Category: English

My step-brother, Alex, framed me for his allergic reaction. My three sisters, fueled by his lies, dragged me into the suffocating, airless basement, chaining the door shut from the outside. I weakly pounded on the basement door, begging my sisters to let me out. Scarlett, our eldest sister and a formidable business mogul, glared at me with icy contempt before she left. “You usually pick on Alex, that’s one thing. But knowing he’s allergic to seafood and still deliberately feeding it to him? You were trying to hurt him, weren’t you? Stay down there and think about what you’ve done!” Chloe, the rising singer, and Willow, the prodigious artist, simply scoffed. “Someone as wicked as you, still making excuses and playing the victim? You deserve everything that’s coming to you!” With that, they embraced a trembling Alex and rushed him to the hospital. The oxygen dwindled, each breath a desperate struggle. I died in that darkness, suffocated and alone. Three days later, only when my sisters returned from the hospital with Alex, did they finally remember me. But they didn’t know, I had already perished from oxygen deprivation in that cramped basement.

I died in that basement, starved of oxygen. When I awoke again, my soul was hovering right beside my three sisters. They had just returned to their grand mansion. Scarlett and Chloe were doting on Alex, speaking to him with tender concern: “That’s wonderful, Alex. It’s a good thing we got you to the hospital in time. You’ve recovered so quickly.” Willow, our third sister, was even more solicitous: “The doctor said you’re still weak, Alex. You need to get your strength back.” As she spoke, she piled a generous piece of meat into Alex’s bowl. A house staff member nearby couldn’t help but interject, “Leo hasn’t made a sound in the basement for three days…” Scarlett scoffed, cutting her off sharply, “It’s a happy day, Alex is home from the hospital! Why mention someone who brings such bad luck?” The staff member tried to speak again, but Chloe and Willow silenced her with chilling glares. “Leo must have known about the seafood allergy to deliberately make that seafood stew.” “And here I thought he was finally starting to accept Alex. Turns out, it was all premeditated!” Alex deliberately put on a frightened expression, speaking timidly: “Leo is being punished because of me. He’s been alone in the basement for so many days. He won’t be angry when he comes out, will he?” Scarlett’s face was cold as she replied: “Don’t worry, Alex. We spoiled him before, never taught him a lesson. “After this, he surely won’t dare to bully you again.” As she spoke, she unconsciously pulled out her phone, refreshing her chat with me. But our conversation still ended three days ago. In those three days, I hadn’t sent her a single message or made a call, fueling Scarlett’s anger even further. “So many days have passed, and Leo hasn’t even sent a message to check on Alex!” At that moment, Alex took Scarlett’s hand, feigning fear in his voice: “Let’s not let Leo misunderstand. I just want your company, I don’t want to take anything from him.” Scarlett quickly put down her phone, caressing Alex’s head with a pained look. “Alex, you’re so kind, unlike him. He’s just an ungrateful wretch.” Chloe thought of me, her eyes filled with cold disdain. “Exactly. How dare he try to hurt his own family just to get attention? He’s truly evil!” Willow nodded in full agreement, scoffing, “Unless he realizes his mistake and kneels to apologize to Alex after these three days, I’ll kick him out of this house myself!” I stood beside them, listening to my sisters’ words, feeling only a bitter amusement. Yet, no one could see or hear my spectral form. From the moment our parents passed away, my three sisters had showered me with all their attention. One day, I wished for a playmate my age, so my sisters found Alex at an orphanage. I welcomed Alex with open arms, giving him my whole heart. But he framed me, again and again, driving a wedge between me and my sisters, pushing them further away with each passing day. This time was no different. My three sisters didn’t even give me a chance to explain before locking me in that tiny basement. I struggled desperately, feeling the air grow thin, each breath harder than the last. Pounding on the basement door, I pleaded with my sisters to let me out. But they only looked on with cold indifference, shouting back: “Why are you making such a fuss? This is all your fault! If it weren’t for you, why would Alex be so miserable from his allergy?” “I think we’ve been too good to you, that’s why you keep picking on Alex. Just stay put in there!” With that, Chloe personally wrapped the chains, and Willow even pushed heavy objects against the basement door, cutting off my last shred of hope for escape. Now, watching Alex put on his fake smile for my sisters, I let out another bitter, sarcastic laugh of disappointment. My sisters, the brother who loved you most in the world, has been killed by your own hands!

Alex deliberately tugged on Scarlett’s sleeve, whimpering: “Scarlett, don’t be angry. It’s my fault for being weak and having a seafood allergy. Leo surely didn’t mean it. Please don’t blame him!” Scarlett’s expression hardened instantly, her voice chilling: “We’ve been too lenient with Leo. That’s why he’s grown so arrogant and unruly!” Chloe’s eyes flashed with surging fury: “He’s only grown more narrow-minded with age! If it weren’t for him, why would Alex be like this?” Then, Alex deliberately exposed his arm, still slightly red from the fading allergic reaction, to his three sisters. Willow tenderly caressed the faint red marks on his skin. “Does it still hurt, Alex?” Alex lowered his head, his voice trembling: “It doesn’t… It doesn’t hurt…” Chloe’s anger completely ignited, and she yelled furiously: “If we had waited any longer to go to the hospital, Alex’s life would have been in danger! And after all these days, he hasn’t even sent a message. He shows no remorse!” Scarlett spoke with even greater rage: “Go fetch Leo and make him apologize! I don’t believe he’s so stubborn he can hold out without saying sorry!” Chloe and Willow echoed her fury: “He’s so stubborn because he’s always relied on our support, hasn’t he? Now that he’s done wrong, he must face the consequences!” With that, they turned to the trembling house staff, their voices blazing with anger: “Why are you just standing there? Go and bring that ungrateful wretch to me! And bring the discipline stick too. If Leo hadn’t deliberately put in the seafood, why would Alex have suffered in agony for three days in the hospital?” “It’s time to remind him of the consequences of his actions!” The staff received the order, not daring to disobey, and hurried in my direction. I let out a bitter, desperate laugh. My sisters, without even bothering to investigate, had simply decided I was guilty. Three days ago, Alex wanted some stew, and I, hoping to please him, offered to cook it. He even gave me a small packet of seasoning, saying he wanted this flavor. I tasted it; it was just a simple seafood stew. But who could have known it was his allergen? Scarlett, a business mogul, couldn’t even see through such obvious manipulation and cheap theatrics? Wasn’t that favoritism, pure and simple? In my sisters’ hearts, I was never as important as Alex. My own heart grew increasingly desolate. But it no longer mattered. I was already dead in that basement. My sisters could finally give all their favoritism entirely to Alex. “Scarlett, we’ve called for Leo for a long time, but there’s no movement from him.” “We listened inside, and it sounds like there’s no breathing!” Scarlett’s brows furrowed. She abruptly stood up, her face utterly cold: “What is Leo playing at now? Does he think apologizing to Alex is beneath him?” “Does he even understand that he almost killed Alex this time?” Alex tugged on Scarlett’s sleeve, feigning sadness: “It’s okay. I’m just an orphan. I don’t deserve Leo’s apology.” Scarlett’s anger was completely ignited: “You think I can’t see through these cheap tricks to get attention? “You’re dreaming if you think playing mute will get you off the hook! It seems the punishment I gave him was too light!” “Come on, drag him out. Let’s see how he hides now. He will kneel and apologize to Alex!”

I followed my three sisters’ hurried footsteps, my heart growing ever more desolate. Driven by their blazing fury, my three sisters arrived at the basement door. “Leo, do you think hiding inside and staying silent will let you escape punishment?” But no sound came from the basement. Chloe’s face grew even darker: “Leo, what are you still playing at? Get out here, now, and apologize to Alex!” “Don’t think that by hiding in there, turning off your phone, and ignoring our calls, you can escape responsibility for deliberately harming Alex!” Willow’s eyes were also blazing, and she spoke with furious anger: “Leo, you really think you’re so smart, don’t you? You’re just jealous of how good we are to Alex, so you’re deliberately trying to upset us by staying silent, right?” “Do you really think that by hiding in the basement and playing this stubborn game, you can make us give up?” Still, no sound came from inside the basement. Willow, however, looked at the trembling staff nearby and said coldly: “Why are you all shaking? Tell me the truth. Did Leo bribe you? Did you secretly let him out?” Chloe scoffed: “Given his awful personality, he probably couldn’t stand the basement after we left and got these staff members to let him out.” Willow’s eyes were completely filled with disappointment: “You almost killed Alex, yet you don’t dare take any responsibility? Is this really the brother I know?” “Do you really think you’re our only brother?” At this, a staff member stammered nervously: “Ms. Scarlett, without your orders, we wouldn’t dare let him out!” “Leo truly has been in the basement for three whole days.” Willow looked at the still, silent basement. A flicker of unease suddenly crossed her eyes. She stepped forward and tried to pull the basement door open several times, but it wouldn’t budge. “Leo, are you done yet? I’ve even unlocked the door. Are you still clinging to it and refusing to come out?” I looked at the twisted basement door from the inside, a bitter smile on my face. In my final moments, suffocating, I had desperately tried to break free, hoping to live. But the basement door was incredibly sturdy; I couldn’t even force a crack open, and so I suffocated to death inside. My sisters, when you see my corpse, will you give me even a tiny bit of love, and bury me beside our parents? Willow grew increasingly agitated. She began to kick the door with her foot. The twisted basement door groaned, and a larger gap appeared. A foul, putrid odor wafted out. A staff member nearby trembled, stammering, “It smells like… a corpse!” The other two sisters, still seething, walked closer. “What corpse smell? He clearly ran out ages ago and just threw a dead rat in there to trick us!” “Leo, do you really think we’re that easily fooled?” The three sisters grew more impatient, kicking the door together. The entire basement entrance shuddered again. With a resounding thud, the door was finally kicked open. Along with an even fouler, rotten stench, the small, dark basement was exposed to everyone.

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That summer, when I was eighteen, Chloe and I finally crossed that line. Afterward, I was too excited to sleep a wink, believing my six-year-long secret crush had finally come true. Until the next day, I overheard her friends teasing her: “Wow, Chloe, you totally snagged the hottest guy in class.” I felt a flush of embarrassment, about to slip away unnoticed. Then Chloe’s nonchalant reply drifted over. “I want to go after Jaxon, the ice hockey star from school. I’m just worried he’ll think I’m too inexperienced.” “So, I just used Liam to practice my moves.” I didn’t say a word. In the last possible moment, I quietly switched my university application from Washington D.C. to Chicago. Chloe’s words hit me like a sudden, brutal lightning strike from a clear sky. My mind instantly went blank. In that sweltering summer afternoon, I felt an icy coldness spread through my body. The conversation in the classroom continued, though they seemed to pause for a beat before someone spoke again. “Only Chloe would say that. The hottest guy in class is just practice for her.” Chloe chuckled, unconcerned. “Don’t be silly. He’s not exactly losing out, is he?” Someone immediately chimed in. “True, true. Liam is pretty lean, compared to Jaxon… well, his build just isn’t the same.” Chloe, annoyed, playfully tossed a book at him, cutting off his comment. “It was just a heat-of-the-moment thing, the vibe was there, and honestly, he looked like he was about to burst.” They all exchanged knowing glances, teasing her. “So Liam’s the quiet type on the outside, a total wild card underneath!” “Oh, wow, Chloe, your charm is just too much. Of course, you’d take the opportunity when it’s handed to you.” “Liam’s been after you for years, he finally got what he wanted. He’s probably completely obsessed with you now.” The laughter in the room clearly intensified. My hands clenched into tight fists. It took every ounce of my strength to stay upright, to keep from collapsing at the classroom door. Footsteps approached from the end of the corridor. I snapped back to reality, bolting from the scene. In a panic, I rushed into a bathroom stall.

Chloe’s words echoed in my mind, syllable by syllable. They utterly shredded every last piece of my self-respect. If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears, I would never have believed that the person who’d been so intimately entwined with me, who’d seemed to lose herself completely in my arms just last night, was the same person. So, you could do something that intimate, even without love. You could lie and deceive, even in the most passionate, irrational moments. What I’d foolishly believed was our destiny, was nothing more than a punchline in their conversations. The more I thought about it, the more miserable I became. A long while later. My phone buzzed with a new message. It was Chloe. [Just cab it home. My friends are having a party tonight, and it’s not really convenient for you to come.] I didn’t reply. I stared at the message, silent for a long time. From dusk till dawn yesterday, Chloe and I had been all over each other, again and again. Finally, we were both exhausted. Before I fell asleep in her arms, she was still whispering softly to me. “It was our first time, and we weren’t fully prepared. You really went all out tonight.” Back then, I thought she genuinely cared about me, that I had finally found my happiness. And now… In an instant, I sobered up considerably. I dug my nails into my palms, took a deep breath, and walked out of the bathroom. When I got home, I felt like all my strength had drained away. Ever since Chloe’s family moved in next door, I’d trailed after her like a puppy, for ten whole years. I’d never imagined what a world without her would be like. And I certainly didn’t dare to. But from now on, I was on my own. Outside my floor-to-ceiling window, lights came on one by one, then faded out. I don’t know how much time passed before my buddy, Ryan, video-called me. “Liam, how come you didn’t come to our party with Chloe tonight? Jaxon from the next class is here, and with you gone, he’s practically glued to her side. They’re making everyone sick.” Ryan flipped his camera.

In a dimly lit corner of the lounge, Chloe and Jaxon, the ice hockey star, sat close together. Jaxon wore a simple black t-shirt, accentuating his broad shoulders, making him look effortlessly cool and totally eye-catching. They’d clearly carved out their own space, separate from the others. Even when they talked, it was like they were whispering conspiratorially, sharing private secrets. Even through the phone, I could feel a thick, undeniable tension between them. My chest tightened, a suffocating gasp caught in my throat. Chloe just said she wanted to go after him this afternoon, and it looks like she already sealed the deal tonight. During a round of ‘Truth or Dare,’ Jaxon got a prompt to do push-ups over a female guest. As expected, Chloe immediately stepped forward. The crowd immediately went wild. Chloe’s cheeks flushed crimson as she demurely lay back on the couch. Jaxon hovered above her, doing dozens of push-ups in one go. He was incredibly careful, his body barely hovering over hers, trying his best not to touch her. Until the very last one. Whether he genuinely lost his strength or it was a calculated move, I couldn’t tell. He failed to hold himself up and collapsed directly onto Chloe. The room erupted in deafening cheers, loud enough to blow the roof off. Chloe and Jaxon’s faces flushed an even deeper red. Amidst the crazy uproar, Chloe, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, simply tilted her head back and locked lips with Jaxon. They completely lost themselves in the moment, sharing a deep, passionate kiss as if no one else existed. It lasted a full three minutes before they reluctantly pulled apart. For those agonizing three minutes, I stared, unblinking, at the screen, so numb I almost forgot to breathe. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart, a searing pain. I wanted to cry so badly, but I’d cried too much that afternoon and had no tears left. “They were totally making out, Liam, did you see that? She’s completely into him.” Ryan sighed, then turned the camera away and stepped out of the lounge. He found a quiet corner and seriously tried to reason with me. “Liam, don’t be mad at me. If I hadn’t let you see it with your own eyes, you’d never give up on her.” My throat was dry and hoarse, the words that came out were rough and indistinct. “No, I don’t blame you.” It’s all on me for being such a fool for all these years. I always thought that because I was allowed to be by Chloe’s side, that spot was automatically mine. “I just couldn’t stand Chloe. How could she, knowing you’d liked her for years, still play this innocent game, stringing you along, watching you fall deeper and deeper?” “You saw it for yourself just now. I really hope you think hard about this. Don’t let her waste another four years of your life in college…” “I won’t, Ryan.” I cut him off, stating calmly. “I won’t give myself another chance.” “Ryan, I’ve decided. I’m going to university in Chicago with you.” “But you have to promise to keep it a secret for now.”

After saying that, to stop myself from wavering, I opened my laptop right in front of him. Without a second thought, I pulled up my application portal and, just before the early decision deadline, changed my top choice to that renowned university in Chicago. Ryan was, naturally, over the moon. He’d been begging me to apply to the same university for ages. But when we first entered high school, Chloe and I had made a pact: we’d work hard together after our SATs and head hand-in-hand to her dream school in Washington D.C., where she’d always wanted to study her favorite major. So, even though I didn’t particularly love Washington D.C. or feel any connection to that specific STEM-focused university, for three years of high school, I kept it as my goal. After years of being neighbors, both our parents were happy for us to apply to the same university. Everyone, myself included, thought Chloe and I would naturally become a couple once we were adults. But now, I couldn’t find a single reason to go to Washington D.C. Or rather, after today, if I continued to cling to Chloe like before, I’d never be able to look myself in the mirror again. I just wanted to get as far away as possible. Anywhere was fine, as long as Chloe wasn’t there. If she was in Washington D.C., then I’d go to Chicago.

Before bed, I turned on the shower, desperate to wash away the lingering stickiness of it all. But as I peeled off my clothes, the marks on my skin were still painfully obvious. Memories from last night surged back, uncontrollable. The burning heat of her skin as we clung together, the scorching breaths against my ear in the throes of passion—the warmth seemed to still linger in the air. I shook my head hard, trying to dislodge those absurd images. Then I found the roughest loofah I could find and scrubbed my skin repeatedly, until my whole body was raw and red, before finally stopping. I was clumsily trying to erase what felt like the most humiliating memory of my life. The result was so much pain that I couldn’t sleep well all night. Chloe, as expected, didn’t send any more messages. Breaking the six-year unbroken streak of goodnight texts we’d shared since we first got phones. This was probably for the best. It was bound to happen eventually. It’s time to go cold turkey, starting tonight. I drifted in and out of sleep, finally drifting off just before dawn. I was still in a deep sleep the next morning when I suddenly felt someone press a soft kiss to my forehead in my dream.

I jolted awake. Opening my eyes, I saw her familiar chin. The scent that enveloped me was her favorite cedarwood, along with a faint, unfamiliar hint of lemon. I’d almost forgotten, Chloe always knew my front door code. Seeing me awake, Chloe simply lowered her head, a playful smile on her face, trying to steal a kiss. I turned my head, dodging her. I pushed her away and scrambled to the other side of the bed. Chloe paused, then chuckled. “What, still playing hard to get?” I didn’t say anything, just pulled the duvet up, burying my head. Chloe started teasing me as she pulled back the covers. “Liam, you’re getting bold, aren’t you? Didn’t even say goodnight last night, and even turned off your phone before bed.” “Now you’re hiding from me?” She swiftly slipped under the covers with me. I didn’t have time to react before she wrapped her arms around me. “How many times have I told you not to skip breakfast?” “I even went for a half-hour run just to get you these. Your favorite gourmet muffins. I stood in line for ages.” “Do you want to get up and eat now, or do you want to… be eaten first…” Her breath was so close, and her hand started to trace patterns on my skin. Shaking off my grogginess, I started to struggle. I honestly couldn’t understand what she was thinking. She already had Jaxon, why was she still messing with me? “What’s with the mood?” “Still sulking? Is it really just because I didn’t bring you to the party last night?” I stayed silent. She buried her face in my neck and laughed. “Let me guess, did your ‘good’ friend Ryan rat me out?” “It was just a party game. Are you seriously getting jealous over that?” “It’s always the same with you; the moment I even look at another guy, you turn into a moody silent type.” I was seething, utterly speechless. I blindly jabbed my elbow backward, catching her sharply just below the ribs. While she winced in pain and curled up, I scrambled out of bed. “Liam!” She clutched her side, her face flushed, beads of sweat on her forehead. I quickly pulled on the first t-shirt I found over my sweats and hurried to the living room. I didn’t want to be in the same room as her, especially not my bedroom. A short while later, Chloe walked out, looking both annoyed and exasperated. Chloe walked to the dining table, picked up a coffee, and offered it to me. “Here, have something to eat first, then be angry. Your stomach’s always been sensitive.” I didn’t say anything, didn’t reach for it. Chloe’s hand, holding the coffee, hung in the air for a long time before she finally lost patience. “What is it, Liam?” “Sulking needs a reason, and a limit, you know?” I replied coldly, “I’m not good enough.” Chloe’s anger flared. She slammed the coffee cup down on the end table. She used too much force. The cheap paper cup tore, and coffee instantly seeped into the plush carpet. “What do you mean?” “Who do you think you are, Liam?” “We hooked up once consensually, and now you think you own me? You want to control me? Do you have any idea how much pressure that puts on me?” Her tone was harsher than I’d ever heard it. In an instant, I abruptly turned my head, my jaw clenched so hard I thought it would crack. Yesterday’s humiliation and today’s awkwardness surged over me, choking my throat, leaving me speechless. Chloe clearly hadn’t anticipated my reaction. She froze for a moment, then softened her tone. “I’m sorry, I drank too much last night. I was a little impulsive just now.” She knelt down, trying to get closer, but I dodged her again. She froze, her hand suspended in mid-air. Just as she was about to continue coaxing me, her phone suddenly pinged. She glanced at her phone, her face suddenly paling, and abruptly stood up to leave. “I have something urgent to do. You just cool down. And stop being so dramatic all the time, can you just grow up?”

Less than half an hour after she left, Ryan sent me a screenshot. Jaxon’s SnapChat story. [A simple ‘I’m hungry,’ and boom, breakfast. Feeling like there’s definitely a mutual crush brewing here.] The picture showed the exact same gourmet muffins, in identical packaging, as the ones on my kitchen counter. I didn’t reply. I just quietly knelt down, carefully cleaning the coffee Chloe had spilled. I tried for a long time, but with a heavy heart, I realized the stain on the plush wool rug had seeped deep, impossible to scrub out. In a sudden burst of anger, I decided to just throw the entire rug away. Anyway, Chloe and her parents had spent an entire afternoon picking this out for me during their trip to Morocco, even lugging it back by hand. While I was at it, I gathered up all of Chloe’s things left at my place, and all the gifts she’d ever given me, big and small. Even all the photos of us together. I spent the whole day sorting and packing them all up. Then I threw everything away. I figured she wouldn’t want these old scraps anyway. After Chloe left that day, there was no news from her for several days. I guess things with the ice hockey star were progressing smoothly. Or maybe she was waiting for me to give in. In every past cold war, I was always the first to back down, without exception. But this time, I didn’t look for her. There was no need to anymore. I blocked her on SnapChat and her phone number, changed my front door code, and deleted all my social media accounts. After doing all that, I called my parents, who were away on a business trip, to discuss my plans. I told them I wanted to spend the summer in Mexico with Aunt Sarah. My plan was that after summer, I would go straight to university registration in Chicago with Ryan. Aside from Ryan, no one else knew I had applied to a school in Chicago. This plan should perfectly avoid any chance encounters with Chloe. My mom teased me on the phone, “Oh, so you and Chloe are going on vacation together?” I made up an excuse, not wanting to explain too much. I just told her I wanted to spend time with Aunt Sarah and Grandma Rose. I begged my dad to book me the earliest flight, planning to fly out that very night. As I was leaving the house, I unluckily ran into Mrs. Thompson at the gate of my villa. She warmly greeted me, pulling me into a quick chat. “Liam, why are you alone? Chloe isn’t here to pick you up? Didn’t she say she was taking you skiing in New Zealand? Have a great time, sweetie. I’m all for it.” I found it a bit strange. During senior year, when we were studying for our college entrance exams, I had indeed mentioned to Chloe that I wanted to go skiing in New Zealand, to experience winter in the Southern Hemisphere. But given how things were between us now, I couldn’t imagine us traveling together. However, time was running short, so I just mumbled a few vague replies and left. But what I didn’t expect was to run into Chloe at the airport.

She was with a group of friends. Jaxon was there too. Jaxon, ever the gentleman, carried a designer handbag in one hand, his other arm casually draped around Chloe. They walked at the back of the group. Every now and then, Jaxon would turn his head to say something to her, and Chloe would patiently tilt her head up to listen. Unlike us. I’d always towered over Chloe, even as a kid, and grew even taller. With her, I always had to bend down to talk. But with Jaxon, she looked up, her gaze fixed on him. That’s how she acts with someone she truly cares about. I took a deep breath. I told myself to have some self-respect. Whatever she did was none of my business. One more stupid thought like that, and I’d slap myself. But there seemed to be only one path to the boarding gate. I could only follow distantly behind them. Finally, mercifully, we reached the gate, where the path split. Chloe seemed to get distracted. She tried calling several times, but nothing seemed to connect. She kept fiddling with her phone, her brow furrowed. Finally, she borrowed a friend’s phone, her face darkening, and headed toward the restrooms. A moment later, my phone suddenly rang. It was an unfamiliar number. “Liam, you’re really digging in your heels this time, aren’t you? So I have to be the one to reach out?” “And you blocked me?” “If you’re so tough, then just keep ignoring me. But when you get to university in Washington D.C., all alone in a new city, let’s see who’s there to take care of you then.” Chloe’s voice was sharp, a rapid-fire torrent of accusations. I didn’t say anything; there was no way to respond to that. But Chloe seemed to get even angrier. “I don’t have time for this. Just add me back on SnapChat, now.” “I’m going out of the country with some friends for a few days, so my phone might be off. Don’t go getting all dramatic and worried, okay?” I couldn’t be bothered to offer a single word. I hung up immediately and turned off my phone. I watched, from a distance, as Chloe, her face still stormy, returned to her spot. She huffily grabbed Jaxon’s hand, didn’t hesitate, and walked directly towards the left boarding gate. I sighed and turned to walk towards the right.

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I turned down an offer to be a professor at MIT, choosing instead to work for my parents’ company. But on the day the company went public, my parents pushed a girl onto the stage who bore a striking resemblance to them. “Harper, the nurse made a mistake when you were born. Serena is our biological daughter.” “You need to move out tomorrow. And don’t forget to pay back all the expenses we incurred raising you.” “But jobs are tough to find these days. For old times’ sake, we can let you stay on as a cleaner at the company.” Serena chimed in, a smirk playing on her lips: “Sister, thank you for every project you developed over the past five years. All your patents are now registered in my name.” “But I don’t like having outsiders in the family. You should leave as soon as possible.” Amidst the sympathetic glances of the guests, I let out a low laugh. A bunch of fools. If I could get you to go public, I can certainly make you go bankrupt! I calmly walked through the crowd and exited the opulent doors of the stock exchange. I flagged down a taxi and gave the address of the mansion I’d lived in for over two decades. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. He probably recognized me, the ceremony had been broadcast live everywhere. He didn’t say a word, just quietly turned off the financial news radio. I leaned against the window, watching the neon lights blur past outside. My phone kept vibrating. I didn’t need to look to know it was the media, eager for a scoop. I just switched it off. The car pulled up to the entrance of the gated community. From a distance, I could already see two large suitcases and a cardboard box, standing forlornly outside the front door. I sneered. Looks like they were pretty efficient, afraid I might stay an extra second if I came back. I dragged my bags to the door, instinctively placing my finger on the fingerprint lock. “Beep—Permission denied. Please contact administrator.” A cold electronic voice. The mockery in my eyes deepened. This entire security system, from hardware to software, was designed and deployed by me. The so-called highest administrator privileges had always been mine. I never thought I’d be locked out by the very system I created. Fine by me. It saves me from having to act out some disgusting charade with them inside. I sat on the ground and pulled out my laptop. I skillfully logged into the internal server backend. I wanted to see just how thoroughly they’d stolen my work. I entered the superuser account and password I’d used for five years. But instead of the familiar admin panel, a bright red window popped up, stating that the user did not exist. They truly went all out. Just as I was wondering what to do next, the phone I had switched off in my pocket suddenly lit up. It was a number I thought I’d never contact again.

