Category: English

I am rich. Seriously, absurdly rich. Add to that my face that’s always been more than serviceable, and my entire life has been a relentless parade of thirsty suitors and envious whispers. So, when my path was suddenly blocked by a man in an expensive but slightly too-tight suit, my mind went completely blank. I didn’t recognize him. I only registered the fact that he was rude, standing in the middle of a high-end gala without moving. I offered a polite, clipped request: “Excuse me, sir. Could you please step aside?” 1 His brow instantly furrowed into a tight knot. He didn’t just look angry; he looked genuinely incredulous, like I’d just broken a fundamental law of physics. “Are you seriously pretending you don’t know me?” The woman draped over his arm like a drama queen. She covered her mouth, a dramatic performance of shock. “Scarlett Hayes? Is that really you?” Her eyes, predatory and quick, scanned me from head to toe. She zeroed in on the understated, low-key blazer I’d chosen for professional comfort. The smug, gleeful pity in her gaze was impossible to hide. “Oh my God, you actually fell this far? Are you… are you serving tables now?” She stepped closer, dropping her voice just enough to ensure the surrounding circle of guests could still hear. “We’re classmates, aren’t we? If you were in trouble, why didn’t you say anything? This kind of serving-staff work? You, Scarlett? You were the most fragile princess in the whole class.” “If others couldn’t help, you had Ethan Bell. Remember? He was so devoted to you. He worked three months straight just to buy you that gift. He even hurt his hands trying to cook you a meal.” Her voice carried load. A ripple went through the crowd, and dozens of appreciative eyes settled on Ethan. Ugh. There it was—the Hero of Devotion narrative, perfectly executed. A few older, heavy-set executives nearby began to coo. “Not many young men show that kind of devotion anymore. Ethan Bell? Isn’t he the one from Ascend Tech?” “He just landed a major project, I heard. A man of substance. We should get in touch.” The wives and socialites swooned with a collective sigh. “A man that devoted? His current girlfriend must have saved an entire galaxy in a past life.” “Though I wonder, if he was so perfect, what kind of idiot would ever break up with him?” That was the question Chloe was waiting for. She shot a triumphant smirk my way, then pivoted back to the crowd. “Oh, I forgot. Back then, Scarlett threw the necklace Ethan gave her in the trash. She said her dog wouldn’t wear something that cheap. And she poured out the dinner he worked so hard to make, complaining it wasn’t made with imported ingredients.” The air went dead silent. The pitying looks that had been directed at me curdled instantly. After a long, uncomfortable pause, someone finally spoke in a low murmur. “I knew it. No good man like that gets dumped unless the woman is a gold-digging nightmare.” “A waitress? Snuck into a high-society event like this? She’s probably here looking for a ‘special side-gig.’” Finally, Ethan opened his mouth, his voice a low, self-satisfied rasp. “Scarlett Hayes, I told you back then you’d regret it. And now…” He took his time, staring at my basic suit, at the empty hand that had just been steadying a server’s tray. He sneered. “It looks like I didn’t even need to lift a finger. Karma handled the job for me.” A blank finally lifted from my brain. I dug through the forgotten basement of my memories and pulled out the bin file. “You’re… Ethan Bell?” I glanced at the clinging woman beside him. “And Chloe Davis?” Chloe snickered, a high, brittle sound. “I thought you’d keep up the act forever.” “Scarlett, I remember exactly how you humiliated Ethan. How you treated me. You can’t tell me you’re not regretting it now that Ethan is the one who’s made it big?” Regret? Not even close. I simply remembered the persistent, self-appointed Martyr who had stalked me through college, and the jealous hanger-on next to him. The first time I saw him, I’d just stepped out of my family owned Bentley and saw a commotion outside a fancy restaurant. A guy in a faded, washed-out button-up shirt was yelling, his face beet red. “This one dinner cost how much? That’s my whole month’s allowance! This is robbery!” The manager, looking bored, rolled his eyes. “It’s clearly marked on the menu. Why weren’t you complaining while you were eating it? Pay up, or I call the police for dine-and-dash.” That was Ethan Bell. Next to him, shoulders hunched and eyes wide with manufactured terror, was Chloe Davis. Chloe was clutching his sleeve, sobbing into his arm. “Ethan, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I just wanted to try some fancy meal, but I didn’t know it would be this expensive…” The manager laughed, a harsh bark. “Too late now, kids. Pay the check! And what kind of college students try to play high-roller when they can’t even afford the bill?” Ethan’s fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were white. He glared at the manager. “I’ll give you fifty now. The rest…” A flash of genuine shame crossed his face. “I’ll find a job. I’ll earn the money and bring it back.” I later found out he was the pride of his small town, a first class college student whose family had sacrificed his sister’s tuition to send him out. Grabbiing that check, and under the worshipful gaze of his hometown friend, Chloe, the guy got a little too big for his britches. Chloe gave him the puppy-dog eyes about the restaurant, and his fragile male pride—that damned pride—made him walk straight in. The manager was about to relent when I cut in. Ethan’s face was the color of a plum, but his spine was ramrod straight. The next second, a pale, manicured hand slid a black card between them. “Count it on me.” Both Ethan and Chloe froze, staring at me. I was completely expressionless. I just wanted to get to my table; they were blocking the entrance. “It’s fine. We’re classmates. This one’s on me.” It should have been a non-event. A mild, passing courtesy. Instead, Ethan yelled after me as I walked away, “What’s your name? I’ll pay you back! I don’t accept charity!” Without turning around, I tossed my name over my shoulder: “Scarlett Hayes.” Honestly, my initial impression of him was… fine. Mostly a decent kid with too much pride. Two months later, he cornered me. He was clutching a wad of cash—the thousand dollars, or whatever the bill was—like it was his entire self-worth. “Here. This is what I owed you. I’m paying you back.” His posture suggested that if I didn’t take the money, I was personally committing a felony against his dignity. I didn’t have a habit of crushing people’s egos. Besides, a debt is a debt. I took the money and asked, “Can you move now? I’m late.” He flinched, his face flushing again. “I… I’m Ethan Bell.” I was running to a lunch with my father, so I waved dismissively. “Ethan Bell. Got it. Thanks.” I genuinely thought he was a one-off extra. But apparently, the man had a spectacular inner monologue. Staring at my retreating back, he suddenly inflated with adrenaline. “Scarlett! I love you! May I ask you out?” I was thunderstruck. Buddy, this is the second time we’ve spoken. I was in a rush, so I didn’t give it a second thought. I turned back and said flatly, “No. I don’t like you.” The incident went exactly as you’d expect. Some people laughed: “A scholarship kid trying to date Hayes? What a joke.” Others pointed fingers at me: “Spoiled bitch. Couldn’t even let him down gently. Public rejection like that is cruel.” Wait, what? He proposed in public, but I was the asshole for rejecting him in public? “I try to do a good deed, and I get branded the villain,” I vented to my girls in a private dining room. Just then, the door slammed open. A pristine, ten-thousand-dollar bottle of Cristal, freshly uncorked for us, flew off the table and shattered on the floor, the golden liquid splashing everywhere. It was Chloe Davis, wearing a server uniform. She pointed a furious finger at me, as if she’d caught me molesting a puppy. “That bottle cost over a grand! Do you know how long Ethan had to wash dishes to pay back that thousand dollars? How dare you waste his hard work like this?” I was stunned. My friends were stunned. The manager, running in, looked utterly bewildered and let out a string of expletives. “Are you out of your mind?!” The manager was having a bad run with his staff. He tolerated Chloe’s constant, muttered complaints about customers—”wasteful trust fund kids,” “slutty clothes,” and so on. But this? This was a new level of insanity. She had destroyed client property and insulted the most valued patron. I gave the manager a cold smile. “Manager, your service here is truly… unique.” Manager’s face went white. He apologized profusely and immediately dragged Chloe out. As she was being hauled away, Chloe screamed, “Am I wrong? Scarlett, don’t think your money makes you superior! Poor people have dignity!” “Ethan worked his hands raw to pay you back! And you just throw your money away! Don’t you have a conscience?” I nodded slowly. “You’re right. I made a mistake.” Chloe instantly lifted her chin, radiating the glow of moral victory. “Good! Then send the bill back and go apologize to Ethan!” I gestured to the puddle of shattered glass and champagne. “I won’t be drinking this one. Whoever broke it pays for it.” Chloe’s triumphant expression dissolved into panic. Then I continued. “And based on that quality, please bring me ten more bottles. I’d like to hear them all clink.” “Ten… what ten?” Chloe stammered, horrified. Another server dragging her out had to remind her. “The wine list, remember? That bottle is two thousand a pop.” Chloe’s legs buckled. She was dragged away. My friend, Maya, stared after her. “Who was that psycho?” I rolled my eyes. “A psycho fangirl.” Of course, I wasn’t actually going to smash ten bottles of champagne. My family’s wealth came with strict discipline against that kind of childish, nouveau-riche arrogance. But when we left, Chloe was standing by the entrance, eyes red-rimmed, acting like a fragile heroine. Seeing me, she bit her lip and choked out a grudging, “I’m sorry, Miss Hayes.” With the ice broken, the tears came fast. “I just… I just felt so bad for Ethan. He’s so smart, he’s meant to do the study, but he was washing dishes for a week to pay you back. He only suffered because of you…” “Because of me, what?” I cut her off, my voice ice cold. She looked startled. She expected tears or a softening of my heart. “He did that menial work for you. How can you spend his money with a clear conscience…” “His money? It was a debt he owed me. A transaction. He owed money, he worked, he paid it back. What does that have to do with me?” I examined my freshly done manicure, completely unconcerned. “I didn’t charge him interest. The ten thousand dollar champagne is my choice. My standard of living is my own. Why should I lower it to filtered tap water just to spare his fragile pride?” “You! You!” Chloe was shaking with rage. “How could Ethan ever like someone as vain and cruel as you?” It was laughable. If you can’t afford to date me, don’t ask me out. Was I supposed to pretend to be poor and subsist on fast food just so his ego could feel satisfied? Who did he think he was? The next day, Ethan showed up, Chloe sobbing dramatically behind him. He was shaking with suppressed anger. “Scarlett. I need to talk to you.” “Can you please drop the complaint against Chloe? She didn’t mean it. That ten thousand… we can’t pay it right now.” A crowd of students was already forming. I didn’t even look up. “No.” Chloe’s crying instantly ratcheted up a notch. “Why? That’s nothing to you! Is it because of me? I truly love you!” Ethan roared, trying to force a confession of love into a financial negotiation. “I don’t love you. And as for her…” I pointed at Chloe. “She broke the glass; she pays the tab. I’m not her mom, and I don’t clean up other people’s messes.” Ethan looked devastated, as if my refusal to be financially exploited was a moral failing. “You are just like everyone else. You look down on people who come from my background.” He grabbed Chloe’s arm to leave, but before walking away, he threw a parting shot at me. “Scarlett Hayes, I will prove to you that I love you. Even if you reject me now, I will never give up!” And that was it. The entire university had its newest campus legend: the tormented, dedicated, lovesick hero from the engineering program. And me? I was the greedy, cold-hearted villainess who used her money to crush a noble woman. Everyone said he loved me “into the grave.” He worked three months to buy me a cheap necklace. “I know you usually wear expensive things, but when I get rich, I’ll buy you the best.” His friends were there, chanting. “Say yes! Say yes!” “Scarlett, do you know what Ethan went through for this necklace? Where will you find a man this devoted?” I was so furious I almost laughed. They wanted a show? Fine. I’ll give them a show. Since they already labeled me as an arrogant bitch, I’d play the part. He liked moral grandstanding in public? I’d like to destroy him. I snatched the cheap chain from his hand and slammed it on the ground, grinding my heel into it. “I said I don’t want it! Are you deaf?” “This thing? My dog wouldn’t wear it. She’d get a rash.” Ethan’s face went corpse-white, as if I’d physically slapped him. The cheering instantly died. The proudest “Village Hope” had never been humiliated like this. But he was persistent. The Martyr narrative was strong with this one. A few days later, he brought a Tupperware container to my dorm. “Scarlett, I know you like expensive food. This is a meal I made for you by myself.” In the summer heat, he deliberately showed his hands—they were covered in fresh blisters. I gave a cold laugh and kicked the container into a nearby trash bin. “What trash are you bringing to me now?” “Unless the ingredients were flown in on a private jet, I’m not eating it.” Chloe popped up instantly. “Can’t you see the burns on his hands? He’s never done dishes at home!” I feigned shock, covering my mouth. “Wow, such a huge sacrifice. He definitely deserves a medal. Should I call the president?” Then my face fall. “Now, how is that my problem?” The real turning point came in our year 3. I was leaving campus when a middle-aged woman grabbed me. She looked me up and down. “You must be Scarlett Hayes? Ethan’s girl? You’re not bad looking, but you dress a little loose. Not proper.” “Once you marry into our family, you’ll need to be a decent wife. Ethan spoils you, but don’t push it.” “Little Chloe told me how wasteful you are. Your family is rich, but so what? You’ll be Ethan’s wife, and his money is yours.” “Oh, where is Ethan? I brought my home-made pickles. This one’s half-finished, but it’s still my wish.” She shoved a greasy, half-full jar of cloudy, home-made pickles into my hands. She kept the other, pristine jar—packed full of pickles — clutched tightly to her chest. I stared at the jar, then up to the clear sky. I zoned out for a while and waved to my driver. “Get this person away from me.” My driver, a former Marine, gently but firmly moved the woman aside. Ethan’s mother started screaming, throwing a fit. “What are you doing? Who is this man? You’re cheating on my son with a thug!” “I’m getting my son! He will break up with you!” Ethan rushed over. Seeing the scene, he immediately went to shield his mother, his face a mask of wounded outrage. “Scarlett, how could you treat my mother like this?” Chloe, sensing her moment, fanned the flames. “Mrs. Bell, see? She doesn’t respect you at all.” Ethan’s mother was practically hopping mad. “Break up! You must break up! Unless she gets on her knees and apologizes to me, she’ll never set foot in a Bell home!” I was beyond done. “Did my being your ‘girlfriend’ ever pass by me for approval?” Ethan stiffened. He looked at me, a silent, pleading expression in his eyes. Don’t embarrass me, Scarlett. Don’t ruin the vibe. His mother, taking my silence for submission, leaned in. “What? Cat got your tongue?” I pulled out my phone and dialed the non-emergency police line. Then I answered her calmly. “Ma’am, you have just publicly slandered and physically accosted me. I have the right to press charges.” “And you can tell your son to stay away from me. If he harasses me again, I’d be happy to see your whole family behind bars.” Chloe gasped. Ethan’s mother was frozen, gaping. I got into the car, leaving them in the chaos. In the rearview mirror, Ethan chased the car for a few steps, roaring my name. “Scarlett Hayes! Aren’t you afraid that one day, karma will get you, and you’ll end up poor like me?!” As he cursed. Five years after graduation. He clawed his way up and became the new tech darling. And me? I was the one attending the gala who casually steadied a tray for a hurried waiter—the CEO of a financial empire. 2 Ethan’s face was a study in toxic, triumphant smugness, like he’d just won the lottery and couldn’t wait to spend it all on revenge. He pulled a business card from his jacket pocket, pinching it between two fingers, and offered it to me like a handout to a beggar. “Take it. Ascend Tech. I’m the CEO now. For old times’ sake, if you’re truly desperate, I can give you a janitorial position.” He paused, a cruel smirk twisting his mouth. “Specifically, cleaning the men’s restroom. How about that? Since you were so high-and-mighty, it’s time you experienced how the other half lives.” Chloe dissolved into peals of fake laughter. “Oh, Ethan! Scarlett is so capable, I’m sure she’ll make that restroom sparkle!”

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“Who the hell adjusted the threading tolerance by seven-thousandths of a millimeter?!” “I did. Got a problem with that?” The factory’s resident Human Lucky Charm was applying lip gloss in the reflection of a polished machine panel, not even bothering to look up. “I just thought it looked better, so I made a tiny adjustment. Why are you screaming?” The production line had been running to the wrong specification for twenty-four hours. I slammed the emergency stop button. I forced my anger down. “It doesn’t meet the export standard now. We can’t ship tomorrow. We’ve worked overtime for a month, and the penalties will wipe out any profit—and then some!” “Seriously? It’s one number. You’re being so dramatic.” Skylar Bloom snapped her compact shut. “It’s New Year’s Eve, and I have a date. I’m not sticking around to watch you panic!” Before she could reach the exit, I motioned for a floor manager to lock the main bay doors. “On a precision component like this, that one number represents a million dollars.” I fixed her with a cold stare. “You can take this pile of defective parts and explain that to the regulatory inspectors.” 1 Skylar paused, stunned for a fraction of a second, then scoffed. “Don’t go acting like this is the apocalypse. What difference does 0.007mm make? You can still screw it in, right?” She grabbed a nearby component and twisted it into a wooden block a few times, her expression smug. “See? No difference. You’re just jealous of my easy job and looking for a fight.” I suppressed a weary sigh and picked up the spec sheet. “The buyer for this batch is a high-tech firm overseas. Their compliance standards are strict. 28 TPI corresponds to a pitch of 0.907mm. This is for precision instruments.” I tapped the sheet. “Your little adjustment of 0.007mm is going to cause slippage, strip the threads, and damage expensive equipment. We won’t pass customs and compliance, and the company won’t just owe massive penalties for late delivery—our entire corporate credibility will be destroyed.” “You call this ‘looking for a fight’?” Watching the blank look in Skylar’s eyes, I knew her simple brain couldn’t process the technical complexity. Sure enough, the next second, she huffed and faced me. “Don’t think you can baffle me with a bunch of fancy technical jargon.” “I’m calling someone who knows what they’re talking about. Let’s see if you still have the guts to bully me then!” The phone connected quickly. Loud bar noise crackled through the speaker. “Skylar, where are you? I’ve been waiting forever.” Skylar’s voice immediately turned whiny. “Brad, I wanted to come, but Anya’s locking the doors and won’t let me leave.” “She keeps saying that because of me, we won’t meet the delivery deadline tomorrow—” “Nonsense!” Brad Harrison roared. “Put her on speaker. I’ll talk to her.” Skylar hit the speaker button, her eyes daring me, the look clearly saying, Let’s see you squirm. “Brad, Skylar unilaterally adjusted the production specs. The screws we produced are non-compliant with international standards—” Brad cut me off, his voice laced with aggression. “Anya Reed, are you still struggling to understand your place here?” “Skylar is the Human Lucky Charm I brought in to draw in prosperity. She’s willing to even step onto the floor, and that’s a privilege for you. How dare you cross her?” “If she gets upset, the company will have bad luck. Can you handle the consequences of that?!” I knew that business owners often believe in luck or superstition. But whatever the future held, the immediate disaster was the priority. I was about to explain, but Skylar jumped in. “Brad, that’s what I told her! But she keeps using this scary professional language to intimidate me.” “She even threatened that the company is doomed! I was so angry, I had to call you.” Eighteen years in this industry. It was the first time I’d ever met someone so gifted at twisting the truth. Logic told me I couldn’t waste any more time arguing with her. I needed to immediately convey the severity of the situation. I grabbed the contract and pointed to the fine print. “Brad, I’m not threatening bad luck. If we can’t deliver tomorrow, the buyer has the right to demand three times the penalty fee.” “Plus, they are a major global player. Messing up this order means we lose access to the entire Western market. The losses are truly incalculable!” Brad Harrison, Mr. Maxwell’s sister’s husband and the newest VP, usually acted like the big shot, but he valued money above all else. I thought this would finally get his attention. Instead, he sneered. “It hasn’t happened yet, has it?” “If it weren’t for Skylar gracing the floor with her presence, do you think we would have even landed those contracts?” “And besides, failing to meet the production deadline is your job, not hers. Don’t try to pin your failure on Skylar. You deliver that product tomorrow, or I’m holding you responsible!” I nearly laughed out loud from the sheer ridiculousness of it all. This order took our sales team three months to secure. It had nothing to do with Skylar. All she’d done since arriving was cause chaos. I gritted my teeth. “Brad, I refuse to knowingly ship defective products. Customs will never clear it.” The laughter on the other end grew louder. Brad sounded completely irritated. “I hired you to solve problems, not create headaches for me.” “Give me a straight answer, Anya: Do you want this job or not?” 2 Mr. Maxwell—Brad’s brother-in-law and the actual owner of the company—had lured me away from my last job with a salary 20% above the industry average. He respected my stringent quality control. I took a deep breath. “Brad, since you refuse to address this situation, I have no choice but to report directly to Mr. Maxwell.” At the mention of the owner, Brad’s fury intensified. “Anya, going over my head is a serious offense. Besides, my brother-in-law is ill and recovering. If you upset him, can you handle the consequences?” “I’m in charge of this floor now. Reporting to him undermines my authority. Where does that leave me?” “Stay right there. Don’t move. I’m coming down.” It wasn’t long before Brad stormed into the factory bay. The first thing he did was snatch my phone. “I hate people who don’t follow the chain of command.” He flopped into a chair, his tone mocking. “So, tell me. What is this earth-shattering issue you’re threatening to take to the owner?” I ignored the sarcasm and recounted Skylar’s unauthorized spec change. Brad leaned back, contemplating. “Skylar, why did you do that?” I thought, finally, he’s listening. “Because the Vibe Consultant said I shouldn’t see too many decimal points,” Skylar said, linking her arm through his. “You’ve been complaining that this department’s profits are shrinking. But everyone says Anya is so competent. It doesn’t add up. I think Anya is exaggerating, Brad. She’s probably padding the specs by 0.007mm just to claim extra material costs. That’s at least seven thousand dollars per million screws. She’s probably been skimming off the top for years!” Skylar was accusing me of fraud, and everyone understood it. A few workers spoke up for me. “Brad, Anya is not like that!” “She’s incredibly responsible. Anyone else, maybe, but never her.” “She pays for our late-night catering out of her own pocket when we work overtime. She won’t even accept a bottle of water from us. She would never steal!” Most of these men and women had followed me from my previous company years ago. My eyes stung a little. To speak up when Brad was at his most aggressive meant risking their jobs. Skylar sneered. “That just proves Anya thinks your little contributions are beneath her.” “Brad, she’s so desperate she’s threatening the owner. I think something suspicious is going on. You should have Internal Affairs audit her books!” Brad, eager for an excuse to assert his power, immediately agreed. “Audit her! I want a deep dive into everything!” He then ordered the remaining crew to triple their efforts to meet the deadline. A few veteran employees tried to object, but he shouted them down. “Anyone who doesn’t want to work can leave right now!” he bellowed. “But consider it a voluntary resignation. Don’t expect severance or any of that piled-up overtime pay!” They had all been working crazy hours for this order for a month. Losing their jobs and their paychecks would ruin their families. The workers lowered their heads, defeated. I raised my voice again. “Brad, the screws we made yesterday are defective. We can’t—” Before I could finish, Brad had two security guards clamp a hand over my mouth and drag me away. He had me locked in a utility closet. A short while later, two Internal Affairs staff arrived. Skylar followed, acting as the lead whistleblower. She pointed a finger at me. “I saw Anya giving an envelope of cash to the Accounting Department!” “Do you have proof?” one of the IA staff asked. “Yes, look at this!” 3 Skylar produced a grainy photo. It showed me handing a thick manila envelope to our staff accountant, who was holding it to her chest. The IA officer’s expression hardened. “Anya Reed, how do you explain this?” I stared at the picture. That was the day I had taken the factory’s collective donation—I was the representative who visited her in the hospital. But the angle was deliberately misleading. It looked less like a charitable gift and more like a clandestine transaction. The IA officer adjusted his glasses. “We will verify your account. Next, let’s discuss the alleged financial discrepancy.” I was frustrated but detailed the situation again, explaining why the 0.007mm adjustment was not padding the books but sabotage. The IA staff were older employees, not yet fully swayed by Brad. They finished their questions and left. My young apprentice, Leo, slipped into the closet while the door was momentarily unguarded. He whispered that Skylar had already posted everything online. Skylar had already built a minor online following based on her ‘Human Lucky Charm’ persona—everyone admired her high salary and easy job. She had just posted a video detailing how she had discovered a management loophole and saved the company from a major fraud. The comments section was a toxic mess. “OMG, the audacity! Not only is this girl lucky, she’s smart too! The Human Lucky Charm is real!” “That Plant Manager totally deserved it! Who messes with the Good Luck Mascot? Busted for embezzlement, serves her right.” “Finally! My parents work on the floor, they work so hard, and people like Anya hurt their paychecks. She should be fired and prosecuted!” “Piece of trash! If I saw her on the street, I’d punch her!” …A rare comment defending me was instantly buried. Reading the venom, I felt icy cold. Skylar wasn’t just looking for a win; she was trying to destroy my career. I quickly regained my focus and gave Leo instructions. “Copy the surveillance footage from the past week. Especially the part where Skylar changed the numbers and our confrontation.” “Also, Brad is useless. Go to my desk, find Mr. Maxwell’s private contact card in the top drawer, and tell him everything that’s happening.” Leo looked distressed. “The footage I can get, but your office is locked. I can’t get in.” “Find a way, Leo. Mr. Maxwell is the only person who can stop Brad now!” Leo nodded and slipped out. Skylar returned after seeing the IA staff off. She smiled, watching me sitting there disheveled. “Anya, everyone knows Brad favors me. Why would you set yourself up for this?” She picked up the technical documents I had compiled, scribbling all over them with a permanent marker. “What good is all this work? I can get more done with one sentence than you can with a hundred pages.” “Brad told me to keep an eye on production. I missed my New Year’s Eve date, but ruining your career is a good enough substitute!” I couldn’t fathom the depth of her malice. I had only been professional. Yet, she had constantly disrupted my work, picked fights, and even rear-ended my car trying to beat me to the parking lot. Seeing my confusion, a flash of pure spite crossed her eyes. “Don’t play innocent, Anya. I’ve hated you since the day I walked in.” “Yes, you’re competent, but you think I only got this job because of my ‘lucky chart,’ and I earned this! You wouldn’t let me drop the decimal points? Fine. Then I’ll change the strength ratings—the 4.8, 8.8, and 12.8—to 5, 9, and 13. You can’t complain about those numbers, can you?” Her ignorance horrified me. Those numbers represented the tensile strength and load-bearing capacity. Exceeding the maximum could lead to structural failure and collapse! “Skylar, you’ve made a catastrophic mistake! You can’t touch those numbers!” I jumped up to run out and stop the production line, but Skylar mistook my panic for an escape attempt. She immediately yelled for the guards outside. “Tie her up! And muzzle that doom-and-gloom mouth! Brad said she’s not to leave until the investigation is complete!” 4 My mouth was taped shut, and I was tied to a chair. I could only watch Skylar sashay out. I struggled, but the combination of exhaustion and the tight ropes made me lose my balance, and I crashed to the floor, chair and all. I knew the company was doomed. Early the next morning, Brad arrived to oversee the shipping. He finished the process and burst into the closet, grinning triumphantly. He dangled a thick document in front of me. “Anya, you’re stuck in a junior manager mindset because you’re not flexible enough. See this? Customs clearance!” “If I had listened to you and delayed the shipment, we would have paid a fortune in penalties!” I managed a strained smile, despite the gag. Originally, it was just a delay and a penalty. Now that they had shipped and used the defective screws, the entire finished product would be affected. This was far beyond a simple breach of contract. There’s no reasoning with the willfully blind. I was helpless. With the shipment out, Brad was ecstatic. He draped an arm around Skylar. “Skylar, thanks to your presence, we delivered the goods without paying a single penalty. Name your reward!” Skylar’s eyes immediately welled up. “Brad, you’re already so good to me.” “I don’t want anything… except a public apology from Anya. I want her to clear my name.” “Done! Consider it handled.” Brad had the guards haul me out and gather everyone on the floor. “I called this meeting to address Anya Reed’s abuse of power and alleged embezzlement,” he announced. “Skylar Bloom uncovered the fraud and saved the company from a major economic loss. Effective immediately, Skylar is the new Department Head!” “As for Anya, once the investigation is complete, we’ll turn her over to the authorities.” He had the guards pull the tape off my mouth. “Anya, you owe Skylar an apology.” I stretched my jaw, which was sore from the tape. “I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do.” “Brad Harrison, you’re celebrating too soon. The hole Skylar just dug is too deep for you to climb out of.” Perhaps Brad hadn’t expected me to refuse, especially after he’d ostensibly ‘solved’ the problem. I had publicly humiliated him. He grabbed my collar, eyes blazing. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be, Anya. Once this is out, no firm in this industry will touch you.” He was still using that as leverage, clearly unaware Skylar had already posted everything online. It wouldn’t work on me. He leaned in, his voice low and cruel. “You brought fifty people with you when you jumped ship, right? They’re older, they have families to feed. What if I fire all of them?” His threat sent a jolt through the crowd. The workers who had followed me were skilled technicians. They erupted in anger. “Anya, don’t listen to him! We’re skilled workers; we can find jobs anywhere!” “Yeah! A pigheaded leader like him is a liability! We don’t need him!” “Brad, you don’t fire us—we fire you!” A few of them tore off their company uniforms and moved to usher me out. The situation was spiraling out of Brad’s control. He started to panic. Then, a stern, booming voice cut through the chaos. “What is going on here?!” Brad spun around, his face lighting up with relief. “Brother-in-law, you’re finally here!”

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I am Blair Sterling, the beautiful, wealthy, and fierce daughter of a billionaire tycoon. I am also the villainess in a trashy romance novel. That day, I was enthusiastically bullying the innocent “white lotus” heroine, ready to slap her face, when I suddenly saw her brother running towards us. The slap I had aimed at her face morphed mid-air into a gentle caress. “My dear little sister, I’m your future sister-in-law!” “As long as you help me catch your brother, my black card is yours to swipe~” If I had known her brother was such a breathtaking beauty, who would care about some childhood sweetheart fiancé! 1 I am the rich, gorgeous, and slightly terrifying Blair Sterling. My childhood fiancé fell for a poor, innocent scholarship student named Summer. Consumed by jealousy, I tricked Summer into a deserted corner of the campus to teach her a lesson. Just as I raised my hand to strike, I glimpsed a figure sprinting towards us from the distance. The boy’s face crashed into my vision. Simultaneously, a sharp pain pierced my brain. A flood of memories drowned my mind. Dimly lit rooms, tangled sheets. The air thick and humid with heat. Entwined shadows on the wall under the warm glow of a lamp. In countless R-rated scenes, the protagonist’s face overlapped perfectly with the boy running towards me. It was terrifyingly clear. My raised hand froze in mid-air for a few seconds. Then, it landed gently on Summer’s cheek. Summer, who had squeezed her eyes shut and braced for impact, slowly opened them. After a moment of confusion, she looked at me with stubborn hatred. “Blair Sterling, if you dare to hit me, I’ll call the police! Others might be afraid of your family’s power, but I’m not!” My vicious expression instantly melted into one of tender affection. I stroked Summer’s smooth cheek. Smiling, I said, “Misunderstanding, total misunderstanding.” “Sister, I’m your future sister-in-law~” “I was just about to kiss you, why would I hit you?” “I would never do something so barbaric.” I quickly signaled the two lackeys holding Summer to let her go and get lost. Summer looked at me, completely flabbergasted. She couldn’t believe her ears. “What are you talking about?” I looked at her with sincere eyes. “I like your brother. I only blocked you here to see him.” “Let go of my sister!” Caleb rushed up, shoving me away forcefully. I took the opportunity to stumble, falling straight into his arms. My hands wrapped around the boy’s lean, muscular waist. Caleb was caught off guard by my sudden embrace. He scolded coldly, “Let go!” I held on for dear life, pressing my whole body against him. I looked up with a sweet smile. “If I let her go, I can’t let you go.” Under my burning gaze, Caleb’s ears turned red. He looked away uncomfortably and pushed me away with force. He pushed too hard, and I landed on my butt on the concrete. He checked on his sister, asking with concern, “Are you okay?” Summer was still dazed. Clearly, she hadn’t processed my sudden confession. “No, I’m fine.” “She… this must be a misunderstanding.” I pretended to be injured, clutching my leg and wailing. I squeezed out two crocodile tears and looked at Caleb pitifully. “It hurts.” I tried to stand up, then fell back down. Caleb’s face was cold. He hesitated for a moment, then crouched in front of me, offering his back. “Get on. I’ll carry you to the nurse’s office.” I climbed onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, secretly inhaling his scent. A smile of pure satisfaction spread across my face. Summer, watching my little act with her jaw on the floor, looked like her brain was short-circuiting. I grinned and put a finger to my lips, signaling her to keep quiet. Nineteen-year-old Caleb was cold and reserved. Top student, good temper, a perfect gentleman. But I knew that beneath that calm exterior lay a hidden madness and obsession. Caleb silently carried me towards the nurse’s office. Summer watched us, wanting to say something but stopping herself. He frowned, clearly conflicted. I stared at Caleb’s profile, recalling the memories flooding my brain. My heart felt sour yet nostalgic. I couldn’t help but press my lips behind his ear, gently kissing his skin. The person carrying me went rigid. He abruptly let go, dropping me. Flustered and angry, he shouted, “What are you doing?!” I instinctively stood up, forgetting my lie about the leg pain. Caleb stared at my perfectly functional legs, his face darkening. His voice was icy. “Is lying fun for you?” “Or is playing people just a game?” Crap. He’s genuinely angry. I walked up to Caleb, trying to appease him. “I was wrong, don’t be mad.” Then, under Caleb’s shocked gaze, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. He pushed me away violently. His handsome face was flushed red. His voice trembled with anger. “Are you crazy?!” I sat on the ground, looking wronged. “I was apologizing to you.” “Who taught you to apologize like that?!” My future Caleb, of course! 2 I was reborn. In my past life, because my fiancé fell for Summer, I became consumed by jealousy. I bullied her relentlessly, trying everything to destroy their relationship. When I found out my fiancé broke off our engagement, my jealousy burned away my reason. I planned to drug his drink. I wanted to cook the rice so he’d have to take responsibility. But by a twist of fate, the person who drank the drugged wine was Caleb. In the dim room, the usually cold man turned into a savage beast. Ignoring my curses and pleas, he ravaged me. I tried to run away crying, but he dragged me back again and again. Finally, I fell unconscious. Even in my sleep, I found no peace. In my dream, I was on a small boat, drifting in endless darkness, rocking with the waves until dawn. When I woke up, I didn’t dare make a sound. I could only grit my teeth and swallow the humiliation. Later, I found an opportunity to capture Caleb and lock him in my villa’s basement. To beat him and vent my anger. In the basement, Caleb’s hands were chained. His body was covered in whip marks. “You dog! Who allowed you to look at me like that!” Caleb had a spine of steel. No matter how I beat or scolded him, he maintained that indifferent face. His eyes were as black as the abyss, unsettling. He smirked, “I’m a dog, but you were still ridden by me.” I trembled with rage. I slapped Caleb hard across the face. He puffed out his cheek, looking calm. My hand was red and stinging. I hurt myself hitting him. Furious, I drugged him and left him in the basement. Watching Caleb suffer on the monitor was the only thing that made me feel better. The boy’s black hair was soaked with sweat. His eyes were bloodshot, crazy like a trapped beast. The chains clanked as he pulled at them. Finally, he suddenly looked up, staring straight at me through the camera. That look terrified me. My heart skipped a beat. Then Caleb went still. I watched for a while, feeling uneasy. I didn’t want to kill him, just teach him a lesson. I rushed to the basement to check on him. He was unresponsive, burning up with fever, completely passed out. Afraid he might die, I quickly unlocked his chains. Suddenly, Caleb, who was feigning unconsciousness, grabbed me. The beast revealed his fangs and claws, pinning me down and devouring me. I cried and apologized, shaking with fear, fainting in the suffocation and chaos. Caleb used me up and ran away. Not long after, I fell from being a billionaire heiress to a penniless nobody. My father died suddenly, and his illegitimate son appeared out of nowhere with a will, inheriting everything. I was kicked out of the Sterling family with a paternity test stating I wasn’t my father’s child. Years later, Caleb transformed from a poor boy into a business tycoon. He found me selling trinkets on the street. Like I had imprisoned him, he locked me in his estate as a canary. From struggling at first to completely giving up later, I accepted it. He was handsome, rich, and good in bed. I treated it as a free ride. Not a loss. He kept me for over a decade until he died in a shipwreck. When the lawyer read his will, I was shocked to find he left me an inheritance large enough to live lavishly for the rest of my life. The villa we lived in was also under my name. Six months after Caleb died, I missed him so much I couldn’t sleep. For over ten years, his imprisonment seemed like revenge, but he treated me well. Aside from not letting me leave, he gave me the best of everything. I was the only one by his side. Because of me, he fought with his sister and barely spoke to her. I still lived in that villa, often staying in his study reading, because that was where he used to be. There, I accidentally found a familiar diamond hair clip. Freshman year of college, I went to a bar district looking for someone and got dragged into an alley by a drunk. A boy saved me. To thank him, I casually gave him this hair clip. I didn’t know that boy was Caleb. It was dark, and I was too scared to notice his face. I threw the gift and ran. Caleb had kept this clip in an exquisite white box. Once, I saw it and asked, “What’s that? You’re staring at it so intensely.” He looked at me, his tone flat. “A gift from someone I like.” I mocked him, “Unrequited love, huh?” He looked at me deeply and said nothing. So, the person he liked was me. This repressed man, such a tough mouth. I developed severe insomnia. Only by hugging Caleb’s clothes and smelling his scent could I sleep. I belatedly realized my own heart. I loved Caleb. I didn’t cry when I heard of his death. I didn’t cry at his funeral. But in the deep nights without him, I cried countless times. If I could do it all over again, I wanted to date him properly. 3 Caleb, flustered and angry after being tricked and kissed, turned to leave. I tragically discovered that this time, I really had twisted my ankle. “Caleb!” “My foot really hurts!” “It’s true this time, look, it’s swollen.” Summer looked and confirmed, “Brother, her ankle is swollen.” Caleb stopped walking away. He came back, looked at my ankle, and without a word, piggybacked me. He warned, “Touch me again, and I’ll throw you into the lake.” I nodded obediently. … After that, my attitude towards Summer did a 180. “Sister” this, “sister” that. “Blair Sterling, I don’t know you well, stop calling me that!” I forcibly dragged Summer shopping. Clothes, bags, makeup, skincare, jewelry—I bought a pile. When parting, I stuffed all the bags into her hands. Smiling, I said, “Just a little meeting gift from your sister-in-law.” “Help me chase your brother, and I’ll take care of you for life.” Summer was conflicted. She tried to return the items. Painfully, she said, “I won’t betray my brother!” I pulled out VIP tickets to her idol’s concert. Her eyes lit up, and her last bit of hesitation vanished. “You are my real sister-in-law!” Having bribed Summer, I got all of Caleb’s part-time job addresses. Whenever I was free, I went to find him. Impatiently, he asked, “What do you want?” “I’m chasing you, isn’t it obvious?” Caleb looked at me coldly. “You see this? I’m poor and busy. I don’t have time for your love games.” Caleb worked at a bar on weekend nights. When he saw me, his face instantly darkened. He grabbed my hand and dragged me out. Sternly, he said, “Go back!” Of course, I didn’t go back. “Agree to be my boyfriend, and I’ll listen to you.” He silently suppressed his anger. Leaving a “Suit yourself,” he ignored me. But I knew he was secretly watching me, even asking colleagues to keep an eye on me. I went to the bathroom, and when I came back, Caleb was gone. Just as I was looking for him, the bar lights dimmed. The music stopped. Then the crowd screamed. Pink and purple lights lit up the center stage. Five boys in black pants and white shirts, eyes covered with black silk scarves, sat facing chair backs. Straddling the chairs, they moved their bodies slowly to the sexy music. I recognized Caleb, second from the left, immediately. I was shocked. The aloof and proud Caleb was dancing seductively for money. My eyes were glued only to him. Watching his hand glide up his long neck, gently rubbing. Then slowly sliding down. Finally, casually unbuttoning the top two buttons of his white shirt. Revealing exquisite, pale collarbones. This stimulating scene made me blush and my heart race. As the music peaked, the lead dancer ripped open all his buttons. His lean, muscular waist was fully exposed. The audience screamed deafeningly. I was just glad the four backup dancers didn’t need to strip. Otherwise, I might have rushed onto the stage to dress Caleb. I never knew he could dance. Or that he was this financially desperate at this time. After the dance, there was a game. Those chosen by the spotlight could feed the lead dancer a lollipop mouth-to-mouth. Five people were chosen. I was the last lucky one. From being chosen to walking to the stage, I felt Caleb’s gaze following me. Just as the lead dancer bent down to feed me the lollipop, Caleb suddenly appeared next to him. He pulled me over. One hand cupped the back of my head, feeding the lollipop he was holding in his mouth to mine. I instinctively opened my mouth. The sweet and sour candy spread in my mouth. Through the lace on his eyes, our gazes met amidst the screaming crowd. My heartbeat was like thunder. I was dizzy with sweetness.

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On the eve of our wedding, Chloe Vance fell from a building and died. Everyone was convinced that I, the devoted fiancé, would follow her in death out of grief. But I didn’t shed a single tear. Three years later, I met her again. Not only had she come back from the dead, but she also had amnesia. “You’re my former fiancé? Haven’t seen you in years, how did you get so shabby? For old times’ sake, I can spare you one day a week to serve me.” I didn’t even spare her a glance. Chloe didn’t know that on the night she fell, I received a video recording. She also didn’t know that during the three years she pretended to have amnesia and traveled the world with Liam Black, I had gotten married. And the person I married was her biological sister. Chapter 1 In the private VIP room, the crowd hadn’t noticed me standing at the door yet. Someone suddenly brought it up. “Chloe, it’s been three years. What do you plan to do about Julian Sterling?” Chloe brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, indifferent. “It’s been three years, no rush. Let’s talk about it after I marry Liam.” The crowd laughed and chimed in. “If you ask me, that Julian Sterling is such a simp. Seeing Chloe again after three years, he’ll probably be shocked stupid!” “I heard he’s been living in squalor these past three years. Without Chloe, his life is indeed crap.” The room was filled with an air of merriment, the mockery in everyone’s voices undisguised. Just as I was about to leave, someone spotted me and shouted: “Julian Sterling!?” I was exposed to everyone’s gaze. The person who was making the most noise just now scratched his head awkwardly, trying to smooth things over. “Julian, Chloe is still alive. We didn’t tell you because she lost her memory and we were afraid of agitating you.” I glanced at them with disgust. Before I could speak, Chloe looked me up and down. “So you’re my fiancé? Why do you look so shabby? They say your living standards plummeted without me these past three years?” Chloe was still as arrogant and spoiled as ever. But I no longer had the tolerance I once did. Now, facing her, I felt only endless annoyance. Seeing my silence, Chloe wasn’t angry. She leaned lazily into Liam’s embrace, her index finger circling on his chest. Liam smiled and held Chloe’s mischievous hand, casting a provocative glance at me. “Julian, haven’t seen you in three years. How did you end up like this? No wonder Chloe forgot you. Who could remember you like this?” I frowned tightly, hands instinctively clenching into fists, disgusted by their debauchery. Chloe mistook my reaction for pain at their display of affection and looked smug. “Alright, don’t be so jealous. If you want to continue being with me, you have to adapt to this relationship. Don’t worry, I’ll save one day a week for you.” As soon as she finished, the people around immediately surrounded me, jeering with schadenfreude and belittlement. “Oh Julian, look, Chloe still has feelings for you. Even with amnesia, she keeps you in her heart, saving a day a week for you!” “As long as you serve Chloe and Liam well, won’t your life be better than before? Look at your shabby state. Had enough of the poor life? You have to seize this opportunity!” Liam leaned back on the sofa, legs resting on the coffee table, holding Chloe in his arms. He clicked his tongue. “No choice, Julian. You’ll have to suffer a bit for now. After all, the person Chloe loves most now is me.” Chloe chuckled at this. She admired her fresh manicure and glanced at me indifferently. “What’s there to feel aggrieved about? He loves me to death. He should be secretly happy to have even one day.” Hearing this, my heart clenched painfully. Chloe was so strange now I dared not recognize her. Years ago, she loved me so much. Once, when I had a high fever of 104 degrees that wouldn’t break for days, she dropped all her work to guard me day and night. She even personally climbed Mount Wuling, taking 9,999 steps, kowtowing every step, to pray for a safety amulet for me. Back then, looking at her swollen, bleeding forehead and bloody knees, I was too heartbroken to speak, calling her silly. But she held my face lovingly with both hands. “As long as you are safe and healthy, it’s worth it even if it costs my life.” Everything from the past was vivid in my mind, but reality had long changed. Turns out a person can change so much. Chapter 2 I suppressed the surging emotions, met Chloe’s moist eyes, showed the wedding ring on my hand, and tried to keep my tone calm. “You’ve mistaken me for someone else.” “Also, I’m already married.” The room fell silent instantly. Everyone looked at each other, exchanging glances, before bursting into laughter. Chloe raised an eyebrow faintly, glancing indifferently at the ring on my hand. “Married? Married which old auntie?” “Look at your shabby state. Did you buy that ring at a dollar store? What, thought this would stimulate my memory of you?” With that, she stood up quickly and yanked the ring off my ring finger. I had been exhausted from working on a project these past few days and couldn’t dodge in time. Liam stepped forward to examine the wedding ring carefully, then suddenly laughed out loud. “Chloe, why does this ring look so much like the ‘Heart of Eternity’ wedding rings your sister bid for in France three years ago?” “Don’t tell me Julian says he married your sister, Aria Vance?” Liam looked at me sideways, playing with the wedding ring in his hand. The private room became even livelier. This was too absurd for them. After all, Aria Vance was the primary heir of the Vance family now. Ruthless and decisive, she was the Ice Queen no one dared to offend in the business world. Yet such a person suddenly flash-married a mysterious man three years ago and loved him to the bone. For three years, no matter how the media dug, they couldn’t find a trace of information about her husband and daughter. “Julian, you’re not trying to say you’re that mysterious man no one could dig up for three years, are you?” Liam tossed the ring high and caught it, the diamonds flashing dazzlingly under the lights. “Oh, I have to say, the craftsmanship of this fake is really good. Which factory did you find to imitate it?” Their successive mockery made me impatient. “Don’t touch my ring, it’s real…” Before I could finish, Chloe slapped my face to the side. My cheek burned with pain instantly. “Julian Sterling, have you lost your mind? You dare spread rumors about my sister! Who doesn’t know she loves my brother-in-law to death? Even I haven’t seen his true face, and you dare to impersonate him. Who gave you the guts?!” I licked my dry lips, slowly turned my head, and met Chloe’s gaze. Perhaps my look was too terrifying; Chloe shrank back. Seeing this, Liam immediately jumped in. He shielded Chloe behind him and pointed at my nose, cursing: “Julian, how can you be so ungrateful? Chloe already promised to accompany you one day a week. It’s fine if you don’t cherish it, but now you dare to impersonate her brother-in-law. Who in the capital circle doesn’t know Chloe’s sister’s weak spot is her mysterious husband? Are you doing this to make her sister angry at Chloe? How vicious is your heart!” Hearing this, I felt a sense of daze. Once, Liam couldn’t tolerate me anywhere and had to suppress me in everything. He even smeared me in front of Chloe every day to break us up. But back then, Chloe didn’t believe him at all and even punished Liam severely for his malicious slander. But now, the person who used to defend me the most stood with Liam. She held Liam’s hand and slammed a stack of cash onto my face. “Enough, stop pretending. For old times’ sake, I won’t pursue this. Look at your shabby state; this money is enough for you to live it up for a month.” The sharp corner cut my face, oozing beads of blood. I ignored it, just looked up and stared dead at Chloe. A trace of guilt and panic inexplicably flashed across her face. Seeing this, I chuckled and bent down. The guilt and panic on Chloe’s face faded, replaced by mockery again. “Thought you had some backbone…” The next second, her words halted. Under Chloe’s dull gaze, I found the ring among the pile of red bills. Chloe paused, blocking me before I left the room. “Why are you still pretending even now? Any bill on the floor is enough to buy dozens of your broken rings!” Her expression was complex, with a hint of anger upon closer look. Ignoring her mood swings, I slapped her hand away fiercely. Chloe’s hand froze in mid-air, her teeth grinding audibly. “Fine, you’ve grown bold. Poverty really gives you a temper. My wedding with Liam is in three days. My sister is returning to the country that day too, and she’ll bring my mysterious brother-in-law. If you have the guts, come to the wedding!” Chapter 3 Hearing the word “wedding,” Liam’s eyes lit up, and he quickly added: “Maybe he’s afraid of being exposed and won’t dare to come.” I didn’t want to entangle with them anymore. I turned and strode away, leaving one sentence behind. “I’ll be there in three days. I hope you’ll still be this confident then.” Walking out of the club quickly, breathing fresh air, the nausea in my stomach finally subsided a lot. I took out my phone and watched the video I received three years ago again. In the video, the woman nestled in Liam’s arms, smiling lazily and wantonly. “Julian Sterling is too boring. Although I love him, he can’t give me the feeling I want.” “This fake death, I’ll go back when I’ve had enough fun. He’s good for settling down. But with this stunt, knowing his personality, he might want to die for love. You guys have to watch him.” The day I got the death certificate, I did think about ending it all. It was her friends who kept stopping me from doing anything foolish. Thinking back now, their distorted crying sounds were clearly them trying hard to hold back laughter. I put away my phone and looked at the dim streetlights. Whether Chloe is dead or alive, in my heart, there has been no place for her since three years ago. Three days later, I arrived at the wedding venue as promised. When Chloe saw me step into the venue, her tense expression suddenly relaxed. I withdrew my gaze and prepared to sit down unhurriedly, but someone tripped me hard, and I fell onto the nine-tier cake beside me. The decorations and cream crashed down. My tailored black suit was covered in cream, and I looked wretched. The wine glass also fell to the ground, the splashing glass shards scratching my face, blood oozing from my forehead. The venue was instantly in an uproar, everyone’s eyes glued to me. Cream blurred my vision. I struggled to get up, but before I could stand steady, I was pushed down heavily again. Liam’s angry roar came from above. “Julian, what do you mean? We kindly invited you to the wedding, you didn’t even give a gift, fine, but you deliberately sabotaged our wedding. Can’t stand to see us happy, can you?!” Many people came to this wedding, mostly hearing that Aria Vance would attend with her mysterious husband, rushing to curry favor with her sister. “What kind of people exist nowadays? Daring to bully Aria Vance’s sister, making a scene at her wedding. Let’s see how he ends up!” “Hey, look at the ring on that man’s hand. Why does it look so much like the ‘Heart of Eternity’ Aria Vance bid heavily for three years ago? How bold is this person!” “Who doesn’t know Aria loves her husband to the bone? Daring to be an imposter in such a setting, he must be tired of living!” Chloe also heard these words. Her chest heaved violently with anger, her beautiful eyes seeming to spit fire. “Julian, you jinx! I must have been blind to like you back then. You even wear this fake broken ring. Do you want my sister to deal with you personally when she arrives?!” With that, she lifted her skirt and ran towards me, then stomped on the ring finger of my left hand, grinding hard. Severe pain shot from the base of my finger. Ten fingers connected to the heart; I felt like thousands of sharp blades were piercing my heart. Seeing I wanted to struggle, Liam immediately shouted for everyone to hold me down. For a moment, I couldn’t move. Cream covered my vision. I wanted to struggle but couldn’t, finally roaring: “Aria Vance is my wife!” Chloe laughed upon hearing this, as if hearing a fantasy. Her foot pressed down harder, the heel tip about to break my ring finger. “Still thinking of being an imposter even now. Wait till my sister comes, see how you explain! She loves my brother-in-law so much, just wait to die!” Seeing Chloe was relentless, I felt despair in my heart. I tried my best to break free but was pinned down firmly by the crowd. I gritted my teeth inwardly. When the time comes, I won’t let any of these people off! Chloe applied force again, the sound of breaking bone clearly audible. I groaned in pain, but suddenly my body felt light. The crowd ignored me, hurriedly getting up to tidy their appearance, looking forward with burning eyes. The waiters opened the hall doors, and Aria Vance walked in with a daughter, surrounded like the moon by stars.

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The day Alexander “Alex” Sterling chose the “true love” over me, I discovered I was pregnant. Eight months later, while he was finalizing the details for a sprawling, televised society wedding to Tiffany Reed, I was in a brutal, near-fatal delivery giving birth to Leo. Then, the news alert: Breaking: Sterling Heir, Alex Sterling, Involved in Late-Night Street Racing Crash. Tiffany Reed Seriously Injured. Sterling Permanently Sterilized. Terrified he would try to take Leo, I spent five years looking over my shoulder, disappearing into the city’s background noise. Until Eleanor Sterling’s sixtieth birthday gala. Drafted as a last-minute server, I brought Leo with me to the staff lounge. He must have slipped out, because I heard the commotion just as he ran headfirst into Eleanor. The entire ballroom went instantly, shatteringly silent. That face. It was a perfect, heartbreaking copy of Alex’s own childhood portrait. Alex pushed through the crowd, rushing toward the child. His voice was hoarse, warped with shock: “Little guy, whose son are you?” Leo was frightened, his voice catching on a sob: “Mommy… I can’t find my mommy.” “Her name is Joanna Nelson.” 1 Knock, knock, knock. My supervisor, Mr. Chan, rapped impatiently on my desk. “Joanna, the catering company for the Sterling gala is short-staffed. You’re drafted for a server shift tonight. Triple pay.” I hesitated. Eleanor Sterling’s birthday. That kind of high-society event was exactly where I risked running into people from my past. More importantly, I hated leaving Leo alone at night. “Mr. Chan, I can’t leave my son tonight…” His tone turned dismissive. “Leave him with your parents, a neighbor, or the staff lounge for God’s sake. Can’t you figure out basic childcare?” A sneering laugh came from the next cubicle. It was Brenda, the office gossip. “Oh, triple pay. I’d kill for that! Mr. Chan, you’re doing Joanna a favor, aren’t you? After all, a single mom with a kid whose paternity is a mystery always needs the cash.” Brenda’s words were cruel, but they were true. Leo was growing fast, and the cold snap meant he needed a proper winter coat. I told myself I’d only be working the external area of the hotel, far from the main ballroom. I nodded, accepting the assignment. “Thank you, Mr. Chan. I’ll do it.” “Fine. Change now. Hotel service entrance, six p.m. Don’t be late.” As I walked toward the locker room, I passed Brenda’s desk. Her voice was just loud enough—intentional, I knew—for me to hear. “Please. Unwed and pregnant. Acting like some high-and-mighty saint. She doesn’t even know where the hell his father came from. Someone probably knocked her up and tossed her.” A muffled snicker came from a nearby intern. I felt the sharp sting of heat in my eyes and couldn’t help but stop. “Brenda, you’re a mother yourself. Watch your mouth.” Brenda humphed, crossing her arms as she stood up. “My mouth isn’t clean?” “And yours is? A little tramp. Coming here acting like a virtuous maiden when we all know she was just used goods. If I were you, I’d fix myself up. Maybe some drunk millionaire at the party will be desperate enough to look past your little brat and offer to be a stepdad.” My eyes were burning. I was ready to fire back, but Mr. Chan intervened, smoothing things over. “That’s enough, Brenda. Joanna, go get your son and don’t be late for the shift.” I tilted my chin up, ruthlessly shoving the heat back down. I wouldn’t cry here. On my way out, I could still hear Brenda laughing with a colleague, their expressions flicking to me with undisguised contempt. I turned the corner and quickly wiped my eyes. Joanna, you cannot cry. For Leo, you can swallow anything. I couldn’t shake the worry of leaving Leo alone, so I brought him with me to the staff lounge at the hotel. I set him up with his favorite dinosaur picture book, snacks, and water. “Leo, Mommy has to work just outside for a little while. You play here, okay? Promise me you won’t leave this room.” Leo was always so earnest. He nodded, then asked quietly: “When will you be back?” “Very soon.” I kissed his forehead. “As soon as you finish reading this book, Mommy will be back.” “Remember, don’t run off, ever, okay?” He nodded firmly and stuck out his pinky. “Promise, cross my heart.” We completed our ritual, and only then did I feel slightly better about heading toward the main hall. Brenda and a few other female colleagues were already there, gathered near the ballroom entrance, touching up their makeup. “God, the Sterling heir is such a tragedy. Handsome, rich… why did he have to get ruined?” “I heard the Tiffany girl was the one to blame. The long-lost daughter, right? Total loose cannon. Loves to race. She almost killed herself and took him out in the process. Now the poor man’s sterile.” “If you ask me, the Sterling family is cursed. She’s a jinx. She destroyed their entire bloodline.” … Just then, a delicate, yet furious voice spoke from behind them: “Who are you calling a jinx?” Tiffany Reed glared at Brenda and the others. They went pale, bowing their heads and muttering apologies. Tiffany’s gaze swept past them until it landed on me, standing a little way off. “Joanna?” she called out, a note of startled surprise in her voice. 2 I swallowed a heavy sigh, annoyed I hadn’t slipped away fast enough. I braced myself and walked toward her. “Tiffany.” Tiffany closed the distance, her eyes raking over my cheap server uniform. She managed a smirk that was half triumphant, half sickly-sweet. “It really is you. Why are you wearing this? Are you low-tier staff? It must be exhausting.” With an overly dramatic gesture, Tiffany grabbed my arm and tried to pull me toward the main ballroom, her voice dripping with fake concern. “Come on, I’ll get you a job inside, it’s easier work. Who knows, maybe you’ll even see Mom and Dad!” She led me a few steps, then remembered the terrified huddle of Brenda and the others. Her face instantly hardened. “All of you. You’re fired. Get out of here! A bunch of filthy trash.” Brenda’s group scattered, too shocked and scared to beg. They shot daggers at my back, unable to direct their hatred at Tiffany. Inside, Tiffany stopped and wore a mask of sudden, innocent realization. “Oh, Joanna, I completely forgot. We don’t need any more staff inside right now. Only the restrooms and the trash bins need attention.” She tilted her head, enjoying the moment. “But you…” I knew this was a deliberate humiliation. But honestly, compared to the last five years I’d clawed my way through, this was nothing. “I’ll do it.” I took the cleaning supplies without preamble. I was wiping down a bin tucked away in a corner when the guest of honor, Eleanor Sterling, made her entrance. Before the crowd could swarm her with fawning compliments, Eleanor’s voice, sharp with fury, cut through the noise. “How can I have a long life when my son’s future is destroyed!” I looked up. Five years hadn’t touched Alex; he was still impossibly handsome, but his face was etched with a new, dark shadow of perpetual gloom. The inability to have children had clearly broken him. Alex stood silent. Tiffany offered a nervous, careful smile. “Mom, don’t get upset. It’s bad for your health…” “Don’t call me Mom!” Eleanor roared, cutting her off. “I can’t bear it! If you hadn’t insisted on that ridiculous street racing, Alex wouldn’t have been in that accident! What terrible luck has the Sterling family had? Our son, ruined. You destroyed the Sterling line!” Eleanor turned her wrath on the silent Mr. and Mrs. Reed. “And you two! You brought back some… some fraud. Now you’ve ruined my son! Are you happy?” The Reeds’ apologetic murmurs were lost in the lavish room. Eleanor was becoming hysterical, years of pent-up resentment finally erupting. “That Joanna girl you two raised, she was quiet, decent, and respectable! It was Alex who lost his mind, insisting on bringing this jinx into our house! I regret it! I regret it all!” Tiffany’s face went even paler, a mix of sheer hatred and mortification crossing her features, especially when Eleanor mentioned me. She quickly diverted the attention. “Mom, you won’t believe the coincidence. You just mentioned Joanna. I ran into her here today!” Before I could react, Tiffany grabbed my arm and dragged me into the center of the ballroom. The spotlight was unforgiving. My coarse uniform, the half-wet cleaning rag still clutched in my hand, were starkly visible. I felt a rare rush of shame, but forced a greeting. “Hello, Mrs. Sterling. Mr. and Mrs. Reed.” Eleanor stared at me, her eyes complex. The words of praise she’d just spoken seemed to hang awkwardly in the air. The Reeds were stunned. After a beat of deafening silence, a light, contemptuous laugh was heard. Soon, low, mocking comments spread through the gathered guests. “Oh my God, is that her? The one who used to follow Alex around?” “Look at that uniform. That’s the lowest-tier housekeeping staff. And she’s still holding that filthy rag! Tiffany calls her ‘sister’? I’d have security toss her out. What a bad omen.” “I heard she got a massive payout when they broke up. How is she this broke? Must have blown it all on some loser boyfriend.” … The waves of humiliation were about to drown me when— “Quiet.” I hadn’t expected Alex to intervene. His expression was flat, but his gaze swept the room with such cold authority that the crowd immediately fell silent. He turned back to me, his tone almost gentle, pitying. “Joanna, why are you working as a cleaner? I thought I gave you a substantial amount when we broke up.” Money? I looked up at him, bewildered. In five years, I hadn’t received a cent. After giving birth to Leo, I couldn’t even afford the rent. I’d been out taking odd jobs before my six weeks were up. I opened my mouth and instinctively whispered the question: “…What money?” Those two quiet words were a thunderclap. Alex’s pupils instantly constricted. The shock was impossible to hide. His gaze snapped to Tiffany. “Tiffany, where is the money?” 3 Tiffany stammered, choked on an excuse, and frantically looked to her mother. Mrs. Reed instantly stepped forward, reaching out to take my arm, but I subtly pulled away. Her hand hung awkwardly in the air before she recovered and scolded me with a forced affection. “Oh, Joanna, you silly girl! You left in such a hurry back then! We’ve had that money set aside for you all this time, just waiting for the right moment. It’s a complete misunderstanding, darling!” Mr. Reed nervously rubbed his hands together, nodding frantically. “Yes, yes! We never forgot!” The lie was transparent, riddled with holes. Alex’s face went dark. His eyes were like cold steel on Tiffany. “Three hundred million dollars. Every cent. You have until noon tomorrow to deposit it into Joanna’s account. Fail to do so, and you can stop pretending to be a Sterling.” Tiffany was aghast that Alex would be so ruthless, forcing her hand in front of this entire crowd. She shot me a look so venomous I could practically taste the acid. She managed a strained smile for Alex. “Alex, I was just so negligent. You don’t have to worry. I’ll handle it tomorrow.” I sighed. I just wanted out of this mess. All I wanted was to take Leo and live our quiet life. “The money is unnecessary. I can provide for myself now.” “I still have work to do. Please excuse me.” Without looking back, I headed for the corner. The ballroom returned to a muted buzz. Clutching the mop and bucket, I returned to cleaning. One more stall in the restroom, and I could take Leo home. Suddenly, I heard shouting outside. Tiffany’s shriek cut through the noise: “How is this possible? It was right here on my wrist! That diamond bracelet is fifty million dollars!” “It’s gone!” A knot of dread tightened in my stomach. A wave of ominous foreboding washed over me. The next second, I heard Tiffany continue, her voice low and calculating: “Just now… only Joanna was close to me. The bracelet was still there right before I walked her in from the entrance. Could it be…” Tiffany didn’t have to finish the sentence. The door to my stall was violently shoved open. Two massive security guards grabbed me. “I didn’t do it!” I cried out. “I’ve been working this entire time. I haven’t touched anything that wasn’t mine.” I struggled desperately, but I was easily overpowered and dragged back toward the ballroom floor. Tiffany hurried forward, putting on a pretense of distressed apology. “Sister, I’m so sorry! I truly am!” “But this bracelet is irreplaceable. I only need to check. If it’s not on you, I’ll tell them to release you immediately. I’ll even apologize!” Despite her gentle words, her actions were precise. She reached immediately for my right pocket. Under the cruel glow of the chandeliers, in front of every single person present, the diamond bracelet was pulled out. The entire ballroom erupted in gasps, followed by a torrent of disgusted whispers and judgmental glares. Tiffany stumbled backward, feigning shock and profound disappointment. She clutched the bracelet. “Sister, how could you…?” “If you needed money, you only had to ask! How could you resort to… stealing?” At that moment, the police and venue security arrived. The evidence was irrefutable, played out under the harsh, public eye. I looked around in a panic, my voice a desperate, choked whisper. “It’s not me! I swear, it’s not! I don’t know how that got into my pocket!” Frantic, I grabbed the sleeve of Alex’s suit. I was so helpless, so terrified, I could only plead with him. “Alex, we grew up together! You know me!” “I am not a thief! Alex, please, you have to help me!” “I didn’t take it! This is a setup!” Tears streamed down my face. Alex looked at my wet, pleading eyes, his own expression complex. He reached up, gently wiping a tear from my cheek. His voice was chillingly devoid of warmth. “Joanna, you know the rule.” “I only trust the facts.” 4 Alex didn’t believe me. The lead officer didn’t hesitate, stepping forward to address me gravely. “Ma’am, we suspect you are involved in the theft of a high-value item. Please come with us to the precinct to assist with the investigation.” Click. The cold, metallic handcuffs snapped shut on my wrists. I stared at Alex, unable to speak. The old wounds ripped open, a fresh, painful ache in my chest that made me sway. We had been inseparable since childhood. He once swore he would always protect me. Why? Why did he keep hurting me like this? As the officers escorted me away, Tiffany leaned in close, her voice a low, triumphant hiss that only I could hear. “Bitch, you really think you can win against me?” I was led away and pushed into the back of a police cruiser. Meanwhile, back in the staff lounge, Brenda and her friends were sullenly gathering their things. “It’s that Joanna’s fault. She was probably trying to get us fired! She saw them coming and didn’t warn us!” The intern chimed in, “Serves her right to get arrested as a thief! I hope they lock her up for ten years. Let’s see her flaunt that little brat then!” Brenda had lost her job and was seething. She zipped her bag shut, her teeth grinding. Just as they were about to leave, Brenda’s eye caught a small figure in the corner. It was Leo. He was still being a good boy, quietly flipping through his old picture book. A malicious idea instantly seized Brenda. She dropped her bag and pasted a fake smile on her face, walking over to Leo. “Leo, honey, reading your picture book? You’re so good.” Leo was shy but polite. “Hello, Auntie.” “Aww. Leo, Auntie has to tell you something. Your mommy was just taken away by the police officers in uniform. They said your mommy did something bad.” “What?” The picture book slipped from Leo’s hands. He frantically shook his head, his voice high and thin with panic. “Mommy doesn’t do bad things!” “Auntie believes you, too. That’s why you have to go save her!” Brenda pointed toward the main ballroom. “Leo, don’t cry. See that way? Run toward the brightest, loudest place. Go in there, and find a… a very glamorous old lady who looks the most important!” “Find her, and you beg her to save your mommy! Tell her to make the police let your mommy go!” “Remember, she’s the only one who can help your mommy!” Leo was too young, too distraught to register the malice in Brenda’s words. “Thank you, Auntie!” he cried. He didn’t even stop to pick up his book. He bolted toward the ballroom. Brenda watched him go, a twisted, triumphant smile spreading across her face. Her friends crowded around, slightly worried. “B-Brenda, will he be okay?” “Okay? What could happen? He might annoy the Sterlings and make Joanna’s life harder in jail. If the little brat gets lost, it has nothing to do with us.” Brenda walked out, leading her relieved group. Leo was terrified, but the need to save me was a primal urge. He ran blindly into the main ballroom. He instantly saw her: the imposing old woman in the center, surrounded by fawning people. She was sparkling, and everyone deferred to her. That’s her! Leo didn’t hesitate. Saving Mommy was all that mattered. He ran with all his strength, pushing through the barrier of adults, crashing into Eleanor Sterling. Eleanor staggered, only caught by an attendant’s quick reflexes. She looked down, her angry words freezing in her throat. “Oh my… who is this child…” That face! The entire room went instantly, shatteringly silent. His eyes, his nose, his brow—they were the exact, tiny replica of her son, Alex, when he was small. At that moment, Alex rushed over. He saw Leo’s face, scooped him up in disbelief, and asked in a voice raw with emotion: “Little guy, whose son are you?” Leo, frightened by the sudden attention, sobbed into Alex’s shoulder. “Sir, please save my mommy! The police took her!” “Mommy… I can’t find my mommy.” “Her name is Joanna Nelson.”

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After my younger brother, Chase, went to prison, I started dating his best friend. Three years later, Chase was about to be released. I overheard someone ask my boyfriend: “When Chase gets out, what gift are you planning to give him?” My young boyfriend, Ethan, dangled a USB drive in his hand. “How about 32GB of HD videos of his sister? Does that count?” 1 Laughter erupted in the VIP booth, sleazy and loud. “Damn, Ethan, you’re a genius. I wondered why you hooked up with Chase’s sister. Playing the long game, huh?” “If Chase finds out you’ve been using his sister like a toy, do you think he’ll go crazy enough to end up back inside?” “I can’t wait to see his face when he gets these videos.” Inside, Ethan toyed with his phone, a lazy, mocking smile on his lips. He warned the group, “When Anna comes back, keep your mouths shut. If she finds out, you’re all dead meat.” “Relax, man. You’ve been plotting this for so long, we wouldn’t ruin it for you. But hey, why don’t you show us a preview? We’re all curious about what Chase’s precious sister tastes like.” Standing outside the door, my mind went blank. The filth spewing from inside made my legs weak. “Miss? Are you looking for a room?” A voice pulled me back from the abyss. The waiter noticed my pale face. “Do you need help?” I shook my head, threw the birthday cake I was holding into the trash, and turned to leave. 2 Ethan was my boyfriend, and also my brother Chase’s best friend. I first met him the summer after my freshman year of college. I was walking home from my part-time job when I was nearly assaulted. Ethan showed up just in time and saved me. Later, when Chase went to prison, Ethan found me and said my brother had asked him to take care of me. I didn’t believe it. Chase and I were siblings, but we were like oil and water. Chase wasn’t exactly a model citizen, so I figured his friends were trash too. Even though Ethan was technically my savior, I never gave him the time of day. But I didn’t expect Ethan’s “care” to persist for six months. He brought me three meals a day, rain or shine. When I got sick, he nursed me back to health, cooking porridge and buying medicine. I wasn’t used to people being nice to me, and I certainly didn’t want to be involved with Chase’s crowd. No matter how many times I rejected him, Ethan pretended not to hear. Finally, when he secretly paid off my family’s debts, I snapped. “What did Chase give you to make you act like his loyal dog?” “What if I told you he didn’t give me anything?” I froze. Ethan’s eyes were slightly misty, a bitter smile on his handsome face. “You guessed right. Chase didn’t ask me to look after you. I did it because I wanted to. Anna… I’ve been planning to get close to you for a long time.” That day, we started dating. Back then, I thought his “plan” was born out of love. Now I know it was just revenge against Chase. 3 My phone buzzed non-stop after I left the bar. Ethan’s texts flooded in. “Where are you, babe? Why aren’t you here yet?” “Need me to pick you up?” “Why aren’t you answering?” Today was Ethan’s 20th birthday. I had promised to celebrate with him. I even went out of my way to buy his favorite cake. I never expected such a “surprise.” Looking at the messages, I strangely calmed down. “Something came up. I can’t make it today. You have fun with your friends.” Ethan seemed disappointed, sending a string of crying emojis. “I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done here.” When I didn’t reply, he sent another text: “I love you, wifey.” I stared at that sentence, spacing out. I realized that when sadness hits a peak, you lose the ability to feel emotion. My reaction now reminded me of the day my father died. Outside the morgue, everyone was crying. I was the only one calmly dealing with the hospital staff. My mother called me heartless, screaming that I didn’t shed a tear for the father who adored me. I looked coldly at my mother, who had cried until she fainted, and wanted to ask: Or what? Should I just vent my emotions like you and ignore everything else? I exited the chat emotionlessly and was about to lock my screen when the phone vibrated twice more. A string of numbers I didn’t recognize. “Released Monday, 6 AM.” “Guard sent this for me.” “Don’t come if you’re busy.” “Don’t reply.” 4 Just a few dry sentences. Even without a name, I knew who it was immediately. How long had it been since I heard from Chase? The last time was three years ago, the night I was assaulted. I had rejected his calls, so his texts exploded like firecrackers on my screen. “Why didn’t you tell me? Do you remember what he looked like?” “[Image Attachment]” “Is this him?” “Answer me! Are you mute?” I was impatient then. “What’s the use of telling you? Can you kill him? Don’t think I don’t know these people came for you. Chase, if you still consider me your sister, stay away from me.” After that day, Chase really stopped contacting me. The next news I got was a court sentencing document. Assault and battery. Three years and two months. I wasn’t surprised. Chase was a delinquent; prison was inevitable. But I still went to see him before he was locked up. The boy in the inmate uniform had a depth in his eyes that didn’t belong to his age. “It’s just three years. Don’t worry.” I sneered. “Worry? I wish you were dead.” This time, Chase didn’t talk back. He smiled at me, hummed an acknowledgment, and said, “Good. Don’t be scared.” Time was up. The guard was taking him away. He stood up, walked two steps, then suddenly turned back. “Sis!” He looked at me and said his last words for three years. “Take care of yourself.”

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The day my stepbrother, Chase, was released from prison for a crime I committed, I went to see him. He was leaning against the wall of a dive bar, smoke curling from his lips as he unbuckled his belt. I reached out to help, but he grabbed my wrist, stopping me cold. His eyes were dark, his laugh bitter. “What, you think I’m sick? I’m not gonna touch my own stepsister.” I retreated, feeling the sting of his rejection. Later, I found solace in one of his friends. Chase caught us. The friend froze, terrified. Chase just clenched his jaw and walked away, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing. But the friend disappeared soon after. And Chase? He was done pretending. “I’ve waited eighteen years for you,” he growled, cornering me. “And you’re just gonna let anyone touch you? Like you don’t care?” His hand tangled in my hair, pulling me close. “I’m gonna kiss you until you forget everyone else.” 1 Chase got out of prison today. His crew was already waiting outside the gates, a convoy of trucks and muscle cars ready to pick him up. I didn’t even get a chance to talk to him before they whisked him away to a bar for a welcome-home party. I followed them. A childhood crush mixed with a heavy dose of guilt for him serving my time made it impossible to stay away. I saw him head for the bathroom and intercepted him in the hallway. He was wearing a dark jacket over a black tank top, cargo pants, and combat boots. His buzz cut was sharp, and the edge of a massive dragon tattoo peeked out from his shoulder. He walked with a swagger that said he owned the world. When he saw me, his expression soured. He took a drag from his cigarette and tried to brush past me. “Chase,” I called out. He stopped, raising an eyebrow. “What? Here to thank me for taking the fall?” I bit my lip and nodded. He scoffed. “How you gonna thank me?” I didn’t have words, so I reached out and put a hand on his waist. “Are you crazy?” He slapped my hand away. “I’m not into this.” My eyes welled up. “Why not? It’s not like we’re blood-related. We just grew up together.” “I don’t have money, Chase. This is all I have.” He laughed, a sharp, angry sound. “You think I need your money?” “You know how I feel…” I started. He ran a hand over his buzz cut, looking exasperated. “Look, I’m not an animal.” I turned my head, cheeks burning. “It wouldn’t matter if you were.” He heard me. He took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly before he spoke. “Harper,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Are you trying to seduce me? Because I swear, I will throw you into the ocean.” Is that a promise? I thought, bold all of a sudden. Action speaks louder than words. I reached for the top button of his shirt. 2 Before I could even undo one button, Chase slapped my hand away and buttoned it back up, his face like thunder. He buttoned it all the way to the top, choking himself. “Trying to strangle yourself so I can find a new man?” I teased. He gave a short, disbelief laugh. “Don’t just go around unbuttoning guys’ shirts, Harper. You’ll regret it.” I looked up at him. The buzz cut, the jacket, the sheer size of him. He was mesmerizing. My ears burned as I whispered, “Are you just ‘any guy’?” He snorted, pinning me against the wall with one hand. “Doesn’t matter. Don’t waste your time on me. I’m not interested.” He pushed off the wall and started to walk away, not looking back. One of his friends called out, “Chase! Someone’s here for you.” Over his shoulder, he tossed back, “Don’t waste your breath.” I looked up, but he was gone. I slumped into a corner booth, his words echoing in my head. Don’t waste your time. A sour feeling spread through my chest. My eyes burned, and tears started to fall. I downed a shot of whiskey, the burn a welcome distraction. Then I saw him. Chase was walking out, phone to his ear, laughing. “Damn, you missed me that much?” I followed him without thinking. I had to know why I wasn’t enough. Outside, a bright red sports car was idling. A woman with long, wavy hair and a tight dress was leaning against it. Chase was lighting her cigarette, their bodies almost touching. My nose stung. A tear splashed onto my hand, hot and sobering. Eighteen years of history, and it meant nothing compared to some random woman with a fast car. I wiped my eyes, clenched my fists, and turned to leave. The woman noticed me. She blew out a plume of smoke and nodded in my direction. “Chase, who’s the virgin?” Chase glanced over, a smirk playing on his lips. “That’s just my stepsister. Ignore her.” “Got a lot of stepsisters, don’t you?” she laughed. Hearing them joke about me made me snap. I marched over and slapped Chase across the face. Hard. Then, forcing tears into my eyes, I screamed, “Is one not enough for you? How many others are you hiding?” “Is this why you don’t come home at night? Because of her? Brother?” “…” The woman choked on her smoke. “Holy shit. You let her hit you, Chase?” “What’s going on? You just got out and you’re already juggling chicks?” I glared at him, lip trembling. Chase laughed, a genuine sound this time. He rubbed his jaw, eyes glinting. “Damn. I guess I better pay up on this debt tonight. You just wait.” My bravado evaporated. I pointed a finger at him, stammering, “You… you…” but nothing came out. I had played myself. The woman was loving it. “Chase still got it, huh?” “…” I didn’t think I’d see her again. Until… 3 I saw her at Chase’s new auto shop. Turns out, her dad had hired Chase to manage his fleet. The pay was incredible—enough to open ten shops like this one. But Chase had turned it down flat. “Tell your dad thanks,” he’d said, “but I don’t do well with bosses.” The shop was his dream. It was massive. Tonight, he was hosting a grand opening party. In the past, when we had no money, Chase would still save every penny to build his dream garage. It had everything: a gym, a pool table, a bar, a karaoke room. His friends had always wanted to see it, but he never let them. He hated the noise. I didn’t expect to see him tonight. But then someone yelled, “Holy crap, look who it is!” Chase walked in, wearing his signature black tank top and cargo pants. The dragon tattoo on his shoulder flexed with every movement. He owned the room. He was looking for someone, peeking into rooms as he passed. I quickly shut the door to the karaoke room. But it opened again. Chase stood there, looking at me and the guy I was with—one of his friends, Leo. He frowned. “Out.” His voice was low and raspy, like he’d just woken up. But it held an authority that no one questioned. Leo scrambled to apologize and left. The karaoke room was empty now, just the two of us. I took a nervous sip of my juice, coughed, and tried to act casual. “So, you decided to show up?” “What? Interrupting your date?” Chase was flipping his lighter open and closed, the flame dancing. I decided to push my luck. “Yeah, he’s cute, isn’t he?” Chase laughed, a sharp bark. He put a cigarette between his lips and lit it, inhaling deeply. His eyes were intense, stripping me bare. “I thought one was enough for you? I thought I wasn’t coming home?” “I thought you wanted me to pay my debts? What happened?” I choked on my juice, sputtering. My ears burned. “Chase, don’t be gross. If your future wife heard you, what would she think?” “Oh? You didn’t think about that when you were making a scene at the bar. Now you’re shy? Playing hard to get?” His arrogance was infuriating. If he wasn’t so damn hot, I’d punch him. I took a breath and forced a smile. “So, how are you going to pay your debt, big brother?” Two can play at this game. Chase paused mid-smoke. He took two quick drags, stubbed it out, and turned to leave. I spun around to stop him, but I tripped and fell onto the couch, pulling him down with me. I twisted my back. He landed on top of me. I couldn’t move. Chase seemed stunned. He put his hands under my arms to lift me, but it hurt too much. “Ow, stop. Can you not?” He had to adjust his grip. I whimpered. We were stuck like that for two minutes. I was pinned underneath him, my voice muffled against his chest. “Chase, are you enjoying this? Is that why you won’t let me up?” His jaw clenched, a vein popping in his forehead. “Enjoying you squirming around? You wish.” “Who knows? Maybe it’s your thing.”

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At fifteen, Adrian Hale helped me escape an abusive orphanage. At seventeen, I was working in a VIP lounge in the city’s underbelly when I was dragged into an alley and nearly assaulted. He was the one who found me, who stabbed those men into comas. On the day of his trial, facing a barrage of flashbulbs, he held his head high and said he had no regrets. “I just wanted to protect the woman I love, Seraphina Monroe. I wanted her to finally be able to stand in the sun.” At twenty-two, Adrian was released from prison. When he found out I was still a delivery driver in Aura City, he threw himself into the glittering world of high society and made me the richest woman in the city. After we were married, he shared every detail of his life with me, publicly referring to himself only as “Seraphina Monroe’s husband.” Then, at twenty-five, the grand casino we built together, The Empyrean, opened its doors. I lit up the sky with a half-hour fireworks display from the Zenith Tower. But when I came home, I found ten empty condom boxes on the nightstand. In the trash, there were stained tissues—the aftermath of their passion. I kicked the disgusting evidence in front of Adrian. But he didn’t even look up. He glanced at it with casual indifference and called for a maid to clean it up. “It was just a game, Seraphina. Don’t take it so seriously.” I laughed coldly and handed him the divorce papers I’d prepared. “I never play games.” Adrian swatted them out of my hand. “We are never separating. Unless I’m dead.” He had said those exact words at our wedding. It was the same promise we made to each other when we first escaped the orphanage at fifteen. But now, ten years later, it was the dead of winter. “We’ll talk when you’ve calmed down.” He left. The only thing left on the divorce papers on the floor was the print of his shoe. A moment after he was gone, my phone lit up with two messages from an unknown number. “Seraphina, can you just let Adrian go? You’re old news, a washed-up hag. You can’t even get a man excited anymore!” “You must have seen the mess in the bedroom. I’m telling you, I’m the only one who can make Adrian happy.” A series of intimate photos followed. A woman, her shoulders bare, lay on our bed, her eyes smoldering with desire. Adrian’s back was to the camera, his muscles taut, his skin slick with a thin layer of sweat. The tattoo of my name, which he had gotten on his arm just for me, was a glaring wound in the picture. “See? Adrian’s true love is me, not you!” “So I suggest you step aside. Otherwise, you won’t be keeping your position at the company for much longer.” The woman’s taunts were laced with a naive arrogance, as if such a declaration of ownership could actually make me back down. I laughed until my heart trembled. Then I went online and listed the millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry Adrian had bought me over the years for one dollar each. When Adrian returned, he found me directing the maids as they packed everything away. After a maid told him what was happening, his eyelids lifted slightly. “They’re just trinkets. If you don’t like them, it’s good to get rid of them.” I leaned against the window, a wine glass in my hand, and said nothing. He walked towards me, his leather shoes silent on the marble floor. He took the glass from my lips and drained it in one gulp. “She’s young and reckless, all bark and no bite. Is she really worth getting this angry over?” He finished the wine and placed the empty glass back in my hand. His dismissive attitude made it seem as if I wasn’t the one who had fought beside him through blood and fire to build our empire. As if it had been someone else. I smiled faintly. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be so petty.” I tossed a stack of photos onto the sofa. The girl’s face, a bloody, unrecognizable mess, was in full view. “So I taught her a lesson myself.” My voice was calm. The words had barely left my lips when a rush of air whipped past my cheek. “Seraphina!” Adrian’s hand was raised, his face contorted with rage. The slap stopped less than an inch from my face. “Bianca is a model! Doing this… you’re trying to ruin her!” There was no love in his eyes. Only a raw, burning hatred, as if he wanted me gone. I stared at him, and for a moment, I was back in the rain-soaked alley at seventeen. I was working at a nightclub, and a group of men had dragged me into the darkness, tearing at my clothes. He had looked at them with that same expression, right before he stabbed each of them over thirty times. The only difference was, this time, that look was directed at me. “So?” I crushed the wine glass in my hand. With my other, I grabbed his arm and pressed his palm tight against my cheek. “Are you going to punish me like this… for her?” Our eyes clashed, a silent, vicious battle. The metallic scent of blood filled the air between us. Only then did he see the shards of glass embedded in my palm. “Seraphina.” He flinched, trying to pull his hand back. I didn’t move. I just watched as he took my hand and began to painstakingly pick out the slivers of glass. “I would never truly hurt you.” “She was out of line. She deserved a lesson.” He finally answered my question. A trickle of blood oozed from the wound, and he instinctively bent down, his lips covering the cut. Back in the orphanage, when other kids hurt us and we had no medicine, we would “disinfect” each other’s wounds this way. Even now, he held onto the habit. I pulled my hand away. “Don’t. It’s dirty.” Adrian froze. Then he called for a maid to bandage my hand. And he walked out. He didn’t come back for days. But my private investigators kept me informed. Adrian was with Bianca, taking her to the best plastic surgeons for skin grafts. Within a week, she was back in the public eye, having landed five major luxury brand fashion shows. When I heard the news, I went straight to The Empyrean to find him. On the golden walls, massive LED screens played a loop of Bianca’s runway videos. “It seems you really like her,” I said calmly. “You’re willing to give her the company’s top resources as compensation.” Adrian’s lips thinned. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Seraphina, you hurt her.” “As your husband and her mentor, it’s my duty to make it up to her. Why can’t you just let it go?” I found it laughable. I pulled the divorce papers from behind my back. “Sign this, and I’ll let her go.” This time, he didn’t just toss the papers aside. He ripped them to shreds. “I told you, we are never separating. Unless I’m dead!” I knew he couldn’t let go of his obsession. Even more, he couldn’t let go of the empire we had built together. I smiled, grabbed a nearby bottle of Lafite, and smashed it against the massive screen beside me. Screams erupted in the lobby as people scrambled to get away. When the entire ground floor was empty, I stared at him, my feet crunching over the broken glass. “Adrian.” I called his name softly, a trail of blood marking my path as I walked toward him. I raised my hand. The jagged edge of the broken bottle was pressed against his throat. “Do you really think I don’t have the guts to send you to your grave?” His pupils contracted. He grabbed the bottleneck, his knuckles white. I didn’t back down. I pushed it deeper. “If you don’t agree to this divorce, I’ll send you on your way myself!” My entire body was tense. I could see beads of blood forming on his neck. But in the next second, he let go. The sharp glass plunged into his throat. Blood instantly soaked my hand. He just looked at me and smiled. “Seraphina, I will never agree to a divorce.” He grabbed my hand, forcing the bottle in deeper. “If you’re going to force my hand, then do it now.” His tone was as casual as if he were asking what was for dinner. I yanked the bottle back. A warm spray hit my face. The smell of blood filled my nostrils, thick and suffocating. I was dizzy, thrown back to that rainy night at seventeen. All the strength drained from my body. The bottle fell from my hand, shattering on the floor. “Seraphina.” A pair of cold hands steadied me. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Adrian gently patted my trembling back, even as his own blood soaked his shirt. He had held me just like this for fifteen years in that orphanage, trying to shield me from harm with his own frail body, trying to warm me with his own cold skin. He would whisper it over and over, “Don’t be afraid, Seraphina. I’m here.” We had carried that love through twenty-five years of blood and tears. And now, it was unrecognizable. I pushed him away, forcing myself to walk. My weak limbs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor. “Seraphina!” He moved to help me up. “Stay away!” I clawed my way back to my feet and stumbled out. After that, Adrian and I didn’t see each other. My sources told me he was recovering in the hospital, with Bianca constantly by his side. In her spare time, she managed to win an international modeling award. I paid it no mind, focusing solely on running The Empyrean. But Bianca couldn’t wait. She came to the casino to flaunt her victory. “Seraphina, this award was a birthday gift from Adrian.” She brandished the golden trophy, her eyes glinting with triumph. “Did you really think scarring my face would make him leave me?” She stepped closer. “Adrian’s love for me is real. The more you hurt me, the more he cherishes me. These endorsements and awards are just small tokens of his affection. What I really love is how much more passionate he’s become.” I noticed then that she had removed the silk scarf from her neck. Her pale skin was covered in a constellation of dark red marks, each one a testament to the wild, unrestrained nights she and Adrian had spent together. “You’re so pathetic, Seraphina.” She tilted her head back, her face a mask of scorn. “I hear you and Adrian have been together for eight years and still don’t have a child.” “You should get that checked out. It would be a shame if I beat you to motherhood.” I smiled. In the blink of an eye, Bianca screamed. She clutched her stomach and crumpled to the floor, her eyes burning with hatred. “Seraphina, you’ll burn in hell for this!” The curve of my lips widened. I brought the sharp point of my heel down hard on her face. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you die long before I do.” “Aren’t you afraid Adrian will hate you for this?” she choked out. I pressed down harder. “What happens between him and me is none of your business.” That night, Adrian came home. He had his men surround the villa, their presence a silent, menacing siege. An armored car was parked outside. He had only ever used such tactics when eliminating threats to our organization. I never thought they would be turned on me. I opened the door. We stood facing each other, each of us flanked by a sea of bodyguards. “Seraphina.” It was the first time he had ever said my name with such coldness. “Aren’t you going to give Bianca an explanation?” “She came looking for a fight. I just gave her what she wanted. Isn’t that right?” I descended the staircase slowly, stopping in front of him. The faint glow of his cigarette failed to illuminate his entire face. “Did you really think I was as docile as the rumors say? That I’d welcome your mistress with a smile?” I exhaled a plume of smoke. “Adrian, don’t forget, half of everything you have is in my name.” “The only reason I haven’t made this a public spectacle is out of respect for our history. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let some clown disrespect me.” I held out the divorce papers again, dropped my cigarette, and crushed it under my heel. “But if you sign this, I can let everything else go.” The clouds blotted out the moon completely. In the darkness, I didn’t miss the red glint in Adrian’s eyes. I sighed. “For twenty-five years, you helped me escape that hellhole, you went to prison to protect me. In return, I willingly conquered half of Aura City for you, so you could be free to find your own happiness.” “My debt to you is paid. Let’s part ways amicably.” “Amicably.” Adrian finally spoke, sneering the word. His response was to snatch a lighter and set the divorce papers ablaze. “I won’t let her bother you again.” The flames died out. He turned and left with his men, without a backward glance. I stood there until his silhouette vanished, then let out a series of stifled coughs. “Boss.” My men rushed to my side. I waved them away. “It’s nothing. The usual.” To gain a foothold in Aura City, the endless dinners and drinks had taken their toll on my lungs. It was a chronic problem even the best doctors couldn’t fix. The cough persisted for days. I finally made an appointment at a private hospital, only to walk in on Bianca, in her room, threatening to kill herself. “Adrian, you said you loved me! Why won’t you divorce her? Why won’t you stand up for me?” “Don’t you know I’m ruined like this? I might as well be dead!” She grabbed a fruit knife and tried to plunge it into her own chest. Adrian blocked it with his arm. A long, deep gash opened up, blood pouring out. The knife clattered to the floor. Ignoring his bleeding arm, he cupped her face and kissed her deeply. A grotesque, desperate passion. Just like eight years ago. I pushed the door open. They both turned to look at me. “Seraphina! I’ll make you pay for this!” Bianca shrieked, scrambling for the knife and lunging at me. I twisted her arm behind her back and threw her to the floor. Adrian grabbed my forearm. “Seraphina, don’t.” “Don’t what?” I laughed, a humorless sound. “You’re the one who said she wouldn’t bother me again.” “I gave you the courtesy of handling it, but now she’s trying to kill me. If I don’t do something, you both might actually think I’m a pushover.” SLAP! The sound of my hand connecting with Bianca’s face echoed in the room. That single blow seemed to shatter the fragile truce between Adrian and me. He shoved me away like a madman, grabbing the knife and pointing it at my heart. “Seraphina, if you touch Bianca again, don’t blame me for what happens.” The tip of the blade tore the collar of my shirt. He stood before Bianca like a guardian, ready to fight her battles. Not long ago, he had sworn he would never hurt me. “Are you sure you want to do this to me… for her?” The hand holding the knife was trembling, but his eyes were resolute. “Seraphina, you’re forcing me to do this.” “I won’t let you hurt her again.” I laughed. I truly laughed. “Adrian, there’s no going back for us.” Only when you’ve loved can the absence of it be so monstrous. The Adrian of seventeen was gone forever.

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Chapter 1 When I committed the home invasion and robbery, I had just stabbed the man when police cars arrived downstairs. Running away would be the best option now. I had checked the laws; armed robbery and home invasion could carry a life sentence. It didn’t matter. I knew the price I had to pay from the beginning, and I accepted it. I texted my wife, saying the police were here and I was probably going to prison. My wife quickly replied with a voice message. She cried and said, “I’m proud of you.” I glanced at the animal on the floor. He clutched his stomach where I had stabbed him, looking at me in terror. Hearing the sirens downstairs, he said anxiously, “The police are here.” I said, “I see them.” I lifted my foot and kicked him hard in the face! I asked, “Where is the money?” Just then, the police banged on the door outside: “Open up! Police!” A flicker of joy flashed across his face. He hurriedly tried to shout for help, but I covered his mouth and said coldly, “Don’t shout. I’m asking you, where is the money hidden?” He gritted his teeth and said, “I don’t have money. The police are right outside. Kill me in front of them if you have the guts!” I said seriously, “Okay, then I’ll kill you.” I gripped the knife and stabbed down hard! One stab, two stabs, three stabs. He spat blood in pain, seemingly surprised that I actually dared to stab him. He pointed weakly at the sofa. Only then did I let go. He lay on the floor, breathing out more than in; he probably wouldn’t make it. I glanced at him, not caring about him. I once knelt before him, begging him to pay me back. My wife will never know that I knelt right here that day. I said, Mr. CEO, please settle the final payment. My capital chain is broken; my family is about to be ruined. Clearly, he owed me money. I just wanted to collect my debt, but in the end, I was the one kneeling and begging. And him? He looked at me roguishly and said, “I have no money to pay you back. If you want money, I have none; if you want a life, I have one. At worst, you can kill me to settle the debt.” Now, I have fulfilled his wish. Chapter 2 I stabbed the knife into the sofa. As the sofa was cut open, it was full of cash. Estimated to be at least three million dollars. I turned my head and looked at him in the pool of blood. He clutched his wound, painfully spitting blood. Regret was written all over his face now, but it was too late. I don’t understand. Paying debts is a matter of course. When he urgently needed help, I did my best. But when my family was about to be ruined, he sent his children to private schools, indulged in luxury, and cried poverty to me. I can’t figure out why there are so many heartless people in this world. The police banged impatiently on the door outside. I took a bag, counted the money, and took 1.2 million for myself. Yes, there were about three million in front of me, but I took less than half. I knew I might be executed, but I was unwilling to take a penny more of someone else’s money. I just wanted to take back the money that belonged to me. I have been honest and dutiful all my life. I don’t know why I ended up like this. In the beginning, I went to court to file a lawsuit. When I sued, I found out his accounts had long been frozen and emptied because besides me, he had other major creditors. The major creditors sued much earlier than I did and had reached the enforcement stage, enjoying priority rights. But at this stage, he was completely bankrupt. I once asked a lawyer if I could sue together and divide his property proportionately. The lawyer told me no because the other party was already in the execution stage. I really broke down. The debtor pretended to be rich as usual to do business with me while being sued by major creditors. How could I keep up? I also went to the major creditor. I begged them to pity me. My family’s capital chain was broken and really about to collapse. Various penalties would ruin my family. I just wanted to get my money back, but I humbly said to the major creditor: “Boss, I’ve asked around, I know you are very rich. He owes me 1.2 million. I beg you to give me this money first. When my factory survives this difficulty, I will pay you back two million in installments, letting you earn 800,000 for nothing. We can sign a contract. As long as you are willing, my family will work like oxen and horses for you.” Unfortunately, the major creditor rejected me. He said he was not related to me and didn’t trust me. The lawyer told me it was inevitable for them to reject me. In such cases where a deadbeat owes many parties, whoever gets the money depends on their ability. Because everyone is innocent, only ruthless people can get the money back. Yes, I know the major creditor is innocent, but I am innocent too. Everything I did was just to let my family survive. Those who have been in manufacturing know very well that for small factories like ours, once the capital chain breaks, the debts will pile up crazily with no end. The cost of machine downtime, penalties from Party A, final payments and penalties to Party B. He owes me one million, but it will make me bear at least five million in debt for no reason. This is forcing my whole family to death! I know what not paying back the money means for the disaster it will bring to my family. Last night, I humbly begged him to pay back the money because I got news that although he was debt-ridden, his son’s tuition for the private aristocratic school was paid. I knew as soon as I heard it that he definitely still had money. Sadly, when I called, he still told me with that arrogant attitude: no money, only a life. I hung up the phone. My wife was already crying beside me with red eyes. My young daughter didn’t know disaster was imminent for her parents and was still happily playing Elsa with a magic wand outside. At that second, I said blankly, “I really want to kill him.” My wife paused for a moment, then said, “Okay, you go kill him, you go rob the money. I won’t remarry. I will take care of your parents and raise our daughter well.” I said, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll be shot?” My wife cried and said, “I’m not afraid of your death, nor am I afraid of death, but I’m afraid our daughter will die. Are you going to kill him? If you don’t go, I will.” We are honest and dutiful people who haven’t done anything illegal all our lives until we were forced to a dead end. Last night my wife and I didn’t sleep all night. I hugged her, constantly kissing her cheek, constantly saying I love her. She didn’t respond to me, just cried and kissed me. I smoked two packs of cigarettes. For the first time, she didn’t dislike the smell of my smoke but lit cigarettes for me again and again. As if we both sensed it, that was the final parting. Listening to the police knocking on the door, I walked to the window and sighed deeply. This is the sixth floor. I originally broke in through the front door while he was taking out the trash. Now the police are at the door; what should I do? I’m not afraid of prison, I’m not afraid of the death penalty, I’m not even afraid of jumping off the building. I’m just afraid this money won’t reach my wife’s hands. She is at the coffee shop at the entrance of the community, waiting for me to give her the money. I will turn myself in, and she will pay the debts. Just then, the police outside suddenly shouted angrily: “If you don’t open the door, we will force it open and take coercive measures against you! This is my first warning!” The animal on the ground was still spitting blood, not dead yet. He crawled towards the door with difficulty, as if begging the police to open the door quickly and save him. Unfortunately, he didn’t even have the strength to crawl. He just moved slightly and stopped in place, unable to move. The police outside shouted angrily: “Second warning!” I hurriedly messaged my wife, asking her to come under the window quickly. I would throw the money down from the sixth floor. It wouldn’t matter if I got caught by the police then; there would still be time. My wife quickly replied, saying she was coming immediately. I breathed a sigh of relief. But immediately after, I was dumbfounded. When the police finished the third warning, the door suddenly opened! I thought opening the lock would take time, at least a few minutes. But what I never expected was that the locksmith brought by the police opened the door in one second! The moment the door opened, I saw a group of police officers standing at the door. And I was holding a bloody knife in my left hand and a bag of cash in my right. The bailiffs were extremely fast. Seeing the situation, they quickly blocked in front of the judge, drew their guns, and aimed at me! A bailiff shouted at me: “Drop the weapon, squat down! Hands on your head! Or I’ll shoot!” Looking at the dark muzzles, my heart jumped violently. Too fast. Chapter 3 The speed of opening the door far exceeded my expectations. I thought I would be scared, but I wasn’t. My mind was full of: if I die here, what will happen to my wife and child? They are still waiting for this money to save their lives. The judge saw me clearly, and his face instantly turned very pale. He knew me, and I knew him. A few days ago, I went to his office and said, Your Honor, my family is being driven to death, can you allocate some to me first? He said no, everything follows procedures. I told him in breakdown that if my family’s debts were not collected, people would die. At that time, the judge was looking at documents. He pushed up his glasses and told me very seriously that the world doesn’t work by whoever makes the most noise is right. He understood my suffering but had to follow procedures. I forced a smile and said to that judge: “It’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself.” I subconsciously backed away. The bailiffs were nervous at first, but seeing me backing away, they didn’t shoot, instead shouting at me: “Don’t move!” At this moment, every room was too far from me. The closest room to me was a storage room. I had nowhere to go, so I could only rush into the storage room carrying the knife and money, and quickly closed the door. Thank goodness, the door of this storage room could be locked from the inside. Anxious voices sounded outside immediately: “Call an ambulance quickly! And call the police!” I stood panting in the storage room, moved a big box to block the door. After all, their locksmith was really good. I was nervous. Hearing them say call the police, I knew they were probably calling SWAT, CID, or some police department I didn’t know. Ideally, bailiffs don’t have rich handling experience like these police departments; maybe I have a chance to throw the money down. But pessimistically, lack of experience means they are more nervous and more likely to shoot me than other police departments. While I was wondering what to do, the judge’s voice sounded outside: “Put down the knife and come out. You broke the law. Now you can’t escape. The only way out is to surrender.” I smiled bitterly, ignoring the judge’s words. Because I never intended to escape. If you do something wrong, you have to pay the price. I know this principle. So pathetic. I have been upright all my life. I haven’t done anything against conscience. Now I have become a sinner. Seeing I didn’t speak, the judge continued: “Think about your wife and child.” His words reminded me. Yes. It was for my wife and child that I came to this step. I opened a small factory and originally had a happy life. Small factories like ours have large turnovers and low profits. Those who have done manufacturing know that one million can crush you to death. My family’s is the smallest of the small. In my home, two machines, one couple. The house always smells of machine oil. My wife operates the machine. She likes to endure hardship with me, but she also has her girlish demeanor. Her pink bunny sleeve covers were stained with machine oil as she helped me assemble small parts. I operated the lathe, occasionally telling a joke to make her laugh. After laughing, she always kept a straight face and seriously told me not to be distracted again, careful of the machine hurting my hands. We had a very happy life. When we first took this order, she made me a big bowl of noodles. I slurped the noodles while she sat beside me, saying happily how great it was. When the final payment for this order was settled, we could get a loan from the bank to buy you a new lathe with safety guards, so I wouldn’t have to worry about you anymore. I sat on the floor. The first luxurious thing in my life was wiping my tears with banknotes. It hurts so much, this heart. We were dutiful, with only a few simple little dreams. I never thought life would bid farewell to her like this. I said: “Let the police go out. I only talk to you alone.” Thinking he had a chance, the judge hurriedly said: “Okay, I’ll let them all go out. Calm down.” I heard footsteps outside, fading away at first, but later, although the sound became smaller, it remained in place. I knew that was the police pretending to leave but actually marching in place. There were probably people hiding behind the door. Once I unlocked it, the door would be pulled open, and I wouldn’t be able to fly away. The judge tried to make his voice gentle. He said: “I know your family has difficulties too. Doing this is not worth it.” I said: “I’ll just ask you one legal question. Tell me honestly.” He paused and said: “Ask.” I asked: “If I succeed today and return this money to my creditors. I didn’t take a penny more, only took back the money he owed me. Will the court require my creditors to return the payment?” He hurriedly said: “Of course they will. So don’t do stupid things. What you are doing now is meaningless and will only harm yourself!” Chapter 4 I said: “You’re lying to me. It’s all meaningful. When there’s a dispute over this money, although you can demand its return, given that I’ve already committed a crime, and my wife is desperate, she might do the same thing as me. The premise of the rule of law is to maintain stability. You will choose to treat my debt as settled and let the richer major creditors wait until you find the deadbeat’s new assets.” The judge was silent. After a while, he said: “Did some unethical lawyer give you bad advice? What you said is possible, but is it worth risking your own life for?” I said nothing because at this moment, my phone screen lit up. I saw a message from my wife. She said she was downstairs. I looked at the screen, then opened the photo album, looking at my ordinary life. Our wedding, I knelt on one knee and put the ring on her. I also sang a love song. She tried hard to hold back laughter, causing me to hold back laughter too. Our daughter’s first steps, walking unsteadily on the road, calling me daddy, and finally throwing herself into my arms. And when we accompanied our daughter to kindergarten for the first time, to leave a good impression on the teachers, we scrubbed our hands hard with laundry brushes, enduring the pain, trying to wash away the perennial machine oil on our hands. The photos recorded my simple life. I cried and laughed, finally taking a deep breath. Is it worth risking my life for this? I think it’s worth it, very worth it. Have I ever risked my life for anyone in this lifetime? Today is the time for me to risk my life. There were clothes in the storage room. I put them on one by one, hoping the thick layers would stop bullets. Of course, I knew the situation outside. But the people I love are still waiting for me. Though thousands oppose me, I will go. Even if I die nine times, I will not regret it. Besides clothes, I found something good in the storage room: a book, a thick dictionary. I looked at this book; it could only protect one part of my body. Finally, I made a bold decision. Didn’t protect my chest, didn’t protect my stomach, but instead unzipped my pants and placed it on my thigh. I once heard that although police abroad empty their clips to ensure the suspect has no ability to fight back. But domestically, when police have to shoot, they choose to shoot the legs first, also to ensure the suspect cannot fight back. I didn’t know the bailiffs’ experience, only hoping I bet right. Bullets hitting my chest or stomach, I didn’t care. Compared to death, I feared more not being able to escape to the window to throw the money down. I messaged my wife to come under the kitchen window. I checked just now; I was closest to the kitchen. Seeing me silent for a long time, the judge hurriedly said: “I don’t know what other lawyers told you, but trust me, I’m a judge, I’m considering everything for you.” I said: “I can put down the knife and surrender. Do you guarantee they are not there?” The judge replied: “I guarantee you, you can come out boldly. No one will shoot you. Put down the knife, come out with hands on your head.” While talking to the judge, I checked my body protection. Yes, all ready. I said: “I’m coming out.” After getting the judge’s permission, I moved the big box away. I had it all planned. Once I opened the door, I would risk getting shot and rush to the kitchen with the money. As long as this money is thrown downstairs, my mission is over. But when I tried to unlock it, I froze. The door wouldn’t open.

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I went back to the old family estate for the holidays, only to be caught in a torrential downpour. Staring out the window, my younger brother suddenly called out to me: “Bro, look.” “Does it look like there’s a silhouette in the rain?” I looked out, but saw nothing. A few minutes later, my younger sister’s voice came from the bathroom: “I’m showering! Stop trying to open the door!” But my brother and I were clearly in the living room. Only outside the bathroom door, there was a trail of muddy footprints… 1 “Who’s there?” I called out tentatively. But there was no response. A trail of muddy footprints on the floor looked as if someone had walked in from outside. I looked at the front door; I didn’t know who had opened it. My brother suddenly looked outside, his face pale: “Bro, look outside.” I looked again, but it was still empty. My brother speaking up twice made me impatient: “What is it?” He bit his lip: “In the rain outside… there’s a human shape…” I looked at the window. The rainwater formed streams on the glass. Two branching streams did indeed look somewhat like a human figure. I frowned: “Did you see wrong? It’s just the water on the window.” My brother stopped talking but looked worried. At this time, my sister came out of the bathroom. She wiped her hair and looked at us: “Which one of you two tried to open the bathroom door just now?” “If you don’t tell me, I’ll tell Mom when we get back.” I was helpless: “We were both on the sofa. No one went to the bathroom.” My sister got angry: “Fine, then the dog did it!” As soon as she finished speaking, the front door suddenly slammed shut with a bang. We all jumped. I hurriedly went to bolt the door and comforted them: “It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s raining, the wind is strong.” My sister sat on the sofa too. I started cleaning up the footprints on the floor. Since the rain started, we hadn’t gone out. Where did these footprints come from? Could someone really have walked in just now? I followed the footprints from the bathroom to the door. Looking out through the peephole, there was nothing. That made sense; this was the suburbs. This old house was left over from when the family ran a agritourism estate years ago. Now only my family occasionally came here for vacation. There were hardly any other houses for miles around. Who would come here in the middle of the night to play a prank? I was about to return to the living room. Suddenly, I felt like the door was pushed. The rotating lock made a clicking sound. I stared at the lock, but found nothing. When I looked through the peephole again. There was still no one outside. But I suddenly saw something out of place. A patch of lawn near the door seemed to have been stepped on by something. Mud stained the grass. Logically speaking, it had been raining for two hours. Even if there was mud on the grass blades, it should have been washed clean. This looked like it had just happened. I walked back to the living room worriedly and looked at my brother: “Did you really see a silhouette just now?” He nodded. Then his gaze remained fixed on the window. As if that silhouette was right outside. My sister was scared: “Don’t scare me, you two.” “I won’t tell Mom, okay?” But my brother remained silent, making my sister even more terrified. After a long while, my sister looked at me: “Bro, did you see it too?” I shook my head and comforted her: “I didn’t see anything.” “Maybe he saw wrong.” We sat in the living room, all silent. The muddy footprints just now, the silhouette, the mud on the grass blades, it was all too abnormal. But I couldn’t see anything. After a while, the atmosphere became more and more oppressive, and my sister couldn’t stand it anymore: “I’m going back to sleep.” I nodded: “Drink the milk first. Mom told me to watch over you two.” My sister walked to the kitchen somewhat helplessly. A minute later, she suddenly screamed. When I rushed over, I saw her hiding in a corner. There was half a glass of milk on the table. I frowned: “What happened?” Her voice was trembling: “The glass… moved…” 2 “What moved?” I was confused. My sister explained. She came over to pour milk just now. She intended to put the milk carton back in the fridge before drinking. But as soon as she put the milk away and turned around, she found that the glass of milk was only half full. And the position of the glass had been moved. My scalp tingled! Is there a fourth person in this house besides the three of us? I reached out to take the glass and examined it repeatedly. The glass had indeed been used. Milk residue hung on one side of the glass wall. I looked at my sister: “Besides this, did you feel anything else?” She thought for a moment: “No other feelings.” I examined the situation in front of me repeatedly, then poured a glass of milk for my sister myself. After she finished drinking, I comforted her: “Maybe you’re too tired today.” “Don’t think too much, go back to sleep.” She nodded and walked towards the bedroom upstairs. Halfway there, I reminded her: “Remember to lock the door.” She replied: “Okay.” I started checking the house. Strange things were happening to my sister. Could there be a pervert in this house? This situation wasn’t impossible. Many perverts were like this. They might hide in someone’s house, play pranks, or even assault directly. Thinking about it, I still didn’t feel at ease, so I went straight upstairs. I knocked on my sister’s door: “Wait before sleeping, let me check your room.” She opened the door and stood at the doorway, waiting for me to check. I looked under the bed and in the closet. Confirming no pervert was hiding inside, I breathed a sigh of relief: “Alright, lock the door and sleep this time.” She nodded and closed the door. I walked to the corner and suddenly heard my sister’s voice: “Who is it?” “Bro, is that you?” Confused, I walked back to her door. Her voice still came from inside the room: “Is that you? Bro.” I asked: “What’s wrong?” She said: “Didn’t you turn the door handle just now?” I froze. I had clearly walked to the stairway. How could I turn the door handle? I continued to ask: “You heard the sound of the door handle turning?” She admitted it frankly. To keep her from getting scared, I had to lie: “Nothing, I was checking if the door was closed tight.” She said “Oh” and went back to sleep. I walked back to the stairway and listened quietly to the sounds in the hallway. After a while, there wasn’t a single sound. I comforted myself: “Maybe the girl heard wrong.” Coming downstairs, I startled my brother. I frowned: “What’s wrong?” He was confused: “Why did you come down from upstairs?” “Didn’t you go to the bathroom just now?” I was completely dumbfounded. What’s going on? My brother just saw me go to the bathroom? I shook my head: “I just sent your sister upstairs.” His face became even uglier: “Then who was that just now?” This question made my scalp numb. I immediately picked up a kitchen knife from the kitchen and walked towards the bathroom step by step. I pushed open the bathroom door; it was empty. The steam from my sister’s shower hadn’t completely dissipated. I called out tentatively: “I see you!” “Stop hiding!” But there was no sound inside. Holding the knife, I mustered up courage to walk in. Everything was normal inside. I breathed a sigh of relief; my brother must have been hallucinating. But the moment I turned around, a chill rushed straight to my head! In the misty steam, a transparent human figure actually walked out of the bathroom door… 3 “Who’s there!” I exclaimed, but looking carefully, there was no one outside. I asked my brother: “Did you see anyone come out of the bathroom?” He shook his head blankly. I stood at the bathroom door, looking at the living room outside. If there was someone, I would definitely spot them. I used my phone’s flashlight to search around. Still didn’t find anyone. Anyone who studied physics knows. Even some seemingly transparent materials will refract light due to density. So even an invisible man should be detectable by light. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a trace outside. Did I see wrong? Rubbing my head, I planned to close the bathroom door. But the moment I turned my head, I was terrified again! On the bathroom mirror, unbeknownst to me, a crooked word had been written: DIE! Is this a joke my brother is playing on me? After all, he has liked writing on steamy mirrors since he was little. I immediately questioned him: “You didn’t go to the bathroom just now?” He shook his head: “I’ve been sitting here watching a movie.” I pretended to pick up his slippers and casually felt the inside. It was cold! He didn’t lie! Thinking it over, I felt it was better to call the police first. No matter what it was, even just a drunkard who broke in, for the family’s safety, I had to do this. I picked up the phone and dialed 911 immediately: “Police? I think someone entered my house.” “He’s hiding in my house, I’m not sure if there’s danger.” The operator crisply asked for my address. After hanging up, I seriously discussed the previous topic with my brother: “What did the silhouette you saw in the rain look like?” He thought for a moment, then frowned: “Just a shadow, a human shape made by the rain.” “Couldn’t see a person.” My heart pounded wildly. This was almost identical to the transparent figure I saw in the bathroom steam! I continued to ask: “Where was he?” He looked outside and pointed near the courtyard entrance: “Just where you enter the yard.” I looked out the window, then carefully recalled the timing of everything that just happened! Weird! Too weird! Less than a minute after my brother said there was a silhouette outside, my sister shouted from the bathroom. And I went to check the muddy footprints only two or three minutes after my brother spoke. From the yard to the entrance, although the distance is short. But adding opening the door and walking to the bathroom, it couldn’t be that fast. Most importantly, that person couldn’t be running! Because running makes a loud noise. But we heard nothing. This means there must be something extremely fast. A cat might do it. But the problem is, those muddy footprints were human footprints! And what we saw were all human shapes. While I was pondering, a scream suddenly came from upstairs. My brother and I ran up quickly. My sister’s door was actually open! When I rushed in, she was curled up in a corner. A long cut appeared on her wrist. It looked like her wrist was slit! I frowned: “What happened?” Looking at the empty space in the room with terrified eyes, her voice was hoarse: “There… there’s someone…” “Someone wants to kill me…” I immediately pulled her to the living room downstairs, found the first aid kit, and bandaged her up. At this moment, our door was knocked… 4 “Mr. Thorne?” “I’m an officer from the nearby precinct.” Hearing the voice outside, I felt a huge burden lifted! The police are finally here! With him here, I felt much more at ease. My sister also relaxed. When the officer came in, he looked around: “This is a vacation rental, right?” I nodded: “It used to be, now it’s private property.” The officer didn’t say anything, looked around, and then started asking what happened. I recounted everything I experienced. He nodded: “You did the right thing.” “Protecting your own safety is most important.” After speaking, he looked at my sister: “Little miss, tell me what happened in the room.” She thought for a moment: “I was sleeping in the room just now.” “Halfway through, I felt someone covering me with their hand.” “He seemed to want to strangle me.” “But I struggled constantly and escaped.” “When I ran, he grabbed my hand and slashed it hard with a knife.” She even showed the bandaged wound. I explained: “The cut is quite deep, he probably intended to slit my sister’s wrist.” The officer’s expression became serious: “It seems there really might be someone else in this house.” “Stay close to me, let’s check around.” The four of us walked around the house. The officer held his gun, ready for any criminal that might appear. But after searching, we found nothing. As if the criminal vanished into thin air. The officer was also confused. According to his experience, even if the person ran away, there should be traces. But there wasn’t a single trace in the house. The only place was the footprints on the lawn outside. The officer looked at me: “Think carefully, is there anywhere else to enter your sister’s room?” I shook my head: “That room can only be entered through the door or window.” “But both were locked. To enter from outside, one would have to break them.” But we checked just now, there were no signs of forced entry. But how did the door open? My sister said she didn’t open it. Then there’s only one possibility—the door was opened from the inside. But if the person was hiding in the room before, I would definitely have found something when I checked. Why can’t we find anything now? The officer looked at us, troubled: “It’s raining heavily now, and it’s over ten miles to the city.” “I came on a motorcycle, I can’t take you with me.” I thought for a moment: “The old caretaker of this property lives nearby.” “Can you go back and get a car?” “We’ll ask the old caretaker to come keep us company for a while.” The officer nodded: “Okay, I’ll wait here until the person you mentioned arrives.” I immediately found Grandpa Hu’s number in the phone book. Hearing it was my issue, Grandpa Hu didn’t hesitate and said he’d be there in ten minutes. I trusted Grandpa Hu absolutely. He watched the three of us grow up, and my parents treated him well. He always treated the three of us like his own grandchildren. In less than ten minutes, there was a knock at the door. Grandpa Hu came with his nephew. Grandpa Hu was even holding a pitchfork used for hay. The officer frowned: “Old man, even if there’s a criminal, don’t risk your life.” “It’s too dangerous.” Grandpa Hu nodded and sent the officer off. Once the officer left, Grandpa Hu’s nephew said mysteriously to Grandpa Hu: “Did they encounter that thing?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “389042”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel