Category: English

A month before our wedding, Lord Damian secretly rode to his childhood sweetheart. Fearing scandal, he hired a sorcerer to create his perfect double. “What if Lady Seraphina finds out?” his squire worried. “She won’t,” Damian sneered. “Even if she does, she’d never break the betrothal. The court knows she clings to me like a burr—tiresome, but harmless. Clara deserves better. Seraphina should be grateful to be my mistress.” Behind the tapestry, I trembled. I, who knew every star in his eyes, would surely spot an imposter. Yet this was his cruel plan. On our wedding day, Damian returned with Clara just as I approached Thorne Cathedral in silver and pearls. He dragged me onto cobblestones, my veil torn, jeweled circlet scraping bloody trails down my face. Then I saw it—his automaton rushing toward me. 1 “Seraphina! How dare you proceed with this wedding behind my back?” The voice was familiar, laced with a fury I knew well. Damian was back. A ripple of confusion and excitement went through the crowd of onlookers. “Who is that man? To speak to a daughter of House Ashton in such a way, does he court death?” “He looks familiar… just like Lord Damian, the groom! Can it be him?” “Impossible. On his wedding day, Lord Damian should be waiting at the altar. This man isn’t even wearing his wedding doublet. He must be here to cause trouble!” Hearing the whispers, Damian’s face darkened. A guard from House Thorne moved to intervene but hesitated upon seeing his lord’s face. “My lord, what are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to be—” “Did my messenger not reach you?” Damian cut him off, his glare fixed on me. “I sent word that this wedding was to be canceled at all costs! Why is the entire city celebrating our union today?” My hands clenched into fists, my knuckles turning white. I never imagined he would shame me so publicly. Today was meant to be our wedding day, a betrothal I had fought tooth and nail to secure. It began two years ago. My grandmother lay gravely ill, and in my grief, I rode to the old abbey in the hills to pray. The mountain road was treacherous. A wheel of my carriage struck a rut, and I was thrown violently from my seat. I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact. Instead, I fell into a warm, strong embrace. I opened my eyes cautiously. As I did, the string of the man’s simple riding mask snapped, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty. Flustered, he murmured, “Be careful, my lady,” and was gone before I could find my voice. It was love at first sight. Later, at a court banquet, I saw him again. He was Lord Damian, the heir to the Dukedom of Thorne. He didn’t seem to recognize me. From that day on, I cast aside the decorum of a highborn lady and pursued him with a singular focus. I shamelessly orchestrated “chance” encounters, desperate to make him see me. I spent nights embroidering a handkerchief with his sigil and had it delivered to him. Then, I overheard the whispers. He had a childhood love, Clara, the daughter of a Knight-Banneret. My courage failed me. I retreated, ceasing my pursuit. But he sought me out. He cornered me in the palace gardens, showing me the embroidered handkerchief tucked into his belt. It was the one I had made. He smiled, a slow, intoxicating smile. “Seraphina of House Ashton, what is the meaning of this favor?” Mortified, I reached for it, but he deftly blocked my hand. “You have another you are sworn to! Give it back! Forgive my intrusions these past months!” For the first time, his smile reached his eyes. “She is but a friend. And you… do you truly not understand my heart?” That night, emboldened, I begged my father to petition the King for a royal decree, uniting our houses through marriage. I believed our love was mutual. I never imagined that on the day the decree was announced, Clara would quietly leave the capital. And Damian, panicked, finally realizing where his heart truly lay, rode after her, leaving a perfect imitation in his place to fool a kingdom, and a bride. I was the biggest fool of all. 2 “So, Lord Damian knew nothing of this wedding? Is House Ashton forcing his hand?” “And the lady beside him… that must be his true love. Has he been bewitched by this Seraphina?” Hearing the crowd’s speculation, Clara swayed, a picture of tragic beauty. “Damian, my love… perhaps I should not have returned. I will leave at once…” “Forgive me, this is your wedding day. I have been thoughtless…” She turned to go, then collapsed as if her strength had given out. “Clara!” Damian caught her, scooping her into his arms. He turned to me, his voice dripping with disappointment. “Seraphina, Clara is innocent in this. How could you allow these rumors to spread? A lady’s honor is paramount. Do you mean to destroy her?” Watching him clutch her so tightly, my eyes began to sting. Did he ever once consider what would become of my honor if I had begged my father to rescind a royal decree? I remained silent, but my handmaiden, Elspeth, could not. “My lord, you go too far!” she cried. “When did you ever send word to cancel this union? Why, just three days ago, you were at Ashton Manor, telling my lady to prepare herself with a joyful heart!” The crowd murmured in agreement. “It’s true! For the past month, the young lord has been visiting every jeweler in the city, buying every piece that would suit Lady Seraphina!” “And the pastry shop on the West Street she loves so much! Lord Damian has been there before dawn every morning, just so she could have them fresh from the oven!” “He took her boating on the river just last week! The love in his eyes was plain for all to see!” “My lord, this is your wedding day! Put aside this quarrel, change into your finery, and wed your bride!” The chorus of voices made Damian’s face flush with anger. But in his arms, Clara, with a sly, secret smile, let out a small gasp. “Oh! But… for the past month, Damian has been with me, taking the air in the southern provinces. How could he possibly have been in the capital?” Her voice was not loud, but it silenced the entire square. The whispers began anew. “I saw the young lord riding back into the city from the country this morning. Why would he be traveling so close to his own wedding?” “But the man in the capital was Lord Damian. We all saw him.” “Wait… are you an imposter?” Amid the rising suspicion, Damian sneered and produced the heavy signet ring of his house. “Open your eyes and see what this is!” Elspeth gasped in disbelief. “Impossible! There must be some mistake! My lord, you were with my lady every day for the past month!” My nails, I realized, had dug so deeply into my palms they had drawn blood. My marriage to House Thorne was decreed by the King himself. Would Damian truly admit to using a double, an automaton, in his place? It would not only be a mortal insult to my family, but a slap in the face to the King. 3 “Damian, my love, you must tell them the truth. Tell them where you have been.” Clara tugged shyly at his sleeve. “Clara and I have indeed spent the last month in the south. We only returned today.” His words sealed my fate. “Lady Seraphina,” Clara said, her voice filled with false pity. “I know you adore my Damian, but you cannot hire a stand-in while he is away! To have this… imposter… play the part of your loving fiancé for all to see… why would you do this to yourself? Damian doesn’t love you. You must let him go.” The crowd erupted. It was all too scandalous to believe. Damian said nothing, merely tightening his grip on Clara’s hand in tacit agreement. I stared at him, my heart a cold, dead weight. He had caused this entire mess, yet he was content to let all the blame fall on me. Was there truly not an ounce of affection for me in his heart? “How dare you spread such lies! Do you seek to ruin my lady’s name?” Elspeth’s eyes were red with fury. “Insolence!” Damian roared. “You are but a servant! Seize her!” Guards surged forward and restrained Elspeth. “Let her go!” I commanded. “Clara, you may slander me, but House Ashton is not so easily trifled with!” Clara flinched, which only made Damian’s expression soften toward her and harden toward me. “Seraphina,” he said, his voice now like ice, “you claim you did not find a substitute. Where is your proof?” He smiled, a smirk of absolute victory. A knot of dread tightened in my stomach. Could it be that the man… “I knew it,” someone in the crowd jeered. “She was always trailing after him like a stray dog. Lord Damian was never more than civil to her. It was strange how he suddenly seemed so besotted.” “Look at them! Lord Damian and Lady Clara, they are the perfect match. A true love story!” “And that substitute… so intimate with her… could she have been cuckolding the lord before they were even wed? No wonder he refuses to marry her!” The tide of public opinion turned, drowning me in a sea of accusation. But I could no longer hear them. The hour was growing late. The King had decreed this marriage. I had to see it through. “You know full well what you have done,” I said, my teeth clenched. “But I will marry into House Thorne today.” “What I know is that the lady of House Ashton has no shame! You used my absence to parade a fraud before the court, ignored my command to cancel this farce, and now you have the gall to force your way into my family! If it weren’t for you, would Clara have ever fled to the south in sorrow? Come. We will go to my parents at once, and you will tell them you will not be wedding a Thorne today. The matter will be discussed at a later date.” He reached for my arm, but I recoiled. Through the shimmering veil, I saw that the embroidered handkerchief I had spent a dozen nights crafting was gone from his belt. In its place was a simple, woven lover’s knot. And on Clara’s wrist was a matching one. 4 “I will marry into House Thorne today. But I am not marrying you!” The square fell silent. Even Damian seemed to hold his breath. Clara’s sweet, cloying voice broke the stillness. “Lady Seraphina, you must be jesting. Lord Damian is the only son of the Duke. If not him, who would you marry?” The words seemed to jolt Damian back to his senses. “Do you intend to marry my father?” he roared, his face contorted with rage. “You shameless harlot! I know your father indulges you, but I never knew you were so utterly without morals! To say such a treasonous thing merely to spite me! When you see my parents, you will kneel and beg their forgiveness. Otherwise, you will never be a lady of my house!” His words were like shards of ice in my heart. The flicker of affection I thought I had seen in him was nothing more than a phantom, a reflection in a pond. And still, fool that I was, I had clung to that illusion. I ignored him, turning to enter the cathedral. The bells would soon toll the final hour. But a sudden vertigo washed over me. I was yanked backward, my body thrown to the ground, my head cracking against the stone steps. Blood blurred my vision. Damian’s eyes hardened, as if coming to a final, irrevocable decision. “Disobedient to her husband, disrespectful to his family. You are not fit to be my Duchess.” “You may enter my house today, but you will do so as my mistress!” With a savage cry, he reached for my wedding gown. “I will inform the King! A woman like you is unworthy of being a Thorne. The one who deserves to be the lady of this house is Clara! She is generous, but I will not see her slighted. Take off that gown! Today, I will wed Clara. After our wedding night, I will send a simple carriage to bring you to the manor through the servants’ gate!” I struggled, but the blow to my head had stolen my strength. I could only shield myself feebly as he ripped at the delicate fabric. My veil lay in the dust. I saw them clearly now. The man I adored, tearing the wedding gown from my body for another woman. And that other woman, a triumphant smirk on her face, mouthing silent words at me: “He. Is. Mine.” Elspeth screamed, “Let my lady go!” but she was gagged and forced to the ground. The beautiful jewels in my hair were now a heavy burden, coming loose as I fought, the sharp pins grazing my skin, a pain that was nothing compared to the agony in my soul. “Damian, stop this!” I warned, my voice hoarse. “House Ashton will not forgive this insult.” But he was without mercy. “For raising a daughter like you, I should be the one demanding answers from House Ashton! A shameless creature like you does not deserve this gown! Do not delay my wedding to Clara!” My strength gave out. I could only watch as he tore the silver-threaded silk from my body and draped it tenderly over Clara’s shoulders, whispering to her. “Clara, my love. Marry me today like this. In time, I will give you the grandest wedding this city has ever seen. What say you?” Clara blushed, burying her face in his shoulder. They looked like a pair of lovers from a ballad. I closed my eyes, a single tear tracing a path through the blood and grime on my cheek. My mother had commissioned the city’s finest seamstress to create this gown. I had spent countless nights tracing the embroidery, dreaming of the day I would wear it. I never dreamed this would be its end. “Seraphina! Are you going to lie at my door all day? Men! Drag her to the back gate! Do not bring bad fortune upon my wedding day!” Two household guards moved to drag me away. I feebly tried to push them off. “I thought highborn ladies were paragons of virtue! Turns out she’s as desperate as any common trollop! Can’t win the lord’s heart, so she hires an imposter!” “Hah! Seems these noble ladies are no different from the whores in the brothels!” The unvarnished cruelty of the crowd threatened to swallow me whole. They began to throw rotten fruit and vegetables, their fury unsated. I couldn’t dodge in time, only managing to shield my face with my arms. Was this it? Was I to die here, shamed and alone? “Insolence! What do you think you are doing?” A voice, sharp and anxious, cut through the din. I forced my eyes open. In the distance, a figure in crimson wedding finery was sprinting toward me.

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A thousand years ago, A thousand years ago, the Kirin—scaled guardians with antlers that channeled celestial magic—sacrificed countless of their most powerful mages to help the Archon imprison the Demon Lord in the Dark Abyss. A thousand years later, the Demon Princess idly remarked, “I hear the brain of a Kirin can cure my migraines.” And in a single night, my people were slaughtered to the last. I stared at the ruins of my home for a long time. “Mother,” I whispered to the ashes, “you always told me the world was at peace, that the Archon was benevolent. You said my own heaven-defying power was a curse upon this realm and you suppressed it for my own good. Well, what about now? Do you still believe that?” 1 The day before my clan was butchered, my little brother, still too young to take his human form, chirped and chattered, begging me to go to the mortal plane and buy him a candy apple. He was getting on my nerves. I was about to kick him away when my mother stopped me with a gentle smile. “Hera,” she said, “that’s your brother.” “He is the one person in all the realms who is closest to you. You can’t treat him like some wild beast.” Closest to me? Born with dulled senses, I didn’t understand the meaning of her words. But I always listened to my mother. I lowered my clawed paw and promised to bring him his candy apple the next day. He was so happy he rolled around on the ground in a fit of glee. I watched him with disgust, muttering, “So noisy.” But the next morning, as soon as the sun rose, I rode the clouds down the mountain to buy his treat. 2 And now, here I stood at the gates of my home, candy apple in hand, completely lost. The ground was littered with the corpses of my kin. My brother, who had looked up at me with a smiling face just that morning, now lay in pieces on the ground, his head separated from his body. His skull was cracked open, his brain spilled across the dirt. With trembling paws, I pried open his tightly clenched fist. Inside was the pearl of night I had casually tossed to him on his hundredth birthday. I stared at the pearl for a long time before speaking. “You silly thing. You’re dead. Why were you still holding this?” “But… the pearl is warped. It must have hurt a lot, didn’t it?” I sat there, from sunrise until the dead of night. 3 When Lord Caelus, the Celestial of Mercy, arrived, he was shocked to see me. Then he shook his head. “Thank the heavens, a survivor. The Kirin are not truly extinct.” I looked at him blankly. “What now?” It took him a moment to understand my question. He sighed. “Rest assured, I will protect you. This time, Lord Azureus went too far. To slaughter your entire race for a whim of the Demon Princess… it was reckless.” “I have already reprimanded him,” he continued. “He won’t trouble you again.” I couldn’t quite follow. “But… Mother told me that murder is a debt paid with life,” I said, my voice flat. “Why did you only reprimand him?” Lord Caelus’s compassionate expression cracked. A flicker of anger crossed his face. “Insolence! Do you have any idea who you speak of?” “He is the Sovereign of this world! The one who defeated the demons, pacified the monsters, and brought a thousand years of peace to all the realms! How dare you entertain the thought of deicide?” A crushing pressure descended upon me, squeezing the air from my lungs. I opened my mouth to speak, but only a mouthful of blood came out. I gritted my teeth and forced the words out. “You’re wrong.” “My mother told me. This peace was never his achievement alone. Nine-tenths of the Kirin’s greatest mages fell in that war. The Dragon Lords have but a few scions left. That is the price that was paid for this ‘glorious peace.’ It was not his alone.” With every word I spoke, the pressure intensified. Just as I felt my bones turning to dust, my spirit about to be extinguished from the world, the very heavens began to tremble. I felt them—countless of my kind, from every corner of the world, their spirits rushing to my side. “Lord Caelus, show mercy!” “Lord Caelus, show mercy!” “Lord Caelus, show mercy!” The chorus grew louder and louder. I could hear the roar of dragons, the cry of phoenixes, the howl of tigers… A symphony of spectral beasts forming a shield around me. And then, I fell into darkness. 4 When I woke, I was in the Celestial Palace. Lord Azureus, the Archon, looked down at me as if I were an ant. “Luria’s headaches are much improved,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. “Your race has proven its use. Your existence was not entirely in vain.” “I will issue a decree. You will be named a Saintess. Do not cause any more trouble.” Ignoring the dull, grinding pain deep in my bones, I stared back at him defiantly. “My mother told me that murder is a debt paid with life. That is the great law of the mortal world.” “I don’t want to be a Saintess. I only ask that the Archon respects the great law.” Azureus narrowed his eyes, studying me for a long moment before he laughed. “Do you know who Luria is?” “If we are to respect the great law, then healing Luria should be the single most important matter in this world. Luria was an ancient goddess. A thousand years ago, she willingly sacrificed herself to the heavens, her own flesh and blood mending this broken realm. If we speak of debts, every living creature in this world owes her.” When he spoke of Luria, his eyes shone with a brilliant light. Just like Father’s did when he spoke of Mother. I lowered my head, fell silent, and tried to understand. Was he right? I was never very smart. I thought about it for a long time, but I couldn’t figure it out. If only Mother were here. She would know if he was right. Azureus seemed to have lost interest in talking to me. He waved a hand, dismissing me. But I didn’t move. I stubbornly believed that the deaths of my parents, my brother, my aunts and uncles… it couldn’t just be forgotten. Azureus grew annoyed. “What more do you want?” I thought for a moment, then held to my conviction. “A life for a life.” The words had barely left my lips when a bolt of raw magic slammed into me, throwing me to the ground. I coughed up another pool of blood. Azureus’s voice dripped with scorn. “Ant. Only the strong have the right to speak their desires. Only the strong hold the power of life and death. The truth… has always been a tool for the powerful.” I clutched my chest and staggered to my feet, nodding blankly. So, I have to be stronger than him to kill him. As long as I am stronger, I can kill him. He should have just said so from the start. It would have saved me so much time. A pity Mother never taught me that might makes right. She only ever spoke of reason and compassion. 5 As I stumbled out of the grand hall, I bumped into a woman in a green dress, her face beaming with joy. When she saw me, her eyes lit up. She threw herself at Azureus. “Azureus! There’s another Kirin!” “Quick, cut out her brain for me!” she chirped. “It has to be fresh! The last one, the little one with the fire-cloud mark on its head, I ate it while it was still alive. The effect was marvelous!” Hearing this, I couldn’t stop myself. I turned and stared at her. Among all the Kirin, only my brother had a fire-cloud mark on his head. Azureus stroked her hair dotingly. “This is the last Kirin in the world. We can’t kill her. Otherwise, we’ll have nothing left to keep the other beasts in line.” Luria pouted. “It’s just one animal. What does it matter?” I didn’t listen to any more. I limped out of the Celestial Realm. Mother, you used to tell me the Archon loved all his creations. But why… why does it feel so different from what you said? 6 When I returned to the mortal plane, Lord Dragon and Lady Phoenix were waiting for me at my ruined home. Seeing me covered in wounds, they trembled with rage. But their anger quickly gave way to a weary sigh. Lady Phoenix stroked my head. “Hera, don’t provoke them anymore. Just live. Please.” I looked at her, confused. “Why? Shouldn’t a murderer pay with their life?” “No,” she said, shaking her head. “Living is what’s most important. Hera, you are the last of the Kirin bloodline. Nothing is more important than your survival. Your mother… she probably wouldn’t want you to seek revenge. She would only want you to live.” I didn’t speak again. I found a shovel and started digging a hole by the gate. My parents and my silly little brother… they deserved a proper burial. I held my brother’s head in my paws. I suddenly remembered Luria saying she had eaten his brain while he was still alive. It must have hurt. A lot. No wonder the pearl was warped. Just that morning, he had been so full of life. Now, he was as cold as ice. No one would ever chirp “sister” at me again. It was so quiet. Yes, it was quiet, but… it was too quiet. A gust of wind blew, stinging my eyes. They felt dry. Why were they watering? Mother said my senses were dull. It must be the wind. It must be… 7 After burying my family, I leaned against the gravestone. I started talking, my words a rambling whisper. “Mother, you once told me the world was at peace, that the Archon was benevolent.” “What about now? Do you still think so?” “Mother, I still believe that a murderer should pay with their life.” “Mother, I want to go to the Great Eastern Wilds. I want to take back the other half of my power.” “Mother, I don’t want to listen to you anymore.” “Mother, you can’t blame me for this…” “Mother… I just miss you a little. And I miss my brother.” “Mother…”

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My wife lay dead in our home, terminally ill. All the signs pointed To the mistress of her husband, the one who’d married into her money. But the real killer… well, no one saw that coming. 1. The living room was a disaster zone. A woman’s body, clad in pajamas, lay face down in a pool of blood. Behind her, a horrifying blood smear stretched nearly six feet across the floorboards, marking a desperate crawl. Every drawer, every nook, anything that could hide something, had been violently ransacked. On a load-bearing wall, there was a sickening impact point, blood spattered outwards like the killer had slammed the victim’s head against it, hard, maybe more than once… I took a quick scan of the scene, my assessment interrupted by my assistant Leo’s confused voice in my ear. “Dr. Sharma, this scene was locked down tight. How did that anonymous tipster even know a crime happened here? Could they be the killer?” I frowned, pulling latex gloves from my pocket. “Let’s put that aside for now. Focus on the case in front of us.” “Right.” Leo nodded, grabbing his kit and heading towards the body to prep for my initial examination. Just as I was about to ask someone for details, a solid figure emerged from the bedroom. He wore a crisp police uniform, the peaked cap shadowing sharp, deep-set eyes that seemed to take everything in. It was Detective Kincaid, from Homicide. We’d been working cases together for about six months. He usually favored practical biker gear, though, not the formal blues. The uniform gave him a different air. Seeing me, his usual tough-guy expression softened slightly. He crossed the room quickly but stopped a respectful few feet away, holding out a pair of disposable shoe covers with a hint of awkwardness. “Finally made it, huh?” I took the covers, his warm fingers brushing the back of my hand – a stark contrast to the cold touch I dealt with daily in my line of work. “What’s the preliminary?” I asked, pulling the covers over my shoes. “You know, you don’t always have to look so serious. They call you the ‘Ice Queen’ behind your back, you know?” He offered a slight, teasing smile, maybe emboldened because I hadn’t refused the shoe covers. He quickly got back to business. “I was actually in a meeting nearby when the anonymous tip came into your office. Got here within five minutes, but it was too late. She was gone. This one… could be anything. Revenge, jealousy, money…” I stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue. Kincaid tapped his tablet, pulling up the victim’s file. “Victim is Eleanor Vance. Pretty well-known locally, businesswoman, wealthy. Made her share of enemies, I’m sure. So, motive could easily be financial, some deal gone bad. Plus, her husband, Greg Thorne, married into the money. They’ve been together over ten years, no kids. Eleanor was an only child, and her parents died in a car crash not long ago. If she’s gone… Greg inherits everything.” “Where’s Greg?” I calculated the time; Kincaid had been here at least twenty minutes longer than me. The husband should have been notified and rushed over by now. “Don’t get me started. Called his cell countless times, goes straight to voicemail. Called his office, secretary says he never showed up today.” I glanced back at the crowd of onlookers held back by the yellow tape outside. “Any witnesses?” Kincaid shook his head. “No witnesses to the event itself. Neighbor next door gave us something, though. Heard a vase shatter, followed by crying.” “How was their relationship?” I pressed. “Based on what the neighbors are saying… not great.” Kincaid gave my shoulder a light, supportive pat. “Don’t stress too much. Looks like we can rule out a random home invasion robbery. The killer didn’t force entry from the outside. The struggle is concentrated here, in the living room, not starting at the door.” He was right. If it were a break-in or someone following her home, the signs of struggle would likely start near the entrance as she was overpowered. The killer… was someone Eleanor Vance had let inside without fear. 2: The Husband’s Mistress – A Motive for Murder? “Detective, got something.” Chris, from the evidence team, walked over holding a medical file. It was open, and I immediately saw the diagnosis. Patient: Eleanor Vance. Condition: Stage IV Liver Cancer. Prognosis: Six months, maximum. The appointment date was two months ago. Which meant she only had about three, maybe four months left. “Interesting. With that diagnosis, she wouldn’t have been managing her business affairs much. Rules out a current business dispute driving a revenge killing. Which leaves…” Kincaid didn’t finish his thought as Jake, from Forensics, approached, holding up his infrared scanner. “Detective, the trace evidence here is… complicated.” Kincaid took off his cap, rubbing his brow with a familiar frown. “How so?” “Take a look.” Jake tapped the scanner’s screen, bringing up a multicolored display. “Red is blood spatter. Blue indicates footprints and fingerprints. And gray… gray means someone wiped it down.” Following his explanation, my eyes immediately traced a distinct gray path leading from the front door towards the bedroom. “The killer cleaned their tracks?” Jake nodded. “Exactly. Which makes it hard to say if the four distinct sets of shoe prints and three sets of latent prints we lifted definitely belong to the killer.” “Don’t jump to conclusions yet,” Kincaid told Jake, signaling him to keep processing. He turned back to me. “Alright, Dr. Sharma. Your show.” I gave him a brief look, then moved toward the victim, crouching beside the body to begin my preliminary examination. “Livor and rigor mortis haven’t set in yet. Body temperature is still slightly elevated. Consistent with death within the last hour. Also…” I lifted Eleanor’s hand gently, examining it closely. “Fingernails on all ten fingers show cyanosis – a bluish tint – and heavy abrasion. Significant debris under the nails. Consistent with the claw marks on the floor. Caused during her crawl.” I motioned for Leo to collect samples from under her nails. Next, I carefully brushed the hair away from her face. Her cheekbones were sunken, dark circles prominent under her eyes. The illness had clearly taken a heavy toll. What was strange, though, were the distinct petechial hemorrhages in her eyelids and the cyanosis around her lips. There was also a small amount of vomit near her mouth. All classic signs of asphyxiation. Yet, there were no ligature marks on her neck, no bruising around her nose or mouth. I used a gloved finger to dab a tiny bit of the vomit, bringing it close to my nose. Amidst the sour, acrid smell, there was a faint, peculiar chemical odor, almost medicinal. Leo leaned in to collect a sample of the vomit. “Dr. Sharma, could the asphyxia be from aspiration? Maybe induced by the head trauma causing vomiting? Or maybe the cancer itself caused it?” I didn’t answer immediately. I pressed the impact point on her forehead. No crepitus, no indication of a skull fracture. Besides Leo’s theories, mechanical asphyxia – smothering – was a strong possibility. The exact cause of death would require a full autopsy. Seeing that none of the visible injuries accounted for the sheer volume of blood, I signaled Leo to help me carefully turn the body over. Just as I suspected. The femoral artery, high on her inner thigh, had been slashed by a sharp object. The edges of the wound were jagged, and I could see tiny fragments of glass embedded in the skin. I looked back along the blood trail. Near its starting point lay the shattered remains of a large, ornate vase. The basic sequence of events was becoming clearer. Eleanor was first assaulted near the wall, suffering the head impact. Then, somehow, she ended up near where the vase broke, cutting her artery on the shards. From there, she crawled nearly six feet before finally succumbing. I instructed the team to carefully bag the body for transport to the morgue for the full autopsy. Kincaid walked over, phone in hand, a triumphant look on his face. He couldn’t resist his usual playful routine with me. “Guess what I just found out?” I focused on meticulously labeling the sample vials, not responding. For some reason, he always seemed to dial up the boyish enthusiasm around me, a stark contrast to the cool, disciplined detective everyone else described. He was used to my frosty demeanor by now and didn’t seem offended. Instead, he crouched down beside me, helping organize the vials while sharing his finding. “Just got a call from Financial Crimes. They tracked Greg Thorne’s credit card usage. Guess where? The downtown Women’s Clinic.” My hands paused. A likely scenario clicked into place. “You guessed it.” Kincaid met my eyes, a shared understanding passing between us. “Greg Thorne didn’t just have a mistress on the side. He got her pregnant. And from here to the Women’s Clinic? It’s only a fifteen-minute drive. He had the motive, and he had the time.” 3: Sleeping Pills and a Killer? “And here’s the clincher…” Kincaid raised an eyebrow. “I checked the security footage from the elevators and stairwells in this building. Greg Thorne left the premises thirty minutes ago. Lines up perfectly with Eleanor’s estimated time of death.” I calmly closed my forensic kit, refusing to get carried away by the seemingly straightforward evidence. My first mentor in forensics taught me day one: never jump to conclusions, whether you’re investigating a scene or examining a body. Avoid tunnel vision at all costs. “Looks like this one might wrap up without needing too much overtime from you, Doc!” Kincaid patted my shoulder confidently, then stood and motioned to another detective. They were heading to the Women’s Clinic to pick up Greg Thorne. I wasn’t as optimistic. Something about the case felt off, too many strange details. I wasn’t ready to declare it solved. Back at the office. I sent Leo off to the lab with the collected samples, requesting rush processing, then headed straight into the autopsy suite. We donned our light blue scrubs, masks, and fresh gloves. Eleanor Vance lay on the stainless-steel table. Bruises marked various parts of her body, particularly severe subcutaneous hemorrhaging in areas typically grabbed during restraint – arms, shoulders. Given the signs of asphyxia noted at the scene, that was my starting point. I examined her oral cavity and dissected the subcutaneous tissues of her neck. Then, I carefully shaved her head, made a precise incision from behind her left ear, across the scalp, to behind her right ear. Peeling back the scalp, I used the oscillating saw to remove the skull cap. Her brain tissue, like her mouth and neck tissues, showed no signs of trauma or hemorrhage. It almost looked like a sudden natural death, except for the clear signs of violence. However, after removing the brain and the dura mater covering the base of the skull, the petrous portions of the temporal bones were visibly dark, showing distinct hemorrhage. “Smothering,” I stated definitively. Hemorrhage in the petrous temporal bones, which house the inner ear structures, indicates a significant pressure change, often seen in smothering or drowning cases. “But there were no marks around her mouth or nose…” Leo looked completely baffled. I met his confused gaze. “Could have been done with a soft object.” Light dawned in Leo’s eyes. “Oh! I remember now! I think one of the sofa cushions was missing from the living room scene.” I didn’t comment further, moving on to open the thoracic and abdominal cavities. Just as the medical report indicated, her liver was hard, riddled with large, irregular masses. The cancer was aggressively advanced. Critically, her lungs showed no significant aspiration of vomit, and her bronchial passages were clear. Cause of death was becoming undeniable. Just then, a knock sounded at the autopsy suite door. I looked up as Ben from the toxicology lab entered, holding a report. “Dr. Sharma, we found traces of Zolpidem in the victim’s vomit.” “Zolpidem? Isn’t that Ambien?” Leo exclaimed. I stripped off my gloves, took the report from Ben, and asked Leo to handle the closing sutures. I headed straight for the digital forensics unit. With the team’s help, it didn’t take long to pull up security footage stills of Greg Thorne purchasing a bottle of Ambien from a local pharmacy a week prior, clearly using connections to bypass normal prescription protocols. By the time I got to the Homicide division, Kincaid had already brought Greg Thorne back from the clinic. Inside the stark interrogation room, Greg Thorne, dressed in an expensive suit, looked extremely agitated. “How did Eleanor die? She was fine when I left this morning, I swear!” “You’re the husband, you tell me,” Kincaid’s voice was hard, his demeanor intimidating when he switched into full interrogation mode. “I suggest you start talking, tell us everything. Lying will only make things worse.” “You… you don’t suspect me, do you?” Greg stammered, then rushed to defend himself. “Yes… she found out about… the other woman. We fought about it constantly. But you have to understand, she didn’t have long left! If I just waited, didn’t push for a divorce, all her assets would come to me eventually. Why would I kill her?” Kincaid slammed his hand on the table. “Maybe you couldn’t wait! Maybe you decided to speed things up!”

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When I got into the car accident, my husband, Ethan, was on a business trip overseas. It took him a week to finally wrap things up and rush back. Seeing how badly I was injured, his eyes filled with tears, and he said he’d cancel all his work to take care of me, heart and soul. Everyone in the hospital room envied me for finding such a successful man who clearly adored me. Only I, picturing the two of them kissing passionately under the Northern Lights, felt a daze wash over me. Looking up again at his feigned deep affection, I just felt sick to my stomach. 1 The moment Ethan landed, he came straight to the hospital, not even stopping by home. He was lugging two large suitcases, looking completely exhausted from his travels. He grabbed the first doctor he saw, desperate to know about my injuries. The doctor was evasive, telling him to ask me directly. At that moment, my legs were in casts, and my head was wrapped up like a mummy. Luckily, my arms were still free, so I could scroll through my phone. When Ethan saw me, his eyes instantly reddened, and his hand trembled as he held mine. “Honey, you… you’ve suffered so much. It’s all my fault, I was too busy with work. For something this huge to happen to you, and I couldn’t even be here with you right away…” A tear landed on the back of my hand, shockingly hot. I felt a bit uneasy and tried to sit up. “Actually, I’m not that badly hurt, it just looks scary…” Ethan panicked, gently pushing me back down. “You’re seriously injured, don’t move around. You could hurt yourself again.” I chuckled weakly and lay back down obediently. Once Ethan calmed down, he started opening his suitcases, pulling out gifts for me one by one. There was food, clothes, jewelry – they filled the empty hospital bed next to mine, but Ethan still felt it wasn’t enough. “Honey, is there anything else you want? Or anything you’re craving to eat? I’ll go buy it for you later, or I can even make it.” Ethan mentioning it actually made me crave his cooking. “Then how about you make a few of your specialty dishes?” Ethan stroked my head, calling me his “little foodie” with a fond smile, and then left. When he returned, besides the dishes I’d asked for, he’d also bought a ton of fruit and snacks, handing them out to everyone in the hospital room. People couldn’t stop praising him, saying how handsome and thoughtful he was, and they all told me how lucky I was to have found such a great guy. I couldn’t help but feel a little smug, a mix of shy and proud. Ethan, basking in the compliments, was all smiles and even wanted to feed me. You know, the last time he’d fed me was during the playful antics on our wedding night. Naturally, I refused. “It’s my legs and head that are hurt, not my arms and hands. I can eat by myself.” But Ethan insisted. “Honey, I wasn’t by your side when you just had the accident. Now that I’m back, please give me a chance to make it up to you.” Amidst our gentle pushing and pulling, the room filled with pink, fluffy romance and knowing smiles from the onlookers. That’s when Veronica burst in. 2 It was as if she didn’t even see Ethan and me. She launched straight into urgent, business-like talk. “Mr. Hamilton, there’s an issue with the Southside project. The partners are all at the company raising hell. You need to get back there quickly.” Ethan’s face instantly frosted over. “What could possibly be so urgent that I have to go back? Is everyone else at the company just for show? Can’t you see I’m with my wife?” “Whatever it is, it can wait until I’m in the office tomorrow.” Veronica bit her lip hard, tears welling in her eyes. “But Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Peterson said if you don’t come back with me, then I don’t need to come back either.” Mr. Peterson was a company old-timer, who’d always had it out for Ethan and was known for using his seniority to bully Ethan’s assistants. Several of Ethan’s previous assistants had quit because they couldn’t stand Mr. Peterson constantly making their lives difficult. Veronica had lasted the longest. Seeing this, I gently squeezed Ethan’s arm and gave him a look. “The Southside project is a big deal, after all. Maybe you should go, huh?” Ethan looked at me quietly for a moment, then stroked my head. “Okay. Whatever you say.” Ethan left with Veronica. But five minutes later, Veronica came back by herself, bold as brass, and sat right down on the edge of my bed, a smirk playing on her lips as she looked at me. I inexplicably felt a prickle on my back and frowned at her. “Do you… need something from me?” Veronica smiled, took out her phone, and pulled up a photo. “Just as expected from someone Mr. Hamilton once liked. You’re much smarter than I thought, sis.” “So, smarty-pants, do you recognize this person?” The photo showed a couple kissing. The woman was clearly Veronica. But the man, even though I could only see the back of his head, looked disturbingly familiar. My frown deepened. Veronica’s smile widened, her lips curling upwards, her voice like a siren’s song. “If I said this was Mr. Hamilton, would you believe me, sis?” Before I could answer, the hospital room door was suddenly kicked open. Ethan rushed in, grabbed Veronica by the arm, and started dragging her out. “What did you say to her? Who told you to come back and see her?” Only when he reached the doorway did he seem to remember I was there. He turned back to explain. “Veronica forgot something, she just came back to get it. Honey, I’m just going to pop into the office for a second, I’ll be right back.” I glanced at Ethan. His expression was normal, showing no cracks. I just waved dismissively and went back to pondering the photo and Veronica’s words. Because of that, I didn’t see the look of relief flash across Ethan’s face as I looked down, nor the challenging, resentful glint in Veronica’s eyes. 3 Honestly, the man in the photo really did look like Ethan from behind. But Ethan and I were childhood sweethearts. People came and went in our lives, but we had always been steadfastly by each other’s side. I really didn’t want to doubt him unless I absolutely had to. But subconsciously, I started replaying every little interaction between Ethan and Veronica, analyzing the possibility of them being together. Veronica had joined Ethan’s company five years ago. A girl from a small town, she didn’t know how to dress, wasn’t good at socializing, and consequently, her work was a mess. Several times, Ethan had called her while I was there and chewed her out so badly she was probably in tears. The worst time, he directly asked her if she’d even gone to school, if she was an idiot, and said if she couldn’t hack it, she should just go clean toilets or be a security guard instead of taking up space and collecting a paycheck. It was me who persuaded him back then, saying it wasn’t easy for a young girl to make it in the big city, that he should give her more patience and let her grow. That’s how I talked him out of firing her. Three years ago, when Ethan and I got married, Veronica came to the ceremony with the other company employees. By then, she had gradually become more competent. She wore a simple, elegant white dress, had light makeup on, and exuded an air of intelligence and capability. After she caught the bridal bouquet, people around her joked about who would be lucky enough to marry such a beautiful and capable girl. Ethan had sneered coldly. “So plain, and can’t even do her job right. Whoever marries you must have had some seriously bad karma.” Veronica had covered her face and ran out crying. At the time, I even blamed Ethan for being so harsh to a young woman. A year ago, I found a very cute stuffed animal in Ethan’s study. Later, I saw the same one on Veronica’s bag and casually mentioned it to Ethan, saying they’d been around each other so long their tastes were becoming similar. Not long after, Ethan’s company HR department bought a whole batch of those stuffed animals and gave one to everyone in the company. Two months ago, I suddenly sprained my ankle at work and had to ask Ethan to pick me up. At the time, Veronica was sitting in Ethan’s passenger seat, claiming she got carsick in the back. … Incident after incident. A tangled mess, impossible to unravel. Suddenly, the man’s cufflinks in the photo flashed in my mind – a blue sapphire four-leaf clover with a chipped corner. Ethan had a pair just like it. So, if Ethan’s cufflinks were intact, did that mean the man in the photo wasn’t him? I picked up my phone, about to make up an excuse to get Ethan to bring those cufflinks over, when I happened to see a message from him. “Honey, I bought you those little wontons from that place you always liked. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” Looking at the time, twenty-five minutes had already passed. I quickly got out of bed, thought for a moment, grabbed my crutches, and slowly made my way to the door. Instead of guessing wildly, isn’t being direct faster? 4 I just didn’t expect Ethan and Veronica’s “directness” to be much faster than mine. Around the corner of the hallway, before I could even move, I heard familiar voices. “Mr. Hamilton, when your wife had her car accident, you were still in Iceland with me, chasing the Northern Lights. How did you explain that to her?” Ethan chuckled smugly. “I told her I was busy with work, of course.” “And she believed such a flimsy lie?” “That fool Olivia, she always believes whatever I tell her.” Ethan paused for a few seconds, then suddenly pulled Veronica in by the waist, letting her soft curves press against his chest. “Speaking of which, I took such a huge risk for you. How are you planning to compensate me?” Veronica lowered her head shyly. “How do you want me to compensate you?” Ethan bent down and nibbled on Veronica’s earlobe, blowing gently on her pale neck. “That new cosplay outfit we bought last time…” Veronica suddenly looked up, playfully pounding his chest with her small fists. “Mr. Hamilton, you… you’re terrible.” The next second, her gaze unexpectedly met mine in mid-air. Veronica froze for a moment, then a provocative smile spread across her lips. Then, she wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck and kissed him forcefully on the lips. Ethan, caught off guard but with a beautiful woman offering herself, naturally saw no reason to refuse. He pressed the back of Veronica’s head, instantly taking control, kissing her with abandon. A nurse suddenly appeared and gasped. “Ms. Hayes, what are you doing out here?” I fought to control the trembling in my body and managed a weak smile. “My husband will be here soon, I just came out to meet him.” Before I figured out my next move, I absolutely couldn’t let them see what I knew. Ethan, hearing a familiar voice from around the corner, broke out in a cold sweat. He abruptly pushed Veronica away, quickly straightened his clothes, and turned to walk towards me. When I looked up, I saw Ethan with a face full of surprise and concern. “Honey, why are you out here? Your legs, can they support you?” I leaned against the wall, pretending to be weak, and lowered my head, conveniently hiding the fury in my eyes. “Actually, I… I am feeling a bit unsteady.” Ethan paused for a second, then swept me up into his arms. “Don’t push yourself if you can’t manage. Come on, I’ll carry you back.” Behind him, I saw Veronica’s face, contorted with a hatred so intense she looked like she wanted to kill me, yet she didn’t dare make a move. I smirked. Want to play games with me? Bring it on. 5 Back in the hospital room, Ethan had just placed me on the bed when Veronica eagerly tried to get him to leave. “Mr. Hamilton, those gifts you brought for your wife earlier, I think you forgot them in the trunk.” Ethan smacked his forehead, looking at me a bit apologetically. “Look at my memory. Honey, wait for me a minute, I’ll be right back.” The moment Ethan left, Veronica immediately dropped her careful, fawning expression and circled me several times. “Sis, to be so calm after catching your husband cheating red-handed, I’m actually a little impressed.” “I know, you and Mr. Hamilton are childhood sweethearts with deep feelings. It’s normal that you can’t make up your mind right away. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” Veronica played a video on her phone and held it in front of me. In the video, Ethan and Veronica were trapped in a car, surrounded by a vast expanse of white – it looked like a snowstorm. Veronica looked ahead, her gaze melancholic. “Mr. Hamilton, are we really going to die here?” Ethan was fiddling with his phone, his voice as calm as if they were just stuck in traffic. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you die.” Veronica suddenly turned, climbed over the center console, and wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck, looking at him seriously. “Mr. Hamilton, actually, I think it would be nice to die like this. At least, right now, you’re completely mine.” Ethan tried to push her hands away. “Don’t be ridiculous.” But Veronica held on tighter. “I’m serious. It’s just a bit regrettable that I couldn’t have your baby.” Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly; his expression was clearly moved. Veronica noticed this too. Her hand slid down Ethan’s abs, further down, and then she squeezed. “Mr. Hamilton, give me a chance, I beg you.” Ethan’s body jolted, and a storm quickly gathered in his eyes. Then, he lunged, pressing down on her. The seat reclined, the temperature inside the car rapidly climbed, and sounds that would make anyone blush filled the air. After it was over, Veronica lay on Ethan’s chest, tracing circles with her finger. “Mr. Hamilton, I heard Olivia had a car accident. With us like this… will she be very sad? Do you still love her?” Ethan smirked. “Love? It’s not about love between us anymore, it’s habit.” “I’ve already asked about her accident. It’s not serious, she’ll be fine with some rest. Not a big deal.” The video ended abruptly there. Veronica put her phone away. “Well? Sis, a man like this, do you still want him?” I looked at her silently, not saying a word. Veronica stood up on her own. “If I were you, and my husband cheated, I’d immediately collect evidence, fight for what I deserve, and avoid ending up with nothing – no man, no money. Sis, think about it carefully.” Ethan walked in right on cue. “What are you two talking about?” 6 I asked Veronica to go buy me some dessert, keeping Ethan behind. “Come here, I have something interesting for you to listen to.”

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Six years into my relationship, my fingers brushed against a ring box in my boyfriend Liam Davis’s coat pocket. It was my birthday, and I was buzzing with anticipation. Instead, I scrolled through my social media feed and saw photos of him entering an upscale, romantic restaurant with another girl. I quickly hailed a cab and sped to the restaurant, arriving just in time to see him on one knee, proposing to her. The crowd around them cheered, urging them to seal their fate. After accumulating enough disappointment, I didn’t make a scene like I usually would. Instead, I quietly dialed my dad’s number. “Dad, I’ll agree to the marriage with the Stone family. Let’s start preparing the wedding.” … Hearing my words, Dad was initially stunned, then his voice filled with delight: “My dear girl, you’ve finally come around! When it comes to marriage, it’s all about finding the right match, someone who truly fits our family’s standing. You can sample the appetizers, honey, but you don’t build a life on plain rice!” I softly hummed in agreement, standing alone in the restaurant lobby, watching Liam and the girl embrace amidst the cheers. Everyone was celebrating them. Only I stood like a stiff, motionless puppet. Dad, hearing the celebratory noise from my end, urged me, “So, when are you coming home? You need to meet Ethan Stone. They’ve been pressing for an engagement date for a while now.” “In three days. Once I wrap things up here, I’ll head straight home.” After hanging up, perhaps because I stuck out so starkly from the jubilant crowd, Liam, his hands trembling as he put the ring on the girl’s finger, looked up and saw me. We stood far apart, gazing at each other across the room. Liam seemed a little surprised by my presence. He frowned, then led the girl back to their table. Roses, champagne, a soaring romantic piano melody, and a candlelight dinner… In the six years we’d been together, he had never taken me to a place like this. I turned to leave. Liam’s friends were all there; the photos had been posted by one of them. As I walked away, I could still hear their whistles and applause. “You two are truly made for each other! After all these years, you’ve finally made it official!” “Come on, everyone, let’s raise a toast to the happy couple! To true love!” I smiled bitterly. In the six years I’d spent by Liam’s side, his brothers and friends never knew about us. Yet, they all knew about his connection to that girl. A nameless bitterness welled up inside me. My birthday today. The sweet thrill I’d felt when I first found the ring in his coat pocket now morphed into a soul-crushing poison. After hailing a cab, I returned home. An empty birthday cake box sat by the door, delivered by a food service. The card on top had Liam’s handwriting: Happy Birthday, my darling. May all your wishes come true. The delivery guy smiled at me, a hint of envy in his eyes. “Ma’am, your boyfriend is really good to you. He ordered the most expensive cake in our shop, and he even wrote the card himself!” I pushed open the door and casually placed the cake on the counter. So, he remembered it was my birthday. But what had he done today? I sank weakly onto the sofa, my eyes involuntarily watering in the empty room. Our lives were etched into every corner of this place. But my boyfriend had bought an engagement ring and proposed to another woman. Seeing that cake now, I only felt sick to my stomach. I sat on the sofa for a long time, until I almost lost track of time. Then, the apartment door suddenly opened. Liam returned, looking tired, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers. He walked towards me, his face devoid of any guilt or apology. “Riley, I brought you your favorite Lisianthus.” Lisianthus, symbolizing faithful and exclusive love. Now, held in Liam’s hands, they looked like a joke. I took the bouquet. Liam, thinking I had calmed down, finally began to explain. “Chloe Sterling was just diagnosed with bone cancer, and her only wish was to marry me. We grew up together, and I couldn’t let her last wish go unfulfilled. So, I’ll be getting engaged to her in three days.” “You’re always so understanding. You’ll definitely understand, right?” His tone wasn’t an explanation; it was a notification. Engaged to Chloe Sterling in three days, huh? What a coincidence. I was planning to leave in three days too. I nodded silently. In the past, Liam couldn’t stand my temper. He used to say I always made a fuss over small things, constantly seeking his attention, asking again and again if he loved me. Over time, I gradually changed, learning to endure. Now, I wasn’t arguing or demanding to know if he still loved me, and Liam seemed somewhat surprised, glancing at me. “Tomorrow, I’ll be moving in with Chloe. For the next few months, you might have to manage alone.” “Chloe is a patient. Compared to you, she needs me more right now.” I smiled, setting the flowers down. Seeing my lack of opposition, Liam leaned in, trying to touch my face. I subtly pulled away. His shirt collar still had a prominent lipstick stain, and the sickeningly sweet perfume scent wafted into my nose, making me want to gag. Rejected, Liam’s temper flared. He said nothing more and quickly left the apartment. I threw both the flowers and the cake into the trash, then began packing my things. I didn’t want the flowers, and I didn’t want Liam anymore. I had no attachment left to this home I’d lived in for six years. The next day, back at the office, I sat at my desk and printed out my resignation letter. Liam and I had met and fallen in love in college. When he joined this tech company, I followed him, turning down opportunities from my parents to start as a junior employee alongside him. After we got together, I had subtly brought up the idea of marriage. But Liam was always busy with work, saying he hadn’t built his career yet and was afraid my parents wouldn’t want their precious daughter to marry him. “Career before marriage” was his constant refrain. To avoid burdening him, I quietly worked on my parents, never revealing my family background, fearing it would put more pressure on him. Now he was a company VP. The moment I found the ring in his pocket, I’d hoped he had finally decided to propose to me. Turns out, it was all wishful thinking. A colleague walked over and saw my resignation letter on my computer. They looked surprised. “Riley, aren’t you about to be promoted to director? Why are you suddenly quitting?” I smiled. “I’m getting married soon. I might be working for a different company then.” My colleague, Sarah Jenkins, also smiled and congratulated me. “Seems like everyone in our company is getting good news lately! Last night, I also saw VP Davis’s social media post saying he was getting engaged!” “And I have to say, the VP and his girlfriend really do look perfect together. I heard they’re childhood sweethearts who grew up together, each other’s true loves.” The smile on my face suddenly felt strained. I opened my phone to find that Liam had already blocked me on both his main and secondary social media accounts. His main account was for personal use; he had unfriended and blocked me after he left the apartment yesterday. His secondary account was for work. When I opened our chat, all that was left were strictly professional communications. Just then, Liam walked into the office with Chloe Sterling. They stood close together. Chloe’s face was flushed and she had a bright smile, looking nothing like a patient. Liam then introduced her to everyone. “This is our new Director of Technology. Everyone, please get to know her and work together harmoniously.” Sarah’s face showed surprise. Her gaze flickered between me and Chloe, then she bowed slightly and greeted Chloe. “Hello, Director Sterling!” I said nothing, silently clutching my resignation letter. Liam, however, looked at me with displeasure. “Riley Miller, everyone else has greeted the new director. What’s your attitude?” Chloe chuckled lightly and extended her hand to me. “We’ll be working in the same company from now on. Please take good care of me.” Just as I reached out my hand, Liam pulled Chloe’s hand back. “You’re a director. There’s no need to indulge some junior employee. Let’s go, I’ll show you around the new environment.” They left one after another, leaving me standing there, hand still extended, looking like a fool. Sarah pulled me to sit down, gossiping at her desk. “Riley, you saw that, right? That was VP Davis’s fiancée!” “That diamond necklace on her neck? VP Davis gave it to her yesterday. They say it’s worth a fortune!” “But this sudden appointment by the VP is just too obvious! You’ve been here for five years, and your work ability is clear to everyone. And the VP just casually gave your well-deserved position to someone else!” I nodded absently. I had already decided to quit, and Chloe’s sudden arrival only clarified my standing in Liam’s eyes even faster. Gathering my documents and resignation letter, I knocked on Liam’s office door. “Come in,” Liam’s voice was cold. I placed everything down, including the handover documents for my departure. Liam flipped through the papers, his face darkening with each page. Finally, he looked up, staring at me with a sarcastic smile and a hint of disdain. “Riley Miller, yesterday I thought you’d finally straightened up, that you wouldn’t throw tantrums anymore. Looks like you’re showing your true colors today, huh?” Liam finished speaking, then threw the documents at me. I dodged, then lowered my head and picked up the papers scattered on the floor. He continued, “So what if I took your promotion opportunity? Chloe’s major is the same as mine. I trust her abilities, which is why I gave her the Director of Technology position. What right do you have to be upset?” I neatly stacked the papers and placed them in front of him. Calmly, I told him, “I’m not upset. I just want to resign.” Chloe Sterling shares your major, and you know her capabilities. But what about me? I majored in jewelry design in college, but I pursued a dual degree in a different field for Liam. I worked day and night for years to keep up with him. In his eyes, was all my effort truly so worthless? Liam looked down at me from his elevated position. “Don’t you have a grasp of your own competence? I’ve transferred you to Chloe’s team. You can watch and learn from her from now on.” I smiled. “My time is valuable. I won’t bother learning things I dislike anymore.” “Fine! Then leave! Let’s see which company dares to hire you after this!” Liam said, rising from his office chair, his eyes glinting like a menacing ghost ready to devour me. But I simply turned and walked out of the office. Six years with Liam, I considered it a wasted effort. But I would never revolve around him again, let alone Chloe Sterling. At noon, I returned to my desk to pack my belongings. The small asteroid ornament on my desk was a gift from Liam when he graduated. Back then, he swore I was his entire world. I gave a self-deprecating laugh, took one last look, and then packed the ornament away with the rest of my things. Just as I was leaving with my box, Chloe Sterling suddenly entered, her face anxious. “Excuse me, everyone, I seem to have lost my necklace today. Could everyone please cooperate with a routine check?” The other office workers began whispering. “I saw Director Sterling’s necklace when I came in today. The diamond on it was huge, so shiny and brilliant!” “I think Director Sterling is being too polite. It’s entirely possible someone saw that diamond necklace, got greedy, and stole it!” “Oh my gosh! We have a thief in our office? No wonder my snacks always went missing from my desk before!” Liam stood beside Chloe Sterling, had the corporate security block the door, and then began a search of everyone. When it was my turn, I set my box down and cooperated with Liam’s inspection. He clearly saw the asteroid ornament at the very top, hesitated for a second, then instructed them to empty everything out of my box. My belongings clattered to the floor, spilling everywhere. The ornament shattered completely, turning into a pile of trash. Just like my six-year relationship with him – once a crack appeared, it could never heal. Several security guards searched the floor. Suddenly, Chloe Sterling gasped, covering her mouth. “My necklace!” Everyone in the office was drawn to her cry. Their gazes landed on me, and they began pointing and whispering behind my back. “Oh my God! It was Riley Miller who stole the new director’s necklace! If the VP hadn’t brought people to block the office, she probably would have already escaped with it!” “I never thought Riley Miller would be like this. You really can’t judge a book by its cover. Just because the new director came in and took her job, she’s acting so petty!” “Riley Miller is so narrow-minded! She’s actually such a sneaky, dishonest person. Good thing she’s leaving, otherwise I’d be scared to share an office with her!” My face turned pale. I absolutely did not touch Chloe Sterling’s necklace. Someone must have tampered with my things while I was submitting my resignation. Liam’s face was ashen. He picked up the diamond necklace from the pile of scattered items. Holding the necklace, he looked utterly disappointed in me. “Riley Miller—” He yelled my name, and I looked down to see him deliberately stepping on my belongings, grinding his foot into the shards of the asteroid ornament. Just as I looked up, Liam, without a word, slapped me across the face. “Apologize to Chloe! Why did you steal the necklace I gave her?” In that moment, my heart died completely. In his hand, he held the million-dollar necklace he gave to Chloe Sterling, while under his foot, he crushed the cheap trinket he’d given me, not even a fraction of the necklace’s value. Suddenly, tears streamed from my eyes. Being misunderstood by my colleagues in the office hurt less than that single slap from Liam, who I had been with for six years. He actually didn’t believe me? Seeing that I wasn’t speaking, he dragged me in front of Chloe Sterling like a piece of trash. “I told you to apologize! Explain why you stole something!” A flash of triumph flickered in Chloe Sterling’s eyes. Quickly, she feigned concern, frowning and reaching out to pull me up from the cold floor. I swatted her hand away, holding onto my last shred of defiance, and stood up myself. Though my eyes were blurred with tears, I held my back straight. “I didn’t take it! There are security cameras in the office. I want to check the footage to prove my innocence!” “And besides, a mere diamond necklace? I wouldn’t even bother with it!” I stared into Chloe Sterling’s eyes, uttering each word clearly. “Enough! Stop throwing a fit!” Liam clamped his hand over my mouth and dragged me out of the office. The force with which his large hand covered my nose and mouth was so strong, it felt like he was trying to suffocate me. Then, I heard Chloe Sterling smile at the colleagues in the office, magnanimously saying, “Since the item has been found, I haven’t really lost anything. We’re all colleagues, after all, so I won’t press charges! This afternoon, I’ll order afternoon tea for everyone as a thank you!” Liam seemed terrified that I would publicly expose our relationship. He led me to the breakroom. “Tell me, what exactly do you want to do? There’s a limit to how much you can act out.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, seemingly extremely distressed by the situation. I gasped for air, my face bruised where he’d grabbed me. “When did you become like this? It’s a good thing Chloe is so generous and forgave you. Now go apologize to her immediately!” “I won’t apologize. Why should I admit to something I didn’t do!” I glared at him. Liam asked why I had become like this, but I wanted to ask him when he had become so unrecognizable. Chloe Sterling entered the breakroom and poured a cup of hot water for me in a paper cup. “Riley, take a sip of water and calm down. I know you resent me, but you can’t be so impulsive next time.” I didn’t take the cup. Chloe Sterling, however, got scalded by the boiling water in the cup and spilled it on my arm. “Ah! So hot…” Chloe Sterling cried out as a few drops of hot water burned her fingers. Liam quickly pulled her to the faucet to rinse it off. I was wearing a thin chiffon blouse, which was now soaked with boiling water. My arm, scalded by the hot water, felt like it was on fire, white steam rising from it. I went to the restroom alone to treat the burn. My left wrist quickly turned red and blistered. As I returned to my desk, enduring the pain to pack my things, Liam came out and grabbed my hand. “Ouch!” I cried out in pain. Liam froze, then released me. He asked stiffly, “Are you okay?” I found it a bit funny. The slap mark on my face today was his doing, and the burn on my wrist was clearly Chloe Sterling’s intentional act. Liam’s current feigned concern made me nauseous. I shook off his hand and swept the scattered items into the trash can. He seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he just turned and left, leaving only, “You were too impulsive today.” After cleaning up the mess, I went to the company’s security camera room. I wouldn’t just let them falsely accuse me like this. But in the security room, I was at a stalemate with the staff. I asked to view the office surveillance from this morning, but the staff blocked me, saying that only internal company employees were authorized to view the footage. I saw that my internal employee account had been blocked and deleted, and I understood this was Liam’s doing. Only he in the company could have acted so quickly and had my employee account removed. He was completely siding with Chloe Sterling, having already decided that I was the one who stole the necklace. But soon, remembering that this tech company was also under the Stone family’s name, I decided to rush home and meet with Ethan Stone, the Stone family heir. I returned to the apartment I had lived in for six years. I moved out all my belongings, and just like cleaning out trash, I decisively cleared this relationship from my life. That evening, another delivery person came to the door. Inside the bag was burn cream from a pharmacy. I tossed the burn cream on the table, taking one last look at the empty home before I left. The next day, I booked a flight back to the East Coast, and meticulously handed over all my unfinished work to my successor. On the third day, I carried my suitcase and walked into the airport alone. Before boarding, I sent a breakup message to Liam’s work account for the first time. Of course, like my other colleagues, I wished him and Chloe Sterling a happy engagement. Then, I deleted all of Liam’s contact information.

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I always thought Ethan’s stepmom, Sarah, was graceful, beautiful, and pure. That was until after graduation when I moved into Ethan’s house. Late one night, I saw Sarah in the bathroom, wearing a provocative slip, watching an adult film on her phone and hiking up her skirt… … My name is Liam. After senior year of high school, my friend Ethan asked me to join him for a part-time job at a supermarket near his house. I agreed and went home with him that very day. It was there that I first saw his stepmom, Sarah. Sarah was wearing a tight black slip dress that slightly emphasized her cleavage. I immediately felt my mouth go dry and quickly averted my gaze downwards. My eyes landed on Sarah’s two long, pale legs, pressed tightly together. Her fair, slender legs were perfectly straight, and her delicate feet were adorned with red nail polish. Scenes from adult films inexplicably flashed through my mind, and I quickly lifted my head, turning away to hide my flushed face from Sarah. “I need to use the restroom first.” “Go ahead. Make yourself at home,” Ethan said, seemingly oblivious to my reaction. He pointed to the bathroom, then settled onto the sofa and turned on the TV. Sarah, however, smiled at me. Her foxy eyes, with a slight upturn at the corners when she chuckled softly, sent a ripple through my heart. “Ethan rarely brings friends over. Come on, I’ll show you.” She finished speaking and walked past me. A fragrance, like orchid and musk, filled my nostrils. She led the way, her tight, black body-hugging slip dress swaying rhythmically, her perfectly round and firm backside rising and falling with each graceful step. I had only been looking for an excuse to use the restroom. Now, seeing this, I wanted to clap my hand over myself to prevent any unsightly reactions Sarah might notice. But the more I looked, the more I felt as if Sarah’s slip dress was being worn without anything underneath! I couldn’t see any trace of underwear! Thinking back to before… I wondered if Sarah’s top half was also like that! Could it be that Sarah likes to wear things this way, to make it… convenient? As I followed Sarah, we reached the bathroom within a few steps, but Sarah suddenly paused. She gave me no time to react, quickly glancing down at me as I stopped. A faint smile touched her lips, her gaze lingering. “I never would have thought, for someone your age, you’re already so well-developed.” This… Sarah had seen it, and she was saying this to me. I felt a surge of panic. Sarah suddenly stepped forward and flicked my lower region. I yelped. Sarah giggled, her body shaking with laughter, her chest rising and falling. “Hehehe… Hurry up and do your business.” I felt like I’d been granted a reprieve, my face flushed and heart pounding, as I rushed into the bathroom. As soon as I entered, I saw a pile of red and purple intimate apparel. Most of them were just narrow strips of fabric. Connecting this to my earlier suspicion that Sarah preferred to go commando, and her deliberate teasing, my eyes widened, and my heart began to pound with excitement! Could Sarah be doing this on purpose? Teasing me, wanting me? Soon, I slapped myself on the forehead. That’s right, Ethan mentioned his dad is abroad and hasn’t been back in a long time. Sarah must be feeling empty and lonely. This is… this is her wanting… So, then… what about me? My mind began to conjure images of scandalous intimacy with Sarah, and my heart beat faster and faster. Certain parts of me also began to swell. It was a while before I emerged from the bathroom. Sarah had already started cooking, which made me breathe a sigh of relief. During dinner, I was surprised to find dishes that included foods known for their “energizing” properties, like large oysters. Sarah kept urging me to eat more. Her eyes watched me as if she wanted to devour me. What did this mean? I knew these dishes were supposedly potent for vitality. That night, I drifted off to sleep. Until I was awakened by the need to pee. I got up and went to the bathroom. Just as I was about to push the door open, I noticed it was ajar. Through the crack, I saw Sarah sitting on the toilet, holding her phone, watching something that made her face flush red. [End of Chapter 1. Unlock next chapter to continue!] 2 Soon, I heard sounds emanating from the phone through the door crack. I was instantly stunned. Sarah seemed to be watching a Japanese adult film, filled with the sounds of intimate acts between a man and a woman. My face instantly turned crimson. Sarah’s face grew redder and redder, and her eyes began to look distant. One hand slowly lifted her skirt. Sarah was wearing absolutely nothing underneath?! Before long, Sarah’s full chest was also rising and falling with her breathing. Just as I watched, dumbfounded and feeling like I was about to explode, losing all control, Sarah suddenly lifted her head, and her beautiful eyes looked right at me through the door crack! In that instant, I knew there was no hiding! At the same time, I didn’t want to hide! I wanted to go in, I wanted to… possess Sarah! The thought had just bloomed, and I felt a little scared, but quickly, looking at Sarah’s mesmerizing expression, I disregarded everything else. All I felt was my hormones surging, that impulse growing stronger and stronger. It was then that something made me swallow hard—Sarah actually crooked her finger at me. Seeing Sarah’s alluring look, I immediately rushed forward, eager to push open the bathroom door. “Liam, where’d you run off to? Are you in the bathroom? I need to go too…” Damn it, it was Ethan’s voice. I felt incredibly annoyed. I hadn’t expected a good thing to be right on the verge of happening, only for something unexpected to occur. Disappointed, I stopped dead in my tracks. Inside the bathroom, Sarah hastily began to pull her clothes back on. It was only then that I clearly saw it: Sarah’s black slip dress seemed different from other women’s slip dresses. It had a small strap inside that was tied to her leg. So, Sarah wasn’t going without underwear; the slip dress itself had built-in straps! What a wonderfully unique design! Sarah looked at me while anxiously dressing, placing her phone on the washing machine in the bathroom. I could clearly see the screen displaying… an adult film. A female actress, mature and sensual like Sarah, was wearing a similar black slip dress, bending over and wiping the floor. Behind her stood a male actor, younger than her, swallowing hard, his eyes burning with desire. Though I hadn’t seen this specific film before, it was clear that the mature, older actress was seducing the young actor, who was around my age. I instantly understood what was happening. It turned out Sarah was deliberately seducing me. This mature, alluring, married woman, Sarah, must have been dry for too long, and seeing me, she had developed improper thoughts. Sarah had already put her clothes back on, her face flushed as she looked at me. That mature and charming allure struck deep into my heart. Thump, thump, thump… Ethan’s footsteps grew closer. Sarah quickly picked up her phone, turned off the screen, and brushed past me. As she passed, her full breasts pressed against my body. Perhaps it was because the bathroom door was too narrow, or perhaps Sarah did it on purpose, but as she brushed past me, a unique fragrance emanated from her. At the same time, her soft breasts pressed against me, making my heart throb with excitement.

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My wife, barely 22, had never known true joy. Her best friend, worried she was wasting her youth, engineered a plan to get her drunk and send her into the senior’s room. That night, she, shy and wanting to escape, was pulled into his arms and taken with reckless abandon. From that moment, he became the indelible mark on her heart, her deepest desire. Seven years into our marriage, at a high school reunion, my wife, a CEO, feigned losing a game. Egged on by her best friend, she declared she would marry her ‘one true love’ and make it public. Amidst the cheers and commotion, my wife eagerly shoved divorce papers at me, demanding my cooperation: “It’s just a game, why are you taking it so seriously?” I was silent for a long time. Everyone expected me to explode in a fit of rage. Instead, I took the papers and said, indifferently: “Fine, we’ll divorce. But you owe me three things.” She promised wholeheartedly, urging me to sign, even frantically vowing: “Don’t say three, even three hundred! And when we remarry, I’ll give you the most lavish wedding imaginable!” But she didn’t know. The moment she decided on divorce, my mission failed. I was slated for deletion by the system. Only by completing three tasks could I cling to a sliver of hope. 1 Seeing my signature, Sarah gleefully tucked the papers away. Everyone exchanged knowing smiles. It dawned on me then that this entire reunion was a setup, orchestrated for me. Behind Sarah, a virtual screen abruptly appeared, displaying blinding blood-red text: “MISSION FAILED.” A mechanical voice pierced my mind: “Host, you must maintain your marriage with your target for a full seven years to nullify the life-for-life contract. You have ninety minutes remaining until the contract expires, and you will be annihilated in forty-eight hours.” The voice abruptly shifted tone: “However, considering your predicament, if you complete three urgent tasks within the time limit, you may be granted a chance to survive.” “First task initiating now—” “Make Sarah openly confess her true feelings for you.” I let out a bitter laugh. I’d just signed divorce papers. Now I was supposed to get her to confess her love to me? Chad abruptly stood up, adopting a self-righteous pose: “Sarah! If Ethan’s trying to make things difficult because of me, I, Chad, will gladly drink three shots as penance!” Sarah looked at him with an expression full of tenderness: “Don’t worry, he can’t cause any trouble.” I smirked, a self-deprecating twist of my lips. Seven years ago, on our wedding day, Sarah had originally planned to elope for love, but Chad had fled with her money. After that, she became convinced I’d interfered, treating me like an enemy. Our childhood sweetheart bond devolved into a bitter marriage. I’d always believed that treating her with genuine affection could eventually melt her cold heart. For the past two years, she’d gradually settled down, even coming home early to celebrate our anniversary. But then, Chad returned. Only then did I realize she had never forgotten him. She’d even set up this elaborate scheme just to marry him. She’d even forgotten that today was our seventh wedding anniversary. Now, the seven years I’d stolen, had to be returned. But I still wanted to live. I opened my mouth: “Sarah, first thing—confess your true feelings for me, in front of everyone.” “It has to be just like you did for Chad, all those years ago.” Sarah froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. The private room erupted in chaos: “Ethan, stop making trouble! You’re already divorced, why humiliate Sarah like this?” “Sarah, don’t listen to him! He’s clearly just trying to be difficult!” How ironic. These people had once benefited from my help, but now that Maxwell Corp. was powerful, they were quick to kick me while I was down. Chad’s face was flushed with indignation: “Ethan, you truly are despicable! Sarah, I’ll never let you endure such humiliation!” My own wife, expressing her feelings to me, was considered humiliation to him? I coldly surveyed the room, then tiredly covered my mouth: “Sarah and I are having a private conversation. It’s none of your business.” “Sarah, if you don’t want to confess, then we won’t get the divorce finalized either.” After all these years together, I knew her temperament well. Sure enough, she frowned, saying impatiently: “I thought you’d be reasonable today, but you’re still playing games. If I confess, will you really finalize the divorce?” It seemed she was genuinely desperate to tie the knot with Chad. “Yes.” Sarah’s face darkened. She spoke as if going to her death: “Ethan, stay with me. I’ll always make sure your protein shake is blended just right, so every sip feels as comforting as a warm spring breeze…” Chad’s eyes welled up with tears. He whispered, trembling: “Sarah, you actually remember…” The room erupted in applause, everyone marveling at Sarah’s devotion, how she hadn’t forgotten their old vows in eight years. Watching the two of them exchange tender glances. I felt my stomach churn. I stood up and left the table: “Excuse me, I can’t stay.” Behind me, waves of mocking laughter followed, deriding me for my self-inflicted humiliation. As I was leaving, my best friend, Mike, rushed over, demanding answers: “You really divorcing Sarah? Are you out of your mind?! You gave up the billionaire heiress to marry her, you practically broke your knees for her, and now you’re letting that scumbag Chad swoop in and pick up the pieces?” I remained silent. Back then, when Maxwell Corp. was on the brink, I refused a strategic marriage and broke ties with my parents to save her. My family shunned me, and as her husband, I couldn’t interfere with anything at the Maxwell Corp., leaving me in an awkward position. Yet, the moment Chad returned to the country, Sarah immediately made him Vice President, even putting him in charge of billions of dollars. Love or not, it was starkly obvious. I pulled out a cigarette pack, lit one, and with a detached expression, mocked myself: “You think he’s scum, but Sarah treats him like gold. What can I do?” My friend sighed, patting my shoulder: “I’ll always have your back, buddy. Maybe it’s for the best that you’re finally moving on.” As we spoke, Sarah came downstairs, her face radiant with happiness, discussing with Chad: “Chad, let’s go take wedding photos first, then buy rings. When we get the marriage certificate, I’ll have a thirty-car motorcade pick you up!” Her gaze met mine. Sarah’s upturned lips straightened, and she coldly scoffed: “Ethan, there are still two more things. If you cause any more trouble and don’t finalize the divorce with me, I’ll make your life a living hell!” I lowered my gaze and smiled bitterly. She didn’t know I’d wanted to keep my distance from her for a long time, but I had no choice but to interact with her just to stay alive. Seeing her walk away, I called out to the System: “Did that count as completed?” “Barely satisfactory.” The System’s tone remained unchanged. “Now, initiating Task Two.” “Go on a date with Sarah for one day.” 2 My fingertips trembled, ashes scattering onto the floor. “Are you serious? Sarah putting up with me today is a miracle. If I ask her to go on a date with me, she’ll think I’m messing with her!” The System was cold and indifferent: “Host, you have no right to question. You may choose to abandon the task and be annihilated.” Late at night, I tossed and turned, thinking about the System’s task. BANG! Sarah kicked open the door, grabbing my collar. In the darkness, her eyes blazed with astonishing fury: “Are you satisfied? Because of your little scene today, Chad went home sick, and I had to nurse him all night until his fever broke!” I peeled her hand off me, a smirk twisting my lips: “It was just a game. Couldn’t you have called it off? Who’s going to get serious with a CEO like you?” Sarah choked, then sighed softly: “It was just a game, why didn’t you play along?” I said nonchalantly: “Second thing: tomorrow, cancel all your appointments and spend the day with me.” Sarah’s face instantly went cold: “Ethan, are you serious right now? You’re really pushing your luck!” She slammed the bedroom door shut and left. A bitter taste filled my mouth. I knew that would be the outcome. The next morning, however, she still knocked on my door, a scowl on her face: “I lost millions today because of you. What do you want, just say it quickly.” Because of me? More like, to finalize the divorce with Chad as quickly as possible. The System told me the date itself wasn’t important; the key was for Sarah to continuously spend six hours with me. I took Sarah to the mall to kill time. The entire time, she had her face buried in her phone, never looking up. Occasionally, she’d pause outside a men’s clothing store or a luxury boutique, and with a wave of her hand, buy a stack of things. All of it for Chad. In seven years of marriage, she’d never bought me anything. The shirt I was wearing was pilling from being washed so many times. To get back at me, she’d competed with my family’s business. My dad had called me a traitor, and the industry had blacklisted me. No one knew that beneath my polished exterior, I was living on the meager income from online freelance jobs. By midday, Sarah was clearly impatient, so I quickly took her to a hot pot restaurant. Just as we ordered, her expression changed as she looked at her phone. She made a call, her voice anxious and worried: “How can you not eat? No appetite without me? Okay, I’m coming back right now!” She turned, grabbed her purse, and hurried to leave: “Something urgent came up at the office. I have to go.” I knew this had to be Chad’s doing. “Are you coming back?” My task wasn’t complete yet. She thought for a moment, then nodded: “Yes.” But to my surprise, she returned with Chad. Sarah meticulously cared for Chad, feeding him, wiping his mouth, acting as if she were nursing a bedridden patient. They looked like a loving couple, while I was just a stranger sharing a table. Whatever I wanted to order next, Chad would point to it and demand it for himself. I had no appetite. I pushed my chopsticks away. He looked incredibly smug, exclaiming with exaggerated flair: “The food Sarah feeds me is truly exceptionally delicious…” Under the table, he deliberately stomped on my foot. A vein throbbed in my temple. I glanced at the time. Thankfully, just watching a movie would be enough to hit the six-hour mark. I forced myself to tolerate him. But then, we found there were only two tickets left at the movie theater. Chad spoke first, his eyes red and watery: “Sarah, you and Ethan should go. I know he’s just using the divorce as an excuse to spend time with you, but it’s okay, I won’t be a third wheel! I’ll leave right now!” Sarah panicked, quickly pulling him back: “What are you talking about? Forget the stupid movie. I’ll just spend the whole afternoon with you instead, okay?” I pleaded gently: “Sarah, just watch this movie, and I’ll let you go. I promise I won’t bother you anymore.” To my shock, Sarah shoved me away. The popcorn I was holding spilled all over the floor. “Ethan, stop acting! I’ve told you I could never like someone as selfish, conceited, and arrogant as you. Chad is generous and kind enough not to blame you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll indulge you. Me accompanying you to the mall today was already being more than gracious!” She took Chad’s hand and turned to leave. “WARNING: HOST IS NEGLECTING TASK. ELECTRIC SHOCK PUNISHMENT. PLEASE PERSUADE SARAH TO RETURN WITHIN ONE MINUTE.” The next second, a powerful electric current surged through my body. I instantly fell to my knees, my kneecaps hitting the ground with a loud thud, my entire body convulsing. Gritting my teeth, I pleaded with all my might: “Sarah! Please, watch this movie with me, or I’ll die! Please…” Sarah turned around in a hurry, her pupils constricting as she saw me kneeling on the floor. She instinctively took a step forward. “Sarah, you go. Ethan is usually so healthy, but he suddenly collapsed now. He must be seriously ill. Go with him, don’t worry about me,” Chad suddenly interjected. Sarah’s steps halted. Her expression turned cold: “Ethan, now you’ve learned to fake falls? Stop playing the victim. Don’t make me look down on you.” She left me there. No matter how much I called out, she never looked back. After a long while, the System’s punishment ended. I was pale, like I’d been pulled from water. Many people gathered around, offering to take me to the hospital. The System issued a stern warning: “Task Two completion rate is only fifty percent. If Task Three cannot be perfectly completed, Host, you will still be annihilated.” The display panel changed, showing only one line of text: “MAKE SARAH PROPOSE TO YOU.” I laughed a vacant, hollow laugh, losing all strength and collapsing onto the ground. This was an impossible task. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital. My friend quickly brought me water, his voice sympathetic: “The doctor said your organs are failing and you won’t live more than three days. Does Sarah know? Is this why you’re divorcing her?” I knew this was a side effect of the System’s punishment. Three days? Only twenty-four hours left. I still didn’t want to beg and have Sarah pity me. After all, I was once a privileged heir. I still had my pride. I shook my head: “No, Mike. As my friend, I have one favor to ask. After I die, just tell everyone I went abroad to travel and settle down. Don’t let anyone see how pathetic my death was.” My friend’s eyes turned red. He wiped his face: “You saved Sarah’s life during that avalanche, but she thought Chad saved her, and she’s misunderstood and tormented you for all these years, you—” The phone on the table rang frantically. It was Sarah calling. 3 I struggled to get up and stop him. On the other end of the line, Sarah paused for a second, then scoffed coldly: “Did Ethan tell you to play along with his little act? What’s a fall going to do?” “Tell him to hurry up and say the last thing so we can get it over with. I don’t have time for his games.” Seeing her so anxious, I took the phone and said seriously: “The third thing is simple. Just propose to me. Tell me you want to marry me.” CRASH! An ear-splitting sound came from the other end of the line. Something seemed to have fallen over. Sarah panicked: “Chad, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” The next second, she started cursing at me over the phone: “Ethan, are you out of your mind? Are you crazy? I’m not playing your games anymore. You can go or not go to get the divorce finalized, I don’t care. In thirty days, we’ll automatically be divorced anyway. I’m not like you, desperate for survival. I can wait!” She hung up. My chest ached. I knew Sarah wanted to get rid of me, but I hadn’t realized she despised me so much. The System was still urging me to complete the task. But now I had no leverage over her left. What else could I do? Fatigue washed over me like a tidal wave. Even if I were to go and beg Sarah on my knees, she’d just think I was pulling another trick. If that’s the case, I might as well die with some dignity. With that thought, I called her. She answered impatiently: “If you’re going to talk any more nonsense about me proposing to you, just drop dead!” She didn’t know her words would be prophetic. My voice was calm: “That was just a joke. See you at the Registry Office tomorrow morning.” Sarah sounded surprised: “That’s it? You’re being this cooperative?” “Don’t want to? Fine then.” “Wait! You better not be playing any tricks!” She quickly agreed. Nine in the morning, outside the Registry Office. Sarah started swearing because I was one minute late: “Ethan, what are you doing now? You were definitely faking that illness yesterday! They say evil weeds live long, so you’ll probably live to be a hundred!” Her girlfriends also looked on with mocking expressions. They were all waiting for Sarah and Chad to get their marriage certificate, specifically holding party poppers, ready to celebrate. I found it amusing. Before, whenever Sarah and I made plans, she was never on time. She’d stand me up repeatedly, deliberately enjoying my miserable appearance. Today, I was only one minute late, yet she was so agitated. “Yeah, I was doing it on purpose. I’ve changed my mind. The third thing is, I want you to carry me inside to finalize the divorce!” From here to the entrance, it was less than a hundred yards. Sarah looked at me skeptically: “That’s it? So simple?” Chad still rushed out to object, as if I were committing some unforgivable crime: “Sarah’s a delicate woman, how could she possibly carry you that far? Forget the divorce papers then! I’ll wait for you forever, Sarah!” Everyone’s faces turned sour: “Ethan, you’re shameless! This is clearly a trick. You obviously don’t want the divorce to go through!” I curved my lips into a smile, perfectly at ease. Sarah, however, said decisively: “Fine. But if you cause any more trouble once we’re inside, I’ll make your life a living hell.” She walked up to me. I jumped onto her back without a single reservation. Sarah let out a small ‘huh?’ She had mentally prepared herself, expecting me to be heavy. But to her surprise. I was too light. Terrifyingly light. Before, I loved car racing, mountaineering, and rock climbing. My muscle mass was significant. She instinctively asked: “Have you been starving yourself?” I said flatly: “Just too disgusted by you and Chad to eat anything.” Sarah’s red lips pursed: “That’s enough of that.” Back when we got married, she was practically forced into the Registry Office by ten bodyguards, her head bowed as she got the marriage certificate, a look of pure disgust on her face. Now, she walked steadily, step by step, towards the Registry Office, but it was to divorce me. In a daze, I remembered that year, when I was seventeen. Sarah was caught in an avalanche while skiing. I rushed into the snowfield, ignoring everything, my throat raw from shouting, until I found her. At that time, she had snow blindness, and her leg was bruised on a rock, unable to stand. I carried her on my back down the mountain for a day and a night, even cutting my hand to make sure she had sustenance to regain her strength. In her daze, Sarah’s hot tears streamed down my neck: “You’re so good to me. I’m going to marry you!” I chuckled wryly, coaxing her not to break her promise. By the time we reached the bottom of the mountain, I should have died from hypothermia. That’s when the System bound itself to me. It said that my love for Sarah was truly magnificent, and as long as I could stay married to her for seven years, it would grant me health and longevity. I agreed, secretly thrilled, thinking it was a freebie. I was sure we’d be happy together. But to my shock, when I woke up, I saw her confessing her love to Chad in front of the entire student body. She had said she would marry me. But what I got was her endless gratitude towards Chad. I’d tried to explain, but she didn’t believe me. “The person who saved me was gentle and reliable. You’re so glib; how could it possibly be you!” Snapping back to reality, I whispered into Sarah’s ear: “Sarah, we’re even now.” She stopped walking: “What did you say?” 4 My throat tickled, and I couldn’t stop coughing up blood. The System’s punishment yesterday had zapped my internal organs, ruining them. Even though I covered my mouth, a drop of blood still splattered onto Sarah’s delicate, pale neck. She became furious: “Ethan, are you trying to die? Coughing on my neck, how disgusting! Wipe it off!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, then gently pushed her head, which had turned towards me, back into position. I said calmly: “Look ahead, not at me.” Sarah quickened her pace, approaching the divorce certificate window. Before she could put me down, I jumped off her back myself, grabbing a tissue to wipe her neck. She still felt it wasn’t enough, pulling out tissue after tissue, as if she’d been contaminated by something vile. I couldn’t help but speak: “Sarah, since you’ve decided to be with Chad, then don’t let him down.” Sarah frowned, finally looking me directly in the eye: “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s just a day, and you’re already so petty you can’t stand it? Don’t worry, when this game is over, I’ll give you a luxurious wedding. I won’t go back on my word.” A faint, weak smile touched my lips. On the divorce papers, I fumbled around, trying to find the place to sign. My vision was the worst of all my failing organs. Sarah took my hand and pointed to the spot, scoffing mockingly: “What’s wrong with your eyes? Are you so sad about divorcing me that you cried yourself blind?” I scoffed: “More like you and Chad gave me a stye from all the eye-rolling.” Since Chad returned to the country, it had been a long time since Sarah and I had bantered like this. Sarah angrily punched me once: “Ethan, you’re still as rude as ever!” I let out a pained groan and took a long moment to recover. Her face suddenly changed: “Are you really sick?” I acted nonchalantly: “No. Hurry up and get this done. I’m planning to go abroad for a few days. Plenty of fish in the sea, why bother with one single flower?” Upon hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but sneer, looking at me with expressions that screamed ‘stop acting,’ full of contempt. Sarah’s expression remained grim. She suddenly stood up. “I’m not doing it.” “Not doing it?” Chad exclaimed in surprise, then his eyes grew teary and he said, aggrieved: “Sarah, if you can’t bear to, that’s okay. I’m willing to be punished. I’m just a little allergic to alcohol, I won’t die. I’ll go buy some liquor right now!” I was speechless, not understanding what Sarah meant. I deliberately provoked her: “Stop making a fuss. Or are you really just clinging to me?” Sarah, as expected, couldn’t stand the provocation and quickly signed. “If it wasn’t for your pathetic, sickly face, I would…” She stopped speaking. Then, with a grim face, she took the divorce certificate and turned to sit with Chad at the marriage certificate window. Everyone crowded around, their faces beaming with joy. From this point, it was no longer my concern. I turned to leave, but Sarah suddenly called out to me: “Don’t go! After Chad and I get our marriage certificate and post it on social media, I’ll immediately divorce him and remarry you!” Divorce and remarry? Was she treating this like a game? I gave a perfunctory nod and walked out of the Registry Office. On the virtual screen, the countdown showed thirteen hours remaining, enough time for me to settle my affairs. But to my shock, my vision turned blood-red: “HOST ETHAN, MISSION FAILED. DETECTING OFFICIAL DIVORCE BETWEEN TARGETS. COUNTDOWN ZEROED!” I never expected the System to have a trick like this up its sleeve. I instinctively grabbed the doorframe of the Registry Office and collapsed.

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My daughter was on her way home from a late study group when she was dragged into an alley and brutally assaulted. My wife, Sarah, a lawyer, knew I wasn’t there, yet she provided a false testimony, framing me as a monster who would even harm his own daughter. I wanted to confront her, but then I accidentally heard a conversation between her and an old flame on the dashcam. “I’ve paid off all the witnesses from that night. Don’t expect me to clean up your messes if you pull something like this again!” The man laughed dismissively. “It’s her own damn fault for stumbling on us. Besides, this is the perfect way to send Ethan to prison. Then we can finally be together, out in the open!” I was shaking with rage. Sarah was so sure I couldn’t clear my name that she was already gallivanting with her old lover, taking over all my projects. Little did they know, just as their plane took off, my daughter, who had been unconscious, woke up and identified the real attacker. … I’d known for a long time that Mark Jensen, from that rival company, was the old love Sarah could never forget. But I never imagined she’d know Mark was the one who left our daughter critically injured, yet still cover for him, trying to pin everything on me. I parked outside Sarah’s law office. The lights were on. I dragged myself to the door. She was slumped on the sofa, frowning, her handbag stuffed with cash. “Use this money to get everyone who saw Mark that night out of the country. Not a whisper can get out.” Her friend, after taking the money, reminded her. “Are you really not going to pay Lily’s medical bills? The hospital called; if we don’t pay by tomorrow morning, they might stop treatment. She’s your own flesh and blood. What if something happens?” Hearing this, Sarah’s eyes lit up. She scoffed, her tone much lighter. “I’m doing this for Lily’s own good. She’s so badly hurt, even if she hangs on, it’s just suffering. Better to let her go peacefully.” “Besides, who knows if she actually got a good look at Mark’s face that night? I can’t have any loose ends threatening him.” “If she’s lucky enough to hold on until Ethan confesses and is locked up, then I’ll get her treatment again. Consider it compensation.” Sarah’s coldness was as if the person fighting for her life in the hospital was a complete stranger. Even her friend couldn’t help but frown. “But once Ethan confesses, he’ll be in jail for life. You two have been married for so many years…” Sarah cut her friend off, her face grim, and slammed the family photo frame from her desk onto the floor. The frame shattered. She carefully picked up an old photo from between the layers, her eyes filled with longing as she stared at the younger versions of herself and Mark. “If Ethan hadn’t drugged me back then, getting me pregnant while I was out of it, why would I have ever left Mark? He owes us this.” “I don’t know how many times I’ve leaked Ethan’s confidential information to Mark over the years, and his company still hasn’t gone under! This time, there’s no way he’s getting away!” The car keys snapped in my grip. The pink crystal bracelet Sarah had given me fell into the grass, stained with blood and dirt. Sarah and I practically grew up together, though we were separated for many years. We reconnected at a hotel. She was a legal intern then, unconscious, being dragged into a hotel room by two sleazy, middle-aged men. I saved her. As I was about to leave, she suddenly woke up, clinging to me, begging me to save her. After that night, I proposed to Sarah, and she happily accepted. Throughout our marriage, no matter what difficulties I faced in my career or personal life, she stood by me, unwavering. I always thought she was the most virtuous wife in the world. But I never expected she always believed I was the one who drugged her back then, and all the setbacks I’d experienced over the years were orchestrated by her! Thinking of my poor daughter lying in the hospital, my heart felt like it was being roasted over coals, an unbearable pain. To pay Lily’s medical bills in time, I suppressed the urge to rush in and confront Sarah, got in my car, and left. My accounts were frozen, so I had to go home to get the cash I’d stashed away. Just as I grabbed the money and was about to head to the hospital, a harsh car horn blared outside, followed by a group of people cornering me in my house. “Ethan! You did that to Lily, and she’s still fighting for her life! Not only do you show no remorse, but you’re actually trying to run away!” 2 “If I’d known you’d do something so evil, I should have aborted her when I got pregnant after you drugged me. It would have saved her from suffering in this world.” “Sarah, you know damn well who really hurt Lily!” My eyes bloodshot, I lunged at Mark, grabbing his collar and punching him repeatedly in the face. Soon, blood was streaming from his nose and mouth. “Mark, you animal, you subhuman scum! I’ll make you pay for what you did to my daughter!” “Sarah, Lily is your own daughter! How could you help this monster hide the truth? Are you even human?!” Four police officers had to restrain me to pull Mark away. Sarah rushed over to help him up, her eyes filled with pain as she looked at his bruised face. That sight stabbed me in the eyes. Mark had a few superficial injuries, and she was that distressed. But our daughter? When she was brought to the hospital, she was covered in wounds, her breathing so faint it was barely perceptible. Seeing Sarah lower her gaze, I spoke in an almost pleading tone, “Whatever it is, can’t it wait until after we pay for Lily’s medical bills? She’s waiting for that money to save her life.” But ultimately, I was disappointed. Sarah didn’t hesitate to slap me across the face. “You just want to get close to Lily to kill her and cover up your crime! I can afford any amount of medical expenses; how could I possibly let her go without treatment?” With that, she looked tearfully at the police and walked directly to the entrance of our basement, opening the door. “He’s been after Lily for a long time. All this stuff in here, these are clothes he bought for her. He has the purchase records on his phone.” When the crowd saw the state of the basement, their angry glares could have skinned me alive. After Lily started elementary school, I had turned the basement into her secret hideout. And those strange-looking clothes were her anime cosplay outfits. Because Lily was sensible, I fully supported her hobby. Sarah knew all of this and had always approved. But now, these things had become the “evidence” she used to slander me. No matter how much I explained, no one would believe me. Some neighbor picked up a rock and threw it at me, gashing my forehead, and blood streamed down. “What a monster! No wonder I always saw him with his daughter. I thought he was a responsible father, but he’s this disgusting!” “We can’t let him off just because he’s the victim’s father! This kind of person deserves the death penalty!” The crowd’s spittle nearly drowned me. Seeing my explanations were useless, Sarah seized the opportunity to continue. “The last time I worked late, you made a move on Lily. If Mark hadn’t come over to consult me on a legal matter and happened to walk in, you would have succeeded.” “I wanted to give you a chance, but I never thought it would lead to Lily’s death. It’s my failure as a mother. I deserve to die!” Sarah cried, collapsing to her knees, looking every bit the devoted mother. Seeing this, I remembered the recording on the dashcam and quickly said. “Officers, the dashcam has a recording of their conversation afterward. It’s enough to prove Mark Jensen is involved in what happened to my daughter!” “As far as I know, Mark Jensen has no alibi for that night.” Mark’s eyes flickered for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. He smiled at me, mockingly. “You’re really desperate to clear your name, aren’t you? If I remember correctly, you did voice-over work in college. Faking a conversation in my voice should be easy for you.” Before I could say anything, Sarah stood up and shielded Mark, her eyes so cold they could pierce me. “Who says Mark doesn’t have an alibi? I can vouch for him. At the time of the incident, he was at my office discussing business with me. I have the security footage from then.” 3 “Ethan, what do you have to say now? If you confess honestly, when Lily wakes up, I won’t tell her who the real culprit is. We’ll just say you, her father, died in an accident.” Impossible! The one who hurt my daughter was Mark! But why did Sarah have security footage of him at her office? What the hell was going on? “That poor child, how will she ever get over this trauma? Arrest him quickly, before the child wakes up and can’t bear to see him!” “I’ve seen this Mr. Jensen. He’s always been very good to Sarah and the child. He definitely doesn’t seem like the type to do something like this. He probably came to the house often to warn Ethan.” “If you didn’t do it, why would your wife help an outsider point the finger at you? If the person closest to you says it, how can it be false?” After I was handcuffed, Sarah quietly approached me. “If you don’t want Lily to suffer more, then confess obediently. As long as the culprit isn’t caught, I can’t calm down enough to go to the hospital and take care of her.” “In your dreams! I will make the person who hurt Lily pay!” I said, looking at Mark with pure hatred. I would make him pay for my daughter’s life with his own! Sarah frowned unhappily, but seeing the police approaching, she said no more. The same night I was taken to the holding cell, I was released. Just when I thought the truth was out, I saw Sarah standing outside the gate. “Lily is fading fast. So I specially came to bail you out, so you can see her one last time.” My ears were ringing, Sarah’s words echoing in my mind. Days of worry and running around had finally taken their toll. Her words were the last straw, and I fainted. When I woke up again, I found myself tied up in the abandoned alley where my daughter had been attacked. Half my clothes had been stripped off, yet my body was filled with an indescribable, burning heat. Sarah, wearing gloves, approached me with a look of disgust. “What are you doing? Where’s Lily? I need to see her!” As soon as I spoke, I realized my mouth was terribly dry, and my head was spinning. “Sarah!” Watching her approach step by step, I nearly bit my teeth to pieces. “We’ve been married for so many years, no need to be shy. Blame yourself for not confessing. I can only… complete the evidence chain by getting some of your DNA, so you have no chance of turning this around.” Just as Sarah’s hand was about to touch me, I kicked out with all my strength, sending her flying. She clutched her hand in pain, letting out a low cry. Soon, another figure emerged from the shadows. “I told you he wouldn’t give in so easily. Blood works just as well. You go wait outside, don’t want this mad dog hurting you.” Mark took out a two-inch needle and plunged it entirely into my finger. The excruciating pain made my veins pop, and my teeth ground together. Sarah merely glanced over, then quickly went out to keep watch. Seeing my agony, Mark’s face twisted into a cruel grin. “Ethan, I really didn’t expect Sarah to end up in your bed. I should have enjoyed her myself sooner.” “But it’s not too late now. Your daughter not only looks a lot like her, but she’s even more tender than Sarah was when she was with me back then, tsk tsk tsk…” “It’s just that you raised her too delicately. I barely touched her, and she almost stopped breathing.” “But older ginger is spicier. These past few days, I’ve found that an older woman like Sarah has more charm. She’s very accommodating to me, very obedient.” As he spoke, he deliberately leaned down to show me the red marks beneath his collar. But my gaze fell on a half-visible tattoo on his chest, where his shirt didn’t cover it. Why did that tattoo look so familiar? 4 Before I could recall, Mark abruptly pulled out the needle, dripping my blood in a hidden corner of the alley. After finishing, he looked at me smugly. “I was originally going to wait until your daughter was an adult to come for her. But who asked you to suddenly release that new game a while back, stealing my company’s market share?” “That useless Sarah couldn’t even steal a source code. I had to teach you a lesson myself. She told me you have several unfinished game designs. I’ll complete them all and release them through my company.” “Oh, and to help you and your daughter reunite подземлей sooner, I’ll have Sarah give up on your daughter’s treatment.” Hearing Mark was going to let my daughter die, I found strength from somewhere, broke free from the ropes, and lunged at him, choking him. “Mark Jensen, go to hell!” I straddled him, my hands clamped tightly around his neck. As Mark struggled, his shirt came open, allowing me to see the tattoo on his body more clearly. Just as I was distracted, I was hit hard on the head. A warm stream flowed from my forehead, and my vision turned blood red. Sarah threw down the brick, helped Mark up, her eyes burning with anger. “Ethan, if you hadn’t been so despicable and drugged me back then, how could you have stolen me from Mark? You’ve owed Mark for all these years; you should have paid him back long ago.” “And that filthy child who carries your blood, there’s indeed no need to save her!” Hearing her bring up the past, I finally remembered where I’d seen that tattoo. The person who had handed the unconscious Sarah over to those two middle-aged men—though I hadn’t seen his face, I’d seen the tattoo on his chest. It was Mark who drugged her and gave her to those two men! Just as I was about to tell Sarah the truth, Mark leaned close to my ear and whispered. “Actually, Sarah knew all along I was coming for your daughter. That’s why she arranged for someone who looks like me to be filmed for an alibi beforehand.” “In her eyes, your lives, father and daughter, are worth less than a dog’s.” After saying that, he suddenly cried out in alarm. Sarah, without asking why, rushed over and kicked me away. “Ethan, you really are stubborn! How dare you hurt Mark! I’ll transfer all your assets to Mark’s name as compensation to him.” Watching the two of them walk away, my vision went black, and I lost consciousness. When I woke up again, I found myself in a hospital, with a few police officers guarding my bed. Thinking of my critically ill daughter, I quickly jumped out of bed and knelt before them. “Please, let me pay my daughter’s medical bills first. Her condition is critical, I beg you!” But before the police could speak, a doctor hurriedly called them away. I was handcuffed to the bed, unable to leave the room. Thinking of my daughter lying alone in her hospital room, my body and heart grew colder and colder, my eyes filled with despair. Could I really only watch helplessly as my daughter died? A huge sense of dread almost overwhelmed me. And just at that moment, Sarah sent me photos of two plane tickets. Then, a call came through. Mark’s smug voice came first. “I hear you spent years painstakingly building your company in Bridgewater. Well, it’ll be mine soon.” Sarah’s cold voice followed. “I have to accompany Mark to take over the company, so I won’t be back for a few days. I’ve already arranged for someone to handle Lily’s funeral arrangements. If she doesn’t make it, have the hospital contact this person. Don’t bother me.” My eyes instantly turned bloodshot. Just as I was about to speak, two police officers rushed in. “Ethan, your daughter’s awake!”

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Just because my 5-year-old daughter delayed my husband from picking up his old flame from the airport. In a fit of rage, he locked our daughter in an unfinished utility shaft in the villa. A faint cry for help echoed from within the load-bearing wall. I desperately smashed at the wall to save my child, but he shoved me to the ground. The blood from my palm soaked the flowers he’d bought for his old flame, enraging Ethan further: “You’re just a glorified nanny in this Grant family! What right do you have to touch anything meant for Chloe and her daughter?” “If you hadn’t schemed your way into my bed back then, forcing my hand with the pregnancy, I never would have missed my chance with Chloe. She never would have suffered that horrific assault!” I froze, staring at Ethan in disbelief. He gently took Chloe’s hand, then picked up her daughter, his eyes filled with tenderness: “I’ll make up for everything I owe you and your daughter.” Later, when Chloe’s daughter snuggled into Ethan’s arms, calling him “Daddy” with a triumphant look. My own daughter lay cold in my embrace, forever silent. Ethan, as you wished, I’m returning the title of Mrs. Grant to you. … The light above the operating room went out. The doctor shook his head, sighing: “Mrs. Grant, we did everything we could. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Lily, so full of life just moments ago, now lay peacefully on the bed, as if asleep. “Lily… don’t sleep yet, sweetie. Mommy bought your favorite strawberry cake. You still need to make a wish.” My fingers trembled as I tried to place the cake fork in her small hand, only to touch icy coldness. In that instant, a heart-wrenching pain tore through me. Tears dripped onto my daughter’s hand. An hour earlier, when I found her in the narrow space within the concrete wall of the villa, she was already stiff. Lily died from an asthma attack. But why was my usually obedient, sweet Lily inside a concrete wall? Using a cotton swab dipped in saline, I carefully cleaned away the dried cement from between her fingers. When I finally pried open Lily’s bluish fingers and saw the crumpled chocolate wrapper clutched in her palm, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. The chocolate wrapper bore the Grant Enterprises logo. Ethan had given her the candy. My hand shook as I dialed his number, a bitter twist on my lips: “Ethan… did you see Lily today?” His voice on the other end was impatient: “Sarah, can’t you think of any other way to tie me down besides using the kid?” I was about to explain. A clear, bright “Daddy!” cut through the line, interrupting me: “I love this Mickey Mouse doll, and this sunflower dress, and I love this room! Can I live here?” Daddy? My daughter wasn’t even cold yet, and Ethan was already so eager to move Chloe and her daughter in? Six years of bottled-up grievances erupted. I screamed into the phone: “Ethan, that’s my daughter’s room! I won’t let anyone set foot in it! Get Chloe and her daughter out of my house, now!” A moment of silence on the other end. Then, Ethan scoffed and ordered the housekeeper beside him: “Move Lily’s things into the guest room. Redecorate this room according to Zoe’s preferences.” Zoe’s cheers followed, along with Chloe’s feigned reproachful tone: “Ethan, you can’t spoil Zoe like this. She’s already so happy just to see her daddy. How can she take Lily’s room?” Ethan soothed Chloe: “That Lily is a wild child, just like her mother, no good. It’ll be good for her to learn from Zoe how to be a good girl…” Their family-of-three voices weren’t loud, but they grated on my ears. So, Ethan could be doting. It was just a shame that warmth never extended to Lily. A bitter taste filled my mouth: “Ethan, today is Lily’s birthday. We’re waiting for you at Mercy General Hospital.” “Sarah, what kind of game are you playing now?” Suppressing my emotions, I took a deep breath and said, word by word: “Come say your last goodbye to Lily.” 2 A deathly silence followed. “What do you want now?” Ethan’s cold laugh broke the silence. “Teaching your daughter to fake asthma attacks wasn’t enough? Now you’re even using death to scheme?” His laughter died, his tone chillingly cold: “How could Lily have a mother like you? She’s my daughter. You dare curse her, just try it.” Chloe’s coquettish voice came through: “Zoe and I don’t want Sarah to misunderstand. You should go to the hospital and see Lily. We’ll wait for you at home.” Ethan seemed to have a sudden thought, a flicker of panic in his voice, as he forced out a few words: “Tell Lily to wait for me. I’ll be there in half an hour.” The call ended abruptly. Putting the phone away, I stroked Lily’s face, whispering softly: “See, sweetie? Daddy cares about you. He’s coming to celebrate your birthday soon.” Once, he had knelt before his grandfather’s sickbed and sworn: “As long as Sarah gives birth to a Grant heir, I will cherish the child as my own.” But he broke his promise. From the day Lily was born until now, Ethan had never truly looked at her. Lily had once asked me, crestfallen, why Daddy didn’t love her. I had woven lies in Ethan’s stead, building up a perfect father figure in Lily’s mind. “Ding—” A WeChat notification. It was the security guard, sending the villa’s surveillance footage. The footage held the secret of how Lily got into the wall. My fingers trembled as I opened it. Seeing Lily’s small form, my eyes welled up again. Ethan had lied. He had seen Lily today. Why did he deny it repeatedly? In the video, the moment Ethan stepped out of the house, Lily clung to his leg, cautiously trying to please him: “Daddy, please, just one minute. Wait for Mommy to get the cake, and you can blow out the candles with me…” Lily desperately wanted a birthday present from her father, but when she spoke, she only dared to ask him to blow out the candles. Ethan’s face was etched with impatience. He pulled a chocolate from his pocket and tossed it into the villa garden: “Daddy’s going to play hide-and-seek with Lily.” He pried her small hands from his suit jacket, pointing to a dark opening of an unfinished utility shaft: “You go find the chocolate first, then hide. If you’re good, Daddy will definitely celebrate your birthday with you.” My heart clenched. Lily was only five. She was not only afraid of the dark but also had severe asthma and was allergic to dust mites and particulate matter. “Daddy… I’m scared.” The only response Lily got was Ethan’s cold, retreating back. She clenched her small fists, mustered her courage, and tiptoed towards the dark opening in the garden… I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to watch anymore, my mind drifting back to three hours ago. When I realized Lily was missing, I immediately tried to call Ethan for help, but his phone was unreachable. In desperation, my phone picked up a signal from Lily’s kids’ smartwatch. “Lily, where are you?” I followed the signal, tears streaming down my face, my voice trembling and distorted. A faint breathing sound came from the other end, mixed with the rustle of a plastic candy wrapper. “Mommy…” Lily’s hoarse voice made my blood run cold. Her voice grew weaker, her breathing more labored, and the signal became intermittent: “I found the chocolate Daddy hid, but… it’s so dark in here…” I scanned my surroundings, my gaze locking onto the newly built sunroom in the garden. Grabbing tools, I headed straight for the sunroom. Almost simultaneously, the main gate was pushed open from the outside. Ethan walked in with a pretty woman and a little girl who looked about six. The moment I saw Ethan, my eyes lit up: “Ethan, Lily’s missing! Do you know where she went?” 3 Ethan expertly took the woman’s coat, set down her luggage, and without looking up, said: “Haven’t seen her.” The next second, he turned to stare at the tools in my hand, his brow furrowed deeply: “Chloe is a light sleeper and can’t stand noise. Keep it down around the house, don’t disturb her rest, understand?” I froze, staring at him in confusion. Ethan ignored my reaction. As he passed me, he reminded me in a barely audible whisper: “Sarah, you’ve gotten more than enough. Don’t be greedy. All of this should have been Chloe’s.” Chloe. Ethan’s first love, the unattainable one that got away. The one the housekeeper said Ethan had self-harmed over multiple times after she left. A heavy ache filled my chest, and a mist clouded my vision. Ethan reached for the tools in my hand. I clutched them to my chest: “Lily… I heard Lily’s voice… She’s here in the villa.” I pointed towards the newly built sunroom: “Ethan, Lily’s in the sunroom! Please, break down that wall!” Ethan didn’t believe me: “Sarah, are you crazy? That’s a load-bearing wall, freshly poured concrete!” “Lily is in the wall! Why don’t you believe me!” I pushed him, but he didn’t budge. I cried, almost in despair: “In your eyes, Lily being missing for a few hours is no big deal because you’ve never been there for her. But I’m different. Lily has never left my side. She’s been gone for three whole hours! Why don’t you trust a mother’s intuition?” I pounded on Ethan’s chest: “It’s just a sunroom wall! Why won’t you let me break it?” Ethan grabbed my shoulders and shoved me back. Stumbling, I tripped over something, and the back of my head hit a metal scaffold. After a dull thud, warm liquid trickled down the back of my head. In a daze, I felt Chloe’s daughter step on the back of my hand: “Bad auntie! The sunroom is my mommy’s! You can’t touch it!” As she spoke, a doll’s button fell near my feet. I slowly looked up, my eyes fixing on the doll in the little girl’s arms. She was holding the limited-edition Barbie doll I had flown to Japan specifically to buy. It was the birthday present Lily had been begging for for three months. In that instant, everything clicked. Why Ethan insisted on building a sunroom, even though I was allergic to pollen; Why Ethan had a gift box with him when he left the house earlier… So that was it. It was all for Chloe and her daughter. I gave a bitter laugh, gritted my teeth against the pain, and struggled to my feet, inching towards the garden. Chloe’s voice drifted over, laced with insinuation: “Sarah, darling, surely you didn’t hide the child just to get Ethan’s attention?” My steps faltered. I looked up and met Ethan’s furious gaze. He ground his teeth, his words dripping with contempt: “You’re just a glorified nanny in this Grant family! What right do you have to touch anything meant for Chloe and her daughter?” 4 My phone alarm blared, jolting me from my memories. Thirty minutes had passed, and still no sign of Ethan. It was too late; Lily was about to be taken to the morgue. I started a video call with Ethan, hoping only to fulfill Lily’s birthday wish. When the video connected, Zoe’s face appeared. She was wearing Lily’s favorite sunflower dress. The phone camera pointed towards the guest bedroom, and she pushed the door open: “Daddy, we’re going to be late for the art competition!” As the door opened, Chloe, flustered, clutched the blanket to her shoulders, her face flushed as she Say angrily as if pretending : “Zoe!” Ethan smirked, tying a black bow tie around his neck, adjusting his shirt cuffs as he said: “If you can’t get out of bed, just rest at home. I’ll take Zoe to the competition.” The phone camera panned across the messy carpet. Amidst the scattered clothes, two used condoms lay in a corner. I numbly ended the video call, a wave of nausea washing over me. My daughter and I had waited for him in the morgue for 30 minutes. And him? He was entangled with his lover, taking their illegitimate daughter to a competition. Ethan, he didn’t deserve to be a father! Putting the phone away, I accompanied Lily on her final journey. Everyone said I married up by wedding Ethan, but this wealthy family felt more like a cage to me. I once believed that feelings could be cultivated, but I never imagined Ethan had never felt anything for me. Later, we had Lily. She was so bright for her age. Because of her, my mother-in-law, who had previously made things difficult for me, started to praise me more. Apart from coming home three times a month on a fixed schedule, Ethan was mostly absent. Lily was my constant companion. She would wrap her small arms around me and vow to take me traveling around the world when she grew up. She would also kiss my cheek after Ethan belittled me, sweetly saying, “Don’t be scared, Mommy, Lily loves you…” With Lily, I had a home. With Lily gone, the home should fall apart. After leaving Lily’s grave, I made up my mind to leave Ethan for good. “Mr. Vance, I’ve signed the divorce papers. As for Ethan… I’ll get him to sign as soon as possible.” The divorce agreement, which had been lying in the nightstand drawer for five years, finally had a use. On our wedding night, five years ago, Ethan, reeking of alcohol, had taken out his anger on my body while simultaneously slamming the divorce papers onto my face: “Give birth to the child in your belly, take the money, and get lost!” After sobering up, he never brought up divorce again. But I had kept those papers hidden in the nightstand. My thoughts snapped back to the present. The lawyer tentatively asked: “Ma’am, how should the assets be divided?” Ethan was generous enough; the agreement gave me forty percent of Grant Enterprises’ shares. But now, money meant nothing to me. “I voluntarily waive…” “Boom!” A sudden burst of fireworks and the sight of a drone near the seaside cemetery cut me off. I was drawn to the fireworks. Because next to the dazzling display, a drone formation spelled out a message: 【CONGRATULATIONS TO MY DARLING ZOE FOR WINNING THE GOLD MEDAL IN PAINTING】 As the fireworks exploded across the sky, I recognized Ethan. He was leaning down, kissing away a tear from the corner of Chloe’s eye. In that instant, I changed my mind: 【We’ll stick to the agreement. I want what’s mine.】 5 As the fireworks faded, I called Ethan, demanding to know where he was. He glanced at Chloe and Zoe, then lowered his voice to explain: “Sarah, just give me another 30 minutes. I’ll be there soon.” “Don’t bother.” I hung up and appeared before Ethan. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your family gathering, but please give me back Lily’s clothes.” Ethan’s face darkened: “Sarah, are you ever going to stop? Can you not project your own filthy thoughts onto others?” I had no intention of arguing with him. I walked straight up to Zoe and gently touched the dress: “This was Lily’s favorite dress. You’ve stained it with your paint. She’ll be upset.” Before the words were even out, I reached out to pull the dress off Zoe. “Waaah!” Zoe burst into tears: “This dress is mine! I’m not giving it to you, no! Everything in the house is mine – the house, the cars, even Daddy! They’re all mine!” Chloe, standing nearby, pulled Zoe behind her: “Didn’t you hear? This is Zoe’s dress!” “Smack!” I raised my hand and slapped Chloe across the face: “It’s not just Ethan that’s yours. The word ‘shameless’ belongs to you and your daughter too.” She froze for a moment, instantly silenced. “Sarah, do you have to pick today to cause a scene?” Ethan said, pulling Zoe into his arms protectively. “It’s Zoe’s birthday. Can’t this wait until we get home?” I stared at Ethan’s face and laughed. As I laughed, tears started to fall. Today was also the anniversary of Lily’s death. But Ethan, you didn’t deserve to know. The sea breeze tugged at my collar. As I turned to leave, Chloe blocked my path. She grabbed my sleeve, yanking at the black armband I wore, her eyes wide with anger: “Sarah, you’re a mother too! How could you do something so malicious?” She ripped off the black band, tears streaming down her face: “Today is Zoe’s birthday, and the day she won her award! It was supposed to be a happy occasion! What do you mean by wearing a black armband? Are you here to curse my Zoe?” Her tears fell like broken pearls, her voice rising in a sob: “Your child went missing because you were negligent! You’re using these twisted methods to curse my child! I’m not done with you today!” The black armband, a tribute to Lily, was torn to shreds by Chloe, scattering in the wind. “Sarah, apologize to Zoe!” Ethan stepped forward to support the swaying Chloe, who promptly collapsed against him. “Today is Zoe’s 6th birthday. Her only birthday wish was for a fireworks display…” “Ethan, do you know what Lily’s birthday wish was?” I cut him off with a bitter laugh. Ethan’s eyes darkened: “…” “Zoe’s wish was a fireworks display. But do you know, my Lily never dared to hope for a grand fireworks show. Yesterday was Lily’s 5th birthday. Her only wish was for her daddy to blow out her candles with her.” Ethan stared intently at me. I gave a wry smile. I pressed the chocolate wrapper Lily had clutched in her hand into Ethan’s. His pupils contracted, his lips moved: “Lily…” “She has something to say to her daddy.” As I finished speaking, I played the last voice recording Lily made before she died: “Mommy, I want Daddy to celebrate my birthday with us. He promised he’d come back for me. Please don’t blame Daddy…” Hearing this, Ethan’s face turned deathly pale. He gripped my shoulders, his voice filled with extreme terror: “Tell me, Lily… where is she?” “She’s at…” My eyes were unreadable as I pointed towards the seaside cemetery. “Zoe, don’t scare Mommy! Ethan! Quick, take Zoe to the hospital!” Before I could finish, Chloe shrieked from behind me. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ethan scooped up the fainted Zoe and ran off. As he passed me, I grabbed his arm, trying to contain my anger as I reminded him: “There’s a document you need to sign. It concerns Lily and me…” “What time is it to be worrying about that! Are you still thinking about your allowance!” He actually thought the document was a contract for me to demand living expenses from him. I let out a bitter laugh and played along: “Yes. As long as you sign it, I’ll never stop you from taking care of Chloe and her daughter again.” The look Ethan gave me was utterly cold. “Fine!” He clenched his jaw, pulled out his phone, and without any hesitation, signed the divorce agreement before leaving with Zoe in his arms. The lawyer was extremely efficient. By the time I was on the plane to Japan, fifty million had been deposited into my bank account. Before turning off my phone, I scheduled Lily’s memorial photo to be sent to Ethan in three days. Then, I threw away my SIM card. Looking out the window at the shrinking city of Seaview, I felt a wave of emotions. This nightmare was finally over. I was about to start a new life.

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My husband, David, didn’t love me, and he certainly didn’t love our son. The day Finn was born, David didn’t even glance at him, just thrust him into my arms. Years later, on Finn’s eighth birthday, The man, usually so distant, came home for the first time, completely drunk, and held Finn and me in his arms. I thought the years of frozen indifference were finally melting. But then I heard him, his voice slurred, endlessly murmuring the names of his “sunshine” and her son. And that day was precisely when his “sunshine” had returned from overseas. Finn, with his congenital hearing impairment, still clung to his father’s neck, asking me joyfully: “Mommy, is it because I scored a hundred on my test that Daddy finally likes me?” I knelt, pulling him into my embrace, explaining through reddened eyes: “It’s because the person Daddy loves has returned, so Daddy is very happy.” “But we also need to leave Daddy and live our own lives now.” 1 The next morning, I submitted my resignation at the office. Mr. Davis, my manager, looked at me in surprise: “You’re resigning?” “Mr. Evans just promoted you to department head. Why would you resign now?” Hearing that familiar name, the smile on my face stiffened even further. Mark Evans was my boss, and the father of my child. Nine years ago, I was his personal assistant. One wild night, fueled by alcohol, we had a child. This year marked our eighth year of a hidden marriage. And his eighth year of forbidding our son from calling him “Dad.” Thinking of the hope in Finn’s eyes last night, and the name David had continuously whispered. I used the excuse I’d prepared long ago, telling Mr. Davis: “Finn’s father has settled abroad and called us to join him, so we can finally be a complete family.” Hearing this, Mr. Davis nodded understandingly: “I see. We thought you were a single mom.” A single mom? Hearing that term, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. My eyes were full of unshed tears. I wasn’t a single mom, but I was worse off than one. I had a husband, my son had a father, yet he wouldn’t spare us even a glance. The tears welling in my eyes became impossible to hold back. I quickly thanked Mr. Davis and walked out of the office. In the hallway, David was showing Chloe around the company. The woman walked ahead, a gentle smile on her face. David walked behind her, his eyes never leaving her. A female colleague, Maya, unaware of the truth, pulled me over to watch the spectacle. “Hey, Grace, do you think Mr. Evans is finally thawing out?” I managed a strained smile. An iron tree blooms only after decades. But David… Even if I waited a lifetime, he would never truly look at me. In the fleeting moment we passed, I couldn’t help but call out to him: “Dav…” I’d barely started when David shot me a chilling glare. “Assistant Miller, do you need something?” His distant words held a warning, a warning for me to swallow the words in my mouth. A warning for me to remember my place. I lowered my eyes, using my last bit of strength to hide the redness in their corners. “My apologies, Mr. Evans.” David grunted in acknowledgment, not breaking his stride, as if he were passing a stranger. I laughed at myself, swallowing the news of my resignation I had originally intended to tell him. He wouldn’t care anyway. Sitting back at my desk, I saw a voice message from Finn on his smart watch. “Mommy, I thought about it. Let’s give Daddy three more chances, okay?” “If… he really doesn’t like us, then we’ll leave him forever.” Last night, after I suggested to Finn that we leave David. Finn had been silent for a long time. He didn’t understand why his father didn’t like him. Nor did he understand why his father would give such a precious gift to a child he didn’t like. He just held out the toy in his hand to me. “But Mommy, Daddy just gave me a gift. If he doesn’t like me, why would he give me a gift?” His expression was so eager, so desperate to prove he was a child loved by his father. I parted my lips, but no words came out. He was still small; he didn’t understand the complexities between adults. He couldn’t even clearly hear his father’s murmurs when David held him. He just mistook that name for his own. Mistook that love as a belated gift for himself. I kissed Finn’s forehead, fighting the urge to sob, and said with a smile: “Daddy gave you a gift because you’ve been doing your homework so well lately.” “But, Daddy… he doesn’t like us staying in his house…” “Mommy will take you away, okay?” Finn pulled back his hand, clutching the toy David had given him tightly. He didn’t speak another word all night. Looking at Finn’s request now, I swallowed my tears and answered, “Okay.” David, Finn and I will give you three more chances. After three chances. You and us, we’ll be done. 2 Hearing me agree, Finn excitedly made his first request. He wanted his dad to pick him up from school. Finn had told me before. From kindergarten to elementary, every kid had their dad pick them up from school. Only he didn’t. I knew this was Finn’s hope, so I swallowed my pride and called David. The call was immediately hung up. He sent a text message with just two words. “Busy now.” It was his usual line. But from my desk, I could see him and Chloe in the break room, deep in conversation, looking quite intimate. When someone passed by, he instinctively pulled Chloe closer, his eyes filled with an undeniable tenderness. Pushing down the bitterness in my heart, I sent David another message. “Finn wants you to pick him up from school today. Are you free tonight?” From the break room, I saw David pick up his phone, then put it down less than three seconds later, his expression unchanged. Looking at the chat screen, which remained without a reply, I gave a self-deprecating laugh. I asked Mr. Davis for some time off, planning to leave work early to buy Finn some of his favorite snacks. While snacks couldn’t fully compensate for his dad not being there, I couldn’t let Finn be hurt anymore. But just as I finished checking out at the grocery store, David, as if he’d just seen my message, replied: “Okay.” A surge of surprise instantly filled my heart. I practically couldn’t wait to message Finn: “Finn, be a good boy at the school gate.” “Today, Daddy and Mommy will pick you up from school together!” Without even seeing Finn’s reply, I could already imagine his excited expression. His little hands clapping, showing off his two small canine teeth, burrowing into our embrace, Sweetly calling out “Daddy” and “Mommy.” That was the happiest scene I had imagined in eight years of marriage. At Finn’s school gate, I looked around but didn’t see David. Thinking he might be delayed, I quickly sent him another message, urging him. Soon, Finn’s class emerged. He rushed towards me, just as I’d imagined, full of excitement. But seeing only me, he froze, a little dazed. Finn lowered his head, adjusted his backpack strap, and asked me: “He didn’t want to come, did he?” Then, he smiled, pretending not to care, with an air of maturity beyond his years. “It’s okay. Daddy’s busy, I understand.” Listening to Finn’s understanding words, my chest felt as if it were crushed by a heavy stone. The pain was so intense I could barely breathe. “Finn, it’s okay. Mommy’s here, isn’t she?” “And I bought you lots of your favorite snacks.” “And a Transformer toy, too.” I sniffled, quickly pulling out the gifts I’d prepared for him. But in my haste, I fumbled, and the items in my hand scattered across the ground with a clatter. Finn knelt down, carefully putting everything back into the bag, one by one. He tugged my hand and said: “Mommy, let’s go home.” I nodded, and on the side Finn couldn’t see, I wiped away my tears. I took out my phone, intending to call a car to go home. But as soon as I opened my phone, I saw Chloe’s social media post. In the photo, the usually stern man wore a smile I had never seen before. His arms were open, embracing a strange little boy. And their location was at Finn’s school. I looked up, searching frantically, and then suddenly caught sight of that familiar figure. David was wearing the coat I had given him last year for our wedding anniversary. I suppressed my emotions, picked up Finn, and started walking away. Finn’s voice, suddenly very soft, reached my ear: “Mommy, that looks like Daddy.” I pressed Finn’s forehead to my chest, shielding his view, biting my lip hard. “Silly boy, you’re mistaken. How could that be Daddy?” “Daddy just told Mommy he’s in a meeting.” “When Daddy finishes his meeting, he’ll bring you your favorite cake.” I forced a smile, trying to comfort Finn. I held him even tighter. David, if you knew that you had only two chances left with Finn and me, Would you regret it? 3 David came home the next afternoon. He carried a cake, a rare hint of apology on his face. “Sorry, I was too busy yesterday. Couldn’t pick up Finn. My bad.” He certainly owed an apology, but I wouldn’t accept it. The damage was done; no amount of compensation could cover it. I silently took the cake, And was surprised to find it was truly Finn’s favorite teddy bear cake. In eight years of marriage, David had never remembered Finn’s preferences. For Finn’s last birthday, I was the one who bought the gifts and cake. He merely made an appearance. The gift he gave Finn then was just a freebie from the gift he bought for Chloe’s son. Now, looking at the cake before me, I had a bad feeling. But Finn was overjoyed. He excitedly hugged David and said: “Uncle, thank you.” Watching Finn’s lips, I knew he had meant to say “Daddy.” But in this moment of happiness, he feared David might show any displeasure. And then he wouldn’t like him anymore. Finn’s thoughtfulness and caution made my eyes sting. I was about to say something to David, But he suddenly pulled me aside. As if he had something to say. “I heard from Chloe that Finn’s school is having a parent-child sports day.” “Chloe is alone with her son, and they just moved here. They don’t know anyone.” “I want to attend with them.” Hearing his words, I felt a chill spread through my entire body. My gaze drifted to Finn, who was happily eating cake in the living room. I said nothing. He seemed to sense my mood. He parted his lips, his tone softening unusually: “You can spend whatever you want from the card. Find an excuse, take Finn on a trip abroad.” “Otherwise, he’ll be unhappy if he sees me with someone else.” He said it so easily. But he already knew Chloe’s son and Finn were at the same school. And he knew Finn would be unhappy seeing him play with someone else’s child. Yet he still chose to do this. He’d rather I lie, to deceive our son. Than not accompany Chloe and her son. My nails dug into my palms. I looked at the man I had spent so many years with, And felt like he was a complete stranger. He didn’t know, He had lost another chance. He had only one chance left. “Understood.” “I’ll pack our things as quickly as possible and take Finn away. We won’t disturb you.” Since we were leaving anyway, a little sooner or later made no difference. Seeing my prompt agreement, David was taken aback. “I will compensate you two.” I didn’t look up, just remained silent. After David left, I thought for a moment, then delicately told Finn about it. “Finn, Daddy might not be able to join you for the parent-child sports day this weekend.” “Mommy’s thinking of taking you to Disneyland instead. How does that sound?” Finn’s happy expression from eating cake froze. He asked me, a little confused: “Daddy’s not coming to the sports day, but Mommy can come with me. Why do we have to go to Disneyland?” I clutched my clothes, afraid to meet Finn’s eyes: “Because, Mommy doesn’t want those other kids to laugh at you for not having a daddy anymore.” But Finn calmly opened his arms, embracing me, As if to comfort me: “It’s okay, Mommy. I’m already used to it.” “Don’t be sad.” I froze, tears finally streaming down my face, unstoppable. How could I tell Finn the cruel truth? Should I tell him that his father didn’t want to see him because he was going to play with other children? Or should I tell him that his father didn’t love us, only others and their children? I couldn’t say anything. I could only silently swallow the bitterness and heartache, and as before, protect my child with a sugarcoated truth. I kissed Finn’s forehead, wiping away my tears where he couldn’t see them. This was a mother’s pretense, maintained even in ultimate pain. I knelt down, holding Finn’s small hand, forcing a smile. “Finn…” But before I could finish, Finn spoke first: “Mommy, does Daddy really not want us anymore?” 4 “No, Finn, no.” I shook my head, not wanting Finn to be so sad, desperately trying to deny the truth. I wanted to tell him, Dad still has one more chance. To tell him not to rush. But Finn, instead, took my hand, drawing closer into my embrace. “Mommy, let’s go. I don’t want to give Uncle another chance anymore.” I looked up in disbelief, only to see Finn’s eyes slightly red. My child, so well-behaved, so understanding. All he ever wanted was a tiny bit of affection from his own father. Just a little bit. He used to think his dad disliked him because he wasn’t good at school, which was why he wouldn’t let him call him “Dad.” But he studied so hard, getting perfect scores in every subject, even insisting on going to class when he had a fever. David, still wouldn’t let him say “Dad.” Later, he thought his dad disliked him because of his bad hearing, not being able to understand people. So no matter how painful the surgeries and treatments were, he insisted I take him to the hospital. But now, his hearing was gradually recovering. David had still not given him a single smile. Instead, he whispered another person’s name in his ear. My heart ached so much I could barely breathe. Closing my eyes, I agreed to Finn’s request. “Okay.” David, this time, Finn and I, we won’t want you anymore. We started packing our luggage together. Everything David had ever given to Finn and me, we left it all behind in that house. Finn’s face was bright with a radiant smile again. Like a little man, he helped me carry the luggage downstairs. And the day our flight took off, Was also the day David was supposed to attend Chloe’s son’s parent-child sports day. The night before, he had been afraid we would disturb his and Chloe’s family happiness. He made a special trip home to see us. His attitude was unusually gentle. He even took the initiative to hold a gift, wanting to hug Finn. But facing the embrace of the father he had once yearned for, Finn pulled away. He stood to the side, not taking David’s gift, and said: “Thank you, Uncle David. You can just put the gift on the coffee table.” Hearing the title Finn used, A flicker of panic suddenly crossed David’s face. He looked at me in disbelief: “Finn… what did he call me?” I smiled, feeling a bitter irony. “Isn’t this what you always wanted, Mr. Evans?” Eight years of hidden marriage, David not only kept our relationship a secret. He never even let Finn call him “Dad.” The only difference was, Before, he forced Finn to call him “Uncle.” Now, Finn was actively drawing a line between them. David looked at me, his eyes complex: “Is this about the parent-child sports day?” “I can explain it to Finn.” I reminded him: “Then what about Chloe? How will you explain it to her and her son?” David seemed to just realize, reluctantly releasing my hand. I scoffed, and took Finn’s hand, ready to leave. Only then did David notice the packed luggage of Finn and me. He asked, surprised: “You’re going on a trip abroad, do you need to bring this much luggage?” I smiled calmly: “Yes, when a child travels, they need to bring a lot of things.” “Mr. Evans has never taken care of a child, so it’s normal that you wouldn’t know.” In those few short sentences, I clearly articulated David’s indifference to our family over the years. A rare look of apology and panic appeared on his face. He blocked our path to the car and said: “When’s your flight? I’ll drive you.” “Tomorrow.” I said it directly. Because I knew he would absolutely not show up tomorrow. David froze for a moment, saying nothing, only telling us: “Then be careful, you’re traveling alone with the child.” His concerned eyes met ours. But we, we no longer cared. Waking up the next day, I took Finn into the private car bound for the airport. Just as we arrived at the airport, preparing to check in our luggage, I heard a voice behind me: “Grace, Finn!” David, who should have been at the parent-child sports day, came rushing, his face beaming as he looked at us: “Finn, how about Daddy comes with you to Orlando Disney? Are you happy?” This was the first time he had openly acknowledged himself as Finn’s father. But looking at the suitcase in his hand, Finn waved his hand, decisively refusing: “No, thank you, Uncle David. Mommy and I are going to Australia to find my dad.” “Please don’t disturb us anymore.”

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