Category: English

I spent seven years as Christian Vance’s executive assistant and nine years as his secret lover. Until one morning, on my 29th birthday, I woke up in his bed, and he casually gave me an order: “Clear my schedule for April. I need the month off for my wedding.” I froze, my eyes instantly stinging with tears. He chuckled, looking at me with amusement. “You didn’t think I was marrying you, did you?” I asked him, “Then… what am I?” He pulled me into his arms, soothing me like a child. “You know how the Vance family is. If you married in, they’d eat you alive. Keeping you on the side is freer. It protects you.” “Babe, it’s just a business merger. It won’t affect us. You’re still the one I love most.” In that split second, I suddenly didn’t love him anymore. Chapter 1 At 7:00 AM sharp, the alarm went off. I kept my eyes closed and nudged the warm chest behind me. “Get up, Christian.” The arm around my waist tightened, pulling me back into his embrace. His body heat was overwhelming, pressing against me. I was still sore from last night, my voice raspy as I reminded him, “We’re going to be late…” “Five more minutes,” he murmured against my neck, his voice thick with sleep and desire. “I’ll be quick.” We had always been compatible in bed. His stamina was terrifying. An hour later. My legs were trembling as I stood in front of the mirror, tying his Windsor knot. He raised a hand to smooth my messy hair, looking satisfied and lazy. “Still mad?” I glared at him, a flush still on my cheeks. “My perfect attendance bonus is gone, Mr. Vance.” His fingers traced a red mark on my collarbone, his voice teasing. “I’ll pay you double. Deal?” I slapped his hand away. “We are seriously late!” He was over thirty, yet he had the energy of a teenager. I straightened my blazer and switched into professional mode. “10:00 AM signing ceremony. Lunch with CEO Caldwell at noon. 2:00 PM executive board meeting. 4:00 PM construction negotiation with Mr. Chen. 6:30 PM, the Industry Gala dinner.” “Got it.” He nodded, fastening his Patek Philippe watch. In an instant, he transformed back into the cold,禁欲 (ascetic) CEO the world knew. He glanced at his wrist. “Oh, right.” As if remembering a minor detail, he instructed me: “Clear my schedule for April. I need the time for my wedding.” My hands shook violently. The tie I was fixing unraveled. I couldn’t process it. He said… wedding. Was he… proposing? My eyes welled up. Tears fell before I could stop them. We had been running this marathon for nearly a decade. I had waited so long for this day. “No?” His voice came from above, tinged with awkwardness. He looked at me, frowned, and then laughed. “You didn’t think I was marrying you, did you?” It was like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. I stood frozen. The messy sheets, the evidence of our intimacy, suddenly looked blindingly grotesque. He paused, then clarified. “It’s Bianca Sterling.” The Sterling family’s eldest daughter. A pamperd heiress. A match that screamed “old money” and “power couple.” Silence stretched out, suffocating. I looked at him, my lips trembling. “Then… what about me?” He turned his head slightly, avoiding my gaze. “You know my father’s health is failing. My cousin is making a play for the CEO spot. We’re going public soon. Merging with the Sterling family is the best strategic move.” He looked back at me, his eyes softening with that familiar, manipulative comfort. “Eva, I’m doing this for our career.” It sounded so noble. Our career. “By the way, Bianca can be a bit entitled. Just humor her. Don’t take it to heart.” He patted my head. “I won’t let you be mistreated.” I looked out the floor-to-ceiling window. The festive New Year’s decorations outside clashed with the blinding sunlight. My eyes burned. My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. “So, you never planned to marry me?” A flash of impatience crossed his face. “Eva, is that piece of paper really that important to you?” “You know my family. They’re vipers. If you married in, you’d suffer. Keeping you outside the family is freedom. It’s for your own protection.” I smiled bitterly. What a “noble” sacrifice. His parents had always looked down on me. I was the girl from the trailer park. No matter how competent I was, to them, I was just a gold digger climbing the corporate ladder in Christian’s bed. I closed my eyes, tears streaming down. “Christian, what have I been all these years?” “Your lover? Or just a kept pet?” He sighed, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. “Don’t overthink it. Have you ever seen anyone keep a ‘pet’ for ten years?” He pulled me into a hug. “Babe, it’s just a business marriage. I promise I won’t touch her. You’re still the one I love.” “My heart has been yours for nine years. Have I ever strayed? Look at our circle. Who else is as loyal as I am?” He wasn’t wrong. In this circle of billionaires, fidelity was a myth. Open marriages and a carousel of mistresses were the norm. Christian was different. Everyone knew the CEO was obsessed with his secretary. For nine years, he had put me on a pedestal. Chapter 2 I first met Christian Vance during my senior year of high school. He had just taken over the family business and came to my school in the Rust Belt for a charity event. I was the student representative presenting him with flowers. Suddenly, my father stormed onto the campus, grabbing my arm, screaming that I had to drop out. He needed me to work at a factory. He owed gambling debts, and selling me off to a local mechanic for a quick dowry was his solution. At the age when dignity matters most, I was slapped twice across the face in front of the whole school. Just as I felt I was drowning, a cold, clear voice descended from above. “How much? I’ll pay it.” I looked up. Christian was in his early twenties then. Sharp brows, phoenix eyes, possessing a calm authority far beyond his years. The debt was $25,000. He wrote a check for $50,000. He bought my freedom and severed my ties with my father. He was like a god descending to pull me out of the mud. I didn’t know then that $50,000 wouldn’t even buy a single screw in the watch he wore. A casual act of kindness changed a poor girl’s destiny forever. After that, his assistant wired me money every year for tuition. I never saw him again. For years, I sketched his face in my memory. When I was 20, I had saved up every cent he had given me. I wanted to pay him back. I didn’t have his number, so I waited in the lobby of Vance Enterprises. It was a freezing winter day in New York. After three hours, I saw his Maybach pull up. “Mr. Vance!” I rushed forward. He glanced at me sideways, frowning. The window rolled up, sealing him away. He didn’t remember me. I panicked and reached out, my fingers getting pinched in the closing window. “Mr. Vance, I’m Eva Saunders! You sponsored me three years ago!” The window lowered slowly. He turned, his gaze landing on me. I handed him the envelope of cash, my fingers throbbing. “I don’t need the sponsorship anymore. This is to pay you back.” “I’ll pay back the original $50,000 slowly.” I bowed deeply. “Thank you for saving me. You’re a good man.” “Oh. It’s you.” He scanned me, his eyes lingering on my red, swollen fingers. “Get in. Let’s go to the hospital.” “No, Mr. Vance, I… I’m fine.” I clenched my hands, stepping back in embarrassment. My nose was red from the cold, my coat was from a thrift store, and my boots were worn out. I was a vision of poverty, completely out of place against his luxury car. Eventually, his driver got out and opened the door for me. I sat on the edge of the leather seat. It was warm inside, a different world from the freezing city streets. I tried to hide my scuffed boots and pilling sweater. The heat hit my face, mixing with shame, turning my ears bright red. He broke the silence. “You made that much money in two years of college?” I nodded, face burning. “I keep my scholarship. And I buy vintage clothes from estate sales to resell online. I made a decent profit.” He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. “You have a head for business.” He paused. “Interested in interning at Vance Enterprises over the winter break?” I nodded furiously. “Really? Yes! Thank you, Mr. Vance!” Chapter 3 That winter, I became a lowly intern in the Secretary’s Office. Surrounded by Ivy League elites, I felt like an ugly duckling. Christian had impossibly high standards. During the day, I ran around until my feet blistered. At night, after everyone left, I stayed behind to study the files. One evening, I was still at my desk. Outside, the Manhattan skyline glittered. I didn’t notice. “Why haven’t you clocked out?” The low voice startled me. I spun around. Christian stood there, framed by the city lights, looking like a king. “What are you reading?” He leaned over, looking at my screen. Private Equity. Options. Leverage. I stammered, “I heard you discussing these terms with a client… I didn’t understand, so I wanted to learn.” He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Ambition is good.” He walked to a bookshelf and pulled out a few volumes. “Read these instead.” He tapped my desk. “It’s late. Go home. I don’t run a sweatshop.” We walked out of the building together, only to run into a college classmate who had been stalking me. I had rejected him multiple times, but he had followed me to work. “Eva! I’ve been waiting for hours. Let’s get dinner.” I was mortified. After getting rid of him, I apologized profusely to Christian. “Mr. Vance, I promise he won’t come back. It won’t affect my work.” He raised an eyebrow. “Suitor?” “Sort of…” He tilted his head, looking at me. “Do you know the best way to reject someone?” I shook my head blankly. He smiled, a look that was hard to read. “Tell them you have a boyfriend.” “But I don’t…” “What kind of boyfriend do you like?” he asked. “I don’t know…” I twisted my fingers nervously. He lowered his head, staring straight into my eyes. “Is someone older okay?” I avoided his gaze, heart pounding. His eyes burned into me. “Is someone like me okay?” Handsome, wealthy, successful. To a girl from nowhere, he was the ultimate dream. Maybe I had fallen for him the moment I looked up at him at 18. I didn’t know why he wanted me—a plain, boring girl. Maybe he was bored. Maybe I was a novelty. I never expected that I would spend my twenties in his shadow. Walking beside him for nearly ten years, only to end up here. Chapter 4 “Miss Saunders, I hope you know your place.” It was something Christian used to say when we argued. At work, we were boss and subordinate. If I messed up, he scolded me, and I took it. At home, he would hold me and say, “You can’t talk back to the boss, but you can talk back to your boyfriend.” That was the “place” he gave me. Now, his fiancée was saying the exact same words to me. “Miss Saunders, I hope you know your place.” When Bianca Sterling appeared at the company, it caused a sensation. We had kept our relationship low-key at the office, but nine years of glances and body language couldn’t be hidden. Everyone knew. I was the last to know about the marriage. “I thought Eva would finally get the ring,” VP Miller whispered loudly to a group of employees. “Guess the boss finally woke up.” “Nine years with the same woman? Even if she’s a supermodel, you’d get sick of it.” “No comparison. Eva is pretty, but look at Bianca. That Hermès bag alone is worth more than Eva’s life.” Miller had always hated me. He made sure I heard every word. Bianca sat on the sofa in the CEO’s office. She looked immaculate in a tweed Chanel suit that would look matronly on anyone else but looked royal on her. She looked me up and down and laughed lightly. “I’ve known Christian for years. He’s a creature of habit. He eats the same dish over and over.” “It doesn’t mean the dish is good. He’s just too lazy to switch restaurants.” She lifted her chin. “But eating too much fast food is bad for your health. Don’t you agree, Miss Saunders?” I stood there, nails digging into my palms, unable to speak. “Christian has been loyal to you physically, I’ll give you that. If you stay quiet, I won’t make trouble for you. But—” She frowned, looking concerned. “You’re almost thirty, right? I’ve never seen such an… elderly mistress.” “How many years do you have left? When your looks fade, will he still care?” “There is no shortage of young faces in this city. What makes you think you can be a mistress for life?” She narrowed her eyes, enjoying my humiliation. “Secretary by day, bedwarmer by night. You really work hard, don’t you?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Miss Sterling, my relationship with Christian isn’t what you think.” For nine years, he took me to meet his friends. They called me “sister-in-law.” We lived together. We built a home. Bianca sneered. “Eva, you’ve lived the good life so long you forgot where you came from. A trailer park girl who climbed into her sponsor’s bed to change her tax bracket. We all know how much effort that took.” “He kept you for nine years, but did he ever promise you a future?” She stepped closer. “You think because his frat buddies call you ‘sis’ that you’re Mrs. Vance? Wake up. The Vance family doesn’t let trash in the front door. He’s marrying me for power. He’s not an idiot. He won’t throw away his empire for you.” She looked at my red eyes with disgust. “Don’t go crying to Christian. Vance Enterprises needs the Sterling capital. He’s lucky I chose him.” “Men are all the same. I picked Christian because he’s handsome and cleaner than the rest.” “From now on, tuck your tail between your legs when you see me.”

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I am the real heiress, and Leo is the real heir. For ten years, lost and alone, we depended on each other to survive. We made a pact: if one of us was found, they would take the other with them. But when his family found him, he gently pushed me away. “The other ‘son’ is here too. The car is full. I’ll come back for you next time.” I knew he wouldn’t come back. Later, after losing the battle against the imposter son, he returned to me, disheartened. “Raising fish and planting trees isn’t a bad life. I’m willing to spend the rest of my days with you like this.” I shook my head, waving the DNA test result in my hand. “This time, it’s my turn to go home.” “And my family? They don’t have a fake daughter.” 1 When the village chief ran up to tell me Leo was back, I was rolling up my sleeves, picking passion fruit, sweat dripping from my forehead. I froze for a moment, then wiped the sweat and smiled. “Well, treat Mr. Billionaire nicely. We’re struggling to find buyers for these passion fruits anyway.” It had been three years since Leo left. In those three years, he never came back to see me, nor did he come back to pick me up as promised. From heartbreaking agony to silent disappointment, and now to a calm smile—I guess I’ve grown up. Growing up means focusing on reality. Leo is a wealthy heir now. Buying my passion fruit should be a piece of cake for him, right? “Luna, aren’t you going? Maybe Leo came back to get you,” the village chief said, happy for me. I pinched a fragrant passion fruit in my hand and shook my head. “No, I need to finish the harvest. If I don’t pick them now, they’ll overripen.” The chief was surprised but seemed to understand. He sighed and ran down the hill. I continued to bury myself in work with the other villagers, racing against time. Dizzy from the heat, I looked up to see a thin figure standing before me. I paused, then greeted him. “Mr. Vance, you’ve lost weight.” 2 Leo Vance had lost weight. I remember when he left three years ago, he was a tall, vibrant young man with a handsome face that looked out of place in the countryside. Everywhere he went, widows tried to flirt with him. Now, he was thin, silent, and gloomy. The only thing unchanged was that devastatingly handsome face. Reunited now, my eyes still went straight to his face. He didn’t speak, just stared at me intently. His eyes were red, lips trembling, as if he had suffered a great injustice and desperately needed a hug. I instinctively took a step forward, then stopped. I didn’t want to hug him. In the past ten years, I had hugged him countless times. He was a proud person, stubborn since childhood, never willing to lose. He once fought a homeless man for half a burger, getting beaten bloody, just to bring it back for me to eat. Then he cried silently in pain while I held him all night. He clashed with villagers for his adoptive mother, roaring like a madman with a sickle in hand, then collapsed exhausted into my arms, where I held him all night. When he missed home, staring blankly at the sky in the middle of the night, I held him all night too. This ambitious boy had never left my embrace. But three years ago, he left without hesitation. 3 That day was supposed to be the day Leo and I officially led the villagers in planting passion fruit. I was on the mountain fantasizing about a bountiful harvest and making big money. But Leo suddenly went down the mountain and met the family he had dreamed of. By the time I excitedly ran down, he had finished pouring out his heart to his family and was packing his meager belongings. I hugged him tightly, weeping with joy. “Leo, this is great! You finally reunited with your family!” His body stiffened, and he was silent for a moment. Surprised, I wiped my tears and looked at him. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?” He was happy, actually. But beneath that joy in his eyes, there was a different emotion hidden. “Happy,” he answered with one word, looking at the mountain outside the village. “Aren’t you busy? The villagers don’t know farming techniques; you need to guide them constantly.” “Busy or not, I have to come see you! You’ve been found by your family!” I didn’t catch the subtext in Leo’s words, rambling on instead. “Great! We’ll have money, and we can help the villagers develop. Perfect!” Leo fell silent again. I finally realized something was wrong. Leo was happy to see his family. But he wasn’t happy to see me. I pursed my lips and deliberately punched him lightly. “Cat got your tongue? You’re not thinking of dumping me, are you?” I asked in a joking tone. But Leo’s tone was serious. He hesitated, his eyes flickering. “My parents adopted a son. He came too, so…” He paused, looking away. “So, the car is full. I’ll come back for you next time.” 4 My head felt like it exploded. The car is full? I saw that car from a distance. It was long and huge, more spacious than Old Man Wang’s truck. How could it be full? I’m not stupid. I immediately understood what Leo meant. But ten years of feelings are hard to cut off. I really couldn’t believe it, nor did I want to. So, moments before the tears gushed out, I kept joking. “If there’s no room inside, I can sit in the trunk! Or the roof works too, haha.” My forced laughter sounded like the sharp cry of a dying duck. Leo exhaled heavily, turning his back to me. “Luna, wealthy families in reality are more exaggerated than in novels. They care more about matching status. “I was betrothed since childhood. I have to marry someone for alliance. It’s not up to me.” With every word he said, my tear ducts collapsed a little more. By the time he turned to look at me, my face was covered in tears. Yet he remained calm, his tone full of ambition. “I am the heir to a wealthy family. There is also a very favored adopted son at home. If I take you back, it will definitely drag me down. “I can’t afford any mistakes. I don’t want my biological parents to think I’m a useless person ruled by emotions. So, you must stay!” I was crying my heart out, unable to refute a single word. Leo’s eyes flickered. He hugged me, his voice softening. “Be good. Wait for me to come back for you.” 5 Leo did come back eventually. Standing alive among the passion fruit trees, standing in front of me. But I simply greeted him politely, calling him Mr. Vance. Leo blinked his wet eyes, pursed his trembling lips, a flash of doubt in his gaze, seemingly unable to understand why I was so indifferent. Actually, I should have excitedly thrown myself into his arms. Or joked like many years ago: “Oh look, crying again? Come here, Mommy will hold you.” And he would glare at me angrily: “I’ll beat you until you call me Daddy!” We played wild back then. Now, we can’t play anymore. I broke the silence. “Mr. Vance, look, our village’s passion fruits are ripe. Sales aren’t good this year. Can you help?” Leo didn’t look at the passion fruit. His gaze stayed on me. Finally, he spoke, voice hoarse. “Luna, you’re not happy to see me at all.” “I am! I don’t know how happy I am. Our mountain full of passion fruit depends on you!” I shook his hand enthusiastically. Genuine enthusiasm. Because I was really afraid this year’s fruit would rot in the field. Leo said nothing, just squeezed my hand. Living in luxury, his hands were now fair and tender like bamboo shoots. In contrast, mine were calloused, rough, and dark. “Luna, you’ve suffered,” Leo said, gently stroking the back of my hand, his eyes red again. Goosebumps rose all over me. I yanked my hand back. “Mr. Vance, please have some self-respect. Let’s talk about passion fruit.” He froze on the spot. I proactively handed him a business card. “Mr. Vance, our Almond Village passion fruit is famous far and wide. Planting history dates back to before the Reform and Opening Up. Guaranteed plump and juicy…” Actually, the planting history was only three years, and we lost money for three consecutive years. Leo stared at my card, speechless. I pointed to the number on it. “Mr. Vance, you can contact me anytime. We’ll supply however much you want!” With that, I took a sip of water and walked toward the mountainside. Back to picking!

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Chapter 1 When the news broke that Mason and Hailey were getting married, the internet exploded with joy. Everyone expected me to have a meltdown. After all, I’d spent the last ten years chasing Mason like a pathetic, love-struck puppy. Everyone thought I was obsessed with him. Nobody knew that I’d been waiting for this day. For ten long years. I wanted them to get married more than anyone. At the wedding, hundreds of cameras were set up, and top influencers were live-streaming the event. “Finally! Mason and Hailey are tying the knot. That other girl must be dying right now, LOL.” “It hasn’t been easy for Mason and Hailey. My girl Hailey finally got her happy ending.” “If it wasn’t for that toxic witch, Mason would have married my goddess ages ago. But hey, at least her existence made Hailey realize her true feelings.” “Sobbing! Mason, please take care of Hailey!” “I hope that psycho doesn’t ruin today.” The comments scrolled by in a blur. I read a few and lost interest. They were either blessing the couple or cursing me out. A decade ago, I would have been in the comments fighting for my life. But after ten years of this, I was immune. I stood in a corner, scanning the venue. Please, I prayed silently. Let this wedding happen. It has to happen. To blend in, I wore a dress completely unlike my usual style. For one day, I would play the role of a sophisticated lady. The venue was buzzing. I saw Mason’s parents in the front row, Hailey’s parents, and then… my father and stepmother. And plenty of other familiar faces from our social circle. On the massive screen above the altar, a slideshow of Mason and Hailey played. Their smiles—smiles I used to beg for—were plastered everywhere. The music swelled. The officiant took his place. The wedding began. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said I was more nervous than the bride and groom. This moment determined my entire future. I was done being the hated, desperate ex. Call me a villain? Fine, I’ll own it. But call me a simp? Absolutely not. Mason stood at the altar in a sharp tuxedo, his posture perfect. He watched his bride walk down the aisle with deep, unwavering affection. “Look at his eyes! He’s so in love.” “OMG, Mason’s gaze is killing me.” “Hailey is so beautiful.” Hailey was an A-list actress, the nation’s sweetheart. Mason had generously opened up 100 spots for her fans to attend the wedding. The people standing next to me were probably some of the lucky few. “Look! They’re exchanging rings!” My attention snapped back to the stage. Mason had already slid the ring onto Hailey’s finger. Now it was her turn. I held my breath as she lifted Mason’s hand. Just a second before the ring touched his finger, she froze. Her gaze cut through the crowd and landed straight on me. I knew it. She saw me. I hadn’t expected her to let me off easy, not even on her big day. Sure enough, Hailey picked up the microphone. Chapter 2 “Thank you all for coming to our wedding,” Hailey said, her voice trembling slightly. “But I also want to thank someone special. Someone you all know.” Everyone followed her gaze until it landed on me. It took a moment for the crowd to realize who I was. “You all know it wasn’t easy for Mason and me to get here. We faced so many obstacles.” Yes, obstacles I created. Not just to fulfill my mission, but because I wanted to. “Bella, I know you’re not happy about this,” Hailey continued, staring right at me. “But I want you to know that true love doesn’t care who came first. You’ve been by Mason’s side for a long time, but he’s only ever seen you as a sister. I hope one day you find someone who truly loves you.” “And thank you, Mason, for always choosing me.” I felt the hostile stares burning into me. A few people even moved closer, glaring at me with undisguised hatred. This was exactly what Hailey wanted. To drag me out and publicly humiliate me one last time before she put that ring on. She finally turned back to Mason and slid the band onto his finger without hesitation. My heart finally settled back into my chest. “Mason and Hailey are married now,” a girl next to me hissed. “If you try to ruin their relationship again, Mason won’t let you off the hook.” I looked at her and nodded earnestly. “Don’t worry. I wish them a lifetime of togetherness. Locked down. Forever.” DING— 【Congratulations, Host! Mason and Hailey are officially married. Mission accomplished. Happy Ending achieved!】 【Confetti! Confetti!】 【Host, your mission is complete. I’m leaving now.】 【Where will you go?】 This was a voice only I could hear. It belonged to the System—a voice I’d been hearing for ten years, ever since it first appeared. Hailey was its Host. From the System, I learned that I was the “villainess.” I tried to change my fate, but nothing worked. So, I leaned into the role. I played the villain. I waited for the plot to end. I waited for it to leave. 【I’m going to another world!】 【Okay, 1807. Thank you for giving me a new life.】 【You’re welcome, Host. Take care of yourself. I won’t be coming back.】 【Mhm!】 Silence followed. It seemed System 1807 was truly gone. Now that 1807 had left, the real villainess could finally take the stage. Before I turned to leave, I caught Hailey’s eye on stage. I gave her a small smile. Your good days are officially over. Chapter 3 The first thing I did when I got back to my apartment was throw out everything from my past life and call movers. Then, I unpinned a chat on WeChat and sent a single message. By the time I was done, it was past midnight. For ten years, I had dutifully played the role of the villain. The male and female leads needed conflict to deepen their love, and I was happy to be the tool that provided it. But now, the story was over. Without the plot controlling me, who knew what would happen next? Everything I had given away as a plot device, I was going to take back. Piece by piece. Starting with Mason’s position. Three days later, the hype around Mason and Hailey’s wedding was still dominating the headlines. It was being called the “Wedding of the Century.” Hailey used the buzz to break into international markets, expanding her fame even further. On the third day after the wedding, the traditional “homecoming” visit, I went back to the family house too. I could hear laughter from inside before I even opened the door. I could imagine the warm, happy family scene. But I was here to ruin the mood. Hailey was the first to react. “Bella’s back! We were just talking about you. It’s been so long since we all sat down for a meal together.” “Since you’re here, join us.” “Sure,” I said. Watching their forced smiles made the air taste sweeter. “Since you’re back, try to get along with your sister,” my biological father, Simon, said sternly. “Don’t start any drama. They’re married now. If you try to interfere, you’re just a homewrecker.” I looked at him. It was hard to believe a father could speak to his child like that. But I’d heard worse from him. I didn’t care anymore, so it didn’t hurt. “Don’t worry. I have no interest in doing something so low-class when someone already has a family.” Simon’s face darkened visibly. Just then, the housekeeper announced dinner was ready, breaking the tension. But as soon as I sat down, Hailey spoke up. “Mom usually sits there. Bella, would you mind moving?” I gave Hailey a look that was half-smile, half-sneer. She returned it with a gentle, saintly smile. Only I knew how rotten she was on the inside. Lauren, my stepmother, laughed it off. “If Bella likes that seat, let her have it.” Even Mason frowned at me disapprovingly. “Bella, you really haven’t changed.” Chapter 4 SLAM. I slapped my hand on the table. “This is my house. Who told you I have to watch outsiders’ moods to eat in my own home? Eat if you want, otherwise get out!” The sound made everyone jump. No one expected me to fight back—especially not against Mason. Everyone knew I was the girl who couldn’t get over him. Back when I was a rebellious teen, I only listened to Mason. He used it to brag: Look, she’s a rich heiress, but she does whatever I say. So they all assumed I wouldn’t fight back. They forgot that I used to have claws. I’d been a simp for ten years, but my edges hadn’t disappeared. I’d just hidden them. Now that I was free, I wasn’t going to suffer in silence anymore. “Bella, have you lost your mind?!” Simon roared, slamming the table even harder than I had. My hand throbbed in sympathy. “Do you want me to kick you out?” I rubbed my palm under the table. It felt good to be fierce, but it hurt my hand. In the past, I would have been crying and apologizing by now. Villain Rule #1: Lack of love. Specifically, fatherly love. The thought of being kicked out used to terrify me. When the plot controlled me, Simon held all the cards. But the plot was gone. “Dad, you seem to have forgotten something. The name on the deed to this villa is Bella Shen.” Simon froze. Lauren saw the mood shift and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Bella, stop joking. The deed is locked in the safe. Your father can’t take a joke like that.” Simon seemed to snap out of it, banging on the table again. “You ungrateful brat!” Fine. My friendly reminder fell on deaf ears. “Martha, serve dinner!” “Coming, Miss Bella!” “Don’t call me Miss Bella. Call me the Second Miss!” Martha ignored me and went back to the kitchen. Martha’s cooking was as delicious as ever. Hailey looked pale. Being called the “Second Miss” clearly struck a nerve. “Dad, are you planning to put Hailey on the family registry?” Hailey was Simon and Lauren’s daughter, born three months before me. “Dad, need I remind you? The ‘Shen’ in Shen Family stands for Shen Ci—my mother. Not Simon Shen.” Shen Ci. My mother. A gentle woman, but too love-struck. She fell for Simon, a gold-digger from a poor background, and paid for it with her life.

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Ethan knew that every time I died, I would come back to life. So, after that landslide, he didn’t hesitate to cut out my heart to save his first love. When he took my hollowed-out body from the doctor’s hands, he whispered, “You’ll be fine after a nap.” But he didn’t know—that was my last life. 1 Ethan carried my corpse into the basement of the Search and Rescue base. My internal organs had been harvested; I was nothing but an empty shell. My face, however, was still rosy, as if I were merely sleeping. He opened the cryonic preservation pod with practiced ease, his movements clean and efficient. When he placed me inside, his hands were steady. There wasn’t a shred of hesitation. “Just sleep for a while,” his voice was terrifyingly calm. “Didn’t you say it doesn’t matter if you die?” Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. I had prepared a table full of dishes and bought his favorite red wine. Seeing him come home on time for once, I was happy as a fool. He had just raised his glass when the phone rang. It was his lieutenant: “Captain, Bella ran into a landslide during the mountain patrol. She’s trapped…” His hand trembled. The glass shattered on the floor, dark red wine splashing onto my new dress like blood. “How bad is it?” His voice was already hoarse. “Critical. Internal organs…” He didn’t wait for the rest. He grabbed his jacket and rushed out. I grabbed his hand. “I’ll go too. I can help.” He looked back at me. His gaze was complex—not filled with concern, but with calculation. When we arrived, she had been pulled out, but her heart was severely damaged. She needed a transplant immediately. He looked at Bella, his unconscious first love lying on the stretcher, his fingers trembling. That tremor was a panic I had never seen in him before. Then, he looked at me. His eyes were bloodshot. “I’m sorry,” he said. Before I could process what he meant, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck. Before I lost consciousness, I saw him nod to the doctor. Turns out, they had prepared for this. When I was wheeled into the operating room, something strange happened. It felt like my soul floated out of my body. I hovered in mid-air, witnessing everything. I saw him standing right next to the operating table. When the doctor’s scalpel sliced open my chest, he watched expressionlessly. There was no ripple of emotion in his eyes, as if my body were nothing more than a tool to be used. “Her organs are in perfect condition, and the match is compatible,” the doctor’s voice sounded distant. “It’s enough to save Captain Bella.” I watched my own heart being taken out, placed in a cooler, and rushed to the adjacent operating room. He followed the cooler out, not sparing me a single backward glance. After he placed me in the cryo-pod, he sat nearby processing paperwork, occasionally glancing up at me. I floated in front of him, searching his eyes for a trace of guilt. But his gaze passed right through my soul, landing on his phone. A text from the doctor: The surgery was successful. She is recovering well. He smiled—a relieved, happy smile. He tossed my medical file aside and left the basement. On the open page of the file, it clearly read: “Organ Donor: Voluntary.” He didn’t even bother to invent a lie. He thought I would wake up soon anyway. But he didn’t know that this time, I would never wake up. Because the extra life I had—the one that allowed me to resurrect—had already been used up the last time I saved his teammate. 2 It’s true. I had the ability to resurrect. Three years ago, before I was pulled from the wreckage of a plane crash as the sole survivor, a voice in the darkness told me I had been granted three lives. The first life, I used on myself to survive that crash. Ethan was the rescue captain who came to the scene. He was tall, his dark blue uniform pressed and sharp. Standing before the wreckage, he was surrounded by a cold aura, like a general from a bygone era. I was curled up on the stretcher, shivering. He turned his profile toward me, his jawline tense and defined. When those dark eyes swept over me, it felt like he could see through my soul. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “You’re safe now.” His voice was deep and soothing, like warm water pouring into my heart. In that moment, I fell for him. The voice in the darkness had told me: If you maintain a marriage with your destined one for three years, you can stay in this world forever. Looking at this cold, handsome man, I decided to gamble. This was the first time twenty-eight-year-old Sarah truly wanted something with such determination. Ethan looked to be in his early thirties. Years of training gave him a lean, powerful build. He walked with a distinct rhythm, a habit from his military days. Every time I passed the rescue base, I could recognize his back instantly. I began to approach him as an ordinary woman. I delivered coffee to the base every day, brought late-night snacks for the team working overtime. I knew I looked desperate, like a sad puppy, but I didn’t care. They said Ethan never accepted gifts from women, but he took my coffee. He was always polite but distant. The team felt sorry for me, saying I was blind to reality. “Captain never gives any woman hope. Don’t waste your time.” But what I didn’t tell them was that every time I pretended to stumble, he was always the first to catch me. He would say “be careful,” but his hand would linger. Until one day, I heard him on the phone calling a woman “Bells,” his tone dripping with affection. It was his former lieutenant, Bella. Rumor had it they were childhood sweethearts. Bella was beautiful. Everyone said they were a match made in heaven. I should have backed off then. But I still had two lives left. I was young and headstrong, thinking I could surely last three years. If I had known my second life would be used to save his teammate, and my third life would be ended by his own hands, I would have run far away from the start. Unfortunately, love makes you blind. 3 Bella was Ethan’s partner back in the Special Forces. Everyone in the rescue team knew they used to be the best sniper and spotter duo. On the battlefield, a spotter and sniper need a connection so deep they can practically read each other’s minds to complete the mission. So after discharging, Ethan and Bella joined the rescue team together, moving with the sync of a single person. I once secretly looked through Ethan’s old photo albums. In the photos, Bella wore a uniform, her eyebrows raised in high spirits—a heroic elegance I, an ordinary woman, could never achieve. And Ethan stood beside her, looking down at her with such tenderness. Later, the team told me Ethan had chased Bella for five full years. From boot camp to special ops, from drills to actual combat, everyone thought they would end up together. But Bella rejected him in the end. “We aren’t right for each other. You deserve better.” She said this right before a mission. Ethan was the one loading her magazines. They remained the best partners, acting as if nothing happened. But in the dead of night, Ethan would go to the shooting range alone, firing until his fingers bled. Later, Bella applied for a transfer to a remote border rescue unit. The day she left, Ethan stood outside the airport, watching her back disappear through security. His fingers unconsciously rubbed a ring he never got the chance to give her. The team said that was the most broken they had ever seen him. I met Ethan six months after Bella left. He was like a pool of stagnant water then. Even his smiles were cold. But I didn’t care. I thought time would wash away the past. “He’s never had room in his eyes for anyone else. You think he’s gentle? That’s professional habit. Doesn’t matter if it’s you or a supermodel, he takes the flowers with a smile and throws them in the trash the moment he turns around.” An old team member told me this. They didn’t want to see me humiliate myself. But I didn’t believe it. I told myself the past is the past. Even if I was just a sequel to someone else’s story, I accepted it. Even the base nurse couldn’t stand it: “Sarah, why don’t you get it? The Captain visits the border every year to see Bella. They are separated by thousands of miles, but their bond is deeper than any day you spend next to him.” I really didn’t understand. I didn’t understand why Ethan agreed to date me, or why he married me. Thinking back now, perhaps from the day I used my second life to save his teammate, he had been planning this. 4 The rescue that changed everything happened in my second year knowing Ethan. Heavy rains caused a landslide, burying a village. Ethan led the charge, with his childhood friend and teammate, Mike, covering the rear. No one noticed the boulder teetering above. “Ethan!” Mike’s voice cut through the rain. The moment he shoved Ethan aside, the boulder crashed down. “NO!” Ethan tried to rush into the rubble like a madman, held back by three teammates. Back at the base courtyard, he knelt in the rain, shaking like a wounded beast. That was the first time I saw him lose control. The always calm and collected Ethan could be this desperate. Mike was his brother in everything but blood. They enlisted together, joined special ops together, and retired together. When Mike was pulled out, his heart had stopped. The doctor said even if he was revived, he needed a heart transplant, and the treatment would cost at least $800,000. “Please, you have to save him.” Ethan gripped the doctor’s hand, his voice raspy. “I’ll get the money. Whatever it takes.” But he had only recently retired; his savings went to his mortgage. The team pooled money, but it was barely a fraction. I watched him pace the hospital corridor, eyes red, looking like he hadn’t slept in days. “It should have been me,” he kept repeating. “Why did he save me?” In that moment, my heart ached so much I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t stand it anymore. “I can donate my heart,” I walked in and said. “I’m a perfect match for Mike.” Ethan jerked his head up. “Are you crazy?” His voice cracked. “You’ll die!” I smiled at him and whispered in his ear, “Trust me. I have a superpower. I won’t die.” He didn’t agree, but I went behind his back and did the surgery. I donated my heart to Mike, and my liver and kidney to a wealthy man’s daughter. The wealthy man transferred $800,000 to Ethan’s account. Three days later, I woke up. When I opened my eyes, Ethan was guarding my bedside. He hadn’t slept in three days. Dark circles bruised his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to leave. “You’re awake,” his voice was rough as he carefully held my hand. “Does it hurt?” That was the first time I saw him look so gentle. Mike recovered quickly, and Ethan began visiting me frequently. He peeled apples for me, fed me water, his gaze so focused it made my heart tremble. Sometimes when I feigned sleep, I felt him gently kiss my forehead. He started telling me his stories—childhood pranks with Mike, the grueling tests in special ops, and how terrified he was of losing people he cared about. When he spoke, his eyes were tender, but they hid something I couldn’t read. Later, he proposed. I nodded, tears streaming down my face. He kissed them away and held me tight. Later, I applied to work at the rescue base as a contract nurse, just to be by his side. And that was when Bella transferred back to headquarters.

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Chapter 1 During a team meeting, my mom FaceTime’d me out of nowhere. She said she missed me. She just wanted to see my face. Mr. Stirling, my boss, snapped at me. “Cut the noise. We’re in the middle of a briefing.” I had to decline the call. I texted Mom, In a meeting. Call you after work. But she wouldn’t listen. The phone buzzed again and again. She kept sending video requests, typing that she missed me so much, begging for just one look. I was reaching to silence it when Stirling lost it. He snatched my phone, hurled it onto the concrete floor, and screamed, ” I said cut the noise!” The screen shattered. The phone went black. I didn’t dare make a sound. When the meeting ended, Stirling tossed a couple of hundred-dollar bills on the ground. He looked at me with cold, dead eyes. “Fix it. If it buzzes in my meeting again, you’re fired.” I picked up the phone. It was cracked, but it wasn’t dead. It had just rebooted. As soon as it turned on—twenty missed calls. I opened my messages. Mom had sent a string of voice notes. “Caleb, baby, Mama misses you. Are they treating you okay out there?” “Eat right, okay? Mama feels… heavy. Like I can’t catch my breath.” “Baby, don’t cry. Mama loves you so much. If I don’t make it… I’ll watch over you from Heaven.” My mind went blank. The world stopped spinning. Then, a text from Pops popped up: Get the first bus home. Your mother’s gone. I stared at the cracked screen, my hands shaking so hard I nearly dropped it again. I tried to call Pops. When he answered, my throat felt like it was stuffed with broken glass. It hurt to speak. Pops was broken, but he tried to calm me down. “Don’t panic, son. Just… breathe.” But I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t form sentences. I just stuttered, choking on tears, “What do I do? Pops, I don’t have a Mama anymore.” I collapsed on the office floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Stirling stormed back into the conference room. “What is wrong with you? Crying like a baby in the middle of the day? I have clients in my office!” “My mom…” I choked out. “My mom is gone.” Stirling paused for a second, then sneered. “Your mom died, not mine. I’m closing a deal. You want to cry? Take it outside.” He muttered something about “bad luck” and slammed the door. I wiped my face, adrenaline mixing with grief. I chased him out and grabbed his arm. “I need bereavement leave. I’m going home. Now.” Stirling looked at me like I was a cockroach. “You’re taking leave during our busiest season? Fine. Bring me a death certificate first.” “She just passed,” I said, my voice trembling. “There is no certificate yet. I need to go.” “Then have your family send a picture of the body.” I froze. I thought I misheard him. “Excuse me?” “Video call,” he said, checking his watch. “Put a mirror under her nose. No fog after two minutes? She’s dead. I’m busy. Don’t waste my time.” He waved me off and turned to walk away. I grabbed his suit jacket and yanked him back. Hard. The office went silent. Everyone stared. I clenched my fist, every muscle in my body screaming to smash his face in. Stirling pointed a finger in my face. “Let go. Policy is policy.” I swallowed the rage. I had to. If I hit him now, the cops would come. If I got locked up, I’d miss the funeral. I wouldn’t see Mama one last time. I let go. Stirling smirked, thinking I was weak. “Coward. All bark, no bite. This is a business, not a daycare.” I gritted my teeth. “I’m not asking for leave. I quit.” I shoved past him, wiping my eyes, and headed for the door. But this time, Stirling grabbed my arm. “Quitting? Fine. Pay the damages first.” Chapter 2 I stopped. “What damages?” “Company policy,” he sneered. “You’ve been here less than a year. Breach of contract. Training fees, equipment fees… comes out to three grand. Pay up, then you can go.” I was confused. “Training? I started working the minute I walked in the door.” “Working here is the training,” he said smoothly. “You’re learning skills. That costs money.” I looked at him, disbelief washing over me. “My mother just passed away, and you’re trying to shake me down?” He shrugged. “Rules are rules. You either pay, or you get on your knees and apologize for the disruption. Once your family proves she’s a corpse, I’ll give you one day off.” I couldn’t believe a human being could be this vile. Stirling leaned in close, his voice a venomous whisper. “In my house, you don’t disrespect me. If I don’t break you today, how do I manage the rest of these sheep? Everyone has problems. Your mom croaking isn’t an excuse to inconvenience me.” He glared at me, then walked into his office, telling the security guard to lock the main doors. “He doesn’t leave until he pays.” The guard, a big guy who followed orders blindly, moved to block the exit. I walked toward the glass doors. The guard stepped up. I didn’t slow down. I kicked the fire safety box on the wall. Crash. I grabbed the red emergency axe. My chest was heaving. I tried to calm down. I thought of Mama. She hated violence. She hated when I fought. The guard was trembling now. I remembered how Mama used to visit the houses of the kids I fought, begging their parents not to call the cops, paying for their medical bills with money she didn’t have. She was gone now. I had to see her. I couldn’t go to jail. I ignored the guard and swung the axe. SMASH. The tempered glass of the main door shattered into a million diamonds. I dropped the axe and walked out. Behind me, Stirling was screaming. He chased me to the sidewalk, face red with fury. “You son of a b*tch! You walk away, and you’re done!” I turned around. My eyes were cold. “If I didn’t have to see my mother, you’d be ending today.” He scoffed. “Tough guy. You think I’m scared?” I didn’t answer. I got in a cab. On the way to the bus station, a coworker called. “Caleb, you’re screwed. Stirling is furious. He says you owe for the door and the fees. He’s going to sue.” “Let him,” I said. “His contract is illegal. No judge will enforce it.” “It’s not about the law,” the coworker whispered. “Stirling targets guys like us—from the sticks, no college, desperate. It’s his business model. You made him look weak. If he doesn’t crush you, the scam falls apart.” “He’s calling in favors,” the coworker added. “He pulled your address from HR files. He’s bringing guys to your place. He wants to make an example out of you.” “Okay,” I said. I hung up. I opened Mama’s chat. I played her last voice note again. “If I don’t make it… I’ll watch over you.” I listened to her voice, sitting in the back of a Greyhound bus, crying like a lost child. Mid-sob, a text came in from Stirling. Wait there, trash. I’m going to send you to meet your mother. Chapter 3 I made it back to the Hollow. The old folks were sitting on their porches. When they saw me, the chatter stopped. They went inside. As I walked down the dirt road, blinds were drawn. Doors were locked. They hated me here. My hands had too much red on them from the old days. I was one of the “left-behind” kids. My folks went to the city to work off debts, leaving me with my grandparents in this forgotten corner of the state. Kids without parents get bullied. That’s the law of the playground. But I was born mean. I never backed down. Every kid who tried me ended up in the clinic. The neighbors called me a menace. They stormed my grandparents’ house, demanding justice. Mama had to come back. She spent every dime she saved bailing me out, paying for stitches and broken teeth. She hugged me while I was still covered in dirt. She cried. “Are you crying because we’re broke?” I had asked her, acting tough. “I’m crying because my baby is hurting,” she wailed. That was the day I changed. I swallowed my temper. I went to the city. I wanted to make money so she could rest. But she didn’t get to rest. I wiped my eyes. I ignored the dirty looks from the neighbors. I rounded the corner to my dad’s trailer. I stopped. A black SUV was parked in the yard. Stirling was there. And he wasn’t alone. He had five guys with him—bikers, roughnecks. My dad was bowing to them, apologizing. Stirling poked my dad in the chest. “Who do you think you are? Your son caused the damage. Your son pays.” I didn’t expect him to beat me here. But I took the bus. He drove a luxury car on the highway. “Sir,” my dad pleaded. “My boy has a temper. I’m sorry. But my wife… she’s laying inside. Please, out of respect for the dead, can we talk after the funeral?” “Your wife kicked the bucket, not mine!” Stirling shouted. “Good riddance, I say. Raising a piece of trash like your son? She checked out early to avoid the shame!” I walked toward them. “There he is!” Stirling pointed. The thugs circled me. “My mother is inside,” I said, my voice low. “I don’t want trouble right now.” The leader of the thugs, a guy with a neck tattoo and a shaved head, stepped forward. He blew cigarette smoke in my face. “What if I want trouble?” Chapter 4 Stirling puffed up his chest. He had his army now. He tapped my sternum hard. “You were real loud in the office, Caleb. Said you were gonna end me?” I looked at the thugs. Then at Stirling. “Let me light a candle for my mom. That’s all I ask.” “I don’t have time for your voodoo,” Stirling spat. He pulled out his phone and started recording. “Here’s the deal. You disrespected me. You’re gonna kneel down, right here, and beg for forgiveness. You’re gonna admit you owe me the money.” My dad stepped in. “Sir, please! His mother just passed! Asking him to kneel… it ain’t right!” “Right?” Stirling laughed. He gestured to his hired muscle. “I paid these gentlemen good money to come out to this dump. Do you think I care about what’s right? I’m bullying you. Because I can.” My dad looked at me, eyes pleading. “See?” Stirling grinned. “Even your old man is a coward.” “I’m begging him not to hurt you,” Dad said honestly. “Please, just go. If you push him, you’re gonna get hurt.” Stirling fake-shivered. “Ooh, I’m shaking. Your boy gonna beat me up?” “He’s the only one his Mama could control,” Dad whispered. The bald thug flicked his cigarette butt at me. It hit my cheek, sparks stinging my skin. He grabbed a handful of my hair. “Your daddy talks big. Come on then. Hurt me.” I took a deep breath. “Pops, is the hearse coming?” “Yeah,” Dad whispered. “Soon.” I nodded. I shoved the thug backward and walked into the trailer. “Hey!” Stirling screamed. “I’m talking to you, dirtbag!” I ignored him. My heart was breaking. I walked into the bedroom. There she was. She looked peaceful. Just sleeping. Her hands were cold. I knelt beside her. “I just wanted you to have a good life, Mama. Why did I take that job? Why wasn’t I here?” Dad came in. “She wanted to talk to you. Your phone was off. I recorded it.” He held up his phone. On the screen, Mama looked frail. Every breath was a struggle. “Caleb… eat well. Dress warm. I tried to save for your wedding… but I’m useless. I only saved five grand.” She wiped her eyes on the screen. “It’s in the coffee tin… under the sink. Buy a car. Find a nice girl. Mama loves you…” Suddenly, Stirling burst into the room. He pointed at the cupboard under the sink. “Five grand! You heard it! That’s my compensation!” I turned, eyes burning. “I am listening to my mother’s last words! Shut up!”

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The night before our wedding, Liam Sterling wrapped his arm around his childhood sweetheart and asked me for a one-night “hall pass.” He claimed that after tonight, he would be faithful to our marriage until death. I stared at him for a long time, then nodded in agreement. As he walked past me, he said generously: “You can go out and find a man tonight too. I promise I won’t mind.” “No need to go out,” I said quietly, walking over to his absolute best friend. I looked deeply into those beautiful eyes: “Sleep together tonight?” If he has a childhood sweetheart, don’t I have a first love? 1 The private VIP room was packed. His closest friends were there, along with my bridesmaids. After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was a little tipsy. Suddenly, Liam Sterling put his arm around Bella, the girl he grew up with. “See, Bella? Childhood friends really can’t beat the girl who falls from the sky.” “Didn’t I get snatched up by Maya here?” “I’m marrying someone else tomorrow. Do you… have any regrets?” Bella’s face instantly clouded with sorrow, looking like she might burst into tears at any second. “What’s the use of regrets?” “Who told you to fall in love with her later?” Liam stared at Bella’s tear-filled eyes, his expression full of tenderness. “How about we make up for those regrets tonight?” Bella looked up. “How?” Liam slowly turned his gaze toward me. “Wifey!” he shouted. “Tomorrow we’ll be husband and wife. I promise, I will be loyal to our marriage until death. I will never betray you.” “But tonight, the last night before the wedding… why don’t we do something wild? Let’s give each other one night of freedom. How about it?” Cheers and whistles erupted in the room. Then, seeing my freezing expression, dead silence fell. Liam’s intentions were blatant. He wanted to spend a wild night with the girl he had a flirtatious “situationship” with throughout his youth. To make up for the regret of loving but never sleeping together. He was certain I wouldn’t refuse him outright, and that as long as he coaxed me afterward, I wouldn’t hold it against him. His confidence was simple. Although he pursued me passionately, in terms of family background, I was marrying way up. He thought I was not only charmed by him but also attached to his wealthy family. After all, for a common girl like me with working-class parents, marrying into a wealthy family was incredibly difficult. Meeting him was supposedly my great fortune. He was right. I had experienced a wealthy heir falling for a common girl and his family making things difficult. But not with him. My bridesmaids tugged at my sleeve. “Maya, don’t be stupid. You can’t agree to this.” I looked at Liam for a long time, seeing the stubbornness and certainty in his eyes. Finally, I nodded, my voice calm. “Okay, I agree.” “Oooooh!” Laughter and applause erupted. The silent tension in the room vanished instantly. “Maya’s so generous! No wonder she can marry into the Sterling family!” “That explains why my brother Liam knelt in his dad’s study for three days and nights just to marry you!” “A woman entering a family like ours needs that kind of grace!” The slight tension at the corner of Liam’s mouth relaxed into a loose smile, and he pulled the obedient Bella tighter into his arms. He stood up, holding her. “Alright, it’s getting late. I have a wedding tomorrow, can’t party all night. Bella and I are heading out.” “Order whatever drinks you want, play however you like. Tonight’s tab is on me!” “Woohoo!~” “Our little Bella is going to suffer tonight~” More whistles and jeers filled the room. Walking past me, to show fairness, he looked down and said generously: “Wifey, if you want, you can go out and find a man tonight too. I promise I absolutely won’t mind.” He must be counting on my proud and conservative nature, knowing I wouldn’t actually do anything wild. I looked back at him. “Really?” He raised an eyebrow. “Of course. A gentleman’s word is his bond. You know I always keep my word.” “Just like I said I’d marry you, and I did.” His tone was proud, as if marrying me was a massive favor he bestowed upon me. So I should be sensible and generous about him and Bella tonight. I withdrew my gaze and looked toward the deep corner of the room, at the man who had been sitting with a frosty expression, silent all night. “No need to go out.” “What?” Ignoring Liam’s expression, I stood up and walked silently to the man’s feet. I squatted down, lowering my posture, emotions pouring from my eyes as I looked up to meet his gaze. I invited him carefully: “Sleep together tonight?” 2 The cold-faced man leaned back against the leather sofa, looking down at me. As if he might kick me away in disgust the next second. A laugh came from behind me. It was Liam. “Wifey, of all people, why him?” “He was hurt badly by his first love years ago and hates women! He hasn’t been near a woman in years.” Hates women… I tasted those words in my heart. Is that so? Emotions surged inside me. I stared unblinkingly at him. At this face that had haunted my dreams countless sleepless nights. Since meeting again, if not for the alcohol tonight, this was the first time I dared to meet his gaze directly. My fingernails dug into my palms. Actually, I wasn’t sure what attitude the current him would have toward me. Until the tip of a cold leather shoe lifted my chin. The man raised his chin even higher, his expression chilling a few degrees more. Making one tremble with fear, his voice, tinged with anger, asked me: “Are you sure?” I didn’t want to back down. Bravely, I pushed my chin further against his shoe. “I’m sure.” He suddenly stood up from the sofa. Everyone probably thought I had thoroughly pissed him off. That he would heartlessly throw me aside the next second. After all, rumor had it that a B-list celebrity tried to flirt with him at a gala recently. He thought she was in the way and shoved her directly into the pool. When she cried for help, he didn’t even give her a second glance and walked away. Even Liam was scared now, rushing in front of me to block him with open arms. “Bro, bro! She’s my wife, don’t hit her!” “She doesn’t know your temper. Please forgive her for offending you!” “Maya, get up now!” “Didn’t I tell you before? You absolutely cannot mess with this guy; he’s not interested in women.” “I know you’re not interested in men other than me, so stop trying to act tough in front of me. Go back and rest with your bridesmaids!” I don’t know which sentence Liam said wrong, but the man shoved him several steps away with one arm. His eyes hid daggers. “Who said I’m not interested in women?” At the same time, my vision blurred, and I was thrown over his shoulder. His deep voice, mixed with the resentment of settling old scores, reached my ear: “Maya, you came to me yourself.” Seeing us about to leave in front of everyone’s shock. Watching his best friend carry me away, Liam chased after us. “Ethan! What do you mean?” Yes, his name. Ethan. Cole. The man paused, turned his head slightly, his tone merciless. “Literal meaning.” Liam’s voice was clearly anxious now. “Are you serious? That’s my wife!” Calling me “Wifey” all night, are those two words grating on your ears now? Ethan looked back deeply at Liam, as if disdainful of wasting another word on him. He turned and carried me toward the door. Liam seemed truly panicked now, catching up and grabbing Ethan’s arm. “Ethan, we grew up wearing the same pants.” He looked at me on Ethan’s shoulder. “You don’t touch a friend’s wife, you know that, right?” Ethan had zero intention of putting me down. He shook off Liam’s hand and shoved him hard on the shoulder. Pushing him right onto Bella, who had also chased to the door. A perfect wall slam, they almost kissed. The man’s tone was chilly. “As long as you know.” “A rare night of pleasure. Worry about yourself!” 3 I was already dizzy from the alcohol. Now hanging upside down on Ethan’s back, I felt even dizzier. I wanted him to put me down, so I called out softly. “Ethan…” But I only got his cold words in return: “Don’t call me that. Are we close?” I swallowed the second half of my sentence. Just dizziness. I can endure it. Who told me to owe him? Not far away, Liam was still relentless, looking like he wanted to chase: “Ethan Cole! You dare! I won’t let this go!” But he was held back by other friends: “Liam, Liam! You know Ethan has been full of hostility since returning to the country. Don’t take him seriously!” “You quoted so low on that project near the South Sea. He didn’t say anything because of your friendship.” “He must hold a grudge. Tonight he’s probably just teasing you to annoy you. Maybe he’ll dump Maya as soon as he gets downstairs.” “He hasn’t had a woman in years, don’t you know? We joke about him privately, calling him what?” “The Black Monk! Scowls at everyone, avoids women like the plague! You started that nickname yourself.” “Relax! He only has that wild kitten of a first love who dumped him in his heart. He won’t touch Maya.” Liam didn’t chase, and Ethan and I walked far away. Just before entering the elevator, I heard my two beautiful bridesmaids mocking Liam. Sounding sarcastic: “Wow! Can’t handle the game?” “Give each other one night of freedom~” “A gentleman’s word is his bond~” “You can go find a man too~” “I absolutely won’t mind~” “Our Maya is single and free tonight~” In the VIP parking spot on the first floor, I was indeed dumped by Ethan. Dumped into the passenger seat of his private car. The black Pagani roared away into the dark night! In a villa with extraordinary style. I didn’t recognize it, never been here. As soon as we entered, he stripped off my coat, gripping the back of my neck hard. A kiss full of resentment and ferocity landed on my lips… It hurt. I pushed him. “Ethan…” But my waist was clamped tight, pressed against the wall, unable to move an inch. His tone was nasty: “Didn’t you want to sleep with me? What are you hiding from?” I couldn’t refute, so I could only beg: “Be gentle…” In an instant, I was thrown onto the bed. He didn’t want to be polite with me: “Can’t be gentle.” Clothes flew onto the floor one by one. He was fierce, without mercy. Until he discovered I was still pure. He suddenly froze. Only then did that handsome face, cold and ruthless all night, filled with resentment and anger, soften a little. “You…” “You haven’t slept with Liam?” Separated for years, how could I explain my current situation to him? I bit my teeth again and again, giving a perfunctory answer: “Didn’t have time yet…” A couple getting married tomorrow, yet haven’t slept together. In modern society, who would believe that? Who could do that? For me, of course, there was a reason. The reason is, strictly speaking, Liam and I never really dated. We skipped that stage and went straight to the end: marriage. Of course, this didn’t hinder his sincere desire to marry me, nor my sincere desire to get along with him and spend the rest of our lives together. But after tonight, everything was probably going to change. Ethan’s thick brows furrowed. He stared at me for a long time, surely finding it incredible. Liam and I hadn’t had a substantial relationship. But the facts were before him, and he had to believe that I really hadn’t been with another man. The ice in those beautiful eyes gradually melted, then bit by bit, dyed with a touch of red. Like the grievances and deep love suppressed for years were finally willing to show a tiny corner for me to see. Finally, helpless and defenseless, he held me in his arms. On the corner of my lip that he had ruthlessly bitten. He placed a kiss. He held me, turning over, pressing my head into his shoulder and neck. Intimate whispers. I heard his hot breath say: “Maya, I still love you.” After that sentence, his kisses were lingering, tender. Gentle. 4 Tears in the corners of my eyes, the chandelier on the ceiling swaying and blurring before me. Past midnight, my phone suddenly vibrated and rang incessantly. The melodic ringtone seemed annoying at this moment, disturbing the man’s focus. It was my phone… It was Liam… Who has time for him right now? I wanted to swipe it away, but accidentally, my unsteady finger hit the answer button. Liam’s voice, clearly unstable, came from the other side: “Wifey, why aren’t you home? Where did Ethan dump you?” “Let’s not play this stupid pre-wedding freedom game. I thought about it, it’s boring. And Bella is basically damaged goods, can’t compare to a single strand of your hair.” “Where are you? I’ll pick you up. I regret it so much, making that stupid suggestion in the VIP room…” Before I could speak, Ethan took the phone directly. His tone arrogant: “Regret? Too late!” “She can’t be picked up by you because she’s in my bed right now.” “What? Ethan Cole! Beep—” The phone was hung up and turned off by Ethan, thrown far away. Liam provoked the man, but I was the one suffering. He held me, moving from the head of the bed to the foot. He bit my ear: “Again.” Time passed minute by minute, second by second. I waited and waited, but couldn’t wait for a moment of pause. The night finally passed completely, and daylight brightened. Even the drawn curtains couldn’t block that bright brilliance. Today was the day of my wedding with Liam. At this time, I should be cleaning myself up and rushing home. Putting on my wedding dress, sitting in front of the vanity, letting the makeup artist paint a beautiful bridal look on me. Quietly and expectantly waiting for Liam to come pick me up with a long wedding convoy. Ethan, of course, knew this too. This man, who had plowed all night without fatigue, as the daylight gradually brightened, the hostility that had receded from him was returning bit by bit. He wouldn’t let me go. He wouldn’t stop. Begging didn’t work, pleading didn’t work, sweet talk didn’t work. He just used those beautiful reddened eyes to question me over and over: “Don’t marry him. Promise me. Promise me…” “Maya, don’t marry him. Promise me!…” I really wanted to promise, just begging him to stop for a moment, let me catch my breath. I couldn’t say a complete word right now… Receiving no answer for a long time, the man seemed desperate, suddenly collapsing heavily on me. Holding me tight, tight in his arms, his tone revealing traces of pleading: “Maya, don’t marry him, please…” So difficult. Finally given a gap to respond to him. “Okay.” My voice was completely hoarse. He immediately propped himself up, looking at me burningly: “You promised?” I nodded vigorously. If I didn’t promise, would you let me go hold a wedding with your best friend? Besides, seeing through a trash man like Liam, am I stupid? Still running to marry him? His Adam’s apple rolled and rolled, lips moving slightly, as if after much deliberation, he blurted out: “If I tell you now that I want you to be with me again…” “Are you willing?” My whole body was sore and numb; I really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I could only use my weak little fists to pound his chest: “Ethan, you slept with me all night, without even a minute of rest.” “And now you’re asking if I’m willing…” His brows suddenly relaxed: “So you are willing?” I could only nod vigorously again to answer him.

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I thought Preston Hayes was faking a disability and bankruptcy just to get out of our engagement. So, I kicked his wheelchair and demanded cash. I figured he’d eventually drop the act. Years later, after Preston rebuilt his empire, a reporter asked him during a live interview: “Mr. Hayes, doctors said you had almost zero chance of walking again. How did you do it?” Preston leaned into the microphone, voice trembling with emotion. “It was all thanks to my fiancée.” The reporter sighed, misty-eyed. “That is so touching. She stood by you at your lowest point. True love really exists.” Preston gritted his teeth, a vein popping in his forehead. “No. She thought I was faking it and bullied me until I stood up!” Chapter 1 Unlike the “Old Money” crowd, my family is what they call “Nouveau Riche.” My dad made his fortune in construction and waste management. We have money, but we’ve never had the pedigree. Growing up, the debutantes of the Upper East Side froze me out. I was too loud, too tacky, too new. They didn’t want me, and honestly, I didn’t care for them. But I had a chip on my shoulder. Everything changed when I got engaged to Preston Hayes. The Hayes family is practically American royalty. They aren’t just rich; they are “building wings for museums” rich. Preston was the golden boy. Ivy League education, business prodigy. While other trust fund babies were partying in Ibiza, he was launching tech startups. Being his fiancée came with perks. The snobs who used to ignore me now had to kiss my ring. It was satisfying. Of course, I heard the whispers in the ladies’ room. “Why is she so smug? Preston doesn’t love her. It’s just a business merger. Everyone knows Clarissa is the only one he ever loved.” “I bet he dumps her before the wedding.” I sipped my champagne and ignored them. So what if he had a “one that got away”? Preston was marrying me. 2 I was enjoying the high life until the rumors started. The Hayes Empire was crumbling. Bankruptcy imminent. And Preston? Reportedly paralyzed in a car accident. The vultures circled immediately. The socialites were having a field day. Tiffany, my arch-nemesis since prep school, smirked at me during brunch. “The Hayes dynasty survived the Great Depression, but it collapses the second they get involved with her family. Talk about bad luck.” Her friend giggled. “Maybe it’s fake. A desperate move to shake off the engagement.” “I heard Clarissa is back in town.” Their gossip was malicious, but it sparked a thought. Preston hadn’t said a word to me. No warning. Just sudden ruin? It smelled like a setup. He wanted to dump me for Clarissa? And he was playing the “I’m broken, leave me” card to do it? Oh, hell no. I wasn’t going to let him off that easy. I was going to cling to him like a leech. 3 I skipped lunch and drove straight to the Hayes estate. I heard the voices before I saw them. A group of trust-fund jerks—Preston’s so-called friends—were gathered in the driveway. “Look at you, Preston. You used to be the King of New York. Now look at you. If I told you to bark like a dog, you couldn’t even stand up to bite me.” “Remember how you used to tell us to get lost? Who’s worthless now?” “Brody, leave him alone. He’s crippled. He can’t run away.” They roared with laughter. Preston sat in a sleek black wheelchair, his face void of emotion. His eyes were cold, staring at nothing, taking the abuse. I scoffed. What a performance. I show up, and coincidentally catch him at his most pathetic moment? It was too perfect. If he wanted to play the victim to scare me off, I’d play along. I slammed my car door shut and marched over, heels clicking loudly on the pavement. Brody turned around and whistled. “Well, look who it is. Bella Moretti. Here to return the ring?” I glared at him. “Get lost.” Brody’s face turned red. “Don’t talk to me like that, you trashy little upstart. You and the cripple deserve each other.” Smack. I slapped him across the face so hard my hand stung. “Did that fix your hearing?” “You b*tch!” I grew up with construction workers and tough guys. I took self-defense classes while these guys were playing polo. I kicked Brody square in the knee. He crumbled to the ground. “Apologize to Preston,” I ordered. “You’re crazy! Your dad has a contract with my dad!” “I don’t care. Apologize.” Brody gritted his teeth, humiliated. “Sorry, Preston.” He scrambled up, glaring at me. “You’re just in it for the money anyway. Now that he’s broke and broken, why bother?” There it was. The setup. They were trying to force me to break the engagement. I looked at Preston. “None of your business,” I said loud enough for everyone to hear. “I don’t love his money. I love his soul.” “No matter what happens, I’m standing by my man.” Behind me, Preston’s hand gripped his thigh so hard his knuckles turned white. 4 The jerks scrambled. Preston looked up at me, eyes dark. “You didn’t have to do that. We barely know each other. They’re right. I’m useless now.” “The engagement… we should…” I slapped a hand over his mouth. “I told you, you’re stuck with me. This is just a little setback.” I looked at his legs. “What did the doctor say? Will you walk?” Preston looked down, a shadow crossing his face. “He said there’s a ten percent chance.” I grabbed his hand, squeezing it. “Ten percent is enough. I’ll help you. You will walk again.” I’m not letting you go to Clarissa that easily, buddy. He looked at me for a long time, as if searching for a lie. “Okay.” The next few weeks were a masterclass in acting. I watched him in the rehab center. He would struggle to stand, fall, drag himself up, sweat dripping down his face, biting his lip until it bled. From the sidelines, I watched critically. Damn, he’s committed to the bit. To keep an eye on him (and his fake bankruptcy), I made him move into my penthouse. “I can take better care of you here,” I lied. Preston looked at me with those deep, brooding eyes. I decided to treat him like he was actually disabled. I cooked (badly), I drove him to therapy, I acted like the saintly fiancée. It seemed to work. He was starting to trust me. One day, he tried to stand in the living room and collapsed. He punched his paralyzed leg in frustration. I walked over and stopped his hand. “Easy,” I cooed. “Don’t rush it.” He leaned his head against my waist, exhausted. “I promise, Bella. I’ll give you the life you deserve.” It was the most sincere thing he’d ever said. I figured the prank was almost over. 5 On Monday, Preston had a “checkup.” I pretended I was busy so I didn’t have to watch him act. While scrolling Instagram in bed, I saw Tiffany’s story. “Saw Preston Hayes at lunch. He practically ran to Clarissa the second she landed at JFK.” “Bankruptcy is definitely a fake. And the wheelchair? Please.” “He’s trying so hard to get the Trash Princess to dump him.” So, he wasn’t at the doctor. He was with Clarissa. I stared at the phone. Fine. Most guys in our circle had a “one that got away.” I didn’t marry him for love; I married him for the merger. I could tolerate a side piece. I couldn’t tolerate being played. I sat in the dark living room, waiting. He didn’t come home until sunset. He rolled in, saw me sitting in the dark, and frowned. “Bella? Why are the lights off?” I rubbed my temples. “Just thinking.” Preston wheeled closer. He looked guilty. “I need to tell you something.” Here it comes. “I’m a burden,” he said, voice raspy. “I have nothing left. You should break the engagement. It’s for your own good.” For my own good? The audacity. I snapped. “Enough!” I stood up and glared down at him. “You’re faking a disability and hiding your assets just to run off with your high school sweetheart?” “You want to dump me for Clarissa? Dream on! Where’s your money? Give it to me!” “You’ve been living here for free, eating my food. Pay me back!” Preston looked genuinely confused. “Clarissa? I… I’m not faking. The bankruptcy is real…” “Liar!” I screamed. “I want five million dollars in my account by tomorrow, or you’re dead meat.” He grabbed my hand, desperate. “Give me a week. Please.” A week? If he was really broke, he’d need a lifetime. A week meant he had the money stashed somewhere. I shook him off. “Fine. One week.”

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During a variety show livestream, I was frantically gesturing to the award-winning actor, Ethan Vance, trying to get him to guess a phrase. “Okay, imagine we’re dating. If I just randomly slap you for no reason, what do you call that?” Ethan tilted his head, his tone utterly confident. “A reward.” I gritted my teeth. “Four words!” “Thank you, my queen? Do the left side too? Harder, please?” The host: … Me: Heh. Comments: [Stop giving him scenarios! You’re just fueling his fantasies!] 1 It was a live variety show. The phrase to guess was “Unreasonable behavior.” I was flailing my arms, trying to describe it to Ethan Vance. “Imagine we’re dating. If I just randomly slap you for no reason, what do you call that?” He tilted his head, completely serious. “A reward.” I gritted my teeth. “Four words!” “Thank you, my queen? Do the left side too? Harder, please?” “It’s an idiom! Four words!” Ethan looked straight at me and, without blinking, rattled off a string of ridiculous answers. “Consensual love? Soulmates forever? Happily ever after? Perfect match? Sleeping together?” The host and other guests: … Me: Wow. Dude, are you practicing your wedding vows or something?! Feeling defeated, I waved at the staff. “Pass! Pass! Next one.” The next phrase—”Ex-partner.” My vision went dark for a second, but I braced myself and spoke. “Okay, same scenario as before. If we broke up, what would I be to you? Two words.” Ethan thought for a moment, then lifted his chin slightly. “Mistress.” ? “Lover.” ?? “Simp.” ???! The studio went silent. The other guests looked like they were about to explode from holding back laughter. The live comments were going wild. [Zoey, stop with the scenarios! You’re just making him happy!] [Wait, who programmed Ethan like this?!] [I suspect for the last question, he was definitely thinking “Thank you, Master!” because my boyfriend has the same vibe.] [Hehe, sounds spicy.] [Ethan: Doesn’t matter what you say, I’m hearing what I want to hear!] [Did anyone else think Ethan’s tone when he said “sleeping together” was kinda… sus? Ahhh!] [Zoey’s fans, back off. Just because Ethan won an award doesn’t mean you can ride his coattails. Know your place.] [Is the commenter above okay? It’s just a show, why so toxic?] [If you don’t like it, leave!] 2 I took a deep breath, trying to control my face from twitching. He wasn’t stupid; he was doing this on purpose! Ethan leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed. Seeing my frustration, the corner of his lip curled up almost imperceptibly. Ugh, psycho! … Backstage, I walked silently toward the dressing room. Because we lost the game, I had gotten blasted in the face with whipped cream. I had wiped it off with a towel, but my skin still felt sticky and gross. The dressing room lights were off. I reached for the switch out of habit. Clack. The door shut behind me without warning. The next second, a firm grip landed on my wrist and lower back. I was pinned against the back of the door, my spine hitting the cold wood. But the palm pressing against my lower back was scorching hot, turning my cold sweat into a humid heat. My scalp tingled, and my breathing quickened. A woody scent enveloped me, with a sharp, aggressive undertone of something bitter. He leaned in and licked a spot of dried cream off my cheek. He gave his honest review. “Pretty sweet.” Pervert! Ahhh! I couldn’t break free, so I resorted to sarcasm. “Didn’t know Mr. Vance was so devoted, pestering his ex-girlfriend like this.” In the dim light, I couldn’t see Ethan’s eyes clearly. I only heard him chuckle. “I remember the reason you dumped me was: ‘You have multiple personalities, and the one that liked me got eaten by the others.’” “But unfortunately, recently, I’ve fallen for your main personality again.” Just as he finished speaking, urgent knocking exploded on the door behind me. “Hey, you two! Your mics! The mics aren’t off!!!” 3 ???! What?! I looked down sharply and saw the microphone pack clipped to my back blinking faintly. My heart rate, which hadn’t even settled, skyrocketed past the limit. My brain went blank, buzzing loudly. We’re doomed. The whole world knows Ethan and I have something going on now! Ahhh! I pressed my lips together tight, not daring to breathe. I was terrified any noise would be recorded. But Ethan leaned down wickedly, breathing right next to the lavalier mic on my collar, his tone innocent. “Babe, what do we do if they heard everything?” … On purpose. Absolutely on purpose! He pinned me here like a fish on a chopping block, and now he’s acting like the innocent victim?! After speaking, Ethan freed a hand, switched off the blinking indicator light, and called out to the door. “It’s off now.” Oh, so you drop the act for that sentence?! This guy switches faces fast! The noise outside faded away. The staff probably realized the atmosphere was weird and scattered. Wait, come in and save me, you cowards! Holding my breath, I shoved Ethan hard. Now he decided to play nice, stepping back with a half-smile. “What do you want?” “Just wanted a reasonable, logical reason for our breakup. That’s not too much to ask, right?” That simple?! I rolled my eyes, a mischievous idea bubbling up. “I’m getting married. Met him on a blind date.” “Are you satisfied with that reason?” Ethan’s lip twitched slightly. “Okay, understood. So, do you want to come over for dinner tonight? You can use me while you’re there.” ???! Use him? Sounds tempting~ Cough, cough, what am I thinking! “Do you not understand English?” “I said I’m getting married! We’re done!” Ethan’s expression didn’t change, his voice lazy and teasing. “You’re just marrying someone else. Does that stop me from simping for you?” “Like I said earlier, mistress, lover, simp—I’m fine with any of them.” “Or should I make dinner for three, and you can bring your damn fiancé along?” The more he spoke, the calmer he looked. Finally, he stood up straight and left me with one last sentence. “If you don’t come, I’ll come find you.” “But if the paparazzi snap us and make up some crazy rumors, don’t blame me.” Watching his back, a chill climbed up my spine. God, what kind of demon did I provoke?! 4 The first time I met Ethan was at the script reading for our new drama, Fleeting Life. He was dressed entirely in black, the only decoration a diamond stud in one ear. He looked intimidating. During the entire reading, he was cold and quiet. Even when he gave feedback, it was brief. I scrutinized him all day. Conclusion—heh, poser. With a personality this unlikeable, how does he have the nerve to compete with my idol, Julian West, for resources? And his fans praise him to the heavens. Saying things like “Intense beauty, perfect inside and out.” I say “Nonsense, blind and delusional!” After work that day, I managed to talk to Ethan. “Mr. Vance, I have a question. It might be a bit forward, so please don’t be mad.” Ethan stopped, nodded, signaling me to continue. I cleared my throat, trying to hide my anti-fan nature. “Do you have a girlfriend?” Seeing his surprise, I quickly added. “As the leads, we have a lot of scenes together.” “I’m asking in advance so I know the boundaries for our interactions.” Ethan said in a low voice, “No.” “What about a boyfriend? Are you sure you’re absolutely single?” I pressed on, smiling brightly while feeling incredibly shady inside. I didn’t believe the rumors were groundless. Nights spent with influencers~ Holding hands with male friends~ Selling himself for roles~ One of them has to be true! Once I dig it up, your days as a top star are numbered! Ethan narrowed his eyes, looking distant. “Ms. Hall, I don’t wish for any relationship outside of our work. I don’t do ‘on-set couples.’” “Don’t waste your time on me.” With that, he walked away without looking back. ???! He thinks I’m asking because I like him?! Ew, narcissist!

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My boyfriend was cooking dinner when his phone lit up on the coffee table. A message popped up from a female coworker. “Miss you.” I thought for a moment, then replied for him. “Come over. She’s not home.” Chapter 1 It was a miracle Ethan wasn’t working overtime this weekend. I’d begged him for weeks to make his signature BBQ baby back ribs. While he was busy in the kitchen, his phone buzzed on the coffee table. I tapped the screen, but it stayed dark. I leaned in closer. A privacy screen. A cold knot formed in my stomach. I suddenly remembered something a coworker told me over drinks: “When your man puts a privacy screen on his phone, he’s got secrets.” That sentence felt like a splinter under my skin. I tried to convince myself it was just a coincidence, but doubt spreads like wildfire. Luckily, he hadn’t changed his passcode yet. I unlocked it. There was one new notification. A text from a number I didn’t recognize. The message was short, simple, and devastating. “Miss you.” My heart seized. I stared at those two words. I scrolled up. The chat history was empty. Deleted. But those two words were enough to tear my world apart. I tried to steady my breathing, but my hand shook, knocking a coaster off the table. Ethan poked his head out of the kitchen, spatula in hand. “Everything okay, babe?” I forced a smile, sliding his phone into my pocket. “Fine. Just wondering how the ribs are coming along.” “It’s gonna be a while,” he grumbled, wiping sweat from his forehead. “The glaze isn’t reducing right. Next time, let’s just order takeout.” I froze, then nodded. “Sure.” Ethan seemed to have forgotten—I’m from the East Coast. I prefer savory. I hate sweet BBQ sauce. He was the one who loved the sugar-heavy ribs. When we first bought this condo, he had stood in that empty kitchen, eyes shining with pride. “This is my command center, Sarah. No entry without the chef’s permission!” Back then, he loved this home. He loved making memories with me. The phone in my pocket felt heavy, like a lead weight burning against my thigh. Once my heart rate slowed, I made a decision. I pulled out the phone and typed a reply. “Come over. She’s not home.” I needed to know who she was. And I needed to know what Ethan would do. Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I smoothed my shirt and walked to the door. My hand hovered over the cold metal knob. I took a breath and swung it open. The woman outside froze. The excited smile on her face died the second she saw me. I looked her over. Younger. Fit. Pretty. I couldn’t help but compare myself to her, and the conclusion was brutal—she had me beat in every category. “You must be Sarah.” “You know me?” “Ethan mentioned you.” The thought that my name was just part of their pillow talk made me sick. She seemed to realize she was still holding something. She lifted a Tupperware container. “I’m just here to return this.” “Ethan brought ribs to the office last week. My blood sugar crashed, and he insisted I eat his lunch.” Staring at the container—the one Ethan and I bought together at Target—I remembered how annoyed he was this morning when I asked him to cook. Rage, hot and bright, flared in my chest. I turned and shouted toward the kitchen. “Honey! Someone’s here for you!” Ethan walked out, wiping his hands on a towel. When he saw her, he stopped dead. I watched them closely. There wasn’t the panic I expected. Just confusion. “Hailey? What are you doing here?” Ethan asked. “I was in the neighborhood,” she said, her voice smooth. “Remembered I still had your Tupperware. I texted you.” “Texted me?” Ethan frowned, glancing at me, then back at her. His face hardened. “Just leave it on the table.” But she didn’t leave. She stood in the doorway, her eyes locking onto mine with a challenge. “Aren’t you going to invite me in, Sarah?” I let out a dry laugh and stepped aside, looking at Ethan. “Yeah, Ethan. Invite your guest in. Perfect timing, you’re making ribs again.” I emphasized “ribs.” Ethan’s face went pale. “Stop it,” he muttered. Sensing the tension, Hailey gave a lazy shrug. “Actually, I just remembered I have plans. I forgot because I was so excited… to return the container. Maybe next time.” I didn’t say a word. I just watched cold-eyed as Ethan walked her out. When he came back, his expression was dark enough to summon a storm. “What? Sad to see her go?” I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms. Ethan glared at me. “Don’t start, Sarah. She’s just a colleague.” Did he really think I was that stupid? “A colleague? Do colleagues text ‘Miss you’ to each other on weekends?” Ethan rubbed his temples, looking exhausted. “We’re working on a massive project together. High stress. We joke around to blow off steam. That’s all.” I didn’t believe a word of it. We screamed at each other for an hour. After that night, the air in the condo turned toxic. I started wondering if I had overreacted. Maybe I was crazy. But Ethan’s explanation was full of holes. Living like this was suffocating. 2 I told my best friend, Jess, about my suspicions. She laughed for a solid minute. After my parents died in a car wreck, Jess and Ethan became my only family. “You’re spiraling, Sarah,” Jess said. “Don’t you remember college? Ethan spent an entire semester eating ramen just so he could buy you coffee every morning. He rode the bus for an hour just to get you those specific bagels you liked. The guy worships you.” I smiled weakly. “Yeah. I guess I forgot.” Jess launched into a nostalgic retelling of our college romance, but it felt like she was talking about two strangers. That was ten years ago. I was two months away from turning twenty-eight. Before she left, Jess grabbed my hand. “Sarah, just talk to him. Fix it. Get a ring on that finger soon.” “Don’t let this drag on.” We both knew what she meant. The “Sunk Cost Fallacy.” Ten years was a lot of time to lose. That night, I texted Ethan. I sent him a photo of myself in a new lace negligee I’d bought. Normally, he’d reply instantly with something like, “On my way. Don’t move.” Tonight, three hours passed before a bubble appeared. “Working late.” I closed iMessage and opened Instagram. I searched his handle. The green dot was lit. Active Now. He wasn’t working. I looked down at my hands. I’d chewed a ragged edge into my thumb nail. After my parents died, I developed a habit of biting my nails when I was anxious. Ethan used to gently pull my hand away. He bought that bitter-tasting polish to help me stop. Now… I felt a surge of irritation. I wanted to leave him on read. But Jess’s voice echoed in my head. Fix it. I typed again. “It’s okay. I’ll wait up for you.” He didn’t reply. 3 I sat in the living room, the lace negligee long since replaced by oversized sweats. The clock on the wall ticked past 1:00 AM. I held the photo album Ethan had made for our first anniversary. When did we go from soulmates to roommates who barely spoke? Click. Whirrr. The smart lock engaged. I looked up, hoping to catch his eye. Ethan stood in the entryway for a long time before stepping inside. When he finally looked at me, his gaze slid away instantly. That avoidance hurt more than any insult. He kicked off his shoes. “Can you stop leaving your sneakers in the middle of the floor?” he snapped. I blinked. Before I could move, he kicked my Nikes into the corner. There was a time he would line my shoes up perfectly. A time he charged my toothbrush. A time he swapped out my winter closet for summer. Those days were gone. Ethan walked into the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. A new glass. He sat at the dining table, drinking alone. I stared at the glass. We used to share everything. “Why didn’t you grab a glass for me?” I asked, my voice small. “I didn’t think you were thirsty.” He turned his back to me, scrolling on his phone. I didn’t want to fight. I wanted us back. I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Get off!” He flinched like I burned him, shaking me off. I stared at the red mark on my wrist where he’d grabbed me. “Today is our ten-year anniversary,” I whispered. Ethan froze. A flicker of guilt crossed his face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by cold indifference. “Send me a link for what you want. I’ll buy it tomorrow.” He spoke like he was approving a business expense. “It doesn’t count if it’s tomorrow,” I said, tilting my head, trying to channel the playful girl he used to love. He used to say I looked cute when I was mad. Now, he looked at me like I was a stranger. “Sarah.” He used my full name. The invisible wall between us just got ten feet higher. “Grow up.” Two words. Like ice picks. “We’re twenty-eight. We aren’t kids anymore. You can’t build a life on anniversaries.” My chest ached. The man in front of me—in his tailored suit, looking tired and cynical—was nothing like the boy in the white t-shirt who used to laugh with me in the campus quad. “Yeah,” I mumbled. “I’m twenty-eight.” “You know where I’m at,” he interrupted, cutting off the conversation I hadn’t started yet. “My career is stalling. I’m not ready for marriage…” His phone rang. He glanced at the screen and silenced it immediately. My stomach dropped. But I forced myself to stay calm. I even tried to sound sweet. “So, when will you be ready?” 4 He didn’t answer. He didn’t ask for more time. Instead, he said: “If you feel like you’re wasting your time, then…” “Then break up with you? So I have to be the bad guy?” The words hung in the air. Ethan sighed. “I’m just not good enough for you, Sarah.” I snapped. The anxiety that had been boiling all night finally exploded. “Not good enough? You didn’t seem to have that problem when you chased me for two years in college!” Ethan’s face turned red. He opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn’t even want to fight for us. He grabbed his keys and headed for the guest bedroom. He twisted the knob. Locked. “Sarah! Stop playing games! Open the door!” “I told you to fix that lock months ago,” I said coldly. “The wind slammed it shut earlier. I can’t open it either.” He looked at the balcony door, checking if I was lying. The silence was heavy. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll go to a hotel.” That broke me. I stood up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. “A hotel? This condo is too small for you now? Or are you just done pretending?” Ethan looked shocked. I never raised my voice. “If anyone is going to a hotel, it should be me! You bought this place, right? God forbid I inconvenience you!” I was screaming now, hurting him on purpose because I wanted him to feel a fraction of what I felt. “You’re always like this, Sarah,” he spat. “Selfish. You never think about anyone else.” “Selfish?” My eyes widened. “Last week! You invite my colleague inside? Do you have any idea how awkward that makes things for me at work?” “Awkward? She texted you ‘Miss you’ at dinner time! Am I supposed to ignore that?” “I’m done explaining this. Think what you want.” He turned and walked to the front door. Hand on the latch, he paused. He didn’t look back. “Sarah. If you really think we can’t make this work… then maybe we shouldn’t.” I stood there, stiff as a board. I didn’t answer. That was the moment I knew. Ethan didn’t love me anymore. 5 Ethan didn’t come home after that. Friday night, Jess messaged our group chat. “Guys! It’s happening! I’m getting married!” She attached a digital invitation. She tagged both of us. “My favorite college power couple needs to be there to support me! Details are in the link. No excuses!” I waited. Ethan didn’t reply. I didn’t want Jess to worry. “Yay! We’ll be there,” I typed. Seconds later, a DM from Ethan popped up. “Make up an excuse. Tell them I’m traveling or sick. I’m not going.” I hesitated. “But she invited both of us. It’s rude not to go. Jess is my best friend.” I watched the “typing” bubbles appear and disappear. Finally: “Sarah, let’s break up.” I stared at the screen. Tears hit the glass. My fingers felt numb. I typed out a paragraph, deleted it. Typed another, deleted it. Finally, out of pure spite and exhaustion, I typed one word. “Fine.”

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The night Nathan Reynolds slit his wrists, I swore to myself that I would help him get back on his feet. For two years, I took every dirty, exhausting job I could find. But the very night I finally paid off his debts, I accidentally saw his text history with his best friend. Friend: [Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out the debt was paid off ages ago and cause a scene?] Nathan: [Not afraid. Sarah Miller passed my test. I plan to propose to her. Seeing how much she loves me, I can’t give her much, but I can give her a marriage certificate.] Friend: [Then do you need me to get the card ending in 7785 back? You’re getting married, it wouldn’t be right to keep sending money to sister Bella every month.] I turned to look at my haggard face in the mirror and smiled. Nathan Reynolds, from today on, I’ve decided not to love you anymore. 1 When I saw the chat history between Nathan and his best friend, Liam, it felt like all the blood in my body rushed backward from my feet to my head. Tonight, we had just celebrated paying off all his debts. Nathan opened two bottles of red wine and got drunk. Right now, he was lying in my arms, looking harmless, asking for kisses. A storm of emotions churned in my chest, finally settling into a cold sneer. The card ending in 7785. I knew that number by heart. Every payday, I transferred almost my entire paycheck onto that card, saving up to pay Nathan’s “debt.” I knew Bella, too. She was the beauty of our department back in college. Gorgeous, flamboyant. She and Nathan had an on-and-off entanglement for three years. But after failing her art exam, she chose to study abroad. A while ago, I saw her social media account. Bright and beautiful. In her mirror selfies, she was covered in luxury brands. Back then, I smiled and showed her profile to Nathan. “Bella’s a big influencer now. Do you regret not choosing her? If you had, you wouldn’t have to work so hard to pay off debt.” Nathan looked disdainful. “No regrets. I still prefer someone like you who knows how to live a simple life.” At that time, I didn’t know that half of Bella’s outfit was probably bought with my hard-earned money. No wonder my grandmother used to tell me, “Sarah, your hands are too thin. No fortune.” The year Nathan and I got together, his family’s business failed, and I heard they owed a lot of money. But how much exactly, I still didn’t know. I only knew that Nathan, then a junior in college, was implicated and had to drop out and return to our small town. Since high school graduation, his family had moved to the big city, and their old small villa had long gathered dust. Nathan returned alone, locking himself in the house all day. That day, as usual, I peeked through their window, only to find him lying in the bathroom, crimson blood filling the entire bathtub. I carried him on my back, running through the entire town, and finally saved him. But he cried and asked me why I saved him. I hugged him, and we wailed together. “It’s just money! I’ll help you earn it back!” He sighed, his gaze suddenly softening. “Silly, you only have a high school diploma. What money can you earn?” Despite that, I still accompanied him to the big city to look for opportunities. Because I had no degree and no skills, I could only do manual labor to survive. Delivering food, making milk tea, even fighting with aunties for cleaning jobs. During the most desperate times, I worked as an hourly housekeeper in the morning, then made milk tea, and delivered food at night after getting off work. When payday came the next month, I excitedly showed him my bank balance. A full two thousand dollars. His eyes red, he touched my head, held my bony hands, and choked with guilt, “Our Sarah is amazing.” But I didn’t feel it was hard. For me, as long as I could be with Nathan, no hardship was too much. People often say love is constantly feeling indebted. Back then, seeing the once high-spirited boy from school now huddled in a cramped rental apartment, I wished I could split myself into ten people to lighten his burden. Thinking of every moment from the past two years, I kept my eyes open until dawn. Nathan woke up groggy, rubbed his eyes, and hugged me tight. “Why haven’t you gone to work today?” I fought back the sourness in my eyes and rubbed them. “I quit.” Four thousand a month, shaking milk tea for ten hours a day. My tendonitis had flared up long ago. I had to put smelly patches on my hands almost every day. He froze, then stroked my head dotingly. “Mm, thanks to you, I could pay off the debt in such a short time.” “After we get married, you just stay home and be beautiful. I’ll earn money to support the family.” The words I had longed for for two years finally arrived, but suddenly, I didn’t care anymore. 2 I walked aimlessly on the street. The owner of the pork rice bowl shop I frequented spotted me. “Hey, eating here today?” I forced a smile. “Sure.” She raised an eyebrow. “We have a new dish today. On the house for you to try.” “The usual? Two orders, one with no pork, one with double pork to go?” That was how we always ate. Nathan had a big appetite and was never full. I secretly asked the owner to add my share of meat to his. Actually, he didn’t know that I had a big appetite too. But to save money to help him pay his debt, I often skipped meals, giving myself gastritis. Now, eating a few extra bites hurt. I shook my head. “No, just one today. I’ll break my rule and see if this pork is any good.” In two years, I hadn’t saved a penny and ended up with a body full of injuries. My life was even worse than when I was in the small town. If Mom, Dad, and Grandma saw this from heaven, they would be so heartbroken. After finishing the bowl, I received a phone call. “Sarah, didn’t you ask me about confinement nanny training before?” “The agency has a spot open now. Free training upfront, and after you get hired, they’ll deduct 5% from your monthly salary as tuition. I thought you’d be interested.” My body trembled slightly. I stood up quickly and excitedly said into the phone, “Sis, I’ll go! I’m willing to go!” When I returned to the rental, Nathan had already set up the proposal scene. His good friend Liam was helping too. My sudden return caught them off guard. Nathan hurriedly hid the flowers and balloons behind his back, looking awkward. “Sarah, why are you back so suddenly?” Liam simply started jeering, “Sarah saw everything. Just propose already.” He kicked Nathan, and Nathan knelt before me. “Sarah, um.” He stammered, “I rehearsed this scene countless times in my head, but now that it’s today, I’m really nervous.” “I want to tell you, I want to marry you. Will you marry me?” He took a ring out of his pocket, knelt on one knee, and looked at me with burning eyes. Seeing this, my eyes reddened. Yes, I had fantasized about this scene so many times. But now, I didn’t know how to face it all. Liam clapped and cheered from the side, “Marry him, marry him…” Nathan looked at me tearfully, “With a virtuous wife supporting my ambitions, I wouldn’t trade her for ten thousand ounces of gold.” “Sarah, after we marry, I won’t let you suffer a bit.” After he finished, I wiped my tears, walked past Nathan, and started packing my luggage. The job agent said that to ensure training quality, it was a closed camp. I actually felt happy about that. Closed meant room and board included, no extra expenses. Watching me put things into the suitcase, Nathan was confused. “Sarah, what are you doing?” I took a deep breath, smiled, and brushed his hand away. “Since the debt is paid, my debt of gratitude is paid too. From now on, let’s break up.” Because I was an orphan, I was bullied a lot in school. The worst time, they cornered me in an alley, calling me a jinx, threatening to strip me and film it to sell for money. It was Nathan who accidentally stumbled upon it and saved me, fighting three guys like a madman, ending up with a bloody face, warning them never to touch me again. Thanks to him, no one spat gum in my hair before graduation, and no one put dead animals in my desk drawer. Although I was used to it, his appearance made me temporarily give up the idea of finding my parents. Even if he had long forgotten that random act of kindness, every day I lived, I was grateful to him. Later, gratitude turned into love. That was why I willingly followed him when he had nothing. At this point, I didn’t want to pursue anything further. These two years paid off the debt of the past. Nathan tilted his head. “What do you mean? I don’t understand.” My teeth bit my lip hard, trying desperately not to make a sound. “I mean, break up.” 3 Panic was visibly written all over his face. “Sarah, did I do something wrong?” “You’re joking, right? This kind of joke isn’t funny at all.” Liam chimed in, “Yeah, Sarah, if Nathan did something wrong, tell me. I’ll teach him a lesson for you. No need to break up.” I shook my head, feigning ease, and signaled him to look at his phone. “Last night, I accidentally saw your chat history with Liam.” Nathan’s breath hitched. Liam immediately tried to explain for him, “Sarah, you misunderstood, it’s not…” Nathan struggled for a long time, not knowing how to explain. Finally, he only said, “But I really love you.” I smiled and nodded. “Mm.” Love is paying off the debt long ago and not telling me. Love is using my blood and sweat money to support his white moonlight. He panicked and grabbed my hand, trying to force the ring on my finger. “I know what I did was a bit excessive, but I only resorted to this because I’m sincere about this relationship.” “I just wanted to see how long you could last. I was scared you were just acting on a whim.” “My dad and mom were like that. After our family went into debt, my mom couldn’t take it and ran away. My dad, facing setback after setback, killed himself.” “I was so afraid that after I became dependent on you, you would be like my mom, unable to endure hardship and leave me.” “So for two years, you just watched me brave the wind and rain every day, living like a ghost?” He knew perfectly well how much I suffered to help him pay off the debt. Nathan’s face was pale. “But isn’t everything getting better now? Your efforts have paid off.” “The year before last, I made a million from stocks and investments. I know you sacrificed a lot for me. The days ahead will be sweet.” A lump formed in my throat. I asked him one last question, “What about Bella?” Nathan suddenly stammered. “Something happened to her family too. Bella is a girl alone abroad, cut off financially. If I didn’t help her, she really had no way out.” “You… you know too, she’s a spoiled princess who can’t carry anything heavy. She can’t be like you.” I clenched my fists, nails digging into my flesh. Yes, Bella is a beloved princess who can’t suffer. I’m a wild child with no parents, so I deserve to suffer. But Nathan didn’t know that when my parents were alive, I was the apple of their eye too. Looking at the guilty Nathan in front of me, he seemed so strange, as if I hadn’t truly seen him in two years. I wiped my tears, ignored the pleas behind me, and dragged my luggage out of the rental. From now on, I will live for myself. After entering the training camp, I voluntarily handed over my phone and devoted myself to the training. In just one month, I graduated as an outstanding student and received my certificate. The day I came out, I stood in the sun, feeling emotional about finally welcoming a new life. The supervisor handed me my phone with a serious face. “Your phone kept ringing. No saved names, all different numbers.” “Sarah, tell me honestly, did you secretly take out online loans and not pay them back, and now debt collectors are after you?” Confused, I took the phone, charged it, and turned it on. Countless messages flooded in. Bank balance notifications made up half of them. At first, it was transfers of a few hundred, then a few thousand, then tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands. The final number stopped at one hundred thousand dollars. Unknown numbers also sent many messages. The latest one was: [Have you calmed down enough? Please talk to me.] 4 It was Nathan’s tone. I remembered then that as soon as I left the rental, I deleted and blocked all his contact info. He just thought I was throwing a little tantrum. Although Grandma said I had no fortune, she also said I was like a cockroach that wouldn’t die—falling down and getting back up again. This was one of my few strengths. I was optimistic, optimistic to the point of absurdity. During the month in the training camp, I had already calmly let go. So this time, I didn’t choose to continue blocking him. Instead, I patiently replied to him. [I’ve really decided to let go. I wish you and Bella happiness.] He replied again, [I don’t believe it. You obviously loved me so much.] [Trust me, except for giving Bella living expenses, nothing else happened.] I answered his call. Nathan was anxious. The moment I picked up, he desperately explained. “Trust me, there’s really nothing between her and me.” “I’ve known Bella for so many years. Even if the romance is gone, I can’t just watch her starve and freeze abroad.” “What about me, Nathan? Did you have the heart to watch me starve and freeze?” Hearing this, I understood completely. That youthful friendship made Bella the eternal white moonlight in his heart. In his heart, there was no comparison between Bella and me. “I found a new job. I’ll probably be very busy from now on. I’m not planning to use this SIM card anymore.” “I received the money you sent. I’ll calculate what I earned over the past two years, and transfer the rest back to the card.” Silence on the other end for a long time. It wasn’t until I said I was hanging up. Nathan, who always had a good temper, breathed heavily, faintly angry. “Yes! I made a mistake, but I apologized, and I transferred double the money for the past two years to you. Do you have to be so petty and refuse to forgive me?” “Old sayings go that couples need to tolerate each other to live a good life. If you’re like this, I really have to reconsider marrying you.” “Well then, thank you for letting me go.” I sneered, then hung up, took out the SIM card, and threw it into the sewer by my feet. I followed the address given by the company to the client’s house. But I didn’t expect the world to be so small. The person I was to care for turned out to be Bella. She opened the door with a big belly and a smile. “Are you the new confinement nanny? You’re so young, probably about my age, right? Can I call you by your name from now on?” That smile seemed capable of melting hearts. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, the fact was, Bella was the kind of girl who was instantly likable. Looking at her smooth skin and graceful figure, a hint of jealousy stained my heart. Why? Why could she live so happily? My skin, dark from delivering food, and my scrawny figure formed a stark contrast in front of her. Thinking of this, a wave of hatred spread in my heart. I couldn’t help but mock internally. Such a beautiful girl, yet she willingly became a mistress and got pregnant. Just as I turned to leave. Bella grabbed my arm. “Thank goodness you came. Otherwise, I’m about to give birth, and I wouldn’t know what to do alone at home.” “I’ve set up your room. Come in and see if you like it.” She supported her belly with one hand and took my luggage directly with the other. Looking at her belly, she was probably seven or eight months along. Just as I hesitated, she held up three fingers. “Three thousand. I’ll give you three thousand a month.” Hearing the number, I agreed as if possessed. The salary she offered was double the market rate plus bonuses. I told myself internally. This money was mine anyway. Why not take it? So I deliberately asked her, “Where is your husband? You’re so far along, living alone?” A trace of sadness flashed across Bella’s face. She forced a smile. “My relationship with him is… special.” Hearing this, scanning the luxurious interior of the house, I understood completely. Bella knew she was the other woman and happily maintained an illicit relationship with Nathan, even having his child. But before I could tear into her, I noticed Bella’s legs trembling. She covered her mouth and gasped, then water flowed down her legs. Subsequently, her face turned pale with pain.

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