Category: English

Back in high school, flush with my family’s cash, I kind of “sponsored” this poor genius kid. Ethan Hayes. I remember him back then, fists clenched white, defiant but helpless against the situation. Then my family went bankrupt. To salvage the last shred of my pride, I dumped him flat. Fast forward a few years. I was juggling part-time gigs trying to pay off mountains of debt. He became a tech mogul, worth millions. Someone asked him once if there was anyone he couldn’t forget. He just leaned back, all lazy confidence, and said, “Not really.” But then, when I was about to marry someone else just to clear my debts, he suddenly seemed to have second thoughts. 01 I never expected to see Ethan Hayes again like this. There he was, sharp suit and all, standing right in front of my little food cart. Three years. It felt like a lifetime. Jessica Bell stood beside him, looking perfect in a white sundress. They shared a black umbrella against the sun, looking annoyingly picture-perfect. My hands trembled as I tried to make a breakfast burrito. I pulled the brim of my cap down lower, praying he wouldn’t recognize my face. “Easy on the hot sauce,” Ethan’s voice came from above me. My hand froze mid-scoop. The tongs loosened, and the jalapeños tumbled back into the container. I love spicy food. He doesn’t. Back when we were together, I always used to push him to try it. He never fought me on it, just grimaced and swallowed. Back then, I thought I was melting his defenses, that he was willing to change for me, accommodate me. Later events proved I’d just been fooling myself. Jessica clung to his side, her perfectly made-up face wrinkled in disgust. “Ethan, honey, if you’re craving a burrito, I can have our chef whip one up. You don’t need to buy this… street food.” Ethan didn’t say anything, just watched my hands work. Those few minutes felt like an eternity under a spotlight. Only when I finally slid the wrapped burrito into a paper bag and handed it to him did I dare to look up. “That’ll be twelve bucks for the Supreme Deluxe.” I tried to keep my voice low and gravelly, thanking God for the face mask I was wearing. Hopefully, he wouldn’t place my voice. But Jessica peered at me, then hooked her arm through Ethan’s possessively. “You know, Ethan,” she said sweetly, “the more I look at her, the more she reminds me of Ava Miller. You haven’t forgotten her, have you?” My heart leaped into my throat. Even bundled up like this, she could tell? Ethan didn’t respond to her directly. He took the burrito and tapped his phone to pay. Jessica wouldn’t let it go, her voice dripping with faux concern. “I just worry about you, sweetie. After how she humiliated you, then dumped you… and now you’re so successful. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if she ended up selling food on some street corner?” Her words stung. I was about to tell them I was closing up, tell them to just leave. But then Jessica reached out, aiming for my hat. For a split second, I froze. Her hand came closer, inch by inch. Right in front of my face. Her fingers brushed the brim. One sharp tug, and my face would be exposed. “Hey! Can I get like, five breakfast burritos, loaded?” Saved by a customer. Thank God. The interruption stopped Jessica cold. Ethan gently pressed the back of her hand down. His voice was cool, detached. “Hardly unforgettable.” They left. Jessica slid into the passenger seat of Ethan’s sleek car. It pulled away, heading towards the gleaming office towers across the street. The old me would have thrown a fit. I never let anyone else sit in his passenger seat. But I didn’t have that right anymore. Besides, back then, I was the one calling all the shots, forcing him into things. 02 I first met Ethan Hayes in senior year of high school. My parents, obsessed with my grades, pulled me out of my cushy private prep school and threw me into Northwood High, known for its killer college acceptance rate. Ethan and I ended up in the same class. Most kids prepping for the SATs looked drained and gray, but at least they were fed and clothed. Ethan, though… hot or cold, he always wore the same faded, almost translucent school sweatshirt and jeans. He stuck out. It was a level of hardship I couldn’t comprehend. Me? If a t-shirt collar looked weird after washing, I tossed it. My winter coats barely saw a second season. But when he stood up, tall and lean, his eyes fixed on the blackboard with this intense hope… it got to me. When he recited poetry for English class, his voice was low and captivating. And after helping me finally crack a killer calculus problem, he’d flash this smile, dimples and all. Yeah, I was crushing hard. I heard from other kids that Ethan’s situation was rough. Parents gone, just an elderly grandmother he lived with. I didn’t grasp the reality of poverty back then. Not until Ethan missed a whole week of school. When I finally went to his house, I understood what an incredible feat it was for him to even be in high school. His grandmother, nearly blind, had fallen and broken her leg. The apartment had crumbling plaster walls and a leaky roof. It just screamed hardship, highlighting the kid’s quiet resilience. So, one morning, I cornered him outside his place. In my most commanding, rich-girl voice, I said: “Ethan Hayes, I think you’re a responsible guy, and I kind of like you. Tutor me for the rest of senior year, I’ll give you fifty thousand dollars. The day we graduate, we start dating. Deal?” He just stared at me like I was insane. “I’d help you study even if you didn’t offer money, Ava.” Then he just walked away. But my ‘charitable spirit’ wouldn’t let me quit. I pursued him relentlessly. He only caved when his grandmother’s eyesight completely failed, diagnosed with severe glaucoma. The medical bills were piling up. “Five thousand,” he said, his voice tight. “I just need to borrow five thousand.” I immediately transferred $20,000 into an account I set up for him. “What’s mine is yours,” I told him breezily. Besides the medical costs, there were caregiver fees, and college tuition was looming. I thought this would genuinely help him. His fists were clenched again, like he was steeling himself for something. I knew he dreamed of a bigger world, but he couldn’t abandon his grandmother. So I insisted he apply to the same university as me. No long-distance relationships allowed. I moved his grandmother into a better apartment, hired a full-time caregiver. I genuinely thought I was doing him a favor. Only later did I realize I was just crushing his pride again and again with my money. In college, he worked himself to the bone – tutoring, odd jobs, anything to make cash. Until my birthday that year. He nervously pulled out a debit card. “There’s five thousand in here,” he mumbled. “To start paying you back.” I was furious. I thought we were a team, beyond keeping score. And here he was, drawing lines between ‘mine’ and ‘yours.’ I threw the card back at him and stormed off. After that, the whispers started. People called him a “kept man,” giving him knowing smirks. But it didn’t faze him. He just kept working, kept studying. I chewed out the jerks spreading rumors. Then I confronted him, frustrated. “Why don’t you defend yourself? Tell them you’re my boyfriend!” He just gave me a faint, sad smile. It wasn’t until my own family went bankrupt, until I was drowning in debt myself, that I finally understood. When life beats you down that hard, you don’t have the energy to get worked up over petty gossip. My life had been carefree. I never worried about money. People always flattered me. I couldn’t possibly have understood Ethan’s reality back then. Senior year of college, my world collapsed. All the people who’d fawned over me suddenly turned cold. The whispers and laughter came from every direction. It was my first real taste of how cruel people could be. I had always held my head high in front of Ethan. I couldn’t let him see me like this. It was the last shred of pride I had left. I called him, interrupting his internship, acting deliberately difficult. Then I coldly broke up with him. Ethan just stared at me, his eyes locked on mine. His voice, when it finally came, was barely a whisper on the wind. A soft “Okay.” And just like that, four years ended. No fights, no ‘why.’ Just two flat words severing our entire youth. Watching him walk away, silhouetted against the light, I convinced myself he was happy. Relieved, even. Finally free. No debts owed, no ties binding him. We could go our separate ways. I cut off all contact, left town, bounced around the country, never staying anywhere long. It wasn’t until a final piece of family business required me to come back that I returned, reluctantly, to this city. Ethan’s resilience and drive were incredible. Achieving what he had in just three years… he deserved it. And Jessica Bell – she’d left for a prestigious music conservatory overseas sophomore year to chase her dream. Now she was a renowned pianist. Seeing them together… yeah, they looked good. A sour knot formed in my stomach. Too many thoughts, too many regrets. After selling the last burrito to that customer, I started packing up my cart. And just when you think things can’t get worse, the battery on my beat-up electric delivery scooter died. There’s this steep hill on the way back to my place. No juice, no way up. I put my shoulder into it, straining with all my might, pushing the damn thing inch by painful inch. Suddenly, a hand appeared on the other side, pushing alongside me. “No one helping you out?” My heart seized. It was Ethan’s voice. 03 My throat closed up. I just froze, stuck in my pushing stance. Ethan’s lips were pressed into a thin line. He didn’t say anything else, just helped me push. “Why the food cart?” he asked casually, like we were just chatting about the weather. “Just picking up extra work. Make ends meet.” “Seems tough, though. Out in the sun and all that.” “You get used to it,” I mumbled, my voice hoarse. By the time we reached the top of the hill, I was drenched in sweat, face dripping. But I didn’t dare take off my hat or mask. I had no idea if, after three years, he could still recognize me. They were my shields, my pathetic cover. “Right,” he said lightly. “Me, I could never let my girlfriend work this hard. She just has to pout a little, and I’d give her anything.” So, they were that close, huh? My throat felt dry. I just nodded slowly. “So, where’s your boyfriend?” he pressed. “Why isn’t he here helping?” “I can manage on my own.” “Thanks for the help.” I swung onto the scooter seat, ready to make a break for it. Ethan actually let out a short, frustrated laugh. His long arm reached over, plucked the key right out of the ignition. “Where do you think you’re going this time?” “My runaway princess, Ava Miller.” His voice had an edge now, his face darkening. He pulled me back towards him. Like a storm cloud gathering, barely holding back the fury. “Graduated college and vanished. Cut off everyone, even moved out of your family home.” “You really know how to play games, Ava.” He bit off each word, making my scalp tingle. I dropped my gaze, feeling the warmth drain from my body. My voice trembled. “You… you must know. My family went bankrupt. House, cars, everything gone to pay debts. Still owe a fortune.” I forced myself to meet his eyes, trying not to look completely pathetic. “So you just ran? Disappeared for three whole years.” “Ava, did you think I wasn’t good enough to face this with you?” “Or was it your pride? Couldn’t stand showing weakness in front of me?” I shook my head mechanically. “I just…” Before I could finish, a sleek Maybach whispered past us. The window rolled down, revealing Jessica’s perfect face. “Ethan! What are you doing way out here?” “Oh! You found Ava! See, I told you I recognized her.” I stood there awkwardly, feeling completely out of place. The three of us – a stark contrast. Me, sweaty and grubby; them, effortlessly glamorous. “So, where have you been keeping yourself?” Jessica asked, dripping fake sweetness. “Lost touch with all your old classmates.” “Traveling around the country,” I mumbled. “I see,” Jessica said, her eyes sweeping over me, taking in my oil-stained apron. “But what’s going on now? Selling… street food? We all graduated from State U, Ava. Ending up like this… it’s a bit embarrassing, don’t you think?” She giggled, covering her mouth. I looked down at myself. Yeah, the apron was gross. Her question was designed to strip away my last bit of dignity. But three years of scraping by had numbed me. “There’s no shame in earning an honest living,” I said flatly. Jessica nodded, feigning sympathy. “Are you in some kind of trouble? We’re old friends, let me help you out.” She held out a business card. “That’s my number. Text me your bank details, I’ll send you ten thousand dollars.” I didn’t take it. Just stared at her. She added, looking at Ethan with adoration, “Ethan and I are getting married soon. You should come cater our engagement party with your… burritos. For old times’ sake.” I followed her gaze to Ethan. His composed expression cracked, just for a second. “Well, congratulations,” I managed, forcing a smile. “Funny, I have some good news coming up myself.” 04 The burrito cart was just my side hustle. During normal work hours, I had an actual office job. My team lead rushed in, flustered, handing out assignments. “Okay people, listen up! This is a huge potential client. We cannot screw this up.” “The game company they founded? Every release is a blockbuster. This partnership has to happen.” After the lead left, my coworkers started buzzing. “I heard the CEO personally developed their flagship game three years ago. Something about unlocking territories all over the world to finally rescue the person he loves.” “Yeah, the rumor is the whole concept was inspired by his ex-girlfriend. The final level is supposed to be a message he wants to tell her.” “Aww, still hung up on his ex? That’s kind of sweet, actually. I stan a loyal rich guy.” A horrible feeling started creeping up my spine. No way. It couldn’t be that much of a coincidence. “Has anyone actually beaten it? Gotten to the last level?” “Nope. Highest score on the leaderboard is stuck on the second-to-last stage. Nobody’s ever finished it.” “Man, who’s the girl who has this billionaire boss so whipped?” “…” I tried to shake off the unease and went downstairs with my colleagues to greet the ‘big client.’ My boss was practically bowing, walking beside Ethan Hayes, showering him with compliments about our company. Ethan frowned slightly. “Your company’s scale might be a bit… small for our needs. I’ll need to think about it.” My boss’s forehead broke out in sweat. Then Ethan’s eyes scanned the crowd and landed squarely on me. His tone shifted immediately. “Ava Miller?” Every head snapped in my direction. “Ava? You know Mr. Hayes?” my boss asked, surprised. I hesitated, then said cautiously, “We went to the same university.” Ethan let out a cold little laugh. “Oh? Just university mates?” I recognized that expression. He was annoyed. Why? What did I say wrong? Suddenly, he turned back to my boss. “Mr. Davison, perhaps we can discuss this partnership further. But I want her to be the project lead.” My boss, seeing a lifeline, practically tripped over himself agreeing. Didn’t even ask me. Ethan seemed pleased with that reaction. The two of them disappeared into an office for ages. I watched the clock. Almost quitting time. I clocked out and turned to leave. And walked straight into a solid chest. “Where do you think you’re going?” Ethan again. “It’s quitting time.” “Our project discussion isn’t finished.” “Well, I still have to leave on time. I’ve got things to do.” “What’s more important than work?” “The grocery store down the street has a big sale starting at 7 PM. There’s a lot I need to get, and if I’m late, all the good stuff will be gone.” Ethan just stared at me, genuine surprise in his eyes. 05 I used to buy things without ever looking at the price tag. It was all about mood. When Ethan and I went shopping back then, I’d grab anything I liked, swipe my card without a second thought. We’d often stagger home loaded with bags. A single shirt I bought casually probably cost more than his entire wardrobe for the year. And I never thought my ‘generosity’ could be a burden. Until one time I went to find him at his off-campus place. It was this tiny basement room, not even a proper bed. Taped to the wall were flyers listing discount days at nearby grocery stores. On his little table, the bottled water, the fruit – all bought during sales. A bag of rice, a jug of oil – marked with the purchase date and how long they should last. He looked so mortified when I showed up. I couldn’t believe it. “Ethan, stuff on sale like that… it can’t be good quality! You shouldn’t be using this.” He looked incredibly awkward, mumbling defensively, “It’s edible. It works. It’s fine.” Exasperated, I dragged him to the biggest department store. Bought him a small bed frame, mattress, tons of groceries, toiletries. When we were picking out bedding, I told him to lie down, test it out. He just stood there rigidly, clutching the hem of his shirt, brushing off imaginary dust before daring to approach the display bed. I didn’t understand his discomfort then. Now, I got it. That feeling of helpless inadequacy. Today, by the time I got to the grocery store sale, I was already late. I tried to elbow my way through the crowd, but I was no match for the speed and determination of the seasoned bargain hunters – mostly senior citizens. I started to panic. The roof in my rented room leaked when it rained. My mattress was soaked. All I wanted, desperately, was to buy a cheap comforter so I could sleep on the floor tonight. The harder I pushed forward, the more the crowd shoved me back. Someone jostled me hard, and I stumbled, falling to the floor. A heavy foot landed squarely on the back of my hand. Suddenly, Ethan was there, appearing out of nowhere, pulling me up. I quickly hid my swelling hand inside my sleeve, trying to rejoin the fray. He muttered something under his breath, then grabbed my arm firmly. His eyes looked a little red at the corners, his voice rough. “Come on.” “Do you have to buy it here?” I just nodded mutely. … Later, at the checkout, Ethan pulled out a sleek black credit card. The cashier looked utterly baffled. Rich people fighting over discount bedding?

