Category: English

The ninety-ninth time my husband, Brad, publicly shamed me—for not having King Crab on the New Year’s Eve table, of course—while clutching his wallet like a pearl, I did the only thing a woman in my position could: I found a “Sugar Daddy.” A real one. This new benefactor was lavish. Five thousand dollars just to go shopping, ten thousand to catch a movie. When we hit the department store, the black card was limitless. He bought me a gold bangle worth fifty grand without a second thought, and he immediately paid for the expensive interest class my daughter had been dreaming of. This year, I bought my daughter a full set of designer New Year’s clothes early. Fresh oyster, lobster, and King Crab packed our refrigerator until it groaned. Brad finally lost it, his voice shrill and hysterical. “I only give you this paltry little allowance! Where the hell did you get all this stuff?” I fought the cold, internal laugh threatening to spill out. So, he does know it’s just “a paltry little allowance.” 1. “It was all on sale at the market,” I answered vaguely, turning to take the new outfits I’d bought for our daughter into the bedroom. When I came back out, Brad’s face was ashen. He was holding a crumpled shopping receipt for eighteen hundred and eighty dollars—a smoking gun—and he threw it at my face. The sharp edge of the paper nearly drew blood. “Sophia! You spent almost two grand on seafood! That pathetic King Crab alone was over three hundred bucks!” “You’re a stay-at-home mom, someone nobody would even hire to pick up trash! Where did you get this kind of money?” I stared at Brad and innocently blinked twice. “I saved it. I saved it from the allowance you gave me.” “Didn’t you give me eight hundred dollars every month?” “Other than groceries, cooking, and paying the utilities, I don’t have many expenses.” “I saved up quite a bit over the year!” “That’s bulls—!” Brad yanked at his own hair in a fit of rage. “I gave you eight hundred, not eighty thousand! Do you think everyone is as stupid as you are?” Watching the spectacle, I almost felt a strange urge to smile. Brad, who earns two thousand a month, was terrified that my years as a stay-at-home mom would instill bad habits, so he limited my monthly allowance to $800. This money had to cover all of my and our daughter’s expenses, plus the utility bills. I had to sneak out every day to work side jobs at the farmers market just to keep the household barely afloat. Last New Year’s Eve, I worked for half a month straight at the butcher’s stall just to save enough for a halfway decent dinner. But when Brad saw the table, his face instantly darkened. “Honey, in this day and age, what family doesn’t have a King Crab on the New Year’s table?” he’d said. “I give you such a generous allowance; can’t you be a little more frugal?” “My parents don’t live with us; this one meal is your only chance to show filial piety. Shouldn’t you try harder?” I’d cried on the spot, grabbing my hair hysterically. “You gave me eight hundred dollars, not eighty thousand! You know damn well if I can afford a King Crab!” I never thought that in just one short year, that exact line would be coming out of his mouth. 2. Brad clearly didn’t believe my explanation. While I was in the kitchen washing cherries for our daughter, he pulled out every single savings book and bank card he owned, calling the banks one by one. “Hello, yes! I need to check all the transactions on this account for the past six months!” “Are you sure all deposits and withdrawals were made by me alone?” “There’s no chance my wife took our marriage certificate and withdrew any money, is there?” Brad was spitting mad as he spoke into the phone, determined to find evidence that I had stolen from his accounts. I remember when we first married, Brad handed over his salary every month. At the time, I earned five times what he did, and I managed all the household finances. But when I was forced to quit my job and stay home because of our daughter’s congenital respiratory condition, Brad, under the guise of paying for medical expenses, took all the money I had. From that day on, my savings became his savings. His accounts were walled off from me; I couldn’t spend a cent without his permission. When I was the breadwinner, Brad would hand over a small part of his salary while demanding I buy him five-hundred-dollar leather shoes. When the tables turned, he claimed I was too extravagant, arguing that a monthly $800 allowance was necessary to keep me in check. Brad spent over an hour on the phone. After confirming that not a single penny was missing from his accounts, he took a deep breath, his face cold, and stood before me. “Sophia, tell me the truth. Are you cheating on me?” Just as Brad asked this, I got a message from my “Sugar Daddy.” He told me to rest well over the holiday and that he’d spend time with me after he got back from Miami. I immediately sent back a perfectly sweet emoji. Instantly, another five thousand dollars transferred into my account. My “Sugar Daddy” truly was the best; he just throws money at me without asking. “Sophia! I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?” I was in a great mood thanks to the five grand. I kept the smile on my face when responding to Brad’s interrogation. “Honey, don’t be ridiculous. I’m a useless old housewife. Who would look twice at me?” “Why would a rich CEO ignore all the young, beautiful girls and throw money at me?” Brad suddenly thought of something. He rushed into the bedroom and grabbed the entire set of luxury cosmetics from my vanity. “No! This is all wrong! You never used to wear makeup, Sophia!” “Look at you now, painted up like a ghost! Do you look like a decent wife or mother at all?” I tilted my head, checking my reflection in the TV’s dark screen. Full lips, bright eyes, every strand of hair perfectly styled. I didn’t know if I looked like a decent wife, but I was certainly prettier than I was two years ago, sitting alone and disheveled in the children’s ER while our daughter was on an IV. “Honey, didn’t you say that even as a stay-at-home mom, I should keep myself up to please you?” “If you don’t like it, I won’t wear it anymore.” My consistent, lukewarm attitude finally broke Brad. He slammed the pile of expensive cosmetics he’d just retrieved onto the floor. “Sophia! You tell me the truth! If you don’t explain yourself, I’m divorcing you immediately!” 3. Divorce. That’s wonderful. I’d endured months of this, and I’d finally gotten Brad to propose divorce. Honestly, I wanted to divorce Brad the very first day I met my “Sugar Daddy.” But he advised me that it was best if Brad initiated the divorce. That way, he would have no leverage over me regarding the dissolution of the marriage. I hadn’t even gotten the chance to say “yes” when my mother-in-law’s call came through. I had no interest in hearing Brad’s conversation with his mother, so I turned and went into the room to comfort our daughter. Brad’s tantrum was loud, and I was worried about scaring her, as she’d just fallen asleep. A few moments later, Brad hung up and came in. His face was still sour, but his tone had softened slightly. “Mom said my Aunt and Uncle are coming back from Florida this year, and they’re all coming here for New Year’s.” “You need to prepare properly these next few days. Don’t let the New Year’s dinner be so pathetic.” After years of marriage, I instantly understood the subtext. He meant he’d overlook where I got the lobster and King Crab from, as long as I helped his “filial son” self save face in front of his relatives. But I had no intention of letting him get his way. The next day, I hired a professional chef to come over and prepare a luxurious seafood feast just for my daughter and me. After we ate our fill, we gave the leftover crab legs and shrimp to the stray cats in the neighborhood. Not a single shell was left behind. On New Year’s Eve morning, Brad was still on the phone, boasting to his mother. He told her I’d bought a giant King Crab, a pair of eight-pound Australian lobsters, and fist-sized premium oyster, all waiting to treat his aunt and uncle’s family. When Brad and the whole crowd stomped through the door that evening, they found an empty dining table set with only two plates of frozen dumplings and two plates of burnt peanuts. Brad’s smile froze on his face. “Is this the dinner you prepared?” he asked, his voice strained. I stood there, bare-faced, holding my daughter’s hand. She was wearing old, slightly dingy clothes. I smiled with complete sincerity. “It is, honey.” “That day, you were so angry and asked where the money for the seafood came from.” “Well, actually, I’d borrowed it from a bunch of sketchy payday loans and credit cards. I borrowed over ten thousand dollars!” “I knew I was wrong, so I returned all the seafood and the new clothes! I paid the money back!” “I still owe about a thousand dollars in interest, but with the eight hundred dollars you give me every month, I should be able to pay it off in two years!” Brad and his mother’s faces cycled from crimson to white. They were speechless for a long time. From the back of the crowd, Aunt Lydia (Uncle Victor’s wife) remarked icily: “Sister-in-law, your Brad is so successful. He has to take out loans to host us for dinner on New Year’s.” Uncle Victor’s daughter, Cousin Madison, who had just returned from overseas, glanced at the table with blatant disdain. “Cousin Brad, you only give your wife eight hundred dollars a month? Tsk, tsk, no wonder foreign women look down on men from around here.” Brad clenched his fists, veins throbbing on his forehead. He looked ready to punch me. His mother stepped in and stopped him, rolling her eyes fiercely at me before trying to smooth things over. “Oh, hush, these two are having a little fight again!” “Women these days, they’re not as sensible as we were back then!” “They get a little upset and throw a fit just to humiliate their husband!” “Tonight, my treat! We’re going out for dinner! Let the person who caused all this trouble reflect on herself at home!” 4. Brad stumbled back in right as the New Year’s fireworks were cracking at midnight. Drunk and bleary-eyed, he shoved a divorce agreement into my hand. “Sophia! I know you did that on purpose today!” “We don’t have to torment each other anymore. Let’s get divorced after the holiday!” I quickly scanned the terms. The child went to me, the house split fifty-fifty, all savings to him, and he wouldn’t pay any child support. I thought about it. It seemed fair enough. I had no intention of splitting the savings my “Sugar Daddy” had given me anyway. So, with a flourish, I signed the divorce agreement. That night, I moved into my daughter’s room. The next morning, Brad held up the signed agreement and immediately started grilling me. “Sophia! I was only suspicious before, but now I know for a fact you have someone else!” “Otherwise, where would an orphan who doesn’t even have her parents around get the nerve to divorce me?” “Sophia! Tell me clearly! When did this start? Who is he? If you don’t explain, neither of us is going to have a peaceful holiday!” Brad was hysterical, grasping at straws. He was a mirror image of how I had been one year ago, desperately asking him whose long hair was on his pillow and whose lipstick stained his collar. Back then, Brad just played on his phone, not even sparing me a glance. I turned off the flame under the millet porridge I was making for my daughter, sighed slowly, and imitated his former nonchalance. “Honestly, living with you is exhausting. Believe whatever you want.” From that day on, Brad went crazy. He contacted all my old friends and former colleagues, trying to dig up any shred of evidence. Unfortunately, my “Sugar Daddy” and I had been careful from the start. He was old-school; he paid me mostly in cash. The few times he’d wired money, I’d handled the paper trail meticulously, leaving no trace. Brad spent days searching, but found nothing. Then, one afternoon, right after Presidents’ Day, my “Sugar Daddy” finally returned from Miami. As soon as I got the message, I rushed to put on my best makeup. I took my daughter’s small hand, and we walked to the fancy café where we often met. My “Sugar Daddy” pulled out two gold bangles, a large one and a small one, and put them on my and my daughter’s wrists. Before I could even say how lovely they were, Brad, his mother, and his entire extended family suddenly appeared from nowhere. My mother-in-law immediately threw a cup of coffee at my face. “You little tramp! I knew you were cheating on my son!” My “Sugar Daddy” instantly pulled me behind him, tenderly wiping my face with a handkerchief. “Who are you? What do you want?” Brad, like a blind cat who finally caught a rat, stuck out his chest triumphantly. “Who am I? I’m her husband! Look at you, all dressed up! You seduced my wife!” “You’re paying! Don’t even think about getting away with less than five hundred thousand dollars!” Uncle Victor scrutinized my “Sugar Daddy” from head to toe, his eyes lighting up with recognition. “You’re Robert Sinclair, aren’t you? The CEO of Sinclair Industries! Yes, it’s you!” He pulled out his phone and snapped several pictures of my “Sugar Daddy.” “I can’t believe a big shot like you plays such dirty games!” “Listen, you have to pay our family ten million dollars for this! And our company needs to get the exclusive agency contract for your Sinclair Group!” “Otherwise, I’ll release these photos to the public! I’ll ruin your company and you right along with it!” My “Sugar Daddy’s” face was calm as water. He surveyed the greedy faces before him, his voice commanding and quietly powerful. “Yes, that’s right.” “I am Robert Sinclair of Sinclair Industries, and I am Sophia’s biological father.”

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The moment my fiancée, Isabella, returned from Vegas with her assistant, she announced a 30% raise for the entire tech department—the one I managed. My team went wild. The office was buzzing. “Bella must’ve hit a massive jackpot in Vegas! Why else would she suddenly approve a department-wide raise like this?” “Every other department is green with envy.” “Let them be. Our chief is her fiancé, after all. Of course, she’s going to look after us first!” “Hey, chief,” one of my guys asked, leaning over my desk, “how much did she actually win?” I just frowned. Something felt off. Just then, Isabella swept into our department, her assistant trailing behind her, a thick stack of documents in his arms. She tossed them onto my desk with an air of casual authority. “These need signing by your department. You’re the manager, Gordon. Lead by example.” I flipped open the top document. My eyes widened. Personal Loan Agreement? 1 What the hell was this? Were we supposed to take out loans just to get paid? My confusion was mirrored on the faces of my entire team. “Personal Loan Agreements? What’s going on?” one of them blurted out. “We take out loans from a bank, and the company uses that money to pay our salaries?” “This has to be a mistake, right?” “Loan-to-work? I’ve been in this industry for a decade and never heard of anything so insane!” “So the 30% raise was just a lie to get us to take on debt for the company? Do they think we’re idiots?” As the murmurs of discontent grew into a wave of outrage, Isabella shot a look at her assistant, Vincent. He slapped a hand on the table, his face a mask of stern disapproval. “Everybody, quiet down. Don’t run your mouths off about things you don’t understand. You’ll damage the company’s reputation.” He pasted on a slick, reassuring smile. “This is a special perk for the tech department. Other teams would kill for this opportunity.” One of my senior engineers snorted. “A perk? First I’ve ever heard of debt being a benefit.” Vincent ignored him, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “While the loans are in your names, you won’t be responsible for repayment. The company will handle everything.” He spread his hands wide. “Stratton Industries is expanding rapidly, and our capital is tied up in new ventures. We’re just facing a temporary cash-flow issue.” “Rest assured,” he continued, his eyes sweeping over the skeptical faces, “as soon as you sign, the company guarantees to pay off the bank loans within a year, max. After that, your salaries will see another boost. Stratton is doing this because you’re a vital department, and also because your manager, Gordon, is Ms. Stratton’s fiancé. You’re getting special treatment. An opportunity like this doesn’t just fall into anyone’s lap.” His words were smooth, but it was just empty promises wrapped in corporate jargon. The team wasn’t buying it; their expressions were still a mixture of anger and disbelief. Vincent turned his phony smile on me. “Gordon, you’re a reasonable man. They might not understand the company’s vision, but surely you do. Bella is working herself to the bone for this company’s future. If her own tech department can’t handle a small request like this, how can she lead us forward? Come on, be a leader. Sign the papers.” Sign it? I’d sooner break my own damn leg. I didn’t have to guess who cooked up this ridiculous, insulting scheme. It had Vincent’s fingerprints all over it. Ever since he’d joined as Isabella’s assistant, she’d become completely dependent on his advice, taking him to every important meeting. Whispers had already started, people wondering if he was the real fiancé, if I was just the guy she was stringing along. We’d fought about him, about his influence, more times than I could count. Each argument ended in a bitter stalemate, chipping away at whatever was left between us. Our love, our partnership… it had been worn thin by these constant battles. I took a deep breath, ignoring Vincent completely, and looked directly at Isabella. “Making employees sign loan agreements is unheard of,” I said, my voice low and steady. “This will crush morale. It’s poison for the company culture. Whoever suggested this does not have your best interests at heart.” As I said it, I shot a cold glare at Vincent. The smile on his face tightened, and a flicker of malice flashed in his eyes. Isabella’s expression hardened. “Gordon, enough with the drama,” she snapped, her patience gone. “Just sign the damn papers. I have other things to do.” It was like she hadn’t heard a word I said. Vincent, now looking smug, leaned in with a hint of a sneer. “Don’t hesitate, Gordon. I have to escort Bella to a banquet tonight. We don’t have all day.” My team looked crushed, their anger turning to a quiet desperation. They all looked at me. I’d built this department from the ground up, hired every single person in the room. They trusted me. I was their anchor. I looked back at Isabella, and all I felt was a profound sense of disappointment. This wasn’t the woman I’d fallen in love with, the partner I’d planned a future with. In just one year, she’d become a stranger. And in her eyes, I was no longer a partner, but just another disposable piece on her chessboard. A deep weariness washed over me. For years, I had poured my heart and soul into helping her build Stratton Industries, asking for nothing but her trust in return. Now I saw it all for what it was: a one-sided fantasy. I let the loan agreement slip from my fingers and onto the desk. “Anyone who signs this,” I said, my voice clear and final, “is a fool.” 2 Isabella’s face flushed with fury. She clearly hadn’t expected me to defy her so publicly. “Gordon,” she seethed, her eyes blazing, “say that again. I dare you.” I met her gaze without flinching. “I will not sign this loan agreement. Period.” My declaration was like a signal. The rest of the tech team erupted. “He’s right! They’re playing us for fools!” “All that hype about a 30% raise… what a joke. We got excited for nothing.” “The chief’s right! Whoever signs this is an idiot.” “We’re tech guys. We might not be the smoothest talkers, but we’re not stupid.” “The company will pay it back? Yeah, right. Even a five-year-old wouldn’t fall for that lie.” “They want to sell us down the river and expect us to thank them for it? This is disgusting.” The room was filled with the righteous anger of my team. Vincent, trying to reassert control, puffed out his chest. “What’s all this noise? I told you, it’s a company perk! Don’t be so ungrateful!” he yelled over the din. “Let me make this clear: anyone who doesn’t sign today can clear out their desk tomorrow. You think this company can’t function without you? You’re all spoiled. Don’t forget who signs your paychecks. This company is named Stratton, and it belongs to her.” He shot me a pointed, triumphant look. The jab was meant for me. Isabella glared at me, her face a thundercloud. “Gordon, my office. Now.” Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heel and stormed off. I followed her into her office. The moment I was inside, she slammed the door shut, the sound echoing the violence of her anger. “Are you out of your mind, Gordon?” she screamed, whirling on me. “I asked your department to sign a simple loan agreement, and you undermined me in front of everyone! Do you even see me as your fiancée anymore? Do you have any idea how bad you just made me look?” I sighed, the fight draining out of me. “This was Vincent’s idea, wasn’t it?” I asked quietly. “Have you thought about what happens when word of this gets out? What people will think of Stratton Industries? That guy…” “Vincent is looking out for me! For the company!” she cut me off, her voice shrill. “Our cash flow is tight. It’s just a one-year loan, I’m not asking them to sell their souls! Once our capital frees up, I’ll compensate them handsomely…” I held up a hand to stop her. “The company is short on cash?” My brows knitted together. “How is that possible? We just had two major project payments come in last month. The company has been profitable every single quarter. There’s no reason for us to be in a financial crunch.” A flicker of panic crossed Isabella’s face. She avoided my eyes, her answer vague and evasive. A cold dread began to creep up my spine. “Isabella,” I said, my voice dropping, “how much did you lose in Vegas?” If I hadn’t figured it out by now, I really would be an idiot. My question seemed to push her over the edge from defensive to furious. “How much I lost is none of your business!” she shot back. “Even when we’re married, you don’t get to control my private life. Stratton Industries is my family’s company. If I want to run it into the ground, that’s my decision, and it has nothing to do with you!” I let out another heavy sigh. “How much could you even get from the team’s loans? It wouldn’t be nearly enough to solve a serious cash-flow problem,” I reasoned, trying one last time. “If things are really that bad, we can use the money from our savings account to tide the company over.” When we first got together, we’d opened a joint account. It was for our future—our wedding, our first home, our kids. Over the years, I’d deposited most of my salary, bonuses, and dividends into it. My contributions alone totaled over a million dollars. It should have been more than enough to cover a temporary shortfall. But as I said it, Isabella went silent, a guilty expression washing over her face. I stared at her in disbelief. “Don’t tell me,” I whispered, the words catching in my throat. “You didn’t… you didn’t touch that account, did you? You blew through that, too?” She had always called that account our safety net, our last resort. If the company ever failed, that money was supposed to be the foundation we would rebuild our lives on. And now, she had torched it. Faced with my shocked expression, her guilt morphed back into anger. “My luck was just bad, okay!” she yelled. “Once the company is stable, I swear I’ll win it all back! Stop fixating on this. The priority right now is to keep the company afloat.” She took a breath, her eyes regaining a manic intensity. “Vincent and I have already worked it out. If we get your entire tech team to sign the loan agreements, we can leverage them with a private finance company. We’ll get way more than we would from a bank. It will solve everything!” I almost laughed. It was such a brazenly monstrous plan. She and Vincent weren’t just asking for a loan. They were leading my entire team to the slaughterhouse. 3 I don’t know what kind of poison Vincent had been feeding Isabella, but she was completely under his spell. She hadn’t just gambled away company funds; she’d drained our shared future, and now she was coming for the livelihoods of my entire team. Had she given any thought to the consequences? She had become utterly unreasonable. I stopped trying to reason with her. It was pointless. “No matter what you say, I won’t sign that contract,” I stated flatly. “And the people in my department aren’t stupid. They won’t let you sell them off like cattle.” “If the company needs money, there are other ways. We can apply for a corporate loan. We can ask our business partners for a short-term bridge loan…” “No!” she snapped, her eyes wide with panic. “No one outside this company can know we’re in trouble. I would be humiliated.” Her gaze hardened into an ultimatum. “Gordon, I’m saying this for the last time. You will lead your team in signing those agreements, or else…” Before she could finish her threat, a commotion erupted from outside the office—angry shouts mixed with Vincent’s pained, pathetic yelps. Isabella’s face went pale. She wrenched the door open. In the main office area, Vincent was on the floor, being swarmed by the tech team. They were kicking and hitting him, even the normally mild-mannered women on my team landing a few furious kicks. It was a testament to just how much he was hated. “Stop it!” Isabella shrieked, rushing forward to shield him with her own body. She glared at the team, a lioness protecting her cub. “How dare you! Assaulting someone in my company!” The team fell back, breathing heavily. Before they could explain, Vincent, clutching his side, put on a masterful show of victimhood. “Bella, they’re insane!” he whimpered. “I was just trying to reason with them, to get them to think about the company, and they attacked me! I’m your assistant! By attacking me, they’re attacking you!” He pointed a shaking finger at the team. “They’re arrogant. In their eyes, Gordon is their only boss. You mean nothing to them compared to him.” Hearing Vincent’s twisted version of events, the team’s anger flared again, and a few of them looked ready to lunge at him once more. I knew my people. They wouldn’t have laid a hand on him without extreme provocation. He must have said something truly vile. But Isabella, blinded by her trust in him, didn’t give them a chance to speak. “This is my company, not Gordon’s!” she yelled, her voice cracking with rage. “You dare attack my assistant? Is this a rebellion? You think because you have a few technical skills you can disrespect everyone? Fine! Half of your salaries this month are gone! And you can forget about your quarterly and annual bonuses! That’s your punishment. Anyone who doesn’t like it can quit right now. I’ll approve your resignation on the spot!” My team’s faces were flushed with indignation. They were professionals, here to do a job, not indentured servants. Isabella was acting like a feudal lord punishing her serfs. Did she really think they couldn’t find work elsewhere? Before anyone could respond, she turned her fury back on me. “And you,” she spat, her voice dripping with contempt, “if you don’t sign that contract, you can get the hell out too!” I looked at her, the last embers of our shared history dying in that moment. “Fine,” I said calmly. “I’m gone.” 4 The news that Stratton Industries had fired its entire tech department sent shockwaves through the company and even made a few ripples online. Internet forums were buzzing with confusion. “What’s Stratton doing? Firing their whole tech team right before the holidays? That’s corporate suicide.” “Gordon wasn’t just their Head of Tech, he was Isabella Stratton’s fiancé! Now she’s kicked him out too? What happened?” “I heard she publicly tore into him and called off the wedding.” “But they seemed so solid. Stratton Industries wouldn’t be where it is today without him. How did it all fall apart so fast?” As speculation mounted, a flood of negative stories suddenly appeared online. They were hit pieces, filled with slander and fabricated rumors designed to ruin the reputations of everyone on my former team. The articles about me were particularly vicious, quickly pushed to the top of trending topics. My team and I ignored the noise. The moment word got out that Isabella and I were done, my phone started ringing off the hook. Headhunters from major corporations were calling, and several prominent business leaders reached out directly with offers. Now, we were all gathered in a high-end restaurant, dining with one of those leaders. Mr. Wallace was a man of action. He was so impressed with our team that he’d set up an entirely new subsidiary just to partner with us. Everyone on my team got their salary doubled, with bonuses and benefits that blew Stratton Industries out of the water. I raised my glass to him. “Mr. Wallace, I don’t know how to thank you for this opportunity. We won’t let you down.” Wallace waved a dismissive hand. “This is a partnership, Gordon, mutually beneficial. No need for thanks. I’ve had my eye on you for a while. If it weren’t for your engagement to Isabella Stratton, I would have poached you years ago.” He chuckled. “Frankly, I have no idea what got into her, firing a team like yours right before year-end. The next time I see her, I ought to thank her. If she hadn’t made such a colossal blunder, I never would have gotten the chance to work with you.” I didn’t want to talk about Isabella, but Wallace suddenly leaned forward, his expression turning serious. “Gordon, after you left, she did something incredibly foolish. I don’t think Stratton Industries is going to last much longer.” “What did she do?” I asked, curious despite myself. With a mysterious smile, Wallace took out his phone and sent me a video.

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On the night of the annual family dinner, my husband, who openly disliked children, casually mentioned how “cute” a cousin’s toddler was. I took it as a sign. A signal. I immediately ordered ten packets of expensive, complex fertility herbs to regulate my body. I spent three grueling months dragging him through a high-intensity baby-making routine. My abdomen remained stubbornly, cruelly empty. The truth dropped like a bomb: I found his vasectomy report tucked away in his bedside drawer. Right next to it, I found photographs of his secret twins. A boy and a girl. Four years old. The resulting fight was cataclysmic. 1 The older generation and our friends rallied around me, urging caution. “Carlisle finally agrees to an heir, why make a scene? The Carlisle Group needs a successor.” “The children must have been an accident. Damon probably felt obligated. Why not just raise them as your own, Anna?” I looked at Damon Carlisle, my husband of three years, who stood before me—aristocratic, cold, and emanating the severe authority of a man used to getting his way. “I will agree not to divorce you, on one condition: you never see them again. That is my maximum concession.” Damon stood up, slowly removed his wedding ring, and placed it gently on the glass coffee table. “Vera suffered the ten months of carrying my children. I am their father. It is my responsibility to care for them.” “She won’t challenge your position as Mrs. Carlisle. Why are you being so relentlessly aggressive?” Hearing his cold logic ripped the last remnants of hope from my chest. I finally abandoned the fantasy of things ever returning to normal. “If that is the case, then we are getting a divorce.” BAM! A teacup smashed near my feet. My father, Mr. Welles, his face mottled purple with rage, pointed a trembling finger at me. “Dare to divorce him, and I will break your legs!” “Since when is a small scandal not commonplace in the upper echelons of society? Why must you be so dramatic?” My mother-in-law rose to pull my father back, but her eyes held a distinct look of displeasure when they met mine. “Anna, you are a Welles, a daughter of a respectable family. How can you stoop to the level of those lower-class women who fight over men?” “Look at the chaos you’re causing. If this gets out, it will damage the Carlisle reputation.” The voices of everyone in the room became a chorus of disapproval. My tears finally streamed down my face and landed on my hands as I asked the question that still burned worst of all: “Damon, why did you have a vasectomy behind my back?” Years ago, we had agreed that if I accidentally became pregnant, and he still didn’t want a child, I would respect his decision. I had thought, naively, that a surprise might trigger his paternal instinct, that his preferences might change. But for three years, there was never a single accident. I spent two years believing it was my body, enduring endless appointments and drinking bitter herbs. I was trying to fix myself, when he had already made me redundant. A flicker of guilt crossed Damon’s face. He let out a heavy sigh. “Anna, I had no choice.” He walked over and gently put his arm around my shoulder, his voice now a low, earnest murmur. “Vera grew up poor. She suffered so much abuse and hardship. How could she compete with a Welles heiress? And how could her children ever compete with one of yours?” “I didn’t want them to suffer the same way she did, to be pointed at and humiliated.” “We’ve been in each other’s lives since we were kids, Anna. Surely you can understand my position.” He spoke of the unfortunate necessities of the world, asking me to accept his arrangement. In my heart, all I heard was a tidal wave of shock and revulsion. He loved her deeply enough to plan their entire future—a future that required him to betray me. I was nothing more than a sacrifice for his true love. I shoved his arm away, taking three shaky steps back. I looked at him with utter desolation. “Damon Carlisle, you are truly disgusting.” “We are done. I refuse to share a life with a liar.” Damon’s face hardened, the shame immediately masked by anger. “Anna Welles, as children of elite families, we all have obligations. Why can’t you be gracious and accommodating?” “You were born with the wealth and privilege Vera will never have. I have given you the status and respect of being Mrs. Carlisle. She just wants to be a simple, ordinary woman. Do you really need to force me to abandon her?” 2 He looked past me to my father. “Dad, I don’t want this affecting the merger. Take Anna home and talk some sense into her.” He then grabbed his car keys and strode out, calling his mother and the other guests with him. He was even kind enough to close the door behind him. Instantly, my father’s roar was deafening. “You ungrateful girl! Haven’t you embarrassed me enough? Now I have to take you home for a ‘talking to.’ How did the Welles family raise such a coarse, disrespectful person?” I scoffed. “Poor genetics, I suppose. I’m not just coarse, I’m selfish and cold-blooded, too.” He married into my family and then kept a mistress and had secret children, driving his wife to suicide. I was only asking for a divorce. My father was clearly worse than me. My father flew into a rage. “Anna Welles, you are just as narrow-minded and foolish as your mother! Why can’t you just live a good life? Do you have to cause chaos just to feel satisfied?” He glared at me, his voice icy and menacing. “If you won’t think of yourself, think of Franklin. He’s in his senior year. He’s always been an honor student. You don’t want to force him to drop out of high school, do you?” My shoulders slumped. I collapsed onto the sofa. I couldn’t gamble my younger brother’s future against them. When our mother jumped, he was barely one year old. He was so tiny, just holding my hand and laughing with those clear eyes, having no idea he would never see her again. Since he turned one, he’d been poisoned three times, bitten by a snake, had his ribs broken in a car accident, and almost suffocated from a severe allergic reaction. I had protected him through hell and back. How could I destroy his one chance at a future? My father ultimately slammed the door shut and left. When Damon returned late that night, he found me sitting on the floor, weeping and blurry-eyed from too much liquor. He said nothing, simply picking me up and moving me to the sofa, then taking a cloth to gently wipe my face. He brought me a glass of lemon water and held me, feeding it to me, sip by sip. For a brief, sharp moment, I was transported eighteen years back, to when our affection was true. My mother had just died, and my father immediately moved his mistress in. They forced me to kneel and call her ‘Mother.’ I hid in the attic and cried until my throat was raw. Damon was the one who held me, wiping my face and feeding me water, just like this. He held me and told me he had me, that everything would be okay, and to trust him. The thirteen-year-old boy then knelt before his own father and begged for a shred of protection for me, strategically using the Welles family cooperation to prove my worth. How could I not have loved that boy? The brief, artificial warmth was shattered by a long, heavy sigh. “Anna, I’m not leaving you. The twins were truly just an accident.” I clung to his neck, my voice breaking. “Damon, you know I can’t accept this. I won’t end up like my mother, struggling and suffering until I break.” “Please, send them overseas. We can support them financially forever.” “Why didn’t you make her get an abortion? Why didn’t you talk to me when you suddenly wanted a child?” After a long, cold silence, Damon finally spoke, his tone utterly indifferent. “The Carlisle-Welles merger grand opening is tomorrow. Prepare yourself. You must not be absent. It will only cause speculation.” Watching his tall, unyielding frame walk away, my heart sank to the bottom of the ocean. The next day, Damon sent over a gorgeous gown and the expensive Queen’s Chandelier necklace he had bought at auction. His secretary nervously watched me. I changed and applied a perfect, polished coat of makeup. Damon was right. The business cooperation could not be destroyed. Franklin wasn’t grown up yet. I still had a responsibility to reclaim everything my maternal grandfather left behind. 3 The grand opening ceremony was grand. All the Oakwood Hills elite were present. Stepping onto the grounds of the exclusive estate, my eyes landed immediately on Vera Jenkins. She was wearing a pearl-white silk dress, looking demure and graceful, exuding an air of gentle, maternal warmth. Damon had his arm around her waist, navigating the room and greeting guests. Vera smiled politely, perfectly composed. My mother-in-law was holding the little boy, chatting happily with a group of society matrons. Everyone complimented the child, calling him “a blessing,” “a future titan of industry.” The moment I stepped into the ballroom, the noise instantly died. Every single eye swiveled to me. Damon released Vera, walked over to me with an unnerving ease, and took my hand. “Anna, come see the baby. He really is adorable.” He led me to his mother and gently placed the child in my arms. Looking at the healthy, plump baby, a wave of bitter longing washed over me. I gently touched his soft cheek. If only he were mine. I knew I could have given Damon a child, too. The surrounding looks were a dizzying mix: pity, thinly veiled ridicule, and cold detachment. Vera quickly rushed forward, her hands outstretched, a hint of urgency in her expression. “Sister, Astra is heavy. Please let me hold him.” I froze, looking at her in disbelief. “You… you named him Astra?” “Astra Carlisle. Damon said it symbolizes the way our hearts are forever linked.” A piercing cry erupted. My hands suddenly dropped. I was falling into an endless abyss, consumed by a paralyzing cold. He gave our name to them. He wanted their hearts to be forever linked. Astra. I was eighteen, celebrating my birthday, the first night I gave myself to him. He had held me tight and vowed that our first child would be called Astra—a testament to our souls being eternally bound. Before I could voice the furious question that was choking me, a sharp smack echoed through the vast room. I blinked, realizing I had dropped the baby. He was on the floor, a trickle of blood seeping from his forehead. Damon was instantly kneeling, clutching the child, his eyes blazing with pure hatred directed at me. Beside him, Vera was sobbing hysterically. “Sister, even if you hate my children, you can’t drop him in public like this! He is Damon’s son, too. How could you be so cruel?” She struggled to pull the baby from Damon’s grasp. “Damon, please, just let me go! I love you, and I was willing to be a secret, but I cannot risk my children’s lives! How can she do this? Is it just because I have no one to protect me? Can she just try to kill Star right here, in front of everyone?” Her cries were heartbreaking. Damon was frantic, holding both her and the screaming child tightly. “Vera, look at me. Astra is our baby. I will never let anyone hurt him. I love you both, and I will protect you with my life.” “Don’t worry. I will give you justice. I will make her kneel and apologize to you. I will give you whatever guarantee you need.” Every word Damon spoke was a stab to my heart. He was demanding that I, his wife, bow and apologize to his mistress, and give her a guarantee. What about my guarantee? Was it all just a sick joke? The image of a brilliant, hopeful young man flashed in my memory: “Anna, I love you. I will protect you forever. Anyone who tries to hurt you, I will fight to the death.” Damon grabbed the collar of my gown and with a sudden jerk, flung me toward Vera. “Kneel! Apologize to Vera and Astra.” “And swear on your late mother’s memory that if you ever try to cause trouble or harm Vera and her children again, your mother’s soul will suffer the eternal torment of fire and agony in the afterlife!” I stared at Damon in horror. My mother had treated him like her own son. He had once knelt at her grave, calling her ‘Mom.’ Now, for his mistress, he was willing to curse her so viciously. 4 I wiped the tears from my face and straightened my spine. “Damon Carlisle, I will never kneel and apologize to your mistress. You will have to kill me first.” Damon’s eyes narrowed. He motioned with his hand. Two bodyguards rushed forward, seizing my shoulders. One delivered a powerful kick to the back of my knees, sending me crashing to the floor in front of Vera. I didn’t get a chance to even lower my head before the noise of the crowd surged. “Oh my God, the Welles heiress is kneeling to the mistress. That’s a new low for women.” “She might as well die. Live any longer, and it’s just public disgrace. Her late father must be rolling in his grave.” I raised my chin stubbornly, my eyes bloodshot as I looked at Damon. “Damon, how could you forget the promise we made under the Sycamore tree?” Damon’s gaze was hard and unrelenting. He squeezed my jaw with brutal force. “Anna Welles, I have never forgotten. You are the one who is aggressive, insisting on driving Vera and the twins away. Today, you deserve this lesson.” He forced my head down, slamming my forehead hard against the marble floor. Warm blood immediately trickled down my face and into my eyes, blurring my vision. As Damon prepared to smash my head down a second time, a small, thin figure surged forward. He punched Damon squarely in the face. “Don’t you dare hurt my sister!” Through the haze of my own blood, I saw my brother, Franklin Alexander, standing between us, his body trembling, his arms wide open in fierce protection. Damon recovered his stance, wiped the blood from his lip, and looked at Franklin with cold contempt. “Move.” “No.” “Damon, you can’t do this to my sister! You promised you would protect her forever! Why are you making her kneel to this… this vixen?” Damon’s eyes narrowed further. He spoke in a chillingly low voice. “Franklin, you’re too young to understand. I’m doing this for your sister’s own good, to stop her from harming innocent people.” “That’s a lie! My sister would never hurt anyone! You’re framing her!” “I’m eighteen now, Damon. I’m not a child. If you won’t protect my sister, I will.” The boy’s young face was contorted with grief and outrage. He grabbed my arm, trying to pull me to my feet and away. Damon waved his hand. The bodyguards blocked our path. “Anna, you must face the consequences of your actions. You haven’t apologized to Vera.” Franklin furiously pushed at the bodyguards, but they seized him and pinned his arms behind his back. Seeing them grab my arm, the boy screamed. “Don’t touch her! I’ll apologize! I’ll take the beating, whatever you want!” With that, Franklin collapsed to the ground, facing Vera, and began to slam his head against the floor in a desperate kowtow. “I’m sorry! I’ll pay for my sister’s mistake! Don’t do this to her! She’s a woman! Don’t humiliate her!” Tears sprang from my eyes. I kicked out violently at the bodyguard’s leg, scrambling forward to pull Franklin into my arms. “Franklin, I’m so sorry. I failed you. I’m useless. I’m so sorry…” Franklin’s tears soaked my neck. His voice was hoarse and broken by sobs. “Sis, I’m the one dragging you down. I’m quitting school. Let’s just leave.” The guests watched with complicated expressions. In the upper class, everyone was an expert strategist; they all knew the truth about the Welles family history. But no one dared to speak up and risk offending a powerful business partner. Seeing the tension mount, my father finally stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding. “You embarrassing trash! Fighting over a man and ruining a great day for the merger!” He raised his hand and slapped Franklin hard across the head. “You’re supposed to be a man! Instead of advising your sister, you join her foolish chaos! How can I ever hand the Welles Group over to you looking like this?”

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My taste is very unique, only like specific looks. Boyfriend Parker Sterling thought I loved his face to the point of madness. But he forgot, He has a twin brother. Later at a friends’ gathering, boyfriend’s “female bro” took my diary while I was in the restroom. Said in front of everyone: “Aren’t you all curious what our Campus Sweetheart’s precious diary wrote? Let’s open and see now!” Everyone gathered around: “Must be writing how she humbly chased Brother Parker, didn’t she have a crush on him for three years?” Parker leaned lazily on the private room sofa, a satisfied smile hanging on his face. Sienna opened the first page. [Today finally met Parker, I confessed to him, he called me crazy.] Last page: [Third year with Parker, I still can’t treat him as you.] … Chapter 1 Words fell, surroundings instantly became quiet. Parker with a gloomy face snatched the diary. No one dared to speak again, in the tense atmosphere someone shouted: “Zoe is here.” Everyone looked at me playfully. I had already witnessed the whole process outside the door, at this moment whole body cold. Parker seemed angrier than me, eyes filled with rage. Seeing me standing still, he got up, forcefully dragged me to the stairwell to question: “Zoe, what does the last sentence of the diary mean?” “Who is he!” Dim light moved across Parker’s face, I couldn’t help but stunned for a second. Faces look very alike. But no matter how alike, he is ultimately not him. Maybe my gaze was too straightforward, Parker even angrier, punched the wall behind me: “Who are you looking at through me?” I recovered, asked back: “Then you, as my boyfriend, actually allowed another woman to casually look through my privacy?” Parker stunned, a trace of guilt flashed across his face. Just then, Sienna chased out, pretending to be a peacemaker: “Parker, how could sister-in-law have someone else in her heart, probably just to make you jealous, made up a person in the diary.” “All fake ya, did sister-in-law do few ridiculous things to chase you before?” Maybe remembering past I used all means to chase him, even found other men to stimulate him. Parker finally calmed down, face as always carried a bit of disdain. He stepped back from me, frowned: “Zoe, have you made enough trouble, only you can think of such boring things.” “Are you annoying or not, always so dramatic, must make me revolve around you 24 hours a day?” Sienna also echoed: “Sister-in-law, don’t do this kind of thing later, I’m watching for you, Parker only has you as woman beside him.” I sneered, isn’t she a woman? At this time, Sienna deliberately hooked one arm on Parker’s shoulder, familiarly said: “Parker, let’s go back, guys are still waiting for you not drunk not return tonight.” “Let sister-in-law calm down herself, can’t always spoil.” Parker looked at her, face raised a doting smile he himself didn’t even notice. Heart couldn’t help floating astringent pain. Like before, he will always spoil Sienna, no matter what she wants, will agree. And to me, he always bad words face each other. When Sienna has Cramps, one phone call can make him immediately leave me, rush to take care of her all night. And turn to me, he only says: “Take some Advil, others all pass like this, endure and it will be fine.” Treated coldly by him countless times, I also didn’t feel aggrieved, as long as seeing that face is enough. Watching backs of two people leaving playfully, thoughts interrupted by a message. Click open screen, is that number familiar to heart. [I’m back.] Chapter 2 Early morning, Parker came back drunk. He whole person pressed on Sienna, until put on sofa, hand still dead grabbing her not let go. “Sienna, you not allowed agree that man’s pursuit.” Sienna provokingly smiled said: “Sister-in-law, don’t think too much, he just checking for me.” Not important anymore. These years, men around Sienna always driven away by Parker in various ways. I from start thought was coincidence, to later couldn’t help question. He would only irritably accuse me: “Me and Sienna are just good bros, those men chasing her are not good things, I help her handle, any problem?” “Yourself heart dirty see everything dirty!” Pulled away from memories, I looked at Sienna, plainly smiled: “I know, I didn’t think much.” Check or true love, from now on no relation with me. Sienna face flashed a trace surprise, awkwardly said: “Person delivered, then I go.” She repeatedly pulled many times, then pulled hand away. Winter sky very cold, looking at Parker’s face, I finally didn’t bear, hugged a quilt cover on him. When pulling quilt touched his waist, he opened eyes saw is me, angered: “Roll away, don’t touch me!” Hand paused, next second, I cleanly pulled quilt up. “Accidentally touched, no other meaning.” Finished, I hugged quilt turned into room. Parker stunned a bit, wanted say something, but finally didn’t open mouth. Next morning, I just arrived office, was notified: Sienna will parachute replace me interview financial big shot, and require me send all content already interviewed to her. But this project only lack interview last person then complete. No need think much, can guess this is Parker did. Chill spread from bottom of heart, he clearly knew how much effort I paid for this project, stayed up countless nights in study. But he still indulged Sienna snatch my result. Just then, Parker brought Sienna over. He open mouth first sentence is warning: “Zoe, you understand Sienna a bit, she hard to have a liked project.” “Company so many people, you don’t make her hard do, hurry handover project data to her.” He afraid Sienna embarrassed, specially condescend come help her say hello. But from work to feeling didn’t have a trace consider my face. I couldn’t help think of before, I like a thing, as long as Sienna wants. Parker will give her. I once tried beg him don’t always so bias Sienna, can or not consider me a bit. But exchanged forever only his cold sentence: “Don’t want break up then give to her.” Past every time fight grab all ended myself embarrassed unbearable. Now, I also don’t want fight anymore. Who he bias, I don’t care. See me half day not say a word, Parker face carry anger, lower voice threaten: “Zoe, you better not make trouble… otherwise…” I smiled interrupt him, stuffed data just organized in hand into Sienna hand. “Give you, just a project.” Two people both stunned. Parker a grab my hand, eyes dangerous staring me. “What trick are you playing?” “Zoe, are you angry, so deliberately say so?” Sienna held back red eye rims. Finished, she turned just go, Parker panicked, dragging her hand not let go. “Sienna, I say is yours is yours.” I sneer once, see through Sienna pretended performance, mock: “Sienna, you stop pretending, okay?” “Project and Parker, I both…” Given to you. Words haven’t finished, Parker’s slap already fell on my face. “Who allowed you talk to Sienna like this!” Surrounding all my colleagues. Parker not care my face, he only afraid Sienna angry. Time stagnant, seeing red mark rising on my face, Parker eyes suddenly flashed a trace heartache, stammering just open mouth explain: “I not intentional, I didn’t want like this…” Sienna crying sound interrupted him, she gambling anger like said a sentence: “I don’t want anymore.” Parker looked me once, didn’t speak again, chased Sienna ran out company. I didn’t care surrounding same as before one sentence higher than one sentence irony. Five days, another five days then end. Today they gave me, I will one by one return back. Chapter 3 Consecutive three days, Parker didn’t go home. If past me, don’t know sent how many messages beg him go home. But now, where he go I all indifferent. Just threw away things belong to me in house, received my mom call: “Zoe, me and your dad tonight already appointed Parker his parents, together discuss your marriage ba.” I originally wanted refuse, but turn thought, these years, they four elders didn’t less spend mind on me and Parker feeling. Now story scatter, always have to say clear with them. So I agreed. Parker rushed come time, already late half hour. I didn’t expect he actually still brought Sienna together. Detect my parents expression unhappy, Parker indifferent explain: “Because once agreed, we want witness each other happiness every moment.” “So discuss marriage, she naturally have to be present.” Sienna also provokingly take words: “Yes ya, we both so many years good friends, feeling naturally extraordinary, Zoe, do you mind?” Parker eyes seem have seem not swept me, like waiting my attitude. I didn’t noise, also didn’t refuse. Smiling comfort my parents said: “It’s okay, I don’t mind.” Parker listen finish my words, gloomy face, fingers tightly pinching cup fell ground. Is he waiting me noise like before? But I before was care him, now feeling to him… already scattered clean. Atmosphere somewhat strange, Sterling parents somewhat sorry said: “Zoe is a good girl, better we set marriage first ba, in-laws side no matter what requirement, we all agree.” My mom smiling reply: “This matter have to Zoe herself decide.” Everyone sight fell on my head, I stand up, in Parker meaning unclear smile, open mouth: “Auntie, sorry, I don’t want marry Parker.” My answer shocked everyone, even Sienna waiting see me rejected stopped wine glass. Half day, Parker sneer once, mock said: “Zoe, your family before mentioned how many times marry, you now say you don’t want marry me? You think I believe? Today also you for ease with me then appointed meal ba.” Before, my parents indeed repeatedly in front Parker mentioned marry. Although they didn’t like Parker, but can’t stand I like. I want tie that face forever and ever by my side, just want die want live threaten my parents. So they can only time and time for me put down status. But every time Parker always perfunctory: “Wait I career success can marry Zoe.” Company listed after, he again say, wait I mature can let Zoe happy. Wait wait wait, year after year. He used countless excuses, but I think, he most want say should be: Person want marry not Zoe, is Sienna. This time, I say clear first ba. I again open mouth explain: “Parker, just like you said before, we indeed not suitable marry.” Seeing so calm me, Parker eyes flashed puzzle and panic. He wanted open mouth say something, Sienna suddenly cover stomach shout pain. “Parker I maybe ate wrong thing, stomach so pain, can you send me go hospital?” Parker in front my parents face hugged up Sienna, anxious walk out. Ignore Sterling parents block, he to me impatient said: “This marriage anytime can discuss, not have to now. Sienna uncomfortable, must immediately go hospital.” “You wait, I definitely will marry you.” He just out door, Sterling parents shake head, helpless said: “Zoe, is him not worthy you, we really want you be daughter-in-law.” I smiled comfort: “It’s okay, Auntie, still will have chance.” Chapter 4 Night, I received Parker seek peace message. I went, but not for seek peace, is propose breakup. Just walked to door heard his friends aside tease: “Brother Parker, this time noise so big, sister-in-law still will come ma?” “You understand what, even Brother Parker poke sky broken, she Zoe will also use herself patch up.” “Brother Parker all called, she definitely will come.” … Parker sat at main seat, eyes but always fall on Sienna. I calm walked in, instant various playful eyes lock me. Parker half lift eyelid, signal me sit go his side. I didn’t move, atmosphere stagnation, Sienna seem mean point said: “Sister-in-law is girl, want use coax, Parker.” Parker threw cigarette, walk close me, handed me a out of season bag, no patience open mouth: “Today morning is me impulsive, didn’t consider you and them, bought you a bag, don’t angry.” Sienna words to him is imperial decree. Even coax girlfriend have to she said then will go do. I no longer want mix in between these two people, allow bag he handed fall on ground, indifferent said: “Let’s break up.” “Parker, do you think I stupid to can’t see this bag is Sienna used?” Parker pulled down face, frown said: “Have you noise enough!” “Morning is pretend not willing marry, this time is propose breakup, Zoe, do you have end not finish?” I just calm reply: “Finished, between us finished.” Parker instant rage, a foot kicked open table, tightly grab my hand: “Zoe, I apology also did, coax also coaxed, what else you want?” Sienna see this scene, pretend persuade: “I know, sister-in-law is mind that bag.” “Sister-in-law, that bag I only used three times, Parker tonight organize group rush, didn’t have time buy gift, so use bag I brought apologize.” Is it, if not once saw Parker for give Sienna buy birthday gift, let major counters ten minutes send thousand gifts to home, I really want believe her this set rhetoric. But these all not important, I still insist: “I want break up.” My serious look deterred Parker. This is I with him together three years, first time propose breakup. Scarlet in his hand bright extinguish few times, silent confront after, he sneer said: “Good, good very, don’t cry beg me turn back!” Turn what back, tomorrow he just come back. Next day, to celebrate that person come back, I prepared an exhibition hall. Just personally arranging fresh flowers time, received Parker call. “Zoe, what you doing?” I insert good last flower, reply: “Arranging surprise.” His tone become brisk a lot, thought I am giving him arrange surprise. “Then I later just come look.” Before he hang up phone, I heard a group coax laugh, and tease: “Just one night, Zoe already preparing apology surprise, she indeed love you like life.” Is surprise, but not give him. Exhibition hall arrange good after, I sent address over. Evening, Parker and his that group friends swarm come. Seeing wearing wedding dress me, those people blowing whistle, mock: “Brother Parker, people wedding dress all wear good, hall also arrange good, just wait you this groom.” Parker to those flowers disdain said: “I said I don’t like White Roses, why you still prepare this.” “But since you so effort prepare… also wore wedding dress, I can propose, but you later can’t bully Sienna again.” He casual picked a grass weave into ring walk towards me, one knee kneel prepare open mouth time. I look didn’t look him once, straight walk to man just hurried come behind him: “You finally came back.”

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In my previous life, on the eve of marrying a wealthy heir. Under my cousin’s instigation, I got carried away, demanding this and that from the groom’s family, even demanding the second child take my last name. The groom’s family couldn’t stand it and called off the wedding. Spurned by everyone, I could only go to my cousin to pour out my heart. But accidentally heard my cousin say: “Deserve it! With her conditions, nothing compares to me, based on what can she marry a rich heir?” “I didn’t do anything, I just lightly provoked a few sentences, she cooperated to seek death herself…” Learning the truth, I was so angry I committed suicide. Opening my eyes again, I was reborn to the day I was instigated by my cousin. Chapter 1 “Sarah, you must listen to me, their family simply looks down on you!” “If you don’t give them a show of strength now, you will suffer after marrying in!” “Rest assured, we have so many relatives here to back you up, what are you afraid of?” Cousin Heather’s voice rang in my ear. But I broke out in cold sweat all over. Didn’t I die? How can I still hear her voice? Could it be, I was reborn? Chapter 2 I grew up poor. Because my dad is a foolishly filial person. He is the eldest in the family, back then my dad should have taken over grandpa’s job, but uncle cried two made noise three hung himself, my dad gave the job to him. When young I didn’t feel anything. Just envied cousin Heather had endless beautiful clothes since childhood, endless toys, piano to play. And relatives obviously more enthusiastic to cousin than to me. But when grew up, this difference became obvious. Cousin didn’t study well, uncle and aunt sent her abroad to mix a degree. Cousin just returned from studying abroad, their family bought her house and car in our county town. Also pulled strings for her to be a music teacher in a private school in our county. Honestly I was very envious of these in my heart. Because I still live with my parents, living in an old walk-up apartment from decades ago. As for having my own house and car, that is something I dare not even think about. So in my heart, I felt although cousin was a bit arrogant, it was understandable, after all she had house, car, confidence, capital to be arrogant. And me, only place stronger than her probably is passing the civil service exam, got a Government Job. In other places might feel nothing, but in our small town, this is the iron rice bowl. Put it this way, in elders’ eyes, even if you earn millions a year, it’s not as good as holding that few thousand dollars dead salary of government job. After getting government job, because I work relatively serious and responsible, personality also good, I got lucky again. Our unit head introduced his comrade’s child to me——blind date Connor, a wealthy heir. Of course definitely can’t compare with those New York listed company heirs. But in our small county town also a person with face. Connor’s dad and our unit head have iron relationship. And his mom is principal of a key high school here, name is household known. And Connor’s grandpa is in business, doing heating business in city, I don’t quite understand, but know enterprise very big very profitable. As for his grandpa, opened a private dental clinic here, specialized in children teeth correction, is a dental clinic parents here relatively recognize. And Connor himself condition also not bad, working as pediatrician in county hospital, personality gentle emotion stable. Connor parents both single children, Connor is their only child, degree of spoiling no need me say more. Can say, finding such a partner is blessing I got from eight lifetimes. If not our unit head pulling strings, I might not even have chance to know this kind of person. And after dating Connor, not only my living standard straight line rose, even unit colleagues attitude to me also became more gentle. Because all know I found a wealthy heir, still unit boss pulled string, no one would be full to trouble me. That time I really like fell into honey pot. But previous life I didn’t cherish. Maybe because family poor since small some inferior, suddenly got such good luck, bit not quite confident. Plus that time I relatively worshipped cousin, felt she saw much knowledge wide, told her about dating, said my confusion. And after listening me finish, cousin expression obviously stiffened a bit. Then said: “Sarah, I feel marriage still matching door matching household good, your family condition so bad, won’t be looked down by their family right?” “You think, when you gather together, his parents talk about politics, your parents talk about workshop gossip, can they have common language?” “And rich people relatively hard to get along, definitely will various look down on you target you, you willing suffer this anger lifetime?” I heard then heart thumped a bit. Because I indeed have this worry. After all two families gap really too big. Then since then, not much contact cousin suddenly enthusiastic up, time to time send me message. Today say you don’t put posture too low, go his house just sit don’t do anything, otherwise later married you have work to do! Tomorrow say why partner New Year not accompany you? Such important holiday miss he just no heart. Day after tomorrow say I feel their family look down on you? Otherwise why only give you money? Feel like smashing people with money? Isn’t this insulting people? I also don’t know what happened, said by her psychology slowly changed, got carried away, started be awkward. When talking marriage with Connor, demands changed again and again. Today dislike wedding photos taken in Cleveland not high class enough, want go New York or Paris retake. Tomorrow demand their family buy me a Porsche, must be Cayenne! Finally, eve of engagement, I think my brain that time should really flooded by sea, actually demanded later have a child take my last name! This directly touched opponent parents’ bottom line. My parents knew angry scolded me crazy, asked if my heart covered by lard? Nothing find trouble? I now think yes, my family poor like this child take my last name for what? Inherit my family that old broken small apartment? However that time I like possessed. Who persuade also not listen! Feel you not agree is not love me, your family just look down on me, look down on our family! Now like this then later what? I started put high posture, cold violence Connor, not answer phone not reply text not meet. Later, groom family patience ran out. Wedding directly cancelled. Chapter 3 Small county town just this big, wedding cancel reason at once spread whole county. I became county celebrity, of course, is bad name spread far that kind. My situation in unit also sky flip earth over. Not only colleagues discuss me, originally gentle to me unit head also cold to me, even publicly said I not know lift. People below of course also see wind steer rudder, start various make difficult for me, career no need think. More terrible is since then no one introduce partner to me, all say my eyes high, love seek death, say my family sell daughter. Including my parents, also everyday at home various scold me seek death. My dad even angry by me directly brain stroke hospitalized. I that time depressed extreme, anxious every night can’t sleep. Went find cousin want chat with her, feel only she can understand me, can enlighten me. But didn’t think arrived her home I heard outside door she calling someone. “Hehe, that idiot, really thought self can fly on branch become phoenix? Actually I didn’t do anything, just provoked few sentences she got carried away, felt other party must marry her.” “She also not think, just her looks, just her broken family condition, if not government job bonus, people can fancy her?” “Besides based on what? I look prettier than her, family condition better than her, based on what good partner I can’t find let her find?” “She now became rat crossing street everyone shout beat! Deserve! Who let her no princess life, but got princess sickness, heart higher than sky fate thinner than paper, seeing her like this I too happy! Tonight must good celebrate!” I outside listening like being five thunders bang top. Turns out, from beginning cousin so-called good to me is a trap! Turns out, from beginning she saved thought to ruin my marriage. I angry a foot kicked open door wanted argue with her. But was more cold mockery hot satire by her. Nothing more than what myself no opinion, climb high branch fail blame others these words. Angry me can’t think open directly jumped river suicide. Chapter 4 I didn’t expect I actually would rebirth. I deep breath, forced myself calm down. And at this time cousin Heather spitting flying brainwashing me. “Their family condition so good, buy you a Mercedes what wrong? This is respect to you.” “C-Class no good, grade too low, at least must be G-Wagon right?” “And can’t loan, must full payment!” Correct, previous life I just now listened cousin words, noisy find Connor buy me Mercedes. Originally his parents impression on me not bad, just from here is a turning point. Although their family finally bought me a Mercedes, but his parents attitude to me became alienated. No longer Sarah, Sarah call, but became full name. Use his mom words say is we can give, you can’t ask, you active ask this nature different. Thinking here, I lowered eyes, said: “This demand not good right?” Cousin a look hate iron not become steel said: “Baby, you have to be confident to yourself know?” “You are government employee! Do you know government employee how valuable? I tell you, your position at least worth $500,000! Ask his family a car what wrong?” “Whose family marry wife no spend money? Besides his family not no this condition, you say if man family no this condition I also not say what, this not have ma? Then buy or not is attitude problem!” “You must persist can’t compromise, now compromise later have you suffer!” I heart cold sneer. Previous life I under her flattery really felt self very valuable. Government employee ne! How awesome? How rare? But didn’t think I ignored a thing, that is government employees everywhere, rich heirs not many! Especially small county town, male more female less. Because boys usually struggle in big cities. Girls usually think close home test system. So gender ratio serious imbalance. Plus female government employees choose usually male government employees or family business rich heirs. However male government employees have considerable part diverted by female teachers. So female government employees selectable room really not much. After all a county town can have how many rich heirs? Like Connor family this kind condition extreme superior, self also strive, really one hand can count. So Connor find partner want find government employee, that really can casually pick! I count as what? If not touched light of unit head and his dad are comrades, I think don’t think! But pity, that time me not think so. I really agitated by cousin. Felt self look good excellent work good, really too cheap their family! My that self-esteem about native family poor came up again. Started crazy seek death road. Can only say my family ancestral grave originally want smoke blue smoke, but didn’t think extinguished by me a basin water. See me no reaction, cousin somewhat unhappy, pushed my arm again: “Sarah, why you not speak? My words you listened in? If you not fight, their family later definitely bully you!” “I also for your good! You must not confuse!” I lifted eyes look her, that face seemingly concern actually calculation, let my stomach a burst churn. Previous life, just because her instigation, my life all ruined. Thinking here, I heart cold sneer once. This time, I won’t let her control my life again. I gently pushed away her hand, tone calm let her stunned: “Cousin, my marriage I self will handle, not trouble you worry.” Cousin obviously didn’t expect I would say so, she stunned a bit, immediately frown: “Sarah, what happen to you? I am for your good!” “Only we are own family, otherwise others won’t say these words to you, who also don’t want offend people right?” She looking me, face full hate iron not become steel expression. I faintly smile: “Is it? Then I really too thank you. But I think, me and their family matter, still we self talk better.” “After all human heart separate belly, who knows some people heart think what?” “Maybe is jealous me so intentional instigate, ah, Cousin you wouldn’t be also jealous I found such good partner right?” I directly asked out, then carefully observe her expression.

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Because of a car accident, both I and my Oscar Winner husband were reborn. Opening my eyes again, I returned to three years ago, back to the film set where I first met Julian Vance as a Stunt Double. The hot search from my previous life was still vivid in my mind. “Actor Julian Vance died in car accident, wallet cherishes photo of first love.” Turns out in ten years of marriage, I was just a substitute for his “The One That Got Away”. This time, I frantically worked out three months in advance, cut my long hair short, and appeared in the dressing room in sharp cargo pants. In the mirror, my eyes were sharp, completely different from that gentle and lovely “Her”. Since I live again, I will never be anyone’s shadow. … Chapter 1 It took me a while to realize this was the audition site for the movie “Shadow Blade”. And to realize, I actually reborn. For a moment, I was in a trance. My life in previous life, to the outside world, seemed perfect enough. Career-wise, I went from an unknown stunt double, struggled all the way, finally became a top action director in the industry. Family-wise, I married Julian Vance, the man who later swept all major film awards. Everyone said we were the most incredible couple in Hollywood. He was the genius of the film industry surrounded by stars, every gesture full of elegance and calmness; and I was just the most inconspicuous stunt double on set, bruises all over body was normal, even face rarely appeared in the camera. But only I knew, deep in his wallet, he hid a yellowed photo. The girl in the photo looked seventy percent like me. The girl smiling like a flower in the photo was Lily, the white moonlight Julian never forgot. During the filming of a low-budget action movie, due to staff negligence and serious aging of Wire Work equipment, an accident occurred, causing Lily’s unfortunate death. The only regret, perhaps, was that the car accident came too suddenly. When he protected me, blood stained his white shirt red, but his fingers dead gripped that photo. Before dying, he looked at me, eyes trance, softly said a sentence: “…Sorry.” I didn’t know who he was apologizing to, me, or the person in the photo? He failed rescue and passed away, I was also seriously injured and hospitalized. During treatment, “White Moonlight Event” suddenly fermented on the internet. Overwhelming public opinion made me physically and mentally exhausted. After a month of rescue treatment, I finally couldn’t survive this double blow, closed my eyes forever. Chapter 2 Blinding white light dissipated, I fierce opened eyes, entered eyes was “Shadow Blade” crew familiar audition shed. This year, I was 22, just graduated from martial arts school, pulled by friend to audition for a stunt role in “Shadow Blade”. Memories surged like tide. In previous life, I first met Julian here. He played male lead, and I was female lead’s martial arts stunt double. That man who later became my husband, deeply affectionate to me in front of camera, said I was his life love on award podium. Everyone thought he loved me like life. But only I knew, he might just be looking for another person’s shadow in me. “Calm down.” I said to myself, “Since start over, don’t be foolish again.” This time, I won’t be anyone’s substitute again. “Mr. Vance is here!” “God, why would he personally come to stunt double audition site?” Surrounding suddenly commotion, I lifted head, gaze crossed crowd, looked at that young man slowly walking over. He was still so dazzling, brows and eyes like painting, temperament noble, exactly same as that shining movie king standing on award podium later. But this time, his gaze swept over crowd, moment seeing me, pupil fierce shrank. Did he recognize me? I clenched fingers, heart beating wild. But next second, those eyes once gentle like water to me, like looking at a stranger passerby, indifferently moved away gaze. Until audition ended, assistant director announced list, I finally understood. He really recognized me, Julian also reborn. “Female lead stunt double, Number 7, Lily.” That was not my number. And Julian, from start to end, didn’t look at me again. Chapter 3 “Why choose Lily?” “She doesn’t even have martial arts foundation…” Whispers came from around. Female lead of “Shadow Blade” is a sharp agent, needs large amount high difficulty action scenes. And in previous life, this role finally completed all stunt shots by me, because original star simply couldn’t endure hardship. But now, Julian personally chose a vase who can’t even do backflip. Assistant director awkwardly coughed: “Script adjusted, female lead changed to intellectual agent, fight scenes will be largely reduced…” I stood at back of crowd, fingers unconsciously pinched into palm. Script changed? Julian’s voice came from behind, cold and distant: “New version focuses more on suspense line, action scenes just embellishment.” This is simply not “Shadow Blade”! Previous life this movie could explode, was because of real exciting action scenes! Other actors looked at each other, but no one dared question movie king’s decision. I lowered head packing backpack, heard two staff whisper: “Heard Lily is Mr. Vance’s first love white moonlight…” “God, turns out it’s true, thought it was paparazzi making up entertainment news.” Backpack strap suddenly broke, prop knife “Clang” smashed on ground. Whole field instant quiet. Julian’s gaze finally fell on me. That instant, I almost thought he would walk over, just like when we first met in previous life, bend down pick up prop for me, smiling say “Be careful”. But he just frowned, said to assistant: “Clear idlers.” I turned and left, but at corner heard Lily crying voice: “Julian, I thought you wouldn’t choose me…” Ghost messenger god send, I stopped steps. Julian’s voice gentle strange, “It’s okay, this time I will protect you well.” Through door crack, I saw Julian hug Lily in arms, fingers gently combing her long hair. Exactly same hairstyle as in the photo he gripped that day of car accident. Rain fell heavy. I stood outside studio city, watching rain water flood the small square where he accompanied me practicing in previous life into an ocean. Turns out this is reason for his rebirth. Not for me. Is to compensate that person he truly loved for a lifetime. I wiped face, couldn’t distinguish rain or tears. This life, let us live our own lives well. Chapter 4 In training room, I swiped news of “Shadow Blade” announcing female lead. #Julian Vance New Movie Uses Newcomer# tag already rushed to trending. Comment section exploded: [Lily? Who? Check no such person] [Holy sh*t! Isn’t this previously rumored Julian’s white moonlight?] [Broken defense family! Thought was brainless fabrication, actually true!] [Better to ship okay! Hidden for years finally public for love!] Phone screen light stung eyes pain. “Jade, your hand is shaking.” Junior brother handed towel, looking at me worriedly, “Want rest?” I shook head, continue tie sandbag. Previous life was like this, more sad more practice to death, until body pain makes forget heart pain. “Right,” Junior brother suddenly lowered voice, “Heard Julian let director delete all dangerous scenes in ‘Shadow Blade’, specially hired Hollywood effects team do CGI…” I fierce clenched boxing glove strap. Previous life filming this movie, Lily, which is this girl chosen now, was because Julian didn’t choose her, angry ran to other crew, died in accident when filming a jump scene. So that’s it. He is saving her. “Jade!” Martial art school little junior sister panting ran in, “There, there is a web drama come door, say want real fight real shoot martial arts director…” I took name card, but stunned when seeing producer name, Leo. Julian’s biggest rival in previous life, capital puppet specialized in filming shoddy ancient idol dramas. And now, project book he sent impressively wrote: “Shadow Blade” same IP spin-off drama. Phone suddenly vibrate. Stranger number, content brief: [Miss Sullivan, Mr. Vance recommends you serve as ‘Shadow Blade’ action director. Pay double, dangerous scenes all use stunt double.] I stared at “Stunt Double” two words, suddenly laughed out sound. How ironic. Previous life he let me this stunt double turn official, this life he want let official owner forever safe. Rain fell again. When I walked out of martial art school, saw black nanny car stop at alley mouth. Window down, revealing Julian’s clear profile side face. Cigarette in his fingertip flickered in rain mist, just like that night we first met on set in previous life. Just this time, person he wait no longer me. Phone vibrate again. Still that number: [Considered well? Mr. Vance said, this is compensation.] I pressed power off button, turned walk into rain. Since live again once. This time I want be person holding knife, not someone’s knife.

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The day my billionaire parents found me, I was gutting a fish in the local market. After they brought me home, the “Fake Heiress” tried to play mind games with me, dropping passive-aggressive hints left and right. Unfortunately for her, I barely went to school, so I didn’t understand a word of her subtle shade. My biological brother couldn’t stand watching it anymore, so he gave me a copy of The Mean Girl Survival Guide. I became a self-taught master. Later, I smiled innocently at the Fake Heiress and said: “Haha, trying to mess with me? Jokes on you, it’s like kicking a cotton ball~” She was so mad she literally ended up in the hospital. 1 When my biological parents found me, I was passionately chopping fish. It was a scorching summer day. I was wearing a waterproof apron, my cleaver thudding rhythmically against the cutting board. I smelled like a mix of fish guts and old blood. I looked at them blankly. Their faces were completely unfamiliar. I asked them dumbly, “You want a carp?” The man ignored the stench and pulled me into a hug. “Lily, you are our daughter. Mom and Dad are taking you home now, okay?” Seeing how sincere he was, I nodded and agreed, but I insisted on bringing my mutt, Lucky. I couldn’t read the complex emotions in their eyes. Dad patted my head. “Lily, we can buy you a new dog when we get home, okay? A Poodle, a Maltese, whatever you want.” I shook my head and hugged Lucky tight, climbing into their luxury car. Mom kept staring at me, telling me not to get the car dirty. I nodded and hugged Lucky tighter. “Mom, I’m very good, and so is Lucky.” Mom finally turned away and stopped looking at me. 2 I rode in their car to a massive estate. A girl about my age was waiting at the door. She was wearing a pristine white dress with a flower in her hair. She looked beautiful. Mom went over and hugged her, stroking her back. “Bella, Mom is home.” I hugged my dog, Lucky, and hid behind Dad. I was so dirty. I didn’t want to stain that white dress. Dad pulled me out from behind him. I looked awkwardly at the mother and daughter hugging. The girl turned to hug Dad but hesitated when she saw me. I wisely stepped aside, but Dad pulled me back. “This is your sister. Even though she’s adopted, we’ve raised her as our own for years, so she is your sister.” I nodded, wiped my hands on my apron again and again, and reached out. “Hi, sister!” She looked at me in horror, then looked at Mom. “Does sister think I’m dirty?” I asked Dad. Dad’s eyes filled with tears. He grabbed my outstretched hand. “Lily isn’t dirty.” Mom realized her mistake and looked at me with guilt, ordering the housekeeper to take me upstairs to clean up. Actually, I really wasn’t that dirty. I showered every day after selling fish. I soaked in a bathtub for the first time. It was amazing. The housekeeper, Mrs. Higgins, was washing Lucky. It turned out Lucky wasn’t a yellow dog, but a white one. I was a little embarrassed. 3 I was enjoying my bath when Mom came in. She brought me a dress. “This is one of Bella’s old dresses… I’ll take you to buy new ones when I have time…” Before she could finish, I stood up, eyes sparkling, smiling foolishly at her. “A dress! I’ve never worn a dress before. It’s so pretty.” Mom looked at me and suddenly started crying. Did I scare her? She hugged me tightly, heartbroken. “Lily, why do you have so many scars?” I looked at my arms, legs, and shoulders. Some scars were fading; others were freshly scabbed. “Some are from gutting fish. I wasn’t good at it at first and kept chopping myself. Some are from my old dad hitting me. He hit people whenever he got drunk,” I said nonchalantly. “But later I got really good at gutting fish, and I never cut myself again! Mom, aren’t I awesome?” I looked at her, waiting for praise. But Mom just hugged me tighter and sobbed uncontrollably. Mom put the dress on me, but it was a bit too big. Then I didn’t understand why she cried even louder. Her crying summoned Dad. Dad asked Mom what was wrong. Mom said I was too skinny, looking nothing like a girl who was almost sixteen. Oh, so that was it. I sighed in relief. I thought I looked so ugly in Bella’s dress that I made Mom cry. I was wearing a dress for the first time, spinning around in circles. I kept asking Dad if I looked good. Then I ran into a pillar. Why is there a pillar in the middle of the living room? Turns out it was my brother, Ethan. He looked at me with disgust. “Where did this skinny monkey come from?” Then he got smacked by Dad. I blew on his arm, saying “blow it and it won’t hurt,” and he looked like he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. 4 Now, only Bella was afraid to get close to me. But I was clean now. She looked at me and cried too. I felt like I had a magic power that made everyone who saw me cry. Bella hugged Mom and wouldn’t let go. “Mommy, I don’t want to go gut fish.” Why not? Gutting fish is great. For every fish I gutted, my adoptive father gave me a dollar. I had saved almost a thousand dollars. A thousand dollars! Mom looked at Dad pleadingly. Dad looked at me. “Why does sister have to go gut fish?” I asked, confused. “Because Bella is your adoptive parents’ biological daughter. After you got lost, we found her and thought it was fate, so we adopted her,” Dad explained. No wonder Bella looked familiar. She looked like my adoptive mother. What a coincidence. I am my parents’ daughter, got lost, and was adopted by my adoptive parents. Bella is my adoptive parents’ daughter, got lost, and was adopted by my parents. Dad asked me, “Lily, how about we don’t send Bella back?” “If the family has three thousand dollars a month, sure,” I answered with a smile. “Why three thousand?” “Because I only use five hundred a month. Three kids would need about fifteen hundred, plus Mom, Dad, and Mrs. Higgins, so six people need three thousand,” I calculated on my fingers. Dad’s eyes turned red again. Sigh, when will my magic power to make people cry wear off? I stopped crying when I was five, and they are grown-ups and still crying. “Lily, you can spend five thousand a month if you want. Mom and Dad are very rich. Look, we live in a huge house.” “Five thousand dollars?!” I was shocked. If Mom and Dad are that rich, of course we can keep Bella. We could keep lots and lots of Bellas. 5 Bella looked at me timidly. “Sister, can you please not kick me out? I don’t want to leave Mom and Dad.” “Of course.” Mom let out a sigh of relief and immediately hugged Bella. Watching them hug, tears welled up in my eyes. Weird. What is going on today? Why did I cry right after saying they love to cry? Dad looked at Mom and coughed. I sniffled and asked Dad if he was sick. Dad bent down and hugged me. Now it’s fair. One kid each, I thought. Wait, not fair! I broke free from Dad’s hug. Under Dad’s confused gaze, I hugged Ethan. And threw Lucky to Dad. Yeah… now it’s fair. Mrs. Higgins saw us huddled together and smilingly called us for dinner. We went to the dining room. I had never seen such a fancy dinner in my life. Ethan called me a country bumpkin. I ignored him. Bella put food in my bowl. I held up my bowl to receive it. Mom looked at this harmonious scene and laughed. “Oops, sister… do you still hate me?” For some reason, the food Bella was passing to me fell onto the floor. I had held my bowl out perfectly. I didn’t hear what Bella said. My eyes were fixed on the fallen food. I picked up the eggplant with my hand and ate it. Mom looked at me like I was a monster. I explained in a panic, “Five-second rule! I always eat like this…” Besides, the floor in this house was polished so clean, it wasn’t dirty at all. I saw a flash of shock in Bella’s eyes, but she quickly recovered and whispered, “Sister, it’s my fault, I didn’t hold it tight…” “It’s okay, sister, I’ll get it myself.” “Sister really hates me, doesn’t she?” Bella looked like she was about to cry again. “Ah… no… oh dear, I just wanted to try every dish and was afraid you’d get tired,” I blurted out, embarrassed. I really wanted to crawl under the table. So I did. Ethan laughed so loud. I didn’t dare come out. Finally, Mom pulled me out and put a little of every dish in my bowl. I had never eaten such delicious food! I was happy again. 6 “Sister, did you just leave your old home like that? Don’t you miss your adoptive parents? I can’t imagine leaving Mom and Dad,” Bella asked curiously. “Hmm… I do miss them a bit. Gutting fish is tiring, but a dollar a fish, I saved a thousand dollars in two years! And although my adoptive dad beat me, he always avoided my face so I could still sell fish.” “Also, also, the kids around there told me school is super tiring, so my adoptive parents didn’t let me go to school,” I answered cheerfully. Bella was stunned. I thought she must be envious of my life. “If you want to experience it, I can take you! I have experience! I can train you, and we can dominate the fish market!” “Mom… Sister is threatening me again, boo hoo hoo.” She cried again and hugged Mom. “Huh? Sister, I didn’t… I just thought your biological parents would be happy to see you because Mom and Dad were happy to see me.” “Sister, don’t cry. I’m clumsy with words and can’t comfort people. I’ll give you all my money.” I untied the cloth bag hanging around my neck, the one I never took off even in the shower. Inside was the thousand dollars I saved over two years, stacked neatly. I heartbrokenly handed the money to Bella. She didn’t take it. The money fell all over the floor. “Does sister… still think I’m dirty?” I sadly picked up the scattered bills alone. Dad squatted down and helped me pick them up. After collecting them, he put the money away and handed me a bank card. “Dad put the money away for you. This card is for you. There is lots and lots of money in it. Lily, spend it however you like.” Dad, my real Dad. I took the card and touched it carefully. This card was different from the ones I’d seen. It was black. But I finally had a bank card! The kids at the fish market said you have to deposit lots of money to get a card. Bella stared at Dad in disbelief. “Dad… isn’t that my birthday present?” “Huh? What is a birthday present?” I asked abruptly. In my memory, I only had a birthday when I was very, very little. But I couldn’t remember clearly. I didn’t have a birthday. My adoptive father told me every time the year changed, I grew a year older. I always calculated my age like that. The guilt in Dad’s eyes couldn’t be hidden anymore. He looked sternly at Bella. “Lily just came back. You should share with your sister. Dad will give you one later.” Then Dad told me May 17th was my birthday. I was so happy. I finally had a birthday like everyone else.

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I lived on the good graces of my aunt and uncle for three years. My Aunt Carol made the same meal for me every single night: a plate of rare, boiled prawns. “Eat up, Vera,” she’d say, her voice flat. “They’re good for you.” I have always had a severe aversion to the briny, iodine-rich smell of seafood, and I’d feed the whole lot to the stray cat in the backyard when she wasn’t looking. After three years of this luxury diet, that scrawny street cat had ballooned into a magnificent, glossy, orange giant. Then came the pre-employment physical. The doctor stared at my lab report, his expression stunned. “You’re twenty-three, but your liver function markers are comparable to a professional athlete’s. How exactly do you manage your diet?” I was speechless. Walking home, one single, repeated phrase echoed in my mind… 01 The medical examination report report was a thin, flimsy sheet of paper, but in my grip, it felt like a lead weight. The doctor’s bewildered question was still buzzing in my ears. Liver function comparable to a professional athlete. It made no sense. I, Vera Hartley, an orphan who only finished college thanks to the grudging charity of my extended family, lived a life where the most rigorous exercise was walking from my bedroom to the dining room. As for “managing my diet,” I could barely afford to buy a decent moisturizer, let alone a personalized health regimen. A blast of late summer heat hit me, but I felt a deep, chilling cold run down my spine. I pushed open the front door, the familiar scent of oil and spice immediately washing over me. Aunt Carol Peterson was emerging from the kitchen, a platter in her hands. The moment she saw me, her eyes—which always seemed to be evaluating my worth—narrowed. “Well? Did you finally find a job? Hanging around outside all day. People will think we’re running a charity here, keeping a grown woman idle.” Her voice was low but laser-sharp, every word a tiny stone hitting my chest. I lowered my gaze. “I found one. I start next Monday.” “You did?” Carol paused, then slammed the platter onto the dining table with a sharp, jarring clatter. “It only took getting a job for you to speak up, did it? After all these years of eating our food and living under our roof, you’re finally going to be useful.” I clenched the report tighter, my nails pressing hard into my palms. Uncle David walked out of the living room, a weary peacemaker. “Now, Carol, finding a job is great news, Vera. Come on, wash up and let’s eat.” The dinner table felt, as always, like a trap. Carol brought out the last dish—the inevitable steamed spot prawns. She pushed the plate toward me, her tone devoid of warmth. “Eat more. They’re good for you.” That same phrase. Every night for three years. I looked at the pink, curled bodies on the plate. My stomach churned. I’d always hated the smell of these crustaceans. It wasn’t just fishy; it was a deep, primal scent that felt like it seeped into my bones, making me restless. My cousin, Brett, plopped into his chair, immediately snagging the last sparerib from the serving dish. Chewing loudly, he glanced at me with disdain. “Oh, look how special some people are. Getting their own plate of gourmet shrimp every night. Unlike me, stuck with plain old pork ribs.” His snide, entitled tone made the knot in my chest tighten. In this house, I was a perpetual outsider, a burdensome charity case living off their generosity. Carol gave Brett a half-hearted glare but didn’t correct him. She just pushed the plate closer to me. “What are you staring at? Eat them. They’ll get fishier when they cool.” I picked up my fork, selecting one prawn. The odor rose, and my throat tightened. In the past, I’d always found a way to discreetly dump them in the trash or, better yet, feed them to the stray cat by the garden wall. But tonight, the doctor’s words were a relentless mantra in my head: Liver function. Athlete. Diet. Prawns. Good for you. Was there a connection I’d missed? For the first time, I didn’t immediately plot how to dispose of this “torture device.” I studied the platter. The shells were translucent, the meat plump. They didn’t look quite like the regular shrimp I’d occasionally seen in the supermarket. I forced myself to ask, my voice a tentative whisper. “Aunt Carol, where exactly do you buy these? They look… different.” Carol was preoccupied, picking a piece of bone out of Brett’s pork chop. She didn’t look up, snapping back immediately. “Why do you care? Just eat. Does everything have to be a conversation?” Her retort slammed the door on all my questions. A surge of suppressed anger flashed through me, but I crushed it. Hold it in, Vera. You have no right to complain here. I looked down, mechanically pushing plain pasta around my plate, saying nothing else. The rest of the meal was a tasteless blur. After dinner, I took the dishes to the kitchen without being asked. Under the loud rush of the faucet, I scraped the near-full plate of prawns into a plastic bag I’d secretly placed under the sink. Using the excuse of taking out the trash, I headed toward the back garden. The orange stray—Cheeto, I’d mentally named him—seemed to be expecting me. He emerged from the shadows, letting out a soft, expectant meow. I emptied the contents of the bag into his little ceramic bowl. He immediately dove in, scarfing down the meat with gusto, a low, contented purr rumbling in his throat. I knelt down and stroked his back. Three years of high-end seafood had transformed him from a scrawny kitten into a sleek, formidable creature. His coat was thick and glossy, his eyes bright and alert. He looked… incredibly healthy. A ridiculous thought sparked in my mind. Could these prawns genuinely be something extraordinary? That night, I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed, endlessly scrolling through my phone: “benefits of spot prawns,” “shrimp for liver health.” The results were generic: high in protein, rich in nutrients. Nothing hinted at any miraculous, liver-boosting properties. They were ordinary food with ordinary effects. I tried different keywords: “special medical prawns,” “rare brackish water shrimp,” “black market seafood.” The results were even more far-fetched, mostly ads for herbal supplements. I turned off my phone. The room was dark, but my mind was brightly lit. Something was wrong. There was a piece of the puzzle missing. I made a decision. Tomorrow, I would find out where exactly Aunt Carol was getting these prawns. 02 The next morning, I woke before dawn. I put on a dark hoodie, a pair of jeans, a cap, and a mask—trying not to look like I was staking out a crime scene. Carol’s routine was clockwork: she left for groceries at 6:30 a.m. sharp. I hid behind the living room curtains, watching her walk out the gate with her market tote. I waited a full minute, then slipped out and followed her. The streets were quiet. I kept my distance, cautious and tense. The neighborhood market was only a fifteen-minute walk. My heart hammered against my ribs, my palms slick with sweat. I didn’t know if I was more afraid of being caught or of what the secret might turn out to be. Carol walked briskly, heading straight into the bustling Farmers Market. I melted into the crowd, my eyes locked on her. She navigated the vegetable stands and the butcher sections, but she didn’t stop. My gut clenched. She wasn’t going to the seafood area—the wet, loud, pungent section full of fish and crab. She walked straight past it. She walked straight through the entire market and exited out the back. Startled, I hurried after her. The market backed onto a dark, old alleyway, walls patchy with green moss, the ground uneven and damp. The air here was heavy and stagnant. The alley was deserted. Carol turned a corner into the deeper part of the lane and stopped, taking out her phone to check the time, clearly waiting for someone. I ducked behind a stack of abandoned cardboard boxes, poking only half my head out. I held my breath. Five minutes later, a beat-up utility truck rattled down the alley from the opposite end and pulled up beside her. The driver was a middle-aged man in a faded ball cap, his face obscured by shadow. He didn’t speak. He just hoisted a large white styrofoam cooler from the back of the truck. He opened the lid. A plume of white vapor, like dry ice, rose into the morning air. The man pulled out a black plastic bag, tightly sealed, and handed it to Carol. She took the bag. Almost simultaneously, she pulled a thick manila envelope from her tote and slipped it to the man. He weighed the envelope in his hand, gave a short nod of satisfaction, loaded the cooler back onto the truck, and sped away. The whole transaction took less than sixty seconds. No words, no greetings—it was a planned, secret exchange. I stayed frozen behind the boxes, my heart pounding so hard I felt dizzy. That large wad of cash. That mysterious man. That tightly sealed black plastic bag… The whole thing felt illicit, deeply wrong. I waited until Carol, clutching her market tote and the black bag, disappeared before I dared to move. I checked the alley entrance, but the truck was long gone. I returned home, shaken, locking myself in my room. The image played over and over: a seemingly ordinary suburban housewife making a large cash payment in a dark alley for a hidden package. That package had to contain the prawns that ended up on my dinner plate every night. What exactly were those prawns? And why were they worth such a clandestine transaction? At lunchtime, Brett was throwing a fit, demanding money for the latest gaming console. “Mom, it’s only five hundred bucks! Everyone at school has one, I’ll be the only one who doesn’t!” Carol’s face was etched with exhaustion and annoyance. She grumbled under her breath. “Buy, buy, buy! Is that all you know? Do you think I’m made of money, Brett? When are you going to bring some money into this house for once?” She was harsh, but she ultimately went into her bedroom and came out with a small canvas pouch. She counted out a thick stack of bills and handed it to him. I saw it clearly: her expression was one of genuine pain as she parted with the money. It was a stark, brutal contrast to the smooth, almost casual way she’d handed over the fat envelope to the mystery man that morning. She would endure her son’s entitlement and spend money she clearly didn’t have on a spoiled child, but she was eager to spend a huge sum on those mysterious prawns. The prawns, which were only for me. The fog of suspicion thickened, enveloping me. I realized the value of those prawns was far beyond any regular food item. And the secret behind them might be something far more difficult to bear than the simple sting of being an unwanted burden. 03 The following Monday, I officially started my job. The company was a reputable tech firm, and my starting salary was better than I’d expected. The day I got my first paycheck, holding the bank statement in my hand, I felt grounded for the first time. I could finally stop begging and live my own life. My first thought was to buy gifts for my aunt and uncle. After all, despite the atmosphere, they had seen me through college. I bought David a tin of high-grade Earl Grey tea, knowing he loved a good brew. For Carol, I hesitated. I thought about her worn-out wardrobe and decided to bite the bullet. I chose an elegant, high-quality wool-blend coat in a department store. It was expensive, costing nearly half my first month’s salary, but I didn’t regret it. When I got home, I presented the gifts. David’s eyes lit up at the tea. He clapped my shoulder, genuinely pleased. “That’s lovely, Vera. Our little girl is all grown up and thoughtful!” I handed the shopping bag to Carol. “This is for you, Aunt Carol.” She took it suspiciously and peeked inside. It was a deep plum color, one that I thought would suit her complexion and give her a sophisticated look. I watched her, full of cautious hope, searching for a hint of a smile. But she only glanced at it, pulled it out of the bag, and tossed it carelessly onto the sofa. “Wasting money already? You just started working. You should save that for your dowry. Why would a woman my age need anything this fancy?” Her voice was laced with her usual cutting sarcasm, dousing my hopeful spark in cold water. Brett, playing a game nearby, let out a loud, mocking laugh. “Pfft. Guess you kissed the wrong butt, huh? Mom doesn’t want your cheap stuff. It’s like a vulture bringing a gift to a sheep.” I balled my hands into fists, my heart sinking completely. Disappointment, humiliation, and an old, familiar pain washed over me. But this time, I didn’t retreat to my room to cry in secret. I simply looked at her, then at the coat lying ignored on the sofa, and turned toward the kitchen to help David make tea. Unbeknownst to me, my heart had begun to harden. Later that night, I woke up and went to the bathroom. Walking past the living room, I noticed the lights were off, the space illuminated only by a soft wash of moonlight through the window. I saw a figure standing by the sofa. It was Carol. She had quietly picked up the coat she had so scornfully rejected. I watched as she gently stroked the cashmere, then slowly held it up against herself, checking her reflection in the dark windowpane.

