Author: Momo Chan

When I was twenty, I knitted my first scarf and gave it to the person I secretly loved. At Tommy Stark’s birthday party, he accepted the scarf, enduring everyone’s teasing looks. Three days after my brother’s death, I went to withdraw from college. I overheard people in the office, sorting through files, joking around. “Are you really going to throw away that scarf the country bumpkin, Audrey Reed, gave you?” “That thing? It’s nothing compared to the designer coat Elara Chase gave him, or even a hotel towel. Just throw it away.” “I knew Tommy wouldn’t care for something from his little shadow. Might as well give it to me as a foot rag; it’s a shame to throw it away, at least it was hand-stitched.” Elara Chase was the girl he’d grown up with, his childhood sweetheart. Tommy laughed, wadding the scarf in his hand and casually tossing it towards the guy. The guy deftly dodged, and the scarf landed beside a trash can, looking rather pathetic. The moment my eyes met Tommy’s, I silently grabbed my papers and left. I understood in my heart that I had no right to question him. He stood behind me, seemingly saying something, but I didn’t hear it clearly. Six years later, when I returned to the city, I heard rumors. The eldest son of the Stark family had a long-lost “first love.” 1. This trip back to the city was for my clothing boutique’s expansion. On opening day, an old acquaintance walked in. “Audrey Reed?!” I was tidying clothes on a rack. I’d changed my name many years ago. Hearing that name, I froze for a moment. Realizing it was me, I turned, meeting a pair of shocked eyes. The man in front of me looked somewhat unfamiliar, with handsome features and expensive clothing. But I couldn’t recall where I’d seen him. I offered a slightly embarrassed smile: “And you are?” The man instinctively scratched his head. That gesture instantly reminded me who he was. Neil Schmidt. He was Tommy Stark’s friend. And the guy who, six years ago, had joked about using the scarf as a foot rag in the office. A girl stood beside him, her arm linked through his, slender and tall, with a warm smile. In the VIP lounge, while the girl was in the fitting room, Neil surveyed my boutique. “You… this is your store? This brand has been really popular lately, I never expected the owner to be… you.” Neil seemed to remember something, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his face. “What I said back then was a joke, you absolutely shouldn’t take it to heart. In fact, I’ve wanted to apologize for years, but I couldn’t find you.” He continued, “Where have you been all these years? Why did you suddenly drop out of college? And no word at all…” His voice trailed off. I calmly took a fruit platter from a server and placed it gently on the table. “Nowhere in particular, just went back home for a while.” Went back home, changed my name, restarted my life. He was about to press further when his girlfriend emerged from the fitting room. The dress fit perfectly; the girl was very pleased and immediately bought several other styles. But then, she offered a suggestion. “Your autumn/winter collection isn’t quite complete. Other boutiques promote hats, brooches, shoes, and scarves together. I just tried on some clothes and noticed you don’t have matching scarves. I think that could be improved.” I gently explained, “We don’t plan to make scarves for our clothing lines yet, I apologize. How about I give you a thirty percent discount on these clothes…” Before they left, Neil cautiously began, “Actually, all these years, Tommy Stark has been…” Suddenly, a metallic crashing sound came from inside the store. I turned, seeing the shelf I had just been half-installing come tumbling down. I rubbed my forehead, annoyed. Great, I have to re-install it again. Neil was still talking. I gave him a hurried nod, then turned to instruct a sales associate to handle the mess. He looked overjoyed and promptly pressed an invitation into my hand. “Then it’s settled, Tommy’s birthday is tomorrow, you absolutely have to come!” Before I could refuse, Neil quickly left, not giving me a chance to change my mind. Chloe, my assistant who works with me, stretched and came out from the back. “What was that noise just now? It woke me up. And what’s this… Ju-li-an… Stark?” She stared dazedly at the invitation in my hand. Her outstretched arms, mid-stretch, remained in the air as she exclaimed Tommy Stark’s name. I was a little puzzled. “You know him?” Chloe nodded vigorously, her eyes, previously dull from insomnia, now bright. “Of course! Isn’t he the Stark family’s golden boy? I even saw him at a fashion show not long ago. He was sitting in the front row, tall and handsome. He took over the company right after graduating, and under his leadership, the annual profits have more than doubled…” She gasped, “Hey, this birthday invitation? How did you get it?” My tone was calm. “Neil Schmidt gave it to me.” At this, Chloe’s eyes instantly filled with admiration. 2. “Neil Schmidt!? Oh my gosh, Audrey, how many connections do you have that I don’t know about? First Neil Schmidt, then Tommy Stark… but…” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “I heard Tommy Stark has someone he likes. But the person he likes supposedly disappeared. He’s spent so much effort looking for her for years and hasn’t found her. I remember her last name was Reed… What a coincidence, Audrey, you’re a Reed too!” I lowered my gaze, interrupting her fantasies. “Don’t think too much, there are many people named Reed.” “So, are you going to Tommy’s birthday party tomorrow?” “No.” She sounded a bit disappointed by that answer. But she seemed even more interested in my connections. The autumn wind was somewhat bleak, sweeping fallen leaves across the path. I pulled my coat tighter, instinctively raising a hand to touch my slightly cold neck. Under Chloe’s relentless questioning, I finally opened up about a past that I had deliberately sealed away in my heart. “I had a crush on Tommy Stark, during my teenage years. A crush that failed, completely and utterly.” On the first day of college, during self-introductions, as classmates confidently stepped onto the stage, speaking about their interests and hobbies, I suddenly felt a pang of embarrassment and lowered my head. My family was poor. My mother died in childbirth. My father single-handedly bore the burden of the family. When I was in my junior year of high school, my father was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. My brother resolutely dropped out of college to work and earn money. But the high monthly medical bills still suffocated our family. When it was my turn to go on stage, my palms were sweating from nervousness. My stammering introduction successfully drew laughter from the classmates below. “Where did this country bumpkin come from? Still wearing a floral dress, this outfit is so outdated! Can’t she keep up with current trends?” “I saw her at the start of the semester; her family seemed quite struggling. Two wheels were missing from her suitcase, and she hadn’t bothered to get a new one…” “She can’t even give a clear introduction, just get down already, don’t waste our time!” I clutched my skirt hem, my face beet red with helplessness. This dress was bought by my father and brother before college started. I said it was too expensive, not to buy it. But my father chuckled and paid, “It’s fine, don’t worry about the money. Look pretty on your first day, leave a good impression on your classmates.” The dress wasn’t cheap, about two hundred, which was half a month’s living expenses for me. I turned awkwardly, about to step off the stage, when a loud voice rang out from the crowd. “Who said she’s ugly? She’s not ugly; I think she looks quite good.” Following the voice, everyone fell silent. Tommy Stark leaned casually back in his chair, chewing gum. As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on me. In that moment, the world beyond him seemed to lose its color. I could only see the boy’s bright eyes and the smile on his lips. Chloe nodded thoughtfully, shaking my arm excitedly. “So you started crushing on him then? Such a handsome guy, coming to your rescue when you’re in trouble—if it were me, I’d be smitten too.” I calmly took a sip of tea. Actually, no. My truly deep interactions with Tommy began during winter break. I was working part-time at a car wash to earn tuition when a quarrel suddenly approached, growing louder. A car screeched to a halt in front of the car wash. Immediately after, a meticulously wrapped bouquet of flowers was thrown from the car window, landing precisely on my head as I bent over to adjust a machine. “Tommy Stark, what’s with your attitude? I came back to reconcile with you, and this is how you brush me off?” Tommy’s nonchalant scoff came through. “Elara Chase, I picked you up from the airport because I didn’t want to disrespect your parents and make your aunt and uncle uncomfortable. Why do you think I’d be waiting for you to come back?” He continued, “We agreed to apply to the best universities together, but you left the country without a word. What, you have the right to pursue your dreams, but I don’t have the right to pursue love?” Elara was so angry she laughed. “Love? Don’t tell me, Mr. Tommy Stark, that you’ve fallen for someone else.” Tommy turned his head, his gaze meeting mine as I rubbed my head. He suddenly smiled. “Do you still think I can’t live without you? Elara Chase, let me tell you, from now on, anyone but you, I can have.” With that, he immediately got out of the car, pulled a black velvet gift box from his inner pocket, and casually tossed it to me. “It’s yours.” Elara was so furious that tears streamed down her face. “Even a car wash girl?” Tommy answered flippantly. “Yes.” Elara got out of the car crying, disappearing into the crowded streets. She didn’t look back, so she didn’t see Tommy’s gaze, which remained fixed on her retreating back. From that day on, I became Tommy Stark’s little shadow. Because he asked me to play a role with him. As long as I played it well, I would get paid.

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It was the year I had my best shot at winning an Oscar. Suddenly, scandalous photos of me flooded the internet. The Academy said they couldn’t give the award to someone with questionable morals and removed me from the nominations. Only my boyfriend, Ryan, tirelessly defended my name. Later, my reputation was cleared, but I missed out on the Oscar. Ryan pulled me into his arms, comforting me, “It’s okay, Aubrey. Just wait. Next time, you’ll definitely be an Oscar winner.” “Next time, I’ll be there with you. Next Valentine’s Day, we’ll go public.” I’d heard Ryan say “next time” too many times. So this time, I refused. “No need for a ‘next time,’ Ryan. Why did that gossip blog call you for the final payment last night after spreading those pictures of me?” 1 A long silence followed my words. My heart grew heavier and heavier with each passing second. Just as I thought Ryan wouldn’t speak, I heard his strained denial: “Aubrey, you’ve been under too much stress lately. You must have seen things.” I forced a smile, one that must have been dripping with sarcasm. How could I have been mistaken? From the moment I got nominated, that blog relentlessly spread rumors about me—half-truths, half-lies. None of my industry colleagues, who could have easily vouched for me, dared to step forward and clarify. They couldn’t guarantee that on the days we were on set together, I hadn’t somehow become a master of time management, sneaking off for illicit affairs behind their backs. I’d clarify one thing, and another ambiguous rumor would immediately surface. I broke down, even starting to doubt if I had really done those things. It was Ryan who held me then, promising earnestly, “It’s okay, Aubrey. I’m here. I believe you.” His embrace felt so warm and reliable. Ryan looked at me with aching sympathy, swearing, “Aubrey, I will make sure the truth comes out. I won’t let you bear this stigma.” And Ryan delivered. Everyone mourned my missed Oscar. Only I felt lucky to have Ryan. This blissful illusion lasted until that gossip blog called, chasing their final payment. Thinking about it, tears streamed down my face. Yes, who else in Hollywood, besides Ryan, who I saw day in and day out, would know my schedule inside and out? “You’re telling me I saw things? I’m going to press criminal charges against all those blogs.” “No!” Ryan refused without a second thought, his voice sharp and decisive. I scoffed inwardly, knowing he wouldn’t want that. If I pursued it, those blogs, paid to do their dirty work, would surely expose him, thereby affecting the other woman he truly wanted to protect. Seeing my red-rimmed eyes, he sighed. “Lily is still young, just starting out. She needs awards to prove herself.” He paused. “Aubrey, wait for the next time. I promise you, the next Oscar will be yours.” Ten years ago, a younger Aubrey would have willingly waited for another chance. But now, at 29, this was my last opportunity for this age-restricted award. “No!” I rejected him. “This is an award I earned through my talent. Why should I give it to her?!” Ryan’s eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. “Aubrey, when did you become so unreasonable?” He continued. “I told you before, Lily Sterling’s mother has cancer. Her lifelong wish is to see her daughter succeed, to achieve fame and fortune. Are you unwilling to grant even that wish?” Hearing his self-righteous accusation, I was momentarily stunned, almost disbelieving that these words came from Ryan. Seeing my silence, Ryan assumed I had conceded and said softly, “Now Lily has received the honor and recognition her mother hoped for. You have the talent and skill, and you’re a seasoned veteran in the industry. Whether you win an award or not doesn’t really matter to you, does it? Your scandal has been cleared up. You’re not affected, are you?” Every word he spoke cut into my heart like a knife. I felt as if I’d been split in two. One half was in excruciating pain, the other half quietly asked Ryan, “Does her wish have to be achieved through my sacrifice, through my ruined reputation?” Ryan looked at me with an expression that said, “How are you still not understanding?” His tone gradually lost its patience. “Lily has a proud disposition. If it wasn’t done this way, she would never have accepted it.” Before our argument could continue, my phone suddenly rang. “Aubrey! Are you with Ryan?” The voice on the other end was bright and cheerful. “Ryan insisted on throwing a celebration party for me, and now it’s just the two of you we’re waiting for. We can’t start without you two.” She continued. “You absolutely have to come today! How can the hosts of the party be missing?” Lily Sterling’s voice was full of anticipation. She sounded like a lucky person, completely oblivious, for whom good fortune had suddenly fallen from the sky. I opened my mouth, accusations and sarcasm churning in my throat. A hand reached over from beside me, taking the phone from my grasp. “Yes, we’ll be right there. You all go ahead and enjoy yourselves.” Ryan must not have noticed the tenderness and fondness that filled his expression at that moment. I suddenly remembered when Ryan and I first got together; he had looked at me the same way. Back then, I was a struggling extra, a nobody in Hollywood, and Ryan was an unknown production assistant. We shared one meal between two sittings. After eating that cold dinner, we’d lie in our cramped apartment, where the window was smaller than a computer screen, looking at the sky obscured by the city’s smog. We made promises to each other. I said I wanted to win Best Young Actress before I turned thirty. Ryan smiled and said he would work hard too, so he could cast me, the Best Actress, in his film. Back then, we were each other’s support, each other’s refuge. Now, that beautiful dream felt like a melted cake—sticky and nauseating. Lily Sterling, in an elegant white dress, her eyes lit up when she saw us. She was radiant, brimming with joy, and her effervescent presence was like a corrosive poison, eating away at my insides, causing unspeakable pain. “Aubrey, Ryan, you’re finally here! We were just waiting for you.” As I entered, the boisterous party suddenly fell silent. I heard someone whisper, “Why is she here?” “Her sugar daddy scandal is everywhere. How can she still have the nerve to show her face?” Another person scoffed, their voice neither too loud nor too soft. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? That’s ancient history. Didn’t Director Thorne go to great lengths to clarify it was AI?” Low laughter rippled through the room. “Technology’s advanced, so there are more excuses now. If it really was a rumor, why didn’t she sue? Why didn’t she stand up for herself? This was her last year for that award. Maybe she’s guilty and doesn’t dare.” “Some people just can’t even find a sugar daddy correctly. She’s almost an old woman and still can’t win an award. Lily Sterling, on the other hand, has good luck, she’s young and beautiful, and has a benefactor.” Hearing these blatant whispers, I looked at Ryan. I hoped he would say something, anything—even a word of defense or the performative support he’d given online before. Yet, Ryan simply walked past me as if he hadn’t heard a thing, approaching Lily Sterling with gentlemanly tenderness. “You look beautiful today, Lily. That dress suits you perfectly.” “Really? I knew you’d like it!” With that, Lily twirled around, like a happy little songbird. Her joy came to an abrupt halt when she saw me. Lily’s face held a cautious, uneasy expression. “Aubrey, I really didn’t expect you to come. Thank you so much.” She paused. “So many people online are saying I only got this award by fluke, that I have no talent, and that it’s undeserved. I was so sad for a long time. Ryan said you’d attend my celebration party and show your support for me winning the Oscar, and then the public opinion would slowly die down.” A wave of overwhelming absurdity washed over me. I almost lost control then and there. I asked, stunned, “I’m showing public support for your Oscar win? Did you hire paparazzi?” 2. Ryan’s face changed. Before I could truly react, he grabbed my hand, lowering his voice. “Aubrey, don’t make a scene. So many people are at this party. We can talk about everything later.” He paused, then soothed me softly, almost like a reward. “Once we’re home, you can throw whatever tantrum you want.” I abruptly pulled my hand away from him. Ryan’s voice, his touch—at that moment, they filled me with nausea. I almost threw up. Taking out my phone, the headlines were already pushing through: “Aubrey Brooks Misses Award, Publicly Supports New Oscar Winner.” “Aubrey Brooks: She’s wonderful, vibrant, and deserves more opportunities.” My hand, holding the phone, began to tremble uncontrollably. On my verified account, a new post, which I had no recollection of ever making, was prominently displayed. “I had bad luck. A scandal broke during the awards season. Although it was eventually clarified, I understand that personal integrity is tied to awards. I will pay more attention to my personal conduct in the future and not hog public resources.” It continued. “P.S.: Lily Sterling is a wonderful girl. Her award is well-deserved. Everyone should support her.” In the comments section, some lamented my bad luck. Some praised my generosity. Others criticized me, saying that flies don’t bother a sealed egg, asking what I was doing before, and why I was pretending to be generous online now that the truth was out. Ryan had prepared a team to control the comments, and such remarks would quickly be deleted. But constantly silencing people would only make them angrier. My already halved fanbase continued to shrink, with many questioning why I was deleting comments so freely, asking if this was how I treated my fans. The messages in my inbox were even more unbearable; I didn’t even have the courage to open them. “Ryan, what do you take me for?” My eyes were red-rimmed, my face pale. I must have looked like a deranged madwoman at that moment. The controversy surrounding Lily Sterling’s award was too great. So, I, the talented but ‘unlucky’ person who had a scandal before the awards, was brought out to endorse her and act as a shield. Why would Ryan hurt me again and again like this?! A flicker of regret crossed his eyes, but he still insisted, “Lily just became an Oscar winner. She has no background, no strong connections, and unlike you, she hasn’t been struggling for years and isn’t used to these kinds of things.” So, I was supposed to be Lily Sterling’s stepping stone. A tool for Ryan to curry favor with new talent, was that it? I turned and walked away without hesitation, filled with rage. I was going to the press, to a news conference. My reputation, all these years of hard work—they couldn’t be destroyed like this. Ryan called out behind me, but I ignored him. Instead, Lily Sterling caught up faster, her face filled with worry and guilt. “Aubrey, I didn’t realize you cared about this award so much. I’m so sorry that people online are slandering you because of your support for me.” She continued. “If I could, I truly wish none of this had happened. I wouldn’t have gotten this award. But you and Ryan have been through so much over the years. I beg you, please don’t fight with him, okay?” I looked up at this girl who seemed to know nothing, and suddenly I laughed. “Lily Sterling, I have to admit, your acting is truly superb. Even now, you maintain that innocent facade.” I continued. “Tell me, if you truly didn’t know Ryan deliberately spread those compromising photos of me so you could win the award, then why did you specifically ask him if I would really not find out?” Lily Sterling was startled by my fierce gaze and recoiled half a step, her eyes welling with tears. I scoffed, “Oh, and by the way, you claim to be grateful to me, but when your relatives and friends were gossiping, why did you, the host, act deaf and not make any attempt to smooth things over?” I paused. “Also, do you really not know that Ryan bringing me to your celebration party today, and the posts published online, were not of my own free will?” Lily Sterling retorted with some embarrassment, “Ryan said it was fine. You’ve been in the industry for so many years. Getting bashed by netizens for a while won’t affect you.” She continued. “Anyway, you’ve endured it all these years. I never intended to steal Ryan from you. I’m begging you, just pretend none of this ever happened. Just consider it bad luck that you encountered such a situation before the awards. Can’t you do that?” In that instant, I understood why Ryan had fallen for Lily Sterling. Because they were both the same kind of person. “No, I recorded our conversation just now.” I said coldly. “I’m going to hold a press conference and fight for my rights to the very end.” As I turned, a blinding light suddenly appeared on the road. Amidst Lily Sterling’s scream, I was hit by a car and thrown to the ground. A familiar figure emerged from the driver’s seat. He embraced Lily Sterling, reassuring her repeatedly, “It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll tell everyone we had an accident while arguing.” Lily Sterling cried, tears streaming down her face. “Ryan, she’s going to hold a press conference. She deliberately tricked me into recording her. She’s going to sue me. What should I do?” Ryan’s voice was soft, but his words were ruthless. “I know. That’s why I hit her. She won’t be able to go.” He said. “I’m here.” I lay on the ground, excruciating pain shooting through my legs and body. Yet, a desolate emptiness filled my heart. How many times had Ryan protected me like this when I encountered predatory producers? He’d once smashed an ashtray over a man’s head, pulled me into his arms, and told me, “It’s okay, Aubrey, it’s okay. I’m here.” Because of that incident, our budding careers instantly froze. When I was consumed with guilt, Ryan comforted me, “Don’t feel guilty for mistakes that aren’t yours.” He continued. “You’re my girlfriend. If I don’t protect you, who will? If I don’t stand up for you, who will?” At that time, tears in my eyes, I asked him, “What if it really was my fault?” Ryan just laughed and said, “Then I’ll commit murder and arson for you.” But I had never done anything so heinous, yet my boyfriend, for the sake of another woman, to prevent me from clearing my name, didn’t hesitate to hit me with his car.

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After my arch-rival stole my project, I found a witch doctor to make a voodoo doll in his likeness, planning to use it to vent my frustration. The moment I held it, a string of comments flashed across my vision. [Heh heh, our girl finally got Holden’s empathy doll! This time, she’s going to make him really feel it.] [You bet! Every prick our girl makes on that doll will be a thrill for Holden. He’ll probably run out of clean underwear tonight!] My hand, holding the doll, froze. Holden Urie and this doll are linked by empathy? Is the witch doctor playing such a high-stakes game? Doubtful, I decided to video call Holden. The moment the call connected, I accurately jabbed the little doll in a… specific spot. Immediately, a muffled groan came from the other end. Watching his face flush scarlet, I couldn’t help but exclaim. “The witch doctor truly didn’t lie! Holden, you’re done for!” 1. After Holden Urie snatched three projects from me, I decided it was time for revenge. I sought out a renowned witch doctor and commissioned a lifelike doll, a scaled-down replica of Holden. My plan was to fight fire with… ancient magic. Before I left, the witch doctor cautioned me: “A little mischief is harmless; too much can be damaging. Everything in excess will backfire. Remember that!” I waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill him.” As soon as I got into my car, I eagerly pulled out the replica doll. Before I could even do anything, a string of comments flashed across my vision. [Heh heh, our girl finally got Holden’s empathy doll! This time, she’s going to make him really feel it.] [You bet! Every prick our girl makes on that doll will be a thrill for Holden. He’ll probably run out of clean underwear tonight!] My hand, holding the doll, froze. Holden Urie and this doll are linked by empathy? Is the witch doctor playing such a high-stakes game? Doubtful, I decided to video call Holden. The moment the call connected, I accurately jabbed the little doll in a… specific spot. Immediately, a muffled groan came from the other end. Watching his face flush scarlet, I couldn’t help but exclaim—the comments were actually true! Holden Urie really was linked to this doll! Every time I pricked it, Holden would react. So if I kept pricking it, wouldn’t he be utterly defenseless? Clutching the doll as if it were a treasure, I grinned at the screen, at Holden whose cheeks were now burning. The witch doctor truly didn’t lie! Holden, you’re done for! Holden’s handsome brows furrowed slightly, his voice a little hoarse. “What are you smiling at?” “What I’m smiling at is none of your business. I’m asking you, are you giving me back the drone project?” That project was my blood, sweat, and tears for three months, meant to be a surprise for my boyfriend’s birthday. At the last minute, he snatched it again. It infuriated me. On the video call, he scoffed. “Give it back to you so you can keep trying to please that useless man?” I exploded. “You’re the useless one! He’s just had bad luck; he hasn’t met the right opportunity yet. I forbid you from talking about him like that!” You can insult me, but not my boyfriend. He’s the person who loves me most in the whole world. When I almost drowned while surfing, if he hadn’t risked his life to save me, I would have perished in the ocean right there and then. He even fell into a coma for three months because of it, almost never waking up. In my heart, he’s the second person after my parents who loves me most in the world. He sneered, “What if I don’t give it back?” “If you don’t, I… I’ll…” I picked up the needle, tracing it over the doll’s chest. I suddenly paused. If I pricked it now, would it be too obvious? What if he found out? I couldn’t outwit him. I put the doll down, not daring to act. “What will you do??” He provocatively raised an eyebrow at me. I gritted my teeth. “I’ll curse you to sleepless nights, a life worse than death…” A low chuckle came from the other end of the video. The smile on Holden Urie’s face spread. “I’m so scared!” [Tsk tsk tsk, look at our girl, still too kind. Her curse sounds like flirting; he’s totally enjoying it!] [Don’t be scared, girl! Prick him with that needle! Let him taste your methods!] [Exactly, exactly! Prick him until he’s begging for mercy, until he’s whimpering like a puppy!] I bit my lip, looking at the needle in my hand, but I chickened out. I didn’t dare. 2. After the call ended, I started furiously pricking the little doll, aiming all my attacks at one specific area. The comments section went wild. [Ahhh, Holden’s in the bathroom again!] [Oh no, I think his legs are getting weak; he can’t stand anymore!] [Girl, you need to take it easy! At this rate, Holden’s going to… uh, die from it!] My hand, furiously pricking the doll, instinctively stopped. Holden wouldn’t actually die from my game, would he? No, that wouldn’t do. I hadn’t gotten my project back yet; he couldn’t die. Besides, if people found out he died from something like this, it would be too embarrassing. I should spare him some dignity! I got home, but his call of surrender hadn’t come yet. I picked up the doll and meticulously gave him a full-body spa with the needle. [Oh, girl, do you have to be so elegant? Holden’s practically dying from pleasure!] [Is this punishment for him? This is clearly a reward!] [Girl, harder! Prick him!] My hand, holding the needle, slid from the doll’s chest, moving downwards. Finally, I plunged it in. Less than three seconds later, a video call came through. “Blair Urie, what are you doing?” Looking at him, drenched in sweat on the video call, I raised an eyebrow, satisfied. “Just relaxing! What’s wrong with you?” I asked, feigning innocence. He pressed his lips together, his face undeniably flushed. It seemed he’d exerted a lot of energy. He looked utterly ravaged, making even me swallow. “Did you do something?” “What could I do? Looking at you, could it be that heaven has taken notice, and my curse has come true?” I suppressed my excitement, secretly pricking the doll again. Holden gasped, sweat trickling down his forehead; he seemed to be in considerable discomfort. I guiltily looked away. A few seconds later, he seemed to resign himself. He sighed. “Withdraw your curse, and I’ll give you the project.” “Really?” “But I have a condition.” “What condition?” “You come to my place tomorrow. Say it to my face.” Could it be a trap? Probably not. After all, murder is illegal. “Okay, it’s a deal.” I told him I’d withdraw the curse to his face, secretly retracting the needle. Only then did he hang up. Afterward, I excitedly hugged the doll and spun around several times. Finally, I could give my boyfriend some good news. 3. That night, for some reason, I dreamed of Holden. He held me, gently caressing my lips, which were red from his kisses. “Don’t love your boyfriend anymore. Love me, okay?” I ran my hand over his abs, shaking my head. “No.” “Why?” he sounded a little disappointed. “Because he loves me very much. Without me, he’d die.” He was silent for a long time. His deep eyes held a lingering sadness as he looked at me. “He won’t.” “He will…” I got up, wrapped my arms around his neck, and leaned in close. “You don’t understand. For me, he’d even risk his life. He can’t live without me.” His profound eyes held a deeper sense of melancholy. He said nothing more, only kissed me, working his way over me. When I woke up. “Ugh, what a nightmare!” Of all people to dream about, Holden! And to spend a night of passion with him in a dream. The worst part was, I was still a little too fond of his abs. So despicable! Guilt made me want to slap myself. I raised my hand, then lowered it. I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t. “Alright, alright, never again.” I tried to rationalize. To get the project contract quickly, I skipped breakfast and headed straight to Holden’s villa. As I got out of the car, a bright yellow figure emerged from the villa. As I got closer, I realized it was the witch doctor. “Master, you… what are you doing here?” I felt a little flustered. The witch doctor held his ritual implement. “Amitabha, benefactress, we meet again.” I was in such a hurry that I didn’t even bother with formalities. “Holden hasn’t found out, has he? He didn’t specifically ask you to come here to confront me, did he?” The witch doctor smiled kindly. “Benefactress, rest assured, he hasn’t.” Hearing this, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. “That’s good, that’s good!” Then, “But… why are you suddenly here?” “I came to see an old friend.” “I see, you scared me to death.” It was good that I hadn’t been exposed. Otherwise, if the project hadn’t been secured and Holden went back on his word, I’d be helpless. Looking at the witch doctor’s retreating back, I confidently rang the doorbell. [Hahaha, our girl is so adorably naive. Doesn’t she realize what’s wrong here?] [She probably got tangled up in it and didn’t even realize the ‘old friend’ the witch doctor mentioned was Holden.] [I wonder if our girl will be scared to death when she sees the gift the witch doctor gave Holden?] [Ahhh, I suddenly really want to see our girl losing her composure in front of Holden! Then it’ll be fireworks, the real juicy stuff!] My body stiffened. At that moment, the front door opened. Holden was playing with a female doll. “You… what are you holding?” 4. Forgetting all decorum, I rushed over and snatched the doll from his hand. I looked down at it. Huh, it didn’t quite look like me. To be precise, it didn’t quite look human. [What’s going on? How did the plot change?] [The doll in Holden’s hand isn’t a female version of our girl?] [So, no juicy scene then? Unhappy!] [No, don’t you think this is even more exciting?] [Exactly, exactly! I wonder how the plot will unfold next! Just thinking about it makes me excited!] My face dropped. Exciting my ass! If you don’t even know the plot, what good are you to me? Holden unhappily pulled the doll away. “What kind of obsession is this, barging into someone else’s house and stealing their things?” I guiltily took a step back, widening the distance between us. I was afraid he’d hit me. “I don’t have obsessions as strong as yours. A grown man still likes playing with dolls?” “Are you really that bothered by me playing with this?” He dangled the doll in his hand. I shivered involuntarily. I wasn’t linked to this thing by empathy, but just watching him touch it, my body felt a strange, inexplicable heat. Embarrassing, and uncomfortable. “Who cares what you play with? I’m just afraid of polluting my eyes.” “Really?” He smiled faintly, turning to sit on the sofa. “Alright, didn’t you say you’d return the project to me? Where’s the contract?” I’d heard they had already discussed the contract details, but it hadn’t been signed yet, so there was still a chance to salvage it. Holden’s gaze towards me turned cold. “So eager to please him?” “None of your damn business! One word: are you giving it to me or not?” “The drone project has already been signed. I can’t give it to you…” “You’re messing with me?” He glared at me. “I’ll give you a different project, but it can’t be signed under your name.” Not under my name? But it could be under Julian’s name! That suited me perfectly. “Okay!” I agreed in an instant. He handed me the contract. The moment I reached for it, his hand suddenly pulled back. Caught off guard, I tumbled into his arms, my hand instinctively reaching down to brace myself. A muffled groan came from above. [Oh my, Holden, you cunning boy! You acted so cool before, but now you’re really enjoying it, aren’t you!] [Haha, this is the content my VIP members should be watching! So juicy!] [Don’t let him off, girl! Get him!] To my surprise, Holden gritted his teeth and said, “Blair, hand, off!” Hand? My hand? Oh! I felt it! My face flushed instantly. I sprang up from him, snatching the contract that had fallen onto the sofa. “You pulled your hand back suddenly; it had nothing to do with me!” Holden, his face red, glared at me, then picked up a cushion and placed it on his lap, changing the subject. “There are a few parts of the contract that need revising. I can’t give it to you just yet…” “You dictate, I’ll revise!” How could I possibly give back a duck that was already in my hand? It was Julian’s birthday tomorrow; this contract had to be mine. He looked up, staring at me, his eyes filled with an indescribable sense of loss. It was exactly like in my dream last night. After a two-minute standoff, he conceded and stood up, his voice cold. “Suit yourself.” [Oh no, Holden’s going to shatter!] [He’s been secretly in love with her for so many years, but he just won’t speak up, won’t confess. He deserves this torment.] [Exactly, people who don’t speak up deserve to be tormented to death.] Holden is secretly in love with me? What a joke. From childhood, he never once let me win at anything, always obsessed with making me cry! He’d pinch my cheeks or my hands, saying I was like a doll and he wanted to attach me to his belt loop, taking me everywhere. He even called me mute when I had vocal cord issues, which infuriated me so much that I pulled down his pants right there, only to be chased and beaten by him again. I’d remember that forever. Faced with the blatant nonsense in the comments, I chose to ignore them. A bunch of gossipy girls who don’t even know the plot can’t be trusted.

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In my last life, my girlfriend’s childhood friend, a trust fund brat, pretended to be a wealthy heir and caused trouble. After I exposed him, he angrily drove his car straight into me. As I lay dying, my girlfriend’s sister knelt and begged her to save my life, but she remained indifferent. “No way. Vance is too high-status to dirty his hands for this insignificant nobody. Don’t think that just because you’re dating me, you can get arrogant. Know your place!” My girlfriend’s sister knelt for three days and three nights, eventually dragged away by the brat, abused, humiliated, and left for dead. Until my heart stopped, my girlfriend was still protecting the brat, covering up his crimes, refusing to believe he had hit someone with his car, and then assaulted her sister. Reborn, I didn’t choose to humbly beg my girlfriend to even look at me. Instead, I first called my eldest brother. “Bro, some jerk is impersonating me and causing trouble. Get someone to handle it.” “Also, the engagement with the Scott family, I want to switch. From Clara Scott to her sister, Elaine.” Over the years, I’d poured huge resources into the Scott family, only to raise a backstabbing ingrate. I wanted to see how Clara and her childhood friend would act so arrogant without me! … “Robert Miller! You made me look like a fool in front of so many people tonight! I’ll make you regret it! You were so arrogant exposing me then, did you ever think you’d face this day?” “You’re just a poor kid. Clara doesn’t even care about you. Even if I flatten you into pulp out here in the middle of nowhere tonight, she’ll still protect me, believe it or not!” Vance Scott’s familiar words reached my ears. Before I could even react, I felt blinding headlights drawing closer, the engine roaring as it ran over me. A searing pain shot through my body. That’s when I realized I had been reborn. I had been reborn to the moment Vance Scott brutally ran me over. My shattered phone beside me had, at some point, dialed my girlfriend Clara’s number. Her cold voice, filled with disdain, came through the receiver. “Robert Miller, stop calling me. I know you’re just jealous of my relationship with Vance, trying to sow discord.” She continued. “Vance wouldn’t hit you with his car. That car cost a fortune; it’s not worth totaling it just to hit you. No matter what you say this time, I won’t believe you!” She fell silent after that, seemingly waiting for my reaction. But unlike in my last life, I didn’t try to explain or plead with her, trying to make her believe Vance’s true colors. Instead, after seeing Vance drive away, I painstakingly reached out and hung up. Using the last bit of my phone’s battery, I made another call. Once it connected, I endured the pain wracking my body and said, “Bro, help me.” My ears were ringing, and I couldn’t clearly hear the reply, but I was certain my eldest brother would come. I was my brother’s favorite, and the future second-in-command of the Miller family. The family’s protection of me was strict. These years of living under an assumed name to date Clara was the limit of their tolerance. If they found out someone dared to harm me, they would torment that person to an inch of their life, repaying it a thousandfold. I was dragging my body towards the edge of the road when I saw Vance suddenly return in his car. The window lowered, and his shadowy eyes fixed on me. “Clara said you weren’t dead. She was right.” My heart sank. If he hit me again, I truly wouldn’t survive. Just as he stomped on the accelerator, on the brink of despair, a red car rushed out from another direction, slamming into Vance’s Maybach. A woman got out of the car and ran towards me, anxiously calling out, “Robert Miller, are you alright?!” It was Clara’s sister, Elaine Scott. Remembering how she had desperately pleaded for someone to save me in my last life, and how she was humiliated and left for dead by Vance at my bedside, my heart was filled with a mix of emotions, but mostly guilt and gratitude. I vowed to protect her this lifetime, never letting her be harmed again. Without time to wonder why she was here, I pushed her away. “Don’t mind me! Go!” But it was too late. Vance suddenly grabbed Elaine by the hair from behind, yanking her over. Before she could even speak, Vance kicked her directly. “You damn bitch! Where did you come from?” He roared. “Do you know who I am, young master? You dare to stop me from teaching this insignificant nobody a lesson? Do you have a death wish?!” Elaine was kicked in the stomach, immediately breaking out in cold sweat from the pain. But she gritted her teeth and bit his hand. Vance hissed in pain, then casually picked up a rock and mercilessly smashed it onto her. Seeing Elaine’s head gushing blood, my heart ached. I yelled, “She’s Clara Scott’s sister! Aren’t you afraid Clara will come after you for hurting her?” Vance froze, but then, seeing her face, he let out a wicked laugh. He slapped her to the ground and began to unbuckle his belt. “What if she’s Clara Scott’s sister? It’s her blessing that I’ve taken an interest in her.” He continued. “Besides, I’m the second young master of the Miller family. The Scott family owes everything to me. If I insist that this young woman was harmed by you, do you think Clara will believe you or me? If she kills you, it has nothing to do with me!” My heart burned with anxiety, but my legs were crushed, unable to move. I could only reveal my true identity. “Enough! I am the true Miller heir! She is under my protection. If you dare to harm her, I will use all of the Miller family’s connections to make your life a living hell!” Vance burst into laughter. “You tell a good lie. But the eldest Miller brother has already personally acknowledged me as his brother! How dare you impersonate me here?” My heart skipped a beat. I knew nothing about this. My parents were devoted to each other, with no other illegitimate children. My eldest brother had also personally vowed to only recognize me as his biological brother in this lifetime. Where did this guy come from? Before I could fully comprehend, Vance, his face sinister, leaned in close to me, raising his foot to kick me. Outside the desolate road was a river; if I rolled in, I would surely die. Just as I precariously propped myself up, trying to save myself, Elaine Scott lunged at him from behind, tightly hugging Vance’s leg. “Robert, run! I’ll hold him off!” She bit down hard on Vance, who was now utterly enraged and about to strike us both when the sound of a helicopter cut through the sky. The Miller family had arrived! The Miller family’s secretary rushed down from the helicopter, rescuing me and Elaine. Vance was knocked unconscious and dragged away. Elaine, however, had fainted from shock. I urgently told them to take her to the hospital for treatment, while I only had my fractured limbs roughly stabilized. I sat outside the emergency room for a long time, until Elaine was safely taken to a private room, and only then did my racing heart calm down. I immediately called my eldest brother to reassure him. Hearing I was injured, my brother slammed his fist on the table in a furious outburst. “Who hurt you? If I wasn’t tied up, I would have flown there with my secretary and had him broken limb by limb, making his life a living hell!” I didn’t want him to blow things out of proportion, so I just said, “Bro, the engagement with the Scott family that was set for next month, I want to change the person.” My brother was startled. “You’re not marrying Clara anymore? You’ve been devoted to her for three years; I thought you wouldn’t marry anyone else.” “Yes, I don’t want that woman anymore. I want Elaine Scott.” I added. “Also, all the resources I’ve invested in Clara Scott over these years, I want them all back!” I had treated Clara as the love of my life, but she treated me like a pathetic lapdog, letting her friends humiliate me. Both in my last life and this one, she fiercely protected that Vance Scott. I was utterly disgusted with her. My brother’s voice was low. “I understand. I’ll do as you say.” He continued. “I have to recall my secretary, but I’ll leave Miller family bodyguards to protect you. You focus on recovering in the hospital.” He paused. “Also, don’t think you can hide your injuries from me. I’ll find out who hurt you. If they touched even one of your fingers, I’ll chop off ten of theirs!” This time, before I could answer, the call ended. I had wanted to ask about Vance Scott, but it seemed I’d have to wait for next time. I turned to walk to Elaine’s room when I heard hurried footsteps in the corridor. I looked up just in time to see Clara Scott’s furious face. She raised her hand and delivered a resounding slap to my face, raging, “Robert Miller, have you lost your mind! You actually hired people to bully Vance! He’s the second young master of the Miller family. Haven’t you heard how protective his brother is? You’re not long for this world!” My face was turned sideways from the impact, but I smirked. “He’s a Miller? Then why is his last name Scott?” Clara said, “What do you know? He’s the Miller parents’ child born late in life, the family’s top priority for protection. What’s strange about having him live under an assumed name and keep a low profile for safety? He and I have been friends since childhood. I only just learned his identity. What about you, a country bumpkin with no background?” Just then, I saw Vance Scott, who had been locked in a warehouse and beaten black and blue by the secretary’s men, emerge, trailing behind the Miller family’s head bodyguard. Clara Scott looked at me with schadenfreude, believing I was done for. I was wondering why he had been released when the head bodyguard walked directly towards me. I thought he was going to shield me, but he suddenly grabbed the club from his waist and savagely swung it at me. “What kind of trash are you, daring to bully our young master? You must have a death wish! This is for the young master, a lesson for you!” I was hit, blood streaming down my forehead. My vision turned crimson, my head ringing, almost making me faint. But his eyes, looking at me, had a scarlet gleam, as if he was truly protecting the master behind him. I was instantly bewildered. “You’re crazy! Don’t you recognize me? I’m the second young master of the Miller family!” But the other party spat, his expression fierce. “I think you’re delusional! I’ve worked for the Miller family for almost ten years. I only know of Young Master Vance. What are you, daring to impersonate him!” Vance Scott then emerged from behind the bodyguard, staring coldly at me. I felt his gaze, like I was fish on a chopping block. He turned to Clara and said, “Clara, what do we do about this? Tonight, I just wanted to quietly have a few drinks with friends, but your boyfriend, in front of everyone, claimed I was impersonating the Miller heir.” He continued. “Our Miller family motto has always been discretion, so I tolerated him again and again, even asking someone to politely escort him into a luxury car and send him away.” He finished. “But he slandered me, claiming I ran him over! Ruining the Miller family’s reputation. How should we settle this score?” Everything he said distorted the facts, like something out of a fairy tale. But Clara’s face paled, and she immediately grabbed my collar, yanking me from my wheelchair. Then she kicked my knee, forcing me to kneel heavily on the ground. She ordered someone to press my head down, making me kowtow repeatedly. “Robert Miller, I never thought you’d be such a person! Apologize to Vance immediately! Keep kowtowing until he’s willing to forgive you!”