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Seriously, out of over 300 million people in the US, you probably couldn’t find someone having worse luck than me. First, I didn’t get into grad school. Then, the guy I chased for three whole years finally became my boyfriend, only to dump me less than three months later to study abroad. Right after that, my own mother, Mrs. Miller, used every trick in the book—threats and bribes—to get me to meet her best friend’s son. Coffee Shop “How old did you say you were?” “Nineteen.” Oh, good grief! I never thought the “accomplished, handsome young man” Mom raved about would turn out to be just a kid! I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. What do you do when your own mother is completely unreliable? Help needed ASAP, seriously urgent. “What’s wrong? Is there a problem?” “Look, kiddo, do you know how old I am?” “Yeah, twenty-two. They say age is just a number, right? I think it’s perfect.” He adjusted his glasses, flashing this killer smile with two big white teeth. Kinda cocky but charming. I spaced out for a second. “Ahem,” realizing I’d drifted off, I shook my head to clear the thoughts, covering my awkwardness with a cough. “Uh, kiddo, I really don’t think we’re a match. I’m not into younger guys.” “So, what type do you like, then?” Oh my god, oh my god. I didn’t want to swoon, but he was smiling at me. I wanted to control myself, but, but, but… he just had this way about him! Who could resist that? Okay, calm down. I secretly pinched myself. “I like mature, stable guys. Someone who can take care of people. You’re just too young for me, kiddo.” I already had one infuriating younger brother at home; did I really need another one to ruin my peace? Nope, couldn’t let myself be swayed by good looks. Sure, he was handsome, but he was young. Sure, his smile was amazing, but he was young. Sure, his voice was nice, but he was YOUNG! “How do you know I can’t take care of someone? And how do you know I’m not mature and stable enough? Have you tried me out, older girl?” He had a smirk playing on his lips. If I wasn’t mistaken, that was a cold smirk, right? Right? “Chloe? What are you doing here?” That voice. I froze solid. I knew exactly who it was. After hearing it for over three years, it was hard not to recognize. My smile vanished. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what expression was on my face. Anger? Sadness? Disgust? Nausea? This messy mix of feelings peaked when I saw the woman next to him. Mark Davis. The boyfriend I’d chased for three years in college. We were together less than three months before he decided to go abroad, telling me with some twisted sense of righteousness, “I’m worried you’ll fall for someone else while I’m gone, so let’s break up for now. If you still like me when I come back in a few years, we can get back together.” In that moment, I suddenly felt like a joke in Mark’s eyes. No, a joke to the entire English department at Hudson University. Everyone knew how head-over-heels I was for Mark. Everyone knew Mark had ruthlessly dumped his girlfriend right before leaving the country. And the woman beside him, Jessica Bell, was Mark’s childhood friend. She always found ways to trash-talk me in public, saying I wasn’t good enough for Mark. That I didn’t deserve to be his girlfriend. “Chloe?” Suddenly, a handsome face zoomed into my view, startling me so much that the tears welling up in my eyes retreated. I stared blankly at him. “Ex-boyfriend?” he asked. I nodded numbly. His eyes darted around mischievously, then he lowered his voice, “You’ve got three seconds. Be my girlfriend, and I’ll get your back.” The moment I grabbed his hand, I felt like I’d lost my mind. We’d literally broken up yesterday, and today I had a new boyfriend right in front of my ex. But what did it matter? Jerks needed to be put in their place. I turned around gracefully. “Fancy meeting you here. I’m just having coffee with my boyfriend. What about you guys?” “See, Mark? I told you she was easy, didn’t I? You didn’t believe me, but now you see.” The drama queen beside him started her performance, clinging to his arm and putting on a fake sweet act. This kind of insult used to happen all the time. Predictably, Mark would question me about it next. “Chloe, what is really going on?” Yep, there it was. He put on his betrayed, heartbroken, pitiful face. Usually, at this point, I’d frantically explain myself, and only then would his expression soften. But this time, I wasn’t going to. “Ma’am,” before I could even open my mouth, the kiddo jumped in, ready to roast her. “You’re probably getting on in years, maybe your hearing isn’t what it used to be. I suggest you see an ear specialist. Oh, and while you’re at it, maybe get your eyes checked too, since they seem to be just for decoration.” He had somehow moved next to me, stepping forward slightly, one arm around my shoulder, the other hand taking mine. He interlocked our fingers and waved them right in front of Mark and Jessica. “My Chloe already told you, she has a boyfriend now. Don’t go associating any random losers with our Chloe.” He turned slightly to face Mark. “And you… the ex-boyfriend, right? Chloe often says, a good ex-boyfriend should basically be dead. Look, you weren’t great as a boyfriend; now that you’re an ex, you could at least try to be good at that, couldn’t you?” I secretly gave him a thumbs-up. Mark’s face turned livid. He spun around and stormed off, his little follower scurrying after him. 2: Might As Well Give It a Try “Hahahaha, kiddo, you’re absolutely savage! How are you so good at shutting people down? That felt amazing, hahaha…” Suddenly, I felt this huge release, lighter than I had in three whole years. But there was still a knot of something uncomfortable, heavy in my chest. Compared to my roaring laughter, he was completely calm, the earlier aggressive vibe totally gone. He pulled me back down to sit, settling beside me. I was still trying to process his quick changes when he sighed softly, patted my shoulder, and said, “Go ahead and cry if you want to. You can lean on my shoulder for a bit.” That broke me. Tears I didn’t even know were there started streaming down my face. Failing the grad school entrance, getting dumped by my boyfriend… all the stress and hidden emotions I’d suppressed for so long just burst out. “Why are you so annoying?” I glared at him through my tears. He gently turned my head to rest on his shoulder, saying nothing. After pulling myself together in the restroom, he offered to walk me home. On the way, I carefully started, “Um, kiddo… can I, like, take back what I said earlier?” He instantly understood and shot me down firmly, “Nope.” Damn it! I rubbed my temples. What a mess. I must have had a total brain malfunction back there. He suddenly stopped walking. “I’m serious. Even though I’m still in school, I have a steady income every month. You can have my debit card, spend whatever you want. Don’t worry about me not being able to support you, and don’t feel like you need to save my money. I have clear plans for my future, and you’re in every single one of them, so you don’t have to worry about me being immature. As for taking care of someone, I haven’t done it before, but I can learn. Can you give me that chance?” “But… you don’t even like me. Why me?” I was a bit stunned. “How do you know I don’t like you?” he countered. “We just met today! Are you going to tell me it was love at first sight?” He shook his head. “Not exactly. The day you start liking me back, I’ll tell you. For now, can you just give me a chance to be with you? Let’s try things out. If you really feel like you can’t accept me, then you can say you regret it. I won’t stop you.” Seeing the determination in his eyes, somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to say no. Whatever, I thought. Might as well give it a try. When he gets tired of it, I won’t have to deal with rejecting him. He walked behind me all the way home. When we got to my apartment building, I suddenly realized I knew almost nothing about him. I pulled out my phone. “Need your number… boyfriend.” He blinked, then grinned. “Sure.” Kinda dorky, actually cute. “So, may I ask my boyfriend’s name?” “Ethan Shaw. Ethan, like the name. Shaw, like George Bernard.” “I’m Chloe Miller.” “I know.” “Huh? How did you know?” He just smiled without answering. After a moment, he patted my head gently. “Go on up.” Before falling asleep that night, I habitually checked my phone. I saw he’d texted me about ten minutes ago: Goodnight. The next day at noon, heading to class, I was shocked to find him waiting downstairs from my apartment. “What are you doing here?” “Keeping you company in class.” “Oh.” I walked a few steps before it hit me. “Wait, with me? Not just walking me to class?” “Yep.” He repeated it clearly, as if worried I hadn’t heard. “Keeping you company in class.” Just as I expected, the moment he walked into the classroom, there was a commotion. No surprise there – he was ridiculously good-looking and dressed way too cool. Today he wore a blue and white baseball jacket, black casual pants, and still had his glasses on. On the surface, he looked like a good boy, but it couldn’t hide the edgy vibe he gave off. He just had that natural “keep away” aura, especially when he wasn’t smiling, looking like he might pick a fight any second. When the professor came in, he slumped onto the desk and started sleeping. Halfway through the lecture, my phone started buzzing non-stop in my bag pocket. I opened my messenger app to find I’d been added to a group chat, already flooded with 99+ messages. Rolling my eyes, I started scrolling up.

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I’ve been crazy about Ethan Cole for ages, like, forever. Today was supposed to be our engagement party. I seriously wanted to shout my happiness from the rooftops. … Inside the bridal boutique. I kinda lost myself just looking at him next to me, a sweet little smile playing on my lips without me even realizing it. “Ethan, what do you think of this dress? Do you like it?” I tilted my head up slightly to look at him, my eyes shining bright, my hopeful gaze maybe a little too eager to please. He just stayed silent, distant, like always. My heart sank a little. When I saw his eyes sweep over me, I quickly looked down, pretending to adjust the dress, trying hard to hide how disappointed I felt. “Sorry, we’ve been looking for so long, you must be tired. Actually, I… I have something I need to tell you. Something really important.” I bit my lip, looking down, probably looking pretty pathetic and small. 2 His deep eyes scanned me, his brow furrowed slightly. His voice was flat, no emotion. “Go ahead. I have work to get back to soon.” I silently cheered myself on inside. Ava Fischer, you can do this! Make him see! Make him understand that you two being together isn’t just because your parents wanted it. Tell him how you feel. All those feelings you’ve bottled up for years, that intense, deep love! I gripped my trembling hands together, took a deep breath. “Ethan, ever since I was little, I’ve—” Just then, the bell over the boutique door chimed loudly, “Welcome~” cutting me right off. My courage deflated like a popped balloon. The sound drew both our attention, and we looked towards the entrance together. A young couple walked in. “Come on in! It took me forever to find this place,” the woman said, her smile bright and charming. 3 I instinctively glanced back at Ethan beside me. And in that second, I froze. A chill ran straight through me, bone-deep. The man who was always so cool and distant with me… his breathing suddenly seemed ragged, his chest rising and falling quickly. Ethan’s eyes were locked onto that woman, and they held so, so many emotions… Shock? Joy? Hurt? Anger? Angry, hurt, deeply indignant. Did they know each other? What… what was their relationship? Panic seized me. I was too scared to even think about it anymore. I couldn’t help but reach out and grab Ethan’s arm, my voice soft, pleading, “Ethan, I’m a little tired. Let’s just go home, okay?” 4 It was like Ethan couldn’t even hear me. His sharp eyes were still glued to that woman. He heartlessly pushed my hand away and slowly walked towards her. I clearly saw the woman’s face tense up too, her eyes darting away, the rims starting to turn a tell-tale red. But the guy with her seemed completely clueless, happily looking at dresses with the sales consultant. Ethan walked right up to the girl, furious. He suddenly grabbed her wrist, his intense gaze fixed on her. “Come with me!” For a split second, everything went dead silent. The man with the woman reacted instantly, shoving the door open and chasing after them. Only after they were gone did I snap out of it, like waking from a dream, and ran after them. But when I reached the door and pushed it open, I stopped dead in my tracks, trembling all over. I saw Ethan’s bodyguard, his assistant, blocking the man who had run out. And Ethan… Ethan, who was always so composed and detached, had tears welling in his own eyes as he crushed the heartbroken, crying woman against him, holding her so tight it looked like he wanted to merge her into himself. His voice was a raw, choked whisper. “Lily… Lily…” “Don’t leave me…” 5 In that moment, I swear I heard my own heart shatter. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my chest, making it impossible to breathe. My love, my marriage… was it over before it even began? I couldn’t stay there a second longer. Under the pitying gazes of the shop assistants, I stumbled out, shaking. I wandered down the street like a ghost, freezing cold inside. People passing by gave me strange, curious looks. It wasn’t until a light breeze blew that I realized tears had been streaming down my face for who knows how long. I must look like a complete wreck right now. Like some lost soul, just drifting aimlessly. I don’t know how much time passed before I finally, numbly, made it home. I pushed open the familiar door. My pupils constricted violently. 6 There, on the floor… Lay a pair of unfamiliar nude high heels. Whose shoes were these? Why were they in the house Ethan and I were supposed to share? I didn’t care about anything else anymore. I slammed the door shut and bolted up the stairs towards the bedroom. I threw open the bedroom door. That woman, Lily, was wearing my pajamas and my slippers, casually looking around my room like she owned the place. In that instant, something inside my head just snapped. Anger, jealousy, hatred, heartbreak… All these tangled emotions exploded inside me. Shaking, I pointed a finger at her, demanding, “Who are you? Why are you in my house?” Lily acted like I’d said the funniest thing ever, letting out a giggle. After she finished laughing, she looked at me with pity. “So, you’re Ava Fischer. You do look a bit like me, no wonder you managed to stick around Ethan for so long. But now that the real deal is back, you little imposter should just get lost. As far away as possible.” 7 It felt like all the strength drained out of me. My heart ached with a thousand tiny pinpricks. My body swayed; I could barely stand. The man I’d loved for seven years, my fiancé, had apparently been using me as a stand-in for this woman the whole time. So, when he was in a good mood, his eyes full of tenderness, calling me… calling me Ava… was he even thinking of me? What was I then? What the hell was I? Lily smirked at me, but her voice was deceptively soft. “Looks like your position as Mrs. Cole-to-be isn’t so secure anymore. As far as I know, this was supposed to be your marital home, right? Did you know, I just casually mentioned I liked it here, and Ethan’s already planning to buy it for me? I just have to mention wanting something to eat, and he’ll drive out in the middle of the night to get it and feed it to me, bite by bite. He smiles gently at me, tells me all those sweet nothings couples say. But you? You get nothing. He doesn’t love you at all. With you, he’ll always just be cold and impatient.” Every word she said stabbed at my heart, tearing it apart. I was furious, trembling with rage. Then, her next sentence made my anger explode like a balloon popping. She stood up, looked me up and down like I was a piece of merchandise, and then scoffed. “I heard from Ethan… he hasn’t even touched you yet, right? Do you know why?” 8 “Because you make him sick. Just looking at you makes him want to puke.” “Take the hint and get out while you can.” I completely lost it. I grabbed the fruit knife from the table and screamed hysterically at her, “In your dreams, you bitch! Even if I die, I won’t let you win! Mrs. Cole can only be me! I want to see you wanting Ethan and never getting him! I want to see you miserable and desperate!” My outburst clearly scared Lily. Her face went pale, her eyes instantly reddened, tears brimming but not falling, making her look incredibly pitiful. “Ava, please don’t misunderstand… I just happened to go to that bridal shop. I honestly don’t want to fight you for Ethan. Yes, I love him very much, but you’re already with him, I can’t… I really can’t…” By this point, she was sobbing uncontrollably. I hesitated, suspicious. What game was she playing now, switching her attitude like this? But the next second, I understood. 9 Ethan appeared out of nowhere. He forcefully grabbed the knife from my hand. I lost my balance and fell hard, scraping my cheek painfully against the floor. Ethan didn’t even glance at me whimpering on the ground. He carefully pulled Lily into his arms, shielding her. Then, his face grim, he towered over me and demanded, “Are you crazy? Do you have any idea what you were doing? Apologize to Lily right now!” Me, crazy? Heh. A bottomless despair washed over me. “Yeah, I must be crazy! If I weren’t crazy, how could I have fallen for a cold-blooded, heartless jerk like you!” Ethan looked furious. “What did you say?” Me, who had always tried so hard to please him, suddenly found a courage I never knew I had. The words just tumbled out. “Was I wrong? You have a fiancée, but you’re messing around with this… this other woman! Did you ever once think about how I feel? About our parents?” Ethan froze, momentarily speechless. The room fell silent. 10 Seeing things weren’t going her way, Lily whimpered softly, looking utterly vulnerable. “Ethan, let me go. Please, just let me go. I love you so much, but we’re in the past. Please let me go. You have a fiancée now. I don’t want to be the other woman, destroying your life. Let me go…” Ethan panicked, holding her even tighter, rambling reassurances, “I know you’re not the other woman! It’s my fault. I’ll fix this, okay? Just give me a little more time. I really can’t lose you again…” I watched them coldly, my heart already aching too much to breathe. Lily squirmed in his arms, pretending to want to leave, but they only seemed to cling tighter, press closer… I couldn’t take it anymore. Covering my face, I ran out the door… The way he cherished Lily, down to his bones, only highlighted how pathetic and small I was. I ran out into the empty street, squatted down, and just sobbed my heart out. After I cried myself out, I made a decision. “I’m calling off the engagement!” … 11 When I told my girlfriends about my decision, none of them believed me. “No way, Ava, are you kidding us? Weren’t you the one crying and begging to marry him?” “Okay, I always thought you were way too into him, but honestly, the guy you picked is pretty damn good. He’s got the looks, he’s got the brains.” “Plus, he’s so steady, squeaky clean private life, never messes around with other women.” “Seriously, you worked so hard for this, finally got your dream guy. You should be thrilled.” … I managed a smile that felt worse than crying. “His old flame, his first love… she’s back.” Truth be told, before that Lily showed up… I used to believe you could warm someone’s heart, eventually. In my twenty-something years, loving him felt like the only thing I’d ever stuck with for so long. Stuck with it until my love, my willingness to compromise, became a habit. 12 I met him during a high school club event off-campus. I’d gotten separated from my best friend that day, and my phone battery was about to die. And I have a terrible sense of direction; without GPS, I’m totally lost. Just when I was about to give up under the blazing sun, he appeared. In that instant, it felt like I got struck by lightning. My mind went completely blank. Me, usually pretty outgoing and confident… Suddenly understood what it meant to be awkward and self-conscious. The second I saw him… I started worrying. Did my makeup look weird because of the sun? Was my whole ‘young and energetic’ outfit trying too hard? That BBQ stain on my shirt from lunch suddenly felt like it was burning a hole through the fabric. Right then, I knew. I was done for. I’d caught the love bug, bad.

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Two months on a business trip, and my wife got married. I stared at my phone screen, my fingers trembling slightly. “Welcome everyone to our wedding!” Sarah’s Facebook post included a wedding photo. In it, she wore a stunning gown, her arm linked with a man’s elbow, and her other hand held the hand of a kid who looked about five or six. But the guy standing next to her wasn’t me – it was her ex, Jake Harding. Two months ago, the company shipped me out of state for work. I never imagined that in just a few short weeks, my wife would be married. 1 With shaking fingers, I zoomed in on the picture. Her stomach was perfectly flat, not showing any hint of being four months pregnant. But my wife had just had her four-month check-up! A ridiculous feeling washed over me from my toes to the top of my head. Had my whole life been turned upside down in just two months? Several friends commented, “Sarah, what’s going on? Aren’t you already married?” Sarah’s reply was blunt: “Mark cheated on me. We’re divorced!” What? My vision blurred, and I almost dropped the phone. How could I have cheated? For the last two months, all I’d done was work and call her every day to check on her and the baby. Now she was announcing on Facebook that I’d cheated? I don’t know why, but I opened our chat window and sent her a message: “Sarah, is what you said on Facebook true? We’re still married.” I waited a full ten minutes before my phone finally buzzed. “It’s just a sham marriage, what’s the big deal?” Staring at those words on the screen, it felt like I’d been punched in the chest. A sham marriage? We’d had a marriage license for two years and been married for one. Now she was telling me it was all fake? I tried calling her, but no one answered. I called again, and still just got the cold, automated message. Sitting in my hotel room, looking out at the still-bustling Chicago skyline, I felt like my world had just collapsed. 2 It was three in the morning, and I was still tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The photo just kept replaying in my mind. Sarah and I had been together for four years, married for one. We were so in love. How could she have gone and married someone else? I opened her Facebook profile and started scrolling. She hadn’t posted much in the last two months, just a few updates about everyday stuff. Before that, it was all photos of us together – food we’d eaten, trips we’d taken. It looked so perfect. But now it all felt like a lie. My head was spinning. Was she being forced into this? Had someone hacked her account? Or had Jake done something to coerce her? Or… had she really betrayed me? I tried calling her again, but still no answer. My phone vibrated. It was a text from my mom: “Honey, someone at the store said they saw Sarah with a man, all cozy and holding hands. What’s going on?” My heart sank. The phone lit up again. It was Sarah’s friend, Lisa: “Mark, I don’t know if I should tell you this, but Sarah’s been acting weird lately. Last week I saw her at a coffee shop with a guy, and they were all over each other. When I asked her about it, she said he was her cousin… but…” I shot up in bed, cold sweat running down my forehead. I immediately called the project manager and told him there was a family emergency and I needed to get back home right away. After hanging up, I booked the earliest flight back. Looking out at the colorful city lights, my mind wandered back to that day a year ago. Sarah stood outside the courthouse in a white sundress, smiling brighter than the sun. She took my hand, leaned into me, and said, “Mark, I’m only marrying you for life.” I bent down and kissed her forehead: “I’ll always be good to you.” Now, that vow seemed like the biggest joke of all. 3 As soon as the plane landed, I jumped in a cab and raced home. On the way, I tried to stay calm, telling myself there might be another explanation. I ran into Mrs. Olsen, my neighbor, at the entrance to our complex. She paused when she saw me: “Mark, you’re back? I thought you guys had moved out.” “Moved? What makes you say that?” “I saw Sarah with a guy a few days ago, carrying a bunch of stuff out. I figured you were moving to a new place,” Mrs. Olsen said, looking confused. “Wasn’t that you with her?” My heart sank. I unlocked the door, and the stale, stuffy air of a house that hadn’t been aired out in a long time hit me. From the living room to the bedroom to the kitchen, the whole place felt cold and empty. Sarah’s things were gone. Only a few of her less-worn clothes were left in the closet. Our wedding photo sat on the nightstand. She was wearing her wedding dress and smiling sweetly. That smile just made me feel bitter. There was a trash bag under the coffee table, full of torn-up photos. I pieced them back together, one by one. They were all snapshots of happy moments with Sarah. In every photo, my face had been carefully torn out. It was pure hatred. My phone buzzed. It was Lisa. “Mark, are you home? I need to tell you something in person.” Half an hour later, at the coffee shop, Lisa nervously stirred her coffee, avoiding my gaze. “Mark, I don’t even know how to say this… Sarah, she started seeing Jake about two months ago.” “Jake? Her college boyfriend?” “Yeah, that’s him.” Lisa bit her lip and continued. “Jake got divorced last year and has a kid. He contacted Sarah, and they started hanging out a lot. I thought they were just friends, but then…” “But then what?” “A month ago, I saw them outside a hotel… hugging and kissing.” Lisa looked down, her face red. “I asked Sarah about it, and she said things weren’t working out between you two, that you’d been seeing someone else. But Mark, I know you. I know you wouldn’t do that…” I clenched my fist so hard my nails dug into my skin. Sarah hadn’t just cheated, she’d slandered me too? “There’s something else,” Lisa hesitated. “Her stomach…” “What about her stomach?” “She might have had an abortion…” Lisa didn’t finish the sentence, but I understood. Tears welled up in my eyes. I’d guessed as much the moment I saw the ripped-up photos. I just hadn’t wanted to believe it. 4 I wandered aimlessly down the street after leaving the coffee shop, lost in my own head. I passed a bar and somehow found myself pushing open the door. A few drinks in, I could almost forget my troubles. But I couldn’t drown the pain. After a couple of shots, I started rambling, telling the bartender my story. “Hey man, easy on the drinks. Go home and figure out what to do,” the bartender said, handing me a glass of water. “One woman doesn’t define your whole life.” I gave him a bitter smile and shook my head. Sarah was my everything. From college sweethearts to marriage, to dreaming of having kids… I’d poured my heart and soul into our relationship, and it had all ended in this gut-wrenching pain. The alcohol loosened my tongue. I pulled out my phone and dialed Sarah’s number. To my surprise, she picked up. “Hello?” Her voice was cold and unfamiliar. “Sarah, why is this happening?” I asked, fighting back tears. “What went wrong? What did I do?” There was a pause on the other end, then a cold laugh: “Mark, stop pretending. I knew you were seeing someone else. Did you have a good time on your business trip?” “I didn’t! It’s always been you!” I almost yelled. “Enough,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’ve found someone who truly loves me, and you’re free too. Let’s just call it quits. As for the baby…” She paused. “It’s gone. And it might not have even been yours.” It was like a knife twisting in my heart. “What are you saying? That baby wasn’t mine?” “Who knows? Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t.” Her nonchalant tone made me want to smash my phone. “Mark, we’re over. Sign the divorce papers and let’s be done with it.” “You and Jake have been together for a while, haven’t you? When did you start seeing each other?” Another pause. “Does it matter? What matters is that I love him now, and I don’t love you.” She hung up. I slammed my fist on the table, scraping my knuckles and drawing blood. I wouldn’t let it end like this. I would find out the truth.