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On the day of our three-year anniversary, my otherwise surgically precise, clean-freak doctor boyfriend, Greg, surprised me by coming home early. He wanted to cook a grand meal for me himself. But when I returned to our apartment, the place was empty. My call went straight to voicemail, and he texted back an apology. Emergency surgery, he explained. He’d been called back to the hospital to scrub in. I ended up microwaving a pathetic frozen lasagna for one. Later that night, after I’d finished eating in the quiet apartment, I saw a new post on Instagram from Summer Fields, one of the resident interns at Greg’s hospital. The photo was close-up: a pair of pale, delicate feet resting on a velvet cushion. Beside them, a set of defined, surgeon’s knuckles held a cotton swab, carefully tending to an injury. I knew those hands. I knew the way they held a scalpel, the way they checked my designs, the way they had intertwined with mine for the last three years. Summer’s caption read: “My mentor says it’ll be a long recovery for this sprained ankle. What will I ever do? Waaah.” I watched the likes and heart emojis pile up, and suddenly, all the tension just left my body, replaced by a profound, weary flatness. I pressed the ‘Like’ button and commented, perfectly calm: “Considering the bedside service, should I start prepping for the bridal shower?” 1 It took less than three minutes for a dedicated ringtone to rip through the silence. Greg Elliott. I answered, laid the phone on the desk, and continued modifying my design draft on the computer. It was a silver filigree pin, its fluid lines inspired by the architectural geometry of a place Greg had once taken me—a memory I now found myself mentally dissecting. “Kendall Blair! What the hell is that supposed to mean?” His voice was strained, pressed through his teeth, barely contained. “Delete that comment, now!” I nudged my mouse, zoomed in on a detail of the pin, and adjusted a curve. “Do you know the entire department is laughing at me? You completely humiliated me! My reputation is shot!” His voice grew louder, thick with the indignation of a man whose control had been publicly challenged. “Why are you being so dramatic?” I stopped working, leaned back in my chair, and looked out at the darkening city sky. The city lights were coming on. Usually, at this hour, I’d be bustling around the kitchen, timing dinner for when his rigorously punctual SUV pulled into the garage. “Can’t you just be a little more mature?” He began his usual lecture. I picked up the phone, held it to my ear, and said softly: “Greg Elliott.” He hesitated. He hadn’t expected me to use his full name, or to sound so utterly devoid of emotion. “I’m tired,” I said. “I’m going to go to bed early.” Then, before he could form a response, I hung up. The phone immediately started ringing again, relentlessly. I didn’t answer. I powered it down, unplugged the charging cord, and tossed it into a drawer. The whole world instantly went quiet, leaving only the sound of my own breathing and the distant hum of traffic outside. On the screen, the unfinished pin design shimmered with a cold, elegant light. I stared at it for a long time, then picked up my stylus and deleted the single, small dewdrop I had originally designed to cling to the silver filigree. No dewdrop. The pin stood alone. It didn’t need any flourish to justify itself. 2 The faint sound of a key turning in the lock came from the front door. He was home. My stylus didn’t stop moving. I was now sketching the fine detail of a ring band. After I’d deleted that metaphorical dewdrop the night before, the entire design had felt like it came alive. The ideas were flowing, unobstructed. Greg walked in, bringing with him the familiar scent of disinfectant and exhaustion. He hung his blazer on the hall rack, his movements precise and methodical. I didn’t turn around. I heard him change his shoes, followed by the long, unbroken sound of running water—he was washing his hands, from wrist to fingertip, over and over, his habitual ritual. Finally, his footsteps stopped right behind me. “About yesterday.” He spoke, his voice carrying the tone of a superior offering a condescending truce. “Summer is just a young resident, fresh out of school. She twisted her ankle. As her mentor, it’s completely normal for me to help with a minor wound dressing.” He said it so casually, as if stating an indisputable medical fact. I simply hummed in acknowledgement, zooming in on the design to check the structure of a prong setting. He clearly hadn’t anticipated that reaction. He paused, then his voice gained a sharp edge of impatience: “Your comment on social media created a huge problem. The whole floor is talking. How am I supposed to manage the residents now? You’ve made me look ridiculous.” My pen slipped, distorting the line. I pressed ‘Undo,’ and started again. “She’s just an intern. She has a fragile personality. Why are you making a fuss over her?” Seeing my continued silence, he raised his voice again, using that tone I knew so well—the impatient, irritated cross-examination. “Can’t you just be mature about this?” I finally put down the pen, swiveled my chair, and faced him. He was wearing an immaculately pressed white shirt. His eyes, behind the gold-rimmed glasses, were heavy with fatigue and a distinct irritation that his schedule had been disrupted. He had probably planned an entire speech: a mixture of calm reassurance, mild chastisement, and ultimately, a path for me to admit my fault, allowing him to be the magnanimous one who Greged forgiveness. It had been our fixed script for three years. Unfortunately, I wasn’t playing the part tonight. “Are you finished?” I asked. He looked stunned, as if I’d spoken in a foreign language. “Because if you are, I need to get back to work.” I gave him a brief nod, a courtesy acknowledgment, then turned my chair back around and picked up my pen. “The deadline is tight.” He just stood there behind me. I could feel his gaze—cold and sharp. The air was so still I could hear the faint hiss of the humidifier misting the room. It was a long time later, after I had drawn the final polishing line on the ring, that he spoke again. His voice was cold, flat, carrying the non-negotiable tone of a physician issuing a command. “Stop drawing.” He said, “The Chair is hosting an important dinner this weekend. You need to prepare to attend with me.” 3 I didn’t even look up at him. I simply rotated the ring on the tablet screen and replied calmly: “I can’t this weekend. I have plans.” The air went silent for about three seconds. In those three seconds, I could perfectly picture the look of sheer disbelief on Greg’s face. “Plans?” he repeated, the word twisted into an absurd interrogation. “With who?” “Phoebe Davies,” I said. “We booked this weeks ago.” “Cancel it.” He clipped the word out, treating it like a mandatory medical order. “You know how important this dinner is for you. The Chair’s wife admires your design work. I went to great lengths to secure you this access.” Oh, he helped me. He made it sound like a selfless act for my career. In the past, I might have felt a rush of grateful tears, but now, I just found it vaguely insulting. This opportunity felt less like a gift and more like a prop—one he’d handed me so I could play the part of the ‘respectable, agreeable girlfriend’ in his elite social circle. I finally raised my head and looked straight at him. “Save your effort for dressing your resident’s wounds. I told you, I have plans with Phoebe. I’m not canceling.” His brows furrowed into a tight knot. The gold-rimmed glasses couldn’t hide the temper that was beginning to boil up behind the lenses. He was used to my compliance, my ‘It’s okay, I understand.’ He was used to the routine where he’d toss me a small reward and I’d gratefully snap it up. “Kendall Blair.” He weighted my full name heavily. “What is with this attitude? You’re going to throw away this kind of opportunity for a pointless night out? Can’t you just be mature for once?” There was that phrase again. I didn’t reply. Just then, his phone rang. Sharp, intrusive. He glanced at the caller ID, his brow instinctively twitching, and walked onto the small balcony to answer. His voice was a low murmur, but I still caught a few key phrases: “Supply closet,” “locked from the outside,” “stay calm.” I kept still, putting on an earring. A few minutes later, he returned, snatching up his car keys. “Summer got locked in the hospital’s supply closet. She has claustrophobia. I have to go deal with this, now.” His words were clipped, an urgent notification that left no room for discussion. I watched him in the mirror, silent. He must have anticipated a breakdown or a fight because he added, impatiently: “The dinner is important. Take a cab and call me when you get there.” The door slammed shut with a sharp CRACK. My phone buzzed. A text message, as concise as a surgical report: Summer emergency. Dinner you drive. G. He hadn’t even bothered with punctuation. I looked at my reflection and slowly, I smiled. I picked up my phone and called Phoebe. “So, what’s the verdict? Are you going to that boring old doctor shindig or not? If you bail, I swear I’ll drive over and cut up that fancy dress of yours!” Phoebe’s voice was loud and excited on the other end. “He left,” I said. “He went to rescue his junior resident. He told me to go by myself.” Silence stretched for three full seconds, then erupted into a thunderous laugh: “Hahaha! Fate, Kenna! The universe is handing you the damn knife! Go! You have to go! Put on the ‘Soliloquy’ and slay the whole damn room! Let him see that you can fly without him as a crutch!” I hung up, walked to my closet, and pulled out the garment bag holding the dress I’d prepared for this evening. The dress was called “The Soliloquy.” A floor-length gown of moon-white silk, sharply tailored, with a scattered belt of tiny, pale blue sapphires tracing a winding star river across the waist. It was my most ambitious work, and originally, my armor to announce my status as “Greg Elliott’s girlfriend.” Now, it was just Kendall Blair’s armor. 4 The moment I walked into the grand ballroom alone, I drew every eye. No one recognized me, but they were all curious about the woman who arrived solo, yet held a self-possession that easily dominated the space. I didn’t gravitate toward a corner. I walked directly to the buffet, poured myself a flute of champagne, and took a slow sip. “Ms. Blair?” a kindly, cultured voice asked. I turned and saw a distinguished gentleman standing with an elegant woman in a cheongsam. I recognized them instantly: Dr. Lee, the hospital’s Chair, and his wife. “Dr. Lee, Mrs. Lee.” I smiled and gave a slight nod. “Where is Greg? Why did you come alone?” Dr. Lee asked. “He had an urgent surgical consult. A doctor’s life, you know—it’s never truly his own.” I dismissed it lightly, my voice devoid of any complaint. Mrs. Lee, however, was focused on my brooch. “That ‘Morning Star’ pin is extraordinary. Did you design it?” “I did,” I said, smiling. “It’s my pleasure.” We fell into an easy conversation that flowed from jewelry design to the latest art exhibitions, from Paris fashion trends to the specific needlework of the embroidery on her dress. Mrs. Lee found me so engaging that she insisted on introducing me to her friend, a prominent gallery owner. I had become the focus of the room. I was no longer anyone’s appendage. I was Kendall Blair, the designer. Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, the heavy ballroom doors swung open. Greg stood in the doorway, looking disheveled. His blazer was crumpled over his arm, his shirt collar was undone, and his face was etched with the fatigue and anxiety of having just dealt with a ‘crisis.’ His eyes instantly found me in the center of the crowd. I was holding a champagne flute, laughing easily with the Chair and his wife. The light hit me, making me look more luminous than he had ever seen me. He stared at me, his eyes wide with a confusion and loss of control I’d never witnessed. He looked like a late, irrelevant supporting actor, while the spotlight of the entire stage was fixed only on me.

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On a dating show, I was bullied by all the cast members because I rejected the confession of a rich, entitled playboy. They isolated me and framed me. They forced me into becoming the internet’s punching bag. I argued with the production team, but they doubled down on the malicious editing, telling me to get out of the entertainment industry. I sought help from my agency, but they sued me, demanding an astronomical penalty fee. “Ethan Sterling can have any woman he wants, yet you dare to reject him? Who gave you the audacity?” I was cyberbullied and canceled. Red paint was thrown on me in the streets. They cursed me: “You’re a bitch born of dogs and pigs, a descendant of animals!” In response, I started a livestream to confront all the cast members and trolls. Against a backdrop of a wall full of medals, I questioned them word by word, tears streaming down my face: “My grandfather was a decorated WWII veteran! My grandmother dedicated her life to the Manhattan Project! My father died defending our borders! My mother was a frontline doctor! I am a protector of intangible cultural heritage! I ask you, how much audacity does it take to reject a playboy’s confession? Is the dignity of my country enough?” 1 “Lily Vance is really good at playing hard to get. She looks innocent, but she’s actually quite promiscuous in private.” “You can’t really blame our Ethan for not seeing through her ‘pick-me’ act; her skills are indeed high-level.” “However, she’s playing with fire. She wanted to create a ‘cool beauty’ persona by rejecting Ethan, but it backfired.” “If it weren’t for the show’s surveillance footage, we might have been played by her too.” “Don’t mention her name. Hearing it makes me sick.” The production team of Destined to Love connected with the four other cast members. Two men and two women talked freely in the livestream. They didn’t shy away from malicious discussions about me. It successfully attracted a hundred thousand viewers. In the comments section. Trolls were also sparing no effort to slander and smear me. But I had never done any of the things they accused me of. All along, I was the victim, the one being bullied. Trolls said I deliberately dressed revealingly to seduce the male guests. It was because a female guest cut my dress when I wasn’t looking. I wore that dress on camera without knowing, which led to a major wardrobe malfunction. Trolls said I was a “pick-me girl” who only stirred up trouble between genders. It was also because a female guest failed to frame me and accidentally caused a male guest to suffer in silence. I tried to restore the truth in front of the surveillance cameras, but they stood together to denounce and slander me. Clearly, I was the victim, the most innocent one. In the end, I became the perpetrator in the mouths of the five guests. Trolls said I tried to sleep with the show’s executives for money and fame by any means necessary, which was even more absurd. When I went to the executive’s office, I was dressed cleanly and neatly. I just hoped the production team would be decent and stop tolerating the other guests bullying me. But the production team didn’t take me seriously at all and continued their malicious editing. Using editing tricks, they turned me into a complete slut. I had no choice but to go to my agency, hoping they would clear my name. But what did the agency say? “Ethan Sterling can have any woman he wants, yet you dare to reject him? Who gave you the audacity?” “It’s not too late to regret. Go find Ethan, suck up to him, and make him forgive you.” “Maybe Ethan is willing to let you off, willing to give you a chance to turn things around. You might even become famous because of this!” I recorded everything the agency said to me. And posted it online. Since I couldn’t rely on others, I would rely on myself. I didn’t believe Ethan Sterling could cover the sky with one hand and turn black into white. I stand tall and walk straight; I firmly believe I can wash away the dirty water they threw at me. But as soon as the recording appeared online. Ethan had already bought off all the media, telling the public that the recording was just me staging a show. “You dare to bring out fake stuff! Do you really think you’re a fairy descending to earth, and Ethan can’t live without you?” “With Ethan’s wealth and status, is it necessary for him to engage in such petty tricks to slander you?” “Know your place, get out of the entertainment industry! Disgusting thing.” That night. The topic “Lily Vance Get Out of Entertainment” shot to number one. The door of my rental apartment was blocked by piles of trash. Walking on the street, people spat on me. I was bullied by hooligans in broad daylight. Even if I called the police, even if one hooligan was caught, there were others waiting for me, and more spit waiting for me. “Miss, it’s not that we don’t want to help you, but we have no evidence that the Ethan Sterling you mentioned is directly connected to these people hurting you. We can’t determine if these hooligans were instructed by someone or if they were malicious troublemakers acting on their own.” I was too scared to go out. I cut off all social interactions. But even when picking up a delivery at home, I could get splashed with red paint by strangers. Of course, the delivery bags I ordered couldn’t contain normal food. They were filled with either feces, scary toys, or various insulting texts and pictures. I hid at home, hugging the snow globe my parents gave me, trembling all over, tears flowing uncontrollably. I didn’t understand how the world my parents insisted on protecting had become like this. So cruel, so dark. Running contrary to the “justice” my parents instilled in my mind. “Mom, Dad, Lily is so scared! So sad! Why, why are they bullying me!” “Mom, Dad, Lily misses you so much, really, really misses you.” Despite this. Those people still didn’t intend to let me go. Just now. A group of people led by Ethan pried open my door. 2 After rushing in, they smashed my apartment. They tore my clothes and took a bunch of videos and photos. And threatened that if I didn’t apologize publicly to Ethan Sterling, they would drive me out of New York. My face was stepped on by Ethan. My body trembled uncontrollably. In my ears were extreme threats and warnings. “Lily, I was willing to be a couple with you on the show. Instead of being grateful, you dared to reject me. Am I, Ethan Sterling, a man you can reject?” I resisted with all my might, but I was too weak to move him even a bit. He used a small knife to scratch one side of my face. “Such a beautiful face, scratched like this, I really feel a bit of heartache. Why do you have to be so stubborn? Wouldn’t it be better to be obedient?” He smiled, looking like a demon from hell. “Little Lily, I’ll give you one last chance. Publicly apologize, admit you seduced me, and express your most sincere love to me. Maybe I’ll let you go.” He dropped the bloody knife and squatted down. “Don’t think about calling the police. After all, do you have evidence? Without evidence, no one can make decisions for you!” My face was covered in tears, my eyes full of blood. Beside my hand lay the snow globe Ethan had smashed. This was a gift from my parents for my 12th birthday, and also the last gift I received from them. I treasured it like a gem for nearly ten years. Now, broken, shattered. Only residue remained. He pinched my chin, wild and charming: “The stronger and more unyielding you are, the more it itches my heart. Little Lily, tonight in the livestream, I’ll wait for your confession.” Ethan left arrogantly with his people. I gathered the remains of the snow globe. The shards cut my fingers. Amidst the dripping blood, I seemed to see my dad. Covered in wounds, draped in the Stars and Stripes, walking towards me from the fire. His gaze was incredibly firm, his steps powerful. “A soldier’s will is harder than steel. A soldier’s child should be firmer than a rock, straighter than a pine, braver than fire! Lily, don’t be afraid, Dad is always with you.” Standing closely behind Dad were Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma. “Lily, don’t be afraid, be brave.” My tears flowed freely. Before my eyes were scenes of my parents and grandparents sticking to the front line. How terrifying Ethan was to me. But. Compared to the enemies on the battlefield, the invaders on the border, the radiation in the laboratory, the diseases in the hospital. What did Ethan’s mob count for? “Wow, Ethan is here!” “Ethan, you came just as our stream was about to end. Were you heartbroken by Lily? Forgot the time?” “Ethan, don’t be so pure. Lily isn’t the only woman in the world.” “Yeah, Ethan, wanna check out my sister? She’s just turned 20, pretty and pure, and most importantly, reliable character.” Ethan appeared in the livestream. A string of donations fell from the sky. The livestream, originally watched by a hundred thousand people, surged to a million because of Ethan’s arrival. Ethan in the lens was elegant, looking like a gentle noble, with none of the hostility from just now. He pursed his lips slightly, reserved and lazy: “Actually, Lily called me just now. She said a lot of apologies to me. I actually don’t believe a little girl could be that bad, so I gave her a chance to come to the livestream too and tell everyone her heartfelt words.” The others booed. “Ethan, can you not be so kind.” “There’s a kind of person called incorrigible. Even if she admits to the dirty things she did, it doesn’t mean she’ll get better.” “But, Ethan, if you let her come to the livestream, she might not dare to come.” The comments were full of mockery. [If Lily dares to show up, there’s a ghost!] [If she shows up, I’ll do a handstand and eat shit!] [If she dares to show up, I’ll curse her until she does a handstand and eats shit!] [What kind of thing born of a pig father and dog mother is she, descendant of animal grandparents!] [If I were her, I would have jumped into a river, ocean, or off a building! How could she have the face to appear in the livestream!] 3 But the ones without face weren’t me, it was the group of five sitting in the livestream! The ones who should die weren’t me, it was those keyboard warriors manipulating right and wrong! I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. I rummaged out the metal box from under the bed. Then. I opened the box. I took out the items inside one by one and hung them on the white wall behind me. When all this was done. I turned on the camera and applied to join the livestream. “Whoa, Lily really came? She applied to join, let her in?” “She’s got guts. If she dares to come, what are we afraid of?” “Let her in, let the babies in the livestream see the pick-me girl’s performance.” Ethan maintained his proper noble act: “Don’t talk about Lily like that, she might have difficulties…” “Ethan, we know. When she comes, we’ll talk to her nicely too, won’t target her.” “Ethan, rest assured, we will definitely let her say everything she wants to say.” “But Ethan, don’t be deceived by her acting again.” Ethan gave a bitter smile. That hurt expression made the fans in the livestream heartache endlessly. [Ethan, don’t be sad, you deserve a better girl.] [Ethan, starry eyes, so handsome, rich and considerate, Lily is blind.] [Ethan is the handsomest, Ethan I love you.] With my arrival. The livestream, originally watched by a million people, doubled in number. The screen was full of homophonic insults directed at me. “Lily, things have fermented until now, we don’t seem to have heard a word of apology from you to the public!” “Now you should show your attitude. If you refuse to admit your mistakes like before, your future path will be difficult!” I adjusted the phone camera. The screen immediately showed my wretched face. Tear stains and bloodstains crisscrossed. [She’s putting on that expression again, as if she’s been so wronged!] [Disgusting, she probably thinks all men can be manipulated by a few tears like Ethan.] [So good at acting, why go on a dating show, go act in movies!] I sniffled and looked straight at the camera. “I’m very sorry for occupying a lot of public resources because of my affairs.” As soon as I finished speaking. The guests in the livestream made very disdainful mocking sounds. “Lily, an apology needs sincerity. You think these two understated sentences count as an apology?” “Otherwise? How should I apologize?” I asked back. “Don’t even know how to apologize? Shouldn’t you specifically talk about the harm you caused to the five of us!” I shook my head: “I never caused you harm, instead you have been hurting me! Except for apologizing to the uninformed audience, I haven’t wronged anyone, not just you five, but also the keyboard warriors indiscriminately in the comments! You should apologize to me!” The four guests in the livestream exploded. “Damn, Lily, you’re really something!” “Really planning to stick to being right, huh?” “I really shouldn’t have let you into the livestream. Alright, kick you out now!” “Wait.” Ethan suddenly spoke, his gentle eyes immediately becoming sharp, “Lily, I advise you to think clearly. Miss this opportunity, and you may never have a chance to turn things around. Think about your parents, your family. You definitely don’t want them to be stigmatized because of you…” I couldn’t help pulling up the corners of my mouth and laughing out loud. Ethan is really fake. Acting like this in public, but devoid of conscience in private. He forced me to apologize, forced me to confess to him, wasn’t it just to better control me and play with me in the future! But, Ethan, you calculated wrong! A hero’s child will never easily kneel to evil forces! [Why is she laughing? How does she still have the face to laugh!] [Ethan is still too kind!] [Block her, let her and her family be pointed at by thousands when walking on the street! Pick-me bitch!] I laughed and laughed, and tears came out. “Ethan is right, I should cherish this opportunity, at least say everything I want to say!” Then. I stood up. I pointed the camera at the white wall behind me! On the wall, a whole wall of medals! Golden, shining. Different sizes, different shapes. Some engraved with unique patterns, some inlaid with brilliant gems. Each one tells a thrilling story behind it. 4 [What are these?] [Medals? Oh my god, so many medals!] [Mother of god, what did I see? The Medal of Honor! That’s the highest military honor!] [Impossible! How can Lily have so many medals? Must be fake!] [You said only veterans have these, how old is she, how could she have them!] “Yes, these things don’t belong to me, but are things left by my parents and grandparents!” “You said my family would be pointed at by thousands. I want to ask, why would heroes of the people be pointed at by thousands!” “You said I’m a thing born of a pig father and dog mother, a descendant of animal grandparents. I want to know, why should heroes of the people suffer such insults from you!” I spoke word by word, tears streaming down my face. The other people in the livestream were all stunned. Even the comments went blank for a moment. Ethan frowned tightly, his handsome face dark as if dyed by the bottom of a pot. “Lily, what tricks are you playing again?” Then, those trolls started attacking me unscrupulously again. [Must be a performance, must be fake!] [So many medals, how could they appear at the same time! And different categories!] [Lily lies without drafting, cows are flying in the sky!] They still didn’t believe it. Keyboard warriors attempted to cover up the voices speaking for me with short texts. “You can choose not to believe, but this is the fact! My grandfather, a lifetime in the military. This is the Silver Star he received for spotting an enemy squad first. This is the Distinguished Service Cross he received for capturing a platoon. This is the Medal of Honor he was awarded for taking out an enemy commander single-handedly!” I touched the yellowed medals, responding word by word, sonorously. My hands touched the next medal. The Presidential Medal of Freedom! “My grandmother participated in nuclear research, sealed in a secret base for ten years, calculated countless drafts, and suffered radiation leakage to cover her companions during experiments, leading to the later success!” “My father, a border defense soldier, thirty years like one day, braving wind and dew, determined to guard the defense line, fighting to the death with invaders! Awarded the highest military honor in peace time! The Medal of Honor!” “My mother, a great doctor, risked her life to fight against diseases and saved countless lives!” “I am not a great person. I couldn’t fight invaders like my grandfather and father, nor could I dedicate myself to science and medicine for the people like my grandmother and mother. But I always remember the spirit of dedication they taught me, so I became a protector of intangible cultural heritage. Going on the show was only to promote intangible cultural heritage! This is the Heritage Medal awarded to me by the organization!” “And these are my whole family’s party badges!” My voice was hoarse, tears streaming. I shouted with all my might to everyone in the livestream: “My grandfather was a WWII veteran! My grandmother dedicated herself to nuclear research! My father was a martyr defending the border! My mother was a frontline doctor! I am a heritage protector! My whole family served this country! What right do you have to bully me without distinguishing right from wrong!” “The production team asked me, who gave me the face to reject Ethan Sterling’s confession! Let me ask, how much face does it take to reject a playboy’s confession? Is the face of the Party and the country big enough!” “An hour ago, Ethan Sterling brought people to my house, smashed everything I had, stepped on my face, forced me to apologize, forced me to confess to him! This is the noble young master you talk about! In this world, can one do whatever they want just because they have money! Can they easily trample me to death just because they have power!”

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