Category: English

Ethan Carter never showed up that night we were supposed to pick out my wedding dress. When I arrived at his office, the place was buzzing. “Congrats, Ethan! You won the case, and you won the girl!” “Yeah, after all these twists and turns, Chloe, your childhood sweetheart, is finally back by your side.” “Ethan, does this mean your wedding with Jenna Miller is indefinitely postponed?” Ethan, surrounded by his colleagues, kept his eyes downcast, his voice chillingly cold. “Don’t compare Jenna to Chloe. Chloe would die if I left her, but Jenna wouldn’t.” I stood outside the door, clutching the bottle of wine I’d made just for him, before dropping it into a nearby trash can. Ethan Carter, I have no use for a love that leaves me half-dead. As I walked out of the law firm, my phone vibrated with his call. His voice was low, laced with apology. “Moon, the firm’s celebrating tonight. Can we postpone picking out the wedding dress?” I watched Chloe Davies walk into the firm and simply smiled. “Sure. No need to pick one.” The man on the other end chuckled, sounding perfectly pleased. “Moon, you’re so understanding. Pick whatever style you like, anything you love, I’ll love too.” I’d heard that line countless times. I used to believe it was trust, a boundless sense of security. Now, it felt like an endless mockery. Perhaps indifference was the only true freedom. I raised an eyebrow slightly. “Okay, I’ll arrange everything.” After hanging up, I canceled the wedding dress appointment. A weight lifted from my chest, yet I felt no trace of reluctance. I had never doubted my feelings for Ethan Carter. I truly believed we were deeply in love. Ethan and I met through winemaking. In the cellar, his perfect profile seemed to sweeten the very air. From that day on, my wine gained a new flavor—one called ‘love.’ I started chasing him with my wines. “Ethan Carter, I just made this. Want to try it?” “Ethan Carter, doesn’t this smell amazing?” “Ethan Carter, do you like this flavor?” Every day, I flitted around him like a chirping little bird. Slowly, we started talking, drinking together. He tirelessly served as my winemaking guinea pig. And I, with equal devotion, became his escape from loneliness. Until that deafening, drunken declaration: “Ethan Carter, I like you.” That ended our thirty days of unspoken. My love was always proactive, but Ethan was like a puppet. He mechanically agreed to all my requests, even when it came to affection. Yet, I happily believed this was unconditional favoritism. It wasn’t until I saw Chloe Davies that I finally understood. Ethan Carter’s time with me seemed to have been spent chasing her shadow. I was merely a fleeting distraction. Just as I was about to drive away, my phone buzzed incessantly with unfamiliar messages. “Hey Moon, Ethan’s really busy right now. Could you send two bottles of wine over?” “Ethan specifically asked for the Memory’s Embrace one.” “He always tells me your wine is so much like me. Thank you for always making him remember me.” Memory’s Embrace. That was the wine Ethan and I had crafted together. I provided the skill, he provided the tasting. It took twenty tries before I finally earned his smile. After that, Ethan named it Memory’s Embrace. What was thought of, never forgotten. I thought he was describing our love, so I treasured the wine. But I never imagined his childhood sweetheart had already surpassed everything. My hands trembled, too weak to reply. In that moment, I felt like a general defeated on the battlefield. Unable to return to the past, unable to move forward. But a voice deep inside me resonated with unwavering conviction. This one-sided love affair needs to end. It’s time to wake up. Back in the cellar, I pulled out four bottles of Memory’s Embrace. The production of Memory’s Embrace was very low. Not because I didn’t want to mass-produce it, but because Ethan wouldn’t allow it. He said it was our exclusive wine, meant only for us, something he didn’t want to share with anyone else. So, Memory’s Embrace was only brought out on our anniversaries. We’d toast under the moonlight, our hearts full. We’d celebrate our love for each other. We’d promise ‘forever and always.’ His tears would trail down his cheek and onto my shoulder, over and over again. At the time, I joyfully believed he loved me to his core. Now, I understood he was just longing for another woman. Inside the private room, Ethan Carter was expertly deflecting drinks for Chloe Davies. He hadn’t even noticed me standing at the door. His cheeks were flushed, a constant smile gracing his lips. This was the first time in three years I’d seen him like this. In that moment, Ethan Carter was joyous, fulfilled. There was none of the carefulness he always showed when he was with me. They complemented each other perfectly, completely oblivious to the teasing of their friends. “Well, well, well, let’s congratulate Ethan on finally getting his true love!” “Yeah, he’s finally not moping around like a lovesick puppy anymore!” “Chloe, you wouldn’t believe it, when you got married, Ethan disappeared for a whole month. We were worried sick!” “Exactly! Good thing he met Jenna Miller back then, otherwise who knows what state he’d be in now.” My name, like a needle, instantly chilled the atmosphere around them. I looked at the silent crowd, my heart yearning for Ethan’s affirmation. I stared at him intently, as if by doing so, he would acknowledge our relationship. But persistence doesn’t always yield answers. After a long moment, Ethan tightened his grip on Chloe’s hand, then slowly, unhurriedly spoke. “Chloe is my true remedy.” Suddenly, the whole room erupted in cheers. Chloe Davies had noticed me at the door long ago. Her arrogant gaze already proclaimed her victory. Knowing I wasn’t welcome in such a boisterous scene, I signaled for a server to deliver the wine. “Mr. Carter, this is the wine you requested.” The man, who had been smiling moments before, looked flustered for an instant when he saw me at the doorway. Just as Ethan was about to step towards me, Chloe unabashedly kissed him. Meeting his gaze, I chose to turn away. In that moment, I fled the battlefield. I was a coward in love. I didn’t have the courage to reclaim what was mine in front of everyone. In the taxi, Chloe Davies’s messages kept pinging. In the video. Ethan Carter, urged on by the crowd, grandly confessed his love to Chloe. He knelt before her, holding a bottle of Memory’s Embrace. “Chloe, this is the wine I made for you. Do you like it?” “Chloe, this wine is my essence, and so are you.” Ethan spoke with conviction, and Chloe’s face flushed. Then, a message from Chloe popped up: “Jenna Miller, thank you for the wine you made for me. Ethan Carter was never yours. I hope you know your place.” After three years, the lioness had reclaimed her territory. And for the other contender, it was either death or exile. Because none of this ever truly belonged to me. When I got home, memories invaded me like poison. Our matching slippers were neatly arranged, but Ethan’s pair looked brand new. Our couple’s mugs were brightly colored, but Ethan’s was already dusty. Our matching pajamas swayed in the breeze, but Ethan’s had never been worn. Ethan and my life was hollow, like two lines that intersected only to immediately run parallel again. We looked united, but our souls had long drifted apart. He never liked anything I prepared for him, yet for Chloe, he tacitly allowed it. Ethan Carter had never betrayed Chloe Davies; I was just an accidental detour. A phone call pulled me back to reality. The wedding photographer politely inquired. “Ms. Miller, I heard you canceled the wedding dress fitting. What about tomorrow’s photo shoot?” I looked at the repeating images on my phone, my voice devoid of any lingering emotion. “Cancel everything.” I was about to throw away all our paired items when Ethan’s key in the lock made me freeze. Ethan’s tense shoulders relaxed when he saw me. He took my hand, his smile incredibly gentle. “Thank you, Moon, for being so understanding.” “I really liked the wine tonight, and Chloe did too.” Seeing my silence, he patiently explained. “Chloe Davies, you know, we grew up together. We’re like siblings. You’re not jealous, are you?” “My Moon is so sweet, she would never be jealous.” No sooner had he spoken than he leaned down and kissed my forehead. Ethan was always different when he was drunk. He was like a loyal dog. “Ethan Carter, say you love me.” “Moon, I love you.” “Ethan Carter, say you miss me.” “Moon, I miss you.” “Ethan Carter, call me your wife.” “Moon, wife.” All the words he couldn’t utter when sober, he spoke without hesitation when drunk. I used to secretly delight in this for a long time. His tenderness, his thoughtfulness, his deep affection – I only truly had them under the influence of alcohol. Each time, I used repetitive questions to test my importance in his heart. Thankfully, I always got the answers I wanted. I filled my anxieties with this illusionary love. But now, I was tired of it. The dream needed to end. I clenched my hands, my voice firm as I spoke. “Ethan Carter, do you love Chloe Davies?” Without a moment’s hesitation, Ethan blurted out. “Yes, Chloe, I love you.” I staggered backward, step by step. This was the secret he had hidden for three years. “Ethan Carter, do you want to marry Chloe Davies?” At this, the man’s eyes reddened, his lips trembling with an unspoken grievance. He stepped forward, pulled me into a tight embrace, and buried his face in my shoulder, pleading. “Yes… more than anything. I’ve dreamed of it.” “Chloe, will you marry me?” Fueled by alcohol, Ethan had mistaken me for Chloe Davies. The high-and-mighty Attorney Carter, now begging so humbly. His indifference felt like a thousand knives, each one piercing my heart. I trembled with pain, with crushing disappointment. Yes, from the very beginning, had he ever truly loved me? I was just a shadow, and now his light had returned. The shadow should fade away. I didn’t humiliate myself further or respond. In the vast room, only the ticking of the clock could be heard. I stood rooted to the spot, letting him lean heavily on me, letting his warmth spread over me. I had always craved his warmth. On cold winter nights, I would instinctively lean into him. In biting winds, I would tightly hold his hands and refuse to let go. But now, with a gentle breeze, a chill ran through me. I stood motionless until my feet grew numb, until his strength completely gave out. I forcefully pushed Ethan away, and he collapsed onto the sofa, falling into a deep sleep. That night, for the first time, we slept in separate beds. His snores echoed, while my tears flowed silently. The next morning, Ethan Carter’s phone woke me up. “Attorney Carter, you and Chloe really moved fast! The wedding planner has been waiting forever, and Chloe’s here too. Hurry up!” “Attorney Carter, what about your wedding with Ms. Miller? Should I notify them to cancel?” The wedding planner was someone Ethan had contacted himself previously. He had said that I was too busy planning the wedding alone and that he wanted to share the burden. At the time, I had smiled so happily, completely unaware that he was personally preparing this for Chloe Davies. Ethan’s voice was barely a whisper. “Keep it down, don’t let Moon hear.” He quickly got up and rushed into the bedroom, our eyes meeting. All traces of awkwardness had vanished from Ethan’s face. He walked towards me with a slight, low chuckle. “Moon, I’m so sorry I couldn’t go wedding dress shopping with you yesterday.” “Did you pick one out? Do you have pictures? My Moon looks beautiful in anything.” He spoke, a polite pretense of concern, as he went through his morning routine. In reality, his mind was crystal clear. His concern for me was just a routine courtesy. His response to my choices was just polite acknowledgment. I watched him move around the room, huge dark circles under my eyes, until he was ready to leave, then I called out to him. “Ethan Carter, are you really willing to marry me?” A week ago, Ethan had proposed to me out of nowhere. There were no flowers, no diamond ring. “Moon, will you marry me?” I hadn’t doubted him; I simply saw it as an unexpected joy in my life. My eyes filled with tears, and I nodded silently, again and again. “Moon, are you really willing to marry me?” Ethan had asked for reassurance multiple times, and I had answered firmly, “Yes.” But I had never asked him if he was willing to marry me. I wanted an answer that would utterly crush my hope, once and for all. Ethan’s hurried steps hung suspended in the air. Three seconds later, he offered comfort in an incredibly gentle tone. “What’s wrong? Are you unhappy about planning the wedding?” “It’s okay if you can’t get the wedding wine right away, don’t put too much pressure on yourself.” “Good girl, the firm has something urgent. We can talk about it tonight, okay?” I still pressed on, unwilling to give up. “But we arranged to take our wedding photos today.” Ethan never liked my stubbornness. What he said wouldn’t change, and I couldn’t change it. A ripple crossed the man’s calm face, and his voice began to show impatience. “Didn’t I tell you the firm has something urgent? Jenna Miller, what is wrong with you today?” “If you don’t want to go, just go take them yourself. Leave a blank space and I’ll just be Photoshopped in later.” “And, forget about the invitations for now. The firm just landed a big case, so let’s just go get our marriage license first.” No sooner had he spoken than the man left without looking back. Overnight, Ethan Carter was like a stranger had taken over his body. He felt like a dream I’d had. I no longer recognized the man I had loved for three years. Through the window, I saw his frantic silhouette for the first time. So this was the pace someone takes when rushing to meet the person they truly desire. In that moment, I knew for certain that Ethan Carter no longer loved me. In the days that followed, he was always out early and back late. It was through Chloe Davies’s social media that I learned. In three days, they had completed three years of my plans. Day one: they picked out wedding dresses together. Day two: they took their photos together. Day three: they finished writing the invitations together. And I completely gave up on everything to do with Ethan Carter. Day one: I rented out the vineyard. Day two: I sold all my wine. Day three: I packed my bags, alone. Day four: It was the day of Ethan Carter and Chloe Davies’s wedding. And it was the day for me to wisely leave. At four in the morning, Ethan rushed out, citing a court appearance. My sleepy eyes caught him. “Ethan Carter, this is a new wine I made. I wish you all the best.” Since I was leaving, a dignified farewell was the best outcome. We met over wine, so let it end with wine. Ethan paused, then smiled and agreed. “Okay, when this busy period is over, we’ll drink it together.” I lowered my head, looking at my curled toes. “Take it with you. If you win the case, consider it a victory toast.” Ethan looked at my unusual behavior with a puzzled expression. He knew I always trusted him unconditionally. So, he knew I wouldn’t find out he was getting married today. At that moment, he naturally couldn’t be bothered with me. His bride was eagerly awaiting him; how could he bear to make her wait? He gently patted my head and disappeared into the night. At the wedding venue, Chloe Davies immediately spotted my wine. “Ethan, can I use this bottle for our toast?” “You know I’m not a big drinker, but Jenna’s wine is always so sweet, perfect for today, don’t you think?” Ethan couldn’t bear to refuse, so he immediately poured the wine. But the moment he tasted it, he froze. The wine glass slipped from his hand and shattered. He tore off the celebratory boutonniere and started to leave. Just as I was about to board the plane, my phone suddenly rang. Caller ID – Ethan Carter.

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The day I was a perfect match for my father, who was in the terminal stage of leukemia, I ran away. Mom searched everywhere for me, but in the end, she had to say goodbye to Dad without me. Later, Mom dedicated herself to leukemia research and achieved remarkable success. She also adopted a sweet, obedient daughter. We met again at a leukemia symposium Mom was hosting. Mom looked down at me, lying on the demonstration table, her expression cold. “Summer Lin, this isn’t the place for your games.” “Get up and get out, now!” Hearing this, the host beside her was stunned. “Dr. Lin, you know this donor?” Mom scoffed. “How much did she pay you to play along with this charade?” The host was flustered. “Dr. Lin, Miss Summer Lin passed away three days ago…” … Mom frowned. “I thought today was for serious discussion, not some April Fools’ prank.” “Summer’s special effects makeup is incredibly lifelike; I almost believed it.” As she spoke, her gaze unintentionally swept over my face, a flicker of panic in her eyes. She forced a stiff smile. “So, is this whole charade supposed to be a surprise or a shock?” The host shot a pleading look at a reporter nearby. The reporter stepped onto the stage and took the microphone. “Hello everyone, I’m Sarah Miller, a journalist and one of the organizers of this event.” “Next, we’ll play a message from our donor.” The large screen on stage began to play a video. In the video, I was sitting on a beach, looking at the camera. “Hi everyone, I’m Summer Lin. I love the sun, the sky, and the sea. So, look, isn’t the ocean behind me magnificent? I always dreamed of coming to the beach with Mom and Dad.” “But that’s become an impossible dream. It’s okay, though. I brought a photo of Mom and Dad, so it’s like they’re here with me.” I carefully took a photo from my bag and showed it to the camera. “Oh, and my mom is an absolutely incredible woman, and also…” Before I could finish, I suddenly collapsed backward. The camera shook violently, and screams came from off-screen. “She’s unconscious! Quick, get her to a hospital!” “I told you not to let her come! You still let her!” The next moment, I reappeared on camera, making a silly face. “Haha, fooled ya!” As I laughed, my eyes reddened. “Mom, I love you. So, so much.” The video froze on the image of me crying. Mom’s expression remained indifferent. “Ms. Miller, this is an academic symposium, not some family reunion show.” The audience immediately started murmuring. “Isn’t that Dr. Lin’s daughter? I heard Summer was a match for her dad. If she’d just donated marrow, he wouldn’t have died.” “She’s heartless. Wouldn’t even save her own father.” “What’s she trying to pull, showing up at a symposium like this?” “Probably saw Dr. Lin getting famous and wants a piece of the pie.” “This donor… it can’t really be Summer Lin, can it?” “If she’s dead, she had it coming. That’s karma for not saving her dad.” But it wasn’t that I didn’t want to donate marrow to Dad; I just couldn’t. If I could, I would have gladly traded my life for his health. But I couldn’t even save myself… Hearing the whispers from the audience, Mom’s face changed drastically. She was about to reach out and touch me when Sarah quickly stopped her. “Dr. Lin, please watch the documentary first.” “We hope that through Miss Summer Lin’s cancer journey documentary, everyone can truly understand the world of a leukemia patient.” The screen changed, and loud music instantly filled the air. It was a noisy bar. I was carrying a tray full of drinks, weaving through the dancing crowd. Even heavy makeup couldn’t hide my pale complexion. Suddenly, I grabbed a drink and splashed it at the camera, annoyed. “Can you stop bothering me while I’m working?” “You’re Summer Lin, right? Hi, I’m Sarah Miller. I’m a journalist with a cancer advocacy group, and we want to film a documentary about leukemia patients.” “If you agree to be filmed, we can cover all your treatment costs.” Her voice was gentle and sincere. I stared into the camera and asked, “If I cooperate with your filming, can you give me the treatment money in cash instead?” Silence from the other side of the camera. I gave a wry smile, picked up my tray, and went back to work. Until 2 AM, I dragged my exhausted body out of the bar. The woman approached me again. “Summer, do you urgently need money? Are you in some kind of trouble? I can try my best to help.” The moment I looked up, blood suddenly gushed from my nose. Gasps came from off-camera. “Summer!” [Filming Log: June 2, 2024] “Summer, are you working yourself to death to pay for your father’s treatment?” I had a popsicle in my mouth, looking displeased. “You’ve been investigating me behind my back?” Sarah patiently answered, “You’re the subject of our documentary. We naturally need to understand your basic situation beforehand.” “But are you sure you don’t want to tell your parents you’re sick?” I shook my head firmly. “No.” “Why not?” Sarah’s gaze was hesitant. I opened the notes app on my phone and showed it to her. 4:00 AM – 7:30 AM: Diner prep cook 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Sales office 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Tutoring at after-school center 8:20 PM – 9:30 PM: Private tutoring 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM: Late-night food truck I suppressed the turmoil inside me and said bitterly, “That’s my mom’s schedule. Five jobs a day, to earn money for Dad’s treatment.” “If she knew I was sick too, what would she do?” Sarah’s eyes welled up a bit. I sniffled. “The only two hours of rest she gets each day would disappear.” “She’ll work herself to death!” Talking about Mom, I couldn’t hold back my tears. “My mom was supposed to be a doctor, saving lives. But she gave up her dream, carrying our whole family on her small shoulders.” “Dad was diagnosed with leukemia my senior year of high school. To not be a burden on Mom and me, he snuck out one night and tried to drown himself in the river.” “Mom and I cried and begged him, and only then did he give up…” Sarah handed me a tissue. “Summer…” I took the tissue and roughly wiped my tears. “If Dad knew I was sick too… what choice would he make?” “There’s already one cancer patient in the family. There can’t be a second.” Sarah patted my shoulder, wanting to hug me. I shook my head at her. “The day the match results came in, I was diagnosed with leukemia at another hospital.” “I was so scared Dad would find out, I just ran.” “Dad thought I didn’t want to save him. He didn’t blame me; instead, he cried and begged me to stay. He said it was okay, as long as I was happy, that’s all he wanted.” “My check-ups were always fine before, but it just had to be that day.” “Just a little bit more… and I could have saved him…” I covered my face with my hands and broke down crying. [Filming Log: June 10, 2024] I was rushing around on my e-bike, delivering food, the camera always behind me. After finishing the last delivery, I sighed at the camera. “I told you, I don’t have time to film with you.” “Summer, wait.” Sarah stepped in front of my bike, pulled out her phone, and showed me the screen. “Look, we contacted a charity. They’ve already raised the money for your dad’s medical expenses and will donate it.” “Summer, please believe us. We genuinely want to help you.” “So please, don’t give up on yourself. Come to the hospital with us and get treatment, okay?” The screen went silent for a moment. When I looked up again, tears were streaming down my face. “I’ll do the filming.” “Consider it my way of repaying you for saving my dad.” [Filming Log: June 11, 2024] Looking at the words “Body Donation” on the contract. I suddenly looked at the camera. “Where will these videos be shown? I don’t want Mom and Dad to see them.” “They can never know. Not ever.” Sarah immediately cut me off. “Summer, you’re not going to die.” “The videos will only be used as internal records. Don’t worry, they won’t find out.” For the first time, I smiled on camera. “Thank you, Sarah.” [Filming Log: July 1, 2024] My face was gaunt, cheeks hollowed, the hospital gown hanging loosely on me. Looking at the camera, I forced myself to sit up. “Can I stop chemo now?” Sarah held my hand and shook her head firmly. “Summer, I know chemo is painful, but you have to believe you can beat this. Let’s just try a little harder, okay?” The recurring fevers and vomiting tormented me to the breaking point. That night, I lost control, threw my food on the floor, and drove everyone away with harsh words. Afterwards, I hid under the covers and cried. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Sarah hugged me through the blanket. “Summer, it’s okay.” My voice trembled. “I never knew chemo was this horrible. Dad endured all this for us.” “Sarah, I miss Mom and Dad so much…” [Filming Log: September 1, 2024] “Summer, it’s your birthday today. Do you have any birthday wishes?” The camera focused on the hospital room door. The next moment, I opened the door and walked out. I was wearing a pale yellow long-sleeved dress and a brown curly wig. “Sarah, let’s go to the amusement park today!” Before we left, I secretly took some painkillers. Sarah saw but didn’t stop me, just turned away and quietly wiped her eyes. I sat on the carousel, making a peace sign at the camera. Sarah held up her phone, taking pictures of me. “Summer, look here! Smile! Yes, that’s it, so pretty.” When I got off the carousel, my legs suddenly gave out, and I collapsed to the ground. The painkillers had worn off. Back at the hospital, the doctor immediately gave me an injection. That evening, I used the photos Sarah took to make a social media post. The camera focused on my phone screen. A minute later, Dad liked my post and commented, “Happy birthday, sweetie. You’ve lost weight. Make sure you eat well.” Two minutes later, Mom sent me $500 via a money transfer app. Double what she sent last month. Tears fell onto the phone screen, one after another. I wiped them away, blew out the candles on my cake, and made a wish: “I wish Mom and Dad will always be healthy and happy.” [Filming Log: October 6, 2024] “Summer!” Sarah rushed into the room, her voice urgent. I was completely wrapped in my blanket, shaking violently, my choked sobs filling the air. Sarah reached out and gently touched where my head was under the blanket. “Summer, are you okay?” After what felt like an eternity, I slowly emerged from under the covers. My eyes were red and swollen from crying, my face streaked with tears. “Sarah… my dad passed away.” Sarah looked at me with concern. “Summer…” I wiped my tears and struggled to get out of bed. “Sarah, I want to go see Dad one last time.” The scene changed to a funeral home. Sarah had someone distract Mom, and I went to Dad’s viewing room, holding a bouquet of white lilies. I bowed deeply three times before his casket and paid my respects. No one had noticed me yet. But as I left the viewing room and was about to get into the car, Mom suddenly called my name. “Summer?” I didn’t dare turn around. I urged the driver to go, fleeing in panic. I looked in the right-hand rearview mirror. Mom ran after the car for a few steps, then stopped, stunned, watching me leave with an expression full of disappointment. Then my phone rang. It was Mom. My hand trembled as I pressed the reject button. I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall, whispering, “Mom, I’m so sorry.” [Filming Log: December 10, 2024] After the third round of chemo, I was even worse. Sarah sat beside me, reading a list of leukemia survivors from the hospital. I interrupted her. “Sarah, take a picture of me.” Sarah was stunned. “What?” “While I still look somewhat human, let’s take my funeral portrait.” Sarah’s voice choked. “Don’t say things like that.” I smiled faintly. “You have to make me look beautiful.” And just like that, we started. I got up, put on my wig, and changed into new clothes. Such simple actions took me a whole hour. Sitting in front of a white wall. I gave a big smile to the camera. Sarah’s eyes were red, her hand holding the camera shaking so much that ten shots in a row were blurry. I shook my head in mock disgust. “Sarah, you’re making me look awful.” Sarah sniffled. “You promised me you’d keep fighting. Otherwise, I’ll use these ugly pictures for you.” I burst out laughing. “Alright, alright, as long as you make me look good.” Just then, a flock of birds flew past the window, chirping. Sarah aimed the camera at my face. Click. My smile was forever captured in the camera. “Doctor!” “Someone, quick!” Chaotic shouts erupted around me. Sarah dropped the camera and rushed towards me. I stared at the spinning ceiling and slowly closed my eyes. “Mom, I’m sorry.” “Dad, I’m coming to find you.”

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The new dark-skinned intern at the company, Blake, was always finding excuses to hang around my wife’s office. But no matter how much Blake flirted, my wife would frown and tell him to get lost. “I’m not interested in Black men. Try that again, and you’re out of this company!” I thought my wife genuinely disliked him. Until I set my sights on a gold watch at an auction. Just as I was about to bid, a mysterious benefactor suddenly made a grand bid for Blake, securing the watch for him. A little while later, I saw through someone else’s phone that my wife had hidden her social media posts from me: 【The most dazzling watch should adorn the most brilliant obsidian.】 The accompanying picture was a selfie of Blake wearing the gold watch. I let out a cold laugh and, in retaliation, extravagantly bid on all 99 remaining watches. I had them all thrown in front of Blake. “Wear them! Don’t you dare leave this auction house unless every single one is on your arm!” 1 I was at home studying financial reports when my wife, Sophia Reed, slammed the door open. “Was that really necessary?” She frowned at me, her usually gentle gaze now filled with displeasure. I frowned back. “What’s wrong?” She threw her phone at me. The video showed Blake with 99 watches weighing down his arm, causing him to collapse to the floor. The laughter of the onlookers was incessant: “Whose kept man is this? Making a fool of himself at an auction!” “Probably trying to show up the real sugar mama, but ended up making an even bigger ass of himself! Hilarious!” Blake’s arm was so heavy; he crawled out amidst roars of laughter. His breathing was ragged; he looked utterly pathetic. I turned off the phone. “I told you, people like me don’t tolerate disrespect.” Sophia sounded impatient. “Blake recently landed a major project for the company. I was just giving an employee a small reward. Can you stop being so suspicious and petty?” “Smash!” The desk ornament she had given me I hurled to the floor. Sophia quickly dodged, looking at me with some surprise. In five years of marriage, we had never raised our voices like this. This was our first real fight, our first act of aggression. And it was over a Black man. “A reward? You call making a spectacle of winning that gold watch for Blake, knowing full well your husband had his eye on it, a reward for an employee?” Sophia bit her lip. “But… even if you were angry, you could have yelled at him, even slapped him. What right did you have to make him crawl out of there on his knees?” “The right of being your husband!” I cut her off with a roar. “Is that so hard to understand? “Knowing your husband wanted it, yet you get it for another man – is that what a wife should do? “We might have had a marriage of convenience, but are you telling me there are no feelings between us after five years?” Sophia fell silent. Indeed, our marriage began as a business arrangement. But through countless moments of intimacy, feelings had undeniably grown between us. “Besides,” I said with a bitter laugh, “even if there were no feelings, that doesn’t mean you can deny me basic respect.” Sophia looked at me as if I were a stranger. “You need to cool down.” She threw those words at me and turned to leave. She didn’t even glance at the lavish meal spread on the table. My smile was bitter— She seemed to have forgotten that today was our fifth anniversary. 2 Sophia hadn’t responded to my messages for a while. I didn’t pester her; instead, I went to inspect my project. But as soon as I arrived on site, the manager stopped me. “I’m sorry, Mr. Vance, but Ms. Reed has gifted the Galaxy Dome to Mr. Blake.” I frowned. “Are you sure?” The manager gave an awkward smile. “Absolutely. The transfer contract has already been signed. This dome now belongs to Mr. Blake, and Mr. Blake said…” The manager’s eyes darted towards me, his voice dropping. “…that you, Mr. Vance, are not allowed entry…” My fists trembled slightly— The Galaxy Dome. I had personally designed it, overseen its construction, guided every single component. Once completed, the entire dome would simulate the most realistic depiction of the Milky Way. I had poured 365 days and nights into it, all as a birthday gift for myself. Sophia had personally accompanied me to building material markets to confirm the panels; she knew all this… Yet, with my birthday just around the corner, she gave away my brainchild… This was a deliberate provocation… “Mr. Vance?” Blake’s distinct accent sounded from behind me. “Are you looking for Ms. Reed?” He held his phone out to me. “Ms. Reed is very busy lately. Here, add me. If you need anything, just tell me.” He tilted his chin up, looking down at me, every bit the master of the house. I chuckled softly. “Just tell you, huh?” His eyes were full of self-assurance. But I let out a cold laugh— I have to go through another man to contact my own wife? If I added him today, I’d be the one on the outside. So, I snatched his phone. And smashed it violently on the ground. Shards flew everywhere. Blake exclaimed, “Mr. Vance, are you crazy!” “You guys,” I coldly gestured to my men behind me. “Tear it down!” My men surged forward, grabbing nearby shovels and clubs left over from construction, and began to brutally attack the dome I had personally designed and supervised. Tiles and glass shattered, some pieces flying directly at Blake. He frantically dodged left and right, grabbing at every one of my men who passed him. “Stop it! Ms. Reed gave this to me! She won’t let you get away with this!” “Ms. Reed?” My men simply pushed him aside. “We only answer to Mr. Vance!” “You!” Blake gritted his teeth. He strode towards me. “Make them stop! Didn’t you design this yourself? Are you just going to watch your hard work get destroyed?” “So, you do know I designed it, huh?” I smiled, looking at him. He caught his breath. “I… I only accepted Ms. Reed’s gift because I admired your design. Otherwise, why would I want a building that’s purely ornamental? “Stop them, quickly, or the dome will be completely ruined!” “Blake.” I grabbed him by the collar, forcing him to look at me. “That’s just how I operate: I’d rather destroy something than let someone else have it. “You think I have the patience to watch a homewrecker like you lording it over in a building I designed? I’m not that magnanimous!” With that, I slammed him to the ground. Blake’s knees scraped, oozing blood, and he winced in pain. I looked at the ruins around us, kicked a piece of debris towards him, then turned and strode away with my men. But as soon as I got home, I discovered that my wife, who had blocked me, had suddenly made a social media post visible to me again. 3 In the photo, Blake stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a woman, the entire Milky Way before them. Location: Iceland. Caption: 【If someone destroyed your galaxy, I’ll give you a sky full of stars.】 My grip on the phone tightened until my hand trembled slightly— Fine. Very fine. If Sophia wanted to fight me to the bitter end, then she couldn’t blame me for disregarding the ties between the Vance and Reed families. Sophia returned a week later. But when she came back to the company, she didn’t find me crying and begging for her forgiveness. Instead, she found a company with more than half its employees gone, and a significant portion of its investors vanished overnight. What she hadn’t anticipated at all was— I, the husband in this joint family business, had also withdrawn my shares. When she found me, I was in lively conversation with my blonde, blue-eyed partner, Leah. When she saw Leah kiss me on the cheek, Sophia suddenly rushed forward and pulled us apart. I stumbled, almost losing my balance, and shot her a frowning glare. “What do you think you’re doing!” Sophia’s breathing was unsteady. “That’s what I should be asking you! What are you doing!” “Just discussing a project. Haven’t you heard of a cheek kiss as a greeting?” “I!” Sophia was taken aback. Of course, she knew about cheek kisses. But seeing me and my partner exchange them, she just couldn’t help herself. “That…” she changed the subject, “about you withdrawing your shares…” I sounded impatient. “I didn’t want to be partners with you anymore, so I withdrew my shares. What’s the problem?” “So, you can be partners with her then!” Sophia pointed at Leah across from me. My expression turned icy in an instant. “Sophia, who I partner with is my business. If you disrespect my partner again, don’t blame me for falling out with you right now!” “What partner!” Sophia’s breathing quickened. “The way she looks at you, are you really that blind, or are you pretending not to see? I can see it perfectly clearly, she…” Leah’s face paled. I interrupted Sophia: “My relationship with Leah is just like your relationship with Blake! Can you stop assuming the worst of people! You should know when to let things go, don’t you understand such a simple principle?” Sophia froze. She seemed to realize. Those words, they were almost exactly what she had once said to me. Biting her lip, she took two steps back, then turned and strode away. That evening, I took Leah out to dinner as an apology. When Leah, a little tipsy, helped me home, I expected the house to be empty as usual, just me. But this time, as soon as I opened the door, the woman on the sofa looked up. “Honey…” Sophia’s eyes were a little red. “Blake has been fired.” Saying this, she handed me a resignation letter. “I really did dislike him at first. It’s just that he shielded me from some falling debris when I was inspecting a project, and his arm got injured. I had to repay him. “I thought getting him that watch would settle the debt completely, but I didn’t expect you to show up…” She paused, tentatively taking my hand. “I admit I was being stubborn. When you went after Blake, everyone was laughing, saying you were slapping my face. I got angry and kept opposing you. “Blake… I don’t actually like him.” Her phone buzzed incessantly. She took it out and handed it to me. Messages from Blake popped up one after another: 【Ms. Reed, did I do something wrong? Just tell me, and I’ll change!】 【Or do you think I’m asking for too much? I’ve returned everything you bought me. As long as you let me stay by your side, I don’t want anything…】 【Please, Ms. Reed, I came to this foreign country all alone. You’re my only emotional support. If you don’t want me, I’ll die…】 Sophia tapped on Blake’s profile picture and, right in front of me, deleted and blocked him. Then she took a deep breath and looked at me. “I’m sorry, honey. I thought being defiant would solve the problems between us, but when I saw you and Leah exchange cheek kisses, I realized I couldn’t stand it at all… “I think all those games I played with Blake out of spite only caused you more pain. “I’m sorry…” The door behind her opened. Gifts filled the entire room. What surprised me even more was that the ceiling had been remodeled to look like the Milky Way. The gold watch I had once favored, now retrieved from Blake’s wrist, had been redesigned and placed in a box. “Honey, let’s make up. Let’s be good to each other from now on…” “Okay.” A five-year marriage of convenience, with some genuine affection mixed in – my intention was mainly to teach her a lesson. Since she’d come to her senses, we could still make money together. 4 I didn’t forgive Sophia quickly. Because I noticed she would still stare at her phone in a daze from time to time. I secretly took a look. She hadn’t unblocked Blake. But her business partner in Africa was sending her daily updates on Blake’s situation. A dark-skinned foreigner, facing severe discrimination in his new company. Not only did he have to do work that wasn’t his until the early hours of the morning, but if he was even one minute late the next day, he’d be dragged into the lobby for a public reprimand. If there was a single typo in a document he submitted, he had to kneel on the floor and wipe it for his colleagues. Some would even take the opportunity to spit sunflower seed shells on him. But he couldn’t fight back; he could only endure it tearfully. Pictures of him were sent to Sophia’s phone one by one, even photos of him being sexually harassed by his boss in the office. They sent a message: 【In his homeland, sexual relationships are more open. Blake isn’t trying to break up your family.】 Sophia’s expression grew increasingly grave. She typed a message and sent it: 【But this is America.】 Then she blocked this partner too. I stood silently behind her, saw everything, and quietly turned away. Good. It seemed my wife could still distinguish right from wrong. In that case, she could also participate in the cross-border acquisition of the German company. Not long after, the acquisition ceremony officially began. Not only were there business partners, but prominent local political figures also attended. If the acquisition succeeded, my and Sophia’s joint company would become a local leader, boosting the GDP significantly. But just as the German party was about to sign the contract, the large screen behind them suddenly displayed a video of Blake being cornered by a group of men. His screams and the men’s taunts about him being an “imported slave” made the German representative instantly put down his pen. “Ms. Reed!” The doors to the venue burst open. Blake’s clothes were tattered and hung loosely on him, easily leading one to imagine what he had endured. He threw himself into Sophia’s arms. “I was planning to go back to Africa, but I didn’t expect your husband still wouldn’t let me go… “He said if I was violated, you’d be disgusted and never look at me again. I wanted to end it all, but I held on just to see you one last time…” “What?” The German representative threw down his pen and turned to the local officials. “Is this how City A treats its foreign guests?” The officials’ faces paled. Just as they were about to explain, the German representative looked at me. “We were willing to entrust our company to you because we admired Mr. Vance’s character, but you’re not the only excellent company interested in acquiring us!” I quickly grabbed the microphone. “Distinguished guests, regarding this video, I have a few questions. Firstly…” “Crash!” The vase on the table suddenly flew at my forehead. I fell to the ground, my forehead hitting the corner of the table. Blood trickled into my mouth, tasting strongly of iron. And the perpetrator—my wife—was now protectively shielding Blake, looking down at me. “Is there any point to this charade? “You think I don’t know that Blake’s unfair treatment at his new company was all your doing?!” The German representative be stunned for a moment. Sophia immediately showed them evidence of the injustice Blake had suffered at his new company. I looked at Sophia in disbelief. “How could you not see through such a clumsy trick! Have you ever seen workplace sexual harassment where someone is allowed to film nearby!” “To satisfy your twisted desire for revenge, what wouldn’t you do?” My breath caught— Now I finally understood. I was wrong. Although she had blocked the African partner that day, in her heart, she had long since identified me as the culprit behind Blake’s suffering… The German representative stormed off angrily. The official pointed at me, furious. “Don’t expect any support for your company from now on!” Everyone began to leave the venue. Sophia gave me a cold look. “You can defend your own dignity, but not at the expense of trampling on someone else’s!” Watching her lead Blake away. I pushed myself up, leaning on the table. My gaze grew colder. Since I’ve done all I could, don’t blame me for taking things to the extreme! My bloodied hand picked up the phone. I gave an order: “Bring me the acquisition file for Reed Industries.”

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1 I compiled all my assets into a single document, naming my fiancée, Vivian Lee, as the sole beneficiary. I explicitly instructed Mr. Henderson, my lawyer, to deliver it to her precisely on New Year’s Eve. “Are you not keeping anything for yourself, sir?” Mr. Henderson asked me. I had. I had left Vivian a very special New Year’s gift: All my savings, and my cold, lifeless body. … “Mr. Roberts, are you absolutely certain that Vivian Lee is the only name you wish to list as the beneficiary for all your assets? No portion for yourself?” Mr. Henderson repeated the question twice before my attention drifted back to him. I scrolled through my phone, managing a bitter smile. “I don’t have long to live. There’s no need to keep anything.” He hadn’t anticipated my answer and offered a solemn apology, extending his hand. “You have my word, sir. As per your instructions, I will deliver the document to Ms. Lee on New Year’s Eve.” Stepping out of the law office, the biting cold wind sent a shiver through me, but it was nowhere near as sharp as the pain inflicted by the message on my phone. That afternoon, Vivian had posted a photo on her social media of two hands clinking glasses. The opposing hand had distinct knuckles and was adorned with the newest matching couple’s ring. “Celebrating my dear Ethan’s promotion to attending physician!” That post, without a doubt, had me blocked. I’d liked it from a burner account. “Dear Ethan,” was Vivian’s childhood friend. I used to believe Vivian’s love was exclusively mine. But after our engagement, she seemed burdened, rushing out in the dead of night to meet Ethan, confessing her true feelings. “It was only after getting engaged to Sam Roberts that I realized I don’t feel anything for him anymore. I can’t marry him.” The first night I followed Vivian on my burner account, I lay on the couch and watched for hours. They went to concerts, danced by the ocean, revisited childhood haunts… In the year since Vivian and I got engaged, she had never once truly affirmed her love for me, yet with someone else, her affection overflowed. Unconsciously, I found myself outside Vivian’s pottery studio. The storefront was adorned with cheerful, festive decorations. New Year’s was just over a week away, meaning my planned end was drawing closer. The bell above the door suddenly jingled. It was Vivian, stepping out with a bright smile. “Hello, welcome…” But upon seeing me, her smile faded. “Where have you been? Don’t you know the studio is swamped?” Leading up to the holidays, Vivian’s pottery studio always got hectic. Everyone wanted to make a handmade New Year’s gift, mostly couples or families. Vivian would get overwhelmed with teaching, so she’d call me to help. “I called you tonight, no answer. Texted you, no reply. What were you doing?” Her tone was laced with displeasure. I fabricated a lie. “Something came up at the sports club, I had to go there.” She didn’t doubt me much, or perhaps, she simply didn’t care what I was doing. I demonstrated to a customer by the window how to sculpt the desired shape, but after only a sentence or two, the child burst into loud sobs. “That man’s finger is scary! I don’t want to look at him!” The shriek made customers around us turn, their eyes drawn to my severed index finger, making me feel utterly exposed. I wanted to hide my hand, but seeing Vivian approach, I instinctively blurted out, “Vivian, I didn’t mean to…” The child’s amplified wails grated on everyone’s ears, becoming incredibly annoying. “Owner, tell that man to leave! Don’t scare the children anymore!” “Get his hand away! Is he trying to make the child cry even louder?” My explanation was drowned out by the cacophony of accusations. Vivian heard nothing of it. She shot me a disgusted glare. “Don’t you know your hand looks disgusting? Couldn’t you hide it from the child?” Those words were like nails, hammered into my heart, stinging with excruciating pain. Vivian might have forgotten that this very hand, this disgusting hand, had saved her life. 2 Two years ago, in a car crash, Vivian had lost consciousness in the passenger seat. Terrified of losing her, and with the ambulance taking too long, I cradled her unconscious body and sprinted to the nearest hospital. Only after she was wheeled into the operating room did I finally breathe a sigh of relief. It was then that a young nurse beside me gasped, “Sir, your hand is bleeding!” Only then did I notice my index finger had been pierced by vehicle debris, and the delayed surge of pain overwhelmed my mind. Unfortunately, help arrived too late, and that segment of my finger couldn’t be saved. But at that time, I had Vivian’s wholehearted love. She sat on the hospital bed, wrapped her arms tightly around my neck, and shed tears of relief, of having cheated death. “Sam, the doctor said if we’d been any later, I might have died…” She even gently kissed my bandaged finger, asking softly, “Does it hurt?” I shook my head, saying no. “What are you muttering about? Good thing no customers complained, otherwise, if my studio’s reputation went down, I wouldn’t know who to blame.” Vivian’s complaints, reaching my ears, shattered my memories. She was busy recording a video. That video, of me carrying her to the hospital after the crash, had gone viral, bringing a lot of attention and followers. So Vivian was now a small influencer with a decent fan base. The comments used to be uniformly congratulatory and envious. But times had changed, a new wave of viewers had arrived, and the comments section now held much more noise. “Feel like the influencer’s boyfriend looks kinda average, a bit mismatched.” “Yeah, her boyfriend looks really fierce, kinda worried for her…” Things like that. Vivian had even said, “Can you please just stay out of sight when I’m recording videos from now on? My fans don’t like you on camera.” This time, when she recorded, I hid on the balcony. Vivian and I had been together for five years. I discovered her change of heart a year ago. I’d considered breaking up, but then wondered, why was she hiding it from me? She could have simply told me she didn’t love me anymore and wanted to be with Ethan. But she never confessed. I, too, stubbornly waited for her to speak. As the hurt and disappointment piled up, I gradually grew numb. My phone rang, interrupting my sadness. Mr. Henderson called. “Mr. Roberts, we need to record Ms. Lee’s contact information.” I clearly recited her number. When I hung up and turned back into the room, I noticed Vivian standing behind me. She stared at me suspiciously. “Who did you give my number to?” Seeing her suspicion rise, I forced a smile. “The sports club needed to re-register personal information. They called to ask for my next of kin’s number.” Vivian frowned the moment she heard the words “next of kin.” She told me firmly, “What’s all this ‘next of kin’ talk? We’re not married yet. Couldn’t you have given your own family’s number?” We’d been together for so long; Vivian always knew exactly what to say to twist the knife. My parents divorced, and I’d always lived with my mother. After she passed away two years ago, Vivian became the only family I had left in my heart. She had also promised me countless nights, “Sam, don’t be too sad. I’m your family too.” “Your emergency contact, your next of kin… you can put me down. I’ll be there. Always.” The one who promised forever had pulled away, leaving me trapped forever in past memories. A year of agonizing thought led to only one conclusion: I couldn’t live without Vivian, and I wanted her to remember me forever. 3 Early that afternoon, Vivian was already set to leave. I called out to her. “Vivian, I booked a table at that restaurant for tonight. Let’s have dinner together.” She rejected it without a second thought. “No, Ethan’s family invited me over for dinner tonight. I need to go there.” Before she even finished speaking, she was clicking away on her heels. My only plan for the evening had fallen through. Just as I thought I’d spend the entire evening of this pre-holiday period staring blankly at movies, Coach Davies from the sports club called, inviting me to a team outing. A week after making the audacious decision to end my life on New Year’s Eve, I’d quietly resigned from my coaching job at the club, without telling Vivian. After a few rounds of drinks, the colleagues from the club started talking about me. “Hey Sam, he used to be a provincial athlete, you know? Came to our club to coach. Didn’t his girlfriend get on his case about the low pay?” They laughed and ribbed me, and I just had to play along, not wanting to spoil the fun. In truth, I’d stepped down due to injuries to my legs and hands. And also, being with Vivian had softened my sharp edges; I’d wanted to settle down. But now, it seemed I’d failed on both fronts. They were about to start another round of teasing. I had no choice but to use the restroom as an excuse to slip out for some air. Passing by the private dining room next door, I briefly thought the alcohol was making me see things, but blinking repeatedly didn’t change the fact that Vivian and Ethan were inside. Her face held a tenderness I hadn’t seen in ages. She was leaning against Ethan, her words laced with a playful complaint. “Dear Ethan, you haven’t had time to see me these past few days.” Vivian acted like a little girl, accusing the man beside her. “I’ve been busy since becoming an attending physician. Can’t make any mistakes. Besides, meeting too often, what if Sam gets suspicious?” Ethan brushed his fingers against her nose, their intimacy palpable. Perhaps my name had ruined the mood, for Vivian’s tone sharpened, her voice tinged with anger. “I regret getting engaged to him now. He gave up being a professional athlete to go coach at some small club.” “His job is unstable. Does he expect me to support him forever?” “You don’t know, Ethan, I have to wake up every morning and look at his face. Just thinking about it makes me sick.” As she spoke, she suddenly kissed Ethan’s cheek, her voice sweet and cloying. “Ethan, you’re so much better. Handsome and successful. Sam can’t even compare.” The door was ajar, and I heard every word, my hands gripping my clothes so tightly just to keep myself from collapsing. Perhaps Vivian’s resentment had festered for too long, for she continued relentlessly. “And his broken finger, it makes my skin crawl just looking at it. It’s scared off several customers already, and he treats it like some badge of honor.” Ethan suddenly spoke. “Vivian, you can cut ties with Sam. I’ll always be right behind you.” Vivian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she fell into a long silence, which was finally broken by a phone ringing. She saw the caller ID, and immediate displeasure flooded her face. “Didn’t I say I was at Ethan’s family dinner? What do you want now?” I gently pushed open the half-closed door, saw her startled expression, and spoke into the phone, and to Vivian herself. “You don’t need to lie to me. I’ve seen everything.” A silent standoff stretched between the three of us. My gaze shifted back and forth between them, the alcohol I’d consumed earlier boiling in my stomach. I couldn’t stay. I had to leave. “Sam, where are you going? Can you just let me explain!” Vivian’s anxious shouts were left behind me. I almost thought she was worried about me. It was only when I stepped out and saw everyone in the restaurant staring that I realized. She was only worried about me making a scene and embarrassing her. I vomited until I was dizzy in the public restroom. Passersby just assumed I was a drunken mess. I half-sat on the floor, burying my head in my arms, weeping. I couldn’t comprehend how a love that had come so close to marriage could shatter into so many pieces. When I got home, all the lights were off. I accidentally stepped on something while changing shoes, and a sharp pain shot through the sole of my foot. I squatted down to look. The bottom of my foot had been pierced by a shard, bleeding outwards. Vivian had smashed every decorative item in the house. She was sitting in a corner of the sofa, looking at me coldly. “I ran into your colleagues at the restaurant. They said you quit your job.” Vivian’s voice was devoid of emotion, chilling like a venomous snake. “Sam, why?” I didn’t answer her. Instead, I traced the ceramic shard in my hand, letting it cut thin lines of crimson into my skin. This was a mug Vivian and I had made together on the first day her pottery studio opened. It wasn’t particularly pretty, but she loved it, placing it right in the center of the TV cabinet. “Sam, when we get married, we absolutely have to use this mug for our toast.” Later, that mug gathered dust. The mug Ethan made, however, sat on display at the pottery studio, polished to a shine. Vivian took the shard from my hand and tossed it into the trash can. “I might have thrown a bit of a fit tonight, but I was angry that you’re not taking responsibility for our future. How can you just quit your job like that?” “Sam, Ethan and I had dinner together, but it was just a casual thing. If I were to choose someone to settle down with, I’d still pick you.” She wrapped her arms around my waist, rested her chin on my shoulder, and whispered, “I love you, Sam. So you’ll find a new job, and we’ll have a good life together, okay?” Lie after lie wove a suffocating web, gradually crushing my hope, solidifying my desire to leave completely. “Okay. I’ll look for a job after the New Year.” 4 I planned to die in our marital home, the one my mother had bought for us two years ago. She had always longed for me to settle down early; it was her wish, and that house was purchased with all her savings. I hadn’t told Vivian, always wanting to surprise her. But now, it seemed ‘shock’ would be a more accurate word. While Vivian was at the pottery studio, I wanted to visit the house one last time. But fate had other plans. At a crosswalk, I was hit by a car that appeared out of nowhere. I lay on the ground, my consciousness fading, my knee throbbing with excruciating pain. But more shocking than the pain was seeing Ethan and Vivian emerge from the car. Vivian was crying, seeking refuge in Ethan’s arms. She dared not look, unaware that the person lying on the ground was me. Before I lost consciousness, I could only hear her sobbing. “Dear Ethan, what do we do? We hit someone… Is that Sam?” “It couldn’t be Sam, what are the chances…” When I woke up in the hospital, Vivian was leaning by my hand, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Feeling me stir, she immediately woke up. “You scared me to death, you know that?!” She choked back tears and lunged to embrace me. It had been so long since I’d seen her worry for me, it felt like another lifetime. “You’re lucky to be alive. It’s just a fractured leg, it’ll heal.” Vivian handed me the water from the bedside table, recounting the terrifying ordeal. “Who hit me?” The words left my lips, and she immediately fell silent. Her face held so many emotions—hesitation, evasion—it was hard to tell which predominated. Then she turned and handed me a piece of paper. “Ethan hit you, but it wasn’t on purpose. The road was slick, no one expected it, and he feels really bad…” I looked at the contents of the paper and understood what it meant. “Let’s just settle this privately. It’s best for everyone. Ethan’s life shouldn’t have a blemish, okay?” The momentary, almost dreamlike concern from earlier evaporated, revealing Vivian’s true colors. I paused for a few seconds, then swiftly signed. Vivian jumped up, beaming, but then caught herself, asking, “Sam, are you okay?” I offered a smile that was uglier than a grimace. “I… I’m just happy to be alive, you know?” She didn’t ask anything further. Perhaps there was a mix of genuine guilt in Vivian’s feigned concern, as she spent some time with me during my week-long hospital stay. A flicker of hope stirred within me: if she stayed by my side on New Year’s Eve, maybe I wouldn’t want to die. But that thought didn’t last long. On the morning of New Year’s Eve, she took a call, quickly hung up, and prepared to leave. “Vivian, we haven’t had New Year’s dinner together yet.” My heart screamed at her not to go, not to leave me alone again. “Ethan’s dealing with a patient dispute turned violent. I have to go.” Seeing me still stubbornly holding onto her, Vivian suddenly yelled. “What if the family gets too emotional? Ethan’s life could be in danger! You’re almost fully recovered, don’t be so selfish!” She tore free from my desperate grasp and quickly walked away. She still chose Ethan, between his life and mine. 5 I chose a quiet way to die, though it was somewhat painful. Before slitting my wrists, I drew myself a bath. Despite the on-duty nurse’s repeated warnings not to let my injured leg touch water, I did it anyway. I wanted Vivian to find me clean. The pain from my wrist was more piercing than that in my knee. My consciousness swam, and I could only watch as the bathtub water turned a deep crimson. When we renovated, I specifically chose this tub because Vivian always complained that bathwater got cold too quickly. I spent extra time finding one that could continuously re-heat water. Now, it was stained red by me. I don’t know when I left my body, but after a period of darkness, I opened my eyes to see myself in the bathtub. Lying in shallow red water, my lips still pursed as I departed. Perhaps phasing through walls is a major skill for ghosts, because I found myself watching Vivian and Ethan intertwined on the bed. Vivian, breathing heavily, playfully scolded the man sprawled on her. “You really thought of a good one, tricking me back here with a ‘patient dispute’ excuse.” She started putting on her clothes. “I still need to go see Sam at the hospital. Such a hassle.” I’d heard that word “hassle” from her many times before. It seemed Vivian really did say it often. Ethan, however, wrapped his arms around her waist on the bed, his voice a tempting murmur. “Why don’t you just stay? I really want to be with you until next year.” Their lustful eyes glowed in the dark. If the phone hadn’t rung, I could have predicted what would happen next. “This number’s called several times. Are you sure you don’t want to answer?” I looked over. It was Mr. Henderson’s number. Vivian frowned, taking the phone from Ethan’s hand. The official voice on the other end sounded like a telemarketer. “Is this Ms. Vivian Lee? Your fiancé left you a New Year’s gift, and he asked me to deliver it to you personally.” This clearly spoiled her mood. She refused without a second thought. “I don’t need it. Just throw it away.” But Mr. Henderson persisted. “I can’t. Mr. Roberts insisted that I deliver it directly to you.” “Sam Roberts, he saved up all this money behind my back?” Vivian repeatedly flipped through the contract, making sure her name was indeed listed as the beneficiary. She signed immediately. I stood opposite her. Her excited expression was exactly what I had imagined seeing when I handed her the deed to our wedding home on our wedding day. But when reality played out, I had no chance to be there beside her. Mr. Henderson, ever diligent, said, “Since you’ve signed, I’ll take you to see Mr. Roberts’ wedding home in the city center.” “I’ll have Sam take me himself. He kept such a big surprise from me.” Mr. Henderson insisted on leading the way. Vivian, meanwhile, hummed happily as she called me. Unfortunately, my phone was by the bathtub and couldn’t be answered. “He’s not answering his phone. Alright, Mr. Henderson, please lead the way.” Vivian hummed all the way to the wedding home. Getting money and a house out of nowhere would only make her happy enough to take photos and post on social media. Aside from me not answering my phone, it was a pretty good New Year for her. Mr. Henderson handed her the keys at the door before leaving. Vivian’s steps were light as she surveyed the house, moving from the entryway to the living room, then into the kitchen. She even nodded in satisfaction at the bedroom layout. She didn’t forget to call me, muttering to herself, “Sam, if you don’t answer your phone, I’m going to get angry…” Suddenly, a jarring phone ring echoed through the house. Vivian looked around, startled, searching for the source of the sound, and finally stopped at the bathroom door. Before I could even register her expression, a piercing shriek cut through the air. “Ah——”

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The CEO’s wife, Scarlett Sterling, hoping to ensure her childhood sweetheart, Asher Hayes, could successfully inherit his family’s vast fortune, pressed me to agree to a sham divorce. She expected me to walk away from our marriage with nothing, yet promised me 50% of her company shares upon signing. Asher Hayes watched her, his eyes narrowed with jealousy. “Scarlett, are you truly giving Liam Carter the shares?” Scarlett scoffed, “Him? Please. The stock transfer agreement he’s holding is fake. Besides, with his brain, he’ll probably never figure out the truth before he dies.” Asher’s eyes flickered. “You’re not actually going to remarry him, are you? What about me? You promised we’d get married.” Scarlett paused, then sneered, “That’s even less likely. Don’t worry, I always keep my promises. I won’t let you down.” Standing just outside the study door, listening to my wife’s unmasked words, I lowered my gaze to my leg – broken by her when I refused the divorce. With a flat expression, I pushed open the study door, offering no rebuttal. I remained calm, signing the divorce agreement without a fuss. Scarlett beamed. “I knew Liam would understand. Here, take this transfer document. The paperwork will be finalized in three days.” I smirked, taking the document. She had no idea. Asher’s supposed massive inheritance was nothing more than a glittering façade, hollowed out from the inside. The moment she married Asher, all she’d be left with was financial ruin, losing everything she had! 1 I clutched the share transfer document, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. To think, Scarlett Sterling and I had been married, only for it to come to this. Seeing my expression, Scarlett and Asher exchanged a knowing glance, their gazes momentarily filled with mocking amusement. As I reached the door, Asher’s impatient voice cut through the air behind me: “Scarlett, since you’re divorced, shouldn’t Liam move out? It’s just not right for a divorced man to still be living in his ex-wife’s house. What would people say?” I turned, looking at Scarlett. She was engrossed in her phone, offering no reaction. “Don’t worry,” I said coldly, “I’ll be out today. I won’t be an eyesore.” When I emerged from my room again, Asher was already directing the Sterling household staff: “Change the decor in this place. It’s so tacky, so ugly. Clearly Liam’s taste. Seven years married into the Sterling family, and he still hasn’t shed his provincial tastes. So uncouth.” I surveyed the surroundings. While I had overseen the renovation, Scarlett herself had chosen this style, claiming it had a charming Old World feel and that she’d want to live here forever. “Forever” had lasted a mere seven years, it seemed. Asher pointed around, then caught sight of me. He grinned. “Hurry up and clear out Liam’s room. I’m going to turn it into a bathroom—” The butler, Mr. Davies, looked up, thinking he’d misheard. Asher’s hand lashed out, slapping him. “You old fool, are you deaf? Get that room cleared out now!” Under duress, Mr. Davies bowed. “You heard him. Pack up Mr. Carter’s belongings, now!” But Asher stopped him. “Who are you calling ‘Mr. Carter’? I’m the man of the house now, you blind, deaf idiot!” Mr. Davies lowered his head, apologizing. Asher wouldn’t let up, insisting on supervising personally. He turned to me. “I’ll watch myself. Let’s see who dares to sneak Liam anything that isn’t his. I’ll skin them alive!” Meeting Asher’s triumphant gaze, I ignored him, turning my wheelchair toward my room. Asher stood in the doorway, looking at Scarlett’s bedroom down the hall. He sneered. “Liam, you probably don’t know this, but it was my idea for Scarlett to move out of your room. “I heard you two argued about it. Well, your spot in that room? It’s mine now.” Scarlett and I had indeed argued, not just about separate rooms, but her insistence on keeping a room for Asher: “Liam, Asher doesn’t have much family. What’s so bad about him moving in? We’re all friends; it’s just adding an extra plate. Why are you making such a big deal?” Seeing Scarlett’s firm expression then, I couldn’t argue, so I let her have her way. Just then, a sharp crash jolted me from my thoughts. Ceramic shards scattered across the floor. It was the handcrafted mug Scarlett had made for me, her first gift. Asher jumped, then kicked the fragments near him. “What a worthless piece of junk.” “Hurry up and clean this mess. I have things to do.” He stood by the door, watching. I looked at the scattered pieces. I said nothing. We were divorced now; it didn’t matter if it shattered. Of all the things Scarlett had given me in our seven years of marriage, this mug was the only one I treasured. Because back then, she truly had cared for me. Then Asher returned to the States, and her attitude toward me changed overnight. Even her gifts became laden with ulterior motives. Later, whenever Mr. Davies brought me a gift, I knew Scarlett was with Asher and wouldn’t be home that night. Our seven years of marriage meant so little to her; it couldn’t hold her heart, which swayed so easily toward Asher. Just for a word from Asher, she’d divorce me, even concocting a fake agreement to keep me placated. Thinking of her words in the study, my heart clenched. I looked down at my leg, numb with pain from the injury, and felt only coldness. I had only refused the divorce, and she had utterly disregarded our years together. In her eyes, perhaps only Asher had ever truly existed. With that thought, I glanced at the bedroom, then turned my wheelchair, heading downstairs. My luggage consisted of a few sets of clothes and nothing else. But Asher suddenly appeared behind me, pushing my wheelchair. It careened out of control, heading straight for the stairs. Too late to recover, I tumbled down the staircase, a sickening crunch of bones echoing in my ears. The loud thud drew Scarlett from the study. “Liam! What have you done now to frame Asher?!” My words of accusation caught in my throat. She didn’t even look at me, immediately rushing to Asher’s side. This wasn’t the first time. She grabbed Asher’s hand, examining it carefully, noticing a slight scrape on his palm. Her brow furrowed in anger. “Liam, you always resort to these pathetic tricks! Do you really think I’m a fool who can’t see through you? “Last time your hand mysteriously broke, you claimed Asher pushed you. And what happened? It turned out you did it yourself. Are you trying to say Asher pushed you again this time?” I wanted to argue, but the words wouldn’t come out. Asher had pushed me that time, causing my hand to break, but the surveillance footage showed me intentionally smashing it. Scarlett had instantly declared I was framing Asher. She not only shielded Asher but also confined me to the house, punishing me by refusing to let me see a doctor, even forbidding the staff from helping. My hand missed its critical treatment window, leaving a permanent tremor. Seeing my silence, Scarlett became even more convinced. “Liam, we’re past this. How long do you plan to sit there acting out a scene?” I managed a bitter smile. When I tumbled down the stairs, my other leg had hit the marble banister, surely fracturing it. I couldn’t move even if I wanted to. Just then, Mr. Davies wheeled my luggage out. “Ms. Sterling, the custom order has been placed at the front door.” Scarlett’s expression instantly softened. 2 It was the custom artwork she had commissioned. Thinking of it, she smiled. “Mr. Davies, get two careful staff members to bring that in. Don’t damage it.” Then she glanced at me, her voice cold. “If he wants to lie there, let him. No one is to help him.” She took the first-aid kit from a staff member, sat on the sofa, and meticulously tended to the scrape on Asher’s palm. Seeing the triumph in Asher’s eyes, I turned my head, unable to bear the sight. I tried to move, to struggle up, but the slightest shift sent a jolt of pain up my leg, leaving me speechless. I fumbled in my empty pocket, remembering my phone had shattered a few days ago, and I hadn’t replaced it yet. Now, I couldn’t even help myself. The next moment, all the photo frames on the living room wall were stripped bare. Photos of Scarlett and me were tossed onto the floor like garbage. I looked at the scattered photos, reminders of happier times with Scarlett. She had said time passes quickly, and when we were old, these photos would be proof of all the storms we’d weathered together. She’d never throw them away, she’d promised. I scoffed. It seemed I was the only one who took her words seriously. When I looked up again, new photos adorned the wall. Scarlett still smiled beautifully, but the person beside her was no longer me. It was Asher. Just then, the staff brought in the artwork, promptly framing it on the most prominent empty wall in the living room. Seeing this, I understood. That blank wall had always been reserved for Asher. I had suggested making it a wall of relief sculptures, but Scarlett had always reacted with unusual irritation. I’d thought she was just tired from work, planning to bring it up again later. But after a few more attempts were met with firm rejections, I’d dropped the idea. Now, it was clear she had plans all along; she just hadn’t wanted to tell me. The staff’s hushed whispers reached my ears. They thought Asher and Scarlett were a better match, more like a proper couple. “Look, his posing is exactly like the former son-in-law’s. They really are a perfect match.” I looked up at the artwork, noticing it for the first time. Asher’s pose was indeed identical to mine in old photos. Was this what he meant by “replacing me”? Just as the framing was complete, Scarlett finished bandaging Asher. Scarlett nodded, satisfied. “Be careful when handling these. These artworks are worth a million dollars.” She paused, then looked at Asher, smiling. “Also, Asher says you all worked hard. Your salaries are doubled this month.” The staff, hearing this, immediately showered Asher with praise. “Ms. Sterling is so generous to Mr. Hayes, casually spending millions. I heard Mr. Hayes gets a huge inheritance when he marries. Is it true?” “Don’t call him ‘Mr. Hayes’ anymore; it should be ‘Mr. Sterling,’ like the son-in-law. Ms. Sterling always told us to prioritize Mr. Hayes’s requests. Who would have thought…” “It’s about time. Liam was never a good match for Ms. Sterling. He got off easy enjoying a few years of luxury. To dream of a lifetime with Ms. Sterling? Impossible!” Listening to them fawn over Asher, I didn’t bother to speak. Right or wrong, it was all just their gossip, useless beyond mere chatter. Asher basked in the staff’s adulation, his gaze turning even more smug as he looked at me. Their chatter faded as several formally dressed individuals entered. The lead one spoke: “These are the three-million-dollar jewels Mr. Hayes ordered. Please confirm receipt.” The staff gasped again. Asher, beaming, took the box and handed it to Scarlett. “Scarlett, do you like them? I had them specially custom-made for you.” Asher emphasized “specially,” his eyes provocatively flicking to me. Scarlett’s eyes welled up. “Thank you, Asher.” Asher’s eyes twinkled. He feigned surprise. “Did Liam never get you proper jewelry?” Before Scarlett could reply, the onlookers from the staff chimed in: “We’ve never seen anyone treat Ms. Sterling as well as you do, Mr. Hayes! We’re so happy for her.” Asher looked at Scarlett with feigned heartache. “Scarlett, don’t worry. I’ll treat you even better from now on. I won’t disappoint you.” He suddenly remembered the grand wedding he’d been planning for so long. He turned to me, a wide grin spreading across his face. “In three days, it’s my wedding with Scarlett. You’re welcome to attend.” “No need for a gift, though. Your signature on the divorce papers is the best gift I could ask for.” “But do you even have proper clothes? Wouldn’t want you to make a fool of yourself. Scarlett and I wouldn’t care, but I’d be worried about you getting pointed at.” I froze for a moment. They were getting married so soon. “Fine,” I said, a cold laugh escaping. “I’ll be there.” How could I miss this spectacular show? It seemed they had no idea that “inheritance” was nothing but a front for a mountain of debt. I couldn’t wait to see their faces when they learned the truth. 3 Scarlett frowned. “Asher, don’t let him ruin the mood. Besides, he’d only make a spectacle of himself!” Asher shrugged. “What are you afraid of, Scarlett? Look at him now. What kind of trouble can he cause? “It’ll be good for him to see what a real wedding of the century looks like!” With Asher’s words, Scarlett had no rebuttal. She shot a disdainful glance at my blood-stained pants. “Mr. Davies, take him to the hospital. Don’t let this delay the wedding in three days.” Mr. Davies immediately called for help to take me out. As I was wheeled past them, they both recoiled with expressions of disgust, as if something utterly vile had passed by. They didn’t know that same expression would soon be directed at them, only this time, it would be from everyone else. Wedding day. Scarlett was already preparing backstage. When she saw me, her smile instantly froze. “Liam, I thought you were just talking. I can’t believe you actually had the nerve to show up.” “Since you’re here, take a good look. Asher’s wedding is far grander than yours ever was. This is what a wedding of the century looks like!” By then, many guests had arrived, and Scarlett’s bridesmaids came over. Someone recognized me, sneering, “Isn’t that Liam Carter? What’s he doing here? Don’t tell me he’s planning to crash the wedding and win her back?” “Look at him. Does he even stand a chance? If Scarlett hadn’t been waiting for Asher and her family hadn’t pressured her to marry, he’d never have become a rich son-in-law. These past few years of luxury were a charity case for him.” Laughter rippled through the crowd. It was then I realized. The reason she had suddenly changed her mind and married me overnight wasn’t because she loved me, but merely to pass the time, waiting for Asher’s return. I clenched my fists. “Scarlett, is what they’re saying true?” Seeing my face darken, Scarlett looked startled for a moment, then admitted frankly: “So what if it is? Haven’t you lived well in the Sterling family all these years? Haven’t you enjoyed a lavish lifestyle?” So, she thought I was only with her for her money? All these years, I had abandoned my own career aspirations, willingly marrying into the Sterling family as a live-in son-in-law, wholeheartedly caring for her parents. And in the end, this was what she thought of me. I had been a fool for seven entire years. It was utterly ridiculous. Seeing my silence, she tossed a divorce certificate at me. “The paperwork is done. Here’s your divorce certificate.” I picked it up, dusting it off. “Scarlett, do you really think you and Asher are getting a huge inheritance?” “I’m telling you, it’s nothing but an empty promise, a pipe dream.” My words hung in the air. Scarlett immediately slapped me twice, pointing to the door. “Liam, get out! Now!” Asher brought her a glass of brandy. “Scarlett, the ceremony is about to start. Let’s enjoy the show. Watch how some people turn green with envy.” Others chuckled, saying I was just bitter and jealous. Amidst the chorus of well wishes, the ceremony quickly concluded. Scarlett and Asher stood on stage, waiting for Mr. Miller, the attorney handling Mr. Sterling’s will. Guests whispered among themselves: “The Sterling family hit the jackpot! This son-in-law… I heard the Sterling inheritance is enormous, a truly astronomical sum…” “Why didn’t that luck fall on me?” “You know, yesterday I dreamt of gold in the Sterling family. Who knew it would come true? But for someone else…” Asher listened, immensely pleased. He promised Scarlett, “Once we sign, we’ll use a portion of this money to invest in your company, and get it listed on the stock exchange as soon as possible.” Scarlett nodded, her eyes triumphant as she looked at me. The next moment, Mr. Miller, dressed in a sharp suit, appeared on stage. After a few polite words, he got straight to the point. Mr. Miller wasted no time, opening the sealed will envelope for all to see. I let out a cold laugh, shaking my head at the expectant expressions on Scarlett’s and Asher’s faces. Asher caught my eye. “Liam, green with envy, aren’t you?” he taunted casually. “If you’re willing to bark like a dog right here, right now, maybe I’ll be generous and give you ten grand for the performance.” The guests near me chuckled, their gazes at me turning to undisguised contempt. Mr. Miller took out the will and began to read aloud: “As per the wishes of the late patriarch of the Sterling family, Mr. George Sterling, I hereby publicly announce his last will and testament.” “The Sterling estate comprises ninety-nine residential properties, thirty commercial plots, and forty-six percent of Sterling Enterprises shares…” Mr. Miller hadn’t even finished when the room erupted in chatter. Some guests immediately began to flatter Asher, praising his boundless future and how his marriage to the Sterling family was simply icing on the cake. In an instant, Sterling Enterprises’ valuation soared. Asher, full of himself, said, “What do you say, Liam? It’s too late to bark like a dog now. How about you crawl like a dog, barking as you go? Maybe then I’ll still give you that ten grand.” The surrounding crowd roared with laughter, some even cheering him on. However, at that very moment, Mr. Miller’s voice cut through the noise, clear and cold: “The inheritance designated for the deceased’s distant relative, Asher Hayes, is zero—” The entire hall gasped, everyone dumbfounded. Only Mr. Miller’s steady voice continued. He paused, looking at Asher. “And an additional one hundred million dollars in personal debt.”

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I had sunk a quarter of a million dollars into a beauty salon with my college friends. My money, their sweat. But when it came time to split the profits, one of them decided I hadn’t done enough. That I didn’t deserve my share. She wanted to nickel-and-dime me, to force me out. Turn a profit, then cut me loose? Start tallying up every cent? Fine. I stripped that salon bare the very next day. Sent their clients packing. Called the landlord. You want to count? Let’s count. Let’s count it all. 1 The conference call had ended, but the audio feed was still live on their end. I heard them. “Just thinking about transferring her half the money tomorrow makes my blood boil! What for? She barely even steps foot in the place! It’s like we’re working for her! We’re supposed to be partners!” “Brenda, dial it back a bit. We couldn’t find jobs after graduation, remember? Lynn put up all the money, and a 50/50 split was the deal. It was agreed upon.” “She wouldn’t even let me switch out one of our beauty products! Why not? She sits around doing nothing all day, then at the end of the year, she gets seventy-five grand in profit! I’m slaving away, breaking my back, and I only get thirty-seven five! Shelly! Don’t you want to buy her out? We could run this place ourselves.” “Oh no! The call’s still on! Do you think Lynn heard us?” “Hello? Hello? Lynn!” “Shelly, why are you so afraid of her? So what if she heard? She’s coming for her share tomorrow. I’ll tell her to her face.” Shelly and Brenda were my closest friends from college. Back then, they were struggling to find work, and they’d approached me with the idea of opening a beauty salon. I didn’t hesitate. I fully funded the whole operation for them. I found the location, I put up the capital, and I didn’t even interfere with their day-to-day decisions. I even only asked for half the profits. It was, by far, the least profitable of all my investments. But because my partners were my good friends, it was also the one I’d poured the most effort and heart into. In the beginning, they were overflowing with gratitude. Now, over a few extra dollars, they’d turned against me. A chill settled in my chest. The news that I was planning to invest an additional half-million dollars silently retracted itself. 2 I arrived at the salon the next day. “You’re here. Come in.” Brenda’s tone was icy. I followed her into the reception area. It had been a while since I’d last visited. I studied Brenda. When we first met, she’d been so small and thin. Now, she’d filled out significantly, probably pushing 150-155 pounds. She was draped in Gucci, her wrist glittered with a Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra bracelet, and a Tiffany necklace gleamed at her throat. Her BMW key fob lay casually on the table. She’d clearly been living well these past two years. Shelly, by contrast, looked much the same as she had in college, with very little change. Shelly whispered to me, “Lynn, whatever Brenda says, don’t take it to heart. She’s been a little on edge lately.” “What could be so bad? You look nervous.” Brenda pulled out a wad of cash, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Some people just have it made, huh? Money just drops from the sky while they sit at home.” Thwack! The stack of bills hit the table. It felt less like a payment and more like a humiliating dole. “This year’s profit share. Thirty thousand. Take a look.” I didn’t touch it, just flicked my gaze over the pile. “That’s not the figure we discussed yesterday, Brenda. After rent, utilities, and salaries, the salon profited over one hundred and fifty thousand this year. My share should be at least seventy-five thousand.” “Lynn, you make money way too easily. You haven’t even met a single client, and you just walk away with half our profits! While we’re here, bowing and scraping, our hands practically raw from all the scrubbing, and we only get half to split between Shelly and me! It’s not fair. I want to recalculate the numbers!” I glanced at Shelly, who remained silent. “Do you feel the same way?” “I… I don’t think it’s unfair… It’s just… Brenda, please stop. Lynn’s the one who invested everything into this place.” “Look at you, no backbone!” Brenda stood up abruptly, pulling out a contract. “This is my new profit distribution. From now on, it’s 30/30/30 for the three of us, and the remaining 10% goes back into the business for development.” “Development, you say? How do you plan to develop?” “We’ll run ad campaigns, attract new clients, offer promotional deals.” I propped my chin in my hand. “And then…?” “Then the salon will grow, it’ll be even better! I’ve been wanting to offer a $30 express facial for ages! We need an online presence; we need to hire influencers for marketing. Doesn’t all that cost money?” “Do you realize that, given your location and the high-end decor, your clientele are wealthy? Do you honestly think they’d be interested in discounts? They pay hundreds, even a grand, for a single facial. Do you think they’d want to be seen alongside clients paying thirty dollars?” She was silent. “You drafted this new contract today because you think I haven’t done anything, haven’t you? Have you ever stopped to consider how, since the day you opened, you haven’t handed out a single flyer? How did all these clients find you?” “Oh, please.” Brenda scoffed. “Don’t act like this place can’t function without you.” “This salon was my idea! I found the location! I brought in the clients! Even the exclusive skincare lines you use were arranged by me! You think I’ve done nothing? You haven’t seen the private connections I’ve cultivated, the favors I’ve called in! Honestly, the goodwill and introductions I make every quarter are worth more than that paltry sum! My seventy-five thousand dollars, not a penny less.” My voice rose, each word sharper than the last. “Now, you’re trying to bite the hand that feeds you, all for a few petty gains?” “Okay, Lynn, don’t get upset. I’ll go get the money now!” Shelly started to rise. “Hold on! Who said you could get the money!” Brenda’s voice shot out, stopping her. “Don’t make yourself sound so indispensable. You said it yourself, it was ‘private.’ How am I supposed to know what you did privately? You say you brought in the clients? I say they came because my work is impeccable! Shelly and I earned this money with our own hands, every single dollar! Why should we be grateful to you? We’re all business people here. I’m laying it all out: either you agree to the new profit distribution, or you get out!” Brenda was practically spitting fire. Shelly was wringing her hands, on the verge of tears. “Stop it, Brenda!” Brenda ignored her completely, pointing a finger at me. “How much did you invest in this salon, initially?” “A quarter of a million.” “Next week, come sign the agreement. I’ll give you a quarter of a million dollars, not a cent less. You’re out.” “Brenda! Don’t be ridiculous!” Shelly cried. “Lynn, she’s just kidding.” “Shelly, what’s wrong with you? What’s the difference between this and working for her?” Brenda’s eyes drilled into mine, as if we were sworn enemies. “Friendship? Please. She probably just saw us as two cheap pawns to exploit.” “Is that what you think too, Shelly?” Shelly froze, unable to answer. Suddenly, a wave of weariness washed over me. I had so few genuine friends, and I treasured them. Yet, here they were, turning on me over a few measly dollars. “Fine. I’ll be back next week to sign the papers.” I picked up my bag and left, Shelly’s desperate cries echoing behind me. 3 Back home, the anger simmered, then boiled. How dare they? My money, and they just wanted me out? Many of the salon’s sofas and decorative pieces were high-end designer items, things I’d quietly brought over from my own home. I wasn’t about to let them have them. One phone call to a moving company. “Lynn, what is the meaning of this! You’re having the sofas moved out! Where will the clients sit?” You’re making me divest, aren’t you? These are my things. I’m allowed to take them! If you want them, I can sell them to you for thirty-seven thousand! “Thirty-seven grand for sofas? Who are you kidding?” They’re Hermès, darling. One of my throw pillows alone is twelve hundred dollars. You stained one once, remember? I didn’t charge you for it, out of friendship. Oh, and my diffusers, my coffee table, my rugs, and my Swarovski crystal chandelier. Be careful with that one. I video-called the moving company, directing them as they carefully packed and moved every single item, leaving nothing behind. In an instant, the salon looked significantly larger, and incredibly empty. “Why are you moving today? Are you still open for facials?” A client happened to walk in. Shelly immediately tried to stop her. I recognized the voice – it was Aunt Carol, one of my mom’s best friends. I spoke into the video call. “Aunt Carol! I’m pulling out of this place. We’re moving things out right now.” “What! You’re not investing anymore? Oh… in that case…” Aunt Carol backed away, still talking, then turned and scurried out. “She’s out, but our aestheticians are still here! The results are the same! Don’t go, Aunt Carol!” Brenda lunged forward to grab Aunt Carol, but she was too fast. Brenda was furious, shouting at the video screen. “I hated your tacky stuff anyway! Get it all out! Your taste was dragging down the whole salon’s image!” “Don’t think for a second this place will be empty without you! I’m an artist! My skills speak for themselves! Clients will flock to me!” “Right, right… impressive, impressive.” I replied calmly from my end of the video call. My feigned indifference sent her into a rage. But I wasn’t done. The salon’s skincare products. At first, they’d wanted to cut corners, using ordinary, cheap salon brands. I’d put my foot down, insisting we switch to ODEA, a luxury brand favored by the elite. This brand didn’t even offer a professional line for salons in the country, but my cousin, Caleb, happened to be the regional head for North America. He’d made an exception for me. They had complained about the cost, thinking I was wasting money, and had initially resisted. But once I fronted the costs, they’d tasted the sweet success. It was also the main reason many of the city’s high-society women chose our salon. Now, if I wasn’t important anymore, I called my cousin. “My old beauty salon? No need to supply them anymore.” 4 “Lynn, are you still mad at Brenda? She’s just a little self-centered, but her heart’s not bad.” Shelly had called me. I’d ignored her calls several times, but this morning, half-asleep, I’d accidentally answered. “Didn’t you two want me out?” “I definitely didn’t want you out. But you know Brenda’s personality. If I’d sided with you, she’d feel like the whole world was against her.” “You really think things through. So tell me, why did she suddenly become unhappy with the profit split? It’s been three years. If she was unhappy, she would have said so in the first year.” “She’s dating someone.” Brenda had a new boyfriend. I heard he was a trust fund kid whose family happened to be in the beauty product business. The beauty products I’d refused to use? His family produced them. Brenda had started giving me attitude the moment I rejected his brand. “I refused to use that product because it was sketchy, unregistered, and unsafe! It would have ruined our reputation! And ODEA was our salon’s main selling point! We absolutely couldn’t switch!” “I know, I agree with you. But Brenda’s a total lovesick fool. She thinks you were deliberately trying to spite her. You’re the bigger person, don’t hold a grudge against her.” “I’m not holding a grudge. I just feel betrayed.” … “Shelly! Who are you talking to?!” The voice on the other end of the line changed instantly. “Heh, so it’s you, Lynn! You’re so despicable! You deliberately turned away our clients, didn’t you?” “If clients don’t want to come, should I hold a knife to their throats?” Playing passive-aggressive games? Two can play that game. “You don’t seriously think I can’t survive without your products, without your clients, do you? Sorry to burst your bubble! My business is thriving right now! My boyfriend’s products are just as good!” … I couldn’t be bothered to listen to her bragging. I hung up. The next second, I dialed a friend. “I’ve pulled out of the beauty salon. Hike up the rent on them!” 5 For the past few days, Brenda had been trying to spite me, her social media feed flooded with videos of clients getting facials. Every single client who walked in, she’d post a video, as if declaring war on me. In the videos, Brenda would direct Shelly as she gave clients facials, while Brenda herself, with her chest practically exposed, would introduce her “new” products. “Our new line of products! New clients get 30% off~ Top up your account for more discounts!” She also started posting discount links on various platforms, slashing a $3,999 skincare package down to $999. Several friends from my social circle saw the posts and messaged me, asking if I was planning to go mainstream. I didn’t waste words. I posted a business update. Accompanied by a photo of my entire wall of designer handbags. “Just got kicked out of a beauty salon by a friend recently. Any projects out there looking for an investor? I’ll put up the capital, you put in the work. I only ask for half the profits!” Within minutes, the comments section exploded. “Only half the profits! You’re an angel investor! I need to think about what I can do, right now!” “Interested in luxury resale, big sis? Partner with me! Pretty please!” “Big sis! I’m in beauty too! Heard you pulled out of your salon! Come to our place, the biggest one in Beacon Hill!” Brenda saw all these messages. Like a cornered animal, she immediately posted three updates in a row. “Women need to be independent! Self-reliant!” She was losing it. 6 The day of the contract signing, there was an extra person: Brenda’s boyfriend. A tall, gaunt man, his clothes seemed to hang loosely on his frame. Brenda was known for being shallow in college, so this must be true love, I thought. Before Brenda could even open her mouth, the lanky guy spoke. “We called you here today to sign the divestment agreement, but we’ve changed our minds. We want you to continue investing. But I’ll be managing the operations, and we’ll use my products. Brenda and I will split half, and you and Shelly will split the other half.” “So, what? I won’t even get 25% now?” “You don’t do any work anyway. Getting 25% is already generous!” “Excuse me, and who are you?” This lanky guy had absolutely no manners. Brenda immediately put her hands on her hips, blocking him. “This is my boyfriend, Chad! He speaks for me!” I couldn’t be bothered with either of them. “I came here today for one purpose: to get my money back. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars!” Shelly spoke up, hesitant. “We really don’t have that much… actually, we do have it, but the landlord suddenly raised the rent recently, and Brenda, she…” “Hey! Why are you telling her that! That’s my business!” I looked on, intrigued. They were hiding something from me. “So, I came here today, and you’re telling me you don’t have the money?” Brenda and Chad said nothing. Shelly finally spoke again: “I think we should just stick to the original agreement. Lynn gets half! The three of us split the other half!” “No way!” Brenda, Chad, and I all said it at the same time. Honestly, whether I got 25% or 50% didn’t matter to me. More than money, I valued relationships. What truly crushed me was that I’d considered them friends, and they’d treated me like a tool. “Don’t be like this, Brenda! We used to be the best of friends.” Shelly pulled at Brenda, then at me. “Lynn, how about you stay, and I’ll give you my share? You can just pay me a salary, eight thousand a month! Even five thousand! Couldn’t we just go back to how things were?” I looked at Shelly. Maybe not everything beautiful had completely crumbled. Then, another idea sparked within me. “If we can’t agree, let’s try a different negotiation. I’ll pay you, and you get out!” I pointed at Brenda. “I’ll give you thirty thousand dollars. Consider it compensation for your hard work all these years. You didn’t invest any money upfront. How does that sound?” “Thirty thousand? You think that’s enough to get rid of me?” “You can’t come up with the money, and you won’t accept my proposal. So my only option is to sue. But given that I funded this salon from the start, you’d likely be forced out without a single cent.” “You!” Brenda was so enraged she couldn’t speak. Chad pulled her aside. They whispered a few words. Brenda kissed Chad on the cheek. “It’s just a quarter of a million, right? I don’t have it! But my man does!” Chad, right there in front of me, transferred $250,000 to my account. I didn’t waste any time. I tore up the old contract on the spot. “You’re so hot, honey!” “Baby, I really broke the bank for this. You can see how much I care, right?” Chad looked as though he’d just sealed a momentous deal. “This salon is mine now. And your friend, Shelly, is it? You two will have to iron out your shareholder agreement separately. From now on, it’ll be…” They were already planning Shelly’s future for her. But Shelly, finally, couldn’t hold back. “I’m out! I quit!” “Shelly? Why are you quitting now? This is between her and me! I’d still give you shares, just a bit less. But my boyfriend’s family makes skincare products! Stick with me, we’ll make a fortune!” “Brenda, it’s not about the money! My conscience tells me what you’re doing is wrong!” Shelly took out her phone and transferred $20,000 to me. “Brenda doesn’t understand, but I do. You initially gave us a quarter of a million. Even if you left, you should have gotten at least three hundred thousand back. But I only have this much. More than making money, I don’t want to lose you as a friend.” “You! Are you stupid, Shelly! She’s so rich, why are you giving her money?” I looked at Shelly. She truly was the same as she was in college. I hoped, this time, I wasn’t mistaken about her. I declined her transfer, and immediately transferred $600,000 back to Shelly. “Lynn? What is this?” “You want to open a new salon with me? We’ll use the same exclusive products as before. After all costs, we split the profits 50/50.” “What?! You have money?! Why did you?! You… you…” “You, you, you, I, I, I? What’s wrong, did dating make you stutter? How I choose to invest is none of your business!” I shot back. Shelly stood there, stunned. “You really trust me?” “I do. At least now I’ve seen clearly who my true friend is!” “You two just wait! Running a beauty salon is ultimately a small-time business! My husband and I are going to conquer the entire beauty market! From now on, all beauty salons will use my products! And we won’t supply yours!” Still dreaming, I thought. Her “shady, unregulated product” dominating the beauty market? Utterly ridiculous!

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It all began when Luna, the wolf mother who raised me, snagged Sera Dubois’s favorite dress. Liam Thorne, Sera’s childhood sweetheart, actually summoned a brute to hack off Luna’s four paws and then had her cast into a vat of sulfuric acid. I held Luna, her breath shallow, and roared at Liam, “I told you from the start that I was raised by wolves! How is this any different from cutting off my own mother’s limbs?!” But Liam simply looked at me, his face cold, covering Sera’s eyes with his hand. “You’re clearly just some wild stray my stepmother, Martha, picked up from God knows where. Don’t think you can deceive me with those stories!” Luna, still bleeding profusely, struggled to inch her way towards me. I crawled to her, cradling her in my arms. “I stayed willingly, a gesture of gratitude for the Thorne family providing a sanctuary for my pack. You followed me for hundreds of miles because you couldn’t bear to let me go, but I never meant for this to be your undoing.” That night, clutching Luna, I knelt and bowed deeply several times before Aunt Martha’s memorial tablet. “Aunt Martha, the Thorne family’s wildlife parks are now nationwide. They no longer need my ability to command animals. I should have left long ago.” … I was about to blow the bone flute hanging from my neck, but Luna struggled, stopping me. Wolves know gratitude. The Thorne family took in old and infirm animals, giving the pack a home. I knew she didn’t want me to ruin the Thorne family unless it was absolutely unavoidable. The vet, seeing the bare bones, flesh eaten away and cracked from the concentrated sulfuric acid, shook his head, saying there was nothing he could do. “Doctor, she used to be the fastest wolf in the forest. To not reattach her limbs, doesn’t that mean you’re letting her die?” My cries were torn from my soul. Luna stretched out a mangled limb, attempting to wipe away my tears, but realizing she had lost her paws, she curled up dejectedly. I stayed by Luna’s side all night, eventually weeping myself into unconsciousness. With a loud bang, the main doors were kicked open. Mr. Davies, the butler, dragged me to kneel before the grand hall of Thorne Manor. Sera lay limply on a plush armchair, her face meticulously made up to appear frail and wounded, looking as though her breath might give out any second. As I tried to rise, Liam’s hand lashed out, slapping me hard across the face. “Sera went out for a wilderness survey and was bitten by these ungrateful beasts! Tell me, did you instruct them?!” He pointed to a nearby iron cage. Only then did I see several wolf pups trapped inside – Their hides were torn open, their breathing shallow and ragged. I bit back the searing pain in my swollen cheek and crawled towards the cage, desperate to free them, but Mr. Davies dragged me back several feet. Liam’s face darkened. “You don’t care about the person injured because of you, but you rush to these animals! Bury them alive!” I dragged my aching body, throwing myself towards the cage. The pups still wore the leg bands I had personally tied on them – I had delivered them myself, deep in the forest. Their tender paws brushed against my palm, as if telling me not to worry, yet their mournful whines sent a bitter ache through my heart. I gritted my teeth, glaring at Liam. “They didn’t hurt Sera at all! They said they saw Sera being taken by force, and they scared off the attackers and saved her!” Liam froze for a moment, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. But Sera immediately burst into tears, grabbing Liam’s hand. “It was clearly these animals that hurt me, Liam, why would I lie to you?” “She’s definitely playing her tricks again. No one can understand animals!” “If she truly could, would she have tolerated her pet snake biting you? Doesn’t that just prove she did it on purpose?” Liam glared furiously at me, then ordered the entire cage to be taken to the back hills of the estate. Earlier, to save Liam, I had been bitten all over by that snake, but it turned out to be completely non-venomous. I still couldn’t understand why a usually docile snake would suddenly attack Liam. Before I could finish, Liam suddenly gripped my throat, as if to strangle me. “Then how did I get poisoned so severely? Eleanor Vance, there’s a limit to your lies! If Sera hadn’t brought the antidote, I would have died.” I tore free from his grasp, arching my back like a wolf, leaping onto the cage, and baring my teeth. Everyone recoiled in fear. “Anyone who dares touch them will have to step over my dead body first!” 2 Liam’s eyes flickered, startled by my strange posture, and his tone softened. “I genuinely don’t understand you. Why do you care so much about these animals, why do you have to act like them?” A bitter taste filled my mouth. He used to adore animals because of me, allowing me to keep all sorts of creatures in the manor, even praising me for being as cute as a little wolf. But now, after he was bitten by the venomous snake, all my companions had been sent away, leaving only Luna by my side. Now he claimed he “didn’t understand.” My eyes were red, warning everyone to keep their distance, when suddenly, a heavy object struck my head. My vision went black, and I lost consciousness. When I woke again, a searing pain erupted across my scalp. I clutched my head, rubbing it ceaselessly. A familiar cold voice reached my ears. “I told you to go easy on her. Why isn’t she awake yet?” Mr. Davies bowed, apologizing. Seeing I was awake, he quickly alerted Liam. Liam strode to the bedside, about to sit down, then hesitated, a mocking sneer on his lips. “Now you know what a headache feels like? Weren’t you so stubborn just now? Those animals are dead. Apologize properly to Sera, and this whole thing is over.” I clutched at his clothes, my voice trembling. “Liam, why are you doing this to me?” Liam’s eyes hardened with cold indifference. He flung my hand away. “Martha, my stepmother, was a homewrecker who caused my mother’s death. You’re her bastard child, brought back by her. You then released a venomous snake to bite me, trying to seize my family’s wealth. What else do you expect from me?” “I already told you, if you just behaved, I’d let you live comfortably in the Thorne Manor. But you insist on defying me again and again for these animals.” “Aunt Martha was not a homewrecker! She and Grandfather only met because of their shared love for animals after your mother’s suicide—” With a resounding CRASH, Liam swept all the teacups off the table, cutting me off. “You’re going to tell me that outlandish story about being raised by wolves again. I must have been truly cursed to have believed you before!” With that, he stormed out, his face icy. Watching his retreating back, my heart turned to ash. Years ago, Aunt Martha, during a wilderness survey, had stopped a hunter who was aiming his rifle at me. She approached me cautiously, only to discover, to her astonishment, that I was a naked young girl. I growled at her, baring my teeth, yet she extended her hand. From then on, she taught me to read, to walk upright. Using the Thorne family’s resources, she expanded a vast wolf sanctuary. And I, with my unique ability to communicate with animals, helped her gather countless rare data, making the Thorne family a global leader in animal research, securing numerous patents. She brought me back to Thorne Manor. Years later, Liam and I fell in love. He held my hand and swore he would marry no one else. That is, until his childhood friend, Sera Dubois, returned from overseas, bringing with her photos of his father having an affair with Aunt Martha, and then suddenly, he was poisoned. After that, Liam became a changed man, viewing me as an enemy. Assistant Green, Aunt Martha’s only trusted aide, walked in, her face grave. “Ms. Vance, I’ve investigated everything. You need to prepare yourself.” Assistant Green handed me a stack of documents. Photo after photo made me feel as if I might collapse! Liam had sworn to me during our wedding. The Thorne family would only send orphaned animal cubs and animals incapable of hunting to zoos for care, never greedily training animals for dangerous performances. But the documents showed that for years, the Thorne family had been building zoos across the country, under the guise of animal welfare, constantly capturing rare animals to expand their collections. The photos showed all sorts of animals crammed into tiny cages, unable to even straighten their bodies. They used whips to force tiger cubs to jump through fire hoops, and monkeys to hold their breath underwater. Cheetahs had their fangs and claws ripped out for photo opportunities, brown bears were shackled in steel, their bile extracted daily. Those deemed cheap and useless were euthanized; the expensive ones were sold cheaply to circuses. Many of the miserable wild beasts in the photos had been my childhood companions. I still remembered the exhilarating freedom of running through the forest with them. Now, their eyes were filled with pure terror. A forest fire had destroyed their habitat, leaving them severely injured. I had believed the Thorne family’s zoo would be a safe haven, never imagining I was personally sending them to hell. The original wilderness sanctuary had also been developed into a hunting ground for the wealthy. Watching them display severed animal heads to the camera, I finally couldn’t hold back the nausea and vomited. It was all my fault… Assistant Green gently supported me, her face full of concern. “Ms. Vance! Animal protection was Aunt Martha’s lifelong creed. Now, it’s all up to you.” I bit my lip and nodded. I would take Luna. I would blow the bone flute. And I would make the Thorne family reap what they had sown! Luna had been placed in a locked room. I limped to the door, only to see a trail of blood leading from inside the room towards the back hills of the mansion. A cold dread washed over me. I rushed out. Before I even left the gate, I heard Liam’s voice from inside the house: “You want wolf fur? I’ll find you some other kind, why would you—” 3 Sera pouted playfully, “That old wolf dragged those buried little beasts into the house and made a bloody mess everywhere! It scared me half to death when I walked out! I just had to blow off some steam.” “Liam, do you like this wolf-skin bikini I made?” Liam’s voice became thick and syrupy. “You little rascal, you look best without anything on.” I slammed the door open. Sera, clad in a wolf-skin bikini the same color as Luna’s fur, was draped around Liam’s waist, writhing. I lunged forward, maddened, limping as I tried to tear off Sera’s clothes, but then I froze, seeing the bone flute hanging from her neck. My eyes blazed crimson. I seized her throat. “Sera! What is that around your neck?” Sera choked, veins bulging, unable to speak. Liam seized the opportunity to pull me away. “Eleanor Vance, are you insane?! It’s just a dying old wolf! I can catch you another one, can’t I?” Around Sera’s neck was a bone flute crafted from Luna’s bones. It was identical to the one around my own neck. This bone flute could command animals. Luna had deliberately twisted her tail years ago, allowing me to fashion it. I had told only Liam about this. Now, he had told Sera, and even indulged her in killing my wolf mother. Sera, still draped on the armchair, pretended to gasp for breath, but a smirk played on her lips as she raised an eyebrow at me. I cast aside years of learned human decorum, reverting to instinct. I collapsed to the floor, letting out a mournful howl, my nails digging blood trails into the ground. Liam recoiled in fear, stepping back repeatedly. Sera, however, leaned in, pinching my chin to examine my face. She suddenly turned to Liam and said, “This is bad. Eleanor Vance has been afflicted by the wolf-taint, which is why her behavior is so similar to a wolf’s.” In a rage, I grabbed Sera’s wrist, intending to snatch the bone flute from her neck. Liam, who had been hesitant, saw me bruising Sera’s wrist and immediately ordered his men to restrain me. Sera winked at me. “Getting rid of this affliction isn’t hard, actually. I learned from an elder in the rainforest.” She had them force me into a dark room. In the pitch black, deafening gongs exploded around me. I screamed, painfully covering my ears. Bright lights pierced my eyes, like a sharp sword thrust into my eyeballs. I was raised by wolves. For over a decade living with them, my hearing, sight, and smell were a hundred times more sensitive than a normal person’s, indistinguishable from a wolf’s. Liam had always known about my condition. He once pretended to be a ghost and shrieked next to my ear to scare me. That single scream caused my eardrums to bleed, sending me to the hospital for seven days. He had slapped himself, swollen-faced with remorse, weeping before me. But now, because of Sera’s baseless claim of a “wolf-taint,” he was doing this to me. My eyes stung too much to open. I could only yell into the darkness, “Liam Thorne, you know I can’t stand bright lights or loud noises. Do you really believe this ‘wolf-taint’ nonsense?!” In my panic, a cold voice responded near my ear: “I don’t believe it, but you bruised Sera’s hand. This is your punishment.” The gongs crashed in waves. Mr. Davies brutally held my eyelids open, forcing me to face the blinding light directly. Liam steadied my falling body. He saw the blood flowing from my eyes and ears, and his lips pressed into a tight line. “Help Ms. Vance to her bed.” Then he took Sera’s hand, which I had bruised, gently rubbing and blowing on it. Liam took Sera to the hospital to check her neck, which I had scratched. After Aunt Martha passed, Grandfather Thorne had been devastated. He was just recovering some strength when he hobbled in, leaning on his cane, trembling. Seeing my wretched state, he gasped, unable to stand, and collapsed to his knees. “Eleanor, I’ve wronged you, and I’ve wronged your Aunt Martha. I’ve raised such an unworthy grandson in Liam!” “I know it’s your ability to command animals that kept them docile in the sanctuary.” “Those wild creatures were friendly to us because of your command, allowing us to collect experimental data, which preserved the Thorne family’s standing in the scientific and business worlds.” Seeing the old man kneeling before me, I gasped, enduring the pain, and spoke. “Now that Aunt Martha is gone, and the wolf pack has been harmed, there’s nothing that will make me stay here.” “Eleanor, it’s all my fault. The Thorne family’s legacy cannot be ruined by Liam! I’ll cast Liam out of the family, and order no one to help him. Please, I beg you, don’t leave. Please, help the Thorne family one last time, won’t you?” I coughed up a mouthful of blood, stroking the bone flute on my neck. My voice was calm. “Sera has already made a bone flute from my wolf mother’s blood and bones. Go beg her. After all… Liam said she’s a hundred times better than me.” I no longer listened to his pleas. A faint smile played on my lips. I raised the bone flute, blowing it with all my strength. A powerful wolf howl tore through the sky. Grandfather Thorne’s face went ashen. “It’s over, it’s all over…” Within minutes, muffled thuds shook the Thorne Manor’s grand gates. CRASH—BOOM! The next second, the gates burst open! Through a swirl of dust, a pack of wild wolves, standing taller than men, roared!

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1 I was the true heiress, lost to the Sterling family, and on the day of my grand reintroduction. Willow Sterling tumbled down the grand staircase, weeping dramatically for all to see. “Sister,” she choked out, tears streaming down her face, “I know you don’t like me. I can leave, but how could you…” She looked back, her words catching in her throat, the “push” unsaid. It was only then she realized I wasn’t behind her at all. Standing there was her brother, Henry Sterling. I was quicker, my eyes reddening first, my hand flying to my mouth. “Henry, how could you push your sister?” She looked back again, only to find me already standing at the bottom of the stairs. Her eyes widened in disbelief, as if silently asking, How are you here? The guests, seasoned socialites, instantly grasped the full picture. A ripple of amused disdain spread through the room as they watched Willow. Her face burned with humiliation; she was utterly mortified. Henry, ever the perfect brother, stepped in to smooth things over. “Willow, you’re a grown woman. How can you still be so clumsy?” His voice was laced with doting affection, completely ignoring the fact that she had just tried to frame his own sister. And my supposed fiancé, Marcus Thorne, rushed towards her, his face a mask of concern. He helped her up, cradling her protectively in his arms. My biological parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, also looked at her anxiously, asking if she was hurt. Even though her scheme had failed, watching her family dote on her, Willow shot me a triumphant, challenging glance, hidden from the public eye. Should I be hurt? laughable. So-called “blood ties” were worthless in my eyes. And what I truly wanted had never been “these.” A single tear slipped from Willow’s eye. “Sister,” she said, feigning sincerity, “I’m so sorry, I ruined your reintroduction party.” She expected me to explode, to lash out, to demand explanations hysterically. But I did none of that. My face etched with seemingly genuine concern, I stepped forward to help her. “It’s okay, sister. I’m just glad you’re alright.” “Ah—” Willow suddenly shrieked. 2 “What’s wrong, sister?” I asked innocently, my voice laced with feigned concern. This time, her tears were real. Tears of pain. Before she could utter a word, I exposed her pale arm to the assembled guests. A large, angry red welt marred its surface. “Oh, sister, you really are clumsy. You must have fallen and hurt yourself just now.” She was furious and desperate, but utterly helpless against me. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling looked heartbroken, immediately whisking her off to the hospital. I was left alone to face the guests. I plastered a smile back on my face and graciously entertained everyone. I made a favorable impression on many wealthy families, earning myself a great deal of goodwill. It was an exhausting day, indeed. A few days prior, the Sterling family had approached me, claiming I was their daughter, accidentally switched at birth. If I hadn’t subtly leaked some information, they never would have found me. The moment I arrived at the Sterling mansion, Willow had already packed her bags, feigning a dramatic departure. She cried with such heartfelt conviction, claiming she had taken over my rightful life and shouldn’t remain. Every word she spoke implied I would resent her presence and treat her cruelly. The Sterling family looked at her with pity, comforting and coaxing her, while casting reproachful glances at me. I hadn’t said a single word, yet they glared at me as if I were their enemy. It was utterly ridiculous. “Elara, we’ve raised Willow for so many years, and the Sterling family isn’t short on money. It won’t be a problem to have an extra person.” Mr. Sterling didn’t consult me; he simply decreed Willow’s fate. They stared at me, their gazes threatening, as if my disagreement would mean I, not Willow, would be the one leaving the Sterling home today. I nodded, tacitly accepting. Perhaps they, too, felt their behavior was excessive. Mr. Sterling and Henry each handed me a bank card. Mrs. Sterling presented me with her jade bracelet. I accepted everything. A flicker of jealousy crossed Willow’s eyes. Just after I’d finished showering, a knock came at the door. When I opened it, Mrs. Sterling stood there, her eyes filled with an undeniable guilt. “Elara, may I come in and sit for a moment?” I stepped aside, allowing her to pass. She slowly walked in, her gaze taking in the minimalist black and white decor of the room. They had brought me back without preparing a proper room, so I had been staying in a guest room. Mrs. Sterling’s heart ached. On one hand, there was the daughter she had raised for twenty years—even caring for a pet creates affection, let alone a human. On the other hand, there was her biological daughter, whom she hadn’t seen in twenty years, who had suffered so much, and had finally been found. She was unwilling to give up either; both were the flesh of her heart. She sat on a chair and took my hand, her eyes looking at me with a soft, maternal affection. “Elara, Mom has already had a room prepared for you these past few days. Mom is so sorry. I neglected your feelings.” “It’s okay, Mom. I’m fine living here.” The more compliant and sensible I was, the guiltier she felt. Her eyes shimmered with tears. She sighed, her lips curving into a bitter smile. “Elara, Marcus Thorne and you were betrothed since childhood, but the person he loves now is Willow.” I cut her off. “So, Mom, you think I would steal my sister’s fiancé?” A pang of bitterness ran through me; after all, she was my mother. Her voice rose in haste. “It’s not like that, Elara! Mom just meant… Mom can find you a better match. Or, if there’s someone you like, Mom will respect your choice.” I turned my head away, my voice muffled. “I understand, Mom. And I won’t fall in love with a stranger I’ve never met.” She tried to say more, but I told her I needed to rest. She bid me goodnight and left. Elara Vance, you cannot let so-called false kinship blind you. You have more important things to do. [How’s life at the Sterling’s?] [It’s okay. Just walking the dog every day.] [Need my help? The kind where you bat your eyelashes and I’ll give you my life?] [No thanks. I’ve got enough strength and tricks of my own.] [Alright, whatever you say, darling.] [Lysander Hayes, who are you calling darling?] …After indulging in some banter with my boyfriend, I fell asleep.

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1 As the only daughter of an oil magnate, I’d been cradled in luxury since birth. A decade ago, my father, Mr. Hayes, had brought the sons of the heads of three subsidiary companies into his inner circle, personally grooming them as potential heirs and, more importantly, as my future husband. The plan was set: on the day of my twentieth birthday gala, he would publicly announce my chosen fiancé as his successor. But three days before the gala, I stumbled upon the three of them at our exclusive private club. Jax was grinding wildly with an exotic dancer on the dance floor, his movements crude. Caleb was sprawled on a sofa, shamelessly entangled with a catering staff member. And Aiden, the one I’d harbored a quiet affection for, was locked in a passionate, breathless kiss with Skylar, my supposed best friend. What chilled me to the bone was their blatant disregard, their voices sneering as they openly discussed me: “Tonight, one for each of us—consider it breaking our dry spell. Willow’s such a germaphobe, isn’t she?” “Right? With her body and mental purity complex, no matter which of us she picks, her virginity won’t be her first anyway, hahaha!” Watching the sordid scene unfold, a cold laugh escaped my lips. “Since all three of you are already soiled, then I don’t want any of you!” That very night, I pushed open the heavy door to my father’s study, my voice resolute. “Dad, I want to marry Liam Sterling, the son of the Sterling Oil baron!” My father frowned, his face a mask of disbelief. “You mean… the one rumored to be… less than whole? That timid Mr. Sterling?” He took a long drag from his cigar, his voice trembling. “Sweetheart, I heard Liam Sterling was born missing a crucial part of his manhood, most likely barren! Are you really going to marry him?” My gaze was unwavering. “Yes. That way, after we marry, our two families can form a powerful alliance, and you won’t have to worry about the Hayes dynasty lacking an heir.” My father extinguished his cigar in the ashtray, his tone softening. “But your father cares about your happiness, darling! Why did none of those three scoundrels catch your eye?” The vile images of the three men, their crude words, replayed relentlessly in my mind. My father gently patted my shoulder. “Didn’t you say you had a soft spot for Aiden before? What made you suddenly change your mind?” The thought of Aiden passionately kissing my best friend brought a stinging dampness to my eyes. Seeing my distressed expression, my father pressed no further. He pulled me into his embrace. “Since my Willow has grown up, then your father will respect your decision.” He let out a deep sigh, then left the study. Outside the door, Jax, Caleb, and Aiden stood respectfully, watching him leave. As I stepped out of the study, Jax shot me a venomous glare. Caleb’s voice was cold as he demanded, “Miss Hayes, were you just slandering us to your father again?” Aiden’s face was a mask of reluctance, a flicker of resentment in his eyes. The three of them had been sent to the Hayes estate for training since they were teenagers, groomed as my fiancé candidates. For over a decade, constrained by my father’s influence over their families, they had been forced to play along. Now, Aiden, usually so reserved, spoke with disdain. “Have you already chosen your fiancé?” His gaze pierced me like an icy blade, as if he’d devour me whole if I dared choose him. My patience for them had long run out. My icy gaze swept over their faces. “Don’t worry. I’ve already made my choice.” Before I could finish, Caleb called out, “Wonder which unlucky soul among us will end up joining the Hayes dynasty.” Jax glanced at Aiden, a hint of mock pity in his eyes. “Yeah, Aiden, I think you’re the most likely. After you saved Miss Hayes on the beach last time, she hasn’t been able to take her eyes off you!” Ignoring their taunts, I walked straight towards my room. Their low chuckles drifted from behind me. “You think Miss Hayes would be thrilled if she knew her favorite Aiden was messing around with her best friend?” As my door closed, their figures vanished from my sight. Too bad for them. The three of them had fouled themselves. I wouldn’t choose a single one. 2 I spent that night wide awake, unmistakable sounds continuously drifting from the adjacent room—the rhythmic creaking of a bedframe mixed with a woman’s seductive moans. Through the haze of sleeplessness, I heard Skylar, wrapped around Aiden, cooing, “Aren’t you afraid Willow will find out about us? You’d lose your heir status completely then!” Aiden’s voice, lazy with post-coital satisfaction, drifted back. “So what? She’s just a spoiled heiress. If it weren’t for Mr. Hayes, none of us would even give her a second thought. Even if I marry her, she’ll just be a trophy wife, a pretty face. You’re my true love.” Their crude words grated on my eardrums, a relentless assault, until the sounds slowly subsided with the approach of dawn. I pushed open my door, just in time to see Skylar, wearing Aiden’s white shirt, gingerly waddle out of his room, hand pressed to her lower back. When she bumped into me, her eyes flashed with panic, and she immediately stammered, “Willow, I-I drank too much last night and got sick. Aiden just lent me his shirt. I swear I don’t have any other intentions with him!” “Absolutely not!” My gaze fell upon the undisguised hickeys blooming on her neck, then dropped to her legs, still trembling visibly. A cold smile touched my lips. “Oh? Why the sudden panic?” For years, whenever Aiden was involved, Skylar was always more eager than me. Every time I discussed the candidates for fiancé, she’d subtly steer me towards choosing Aiden. Turns out, they had been involved in secret all along, treating me like a complete fool! A surge of pure fury erupted within me. I lifted my hand and slapped Skylar across the face. Skylar clutched her cheek, staring at me in disbelief. Just then, Aiden suddenly pushed open his door, the powerful rebound sending me crashing against the wall. Skylar, seizing the moment, collapsed into Aiden’s arms, weeping. “I don’t know what I did to upset Willow. She actually hit me.” Aiden instantly pulled Skylar close, his face etched with feigned concern. “Willow, don’t bring your pampered princess act here to bully Skylar! She’s your friend!” His voice hardened. “If you keep acting so irrational, don’t blame me if I publicly reject you as my fiancé at the gala!” My eyes narrowed. He’d truly been spoiled rotten all these years. A manipulative viper and a spineless fool—they truly deserved each other! Still seething, I instinctively raised my hand for another slap, but Caleb suddenly appeared, grabbing my arm with surprising force. Jax positioned himself in front of them both. Their gazes, sharp as poisoned daggers, chilled me to the bone. Caleb spoke, his voice equally cold. “If you continue this irrational behavior, and you choose me, I won’t agree.” Jax quickly followed. “And me, I absolutely won’t agree either!” 3 I stared at the three of them. From childhood, I had always shared everything good to eat, everything fun to do, with them. Over the years, my father had never shortchanged them an inch. Yet, each of them, while claiming not to want to marry me, stubbornly refused to give up their place as a candidate. They wanted to inherit the vast Hayes fortune, but they didn’t want to join my family. Their hypocritical greed was truly sickening. Thankfully, heaven’s mercy allowed me to see through their false faces in advance. I let out a cold laugh, forcefully pulling my hand free from Caleb’s grasp, and walked straight forward. But in a flash, Aiden fiercely grabbed me back, his voice sharp. “Apologize to Skylar!” I turned, meeting Aiden’s furious gaze, and retorted coldly, “Why should I apologize to her?” I tried to pull away from Aiden again, intending to continue walking. But Jax and Caleb instantly blocked my path, malicious intent blazing in their eyes. Skylar, seeing her moment, met my gaze with a triumphant, challenging smirk. The next moment, she suddenly said in a soft voice, “No, please don’t argue with Willow because of me! It’s all my fault, my fault!” Skylar, realizing her advantage, immediately fell to her knees before me, whispering, “Willow, if I’ve done something wrong, please tell me. Don’t take it out on the three of them!” Skylar played the victim role to perfection, further highlighting my supposed arrogance and cruelty. The three men immediately helped her up, then turned on me, their voices filled with rage. “Miss Hayes, do you think everyone is just a toy to you?” “Or do you see us as your personal pets, summoned and dismissed at your whim?!” “Today, you will apologize to Skylar!” I bit back the tears stinging at my eyes, staring at the three of them. My mind replayed their arrival at the Hayes estate when they were just boys. Caleb, who’d been afraid of dogs, had needed my beloved golden retriever rehomed for him to feel comfortable. Jax, when he first arrived, cried secretly every night; I was the one who woke Dad up in the middle of the night to take him to the hospital when he had a fever. And Aiden, who’d been quiet and withdrawn as a child, always had me stepping in to defend him when the staff picked on him. And now, in their eyes, I had become nothing more than a vicious, spoiled brat. It was incredible how ten years of living side-by-side couldn’t compare to a few manipulative words from an outsider. My gaze, cold and detached, swept over all four of them. Then I shouted, “Butler! Are you all blind?!” I called out three times, only to find the butler and the bodyguards standing respectfully to the side, secretly watching Aiden. Over the years, Aiden had become Dad’s favorite, taking over many of Hayes Corporation’s assets. These staff members were always opportunistic; no doubt they already saw Aiden as the next head of the household. And I, the heiress without real power, was little more than a prop. Just then, a voice from the staff called out, “Mr. Hayes has arrived.” Aiden finally released my hand, and the three men stood respectfully behind me. Free at last, I stormed towards the door. This household clearly needed a clean-up, or it might as well be known as the Reynolds estate. But thankfully, tomorrow I would announce my engagement to Liam Sterling. And the three of them would be utterly irrelevant to my life. 4 The next morning, as I woke and got ready, I was surprised to find that my gala gown hadn’t arrived. My phone suddenly rang. I answered, and the frantic voice of the boutique assistant came through. “Miss Hayes, the custom gown you ordered was picked up by Mr. Reynolds earlier.” “Mr. Reynolds said he was your fiancé, so we didn’t stop him.” I hung up, then walked back towards Aiden’s room. This gown was something my father had commissioned a French designer for, starting from my eighteenth birthday, specifically for my grand entrance at my twentieth birthday gala today. The moment I pushed open Aiden’s door, I saw Skylar standing before the full-length mirror, admiring herself, wearing my gown. I immediately roared at her, “Who gave you permission to wear that?!” Skylar instantly flinched, shrinking into Aiden’s embrace. Aiden, in turn, said coldly, “It’s just a dress, isn’t it? Is it really worth all this fuss?” I scoffed at both of them. “It was custom-crafted by French artisans over two years, my father’s gift for my coming-of-age. Does that sound like ‘just a dress’ to you?” Skylar, hearing this, made a show of trying to take it off, but Aiden stopped her with a hand. “Consider it compensation for how you treated Skylar yesterday. Anyway, you’re a germaphobe, so this dress is hers now.” Just as I was about to retort, Aiden’s voice hardened again. “If you don’t agree, don’t blame me if I embarrass you when I’m announced as your fiancé later!” The sheer audacity! He was using my money to pay for his cheap thrills and buy goodwill? How could I swallow such an insult? I grabbed the gown Skylar was wearing, yelling, “Take it off! Now! Get it off!” In that instant, Aiden’s hand lashed out, slapping me across the face as he roared, “You’re going too far, Willow!” I was sent sprawling to the floor, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of my mouth. My eyes welled up with tears. No one had ever dared to lay a hand on me, not once in my entire life! Hearing the commotion, the door was suddenly kicked open. Jax and Caleb rushed in, yelling at me. “It’s just a gown, why are you making such a big deal?!” “Willow, you’re absolutely evil!” Skylar, who moments before had been tearful, now flashed a cunning glint in her eyes. She whispered, “If I strip down, will you let me off? And you won’t blame Aiden or them anymore?” Then, a theatrical sigh. “Willow, I’m sorry. I’ll take it off, I’ll take it off right now.” As Skylar made to remove the gown, all three men stopped her. Aiden then turned his gaze to me, his voice chilling. “Willow, no matter what, I will not be your fiancé today.” Jax and Caleb chimed in in unison, “We won’t agree either.” Aiden then smiled, a lewd grin spreading across his face. “If you’re worried about making a scene, just strip down and apologize to Skylar, and we’ll forgive you!” Caleb and Jax also wore playful, mocking expressions. “That’s right! Strip down, and we’ll agree to be your fiancés!” I couldn’t believe what my ears were hearing. All three of them, humiliating me to this extent, for Skylar! Aiden, Caleb, and Jax closed in on me, their eyes filled with malicious anticipation. Behind them, Skylar’s eyes gleamed with triumph, as if to say, You’re getting what you deserve today, Willow. I even saw her mouth a silent, “You bitch! You deserve it!” They relentlessly pushed me towards the grand staircase, where the entire gathering in the ballroom was already watching. Aiden leaned close to my ear, his breath a foul whisper. “Losing face in front of everyone—consider it your punishment!” The next moment, Aiden stood on the second-floor landing and shouted down to the crowd, “I hereby publicly announce that I voluntarily withdraw from being Miss Hayes’s fiancé!” A collective gasp rippled through the hall. Before anyone could react, Caleb and Jax stood beside me, declaring loudly, “We two also voluntarily withdraw from being Miss Hayes’s fiancé!” The ballroom instantly erupted into a clamor. People whispered amongst themselves. “What’s going on? Is Mr. Hayes’s daughter really so unbearable that all three candidates willingly gave up their spots?” “Now that all three candidates have withdrawn, who will Miss Hayes marry today?!” At that precise moment, Skylar suddenly burst from the room, intentionally bumping into me. Caught off guard, my heel twisted, and I tumbled backward, hurtling towards the edge of the staircase. The guests in the ballroom gasped in horror. In the most important moment of my life, I was being destroyed by the four people I thought I could trust most. I squeezed my eyes shut in despair, bracing for the inevitable pain, the shouts from below growing louder. Just as I thought I was about to plunge down the stairs, I suddenly fell into a warm, strong embrace. The next second, a man’s deep, resonant voice sounded in my ear: “It seems the three of you have some self-awareness. Willow Hayes’s fiancé can only be me!”

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The piercing shriek of the fire alarm tore through the late-night silence, yet I, Battalion Chief Alice Evans, remained perfectly still, a warm mug cradled in my hands. My gaze, heavy with a knowing weariness, settled on the window, listening as the desperate screams outside were swallowed by the voracious roar of flames. In another life, when the first tendrils of smoke had appeared, I’d immediately dispatched my crews. I’d meticulously orchestrated their attack, sending them from different angles, watching as the inferno yielded, inch by agonizing inch. Only when the last survivor was carried out, charred but breathing, did I finally allow myself to sag, leaning back in my chair, eyes fluttering shut for a brief, earned rest. But then, an icy click. Handcuffs snapped around my wrists. “Battalion Chief Evans, you’re under arrest for intentional homicide. Come with us.” My returning crew, their faces smudged with soot and streaked with blood, their bodies bruised and burned, screamed. Their collective roar was enough to rip the roof off the station. “How could you be so heartless, Alice?! We trusted you! We ran in because we trusted you, and you deliberately misreported the fire! The engines you sent weren’t nearly enough!” “You mixed alcohol into the hoses! A regular fire turned into an inferno! Our brothers were maimed, and not a single soul made it out alive!” The words hit me like a physical blow. Explosion? Lives lost? I’d seen the fire controlled, witnessed survivors being pulled to safety with my own eyes. How could it have morphed into such a catastrophe? Ten or more lives extinguished. When I scrambled to retrieve the station’s security footage, desperate to prove my innocence, I watched in horror as the screen showed me—a version of me I barely recognized—botching every command, making fatal errors. Then, my husband, Tim Miller, stepped forward. He presented a video on his phone, his voice laced with feigned anguish. “She always treated human life with contempt. She hated night shifts, always said, ‘Let them die. Don’t interrupt my sleep.’” I was speechless, trapped in a nightmare. The furious families of the victims, their grief a tangible, burning thing, pushed me, shoved me, until I was flung into the middle of the road. The last thing I felt was the searing impact of a truck, a brutal, bone-shattering finality. And after my death, my apprentice, Chloe Vance, slid into my position. Within weeks, she was living with Tim. He, the grieving widower, publicly wept online, denouncing my “crimes,” earning a tidal wave of sympathy and praise for his supposed “forgiveness” of the driver and families. My body convulsed, a violent tremor that jolted me awake. I was back. Back in my office, the very night the fire began. A soft tap on my desk. I lifted my head, my eyes locking onto Chloe’s sweet, innocent face. My apprentice, who’d been with me since graduation, was pouting, her voice a sugary whine. “Coach, can you switch shifts with me tonight? I have a date, please, please, please?” Her words were a plea, but her eyes held an unsettling glint of certainty, a predatory assurance. In my past life, I hadn’t given it a second thought, readily agreeing. I’d walked straight into the trap she’d dug. The fire had broken out precisely during the shift change. A chilling coincidence. Could she truly have set that fire? Dozens of lives. Watching her pure, guileless smile, a cold dread snaked down my spine. “Coach, you can’t? I’ll give you some of my special gourmet coffee beans! Guaranteed to keep you awake!” Seeing my hesitation, she pressed a small, ornate bag into my hand. My colleagues chimed in, a chorus of good-natured teasing. “Come on, Alice, Chloe’s in love! Be a good sport!” “Yeah, she never lets anyone near those beans! They’re her absolute treasure!” Under their expectant gazes, I wrestled down the swirling chaos in my mind, forcing a slow nod. “Alright, Chloe. I’ll switch.” Chloe’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. She scurried to the break room, practically bouncing, and returned with a steaming mug. “Thank you, Coach! You HAVE to try my special blend. It’s my way of saying thanks!” I took the mug, setting it beside me. But Chloe’s lower lip began to tremble, her eyes welling up, her voice suddenly loud and wounded. “Is Coach mad? I-I promise I won’t bother you again…” My teammates’ eyes flickered with gentle reproach. I had no choice but to lift the mug. The aroma was rich, complex, no hint of anything amiss. Under her satisfied gaze, I drained it. Chloe beamed, a picture of angelic contentment, and practically skipped out. “Tonight’s going to be perfectly fine!” she called out, a seemingly innocuous parting shot. Not long after, Tim, my husband, walked in with a takeout container. “Knew you were on duty, so I switched my own plans to keep you company.” He expertly laid out the meal, his face a mask of loving concern. But seeing him, my heart chilled. Chloe had just left, and he arrived, “just in time.” Was he afraid I wouldn’t play my part in their twisted little drama? This man, who shared my bed, was so eager to push me into the abyss. Last time, he’d been on my crew, following my orders, even rescuing a survivor and waving to me. The fire had been so well-controlled, the hoses personally checked by me. How could alcohol have suddenly appeared? A horrifying theory began to coalesce in my mind. I fumbled for my phone and sent a quick message to a trusted friend at the station closest to the industrial zone. At precisely four in the morning, Chloe’s phone call jolted the silence. Her voice, laced with frantic urgency, was a chilling echo of the past. “Coach! The Riverside Industrial Zone is on fire! Get the crew out there, fast!” Just like before, she’d bypassed central dispatch, calling my private cell directly. Last time, I hadn’t thought twice, immediately dispatching units based on her report, neglecting to have dispatch verify further information. Now, chillingly calm, I detected not just a manufactured panic in her voice, but an unmistakable current of excitement. This fire. She’d set it. I took my time, slowly drawing breath. “You must have the wrong number, Chloe. You should call 911 dispatch first.” Chloe’s incredulous voice, shrill with manufactured outrage, threatened to puncture my eardrum. “Coach, are you insane?! Now’s not the time for procedures! These are real lives! Are you saying I’m lying about a fire? Alice, you think I’d joke about something like this?” She ordered me to open the live monitoring feed. Indeed, it was a massive blaze, screams echoing through the digital static. Yet, I remained unmoving, utterly unfazed. Chloe’s voice escalated, raw with frustration. “How can you be so cold-blooded?! Abandoning lives, letting them die! Are you even fit to be a firefighter anymore?!” “Get everyone out there! Every minute means another life! Please, Alice, I’m begging you!” I held the phone away from my ear, then spoke slowly. “Tell you what, since you’re already on site, you know the situation best. This operation? It’s yours to command. Go for it.” Chloe’s voice was a near-scream. “Alice Evans, where’s your conscience?! Shifting responsibility at a time like this? You’re on duty! I respected you so much!” “My experience isn’t enough! Please, Alice, come save these people!” Just then, Tim burst in, his face a mask of panic. “Alice, isn’t there a fire?! You need to dispatch the crews! There’s no time!” I blew gently on my mug, taking a slow sip. “You two go. Take an extra set of gear. Chloe will lead.” Last time, I’d rushed four engines to the scene. Once there, Chloe had suddenly requested to enter the burning structure, offering to assist. I’d handed her my own rescue gear, commanding from outside. I’d personally watched several firefighters pull survivors from the wreckage, even double-checked that they were alive. The hoses had sprayed clear water, and the blaze had seemed fully contained. Chloe had even run out of the inferno to tell me, “They’re all out, Coach! We’ll be clearing out soon!” It had all felt so incredibly real, impossible to fake. But it was entirely different from the surveillance footage I later saw. In that video, I was indeed outside the building, but the fire itself was completely different. The flames were barely under control when the hoses malfunctioned, spewing alcohol-laced water, instantly triggering the explosion. And the video version of me had calmly walked away from the immediate blast zone before the explosion, settling into my truck to rest. How had they done it? How had they manipulated what I saw, what I experienced, so utterly? Before I could fully process it, my teammates stormed in, their faces a mix of anxiety and simmering anger. “Chief Evans, isn’t there a fire? Why haven’t you dispatched anyone?” I raised an eyebrow. “I’ve already put Chloe in charge. Didn’t you get her orders?” One of the firefighters, a burly man named Mike, slammed his coffee cup down, his voice trembling with fury. “Alice Evans, what are you doing just sitting here drinking coffee at a time like this?!” “Are you treating this job like a joke? Or human lives?” “That’s a fire!” I nodded calmly, agreeing. “Yes, it’s a fire. Chloe’s on site right now. She knows the situation better than I do. Hasn’t she given you orders?” The team bristled, eyes blazing. “Are you kidding us?! You’re on duty tonight! And you’re splitting hairs over this?! Chloe’s command experience isn’t close to yours, and you’re just standing by? Don’t you know how important lives are?!” I spread my hands, a picture of weary resignation. “I’m just not up to commanding right now. I’m willing to go inside and help with the rescue myself, though.” “Don’t worry, after this fire, I’ll voluntarily resign.” Tim sprang forward, pointing a trembling finger at me, his face contorted with theatrical rage. “Alice Evans, you should’ve been fired from command a long time ago! You treat human lives like trash! Even now, you don’t care about them!” He clutched his head, groaning in what appeared to be agony. “It’s my fault. Last time you said you hated night shifts, hated responding to calls, I thought you were joking. I didn’t take you seriously.” “I never thought you actually felt that way!” “I should’ve reported you right then and there, you heartless wretch!” With that, he pulled out his phone, cueing up a video he’d recorded. On the screen, a version of me stared back, her expression one of utter disdain, cold and dismissive. “Another night shift. God, this is annoying.” “If there’s a fire, it’s just their fate. They deserve it! Let them die, just don’t bother my sleep.” “I’ve pulled so many all-nighters, my skin looks terrible. They should all just die off so I can get some decent sleep.” The firefighters gasped, staring at me with a mixture of shock and profound disgust. That was the video Tim had released to the public in my previous life. The camera was aimed directly at my face, every cruel word, every indifferent expression, chillingly clear. The families of the fire victims had used it to hunt me down, swarming me, punching and kicking, venting their furious grief. Until someone plunged a knife into me, sending me sprawling into the path of that truck. The memories flashed, vivid and sickening. I stared at Tim, my hands clenching, trembling. Then, I’d sought out the police, and they’d declared the video authentic, free of any digital manipulation! But those weren’t my words. That wasn’t how I felt. Tim, still playing the role of the distraught husband, still wore that mask of regret, but a flicker of triumphant excitement danced in his eyes. “I should’ve called the police on you then! Saved us all this trouble now!” “Alice Evans, their deaths are on you! You’re the real culprit!” “I’m going to release this video online. Everyone will see your ugly face!” My teammates’ eyes were bloodshot, burning with condemnation. “Alice Evans, we called you ‘Chief’ for so long. Do you deserve that title? Do you deserve this uniform?!” “We were so wrong about you! You don’t deserve to live!” I sighed softly, taking another slow sip of my coffee. I raised my eyes. “Are you quite finished? I never said I wouldn’t save people. Right now, you’re the ones neglecting human lives.” I looked at Tim, my voice even, devoid of emotion. “Just a moment ago, you were frantic, practically beside yourself with urgency. Yet, in this supposedly critical moment, you didn’t forget to pull out a video to stomp all over me. Are you desperate to save lives, or just desperate to condemn me?” Now it was Tim’s turn to fluster, his face reddening. “I was just so furious with you! You’re just sitting here, indifferent, treating lives as meaningless!” I shook my head, a knowing, almost pitying look in my eyes. “I think you’re sharper than you let on.” Tim scoffed. “It’s too late to go there now. Let’s see how you explain this to everyone!” … The fire engine had barely pulled out of the station before police cruisers cut them off. Tim’s eyes flickered, a hint of alarm. “Officer, we’re responding to a fire! Why are you stopping us?” My teammates scoffed behind him, not hesitating to point directly at me. “Officer, has someone reported her? She’s our fire chief, but she doesn’t take her duties seriously. She holds human life in contempt.” “Honestly, with her, I wouldn’t be surprised by any illegal or unethical behavior.” The officer frowned, checking the information on his tablet. “This is the right vehicle, then.” “We received a report of intentional arson and attempted murder.” My teammates exchanged gleeful, triumphant glances, looking at me. Tim, practically vibrating with eagerness, dragged me forward to the police. “Officer, it’s definitely her. Take her in, investigate thoroughly. I have plenty of evidence I can submit.” I took a deep breath, pushing down the surge of anger, and raised my hand. “Officer, I’m the one who made the report. I’m turning myself in.”

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