Author: Momo Chan

Last year, the developer’s son insisted on taking his yacht out during storm season. Half an hour later, he was gone. The yacht was caught right in the eye of the storm. Professional rescue teams couldn’t even get close. Only I knew how to navigate that old fishing boat. I didn’t hesitate. I steered the boat straight into the tempest and pulled him back to shore. But the moment he stepped off, he pointed a finger and cursed me, claiming I, a woman, had steered the boat so erratically that his limited-edition jacket got torn. He demanded I pay him thirty thousand. I confronted the developer, but he merely sized me up, cold and dismissive, telling me I had to take responsibility for my mistakes. This year, his son got into trouble again, in the very same stretch of sea. This time, the developer was literally begging, practically knocking his head on the ground, just for me to save his son’s life. 1 On South Bay Pier, I was patching the last tear in my fishing net. A commotion erupted behind me. Old Man Gunther, the village elder, rushed over, his face etched with worry: “Quick, everyone! Mr. Davies’ yacht is trapped in the storm!” The pier was packed with people. Mr. Davies stood at the front, his face a thundercloud. “What good are these rescue teams? Why aren’t they out there saving my son?” Old Man Gunther hastily waved his hands. “The rescue team says the water in that reef area is too shallow, big ships can’t get in!” A hush fell over the crowd. Then, Old Man Gunther suddenly looked at me, as if he’d found salvation. “Penny, you’re the only one in our village who can handle those old fishing boats. You’re the only one who can save Mr. Davies’ son.” Dark clouds churned ominously across the sky. But a life was on the line. “Alright, I’m going.” I jumped onto the old fishing boat my dad left me and fired up the engine. The storm was fiercer than I’d imagined. Several rogue waves crashed over me, drenching me to the bone, and leaving my arms with several stinging cuts. Half an hour later, I finally spotted the stranded yacht. Lucas Davies lay slumped on the deck, trembling uncontrollably. “Jump over!” I yelled at him. But he hesitated, and another wave slapped against the yacht, sending him cowering back onto the deck. “Jump, now! The waves are getting bigger!” The waves grew more violent, tossing the old fishing boat wildly on their crests. If I wasted any more time, not only would I fail to save him, I wouldn’t make it back myself. Finally, he moved. Lucas scrambled over the yacht railing, closing his eyes as he jumped. The moment his feet touched the boat’s edge, a wave struck, throwing him backward. Just as he was about to tumble into the sea, I grabbed his collar and yanked him up with all my might. I dragged and threw him onto my deck. He lay there, lips ashen, scared out of his wits. As I turned the boat around, I tried to reassure him. “Don’t worry, I’ve sailed this route for over twenty years. I’ll get you back safe.” The return journey was even more perilous than the trip out. The storm raged, and the waves swelled higher and higher. The cuts on my arm burned like hell from the saltwater, making me feel like my whole arm was about to snap off. But I couldn’t stop. After what felt like an eternity, just before the full force of the storm hit, we finally reached the shallows. I collapsed onto the boat, my entire body aching, bones feeling dislocated, blood dripping from my arm. The shore was in chaos. A few villagers helped Lucas off the boat. Old Man Gunther wrapped him in a towel and handed him a mug of hot water. Mr. Davies also embraced his son, his face filled with relief and concern. No one looked at me. Not even a “thank you.” I leaned against the helm, catching my breath for a couple of minutes, before getting ready to head home. A voice from behind stopped me. “Wait a minute!” Lucas, wrapped in a clean towel, strode over. He tossed his dripping wet jacket at me. “This jacket? Limited edition. Three thousand bucks!” I stared at the torn jacket on the deck, my mind blank. “What do you mean?” “Don’t play dumb, you witch! You’re the one who ripped my jacket. Aren’t you going to pay for it?” “And you drive like a maniac! Couldn’t you keep the boat steady? Waves splashed all over me!” I froze. It took a few seconds for it to click. When he jumped, he nearly fell into the sea. I’d grabbed his collar to pull him up, and that’s probably how his jacket got torn. I looked at him, then at my arm, still bleeding. “I just saved your life, and you want me to pay for your jacket?” He puffed out his chest. “A life is a life, a jacket is a jacket!” “You damaged my property, you have to pay! My dad says no one gets a free pass!” I turned to Mr. Davies. I thought he’d say something. After all, I had just risked my life, diving into the storm to pull his son from the sea. Any father would value his son’s life more than a tattered jacket, right? But his reaction completely blindsided me. He glanced at Lucas, a flicker of approval in his eyes. As if to say: Good boy, standing up for your rights. Then he turned to me, his voice flat. “You made a mistake, you have to take responsibility. You damaged the jacket, so you must pay!” I suppressed my anger, staring at Mr. Davies. “Why should I pay? I saved your son’s life!” Mr. Davies sneered. “Who asked you to save him? The rescue team was almost there. People like you, always sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, just looking for an excuse to cozy up to us, right?” Lucas jumped up, glaring at me. “Exactly! You’re just a boat driver, trying to show off in front of me, hoping to climb the social ladder? Dream on!” I was stunned by his sheer arrogance and shamelessness. I looked at my fellow villagers, hoping they’d speak up for me. But they stood with Mr. Davies and his idiotic son. “This girl is so clueless. Mr. Davies is investing fifty million in our village. Why argue with him?” “Yeah, you damage something, you pay for it. Mr. Davies is right.” “Mr. Davies is a big shot, he treats everyone equally.” Listening to their familiar accents, seeing their familiar faces, I suddenly felt a wave of nausea. Fifty million? This Mr. Davies had promised to invest fifty million dollars in North Reef Village for tourism development. Yet, he hadn’t invested a dime, instead staying here for three months, freeloading and sweet-talking. The villagers dared not offend him, fearing their cash cow would bolt. They practically licked his boots, eager to please. Old Man Gunther, seeing the stalemate, tried to smooth things over. “Penny, just apologize, and this whole thing will blow over. It’s not about the money for Mr. Davies; he just wants an explanation.” An explanation. I saved his son’s life, and he wanted an “explanation” for me tearing his son’s jacket. I smiled. I looked at them and slowly spoke. “Alright, I’ll pay.” Back home, I simply bandaged the wound on my arm. Then I sat in the yard, looking at the old fishing boat docked by the shore. I decided to sell it. Not because I was short on three thousand. On the contrary, my grandparents and parents had accumulated quite a bit of property, including a dozen shops in the adjacent bay. But I felt the boat was unlucky. My dad had gotten into trouble on that very boat. Now this. It felt like bad karma. I pulled out my phone and contacted a buyer in the next bay. He offered four thousand dollars, a thousand more than Lucas’s stupid jacket. The deal was done the same day, and the money was transferred to me in full. The next day, I went to Mr. Davies’ office. Lucas sat on the sofa, legs crossed. Seeing me enter, he grinned. “Well, well, did you actually scrounge up the money? You didn’t have to borrow it, did you?” I ignored him, placing the money on the table. “Receipt.” Mr. Davies had his accountant issue a receipt, which read “Jacket Damage Compensation.” I took it, folded it, put it in my pocket, and turned to leave. Lucas called after me, smirking. “Next time, don’t be so eager to climb the ladder, and try to steer the boat a bit steadier.” The next day, I packed my things, ready to leave North Reef Village. I had a house and shops in the next bay, a place to settle down and shake off the bad luck. As I stepped out of the gate, I ran into Old Man Gunther. He looked surprised. “Penny, are you leaving?” I nodded. He frowned. “Isn’t the Mr. Davies business over? Besides, what’s a young woman like you going to do running off so far?” “I’m not running. My family property is still here. I’m just going to check out the next bay.” Old Man Gunther waved his hand. “Mr. Davies invested fifty million in our village. Falling out with him won’t do anyone any good.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Old Man Gunther, has the fifty million arrived yet?” He stammered. “Soon, it’s going through the process…” I said nothing more, pulling my luggage and walking out. Just as I reached the village entrance, Mr. Davies’ car pulled up. The window rolled down, and Lucas poked his head out. “Oh, leaving already? Just because you had to pay three thousand? Is that why you’re running away scared?” Mr. Davies also glanced at me, stating calmly. “Young lady, don’t be so impulsive. You grew up in the village, going out might not be as good as staying here.” Lucas added. “Exactly, a boat driver, what can you do out there? Waitress?” I stopped, looking at them. “Mr. Davies, take your time with that fifty million. I’m not waiting.” Lucas’s face changed. “What do you mean?” “Nothing much. You keep scamming and freeloading in North Reef Village. I’m going to live my life in the next bay. No one gets in anyone’s way.” Mr. Davies’ face darkened. I settled into the next bay, taking over a storefront to sell dried seafood. My dad’s old clients, hearing I’d opened a shop, were willing to give me a hand. Business wasn’t booming, but it was comfortable enough. I’d occasionally visit North Reef Village. The village was still the same—run-down, roads unpaved, school unrepaired, not a penny of investment visible. Old Man Gunther would always greet me with the same line. “Soon, soon. Big projects take time, it’s always like this.” I couldn’t be bothered to expose him. One time, I overheard some villagers chatting. “Heard Old Man Hughes’ girl opened a shop in the next bay, doing quite well.” “Pfft, just selling dried goods? How much can she really make?” “She ran off over three thousand dollars, so petty.” “Exactly, a big boss like Mr. Davies, would he really care about her three grand? She just insisted on making a fuss.” I walked past them. They instantly fell silent when they saw me. No one thought Lucas was wrong. No one thought Mr. Davies was a problem. In their eyes, I was just a boat girl, supposed to quietly pay up and shut my mouth. I ignored them. Life went on like this for another year. It was the same storm season again. Lucas arrived in North Reef Village with a few friends. “Last time was just bad luck. This time I bought a new yacht, Italian imported. What storm can it not handle?” Mr. Davies stood nearby, probably feeling his son was now capable enough to venture out. At noon, Lucas set sail. Less than half an hour later, the storm arrived early. Lucas’s yacht was once again trapped in the same stretch of sea. After the distress signal was sent, the rescue team arrived quickly. But large ships couldn’t enter, and the rubber dinghies they launched were capsized by a single wave. Mr. Davies was sweating with anxiety. He seemed to remember something, frantically dialing numbers on his phone. Meanwhile, I was at home, taking a nap. Waking up, the numbers on my phone screen made me pause. Seventy-one missed calls, over a hundred text messages. Before I could even open them, my phone rang again.

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1 Five years. When the mental asylum doors finally swung open before me, I thought I’d be greeted by freedom and the warm embrace of my husband, Ryan Dudek. Instead, I was met by countless cameras, their lenses glinting with cold light, and a declaration that plunged me into an icy abyss: “Ms. Lynch, congratulations! This five-year mental asylum reality show has come to a perfect end!” A reality show? I hadn’t even processed the shock when Ryan, who should have been embracing me, appeared. His voice was calm, utterly devoid of emotion. “Noelle, all of this was Julianne’s idea. She orchestrated this program, and you, you were just the experimental subject I found for her, tasked with completing the recording.” So, this absurd charade had been streamed live, with three hundred million people participating in the voting. Julianne Lynch had, in turn, become a scorching hot, in-demand director. And me? For five years, I’d been subjected to electric shocks until my body convulsed, drooling uncontrollably, my mind often a fog. Ryan himself walked over and unlocked the handcuffs that had confined me for five years, saying with a detached tone, “The show’s over. Now, you can go home.” … The iron chains that had shackled me for five years were finally gone, but my legs felt like they were cast in lead. In my palm, I still clutched the last handwritten letter he’d given me, where he promised he could finally take me home. Now, that letter burned my skin. Ryan shook his head, a look of weary resignation on his face. “Those letters were also part of the experiment. It was Julianne’s idea, a way to test if you could survive on love alone.” “Looks like it worked pretty well.” Countless electric shocks. Now, there wasn’t a single patch of unmarred skin on my body. In the dark, windowless ward, I’d swallowed thousands of antidepressants. And the baby, a fully formed life, became deformed during a medical experiment, stillborn. The only thing that kept me going were his handwritten letters, which turned out to be mere props in an experiment. I touched my flat stomach, tears streaming down my face. “How could you be so heartless as to kill our baby?” When our eyes met, there was no guilt in Ryan’s gaze, only pride for Julianne. “That new drug was Julianne’s first commercial deal. No real pregnant women were willing to participate in the trial, so I could only sacrifice a child to help her achieve her dream.” “But you don’t need to be sad. At least you contributed to medical science.” Every nonchalant word he uttered felt like a stab to my heart. I looked around, then crawled towards him like a desperate dog, looking up. “What about Ethan? Why didn’t he come to pick me up?” The man recoiled sharply, as if he’d touched something filthy. But his words plunged me deeper into despair. “Ethan isn’t your child anymore.” Before I could react, the phone I’d just received suddenly rang. My son’s tender voice came through the line. “Are you really my mom? But I don’t want a crazy mom. I want a successful director mom like Aunt Julianne. Can’t you just… die?” Hearing my long-yearned-for son utter those words, I was so shocked my jaw hung open. My son impatiently hung up, and Ryan continued to explain. “Actually, this was also part of the experiment. For the show’s effect, I gave Ethan to Julianne as her son. We just wanted to air your reaction on the show.” Reporters rapidly clicked their shutters, frantically capturing the despair on my face. It was postpartum depression after giving birth to my son that led to me being taken to the asylum. That day, I cried my heart out. I worried my son would suffer without a mother. I worried Ryan would miss me. I had believed that today, we could finally be a family again, free from five years of nightmares. But on this very day, all my hopes dissolved into a colossal joke. “Ryan Dudek, let’s get a divorce.” Tears blurred my vision, and I could only hear my own hoarse voice. Ryan, who had been directing the reporters, finally looked up at me, frowning. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he forced a smile as he answered. “Of course, the celebratory dinner is ready. I’ll be right back.” “I’ll transfer the money to her. You’re always the kindest.” Hanging up, he pulled a check from his pocket. “Take it. This is Julianne’s payment for your performance.” Seeing the amount, I laughed. Ten thousand dollars. The price for my five years in hell. I furiously tore the check to shreds and hurled the pieces at him. “I said, I want a divorce!” Ryan’s face instantly darkened. “If you divorce now, what about Julianne’s show? People will talk. Don’t be dramatic.” Instantly, my rage was doused with cold water. I gave a bitter laugh. Even the request for a divorce had to take a backseat to Julianne. Ryan slammed the door shut and left. I threw a cushion after him, like a truly deranged woman. Walking out of the asylum that had confined me for five years, I felt no joy of regained freedom. Seeing my hospital gown, taxis and passersby steered clear of me. In the city center, a giant screen played a promotional trailer for Julianne Lynch’ show. The woman in the sleek business suit was everywhere, alongside my own disheveled photos as a “featured guest.” I walked barefoot on the street, opening her social media feed. In these five years, she had become my son’s mother, my husband’s wife. They had visited Disneyland, the Eiffel Tower, ridden hot air balloons, and dived into the deep sea. They had explored every corner of the country and abroad. Ryan used to say he hated traveling. Every time I suggested it, he would pour cold water on my enthusiasm: “You’re not a child anymore. Where would I find the time to go gallivanting with you? Can’t you try to understand?” But he had not only gone with Julianne alone, he’d also taken tens of thousands of photos. Funny ones, playful ones, intimate ones, even some blurry ones were kept. Yet he hadn’t been willing to take even one wedding photo with me. Most glaringly, there was his support for Julianne’s career. He poured millions of dollars into paving her way, placing all resources into her hands. But he knew perfectly well that if I hadn’t been sent to the asylum, I would have become a renowned director by now. I self-destructively scrolled through countless times, my tears almost completely dried up. When I looked up again, I had walked home from memory. I tried the door lock code several times, but it always showed “incorrect input.” A bodyguard brutally kicked me aside. “Mr. Dudek said you’re not allowed in. The mistress of this house is Ms. Lynch. You’ll have to find somewhere else to stay!” He looked back, glaring at me with contempt. “Psycho.” I collapsed weakly on the ground, and through the glass, I saw the three of them—a happy family—sitting around the dinner table. This warm scene was exactly what I used to dream of. But now, the mistress of the house wasn’t me. Penniless, I huddled on the cold roadside for a night’s sleep. The next day, I returned to my company, only to be thrown out by my boss. “You dare show your face here again? What project would I trust a crazy person with? Mr. Dudek just gave the orders. If you know what’s good for you, get lost.” Thinking of my mother, still hospitalized, I felt close to losing my mind. “How dare he…” Before I could finish, Ryan’s call suddenly came through. “Noelle Lynch, you know Julianne spent five years on this reality show. Why would you ruin her work?!” I froze. “What are you talking about?” Ryan’s enraged voice was deafening. “Look at the big screen in the city center. These photos and rumors are all your doing, aren’t they? Are you not going to stop until you’ve completely destroyed her?!” I sharply looked up. On the large screen, a continuous loop of Julianne’s revealing photos played, alongside intimate pictures of her and Ryan. The furious voice on the phone grew more intense. “Go apologize to Julianne immediately. The breach of contract fees for the reality show, and your mother’s medical expenses—you can’t afford any of it!” As soon as the call ended, Julianne Lynch published a list of breach of contract fees and reputation damage compensation on her official website. She accused me of maliciously spreading her private photos and slandering her for breaking up my family. When the wall falls, everyone pushes it. The company that had just fired me also sent a legal letter, claiming I had damaged the company’s image and demanding compensation. Someone even leaked photos of me looking like a wraith in the asylum, solidifying the claims about my mental state. “Why is this crazy person out? Go die already!” “How can you trust what a psycho says? She’s just deliberately slandering Julianne Lynch!” … Faced with massive compensation demands and defamation, I couldn’t just sit back. I retaliated by posting an “apology video” online. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have allowed Julianne Lynch to take away my husband and child.” “I’m sorry, after being released from the asylum, I should have called the police immediately, instead of letting them turn on me.” The post went viral. Netizens began to question Ryan Dudek and Julianne Lynch’ relationship. Ryan called me repeatedly, but I hung up each time. Just when I thought everything was fine, my son cried in an interview: “Daddy and Aunt Julianne are just friends. My mom has always been crazy. She even said she wanted Aunt Julianne to die, boo-hoo…” Public opinion swung back again, and my phone was practically exploding. Legal letters flooded my phone. Seeing my own son accuse me, coupled with the astronomical compensation demands, my heart sank to rock bottom. Ryan called, his words laced with threats. “Julianne is being cyberbullied to the point of wanting to commit suicide. Do you have to drive her to her death before you’ll stop?” “Get over here and clarify, apologize!” I couldn’t believe it, shouting into the phone: “I haven’t done anything wrong, no way!” To my surprise, Ryan sent me my mother’s medical bill. Thousands of them. “Then you can try me!” Homeless, I wandered everywhere looking for a place to stay. But without exception, landlords slammed their doors in my face. “Who knows what a psycho like you might do? No landlord wants to take you in.” I tried to explain, “It’s all a misunderstanding…” “I saw all the videos online. Can a child lie? Still so stubborn.” The resounding slam of the door echoed heavily in my heart. I tried to borrow money everywhere, but was ruthlessly refused. “Sorry, sweetie, can’t do it.” “To be honest, Ryan told us not to lend you money. If it’s really that bad… maybe just apologize.” The hospital’s messages demanding payment for medical fees grew more urgent by the hour. An unprecedented wave of fear and exhaustion washed over me. I couldn’t hold on any longer. When he saw me, Ryan smiled knowingly. “I knew you’d come around. After this, I’ll take care of all your expenses.” I gave a weak, bitter laugh. Just as I was about to bow to Julianne, Ryan’s cold voice cut me off. “It’s gone too far. A simple apology won’t do anymore.” He pointed to the shirtless men around us and the dozens of cameras. “You cooperate with Julianne and film an R-rated movie. Then this matter will be over.” I looked up in shock, only to hear him continue nonchalantly: “There’s no high or low art. Hurry up and take off your clothes.” My eyes blazed red. “You want me to take off my clothes in front of cameras?” The man who once wouldn’t even let me wear a dress now felt like a complete stranger. Ryan didn’t answer my question, instead impatiently motioning for them to start the recording equipment. I struggled wildly, almost to the point of exhaustion: “It really wasn’t me! Let me go!” But Ryan refused to listen to another word, ordering his bodyguards to drag me onto the set. Julianne, as the director, followed them in. The moment the door closed, her face twisted into a snarl. “How does it feel to be betrayed by both your husband and son?” “Remember, I worked hard to get them, father and son. There’s no way I’m letting you take them back so easily!” Before I could react, she called a bank manager right in front of me: “Freeze the card used for medical expenses immediately!” What followed was a death certificate from the hospital. My heart plummeted completely. “Give me back my mother!” In that moment, I broke free from the bodyguards and lunged, my hands clamped tightly around her throat. “Noelle Lynch, you’re crazy!” Ryan burst in just then, seeing the scene, and shoved me away without holding back. Julianne cried, her face stained with tears: “Ryan, darling, if you hadn’t come in time, Noelle really would have choked me to death. She said I wasn’t fit to be Ethan’s mom…” Ryan’s sharp gaze fell on me, his face terrifyingly grim. “Acting like this in front of so many cameras, do you even care about being Mrs. Dudek anymore?!” I let out a sudden, bitter laugh. “She killed my mom! What else do I have to care about?!” Ryan froze, gritting his teeth. “Using your mother as a shield? You really are something!” “Since you don’t care about anything, then finish filming this movie, and I’ll make you famous!” He scoffed, taking Julianne with him as he left. The next second, the shirtless men closed in on me, frantically tearing off my clothes in front of the cameras. By now, I had no strength left to struggle. My vision swam with black spots, every part of me ached. I was thrown onto the ground like a dog with no dignity, blood gushing from beneath me. That night, Ryan spent a fortune buying trending topics, making the entire ordeal public. Julianne Lynch, as the rising director, received an award at the ceremony for her edited work. Below the stage, my son sat in his chair, eagerly awaiting. “Daddy, didn’t you say Mommy would be here?” Ryan impatiently glanced at his watch, about to make a call. Just then, his assistant rushed in, frantically waving his phone. “Mr. Dudek, bad news! Mrs. Dudek just livestreamed herself taking sleeping pills to commit suicide!”

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The new intern at the office was getting married, and he specially sent me an invitation. I opened it casually, but my entire body froze when my eyes scanned the bride’s name—Chloé Miller? Isn’t that my wife’s name? I reassured myself that there were plenty of people with the same name in the world, and I smiled, accepting the invitation. My colleagues beside me started to tease, saying how lucky Gage Price was to marry such a top-tier socialite. Someone added, “Although she’s a few years older than Gage, she’s incredibly well-preserved. She looks like a young woman.” As they spoke, someone projected the bride’s photo onto the big screen. A chorus of gasps and exclamations of envy instantly filled the room. I stiffly raised my head, and the face on the screen sent a chill through my entire body. It was clearly my wife’s face, an exact match! 1 On the day of their wedding, I arrived early. Gage Price, wearing a custom-made groom’s suit, shook my hand. “Thank you, Mr. Edwards, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to attend my wedding and witness my love.” A faint, cold smile played on my lips. To be precise, today I was here to witness their affair. At the hotel entrance, two floor-length wedding photos were displayed. In the pictures, Chloé Miller was in Gage’s arms, both smiling radiantly, full of happiness. Staring at the photos, my heart felt like it was being stretched and pulled by an invisible force. Gage’s smile was bright as he led me to the guest lounge. “Mr. Edwards,” he paused, a hint of tentative politeness in his smile. “On this special occasion, I’ll be less formal, if I may call you Adrian, sir?” He had just graduated from college this year, only twenty-two. His eyes sparkled, radiating the unique youthful energy of a college student. Seeing him smile so happily, my heart throbbed faintly. But I forced a smile and said, “You may.” I sat in the lounge. He offered me tea and fruit. His unbridled joy was exactly how I had been when I married Chloé. A hard, heavy stone felt lodged in my chest, making me feel suffocated and restless. That morning, before coming to the wedding, I had called Chloé. She said she was still away on a business trip. In the video call, she looked like a homesick child, her eyes filled with longing for me. She even showed me the watch she had bought for me. “I won’t be back for another three days. It feels like an eternity. Honey, I miss you so much.” Several times, I nearly broke down and exposed her hypocritical facade, but I held back. For fifteen years of marriage. In everyone’s eyes, Chloé was a good wife. A good mother, even a good daughter-in-law. Before this incident, I had once believed she was the best woman in the world. As happy as I once was, that’s how much pain I was in now. My colleague, Mark, arrived and complimented Gage. “You look absolutely dashing today!” Gage smiled, looking at me. “I’m happy because of the big day, but Adrian, sir, you’re still the handsome one.” At work, I was considered a handsome man. In college, I was the undisputed campus heartthrob. Even though I was a few years older than Gage, I still looked more attractive than him. But marriage was never won by looks alone. I felt no emotion, just a faint smile. Mark, ever the gossip, asked him, “Gage, I heard you’ve been with your wife for four years.” “How did you meet such a top-tier socialite like your wife?” Mark even playfully nudged his arm. “Are there any other eligible women like her? Introduce me; I’ll get a divorce right away.” Hearing the words “four years,” my heart shattered into ice. Four years. She had kept this from me for four years. And I hadn’t noticed a single sign of Chloé’s infidelity. I just pretended to be calm and listened to Gage speak. “She’s the best gift destiny could have compensated me with.” As he spoke, Gage pulled Mark to sit next to me. He said, “My freshman year, my parents both died in an accident.” “I almost couldn’t afford college. It so happened that my wife’s alma mater was my university.” “She donates five hundred thousand dollars to the university every year, and I was one of the students she sponsored.” “That winter was very cold. To thank her, I personally knitted her a sweater.” “That sweater, it started our love story.” I remembered Chloé did have a handmade sweater. She cherished it. But she had told me it was a gift from my deceased mother. Once, our son accidentally dropped the sweater on the floor. She lost her temper, giving him a harsh scolding. Turns out, that sweater was hand-knitted by Gage. What chilled me most was that she donated five hundred thousand dollars to the school every year, and I knew absolutely nothing about it. Two years ago, she claimed the company was facing a cash flow crisis. She mortgaged our house, her parents’ house, and my parents’ house. Only then did she help the company through its difficult period. Even now, the company’s business remains stagnant, neither losing nor gaining, in a half-dead state. Yet, such a shrewd woman would do something so absurd—cutting off her own arm to help a lover, just for a smile. Mark was incredibly envious and asked again: “I heard your wife might make a lot of money, and she gives it all to you.” “So why are you still working like a dog at our company?” I pricked up my ears, staring at Gage. The smile never left his face. “Even though she gave me all her money, it’s more than I could spend in dozens of lifetimes.” “But I want to do a job I enjoy. I don’t want to just be a man she supports.” “I have my own worth.” More than he could spend in dozens of lifetimes? My chest tightened even more! Just last month, our son couldn’t afford the fifty thousand dollar tuition for his private school. He transferred to a public school, and the huge sense of loss caused my ten-year-old son to develop anxiety and depression. I pretended to be calm and asked: “What industry is your wife in, to be making so much money?” “Her company mainly operates overseas. The domestic company doesn’t make much.” I was stunned. I had no idea Chloé had opened a company overseas. For the past four years, she claimed the company was struggling. And cut off money for the household. My after-tax annual salary of eighty thousand dollars was just enough to cover our family expenses. So I never pressured her. Even a few years ago when my mother-in-law passed away, spending almost two hundred thousand dollars on treatment over a year. I paid for all of it, a hundred thousand of which I had to borrow. To pay off that debt as soon as possible, I had to both maintain the facade that our family hadn’t fallen on hard times and scrimp and save. Chloé witnessed my many nights of worry and sleeplessness, saw my hair rapidly turning gray in my thirties. Yet, she never contributed a single dime. Mark continued to gossip, his voice a little lower. “I heard your wife was divorced, and you’re her second husband.” “Can she manage her relationship with her ex-husband’s side well?” A cold laugh formed in my heart, but I managed to control the churning emotions within me. Gage seemed to have nothing to hide, a smile still on his face. “Her ex-husband and son both passed away.” A gaping hole tore through my chest, and a choking sensation lodged in my throat. Incredulous, Chloé had actually told him that my son and I were dead. A hint of regret appeared on Gage’s face. “It was an accident. Such a shame, that poor guy didn’t get to enjoy life with her.” More colleagues from work arrived. Gage continued to smile, greeting them. He showed no sign of noticing my changing expression. They surrounded Gage, praising him. Everyone envied his good fortune, finding a wealthy, generous, and loving wife. As they were talking, Gage’s phone video rang. It was Chloé calling. Everyone cheered for Gage to answer. Gage didn’t answer, instead saying, “I want her to see me like this today, only when we exchange rings at the wedding.” Everyone cheered again. “Gage wants to surprise his wife at the wedding.” Gage smiled. “To be honest, my wife didn’t have a wedding for her first marriage.” “She never took wedding photos, nor did she ever see her beloved in a groom’s suit.” “So I want her to be happy and unforgettable today.” He was right. Fifteen years ago, when Chloé and I married. She was still a penniless Cinderella. Our wedding was completely bare-bones. Even the rings were fake, bought from a dollar store. I put all my money into supporting her entrepreneurial venture. Three months ago, our son suggested that she take wedding photos with me as a keepsake. She gave a natural smile. “We’re old married folk now.” Then added, “We’ll take a family photo sometime.” I felt a vague disappointment then, but I didn’t dwell on it. I always believed that as long as the family was safe, sound, and loving. Nothing else mattered. She had completely forgotten that on our wedding day, when we lived in a two hundred dollar basement apartment. She had tears in her eyes as she promised me: “Honey, when I have money, I’ll definitely take wedding photos with you, buy you a car, a house, and give you all the best things.” But when she had everything. What she gave me in return was a soul-crushing betrayal. Someone gasped, covering their mouth. “No way, she didn’t have a wedding with her deceased ex-husband?” “She said she had no feelings for her ex-husband, didn’t want to, but her parents forced her.” Gage said this calmly, as if he wasn’t talking about Chloé’s life. “She said, when her ex-husband died, she finally felt a sense of relief.” “Like the whole world brightened up.” My heart was tearing apart with pain. I never imagined Chloé would so cheapen and humiliate our relationship in front of her lover. She was the one who relentlessly pursued me until I agreed to marry her. On the surface, I remained unfazed. As Gage was speaking, he suddenly remembered something and smiled blissfully. “Oh, and my wife is pregnant, two months along.” Everyone gathered around him, congratulating him. Saying his child would be a genuine heir to a wealthy family. Gage didn’t shy away from the topic. “My wife has already given all her assets to me and our child.” “She’s also planning for us to move abroad as a family after the wedding, a honeymoon of sorts, to truly relax.” Again, there was a chorus of envy. My spine turned cold. His child is the heir? What about my child?! My ten-year-old son, at the age of eight, had risked his life to save Chloé from a fire. That time, Chloé was inspecting a warehouse. The warehouse caught fire due to an electrical problem. My son saw her trapped inside and rushed in without hesitation to save her. Since then, my healthy son had a broken leg and has been limping ever since. Chloé had cried for several nights, heartbroken. She promised me and our son, again and again. She would work hard to give me and our son the best life. To make our son a wealthy heir who would never run out of money. Now, those words were the biggest joke in the world. Mark was once again insanely envious, exclaiming again. “Gage, heaven has been so good to you.” “Your wife truly loves you so much! You two must be happy.” Gage patted Mark’s back, his tone full of certainty. “Don’t worry, she’d even risk her life for me. She’ll definitely love me forever.” I raised an eyebrow, deliberately asking, “What reckless thing did she do for you?” “Two years ago, I was with her, meeting at her company’s warehouse.” “Later, I lost a shoe. Actually, a pair of those shoes only cost fifty-nine dollars.” “Just because I really liked those shoes, she went back herself to look for it.” “But the warehouse unexpectedly caught fire, and she almost lost her life.” “Luckily, she was blessed with good fortune and found that cheap shoe for me.” My blood boiled, and I clenched my fists, my fingernails digging deep into my flesh. I never imagined that my son’s broken leg was because of him. Fifteen years of marriage, and I only just discovered that my wife, the person sleeping beside me, was a demon. The one who delivered the fatal blow was my most trusted wife! “Oh my god, how touching, this is just like a novel!” someone exclaimed. Everyone, like Gage, was moved, quietly wiping away the faint tears at the corners of their eyes. Someone else said: “Your wife is so good to you. Are your in-laws also that good to you?” I looked at him, and he nodded firmly. “Her mom and dad are both very good to me.” My spine tingled with coldness. Chloé’s mother had passed away four years ago. Her father suffered from Alzheimer’s and now resided permanently in a nursing home. Gage pulled out a fine piece of black jade from his chest. It was identical to the one I wore around my neck. He held it up for everyone to see. “This was a gift from my father-in-law. Although it doesn’t look like it’s worth much, he said it’s a family heirloom.” “It’s only passed down to sons-in-law. Starting with him, we’ll pass it down generation to generation.” I carefully touched the black jade around my neck, only to realize it was fake. As everyone once again expressed their envy. A staff member called out from a distance: “Where’s the groom? The wedding is about to begin.” Gage immediately smiled and responded: “Coming, coming.” Then he smiled at us and said, “See you later.” I silently thought to myself: See you later! Many people came to the wedding. I saw a couple with “Bride’s Father” and “Bride’s Mother” written on their chest badges. A bitter smile formed in my heart. Chloé, in order to give Gage a happy wedding. Actually hired people to impersonate her parents. The wedding entered the groom picking up the bride’s procession. On stage, Chloé’s lips curved into a blissful smile. I stood in the corner behind her, my heart churning with immense hatred. I watched her eagerly walk towards the door of happiness, take Gage’s hand, and walk back to the stage. At the wedding, they exchanged vows of eternal love. The officiant, following the script, asked Gage: “Groom, do you take this bride?” Gage, without hesitation, smiled and loudly replied, “I do!” I took the microphone, walked onto the stage, and spoke loudly with a sharp tone: “That depends on whether I agree!” My gaze, sharp as a blade, fixed on Chloé’s eyes. “Wife, wouldn’t you agree?”

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I quickly dialed 911. The reason? I had just returned home from a month-long trip to the Maldives only to encounter an infuriating scene. Previously, the housekeeper, without my permission, had brought her daughter to live in the house. At the time, she swore the mother and daughter would only stay in the staff quarters, so I didn’t press the issue further. Until that day, a lease agreement on the living room table caught my eye. Beside it was a glaring sticky note that read: “Shameless, living in my house for so long for free. Starting next month, I’m collecting rent, twenty thousand a month, six months deposit, three months upfront!” I was holding the contract, about to confront the housekeeper, when her daughter, arms crossed, rolled her eyes at me disdainfully. She preemptively questioned, “You’ve lived here for so long, have you paid a single penny in rent? Now I’m just claiming what’s rightfully mine. What right do you have to complain?” Her twisted words made me laugh in anger. It seemed I couldn’t let them get away with this without teaching them a lesson. 1 “911? I’d like to report a trespasser.” Hearing I was calling the police, Mandy’s face instantly changed. “Are you crazy? This is my house. Why are you calling the police?” I ignored her, stating the address into the phone. “Yes, someone has unlawfully entered a private residence and is suspected of extortion. There’s written evidence on site.” Mrs. Kinnear rushed out of the kitchen, clutching a handful of greens. “What’s going on?” Seeing the lease agreement in my hand and her daughter’s pale face, the greens in her hand dropped to the floor with a thud. “Ma’am! Ma’am, this is a misunderstanding, Mandy, she doesn’t know any better…” Mrs. Kinnear lunged forward to apologize to me, but Mandy blocked her. “Mom, don’t beg her!” Mandy stiffened her neck, though her voice began to waver. “She dares to call the police? She dares to let the police check whose house this is? She’s just a kept woman…” “Mandy,” I cut her off, “say one more word, and I’ll have you locked up for defamation too.” She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. The police arrived quickly. Two young officers, one taking notes, the other examining the scene. The lease agreement was put into an evidence bag, and the handwriting on the sticky note was photographed for evidence. Mandy stood in the corner, her phone clutched in her hand, the screen flashing repeatedly. I wondered who she was texting. “Ms. Ford,” the officer taking notes looked up at me, “who is the owner of this house?” I said, “Me, Clara Ford. The property deed is in my bedroom safe. I can retrieve it if needed.” “No need.” He closed his notebook. “The on-site evidence is sufficient. However, we need to confirm the relationship between Ms. Kinnear and you?” I glanced at Mandy. She still wore an arrogant, unrepentant expression. “No relation.” “She’s my housekeeper’s daughter. She moved in without my permission and forged a lease agreement to charge me rent.” Mandy suddenly shrieked, “What forged? That contract is real! This house is mine!” “Mandy!” Mrs. Kinnear clapped a hand over her daughter’s mouth, trembling all over. “Stop talking, Mom’s begging you, stop talking…” The officers exchanged glances. One of them told Mandy, “Ms. Kinnear, please come back to the station with us to assist with the investigation. You are suspected of unlawful entry and extortion, which requires further verification.” I watched her coldly, saying nothing. Mrs. Kinnear suddenly knelt down, her forehead pressed to the floor, knocking repeatedly. “Ma’am! Ma’am, I beg you! Mandy’s father died early, I didn’t raise her well. Please, for the sake of me saving you a year ago, spare her this one time…” Her forehead hit the flagstone, making a dull thud. I looked at her greying temples, remembering that rainy night when she also knelt on the ground, begging the doctor to save me. A year ago, I had a miscarriage and fainted on the staircase. Mrs. Kinnear discovered me when she got up in the night. She immediately called for an ambulance and got me to the hospital, which allowed me to receive timely emergency care and saved my life. That’s why I always treated her like family, giving her a generous bonus during holidays and special occasions. “Mrs. Kinnear,” I knelt down, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Please get up.” “Unless Ma’am agrees, I won’t get up…” I sighed. “I agree. I won’t pursue this.” I looked at the police officer. “We’re settling. No charges.” The officer seemed surprised. “Ms. Ford, the evidence is conclusive. Following procedure would mean at least fifteen days in detention. Are you sure?” “I’m sure.” I said. “Mrs. Kinnear saved my life. Today, I won’t pursue charges. Consider it repayment for her kindness.” Mandy froze, as if she hadn’t expected me to let her off so easily. Her expression shifted from fright to confusion, then finally to a barely concealed smugness. She thought I was afraid, that I had some secret leverage preventing me from escalating the situation. I looked at Mandy. “But, if I ever see anything like this again, there won’t be such an easy settlement.” She pouted, saying nothing. “Also,” I pointed to her pajamas, “take those clothes off, wash them, and leave them outside my bedroom door. I want to see them tomorrow morning.” Her face flushed crimson, but with the police still present, she dared not lash out. I turned and went upstairs, hearing Mrs. Kinnear’s endless thanks behind me, and Mandy’s low murmur: “What’s the big deal? It’s not even her house, putting on airs…” Two months ago, my husband and I went on vacation to the Maldives. Only Mrs. Kinnear was left at home. To my surprise, upon returning, I found the house in disarray. My treasured red wine, my silk pajamas. All ruined by someone. I initially thought the house had been robbed and was about to call the police. Mrs. Kinnear, who had just returned from grocery shopping, saw it and tearfully begged for my forgiveness. It turned out her daughter had just come to the city for a job and had nowhere to stay. Mrs. Kinnear thought the house was empty anyway, so she let her stay for a while. She repeatedly promised. She wouldn’t let Mandy touch anything in the house again, and her activities would be confined to the staff quarters. Seeing the mother and daughter, dependent on each other, seemed truly pitiful, so I reluctantly agreed. As a result, Mandy not only wandered around my villa every day but also used my bathtub without permission and stole my skincare products. I tolerated it again and again. To my surprise, a month later, Mandy tossed a lease agreement at me. The lessor on the contract was even her name! I had let her live here, eat and stay for free, yet she turned around and demanded rent from me. That evening, Mrs. Kinnear, her eyes red, knocked on my bedroom door. She handed me the envelopes of money I had given her over the years, her voice hoarse. “Ma’am, it’s my daughter being foolish, causing you trouble. But I’m an old woman, and I only have this one daughter… It’s all my fault, I didn’t raise her well. I left her in the countryside since she was little, didn’t look after her properly.” “Please, in your great generosity, don’t hold it against her. She’s just a child. I’ll make her move out as soon as she finds a job, okay?” “This money is our rent, mother and daughter.” Seeing her like this, I remembered the child I’d lost to miscarriage and couldn’t help but soften. I stuffed the envelopes back into her pocket, ultimately not having the heart to kick them out. “You can continue to stay here.” “But if I find her touching my things again, don’t expect me to be so lenient.” The next morning, as I went downstairs for coffee, Mandy was already sitting at the dining table, fully dressed. She had changed out of my silk pajamas, wearing one of Mrs. Kinnear’s old jackets, her hair neatly tied back, a laptop open in front of her. “Morning, Ms. Ford.” She greeted me with a smile, as if nothing had happened yesterday. “I’m looking for a job. Am I bothering you?” I ignored her, heading directly to the coffee machine. “Oh, right,” she suddenly said, “I posted a TikTok last night, accidentally filmed the living room. Netizens say this house is beautiful.” My hand paused. “Delete it.” “Why should I?” She tilted her head, looking innocent. “I didn’t film you; I filmed my house. Oh, no, it’s your house now, but eventually…” She didn’t finish, just looked at me with a meaningful smile. “Mandy,” I turned, articulating each word, “I’m saying this one last time. This house is mine. My name is on the deed. If you spread any more nonsense, I will hire a lawyer to sue you for defamation.” “Yours?” She scoffed, her fingers typing rapidly on the keyboard. “Clara Ford, do you think I don’t know? This house belongs to Sterling Julian, the heir to the Sterling Group. You’re just his kept woman. You actually think you’re the lady of the house?” I froze. How did she know Sterling? Sterling and I had been secretly married for three years, never publicly announcing it. Even Mrs. Kinnear only knew my husband’s last name was Sterling, and that he occasionally traveled for work, never asking too many questions. “Don’t look at me like that,” Mandy said, confidently lifting her chin. “I checked. This villa is registered under Sterling Julian’s name. You’re a woman with no official status, living here for free, eating and drinking, and you still have the nerve to put on airs with me?” She stood up, leaning close to my ear, her voice soft as a serpent’s hiss. “Clara Ford, aren’t you just a mistress? Why the act?” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. So that was it. She thought I was Sterling’s mistress, thought she had leverage over me, which was why she dared to be so arrogant. I had intended to explain, but looking at her face, filled with greed and calculation, I suddenly felt it was unnecessary. Explaining to an idiot was a waste of breath. I poured myself a cup of coffee and returned to my room. “Think what you like.” I occasionally scrolled through Mandy’s TikTok, finding her follower count growing alarmingly fast. The video title was “A Day in the Life of a Heiress.” She made breakfast in my kitchen, tried on clothes in my walk-in closet, and had afternoon tea by my pool. She never showed her full face, either filming her back or wearing a mask, coupled with lazy background music and exquisite filters, creating the persona of a mysterious rich girl. The comments section was full of envious messages: [So beautiful, which mansion is this?] [Heard this is the Sterling Group heir’s house. Is she Mrs. Sterling?] [Secret marriage confirmed! Someone once filmed Sterling Julian with a mysterious woman, could it be her?] She never denied it, only posted ambiguous emojis. Friday evening, as I went downstairs for water, I heard an argument from Mrs. Kinnear’s room. “…Are you crazy? That’s illegal!” Mrs. Kinnear’s voice was tearful. “Mom, what do you know? This is called monetizing traffic!” Mandy said impatiently. “Do you know how much I get for one ad? Fifty thousand! Fifty thousand! You won’t earn that in a lifetime as a housekeeper!” “But this is lying… Ma’am, she…” “She what? She’s just a mistress! Flaunting herself in Sterling’s house. I’m just carrying out divine justice!” I leaned against the wall, listening quietly. “Mom, just stay out of it. Once I get a million followers, I’ll land a big deal. Then we’ll move out, buy our own house, and never have to suffer anyone’s bad temper again!” Mrs. Kinnear was still crying, but her voice faded. I carried my water glass upstairs, my heart icy cold. So Mrs. Kinnear knew. But she chose to remain silent. Monday morning, I was woken by my phone vibrating frantically. Checking it, I saw dozens of missed calls, 99+ WhatsApp messages, all from friends and business partners. “Clara, have you seen the trending topic?” “Are you okay? Do you need my help?” “Who is this woman? How dare she?” I opened Twitter. The top trending topic glaringly read: #SterlingJulian’sSecretWife# Clicking into it, the pinned post was a long article by a marketing account, accompanied by screenshots from Mandy’s TikTok. The article vividly narrated: “Sterling Group heir Sterling Julian, secretly married for three years, his wife turns out to be the mysterious online celebrity ‘MandyB’. It is reported that the woman lives in Sterling Julian’s mansion, regularly sharing her opulent lifestyle. Recently, netizens uncovered her true identity…” The comments section was full of blessings. The few dissenting voices were immediately attacked by fans: [Haters begone! Does the legitimate wife need to prove herself to you?] Soon after, another ID named “TruthDigger” jumped out and posted a tweet. He posted nine pictures: me and Sterling in a restaurant, us entering a hotel together, him picking me up at the airport. In the photos, my face was either in profile or my back was turned, but it was clearly the same person. The caption read: [Sterling Julian, secretly married for three years, his wife is discreet and virtuous, yet someone took advantage and interfered. According to insiders, the woman’s last name is Ford, CEO of a certain company, who approached Sterling Julian under the guise of work, repeatedly entering his private residence. Mrs. Sterling, kind and forbearing, was repeatedly provoked and insulted by the other party. Justice may be delayed, but it will not be denied.] The comments section had gone insane. [Holy sh*t! Mistress get lost!] [This woman has the face of a vixen!] [Poor Mrs. Sterling, you can tell from her face she’s kind and easily bullied!] [Last name Ford? Is it that Clara Ford? I always thought she was fake!] I scrolled down and saw my photos photoshopped into various monstrous images, captioned “Mistress, go die.” Someone had dug up my company’s address, and others were talking about sending me funeral wreaths. My phone rang again. It was my assistant, Leo, his voice tearful. “Ms. Ford, the company building is surrounded by reporters, and… and people are throwing things. Please don’t come in today…” I hung up, trembling with anger. I rushed downstairs. Mandy was sitting in the living room, a tripod set up in front of her, livestreaming. She was wearing full makeup today, and my custom-made gown. “Yes, my husband is Sterling Julian. We’ve been married for three years. I didn’t want to go public before because I was afraid it would affect his work, but I never expected to be taken advantage of…” She saw me, her eyes lit up, and she said to the camera, “Oh dear, speak of the devil. Everyone, look, this is the mistress who has been living in my house, Clara Ford.” She spoke, her voice choked with sobs, “I kindly took her in, let her live in my house, but I never expected her to… to be so shameless…” She covered her mouth, as if she couldn’t continue. The comments section instantly exploded: [Holy cow! The true wife is confronting the mistress!] [This woman has such thick skin, still daring to show up!] [Go, MandyB, go! Tear down that home-wrecker!] [Took her in? A mistress living in the real wife’s house?]

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On my first day as an intern in the department, I was stunned by a private message from my supervising doctor. She had actually looked into my background, knew that my car, less than a year old, cost over thirty thousand dollars base price, and even commented on my three years of steady driving experience. Then she laid down her demands, stating that her home was far, on the west side of the city, and that starting tomorrow, I should pick her up at her place at 7:10 AM every day, and then wait for her at the hospital entrance at 5:00 PM when she finished work. Finally, she self-righteously declared that this would be my “teaching fee” as her intern. I stared at my phone screen for a full two seconds, then simply replied that it wasn’t within my job description. After that, I ignored her and drove home after work. The next day, two tardiness records mysteriously appeared in my intern handbook. Even worse, the remarks section blatantly read: “Poor attitude, disobedient.” Seeing these twisted accusations, I couldn’t help but laugh in anger. Since she insisted on pulling rank, I saw no reason to be polite either. 1 Dr. Jennings finished her rounds and walked over to me, her tone peremptory. “I’m on call today, so I won’t be off until seven. I’ll let you grab dinner after work, but be at the hospital entrance by six-thirty, waiting for me.” I froze, startled by her words. Seeing my silence, her tone grew impatient. “Did you hear me? Because you didn’t drive me home yesterday after work, I got home half an hour late.” “My husband and I are trying for a baby right now. Do you know what half an hour means to me?” Her voice was aggressive, demanding. What did that have to do with me? She wasn’t even my one-on-one mentor. But thinking that I had just started at the hospital, I decided not to be too harsh with my words. I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Dr. Jennings, I also need to get home early. My parents are waiting for me for dinner.” “Besides, my house is on the east side of the city, completely opposite yours. If you’re really in a hurry, you can book a rideshare every day. It’s more convenient than me.” I thought my words had made it clear enough; any intelligent person would understand I wasn’t willing. Clearly, I had underestimated Dr. Jennings’ audacity. She sneered. “I mentor you every day, and I don’t complain about the hassle. Is this how you treat your teacher?” At these words, my roommate Sally, standing nearby, quickly spoke up. “That’s not right of you, Dr. Brooks. How much effort does Dr. Jennings put into us every day?” “She’s just asking you to drive her home, and you keep making excuses?” Sally and I had always been at odds in school. I turned to her. “Since you’re so thoughtful, why don’t you drive Dr. Jennings home then?” “I recall your family lives on the west side too. And your parents, bless their hearts, bought you a little commuter car. Perfect, isn’t it?” Sally’s face instantly changed. She quickly said, “No way.” Realizing her slip-up, she forced a smile. “Dr. Jennings, my car is just a tens-of-thousands dollar commuter vehicle. It’s not worthy of you. Her BMW is much better, it suits your status.” Dr. Jennings looked extremely pleased. “Alright, you just need to do as you’re told. Remember to be at the hospital entrance by six-thirty this afternoon, waiting for me.” Seeing that they weren’t listening to reason, I let my face harden. “Dr. Jennings, I told you, it’s not on my way, and it’s not convenient.” “As for how you get home, that has nothing to do with me.” “Don’t waste your time; I won’t be driving you home.” The surrounding interns were shocked by my defiance. Everyone turned to look at us. Dr. Jennings clenched her fists tightly. “Do you even know who I am?” I nodded slightly. “Dr. Jennings, I address you as a doctor, but we are merely colleagues.” “I have work to do, so I won’t waste any more of your time.” With that, I turned and left. 2 All day long, Dr. Jennings kept me busy. I knew she was upset, but I didn’t say anything. After all, these were all part of an intern’s duties. If I didn’t do them today, I’d have to do them tomorrow. Might as well get used to it early. As quitting time approached, Dr. Jennings suddenly looked at me. “The patient on the third floor just had surgery today. Someone needs to stay with them. Go down and observe for two hours.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh in anger. “Dr. Jennings, it’s almost time for me to finish work.” “Other interns will be arriving soon. Do you want to wait for them to get here?” Dr. Jennings reprimanded me. “You call yourself a doctor, always trying to shirk your duties!” “Are patients supposed to wait for your work schedule?” “If you have that kind of work attitude, you should resign sooner rather than later. You’re not suited for hospital work.” I clenched my fists tightly, stung by her scolding. She wasn’t entirely wrong. My purpose in interning at this hospital was to challenge myself, to prove to my parents that I could handle hardship. And as a doctor, not getting off work on time was perfectly normal. I should get used to it in advance. Thinking this, I lowered my head. “I understand, Dr. Jennings. I’ll go now.” On the third floor, I bustled about for two hours, without a single sip of water, and was finally nearing the end of my shift. I sat on a chair, my gaze vacant. Another intern who had come with me sidled over. “Let me tell you, you really hit a brick wall today. I heard Dr. Jennings is really close to the Chief of Staff. You dared to offend her? Aren’t you asking for trouble?” My eyes widened. I thought I’d misheard. “What did you say? Chief of Staff?” The intern looked left and right. “Yeah, didn’t you know? When we started at the hospital yesterday, I specifically asked the other doctors, and everyone knows.” My mind was in a daze. Before I could fully react, a shadow fell over me. Dr. Jennings cleared her throat. “Time’s up. Are you done for the day?” I glanced at my phone. It was exactly seven o’clock. As I stood up to leave, Dr. Jennings walked over to me. “It’s getting late. You can drive me home today.” I frowned slightly. “Dr. Jennings, it’s getting late. I need to get home early.” I absolutely needed to get home early to figure out what all this was about. Dr. Jennings stood with her arms crossed, looking at me. “I see you still haven’t figured out who’s really in charge here.” “Do you know who I am? What’s my relationship with the Chief of Staff?” “Me asking you to drive me home, that’s me doing you a favor. You better think it over. If you refuse me today, every day from now on will be like this.” I took a deep breath. “You say you have a relationship with the Chief of Staff. What kind of relationship?” She chuckled lightly. “What do you think? Didn’t I already tell you I’m going home to try for a baby? So, of course, it’s a marital relationship.” “If you mess with me, I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this hospital, do you hear me?!” Looking at her sharp, malicious face, I bit the soft flesh inside my cheek. “Since you’re so close to the Chief of Staff, why doesn’t he buy you a car?” “And I heard the Chief of Staff has been married for a long time. His wife is his colleague, so your age doesn’t quite match, does it? Dr. Jennings, you’re not playing mistress, are you?” Dr. Jennings’ eyes turned bloodshot as she stared at me. “What nonsense are you spouting?” I was eager for answers and had no time to waste with her here. “Dr. Jennings, I’m in a hurry to get home. Please just call a taxi.” 3 I stopped looking at her, turned, and walked away. Back home, seeing my father on the sofa, I began. “Do you have any connection to Dr. Jennings in the emergency department?” Dad looked puzzled. “Who’s that?” I recounted everything Dr. Jennings had told me. My dad was the Chief of Staff. But no one knew this. I wanted to prove my own abilities, which was why I had refused my dad’s kind offer to arrange my placement in the hospital. Everything I had achieved at the hospital, up to this point, was on my own merit. For as long as I could remember, my parents had a strong relationship. I didn’t believe the rumors were true, nor did I believe what Dr. Jennings was saying. I needed to confirm it with my father. Hearing everything, Dad slammed his hand on the table. “Nonsense! Dr. Jennings, you say? I’m going to make her pay today.” Dad pulled out his phone, about to make a call. I stopped him. “Since this isn’t true, leave it to me. I’ll make her pay for spreading such lies.” The next morning, as soon as I arrived at the hospital, everyone looked at me with disdain. “No wonder she, of all people our age, can drive a BMW. Turns out she’s just spreading her legs to serve men. And you know, that money comes fast.” “She’s never bothered with us since she started here. I thought she was just introverted, but she actually looks down on us. Pfft!” “If she looks down on us, why does she come to steal our jobs?” “Doesn’t anyone else find it disgusting to be colleagues with someone like her?” Whispers and pointing fingers surrounded me. I frowned, looking in the direction of the voices. “Do you know what you’re saying?” A voice from the crowd responded. “You still have the nerve to show your face here. If I were you, I’d quit and leave immediately.” “Does anyone smell something? I swear I smell something fishy.” Hearing these words, I trembled with anger. Just then, Sally walked in from outside the hospital. She saw me and frowned. “You still have the nerve to come to the hospital?” “Back in the dorm, you led the charge to isolate me, and said my family was poor. I thought you were from some rich family, but the Brooks family is just as shameless.” As she spoke, she pulled out a stack of photos from her pocket. “Looking at the man’s age, he must be older than your dad, right? You really have no shame.” With that, she violently threw the photos up in the air. My gaze fell on the photos scattered on the ground. In the pictures, I was sitting in a luxury car, smiling happily. And a man was fastening my seatbelt. All sorts of misleading photos. If I didn’t know the man was my dad, I would have believed it too. The photographer was very skillful. My face was clearly captured in every photo, but my dad’s face wasn’t visible in any of them. Dr. Jennings’ office door opened. She swept a condescending glance over me. “We don’t need shameless interns like you in this hospital. I don’t have shameless students like you. You’re fired. Get out of the hospital now.” 4 Her eyes gleamed with triumph. At that moment, I knew everything was part of her plan. I bit my lower lip, the taste of blood filling my mouth. “I won’t leave, unless I’m officially fired.” “As for you, you’re just a regular doctor. You have no authority to fire me!” Dr. Jennings hadn’t expected me to challenge her. She pulled out her phone and made a call. “Fire intern Ashley Hayes right now.” Soon, my phone received a termination message. Dr. Jennings waved her hand at me. “You’ve received your termination notice. Now get out of this hospital.” “Don’t ever say you work here again. Disgusting!” With that, she turned to leave. I grabbed her wrist. “Dr. Jennings, you’ve been spreading rumors in the hospital, circulating gossip about yourself and the Chief of Staff. Is any of this actually true?” A flicker of panic crossed Dr. Jennings’ eyes. She lifted her hand and flung mine away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” “You’re not a doctor at this hospital anymore. Besides, this is all my private business. I don’t need to tell you anything.” I stood my ground. “I’m not leaving. I haven’t done anything wrong. Why is the hospital firing me without any reason?” Dr. Jennings hadn’t expected me to be so persistent. She stared intensely at me. “Alright, then I’ll make sure you lose convincingly.” With that, she pulled out her phone and made another call. Less than five minutes later, a familiar voice echoed from outside the crowd. “What are you all gathered around for?” Hearing the voice, my entire body froze. Dr. Jennings chuckled softly. “The Chief of Staff is here. You’ll be out of this hospital in no time.” The crowd automatically parted to create a path. Dad walked in. Dr. Jennings quickly stepped forward, her voice soft and delicate. “Chief of Staff, you’re finally here. There’s an intern here who’s disobedient and keeps causing trouble.” “She insists on seeing you before she’ll leave. I truly couldn’t handle her anymore.” Dad looked up and saw me. Dr. Jennings was still chattering on. “Chief of Staff, this intern is truly unfit to be a doctor. I don’t know how her parents raised such a child.” “You must fire her and blacklist her from all hospitals. A person like her truly doesn’t deserve to be a doctor!” Dad gave a forced smile. “So, you’re saying, what exactly makes my daughter unfit to be a doctor?”

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1 My fifteen-year relationship with Molly shattered in a fierce argument about her stubborn refusal to consider marriage. The next day, as a TV reporter, I was assigned to cover a live broadcast from the City Hall registry office. When I interviewed a young man, a random question popped up on the live stream’s comments, dripping with malice: “What’s the cruelest thing your wife has ever said to you?” I was about to skip over this potentially thorny question, but the guy smiled shyly at the camera and answered softly, “She never yells at me. The worst thing she probably ever said was calling me a clumsy idiot when I burned my hand.” He went on to explain that his wife was fourteen years older than him, and she cherished him deeply. She always said he’d been with her since he was so young, and she wanted to spoil him rotten. That’s why he chose his twenty-second birthday to get married. The comments section exploded with “Aww, couple goals!” and I found myself smiling too, ready to offer my congratulations. Just then, a woman walked up and threw herself into his arms, asking intimately, “Honey, what are you talking about?” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, my blood freezing in my veins. The microphone clattered to the ground with a sickening thud. Because that woman was Molly, my girlfriend. And just last night, she had spat at me, “You have any self-respect? Would you have been my lapdog at seventeen, begging me to be with you? Always paranoid. Hell, I’m the one who suspects you’re seeing other women!” … The moment our eyes met, a flicker of panic crossed Molly’s face, but it quickly settled into a cold calm. She shot me a warning glance, subtly shaking her head. I felt like someone had their hand clamped around my throat, my limbs stiff and useless as I stood rooted to the spot. The young man, ever so kind, picked up the microphone and handed it back to me, a playful grin on his face. “What’s wrong, Anchor? Did my wife’s beauty stun you?” Molly laughed, playfully tapping his chest. “Stop talking nonsense. Let’s go, didn’t you want Japanese food?” He let out a delighted yelp, leaning down to kiss her. “Thanks, babe. You’re the best, babe.” That word, “babe,” pierced my heart without warning, leaving a raw, bleeding wound. How utterly pathetic. Fifteen years with Molly, and I never even had the right to call her that. Seeing me still pale and frozen, the young man grumbled, though his eyes were brimming with amusement: “My wife usually won’t take me because she’s worried I’ll get sick. But since it’s our wedding day, she’s finally letting me go wild. Babe, you know I’m the boss today, right?” Molly didn’t spare me another glance, her gaze tender and affectionate as she looked at him. “Alright, alright, boss. Let’s go.” She took his hand, her steps composed as they walked past me. Not a single hesitation, as if I were nothing more than an irrelevant stranger. A torrent of questions lodged in my throat, like countless needles, pricking me until I bled internally. The cameraman behind me gestured, reminding me the live broadcast was still running. Swallowing back my tears, I hastily ended the segment and hurried after them. Under the young man’s astonished gaze, I articulated each word: “Molly, we’re done.” … On the ride home, I huddled in the corner of the taxi, burying my face in my hands and sobbing uncontrollably. Molly and I had been together for fifteen years. During our poorest days, we squeezed into a leaky basement apartment, sharing a single cup of instant noodles. She’d give me the only egg, while she just drank water to stave off hunger. When winter hit, she’d tuck my hands into her clothes to warm them, shivering herself but never once complaining. I never felt the hardship either. Because she told me we’d work hard together, and when we both made it big, she’d wear the most beautiful wedding dress and marry me in style. I worked for ten years, and waited for five. Finally, I was successful, and she was wealthy. But she married another man. Back home, I started packing my suitcase. Molly must have returned at some point, because every item I put in, she’d pull out. Finally, she grabbed my wrist with a tight grip, kicked over the suitcase, and snarled, her eyes bloodshot: “Ethan, what the hell do you think you’re doing? What’s with all the drama?” Tears welled up instantly, and I clutched my chest in agony, my voice hoarse. “Drama? Molly, you married another man. What am I supposed to stay for? To be your side piece?” Molly collapsed onto the sofa, pulling out a cigarette. She brought it to her lips, then silently snuffed it out. “Ethan, it’s not what you think with him.” “He’s Professor Cohen’s son, Liam. Professor Cohen passed away and entrusted Liam to me. I have to take care of him.” Professor Cohen, Molly’s benefactor. If he hadn’t invested in Molly’s project back then, she wouldn’t be where she was today. I curled my fingers, my eyes closing in numb despair. “So you have to marry him and take care of him for the rest of your life? What about me?” Molly frowned, about to speak. Her phone rang, and her eyes instantly softened. “Liam, what’s wrong?” Liam sobbed into the phone. “Molly, is Ethan still mad? Have you explained it to him? Or maybe I should… Ah!” A heavy thud echoed from the other end. Molly immediately stood up, her voice laced with panic. “Liam, what happened? Don’t scare me.” Liam’s voice trembled. “Molly, I fell. It hurts so bad.” Molly soothed him gently. “Don’t be scared, I’ll be right there.” Hanging up, she grabbed me, her tone brooking no argument. “You’re coming with me. Liam and I will explain everything to you in person.” I yanked my hand back, but Molly dragged me all the way to Liam’s place. What made it even more disheartening was realizing Liam lived just upstairs from me. I couldn’t bear to think about all those nights Molly claimed to be working late or leaving in the middle of the night. Had she been with Liam all along? Molly, her face full of concern, helped Liam out of the bathroom. Liam was naked, pressing himself close against her. Seeing me, his eyes red and swollen, he said: “Ethan, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were Molly’s boy… friend. Please don’t fight with her. She’s just being kind and taking care of me.” I said nothing, and his eyes welled up with more tears. Molly snarled. “Ethan, Liam’s talking to you. Can’t you answer him? Do you have any manners?” A sharp ache tightened in my chest. After a long silence, I finally whispered, “I understand.” Liam’s tears turned to a smile, and he tugged at Molly’s sleeve. “Molly, my foot hurts so bad. I think I twisted it.” Molly immediately knelt down, carefully cupping his foot and gently massaging it. “Where does it hurt?” Watching them, I suddenly remembered the time I broke my leg protecting her in a car accident. I was in so much pain I couldn’t sleep all night, begging her to put medicine on it. She had impatiently brushed my hand away. “Ethan, you know I’m a germaphobe.” Turns out, her germophobia was just for me. Molly expertly walked over to a cabinet and started rummaging for liniment. The moment she left, Liam’s face contorted into a venomous sneer. “Ethan, why are you such a pathetic loser? Molly and I are legally married. What are you? A side piece trying to stand here?” His voice grew even nastier. “I hear you’ve been with Molly for fifteen years? How sad. All that time and you never even got a marriage certificate. Someone like you, a shameless mooch, should go find a sugar mommy at a club while you still have some looks. Though, I wonder if you can even get it up anymore?” My heart seized, and I angrily looked up. But before I could do anything, he suddenly flushed, slapped himself hard across the face, and collapsed to the floor. “Ethan!” Molly rushed over, shielding Liam in her arms. Liam clutched his face, accusing me through tears. “Molly, I was just apologizing to Ethan, and he suddenly hit me. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let you take care of me. I’ll leave, I’ll just leave, okay?” I was shaking with rage. “You’re lying! You clearly—” “Enough!” Molly cut me off coldly, gripping my arm tightly. “Apologize to Liam.” In that moment, the last bit of air I was holding onto in my chest simply deflated. I managed a weak smile, my eyes burning. “Molly, you can’t even see through such a cheap trick? That’s… quite disappointing.” I shook off her hand and walked out calmly. As I watched the elevator indicator lights, I remembered being seventeen. I was cornered and bullied by a group of guys in the hallway. When a kind classmate found us, the ringleader turned the tables, slapping himself hard and preemptively telling the teacher: “Teacher, Ethan hit me.” I was just an ordinary student from a single-parent home, and the teacher, not wanting to get involved, was about to give me a disciplinary notice. Molly was the one who helped me. Dressed in a white dress, she leaned casually against the railing, lazily telling the teacher: “Teacher, you can’t even see through such a cheap trick?” She pulled out a video, proving my innocence. She said, “You follow me from now on, be my little brother, and no one will ever dare bully you again.” The girl’s smile was too dazzling, it captivated my heart. And I followed, for fifteen years. But I never imagined that the boomerang of time, after all its twists and turns, would ultimately strike the one who first wielded it. Back home, I continued packing, but my phone kept buzzing. I picked it up and saw that the clips from today’s live broadcast had gone viral. Someone recognized Liam; he was a moderately popular college blogger. I clicked into the account a netizen had found. His latest post showed him and Molly with their fingers intertwined, a marriage certificate displayed in front of them. “Married my crush of many years, so happy~” I suppressed the bitterness in my heart and scrolled further down. In Liam’s posts, I saw Molly, who never lifted a finger at home, cooking for him with her own hands. I saw her, someone who never ate spicy food, going to the hospital with gastritis after eating spicy meals with him. And then there was the day my father passed away. I was home alone, heartbroken to the point of heart failure. She was away on a business trip and called me after hearing the news. But at the same time, the boy’s post showed: “Wife on the phone while doing it, so hot.” Turns out, the choked voice I thought was her comforting me, was just her gasping while in bed with another man. I sat in the darkness, stunned, all night. Molly didn’t come back until noon the next day. I got straight to the point. “You slept with him, didn’t you? Happy?” Molly paused, mid-shoe change, her face instantly darkening. “Watch your mouth. Liam was crying all night, I was comforting him.” I raised my hand, pointing to the hickey on her neck. “Comforting him in bed?” Molly froze. I then handed her Liam’s social media page. Molly was completely silent. After a long pause, she spoke: “He’s just a kid, posting for fun. Don’t go bothering him. It’s all my fault.” No explanation, no apology. Her first instinct was to protect Liam. Tears instantly streamed down my face. “Molly, don’t you guys feel… disgusting?” Seeing my tears, Molly was about to embrace me, but her face darkened when she heard my words. She scoffed. “Clean? You think you’re clean? Ethan, you’ve been with me all these years, circling me like a lapdog. I told you to get a vasectomy, and you went right away. You’re infertile now, a cripple. At least Liam isn’t like you; he’s young, vibrant, whole!” “You forgot how you begged me like a dog to protect you back then. You think if you leave me, anyone out there will want you? Who would ever care about a rotten person like you?” I stared at her, an extreme sorrow washing over me even before anger could. At eighteen, we first experimented with intimacy. Two clueless individuals, fumbling through it, supporting each other every step of the way. Later, through those difficult years, I stood by her. She said she didn’t want children, and I, without a second thought, got a vasectomy. The inability to ever have children, it was the deepest pain in my heart, and I thought she’d be touched. But now I knew, in her eyes, I was a cripple, a useless man. I stared blankly at the face I had loved for fifteen years, suddenly wondering when she had become so… rotten. The girl in the white dress, she had truly died completely in my heart. Realizing she’d spoken out of turn, a flicker of regret crossed Molly’s eyes, but she was interrupted by a phone notification. She glanced at it, and her face instantly turned ashen. Molly lunged, viciously seizing my throat and kicking me to the floor. “Ethan, don’t think I won’t hurt you just because you’ve been with me for years. If anything happens to Liam, I’ll make you pay for it!” Seeing my stunned expression, she slammed her phone onto my face. “Look what you’ve done!” On the screen, my name glared back, every word accusing Liam of being a homewrecker. The language was vicious, sickening. Liam, unable to withstand the online bullying, was now on a rooftop, threatening to jump. I stared at her, my voice trembling. “You think I posted that?” Molly’s eyes were ice cold. “Who else would it be? How could you be so evil? Using such a despicable tactic against a kid.” She stood up, looking down at me. “I only planned to take care of Liam for a while, grant a few of his wishes, and then marry you. But now, I’ve changed my mind.” “Ethan, you will pay the price.” She slammed the door shut as she left. My chest felt like it was being ripped open, making it hard to breathe. I forced myself to go to work. The moment I arrived at the TV station, my boss called me into his office. “You’re fired. Get out.” I stood frozen, my mind a blank. Walking out of the building, the streets were filled with strange, judgmental stares. Before I could even process it, my phone was bombarded with messages. Molly had posted a statement online, accompanied by her marriage certificate and a forged psychiatric evaluation report: “Liam and I are married. Ethan was merely a childhood acquaintance. He’s mentally unstable, and out of old affection, I continued to look after him, never imagining he would slander my husband.” The entire internet erupted in condemnation. “A mentally ill person working as an anchor? How disgusting. People treat him as a friend, he treats them as his wife.” “Delusional, truly terrifying.” “Wow, his information has been dug up. He bullied others in high school. Such a rotten person trying to latch onto CEO Molly.” I stared at the news on my phone, filled with twisted truths, and felt my vision go black, collapsing heavily to the ground. When I opened my eyes again, Molly had me confined. Until Liam came knocking.

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After the premiere, I realized my girlfriend, Chelsea, was gone. I searched the whole venue with a glass of champagne in hand, finally hearing her on the phone in the fire escape. She was saying that the film was custom-made for her, guaranteed to win her the Best Actress award. She also mentioned that she’d reveal the person’s identity during the Best Actress nominations next month. And she specifically stated that tomorrow she would sign a contract for the next project with them, believing that once the contract was secure, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble. I leaned against the wall, listening to the entire conversation. It was then I understood. I was just her stepping stone, a director with resources who didn’t even demand a salary. The next day, she sent a playful voice message as usual, asking if I’d finished writing the script for her next movie. I compiled all the breach of contract clauses from her business agreements into a PDF, added that recording, and sent it to her talent agency. After that, I sent her a text. 1 Less than ten minutes later, Chelsea burst through the door. Her voice was frantic. “Kris, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” I scoffed. “I really didn’t know you were capable of two-timing me while we were supposedly in a relationship.” Chelsea and I went to the same university. I directed a film in my freshman year that instantly hit big, turning me into a prodigy director. Chelsea, though pretty, wasn’t particularly outstanding in the sea of beauties at the film academy. I didn’t know her back then. In my junior year, I was at the library gathering material when it suddenly started raining. She offered me an umbrella. “Mr. Thorne, please take my umbrella.” I was aloof with everyone back then and took a step back. “No, thank you.” Chelsea smiled. “Mr. Thorne, you’re quite famous on campus; of course, I wanted to meet you.” “But to get to know you, and even help you, I think that’s rather nice.” She pointed to the camera on my body. My life had always been full of pretense, and it was the first time I’d encountered someone so genuine. Before long, we knew each other. A year ago, Chelsea pulled me close. “Kris, I know I’m not good enough for you, but I really like you.” At that time, I also had a soft spot for her, pretty and sweet as she was, and accepted her confession. Later, knowing she wanted to be a big star, I personally wrote three scripts for her. As expected, her first film was an instant hit. Now, her second film was a box office smash. Unless something went wrong, she would be nominated for Best Actress in a month, becoming the youngest Best Actress ever. But I never imagined what happened yesterday would occur. Chelsea’s face was pale. She grabbed my hand. “Kris, let me explain.” “He’s like an older brother from my hometown. If it weren’t for him, I might not have even gone to college. He’s my benefactor.” I shook off his hand. “And? What does that have to do with me?” She looked at me with a hint of judgment. “You’ve been born with a silver spoon in your mouth, getting whatever you want. Of course, you don’t understand the struggles of people like us from the lower class.” “If I can become Best Actress, he can leverage my name to stay in this industry and get decent opportunities.” “Since I’m with you, I definitely intend to marry you. I’m just helping him out. You’re a man, why are you so petty?” Her words struck me as utterly ridiculous. She was my girlfriend, planning to announce she was with another man. Everyone in the industry knew about our relationship. She was essentially trampling my reputation underfoot. And now she was accusing me of being petty. I scoffed, shaking off her hand. “I don’t want to argue with you. Let’s break up.” 2 “And as for the script for the third film, you can forget about it.” “I’ll find someone suitable.” I didn’t want to look at her anymore and turned to leave. Chelsea suddenly sneered. “Don’t even think about it. The female lead for your third film will definitely be me.” I frowned and looked at her. She pulled out her phone and waved it in front of me. “Your company has already signed a contract with mine. Are you trying to breach it?” I suddenly remembered. Today was the day to renew the contract for Chelsea’s third film. I should have called the company to tell them not to renew. But Chelsea’s sudden arrival had disrupted my plans. I gritted my teeth. “Fine. I’ll pay the penalty.” No matter what, I couldn’t stand being around someone like her. Chelsea chuckled. “Don’t bother. Both companies have already made official announcements. If you unilaterally breach the contract now, what do you think the netizens will say?” “I’m not an unknown actress anymore. Now I’m a front-runner for Best Actress.” Chelsea’s eyes gleamed with triumph. Her expression made her seem like a stranger to me. I felt as if I had never truly known her. My chest felt like it had been struck by a heavy hammer. I had been genuine with her; otherwise, I wouldn’t have used every resource to pave her way. The door was pushed open again from the outside. Kevin Stone walked in, wrapping an arm around Chelsea’s waist right in front of me. “Director Thorne, you once refused to cast me in your films. I bet you never thought you’d become my stepping stone, did you?” Seeing his face, I suddenly remembered five years ago. That was my first film. Kevin was an investor’s pick, shoved into the cast. Initially, I tried to tolerate him out of respect for the investor. But his acting was simply abysmal. I’d rather forgo the investor’s funding than let him ruin my character. Later, I replaced him with a new actor. That new actor became a sensation in the film, instantly rising to become an A-list star. I never expected Kevin Stone to be Chelsea’s boyfriend. My gaze fell on Chelsea. “So, you’re not hiding it anymore?” Chelsea raised an eyebrow. “Eventually everyone will know Kevin is my boyfriend. Knowing sooner or later makes no difference.” “Besides, I’m a Best Actress, an actress, not an idol. I’m allowed to date.” I couldn’t help but laugh aloud. “You’re that confident you’ll win Best Actress?” Chelsea straightened her back. “The impact of my two films isn’t just national, it’s global. In the entire industry, no one can snatch it from me. If not me, then who?” “Even if you tried to rig it, my fans would see it as a conspiracy and wouldn’t stand for it.” Kevin chuckled. “Director Thorne, thank you for paving the way for us. When we reach the top, we’ll definitely remember your generosity.” Chelsea looked at me. “Don’t worry, I won’t break my promise. I’ll still marry you.” I just felt disgusted. My fists clenched tightly. She thinks she’s guaranteed Best Actress, doesn’t she? Well, we’ll see about that. 3 Early the next morning, before dawn, I left my place. When my car pulled up outside Scarlett Reed’s apartment, I cut the engine and sat there for a while. I couldn’t put my finger on the feeling, just a knot of frustration in my chest that I couldn’t seem to release. I went upstairs and knocked on her door. Scarlett opened the door in her pajamas, her hair a mess. The moment she saw me, she froze. “What are you doing here?” She instinctively took half a step back, a hint of awkwardness in her eyes. She was actually the female lead in my first film. Later, when her career was booming, she confessed her feelings for me. But I had already met Chelsea by then and turned her down. Since then, Scarlett had kept a low profile, rarely taking on acting roles. But I knew she was incredibly talented. And she had a huge fanbase; whenever she appeared, audiences would respond. There was another very important thing. There was still a film we co-produced that hadn’t been released yet. I didn’t beat around the bush. “Scarlett, I need your help.” Her expression shifted several times, finally leaning against the doorframe, looking at me with complicated eyes. After about ten or fifteen seconds of silence, she stepped aside, letting me in. “Come in and talk.” When I left, she stood at the doorway watching me go. She didn’t say anything, but I knew she would help me. Not because she was generous, but because some debts, sooner or later, had to be settled. Chelsea said no one could be her competitor, didn’t she? But she forgot. It was she, Chelsea, who had brutally pushed Scarlett out of the Best Actress spot back then. She’d sat on that throne for too long. It was time to repay the debt. I got home around two in the afternoon. As I pushed open the door, I saw Kevin Stone wearing my pajamas, holding Chelsea, his head buried in her neck. I frowned. “What are you two doing?” Seeing me, Chelsea calmly adjusted her clothes. “You’re back?” “We were just rehearsing. In the next project, we’re playing a couple. You’re a director yourself, you know this is perfectly normal in our line of work.” Kevin looked at me with blatant provocation. I suppressed the rage burning in my chest. “You two dogs, get out of my house!” Chelsea stared at me. “Do you have to make things so ugly?” I gritted my teeth. “Get out!” But Chelsea picked up a property deed from the table and tossed it at my feet. “This is my house. You’re the one who needs to leave!” I looked at the property deed at my feet. Chelsea’s name was on it. Last month was Chelsea’s birthday. She sat in my lap, her arms around my neck. “Kris, I know you love me very much, but you know, in our industry, love is so fleeting.” “I really feel very insecure.” I held her, making a significant decision. I transferred all the properties under my name to her. Including this one, the house I bought with the money from my first successful film. I never imagined that one day she would kick me out of my own home. I was packing my suitcase in the room. Chelsea walked in. “I didn’t want you to leave.” I looked up at her. “Then tell Kevin to leave the house now.” She frowned. “Why are you so obsessed with him?” “I already told you, he’s my benefactor. I can’t be ungrateful. Since you’re my boyfriend, you should be thankful to him too!” My voice was cold. “We’ve broken up. I’m not your boyfriend. He is.” The thought of being with this kind of woman for so many years, wasting so many resources, just made me sick. I picked up my suitcase and walked out. Chelsea’s voice came from behind me. “If you walk out of this house today, then we are truly over.” “I’m telling you, I’m about to become Best Actress. You’ll definitely regret this.” I carried my suitcase, not even turning around. I wouldn’t regret it. As for Best Actress, she wasn’t guaranteed to get it. 4 I took my luggage straight to the film set. After discussing it with Scarlett, within a couple of days, I scheduled the unreleased film for screening. Though the timing was rushed and there was no publicity. But because I was the director. And Scarlett’s acting skills were well-recognized in the industry. On opening day, while it couldn’t compare to Chelsea’s box office, it still performed well. That day, Chelsea called. “Kris Thorne, I think you’re truly insane, ruining your own reputation.” “Your new film’s box office today isn’t even a third of your usual. Aren’t you panicking?” I scoffed, hanging up on her. I knew Chelsea well; she definitely hadn’t seriously watched the movie. Over the next two weeks. The film’s box office kept climbing, already surpassing Chelsea’s second film and quickly catching up to her first. I was just finishing up on set when Chelsea stopped me. “If you take ‘Chrysalis’ offline now, I might consider not breaking up with you.” Still so high and mighty. Without me, she wouldn’t be where she was today. How could she possibly think I’d be unwilling to let her go? I pushed her aside. “No way.” Another week passed, and the film became a massive box office hit. Scarlett instantly soared to become a top-tier actress. The film was also nominated for this year’s Best Picture and even garnered a nomination for its educational significance. The international film festival was the next day. Scarlett called me. “I’ve been nominated for Best Actress.” Just as she was about to hang up, she suddenly said: “Check the internet immediately.” I quickly opened my computer. The top trending topic showed ambiguous photos of Scarlett and me. There were also timelines of Chelsea and me entering the same room. Netizens in the know claimed that I had cheated on Chelsea with Scarlett during our relationship. Everyone was cursing me. To everyone’s surprise, Chelsea even posted a veiled comment. [Someone betrayed me, but someone else will love me.] Her fans flooded my comment section. [Shameless! Cheating on our darling Chelsea!] [What an old hag, how could she compare to Chelsea? Pffft!] [This guy has the nerve to be a director? I’ll never watch his films again!] Even all my personal information was dug up. That night. Not only my house, but Scarlett’s house was also surrounded. Chelsea called, her voice triumphant. “The Golden Rooster Best Actress award won’t go to a disgraced actress like her, Kris. You really thought you could succeed? Impossible!” I hung up on her, blocking her number immediately. She wouldn’t think I didn’t have a backup plan, would she?

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My daughter’s simple “Daddy” was once the sole reason I clung to my marriage. When my wife, Stella Lawrence, was first caught by the police for soliciting eight men, I chose to endure it. For the sake of our family, we struck a fragile agreement: I wouldn’t file for divorce, and she would undergo daily screenings for infectious diseases at the hospital. Each time, she’d cooperate submissively during blood draws, allowing the cold needle to pierce her skin, all out of guilt. This went on for a whole month, until she was caught red-handed again, for the same offense. In that moment, my blood felt like it was boiling, my eyes bloodshot as I stared her down. “How many more times will you betray me? What do you take me and our daughter for?” A sharp slap suddenly echoed through the room. She shrieked hysterically, “I’m sick of your endless checks! You think this is a compromise? This is you silently condoning my continued indulgence!” “And how clean are you, Mr. Saint? When you were juggling countless women back then, did I ever utter a single complaint?” The most brutal truth unraveled with her cold sneer: “You really think Luna is your biological child? Just because she called you Daddy for a few years, you think you’re her real father?” The undisguised disgust in her eyes pierced my heart like an ice pick. I suddenly understood that all my persistence had been meaningless. I had chosen to forgive her for the child’s sake back then, but now, for the child’s sake, it was time to cut ties completely with this rotten relationship. … A rival, also arrested nearby, gloated. “You two are a perfect match, truly. Both of you are so dirty, what’s there to despise each other for?” “That woman must be getting drafty from all those daily checkups, huh? I bet your husband’s had enough of you.” “And let’s be real, the number of women he slept with back in the day probably outnumbers your current flings…” Stella slapped her again. “Enough! Shut up!” I stared at her, tears streaming down my face, unstoppable. Six months into our marriage, I was kidnapped by an enemy of her past crimes. Beaten and humiliated for three days and three nights, videos spread across the internet before she finally rushed to my side. At one point, I wanted to end my life. She stayed by me 24/7, never leaving my sight. She tried everything to cheer me up. “Julian, it’s all over. I’m here. No one will ever dare to hurt you again.” Two months later, she found out she was three months pregnant. She wept with joy, convinced it was a gift from heaven. “Our baby is fighting so hard to see you. Please don’t let her down, okay?” I started taking new dad classes. Slowly, I began to accept everything. Even through the arduous pregnancy, Stella treated me with unwavering devotion. It was a girl, named Luna, meaning to protect my peace. Three years flew by, and I thought life was slowly getting better. But reality delivered a brutal slap to my face. The day she was arrested, I was in the next room celebrating Luna’s birthday. The police kicked open the door, and all I saw was clothes strewn across the floor. And nine naked people on the bed. “My husband back then probably had even more, must have been awesome.” I happened to overhear that sentence. After she sobered up and saw me, she slapped herself so hard she ended up in the hospital. Claiming she was just framed by a rival. And back then, cradling a trembling me, she had retorted to others: “Am I looking for a husband or virtue?” “Anyone who dares to say one more bad word about my husband, I’ll kill them!” Just three years, and everything had changed. The chaotic shouts pulled me back to reality. The person opposite her was already covered in blood. Stella still had her fists tightly clenched. “You have no right to talk about my husband!” She turned to me, and the ferocity in her eyes finally dissipated. She stepped forward, blocking my view. “I’m sorry, I’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Let me calm down first.” I looked at her calmly. “I’ll have my lawyer handle the divorce papers. Let’s do it quickly.” She furrowed her brows, the drops of blood on her face looking somewhat terrifying. “Are you really that heartless? I just spoke without thinking, does all the good I’ve done for you before count for nothing?” I didn’t answer. I turned to the police. “I’m not bailing her out. Follow the procedure.” Then I walked away without looking back. Luna was waiting for me at home. Her innocent eyes were still searching. “Where’s Mommy?” I picked her up, fighting back tears. I spent a lot of time with her. Making formula, changing diapers—all hands-on. I never once thought she wasn’t my flesh and blood. But after so many years, I had already grown too attached to let go. A car engine rumbled at the door. Stella walked in, her face weary. Luna flew into her arms. Stella immediately put on a smiling face, picking her up and spinning her around. Only after telling stories and putting her to sleep did she open her laptop to deal with messages. A glass of warm milk still sat on the nightstand. She didn’t even look up. “Go to sleep first. Even for Luna, you need to calm down.” I lay awake all night. My mind was clouded, unable to decide what to do. Three days later, Stella’s adopted brother, Alex Lawrence, was getting married. It had been decided that Luna would be the flower girl. Alex and I were on good terms; there was no reason to take my anger out on him. The moment Alex saw Luna, he warmly picked her up. “Our Luna is the best, isn’t she?” Luna giggled, kissing his cheek. “Luna loves Uncle Alex the most!” The joyous atmosphere around me sent a pang through my heart. Should I really take Luna away from the Lawrence family? Alex pulled me over for a photo. “On such an important day, my lifesaver must have a place of honor!” Years ago, he was also taken by the kidnappers. I had negotiated and offered myself to protect him. In these three years, he had practically brought the world’s best things to me. I forced a smile, pushing those messy thoughts away. The wedding went smoothly. I couldn’t resist taking a few more videos. Turning around again, Luna had disappeared. I frantically went to look for her. The hotel storage room. Stella’s phone, which had been unreachable, was ringing inside. Just as I was about to knock, I suddenly heard unusual gasps. “Stella, are you really just going to watch me get married? What about our eight years?” It was Alex’s voice. My hand, resting on the doorknob, froze mid-air. Unspeakable sounds reached my ears. After an unknown duration, Stella’s languid voice spoke. “You’re part of the Lawrence family, after all. We can’t be together.” “Then are you really willing for me to sleep with other women from now on?” Alex sounded a bit desperate. “Why? When I had the kidnappers take him, you should have just left him alone!” “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be despised as dirty by a man who’s been ridden by countless others!” “Luna is our biological child…” “Enough!” Stella cut him off, the sound of clothes rustling. “I’ve already indulged you enough. Don’t push your luck.” “Since you’re married, settle down. Don’t make me sacrifice my reputation to protect you again!” I slumped against the door, making a loud thud. Eight years… I had only known Stella for seven years. That nightmare I lived day and night. It was actually orchestrated by the closest people to me. The air fell into a deathly silence after the door opened. Stella helped me up. “Are you alright? I just came to help grab something…” I stared fixedly at Alex’s clearly aroused state, my heart sinking to rock bottom. “Was it fun, watching your husband being humiliated?” Seeing that I had already heard everything, Alex tore off his disguise. “When you were under those guys, Stella and I were having a blast right next door.” “These past few years of marriage, I’ve been with her every day!” “To avoid you finding out, Stella even deliberately got caught soliciting.” My head spun with a buzzing sound, and my stomach churned with agonizing pain. Stella glared at him, then hugged me. “He and I are in the past. I’ve repaid what I owed him.” “Don’t worry, I won’t have any contact with him again. Those kidnappers have already been dealt with.” “Let’s just live well with Luna, like before, okay?” I didn’t hear a single word she said. “Get out! Don’t touch me!” I pushed her away with all my might. Leaning against the wall, I dry heaved. Behind me, they were blaming each other. I closed my eyes, but the sheer absurdity of it all choked me. Seven whole years! My supposed happiness had all been a lie, replaced by a third party. During the time I was humiliated, I thought of Stella again and again. The belief that I had to see her again kept me alive. But what was she thinking next door at that time? Was it pity for me? Or passion for Alex? When I was anxious outside the delivery room, wishing I could suffer in her stead. Was she thinking about what to name her and Alex’s child? How could anyone be so flawless in their deception? On one hand, loving me with all her might. On the other, carrying on under my very nose. Luna ran over and called out to me. My expression numb, I picked her up, walking past Stella. “Luna, it’s just Daddy from now on.” “Mommy, don’t cry. Luna wants Daddy.” Her tender little hand wiped away my tears. I stumbled out of the hotel. Since neither I nor Luna were wanted, I’d grant them their wish. That night, Alex came. He had changed out of his suit. His light attire revealed prominent hickeys on his chest. A nameless nausea surged within me. The discomfort in my stomach made my nails dig deeply into my flesh. I quickly ushered Luna back to her room. “Brother, you’re being too petty. Luna is my biological child, no matter what.” Alex scrutinized my pale face, his tone filled with thinly veiled mockery. “To be frank, your wife is pregnant again, and it’s mine too.” “In the future, only my child will inherit all the shares of Lawrence Corp.” “Because you, Julian, have absolutely no fertility left.” His triumphant expression deeply stung me. I threw a punch, the pain making me unstable on my feet. “Get out!” He clutched his face but didn’t get angry; instead, he laughed. “Enraged, are we?” “So what? You can never change the fact that Luna is my biological child!” Luna, hearing the commotion, came out clutching her teddy bear and responded blankly. “Uncle Alex, Luna’s daddy isn’t you.” I quickly covered Alex’s mouth, forcefully dragging him towards the door. He leaned on the doorframe, letting out a contemptuous sneer. “If you truly cared about Luna, you shouldn’t have let her be born. She’ll only suffer more as she grows up.” “You really think Stella wanted to have a child with you? Luna was just a tool to stabilize your marriage.” “She only loves me. Even Luna comes second!” “Just a bastard child. Living with you for so long, Stella says she feels sick just looking at her.” Seeing me frozen in place, Alex grew even more triumphant. “Do you know why she agreed to let me hire people to kidnap you back then?” “Because you had a cold, and she was 30 minutes late meeting me because she was taking care of you, so I was angry and wanted revenge.” My entire body felt struck by lightning, my vision swimming. It was merely such a trivial matter. And I was just an ant sacrificed for Alex to trample on at will. My eyes bloodshot, I stared at him, my chest heaving violently. He drew a circle on my chest. “Stella only has me in her heart.” “She was already pregnant. To avoid having your offspring, she had someone render you infertile.” My pupils constricted sharply. My body reacted faster than my mind. I clamped my hands around his throat, trembling all over. “You bastard! How dare you hurt Luna like this… Go to hell!” Luna was terrified and started crying hysterically. Alex flashed a smug, knowing smile. “You’re truly a terrible father.” I looked at a frightened Luna. My grip slowly loosened. Just then, Stella returned from the office. Seeing the scene, she violently shoved me aside. My forehead hit the corner of the table, blood gushing out. Luna’s cries grew louder. But Stella only had eyes for Alex. “Julian Reed! If anything happens to Alex, I will never forgive you!” Alex was helped away. Until the car drove off. Stella didn’t spare us, mother and child, a single glance. I held a trembling Luna tightly. “Daddy’s here, don’t be scared…” “Daddy, do Mommy and Uncle Alex hate us?” I looked into her tear-filled eyes. My chest suddenly ached as if pricked by needles. She was already three years old; how could she not understand adult emotions? “Daddy, then we don’t want Mommy either.” She buried her head in my arms. I forced myself to comfort her to sleep, swallowing my grief. It had come to this. I had to take Luna and leave. With my decision firmly made, I pulled out the divorce papers I had already drafted. I placed the peace charm she had begged for three years ago on top. She had once said it was specially sought to bless me, to ward off my nightmares. But just moments ago, I had seen an identical one on Alex’s wrist. As I packed, my perfectly fine suitcase suddenly cracked open. Just like my once envied relationship, rotting from the inside out. After arranging new lodging, I sat by Luna’s bed. Planning to leave with her at dawn. But suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the door. Before I could even stand up, Stella stormed in, her face enraged. She kicked me away, her eyes bloodshot. “Julian Reed! How cruel you are! You actually tried to kill Alex!” I curled against the wall, too much pain to speak. Luna was also startled awake. Seeing the scene, she huddled in her blankets, trembling in fear. “Lu… Luna…” I struggled to reach for her. Stella grabbed her like a chicken, lifting her up. “You’re a father! Why can’t you be kinder to Alex? Without him, how could you have become a father?” “Alex came here to apologize to you, out of kindness, and you actually hit him! He’s traumatized and now has a fever!” Luna must have been pinched because she cried hysterically. Continuously calling for “Mommy.” “Shut up!” Stella roared viciously. “It’s all your fault, you little bastard! You’re clearly mine and Alex’s child, yet you’re trying to leave with your cheap father.” I couldn’t believe my ears. No matter how harshly Stella had cursed me before, she had never been cruel to Luna. But now, she was actually taking her anger out on her own flesh and blood! “Stella Lawrence! Are you insane?” I rushed forward, trying to snatch Luna. But she held Luna high above her head. “Move again, and I’ll drop her to her death!” I froze in place, my temples throbbing, my mind a blank. “You say I’m insane? I think you’re the one who’s insane.” “I provided you with a good life, good food and drink, and you just because you caught me once, started acting like I’m dirty?” “Alex was right, I never should have kept you and your daughter!” She took a step forward, making to throw Luna down. I quickly knelt, clutching her leg. “No! I beg you, just let Luna go, I’ll do anything.” I repeatedly kowtowed, my voice desperate and helpless. She stared at me for three seconds, then suddenly smiled. “Alex wants Luna to die with him.” My mind reeled. She continued. “Do you know how miserable Alex is right now? He’s on a ventilator!” “Today, I’m going to make you experience Alex’s pain!” With that, she took Luna directly into the bathroom. The bathtub was filled with water. “Mommy, I’m sorry…” But she ignored the pleas, pressing Luna’s head underwater. Luna choked, flailing desperately. “Da… Daddy…” I held onto Stella’s arm with all my might, but she wouldn’t budge. She radiated an almost crazed aura. Luna’s voice grew fainter and fainter. Tears streamed down my face in desperation. I tried to open the drain to let the water out. But Stella violently shoved me to the ground. “Now do you know how desperate Alex was?” “I want you to witness firsthand how Luna suffers because of you!” The floor was slippery, and the back of my head hit the tile with a sickening thud. My vision went black, and my body was unresponsive. Faintly, I saw Luna’s arms stop moving. “No… Give me back my Luna…” I weakly reached out. Stella dragged me all the way to the bedroom. “Give you back your child? Sure! You enjoy wearing a cuckold’s horn that much?” “Are you that starved? No wonder you survived three days and three nights!” A bad feeling surged within me. Before I could react, my pajamas were ripped apart by Stella. I was thrown naked onto the bed. Stella snapped her fingers, and the kidnappers from years ago filed into the room. A phone camera was already set up. “You think I’m dirty? Well, I’ll make you experience what ‘dirty’ really feels like!” My eyes widened, words caught in my throat, only “Ah, ah” escaping. The sound of a belt unbuckling dragged me back to the terror of three years ago. Countless greasy hands, I felt like an object for sale. My stomach cramped violently. I desperately tried to get up. But Stella snatched a belt and tied my hands behind my back. “I advise you not to struggle, or you won’t even get to see Luna one last time.” My twisted limbs completely relaxed at those words. She flashed a triumphant, mocking smirk at me. Patting my face, she whispered into my ear. “Enjoy your gift.” The bedroom door slowly closed. All my memories flashed before my eyes like a rapidly spinning carousel. Stella and my first kiss on the Ferris wheel. That grand and solemn wedding. And her repeated pleas for me not to kill myself. No more. I wanted none of it. I bit down hard, reaching for the scissors hidden under the pillow. Screams of terror erupted from the bedroom. At the same time, Stella received a call from the hospital. After hearing the news, she rushed back to the room like a madwoman.

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Kelly did not even let me explain. She told me Zane had nearly drowned jumping into a freezing river for her, a reckless devotion she would not trade for a billion dollars. I gave a bitter smile and asked if betraying me meant nothing. She lowered her head, muttered a quick apology, and left without a trace of hesitation. Watching her walk away, I sighed quietly. She had no idea she was giving up far more than me and our shared future. She was abandoning her place as the matriarch of a multi billion dollar empire. We were once the couple everyone on campus envied. I led the dean’s list and treated her like royalty. Everyone believed we would marry. Yet she left anyway, with no fights or warning. On a perfectly ordinary afternoon, she walked straight into the arms of the campus delinquent who had pursued her for three years. She claimed my love was too safe. She wanted a romance that was explosive, chaotic, and reckless. From that day, she skipped classes to go clubbing and rode on motorcycles with local street thugs. Her parents, desperate, called me in tears, pleading for help. My heart softened. I took the fully funded study abroad documents I had prepared for her and tracked her down. She only sneered, saying the department had no exchange quota and accusing me of forging papers to trick her into leaving Zane. 1 I had my butler, Silas, accompany me to the administration building to process my paperwork. Wanting to avoid any unnecessary drama about my identity, I specifically instructed the university to simply announce my withdrawal. They were not to mention a single word about my transfer to an elite Ivy League institution overseas. The paperwork was finalized. Walking out of the grand double doors, the midday sun beat down mercilessly, the harsh glare making my eyes sting. Silas lowered his voice. “Are you holding up alright, young master?” I glanced up at him. “Do I look like the kind of man who would fall apart over a woman?” Silas shook his head. A self-deprecating chuckle escaped my lips. “The eighteen year old me would have. But at twenty one, I finally understand what my father meant.” “He always said love was the most useless commodity in high society. It only turns you into a walking punchline.” I am the sole heir to the Kingsley family empire. Since childhood, every single person who approached me did so with dollar signs in their eyes. After surviving enough betrayals, I gradually locked myself away in my own isolated world. But a part of me still craved a normal youth. I wanted genuine friends and a warm, uncomplicated romance. So, at eighteen, I put on a pair of thick, black framed glasses, bought the cheapest clothes I could find, and enrolled at this university. However, the aura of detachment I had built up over a lifetime was too strong. An entire month went by without a single person daring to speak to me. I tried joining clubs, only to be rejected one after another. Eventually, I found myself sitting by the campus lake, utterly defeated and ready to throw in the towel. Then Kelly appeared. She crashed into my deadened heart like a blinding ray of light. When she smiled and handed me a cold soda, my fingers literally trembled as I took it. In eighteen years of life, it was the very first time someone had given me something out of pure, uncalculated kindness, even if it was just a cheap drink. She comforted me with a soft voice and excitedly dragged me into the sketching club, swearing she did not care about my supposedly poor background. In that exact moment, I decided to give her my entire heart. And I really did do crazy things for her. Once, I heard a false rumor that she had a boyfriend. I spent the entire night drinking rotgut whiskey in a dive bar until I threw up blood. But the next day, when she cleared up the misunderstanding and hugged me, confessing she liked me too, I cried like an absolute fool. Looking back on it now, maybe that is what youth really is. It always comes with a heavy dose of pain. I was just about to leave the administration courtyard. Unexpectedly, Kelly and Zane blocked my path. Kelly’s eyes were visibly red. She marched right up and grabbed my wrist. “Alan, I know you are heartbroken, but you cannot ruin your life by dropping out! I will feel too guilty if you throw your future away like this!” I yanked my hand back, my tone dropping to freezing temperatures. “My withdrawal has nothing to do with you. We have no relationship whatsoever. Keep your hands to yourself.” Without another word, I turned to walk away. Zane immediately stepped in front of me, wearing an absurdly self righteous expression. “Kelly gave you three of her best years. That is more than enough! You dropping out right now is just a manipulative stunt to make her feel bad and force her to come crawling back! If you really loved her, you would wish us the best!” Right at that moment, my three dorm mates happened to be walking by. Derek, our dorm leader, shoved Zane hard in the chest. “Have you got no shame? You steal the guy’s girl, and now you are playing the victim?” “The whole school knows how well Alan treated her. She tossed him like garbage, and now she wants to play the innocent angel?” “Any girl who chooses a piece of trash like you is no prize herself!” Zane exploded. “You can trash talk me all you want, but keep Kelly’s name out of your mouth!” A split second later, he threw a wild punch. The four boys instantly tangled together in a vicious brawl. Students swarmed the area, forming a massive circle, holding up their phones to record every second. 2 It did not take long for my three friends to pin Zane to the concrete. Kelly threw herself onto the ground, wrapping her arms around him and screaming at me hysterically. “Alan! You are pure evil! You chose to drop out, nobody forced you! I came over out of the goodness of my heart to check on you, and you order your friends to jump him!” “I regret every single second of the three years I spent with you! You are a sick, possessive freak! You treated me like your personal property, forbidding any guy from getting near me. It was like living in a cage!” “You are a total monster!” Zane lay on the pavement, groaning out a weak, dramatic line. “Kelly, do not blame him. It is my fault for chasing true love. But even if it kills me, I will save you from a guy like him…” Kelly glared at me with bloodshot eyes, screaming at the top of her lungs. “What will it take for you to let him go? Is it my body you want? Fine! You can have me! Just promise you will never hurt him again!” With a violent tug, she ripped the collar of her own blouse, exposing her bare shoulder. The surrounding crowd went into an absolute uproar. “Holy crap, Alan looks like a nice guy, but he is actually a creep!” “That is so gross. I would have dumped him ages ago if I were her!” Curses, accusations, and the aggressive clicking of camera shutters instantly drowned me out. I stood tall, looking down at them from my vantage point, a cold smirk playing on my lips. “Kelly, your acting is way over the top.” She froze, her hand still clutching her torn shirt, her face a mask of shock. “What did you just say?” I slipped my hands into my pockets, my voice entirely unbothered. “I have been standing right here the entire time. I haven’t said a word, and I haven’t moved a muscle. You, on the other hand, accused me of ordering a hit, slandered me by saying I imprisoned you, and topped it off by claiming I want your body.” “It is a real tragedy you are not in Hollywood. You would sweep the Oscars.” Someone in the crowd immediately spoke up. “I was watching the whole time. It really went down exactly the way Alan said.” The public opinion flipped in an instant. Kelly’s face drained of color. She waved her hands frantically. “No! That is not what happened!” I cut her off with a voice like ice. “No? Zane is the biggest thug on campus. He gets into street fights every other day. My roommates are regular honor roll students. You really think they could drop a seasoned brawler in two seconds flat? Do you think everyone here is stupid?” “You don’t want the reputation of a cheater, so you are pinning all the blame on me.” “But you seem to have forgotten something. When I loved you, I was willing to play the fool. But now that I don’t give a damn about you, why would I ever tolerate your nonsense?” “And as for your body, cover it up. It makes my stomach turn, and I don’t want to pollute my eyes.” With that, I called for Silas and walked away without looking back. The next evening, Derek called to invite me out for a farewell dinner. They originally planned to hit a cheap food truck near the campus gates. For three years, these guys had no idea about my real background, yet they treated me like a true brother. I refused to let them eat street food on my last night. I had Silas book the most exclusive private dining room at a three star Michelin restaurant downtown. Sitting around the table, there was no awkward politeness. Just raw, honest talk between friends. We drank, clinked glasses, and reminisced about the last three years. Nobody asked how much the plates of wagyu and truffles cost. Nobody cared about the invisible wealth radiating from me. It was close to midnight when we finally stumbled out of the private room, our arms draped over each other’s shoulders. 3 The moment I looked up, I saw those two again. Zane had a cigarette dangling from his lips, looking every bit the street rat, shouting at the front desk manager. “You think I can’t afford to treat my girl to a decent meal? My wallet got stolen, and my phone just broke! I will bring you the cash in a couple of days!” The manager maintained a blank, professional stare. “Sir, your bill comes out to over five thousand dollars. If you cannot settle the check right now, I will be forced to call the police.” Kelly looked up and locked eyes with me. She shrieked instantly. “Alan! You stole his wallet on purpose! You just wanted to humiliate him in front of all these people! You are so twisted!” I furrowed my brows in sheer disbelief. “Are you mentally ill? Me, steal from him?” Zane immediately dropped his tough guy act, switching to a pathetic, wounded puppy look. “I know you still love Kelly, and you hate me for taking her away. If you wanted to eat at a high end place like this, I could have paid for you. There was no need to resort to petty crime.” My three roommates stepped in front of me like a human shield. “Bullshit! Alan would never steal a dime!” Kelly looked at me with tear filled eyes, her tone dripping with patronizing pity. “Just admit it, Alan. If you didn’t take his money, how could you possibly afford to eat here? Just hand over the wallet. I will make sure Zane doesn’t press charges. Don’t ruin your entire life over a moment of jealousy.” I completely ignored her, simply casting a brief glance at the manager. The manager caught my drift immediately. Less than a minute later, the high definition security footage was playing on the lobby screens. On the massive display, Zane was seen excusing himself to the restroom, pulling an empty wallet from his pocket, and tossing it directly into a trash can. Then, he took his own phone and violently smashed it against the tile floor, shattering the screen. Returning to his table, he patted down his pockets, shouted that he had been robbed, and pulled out his broken phone, faking a complete meltdown. Kelly’s face flushed a deep, humiliating red. She tucked her chin so far down it practically touched her chest, completely speechless. Zane panicked. “I… I swear I will bring the money tomorrow! Please don’t call the cops!” I looked down, discreetly tapping a quick message on my phone. A second later, the manager’s phone buzzed. A perfectly rehearsed smile spread across his face. “Our owner has a soft spot for romance. He says that if this gentleman can prove he truly loves the lady beside him, the house will cover the bill.” The manager walked over to the bar, picked up a thick, solid glass liquor bottle, and handed it directly to Zane. Zane gripped the neck of the bottle, his hands shaking violently, entirely paralyzed by fear. Kelly nervously checked the judgmental stares of the wealthy patrons around them. She urged him in a hushed whisper, “Zane, I know it will hurt, but I don’t want to go to jail, and I can’t get expelled. Didn’t you say you loved me? Just one hit. You are used to getting into fights anyway…” Finally, Zane squeezed his eyes shut, gritted his teeth, and smashed the heavy bottle against his own skull. Crimson blood instantly poured down his forehead, dyeing half of his face red. Kelly practically tackled him in a hug. “Zane! You are amazing! Thank you for bleeding for me! I am so moved, I swear I will never leave your side!” I stood exactly where I was, my face twisted in utter disgust. Disgust for her, but mostly disgust for myself. This was the kind of cheap, trashy melodrama you read in trashy romance novels, the kind where you wonder how the female lead could be so brain dead. I could not believe I actually loved someone this brain dead for three years. What a joke. Too tired to waste another breath, I grabbed Derek’s shoulder and headed for the door. Passing by them, I couldn’t resist dropping one final piece of advice. “Next time you want to flex, make sure you check the menu prices before you walk through the door.” 4 Before I could take another step, Kelly clamped her hand around my wrist. “You have to apologize to Zane! This is all your fault!” A laugh bubbled up from my throat, dark and dry. “Me? Apologize?” Kelly puffed out her chest, completely shameless. “You obviously had enough money to book a VIP room here. Why couldn’t you just cover our tab while you were at it? You are just cheap! All those times you said you loved me over the past three years, it was all fake! If you don’t apologize right now, I am going to make your life a living hell!” Zane pressed a hand to his bleeding head, glaring at me like a cornered rat. “Don’t get cocky! My boss answers directly to Mr. Silas! The underground runs this city! I promise you, I will make you pay for this tenfold!” I let out a cold snort. “Alright. I will be waiting.” With a forceful yank, I ripped my arm from her grip and strode out into the night. Early the next morning. Derek called me in a complete panic. “Alan, it is bad! The campus forum is going nuclear! You need to see this right now!” I pulled up the university network. The top trending post had a glaring, sensational headline: [SHOCKING! Top Student Alan Kingsley Commits Theft & Violence in Jealous Rage!] Beneath it was a heavily edited video clip. The first half featured Zane playing the bloody victim while Kelly cried into the camera. The second half was a deepfake. It showed a highly realistic AI generated version of me looking down at the ground, admitting I stole the wallet, and then raising a glass bottle to attack Zane. The comment section was an absolute warzone. Rumors, insults, and death threats swept through the entire student body like a wildfire. Shortly after, the Dean of Students called me personally. He sounded heavily conflicted. “Alan, this situation with Zane has escalated beyond our control. The student body is out for blood. Could you possibly come down to the campus and clear the air in person?” “Alright.” After hanging up, I called for my butler. “Silas. I am done keeping a low profile today.” Silas bowed deeply. “Understood, young master.” One hour later. An extended, pitch black Rolls Royce Phantom glided through the streets, coming to a smooth halt right in front of the main administration building under the watchful eyes of the entire university. A massive crowd had already gathered on the steps. Zane had brought a gang of street thugs, blending them in with the furious college students. They waved picket signs demanding justice and screamed for my expulsion. Kelly stood at the very front of the mob, looking like a tragic, wronged heroine. Silas stepped out first. He bowed respectfully and personally opened the rear door for me. Today, there were no thick framed glasses hiding my eyes. No shaggy hair covering my forehead. My hair was styled flawlessly, revealing sharp, aristocratic features that could easily rival any A list Hollywood actor. I wore a custom tailored bespoke suit, a limited edition luxury watch gleaming on my wrist. The cold, untouchable aura of pure old money radiating from me made people physically step back. The moment my leather shoes touched the pavement, the entire plaza went dead silent. Everyone froze like statues. I took slow, measured steps until I stood right in front of Kelly and Zane, whose faces had completely lost their color. A chilling, hollow smile touched my lips. “So, you wanted an explanation?” Zane was the first to snap out of the trance. He clenched his fists and roared, “You think renting a designer suit and hiring a fake luxury car is going to scare me? Let me tell you, it won’t work! My boss is on his way right now, and you are going to pay in blood!” The moment the words left his mouth. A black utility van slammed on its brakes right behind my Rolls Royce. The sliding door flew open. A massive, bald bruiser wearing a thick gold chain vaulted out of the vehicle. Rocco, flanked by a dozen heavily tattooed enforcers, stormed forward with terrifying aggression. “Who the hell is messing with my boy? You got a death wish?” Rocco marched straight toward me, raising a massive, calloused hand, fully intending to slap me across the face. But in the next fraction of a second, his hand froze rigidly in mid air. His pupils dilated in sheer, unadulterated terror. “M… Mr. Silas?”

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I contacted the man I’d avoided for a decade, my hand resting on my now flat stomach, a cold smile on my lips. It began at a welcome home party my husband threw for his childhood sweetheart, Valerie. During a drinking game, she lost and asked me to take her punishment, claiming it was her time of the month. I refused, explaining I was pregnant. Valerie just scoffed, saying I should admit I didn’t want to help instead of suddenly “getting pregnant” as an excuse. The room burst into laughter, and my husband’s face darkened. The next second, someone kicked me into the deep end of the pool. A man bet my husband on how long I could hold my breath. My husband laughed, wagering his Aston Martin keys that I could last five minutes. Others threw cash into the bet. A heavy hand held me under. A sharp cramp tore through me, and I felt a warm flow into the water. On the deck, they kept counting. Valerie lost the bet. To cheer her up, my husband downed three glasses of wine. As I sank, my vision fading, I heard him clearly: “Stop faking it. Keep going.” When I woke in a hospital bed, my husband stood over me, frowning. His first words were: “Were you really pregnant? Why didn’t you say something sooner?” 1 “I did tell you, Ross. I told you I was pregnant.” Ross let out a cold, dismissive laugh. “In that kind of setting? How was anyone supposed to know you weren’t just making it up to get out of a drink? If you have been pregnant all this time, why did you hide it from me?” Because he did not know, he felt completely justified in watching his friends kick me into a pool. He felt justified in laughing and betting his sports car on my life. He felt justified in guzzling wine to cheer up Valerie while I was drowning. I closed my eyes, my fingers curling into tight fists around the hospital bedsheets. He dropped onto the sofa furthest from my bed, speaking in a slow, casual drawl. “Honestly, you do not even need to say it. I know exactly what you were doing, Nora. You were waiting to go straight to my grandfather to claim your little reward, weren’t you?” Looking at his face, I saw that familiar, absolute certainty. That arrogant, condescending look that told me he thought he had me completely figured out. I had seen that exact look countless times over our three years of marriage. No matter how hard I tried to be the perfect wife, he always looked down on me from his pedestal. I genuinely believed that marrying him meant I finally had a family of my own. Nobody knew how ecstatic I was when I saw those two pink lines. I had been so incredibly excited to welcome this tiny life, a little soul that shared my blood. I had carefully tried to guess his reaction, wondering if the father of my child would feel the exact same overwhelming joy that I did. Just last night, when Ross called to invite me to that party, a secret thrill had bloomed in my chest. I foolishly thought I had finally broken through the walls around his heart. I thought I could finally share my wonderful news with him in front of everyone. The sudden click of the door handle shattered the heavy silence in the room. Valerie strutted in on her designer stilettos, holding a massive bouquet of exotic lilies. I instantly furrowed my brows. “Get out.” She let out a dramatic huff. “Do you really think playing the victim makes you the queen of the Sinclair family? You cannot pin last night on me. You knew you were pregnant, yet you still came out to party with us. You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You just wanted to put on a pathetic show to make Ross feel guilty.” She crossed her arms, looking down her nose at me with pure disdain. “Do not forget, you were the one who forced your way into this marriage. If it were not for you, Ross would have ended up with his first love ages ago. You ruined his life, and you still have the nerve to act high and mighty?” “My marriage is between me and Ross. Outsiders do not get a vote.” My voice was incredibly soft, but I made sure every single syllable was crystal clear. At the mention of his first love, a flash of hostility crossed Ross’s eyes. “She is not an outsider.” I fell silent for a few long seconds before I finally spoke. “Ross, if it were not for her last night, our baby would still be alive. How exactly do you expect me to treat her?” Ross turned his face away, his voice dropping to absolute zero. “It is your own fault for not protecting yourself. You have no right to blame anyone else.” My breath caught in my throat. My mind went completely blank for a split second. I knew exactly what he was doing. He said it on purpose. Because just like Valerie said, he hated me. I slowly exhaled a shaky breath. “Ross, let’s get a divorce.” He let out a mocking sneer. “You know damn well my grandfather will never allow us to divorce. Do you honestly not feel ridiculous trying to use that empty threat on me, Nora?” He leaned forward. The lingering scent of expensive alcohol from last night mixed with an overwhelming, suffocating pressure. “If we divorce, where exactly are you going to go? Your parents died ten years ago. Besides me, who else are you going to cling to as a parasite? Or…” He paused deliberately, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. “Are you planning to run to your… stepbrother?” He spat the last word out like it was poison, his eyes locking onto mine like a predator. A sudden chill shot straight up my spine. But then, my tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed. There was absolutely nothing left to care about. A soft, broken laugh escaped my lips. “For three years, I sat in that massive, freezing house, waiting for you to just look at me. I was stupid enough to believe that if I held a stone against my chest long enough, it would eventually warm up.” “But now I know the truth, Ross. Your heart is harder than stone.” I was smiling, but the tears were spilling down my cheeks faster than I could stop them. “The baby is gone, Ross.” I forced the words out using every last ounce of strength I had left in my body. “And I am completely done waiting like an idiot for you to love me.” “I will go talk to your grandfather myself. He will agree to it.” The moment the words left my mouth, I clearly saw his pupils violently contract. That smug, untouchable mask he had worn since walking into the room finally cracked. He instinctively took a half step backward. After a brief moment of stunned silence, his jaw clenched tight, his voice dangerously low. “Nora, without the Sinclair family backing you, you are absolutely nothing. Are you really sure you want to do this?” “I am sure. Don’t worry, you are about to get your freedom back.” 2 The next morning, Elder Sinclair arrived at the hospital leaning heavily on his silver handled cane. He took one long look at me, let out a heavy sigh, and lowered himself into the chair beside my bed. “I have already contacted the Vanderbilt family. I told them to keep their daughter, Valerie, on a very short leash. You will not have to see her face ever again.” “And I have thoroughly disciplined that reckless grandson of mine. He truly does care for you, Nora. Just give him some time.” I opened my mouth, fully intending to tell him that his grandson’s heart belonged to someone else entirely. But the old man did not give me the chance to speak. “You have suffered a terrible injustice with the child.” His tone softened, yet it carried an undeniable, commanding edge. “But life has to keep moving forward, Nora. You are still young. Once your body heals, you will have other children.” I took a deep, steadying breath. “Arthur, I want a divorce.” The hospital room went dead silent. Elder Sinclair did not explode in anger. He just looked at me, his eyes clouded with a deep disappointment. And that kind of quiet disappointment was infinitely harder to swallow than screaming rage. “Nora, do you have any idea what you are actually asking for?” He phrased it as a question, but he clearly had no intention of waiting for my answer. “Divorce is an easy word to throw around. But what happens after the papers are signed? How do you plan to survive out there on your own?” His tone was heavy and earnest, sounding exactly like a patriarch looking out for my best interests. “Let me ask you a few simple questions, my dear.” “How old are you?” “Have you ever worked a corporate job in your life?” “Have you ever earned a single dollar with your own two hands?” I sat there in total silence. “No. You haven’t.” His voice was terrifyingly calm. “I am not saying you are incapable, Nora. But before you turned eighteen, you relied entirely on your stepbrother. When your parents passed, they left you a massive inheritance. And by twenty five, you were married to Ross. You have absolutely no concept of what it means to grind, to struggle, to earn a living in the real world.” “Maybe in the past, you could have fallen back on Gideon. But from what my investigators tell me, the two of you had a total falling out. He left the country ten years ago and has not been back since.” “So tell me. If you divorce Ross today, exactly what are you going to live on?” “This VIP hospital suite costs five thousand dollars a night. You need premium postnatal care after a miscarriage. The Sinclair family can provide you with the absolute best medical team in the state to ensure a perfect recovery. Do not gamble with your health, Nora.” I clutched the edge of the blanket, refusing to speak. Seeing that I was not backing down, Elder Sinclair did not lose his temper. Instead, he smoothly changed his tactics. “How about this. Focus on your recovery first. When you are discharged, you come back to the Sinclair estate. I will force Ross to move out into one of his penthouses for a few months. The two of you need some physical distance to cool off.” “Once you are fully recovered, I will personally arrange a position for you in one of our corporate offices. Whatever career you want to pursue, I will fund it.” “Learn how to be an independent woman first. Then, we can revisit this divorce talk.” “If you still want to leave him after you have tasted the real world, I promise I will not stand in your way.” He gestured for his head butler to bring Ross into the room. Ross stood in the doorway, his face still etched with deep annoyance. “Grandfather.” “Get over here and apologize to your wife.” Ross shot me a sideways glance. “Sorry.” The old man frowned deeply. “Did you forget how to speak? Louder.” Ross took a deep breath and raised his voice a fraction. “I am sorry, Nora.” His volume went up, but the half hearted, dismissive attitude remained exactly the same. Elder Sinclair did not care. Forcing Ross to apologize was just part of his grand performance. It was exactly like his manipulative speech about letting me gain independence. “Arthur, I do not need his apology.” The old man turned his sharp gaze back to me. “My answer has not changed. I want a divorce. It is not because I am throwing a tantrum, and it is not because I am trying to prove a point. It is because this marriage has been entirely meaningless from the very first day.” “It took me three brutal years to finally admit that out loud.” My voice was trembling, but I forced every single word out with absolute clarity. “You told me I have no work experience, that I cannot feed myself. Fine. I will learn.” “I am only twenty eight. It is not too late to start over.” Elder Sinclair sat in total silence for a very long time. Finally, he stood up. As he leaned his weight onto his silver cane, his body swayed slightly. His butler instantly rushed forward to steady him. He looked down at me, the rims of his eyes turning a faint shade of red. “I have always looked at you as my own flesh and blood, Nora.” “If your mind is truly made up, I will not force you to stay.” “But mark my words. The doors to the Sinclair estate will always remain open to you. Whenever you decide you want to come home, your place will be waiting.” He turned and walked toward the door. Right at the threshold, he stopped without looking back. “Ross. Come with me.” Ross followed him out into the hallway. The hospital room fell dead silent once again. I stared blankly up at the white ceiling, fresh tears slipping from the corners of my eyes. He claimed he treated me like his own flesh and blood. But you do not treat your own blood like a business transaction. You do not sit by your granddaughter’s bed the day after she loses her baby and casually tell her she is young enough to just make another one. I knew he was just putting on a masterful act. But his calculating performance made one thing abundantly clear. Getting this divorce was going to be a brutal war. 3 The door swung open again. Ross walked back in, looking thoroughly exhausted and irritated. “Grandfather ordered me to stay here and watch over you.” I stared right through him, my face expressionless. “Ross, your grandfather officially agreed to the divorce.” He froze, a sudden flash of genuine panic breaking through his arrogant facade. “I am walking away with nothing from the Sinclair estate. I only want the inheritance my parents left me. The eight million dollar trust fund. When we got married, I handed it over as my dowry. Later, you told me you converted those funds into Sinclair Corporation shares.” My voice was terrifyingly calm. “Right now, I just want my eight million dollars back in cash.” Ross quickly looked away, dodging my eyes. “Focus on getting better. We can deal with the financial details later.” He turned on his heel, ready to bolt. “Ross.” He stopped dead in his tracks but refused to turn around. “Did you already drain my trust fund?” The muscles across his broad shoulders instantly locked up. “Valerie’s family business ran into massive financial trouble last year. She came begging you for help. Did you use my parents’ money to bail out her family?” Ross whipped around, his face turning an ugly shade of ash. “What the hell are you talking about?” He closed the distance between us, looming over my bed with a dark, threatening glare. “My business with Valerie has absolutely nothing to do with—” I let out a sharp laugh. “Ross, if you dared to give my dead parents’ money to Valerie, I swear to God I will—” The door suddenly clicked open, and Valerie strolled right in. “You will do what, exactly?” She looked at Ross, then shifted her mocking gaze to me, letting out a sharp, condescending giggle. “Ross, why are you even wasting your breath on her? So what if her dead parents’ money was used to save my family? Does she have a single shred of proof?” She crossed her arms, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Nora, I suggest you get a grip on reality. The moment you married into this family, your money became Sinclair money. Or did you think all those designer clothes and luxury cars you have been using for the past three years magically fell from the sky? Did you think the Sinclairs were running a charity?” “Even if Ross was generous enough to write you a check right now, what difference would it make? You do not even know how to write a basic resume. How long do you think eight million dollars will last a spoiled housewife?” She laughed out loud, her voice dripping with pure, unfiltered malice. “What are you going to do when the money runs out? Sit on a street corner with a cardboard sign?” I gripped the bedsheets so hard my knuckles turned white, but I kept my mouth shut. Valerie took a slow step closer, her tone venomous. “Actually, it is going to be incredibly entertaining to watch. An orphan who just got dumped by the great Ross Sinclair. Can you imagine what high society is going to whisper about you behind your back?” She leaned in close, dropping her voice like she was sharing a juicy secret. “Congratulations, Nora. You are about to become completely worthless.” I raised my trembling hand, fully intending to slap the smug look right off her face, but Ross caught my wrist in a vice grip. Right as we were locked in a tense standoff, a deep, resonant male voice echoed from the doorway. “She still has me.” Valerie straightened up instantly, whipping her head toward the door. Ross followed her gaze. A tall man stepped into the room. With a fluid, calculated motion, he effortlessly broke Ross’s grip on my wrist and smoothly stepped between us, acting as an impenetrable shield. “Who the hell are you?” Ross massaged his aching wrist, his face twisting into a scowl. “Gideon.” “So you are that pathetic little…” Gideon shot her a single, freezing look, and she instantly snapped her mouth shut. Completely ignoring the two of them, Gideon pulled up a chair and sat down beside my bed. “The chicken soup is still hot. I got it from that old diner you loved when we were kids. Eat it before it gets cold.” Looking at his familiar face, the tears I had been fighting back broke free, streaming down my face. Ross stood a few feet away, his expression darkening into pure rage. “Did you call him back to the city, Nora?” I did not even bother looking at him. “Get out, Ross. My legal team will be in touch regarding my inheritance.” Valerie let out a nasty sneer. “A legal team? You honestly think you can afford a decent lawyer?” Gideon slowly turned his head to look directly at Valerie. The smug smile froze on her face. She instinctively took a terrified half step backward. Ross quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her safely behind his back. He glared at Gideon, then shifted his dark, calculating eyes to me. “People always used to whisper that you two had a dirty little secret going on behind closed doors. I never bought into the rumors, but seeing you two now, I guess they were right all along.” “You really played the long game, didn’t you, Nora?” Gideon calmly scooped a spoonful of hot soup, blew on it gently, and brought it to my lips. “You play a pretty good game yourself, Ross. Raiding your wife’s dowry to bail out your little side piece’s bankrupt family. I wonder if the elder Mr. Sinclair knows about this? Do you think he would break your legs himself?” Ross glared daggers at Gideon. “Valerie is absolutely right. The second she signed that marriage certificate, she and her bank accounts became Sinclair property. Who the hell do you think you are to question me?” Gideon’s hand paused in mid air. He lowered his gaze thoughtfully. I opened my mouth, ready to defend him, but his smooth, unwavering voice beat me to it. “It does not matter who I am. But since Nora is divorcing you today, I have more than enough ways to make you choke on every single dime you stole from her.” 4 Ross let out a harsh, barking laugh. “Now it all makes perfect sense. You do not speak to her for a decade, and the exact second she mentions divorce, you magically appear to play the white knight? Were you just waiting in the wings to take my sloppy seconds?” Valerie immediately jumped on the opportunity to pour gasoline on the fire. “Can’t you see what is happening, Ross? Her loving wife act was totally fake. She has probably been sleeping with her precious stepbrother this whole time! She used you as a shield to secure her status as Mrs. Sinclair, while she was messing around with another man behind your back.” “And now that she lost the baby, she is playing the ultimate victim. She wants to throw all the dirt on you so she can walk away clean and run off into the sunset with her golden boy!” “Shut your mouth!” I was shaking violently, pure adrenaline and fury surging through my veins. “Was she wrong?” Ross’s voice dropped to a terrifying, deadly pitch. The fact that he was actually standing there, playing the role of the betrayed husband trying to catch a cheating wife, was the most sickeningly hilarious thing I had ever witnessed. “Ross, wasn’t it you who stood there and watched them kick me into the deep end of the pool?” My voice was barely more than a whisper, but Ross’s breathing hitched instantly. “When I told you I was pregnant, wasn’t it you who stared at me with a dead look in your eyes and called me a liar?” “Wasn’t it you who laughed and bet your car keys on how long I could hold my breath?” “When Valerie lost the bet, and you drank three glasses of wine to cheer her up, did you hear the sound of me fighting for my life in the water?” “Ross.” My tears slipped down my cheeks without any warning. “The person who murdered your child… was you.”

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