Category: English

Liam was my best friend, and I was secretly in love with him. But he hated that kind of thing. To avoid future embarrassment, I decided to confess to him. “I like guys.” He frowned: “What did you say?” As expected, he was angry. Not wanting him to have bad associations, I quickly added: “Don’t worry, I have a boyfriend.” Liam’s face darkened, his voice coldly terrifying: “Say that again.” 1 “See you Saturday then, senior!” The sweet and cute junior girl from the club waved goodbye to me with a smile. I nodded at her: “See you Saturday.” Suddenly, someone hooked my neck from behind and pulled me back. I lightly bumped into a broad chest. The movement was familiar, and I knew who it was without looking back. A low, rich voice sounded: “What Saturday?” His breath hit the sensitive skin beside my ear, causing a slight ticklish heat. I turned my head slightly to avoid this too-close distance: “Don’t you have training today?” Liam rested his chin on my shoulder and reached out to turn my averted face back: “Are you meeting that girl on Saturday? Why haven’t I seen her before? When did you meet her?” He was always like this, putting his arm around my shoulder without any shyness. These were all playful gestures between best friends. But for someone like me with ulterior motives, this was undoubtedly torture. I pushed his hand away and kept my distance: “A junior from the club. There’s a club gathering on Saturday.” Liam straightened up and said earnestly: “I’ve always reminded you, competition is fierce in society now. Focus on your studies. It won’t be too late to date after you find a job.” I dared not hope for love. He didn’t know my true inner thoughts, and I dared not let him know. I nodded absentmindedly. Liam put his arm around my shoulder again and led me in another direction: “Come on, keep me company during training.” 2 There was no lack of audience during the varsity team’s training. Liam was always the center of attention. He was tall, with a long wingspan and sharp movements. Not to mention that face, which made headlines on campus the first day he arrived. My gaze couldn’t help but follow him. Heart racing, could it be that I’m obsessed with looks? Liam walked towards me, wiped his sweat, and said hoarsely: “Water.” I came back to my senses and looked around for his water bottle. Liam, however, snatched the half-drunk mineral water from my hand. Before I could stop him, he had already tilted his head and finished it. I had drunk from that… “Yo, Senior Lian is here.” The one who approached was a junior who had just joined the varsity team this year, very lively. “How was it? My performance on the court just now wasn’t worse than Captain Lu’s, right?” I smiled and praised him a few words. The junior was very pleased and patted his chest: “If Senior Lian wants to play basketball in the future, just find me. I’ll teach you hand in hand…” Liam smashed the empty bottle in his hand over, his voice inexplicably cold: “Get lost.” The junior was pulled away by the teammates behind him, amid ridicule: “You kid want to go over Captain Lu to teach his ‘wife’ basketball? Looking for death, aren’t you…” I had a good relationship with Liam, always together. When he participated in competitions, I often helped him handle some trivial matters. His team members jokingly called me his “little wife”. At first, I blushed too. But Liam also joined in the teasing. Later I understood that these were just jokes between brothers. Taking them seriously would be foolish. Liam smoothed his hair and looked at me seriously: “If you want to play basketball, find me. No one here is better than me.” If it weren’t for him, I should be in the lab right now, instead of wasting time sitting on this basketball court. 3 After training, a group of people rushed into the food stall at the school gate. They ordered a table full of food. At this age, they ate more than animals. I sat next to Liam and barely touched the beer. After eating and drinking enough, someone suggested playing Truth or Dare. After a few rounds, it fell on me. “Truth or Dare?” Seeing their few rounds of bottomless questions, I didn’t have the guts to choose Truth. I had to choose Dare. But Dare wasn’t much better. “Kiss the person closest to you now.” As soon as these words came out, everyone slapped the table, laughing and jeering. Liam sat on my left, and on my right was a classmate from the varsity team. Everyone knew I had a good relationship with Liam, so who to choose was naturally obvious. Even Liam crossed his arms and looked at me with a smile, waiting for my move. But I had a guilty conscience. I was afraid. I didn’t even dare to turn back and look at Liam’s expression. I took a deep breath. Sorry, classmate. Under everyone’s surprised gaze, I leaned towards the person on the right. Before I touched him, my back collar was suddenly grabbed and pulled back with great force. I was forced to lean back and saw Liam’s face, darker than the night. “Lian Youqing, do you know what you’re doing?” 4 Liam’s face wasn’t very good for the second half. After paying the bill, he dragged me away first. I looked at his back and sighed. His inexplicable small gestures had once given me fantasies. Until that incident happened. 5 Liam and I had different majors but were assigned to the same dorm room. Maybe because I have a milder temperament, I got along with him. To outsiders, he seemed cold and unapproachable. But he was always willing to lower his status and soften his temper in front of me. He treated the friends he recognized very well. So when I realized it, my mind was full of his figure. I couldn’t quit even if I wanted to. During the most passionate period, my confession was on the tip of my tongue, ready to come out. Then, Lin Lin appeared. He was Liam’s classmate in the same major, handsome, cheerful, and very proactive. Lin Lin spent a lot of effort to build a relationship and deepen friendship with Liam. Gradually, I also saw his feelings for Liam. I even envied him a little, envied his courage. But Liam was always lukewarm towards him, even a little annoyed by his pestering. Lin Lin took advantage of his drunkenness to confess to Liam. At that moment, Liam’s expression became very terrifying. He scolded hideously: “Get lost.” Then he blocked Lin Lin and never contacted him again. I once tentatively asked him why he was so angry. He looked at me and said: “Not angry, disgusted.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “389943”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My wife of three years kept a diary. In it, she detailed a hundred ways to stage the perfect kidnapping and psychological captivity. But I knew she didn’t want to trap me. She wanted to trap her stepbrother. I played the oblivious husband, secretly taking notes. Because I wanted to trap my stepsister. The day I realized her diary was full, I decided it was time to activate my own captivity plan. I placed the finalized divorce papers in the study, right after preparing the handcuffs. It wasn’t long after that I found myself staring silently at the steel cuffs around my own wrists and ankles. …Why was the world so much more twisted than I ever imagined? 1 I held the leather-bound journal, barely containing the surge of adrenaline. Page after page, I devoured the new entries. Camille Beckett’s “One Hundred Captivity Methods” was updated, and the additions were staggering. My soul sister. Camille and I had an indifferent, purely strategic marriage for three years. I knew her heart belonged to someone else: her innocent, Golden Boy stepbrother, Noah Abbott. I’d always assumed Cami was the cold, reserved type—the kind who kept her deepest desires locked away. Now, I knew the truth. She was a full-blown, beautiful psychopath. The further I read, the more shocked I became. The methodology, the sheer audacity, the level of intensity… Camille hid it well. If her sweet, delicate stepbrother ever saw these fantasies, he’d probably collapse. But I was different. I was a fellow psycho. I studied diligently, copying the key steps and phrases into my phone’s notes app. Just as I was about to turn the last page, my phone buzzed with a video call from Noah. I quickly slipped out of Cami’s bedroom and answered with a practiced, easy smile. “Hey, Noah. What’s up?” “Ash.” The boy’s face, pale and handsome, appeared on screen. He offered a slight, sheepish grin. “Cami won’t be coming home tonight.” My face froze for a split second. Though our marriage was cold, Cami always came home. This was the first time she hadn’t. Was she making her move? But she had to get the divorce first! I frowned. “Where is she? Put her on the phone.” Noah handed the phone over. Cami’s stunning, aloof face filled the screen. Her thin lips barely moved. “What is it?” “Come home tonight,” I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. Her brow twitched. “Do you need something?” Did I need a reason to ask my wife to come home? Was she that impatient? I wasn’t even this desperate yet! I ran a hand through my hair. “Yeah, I do. We need to talk. Properly.” A silence stretched between us. Noah took the phone back. His clear eyes met mine. “Ash, if my sister doesn’t want to go back, don’t pressure her.” I was frustrated with the oblivious kid. If I didn’t drag Cami home, he was the one who was going to end up in cuffs tonight. I took a deep breath, ready to plead my case, but Cami’s frigid voice cut me off: “If you’re so bored, go find something to occupy yourself.” I paused. Right. She’s playing the disinterested wife while secretly plotting to chain up her stepbrother. She probably can’t wait to check off everything on that diary list. Noah gave me a helpless shrug. “You heard my sister, Ash.” He hung up. I stood silent for a long moment, then sighed. Returning to Cami’s room, I picked up the journal again. Unconsciously, I flipped to the final page, realizing only now that she had completely filled the book. I noticed something starkly different from the earlier, explicit pages. Her last sentence, written in clean, forceful script, read: [Compared to all of this, I only ever wanted to hold you.] I stared at the line. After a while, I slowly closed the diary and returned it to its place. 2 My worst fear hadn’t materialized. Camille returned home the next day. Her demeanor was as distant and detached as ever, even under my probing stare. “Are you attending the gala tonight?” she asked. I was momentarily confused, then remembered the social obligation. It was a major commercial event—practically every notable figure in the city would be there. “Of course,” I answered casually. “Wouldn’t want you to be without a proper date, would I?” She ignored the jab. After smoothing a crease in her sleeve with a long, elegant finger, she walked upstairs toward the study. I watched her back, realizing my mistake. She probably hoped I wouldn’t go. Then her ‘date’ could legitimately be her stepbrother. I sighed in annoyance. But I had to go. My stepsister, Sloane Albright, would definitely be there. It was a rare chance to see her. I couldn’t afford to miss it. … I spent too long selecting the perfect suit. When I arrived, I scanned the room for Camille only to find Noah already standing beside her. The young man was beaming, a perfect picture of youthful sweetness. I nursed a drink in a quiet corner, keeping my distance. My friend, Miles, joined me. He narrowed his eyes at the couple. “They aren’t blood-related, right?” I glanced at him and shook my head. Even Miles could see their intimacy was beyond the norm. Miles smirked, his tone unclear. “Just a heads up, Noah has mentioned more than once that his sister would do anything for him. Including… ditching you when you had a fever.” I paused. Oh. So that rainy night I was burning up, and Camille was nowhere to be found, she was with Noah. “They must just be close,” I mumbled. Miles tipped his chin toward a specific spot in the room. “How come you’re not that close with your stepsister?” I followed his gaze. Sloane Albright was wearing a perfectly tailored charcoal gown. The sophisticated styling couldn’t mask her vibrant, commanding beauty. She was engaged in a relaxed conversation. Then, as if sensing my eyes, she looked up and scanned the room, her gaze finding mine. We held eye contact across the distance. I was the first to look away. “…Every family is different, I guess.” Miles shrugged. “Suit yourself. Just don’t come crying to me for a place to stay when Cami eventually files for divorce.” As if on cue, Noah took Cami’s arm, intertwining his with hers. Cami paused, her cold expression softening as she looked down at his hand. She didn’t stop him. She didn’t pull away. Miles looked at me with open pity. I was taken aback. I was right here, in the same room, yet Camille still indulged him so openly. A dozen curious, scrutinizing eyes were already darting between us. I pressed my fingers to my temple. I remembered the message my father had sent recently: You’ve been married to Camille all this time, and you still haven’t won her over? How useless are you, Albert? It wasn’t my fault. She was already taken. Miles’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “They look utterly infatuated with each other. It’s almost like you were the one who intruded on their romance.” His words made me halt. I looked at him sharply. “Do you think Noah… likes her?” “Are you serious?” he countered. “Can’t you see the puppy-dog eyes and the blush?” I was quiet for a moment. “What if he’s just… really dependent on his stepsister?” “Stop lying to yourself, Ash,” Miles deadpanned. I stood there, rooted to the spot. It wasn’t entirely my denial. Before Cami and I married, Noah and I were close friends. I’d seen that same blush and shyness on his face when we were out together. He just seemed to stop clinging to me after the wedding. … If Miles was right, and Noah liked her, then why did Camille write that psychopathic diary? If they were mutually in love, why didn’t she just divorce me and be with Noah? She was powerful enough now. She could divorce me and marry anyone she wanted without consequence. Did she genuinely prefer the idea of forced love? I drained my glass, trying to push the confusing thoughts away. 3 Eventually, Noah and Camille came over to me. Noah smiled, his cheeks dimpling. “Ash, I’ve been hogging my sister all night. Are you mad?” I waved a hand dismissively. “Whatever makes you happy.” Only then did I notice Cami’s dark eyes fixed on me. I offered what I thought was a thoughtful smile. “It’s fine, Cami. You two enjoy yourselves. Don’t worry about me.” Camille’s tone was cold. “It looks like you’re having a good time yourself.” I blinked. I wasn’t, really. Unless you counted the few furtive glances I’d managed to sneak at Sloane Albright, I wasn’t having fun at all. Thinking of Sloane, I instinctively tried to look in her direction. My view was immediately blocked by Camille’s tall, slender figure. Her expression was completely blank. Seriously? I didn’t care what the two of you were doing, just don’t block my view of Sloane! I cursed under my breath. Noah lightly tugged on Cami’s arm, his voice a soft whine. “Let’s not bother Ash anymore. I have some friends who are dying to meet you, Sis.” Camille gave a slight nod. “Alright.” They turned and walked away. I let out a long, quiet sigh. Camille was cold and dismissive toward me, but immediately soft and yielding toward Noah. The hypocrite. I stood alone, again feeling the pity and derision of the crowd. “Little brother.” The clear, melodic voice made me turn instantly. Sloane Albright was smiling faintly. It took me a second to regain my composure. “Hi.” Sloane gave a sudden, knowing laugh. “I saw you chatting just now, so I didn’t want to interrupt.” I managed a weak smile. “It was nothing.” She asked abruptly, “Is Camille treating you well?” I was stunned. “What?” Sloane’s thin lips pressed together. Before she could say anything else, a man her age walked up. He greeted me politely, then turned to Sloane. “Sloane, your mother sent me to find you.” Sloane replied calmly, “I’ll be there in a minute.” The man gave a teasing smile. “Do you really have so much to talk about with your little brother?” “Come on,” he said, lightly taking her wrist. “Come check in with your mother, then you can come back and chat with your little brother, okay?” He pulled Sloane away. She paused but didn’t resist. She only glanced over her shoulder at me. “Little brother, I’ll find you later.” My gaze dropped from their clasped hands. I responded softly, “Okay.” 4 Sloane never came back for me. The gala ended. Noah had too much to drink and pleaded with Camille to take him to an observatory to see the stars. Camille agreed. I sat quietly alone in the back seat of the car. I stared out at the city streets—the rush of traffic, the blinking neon. My mind was empty. Then Cami’s final diary entry floated back into my thoughts: I only ever wanted to hold you. What did it feel like to be held? I didn’t know. After my mother divorced my father and married into the Albright family, she never once embraced me. As a child, she wanted me to win the affection of Sloane and her mother. After I married, she wanted me to win Camille’s affection. But I never won anyone’s affection. My stepsister, Sloane, was a dazzling, self-possessed princess, always surrounded by adoration. Even when she secretly brought me food after my mother locked me away, her gaze was always polite, detached. Her kindness was universal, shared equally with everyone. An embrace between us was impossible. As for my wife… I lowered my gaze. My marriage to Camille should have ended long ago. As soon as I got home, I contacted my lawyer and asked him to draft the divorce papers immediately. It was late, deep into the night, when Sloane finally called. “Little brother.” There was a silence on the line. She didn’t apologize for disappearing. She simply said: “My parents are picking out a man for me to marry. Do you want to give me your opinion?” I was stunned. “…What?” Her voice was laced with a weary resignation. “I’ve reached the legal age. There’s no avoiding it.” “It doesn’t matter who I marry, anyway.” She sounded careless. “It might be that man you saw tonight.” I struggled to respond. “Is that so… Do you… do you like him?” I hesitated before asking. “Like?” Sloane’s voice was light, airy. Then she dropped to a near-whisper. “I don’t know.” I pressed her. “Do you want to get married?” She let out a soft sigh. “It’s not about wanting or not wanting. I’m sure I’ll grow to love him, living together.” Listening to her speak, I clenched my fists inside my pockets. “If not him, it’ll be someone else. But two people leaning on each other… that seems nice, doesn’t it?” Sloane said, her tone utterly calm. I desperately wanted to speak, but the words choked in my throat. I felt a profound sadness. The simple happiness she described was so far out of my reach. She was so far out of my reach. “Albert,” she used my first name instead of ‘little brother.’ “We’ll both be happy, won’t we?” The question was spoken so softly. Yet it sent a violent ripple through my heart. Will I be happy? I let out a shaky breath, finally making my decision. “We will,” I said. After hanging up, I placed the divorce papers the lawyer had sent into the study. Then, I dug out the handcuffs and ankle restraints I had bought weeks ago and packed them in a bag. Sloane’s last question had been the push I needed. If it didn’t matter who she ended up with, why couldn’t it be me? Perhaps that was the only way I could get closer to happiness. I called Miles. “That safe-house I asked you to prepare, the one with the secure basement. Is it fully ready?” After receiving his confirmation, I immediately texted Sloane: [Where are you? I’ll come to you now. We can discuss this whole marriage thing.] Without a hint of suspicion, she sent me an address. 5 When I arrived, the address led to a private lounge. I immediately asked a waiter for a bottle of high-proof whiskey. Inside the VIP room, Sloane was alone. She was draped across a velvet sofa, long legs crossed, drinking straight from the bottle. That dazzling, commanding face was flushed pink. She squinted when she saw me. “Little brother.” Her voice was low and husky. I murmured an acknowledgment, then subtly opened the bottle I’d brought and began to pour her a drink. When her attention was diverted, I sprinkled in a little something. “I know you’re upset. I’ll keep you company.” Sloane gave a soft, muffled agreement. Just then, the door was pushed open. Noah stood in the doorway, his eyes wide in surprise. “Ash, is that really you? I thought I saw you, but wasn’t sure.” I glanced past him and saw Cami behind him. Her expression was still cold, her eyes sweeping over me and Sloane without a flicker of emotion. I silently cursed. You two go on your date. Don’t ruin my night. Noah walked in, completely at ease. “What a coincidence. Sis and I just finished stargazing and thought we’d grab a drink here. Didn’t expect to run into you guys.” I took a deep breath. “…Yeah. What a coincidence.” I forced a laugh. He spotted the bottle on the table and his eyes lit up. “Ash! This is excellent whiskey. We have such similar taste!” He reached for a glass, about to pour himself a taste. What?! My eyes shot open. With lightning speed, I snatched the bottle from his hand. And promptly downed a huge gulp myself. Noah pouted. “Ash, you’re so stingy. Fine, I’ll just have my sister order me something.” Camille actually sat down next to him. She looked at me, then gave him a curt nod. “Alright.” For the next half-hour, I tried everything to get them to leave. But neither Camille nor Noah would budge. Camille didn’t even lift her eyelids. Noah let out a wounded sigh. “Does me being here with my sister really bother you, Ash?” I gave up. I decided to leave while I could still walk. But Sloane called out my name. Her long, graceful fingers wrapped around my wrist. “Little brother, you said you’d keep me company.” Thirty minutes later. I looked fuzzily at Sloane. She was staring back. Noah was cheerfully pouring himself a drink, chatting with Cami. I couldn’t see Cami’s expression clearly. I sighed heavily in my mind. Then, unable to fight it, my eyes slid shut. My head fell to the side, and I passed out. … When I woke up, I painfully forced my eyelids open. I stared blankly at the ceiling. After a long minute, I instinctively tried to rub my eyes. My hand felt impossibly heavy. I squinted. The moment I made out the object on my wrist, I was instantly, violently awake. …What the hell? I tried to move my foot, and again, felt a crushing weight. It was followed by the clear, sharp clink of a metal chain. I lay rigid on the bed. The door opened. I recognized the person who walked in and my composure shattered. I was barely able to choke out the name: “Why is it you…?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “389960”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Five years into my blindness. My husband, Franklin, brought me our newly taken family portrait. He guided my hand to touch the faces in the frame one by one. His voice whispered gently in my ear: “On the left is your dad, on the right is your mom. This is our daughter Yolanda, and us two in the middle.” “Gwen, it doesn’t matter if you can’t see. I will always be your eyes.” I was about to tell him the surprise that my vision had returned. But the words were swallowed back hard. Because in that photo titled “Family Portrait,” all I saw were strangers. My “Dad,” my “Mom.” I didn’t recognize a single one. Watching my husband introduce them with such care, I couldn’t help clenching my fists, nails digging deep into my palms. An 8-year-old girl ran over and held my husband’s hand. “Daddy, why waste words with this blind woman?” I looked down and saw her face clearly for the first time. She didn’t look like me at all. If the people in the photo weren’t my parents, then whose child was this girl in front of me… And where are my real parents and daughter now? Chapter 1 “Yolanda, don’t talk to Mommy like that! Apologize to Mommy, now!” Franklin pulled Yolanda to his side. Yolanda stiffened her neck, glaring at me with venom. “I did nothing wrong! I won’t apologize to a blind woman!” After she finished, she turned and ran to her room. Passing by me, she deliberately bumped into me. I stumbled a step, stabilizing myself. “Gwen, don’t mind the child. She’s ignorant. We’ll educate her properly later.” I didn’t speak, just reached out, touching the family portrait again. Fingertips slid over the cold, hard faces of the strange man and woman. The day of the shoot. Under my constant urging, my parents finally agreed to fly back from abroad specially to see me, promising a surprise. I remember when I reached out to touch “Dad’s” hand, it felt wrong. The skin was too rough compared to my memory. I remember smelling “Mom’s” perfume. It wasn’t her usual jasmine scent, but a pungent, cheap smell. I asked Franklin then: “Honey, why do I feel… something is wrong?” Franklin held my hand, chuckling in my ear. “Silly, parents are getting old. It’s normal for skin and preferences to change.” “You’re just too sensitive.” Yes, I was too sensitive. He used “you are too sensitive” to wipe away all my doubts. Thinking about it now, that wasn’t sensitivity. That was the alarm of blood ties. “Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. I prepared a gift for you.” He took out a rough perfume bottle and brought it to my face. “Specially customized for you, unique in the world.” I clearly saw the bottle in his hand, printed with a cheap brand logo. My gaze fell on the trash can not far away. There lay a convenience store receipt, amount: $2.99. I looked up, facing him. “Franklin…” “Are you… hiding something from me?” The smile on Franklin’s face froze for a second, but soon, he sighed. “Gwen, why would you think that?” “Did blindness make you suspicious? Don’t be afraid, I’m here. I will never lie to you.” As soon as Franklin finished speaking, the phone in his pocket rang. It was a video call. “It’s Secretary Linda. Should be something urgent at the company.” With that, he answered the call calmly in front of me. Screen lit up. I clearly saw, on the other end. A woman wearing only black lace lingerie, lying lazily on a bed. In her mouth, she held a condom wrapper. “Mr. Sterling, there are… so many documents waiting for you to sign at the company. When are you coming?” Franklin’s Adam’s apple rolled. “I’ll be there right away. Get the materials ready.” He hung up, turned, and grabbed his coat. “Gwen, there’s an emergency meeting at the company. I must go now.” My brain was buzzing. This “Secretary Linda” wasn’t calling at this time for the first time. In the past five years, I heard her coquettish voice calling “Mr. Sterling” countless times. I thought it was business, never cared. Turns out, the truth was so unbearable. I looked up, staring straight at him. “Is the company… really that busy?” Franklin’s body stiffened, then he walked over and patted my head. “Yes, many projects recently, all for our family. Be good and wait for me at home.” Lies. Such practiced lies. His vows from before echoed in my mind. “Gwen, even if the whole world betrays you, I will never deceive you.” It was mocking my stupidity. It was telling me I was a huge joke. I lowered my head, a bitter metallic taste rising from the root of my tongue. Chapter 2 Franklin left home hurriedly with the excuse of “company emergency.” I walked towards the study. That was where Franklin spent most of his time at home. I hadn’t set foot there in five years. I pushed open the study door. On the central desk stood an exquisite silver photo frame. In the frame, it wasn’t a photo of Franklin and me. It was Franklin, Yolanda, and that lingerie-clad Secretary Linda from the video. A “family of three” portrait. So, this is his true family in his heart. Yolanda, that woman, and him. What am I? A raised blind woman? A tool convenient for him to seize my family property? Five years of marriage, turns out to be a complete scam. On the table, a luxuriously made wedding album was spread open. I reached out, fingertips trembling as I flipped through it. Every page was Franklin and that Linda. Every photo was showing off their happiness. I flipped to the last page. On the commemorative card, the date of the wedding photos was printed. I stared dead at that date. Blood all over my body froze instantly at this moment. That day. It was the day I lay alone on the cold hospital bed, giving birth to my daughter via C-section. He said, “Gwen, sorry, I’m stuck at an overseas conference, really can’t make it back.” He said, “When I return, I’ll make it up to you and the baby.” Tears finally filled my eyes. Ridiculous. Laughable. The huge shock made my vision blacken. I stumbled backward. Body hit an unlocked file cabinet nearby. Clang— The top drawer was knocked open. A thick document in a kraft paper bag slid out and fell to the floor. I looked down. The text on the document came into view. Icy chill rushed from the soles of my feet to the top of my head. I was cold all over. Chapter 3 The next day. I dialed a number. It was my family’s driver, Uncle Wang. He had been with my dad for decades, watching me grow up. “Uncle Wang, it’s me, Gwen.” “Miss Gwen?” The voice on the other end was full of surprise. “Uncle Wang, my parents… are they in good health recently?” Long silence on the other end. Just as my heart sank to the bottom, Uncle Wang’s voice came, full of endless grief. “Miss… you… you really don’t know?” “The old master and madam… passed away in a car accident four years ago!” Boom—! My brain went blank. Car accident… passed away… No. Impossible. Franklin clearly told me they went to travel around the world. He even read me the postcards they sent back. Those were all fake? I held the phone, body trembling uncontrollably, unable to say a word. Cold. Bone-piercing cold. I seemed to see the tragic state of my parents lying in a pool of blood. And I, their daughter, was kept in the dark like a fool. “Miss? Are you still listening?” Uncle Wang’s anxious voice pulled me back to reality. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. “Uncle Wang, tell me everything you know.” “Yes… four years ago, on the way home from the company, Master and Madam were hit by an out-of-control truck… died on the spot…” Uncle Wang’s voice choked. “But the truck driver disappeared and was never found.” “Son-in-law Franklin handled all the funeral arrangements. It was him… he fired all of us old staff.” I hung up the phone, body sliding down the cold wall slowly. Tears surged out silently. Four years ago. Fragments of memory flooded into my mind instantly. It was starting from four years ago that my parents, who loved me most, stopped calling me frequently and stopped visiting me often. Franklin said they were getting old and wanted to travel the world while they still could. Since then, I almost lost contact with them. Dad, Mom. Sorry. Your daughter is unfilial. I wiped my tears. Now is not the time to be weak. There is still my daughter. I still have questions in my heart. I immediately contacted my own people. “Get me a DNA test right away!” “Check, all records after my daughter was born, was she switched?” “And find out all details of my parents’ car accident, including that missing driver.” Chapter 4 I changed clothes and sneaked out of the house. Arrived at the Sterling Villa, the home I grew up in. I didn’t go through the front door. Familiarly, I infiltrated the villa’s garden, returning to my own home. I squatted behind the bushes, looking inside through the bright floor-to-ceiling windows of the first-floor living room. Just one glance, my blood curdled. In the living room, that strange couple from the fake family portrait was wearing my parents’ favorite loungewear, sitting on the sofa, watching TV leisurely. Franklin and that female secretary were sitting opposite them. On Franklin’s face was a doting look I had never seen before. The secretary held Franklin’s arm intimately, pointing at the wall with her other hand. Hanging on the wall were photos of my parents. “Frank, these photos are too unlucky. Change them to ours tomorrow, okay?” “Okay, whatever you say. This is our home anyway.” My home… My home was occupied by a group of thieves! Franklin, you beast! My nails dug deep into my palms, but I felt no pain. The phone in my pocket vibrated suddenly. I clicked open the message with trembling hands. Inside were two files. The first one. [According to DNA genetic marker analysis results, sample Gwen Sterling is excluded as the biological mother of Yolanda.] Drops of scalding tears smashed onto the cold screen. Although expected, the word “Excluded” still pierced my last fantasy like a knife. Yolanda, indeed, is not my daughter. Then where is the daughter I carried for ten months and risked my life to give birth to? My child, where is she now? I wiped my tears and opened the second file. It was a photo. A skinny, mud-covered little girl was curling up by the trash can downstairs of my apartment, rummaging for food. I rushed home. Right in the corner of the unit entrance, I saw her. My biological daughter… Turns out, on the second day of birth, she was taken away from me by Franklin. Then given to others to raise. She was being surrounded by a few older kids, pushed and insulted. “Little beggar! Get away! Don’t dirty our place!” She held her head, small body curled into a ball, silent. I looked at her dirty face and those stubborn eyes. Too similar. Exactly like me when I was little. A hot tear dropped onto the back of my hand without warning. I always knew about this child. The little girl mentioned many times by neighbors, picking trash downstairs every day! When I was blind, I heard her faint crying many times. I asked Franklin: “Who is crying?” Franklin said: “A wild child no one wants, crazy. Stay away from her, don’t get hurt.” Turns out, not a wild child, but my daughter. She has always been by my side. Within reach. But I believed the devil’s lies and passed her by again and again. Bang! A boy kicked her in the back. Her small body flew out like a leaf, hitting the wall heavily. “Stop!” I rushed over, hugging her tightly in my arms. I took off my coat, wrapping her cold body. She looked up, looking at me timidly. I wiped the mud off her face with trembling hands. She looked at me, big black and white eyes filled with tears. “Don’t be afraid… Mommy is here.” My voice trembled. After a long time, she used a mosquito-like voice. “M…Mom…” My tears could no longer be held back, pouring out. I held her tightly, tightly in my arms. How I wished to make up for the hugs missed in these five years all at once. Franklin. Listen well. The suffering my daughter endured, I want you to pay back a thousand, ten thousand times over.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “389977”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Julian Vance hated “Targeters” the most. Until the heiress of the Lin family entered his world for an arranged marriage. She danced in his private garden rain or shine, her movements captivating. Modern dance, Jazz, Classical Ballet… Julian was captivated by her, rarely not sending her to “The Island” for imprisonment. I took a bite of tiramisu, too sad to speak. The System mocked: “You useless thing! Now look, wait to be erased!” Looking at the Affection Score bar that never moved, actually, I am a Targeter too. Chapter 1 Eight Targeters were already locked up in the private prison on The Island. They preached equality and hoped for a “one life, one couple” love with Julian Vance. Julian hated them. But their business ideas were sometimes useful, though Julian found them annoying. So he locked up every one he met. Kept the useful ones, made the useless ones disappear. Letting the security team’s interrogation squad use threats and promises to make them spit out all business secrets, maximizing their value. I am Julian’s childhood friend. Julian was an illegitimate son ostracized by the family when he was young. Everyone could bully him, tease him. His older cousins often beat him black and blue. When he hid in the dark attic of the family estate to heal, a warm, kind girl would appear. Like an angel, bringing him medicine, stroking his wounds with tears. She said she came to save him. “I will protect you from now on. I won’t let them bully you again.” “Does it hurt? I will always be with you!” She smiled gently at Julian. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to save you. We’ll be best friends.” I thought Julian would be moved and accept the girl glowing with “I’m good for you” light. Unexpectedly, Julian choked her neck, pinning her against the wall. The girl kicked wildly, making suffocated whimpers. Julian said coldly: “Get lost! Don’t let me see you again.” I hid behind a tree and saw everything. The macaron in my hand fell with a soft thud. He turned to look at me, put away his scary expression, and walked over. His aura was terrifying. I dared not speak. Legs weak, I fell to the ground, touching my neck. Begging fawningly: “Don’t choke me. My neck is too thin, it will break. I saw nothing.” “You don’t need saving. I don’t dare.” His face looked even worse. He stared at me darkly. “You’d better stay this way forever.” I shrank my neck, nodding frantically. Chapter 2 My parents were famous business tycoons, but died in a plane crash. Since I lost my parents young, Grandmother often took me to stay at the Vance Estate. And recognized me as her god-granddaughter. To show the Vance family’s kindness. I was present at every moment Julian needed saving. I just stood silently aside. When he was thrown into the combat training ground and beaten all over. When the snobbish servants withheld his dinner. When his mother was critically ill and passed away. That year, he became more steady and grew up. He stood in the dark attic of the old house, quietly looking at his mother’s cold body. His mother’s personal assistant walked up to him, comforting softly: “Young Master Julian, Rou will accompany you instead of Madam.” It seems in every low period when Julian needed comfort, a “flower that understands speech” would appear. Trying to save him, target him, be the only light in his heart. Like this assistant named Rou. She tugged Julian’s shirt, smiling warmly: “Don’t be sad, Young Master. Be happy, smile, okay?” Rou didn’t know Julian was a germaphobe. He couldn’t stand anyone touching him. Every time someone accidentally touched him, he had to change his whole outfit. Sure enough, with a signal from his eyes. The bodyguards standing aside immediately dragged Rou out. Rou was gagged by the bodyguards, whimpering soundlessly. Dragged away. Julian walked to me and hugged me gently. He buried his head in my neck, voice muffled: “Nina, let me hug you. I’ll bring you your favorite Black Forest Cake.” I dared not move. Responded: “Okay.” His voice was light, but terrifyingly calm: “I loathe them. And I loathe myself.” “If I were conquered, would there be fewer hardships? Would my mother not have died?” I didn’t understand what “them” meant. Nor what “conquered” meant. I only knew Julian was very sad that day. Since then, he acted even more ruthlessly. Chapter 3 Today, I dressed up. Preparing to attend my coming-of-age ceremony. The Vance Villa had invited many guests. But suddenly a voice came into my brain: Beep beep beep. Target System energy sufficient. Ready to start. Hello Host. System binding. Target: Julian Vance. I jumped, refusing frantically: “I refuse to target! Refuse! Refuse!” Ding! Cannot refuse. Mission started. Progress query. Progress: 66. Massive information flooded my brain. After a moment of daze, I came back, face pale. No joy. Only infinite panic. I am a Targeter. The Targeter Julian hates the most. Once there was a Targeter discovered by Julian. She was a girl with a voice like a lark, knowing all kinds of pop singing. Julian made her sing and sing. Until her voice was hoarse, coughing blood. Finally locked in the confinement room, beaten bloody. Julian even excitedly took me to watch. He really hates Targeters. If he finds out I am a Targeter too, will I be beaten to death? Moreover, I know nothing but eating. Will he make me eat and eat until I burst? The more I thought, the more scared I was. The System’s voice sounded again with surprise: Unexpectedly, Host already has 66 Affection Score from Julian! Before Host, Targeters used many identities: Mrs. Vance’s cousin, Julian’s mother’s assistant… none exceeded 0 score. So those girls who wanted to save Julian were all Targeters bound with Systems. But they all failed. Tortured by Julian until unrecognizable, then erased by the Main God along with the System. Host, you are very hopeful. Only success, no failure. Or we will die miserably. I shivered, comb falling to the ground. This sneak, when did I target him? Where did the score come from? “Can I not target? Julian will choke me to death. I can’t beat him.” System cold and ruthless: No. System started. Slacking will be punished by electric shock. I was weak and helpless. Can’t beat Julian, can’t beat the System. Attended the banquet with a pale face. The Vance family sent a pile of expensive gifts as usual. Today’s Julian is the esteemed head of the Vance Group. No longer the bullied bastard son. His presence gave enough face to the Gu family. No dignitary in the capital dared not come. Arriving at the banquet hall. He stared at my face for a while: “You look wrong. What happened?” Seeing his dark gaze. I stepped back in terror, waving my hands repeatedly. Julian paused, eyes obscure: “Nina? Did someone say something, hmm?” I paused, shaking my head firmly: “No… no, absolutely not!” He is too smart. Every previous Targeter was accurately found by him. Then caught, tortured, revenged. I was absent-minded throughout the banquet. Grandmother saw me drinking champagne sullenly, glared at me unhappily: “Nina, go toast Mr. Vance!” In Grandmother’s eyes, Julian and I are childhood sweethearts growing up together. A girl of the Gu family is qualified to be Mrs. Vance. In Grandmother’s eyes, I deserve the best. But in my eyes, that’s the King of Hell who takes my life in minutes. I was reluctant. But still raised the glass, toasting Julian meekly: “To Mr. Vance. It’s Nina’s honor to have you here today.” Julian stopped the glass I was about to drink, grabbing my sleeve: “Stop drinking. You drank too much. I’ll have someone send you to rest.” He frowned at me. I remembered Mrs. Vance’s cousin. Julian discovered she was a Targeter. Even her touch was disgusting. Thinking of the scene where he choked her coldly. I shivered in fear. “Don’t… don’t touch me. I am not a Targeter.” He paused for a second, mouth curving into a smile. I was really scared. Chapter 4 System: You are embarrassing! Coward! Me: … Julian shouldn’t have discovered I am a Targeter. Or he would have sent me to The Island. He laughed: “You are drunk. Rest early.” The banquet dispersed. Guests left, he left too. At night, I returned to the bedroom. Lying on the soft big bed. Tears fell. “System! You are not human! Making me target that living King of Hell!” “I have been afraid of him as long as I lived in this world.” “Find someone else!” System sneered: Better to live poorly than die. Understand? If you die, I will be erased too. For our lives, work hard. A soft sound from the balcony. Someone came in. Bringing the smell of roast meat. I got up and wiped my tears. It was Julian. Under the dim wall lamp, he stared at me burning: “Saw you didn’t eat much at the banquet. Brought your favorite BBQ platter.” His skills were getting better, coming and going freely in the Villa. I nodded vigorously. Whatever, eating is the most important. Took the food and ate. He often brought me food I loved. To bribe me, threaten me not to tell about the Targeters. System angry: You only know eating! Dark night, high wind, lone man and woman. Target him! I sighed in my heart: “No, I can’t do that.” System: Mission complete, I can grant you a wish. Any wish. “I have no wish.” System mourned its misfortune. Stuck with such a slacker host. Luckily there was some Affection Score, not to be erased. Julian reached out to touch my head. I was still afraid, tilted my head to avoid. His expression became suppressed. I was really afraid of death. “Julian, do you hate Targeters very much?” He looked at me steadily, voice hoarse: “Yes. I hate, hate Targeters very much. Want to dispose of them all.” I nodded with a bitter smile: “Mm, I also… hate, hate Targeters very much.” “If, I say if, I am also a Targeter, will you dispose of me too?” “Can you, let me go?” In the dark, Julian’s voice was exceptionally clear: “No. I will never let you go!” System: Detected score fluctuation. Current score 50, 20, 0… My hands shook with fear. Did he find out?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “389994”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 Isabelle’s young assistant, Liam, was swiping my credit card like it was his own personal piggy bank, all while running his mouth in a high-end French restaurant, calling me a worthless kept man. Furious, I froze the card. He was left with a bill he couldn’t pay, not only facing public humiliation but also getting detained by the manager overnight. When Isabelle found out, she just tapped my nose playfully. “Oh, you,” she said with a little laugh. “Such a big man, getting into a jealous spat with a boy. Now he’s a laughingstock.” She didn’t blame me. She acted like it was nothing. Until my birthday. She took me to that same French restaurant, ordering dozens of tables’ worth of expensive dishes and vintage wines, claiming her friends were on their way to celebrate with us. “Honey, I’ll be right back,” she said, kissing my cheek. “Just need to step out for a moment, then I’ll be back to celebrate with you.” I waited until the restaurant was about to close. She never came back. Neither did any of her “friends.” When I went to pay, the manager gave me a tight-lipped smile. “Mr. Ashton, this card has been frozen.” … “Frozen?” Isabelle had given me the card. Before we left, she’d swapped it with mine, insisting that since it was my birthday, the bill was on her. I’d been so touched, thinking how lucky I was to have such a thoughtful, wonderful wife. But now, she was gone. I’d called her a dozen times, each one going straight to voicemail. If this card didn’t work, I was in serious trouble. The manager’s polite smile was already curdling into impatience. “Mr. Ashton, do you have another card you can use? I must remind you, we don’t allow tabs here. You’ll recall what happened last month, won’t you?” Of course, I remembered. Last month, it was Isabelle’s assistant, Liam, who had been humiliated here. The same assistant who called me a worthless leech who’d married into money. And then, it hit me. A cold dread crept up my spine. Was this Isabelle’s revenge? Was she doing this for him? Just as the thought formed, the click-clack of high heels echoed from the entrance. I turned, and there she was. Isabelle, with Liam clinging to her arm, his face a mask of smug satisfaction. Behind them trailed a crowd of their friends, all of them looking at me like I was the main event at a circus. “Cole,” Isabelle said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “You love punishing people who can’t pay their bills, don’t you? Now you get to experience it for yourself. Let’s see how you handle it.” The restaurant erupted in whispers. “That’s Cole Ashton. I heard he married into the Monroe fortune. And now his wife is here with her new boy toy to watch him squirm.” “Hahaha, see? That’s what happens when you’re just a pretty face.” “Exactly. Youth doesn’t last forever. The moment the rich wife finds someone younger and hotter, the party’s over for the old trophy husband.” My hands slowly clenched into fists, a hot wave of humiliation washing over me. It was just as I suspected. This was all for Liam. This was her trap. Isabelle led Liam to the table and sat down, pulling him onto her lap. “Don’t you worry, my dear Liam,” she cooed, stroking his hair. “However he shamed you that day, I’ll pay him back tenfold.” Liam’s face lit up. He leaned in and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you, Isabelle.” Then, he shot me a triumphant, venomous look. “You’re just a pathetic freeloader, Cole. What right did you have to cut me off?” He punctuated his sentence by grabbing a bottle of expensive red wine and smashing it at my feet. CRASH! The dark liquid splattered across my pants, adding to my dishevelment. “Hahahaha! You’re finished, you loser!” Liam crowed. “Isabelle is paying for me now. I can break as many bottles as I want. But you? You’re screwed.” Isabelle smirked at me. “Don’t you dare look at me like that. If you have the money, you’re free to pay the bill and walk out.” A chorus of laughter followed. “Money? What money could he possibly have?” “The cost of the food and all that opened wine is astronomical.” “He’s a kept man. Without her, he’s nothing.” 2 To complete my humiliation, Isabelle stood up, her cold gaze sweeping across the room. “Let me be clear. Anyone who dares to help Cole Ashton tonight becomes an enemy of mine—and an enemy of the Monroe family.” Everyone in this city knew you didn’t cross the Monroes. A few business partners I was friendly with, men I had negotiated deals for on behalf of Isabelle’s family, had started to rise from their seats. But at her words, they sank back down, their faces pale. “Did you see that? She’s serious.” “I know! I thought they were a happy couple. I figured she was just blowing off steam, but this is real.” “With a threat like that, who would dare help him?” My control snapped. I strode over and grabbed Isabelle’s arm. “Are you really doing this? Humiliating me in front of everyone for this… this boy toy?” She ripped her arm away and slapped me hard across the face. SMACK! “Yes!” My head whipped to the side, my cheek stinging. I couldn’t believe it. For three years, we were the city’s golden couple. She was the one who pursued me when I first arrived here, a nobody. At our wedding, she had sworn to be loyal forever, to love me with every fiber of her being. And now? Three years. That’s all it took for those vows, those memories, to be shattered by this cold, cruel spectacle. The whispers were right. A trophy husband has no dignity. The moment she finds a new, younger distraction, his gilded life is over. But Isabelle had no idea. The reason I had willingly married into her family wasn’t for their money. It was because I loved her. I stared at her, my eyes burning with rage. She calmly took out a silk handkerchief and began to wipe the hand she had just used to strike me. “You know how fond I am of Liam,” she said disdainfully. “And yet you just had to push it.” “Cole, if you can’t pay this bill, I’ll have the manager strip you naked and throw you out on the street.” A wave of cheers and jeers went through the crowd. All eyes were on me, filled with mockery. “Wow, she’s really going for it. Throwing her own husband to the wolves for her new pet.” “Well, he won’t be her husband for long, by the looks of it.” “Hahaha, let’s just sit back and enjoy the show.” A coterie of wealthy older women was watching me with predatory eyes. “Mmm, I’d love to see if he’s got abs,” one of them purred. “Hahaha!” My face was hot with shame. Isabelle had taken my wallet before we left, ensuring I was completely defenseless. All I had was the expensive suit on my back. Even my phone was dead. I realized now that this had all been meticulously planned. 3 “It’s getting late, Ashton,” Liam sneered. “The restaurant wants to close. You’re not going to tell us you can’t pay, are you?” “What a shame,” he continued, lighting a cigarette and blowing a cloud of smoke in my face. “If you can’t pay, they’ll have to detain you. Just like you did to me, right?” The sheer arrogance on his face was too much. I lunged at him, my fist connecting with his jaw, sending him stumbling back into a table. The scene dissolved into chaos. “Cole, stop it!” Isabelle shrieked, her voice filled with concern for Liam. She signaled her bodyguards, who tackled me, throwing me to the floor. “What’s wrong?” she said, standing over me. “You can dish it out, but you can’t take it?” My eyes were bloodshot as I stared up at her. The only reason the Monroe family had climbed to the top of the city’s elite in just three years was because of me. I had used my family’s influence to clear their path, to fend off the sharks and criminals who would have torn them apart. Tonight was supposed to be the night I told her everything. That I wasn’t just some kid from nowhere. That I was the heir to the Ashton dynasty, the most powerful of Northwood’s Four Founding Families. I was going to take her home to meet my parents. But people change so fast. I had misjudged her completely. I had overestimated her character. “Isabelle,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “Are you really going to make me walk out of here in shame?” She laughed. “What do you think all this was for? Decoration?” Liam, emboldened by the bodyguards, stepped forward and punched me in the face. “Here are your choices, Ashton. Either you can’t pay and get hauled away, or you can get on all fours, take this steak in your mouth, and crawl out of here like a dog.” “Oh, and the first option is naked,” he added with a grin. “The second, you get to keep your clothes, but not your dignity. Hahaha! Choose! I’m getting impatient.” With dozens of pairs of eyes on me, I pushed myself to my feet. I looked at Isabelle, my heart a block of ice. “Fine. This is your choice. When the Monroe empire comes crashing down, it will be on you.” Liam was the first to laugh, a loud, braying sound. The entire restaurant joined in. “Hahaha! Is this guy for real?” “He’s been reading too many romance novels. Thinks he’s some secret billionaire.” “He’s lost his mind. The humiliation has broken him.” Isabelle glared at me, believing I was bluffing. She picked up a plate of food and threw it at me. “Stop spouting nonsense. The Monroe family, bankrupt? You wish. Worry about yourself right now!” “Manager!” A nod from Isabelle was all it took. The manager and his security guards approached me. “Mr. Ashton,” he said coolly, “will that be cash, or will someone else be covering your bill?” Despite the situation, he maintained a shred of professional courtesy. My eyes scanned the room, landing on a business associate I had worked with frequently, a man I had made very rich on behalf of the Monroes. I started walking towards him. He saw me coming and immediately shot up from his chair, backing away. “Cole, don’t. I can’t help you…” “Relax,” I said calmly. “I’m not asking you to pay. I just need to borrow your phone.” “Can I?” I asked, my voice even. “I just need to make one call. A friend of mine will bring the money.” Liam howled with laughter. “He’s still trying to act tough! In this city, who would dare bring you money now?” “Go on, let him call!” he announced to the crowd. “We’ll give him half an hour. If the money’s not here by then, I’ll let these lovely single ladies have their fun with him. A man used by the richest woman in the city must be good, right?” He winked at the group of predatory women, who were practically drooling. 4 My associate, under Liam’s command, handed me his phone. I quickly made the call, telling my friend to get here with cash, and fast. The minutes ticked by. With ten minutes left on the clock, Liam was getting restless. “I can’t believe I fell for that,” he scoffed. “As if some ‘friend’ is going to show up and save him.” “He’s just stalling for time.” “Manager, let’s just break his legs and get this over with. No one is coming.” As the security guards advanced on me, I held up a hand. “Hold on. There are still ten minutes left.” “When those ten minutes are up, the money will be here.” Liam sneered. “Ten minutes up, hell, I’ll give you twenty. If no one shows up with the money, I’ll be the one to get on all fours with a steak in my mouth and crawl out.” My eyes lit up. “You said that. Everyone here is a witness.” “Damn right, I said it!” The crowd buzzed with excitement again. “This is better than a movie!” As the final minutes dwindled, one of the rich women couldn’t wait any longer. She reached out and ran a hand down my chest. “Don’t touch me!” I snapped, swatting her hand away. “Ooh, feisty,” she purred. “Such a nice chest. A great body. I can tell even without touching.” “Isabelle, dear, why don’t you just give him to me?” Isabelle took a sip of her wine, admiring her freshly manicured nails. “Why not? If he can’t pay, you can all have your fun with him.” “Hahaha, well then, I’m first in line!” Convinced I was doomed, they swarmed me, ignoring my protests. My voice was lethal, but they didn’t care. Liam gave the order to Isabelle’s bodyguards. “Hold him down. Let the ladies have their prize.” “Yes, sir!” The bodyguards surged forward, pinning me. I looked at Isabelle, my heart turning to stone. We were still husband and wife, legally. And she was letting other women assault me. This was a humiliation for her as much as for me. But she just shrugged. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not going to help you. All that matters is that Liam is happy.” That was all the encouragement the women needed. “Come with me, handsome!” “I have money, sweetie! I can pay your bill!” “No, no, come with me! I’m prettier than her!” They clawed at my suit, tearing the expensive fabric, while the bodyguards held me fast. The men in the restaurant roared with laughter. I memorized every face. “You want to watch a joke?” I snarled. “Soon, you’ll all be the joke.” “And you,” I said, my eyes locking on Liam. He spat on the floor. “Strip him! Time’s up! No more…” He never finished his sentence. The doors to the restaurant burst open, and a squad of men in black suits stormed in. They moved with military precision, swiftly and brutally taking down Isabelle’s bodyguards. Following them was Donovan Grey, the president of the city’s largest bank, a man whose name was whispered with awe in every boardroom. He carried a briefcase, his face a mask of grim determination. “Mr. Ashton,” he said, his voice ringing through the silent room. “I’ve brought the funds. I trust I’m not too late.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390010”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My daughter, Delilah, complained for the ninth time that the fever medicine I’d mixed wasn’t as sweet as Rhett’s, but this time, I didn’t get angry. I simply poured the full bowl down the sink and called Rhett. “Sorry, but Delilah insists on you coming over. She won’t take her medicine otherwise. I apologize for the trouble.” Delilah stared at me, her eyes wide with surprise, as if she expected me to suddenly throw a fit. Rhett walked in with his wife, Blair, close behind. Blair immediately offered a strained excuse. “We just happened to bump into each other downstairs…” I ignored the faint, star-like love bites scattered across the base of her neck and smiled as I listened to Rhett sweet-talk Delilah into swallowing the syrupy medicine. Just before they left, Rhett paused and asked me, his voice carefully casual, “Nolan, my family is pressuring me hard about marriage. Would you mind if I borrowed Blair for a weekend?” He claimed it was just an act—a temporary show—and promised to return her completely intact. 1 As they both held their breath, waiting for my outburst, I gave Delilah a gentle push toward him. “Take her, too. A family of three is much more convincing.” The color drained from Blair’s face. She told me if I didn’t want to ‘lend’ her out, there was no need for the passive-aggressive tone. I sighed. “I’m being serious. Delilah loves your cooking, Rhett. And no, I’m not angry.” “Nolan, my family pressure is just too much, and since you’re an orphan anyway, you don’t have to deal with—” Blair sharply elbowed Rhett before he could finish the crass sentence. Her shocked gaze fixed on me. “You really don’t care? You’re giving your wife and daughter to another man? Nolan, I never realized you were this… generous.” The man Blair married—the old Nolan—had been consumed by her. I used to hate it if she came home smelling of another man’s cologne, so she’d fired her male assistants. When I was sick, she’d stay by my side 24/7, worried I’d be paranoid or suspicious. In the eyes of the world, she was the devoted, perfect wife. But that devotion had been chipped away as Delilah grew older. Our daughter was fragile, constantly battling colds and infections, and I’d devoted myself to her care. Blair had complained countless times that we had no life together, once joking that she wished she could stuff Delilah back into her womb. I always reassured her, until that night. Delilah, in a fit of pique, had screamed, “I never want to eat Dad’s cooking again! I want Uncle Rhett’s!” It was then I realized Blair had a new assistant, and he had been around for two years. I’d exploded in a furious, hysterical tirade. Delilah had pointed her tiny finger at me and called me a controlling maniac, demanding that Uncle Rhett be her real father. That was the first time I ever struck her. The sound of the slap was sharp and cold. I escalated the situation, forcing Blair to fire Rhett. We remained in a tense cold war until my parents begged me to apologize to Blair. That’s when I realized the leverage she had—our family business depended on the contracts Blair’s corporation provided. I had no choice but to bow my head. Then, my parents died suddenly in a house fire. My entire world collapsed. I thought my small family—Blair and Delilah—was my final anchor, but it had already been perforated with a thousand holes. I raised my eyes—calm, utterly flat—and offered an explanation for Blair’s past affair. “He was just your employee. You had a professional relationship. I didn’t think anything of it. A superior taking care of a subordinate is perfectly normal.” “But…” Blair wanted to argue, but Rhett physically ushered her out the door, taking the feverish, sleepy Delilah with him. My daughter was beaming as she left, her illness seemingly forgotten. “I always wanted to spend New Year’s Eve with Uncle Rhett! Dad is just so boring and dull.” I glanced at the framed family photo on the side table, then swept it—all of them—into the trash. After cleaning up, I called Professor Hale. “I’ve decided to restart the research group, Master.” “Nolan, that’s fantastic!” My mentor was overjoyed, explaining that the antidepressant drug trials had ground to a halt after I’d quit. I remembered who I was before I married Blair: a promising medical student. But when I’d confronted her about Rhett, she’d pointed a finger at me and sneered, “You’ve been a house-husband for so long, you think everyone has your free time. Rhett is actually building something. Don’t slander him.” It was ironic. She was the one who had cried and begged me for a chance to take care of me, financially. Every memory now felt like a needle pressed into my heart. “I’m filing for divorce,” I said into the phone. “After this, I’m dedicating myself entirely to the lab.” “Why the sudden change? Well… that’s good, I suppose. I’ll be waiting for you, son.” 2 The moment Rhett ‘borrowed’ Blair and Delilah, he began a relentless campaign of romantic posts on social media. He shared a photo of his hand intertwined with Blair’s, a visit to a cheesy, famous lovers’ retreat where they’d hung up an elaborate, color-coded ‘fate lock,’ and then a picture of Blair at his family’s home, showing off her generosity. She’d given a Rolex or Patek Philippe to every relative. Delilah went a step further, kneeling to greet his parents, calling them Grandma and Grandpa. I was scrolling past the feed when Rhett flooded my private messages: Nolan, how long has it been since you and Blair did it? She says seeing that ugly, hideous scar on your lower back makes her sick. I’m the one she’s spiritually and physically connected to, not you, the useless house-husband. I had your fortune read. You’re a total walking curse. You killed your own parents, and now you’re going to drag down Delilah and Blair, too. Isn’t that right? He followed up with a dozen explicit photos, Blair’s face clearly visible in several of them. I almost thanked him for the first-hand evidence. I ignored Rhett entirely and focused on the paperwork required to restart my research. On the drive back from Professor Hale’s lab, there was a sudden thud. An oncoming car swerved wildly and collided with mine. I instinctively wrenched the wheel, and my head slammed hard against the window. Just before I blacked out, I heard my phone vibrating. It was a text from Blair. Sweetie, Happy New Year. So sorry I couldn’t make it back for midnight. Rhett gets terrible motion sickness, so I’m staying one more night to help him. I woke up in the hospital. My leg was badly sprained and scraped, but nothing was broken. I’d need time to heal. Blair rushed in late that night, her eyes red, but she hadn’t even bothered to change out of the matching sweater she’d been wearing with Rhett. The overwhelming scent of his cologne filled the sterile room. “Why didn’t you call me when you were hurt?” she demanded. “Nolan, I’m your wife!” She was frantic, scanning me from head to toe, and only seemed to relax when she was certain I wasn’t critically injured. Her panic was so genuine for a split second that I almost believed the affair was a delusion. “What a horrible start to the new year, getting into a wreck,” she said, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Here, Rhett got you a good luck charm.” Blair extended her hand, and I sharply knocked the charm away. “I don’t need it.” “Nolan, Rhett was just being kind. Don’t read too much into it.” “I’m an agnostic,” I said, my voice cold and unfamiliar even to my own ears. “It has nothing to do with Rhett.” Blair frowned, ready to argue, when her phone rang. It was Rhett’s customized ringtone—a sickeningly sweet audio clip he’d recorded. She immediately hung up, but the calls began to flood in like a relentless, frantic attack. “You should take it,” I offered, preempting her excuse. “Could be something urgent at the company.” Blair quickly retreated to the hallway. I could hear Rhett’s low, anxious voice on the other end. “Blair, what do I do? I have severe anemia! I’m so scared. Can you please come stay with me?” Blair’s body stiffened. “I understand,” she whispered. “I’ll be right there.” She hurried back into the room, telling me to get some rest. She insisted it was urgent business… “A project issue, Nolan. I can’t trust anyone else to handle it.” “Go,” I told her. I leaned back against the pillows, offering no protest, no plea, no reason for her to stay. Blair, looking horribly guilty, promised she’d rush back as soon as she could. 3 During the days I spent recovering, Blair made a show of devotion. She had my favorite meals prepared by a nutritionist and sent fresh flower arrangements daily, with cards that rotated between syrupy declarations of love and apologies. The nurses raved about what a perfect wife she was—beautiful and so doting. But I knew she was spending most of her time accompanying Rhett to his barrage of medical tests. The man’s taunting texts continued: Blair says she only loves me, Nolan. Don’t you get it? You should have been gone a long time ago. My place is here, as Blair’s husband. Delilah even asked us to have a baby brother for her. Nolan, living a life like yours is truly a failure! I finally blocked Rhett, and as I was heading downstairs for a physical therapy session, I saw Blair hurrying in, looking concerned. She said she’d come to take me home and asked if I knew what day it was. I froze, instinctively pulling away from her touch. “What?” “Delilah’s birthday. And my day of suffering,” she said, forcing a little laugh. “Hospital stay must have muddled your head. You forgot.” She claimed I was normally so dedicated, usually planning the party for months. She also mentioned that Delilah was being good: “She promised not to run off and is waiting at home to celebrate with you.” I didn’t reply. As I settled into the passenger seat, I spotted a tacky, personalized sign that read ‘Rhett’s Ride’ and a branded, blue-bear keychain hanging from the rearview mirror. Blair quickly snatched them down. “The guy is forgetful. Left them in my car.” “Uh-huh.” We barely spoke on the drive. As we pulled into the driveway, Blair reached out to steady me, but her assistant rushed up. “Bad news, Ms. Sutton. Rhett was pushed down a flight of stairs. Massive hemorrhaging. His life is critical.” “How could that happen?” Blair’s face went white. She spun around and leveled a terrifying look at me. “It was you, wasn’t it? All that show of being so mature and generous. I thought you were finally over being jealous of Rhett, but you’re still a monster.” I had no idea what she was talking about, but Blair was convinced I’d hired someone to hurt him. She reminded me how I’d shown up at the company before, raving like a lunatic, calling them a cheating whore and a parasitic bastard. “I’ve been trying to make things right with you, Nolan, and this is what you do? When did you become so malicious?” Her eyes were blazing red as she told me to pray Rhett lived. Otherwise, she’d make me pay. “I had nothing to do with it,” I snarled. “If you don’t believe me, call the police!” She grit her teeth. “Don’t think I won’t. Don’t push me into being the one who sends you to prison.” Blair scrambled away to the hospital. Watching her retreating back, I called my attorney and instructed him to draft the divorce papers. Some things, once dirtied, just need to be thrown out. When you find one cockroach in the kitchen, the truth is, the entire foundation is already infested. I spent the whole night alone. Rhett was in surgery. Blair sent me several texts, telling me Delilah had suffered a sudden cardiac episode after getting scared on a roller coaster. She was still hospitalized and screaming for her father. “She keeps calling out for Dad. You’re her biological father. Who else is going to go to her?” Now she remembers me. I’d repeatedly warned them not to take Delilah to the amusement park. My protective nature wasn’t a perverse need for control; it was a desperate attempt to shield a brittle child I couldn’t afford to lose. “Rhett was being wheeled into surgery and all he could do was worry about Delilah. And yet, you, her own father…” “Get the papers ready,” I told the attorney. “I want a divorce. I’m no longer responsible for your family of three.” A sudden silence fell on the line. Then, Blair’s voice roared: “You want a divorce? Dream on!” 4 Blair went ballistic. She had her people surround the house, keeping me trapped inside. She demanded I stay put and pray with her that Rhett survived the surgery. “Ma’am, bad news. We have a blood shortage. Mr. Rhett is in desperate need…” “Take him.” Blair glared at me with icy indifference. She said Rhett and I shared the same, rare blood type. I stood frozen, refusing her demand. Her cold eyes hardened. “Don’t force my hand, Nolan.” “Don’t touch me, Blair. You disgusting, cheating fraud!” She grabbed my throat, her grip painfully tight, and claimed I owed this to Rhett. That I was the one who put him in that hospital bed. “It’s just a little blood, Nolan. After this, I promise I won’t let Rhett come near you again.” “Be a good boy. Don’t make a scene.” Blair was pretending to coddle me, but it was a final ultimatum. Her staff pinned me down and dragged me to the hospital. The cold needle pierced my vein, and I watched my blood flow away from me. “That’s 400 CCs, Ma’am. Mr. Nolan’s vitals are dropping. We should stop.” “Keep going. Rhett still needs more. Nolan, it’s just a little blood. I’ll compensate you later. Be a good boy.” Blair insisted Rhett needed more, and that they shouldn’t stop. I was dizzy, verging on collapse. As my vision tunneled, I saw the true Blair: ruthless, cruel, and without a shred of humanity. Just before I fainted, I heard the good news being shouted from the operating room. Rhett was stable. “Thank God! Rhett is going to be okay!” “Where’s Uncle Rhett?” Delilah’s small figure stumbled through the door. She had only just been cleared from the ICU, but her first thought was for Rhett. My child, the one I’d risked everything to raise, didn’t even glance at me. She rushed past, desperate to see Rhett. Tears streamed down my face. Though I had accepted their cruelty long ago, the reality of it still tore my heart apart. I was the victim, yet I was the one paying the price. Boom. My world imploded. I could only hear Rhett’s whiny, tearful voice, and Blair’s ecstatic reassurance. “I thought I’d never see you again, Blair.” “I’m here.” “I’m here too, Uncle Rhett.” “Is that Nolan? He looks unconscious. Is he alright?” “He deserves a lesson,” Blair snapped. “There’s a limit to jealousy. He shouldn’t have hurt you like that…” Thump. Thump. My world was reduced to the heavy, staggering sound of my own heartbeat. Am I dying? Just as I completely lost consciousness, a strong arm lifted me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390026”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

On New Year’s Eve, my wealthy parents and brother finally agreed to accompany me to Disneyland to count down the new year. But when I arrived at the park, I saw no sign of them. I texted them, and they replied helplessly that they were stuck in traffic and would be late. I waited alone in the park until late at night. When the midnight bell rang… I saw my fake sister’s Instagram post. She was wearing a pure white princess dress, holding a newly won dance trophy, hugged in the middle by my parents and brother at a New Year’s Eve banquet. Caption: [New Year, same love. Celebrating with my favorite family.] Her friends liked and commented below. This wasn’t the first time my parents broke a promise. But this time, I didn’t cry or make a scene. I just commented calmly: [So nice. Wishing your family of four a Happy New Year.] Chapter 1 That night, I stayed at Disneyland alone until dawn. I had just fallen asleep at home when the phone rang. I stared at the name “Ethan” flashing on the screen and didn’t move. After he hung up and called for the fourth time, I slowly picked up. Before I could speak, a roar exploded from the other end: “Nora, what’s with your sarcastic comment in the middle of the night?” “Stella won an award last night! Twenty years of hard work for that trophy. What’s wrong with us celebrating for her?” His voice turned colder. “Can’t you be more sensible? Do you have to make the whole family unhappy on New Year’s?” Sensible. That word again. From the first day I was brought back to the Sterling family, this word reminded me to step aside, shut up, and smile. I looked at the gray sky outside the window and finally spoke. “Ethan, Happy New Year.” The other end choked. The anger he prepared was stuck in his throat. I didn’t give him a chance to react. I continued in a tone devoid of emotion: “I didn’t mean anything else.” “I just think… you guys look like a real family.” Then, I hung up. The world instantly became quiet. The phone screen went dark, reflecting my expressionless face. I stood up, walked to the huge walk-in closet, and opened the bottom drawer. From under a pile of flashy jewelry boxes, I dragged out the old canvas bag I brought when I came. Unzipping it, I started packing. My old T-shirts, my sketchbook, and the mechanical pencil I’d used for years. Halfway through, the phone rang again. This time not my “good brother,” but Vanessa, my mother in the legal sense. I didn’t answer. I declined the call and continued folding my old clothes one by one, putting them into the canvas bag. There weren’t many; it was full quickly. The phone rang again. Richard, my father. I declined again. Soon, the phone vibrated. A text message popped up. From Richard, with the commanding tone of the head of the household: [Your sister is crying from guilt. Come back and apologize immediately. If you’re done throwing a tantrum, come home.] I looked at the message and didn’t reply. I still had one most important thing to do. I opened the desk drawer. Inside lay a black card. This was given to me when I first returned to the Sterling family. They said it was pocket money, buy whatever I wanted, just don’t embarrass the family. I never used it once. I took it out, placed it on the clean desk, took out my phone, and snapped a photo. Click. Then, I opened the “Happy Family” group chat, which was usually dead silent except for holidays. I sent the photo. Followed by a line of text: “Thank you for your care. I haven’t touched this money. The password is Stella’s birthday. From now on, I’m on my own.” Chapter 2 After doing all this, I felt light all over. Within thirty seconds, my phone went crazy. The group chat exploded, but I had no interest in looking. Then, Vanessa called for the third time, with a persistence that said she wouldn’t stop until I answered. This time, I picked up. “Nora! Where are you? Come back, okay? What do you mean by sending that?” Her voice was suppressed, tearful. “Nothing,” I said. “Literal meaning.” “Nora, Mom knows you felt wronged all these years, but Stella is weak. She’s sensitive. How can you provoke her like this? If she sees it, she’ll get sick again!” Listening to the familiar rhetoric, I almost laughed. Again. Stella’s health was a universal shield, blocking all their bias and all my grievances. Before, I would be silent, endure, and say “I know.” But today, I didn’t want to. I interrupted her crying. My voice was light, but clear as an ice pick. “Mrs. Sterling.” The crying on the other end stopped abruptly. I paused, giving her a second to digest the address, then asked the question I should have asked long ago in the calmest tone of my life. “Do I need to remind you that you share no blood relation with her?” Silence. I hung up. The world was clean. I muted my phone, threw it on the bed, finished packing my small canvas bag, and returned to my college dorm. The next day, I appeared in my major class on time, sitting in the front row. Professor Vance, known for his strictness, announced that our department had an exchange slot with a top international landscape design studio this year. The selected student could go to their headquarters for a three-month real project. One sentence dropped a bomb in the classroom. Everyone started whispering, eyes shining. Me too. This wasn’t just an opportunity; it was a boat that could carry me out of this suffocating water. But Professor Vance’s next words poured a bucket of cold water on me. He said, to ensure the student completes the project, a deposit of $5,000 was required. Five thousand. All the money in my pocket added up to less than three hundred. I needed money. Ask the Sterlings? Impossible. I started living in the library, drawing until my knuckles were sore. At the same time, I took three part-time jobs. Grinding beans at a coffee shop in the morning, tutoring math in the afternoon, and delivering food on a second-hand e-bike at night. My life was packed full. Tired? Yes. sometimes after the last delivery, sitting on the curb, I didn’t even have the strength to lift my arm. But when I stuffed the few bills earned that day—smelling of ink and sweat—into my pocket, I felt a void in my heart being filled a little. This money was clean. It smelled better than any dish on the Sterling family table. I thought my life and the Sterlings’ had become parallel lines. Unexpectedly, someone insisted on twisting them together. That night, after delivering food, I was eating a discounted rice ball in a convenience store when my phone screen lit up. A message from a classmate I was somewhat close with. She sent a screenshot of Stella’s Instagram. In the photo, Ethan was gently putting an expensive necklace on her. Circled in the screenshot were comments between Stella and Ethan. Stella: “Brother, I heard from classmates that Sister is working several jobs recently.” Ethan replied with a question mark. Stella added: “Is she scraping money for that exchange project? Sigh, it’s all our fault. If not for that day… she wouldn’t have left home in anger and suffered so much outside. Should we help her? A girl alone outside, what if she gets tricked by bad people for money?” Below that paragraph, a row of likes from mutual friends looked particularly glaring. I stared at the text, reeking of manipulation, and finished my rice ball expressionlessly. She always had a way to keep herself clean while splashing dirty water on me. Left home in anger? Tricked for money? With a few light words, she defined my efforts and persistence as a farce staged for sympathy. And my “good brother” inevitably believed it. Sure enough, my phone vibrated. A transfer notification popped up. From Ethan. Amount: $10,000. Followed by a cold, contemptuous message. “Short on money? Is playing the victim fun? Name your price.” Chapter 3 I turned off my phone, ignored the transfer, and continued delivering food the next day. On the day of the anonymous showcase, my design “Homing” was projected on the big screen. Professor Vance’s voice echoed in the lecture hall, with rare excitement: “This work has spirit and warmth. It doesn’t show off skills, but every line tells a complete story.” The audience was silent for three seconds, then exploded. Sitting in the corner, my palms holding the pen were sweaty. This was the boat I built line by line over countless nights. Now, it really seemed ready to set sail. The final list would be announced the next evening. But the night before, just as I finished the final check and was about to save the file, the computer screen went black. Then blue. A bunch of error codes I didn’t understand. The fan stopped, the hum of the hard drive vanished. Dead silence. I slumped in my chair, drained of all strength, mind blank. Restart. Restart again. Nothing but the cold blue screen. All my drafts, data, every byte I exchanged with my sweat—gone. A chill rushed from my soles to my skull. I remembered the venomous look Stella gave me at the venue. I stood up abruptly, grabbed my coat, and rushed out. I stormed back to the Sterling villa and kicked open Stella’s door. She was applying a mask, relaxing in bed with her iPad. My intrusion startled her. “What did you do?” My voice shook violently. She took off the mask, revealing a pure, innocent face, eyes watery: “Sister, what’s wrong? Who made you angry?” “My computer.” I stared at her dead on. “My files.” She laughed as if hearing a huge joke. “Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? What does your computer have to do with me?” Just then, my parents and Ethan rushed in. They saw a menacing me and a tearful, pitiful Stella. Vanessa shielded Stella immediately, glaring at me: “Nora! Are you crazy? Barging into your sister’s room at night? Stella is weak, do you want to scare her to death?” Richard also darkened his face: “Outrageous! Apologize to your sister!” I ignored them, staring at Stella. Deep in her eyes, a trace of triumph hadn’t faded yet. Enough. I understood everything. “Jealousy,” Ethan’s icy voice crashed down like a poisoned knife. “Jealousy has made you unrecognizable. Stella won so many awards, and you never felt happy for her once. Now that you lost your stuff, you run back to blame her?” He walked up to me, looking down with disdain and disgust: “Is the money I gave you not enough? Do you have to use such dirty tricks to get attention? Nora, you disgust me.” I looked at them. These three blood relatives stood like three walls, separating me and Stella into two worlds. Each of them used the sharpest words to slice me, cut by cut. I suddenly smiled. Laughed until tears came out. I said nothing, turned, and left. Vanessa’s crying and Ethan’s scolding came from behind, but I couldn’t hear a word. Back in the empty dorm, I slid down against the door, a shell with no soul. Outside, neon lights flickered, but none shone for me. It’s over. Everything is over. Just as I was about to sink completely into darkness, my phone screen lit up. Ding. A new email. Sender: Anonymous. I clicked it with trembling hands. In the attachment, a zip file. I downloaded and unzipped it like a robot. The folder name: “Homing.” I clicked it. All my original drafts, modeling data, backups. Everything was there. The email body had only one sentence. “Your talent should not be buried.” I froze.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390042”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My boyfriend has extreme boundaries. If I take a sip of his drink, he throws it away immediately. He never touches chopsticks I’ve used. He forbids me from touching his phone or wearing his jacket. I thought he was just a germaphobe with everyone. Until I saw his “bro-girl” wearing his jacket, playing games on his phone, and drinking from his cup. He explained lightly: “She’s just one of the boys. Why are you so petty?” One of the boys, huh? Go spend the rest of your life with your “bro.” Chapter 1 My boyfriend, Ethan, organized a dinner. His “bro-girl,” Sophie, was there too. Sophie wore a pure white strapless mini dress, her long black hair cascading down her back. Ethan teased her: “Why are you dressed like you’re going on a date?” She rolled her eyes at him: “It’s the first time I’m meeting your girlfriend. I wanted to make a good impression.” “Wow, Omakase? This must be expensive. How much? I’ll Venmo you half.” Ethan smiled back: “What’s our relationship? Do we need to split bills?” My hand, holding the chopsticks, froze. A wave of grievance rose in my chest. From the first day I met Ethan, he was obsessed with boundaries. If I bought him Jordan sneakers, he would buy me a bag of equal value. If he bought me a Starbucks, within an hour, he’d remind me of the exact price, down to the cent, and ask me to Venmo him. Once, I forgot my wallet and borrowed $50. The moment we got home, he reminded me to pay him back. Every cent between us was calculated clearly. I thought he had financial boundaries with everyone. I looked up at Ethan’s enthusiastic smile and suddenly felt blinded. So my boundary-obsessed boyfriend can be generous. Just not with me. “I heard you’re dating someone. Bring him over so I can check him out.” Ethan brought up Sophie’s boyfriend. Sophie blushed: “Who are you to me? Why do you need to check my boyfriend?” I gritted my teeth and tried to join the conversation: “Ethan, my best friend has been wanting to meet you too. Should we set up a dinner?” Ethan frowned slightly: “Haven’t I told you many times? Your social circle is yours. I don’t participate. We have separate lives. Don’t force me to deal with them, okay?” I deflated like a balloon, pouting silently. He was always like this. Refusing to integrate into my life. But he just actively asked to meet Sophie’s boyfriend. Why was he so interested in her social circle? I pushed down the disappointment: “Then can you take me to meet your friends?” Sophie spoke up for me, pretending to be righteous: “Ethan, you’ve been dating for so long, and she hasn’t met your frat bros yet?” I pressed my lips together, unable to speak. Under Sophie’s exaggerated gaze, I felt humiliated. Sophie slapped my back heartily: “You don’t need to know Ethan’s friends anyway. They aren’t good people, hahaha…” Ethan retorted: “So you’re not a good person either?” They laughed together. My hand under the table clenched into a fist. Is this Ethan’s so-called “social boundary”? It doesn’t exist for Sophie. Throughout the meal, they talked non-stop. I couldn’t get a word in, nor did I want to anymore. Chapter 2 Walking out of the restaurant, Sophie frowned: “Oops, it’s late. Uber surge pricing is crazy.” Ethan patted his chest: “I’ll drive you.” I couldn’t help but look at Ethan. Sophie and I lived in opposite directions. Who gets dropped off first? Ethan didn’t ask me. He turned the car directly toward Sophie’s apartment. An hour later. He considerately walked Sophie up to her door before slowly returning to the car. On the way to my place, Ethan lost his enthusiasm. Silence all the way. Near my apartment, Ethan suddenly frowned and clicked his tongue. I asked him what was wrong. He waited a long time before saying: “I told Sophie to text me when she got inside. Why hasn’t she texted yet?” I paused: “Didn’t you walk her to her door?” “I didn’t watch her go in. The hallway is dark. What if something happened?” My heart turned to ice. I had replied late before. Once, my phone notifications were off. I saw his message five hours later. I called him back immediately. He was playing video games and hung up perfunctorily. I asked him: “I was missing for five hours. Weren’t you worried?” He replied coolly: “We are adults. We need personal space. I won’t pry.” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He never voluntarily reported his whereabouts to me. Sometimes he even complained I shared too much: “That’s your private matter. I have no right to know.” If I hadn’t met Sophie today… I would have thought he was just that kind of person. I even felt proud, thinking if he was like this with me, he must be even stricter with other girls. I got out of the car. Ethan sat in the driver’s seat, showing no intention of walking me to the elevator. Suddenly, I had an impulse. I turned and asked: “Do you have anything to say to me?” I was unhappy today. It was obvious. He must have noticed. Ethan thought for a moment, then raised his hand with a smile: “Just Venmo me one-third of the dinner bill.” I stood frozen, like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on me. Grievance poured out like a flood. I couldn’t stop crying: “Ethan, you never let me touch your phone or wear your jacket. But today, Sophie played games on your phone, and you gave her your jacket because she was cold.” Ethan paused: “You care about that? Relax, she’s just one of the boys. Don’t be so petty.” Back home. I lay in bed, images of Ethan and Sophie laughing filling my mind. Ding. A notification from Sophie, whom I just added on WeChat. “I tried to Venmo Ethan for dinner, but he refused. So I’m sending it to you.” She sent a cute sticker sticking its tongue out. My nose stung. I accepted the money immediately. Then I transferred it to Ethan: “Here is my money. One-third of the dinner bill.” Ethan replied with “K” and went silent. With me. His emotions were always cold. Restrained and polite. I couldn’t stand his “boundaries” anymore! I wanted to text him, to have a serious talk about boundaries. If we couldn’t agree, we’d break up. But the words stuck in my throat. I remembered he told me he had strict “time boundaries.” No texting after 10 PM. It was exactly 10:01 PM. I rolled my eyes, threw the phone aside, and went to sleep. I was woken up by my phone alarm. Today was my birthday. I jumped out of bed, afraid of being late. Ethan and I had agreed to go to that French restaurant I’d been dying to try for lunch. It was almost noon. I quickly put on the magenta velvet dress I bought specifically for today, did my makeup, and rushed to the restaurant. Chapter 3 I sat at the table. I waited until the sky turned dark. Ethan never showed up. I texted him: “Didn’t you say you’d eat with me on my birthday?” A long time later, Ethan replied: “Sorry, Emily. Can we celebrate tomorrow? Sophie broke up with her boyfriend. She’s fragile and heartbroken right now. I want to be there for her. No one else can comfort her but me.” I sat there, stunned. The waiter walked over: “Miss, when will your friend arrive?” Embarrassment spread from my feet up. I stood up: “Sorry. Cancel the table. I’m not eating.” On Instagram, Sophie posted a photo. Her face was pale, eyes swollen from crying. In the corner of the photo, Ethan was peeling shrimp for her. Caption: Lucky to have you by my side. I walked home alone, soulless. The evening wind was cold. By the time I snapped out of it, I had walked a long way. I sneezed. When I got home, I felt dizzy. I probably caught a cold. I buried myself in the quilt. A thought popped up. If Ethan hadn’t stood me up, I wouldn’t have walked in the wind. I wouldn’t be sick. I shouldn’t have waited for him. In my daze, Ethan video called me. I didn’t want to answer, but my vision blurred, and I hit the wrong button. “Emily, you’re not mad, are you? You didn’t reply to my texts.” Seeing my face, concern appeared on his face. “Do you have a fever? I’ll bring you medicine. Wait for me.” “No need. I’ll DoorDash some meds.” But Ethan shook his head firmly: “No. I must bring it to you personally.” I nodded silently and hung up, waiting for him in a daze. I waited and waited. My body burned, alternating between hot and cold. Ethan still didn’t come. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital. My landlord had come to collect rent. I didn’t answer the door or texts, so he used the spare key and found me unconscious. If he had come an hour later, my brain might have fried. The landlord was shaken: “Why are you so silly? If you’re sick, buy medicine.” I remembered a sunset long ago. Ethan, tipsy and unlike his usual cold self, stared at me with bright eyes. He said he would love me forever. He said we would be together always, have a wedding, support each other. I was so naive back then. I believed him. I smiled bitterly, feeling pathetic. My voice was weak: “I was going to buy medicine. But someone said he would bring it to me.” I texted Ethan: “You said you’d bring medicine. I haven’t seen you yet.” Ethan apologized profusely: “Sorry, sorry! I was helping Sophie move. I got busy and lost track of time.” “You know she just broke up. She wanted a new environment to change her mood. The boxes were heavy, she couldn’t lift them.” “How are you? Feeling better?” I didn’t bother replying to his excuses. I sent two words: “Let’s break up.” Silence for a long time. Then a message popped up: “Don’t be petty, okay? She’s just one of the boys.” One of the boys. Again. Go marry your bro then. I was on an IV drip for three days. I took three days of sick leave. Work piled up. As soon as I got home, I opened my laptop. It auto-logged into Ethan’s WeChat. A message from Sophie popped up: “If she doesn’t cherish you, you still have me.” I clicked on their chat history and scrolled up. Yesterday, after I broke up with him, Ethan immediately went to cry to Sophie. Sophie comforted him: “Why does she care about such small things? Is it necessary to hold a grudge?” “Sigh, don’t fight because of me. I’ll feel guilty, Oppa.” I sneered. Calling him “Oppa” (Brother)? Just be his girlfriend already. I scrolled up further. My eyes locked onto a message. Sophie actually said this to Ethan: “Ethan Oppa, there’s something I don’t know if I should tell you. I’m not sure if it’s true.” “I saw Emily on an adult website. I didn’t expect her to have a past like a cam girl.” She dared to slut-shame me! Chapter 4 At first, Ethan didn’t believe it: “Emily’s private life has always been clean. She doesn’t need to earn that kind of money. Maybe it just looks like her.” “No, Emily has a mole under her eye. That cam model has the same mole.” Sophie sent an explicit photo. It was obviously Photoshopped. Ethan was furious: “So Emily is this kind of person.” “Will you break up with her, Oppa?” Ethan was silent for a long time: “Forget it. I dare not ask her. I’m afraid of the truth. Even if she was a cam girl, I accept it. Because I love her. I don’t want to tear this veil. If I ask, we might break up.” Sophie sympathized: “Oppa, you bear too much. Emily doesn’t know how much you love her. You even accept her dirty past.” Blood rushed to my head. Creating rumors about me? I called my lawyer friend immediately. I forwarded all the chat logs. My friend said confidently: “I’ll sue her until she’s broke.” “Your boyfriend believed her so easily?” I corrected him: “Ex-boyfriend.” When Sophie received the lawyer’s letter, she was stunned. She realized the severity. She texted me frantically: “Emily, I might have said some wrong things, but it was just nonsense. I didn’t mean it. Can you withdraw the lawsuit?” Why should I? Did you think about the consequences when you spread rumors? “You want me to withdraw? Sure. Pay me $10,000 for damages.” Seeing I wouldn’t budge, Sophie called for backup. Ethan came to my door, looking disgusted: “Emily, why are you blackmailing Sophie? She just said a few wrong words. It never caused you any real harm.” “I know. You’re doing this to make me mad, right? You realized breaking up didn’t work, so you hacked my chat and bullied Sophie to make me come to you?” I stared at him defending her. I was blind to ever date him. Seeing my lack of reaction, Ethan got emotional: “Emily, even if Sophie accidentally spread rumors, can’t you be the bigger person and forgive her?” “Why be so petty?” I laughed out loud. “Listen to yourself. Is that human language? So this is the real you. Pretending to be a gentleman, but asking me to forgive someone who slandered me.” “Emily, don’t be unreasonable. I advise you to withdraw the lawsuit, or I really will break up with you. No getting back together.” He still thought I was madly in love with him. In reality, once I drop feelings, I never look back. I slammed the door in his face. I recorded our conversation. I wanted everyone to know what he was. Let him and his “bro-girl” rot together!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390061”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Old Man Silas had promised me a star-crossed, whirlwind romance the year I turned twenty. I bought it. Hook, line, and sinker. The universe, however, had a different plan. On my twentieth birthday, I kicked the bucket. Even more ridiculous? Two years later, the dilapidated hill where I was buried was developed into a massive theme park. And the exact plot of earth where my supposed “shot at true love” was meant to bloom? It’s now directly underneath a men’s restroom. Lying six feet under, the thought of being subjected to the backside traffic of hundreds of men every day sent my ghostly composure shattering. Just as I was gathering my ethereal strength to scare the pants off the cheapskate developer and force a re-interment, I got a better look at the suit-and-tie CEO. It was my stepbrother. The one who despised my existence. Caspian Shaw. 1 That blind old charlatan, Old Man Silas, had sworn on his life that I was going to run straight into an earth-shattering, soul-mate type of love when I turned twenty. I waited, full of starry-eyed anticipation. What I got instead was an unfortunate accident that ended my life the minute I crossed the threshold of adulthood. I floated in mid-air, pointing an accusatory finger at the fortune teller, calling him the biggest fraud who ever lived. Later, the scrubland I haunted was fenced off and turned into an amusement park. The cruelest joke? The men’s restroom was constructed directly above my resting place. Are you kidding me? I did not wait two decades for a destiny that smelled like stale urine and bad life choices! The park was nearing completion. The floor tiles for the men’s restroom above my head were already laid. I lay in the dirt, closing my eyes in utter despair. If it were just one or two hot guys, maybe I could grin and bear it. But hundreds of male rear ends every single day? That’s a haunting even a veteran ghost couldn’t survive. Just imagining the scene made being a ghost seem pointless. I’d rather just go ahead and reincarnate. But reincarnation is pure luck. Some spirits get ushered away by the gatekeepers the minute they cool off. Others wander the mortal coil for years, and the reapers act like they don’t even see them. Unfortunately, I was the latter. I floated up from beneath the restroom floor and started wandering around the park. I had to admit, the outskirts had developed fast in the last two years. This area used to be dead—literally—and now they’d built a park this huge. I’d dreamed of going wild at a theme park when I was alive, but I never got the chance. What a shame… A Ghost Friend I knew from the hill waved me over to the Ferris wheel. Since it wasn’t powered on yet, we floated up to the roof of the highest gondola to catch the breeze. She saw the slump in my ethereal shoulders. “Why don’t you try to send your family a dream?” she suggested. “Tell them to move your grave already.” “You don’t want to turn into a full-blown vengeful spirit because you’ve seen too many backsides,” she warned. “That’s a miserable eternity.” She had a point. But sending a dream was an advanced technique. For one, I was out of practice. For another, I didn’t exactly have any direct living relatives who cared. 2 My name is Summer Evans. My dad passed away when I was ten. My mother followed ten years later, when I was twenty. My Ghost Friend looked shocked. “No other relatives?” I started counting on my fingers. “Grandparents on both sides are long gone. My paternal grandparents haven’t spoken to my family in decades.” “Oh…” Then I had a spark of sudden realization. “Wait! My mom remarried, so I had a stepfather… and a stepbrother.” “A stepfather and a stepbrother count as family!” my Ghost Friend insisted, slapping her knee. “It doesn’t matter who they are; the priority is getting your grave moved.” I thought about it, then shook my head. “Forget it.” My mother had married into The Shaws, one of the old-money dynasties of Crestwood. My stepfather only had eyes for my mother and treated me with cold indifference. As for my stepbrother, Caspian, forget it. The guy had never spared me a single civil glance. When the adults were around, he could pretend to be polite, but the moment they left, his face would drop so far it looked like he was chewing on lemons. The first time we met, he warned me: “Don’t covet what isn’t yours.” “When you’re a guest, you remember your place.” I was the definition of a tag-along, and he hated me for it. If he found out I had a men’s room on top of my grave, he’d probably just laugh and order: “Double the investment on this theme park! And while you’re at it, dig a massive septic tank right next to the men’s room!” I finished my rant and threw my hands up. “So, what am I supposed to do?” My Ghost Friend went silent. See? She always clammed up when the problem was too hard. She scratched her head, about to start on a forced bit of inspirational ghost talk, when she suddenly noticed a large entourage approaching below. She was a natural gossip, and her eyes lit up like a neon sign as she immediately dove down. “I’ll go see who the big shots are!” Two minutes later, she floated back, breathless with excitement. “Girl! Guess who just showed up?!” Before I could guess, she burst out, “The big boss, the developer of the whole park, is here! I heard the workers whispering he came for a final inspection before the grand opening.” I looked at her skeptically. Why the theatrics over a construction check? Sure enough, the next second, she started swooning. “The CEO is gorgeous!” “I even overheard an employee gossip that he poured all this money into the park just to make his girlfriend happy!” she gushed. “Young, rich, and devoted? Total unicorn!” I was unimpressed. The Shaws were a top-tier family. I’d spent four years navigating the elite social circles after my mom remarried, and I’d seen plenty of so-called “Prince Charmings.” My Ghost Friend suddenly changed tack. “Summer, I’ve figured out a way for you to ditch the butts-on-your-ceiling problem!” 3 She suggested that since I couldn’t send a dream to family, I should send one to the developer. Give him the scare of his life and force him to move the bathroom! It sounded absolutely ridiculous. But when I thought about it, it was crazy enough to work. I decided to try anything. I followed the direction of her pointed finger without a second thought. I needed to recognize his face so I wouldn’t haunt the wrong person tonight. … There were a lot of people in the entourage. I figured I’d have a hard time finding the CEO. But my Ghost Friend hadn’t been exaggerating. The man was a lighthouse in the crowd, impossible to miss. He stood with his back to me, the silhouette of his custom-tailored suit—wide shoulders, lean waist, endless legs—absolutely lethal. Just the sight of his back could stop traffic. I shot forward, hovering right in front of the man. I looked up. God, he was gorgeous. But why the hell did he look so familiar?! “Mr. Shaw, the project will be fully complete by the end of the month. We estimate the grand opening will be May 1st.” The man stared at the still Ferris wheel in the distance. His eyes were dark, unreadable. After a long moment, he lowered his gaze and answered in a low, deep voice, “Mhm.” “Good work.” “No trouble at all, sir.” The project manager chuckled nervously. “Everyone knows how much this project means to you, Mr. Shaw…” They continued talking and walked past me, leaving one utterly dumbfounded ghost frozen mid-air. Caspian Shaw. It couldn’t be. Caspian, the stepbrother who was supposed to be the death of me?! This theme park was his project? 4 I squatted on the men’s restroom roof, my gaze locked on Caspian. I’d been dead for two years. Two years since I’d last seen him. I didn’t know if it was my imagination, but in that short time, he seemed to have changed. He looked… less untouchable, less like a porcupine covered in ice. A memory flashed, unbidden, of the first time I met Caspian. I’d only been moved into the Shaw estate for a few days. I was constantly walking on eggshells, trying to maintain the facade of a quiet, obedient stepdaughter. Only when I left the sprawling estate could I feel like I could truly breathe. I was squatting by the roadside talking to my best friend, completely oblivious to the black sedan that had pulled up beside me. My friend, curious about my new life, was asking: “Summer! You always wanted a sister, right? Did you finally get one?” I nodded enthusiastically. “Yep.” “Except my new sister is a lot older than me, and she’s got a bit of an attitude.” My friend paused. “That’s called a brother, genius!” I burst out laughing. When I looked up, the window of the luxury car slid down, revealing Caspian’s cold, severe face. He looked at me, saying nothing, but the sheer pressure was suffocating. It wasn’t until I was back at the house and saw him sitting there, looking every bit the lord of the manor, that I realized he was the stepbrother I hadn’t yet met. I gathered my courage and went over to greet him. The word “brother” barely left my lips. He sneered. “I thought you were telling your friend you had a ‘sister’?” he drawled, his voice a low, cold vibration. “Did I get a sudden promotion?” He looked up at me, his eyes frigid and devoid of humor. Right then, I knew this cheap substitute for a brother was going to be trouble. When I stayed silent, he seemed to lose interest and stood up to head upstairs. Standing on the spiral staircase, he looked down at me. “You’re a guest in this house, Summer. Try to remember it.” He was arrogance personified. I fought the urge to roll my eyes, maintaining a fake, sweet smile. “Yes, Brother.” We lived under the same roof for four years, and our relationship always hovered at absolute zero. Perhaps my current reservoir of resentment was too strong, my ghostly glare too direct. Caspian must have felt the heat of my two-year-old anger, because he suddenly turned his head and looked directly at the rooftop. I didn’t even try to hide. If he could see a ghost, good for him. He stared for a moment, lost in thought. The project manager, ever observant, asked, “Mr. Shaw, would you like to use the facilities?” I panicked. Wait. What? Was Caspian about to use the restroom right in front of me? This was way too awkward. The thought alone made my ghostly face flush. The next second, Caspian shook his head. “No. Let’s go check the eastern wing.” 5 Ghost rules are very clear: I couldn’t wander too far from my grave site. Luckily, Caspian was staying tonight at the park’s resort hotel, which was right next door. I followed him all the way to his penthouse suite on the top floor. I didn’t have any sinister motives… just a deep, burning desire for cosmic revenge after he’d tormented me so much when I was alive. Even giving him a good scare would be a win. … 10 p.m.: Caspian was reading documents. 11 p.m.: Caspian was still reading documents. 12 a.m.: Caspian was still reading documents! The man wasn’t just working; he was running a ghost endurance test! Just as my patience was running out and I was about to throw an invisible tantrum, Caspian finally closed his laptop. He took off his gold-rimmed glasses, massaging the bridge of his nose with a gesture of pure exhaustion. He stood up, slowly removed his suit jacket, and grabbed a robe, heading for the shower. Oh, showtime. I was ready. I’d wait for him to finish, and when he stood in front of the mirror, I’d manifest right behind him. That was guaranteed to scare him into a full-blown spiritual crisis. I rubbed my hands together with a little ghostly glee. Caspian reached the bathroom door, but suddenly stopped. He turned back, carefully removed a small pendant from his neck, and placed it gently on the bedside table. His movement was so tender it was almost shocking. Clearly, it was something precious. Curious, I leaned my head over for a look. It was a small charm… The style looked familiar, like I’d seen it somewhere. Doesn’t matter, though. I was right here, and the charm wasn’t reacting at all. Must be a cheap knock-off he bought from a street vendor. Caspian looked smart, but apparently, even billionaire CEOs fall for tourist-trap spirituality. While I was having this internal monologue, Caspian entered the bathroom. I told myself I had no unghostly desires… Fine. Maybe a tiny bit of morbid curiosity. But I’d never even been on a date when I was alive; this level of visual intensity was too much. I floated in for a quick peek and immediately floated back out, blushing (a neat trick for a dead girl). Quick summary: He’s definitely been lifting. I paced the floor anxiously, waiting. Finally, the sound of the water stopped. The moment. My eyes flashed. I phased straight through the door. Caspian was standing in front of the sink mirror, towel-drying his hair. He reached for the hairdryer. Flicker. The bathroom light died. He froze, feeling a sudden disturbance in the air. He instinctively looked up at the mirror… 6 I hovered inside the glass, making the most horrible ghost face I could manage. I curled my lips into the classic horror-movie sneer, my voice a synthetic rasp. “Hi, big brother,” I whispered. “I missed you. Why don’t you come down and keep me company?” Caspian stared into the mirror. He was frozen solid. But instead of terror, after three agonizing seconds, his eyes welled up. Welled up. What the hell? Was he crying? I’d barely started! This wasn’t the reaction I’d planned. I was ready to double down on the theatrics when I saw him spin around, yank open the bathroom door, and rush out. Trying to run? Not a chance! I chased after him. Then I realized… He wasn’t running. He was standing by the bed, phone shaking in his hand, as he dialed a number. Me: “?” I floated closer, pressing my ear to the receiver to eavesdrop. “Master, I saw her!” Caspian’s voice was fast and trembling with emotion. “I did what you said! I built the park right here, and she came back! She’s still smiling… the way she always did.” Me: “???” The things he was saying were a hundred times more disturbing than my ghostly appearance. This plot was going totally off the rails, man!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390077”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When Julian Hale’s bed photos with Willow hit the trending list again. Everyone was speculating how I would go crazy this time. Julian even abandoned a multi-million dollar deal he was negotiating to explain to me. “About the photos, Willow is also a victim, don’t…” I stroked my pregnant belly, didn’t argue or make a scene. “Don’t worry, I understand.” Julian sat down satisfied, but I thought in my heart. He is not a qualified husband, luckily, I am not a perfect wife either. Chapter 1 [Your scheduled prenatal checkup will begin in one hour.] Phone ringtone broke the dead silence in the living room. After I turned off the phone screen, Julian asked me. “Who sent the message?” I explained vaguely, “Just a checkup reminder from the hospital.” “I have some things to deal with, won’t be back tonight.” Just as I was about to go out. Julian hugged my waist from behind. “Riley, why have you suddenly become so sensible?” Julian had a strong smell of Cologne on him. Before, I was always deeply addicted to this scent. Now, I find it exceptionally unpleasant and disgusting. I gently pushed him away, eyes lazy. “I hate the smell on you.” Julian’s face turned gloomy, he pressed me against the wall, leaned down. “You really should learn from Willow, how to please your husband.” His breath sprayed on my neck, words ambiguous. “How about one day, I let Willow teach you some tricks, so you can keep me a bit longer.” I turned my head not wanting to look at him, Julian touched my chin. “You being so obedient is somewhat novel.” He wanted to kiss me, pushed away by me, he wasn’t angry either. “Didn’t you say going to the hospital, I’ll drive you.” I frowned looking at Julian who opened the car door for me, still got in. Opening the car door, the passenger seat cushion turned pink, even the seat belt was shaped like a bear. Julian chuckled indifferently, “Little girls love these pink things, unlike you.” I looked at that passenger seat, eyes a bit sore. Which young girl doesn’t love pink? Once I also wanted to decorate Julian’s passenger seat in pink. But Julian rejected me directly. He said, “Pink is tender, how old are you now?” That year, I was only twenty-five. Perhaps my face was indeed not good looking, Julian promised me. “Tomorrow I’ll have someone remove these things.” I closed the car door, got into the back seat, “It’s okay, little girls, understandable.” Julian’s lips almost pursed into a straight line, silent all the way. Just entered the hospital gate, Willow pounced towards Julian. Even very subtly pushed me, luckily I was guarded against her long ago. Otherwise likely would have fallen. Julian hugged her, even lifted her butt up a few times. “Stop it.” Although his words were blaming, his tone was exceptionally gentle. Turns out he wasn’t specially driving me to the hospital. Just on the way. I didn’t want to watch them flirt anymore, turned and walked towards the hospital interior. Julian wanted to chase me, but was held back by coquettish Willow. “Brother Julian, I also feel a bit uncomfortable.” Such tricks, I’ve seen many times. Last time, at a Charity Gala. Willow bid against me, but failed due to lack of funds. Julian thought I bullied her. So he humiliated me in front of all power holders in New York. Made me lose all face in the circle. Even if I took out evidence, but Willow just casually acted spoiled. Julian unhesitatingly favored her. Thinking of this, I shook my head self-mockingly. Agreed not to care about him anymore, why think about these. I met the doctor, she said the fetus development is all good. So, first moment I got the checkup report. I sent a message to the child’s dad. [Doctor said child is all good, see you at Sky High Restaurant tonight.] Phone rang once, the other side replied a “kisses” emoji. I couldn’t help laughing. Chapter 2 I prepared to leave, familiar voices came from the next consultation room. My steps involuntarily stopped, looked inside. Willow was crying in Julian’s arms. “Great, Brother Julian, we finally have a child.” Julian’s voice soft enough to kill, “Have child then take good care.” Willow’s voice timid with probing, “Then what about Mrs. Hale?” Julian’s face changed a few times, “Your child is also Mrs. Hale’s child.” Hearing this, my heart only felt a burst of numbness. Julian doesn’t love me anymore, but he refuses to divorce. Even now wants me to raise his illegitimate child. But, why? I didn’t want to waste time here, so went out. Not far away a couple happened to come out with me. Husband carefully supported wife’s waist, wife complained coquettishly. “Just pregnant, not that delicate.” Husband spoke firmly, “Pregnancy pain I can’t share for you, but I will do my best to take care of you.” Two looked at each other and smiled, affection between them. Scene in front was so warm, I couldn’t help thinking of the past. First time learned pregnancy, I was excited sleepless all night. Next day Julian worked overtime home, I told him first time. I flipped through memory, what was Julian’s reaction then? He held me spinning in the living room, like a fool. I thought that was my happiest time. But, Willow came back not long after. My relationship with Julian returned to before. Later, that child was gone. Screech sound, a car stopped in front of me. Passenger window slowly lowered, Willow smiled very proud. She touched her belly looking at me, “Mrs. Hale, afraid have to wrong you sit in back.” “Brother Julian said I just pregnant, can’t bump in back.” Julian frowned looking at Willow, then looked at me. “How was your doctor visit?” I put away report, face already restored calm. “Fine.” Before Julian spoke, I rejected him first. “Told you before, not going back tonight, we are not on the way.” Willow fake oh-ed. “Mrs. Hale right, not same road indeed can’t walk together, forcing won’t be happy.” I stared at Willow with a half-smile, “Me and Julian haven’t divorced yet, not your turn a mistress to lecture me.” Willow lowered eyes, tears about to fall, grievance on body almost uncoverable, Julian immediately heartached hugged her comfort, then glared at me. “Riley, apologize.” I sneered, “Why should I apologize, which sentence I said wrong.” Willow instantly burst into tears crying extremely sad, Julian eyes sank. He let people pull me into car, suddenly in some alley, Julian stopped car. I watched him kiss Willow’s lips in front of me,啧啧 (smacking) saliva sound constant. What is this? Julian holding panting Willow teased, “Willow body soft like water, not hurry teach Mrs. Hale how to serve man?” Willow laughed strangely, leaned down. Julian hand pressed Willow’s head, eyes dead staring at me. I looked at scene in front, only felt disgusting terrible. Car door locked, I bent over constantly retching. Stomach violent cramps made me painful tears flow full face. Unknown how long passed, Julian sighed comfortably. I wiped a tear, sat in back seat closing eyes. Julian satisfied touched Willow’s head, “You are much better than her, some people in bed like wood, boring extreme.” I have to admit, even I already completely gave up Julian. But hearing Julian’s dislike, I still felt a bit heartache. It’s okay, as long as time long enough. I definitely can walk out. I touched my belly, heart felt much better. Chapter 3 Afterwards, Julian let Willow get off. All the way, we looked at each other silent. Finally he couldn’t hold it, slammed brakes. I subconsciously covered my belly, he didn’t see. He smashed steering wheel eye corners scarlet, “Riley Lu, when will you torture me until?” My face emerged irony, “What did I do?” “Even you guys doing in front of me, I endured, what else you want me to do?” Julian suddenly cold face, “Willow’s child, is me didn’t handle well, I apologize to you.” “She first time pregnant, crying begged me keep child, so…” She first time pregnant so Julian reluctant, then does he still remember how our first child gone? When I pregnant three months, because unstable fetus stayed home nursing. But unexpectedly received Willow’s provocative video. In video, she was doing with Julian in front of French window. That French window I recognized at one glance, that was when we just married. Wedding gift Julian gave me, a hotel exclusively under my name. That room even not open to public, but now. Julian actually messing with Willow in that place. I received video first time killed over. I smashed whole hotel, even stripped Willow naked threw on street. I hysterically roared at Julian. “Julian Hale, I loved you sixteen years, you also swore never fail me, why you treat me like this?” “Especially this woman, is a Escort.” I thought I could wake up Julian, but Julian just slowly buttoned up. “Escort also better than you, at least she knows how to please people.” That sentence directly knocked me into abyss. Warm hotel four seasons like spring, I froze trembling all over. Also that time, let me lose first child. From that day, Julian and Willow completely moved to table surface. They pair up pair in major banquets balls, Julian even personally helped Willow integrate into High Society. With his help, Willow step by step stood firm in circle. Even, company Willow established faintly competed market with my company. All this, Julian saw in eyes, but never stopped. People in circle all mocking me, licking dog licked more than ten years got nothing. Julian lit a cigarette, his words came through smoke. “And I plan, this child born give you raise.” I lowered eyes cover irony in bottom of eyes. Who rare your child? Not like I have no child. “No need, I…” My words not finished, Julian already changed face. “I already guaranteed like this, why you still cold face?” I dumbfounded laughed, “Julian, how about we just forget it.” My voice very light, Julian suddenly sneered. “Riley Lu, is this another new trick you changed?” No trick, I just tired. Julian suddenly answered a call. “What? I come immediately.” Then he looked at me, eyes forest cold. “Don’t regret.” I understood warning in Julian’s words. But I didn’t want care, got off car. Almost my foot just landed, car roared away. I looked at car back thinking. How anxious he was, even red lights ignored. Clearly before, Julian was a person carved rules into bones. Still remember when I just married into Hale family, because late night abdominal pain needed family doctor. But Julian rejected me with reason family doctor on leave, shouldn’t disturb. If not I dialed 911 myself before coma. Afraid I would die in Hale family then. Even next day, Julian came hospital see me. Also just a light sorry then ended. That time me, actually took this sentence as Julian’s introverted love. I shook head, hailed taxi on roadside went to Sky High Hotel. But received father’s message at hotel entrance. Chapter 4 [Lu Group recently funds somewhat difficult, I found Julian few times, he refused see me.] I looked message frown, what is he making trouble again? Vent for Willow? I replied message. [Dad, you go back first, I go find him talk.] I took out phone messaged child’s dad. [Family accident, tonight date cancel.] Phone soon rang, a message popped out. [Need my help?] I somewhat tangled, finger hovered on screen long time then replied. [Okay.] I returned Hale house. Villa brightly lit. Second floor window projected two tightly snuggled figures. That is bedroom direction. I quietly approached, heard Willow acting spoiled. “Brother Julian, this dress indeed not bad, just a bit small.” Julian laughed dull, “You be careful, this is Riley mother’s relic.” Boom sound, my brain sky spin earth turn. Julian actually gave my wedding dress to Willow wear. That dress was hand made by my mother, to collect diamonds on it. She personally went South Africa mine, picked for me one by one. More for embroidering this wedding dress, tired bad eyes. Julian he clearly knew meaning of this wedding dress. Suddenly, inside Willow screamed. “Brother Julian, this dress broken, what do?” I couldn’t hold anymore, directly pushed door in. Willow scared hid into Julian’s arms, I directly gave her a slap. Willow instantly woo woo cried, Julian frowned. “Just a wedding dress, worth throwing so big temper?” This sentence made my numb heart pain again. Just a wedding dress? My eyes too sorrowful, Julian let Willow take off wedding dress. Wedding dress already deformed, no longer look of back then. I held wedding dress went guest room, prepared put away well. Willow however unknown when touched over. She hooked lips smile, “How you so cheap, already entered room by me to this degree, still dead rely not go.” I sneered, “I want divorce, but Julian not allow.” “You so capable, you go find him.” I turned want leave, Willow suddenly fell on ground. “Brother Julian, save my child.” Almost instantly, Julian rushed over. He stared at me with furious look. “Riley Lu, my previous warning you didn’t take to heart a bit.” I stepped back half step, “I didn’t push her, she fake fall herself.” Julian however heartached hugged Willow in arms. “Willow nature gentle kind, absolutely won’t frame you.” Willow also cried, “All my fault, I shouldn’t appear in front of Mrs. Hale.” This sentence made Julian ruthless. “Mrs. Hale brain not clear, help Mrs. Hale clear up.” I wanted flee, bodyguards behind blocked. They filled a pool full water. And pressed my head into water. I childhood once drowned, so fear water very much. Julian knew, I struggled shouted. “Julian, I will die.” I thought, he more or less would consider old feeling. But he just lightly frowned. “Riley, not give you a lesson, you won’t learn good.” “My people have measure, won’t really hurt you.” Just like this, muddy water soaked my head. I desperately struggled, mind emerged look of drowning back then. Horror and despair wrapped me. My abdomen also came a sharp pain. “Stop!” Just when I despair, I heard that familiar voice. Soon, I was pulled up hugged in arms. “Riley, are you okay?” I crazy coughed, body couldn’t help trembling. But my heart settled down. Because I realized, Xavier Stone came. Julian saw Xavier first time was doubt. “Why you came?” Xavier brows like ice, peach blossom eyes full killing intent. “You want kill my wife child, of course I have to come!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390093”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel