Author: Momo Chan

My ten-year-old son joined the school’s extracurricular swimming club, but during practice, a classmate held his head down forcefully against the drain. When I saw the water turning red, I frantically pulled my son out. But his entire face had been disfigured by the powerful suction. He coughed up a pool of blood and stopped breathing. The ringleader, a boy, shouted that he was a minor and not bound by law. “So what? I’ve had it out for him for a while. With him dead, no one’s competing with me for first place.” His father contemptuously tossed me a card. “There’s a hundred thousand in here. That should be enough to buy your son’s worthless life.” I was grief-stricken and demanded justice, but my wife stopped me. “He’s just a child too. Just because your son is dead, does that mean someone else’s child should lose their freedom?” I exhausted myself running around, only managing to get the boy sent to juvenile detention—but that wasn’t the outcome I wanted. In the end, disheartened and broken, I swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills at my son’s grave. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I sent my son to swimming lessons. I immediately turned around and pulled him back home, but this time, a boy still died at the pool.

I’d left in such a hurry that my son’s clothes were still in the changing room. I told him to wait in the car while I went back to get them and inform the pool manager about the safety hazard. The moment I stepped into the swimming facility, I heard bursts of mocking laughter. “Look at him—he’s like a dead fish! Move! Why isn’t he moving? Hahaha…” Three boys were laughing shrilly. The tallest one, Derek, was stepping on something blue beneath the water. Seeing the same blue swimsuit my son wore and the faint red tinge spreading through the water made my heart seize with terror. If I wasn’t certain my son was in the car right now, I couldn’t bear to face this scene again. In my previous life, Derek had targeted my son because he’d beaten Derek in academic rankings. Derek wanted to crush him in extracurricular activities too, so he’d murdered him. But who was this boy? And why? I didn’t dare think too much. Saving him was urgent. I shouted sternly. “Stop! What are you doing?!” When Derek saw me, he raised an eyebrow and slowly stepped back half a pace. “Well, well. The old dog’s here to protect the little dog. No more fun.” The other two boys jumped away like startled rabbits, not daring to look at me. Due to the powerful suction, even though they’d released their feet, the boy’s face remained pressed tightly against the drain outlet, his limbs floating with the current. In my previous life, this was how my son had been. I’d plunged into the water to save him, but the suction was too strong—I couldn’t pull him free. By the time the staff arrived and shut off the system, it was already too late. My son had died in my arms. The blue swimsuit before me, the short-medium length hair, the body shape… I kept telling myself this wasn’t Ashton, that he was safe in the car right now. But my hands still trembled violently. With my experience from the previous life, I turned to the staff member nearby. “What are you standing there for? Can’t you see someone’s stuck on the drain down there? Call someone to shut off the water circulation!” The manager finally snapped out of it and hurriedly contacted the control room. A few minutes later, I pulled the boy’s limp body out of the water. His face was swollen and deformed—completely unrecognizable. He’d stopped breathing. His pulse was gone too. Derek stood to the side with his arms crossed, a faint smirk on his lips. “He said he could hold his breath for three minutes. We were just helping him practice.” “Helping him?” My eyes burned red as I slapped him across the face. “You call pressing him against the drain ‘helping him’?” Derek clutched his face and glared at me. “We were just playing around! How were we supposed to know he couldn’t take it!” “You actually dare hit me! Do you know who my mom is? Believe me, I can make your whole family pay!” I knew exactly who she was. That’s why I wanted to tear that indifferent face of his to shreds. I had no idea what kind of taste his mother had—marrying a worthless leech like Cameronas her live-in husband and raising such a monstrous child. “Playing? You call this playing? This is murder! Do you understand?!” The chubby boy beside them finally showed fear, his voice trembling. “Are we in…?” Before he could finish, Derek cut him off. “In what? You were pressing just as hard as anyone a minute ago.” The other boy had already started crying. “I… I want to go home…” I had no time for them. I laid the boy flat on the ground, performing CPR while instructing the staff to call an ambulance. “Call 911 now! Maybe we can still save him!” As I lifted the boy’s chin to give rescue breaths, I noticed a plum blossom-shaped birthmark behind his ear. Something flashed through my mind. The coach exhaled his last puff of smoke and walked in slowly with Derek’s father, Cameron, through a side door. Seeing the scene by the pool, they instantly panicked. “What… how did this happen?!” Derek immediately put on an innocent expression and ran over. “Dad, we were competing to see who could hold their breath longest. He said he could last three minutes. Who knew…” “This is outrageous!” The coach’s face went pale. “How many times have I told you—no one goes in the water without me there!” “Sorry. Won’t happen again. But that uncle can’t just hit people, right?” Derek lowered his head but curved his lips into a smirk aimed at me. Cameron, seeing the handprint on his son’s face, pointed at my nose and cursed. “What gives you the right to hit my son?” He glanced contemptuously at me and the boy on the ground. “The kid didn’t follow the rules. As his parent, you should’ve watched him better. When something like this happens, you can’t blame others, right?” In my previous life, the surveillance footage showed my son doing warm-ups by the pool when Derek pushed him in from behind. Then three of them dragged him to the drain and held him down. This boy’s ordeal must have been similar to what happened to my son, Ashton. I understood that bone-crushing pain of losing a child all too well. So regardless of who this boy was, he was innocent. Saving him was urgent. I didn’t want to waste words on Cameron. Without stopping my compressions, I glanced at the coach. “Coach, you’re also responsible for what happened here. You should notify the child’s parents first.”

The coach fumbled for his phone with shaking hands, stammering. “R-right, right… I’ll… I’ll call right now…” A few seconds later, he looked at the boy’s swollen, deformed face. “He… his face is so badly injured, I don’t even know which student this is.” I looked up, somewhat exasperated. “Can’t you check? How many students were supposed to come today? Eliminate the ones who called in sick and the ones present, and what’s left…” Derek cut in. “No need to check. I know who it is.” He walked over and crouched in front of me, looking at the boy’s face up close. His voice was soft but stabbed into my ears like needles. “This is Ashton, isn’t it? You don’t even recognize your own son?” “You were so worked up just now—I thought you knew. Or can’t you accept the truth?” I stared at him with wide eyes. So he thought this was Ashton, which is why he’d done this? Derek seemed very satisfied with my shocked expression. Seeing that my compressions hadn’t stopped, he continued. “Don’t waste your energy. Haven’t you noticed he hasn’t responded after twenty minutes of CPR?” “Because from the time he went underwater to when you pulled him out, it’s been over ten minutes. The golden rescue window has long passed.” Hearing this, all strength left my body. I collapsed onto the ground, trembling slightly. Was I still too late? In my previous life, I couldn’t save my own son. Now I couldn’t save this boy either. I stared hard at Derek. “Why would you do this? Aren’t you afraid of karma?!” “Oh my, you’re scaring me.” He patted his chest dramatically. “What karma? The law? But I’m only eleven years old. Under the law, anyone under fourteen can’t be held criminally responsible.” He was so close I could smell the orange shampoo in his hair. These words and this scent had become my eternal nightmare in my previous life. Looking at that face mixing malice with childish innocence, I finally couldn’t suppress the hatred that had been churning through two lifetimes. I grabbed his head and tried to push it toward the pool. “So vicious at such a young age—today I’ll let you taste…” Cameron struck my head hard with his car keys, the key chain carving a long bloody gash across my forehead. Seeing me release my grip, he pulled Derek behind him. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” “What’s done is done! Why are you taking it out on a child? My son is just a kid—what does he know about consequences? This was an accident!” “An accident?” I felt all the blood in my body rushing to my head. “Go check the surveillance yourself! Three people holding a child’s head and shoving it into the drain—you call that an accident?!” Cameron turned to glance at his guilty-looking son, then slowly pulled out a card. “So what do you want? Justice? Let me tell you—justice in this world depends on status and money!” He stepped forward, the card nearly poking my nose. “Do you know who my son is? His mother is the only daughter of HX Corporation’s CEO!” “And your son? Just some kid from an ordinary working-class family. Dead is dead. You expect us to pay with our lives?” He casually threw the card at my face. “There’s a hundred thousand in this card. Password is six eights. Take the money and shut your mouth. Give your son a proper funeral.” “If you dare say one word outside, if you dare call the police… I guarantee you and your wife won’t even find work sweeping streets in this city!” Derek poked his head out from behind his father and made a face at me. Not a trace of fear—only smugness. The coach came to his senses and, not wanting things to escalate, advised in a low voice. “Ashton’s father, look—this was an accident. Since the other party has decided to settle privately, why don’t we all take a step back?” Take a step back? I looked down at the bank card on the ground, then at the boy’s cold body, and found it absurd. A human life had been turned into a transaction, spoken of so casually. My gaze swept over the boy’s birthmark again, and I suddenly remembered who he was. Since my son from an ordinary family didn’t deserve their lives in return, let’s see how many lives they’d need to pay for this boy. Derek was still jabbering away. “Look on the bright side. Money in hand is real. Your son is dead—just have another one…” I slowly raised my head, my gaze moving to that face that didn’t know the meaning of consequences. “Your mother’s money won’t work this time.” He raised his chin. “Say whatever you want. I’m not going to get in trouble anyway. My dad said the juvenile protection law is my shield!” I gently wiped the blood from the boy’s face, my fingertip brushing over that plum blossom birthmark. Then I took off my jacket and covered him with it, wanting to give him a final measure of dignity. “A shield?” I pulled my lips into a smile. “Then you’d better pray that everyone in this world believes in the law.” Cameron frowned. “What do you mean?” I ignored him and sent out a message on my phone, then lowered my head and whispered in the boy’s ear. “Don’t be afraid. Your mother will be here soon.” Then I dialed the police. “What do you think you’re doing?!” Cameron sensed something was wrong and demanded harshly. “I’m telling you, this matter ends here today! If you dare…”

Before he could finish, Rachel burst in, panting. “Matthew, I heard something happened at the pool…” She saw me kneeling on the ground in a disheveled state, with a small body covered by clothing beside me. All color drained from her face. “What… what on earth happened?!” Her voice trembled as she stumbled forward. This scene was almost identical to my previous life. But I only felt it was ironic. In my previous life, when she saw our son’s disfigured state, she’d also looked like her heart was shattered and her world had collapsed. But when she learned the killer was the son of her company’s chairman’s only daughter, that pitiful bit of maternal love seemed so laughable when weighed against her own career prospects. Sure enough, the next second, her eyes landed on Cameron nearby, and her expression instantly filled with panic. He bowed slightly, his voice unable to hide his flattery and nervousness. “Why are you here too?” Cameron raised his chin proudly, glossing over what had happened. “Since the other party is Rachel’s son, our family is reasonable. Out of humanitarian concern, I can increase the compensation to two hundred thousand. That’s more than fair.” “But your husband is emotionally unstable and unreasonable, insisting on making a big deal out of this.” “Rachel, I called you here because I believe you’re a sensible person. You can’t destroy several children’s futures—and the adults’ careers—over an accident with someone who’s already dead, right?” Rachel’s body trembled almost imperceptibly. Then she turned to me, her face showing complex emotions. “Honey, listen to me…” I knew what she was going to say and cut her off coldly. “Shut up. You don’t get to decide this!” Rachel thought I was throwing a tantrum and her voice changed pitch in panic. “Honey, we can’t bring the dead back to life. We still have our own lives to live!” “The other party is just a child too. What bad intentions could he have? It was just playing that went too far.” She glanced at Cameron’s expression and moved closer to me with a pleading tone. “They’re willing to compensate us two hundred thousand. We can negotiate the exact amount later.” “Take the money, give Ashton a proper funeral, and then while we’re still young, I can have another child. Everything can start over…” Looking at this woman I’d shared a bed with for years, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Start over?” Despite my best efforts to control it, my voice still trembled. “Start over with money bought with our son’s life? I’m not as cold-blooded and cruel as you!” “And I told you—you don’t get to decide this!” Seeing I was about to dial again, Rachel actually snatched the phone from me. “Give it back!” I got up to grab it back, but she pushed me forcefully backward. My back slammed against the cold pool wall, the pain making my vision go dark. Rachel looked at me, struggle in her eyes, but ultimately threw the phone into the pool. “Can you stop making a scene! You just lost your son. Do you have to make someone else’s child lose their freedom and ruin their life over this?!” So in her heart, our son’s life wasn’t as important as someone else’s freedom. I took a deep breath and nodded calmly. “Fine. I won’t call the police.” My gaze swept over Cameron and Derek, who were both smiling like victors, and I continued. “Just don’t regret it later!” After all, calling the police might have saved their lives. Not calling means it just depends on how tough their luck is. My well-intentioned warning made Cameron think I was being provocative. He spoke with a threatening tone. “Rachel, looks like you don’t have much standing in your family. You can’t even make decisions about your own son?” “An emotionally unstable, unreasonable employee’s family member like this… makes it hard to trust that you can properly handle projects and manage your own team, doesn’t it?” Rachel’s face instantly turned deathly pale. Derek also adopted the tone of adults, speaking with sarcastic mockery. “Just now this uncle was whispering in Ashton’s ear saying ‘don’t be afraid, your mother will be here soon.’ But now she’s really here and he won’t listen to her?” He seemed to realize something and covered his mouth with an expression both innocent and malicious. “Oh my, could it be that uncle has more than just Ashton as his biological son? So uncle…” This sentence made the naturally suspicious Rachel, already threatened regarding her career, whip her head around to look at me. The emotions in her eyes were instantly replaced by shock, humiliation, and rage. “Matthew, is what he said true?!” “Why did you say I can’t decide about our son? Who are you waiting for?!” Looking at that face twisted by suspicion, I only felt absurd and desolate. “He was never our son in the first place. What right do you have to make decisions for him?” Rachel’s eyes widened. “Not our son—what does that mean?” A flash of confusion crossed Cameron’s face, followed by a light laugh. “This is the first time I’ve seen someone admit so righteously to being cuckolded.” He turned to Rachel, his tone exaggerated. “Don’t you get it? He’s saying this dead child isn’t yours!” “So whose son have you been raising all these years? Doesn’t that make you… a living cuckold who’s been raising someone else’s kid for over ten years?!” Cameron’s words made Rachel’s face go from white to red to blue. Feeling everyone’s eyes on her, she clenched her fists and stared at me hard. I knew she’d misunderstood and tried to explain. “Rachel, calm down. This boy…” Before I could finish, she lunged at me and wrapped her hands tightly around my throat. “Matthew! I’ll strangle you, you bastard!” “You had an affair? You had a child with another woman and brought it into our home?” “Is Ashton even my son?! Answer me!!” I instantly couldn’t breathe, sharp pain shooting through my throat. “Let… go!” The air in my lungs was rapidly squeezed out, my cheeks flushed red from congestion and oxygen deprivation. Oxygen grew scarcer and scarcer. Just when I thought I would really die at this woman’s hands— A woman, flanked by several black-suited bodyguards, strode in quickly. Her voice wasn’t loud but carried a chill. “Where is my son? What happened to him?”

