this, Toby looked at me weirdly. I quickly pulled out a picture and explained how to use it, preventing him from thinking I was some older woman with bizarre fetishes. “Look, you strap them up like this, and no matter how much they struggle, they can’t get loose.” “Is it really that good?” “Yeah! It’s comfortable for them, and comfortable for you.” “But I’ve never tried it. Will it overstimulate her?” “No way! I’ve already used it!” Right as we were discussing it, I caught a glimpse of Arthur walking by. I was just about to say hi, but I saw his face was dark. The air pressure around him was freezing, giving off a total “stay away from me” vibe. The way he looked reminded me of that guy I confessed to before; he was just as ruthlessly cold after rejecting me. I swallowed my greeting, lowered my head to pretend I didn’t see him, and moved a few steps closer to Toby. After Arthur walked past, I felt distracted. The topic we were happily chatting about suddenly lost its appeal. Toby also noticed something was off. “Penny, you look a bit tired. You want to head back and rest?” “Yeah, I’m just not really feeling it right now.” I sighed deeply, tugged at Waffles’ leash, and said goodbye to Toby. Waffles looked reluctantly at Marshmallow. His two hind paws dug firmly into the ground, completely refusing to leave. The leash around his neck squished his face flab into a ball, but he still wouldn’t budge. “Waffles! Time to go home!” Seeing his pathetic, simp-like expression made me mad. Toby, on the other hand, was laughing beside us. “He probably hasn’t played enough yet. Looks like Marshmallow wants to keep playing too. “Leave him with me. You head back and take a shower first, and once they’ve played enough, I’ll bring Waffles back to your place.” Although I felt a bit bad, since he put it that way, I couldn’t refuse. I had to temporarily entrust Waffles to him and head home first. As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw someone standing in the hallway. It was Arthur. He turned to look at me, his face wearing an icy expression I had never seen before. Pierced by his unfriendly gaze, I felt a sting of hurt. I stood rooted to the spot, momentarily unsure if I should step forward. He turned and advanced on me step by step. In the empty hallway, only the sound of his footsteps echoed, hammering against my heart beat by beat. I had a vague, bad premonition. Perhaps our relationship was about to end right here. My body subconsciously backed up until my back hit the wall with nowhere else to retreat. “Why are you hiding?” I kept my head down, not daring to look at him, but he suddenly took off his glasses. “Close your eyes.” Because I had always followed his instructions during my dental visits, when his familiar voice rang out, my body reacted before my brain. The instant I closed my eyes, his hand threaded through my hair, landing on the back of my neck and pressing me towards him. The momentum made me tilt my head up, and his scorching kiss crashed down. It burned so hot that my eyes flew open, and I froze in shock. His dark eyes carried suppressed anger, his gaze locking tightly onto me, his handsome brows furrowed into a knot. “Do you like it like this? “I saw the package.” He let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I thought you were going to use it with me. “Who did you use it with? “What am I, then? “If it could be just anyone, then why didn’t you choose me?” His tone carried restrained fury. With every accusation, his eyes grew a shade redder. Seeing him like this, I didn’t even know where to start explaining. “I…” The moment I made a sound, he cut me off. “Sorry. I lost my composure.” He let go and looked like he was about to turn and leave. I quickly grabbed his hand. “It’s not what you think…” Before I could spit out more than a few words, my stomach let out a noise louder than my speaking voice. Grrrrmble— In the empty hallway, it sounded exceptionally clear. My silence was deafening. “…Have you eaten? Come over to my place for dinner, and I’ll explain everything while we eat.” He didn’t say a word. He looked like he was in a terrible mood, but he still let me pull him into my apartment. Since I was streaming today, I had cooked rice in advance and prepped food in the fridge, planning to heat it up and eat after walking the dog. I posted an absence notice to my fans on my phone, then heated the food while carefully weighing how to explain things. Arthur sat silently on the couch, the back of his head facing me so I couldn’t see his expression. I analyzed the current situation. He seemed to think I liked aggressive romance, that I had used the wristbands with someone else, and that I was playing with