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The Golden Globes were here, and I was about to accept the Best Actress award. Suddenly, Tiffany Lynn stumbled onto the stage, covered in bruises and wearing nothing but her underwear. She dropped to her knees, banging her head against the floor. “Sister, I’ve done everything you asked! I serviced those dozen producers, please, don’t send me back to the sticks! I don’t want to marry that seventy-year-old! Just let me stay as Mom and Dad’s adopted daughter, please…” My own parents, furious, ripped my dress to shreds right there in front of everyone. My brother, in a fit of rage, threw me into a high-end escort service. Producers I’d once turned down were now lining up to “book” me. Stalker fans I’d reported were now finding new and twisted ways to humiliate me every night. It wasn’t until six months later, the day before my brother’s wedding to Tiffany, that they even thought of me again. After my last client left, my brother pushed the door open. Without looking at him, I instinctively crawled back into bed, silently spreading my legs. … “Olivia Carter! Have you no shame?!” his angry voice boomed. “Six months, and you haven’t learned a thing! You’ve become so goddamn depraved!” Expecting another beating for upsetting a client, I started trembling and dropped to my knees, begging. “I’m sorry! I’ll do whatever you want, please, don’t be mad.” A black suit jacket was suddenly thrown over my body. I looked up, my body stiffening. It was my brother, Ethan Carter. Ethan’s eyes flashed with something unreadable, but his face quickly hardened. “Playing the victim again? You’re a famous actress, Olivia, a Carter. No one would dare hurt you.” “If it weren’t for Tiffany’s kind heart, offering you to be her bridesmaid, I’d leave you here to rot!” For a moment, I was disoriented. I used to be the most respectable actress in the industry, now Ethan had thrown me into this place to become the cheapest commodity. Anyone with enough money could unleash their darkest desires on me. My shame had long been shattered into dust by countless insults and beatings. Ethan grabbed my shoulder, still healing from a break, and tried to yank me up. The pain was excruciating, but my cries came out sounding like suggestive moans. The drugs they’d pumped into me had turned my body into a machine, making everything I did sound like a dirty come-on. Ethan’s eyes widened, and he recoiled as if shocked. He slapped me hard across the face. “Are you addicted to being a slut now?” My body flinched, and I instinctively knelt and grabbed his leg, tears streaming down my face. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just please, don’t hit me. It really hurts.” Ethan’s voice was ice cold. “You think you can wipe away the damage you did to Tiffany with crocodile tears? Think again!” He dragged me out roughly, and I didn’t dare resist. I knew resistance would only bring worse punishment. Suddenly, a mob of reporters descended on us at the club entrance, raising their cameras like hyenas. The flashing lights blinded me as they eagerly captured my most vulnerable moments. A stalker fan had a fetish for shining a flashlight in my face in the dark, enjoying my humiliated expression. I trembled, trying to shrink away, all the blood draining from my face. “Olivia, we heard you ended up in an escort service after quitting acting. Do you prefer getting paid to spread your legs?” Ethan frowned, his voice sharp. “That’s ridiculous! My sister’s just here as a waitress…” The reporters started their interrogation. “You’re so open now. Was your ‘clean’ image all marketing? Did you sleep your way to win the Golden Globe too? ” “Nah, her daddy’s money and Tiffany Lynn’s favors bought her that award!” Ethan’s eyes narrowed. The next second, he blocked my retreat. “It’s about time you experienced what Tiffany went through.” He shoved me into the spotlight, leaving me nowhere to escape. “You were a top star with a great body. You must get a lot of bookings! Who’s your favorite kind of client? How do you feel about being called ‘the town bicycle’?” “Do you know how many men you’ve serviced? Are you worried about catching something? ” “Why aren’t you answering, Olivia? Are you afraid you’ll just start seducing people again? Don’t worry, we all think you’re dirty.” The reporters burst into laughter, their eyes full of ridicule and disgust. I closed my eyes and endured, just like every other day and night. Then someone got bold and reached for my breasts. My body went limp and soft against my will, a small moan escaping my lips. 2 Ethan’s chest heaved, and he grabbed me, throwing me into the car. “What the hell are you doing? Why didn’t you fight back? Are you that desperate for it?!” When I first arrived, I had resisted. I was beaten mercilessly, then forced to satisfy more than a dozen men at once. After a few times, I learned my lesson. Ethan stared at my blank expression, his face twisting with disappointment. “Tiffany begged us to let you come back. Tomorrow is our wedding. Behave yourself. If you try to hurt her again, I swear I’ll turn you into the town whore.” But Ethan, I’ve already become that the day you dropped me off here. His face darkening, Ethan brought me home. Mom and Dad were inside, fawning over Tiffany as she blew out the candles on a cake. Tiffany was my adopted sister, taken in by my parents after I was kidnapped. Today was her birthday. And mine. My parents gave me a quick glance and nothing more. Ethan, however, shoved the cake in my face, gesturing for me to blow out the candles. “Welcome home, sis. You’re Mom and Dad’s real daughter, the real birthday girl.” The candlelight flickered. My breath caught, my teeth chattering. I remembered the men who had dripped hot wax all over my body. The scars from the low-temperature burns were still there. Fear washed over me. I collapsed, knocking the cake to the floor. Anger flashed on my parents’ faces, veins bulging on their foreheads. “If you’re gonna cause trouble, get the hell out!” Terrified, I curled up in a ball, apologizing and begging for mercy. “I’m sorry, I’ll never do it again! Please don’t hit me…” Tiffany put on a sweet smile and pulled me to the table. “Olivia just got back, maybe she needs time to adjust. Mom and Dad, don’t be mad at her. I got Olivia a birthday present. It’ll help her feel at home.” My parents’ expressions softened. Tiffany, a smirk playing on her lips, held a box out to me. A baseball bat, a baseball, a jump rope, bandages… Tiffany leaned in close and whispered, “I got these just for you, Olivia. All your favorite toys. Do you like them?” Memories flooded back. I remembered the fear of being ripped open by the baseball bat, the client’s leering face as he shoved a baseball into me. I felt the burning sensation of the jump rope digging into my skin, the suffocating feeling of the bandages stuffed in my mouth… Tears streamed down my face. I flinched and knocked the box away. Tiffany screamed and fell dramatically backwards. Mom, Dad, and Ethan rushed to catch her. When they looked at me again, their eyes blazed with rage. Dad, his face red, kicked me to the ground. “You beast! You dare hurt Tiffany in front of me! If you weren’t my daughter, I’d tear you limb from limb!” Ethan threw the toys at me, yelling, “I was going to forgive you, I even considered helping you get back in the industry!” “Just rot for the rest of your life!” I was in so much pain that cold sweat broke out on my skin. I lay on the floor, not daring to move, silently crying. I was already rotten. 3 Dad, seeing my tears, calmed down a little. Mom sighed. “Why are you always so stubborn? You wronged Tiffany back then. Are you still going to keep this up?” Tiffany grabbed Mom’s hand and touched it to her cheek. “It’s okay, Mom, I volunteered. It’s not Olivia’s fault.” But as she said it, a single tear rolled down her cheek. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Ethan’s eyes turned cold. “It’s a famous director. I was going to have him give you a comeback, but I guess that’s out.” Tiffany stopped him. “Olivia’s been through enough cleaning the club, I’m sure she’ll get better. Give her another chance.” Tiffany’s voice was sweet, but her eyes were full of poison. She led everyone to the garden, claiming she was taking care of my mental state and giving me space to audition. The moment the man spoke, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I just wanted to run! Leon Vance walked up to me, backlit by the sun. His hand trailed over my body like a sticky, venomous snake. I tried to back away, but I was too terrified to move. “You’re my prized possession. Don’t think you can escape me. You have your sweet little sister to thank.” He was a stalker who I had rejected, and for the last six months, he came to the club regularly to get revenge. He was ruthless, and he had brought me to the brink of despair multiple times. Leon picked up the baseball bat, looking displeased. “Didn’t you like my treasures? You threw it on the floor, you think you don’t have to listen to your master at home?” He used the baseball bat to lift my chin, teasing me all over my body. My body had been trained by him, and I automatically struck seductive poses. Tears kept coming, but I didn’t dare cry out or ask for help. Suddenly, the door burst open. I was half-undressed, but Leon’s clothes were still neat. The four people in the doorway froze. Then, there were two angry shouts and two screams. Ethan’s face was red. He marched over and slapped me hard. My ears rang, a current running through my body. I reflexively bowed in apology. Ethan’s rage grew. “Olivia Carter, you’re pretty good at seducing directors! What are you doing now, trying to act innocent! What have you learned at the club? You’ll throw away your reputation to come back?” Dad’s beard bristled with anger. “How could my family have such a shameless daughter!” Mom hid in Tiffany’s arms, looking distressed. Tiffany smiled. “You had me go to work the producers, it’s not cool now that you’re doing it yourself. Even if you’re that eager to come back, you shouldn’t start being so horny in the living room. ” Ethan glared at me. “What are you waiting for? Leon cares a lot about his reputation. Apologize to him!” I was kicked to my knees, trembling, my voice hoarse. Ethan kept putting me down, trying to flatter Leon out the door. Dad clutched his chest, his voice full of anger. “From now on, you can forget about acting! I’ll never let you embarrass the family again.” But ever since I stepped into that club, my career and my life were over. Dad grabbed all the trophies I had won from the display case and smashed them in front of me. Tiffany pretended to stop him but slipped my favorite trophy into his hands. “Olivia made a mistake, but she’s your daughter! She worked hard for those awards. Don’t smash them!” Dad gently pushed her aside. “If only you were my real daughter. I wish I’d never found her!” He slammed the trophy down in front of me. The crash startled me. I felt like I was back in the club being beaten. I didn’t care about the glass shards. I just kept banging my head on the floor, blood dripping from my nose. “Please don’t hit me. I’ll never run again. I’ll be a good girl. I’ll do whatever they want to me. Just don’t hit me! I’m really scared…” Ethan came back in from outside. “What are you talking about? I sent you to the club to clean, not to service clients!” “You think you can fool us with a good show? Do you think you can cry and make us forget about you trying to seduce Leon? Dream on!” “Keep acting! See how long you can keep it up!” I didn’t react. I just kept kneeling and banging my head on the floor. Mom always had a soft spot for me. Sighing, she took out the first-aid kit and cleaned my forehead. “Don’t punish yourself anymore. Do the right thing.” “Tomorrow is your brother’s wedding. Don’t mess it up again.” 4 The next day, Tiffany and Ethan’s wedding was held in the garden behind the mansion. Before the wedding started, Tiffany, in a wedding dress, screamed and ran into Ethan and my parents’ arms, crying as if her heart would break. “I thought the darkness was over, but someone took pictures and posted them online! Today’s my wedding, and they’re trying to ruin me! I can’t live in this world anymore!” They were shocked and angry. Mom covered her mouth in disbelief. Dad’s eyes widened, and he reached for his blood pressure medication. Ethan grabbed my hair and shoved the video in my face. “Tell me! What did you do?!” I shook my head frantically as I watched. “I don’t know! It wasn’t me! I didn’t do anything…” Slaps rained down on my face, stinging my skin. Ethan’s eyes were murderous. “Who else could it be? You made her sleep with producers to help you get to the top. Now you keep targeting Tiffany. She gave up being a Carter to marry me. Why can’t you just leave her alone?” “Today is her wedding. Did you have to ruin the rest of her life? Do you hate her that much?” “Why do you think you’re still a Carter!” Tiffany cried and threatened to kill herself. My parents turned red with grief. Ethan held Tiffany tight. “Don’t worry, I was your brother. Now, I’m your husband. I will always protect you.” Then he called his assistant. “Delete all the videos. Replace Tiffany’s face with Olivia’s. She’s made her bed, now she can lie in it. “ Tiffany sobbed in his arms. Dad supported Mom as they slowly walked up to me, their faces pale. “We’re so disappointed in you. You’ve hurt Tiffany again and again. And you don’t regret it.” “Starting today, we’re through!” “You’re no longer a Carter!” Mom’s body tensed. She looked sad, but when she saw how upset Tiffany was, her eyes turned cold. I felt nothing. I answered dully, “Okay…” After being tortured for six months, I didn’t dare consider them family anymore. I trudged away, exhausted, never looking back. I would never return. No one noticed my departure. The wedding went on as planned. There were many guests at the scene, and the place was very lively. Ethan, as the groom, walked from table to table with a wine glass. In a corner, a drunk man stopped him. His face was full of ugly and disgusting smiles. “Where’s Olivia? Why isn’t she at the club either?” “She’s really good in bed. I’ve never met anyone who can moan like her. She’s been with a lot of people this year, but I don’t care.” “Where is she? Get her out here. I want her body again!” Ethan froze in place, the wine glass shattering on the floor with a “clang!” “What did you say?!” The drunk man was still muttering nasty words. Ethan’s face was pale, and he was trembling. He punched the drunk man in the nose. The drunk man covered his nose and glared. “Who doesn’t know that you sent Olivia to the club yourself? I paid for it. Why do you have the right to hit me!” Ethan’s eyes were red, and his fists rained down. He grabbed a chair and tried to smash it over the man’s head. The people around him rushed to pull the angry Ethan away. Tiffany ran over screaming. “Ethan, today is our wedding. What are you doing!” “Are you going to ruin our wedding?” Ethan pried Tiffany’s hands off him. “I need to find Olivia. I need to figure things out!” “We…wronged her.”

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After proposing to Jake for the eighth time, I was still met with a cold rejection. He said he needed more time, and I was prepared to keep waiting. But then I saw a wedding certificate on social media – his and my sister’s. When I confronted him, Jake was completely calm. “Lily’s pregnant, and she can’t handle the stress. Stop stirring things up!” In the picture, my sister and he were already wearing wedding rings, and her belly was slightly protruding. Suddenly, I felt a sense of peace, so I liked the post and commented. “Congratulations on a lifetime of happiness! May you grow old together!” But a year later, a haggard and desperate Jake came to me, begging me to get back together. Only my belly was already huge, and his best friend pushed him away with a laugh. “Knock it off, pal. The baby’s almost here. My wife has a husband, she doesn’t need a charity case.” … I’d barely finished the comment when Jake called. Without preamble, he started yelling at me over the phone. “Autumn, are you deliberately being dense? I told you to stop causing trouble, and now you have to flaunt it on social media, don’t you?” “If you’ve got this much energy, why don’t you try fixing the company’s problems!” His tone was like he was reprimanding a subordinate, devoid of any affection. I always thought Jake and I were in love. At the very least, I thought he had feelings for me, which is why he agreed to be my boyfriend. Eight years of love, from his college graduation to becoming the CEO of a company. We’d been through so much hardship together. In the early days, when the company was struggling financially, I borrowed money from every bank and online lender to help him out. Later, because we couldn’t pay back the debts, the phone calls exploded, and debt collectors showed up at our apartment. They even sent mass text messages to my friends and family, letting everyone know I wasn’t paying my debts. Even through those days, I didn’t shed a single tear. Because Jake, when he found out, his eyes welled up with tears, and he held me tight, sobbing in my ear. He said. “Autumn, I’ll never let you down!” Looking back now. Turns out “never” only lasted eight years! I gripped my phone tightly, my fingertips turning white. “How is that flaunting? My boyfriend got a marriage license with my little sister. Of course I have to congratulate them, or else I’d look like I’m a girlfriend and sister without any manners!” The voice on the other end of the phone suddenly stopped. Soon, Lily’s cries rang out, followed by Jake’s comforting words. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly, the taste of bitterness spreading across my tongue. I thought the man was finally feeling guilty and ashamed to speak to me. Turns out, he was busy comforting his crying new wife. “Sis, how could you say that? I didn’t have a choice. That’s why I asked Jake for a favor.” “Don’t worry, after the baby’s born and registered, I’ll divorce Jake right away, and set you two up!” Before I could answer, Jake’s curses erupted from the phone. “Lily’s pregnant, and her emotions are fragile. Autumn, you need to stop!” “I never thought you could be so cold and heartless! Jealous of your own sister! Why don’t you go soak in a vat of vinegar and die!” “If Lily gets hurt because of you, I’ll never forgive you!” The words I was about to say got stuck in my throat. I silently listened to Jake cursing me over and over, tears streaming down my face without me realizing it. Until finally, my heart was shattered, and I asked him in a hoarse voice. “Jake, did you ever actually consider me your girlfriend?” The other end of the phone went silent. I nodded slightly. Without waiting for him to speak, I said. “I see.” That hesitation was the best answer for me. 2 During our eight years together, I suspected more than once that he didn’t love me. But in front of everyone else, he always did everything a boyfriend was supposed to do. His eyes sparkled when he talked to me, and his gestures were filled with affection. Even something as small as not having an umbrella on a rainy day. One phone call, and no matter what Jake was doing, he would drop everything to pick me up. Even though he rejected my proposals eight times. Everyone thought we would eventually get married. But now that they see the name on the wedding certificate he posted on social media isn’t mine, but Lily’s, everyone must be shocked. Lily is my sister, and a full-blooded one at that. Since childhood, she loved to take my things, and no matter how much I cried, I would never get them back. Because my parents didn’t like me, they resented me, and they wouldn’t protect me. It’s probably because when I was born, I almost caused my mom to bleed to death. So everyone called me a jinx. I knew I wasn’t loved in that house. So I studied hard, trying to prove myself. But every time I came home with the best grades, I was always beaten up after my sister cried. After that happened a few times, I learned my lesson. I never dared to score higher than my sister on exams again. Later, I became known as a bad student, a mess-up in everyone’s eyes. Until my four years in college, Jake gave me a glimmer of hope. He was the first person to help me, not caring about my looks or my past. I was working in the school cafeteria to earn money, and Lily harassed me. “Autumn, you’re clearing dishes now?” “Are you broke? Are you trying to take our leftovers to eat them secretly yourself?” As the words fell, the surrounding people started laughing. Even with a mask on, my face quickly flushed red. Lily couldn’t stand me. To be precise, ever since she found out my grades were better than hers, she’d been messing with me behind my back. She took out a hundred dollar bill and waved it in front of my face. “If you eat one bite of the leftover food in there, I’ll give you this bill!” I remained silent, but she wouldn’t leave me alone. Jake was the president of the student council at the time. He showed up and defended me, giving Lily a good scolding. After that day, he often came to find me. He got me into the student council, helped me find a tutoring job to earn money. He told me not to be afraid, to be brave, and to keep moving forward! Jake, I really took those words to heart. My life won’t be stagnant, and I won’t be waiting for anyone! The phone suddenly rang, interrupting my memories. It was another shareholder of the company. “Autumn, are you okay? I just finished and saw Jake’s post…” “I’m fine. Don’t worry, Mr. Sims. No matter what happens between Jake and me, it won’t affect the company’s business.” As I said that, an idea popped into my head. “If you’re willing, I can sell all my shares to you.” Mr. Sims choked up. After a long pause, he said he’d think about it and hung up. I didn’t even know when Jake came back. I only hung up the phone, and he suddenly appeared behind me. His voice was usually cold to me, but now it had a hint of surprise. “Autumn, who were you talking to? What were you saying about selling something?” My face remained expressionless, but my heart skipped a beat. I didn’t tell him my plan. “It was Mr. Sims. Just some recent business contracts, selling something.” “He always talks to me about these things. Why did he suddenly contact you?” Jake frowned, his eyes staring at me, as if trying to see through my lies. For the first time, I felt like this man was difficult to deal with. Raising my eyebrows, I deliberately mocked him. “Is my sister’s husband worrying about me now?” “Given our current relationship, it’s not exactly accepted by society!” “You’re busy taking care of Lily all day. When will you have time to worry about the company?” 3 As expected, Jake’s attention was diverted. He frowned, his eyes instantly turning cold. “I’ve explained this before. I don’t want to discuss this pointless issue again.” With that, he went back to the bedroom, soon emerging with a change of clothes. “Looks like you need to cool down for a while. I’ll come back and talk to you when you’re calmer.” Before leaving, Jake told me, with a hint of disappointment as he closed the door. “Autumn, the way you’re acting like a jealous shrew is making me sick.” The door slammed shut. In that instant, my head was ringing. Pointless? A jealous shrew? So that’s how much he disliked me. The tears I had just held back welled up again, and the tips of my fingers, barely warmed, turned cold again. I sat blankly on the couch, not knowing how long had passed. Jake didn’t know that I was actually very calm now. I used my phone to check the company’s recent performance and estimate the value of my shares. A local news site suddenly pushed a notification to me. It featured two people I knew, along with a candid photo. “Famous Entrepreneur Jake Suspected of Cohabiting After Marriage, Wife Pregnant for a Long Time!” Jake was smiling as he supported Lily, walking in the park. Finally, the two entered the same villa. A feeling of being deceived again washed over me. No wonder he cleanly grabbed a few clothes and left, telling me to calm down at home. It was just an excuse for him to leave. After calming down and closing the news, Jake suddenly sent a message. “Autumn, I forgot to grab a box from the safe. Can you bring it over? I’m waiting for you at Lily’s villa.” I was surprised he sent me this message. But I knew the items in the safe were important, so, worrying about messing things up, I thought for a long time and decided to take the box to him. In front of the villa. Lily was sitting on a swing, and Jake was patiently pushing her from behind. My appearance was like breaking this peaceful and beautiful picture. “Sis, you’re here. Long time no see.” She stood up from the swing, and Jake immediately frowned, his eyes widening, his eyes flashing with anger. “Who told you to come here! Autumn, you’re completely out of control! Now you dare to stalk me!” Before I could speak, his expression was as if he wanted to eat me alive. “Jake, I asked my sister to come.” “Didn’t you say the heirloom in the safe was for me? I couldn’t wait, so I asked my sister to bring it over. You can scold me if you want!” Seeing Lily looking pitiful, Jake immediately relaxed his furrowed brows, even his tone softened. “How could I scold you? I said it was for you. Since Autumn brought it, I’ll put it on you now.” Jake stepped forward and coldly snatched the box from my hand. Only then did I realize that it wasn’t something important. It was the only bracelet his mother left him after she died. Back when the company was at its lowest point, Jake had pawned it. Once, he was staring blankly at the photo of the bracelet on his phone, so I decided to sell my blood to earn money and redeem the bracelet. Later, he said this bracelet could only be passed on to the wife of the Johnsons. I waited for a long time. But he gave the bracelet to Lily today. The meaning was clear! I bit my tongue, the taste of blood filling my mouth, forcing down the emotions in my heart. “I delivered the item. I’ll leave now.” I had only taken two steps when Lily grabbed me. The bracelet was already on her wrist, shaking constantly. “Sis, why are you in such a hurry? Don’t you want to see me?” “I know you’ve never liked me since we were little. You always thought Mom and Dad favored me, so you hold a grudge against me!” 4 I have to say that all the emotions in my heart were stirred up by Lily in that instant. Even though I didn’t have any thoughts about the bracelet, she brought up childhood memories. She had bullied me since I was little, always taking my things, and now she had taken my man! My emotions suddenly erupted like a volcano. I had barely stretched out my hand, not even touching her body. Lily suddenly screamed, falling to the ground and clutching her belly, screaming in agony. Jake rushed over, knocking me over, and carefully helping Lily up. “Autumn, are you crazy? You knew Lily was pregnant, and you dared to push her!” I fell to the ground, the palm of my hand was scratched and bleeding. But that pain didn’t compare to Jake’s scolding. “You’re completely heartless, you can even harm your own sister! Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be my girlfriend!” “Jake, don’t say that. It’s all my fault. I made my sister angry and she pushed me.” “You’re willing to think of the baby in my stomach, I’m already satisfied. I’ll go back to my hometown tomorrow and never bother my sister again.” She stood up and turned to leave. Jake grabbed her. “Lily, it’s not your fault, you don’t have to go!” Saying that, he turned around and stared at me coldly, each word like a dagger. “The one who needs to leave is Autumn, that vicious woman!” “Besides, this is the villa I bought for you, what right does she have to be here!” I looked at Jake in disbelief, my breath caught, and I couldn’t speak. Yes, every brick and tile here belonged to Jake and Lily, not to me. Since I wasn’t welcome, I didn’t need to stay. The words were squeezed out, one by one. “Okay, I’ll go.” Before leaving, I looked at Jake calmly. “The news of you and Lily getting married has already been found on the internet, as well as you guys going to the garden and returning to the villa today.” A hint of unbearableness and guilt flashed in Jake’s eyes, he opened his mouth, but couldn’t say a word, and finally lowered his head in a panic, carefully comforting the frightened Lily. I limped out of the neighborhood and waited for a taxi on the side of the road. Soon, Mr. Sims’ car appeared in front of me. He and Jake were brothers, and also investors in the company. “Did Jake tell you to come?” Mr. Sims was silent for a while before saying. “It was him, and it wasn’t him.” I frowned, not understanding the meaning of his words. Mr. Sims leaned back lazily in the car. “He called me and said you two had a fight, but if it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have been happy to come.” I thought about it and got into his car. It was late at night, and it was very inconvenient to get a taxi in the villa area. Mr. Sims took me to the hospital to bandage the wound on my palm. After everything was done, it was already midnight when I got home from the hospital. I thanked Mr. Sims, but he suddenly said. “If you want to get back at Jake, I’m willing to help you.” A mocking smile appeared on my lips. “You two are in cahoots, what are you talking about revenge for!” He suddenly pushed me into the corner of the car, wrapping his fingers around a strand of my hair. “Unless you try, you will never know if Jake and I are on the same side!” Calling him a crazy person, I quickly opened the door and ran out of the car. Early the next morning, I drew up a share transfer agreement and went to the company, prepared to sell all the shares I had and leave the city that made me sick. Finding Mr. Sims, I directly stated the price I wanted to trade at. But this man suddenly pounced on me, pushing me back and leaning me tightly against the chair. The shirt on his chest was deliberately opened, revealing his strong chest muscles. He looked at me disapprovingly. “Autumn, why are you so hung up on it?” “Since Jake can have a baby with your sister, why can’t you also have one with his best friend to give him a good scare?” My mind exploded in an instant. The identity of the father of the baby in Lily’s belly had never been revealed. Until Mr. Sims said this, it was as if he had revealed all the truth. I didn’t dare to think about it before, but now that I think about it, it seems that this is the only answer that makes sense. At this time, Jake also arrived at the company. Seeing him carefully supporting Lily, sitting in his office, he had also thoughtfully prepared many sweets. I smiled coldly. Don’t blame me! Jake, you brought this on yourself!

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My boyfriend, Ethan, is dead. They pulled his body from the river. My roommate, Jessica, said I couldn’t handle seeing him like that. Said I just… passed out. Except… When I woke up, I’d lost my memory of that entire day. The doctor called it selective amnesia. Said the shock was too much, that my mind refused to accept the reality of it. The police closed the case quickly. Just another tragic suicide, they said. My roommates keep telling me to face facts, but I can’t trust them. Not really. Because deep down, I suspect every single one of them could have been the one who killed my boyfriend. To find the truth, I started digging, piece by piece. And in the end, I uncovered the earth-shattering secret Ethan had been hiding. 1. Ethan Cole and I had been together for two years. I fell for him the second I saw him freshman year. Fell hard. I went after him relentlessly, and it didn’t take long to win him over. Nobody thought we’d last. Ethan was the golden boy, Northwood University’s campus king, always top of his class in Law School. He turned heads everywhere he went. And me? Sarah Jenkins. About as plain as my name suggests. Average looks, average grades. Even when I started chasing him, I was mostly just shooting my mouth off, trying to impress my friends. Even I was shocked when he actually chose me. After we got together, the campus forums were buzzing. People started betting pools on how long we’d last. Three days, some said. A week. The longest bet was a month. They all lost. Nobody predicted we’d make it three whole years. We went from having zero supporters to being voted the campus forum’s favorite couple. Our bond just kept getting stronger. Ethan was incredibly thoughtful, always putting me first. He loved burying his face in my neck, telling me how good I smelled, a scent I couldn’t even detect myself. He couldn’t handle spicy food; I loved it. Every time we ate out, he’d order mine extra hot, wincing but never complaining. Whenever I got mad, right or wrong, he’d apologize first, curling up against me, breathing in my scent. I hated studying. Before every final, he’d patiently tutor me. Thanks to him, I never failed a single class. We even got each other’s names tattooed on our collarbones. It was Ethan’s idea. Ethan was always so cheerful. The day before he died, he was talking about us getting married right after graduation, dreaming about our future together. I was ecstatic. He really, truly loved me. I only had one more year until I could marry him. But now… he’s dead. I just don’t believe Ethan would kill himself. I asked the cops if maybe he just accidentally drowned. They just patted my shoulder, saying lots of couples hang out down by Whisper Creek, that the safety rails are solid, inspected regularly. No way he just slipped. Based on the footprints, they said, he jumped. I don’t buy it. They just wanted an easy case closure. Ethan was murdered. I know it. I begged the police to reopen the case, pleaded with them. They just kept saying the conclusion was clear, urging me to accept it. I feel so helpless. 2 Back in the dorm, I felt hollowed out, just drifting through the days. Jessica Vance started acting weirdly nice to me, which was… strange. Jessica’s my roommate. And one of my many romantic rivals. Like me, Jessica fell for Ethan freshman year. We were basically competing from day one. Her family’s loaded. She was always trying to give Ethan expensive sneakers and stuff, but he never took anything. The moment Ethan and I got together, things got ugly between Jessica and me. I knitted Ethan a scarf once. She called it pathetic and cheap. The next day, Ethan wore it to class. Sometimes I’d get back to the dorm late, and she’d ‘accidentally’ lock me out. Even after Ethan and I had been together forever, she still openly hit on him. Never gave me the time of day unless it was a sneer. Ethan, thankfully, ignored her completely. But after he died, she started being… considerate. Hovering, bringing me food. At first, I figured she just felt bad seeing me so broken. I didn’t suspect a thing. Until I finally looked at Ethan’s phone. His passcode was my birthday. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to open it before. But the longing was too much. I logged into his messages, reading his texts to me from his perspective, laughing through tears one minute, sobbing the next. I was the only contact pinned to the top. As I backed out of our chat, I saw Jessica’s name right below mine. Something felt wrong. My finger hovered, then tapped. The messages loaded. It was Jessica, asking Ethan to meet her down by Whisper Creek. The time? Nine p.m. on the night he died. The coroner put his time of death around midnight. Jessica met him just three hours before he supposedly jumped? What did they talk about? Why didn’t she say anything? My breath hitched. My hands started shaking. She never mentioned meeting him that night. Not once. Rage boiled up inside me. I stormed back into our dorm room, phone in hand, confronting her. “Why didn’t you tell me you met Ethan that night?” Jessica was alone in the room. When she saw the chat log on my phone screen, the color drained from her face. Pure panic. “I… I just confessed my feelings again,” she stammered, her eyes darting around, refusing to meet mine. “Just like all the other times. He turned me down flat, and I left. I swear, Sarah, I have no idea why he killed himself after that.” Jessica was never this flustered around me. Usually, she was all arrogance and disdain. This guilty act proved she was hiding something. I slammed the door shut and locked it, stalking towards her. “What did you really say to him? Why did he jump? You want me to blast these messages all over the campus forum?” I backed her towards the balcony window. She looked like she was about to shatter. Suddenly, she crumpled to the floor, kneeling in front of me. “I just wanted to know more about him,” she sobbed. “So… so I dug into his family background.” I knew Ethan was an orphan. He never talked about his parents much. What did his family have to do with his death? Jessica continued, her voice trembling, “When he was ten, his father, Grant Cole, drowned himself. Jumped off a bridge. Then, when Ethan was sixteen, his mother, Linda, drowned too… in the bathtub at home.” A chill went down my spine. Drowning? Both of them? Why that specific way? Ethan never told me his parents died like that. He was always so optimistic, so full of life. How could someone carry that kind of tragedy and still be so… sunny? It felt like Ethan had a whole secret life I knew nothing about. “After his dad died,” Jessica choked out, “his mom was in a car accident. Lost the use of one leg. Then she killed herself too. I knew Ethan had it rough. I just… I wanted to help him. That night, I met him and… I offered him money. A lot of money. Said I’d give it to him regularly if he’d just… spend a few days a month with me.” I almost laughed. It was pathetic. Ethan? The proud, brilliant Ethan Cole? Agreeing to be her paid companion? Impossible. Jessica pulled out a stack of photos. “He refused, obviously. Said he only loved you. I knew he did. So… I showed him these. The stuff I found out about his parents. I wanted to break him down, shatter that pride of his. He got furious when he saw them. Really angry. Then I just… left.” She was crying hard now. “Sarah, I swear, I don’t know why he killed himself! It wasn’t my fault! Please, just let this go. Don’t drag me into it.” She actually looked like she was telling the truth, mostly just terrified of being implicated. My head was spinning. “Get out,” I choked out, pointing to the door. “Just… get out!” Jessica scrambled to her feet, a mess, and stumbled towards the door. But just before she left, she turned back, her eyes suddenly dark and cold. “Before I left,” she whispered, her voice low and chilling, “Ethan said it was a curse. Sarah, I’m warning you. Stop digging. You don’t know who the curse will hit next.” 3 I didn’t understand what Jessica meant by a curse. I numbly picked up the photos she’d dropped. Ethan’s bright smile stared back at me from the first few pictures, taken freshman year. I remembered exactly what he was doing in each one. Then I saw photos from his high school days, pictures I’d never seen before. I tried to piece together the boy he was before I knew him. Suddenly, I flipped to a photo of a boy, maybe fifteen or sixteen. Didn’t look much like Ethan. I didn’t pay much attention and flipped again. Same boy. Confused, I kept going. The next dozen photos were all of this kid, from childhood up to his teens. I looked closer. There was… maybe a flicker of Ethan in the eyes, the shape of the jaw? A wild thought started forming in my mind. Could this boy be Ethan? No way. Ethan was the campus heartthrob, classically handsome. This kid in the photos… objectively speaking, even by normal standards, he wasn’t attractive at all. Then I found another photo: the boy being held by his mother. She was stunning, a vibrant beauty with a radiant smile, but you could see one of her legs seemed… off, maybe disabled. In contrast, the boy in her arms looked miserable, practically scowling. Was this Ethan’s mother? Was this awkward, unhappy kid really him? Jessica’s words echoed in my head. The drowning deaths… the curse… I felt a wave of goosebumps. What had Ethan been hiding from me? Three years together, and suddenly, I felt like I didn’t know his past at all. The mystery of Ethan’s secrets pulled at me, but I had no leads. Life had to go on, somehow. With Ethan gone, I started to change. I began avoiding spicy food, like him. I caught myself mimicking his little habits, the way he’d run a hand through his hair. I finally started focusing on my studies, really applying myself. It wasn’t as hard as I thought. If Ethan could see me now, hitting the books, he’d be so happy. I held onto Ethan’s phone like a lifeline, scrolling through his old messages, his posts. Every chat with his friends, every casual comment, radiated his love for me. Today, scrolling through his social media feed, I noticed someone strange. Their profile picture was just a single period: “.” No name, just the punctuation mark. Their latest post was simple text: Third month without you. I miss you so much. A weird feeling washed over me. It felt like it was meant for Ethan. I’d never seen this profile before. Ethan hadn’t tagged them or interacted publicly. On impulse, I clicked on their profile. It was filled with posts, almost daily entries, pouring out grief and longing for someone lost. I scrolled back, further and further. Then I saw it. A photo. It was Ethan. Standing by Whisper Creek, looking out over the water. It looked like a candid shot, taken from nearby. The timestamp: September 7th, 9:48 PM. The night he died. My heart pounded. This meant someone else was there after Jessica left. I opened a direct message. Who are you? No reply. Silence. Frustrated, I went back to scrolling through their feed, desperate for clues. The feed was almost entirely about Ethan. Pictures of him on campus, in the library, laughing with friends. Some scenes felt familiar… too familiar. Scenes where I had been with him. But I wasn’t in these photos. Just Ethan. It felt like this person was a stalker. Someone I probably knew. Then it hit me. I looked closer at the photos where the background was clearer. There was a common denominator in many of the pictures taken when I was also present. Someone else was often there too: my other roommate, Megan Riley. Megan came from a small rural town. She was always shy, timid, kind of faded into the background. I was pretty much the only one in the dorm who made an effort to befriend her. When Jessica used to lock me out, it was always Megan who eventually let me in. Over time, she became my closest friend in the dorm. She didn’t have many other friends, so sometimes, when Ethan and I went out, I’d invite her along. Megan was pretty in a quiet, mousy way, very introverted. Plenty of guys had asked her out over the years, but she’d always said no. I used to wonder why she never dated. Now I knew. Megan was in love with Ethan. And I’d had absolutely no idea. She must have added him using this anonymous account way back freshman year. I could tell it was her style, her quiet obsession. Ethan must have known too. Why didn’t he ever tell me? A sickening thought crept in: Was Ethan cheating on me?