Vivian’s appearance made Rachel’s hands around my throat suddenly freeze. The pressure on my neck loosened. I seized the opportunity to bite her hard, and she shoved me away violently. Ignoring the pain in my throat and the dizziness in my head, I called out hoarsely. “Vivian…” “Well!” Before I could finish, Cameron blocked Vivian’s path. He crossed his arms, chin lifted, his gaze sweeping over Vivian like a searchlight. Seeing her approaching middle age but wearing a low-key tailored suit, her face cold and stern—this only confirmed Cameron’s suspicion. This must be my mistress who couldn’t see the light of day. Looking at her bearing, she might even be some nouveau riche with a bit of money. He scoffed, his tone full of mockery. “No wonder you’re so tough. Your mistress is here.” He looked Vivian up and down, his tone frivolous. “Looks-wise… you do have some appeal. No wonder you’ve got Matthew wrapped around your finger. Poor Rachel—been a cuckold all these years.” Derek immediately jumped over and pointed at Vivian. “I remember now! After training ended last week, I saw her talking with this uncle at the pool entrance, all sneaky!” Father and son sang in harmony, completely unaware they were desperately testing the edge of death. Vivian was the legendary living King of Hell who straddled both the legal and illegal worlds, known for her ruthless methods. My only conversation with her was when her son wanted the link to my son’s swimsuit, which is how we’d become contacts. And at this moment, her only son lay at my feet, his face blue and purple and swollen, completely devoid of life. I hadn’t expected this blue swimsuit would make Derek mistake him for someone else. From the moment she appeared, Vivian’s gaze had been locked on that small body on the ground. She didn’t even raise an eyelid at Cameron and Derek’s noise and slander. It wasn’t until Derek pointed and shouted at her that she finally shifted her gaze from her son, turning to the bodyguard beside her. Cameron, who’d been pampered and tyrannical for years, had never been so ignored. Humiliated and enraged, he was about to raise his voice to continue his mockery when a bodyguard behind Vivian slapped him hard across the mouth. “You dare block our boss’s path? You have a death wish!” Cameron’s whole body jerked to the side from the blow, stumbling. “Dad!” Derek screamed and went to support him, barely keeping him from falling. Clutching his face, he finally snapped out of his shock and let out a shrill voice. “You… you dare hit me?!” “Do you know who I am?! I’m the husband of HX Corporation chairman’s only daughter! I’ll make you…” His shouting cut off abruptly. Because Vivian’s gaze had fallen on him. That look was like a butcher examining livestock for slaughter, like a predator locking onto prey beneath its claws. No anger, no rebuke. Just quietly watching. This one glance even stopped Rachel, who’d been about to rush forward and question her, in her tracks. Vivian finally walked toward me step by step. When her gaze caught the edge of blue pants belonging to the boy whose upper body was covered, her pupils contracted sharply. After a long moment, she raised her head to look at me and asked politely. “May I ask where my son is? Did he run off to play again?” I looked at her—this woman rumored to strike fear into everyone who heard her name. Right now, all color had drained from her face. Her fists were clenched so tight her knuckles were white and veins bulged, completely betraying her forced composure. She was afraid. Afraid to confirm that worst possibility. In my previous life, the heart-wrenching agony of losing my son pierced through time and space to strike me. My nose stung and my eyes uncontrollably reddened. I understood her. I understood too well—that desperate hope that your child had just wandered off mischievously, refusing to accept even the slightest hint of terrible news. But I had to personally shatter her last illusion.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “356441”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn

After the company’s video conference ended, my girlfriend, who was away on a business trip, forgot to turn off her camera. All the colleagues in the online meeting saw her having intense sex with her male assistant in the hotel. When she came back from her business trip, she shyly covered her lower abdomen and said to me: “Congratulations! You’re going to be a daddy.” His male assistant even shed tears of excitement. Everyone in the company watched the farce with cold eyes. They said they wanted to help me destroy this cheating woman together. After the company’s online meeting ended, as the meeting host, I was about to close the session when I discovered an intimate scene playing out in my girlfriend Bethany White’s video feed. Her male assistant rushed into the hotel room, pushed her onto the bed, tore off her clothes, and kissed her wildly. My hand gripping the mouse suddenly froze. My colleagues beside me were so shocked their jaws dropped. The atmosphere instantly solidified. At the same time, those sticky, disgusting moaning sounds continued without stopping. “Bethany, you’re so amazing, such a seductive little minx~ Tell me, who’s better—Leaf Newton or me?” “Of course it’s you, Jay Grant.” Bethany mocked: “Who would like an old stick-in-the-mud like Leaf? Ugh, I’ve been dating him for four years, and he’s never taken initiative in bed. He’s not a man at all! I’ve been sick of looking at that appetite-killing old face for ages!” I sat frozen in my seat, my hands and feet ice-cold. I sat motionless, listening to all the mockery and sneering. Anger rose higher and higher like a tide. Bethany and I had been dating since college. After graduation, we started a company with friends. Although we hadn’t met each other’s parents yet, we both considered each other to be life partners. Bethany came from an ordinary family. Her parents did odd jobs and had no money, but I thought she herself was excellent, ambitious, beautiful, and outstanding. Although my parents had some reservations, they still gave face to me and privately prepared a new house, new car, and double the bride price. They even had the wedding money ready, just waiting to finish this busy period and meet to set a date. But now, all of this was fake! And that man was exactly Bethany’s assistant, an intern who’d been with the company less than three months. “Bethany, when can I be with you openly and honestly?” “Watching you hold hands with Leaf and go out together, I’m so jealous!” Jay shamelessly held Bethany, his voice hoarse. “Where does it hurt? I’ll make it better.” The disgusting voices of the two made me want to vomit. They were even so eager they forgot to turn off the screen and camera. “Baby, once I swindle the double bride price from Leaf, won’t our future life be wonderful?” “Oh my, you’re so bad.” Jay giggled and playfully hit her. Bethany draped her arms over his shoulders and kissed him: “Isn’t my badness what you love about me…” The two rolled together again with their moaning and groaning. The scene was disgusting and vulgar, the sound effects more lively than an amusement park. The meeting was deathly silent. After a moment. My closest colleague carefully asked me: “Leaf, are you okay?” Everyone pulled together a group chat and comforted me not to be sad. Others also indignantly cursed, saying Bethany was trash and embarrassed them. Everyone was either a classmate or friend of both Bethany and me. They had witnessed our past sweetness. But now they all despised her actions. Hearing their protective words, my heart was deeply moved. After thinking it over, I asked them to keep it secret for now and pretend not to know. Everyone advised me repeatedly. “Leaf, don’t do anything stupid!” “A cheating woman like Bethany isn’t worth sacrificing your whole life for!” One older colleague even came out with a golden phrase: “A cuckold is temporary, but a dog will never stop eating shit!” Afraid I’d gone love-brain stupid, they clamored to take me to dig wild vegetables. I shook my head, swallowing the surging pain. “Of course I won’t let that scum Bethany get her way.” “But just letting her off easy like this—I’m not willing!” What she took from me, she’ll spit it all back out!

Within two days, I used every means to investigate everything. Soon, the evidence piled up so high it could barely fit on my desk. I collapsed limply into my chair, my whole body trembling, my heart hurting like knife twists. Bethany had betrayed me long ago. Four years of dating. She said she wanted to save money for our future and never gave me any gifts. But she would accompany Jay to sweep through luxury stores in neighboring cities. There were private generous transfer records and gift payments starting at four figures. She went with him to see the World Cup that I’d been longing to watch. Even last month on our anniversary. She had barely finished dinner with me before immediately rushing off to book a presidential suite with Jay! Only I was stupidly kept in the dark! Coming back to my senses. I realized tears had long since soaked my cheeks. A man doesn’t shed tears easily. Only when he reaches the point of heartbreak. I suddenly remembered that just last week I was still enthusiastically discussing with people how to arrange the proposal scene. At the time, Bethany just smiled and didn’t respond. I thought she was shy and silent. But thinking about it now… She was probably laughing at how stupid and naive I was! Bethany’s disgusting behavior was far from over. Soon, colleagues sent me messages. I noticed they were all high-level people in the company. They said Bethany was lobbying, wanting to unite everyone to kick me out of the shareholders’ group. In the chat records, Bethany spoke in high-sounding terms, saying it was for my own good. “Leaf and I are about to get married. In the future, I’ll handle external affairs and he’ll handle internal matters. I feel guilty that Leaf is occupying a position without working.” “How about this—you all help me persuade Leaf to quit the shareholders’ meeting. As compensation, I’ll make him the company’s legal representative. He can still control everything big and small, and he’ll have security…” Several colleagues were disgusted to death. They pretended to agree and strung Bethany along, waiting for the moment of revelation to strike back with satisfaction. I laughed bitterly, my eyes full of resentment. Before her business trip, Bethany found someone to take out a loan of one hundred million in the company’s investment name, promising to return it within six months. But once it couldn’t be repaid… All the debt would fall on me, the unlucky legal representative! “This fucking wants to drive someone to a dead end!” “I’m getting goosebumps reading this. Bethany is a piece of shit!” “On behalf of all women, I expel Bethany! Son of a bitch!!” The small group messages instantly hit 99+. All of it was condemnation of Bethany and sympathy and comfort for me. They wished they could personally tear the cheating woman apart. I calmed the anger in my chest and slowly typed: “Bethany said she’s coming back the day after tomorrow.” The group erupted in excitement again. Someone shared they bought pepper spray, and someone else said they were preparing to buy a stun gun after work. The most outrageous old colleague said he’d picked out the cactus downstairs from the company. Ready to let Bethany feel the refreshing sensation of holes in her ass. And Bethany was quite good at disguising herself too. During the business trip, her daily greetings and care never stopped. If not for the accident during the online meeting, I would never have discovered her beastly heart beneath a human face. Afraid of alerting her, I endured the disgust and chatted with her. I didn’t even glance at those pie-in-the-sky promises. This person didn’t notice anything at all and even said she’d prepared a surprise for me. Soon. Bethany came back from her business trip. She wore a flowing white dress. In front of everyone in the company, she shyly covered her lower abdomen and looked at me affectionately. “Honey, I have good news for you—you’re going to be a daddy!” She was completely immersed in her self-directed performance. She didn’t notice my expressionless face at all. Or the suppressed disgust in the eyes of people around us. Instead, Jay, who had returned from the business trip with her, excitedly said how lucky I was. “Wow, I’m so jealous that Leaf can meet such a good woman like Bethany!” I smiled and held her hand. Then, in Bethany’s delighted expression, I turned and threw her into Jay’s arms. “If you like her, she’s yours. The person too.” “How does it feel to be a happy father?” In that instant. The whole place fell silent. From the corner of my eye, I saw everyone ready to strike. Only Bethany and Jay’s faces turned pale.

“Leaf, what… what are you saying…” Jay was completely stunned. After a long while, the voice squeezed out from his throat kept trembling. It sounded much better than his video calls. I laughed softly, hiding the coldness in my eyes: “You’re so envious, so I’m giving her to you.” “We’ve been good brothers. When have I not given you what you wanted?” When Jay first joined the company, he said he’d been scammed online and couldn’t afford to eat. I felt sorry for him and bought him meals, even vouched for him to get his salary in advance. Later, when he wanted to buy a laptop and new phone, he used the excuse of self-improvement but was troubled by lack of money. I gave him those too. I treated him like a good brother, but he backstabbed me and gave me a cuckold’s horns. What bullshit child! Bethany and I had never had sex at all. Only once, two months ago when we got drunk, we woke up lying in the same bed. Bethany looked very shy at the time, but I didn’t think much of it. After all, a man knows in his heart whether something happened or not. Plus, when drunk, it simply doesn’t work. But I never expected that not only did they scheme for my company and give me a cuckold’s horns. They also wanted me to acknowledge this bastard whose father is uncertain! Simply too much! A modern version of The Farmer and the Snake! Jay was already guilty. With me deliberately pointing this out, he was so scared he didn’t dare say a word. Bethany was obviously panicked too. Cold sweat streamed down her forehead as she laughed awkwardly: “Honey, don’t joke around. I only love you.” I curled my lips and smiled gently: “Look at you two getting so nervous. You didn’t really do something behind my back, did you?” Bethany immediately got anxious: “Leaf, how can you suspect me! I love you so much! Besides, I’m carrying your child!” Look at that. Tell a lie so many times, even the liar believes it. She must love my double bride price and company more! After enjoying their guilty, panicked expressions enough, I smiled: “Just kidding, teasing you two.” The two suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. They even secretly exchanged a smug glance. Probably proud of their superb acting skills. They didn’t see the uniform contempt and disdain from everyone around them. Then Bethany shyly covered her lower abdomen. Acting all affectionate, she wanted me to publicly kneel and propose. Under her hopeful expression. I didn’t hesitate to say: “No!” Bethany’s expression instantly cracked. A trace of anger surfaced on her face. But just as she was about to question me. The surrounding colleagues cut her off. “Bethany, this is wrong of you. If you want Leaf to marry you, you have to let him prepare, right?” “Exactly, exactly. This kind of forced palace behavior is so ugly, it really hurts your years of relationship!” The female colleagues formed a bride’s family army and roasted Bethany until she was utterly destroyed. “Bethany, are you really pregnant? But why does your belly look so big?” “You didn’t do something less than human and want Leaf to be the fool taking the fall, did you!” They mocked Bethany until her face turned blue and white. Really satisfying. I had long anticipated that Bethany would try to make me the backup plan. She had always been bossy with me. Every holiday she’d hint around, making me give her expensive gifts. Not giving them meant I didn’t love her. She also chatted ambiguously with other men in private. Don’t ask—they were just “good buddies.” But she never—she’d self-righteously say those were all excuses, and she had as many scheming thoughts as she had petty schemes. During our dating period, I thought it was just little woman behavior and didn’t think much of it. But now that I’m clear-headed… Ha. Get out! To cooperate with the performance, I “sighed miserably” and leaned on my male colleague’s shoulder. I had to lean—my mouth was about to split to my temples. And Bethany seemed to really believe it. She humbly tried to please me. She even found excuses for herself: “Honey, I just wanted to give our baby a home so badly that I didn’t consider your feelings.” Only then did I emerge from my “sadness”: “Then I’ll forgive you for now.” “But you wanted a five-carat pigeon egg engagement ring before. That depends on your future performance.” Ha, who can’t make empty promises! Bethany’s face twisted for an instant. But under the watchful eyes of other colleagues, she stiffly nodded. Behind her, Jay’s mouth was about to twist in anger. When leaving, I noticed a flash of resentment on Bethany’s face. Because today she failed to trick me into being a fool. But Bethany didn’t know. Everyone already knew about her little schemes. Even if she had been fully prepared today. She would have been picked on by colleagues for stepping into the company with her left foot first—an unlucky omen. Want me to propose? In her dreams! At this moment, my closest male colleague quietly tugged at my sleeve and told me with a laugh that everyone was amused. “Watching this idiot think she’s in control when she’s actually being played like a clown.” “I wonder if she’ll die of shame when the truth is revealed!” I gently smiled: “The good show is yet to come.”

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At eight months pregnant, I went to Everett Ford’s office to deliver some documents. Feeling the sweltering 115-degree heat in the office, I was about to turn on the air conditioning when his female secretary stopped me. “I’m on my period and sensitive to cold. You can’t turn that on.” Worried that heatstroke might harm the baby in my belly, I turned on the AC without a word. That evening, when Everett came home, he immediately interrogated me: “Nina’s on her period. Do you have any idea that by turning on that AC, you caused her so much abdominal pain she ended up in the ICU?” “Everett, she’s just having her period. But I’m eight months pregnant. If I get heatstroke, I could miscarry.” Everett pulled his lips into a smile and nodded. “You’re right.” That night, Everett coaxed me to sleep as usual. But when I woke up, I found myself inside a freezer with glass walls on all sides. Outside the freezer, Everett had his arm around Nina Sutton’s waist as they both smiled at me. “Afraid of heatstroke? Today I’ll make sure you cool off properly!” My heart sank. I calmly pulled out my phone and took photos of them one by one. Then I made a call: “Dad, I don’t want any of these people to see tomorrow’s sunrise!”

