Author: Momo Chan

Today was my little darling’s fifth birthday. My husband, who usually buried himself in work, had, for once, agreed to take our first family photo. I was so excited I woke up early, scrambling to book the city’s most exclusive photography studio. But as the appointment time drew near, there was no sign of my husband or son. I waited at the studio until closing time, and then my husband’s message finally arrived. He casually mentioned that his company had organized an end-of-year trip, and he’d already left with our son. Right after, my son sent a voice message, his tiny voice saying the trip was super fun and he’d take pictures with me when he got back. I smiled at the screen, sent a “Sounds good!” back. Then, with a flick of my finger, I messaged the chairman of my husband’s company: “Your company organized a trip? Why wasn’t I, your biggest shareholder, informed?” … 1. A voice call came through immediately, laced with bewilderment: “What trip? Are you still half-asleep? End of the year is crunch time for sales, everyone’s running themselves ragged. There’s no way I’d arrange a trip. Everyone in the company is working overtime, except for your husband, who took annual leave.” My best friend, Quinn, her voice crackled through the receiver. I tightened my grip on the phone. “I understand.” “Wait, no, what’s going on?” Quinn heard the shift in my tone and pressed anxiously. I pressed my lips together, looking at myself in the mirror – impeccably dressed in a haute couture gown, hair perfectly styled, yet utterly alone. I felt like a joke. “Come pick me up.” I gave her the address. “Alright, five minutes.” I hung up, still frozen at the vanity. The studio staff had already begun packing up their equipment, ready to close. I could feel the shift in the air; the staff, who had initially eyed my extravagant private booking with envy, now looked at me with blatant pity. Amidst their hushed whispers, I vaguely caught phrases like “stood up,” “poor thing,” and “what’s money good for anyway?” Just then, the studio manager approached, carrying a thick photo album. “Ma’am, please don’t be too upset. Perhaps your husband had an urgent, unexpected matter.” The manager gently pushed the album towards me. “Although today didn’t work out, you can take a look at our sample prints. This is our collection of family portraits; you can choose a style for next time, and when you bring your husband and son, we can start shooting right away.” I felt dispirited, but out of politeness, I casually opened the first page. The moment I did, my entire body froze. Staring back at me, proudly displayed on the title page as a studio showpiece, was a huge family portrait. The background was warm and luxurious. A man in a crisp suit smiled gently; a woman in an elegant gown stood beside him. In the middle, a little boy in a miniature suit, eyes curved into crescent moons, held a bouquet of daisies. That was my five-year-old son. That was my husband, the man I shared a bed with. And that woman… The manager, seeing my stunned expression, thought I was amazed by the photo’s quality. She immediately launched into a gushing explanation, a hint of pride in her voice: “Ma’am, you have excellent taste, choosing this one right away. This family is our studio’s model family, and they’re long-time clients.” “The gentleman in the photo is the general manager of a listed company, earning millions a year. He’s handsome and charismatic. The lady next to him is also impressive, famously doting on her husband and child.” “This family of three, they’ve been coming to us for family portraits every year since the child was a month old. Look at this little boy, he’s incredibly photogenic, loves having his picture taken, and is always so happy every time he comes. The entire staff loves to play with him.” “Oh, by the way, they booked the Grand Hall at the Grand Estate Hotel for a birthday party today. Our studio photographer was even invited to follow and document it.” Every word from the manager felt like a knife, slicing into my heart, one by one. Years ago, for my husband Liam’s dream, I had willingly stepped back. Fearing he’d be bullied, I secretly got him into Quinn’s company, continuously investing anonymously to make him an undeniable top performer, earning him the General Manager position. Immediately, my mind flashed back to every time I’d tried to take photos of my son. He would always frown, either hiding behind his father or outright covering his face with his hands, yelling: “Go away, Mom! I hate photos!” Back then, Liam always protected him, scoffing at me: “If the kid doesn’t like it, just drop it. Don’t force him; your photography skills aren’t that great anyway.” But now, looking at my son smiling in that photo, I suddenly felt a chill run through me, a bitter coldness deep in my heart. He didn’t hate photos; he just hated taking photos with me. My gaze slowly shifted to the woman in the picture. At first glance, she looked familiar. Now, on closer inspection, wasn’t this Seraphina Song, the impoverished college student I had sponsored for four full years? I had seen her diligence and hard work, not only paying for her entire university education, but when she graduated and struggled to find work, it was I who used my connections to get her a job at a well-regarded state-owned enterprise known for its excellent benefits. I never imagined that the bright student I had sponsored would end up not only in the company I arranged for her, but also in my home. The manager was still chattering away: “Ma’am? Ma’am, what do you think of this style? If you like it, next time…” Just then, the roar of a sports car came from the doorway. Followed by hurried footsteps: “Chloe!” Quinn burst in, a whirlwind of energy. She spotted me instantly, unable to resist a playful tease: “Whoa! This look, you’re stunning! Anyone would think you’re walking the red carpet.” She surveyed the empty studio, puzzled. “Why are you alone? Where are Liam and Leo? Didn’t you say you were taking family photos? Are you done?” I closed the album. This was utterly humiliating. “What’s wrong, Chloe? You look awful.” Quinn dropped her playful demeanor, looking at me with concern. I looked at her and gave a short, bitter laugh: “To the Grand Estate Hotel. I hear my son’s having a birthday party today.” 2. Quinn paused for a moment, then floored the accelerator, driving us straight to the Grand Estate Hotel. The Grand Estate Hotel was not only the most luxurious hotel in the city but also an establishment owned by Quinn herself. Standing at the entrance of the banquet hall, a massive welcome poster greeted my eyes. On the poster was that family portrait: Liam had Seraphina in his arms, our son perched on Seraphina’s shoulders, and the title read: [Our Beloved Son Leo’s Sixth Birthday Bash]. Sixth birthday? I froze. Wasn’t Leo five? Quinn’s face turned stormy. As the big boss of this hotel, she was about to explode, but I held her back. I pushed open the banquet hall doors, and the clamor inside instantly ceased. Hundreds of eyes turned in unison towards the entrance. Most of them were employees of Liam’s company; I didn’t show up often, but I had delivered food to the company a few times, so some recognized me. “Oh, isn’t that the freeloading wife of Manager Smith?” Someone in the crowd scoffed, and then whispers swelled like a tide. “What bad luck, what’s she doing here on such a joyous day?” “I heard she’s worse than the nanny at home, just washing and cooking all day, completely dependent on Manager Smith. Truly a disgrace to women.” “Look at her, dressed to the nines. I bet that gown was bought with Mr. Smith’s credit card.” Liam was standing center stage, cutting the cake, a long knife in his hand. Seraphina’s hand rested intimately on his. They looked utterly coupled. Seeing me enter, Liam showed no trace of guilt, instead frowning. “Chloe Johnson, what are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you to stay home? Don’t come here to embarrass me!” He didn’t even bother to step down from the stage, reprimanding me from above. I walked towards the stage, step by step. “Embarrass you?” I pointed at the large number on the poster, my voice hoarse. “Liam, is Leo five this year, or six?” Liam’s eyes flickered, then he became even more self-righteous. “What’s the difference between five and six?” At that moment, Seraphina walked out, smiling. She wore a perfectly tailored haute couture gown, exuding the air of a successful professional. Holding a glass of champagne, she looked at me with an expression that was seemingly polite but truly mocking. “Since you’re here, find a corner and grab something to eat. Today is Leo’s birthday party, hosted by Liam and me, and it’s also a gathering to celebrate my promotion. Don’t spoil everyone’s fun.” “Go away!” Suddenly, a small figure darted out and pushed me hard. It was my son, the one I had doted on for five years. He wore a prince-like suit but glared at me as if I were his enemy. “I won’t let you bully Mommy Seraphina! Mommy Seraphina said you’re a useless good-for-nothing, you only drag Daddy down!” In that moment, my heart shattered into a million pieces. I stared in disbelief at the son I had hand-fed, the one I had stayed up all night watching when he had a fever. “Leo, I’m your mom…” “No, you’re not!” Leo hugged Seraphina’s leg, proudly lifting his chin. “Mommy Seraphina is my mom! She earns lots of money and can buy me lots of things. Mommy Seraphina said I have excellent blood, just like her, not a good-for-nothing like you!” The entire hall erupted in gasps, then quickly dissolved into roaring laughter. “Looks like someone’s a step-mom!” “Hahahaha, raising someone else’s kid for five years, what an incredible cuckold.” “No wonder Mr. Smith doesn’t like her. That kind of waste deserves to be a pawn.” Those employees who usually respectfully called me “ma’am” were now, eager to flatter Seraphina and Liam, speaking with increasingly cruel words. Six years ago, I sponsored Seraphina through her senior year of college. Liam and I met around that time; he tearfully recounted how he’d been unlucky in love and wanted to settle down with a stable person. It turned out that from beginning to end, this was a scheme to find a free meal ticket for Seraphina’s child. “Liam.” I took a deep breath, suppressing the hatred about to erupt in my chest. “So, for these five years, you’ve been acting?” Quinn finally lost it. She rushed forward, pointing at the executives. “You blind idiots! Open your damn eyes and see who I am! And Chloe Johnson, standing right in front of you, is your company’s biggest—” “Security!” Liam impatiently cut Quinn off, casting a cold glance at us. “Get these two disruptive lunatics out of here. Especially the one next to Chloe Johnson, dressed like a lowlife thug. She must be some poor relative of this good-for-nothing, right?” Eager to impress, the employees didn’t even wait for security. Several tall managers rolled up their sleeves and surrounded us, sinister smiles plastered on their faces. 3. “Who dares touch me!” Quinn roared, enraged. She usually presided at the group headquarters, rarely inspecting this branch office. Plus, dressed casually today, these people truly didn’t recognize the legendary Chairman. “Is that woman crazy? ‘Who dares touch her’?” A department manager sneered. To curry favor with Seraphina, she was the first to rush forward and shove Quinn. “Who are you anyway? Don’t you know Mr. Smith is the General Manager here? Getting rid of you is as easy as squashing an ant!” Seraphina stood on the stage, holding her son, arm around Liam, watching us being encircled as if it were a play, a smirk playing on her lips. “Everyone, whoever cleans out these two pieces of trash today, so they no longer dirty mine and Liam’s eyes, will have their year-end bonus doubled next year.” Generous rewards always spurred bravery. The pushing and shoving crowd instantly turned violent. Someone kicked Quinn hard in the knee, sending her stumbling to the ground. I rushed to help her, but a heavy punch to my back made my vision go black. “Chloe Johnson, do you really think you’re someone important?” I spat out a mouthful of blood, looking up at Liam. “Can you really afford the consequences of marital infidelity and marriage fraud?” Liam walked off the stage and stopped in front of me, looking down at me on the floor with eyes full of disgust and contempt. “Since we’re speaking so plainly, I won’t hide it from you anymore.” He pulled a marriage certificate from his bag and threw it directly in my face. It bore the names Liam Smith and Seraphina Song, and the registration date was a year earlier than mine. I shot my head up, my pupils contracting violently. “No need to look, the marriage certificate we got back then was fake.” Liam sneered. “Back then, Seraphina had just graduated, her family was poor, and she didn’t have a stable job. She couldn’t give the child a good life. We had to find an honest person to take care of things, right?” “You’re an orphan with no parents, the easiest to control. I originally planned to dump you after you raised the kid. I just didn’t expect you to be so ungrateful, causing trouble at a time like this.” “Fake.” I mumbled, feeling as though my insides were twisting in agony. So, these five years of days and nights, these five years of devoted effort, even the legal recognition, were all a deception! “This marriage doesn’t even need a divorce, because it never existed.” Seraphina walked over, stepping on the back of my hand and grinding her heel down hard. “Senior, thank you for your sponsorship back then, and thank you for helping me raise my husband and child for these past five years. Now that I’m successful, it’s time for a good-for-nothing like you to make your exit.” I endured the excruciating pain, trying to get up, but she kicked me in the chest again. Quinn, trying to shield me, was savagely struck on the head with a wine bottle, blood instantly gushing down her face. Quinn was almost incoherent, still desperately trying to protect me. “You… you’ll regret this…” “Regret?” The manager who had struck her spat on her. The surrounding people laughed. “Hit them! Hit them until they’re dead! Mr. Smith will take responsibility for anything that happens!” Quinn and I huddled on the ground, taking countless kicks. My vision was already blurring, and the smell of blood filled my nostrils. Liam watched it all coldly, then turned and covered his son’s eyes. “Leo, don’t look, it’s dirty.” Just as that manager raised a solid wooden chair, preparing to smash it onto my head. “Bang!” The banquet hall doors were violently forced open from the outside. Immediately after, a team of bodyguards rushed in. Before anyone could react, a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses and a refined aura stumbled in. When he saw Quinn, battered and bloody in the pool of her own blood, his entire body froze. “Chairman?!” He then looked up and saw me, also bruised and bloody, his face turning ashen. “Miss… Johnson…”

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My wedding was in full swing when my bridesmaid and best friend, Autumn, seemed to have a problem with her eyes. She stepped on my gown, mumbled an apology, then tugged the torn dress and pulled us both down. The hall fell silent. Leaning close, Autumn spoke as if offering kind advice: “Selene, Harrison is busy with his company’s IPO. Love will only hinder his ambition. I hope you and Harrison won’t share a bed or even meet for the next ten years.” My makeup artist rushed to help me up. I looked calmly at Autumn. “What right do you have to say that?” She replied, “I’m Harrison’s business partner,” and pulled a document from her bag. “Sign this. After ten years, you can bear his children.” I turned to Harrison, who was coming off the stage. “Do you agree with this?” Just then, Autumn took a call and left. Harrison jogged after her, brushing past me. “Autumn joined the latest round of investment. Given her business sense, I believe she’s doing this for my good.” A moment later he added, “We’ll consummate our marriage in ten years.” 1. Divorce Announcement Hilarious. I scoffed. At this moment, a mix of humiliation and rage churned within me, but I fiercely suppressed it. Watching Harrison about to step out of the banquet hall doors, I grabbed the microphone from the emcee, facing everyone. “No need to consummate the marriage.” “Because I’m divorcing you!” Harrison’s hand, reaching for the door, paused. He turned, asking dismissively, “Are you sure?” “No regrets?” From his tone, it wasn’t hard to guess. He didn’t love me at all; he probably thought I was just being childish. So, all this time, only I took this relationship seriously, right? “Don’t worry. I won’t cling to you anymore.” “Now scram.” “I hope you stick to your word.” Harrison nodded, his reply utterly calm, then quickly chased after my best friend, his business partner. I was left speechless. I could only conclude that all my passion over the years had been utterly wasted. To win Harrison over initially, I secretly used the allowance my parents gave me as his startup capital. I shamelessly begged all my relatives to buy his unbranded, unverified products. To protect his pride, I never mentioned it to him. Perhaps in Harrison’s eyes, and in the eyes of his entire family, a young man from a humble background with no connections could build an empire by the age of thirty entirely through his own efforts. But they had no idea. With just one word from me, this promising, celebrated young entrepreneur could be utterly ruined. Without a shred of doubt! I walked to my dad’s table and threw my arms around his neck. “Dad, I’ve realized. I don’t want someone who doesn’t love me.” “I want to be your good girl.” My dad patted my arm, which was draped around his neck. “My dear, I’m so happy you’ve finally shown some sense.” Harrison’s father walked over from his table and handed me a card. “Here’s thirty thousand dollars. Consider it buying out your seven years of relationship with Harrison. Don’t you dare cling to our Harrison ever again.” I was amused. My dad wanted to stand up in anger, but I held him down firmly. “You think thirty thousand dollars can buy out all my effort and dedication, from his startup to now, over seven years?” Harrison’s father’s face darkened. “Thirty thousand dollars is enough to live very well in a small town. Young lady, don’t be too materialistic at your age.” Harrison’s mother also walked over, disdainfully eyeing my dad and me. “You, a gold-digger who loafs around all day, does nothing, and relies entirely on men, thirty thousand dollars probably isn’t enough for you, huh?” “What if we don’t give it to you?” “Ultimately, whether or not you have this thirty thousand dollars, I won’t allow you to cling to our Harrison anymore.” “Otherwise, I’ll report you to the police and have you arrested every time I see you, and your dad too!” I took the bank card, fiddling with it for a moment. “Since you’ve said all that, if I don’t take this money, I’ll feel like I’m losing out.” “Thanks, nice lady.” Harrison’s mother rolled her eyes so hard they almost disappeared into her head. But I continued unhurriedly. “However, thirty thousand dollars isn’t quite enough. My ambitions are huge. I want all of your family’s assets. Will you give them to me?” “Oh, don’t roll your eyes just yet. This time, you don’t need to give them to me; when the time is right, I’ll come and take them myself.” Harrison’s father burst into loud laughter. The relatives on the groom’s side all joined in, chuckling. Some were even more exaggerated, mimicking my tone and mannerisms, mocking me sarcastically. “Oh dear, anyone with a dream is amazing. Little lady, I support you.” “When you take over the Smith family assets, why don’t you start a live stream? I’ll send you donations.” Harrison’s father finished laughing, then scoffed arrogantly. “You’ve taken the money now, so save your big talk for outside. Today is our Smith family dinner; uninvited guests should kindly excuse themselves.” “Then just wait. Don’t come begging me to come back then.” I linked arms with my dad, and my relatives and I gradually left the banquet hall, reopening several tables at a more upscale hotel to celebrate my newfound single status. Luckily, Harrison and I hadn’t registered our marriage; we’d only held the wedding banquet. Otherwise, I’d have to go through a divorce now, what a hassle. 2. The Smith Family Crisis The day after the wedding was canceled, Harrison’s company descended into chaos. Harrison’s father’s office door, as one of the owners, was almost kicked down. It was packed with department managers and distributors. Smith Corp’s production lines, supply chain, sales channels, and customer base all experienced major fluctuations. Sales, especially overseas, were hit hard. The shipping company, with whom they had long-standing agreements, sent a message first thing in the morning. They demanded a price hike. Otherwise, they would refuse to carry Smith Corp’s cargo. Harrison’s father, too anxious to eat breakfast, personally rushed to the shipping company to negotiate the freight fees with the manager. He was fuming, but still had to plaster on a smile. “The freight fees were agreed upon before, why are you pulling this stunt just before loading? If you do this, the cost of the goods will go up, how are we supposed to sell them?” The moment Harrison’s father finished speaking, the shipping company manager replied, “That’s your problem, what does it have to do with me? Our shipping company is huge, we employ thousands of staff, we need to eat too, you know.” “With the current international situation so tough, increasing freight fees is just a matter of survival.” “Besides, if you think it’s too expensive, you can always find another company.” “Another…” Harrison’s father choked. Finding another shipping company just before loading? Where would he even find one? Harrison’s father wasn’t stupid. They had always worked with this company, and it had always been stable. This sudden move could only mean someone was pulling strings behind the scenes. Sure enough, as he was leaving, a carrier he had a good relationship with subtly warned him. “The Smith family must have offended someone big.” “This morning, our boss got a call, and then the price for your ship went up.” Harrison’s father fell into deep thought. Who did he offend? He was accustomed to smiling at everyone he met for business, how could he have offended anyone? The carrier saw he still hadn’t figured it out. He could only sigh and remind him. “Lien!” Harrison’s father was incredulous. “Selene Lien?” The carrier said nothing, turning to leave. Harrison’s father’s mind reeled. He suddenly remembered Selene’s words at the wedding yesterday. “I want all of your family’s assets. Will you give them to me?” When he first heard it, he hadn’t paid it any mind. He thought it was just big talk from a young girl, abandoned by his son, trying to save face. He never imagined she actually had the power. He felt completely disoriented. To get the goods shipped out and salvage some losses, he turned back, gritted his teeth, and signed the increased freight agreement with the shipping company. Then he jumped in his car, floored the accelerator, and drove straight to his son’s newly bought villa, pulling him out of bed. At that moment, Harrison and Autumn, after a night of passionate intimacy, were sweetly asleep. The sudden yank of the blanket startled Autumn, who screamed as she rolled off the bed, using it to shield her body. Harrison quickly blocked Autumn, looking at his father with utter bewilderment. “Dad, why didn’t you knock?” “Do you know what privacy is?!” Harrison’s father didn’t even glance at his son, only staring at Autumn’s head, which was peeking out from behind him. “You, you’re still protecting her!” “Why didn’t you protect Selene like that?!” Autumn, hearing this, looked plaintively at Harrison’s bare back. “Harrison.” Harrison snatched the blanket from his father, covering both himself and Autumn. “Dad, what are you talking about? You know I don’t love Selene, why are you saying this?” Harrison’s father anxiously slapped his thigh. “Son, we’ve lost a golden phoenix.” “Dad, what on earth are you talking about?” Harrison’s father recounted the series of events that morning, and the difficulties Smith Corp might face in the future. Autumn, listening, felt her pupils contract in shock. After a long moment, she murmured, “That’s impossible. I’ve known Selene for six years. Every time I saw her, she dressed so cheaply. In college, she even worked three part-time jobs.” “With that kind of background, how could she possibly…” Harrison nodded in agreement. He gently calmed his father’s exploding temper, then said he would call Selene to get to the bottom of it. At this moment, I was still sound asleep. The phone rang. Seeing Harrison’s name on the caller ID, I instantly perked up, quickly grabbed my phone, and sat up in bed. “Selene Lien, you really are something!” I leisurely admired my newly done manicure. “If you want to talk about the trouble Smith Corp is having, I can tell you this: I’m just engaging in healthy competition with you. It’s your lack of strength, your inferiority, who’s to blame?” “As for that shipping company…” “My apologies, that happens to be my family’s business.” “Yours?” “Mm-hmm.” “Selene, have you been reading too many romance novels? Do you really think you’re some rich heiress now? You can actually make up such nonsense?” “If you don’t believe me, fine, I’m hanging up.” Harrison choked, but reacted quickly. “No, wait, wait!” “Where are you? Let’s talk face to face.” 3. The Truth Revealed I sent him my location. Half an hour later, Harrison met me at the restaurant in the little villa. This villa in the suburbs was a coming-of-age gift my parents gave me when I was eighteen. I didn’t usually live there; I stayed at my parents’ house. I didn’t want him to meet me at my main residence, fearing he’d cling to me in the future. As for why I let him meet me here? Because I wanted to see his expression when he realized I was living better than he was. I sat at the dining table, elegantly sipping milk. Harrison was led in by the butler. He looked around the richly decorated room, then at me, who had once lived in a basement with him and packed cardboard boxes for a living, his eyes wide with shock. He would never in a million years have thought I’d be living in the most valuable hillside villa in this city. This property was worth over two hundred million dollars. The property management fees alone amounted to over three hundred thousand dollars. Plus, there were the nannies, butler, gardener, chef, and so on. The key was that even with money, it wasn’t guaranteed you could buy a place here. Because this area was home to renowned entrepreneurs, celebrities, directors, politicians, and the like, every prospective buyer underwent a strict vetting process. Although the Smith family had developed quite well in this city over the years and gained some fame, they were still insignificant compared to these figures. In simple terms, it was like the difference between a commoner family and an established aristocratic one. The Smith family was the commoner. Hearing footsteps approaching, I unhurriedly turned my head. “How do you want to talk?” Harrison’s focus was still on the connection between this villa and me. “Are you working as a housekeeper here?” “Or a taste-tester?” He stared at the breakfast in my hand, probably assuming a housekeeper wasn’t allowed to eat the owner’s food. But he absolutely refused to believe I was the owner of this villa. I found it quite amusing. “Want me to show you my property deed? Or my bank balance, which is longer than your ID number?” I pulled out my phone, opened my mobile banking balance, and held it up for him to see. Harrison laughed until tears came to his eyes. “Selene, you doctored a few pictures, rented a villa, and got a fake deed, and now you’re shamelessly claiming you’re rich?” “Hahahaha, you’re quite an actress. It’s a shame the film studios aren’t hiring you; it’s a waste of your talent.” I turned off my phone and continued eating breakfast. Let him think whatever he wanted. “So, you’re doing all this photo-editing and whatever else to prove you really have the financial power to bring down our Smith family, is that it?” “Selene, you’re truly a drama queen.” “Honestly, you should go to Hollywood. That’s where you belong.” I hadn’t intended to say much more to him, but if he was going to talk like that, congratulations, he had successfully provoked my competitive spirit. I calmly picked up my phone and called the shipping company. “Have the manager come over.” “I’ll text you the address.” Harrison watched me operate my phone, then, whether from hunger or exhaustion, he pulled out a chair and began eating the elegantly plated breakfast on the table. “Excuse me, sir, that’s not your breakfast!” The high-class nanny, who was playing the violin for entertainment, suddenly interjected. “It’s alright, let him eat. It’d be a waste otherwise.” I still had that much generosity. While waiting, Harrison’s father, mother, and Autumn also arrived. Harrison’s father had been quite confident letting Harrison come alone. But he suddenly remembered how yesterday, all those distributors, suppliers, and even the shipping company had warned him about offending a powerful figure.

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On my thirty-fifth birthday, a girl crashed into my living room. She rocked bright pink hair and heavy smoky eyeliner. It was me at twenty. Bold, arrogant, and radiating a wild energy that absolutely refused to be tamed. My heart skipped a beat. Terrified she would scare my supposedly straight-laced husband, I immediately ordered this rebellious kid to get the hell out. But his eyes were completely glued to her. Like a man possessed, he became instantly infatuated with my younger self right then and there. It was a bitter irony. I had spent the last seven years playing the perfect housewife for him. I quit smoking, stopped drinking, and erased every single one of my bad habits just to be a good partner and mother. The former serial dater had completely retired her playbook. I genuinely thought I had found a man I could trust for the rest of my life. And the result? After that birthday party, he stopped coming home at night. He spent every waking hour hitting up dive bars and clubs with the twenty-year-old me. When I couldn’t take it anymore and told him to keep his distance, he actually laughed in my face. “Are you seriously jealous of yourself?” He even tried to justify his behavior. “Even if something happens between us, you’re the one I truly love in my heart. What is there to worry about?” Wow. Men really were all the same. He would probably never realize one simple truth. The twenty-year-old me wouldn’t be caught dead settling for a guy like him. … 1 The clock in the living room ticked away. The hands pointed straight to one in the morning. I sat on the sofa, locked in a silent standoff with my husband who had just come home. Simon broke the silence first. “Isn’t the twenty-year-old Stella also you?” “I’m going to her gigs to support her because I love you.” “Stella, I really don’t get it. Why are you eating yourself alive with jealousy over your own past? Is it really necessary?” Simon adjusted his rimless glasses, looking every bit the refined, respectable university professor he always claimed to be. Except for the half-smeared red lipstick print sitting right on his shirt collar. Supporting her… from that close? My mind wandered. Just a month ago, he was busy commissioning a custom oil portrait as a surprise for my thirty-fifth birthday. A month later, he had completely tossed me aside, calling me unreasonable and paranoid. And all of this happened because the twenty-year-old me fell out of the sky. She had bright pink hair, bold red lips, and heavy smoky eyes. She was the absolute polar opposite of the gentle, submissive wife I had become. She oozed rock and roll. The moment she opened her mouth, she mocked me for looking like a pathetic housewife. I watched her cause absolute chaos at my birthday dinner. I was terrified. A former maneater hanging up her boots to find a decent guy to marry was no easy feat. I wasn’t going to let this brat ruin my marriage, so I immediately told her to get out. But Simon was surprisingly protective of her. “That’s enough, Stella. Be mature.” “Even if you aren’t that person anymore, you should gracefully embrace your past.” He sounded so incredibly righteous. I actually thought I had married the right man. I was just about to sit him down and confess the wild, complicated truth of my past, but he was already completely mesmerized by her. It turned out he was utterly captivated by that vibrant, unfiltered version of me. For the past month, I watched it all happen right in front of my eyes. My Mr. Perfect husband, who had never once been late for dinner, suddenly mastered the art of staying out all night, drinking, and clubbing. Typical man. I originally planned to make him the only man I would love for the next few decades. I swallowed my wild side, happily cooked his meals, and prepared to start a family with him. But he didn’t want that. He wanted to be just one of the dozen guys I flirted with back in my twenties. Fine. I would grant his wish. There was a strand of bright pink hair tangled around one of Simon’s buttons. I reached out, plucked it off, and dropped it right into his palm. “Why would I be jealous?” “From this second on, I’m done managing you. Do whatever you want.” He looked confused, assuming I was just throwing a petty tantrum. His expression grew colder. “At the end of the day, you’re the one I want. You should be grateful for that.” I knew exactly what he was implying. Since she was technically me, I was supposed to count my blessings that he wasn’t out cheating with a complete stranger. I wasn’t going to play that game. Simon walked upstairs. The bathroom door slammed shut. I sat back on the sofa, crossing my legs, and pulled out my phone. A few rings later, my old lawyer friend, who had harbored a massive crush on me for years, picked up immediately. “Well, well, Stella. I’ve been waiting for this call.” “You want a divorce, right? Send me the asset spreadsheet. I’ll draft the papers tonight.” I gave a faint smile and just said two words. “Thank you.” By eight o’clock the next morning, the divorce agreement was sitting perfectly in my inbox. 2 While I was reviewing the fine print of the divorce papers, Simon was standing right next to me, picking out clothes and styling his hair. A deep V-neck shirt, a silver skull necklace, and his hair curled to look like some seasoned bad boy. The whole reason I wanted to marry him in the first place was because he was a respectable academic. He had this untouchable, saintly aura, completely different from the sleazy players I used to date. Who knew that when men finally let their true colors show, they were all exactly the same. He thought he was radiating pure testosterone, but in reality… “Stella, you should really take some notes from young Stella. Stop dressing so depressingly all the time.” Young Stella was what he called the twenty-year-old me. She wore heavy makeup every single day. If her back wasn’t exposed, her shoulders were, and her jeans were always ripped to shreds. After getting married, I was terrified of embarrassing Simon in front of his colleagues. I didn’t keep a single piece of my old wardrobe, swapping it all out for modest, knee-length skirts. Now that his brain was completely fried by lust, he actually wanted me to put those ripped clothes back on. Psycho. I rolled my eyes and picked up my phone. Without him noticing, I snapped a picture of him posing in the mirror and texted it to Bennett, my lawyer. “Find a way to squeeze him for more alimony. He is completely at fault.” Bennett replied with a thumbs up, telling me to gather more evidence. No problem. At nine o’clock that night, I walked into the dive bar young Stella practically lived at. It was the exact same spot I loved hanging out at a decade ago. Sure enough, Simon was there too. The man I once thought had an ethereal, classy presence now just looked pathetic. His facial features were still handsome and refined, but his entire vibe was completely off. He sat in a VIP booth, his eyes glued to young Stella the entire time. Too bad she wasn’t even giving him the time of day. After all, a fossil in his thirties had absolutely zero competitive edge against the hot college guys swarming the place. The bass from the speakers made my heart pound against my ribs. I really was getting too old for this. “Hey! Listen to me!” “What?!” Even under the heavy makeup, those identical facial features still carried a trace of youth. Young Stella held a beer bottle, screaming directly into my ear. “Why did you ever settle for him?!” “Look how old he is, trying to rock a deep V-neck like a frat boy! It’s hilarious!” As she said that, young Stella finally tossed Simon a glance. She raised her beer bottle, giving him a toast from across the room. I watched his lips twitch as he tried to hide a massive, glowing smile. What a pathetic loser. So embarrassing. I cursed him in my head. “Yeah, why the hell did I settle for him?!” I couldn’t figure it out anymore either. I grabbed young Stella’s hand and downed half her beer in one go. Seeing my reaction, she leaned in close, her voice dripping with disgust. “If he hadn’t promised to fund my new band, I wouldn’t even look in his direction.” Made perfect sense. Simon wasn’t even close to my type when I was twenty. The only reason she was entertaining him this long had to be the band. Even as a maneater, I had standards. Back in my prime, I had plenty of guys chasing me, but nobody was allowed to get in the way of my music. Even after I married Simon, whose traditional family hated the idea of a wife being in the public eye, I secretly kept writing songs. I never told him just to avoid the headache. The hidden camera pinned to my chest blinked a tiny red light. Young Stella caught on immediately and gave me a wicked smile. “Not bad.” “You got married, but at least your brain didn’t completely rot.” Just then, Simon got up and walked over to us. His Adam’s apple bobbed. In front of me, he was always the composed, gentle husband. But talking to young Stella, he acted like a nervous teenage boy. “Looking good! The bad boy aesthetic suits you, old man!” The younger me beat him to the punch. She was a master at playing the crowd. Tell them exactly what they want to hear. She patted Simon’s shoulder twice before heading backstage to prep. She was the resident singer for the late-night set. Simon clearly ate up every second of her attention. He stood frozen in place, taking a long moment to snap back to reality, seemingly savoring the lingering scent of her heavy perfume. I wasn’t jealous. I was just pure, violently disgusted. Married for seven years, and he still had the nerve to act like a lovestruck puppy. I let out a cold scoff, making absolutely no effort to hide the disgust on my face. Simon finally realized I had been standing there the whole time. His brow furrowed instantly. “What are you doing here?” 3 “If you’re still upset about the Stella… I mean, the young Stella situation, I don’t think we have anything to talk about.” He slipped right back into his righteous, academic persona. It was as if we were debating a philosophical thesis. I used to adore that serious, intellectual side of him. Now, every single thing he did just made my skin crawl. Even arguing with him felt like a massive waste of oxygen. But we had been married for seven years. I gave him one final piece of friendly advice. “Don’t fall too deep.” “This girl is way out of your league. A pretentious academic like you will get eaten alive.” I crossed my arms, watching the wild, untamed girl owning the stage. It was true, when the younger me sang, it was impossible to look away. Simon just scoffed coldly. “Give it a rest.” “I know what this is. You’re just jealous of her.” I turned my head, genuinely confused. What met my gaze was a pair of ice-cold eyes. “You’re jealous that she’s vibrant and alive! You’re jealous that she has more charm in her pinky finger than you do!” He looked me up and down. A casual blouse, mom jeans, canvas sneakers, and my hair tied back in a messy bun. “Unlike you. You’re dull, boring, and completely lifeless!” “Instead of being jealous, you should really take some notes from her!” With that, he refused to look at me again. He even took a few steps away from me. As if standing next to a housewife was beneath him. In that split second, the manners and class of the man I once loved completely evaporated into thin air. My heart turned to absolute ice. Even the last shred of pity I had for him died on the spot. “Fine,” I replied calmly. “Then go to her. I won’t stop you.” I waved my hand, pointing straight at the stage. He froze, hesitating for a moment. “Are you really… not going to hold this against me?” “Did you genuinely accept her, or are you just trying to trick me?” Deep down, he knew exactly how deranged this whole thing was. He desperately needed me to validate his twisted logic so he wouldn’t feel guilty, so he wouldn’t violate his own high moral standards. I didn’t say another word. I just gestured for him to go. It was as if a chain had been broken. Simon practically sprinted toward the stage, catching young Stella as she finished her set and pulling her into a tight hug. “That was incredible, Stella!” “I’ll fund everything. Let me help you build your dream band, okay?!” He looked as sincere as the day we got married. “You are so amazing, Stella!” “Marrying you was the greatest honor of my life!” Without missing a beat, I aimed my lens right at his face and hit the shutter. Click. Click. A few hours later, every single one of those photos was sitting in Bennett’s inbox. He sent back a voice memo trying to comfort me. I didn’t even have the patience to listen to the whole thing. I just chose the wrong man and ended up in a failed marriage. Make a mistake, fix it, and move on. It wasn’t the end of the world. The only thing I cared about now was making sure the final settlement tipped heavily in my favor. 4 After that night, Simon started contacting young Stella relentlessly. Scouting venues, meeting investors, he was always there. Writing tracks, rehearsing, picking out stage outfits, he was there for all of it. He made absolutely no effort to hide his obsession. We were literally the exact same person, but whenever he talked about the twenty-year-old Stella, his eyes dripped with sickening sweetness. On the rare occasions he actually came home, he only looked at me with flat indifference and annoyance. And me? I watched him sink deeper and deeper into the quicksand, and I didn’t utter a single word of warning. He genuinely believed I had bought into his “you’re both the same person” delusion. He stopped making excuses entirely, slipping into her life as if it was his absolute right. Meanwhile, I used all my free time to dive deep into our marital assets. The deeper I dug, the more shocked I was. Simon’s academic research was highly successful. The royalties from the books he published over the last few years had easily crossed the million-dollar mark. He had more than enough cash to bankroll a rock band. A few days before the band’s premiere showcase, he completely stopped pretending. He handed me a VIP pass and ordered the thirty-five-year-old me to be there. I only realized his true intentions after I arrived. He was actually shameless enough to plan a massive, public romantic confession to the twenty-year-old Stella right after the curtain closed. Simon was dressed in a tailored suit, looking as if this concert was his second wedding. “Stella, I really hope I have your blessing today.” “I have to admit, right now, my heart only has room for the twenty-year-old Stella. There is no space left for anyone else.” “But don’t worry, I won’t divorce you. After all, you and her are the same person. You’re both my wife.” He stood at the very front of the VIP section, his eyes locked on the girl rehearsing on stage. He didn’t even look at me when he spoke. I let out a soft laugh. “Is that so.” “Well, I highly suggest you check your email first.” Sitting right in his inbox was the finalized divorce agreement. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too? Over my dead body. But he clearly couldn’t care less. “We’ll talk about it after the show.” “I am not letting anything ruin this night.” Was it the show he was worried about, or his grand confession? I nodded, deciding to keep my mouth shut. Because right at that exact moment, if my memory served me right, the twenty-year-old me was busy making intense eye contact with the bassist. That was just the reality of being a player. If you wanted to claim her officially, you had to get in line. As for Simon… I stood calmly beside him, waiting for the show to start. The amps blasted, the stage lights flared, and the crowd surged forward. The final chord rang out into the stadium. Every single person in the room screamed for the musical prodigy on stage. Suddenly, a strange feeling blossomed in my chest. A wave of inexplicable satisfaction and immense pride washed over me. In that specific moment, I finally felt the absolute truth that we were the exact same person. The twenty-year-old me was Stella. The thirty-five-year-old me was Stella. The sheer impact of that massive achievement would echo through my life forever. Seeing the show end in total triumph, Simon jumped up in pure ecstasy. He pushed his way through the screaming crowd, shouting Stella’s name at the top of his lungs. But the very next second, everything stopped. The ecstatic girl on stage grabbed the handsome bassist by the collar and kissed him passionately in front of everyone. I crossed my arms, a massive smile spreading across my face as I watched them make out. One second. Five seconds. Ten seconds. Every drop of color drained from Simon’s face. He was shaking from head to toe, staring at the stage in absolute disbelief. Then, he slowly turned his head to look at me. I gave him a cold, mocking smirk, waving the digital divorce papers on my phone screen right in his face. “What are you looking at?” “She doesn’t want you, and neither do I.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “437419”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I spent three months grinding away at a ten-billion-dollar acquisition deal, and finally succeeded. At the celebration banquet, Ethan Pierce took all my credit and handed it to his first love, Lily Hayes. He said, “Lily just came back from overseas. She needs an impressive resume. You’ve always been understanding—it’s most appropriate to put this project under her name.” I looked at his matter-of-fact expression and said nothing. Five years. For five years, I’d worked myself to the bone for him during the day and warmed his bed at night, only to end up not even worthy of having my name attached to my work. At the charity gala, Lily Hayes accused me of stealing a brooch. In front of all the city’s elite, Ethan Pierce stripped me of my clothes and searched me. My belongings scattered across the floor, proving my innocence. He didn’t even apologize. He just frowned and said, “Alright, the misunderstanding’s cleared up. Don’t ruin the atmosphere of the gala.” I bent down. What I picked up wasn’t the contents of my bag, but the Pierce Corporation employee badge lying on the floor. Then, in front of everyone, I threw it into the champagne tower. “Ethan, from today on, even if you get down on your knees and beg me, I’m never coming back.”

Sophia Bennett POV The celebration banquet for the Empire Group acquisition was held at the city’s most luxurious hotel. Crystal chandeliers sparkled brilliantly overhead, while elegantly dressed guests mingled with champagne glasses in hand. I wore a well-tailored black business suit, holding a glass of champagne, standing quietly in a corner of the banquet hall. As Chief Investment Analyst at Pierce Corporation, this three-hundred-billion-dollar acquisition had taken me and my team three entire months of grinding work, countless cups of espresso, and even a trip to the emergency room for gastric bleeding before we finally closed the deal. I glanced down at the simple band on my ring finger—something Ethan Pierce had casually bought for me last month. I thought that tonight, at this celebration banquet, he would finally publicly acknowledge our five-year underground relationship. As the grand doors swung open, the banquet hall fell instantly silent. Ethan Pierce entered in a custom-tailored black suit, his posture impeccable, his features sharp and cold. However, on his arm hung a woman in a pure white haute couture gown, her smile gentle and delicate. Lily Hayes. Ethan Pierce’s first love—the woman he’d pined for, who had spent years overseas. My breathing hitched sharply, my knuckles turning white as I gripped my champagne flute. Ethan Pierce walked onto the stage with Lily Hayes, took the microphone, and his deep, pleasant voice echoed throughout the hall: “Thank you all for attending. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce Pierce Corporation’s new Vice President of Investment, Miss Lily Hayes. The successful landing of the Empire acquisition was entirely thanks to Miss Hayes and her overseas connections.” Thunderous applause filled the room. I stood in the shadows, feeling as though all the blood in my body had reversed course, leaving even my fingertips numb with cold. Entirely thanks to Lily Hayes? In these three months, Lily Hayes hadn’t looked at a single punctuation mark of the acquisition documents. And all my sleepless nights, my effort, my dedication—just like that, in Ethan Pierce’s offhand remark, became nothing more than a stepping stone to make his beauty smile. Halfway through the banquet, I cornered Ethan Pierce on the deserted terrace. “Why?” My voice was soft, but it trembled with suppressed emotion. Ethan Pierce lit a cigarette, the blue-white smoke blurring his hard features. He looked at me, his eyes calm to the point of cruelty: “Lily just returned to the country. To establish herself at Pierce Corporation, she needs an impressive resume. You’ve always been understanding. Putting this project under her name is the most appropriate solution.” “Understanding?” I bit down hard on my lower lip, tasting blood. “Ethan, I’ve worked myself to death for you for five years, been your underground lover for five years, and now… you’re taking the results I achieved with my life and using them to curry favor with her?” Ethan Pierce frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by my questioning. “Sophia Bennett, don’t be unreasonable.” He flicked his cigarette ash, his tone rational and cold. “Whatever compensation you want—bonuses, stock options, or that penthouse downtown—I can give it to you. But Lily is different. She’s sensitive and can’t handle being wronged. You’ve already gained enough from your position. Don’t be greedy.” Greedy. That word was like a rusty, dull knife sawing through my heart. Eight years of secret admiration, five years as his girlfriend—I thought even if I were a stone, I could eventually warm him up. But it turned out that in his eyes, I was just a tool to be sacrificed at will, a subordinate who could be bought off with money. “I understand.” I didn’t cry. I just pulled at the corner of my mouth as the light in my heart slowly extinguished. “I’m sorry. Mr. Pierce is right. I overstepped.” I turned and left the terrace, my spine straight, without a trace of lingering attachment.

Sophia Bennett POV Late at night, I returned to the penthouse apartment I shared with Ethan Pierce. The location was prime, the property worth a fortune, yet it was as cold and empty as a showroom. Over these five years, I’d tried so hard to fill it with life—buying flowers, adding soft rugs, changing to warm-toned curtains. But looking at it now, it all seemed ridiculously futile. I pulled out a suitcase and began packing my things. Actually, I didn’t own much—just a few changes of business attire and some professional books. At two in the morning, the sound of the password lock opening came from the entrance. Ethan Pierce walked in carrying the faint scent of alcohol and Lily Hayes’s floral perfume. He loosened his tie and saw the suitcase in the living room, his brow furrowing. “What are you throwing a tantrum about now?” He approached, habitually reaching out to hold me. “I already explained what happened tonight. Tomorrow, finance will transfer fifty million into your account. Sophia, don’t make me think you’re being unreasonable.” I sidestepped his touch. “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I looked at him calmly. “Mr. Pierce, since Miss Hayes is back, it’s inappropriate for me to continue living here.” Ethan Pierce’s hand froze in midair. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms, lowering his head to kiss me. “Let go!” My stomach churned violently. I pushed him away with force. Ethan Pierce stumbled back a step, his expression darkening completely. “Sophia Bennett, my patience has limits.” He looked at me coldly. “The position of Mrs. Pierce can only belong to Lily, but I never said I was kicking you out. As long as you behave yourself, you’ll still be Pierce Corporation’s Chief Analyst, and you can still stay by my side.” I looked at this devastatingly handsome man before me and suddenly felt he was utterly unfamiliar. How could he speak such shameless words so matter-of-factly? He wanted Lily Hayes as his legitimate wife and me as his hidden mistress. “Ethan, you’re disgusting.” Leaving those words behind, I grabbed my suitcase and walked out of the apartment without looking back. The next morning, at Pierce Corporation’s Investment Department. I had just stepped out of the elevator when I saw that my formerly spacious and bright private office had been fitted with a new nameplate: “Vice President – Lily Hayes.” Lily Hayes was directing staff to move my files out. When she saw me, she gave me an apologetic smile: “Sophia, Ethan said I needed a quiet environment to familiarize myself with the business, so he’s letting me use this office first. I hope you don’t mind squeezing into the open office area for now. You understand, right?” Colleagues around us were stealing glances. I looked at my personal belongings being carelessly piled into a cubicle and said lightly: “I don’t mind. As long as Vice President Hayes is happy.” I walked to that cramped cubicle, sat down, opened my computer, logged into the company’s HR system, and clicked on the “Resignation Application” page. On the third day after Lily Hayes’s airborne appointment as Vice President, Pierce Corporation held an important board meeting. The core topic was a risk assessment for an overseas new energy project. This project involved five billion dollars in funding—one misstep could severely damage Pierce Corporation.

Sophia Bennett POV The atmosphere in the conference room was tense. Lily Hayes stood in front of the projection screen, holding the assessment report my team had stayed up all night preparing, but her presentation was stumbling and incoherent. “Regarding this project’s internal rate of return, we estimate it to be… uh, we estimate eight percent. And the cash flow break-even period would require… require fifteen years.” The moment those words left her mouth, the room erupted. Several senior directors’ faces turned ashen. One director slammed his hand on the table: “Fifteen years to break even? Eight percent return? Miss Hayes, do you even know what the current cost of capital is? You’re actually recommending this garbage project to the board as a priority investment?!” Lily Hayes’s eyes reddened from being yelled at, and she looked pleadingly toward Ethan Pierce, who sat at the head of the table. Ethan Pierce frowned deeply, about to speak up to save her, when I suddenly stood up. Without looking at Ethan Pierce, I walked straight to Lily Hayes, took the laser pointer from her hand, and switched to a different PPT slide. “Directors, Miss Hayes just read the wrong data set.” I said, “Eight percent is the stress test result under an extremely pessimistic model. In reality, based on our calculations of local policy subsidies and carbon credit trading, the baseline IRR is above twenty-two percent, with a cash flow break-even period of four years and seven months. The detailed sensitivity analysis is on page thirty-two of the report.” In just three minutes, with extremely precise data and rigorous logic, I defused what could have been a catastrophic trust crisis. The directors’ expressions softened, and they looked at me with admiration. Lily Hayes, standing beside me, had turned pale. After the meeting ended, I was summoned to the CEO’s office. The moment I pushed open the door, a file folder came flying at me. I didn’t dodge. The sharp plastic edge grazed my temple, instantly drawing blood. “Sophia Bennett, you really showed off in that conference room today, didn’t you? Are you proud of yourself?” Ethan Pierce sat in his chair, his eyes frighteningly dark. Lily Hayes sat on the sofa, crying softly. Feeling the stinging pain on my forehead, my heart remained utterly calm: “I was only trying to save the company’s project.” “Save it?” Ethan Pierce laughed coldly, suddenly standing and walking up to me, looking down at me from above. “You knew perfectly well that Lily wasn’t familiar with those numbers. Why didn’t you go over them with her before the meeting? You deliberately embarrassed her in front of the board, deliberately used your expertise to highlight her incompetence. Sophia Bennett, when did your heart become so vicious?” I looked at him steadily and laughed. I’d stayed up for three nights straight preparing that report. Lily Hayes hadn’t even bothered to glance at it before taking it to claim credit. When she made mistakes, I stepped in to fix them and saved Pierce Corporation’s reputation. But in the end, I became the vicious one. “Yes, I’m vicious.” I closed my eyes. “Mr. Pierce is absolutely right. Every mistake is my fault. I apologize to Miss Hayes.” I turned toward Lily Hayes on the sofa and gave her a slight bow, my voice dead: “I’m sorry, Miss Hayes. It’s my fault for not covering up your incompetence well enough and letting you be wronged.” “Sophia Bennett! Get out of my sight!” Ethan Pierce’s furious voice rang out behind me. I straightened my spine and walked out of the office. My heart had completely died.

Sophia Bennett POV Friday was my twenty-eighth birthday. For the past four years, no matter how busy Ethan Pierce was, he would cancel all his engagements on this day and have dinner with me at a discreet restaurant. This was our unspoken secret, the only warmth I could draw from this hidden relationship. Last month, Ethan Pierce had kissed my earlobe and promised he would give me a huge surprise for this year’s birthday. At seven o’clock that evening, I arrived punctually at the restaurant and sat by the window. Outside, autumn rain began to fall, and the temperature dropped sharply. I wore a thin dress, looking at the exquisite cake on the table, quietly waiting. Eight o’clock. Nine o’clock. Ten o’clock. The restaurant’s clientele changed wave after wave. The servers’ glances toward me gradually shifted from admiration to pity. Eleven-thirty. I picked up my phone and dialed Ethan Pierce’s number. The phone rang for a long time before someone answered, but it wasn’t Ethan Pierce’s deep voice—it was Lily Hayes’s sweet, delicate tone. “Hello? Sophia? Ethan can’t come to the phone right now.” My fingers tightened around my phone: “Where is he?” “We’re at the vet hospital.” Lily Hayes’s voice carried a hint of sweet complaint. “My Ragdoll cat suddenly got diarrhea. I was terrified, so Ethan immediately drove me here. He was running around holding the cat and got all sweaty—he left his phone in the car. Sophia, it’s so late. Is there some urgent work matter?” A cat with diarrhea. I looked at the cold rain outside the window and suddenly found it all absurd. My birthday that I’d looked forward to with such anticipation, my five years of youth—in Ethan Pierce’s eyes, they couldn’t even compare to Lily Hayes’s cat having diarrhea. “Nothing urgent.” I said, “Sorry to bother you.” I hung up, picked up my fork, and shoved a large piece of cake into my mouth. Too sweet. Sweet to the point of bitterness, so bitter my tears fell without warning. I didn’t wipe them away. I just kept eating that cake, one bite after another. After paying the bill, I walked out of the restaurant and into the cold, rainy night. Back at my temporary rental apartment, I opened my laptop and logged into Pierce Corporation’s HR system. I looked at the resignation application I’d already drafted, my cursor hovering over the “Submit” button. My phone screen lit up with a message from Ethan Pierce: 【Lily’s cat got sick. I won’t come over tonight. I’ll make up for your gift tomorrow.】 I looked at that message without replying. I opened my photo album and, without a moment’s hesitation, permanently deleted all five thousand-plus photos and videos of Ethan Pierce. Then I moved my cursor and pressed “Submit.” The system displayed: 【Your resignation application has been submitted. Thirty-day handover countdown begins.】 Eight years of foolish infatuation, five years of absurd devotion—in this moment, it all finally came to an end. After submitting my resignation application, it required approval from both the department head and the CEO according to protocol. But Ethan Pierce had recently devoted all his attention to Lily Hayes and hadn’t logged into the office system at all. The HR director sighed and simply approved it by default. The thirty-day countdown began quietly. Lily Hayes decided to host an extremely lavish charity gala in Pierce Corporation’s name. “Sophia, Ethan says you’re the most detail-oriented. I’m putting you in charge of coordinating this gala.” Lily Hayes tossed a thick planning document onto my cramped desk, her tone carrying a condescending sense of charity. “I want white roses flown in from overseas. The lighting at the gala must be warm-toned. Also, you need to personally review all the media releases—they must highlight my image as Pierce Corporation’s future mistress.” I looked at the planning document without even lifting my eyelids. “Alright.” I responded flatly. Over the next two weeks, I executed all of Lily Hayes’s unreasonable demands. I slept only three hours a night, coordinating venues, confirming procedures, verifying guest lists. I never initiated contact with Ethan Pierce again, nor did I show even a trace of grievance over Lily Hayes’s deliberate difficulties. Occasionally, when Ethan Pierce ran into me in the company hallways, he would see my gaunt face and cold eyes. The day before the gala, I compiled all my work handover documents, encrypted them, and sent them to my deputy in the investment department. I looked at the countdown calendar on my computer screen. Tomorrow would be my last day at Pierce Corporation.

Sophia Bennett POV The charity gala was held at the city’s largest estate. As night fell, luxury cars gathered. Lily Hayes wore the custom-made gown Ethan Pierce had spent a fortune on for her, her arm linked with his as she moved among the guests like a star surrounded by admirers. I wore an inconspicuous black business suit with a walkie-talkie earpiece, standing in the shadows at the edge of the banquet hall, coldly watching it all. As the gala reached its climax and the most important charity auction was about to begin, a scream suddenly came from backstage. Lily Hayes, holding up her dress, ran out of the lounge with a pale face and red-rimmed eyes, throwing herself into Ethan Pierce’s arms: “Ethan! It’s gone! The ‘Heart of the Ocean’ sapphire brooch that was supposed to be the finale auction piece is missing!” The entire venue erupted in shock. That brooch was worth nearly a hundred million dollars—Ethan Pierce had specifically acquired it to bolster Lily Hayes’s standing. “What happened?” Ethan Pierce held her, his brow furrowed. Lily Hayes trembled all over, then suddenly turned and pointed directly at me standing in the corner: “It’s her! Only Lily and Sophia knew the safe’s password! When I was changing clothes earlier, only she went into the lounge!” All eyes instantly turned to me like spotlights. Skeptical, contemptuous, eager gazes. I removed my earpiece and walked calmly into the center of the crowd. I looked at Lily Hayes’s face: “I entered the lounge to deliver tonight’s speaking notes to you. I put them down and left. I never touched the safe.” “Who else could it be but you?!” Lily Hayes cried, tears streaming down her face. “Sophia, I know you’ve always resented me, thinking I took your position, but you can’t jeopardize the company’s reputation like this!” The surrounding guests began whispering among themselves. I ignored the gossip and simply looked quietly at Ethan Pierce. Eight years. I’d known him for eight years, managed over ten billion dollars for him, and never made a single error. Yet Ethan Pierce looked at me with eyes that held no trust—only coldness and impatience. “Sophia, open your bag and let security search it.” Ethan Pierce said coldly. “If you didn’t take it, a search will prove your innocence. Don’t make things difficult for Lily.” “Search my bag?” I softly repeated those words, feeling the last trace of warmth in my chest being drained away. In this circle, being publicly searched was tantamount to having my dignity stripped away and trampled on the ground. To calm Lily Hayes’s tears, Ethan Pierce chose without hesitation to sacrifice my dignity. “Ethan, are you really going to search my bag?” I looked at him. Ethan Pierce hesitated for a moment, but seeing Lily Hayes in his arms, he frowned: “It’s just a formality. Sophia, think of the bigger picture.” Think of the bigger picture. I laughed. I didn’t wait for security to approach. I opened the zipper of my cheap black canvas bag myself and dumped everything inside onto the polished marble floor. Lipstick, a notebook, several pens, a box of stomach medicine, and a few access cards. Scattered everywhere. No sapphire brooch. Just then, a security guard ran out of the lounge, sweating profusely, holding up the brilliant brooch: “Found it! Miss Hayes, the brooch fell into the velvet gap behind the safe. It wasn’t stolen!” The banquet hall fell into deathly silence. Lily Hayes froze for a moment, then covered her mouth with a regretful and innocent expression: “Oh my, so it fell into the gap. Sophia, I’m so sorry. I was too anxious just now and spoke without thinking. Please don’t be angry with me.” Ethan Pierce also breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at the mess on the floor, frowned, and said to me: “Alright, since it was a misunderstanding, that’s resolved. Sophia, pick up your things. Don’t let this affect the gala’s atmosphere.” Casual and dismissive, as though the trampling of my dignity moments ago had been nothing more than an insignificant joke. I looked down at those things on the floor. I didn’t pick them up. I slowly bent down, unclipped the Pierce Corporation employee badge from around my neck, and gently tossed it onto that pile of belongings. “I’m not picking them up.” I straightened, my gaze calmly sweeping past Lily Hayes before finally landing on Ethan Pierce’s shocked face. “Ethan, I quit.” With that, I turned and, under everyone’s stunned gazes, walked step by step out of the brilliantly lit banquet hall without looking back.

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On our fifth anniversary, I dressed up for our date, thinking Ethan was going to propose to me. Instead, he showed up with his first love, Luna, and asked me to plan their entire engagement party. “You didn’t actually think that after warming my bed for a few years, you’d get to be a billionaire’s wife, did you?” He humiliated me in public, threatened me with my family’s livelihood, and even put the wedding dress I’d spent three years designing on Luna. In the villa we’d shared for five years, all my personal belongings were thrown out like garbage. He said my taste was cheap, that my feelings were shameful, that I was nothing more than a tool in a mutually beneficial arrangement. At the banquet, Luna spilled red wine all over me, and he publicly scolded me for being in the way. Not a single apology. From that moment on, I stopped defending myself, stopped resisting, and became completely obedient to him. Ethan thought I’d finally learned my place and become the compliant secretary again. He didn’t know I’d already gotten engaged to his mortal enemy.

Stella POV In the fifth year of keeping my relationship with Ethan Carter a secret, I thought I could finally be with him. At eight PM, the most upscale revolving restaurant in downtown New York was reserved entirely. I wore a carefully selected black velvet gown, sitting by the window, watching the dazzling neon lights through the floor-to-ceiling glass. In my purse was a copy of Ethan’s schedule. Three days ago, as his chief secretary, I’d accidentally seen a massive transaction from his private account. It was for a pink diamond ring worth ten million dollars. Five years of secret companionship. Five years of being on call. At the company, I was billionaire Ethan’s most capable right hand. In bed, I was his perfectly compatible lover. We weren’t public. Ethan said it was a critical period for the power transition at Carter Group, and he couldn’t have any weaknesses. I believed him and waited without complaint for five years. Today was the fifth anniversary of us being together. When the clock struck eight-thirty, the heavy wooden door of the private room finally opened. I looked up with hopeful anticipation, but the smile on my lips froze completely the moment I saw who entered. Ethan wore an impeccably tailored custom suit, his posture upright, his handsome face showing a gentle smile I’d never seen before. And on his arm was a woman in a white dress with an innocent, delicate aura. Luna Sullivan. Ethan’s first love, the girl he couldn’t forget, who’d been overseas for years. My breathing stopped abruptly, my mind going completely blank. I stared at their intertwined arms, feeling all the blood in my body flowing backward, my fingertips instantly ice-cold. “Ethan, is this the secretary you often mention?” Luna spoke first, her voice sweet and girlish, with a hint of innocent curiosity. Ethan walked to the table with Luna, looking down at me from his superior position, his tone casual like he was discussing the weather. “Yeah, she’s my chief secretary, Stella Forrester.” He didn’t even ask me to sit down, didn’t explain why he’d brought another woman on our fifth anniversary. I forced down the violent trembling in my heart, my voice dry and tight. “Ethan, today is our…” “Stella, you’ve always been reliable in your work, and your taste is good too.” Ethan cut me off without mercy. He pulled out a chair for Luna to sit, then turned to look at me, his eyes cold and matter-of-fact. “Luna just returned to New York and isn’t familiar with the local environment yet. Next month’s engagement party for her and me will be completely under your supervision. Don’t let Luna suffer even the slightest grievance.” Word by word, like ice-cold knives, stabbing precisely into my heart. Engagement party? I stared at Ethan’s familiar face, trying to find any trace of joking in his eyes. But there was nothing. His eyes only held affection for Luna and the emotionless professionalism he showed toward me, his “secretary.” “You’re getting engaged to her?” My voice trembled uncontrollably as I stood up abruptly, my eyes red. “Ethan, then what am I? What were these five years to us?” Hearing this, Luna seemed startled, shrinking back and looking innocently at Ethan. “Ethan, what’s wrong with Miss Forrester? You two…” Ethan’s expression instantly darkened. He glanced at me coldly, his lips curling into a mocking arc. “Stella, watch your identity. You didn’t actually think that after warming my bed for a few years, you’d get to be a billionaire’s wife, did you?”

Stella POV Those words were like a resounding slap across my face. All the strength seemed to drain from my body instantly, my face pale as paper. “Between us, it was nothing more than mutual benefit. You got a generous salary and bonuses, I got an obedient bed partner and a useful secretary.” Ethan’s tone was cruel to the extreme, carrying the arrogance of someone in power. “Now that Luna’s back, those shameful games should end.” So it turned out that five years of youth, five years of giving everything I had, were just “shameful games” in his eyes. That pink diamond wasn’t a proposal ring for me at all, but his sincerity in marrying his first love. Looking at this man I’d loved for five years, I suddenly felt he was completely unfamiliar. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe, but I bit my lower lip hard, refusing to let the tears fall. “Fine. I understand.” I took a deep breath and grabbed my purse from the table, my spine straight. I didn’t scream or make a scene. I used every ounce of self-control I had to maintain my last shred of dignity. “Since the game is over, Mr. Carter, you’d better find someone else to handle the engagement party. I find it disgusting.” With that, I turned without hesitation and strode out of the restaurant in my heels. Behind me came Ethan’s voice, suppressing his fury. “Stella, try walking out that door!” I didn’t look back. The moment the door closed, I leaned against the cold wall, gasping for air, and tears finally broke through like a dam. Five years of wasted devotion, shattered to pieces in this moment. The next morning, Carter Group CEO’s office. I’d applied elaborate makeup to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Like always, I arrived at the company half an hour early and placed a cup of perfectly heated black coffee on Ethan’s desk. Except this time, there was a white envelope beside the coffee. When Ethan entered the office, he still had that superior, aloof demeanor. He glanced at the envelope on the desk, his brow furrowing slightly. “What’s this?” “My resignation letter.” I stood in front of the desk, my voice so calm it had no inflection. “Mr. Carter, since you’re about to get engaged, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, I should avoid suspicion. I’ll complete the work handover within a week.” Ethan’s movements stopped abruptly. He picked up the resignation letter, his eyes instantly darkening. “Stella, you’ve grown bold, haven’t you?” He laughed coldly, his slender fingers tearing the envelope in half and tossing it in the trash. “Trying to play mind games with your resignation? That trick is too old.” “I’m serious.” I looked at him, my eyes no longer holding any of the adoration and compliance from before, only a deathly stillness. He impatiently loosened his tie, his tone forceful. “I haven’t approved it, so you’re still a Carter Group employee. Put away your ridiculous tantrums. I don’t have time to indulge you. This afternoon, cancel all meetings and accompany Luna to try on wedding dresses.” I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms. “Mr. Carter, accompanying your fiancée to try on wedding dresses isn’t within my job responsibilities.” “At Carter Group, my word is your responsibility.” Ethan stood up, closing in step by step, his eyes full of oppression. “Stella, don’t forget your brother is still at an Ivy League school, and your mother’s care facility costs a significant amount every month. Angering me won’t benefit you in any way.” He was threatening me with my family. My whole body went cold as I looked at this man in disbelief. After sharing a bed for five years, he knew my weaknesses better than anyone. And now he was mercilessly pointing the blade at my most vulnerable spots. “Fine. I’ll go.” I closed my eyes and swallowed the bloody taste in my throat.

Stella POV That afternoon, at New York’s most exclusive private bridal boutique. Luna was like a proud swan, selecting wedding dresses surrounded by staff. I stood expressionlessly to the side like a soulless puppet. “Miss Forrester, what do you think of this one?” Luna suddenly turned around, pointing to a gown in the center display case. I followed her finger and my pupils contracted sharply. It was a strapless gown with a starry gradient pattern, the skirt encrusted with tens of thousands of tiny South African diamonds. I had drawn the design for this wedding dress three years ago with my own hands. At the time, I’d shown it to Ethan with such joy, asking if I could wear it when we got married. What did Ethan say then? He said, “It’s beautiful. I’ll definitely have it made in the future and put it on you myself.” Now the dress was made, but the person wearing it wasn’t me. “Very beautiful.” I heard my mechanical voice. Luna smiled with satisfaction and turned to enter the fitting room. Soon after, Ethan pushed the door open. He walked straight to the sofa and sat down, not giving me a single extra glance. The curtain of the fitting room opened, and Luna walked out in that starry wedding dress, like a fairy descended to earth. She held up her skirt and walked shyly to Ethan. “Ethan, does it look good?” A flash of amazement crossed Ethan’s eyes. He stood up and gently adjusted her veil, his voice so tender it could drip water. “Beautiful. This dress looks like it was custom-made for you.” Luna leaned shyly into his embrace, but her eyes glanced provocatively at me. “I heard this dress was designed by some unknown designer. I was worried it wouldn’t be worthy of a billionaire’s status.” Ethan laughed lightly, his tone full of disdain. “Who cares who designed it? As long as you like it. Wearing it on you elevates that designer’s cheap taste.” Cheap taste. Those words were like a dull knife, slowly cutting back and forth across my heart. I watched the embracing couple and suddenly felt it was all absurd. The promise I’d treasured was just a casual lie to him. The design I’d poured all my love into had become cheap garbage in his mouth. I didn’t refute or cry. I just stood quietly in the corner, watching Ethan lower his head to kiss Luna’s forehead. In that moment, I clearly heard the sound of my heart dying. No heart-wrenching cries of pain, only a barren silence. On the weekend, I went to Ethan’s private villa in Long Island, New York. This was where we’d lived together for five years. Although Ethan never allowed me to leave too many personal items, five years of accumulation meant there were still traces of me everywhere. Since I’d decided to leave, I didn’t want to leave anything behind to disgust myself. I entered the password and pushed open the door, only to be frozen by the scene before me. The living room was in chaos. Several servants were holding large black garbage bags, tossing things in one by one. The matching coffee mugs I’d bought. The cushions I’d embroidered with our initials. My bunny slippers by the entrance. Even my luxury skincare products from the bathroom. Everything was being thrown away like trash. “What are you doing?” I demanded sharply. The servants stopped and looked at each other. Then someone came down the stairs from the second floor. Ethan wore gray loungewear, looking at me coldly. “I had them clean up. Luna’s moving in next week. She has a cleanliness obsession and can’t stand the smell of other women.” I looked at the coffee mug shattered in the trash. We’d made it together during a pottery class on a business trip to Paris. Though he’d looked impatient, he still stayed with me until we finished. Now it was broken into pieces on the ground.

Stella POV “Ethan, even if you want to make room for Luna, these are my personal belongings. What right do you have to throw them away like garbage without my permission?” I trembled with anger. Ethan walked down the stairs, looking down at me with contempt. “Your things? Stella, name one thing you have that I didn’t buy? Keeping all this cheap junk around. Do you want Luna to have to look at it and be bothered?” He walked to the garbage bag and kicked the clothes inside with his toe, his tone mocking. “Since you’re here today, take this garbage with you yourself. Don’t dirty my carpet.” I stared at him, my eyes so sore they hurt, but I held it in desperately. I walked to the garbage bag. I didn’t pick up those expensive clothes and jewelry. Instead, I bent down and dug through the pile of items to find a wooden music box. It was a trinket he’d casually tossed to me five years ago when I first became his secretary. But I’d treasured it like a precious object for five years. Seeing the music box, Ethan’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, but he quickly returned to cold indifference. “Just taking that?” He laughed coldly. “Stella, you really are pathetically poor.” I held the music box and slowly stood up. I looked at Ethan, my eyes as calm as if looking at a stranger. “Ethan, these five years, I’ve done right by every cent you paid me, and done right by every bit of sincerity I gave.” My voice was soft but abnormally clear. “You treated my sincerity like garbage. That’s fine. Because from today on, in my eyes, you’re worth less than garbage.” With that, right in front of Ethan, I used both hands to smash that music box hard against the marble floor. With a crisp crack, the wooden box shattered into pieces, the spring inside popped out, making a few off-key wails before going completely silent. Ethan’s face instantly turned iron-blue, the veins on his forehead throbbing visibly. “Stella, what the hell are you doing!” I ignored his rage. I pulled out the spare key that symbolized the villa’s mistress status from my bag and casually tossed it onto that pile of garbage. “Here’s your key. I wish you and Miss Sullivan eternal happiness.” I turned around and walked out of the villa without looking back. It had started pouring rain outside. I didn’t carry an umbrella, letting the cold rainwater soak me through. Rainwater slid down my cheeks. Impossible to tell if it was tears or rain. I didn’t feel sad, only an unprecedented sense of relief. The shackles of five years were finally broken by my own hands in this moment. Carter Group’s 60th anniversary gala. As chief secretary, I was still forcibly kept in this position by Ethan, responsible for coordinating the entire event. I wore a low-key black business suit, weaving through the well-dressed guests, calm, efficient, and flawless. When Ethan entered with Luna on his arm, it caused a sensation throughout the venue. Luna wore a modified evening gown version of that starry wedding dress, adorned with that ten-million-dollar pink diamond, already carrying herself like the future mistress of the Carter family. “Thank you all for coming tonight.” Ethan stood on stage, gazing tenderly at Luna beside him. “I’d also like to take this opportunity to announce some good news. Next month, I will officially get engaged to Miss Luna.” Thunderous applause erupted below. I stood in a dark corner of the ballroom, walkie-talkie in hand, expressionlessly watching that dazzling couple on stage.

Stella POV After announcing the good news, Luna smiled and walked toward the crystal piano in the center of the hall. “Today is a special day. I’d like to play a piece dedicated to my fiancé.” The piano music began. My fingertips dug sharply into my palm, nails breaking the skin. This piece was one I’d taught Ethan hand-by-hand three years ago on his birthday. Back then, Ethan had held my hand and said he’d only play this piece for me in the future. Now, the same melody had become Luna’s tool to declare her claim to the world. When the piece ended, applause thundered through the hall. Luna walked toward Ethan amidst the crowd’s praise. As she passed by me, she suddenly stumbled, and the wine glass in her hand tilted directly, the crimson liquid instantly spilling all over me. “Ah! I’m so sorry, Miss Forrester! I didn’t mean to!” Luna cried out, her face full of panic as she apologized, her eyes instantly reddening as if she were the one wronged. Ethan immediately strode over, pulling Luna protectively into his arms, nervously looking her up and down. “Luna, did you twist your ankle? Are you hurt anywhere?” From start to finish, he didn’t spare a single glance at me, drenched in wine and utterly disheveled. “I’m fine, but Miss Forrester’s clothes…” Luna bit her lip aggrievedly, her eyes secretly glancing at me. Only then did Ethan turn to look at me. His gaze was cold and disgusted, as if looking at a troublemaker deliberately causing problems. “Stella, are you blind? What are you doing standing here in the way?” Ethan scolded harshly, his voice loud enough that surrounding guests all looked over. I looked down at my white shirt stained red. This shirt was bought for me by my mother with her first month’s retirement pension. I’d been too reluctant to wear it and only put it on specially for tonight’s gala. Now it was completely ruined. “Luna bumped into me.” I raised my head, looking directly into Ethan’s eyes, my voice unflinching. “You dare talk back?” Ethan’s eyes grew even darker. “Luna is so kind, how could she deliberately bump into you? You’ve ruined her mood. Can you afford to compensate? Hurry up and get to the restroom to change. Stop being an eyesore here!” Mocking whispers came from the surrounding guests. “How can this secretary have no manners at all, daring to bump into the future lady boss?” “I heard she used to be pretty arrogant based on Mr. Carter’s trust. Now that the real deal is back, she’s got to take the heat, right?” Every sentence was like a resounding slap across my face. I watched Ethan carefully protect Luna as they walked away, and suddenly felt it was absurd. I once thought that if I worked hard enough, was sincere enough, one day I could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. But now I understood that in front of his first love, nothing I did was right. Even breathing was wrong. I turned and walked toward the restroom. Standing in front of the mirror, looking at that woman covered in wine stains with a pale face, I didn’t shed a single tear. When the heart is already dead, it can’t feel pain anymore. I turned on the faucet, cold water washing over my hands as I slowly cleaned the wine stains from my skin. When the heart is dead, there’s no more pain.

Stella POV After the gala ended, I didn’t return to my own apartment but went back to my parents’ home. In the old apartment complex in the suburbs, there was a comforting atmosphere of everyday life. When my parents saw me return late at night, though surprised, they immediately went to the kitchen to heat up food. “Stella, no matter how busy work is, you need to take care of your health. Look how thin you’ve gotten lately.” Mom lovingly brought me a steak. I ate with my head down, my eyes welling up. After enduring all that coldness and humiliation at Ethan’s, only here with my parents was I a treasured child. After dinner, Dad hesitated before speaking. “Stella, we’ve been discussing something. My friend settled in Vancouver and says the environment there is perfect for retirement. Your mother and I have worked hard our whole lives and want to go out and see the world. We’re thinking of settling in Vancouver.” I froze. My parents had mentioned wanting to retire overseas before, but I’d found various excuses to delay because I couldn’t bear to leave Ethan. My parents, feeling sorry for me, had shelved the plan. “Stella, we know you’re busy with work and developing well here. We’re not forcing you to come with us, we just wanted your opinion.” Mom held my hand, her eyes full of love. Looking at my parents’ graying temples, my heart ached sharply. For a man who didn’t love me, I’d wasted five years of my youth and even neglected the parents who loved me most. What exactly was I holding onto? “Dad, Mom.” I gripped Mom’s hand back, raising my head with unprecedented determination in my eyes. “I’ll go with you. The sooner the better.” Dad and Mom looked at each other, both seeing delight in the other’s eyes. “Good, good! Then I’ll contact the agency tomorrow to process the passport. Our whole family will go together!” Over the next few days, I began secret preparations. I contacted headhunters, handled my assets, and cooperated with my parents in processing overseas visas and moving arrangements. At the company, I remained that perfect chief secretary. I no longer argued with Ethan, no longer reacted to Luna’s provocations. Like a precision machine, I efficiently handled all work, including the procedures for Ethan and Luna’s engagement party. Ethan keenly noticed the change in me. I’d become too compliant. No matter how he mocked and ridiculed, no matter how Luna ordered me around, I accepted everything without even frowning. This compliance didn’t satisfy Ethan. Instead, it stirred an inexplicable irritation in his heart. “For the engagement party favors, Luna wants macarons flown in. Go arrange it.” Ethan threw a document in front of me, his gaze fixed on my face, trying to find any trace of jealousy or pain. “Yes, Mr. Carter. I’ll contact the supplier immediately.” My tone was emotionlessly professional, even thoughtfully adding, “Luna is allergic to nuts. I’ll specifically instruct the supplier to avoid nut ingredients.” Ethan looked at my completely calm eyes, feeling like his punch had landed on cotton. Suffocatingly frustrating. “Stella, you’ve finally learned your place.” Ethan snorted coldly, trying to hurt me with words. I smiled slightly. A flawless, impeccable smile. “Mr. Carter taught me well. As a secretary, solving my boss’s problems is my duty.” Ethan stared at me intently. After a long moment, he waved his hand irritably. “Get out.” I turned to leave. The moment I closed the office door, the smile dropped from my face. Only icy coldness remained. Lean my place? Yes, I knew my place. And I was ready to flip the whole game over.

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The hunt ended early, so I grabbed my prey and took a shortcut back to the cabin. Suddenly, muffled panting came from deep in the grass. I pushed aside the bushes. My husband Gideon was pressing his sister-in-law Sera against that old birch tree. Sera’s silk dress was half-pulled down, bunched at the pale roots of her thighs. She moaned and wrapped her legs tightly around his muscular waist. Gideon’s hands gripped her hips, the sounds coming from his throat low and hoarse. Nothing like the mild-mannered act he put on in front of me. I sneered and raised my wrist, recording the whole thing on my phone. With one click, I sent the package to Sera’s husband, Black Pack’s Alpha Killian. “Your brother who’s been faking impotence at home for three years is having a wild workout with your wife. Sent you the location.” “Honey, you’re really putting in effort with this outdoor workout.” I stepped out from behind the bushes, tossed the deer I’d just hunted onto a tree stump, my tone as light as if I were discussing what to have for dinner. The two people under the birch tree froze instantly. Gideon let go of Sera’s legs and stared at me like he’d seen a ghost, stuttering for ages without managing a complete sentence. My dear best friend Sera didn’t even have time to pull down her dress. She just collapsed in the pile of fallen leaves with her legs spread, fresh marks my husband had just sucked all over her skin below the collarbone. “Elara, how did you—” “Don’t rush.” I pulled out my phone and waved it. “Let me take a couple more shots. Three years of marriage, first time I’ve seen my husband with this much stamina. Worth commemorating.” Gideon suddenly snapped to his senses and lunged at me, trying to grab my phone. I sidestepped to the left. He missed and nearly tumbled into the bushes. I looked at him and sneered. As the only daughter of White Pack’s Alpha, I’d been receiving combat training since childhood. Dealing with trash like Gideon who only knew how to hide under his brother’s wing was more than easy. “Take it easy.” I held my phone up high. “You always told me you couldn’t perform, wouldn’t even change clothes in front of me. Three years, turns out you were saving yourself for my best friend.” Sera’s cheeks instantly flushed red. Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke with a sob in her voice: “Elara, let me explain. This was just an accident.” “Explain what?” I lowered my head and swiped open my phone screen, pulling up the video I’d just shot to the best part, then turned it to show her. In the footage, she was riding on Gideon’s waist, the sounds squeezing from her throat sluttier than a she-wolf in heat. “Explain how you ran to my husband in the middle of the night to practice squats?” Her face went completely white. She was Black Pack’s Luna, and also my best friend since childhood. I’d thought it was the most perfect arrangement—we married the two brothers of Black Pack, two packs with generations of good relations. Turns out she occupied the Luna position and still wanted to drag her brother-in-law to the northern slope grass to roll around. Two brothers, and she didn’t want to let either one go. “Elara!” Gideon roared. Birds in the forest scattered in fright. Someone else might not be able to withstand Gideon’s dominant pressure, but I’d been trained by my father since childhood. This level of intimidation couldn’t suppress me. I stared at him. “What are you yelling about? You dared to pin your sister-in-law against a tree, but I can’t stand here and watch?” Sera stumbled and crawled over from the pile of leaves, grabbing my legs. Tears splattered on my boots: “Elara, please, don’t tell Killian. I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong.” I looked down at her, this best friend who’d been with me for twenty years. “Get up first.” I crouched down and patted her shoulder. “Your legs will go numb if you stay down too long.” She lifted her head, teardrops hanging from her eyelashes, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. I continued, “Look how hard you’re crying. My husband must feel so bad for you.” I stood up, shook off her hand, and turned to leave. Gideon grabbed my arm from behind, his knuckles digging into the crook of my elbow. “Where do you think you’re going? You want to expose this? You want to destroy the alliance between our two packs?” I looked back at him, almost laughing out loud. Now he remembered the alliance. When he was pulling his sister-in-law’s pants down, why didn’t he think of it then? “Already exposed.” His fingers tightened, his breathing suddenly heavy. “What do you mean?” I pried his hand off and turned to face him. “Your brother should be on his way by now. I just sent him the video, with live location tracking.” Gideon’s pupils contracted sharply. Those eyes that always carried a mild smile were now full of shock: “What did you say? You sent it to Killian?!” “Is there a problem?” I tilted my head at him. “As Alpha, he naturally has the right to know what’s happening in his Pack.” “You’re crazy!” “No.” I stepped back, landing precisely on a dead leaf that crunched softly. “I think you’re the ones who are finished.” A sound that didn’t belong to this hunting ground came from the distance. That deep, resonant howl tore through the silence of the northern slope night sky, carrying an Alpha’s unique oppression, rapidly approaching the cabin. Sera collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale. When the massive brown-black wolf burst through the tree line, I was leaning against the hunter’s cabin doorpost drinking beer. Killian shifted to human form and walked toward me. He scanned the two people slumped by the grass without expression, then turned to me and said, “Nice video work. Good lighting and composition.”

“Bro…” Gideon’s calves were trembling as he shrank back. That fierce, vicious energy he’d had on top of Sera had completely disappeared. Killian ignored him and turned to look at me. “How much did you record?” I pulled out my phone and waved it. “From start to finish. Didn’t miss a single moment of the best parts.” Sera jerked her head up, eyes swollen, wanting to say something. Killian glanced at her. “Shut up and get dressed.” The half-sob caught in her throat choked back down. She frantically started putting on her clothes. I leaned against the pine tree, watching this scene with an inexplicable sense of relief. My husband and my best friend rolling around together—I should be the one suffering most, but here I was watching like it was a show, even wanting to munch on sunflower seeds. Once the two had barely gotten themselves together, Killian walked up to Gideon and punched him in the face. Gideon flew backward, the back of his head hitting the birch trunk. Killian grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up, driving his knee upward. Gideon clutched his lower abdomen and curled up like a shrimp, his lips white as paper. Faked impotence for three years—this time it might become real. I hadn’t expected Killian to only look refined. When he beat someone up, he was ruthlessly fierce. Once Gideon was flat on the ground, Killian straightened up and looked at Sera. “How long has this been going on?” No one dared answer. “I asked you how long this has been going on!” He suddenly roared. Sera cried and trembled. “Three years.” Three years. My marriage to Gideon had been exactly three years, give or take. From the day he married me, he never planned to treat me properly. All those excuses were lies. “So you two started before the wedding?” I spoke, my voice so soft it surprised even me. Gideon lay on the ground without making a sound. “Lift your head up!” Killian roared again. Gideon slowly propped up his upper body. Half his face was swollen, his eyes only daring to stare at the ground. “Bro—” “Don’t call me bro! I don’t have a beast for a brother. You had your wife grab medicine for you for three years, then turned around and rode my wife. You really live up to my expectations.” Sera stumbled to Killian’s feet, her knees hitting the gravel ground with a crunching sound: “Honey, I’m sorry, I really know I was wrong.” I leaned against the pine tree and added: “Do you know you were wrong, or are you afraid he’ll take back your Luna position?” She whipped her head around to look at me. I continued in a casual tone: “You two weren’t like this under the tree just now. She was riding on top of you, biting your ear telling you to hurry up. I’ve got it all on video. Want me to play it to set the mood?” Gideon glared at me viciously, his lips trembling for ages without managing a single word. “So Gideon isn’t impotent—he’s only impotent with me. Your wife touches him and all his problems disappear. She’s practically a miracle healer.” Killian was silent for a few seconds, the muscle beneath his cheekbone twitching twice. “Put on your shoes. Back to the main house. The Council of Elders convenes tonight.” Sera jerked her head up. “You’re going to—” “Divorce.” Killian turned and walked toward me. Sera grabbed Killian’s boot and was kicked away, her whole body falling into the ferns. I waited for him to approach, and we walked side by side toward the cabin. “This place reeks too much. I’ll come back for my deer tomorrow.”

The day after the drama ended, I was teaching my students when the back door of the classroom suddenly erupted in commotion. My hand writing on the blackboard paused. I nearly snapped the chalk. This plot development was getting pretty melodramatic. “Elara Voss! You shameless vixen, seducing my son-in-law, destroying my daughter’s family—have you no conscience!” Sera’s mother, the current head of the Hale family, the matriarch of an old-line werewolf family, stood at the classroom’s back door and began her performance, completely disregarding her own dignity. My teaching assistant rushed over: “Professor Elara, Sera’s mother says you seduced her daughter’s husband Mr. Killian. Should we call campus security?” I slowly put down the chalk. “Oh, let me go see.” As soon as I stepped outside the classroom, I saw a crowd surrounding Sera’s mother as she wiped tears and denounced my evil deeds. “Everyone judge for yourselves—Elara is jealous that my daughter married better than her, so she had to interfere and deliberately destroy my daughter’s family.” I leaned against the window, smiling as I watched this good show. Someone in the crowd spoke up. “Mrs. Hale, Professor Elara is here.” Sera’s mother turned around. Seeing my relaxed demeanor made her even angrier. “Good, you still dare show your face!” “Otherwise what?” I raised an eyebrow. “Should I hide like certain people who’ve done shameful things?” Sera’s mother’s face flushed red with anger. “Stop your nonsense. My daughter and son-in-law are fine. You’re the one destroying their family.” I gave a contemptuous smile. “Sera still loves lying to you? I thought she’d outgrown that childhood habit.” Sera’s mother froze. “What are you talking about?” “You don’t know? Your daughter Sera is Killian’s wife, but she wasn’t faithful during marriage. She seduced Gideon, Killian’s brother—also known as my husband.” The surrounding students all gasped. Sera’s mother’s expression shifted. “You’re talking nonsense!” I pulled out my phone. “Want to see the video? I recorded your daughter’s spectacular performance with my husband.” Sera’s mother panicked. “Don’t you dare!” I continued: “If you really care about your daughter, go home and tell her to control herself. The divorce papers have already been filed. What’s the point of making a scene here now?” Sera’s mother became frantic. “My daughter can’t get divorced!” I laughed. “What, can’t bear to lose Killian’s status? Or do you think Gideon the impotent one isn’t good enough? Don’t worry, Sera’s already cured Gideon’s impotence.” “You!” Sera’s mother pointed at my nose. “How can you be so vulgar!” After saying this, she stamped her feet in anger, but knowing she couldn’t gain anything here, she could only leave resentfully. The students all looked at me with admiration. My assistant came over. “Professor Elara, you were so cool!” I smiled. “Cool? This is nothing.” Back in my office, I sent Killian a message: Your Sera’s mom just made a scene at my school. Killian quickly replied: Need me to have someone handle it? Me: No need, I already dealt with it. Killian: Thanks for the trouble. Looking at my phone screen, I just felt that life really was full of surprises. Me: But I want Sera and Gideon, that pair of cheating scum, to pay the price.

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After seven years of marriage to Alpha Caius, he never marked me. During those seven years, he kept twenty-nine mistresses. Looking at the thirtieth young girl, Raven, wrapped in a bathrobe and lounging on our bed. I turned to look at him. “Isn’t playing around outside enough? You have to bring them home?” But Raven deliberately pulled her bathrobe lower. “Luna Alicia, Alpha Caius says you’re like a dead fish during sex! Let me teach you how to really please a man!” That night, I was forced to watch the intensity of their lovemaking. The next morning, Caius was furious at my indifference. But he forgot that our marriage was an agreement to begin with. One week until the agreement expires. “Alicia, go get Raven some clothes.” Caius sat bare-chested on the bed, lighting a cigarette as he ordered me around. Clothes were scattered all over the floor, as if narrating last night’s intensity. I stood still, glancing at him. Raven, wrapped in the sheets, smiled sweetly at me. “Alpha Caius, that’s not very appropriate. After all, she’s Luna Alicia.” She said “Luna Alicia” with her mouth, but her tone carried not a trace of guilt. Instead, it was full of pride and provocation. The sheets slipped down slightly with her movements, revealing skin covered in red marks. “Besides, I have a hot, sexy figure. Luna Alicia probably doesn’t have anything suitable for me!” I kept my expression blank and walked toward the door. “Alicia! I’m talking to you!” His voice came from behind me, tinged with displeasure. I paused but didn’t turn around. “If you want clothes, get them yourself. I have things to do.” In seven years, I’d rarely defied him. Whether his instructions were direct or implied, I’d almost never refused anything he asked me to do. Today was the first time I broke that understanding. “What did you say?” Caius clearly wasn’t used to my cold attitude, and anger crept into his voice. “You have things to do?! What could you possibly have to do? You stay home all day, don’t participate in pack affairs, don’t work!” “Alicia, don’t forget—if I hadn’t married you, where would you be now? You’d never have this status on your own!” He was right. Without marrying him, I wouldn’t be living such a wealthy, comfortable life. But he forgot that this kind of life wasn’t what I wanted. Back then, I had just graduated from the wolf academy with a degree in pup training. The director of the orphanage that raised me told me that because of land acquisition, the orphanage would soon be demolished. Without someone to sponsor it, those young wolf pups would be homeless. That’s when Caius appeared. He made me an offer—marry him, and he’d fund the orphanage. I hesitated. After all, we weren’t from the same world. He was the Alpha of Stormheart pack, and I was just an ordinary wolf, an orphan. He saw my hesitation and added in a tone that left no room for refusal. “Let’s add a time limit. Seven years. After seven years, you can leave freely and choose whatever you want. During these seven years of marriage, I won’t mark you.” After we married, I never expected any unnecessary emotions. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before I discovered that he’d chosen me only because I resembled his white moonlight—a wolf girl named Aisling. Aisling was Caius’s fated mate. She died shortly after they started dating, and since then, Caius had been searching for her replacement. Caius once said, “Out of all those women, you look the most like Aisling. That’s why I chose you.” Just then, Raven walked out of the dressing room wearing a white dress, her long, silky hair cascading down. I froze. In that moment, she looked exactly like Aisling. It seemed she’d heard the rumors and came prepared. Caius’s gaze immediately fixed on her. Perhaps because of that familiar shadow, he didn’t show his usual cold indifference. He actually froze for a moment before slowly speaking, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness. “Very nice. Dress like this from now on.” Raven’s smile became even more radiant. “Really? Then Alpha Caius, you’ll have to take me shopping for a few more dresses like this.” Caius nodded. “I’ll take you in a bit.” She smiled triumphantly, then turned her gaze to me, deliberately provoking me. “Luna Alicia should come too, right?” I understood. She just wanted to provoke me, to deliberately humiliate me. “No thanks. I have things to do.” But Caius suddenly frowned and spoke coldly. “You’re coming too. I don’t want to say it twice.” I knew this wasn’t the time to defy him again. I stopped arguing and agreed quietly. Just seven more days. This would all be over.

Caius rented out an entire high-end clothing store. Only the three of us remained inside. He stood beside Raven, his gaze constantly on her. In a gentle tone I’d never heard before, he said, “This one’s nice. Try it on.” Raven took the clothes with a coy smile and a slightly flirtatious tone. “How did you know I wear a 36E~” Then she lifted her eyes and glanced at me with deliberate provocation. The store clerk hurried over with flattery. “You’re so lucky to have such a thoughtful boyfriend rent out the whole store to shop with you. It’s really rare.” Caius had never publicly announced his marriage. In everyone’s eyes, he was still that playboy Alpha who frequently changed girlfriends. Even though I, his wife, was standing right there, Caius didn’t correct the clerk’s form of address, as if tacitly agreeing. Raven’s smile deepened, though she said modestly, “Not really.” Just then, the clerk turned to look at me. “And who are you, miss?” Caius seemed to only now remember my existence. “She came with us. Alicia, pick out a couple things for yourself too.” Before I could speak, the clerk exclaimed, “Alpha Caius is so generous, even treating the household staff so well!” After those words, the store fell silent. But I didn’t even furrow my brow. I just continued replying to unfinished emails on my phone. From the day we decided to marry, he wouldn’t let me participate in any pack affairs, saying I didn’t need to show my face in public. But I was used to being independent and never wanted to be completely dependent on anyone. So over the years, I’d never given up my pup training skills. I’d been uploading tutorials anonymously on wolf professional forums. I was doing well—so well that many packs reached out to me directly, wanting to hire me to help train their pups. But because of this seven-year agreement, I’d never accepted any pack’s offer, choosing to wait. Now, it was time. Before Caius could walk over to me, I quickly closed my phone. “I’ll take that one.” I casually pointed to an inconspicuous dress hanging nearby. “Then I’ll try that one too.” Raven grabbed the dress and walked toward my fitting room. I frowned slightly. “Use the one next door.” “Oh come on, it’s just trying on clothes!” She suddenly pushed me hard into the fitting room. I stumbled backward, and with a “crack,” my arm hit the mirror. Glass shattered everywhere. Hearing the noise, Caius rushed into the fitting room. Seeing the scene, his face immediately darkened. Raven was sitting on the floor, covering her hand and crying. “Is it because I can’t try on the same clothes as Luna Alicia? Luna Alicia, if you’re unhappy, I won’t wear it. Why did you have to push me?” As she spoke, she extended her hand, revealing a tiny scratch. Caius’s expression changed. He quickly crouched down, holding her hand, his face full of concern. “How did you get hurt this badly? Does it hurt?” Then he turned to look at me, his eyes full of anger. “Alicia, are you really this petty? Over a piece of clothing? Seriously?” I opened my mouth. “I didn’t. It wasn’t me…” “Still making excuses?” He cut me off directly, as if he couldn’t see that I was sitting in a pile of broken glass, both my arms covered in deep and shallow cuts from the glass, blood flowing freely. He scooped Raven up in his arms, softly comforting her. “Don’t be scared. I’ll take you to the hospital.” Raven leaned against him, crying pitifully. “Will it scar? How will I face people after this?” “It won’t. I’ll take you to see the best wolf doctor right away.” He coaxed her softly and left without looking back, leaving me alone in the mess.

I endured the pain and went to the private clinic I usually visited. The doctor was preparing to clean my wounds when Caius rushed in and pulled away my anesthesiologist. “Hurry, Raven’s in a lot of pain. Give her anesthesia right away!” “But this lady…” Caius seemed to only now notice me, frowning as he was about to speak. “It’s fine. You can go.” The doctor hesitated, but still followed him out. I turned to the assistant beside me. “Just pick out the glass shards directly.” The assistant froze. “But without anesthesia, it’ll be really painful. Can you handle it?” “It’s fine. Let’s start.” Throughout the entire process, I gritted my teeth and didn’t make a sound. By the end, even the assistant couldn’t help but remark, “You really can endure pain.” I said nothing. Yes, if I couldn’t endure, I would have broken down countless times over these years. After treating the wounds, I returned home. When I opened the door, the faint aroma of soup came from the kitchen. The maid heard the noise and turned around. Seeing me, she looked slightly awkward. “Luna Alicia, Alpha Caius told me to take this soup to Miss Raven after it’s done. Her hand is injured, so Alpha Caius wants me to stay there and take care of her for the next few days.” When her gaze swept over my bandage-wrapped arms, she hesitated. “Should I… save you a bowl too?” I smiled, though the smile didn’t reach my eyes. “No need.” Even a maid knew to show concern for me. But the Alpha who’d shared my bed for seven years couldn’t spare a single word of care. Just then, my phone vibrated. I opened it to see a formal job offer from Frosthowl pack, whom I’d interviewed with online—they were inviting me to work as a trainer at their pup training school. I replied to the email without hesitation, confirming my start date with them. Then I quickly opened the travel booking page and selected a departure date seven days from now. With no one home, it would make my departure easier. Although my hands weren’t fully functional yet, I quickly packed my luggage. After packing, I stood in the room and looked around. I’d lived here for seven years. It was impossible to say I had no regrets, but more than anything, I felt the lightness of liberation. I dialed his number one last time. When he answered, his voice was full of impatience. “Alicia, you still have the nerve to call?” “I’m telling you, if Raven has any lasting effects from this, you better watch out!” I opened my mouth, but realized there was nothing left to say. Wolves heal extremely quickly. Besides, Raven only had a tiny scratch—it might have already healed by now. How could there possibly be any lasting effects? But I knew saying any of this would be pointless. Caius simply couldn’t stand me. In the end, he didn’t wait for my answer and hung up directly. I stood there, slowly lowering my phone, a self-mocking smile curling at the corner of my lips. I pulled out the original marriage agreement and signed my name on the attached divorce agreement, placing it on the desk in the study. I left no note, no message. I trusted he would understand. As I left, I couldn’t help but feel grateful that he’d never marked me. Now that I was leaving, all I needed was divorce paperwork. Dragging my suitcase, I left the house and checked into a quiet little hotel. During those seven days at the hotel, I rested quietly. He didn’t send a single message or make a single call during that time. Seven days later, I sat in the airport waiting area, waiting to board. My phone suddenly rang. His name appeared on the screen. I glanced at it and turned off my phone without hesitation. The name on the screen disappeared in a flash, just like this marriage—completely over. Then I boarded the flight to my new life, without looking back.

After leaving the airport, I pushed my suitcase to the exit. An enthusiastic, handsome man was standing at the pickup area holding a sign, smiling brightly. “Alicia, I’m here to pick you up from Frosthowl pack. I’m Ethan, the principal of the pup training school.” He quickly took my suitcase, looking me over with slight curiosity. “I didn’t expect you to be so young! I thought experts in pup training would be, you know, older.” I smiled without explaining further. I also hadn’t expected the principal of the pup training school to be so young and energetic. At the parking lot, my phone finally got signal. As soon as I turned it on, it vibrated nonstop. I looked down to see it was all messages from Caius, nearly filling the screen. I didn’t open them. I calmly deleted them all with one tap. Ethan put the luggage in the trunk, turned back to glance at me, and asked with a smile, “Alicia, you’ve got a lot of calls. Do you want me to wait while you reply?” “No need. Nothing important.” I answered casually, my tone indifferent. In the car, he drove while making casual conversation. “Alicia, this is your first time at our Frosthowl pack, right? Is there anywhere you want to go? You don’t officially start work until the day after tomorrow. I can show you around first.” “Yes, first time.” I looked at the scenery passing by outside the window. My phone rang again. The ringtone was particularly jarring in the car. He glanced at me and said kindly, “Maybe you should answer? What if it really is urgent?” I thought for a moment, then answered the call. Sure enough, it was Caius. His voice came directly through the receiver, barely suppressing his anger. “Alicia! Where are you? What the hell are you doing? Why aren’t you answering your phone?!” He bombarded me with questions, his tone aggressive, as if I’d committed some terrible crime. Listening to his baseless anger, I smiled coldly and said calmly, “Caius, there’s no need for us to stay in contact anymore.” He was clearly stunned, then shouted even more angrily, “No need? Alicia, you’re my wife! Where are you now? Come back immediately!” I lowered my eyes and answered calmly, “The seven-year term is over. The agreement has ended. You never marked me. There’s no mate bond between us. I’m no longer your wife.” After saying this, I decisively hung up and blocked his number. Ethan seemed to sense the uncomfortable atmosphere. He turned and smiled, trying to ease the tension. “Alicia, you’re here to start a new life in a new territory. Don’t let these things affect your mood.” He winked. “I helped you choose your place to stay. We’ll be there soon. I’m sure you’ll love it.” I looked out the window. The clouds on the horizon were dyed golden by the sunset, and something inside me finally seemed to shed its burden. I nodded gently. “Okay. I’m looking forward to starting my new life too.”

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I’m just an ordinary human. But I’m the fated mate of Alpha Sebastian, a werewolf. For five years, I thought he truly loved me. Then the day I found out I was pregnant, I overheard a secret. In the werewolf world, only those who complete the Mark ceremony are considered true mates. “Alpha Sebastian marking Diana is for the good of the pack. She has the bloodline of powerful werewolf warriors. She’s more suited to be Luna.” “As for Miss Elaine… she’s just a pet the Alpha keeps around. Humor her, keep her happy.” I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. I just silently packed my things. They would never know that in half a month, I would disappear from Sebastian’s world completely. Elaine POV Five years. I had finally been blessed with this child. I waited in the hospital corridor for my prenatal checkup, my mind planning how to surprise Sebastian. As I turned the corner, a hushed conversation drifted into my ears, making me stop in my tracks involuntarily. “So you’re saying Alpha Sebastian still hasn’t Marked that human?” “Of course not. She’s just a human. Even if she is his fated mate, she’s too weak, can’t compare to Diana. Diana’s father was once the most powerful werewolf warrior in the pack.” “But didn’t he have a grand wedding with Miss Elaine?” “That was just a human ceremony. Only those Marked by the alpha are truly Luna, so the one to inherit the Alpha’s position and territory will only be Diana’s child.” “Poor Miss Elaine, she still thinks she’s…” “Shh, keep your voice down. The Alpha warned us not to let her know. After all, she is the Alpha’s ‘Fated Mate,’ and the Alpha does have feelings for her.” “Feelings are one thing, but what power can a human bring to the Pack? Alpha choosing to Mark Diana is the most beneficial decision for the Pack. As for Miss Elaine… she’s just a pet the Alpha keeps by his side. Just humor her.” When I left the hospital, my whole body was ice cold. The joy of becoming a mother for the first time was crushed to pieces. Those words hit me like a frozen hammer, pounding away at everything I believed. Our five-year marriage… in the werewolf world, it meant nothing?! Sebastian and I met when we were eighteen. I was still in school at the time. Sebastian pursued me for a whole month, and on prom night he formally confessed to me and told me his true identity. He was the Alpha of Moonclaw Pack. He gave me a grand wedding and brought me back to Moonclaw Pack. Everyone said Sebastian loved me, loved me enough to pluck the stars from the sky for me. But why would he, where I couldn’t see, give the Mark that represents eternity to another woman? I barely hesitated before immediately driving to that private club where Sebastian and his circle often gathered. I had to ask him about this face to face. When I found the most secluded VIP room in the club, laughter and the clinking of glasses came from inside. I stood outside the half-open door, and through the gap, I saw the man surrounded by everyone. He wore a finely tailored casual suit, his figure tall and handsome. His face radiated a happiness I had never seen before, like a weight had been lifted, and the wine glass in his hand reflected amber light in the dim lighting. That was my husband of five years, Sebastian. “Congratulations, Sebastian, you finally got what you wanted!” “Honestly, Sebastian, this was a brilliant move. Marking Diana in the Pack, giving Elaine a dream wedding in the human world to keep her satisfied. You’ve managed both sides perfectly.” “So what is Elaine to you? These five years… weren’t you afraid of being found out?” “You don’t get it.” Someone laughed. “Sebastian feels guilt toward Diana. More than that, responsibility. If Diana hadn’t saved Elaine back then, Elaine would’ve been the one splashed with poison. Sebastian said he owes Diana a lifetime. Marking her, making her Luna. It’s compensation and also him choosing a suitable Luna for the Pack.” “What a brilliant strategy!” I froze outside the door, like someone had pushed me into the deep sea, where even breathing became a luxury. I even wondered if I was hearing things. But the next second, Sebastian’s own words threw me completely into an icy abyss. “I’m serious about Diana.” His tone was calm and steady, each word carrying undeniable determination. “She sacrificed her dream of becoming a werewolf warrior to save Elaine, and now she can never shift again. All she wants is a definite status and a secure future. I can give them to her.” So that’s how it was. My eyes instantly welled up. So that conversation I accidentally overheard wasn’t baseless rumor, but a carefully laid plan of his. Five years ago, during an outing, we unfortunately encountered an attack by a crazed Rogue. At that critical moment, Diana rushed forward without hesitation, pushing me aside and blocking the attack. She was splashed with poison from the Rogue. Though she survived, no one could cure the poison, so Diana permanently lost her ability to shift. She had been one of the most agile and skilled warriors in the Pack. To repay her life-saving grace, Sebastian and I took care of everything for her, seeking the best treatment and providing all the resources she needed. Sebastian said at the time that Diana saving me was saving his life. He was willing to give everything to make it up to her. I just never imagined that his way of making it up to her would be to become Diana’s true mate. The ridiculous thing is, for five whole years, I had no idea. Sebastian’s friend asked another question. “What about Elaine? If she finds out…” I watched him lower his eyes, his slender fingers tapping lightly on his phone screen, his tone carrying the confidence of someone in complete control. “She’s just human, she can’t smell our scents. As long as I continue treating Elaine well, she’ll never find out. All of you keep your mouths shut and don’t let anything slip in front of her.” The next second, my phone buzzed. I looked down at the message Sebastian sent, my heart feeling like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, cold spreading from my fingertips all the way to my bones. “Sweetheart, I miss you. Tonight is just a boring business dinner, every second without you is torture. On our anniversary, I’ll make sure to spend quality time with you. Love, Sebastian.” I gripped my phone tightly, looking up at him in the distance, laughing and talking among the crowd, my heart throbbing with wave after wave of dense, stabbing pain. My vision gradually blurred as hot tears spilled uncontrollably. This wasn’t my Sebastian. My Sebastian was the boy who would pick snow velvet flowers from cliffs for me. He was the man who rented out an entire observatory on my birthday just to show me a star named after me. He was the man who, on my parents’ death anniversary, would put aside everything to quietly stay with me all day. He was the man who, after marriage, pampered me into a princess who knew nothing of worldly suffering, spending nights endlessly entwined with me… Not this liar before me, who said he loved me while carving another woman into his soul. My heart felt like it was being cut with knives. I bit my lip hard. My phone vibrated again. It was his call. I took a deep breath, retreated to a quieter corner of the hallway, hesitated for a second, then answered. “Elaine, where are you? Have you eaten dinner? It sounds like… there’s an echo where you are?” His voice was as gentle as always, tender and affectionate, with vague music in the background. “Sebastian, what are you doing?” I instinctively clenched my fist, my nails digging deep into my palm. I thought, as long as he was willing to confess, I would give him a chance to explain. “I’m discussing some business with a few partners, it’s giving me a headache.” His tone carried deliberately manufactured fatigue. “These kinds of occasions, you know, boring as hell.” I suddenly laughed, though the light in my eyes extinguished inch by inch. After a moment of silence, I said softly, “Okay.” He immediately sensed something was wrong. “Sweetheart, are you unhappy? Who upset you?” “It’s crowded, I’ll hang up now.” The moment I hung up, I heard the sound of the private room door opening. I instinctively ducked behind a decorative column in the hallway and saw a girl in a dress walk out of the room. It was Diana. She seemed to have come out to take a call, but soon Sebastian followed her out. “Sebastian, my foot hurts a little, it’s too stuffy inside.” Diana’s voice carried a pampered tone. “Let me see.” His tone held a precious carefulness I’d never heard before. He just naturally knelt down, carefully rubbing her ankle, his eyes full of heartache. “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have made you stand so long, shouldn’t have had you wear these shoes.” That tenderness, compared to his dismissive “boring business dinner” on the phone with me, stabbed painfully at my eyes. So his love could be divided, his heartache could be replicated. Even the lie about it being “boring as hell” came so naturally. Sebastian, how can your heart hold two people? I fled in panic, hiding in the shadows of the fire escape, curling up and hugging myself, letting tears fall silently. I cried until I was nearly exhausted before slowly standing up. The light in my eyes died. What was left was pure resolve. This five-year fake marriage. I didn’t want it anymore. This man, Sebastian. I didn’t want him either. Since Diana was the one he was willing to Mark as his true mate, I’d give them what they wanted. In half a month, it would be my parents’ death anniversary. After I said goodbye to them, I’d leave. And never come back.

Elaine POV After leaving the bar, my mind was in chaos, not knowing what to do. So I returned to the hospital to continue my unfinished prenatal checkup, wanting to calm myself down through this process. The doctor told me, “Miss Elaine, that accident five years ago injured your uterus. Being able to conceive is already a miracle. You need to rest well and avoid stress and risks.” My fingertips went ice cold, my heart hit with another unexpected sharp pain. Sebastian had never told me about this. All these years, when people urged me to give the alpha an heir soon, Sebastian always took the responsibility himself, saying he wanted a few more years of just the two of us. In that moment, my eyes welled up. He used to consider me in everything, afraid I would be sad. But no matter how well he treated me, it couldn’t change the fact that he had deceived me. “Thank you, doctor. I’ll be careful.” I heard myself say. I walked out of the examination room in a daze, my steps unsteady, but at the end of the corridor, I saw Sebastian and Diana. Sebastian was carefully helping Diana out of an examination room, undisguised joy and tension in his expression. His gentle gaze was glued to her face, unwilling to look away for even a moment. “Sebastian, don’t be so nervous. I’m just having some early pregnancy reactions, I’m not sick.” Diana’s eyes crinkled with a girlish charm. Sebastian showed a rare smile, but his tone was incredibly tense. “This is our first child, we can’t have any mistakes.” I gripped the examination report in my hand tightly, feeling the temperature drain from my body bit by bit. In that moment, I seemed to clearly hear the sound of my heart shattering inch by inch. So pain at its extreme doesn’t bring tears. Sebastian helped Diana into the elevator. I silently tore the examination report in my hand into pieces. Sebastian had no need, and no right, to know about this child’s existence. After throwing the pieces in the trash, I took the elevator to the underground parking garage. As if fate was playing a cruel trick, I encountered them again. In that moment, possessed by some impulse, I started my car and followed them from a distance. Sebastian brought Diana to the restaurant within the Pack that had been specially built for me. My heart completely sank to the bottom. That restaurant had been renovated for me on my birthday last year. It sat on the best scenic spot in the territory, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the starry sky above the entire valley. Every decoration inside, even every specialty dish on the menu, was designed according to my preferences. Compared to werewolves’ rough eating habits, it better suited my human tastes. He had personally told me this was our exclusive corner. But now, he had personally brought another woman inside. In the restaurant, Diana stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window with the most magnificent starry view. Sebastian pushed over a cart covered with white cloth, topped with exquisite desserts. He elegantly took a velvet box from the cart and opened it. Inside was a dazzling constellation necklace. “Congratulations to my Luna on becoming a mother-to-be.” In that instant, I could barely stand. “Sebastian… thank you.” Diana’s eyes reddened with tears. “And you personally made desserts for me.” “Try them.” Sebastian’s voice was unbearably tender. “After you eat, go back and rest. You’ve been with me too long, now it’s my turn to go back and keep Elaine company.” Diana blinked understandingly, deliberately squeezing out a few tears. But Sebastian was full of heartache, pulling her into his embrace. “Silly girl, I’m not going anywhere today, I’m staying with you. Don’t forget, we’re the true mates.” I hid around the corner, slowly backing away, my back against the cold wall, the chill spreading along my spine, freezing my whole body until I shook. Yes. Diana was Sebastian’s true mate, recognized by the werewolf world. And I was just a ridiculous human who had been deceived and remained oblivious for five whole years. I remembered when Sebastian first brought me here, he had also prepared an identical necklace for me. To make that dessert for me, he secretly studied with a Michelin chef for a whole month. “Elaine, try my cooking. From now on, I’ll take care of all your meals.” “In this lifetime, I’ll only love you.” As he put the necklace on me, he made that vow in my ear. But now, this love and affection that was supposed to be uniquely mine had been completely and precisely replicated for Diana. My chest felt tight and painful. So Sebastian’s lifetime was this short. I fled in panic, tears already streaming down my face when I left the restaurant. Immediately after, I began liquidating all the assets under my name, separating everything connected to Sebastian. The inheritance my parents left me was enough to live on for the rest of my life. And I just wanted one thing. To completely cut ties with him.

Elaine POV I didn’t return home until dusk. The enormous villa was empty and hollow, with only a single lonely lamp lit in the entrance hall. I practically dragged myself onto the sofa, my gaze sweeping over the art pieces and books we’d chosen together throughout the house. My heart felt crushed by a giant boulder, each beat pulling out clear and sharp pain. I raised my hand to rub my temples, forcing myself to get up and walk to the bookshelf. That first out-of-print art book we found together. He had laughed and praised my impeccable taste. The art history book full of our notes. He’d held my waist and promised we’d visit every museum in the world. And the poetry collection he’d hunted everywhere for me. On the title page, in his elegant script: “To my beloved Elaine, my one and only.” … I pulled out one of the books and opened it. Then, I tore out every word he had written, page by page, until it was shredded. The sound of tearing paper was especially clear in the empty living room. All through the night, I mechanically repeated the same motion, bit by bit completely severing the thoughts, passions, and souls we once shared. By dawn, my arms were numb, my fingertips had lost all feeling. And Sebastian never came home. Today was supposed to be our wedding anniversary. At midnight on our anniversary, Sebastian’s social media updated right on schedule. It was a video he had personally edited, recording all the moments of our five years together, with a deeply emotional caption. The comments were full of envious voices. The outdoor screen in the pack territory plaza was also playing that video on loop. The lawn outside the villa had been transformed into a sea of roses at some point. In the center of the rose garden sat a drone, carrying a huge gift box containing a set of limited edition art supplies I’d been wanting forever. Through the speaker system, his deep magnetic voice played on repeat. “Elaine, happy anniversary. I love you, just as I did in the beginning.” I expressionlessly pulled the curtains shut, burying myself under the covers, shutting out the world’s noise. Before long, his call came through, his tone full of apology. “Sweetheart, I need to discuss some cooperation with another pack’s alpha, I can’t make it back today. When I return, I’ll make it up to you with an even grander anniversary celebration.” Listening to his flawless lies, I suddenly laughed, though my laughter trembled slightly. “It’s fine, you’re busy.” “Sweetheart, you’re upset.” He keenly sensed my emotions. “You don’t like the surprise I prepared? Don’t be angry, I’ll make it up to you double in a few days.” “No, work is important.” My tone was calm. “I’m a bit tired, I want to sleep.” I hung up the phone and curled up, desperately suppressing the pain in my chest. I don’t know how much time passed before the bedroom door was suddenly thrown open, a blinding beam of light flooding in. Backlit, I saw Sebastian standing in the doorway, panic all over his face. His hair was disheveled, his face pale, those deep eyes filled with fear and relief. Perhaps because he sensed something wrong with my emotions and couldn’t reach me no matter what, he had actually used his private jet to rush back. The moment he saw me, he practically rushed over, pulling me tightly into his arms, his voice hoarse and choked. “Thank god you’re alright! Sweetheart, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” His eyes were red, his body trembling uncontrollably. “I’ll never leave you alone again. When you didn’t answer my calls, my whole world collapsed.” “Nothing is more important than you. I came back to be with you.” I said nothing. He assumed I was still angry, kneeling on one knee by the bed, coaxing me in a low voice. “Elaine, promise me, never ignore my calls again, never ignore me. I’ll truly go insane.” His nervousness and fear didn’t seem fake. He did love me. But was this love from possessiveness over his fated mate, or was it genuine? “You came back so quickly.” I forced a smile, speaking softly. His expression changed slightly, a flash of guilt in his eyes, and he immediately changed the subject. “Sweetheart, you haven’t eaten all day, have you? I’ll take you to the restaurant, I made your favorites.” “I’m not going.” I shook my head. He was clearly flustered. “Then rest, I’ll go downstairs and cook.” “Okay.” I nodded coldly, turning over with my back to him. He thought I was still sulking, took a deep breath, and left the room. The moment the door closed, I lay with my eyes open, staring into the darkness, my heart a wasteland.

Elaine POV About ten minutes later, a commotion suddenly came from downstairs. I went down and saw Sebastian’s friends filling the living room. They were frantically gluing together the torn book pages one by one, trying to put them back on the shelf, as if reconstructing those paper fragments could bring everything back to how it was. Seeing me appear, several people spoke at once. “Elaine, Alpha Sebastian nearly turned all of Europe upside down looking for you, don’t scare him like this.” “Next time you’re angry, tell us, we’ll help you beat him up, just don’t turn off your phone again. Sebastian will really go crazy.” “Yeah, when Sebastian saw all those shredded papers on the floor, his face went white. He almost fainted on the spot, and he insisted on going through the trash, saying he had to glue every single piece back together.” “Stop talking.” Sebastian stood to the side, his face full of remorse. “It’s all my fault for making Elaine feel wronged. However she treats me, I’ll accept it.” “Sebastian truly loves Elaine to the extreme. He has no pride at all in front of her. She’s so blessed.” I looked in the direction of the voice and realized Diana had also arrived at some point, standing in the crowd with an envious expression. Sebastian looked perfectly natural, a gentle smile on his lips. “Of course I’ll spoil the woman who’s mine.” My stomach suddenly churned with violent nausea. I spoke flatly. “Don’t bother putting the books back, I want to change the style.” Sebastian immediately came to my side, reaching out to put his arm around my waist, his tone gentle and firm. “Alright, everyone stop. Listen to me.” He helped me sit on the sofa, then turned back to the kitchen. Soon, the dining table was filled with dishes I used to love. But I had no appetite. With one hand, he thoughtfully served me food, coaxing me in a low voice to eat more; but under the table, his other hand was tightly clasped with Diana’s. In that moment, I suddenly found all of this absurd to the extreme. I just wanted to escape. After dinner, Sebastian took me away from the pack to the seaside. There he had prepared a fireworks show over the ocean for me, and hired my favorite jazz band. Halfway through the performance, he excused himself to go to the restroom. Possessed by some impulse, I followed him. In the yacht’s VIP lounge, I saw Diana actively throw herself into Sebastian’s arms, standing on her toes to kiss his lips. “Sebastian, I missed you so much, just for a moment.” Sebastian wrapped one arm around her waist, one hand pressing the back of her head, deepening the kiss as the room’s temperature suddenly rose. After a long while, Diana pushed him away with a flushed face, breathing heavily. “That’s enough, you should go back and keep Elaine company.” “Can you bear to let me go?” Sebastian’s eyes were tinged with desire, his fingertips caressing her red lips. Diana lowered her eyes. “I can’t, but Elaine wouldn’t even answer your calls because of me. I don’t want her to be sad anymore. I can wait, wait until you’re done keeping her company before coming to find me.” “Your understanding always breaks my heart. Good girl, don’t think about anyone else right now, just enjoy.” Sebastian kissed her lips, trailing downward… Pleasured moans escaped from Diana’s lips. “Sebastian, don’t…” I felt like I’d been plunged into ice water. I bit down hard on the back of my hand to stop myself from crying out. I thought my heart was already dead. But seeing it with my own eyes still shredded me. My stomach seized. I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom, heaving until nothing was left. A dull ache spread through my belly. I pressed my hand to my stomach, tears blurring my vision. Baby, I’m sorry.

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At the party, my boyfriend Lucas’s friend Kyle suddenly mind-linked him. “Lucas, when are you and Isabella planning to complete the alliance marriage?” Lucas looked completely casual as he mind-linked back. “My parents have already set the date. Two weeks from now.” Kyle glanced at me teasingly. “Then what are you going to do with this poor thing who doesn’t even have a wolf?” My boyfriend put his arm around me. “I’ll give Isabella the Luna position and keep my love for Ellie.” My fingers gripping the glass turned white. Lucas thought the mind link was private. Since I didn’t have my own wolf, he assumed I couldn’t hear anything. He didn’t know I was the Alpha King’s only daughter. I carried the most ancient Lycan bloodline. I wouldn’t have my own wolf until I turned 22. A few days ago, my wolf finally awakened. So I heard everything they said. I took a deep breath and called my father. “I’ve awakened. The trial is over.” Eleanor POV After the party ended, I walked behind everyone else back to the pack. I hadn’t walked far when I heard an unfamiliar voice behind me. “The Alpha King’s daughter?” I turned around. The one calling out to me was an Alpha who had been begging to meet the Alpha King. I didn’t want to expose my identity and was thinking about how to deal with him when one of the brothers following my boyfriend Lucas Vance looked me up and down and let out a scornful laugh. “The Alpha King’s daughter? With that barely detectable scent of hers, she doesn’t even have her own wolf. How could she be of the Alpha King’s bloodline? What a joke.” As soon as he said this, it immediately triggered a wave of mockery. They didn’t use mind link, but said it out loud directly. I heard their ridicule but showed no expression on my face. Instead, Lucas got angry and coldly shot the person a warning look. The person found it rather boring and restrained himself a bit, no longer mocking so brazenly. After the others received the warning look, their voices gradually died down. When the voices quieted and that person didn’t follow us, I followed behind Lucas as we silently made our way back to our residence. After we got home, he took off his coat and hung it on the rack before suddenly speaking. “Honey, I won’t bring you to these kinds of internal Pack gatherings anymore.” My expression remained calm as I simply asked, “Do you think I embarrassed you?” He couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to ruffle my hair, but I dodged. He could only helplessly explain. “What are you thinking? I just don’t want you to feel hurt.” “But there’s a gap between our statuses. We’ll always face this kind of situation eventually. Hasn’t your Pack been pressuring you to enter an alliance marriage?” I looked at him, trying to see a trace of guilt in his expression. But even hearing the words “alliance marriage,” Lucas’s expression only stiffened for a moment before quickly returning to its usual state. “Ellie, you just need to know that I’m your fated mate. As for other issues, I’ll find a way to resolve them. Our Mate bond is undeniable.” If I hadn’t been observing carefully, I really wouldn’t have seen anything unusual. After speaking, Lucas went to the bathroom to wash up. Watching his departing figure, I didn’t say anything, but couldn’t help thinking. Was his so-called solution to marry another Alpha’s daughter while keeping me, his fated mate, hidden? In the distance, a notification sound came from the direction of the nightstand. It was Lucas’s phone. He had never hidden his password from me, so I easily unlocked his phone and clicked into the messages. It was from Isabella. “Lucas, I know she’s your fated Mate, but our packs are finalizing the alliance tomorrow. Can you stay at my place tonight?” Though her words seemed humble, I saw through her intention. She started by using the two Packs as an excuse, begging him to stay together. After this, she would continue using this excuse, step by step, escalating further. But none of this mattered to me anymore. I had already decided to leave. I set the message back to unread and put the phone back. Before long, Lucas came out after washing up, casually picked up his phone to glance at it, and the next second looked at me apologetically. “Ellie, something urgent came up at the Pack. I won’t be back tonight. Rest well by yourself.” He left in a hurry. He didn’t notice my reaction. He didn’t notice that I didn’t try to stop him this time. Usually, I would have whined and begged him to stay longer, clinging to him as he walked out. But not tonight. I just watched his figure disappear. Lucas had barely left when my phone also received a message. “With just one word from me, Lucas still came to find me. Tomorrow we’ll officially finalize the alliance. Once we complete the ceremony, what will you be? Just a lover who warms his bed?” Isabella had already added me as a friend and had been sending me all kinds of provocative photos these past few days. Photos of Lucas embracing Isabella, photos of them decorating their new home together… But strangely, I never felt any pain from betrayal. Perhaps because they hadn’t slept together yet, the Moon Goddess hadn’t deemed it his betrayal? But what was Lucas thinking? Did he try to hide his alliance marriage through this method? He should know he couldn’t possibly keep it hidden. That night, Lucas didn’t come back, and I didn’t care at all. After waking up the next day, I simply washed up and went straight to my workplace to submit my resignation. Unlike Lucas who owned an entire company, without a wolf, I only had a job as a bartender. But I didn’t feel sad. As a child of the Alpha King, this was a process I had to go through. Our rule was that all children of the Alpha King must live as ordinary werewolves before awakening their bloodline. Only one could successfully awaken the Lycan bloodline, and only that one could become the Alpha King’s heir. My parents only had me as their child, which meant I would inevitably shift successfully and become the next Alpha King. I was much luckier than my father. Before shifting, he was nearly killed by his own brother. The resignation process went smoothly. The store manager, who had pitied me for not having a wolf and was willing to give me a job, hugged me and wished me a better future. When I got home, Lucas happened to be there. I told him I’d quit, then continued carrying my box toward the bedroom.

Eleanor POV Lucas didn’t ask much, only saying, “I told you before that you didn’t need to keep working. That place has all kinds of trash showing up every day. Ellie, you should know I can provide for you.” He was always like this, thinking I should depend on him for survival rather than finding ways to live on my own. I shook my head and said word by word, “I’m not anyone’s appendage. Especially not an appendage hidden in the shadows.” Lucas paused. “I didn’t mean it that way. I mean, we’re Mates. You should rely on me.” I didn’t want to listen anymore and interrupted him. “Why are you back so early today? All your work handled already?” As I mentioned before, Lucas owned a company. And he was a qualified alpha heir. Not only excellent at combat, but also very good at handling business matters. I had to admit, I learned a lot from him. But not including how to cheat. “I’ve been too busy lately to spend time with you, so today I wanted to make time to be with you.” His brow relaxed as he returned to being that considerate boyfriend. “What do you want to do? Have lunch or watch a movie? Today, whatever you want to do, I’ll accompany you.” If it were the old me hearing this, I would probably be deeply moved. After all, he was the Alpha heir of Sunward Pack and truly had many matters to handle every day. So his willingness to make time to do what I wanted to do could at least prove I occupied a large part of his heart. But now, looking at him, I couldn’t help thinking. Was he really too busy with work, or too busy preparing the Mark ceremony with another woman? How could he prepare a ceremony with another woman while also coming to coax me, saying the only one he loved was me? In the end, I still didn’t expose his lies. After all, there were only a few days left. I would naturally disappear completely from his life by then. Perhaps distance could offset the pain of the Mate Bond, or perhaps there would be another way. I shook my head, declining his proposal, then thought for a moment and said, “Help me do a deep clean. A lot of things in the apartment are old. There’s no point keeping them.” Lucas agreed and helped me clean together. But by the end of the cleaning, everything I had sorted out were matching couple items we had bought together. From water bottles to accessories, from clothes to slippers. I threw them all into the trash without hesitation. The smile on his face gradually stiffened as I threw away more and more couple items. When the last one went into the trash, the panic in his heart could no longer be hidden. “Ellie, did you… find out something?” “What could I find out? Is there something you’re hiding from me?” I raised an eyebrow, looking at Lucas, deflecting his question with one of my own. He averted his gaze, as if not daring to look me in the eye. After a moment of silence, he still didn’t answer directly, only gripping my hand and saying, “Ellie, no matter what happens, just remember that I love you.” I pulled at my lips and said nothing more. After finishing the deep clean, Lucas still insisted on taking me out on a date. Afraid he’d notice something unusual, I didn’t refuse again. We had dinner, watched a movie, and the car finally stopped at an upscale venue. A small auction was being held here, with mostly artwork and antiques on sale. Just as we were about to enter, I saw a woman with exquisite makeup slowly walking toward us. She was confident and eye-catching, her aura full of aggression. This probably meant her wolf was equally healthy. Lucas’s expression showed a moment of unnaturalness. “What’s wrong? Someone you know?” As my words fell, the woman stopped in front of us with a beaming smile and greeted us. Lucas’s introduction came right on cue. “She’s my father’s friend, the Alpha daughter of Moonclaw Pack, Isabella Anderson.” After a pause, he introduced me. “This is my girlfriend, Eleanor.” The smile on Isabella’s face immediately stiffened. A moment later, she raised an eyebrow at me. “Hello. You smell kind of weak.” I knew what she meant. My wolf hadn’t fully awakened yet, and even Lucas hadn’t noticed my change. Isabella naturally also believed I was a useless person without a wolf. I immediately understood that this encounter wasn’t coincidental. Isabella had deliberately come to provoke me. Was it because she found that provoking me with photos didn’t work, so she planned to get close to Lucas to stimulate me instead? At the auction, Isabella’s seat was right next to Lucas. Unlike her provocations in text messages, in person she was gentle and well-mannered, knowledgeable and cultured. Learning that Lucas was interested in some ancient artwork, she engaged him in conversation about it. Lucas also shifted from initial resistance to gradually leaning toward her. It wasn’t until I coughed that Lucas seemed to suddenly realize he’d been neglecting me, his girlfriend, for too long. He quickly took off his coat and draped it over me, his tone gentle. “Ellie, I know you’re not interested in these things. If you see anything you like, just bid on it directly.” Before I could respond, whispers from his brothers behind us came through. Though they deliberately lowered their voices, since they were only one row of seats away, I could still hear them clearly. “Lucas is really good at saving face for her. Even if she were interested, so what? She doesn’t understand anything. She probably doesn’t even know the history of these things.” “Exactly. This kind of occasion, she’s definitely here for the first time.” I knew they were deliberately saying it for me to hear. I didn’t mind. After all, the next time we met, they’d have to stand before me respectfully. Just then, the previous item’s transaction ended, and the next item was brought up. It was a wolf fang. The host introduced it, saying this wolf fang came from the first Alpha King hundreds of years ago. That was a powerful alpha who existed in legend, an object of worship and longing for all alphas. Hearing this introduction, Isabella immediately got excited, raising her bidding paddle. “Lucas, I’ll buy this and give it to Alpha Kieran as a New Moon Festival gift!” When I heard this was the Alpha King’s fang, I instinctively looked up at the item on stage. With just one glance, I withdrew my gaze, my voice flat and calm. “This is fake.” The smile on Isabella’s face could barely stay up. “How can Miss Eleanor tell?” “Because the real one hangs around my father’s neck and will be passed down to me next.” I meant well, but as soon as I said this, Isabella suddenly laughed out loud, and even the brothers behind Lucas started mocking brazenly. “Eleanor, if you don’t understand, stop pretending. How embarrassing.” “Exactly. Hanging around her father’s neck? Does she think that just because she has the last name Windsor, she’s related to the Alpha King?” The group’s mocking voices grew louder. Finally, Lucas stopped their ridicule with a cold expression. He looked at me and held my hand. “Ellie, I know you’ve been reading some history books lately, but you don’t have your own wolf, so naturally you can’t sense the werewolf aura. Bella is different. She’s very powerful and understands more than you.” He didn’t say anything too harsh, but the meaning was clear. He thought I was talking nonsense. I laughed lightly and said nothing. In the end, Isabella spent a full hundred million to buy that wolf fang at a high price. Watching her go to pay, I smiled. I wondered what Sunward Pack’s Alpha would think knowing she spent a hundred million to buy back someone’s random tooth. I didn’t stop her or care. I got up and went to the restroom. Just after washing my hands, a familiar voice came from behind me. “I thought I made myself clear enough. You still won’t leave? Do you want to be the mistress that badly?” So that’s it. She came to personally drive me away. I didn’t understand why an alpha’s daughter would be willing to have an alliance marriage with Lucas knowing he had a mate. Did she love Lucas to such a humble degree? I calmly raised my eyes and turned to look at her. “Miss Anderson, I hope you understand clearly. The one who’s been with him for four years and is his fated mate is me. The term ‘mistress’ is not my turn no matter what, is it?” Saying this, I prepared to walk past her and leave, but she still wouldn’t let me go, continuing to mock coldly. “Yes, fated mate. But after four years he still hasn’t publicly acknowledged your identity. Haven’t you wondered why?” “I’m the Alpha daughter of Moonclaw Pack, he’s the Alpha heir of Sunward Pack. Our union benefits both Packs. But you? A werewolf without even a wolf, kicked out by her own father. What about you is worthy of him, worthy of being his future Luna?” My steps halted. The backstory of being kicked out by my father was something I made up myself, but I really hadn’t expected Lucas would tell Isabella this too. I couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly. If that really were my background, I probably would have been pierced through the heart by this mockery right now. And the one who handed over this knife was the man who said he would only ever love me. “Indeed, I’m not worthy.” My heart ached, and I looked back at Isabella, the depression in my heart suddenly dissipating. “You two are the perfect match. I wish you’ll be together forever.” After speaking, I stepped away and left. I hadn’t walked far when my phone rang. It was my mother calling. “Ellie, come home quickly. Everyone’s waiting for you, and we’ve prepared a bunch of gifts for you.” “I made you a crystal crown, and your father has already selected your beta for you.” Listening to my mother go on and on about how many gifts the family prepared for my return, I couldn’t help but feel helpless. “Mom, I’m coming back to fulfill my duties as heir, not to receive gifts.” As soon as I finished speaking, a familiar voice came from behind me. “What duties as heir?”

Eleanor POV My body stiffened. I instinctively hung up the phone, but couldn’t help sighing internally. Why did these people all like standing behind others and suddenly speaking up? I turned around and immediately saw Lucas’s not-so-pleasant expression. After hesitating for a moment, I explained, “It’s nothing. Just a former coworker asking what I planned to do after quitting. I joked with them about going home to inherit the family business.” Lucas frowned. Just as he was about to speak, I had already walked several steps away and called back to him. “Aren’t you coming? There are still a few items that haven’t been displayed yet.” Hearing this, Lucas stopped and nodded, following me. After returning to the auction venue, Lucas bid high prices on all the remaining jewelry items, had them wrapped, and sent them to my hands. I looked at the boxes in my hands and said softly, “I don’t wear this jewelry.” Lucas smiled and ruffled my hair. “Get used to it gradually. Don’t worry about wasting money. I’ll buy you diamonds for a lifetime.” I moved my lips but in the end didn’t say the rest. I didn’t wear these tens-of-millions jewelry pieces. Because I didn’t need to use them to display my value. Moreover, my parents had already prepared enough precious jewelry for me. The auction had ended, and people were gradually leaving. Lucas and our group didn’t linger either. Everyone had driven their own cars, so normally we’d just each go home. But just as we got in the car and before it even started, someone knocked on the passenger window. The window slowly lowered, revealing Isabella’s shy face. Her voice was equally coquettish, completely different from her sharp and mean appearance in the bathroom earlier. “Lucas, my car broke down. Can you give me a ride home?” Lucas frowned, about to refuse, but she spoke again. “Alpha Kieran and my father told you to take care of me. You haven’t forgotten, right?” Lucas thought of something, his expression darkening slightly, but he finally agreed. Seeing him nod directly, her smile became more obvious, and she became even more demanding, looking at me. “But what if I don’t want to sit in the back seat?” Lucas looked at me. Before he could speak, I had already pushed open the car door and got out, directly switching to the back seat. My movements were so quick that Lucas didn’t even react before I was already seated in the back. His words got stuck in his throat. He seemed to want to say something but stopped, wanting to say it was just a seat and not to mind it that much. When his gaze swept to the back seat through the rearview mirror, I had already closed my eyes, looking like I wanted to rest. Just then, Isabella had also gotten in the car. After closing the door and seeing me in the back seat with my eyes closed, a smug smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She could use a pinched voice to speak in an extremely gentle tone. “Is Eleanor tired? Then let her rest for a while.” Perhaps sensing my unusual behavior, Lucas didn’t talk much with Isabella, only nodding before silently starting the car. I don’t know when I actually fell asleep. When I woke up again, the car had already stopped in the garage, and Isabella had long since left. Lucas touched my face. “You’re awake? You were sleeping so soundly I didn’t have the heart to wake you.” My consciousness was still a bit unclear. I nodded and opened the car door to get out, not waiting for Lucas as I walked straight toward the front door. When Lucas got out of the car, I had already reached the entrance. He caught up in a few steps and blocked me at the door. “Are you angry? Isabella is really just my father’s friend’s daughter. Don’t mind it.” I hummed in acknowledgment. Lucas thought I was still angry and pulled me toward him, helplessly coaxing, “Really just my father’s friend’s daughter. Honey, I only love you. You know that.” After speaking, smelling the rose scent on my body, his Adam’s apple moved. He lowered his head to kiss me but was pushed away by me. Looking at his surprised expression, I went straight through the door. “I’m not feeling well. I’ll rest in my room first.” After speaking, I locked the door directly, completely cutting off Lucas’s chance to enter. The next morning, in the first-floor dining room, I was eating breakfast with Lucas when my phone on the side suddenly rang. It was a timed alarm I had set some time ago, labeled “Day of Revelation.” Lucas also saw those words. Before, I had planned to be honest with him about my identity, so I suggested he come home with me to meet my parents. He had agreed. The two of us looked at each other. I was thinking about how to cancel this meeting when, the next second, his phone also rang. It was Isabella calling. I don’t know what was said on the other end, but his expression changed slightly. When he approached me again, he apologetically canceled the meeting. “Ellie, something suddenly came up that I need to handle. Next time I’ll accompany you to meet your parents, okay?” I nodded calmly. “Actually, I also have something to do today.” Not long after Lucas left, I also went out. I went shopping at the mall and prepared a gift for each of the friends I was about to meet. They had all helped me when I was hiding my identity and being discriminated against for not having my own wolf. Some were even human. When we met at the designated place and everyone opened their packages, they immediately cried out in surprise upon seeing that each box contained a brand new luxury item. “Ellie, where did you get so many knockoffs? They look so real!” “They’re all real.” Seeing their delighted expressions, I couldn’t help but laugh and explain. Seeing they all looked unconvinced, I revealed my true identity. “Actually, what I told you before about my father hating me and kicking me out was fake. My real identity is the Alpha King’s daughter. This time I’m saying goodbye to you because I’m going home to fulfill my responsibilities as heir.” Hearing me say this, everyone was first stunned, then shocked, and finally overjoyed. They exclaimed that I was actually the Alpha King’s mysterious heir, their screams almost lifting the ceiling of the entire restaurant. After celebrating, someone remembered Lucas and quickly asked, “But if you go back, what about Lucas? Does he know your real identity?” Mentioning Lucas, the smile on my face faded. “He’s planning to enter an alliance marriage with someone else.” “How is that possible!” Hearing this, my friends were full of disbelief. “In our eyes, he’s a rare devoted rich man. And aren’t you two Mates?” “Three years ago, you mentioned night-blooming cereus. He bought all of it. Just for you.” “Two years ago, you were sick. He dropped a hundred-million-dollar deal. Flew back that night. Stayed awake by your bed until dawn.” “Last year, rogues took you. He took a poisoned blade in your place. Coma for three days. Nearly died.” “Now he’s getting married. How could the bride not be you?” Hearing my friends mention those past events, my heart still felt deeply moved. Back then, Lucas truly loved me to the point where he could give up his life, but now… I shook my head and smiled lightly. “He does love me, perhaps also influenced by the Mate Bond. But his Pack thinks my status doesn’t match his and is forcing him into an alliance marriage. From what I gather, after the marriage, he probably wants me to be his mistress.” Upon hearing this, my friends went off. “What? A mistress?!” “Making the Alpha King’s heir a mistress? He’s insane!” “Good! He’ll regret this!” “Exactly. If he found out you left. If he found out your real identity. Wouldn’t he lose his mind?” Just then, Lucas and Isabella walked in from outside. Hearing our conversation, he frowned. “What real identity?” Seeing them walk in together, my friends were furious. Before they could say anything, I stopped them. I looked at the two newcomers, my expression cold. “What are you doing here?” Lucas shifted uncomfortably, guilt flickering across his face. His eyes darted away. “Sunward and Moonclaw Packs have a collaboration. We’re just here to talk about it.” I laughed. Of course I knew about their “collaboration.” An alliance marriage. Because they needed to discuss their “collaboration,” Lucas and Isabella didn’t sit with us. Instead, they sat at a separate table nearby. Not far, just close enough for me to see the intimate interactions between them. For instance, him cutting her steak, her sharing food she liked with him, him handing her napkins, her wiping the corner of his lips… The two of them went back and forth, making my friends extremely angry. And I sat in my seat, personally witnessing the pain of my mate’s betrayal spreading through my body, to the point where I didn’t even have the strength to eat. But I still tried hard to maintain a calm expression.

