Category: English

I watched my husband’s awards ceremony from the kitchen, the thud of my cleaver against pork ribs keeping a grim rhythm. The host asked him who he was most grateful for at this moment. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his voice smooth and cultured. “I want to thank my late wife, Evelyn. It was she who taught me the true soul of literature.” My hand faltered, the cleaver nearly slicing my finger. Bloody water from the ribs splattered onto my apron, like a rotted crimson flower. Eight years. I am the legal wife on his marriage certificate, the full-time caregiver for his paralyzed mother. But in his acceptance speech, I was nothing but air. 1 At seven that evening, Aidan Croft returned home with his star student and a few colleagues. The heat was cranked up high. They shed their heavy coats, revealing exquisite suits and evening dresses underneath. Aidan’s mother was having a good day. She sat in her wheelchair as he pushed her to the center of the living room to receive greetings from his students. “Your mother looks wonderful, Professor. You take such meticulous care of her.” “It’s true. With his wife having passed so early, it can’t be easy for the professor to manage his academic work and care for his elderly mother all alone.” Everyone was sighing over Aidan’s deep love and his difficult life. I emerged from the kitchen carrying a tureen of duck soup that had been simmering for three hours. The rich, savory steam filled the room. A young female student turned to me and smiled sweetly. “Ma’am, could you please bring two more sets of bowls and spoons? And a small dish for vinegar.” The living room fell silent for two seconds. No one corrected her. Aidan was pouring tea for that same student. Without even lifting his eyes, he said, “Go get them. And be quick about it.” In that instant, I felt like a half-evolved ape that had stumbled into a party of civilized human beings. I looked down at my own faded house clothes, at the plastic slippers stained with grease. I did look like the help. Worse than the help, actually. At least they earned an hourly wage. I only got a fixed five thousand a month for “household expenses.” I turned back to the kitchen, a sour bitterness rising in my throat like bile. When I returned with the bowls, Aidan was standing at the entrance to his study, lighting incense before a portrait of Evelyn. In the photo, Evelyn wore a black evening gown, seated at a piano, as elegant as a swan. I walked over to place the offering dishes. As I did, Aidan turned and bumped into me. Crash. A bowl of scalding hot duck soup tipped over, right on the edge of the memorial table. I knew how precious this space was to him. I instinctively threw my hand out to block the spill. The soup splashed everywhere, but a few drops still hit the bottom edge of the photo frame. “What are you doing?!” Aidan recoiled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and shoved me, hard. I stumbled back, hitting the doorframe. The back of my hand was already turning a fiery red from the burn. But Aidan didn’t even glance at me. He frantically pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping the photo frame with painstaking care, his movements as gentle as if he were caressing a lover’s face. “You clumsy oaf! Can’t you do anything right?” He glared back at me, his eyes fierce enough to eat me alive. “On a day as important as this, you just had to ruin it, didn’t you?” At that moment, the searing pain on my hand was nothing compared to the ice forming in my heart. The students exchanged uneasy glances. The one who had called me “ma’am” whispered, “The professor’s love for his late wife is so deep. He can’t even bear to see her photo damaged.” “Yes, it’s a love that transcends death.” And just like that, they were all praising this earth-shattering romance again. I clutched my swelling hand and retreated into the shadows of the corner. I watched the man I had served for eight years lavish his affection on a photograph of a dead woman. I watched these highly educated elites ignore the living, breathing person right in front of them. Suddenly, I felt like my entire eight years with him had been a joke. I was the Croft family’s maid, Aidan’s mother’s caregiver, everything but Aidan’s wife. The string I had kept taut for eight years finally, in that one single moment, snapped. I was done serving them. 2 I skipped dinner and went straight to my bedroom. It was less a bedroom and more a guest room converted from a storage closet. The master bedroom was where Aidan slept alone. Or rather, where he slept with the “memories” of Evelyn. He only ever graced my room when he had… needs. When he required me to fulfill my wifely duties. I looked at myself in the mirror. My face was sallow, fine lines webbing the corners of my eyes. My hair was as dry and brittle as straw. I didn’t look thirty-five. I could have passed for fifty. The girl who was once the prettiest in her town had withered into a weed. I remembered when I first came to the Croft house. The filth, the foul smells, and the handsome, helpless Aidan. His mother, paralyzed and bitter, had been abusive to every caregiver, driving them all away within three days. Then I came. And I stayed. I stayed because of the look of utter helplessness and pleading on his face when I first tried to quit. I stayed because of the undisguised joy in his eyes when I agreed to remain. Later, my family called, telling me to come home for an arranged marriage. I tried to resign again. Aidan had said to me, “A blind marriage is an irresponsible way to live. You know this family, and you know me. I’ll marry you.” Thinking of the deep love in his eyes when he looked at his late wife’s photo, some devil in me made me agree. Because I wanted him to look at me like that, too. I thought, if I waited long enough, he would. The house gradually quieted down as the guests left. Aidan pushed my door open. He was holding a plastic bag. “For you.” He tossed it onto the bed. It was a pair of knee braces. Wool. They looked thick and warm. My heart skipped. Was it because he saw my burned hand and felt guilty? Or was it because today was our wedding anniversary? He’d never remembered it before, but maybe subconsciously he wanted to be kind to me? For a fleeting second, a flicker of that stupid, womanly fantasy flared up. I reached for the knee braces, about to say something soft. Aidan loosened his tie, his tone cool. “Mom’s arthritis acts up this time of year. These are good quality. Make sure she wears them tonight.” “And try to be quicker when she calls you at night. Don’t let her wet the bed. The smell lingers in the house.” My outstretched hand froze in mid-air. I felt like a clown who’d just been slapped in front of a crowd. They weren’t for me. They were a tool for his mother. And I was just the person who operated the tool. “Also,” Aidan said, not even looking at me as he turned to leave, “you spilled that soup. Mop the floor again in the morning. Make sure there’s no smell. And don’t you ever touch Evelyn’s memorial table again.” I tried to smile, but my face twisted into something uglier than a sob. “Aidan.” I called his name. He stopped, turning back with a questioning look. “What is it?” “I want a divorce.” Four words. I said them quietly, but clearly. Aidan stared at me for a moment, then let out a short, dismissive laugh. He looked at me like I was a child throwing a tantrum. He pulled out his wallet and took out a thick wad of cash. Maybe two or three thousand dollars. He slapped it onto the nightstand. “Upset that the students mistook you for the help? Fine. Take this, buy some decent clothes. I’m tired. Don’t make trouble.” He walked out without a backward glance. I followed him. He didn’t go to the master bedroom. He went to the study. The door was slightly ajar. I never went in there alone. Even cleaning it required his permission. Through the crack, I saw Aidan sitting at the Steinway piano. It had been Evelyn’s favorite, I’d heard. His long fingers gently caressed the keys, his eyes so tender they could have dripped water, as if he were stroking his lover’s skin. It was a look I had never, not for a single second in eight years, received. He murmured to the empty air, “Evelyn, I won the award today. If only you were here…” I pushed the door open. Aidan’s head snapped around, the tenderness in his eyes instantly turning to shards of ice. “Who let you in here? Get out!” I looked at the gleaming black piano, then at the man who was supposedly my husband. “I’m serious. I want a divorce.” This time, Aidan didn’t even bother to turn his head. He pressed a key, a single, clear note ringing out. “Linda, I just transferred you this month’s household money yesterday. If you want more, just say so. Don’t resort to these cheap tactics.” In his eyes, every emotion I had could be converted into a dollar amount. I looked at his face, still so handsome and refined. A wave of nausea washed over me. It was more sickening than looking at a bedsheet soaked in piss and shit. “I am serious. We are getting divorced tomorrow.” I turned and closed the door, shutting the man who was drowning in memories of his dead wife inside his own tomb. 3 Two in the morning. A muffled thud came from his mother’s room. I shot up from my bed on pure instinct and rushed next door. I called for Aidan. His room was empty. He had probably gone to the cemetery in the middle of the night to visit his beloved late wife again. His mother was having a seizure. Her body convulsed like a fish out of water, white foam frothing at her lips, her eyes rolling back in her head. Turn her on her side, clear her airway, prevent her from biting her tongue, apply pressure to the philtrum. I had performed this routine for eight years. It was as familiar as breathing. Once she had calmed a little, I hoisted the 130-pound woman onto my back. I only weigh ninety pounds. But I carried her down three flights of stairs, step by agonizing step, my calves trembling. I called a cab and went straight to the hospital. I tried calling Aidan on the way. No answer. I had to send him a text. At the emergency room, I registered her, found a doctor, and wheeled her to get a CT scan. I was in my pajamas and slippers, my hair a mess, my clothes still stained with vomit. This was my life. “Where’s the family? Someone needs to go pay.” The doctor glanced at my attire, hesitating. “You’re… the caregiver, right? Can you contact a direct relative?” “I’m her…” “I’m her son!” The sound of hurried footsteps came from behind me. Aidan had finally arrived. He was in a crisp suit, his hair perfectly coiffed. I could even smell his cologne. It was called “Encounter,” supposedly Evelyn’s favorite. He, so refined and elegant, and I, so disheveled and pathetic, looked like we belonged to two different species. The doctor’s face immediately broke into a smile. “Ah, Professor Croft! You’re such a devoted son, rushing over in the middle of the night.” Aidan smiled modestly, a perfect picture of a cultured, scholarly gentleman. After the doctor left, he finally turned and saw me. The smile vanished, replaced by his usual look of reproach. “What happened? Why did she suddenly have an episode? Did you feed her the wrong thing for dinner? What kind of care are you providing?” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for everyone nearby to hear. That was his logic. If she was sick, it was my fault. If she was well, it was his devotion. I didn’t say a word. I just silently lifted his mother from the gurney to the hospital bed, adjusted her pillow, and pulled the covers over her. Aidan just stood there and watched. Since the day I’d moved in, he hadn’t done a single household chore. He hadn’t even poured his own mother a glass of water. Because, as he said, that was my job. The woman in the next bed couldn’t help but chime in. “Wow, this lady is amazing, so quick and capable. You must be the family’s caregiver, right? So professional. I wish I could find someone like you.” My hand, which was wiping his mother’s mouth, froze. Aidan paused. I just looked at him. Waiting. Hoping he would say, “This is my wife,” or at least just brush off the comment. But after three seconds of silence, Aidan nodded and said flatly, “Yes. She’s very professional.” Boom. The last thread of sanity in my mind snapped completely. Those three seconds of silence were a million times more cruel than his insults. They murdered the last shred of unrealistic hope I had for him. They murdered all eight years of my devotion. I threw the towel I was holding at him. “As of right now, I officially quit. You can take care of her yourself!” I turned and walked away. Aidan hissed at my back, “Linda! Have you lost your mind? This is a hospital!” I didn’t look back. I just walked faster. It wasn’t until I stepped out of the hospital doors and the cold wind hit my face that I realized it was covered in tears. But my heart felt lighter than it had in years. 4 Back at that so-called “home,” I started packing. I didn’t have much. A few changes of clothes, and almost nothing else that was truly mine. In his study, at the very bottom of a drawer, I found our “marriage agreement.” It wasn’t a marriage certificate. It was a lifetime indenture contract. It clearly stated: Party B (me) is responsible for all living needs of Party A’s mother. Party A (Aidan) will pay Party B a monthly living expense. During the marriage, Party B shall not interfere with Party A’s private space… I tore it to shreds. Next to it was a ledger. His expense journal for the past eight years. He was meticulous about bookkeeping; every expense was clearly recorded. I’d never paid it much attention before, but now, flipping through it was like being stabbed with every word. April 2018, maintenance for Evelyn’s gravesite. Note: Beloved Wife Fund, $5,000. June 2018, dental work for Linda. Note: Labor Maintenance Fee, $800. … So that’s what I was in his eyes. No different from the washing machine that needed repairs. Looking at entry after entry, I felt the blood in my veins run cold. My stomach churned, and I ran to the bathroom and dry-heaved for what felt like an eternity. I took off the winter coat he had given me and threw it on the floor, stomping on it. It had a small “E” embroidered on the label. E for Evelyn. I left behind everything he had labeled as “Labor Supplies” in his ledger. Including the plain gold ring that weighed barely two grams. He’d bought it for our wedding, saying he didn’t like extravagance, that simple was better. It turned out he didn’t dislike extravagance. He just disliked spending money on me. When I was done packing, all I had was a single, worn-out duffel bag. This was my eight years. The lock turned. Aidan was back. He frowned at the mess in the house, his eyes filled with displeasure. “Linda, have you made enough of a scene? Mom is still in the hospital. What are you doing back here? Clean this up and get back to the hospital!” I was still dressed in my cheap clothes, but for the first time, I stood up straight. I placed the now-bent gold ring on the coffee table with a soft clink. And then I smiled. It was the first time in eight years I had smiled so freely, so recklessly, in this house. “Professor Croft, your free maid, Linda, has officially resigned.” “Oh, and I threw that coat in the trash. Dead people’s things are bad luck. They give me the creeps.” Aidan’s face changed color, as if he’d been brutally slapped. “What did you say?” “I said, I’ll see you at City Hall at eight tomorrow morning. Also, since I’m a professional caregiver, you can wire me my eight years of back pay. Don’t even think about stiffing me. I’d hate to lose all respect for you.” With that, I ignored him, picked up my duffel bag, and strode across the still-damp soup stain on the floor.

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At a party, my fiancée Ava’s ex lost a stupid game. His penalty: pick someone of the opposite sex to act out their “wedding night.” Everyone watched as he walked straight to Ava. “Ava,” he said with fake sincerity, “I heard you’re getting engaged. Let me have one last perfect memory with you. Please?” Ava’s eyes softened—that lovesick look I hated—and she began to stand. I tossed the engagement ring onto the table. It clattered, silencing the room. “Choose carefully,” I said, my voice low. “Him, or the entire Chen family fortune.” Ava froze. Her ex, Leo, glared at me. “It’s just a game. What’s your problem?” he sneered. “Not even married and this possessive? You’ll probably cage her later.” She believed him. Turning to me with contempt, she said, “It’s a joke, John. This is the 21st century. Drop the patriarchal act.” I watched quietly as they disappeared into the private lounge. Then I called my contact. “If she treats our marriage like a game,” I said, “then the Chen family’s easy ride ends now.” 1. Ava emerged from the lounge, her clothes disheveled, just as I ended the call. Her lipstick was smudged, a faint trace of blood on her lower lip that spoke of a frantic, passionate struggle. Our eyes met, and she flinched. A moment later, her familiar perfume filled the air as she walked toward me. “John, it was just a game. Leo had to pick someone, and he chose me. Don’t be so sensitive.” My gaze drifted to her neck, and she instinctively turned away. “We… we just went through the motions. It’s a mosquito bite.” “A mosquito bite?” I scoffed. “Must be a whole swarm of them in there. They seem to have left their stamps all over your neck.” Ava’s lip trembled. “Stop being such a sarcastic asshole! Leo doesn’t know the other girls here. I was just helping him out as a friend. What’s the big deal?” Before she could continue, Leo sauntered out of the room, buttoning his shirt. “It was just a game, Mr. Astor,” he said with a smug grin. “If you’re worried, just have Ava take a morning-after pill.” He held a small box out to me, his eyes gleaming with provocation. “It is a shame, though,” he added, his voice dropping. “The pill can be rough on a woman’s body.” Ava snatched the box from his hand, her eyes flashing with disgust as she looked at me. “Why would he care about my health? He only cares about the precious little membrane down there. Fine! I’ll go to a clinic tomorrow and have it surgically replaced, how’s that?” Leo’s laughter filled the suite. He was triumphant. The other guests, seeing my cold silence, started looking at me with disdain, as if I were the one in the wrong. Looking at Ava’s defiant face, I felt like I was seeing a stranger. Five years ago, she had knelt before me, begging me to pay for her college tuition so she could escape her misogynistic family. “Mr. Astor,” she’d cried, “I’ll do anything you ask, just please help me get my education.” At the time, my family was pushing an endless parade of socialites on me for an arranged marriage. She became my convenient excuse, a shield. But over time, I fell for her. I fell hard. I poured millions into her dream of becoming an actress, pulling every string I had to shield her from the filth of the industry and propel her to A-list stardom. She dared to pull a stunt like this with Leo because she was sure I’d clean up her mess, just like I always had. I had given her everything. This was how she repaid me. “We’re not even engaged yet, John,” she snapped, seeing the look on my face. “I’ll take the pill, I’ll get the surgery, whatever. Stop looking at me like you’re at a funeral. You’re killing the mood.” The arrogance rolled off her in waves. I ignored her and answered a call. She ripped the phone from my hand and smashed it on the floor. The screen spiderwebbed into a thousand pieces. My eye twitched. “Our engagement party is in one week,” she hissed. “It’s being live-streamed globally. The whole world sees us as the perfect couple. Are you really going to start drama with me now?” “The perfect couple?” I sneered, my eyes flicking from Leo back to her. “Did you think about that when you were getting off with him in the other room?” Ava winced, hating that I’d said it so bluntly. “It was just a game, you—” “Enough.” I cut her off and took a sip of my wine. “The Astor family doesn’t need a wife who entertains old lovers on the side.” Her face flushed with rage. Before she could retort, the door opened. Her agent stood there, looking panicked. “Mr. Astor, I’m so sorry, Ava has a last-minute magazine shoot—” His eyes landed on the love bites covering her neck, and his pupils shrank. He fumbled in his bag for a compact and rushed forward, his hands shaking as he tried to cover the marks. “Mr. Astor,” he pleaded, his voice cracking, “I know you and Ava are getting engaged, but… but she can’t take this kind of abuse. I don’t know if I can even cover this up…” “What does he have to do with it?” Leo shoved the agent aside, then wrapped a possessive arm around Ava’s waist. “I’m Ava’s first love. Who the hell is John Astor?” The agent’s face went slack with shock. Ava, however, didn’t seem to care. “You can go,” she said to her agent. “I’ll—” Leo cut her off by kissing her, hard. “Baby,” he purred, “why is your agent a man? It makes me jealous.” He looked at me, his voice high with victory. “Mr. Astor, you seem to enjoy pairing your fiancée up with other men. Maybe you secretly wanted her to get seduced, just so you could play the victim? Tsk, tsk.” SMACK! The agent, trembling with rage, slapped Leo across the face. I had hand-picked this man for Ava; he knew better than anyone that her entire career was a gift from me. Ava gasped and cradled Leo’s face, then turned on the agent with murder in her eyes. “You dare touch him? Do you have a death wish?” The sight of them made me sick. I set down my glass. “That’s enough,” I said calmly to the agent. “Don’t dirty your hands.” “Are you doing this on purpose, John?” Ava shrieked. “Apologize to Leo! Now!” Leo. She was already calling him by his first name. “You think you can get away with this?” Leo clutched his cheek, his face a mask of fury as he pointed at me. “Fine! See if I don’t ruin your precious engagement party!” He stormed out, slamming the door behind him. 2. The moment Leo was gone, Ava grabbed a heavy glass ashtray from the table and hurled it at my head. “John Astor, if anything happens to Leo, I will kill you!” I stared into her hate-filled eyes, a cold knot tightening in my stomach. This was the woman I had loved for five years. All my devotion, all my sacrifice, meant nothing next to her first love. Blood trickled down my forehead. Between the blood and the shattered phone on the floor, I felt every last feeling I had for her die. The agent shakily offered me his phone. “Mr… Mr. Astor, the paparazzi got shots of Miss Chen running out after Mr. Carter. What should we do?” I glanced at the screen. “What does it have to do with me?” This time, I wasn’t cleaning up her mess. When I arrived home, I found Ava and her father sitting in my living room. “John, my boy,” her father began, his smile oily. “I heard you and my Ava had a little spat?” I calmly placed the diamond ring on the coffee table. “We didn’t have a spat,” I said. “I’m informing her that the engagement is canceled.” Her father’s smile vanished. He staggered back a step. “But… marriage isn’t a child’s game! Did you see those headlines about Ava? It’s all lies! My daughter would never do such a thing.” I looked at Ava with cold contempt. “Your daughter has already found herself a new sugar daddy.” Her father stared at her. “What is he talking about?” Seeing her silent, I let out another humorless laugh. “Why are you playing mute now? Or should I help you two lovebirds find a way to be together? Your daughter screws her ex-lover in front of her fiancé. Since you’re so madly in love, who am I to stand in your way?” Ava’s face darkened with anger. “Is that all you can do, John? Make sarcastic remarks? Who the hell do you think you are?” Five years ago, she knelt at my feet, desperate to escape her family and make something of herself. I was captivated by the fire in her stubborn eyes. I thought, over time, that my love could soften that fire into warmth. For five years, I lifted her up, building an entire kingdom for her in the entertainment world. I finally understood. Some people’s hearts are made of stone. I had handed her my world on a platter, and in return, she just found new ways to stomp on it. “Mr. Astor, this was all her doing! It has nothing to do with the Chen family!” her father blurted, just as I knew he would. He knew exactly which side his bread was buttered on. “Please, she’s young and foolish. Give her one more chance…” He wasn’t about to give back all the benefits my family had bestowed upon his. “That’s enough, Dad,” Ava interrupted, grabbing my arm and pulling me into the bedroom, locking the door. “John, it was one stupid mistake. Was it really necessary to have me crucified online? Are you trying to get me canceled?” What? She thought I was the one who leaked the story to the press? The audacity was breathtaking. I had to laugh. “You created this disaster. What does it have to do with me?” “Who else would dare post negative stories about me if not for you?” I raised an eyebrow. “So, you do know that you only have a clean record because of me? Then what are you to me now? Why should I be responsible for cleaning up the messes you make?” The color drained from her face. Just then, her phone rang, saving her from having to answer. “Hello? Leo… what?! I’ll be right there!” Her eyes shot to me, filled with a renewed hatred. “Calm down! The only person I’ve ever wanted to marry is you!” She hung up, ripped the engagement ring I had given her off her finger, and threw it at my face with all her might. The sharp edge of the diamond sliced across my cheek, leaving a deep, bloody gash. Her eyes were red with panic. “John, Leo is threatening to jump off a building because of our engagement! If you have any decency left, you’ll let him go!” 3. I watched her sprint out the door, and I found the situation absurdly funny. So, she could feel panic. She could lose control over someone. A sharp pain lanced through my chest, and my throat felt tight. I held the ring up in front of her father’s face. “As you can see, she has agreed to cancel the engagement. Please leave.” He started to protest, but when I told him I would sever all business ties with his company if he didn’t leave immediately, he turned and fled without another word. The next morning, I found a small digital camera on my doorstep. I recognized it as Ava’s. My curiosity got the better of me, and I picked it up. The moment I pressed play, the screen filled with a sickening image of blood and matted fur. I recognized him instantly. It was the puppy my mother had given me before she died. The last living piece of her I had left. The video showed my sweet, gentle Lucky howling in agony, his once-white fur stained crimson. My heart felt like it was being shredded. Blood roared in my ears. With trembling hands, I dialed Ava’s number. “Ava, where is Lucky?! What did you do to him?!” Her voice was dismissive. “What? Don’t you like the gift I sent you?” I forced myself to stay calm. “Where. Is. Lucky?” A cold laugh echoed down the line. “So you do have feelings. What a shame I can’t see your face right now. It must be hilarious.” “Ava, you better pray that dog is alive,” I growled, “or I will make you wish you were never born!” She cackled as if I’d told the funniest joke in the world. “You still think you’re the king of New York? You think I’m scared of you anymore? Let me tell you, John, this is what you get for messing with Leo!” My face was a grim mask as I told my assistant to drive me to the Chen residence. He stood there, hesitating, a worried look on his face. “Spit it out,” I said, rubbing my temples. “Miss Sterling called earlier,” he said quietly. “She hopes you won’t do anything rash. She wants you to reconsider the engagement.” “The Astor and Sterling families are the two biggest players in this city. A merger through marriage is the logical choice. What’s her issue with it?” The assistant paused. “Perhaps… Miss Sterling doesn’t want a marriage based purely on business. You know she’s been in love with you for a long time. She thinks you should look at people other than Miss Chen.” I sighed. “Tell her I’ll think about it.” The next sound I heard was the deafening screech of tires. A massive truck, seemingly out of control, slammed into us from the side. CRUNCH! Our car was thrown several meters, rolling over once before coming to a stop. The taste of blood filled my mouth. My vision swam. The agony racking my body was so intense I nearly passed out. Through the shattered windshield, I saw Leo walking towards me, carrying a bundle of red. A faint, dying whimper told me it was Lucky. “Little bastard’s tough,” Leo sneered. “Still breathing after all that.” Lucky! I tried to move, to get out, but my legs were pinned. Every movement sent waves of excruciating pain through me. “Let him go…” I gasped. “Let him go?” Leo laughed. He stomped on the hand I’d managed to stretch out of the broken window, grinding it into the asphalt. “You clung to Ava for five years. Why didn’t you let us go?” He lifted his arm and brutally slammed Lucky onto the ground. The little dog let out a choked cry and went limp, a broken heap of fur and blood. “LEO!” I roared, my vision turning red, blood spilling from my lips. “That was my mother’s—” “I don’t care if it belonged to God himself!” he spat. He crouched down and wrapped his hands around my neck, squeezing with all his might. “You think Ava ever loved you? You were her ATM! A walking wallet! The only person she will ever marry is me!” His excitement grew with every word. “You’re just a pathetic loser who licked her boots! A piece of trash! Your money, your family, it was all just a stepping stone for our love!” “John, you love her so much, right? Then die for her today!” His eyes shone with a feverish glee. He picked up a brick from the debris on the road and raised it high above my head.

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I am the sole heiress of the Sterling dynasty, yet my greatest flaw, apparently, is being a woman. Everyone said the three wards my father selected and raised—my potential suitors—were the true successors. Yet, they never once looked at me with anything other than indifference. I flirted with Ethan Cole a hundred times, only to be met with countless looks of disdain. I thought he was just cold to all women, until I saw him holding the hands of the housekeeper’s daughter, Mia Banks, swearing an oath: “I only agreed to the engagement to repay the Sterling family for raising me. Once I take control of the company, I will marry you with all the glory you deserve. As long as Serena doesn’t hurt you, I’ll give her a few million to go live her life abroad.” “You are the only wife in my heart.” On the eve of the shareholders’ meeting, my father asked me to make my choice. I thought of the evasive eyes of those three men and smiled: “I’m a Sterling, after all. Marriage should be about maximizing benefits.” “I choose Adrian Hale of the Hale dynasty.” My father frowned deeply. “Adrian Hale was paralyzed in a car accident five years ago. He’s not only disabled but rumored to be incapable of intimacy. Are you sure?” …… 1 My tone was soft but firm. “In our social class, true love is a fairy tale. Since it’s all about interests, naturally, I should choose the Hale family, who offer the greatest advantage.” My father’s face was grave. “That may be true, but the three young men I raised for you… did none of them catch your eye?” Father loved Mother deeply, but she passed away from a sudden brain aneurysm the year I was born. He couldn’t bear to remarry, yet he couldn’t rest easy leaving the colossal Sterling empire in the hands of a daughter. Taking a friend’s advice, Father adopted three orphaned boys. He wrote his will early: whichever one I chose would rule the company alongside me, suppressing the other board members. Father loved me, but that didn’t conflict with his belief that a woman couldn’t hold up the sky of the Sterling empire alone. I looked at him. “Although Adrian is paralyzed and supposedly impotent, modern medicine is advanced. I can have his heir through IVF. He is the sole heir to the Hale fortune. Rather than choosing an orphan to help the Sterlings, I’d prefer a powerful ally.” Father nodded slowly. “Since those three didn’t have the skill to keep your heart, there’s no need for them to stay at Sterling Industries.” If I merely said Ethan didn’t love me, Father would have forced Ethan to his knees, questioning what right an adopted son had to refuse me. I didn’t want Father to use years of gratitude to kidnap Ethan morally, nor did I want to force a loveless marriage. Besides, Ethan’s words had already frozen my heart. A clean break was the greatest mercy I could offer. As we walked out of the office, Father shot a sideways glance at Ethan. After Ethan dutifully saw Father off, he turned to frown at me, his eyes filled with disgust. “What did you tattle about this time?” I hadn’t even spoken when Caleb Reed, standing nearby, scoffed. “Isn’t it obvious? Probably complaining that we didn’t play with her or pamper her.” Leo Pierce, the third of them, looked at me with undisguised contempt. “Serena Sterling, the era of royalty is over. Do you really think having money makes you a princess who the world must revolve around?” The three of them stood united, using sharp words to pierce me. I was genuinely puzzled. “If none of you wanted to marry me, why did you never tell my father?” Father had groomed them, yes, but he never forced them. If they had said “no,” Father would have given them a sum of money and sent them abroad to live freely. In the end, they just couldn’t let go of the wealth behind the Sterling name. Leo, the most temperamental, clicked his tongue impatiently. “Easy for you to say. You know we’re living under someone else’s roof. We’re practically dogs raised by the Sterlings. What right did we have to refuse?” Ethan looked at me with a grim expression. “If you’re going to choose me, just get it over with. I only hope you won’t make life difficult for Leo and Caleb.” 2 Hearing this, Leo and Caleb looked visibly moved. Watching Ethan’s expression of self-sacrificing martyrdom, I felt nothing but bitterness. Before I could speak, Mia Banks suddenly appeared. The moment she saw me, she shrank behind Ethan as if terrified. Ethan instinctively shielded Mia. “She didn’t do anything. Just let her go today.” I looked at them in confusion, realizing that the three men who were supposed to protect me were now forming a human wall around Mia, terrified I would bully her. Five years ago, when Mia first came to the estate, she gave me a hair clip. I reciprocated with a bracelet worth a hundred thousand dollars as a welcome gift. But the moment I opened the jewelry box, Ethan snatched it away. He shouted, “You’re trying to take the only keepsake her mother left her?” I looked at Mia, wanting her to explain that she had given it to me voluntarily. Instead, Mia suddenly burst into tears. “It wasn’t Miss Serena who took it… I gave it to her voluntarily.” “Miss Serena is very good to me. She even gave me a bracelet. I’m really not aggrieved.” She cried so pitifully that the three men, reminded of their own status as orphans, saw red. They questioned me with righteous indignation: “Even if you’re the Sterling heiress, you have no right to force someone to give up their mother’s legacy!” “The hair clip might be cheap, but its meaning is far greater than this expensive bracelet. Give it back to Mia!” “You’re as domineering as ever, only caring about your own happiness.” My face fell. Thinking it was a misunderstanding, I suppressed my anger and handed the clip back to Mia. But when she reached for it, she didn’t hold it firmly. The clip fell and shattered. She bit her lip and screamed at me: “If you’d rather destroy it than return it to me, why put on this show?” Ethan, who hated seeing the weak bullied, threatened me coldly: “Apologize to Mia right now, or don’t blame me for calling off the engagement!” Back then, I had already confessed to Ethan, telling him I wouldn’t marry anyone else. Ethan used that against me, forcing me to bow my head to Mia. I was too young and too afraid of losing the love of my life to defend myself. So I apologized. And that apology lasted for five full years. Since then, whenever Mia saw me, she acted like a mouse meeting a cat—either trembling in fear or bursting into tears. 3 But I hadn’t done anything… I looked at Ethan coldly. “If you’re so afraid I’ll bully Mia, maybe you should tie her to your belt.” Ethan frowned at my sarcasm. “Are you threatening me? What do you want to do to Mia?” Leo clapped his hands, pointing at me. “Is it because we gave the ‘Ocean of Stars’ to Mia? Are you planning to use that as an excuse to torture her?” Caleb looked at me with cold eyes. “You have everything, Serena. But no one has ever celebrated Mia’s birthday. It’s just an aquarium project. Do you have to be so petty?” My eyes turned icy. “The Ocean of Stars?” The Ocean of Stars was an underground aquarium project that started construction the year I was born. In the southeast corner, there was a massive panel of imperial green jade. Through the shimmering water, it reflected light like a cosmic galaxy. It was nearing completion six months ago. Father had given the finishing task to Ethan, intending for him to present it to me at my birthday banquet next month. But now, the gift that belonged to me had become Mia’s. My gaze landed on Ethan. He was in charge of the final phase. Without his permission, no one could enter the unopened aquarium. Ethan looked guilty under my scrutiny and turned his head away in annoyance. “Mia grew up in the countryside working for a living. She’s never seen a proper starry sky. I just wanted to grant her a wish. Besides, doesn’t the ownership still belong to you?” “Stop being unreasonable. Fine, I’ll announce our engagement at your birthday party next month. Are you satisfied now?” Looking at Ethan’s charitable expression, I almost thought I was the adopted one. Yet no one present felt anything was wrong. Instead, they felt sorry for Ethan. “Why make such a sacrifice? Serena is spoiled and vicious. Marrying her is worse than becoming a monk.” “Serena is probably dizzy with joy right now. Her wish is finally coming true.” “Sob… Ethan, please don’t ruin your life for me. I’ll kneel and beg Sister Serena. I’ll be her servant. I’ll do anything…” My throat was dry as I spat out a sentence: “I won’t marry you.” Ethan raised an eyebrow in surprise and skepticism. Leo and Caleb looked at each other, terrified I might say I wanted to marry them instead. Being so despised by the three people I grew up with… if I didn’t leave now, I wouldn’t be able to hold back my tears. 4 I turned to leave, but Mia grabbed my wrist. Her eyes were red as she begged me: “Please don’t make things hard for Ethan. The three of them were adopted by your family; they already feel inferior. If you’re angry because they gave the Ocean of Stars to me and want to tell Mr. Sterling, I’m willing to apologize.” She looked ready to make a scene, her forehead already red. Ethan helped her up with a pained expression and glared at me. “You say you won’t marry me, but you better mean it! Using retreat as an advance to bully Mia—what kind of skill is that?” “You just want to use this to complain and force Mia away, don’t you?” I looked at Ethan coldly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but rest assured, I will absolutely not choose you as my husband.” I thought Ethan would drop it, but he grabbed my hand. “If not me, who? Caleb? Leo?” “Leo loves art and needs to study abroad. Caleb yearns for freedom. Isn’t ruining me enough? You want to ruin them too?” Ethan took a deep breath. “As long as you promise not to target Mia from now on, I will marry you. Stop making a scene, okay?” His eyes were filled with exhaustion, as if I had been torturing him for ages. I looked deeply at Ethan. “Everything will be as you wish.” He was afraid I would bully Mia, and he didn’t want to marry me. Once I married Adrian Hale, all his worries would be solved. I didn’t seek Ethan out for the next month. It wasn’t until the day of my birthday banquet that he appeared with a cold face. Caleb and Leo followed him, looking equally unhappy. I frowned at my assistant. I had explicitly said that the engagement announcement today wasn’t about them, so there was no need to invite them. But the assistant shook her head frantically, signaling she didn’t know—they had come on their own. I sighed helplessly and pretended not to see them. The guests were more enthusiastic than I was, greeting the three of them warmly. “Young Mr. Cole is truly promising. The project you secured last month brought in millions, didn’t it? No wonder Miss Sterling is devoted only to you.” But I was the one who negotiated that project. Ethan just signed the papers. “Young Mr. Pierce has a temper, but he hates evil. Miss Sterling surely won’t suffer any grievances with you.” I laughed internally. Leo was the one who bullied me the most, viewing me as a viper he wished he could exterminate. “Young Mr. Reed is handsome and talented. Miss Sterling can’t go wrong choosing you.” The three of them moved through my birthday party like fish in water, acting like the hosts. I frowned, wanting to stop this farce, when all three of them suddenly looked down at their phones.

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Big news! The rookie genius jungler, Ace, appeared on his live stream looking heartbroken. His eyes were red, implying he had just been dumped. But at the same time, I heard his thoughts through the screen: 【Babe sent a message about getting back together. It’s over. Is this for her ex?】 【Why did she send it to me by mistake?】 【I haven’t even confessed yet! How can they get back together?!】 【Boo hoo, what should I do!】 At this moment, I looked at the message I just sent to my gaming buddy and fell into deep thought… 1 I’m a popular actress. But no one knows. I’m also an internet-addicted girl. Not playing games feels worse than death. Not only that, I’m a keyboard warrior. Like right now… “What are you pretending for? Sprinkling rice on the keyboard and letting a chicken peck at it would play better than you.” “Keep clicking surrender, are you French?” “Even a donkey would kneel and call you master when seeing you play. Is your ancestral grave decorated with trash?” I stared at our jungler’s record. 0-10. I was seeing red. Mirror is my favorite hero. I felt like he was desecrating it! I turned on the mic. I screamed and shouted continuously for five minutes. Just as I took a deep breath, preparing to start round two, a clear, calm male voice suddenly came through the channel: “Sorry, my cousin was playing just now.” “Don’t worry. With me here, we can win.” I laughed angrily. Blaming the cousin for a bad record? Classic. I sneered: “Why don’t you say an 80-year-old man with a cane was playing?” “So good at shifting blame, it’s a pity you’re not a chef, buddy.” As soon as I finished speaking, the jungler suddenly rushed into the crowd. I was just about to mock him for overestimating himself. But the Mirror he controlled smoothly unleashed a combo. Flash. Slash. What?? Triple kill? My breath caught in my throat. The jungler said helplessly: “Stop talking. It’s noisy.” No way, is this kid for real? I intended to continue cursing. But Mirror unleashed another set of bush ambush operations that left me speechless… The second half of the game completely became the jungler’s personal show. The record went from 0-10 to 20-10. Until the enemy crystal shattered. I hadn’t even reacted yet. We won? Just like that? 2 I dazedly clicked into the results page. A notification popped up immediately: [‘Stealing the Moon’ requests to add you as a friend.] I quickly clicked accept. Understood. I completely understood! This jungler wants more. He wants to continue the flame war with me, right? I’ve never been afraid of anyone when it comes to trash talking! But seeing his message, I was stunned. [My cousin broke his arm, so he didn’t play well.] [I apologize to you on his behalf.] I sat up abruptly in bed. I wished I could slap myself a few times. I’m really not human! I typed furiously: [Sorry, I didn’t know it was like that, I was offensive…] The other side sent a voice message. A super distinct, squeaky elementary school voice. He even sniffled: “It’s okay sister, I’m just too bad.” I froze. I’m done for. I actually scolded a child until he cried! I felt terribly guilty and reflected deeply. I quickly apologized: [Actually, I have a foul mouth.] [How about I compensate you with some money? Kid, stop crying okay?] [Add me, sister will treat you to snacks and boba tea. Don’t be mad at sister.] [Do you want the Hellfire skin? Sister will gift it to you.] I sent my contact information. The other side was silent for a long time before saying: [Is the profile picture you?] My WeChat profile picture has always been a photo of me when I was little. A chubby toddler look, very different from the glamorous actress I am now. I guessed he wouldn’t recognize my true identity based on this photo. So I replied calmly: [Yes, why?] The other side sent a voice message. It changed back to that clear, mature male voice: “Nothing, just think it’s quite cute.” “My cousin has been comforted, he went home.” “Are you still playing? I’ll carry you.” Eh? Why does it feel like this person’s voice became even nicer? But I didn’t think much of it. [OK, let’s duo.] 3 ‘Stealing the Moon’ is too skilled!! One afternoon. He carried me to win 10 games straight. We didn’t lose a single one. And he was incredibly considerate. I played mid, he gave me the blue buff. I played marksman, he fed me kills. I laughed until my face hurt. Hahaha, truly refreshing! I never thought I would meet such a compatible gaming buddy! For the next month, continuously, as soon as I finished filming on set, I couldn’t wait to invite ‘Stealing the Moon’ to play. He responded to every request. Our dialogue was also extremely concise. [Get on.] [Coming.] When the season was about to end, both ‘Stealing the Moon’ and I successfully promoted to high ranks. Hehe. I even changed my ID to ‘Hiding the Sun’. Can’t help it. Duo gaming buddies must have chemistry. IDs must be matching too. 4 Sigh. Pity I can’t play games happily all the time. I still have to work hard to make money. Filming had entered the final stage. I was so busy that I didn’t have time to log in for several days. Until the day we wrapped. I collapsed in the lounge exhausted. Only then did I have time to check my phone. ‘Stealing the Moon’ asked me: [Game?] Women have those difficult days every month. I clutched my stomach and rolled over: [No, busy with work all day, so tired.] [And my stomach hurts, no energy to play.] ‘Stealing the Moon’ was still brief: [Got it, give me an address.] I typed a question mark. But I still sent the location. I was still in the mood to joke: [Don’t tell me you want to come find me offline for duo?] [This offline meeting move is too ruthless. Pity I’m in the middle of nowhere.] [Hehe, you can’t find me.] ‘Stealing the Moon’ sent a cute cat emoji. Stolen from me. Copycat. But soon, I knew why he wanted my address. The delivery guy grabbed the director’s megaphone and shouted on set: “Who is ‘Hiding the Sun’?!” “Your delivery is here!” I never thought having this ID read out in public could be so shameful. I fled in panic. I only dared to instruct my assistant to get it. The bag weighed at least five pounds. Boba tea, strawberry cake, crystal shrimp dumplings, stomach medicine, Ibuprofen… Everything one could think of. I dazedly took a photo for ‘Stealing the Moon’: [You bought this?] [Yeah. Rest well. Health is more important than games.] 5 After returning home from the set, my agent mercifully gave me a break. I came alive again. And the game just started a new season. I was itching to rank up. But ‘Stealing the Moon’ has been acting weird these few days. Always taking a long time to reply. Before, he replied instantly. And he always refused when I asked him to play. [Get on.] [Overtime tonight, next time.] … [Game?] [Busy recently, not much time.] … [Miss you, wanna duo.] [Sorry, still have something to do today.] I looked at the screen and sighed deeply. The latest chat was already five days ago. Does he think playing with me is boring now? So he makes excuses to reject me? I lay bored on the bed playing with my phone. Suddenly a notification popped up: [KTG Team – Ace, whom you follow closely, has started streaming.] 6 Melancholy swept away. I clicked into the stream happily. I’m a long-time fan of Ace! Since he started playing professionally, I’ve been following him. Handsome, skilled. Who wouldn’t like such a player! This year’s Spring Split, Ace played as the starting jungler for the first time and amazed everyone. Top-tier strategy plus superb mechanics. He became the new top jungler in the esports circle in one fell swoop. This is his first stream after the competition ended. On camera, Ace’s thin lips were tightly pursed, his side profile cold and hard. He had an air of aloofness pushing people thousands of miles away. I waved my hand and sent 10 Carnivals directly. [Bad mood today?] Ace looked up at the screen and said lightly: “Thanks to ‘Melting Ace into My Heart’ for the gift.” “Not in a bad mood, just a bit tired from overtime.” I didn’t speak. I just kept spamming gifts. I understand. The best comfort for overtime is money. Comments floated across the stream: [The top donor’s gifts must add up to 100k! Sugar mommy, hungry, feed me!] [You kid! Streaming equals overtime, right? We are redundant, understood.] [Feels like Little Ace is indeed tired recently. Competitions and training at the base, plus making up streaming hours at the end of the month.] Ace didn’t look at the comments anymore. Head down, he started a game. He picked his signature hero, Mirror. Operations flowing like water. He controlled the rhythm of the whole field from the start. Invading, killing, tower diving. The combos were smooth as silk. I watched with hearts in my eyes. But another person’s figure appeared in my mind.

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The moment I stepped through the Ashworths’ front door, a small boy, no older than six, burst past me and threw himself to his knees before the family. “Grandma, I finally get to meet you!” he wailed. “Mommy said she’s the real heiress, the one who was switched at birth, and she was coming back to the Ashworth manor to live a life of luxury.” “But I was born from her and some man she wasn’t married to, so she couldn’t bring me with her.” “But I wanted to see you all so much! Even if Mommy beats me to death for this, I won’t regret it!” As he spoke, he shot a timid, fearful glance in my direction. Julian Ashworth, the eldest son, frowned in disgust. “Utterly shameless. What a disgrace to the Ashworth name!” The fake heiress, Vivian, offered a saccharine attempt at comfort. “Don’t be too hard on her, Julian. She must have made a mistake. The child, at least, is innocent.” At that, the little boy pulled out a photograph. It was a picture of me, with my arm wrapped affectionately around him. He grabbed my hand, his eyes wide with a desperate longing. “Mommy, I’ll leave now…” “I’ll disappear, just like you wanted. I’ll go back to living on the streets. I promise I won’t ruin your new life here at the manor!” I tilted my head, an amused smile playing on my lips. Funny. I don’t remember ever saying I was the long-lost daughter. … The boy scrambled to his feet and began to stumble towards the door. “Wait a minute!” Eleanor Ashworth cried, finally snapping out of her shock. Her voice, sharp with emotion, made the boy instantly flinch. He wrapped his arms around his head and curled into a ball on the floor, trembling violently. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” he whimpered, his lips quivering. “Mutt won’t do it again. Please don’t hit me, Mommy!” “Mutt will slap himself! I’ll do it until Mommy is happy!” He raised a small hand to strike his own face, but Julian lunged forward and grabbed his wrist. Julian’s face was a dark thundercloud. “What did you say your name was?” he asked, his voice low and incredulous. “Mutt?” “What kind of a name is that for a person?” The boy shrank back, glancing fearfully at me before quickly lowering his head. Eleanor knelt beside him, her voice softening as she tentatively stroked his hair. “It’s alright, sweetie. Don’t be afraid. You can tell us anything.” The boy’s head shot up, his eyes swimming with tears as he looked at Eleanor. “Grandma, you’re so nice. Mommy has never, ever spoken to me so gently…” “My daddy ran away as soon as I was born, so Mommy has always hated me.” “She gave me that name so I would never forget that I’m just a dog.” “Until I was three, she chained me to a tree outside and fed me from a dog bowl!” “It was only because a neighbor threatened to call Child Protective Services that she finally let me live inside the house…” As his words hung in the air, every eye in the room turned on me. Julian pointed a shaking finger, his voice raw with fury. “Are you even human, Lily?” “He’s your own son!” “You couldn’t control yourself, had a child out of wedlock with some stranger, and you take all your resentment out on him!” “Someone like you has no right to be an Ashworth!” Eleanor shook her head, her face a mask of disappointment. “If you can be this cruel to your own flesh and blood, what genuine feelings could you possibly have for us?” “It seems the boy was right. You’re only here for the Ashworth fortune!” Vivian, who had been silent until now, rushed to Eleanor’s side and gently rubbed her back. “Mother, please don’t get upset! It’s bad for your health!” “I’m sure my sister has her reasons. Sister, if you have some story to tell, please explain it to Mother.” “Were you… were you forced?” I ignored her, my gaze fixed on the boy. For a split second, I saw a flicker of triumph in his eyes. When he saw me looking, he immediately began to tremble again. “Mommy, don’t worry,” he whispered meekly. “I’ll never tell Grandma that you plan to kick her adopted daughter out and take over the manor!” “Or that you said the fake heiress stole your life, and once she’s gone, you’re going to hire men to… to defile her and make her suffer!” He clapped a hand over his mouth, feigning regret. “Oh, Mommy, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have said that…” A humorless smile touched my lips. “You certainly haven’t left anything out, have you?” “Haven’t you heard, little boy? Liars get punished. Sometimes, they even lose their tongues.” The boy’s face went white, his eyes widening in terror. “You shut your mouth, Lily!” Julian’s face was flushed with rage. “You dare threaten a child right in front of us?” “You want to kick Vivian out? And defile her? How can you be so venomous?” “Let me tell you something. We would throw you out on the street before we ever let Vivian leave!” “She will always be my sister!” Eleanor nodded in agreement. “That’s right! Lily, we may have acknowledged you as our blood, but Vivian is our daughter too. You must accept that!” Vivian’s eyes welled with tears. Taking a few deep breaths, she walked over to me. “Sister, I don’t blame you. It’s true that I’m the one who stole your life.” She reached out and took my hand in hers. “But I can’t bear to leave Mom, Dad, and Julian. Please, I’m begging you, don’t make me go… Can’t we be real sisters?” “I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you!” “Ah!” Vivian cried out, snatching her hand back with a sharp hiss of pain. She stared at me, her voice trembling with hurt. “Sister… why… why did you pinch me?” The boy immediately rushed forward and grabbed the hem of my shirt. “Mommy, calm down! You can hit me, but you can’t just hit other people!” As he spoke, he deliberately rolled up his sleeve, revealing angry purple bruises on his small arm. Eleanor gasped. She grabbed Vivian’s hand and, sure enough, saw a raw, red mark near her thumb where I had supposedly pinched her. She whirled on me. “Lily, you dare lay a hand on Vivian? You uncultured brute!” Julian was more direct. He raised his hand to slap me. I caught his wrist, my voice cold as ice. “Shouldn’t you take a closer look at the child’s injuries first?” Julian froze, then glared at me with contempt. “What? Now you’re pretending to care about him? Stop the act!” I ignored him and reached for the boy’s arm. He tried to pull away, a flash of malice in his eyes. I swiped a firm hand across his arm. Eleanor, seeing this, rushed to pull him into a protective hug. “What are you doing now…” “Funny how your bruises seem to be smudging,” I interrupted her with a dry laugh. “What…” Eleanor stared, then looked down at the boy’s arm. Where the purple marks had been, there was now a distinct smear, revealing the smooth, unblemished skin underneath. Before anyone could react, I grabbed Vivian’s hand and gave it a hard wipe. “And your red mark seems to be coming off, too.” Panic flashed across both Vivian’s and the boy’s faces. I crossed my arms, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “My apologies. I forgot to mention, I have a habit of carrying makeup remover with me.” The room fell silent. Eleanor and Julian stared, mouths agape, utterly speechless. After a long moment, Eleanor finally found her voice. “Well, that doesn’t prove you didn’t pinch Vivian. It just means you didn’t pinch her hard enough to leave a mark.” “As for the red on her hand, she probably just got something on it without realizing.” “And the boy… well, after all the abuse you’ve put him through, it’s no wonder he’s learned a few tricks to protect himself.” I had to admire her ability to twist logic into such a pretzel. Julian, however, was frowning, a thoughtful expression on his face. Seeing this, the boy quickly produced the photograph of us again. “Mommy, don’t be mad,” he said with a manufactured sadness. “Mutt only did this to get your attention…” “You never wanted to be close to me. I had to beg for so long just for you to take this one picture with me.” “I thought… I thought maybe if I was hurt, you would finally pay a little attention to me…” Eleanor sighed. “You poor, poor child.” Vivian, having recovered from her initial panic, quickly chimed in. “Sister grew up in such a poor environment, of course she never received a proper education.” “What she did was cruel, but I’m sure she didn’t mean it. She just… wasn’t taught any better.” Her words only deepened the disgust on Eleanor’s face as she looked at me. I glanced at the photo, then said casually, “It’s a fake.” “That photo is Photoshopped. I don’t know this boy, and I am not his mother.” Eleanor and Julian stared. Then, Eleanor let out a harsh laugh. “Lily, I never imagined you would turn out like this.” “Selfish, cruel, and a compulsive liar. If you had just admitted it, I might have had a shred of respect for you. This just makes you even more disgusting.” I had wanted to deny it from the start, but their rapid-fire accusations had already cemented the lie as truth in their minds. Besides, I was curious to see what other tricks the little performer had up his sleeve. Vivian shook her head in disapproval. “Sister, there’s a photograph. Are you still going to deny it?” “We’ll help you raise him, I promise. Please don’t disown him. That would be too cruel…” “Don’t worry about what other people might say. It’s not a big deal!” Gossip wouldn’t be a big deal for her, of course. The whispers would all be about the Ashworths’ real heiress being shameless trash. I raised an eyebrow at her. “Whether it’s Photoshopped or not is easy enough to prove. Anyone with basic skills could tell.” “It wouldn’t even take much time.” Vivian’s face paled. “But what if the person you find is in on it with you?” she muttered, just loud enough for everyone to hear. I scoffed and was about to reply when Julian took the photo and studied it closely. “It actually is Photoshopped,” he said, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. “Could it be… this boy really isn’t Lily’s son?” Vivian went even paler. Just then, the butler rushed into the room, flustered. “Ma’am, there’s a man at the door! He claims to be Miss Lily’s husband!” A faint blush returned to Vivian’s pale cheeks, and the corner of her mouth twitched into a subtle smile. Before the butler could finish, a rough-looking man burst into the villa. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and he immediately lunged to grab my hand. “Wife! There you are! Come on, let’s go home!” He flashed a set of yellowed teeth, his voice loud and grating. Eleanor’s face was a mask of undisguised revulsion. The man, ignoring everyone else, continued to shout. “It’s me, Zeke! What’s wrong, wife? Don’t you remember that night we had together?” “You’re the one who seduced me! We had our fun, and I wanted to marry you, but then you said I was too poor and you just took off!” “I’ve been looking for you for years! Lily, you have no idea how hard I’ve been searching!” The little boy suddenly piped up. “Are… are you my daddy? I have a daddy…?” His voice trembled, and fat tears rolled down his cheeks. Zeke strode over and swept the boy into a hug. “That’s right! I’m your dad!” “I’ve always known about you, son. I’ve been looking for you this whole time!” The “father and son” clung to each other in a deeply moving reunion. I clapped my hands slowly, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “How touching. Except I have no idea who you are.” “If you continue with this charade, I’m calling the police.” Zeke’s face fell, and he instinctively glanced towards Vivian. My suspicions were confirmed. Vivian avoided his gaze and, in a seemingly casual gesture, touched her own shoulder. Zeke’s eyes lit up as if remembering something. “I have proof!” he yelled. “The night we were together, I saw it! You have a red birthmark on your left shoulder!” Before I could react, Vivian rushed forward and yanked down the collar of my shirt. There, for all to see, was a vivid red birthmark. Vivian gasped, covering her mouth. “How can this be?” “I didn’t believe a word this man said! I just wanted to help you prove your innocence, sister, but…” “Sister, please don’t be angry with me. I truly didn’t mean any harm…” I looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “You certainly did your research.” Her eyes flickered for a moment before she looked down, feigning guilt. “I just never expected…” she trailed off, then turned to Zeke, her voice firm as if defending me. “This doesn’t count! A birthmark proves nothing!” “Do you have any other proof? If not… then you can… cough cough… get out!” Vivian’s display of emotion sent her into a fit of coughing. Julian immediately wrapped an arm around her. “Vivian, don’t get so worked up. It’s bad for your health.” “This birthmark is enough to prove Lily was involved with him. She’s a woman with no self-respect. You don’t need to fight for her.” He glared at me, his face red with shame. “I am so embarrassed for you! How could the Ashworth family have a daughter like you?” “When you go out from now on, you are forbidden from telling anyone you are my sister!” Zeke’s eyes darted around, and he started yelling again. “Who says I don’t have other proof?” “If that’s not enough, I have a paternity test! It proves this boy is my son!” He puffed out his chest and pulled a folded document from his pocket. No one else seemed to notice that from the moment my birthmark was revealed, Eleanor Ashworth hadn’t said a word. She was just staring at my shoulder, lost in a daze. “You two just met today, and you already have a paternity test?” I asked, a mocking smile on my face. Vivian shot Zeke a venomous look, and he instantly looked flustered. “That’s not important!” he blustered, trying to change the subject. “What’s important is that you and I were together!” “Of course, I get it. Now that you’re a rich lady, you look down on me even more!” “I’m not asking you to marry me anymore. But you have to compensate me!” “Lily, I heard that ever since you found out you were an Ashworth, you’ve been bragging to everyone about how rich your family is!” Julian shot me another dirty look before reluctantly asking, “How much compensation do you want?” Zeke’s greedy eyes swept across the lavish villa. “Five… no, ten million! I want ten million dollars!” “Impossible!” Julian snapped. “That’s extortion. I suggest you don’t get too greedy!” “If you don’t pay up, I’ll tell the whole world about me and Lily! Let everyone see what kind of trash your Ashworth daughter really is!” “You rich people care about your reputation more than anything, don’t you?” Zeke sneered. “You!” Julian sputtered, pointing an accusatory finger at me. “Look at the mess you’ve made!” I had seen enough of the show. I let out a short, sharp laugh and turned to the little boy. “Am I really your mother? Did I really say I wouldn’t bring you back to the manor to enjoy this life of luxury?” He nodded without hesitation. I turned to the man. “And am I really your wife?” He jutted out his chin. “Of course! You told me not to bother you once you got back to the Ashworths!” I chuckled softly. “You two have certainly spun an interesting tale.” “Just stop lying and figure out how to solve this,” Julian said, rubbing his temples wearily. Vivian sighed. “Sister, it’s not that I don’t want to believe you, but… the evidence is overwhelming. Just admit it.” “Who said my name was Lily?” I asked calmly. Vivian blinked. “What? What are you talking about?” I gave her a sidelong glance. “I don’t recall ever saying that I was the real Ashworth heiress, Lily.” Julian and Vivian stared at me, their eyes wide with shock. Just then, the front door opened and Richard Ashworth, the father, walked in, beaming. “Honey, I brought Lily home!” “Lily, come, this is your mother and your brother.” A girl’s soft voice answered, and she stepped out from behind him. Only then did Richard notice the tense atmosphere. “What’s going on? Why are there so many people here today?” He looked at me, his expression grateful. “Miss Clarke! You got here even faster than we did!” “I offered to send a car for you, but you declined. I was worried we might have been neglectful!” Vivian finally found her voice, her face ashen. “Dad, what are you talking about?” “Miss Clarke? And… who did you say she is?” Vivian pointed a trembling finger at the girl behind her father. “Why, that’s Lily,” Richard said with a smile. “Your mother and I discussed it. We were worried that if word got out, Lily would be overwhelmed with attention, so I decided to go pick her up myself.” “Honey, look! Isn’t she the spitting image of you when you were young?” Eleanor, who had been silent all this time, finally reacted. Her eyes reddened, and her lips trembled. “Yes,” she whispered. “That’s my daughter, Lily.” “Because when my baby was born, the doctors showed her to me for just a moment. My daughter… had no birthmark.” “What did you say…” Vivian was completely stunned. Richard continued, “And as for Miss Clarke, we owe her our deepest gratitude!” “Her parents were the ones who adopted our Lily. And after her parents passed away, Miss Clarke worked multiple jobs to raise Lily on her own…” I had always treated Lily as my own sister, and I would have taken care of her for the rest of my life. But a while ago, Richard Ashworth found me and told me that Lily was their family’s long-lost daughter. From that day on, strange people started appearing in our neighborhood. They would quietly ask the neighbors about our family, always focusing their questions on Lily. Our neighbors, who had always looked out for us, warned me to be careful. So I came up with a plan. I asked them that if anyone else came asking, they should say that I was Lily. I was worried about my sister, and when I heard the Ashworths had an adopted daughter, I felt it was better to be safe than sorry. I just never imagined that Vivian would actually plot to frame her. …

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On the day the college entrance exam scores were released, right after receiving a call from the Harvard admissions office, I turned around and jumped into the lake to end my life. All because the night before the exam, the school bully who had been harassing me for a long time told me he could read minds. He insisted on betting with me that he could read my mind and get into Harvard too. “Sophie, if I don’t get in, I’ll pay for your sister’s kidney transplant. But if I do, you let me and my boys have fun with you for three months, for free.” Thinking of my consistent first-place rankings in mock exams and my sister’s exorbitant surgery fees, I gritted my teeth and agreed. Brad was always at the bottom of the class. I didn’t believe he could get into Harvard like me. But on the day the scores came out, I discovered with horror that not only did he score 1580, but his score was exactly the same as mine! So that day, instead of becoming a Harvard student, I was dragged into an alley by the school bully and his thugs. Not only did I not get my sister’s medical fees, but I was tortured until I was no longer human. My sister passed away due to the failed transplant. In despair, I dragged my broken body into the lake. Until my death, I couldn’t understand how a failing school bully could score 1580, exactly the same as me? When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day before the college entrance exam. This time, I won’t let him succeed again! 1 “Tomorrow is the SATs, everyone do your best!” Listening to the encouraging words of my classmates, I suddenly looked up. SATs tomorrow? Didn’t I already take them? Not only did I take them, but I also lost my life because of it. Seeing the familiar classroom and the date on the wall, I was shocked to discover that I was reborn! Reborn to the day before the SATs! The nightmare hasn’t happened yet; I still have a chance to change my destiny! However, just as my heart was surging with emotion, as soon as I walked out of the school gate, I was forcibly dragged into a corner nearby. School bully Brad pinned me against the wall, patting my cheek with his hand. His eyes were greedy, and his expression even greasier. “Beauty scholar, after the SATs, you’re going to a good university, and we won’t see each other again.” I suppressed my nausea and tried to push him away, but he was too strong for me to move. In my past life, Brad had been harassing me, but with teachers protecting me at school, he never succeeded. But on the day before the SATs, he dragged me into an alley with bad intentions. After my strong resistance, he changed his mind and said to me: “Don’t you look down on me because of my poor grades? But believe it or not, this time in the SATs, not only can I score 1580, I can get the exact same score as you.” Brad was always the tail-ender. Of course, I didn’t believe he could perform so extraordinarily in the SATs. Seeing my disbelief, Brad was even happier. “Then let’s make a bet on whether I can get into Harvard! If I don’t, I’ll pay for your sister’s kidney transplant. But if I do, you let me and my boys have fun with you for three months, for free.” I broke out in a cold sweat at his words, but the conditions he offered were too tempting. I grew up in poverty, my parents died early, and I depended on my sister. But a while ago, my sister was diagnosed with kidney failure and needed a transplant. A kidney source was available, but we didn’t have the money for the surgery. Now, the hope for my sister’s survival was right in front of me. Thinking of my consistent first-place rankings in mock exams and Brad’s consistent last place, I decided to take a bold gamble and nodded in agreement. Brad left laughing loudly. I thought I had found a way to save my sister. But I didn’t expect that when checking answers after the first day of exams, Brad could recite all my multiple-choice answers backwards, and even knew the essay materials I used for the English exam like the back of his hand. At that moment, I stood frozen in place, but Brad touched my face and grinned: “Let me tell you a secret. Actually, I practiced mind reading. I know all your thoughts clearly! So, whatever score you get, I get.” Of course, I couldn’t believe he had any mind-reading skills. So the next day, I held my breath, emptied my mind, wrote my thought process on paper, and completed the exam. But to my horror, when checking answers again, Brad’s answers were still completely identical to mine. He even deliberately sighed in front of me: “Sophie, why were you so slow on the last physics question? You almost made me run out of time.” This time, I completely collapsed. But the desperate things were yet to come. On the day of checking scores, my heart was about to jump out of my throat. But when the score popped up on the computer, I discovered with horror that Brad, who always had poor grades, not only scored 1580 like me but got exactly the same score. Soon, Brad walked up to me, held my face, and kissed it. “Let’s go, Sophie. It’s time for you to fulfill your promise.” That day, teachers and students congratulated me and Brad on getting into Harvard. Everyone also marvelled at Brad’s extraordinary performance, shocking everyone. But as soon as I walked out of the school gate, I was dragged into an alley by Brad and his hooligan friends. I cried and struggled, but they said I agreed to this myself. It wasn’t until the early hours of the next day that I dragged my broken body out of the alley. And the hospital called to tell me that because the surgery fee wasn’t paid, the kidney source was given to someone else, and my sister committed suicide in despair. Under various blows, my spirit completely collapsed. Wanting to wash myself clean, I resolutely jumped into the lake. Fortunately, heaven gave me a chance to start over. This time, I won’t let Brad succeed again! 2 Everything was the same as in my past life. Brad still asked me to bet with him. After thinking for a long time, I gritted my teeth and nodded. “Okay, I’ll bet with you!” Brad and his brothers laughed endlessly, as if I had already become their prey. And after I returned home, I immediately searched the internet non-stop for how to resist mind reading. People online said to keep a distance from mind readers. I remembered that during the SATs, Brad and I were not in the same exam room, so distance shouldn’t be a problem. They also said some objects might be mediums for mind reading. I suddenly remembered that Brad had stuffed something into my pocket just now, so I quickly took it out. It was a wrapper from the gum he finished eating. Although I couldn’t see anything magical about it, I still threw it far away. Now, I don’t have anything related to him. This time, I shouldn’t be read by Brad again, right? The next day, I arrived at the exam center early, just like in my past life. Seeing me, Brad was all smiles, pretending to hug me intimately, but actually whispering in my ear like a demon: “Sophie, don’t forget what you promised me.” I was startled, goosebumps rising all over my body. He patted my face and said encouragingly: “Sophie, you must do well in the exam. If you don’t do well, how can I get into Harvard?” He left laughing, while my nails almost dug into the flesh of my palm. Having taken the exam once, I answered unusually smoothly this time. I had thrown away everything Brad gave me. Now, he shouldn’t be able to write the same answers as me, right? After the first day of exams, as expected, classmates gathered to check answers again. Listening to them recite all the multiple-choice answers, I remained calm on the surface, but was joyful inside. Because my answers were completely consistent with the standard answers! This time, not only can I securely get into Harvard, but I might even get close to a perfect score! But just as I was about to leave, Brad suddenly grabbed my shoulder. He smiled and said to me: “Sophie, you did really well this time. You got all the multiple-choice questions right! But I think your essay wasn’t good. What era is it to still use Shakespeare as material? So old-fashioned.” Hearing his words, all the goosebumps on my body exploded, and a drop of cold sweat slowly slid down my forehead. Why, why does he still know all my answers, even whose poem I used in my essay! Clearly, this time my essay was completely different from my past life, and the materials were all new. I asked with chattering teeth: “How did you know?” “Told you, I can read minds.” He left laughing loudly. Every laugh was an insult to my dignity. 3 The next day, I sat in the exam hall, lips pursed and face solemn. After the exam bell rang, everyone around me immediately started answering, afraid of wasting a second. But I sat straight without moving a bit. The proctor noticed my anomaly and came over to kindly remind me: “Student, the exam has started. Hurry up and answer the questions.” But I nodded, yet my pen didn’t move at all. I had already decided. Since whatever answers I wrote would be known by Brad, I might as well not write anything. I absolutely won’t give him another chance to bully me! I looked at the sky, at the ground, at the leaves outside, just not at the exam paper. I don’t believe he can know what my answers are this way. Sure enough, after the exam, before I even walked out of the exam hall, Brad rushed over like a madman. He came up and strangled my neck, roaring ferociously: “Why! Why didn’t you write a single word! Are you crazy!” My face turned purple from his strangling, but for the first time, I showed a victorious smile: “Yes, I am crazy, so don’t even think about copying a single answer from me again!” Our commotion attracted the attention of countless people in the corridor. The proctor pulled Brad away and asked in confusion: “How do you know Sophie turned in a blank paper?” Brad hesitated to speak, then flung the proctor away: “Is it any of your business to control me! Get lost!” Before leaving, he pointed at my nose and ordered viciously: “Let me tell you, for the last exam this afternoon, you must do well for me! Or you’ll be sorry!” Classmates nearby whispered, not knowing what exactly happened between us. I tidied my clothes and left the exam hall with a normal expression. He told me to do well, but I refused. So for the second exam in the afternoon, I still turned in a blank paper. Despite the proctor’s several attempts to persuade me, I remained unmoved. As expected after the exam, Brad appeared outside my classroom again. But this time, because teachers were protecting me, he couldn’t come over to hurt me. Brad could only stare at me from a distance, sneering repeatedly: “Sophie, playing these little tricks with me is useless. My family has plenty of money. If I fail the exam, my parents can send me abroad! But you, a bumpkin, if you don’t get into Harvard, your life is over!” I lowered my head and remained silent. When I went to the hospital to visit my sister, she firmly grasped my hand from the sickbed. “Sis, your school teacher called just now and said you turned in a blank paper for today’s exam. Did… did you really turn in a blank paper?” I dared not look into my sister’s eyes and fell into silence. I had been studying hard just to get into a good university and earn a good future for myself and my sister. So the college entrance exam was crucial for my family, and my sister cared a lot about how I did. The teacher once said that if I did well, I could get a scholarship. This way, even without the transplant surgery, my sister would have enough medical fees to live on. Seeing my sister’s anxious look and red eyes, I nodded honestly. “Yes, I turned in blank papers for both exams today. But sister, don’t worry, I will get the money for your transplant on time.” My sister didn’t understand, but seeing me speak with such certainty, she didn’t ask further. Before leaving, my sister said to me again: “Sis, my life depends on you.” I nodded heavily: “I know, sister. I won’t let you down.” 4 Soon, it was the day the exam scores were released. The school asked all of us to go to the computer lab to check our scores. But actually, I already knew roughly how much I would score. I did very well in English and Math on the first day; both subjects were close to full marks. But I turned in blank papers for Science and History on the second day, so they were glaring zeros. Adding up to a total of 1600, I scored 800. This result made everyone’s jaws drop. In the classroom, the teacher looked at the computer screen in front of me, refreshing again and again. But no matter how many times it refreshed, it was 800. The teacher issued a desperate question: “Sophie, didn’t you say you did very well? How come there are two zeros!” “You are the only hope for Harvard in our school. You… you are harming others and yourself!” And just then, from the other end of the classroom, came the exclamations of Brad’s good friends. “Brad, how did you only score 800?” “Yeah, didn’t you say you performed extraordinarily and could sprint for Harvard?” Hearing this score, my heart sank again. Why, why can Brad always score the same as me? Before I could figure it out, Brad had already rushed towards me from the other end of the classroom. Like a beast, he pounced on me directly from the chair, then strangled my neck tightly and punched my face. “Sophie, you bitch! You harmed me! You will die a bad death!” The crazy Brad surprised everyone present. The teachers wanted to pull him away, but he was so strong that for a moment, everyone couldn’t do anything about him. Lying on the ground, watching the hysterical Brad in front of me, I couldn’t help feeling happy inside. Two lifetimes, and I finally won against him once! “Brad, the bet is over. I won. You should pay up.” Seeing me smile, Brad laughed instead: “Haha Sophie, do you think turning in a blank paper can change your destiny? Idiot! You made me miss Harvard, and I won’t let you have it easy either!” “I won’t give you a dime. Those words before were all to trick you! Your sister is still lying in the hospital. Originally, if you got into Harvard, there would be a scholarship to save her, but now, she can only wait to die!” I questioned him angrily: “You! How can you go back on your word!” Brad sneered contemptuously: “Brainless bumpkin, really thought I was doing charity? If I can’t sleep with you, I won’t give a dime!” “However, if you’re willing to sell, a hundred a time, I can call my brothers to patronize too. Maybe you can gather the money very quickly?” His words were unbearable to hear, and classmates were pointing at me. Just then, the classroom door was knocked from the outside. The old man from the mailroom asked loudly: “Is student Sophie in your class? A scholarship has been sent to the school, needing her to sign for it.” Now, Brad was completely shocked. “Impossible?! How can someone who didn’t even score 1000 get a scholarship!”

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After getting into Tsinghua University, my boyfriend ran off with my best friend. My mother died of anger, and I was forced to drop out of school and work in a factory. Years later, due to a toxic gas leak at the factory, I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. The unscrupulous boss fled, and when I tracked him down, I discovered he was my scumbag ex-boyfriend. He showed no remorse, mocking me for being poor and old, telling me I was better off dead, and pushed me downstairs. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my senior year of high school. 1 “Sophie, if college entrance exam scores could be exchanged, would you be willing to trade yours with me?” My boyfriend, Chris Taylor, handed me a bubble tea and asked jokingly. I had just woken up from a nap, my mind momentarily groggy. Just as I was about to nod, a sharp pain shot through my head. Memories from before my death flooded back. At that time, a middle-aged Chris lived in a mansion, dressed in designer brands, but wearing a malicious smile that clashed with his attire: “Sophie Shen, look at you now. I almost didn’t recognize you.” “Compensation? Keep dreaming. You poor people are just fuel for us rich folks.” “Blame yourself for being useless. Since you have cancer, you might as well die sooner.” I lunged at him in anger. But he pushed me down the stairs. I died, but Chris used the “Exchange System” to escape legal punishment. I died with grievances unresolved, and the Rebirth System found me. It told me Chris’s biggest secret. It turned out he possessed an Exchange System. As long as he obtained the other party’s consent, he could easily swap for their precious things. But if he failed to complete the system’s tasks, he would be erased. This time, the Exchange System’s task for him was to get into Tsinghua University. As the top student in the school, I was chosen by him as the exchange target. To get my college entrance exam score, he spared no effort in pursuing me for two years. Finally, he moved me, and I agreed to date him. He repeatedly tested me with similar questions. I thought he was just joking. I agreed to the exchange without any suspicion. Unexpectedly, he turned in a blank paper for his exam but swapped away my province-topping score. After getting into Tsinghua, he confessed to my two-faced best friend, and they both got into Tsinghua. They became the envy of everyone as a scholarly couple. While I, the top student, got a zero and became a huge joke. My mother, who had worked hard to support my education, died of anger. I also suffered from severe depression and had to drop out of school. Thinking of my tragic life afterward, I gritted my teeth in hatred. My whole body couldn’t stop trembling. Chris noticed something was wrong with me, his eyes looking a bit guilty as he asked: “Sophie, what’s wrong?” “I asked you a question, why aren’t you answering me?” What he cared about most was still whether I would exchange with him. I pinched my palm hard to calm myself down. When I looked up again, I had returned to normal. I smiled at him: “Sorry, didn’t catch that. What did you say?” He asked again, adding cautiously: “I was just asking casually.” I secretly laughed at his shamelessness but kept a straight face, asking back: “Why would you want to exchange exam scores with me?” He sighed and said: “Your grades are so good, you’ll definitely get into Tsinghua.” “But my grades are much worse. If we’re not in the same school, I’m afraid you won’t want me anymore.” Quite the excuse. I looked thoughtful and asked: “Then if we exchange, wouldn’t it mean I can’t get in?” “If you get into Tsinghua, won’t you have a change of heart?” He swore: “Of course not. Even if you don’t get into college, my feelings for you won’t change.” “As long as you want it, as long as I have it, I can exchange anything with you.” He continued to guide me to say I was willing to exchange. I smiled slightly and said: “Don’t worry, I won’t break up with you just because you don’t get into Tsinghua.” “Instead of fantasizing about these unrealistic things, you should seize the time to do more practice questions. You might get a few more points.” His face looked ugly for a moment, disappointment written all over it. He lost interest in talking to me and left with a random excuse. I knew he must have gone to find my “good best friend,” Maya Li. Sure enough, not long after, Maya came to find me. “Sophie, what did you say to Chris? He looks so sad.” 2 I raised an eyebrow and looked her over. Remembering the last time I saw her before I died. At that time, she and Chris were a well-known wealthy couple. Upon learning I had cancer, she covered her nose and dodged as if I were something dirty: “Chris, handle it yourself. I don’t want to catch any bad luck!” Back then, she completely forgot how I took care of her in high school. We were both from single-parent families and lived close by. Her father was strict, violent, and favored boys over girls. He would beat and kick her at the slightest dissatisfaction. She didn’t dare go home and could only stay at my house. She had no money to buy study materials, so I lent her mine. She couldn’t afford breakfast, so I shared half of mine. I patiently explained the questions she couldn’t do. Without my help, she couldn’t possibly have such good grades. But after the college entrance exam, when Chris confessed to her, she agreed without hesitation. She even came to me hypocritically and said: “Sophie, you can’t go to college anyway. You and Chris will break up sooner or later.” “Instead of letting someone else have him, it’s better if it’s me.” I cried and asked her: “Aren’t we best friends? You know he’s a scumbag, yet you’re with him?” “Sophie, it’s meaningless for you to say that.” “I can’t give up such an excellent boyfriend just for you.” “You messed up the exam yourself and aren’t worthy of him. You can’t call him a scumbag for that.” “If it were you, you wouldn’t want a boyfriend who scored zero on the college entrance exam either.” She smiled mockingly and left without looking back. Later, when my mom died, she didn’t even show her face. It’s laughable that I regarded her as my best friend. Truly blind. “Why do you care about him so much?” I asked deliberately. Thinking about it carefully, ever since Chris started pursuing me, Maya had been acting strange. She would deliberately disparage Chris in front of me. Saying he looked like a player and his interest in me was definitely impulsive. Telling me to stay away from him. But facing Chris, she had another face. Praising his devotion, his looks, saying she envied me for having such a good boyfriend. Maya’s eyes flickered, and she laughed it off: “I’m not caring about him, I’m caring about you. I thought you guys quarreled.” I lowered my head and continued doing problems, saying lukewarmly: “No quarrel, just advised him to prepare well for the exam.” I didn’t miss the fleeting joy on Maya’s face: “Then he’s being immature. You’re doing it for his own good. This person really has no ambition.” “Sophie, I think he’s not good enough for you. You should reconsider your relationship.” I looked up at her, pretending to consider seriously: “But… the exam is coming up soon. Breaking up now would be too big a blow for him, right?” “What if he fails the exam because of it? Wouldn’t I feel guilty for a lifetime?” Maya rolled her eyes: “You’re too soft-hearted.” “Why care about him? If he fails, it’s because he’s incompetent. Can he blame you?” She continued to encourage me to break up with Chris. She talked endlessly, listing a bunch of Chris’s shortcomings, advising me to break it off early. I remained silent throughout. After she got tired of talking, I smiled like a naive girl: “I know he has many flaws, but who told me to like him?” “Besides, he’s smart and comes from a wealthy family. Even if he doesn’t get into a good school, his family can support him.” “It’s me, with poor family conditions. The college entrance exam is my only way out.” After speaking, I lowered my head to do problems again, completely ignoring Maya’s ugly expression. As the exam date approached, Chris came to find me more and more frequently. He tried every way to please me. Buying me expensive gifts, responding to my every request. Circling around me like a dog every day. Making Maya jealous beyond recognition. On my birthday, he specially ordered a bouquet and a big cake. After evening self-study, he lit 999 candles on the playground and confessed his deep love to me. Students living on campus were all attracted. Maya, however, whispered sourly in my ear: “What is he doing? Don’t you think it’s exaggerated? So embarrassing!” “Sophie, being so high-profile, if teachers and parents find out, it’s bad for you! You’d better not go over.” I still had a silly smile on my face: “My mom and teachers know. They said as long as it doesn’t affect my studies, they don’t care.” Maya looked like she had swallowed a fly. Because her dad didn’t allow her to date early; she had to keep her purity to exchange for a high bride price in the future. Chris presented flowers to me in public and gave me the latest mobile phone. Maya watched with eyes glowing green. I pretended the unpleasantness of that day didn’t happen and accepted his gifts with a smile. He harmed me so badly in my past life; it was only right for me to collect some interest. On the way to send me home, he brought up the old topic again: “Sophie, are you happy today?” I nodded, shaking the flowers in my hand: “Of course I’m happy.” He rolled his eyes and asked: “Then if I ask you now, are you willing to exchange exam scores with me, what would you say?” 3 I pouted and said, “Actually, I regretted saying no that day.” His eyes lit up. I continued: “I even told my best friend.” “But she said I did the right thing, and that I shouldn’t joke about the college entrance exam.” “She also said your grades are bad, so swapping with you would be a huge loss.” His face turned iron green. “Chris, actually I think Maya makes sense too.” “Let’s not talk about this topic anymore. You know my family conditions are poor.” “My mom counts on me getting into a good university to succeed in the future.” “If I don’t test well, my mom will be heartbroken.” He immediately interrupted me irritably: “You only know your mom, your mom. What about me?” “Have you never considered my feelings?” I looked at him in surprise and asked: “Isn’t this a hypothetical question?” “I said I wouldn’t swap scores with you, I didn’t say I’d break up with you. Why are you angry?” He ran his hands through his hair anxiously, saying urgently: “I don’t have much time left!” “Can’t you just coax me? Even if it’s a lie!” I shook my head, looking innocent and sincere: “Chris, you know I don’t like to lie, especially to you.” “The most important thing between two people is honesty, isn’t it?” He uttered a curse, then asked me with red eyes: “I’ll ask you one last time, are you willing to swap with me or not.” “If you don’t, you will lose me. Are you still unwilling to swap?” He was like a trapped beast in a cage. But I watched his near-collapse with interest. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you so irritable?” I still didn’t take his bait. The taste of toying with scumbags was truly satisfying. Chris’s body began to tremble uncontrollably. “Am I not good enough to you? What exactly do you want?” His eyes became fierce. Just as I was worried he might hit me, my mom arrived. “Sophie, why so late today?” Chris immediately calmed down, put on an ingratiating smile, and faced my mom: “Auntie, today is Sophie’s birthday. I celebrated with her, so we were delayed a bit.” He smiled and handed the cake to my mom. My mom frowned slightly, looked at me, then said to Chris: “Little Chris, Auntie knows you are good to Sophie.” “But the exam is coming up soon. You both need to focus on preparation.” “After you both get into good universities, you’ll have plenty of time for romance.” “Auntie isn’t old-fashioned, but at this critical juncture, you can’t relax at all, understand?” He nodded stiffly: “Auntie, I know. Just this once.” “It’s her birthday today…” My mom didn’t make it hard for him, waving her hand: “Alright, you go home early too.” “After the exam, come to our house, Auntie will cook something good for you.” Chris looked at me again before leaving reluctantly. As soon as I got home, I received his message. 【Sophie, I still want your affirmative answer.】 【This is very important to me. Since you love me too, why can’t you fulfill my wish?】 He started guilt-tripping me. Seeing I ignored him, he directly threatened to break up. He even showed me messages from several girls confessing to him. One profile picture was Maya. I recognized it instantly because I drew that profile picture for her. 【If you don’t cherish me, plenty of others will.】 【Sophie Shen, I’ve had enough. You don’t love me at all.】 【Let’s break up!】 The corners of my mouth couldn’t help rising. This was the sentence I was waiting for. I quickly replied with one word: 【Okay】 He angrily replied: 【Don’t regret it!】 I sent him a screenshot of my chat with Maya. Maya spared no effort in persuading me to break up with him, saying: 【Chris has bad grades, might not even get into college. You have no future with him.】 【When you get to university and meet better people, you will definitely regret it. Break up early.】 【His family just has a little money, far from real rich people!】 Chris’s chat box showed 【Typing…】 for a long time. Finally, he only sent me two sentences: 【Heh… she told you that?】 【Do you believe that if I just hook my finger, she’ll come running like a dog?】 I pretended to be angry and replied: 【You’re not allowed to slander my best friend like that!】 【She doesn’t even look at you, stop being delusional!】 I knew that with Chris’s temper, he would definitely go confess to Maya immediately. Sure enough, he soon sent me a screenshot of his successful confession to Maya. The next morning, Chris high-profiledly held Maya’s hand entering the school. The classmates who were moved by his deep confession to me last night were dumbfounded. Someone asked Chris: “What act is this? Didn’t you say last night you’d love Sophie Shen forever?” 4 Chris glanced at me, who was focused on memorizing words, and sneered: “I just suddenly realized I was chasing the wrong person.” He made up a melodramatic story. Saying he met a little girl when he was young and spent a wonderful day with her. They even exchanged tokens. Growing up, he met me and mistook me for the girl he knew back then. Only last night did the misunderstanding clear up; I took the token he gave Maya, causing him to mistake the person. After that, he rolled his eyes at me mockingly: “Cinderella’s sister cutting off her toes to fit the glass slipper is just deceiving herself.” “True love can overcome all difficulties. No matter how some people try to obstruct, the truth will come out one day.” Maya hid beside him with a shy face, smiling very sweetly. She also pretended to hit him lightly, saying: “Oh, don’t say that. Sophie didn’t mean it.” “She just liked you too much.” Chris kissed her on the cheek and said: “Baby, you are just too kind.” I was almost disgusted to death. Although I really wanted to help this pair of scumbag and bitch succeed, I couldn’t bear such infamy for no reason. I put down my book and asked with a smile: “What token is it?” Chris pointed to the necklace on my neck: “This one. You won’t deny that Maya gave it to you, right?” I looked down, then looked at Maya: “Didn’t your mom give this to you?” Maya gave me the necklace. Because for her birthday that year, I gave her a silver bracelet. Far more valuable than this silver necklace. Maya said aggrievedly: “I said that because I didn’t have money to buy a gift for your birthday.” “You know, my dad never gives me pocket money.” Chris held Maya’s hand heartachely and said to me: “Sophie Shen, that’s enough.” “Knowing Maya’s family situation, yet accepting her expensive gift, you are really cruel.” “And lying to me that this necklace was yours, making me think you were the one I was looking for.” The whole class looked at me with strange eyes. Maya neither explained for me nor agreed with Chris, just stood beside Chris with slightly red eyes. Letting me be slandered by Chris and criticized by classmates. “How can Sophie be like this?” “What plastic sisterhood, stabbing her best friend in the back.” “I thought she really took care of Maya, didn’t expect her to steal her boyfriend behind her back.” Chris looked at me triumphantly, very satisfied with the effect he created. “Sophie Shen, I hope you can apologize to me and Maya, and return all the gifts I gave you.” “Those things don’t belong to you. Won’t your conscience hurt taking them?” So he staged this not only to frame me but also to get back the money spent on me. As expected of him. Maya pulled him, acting green tea: “Chris, forget it… we are already together, other things are not important.” “Maybe this is a test from heaven for us. As for Sophie… I won’t blame her.” “Who made her my best friend!” After speaking, she walked up to me and said in an extremely disgusting tone: “Sophie, you will bless us, right?” “We’ll still be good friends in the future, okay?” Although I had long been disgusted with her and Chris. At this moment, I was still sickened by her. I didn’t want to embarrass her in public, but now… I directly took out my phone and sent the chat record between me and Chris last night to the class group. Chris and Maya naturally received it too. Their faces instantly became extremely ugly.

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I was a high-risk pregnancy, which might be why I have a hard time picking up on social cues. Like when I ordered pungent snail noodles to the office for lunch, and my boss, Ava, walked past my desk with a smirk. “Enjoying that, are we?” The next day, I ordered a bowl for her too. Or when I put in for time off and the HR manager asked me, three times, “Are you sure this is for a concert? Not a family emergency?” I nodded enthusiastically every single time. Everyone had written me off as a lost cause, which only made them treat me with a strange kind of protective pity. It wasn’t until the company’s funding dried up and the office was shrouded in a fog of despair that things changed. “I have an idea,” I announced. Everyone laughed. “Gigi, sweetie,” my deskmate said, patting my arm. “Don’t make things harder right now.” Why wouldn’t they believe me? I mean, how could someone this clueless be this cheerful if they weren’t from a well-off family? Besides… those fertility treatments don’t pay for themselves. 1 After half a year of job hunting with nothing to show for it, I was starting to panic. My family, however, remained annoyingly optimistic. “Don’t worry, honey. You have to believe in yourself,” they’d say. “You’re not lucky enough to stay unemployed forever.” So, for my next interview, I dove deep into the internet’s archives and unearthed a few “killer interview tips.” On the day of the interview, the lobby was packed with at least fifty other candidates, the air thick with the tense, crackling energy of overachievers. And then there was me, a golden retriever who’d wandered into a wolf den, just looking around with wide-eyed curiosity. When a broom leaning against the wall clattered to the floor, I saw my chance. I leaped up and set it right. I spotted a crumpled piece of paper on the office floor and, with a sense of purpose, picked it up and tossed it in the trash. At the end of the interview, I gave the panel a deep bow and proceeded to walk backward out of the conference room, only turning around when my head connected solidly with the doorframe. That night, my dad looked at me over his newspaper. “Let me guess, Gigi. You got those tips from some twenty-year-old issue of Reader’s Digest?” He was convinced that my brain, already scrambled by the fertility hormones used to create me, had now been further poisoned by corny self-help articles. A unique combination of clueless and gullible. “Who in their right mind,” he declared, “would ever hire you?” Someone did. When the HR manager called to offer me the job, her voice was laced with pure disbelief. I found out later what my boss, Ava, had actually said. “I’m surrounded by sharks, and I’m going crazy. Hire the ditzy one. She can be our mascot. At least then I won’t have the lowest IQ in the room anymore.” 2 It took less than a week for Ava to start questioning her decision. I was the kind of person who ate fermented tofu on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and slurped down pungent snail noodles on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That particular Tuesday, a smell like the city’s entire sewer system had exploded permeated the open-plan office. Ava clicked past on her designer heels, her brow furrowed so deeply you could lose a pen in there. She raised an eyebrow, the corner of her lip twitching in a sarcastic smirk. “Enjoying that, are we?” My mouth was too full to reply, so I just gave her a huge thumbs-up while continuing to devour my lunch. This place was the best! Ava’s eye twitched. Without another word, she spun on her heel and stalked away. Chloe, the woman in the next cubicle, couldn’t take it anymore. She rolled her chair over, pushing her glasses up her nose. “Gigi,” she whispered, “call me crazy, but I think she was hinting that you shouldn’t eat things with such a… potent aroma in the office. It’s affecting the, uh, work environment.” I finally tore my gaze from my bowl, my expression one of righteous indignation. “No way! She’s the boss. If she didn’t want me to eat it, she’d just say so. Why would she beat around the bush?” Chloe fell silent. She looked at me the way you’d look at a fluffy kitten right before it’s scheduled to be neutered. To prove my point, the next day at noon, I ordered the exact same snail noodles for Ava, thoughtfully requesting “mild spice.” When the delivery guy hung that fragrant, steaming bowl on her office doorknob, a hush fell over the entire company. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the explosion. But it never came. Ava didn’t yell at me, but she didn’t thank me either. The day passed in an unnervingly calm silence. The only difference was that the trash can in her office was overflowing with tissues, and the water cooler level seemed to drop at an alarming rate. 3 Despite my survival, a company-wide consensus was quickly reached: I was an irredeemable idiot. But I was a cheerful idiot who never got angry and was surprisingly generous. Sarah, the HR manager, called me in to discuss making my position permanent, gently suggesting I should try to keep a lower profile for a while. I didn’t understand, so I cheerfully handed her my time-off request form to sign. “Gigi, this reason…” Sarah’s eye started to twitch as she read the form. “‘To see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour’?” She looked up, her expression strained. “This is a cover for a ‘family emergency,’ right? Is someone sick? You? Your parents?” I was completely baffled. “Nope! Everyone’s great. My dad had three servings of lasagna last night.” Sarah looked like she was about to have an aneurysm. “Fine,” she snapped, signing the form with a flourish. “Take the time off. Let’s see how you’re going to get confirmed after this.” I was confirmed. When I came back, I brought a small gift for everyone. But the real kicker was the video I played from my phone. On the screen, Taylor Swift herself was holding a microphone, smiling into the camera. “I hear Gigi’s coworkers have been working really hard,” she said. “This one’s for you guys. You’re doing amazing, sweetie!” The office erupted. “OH MY GOD! I’ve loved her for more than ten years! SHE KNOWS MY NAME EXISTS IN THE UNIVERSE!” “Holy crap, Gigi! You’re the real deal!” “This is insane! The sweet girl was actually thinking of us!” And just like that, against all odds, I thrived. I’d give colleagues rides home in my “grocery-getter,” buy hot water bottles for the women on their periods, and even babysit for them when they had to work late. With all these redeeming qualities, my “stupidity” was rebranded in their eyes as “endearingly earnest.” 4 The atmosphere at our company was actually pretty great. Sure, Ava wore a permanent scowl, called us into her office one by one to tear us to shreds, and sarcastically compared our proposals to garbage and our presentation color schemes to funeral homes. She was ruthless. She’d even insult herself. But she was a good person. She hired women who were planning to have kids, gave generous maternity and nursing leave, and even allowed parents to bring their children to work if they were in a bind. More than that, at a networking dinner once, a greasy middle-aged client tried to grope Chloe, his hand creeping dangerously close to her thigh. Ava, who had been pouring wine, saw it happen. Without a second’s hesitation, she flung the entire contents of the bottle in his face. She looked at him, her voice dripping with ice. “I suggest you keep your hands to yourself. Unlike you, some of us prefer to make our money using our brains.” It was because of moments like that that everyone was fiercely loyal to her. But that temper of hers had made her a lot of enemies. Business started to decline, then plummet. Finally, this month, the reality hit: there wasn’t enough money left in the company account to make payroll. The shadow of bankruptcy loomed over every desk. The office was a graveyard of long faces and anxious sighs. The air was thick with the stench of impending unemployment. Even the owner of the snail noodle shop noticed. She texted me: [Gigi, honey, what’s going on? No orders from your office lately. You guys get tired of my food? I just launched a new double-egg, extra-pungent combo! Just say the word, and it’s on its way!] I thought for a moment, then replied: [Send two.] Half an hour later, I was carrying two bowls of destructively aromatic noodles toward Ava’s office when Chloe and Sarah intercepted me. “Are you insane? You’re going to poke the bear right now?” I shook them off and pushed the door open. Ava was drowning her sorrows in paperwork. Her desk was buried under files from potential partners, her hair was a mess from her running her hands through it, and her eyes were webbed with red veins. She didn’t even look up when I came in. Her voice was a low rasp. “Get out. Unless you want me to scream at you.” I didn’t listen. I opened the bag, pushed the extra-pungent bowl in front of her, and started fanning the fumes in her direction. Ava finally snapped, looking up to glare at me. But as the familiar, powerful scent assaulted her nostrils, her throat bobbed. Slowly, her gaze drifted from the list of partners to the bowl of crimson-slicked noodles. And my gaze drifted from the noodles to that list of partners. My eyes scanned the names and suddenly lit up. I recognized one! Hey, I know that guy! I pointed at the list, my voice bursting with excitement. “Ava, I have an idea!” Ava, her mouth now full of noodles, rolled her eyes. “What kind of idea could you possibly have?” she mumbled. “Bore them to death with your cluelessness? “Eat your food and stop messing around. This isn’t a joke. Now get out.” She kicked me out. Standing in the hallway, I felt a little hurt. Why didn’t she believe me? How could I be this clueless and still live such a sunny, carefree life if I didn’t have some connections? And besides… all that money my mom spent on fertility treatments to have me? That stuff is expensive! I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Hey, Dad. I’m craving that… what’s it called? Oh, right. I want you to meet my boss.” On the other end, my dad’s voice was cheerful. “Anything for my little princess. As long as you don’t quit and come home to take over the family business, you can have whatever you want.” Shortly after that call, Ava announced that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. 5 The next evening, the dinner meeting was set at the most exclusive VIP lounge in the city. Ava brought me and Chloe, the three of us walking in like soldiers heading into battle. When she saw the middle-aged man sitting alone in the private room, her hand trembled slightly. He was a legendary tycoon in our industry, notoriously reclusive and difficult to work with. But all I saw was a man in a polo shirt with a slight paunch, smiling warmly at me. My dad. From the moment I walked in, my dad’s attention was solely on me. He looked at me with an expression of pure fatherly affection before turning to Ava. “So, you must be the boss of… Gigi, was it? I hear she’s quite the character.” Ava quickly jumped in. “Yes, Mr. Reed. Gigi is the heart of our company. Her technical skills are still developing, but she’s incredibly sincere.” Throughout the meal, trying to be proactive, I kept pouring my dad wine. “Mr. Reed, you have to try this fish! It’s exceptionally fresh!” I stood up and spun the lazy Susan, aiming the fish head directly at him. “Mr. Reed, this is a fantastic vintage. You should have some more!” I stood up again, grabbing the decanter and filling his glass to the brim, nearly overflowing. My dad’s eye twitched as he looked at the glass, but under my fierce glare, he downed it in one gulp. “Mr. Reed, you have the face of a very kind man. I’m sure you’d be willing to support a small, ambitious company like ours, right?” My dad’s face was flushed from all the wine, but he was beaming. This was the first time his daughter had ever waited on him so attentively. Usually, he was the one peeling shrimp for me. Just as I leaned in to whisper in his ear and tell him to sign the contract already, my dad couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Excuse me,” he mumbled, clutching his stomach. “I need to use the restroom.” He scurried out of the room. The moment the door clicked shut, Ava’s face transformed. It was a mask of cold fury. She whipped her head around to face me, her voice like shards of ice. “Gigi Reed!” I jumped. “Yeah?” Ava took a deep breath, pointing a shaking finger toward the door. “What was that? Leaning in close, forcing wine on him, whispering in his ear? Did you think I was blind?” I was completely lost. “I was just building rapport…” “Building rapport?” Ava let out a bitter, humorless laugh, but her eyes were turning red. “Let me tell you something. Even if this company goes bankrupt tomorrow, even if I have to spend the rest of my life delivering food to pay off my debts, I will never, ever need you to sell yourself to some old man!” She grabbed her purse and my wrist in one swift motion, pulling me toward the door with surprising strength. “Industry leader? What a disgusting pig! He’s old enough to be her father, and he’s trying to get his hands on my employee.” “Let’s go! This investment isn’t worth it! Disgusting!” I stumbled after her, catching a glimpse of her back—straight and proud, but trembling ever so slightly. A wave of warmth washed over me. Wow. My boss is terrifying, but she’s also kind of a badass. But… my dad was still in the bathroom. This misunderstanding felt… significant.

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Ten years after my death, the man responsible for thirteen murders was finally arrested. The trial was broadcast live. He stared into the camera, confessing to his crimes, one by one, detailing where he’d hidden the bodies. But when he got to the ninth victim, a strange, chilling smile spread across his face. “She was the most pathetic one I ever dealt with. And the one who most deserved to die,” he said, his eyes glinting. “I want to see every single member of her family, right here, in thirty minutes. If you fail, I will retract my entire confession.” He leaned closer to the microphone. “You will never find the remaining bodies, and this case will remain a mystery forever.” The internet erupted. My name, Nora Shaw, flashed across the screen as a nationwide search for my family began. Liam Carter, his face contorted with fury, slammed his police cap onto the table. He snatched his phone and barked into it: “Nora, you’ve been living it up overseas for ten years! Why do you still hate the family who exposed you for who you are?!” “Hiring a serial killer to act out this pathetic drama just to get our attention? Is that what you’ve sunk to?” … A decade had done much to chisel away the boyishness of Liam, now the captain of the Homicide Division. His anger was a low, controlled inferno. “Annabelle and I are getting married tomorrow. I’ve put up with your nonsense for ten years, Nora. Did you have to stir up trouble now, of all times?” “No one is going to play your games anymore!” If I were the Nora of the past, I would have stammered an apology. But the Nora who had been dead for a decade couldn’t answer him. “Sorry, the number you have dialed is…” The mechanical voice on the other end reminded him that I had supposedly left the country ten years ago. My old phone number was long deactivated. His rage dissipated into nothing, like a punch thrown at smoke. Frustrated, Liam snatched his cap, jammed it on his head, and settled back into his seat, his features once again a mask of cold professionalism. Someone in the online chat remembered me. “Nora Shaw? The genius architect? She vanished right after the groundbreaking for the Cross-River Bridge project.” “So she didn’t just vanish. A serial killer got her!” “She wasn’t even twenty-five. Such a brilliant mind lost too soon.” The chat filled with condolences for me. But Liam, usually the pillar of composure, shot to his feet. He had to correct the “rumors.” “Nora Shaw did not vanish,” he announced, his voice sharp and clear. “She was exposed as a fake heiress. She abandoned everything here and fled the country to enjoy her new life!” “The Cross-River Bridge was nearly a catastrophic failure because she irresponsibly abandoned the project.” “It was only thanks to the real heiress, Annabelle Shaw, who stepped in at the last minute and dedicated ten years of her life to it, that the bridge can finally open to traffic tomorrow.” At the mention of Annabelle, he completely forgot his professional demeanor. He was like a flustered young man, desperately defending his sweetheart’s honor. It was just like the day he received his first commendation. He’d grabbed my hand, pulled me onto the stage with him, and declared to the entire auditorium: “This is Nora Shaw, the most brilliant architect in Northwood, and my fiancée.” “Half of this medal,” he’d proclaimed, “belongs to her!” He unpinned the gleaming bronze medal from his own chest and carefully fastened it to mine. Amid the cheers and whistles of his colleagues, Liam, his face flushed, had leaned in and kissed me. How times had changed. The leading man was the same, but the woman he cherished was now someone else. The medals and commendations now belonged to another. That sincere heart, which had once moved me to tears, had been given, whole and unblemished, to Annabelle. Now, when he spoke my name, his face was a mask of undisguised disgust. “Nora, even if you paid this murderer to claim he killed you, I will never believe it!” “You’d better show your face and end this farce, or you will be charged with obstruction of justice!” He shot a cold, piercing glare at the killer. “Where,” he demanded, each word a block of ice, “is Nora Shaw?!” His colleagues flinched, averting their eyes from his fury. Only the killer met his gaze, a smirk playing on his lips. “I told you, Captain. You want to know where I put her body? You have thirty minutes to bring me her family.” He pointed a finger at the clock on the wall, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. “Ten minutes have already passed. I’d advise you to make the most of the time you have left.” The killer’s chilling threat sent a wave of fear through the online audience. Within minutes, the internet was flooded with posts searching for my relatives. “Don’t let Nora Shaw deceive you!” Liam’s voice cut through the noise, calm and authoritative, as he laid out his preconceived verdict. “Nora is doing this because she’s jealous that I broke off our engagement and am marrying Annabelle.” “I once stood on the riverbank and swore to Annabelle that the day the Cross-River Bridge opened would be our wedding day.” “She timed this entire spectacle to ruin our wedding tomorrow. That’s all this is!” He glared at the screen, his face a mask of righteous pain. I could almost hear his thoughts: Nora, you lived Annabelle’s life as the heiress for nearly thirty years. What more could you possibly want? “Liam!” The courtroom doors burst open. Annabelle stood there, soaked to the bone by a sudden downpour. Liam immediately shrugged off his uniform jacket and draped it over her shoulders. His eyes softened with concern. “What are you doing here in this storm? I told you I’d come see you after work.” There was a subtle tension in his voice, a desperate need to protect the trembling woman in his arms from any further harm. Liam’s gaze snapped back to the camera. “Nora, you see this? You’ve made Annabelle miserable. Are you satisfied now?” Annabelle, her face pale, shook her head and clutched his sleeve. “It’s perfectly normal for my sister to resent me, Liam. Please, don’t blame her.” She pulled out a file, carefully wrapped in a waterproof covering, and held it up to the camera. “Nora, sister, if you’re angry that I took over the Cross-River Bridge project, I’ll make it right. At the opening ceremony tomorrow, I will have the organizers announce you as the lead architect.” “Please, just stop making things difficult for Liam. He’s just trying to do his job, to keep people safe!” There wasn’t a trace of resentment in her voice as she defended me. Her eyes even shimmered with unshed tears. Paired with her drenched, fragile appearance, she was the picture of pitiable grace. Instantly, the comments section flipped, filled with sympathy for her and anger at me. “Nora Shaw is a monster, tormenting the real heiress like this for her own selfish games.” “Must be nice living it up abroad. Guess she has enough money to hire murderers for entertainment.” But the Cross-River Bridge project… Annabelle had stolen it from me. The day she took my blueprints, her voice was sharp with entitlement. “Sister, you pretended to be me for thirty years. Think of this as a little interest on the debt you owe me.” Shortly after, the lead architect’s name on all the internal project documents was changed to Annabelle Shaw. “Nora! Have you not caused enough trouble? Do you have to destroy Annabelle’s life to be satisfied?” Liam roared, his hand going to his service weapon. He drew it, the click of the safety echoing in the tense room, and pressed the muzzle to the killer’s head. “You like theatrics? Fine. I’ll play along. Tell me, where is Nora Shaw’s body?!” “Captain, don’t!” His fellow officers surged forward, trying to disarm him. The killer remained unfazed. He even seemed amused by Liam’s incandescent rage. “I’ve seen all the relatives from that photograph. Bring every single one of them here, or I confess to nothing.” “Photograph? What photograph?” Liam was completely lost. Of course he was. He had been in countless photos—work photos, award ceremony photos. How could he possibly remember one insignificant picture? But that photo was the only family portrait I ever had. After Annabelle was welcomed back as the true heiress, our two families had posed for one picture. My adoptive parents—her biological parents—and my biological parents all stood smiling, clustered around Annabelle, leaving an awkward, empty space around me. Even so, I had treasured that strangely composed photograph, keeping it with me for years. When I returned to my biological family, my parents could barely spare me a smile. They eventually gave up everything to move to Northwood, just to be closer to Annabelle. They only returned to our hometown of Southport for one day a year, for ancestral rites, and even then, they complained endlessly about the three-hour detour. “If only there were a bridge across the river, connecting Northwood and Southport,” they’d sigh. “Then we could see Annabelle every day.” Because of those words, I turned down a lucrative offer from a top engineering firm overseas. I poured every ounce of my being into making the Cross-River Bridge a reality. The day the project was officially greenlit, I walked out of the temporary construction housing I’d lived in for over two hundred days and went home for the first time to share the good news with my biological parents. Blinded by joy, I didn’t notice the man following me. By the time I saw the knife in his hand and tried to run, it was too late. The door to my home, my only sanctuary, was just a step away. But my parents had changed the lock, installing a new keypad. The cold, metal door blocked my escape. I died on my own doorstep. The half-inch threshold, as I fell, felt like an insurmountable mountain. “Nora, darling, Mommy and Daddy are so sorry we’re late!” An elderly couple stumbled into the courtroom, weeping for the camera. “You’ve been abroad for ten years. Can’t you let go of your resentment for us?” “Let it go, child.” I’d heard those words a thousand times. Hadn’t I let go of enough? I let go of my identity as the heiress and went back to them. I let go of a brilliant career overseas to build their precious bridge. I let go of the blueprints I had bled over for years, handing my reputation to Annabelle. For Liam, I had even let go of my own life. What else was there for me to let go of? Liam banged his fist on the table. “Talk!” he snarled at the killer. The killer shot him a disdainful look and slammed his own fist down, the sound echoing like a gunshot. “Are you trying to fool me with actors? Her real parents aren’t here yet!” I blinked, a bitter laugh catching in my non-existent throat. Ten years. I’d forgotten what my own parents looked like, so much so that I hadn’t recognized these impostors. A vein throbbed in Liam’s temple. “Her biological parents are in Southport, and her adoptive parents are in Northwood! The bridge doesn’t open until tomorrow, and there’s a torrential storm outside! How am I supposed to get them here?” The killer just smiled. “Then I thank you for the opportunity to retract my confession, Captain.” He glanced at the clock. “You have six minutes left.” The public was outraged by Liam’s coldness. Countless volunteers in both cities started searching for my parents. Fearing a public relations nightmare, Liam finally relented. He coordinated with the department to dispatch a helicopter to pick up both sets of parents. “Thirty seconds left,” the killer announced smugly, propping his feet up on the table. “Three…” “Two…” “One!” On the final second, the courtroom doors were thrown open. A collective sigh of relief filled the room. My adoptive and biological parents walked in, arm in arm, unhurried. The first person they looked for was Annabelle. “Oh, my sweet girl, did you get caught in the rain?” “Are you cold, Annie?” When my name was mentioned, it was with a sneer. “Nora dead? Don’t be ridiculous. She’s probably sunbathing on a beach somewhere.” Liam’s patience finally snapped. He grabbed the killer by the collar. “Talk!” he roared. The killer looked at the circle of people before him and laughed, a low, guttural sound. “She really was pathetic…” The audience murmured in confusion. The killer looked up, his voice suddenly clear and loud, and finally revealed my resting place. “Her body is sealed in the concrete of the central pier of the Cross-River Bridge.” In the dead silence that followed, Liam let out a choked, mocking laugh. “Nora, I thought you had a better trick up your sleeve than this.” “Ten years, and you still haven’t grown out of these jealous games.” “You orchestrated this entire elaborate drama just to make me destroy Annabelle’s masterpiece, just to stop our wedding.” But amidst the suffocating tension, the killer began to speak again, his voice chillingly calm. “Before I killed her, she had a chance to live.” It was true. I did.

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“Have you heard? A female patient came to the ER in the middle of the night, something got stuck inside her!” A nurse nearby chimed in with a gossipy look: “I just saw it too, seems like her boyfriend carried her in. Tsk tsk, that man looks so cold and abstinent, really couldn’t tell he plays so wild in private.” I watched a few people gathering together with great interest, couldn’t help frowning: “Talk less about patient privacy, forgot the hospital rules?” At this time, people from the ER rushed over to ask for my help, grabbing my sleeve and running. Thought it was some tricky situation, but heard delicate crying outside the ER: “I don’t want a male doctor, no! No!” Just about to push the door in, but heard a familiar comforting voice: “Mia, don’t be afraid, I’ve asked them to find a female doctor.” My hand pushing the door paused, froze on the spot. The doctor beside me opened the door without knowing why, I finally saw the scene inside clearly. My husband of 6 years was holding the girl I sponsored in his arms, gently patting her back to comfort her. I tried my best to control tears from falling, voice trembling questioning: “Julian, did you sponsor her into your bed?” …… Chapter 1 With this question, the emergency room fell into a deathly silence. The doctor beside me instinctively let go, and the door slammed shut with a “bang”, waking everyone present. Seeing them frozen on the spot, the panic on their faces almost impossible to hide. I continued to mock: “What, surprised to see me here?” Mia’s tears fell as if they were free, apologizing to me aggrievedly and flusteredly: “Ava, I’m sorry. Don’t misunderstand, I was too scared so I called Brother Julian.” Before I could speak, Julian stepped forward to block her, impatiently defending: “Mia is still young, she’s uncomfortable and scared now, don’t scare her.” Seeing my face look bad, he softened his tone again: “You came just in time, Mia doesn’t want to be seen by a male doctor. You help her take the thing out first, I’ll explain other things to you later.” I took a deep breath, not wanting colleagues to see my wretched state. “In the eyes of doctors, there is no gender distinction, doctors in the ER are very professional…” Julian’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter, interrupting me directly, eyes full of annoyance: “Making trouble unreasonably also depends on the occasion, Mia is so uncomfortable now, can’t you be a bit more sensible.” Seeing the atmosphere deadlocked, a colleague hurried forward to smooth things over: “It’s just a simple hysteroscopy surgery, how about I call other doctors on duty in gynecology?” Julian was about to relent, but Mia’s deliberate cry of pain made his expression change: “No need, just let Ava do it, Mia’s situation is not suitable for waiting too long.” In the emergency room, everyone’s eyes instantly fell on me, waiting for me to make a decision. I looked at the man opposite who turned around on his own, gently comforting Mia, and didn’t want to entangle anymore. So, I turned to give instructions to the nurse: “Go prepare the operating room and equipment for hysteroscopy, give the patient local anesthesia.” When turning to leave, my clothes were grabbed by Julian with a gloomy face: “Wait, where are you going?” I suppressed the bitterness in my heart, looking straight into his eyes: “Going to do preoperative preparation for your precious Mia, can I?” He subconsciously avoided my gaze, brows slightly furrowed: “What nonsense are you talking about? Don’t ruin the girl’s reputation!” I stared at him blankly for a few seconds, finally said nothing, turned and left quietly. Chapter 2 Out of the emergency room, a little nurse came over to gossip: “Dr. Jiang knows those two people? Your temper is too good, that man’s tone is like ordering people.” “Couldn’t tell? That’s my husband, and the female student I sponsored.” The little nurse was stunned on the spot upon hearing this, muttering to herself: “This is too explosive…” Because of local anesthesia, Mia remained awake during the surgery. After the thing stuck inside was taken out, she suddenly begged me timidly: “Ava, I want to talk to you alone, can I?” My hand packing up equipment paused slightly, looked up and told others: “You guys go busy, I’ll handle the postoperative observation this time.” Soon, only Mia and I were left in the postoperative recovery room. Facing this girl I started sponsoring before the college entrance exam, my mood was very complicated. “Speak, what do you want to talk to me about?” Mia’s expression instantly changed from pitiful to provocative. “What else can we talk about? Ava, you still want to play dumb at this time. So what if you’re married, you’re already an old woman, Brother Julian loves me now, I advise you to divorce quickly, don’t try to bind him with marriage and children.” I looked at her current appearance, extremely disappointed inside. “I sponsored your studies, giving you the opportunity to come to the big city for higher education, not for you to shamelessly be a mistress.” She curled her lips indifferently: “You can take out money to sponsor me, isn’t it because Brother Julian supports you. But now the person he loves is me, do you know how passionate and powerful he is in bed? You are old and yellow, he probably doesn’t even want to touch you now!” Listening to Mia’s self-righteous remarks, I finally realized that although I brought her out of the poor and feudal mountains, I still failed to change her ignorance. I couldn’t help chuckling, tidied up her bangs soaked in sweat, leaned close to her ear and whispered: “Mia, how many years can you be young? Moreover, how dare you let me perform surgery on you? Aren’t you worried about missing something, or having something extra in your body?” Chapter 3 Watching her triumphant expression crack bit by bit, becoming panicked and scared. I curled my lips slightly. Of course I wouldn’t bet my career for her. But being able to disgust her a bit still made my mood slightly happier. Back in the ward. Mia kept clamoring, insisting on a full body checkup. I ignored her, turned to look at Julian standing outside the ward, and spoke lightly: “Come to the office, let’s talk.” He followed me silently into the office, then locked the door. I took off my white coat, watching his action of locking the door, couldn’t help mocking: “Seems you also know how shameful what you did is.” Julian pursed his lips, automatically ignored my words, changing the subject casually: “Why are you here?” He stood there tall and straight, expression clear, couldn’t find a trace of panic. Clearly still that cold and abstinent look, but I just felt he was very dirty. A depressed qi blocked my chest, my tone of speaking carried a bit of self-mockery: “Why else, you always complained the previous hospital was far from home. In order to facilitate taking care of you and our daughter, I specially gave up promotion this time, applying to transfer to a hospital closer to home.” Hearing this, Julian’s gaze slightly restrained, voice softened a bit: “This is a good thing, why didn’t you tell me in advance.” “Of course I wanted to give you a surprise.” I smiled: “But looking at it now, maybe it’s a fright.” Perhaps my repeated sarcasm finally annoyed him. Julian raised his hand to rub his eyebrows, sighed helplessly: “Ava, I clearly explained, why are you unwilling to believe me?” His tone was sincere, without even a trace of guilt. In the past, as long as Julian showed impatience. Even if it clearly wasn’t my fault, I would compromise and bow my head. But this time is different. I lowered my eyes to hide the sourness in my eyes, roaring with a clearly trembling voice: Chapter 4 “Julian, if you really have a clear conscience, why not go to a hospital close to Mia’s home? You dare not go, because that’s where I worked before, you are afraid of being discovered by me.” The office suddenly quieted down, Julian looked at me complicatedly, lips trembled slightly but didn’t speak. In the silence I spoke again, voice hoarse and scary: “Let’s separate and calm down for a while.” Thought he would agree, but came his slightly tired voice: “What about our daughter? How are you going to explain to her? Ava, you should also be mature, sometimes you don’t need to be so smart. Think about the child, don’t be too serious.” A roar in my ears, brain blank, forgot what I answered at that time. Only remember, before leaving Julian said: “I’ll go stay in a hotel first, you just tell our daughter I’m on a business trip, teaching at a university out of town.” Don’t remember how I got home. Muddle-headed, I was already sitting by my daughter’s bed. Watching her peaceful and cute sleeping face, struggling constantly inside. Really want to compromise? For daughter, for this family, silently accept Julian’s infidelity. Is this right? Until retreating from my daughter’s room, I didn’t figure it out. When receiving Mia’s message, I was sitting on the living room sofa in a daze. [Ava, don’t think you won!] [You only dare to scare me, what’s the use? I cried a bit, Brother Julian arranged a full body checkup for me, and accompanied me throughout.] [Why don’t I invite you to see something fun, let you see clearly how riddled with holes the marriage you insist on is.] Next, were dozens of unbearable explicit private photos, and a recording. Clicking on the recording she sent, in the empty living room, Julian’s enduring restrained voice sounded: “Lower your waist a bit more.” Another voice sounding like coquetry and begging for mercy sounded: “Professor Julian, student really wrong, trouble be lighter.” Julian’s voice was hoarse, full of lust: “Shut up, don’t add drama.” “Don’t you like it?” The opposite didn’t answer, but punished with practical actions, making her voice broken by impact, couldn’t say a complete sentence anymore. In the recording, the ambiguous sounds of men and women making love continued. I forced myself to listen like self-abuse.

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