his feelings? So, does that mean I can interpret this as him liking me too? At the dinner table, he ate very little. He didn’t look like he had an appetite, more like he was just going through the motions to keep me company. “Um… that package is indeed mine, but I didn’t use it for those things… “I have a dog named Waffles. He’s misbehaves during baths, so I used them to tie him up while washing him… don’t get the wrong idea.” He put down his chopsticks and looked at me. “Do you see a single shadow of a dog in this house?” I went silent. I had thought of everything except that he wouldn’t believe me. But with Waffles not home, my explanation did sound pretty unbelievable. I had Waffles’ dog bed in my bedroom. If I showed it to him, he should believe me, right? “Penny, do you like me?” I didn’t expect him to ask that. I nodded hastily. He breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had made some sort of resolution. “Then that’s all that matters. I don’t care about the rest. “If you like it rough, I can do it. Just don’t go to anyone else.” 06 “So that’s what happened. It was too much drama. I still haven’t recovered.” After Arthur left, I broadcasted my mind-blowing day on my stream. The chat comments flew faster and faster, and the viewer count skyrocketed. [Ahhhh so sweet!!!] [He’s so smooth!] [He’s down bad!] [Manifesting a handsome, obsessed boyfriend.] I couldn’t help but giggle like an idiot. Who would’ve thought? I assumed I was going to be blocked and treated as a pervert, but the tables turned, and I went from a one-sided simp to mutual love. [Maybe you just shouldn’t explain. I feel like you’re pretty into it.] [She still has to explain! Otherwise, what if he constantly thinks Penny has unhealthy relationships with other guys?] I thought they had a point. Even though this dynamic was admittedly intoxicating, I couldn’t seriously let him keep misunderstanding me. “When Waffles gets back, I’m definitely clearing things up. It’s just that it was so shocking earlier; I’ve never seen anything like that, so I froze in fear, hehe.” After chatting with them for a bit more, Toby knocked on the door to return the dog, so I took the opportunity to end the stream. After wiping Waffles’ paws clean, I took him and knocked on Arthur’s door. Opening the door, Arthur only had a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. His hair hadn’t been blow-dried yet, and water droplets rolled off the tips, sliding all the way down his collarbone and leaving a trail across his pecs and abs. I stared, completely mesmerized. “Come in.” My body reacted faster than my brain again. By the time I came to my senses, the door behind me had already closed. Waffles wriggled free from my arms and ran off into his apartment on his stubby little legs. “Waffles!” I warned him to behave, but Waffles just turned to look at me with a clueless expression. Helpless, I had to turn my gaze back to Arthur. “Now you believe me, right?” “Mhm.” His tone was affirmative, but he didn’t seem to care much whether it was true or not anymore. Looking entirely like, “Whatever, I’ve already made peace with it,” he reached down and scooped up Waffles. Maybe it was because he had smelled Arthur’s scent on me before. Waffles just lowered his head, took a sniff, and dropped his guard. He wiggled his big butt and nestled into a comfortable position in his arms. Haha, the feeling I hadn’t even experienced yet, he got to try it first. Maybe my gaze was too searing; Arthur looked up at me. “Want to touch?” I nodded my head vigorously like a rattle drum. “Touch if you want to. I showered, so you won’t get an allergic reaction.” I remembered what he said at the hospital before. So it really was playing hard to get. Then I won’t hold back. Without hesitation, I shooed Waffles away and threw my arms around his lean waist. I buried my face in his chest; it was cool and felt incredibly comfortable. I hugged him again and again, loving it to pieces. “Arthur, do you like me?” I mumbled. “What else would it be?” He kept a straight face, but his body was honest. His two arms locked me in tight, leaving no room for my hands to cause mischief. “Did you come over to try the wristbands?” I was speechless. “They really are for Waffles!” He clearly didn’t take my words to heart. With a flex of his arms, he hoisted me up just like I hold Waffles and dumped me onto the couch. “We didn’t finish the movie last time. You watch it first; I’m going to change clothes.” Actually, I wasn’t particularly interested in that movie. I just wanted an excuse to ask Arthur out. Unfortunately, my company had a big project right then, and I worked overtime for half a month straight, so we didn’t get to go to the theater. I didn’t expect him to keep remembering it. I sat cross-legged holding the remote, browsing the list for a movie to watch. Arthur sat down beside me, and the couch dipped slightly. Losing my balance, I tipped right over toward him. He stretched out his long arm and very naturally looped me into his embrace. “Throwing yourself at me?” My ears burned bright red from his hot breath. My hand jerked, and I didn’t even know what movie I clicked into. Until Arthur’s voice, speaking through gritted teeth, echoed. “Penny! Parker! What do you mean by making me watch this?” I looked closely. The title “Challengers” was incredibly prominent on the screen. The background image was a promotional poster of two guys and one girl hugging intimately. “No! My hand just slipped, I don’t know how I clicked it!” “Is that so? You sure have a lot of ‘coincidences’ surrounding you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “439065”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The valedictorian of our high school, who was now at MIT, suddenly added me on Snapchat. I stared at the screen for a solid ten minutes before replying: “Can you CashApp me 50 bucks?” The next second, he unfriended me. Sigh… I knew it was a scammer. Our class president had always been an aloof, untouchable ice king. He hadn’t spoken a single word to me in high school. Why would he randomly add me? Later, at a high school reunion, he had his arm around a gorgeous girl, smiling and telling us they were getting engaged by the end of the year. Damn it… Did this mean I had to write a $500 check for his wedding gift? I was so panicked I sneaked out halfway through the dinner. But he cornered me right outside my apartment building: “Hazel Hayes, how long are you going to hide from me?” 1 If I had known I was going to run into Carter Pierce today, I absolutely would not have stormed into the high school bare-faced and reeking of Korean BBQ. The most embarrassing thing isn’t running into your ex. It’s running into your ex when he looks even cleaner, sharper, and more handsome than before, while you—are wearing zero makeup. “You’re Holden’s guardian?” Carter’s voice was cool and crisp. “I’m his homeroom teacher, Mr. Pierce.” “…” Even though we had been broken up for years, surely he hadn’t completely forgotten what I looked like, right? Carter and I got together during our senior year of high school. He was the genius valedictorian; I was a struggling slacker. That year, he practically dragged my GPA up by brute force, and we ended up getting into two different universities in the same city. But our schools were on opposite ends of town. It took three subway transfers and three hours round-trip just to see each other. Plus, after college started, he was always busy doing research with professors and entering academic competitions. The time we spent together dwindled to almost nothing. We were at that impulsive, stubborn age. The word “breakup” slipped out easily, and just like that, it was over. For the next few years, even though we lived in the same city, we never saw each other again. I never imagined our reunion would look like this. My little brother had been caught dating in school. As his guardian, I was naturally a foot shorter in front of his teacher. I immediately put on my most polite, respectful attitude: “Hello, Mr. Pierce. I’m Holden’s older sister, Hazel.” Growing up, with my rebellious streak, I was no stranger to the principal’s office, but this was the first time I felt this awkward. Thinking about it, my urge to murder my brother grew stronger. If it weren’t for him, would I be suffering like this?! My parents were out of state on a business trip; otherwise, I wouldn’t be the one here losing face! The other student’s parents were here too. It was one against two. I apologized profusely, and thankfully, they were pretty understanding. Carter handed over the two kids’ report cards. “They are seniors now. Graduation is only a few months away, and their mental state is crucial. I’ve spoken to them both, and they’ve promised to focus on their studies and not let this affect their grades. I asked you all here today hoping that as parents and guardians, you can cooperate and guide them properly.” Holding the report card, I muttered under my breath: “…I was wondering why that kid has been chugging energy drinks and doing practice tests until 2 AM lately… He really takes after me back in the day…” Carter paused, finally lifting his eyes to look at me. “Is dating in high school a family tradition for the Hayes family?” ??? Why did that sound so incredibly passive-aggressive? Meeting his dark, cool gaze, my brain short-circuited, and I fired back out of pure reflex: “Not at all. It’s clearly the result of your excellent teaching, Mr. Pierce.” Dead silence. The air in the office seemed to freeze solid. The other parents and the few other teachers present stared at me, jaw-dropped, as if I had grown a second head. And then I finally realized what I had just said. Ahhhhhh! “M-Mr. Pierce, I didn’t mean it like that, please don’t misunderstand!” Just then, the other student’s parent got a phone call and excused themselves. Now, it was just me and Carter left. The awkwardness was suffocating. I decided it was time to make my escape. Carter stood up to walk me to the door. Every step was pure torture. Stepping out into the hallway, just as I thought I was finally free, Carter suddenly spoke, his tone flat. “I didn’t teach him how to make the first move.” Me, who had aggressively pursued Carter back in high school: “…” Back then, Carter was the guy every girl secretly had a crush on. I was different. I pursued him openly. The whole world knew how much I liked him, and the whole world knew how impossible he was to get. So when we finally got together, jaws dropped across the entire campus. Looking at him now, he looked exactly like he did the first time I confessed my feelings to him—completely unfazed and indifferent. A wave of inexplicable irritation flared up in my chest. My brain went hot, and I blurted out: “Mr. Pierce, let’s get one thing straight. Yes, I was the one who chased you back then. But I was also the one who dumped you.” 02 The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted it. He wasn’t my boyfriend anymore; he was my brother’s homeroom teacher! I must have a death wish to say something so rebellious! Thankfully, my useless little brother finally appeared, saving me from the fiery pits of hell. “Hazel?” Turns out the kid had been waiting out in the hall the whole time. I quickly said, “Mr. Pierce, no need to see me out. I’m just going to have a quick word with Holden and head out. My friend is waiting for me at the gate.” With that, not even daring to look at his face, I grabbed Holden and dragged him around the corner. He looked at me weirdly. “Hazel, why are you so nervous?” I reacted like a cat getting its tail stepped on. “Who’s nervous?!” Holden rolled his eyes. “I’ve known you for seventeen years. You think I don’t know when you’re freaking out?” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Mr. Pierce isn’t that scary, is he?” “…” “Holden, you’re the one who got caught dating! Instead of feeling guilty and repenting, you’re here talking back to me?” Holden crossed his arms. “But you dated in high school too! I don’t see you feeling guilty or repenting.” Thank you. I am having a literal heart attack. I kept my face deadpan. “And that’s why karma has finally caught up with me. Your homeroom teacher is the guy I dated in high school.” Holden: ??? His face morphed from absolute shock to a mask of pure agony. “I’m dead! You had your fun, and now you don’t care if I live or die!” “…” He hadn’t been this terrified when he actually got caught dating! Besides, how was I supposed to know Carter would end up being his teacher?! … Walking out of the school gates, I slid right into a car parked by the curb. My best friend, Chloe, glanced at me. “Ooh, got lectured by the teacher?” We both had the day off, so we had grabbed Korean BBQ together. Afterward, she had driven me straight to the school. I slumped into the passenger seat, completely devoid of the will to live. “No. But it was ten thousand times worse. His teacher is Carter Pierce.” Chloe let out an “Oh,” and three seconds later, let out a piercing scream. “HOLY SHIT!?” I covered my ears, but she yanked my hands away. “Carter? Carter Pierce?! The guy you dated in high school?!” I gave a weak groan of confirmation. Chloe covered her mouth. “It’s over. Holden is so screwed. His sister dumped his homeroom teacher. How is he going to survive the rest of the year?” Me: “…Does literally no one think about how miserable I am?” “You aren’t miserable!” Chloe rolled her eyes at me. “You bagged the untouchable golden boy, and then you dumped him. Who could possibly be cooler than you?” “…” Fine. Even though I didn’t want to admit it, Carter’s face, his build… he really did live up to the hype. “It was years ago. Let’s not talk about it.” Seeing how genuinely deflated I was, Chloe suppressed her urge to gossip and changed the subject. “Right, Jake and Sarah are getting married this Saturday. Are you going?” They were both our high school classmates. More importantly, Jake was pretty good friends with Carter, so he’d probably be invited too. “Do you want me to tell them you can’t make it?” My mind inexplicably flashed to Carter’s cold, calm, and completely unfazed expression from earlier. A sudden, stubborn surge of energy hit my chest. “We’re all adults. What’s the point of dwelling on the past? Besides, he’s my brother’s teacher now. I can’t hide from him forever, can I?” “I’m going!” 03 On Saturday, I put on a nice dress, did my makeup, and headed to the hotel where the reception was held. The bride and groom were standing at the entrance greeting guests. I handed over my envelope with the wedding check and smiled. “Congratulations, you guys!” Sarah looked behind me and said, pleasantly surprised, “Hazel! You and Carter came together?” ??? I whipped around, only to realize Carter was just a few steps behind me, walking in my direction. He was wearing a crisp white dress shirt and black slacks. Clean, simple, tall, and elegant. Some people just effortlessly become the center of attention wherever they go. Carter was one of those people. He seemed to have heard her. He looked up, his dark eyes and dark hair exuding an icy, untouchable aura. We made eye contact for a split second before I immediately turned back around, laughing awkwardly. “No, we didn’t.” Sarah looked a bit confused and was about to ask more, but Jake gently pulled her arm and walked forward with a huge smile to greet Carter. “Carter! Man, so glad you made it!” I practically sprinted inside and quickly spotted Chloe waving at me from a table. “Hazel! Over here!” I rushed over, thinking I was finally safe, only to feel my blood run cold when I saw the placard on the table: High School Classmates. I looked around the table. Sure enough, all familiar faces. Me: “…” And then, Carter walked over. There were only two empty seats left at the table. One was to my left, and the other was directly across from me. “Carter! Over here!” A guy at the table who used to be close with him stood up and waved. They had probably already heard what happened at the entrance. Anyone with functioning eyes could tell we were broken up. Hearing his footsteps approach, I stared intently at the porcelain teacup in front of me, inexplicably growing tense. Then, he walked past the empty seat on my left—and sat down directly across from me. The table went silent for a second. Thankfully, the guy who had called him over was great at breaking the ice, and the conversation quickly picked up again. “I heard you’re teaching at Westbridge Prep now? That’s an elite magnet school. Super hard to get into!” “Well, he was our valedictorian for a reason! Smart guys are smart wherever they go, haha!” “Man, I never would have guessed Jake and Sarah would be the first couple from our class to actually get married. I always thought it would be Cart—” The guy talking realized his mistake and immediately clamped his mouth shut. Several pairs of eyes kept darting back and forth between me and Carter. Back then, our relationship was a massive deal. The whole school knew. No one expected it to end the way it did. I instinctively looked up at him. The man across from me had his eyes lowered, calmly pouring himself some tea. The line from his brow to the bridge of his nose was flawless. He looked completely unaffected by the awkward conversation around him. I felt a bit suffocated and made an excuse to go to the restroom. Chloe texted me: Be honest. A man of that caliber, and you dumped him. Don’t you regret it? Why don’t you try to win him back? Outside my bathroom stall, I heard hushed voices. “I still can’t believe Carter and Hazel broke up. Think about how hard she chased him back then!” “So what? A guy like Carter can have anyone he wants. They were never in the same league anyway.” “Exactly. And I honestly don’t think Carter even liked her that much. He probably just agreed because she wouldn’t leave him alone, and then dumped her when he got tired of it.” It just goes to show, adults really love bringing up high school drama. Even though I was the one who dumped Carter, they weren’t entirely wrong about the rest. I typed out a reply to Chloe, ready to talk a big game. Get it straight. I’m the one who didn’t want him. If anyone is doing the chasing, it has to be him chasing me. Chloe: 6. (Slang for “smooth”) Chloe: Big dreams. Very moving. Keep daydreaming. Me: “…” 04 I waited patiently until the gossiping girls finally left the bathroom before slowly making my way out. When I got back to the table, a few people had had some drinks and were getting chatty. I sat down, ready to focus on the food, when Chloe pinched me under the table. “Why did you block me?!” I shot her a look: Take a wild guess. “Hey, Hazel!” Someone called my name. I looked up. It was Ashley Miller, one of the three girls who had been gossiping about me in