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My mother, she always favored my sister. All her life. Yet, on her deathbed, she left the only house to me. My sister, the indulged one, only received a worn-out jewelry box. Just as a wave of emotion swelled in me, a pop-up appeared: 【Actually, their mother owed a huge debt. Giving the house to the elder sister was a way to pass on all the debts to her. The sister was eventually forced to jump off a building by the creditors. So tragic.】 【Meanwhile, the younger sister, with the photo hidden in the jewelry box, successfully married the son of a billionaire and lived a life of luxury.】 【Too bad the younger sister started cursing loudly right after hearing the will, causing their mother to die of anger before she could reveal the truth to her.】 I was stunned. That night, I rummaged through a forgotten corner and found the jewelry box my sister had discarded. It led me straight to the billionaire’s mansion. … The moment he saw me, the billionaire froze. I handed him the jewelry box. His hand trembled slightly as he took it, retrieving a photo from a hidden compartment. It was a faded picture of two people, their faces blurred beyond recognition, but he stared at it in silence for a long time. “Where is she?” “My mother passed away.” I lowered my gaze. “She gave me this before she died.” He sighed. “When we parted ways back then, I made her a promise.” “If her daughter ever came to me with this, I would have my son marry her.” He called for his assistant. “Bring Aiden back.” My eyes widened. The comments were actually true. The billionaire was really going to call his son back to marry me. Aiden stormed in, still in his black racing suit, a look of impatience etched on his face. The billionaire pointed at me. “I called you back to discuss your marriage.” Only then did Aiden’s gaze land on me. He scoffed, his disdain clear. “Dad, who did you pick up from some slum? Another woman trying to climb the social ladder with just a pretty face?” “Shut up.” The billionaire glared at him. “You’re always playing those death-defying games. Who knows when you’ll end up dead somewhere. Get married, leave an heir, then you can die however you please.” “No marriage, and all your cards will be frozen, and your racing team blacklisted, starting now.” The billionaire stood up, his stance firm. “Choose.” Father and son locked eyes. Realizing his father was serious this time, Aiden gritted his teeth, then turned to me. “Fine, it’s just a marriage, isn’t it?” The registration took only half an hour. Stepping out of the registry office, I was still dazed, everything feeling like a dream. Aiden snatched my phone. When he returned it, ten million dollars had been added to my account. He warned me, “I’m going racing. You go back on your own. Take the money and keep quiet. Don’t even think about running to my dad.” I opened my mouth to speak. “Actually…” He frowned impatiently. “I knew it. You women are all so greedy. I’ve transferred another ten million. Don’t pester me, and don’t expect me to fall in love with you.” I started to say, “Actually, I don’t need…” My phone chimed again. A third ten million landed in my account. I immediately shut up. “Understood, young master. Have a wonderful time.” After Aiden left, I hailed a cab and went home. The moment I opened the door, someone roughly grabbed my hair, dragging me to the floor. The man, who had done the pulling, blew a smoke ring in my face. “So, you’re the one who forged the will and stole Lily’s house?” My sister, Lily, leaned against him, her eyes red from crying. “Sis, my boyfriend had it appraised. The will is fake. Even if you’re short on cash, you can’t go against Mom’s last wishes.” “If you sign the transfer agreement now and give the house back to me, I won’t call the police.” I slowly got up, my knee throbbing with pain. “Alright, I’ll sign. But there must be a lawyer present to certify that Mom’s house is inherited by you.” Lily’s rich-kid boyfriend made a call, and soon a lawyer arrived with a contract. Seeing me sign my name, Lily snatched the agreement, checked it, and then a smirk played on her lips. “Wouldn’t it have been easier to just listen from the start?” She leaned in close, lowering her voice. “It’s just a crummy house. My boyfriend’s family has plenty, but I just can’t stand to see you happy, you know? You deserve to be a pauper your whole life, a stepping stone for me.” I was trembling with anger. The comments were also furious on my behalf: 【How can this sister be like this? When she made mistakes as a child, their mother only hit the older sister. When the older sister grew up, all the money she earned was taken by their mother and spent on the younger sister. I feel like the older sister isn’t even her biological child.】 【At first, seeing the older sister go to the billionaire with the photo, I thought she was stealing her sister’s life. Now, it seems the younger sister deserves whatever she gets.】 Tears welled in my eyes as I read those words. Just then, my phone rang. It was Aiden. “Didn’t I tell you to go home? Where are you? The butler didn’t see you, and the old man called me again.” I paused. “I went back to my old home.” He clicked his tongue on the other end. “Why are you running around? You have half an hour. Get back to the mansion, fast. The housekeeper made a big dinner, and if you’re not there, he’ll ask me again. It’s annoying as hell.” He hung up, clearly irritated. Immediately, another call came in. “Good evening, Madam. I’m the Hayes family’s driver. Where are you now? I’ll come pick you up and take you home.” I gripped my phone, a strange tremor in my heart. Turns out, I wasn’t utterly alone after all. I gave him the address and went inside to pack my things. Lily leaned against the doorframe, scrutinizing me. “So that’s why you were so cooperative. You found a man to take you in.” “Is it some old man who’s keeping you? Or did you find another broke guy and you’re moving into a rented room with him?” I ignored her, picking up my suitcase. “Excuse me.” “What’s the rush?” She blocked my way. “Call your boyfriend up. Let me see what kind of man would even look at someone like you.” The Hayes family car certainly wasn’t cheap. If Lily saw it… I suddenly smiled. “You’re so interested in my boyfriend. Are you trying to seduce him?” “Then again, you’ve been used to stealing my things since childhood.” Lily froze, then burst out laughing. “Are you crazy? Someone like you, what kind of good catch could you find? Old, ugly, poor — I wouldn’t take him if he was free.” “Willow, I think you’re just embarrassed to show him off.” I pushed her aside and left without looking back. I moved into the Hayes family mansion. The butler had already prepared silk pajamas, jewelry, and a full set of imported skincare products. After eating well and sleeping soundly, my skin even smoothed out a bit. Goodbye to those days of working until three in the morning, saving money by eating instant noodles, being yelled at by clients without daring to talk back, and having my credit stolen by my boss while still having to say thank you. Goodbye, miserable life. Aiden didn’t come home for three days straight. But that didn’t stop him from becoming a figure worthy of respect in my mind, like a sugar daddy. On the third night, my phone rang. “Can you drive? Come pick me up.” It was Aiden’s voice; the background noise was loud. As I walked into the private room in a long dress, several pairs of eyes swung towards me, filled with scrutiny, mockery, and ill intent. Aiden sat in the center, swirling a drink in his hand. “Aiden, is this the one your dad forced on you?” A guy grinned, sizing me up. “She’s pretty obedient, came right when you called.” Aiden looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “It’s all an act. I’ve seen plenty of women like this—innocent on the surface, but secretly plotting something.” I pretended not to hear him, walking to his side. “Time to go home?” “What’s the rush?” He leaned back. “Sit there and wait. We’ll leave when I’ve had my fill.” I walked to a corner sofa and sat down. I ordered an orange juice and sipped it slowly. The lights in the room flashed erratically, and the music pounded. Aiden kept glancing my way while talking to others—once, twice, thrice. I remained quiet and demure, my eyelashes casting shadows on my face, looking like someone anyone could bully. 【LOL, Aiden was suddenly stuck with a wife. The more he thought about it over the past couple of days, the angrier he got, so he decided to call her out to humiliate her.】 【His ‘humiliation’ wouldn’t be just ignoring Willow, would it? Willow used to work twenty hours of overtime to pay for her mother’s medical bills, and she wouldn’t even flinch when her boss threw documents in her face. Sitting on a sofa and spacing out must be a reward for her.】 【Meanwhile, Aiden saw his friends secretly looking at Willow and his face turned dark with anger.】 It wasn’t until a guy came over to talk to me that Aiden suddenly put down his glass, stood up, and walked over. “Let’s go.” He grabbed my wrist and pulled me out. In the car, I even thoughtfully buckled his seatbelt for him. He turned to me, frowning. “Don’t you have any temper?” “I do,” I said. “But I don’t have one for you.” Of course, I had no temper for Aiden. He was just a stranger to me. And if a stranger inexplicably transferred thirty million dollars to me, even if they slapped me, I’d still ask them if their hand hurt. Aiden suddenly fell silent. I wondered if it was just my imagination, but his ears seemed a little red. It was two in the morning when we got home. When I came out after my shower, Aiden was standing in the hallway, looking like he was heading to the kitchen. He paused when he saw me. I was only wrapped in a bath towel, my hair still dripping. Aiden’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He averted his gaze, then shifted it back. “You…” He cleared his throat. “Wear proper clothes when you come out from now on.” “This is my room’s doorway.” “This is my house.” He frowned. “Don’t try to seduce me. I’m not interested in you.” “And don’t think acting innocent will make me soft. Just wait, I’ll soon expose your true colors.” I: “?”

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My childhood friend and I joined a dating reality show, aiming to be the ultimate sloths, all for that juicy appearance fee. We’d burst into laughter during tasks, then argue while watching other couples. Even when the surprise guests arrived, we were still just munching on sunflower seeds, enjoying the drama. The next second, my friend’s face went white as he pointed at the big-shot socialite from the city’s elite circles: “Your ex-husband!” I, my hand trembling, pointed at the high-society heiress: “Your ex-wife!” We scrambled to the director, begging to quit. The director just smirked. “Ten times the penalty for breach of contract. Immediate payment.” As Mike and I exchanged a look, we knew. We’d fallen straight into a wolf’s den. 1 Mike and I, we were inseparable, practically grew up in the same sandbox. Our families always joked we were two peas in a pod, destined to cause trouble. Freshmen year of college, a photo of us went viral, and somehow, we tumbled into the entertainment industry. To avoid rumors, and for a ridiculous sense of pride, we agreed to act like strangers, vowing to meet at the top. Turns out, we never made it to the top. We rolled down halfway up the mountain. After years of struggling, we were still nobodies, ridiculed by netizens as “Wooden Beauty” and “Stone-Faced Hunk.” That wasn’t even the worst of it. On New Year’s Eve, with fireworks exploding overhead, we squatted on the curb, crying like heartbroken puppies. We’d both been dumped on the same day. Mike’s nose was running, and he snarled, “I’m never playing lapdog for that woman again!” I used his ridiculously expensive down jacket as a tissue to wipe my tears. “I broke up too! For real this time! Who wants to put up with such an arrogant man anyway? Let someone else do it!” We ended up stumbling home, dead drunk, leaning on each other. Sobering up, we were completely disillusioned. This rotten industry was unbearable. “Let’s just quit.” “Agreed!” Mike was quicker to respond than anyone. We were both graduates from prestigious universities; we weren’t worried about finding work. Just as I was about to contact a lawyer to send out my termination letter, my agent, Jenna, tossed a gig my way. A live-streamed dating show, its main selling point was being “wild.” “Willow, you’re taking this show whether you like it or not. You’re quitting anyway, so you might as well go be a cautionary tale. Be a little crazy, a little dramatic. Infamy is still fame, got it?” Why should I? I was leaving; why should I be a stepping stone for others? I’d just typed out, “Jenna, I’m done. Whoever wants this crap can have it…” when another message from Jenna popped up. “Ten million dollars for the appearance fee.” The finger hovering over the delete key instantly froze. Ten million? I quickly erased my text, replying demurely, “It’s not about the money.” Jenna: “Ten million per episode.” Hiss— I immediately replied, “Jenna, to be honest, I’m quite the wild card in my private life. This gig is perfect for me!” 2 After signing the contract, feeling utterly pleased, I opened my door and bumped right into Mike, who’d come over to scrounge for food. Our eyes met, and a strange, guilty air hung between us. Wait, I was guilty because I’d sold out for money, but what was he guilty about? My parents and Aunt Sarah were chatting animatedly. My mom’s eyes sparkled. “It’s finally happening? I knew those two kids had something going on!” Aunt Sarah was even more excited. “I’ve got the dowry ready; we can propose anytime!” Just as the conversation was veering towards grandchildren, Mike quickly interrupted. “Stop, stop, stop! Willow and I are talking work, purely work!” He dragged me onto the balcony and closed the door. Mike’s gaze darted around. “Uh, have you sent your termination letter yet?” I picked at my fingernails, stammering, “Not yet… I still have a mall appearance event to finish.” I couldn’t very well tell him I was going to a dating show to rake in cash, it would make me seem so spineless. Hearing that, Mike instantly straightened his back. “Coincidentally, I haven’t sent mine either. I still have a cameo to do in a movie.” We exchanged a look, both seeing “like hell you do” in the other’s eyes. But neither of us called the other out. This unspoken understanding stemmed from our shared best friend, Miles. Back in the day, Mike, Miles, and I were the ultimate trio. But since Mike and Miles often bickered, I became the double agent. In front of Mike, I’d denounce Miles: “That Miles is so stingy, let’s not hang out with him!” Mike, pleased, would give all his snacks to me. Then, turning to Miles, I’d sigh: “Actually, Mike’s quite pitiful, just don’t bother with him.” Miles, touched, would treat me to meals all over the city. Until one day, Miles treated me to crab, and Mike gave me two dried persimmons. That night, I ended up in the emergency room. The two “creditors” squared up at my bedside, and my double-agent scheme completely blew up. Miles sneered, “I’m stingy?” Mike gritted his teeth, “I’m pitiful?” I huddled under the blanket, shivering. “The doctor said all that, don’t blame me…” Now, bringing up old times, we both tacitly chose to keep quiet. 3 Three days later, on a secluded island, at the set of the dating show. I walked in a flowing red backless gown, teetering on stilettos, ready to make a grand exit from my showbiz career. According to the script, I was supposed to choose a male guest for a romantic encounter. But when I looked up, I saw Mike, looking absurdly dapper in a suit. The sea breeze ruffled through his hair as the cameras zoomed in frantically. The production team practically wanted to emblazon “FATED ROMANCE” across the screen. I pressed my lips together, desperately trying not to laugh. Mike’s cheeks puffed out, clearly holding back a giggle himself. The moment our fingertips touched, we both burst. “Hahahaha!” Our laughter startled the seagulls and utterly bewildered the viewers watching the live stream. “Are these two crazy?” “Didn’t they say they weren’t close? What’s with this level of synchronicity?” “Can I get a refund? I came here for sweet romance, not a comedy show!” We couldn’t care less. We found a corner and sat down, coasting along. On the surface, we were on our phones, but in reality, we were bombing Miles in our “Anti-Scumbag Alliance” group chat. Me: “Dr. Miles, quick, watch the live stream. How’s Mike and my acting?” Mike: “Miles, isn’t my suit cool?” Miles: “Get lost. I just got off surgery; I don’t have time to watch you two monkeys.” Me: “Don’t be so cold! How about we talk about that time you were chased by a goose as a kid?” Mike: “Or your heroic feat of throwing a firecracker into a cowpat?” Miles: “…It seems you two have really moved on, if you’re still in the mood to tease me.” With that one sentence, the group chat instantly went silent. That familiar pang in my chest returned. Just then, the show provided red wine, and Mike and I drank it down like water, glass after glass. Once the alcohol kicked in, our chatter was unstoppable. We completely forgot about the dozens of hidden cameras around us. Mike’s eyes were red, his voice choked. “Willow, do you think she never loved me? I was so obedient, so good. If she said east, I’d never go west, but she still dumped me.” I banged on the table, even more agitated than him. “What’s that compared to? My ex was the real piece of work! He always had a cold face, like I owed him eight hundred thousand dollars. If I so much as glanced at someone else, he’d accuse me of being unfaithful. Even my breathing was wrong!” The live stream exploded. “Holy crap! Is this paid content?!” “Who are these two nobodies’ exes? This sounds so juicy!” “Mike’s crying makes me want to wipe his tears. Such a puppy!” “Willow’s mouth is amazing, this is genuine!” Just as we were about to drop more bombshells, Miles’s call came through. The ringing was jarring, instantly snapping us awake. Miles roared on the other end of the line, “You two! Do you want to be blacklisted tomorrow?! That’s a live stream! A live stream!” Mike and I exchanged a look, cold sweat instantly breaking out. I gave a dry laugh, giving a thumbs-up to the camera. “Mr. Thompson’s line delivery is amazing! What do you all think of that impromptu performance?” Mike immediately caught on, chiming in, “Ms. Davies isn’t bad either, full of emotion and clearly layered! Come on, let’s continue to discuss that script…” 4 After that night of “madness,” Mike and I actually became popular. Netizens were speculating about who our awful exes could possibly be. We, however, weren’t worried at all. Those two big shots, one a high-and-mighty business tycoon, the other an arrogant heiress from a prominent family, how could they stoop to appear on an entertainment show like this? Unless the sun rose from the west. The next day, the sun shone brightly. Mike and I each grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, squatting in the shade, watching the other guests flirt. “Look at that innocent girl. Her eyes are practically melting. She must have a thing for that movie star.” “Give me a break, that’s acting. I bet fifty cents the movie star likes the sophisticated lady.” The comment section was filled with laughter. “Are these two here to be commentators?” “Never seen such down-to-earth celebrities, I love them.” “They’re like the old folks at the village entrance.” Just as we were engrossed in our snacking, the director’s megaphone blared. “Attention all guests, two mystery guests will be arriving on the island shortly. Please prepare to welcome them.” Mike and I exchanged a glance and continued cracking seeds. “Hope a handsome guy comes, to cleanse my eyes.” “A beautiful woman would be nice too, even if I can’t pursue her, she’d still be pleasing to look at.” The next second, a yacht docked. A man and a woman stepped off the boat. The man was tall and imposing, radiating a powerful aura, his face as cold as if he’d just been pulled from an ice chamber. The woman wore designer clothes, sunglasses concealing her eyes, walking with a confident stride, every movement oozing wealth. The live stream instantly erupted. “Holy crap! Is that Mr. Buckley? The head of the Buckley Group?!” “Is that Ms. Vance next to him? The Vance family’s heiress, just returned from abroad?” “Did the production team sell a kidney? How did they manage to invite these two titans?!” The sunflower seeds in Mike’s and my hands scattered with a clatter. Our smiles froze on our faces, looking worse than crying. I trembled, pointing at the man. “Mike, that’s… your ex-husband…” Mike shivered, pointing at the woman. “Willow, that’s… your ex-wife…” Run! That was the only thought in my head. We both bolted towards the production team. “Director! We want to quit! We’ll pay the penalty! We’ll sell everything we own if we have to!” The director slowly sipped his tea, holding up a single finger. “The penalty is ten times, and it must be paid in cash, immediately.” Mike and I’s legs went limp; we nearly collapsed. We were doomed. This time, we were truly trapped in a setup. Before we could even think of a countermeasure, two familiar, chilling voices sounded from behind us. “Why the rush? Don’t you want to say hello to old friends?”

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I was the Peacock Princess. The year I came of age, every male peacock in the kingdom came seeking my hand. I distinctly chose Carbonell, a noble Green Peacock, yet the child I bore after marriage was a lowly White Peacock. Carbonell, seeing the White Peacock, flew into a rage. He snatched the infant, dashed it to its death, then threw me to be devoured by wild beasts. My sister, who had married a common Blue Peacock, bore a rare Violet Peacock. Her husband, in turn, became the new King of Birds. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I chose Carbonell as my husband. Before everyone, he rejected me, asking for my sister’s hand instead. I knew then: he had also been reborn. He believed that by marrying my sister, he would father a Violet Peacock. But this time, he wouldn’t even produce the lowliest Black Peacock. … 1 After the Phoenix clan’s demise, we, the Peacocks, ascended as the new rulers of the avian world. Peacocks came in six colors: Obsidian, Violet, Green, Blue, White, and Black. Obsidian was the most mythical; for three million years, no one had seen one, leading many to doubt its existence. Violet Peacocks were exceedingly rare, appearing only once every hundred millennia. Thus, within the Peacock Kingdom, Green Peacocks were the most esteemed, and Black Peacocks the most lowly. In my father’s generation, he sired only female peacocks. To secure the succession, he was forced to seek a son-in-law from outside the royal family. He promised the throne to whoever’s child with his daughter proved to be the noblest peacock. I was Father’s most beloved youngest princess, and his only Green Peacock daughter. So, on my coming-of-age day, every eligible male in the realm gathered outside the palace gates, vying for my hand. After rigorous selection, I chose Carbonell, also a Green Peacock. Father was extremely pleased with Carbonell; he was exceptionally handsome, considered the Peacock Kingdom’s foremost gentleman, and Father’s ideal heir. Father immediately announced his approval of the match, setting a date for our wedding. “Your Majesty, I do not wish to marry Princess Willow. This time, I request to marry Princess Seraphina.” I had just been reborn. Carbonell had released my hand and taken a step back, bowing before Father. A collective gasp swept through the assembled crowd. Even Seraphina looked stunned, though a look of thinly veiled glee quickly spread across her face. Seraphina was ten years my senior and still unmarried. This was because my mother was Father’s only officially wedded Queen, while Seraphina’s mother had been a lady-in-waiting who’d used underhanded tactics to gain Father’s favor. Thus, although Seraphina was also Father’s daughter, few truly treated her as a princess, and no one was willing to marry her. Everyone was perplexed as to why Carbonell, a noble Green Peacock, would choose an ordinary Blue Peacock. Only I knew that Carbonell, too, had been reborn. He chose Seraphina because, in our past life, Seraphina had married a Blue Peacock but had surprisingly borne a rare Violet Peacock. Meanwhile, I had given him a low-tier White Peacock. Faced with Carbonell’s choice, Father’s face darkened. “Nonsense! This is Willow’s royal courtship. If you wish to court Seraphina, you may approach me privately. You came to participate in the selection of a suitor, and Willow chose you, yet you scorn her. Where does that leave my daughter’s honor?” Father, advanced in years, valued his reputation above all else. Carbonell’s actions were undeniably a public slap in the face. Carbonell immediately knelt. “Your Majesty, it is not that I scorn Princess Willow, but because Princess Willow is of ill character. She has concealed her true identity as a Black Peacock and deceived everyone!” He spoke with righteous indignation, pointing accusingly at me. The entire hall fell silent, disbelief etched on every face. “What nonsense are you spouting? My Willow is no Black Peacock!” Before Father could speak, Mother stepped forward. 2 “Oh? If Your Majesty the Queen is so certain, why not let Princess Willow reveal her true form? If Princess Willow is a Green Peacock, then I, Carbonell, will offer my life in atonement.” Carbonell looked at Mother with disdain. “If not, then Princess Willow should offer her life in atonement, how about that?” Mother’s face darkened, her brow furrowed. Father’s expression shifted from shock to suspicion, his face instantly grim. More than reputation, Father valued lineage. He was a Green Peacock, yet his other daughters were merely common Blue Peacocks. So, upon my birth, hearing that my peacock color was noble, he had showered all his affection upon me. Now, hearing Carbonell claim I was the lowest-ranked Black Peacock, he practically crushed the armrest of his chair. Mother remained speechless for a long moment. Carbonell’s expression morphed from disdain to smugness. “It’s just revealing your true form, surely that’s not difficult? Is the Queen’s hesitation because I’m correct?” Mother’s face grew even more distressed. Just as she was about to speak, I stepped directly in front of her, openly admitting, “I am indeed not a Green Peacock.” Mother cried out, “Willow, how could you?” Carbonell was forcing me to reveal my true form precisely because he knew I wasn’t a Green Peacock. In our past life, during childbirth, I had revealed my true form due to complications. That had shocked Carbonell. Because everyone believed I was Father’s only Green Peacock daughter, Carbonell had gone to great lengths to marry me. Peacock eggs match the peacock’s color, so after I laid a white egg, Carbonell was enraged. He not only smashed my egg but also slit the throat of my still-in-true-form self. Not only that, he then tossed my dying body into the back mountains, where numerous wild beasts tore me apart. “Good, good, good!” Carbonell laughed loudly, standing up and unfastening his ceremonial sword, throwing it at my feet. “Since you’ve admitted it, then Princess, please offer your life in atonement.” I said, “But I never claimed to be a Green Peacock. What crime have I committed?” When I was born, there were extraordinary phenomena in the sky. The entire Peacock Kingdom’s sky was filled with a rainbow of colors. Everyone said I was an auspicious omen. Only my mother, who bore me, knew that I was a dull, dark egg. She dismissed everyone and wrapped the egg in cloth. On the day I hatched, only she had seen my true form. From childhood, I had never claimed to be a Green Peacock. In my past life, before marrying Carbonell, I had sought him out and told him I was not actually a Green Peacock. At that time, Carbonell told me he didn’t mind; he loved me for who I was. I was touched by him and happily married him, fulfilling my duties as a wife after marriage. But it was only when I died that I learned. He had thought I was testing him, which was why he said those things. “Even if you never claimed to be a Green Peacock, you also never revealed your true form as a Black Peacock. You’ve enjoyed the royal family’s wealth and glory; this is deceiving the populace.” Although there was no law forbidding Black Peacocks from remaining in the royal family, ever since the third Peacock King, any Black Peacock appearing in the royal family would be banished. Just as I was about to say I wasn’t a Black Peacock either, Father spoke. “Enough, Carbonell. Since you wish to marry Seraphina, I shall grant you both a royal marriage.” Carbonell immediately knelt. “Thank Your Majesty. What about Princess Willow?” “Carbonell, this is my private family matter. How long do you intend to meddle?” Carbonell immediately understood Father’s meaning. “This subject is guilty.” Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Carbonell led Seraphina away. As she passed me, Seraphina gave me a meaningful glance. She whispered in my ear, “You have your comeuppance today.” 3 Back at the palace, Father erupted in a furious rage. He demanded to know why Mother and I had deceived him. Just as I was about to tell him that while I wasn’t a Green Peacock, I was certainly not a Black Peacock, Father waved his hand dismissively. “From today forward, I have no daughter named Willow. After Seraphina’s wedding next month, you are to leave the palace.” Father not only banished me but also placed Mother under house arrest. The news spread like wildfire, further solidifying my identity as a Black Peacock. In just one day, I went from being universally adored to universally scorned. My reputation plummeted, and naturally, no man would ever want to marry me. I accepted everything calmly. My days were spent either in my room or in the royal library. That afternoon, the weather was clear, the sun shining brightly. I called for a handmaiden and asked her to watch from below. I transformed into my true form and flew into the sky, momentarily eclipsing the sun. A few moments later, I landed and resumed my human form. “Princess, it’s just as you said! When you spread your wings, your entire body is a rainbow of colors, absolutely stunning!” The handmaiden praised profusely. “You truly are the most beautiful Black Peacock I’ve ever seen.” I smiled faintly. The handmaiden’s words confirmed my suspicion. Just as I was about to ask her to draw my true form, I heard a scoff. “A Black Peacock is still a Black Peacock. No matter how pretty, it’s still the lowest of the Peacock clan.” After the incident, my palace quarters were exceptionally quiet. Only she, it seemed, would bother to come and mock me. I looked up to see Seraphina, resplendent in elegant attire, standing at the doorway. Having caught the eye of Carbonell, the Peacock Kingdom’s foremost gentleman, Seraphina was basking in glory lately. Her clothing and daily provisions were even more luxurious than mine, the once-favored princess. She finally held her head high, parading her authority throughout the palace. I heard several handmaidens from her palace had mysteriously disappeared. “Little sister, how can you still have the nerve to stay in the palace? Father gave you a month’s grace out of respect for Mother. If you were sensible, you’d leave quickly and stop disgracing our royal family.” Seraphina had never liked me, even when I was a child. Only because she envied my favor. I sneered. “Why has my second sister come to my quarters? Are you looking for your handmaidens? Then you’ve come to the wrong place. They’re probably in the maw of the beasts in the back mountains. Aren’t you afraid their spirits will come to take you away if you wander carelessly?” Seraphina’s face paled, and she gritted her teeth. “What are you so proud of? You’re merely a cast-off of the royal family now, while I’m about to marry Carbonell. He’s the most noble Green Peacock, and he said that our union might produce an incredibly noble Violet Peacock.” I gave her a cold glance. “Is that so? Congratulations, congratulations. Then why don’t you hurry and go make babies with Carbonell? Though I should warn you, Carbonell doesn’t look like he can have children.” “How dare you slander my husband? You’re asking for death!” Seraphina raised her hand, aiming to strike me. But she had never been able to beat me in a fight since childhood. This time, she only managed to get hit. Before I could land a few blows, I was pulled away by a great force. Carbonell had appeared. “Who allowed you to bully Seraphina?” Seeing Carbonell, Seraphina instantly transformed into a delicate damsel, leaning into him, pointing at me and saying in a sickly sweet voice, “Carbonell, you’re finally here. She cursed me, saying I wouldn’t be able to bear your child.” “How could that be? You will definitely bear me a perfect Violet Peacock.” Carbonell gently caressed her face. “As for her, I doubt she’ll ever bear even a White Peacock in this lifetime.” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but let out a cynical “Ha!” “I wonder who won’t be able to bear children.” Carbonell’s face turned cold. Carbonell had a secret, known only to me. He was infertile. In my past life, when I learned this, I had wanted to say that having no children was fine; as long as we loved each other, nothing else mattered. Carbonell, however, didn’t see it that way. To secure the throne, he begged me to take the fertility herb, a plant that induces childbirth. That herb, once ingested, would consume one’s inner essence, draining all vital energy. That was why I revealed my true form during childbirth. Not only that, using this herb had severe side effects. Headaches and nausea were minor; the most unbearable symptom was an itch deep in the bones, no matter how much you scratched, it wouldn’t go away. Perhaps fearing I would reveal more, Carbonell quickly led Seraphina away. After they left, the handmaiden came out with the finished drawing. The moment I saw the portrait, my pupils dilated. This painting completely confirmed my suspicions. I had spent these past days in the royal library, poring over ancient texts. Old records stated that Obsidian Peacocks were inherently dark in color, but under sunlight, they displayed a rainbow of hues. An Obsidian Peacock, after consuming the fertility herb, would lay a white egg, and upon hatching, a violet phoenix would emerge. So, I was not a Black Peacock at all. I was the legendary Obsidian Peacock. And my egg was not a White Peacock, but a high-grade Violet Peacock. Because no one had ever seen an Obsidian Peacock, Carbonell simply didn’t recognize its true value. Knowing this, I told no one. Now, everyone condemned me, and even if I spoke, no one would believe me. To prove myself, I would have to lay an egg and hatch it. Who could I find to lay an egg with? My reputation was ruined; no decent peacock would ever mate with me. There was no choice. I had to buy a husband from the black market. After some careful choosing, I finally picked one that was pleasing to the eye. His appearance was remarkably striking, though he was, unfortunately, a multi-colored rooster. No matter. Ancient texts stated that an Obsidian Peacock could mate with any bird and still produce an auspicious offspring of Violet Peacock or higher. As long as my genes were involved, the child would be perfect. The first day I brought the man home, I started stripping his clothes. His ears were beet-red, and he clutched the ties of his clothes tightly. “Pr-princess, don’t we need to… cultivate some feelings before… doing this?” Cultivate feelings? How troublesome. I released my grip, smiling at him. “How do you think we should cultivate them?” “At-at least we should get to know each other first.” “Oh.” I sat back down. “My name is Willow. What’s yours?” “Zach.” Alright. Done getting to know each other, I immediately pounced. Time for business.

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After ten years of marriage, my husband entered a “sensitive period for order.” I picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, and he saw it, rising to get a new pair from the kitchen. His discarded pajamas were off-limits to me; they could only go to a specific dry cleaner. Our bed was divided in half—pillows, blankets, even the direction of my breath couldn’t cross the boundary. Today, he didn’t touch the breakfast I’d prepared again. The toast was golden-brown, the fried egg perfectly runny, just how he liked it, and the milk was warmed to fifty degrees. But he didn’t even glance at it before leaving for work. I noticed he’d forgotten a contract and hurried after him, only to find his new secretary waiting for him in the basement. She brazenly popped a half-eaten bun into his mouth, and he, indulgent, ate it. A sudden realization struck me. Only children aged two or three have a “sensitive period for order.” For adults, this is called physiological aversion. 1 The underground parking garage was quiet. The young woman chattered animatedly, brimming with an enviable vitality. Jim didn’t speak, but he naturally swallowed the half-eaten bun. The atmosphere was impossibly warm. I was very good at disrupting such atmospheres. “You haven’t eaten pastries in a long time.” I was calmer than I expected. Before Jim could formulate a response, the young woman bounced out. She stuck out her tongue, a mischievous, impish look on her face. “It’s all my fault! I bought the wrong buns today, so…” “I wasn’t asking you.” My voice was soft, but it instantly brought tears to the young woman’s eyes. Jim’s smile vanished, and he instinctively stepped in front of her. “Willow, it’s not what you think.” He sighed, reaching out to take my hand. I instinctively recoiled, and he froze, then casually withdrew his hand. “Beth lives nearby, so she just catches a ride with me to the office. You used to live in a rental too, you know how tough the commute can be.” Yes, back then, we only had one beat-up scooter, all year round. In summer, the seat got scorching hot, unbearable at first. In winter, the cold wind was biting, our breath condensing into white mist. Jim’s voice was carried away by the wind: “Willow, I promise I’ll work hard to buy a car so you won’t have to suffer the wind and sun again.” Actually, he was colder standing in front of me than I was. I looked at his reddened ears and gently placed my hand over them. “It’s not hard. As long as I have you, it’s not hard.” Later, he bought a car. But I never rode in it again. 2 A wave of bitterness washed over me. I blinked, trying to mask my momentary lapse. “Don’t be so tense, I just came to drop off a contract.” Seeing the contract in my hand, Jim visibly, though subtly, let out a breath of relief. “Willow, don’t worry. She’s just my secretary.” He solemnly reassured me, his eyes seemingly holding the familiar affection I remembered. But only I knew, it was different now. I dug my nails into my palm, a sarcastic smirk on my lips. “I never knew bosses needed to pick up and drop off their secretaries daily now.” The young woman behind him lowered her head, looking somewhat embarrassed. Seemingly not expecting me to persist, Jim fiddled with his car keys, his tone somewhat annoyed. “Willow, you don’t need to be so harsh on a young woman.” Harsh? It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over my head. All those words of accusation were now stuck in my throat, swallowed down with the bitterness. “Just kidding.” I forced a lighthearted laugh. “If others don’t find it funny, it’s not a joke. Apologize.” I stared at Jim, stunned. Once upon a time, he would stand before me just like this, refusing to let me suffer even the slightest wrong. I tried to find a shadow of regret on his face. But I found nothing. Jim just gazed steadily at me, his authoritative stance unmistakable. Not wanting the scene to become any more awkward, I finally spoke: “I’m sorry.” Jim seemed satisfied with my understanding and tact, not hesitating to offer me some small recompense. “Good girl. I’ll have dinner with you tonight.” He spoke from a position of superiority, treating dinner at home as a reward for me. In the past, I might have secretly delighted in it. But now, I simply twitched my lips. “As you wish.” Jim didn’t seem to notice my attitude. He checked his watch and turned to leave. The young woman stayed very close to him, practically following in his footsteps. Then, she skillfully got into the passenger seat. I stood rooted to the spot, silently watching their car. The car slowly drove out of the parking garage. The silence was absolute. I touched my face. Turns out, I couldn’t even shed tears anymore. 3 Something had been wrong between Jim and me for a long time. In the beginning, he simply didn’t hold me after intimacy. “I don’t know why, but I just don’t feel the same way with you as I used to.” He frowned, seemingly frustrated himself. I was distraught, only wanting to salvage things, so the next time we were intimate, I proactively wore a provocative outfit. He was surprised, and he was passionate. It felt like we were back to how we used to be. But it didn’t last. The next time I put on the outfit, he said, “Are you that eager? It makes me feel like I’m completing a task.” I didn’t speak, just quietly went to the bathroom and changed. In the mirror, I looked at my body, tears streaming endlessly. From then on, we stopped being intimate. He seemed relieved. I comforted myself, telling myself it was normal. After all, we were an old married couple. But I didn’t expect that was just the beginning. He said we’d been together too long and needed some space. “Willow, I see you as family now.” Jim said he still loved me. I accepted it, and so I quietly accepted all his rules. I couldn’t touch his pajamas, and at night, we could sleep with our backs to each other. But when I used his chopsticks to pick up a dish and he immediately reached for a new pair, I still cried. After we married, I didn’t cry often. The time before last, I cried tears of joy on the day we got our marriage license. That day, Jim had gently kissed away my tears: “Willow, I love everything about you.” Now, he found the chopsticks I had used too dirty. I cried heartbrokenly, and Jim just watched me coldly from the side. It wasn’t until my voice was hoarse that he finally asked, “Cried enough? If you have, go get some sleep.” 4 His composure made me feel like a madwoman. I began searching online for reasons. It wasn’t until I read about the “sensitive period for order” that I felt some relief. It’s normal, I told myself. He just lacked a sense of security and wanted to maintain his own order. I clung to this hope, intending to patiently see him through this period, back to how things used to be. But I had forgotten. The “sensitive period for order” only appears in young children. Jim could eat a bun bitten by someone else; his “order” was directed only at me. Jim loathed me. It was an uncontrollable, physiological aversion. Jim didn’t come home for dinner tonight either. On the dining table, the same sandwich from this morning still sat there. I numbly put it in my mouth. The cold, runny egg was fishy, and the milk had formed a skin. I instinctively retched, rushing to the bathroom, throwing up until I felt dizzy. I don’t know how long it was before I heard a familiar voice from the doorway. “Sorry, Willow, something at work held me up.” Jim was carrying a bag from my favorite pineapple cake shop. Since he’d hurt his stomach drinking and couldn’t eat pastries, I hadn’t had them in a long time either. Seeing my gaze fixed on the bag, Jim managed a faint smile. “I queued for a long time. Eat it while it’s warm.” The familiar scent and packaging brought me back to when we were newly married. Back then, we still lived in a rented room. Next month’s rent was still uncertain, and I was too sick to get out of bed. Jim worked tirelessly, even taking a part-time job delivering food at night. The landlady was kind, often bringing us food and drinks. That night, just after she’d brought a box of pineapple cakes, I received a call from the hospital. Jim had hit an old woman while riding his scooter. I forced myself to gather all our money and went to the hospital. It was only 836 dollars—a drop in the ocean. I looked at the desperate Jim and knelt before the other family. “Whatever our responsibility, we won’t shirk it. We’ll write an IOU and pay it back. Please, don’t hold him accountable.” Seeing our pitiful state, they sighed and waved us off. At the hospital’s back entrance, Jim and I cried in each other’s arms. Penniless, we ate that box of pineapple cakes for three days. Without that faint sweetness, we wouldn’t have recovered so quickly. Thinking of this, a sliver of hope rose in me again. Was Jim apologizing for this morning? Perhaps things weren’t as bad as I thought. I instinctively reached out to take the bag, then my gaze froze. On the takeaway bag was a strand of hair—light brown, medium length, just like the secretary’s. They had eaten dinner together. My hand trembling, I opened the bag. There were only three cakes inside. “Why is one missing?” I tried to sound casual. Jim’s expression became unnatural. “It smelled too good, so I tasted one. Didn’t you also say earlier that you can’t eat things that are too sweet now? I figured it would be a waste if it wasn’t eaten, so…” Seeing Jim making excuses, I suddenly found it incredibly uninteresting. “Then take the rest to her too.” Jim’s brows furrowed tightly, his face filled with irritation. “What’s wrong with you now? She can’t even eat one piece?” He didn’t understand; this was never about one piece of pastry. He had shared our sweetness with someone else. I closed my eyes, finally unable to endure it any longer. “No. I don’t like it anymore.” Jim gazed steadily at me. “I’ll ask you one last time. Are you going to eat it?” “No.” Before I finished speaking, Jim directly threw the entire box of pineapple cakes into the trash can. “Fine, if you won’t eat it, then it’s gone.” The scent of pineapple cakes still lingered in the air. But now, as our eyes met, only exhaustion remained. “I’ve been working all day; I’m really tired.” Jim ran a hand through his hair and kicked the trash can. “If you want to have a good life, can you please stop causing trouble?” I looked into his eyes, and the aversion he felt for me was so obvious. “Am I the one causing trouble?” I spoke, only to find my voice hoarse. “You’ve been off for a long time.” “What’s wrong with me?” Jim scoffed. “I told you I love you. I would never cheat. Can you not be so suspicious all the time?” I looked at Jim, finding his face genuinely open and honest. I suddenly felt utterly drained, physically and mentally. “It’s not only sleeping together that counts as cheating.” Jim sneered. “Ultimately, you just think I haven’t touched you, don’t you?” He suddenly walked closer, grabbing my wrist directly. “Then let’s do it. You’ll be satisfied once we’ve done it.” With that, he dragged me towards the bedroom. “Slap!” The next second, a crisp slap echoed across Jim’s face. He looked at me, bewildered. The last shred of delusion in my heart also vanished at this moment. “Do you think you’re the only one who finds this relationship disgusting?” In Jim’s incredulous eyes, I finally spoke my mind: “I’ve had enough too.” “Jim, let’s get a divorce.”

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My husband resented our arranged marriage. For three years, he’d never even seen me. Then, he was drugged, and his secretary asked me to help him out. After it was done. He didn’t recognize me and offered me half a million dollars as compensation. My eyes lit up. I felt like I’d found the secret to getting rich. I put all my effort into seducing him. Until he finally decided to keep me as his trophy girlfriend. He said: “Never fall in love with me. It’s impossible for me to love you, much less marry you.” Then, he pressed down on my hand as I reached for his bathrobe. “Hold on, I need to get a divorce first.” The next second, his call rang on my cell phone. 1 Due to a small life-saving favor, my father arranged for me to marry Elias Blackwood, a man of immense wealth. Little did I know, Elias utterly disdained both my father and me. Though he paid my father a hundred million dollars as a dowry, he stipulated that the marriage would be dissolved after three years. And on the day we registered our marriage, he only sent his secretary, Mr. Jones, with the documents. After that, Elias worked abroad. I always thought our marriage would be nothing more than a formality. But just two months before the divorce, Mr. Jones called me to meet Elias at a hotel. I assumed it was important business. Upon entering the hotel room, Elias burst out of the bathroom, his breathing ragged, his voice strained and furious. “I didn’t order a… companion!” “Get out of here in five seconds!” I froze on the spot. First, because of what he said. Second, because of how he looked. His handsome face was flushed, his eyes glistening, the narrow corners red as if painted with rouge. He was drenched, his white shirt clinging tightly to his skin, revealing a faint outline of his muscular abs. He looked like a dangerously alluring male siren. With my extensive experience watching dramas, I realized he had been drugged. I stepped forward and asked, “Can you… handle it?” “If not, I can take you to the hospital.” “Don’t do anything reckless.” Elias looked like he was in extreme agony, his breathing growing heavier with each gasp. I thought about calling Mr. Jones. But he suddenly changed his mind, pushing me against the wall, gripping my neck, and lowering his head to kiss me forcefully. My eyes widened instantly. I hit his scorching body with my hands. “Calm down, calm down! Don’t do this!” He caught my hands, his voice hoarse. “Help me. Whatever compensation you want afterward, I’ll give it to you.” With that, a torrential kiss descended, forceful and possessive… 2 I woke up the next day, and Elias wasn’t in bed. My entire body felt like it had been run over by a truck, aching so much I couldn’t straighten my back. As I got dressed and walked out, I saw him. He was wearing a white bathrobe, sitting on the living room sofa, his posture languid and sated. Our eyes met. Shameful images from last night flashed through my mind. My face instantly heated up, even the back of my neck felt scorching. Just as I was about to say something to break the awkward silence, Elias spoke first, his face emotionless. “I didn’t know it was your first time. You can ask for more compensation.” I was stunned. Compensation for sleeping with my own husband? Thinking about saving money to buy a house, I held up five fingers, silently indicating fifty thousand. A flicker of disdain crossed Elias’s eyes. He handed me his phone. “Enter your card number yourself.” As I typed, I cursed him in my head: Always trying to act generous with money, but when it comes to actually giving it, he looks at me like I’m trash. Later, as he was filling in the name, he asked, “What’s your name?” I froze again. “You don’t know me?” Elias countered, “Should I know you?” I was speechless. On reflection, he hadn’t seen me in nearly three years of marriage. I struggled to suppress a laugh. “Jade Parker. Just Jade Parker.” “Here’s five hundred thousand. Make sure you keep this quiet.” “Huh?” “Is there a problem?” I hadn’t expected him not to recognize me even after I said my name. And I certainly hadn’t expected to get five hundred thousand for sleeping with him! Staring at the deposit notification on my phone, I thought, If I could sleep with him a few more times, wouldn’t I strike it rich? My mind raced, and I smiled faintly. “No problem.” “But if you ever find yourself in this situation again, you can always call me.” Elias’s face instantly darkened. He called Mr. Jones in and instructed him, “Take her to a pharmacy. Watch her swallow the morning-after pill.” Then he warned me, “Don’t ever appear before me again.” Mr. Jones’s eyes widened like saucers. He hesitated, saying, “Boss, you…” Fearing Mr. Jones would reveal my identity and disrupt my plan to get rich, I immediately cut him off. I grabbed his arm and pulled him out. “Don’t say anything. Just take me to buy the medicine.” 3 Outside the hotel, Mr. Jones asked, “Did you and the boss have a fight?” Once I confirmed no one was around, I lowered my voice. “He didn’t recognize me. He thought I was a call girl.” Mr. Jones looked surprised, then quickly understood and tried to comfort me. I smiled indifferently. “Just promise to keep it a secret for me. If he ever needs ‘special services’ again, you can keep calling me.” Mr. Jones looked mortified. “The boss is usually cold and aloof, he never messes around with women. This time, he was drugged at a party. If I hadn’t taken the liberty of contacting you, he would have endured it alone.” I was surprised. Elias’s antics with me didn’t seem like the actions of an abstinent man. But hearing that he generally kept to himself made me feel strangely pleased. “And he’ll eventually find out who you are. Isn’t it bad to keep this from him?” “Bad? This is great! It’s his fault for not recognizing me.” Then I said pitifully, “I was raised in the countryside, unloved by my father, ignored by my mother.” “I thought marriage would end my tragic fate, but your boss hasn’t given me a single penny. I’m worse off with him than without him.” “Just pity me, let me make some money off him. When the marriage contract is dissolved in two months, I’ll be gone, no strings attached.” Perhaps moved by my tragic story, Mr. Jones sighed. “Alright, but if the boss finds out the truth, you have to keep my name out of it.” I patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t get you into trouble. Now, let’s go buy the pills.” “Are you really going to take them?” “Of course. I don’t even like him, and we’re getting divorced soon. It would be a huge hassle if I got pregnant.” 4 From then on, I longed for Elias to be drugged again. After a week with no results, I even suggested that Mr. Jones drug him. Mr. Jones refused, saying the person who drugged Elias last time had their tendons severed. So, I changed my approach. I got Elias’s preferences, schedule, and other details from him. I was determined to seduce Elias into keeping me as his trophy girlfriend. As luck would have it. The day I went to the bar to “accidentally” run into Elias. I saw him fighting with several men. Bystanders said a beautiful woman had taken a fancy to him, and after he rejected her, she got angry and hired people to teach him a lesson. I guess I’m just too kind. When one of the men pulled out a knife and ambushed him from behind, I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around him. “Watch out!” Elias was unharmed. But I was stabbed in my left arm. Elias turned, looking at me in surprise. When he saw my arm bleeding, a flame ignited in his eyes. He cursed, “You’re asking for it,” and kicked the knife-wielding man away. At that moment, security guards restrained the other troublemakers. The manager also rushed over, bowing and scraping to Elias, apologizing profusely. Elias didn’t even glance at him, quickly picking me up and carrying me to his car. After getting stitches at the hospital. He looked at me, his voice serious. “Why were you there?” Huh? Was he suspecting I was following him? “I was just out having fun.” “Why did you shield me?” My mind raced, and I decided to make the most of the situation, my voice shy and demure. “Once a couple, always a kindness. I couldn’t bear to see you get hurt.” A vein pulsed in Elias’s forehead. “It was a transaction. There’s no such thing as a couple’s kindness.” “But you were my first man. It’s hard for me to forget you, you know.” Elias’s ears turned slightly red, his voice a little unnatural. “I’ll transfer five hundred thousand for your injury. From now on, when we meet, pretend not to know me, and don’t interfere in my business.” “Oh, okay…” As if. After he finished the transfer and put away his phone, I suddenly felt my arm injury was well worth it, and a smile involuntarily curved my lips. Elias’s gaze sharpened. “What are you smiling at?” “Oh? Just thinking you’re handsome and generous, a really, really good person.” “Can I add you on social media?” “Why?” “I got hurt for you, didn’t I? When I’m better, I’ll let you know, so you can rest easy.” In reality, I wanted to showcase my positive and vibrant life, to make my presence known to him. Elias scoffed, his sharp gaze seemingly seeing through my little scheme. “Don’t harbor any fantasies about me. I have no interest in you.” “Oh.” If he didn’t want to add me, fine. I had Mr. Jones as my informant anyway. I got up and started to leave. Elias extended his long arm, holding his phone out to me. “What?” “Didn’t you want to add me? Take it and do it yourself.” It was… quite unexpected. I took his phone and added my burner account. I felt like I was one step closer to striking it rich. 5 I had intended to recover from my injury before approaching Elias again. But three days later, my father asked me to deliver a business proposal to Elias for his review. He even offered me fifty thousand dollars as a reward for running the errand. For the sake of the money, I went. That evening, after arriving at the restaurant where Elias was conducting business. I had Mr. Jones deliver the proposal to Elias. While waiting for Mr. Jones to reply, I sat on a flowerbed downstairs, chewing the gum my father had given me. My father placed great importance on this meeting between Elias and me. He had not only hired someone to style me but had even gone as far as to arrange for my oral care. After about ten minutes, I started to feel increasingly warm and uncomfortable. I called Mr. Jones, wanting to ask if he was done. As soon as the call connected, I heard Elias scoff. “Someone like Mr. Smith, who would sell his own daughter for profit, isn’t fit to partner with Blackwood Industries.” “From now on, if he or his daughter try to contact me, don’t let them through. “Lest he think his daughter is some precious treasure to me, to be sold off again and again.” Mr. Jones replied, “Understood,” before asking me, “What’s up?” My throat was dry, my face flushed, my body so hot that my blood felt like it was boiling, as if it would burst through my veins at any moment. A sudden realization hit me: my father wanted me to consummate the marriage with Elias, and the gum he gave me was actually an aphrodisiac. Thinking that Elias and I were married and had already slept together, I asked Mr. Jones to hand the phone to Elias. “I’ve been drugged with something. Can you… help me, like I helped you?”

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The upper circles had an unwritten rule. The spouse at home had to implicitly allow their partner to keep lovers outside. I used to think such matters were purely a matter of conscience. Until Damian’s young mistress came calling. She had an innocent, naive look, standing before me. It took her a lot of courage to finally speak: “Although I know this isn’t right, Damian says he loves me, and I love him too.” “I know this sounds despicable, but it’s for your own good. I know the rules in your circle. Please, get a divorce. I’ll make sure he gives you a large sum of money as compensation.” She bowed ninety degrees to me. I suddenly found it very amusing and asked her, “Do you know that between Damian and me, he is the one I keep as my trophy boyfriend?” … “Did Damian ever tell you that the villa you live in, and the luxury car you drive, are all mine?” Seraphina’s lips moved twice, but no sound came out. The courage she had just shown, the kind that throws caution to the wind for true love, quickly vanished, leaving only panic and disbelief. “Apparently not,” I said, casually stirring my coffee. I continued, “If Damian and I divorce, everything he owns and everything he gave you will be taken back. Do you still think your love is so grand?” When Damian returned, the young woman’s face was crimson from my words. He immediately stepped forward to shield her, his eyes filled with a wariness I didn’t recognize. I asked him what this meant. He merely held Seraphina’s hand and said to me, “She’s not like the people in your circle. Don’t make things difficult for her.” My hand, holding the coffee cup, trembled for a moment. Suppressing the rising discomfort in my heart, I tilted my head to look at him. “What if I insist on making things difficult?” His gaze fell on the table behind me. I followed his gaze and saw a box full of pearls. As a meticulously cultivated heir of an upper-class family, I was never short of various high-quality men around me. Similarly, my excellence allowed me to stabilize a vast business conglomerate without needing an arranged marriage. Back then, I was always quite playful and kept many trophy boyfriends. Damian was just one of them. When I first met him, he was still a university student. Unlike those men who only cared about money with me, every time he obsessively sought my affirmation of love. He would cook me a nourishing porridge after my business dinners. I had low blood sugar, so he always carried a chocolate bar with him. One year when I was in a car accident, he knelt for three thousand steps at a temple, praying for a safety charm for me. I looked at his swollen forehead and raw knees and asked him, “Why are you so good to me?” Because at that time, I hadn’t given him much money. He said, “I love you, so I wish you well.” “It would be even better if you could love me a little, too.” Perhaps touched by his sincere affection, I dismissed all the other men around me and gave him official status. On our wedding day, he gave me a box of pearls, which weren’t particularly exquisite. He said, “I don’t have many possessions. This box of pearls was personally retrieved by me from the water. Each one is a piece of my true heart.” “Since you chose me, you mustn’t disappoint me. If you make me sad, I’ll take a pearl. When all the pearls are gone, I’ll leave you and never come back.” At the time, I only found his sincerity and innocence endearing. To reciprocate his feelings, I promised him I would never make him sad. So, all these years later, that box of pearls remains full. Not a single pearl has been taken. Damian walked over and grabbed a handful of pearls from the box. The once full box instantly lost a third of its contents. Perhaps the surprise in my eyes was too obvious, making him think his intimidation had worked. “You hurt my heart today. You should think about it.” After the two left. I sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the box of pearls. The already inexpensive pearls, after years, had long lost their original luster, becoming dull and yellow. Just like Damian’s love, which had turned sour. Before leaving, Damian said, “Don’t make things difficult for young, beautiful girls just because you’re old.” Upon reflection, Damian’s change of heart had been evident for a while. We hadn’t been intimate for a long time. I was thirty-two, an age when desires are still present. But every time I saw a hint of resistance in Damian’s expression, I merely assumed he was tired from work and didn’t press him. It turned out he was saving his energy for someone else. That girl was indeed young and beautiful. I looked at myself in the mirror; in my thirties, I was still radiant, looking as young as someone in their twenties. My entire demeanor exuded the elegance and beauty accumulated by wealth. I wasn’t even a bit inferior to the actresses on TV. I tossed my slightly curled hair. I called a friend. “That young actor you mentioned last time, arrange a meeting for me.” My friend’s laughter came through the phone. “I really thought you were going to stick with that boy toy for life.” “Everyone in our circle has a few on the side. Only you were willing to be faithful to him.” I used to believe that loyalty was the most fundamental principle for a partner. So, in all these years of marriage with Damian, no matter what people outside said, I never had anyone else. “Why the sudden change of heart?” “I just find him rather uninteresting. Don’t want to waste any more time.” “Is one not enough then? Old place tonight. I’ll find you a few more, you can pick.” “Alright.” After hanging up, I had my personal makeup artist give me a head-to-toe makeover, then left the house. In a private room at the Pinnacle Hotel, eight young, handsome men stood. My friend sat beside me, signaling to them, “Hurry up and attend to her. If you get noticed by Ms. Thompson, you’ll be set for life.” The men instantly crowded around me, asking if I needed anything. To be honest, it felt quite good. After three rounds of drinks, I went to the restroom. Passing the private room next door, the door was slightly ajar, and I heard Damian’s voice from inside. His friend asked him, “Your wife is a rich woman, after all. You don’t come home for days, aren’t you afraid she’ll dump you?” “I don’t want to go back and smell her old-lady smell. If you like it, you go smell it.” “I don’t want to. Who would be attracted to an old woman?” “But, you’re relying on her after all…” “What are you talking about? My buddy Damian has that old woman wrapped around his finger. Has she ever found anyone else all these years?” Damian, toying with a discolored pearl in his hand, said, “It’s fine. She’s most afraid of me leaving her.” “She used to have plenty of people around her, but ever since I pulled that countdown stunt with this box of pearls, she’s chased all those men away.” “Damian is awesome. A box of cheap pearls made a rich woman devoted to him.” He slung an arm around Seraphina next to him. “She’s in her thirties now, past her prime. She’s not the pretty sister she used to be. If she keeps making a fuss, I’ll disappear, make her go through hell to get me back, and see if she regrets it.” When I returned to the private room. I sent a message to my secretary. I told her to cancel all of Damian’s credit cards. Spending my money while slandering me with his hangers-on? There’s no such thing as a free lunch. “So, anyone you like?” I finally looked up, carefully scrutinizing the men before me, then pointed to the one in the middle. “You, come here. The others can leave.” The moment I finished speaking, my assistant pulled several stacks of cash from her bag and handed them over. “Ms. Thompson doesn’t like her private life being discussed.” They took the money and left joyfully. “He’s the young actor I told you about. He’s twenty this year, his name is Ethan, just starting out, absolutely clean.” I waved him over. Ethan walked to my side, and I reached out to touch his abs. Very firm, very useful. “Feed me.” My friend discreetly left. He held a shrimp in his mouth, leaned down towards me, his breath filled with youthful pheromones. Damian was right about one thing. When there are younger people, who would want to stay with an old thing? “Please, love me.” “Good boy.” That night, I didn’t stop until dawn, relishing the experience. So much so that I missed Damian’s barrage of calls. This kind of experience was something the 28-year-old Damian could no longer give me. He was old, it was time for a change. As I left, I left behind a card and a phone number. “I’m very satisfied. Let’s keep in touch.” Ethan’s eyes, as he took the bank card, sparkled with excitement and satisfaction. See? As long as I had money, I could find anyone I wanted. Refreshed after a night of pleasure, my complexion was exceptionally good today. At work, my secretary even complimented me on how beautiful I looked and asked me to recommend a beauty salon. Perhaps because of my good mood, the workday felt unusually easy today. This good mood lasted until I came home that evening. In the villa, Damian sat on the living room sofa, his face contorted in anger. I thought he had found out about me seeing other men. But he questioned me, “Why did you have my credit cards stopped? Do you know how embarrassed I was yesterday when I couldn’t pay for dinner with my friends?” “So? What does that have to do with me?” “Rose Thompson, are you making a fuss with me because of Seraphina? She’s just a little sister to me.” “Damian, do you believe that yourself?” “Don’t you dare act like you like to play around outside and assume everyone else is the same. Your accusing me like this just shows you want to go out and play again, doesn’t it?” “Your circle is always so disgusting. You’re not clean yourselves, so you assume everyone else is the same.” I truly never imagined he could be so shameless. If he had openly admitted to having a mistress, at most I would have thought he was a useless moocher who couldn’t even manage his sugar mommy. But he actually shifted all the blame onto me, making me feel utterly disgusted. He grabbed another large handful of pearls from the box. “You’re not young anymore. No one else will love you like I do. Take care of yourself.” Looking at the pearl box, which was now mostly empty, I curved my lips. “Suit yourself.” Seeing my indifference, Damian became somewhat exasperated. “Rose Thompson, you’ve truly hurt me today.” “I won’t be coming home for a while. When you realize your mistake, I’ll return.” Although I never understood where his confidence for arguing with me came from, perhaps he thought a woman over thirty would be anxious about love? Did he believe that my indulgence over the years made him think he had complete control over me? But I still stepped aside from the doorway. “Please do.” During Damian’s absence, he would occasionally return. He told me to buy a car for his girlfriend as an apology, and when I refused, he would come back and take some pearls. He spotted a villa and asked me to buy it for him. When I didn’t pay, he would return and take more pearls. Back and forth, the once full box was left with only a few scattered pearls. In truth, I was quite curious: if all the pearls were gone, would Damian truly leave voluntarily? Thinking this, I had my lawyer draft a divorce agreement. My assets were too vast, and a divorce would take a long time, but my only demand was that he leave with nothing. I had just finished my call with the lawyer when I saw a message from Ethan. “Cartier’s gala invited me. Will you be there?” I asked my assistant, and indeed, Cartier had sent me an invitation. Normally, I wouldn’t attend such sales-driven galas, but I hadn’t seen Ethan for days, and I missed his body. So I replied, “Yes.”

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