The encrypted call request flashed for less than three seconds before disconnecting. It felt like a hallucination. The screen went dark, returning to the black screen it had been before I switched it off. I tried to power it on again, but the phone was completely unresponsive. I gave a bitter laugh. My top priority right now was finding a place to stay. I hailed another taxi and went to a decent-looking budget hotel nearby. “One room, please.” I handed over my driver’s license. “Certainly. That’ll be three hundred and sixty-eight for the room, plus a five hundred dollar security deposit. How will you be paying?” “By card.” I pulled out the bank card I’d used for years. This was a secondary card Victor Hayes had set up for me. All my salary and project bonuses were deposited into it. But when the front desk clerk inserted the card into the reader, “Beep, beep, beep—” The machine let out a series of urgent beeps. The young woman looked bewildered, tried again, and got the same sound. She looked at me apologetically. “Miss, I’m sorry, there seems to be an issue with your card. It’s not going through.” My heart sank. “Try another one.” I said, pulling out my personal savings card from my wallet. I’d opened this account in college, it held all my scholarship money and the pocket money I’d earned from projects. It wasn’t a lot, but it should definitely cover a few nights at a hotel. The result was the same. “This one isn’t working either…” The front desk clerk’s voice grew even softer. I had no choice but to ask the clerk to help me charge my phone. Once it powered on, a text message from the bank immediately popped up. “Dear Ms. Harper Reed, pursuant to an application submitted by Mr. Victor Hayes, all bank accounts registered under your name have been frozen due to ‘claims for past expenses,’ totaling…” I laughed. Victor missed his calling as a financial wizard. Looks like a hotel was out of the question. I dragged my suitcases and headed back to the street. The night wind blew, a bit chilly. I opened my phone and found Michael Stone’s number. He was my lead developer, someone I had mentored, and he’d always been grateful to me. I dialed. It rang for a long time. “Hello? Michael, it’s Harper.” The other end was dead silent, save for a faint sound of breathing. “I need your help with something. I need you to get the original development logs from the system…” “I’m sorry, you have the wrong number.” He cut me off directly, then hung up. I stubbornly dialed another core team member’s number, but it showed as disconnected. Those partners who had fought alongside me, pulled all-nighters eating instant noodles, and shared the joy of every problem solved. They either hung up, switched off their phones, or their numbers were no longer in service. This move was truly ruthless. I stood at the crossroads, watching the constant flow of traffic, feeling a hint of bewilderment for the first time. My money was gone, my home was gone, even my former comrades had turned into enemies. He truly wanted to break me.

I dragged my two suitcases, walking for so long on the late-night streets that my legs started to ache. Finally, I stopped in front of an alley entrance lit by a dubious neon sign. “Rooms for Rent, $300 Monthly” was scrawled in red paint on the wall. Alright, this would have to do. The landlady was a tough-looking woman, puffing on a cigarette. She gave my clothes a peculiar once-over, then eyed my two expensive-looking suitcases, before finally tossing me a greasy key. First month’s rent and a security deposit, cash only. I emptied my wallet of the few remaining bills, in exchange for this space of less than ten square meters. A bare cot, a chipped table, and a flickering light bulb with a bad connection. The walls were stained with marks left by previous tenants, and the air hung heavy with a mix of damp mildew and cheap perfume. I lay on the hard cot, fully dressed, staring at the stubbornly flickering light bulb, sleepless through the night. The next day, I was woken by a commotion. Footsteps shuffled chaotically in the hallway, mixed with women’s screams and men’s shouts. I ignored it until there was a knock on my door. “Bang, bang, bang!” The knocking was urgent, carrying an impatient certainty. I thought it was the landlady, so I got up to open the door. When I pulled it open, I froze. It was Serena Hayes. She was wearing full, elaborate makeup, looking like a princess who had wandered into a slum, stark against the drab, dilapidated background. Behind her, several reporters carried cameras, all pointed at me. Flashbulbs popped “click-click-click,” stinging my eyes. “Sister,” Serena’s eyes immediately welled up with tears, “How could you be living in a place like this? Don’t you know how worried Mom and Dad and I have been?” As she spoke, she reached out to take my hand, but I sidestepped, avoiding her. She didn’t seem embarrassed. She pulled out a thick envelope and, in front of all the cameras, tried to press it into my hand. “Sister, I know things are hard for you right now. Mom and Dad asked me to give you this. Take it, find a better place to stay, don’t let yourself suffer.” Her voice choked, acting with such sincerity. “Don’t worry, as long as you apologize to Mom and Dad and admit your mistakes, the door to our home will always be open for you.” I looked at her and suddenly found it somewhat amusing. “Serena Hayes,” I spoke, my voice a little hoarse from not having drunk water all night, “Do you really think everyone is as stupid as you are?” The expression on her face stiffened, and the tears in her eyes almost failed to hold. “Sister, how can you say that… I’m just trying to be kind…” “Cut the act,” I interrupted her, “Bringing reporters to visit me, are you afraid I won’t die miserably enough, so you came to twist the knife? Or is the ‘tech prodigy’ image crumbling too fast, and you need to step on my ‘corpse’ to climb higher?” Serena’s face went completely pale. She hadn’t expected me to talk to her like that, even in my current desperate state. She took a deep breath, dropped her pitiful demeanor, and leaned in, saying in a voice only we two could hear: “Harper Reed, don’t be foolish. You have nothing now. How can you fight me? Believe me, if I say the word, you won’t even be able to live in a dump like this.” She paused, a hint of cruel pleasure in the curve of her lips: “Be a good-for-nothing, admit that everything is mine, and maybe I can find you a job cleaning toilets. Otherwise, you can just starve on the streets.” After saying that, she reverted to her kind, innocent persona and sighed for the cameras: “Sister, just think about it.” With that, she and the swarm of media marched away. I closed the door, listening to the murmurs outside gradually fade. Starve on the streets? Cleaning toilets? I walked to the only mirror in the room. My hair was a mess, my eyes bloodshot, looking as disheveled as a lunatic. But those eyes, in the dim light, glowed with an unnerving intensity.

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It had been five years since I was kicked out, and I ran into my brother at a fancy bar. He was the VIP, casually dropping thousands on Skylar, the daughter of a prominent family friend. Me? I was just a bottle girl, working for commission based on how many bottles I sold. All night, we pretended the other didn’t exist. Until I, deadpan, chugged two bottles of whiskey for a measly fifty dollars in tips. Watching the color drain from my face, he pursed his lips and spoke, his voice ice-cold: “You’d rather do this kind of work than come home and admit you were wrong?” “Aubrey, you’re really something.” I just gave a noncommittal smile, extending my hand toward him. “Fifty dollars. Cash, or Zelle?” Silence fell over the private room. Everyone stared at me, their expressions a mix of disbelief and amusement. Someone snickered. My brother, Jackson Brook, sitting on the plush sofa, instantly scowled. He was embarrassed. Fifty dollars. For someone like him, it wouldn’t even cover a coffee. But here I was, humiliating myself by chugging two bottles of top-shelf liquor. Skylar, his socialite friend, sneered at me. “Jackson’s been waiting for you to come home. And this is what you’re doing? Doesn’t it feel dirty?” I shot her a look. “It’s honest work. What’s dirty about it? I’m not selling myself.” She scoffed. “Are you that desperate for money? Drink two more bottles, and I’ll add another fifty.” As her words hung in the air, the onlookers started egging me on. “Drink it! If Skylar adds fifty, I’ll add fifty too!” “You add, I add! I’ll throw in a hundred!” Without hesitation, I reached for another bottle. The door to the private room suddenly swung open. Mr. Davies, the manager, scurried in, a sycophantic grin plastered on his face. He pushed me aside and asked Jackson, fawning: “Mr. Brook, has our employee done something wrong?” “Please don’t be angry, sir. She can be a bit blunt. If she…” “Are you going to drink for her?” Jackson cut him off coldly, his eyes slowly narrowing. Sweat beaded on Mr. Davies’ forehead. He didn’t want to stick up for me, but he also didn’t want trouble if I collapsed from drinking. He chuckled nervously. “That’s too much alcohol, even for a grown man, let alone a young woman.” “Drink up, or get out!” Jackson frowned impatiently, pulling a wad of bills from his wallet and slamming them onto Mr. Davies. “Fifty thousand dollars. Aubrey isn’t going anywhere tonight. If you try to stop her again, this bar can forget about opening tomorrow!” Mr. Davies fumbled to pocket the money, his face practically beaming. He couldn’t care less about me now. He mumbled a quick thank you and strode away proudly. All eyes were on me again. Jackson sneered. “What? Don’t want the money anymore?” I walked over, emotionless, grabbed a bottle, and chugged it down. Having already downed two, my stomach was twisting in knots. So this bottle went down slowly, drawing a fresh wave of mockery. Jackson’s face grew darker and darker. As I finished one bottle and stumbled over to grab the next, he suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Are you trying to kill yourself, Aubrey?!” “I want the money.” I pulled my hand free, snatched the bottle, and poured it into my mouth. I actually had a plan. The lighting in the room was dim. I could pretend to lose my grip while drinking. No one would notice if I spilled a little. But just as I took a sip, a stinging slap landed hard across my face. SMACK! I froze, stunned, and the bottle slipped from my hand, shattering on the floor. Jackson gritted his teeth, furious. “For money, are you really that shameless?!” “Stop drinking! Even if you die, I won’t give you a cent!” The alcohol hit me hard, and everything started to blur. That voice, buried deep in my heart for five years, suddenly roared in my ears: “You sold Mom’s keepsake for money?! Did you lack for anything? Why didn’t you just sell yourself instead?!” “Get out! I don’t have a sister anymore!”

Five years ago, Skylar royally screwed me over. She stole Mom’s mementoes from Jacksond sold them, then blamed it on me. Jackson was furious, accusing me of selling them. He interrogated me non-stop about where I’d sold them, but I had no idea. I told him it was Skylar’s scheme, that she just hated how good he was to me. But he just wouldn’t believe me. Stealing, disrespect, and stubbornness. Each accusation hit a nerve with him. With Skylar adding fuel to the fire, he confiscated all my money and kicked me out of the house. For the first six months, I managed pretty well. I found a sales job, enough to support myself with a little left over. But after six months, everything changed. Jackson called me for the only time in five years. His first words were: “Aren’t you coming back to admit your mistake? Just tell me where you sold it, and I’ll forgive you.” Stubborn, I roared back at him: “I told you it wasn’t me! Didn’t you hear? Ask your ‘good friend’ Skylar, she’s the one who sold it!” Jackson hung up immediately. That same day, I was fired. He spread the word throughout the entire city: anyone who dared to help me would be crossing him. So, for the next few years, I couldn’t find any legitimate work. I could only do odd jobs in nightclubs. He seemed to be doing it on purpose, not only boldly announcing Skylar as the sole heir to the company. He even took her to interviews, galas, and auctions. He was always spending lavishly, millions at a time. His and Skylar’s faces were constantly on the financial news channel. While I hid in the shadows, drinking myself sick just to survive. I developed stomach cancer. These past few years, I’d desperately sought treatment, spending all my money. I took out many high-interest loans, but it still wasn’t enough. The specialized medication was too expensive, and chemotherapy was beyond my means. I even called Jackson once, asking for money. He cut me off impatiently after just a few words. “Money, money, money! Is that all you care about?!” “Don’t even think about getting a cent from me until you come back and apologize. Just go die out there for all I care!” That phone call, that was when I completely lost all hope of living. I was just so tired, truly. If he wanted me dead, then I’d die. At least, the pain would stop. A month ago, I ordered an urn for myself. After scraping together what I could, I was still fifty dollars short for the final payment. The vendor called almost every day, hounding me. I thought I’d finally have enough today. But who knew Jackson would give the manager fifty thousand dollars, yet refuse to spare me fifty? He left the bar with his entourage, a huge fuss. While I was in the bathroom, throwing up until the world spun. Only one thought echoed in my mind. Three bottles of liquor, all for nothing. Leo, the supervisor, was smoking next to me. “How did you piss off Mr. Brook so badly? His face was green when he left. What’s your relationship with him?” My stomach was cramping, and my head was spinning. I could barely keep my eyes open, clinging to the toilet to keep from falling in. “I don’t know him. An enemy, I guess.”

The next day, I was woken by my phone ringing. It was Mr. Henderson, the urn vendor. “Ms. Aubrey, when are you going to pay the rest? It’s just fifty dollars, do you really need a whole month?” “If you can’t pay within three days, I won’t hold it for you, and the deposit is non-refundable!” My voice was hoarse with desperation. “Please give me more time. I get paid in two weeks, then I’ll—” “Can’t wait two weeks!” He cut me off, his tone unpleasant. “I’ve never seen anyone like you, dragging their feet even for an urn.” “If you don’t have the money, don’t order something so expensive in the first place!” I wanted to say more, but before I could, he hung up. My head was pounding. I called Mr. Davies, hoping to get an advance on my paycheck. But his response was even more ruthless. “Just letting you know, you don’t need to come to work today.” “And there’s no way we can pay you. If Jackson says so, there’s nothing we can do.” My head spun. My voice cracked with urgency. “What you’re doing is illegal! I’ll file a lawsuit!” Mr. Davies scoffed. “A lawsuit? Go ahead. Jackson said he’ll bear any consequences. His legal team is top-notch. If you insist on running headfirst into trouble, there’s nothing I can do.” With that, the call was disconnected again. A knot of frustration tightened in my chest, refusing to go up or down. My face was pale with discomfort, and my throat tasted like rust. Suddenly, a mouthful of fresh blood gushed out. I stared at the glaring red puddle, and the tears I’d been holding back finally streamed down my face. After a long moment, I pulled out some tissues and wiped the blood away. Then, with practiced ease, I pulled out my painkillers and swallowed them whole. After all that, I barely had any strength left. Leaning against the bed, I replayed the last five years since I was kicked out. I suddenly realized that every single one of my backup plans had been cut off by Jackson himself. Now, I couldn’t even work at a nightclub anymore. Just eating became a struggle, let alone affording painkillers or the urn. All I wanted was a quiet corner to rest in when I died. What was so wrong with that? I buried my face in my hands and sobbed, crying until the afternoon, before I managed to regain some strength. Looking at my trembling hands, I finally decided to go home. I needed to ask Jackson, why he was doing this to me!

When I arrived home, Jackson and Skylar were having dinner. He glanced at me, his voice devoid of emotion. “Finally decided to come back?” “Why did you get Mr. Davies to fire me?” I countered, my face expressionless, completely ignoring his question. “It’s been five years. Haven’t you humiliated me enough?” He raised an eyebrow, completely unconcerned. “How else would you know that home is best unless you suffered a little?” “Aubrey, do you know what people are saying about you out there? I’ve been keeping the worst of it from you, and you’re not even grateful?” Skylar put down her forks and spoke sarcastically. “Jackson, Aubrey doesn’t understand how good you are to her. Look at her, she’s clearly blaming you!” “Shut up!” I couldn’t take it anymore and lunged forward, raising my hand to slap her. But the next second, Jackson grabbed my wrist. His face was cold as ice, his voice chilling. “Now you’ve learned to hit people? I guess you’ll never realize where you went wrong!” “Do you really think I can’t make life impossible for you in this city?” My heart clenched, as if someone had squeezed it tight. Impossible life? Hadn’t he been doing that for years? One by one, destroying my jobs, crushing my hopes. Leaving me worse than a rat in a gutter, tattered and broken, unable to even afford an urn. I’d had enough, enough of his threats! My emotions burst, and I screamed in despair, “I didn’t do anything wrong!” “Jackson, if you don’t want me to live, then I’ll just die, okay?!” “I’ll go to hell, you can’t control that, can you?!” He seemed enraged by my words, a vein throbbing in his temple. “Even in death, you’ll still owe me!” With that, he shoved me. It wasn’t a hard push, but I still lost my balance and fell. My lower back hit the dining table, sending a sharp pain through me. My face went instantly pale, and cold sweat broke out. A flicker of regret crossed Jackson’s eyes, then he turned his back on me. “Until Mom’s mementoes are recovered, you don’t even have the right to die!” He said, then quickly left. I was in too much pain to get up. Skylar stood over me, arms crossed, looking down. “Aubrey, look at you now, so pathetic, isn’t it?” “How about this? You kneel and beg me, and I’ll tell you who bought that worthless bracelet, okay?” I glared at her, my eyes blazing, wishing I could tear her apart. But I knew I didn’t even have the strength to hit her. Five years of humiliating survival, and now, even in death, I couldn’t have a shred of dignity. Jackson’s words still echoed in my ears: “Until Mom’s mementoes are recovered, you don’t even have the right to die!” “Even in death, you’ll still owe me!” Fine. If I found the mementoes, then I could finally die in peace, right? I desperately wiped the tears from my face, knelt at Skylar’s feet, and bowed my head to the ground three times. “Please, tell me where Mom’s mementoes are.” Before, when she plotted against me, I would fight back with all my might. But these past few times, I hadn’t even argued. Skylar suddenly seemed to lose interest. She simply tossed a piece of paper at me. “That’s the address. But Aubrey, you still have to be able to get it back, you know!”

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My cousin and I chose our beast companions at the same time. In my life before last, I chose a werewolf, and my cousin got a merman. The werewolf was deeply, madly in love with my cousin, and he watched me being torn to shreds. Then, he took the crystal I’d died for and shamelessly offered it to her. In my last life, I stayed far away from the werewolf and chose the merman. But to my horror, the merman was also attracted to my cousin. He drowned me and then threw himself into her arms. This was my second rebirth. Facing these two shifters, both highly recommended by my mother, I wanted neither of them. Just as I was agonizing over my choice, a streak of black flashed past. Overjoyed, I grabbed it and immediately declared, “I’ll take this one!” Then, before anyone could react, I quickly formed a contract with it. “Damn it!” As the silver light, symbolizing the completed contract, flashed, a voice echoed simultaneously in my mind. “Contracting with me… are you trying to die again?”

Serena, my cousin, is a year younger than me. She was supposed to choose her beast companion a year later. But she was so favored by the clan elders that she convinced them to let her choose a shifter with me, a year early. The two shifters my mother had carefully selected for me now had to be split, with one going to Serena. “Rowan, just choose the one you want,” my mother, Eleanor, said. In my life before last, that’s exactly what I did. I chose the werewolf, Kael, the strongest in the clan in both speed and power. Serena got the merman, Orion. But after Kael and I contracted, he was always off his game. I thought he just wasn’t used to it, and I wanted to give him time to adjust. Yet, as he watched me being torn to shreds by other shifters, Kael suddenly leaped up, killing them swiftly with a power I’d never seen him use. He stood over my dying body, with not a shred of remorse: “The biggest mistake you ever made was choosing me, keeping me from Serena.” It turned out Kael had always liked my cousin and harbored a deep resentment towards me for it. So, when I was reborn in my last life, I didn’t hesitate to choose Orion, the merman. Orion had a gentle nature; surely, he wouldn’t hurt me. But I never imagined he, too, would fall for Serena. For her sake, the supposedly gentle Orion lured me to his native waters and, with the help of his clan, drowned me. After I died, he sat by the water’s edge, his gaze lowered. “I’m sorry, but I really, truly love Serena. I love her to the point of madness.” This time, I was reborn again. Right back to this moment of choosing a beast companion. The clan elders were impatiently urging me now: “Rowan, how much longer will you drag this out? Serena is waiting behind you!” I glanced at Kael, who wore a menacing glare, then at Orion, who was stealing glances at Serena. My head was spinning. I quietly asked Eleanor if I could choose no one. Eleanor firmly said, “No.” “Rowan, are you worried about their strength? These are shifters I personally handpicked. Kael is a once-in-a-generation talent, unmatched in speed and strength, and Orion is their clan’s prince, with a strong possibility of becoming the Merman King.” The situation was urgent; I couldn’t explain what had happened to me to my mother right now. “Rowan, just make your choice. Serena can only pick from whoever is left.” Eleanor’s eyes swept across the crowd, her words carried serious weight. “I know many in the clan disapprove of me, but none of them have the power to undermine my authority yet.” But even if Eleanor said that, I couldn’t choose no shifter at all. This was a thousand-year-old rule of the Witch Clan; every member had to choose a beast companion at the contracting ceremony. If I just left without a contract, Eleanor would surely be targeted and criticized by the elders. Yet, neither of these shifters would truly be loyal to me. As long as they fell for Serena, my life would still be on the line. Just then, a black streak shot past. It was slender, fast, and no one but me seemed to notice it. An unfamiliar, untransformed little snake, but it carried the distinct scent of a shifter. I was overjoyed. I grabbed it and announced on the spot, “I’ll take this one!” Then, before anyone could react, I quickly formed a contract with it. “Damn it!” As the silver light, symbolizing the completed contract, flashed, a voice echoed simultaneously in my mind. “Contracting with me… are you trying to die again?” I opened my eyes to a mix of bewildered and appalled looks from everyone. Serena, barely containing her glee, loudly declared: “Cousin, after all that fuss, you chose *this*? A puny little snake?” An elder angrily shouted, “Rowan, how could you act so irresponsibly?” I raised my arm, showing them the contract mark on my wrist. “How am I playing games with you? I already have a beast companion, don’t I?” Seeing the unique glyph symbolizing the contract between a witch and a shifter, they finally believed that the little snake in my hand was indeed a shifter. Next, it was Serena’s turn to choose her beast. Only then did I get a moment to lift the little snake in a secluded spot. “You said ‘die again’ earlier. What did you mean?” “You have the nerve to ask?” The snake didn’t open its mouth, but its voice resonated directly in my mind. A deep, resonant male voice, laced with gritted-teeth frustration. “I can’t transform yet, and I’ve been forcibly bound to you. In your last life, and the life before that, you died twice, and I died right along with you, twice!” “Each time, just as I was on the verge of regaining my human form, you went and got yourself killed!”

“Ah, so that’s it. What a coincidence, we have quite a history, don’t we?” Thinking that someone had been reborn with me twice… it was a strange feeling. “Heh, heh,” the little snake dryly chuckled, “I’m not exactly thrilled about this kind of ‘history’.” I said cheerfully, “We’ll be fighting together from now on. You have to protect me, okay?” He snapped, “You should be grateful I haven’t killed you myself.” I looked at Serena, who was still pondering between Kael and Orion in the distance, and asked the little snake: “Who do you think she’ll choose?” “How should I know?” “Then, in your opinion, who’s stronger?” His slender snake body wriggled in my grasp, his critique merciless. “Both are weak.” I gave up on getting an answer from the little snake and focused on Serena. But then, she turned her head and looked at me. “Serena, who do you think I should choose?” As soon as she spoke, everyone present fell silent, awaiting my answer. Whether Serena followed my advice or not, the unchosen shifter would undoubtedly hate me to their core. She was using me to stir up trouble. I smirked. “Why not take both, Serena?” “Both shifters are so exceptional. I’m sure you’d be more than willing to dedicate your witch power for them.” Actually, each witch could contract with more than one shifter. But contracting with beast companions consumed a witch’s magic. Contracting with multiple shifters would drain a witch’s strength, even shortening their lifespan. Sure enough, the moment I finished speaking, Serena’s face changed. She forced down her reluctance, smiled, and said, “I was just kidding. I already have someone in mind.” She walked towards the taller, more muscular werewolf, slit her fingertip, and dripped blood onto Kael’s forehead. A silver light appeared, and the contract was sealed. Kael gave a triumphant glance at the frustrated Merman Prince, then knelt on one knee the next second. “I am Kael. I will protect you, forever and always.” I sighed, recalling the past. He had watched me indifferently as I stood in front of him, single-handedly fending off other shifters’ attacks. Back then, he wasn’t nearly as devoted. “What a foolish woman,” Silas, the little snake, sneered. “If you can’t beat them, why didn’t you run? And didn’t you know his heart wasn’t with you, that he probably wished you’d die sooner?” “How was I supposed to know back then!” I shot back angrily. Silas fell silent. After a long while, he awkwardly mumbled, “My name is Silas.” The contracting ceremony was over. I had planned to leave and explain to Eleanor why I hadn’t chosen the shifters she’d prepared for me. But it turned out, the show wasn’t quite finished. Orion, the merman, his face pale, grabbed Serena’s hand and gave her a desperate, pleading look. “Serena, are you really not going to choose me?” “I have sonic attacks; I can instantly kill anyone within a mile radius. I also have healing abilities; no matter what injuries you suffer, I can heal you.” Silas chuckled softly. “He’s capable of far more than that.” I asked him what Orion’s greatest strength was, but he clammed up again. But no matter how much Orion begged, Serena cruelly let go of his hand. “I already have Kael.” “But you can contract two shifters!” Orion pleaded frantically. Serena shot me a resentful glance. She roughly shook off Orion’s hand, but still tried to maintain her sweet, innocent facade. “Sorry, Kael is enough for me.” I had planned to make up a reason for Eleanor, explaining why I hadn’t chosen the shifters she’d prepared. After all, something like being reborn wasn’t something I could explain quickly. Especially not being reborn twice. But she said, “If you have something difficult to explain, you don’t have to. I believe in my daughter, no matter what.” Reborn twice, the only constant was my mother’s unwavering faith in me. I had died confused and inexplicably both times; I couldn’t imagine her pain. Even if it was just for Eleanor, I had to become stronger. With that thought, I looked at Silas with determination. “Now that we’re contracted, the next step is training together.”

Silas, too, was busy enhancing his own power, but he didn’t train with me. He was out early and back late, always on his own. Three months later, Silas finally learned to transform into his human form. That night, he returned earlier than usual. As soon as I saw him, I pulled various fruits from the fridge. Just as I was about to pop a grape into his mouth, a white mist suddenly swirled from somewhere. A strong hand reached out from the mist and gripped my wrist. Then, I saw a tall, powerfully built man with dark hair, sculpted like a Greek god. Looking further down, I saw his solid, chiseled chest, and… He wasn’t wearing any clothes! I quickly averted my eyes: “Silas, you just transformed suddenly! Quick… quick, put some clothes on!” He was actually really handsome… I shoved down the faint flutter in my chest and popped the grape into my own mouth. But to my surprise, Silas snatched the grape directly from my mouth and ate it! What a domineering snake! After that, Silas’s attitude changed completely. He followed me everywhere, even when I wanted to go to the bathroom… This wasn’t good, because Silas didn’t help me fight off the brutal shifters. In fact, under his powerful presence, no shifter dared to even approach me. After grueling training, we decided to take a few days off. Eleanor specifically came to the training grounds to pick me up. “Mother!” I excitedly ran to her. Eleanor scanned me from head to toe, an approving smile gracing her lips. “Rowan, you’ve improved so much.” I affectionately leaned on her shoulder. “Of course!” The peaceful moment shattered as an unwelcome voice cut through the air. It was Serena. “Rowan, you’ve really improved quickly. Got some secret potion no one else knows about?” she sneered. As soon as Serena said that, the expressions of the other clan members who had come to pick me up changed. It was as if I was hiding some secret and refusing to share it with the clan. I shook my head. “I’ve been training hard for six months. What have you been doing this past half-year? Oh, I remember. Probably busy with your love life.” Serena blushed and said, “I’m not having a love life; I’m cultivating a bond with my Kael.” At that, quite a few people chuckled. “You don’t seriously think that to become a powerful witch, all you need is a good bond with your contracted shifter, do you?” Just as Serena was at a loss for words, Kael, her werewolf, swiftly appeared by her side and wrapped her protectively in his arms. Kael’s speed amazed everyone. Kael tilted his head slightly. “Are you suggesting my strength isn’t enough and Serena needs to suffer extra hardships?” No one spoke; they all acknowledged Kael’s power. Kael put his arm around Serena and left. Before leaving, he glanced our way. But he seemed to completely miss Silas, standing right behind me.