the bathroom. We had some bad blood in high school. If it weren’t for this wedding, we’d never be sitting at the same table. —She used to have a massive crush on Carter. When she found out we were dating, she sabotaged me a few times behind my back. She smiled and asked, “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but are you single right now?” The table went quiet. Why ask the question and pretend to be polite about it? Isn’t that a bit redundant? She added, “I have a few single guy friends. I was thinking of setting you up.” I smiled. “Thanks, but no thanks. My standards are pretty high.” The table went even quieter. Her fake smile almost cracked, but with Carter sitting right there as living proof, she couldn’t even argue. She paused for a few seconds, her eyes darting around. “Fair enough. But does that mean you haven’t dated anyone at all since then?” What did that mean? That I couldn’t find anyone better than Carter? Or, as she said in the bathroom, that only a guy completely out of his league like Carter was blind enough to date me? “I’ve dated a bit. Two or three guys,” I said. One was a senior in college I impulsively agreed to date right after breaking up with Carter. On the third day, he tried to hold my hand, and it completely grossed me out, so I dumped him. Another was a blind date my aunt set up after graduation. This one didn’t even last three days. On our second dinner, he kept lecturing me about how I should quit my job and be a stay-at-home mom after we got married. I blocked his number right at the table. From a certain angle, saying “two or three” wasn’t a lie. The reactions around the table in that moment were priceless. I broke the silence, laughing lightly. “Hey, you have to try a few options before you figure out who’s the best fit, right?” Hearing this, Carter raised his eyes and looked at me quietly. I was so sick of this weird, tense atmosphere, so I decided to go on the offensive. “Mr. Pierce, wouldn’t you agree?” Ashley looked like she was about to explode. “…Why are you calling him Mr. Pierce?” “Oh, forgot to mention. Mr. Pierce is my little brother’s homeroom teacher now. We just saw each other a few days ago.” Listen to that! That is how a mature ex acts! Making peace with the youth of the past! That is— “I wouldn’t know.” Carter set his teacup down. His long, elegant fingers looked like carved marble. His voice was cold and clear. “I’ve only ever dated one person.” 05 “…” The air froze. For a split second, I felt like Carter was intentionally throwing me under the bus, making me look like a heartless player in front of everyone. But at the same time, my heart uncontrollably started beating faster. How many years had we been broken up? With his looks and status, he could have had a new girlfriend every week if he wanted. But he actually said… he had only ever dated one person. Before my mind could spiral further, the bride and groom came over to our table for the toast, and the topic was thankfully dropped. As the reception wound down and people started filtering out, I saw Ashley sidle up to Carter, her voice sickeningly sweet. “Carter, my nephew is taking the high school entrance exams soon, and he really wants to get into Westbridge Prep. Do you think we could exchange numbers so I can ask you for advice if we need it?” It was a far cry from how she was trashing me in the bathroom earlier. Did she really think people couldn’t see right through her transparent motives? I sped up my pace. I didn’t want to hear his answer. But his cold, clear voice carried over perfectly. “I teach seniors right now. I don’t handle freshmen admissions. If you have questions, you can call the school’s admissions office.” Ashley looked incredibly embarrassed and gave an awkward nod. “Oh… oh, okay.” … “I gotta say, the valedictorian is still just as popular as ever. But his ability to shoot people down has definitely leveled up.” Chloe clicked her tongue. “You walked away so fast, you didn’t see how ugly Ashley’s face got!” I was looking for my car while casually replying, “That’s normal. If he didn’t know how to shoot people down, his contact list would have maxed out years ago.” Back in the day, just to get his screen name, I left an iced latte on his desk every single day for a week! My allowance was tight back then, so I literally starved myself for that week to afford it. I really don’t know where I found the audacity and sheer willpower to pursue him so relentlessly. “True. Didn’t you hear him say it himself? He’s only dated one person all these years.” Chloe said this, then gave me a big thumbs up, looking thoroughly impressed. “Hazel, you are a legend, seriously! I thought you were just talking big when you said you’d make him chase you, but now I think it’s actually possible!” “Here’s the car.” I hit the unlock button on my keys, saying casually as I walked, “I’m not that easy to catch. He’d have to—” I suddenly felt like something was wrong. I stopped, slowly turning my head to look at the car parked right next to mine. The window was rolled halfway down, revealing a clean, incredibly handsome profile. He seemed to have just finished a phone call. Hearing my voice, he turned his head to look. Carter. “…” I died on the spot. He raised an eyebrow, his tone completely flat. “I have to chase you?” “…” I came back to life just to die again. “No, no! I really didn’t mean it like that, don’t misunderstand! I meant… I’m actually really easy to catch—wait, no! I mean, chasing me isn’t that hard—wait, that’s wrong too!” Met with his unwavering, unbothered gaze, I desperately wanted to claw a hole in the pavement and bury myself. Thankfully, Chloe walked over. She hadn’t heard the whole exchange, but seeing Carter there, she was equally stunned. I frantically signaled her with my eyes: Get me out of here! Take me away! Chloe’s gaze darted between me and Carter. A lightbulb seemed to go off in her head, and she quickly said: “Oh! I just remembered I have an emergency at work! I gotta run! Hazel, your car is broken, right? Why don’t you have Carter give you a ride home?” ??? !!! Chloe Bennett! You are dead to me! 06 Unfortunately, Chloe completely failed to grasp the SOS signals I was sending. She dropped that bomb and sprinted away like her life depended on it. I took a deep breath, gritted my teeth, and reached for my car door handle. Carter asked flatly, “I thought your car was broken?” Me: “…” Biting the bullet, I pretended to inspect the steering wheel. “It looks like it miraculously fixed itself.” Carter: “Are you sure?” Of course I’m sure! I literally just took it in for an oil change a few days ago! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had Chloe drive me to the school that day! “Yep, it drives,” I said, buckling my seatbelt, fully preparing to execute a flawless vanishing act. And then— Carter got out of his car, stood outside my door, and knocked on the window with his knuckles. “Then do me a favor and give me a ride. My car broke down.” … I felt like he was messing with me. I was about to refuse when he delivered the final blow: “The insurance guy just got here for the tow.” “…” So his car actually broke down. Was he calling the insurance company earlier? Refusing him now felt a little awkward, but given our history, interacting this much felt even more awkward. While Carter was finishing up with the tow truck driver, he got another phone call. He frowned. “Got it. We’ll be right there.” When he got into my car, I opened my mouth, fully intending to suggest he call an Uber or ask someone else, when he said: “It’s a thirty-minute drive to City Hospital from here. We might need to hurry.” ??? I looked at him in total confusion. “City Hospital? Why are we going there?” Carter looked at me. “Holden got severe stomach pains during class. The school nurse suspects it’s acute appendicitis. He’s already been sent to City Hospital.” My heart plummeted. … By the time we rushed into the hospital, Holden was already in surgery. The middle-aged man who brought him in was the school nurse, and the younger woman next to him seemed to be a teacher. Seeing me and Carter arrive together, they both looked a little confused. The female teacher looked me up and down, then asked softly: “Mr. Pierce, this is…” “This is Holden’s older sister,” Carter said briefly, offering no explanation as to why we arrived together. “How is he?” She explained: “Holden got severe stomach cramps during math class. Dr. Wang said it looked urgent, so we rushed him right over. He’s been in surgery for a while now; he should be out soon.” Carter nodded. Probably noticing how tense I was, he looked down at me and said, “Take a seat and rest for a bit.” I shook my head, refusing to move. “I’m going to wait right here.” Carter paused, his voice softening a fraction, bringing a strange sense of comfort. “Don’t worry. Appendicitis is a minor surgery. He’ll be fine.” Hearing this, the other two looked surprised. The female teacher’s gaze lingered on me for an extra few seconds. I couldn’t care less about them. My mind was entirely focused on Holden in the operating room. My heart felt like it was being roasted over an open fire. Probably because I was in such a panic, I had started sweating despite how cold it was outside. Now that I was standing still, the drafty hospital corridor breeze hit me, and I couldn’t help but shiver. Just then, a weight settled on my shoulders. A familiar scent, mixed with the faint smell of alcohol from the wedding, enveloped me in warmth. 07 Carter hadn’t drank, and neither had I. But the jacket, carrying that faint scent of wine from the reception, felt burning hot. Like a single spark landing on dry grass, igniting a massive wildfire. I turned my head and met Carter’s gaze. He said, “Your parents are both out of state. If you get sick too, there will be no one left to take care of him.” I snapped back to reality and whispered, “Thank you.” … An hour later, Holden’s surgery was successfully completed, and he was moved to a recovery room. I handled the admission paperwork and called my parents, reassuring them that it wasn’t a major issue and he just needed a few days of rest. After settling everything, I returned to the room and saw Carter standing by the bed, talking to Holden. “Just focus on resting for now. Don’t worry about classes; I’ll send you the notes and practice tests.” Every minute of senior year is precious. Watching this scene, I felt a sudden sense of déjà vu. He looked exactly like he did when he used to supervise my studying. But there was a difference. With Holden, he was clearly much gentler and more forgiving. Back then, when my brain hurt from studying and I just wanted to go play, I had to beg and plead for ages before he’d even hold my hand. Ten practice tests for one hand-holding session. I swear, he was ruthless. Thinking about it made me feel a little resentful all over again. Carter finished speaking and stood up. “Get some rest.” He tactfully left the room so we could have a moment. But my little brother is incredibly untactful. The second Carter left, Holden glared at me and started his interrogation. “Spit it out. Why did you and my homeroom teacher show up together?” Me: ??? I kept my face blank. “Holden, did you forget that I’m your actual, biological sister?” Even though he just had surgery and looked a little pale, his combat power was undiminished. “I didn’t forget. And I definitely didn’t forget that you dated him and then dumped him.” “…” He lost his appendix, but he still has the energy to run his mouth. Clearly, he’s fine. “Holden, you better show your dear sister some respect, or your recovery time in this bed is going to be very miserable.” I said, getting up to leave. “Wait! Hazel!” Holden called out. I looked back. “What?” Holden coughed awkwardly, flashing a sycophantic smile. “Sis, could you do me a favor?” “What?” “When you go to school to pack up my books, could you tell Lily I’m fine and I’ll be back soon?” Lily was the girl he liked. I had seen her picture in his backpack. I was utterly speechless. “Why are you so high maintenance?” Holden was unapologetic. “I just don’t want her to worry about me!” I paused. “Fine. Got it.” “Thanks, Sis!” Holden said, then added with a look of concern, “But Sis, you and Mr. Pierce… you guys are totally over, right?” I gave him a death glare. Holden went quiet for a second. “I mean, a lot of girls like him. Even at our school, there are quite a few… But if you want to get back together with him, that’s fine. You just have to promise me one thing: no breaking up before I graduate!” I said calmly, “Holden, you should be grateful you went into surgery today. Losing your appendix is the only thing keeping you alive right now.” … Today had truly been a rollercoaster. I walked out of the room, intending to get some fresh air before this colorful life gave me high blood pressure. I walked to the stairwell. It was dimly lit. I let out a long breath and rubbed my tired eyes. Then, I heard footsteps. I realized Carter was actually still here. He was smoking. The glowing cherry of the cigarette flickered in the dark. He leaned against the wall, radiating a quiet isolation. Noticing my presence, he looked over and put out the cigarette. —No one knew that Carter, the ultimate golden boy and model student in high school, smoked. I caught him smoking on the roof once. But he maintained that same cold, indifferent expression, as if he didn’t care at all if I reported him. I asked him: Is smoking fun? He didn’t answer and just walked away. After we got together, I brought it up again and was super curious to try it. He refused to let me, but after that, he never smoked again. I didn’t expect him to pick it back up. But I guess it makes sense, we’ve been broken up for so long. I was about to ask him when would be a good time to go to the school and pack up Holden’s things, when he suddenly stepped toward me. “Hazel.” He said my name softly. It was the first time since we reunited that he hadn’t used my full, formal name. “Why are you crying?”

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