Category: English

On New Year’s Eve, my sister-in-law Rachel’s son threw a firecracker into the manhole cover behind my son. After a deafening explosion, my son collapsed on the ground, not breathing. I rushed forward, demanding her son pay with his life. Rachel said it was just an accident. She tossed me fifty thousand dollars and told me not to ruin everyone’s holiday mood. The whole family urged me to be magnanimous, forcing me to sign a settlement agreement. In the end, I was completely exhausted and committed suicide on my son’s death anniversary. When I opened my eyes again, I was back one second before the firecracker was lit. I immediately yanked my son into my arms. A loud explosion rang out, followed by a scream behind me. I turned around and saw a child lying beside the manhole cover. Rachel screamed and rushed over. Her son was gone. The air reeked of sulfur as a lighter clicked. My nephew Logan crouched by the manhole cover, holding a lit firecracker that was sparking. My son Daniel faced away from the manhole, crouched a meter away playing with firecrackers. This scene overlapped with the image from my past life when my son was blown to death. “Daniel!” I yelled and lunged forward. I grabbed my son’s collar and yanked him into my arms, simultaneously kicking out with my right leg. Logan was just about to throw the firecracker when my foot connected with his rear. “Ow!” He screamed, lost his balance, and fell forward onto the manhole cover. The firecracker that had burned down to the end slipped through the hole. BOOM—!!! The earth shook. The shockwave mixed with sewer gas and sludge shot into the sky. I pressed Daniel firmly beneath me. My back was struck painfully by flying debris, my ears ringing. “Mom… scared…” Daniel in my arms trembled all over, his little hands clutching my clothes. Still alive. The smoke cleared. Rachel, holding a bag of snacks, rushed into the yard. A large crater had been blown in the concrete, the cast iron manhole cover was gone. A figure lay at the crater’s edge. The child was covered in sludge, his clothes indistinguishable, his head and face smeared with blood and mud, motionless. Rachel froze for a moment. Then she saw me hiding behind the flower bed. My back was toward her, my coat covering Daniel, only showing a pair of dust-covered shoes. Rachel spat out some shells. “Oh my God! I told you to watch your Daniel, but you wouldn’t listen!” She scurried in front of the child and began lecturing, pointing at the body on the ground. “I said it during dinner—manhole covers are dangerous. My Logan is so well-behaved, he never goes near those places! Your Daniel is the wild one. Now he’s gotten what he deserves, hasn’t he?” She turned and shouted toward the house. “Mom! Derek! Come out and see! Nina’s gotten her son killed!” I straightened up, holding Daniel against me, not letting him look. I just watched Rachel. In my past life, when Daniel was blown up, she wore this exact same expression. Back then she said: “Kids fooling around, who knew the manhole would explode? It’s fate!” Now, watching her gesticulate over that body, even kicking the rubble on the ground with her foot, I said nothing. Since you think this is karma, then let it be karma. The people inside ran out. My mother-in-law Martha, wrapped in a cotton coat, leaning on her cane. “What happened? Are you trying to tear down the house?” Rachel pointed at the child on the ground and shouted. “Mom, look! I told you Nina was bad luck! On New Year’s Eve she just had to play with fireworks, and now she’s blown herself into this state. Isn’t it unlucky?” My mother-in-law squinted through her reading glasses and frowned. “Oh my heavens! Is… is this Daniel?” “Really a cursed short-lived child! Seeing blood on New Year’s—how unlucky!” My mother-in-law poked at the child’s leg with her cane. “Why aren’t you getting up? What are you pretending to be dead for? Don’t embarrass the Miller family here!” Logan on the ground made gurgling sounds in his throat, his body curling up. Rachel jumped back a step, covering her nose. “Pretending! Still pretending! That noise was so loud just now, I bet he’s just trying to scare us! Covered in this stinking mud—hurry up and drag him away, don’t dirty the ground in front of my house!” Neighbors gathered around. Someone spoke up: “Rachel, this child doesn’t look right. So much blood—I’m afraid his internal organs are injured. Call 911 quickly!” “Yeah, look at that leg, it’s deformed.”

Rachel immediately panicked, hands on her hips glaring at the neighbors. “Call what 911! I’ll see who dares call!” “Today is New Year’s Eve! If an ambulance comes into the village, how will our family show our faces afterward? What family calls an ambulance on New Year’s?” She turned and glared at me. “Nina, stop playing dumb! Hurry up and get rid of your half-dead son!” “Let me tell you, tonight my brother is bringing important guests home for dinner. If he sees a bloody person lying at the door, can you handle the consequences?” I shielded Daniel, showing only my dust-covered face. “Rachel, are you sure you don’t want to call an ambulance?” “I think this child is seriously injured. If it’s too late, I’m afraid he won’t survive.” Rachel rolled her eyes. “Survive? What survival? A worthless life!” She glanced at the child on the ground. “The Miller family has virtue—how did we produce this thing? Playing with fire and burning himself, even dragging down the whole family. If he dies, it’s because he’s cursed! Just have another one!” She pulled out her phone, preparing to call her husband to complain. “Nina, I’m telling you right now—if you dare call an ambulance to come cry at our house, I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this family! Try me if you don’t believe it!” Logan on the ground convulsed again, spitting out a mouthful of black blood. His eyes were swollen into slits, staring fixedly in Rachel’s direction. His mother was busy making phone calls. I looked down at the foot on the ground. Half the shoe had been blown off, revealing bloody flesh. The remaining part still showed that swoosh logo. Limited edition AJ children’s sneakers. Last night, Rachel had specially shown them off, saying she spent three thousand dollars on them as Logan’s New Year’s gift. I curved my lips. Since you don’t want to save him, I’ll grant your wish. … “Oh my God, how sinful! Why is there so much blood?” My husband Derek came back from the village entrance carrying two bottles of wine, his hands shaking in fright. “Nina, what… what happened?” Derek ran to my side and looked past me at the child on the ground. “This… this is Daniel?” I looked at him. In my past life, when he saw Daniel lying in a pool of blood, his first reaction was also to check Rachel’s expression first. Rachel rushed to complain first. “Derek, you’re back just in time! Look at what your wife’s son has done! On New Year’s Eve, throwing firecrackers into the manhole—he blew up the manhole cover!” “And now look—he not only killed himself, but he’s made my doorway so bloody!” She slapped her thigh. “Mom was so scared her heart condition almost acted up! If word of this gets out, the Miller family will be completely disgraced!” Derek whipped around to glare at me. “Nina! Are you brain dead? What did I tell you before I left? I told you to watch the child! Is this how you watch him?” He pointed at “Daniel” on the ground. “Now it’s come to this—how are Rachel and Mom supposed to celebrate New Year’s? My brother is about to bring his boss home. Are you deliberately trying to ruin our family?” “Derek, shouldn’t your priority be checking if the child can still be saved?” Derek hesitated, glanced at the blood-covered person on the ground, his eyes evasive. “Save? How can we save him when he’s blown up like this? Do you want to bankrupt me?” He lowered his voice, speaking in my ear. “Anyone can see he’s beyond saving! Even if we save him, he’ll be disabled! Do you want me to spend the rest of my life taking care of a cripple?” “So, what you’re saying is, you won’t save him?” Derek stuck out his neck. “This was an accident! His own bad luck! Besides, Rachel already said we can’t call an ambulance. If we offend my brother’s important guest, can you bear that responsibility?” Rachel walked forward. “Enough, enough. Why the long face on New Year’s? It’s just a child.” She pulled a stack of banded cash from her bag. Fifty thousand dollars. The red envelope her brother had just given her. With a smack. She flung the stack of bills at me, hitting me in the face. The bills scattered, fluttering to the ground, several landing in the black-red sludge. “Take this fifty thousand.” Rachel lifted her chin. “Don’t say I’m heartless. This whole thing was your son’s own fault. Take the money and do whatever you want with it. Just keep your mouth shut.” She waved her hand. “Hurry up and get rid of this unlucky thing, and clean the ground! If you delay my brother’s dinner later, I’ll make sure your whole family regrets it!”

The neighbors whispered among themselves. “Fifty thousand isn’t a small amount. This child looks like he won’t make it.” “Rachel is ruthless enough.” My mother-in-law picked up a bill, wiped off the dust, and stuffed it in her pocket. “Nina, what are you standing there for? Why aren’t you thanking Rachel? Only Rachel is kind-hearted. In any other family, they wouldn’t give you a penny and would make you pay for road repairs!” “Take the money and get lost! Don’t be an eyesore here!” Derek crouched down to pick up the money. “Nina, are you stupid? Quick, take it! With this fifty thousand, we can renovate the house next year. As for Daniel… we can just have another one.” Looking at this family, I said nothing. Logan on the ground began convulsing. Those blood-covered hands scratched at the ground, fingernails digging into the dirt. “Mom… Mom…” The voice was faint. Rachel frowned and stepped back. “What are you calling for? Still not being quiet in this condition! Really a debt collector!” I bent down and snatched the money from Derek’s hands. “Fine.” “Since Rachel is so generous, I won’t refuse.” Derek grinned. “Now that’s more like it! Nina, you’re finally being sensible!” Rachel also smiled contemptuously. “Smart of you. Alright, hurry up and get rid of him. Just looking at him makes me sick.” I clutched that stack of bills. “Rachel, I’ll take the money. But we need proof of this, right?” I glanced at Logan on the ground—his convulsions were getting weaker. “What if you go back on your word later and say I extorted money from you? Or what if the child really dies and you turn it around, saying I caused it?” Rachel laughed. “Oh, quite the legal awareness? Fine, you want proof? Then let’s write an agreement!” Rachel pulled out a small notebook and pen, quickly writing a “liability waiver.” She shoved the notebook in front of me. “Sign it. Once you sign, the money is yours, and we’re square from now on.” Derek urged. “Sign quickly! What are you dawdling for? If my brother comes back and sees this mess, what will it look like?” My mother-in-law also tapped the ground. “Sign! Hurry up and sign! The sooner this mess is over, the better!” I took the pen and glanced at the dying Logan on the ground. I signed my name on the paper: Nina Carter. Then I added a line: “Rachel personally confirms waiving any rescue obligation for said injured party and demands family members immediately clear the scene. Consequences borne by her.” Rachel barely looked before snatching the notebook back and putting it away. “There, smart of you.” “Derek, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and help your wife get rid of this… this thing!” Derek rolled up his sleeves, about to drag the body. “Nina, give me a hand. Let’s move him to the back yard—don’t let him be an eyesore here.” There was only an abandoned pigsty in the back yard. I stepped back. “Wait.” Derek frowned. “What now? Having second thoughts?” “Since we signed the agreement and took the money, I’ll handle the body myself.” I looked at him. “No need to dirty your hands.” Derek breathed a sigh of relief. “Fine, fine, you handle it yourself. I’ll go help Rachel rinse the doorway. All this blood is so unlucky.” He ran to get the hose. Rachel nodded with satisfaction. “My brother-in-law is sensible after all. Nina, don’t blame me for being heartless. Don’t be too sad either. That child was always a bit slow anyway. Better to die early and be reborn early.” She took out a wet wipe to clean her hands. In the distance, an engine roared. Two headlight beams shone directly over. A Mercedes G-Wagon pulled into the village road. Rachel’s eyes lit up. “Oh! My brother’s here! My brother’s here!” She fixed her hair. “Mom! Derek! Quick, quick, quick! Don’t let this unlucky scene disturb my brother!” My mother-in-law threw down her cane to move debris blocking the road. Derek dropped the hose and ran to greet him. “Nina! What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and drag away the dead body! If my brother sees this and gets upset, you can forget about keeping that fifty thousand!” The car stopped five meters from the blast crater. The door opened, and Raymond stepped out in a fur coat with gold chains, a cigar in his hand. “Hey, Rachel, why is it so messy here?” Raymond glanced at the crater and me, frowning. Rachel smiled and rushed over. “Raymond! It’s nothing, nothing! Just Nina’s little brat who didn’t know any better, playing with fireworks and blowing up the manhole. And now, he’s blown himself to death. I already gave her money and told them to clean up!” Raymond exhaled smoke, scanning me with contempt. “Oh, dead? If he’s dead, hurry up and get rid of him. Why leave him lying here on New Year’s to disgust everyone?” He turned to get gifts from the trunk. “Rachel, quick, come see what I brought you. This is authentic Australian lobster…” The whole family gathered around. Logan on the ground had completely stopped moving.

“Rachel.” I suddenly spoke, my voice cutting through their laughter. “You just said this child died because he was cursed, better to die early and be reborn early, right?” Rachel, holding a large lobster, turned back impatiently. “Yeah! What about it? You want to back out? The agreement is signed!” I shook my head and walked toward the child on the ground. “I don’t want to back out. I just think that since you gave so much money, as a family member, I should let you take one last look.” I crouched down beside Logan. Rachel wrinkled her nose. “Look at what? A pile of rotten flesh? Am I sick?” I pulled out Rachel’s remaining wet wipes, placed them on the blood-covered face, and began wiping. The sludge and blood were wiped away, the features gradually becoming clear. Though swollen and deformed, these eyes, this nose, this mouth… The black mole on the left eyebrow was revealed. I stood up and stepped back. “Rachel, now, can you see clearly?” Raymond’s cigar dropped to the ground. My mother-in-law’s mouth hung open. Derek froze in place. Rachel’s hands, holding the lobster, trembled violently. The large lobster fell to the ground with a splat. Her eyeballs bulged as she stared at the face on the ground. That face, she recognized. “Lo… Logan?” Rachel’s voice trembled and shrilled. She swayed forward two steps, her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees. “Impossible… this is impossible…” She shook her head frantically. “Logan was inside… Logan was inside watching TV! He was eating jelly! He was still wearing the new shoes I just bought him…” Her gaze fell on that foot. That foot with half a destroyed AJ sneaker. “AHHHH!!!!!!” Rachel crawled over and grabbed the corpse. “Logan! Logan, what’s wrong? Say something! I’m your mother!” She shook Logan’s body desperately, frantically wiping the blood from his face. The more she wiped, the more blood there was. “How could it be you? How could it be you?! Weren’t you inside?” My mother-in-law let out a wail and fainted. Derek caught her. “Mom! Mom, don’t scare me!” Derek roared. “Nina! It was you! You did this, didn’t you?!” “You knew it was Logan all along! You deliberately didn’t say anything, right? You deliberately watched us make fools of ourselves, right? You venomous woman!” Wind blew through my hair. I unbuttoned my coat and turned slightly. Daniel, whom I’d been protecting behind me all along, carefully poked out his little head. His face was clean and unharmed. He blinked his big eyes. “Mom, why is big brother sleeping on the ground? Why is auntie throwing money on him?” Rachel jerked her head up, staring at Daniel, her eyes frighteningly red. “Daniel… Daniel isn’t dead?” She froze. If Daniel wasn’t dead… then all those words I just said, those kicks, that spitting… were all directed at my own son?! “NO!!!” “I’ll kill you! Nina, I’ll kill you! You killed my son!” She tried to lunge at me but couldn’t lift the child or stand up. Raymond snapped back to reality. “Quick! Call an ambulance! What are you all standing there for!” “No need to call.” I pulled out that stack of bills. With a flick of my wrist. The bills scattered, falling on Rachel and the corpse. “Rachel, this is the price you set yourself.” I looked at this woman with her twisted face. “Fifty thousand dollars to buy out your son’s life.” “Just now, you were the one who said not to call an ambulance, and you were the one who said to just have another one if he dies.” I pointed at the ground. “Don’t ruin everyone’s holiday mood, right?” Rachel looked at the money, looked at that “consequences borne by her” agreement. She opened her mouth wide, making gurgling sounds in her throat. A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out, splashing on the money. “Karma… this is all karma…” Her eyes rolled back, and holding the corpse, she fell backward.

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I’m the ugly kid in a family of beauties. My whole family treats me like a joke. Mom calls me “ugly child,” and my sister makes me livestream as a clown. Even relatives tease me: “You can’t be their biological kid, right? How can you look nothing like them?” For over twenty years, I’ve had enough of being the family clown. I finally saved enough money for braces before New Year’s. I happily went to book the surgery, only to be told: “Your mother came and made a scene. We had no choice.” “We had to refund the twenty thousand dollars in your account back to her.” I called home in disbelief. Mom said dismissively: “With that face of yours, even plastic surgery can’t save you.” “Better to spend the money where it matters. Your sister needs a nice bag for work, or it won’t match her pretty face.” The dark phone screen reflected my face. I finally understood—being ugly means I don’t deserve to be their daughter… “Miss Gwen, your mother made such a terrible scene, we really couldn’t handle it.” The receptionist looked at me with undisguised wariness, as if afraid I’d make trouble for her. I was still reeling from what my mom had just said. When I turned around, tears started falling. “Don’t come crying to us. Your mother ruined several of our appointments.” “She was shouting at our clients that they were ‘ugly people making a fuss over nothing,’ so who are we supposed to cry to?” She stepped back two paces and rolled her eyes in contempt. I wanted to argue back. But my parents’ words from childhood wrapped around me: “You look ugliest when you’re crying and screaming.” My natural insecurity left me speechless. I could only slink away in shame. On the way home, my sister posted on Snapchat. Heart-shaped face, big eyes, skin as fair and translucent as fresh lychee. Her beauty was so striking that even the exquisite Chanel bag could only serve as an accessory. In the photo, she squeezed between Mom and Dad, smiling happily. She playfully asked in the caption: “Guess who’s the mom and who’s the daughter?” [So the gorgeous girl takes after her parents—the whole family is beautiful.] Among the flood of compliments, my sister precisely selected this reply: [You wouldn’t say that if you met my sister. [We have a genetically mutated little clown in our family~] She thoughtfully attached a photo of us together. In the picture, my sister had her arm around my neck while I looked awkward and uncomfortable. Dull skin, flat nose, puffy eyes, and a slight underbite. Standing next to my sister, I looked like cow dung next to a flower. In our family’s genetic heritage of high nose bridges and big eyes. I was truly an anomaly. Every time we went out, my sister would get praised over and over by strangers: “This child perfectly inherited all your good features. She’s so beautiful, like a doll.” Meanwhile, I would only hear a slightly surprised question: “Is this your younger one?” Mom and Dad’s smiles always fell at that moment. They’d glance back at my face and laugh dryly: “Yeah, we don’t know who she takes after.” “If I hadn’t watched her being born, I’d think she was switched at the hospital.” “We all call her ‘ugly child.’” When I was little, I didn’t yet understand the concept of beauty and ugliness. But I already vaguely felt that I was the only one excluded from this family. “Ugly child, eat less meat. You’re already ugly—getting fat will make you even uglier.” “You want to learn ballet with your sister? You jump around like a toad. It’s hilarious.” “Ugly child, you look tacky and awful in pink dresses. Wear them at home if you want, but don’t embarrass me outside.” Mom and Dad were always like this, casually pointing out my flaws. With teasing, mocking laughter. During puberty, I once secretly bought makeup and got caught. My sister rushed over and took photos of me, laughing hysterically: “You’re wearing makeup with that ugly face? You look like a ghost. Even uglier.” Mom smashed my makeup: “You’re young and already up to no good. No allowance for you next month.” “Your ugly face is beyond saving no matter what you do to it.” Criticism, insults, mockery… After twenty years, I’d had enough. I worked desperately to earn money. I thought I could finally restart my life, but I never expected… The taxi stopped at our front door. My tears still hadn’t stopped. Anger and grievance surged together. I quickened my pace, wanting to rush in and demand an explanation. But laughter came from the half-open front door: “Isn’t it hilarious? Ugly child actually saved up money secretly to get plastic surgery.”

In the living room, relatives were visiting. Mom was cracking sunflower seeds, laughing so hard she was doubled over: “That idiot. Can that face of hers be saved? Even top plastic surgeons couldn’t do anything with it.” “Good thing I discovered her little scheme, or that money would’ve been completely wasted!” The relatives chimed in: “Ugly child usually seems so honest and simple, but her mind is quite active.” “She even thought about plastic surgery. That kind of face surgery is dangerous.” “Right now she’s just ugly—if the whole face gets ruined from surgery, that’ll be the end!” Another aunt waved her hand: “Why is ugly child always thinking about this? Actually, she’s not that bad looking. She’s quite…” The aunt paused, struggling for a long time to squeeze out a few words: “Quite cute, quite honest. She has the look of someone who’d make a good wife!” The living room fell silent. The aunt coughed awkwardly a couple of times. The relatives and my parents exchanged glances, then couldn’t help bursting into laughter. “Haha, this ugly child has been funny since she was little.” Mom laughed so hard she ran out of breath, slapping her thigh. Standing at the door, I gasped. I felt all the blood in my body flowing backward, rushing to my head. Visiting relatives had always followed this pattern since childhood. My sister would be surrounded and praised first, then the topic would turn to me. Relatives would tease me: “How come you don’t look like anyone else? You must have been switched at birth.” My mom would lower her voice and shush them: “Don’t tease her. She knows perfectly well in her heart.” “She knows her sister is pretty and she’s ugly. She secretly cares about her looks too.” “Now when her sister puts her hair in two braids, she has to do it too, without even looking at what she looks like.” My pain, my humiliation, would be dragged out every New Year. Turned into after-dinner entertainment by my mom. I couldn’t hold back anymore and rushed into the living room, shouting: “How I am is none of your business! That’s my money—give it back!” Everyone in the living room turned their eyes on me. Burning hot. Like they were stripping me naked. The insecurity deep in my heart wrapped around my throat like vines. “Oh my, look at our ugly child all grown up. We shouldn’t say too much—she’ll get embarrassed.” Mom covered her mouth and laughed. Her appraising gaze made me suffocate. The relatives gathered around, teasing me: “How does ugly child want to change herself? We older folks don’t understand. Why don’t you tell us about it?” “You can’t just say nothing. What if you get scammed and no one’s there to back you up?” My sister came downstairs humming, and hearing the commotion, she laughed too: “Ugly child thinks her teeth don’t look good and wants orthodontic treatment.” “Braces? Ugly child’s teeth are pretty good though, quite straight. Your sister’s were serious when she was little. Thank goodness your parents discovered it in time and got it corrected, or it really would have been a problem.” The topic shifted to my sister again. The relatives surrounded my beautiful sister with lavish praise. The tears I’d been holding back for so long still rolled down. My voice was hoarse as I asked my mom: “The doctor said my underbite could actually have been treated when I was little. It would have only cost a little bit of money to fix.” But Mom, Dad, why did you never care about me? When my sister was losing her baby teeth, Mom and Dad would panic if even one tooth was slightly crooked. They went to the hospital countless times and spent tens of thousands on orthodontic devices. But they couldn’t spare me a single glance. By the time they noticed, I’d already grown into someone with a crooked face and misaligned jaw. Mom and Dad didn’t feel bad or worried. They only mocked and disdained me: “Why are you getting uglier and uglier?” “Ugly child, ugly child—that nickname really fits.”

The accumulated heartache and grievance overflowed. I wildly wiped at my tears with my hands, but they only came faster. This sight made the relatives panic a bit. They laughed awkwardly: “Oh, our ugly child isn’t ugly at all. She’s beautiful.” “Don’t cry now. Everyone stop talking, okay?” They coaxed me like a child. Exchanging knowing glances with mockery in their eyes, clearly watching a show. Mom got impatient. She clicked her tongue: “Why are you crying? What do you have to feel wronged about?” “Making a scene during New Year’s—who are you trying to show? Isn’t this embarrassing?” “Why… why do you always call me ugly… why do you call me ugly child…” I sobbed, unable to think straight. I just wanted to vent all these years of pain. My mom was stunned for a moment, then laughed. “Aren’t you ugly? You’re this old and still don’t know yourself? Want me to get your sister to bring a mirror so you two can stand together and compare?” She couldn’t hold back her laughter and kept stabbing at my heart. “But really, you won’t hold a grudge against us for just telling the truth, will you?” “We’re helping you have self-awareness. Your taste is terrible too—look at what you’re wearing today. It makes you look fat and ugly.” “Ugly people shouldn’t make a fuss. Won’t people laugh at you when you go out?” My breath caught. My chest hurt like it was blocked. I could only squeeze a few words from my throat: “Yes. I hate you.” I hate your casual criticism and put-downs. Since childhood, Mom and Dad treated my sister like a princess. If my sister just walked two steps, Mom and Dad would have praise: “Our Maya holds her back so straight. She’s as beautiful as a swan.” But me—just sitting there, I had to endure Mom and Dad’s sharp, judgmental gazes: “Look at that. Sitting all crooked. Combined with her wretched appearance, she’s even uglier.” Since childhood, the word “ugly” had deeply shrouded me. During puberty, my sister blossomed into a graceful beauty, the acknowledged campus goddess. By comparison, my face broke out in acne and was constantly oily. When Mom and Dad saw my face, their disgust was written all over: “Oh my god, how did ugly child’s face turn out like this? So gross. What are we going to do if she keeps getting uglier?” “Ugly child, get some bangs to cover that big forehead of yours.” “Just wear your school uniform from now on. The uniform looks better on you.” After hearing Mom and Dad’s words for so long. I became hunched over, always looking down wherever I went, always wearing a mask. I just wanted to hide my face. My puberty years, spent in enormous appearance anxiety, became my most painful period. Those supposedly beautiful school memories—I had none of them. I was like a mouse, avoiding people’s gazes. I felt like everyone was talking about my appearance. Like Mom and Dad, laughing that I was ugly child. Later, when I went to college and got away from my parents, my personality became slightly more outgoing. New friends I made pushed aside my thick bangs and removed my mask. “Where are you ugly? You look fine. You just look a bit tired. Put on some makeup and you’ll be good.” Encouraged, I gathered my courage. I abandoned the bangs my parents made me keep and started learning makeup. But when I dressed up carefully, I always felt people were watching me. The giggling, well-dressed girls in the cafeteria made me wonder if they were laughing at my ugly face, at my over-the-top makeup. That meal felt like torture. That’s when I suddenly realized. My insecurity had already seeped into my bones. I instinctively opened my phone, wanting to delete the edited photo I’d just posted on Snapchat. But I discovered I’d forgotten to block my parents. I couldn’t see my friends’ compliments. I only saw my sister laughing: [Ugly child, that kind of makeup doesn’t suit you at all. How dare you show off like this? Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?] Mom was scolding: [You’re living quite the fancy life. Using too much makeup is making your skin worse and your ugly face even uglier.] Later, I threw away my pretty clothes. I obediently put my bangs back down. When I went home, I still couldn’t escape Mom’s mockery: “Oh, why aren’t you wearing those slutty dresses today? Finally realized it’s embarrassing?” My sister laughed too, seeming to give me sincere advice: “Ugly child, you have too much fat. You need to lose weight before wearing those dresses.” “But honestly, clothes are picky about faces. Some faces just can’t pull them off. Better just give up.”

Ugly child, ugly child. Light, casual laughter. Light, casual criticism. Pressing down on little me, it became a mountain. Never letting me straighten my back again. Mom and Dad laughed at me: “Being ugly is one thing, but your personality is so strange too.” “Petty and small-minded. You’ll never amount to anything.” But Mom, Dad, did you ever think about why I became this way? When I smiled with my teeth showing, you said it looked ugly. When I wanted to learn ballet, you said I was clumsy like a toad. When I hosted at school, you said I looked ridiculous in a formal dress and people laughed at me. Time and time again I tried to improve. You dragged me back down into the mud each time. “I hate you!” “I hate that you raised me to be like this!” The words I’d held in my heart for so many years finally came roaring out. Mom froze. She and Dad exchanged a quick glance. Shame and embarrassment flashed across their faces. “Your wings have grown hard, haven’t they? You dare talk to us like this?” Mom screeched at the top of her lungs. Her beautiful eyes furrowed as she pointed at my nose and scolded: “We’re just telling you the truth—it’s for your own good. Who else would be honest with you?” I bit my teeth, fists clenched. Tears dropped one by one onto the floor. “I don’t want to hear your so-called truth!” I wanted to hear your praise too… Even if not about being pretty—hardworking, studious, thoughtful… Any word would do. But Mom and Dad never really looked at me. Mom’s voice was still buzzing in my ears: “Besides, ask yourself—what have we ever denied you since you were little? You had food and drink. How did we wrong you?” I suddenly wanted to laugh. What had I ever had since childhood? My sister was beautiful and precious. Her clothes were bought in sets, filling her closet. Her fruit was peeled and cut, arranged on fancy plates. Even after my sister graduated, Mom and Dad drove her to and from work. At home, they even set out her dishes and utensils. And me? Since elementary school, I went to and from school by myself, just because my sister said, “She’s too ugly. Being with her is embarrassing.” Several times during typhoons, I watched other kids get picked up by their parents. Only I struggled through wind and rain. I’d walked the lonely road for over twenty years. My underbite could have been easily corrected when I was little. My puberty acne scars could have been easily treated. Not only did Mom and Dad not take these things seriously. They became their jokes instead. Many times, watching my sister, I wondered. Why, when we were growing up under the same sky. My side was always raining. Dampness seeping into my flesh and blood, corroding my bones. Her side was always sunny and peaceful. “You’re just biased! Biased toward my sister!” I wailed, hoarsely accusing them: “Why? Just because I’m ugly, you don’t like me? “I want to be pretty too! Give me back my money—my plastic surgery money! Give it back!” The relatives started whispering among themselves. Mom and Dad didn’t expect me to make such an endless scene. They were already getting angry. Mom lowered her voice, warning me: “Get upstairs right now. Stop embarrassing me here!” “I won’t go! Give me back my money! You’re so biased, stealing my money to buy my sister a bag?” Slap. Mom couldn’t take it anymore. She swung her arm and backhanded me across the face. The force was so strong it made me stagger back several steps. My ears started ringing. “How did I raise something like you! Get out!” Her shrill scolding echoed in my ears. I lifted my head in a daze. Mom was a recognized beauty. Even when she looked like a shrew in anger, she was still pretty. Dad frowned beside her, looking handsome even with a cold face. My sister stood with folded arms, laughing lightly, full of haughty disdain. The three of them stood in a row, like there was an unbridgeable chasm between them and me. After a long, long time, I heard my hoarse voice: “Fine. You don’t have to return the money. Consider it compensation for raising me.” “I’ll leave. An ugly girl like me doesn’t deserve to be part of your family.”

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My girlfriend Lester, whom I’d been dating for three years, always looked down on me for being just a designated driver with no ambition. One evening, she went to a friend’s party and still hadn’t come home by 11 PM. I offered to pick her up, but she refused over the phone. Shortly after, I received a ride request. I accepted it as usual, arrived at the location, pulled open the car door, and slid into the driver’s seat. In the rearview mirror was a couple. The woman was drunk, slumped against the man. He had his head lowered, his hand slipping under her skirt. The woman tilted her face up, seeking a kiss, her cheeks flushed. That woman was Lester. The necklace around her neck was the one I’d personally clasped on her three weeks ago, on our third anniversary. She clearly didn’t recognize me. I deliberately took out my phone and called her. A ringtone sounded in the backseat. Her body stiffened for a moment. She glanced sideways at the screen, then flipped her phone face-down on the seat and buried her face back in the man’s neck without even lifting her head. The phone rang six times before it cut off. I called again. It cut off again. The third time, she reached out and hit decline—swift and decisive, like hanging up on a telemarketer. I put my phone back in my pocket and gripped the steering wheel with both hands, my knuckles turning white. The man in the backseat looked up and barked at me, “What are you looking at? Eyes on the road! Twenty minutes for three kilometers—are you deliberately taking the long route?” I didn’t say anything. Lester laughed and patted his chest. “David, I know, right? I don’t know how the platform assigns drivers. They send people like this—drives like a snail.” She paused, her voice not lowering in the slightest. “And he keeps staring at my chest with those creepy eyes. Disgusting.” Her mocking tone made it sound like she was talking about a stray dog blocking the road. David called out to me again. “Turn on the AC. Twenty-six degrees. Can’t you figure that out? Your hands are shaking so much—did you buy your license off the internet?” I adjusted the temperature to 26 and said nothing. “I’m talking to you. Are you mute? Where’s your customer service?” Lester chimed in lazily from the backseat. “What kind of quality can you expect from a designated driver, David? Don’t waste your time on him. These bottom-feeders have no perspective. Just let him drive. Don’t expect him to understand what decency means.” Bottom-feeders. The words came out of her mouth with the same casual tone as saying “it’s a bit cold today.” David smiled with satisfaction, tightening his arm around her waist, his thumb slowly rubbing circles on her side through her dress. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned closer to him. I stared at the road ahead and didn’t say a word as I pulled the car to a smooth stop in front of a hotel. David got out first. He stood there, pulled some loose bills and coins from his pocket, and casually tossed them at my face. The bills hit my forehead and bounced off. The coins clattered against the dashboard, one of them rolling into the gap between the seats. “Go buy yourself a pack of cigarettes and reflect on yourself.” He dusted off his hands like he was shaking off something dirty. “With your skills, you should stick to delivering packages. Being a designated driver is an insult to the profession.” Lester stepped out of the car in her high heels. As she passed my window, she stopped for a moment, bent down, and spat at me. The saliva landed on my sleeve, spreading into a small dark stain. Then she hooked her arm through David’s, and the two of them pushed through the hotel’s glass doors and walked inside. I sat in the driver’s seat without moving. I bent down and picked up the bills from the floor mat one by one, dug the coin out from between the seats, and clutched them tightly in my palm. I opened the dashcam playback and watched the footage from the backseat from start to finish. The quality wasn’t crystal clear, but it was enough—her face, his hand, that necklace swaying in the frame, perfectly visible. I saved the video to my phone. I sent a message to the company’s legal team: Pull up everything on David from the last two years. I want the most detailed records possible. Three years. From the first time she complained that I had no ambition as a designated driver to tonight, when she called me a bottom-feeder in the rearview mirror. I’d been waiting for her to say something different. I never heard it.

The legal team replied the next day, their tone cautious. David had a transfer on his account under the guise of a petty cash fund—a significant amount that had been signed off and sent to a private account. I stared at the recipient’s ID information for three full passes. Lester. I set my phone face-down on the table, went to the kitchen, and poured myself a glass of water. It was cold, but I didn’t really taste it. I sat back down and pulled up every instance over the past three years when she’d claimed to be “working late,” “at a gathering,” or “staying over at a friend’s place.” I opened David’s travel records and cross-referenced them one by one. First match. Second match. Third, fourth, fifth—almost every single one matched, with time differences never exceeding fifteen minutes, as if they’d coordinated it. The “group photos” she’d sent me—I’d never looked closely at the backgrounds before. Now, zooming in, I found one taken in a hotel hallway. The mirror reflected half a figure—a tie, cufflinks, the same suit David had posted on his social media that day. Three years. I saved all the screenshots and created a folder. My father had been pushing me these past few days. The luxury car dealership had expanded to a third city, and Los Angeles needed someone who could make decisions. He called and got straight to the point. “How long are you going to keep running around as a designated driver? Do you have any idea how many things are piling up waiting for you to come back to the company?” I said, “Give me a little more time.” He was silent for a moment. “Are you still hung up on that woman?” I didn’t answer. He sighed, his voice softening. “Your mother said years ago that girl wasn’t right for you. We tried to stop you, but you wouldn’t listen. Are you satisfied now?” I said, “Dad, I’ll come back to handle LA once I’m done here. Send Wesley over first.” He was silent for a while longer before saying, “Fine. I’ll have Wesley there tomorrow.” After hanging up, Lester sent me a message saying she had to work late at the office tonight. She asked if I’d eaten and told me not to wait up for her—it would be very late. At the end, she added, “Be good and wait for me at home,” followed by a kissing emoji. I replied with a simple “okay.” Then I put on my jacket, went outside, hailed a cab, and gave the address of her supposed “office.” When I arrived downstairs, the company entrance was dark. The lights were off. The entire floor was empty. I found a step across the street and sat down. After ten minutes, David’s car turned the corner and stopped by the curb. Lester walked over from another direction, moving quickly, and opened the passenger door to get in. The window rolled up. The car stayed parked there without driving off. I opened my phone’s video recorder and pointed it at the car. Ten minutes. Thirty minutes. A full hour. The car sat there under the streetlight, engine still running. The body rocked gently but steadily, the motion consistent. I saved the video, stood up, brushed the dust off my pants, and took a cab home. She got home at one in the morning, walked in saying “work was exhausting,” tossed her bag on the couch, changed into slippers, and went to take a shower. When she came out, her hair was still damp. She leaned against the headboard, scrolling through her phone, wearing an expression of deep relaxation. Not the kind of relaxation that comes after exhaustion—the kind that comes after satisfaction. She looked up and saw I was still awake. “Why aren’t you asleep yet? Don’t you have rides to pick up tomorrow?” I said, “Can’t sleep.” She hummed in acknowledgment and didn’t say more. She turned off the light, lay down, and within three minutes, her breathing had evened out. How many of those “working late” nights over the past three years had she spent in that car? I sent Wesley a message: Come over tomorrow. I need to talk to you. The next day, Wesley arrived. The first thing he said when he sat down was, “Julian, have you finally made up your mind?” I pushed my phone in front of him. Screenshots from the legal team’s account review, the hour-long video, the dashcam footage—I showed him everything, one by one. When he finished, he was silent for a long time before pushing the phone back. “What are you planning to do?” I said, “At the annual gala. I’m ending this.”

A week before the annual gala, Lester suddenly became unusually attentive toward me. In the mornings before I woke up, breakfast would already be on the nightstand. When I came home from work, the room would be spotless, my clothes folded neatly on the bed, even my slippers aligned and facing the door. In the evenings, she’d lean against my shoulder while watching TV, tracing circles on my chest with her finger, occasionally looking up at me with a smile—exactly like when we first got together three years ago. I knew what she was doing. She needed me to appear at the annual gala with her. She needed me to cooperate. She needed me to look stable, obedient, and not cause her any trouble. She needed me to be what I’d been for the past three years—the person kept in the dark. I played along. I smiled when she handed me water and asked her, “Why are you being so nice to me lately?” She wrapped her arms around my neck, pressed her face close, and said, “Because I love you, of course.” That necklace hung around her neck, glinting under the lights. That weekend, she dragged me to the mall and picked out a shirt for me at a discount store—over eight hundred dollars. At checkout, she told the sales clerk, “He doesn’t usually pay attention to these things. If I don’t keep an eye on him, he’ll just wear those same old T-shirts everywhere.” The clerk smiled without saying much, her eyes sweeping over me with a look I understood—she thought I wasn’t worth Lester spending that money on. On the drive home, she was behind the wheel, reminding me the whole way: speak less at the gala, don’t mention being a designated driver, and if anyone asks, just say “I’m considering a career change.” Don’t randomly chime in at David’s table—”they’re on a different level, you won’t be able to keep up.” Don’t toast people on your own initiative, don’t look around everywhere, just sit properly. Her tone as she said all this was natural—not a discussion, but instructions. Like teaching a not-so-bright child how to behave before going out. Patient, but condescending. I sat in the passenger seat, nodding, saying “got it.” She patted the back of my hand with satisfaction, a smile on her lips, then lowered her head to reply to a message. She angled her phone screen slightly away from me, but I caught a glimpse of the contact name in the reflection of the car window—”D,” followed by a red heart. The night before the gala, she went out, saying she needed to coordinate with the company about the venue. This time, I didn’t follow. I had enough evidence. I didn’t need one more piece. I called Wesley and told him to double-check the documents we’d prepared in advance: the dashcam video, the hour-long car footage, the financial records compiled by legal, the petty cash transfer agreement signed with Lester’s name—everything compressed into one file, with the projection equipment ready. Wesley asked, “Julian, are you sure you want to play this at the annual gala?” I said, “I’m sure.” He was silent for two seconds. “Alright. Leave it to me.” Lester came home in the early morning hours. As usual, she walked in saying “I’m exhausted,” took a shower, crawled into bed, and before sleeping, turned on her side to look at me, her tone instructive. “Tomorrow, wear a tie, don’t wear sneakers, and stick close to me. I’ve already talked to David. Just don’t say anything stupid.” I said, “Okay.” She turned off the light and lay down. Her breathing evened out quickly. On the morning of the gala, she got up very early, put on makeup, wore a new dress, and stood by the door waiting for me. I walked over. She picked up a tie, stood on her toes, and focused intently on tying the knot, her fingers looping it twice before pulling it tight. She looked up to check, adjusted it once more. “There. All set.” She patted my chest and said with a smile, “Don’t embarrass me.” I looked down at her, wanting to say “I won’t,” but in the end, I just nodded. Because today, the one who would be embarrassed wouldn’t be me.

When we entered the banquet hall, Lester linked her arm through mine and walked in quickly, as if afraid of being seen. A female colleague came toward us, her gaze sweeping from the top of my head to my feet, her voice loud enough for others to hear. “So this is your boyfriend? The designated driver?” She wrinkled her nose without hiding her disdain. “Reeks of poverty.” Before Lester could respond, someone nearby laughed and chimed in. “Lester, you’re really something. David thinks so highly of you, and you go and find a designated driver. Aren’t you just degrading yourself?” A few people around us laughed quietly. Lester pulled me along, quickening her pace without saying a word, her fingers digging tightly into my arm—not out of concern for me, but out of fear I’d say the wrong thing. After David finished his speech on stage and came down to make his rounds, he spotted me immediately and stopped. In front of a circle of people, his voice rang out loudly. “Oh, so this is Lester’s boyfriend? The designated driver?” He looked me up and down, shook his head, and turned to the sales manager beside him with a laugh. “Look at this. Lester’s taste is really terrible—finding a designated driver. A top car salesperson doing this to herself? What a waste. And here I thought she was a smart woman.” The manager smiled obsequiously and echoed him a couple of times. David turned back, patting my shoulder with just enough force—the kind of condescending pat from above. “Young man, what kind of future is there in being a designated driver? Life’s too short. Don’t hold Lester back. If she stays with you, she’ll suffer for the rest of her life.” I didn’t say anything. Lester kept her head down and didn’t say a word. Her brother Howard pushed through the crowd with a glass in hand, shouting loudly, “Julian!” He looked around, making sure his voice carried, raised his glass, and said with a laugh, “Everyone, tell me—my sister’s the company’s top salesperson, and she’s with a designated driver. Isn’t she blind?” The room erupted in laughter. Someone muttered quietly, “She really is settling,” while others shook their heads or held their drinks, watching the show. Howard turned to look at me, his smile fading, replaced by open contempt. “Julian, I’ll just say it straight. Are you worthy? What makes you worthy of my sister? What do you have? Money? Connections? All you’ve got is a driver’s license. Designated drivers are bottom-tier trash—the kind who’ll never crawl out of the gutter their whole lives. Don’t you have any self-awareness?” More laughter followed. This time, Lester spoke up, saying, “Howard, that’s enough.” But her voice was as flat as if she were commenting on the weather. Then she picked up her glass and turned to clink it with a colleague nearby. She didn’t look at me once. I sat in that chair, hands resting on my knees, not drinking a sip. I thought about every time over the past three years she’d said, “Can’t you be more ambitious?” I thought about her laughing in the backseat, calling me a “bottom-feeder doing bottom-feeder work.” I thought about the loose change David had thrown in my face. I thought about that hour-long video, the car parked under the streetlight, rocking. I thought about the screenshot from legal showing the recipient’s name: Lester. Lester’s mother stood up at that moment, her voice shrill enough for the entire table to hear. “What can a filthy designated driver give my daughter? Can you afford a big house? Can you afford a luxury car? Your monthly salary doesn’t even match one of my daughter’s car sale commissions!” Her finger was practically jabbing my face. The people around us laughed openly and without restraint. Just then, Wesley walked in through the side door. He didn’t look at anyone. Quietly, he walked to the corner, bent down, and plugged the projection cable into the large screen. The screen lit up. The first image—the business license for the luxury car dealership. In the legal representative column was my name. The second image—the corporate structure chart. David’s name was listed under “General Manager.” My name was above his. The entire room went silent. David’s face turned white in that instant.

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I thought three years of devotion would win Adrian’s heart. When he was paralyzed, I stayed by his bedside, listening to him beg me through trembling breaths not to leave him like his first love did. I gave him my first kiss and my first night. He promised me that once he could stand again, he would marry me. But when his legs finally healed, at his recovery party, he told everyone. “Scarlett? She’s just my housekeeper. She’s not good enough for me.” He pulled his first love close and kissed her right in front of me. That moment, I knew. It was time to leave. But Adrian, tell me. Why did you search the world for me like a madman after I left? Scarlett’s POV I always believed Adrian was special to me. During the three years he was paralyzed, when everyone else abandoned him, only I remained by his side. I’d seen him at his most vulnerable. I’d been there on those late nights when he’d grab my wrist, his voice shaking. “Scarlett, don’t abandon me like she did.” I thought I’d finally melted through his ice-cold exterior. But what came wasn’t a marriage proposal. Instead, at his recovery party, I heard him laugh casually with a friend. “What about Scarlett? The one who stayed with you for three years. What’s she to you now?” The friend asked. Adrian brushed off his sleeve carelessly, his tone indifferent. “She’s just a housekeeper. Why would she need any status?” My mind went blank. The gift box in my hands suddenly felt scalding hot. So this was what my three years meant. I took a deep breath, suppressing the dull ache in my chest, and walked into the ballroom. The moment I steadied myself, a familiar yet strange figure appeared at the entrance. Vivian. Adrian’s ex-fiancée, who had abandoned him three years ago. The moment she appeared, the entire room fell silent. Contemptuous gazes landed on her without reservation. Vivian’s face went pale. She stood there helplessly, her eyes reddening. Adrian cut through the crowd and walked straight toward her. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he took her hand and pulled her to his side protectively. From start to finish, he never glanced at me once. I stood there, watching them become the center of attention, watching him shield her from all those hostile looks. My heart grew colder by the inch. Halfway through the party, I excused myself for fresh air and went to the terrace alone. Soon I heard several women laughing mockingly behind me. “Vivian, you really have some nerve. You left when you wanted, came back when you wanted. The moment Adrian recovered, you showed up. Your timing is impeccable.” Vivian’s voice choked. “You’re misunderstanding…” “Misunderstanding? Everyone knows how decisively you left back then.” Another sharp voice cut in. “Coming back now, do you still think you’re somebody?” Several women surrounded her with cutting words. That’s when Adrian’s icy voice rang out. “Since when do any of you get to criticize my companion?” He had appeared at some point and pulled Vivian protectively behind him. The women’s faces stiffened. They dispersed awkwardly. Adrian looked down at Vivian crying in his arms, his eyes full of concern. But when he looked up, his gaze turned cold as it landed on me. “You were standing here the whole time?” I froze, then nodded. His eyes grew even colder. “They were bullying her like that, and you just watched?” I opened my mouth to explain I’d just arrived. But he didn’t give me the chance. The disgust in his tone was unconcealed. “I almost forgot-you’re both the same type of person. Scarlett, I never thought you’d be like this.” Baseless accusations. I felt coldness creep from my feet, freezing my entire body. “I didn’t-” “Enough!” Adrian cut me off, supporting the trembling Vivian. “Vivian, let’s go.” He turned to leave. I instinctively stepped forward, trying to grab him. “Adrian…” My hand barely touched his sleeve before he violently shook it off. “Don’t touch me!” The force was so strong I was thrown backward. My forehead slammed hard against the sharp corner of a marble pillar. Blood flowed down, blurring my vision. The commotion startled Vivian. She rushed over, but when she saw the blood on my forehead, her face went pale. She let out a short, sharp scream. She covered her mouth, breathing rapidly. “Blood… Adrian, I can’t handle blood. I feel sick…” I struggled to stand, but all I saw was his resolute back. Adrian didn’t look back. He scooped up the swaying Vivian into his arms, his eyes full of anxiety. “Don’t be scared. I’ll take you to the hospital right away.” He carried her and left without hesitation. I leaned against the cold marble pillar and slid to the floor. Blood dripped onto my dress, spreading into dark red stains. My phone rang. It was Adrian’s mother. I numbly answered, forgetting to wipe the blood from my face. On the other end, her voice was gentle yet firm. “Scarlett, thank you for these three years. But Adrian’s wife must come from a distinguished family. You’re wonderful, but not suitable.” “I’ve got you a full scholarship to the psychology master’s program at Zurich University. There’s twenty million on this card. Call it my personal compensation. Let’s part on good terms. Just don’t let him see you again.” Every word was like a knife piercing my heart. I gazed at the distant lights and replied softly. “Alright.” “I agree.” “I’ll never appear before him again.”

Scarlett’s POV I went to the hospital alone. The wound on my forehead required five stitches. Though it hurt, I didn’t make a sound. Holding the payment receipt, I walked out of the treatment room and arrived at the VIP ward area. Through a half-open door, I saw Adrian. He sat by the bed, carefully wiping away Vivian’s tears with a damp cloth. Vivian’s face was streaked with tears. “Adrian, please don’t blame me. My parents fell seriously ill back then. They forced me to go abroad for treatment and wouldn’t let me contact you.” Such a clumsy lie. Yet I watched as the darkness in Adrian’s eyes melted bit by bit under her tears. He raised his hand to stroke her hair. “I know. I don’t blame you.” Vivian sniffled, her eyes glancing timidly toward the door, her voice just loud enough for me to hear. “What about Scarlett? She stayed with you for three years.” Adrian interrupted her, his voice tinged with impatience. “I only see her as a housekeeper.” Housekeeper. I stood there as all the blood in my body stopped flowing. I immediately turned and left, unwilling to hear another word. Returning to the villa, the air still carried the lingering scent of last night’s party perfume. Cold and mocking. I didn’t turn on the lights. In the darkness, I opened my laptop. Opening my email, I found the acceptance letter from Zurich. The cursor hovered over the confirmation button for three seconds. Then I pressed down hard. After finishing, I opened an encrypted folder containing the only photo of Adrian and me together. It was taken after his recovery. He’d picked up his phone and captured it himself. In the photo, he sat in his wheelchair, turning to look at me with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. I dragged the photo to the trash. Empty. Permanently delete. Adrian called as if nothing had happened, his tone matter-of-fact. “Bring that blue emergency file from the study to the office.” I didn’t refuse. I applied light makeup, used my bangs to cover the bandage on my forehead, grabbed the file, and went to Sterling Corporation. At the CEO’s office entrance, I ran right into Vivian. She held a thermos, and when she saw me, a victor’s smile spread across her face. “Scarlett, you’re here too? I made Adrian’s favorite seafood soup.” My heart seized. I pushed open the door and shouted a warning. “Adrian, you’re allergic to seafood! You can’t drink that!” Adrian looked up from behind his desk, glanced at me, then at Vivian standing in the doorway looking on the verge of tears. He frowned. Ignoring my warning, he took the soup bowl and drank a large mouthful right in front of me. “It’s delicious,” he told Vivian. I stood there, speechless. Before long, his allergic reaction began. His breathing became labored, his face flushed red, and small red welts appeared on his neck. Struggling to maintain composure, he waved at both Vivian and me. “Both of you, leave.” I pulled antihistamine pills from my bag, along with a cup of warm water, and pushed them toward him. Then I turned and left. Outside the company building, Vivian blocked my path. The gentleness on her face had vanished, replaced by undisguised mockery. “Scarlett, do you see clearly now?” “You’re just a salaried housekeeper.” “While I-” She smiled slightly. “I’m the lover he’s willing to drink poison for.” I had no comeback. Because it was the truth.

Scarlett’s POV That night, Adrian was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment due to a severe allergic reaction. When his assistant called, I didn’t go. I sat in the villa’s living room, sleepless through the night. It wasn’t until dawn that Adrian dragged his weakened body home. He froze the moment he saw me. I looked at his pale face, watched him harm himself for another woman, and felt only desolation. I said nothing. Just like any night in the past three years, I helped him upstairs, poured him water, and changed his clothes. The next day, Adrian had regained some energy, but made a request. “Vivian has a personal photography exhibition at the art gallery. Come with me.” I didn’t resist. I agreed. At the exhibition, camera flashes sparkled. Adrian spent lavishly, buying all of Vivian’s works, attracting media coverage about his devoted love. Vivian held his arm, basking in everyone’s attention. As she passed by me, she whispered in a voice only we could hear. “See, Scarlett? This is how he loves someone.” I lowered my eyes without speaking. Just then, the enormous crystal chandelier in the center of the exhibition hall suddenly emitted an ear-piercing creak. The supporting steel cable snapped! Screams instantly shattered the party’s tranquility. The scene descended into chaos. The crowd scattered in panic. I was violently knocked to the ground by the rushing crowd. Sharp pain shot through my left arm-it seemed dislocated. Then my ankle was trampled by fleeing people. The pain was excruciating. The pain made my vision go black. I struggled to get up from the floor. But all around me were panicked legs. No one noticed me. I lifted my head. Through flying glass shards and twisted, terrified faces, I saw a familiar figure. It was Adrian. He was fighting through the crowd. In that instant, my heart skipped a beat. Had he come back to save me? I opened my mouth to call his name. But the next moment, reality delivered its cruelest blow. From his mouth came another woman’s name, shouted in panic. “Vivian! Vivian, where are you!” His gaze swept anxiously over the chaotic crowd, searching for his only target. His eyes passed over my direction without the slightest pause. He hadn’t come for me at all. I lay on the cold floor, all strength drained from my body. I watched him find Vivian, who had been pushed into a corner by the crowd, trembling with fear. He immediately shielded Vivian beneath him, using his own back to block any falling debris. Then without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms and rushed out of the danger zone without looking back. From beginning to end, he never once glanced in my direction. Everyone around had fled. The entire exhibition hall held only me, collapsed on the floor, and the shadow of death swaying precariously overhead. I couldn’t escape. The severe pain in my ankle prevented me from standing. My arm was useless. A massive chandelier component with metal supports, mixed with countless glass shards, grew larger in my pupils. With a shrieking whoosh, it plummeted toward my head. When I woke again, I was in a hospital. In the sharp smell of disinfectant, my best friend Riley sat by the bed, her eyes red and swollen. “Scarlett, you’re finally awake!” Riley told me I had a mild concussion, my left arm was fractured, and wrapped in a thick cast. Vivian had only suffered a fright. Adrian had stayed by Vivian’s side the entire time in the adjacent VIP room, providing psychological counseling. Once again. Once again, at a life-or-death moment, he’d abandoned me without hesitation. I lay in the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, and finally cried. Not from sadness, but from liberation. I grabbed Riley’s hand, my voice hoarse but carrying unprecedented determination. “Riley, I got the offer from Zurich. Once I finish the paperwork, I’m leaving.” “I don’t want him anymore.” The moment the words left my mouth, the hospital room door was slammed open. Adrian stood in the doorway, radiating cold fury, his face terrifyingly dark. He stared at me in the hospital bed, his voice as cold as ice. “Who’s leaving?”

Scarlett’s POV Adrian’s gaze bore into me. Riley flinched at his intensity, instinctively moving to shield me. I gently pulled Riley aside and met Adrian’s eyes. I told a lie. “My friend is leaving. She has some family matters.” Adrian’s expression softened slightly, but remained dark. He walked over, looking down at me from his height, his tone stiff. “About the chandelier incident-I’m sorry. The scene was too chaotic. I didn’t notice you.” Didn’t notice. I forced a smile. “It’s fine, Mr. Sterling. I’m just a housekeeper. It would be strange if you had noticed me.” I used such a distant form of address for the first time. Adrian’s brow furrowed instantly. His gaze landed on my cast-covered arm, revealing surprise. “It’s this serious?” He reached out, seemingly wanting to touch the cold cast, but stopped midway. “I didn’t know you were hurt this badly. I’ll stay and take care of you.” His voice finally held a trace of warmth. But my heart had long since frozen. Just then, his phone rang. It was Vivian. Through the phone, Vivian’s tearful voice came. “Adrian, I’m scared. Every time I close my eyes, I see that chandelier falling. I had a nightmare.” Hesitation crossed Adrian’s face. I saw through his struggle. So I made the decision for him, saying softly. “Go to her. She needs you more.” A flash of guilt crossed Adrian’s eyes, but he still turned to leave. “I’ll have someone from home come care for you.” With that, he quickly left. I watched his retreating figure and smiled. On discharge day, Adrian came to pick me up himself. Vivian sat in the passenger seat. He was taking us to a charity gala. Throughout the drive, Adrian and Vivian chatted happily. I sat in the back seat like a ghost. The gala’s auction segment became their stage for displaying affection. Adrian spent lavishly for Vivian, bidding on famous paintings and jewelry. He finally seemed to remember someone sat in the back seat and asked perfunctorily. “Scarlett, is there anything you want?” My eyes landed on a pair of antique cufflinks about to be auctioned. Men’s cufflinks, symbolizing lifelong protection. I looked at those cufflinks for one second. Adrian immediately understood and raised his paddle without hesitation. After several rounds of bidding, he successfully won the cufflinks. Just as I thought this was his small way of making up for my injury, Vivian spoke up sweetly from beside him. She explained the meaning behind those cufflinks: lifelong protection. Adrian’s hand holding the cufflinks instantly froze. He glanced at Vivian, then at me. After hesitating, under everyone’s watchful eyes, he made a decision that turned me into the evening’s laughingstock. He handed the cufflinks, originally bid for me, to Vivian beside him. “These are for you.” Only then did he turn back to me. “Those aren’t suitable for you. I’ll bid on something else.” In that moment, I understood. I didn’t even qualify to be given something symbolizing his protection. I looked at him and gently shook my head. “No need, Mr. Sterling.” “I don’t want anything anymore.”

Scarlett’s POV After the gala, in the parking lot. Vivian, wearing high heels, blocked my path. She stood there with arms crossed, wearing the arrogance of a victor. “Scarlett, do you see your place now?” “The person in Adrian’s heart is me. Three years ago, and now too. A housekeeper like you shouldn’t have delusions. Just withdraw yourself and keep some dignity.” I looked at her. “As you wish.” I said softly. Vivian thought I’d surrendered and curved her lips with satisfaction. But just as she turned to leave, she suddenly let out a sharp scream, pointing at me with fury on her face. “My necklace! You stole my necklace!” Her shrill cry instantly attracted Adrian, who had just walked over. Vivian threw herself into Adrian’s arms, crying. “Adrian, that’s the only memento my mother left me! It was fine just now, but after talking to Scarlett for a few moments, it disappeared!” Adrian’s gaze instantly turned icy. He rushed over and grabbed my wrist-the one with the unhealed fracture. “Why would you do this?!” He demanded harshly, his eyes filled with complete disgust and disappointment. Pain drained the color from my face. Searing pain shot through my wrist as the bones shifted. I said, word by word. “I didn’t steal it.” “Didn’t steal?” Vivian peeked out from his embrace, crying. “Adrian, search her bag. It must be in there!” Without hesitation, Adrian roughly seized my purse with his other hand and dumped everything onto the ground. Lipstick, keys, tissues, and a plane ticket to Zurich for next week scattered across the pavement. Finally, with a crisp clink, a platinum necklace fell from the bag. Caught red-handed. The last trace of warmth vanished from Adrian’s eyes. He didn’t even look at the plane ticket, mistaking it for trash, and crushed it beneath his foot. “Scarlett, you’ve disappointed me so much.” He released his grip and pulled the trembling, sobbing Vivian tightly into his arms, comforting her gently. His gaze toward me turned cruel. “Find your own way back.” With that, he carried Vivian to the car and drove away. Abandoning me alone in this torrential downpour at a suburban estate. Cold rain pounded against my body. I stood motionless, letting the rain soak me through. I slowly crouched down and picked up the ticket from the muddy water, covered in footprints. Alone in the desolate rainy night, I walked with difficulty for a long time before finally catching a ride. When I returned to the villa, I was soaked through and running a high fever. I collapsed onto the bed and fell into a feverish sleep. The next day, I was awakened by the commotion in the living room downstairs. Leaning against the wall, I struggled downstairs. Several movers were carrying suitcases into the living room. Those suitcases belonged to Vivian. Adrian stood in the center of the living room. Seeing me, his face showed no trace of guilt-only cold warning. “Vivian will be moving in from now on.” “Scarlett, I’m warning you-behave yourself. Don’t try any more tricks.” I nodded. I looked at this man I’d devoted three years to, watched another woman about to move into this home, and replied softly. “I won’t.”

Scarlett’s POV Vivian officially moved in. The villa filled with her laughter, her perfume scent, every trace of her. I became the superfluous person in this home. I witnessed firsthand Adrian’s meticulous care for Vivian. When she casually mentioned wanting cake, Adrian would immediately drive across half the city to buy it. When she frowned and said she was bored, Adrian would cancel multimillion-dollar contracts to spend the entire day watching mindless TV shows with her. These were treatments I hadn’t dared imagine in three years. So he did know how to be tender-his tenderness just never belonged to me. My heart had gone numb. I spent each day in my room, reading, researching, planning my life after leaving. Until that afternoon. I went downstairs for water and inadvertently saw Vivian in Adrian’s study. In her hands, she was playing with a bracelet. It was a diamond bracelet-a relic from Adrian’s late grandmother and his most treasured possession. For three years, he’d hardly been separated from it. Without thinking, I rushed in. “Put it down!” Seeing my alarm, a flash of malicious light crossed Vivian’s eyes. Not only did she not put it down, she deliberately tossed it in her hands. “Adrian said as long as I like something, he’ll give me anything. It’s just a bracelet. Look how nervous you are.” With that, she flicked her wrist, pretending to lose her grip. The bracelet fell heavily to the floor. The expensive diamonds immediately scattered. One of them even cracked from the impact, a clear fissure visible. Adrian arrived at the sound. When he saw the mess on the floor and that cracked diamond, his face instantly turned iron-gray. Vivian immediately changed her expression, pointing at me accusingly first. “Adrian, it’s not my fault! Scarlett rushed in and insisted on grabbing the bracelet from me. That’s why I accidentally broke it!” I watched her clumsy performance and said only one sentence. “The study has surveillance cameras.” Vivian’s face went pale. She immediately adopted a pitiful look, admitting it was her carelessness and offering to compensate with money. Adrian’s anger vanished the moment Vivian admitted fault. He didn’t even glance at the diamonds on the floor. Instead, he quickly walked to Vivian’s side, nervously lifting her wrist. “Are you hurt?” I stood aside, watching this scene, feeling my heart hollowed out by an invisible hand. I crouched down and began picking up the scattered diamonds one by one. The cold diamonds rolled across my fingertips. I found the cracked one. I remembered. Three years ago, Adrian’s mother accidentally lost this bracelet. Adrian, with his still-unhealed body, went mad searching for it in the pouring rain that night, sitting in his wheelchair in the garden for half the night. In the end, it was I who accompanied him, drenched in torrential rain, hands frozen red, finally finding this treasure in the muddy soil. Back then, he’d clutched the recovered bracelet in his palm, the treasure in his eyes as if it were his entire world. And now. His most precious possession had been deliberately broken by Vivian, yet he didn’t care-only concerned whether she’d hurt her hand. I picked up the last diamond, along with the cracked one, and held them in my palm. I stood and walked before Adrian, opening my hand. “Your things.” My voice held no ripple. Adrian frowned, seemingly impatient that I was interrupting his comforting of Vivian. He casually took the diamonds without even looking and put them straight into his pocket. Then he placed his hand on Vivian’s shoulder, saying gently. “It’s fine now. Don’t be scared. If it’s broken, we’ll just buy another.” I looked at him, finally giving up completely. Adrian, I truly won’t love you anymore.

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At the company’s new product launch, I stood as Vice President to deliver the speech. “This phone’s camera function is incredibly powerful. Even from three miles away, it can capture a person’s face with perfect clarity.” The entire venue erupted in uproar. Someone questioned skeptically: “That’s impossible. This technology is currently beyond what anyone in the world can achieve.” “If STAR, as a rising tech company, wants people to believe them, they need to show actual results.” I nodded. “Of course. Please look at the big screen.” The next second, images of my wife and the sales manager entering and leaving a love hotel appeared on the large screen. In the photo, Betty’s features were extraordinarily clear. Even the color of her eyeshadow was visible in perfect detail. I began to explain the photo in detail. “Everyone should recognize the people in this photo. On the left is my wife, Betty, who is also the CEO of STAR Tech.” “As for the one on the right, that’s our company’s sales manager, Paul.” People exchanged glances. The venue had fallen so silent you could hear a pin drop. “I took this photo from the STAR Tech building.” “The distance to the hotel is exactly three miles.” Many people glanced toward the corner. A flash of panic crossed Betty’s face before it gradually turned cold. In contrast, Paul beside her quickly stood up to defend himself. “Alex, are you deliberately trying to ruin me?” “Betty and I are completely innocent!” I raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, “When did I ever say there was something going on between you two?” Paul was instantly speechless, while Betty beside him wore a dark expression. She stood up and asked me, “Alex, by showing this photo publicly, aren’t you just accusing Paul and me?” “If you have something to say, say it openly.” “There’s no need to play these petty games behind people’s backs.” Seeing she remained calm, I continued speaking. “You’re right. I do want to take this opportunity to ask clearly what your purpose was that day.” Many people sensed the atmosphere turning awkward. But they all showed expressions of watching drama unfold, enjoying the spectacle at the scene. Some even started making comments. “Could this be some new type of marketing stunt?” “If so, they’re really going all out.” “I don’t think it’s real either. Probably just trying to trend online.” But Betty explained without batting an eye, “What a coincidence. We were also planning to test the product’s performance at the hotel that day.” “It’s just that your results look better.” If I hadn’t obtained solid evidence beforehand, I wouldn’t have believed it either. That the woman I’d loved for five years would go behind my back to a love hotel with the product manager. When I first captured this, I briefly doubted I’d identified the wrong person. However, the company’s new product’s main feature was ultra-long-distance high-definition photography. Never mind facial features—you could even see the pores. Paul quickly chimed in, “That’s right, Betty and I were indeed testing the new product!” Just when everyone thought I would fly into a rage over this. I calmly raised my hand, signaling them not to be nervous. “Do you think I’m an idiot? Testing a new product at a love hotel? Paul, if you like Betty, just tell me directly. I can file for divorce that same day. After that, even if you two sleep your way through every love hotel in America, it’s none of my business.” Paul’s face turned deathly pale as he shook his head frantically. He began shouting his innocence to the surrounding crowd, “Everything I said is true! You have to believe me!” I knew he wouldn’t admit it because he cared about his reputation. And his real objective hadn’t been achieved yet. My public exposure had completely disrupted his entire plan. Betty, wearing high heels, quickly strode onto the stage to confront me. “Alex, do you have no idea how you even got into this company in the first place?” “Without my family’s support, could you have what you have today?” “Now that you’ve grown wings, you want to use these filthy tricks to kick me aside, is that it?!” I smiled as I answered her. “Yes, that’s right. I do plan to kick you out. Either divest your shares, or give me fifty million in cash. Choose one.”

Betty froze for a moment, then instead of getting angry, she laughed. Her eyes were full of disdain for me. She deliberately raised her voice so everyone in the venue could hear clearly. “Alex, what the hell is wrong with you today?” “I won’t choose either of those options!” She paused, then took a step forward. Her tone carried a threat. “By the way, do you know this launch event is being livestreamed?” “Making a scene like this in front of so many people—do you have any idea how much damage you’re causing STAR?” I watched her deliberately change the subject and sneered inwardly. But my face remained calm as I went along with her words. “Of course I know it’s livestreamed.” “I also know that right now, five million people are watching in the stream.” “Perfect timing for them to witness this. I, Alex, take responsibility for every word I’ve said today.” The whispers in the venue turned into loud discussions. Those who had connections with Betty’s family or had received favors from them immediately stood up, pointing and gossiping about me. “STAR Company got where it is today precisely because Betty’s family supported it. What you’re doing is really underhanded!” “Exactly! A man who relies on his wife doesn’t even have this basic awareness?” “Got rich through his wife, and now he wants to bite back.” “Betty’s family is really unlucky. How did they raise such an ungrateful wretch!” Over the years, I’d encountered countless taunts and had long grown accustomed to them. I looked past this crowd and focused my gaze back on Betty. “Have you decided? Which option will you choose?” Betty stared at me with an expression that shifted between light and dark. Then she reached out and snatched the microphone from my hand, shouting. “Get lost!” “From this moment on, you’re no longer the Vice President of STAR Tech.” “STAR no longer has anything to do with you!” Watching her hysterical appearance, I couldn’t help but laugh. Because I’d anticipated all of this. I slowly pulled out a divorce agreement I’d prepared long ago from my pocket. “Since you won’t choose to divest, that means you’re choosing to give me fifty million.” “Sign it.” Betty asked me in disbelief, “You had this prepared all along?” “Won’t you be satisfied until everyone knows about this, until you’ve ruined me and ruined the company?” “I’ll say it one more time—there’s absolutely nothing going on between Paul and me!” I waved my hand, indicating she didn’t need to explain anymore. My tone also carried a hint of impatience. “We’re all adults here. There’s no need for these excuses.” “You just need to pay for your decisions.” Seeing she still wanted to argue, I leaned closer and whispered a reminder in her ear with a smile. “You don’t actually think I only prepared one photo, do you?” “If you want more evidence, no problem. Today I’ll make you satisfied.” “I’ll let everyone appreciate your explicit photos too.” As I spoke, I turned around, intending to grab the remote control, but Betty desperately blocked me. She panicked, glanced at the venue, then questioned me in a low voice. “What exactly are you trying to do?” “Don’t forget, STAR belongs to my family. My father built it up. What right do you have to do this?!” Then she raised the microphone and apologized to everyone. “Today our launch event has encountered a small issue. The livestream ends here.” “Please give us a bit more time. We’ll give you an explanation later.” Having said that, regardless of everyone’s reaction, she immediately shouted to the company security at the foot of the stage. “You guys, throw him out.” “From now on, don’t let him set foot in STAR ever again!” Some security guards wanted to take action but were stopped by their captain. Betty was trembling with rage. “I gave you your job! Do you want to disobey orders?!” What no one expected was that the security captain simply bowed to her and spoke slowly. “I’m sorry, Betty. We don’t have that authority.”

Betty’s body stiffened, as if she’d misheard. Her voice was trembling, mixed with anger. “You… what did you say?” “I’m giving you an order to throw this man out, and you’re telling me you don’t have the authority?” The security captain still shook his head, his tone firm, without the slightest waver. “That’s right. We truly don’t have that authority.” Not only was Betty stunned, but everyone present was stunned. Everyone knew that behind STAR Tech was Betty’s family. Betty was the eldest daughter and STAR’s CEO. Her word was law in the company. How could such a situation possibly arise? Betty quickly recovered and said through gritted teeth to the security captain. “Are you trying to rebel?” “Believe it or not, I’ll fire you right now and make sure you can’t work in this industry anymore?” Watching her bully even the security guard while acting so imperious. I couldn’t help but interrupt. “Enough. Does making a working person’s life difficult give you a sense of superiority?” “Or can you just not understand human speech?” No one expected me to be so assertive. In the past, I’d always restrained myself in front of her. Everyone thought I was afraid of her, but now I dared to publicly humiliate her. So quite a few people whispered privately. “Has Alex lost his mind? How dare he talk to Betty like that? Isn’t he afraid she’ll settle scores with him?” “With Betty’s family’s power, crushing him would be easy.” “I think he’s probably desperate, trying to make a big score while he has this chance.” “This kind of person is terrifying. Betty’s family kindly gave him a hand back then, and he repays kindness with enmity.” Betty seized the opportunity, wanting to use public opinion to ensure I could never recover. She raised the microphone, her tone filled with grievance. “Everyone saw it, right?” “How did my family treat him back then?” “We gave him our hearts, even made an exception to let him join the company leadership, giving him opportunities others could only dream of.” “But what about him? Now he’s turning around to bite us, trying to take over STAR!” Watching her perform so emotionally, I couldn’t help but laugh. “You can play the victim if you want, but be careful about shooting yourself in the foot.” Betty’s face darkened as she looked at me with contempt. “Are you completely shameless now?” Seeing I remained unmoved, she panicked. “If security won’t throw you out, I’ll call the police!” She pulled out her phone, her fingers swiping rapidly. I replied unhurriedly, “Go ahead and call them. I don’t mind.” Betty was so flustered by my response she couldn’t speak, trembling with rage. She pointed at me, struggling for a long time before managing to squeeze out one word: “You!” At that moment, the launch venue’s main door was suddenly pushed open, and urgent footsteps echoed. Betty’s parents rushed toward us. Seeing her parents appear. Betty acted as if she’d found a lifeline and immediately put away the anger on her face. She replaced it with a pitiful expression as she rushed toward them. “Dad, Mom, you’re finally here!” She grabbed her mother’s hand, her eyes brimming with tears. “Alex is an ungrateful wretch. He wants to take over STAR and publicly bullied and humiliated me.” “You have to get revenge for me!” She cried while making accusations. She portrayed herself as utterly wronged, pushing all the blame onto me. But before she could finish speaking, her mother Laurence suddenly raised her hand and slapped her across the face! The slap caught Betty completely off guard. It was fast and hard. The sound was especially jarring in the quiet venue. Betty covered her face with wide eyes, completely stunned. But Laurence pointed at her and angrily rebuked. “Shut up! If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute!”

Laurence’s slap landed solidly on her daughter’s face. Betty, who had been crying moments ago, had her tears instantly knocked back. She covered her face with her mouth open, unable to speak for a long time, her eyes full of disbelief. I stood to the side, also secretly surprised. I knew Laurence too well. She usually cherished Betty like the apple of her eye. She wouldn’t even say a harsh word to her, yet today she struck so hard. In contrast, her father Anderson’s face was ashen as he pointed at his daughter and angrily shouted. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble?!” “The way we spoil you at home—look at yourself today! Is this acceptable?” Betty finally snapped out of it and screamed at her parents. “What did I do wrong? Why are you hitting me?!” “He’s the one trying to steal our family’s assets, trying to seize STAR!” “If STAR gets taken by him, our family is finished! Why don’t you understand?!” She became more agitated as she spoke, tears flowing again, her tone full of grievance and unwillingness. But even with all her crying and defending, the old couple remained unmoved. They exchanged glances, and Laurence was the first to force a smile at me—very stiff, but her tone was gentle. “Alex, you’ve really been wronged today.” I smiled faintly. “Wronged isn’t quite the word. I just don’t want any more involvement with her.” The crowd had long been confused by this dramatic turn of events. A friend who had a good relationship with Anderson couldn’t help but step forward. “Anderson, aren’t you being too hasty?” “What Betty said actually isn’t wrong.” Anderson sighed helplessly, his tone vague. “You don’t understand the situation. Don’t interfere.” His words, openly and subtly, meant he didn’t want outsiders meddling in their family affairs. He even tried to get everyone to leave, clearly not wanting to air their dirty laundry in public. “Don’t do that, Mr. Anderson.” “My innocence hasn’t been cleared yet. If everyone leaves, who will testify for me?” Anderson’s expression turned ugly. He lowered his voice, his tone pleading. “Alex, I’m begging you.” “Whatever we need to discuss, we can talk about it privately as a family. There’s no need to make it known to everyone.” “This isn’t good for anyone. It’s inappropriate.” I looked at him and asked indifferently. “What’s inappropriate about it?” “I gave you a chance back then. You didn’t treasure it and missed it.” “What does that have to do with me?” Hearing this, Laurence’s expression darkened. “Alex, what more do you want?” “I hit my daughter, I scolded her. This matter should be settled now. Don’t push your luck!” I sneered inwardly. Did they think that hitting their daughter once and scolding her a couple of times could offset everything? That it would make me let it go? I slowly shook my head and reminded them word by word. “Some things aren’t settled just because you say so.” Betty was already full of anger to begin with. With my comment, she instantly exploded. “Alex, don’t push your luck!” “I’ll settle this score with you sooner or later!” I looked at her stubborn appearance and suddenly found it rather laughable. Five years—what exactly had I married? “You were deceived. Do you know that?” Betty sneered. “What was I deceived about?” “Oh, I was deceived all right, but the one who deceived me is you, Alex!” “Don’t try to confuse the issue here!” I was too lazy to waste more words with her. I looked toward the corner, at Paul who was trying to sneak away. He’d just taken a phone call and his face had instantly turned deathly pale. He kept his head down and had only taken two steps when I called out to him. “Don’t rush off. Come here, let’s talk.” Hearing my voice, Paul’s whole body stiffened. He hesitated for a long time, not even daring to turn his head back. Betty panicked and blocked Paul, speaking up for him. “Alex, this is between the two of us. It has nothing to do with him!” “What do you want with him?” I looked at her protective behavior and a meaningful smile curved my lips. “You’re not stupid. You’re genuinely foolish.” “How dare you insult me?!” Betty wanted to continue her outburst but I interrupted her. “Are you sure this really has nothing to do with him?” Betty’s eyes flickered, clearly hesitant, but she still stubbornly replied. “That’s right, it has nothing to do with him. Come at me if you have any issues!” The old couple panicked and pulled their daughter back, trying to stop her from speaking. But Betty seemed to have lost her mind. She broke free from her parents’ hands and shouted at me again. “Do you have anything else to say?!” But the moment her words fell, two uniformed police officers burst in, their expressions serious, walking straight toward Paul.

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On the day of the earthquake, my fiancé’s sponsored student, Mia, insisted on finishing the last bite of her Wellington steak. My fiancé, Liam, commanded coldly: “Wait for her to finish, then we all evacuate together.” With hearing far beyond normal, I heard the sound of rocks cracking and urged everyone to evacuate with Liam first. When Mia got up to follow, she was struck by the falling ceiling and died instantly. Later, during our honeymoon, Liam pushed me off a cliff, crushing me with rocks. “It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t taken me away, Mia wouldn’t have died if she stayed put! She was just greedy for food, what’s wrong with that!” Even though he knew I was pregnant with his child at the time. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the earthquake. This time, if he wants to wait, let him wait. 1 “What’s the rush? We’re not in an earthquake zone, it’s at most an aftershock. Everyone wait for Mia to finish before we go.” “If anyone dares to leave without permission, don’t blame me for getting ugly.” Liam was arrogant, refusing to let anyone disobey his orders. I looked at the Western feast laid out before me, the phantom pain of being crushed to death in my past life still lingering in my body, and I had already hit the record button on my phone. The sound of cracking stones was getting closer. If I remembered correctly, the ceiling would collapse in two minutes. Someone’s dog started getting restless, showing dissatisfaction. “Mr. Vance, we should evacuate. She can eat that steak anytime.” The steak was still steaming. Mia picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, her face full of satisfaction: “This meat is so tender. It’s my first time eating Wellington.” Liam looked at Mia with a doting smile. “This is prime beef I specifically had flown in from the US. It would be a shame if you didn’t taste it.” Actually, I didn’t understand why Liam was so obsessed with this mere piece of steak. In my past life, I even went out of my way to check the shipping records for this steak, thinking of leaving an identical one at the girl’s grave. But I couldn’t find any records. Only then did I realize that Liam had raised that cow himself. He had tortured it beyond recognition, and in the end, this was the only piece of steak produced. Someone shot me a pleading look. “Miss Hastings, please persuade Mr. Vance. If there really is an earthquake, it’s a matter of life and death.” I shook my head. I wouldn’t dare interrupt for such a precious steak. Liam and I used to be quite affectionate, a model couple in our circle. But ever since he sponsored Mia, everything changed. The Liam before me had eyes only for her; where was there any room for me? I looked up at the ceiling and took a slow sip of red wine. “If Mr. Vance says wait, then wait. Everyone stay in your seats, we’ll be fine.” While the crowd was arguing, a massive chunk of the ceiling fell between the two tables with a loud crash. Flying debris cut Mia’s calf, leaving a thin trail of blood. She cried pitifully: “Liam, it hurts so much. Is my bone broken?” “Bear with it, I’ll take you to the hospital right away.” Liam coaxed her softly, his movements gentler than ever. But he immediately turned his fury on me. “Chloe Hastings! Can’t you pinpoint sounds by hearing? The ceiling fell, why didn’t you urge me to evacuate just now? You caused Mia to get hurt.” I lowered my eyes, bowing my head to apologize, using my wine glass to hide my smirk. “I’m sorry, I misjudged. I’ll penalize myself with a drink.” It seems I’m the only one who was reborn. This is fantastic news. Liam knocked over my wine glass, spilling red wine all over my white dress. “Enough, stop pretending. Let’s all evacuate quickly. What if something else falls?” The scattered debris made me lose my footing and fall. But Liam carried Mia away, leaving me only a cold glare. “Get up if you don’t want to die. You just fell down, stop acting so delicate.” I sat on my knees, watching him leave, my fingers resting by my side slowly clenching. Liam probably forgot that the reason we were here today was for our engagement party, yet I didn’t look like the female lead at all. But that’s okay. This time, Liam will pay the price he deserves. I leaned against the table corner and stood up, my dress covered in red wine and dirt. Liam had called an ambulance for Mia and taken all the bodyguards with him. Before closing the car door, he coldly threw down a sentence, “Chloe, find your own way back.” And then he sped off. I don’t know how to drive, and this place wasn’t in the city center, so I couldn’t get a cab. The guests left in twos and threes. Some took photos, some posted on social media, and some whispered among themselves. “What’s wrong with Chloe? Isn’t today her engagement party? But so far, only that one piece of ceiling fell. Could she have arranged it out of jealousy towards Mia?” “I heard she’s been given the cold shoulder by Mr. Vance for a long time. Mia was hurt, and Chloe was still in the mood to drink. Tsk, tsk, what a venomous woman.” I ignored them. My phone pinged; I received a notification that Mia had tagged me in a post. “I never thought someone would be willing to stay with me in an earthquake just to let me finish the last bite of steak, all because of one thing I said. Thank you, Liam.” I just found it ridiculous. This little girl had never seen the world. If this post was used by someone with ulterior motives, the Vance Group’s stock would likely hit the daily limit down. I was just pondering how to secretly scheme against Liam when I heard the sound of an approaching car. The next second, I was dragged into the car by a few men in black suits. “Miss Hastings, please come with us.” “Where to?” I instinctively stepped back. “Mr. Vance told us to take you to the hospital.” I paused, and just as I was about to refuse, I was grabbed by the arms on both sides, giving me no chance to break free. “Let me go! I can walk by myself!” As soon as I got out of the car, I saw Liam standing at the hospital entrance, looking at me with utter disgust. Mia, limping, leaned against him, looking as if she had suffered a grave injustice. “Liam, she’s here.” Mia said softly. I gritted my teeth. “Why did you bring me to the hospital?” “Don’t you love to pretend?” He sneered, looking down at me. “This scene today wouldn’t be complete without your acting.” He raised his hand and slapped me, making my eardrums ring and even drawing blood from the corner of my mouth. “Aren’t you supposed to have better hearing than others? How come you didn’t notice a thing before that piece of ceiling fell?” My swollen ankle gave out, and I stumbled, tumbling down the few steps in front of the hospital, looking completely disheveled. Liam closed in. “You didn’t warn us, didn’t speak up, you wanted Mia dead, didn’t you?! Or was the falling ceiling entirely your design?” Liam’s attitude changed so quickly, I immediately guessed someone had been gossiping. In my past life, seeing Liam favor Mia, those people would constantly badmouth me. I looked at Liam, my face full of grievance. “If I had called to stop, you probably would have been the first to call me a buzzkill. You said you’d get ugly with anyone who dared to leave, have you forgotten?” In my past life, pulling him away was my fault; this time, letting him wait is still my fault. Tears welled up in Mia’s eyes. “Liam, look at her, always making excuses. I just wanted to finish a piece of steak, and you wanted to see me get hurt? Why do you hate me so much?” I raised my hand and slapped Mia back. “Mia, don’t forget, I am Liam’s future wife!” Mia covered her face with one hand. “Liam, she hit me…” “Chloe Hastings!” Liam’s tone was filled with hatred. “You dare hit Mia in front of me? Are you crazy?” I sneered, “She started it, I’m just getting justice for myself. You’d better go investigate it yourself. It was a real earthquake today, not something I designed. I’m not that capable.” “Very well.” He suddenly turned his head, looked at Mia in his arms, and said gently, “Hit her back.” Mia was stunned. “Hit her back,” he repeated. “Since she dared to touch you, she should pay the price. Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Mia shot me a timid glance, but a flash of triumph crossed her eyes. She stepped forward, pretending to argue with me, but took the opportunity to rip the buttons on my chest, exposing my cleavage. Even so, Liam had no intention of calling a stop. I quickly reached up to cover my chest, glaring angrily at Mia. “Mia?!” “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to talk things out with you, but you suddenly lost control and ripped your own clothes…” “What did you say?” My pupils shrank as I looked at her in disbelief. “Chloe, you’re shameless.” Liam’s disgust deepened. “Arguing with someone looking so disheveled. If you don’t care about your dignity, I still care about mine!” “Mia!” My fingers trembled with anger. “You were the one who ripped my clothes!” “Enough!” Liam roared. “I saw it clearly, don’t you dare falsely accuse Mia again!” “Liam, it hurts.” Mia gently clutched her calf. The thin trail of blood had long stopped, but she still cried as if she were incredibly frail. “I was so angry at her just now I couldn’t catch my breath, and now my calf hurts again…” “Let’s go.” Liam didn’t hesitate to take off his coat and drape it over her. “I’ll take you for a full checkup.” Before leaving, Liam actually noticed my swollen ankle and frowned. But he still gave the doctors at the hospital a strict order: no one was allowed to treat me, considering it my punishment. I bought some Yunnan Baiyao and moved back into my own house. Late at night, I was awakened by a string of footsteps, only to find it was Liam. The next second, his hands were roaming over my body. “Liam!” My voice trembled. “What are you doing?!” My eyes widened, and I tried to push him away, but he pinned my hands down, pressing me firmly into the bed. “Wasn’t your performance at the hospital today because you were sexually frustrated?” I struggled and screamed, “Liam! Let me go!!” He sneered, “Why are you playing the chaste maiden here? It’s not like we haven’t done it before.” Liam forcefully kissed my lips, the taste of alcohol filling my mouth. He had been drinking. I suddenly remembered that in my past life, he got drunk because of Mia’s death, threw himself on me, and called out her name. That was the day I got pregnant. But this time, Mia only had minor injuries. Why is he acting like this? I bit his lip, and the smell of blood instantly filled the air. “You dare bite me?!” But this bite only deepened his beastly desire. He leaned in even closer. “Good, the more you act like this, the more I like it.” I screamed, grabbed the glass water cup from the nightstand, and smashed it against his head. “Crash!” He was stunned, his movements halting. I took the opportunity to push him away with all my might. Clutching the broken glass and dragging my burning ankle, I limped off the bed and shrank into the corner. “If you dare touch me again, I’ll kill myself right now!!” Liam wiped the blood from his face, staring at me blankly, his eyes full of anger and surprise. “You dare hit me? Chloe, you’ve really grown a spine!” “From today on, our engagement is off! Don’t even think about getting anything from me ever again!” The next day, Mia sent me photos of her and Liam in bed. “Sister, last night Liam was drunk and called out your name~ But in the end, I was the one who accompanied him.” “Yesterday happened to be my ovulation day. Who knows, there might already be a baby in my belly. The title of Mrs. Vance is going to be mine~” I couldn’t be bothered and just replied “Congrats.” Just two days after Liam left, I was barely able to get out of bed, my ankle still not fully healed, when the media exploded. [Liam Vance Announces Broken Engagement with Hastings Heiress] [Mia’s New Identity Revealed, May Become Mrs. Vance] My social media feeds and the trending topics were all filled with Mia smiling happily, while I became the background of a joke. But that’s okay. I couldn’t wait for them to lock it down. At 10:00 AM, I received a call from an unknown number. “Miss Hastings, there’s an auction at the Emerald Club at 10:00 PM tonight. Important clients will be there, involving the Vance Group’s future transformation projects. Mr. Vance instructed that you must attend. I will pick you up shortly.” After my father passed away, I invested almost all my money into the Vance Group. Even though Liam and I had fallen out, I had a share in what the Vance Group is today, so I’ll go this one last time. But I had a vague feeling Liam was up to no good, so I made a call in advance to have someone handle a few things for me.

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After eight years of marriage, the passion between my husband and me slowly died out in bed. I was complaining about it during a girls’ night when a friend, hearing my woes, recommended a famous couple account on an international platform. “It’s actually quite a coincidence. They’ve also been together for eight years, and they still go at it five times a night!” “I know this account too! I’ve been following them for a long time. The guy is so devoted and the girl is amazing. Every time they post a spicy video, I’m drooling… Just remember, don’t play their videos out loud in public.” In the middle of the night, driven by curiosity, I followed their instructions and clicked on the profile. The most recent video was updated just last night. White lace paired with a black tie—the overwhelming sexual tension made me blush and my heart race instantly. The caption read: [Love has no expiration date.] Having grown up together for over twenty years, my husband and I had long viewed each other as an extension of our own bodies. Our intimacy had always been respectful and measured; we never interacted with such unbridled abandon. I watched the video with the mindset of someone trying to learn. But at the very end of the video, on the man’s forearm, where veins bulged with exertion, a familiar watch caused my pupils to dilate in shock. That looked exactly… like my husband’s watch. Throughout our marriage, he had kept himself completely clean and distant from scandal. Except for one time, the night before our wedding, when I caught him in bed with a young woman I didn’t know. As proud as he was, that was the first time tears streamed down his face. He explained with a trembling voice that he had drunk too much, mistaken her for me, and that it would absolutely never happen again. In the eight years that followed, true to his promise, we treated each other with the utmost respect. We were the loving couple everyone envied. I believed him, but I was terrified to gamble on it again. So, on the night of my husband’s thirtieth birthday, I specifically took time off work and took an 11-hour international flight to surprise him. I figured that if everything was fine, this would be the last time I ever checked up on him, and I could casually drop the news that I was pregnant. After landing, I walked into a convenience store to buy water, just like I usually do. The woman next to me was on the phone. “You’re so clingy. We haven’t spoken for an hour and you’re blowing up my phone.” “Just wait, I’m going to squeeze you dry tonight.” Hearing another person speaking Mandarin, I curiously took a second look. I froze instantly. This woman… was the young girl from all those years ago. 1 Having not seen me in years, she didn’t seem to recognize me and turned toward the checkout counter. I couldn’t hear what the person on the other end said, but she replied with a playful pout, “I’m not cold. I’m wearing a lot. If you don’t believe me, you can check later.” “You can slip your hand in, follow my waist, all the way down to…” As if possessed by a ghost, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Julian Hayes. 【Julian, are you off work yet?】 He didn’t reply. The woman reached out and grabbed two boxes from the contraceptive aisle. The same brand, the same scent, the same size. The ones I was intimately familiar with, the ones Julian always used. Her voice was sickeningly sweet: “It’s your birthday today. You decide how many times we go.” I looked down at my phone. Still no reply. After she paid, I followed her out of the store. Her tone was coquettish: “Stop rushing me, I see your car.” The London rain hit my face, cold as ice. I pulled my coat tighter and hit the call button with a trembling finger. A cold, mechanical female voice replied, “The subscriber you have dialed is currently unavailable.” I understood. He had turned on ‘Do Not Disturb’. This year, he said the overseas branch was very busy, and once he stepped into the office, he had no time to answer calls. This wasn’t the first time I couldn’t reach him. A Bentley pulled up and stopped at the corner not far away. “Julian!” The woman quickened her pace and opened the passenger door. I turned my head slightly to look. With just one glance, I was nailed to the spot. The car window was half open. The man in the driver’s seat looked composed and aristocratic. The woman twisted her waist and planted a light kiss on the corner of his mouth. He gave a helpless smile. “Acting spoiled again.” The streetlights were dim, but I saw his face with agonizing clarity. The owner of this face had accompanied me for my entire thirty years of life. At three years old, we held hands as we walked into kindergarten. He secretly slipped me the candy the teacher gave him: “I’ll protect you, don’t cry.” At sixteen, he imitated a scene from a movie and hid a drawing of me in a book. When I found it, his ears turned red. “I like you, so what?” At nineteen, our first love, our first kiss. He was so excited he bought out the entire restaurant. “I want to tell everyone that I am the happiest man in the world.” At twenty-two, he successfully proposed in front of both our families, swearing he would only ever love me. Everything froze on the night before our wedding. When I opened the hotel room door, he was naked, tangled with a strange girl. That day was pure chaos. Everyone said he had drunk too much and mistaken her for me. Since we grew up together, they said I should give him another chance. Even the girl knelt down and apologized. She said it was all her fault, that she bribed a waiter to get a keycard, just to fulfill a fantasy of her secret crush. Julian, proud and overbearing since childhood, had red eyes for the first time. Seeing me crying silently, he grabbed a fruit knife and aimed it at his own heart. “Chloe, it’s my fault it’s come to this.” “If you don’t believe me, I’ll cut it open and show you. My heart really only has you in it!” Tears blurred his face. His voice kept trembling. “Don’t leave me, honey. I’m begging you. You know how long I’ve loved you.” “If you don’t want me, I’ll die. I really will die…” Later, I sealed that memory away. Having lived intertwined for so many years, I thought we were inseparable. I thought we would go from childhood sweethearts to growing old together. But in this single second. Our thirty years. Finally collapsed. 2 I returned to the apartment in a daze. My mom sent a message: 【How did it go? Julian must be thrilled to know you’re pregnant!】 I took a deep breath, swallowed the sourness in my throat, and replied with feigned calm: 【Not yet. I just got to his apartment, I haven’t told him yet.】 The apartment door was pushed open from the outside. It was Julian returning. Our eyes met. His gaze was unnatural for a few seconds before quickly recovering its composure. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could have picked you up from the airport.” My expression was flat: “I wanted to surprise you.” He walked over with a smile and gently ruffled my hair: “I can’t bear for you to be so tired.” “The flight must have been exhausting, right? It’s just a birthday, and my wife has to suffer through jet lag.” Julian was about to say something else, but his phone rang. Looking down to reply, his eyes held the gentleness and patience I was so familiar with. Then, he looked apologetic: “It’s a shame I have a client meeting tonight. My baby is going to feel neglected.” Before I could speak, he grabbed a piece of clothing from the closet. I instantly understood. He came back to grab a personal item that woman had forgotten. This apartment, where he stayed during his overseas business trips, was something I had decorated bit by bit in my spare time. I took a week off work and lost a major client to do it. But right now, the vase I had spent an entire afternoon hunting down and personally brought over from back home was gone. Even the photo of us stuck to the fridge had vanished without a trace. A piercing, damp cold seeped into my heart along with the rain-soaked clothes clinging to my skin. I abruptly stood up, grabbed my suitcase, and headed for the door. Julian followed: “Are you angry?” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders from behind: “The apartment hasn’t been cleaned. Let me book you a room at a five-star hotel nearby.” “I promise I’ll spend the entire day with you tomorrow, okay?” He tilted his head to kiss me, just like he always did. A strange citrus scent flooded my nose. It was that woman’s scent. I turned my face away. Julian didn’t seem to care and left in a hurry. In front of the elevator, a sleazy local guy whistled at me, his gaze sticky. “How much? If he doesn’t want you, selling to me is the same.” “He has a girlfriend. I’ve seen her. You’re so beautiful, why degrade yourself?” “All the neighbors know them. He wouldn’t even let his girlfriend walk. He carried her on his back all the way from the garage several times. That girl looked so happy.” He grabbed my waist, grinning as he tried to kiss me. Like a reflex, I stomped down hard on his foot. While he cried out in pain, I dragged my suitcase and escaped through the emergency exit. Even when I awkwardly tripped and fell, I didn’t dare stop to check for scraped skin. I scrambled up and ran downstairs. Heading straight to the airport, I sat blankly in the departure lounge. I didn’t understand. Why did Julian cheat again? During the first two years of our marriage, I often had nightmares. In my dreams, Julian was naked, holding a strange girl. When I woke up, I would always cry. He would hold me, coaxing me over and over again. “It’s all my fault. I made my precious wife sad.” He changed all his device passwords to my birthday and introduced me as his wife at every public event. Every day, he would report everything he did and everyone he met. Even when he had to stay in a hotel during business trips, he would leave a video call on all night, falling asleep to the sound of my breathing. Both he and I were carefully repairing that trust. When exactly did it start? Vaguely remembering the woman’s name, I opened the social media app and searched. It only took me a minute to find her among the many accounts with the same name. Because her profile picture was taken in Julian’s office back home. 3 The painting behind her was one I had specially commissioned from a master artist. Just because Julian mentioned he liked it, I personally visited the artist, standing outside the studio in high heels for an entire afternoon before finally moving the artist to accept the commission. Chloe was a somewhat famous travel influencer with a decent following. I scrolled down. The first post related to Julian appeared three years ago. Chloe had her fingers intertwined with a man’s, the background being our high school track field. 【Together with my high school crush!】 In that exact spot, eighteen-year-old us held hands for the first time. The night breeze was cool, and Julian was so nervous his palms were sweating. “When our hair turns gray, we’ll come back here together.” Mid-August the year before last, right around our wedding anniversary. Julian said he had business and couldn’t make it, but Chloe’s post showed him keeping her company at a street food stall. Last New Year’s Eve, I was hospitalized with a high fever from the flu. Julian appeared in Chloe’s video, intently disinfecting a scrape on her fingertip. The hand holding my phone was shaking. Julian’s face never fully appeared in any of the photos. But the familiar cuffs, the lines on his palm, made it impossible for me to keep lying to myself. Chloe’s newest post refreshed on the screen. The lace maid outfit in the picture was so revealing it made me sick just looking at it. 【I bought it but forgot to take it. Good thing someone remembered. I’ll reward him tonight.】 So, that’s what Julian came back to the apartment to grab. In the comments, her fans were joking around. 【Brother-in-law is eating well! Sister loves him so much.】 Chloe replied: 【I can’t help it. I asked him today when he started falling for me.】 【He said it was eight years ago, the day I first bravely told him I liked him. He said my eyes were shockingly bright, and he never forgot it.】 【Thinking about how he was thinking of me during those years makes my heart melt completely.】 Eight years ago. That was the day I caught them in bed. I pressed my lips tightly together. But the tears stubbornly, silently rolled down my face. Chloe posted another video. The camera pointed at a large bed covered in rose petals. A woman’s voice giggled coquettishly: “My fans told me to ask you, now that you’re thirty, do you have any new plans for our relationship?” A man chuckled softly: “Plans?” “I do want a child. Baby, will you give me one?” The camera shook, and the sound of fabric rustling violently could be heard. My fingertips were stiff. I misdialed several times before finally calling Julian. The phone rang three times before connecting. My voice trembled as I asked, “Julian, am I still in your future plans?” He was silent for a few seconds, then said casually, “Of course, why wouldn’t you be?” “Oh, right, my parents said you had a surprise for me. They asked me several times, what is it?” From the other end came Chloe’s soft urging. “Hubby, if you don’t focus, I’m going to punish you.” If I hadn’t stumbled upon the truth, I probably would have been stupid enough to think it was his subordinate. My gaze swept over the torn ultrasound report in the trash can, and I said softly, “There isn’t one.” The surprise is gone. The love of the past, the future we looked forward to together. It’s all gone. Julian’s tone carried a hint of anger. “What kind of petty tantrum are you throwing?” “For you, I’ve turned down dozens of international partnership opportunities, just because you’re always so paranoid!” “I’m out entertaining clients tonight, considering our future, can’t you give me a moment to breathe?” Tears fell again, and I gave a soft laugh. “Julian, you’re right.” “I am throwing a petty tantrum.” “When you get back to the States, let’s get a divorce.” 4 Julian hung up first. He scoffed coldly, “Fine, throw a fit if you want to.” The disconnected dial tone echoed in the receiver, hitting my heart like a drumbeat. During the ten-plus hour return flight, I didn’t sleep a wink. It wasn’t until I lay on the operating table and the anesthesia flowed into my veins that I was finally freed from the endless agony. The day I found out I was pregnant, I was truly overjoyed. I thought this would be a new beginning for our little family. Just a few more months, and the baby would be born. Happiness was within reach. But now, everything had fallen apart. After resting for a day, I received another message from Julian. 【I’m back. Family dinner tonight, don’t throw a tantrum in front of my parents.】 【Chloe, you’re not a little girl anymore. There should be a limit to your temper.】 I replied, agreeing to attend. By the time I pulled myself together and arrived at the Hayes family estate, both families were already there. Julian sat down next to me. He looked at my averted face, his tone exasperated. “Are you still angry?” He pulled out a necklace and shoved it into my hand. “It was my fault, okay?” “An apology gift for you. Give me a smile, hmm?” My palms turned ice cold. Just yesterday, right before I was about to go into the operating room, Chloe posted an update. The messy bed was covered in gifts. She opened them one by one: a limited-edition crocodile skin bag, a custom luxury perfume, a diamond-encrusted bracelet… Only when she got to this gold necklace did she grimace in disgust: “The style is so old-fashioned, I don’t want it.” The person filming laughed indulgently: “I get you a gift for my birthday and you still complain. I’ll just go throw it away, alright?” I loosened my grip, letting the necklace fall to the floor. Julian frowned: “What more do you want? Take it or leave it.” Julian’s mother smiled affectionately, trying to ease the tension. “I heard you specifically flew to London for Julian’s birthday, but he didn’t spend time with you because of work. He was in the wrong for that.” My mom chimed in to smooth things over. “You’re going to be a mother soon, you can’t be throwing petty tantrums. It’s not good for your health.” “Be a… mother?” Julian froze, turning to look at me in disbelief. “Chloe, you’re pregnant?!” He stood up abruptly, the corners of his mouth uncontrollably curling upward. “I’m going to be a dad, aren’t I?!” The coldness in his eyes melted away, replaced by unconcealed excitement. I didn’t look away, clearly seeing every ounce of his emotion. But this time, was it real or fake? I couldn’t tell anymore. And I didn’t care. The elders from both families laughed out loud. “Look at this silly boy.” I said softly: “No.” “I aborted the baby.” The atmosphere froze. Julian’s excitement stiffened on his face. Panic flashed in his eyes for a few seconds before he squeezed out a smile: “Chloe, don’t make jokes like that.” I didn’t respond. I pulled out the pre-prepared divorce agreement from my bag. Then I gave a slight smile: “Julian, I met Chloe.” “If we don’t get a divorce, are you going to make her be the other woman for the rest of her life?”

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I was very satisfied with my arranged marriage because my husband kept himself clean and had strong moral boundaries. So, during a dinner party, when I saw him peel a shrimp for his female assistant, I didn’t say anything. But the night we got home, I bought ten pounds of shrimp and dumped them in front of him. “Peel them. You seem to be pretty good at it.” A man who lacks boundaries—if he can learn to behave, I’ll make do. If he can’t, I’ll just replace him. After all, I’m a germaphobe. 1 When I walked through the door, an unfamiliar girl was placing a piece of sea cucumber into Carter’s bowl. She didn’t use serving chopsticks. I smiled and greeted the several managers seated at the table, then looked at the girl who remained seated without moving. The sales manager next to her shot her a look: “This is Mrs. Sterling, our CEO’s wife.” The girl stood up and smiled at me: “Hello, Ma’am. I’m the new executive secretary, Chloe. Nice to meet you, please take care of me.” I smiled politely, didn’t reply, and took the nearest open seat. I exchanged pleasantries with everyone as usual, quietly observing Carter and Chloe sitting opposite me. I watched as Carter naturally ate the sea cucumber Chloe had put in his bowl. Then, I watched Chloe pick up a shrimp, looking at it with a troubled expression, before shooting a helpless look at Carter. Carter frowned slightly, took the shrimp, put on disposable gloves, elegantly peeled it, and tossed the shrimp meat into Chloe’s bowl. I narrowed my eyes, looked down, and sent a message to Martha, our housekeeper. “Go buy ten pounds of fresh shrimp and boil them.” Just as I hit send, Chloe, who had been mostly quiet, suddenly spoke up: “Ma’am, I’m so jealous of how lucky you are. Marrying a successful man like Mr. Sterling, you just have to stay home and be a good wife. Unlike us corporate slaves, who have to toil away just to feed ourselves.” I looked up, my gaze landing with amusement on her young, pretty face: “A newbie indeed. So ill-mannered.” Chloe froze, probably not expecting me to be so blunt. Then she quickly put on an expression of perfectly calculated panic and grievance. “I’m sorry, Ma’am. I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m just used to speaking my mind. Please don’t hold it against me.” Her eyes blatantly assessed my Chanel suit and handbag: “It’s just that seeing you spend so lavishly and dress so expensively, my heart aches a bit for Mr. Sterling. After all, he sacrificed a lot to build the Sterling Group to what it is today.” I couldn’t help but laugh, resting my chin on my hand without saying a word. The others at the table, however, looked panicked. The product director scolded her: “What nonsense are you talking about! Do you think Mrs. Sterling is just a housewife? We call her Mrs. Sterling here, but outside these doors, everyone respectfully calls her ‘CEO Davis’!” Chloe looked bewildered, as if she still didn’t understand. The sales manager next to her whispered a reminder: “CEO Davis and Mr. Sterling had a marriage alliance between two powerful families. CEO Davis is also the sole heir to the Davis Group. What on earth are you blabbering about? Apologize to Ma’am right now!” Chloe’s pretty face turned pale. She bit her lip, a thin mist of tears quickly welling up in her large eyes, and looked at Carter pleadingly. Meeting my half-smiling gaze, Carter shook his head somewhat helplessly and reprimanded her lightly: “Apologize to Ma’am. From now on, pay attention to your surroundings when you speak, and more importantly, know your place. If you don’t understand something, ask. If you don’t know how to do something, learn.” Having no other choice, Chloe looked at me and said pitifully in a small voice, “Ma’am, I’m sorry.” I stood up without even looking at her and smiled at everyone: “My other engagement hasn’t finished yet. Please excuse me, we’ll catch up next time.” By the time my other event ended, it was already 10 PM. Walking to the parking lot, Carter was still waiting there. Seeing me, he opened the car door for me just like always. We chatted casually on the way back, the atmosphere mild. Once home, Carter went to shower first. When he came out, I threw the ten pounds of shrimp Martha had prepared right in front of him. The ten pounds of boiled shrimp were neatly arranged in several large bowls, filling the long dining table. Meeting Carter’s confused gaze, I smiled gently. “Hubby, peel these for me.” 2 Carter looked surprised: “Did you not eat enough at the dinner? You didn’t need to buy this much, there’s no way you can finish it all.” He was about to call Martha down to clean it up, but I interrupted him: “I want you to peel them for me, personally.” Carter froze, then frowned imperceptibly: “Sarah, you know I’m a germaphobe.” I smiled mildly: “Are you? But during the dinner today, you seemed to have no problem peeling shrimp for your new little assistant.” Carter paused, then suddenly chuckled in realization: “So you’re jealous over that?” He sat down next to me with a smile, wrapping his arm around my shoulder: “It’s rare to see you jealous. I thought CEO Davis was always calm and collected.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead: “She’s just a new intern. She just entered the real world and doesn’t know anything. She speaks without thinking. I just saw how young she was and helped her out casually. If you mind, I promise it won’t happen again.” I looked up at his handsome face so close to mine. Three years of marriage, in his thirties, and time hadn’t left any harsh marks on his face; instead, it added a settled charm. I reached up and gently stroked his face: “Carter, do you know why, out of all the potential marriage candidates back then, I chose you at first glance?” Carter tilted his head. I smiled tenderly: “Because you were clean.” “Your parents said you were a germaphobe, that you didn’t like unnecessary physical contact with people you weren’t close to, and you didn’t like people invading your boundaries.” “What a coincidence. I’m exactly the same.” Meeting Carter’s dazed gaze: “Our marriage is an alliance of interests between the Davis and Sterling families. We’ve gotten along well these past few years. I want our marriage to remain clean and smooth. Whether it’s you and me, or the Davis and Sterling families, I want everything to go well. Don’t disappoint me.” I stood up, bent down, dropped a kiss on his lips, and raised an eyebrow: “Remember to peel all these shrimp for me. This is your punishment for failing to maintain proper boundaries with another woman for the first time. Be a good boy.” I didn’t care what time Carter went to bed. I put on a sheet mask and went to sleep early. When I woke up the next day, there were several large bowls filled with peeled shrimp meat on the dining table. Carter had gone to work early due to an emergency meeting. Martha stood quietly to the side. I smiled: “Martha, you have quite a few people in your family, right? Take these home. Sir peeled them himself, so they should be very clean. Don’t let them go to waste.” After that day, life between Carter and me went on as usual, as if that unpleasant little interlude was just a spice in our marriage, harmless and adding a bit of flavor. He even treated me better than before. I didn’t have the time or energy to monitor what women he interacted with every day. As the heir to the Davis Group, I was incredibly busy. However, a month later, on his way to pick me up for a family dinner, he rolled down the window, revealing Chloe’s slightly smug face in the passenger seat. I furrowed my brow. 3 “Hello, Ma’am. You look beautiful today!” Chloe seemed completely oblivious to my displeasure, smiling brightly, her pretty face radiating a seemingly innocent naivety. Carter also looked normal, as if he didn’t sense anything wrong. My face darkened. I pulled open the passenger door and said coldly: “Get out.” Chloe’s expression froze. It took her a long time to mutter: “Ma’am, Mr. Sterling is just dropping me off on his way. I get carsick, so I sat in the front.” She turned her head, casting a pleading look at Carter. Carter looked at me somewhat helplessly. Probably knowing my temper, he didn’t speak up to defend her this time. I repeated coldly for the second time: “Get out.” Carter finally spoke: “Let Ma’am sit.” Biting her lip, Chloe reluctantly got out of the car. Just as she reached for the back door handle, I interrupted coldly: “Who said you could get in?” Chloe froze. I took a deep breath, pulled two red hundred-dollar bills from my purse, and stuffed them into her jacket pocket. “Can’t even afford cab fare? Life must be tough. I’ll cover it for you. Go home, and be safe.” Carter watched Chloe and me standing outside the car awkwardly, attempting to intervene. I smiled brightly at him: “Carter, this is your fault. Your employees are so poor they can’t even afford a cab ride home. That’s a failure on your part. Starting tomorrow, all level-three and above employees at both Sterling and Davis Groups will have their transportation allowance increased by 10%, paid out of the Sterling accounts.” Chloe’s eyes reddened, tears welling up but refusing to fall, giving her the aura of a stubborn, resilient heroine from a tragic drama. “Ma’am,” she said with a trembling voice, “I may be poor, but I have ambition. What gives you the right to use your status as the CEO’s wife to humiliate my character with money?!” I couldn’t help but laugh: “You’re so poor you can’t afford a cab and have to hitch a ride with the CEO. How is me paying for your cab humiliating your character? Does it only count as ‘not humiliating’ if the CEO personally drives you to your door? Your character must be incredibly valuable, considering the few minutes you just wasted cost your CEO and me several hundred million in potential earnings. If he spent extra time detouring to drop you off, how would you compensate us for the financial loss? With your character?” I sneered, not bothering to look at her face anymore, leaned in, got in the car, and slammed the door shut with a bang. Carter silently started the car. Through the rearview mirror, I saw Chloe still standing there, biting her lip, looking utterly humiliated. The silence in the car was suffocating, but I had no intention of being the first to speak. Carter coughed lightly, attempting to explain: “The place she rents isn’t far from the old estate. It wasn’t out of my way to give her a ride. Why did you have to…” “Carter.” Through the rearview mirror, I met his eyes. “I told you, I liked you because you were clean. Because you aren’t the only germaphobe here; I am too.” “We let the shrimp incident slide. Today, you allowed her to sit in your passenger seat and even adjusted my seat settings.” “I only ever give anyone around me three chances. Today was your second.” “My demands aren’t high. Just maintain an appropriate distance and boundaries with other women, like you used to. That shouldn’t be hard for you.” “Carter, don’t disappoint me.” 4 He didn’t say anything else, and silence returned to the car. I couldn’t be bothered to figure out if he was upset. Since childhood, I’ve never had to walk on eggshells for anyone. The car pulled smoothly into the parking area of the old estate. Getting out, I linked my arm through Carter’s as if nothing had happened, acting as if our earlier spat never occurred. “You should know that our marriage isn’t just about us. If you don’t want the stock prices of both our families to fluctuate tomorrow, put on a smile. We are adults; don’t act immature, okay?” I was smiling brightly, but my words were ice-cold. From the corner of my eye, I saw Carter force a plausible smile. Only then did we walk into the estate together. As soon as we walked in, my mother-in-law warmly greeted us, giving me an affectionate hug: “Sarah gets more beautiful every day. Come, sit next to me.” Carter sat down next to me. The Sterling family was large and prosperous. We sat around a large table, a lively atmosphere filling the room. Carter’s mother chatted warmly with me while constantly putting food on my plate. “The joint project between our two families is progressing very smoothly. Sarah, you are so capable.” “Mom, please, we are all family. There’s no need to speak as if we’re separate.” Carter’s mother suddenly frowned, looking at Carter, who hadn’t said much: “What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you talking? You don’t even know how to take care of your wife at the dinner table.” Carter’s expression was a bit strained: “You two were having such a great conversation, how could I interrupt?” Carter’s mother tucked a stray hair behind her ear, bringing it up seemingly casually: “I heard you have a new little assistant who doesn’t quite know the rules?” Carter paused his chopsticks, frowning as he looked over. His gaze swept between me and his mother. His mother sounded casual, but every word carried a sting: “I’ve already informed the HR manager to fire her. A mere intern, lacking both ability and tact. Pay her three months’ severance and let her seek employment elsewhere.” Carter slammed his chopsticks down: “Mom, I am the head of the company now. If you want to fire someone on my team, you should go through me!” His mother calmly placed a shrimp in my bowl: “You handle other matters well enough, but you are a bit too soft-hearted towards these nobodies. You’re still young; there’s no need to rush.” She looked at Carter with deep meaning: “The alliance between the Sterling and Davis families is of paramount importance. When we were selecting an heir, the reason you came out on top was because of your understanding of propriety and your ability to assess the situation. Don’t lose your greatest strengths.” I acted as if I hadn’t heard a thing, maintaining a faint smile and conversing in a low voice. The family dinner had a minor hiccup but remained relatively harmonious. Upon returning home, Carter leaned against the entryway. Looking down at me as I finished changing my shoes, he said in a deep voice: “Sarah, we need to talk.” His voice carried suppressed anger. 5 I walked to the bathroom as usual, washing my hands while asking: “Talk.” The light in the entryway cast a sharp shadow across Carter’s high nose bridge. He spoke in a deep voice: “Was it really necessary to involve my mother in matters between us as husband and wife?” I paused, dried my hands, and looked up at him: “You think I complained to your mother?” Carter’s eyes were pitch black. In the years I’ve known him, he had never looked at me with such a chilling gaze. “Isn’t it? Sarah, I can tolerate your diva temper, but you’ve repeatedly made things difficult for Chloe. You have no sympathy, and your jealousy has gone too far!” I narrowed my eyes, assessing this man I’d shared a bed with for years, beginning to reflect that maybe my judgment was occasionally flawed. Carter wasn’t finished venting: “This time you’ve pushed it even further, taking the matter to my mother and having her fire my subordinate! You know I hate people interfering in my company affairs!” “Are you done?” I cut him off coldly. “So, are you angry because your mother interfered in your work, making you feel your authority was challenged? Or are you heartbroken because your little assistant was humiliated and lost her job?” Seemingly enraged by my indifferent tone, Carter’s anger flared: “It seems you still don’t think you did anything wrong!” “What did I do wrong?!” I stepped closer to him: “Was I wrong for not remaining indifferent when I saw you and your little assistant crossing boundaries? Or was I wrong for not stopping your mother when she saw through Chloe’s ulterior motives and fired her?” “Or was my mistake not divorcing you the very first time you peeled shrimp for her?” Carter’s pupils violently contracted. I took two steps back, looked him up and down, and shook my head with considerable regret. “Carter, I told you, everyone around me only gets three chances. You’ve just used them all up.” That night’s argument ended bitterly. Carter, furious, slammed the door and left in the middle of the night, unilaterally starting a cold war. Before leaving, he threw out one sentence: “No one can stand your condescension!” I had a lot of work to deal with and no time to play games with him. The Davis Group was preparing to expand its overseas enterprises, and I was up to my neck in work. Until a week later, when I saw the news in the paper about Carter attending a high-profile charity gala with a date. The photos were taken very well. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, a perfect match. Chloe was wearing an haute couture evening gown, the diamond necklace around her neck sparkling brilliantly. I looked at it for a while, nodded, and had my secretary assemble a top-tier legal team. A marriage alliance between two powerful families involved many intricate details. The terms of the divorce agreement required meticulous research and careful polishing. While we were discussing the terms, I received a call from Carter’s mother.

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Just after I gave birth to my second child, my parents rushed over from our hometown and transferred me a huge red envelope of $88,000. My husband smiled and said, “Mom and Dad are so generous to their maternal grandson.” My parents and I exchanged glances, all of us stunned. “Liam, what do you mean? Didn’t we agree that the second child would take my last name? Why ‘maternal grandson’?” My face immediately darkened. Before my husband could open his mouth, my mother-in-law standing nearby immediately stepped forward. “That won’t do! The little treasure is a boy! He definitely has to carry on our Sterling family line, how could he take your last name!” My parents’ faces instantly darkened. Their good upbringing and manners made them suppress their emotions and not lash out. But I couldn’t hold it in! “Liam! Is this your idea, or your mother’s?” My husband looked at me, hemming and hawing. “Well, how about we change Chloe’s last name to yours instead?” As soon as he said this, the room instantly went quiet. I immediately laughed out of pure anger. “Fine!” “Then let our daughter take my last name!” … Hearing this, my mother-in-law’s eyes instantly widened. “What? Take your last name? Liam, is your brain broken? Letting your daughter take someone else’s last name! Your dad will beat you to death!” My mother-in-law was still yelling about the rules passed down from our ancestors, how children must definitely take their father’s last name. My mom took a deep breath, trying her best to remain peaceful. “Mrs. Sterling, times are different now, it’s very common for children to take their mother’s last name. Maya is our only daughter, we just want to have a namesake to carry on.” My mother-in-law sneered, looking my mom up and down from the corner of her eye: “Oh, a namesake? Sounds nice! Isn’t it just because you couldn’t give birth to a son yourself, so you want to come and steal our Sterling family’s grandson to provide for you in your old age? Let me tell you, no way!” “You! How can you speak like that!” My mom trembled with anger. My dad quickly supported her, his face livid. Anger flared in my heart. I looked at Liam shrinking to the side and roared: “We agreed from the start that the second child would take my last name, what does your mother mean by this now?” Liam’s eyes darted around, hemming and hawing for a long time, “Well, how about we ask Chloe what she thinks?” I simply couldn’t believe my ears! He actually wanted a child to bear the weight of such a decision? My dad, heartbroken for his granddaughter, but still holding onto a sliver of hope, nodded in agreement: “Alright, asking Chloe is fine too.” But who could have imagined that as soon as Chloe heard this, she immediately burst into loud wails, throwing herself into her grandmother’s arms: “Waaah, I don’t want to take Mom’s last name! Then Dad and I wouldn’t be a family anymore! The other kids will mock me for being a wild child!” The air instantly froze. My daughter is only 7 years old, she absolutely wouldn’t say things like this on her own. Unless someone had deliberately taught her. Thinking of this, my parents’ faces instantly became even uglier. They didn’t expect the granddaughter they loved so dearly to reject them so strongly. My mom, afraid that my emotional agitation would cause a clogged milk duct, suppressed her emotions, “Enough, we’ll talk about this later. Maya, you focus on your postpartum recovery first.” Seeing this, Liam visibly breathed a sigh of relief, “Yes, yes, Mom is right, anyway, no matter whose last name they take, they are both my and Maya’s children!” Hearing this, my parents didn’t say another word. In the afternoon, my parents went back early, using business at their factory as an excuse. As soon as they left, my mother-in-law started making passive-aggressive remarks. “Hmph! Ran away fast enough! As soon as they heard their grandson wasn’t changing his last name and there was no advantage to be gained, they left immediately!” My husband smiled awkwardly, offering a token word of advice, “Mom! Don’t say that, Maya’s parents really are busy at their factory!” I couldn’t hold it in anymore and shot right back: “They really are busy! After all, everything our whole family eats, uses, and lives in now is paid for by my parents’ money!” My mother-in-law, hit where it hurt, instantly turned red in the face and thick in the neck. Just as she was about to lash out, the maternity nurse came over to remind me it was time to breastfeed. I just turned over and lay down, saying coldly: “I can’t feed him, I’m too full of anger, my milk ducts are clogged!” My mother-in-law was so angry she wanted to charge over and argue, but was pulled out by Liam. 2 Liam and I dated freely. Back then, when my friends found out that I, an only child from a wealthy East Coast family, was going to marry into a rural Midwestern family, their eyes almost popped out of their heads. They took turns advising me, saying even if I had to get married, the man should marry into our family. But Liam simply couldn’t stand the idea of ‘marrying into’ my family. “Maya, I’m the only son in my family, my parents depend on me, I can’t leave them!” At that time, my brain clouded by love, I ignored my parents’ tears and my friends’ advice, and went back with him. But reality gave me a resounding slap in the face. After marriage, the farm he and his parents contracted lost money year after year, relying entirely on my parents for financial support. When we were dating, he solemnly promised “have two kids, one takes your last name, one takes mine.” It turns out, from the very beginning, it was an out-and-out scam. His family had made up their minds long ago to leech off our family. Thinking of this, I only felt a knot of pent-up anger blocking my chest, painfully stifling. I don’t know how long passed, but the bedroom door was gently pushed open. Liam came in carrying my favorite soup dumplings. “Honey, still angry? I just coaxed Chloe to sleep, she cried very sadly, saying no matter what she wouldn’t change her name.” I sneered inwardly. “True! Changing a name is indeed troublesome, you have to go through a lot of paperwork all over again.” Hearing me say this, his face instantly lit up with joy. “Exactly, exactly! Honey, you finally figured it out, I knew you were the most reasonable…” “So,” I coldly interrupted him, “it’s just more convenient to change the baby’s name directly, just as we agreed before, he’ll be called Ethan Vance.” Liam’s smile instantly froze on his face. He stood up abruptly, his voice rising sharply in anger. “How can we do that?!” Seeing me staring coldly at him without speaking, he suppressed his anger, putting on an earnest and well-meaning tone. “Maya, be reasonable, our family has had a single male heir for three generations! If the baby takes your last name, won’t this family line be broken? How are my parents supposed to hold their heads up in front of relatives and friends in the future?!” I took a deep breath, “So, your promise to my parents back then, to have two kids and each takes one last name, was all bullshit?” Faced with my accusation, Liam’s face turned the color of pig liver. “Maya Vance! Why are you so aggressive? Is this the same thing? Besides, if you were capable, you would have had a son the first time, and we wouldn’t have all this trouble now!” The blood in my entire body instantly froze. “Liam, do you have any common sense? Whether it’s a boy or a girl is determined by the man’s chromosomes!” Liam was choked by my words and couldn’t speak. He fiercely kicked the chair next to him, making a huge noise, scaring the sleeping baby into loud wails. Watching him leave in a huff, my heart sank to the bottom. I had actually given birth to two children for a man like this. 3 Because of my insistence, Liam finally agreed to change our daughter’s name. Not feeling reassured, I asked my best friend, Sarah, to accompany him and complete all the procedures. “Don’t worry, I watched him do it step-by-step. See, it’s changed, from Chloe Sterling to Chloe Vance.” In the afternoon, Sarah returned with the brand new documents. I nodded in satisfaction, the pent-up frustration of many days finally dissipating a little. “Sarah, thanks for your hard work, stay for dinner tonight, I’ll have the nanny make a few extra dishes.” Sarah’s eyes flickered, however, and she smiled and declined, “No, no, I have a date tonight.” Seeing her coy expression, I couldn’t help but tease her. “It’s a man, right? Tell me, did you find yourself a boyfriend?” “Oh stop, it’s nothing official yet, I’ll tell you first when we make it official.” Her tone was coy, and she subconsciously moved the bag in her hand behind her back. It was a newly released luxury brand handbag, definitely not her usual level of spending. A subtle feeling brushed across my heart, but it was diluted by the joy of my daughter successfully changing her name. “Alright, then hurry up and go. Liam,” I turned to my silent husband standing to the side, “drive Sarah, she helped us a lot.” Liam agreed, his face still gloomy, “Let’s go.” Early the next morning, I woke up early because my breasts were engorged, only to hear a slight noise outside the door. I threw on some clothes and got up, just in time to see Liam opening the door and coming in from outside. I felt suspicious, but kept my face neutral: “So early? Did you go out, or did you just get back?” He was clearly startled, then forced a tired smile: “The boss called for sudden overtime last night, tossed and turned all night, I just made do on the sofa at the office. See, I thought you’d like these, so I went early to buy some soup dumplings.” I nodded and didn’t ask further. That piece of farmland in his hometown lost money year after year. After my repeated suggestions, he reluctantly found a job. But his abilities were average, and his ambitions were higher than his skills, so his work wasn’t going smoothly. “Honey, I have something else I want to discuss with you.” Liam suddenly spoke, and I had a premonition it wasn’t anything good. “Go ahead.” “Look, the baby is about to be one month old, here’s what I’m thinking, we should celebrate it properly, make it lively!” I immediately frowned: “He’s just a baby, a simple gesture is enough, besides, when Chloe was one month old, we didn’t celebrate it, did we?” Liam blurted out almost instantly: “How can that be the same!” As soon as the words left his mouth, seeing my face darken, he immediately and hastily explained: “Just because Chloe didn’t have one, that’s why we absolutely must have one for the baby! Besides, over all these years, how much money have my parents given out as gifts for other people’s events? It’s time to use this opportunity to recoup it!” Looking at his calculating face, I sneered inwardly: “Fine, if you want to host it, go ahead.” A hint of joy had just appeared on Liam’s face when he immediately replaced it with a troubled expression: “Honey, you know my parents don’t have any savings. Look, could your parents help us out with fifty thousand first?” “Fifty thousand?” I jerked my head up, “Liam, are you crazy? A one-month celebration costs fifty thousand?” Liam couldn’t help but frown: “This is our Sterling family’s first grandson! Can the event look shabby?” “My parents’ money is hard-earned! It’s not for you to show off and fill your family’s bottomless pit!” I suppressed my anger, my voice icy. “I agree to the celebration, but you figure out the money for this yourself, I can’t bring myself to ask.” Liam’s face instantly turned extremely ugly. He glared at me fixedly, and after a long while, finally squeezed out a sentence through his teeth: “Fine! Maya Vance, you’re ruthless!” 4 Liam took it upon himself to book the baby’s one-month celebration at the best hotel in the city. That day, he and his mother were at home counting the invitations. I happened to walk by and glanced over, only to discover that my parents’ names weren’t even on them. “Liam! The baby’s one-month celebration, and you didn’t invite my parents?!” Liam panicked instantly, quickly gathering the scattered invitations on the table. “That’s not true, I’m just checking who I missed, I was going to add them right away.” I frowned at him, my intuition telling me his words were untrustworthy. Still feeling uneasy, I found a time to call my mom. “Mom, you know the baby’s one-month celebration is this Saturday, right?” My mom smiled and nodded, “Of course, I already have the red envelope ready, to celebrate my eldest grandson turning one month old!” “Eldest grandson?” I was full of doubts, “What do you mean?” My dad took the phone and said, “Liam told us he’s going to let the baby take your last name, he’ll change it right after the celebration.” I was just about to tell them that Chloe’s name had already been changed, but before I could finish, the call was hung up. Afterwards, my mom sent a text message saying she had something to do and we’d talk when we met on Saturday. In the evening, Liam came back, and I sat in the living room waiting for him. “My parents said you agreed to let the baby take my last name?” Liam smiled and nodded, “Yeah, didn’t Mom and Dad want the baby to take your last name.” I frowned, repeatedly reminding him, “But hasn’t Chloe already…” He suddenly bent down, kissed my forehead, and looked at me with deep affection. “It’s okay honey, I’ve thought it through. If we let both kids take your last name, I wouldn’t mind.” Hearing this, I was even more confused. How did he suddenly become a completely different person. Moreover, even if he really agreed, what about my mother-in-law, would she agree? At night, I tested the waters with my mother-in-law. To my surprise, she actually agreed too. “Yes, Liam told me. Your parents are getting older, it’s normal for them to want a grandson of their own bloodline.” Seeing her say this, I didn’t dwell on it anymore. After all, having both kids change to my last name would only mean my parents would contribute more. The next day, I dressed the baby early in his outfit for the celebration. My mother-in-law suddenly said. “Maya, you see there will be a lot of people at the banquet later, why don’t you and the baby just stay home, don’t go join the crowd. What if there are too many people and it scares the baby…” I was full of confusion, “Today is to celebrate the baby turning one month old, is it appropriate for him not to go?” My mother-in-law smiled and explained, “It’s just an excuse. The baby is so small, it’s inconvenient for him to go. Your dad’s relatives all love to smoke, we don’t want them smoking out the baby.” I agreed with this point. The first year of our marriage, Liam and I went back to his hometown to host a banquet. Those relatives smoked so much the whole room reeked, you couldn’t stay in there at all. “Alright then.” Seeing this, my mother-in-law said again, “Hey, your parents definitely want to see the baby, tell them not to go to the hotel either, just come straight to the house to keep your dad company?” I had originally thought of this too, and seeing my mother-in-law offer, I didn’t refuse. But because the baby suddenly had diarrhea, I was busy changing his diaper and forgot to message my parents. By the time I remembered, it was already noon, so I called them immediately. “Hello, Mom and Dad, have you arrived at the hotel? You don’t need to go, just come straight to the house to see me and the baby.” But my mom said, “You and the baby are at home? Then who is the baby I saw Liam and his mother holding?” Hearing this, I was instantly dumbfounded. I looked down at the baby in my arms. The baby was at home with me, so whose baby was Liam holding? Right at this moment, my daughter’s teacher suddenly tagged me in the group chat, saying my daughter was the only one left who hadn’t signed up for the school summer camp, and asked me to take a picture of my daughter’s household registration information to apply for her. I hurriedly looked for the documents, but when I flipped to my daughter’s section, I was dumbfounded. The name, which should have been changed to Chloe Vance, still glaringly displayed Chloe Sterling, with no new section added for “former name.” Which means, Liam never changed our daughter’s name?! Thinking of this, my whole body trembled uncontrollably, and I immediately called my best friend, Sarah. But her phone rang for a long time before being answered. Before I could speak, a familiar voice came from the other end of the line. “Sarah, come quick, your dad is calling you to take the baby around to toast everyone.” That was… my mother-in-law’s voice!! The next second, the call was cut off.

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At the company dinner, the newly appointed big boss’s daughter from headquarters accidentally spilled wine on Arthur’s shirt. While Arthur went to the restroom to clean up. Everyone was guessing whether he would get angry. “I bet three shots that Mr. Vance will definitely lose his temper. Last time a young girl accidentally got his documents dirty, she was fired the next day!” “Tsk, tsk, tsk, that’s not necessarily true. Haven’t you heard that the big boss’s daughter is Mr. Vance’s first love?!” Hearing this, everyone gasped. The person continued: “After graduation, she went abroad, and the two were forced to break up. But later, Mr. Vance actually came to our company. Why do you think that is?” “Isn’t it just to wait for her to come back! I bet they’ll rekindle their old flame in no time!” A colleague next to me nudged my elbow: “Chloe, weren’t you and those two alumni from the same university? Were you also shipping their fairytale romance?” “Quick, tell us why exactly they broke up!” Secretly married to Arthur for a year, I silently took the ring off my ring finger and put it in my pocket. 1 Everyone’s excited gazes instantly fell on me. Urging me to quickly tell them the legendary love story between the aloof top student and the big boss’s daughter that once caused a sensation throughout the school. I was sitting in the farthest corner of the private room, my presence originally very low. Suddenly surrounded by so many eyes, I felt a bit uncomfortable. Just then, the door to the private room opened. Mia walked in smiling, Arthur’s coat draped over her arm. “Arthur said we don’t need to wait for him, let’s start playing.” She was still exactly as she was in college. The moment she entered, she became the center of attention. Hearing her intimate way of addressing Arthur, the colleagues’ faces all showed a “we ship it” expression. Arthur Vance, Mia Sullivan. Even their names matched perfectly, like the male and female leads in a romance novel. Someone bold, emboldened by alcohol, asked directly: “Mia, tell us, did you and Mr. Vance… have a history before?” Mia, seemingly unsurprised by the gossip, blinked mischievously. “That’s all in the past, Arthur won’t let me talk about it.” Seeing this, everyone let out a knowing “Oh~”. A hint of shyness appeared on her face: “Let me tell you, don’t bring this up in front of Arthur. He has a thin skin, I’m afraid he’ll get mad at me when we get back.” The hooting grew even louder. She didn’t say anything explicitly, yet it seemed like she had said everything. So, after Arthur returned from cleaning the wine stain, although the colleagues didn’t dare continue the previous topic in front of him. Their eyes couldn’t help but constantly dart between the two of them. Occasionally, they would deliberately bring up topics like “youth,” “first love,” and “regrets.” The ring in my pocket had sharp edges, and through the thin fabric, it dug into me somewhat uncomfortably. My gaze instinctively fell on Arthur’s bare left ring finger. On the day we registered our marriage, my mother-in-law bought us wedding rings. Arthur said he didn’t have the habit of wearing accessories. His wedding ring was still sitting in a drawer in his study. I started regretting attending this dinner. Throughout the entire gathering, Arthur remained as taciturn as usual, like an intimidating iceberg. It was only when Mia had a bit too much to drink and showed signs of intoxication that he spoke softly: “Let’s call it a night.” When the boss speaks, who dares disobey? Everyone stood up, sharing rides home in twos and threes. Someone nudged Mia toward Mr. Vance: “Mr. Vance, it’s not safe for Mia to go home alone. Could you please take her back?” Arthur looked up at me. Right at that moment, Mia’s legs gave out, and she stumbled into his arms. I almost fled, turning sharply and leaving the crowd. From behind, his voice faintly reached me: “Give me her home address.” I separated from the crowd and took a cab home alone. Upon arriving home, I soaked myself in the bathtub. Wrapped in the rising, misty steam, the tears I had held back all night finally fell. How pathetic. What was there to feel wronged about? He was always a moon high up in the sky, far out of reach. I was already very lucky to have briefly had the moon all to myself. In college, our interactions were pitifully few. The only time was when he needed to bring an umbrella to Mia and asked me to hand in his group project for him. By a twist of fate, after graduating with my master’s, I became an intern under him. And serendipitously discovered that my unlikely older friend was actually his mother. Under his mother’s matchmaking and pressure to marry. That afternoon, Arthur suddenly asked me. “Chloe, would you consider marrying me?” Yes, no dating, no proposal. We fast-forwarded straight to marriage. So fast, it was as if he had just casually discussed a business deal, and it wouldn’t matter if it fell through. We got our marriage certificate that afternoon, and the next day went to work as usual. Besides moving in together, nothing seemed different between us than before. He hadn’t told anyone about our marriage, so much so that people in the company still thought he was single. Now, his first love was back, and my time as a background character in this love story was up. I should make my exit. When I came out of the bathroom, Arthur was already back. Sitting on the sofa, reading documents. I mustered my courage, walked over to him, and hesitantly started: “I…” Before I could finish, his phone suddenly rang. I don’t know what was said on the other end, but Arthur grabbed his coat with a solemn expression. “Sorry, something urgent came up. Let’s talk about whatever it is when I get back, okay?” He had never gone out late at night before. This was the first time. Half an hour later, the person who made him make an exception updated her Moments. [Thanks to someone for bringing hangover soup late at night.] A man’s hand was accidentally revealed in the attached photo. Colleagues flooded the comments section, gossiping if good news was on the way, implicitly saying they didn’t expect the aloof Mr. Vance to have such a considerate side. I thought, my moon seems to be returning to the sky. 2 My period came very suddenly this time. It hurt all night, and I barely managed to fall asleep in a haze. When I woke up, Arthur had already left for work, as usual. He had a habit of arriving at the company early, while I wouldn’t arrive a minute earlier than necessary. So even though we worked at the same company, we went our separate ways. When I arrived at the company, Mia was standing in the middle of the aisle, in a great mood, distributing coffee to everyone. Saying it was her treat since she just arrived. Colleagues smiled and praised the big boss’s daughter for being beautiful and kind, understanding the hardships of us corporate drones, promising to work doubly hard today. When she got to me, she handed over an Americano filled to the brim with ice. “Sorry, you came a bit late, this is the only one left.” Although I had taken painkillers in the morning, a dull ache still emanated from my lower abdomen. But out of politeness, I still said thank you and took the coffee from her hand. Thinking that if I really couldn’t drink it, I’d secretly pour it away when no one was looking later. Besides that, I was actually a bit petty; I just didn’t want to drink the coffee she bought. But what I didn’t expect was that after distributing the coffee, Mia didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she looked at me with a smile: “Chloe, you’ve changed so much, I barely recognized you last night.” “You’ve lost a lot of weight since college, and gotten much prettier. I didn’t expect you to be working under Arthur.” In college, Arthur and I were in Class 3, she was in Class 1, and we didn’t even share core classes. So I was a bit surprised that she actually remembered me. Mia showed no intention of leaving. Although she wore a smile, perhaps because I was being cynical, I felt her scrutinizing gaze made me a bit uncomfortable. “Speaking of which, I still have to thank you for helping Arthur deliver his group project back then, otherwise I would have been drenched like a drowned rat.” “Why did you choose to come to our company? Was it because you knew Arthur was here?” This sentence sounded fine at first listen. Coming to a company where an old classmate works is a very normal thing. But if it fell on the ears of someone looking for trouble, it might be interpreted in another way. I pursed my lips, just about to answer, when Arthur happened to push open the office door at that exact moment: “Mia, come here for a moment.” Mia was directly appointed by headquarters as Arthur’s secretary. Hearing this, she replied cheerfully, her high heels clicking loudly as she walked in his direction. As the office door closed, the gossiping spirit of the colleagues burned once more. Hooting and hollering in low voices. I stared blankly at the solo photo on my desk. This photo was taken on my birthday last year. Coincidentally, Arthur also asked me to marry him on that day. I reached out and took down the frame. In the hidden compartment, there was a more youthful face, silly flashing a peace sign at the camera. That was taken by my roommate when I graduated with my bachelor’s degree. At the time, she muttered a bit dissatisfied, saying when other people take photos, the background is either the school emblem or the main gate. Why did I have to pick a rundown academic building? At the time, I just explained that the lighting was good. Actually, I lied to her. At the time, Arthur was standing just fifteen feet behind me. At the exact moment my roommate pressed the shutter, he happened to look up, facing the camera. This was our first, and only, not-quite-a-photo-together photo. “Chloe, come to the small conference room, we’re having a team meeting.” I looked up and acknowledged, casually slipping the photo into a folder on my desk. They called it a team meeting, but it lasted a full two hours. The intermittent pain from my lower abdomen made me break out in a cold sweat. When I walked out of the small conference room, my head spinning, I found several colleagues gathered around my desk, heads bowed, discussing something. But when I got closer, my mind suddenly went completely blank. Because Mia was holding that photo in her hand, looking at me leisurely. “Chloe, so you actually liked Arthur?” 3 My first instinct was to snatch the photo back. But she was faster, flipping the photo over. Reading the words written on the back with clear enunciation, her tone amused and exaggerated: “You are my moon.” “Chloe, so I was right. You stayed just because of Arthur, didn’t you?” I pursed my lips, looking at her exquisite face, my nails digging deep into my palms. A colleague nearby let out a disdainful scoff: “She looks so innocent, who knew she was so disgusting in private. ‘Moon’? I’m gonna throw up!” “Exactly. Even though Mia threw a tantrum and went abroad back then, Mr. Vance waited for her for three years! Secretly hiding his photo, isn’t this obviously trying to be a homewrecker?” “Tsk, tsk, I was wondering why she fought tooth and nail to pass the assessment and stay. She really doesn’t know her place.” The air conditioning vent above my head intermittently blew down piercingly cold air. My whole body trembled uncontrollably. God knows how much I wanted to retort, to tell them that Arthur and I are legally married. When Arthur and I reunited, they were already broken up! But I knew, even if I said it, no one would believe me. Because Arthur had never acknowledged me. Tears welled up in my eyes; I gritted my teeth hard to keep them from falling. As if that could maintain my last shred of dignity. I snatched the photo from Mia’s hand like a madwoman, tore it to shreds in a few quick motions, and threw it into the trash can nearby. Mia looked at me mockingly. Just as she was about to say something more, Arthur suddenly came out. “What’s all this noise? Not enough work to do?” Everyone scattered in a panic. Arthur took long strides and stood in front of me, staring at me for a moment. When his gaze fell on the photo in the trash can, he seemed a bit stunned. “Why did you…” Before he could finish, I shoved him hard, kept my head down, and ran into the restroom. I didn’t dare face him, at least not right then. I was afraid that after he found out I had harbored different feelings for him a long time ago. He, like everyone else, would secretly laugh at me for overestimating myself. I survived until the end of the workday, moving in a daze like a zombie. When I walked out of the company, Mia was already waiting at the entrance. “Chloe, let’s talk.” The coffee shop was filled with the rich aroma of caramel, but to me, it smelled sour and bitter. “I called Arthur before I returned to the country, and he actually told me he was married.” “And the person he married is actually you.” Mia got straight to the point as soon as she sat down, her tone full of disdain. “I asked him then if he loved you. Guess what he said?” Her nails tapped against the wooden table, making an irritating sound. The answer was obvious. Arthur clearly didn’t love me, otherwise Mia wouldn’t have returned to the country. But even so, it wasn’t her place to say anything. “Miss Sullivan, he was the one who proposed marriage. Even if we are to divorce, he should be the one to tell me.” Mia seemed somewhat surprised by my sudden toughness, the mockery at the corner of her mouth deepening: “Since I’m back, it’s only a matter of time before you divorce.” “It’s just that…” She drew out her words, propping her chin on one hand, raising an eyebrow at me: “Do you really think Arthur didn’t know about your dirty little crush on him in the past?” “Did you think no one knew you secretly kept the notebook he handed back?” “Do you know what he said when he found out back then?” “He said, ‘That’s disgusting’.” It was true. When the group project Arthur asked me to hand in was graded and returned, I had selfish motives. I secretly kept it. Because that piece of paper had Arthur’s elegant signature on it, the only proof that our paths had crossed. On the day my girlish secret was exposed and mocked, a sense of shame erupted like never before. When I returned home, utterly devastated, Arthur was already back. On the coffee table in front of him lay a document. Only one word was visible: [Di], for divorce. Arthur took off his gold-rimmed glasses, looked at me, and said: “Chloe, there’s something I want to discuss with you.” 4 Arthur is a decent man, after all. Even for something like a divorce, he used the word “discuss.” What’s there to discuss? Is he afraid I’ll covet his assets, or afraid I’ll cling to him and refuse to divorce? I sniffled, forcing a smile that I thought looked nonchalant: “It’s fine, whatever works for me.” “You talk to Mom.” “Also, when do you need me to move out?” Arthur’s expression showed obvious shock, a hint of confusion surfacing in his eyes. I stretched my smile wider, so wide it actually hurt a little. “Hand it over, don’t you need my signature?” “Are you misunder—” Before he could finish, the doorbell suddenly rang. As soon as Arthur opened the door, Mia threw herself crying into his arms. “Arthur, someone is following me, I’m so scared…” She was wearing a sexy lace slip dress, a completely different style from the tailored skirt suit she wore at work during the day. But equally beautiful. Enough to make any man’s heart flutter. Perhaps because I was there, Arthur frowned and pushed her away. “What are you doing here?” He instinctively turned to look at me, a rare flash of panic crossing his face. Before he could speak, I waved my hand: “You guys talk, I’m going back to the bedroom.” Arthur had already given me enough dignity and respect. I couldn’t be so tactless as to act as a third wheel when I clearly knew a divorce was imminent. Back in the bedroom, my nearly frozen smiling face finally found release. I threw myself hard onto the bed, biting down fiercely on the edge of the quilt. The tears I had held back all day finally broke like a breached dam, impossible to stop. I cried until my world went dark, and when I emerged with eyes swollen like walnuts. The house was already completely empty. I picked up my phone, wanting to ask Arthur when he’d be back so we could process the divorce tomorrow. But I saw Mia’s recently updated Moments. The caption was simple, just one word: [Secured] But the attached photo was a selfie of her; her pale neck was covered in shocking red marks. My phone clattered to the floor. I hurriedly picked it up, gritting my teeth to force myself not to think about them being intimate. Then, mechanically, I grabbed my personal belongings and a few commonly used clothes, shoving them all into my suitcase. Just before leaving, I realized the divorce agreement on the coffee table was gone. I didn’t know where Arthur had casually put it, so I had to download a template online, filled in our information. And signed my name on it. I left it in the most prominent spot on the coffee table. Arthur, we are over after all. … By the time Arthur dropped off the endlessly crying Mia at the police station, and rushed back to headquarters overnight to submit his resignation. It was nearing midnight. He opened the door wearily. The house was dark; the young woman must be asleep. Arthur felt a bit anxious, not knowing if she would agree to leave River City with him and develop in Coast City. But when he turned on the light. His gaze was dead locked on the glaring divorce agreement on the coffee table.

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