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Jason’s mistress slid the stock transfer agreement across my desk. “Sign it, Skylar.” The irony wasn’t lost on me. Here I was, a top divorce attorney, personally handing my husband’s shares to his mistress. Jason pulled her closer, his voice a condescending sneer. “Be a good girl, and you’ll still be my wife.” I just smiled. He didn’t know that his mistress would return to me that night with the newly acquired shares. “Skylar, our revenge plot just got one step closer to success.” My gaze lingered on Jason’s signature, a flamboyant mark on the stock transfer agreement. There was no doubt. He was truly in love with Maya Evans. She was a living replica of the woman I once was. Every mannerism, every smile, was a perfect echo of my past self. My six months of training her had paid off. In just one month, she’d gotten him to hand over 20% of his shares. Over the years, every woman Jason had found always had something that reminded him of me. When things were passionate, he’d shower them with jewelry and designer bags, as if money was no object. But he’d always insist I approve them, sending them out under our names, as if from a loving couple. I’d gone crazy, made scenes, demanded to know why. He’d just shrug it off, always indifferent. “Relax, I’m just having fun. You’re still the one I love most, why else would I find so many replacements?” “After all, you’re so busy. So busy you didn’t even notice our son being abducted right under your nose. How could you possibly have time for me?” He conveniently forgot that he was there too, the night Leo disappeared. But that didn’t stop him from using these “replacements” to twist the knife, aiming for my heart. For years, guilt made me endure his every abuse. “Skylar, are you getting soft?” Maya, seeing me lost in thought, stopped joking around, her voice cautious. “How could I be? Next step is finding the solid evidence, then getting the divorce agreement signed, and finally, leaving him for good.” “Skylar, I’ll take care of the agreement!” Maya picked up the divorce papers I’d already signed, thumping her chest in assurance. But I still worried Jason would lash out at Maya if he discovered we were working together. She just shrugged, unconcerned. “Unless he’s brave enough to kill me like he did my sister! Otherwise, I’m ready to take him down with me.” I quickly grabbed some tissues, wiping her tears away. “I bear some responsibility for what happened to your sister, Sierra…” If it wasn’t for his twisted desire to get back at me, Jason wouldn’t have sought out Sierra, who bore such a striking resemblance to me. And she wouldn’t have died so tragically, still carrying his child. Jason’s story to the police was that she was unfaithful, pregnant with his baby, and seeing other guys-that’s why she ended up dead. But Maya and I both knew that was a lie. Because right before she died, she told Maya she loved Jason, which was why she’d stooped to being his mistress, a role she hated. And in her final moments, she’d called me. She said she had a secret to tell me, a secret to ensure her unborn child would be safe… But by the time I arrived at the location she mentioned, all I found was a pool of blood. After that, Jason’s womanizing only got worse, more blatant, more cruel. At the mention of Sierra, Maya began to cry. The sound woke Jason, who was getting water. He pushed the door open with a bang. Taking in Maya’s swollen, tear-streaked face, he stormed across the room and slapped me hard across the cheek. “Skylar! You really have some nerve! Bullying Maya right under my damn nose?” “Skylar!” he snarled. “You have some nerve! Bullying Maya right in front of me?” I stared into his eyes, unable to hold back the rage churning in my chest. “These years, you truly found no trace of Leo?” Jason bristled, a flicker of guilt so quick in his eyes, I almost missed it. “What, you’re questioning me? You know how much I’ve suffered, how much it hurts not finding Leo, don’t you?” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. His so-called suffering just meant him screwing around with different women. At first, I believed him. I thought he was hurting and blaming himself, just like me. But he was also the first one to give up looking for our child. Jason didn’t want to continue talking about Leo, so he turned and scooped Maya into his arms, kissing away her tears. Maya, whose emotions hadn’t quite shifted yet, stiffened in his embrace. To cover her unease, she bit down hard on his shoulder. “Jason, honey, I’m so upset. I just came to tell Skylar that I’m not like those other women, I would never try to take her place as Mrs. Blackwood. But she cursed me…” “She said she’d rather die than let any woman disrespect her.” “She also said-” Maya didn’t elaborate on the rest, but it was enough to make Jason’s eyes burn with an intensity that promised to tear me apart. He looked at me coldly, a sneer twisting his lips. “Skylar, all you have left is the title of Mrs. Blackwood. If you ever lay a hand on Maya again, I can’t guarantee you’ll even keep that!” That threat, in the past, might have sent me into a furious frenzy. But now, I merely scoffed in response. “Oh really? Then let’s wait and see, shall we?”

Because of that comment, Jason went ballistic, showering Maya with every luxury he could think of. One day a mansion, the next a diamond set, the day after a private yacht. Each gift deliberately passed through my hands. He’d call it “proper” because “Mrs. Blackwood handled it.” It was just a twisted way to rub it in. I knew he wanted to see me suffer, to watch me descend into hysterics. I gave him what he wanted. When he once again ordered me to deliver a ten-million-dollar diamond necklace to Maya, I snatched the jewelry box and smashed it to the floor. Shards of diamonds glittered on the floor, a perfect mirror of our shattered marriage. “Jason Blackwood, do you enjoy humiliating me this much?” I glared at him, my eyes red, my acting Oscar-worthy. He leaned back on the couch, legs casually crossed, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. “Already can’t take it? Skylar, think of Leo. What’s a little pain compared to that?” He brought up Leo again. He always did this, twisting Leo’s disappearance into a knife he’d plunge into me, again and again. I grabbed the ashtray from the table and hurled it at him. He dodged, and the ashtray shattered against our wedding photo behind him. “You’re insane!” He sneered, standing up to adjust his suit. “I’ll have a new necklace sent. You will deliver it to Maya and apologize to her in person.” “From now on, I’ll come home once a week. I can’t stand looking at your face every day.” He walked out, genuinely looking disgusted to spend another second with me. I stood there, trembling, until his footsteps faded down the stairs. Only then did the savage expression on my face slowly melt away. Picking up my phone, I sent a message to Maya. “Plan’s still on.” The next day, I personally delivered the new diamond necklace to Maya’s villa. Jason was there too, spoon-feeding her grapes. Seeing me enter, Maya immediately flinched, burying herself deeper into Jason’s embrace. “Jason, honey, I’m scared.” Jason soothingly patted her back, then shot me a cold glare. “Leave the necklace, apologize, and then you can go.” I didn’t move, my gaze fixed on Maya’s face, so eerily similar to my younger self. Suddenly, I snatched a fruit knife from the table and lunged at her! “Skylar, don’t you dare!” Jason’s face contorted, and he lunged to stop me. I hadn’t intended to actually hurt her, but Maya, wanting to make it look real, deliberately extended her arm. The knife sliced her forearm. Blood welled up instantly, and Maya screamed, her cries like falling rain. “Jason, honey! It hurts so much!” Jason shoved me away, rushing to check her wound. I stumbled back a few steps from his push, hitting the wall. A sharp pain shot through my lower back. “Skylar!” He turned to me, his eyes murderous. “You are truly beyond redemption!” I steadied myself against the wall, laughing until tears streamed down my face. “Yes, I’m crazy! You drove me crazy!” He ignored me, sweeping Maya into his arms and heading for the door. As he passed me, he paused, his voice like ice. “Let’s get a divorce.” I had finally heard the words I’d been waiting for. Jason came home that night with the signed divorce papers. The property settlement wasn’t what I had expected. I wasn’t walking away with nothing. He called it his “benevolence” toward me. It seemed he was truly fed up with this “crazy woman” and desperate to make room for his new love. I picked up the pen and, without hesitation, signed the agreement. Leo had been missing for three years. I could finally be free. But the slight smile playing on my lips made Jason’s eyes blaze crimson. He snatched the divorce papers and tore them to shreds. “Skylar Vance, does leaving me make you that happy? You won’t get away from me that easily!”

He flung the shredded paper at my face, his jaw tight, as if *I* was the one who had betrayed *him*. I sat on the bed, calmly watching him. “Didn’t you want the divorce?” His breathing was ragged, his chest heaving as he glared at me. “I changed my mind.” “Just letting you leave like this is too easy.” “I want you to spend the rest of your life trapped in the empty shell of Mrs. Blackwood, watching me and Maya be happy until we’re old!” With that, he stormed out, slamming the door. Later that night, I received news that he had taken Maya to Switzerland. It was where we had spent our honeymoon. He’d promised me there that he would love and protect me forever. Now he was back at those same places with another woman, constantly posting their intimate photos and videos on Instagram. There he was, carrying Maya in his arms at the foot of snow-capped mountains. Then, sharing a romantic dinner on a hotel balcony. And most painfully, a video of him on one knee, sliding a ring back onto her finger. Our friends cheered them on in the comments, envying Maya and laughing at my loss. Mrs. Blackwood even showed up at my door, flaunting those pictures. “Skylar, a woman like you should just disappear, go somewhere no one knows you and end it.” “I know you don’t want a divorce because you’re hoping to cling to my Jason and bleed him dry for the rest of your life!” “Here’s a blank check. Fill in any amount you want, as long as you leave my son.” Compared to Jason, Mrs. Blackwood hated me more for losing her precious grandson. But she never once considered that Leo was the son I carried for nine months – I felt his loss even more profoundly than she did! Now, she actually thought I wouldn’t divorce Jason because I was clinging to the Blackwood family fortune. She had no idea that if it weren’t for my secret help, how could Jason’s career have achieved its current brilliance? I casually tore up the check, telling Mrs. Blackwood coldly, “It’s not that *I* don’t want a divorce. It’s your son who wants to trap me in this marriage as ‘Mrs. Blackwood’ just to torment me!” The next second, Jason sent me a SnapChat message. “Skylar, look how sensible Maya is? If you cause any more trouble, I won’t tear up the divorce papers next time.” Mrs. Blackwood saw the message and strutted out like a triumphant peacock, chin high. I stared at Jason’s smiling face on the screen, remembering how he’d knelt before me ten years ago, crying and begging me to marry him, so full of passionate promises. He thought Maya would be the love of his life, but he didn’t know that half a year ago, Maya had also knelt before me, pleading on her knees, desperate. “Skylar, I’ll do anything, just let Jason Blackwood pay the price!” Her acting skills had certainly improved. I turned off my phone, not bothering to reply. Jason thought I’d be devastated, that I’d call him in a furious rage. But he was wrong. During the days he was away with Maya, I contacted a private investigator. “Focus on Jason Blackwood’s whereabouts over the past year.” “Specifically, look into a six-year-old disabled beggar and Sierra Evans.” After sending that message, I opened my phone’s encrypted photo album. The first image was a chubby little boy in a blue dinosaur onesie, smiling widely for the camera. I’d taken it on Leo’s third birthday. He would be six now. For three long years, I never stopped searching for my son. Not for a single day. And Jason… I closed my eyes, remembering the encrypted message I’d accidentally seen on his phone last month. He’d deleted it instantly, but a few words were burned into my memory. “Deal with the kid. Don’t let Skylar find out.” Jason would never know. The day before I discovered that message, he had mumbled something in a drunken stupor. “Even if Leo was standing right in front of you, you wouldn’t recognize him. Just forget about him.” At the time, I’d dismissed it as the drunken ramblings of a grieving father. Now, it was full of red flags, every word a dagger to my soul.

With Jason out of the picture, the private investigator could dig into his past affairs without any obstacles. Soon, he sent me two files. After reading about Sierra’s true cause of death, my blood ran cold. I never imagined Jason could be so heartless. After realizing Sierra knew his secret, he actually, despite her carrying his own flesh and blood, killed her-a double tragedy! The detective told me that it all started because Sierra had tracked him and discovered him meeting a young beggar. The beggar the detective mentioned, if my suspicions were correct, was my Leo. I took several deep breaths before clicking on the video. But when I saw that small and emaciated figure with missing limbs and a body caked in grime, my heart shattered. The child in the photo had a face scarred beyond recognition. He was crawling on the ground, begging. Though Leo was terribly changed, I still knew him. He was my son. “Mr. Blackwood located him six months ago,” the investigator reported. “He said the boy was useless now. That bringing him home would be a burden. I collapsed into my chair, my body turning to ice. Even a wild animal wouldn’t do this to its own offspring. Jason Blackwood, how could you be cruel enough to destroy two of your own children? Outside, a sudden downpour began, thunder booming. It was just like the day Leo disappeared, three years ago. That day, the rain was pouring. Jason had come to my law office to pick me up, but then claimed an urgent matter and shoved a crying Leo into my arms. He locked himself in a conference room for a meeting. Leo, thinking his dad was playing hide-and-seek, slipped out the door while I was on a call. And then… I closed my eyes, tears streaming down. I picked up my phone and sent Maya a message detailing Sierra’s true cause of death. It was time to close the net. I leveraged all my connections, orchestrating a crisis for Jason’s company. His core project approval was stalled, and his cash flow was on the verge of collapsing. His sweet trip to Switzerland was cut short; he and Maya rushed back to the country. In his office, he was frantic, smashing his third coffee mug. “A bunch of incompetents! You can’t even handle this much!” I pushed the door open, ignoring the mess, and went straight to the point. “Perhaps, I can help you.” He looked up at me, his eyes mocking. “You? A crazy woman who only knows how to fight for attention?” I wasn’t angry or flustered. I simply uttered a name. “Mark Peterson. He’s in charge of the approval for this project.” “His sister’s divorce case last month? I handled it.” Jason narrowed his eyes, re-evaluating me. “What do you want?” “Ten percent of the shares. That’s not much for you.” He was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and nodded. “Fine.” With that 10% of the shares, I would completely control Blackwood Industries. I took Mark Peterson out for dinner, and the next day, the project approval went through. Jason was extremely pleased, looking at me with less contempt. “I never thought you’d be useful for this.” I lowered my gaze, hiding the cold glint in my eyes. From that day on, he continued to throw several other challenging projects my way. I handled every single one flawlessly. He gradually let down his guard, no longer scrutinizing documents when he signed them. One day, he was rushing to take Maya out for her birthday. He hastily glanced at a contract and signed it. I watched him disappear out the door, then reached for the very bottom of the folder. That’s the divorce agreement. Three days later, they were finalized. The weight of the paperwork felt heavy and final in my hand. Ten years of marriage had finally come to an end. I sent a message to Maya. “Tonight, see you at the airport.” The next day, Jason was woken by the delivery driver. He was hungover and irritable as he tore open the envelope. When he saw the divorce certificate, he sobered up instantly. His hands trembled as he flipped it open. The date was yesterday. He froze for a few seconds, then erupted in a furious rage. “Skylar Vance, you played me!” My phone was ringing off the hook, but Maya and I were in a coastal town in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun was warm, the ocean breeze gentle. “Turn it off, Skylar.” Maya handed me a glass of juice. “Let him go crazy.” I nodded and complied. Jason then started frantically calling Maya. I picked up and put the phone on speaker. “Maya! Let’s go to City Hall now! I’ll make you Mrs. Blackwood!” His voice was urgent and brimming with confidence. As if he’d just offered her the greatest honor, Maya let out a soft laugh. “Okay.” The line went dead. We looked at each other and smiled. Jason waited all day at City Hall. A steady stream of happy couples flowed in and out of the hall. But Maya never came. He called her again and again, his voice twisting from a gentle coax into raw, unfiltered rage. “Maya Evans! What the hell is this? You don’t want to be Mrs. Blackwood anymore?” On the other end, Maya stretched under the sun, a mocking smile curling her red lips. “Is being ‘Mrs. Blackwood’ really such a prize?” She chuckled. “Skylar didn’t want it. What makes you think I would?”

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“The test results confirm late-stage stomach cancer. It’s terminal.” My husband Mark didn’t even wait for me to process the news before he shoved me to the floor. “Why waste money on you? Chloe needs it for her business!” I never imagined that on the day I received my terminal diagnosis, my husband would be transferring our life savings to another woman. In desperation, I tried to sell my jewelry, only to learn every piece was fake. “Of course I swapped them out,” Mark sneered. “Did you think I’d let you waste our future on a corpse?” Just as I reached my lowest point, the hospital called. There’d been a system error in the lab. “You’re perfectly healthy, Ms. Miller. The cancer is your husband’s.” “Mark, my hospital admission is tomorrow. Is the money ready?” My husband walked out of the kitchen eating fruit, ignoring me completely. “What money? It’s gone.” I stared, frozen. He’d never spoken to me like this in all our years of marriage. “What do you mean,gone?” “I gave it to Chloe.” He didn’t care about my reaction, already sitting down to continue his meal. Hearing that name stunned me. That was my life savings, my medical fund! How could he do this? And for Chloe Davis! What the hell was happening? Under my frantic questions, he lost his patience. “To fund her business, obviously! It’s an investment! Don’t you know what that means?” Days of psychological torment had left my nerves in shreds. That was the final straw. That broke me. I lunged at him, hitting and kicking, even knocking over the fruit plate. “Mark Thompson! That’s my life savings! How dare you!” The next second, he pushed me hard to the floor, where I landed with a painful thud. “You crazy woman! Chloe needs money for her shop! What’s wrong with me giving it to her?” “You’re in late-stage stomach cancer, it’s incurable! What’s a dying woman fighting a living one for? You can’t expect Mom and me to lose everything, can you?” I sat there, stunned on the floor, seeing my husband as a complete stranger for the first time. Before this, Mark would never have treated me this way. We met in college, navigated our student years together, and eventually walked down the aisle. He never cared that I was an orphan; he even sympathized with how hard I’d worked over the years. Friends and classmates always praised him. How could he have changed so completely? These past few years, he’d been nothing but attentive. We’d never even had such a fierce argument. His drastic change started after our recent routine physical exam. The same exam that found my stomach cancer. Right after that, he gave our entire twenty-thousand-dollar savings to an outsider to start her business. It made me wonder what kind of man I had truly married all these years, or if he was merely wearing a human facade. Mark saw my dazed expression and softened his tone, continuing to explain his reasoning. “We only have twenty thousand dollars saved up. It’s not enough to cure you anyway.” “Better to invest the money in Chloe’s business. Once her capital returns, the money she makes can definitely save you. Sarah, just hold on a little longer. Would I really joke about your life savings?” I scoffed, saying nothing. It was all garbage. After years together, I knew exactly what Mark looked like when he was lying. Mark and Chloe Davis had probably been having an affair for a while. Now that I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, he clearly couldn’t be bothered to keep up the charade of a loving husband anymore. I felt a chill of disgust. Just then, Mrs. Thompson walked out from the back room, eyeing me disdainfully. “My son works so hard to keep this family afloat! What have you done all these years?” “And now you’ve got this money-pit disease! Dying is what you deserve!”

“What have I done?! Mom, you haven’t forgotten, have you? I paid half the down payment on this house!” I stood up, looking at the two of them and laughing out loud, finding the whole situation utterly absurd. “What have I done all these years? Why don’t you ask what you and your son have been doing!” “And I won’t even start on his relationship with Chloe Davis!” “Your son’s been jobless, all he does is some light cleaning! A grown man, and sometimes I even have to help him with that! Where exactly has he been ‘working hard’? Do I not have a job? My salary is barely enough to support all of us! So tell me, what have I done?!” Mrs. Thompson’s face was a stormy mess, flickering between expressions, as if she wanted to say something but was silenced by Mark’s glare. I gave a cold laugh and continued, “As for you, Mom, I always thought you were fair, that you’d side with me. But now, it’s clear you’re all cut from the same cloth! You’re the real family! And I guess I’m just…” Before I could finish, Mark slapped me across the face. My ears rang, and I clutched my cheek, glaring at him with fury. Since Mark lost his job, our entire household had relied on my income. He merely tidied up a bit, and suddenly it was his hard work? Where did he even work hard? And now he had the nerve to hit me?! “By rights, half the money in that savings account belongs to me!” They probably expected me to cry, but I stood my ground, protesting loudly, not a trace of fear in my eyes. Are you kidding me? I’m already dying! What do I have to be afraid of?! Hearing me say that, their faces were a sight to behold. They couldn’t refute it, as it was the truth, and couldn’t find an excuse to argue. I pressed on. “You have to give me the money! Otherwise, we’ll go through legal channels. Even if I can’t be saved, I’d rather see the money incinerated than let Chloe Davis touch a single cent!” “No way, Sarah. You can forget about it.” “I won’t give you a single penny.” Mark stared at me with chilling indifference. In his eyes, I couldn’t see a shred of affection for me. “Go ahead and sue for divorce if you’re so brave. But I’m telling you, Sarah, even if you do, I won’t agree. It’s just a cooling-off period, right? I can afford to wait you out!” “Since you’ve pushed it this far, I’ll just wait until you die! Then the money will still be mine!” I fell silent, looking at him in disbelief. Mark thought I was backing down and decided to offer a false comfort. “Sarah, why make such a fuss? Just be a good wife, and I’ll take care of you until the end.” Listening to his absurd words, I only felt regret. How could I have ever fallen for such a man? How could I have been so deluded as to use all my savings to buy a house and marry him? I looked around. This home, once so full of warmth, now felt chillingly cold.

I stood in silence, clenching my fists so tightly that my fingernails almost dug into my palms. Wait for death? No. I absolutely refused to accept such a fate, and I would never allow my money to simply go to Mark and Chloe. I forced myself to calm down, then suddenly remembered I still had gold jewelry. That meant I still had a chance to turn things around. For now, I had to pretend to back down. I claimed I’d been too emotional earlier, that I needed to calm down. The pressure was just too much. I’d even admit that maybe they had a point. After some careful maneuvering, my feigned emotions seemed to sway them. They probably thought, as an orphan, I had no one else to rely on but them. I sat on the bed in the bedroom, scanning the room, waiting quietly, searching for any possible opportunity. Sure enough, Mark had to leave in the afternoon. The moment Mark stepped out of the house, I knew this was my only chance. I quickly and stealthily searched the room, my heart pounding like a drum. However, just as I found the gold jewelry, Mrs. Thompson’s figure abruptly appeared in the doorway, her eyes filled with suspicion and wariness. “What are you doing in here?” Her voice was sharp and grating, like a knife piercing my heart. My mind raced. I quickly tossed the jewelry into the trash can in the corner of the room, then feigned composure, picking up a bag of garbage. “Oh, nothing. Just saw the trash can was full, so I’m taking it out. Mom, didn’t you say Mark works hard? While I’m not feeling too sick, I thought I could help a little.” “After all… I’ll still be relying on the family for my treatment.” Mrs. Thompson stared at me, half-believing, half-doubting, but seemingly found no further evidence to challenge me. She turned and left. I seized the opportunity to escape the room, with only one thought in my mind – to convert these jewels into cash, to at least buy myself a sliver of a chance at life. I walked into the jewelry store full of hope and handed my jewelry to the clerk. The clerk’s verdict was a lightning bolt. My jewels were all fakes, just gold-plated silver with almost no value. My heart plummeted, all hope vanishing in an instant. But I had personally bought these pieces for our wedding! How could this be? The gold-plated silver looked exactly the same! As I stood there, stunned and at a loss, Mrs. Thompson and my husband walked into the jewelry store, their faces alight with triumphant smiles. Mrs. Thompson’s tone dripped with mockery. “I knew you were up to no good! Good thing we were clever enough to have Mark swap out all the jewelry.” Mark, looking smug and calculating, stepped forward, grabbed my arm, and growled, “Good thing I was prepared, or you would have ruined this family! These jewels? I’ve already invested them with Chloe. She’ll make us even more money.” “And these gold-plated trinkets? Consider them your final farewell gift. Our last ‘kindness’ to you. You’re welcome.” His words were like sharp knives, slicing into my heart. I struggled in a rage, trying to break free from his grip. But my body, overcome by a sudden surge of anger, felt weak and powerless. My vision blurred, my ears filled with their mocking laughter and sneers. No! I can’t collapse here! I tried to clench my fists, to gather my strength. But overwhelmed by an indescribable hatred, I suddenly lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, everything around me felt both familiar and strange. I blinked, as if caught in a long dream, unable to discern the line between reality and illusion. All the furnishings in the room remained the same, but I could no longer find the warmth and peace of yesteryear, only a chilling emptiness and endless heartache. This so-called “home,” which I once believed was my safe haven, the final resting place after twenty years of turmoil, had now become the greatest torment of my life. From the moment I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, the atmosphere at home had completely shifted. Laughter and joy were replaced by coldness and distance; I felt like an outsider in my own house. Thinking about this, I let out a self-mocking laugh. Now, in this house, even my collapse wasn’t worth the extra expense of sending me to the hospital. My value, it seemed, had vanished along with that cruel diagnosis. My husband’s voice drifted from the living room, tinged with mockery. “Well, well, awake are we? I thought you’d sleep for days.” His tone carried no trace of concern, only indifference and disdain. He couldn’t even bother to pour me a glass of water. In the past, he would have brought me warm water without a second thought. I lay in bed, closing my eyes, unwilling to engage with his words. Mrs. Thompson joined the emotionless conversation, her laughter harsh and shrill. “You woke up just in time for dinner. You truly are a parasite, good for nothing but eating.” The spicy aroma that had been assaulting my nose told me exactly what was for dinner tonight. Sure enough, when I stepped out of the bedroom, I saw the dining table laden with various chili-loaded dishes. It was their silent taunt, their torment. I took a deep breath, forcing down my discomfort, and approached the table. On the table, red and green chilies intertwined, as if mocking my fate. I gave a cold glance, said nothing. Whether it was psychological or something else, I simply felt nauseous. I turned and went back to my room, leaving their triumphant laughter echoing behind me. In the living room, outside my door, my husband ate with gusto, making loud slurping and smacking sounds, which were particularly grating. He seemed completely oblivious to his own crudeness, and even began to complain. “Mom, next time don’t make the food so spicy. You’re so focused on tormenting your daughter-in-law, you forget about your own son. My stomach’s burning!” Mrs. Thompson, though reluctant, grumbled an acknowledgment. They’re openly saying they’re “tormenting” me now?! How badly do you want me dead! I stood behind the door, listening to everything, my rage and despair intertwined. I couldn’t stand this life anymore. I yelled, “I want a divorce!” My husband’s voice immediately responded, laced with amusement. “Go ahead. I’m not signing anything anyway. Just drag it out. Let’s see how long you can last.” His tone was full of confidence and coldness, as if he had seen right through my intentions. I froze, staring at the closed door, a swirl of emotions churning inside me. I knew that this path-divorcing through legal means-was clearly blocked. Mark’s message was clear. He would torment me like this, waiting for the sickness to sap the last of my strength. But I refused to simply wait for death. If one path was blocked, I would have to forge another.

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Fake daughter Tiffany Reed sneered, offering me a pastry: “Here, sis, try this. It’s specially for you.” I swallowed it without a second thought. That night, she was assaulted by the janitor, her reputation utterly shattered. My brother, Jesiah, wanted to get revenge for his precious Tiffany and tried to push me down the stairs. Instead, I grabbed him and jumped with him. He ended up with two broken legs, condemned to a wheelchair for life. Later, the fake heiress led her crew to bully me at school, brandishing a small knife at my arm. I just gave a chilling smirk and, with a swift move, slashed my own arm. “Elara, here, this pastry is specially for you. Go on, try it.” I just smiled, looking at Tiffany’s face, plastered with fake concern, and the plate of delicate yet ‘enhanced’ cupcakes she held. I was reborn. Back at the recognition party that sealed my tragic fate in my previous life. In my last life, it was this very pastry that led to my defilement, exposed to her mocking onlookers, my reputation ruined. That recognition party became my public trial, and I lived a miserable life with the Hayes, abused to death by her. “Elara, why aren’t you eating? Do you… hate me or something?” Seeing me just staring at the pastry, Tiffany’s eyes instantly welled up, her voice thick with a fake sob. Her pitiful act immediately drew the attention of several guests nearby. They whispered amongst themselves about how the recently acknowledged true heiress was obviously trashy. I reached out, took it, a small smile playing on my lips. “Tiffany, what are you talking about? How could I hate you?” Under her expectant gaze, I opened my mouth and swallowed. At the same time, I silently chanted in my mind: “System, activate damage transfer. Target: Tiffany Reed.” [Command confirmed. Damage transfer activated.] Seeing me eat it, Tiffany’s face immediately bloomed with a vicious, satisfied smile. She affectionately linked her arm through mine. “That’s more like it! We sisters must get along well from now on.” I nodded compliantly, silently calculating the time. Sure enough, a few minutes later, I feigned a sway, clutching my forehead. “Tiffany, I feel a little dizzy.” A flicker of wild glee crossed Tiffany’s eyes. She quickly steadied me, her voice laced with feigned concern. “Are you tired? The party’s too loud. Let me help you to a room upstairs to rest.” I leaned weakly against her, allowing her to guide me out of the ballroom. Just like in my previous life, following the exact same path. She led me to the pre-arranged guest room on the second floor.

Tiffany helped me towards the bed, her voice sickly sweet. “Elara, you lie down for a bit. I’ll get you some water.” But then, her words abruptly stopped. Because she realized that I, who should have been collapsing into her arms, was now standing perfectly straight, looking at her with an icy, piercing gaze. And she herself was suddenly hit with a wave of intense dizziness and a strange, burning heat. “You… how can you be…” She stumbled, then started uncontrollably tearing at the neckline of her elegant dress. I walked up to her, a faint smile playing on my lips. “Tiffany, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Her voice trembled, full of terror. “What… what did you do?” I leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I merely returned what you so thoughtfully prepared for me, Tiffany.” Tiffany tried to say more, but the drug had already clouded her mind. I watched her grotesque display with cold detachment, feeling only pure satisfaction. Footsteps approached from outside. Tiffany’s arranged guest had arrived. Without hesitation, I turned, closed the door, and locked it. Inside the room, only Tiffany, writhing under the drug’s effects, and the newly entered janitor remained. The show had only just begun. Midway through the party, Mrs. Hayes frowned, glancing around. She grabbed my wrist. “Have you seen Tiffany? She said she was going to get you a pastry, but she’s vanished in the blink of an eye.” Mr. Hayes also looked over, a hint of displeasure on his face. “With so many guests here tonight, why is she running off?” I blinked, showing just the right amount of worry. “Tiffany mentioned she wasn’t feeling well earlier, really dizzy. I think she went back to a room to rest.” Mrs. Hayes instantly tensed. “Not feeling well? Why didn’t she say anything sooner?” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes exchanged worried glances and headed straight for the second-floor rooms. Watching their hurried retreat, I mimicked Tiffany’s actions from my past life, raising my voice, my tone overflowing with concern. “Everyone, Tiffany isn’t feeling too well, and my parents are really worried. Should we all go up and check on her? The more people, the better to help out, right?” My words immediately piqued the guests’ interest. The true and fake heiress drama – and the real one is already unwell after just being recognized? Clearly, there’s a story brewing. “Yes, yes, let’s all go see!” “The Hayes sisters truly have a deep bond, don’t they?” A large group of people followed them upstairs in a bustling procession. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were so focused on their precious adopted daughter that they paid no mind to the commotion behind them. Mr. Hayes didn’t even think twice; he just twisted the doorknob to the bedroom. 3. A heavy, cloying scent hit them first. Then, scattered clothes on the floor and two figures entangled on the bed came into view. Tiffany’s hair was disheveled, her face flushed crimson, as she lay intertwined with a man in a janitor’s uniform. Mrs. Hayes’s face went chalk-white. Mr. Hayes roared, “Tiffany, what in the world are you doing?!” Tiffany flinched, startled by his shout, and frantically pulled the covers around herself, while the surrounding guests’ phone cameras flashed incessantly. “Oh my god, it’s actually Tiffany Reed!” “She usually acts so refined. Who knew she was into this kind of wild stuff in private?” “And with a janitor! The Hayes family is going to be a complete joke!” Tiffany’s gaze pierced through the crowd, fixating on my face, her eyes burning with venom. Mr. Hayes trembled with rage, forcing himself to suppress it as he tried to disperse the crowd. “Stop filming! Everyone out! This is a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding!” Mrs. Hayes rushed forward, desperate to close the door, but was blocked by several guests who just wanted to gawk, tears streaming down her face in frustration. After finally managing to clear out the guests and close the door. Mr. Hayes yanked Tiffany off the bed and raised his hand to strike her. “Dad, it wasn’t me! It was Elara! She set me up!” Tiffany cried out, scrambling away, her clothes disheveled as she lunged towards my fiancé, Blake Harrison. Blake instinctively caught her, his brow furrowed deeply. Tiffany buried her face in his chest, sobbing, her face streaked with tears. “Blake, you have to believe me! It was Elara! She hates me for taking her place for so many years, for Mom and Dad loving me, for stealing her fiancé – who was supposed to be hers! That’s why she deliberately framed me, she drugged my drink!” Blake looked up at me, his eyes cold and accusing. “Elara, I know you hold a grudge, but using such vicious methods… that’s truly wicked.” Mrs. Hayes also looked at me, her eyes red-rimmed, her voice utterly drenched in disappointment. “Elara, we brought you home to make amends, to compensate you. How could you set up Tiffany like this? How can you be so malicious?” Hah. How familiar those words sounded. In my previous life, when I lay there, my clothes torn, enduring everyone’s contemptuous stares, they had said the exact same thing. They said I was indecent, that I’d seduced the janitor. They asked why, if I was truly innocent, I hadn’t proven it by dying during the assault. Now, with their precious adopted daughter, it’s suddenly *my* malicious heart? I looked at them and suddenly laughed, my voice cutting through the silence. “Tiffany, you say I framed you? I’ve been back with the Hayes family for less than three days. I haven’t even recognized all the staff yet. How could I possibly frame you?” I took a step towards Tiffany, my gaze locked onto her. “You say I drugged you? Where’s the drug? How was it administered? Where’s the proof?” Tiffany was speechless under my barrage of questions, only able to point at me frantically. “It was you! It had to be you! You’re just jealous of me!” “Jealous of you?” I stopped, pulling a tiny USB drive from a hidden pocket in my dress. “Fortunately, the house’s security cameras caught something… special.” Mr. Hayes’s eyes narrowed. “What is it?” I connected the USB drive to the smart TV in the living room. Soon, the screen displayed a clear image. It showed Tiffany, before the party began, sneaking into the kitchen and shaking a small packet of powder into that plate of pastries. Immediately after, there was a crystal-clear audio recording of her whispering in my ear as she helped me upstairs: “Let’s see how you’re going to compete with me for Mom, Dad, and Blake once you eat this and turn into a total mess.” When the video finished, a deathly silence filled the living room. Tiffany’s face was ashen. She shook her head frantically. “Fake! This is fake! She fabricated it!” I lowered my head, my shoulders subtly trembling. “So, Tiffany, you really don’t want me here. If this home can’t make room for me, then I suppose I’ll leave.” I turned, pretending to walk away. Mr. Hayes stopped me, then turned and delivered a stinging slap across Tiffany’s face. Tiffany clutched her cheek, her face a mask of disbelief. “Dad, you hit me… for this bitch?” “Shut up! You still don’t see what you did wrong?!” Mr. Hayes’s face was livid. He pulled out a black card and pressed it into my hand. “Elara, Tiffany was out of line. Take this card. Don’t talk about leaving again.” Mrs. Hayes quickly clasped my hand. “Tiffany was just momentarily confused, playing a prank on you. You’re fine, aren’t you? Let’s not make a big deal of it, girls.” I nodded obediently, tucking the card away. “Thank you, Dad. I’ll listen to both of you, Mom and Dad.” I looked at the cold black card in my hand, a cold laugh bubbling up inside me. “Fine?” “Not make a big deal of it?” In my last life, I paid with my life. I knew Mom and Dad still favored her. But it didn’t matter. The days were long.

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The Stone family, one of the wealthiest in the city, had three sons who grew up with me since childhood. Mr. Stone asked me to pick one of the three to be my husband. Matteus, the oldest, was the first to state his opinion. “I’d rather stay single for life than marry her.” Noah, the second brother, chimed in. “Then I’d rather die than marry her.” Caleb, the youngest, quipped with a sneer. “If my brothers, Matteus and Noah, wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole, why would I? I’m not some charity case for unwanted goods.” But I wasn’t trash. I was Avery Hayes, the daughter of a New York billionaire, staying with them temporarily, and they were definitely not who I was marrying. “Avery, I’m not marrying you. Get that idea out of your head, seriously.” Matteus, the oldest, glared at me with his usual icy expression. I knew he was saying this because of Chloe, the girl the Stone family adopted. I was clutching a secret, desperate to tell him, but before I could even open my mouth, Noah, the second brother, chimed in. “Don’t even *think* about marrying me. The thought of it makes me want to die. If you’re so desperate to get hitched, I’ll ask one of the security guards at our law firm to do you a favor.” Noah was always the most verbally abusive of the Stones, especially when it came to me. Caleb, the youngest, looked at me with pure disgust. “You better tell my dad you’re not interested in marrying any of us yourself, or I’ll make sure your reputation is in tatters.” Caleb hated me the most in the Stone family. He genuinely believed I’d stolen the affection that belonged to Chloe the moment I arrived. Chloe was the adopted daughter of the Stones, practically groomed to marry one of the sons once she graduated college. I’d been living with the Stone family since I was sixteen. At first, the three brothers were reasonably polite. But after just a month, everyone but Matteus started treating me like I was a plague. All because Chloe would constantly cry and whine to them, claiming I was trying to steal all three brothers for myself. The truth was, I’d been engaged to a wealthy New York family since I was a kid. My parents were going abroad for business and couldn’t take me with them, so my dad called up his best friend, Mr. Stone, to look after me. Only Mr. Stone knew my true identity. My dad was worried that if the Stones knew who I really was, they’d treat me like a princess and turn me into a spoiled brat. So he asked Mr. Stone to keep it under wraps. Seven years I’d lived there, and seven years I’d been despised by the Stone brothers. Thinking about it, a mischievous idea suddenly sparked in my mind. “Whether I marry one of you or not is up to Mr. Stone and my dad. I don’t get a say.” My dad never actually intended for me to marry into their family, but *I* had a crush on Matteus. Mr. Stone, seeing through my crush, never let on. He just figured he’d let me pick one myself. So, today, Mr. Stone decided it was time for me to make my choice. “How about you choose one of my three sons to be your husband? I’ll handle your father.” I was thrilled. My plan was to choose Matteus and then talk my dad into it. With how outstanding Matteus was, I figured my dad wouldn’t object. But as soon as the three brothers heard the news, they absolutely erupted. Seeing my refusal, the brothers all went beet red with fury. Suddenly, Martha, our housekeeper, came rushing in. “Young masters, you have to go help Miss Chloe! She’s threatening to hurt herself!” At that, their faces drained of color, and they sprinted toward Chloe’s room. Chloe, having lost too much blood, was rushed to the hospital. By the time I got to the hospital, Chloe was out of the woods. But the moment she saw me, she tried to struggle up, as if to kneel at my feet. “Avery, please don’t take Matteus and the others away from me! I’m just an adopted daughter of the Stones. If I can’t be *truly* one of them, how can I ever show my face in this family again?” The three Stone brothers rushed to help her up. Then Noah shot me a look of pure hatred. “Avery, listen up. If anything, *anything* happens to Chloe, I swear I’ll make you regret it for the rest of your life.” I almost laughed. “Her wanting to hurt herself has nothing to do with me.”

Caleb was so furious he shoved me, making me stumble. “You think you can just bully people because you’re *you*, huh? Let me tell you something, Chloe isn’t alone. She’ll always have us three brothers backing her up!” “My background simply doesn’t compare to Miss Avery’s. I’ll just leave the Stone family, then.” Chloe started crying again. Caleb glared daggers at me, then rushed to comfort Chloe. “Chloe, don’t you dare leave! If anyone’s going, it’s Avery. You’re our family, *you* belong here. Avery is nobody to us!” Watching the three Stone brothers being played like puppets by Chloe, I couldn’t help but sneer, “Looks like Chloe would have to be cloned three times just to go around for all of you, huh?” Caleb heard that and instantly stood up, ready to lunge at me. Matteus quickly held him back, then walked towards me, his face absolutely frozen. “Watch your mouth, Avery. I know what you’re trying to do. I’ll go beg Dad to let me marry you. I’ll sacrifice my freedom for their happiness, if that’s what it takes.” Seeing the sheer disgust and reluctance plastered all over Matteus’s face, it would be a lie to say my heart didn’t ache. For years, I’d chased after him, transforming from a clueless heiress into a dedicated researcher, eventually becoming his most trusted assistant at the institute. I never explicitly told him I liked him, but even a blind man could see how I felt about him. He was arguably the kindest of the three Stone brothers to me; he never let Chloe’s drama turn him against me. When he found out I wanted to apply to the same university, he’d diligently tutor me. And after I got into the research institute, he was always there to help. I genuinely thought he might have feelings for me too, but this time, his attitude shattered any lingering hope I had. The moment I left the hospital, my dad called. “Sweetheart, I heard from Matteus that you want to marry him? Matteus’s a good guy, but I just don’t think he’s the right fit for you. Think about it carefully.” I was fuming at Matteus’s audacity and quickly set the record straight. “Dad, don’t listen to a word he says! I’m not marrying him. You and Mom already arranged my engagement, remember? I’ve thought about it, and I realize now that a union with the Hayes family is the only way to truly strengthen our family.” Dad paused, then sounded relieved. “It seems you’ve truly grown up, sweetheart. Your mom and I will be back in the country in a few days. We’ll set up your wedding right away.” Hanging up, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Finally, I could move out of the Stone household. I’d wanted to since college, but Mr. Stone always refused, claiming it was for my safety. The moment I stepped back into the Stone residence, I overheard Mr. and Mrs. Stone having a heated argument. “Are you losing your mind? Even if Chloe is adopted, I treat her like my own flesh and blood! If anyone gets to choose, it should be Chloe first!” “And my sons are all brilliant! Any one of them is *more* than good enough for Avery. If there’s any choosing to be done, it’s *them* picking *her*!” Mrs. Stone’s attitude didn’t surprise me one bit. She’d never liked me, not since day one. Mr. Stone, however, was still trying his best to defend me. “What do *you* know? Avery isn’t bad at all. As long as Matteus agrees, I’ll arrange their wedding myself.” “And I’ve already picked out a match for Chloe. She and Noah are about the same age, and he’s made it clear he wouldn’t marry anyone else. They’re a perfect fit.”

Seeing they were about to keep arguing, I quickly pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Mr. Stone, Mrs. Stone, my parents will be back in the country soon. Let’s just hold off on discussing my marriage until they return.” I swallowed the lump of resentment in my throat, forcing myself to stay calm. Mr. Stone didn’t say anything further, just nodded. “Alright.” Mrs. Stone, however, gave me a sideways glance, crossed her arms, and settled back into her chair, a smirk already forming. “Surely your high-society parents couldn’t bear to marry you into a humble family like ours, could they, Miss Heiress? That would just be *perfect*.” I didn’t want to engage, so I simply offered a polite greeting and headed to my room. The day my parents were due back was fast approaching. I had my bags packed, ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Sweaty and exhausted, I was just about to hop in the shower when Matteus suddenly pounded on my door. “Avery, open up! I need to talk to you!” I hesitated for a moment, but eventually, I opened the door. The second it was ajar, Matteus grabbed my wrist and yanked me out. “What are you doing?! Where are you taking me?!” Matteus’s grip was surprisingly strong. The more I struggled, the more my wrist screamed in pain. But he said nothing, just shoved me into his car. As he started the engine, he finally spoke, his voice ice-cold. “You’ll see soon enough. It’s what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it?” I sat there, utterly bewildered, as he drove. Ten minutes later, we pulled up to our destination. Only then did I realize he’d brought me to a church. “Get out. We’re getting married. Your biggest wish was always to marry me, right? Well, this is all I can give you.” He opened my door, roughly pulled me out, and without giving me a chance to speak, dragged me inside. I couldn’t hold back the storm of emotions anymore. Tears streaming down my face, I screamed at him, “Matteus! I’m not doing this! I’m not marrying you! Let go of me!” “Stop pretending, Avery. I’ve always known how you felt about me. You just wanted to choose me this time, didn’t you? You’re using your identity to fight Chloe for a husband. Fine, I’ll give you what you want. But this is *all* you’ll get from me. Don’t expect anything more.” Realizing there was no reasoning with Matteus, I desperately looked around for help. “Help! Somebody, please!” Immediately, a kind couple rushed over and pulled Matteus off me. “What is wrong with you, mister? You can’t just force someone to marry you!” After being chastised by the well-meaning couple, Matteus glared at me, even more furious. “You’re the one who walked away, Avery. Don’t you dare regret this!” With that, he stalked off, leaving me standing there. After thanking the kind couple, I also decided to leave. As I walked out of the courthouse, I decided, then and there, that I needed to move out of the Stone house immediately. The next second, a sleek black sedan pulled up behind me. When I saw who stepped out, a chill ran down my spine. I tried to run, but before I could, a hand clamped over my mouth and nose, and I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in an unfamiliar room. Noah and Caleb were sitting by the bed. “Finally awake.” “What do you want?!” I scrambled off the bed, fear seizing me, and huddled into the corner. Noah snuffed out his cigarette, then looked at me with a sneer. “We brought you here to make one thing clear: stop fantasizing about marrying Matteus. We’ll never let him sacrifice his happiness for you.” “Caleb chuckled darkly. ‘Noah, why waste words? She’s so desperate to get married, isn’t she? Let’s give her a wedding alright. Today’s the day she gets hitched.’” Caleb’s sinister grin, coupled with his words, sent a fresh wave of terror through me. I never imagined they could be this cruel. But I had to keep a clear head, no matter what. “I promise I won’t marry Matteus. Just let me go!” “Oh, so you just decide you won’t marry him? Matteus already told your parents he’s going to! After today, how will you even *dare* show your face to him, let alone marry him?” The words were barely out of his mouth when a knock echoed on the door. My heart plummeted. I instinctively reached for my phone to call the police, only to find it wasn’t there. My stomach twisted as the door opened, revealing a creepy-looking man in a mask. It was Jerry. “She’s all yours. Be *gentle* now, won’t you?” Noah chuckled, clapped Jerry on the shoulder, then turned to leave, pushing the door open. I saw my chance, bolted past Jerry, pushing him hard, and tried to make a break for the door. But Jerry grabbed a handful of my hair, yanking me back, and dragged me towards the bed. “Sweetheart, once you’re with me, there’s no getting away.” Jerry smirked, tossing me onto the mattress. I watched, horrified, as the door clicked shut. Jerry loomed over me, pressing his weight down. “Get off me!” I thrashed and fought, but his grip was unyielding. I watched in utter despair as he tore at my clothes. “Just stop fighting. You might as well enjoy yourself. You rich folks always know how to have a good time, right?” Jerry leaned in, his foul breath hot on my face, trying to kiss me. Just then, my hand brushed against something on the bedside table – an ashtray. The moment Jerry reached for my underwear, I gripped the ashtray and swung it with all my might, smashing it into his head. “Argh! You f***ing bitch! You dare hit me?!” Jerry clutched his bleeding head, his eyes turning instantly venomous. In a flash, his hand was clamped around my throat, squeezing hard.

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On my twenty-third birthday, wine loosened my tongue, and I confessed to my guardian. He did not pull away from my kiss. But next morning, he sent me abroad with a cold command: “Erase that night.” Years later, I walked back into his world, a baby resting against my shoulder. He went rigid. “Yours?” he asked, voice barely steady. I nodded, a slow, deliberate smile spreading. “Yes. We just finished her checkup.” Sitting on the plane, I still felt dazed. I never thought that after five years abroad, I would have the chance to come back. After all, Damian had said that in this lifetime, I’d better never appear in front of him again. But it was also he who personally bought me a ticket back home, inviting me to attend his and Seraphina’s wedding anniversary celebration. After two layovers, I finally landed. Uma had been sleeping peacefully on the plane, but once we got off, she started crying. “Mommy, my feet hurt,” she whimpered softly. Hearing Uma’s quiet sobs, I quickly picked her up and walked towards the exit. At the arrival gate, I turned on my phone, ready to call a cab. Just then, my phone rang. Seeing the familiar number on the screen, I fell silent, unsure whether to answer or not. In the end, I didn’t pick up. But a second call came through almost immediately. I sighed and finally answered. Damian’s voice quickly came through. After years without talking, his voice hadn’t changed. “Are you out of the airport? I sent an assistant to pick you up,” Damian said in a businesslike manner, as if we were strangers. I laughed bitterly, “I can get a cab myself.” There was silence for a second; Damian probably didn’t expect me to say that. After all, back then, I had been well taken care of by him. During my years by his side, all my needs were met – I never had to worry about transportation. After a moment of silence, Damian spoke casually, “Let the assistant come anyway. I bought a gift for Seraphina on your behalf, it’s in the trunk. You can bring it directly when you come for dinner.” Damian was still so thoughtful, considering even the gift situation perfectly. Of course, when he spent millions on the venue and commissioned a limited edition diamond to create a unique wedding ring for Seraphina, it was clear how much he loved her. “Alright,” I said, rubbing my forehead and responding softly. Damian didn’t say anything more, but he didn’t hang up either. After a while, Damian finally spoke: “Elara, after five years abroad, I hope you’ve really reflected on things. If you do anything to Seraphina, I won’t let you off easy.” Hearing this, I was stunned. The noise around me seemed to fade away. Damian said he wouldn’t let me off easy. Before I could respond, Damian had already hung up. Actually, Damian could rest assured. I wouldn’t do anything to them. I just wanted to take good care of Uma and find a job. As I left the airport, I lowered my head. The proud 22-year-old me probably couldn’t have imagined that my life would end up in such a miserable state.

I was sent abroad by Damian on my 22nd birthday. That night, I got drunk for the first time in my life. When I was young, my parents died in a cruise ship accident and never returned. Damian naturally took over my care. My relationship with him had always been harmonious. Until I grew older and realized the feelings I had for him were no longer something a niece should have for her uncle. I liked him. But I also knew very clearly there was no future for us. So I kept my emotions locked deep in my heart. If I hadn’t gotten drunk that night, I probably could have kept pretending nothing was wrong. But I confessed. Everything I had hidden slipped out between slurred breaths. Damian heard it all. The usually gentlemanly and refined Damian wasn’t gentle anymore. He grabbed my arm, his voice shaking with anger. “How could you say something so disgusting? Don’t you know I’m your uncle! Blood relation or not—we are only family!” I wanted to explain it was the alcohol, that I would forget it all tomorrow. But at that moment, no explanation could fix anything. All I could do was bow my head and apologize again and again. Damian didn’t calm down. The next day, he resigned from the job I had lined up, and under the pretext of ‘studying abroad,’ sent me to a remote university overseas. He even hired bodyguards to monitor me, cutting off all contact with the outside world. At first, I didn’t understand why he treated me this way. Until a month later, news of Damian’s marriage went viral. Only then did I realize he had always loved someone else. I watched the wedding video repeatedly. When Damian looked at Seraphina, his gaze was gentle and full of love. He had never looked at me that way. From that moment on, I knew the years he kept me by his side were only out of responsibility and sympathy. His only love was Seraphina. “Miss John, please get in the car,” the assistant’s voice pulled me back to reality.

I nodded and got into the car with the sleeping Uma. When he saw Uma, the assistant’s face showed a hint of surprise: “Miss John, this is…?” I made a shushing gesture, afraid our conversation would disturb Uma’s sleep. After sitting in the back seat, I answered softly: “This is my daughter.” The assistant nodded and fell silent. When he drove to our destination, I was stunned. This hotel was where Damian and Seraphina got married. Five years of marriage, he held a wedding anniversary celebration every year, and personally selected gifts for Seraphina. I thought, Damian really cherished Seraphina. In previous years, he didn’t allow me to enter their world. Inviting me back this year was probably just to let me witness their happiness. I numbly got out of the car and saw Seraphina smiling as she walked towards me. Unlike my haggard appearance and simple clothes, Seraphina wore expensive jewelry and perfume, looking well-cared for by Damian. Seraphina’s smile suddenly froze. I knew she had seen Uma in my arms. Sure enough, when she came to my side, Seraphina’s expression was very surprised: “Elara, how did you secretly have a child abroad without telling me? I’ve been married to your uncle for so long, you still treat me like an outsider.” Before I could speak, Seraphina took Uma from my arms without asking. Uma woke up and immediately started crying, struggling not to let Seraphina hold her. I took Uma back from Seraphina and comforted her for a while. Actually, Seraphina knew about my past crush on Damian. Returning this time, I didn’t want to get too involved with Seraphina. But Seraphina still stubbornly wanted to hold Uma. When Seraphina and I arrived at the hotel’s private room, Uma was still crying and wanting me to hold her. Seraphina forced a smile and handed Uma back to me: “Your uncle knows having children isn’t easy. We haven’t thought about having kids these past few years. Seeing you’ve had a daughter, I got too excited.” There were already several people sitting in the room. I wasn’t used to socializing, so I chose a corner seat, and Seraphina sat down next to me. She enthusiastically linked arms with me, introducing me and Uma to the others. The looks others gave me were visibly teasing and probing. I couldn’t stand the strange atmosphere here and said I wanted to go to the restroom. When I came back after washing my face, I heard Seraphina’s voice. Someone asked Seraphina why she brought in an unlucky thing like me. “What unlucky thing, Elara is Damian’s sister. Although she went down the wrong path and tried to seduce Damian before, now that she’s had a child, she definitely won’t make mistakes again.” Hearing Seraphina say this, I just quietly stood at the door of the private room. Yes, in others’ eyes, I was just a madwoman who tried to seduce her uncle, a shameless slut. Uma tugged at my clothes uneasily, and I comforted her before entering the room. Some things have to be faced eventually. I don’t know how long passed, but suddenly everyone in the room stood up. “Mr. John is here!” “Hello, Mr. John!” A group of people crowded around him, while I didn’t move, just sitting in my seat. After a long time, I finally raised my head and looked at Damian. He seemed to have lost some weight. Damian wore a suit, with Seraphina leaning on him. When they looked at each other, their eyes were full of smiles. Damian was surrounded by people and didn’t notice me in the corner. All these years, he who should have been the center of attention still was, while the only one not doing well was me. Suddenly, Seraphina seemed to remember something and pushed Damian with a smile: “Damian, Elara is here too. You uncle and niece haven’t seen each other for so many years, catch up a bit. Elara even brought back a surprise!” Hearing the word “surprise”, Damian remained unmoved, first helping Seraphina sit down and ordering her a glass of milk before raising his eyes to look in my direction. Uma shrank into a ball, looking very wary. Damian obviously saw Uma too, his eyes widening suddenly. “Elara, what is this?” He was asking about Uma. I hadn’t told them about Uma, so when they saw me with her, their expressions were all the same – either surprised or looking like they were watching a show. Seraphina spoke for me: “Damian, this is Elara’s daughter. Isn’t she cute? She looks just like Elara and seems to be a few years old already.” Damian’s gaze fell on Uma, then on me, examining me for a while. Just when I thought Damian wouldn’t pay attention to me anymore, he asked hoarsely, pointing at Uma: “During these years abroad… you got married and had a child?” I raised my head, looking directly at Damian, and nodded. “I got married a while ago. Sorry I didn’t tell you.”

It was very quiet around, no one spoke. Damian stared at me, as if trying to judge whether my words were true or false. Seraphina seemed about to say something, but Damian had already come to stand in front of me: “Where’s your husband?” I pursed my lips: “He’s busy recently, so he didn’t come.” Whispers and snickers sounded around the room, though these guests seemed to restrain their laughter out of respect for Damian. Damian’s face was aJohn, but in the end he didn’t say anything, just sat down next to Seraphina. This meal, I ate without tasting anything. Everyone else was praising how well-matched Damian and Seraphina were, while I just wanted to take Uma to rest early. The rent here wasn’t too expensive, I could still afford it. I didn’t want to go abroad again. The meal ended quickly. I wanted to leave, but Damian stopped me, saying he had something to tell me. In the end, Damian and I stayed in the private room. Seraphina was there too. Damian looked at me coldly, his words as emotionless as his expression. “Elara, since we all have our own families now, I hope you won’t come to bother me in the future.” Seraphina covered the smile at the corner of her lips: “Damian, don’t say that to Elara. She’s a grown woman now, she knows what she shouldn’t do.” The couple sang in harmony, looking particularly in sync. And I was excluded from this synchronization. They never believed the promises I made. But I still nodded and bowed: “I won’t in the future.” They didn’t say anything, and I had already turned to leave with Uma in my arms. Damian called his assistant to send me off, but this time I refused. After returning to the rental apartment with Uma, she suddenly asked me quietly if the uncle and aunt today disliked her. They say children are perceptive and know everything. I shook my head: “They don’t dislike Uma.” They just dislike me. Uma looked like she had many questions she wanted to ask me, but in the end she didn’t, just hugged me and said, mom, you’ve worked hard. The tears I had held back all day seemed about to fall at this moment. But I couldn’t cry in front of Uma. So I tilted my head back, holding back the tears. After putting Uma to sleep, I suddenly received a text message. The sender was Seraphina. “Elara, if you have time, let’s talk.” I frowned and told her she could just text me directly. But Seraphina didn’t send any more messages. Just before bed, I received a call from Seraphina. “I’m downstairs at your place. I just want to ask you one thing.” “Do you have any thoughts of going abroad again recently? Damian and I actually both hope you’ll continue to stay abroad. And your husband is abroad too, right? It’s better for you to go abroad.” I was a bit confused at first, but after realizing, I found it a bit funny. The only thing that could make Seraphina contact me late at night was probably just this. They both hated me to this extent. They couldn’t even stand being in the same country as me. I glanced at Uma sleeping beside me. After going downstairs, I indeed saw Seraphina standing under a streetlight. Standing in front of her, I took a deep breath before looking directly into her eyes: “I don’t plan to go abroad.” Even if just for Uma’s sake, I won’t take her on such a tiring journey again. Seraphina laughed lightly. With no one else around, her gaze finally showed undisguised contempt. “Elara, I know you’re very short on money now. What if I could give you a sum of money, would you be willing to go abroad?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “307064”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn