Category: English

The mission was a success. I returned to my own world, waking from the coma that had held me captive. My children, all grown up now, stood vigil by my hospital bed. My wife, Florence, threw her arms around me, her embrace a desperate anchor. Her parents, my in-laws, were weeping with joy. I was just about to dismiss the System, to choose to stay here, in my life, when the door creaked open. A man who was my spitting image—a near-perfect double—walked in. My own two children rushed to him, clinging to his legs with a familiar affection, and called out, “Daddy!” Every eye in the room swiveled to me. The air crackled with a thick, suffocating awkwardness. The man shot me a triumphant, mocking smirk. I put the System on hold. “Let me think about it,” I transmitted. “About whether I want to stay.” 1. My children, Lily and Sam, clutched at the man’s—at Alex’s—clothes, their eyes fixed on me with a wariness usually reserved for monsters. A sharp, needle-like pain pricked at my heart. My wife, Florence, squeezed my arm, her grip tightening. I looked at the others. They had been happily explaining the new emergency alert system they’d installed on my phone, clearly not expecting Alex to make such a dramatic entrance. My father-in-law, his face a mask of embarrassment, finally broke the silence. “Liam, while you were… unconscious, Alex was the one who took care of us. We were going to introduce you two properly when we got home.” My mother-in-law chimed in, her voice strained. “Yes, that’s right. Now that you’re awake, you two should get along. For our sake.” Alex just smiled, a lazy, confident expression as he strolled over to my bedside. His eyes were glittering with provocation. I remained silent, freezing the System in my mind. I’ll give you my answer in a couple of days. A soft sigh echoed in my consciousness as the System went dormant. Seeing that I was ignoring him, Alex feigned a wounded look. He forced a smile for the benefit of the room. “My apologies. It was presumptuous of me. Liam has every right to be upset. I’ll just… I’ll go.” He didn’t give anyone a chance to respond, turning on his heel and walking out. “Alex, wait!” my mother-in-law cried, stamping her foot in frustration before hurrying after him. Florence flinched, starting to rise as if by instinct, but my gaze caught hers and she froze, slowly sinking back into her chair. She hugged me tight, her voice the same soothing murmur she’d always used to comfort me. “Don’t overthink this, Liam. You’re my husband. You’re the only one.” But then Lily, my daughter, hitched up her little dress and ran out after them. My son, Sam, shot me a look of pure hatred before slamming the door so hard the walls vibrated. I didn’t understand. How had my sweet, loving children turned into these hostile strangers? Sensing the tension, my father-in-law excused himself to handle the discharge paperwork. A short while later, I was in a wheelchair, being pushed out of the hospital. But as we drove, I realized this wasn’t the way home. “Dad,” I said, my voice raspy. “If I remember correctly, this isn’t the road to our house.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel for a split second. Then he chuckled, a hollow sound. “Your memory’s as sharp as ever, Liam.” He took a long, meandering detour before finally pulling into our driveway. I didn’t understand the purpose of the scenic route until the moment I stepped through the front door. The large family portrait that had hung in the entryway—the one of the four of us, smiling in the summer sun—was gone. In its place was a new photo. Florence, her parents, Lily, and Sam, all beaming. With Alex. Stunned, I stared at the picture on the wall before storming upstairs and throwing open the door to what used to be my bedroom. Of course. The cuckoo had taken over the nest. Alex had made my room his own. My chest heaved. The decor was completely different, all sleek, impersonal modernism. And there, sitting on the edge of the bed, was Alex, reading a bedtime story to my daughter. A bitter, mocking laugh escaped my lips. For five years, I had slavishly completed every task the System threw at me, all for the singular goal of coming back to my family. And now? Now there was no place left for me in my own home. “You were going to take me somewhere else at first, weren’t you?” I asked, my gaze locking onto my once-kindly father-in-law. He had the decency to look away, shamefaced. “We’ll get the room cleared out for you right away, Liam. This will always be your home.” The moment the words left his mouth, Alex, in the bedroom, put on his wounded act again. He stood up silently and began gathering his things, only to be stopped by Lily. When she thought no one was looking, she launched herself at me, shoving me with all her might. I stumbled, falling hard against the floor. She grabbed the nearest object—a heavy book—and started hitting me with it, screaming through her tears. “You just came back and you’re already bullying my daddy! You’re a bad man!” “Get out!” “Get out of my house! Leave!” I just stared at the contorted, furious face of the child before me, utterly frozen. 2. Lily’s outburst shocked everyone. Florence grabbed her arm, her brow furrowed in anger. “Lily! What has gotten into you?” But my daughter was inconsolable, her tears fueling a torrent of accusations. The commotion woke Sam, who started crying in the other room. Alex scooped him up, a look of pained helplessness on his face. “Stop, everyone, please stop fighting. This is all my fault. I’ll just leave, okay? I’ll go!” He made to walk out, but my father-in-law’s voice boomed through the house. “Everybody, quiet!” He turned to Alex. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying in this room.” My breath caught in my throat. I looked at him, searching for some sign of the man I used to know. He just frowned at me. “Liam, I’ll have the entire third floor cleared out for you tomorrow. For tonight, you can sleep in the guest room.” He sighed. “Let’s just have some peace.” His words sent a jolt through me, reminding me of a conversation from before our wedding. “Sir, this is the master bedroom, isn’t it? Why are you and Mom giving it to us?” Back then, he had looked at me with such warmth, his smile genuine. “Liam, you’re our son-in-law. Of course, we want you to have the best.” The memory was a shard of glass in my heart. I turned away, swiping at my eyes, and walked toward the guest room without another word. My father-in-law started to say something, then stopped himself. I was exhausted. I collapsed onto the guest bed, burying my face in the pillow, welcoming the darkness. Suddenly, a warm, fragrant embrace enveloped me. Florence. She pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. “Is my husband in a bad mood today?” she whispered, her voice a low murmur. I opened my eyes and looked at her. She offered a small, hesitant smile. “I need to wash up,” I mumbled, pulling away. Florence hugged me again, a quick, tight squeeze, before grabbing her phone and disappearing into the en-suite bathroom. I expected her to be quick. A shower for her was usually a ten-minute affair. But this time, the sound of running water was a constant drone. It was still going when I finally drifted off into a restless sleep. I awoke later to the soft click of the bedroom door closing. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the dim light. Her phone, left on the pillow beside me, flickered to life. A new message. From Alex. “Waiting for you ;)” My heart skipped a beat. My hand shot out, grabbing the phone. I swiped to unlock it, my thumb tracing the familiar pattern of my own birthday. Password incorrect. It had always been my birthday. I tried again. And again. Not mine. Not hers. Not the kids’. Then, a sickening thought occurred to me. The contact info for Alex. His name in her phone had a birthday next to it. With trembling fingers, I punched in the date. Unlocked. A wave of ice washed through my veins, chilling me to the bone. I opened their chat history. For the entire hour Florence had been in the bathroom, she hadn’t been showering. She had been on a video call with Alex. The phone slipped from my numb fingers. I took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. After a long moment, I got up and walked silently to the door of my old bedroom. 3. I stood outside the door, forcing myself to watch, a glutton for punishment. I stayed there until my legs gave out and I crumpled to the floor. A faint clatter from the kitchen drew my attention. I turned my head. It was Sam, my seven-year-old son, standing on a stool, clumsily stirring something in a pot on the stove. Fearful he’d get hurt, I pushed myself up and went to him. “Daddy doesn’t like cilantro… no onions,” he mumbled to himself, a miniature adult concentrating on his task. He carefully lifted the small pot off the stove, and for a second, my heart swelled with a painful tenderness. Then he turned and saw me. His expression soured instantly. “What are you doing here, you bad man!” His words hit me like a physical blow. The “Daddy” he was so carefully cooking for… was Alex. My lips trembled. “Sam, I’m your father. How could you—” “You’re not my daddy!” he shouted back, his voice cracking. He shoved past me, carrying the pot of hot soup toward the master bedroom. The push sent me stumbling backward, the corner of the counter digging sharply into my spine. The pain was excruciating. I limped back to Alex’s door. Sam was carefully blowing on a spoonful of soup before holding it up to Alex’s lips. Alex praised him with a wide grin, while Florence pulled our son into her lap, ruffling his hair. “Our little Sam is even more caring than his big sister,” she cooed. I stood in the shadows of the hallway, a ghost in my own home, watching the three of them. They were a perfect picture. A happy family. My eyes burned with unshed tears. I turned and walked away. The next morning, Florence woke me, a habit she hadn’t yet broken. She leaned in for her customary good-morning kiss. I turned my head, and her lips met empty air. She froze, a flicker of confusion in her eyes, before taking my hand and leading me to the dining table. But my seat was gone. Alex sat in my usual spot, a smug, self-satisfied smile playing on his lips as he watched me. Florence’s face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly guided me to her own chair, pushing me down gently. “Um…” the nanny began, wringing her hands nervously. “I… I didn’t prepare a breakfast for Mr. Liam…” A stunned silence fell over the table. “Didn’t Alex tell you?” my father-in-law asked, his brow furrowed. Alex made a show of slapping his forehead. “Oh, my god, I’m so sorry! I was up so late last night, and I completely overslept this morning. I forgot to tell her.” He started to get up. “Here, Liam, you can have mine.” “Sit down,” my mother-in-law said, pressing his hand firmly. “You need to eat. You’re too thin as it is,” my father-in-law added, his tone full of concern. I was an invisible man, watching this grotesque play unfold. My hands, hanging at my sides, clenched into tight fists. My father-in-law sighed, instructing the nanny to make another breakfast before turning to me, his hand on my arm. “We’re planning a party to celebrate your recovery,” he said, forcing a cheerful tone. “A proper welcome home. Florence will take you to get a new suit later.” I coolly pulled my hand away and nodded. I stared at his face, at the faces of all of them, and a cold question began to form in my mind. Did I really want to stay here?

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So, picture this: a guy ditches his wife and kid, vanishes for twenty years, and then just shows up on the doorstep expecting a welcome home party. He’s bawling his eyes out, claiming the “other woman” played him for a fool all this time. I had to laugh. Seriously, what’s his angle? That being old, broke, and pathetic is suddenly charming? The woman whose life I stepped into, Sarah, she was too much of a doormat. His whole family walked all over her. But me? I’m here to settle the score. Even if I have to play nice for a while. 1. “Excuse me, ma’am? We’re from ‘Community Concern,’ the local news segment? We got a call from a gentleman, about fifty years old, hoping to reunite with his family. He says you won’t let him in. Could you tell us why you’re shutting him out?” A TV reporter and a cameraman, gear looking like weapons, were camped out on my front lawn. Standing near them, looking pathetic, was my husband of twenty years ago, Jack. Twenty years gone, just like that. His clothes were worn thin, his skin weathered and dark, making him look older than his fifty years. More gray hair than brown on his head. Jack just stood there silently, playing the part of the poor, homeless old man perfectly. The reporter kept pushing, so I finally took the microphone she offered. “He walked out on me and our baby twenty years ago. Now the woman he left me for kicked him to the curb, and suddenly he remembers he has a family? Let me ask you, if it were your husband, would you take him back?” The reporter didn’t miss a beat. “But isn’t that exactly why you should take him in? Because he has nowhere else to go?” Yeah, I wasn’t buying that guilt trip. Suddenly, Jack dropped to his knees right there on the lawn. “It’s all my fault,” he sobbed. “I let that woman fool me for twenty years. But I’ve changed, Sarah, I swear. I just want to come home, be with you, make it up to you.” He put on his best hangdog, guilt-ridden expression. Right on cue, the neighborhood vultures started circling, eager to show off their saintly compassion. Brenda from across the street, fanning herself on her porch swing, chimed in with a sigh, “Oh, honey, he’s been gone twenty years, but he came back. You should really find it in your heart to forgive him.” “Yeah, that’s right,” added Mr. Henderson from downstairs, pausing his sidewalk stroll. He always loved sticking his nose in. “You’re almost fifty yourself. Your man’s back, might as well make the best of it. Besides, you’re on the news now! Don’t want people thinking folks in this neighborhood are heartless, do we?” Brenda nodded vigorously, her fan picking up speed. “Exactly! Being on the news like this… it wouldn’t look good if you turned him away.” See, I’m here on a job. A system task, they call it. I took over the life of Sarah Evans. Forty-nine, no kids anymore. Twenty years back, her husband ran off with his mistress, cleaned out their bank account, and to please the new woman, he… he abandoned their newborn baby by the river. The baby didn’t make it. Sarah’s life has been one long tragedy. A week ago, she became a client for our company’s ‘Revenge Package’ lottery draw. Lucky her. I’m not here to make friends. I shot the busybodies a cold look. “You all talk such a good game. Why don’t you take him in and look after him?” That shut Brenda up quick. She bristled. “What kind of thing is that to say? We’re just trying to help! We worry about you being alone. He’s your husband, it’s your job to care for him.” Mr. Henderson nodded along. “A woman’s supposed to stand by her man, for better or worse. You can’t keep holding onto the past forever.” I ignored them and looked straight at the man kneeling on my lawn. “You really want to come back? You’d die to come back?” This was part of the system contract setup. I just needed his confirmation. “Yes,” Jack choked out. “I’d die to come back.” Keywords acquired: Die to come back. A smirk played on my lips. A red-bordered window popped up in my vision, visible only to me. Inside the box, text glowed: Task Initiation: Send the Scumbag to Hell. 2 The day after I let Jack back into the house, his charming relatives showed up. No sooner had they stepped inside than Jack’s two sisters, Patty and Joan, made themselves comfortable on the living room couch. They fussed over Jack, asking how he’d been all these years, clucking sympathetically about how rough he must have had it. They even joined Jack in cursing out the mistress, calling her trash, heartless. How could she, after Jack gave up everything for her – his wife, his child – turn around and cheat on him? Make him raise some other guy’s kid for twenty years? Serves him right, I thought. Patty, the older sister, noticed I wasn’t joining the pity party. She shot me a frosty look. “Your husband’s been through hell out there, and you can’t even show a little sympathy? The least you could do is say a bad word or two about that homewrecker.” Oh, I had plenty of bad words, alright. But they weren’t for the mistress. They were for the whole damn family, going back generations. Joan, the younger sister, piped up, “Now that my brother’s back, you need to treat him right. Give him the best of everything – food, comfort, whatever he needs. It’s been twenty years without a man in the house. Now you’ve got one again. You should be happy! You haven’t cracked a smile since we walked in.” The system’s memory files filled me in on these two beauties: Back when Sarah and Jack were married, about five years in, she couldn’t conceive a son (a big deal to him, apparently). He started getting abusive – hitting, yelling, constant digs. That’s when the mistress appeared. And guess who introduced them? Patty and Joan. They helped Jack cover up the affair for two whole years, right up until Sarah finally got pregnant. The mistress panicked. She pushed Jack to leave Sarah for good. To make sure he wouldn’t go back, she told him to get rid of the baby. Dump it by the river. And his wonderful sisters? Not only did they not stop him, they were apparently more interested in… well, let’s just say they were disgustingly callous right after Sarah gave birth. Sarah, still recovering, dragged herself out and jumped into the cold river to save her baby. But the baby was premature, and fragile. Without proper care after the ordeal, the poor thing died less than a month later. Sarah was devastated, and the trauma ruined her health. Gossip flew around town. Everyone pitied Sarah. When Patty and Joan heard their own reputations were taking a hit, they marched over to Sarah’s house and started spreading vicious lies. Said Sarah was cheating, that that’s why Jack left. Claimed the baby wasn’t even Jack’s, that it deserved to be drowned. Back then, loudest voice won. People believed them. Sarah, being gentle and broken, just hid in her house, too ashamed to go out. It made my blood boil just reading it. All that pain, and she didn’t know how to fight back. Thank God she had a brother who left her this small two-bedroom house before he passed away. Just then, Jack pulled me down onto the couch next to him. Said it was time for a family meeting. Patty, ever the bossy older sister, started things off. “Now that my brother’s back, this house needs a man in charge again. Tomorrow, you should sign the house over to him. Put the deed in his name.” I stared at the three of them like they’d sprouted extra heads. “The house is mine. My brother left it to me. Why would I sign it over to him?” Joan jumped in eagerly, “If you put the house in his name, it’ll show him you trust him! It’ll keep him tied to you. He’ll definitely treat you right then.” Wow. Just… wow. I must be getting rusty at these revenge gigs if this level of audacity still shocks me. Seeing my hesitation, Jack resorted to his standard move: hitting his knees. “Sarah, trust me. I won’t let you down again. I swear it.” I looked down at him, my voice dangerously soft. “And if you do?” He saw a flicker of hope, poor fool. He held up three fingers. “Then may God strike me dead!” Keywords acquired: Strike me dead. The system’s health bar program officially kicked in. I glanced up, imagining a health bar floating over his head, a chunk of it vanishing. A small, cold smile touched my lips. “You remember that,” I said softly. “You’ll be struck dead.” 3 “Don’t say that! Bad luck!” Patty snapped, waving her hand dismissively. “Since you’re agreeing to sign the house over, we’ll let bygones be bygones.” She sounded so high and mighty. Joan chimed in, looking annoyed. “My brother’s turned over a new leaf. He didn’t come back here to listen to you making morbid threats. Less of that talk in the future.” I just gave them a bland smile. “He’s the one who volunteered to kneel and make the dramatic oaths. Got nothing to do with me.” Jack, hearing I’d “agreed” about the house, was practically buzzing with excitement. He wasn’t about to worry about some empty promise to God. “Okay, Patty, Joan, you two head on home,” he said, eager to get rid of them. “We won’t keep you for dinner.” Mission accomplished, the sisters got up to leave. As they walked out, the three of them exchanged quick glances. The look was clear: Got the house. She’s such an easy mark. As for signing over the house, I stalled. Said I needed to “get the paperwork sorted out,” maybe “check with the lawyer.” Bought myself ten days. Jack seemed completely confident he had Sarah – me – wrapped around his little finger. He didn’t push it. Dealing with scum like him… I really wanted this task over with quickly. His health bar seemed to be dropping too slowly. I needed him to trigger more keywords, run that meter down faster. Jack started gambling again. At first, his luck was weirdly good. He’d stumble home drunk every night, singing loudly in the wee hours, driving the neighbors crazy. The ones suffering the most were, ironically, Brenda across the street and Mr. Henderson downstairs. Jack would weave his way home, humming off-key, and every time he passed Brenda’s porch, he’d drunkenly yank at her flowers or knock over a planter. Just because. Brenda would be out there the next morning, yelling curses at the empty air. After a few days of this, she apparently ran out of steam yelling at nothing. So, she came to me, blaming me for not controlling my husband. “What is wrong with you? Don’t you care that your husband’s drinking like a fish? What if he drops dead drunk in a ditch somewhere? You’ll be a widow!” she lectured. “And he’s ruined all my planters!” I almost laughed. I put on my best sympathetic voice, echoing her tone from the other day. “Well, Brenda, he was gone twenty years. Now that he’s back, I have to forgive him, right? It’s just a little drinking.” The next day, Mr. Henderson showed up at my door, dark circles under his eyes. “Can’t you keep your husband quiet? He comes home singing, kicking things over… I’m right below you, the banging is giving me heart palpitations! You need to make him leave!” I gave him his own words back, sweet as pie. “But Mr. Henderson, my man’s finally back home. Guess we just have to make the best of it. Like you said, it was on the news and everything. If I kicked him out now, people might think folks in this neighborhood are heartless.” Mr. Henderson was speechless. He just muttered something under his breath and shuffled away.

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On the night of our fourth wedding anniversary, Chloe broadcast a declaration of love for her high school sweetheart on the giant screens in Times Square. A full four-minute video, a montage of every photo they’d taken together from high school through college. All set to his favorite song lyric: “I said I want us to be together.” I texted her, “Wishing you two lovebirds all the best.” She graciously replied. “Don’t make a scene. He’s just having a bad day, and I only want to cheer him up.” I held up my phone, recorded every second of their saccharine memories, and blasted it to our mutual friends’ group chat. My caption: “Here’s to my wife and her old flame finally getting their happy ending.” It quickly blew up. Chloe, furious, logged into my account and deleted the post. Then she called, screaming, “Mark, are you even a man? I’m just looking after a sick friend, you know that! Did you have to drag this out for the whole world to see?” After she hung up on me, her precious Leo sent me a picture of them, a sweet, passionate kiss. The woman I’d sworn to love forever, betraying me so openly. This time, I wouldn’t get angry. I wouldn’t rush to confront her. I just wanted to get away from both of them, to find some peace for myself. Without a moment’s hesitation, I canceled the hotel room I’d booked for our anniversary that night and flew back home. The first thing I did after landing was call a divorce lawyer to draft the papers. Back at our house, I went straight to the wine cabinet, staring at the red wine we’d bottled ourselves when we got married. All that newlywed sweetness, apparently worth less to her than Leo, her first love, saying, “I’m having a bad day.” I popped the cork and chugged the wine straight from the bottle. It was sour, bitter. Awful. I poured the rest down the drain. It wasn’t like we’d ever be using it to celebrate an anniversary again. Everything in this house was tied to memories of me and Chloe. The wool rug in the living room was her favorite; we used to sit on it, side-by-side, watching movies. The lamp over the dining table was her pick too; she said it made food look more appetizing. Now, all these things just sat here, mocking my powerlessness against a cheating wife. I took them all down, piling them haphazardly in the hallway by the living room entrance. Only after doing all that did I finally go to the bedroom. Fifteen hours on a plane had exhausted me. I collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. I didn’t wake up until the next afternoon, startled by the loud slam of Chloe opening the front door. “Mark, are you trying to tear our house apart?” I walked out of the bedroom, glanced at the mess on the floor without a word, and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. I thought witnessing her betrayal firsthand would shatter me. But last night, after Leo sent that picture of their kiss, something in me just… let go. I’d had some wine, slept soundly, and for the first time in ages, I hadn’t waited up for Chloe on the sofa. The feeling was surprisingly liberating. “I’m talking to you, didn’t you hear me?” I spat out a mouthful of toothpaste, mumbling, “You don’t even bother coming home anymore. Do you really care if I wreck the place?” Chloe’s face turned ugly. Unexpectedly, she rolled up her sleeves and actually started cleaning up the mess I’d made. When she found the ten empty wine bottles, her brow furrowed. “You drank all of this by yourself?” I didn’t feel like explaining, just nodded noncommittally. She was speechless with surprise, then a look of understanding, or misunderstanding, crossed her face. She thought I was drowning my sorrows. “You shouldn’t have just run off back home without a word. You didn’t even get your anniversary present.” She pulled a small, elegant black box from her purse and handed it to me. I opened it. Inside, a green and gold designer watch lay nestled on velvet. “You said you liked this brand, right? I brought it back specially from New York for you.” The old carrot-and-stick routine. This was Chloe’s classic move to appease me. I didn’t call her out on it. Just ten minutes ago, Leo had posted on social media. In the photo, Chloe, who knew nothing about men’s watches, was standing at a luxury counter, patiently picking out a gift. The next photo showed Leo’s wrist, sporting a similar watch from a different collection by the same brand. I knew. This watch of mine was probably his reject. While Chloe was busy with the pile of junk, I closed the gift box and casually tossed it, watch and all, into the trash can. Chloe turned around just in time to see me do it. “Mark! I picked that out especially for you! How could you!” She really thought a little lie would make me forgive everything. I told her, my face blank, “I’m not into that brand anymore.” “You… Fine. I’m tired, I don’t want to clean anymore. I’m going to bed. Get the housekeeper to deal with it.” I knew she’d wanted to say something much harsher. As she headed to the bedroom, her phone buzzed with a notification. She reflexively gestured for me to bring it to her. I glanced at the screen. It was from Leo. I read it out loud, “Chloe, I feel like the luckiest man in the world.” Chloe hadn’t expected me to mimic Leo’s deliberately saccharine tone, my voice low and syrupy. She exploded. She grabbed a glass wine bottle from the dining table and smashed it on the floor. “Mark, when are you going to stop? Are you some kind of masochist?” Shards of glass sliced across the top of my foot. A sharp sting. I stared at the blood welling up, taunting, “Isn’t that how Leo talks to you?” Chloe was squeamish about blood. She immediately grabbed the dining table for support, flustered, yelling at me, “Are you stupid? Didn’t you know to move? Don’t think this will make me feel sorry for you!” I ignored her and went to find the first-aid kit to bandage my foot. When I realized the bleeding wasn’t stopping, I wrapped it up quickly and prepared to go to the hospital. Seeing my injury was somewhat serious, Chloe said guiltily, “Let me take you to the hospital.” “No need,” I said coldly. After a few back-and-forths, she still followed me into the elevator going down. In the underground parking garage, Chloe offered to drive. Given my injured foot, I didn’t refuse. The moment I sat in the back seat, she questioned me with her usual displeasure, “Now what’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you sitting in the passenger seat?” I rolled down the window for some air. The truth was, the car reeked of Leo’s pine-scented cologne. Under Chloe’s dark gaze, I made up an excuse, “You’re squeamish about blood. I was worried you’d be uncomfortable driving.” This explanation seemed to calm her down a bit. “Oh, I accidentally spilled some perfume yesterday. The smell might be a little strong.” With that, she pulled a half-empty bottle of cologne from her bag and offered it to me. “I blended this myself. Since you didn’t like the other gift, take this. It’s a shame half of it spilled. If you don’t mind, please accept it.” More of Leo’s stuff. Did Chloe see me as some kind of beggar, always picking up Leo’s cast-offs? I didn’t want anything connected to Leo. I didn’t take it, refusing directly, “The blood’s about to get on the car seats. Can we please hurry to the hospital?” She’d been snubbed and fell silent. On the way, she kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn’t, as if she had some difficult secret. I closed my eyes, pretending to rest. She finally couldn’t hold it in anymore, “My mom wants us to go over to her place for dinner tonight. Can you…” She was obviously worried I’d spill the beans about Leo being back in town. Since I’d already decided on a divorce, I didn’t want to complicate things further, especially not make it harder for my mother-in-law to deal with the truth. I nodded. Chloe visibly relaxed. The rest of the drive was unusually quiet. But this time, the silence didn’t feel awkward; it was almost comfortable. At the hospital, she hurriedly dropped me off at the emergency room and then practically fled. “I’ll go grab a bite to eat and be right back to keep you company!” “Once you’re done, we’ll go home together to see Mom.” There was a car accident victim in the ER, covered in blood. Chloe, with her aversion to it, couldn’t even get close. More than an hour passed after the doctor treated my wound, but Chloe still hadn’t returned. Just then, my phone buzzed. Leo had updated his social media, saying he had a stomachache from eating too much seafood, and “someone” was incredibly worried about him. The accompanying picture showed he was at this very hospital. Clearly, Chloe wouldn’t be accompanying me to her mom’s tonight. I didn’t want to face my mother-in-law’s pressure about having kids alone anyway, so I made an excuse and canceled the dinner. Leaving the hospital, having slept for a day straight without eating, a sharp pain twisted in my gut. My stomach churned. I leaned against a wall, dry heaving, cold sweat beading on my forehead. A doctor saw me and hurried over to ask if I was okay. I waved him off, thanking him, and forced myself to follow the signs towards the restroom. Just as I turned a corner, I heard Leo’s familiar voice, “Leo, you’re still the same, always making people worry. You overate and got indigestion, didn’t you!” “Chloe, I haven’t been back in the country for so long, and the seafood chowder you made was so delicious, I wanted to eat the whole bowl.” So, she’d been busy all afternoon making him chowder before coming home. Seeing them so intimate, I felt even more nauseous. Chloe was smiling radiantly, a tenderness she’d never shown me. “You still can’t eat like that. If you want it, I can make it for you anytime. Just don’t do this again, okay?” Leo saw me, then deliberately cupped Chloe’s face and kissed her hard. “Got it!” Those hands, which I had once cherished, had never cooked for me. Now, they were readily available for Leo at any time. The power of a first love, truly something to both adore and despise. The pain in my abdomen intensified, sweat trickling down my face. I knew I looked a mess, but compared to the scene in front of me, I’d rather escape. Just as I turned to leave, Leo called out, “Mark? What are you doing here?” Leo noticed me standing by the dermatology clinic door. His eyes lit up, and he walked straight towards me. As they got closer, Leo’s eyes filled with disdain. “What are you hiding for? Looking so rough, afraid we’ll find out you’ve got some shameful disease?” The smile that had been on Chloe’s face vanished the moment she saw me. “Didn’t I tell you I’d come find you? Is it fun stalking us every day? Your foot’s injured, and you still can’t stay put, insisting on coming here to make trouble for yourself?” I looked up at Chloe. She seemed to be expecting me to be grateful for her “trust.” Grateful that she believed I didn’t have “that kind of disease.” Grateful that she was saving face for me in front of Leo. But there was no hint of panic or embarrassment on her face at her lies being exposed, only blame and coldness towards me. The sweat pouring down my face right now seemed to mean nothing to her. I tried to walk around them, heading for the restroom further down. But Leo suddenly reached out to block me. I instinctively tried to avoid his touch. With a slight shrug, I somehow sent Leo sprawling to the ground. Chloe reacted instantly, helping Leo up and, in the same motion, shoving me to the floor. “Mark!” “Haven’t you had enough!” She hadn’t used her full strength, but the stitches in my foot, the anesthetic long worn off, throbbed with unbearable pain. I couldn’t withstand even that gentle push. The fall made me dizzy. The pain in my abdomen and foot quickly spread to my stomach, sending waves of cramps through me. My temples throbbed. I just wanted to get up quickly and get to the restroom to relieve myself. I finally struggled to my feet, but Chloe gripped my wrist tightly, not letting me go. “Apologize to Leo!” In her cold eyes, she completely missed the fact that the gauze on my foot was now soaked red with blood. My whole body was screaming in pain. I used all my strength to stand steady, fighting back my anger, demanding she let go. She squeezed my wrist so hard her nails almost dug into my flesh, leaving red marks. But I wouldn’t give in. “You didn’t leash your dog. What’s that got to do with me?” “If you don’t let go, I’ll tell your family about your little affair!” Chloe finally released her grip, her eyes red. She slapped me across the face. “Mark! You dare!” She looked like she wanted to yell more, but the next second, the intense abdominal pain made me suddenly vomit. It was a purely physical reaction, not intentional. I threw up acidic bile all over Chloe. Compared to my wretched state, the stains on her dress were more conspicuous. This sudden turn of events, strangely, made me feel a little better. Seeing my pale face and the pain in my eyes, Chloe, surprisingly, didn’t fly into a rage about being soiled. She forgot Leo was even there and instinctively moved to pat my back. “You drank so much last night, you must have gastritis! Why are you always so much trouble!” Her scent made me wrinkle my nose. I pinched my nostrils and dodged her touch. Chloe’s hand froze in mid-air, the concern on her face vanishing quickly. “Mark! Aren’t you going too far!” I ignored her accusation and limped towards the restroom to clean myself up. Only then did Chloe remember my injured foot. A flicker of guilt crossed her face. She followed me to the restroom door, trying to soothe me, “Okay, I shouldn’t have hit you. But you stalking us, that’s not exactly honorable, is it? I’ll take you to see a doctor. Stop making a scene, okay?” This was the first time she’d spoken to me so gently since Leo came back, as if coaxing a child. But it only made me feel sicker. I couldn’t help but dry heave again. Chloe panicked. Ignoring that it was the men’s room, she rushed in to help me. “Get away! Don’t touch me!” I slapped her hand away without mercy. She froze, her eyes wide with disbelief, then her face flushed with anger. “Don’t you have any dignity as a man?” “I gave you the Evans family name, you should have some responsibility! Since you’re so ungrateful, let’s just get a divorce!”

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On the eve of our wedding, Daniel Harrison finally posted something on his social media at my insistence. The caption read: “If it’s her, I’d go through hell and back.” Everyone’s stares at me grew stranger and stranger until I overheard conversations in the company break room. “Did you see Daniel Harrison’s post? Oh my god, I can’t believe Chloe Jensen is like that.” “I saw it, I saw it! Chloe Jensen must be desperate, picking up men of any age. I heard that old man was practically ancient, right?” “The slideshow was dozens of pages long; you couldn’t even count how many people there were. But Daniel Harrison clearly knows Chloe Jensen isn’t exactly a saint and still marries her? That’s true love, I guess?” My blood ran cold. I snatched their phone and opened the post. Only to find that the slideshow Daniel Harrison had posted showed that the so-called old men supporting me were my dad and my grandpa, and a “client” was my brother… The air was thick with awkward silence as the women quickly grabbed their phone and scurried away. I stood there stunned, unable to shake off the images I’d seen on the screen. The slideshow was stark and simple, filled with text and timelines, painting a picture of me as someone who loved to party, obsessed with money, devoid of morals, and willing to do anything for enough cash. The only person he’d blocked from seeing that post was me. I had been slandered, and by my boyfriend of six years, who I was about to marry. Before I could even text Daniel Harrison to confront him, his message popped up. “I’m taking Holly for a trip these two days. We can talk about the wedding later.” Holly Davies was a student he’d sponsored for four years. She’d just graduated college this year, and Daniel Harrison said he wanted to treat her to some experiences, which was why he hadn’t been home much lately. It wasn’t that I hadn’t argued. Holly was the reason we’d fought countless times. In the end, it always came down to a few standard lines: “Chloe, what do you want? Why do you have to see everyone in such a dark light? Holly’s a girl I sponsored; I just see her as a little sister.” “Can you stop being so jealous? I don’t know what’s wrong with you. She’s just a young girl, fresh out of college, frail and vulnerable, with no one to rely on. What’s wrong with me helping her out?” “Look at you, always moping around like a perpetual grump, no energy at all. I’m embarrassed to be seen with you. Why can’t you be more like Holly?” A pang of melancholy hit me. I couldn’t understand why someone I’d loved for six years had changed so drastically. I opened his social media profile. The slideshow wasn’t there. The top post was from three days ago, captioned “If it’s her, I’d go through hell and back,” with a picture of me, drunk, asleep on the couch from behind. Other than that, there was nothing else related to me. These past few days, I’d been swamped with wedding planning, barely breathing, with no time to check my phone, so I naturally hadn’t seen that post. Scrolling down, I saw only pictures of Holly. “Took her snowboarding. So clumsy, she kept holding onto me and couldn’t learn.” “Originally wanted to take her to Japan to see cherry blossoms, but the visa didn’t come through. Had to settle for a trip to [substitute for Wuhan, e.g., a lesser-known city known for something specific, or just a generic city] for now.” “Woke me up wanting lobster at midnight. My hands are still sore from peeling them for her, but at least she blew on them for me. Little rascal.” I felt a mix of absurdity and bitter amusement. Six years of a relationship, and I’d never appeared on his feed. The only post about me was one I had begged for, and even that was a disgusting caption. Turns out, Daniel Harrison wasn’t bad at posting. He was just bad at posting me. My phone screen went black automatically. I took a deep breath, pushing down my emotions, and prepared to go home and cancel the wedding. Pushing open the apartment door, the air was cold and empty. I looked around, hoping to see my familiar cat, but Muffin was nowhere in sight. Strange, why wasn’t Muffin here to greet me today? Feeling puzzled, I put down my bag, when suddenly, I heard movement from the bathroom. “Daniel, I got soaked! This cat is so annoying!” My heart tightened. I rushed over. Holly stood by the bathtub, looking delicately at Daniel Harrison, who was carefully drying her with a towel. They both looked up at me when they heard the commotion. “Oh, Chloe’s back.” Holly seemed to flinch, a hint of guilt on her face as she hid behind Daniel Harrison. I looked at the messy puddles on the floor, the cat hair clinging to the edge of the bathtub, and a terrible answer I didn’t want to believe formed in my mind. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I rushed forward and pushed them apart. In the bathtub, a small ginger cat floated motionlessly. It was my Muffin. Daniel Harrison steadied Holly, then turned to yell at me. “Are you crazy, pushing people around like that?! Are you blind? What if she got hurt?!” My eyes welled up. Looking at the man in front of me, he felt like a terrifying stranger. People really do change. “Daniel Harrison! Are you kidding me? That was our cat, the one we adopted together!” Holly’s eyes brimmed with tears. She bit her lip and tugged on Daniel Harrison’s arm. “Don’t yell at Chloe. It’s my fault for wanting to play with the cat, but I got scratched by accident. Daniel was just trying to get back at it for me… I’m so sorry, Chloe.” Daniel Harrison patted her head, seemingly to soothe her. “It’s not your fault. It’s just an animal. Don’t blame yourself.” They walked out of the bathroom hand in hand, leaving me standing there numbly. So, because Muffin accidentally scratched Holly, they drowned him. Six years of my life meant less than a girl he sponsored? Tears streamed down my face, and I collapsed onto the floor in agony. After tending to Muffin, I went back to my room, unable to accept what I had witnessed today. Opening the door, I found my nightstand drawers pulled open, things scattered everywhere. I didn’t even have to guess who had done it. I felt physically and emotionally drained, pushing myself to tidy up, when I noticed something familiar discarded in a corner. My mom passed away three years ago, and many of her things were gone, but that white T-shirt, a prize from my high school writing competition, she had kept. It was too big for me, so I’d left it for her to wear. She always wore that shirt, bragging to everyone that I was her amazing daughter. But now, the shirt was stained with blood, dirty patches making my eyes sting, and a massive anger flared inside me. Daniel Harrison walked in, frowned when he saw me standing still. “Didn’t you see the mess? Why aren’t you cleaning it up?” “Daniel Harrison, what happened to this shirt?” “Oh, Holly suddenly got her period and messed up the floor. I couldn’t find any tissues, so I just grabbed something to wipe it up quickly…” I slapped him across the face, my hand stinging from the immense pain. “Are you out of your mind?!” Daniel Harrison’s eyes widened, glaring at me furiously. “Yes, I am out of my mind! Daniel Harrison, how could you? That’s my mom’s last memento!” He seemed stunned, clutching his face, then he bit his lip and glanced at me. “I didn’t know… I’m sure it’ll wash out. Just wash it.” Wash it? Aside from whether it would wash out, this was my mother’s relic, something I had carefully preserved, and he used it to clean up period blood. I had told Daniel Harrison. Three years ago, after my mom passed, I carefully carried that shirt into the apartment, telling him it was my mom’s last keepsake, and I wanted to treasure it. So, had he forgotten? Or did he never remember? I knelt on the floor, carefully picking up the shirt and holding it close. A bitter ache rose in my nose, and tears dripped onto it. My voice trembled as I spoke. “Daniel Harrison, we’re over.” The air was silent for two seconds, then I heard his sneer. “Chloe Jensen, enough already. It’s just a shirt. You can buy another one. You were the one who chased me, and now that we’re finally getting married, you’re going to give up?” “Stop throwing a tantrum. Muffin really did scratch Holly today. Go get another cat, I’ll buy it for you.” I seemed to see the young man from years ago. We were sitting by the roadside, and a little ginger cat suddenly jumped into my arms. I sat frozen, and he laughed, calling me a robot, then he teased the kitten. That day passed slowly. I watched him smile brightly, the cat purring in my arms, the sunset painting the sky red, even his face flushed pink. “Chloe, let’s keep this little cat. It’s pretty cute. It’ll meow at the door when we get home from work.” Their figures blurred, but I couldn’t clearly see the person in front of me anymore. Daniel Harrison’s phone vibrated. He glanced down, then turned to leave. As he closed the door, his voice reached my ears. “Holly needs a rabies shot. She’s a bit scared, so I’m going to stay with her.” 3. I packed my bags and moved out of the apartment. Before closing the door, I took one last look at the entire room, only to realize how few traces of myself were left. At some point, the place had filled with Holly’s things instead. I guess I wasn’t that important. I moved back into the small house my mom left me, cleaned it, and fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up, I found my phone flooded with messages. A junior colleague I’d mentored had called me many times, and my chat box was lit up with 30+ new messages. “Chloe, Daniel posted something in the company chat, tell him to take it down!” “Chloe, I believe you, that can’t be true. I told them not to take it seriously, we’re all sending messages to push it up.” “Are you okay, Chloe??” The company’s general messaging group, which I had on do not disturb, also showed a gray icon with 99+ notifications. I gritted my teeth and clicked it open, scrolling all the way to the top, where I saw the video. In the video, I was shown embracing and holding hands with different men, getting into their cars. The accompanying text was sharp and malicious, claiming I had no self-respect. Although many people had kindly sent memes and messages to push the video out of view, there was still a lot of venom in between. “Daniel posted this video, right? What does this mean? Did he catch Chloe red-handed and cancel the wedding?” “Haha, Chloe acts so serious at work, but secretly she’s…?” “Wonder if she has anything, Daniel should be careful.” A wave of terror washed over me. I recognized the men in the video as my brother, my dad, and my grandpa. The video had been doctored to obscure the men’s faces, but my own face was perfectly clear. From yesterday’s slideshow to this video, the targeting of me was blatant. A new message popped up in the group chat. I steadied myself and saw it was from Daniel Harrison. “Chloe Jensen, I need you to give me an explanation. Otherwise, the wedding is off, and I’ll go to the media to expose you.” I clicked on his profile picture and saw that yesterday’s slideshow post was gone. Was it because fewer people saw it on his social media feed compared to the company chat, so he moved it? I burst into laughter, tears streaming down my face, feeling the world was absurd. Daniel Harrison had, of course, met my family members before. But he hadn’t recognized them in the video, simply believed someone else’s malicious words, and trusted them. Six years of a relationship, undone by a single whisper. Who could possibly hold such immense malice towards me? Anyone could guess it was Holly. The girl was young, but cunning. Every time she sent me a message to boast or insult me, she’d immediately deactivate her number and get a new one next time. I had told Daniel Harrison about it, but every time I called the number, it was disconnected. “Chloe Jensen, aren’t you disgusted with yourself? Now you’re slinging mud too. Not everyone is as calculating as you.” Holly’s gaze at me held defiance and the scorn of a victor. I blocked Daniel Harrison, tapped a quick message, and sent it to the group chat. “Of course the wedding is off, Daniel Harrison. We’re breaking up.” “The burden of proof is on you. If you genuinely have evidence that I’m involved with the people in that video, I don’t mind apologizing to you publicly. But I’ll warn you, the people in that video are my dad, my grandpa, and my brother.” “If you don’t have evidence to prove those claims, then I’ll see you in court. Both you and Holly will face the consequences.” After sending it, I left the group. Taking a deep breath, I opened my pinned chat, hesitated for a long time, then sent a message. “Liam, I want to come home.” “Also, pull your investment from Daniel Harrison’s company.”

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“No… stop… not there…” Inside the jam-packed commuter bus, I squeezed my thighs together, desperately resisting the man behind me whose hand was brazenly exploring beneath my skirt. My name is Alice, a newly married woman. I was accompanying my husband, Mark, back to his hometown for his younger brother’s wedding. After getting off the train, we rushed to the bus station and somehow managed to cram ourselves onto a bus packed like a can of sardines, only to be separated by the surging crowd. “Just hold on for a bit,” Mark gestured from half a bus length away. I felt uneasy in such a physically close space but had no choice. I pushed and shoved my way to a corner by the back door, trying to minimize contact with others. But before I could even get my balance, a large hand appeared from nowhere, pressing firmly against my backside. “Creep!” I froze instantly, my mind blank, rooted to the spot, afraid to move. It wasn’t my first encounter with a pervert, but never before had a stranger been so bold, so direct. Especially as the crowd continued to press in, the man behind me brazenly moved closer, gluing himself to my back and hips. Always confident in my figure, I usually favored thongs, believing they best showcased my curves. Today, I realized that was a mistake. As the bus swayed, my rounded hips, encased in a tight skirt, inevitably rubbed against the man’s body. I could distinctly feel a strange object slowly pushing between my full buttocks. He feels even stronger than Mark! The sudden thought shocked me. How could I possibly be thinking such a thing while being violated by a stranger? Embarrassed and anxious, I instinctively twisted my waist and hips, trying to escape, but no matter how I moved, the man’s pelvis stuck to me rhythmically, pushing and thrusting. What made my heart pound even more was the sudden appearance of hands around my waist, trying to lift my shirt and slide down into my skirt. Enough, please… stop. My body was rigid, my legs clamped together, as I tried to push him away by arching my hips back. But just then, the bus hit a deep pothole, bouncing violently. My legs were forced to part slightly, and the man’s finger hooked. “Mmmph…” A sensation I’d never experienced before, both sharp and oddly pleasurable, overwhelmed me, making it impossible to suppress a gasp. I nearly collapsed, my only clear sensation a violent trembling in my thighs that wouldn’t stop. And as if working against me, the bus began to sway and bump even more wildly. With every jolt, my body involuntarily tilted forward, pushing my butt out, and the man pressed into me from behind. The pose was almost as if I were actively inviting him. My rationality screamed at me to escape quickly, but my body was completely out of control, even seeming to enjoy it, not wanting him to stop. Is this… cheating? Feeling the man’s agile fingers, I bit my lower lip, my face flushed, and stared out at the passing scenery, afraid to confront the question. I don’t know how much time passed, but by the time the bus finally reached its destination, dusk had already begun to fall. I practically leaped off the bus, but hadn’t walked more than a few steps before my legs turned to jelly, and I nearly tripped. Luckily, Mark, who had caught up, steadied me. “Mark!” Just then, the roar of a motorcycle grew louder, pulling up beside us. The tall man riding it had dark skin and powerful, muscular arms. He flashed a perfect white-toothed grin at me. “Mark, this must be your wife?” Mark happily clapped him on the shoulder. “Duke! What are you doing here?” “The road ahead got washed out by the flood, still not repaired. Cars can’t get through, so Auntie sent me to pick you up.” Mark hadn’t ridden a motorcycle much since moving to the city. He circled Duke’s bike, touching it here and there. “New Yamaha? Cool!” Somehow, they decided that Mark would drive, I’d sit in the middle, and Duke would sit behind me. The handlebars were low, and the rear seat was quite high, so when I straddled the bike, clutching my skirt, my hips were inevitably tilted upwards. My skirt naturally rode up, exposing my entire pale, long legs, and even my thong was faintly visible. The skirt offered almost no coverage. “Hold on tight!” Once Duke was settled behind me, steadying me by my shoulders, Mark revved the engine. The motorcycle roared to life and shot forward like an arrow from a bow. Caught off guard, my entire body lurched backward, and my perky, rounded backside sank directly between Duke’s legs. The thin fabric was instantly pierced by the heat. I quickly hugged Mark, but from behind me, I heard Duke let out a suppressed grunt right by my ear. Mark continued to accelerate. Duke’s grip on my slender waist tightened, pressing harder and harder against my backside through the thin fabric. The wild ride finally slowed to a normal speed when we reached the main road. “Fun, huh?” Mark called out. “So fun!” Feeling the strong body pressing against my rear, I slid my hand inside Mark’s shirt, exploring up and down, and called back loudly. People are so strange. If this had been before, I never would have done something like this in front of another person. But after the incident on the bus, an indescribable thrill welled up inside me. I secretly arched my butt back a little more. And so, sandwiched between two men, I rode until the motorcycle stopped in front of the old family house. “Boom! Boom! Boom!” The sound of drums echoed through the village, each beat heavier than the last, igniting the whole village into a frenzy. In the distant town square, tables were already set for a feast. Alex, Mark’s younger brother, was leading his new bride, Sarah, around, distributing cigarettes and pouring drinks for guests. The atmosphere at the banquet grew livelier and livelier. Mark was quickly pulled away by childhood friends. When the village men saw me alone, they circled me, grinning, insistently offering me drinks. I couldn’t refuse. I drank more and more, my whole body warm and light, my waist as soft as noodles. I vaguely heard them complimenting my pale skin and large hips, saying how every man would want me. Finally, I couldn’t take their crude and direct jokes any longer. Ignoring their attempts to stop me, I slipped out from under one man’s arm, my chest heaving, and fled. Even when someone groped my butt in the chaos, I didn’t dare look back. Back at the old house, I immediately took off my skirt. Sure enough, I needed to change my underwear again. I closed the door, turned off the lights in both the main room and the back room, fetched a basin of water, and squatted to wash myself. “Creak…” Just then, I heard the sound of the outer door opening. Someone was here! I frantically pulled up my underwear, not daring to make a sound. If anyone saw me secretly washing myself, I’d die of embarrassment! “Huh?” It was Alex’s new wife, Sarah. She seemed surprised that the back room door was open. She peeked in, didn’t see me crouched in the corner, and then lowered her voice. “Nobody here. Come in.” The man outside grunted in response. I held my breath, vaguely guessing what was happening but still disbelieving, and cautiously peered out from the doorway of the back room. I saw Sarah slowly backing up, and the man followed, grabbing her by the waist. Sarah’s full body arched backward from the waist, her head tilted high, a slender, drawn-out moan escaping her lips. In the darkness, it sounded like a combination of something wanton and the thrilling secrecy of a forbidden tryst. She hooked her legs around the man’s waist, holding his head, giggling like a harlot. “You heartless animal! Getting the groom drunk on purpose just to steal his wife…” The man chuckled. “Wild thing! Your big butt shaking like that, didn’t you want me to take you?” I froze instantly, my heart pounding. The man was Duke. He was having an affair with the new bride?! Sarah panted, “Get lost, are you the only man in this whole village? What if I want to seduce someone else?” “Can anyone else satisfy you?” Duke shoved Sarah onto the bed in the main room, tearing at her clothes. Blurry dark and light figures rolled together, the rustle of fabric, the sound of ragged breaths, and the surreptitious atmosphere of their affair stretched the air in the room to a breaking point. “You animal, you’re like a beast…” My face was crimson with embarrassment. How could Sarah say such scandalous things? Unconsciously, I craned my neck to get a better look, but accidentally knocked against a bamboo drying rack with dried vegetables on it. CLANG! The noise startled the two lovers. “Who’s there?” Duke, without even pulling up his pants, burst into the back room and stood before me, his erection terrifyingly large. “You?” His eyes gleamed with a strange light. He turned to Sarah and ordered, “Go guard the door outside. I need to talk to Alice!” Sarah, completely at a loss, stumbled to pull on her clothes and obey. My hair was disheveled, my face burning with shame. I dared not look at Duke’s naked body. I tried to squeeze past him, but he wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me tightly. My heart hung in mid-air. I struggled in his embrace, my face flushed, gasping, “Let me go… I… I won’t say anything… just…” CRASH! The door was shut from the outside by Sarah. Duke spread his arms, effortlessly lifted me, and threw me onto the bed, pinning me down. “Ah!” Feeling Duke’s powerful muscles, I let out a small shriek. My head spun, and I struggled to breathe. “The only way I’ll believe you won’t tell is if everyone’s involved in this mess.” Duke grabbed my waist, lifted me easily, and flipped me over, trying to pull my skirt off. “No… stop…” He was hurting me slightly, making it hard to speak. I could only writhe my body, mouth agape, gasping for air. Just then, Duke’s hand slid under my skirt. Oh god! Oh god! I quickly grabbed his hand, squeezing my legs together. “Don’t… don’t touch me… let go!” “You’re acting all innocent now, but you’re just as eager.” Duke tore my skirt open, then used one arm to pin my hands behind my back, trapping me like a prisoner. “On the motorcycle today, your butt was practically begging for it, wasn’t it?” My secret desire exposed, my face burned so hot it felt like blood would burst through my skin. My hips thrashed in a frantic struggle, completely lost. Until he ripped my underwear off completely, leaving it tangled around my ankles… In that instant, countless possibilities flashed through my mind. If I fought back, would Duke kill me to keep me silent? The thought sent a jolt of panic through me, and I struggled frantically. But Duke’s nearly 200 pounds of weight on top of me made it impossible to run, even to breathe. “Help… me! Is anyone… here…” Duke realized that even with his hand over my mouth, I could still make noise. He changed his grip, clamping his thumb and forefinger around my mouth, the other fingers pinching my chin, preventing me from making any sound. “Mmph… mmph…” Duke’s grip was so tight that the sounds I made were completely unintelligible. But his position also gave me an opportunity to bite him. I bit down with all my strength. Blood seeped from the web between Duke’s thumb and forefinger. The metallic taste filled my mouth. Seizing the moment when Duke recoiled in pain, I kicked his knee and broke free from his grip. I lunged for the door. Sarah’s eyes widened. She stood in front of me, arms spread wide like a hen protecting her chicks. “Can you… not say anything?” I swallowed hard. “Outside, your wedding party is still in full swing. And you, the bride, are in here with another man. Are you not ashamed, Sarah?” Sarah bit her lower lip, not responding, only staring intently at me. “Just mind your own business. Pretend you didn’t see anything. Nothing happened.” “What if I decide to tell everyone?” I challenged. “Then you’ll stay here too,” Sarah replied. Stay here? What does that mean? I heard a sound behind me. Without daring to look back, I bolted towards the door. “If you dare to speak, I’ll take you right now!” Duke grabbed me from behind, tearing my outer shirt in a few swift motions. “You ruined my plans, and now you want to run? I’ll have you tonight, and then let’s see what you dare to say!” I knew that if I continued to struggle like this, I was doomed. I tried to fish my phone out of my pocket to call 911, but as soon as I pulled it out, it was knocked from my hand. In desperation, I screamed, “If you come any closer, I’ll kill myself right now!”

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When Liam Sterling first cheated, he dragged his mistress before me, eyes blazing, and declared I could do as I pleased with her. Back then, I loved him fiercely, so I forgave him this supposed “accidental lapse.” The second time he strayed, I sent the woman overseas, forbidding her to ever return. But on the night of our engagement party, Liam grabbed my throat, pressing a blade cold against my stomach, his eyes bloodshot as he demanded: “Where’s Chloe? She’s pregnant, do you know that?” “It’s my fault I couldn’t control myself. Take your anger out on me. Chloe’s just a young girl, she shouldn’t suffer for this. Please, I’m begging you, once the baby is born safely, I’ll never see her again.” “You’re afraid of the pain of childbirth, aren’t you? What if we just have this one child, the one in Chloe’s belly? I promise, the child will only recognize you as their mother; that’s my vow to you.” The blade pierced my skin, and blood welled around the cut. I looked at him, smiling faintly, and told him Chloe’s whereabouts. After he slammed the door and left, I fumbled for my phone, my hands trembling, and dialed a familiar number: “You were right this time. Can you still help me?” A string of curses came from the other end, the man’s voice laced with exasperation: “Why didn’t you say something sooner? I’m already out of the country, how can I help you now?” “Aubrey Hayes, I’m telling you, how can someone as smart as you fall for the same guy twice? Did you use all your emotional intelligence just to throw yourself at him?” I pressed hard against the wound on my abdomen, my voice growing increasingly bitter: “I’m sorry. I owe you this one. Next collaboration project, thirty percent off. Is that enough?” The man on the other end instantly perked up, his tone brightening with excitement: “Send me the time and location. I’ll be there, no doubt.” “Next time you have a ‘collaboration’ like this, remember to call me! Absolutely fair and square.” I sent the complete wedding plan to Jax. He quickly responded with an ‘OK’ emoji. The wedding suite, once meticulously prepared, was now a wreck, vandalized by Liam, much like my own shattered heart. After tending to my wound alone, I stumbled out of the villa. As soon as I checked into a hotel, Liam’s call came through. Despite the loud hum of the airplane engines, I still acutely picked up the suppressed fury in his voice: “Aubrey, I’m on a flight out of the country right now. I can’t be with you tonight, so get some rest. I was just too emotional earlier, I never meant to hurt you.” “Is the injury serious? Should I send my private doctor over to check on you—” “No need,” I cut him off coldly. Liam’s tone immediately dropped, growing sharper: “Aubrey, didn’t I tell you? Chloe and I were just an accident. Someone drugged me, and I mistook her for you. It’s happened, are you going to let a Sterling child be born overseas?” “You forgave me once before, didn’t you? Why are you being so unreasonable this time? The wedding is in a week. Just calm down tonight.” I stared at my chat history with Jax, and said coldly: “No need. I won’t marry you.” “Liam Sterling, I told you, I don’t tolerate infidelity.” I was about to hang up when he suddenly erupted: “Not marry me? What kind of joke is that? The engagement party’s done. The whole world knows the Sterlings and the Hayes are uniting. You’re saying this now? Using our alliance to threaten me?” “Aubrey, we grew up together. I know you better than anyone. Unless I was set up, I would never betray you!” “They say the third time’s the charm, and I’ve only made two mistakes. Once the child is born, I promise Chloe will never appear before you again. Isn’t that enough?” Tears suddenly welled up, and a bitter smile touched my lips: “So, what? You want me to look at the child you had with another woman every day, to remind myself of your mistakes every day?” “Liam Sterling, I can’t do it. I’m sorry.” The moment the words left my mouth, his enraged roar came from the other end: “Fine, remember what you said! Don’t you dare regret it!” “Which man of my status doesn’t have a mistress? I handed Chloe over to you to deal with; I’ve done all I can. If you can accept it, marry me. If you can’t, get out, and do whatever you want!” The call ended, and the glass of the floor-to-ceiling window mirrored my disheveled appearance. Suite 13520. It used to be his favorite meeting spot. He said it was filled with memories of our love. Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries… This room had practically become ours. But now, only I remembered those things. Liam broke the news of the broken engagement to my parents, and they immediately called to question me. “Aubrey, what happened? Liam said you want to call off the wedding?” “This isn’t a game, you can’t be so reckless.” I buried myself deep under the covers, my voice catching in my throat: “His mistress is pregnant.” “Which man doesn’t make mistakes? Just have it taken care of—” “I’m not calling off the wedding. I’m just changing grooms. You know him too, Jax Carter.” My father’s attempts to persuade me caught in his throat, and my mother gasped in astonishment: “Jax Carter? Aren’t you two sworn enemies? Have you forgotten when he almost set your hair on fire when you were kids?” I smiled, trying to keep my voice light: “Exactly. So I want to marry him. To torment him for a lifetime.” 2 Tossing and turning, the wound on my abdomen kept me awake all night. When morning broke, I contacted a real estate agent to sell the wedding villa. Returning to pack my things, I saw Liam’s private jet still parked on the lawn. Pushing open the door, my eyes fell on walls covered in warm photos. Only, the figures in the pictures weren’t me; they were Chloe Adams. The Arctic glaciers, the Eiffel Tower, the burnt-out Notre Dame. All the places we had once visited together, he had taken Chloe to see them all again. He used to say he hated taking pictures. Being in his position, who knew what reporters or rivals would do with his photos. No matter how much I begged or promised, we never had a single photo together. But now, Chloe was his exception. They stood together beneath the photo wall, Chloe caressing her barely noticeable bump, her smile bright. “Liam, when the baby’s born, let’s take them to these places, okay?” “They’ll love it, I’m sure! Feel, they’re kicking me already!” The sound of the door opening drew their attention. They turned and saw me. Chloe immediately dropped to her knees in front of me, embracing my waist, begging and apologizing. “Aubrey, it’s my fault. I didn’t keep my promise to stay overseas. Please don’t be mad at me, okay?” “I just love Liam too much… I swear, I’ll leave once the baby is born. I won’t be in your way…” Before I could speak, Liam scoffed. “No need to apologize to her. You were drugged too, and met me by accident. If anything, I’m the one who owes you.” He lifted his eyes and looked at me. “Aubrey, I’ve found out who drugged us. That company will be shut down within a month.” “Chloe is innocent, forced into a mistake. You shouldn’t blame her. I can overlook this incident; just apologize, and we can move past it.” I looked back at him, my gaze devoid of any emotion. It was just laughable. “Me apologize? Liam Sterling, have you lost your mind?” The next second, the hand on my waist tightened sharply, hitting my wound. I gasped in pain, cold sweat drenching me. I quickly pushed her away. I hadn’t used much force, but Chloe stumbled back and fell against a cabinet. “What do you think you’re doing!” Liam abruptly shoved me, and my forehead hit the doorframe hard. Blood immediately trickled out. “I think you’re the one who’s lost your mind!” “Chloe has already bowed to you, and I’ve explained everything. What more do you want?” “Apologize, or you can try me!” I clenched my jaw, swallowing a wave of humiliation, and enunciated each word: “No. Way.” “Apologize to your mistress? Liam Sterling, you must be dreaming!” “Unbelievable!” Liam’s eyes turned red with anger. He quickly scooped Chloe into his arms and carried her to the bedroom to rest. As he came out, he called all the villa staff. “Get the restraints. My fiancée is clearly delirious. Make her kneel on the grounds until she calms down! She’s not to get up without my permission!” 3 My eyes instantly turned bloodshot. I looked at him, disbelief flooding me. “Liam Sterling, you’re insane! She’s just a mistress, and you dare to treat me like this?” “This is my house!” “But I’m the man of the house.” Liam gave me a cold glance and said nothing more. The staff quickly dragged me outside. A long trail of blood stained the ground. The moment the villa gates closed, a sudden clap of thunder echoed in the clear sky. Then, the heavens opened, and a torrential downpour began. I was quickly soaked to the bone. Kneeling in the rain, the cuts on my forehead and abdomen began to burn. My consciousness slowly blurred. I looked at the supervising staff member, my voice weak to the extreme: “Let me go… please, call Liam over, please…” The staff member, observing me with a look of amusement, stood under the eaves, a mocking smile on their face. “Save it. I’ve seen enough of your pity parties.” “Mr. Sterling just called the private doctor. He’s busy tending to Ms. Adams’s injuries right now.” I strained my eyes upwards. Figures were faintly visible on the second-floor balcony. The next second, my vision went black, and I collapsed completely onto the ground. In my unconscious state, I heard the staff’s urgent shouts: “Oh no, Ms. Hayes has fainted!” “There’s blood on the ground! Quick, get the doctor to come here!” Familiar footsteps approached, and an umbrella was held over my head. Liam’s voice was unusually cold. “Had enough of acting?” “Anyone would think you were the pregnant one.” “Aubrey, it’s time you learned to control your temper. I’m doing this for your own good.” Footsteps receded. He and Chloe stood embracing under the eaves, looking in my direction. Chloe weakly nestled into his arms, her voice aggrieved: “Liam, Aubrey doesn’t seem to be faking. Are we being too harsh on her?” “After all, she’s your fiancée. If the Hayes family found out…” Liam’s face hardened. “I’ve worked my way up for years. I don’t need to be dictated by the Hayes family.” “She was being unreasonable first. Chloe, you still have eight months until the baby’s born. You can’t let her bully you constantly. Her temper needs to be reined in.” A flicker of triumph crossed Chloe’s eyes, quickly replaced by an innocent expression. “I heard that arranged marriages in elite families often lack emotion. Is it the same for you and Aubrey?” The relentless downpour mercilessly battered my pale face. For a moment, I felt as if my heart had stopped. The next second, Liam’s emotionless voice sounded beside my ear. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. Born into the Sterling family, a marriage alliance is my inescapable destiny. Since I have no choice, I can only accept it.” “Aubrey is beautiful, and innocent. Compared to other domineering heiresses, she was the best choice.” Tears streamed from the corners of my eyes, mixing with the mud. Liam looked at Chloe with doting affection, his eyes finally showing genuine emotion. “I thought I would live my entire life that way. Your appearance, Chloe, is a gift from above.” “Thank you, Chloe.” Each biting word pierced my heart. I couldn’t tell which hurt more, my body or my soul. The memories of our childhood together grew hazy. What I thought was innocent young love, what I believed was deeply rooted affection, turned out to be nothing but lies. How ridiculous that my only wish for twenty years of my life was to marry him. To help his career flourish and soar to great heights. The boy who, under the willow tree, broke off a branch to make me a crown, had truly faded into memory. My taut nerves suddenly snapped, and fresh blood began to gush from my abdomen. Liam finally noticed something was wrong and roared at the staff nearby: “What are you waiting for? Go check on her!” “If anything happens to Ms. Hayes, none of you will have a job!” 4 In my haze, my body was repeatedly shaken. Then, I was enveloped in a warm embrace. The familiar scent of pine wood seemed to take me back to when it was just the two of us. But when I opened my eyes, I had been moved into a guest room. Liam sat by the bed. His face was full of anger and coldness. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured?” “Aubrey, are you really that stubborn? When will you ever change your temper?” Ignoring his emotions, I turned my head to survey the room. It was shabby and disorganized, worse than the staff’s quarters. And who was staying in my original master bedroom was clear without a doubt. A cold smile touched my lips. I didn’t even glance at him. “My temper has nothing to do with you.” “The person you should be most concerned about right now is Chloe.” I propped myself up and tore off the gauze bandage from my abdomen. “Also, a reminder: this is my house. Please have your mistress move out as soon as possible.” Liam was completely enraged by my indifferent attitude. He immediately stood up and roared furiously: “Enough! Are you really that intolerant?” “I had Chloe move in because I wanted you two to look after each other, not for you to act so irrational!” “Forget it. Chloe still has eight months until the baby is due. You can use that time to calm down. When the child is born, I don’t want their mother to be a lunatic!” He threw down these words and left without looking back. I lifted the duvet; the wound on my knee had already been treated by the doctor. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. Everything I had suffered was thanks to him, and now he was trying to act like a good person? The laughter from downstairs continued. I took out my phone and lowered the villa’s asking price again. I didn’t want to see this painful place for another moment. That evening, the staff prepared a table full of food. Most of it was seafood, which Liam was allergic to. I stood on the second floor and watched for a moment, recalling how Liam used to order in restaurants, unwilling to compromise for me. It turned out love and not loving were so obvious. Returning to what was once the master bedroom, my original luggage had already been thrown out. That saved me some trouble, at least. After ordering a cab on my phone, I turned to leave. Chloe appeared in front of me, carrying a tray of food. She smiled sweetly. “Aubrey? What, are you here to see your room? Oh, sorry, Liam said the pregnant woman gets priority, so this room is mine now.” “If you’re looking for any trash, you might want to check the garbage bin. There’s nothing here, sorry.” What she called trash were the gifts Liam had once given me. A cold smile played on my lips as I looked at her. “Chloe, what you value as treasure isn’t necessarily treasure to me.” “I can let you have the house, and I can let you have the man. But remember, what’s taken by force will be taken by force. You weren’t his first woman, and you won’t be his last.” Chloe’s face hardened, and she deliberately smashed the food tray in her hands. “Who are you trying to fool? A worn-out plaything like you, only tough talk!” “I don’t need you to ‘let’ me have him. Liam will only choose me. Don’t believe it? Just watch!” With that, she suddenly shrieked, ran her hands through her long hair, and dashed towards the terrace, stumbling back and falling off the terrace. Only one arm was supporting her weight as the cold night wind whipped around her. Chloe cried more and more miserably. “Aubrey, why are you doing this to me?” Before I could react, Liam kicked the door open. He rushed forward in three strides, pulling Chloe up from outside and holding her tightly in his embrace. Turning back to me, he furiously slapped my face. “Aubrey, are you never going to stop?” Chloe hid in his arms, both hands clutching her stomach, her voice weak. “Aubrey, I’ve already apologized to you. Why can’t you just leave me alone?” “The baby is innocent. When the baby is born, I’m willing to atone with my life. Please, spare the Sterling family’s bloodline…” I frowned, about to speak. Liam said coldly: “Aubrey, kneel!” I looked at him in disbelief. “You suspect me?” Placing Chloe on the bed, Liam turned and walked towards me, his eyes full of ruthlessness. “Why shouldn’t I suspect you? First, you sent Chloe overseas, then you deliberately pushed her. This is the third time!” “Aubrey, how am I supposed to trust you?” The love I once held for him vanished in that moment. Without giving me a chance to explain, Liam carried Chloe and quickly left the villa. I tore down and burned the photos on the walls, one by one. At midnight, the real estate agent sent me a message. “Ms. Hayes, someone is willing to buy the house at full price, no discount needed. When are you available to sign the contract?” “Tomorrow.” I dismissed all the villa staff. For a whole week, Liam never showed up. Photos of him, secretly taken by passersby, occasionally surfaced from the hospital. He was either registering at the obstetrics and gynecology department or picking up medication for Chloe on the first floor. On the morning of the wedding, Liam drove the wedding car to the villa to pick me up. He opened the door and was met with a stranger’s face. His brow instantly furrowed. “Where’s Aubrey? Who are you?” His assistant rushed up behind him, breathless. “Mr. Sterling, you’ve made a mistake! Ms. Hayes already sold this house!” “Ms. Hayes is marrying into the Carters today!”

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Just because I wore Victoria’s Secret when we were intimate, my husband, Ethan, flew into a rage. “You tramp! Who told you to wear Chloe’s favorite brand? You think that’ll seduce me?” “Since you’ve forgotten the rules, I’ll teach you a lesson!” He ordered his men to rip my clothes off. He viciously carved “SLUT SUB” into my face. He even forced me to pay him a hundred million dollars as a “physical service fee.” To pay off the debt, I worked ten part-time jobs day and night, coughing up blood from exhaustion, but I didn’t dare stop. Ethan, however, found me disgraceful and had me suspended in a scalding steam cabinet day and night to repent. My critically ill mother cried her heart out, and in desperation, to save me, she unauthorizedly opened the steam cabinet. Unexpectedly, Ethan severed the tendons in her hands and feet and whipped her until she was covered in wounds. “That’ll teach you, you meddling old hag! If you can’t control your hands, then they’re useless!” Looking at my mother, a bloody mess, my heart shattered. I struggled to kowtow to him, apologizing, begging him for some money for medical expenses. Instead, he threw a massive claim for seven hundred million dollars at me: “You owe me seven hundred million, and you still dare to ask for more money! Absolutely shameless!” “That old hag’s life is worthless! Losing her hands and feet is her own damn fault!” “If I don’t get this money in 24 hours, I’ll send you and that old hag to hell together!” My heart felt like dead wood. By the time I crawled to the hospital with the money I got from selling a kidney, My mother was already lying in the cold, sterile morgue. At the same time, news of Ethan lavishly spending five billion dollars to set up a foundation for his mistress, Chloe, caused a nationwide sensation. I clutched my mother’s ashes tightly, tears streaming down my face. The pain of losing my mother couldn’t suppress the overwhelming, bone-deep hatred! 1 My hand trembled as I reached out, trying to touch my mother’s face. Horrifying, twisted scars crawled all over her face, making even her features difficult to recognize. The eyes that once gazed at me with love were now wide and empty, devoid of life. I collapsed to the floor, my hoarse cries mixed with the smell of blood. My heart felt like it had been ground into dust. The sound of the TV was particularly jarring. A few nurses gasped, their voices trembling with excitement: “A domineering CEO spending lavishly to win a smile from his beauty! What kind of epic love story is this!” “Handsome man, beautiful woman, childhood sweethearts – they’re a match made in heaven!” “A five-billion-dollar foundation! The romance of the rich is truly extravagant!” I clutched the crumpled bills in my pocket. This paltry sum couldn’t even buy the cheapest urn. In a suffocating despair, I shakily dialed Ethan’s number. After a long wait, his vicious curses erupted from the receiver: “Sarah, I told you to pay your debt, and you’re out there gallivanting? You’ve utterly disgraced me, and you dare to call me!” “I’m being generous by not having my bodyguards string you up and whip you! Don’t push your luck!” “You owe me seven hundred million! Transfer it immediately! Otherwise, I’ll make sure that old hag doesn’t live to see another night!” He always twisted things like this. Eight years of marriage, and I had long grown numb to such humiliation. But to give my mother a dignified farewell, I could only trample on my pride and beg humbly: “Ethan, just one last time, can you lend me a few thousand? My mom’s funer—” “Get lost!” He cut me off coldly: “Why don’t you just die, you pathetic mommy’s girl! An old whore gives birth to a little whore, always spreading your legs begging for money!” “One last time… This is my last warning to you: if you don’t pay up, it’ll be much worse than just broken bones and severed tendons!” The call was brutally disconnected. Gently closing my mother’s eyes, I slumped to the floor, completely breaking down in tears. Nearby, the nurses were still chattering excitedly. Through my tear-blurred vision, I saw Ethan and Chloe passionately kissing on the red carpet. In that moment, my heart turned completely cold! 2 I handed over the few hundred dollars I had left to the funeral home. I kowtowed until my skin was broken and raw, my knees ulcerated. Only then did they reluctantly agree to cremate my mother. But there was still no urn. Finally, a sympathetic staff member found me a battered cardboard box. The flames roared, incinerating everything to ash. Along with my last shred of attachment, it turned to dust. When I returned home with my mother’s ashes, dawn was breaking. The debauched atmosphere in the villa had not yet dissipated. Scattered, snagged stockings and lace bras hung over my wedding photo with Ethan. The lingering, filthy water stains seemed to mock my cowardice. The pain was so intense I almost suffocated, struggling to suppress the urge to wail. I stumbled into the study and found a yellowed old box. Inside, a jade pendant lay quietly. It was my mother’s only dowry. Now, it was her only remaining memento. When I got married, my mother gave the jade pendant to Ethan. But he despised it, finding the jade coarse and looking at it with disdain. I smiled sadly, pressing the wooden box and the ashes tightly to my chest. As if I were holding my mother. Just as I was about to leave, a sharp, familiar voice suddenly rang out. “What are you stealing? Hand it over, now!” Chloe, wearing a loose silk nightgown, was eyeing me with contempt. A fresh, glaringly red hickey adorned her collarbone. My gaze froze, my voice unconsciously hardening: “What’s it to you?” Chloe sneered: “Every blade of grass, every brick in this villa belongs to me. The cars, the money, even your CEO husband – he only wants to serve me!” “If I were you, I would have died of shame long ago!” Her tone was arrogant, filled with provocation and disdain. In the past, I would have gone mad, confronting Ethan. But now, I just wanted to lay my mother to rest properly. I numbly walked past her, towards the door. But Chloe suddenly lunged, kicking me hard in the lower back. She grabbed my hair, violently snatching the box away. She kicked the box, and it flew open. “You dead bitch, you think you’re worthy of touching my things!” The moment the lid popped open, the grayish-white ashes spewed out like a blizzard. “No!!” I let out a heart-wrenching scream, scrambling and crawling to gather the ashes. But a leather shoe stomped hard on my fingers. “Sarah, you look absolutely disgusting groveling like that!” Ethan’s undisguised disgust echoed from above me. My blood ran cold. I trembled with pain, but couldn’t make a sound. In front of me, Chloe clung to Ethan, complaining pitifully: “I was just worried sis took the wrong thing. I didn’t expect her to be so fierce with me.” “It’s my fault for speaking out of turn. After all, sis is the lady of this house. It’s only right for her to hit me…” Ethan snorted, picking up the scratched jade pendant from the box, his voice dripping with contempt: “Only a worthless piece of trash like you would go to such lengths to steal this garbage.” The next second. He smiled cruelly and slammed the jade pendant onto the floor. “Don’t!” My eyes were bloodshot as I screamed in despair. The jade pendant shattered into pieces, the fragments hitting me and drawing countless bloody scratches. I didn’t even feel it, frantically trying to pick up the broken pieces. Ethan grabbed my hair, forcing me to look at him: “Is a broken piece of jade worth risking your life for?” “This was mine to begin with!” I gritted my teeth, the hatred in my eyes almost burning through Ethan. “This is the last memento my mom left me! What right do you have to destroy it!” A flicker of surprise crossed Ethan’s eyes: “Memento?” I pushed his arm away, gathering the ashes and jade fragments together. I smiled miserably: “Thanks to you, my mom is dead!” 3 In the dead silence, I thought I would see a flicker of remorse or sadness on Ethan’s face. Even a tiny bit. Instead, he prodded the ashes on the floor with the toe of his shoe and sneered: “That old bitch is dead? What great news!” “Should I set off some fireworks to celebrate?” His mocking laughter was like a sharp knife, cutting my heart into a thousand pieces. My blood instantly surged backward, and my ears buzzed. Ethan, however, continued his baseless, cruel speculations: “That old bitch loved to put on a show when she was alive. She isn’t faking her death, is she?” “Where’s the body? Get a medical examiner to cut her open and see, just in case she comes back as a zombie!” A massive roar exploded in my head. My teeth chattered violently. The last glimmer of light in my heart finally extinguished completely. The man I had shared a bed with for eight years. Turned out to be such a venomous, despicable wolf! My mother was dead, and not only did he feel no guilt, he was even gloating about it. I lunged at him like a madwoman, grabbing his wrist, my voice so hoarse it was barely human: “My mom looked after you for eight whole years! For eight years, she treated you like her own son!” “What did she do wrong for you to insult her like this?!” “Ethan, you’re worse than an animal!” Before I could finish, a heavy slap landed on my face. “Shut up! Your mom’s biggest mistake was giving birth to a seductive slut like you!” “You and your mother ate my food, used my things! Even if she knelt and served me, it was what she deserved!” I clutched my bleeding lip, my cheek swollen and red. Beside us, Chloe, having enjoyed the show, finally offered a hypocritical apology: “Sorry, sis, I really didn’t know Auntie had passed.” “But she’s gone now. Cheap stuff like this is just trash if you keep it around!” With that, she suddenly snatched the remaining ashes from my arms. I burned with rage, lunging at her like a maniac. But Ethan kicked me hard in the stomach, making me vomit a mouthful of blood. The blood splattered on the white floor, a stark, tragic sight. Ethan, however, was busy shielding Chloe, his voice seething with anger: “Get away from her! You worthless slut!” “You dare bully Chloe? I think you’re looking to die!” I writhed on the floor, my vision completely blurring: “Ethan, let’s get a divorce!” “You want a divorce without paying your debt? You think you’re worthy?” Hearing this, Ethan’s lips curled into a smirk, looking at me as if I were a ridiculous clown: “Until you’ve paid off your debt, don’t even think about leaving the Blackwood estate!” I trembled, clutching my wounds, and with all my strength, reached for the fruit knife on the table. Ethan looked down at me, his eyes like he was looking at a pile of stinking mud. His gaze was laced with ice, so unfamiliar it made me shiver. I suddenly remembered that rainy night eight years ago. We were huddled in a damp basement, his eyes shining: “When we have money, I’ll buy you a big house, and let your mom live comfortably.” In the steam of instant ramen, his smile was so warm. How ridiculous. Just ten minutes ago, I actually still fantasized. That he would, for the sake of those eight years, feel some remorse for me and my mother. “Fine, I’ll pay you back right now!” I gripped the fruit knife tightly and, with savage force, plunged it into my abdomen. The sharp blade tore through flesh with a sickening thud. But it was nothing compared to the agonizing despair in my heart. Ten bleeding gashes bloomed open, and I staggered, collapsing to the floor. A sticky pool of blood spread beneath me, staining the floor red. I pulled back my bloodstained lips, smiling at him: “Is this enough?” Ethan’s pupils constricted, his voice trembling with disbelief: “Are you insane?!” “Don’t think this kind of self-pity act will make me forgive you!” The intense pain burned through my organs like wildfire, yet it couldn’t match the despair of my shattered heart. I slowly tightened my grip on the knife, my knuckles white from the force, and raised my hand again. My voice was calm, yet pierced with bone-chilling sorrow: “Not enough? Then I’ll pay you back with my life too!” Before the words left my mouth, I thrust the tip of the knife violently towards my neck! 4 Ethan lunged forward, snatching the knife from me and throwing it hard onto the floor. “Trying to pay your debt with death? I wouldn’t even look at your worthless life!” “Seven hundred million, not a penny less! Don’t you dare try to threaten me with your pathetic life!” Blood trickled down from his palm. Combined with his grim, furious expression, it was terrifying. Chloe cowered behind him, timidly tugging at his sleeve. Ethan quickly turned, comforting her softly. When he turned back to me, He suddenly kicked me hard in the shoulder, his voice vicious: “If you’re going to die, die far away! Don’t scare Chloe!” “Get out!” Blood soaked through my clothes. My face was deathly pale as I gathered the last of the ashes into the wooden box. Clutching my bleeding abdomen, I stumbled out the door: “I will pay back the money, and then we will divorce.” But Ethan reacted as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world: “You think you can survive without me?” “A worthless tramp who couldn’t even protect her own mother? You could lie naked on the street, and no one would want you! I’ll be waiting for you to come crawling back, begging me!” I didn’t respond, nor did I look back. Clutching the small box to my chest, I endured the excruciating pain and left this prison-like villa. As I closed the door, I heard Chloe’s feigned concern: “Will sis be okay?” Ethan scoffed, his tone disdainful: “Don’t worry. That kind of life-clinging, cowardly bitch values her life more than anything.” The cold wind whipped into my collar but couldn’t dispel the piercing laughter ringing in my ears. I bit down hard on my teeth until my mouth filled with the taste of rust. “I’m sorry, Mom… It’s all my fault for being useless…” I stumbled along. Finally, I reached my destination—the organ transplant center. The cold light of the operating table stung my eyes. I clutched the ashes in my arms, my consciousness slowly fading. Mom, I’m sorry I couldn’t take care of you. Let me use this broken body to send you on your final journey. … A few days later. The five-billion-dollar foundation finally officially began operations. As Ethan was showing Chloe around, a sharp pain suddenly exploded in his chest. He instinctively clutched his chest, his face turning deathly white. Chloe quickly grasped his cold hand, concerned: “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?” Ethan, rubbing his inexplicably tight chest, forced a smile: “It’s nothing, just had a nightmare, didn’t sleep well…” Before he could finish, last night’s nightmare flashed before his eyes. Sarah, covered in blood, raising a knife, her eyes staring at him, fierce and desperate. Ding— His phone notification sounded abruptly. Ethan’s heart leaped, his fingertips trembling as he pulled out his phone. A seven-hundred-million-dollar transfer notification lay silently on the screen.

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My fiancé, the man I was about to marry, suddenly dumped me. Not only did he refund every cent I’d ever spent on him, but he also got on his knees, bowing his head to the floor, begging me for us to go our separate ways and never see each other again. I was heartbroken. I moved into a new apartment and invited my colleagues over for a housewarming party. That night, everyone chatted happily, the atmosphere warm and friendly. But the next day, they looked at me as if they’d seen a ghost, avoiding me at all costs. They even quit their jobs en masse and blocked me on everything. All alone, I returned to my hometown, hoping for comfort from my family. I never expected that Cinder, the little dog I’d raised for ten years, would fall from our balcony and die overnight. My mom, who loved me more than anyone, had a sudden heart attack and left me forever. After Mom’s funeral, Dad waited until I was asleep, then, tears streaming down his face, he slit my wrists. As I was dying, I saw Dad kneel by my bed and plunge a knife into his own heart. What on earth had I done to become such a bringer of misfortune? When I get to the other side, I’m going to demand some answers! And yet, when I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my fiancé broke up with me.

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I’m a wellness specialist. Lately, a wealthy socialite has been coming to The Sanctuary Spa every day, always requesting me. My services, originally just foot massages, gradually expanded to full-body treatments. She’d lean into me, pliant and soft. “Alex, it’s only when I’m with you that I feel truly alive.” I’d smile and hold her close. “Me too.” But my eyes would drift to a hidden, subtly blinking red light directly across from the massage bed… 1 “Alex Hayes, client’s asking for you.” My colleague, Mikey, let out a low whistle, telling me I’d really hit the jackpot. Just a few months into this part-time gig and I’d landed a sugar mama. Young, beautiful, and most importantly, loaded. She’d topped up her spa card with a hundred grand without batting an eye. “This is, like, the eighth time she’s specifically asked for you, isn’t it? She’s clearly smitten. Just seal the deal, and your tuition… oh, wait, your whole damn future will be set, won’t it?” I nudged him away. “Cut it out, man. I’m not interested. Besides, she’s married. I’m not about to be a home-wrecker.” Room 108 was pretty much my permanent station. I tidied myself in the mirror, making sure my uniform smelled of the spa’s signature aromatherapy blend – a scent the woman seemed particularly fond of. Once everything was perfect, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. It was pitch black, no lights on. But I could faintly smell a fragrance that wasn’t mine. I knew exactly what that meant. I spoke softly. “Ms. Thorne, are you here?” In the darkness, my senses were heightened. A soft, warm breath ghosted against my neck. “Alex, I told you last time, don’t call me that.” Cassidy Thorne’s voice slithered around me like silk, making it impossible to resist. I pressed down on her unruly hand, swallowing hard. “Cassidy, Cassie, do you… do you still need my services today?” Cassidy suddenly pulled back half a step, and the room lights snapped on with a jarring flash, momentarily blinding me. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust, revealing that Cassidy was prepared today. Her makeup was striking, and a silk dress clung to her body, showcasing every curve. She looked annoyed. “Was I not clear enough last time?” Last time, just yesterday, while I was giving her a foot massage, Cassidy had dropped a heavy hint. She wanted me to quit this job, said she’d take care of me. As long as I was good and stayed by her side, she’d give me a house, a car, money—anything. Cassidy picked up her fallen shawl and wrapped it around herself, a hint of impatience in her movements. “Alex Hayes, you need to think this through. My patience has limits.” I looked up at her. “This is a reputable establishment, we don’t offer… other services.” Cassidy scoffed. “Then call your boss out. I want to cancel my card.” 2 The door swung open abruptly. Right, this was a legitimate place; we never fully closed the door when serving clients. My boss rushed in, frantically giving me the eye, then turning to Cassidy with a plastered-on smile. “Ms. Thorne, this kid’s still green. Please wait a moment, I’ll straighten him out.” My boss dragged me aside and immediately launched into a tirade. He said if I didn’t land Cassidy, I wouldn’t see a dime of my monthly salary. “I know you’re a college kid, proud and a bit shy, but with something like this, you’re not losing out, you know? Cassidy’s gorgeous. You get paid, and… well, it’s a win-win, isn’t it?” I still hesitated. “But she’s married…” “So what? Cassidy is a Thorne, the sole heir to one of the state’s most influential billionaire fortunes. Her husband, Bryce, is a lightweight, a kept man living off her family’s name. He wouldn’t dare do anything even if she had an affair.” My boss coerced, tempted, and wore me down, effectively tying me to Cassidy. “Alright, Alex will be with you today.” For a hundred grand, my boss practically sold me off, completely forgetting he ran a reputable, non-sexual wellness center, as he practically pushed us into the room. Cassidy glanced at me. “So unwilling? Fine, then.” She turned to leave, but I reached out, gently took her wrist, rubbing it subtly before pressing closer. “Cassie, it’s… it’s a bit messy here. Let’s… let’s go somewhere else.” The sprawling estate was impressive, its security no joke. Cassidy strolled in with me, right past the watchful eyes of the security detail. “From now on, this person is allowed in without question, got it?” Stepping inside, I was deeply moved. But the mansion was also filled with traces of two lives intertwined. Framed photos of the couple, radiating affection, made my stomach churn. “Are you sure it’s okay, bringing me to your home?” Cassidy leaned back on the sofa, looking utterly drained. “What’s there to be afraid of? My husband, Bryce?” Cassidy was the only daughter of one of the state’s richest men, beautiful, highly educated, and with such a powerful father. She’d taken over several family businesses right after turning eighteen, a multi-millionaire in her own right, quite a public figure. Her wedding day had made headlines, front-page news and dominating local social media trends. I knew her husband, Bryce Worthington, was her college sweetheart. After graduation, they both joined the family conglomerate. Bryce held an important position within the group, but I was just a college student with no connections. If he found out I’d been sleeping with his wife, he’d skin me alive. I looked down as her scarlet nails reached out, Cassidy tracing my jawline. Her eyes held a flicker of impatience. “You’re scared of him, but you’re not scared of me?” She had a point. The Thornes were the real power. Bryce, for all his bluster, was still just riding her coattails. I turned my hand to intertwine my fingers with hers, smiling faintly. “I’m only scared of you.” Cassidy seemed pleased, her gaze sweeping to the side. “Come closer. Why are you so far away?” 3 As evening deepened, Cassidy had lured me to her mansion, yet she no longer seemed as impatient as before. She simply sat beside me, putting a movie on the projector screen, asking me to watch it with her. Snack bags piled up one after another, and the floor became littered with crumpled tissues and empty wrappers. I wasn’t sure if it was intentional, but she’d chosen a horror film. Whenever a scary part came on, Cassidy would instinctively lunge into my arms. She’d pull my hand to half-cover her eyes, her lashes fluttering against my skin, sending my heart racing. With such soft warmth in my arms, I couldn’t resist leaning down and pressing a kiss to her lips. Slap. Before I could even taste her, a stinging slap snapped my head back, momentarily stunning me. Cassidy seemed surprised herself, pulling back slightly. “What’s the rush, big boy? Just watch a bit longer.” The force wasn’t particularly strong, but I rubbed my throbbing cheek, bewildered. Earning money was hard, but dealing with the whims of the ultra-rich felt impossible. She’d been all over me just moments ago, and now this sudden, inexplicable shift to some kind of chaste romance. But Cassidy was my meal ticket now, so I dared not say anything. I sat obediently, watching the screen as she’d instructed. We stayed like that until night had fully fallen, and my stomach had growled several times. The mansion’s staff, who had prepared a lavish spread, cautiously came to usher us. Only then did Cassidy, her expression devoid of emotion, issue her next command. “Let’s eat.” The mansion was vast, and the staff vanished after serving the meal. It was just Cassidy and me, seated at a long dining table, making the room feel cavernous and empty. I hesitated, then asked, “Mr. Worthington won’t be joining us today?” “Do you want him to?” I caught the hostility in Cassidy’s tone and quickly shook my head. “No, not at all. Just curious.” Cassidy suddenly curved her lips into a smile, reaching out to hook her arm around my neck, her breath soft against my ear. “Don’t worry. With me here, he wouldn’t dare do anything to you.” “Alex, just relax and eat with me first.” Cassidy had reverted to her familiar, alluring self from the spa. I relaxed, the food was sumptuous and delicious, and I ate my fill. Cassidy, claiming she needed to maintain her figure, stopped eating early, resting her hands on the table and watching me. Her eyes held a strange, lingering intensity, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling she wasn’t truly looking at me. 4 I put down my chopsticks. “I’m full.” Following Cassidy’s gaze outward, I saw a giant panoramic window. The lights inside were as bright as day, revealing the exterior clearly, though those outside couldn’t see in. “Eat more.” “I’m full…” Cassidy’s voice suddenly sharpened. “I said eat more!” Helpless, I picked up my chopsticks again, nudging some food around. My uncertainty grew; Cassidy’s behavior was utterly bizarre. She was so unpredictable. She claimed to be keeping me, yet she hadn’t made any overtly intimate moves. I put down my chopsticks again and stood up. “Forget it. I’m heading back to campus.” “Are you mad?” Cassidy reached out and pulled me back, swaying playfully and pouting. “Don’t be mad, Alex. I just thought, you need energy for other things, you know?” She quickly glanced out the window, then pressed herself intimately against me. “Since you’re full, let’s go upstairs. To my bedroom.” Upstairs, the master suite. From the moment we entered, Cassidy clung to me like a second skin. But it was impossible to ignore the massive wedding photo hanging prominently above the bed. Doing anything intimate under that photograph felt incredibly unsettling. I managed to pull myself away from her, just enough to speak. “Maybe we should take that down?” Cassidy looked displeased. “Why are you such a chicken?” She cupped my face in her hands, rising on her tiptoes to meet my gaze. “No need to be scared. I’m in charge in this house… Besides, he wouldn’t even care…” A flicker of understanding sparked in my mind, and I was about to say something, but her soft lips pressed against mine, driving away the words. Cassidy’s eyes were closed, but mine remained open, fixed on her flushed cheeks, red with emotion. Click. The bedroom lights snapped off. But directly opposite the bed, a faint, pulsating red light shimmered in the darkness.

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The moment I unlocked my phone, a notification popped up. 【BREAKING NEWS: Tech CEO Eleanor Vance and Husband Dazzle at Charity Gala, Donate Millions, and Can’t Keep Their Hands Off Each Other!】 But I distinctly remembered attending no such charity gala. A knot of confusion tightening in my gut, I tapped the link. In the video, my wife, usually a picture of cool composure, was walking the red carpet, her fingers tightly intertwined with her male assistant’s. Descending the steps, the assistant even swept her into a bridal carry, as if terrified she’d trip on her gown. Even the host couldn’t help but gush, “Mr. and Mrs. Vance are simply as smitten as newlyweds – truly enviable!” Eleanor, however, offered no explanation, just clutched her assistant’s hand and playfully flashed a peace sign at the camera. I stared at the screen, my heart sinking like a stone. Looks like Eleanor wants a new husband. 1 Overnight, Julian Clark, the assistant, became a viral sensation. That very evening, hundreds of thousands flooded his livestream, the comments section exploding with frantic messages: 【OMG, CEO’s Husband! What’s it like being married to the CEO? Spill the tea!】 【Ms. Vance is always so serious. Is she super cute and demure behind closed doors, like a little darling wife?】 【You must be new here! Company employees already leaked it: once, Ms. Vance’s husband came to pick her up, and she’d scamper over and practically melt into his arms, blushing furiously!】 【Wow! So how good was the hug?】 Julian’s face flushed as he nodded. “Very soft, very good to hold.” The comments instantly erupted: 【Oh my God, the CEO’s husband is actually shy! Is this what they mean by a ‘darling husband’?!】 【From today onwards, this couple is officially locked in for me!】 【Please, please, more gossip about Ms. Vance! She’s always got that Ice Queen face on. Her fans are starving!】 Last year, Eleanor Vance attended an international AI conference. A video of her speech went viral, making her an online phenomenon, admired for both her beauty and powerful presence – she became everyone’s “Ice Goddess.” To avoid excessive scrutiny of our private life, I rarely appeared in public with her. So why, this time, did she bring Julian Clark to the gala? Just as I was pondering this, Julian continued: “Ms. Vance might seem cold, but she’s surprisingly demure. She gives me a morning kiss every day and even makes breakfast. At noon, she’ll text to ask what I’ve eaten. And at night, she cooks dinner herself. Every day with her, I feel surrounded by love.” Someone piped up: 【Surrounded by love? That sounds a little suggestive!】 【Quick! Does Ms. Vance prefer a dominatrix outfit or a maid costume at night?!】 【Definitely a maid costume! The colder she is by day, the sweeter she is by night!】 Julian covered his face, “blushing” again. “She prefers to wear maid costumes to please me… Oh, don’t ask any more questions! It’s so embarrassing!” I gripped my phone, my knuckles white. At that very moment, a text from Eleanor popped up: 【Honey, the company’s doing a product test tonight. Might be home very late. Don’t wait up, go to bed first~】 Product test? More like wearing a maid costume on some other “husband’s” bed. Seeing Julian still vaguely flaunting their supposed affection, I left a comment directly in the livestream: 【Julian Clark, you’re just an assistant. What are you doing pretending to be the CEO’s husband?】 The screen instantly went silent. Then, a wave of furious comments crashed down on me: 【Who let this crazy dog loose? Mind your tongue!】 【Calling the CEO’s husband by his full name? Do you have a death wish?】 【I suggest you apologize, fast! Ms. Vance could trace your IP and find you in minutes!】 I scoffed, a cold sneer on my face, and revealed my identity: 【I am Eleanor Vance’s actual husband! Julian Clark, report to HR tomorrow to process your resignation!】 On screen, Julian’s face drained of color. A few seconds later, he abruptly ended the livestream. That night, Eleanor didn’t come home. 2 The next morning, I marched straight to the company. Eleanor, her face etched with exhaustion, immediately lit up when she saw me. She pulled me into her office, clinging to me, playfully whining, “Husband, why are you so early today? Missed me last night, didn’t you?” The images from the livestream flashed through my mind. I shoved her away. Just then, Julian Clark’s voice drifted from outside the door. “I’m going to take care of someone, then I’ll come back to settle things with you!” Julian saw me emerge and lowered his head. His eyes were swollen and red, clearly from a night of heavy weeping. Julian whispered, barely audible, “Mr. Hayes, you’re here?” “Let’s go to the conference room, I’ll explain everything to you there.” I crossed my arms over my chest, my voice booming. “Say whatever you have to say right here. Don’t give me that pathetic, innocent look, making people think I’m bullying you.” I added, “And who are you calling ‘Mr. Hayes’? Just call me Marcus.” Julian looked at Eleanor, his eyes brimming with tears. Eleanor, unflustered, began to explain for him. “Honey, you must have seen the charity gala video last night?” She offered a sweet smile. “It’s like this: I’ve been busy testing new products lately, and I forgot to tell the organizers you wouldn’t be attending. They’d already set up a spot for you and an interactive segment, so I just brought Julian instead. With so many cameras, I couldn’t let outsiders think there was trouble in paradise between us, could I?” No sooner had she finished explaining than the R&D manager rushed in, saying there was a slight glitch with the new product and Eleanor needed to check it out. Julian started to follow, but Eleanor stopped him. “My husband’s still mad. You better not come.” I didn’t beat around the bush. “Julian Clark, let’s talk about what happened on the livestream last night.” Julian’s face immediately drained of color, then flushed, looking utterly miserable. “Marcus, I had a little too much to drink last night, that’s why I spoke without thinking.” He stammered, “You know, my parents aren’t well, and my younger brother is getting married soon, so I need to get money for his wedding. My regular income isn’t enough to cover my family’s expenses, so I thought I’d try livestreaming to earn some extra cash. Yesterday, when I saw so many people in the livestream for the first time, I just… started running my mouth. Honestly, Eleanor and I have nothing going on. It was all just me making things up.” “I’ll upload a video after work clarifying my relationship with Eleanor and apologizing to you.” Julian suddenly dropped to his knees, begging. “Marcus, please don’t fire me! I really need this job.” Seeing I didn’t speak, he began to slap himself repeatedly. The office echoed with the sound of slaps. Julian was a scholarship student Eleanor sponsored. I knew his family’s situation all too well. Watching him slap his face until it was swollen and blood trickled from his lips, my heart softened. “Don’t entertain unrealistic fantasies, and don’t let there be a next time!” My voice hardened. “Otherwise, I, Marcus Hayes, will show no mercy!” I glanced toward the conference room. Eleanor’s expression was grim. It looked like she’d run into a thorny issue. I went home without a word. My best friend, Devon Blake, called, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Mr. Perfect Husband, I heard you went to the company today and made a scene? But you couldn’t bring yourself to deal with Eleanor, huh?” I snapped, “I’m letting her off the hook for now because she’s busy. Tonight, when she comes home, I’ll deal with her.” Devon’s tone sobered. “I heard the organizers didn’t actually expect you to show up. No one’s ever been able to convince a bigshot like you before.” My heart sank. This felt more complicated than it seemed. 3 Under the subdued lighting, I fell into deep thought. Eleanor and I had an arranged marriage, a strategic business alliance. While we had little emotional foundation before the wedding, after, she was shrewd and capable at work, and gentle and virtuous at home. What’s more, my wild, impractical ideas, she somehow understood. It was as if I had suddenly found a soulmate on my wavelength. Even more importantly, our chemistry in bed was explosive. Every night, for three hundred and sixty-five days a year, she’d anticipate my desires, exploring new ways to please me, always keeping things exciting. To give me complete security, she conscientiously maintained more than double the standard social distance from other men. A woman with perfect looks, a stunning figure, and outstanding capabilities – a true catch. It was hard not to be captivated. The door creaked open, and Eleanor quietly slipped in. She shed her outer clothes and burrowed into my embrace like a kitten. “Husband, I’m home.” Seeing I didn’t respond, she chuckled and playfully tapped my nose. “First time I’ve seen you jealous. You’re like a little tiger, all claws and snarls.” I hadn’t cooled down. “I’m no little tiger. Go to your ‘darling husband.’ Aren’t you afraid people will misunderstand and think you’re having an affair, coming to my place?” Eleanor let out a soft laugh. “Still mad at Julian? He’s just a naive boy who hasn’t seen much of the world. It’s normal for him to get a bit conceited with all that sudden attention. Look, he’s already posted a video clarifying things and apologizing. The comments are all trashing him now. Consider it payback for you.” Her eyes met mine, earnest and unwavering. “Husband, I swear to God, there’s absolutely nothing going on between Julian and me!” My heart softened. The Hayes and Vance families had been allied by marriage for years, their interests deeply intertwined and complex. What’s more, Eleanor came home almost every day, working hard to please me every night. I figured she wouldn’t have the time or energy to get physically involved with Julian. So, as long as she was willing to humble herself, I could give her an out. But then, Devon’s warning flashed in my mind, and my expression hardened. I cupped her face, my voice low and cautionary. “Eleanor Vance, you know I, Marcus Hayes, am a stickler for exclusivity. I never liked, nor would I tolerate, sharing what’s mine—people or possessions.” My gaze bore into hers. “The reason I agreed to marry you, beyond the family alliance, was because you were different from those other socialites. You were pure and untainted. If you ever got tainted, I’d find it utterly repulsive. So please, don’t force me to stop loving you.” Eleanor nodded. “Husband, I’ll always be yours and yours alone.” Then she pulled me down toward her. “Husband, how about I make amends in triplicate tonight?” I propped myself up with my elbow, keeping her at arm’s length. “Not so fast. I have a condition: Julian Clark has to be transferred!” “That’s just a word from the CEO’s husband, isn’t it?” she purred. 4 The next morning, Eleanor and I arrived at the company, hand in hand. I marched straight to HR. “Julian Clark lacks the necessary skills. Is there any suitable position for him?” The HR manager paused. “Marcus, we just had a cleaning lady resign.” I nodded. “Excellent. That position suits him well. Doesn’t require much brainpower, after all.” Minutes later, the HR manager loudly announced Julian Clark’s transfer. Amidst the whispers and knowing glances of the onlookers, Julian, fists clenched, stubbornly asked, “Marcus, according to labor law, a formal employee transfer requires a legitimate reason. Otherwise…” I scoffed, cutting him off. “New hires should start from the bottom, shouldn’t they? If you’re unwilling, that’s fine. Just pack your things and leave. There are plenty of people lining up, practically tripping over themselves to get in here.” Familiar footsteps echoed behind me. Julian, his eyes red-rimmed, looked at Eleanor. “Eleanor…” “Eleanor,” I prompted, “do you have any objections?” Eleanor smiled, serene as a summer breeze. “Such trivial people and matters… you decide.” At that, Julian seemed to lose all his strength. “Marcus,” he said, defeated, “I accept the assignment.” He then changed into a cleaner’s uniform and went off to scrub toilets. The onlookers began to whisper amongst themselves. “Ha, he finally got what he deserved! He used to walk around with his nose in the air, acting all superior because Eleanor favored him. Now he’s stuck scrubbing toilets.” “Should I go leave a real mess just to make him gag?” “Oh yes, absolutely! I still remember how he used to boss me around when he first started. I’m boiling with rage! We have to make him sick to his stomach!” I glanced at Eleanor from the corner of my eye. Seeing no reaction from her, a weight lifted from my heart. I clapped my hands and headed off to go racing with Devon. 5 The HR manager was a real go-getter, assigning Julian plenty of manual labor. Eleanor ignored it completely. A month passed peacefully, and our third wedding anniversary was approaching. I specifically dragged Devon to the mall to pick out a gift. From a distance, I saw Eleanor enter a watch store. “Your Eleanor’s something else, isn’t she?” Devon said, his voice full of admiration. “I heard she’s been swamped and stressed lately, but she still remembered your anniversary! Truly a five-star wife in our circle.” My heart swelled with joy listening to his praises. When I got home, I personally prepared a candlelight dinner and changed into Eleanor’s favorite doctor’s uniform, waiting for her to return. But as eight o’clock approached, Eleanor still hadn’t appeared. I called her, but at first, no one answered. Then, her phone was simply off. Eleanor never ignored my calls; no matter how important the matter, she would always answer and explain. My heart clenched. Nothing bad could have happened to her, could it? Frantic, I called Eleanor’s new assistant. He hesitated, stammering, and couldn’t clearly explain where Eleanor was or what she was doing. It wasn’t hard to guess. Eleanor wasn’t at the company, nor was she held up by any legitimate work matter or person. Unless it was Julian Clark. My heart sank. I silently enjoyed the elaborate candlelight dinner alone. Just as I finished the last piece of steak, the door suddenly burst open. Eleanor’s face was thunderous as she raged at me. “Marcus Hayes, I used to think you were merely spoiled, but now I see you’ve lost your humanity!” Her voice trembled with fury. “Julian misspoke, yes. He was subjected to online attacks, bullied by colleagues, demoted and had his salary cut to scrub toilets. He has already received his due punishment! Why do you refuse to let go of his family too? Do you want to drive them to their deaths before you’re satisfied?” She stared at me, her voice dripping with scorn. “Is it really that entertaining to toy with a powerless, no-name kid?” She saw me calmly sipping my red wine. Her anger intensified. She swept the dinner plates and wine bottles off the table with a violent swipe. Porcelain clattered sharply against the floor. Eleanor warned, “I advise you to be a good person! Don’t push my boundaries again!” With that, she stormed out. The space returned to silence. I searched online using a few keywords and quickly pinpointed Julian Clark’s newly created social media account. He was wearing an exquisite watch, flaunting it in a post. 【A one-year anniversary gift personally prepared for me by my amazing CEO!】 【My CEO also said she knows I’ve been through a lot of unhappy things recently, so she’s giving me a vacation to clear my head. She hopes when she sees me again, I’ll be her energetic little assistant once more.】 【Actually, I just want to tell her that a word of comfort from her would be enough.】 I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping me. Flaunting their relationship so openly? How could I not help him out? I forwarded the link to Devon. “Devon, get all your company’s influencer accounts moving. By tomorrow morning, I want this sweet story of boss and assistant to be viral across the entire internet.” Eleanor Vance, I told you long ago, I, Marcus Hayes, am no saint. Cross me, and there’s a price to pay!

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