Eleanor POV After we finished eating and my group dispersed, Lucas suggested driving both me and Isabella home. Perhaps having learned from the passenger seat dispute last time, Lucas was smarter this time. He simply drove the family’s extended Rolls-Royce with a driver, so naturally there would be no more fighting over the front seat. The drive to the Anderson house was smooth. No traffic. No warning. Then a truck came out of nowhere. Speeding. Out of control. Racing toward them. The driver instinctively jerked the steering wheel. The two vehicles inevitably crashed together! As the car windows shattered and I fell toward the other side from the impact, I happened to see Lucas tightly protecting Isabella in his arms. I was about to dodge when their physical contact made me feel that uncontrollable pain again. My whole body went limp. In the end, I could only face the flying glass shards directly. I suddenly remembered the accident my friends had mentioned earlier. That was in our third year together, when his feelings for me were still at their most intense. That night I had just finished work and wanted to take a shortcut home. But when I walked into the alley, I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, I had already been tied up in an abandoned warehouse. Those rogues who kidnapped me wanted to use me to threaten Lucas. They ordered Lucas to come alone. For my safety, Lucas agreed. It was also in that battle that Lucas, to protect me, turned his back toward the knife coated with wolf poison. The poison worked quickly. When he was sent to the pack hospital, he was already losing consciousness, his whole body burning hot, his wound festering and turning black. The doctors tried everything. He struggled on the edge of life and death for three full days. Several times his heartbeat was so weak it nearly stopped. Everyone said he might not make it. But even so, when he finally escaped death’s embrace and weakly opened his eyes, the first words he struggled to ask were: “Is Ellie okay?” He had almost died that day, all because he wanted to protect me. Now, the woman he was shielding with his body. Wasn’t me. The rear of the extended Rolls-Royce was damaged beyond recognition. It wasn’t until everyone got out of the car that Lucas, who had been comforting Isabella’s emotions, finally noticed me, who had remained silent the whole time. My head had been cut by the shattered glass and was bleeding heavily. Although my healing ability had become powerful after awakening, I still needed to go to the hospital to have the glass shards removed first. Then, to hide the fact that I had already awakened, I still wrapped my head in bandages. Lucas looked at the bandages on my head, his face full of guilt. “Ellie, I’m sorry. I was only thinking that Isabella couldn’t get hurt, so I protected her. You can hit me, yell at me, I’ll accept it all. Just don’t ignore me, okay?” His attitude of admitting fault was quite sincere. Only his reason was ridiculous. In his heart, did Isabella, this alpha’s daughter, really get hurt more easily than me, a weak person without a wolf? I lowered my eyes and said nothing. I didn’t say I forgave him, nor did I say I didn’t. From start to finish, I maintained that expression without any ripples. Lucas’s apologies still didn’t stop. He kept saying sorry, then suddenly seemed to remember something, hope flashing in his eyes. “Your birthday is in a few days. Let me give you your gift early, okay? What birthday gift do you want? I’ll buy you anything.” Hearing this, I finally raised my eyes to look at him, but my gaze showed no emotion. “Then buy me a plane ticket. To Denver, three days from now.” “What are you going to Denver for?” He was a bit surprised, but soon he provided his own answer. “Want to go mountain climbing and skiing in Colorado? The season seems a bit early still.” I didn’t explain, just nodded and hummed in acknowledgment. Lucas didn’t ask further questions. Right in front of me, he pulled out his phone and bought a plane ticket to Denver. After buying the ticket, he said, “I’m busy with some things during this time and won’t have time to accompany you. You go to Denver and have fun first. When I’m free, I’ll go with you to Aspen or see Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Buying a plane ticket is too small a birthday gift. Later I’ll give you a big surprise.” I shook my head and smiled lightly. “It’s not small. Not small at all.” After all, the estate belonging to the Alpha King was in the mountains of the Colorado Plateau. That was my real home. Lucas, thank you for your gift. Personally sending me home.

Eleanor POV During the two days I was hospitalized, Lucas seemed to have returned to how he was when we first started dating, caring for me attentively. But the good times didn’t last. His attentiveness ended on the day I was discharged. He said first that the Pack had business and would have the driver take me home. Right after, I received a provocative text from Isabella. “Sorry, Lucas and I are about to complete the ceremony. He’s accompanying me to dinner today, so I’m afraid he doesn’t have time to pick you up from the hospital.” I didn’t care about this message. I just silently went home and started packing my luggage. On the day I was leaving, I got up very early. Seven hours before takeoff, I moved my suitcases out the door one by one, only to run right into Lucas coming back. Seeing several suitcases piled up at the apartment door, his expression panicked, and an uneasy feeling suddenly rose in his heart. “What’s going on?” “Didn’t I say I was going to Denver to have fun? You even bought me the ticket. Did you forget?” My expression was calm, as if I really was just preparing to go on a short trip. But my explanation didn’t convince him. “Aren’t you just going for a day or two? Do you need this much luggage?” I pulled at my lips. “Bringing a few extra outfits. I want to take lots of photos. Plus, I don’t have a wolf. I’m not as physically strong as you all, so of course I need to prepare more things.” My words carried sarcasm, but he didn’t seem to hear it. “But you’ve never been that into taking photos before. When we traveled together, you never brought this much stuff!” Lucas showed a very uneasy expression. “No! I need to open your suitcases and check properly to see if you’re telling the truth!” Just as he was about to move, he was interrupted by an urgent phone ringtone. It was Isabella calling. After he answered, I don’t know what was said on the other end, but Lucas fell silent for a moment. In the end, he gave up checking my luggage and left first. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to remind me again. “Ellie, don’t stay too long. Send me your return flight details and I’ll pick you up.” I didn’t answer. Because I knew I would never come back. This meeting was goodbye forever. Five hours before takeoff, I changed the apartment’s door code. From my birthday to Isabella’s birthday. Then I stuck a sticky note on the door. “After all, this will be Miss Anderson’s home from now on. The password should be set to Miss Anderson’s birthday.” Three hours before takeoff, I found all the photos of Lucas and me in the apartment, piled them together, and lit them on fire. Him holding me, kissing under fireworks all over the sky, saying over and over that I was his. Him proposing to me under the sunset and starry river, vowing to love me for life. We walked through spring, summer, autumn, and winter together. All four seasons. Now the memories burned away bit by bit. We were completely over too. Two hours before takeoff, my body suddenly felt a sharp pain. I couldn’t breathe. My phone dropped to the floor. After a while, when I finally felt a bit better, I picked up my phone and saw Isabella had sent me a video. The video seemed to be at a banquet. There were Lucas’s brothers, Isabella’s friends, and the Alphas of both Packs. Many people surrounded Lucas and Isabella, these two people of interest, with jeering voices rising one after another. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” “I’m telling you, Lucas, it’s only a few days until the ceremony. What are you embarrassed about kissing for! You can’t make Miss Anderson make the first move.” Amid the jeering, Isabella closed her eyes with flushed cheeks and leaned toward him. The crowd’s screams grew louder, egging Lucas on to kiss her. Lucas stared intently at the person in front of him. Finally, he closed his eyes, raised his hand to cup the back of her head, and gave her a deep French kiss. So that’s how it was. The video played over and over. When it played for the seventh time, Isabella’s message came through. “See, Eleanor? Sunward Pack already sees me as their future Luna. A nobody like you without even a wolf. Why would they ever accept you? A Rogue is all you deserve.” “So what if Lucas loves you? I’m getting to him. Slowly. First he met my parents. My friends. Then we moved in together. Today he kissed me. Tell me, if I wanted him in my bed, do you think he’d refuse?” I didn’t reply. I just printed out every nasty message she’d sent over the past few days. Then I stacked them neatly in the empty living room. One hour before takeoff, I left one final message on that stack of printed papers. “Lucas, happy wedding. We’re over.” Then I dragged my suitcase out of the apartment and took a cab speeding toward the airport. Lucas, from now on, I’m going back to being the Alpha King’s heir. We’re done!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “392792”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

After being reborn, I burned every photo I had with Ethan Rivers. I also tore up the love letters Lucas Knight had written for three years. Because in my previous life, I became a complete joke between these two men. Ethan said he loved me, but after I gave up my study abroad opportunity for him, he left the country with Willow Hayes. Before leaving, he left me a letter: “She needs me more than you do.” I cried for three months. Lucas stayed by my side and said, “I’ve waited eight years for you.” After marrying him, he came home on time every night and never got involved with any other women. I thought I’d finally made the right bet. Until that winter when I got into a car accident. I was unconscious in the ICU for seven days, and he never came once. But I heard the nurses talking: “Her husband comes every day, but he goes to the room next door to take care of a patient named Willow Hayes.” Later I learned that Ethan took Willow abroad to treat her illness, and Lucas paid for everything. In this life, I sold my house early and took my grandmother abroad to study.

“The patient in Room 12 is so pitiful. Her husband comes every day but never goes in to see her.” “Yeah, he goes straight to the next room to visit that patient named Willow Hayes.” The nurses’ voices drifted in from outside the door. After the car accident, I had multiple fractures and had been lying in the ICU for seven days. Though unconscious, my mind was clear. I heard the nurses call Lucas Knight over and over. But he never came to see me. He was with someone more important. The salvation I thought I’d found was just another lie. I used all my strength trying to open my eyes, but my vision filled only with a flat line on the heart monitor. When I opened my eyes again, the sunlight was blinding. I sat at my familiar desk. The calendar showed three months before I would give up my study abroad spot for Ethan Rivers. This time, I answered the call from the school’s international exchange office: “Professor, I confirm I’m participating in this year’s exchange program. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.” The professor’s voice was pleased: “I’m glad you’ve thought it through. It would be such a waste to give up such a good opportunity.” Yes, such a waste. Giving up my own life for a man was the stupidest thing I’d ever done. After hanging up, I contacted a real estate agent and listed the house my parents left me. I had only one requirement: full payment, as soon as possible. Once that was done, Ethan called. His voice was cold: “Anna, Willow’s graduation project hit a snag. You’re good at this stuff, go help her.” Willow again. Her business always came between us. In my previous life, I stayed up three nights straight because of that one sentence, revising her design from rough draft to final product. The award-winning work bore only her name. Ethan’s explanation was: “Willow’s health is poor. She needs this award for her resume.” I actually believed him back then. I gripped my phone and said softly, “Okay, send me the materials.” Ethan’s voice came through the phone: “Good girl.” One word, and he thought he could dismiss me. I looked out the window, thinking back to my past life, and felt nothing but absurdity. Before long, Lucas Knight knocked on my door carrying macarons from my favorite shop. His tone was gentle: “I know you’ve been stressed about Ethan and Willow. Don’t wear yourself out.” He always appeared when Ethan hurt me, coming to care for me. Then he would casually mention: “That project is pretty important for Willow. Ethan doesn’t have much choice. That girl’s been frail since childhood, can’t handle it alone.” See, they always had a thousand reasons. Willow’s health was poor, so everything she did was justified. I bit into a macaron and smiled at him: “I know. I won’t make things difficult for Ethan.” Lucas smiled with relief. They all thought I was still that Anna Sullivan who would compromise endlessly for Ethan Rivers. The next day, I took my laptop to the library to prepare my study abroad application materials. I was searching for references in the materials section when I looked up and saw Ethan and Willow not far away. Willow was leaning against Ethan, her face rosy, looking nothing like someone with poor health. She was laughing, saying to Ethan: “Ethan, thank goodness for you. I really wouldn’t know what to do otherwise.” Ethan looked down at her with a tenderness I’d never heard in his voice: “Silly girl.” Ethan turned to buy water, and when he looked back, he saw me. His expression froze for a moment, then quickly turned to a frown. My presence disturbed them. I didn’t rush up to confront them like in my previous life. I just gave him a slight smile from afar. Then I turned back to continue searching for my books on the shelf. The gaze from behind made me uncomfortable all over. I didn’t care. Anyway, these days would be over soon.

I didn’t touch a single word of Willow’s graduation project. Two days later, Ethan found me in the library. He yanked the book from my hands and slammed it on the table with a bang. Students around us all looked over. “Anna Sullivan, I told you to help Willow, and you’re here reading boring books?” I looked up at him, and at Willow standing behind him with an innocent expression. “I was just researching some materials,” I answered. “What research could be more important than Willow’s graduation project?” Ethan demanded, pulling Willow in front of him. “She hasn’t slept well for days because of this design, and you don’t care at all.” Willow tugged at his sleeve right on cue, saying softly: “Ethan, don’t be like this. Anna must have her own things to deal with. I’ll figure something out myself.” Her words made Ethan think I was even more unreasonable. “Listen to that!” He pointed at Willow. “Willow is more sensible than you! Anna Sullivan, I’m saying this one last time: within a week, I want to see a complete proposal.” I watched them perform their duet and looked away. I nodded: “Got it.” Ethan thought I’d given in. His expression softened slightly as he pulled Willow away. I took in all the strange looks from the surrounding students. It didn’t matter. This was the last time anyway. Ethan finally couldn’t hold back. His voice was sharp on the phone: “Anna Sullivan, what are you playing at? It’s due in a week and you haven’t done anything?” “I’m sorry, my grandmother hasn’t been feeling well lately. I’ve been at the hospital taking care of her, so I fell behind,” I lied. “Willow’s graduation project is very important to her. Put your family stuff aside and finish her work first.” Listen to how entitled he sounded. My grandmother meant less to him than Willow’s homework. “But…” I pretended to hesitate. “No buts.” Ethan cut me off. “Anna Sullivan, don’t be childish. If Willow can’t graduate, you’ll regret it.” He hung up forcefully. I turned off the faucet and looked at myself in the mirror, unable to understand how I’d been so desperate over such a man in my previous life. Fortunately, I could start over in this life. The agent called at just the right time to tell me the house had found a buyer who agreed to full payment and could sign the contract today. I replied with a simple “okay.” To make the house sale more convincing, I needed to move out some of the old furniture my parents left behind. Those things were heavy. I couldn’t move them alone. The first person I thought of was Lucas Knight, who had always played the role of reliable friend. I called him: “Lucas, are you free? I have some old furniture at home I want to get rid of. Could you help me?” There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then Lucas’s voice came through: “Anna, really bad timing. I can’t get away right now.” In the background, I clearly heard Willow’s delicate coughing. “Willow has a bit of a fever. I need to stay here and look after her,” Lucas explained. “Try to figure something out yourself, or call a moving company? I’ll transfer you some money later.” Willow again. I laughed softly: “No need. Take good care of her. I can manage.” After hanging up, I didn’t hesitate for a second and immediately found a paid moving service online. Why beg people for help when money could solve the problem? After hanging up, I clutched my stomach and called Lucas in a weak voice: “I have terrible stomach pain. I’m at City Central Hospital right now.” Lucas immediately answered: “Don’t move, I’ll be right there!” I sat on the cold bench in the hospital emergency hall, watching people come and go. Half an hour later, I saw Lucas. He was running fast, looking hurried, but didn’t glance in my direction at all. Lucas ran right past me, heading straight for the orthopedic clinic on the other side. I stood up and followed. Outside the clinic, Willow sat in a wheelchair with her ankle wrapped in bandages, crying. Lucas crouched in front of her, coaxing her in a soft voice: “Come on, don’t cry. The doctor said it’s just a minor sprain, right? It’ll heal in a few days.” “But it hurts so much…” Willow whined coquettishly. Lucas frowned, reaching out to touch her ankle but afraid of hurting her, his movements cautious. That look was more genuine than any performance he’d put on at my bedside in my previous life. I stood behind them watching. So the rumors I’d heard in the ICU in my previous life had started even earlier. My appearance changed the atmosphere between them. Lucas suddenly turned and saw me, freezing completely. “Anna… what are you doing here?” His eyes were panicked. Willow saw me too. The tears in her eyes instantly disappeared, replaced by a challenging look. “I have stomach pain. I came to get some medicine,” I pointed at myself. “Are you… how are you?” Lucas stood up, looking flustered. “Nothing serious, just an old problem.” “You go ahead with what you’re doing. I’ll head home after I get my prescription.” I didn’t give him any chance to explain and turned to leave. I knew my unhesitating departure would make them even more convinced that I was still that jealous but helpless Anna Sullivan.

The day I signed the house sale contract and received the full payment, the weather was beautiful. I transferred the money to a bank card, then went to school to complete my leave of absence and study abroad procedures. That weekend, a mutual friend organized a bar gathering and invited me. I knew Ethan and the others would be there. To avoid raising suspicion, I agreed. In the private room, everyone started playing Truth or Dare. After a few rounds, Willow suddenly shook the dice in her hand and suggested with a smile: “Let’s play King’s Game! Whoever draws the king can order any two people to do anything!” The suggestion immediately got everyone’s approval, including Ethan and Lucas. Sure enough, in the first round, Willow became the king. She announced her command: “I order Number 2 and Number 5 to recreate the classic bow embrace from Titanic!” After she spoke, everyone started checking their cards. I opened my palm. Number 2. And Ethan, frowning, revealed his Number 5 card. The room erupted immediately with whistles and cheering. “Anna, this is your chance!” “Ethan, don’t just stand there, give her a hug!” I was pushed by the crowd onto the coffee table, not knowing what to do with my hands and feet. Ethan was pushed in front of me, his face full of unwillingness. Lucas was still laughing nearby: “Ethan, hurry up, don’t keep everyone waiting. Anna, spread your arms.” I stiffly spread my arms and closed my eyes, not daring to look at Ethan’s expression. I didn’t wait for an embrace. Instead, a strong force came from behind. It was Willow. She hugged me from behind with a laugh, shouting to Ethan: “Ethan, look, isn’t this the same?” The moment she grabbed me, my foot slipped and I fell backward uncontrollably. A loud bang. I crashed heavily to the ground, the back of my head hitting the hard corner of the coffee table. The pain made my vision go dark. Drinks and fruit on the table tipped over from the impact, pouring ice-cold liquid all over me. The world went silent for a second. Then I heard Ethan’s undisguised mocking laugh. Ethan didn’t even glance at me. He just said to someone nearby: “What a buzzkill.” Lucas only frowned slightly. “Anna, how could you be so careless? It’s just a game.” Not one person came to help me up. All their attention was focused on Willow, who had pushed me and now had red-rimmed eyes. Ethan immediately pulled her to his side, comforting her gently: “It’s okay, it’s not your fault. She just didn’t stand steady.” The sharp pain from the back of my head spread through me as I lay on the cold floor, soaking wet and utterly disheveled. Without a word, I got up from the floor and walked out of that noisy room. In that moment, I was only grateful I’d already sold the house and completed my study abroad procedures. Only three days left until I could leave. The third day was my birthday. Perhaps because of the bar incident, Lucas sent a text: “Anna, happy birthday. Tonight at 7 PM, Cloud Summit Restaurant. I booked the best table for you. See you there.” Soon after, Ethan also sent a text: “Happy birthday. Willow didn’t mean it last time, don’t take it to heart. We’ll celebrate together tonight.” Looking at these two messages, I felt nothing. Consider it a final goodbye. I replied “okay” to both. That evening, I took a cab to the restaurant. Still that window seat with a view overlooking half the city’s nightscape. This scene was identical to my previous life. On this day in my previous life, at this very place, wearing the dress he gave me, they left before we even ordered, called away by Willow’s phone call. I waited from seven o’clock until the restaurant was about to close. They never came back. Calls went unanswered. Messages unreturned. The pitying looks from other diners, the hesitant inquiries from waiters, made me uncomfortable all over. Until I saw a photo on a friend’s social media. In the photo, she wore a princess dress, holding a cake and smiling. Ethan and Lucas stood on either side of her, looking at her adoringly. The caption read: “Grabbed two knights last minute to eat cake. Sure, it’s not my birthday, but who says you can only eat cake on birthdays!” So my birthday meant less than her impromptu celebration.

“Anna? What are you thinking about?” Lucas’s voice pulled me from my memories. Lucas and Ethan had arrived and sat across from me. The food was quickly served. No one spoke. The atmosphere was stiff. Lucas raised his glass first: “Anna, I was wrong the other day. I’ll punish myself with a drink. Happy birthday.” Ethan also rarely dropped his stern expression, though his eyes remained complicated. Just then, Lucas’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller and immediately answered, his voice changing: “What? How could she suddenly faint? Which hospital?” He hung up and looked at me apologetically: “Anna, I’m sorry. Willow… she fainted from acute hypoglycemia. She’s at the hospital now. I need to go check on her.” Before I could speak, Ethan had already stood up, coat in hand, saying to Lucas: “Let’s go together. One person might not be enough.” Just like in my previous life, they abandoned me for Willow once again. Lucas assured me: “Anna, you eat first. We’ll come back as soon as we settle her in. Very quickly!” They hurried out. The door to the private room closed, shutting out the noise outside. The world instantly quieted. I looked at the table full of food and didn’t wait a single second longer. I grabbed my coat and called the waiter. “Check, please.” Walking out of the restaurant, the night wind hit my face. It was cold, but I felt more clearheaded than ever. I took out my phone and blocked and deleted both Ethan and Lucas’s contacts. This time, I wouldn’t wait anymore. I hailed a taxi and went straight home. When I opened the door, the house was empty. Except for a few suitcases for my grandmother and me, there was no trace of life lived here. I took off that dirty dress and threw it straight into the trash without thinking. Along with that dress, I threw away the last bit of feeling I had for Ethan Rivers. I walked into my grandmother’s room. She was already asleep, breathing steadily. I tucked in her blanket and kissed her forehead. Grandma, this time I’ll take you away from this place that broke your heart. In the latter half of the night, I barely slept. I checked and rechecked the documents and luggage, making sure everything was perfect. At dawn, I woke my grandmother. “Grandma, we’re going to a faraway, wonderful place. Okay?” Though my grandmother’s memory was a bit fuzzy, she loved me most. She looked at me and nodded with a smile: “Okay. Wherever Anna goes, Grandma goes.” The morning light at the airport shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was warm. I held my grandmother’s hand, walking step by step toward the boarding gate. Goodbye, Ethan Rivers. Goodbye, Lucas Knight. And Willow Hayes. May your love last forever.

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