When I hung up, the people watching outside first froze. Then they burst into thunderous laughter. “Lana, your dad was thrown into international waters to feed the sharks half a year ago. Have you been frozen stupid, or were you always this delusional?” “Exactly! Still thinking you’re the precious daughter of the West family? Even daydreams aren’t this ridiculous!” Hearing his lackeys mock me, triumph surged in Everett’s eyes. He gently draped his mink coat over Nina’s shoulders, pulled her close, and slowly walked up to the freezer. He extended his index finger and lightly tapped the glass in front of me before speaking slowly: “Lana, are you cold? Do you realize your mistake now?” A large red thermometer indicated that the freezer had been set to negative 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Wrapped only in the thin nightgown I’d worn to bed, I trembled violently from the cold. The skin touching the floor had turned blue-purple and numb, continuously sending sharp, piercing pain through my body. I stumbled toward Everett and Nina, slamming my fist against the glass. “Everett, what did I do wrong?! Isn’t it appropriate to turn on the AC when it’s 115 degrees? Pregnant women are naturally sensitive to heat. If I got heatstroke, both the baby and I could die!” The sudden anger triggered a cramping pain in my lower abdomen. I quickly covered my belly and crouched down, staring at Everett with bloodshot eyes. “Everett, let me out! You know how much I’ve suffered for this baby. I can’t lose him!” A flicker of unreadable emotion crossed Everett’s eyes. He knew better than anyone the heartache of having this child. An accident years ago had left Everett with fertility issues. For eight years, egg retrieval needles as long as my forearm had pierced my body over a thousand times before we finally conceived this child. For eight months, I’d been incredibly careful, preserving this pregnancy day by day. Once, just because a servant brought brown sugar water that wasn’t warm enough, he’d broken the person’s arm. Yet now, just because Nina had menstrual cramps, he’d locked me in a freezer without hesitation. Bitterness welled up inside me. Just as I was about to speak again, Nina yanked off the mink coat Everett had just draped over her. With a pitiful, tearful voice, she said: “Everett, let your wife out. With her delicate constitution, how can she endure this kind of torture? Not like me—I’m from a poor family. Even when I fainted from the freezing AC, I didn’t dare complain…”

Fainted from the cold? I’d only turned on the AC for half an hour. When I left Everett’s office, Nina was still laughing and making plans with her girlfriends to hit the bar that evening! Just as I was about to clarify, Everett’s expression instantly changed, his tone turning ice-cold: “Someone get in there and strip off her coat! She thinks she’s so delicate? Today I’ll make her experience what it’s like to be poor!” He bent down to pick up the coat, gently draping it over Nina while looking at me coldly: “When you admit your mistake, then you can come out! The doctor said my son is perfectly healthy. Don’t think you can use this as an excuse to avoid punishment!” With that, he scooped Nina up in his arms, his voice overflowing with tenderness and affection: “Nina, during your period you can’t let your feet get cold. Today, stay in my arms. Let’s see who dares say anything!” The moment Everett sat down with Nina in his arms, a group of men charged toward me with malicious grins. I clutched my nightgown tightly, shrinking into the corner. But no matter how much I struggled, I was no match for several men. “Riiip…” The thin nightgown tore in half. Instantly, the frigid air crept through every pore into every corner of my body. They gleefully stripped off my nightgown, and as they left, they flashed Everett knowing smiles. “Boss, you’ve got great taste! Your wife’s figure—curves in all the right places!” “Thanks for letting us take care of your wife!” Left in only my underwear, I curled up on myself. My skin, which had retained some warmth, stuck to the frozen floor. Any movement would tear away a layer of skin. Heart-wrenching pain shot from the torn flesh straight to my core. Blood seeped continuously from the wounds, starkly visible against the blindingly white freezer. Everett clearly noticed. He set Nina down and approached, about to speak as he looked at the blood slowly reaching his feet— But Nina ran up from behind, touching the traces of blood through the glass with a trembling voice: “Lana, just apologize. With all of Everett’s friends watching, if you don’t apologize, he can’t back down…” I stared hard at Nina. “Why should I apologize! That day you were clearly enjoying the AC too, and you were even making plans with your girlfriends to—” Hearing my words, Everett looked at Nina with a hint of barely perceptible doubt. But before I could finish, Nina slapped herself across the face and dropped to her knees with a “thud.” Grabbing Everett’s hand, she said in a trembling voice: “Everett! I just can’t bear to see her suffer like this. If she still won’t apologize, then I’ll kneel out here with her!” Seeing Nina kneel, the doubt in Everett’s eyes instantly vanished. He quickly bent down to help Nina up, then looked at me with utter disgust: “Lana, you’ve been spoiled rotten. All these years Nina has endured your treatment in silence. Now, even though this is clearly your fault, she’s willing to suffer alongside you for my sake. You don’t deserve it!” “Today I’m going to fix that entitled attitude of yours! If you don’t apologize, don’t even think about getting out!” With that, he waved to the people behind him: “Go! Bring in more ice blocks and surround her with them! Then pour water over everything so she sticks to that ice!” The moment Everett finished speaking—

A young woman stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve. “Boss, ice plus water will stick to skin like glue. Any movement will tear off chunks of flesh. She’s about to give birth—something could go seriously wrong…” Everett’s commanding gesture froze mid-air. As he hesitated in silence, a soft whimper came from behind. “Everett, forget it. My time in the ICU wasn’t as terrible as you think…” Nina’s words made Everett’s expression turn instantly severe. He lowered his suspended hand and said coldly: “Do exactly as I said!” The young woman tried to stop him again, but Everett waved her off. “This suffering is nothing compared to what Nina went through. I’ve already got an ambulance on standby outside. What could possibly go wrong?” Hearing Everett’s words, the young woman didn’t dare say more. With Everett’s order given, the group grabbed ice blocks and re-entered the freezer. They yanked me up by my hair and surrounded me tightly with ice, then poured a basin of cold water over my head. The next second, my skin felt glued to the ice blocks. Bone-chilling cold flowed through my pores into my marrow. I glanced at the time—I’d already been in this freezer for at least five hours. My limbs had long since turned dark purple. To protect the baby in my belly, I tried to shift position within this ice-confined space. But every tiny movement tore away a piece of flesh. Yet the movements in my belly were growing increasingly faint. Ignoring the stabbing pain from my torn skin, I moved my body, trying to keep my belly in the warmest possible position. The transparent ice blocks gradually became stained with my crimson blood. By the time I’d adjusted my position, the ice had turned completely blood-red. The people nearby who’d been laughing fell silent at such a gruesome scene. Through the scarlet haze, I roared at Everett outside the freezer: “Everett, if anything happens to this child, you—his biological father—will be his murderer! I’ll kneel before his spirit every day and pray that you die a miserable death!” Everett’s gaze wavered, no longer as resolute as before. He slowly approached, seemingly wanting to check my condition through the blurred blood. In the silence, a cry suddenly came from behind: “Boss! My dad says a plane with the West family’s private aviation signature just appeared on their exclusive route!” Everett’s face changed instantly. He slammed his fist against the glass and roared at me: “Lana, what are you playing at?! Are you planning to use your family to intimidate me for the rest of your life?!” Before I could respond, Nina came forward, constantly soothing Everett’s back while looking at me with accusation mixed with grievance: “Lana, if you don’t want to apologize, fine, but why torture Everett like this? You know how much he suffered when Old Mr. West was alive. Now that he’s dead and the West family fortune has been liquidated, what’s the point of this charade?” Nina then took Everett’s hand and said gently: “Let it go, Everett. Let her out. We don’t want anything to happen to the baby and become sinners. I don’t think she’s ever seen people like us as anything but beneath her…” Nina’s words intensified the fury in Everett’s eyes. He cursed, then barked at the people behind him: “Set the freezer to negative 148 degrees Fahrenheit! Now!”

Seeing Everett’s rage, the others didn’t dare say another word. They immediately set the freezer to negative 148 degrees. Instantly, a bone-piercing wind rushed through the vents and struck me. I was frozen to the point where I couldn’t speak coherently, my teeth chattering uncontrollably. In my fading consciousness, a sudden piercing pain shot through my lower abdomen. I forced myself to look down. Bright red blood flowed from beneath me like a small stream, releasing crimson steam in the freezing environment. Soon, the fresh blood melted the surrounding ice and seeped through the cracks. I finally realized what was happening. Clutching my belly, I screamed frantically at Everett outside the freezer: “Everett! Let me out now! The baby! Save my baby!” Everett had been glaring at me with anger until he saw the blood—now melting ice—flowing to his feet. He completely panicked. He grabbed the person beside him and roared like a madman: “Quick! Get the freezer key! Didn’t you ask the doctor before we put her in? Didn’t they say it would be fine?! How did this happen?!” The person handed the key to Everett. Everett’s hands shook so badly he dropped it. The key fell at Nina’s feet. Everett gripped Nina’s arm: “Nina, quick! Open the door! Get Lana out! Hurry!” Frightened by Everett’s state, Nina didn’t even bother putting on her shoes properly and ran toward the freezer door. She glanced at Everett, took the key with her back to him, and inserted it into the lock. The moment she turned around, I caught a glimpse of a smile filled with hatred and triumph in Nina’s eyes. Sure enough—”Snap!” A crisp sound rang out. Nina turned back and dropped to her knees toward Everett: “Everett, the key… the key broke…” Everett’s face turned deathly pale. He stumbled to the door and demanded harshly: “What happened?! How did the key break?! Get a locksmith here now!” By now, warm blood had covered the entire freezer floor. The pain had me moaning uncontrollably. “Everett! Lana still hasn’t admitted her mistake! You said you’d use this opportunity to fix her arrogant personality. So many friends are watching…” “And my suffering in the ICU—are we just letting that go? You promised you’d give me an explanation…” Hearing this, Everett stopped the person going for a locksmith. He turned around, pounding on the freezer door and shouting at me with a hint of pleading in his voice: “Lana, just apologize, okay? For our child’s sake, please?” “Once you admit your mistake, I’ll let you out immediately. You don’t want anything to happen to our baby, right? Please, Lana, what’s the harm in being a little flexible?” The massive blood loss was making my consciousness fade. I lay in the pool of blood, looking at Everett outside and said in a trembling voice: “Everett! Let me out! Or my dad will kill you…” Nina looked at me with a barely concealed savage smile, though her voice still carried a pitiful, tearful tone: “Lana, are you really confused? Mr. West died half a year ago. The West family collapsed half a year ago! Apologize quickly, or no one can save you!” The people outside also began mocking me: “Miss West, stop dreaming! Kill Boss? Your dad is probably still a tormented ghost in hell! And you think he can kill anyone?!”

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On Christmas Eve, my parents half-jokingly announced: “Whoever gets home first between you and your brother gets the house.” I rushed into the elevator first and headed up to the 20th floor. But when the elevator doors opened again, the home I’d been longing for wasn’t there. Instead, I was somehow back on the first floor! The door stood wide open, just as it had been when I first arrived. Confused, I pressed 20 again. The sensation of ascending was clear, and the floor numbers climbed steadily from But when the doors opened, I was back on the first floor again! Cold sweat broke out all over my body. I switched to the stairs instead, counting each floor as I climbed all twenty levels. But when I pushed through the fire door at the top, I was somehow on the first floor once more! That night, no matter what I tried, I could never reach the 20th floor. Meanwhile, my brother had already posted a video in the family group chat showing him celebrating with Mom and Dad. Eventually, exhausted and dizzy, I tumbled down the stairs and died. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on Christmas Eve. 1 I was back downstairs again. This time, instead of rushing home, I pulled out my phone and video-called my parents. They answered quickly, and Mom’s voice came through with a laugh: “Olivia, your dad and I have the property deed ready and everything! We’re just waiting to see who gets home first—you or your brother!” “Your brother’s still over an hour away. Where are you?” In my previous life, I’d also arrived downstairs before my brother, but I never even made it past the threshold. I gripped my phone tightly and spoke quickly: “Mom, I’m downstairs right now.” “But for some reason I can’t get up there. Can you and Dad come down and meet me?” The moment I finished speaking, Mom’s video feed suddenly froze, then disconnected. I tried calling her back, but couldn’t get through. Yesterday Mom had complained to me about the poor signal in their new place, but I hadn’t expected it to be this bad. I sighed and dragged my suitcase toward the elevator myself. But this time I was more cautious. I didn’t go straight home. Instead, I pressed the button for the 19th floor. In my previous life, no matter what I did, I always ended up back on the first floor when the doors opened. So right after being reborn, I’d strongly suspected that maybe the building’s renovation was unusual, making every floor look identical to the first. The elevator started moving smoothly and soon came to a gentle stop. Ding! The moment the doors opened, my eyes went wide! “Impossible… how can this be?” Instead of the empty first-floor lobby, I saw rows of apartment doors! They even had unit numbers on them. 1901, 1902… I walked to the stairwell and looked down through the window. It was high up—about fifty or sixty meters above ground. This really was the nineteenth floor! “So my theory was wrong…” “But if it’s not that, why can I never reach the 20th floor?” Cold sweat covered my body. I returned to the elevator and pressed 20. The sensation of ascending came again. The elevator was definitely going up. I stared unblinkingly at the constantly changing floor numbers, terrified that if I looked away for even a second, I’d end up back on the first floor. But fortunately, that didn’t happen. The number jumped from 19 to 20. Ding! We’d arrived. My heart leapt into my throat. But the next second, everything went black! When the elevator doors opened, I was back on the first floor again! Empty, silent, with no residents—completely different from the 19th floor’s layout and decoration. “What’s going on…” 2 I couldn’t believe it. I closed my eyes tight. When I opened them again, the scene before me hadn’t changed. This really was the first-floor lobby! Cold wind kept blowing in against my face. Exactly the same as what I’d seen when I first arrived! I reached out and pressed every button from 1 to 20 on the elevator panel. All the lights came on. The buttons were fine, and the elevator wasn’t malfunctioning. But it had clearly displayed the 20th floor just now. How did I end up back on the first floor in the blink of an eye? I refused to accept this. I walked outside and looked around the area. Outside was the road leading to the street, with exercise equipment nearby. This was definitely what the outside of the first floor looked like. My heart sank bit by bit. Could I have encountered something supernatural? Would I automatically return to the first floor whenever I tried to go to the 20th? Suddenly my phone rang. It was my brother calling. His tone was concerned: “Olivia, Mom and Dad said you’re already downstairs. Why haven’t you come up?” “They couldn’t reach you on your phone and got worried, so they asked me to check on you.” My best friend, who’d been dating my brother for five years, also spoke up with a laugh: “Olivia, you don’t need to hold back for us.” “Even though your brother and I are getting married soon, we can afford our own place.” “If you should get the house, take it. Don’t worry about us.” I smiled bitterly. Actually, I really hadn’t been planning to hold back for them. After all, Mom and Dad had given them plenty of support over the years. But now I couldn’t even reach the 20th floor. How was I supposed to claim anything? I told her about the strange phenomena in the elevator. My friend on the other end burst out laughing: “Olivia, I remember you’ve been working for a week straight.” “Are you maybe too exhausted and a bit mentally foggy?” “We’ll be home in half an hour. Wait for us and we’ll go up together.” After the call ended, I looked at the street somewhat dejectedly. On Christmas Eve, there were very few cars on the road—just a few delivery drivers still making their rounds. Suddenly my eyes lit up. I knew what to do! I pulled out my phone and ordered food for delivery, entering my parents’ address directly. Soon the delivery guy arrived downstairs. I stopped him with a smile: “Hi, are you delivering to unit 2001?” “I ordered the food, but I’m not familiar with this place and can’t find exactly where it is. Could you please help me get there?” Even if I really was having hallucinations from working too many hours straight, the delivery guy wouldn’t be hallucinating too, right? If I went up with him, wouldn’t I find out what was really going on? “No problem!” The guy nodded readily and led me into the elevator. When the number stopped at 20, the elevator doors slowly opened. The delivery guy looked at me helpfully: “Miss, does this look like your place?” “If not, I can help you look around other areas.” Thump thump thump! My heart started pounding. I immediately recognized the security door of our new home directly across from the elevator. Mom and Dad had shown it to me over video calls before. I couldn’t be mistaken. I’d actually made it to the twentieth floor! Seeing how excited I looked, the delivery guy smiled happily too. He handed me the food, helped me with my suitcase, then took the elevator back down. Looking at the door so close at hand, I was incredibly excited. But just as I turned to knock on the door, my pupils suddenly contracted! I was back on the first floor again! 3 I’d clearly just turned around to take something from the delivery guy. How did the security door right before my eyes suddenly disappear? Not only that, but all the miscellaneous items piled in the hallway had vanished in an instant too. This place had changed back to look like the first-floor lobby! “How can this be…” My head buzzed. I rushed over to examine it carefully. Where the door had been was now completely empty—just a wall painted snow white. I knocked on it hard. The wall made a muffled thud. From the sound, I could tell this was a solid wall. A chill shot up my spine. How was this possible? I panicked instantly, but still refused to give up. I knocked on different spots across the wall surface. All of it was solid. By the time I’d knocked until my hand hurt, I still hadn’t found anything unusual. I sat down against the wall, feeling utterly absurd. This had just been the twentieth floor a moment ago. I’d been one step away from getting home. How did everything change in the blink of an eye? “Impossible… this just can’t be done…” I stood up and rushed into the stairwell. “The stairs can still prove it! If this is the 20th floor, then the stairs should go down.” “I’ll know by checking the stairs!” In my previous life, I’d climbed up from the first floor. I remembered clearly that there was no basement here—the first floor absolutely had no stairs going down. But the next second, I froze in place. There were no stairs going down. Only stairs winding upward. This really was the first floor. “How can this be…” I’d clearly just been on the 20th floor—I’d even seen the door to our home. How did everything disappear in the blink of an eye? “Mom! Dad! Where are you!” “Come out!” “Why has everything here disappeared? Why can’t I get home?” I shouted in desperation. Only the hollow echo of my voice in the corridor answered me. Bang! Suddenly a door upstairs opened, and an elderly woman with white hair came down impatiently, glaring at me. “Are you trying to die? What are you wailing about here?” “If you can’t get home, then leave. You’re giving everyone bad luck.” “Whose kid are you? Which unit do you live in? How can you have such poor manners?” The woman stared at me angrily, but I had no mind to deal with her. Instead, I stared blankly at the smooth first-floor ground beneath her feet. It had been worn shiny from long-term use—it absolutely couldn’t have been temporarily installed. In other words, I really had gone from the 20th floor back to the first floor in an instant. Could it really be like my friend said—that I was mentally foggy from being too tired? But I was still holding the food the delivery guy had just given me. The address on it was still 2001. This proved I’d definitely reached the 20th floor! “Ma’am, I’m from unit 2001, but I just had a fight with my parents and got kicked out.” “Could you please be kind enough to take me back home and help me make peace with them?” I steadied my thoughts and looked at the woman pleadingly. Seeing the suitcase by my feet, the woman seemed to believe my story. Her expression softened a bit. “You’re the daughter from 2001? Your mom and I get along pretty well.” “Don’t worry, I’ll help smooth things over for you in a bit.” She took my hand and dragged my suitcase as we entered the elevator together. Watching the elevator numbers slowly climb from 1 again. Ding! The elevator doors opened. 4 Looking up, we were back on the 20th floor. The familiar security door of our home came into view! I gripped the woman’s hand tightly, not daring to let go for even a second, afraid that if I did, everything would disappear again. “Ma’am, please come knock on the door with me. I’m afraid to go home alone in case they scold me.” The woman patted the back of my hand understandingly. She pulled me to the door. The woman knocked on the security door, and soon Mom’s voice came from inside: “Coming!” The door opened. Mom looked at me with surprise and delight. “Olivia, you’re home!” “Your brother just said you were waiting for him downstairs. It’s so cold down there!” “Mom tried calling to tell you to come up first, but somehow couldn’t get through.” Dad poked his head out from the kitchen, white flour dusting his hair. “Olivia’s home? Come on in.” “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Dad made your favorite dessert.” Seeing Mom and Dad with my own eyes, hearing their voices with my own ears, all the strangeness from the evening instantly evaporated. I threw myself into Mom’s arms, choking up. She laughed and patted my back: “Come inside.” I nodded, let go of Mom, and grabbed my suitcase, about to enter the house. BOOM! A thunderclap exploded in my mind. I suddenly realized something. I quickly turned around to look. Mom and the neighbor woman, who’d just been standing behind me chatting and laughing, had disappeared. I turned back to look at the door—it had vanished too! Just like last time, only that wall remained! I was back in the cold, windy first-floor lobby. My head was buzzing. “What on earth is going on…” “Could this really be my hallucination?” Gurgle gurgle. My stomach growled. Having just smelled the aroma of food from inside the house, I was suddenly hungry. If this really was a hallucination from being too tired, how could I explain that aroma? I took a deep breath. My phone rang. Mom’s anxious voice came through: “Olivia, where did you go?” “I just walked someone to the elevator, and when I turned around you were gone!” “You even took your luggage with you. Where are you going?” I didn’t know how to explain. My voice was bitter as I spoke: “Mom, I’m downstairs.” “I probably can’t get home today.” There was a pause on the other end, then her voice became even more anxious. “Silly child, what are you talking about? How can you not get home?” “Just sit tight downstairs. Mom’s coming down to get you right now.” Just as the call was about to end, a burst of noise came from the other side. Then came my brother’s cheerful laughter and my friend’s sweet greeting. I sniffled. So in this life too, they got home first. My brother took the phone from Mom, his tone concerned. “Olivia, when Luna and I got back, we specifically looked around downstairs but didn’t find you.” “We thought you’d already come home, so we came up.” “Where are you now? Luna and I will come get you.” Hearing their concern, I felt no warmth at all. In a flash of insight, a thought suddenly appeared in my mind. So that’s it! I laughed coldly. “Stop pretending. Everyone come out.” “I know why I can never reach the 20th floor!”

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Mom loved to distill her parenting philosophy into rules. My older sister, Aria, was raised as a little princess. Mom always called her “baby,” and she grew up spoiled. When I was born, Mom assigned me a different label: the last four digits of my Social Security Number, 2328. She believed that a name stripped of emotional attachment would forge an independent personality. For twenty years, to her, I was 2328. Then, on Christmas Day, I brought my boyfriend home. When he called me “baby” over dinner, my mother slammed her cup onto the floor. “How dare you call her that? Her name is 2328!” “I ruined Aria by calling her ‘baby.’ I won’t let you ruin Serena, too!” “Baby, let me peel a shrimp for you.” Before Kyle could finish, Mom’s cup hit the floor with a crack. “What did you just call her?” Kyle froze. He looked from me to my mom, utterly confused. “‘Baby’…What’s wrong?” “Baby?” Mom’s voice shot up an octave. “Her name is 2328!” I watched Kyle’s expression morph from confusion to pure bewilderment. Under the table, I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. With a sigh, I turned to Mom and said softly. “Mom, let’s just eat. It’s only a nickname.” “It’s not only a nickname.” She straightened up, settling into her lecturing posture. My hands clenched. Here we go again. “I called her sister ‘baby’ from the day she was born. I spoiled her. She turned out rotten. I learned from my mistake. When Serena was born, I did it right. I’ve called her by the last four digits of her Social Security Number ever since.” Mom’s eyes locked onto Kyle. “So please, call Serena by 2328.” The living room fell into dead silence. Kyle swallowed awkwardly. Aria emerged from the bedroom, her pocket still stuffed with the money Mom had secretly slipped her when she thought I wasn’t watching. “Mom, you’re scaring him.” She drifted over to Kyle, her tone light and explanatory. “Don’t take it personally. My mom is just…very dedicated to her parenting theories.” “Look at me. She called me ‘baby’ my whole life, and look how I turned out. Still trying to kick all the bad habits she baked into me.” “So with 2328 here, Mom doesn’t allow names. No nicknames. Just the last four digits. It’s her foolproof method.” “She says it prevents dependency and builds character.” Aria let out a laugh that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m basically her living cautionary tale.” Her mock-pitiful tone made me dig my nails into my palm. Mom seized the moment to drag me into the bedroom. “What’s wrong with you?” She looked at me with scrutiny. “I worked so hard to raise you as an independent woman, and you turn around and become some man’s pampered wife?” “He just called me ‘baby’ once.” I kept my voice as calm as possible. “Mom, you can’t expect everyone around me to call me 2328, can you? It makes me uncomfortable…” “What’s uncomfortable about it?” Her eyes were cold as ice. “I sacrificed your sister as my parenting experiment. All the failed lessons I learned from her, I corrected with you. You got the better deal!” “Better deal?” I looked up at her. “So calling me by a number, forcing me into emotional isolation, making me feel unloved-that’s for my own good?” Mom’s eyes widened. Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ve raised two children. Don’t I know better than you?” “Only by making you emotionally independent of others can you become strong and self-reliant.” I watched her stubborn expression, suddenly feeling deflated. Before bringing my boyfriend home, I’d joked that my family had some “special rules.” He’d laughed and ruffled my hair. “How special could it be? They’re not going to ban me from eating, right?” I’d thought Mom would set aside those ridiculous rules for my boyfriend’s first visit. I bit my lip and looked straight into Mom’s eyes. “Mom, are these rules of yours really for my own good?”

Memories poured out like a broken faucet, unstoppable. On my first day of preschool at age three, I asked Mom in confusion. “Mommy, the teacher says my name is Serena. Why do you always call Aria ‘baby’ but call me 2328?” Mom looked at me, enunciating each word. “To me, you’re 2328. Don’t get all sentimental about it.” I didn’t understand. I just nodded blankly. When I was five, Aria beat up a neighborhood kid for taking her toy. Mom paid two thousand dollars in medical bills, then immediately set a new rule for me. “2328, from now on, if someone hits you, don’t hit back. Just come tell me.” I remembered. After a bully pushed me off the slide and I scraped my knee badly, I held back tears and went home. Mom disinfected my wound while asking. “Why did he push you? Did you provoke him?” I opened my mouth, but seeing Mom’s interrogating look, I didn’t dare speak. Turns out Mom didn’t tell me not to fight back so she could defend me-she just didn’t want me causing her trouble. At thirteen, Aria became obsessed with fashion. Mom bought her dress after dress, accessory after accessory. Aria grew increasingly materialistic, narcissistic like a proud princess. Seeing this, Mom immediately cut up all the clothes in my closet, leaving only two T-shirts and pairs of pants. “Look at Aria, all she cares about is appearance. You need to focus entirely on studying.” The result? I was mocked and isolated for three years for my shabby, outdated clothes. When Aria reached senior year, Mom hired her a private tutor at three hundred dollars an hour. She forced Aria into college. The day the acceptance letter arrived, Mom said to me. “See? Aria relied too much on tutoring. She lost her ability to study independently-that’s why she didn’t get into a top 10 university.” She dragged me home from school and locked me in my room, forcing me to “study independently.” I ended up only getting into community college. “Community college is great-practical. Your sister’s school costs thirty to forty thousand a year. You’re better off learning a trade.” During Aria’s four years of college, she posted daily on social media about dinners, trips, and the living expenses Mom sent her. Mom liked every post while messaging me. “Aria is wasting her time. Mom applied for student loans for you. You’ll pay them back yourself-that way you’ll value your education.” So during school, I worked three jobs. I graduated with thirty-six thousand dollars in debt. Meanwhile, Mom paid all of Aria’s tuition and living expenses. All I got was: “2328, you’re so much more independent than your sister. You never make Mom worry.” For over twenty years, Mom used Aria as her educational “experiment.” She pampered and protected Aria, doing everything to elevate Aria’s life. Yet she constantly told others she’d “ruined” Aria. And me? I was the “lucky one” who benefited from her timely course correction. Aria’s bright confidence became “vanity.” Aria’s carefree attitude became “irresponsibility.” Aria’s sense of security became “spoiled willfulness.” Meanwhile, my timidity, insecurity, and frugality got repackaged as maturity and self-reliance. “Mom learned from all her mistakes with Aria and corrected everything with you.” “Look how well you turned out. You never make Mom worry.” My life was severely pruned and trimmed. But unlike Aria, I never received love’s nourishment. “How is this not for your own good?” Mom shot back, looking at me like I was ungrateful. “Mom, I don’t want to be called 2328. I want someone to call me ‘baby’ too. Buy me a dress. Stand up for me once. I want to be cherished just once…” Mom’s expression froze. “I practiced so much on your sister and gave you all the right methods. Now you got the better deal and you’re complaining?” Her lips trembled, her eyes filled with warning and anger. Aria entered the bedroom, glancing at us. “2328, your boyfriend is so rude. He just up and left.”

By the time I reached the living room, it was empty. Kyle had gone. Only a text message remained. “Serena, I’m heading home. Please don’t fight with your mom on my account. Your family rules are…unique. I need some time to think..” I stared at those words, my thumb hovering over the reply box. I typed a single word. “Okay.” What else could I say? Explain why my mother made such rules for me? Explain why those rules only applied to me? Being unloved was obvious. I turned to go back. Uncle Robert’s laughter reached me first. In the living room, Mom and Aria were already seated at the dining table. “Rachel, don’t worry. I’ve got Aria’s transfer covered.” Robert patted his chest. “The HR director at her company is my high school buddy. Moving her to an easier position is just a phone call away.” Mom beamed. “That’s wonderful. You know Aria’s lazy. Her current position is too demanding, and she has to work night shifts.” After graduating, Mom pulled strings everywhere to get Aria into the city’s largest state-owned enterprise. After just a few years, Aria constantly complained about the work being too hard. But from what I knew, the so-called night shift only came once a month. And it was just from 6 PM to 11 PM. Five hours of work, and Aria complained endlessly. She insisted Mom find connections to transfer her to a cushy position with good pay and little work. Robert set down his wine glass and suddenly turned to me. “By the way, Ser-” He nearly blurted it out, then glanced at Mom and quickly corrected himself. “2328, what company are you working for now?” My throat tightened. “A small private company. I do operations.” “A small company?” Robert’s voice rose. “Why not have your mom pull some strings too? Get into a big company-easier work, better benefits. Look at Aria, how comfortable she is.” Mom held her rice bowl, watching me with satisfaction. She opened her mouth with that familiar backhanded compliment. “Oh, 2328 doesn’t need anyone to worry about her. She’s the hardworking type, unlike her lazy sister.” “She works so hard, staying at the office until 10 PM every night. That’s a good place to develop character.” My hand gripped the fork tightly. Back when I had trouble finding work due to my education, I’d struggled to land this job. I worked desperately at the company not because I loved hardship-it was because I had no connections, no backing. The only way was to sell my time and labor in the most basic way to earn a little more. When I got sick with a fever after a week of overtime, Mom just made a brief phone call. “2328, you’re an adult now. Buy your own medicine when you’re sick. Young people need to work harder to get noticed by the boss.” But when Aria got varicose veins from sitting at her desk, Mom went to massage her legs daily, applying expensive ointments. Now she was even asking Robert to transfer Aria to an easier position. I laughed bitterly inside, feeling suffocated. “No need. My current job is fine.” My voice was dry. Back in the bedroom, I closed the door. I pulled out my phone and opened my manager’s chat. “Manager, I’ll take the three-year transfer to the branch office.” The branch was in Alaska. It was newly established and needed people to develop business. But Alaska was three thousand miles from home. And it was a three-year commitment. No one wanted this difficult assignment. I’d initially refused too. I didn’t want to leave home. I wanted to stay close to Mom to take care of her more easily. I also didn’t want to be separated from Kyle. But now, there seemed no need. Message sent. I wiped my face. After a long while, someone knocked on the door.

“2328, come out and sweep the living room. Don’t hole up in your room on Christmas.” I gripped the broom, looking at Aria scrolling on her phone on the couch. “Just me?” I asked. “Aria can’t do anything right. You expect her to help?” Mom walked over and patted my shoulder. “You do a bit more, and people will praise you for being diligent and sensible. Mom’s building your reputation.” Same as always. Seemingly criticizing Aria, but completely exempting her from work. I felt numb inside, mechanically starting to sweep. “Oh, I need to tell you something.” Mom’s expression was deliberately casual. “The demolition notice came through for our old house.” I stopped moving. Aria looked up from her phone. “They’re compensating us with two commercial apartments on Oceanview Road.” “Mom thought about it. One will be transferred to my name, one to Aria’s name.” The air suddenly went quiet. Only the exaggerated music from the TV remained. “I don’t get one?” I heard my voice ring out awkwardly in the living room. “It’s close to your sister’s company but far from yours. Even if I gave it to you, it wouldn’t be convenient.” Mom spoke quickly, as if afraid I’d ask more questions. “Besides, after I’m gone, the one in my name will go to you two sisters anyway.” My hands trembled uncontrollably as I gripped the broom. For the first time, I abandoned decorum and asked directly. “Then why not transfer the one in your name to me?” Mom clearly hadn’t expected me to ask such a “shameless” question. She paused, then grew angry. “Your sister is careless. If you don’t take care of me either, don’t I need to keep something for security?” I lowered my eyes and laughed softly. “Didn’t you always say you raised me to be sensible and obedient? Are you afraid I won’t take care of you in old age?” Mom froze, her shoulders tensing. “You have a boyfriend now. Who knows if you’ll be led astray?” Her voice climbed to a shrill pitch. Aria watched from the sidelines, a spectator to the scene. “If I give you the house, what’s to stop you from turning around and handing it to some random men?” “Besides, it’s thanks to your sister’s example that I knew how to raise you properly. You owe your upbringing to her. Compensating her now is only fair. What’s your problem with that?” In that moment, my blood turned to ice. No matter how unjust her favoritism was, she could always wrap it in the language of fairness. In her mind, twisted logic simply became justified reasoning. I threw the broom to the floor, my words sharp and deliberate. “Well, you can stop worrying. After today, Kyle said he can’t handle us. We’re done.” “That man was never good enough for you anyway.” Mom turned away, already moving on. “Disrespecting our family rules on his first visit? He has no breeding.” “What rules? Rules to keep me in line?” My voice cut through the air, sharper and louder than I’d intended. Aria finally stood up from the couch, awkwardly trying to smooth things over. “2328, Mom is just being protective. She’s cautious for you.” “Look at your attitude!” Mom pointed at me. “After all I did to raise you, you talk to me like this? Over one apartment?” I looked at them both, feeling completely like an outsider. Right. Just one apartment. Like when I was little, it was just a nickname. Just one piece of clothing. Just tuition money. Growing up, it was just a job. Just an apartment. Just never being the favorite. A bitter laugh escaped me, leaving me chilled to the bone. I went to my room and started packing my few belongings. My mother watched, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “Where exactly will you go? All the hotels are closed.” I dragged my suitcase to the door, my voice flat and final. “Wherever it is, it won’t be back here. Not ever.”

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Maxwell was in a meeting when he accidentally opened a hidden folder, exposing sex videos of himself and his secretary, Vivian. To protect Vivian’s privacy, he forcibly dragged me onto the stage and publicly announced our ten-year relationship. “This is just a private hobby between Winona and me. It was my mistake. Please don’t judge her.” After we left the stage, I begged him desperately: “I’ve done everything you asked. Now please bring my mom back from the mountains. There’s a bear attack happening there!” But his secretary Vivian chose that moment to hand me a set of lingerie—the exact set she wore in the video: “Winona, to make sure everyone believes you’re the woman in the video, please put on this lingerie and take a few photos.” Under Maxwell’s coercion, I changed into the lingerie. Soon, my photos were circulating around the company. I became everyone’s laughingstock. I endured the humiliation, only hoping Maxwell would hurry and save my mom. But when I got home, the police delivered my mother’s suicide note.

“The bear is going to eat me. Winona, maybe it’s better if I die. Then you can finally escape Maxwell’s control.” A bloodstained piece of cloth, a few bone fragments—these were the last traces my mother left in this world. The officer delivering the note looked devastated. “Ms. Rivers, my condolences. By the time we received the distress call and reached the scene, this was all that remained. The bear had vanished without a trace.” My tears flowed uncontrollably. Maxwell—all the love I once felt for this man had completely dried up. After learning from the officer where they’d found my mother’s remains, I rushed to those mountains without stopping. Even finding just a little more trace of my mother would be a blessing. As I approached the location, I heard moaning sounds. When I got closer, I felt like I was going mad. “Maxwell, you’re so bad. Isn’t it enough that you torment me all the time? Now you have to exhaust me while camping in these remote mountains.” Vivian clung intimately to Maxwell’s neck, her face showing pure pleasure. “Maxwell, you really are heartless, making Winona take the blame for me. She’s been in a relationship with you for ten years.” “Getting to publicly announce our relationship made her so happy inside, how could she care about anything else?” “That woman gets so excited she can’t sleep all night just from hearing me say I like her.” Maxwell spoke these cold words so casually, and they pierced straight through my heart. My heart felt like it was being squeezed tight. Pain and bitterness surged up together. I had indeed loved him to my bones, willing to stay with him for ten years without any official status. Even when he used my mother to threaten me, I couldn’t bring myself to let go. But I never imagined that all my devotion was nothing but a joke to him, something he never took seriously. Bitterness spread through my mouth. I finally understood just how pathetic my one-sided love had been. Before I could retreat, Vivian’s sharp eyes spotted me and she shouted my name in fake surprise. “Winona, what are you doing here? Have you been stalking Maxwell this whole time?” “That’s so creepy.” Hearing my name, Maxwell’s smile vanished instantly. He stared straight at me. I lowered my eyes, unwilling to meet his gaze. I was afraid he’d see the flames of revenge burning in my eyes. But Maxwell thought I was feeling guilty. He threw on a shirt and walked up to me. He gripped my chin tightly, his voice ice-cold. “Winona, do you really like me this much? Enough to do something as disgusting as stalking?” “Since you like it so much, I’ll satisfy you.” The moment he finished speaking, he planted a heavy kiss on my lips. His kiss was full of domination and superiority, as if this was a reward he was granting me. But I only felt disgusted. His actions, his smell, his very existence—all of it disgusted me. I bit down hard on his lip. The taste of blood spread through my mouth. Maxwell pulled back in pain, staring at me in disbelief. The next second, he grabbed my throat tightly. “Stop playing these boring games with me.”

Before he could say anything more vicious, Vivian behind him let out a terrified scream. “There’s a bear!” In the distance, a massive bear was slowly walking toward us. Even Maxwell was trembling with fear. He released his grip on me. I gasped for air, then flashed him a brilliant smile. “Maxwell, I do love you.” “So let’s die here together, reunited in the bear’s belly.” Maxwell glanced at me in shock, treating me like I’d truly lost my mind. As the bear drew closer, his eyes darted between me and Vivian, hesitation in his gaze. No matter how fit he was, he could only take one extra person with him to escape. In the end, he grabbed Vivian’s hand and ran for their lives. “I’m sorry, Winona. Once I get outside, I’ll immediately call for help to rescue you.” Between me and Vivian, he made his choice. After Maxwell’s abuse, I didn’t even have the strength to run. I could only watch helplessly as the bear approached. I closed my eyes and silently prayed. Mom, I’m coming to see you. The bear was so close I could smell the stench from its mouth. Just as the bear was about to strike, the crack of a gunshot rang through the air. The bear’s head was pierced by a bullet. Its body crashed to the ground. I stood frozen, not yet understanding what had happened. A middle-aged man dressed like a hunter emerged, holding a rifle. He had only one piece of advice for me: “Girl, next time you choose a man, remember to use your eyes.” I smiled bitterly. I couldn’t agree more with those words. The look in Maxwell’s eyes as he left was burned into my mind. Though it was full of regret and hesitation, his body was more honest than his heart. The people Maxwell called arrived quickly at the scene. Surrounded by bodyguards, he rushed up to me and pulled me into a tight embrace. “Are you hurt anywhere? Winona, I’ll take you to the hospital right now. I’ll find you the best doctors in all of Sea City.” “Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t let anything happen to you.” I stared blankly at the man before me. The concern in his eyes and words seemed genuine. But it only made me feel worse. Because it proved he wasn’t incapable of loving me—there were just things more important to him than his love for me. Like Vivian, for instance. Seeing us embrace, a flash of malice crossed her eyes. Suddenly she cried out and collapsed, claiming she was in shock. Maxwell immediately let go and rushed to support Vivian, whispering comfort in her ear. As for me, he simply waved his hand and had a bodyguard take me to the hospital. When I left the hospital, I took all of my mother’s remaining belongings and had them cremated. Holding the lightweight urn, I returned home with a numb expression, planning to confront Maxwell and end everything. This relationship that had lasted ten years had exhausted me. It was time to end it. But as soon as I opened the door, I saw Vivian acting coy with Maxwell. Maxwell’s eyes were full of laughter as he recorded everything on his phone. Hearing the door open, both of them looked over at once. I froze in place, my mind blank. Maxwell’s brow was furrowed at first, but when he saw the urn in my hands, understanding dawned. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I didn’t expect you to actually be into this kind of thing.” “Considering your performance in the mountains today, I suppose I can play along with this little act of yours. Call it compensation.” “Vivian, hold my phone. Record this scene.” As he spoke, he took off his shirt and strode toward me. Not until his arm wrapped around my waist and his hot breath fell on my ear did I snap out of it. “Let go of me right now. Maxwell, what are you trying to do?” “I didn’t expect you to get into character so quickly. Have you been rehearsing?” As his actions grew more brazen, I slapped him hard in my fury. His eyes instantly turned cold and hard as he stared at me.

“Winona, what exactly are you trying to do? Weren’t you the one who wanted to make a video with me? Now you’re playing hard to get?” “My patience isn’t unlimited. If you want to film, let’s get on with it.” After I understood the meaning behind his words, I was too disgusted to speak. I looked at him like he was a stranger. How had the man I once loved so much become this filthy and ugly? Or perhaps he’d always been this way, and I was only now seeing the truth. “Open your damn eyes and look carefully. This is my mother’s ashes!” “Saying these things in front of a dead person—aren’t you afraid of karma?” He looked uncertain, staring blankly at the urn in my arms. But Vivian rushed over at that moment and whispered in his ear. The doubt in Maxwell’s eyes vanished, replaced by intense disgust toward me. “Before I had your mother placed in those mountains, I had Vivian arrange a team of mercenaries to protect her. How could anything have happened?” “Winona, just to win my affection, you’d even fake your own mother’s death. What disgusting thing wouldn’t you do?” He snatched the urn from me, opened it, and let out a cold laugh. “What normal person’s ashes would be this little? Winona, if you’re going to fake something, at least make it believable.” But the ashes were so sparse because there was so little left of my mother’s body. My heart was full of grievance, but Maxwell gave me no chance to explain. I could only swallow it down. “Since you already bought the props, I might as well put them to use.” “Vivian, help me finish that scene from earlier.” By the time I remembered what scene he meant, the two of them were already performing it right in front of me. Right in front of my mother’s ashes. Maxwell tied me up with rope. I could only watch helplessly as they defiled my mother with their actions. “No, please don’t. I’m begging you.” Tears streamed down endlessly, but they didn’t stir even a hint of mercy in Maxwell. He even spoke mockingly to the urn: “Your daughter’s boyfriend of ten years is with another woman. Can you see this from below?” By the end, I’d gone numb, watching them expressionlessly. When they finished, I picked up the urn without a word and left that disgusting place, not sparing them another glance. They disgusted me to the point of nausea. Worried that Maxwell might find my temporary residence and do something disgusting with my mother’s ashes again, I’d rather carry the urn with me to work. Ever since the scandal from the meeting had spread, my reputation at the company was completely ruined. Wherever I went, I could hear people whispering behind my back. “She acts so proper normally, but she’s so shameless in private.” “Only our Mr. Hunt would want her. Who else would like this kind of slut?” The source of all these rumors was Maxwell’s current woman, Vivian. But this life was finally about to end. Today I was here to resign. However, when I knocked on Maxwell’s office door, I was told Mr. Hunt wasn’t in his office—he was downstairs at the company entrance. I looked down through the floor-to-ceiling window in confusion and saw countless gorgeous, brilliant flowers. In the middle of a heart shape made of bouquets, Maxwell knelt on one knee. Just by reading his lips, I knew what four words he was saying: “I like you.” But the object of his confession wasn’t me. It was Vivian, her face full of bashful delight. Ten years. I’d waited ten years for his confession. Whenever I wanted to make our relationship public, he always found excuses to put me off. I never imagined the reason it would finally be made public would be this absurdly laughable. And the confession I’d waited ten years for was stolen by someone else. Falling in love with Maxwell truly was the biggest mistake of my life. Vivian accepted Maxwell without question. The two embraced excitedly and kissed passionately on the spot. I didn’t spare them another glance. After placing my resignation letter on Maxwell’s desk, I returned to my workstation to pack my things. All my colleagues were discussing the confession that just happened, openly and subtly scorning me. “Those two are so well-matched. Vivian is so much better than that Winona.” “Some ten-year relationship—probably just Mr. Hunt being kind to save her face. I bet she’s the one who’s been pestering him for ten years.” These words flowed through my mind like water, unable to stir even a ripple. But when I returned to my desk, the urn that had been sitting there was gone. My heart sank to the bottom. Ignoring others’ contempt, I frantically asked the surrounding colleagues. After learning Vivian had taken it, my vision went black and I nearly fainted. That woman would definitely do something terrible to my mother’s ashes. My mother’s ashes couldn’t afford any mishap. I headed to the CEO’s office once more. When I arrived, I saw Vivian had poured all the ashes into a flowerpot with several vibrant roses planted in it.

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My fiancé, Derek Stone, deliberately pursued the girl who bullied me in middle school—Vivian Ford—to get revenge for me. He promised me: “After I punish her a hundred times, I’ll dump her immediately and marry you!” But when his punishment game ended, he brought Vivian home from the psychiatric hospital. Afterwards, he casually instructed me: “Vivian has a mental illness and doesn’t remember you anymore. She can’t handle any more stress, so I told her you’re our housekeeper. Also, she’s been having nightmares and needs me to sleep beside her, so you’ll be staying in the guest room from now on.” Everyone was waiting to see me humiliated, but I calmly accepted it all. Derek said with satisfaction: “You’re doing the right thing! Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you from now on.” Six months later, I dragged my luggage out, ready to leave. But Vivian urged me to stay, and Derek threw out a bank card: “Eight million dollars. Stay and take care of Vivian.” I didn’t take it. He didn’t know—this time, I was really leaving him.

“If the money’s not enough, I can add more. You can’t leave.” Meeting my reddened eyes, Derek said frantically: “Vivian’s pregnant again. She needs someone to make her nutritious meals.” His words made me laugh. I had been forcibly injected with large amounts of hormones by Vivian in the past, which damaged my reproductive system. He had promised me with tears in his eyes that he would make sure Vivian could never have children. Now, she was pregnant again. I only remembered that last time, when Vivian miscarried because I gave her the wrong medication, I was stripped naked and locked in the morgue for eight hours, developing severe hypothermia. Seeing that I didn’t respond and just kept walking, Derek tried to make me stay for the first time ever. “I know you don’t like bland food. After Vivian finishes eating, I can take you out to eat.” As soon as he finished speaking, Vivian in his arms suddenly curled up and clung to him. “Derek, my stomach hurts…” Derek’s expression instantly became frantic. He swept Vivian up in his arms and barked an order at me to call the family doctor. I obediently dialed the number. While he was taking care of Vivian, I turned to leave, but Derek grabbed my wrist and scolded me sharply: “Vivian’s in this condition and you still want to leave? How can you be so vicious?” Me, vicious? I laughed bitterly. “If I were vicious, I wouldn’t have called the doctor for her.” Next thing I knew, he yanked me down to my knees. “Apologize!” My knees slammed hard onto the marble floor, and my ankle twisted at a grotesque angle. I didn’t make a sound. “If you hadn’t been so difficult, insisting on leaving home, would Vivian’s stomach hurt? Don’t you owe her an apology?” I took a deep breath, thinking of the people abroad waiting for me to follow up on the project. I lowered my head. “I’m sorry…” Without changing my expression, I snapped my ankle back into place and asked softly: “Can I go now?” Staring at my severely swollen ankle, he threw me onto the sofa. “Your foot’s all swollen and you’re still causing trouble. If it weren’t for you, Vivian wouldn’t have become mentally ill. What’s the point of putting on this disgusting act?” The family doctor arrived quickly. After calming Vivian down, the doctor came over to examine my foot with a pitying look. “The ligaments are almost completely torn. Don’t put weight on it, try not to walk much, or it might develop into a fracture. I’ll prescribe you—” “Mmm…” Vivian let out a perfectly timed moan. Derek instantly exploded in rage, pointing at the doctor and cursing: “The pregnant woman isn’t treated yet, why are you bothering with her! It’s just a sprained ankle, she won’t die. If something happens to Vivian, how will you take responsibility?” Vivian wrapped herself around Derek’s waist. “I want some water.” Derek looked around, grabbed a pair of scissors from the medical kit, and hurled them at me. “What are you standing there for? Go get Vivian some water!” I wiped the blood trickling from my forehead into my eye and limped away. After Vivian drank the water and fell sweetly asleep, Derek finally spoke as if granting me a favor: “Treat your wound too, so you don’t scare Vivian when she wakes up.” When he turned around, he found I had already bandaged myself with gauze. Alcohol, ice packs, gauze—I kept these supplies on hand every day and had to restock them frequently. His eyes showed a moment of surprise. “I’ll take you to get scar removal treatment tomorrow. I won’t let you be disfigured.” I thanked him perfunctorily. Back in my room, I sent that person a message.

“Give me a few more days. Let me handle things here first.” He called me urgently: “Didn’t we agree on six months? Are you having second thoughts?” “No, there’s just some trouble. I need a little more time.” “The professor’s recommendation letter should arrive soon. Check for it and register your name at the branch office.” In the middle of the night, I woke up tormented by chest tightness and heart palpitations. I reached for the medication on my nightstand and swallowed it in one gulp. But the symptoms didn’t ease—they got worse. Nausea, a dull pain in my frontal lobe, wave after wave. Painful memories I had temporarily forgotten all came flooding back into my mind. I couldn’t help grabbing any sharp object nearby and scraping it hard across my skin. I didn’t sleep all night. At dawn, I discovered that the medication on my nightstand had been replaced with vitamins! Blood rushing through my body, I ignored the intense dizziness and charged straight into Derek’s master bedroom, grabbing him by the collar. “Derek, did she switch out my emergency antidepressants?” My finger pointed at Vivian in his arms. I was disheveled, like a madwoman. The next second, he covered my mouth and forcibly dragged me out of the bedroom. Once again thrown onto the cold floor, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Laughing at myself for forgetting the pain once the wound healed. Last time, Vivian had secretly unfastened my climbing safety harness, causing me to fall from eight meters high. After I came out of the ICU, the man gently comforted Vivian, then turned to me with harsh words: “If you don’t have the ability, don’t do extreme sports anymore. Look how scared you made Vivian.” Seeing him carefully close the door, afraid of waking the person inside, I asked with some desperation: “Do you know what it’s like when depression attacks…” He cut me off. Without saying a word, he quickly pulled me to the living room. “I know you’re suffering. But if you just endure it, it’ll pass. If Vivian gets stimulated, she could suffer brain death!” “I drove her to mental illness for your sake. Can’t you show her a little more tolerance?” I sneered mockingly. “How else should I be tolerant? Wash my neck clean and hand her a knife to play with?” “You…” He glanced at the bedroom and issued a command like a favor: “I promise you, after she gives birth, we’ll get married. But in front of her, you have to keep playing the role of housekeeper and accommodate her in everything.” He looked at the time, assumed I had agreed, and went back to accompany Vivian without looking back. I opened my phone and asked the doctor for another bottle of medication. “Has your condition gotten worse? You need to manage your emotions. Don’t let it develop into severe depression.” I comforted the doctor instead, not telling him why I was going through the medication so fast. It was late morning when Vivian finally woke up moaning. “Derek, my chest feels tight…” Derek panicked instantly, holding her tightly to comfort her. When the doctor said the cause was accidentally taking antidepressant medication, his eyes darkened with unclear emotions. “Derek, I just thought the things Elena ate in front of me looked delicious. I didn’t mean to…”

I sat to the side, indifferent, remotely replying to my project partners’ questions. My phone was suddenly knocked to the ground. The screen cracked from one corner and completely shattered. Last time my phone cracked in one corner, he said he’d take me to get it fixed. He never kept that promise. “Don’t you know to hide such dangerous medication when you take it? Are you happy now that Vivian took it by mistake?” I was stunned by the scolding. My phone kept vibrating. “Who’s messaging you?” Derek was furious. Without even looking, he stomped on it and crushed it completely. The vibrations stopped. I said nothing, just knelt down numbly and picked up the glass shards with my bare hands. I stood up, looked him straight in the eye, and decisively shoved the glass pieces into Derek’s mouth. I had no computer. All the data I had just been transferring hadn’t been backed up. Everything was destroyed in Derek’s hands. He was shocked and suspicious, using both hands to pull the glass from his mouth. “What are you doing, you psycho!” I was as calm as a real psycho. “Just demonstrating what a psychotic mental state looks like.” Meeting my eyes, he hesitated for a moment. “Mmm…” Vivian whimpered and began crying softly. Derek instantly rushed to her, picked her up, and ran toward the hospital. With tweezers, I picked out the glass shards from my palms one by one, then went out to buy a new phone. When I returned to the villa, Derek was sitting on the sofa with a dark expression, holding a recommendation letter in his hand. “You’re joining Azure Lotus?” Before I could answer, he tapped the recommendation letter on the coffee table. “Give this recommendation letter to Vivian.” I thought I had misheard and asked in disbelief: “Give it to her? You expect a mentally ill girl with no knowledge to go to Azure Lotus?” As soon as the words left my mouth, he slapped my left cheek numb. It swelled up high. From the corner of my eye, I could see his right hand was also trembling slightly. “I caused her to be delayed two years in graduation. Her career has been struggling ever since. I looked into it—it’s just a nominal position. You can help her with the work she can’t complete.” I pressed my tongue against my swollen cheek with a half-smile. How come when I was forced to drop out of high school and go abroad, no one thought to compensate me? “Fine, you give it to her.” With that, I walked past him, sat on the sofa, and started booking a plane ticket. The second before my phone was snatched away, I locked the screen. “What have you been doing lately?” I was used to his inconsistent controlling behavior. “If you want to know, just open the phone and look, won’t you?” But even when the phone showed it was locked, he never opened it. The password had always been my birthday. I had repeated it countless times. He never remembered it. I snatched it back. “Let me tell you how long it’s been. It was yesterday.” I didn’t know if he felt even a moment of guilt in his heart. I only saw him flee in panic. Tonight’s dinner was made by a hired housekeeper, all sweet dishes. I frowned and picked at a few bites. A piece of mango cake was pushed in front of me. “Not to your taste?” I casually tossed it in the trash. His expression turned ugly. “How can Elena waste food?” Vivian immediately squatted down, trying to dig through the trash can for something, but Derek stopped her in time. I was dazed, remembering when Vivian had forced my head into a bathroom trash can to search for a necklace with my mouth. “Stop being unreasonable!” Derek’s angry shout pulled me back to reality. The dishes in front of me trembled from the force. “Derek, I can’t eat high-sugar foods. And I’m allergic to mangoes.” The man’s rage immediately died down. He stared at the mango cake in the trash, lost in thought.

“Hiss~” Vivian’s hand was somehow cut by something sharp in the trash can. Derek’s mind went blank. He only cared about her wound. “Derek, I remember you said you’d take me to the beauty salon for scar removal. How about tomorrow?” Vivian’s eyes immediately filled with tears: “But you promised to help me water the flowers…” Derek’s expression showed difficulty. I said calmly: “I’ll go by myself.” The next day, as soon as I left the villa, I called my friend abroad. “Today’s the day. Contact them and send a car to pick me up at the airport directly.” I chose a spot without surveillance cameras to wait for the car, not wanting Derek to know my whereabouts. But within minutes, I was surrounded by a group of people. “Elena, the beautiful girl returns home and doesn’t even tell us old classmates?” These were the people who had bullied me alongside Vivian back then. Seeing them, my blood froze. Discomfort instantly swept through my entire body. With a thread of rationality, I reached for my medication, but just before it reached my mouth, someone nearby snatched it away. “I heard people with severe depression will kill themselves? We’ve never seen that before!” I was surrounded until I couldn’t see a ray of sunlight. I curled up in agony. But someone grabbed the hair on the back of my head tightly, forcing me to display my anguished expression before their eyes. “There are no cameras here. Even if we played you to death, no one would know.” In the chaos, someone pulled my hair, someone slapped me, someone tore at my clothes, and camera flashes blinded me. “Stop it!” Everyone uniformly released me. I saw Vivian pick up my dust-covered medication from the ground and shove it into my mouth. “Why did you save me?” Vivian showed me that all-too-familiar smile, like a coiled venomous snake. Only then did I realize—everyone had been fooled. She never had a mental illness at all. “Naturally because I’m afraid you’ll die.” “I can only be this unrestrained because of Derek’s guilt. But if you died, how would I know who he feels more guilty toward?” “I want you to live consciously and watch how I toy with you.” She helped me up and straightened my clothes and hair. Before I could react, she grabbed my hand and leaned backward provocatively. “Vivian!” Derek finally found the “lost” Vivian and rushed straight to her, completely ignoring my disheveled state. “They were bullying Elena. I helped her, but she tried to hit me. My stomach hurts so much…” Derek swept her up in his arms, kissing away the tears at the corners of her eyes tenderly. He turned his head and glared coldly at me. “Ungrateful! They should have beaten you to death!” I stood there thunderstruck. The successive mental shocks left me somewhat dazed. Watching the car drive away, leaving me alone, I ignored the people watching and laughing behind me and limped away. Two hours later, carrying only my passport, I got out of the car at the airport. Before the plane took off, I received a message from Derek: [Vivian’s at her prenatal checkup. Come over and get examined too. Give her a proper apology.]

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Picking up my husband at the airport, I bumped into Brandon Harrison, my ex-fiancé who’d ghosted our wedding two years ago to go see elephants in Kenya with his adopted sister. I was wearing sunglasses, but he still spotted me instantly in the crowd. “Alexis , I’m back to marry you.” My eyes narrowed slightly. “You are…?” He gave a helpless chuckle. “Hey, sweetie, don’t be mad, I didn’t mean to ditch for so long. After Willow saw the elephants, she wanted photos, and she’s my only sister, so I had to spoil her.” “Two years of shooting and, boom, done! I rushed back to fulfill our engagement.” That’s when it clicked. This man was my ex-fiancé! But seriously, had no one bothered to tell him I married his uncle the same day he ran away? …… The airport was a madhouse. Brandon Harrison wheeled a luggage cart with one hand, a Chanel bag dangling from the other. Willow, her skin several shades darker, perched on the suitcase, letting Brandon push her along. Two years in Africa made them look like they’d spent two years digging coal. Absolutely sun-baked. Brandon used to be so fair, handsome, and in great shape. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have agreed to the arranged marriage. But now… Good thing he wasn’t my husband anymore. I took off my sunglasses, forcing a polite smile. “Oh, my apologies. Long time no see. You both have changed so much, I didn’t recognize you at first glance.” Willow, true to form, immediately spat. “Don’t pretend you didn’t recognize us! You’re obviously here to pick up Brandon!” “If Brandon and I hadn’t ditched our phones and gone completely off-grid after we left, you probably would’ve tracked us to Africa yourself!” “Honestly, I don’t know what Brandon sees in you. You’re just a pretty face with nothing else going for you.” Willow huffed, turning her head away dramatically. Brandon ruffled her hair, a helpless smile playing on his lips, and playfully poked her nose. “You can’t be so childish after Alexis and I get married.” “Otherwise, I won’t take you on your artistic journey to Africa next year.” After calming Willow down, he turned to me, explaining, “She’s just got a childish temper. You know her dad died protecting me in that car crash, and she lost her father because of it.” “Once we’re married, we’ll be a united front. I hope you can look out for her, treat her like your own sister.” Was he even listening to the BS coming out of his mouth? I rolled my eyes, a silent, elegant dismissal, and flashed the wedding ring on my finger. “Mr. Harrison Jr., thank you for bailing on me back then. It led me to a man a thousand times better than you.” “And please, don’t flatter yourself. I’m here to pick up my husband today.” Brandon froze. Then he narrowed his eyes at me for a long moment before raising an eyebrow and smiling. “Alexis , do you take me for a fool?” “The Harrison-Hayes merger was the talk of New York two years ago. Every socialite and dignitary was there. Everyone knows you’re my fiancée, Alexis.” “Okay, it was wrong of me to run away and embarrass you, but your reputation is trashed. Who else would possibly want you after this?” So that’s why he dared to run! He was convinced I’d be a “discarded woman,” that no one else would have me! He truly overestimated himself and underestimated me. To clean up his mess, Grandpa had to make some serious sacrifices, not just financially with company shares, but also by involving his own son, Devin. To soothe the Hayes family’s fury, Grandpa had personally offered to transfer the shares originally meant for Brandon, to me. Looks like Brandon had no idea. Of course. Spending two years off-grid for Willow, not even making a single call home, he wouldn’t know any of this. Still, I hope he can keep that smile on his face when he returns to the Harrison family estate tonight.

Brandon initially refused the arranged marriage, saying he’d rather die than yield. But then he saw me, fell instantly in love, and declared he’d marry no one else. He shamelessly pursued me for over half a year. Seeing that he kept himself out of trouble and wasn’t a playboy, I finally agreed. But before long, Brandon had Willow by his side, an adopted sister he spoiled like a princess. On our wedding day, he got a call from her. “Brandon, remember what you promised? To take me to Africa to see the elephants.” “I’m waiting for you at the airport. If you don’t come, I’ll jump from the top floor!” Brandon gave me an apologetic look, then, without hesitation, he let go of my hand, abandoned the guests, and sprinted away. I received two texts from him, then he became unreachable. “Willow’s dad saved my life. Willow is his only daughter, I can’t let anything happen to her!” “Don’t worry, I’ll be back after she sees the elephants. A week at most, then I’ll be back to finish our wedding, and we can go to the Maldives for our honeymoon.” Grandpa Harrison was furious. To give the Hayes family an explanation, Grandpa Harrison promised me: “Alexis, it’s entirely the Harrison family’s fault for raising such an irresponsible son. Tell me, what compensation do you want?” I pointed to Grandpa Harrison’s youngest son, and the current head of the Harrison empire, Devin Harrison. “Then give him to me. This wedding still needs a groom.” And just like that, I married Brandon Harrison’s uncle. Thinking of this, I checked the time. Devin’s flight should be arriving soon. I was about to text him when his message popped up: My love, flight delayed. Just boarded, might be super late. Don’t wait up for me, Mr. Davies can pick me up. Love you. Followed by a huge heart emoji. A soft smile touched my lips, and my brows smoothed out. Even my annoying ex-fiancé didn’t seem so irritating anymore. Brandon stood with his arms crossed, a knowing smirk playing on his face as he stared at my phone. “Oh, what’s this? Hired an actor? Saved as ‘My Love’? And ‘flight delayed’?” “Alexis, don’t joke around like that. You know I’ll get mad.” With that, he suddenly leaned in, reaching out to touch my hair. I quickly stepped back, leaving his hand suspended awkwardly in mid-air. “I told you, I’m married. If you keep harassing me, you’ll be lucky if you only end up with a broken leg when you get home tonight.” Brandon burst out laughing, as if I’d said something hilarious. He pointed to my neck, raising an eyebrow. “That necklace you’re wearing, Grandpa said he’d pass it down to my wife. And you’re wearing it, yet trying to tell me you married someone else?” The necklace was indeed a gift from Grandpa Harrison, but it wasn’t meant for his wife. “I married…” Before I could finish, Willow cut me off. “Is it that necklace?” She hopped off the suitcase and pushed her way between Brandon and me. When she saw it was the necklace she’d been coveting, her eyes instantly welled up. She clung to Brandon’s arm, her voice dropping. “Brandon, I’ve liked this necklace for ages, and Grandpa never gave it to me. Now he just gives it to some outsider.” “Grandpa… doesn’t he see me as family? I’m just a driver’s daughter, unlike Alexis, who was lucky enough to be born rich. Even Grandpa prefers her.” Hearing that, Brandon’s face softened with apology again. He looked at me, a hint of awkwardness in his gaze. “Willow is young, and she’s had a tough life, so she’s always a bit insecure. Just let her have it.” “She likes this necklace, just give it to her. I’ll buy you a new one later, I promise it’ll be prettier and better quality than this one.”

I laughed. A bitter, angry laugh. “I suggest you get your head checked. If I’m not mistaken, Willow is twenty-five this year, a few months older than me, right?” “First, I hate man-children. Second, I hate manipulative parasites who steal from people. And she’s both.” My words stung Willow, and tears immediately streamed down her face. “Brandon will spoil me no matter how old I am, you’re just jealous!” “You’re not even married to Brandon yet, what right does an outsider have to Harrison family property? You’re the shameless one!” Willow was nominally an adopted daughter of the Harrison family, but in reality, she was more like a glorified housekeeper. Brandon had once campaigned to make Willow a true heiress, but Grandpa Harrison firmly refused, so he had to drop it. Because of this, he felt guilty towards Willow. Now, seeing her upset, he looked truly pained. He frowned. “Willow is different from you. She doesn’t have parents, she only has me. Grandpa refused to let her change her name, that’s why she has no sense of security…” I cut him off, offering a suggestion. “You want Willow to be recognized? Easy.” “If you marry her, I’ll gladly give her this necklace. Consider it a wedding gift from me.” I unclipped the necklace from my neck and extended it to Willow. Willow’s eyes widened in disbelief, then undisguised glee. She reached out to take it. “No!” Brandon snatched the necklace away, clutching it tightly in his fist. “What nonsense are you talking about? Willow is just… just my adopted sister. You’re the one I want to spend my life with!” “She’s family, but you’re my love. Don’t say things you don’t mean, or I’ll really get angry.” Staring into those supposedly loving eyes, I felt no emotion except disgust. Not wanting to waste another second, I turned and walked away. Ignoring whatever Brandon was still saying behind me. Stepping out of the airport, a discreet Maybach pulled up in front of me. The driver got out and opened the door. “Madam, Mr. Harrison instructed me to pick him up later. Shall I take you home first?” Devin had been away on a business trip for two weeks. Grandpa knew he was returning today and specifically requested dinner at the family estate tonight. Suddenly, someone pushed past me and quickly got into the car. Willow settled herself, then sneered. “Didn’t you say you were married? Why are you still hitching a ride in our family car? Go take your husband’s car!” Willow recognized the Maybach; it was Devin Harrison’s. Brandon evidently recognized it too, looking pleasantly surprised. After all, his uncle didn’t usually bother with such trivial matters. He sat next to Willow, buckled her seatbelt, then turned to me. “You can sit in front. Willow is used to sitting next to me. I’ll have the driver drop you off at the Hayes estate first.” “No need. I have my own car. Driver, please take them back to the estate. I have other plans.” I pulled out my car keys, pressed unlock, and a Lamborghini Veneno in the distance flashed its lights twice. Seeing me drive off in a supercar, Willow’s eyes glinted with jealousy. Brandon sighed. “She specifically came to pick me up, she must be upset I didn’t get in her car.” Then he asked the driver, “Did Uncle send you to pick me up?” The driver answered truthfully. “No, sir. I’m here to pick up Mr. Harrison.” The air hung heavy for two seconds before Brandon spoke. “…What a coincidence. So where is Uncle?” “Flight delayed.” I went to the spa, enjoyed a luxurious treatment, and only headed back to the estate when it was almost dinner time. The moment I stepped out of my car, I saw two figures kneeling stiffly, like wooden stakes, right at the front gate. Turns out, after the driver dropped them off, Grandpa Harrison, upon hearing it was Brandon and Willow, immediately slammed his cane to the ground and refused to let them in. “Get out! Why didn’t you just die in Africa? What are you back for?” Brandon gambled on Grandpa’s soft spot, dropping to his knees at the door. Willow, to accompany him, also knelt. Seeing me arrive, Brandon stood up and blocked my path. His previously dejected expression vanished, replaced by a smile. “I knew it, you couldn’t stay away.” “Did you hear Grandpa was punishing me and rushed over in a panic?” I grimaced and tried to walk around him. But he blocked me again, putting on a pretense of concern. “Don’t go in. Grandpa’s still fuming. I’m afraid he’ll take it out on you.” Willow had approached at some point. She pointed a finger at my nose, her voice accusatory. “Are you still holding a grudge about Brandon ditching the wedding for me?” “You’re the one stirring trouble, aren’t you? Grandpa usually dotes on Brandon, why would he refuse to let him in?” “You’re just here to gloat!” With that, she lunged at me, trying to grab me. I sidestepped, and she face-planted onto the ground. Willow landed hard, scraping her knee, and tears instantly flooded her eyes. Brandon pursed his lips, his smile fading. He immediately knelt to check Willow’s injury. Seeing she was fine, he skillfully scooped her up in a princess carry and consoled her for a long time until she finally started to smile through her tears. Only then did Brandon remember me. He sighed. “Alexis, you’re acting so unlike yourself.” “Willow never means what she says. If you’re going to marry me, you need to learn to be more tolerant of her.” “Just apologize to Willow this once. In the future, I hope you can change your attitude.” What? My vision swam. I sneered. “Should I also offer some compensation to soothe her wounded heart?” A flicker of greed flashed in Willow’s eyes. “I need a car for getting around. That one you drove today is barely acceptable.” A Lamborghini Veneno. Limited to 3 models worldwide, worth $23 million each. Willow really had some nerve. Brandon started making decisions for me again. “It’s rare for Willow to like something, so just give her the car. Consider it compensation for hurting her.” I stared at him, my voice flat. “You’re truly something.” “What?” Brandon didn’t catch on. “I said, you’re sick.” I shoved Brandon aside and walked straight into the house. “Stop right there!” Brandon realized he’d been played. His face was livid, and he threatened, his voice sharp. “Alexis , I’m telling you now, if you don’t apologize to Willow, you can forget about marrying me, forget about stepping foot into my family’s house!” CRASH— Suddenly, a cane came flying out, striking Brandon squarely on the head. From several feet away, Grandpa Harrison’s booming voice, surprisingly strong for his age, echoed clearly for everyone to hear. “You imbecile! Do you even know who that is?!”

Brandon winced in pain, about to lash out, but then he saw Grandpa Harrison approaching and immediately bit his tongue. “Grandpa, why are you hitting me? Willow’s completely terrified.” A profound silence fell. The butler, who was supporting Grandpa Harrison, and the maids behind him, all silently turned their gaze to me. Brandon, completely oblivious, spoke to the maids. “Quick, call a doctor to check Willow’s leg.” “You fool!” Grandpa Harrison was furious. He shook off the butler’s arm, picked up the cane from the ground, and struck Brandon’s shins several more times. Seeing the veins throbbing on Grandpa Harrison’s forehead, I worried he might suffer a heart attack and quickly intervened. “Dad, don’t get so worked up, it’s bad for your health.” Brandon’s mind went completely blank. He even let go of Willow, who tumbled to the ground, without noticing. He gripped my wrist tightly, reminding me, “Alexis, you’ve got it wrong. This is Grandpa, how can you call him ‘Dad’?” Grandpa Harrison roared. “Alexis is your uncle’s wife!” “Let go of her now!” Brandon’s pupils contracted. He flinched, letting go and taking a step back in shock. “No way!” “Uncle? How could Uncle marry her?” It wasn’t surprising Brandon would think this, as Devin Harrison was famously aloof. Everyone outside the family speculated he either had impossibly high standards or simply wasn’t interested in women. Before the wedding, Devin and I had only met twice. Once at the engagement party, when he accepted my toast. Once at the wedding, when he took my hand. I never imagined he would agree when I asked to swap grooms. Brandon frantically grabbed a maid, pointed at me, and demanded, “Tell me, what’s her relationship with my uncle?” The maid, seeing his furious expression, stammered, “She’s… she’s Mr. Harrison’s wife.” Mr. Harrison, meaning Devin. “Get out!” Brandon pushed the maid away with a cold face, then turned to the butler. “Butler, you watched me grow up, I trust you wouldn’t lie to me. You tell me!” The butler was silent for a few seconds before speaking. “It’s true, Madam married Mr. Harrison.” “Liars!” “You’re all liars!” Brandon’s face was utterly wretched. He remembered his elder sister, Clara, who lived overseas, and quickly dialed her on FaceTime. When she answered, Clara’s mocking voice came through. “Well, well, aren’t you still in Africa watching elephants? How do you even remember to contact me? I thought you only cared about your adopted sister, not your own flesh and blood!” “Then again, you didn’t even want your own wife.” Usually, Brandon would argue back, but now he just wanted to know if I was truly married to his uncle! He shoved the phone camera close to my face, asking urgently, “Clara, tell me, who is she?” Clara saw me and smiled, greeting me. “You’re getting more and more beautiful—” Her voice cut off. Brandon had ended the call. He hung his head, his fists clenched tight. Grandpa Harrison thought he had accepted reality and was about to offer some words of comfort when Brandon spoke. “Grandpa, why did you let the whole family put on an act to trick me?” “It was wrong of me to stay in Africa for two years. You’ve hit me, I’ve knelt, but this kind of joke isn’t funny.” He was still in denial. I stopped Grandpa Harrison’s cane from rising again. Looking into Brandon’s eyes, I said calmly, “You can look up the news from the day you ran away two years ago. My marriage to Devin Harrison was front-page news.” “My room in the estate, and our wedding photos, go ahead and see for yourself.” “If you still don’t believe it, I can even show you our marriage certificate.” At the words “marriage certificate,” Brandon collapsed onto the ground, his eyes bloodshot, as if I were the one who had betrayed him.

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New Year’s Eve. Brandon, my boyfriend of three years, invited me home to meet his parents. At dinner, he drugged my wine. “Skylar, the gangsters…they’ll chop my hands off if I don’t pay up. I had no way out! I had to give you to him.” “Don’t blame me. Blame your luck. You look just like his crush.” “It’s win-win. I pay my debts, you get a wealthy life.” Drugged and dazed, I was delivered by his family to gates I knew too well. The home of my uncle, Victor Thorne. Victor had always doted on Mom and me. The year my father laid a hand on her, Victor had him shipped to a remote African mine before sunset. I could barely imagine what Brandon was about to face… …… The tranquilizer hadn’t fully worn off. I lay slumped in the backseat of the car, unable to lift even a finger. The voices of Brandon, Frank, and Carol Miller reached me as a muffled drone, distant and indistinct. Brandon and I had been together since college, straight through graduation. Ours was a stable relationship, one that had never faced any real turbulence. Just before the holidays, he’d looked so sincere, saying he wanted to take me home to meet his parents, to talk about marriage. Thinking I needed to make a good impression on his family, I’d spent days meticulously preparing. I bought a new cashmere coat, got my hair done, and brought two expensive bottles of wine and a stack of gift boxes. But after just half a glass of water Carol poured for me, my vision started to blur. “Skylar, don’t blame me,” Brandon said, his face a mask of feigned grievance. “I was truly backed into a corner, with no way out.” “Five million! How was I supposed to pay that back? They’ll really chop off my hands!” I wanted to curse him, but my tongue wouldn’t obey, only choked, incoherent sounds escaped my throat. “Don’t feel so wronged, either,” he continued to ramble. “Mr. Thorne’s place isn’t some bad situation. He just likes your type.” “You’ll live a life of luxury with him, isn’t that better than being with me? I’m doing this for both of our sakes, a win-win, get it?” Win-win? You win my ass. The car sped through the darkness, the scenery outside the window a blur. I struggled to focus my eyes, trying to make out our direction. Until the car slowly decelerated, finally pulling up to a massive, intricately carved iron gate. This place, this gate, this estate… My heart leaped. My hazy mind felt like it had been doused with ice water, clearing slightly in an instant. No way. It couldn’t be. Brandon and his mom dragged me out of the car, one on each side, practically pulling me across the front lawn of the estate. My cashmere coat was disheveled and torn, my heels were long gone. Two straight-backed men stood by the door, watching us approach with expressionless faces. “Gentlemen, please inform Mr. Thorne. We truly couldn’t raise the money, so we came up with a new way to settle the debt.” Frank Miller bent at the waist, fawning over the men in black suits at the door. “We’ve brought Mr. Thorne a New Year’s gift. He’s definitely going to like it.” One of the men shined a flashlight beam across my face. The light stung my eyes, making me squint. “Her?” His voice was flat. “Yes, yes, exactly! My son’s girlfriend,” Carol quickly chimed in, forcefully pulling my face straight. “See? Doesn’t she look exactly like the woman Mr. Thorne commemorates every year? We specifically found out about that.” “And she’s a dancer, very graceful. She’ll be attentive to his needs!” My stomach lurched. The man was silent for a few seconds, then gestured to a subordinate nearby. “Go inform him.” He turned back to us. “Whether it works out or not, I can’t say. Just come inside and wait.” “Thank you, sir! Thank you!” Brandon nodded profusely, bowing repeatedly, as he dragged me towards the main house. By the time I was pulled into the parlor on the first floor, my legs had given out. I collapsed onto the cold floor. “Mr. Thorne is with a guest. Wait here,” the man said, then left. As soon as the door closed, Brandon immediately crouched in front of me, a mix of anxiety and calculation on his face. “Skylar, help me out, just this once.” He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. “When Mr. Thorne comes, just say you came willingly.” “Please, I won’t look down on you. I promise I’ll treat you well afterward!” I stared at him, unable to make a sound. “Don’t you dare stay silent!” Carol also leaned in, her nails digging into my arm. “If the Millers go down, you won’t have it easy either! Brandon’s your boyfriend, you should help him!” “Mom, don’t scare her,” Brandon faked a gentle reprimand, then turned back to me, softening his tone. “Skylar, I know you’re angry, but I really have no choice. Five million! They’ll kill me…” The tranquilizer was slowly wearing off. I could feel my limbs regaining sensation, and my tongue could move again. I took a deep breath, finally choking out a raspy sentence: “Get lost. I won’t.”

“What did you say?” Brandon’s face instantly darkened. He grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing me to look up at him. “Skylar, I advise you to think carefully before you speak.” A sharp pain shot through my scalp, but I gritted my teeth. “I said, I won’t. This is a crime. I’m calling the police.” Smack! A stinging slap landed hard on my face. My vision went black, my ears rang, and I tasted blood. “You’re ungrateful!” Brandon snarled through gritted teeth. “What do you think you are? You’re just a dancer, it’s your good fortune to be able to pay off my debt!” Carol followed up with a kick. “Exactly! Who are you to act so pure? It’s an honor my son chose you!” “Not her face!” Frank warned from the side. “If you damage her face, we’re all screwed!” Brandon finally let go. I lay sprawled on the cold floor, gasping for air. “Skylar, I’m asking you one last time,” he crouched down, pinching my chin. “Are you going to cooperate or not?” I stared at him, enunciating each word. “Absolutely not.” “Fine. Very well,” Brandon sneered, standing up and walking towards me. “Aren’t you a dancer? Aren’t you supposed to fulfill your mom’s legacy?” He lifted his foot and stomped down hard on my calf. “Ah!” The excruciating pain made me scream. “If this leg breaks, what dance will you do then?” He ground his foot down harder. “I heard your mom’s biggest wish before she died was to see you on an international stage. What a shame…” Fear instantly consumed me. Mom was one of the nation’s top dancers, but she passed away due to illness at the peak of her career. I had trained tirelessly in dance since childhood, all to honor her legacy. “No,” my voice began to tremble. “Don’t touch my leg…” “Now you’re scared?” Carol scoffed from the side. “Weren’t you tough a moment ago?” Brandon took his foot off, then crouched down again. “Then be a good girl and behave later.” “As long as you clear my debt, I’ll still marry you. We’ll go back to how things were.” I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face against my will. “That’s more like it,” Carol said, satisfied. “Go clean her up. She’s a mess, how can she be presented like this?” Brandon roughly dragged me off the floor, pulling me towards the private bathroom attached to the parlor. “I can do it myself,” I tried to struggle. “Shut up!” He shoved me into the bathroom. “Your makeup’s ruined, you look like a ghost.” He grabbed my hair, forcing my face under the faucet. The cold water made me shiver violently, my makeup washing off in streaks. Brandon grabbed the hand soap from the sink and smeared it directly onto my face. I choked, coughing. “Mmph…Stop!” “Clean her up properly. Mr. Thorne will want to see this face.” “She really does look like her. Damn. I only chased you because your face looks just like Mr. Thorne’s woman.” My heart sank completely. So that was it. Three years of a relationship, just a calculated setup from the start. Brandon rinsed the foam from my face, then roughly wiped it dry with a towel. Then he started ripping my clothes. “What are you doing!” I screamed in horror, clutching my chest. “These clothes are too conservative. You need something sexier.” He pulled a low-cut black dress from his bag. “Put it on.” “No!” “You won’t?” Brandon’s eyes turned cold. “Then don’t blame me for helping you.” He violently tore open the buttons of my cashmere coat. I shrieked and struggled, but he slapped me again with the back of his hand. “Stay still!” The bathroom door suddenly rattled. Carol’s voice came through. “Brandon, hurry! Mr. Thorne’s men are here!” Brandon froze, glaring at me viciously. “You’re lucky.” He dragged me out of the bathroom, pushing me back onto the parlor carpet. The door opened. Several men in black suits walked in. The one at the front, in his early thirties, had a scar on his face and cold, dangerous eyes. “Mr. Thorne will be here any minute,” the man with the scar, Jax, said, glancing at me. “Cleaned up?” “Cleaned up, perfectly clean!” Frank quickly forced a smile. “Jax, sir, take a look. Doesn’t she look exactly like her?” Jax took a few steps closer, crouching down to examine my face carefully. My heart pounded. Was this Jax, the new guy under my uncle? Victor had only mentioned him once, saying he’d only been with him for about six months, known for being ruthless, but still unfamiliar with family matters. I was doomed. He didn’t recognize me at all.

Jax stared at my face for a full thirty seconds, his expression shifting from scrutiny to something ancient and unsettling. “Uncanny. Damn uncanny,” he muttered. He reached out, his rough finger grazing my cheek. “She’s practically identical to the woman in the photos.” My body went rigid. I managed to squeeze out a sound. “Are you Jax? I’m…” Smack! Another slap, harder than Brandon’s. My head snapped to the side, blood oozing from the corner of my mouth. “Who told you my name?” Jax grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing me to look at him. “You’re just merchandise for debt, trying to pull rank on your grandpappy?” “No, I really am…” “Shut up!” He clamped a hand around my neck. “Say one more word, and I’ll rip out your tongue.” Suffocation gripped me. I clawed at his hand, but it was to no avail. The Millers stood frozen nearby, barely daring to breathe, fawning over Jax. “Jax, sir, what about… Mr. Thorne?” Frank tentatively asked. “Mr. Thorne is upstairs handling some business. He sent me down to check first.” Jax released me and stood up. “But I don’t think this girl is very cooperative.” He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, then crouched down and flicked the ash onto my face. “It’s your good fortune that you look like someone Mr. Thorne admired, but don’t think you can get away with anything just because of that face.” He pinched my chin. “Mr. Thorne hates it when people try to exploit his personal connections. You’d better know your place.” I coughed violently, tears streaming down my face. “I really am… I’m Victor’s niece, please believe me…” “Still spewing nonsense!” Jax roared in fury, kicking me hard in the stomach. I curled up in pain, felt like my organs were shifting. “Do you really think I wouldn’t know if Mr. Thorne had any siblings? Where would a niece come from?” Jax sneered. “What lies won’t you spin just to climb the ladder?” He gestured to a subordinate. “Bring the liquor.” A subordinate immediately handed him a bottle of vodka. Jax twisted off the cap, grabbed my chin, and started pouring it down my throat. The harsh liquor burned its way down my throat. I choked, my face flushing scarlet, alcohol streaming from my mouth, down my neck and soaking my clothes. “Drink it! Finish it!” Jax’s expression was distorted. “If Mr. Thorne comes and you dare to throw it up, I’ll throw you into the deepest, darkest pits of our operations and let every one of the guys have their fill!” He only released me after half the bottle was gone. I lay on the floor, dry-heaving, my throat burning. My vocal cords felt shredded, unable to form a complete sound. Brandon looked uneasy. “Jax, sir, if Mr. Thorne comes and she can’t speak…” “Better if she can’t speak,” Jax glanced at him. “Save her from talking nonsense.” He crouched down again, grabbing my right hand. “Pretty fingers, huh?” I stared at him in horror. “What a shame.” He sneered, then suddenly twisted with force. Crack! “AH!” My bloodcurdling scream echoed through the entire parlor. My index finger bent at an unnatural angle. The excruciating pain made my vision go black. “That’s just one,” Jax said, his tone light. “If you don’t behave, I’ll break all ten of your fingers.” I convulsed in pain, tears and snot blurring my face. “Mr. Thorne is here!” A subordinate at the door suddenly announced. Jax immediately stood up, straightened his suit, and adopted a respectful expression. The Millers also quickly stood at attention, heads bowed, not daring to look around. The door opened. A tall figure walked in, dressed in a black coat, with cold and severe eyes, radiating an aura that screamed ‘keep your distance’. It was my uncle, Victor. He scanned the parlor, his brows immediately furrowing. “What’s going on? It’s a mess.” Jax quickly stepped forward. “Mr. Thorne, these people came to settle a debt, and they brought a woman.” “I told you, don’t bring just anyone here,” Victor’s voice was icy. “Clean it up.” He said, then turned to leave. No! Don’t go! I used all my strength to push myself up, but my legs failed and I fell back to the floor, still unable to make a sound. My uncle’s footsteps didn’t falter. In desperation, I tore off the necklace my mother left me, the one around my neck. Then, with my working left hand, I threw it hard at Victor’s feet. The metal struck the marble floor with a sharp clink. Victor’s footsteps halted. He looked down, his gaze moving from the necklace on the floor to my bruised, tear-streaked face. His pupils constricted sharply.

Time seemed to stand still. Victor stood rooted to the spot, staring intently at the necklace on the floor. It was a gift he had personally designed for his sister, Celeste, on her twentieth birthday. He abruptly lifted his head, his gaze returning to my face. This time, he looked with agonizing care. The wisps of hair on my forehead, the tear-mole at the corner of my eye, my lips tightly pressed together from pain. And those eyes, even now, filled with agony and terror, still held a striking resemblance to his sister’s. “Skylar?” His voice was a shaky whisper, filled with disbelief. I wanted to nod, wanted to speak, but only a choked sob escaped me. Jax, still oblivious to the gravity of the situation, stepped forward with a laugh. “Mr. Thorne, this woman insisted on impersonating your niece. I’ve already punished her, you see…” “Punished?” Victor slowly turned his head, his eyes colder than ice. “What did you do to her?” Jax’s blood ran cold under that gaze. “J-just poured some liquor down her throat, broke a finger. A liar like her deserves…” “Kneel.” “What?” “I said, kneel!” Victor suddenly roared, his voice rattling the entire parlor. Jax’s knees buckled, and he crashed to the floor. The Millers all collapsed to their knees as well, trembling like leaves. Victor quickly walked to me, crouching down. His movements were so gentle, a complete contrast to before. “Skylar, is it really you?” He carefully brushed the hair from my face, his fingers trembling slightly as they touched my swollen cheek. I looked at him, tears streaming down my face. He finally recognized me. “Does it hurt?” His voice held a frantic edge I’d never heard before. “Where does it hurt?” I tried to speak, but only raspy gasps escaped my throat. Victor’s face instantly turned grim. He turned to look at Jax, who was still kneeling, and spoke each word distinctly. “You poured liquor down her throat?” “Mr. Thorne, I didn’t know she was…” Jax was already incoherent with fear. “I asked if you did!” Victor suddenly stood up, kicking Jax hard in the chest. Jax was sent flying backward, coughing up a mouthful of blood. “Lay a hand on my niece,” Victor’s voice was icy cold. “You’ve got some nerve.” He walked back to me, carefully scooping me into his arms. “It’s okay, Skylar, I’m here,” he soothed in a low voice. “Anyone who hurt you, I will make sure they pay.” My consciousness began to fade. The pain in my finger, the burning in my throat, all my injuries surged at once. But I still held on, grabbing Victor’s coat with my uninjured left hand, and weakly pointed towards the Millers. “They…” I managed to squeeze out two words. Victor followed my gaze. The sheer danger in his eyes was almost palpable. “Alright, I got it.” He carried me out, pausing at the threshold to address the guards. “Lock them up. Secure the room.” He glanced down at me, his voice dropping to a snap. “And get a doctor. Now.” The bodyguards moved. Cries and pleas for mercy from the Millers echoed from the parlor. “Mercy, Mr. Thorne! We didn’t know she was your niece!” “Brandon, beg her! Get Skylar to forgive us!” “Skylar! I was wrong. For our three years…” Their voices slowly faded into the distance. I sagged against Victor, all tension gone, and let the darkness claim me.

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Thanks for Taking My Ruin, Dear Sister! The day my parents divorced, two agreements lay on the table. One meant staying in the old neighborhood with my dad, who was drowning in gambling debts. The other meant moving to the coast with my mom, who’d remarried a wealthy man. In my last life, my little sister, Chloe, cried and begged for Mom. I quietly packed my bags and followed Dad. Later, Dad quit gambling and became a millionaire, spoiling me rotten. Chloe, however, was emotionally abused and trapped at home by her stepfather. She eventually succumbed to depression and passed away. This time around, Chloe snatched the cigarette from Dad’s hand and hugged him tight, refusing to let go. “Jade, I feel for Dad. You go to Mom’s, okay? I’ll keep the good life here for you.” Dad paused, then affectionately stroked Chloe’s head, a look of relief on his face. I said nothing, picking up the train ticket for the coast. Chloe didn’t know that in my last life, Dad only quit gambling because I, riddled with a brain tumor, worked myself to death to pay off his debts, coughing up blood. My life was the price for his temporary peace. Now, reborn, with no debt collectors banging on the door, all I wanted was a good night’s sleep. …… I picked up my duffel bag. “Get out, get out! Go find your mom, the one who only cares about money.” Dad waved his hand, like shooing away a fly. Chloe hid behind him, making a childish face at me. Her lips exaggeratedly formed the words: “Sis, don’t come begging me for money later.” I just smiled, saying nothing. Then I turned and walked into the rain. I pulled my neck into my shoulders, feeling a chill seep deep into my bones. Honestly, it didn’t matter where I went. I just wanted to find a quiet place to endure these last few moments. No more hearing the gamblers’ creditors banging down the door. No more smelling that sickening stench of cheap cigarettes. Mom’s black Mercedes pulled up at the end of the alley. The window rolled down, revealing her perfectly made-up face. She frowned, looking at me, drenched from head to toe, a flicker of disgust in her eyes. “What happened to you? Get in, quickly, don’t get the car dirty.” I opened the back passenger door, about to slide in. “Put that bag in the trunk.” Mom pointed at the duffel bag in my hand. “It’s filthy, probably crawling with germs.” I paused. But I still obediently closed the door and put the bag in the trunk. Back in the car, I huddled in the corner, careful not to touch the luxurious leather seats. The heater was on full blast, but I still felt cold. “Jade, once we get there, you need to be sensible.” Mom drove, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “Your stepfather doesn’t like noise. Don’t leave your room unless you have to.” “Eat quietly, and don’t drag your feet when you walk.” “And never mention your dad. He’s bad news.” I looked out at the rain streaking past the window and nodded. “Got it.” The familiar spike of pain lanced through my head again. My vision blurred for a second. I reached up and pressed my forehead. “What’s wrong?” Mom asked, her tone laced with impatience. “Nothing, just car sickness.” I said. “So delicate,” Mom scoffed. “Just like your dad.” I closed my eyes, swallowing back the metallic taste of blood that welled up in my throat. Next time, no way I’m signing up for this again. The drive took five hours. By the time the car pulled into the hillside villa community, it was pitch black outside. Though ablaze with lights, the whole place felt eerily dead. “We’re here.” Mom parked the car, touched up her lipstick, and took a deep breath. She was shifting gears, transforming from the sharp-tongued woman she was with me into a sweet, devoted wife. “Get out of the car. Remember to call him Mr. Henderson.” I followed her inside, still carrying my duffel bag. A man sat on the living room sofa, a blanket over his legs, a book in his hand. He looked up when he heard us. This was my stepfather, Robert Henderson.

The same man who, in my last life, slowly suffocated Chloe until she broke. “You’re back?” His voice was flat, emotionless. “Robert, this is Jade.” Mom pushed me forward, a plastered smile on her face. “Jade, say hello to Mr. Henderson.” I stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Hello, Mr. Henderson.” Robert Henderson turned a page of his book, as if he hadn’t heard me. A few seconds later, he hummed a noncommittal “Hmm” from the back of his throat. His gaze swept over my wet shoes, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. “The carpet was just replaced.” He lowered his head back to his book. “The first room on the left upstairs is the guest room. It’s ready.” “Thank you, Mr. Henderson,” I said. Mom breathed a sigh of relief and pulled me upstairs. “See? Mr. Henderson is really a good man,” Mom whispered. “Just don’t upset him, and you’ll be able to stay in this house.” Inside the room, it was huge and empty. “Mom,” I called out, stopping her just as she was about to leave. “What is it?” “I’d like to change rooms.” Mom’s face instantly changed. “Jade, are you being picky the moment you arrive?” “What’s wrong with this room? It’s a hundred times better than your dad’s dump, isn’t it?” “Don’t be so ungrateful!” I calmly watched her outburst. Only after she finished did I speak. “No, this room faces north, it’s too cold.” “I’d like a south-facing one, even if it’s smaller.” I was truly cold. The brain tumor messed with my body’s temperature control, leaving me perpetually freezing. Only sunlight offered me any comfort. “Cold? Just turn on the AC!” Mom thought I was being unreasonable. “The south-facing rooms are your Mr. Henderson’s study and a storage room.” “Then the storage room,” I said. Mom’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy?” “Why would you stay in a storage room when there’s a perfectly good guest room?” “Are you deliberately trying to make Mr. Henderson think I’m abusing you?” Her voice grew shrill. I covered my ears. It was too loud. My brain felt like it was going to burst. “I’m just cold,” I repeated. Just then, two light taps came from the doorway. Robert Henderson stood there, a glass of water in his hand, his expression grim. I didn’t even notice him arrive. “What’s all the shouting about?” Mom immediately plastered on a different face, her voice trembling. “Nothing, Robert. This child is being difficult, complaining about the room.” “I’m about to teach her a lesson.” Robert Henderson looked at me, and I looked back at him. His face was very pale, his lips bloodless, looking as if he were about to die. “Which room do you want?” he asked me. “The one facing south,” I pointed to the end of the hallway. “That’s where we store old furniture.” “It’s fine, as long as there’s sunlight.” Robert Henderson was silent for a moment. “Suit yourself.” “Just don’t shout in the hallway.” With that, he turned and left, showing no interest in this mother-daughter dispute. Mom poked my forehead hard. “Go ahead and make a scene!” “Staying in a storage room… what will people say about me?” I ignored her. Carrying my duffel bag, I walked to the end of the hallway. Pushing open the door, a cloud of dust greeted me. But I saw the floor-to-ceiling window. When the sun rose tomorrow, it would be warm in here. That was enough. I made my bed and placed the photo album under my pillow. My diagnosis was tucked inside the album. As long as I wasn’t dead, no one would be idle enough to snoop through my things. That night, I slept soundly. There were no debt collectors in my dreams, only endless darkness.

I settled into the house, like an invisible ghost. Robert Henderson liked quiet, so much so that even the housekeepers walked on tiptoes. Mom tried every trick in the book to please Robert. Cooking soups, giving massages, watching those boring financial news channels with him. She lived in this house like a high-class housekeeper. As for me, except for meal times, I rarely left my room. The storage room had been tidied up nicely. Though cluttered with old furniture, the sunlight was truly wonderful. I often pulled up a chair by the window and soaked in the sun all afternoon, like an old woman. Sometimes Robert Henderson would pass my door. Seeing me sunbathing, he’d pause, but never spoke. His gaze was strange, like he was looking at a kindred spirit. One afternoon during lunch. The dining table was silent, save for the faint clinking of forks against plates. Suddenly, my phone vibrated. In the quiet living room, it sounded like an alarming siren. Robert Henderson frowned. Mom immediately put down her fork and glared at me. “Who told you to bring your phone to the table? No manners!” “Hang up!” I took out my phone and glanced at the screen. It was Chloe. I pressed decline. Less than two seconds later, it vibrated again. I declined again. The third time it vibrated, Robert Henderson put down his fork. “Answer it,” he said, his voice flat. “It’s giving me a headache.” I took my phone to the balcony. As soon as I answered, Chloe’s voice exploded through the receiver. “Jade, are you doing this on purpose?” “Did you take the passbook?” I held the phone away from my ear. “What passbook?” “Dad says the family passbook is gone, and he’s sure you stole it!” “There’s five thousand dollars in there!” I chuckled. Those five thousand dollars were what I’d earned washing dishes last summer. “That’s my money,” I said. “Even if you earned it, it’s still family money!” Chloe said, her voice dripping with self-righteousness. “Dad can’t buy cigarettes now, and he’s throwing a fit at home!” “Transfer the money right away, or I’ll tell Mom you stole it!” From the other end of the line, I heard things crashing and Dad’s angry curses. “I should’ve strangled you when you were born!” Those sounds, even from hundreds of miles away, still made me feel suffocated. “I didn’t steal it,” I said calmly. “That was my medical fund.” “Medical fund? What kind of sickness do you have?” Chloe scoffed. “Stop playing the victim!” “Transfer the money now, or I’ll come to your school and tell everyone you don’t care if your own dad dies!” I looked out at the garden from the balcony. The flowers bloomed vividly, red as blood. “Chloe.” “You chose your path; you have to walk it, even if you’re crawling.” “Don’t bother me.” With that, I hung up and blocked her number. As I turned, I felt a warm gush from my nose. I reached up and touched it – my hand was covered in blood. I fumbled for a tissue from my pocket and pressed it to my nose. Tilting my head back, I tried to stop the bleeding. The blood flowed rapidly, trickling down my throat into my stomach, making me nauseous. I rushed into the downstairs restroom. Looking in the mirror, I saw bright red blood staining half my face. I turned on the faucet and frantically washed it away. “What are you doing?” A voice suddenly came from behind me. I froze. Through the mirror, I saw Robert Henderson standing in the doorway. He looked at my face, streaked with water and blood, his eyes deep and unreadable. I roughly wiped my face. “Just a nosebleed,” I mumbled, lowering my head. “Probably from the heat.” Robert Henderson didn’t say anything. He walked over and handed me a clean hand towel. “Wipe that off.” I took the towel and pressed it to my nose. “Thank you, Mr. Henderson.” He looked at the faint pink stains in the sink that hadn’t been rinsed away yet. “Does this happen often?” “Occasionally.” I lied. The nosebleeds had been happening more and more frequently lately. Robert Henderson stared at me for a moment. “You should see a doctor,” he said. “No need. It’s an old problem,” I replied, lowering my head, trying to slip past him. “Jade.” He stopped me. “You don’t have to live so cautiously in this house.” “Your mom is your mom; you are you.” I froze, looking up at him. His expression was still detached, but there was a hint of something in his eyes I didn’t understand. “If you’re not feeling well, say something.” “Stop trying to be tough. Nobody’s giving you a prize for enduring all this pain alone.” With that, he turned and left, leaving me alone in the restroom. The towel in my hand carried a faint scent of pine. It was his scent, mixed with a faint whisper of decay.

Robert Henderson had a secret, I knew. Because in his study’s trash can, I’d seen a pill bottle just like mine. They were strong painkillers, specifically for late-stage cancer patients. That day, Mom asked me to take some fruit to his study. Robert Henderson wasn’t there; he was at the hospital for dialysis. I set down the fruit bowl and was about to leave when I saw that familiar white bottle in the wastebasket. I picked it up and examined it. It was a bottle for Ibuprofen extended-release capsules, but inside were morphine pills. I’d used that trick too. Putting life-saving medication into ordinary vitamin bottles, deceiving myself and others. Turns out, my arrogant stepfather. The man Chloe called a cold-hearted monster, was also quietly enduring his own hellish agony. I put the bottle back, pretending I hadn’t seen a thing. That night, Robert Henderson returned. His face was paler than usual, and his steps were a little shaky. Mom went to meet him, trying to help him. “Don’t touch me.” He recoiled, his voice raw with pain. Mom’s hands froze in mid-air, her eyes welling up. “Robert, is there something I did wrong?” “I’m just tired.” Robert Henderson didn’t look at her, heading straight upstairs. As he passed me, he paused. In that instant, I caught a strong scent of antiseptic from him. And a faint smell of blood. The lingering scent of dialysis. Later that night, I woke up in pain. The tumor in my brain was relentlessly crushing my nerves. I was soaked in cold sweat, shivering and curled up in my blanket. I wanted water. I got up, stumbling downstairs. The living room lights weren’t on, but I saw a dark figure on the sofa. It was Robert Henderson, sitting there motionless. A cigarette glowed faintly between his fingers, its light flickering in the gloom. I didn’t dare make a sound, intending to quietly retreat. “Since you’re awake, come over.” His voice, hoarse and weary, came from the darkness. I had no choice but to walk over. “Mr. Henderson.” “Do you play chess?” he asked. “A little.” “Play a game with me.” I sat opposite him. In the moonlight, I saw his face was ashen, his forehead beaded with sweat. He was enduring pain, just like me. We played three games of chess. Neither of us spoke, only the crisp sound of chess pieces being placed. He played aggressively, as if releasing something. I played steadily. “Are you afraid to lose?” Robert Henderson suddenly asked. “I can’t afford to lose,” I replied, placing a piece. Robert Henderson let out a soft chuckle. “Life is just a losing game anyway.” “No matter how much you struggle, you always lose in the end.” I didn’t argue. As dawn approached, the last game ended. I was about to pack up the pieces and go back to my room. Robert Henderson’s hand suddenly pressed down on the chessboard. He looked up, his deep eyes staring directly at me. “Jade.” “That diagnosis hidden under your pillow.” “How long do you plan to keep it a secret?”

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