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My mom, terminal with cancer, sat in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank, having endured a grueling twenty-hour Greyhound bus ride just to be at my wedding to Ethan. But when it was his time to walk down the aisle, I called his name until I was hoarse, but he was nowhere in sight. Turns out, his childhood sweetheart, Sophia, was having a depressive episode, threatening suicide again: “Ethan, I can’t live without you.” My usually stoic fiancé was holding Sophia tightly, desperately begging me to stop the wedding, to let them leave. Relatives and friends tried to stifle their laughter, watching the absolute train wreck unfold. Right at that moment, as she crossed the hotel threshold, my mom took her last breath. My wedding became her funeral. Seeing my mom dead, Ethan’s eyes reddened slightly as he looked at me, a hint of guilt surfacing. “I promise, as soon as I get her checked into the ER, I’ll rush right back to marry you. I promise we’ll fulfill Mom’s last wish.” But he forgot, this was the 96th time he’d hurt me. And I wasn’t going to marry him anymore. Calmly, I texted him, breaking things off. Ethan, however, just brought his childhood sweetheart back to our home. 1. “The groom ran off with another woman, right at the altar! Any normal person would lose it, but she actually let him go?” “Tsk tsk, mother and daughter both have bad luck with men, can’t even hold onto one. So embarrassing!” Below the stage, guests pointed and whispered about me. My mom, overwhelmed by Ethan’s cruelty, collapsed, unconscious. “Mom!” I screamed, catching her, starting chest compressions, trying desperately to perform CPR. Everyone was startled, but no one stepped forward to help. Panicked, I begged Ethan, “Ethan! Please, can we get my mom to the hospital first?” Ethan, still holding Sophia, saw everything. He shot a cold glance at my mom, his voice dripping with impatience. “You say your mom’s dying every other day. How long are you going to keep up this act?” “Sophia’s depression is life-threatening. Having another person in the car could trigger her even more. Are you trying to kill her?” His entire world revolved around Sophia. He didn’t even care that my mom had collapsed. He’d completely forgotten that his entire successful business was built on the life savings my mom scraped together for him to start it. How could someone be so cold-blooded? I kept doing compressions, but Mom didn’t wake up. Seeing this, the crowd finally panicked, chaos erupted, and someone finally called 911. Amidst the commotion, Ethan tried to leave, but Sophia, fidgeting, stopped him. After Ethan coaxed her gently several times, Sophia spoke, her voice sickeningly sweet and manipulative: “Ethan, I feel really awful. Since Auntie isn’t using her wheelchair right now, could I maybe use it?” Instantly, complex gazes fell upon me. And I just stared, hard, at Ethan. The wedding was ruined. My mother and I were already beyond humiliated. Now he wanted to push it even further, take my dying mother’s wheelchair for Sophia? Feeling the woman in his arms tremble, Ethan’s eyes filled with guilt as he looked at me: “Chloe, your mom isn’t using the wheelchair right now anyway. Letting Sophia use it for a bit… you wouldn’t refuse, right?” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I almost forgot. Sophia was his childhood sweetheart. The one who made Ethan ditch my birthdays, ignore me when I was sick, even when my mom was critically ill. The reason he’d sabotaged our wedding eight times before this. How could I possibly win against that? But I didn’t want to agree. Probably sensing my answer, Ethan spoke again after a moment: “Years ago, you promised you’d grant me ninety-nine requests, unconditionally. Let this be one of those requests, okay?” “You still have dozens left, right?” Hearing Ethan say this, my eyes instantly welled up. Back when my mom first got seriously ill, it was Ethan who knelt by her bedside, begging her to let him marry me. He sold everything he owned to scrape together money for her treatment. Mom was deeply grateful and agreed to the marriage. I asked him then how I could ever repay such kindness. He scratched his head, casually saying: “Your mom already agreed to let us get married.” But I insisted: “My mom is my mom. I am me.” Sensing my sincerity, he said: “Then… just unconditionally grant me 99 requests, or let me hurt you 99 times, and we’d call it even.” In the four years after we got engaged, Ethan never made a single request. Until Sophia reappeared a year ago. Since then, he’d used up 96. But this time, he was wrong. First, there weren’t “dozens” left. Second, this involved my mother’s life. I could never agree. What I didn’t expect was that before I could even answer, Ethan grabbed the wheelchair and put Sophia in it. “Remember, you owe me one less now.” Seeing him act like this, and not wanting to waste time arguing, I had no choice but to lift my mother onto my back myself. But as I passed Sophia, I caught a fleeting, malicious smirk on her face. The next second, she stuck her foot out, tripping me. I crashed hard onto the floor, my chin hitting the tile. Pain shot through my entire body. Mom was thrown from my back. Gasps erupted from the crowd. I scrambled to protect my mom. Beside me, Sophia spat out venomously: “Sister, even if you’re trying to fake a fall to get Ethan’s sympathy, you can’t be heartless enough to use your own mom, can you? Auntie’s still just pretending to be unconscious.” Someone in the crowd chimed in: “Ungrateful daughter! Your mom’s collapsed, and you’re still here fighting over a man? Shameless!” Unable to watch my humiliation, Ethan started to reach out to help me, but hearing the accusation, his hand dropped. “Chloe, get your mom up! Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?” Sophia tugged at Ethan’s sleeve. “Okay, Ethan, don’t be mad about this little thing. Quick, let’s go to the hospital pharmacy.” Seeing that I didn’t argue, just staggered to my feet and struggled to lift Mom onto my back again, limping. Ethan started pushing the wheelchair, following me, a hint of concern in his voice: “Maybe find someone to help you carry her?” Beside him, Sophia chuckled lightly: “Sister, you’re the woman who can carry a fridge up six flights of stairs. Why suddenly can’t you carry a person today?” “You’re not… deliberately blocking my way, are you?” Hearing this, Ethan instantly distanced himself from me, disgust flashing in his eyes: “Chloe, why have you become so petty? You know Sophia’s having an episode, yet you’re deliberately walking so slow. If you can’t walk, get out of the way! Don’t block the path!” Me, petty? He used to praise me for being understanding, saying he appreciated that I never questioned his need to care for Sophia, and he treated me well because of it. But later, after he ditched me countless times for Sophia, the moment I asked even a mild question, he called me small-minded, accusing me of picking on a sick person. And now, because of Sophia, we had become unrecognizable versions of ourselves. His heart had completely tilted away from me. After a long wait, the ambulance finally arrived. I placed Mom on the stretcher. Just as I was about to get in, Sophia grabbed my arm again: “Sister, I’m a patient too, I need to go to the hospital. Give me your spot.” I clenched my teeth so hard they ground together, looking at Ethan. Ethan looked awkward, and for once, he actually stopped her: “They don’t need to take you. I’ll drive you to the hospital. Be good.” Only then did the ambulance doors close. An hour later, I sat outside the emergency room, tears streaming down my face. Mom didn’t make it. She died in the ER. The doctor said the ambulance arrived too late. If it had been just ten minutes earlier, the outcome might have been different. As I stood numbly outside the ER, Ethan finally showed up. The thought that Mom would still be alive if not for him and Sophia consumed me. Overcome with grief, I wanted to slap him across the face. But unexpectedly, the moment I raised my hand, he caught it excitedly. His face lit up with happiness: “Chloe, thank god you were understanding enough to stop the wedding and let us go! Sophia’s episode was really serious. You were so considerate, you saved her life again.” He glanced at the extinguished light above the ER door and said casually: “Looks like Mom’s okay too. Great. You take care of Mom first, I’ll come visit her when I have time.” “Next time, I promise the wedding will go smoothly. Mom will definitely get to see us get married, my beautiful bride…” He finished speaking and ran off. He had no idea. Once the debt was repaid, I was leaving. And my mom would never see me get married. 2 While I arranged for Mom’s cremation, he was still with Sophia. I brought her ashes home, packed up her belongings. The housekeeper watched my strange behavior, looking confused. Just then, Ethan sent a gift via the bridal shop staff: two more wedding dresses. He specifically included a message: one was an apology for the interrupted wedding, the other compensation for taking Mom’s wheelchair. As the dresses were fully displayed, the young employee gushed, practically seeing pink bubbles around me: “Mrs. Jiang— Oh, I mean, soon-to-be Mrs. Evans— your fiancé bought out our entire new collection for you! You are so lucky.” My face was blank. Inside, I just wanted to break down and sob. They didn’t know. This was just Ethan’s routine compensation after hurting me. My eyes were empty as I watched them hang the dresses on hangers number 96 and 97. An entire room filled with wedding dresses, with only the last two hangers in the corner remaining empty. I looked away. I knew I’d be leaving soon. I placed the urn and Mom’s belongings on the table in the sunroom. I quickly packed a suitcase. Just as I put the suitcase by the wall, Ethan returned with Sophia. He was carrying lots of supplements he’d bought for Mom. He was always so thoughtful, so considerate. For a hazy moment, it almost felt like the man who had coldly watched my mother die wasn’t him at all. But the next second, conflict erupted. Sophia’s sharp eyes spotted the urn. She let out a sudden, piercing scream as if terrified. Her “depressive episode” flared up. She reached out and swatted the urn off the table. The ceramic box shattered, scattering ashes all over the floor. My vision turned red. I lunged forward, shoving Sophia away, screaming uncontrollably: “Get away! Don’t touch my mom!” Sophia shrank back into Ethan’s arms, sobbing. “I’m sorry, sister, my depression acted up again… But do you hate me that much? Did you deliberately buy a fake dead person prop and put it here just to scare me?” Ethan, instantly furious and protective of Sophia, unleashed a torrent of accusations at me: “Chloe, you know Sophia has depression! Did you buy this disgusting prop to scare her to death? You’re truly malicious! Apologize right now!” “If you know what’s good for you, I might still agree to reschedule the wedding. Otherwise, forget about your mom ever seeing you get married!” Scrambling on the floor, trying to gather the ashes back into the broken container, I screamed back at him, my voice raw with anguish: “Ethan, these are my mother’s ashes!” Ethan grew up in a single-parent household; he never had a mother. Ever since we got together, my mom treated him like her own son. He used to help out at her little dumpling stand every day. When she was bedridden for long periods, he patiently cared for her. He treated my mom like his own mother. Hearing this, surely he’d react somehow, right? But after a brief pause, a mocking smile twisted his lips: “Sophia said your mom isn’t dead. What are you pretending for? Besides, she’s your mom, not mine. Even if she did die, what’s it got to do with me?” Sophia suddenly clutched her head and started crying dramatically, her words utterly vile: “Sister, why are you lying to frame me? Auntie just called me last night, calling me a bitch and a whore, telling me to stay away from Ethan.” “It’s true, I’m sick, I’m shameless, I’m pathetic for clinging to Ethan. I should just listen to Auntie and go die…” My mom died two days ago. She was blatantly lying, slandering my dead mother! Yet, Ethan believed this outrageous lie. “You’re lying—” I shot back, but my fury was cut short as Ethan kicked me, sending me sprawling. “Chloe, how can you and your mother be so disgusting? If you don’t apologize to Sophia today, don’t even think about getting up!” My head hit the wall. Blood trickled down. I stared at him, my gaze filled with deathly stillness. Seeing the blood, he faltered for a second, then changed his tone slightly: “Forget it. Look at you, bleeding all over. Don’t be an eyesore here, you’ll just upset Sophia.” Sophia, Sophia, his mind was filled with Sophia. Fine. Let him spend the rest of his life with Sophia! Gritting my teeth, I gathered the broken urn and ashes, went upstairs, and back to my room. Behind me, a soft voice drifted up: “Ethan, will sister be upset now that she’s been exposed?” “She brought it on herself. What right does she have to be upset!” I slammed the door shut, finally blocking out the mockery from outside. My dad died young. Mom raised me alone, working tirelessly at her street stall. And I couldn’t even protect her ashes. They were thrown on the ground by someone else. Maybe this was Mom’s way of telling me from heaven that it was time to let go of all this entanglement, that I couldn’t stay here any longer. After crying silently for a long time, I picked up the calendar from the desk. I circled today’s date and marked it with the number 98. The door opened quietly sometime later. Ethan tiptoed over to my side. Before I could close the calendar, he snatched it away. Ethan frowned, looking at the red circle that had nearly torn through the paper. Annoyance flickered in his eyes. “What’s this circle around 98 supposed to mean?” 3 I quickly grabbed the calendar back and closed it. “Nothing, just spacing out.” He seemed surprised by my calmness, then suddenly remembered something: “You should really try to break that spacing-out habit. Last time, you almost got hit by a car.” He was talking about that time in college. I was agonizing over a clothing design, lost in thought, and wandered off the sidewalk into traffic. In that terrifying moment, he was the one who pulled me back. I treated him to dinner to thank him, and one thing led to another, sparking our relationship. Knowing he’d misinterpreted my current state, I didn’t explain, just gave a noncommittal nod. Lost in the memory of our college romance, a rare smile appeared on Ethan’s usually stern face: “Alright, don’t sulk alone. Come see this, I know you’ll love it.” He led me downstairs and snapped his fingers. Several housekeepers wheeled out an exquisite, luxurious wedding dress. “Chloe, you will be my most beautiful bride.” “About what happened with Sophia earlier… I’m sorry I lost my temper with you. This dress is my apology. I promise I’ll give you the grandest wedding ever.” Ethan declared this publicly, professing his feelings in front of everyone. The housekeepers beside us practically swooned with envy. My expression remained flat. “Put it in the closet.” Seeing my lack of enthusiasm, his face darkened slightly: “You don’t have to keep picking fights with Sophia. You were partly wrong in this too.” “Mom obviously isn’t dead. You lied to us, saying that urn was hers. If Mom heard you, she’d definitely scold you too.” I almost laughed out loud in bitterness. He still didn’t believe my mom was dead? If he had even an ounce of trust in my words, a simple call to the hospital would confirm it. But he treated Sophia’s words like gospel. I was truly talking to a brick wall. I scoffed coldly, “I did nothing wrong.” Ethan’s face contorted, finding me utterly unreasonable: “So you think Sophia and I are deliberately trying to make trouble for you?” “What else?” I replied flatly. “You’re unbelievable!” Ethan slammed the door with a deafening crack and stormed out, furious. I knew where he was going. Back to Sophia. Sure enough, Sophia immediately started bombarding me with photos and videos, flaunting their time together. I simply blocked her number and went to sleep. The next day, having few relatives or friends left, I arranged a simple funeral service for Mom. I notified Ethan, wanting some closure, a final conversation before cutting ties completely. His reply was simple: “Okay.” But the service was almost over, and he never showed up. Instead, Sophia arrived, followed by a group of rough-looking thugs. Sophia saw the surprise in my eyes and smirked. “What, surprised to see me?” Seeing their aggressive stance, I sensed trouble. “Why did you bring these people here?” “To trash the place, of course! Go on, smash it all!” At her command, the thugs stormed into Mom’s memorial setup, smashing everything in sight. Countless flowers were scattered, wreaths trampled, even Mom’s portrait was shattered. Chaos reigned. “Stop! Don’t touch anything! One more move and I’m calling the cops!” I shielded the urn with my body, shoving them away furiously, screaming until my voice was raw. Their fists and makeshift clubs rained down on me. My head bleeding, pain overwhelming me, I collapsed. Sophia grabbed my hair, yanking my head back, forcing me to look at her. “That old bitch mother of yours. If she didn’t die, was she just going to keep leeching off Ethan?” “Ethan says you’re just a boring housewife. He’s tired of you, can’t get rid of you, so I had to help him out.” A housewife? Is that how Ethan described me to her? Before we were engaged, I was a well-known fashion designer. It was only after his business took off that he begged me to quit my demanding job, saying he didn’t want me running back and forth, exhausted, that he would take care of me. But now, my mother and I were just burdens in his eyes. Fine. I really was leaving. But I wasn’t going to let her get away with this. Seeing me dazed, Sophia sneered dismissively, then turned to the thugs: “Throw her in the coffin, nail it shut with her mom—” Before she could finish, I grabbed a sharp piece of broken wood from the floor and stabbed it hard into her shoulder. Then, I lunged, wrapping my hands fiercely around her neck. A desperate counterattack! Sophia let out a bloodcurdling scream, cut short as my grip tightened. The thugs froze, startled, about to move. I snarled viciously, “Get lost! All of you! Or I snap her neck right now, and you won’t get paid a dime!” Sophia shook her head frantically, pleading with them for help, but the thugs scattered and ran. Relief washed over me. I released my grip, shoving Sophia to the ground. Before I could react, a stinging slap landed hard across my face. My head snapped sideways, ears ringing, as I heard Ethan’s furious roar: “Chloe, how dare you provoke Sophia again? Did you think my warnings were just hot air?” My eyes, blazing red, fixed on Ethan. “She was going to bury me alive!” Ethan seemed momentarily flustered by my shout, turning to look at Sophia. Sophia clung to him like a lifeline, sobbing pitifully: “Ethan, I was just joking! But sister took it seriously, she tried to kill me!” He pulled Sophia protectively into his arms, then turned on me, his voice harsh, as if I’d committed some heinous crime. “She’s sick, Chloe! She was just joking with you! How could you take it seriously and attack her?” This same transparent act had played out countless times. And yet, Ethan still blindly believed Sophia every single time. Tired of his lectures, I stated numbly, “Ethan. This is the last time.” Seeing the utter coldness in my expression, Ethan felt a jolt of fear, a sense that he was losing something vital. Noticing the injuries covering my head, he loosened his hold on Sophia. “Forget it. Let me take you to the hospital first.” He reached for me, but Sophia suddenly clutched her back, crying out: “It hurts, it hurts so bad! Ethan, my shoulder! Sister stabbed me right through! I’m going to die from the pain!” Seeing the blood soaking through Sophia’s clothes, Ethan panicked. Any concern for me instantly evaporated. He scooped Sophia up and ran towards the door, tossing back one sentence: “I’m taking her to the hospital first. Call yourself an ambulance. Text me when you get there, I’ll come meet you.” I watched his figure disappear through the main entrance. Then I called 911 myself and was eventually loaded onto the ambulance. Just as the ambulance pulled up to the hospital entrance. My phone buzzed with an anonymous text: “I won’t let him come get you.” Immediately after, Ethan’s call came through: “Sophia’s injury is too serious, she needs someone with her. I can’t pick you up right now. Later, I’ll definitely find time to check on you later, I promise!” I could hear Sophia’s coquettish voice in the background before Ethan abruptly hung up. He never asked about me again. So I was alone. Surgery, paying bills, recovering, staring blankly. During that time, Ethan never visited me once. But I’d occasionally catch glimpses of the two of them, acting lovey-dovey, in various corners of the hospital. What a perfect couple. I contacted a real estate agent and put the house up for sale. This was the house Ethan bought with the first big profit he made after starting his business with Mom’s money. That was when Ethan loved me the most. The deed was solely in my name. I thought we would build a happy home there. I never imagined I’d be the one selling it off in the end. I signed the contracts quickly, finalizing the transfer. The agent assured me they would handle the moving arrangements completely. Only then did I leave. Back home, the housekeeper presented me with the 99th wedding dress Ethan had sent. I hung it on the last empty hanger in the closet. After paying the staff their final wages and letting them go, I circled the date on the calendar, marking the final number: 99. In the blank space on the calendar page, I wrote my farewell letter to Ethan. “Family gone, debt repaid. Ethan, we’re done.” I placed Mom’s death certificate and the calendar page together on the coffee table. Then, I picked up my suitcase, went to the airport, chose a random flight, checked in, and boarded. As the plane soared into the sky, an exhausted Ethan finally returned home. The villa was eerily silent. Confused, he tried calling me. His eyes fell on the note on the coffee table. Just as he reached for it, the cold, robotic voice came through his phone: “Sorry, the number you have dialed is not reachable…” And the next second, he saw my mother’s death certificate. As if realizing something, his hand trembled as he snatched up the calendar page. When he saw the large, stark words written there… Ethan’s pupils constricted instantly.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “392289”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The year I turned twenty, Ethan rescued me, helped me escape that nightmare town I called home. To repay him, I spent three years cooking and cleaning for him, never complaining, doing whatever he asked. But I knew, deep down, I had less than a year left. I thought we’d live out my remaining days in quiet, simple happiness. Until one night, he came home drunk from a work thing. I saw the texts from his ‘perfect girl’. “Ethan, you must be wasted, probably made a mess. Why don’t you let me take care of you tonight?” Ethan texted back: “Why would I let you handle that dirty work? I’ll just make the housekeeper at home deal with it.” “Aww, you always know how to take care of me!” Chloe replied, adding a little heart emoji. Reading that, my stomach twisted. So, he loved someone else. All this time, I was just the live-in maid, someone he could summon or dismiss whenever he felt like it. The dream was never mine. It was time to wake up. 1 Ethan was still dead asleep in bed, soft snores escaping his lips. I scrolled through the contacts list until I found the one labeled “Goddess.” Her social media profile painted a picture of a girl living a charmed life. She had the same long, dark, straight hair as me, the same delicate build, skin that looked flawless. But in the pictures with Ethan, her big, doe eyes sparkled with a vulnerability I’d never managed. My own default expression was usually… gloomy. It made me think about all the times Ethan had nudged me about my clothes, my style. Maybe I was just her stand-in all along. I’m a pretty traditional girl, maybe even a little old-fashioned. I never used to wear skirts above the knee. But Ethan had practically begged, giving me those puppy-dog eyes, until I slowly gave in, trying out the black stockings and high heels he liked. Standing in front of the mirror, I took off the lacy nightgown he’d bought me for Valentine’s Day. I put on a plain blue bathrobe instead. I spent the night on the living room sofa, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. The next morning, when Ethan woke up, I was already putting a bowl of freshly made oatmeal on the coffee table. As I set it down, I quickly touched my earlobes with my fingers, red from the heat of the bowl. Ethan wrapped his arms around me from behind. He inhaled the scent of my hair, whispering softly in my ear, his breath warm. “My sweet, thoughtful Maya. You work so hard.” “It’s what I do,” I replied flatly, gently pushing him away as I arranged the spoon. He probably thought I was just being shy. Ethan shrugged. Then his eyes fell on what I was wearing. He frowned. “Why’d you change your pajamas?” I told him the other one was too revealing, I felt a little cold, so I picked something warmer. I expected him to ask if I was okay, maybe show some concern. Instead, a flicker of disappointment crossed his face. He used that coaxing tone he always used. “I still like you better in that sexy little devil outfit. Please, wear it again tonight? For me?” Without waiting for an answer, he went to brush his teeth, put on his suit, ready to leave. “Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?” I asked, watching him polish his dress shoes. Ethan clutched his stomach, shaking his head with a sigh. “Nah, drank too much last night. Stomach’s still messed up. You eat it.” He grabbed his briefcase and walked out the door. The sound of the front door clicking shut echoed in the sudden silence. The oatmeal on the table was still steaming, but my heart felt ice-cold. Because I knew exactly where Ethan was heading. Downstairs, by the entrance to the complex, smiling as Chloe handed him a coffee and a bagel. It didn’t matter if Chloe made it herself or just bought it. If it came from her hands, it was the most delicious thing in the world to him. Looks like another breakfast alone. I sat at the table, mechanically spooning oatmeal into my mouth. It tasted like cardboard. Maybe fate was just trying to get me used to being alone ahead of time. With her appearance, the countdown to leaving Ethan had officially begun. 2 Was I wasting my time, obsessing over every detail of this man’s life? This was our third year together. Twenty-three. For a girl, that’s supposed to be the prime of your life. Most girls my age are either in college, maybe grad school, or starting their careers. Me? I spent my days cleaning the apartment, washing Ethan’s clothes, even his socks. Waiting for him to come home, I’d have a hot meal ready, then change into whatever pajamas he liked best and sit quietly on the bed, waiting. Some might say I was pathetic, lowering myself like that. Not worth it. But I did it because I owed him. A debt of gratitude. Back when I ran away from home, I was lost, wandering aimlessly on a mountain road in the pouring rain. The next thing I knew, I woke up in a strange city, a handsome face looking down at me with concern. “You’ve got a high fever. Just lie still, we’re almost at the hospital.” That was Ethan. He stayed with me at the hospital for two days and nights until I recovered. He never asked why I was out there in a storm, or where I came from. Maybe it didn’t matter to him. To him, I was probably just some poor runaway girl he happened to rescue. But to me, Ethan was the first man who had ever been truly kind to me. So, after that, we just… fell together. Naturally. I gave myself to him willingly, tried everything to make him happy, even accepted his flaws and weird little habits. On his birthday, I wore that maid outfit he’d been hinting about forever and gave him… everything. The most precious thing a girl has. It wasn’t until last night that I realized how incredibly stupid I’d been. Today, I didn’t clean. Instead, I went downtown, just to get some air. Besides grocery shopping and running errands, I hardly ever went out. Sitting on a bench, I scrolled through my phone and, almost without thinking, searched for Ethan’s Instagram. He probably figured I wasn’t savvy enough to check, so he hadn’t blocked me or made it private. Mostly work stuff, nothing too out of the ordinary. But then I noticed one account liked almost every single post. I clicked on it. Of course, it was Chloe. And sprinkled through her feed were pictures of her and Ethan, acting like a couple. In the park, on the subway, at the movies… even at a motel. The one that hit hardest was taken in what looked like a cheap motel room, on one of those heart-shaped beds. Chloe had her head buried in Ethan’s broad shoulder, and he was playing with strands of her hair. The caption read: Ugh, stylist went rogue and chopped off way too much hair today! So annoyed! 🙁 Ethan’s comment below: I like it. When your hair grows long enough to touch your waist, will you marry me? Chloe replied with a blushing emoji. Nausea washed over me. How many times had he done that same thing to my hair, whispering sweet nothings in my ear? “I can’t wait to see you in a white wedding dress, your hair blowing in the wind in our photos.” “Maya, you’re my angel. Just wait a little longer. As soon as I save up enough money, we’ll get married.” I walked into a hair salon. A stylist, Tony, immediately started trying to sell me hair products. “Hey there! Looking for color? Treatment?” I didn’t answer. I just sat in the chair, staring at my own reflection – lost, broken. Then I spoke, my voice cold. “Cut it short.” I knew it now. The woman he pictured in that wedding dress definitely wasn’t me. 3 It was after nine when Ethan finally decided to come home. I didn’t bother asking where he’d been. The answer was always the same: working late or a client dinner. When he saw my hair, barely reaching my chin, he looked surprised. “Whoa, what happened here? My little homemaker decided on a new look?” I ignored him, focusing on hanging the freshly washed clothes on the balcony rack. He probably thought I was busy and didn’t hear him, not noticing the shift in my attitude. He walked over, glanced at the clothes, and said, half-joking, “Seriously? What kind of style is that? So plain.” Then he went into the bedroom. Soon, I heard the tap-tap-tap of his phone keys, punctuated by muffled laughter. I knew it. I couldn’t even spark a flicker of interest in him anymore. It was time to leave. Better to die alone than keep getting hurt like this. I finished hanging the clothes, washed the dishes piled in the sink, and dragged my exhausted body toward the bedroom. As soon as I walked in, Ethan looked up, a sly grin on his face. “Hey, come here. Let’s try this tonight.” He eagerly held up a box. New lingerie, probably from one of those trashy shops. I gave it a cold glance and shook my head. “I’m too tired today. And besides… I don’t really like it.” He’d asked me to wear embarrassing things before. At first, I’d refused. Then he’d throw a tantrum, call me ungrateful. How he’d stayed up for two days taking care of me when I was sick, and now I couldn’t even do this one little thing for him. Then came the silent treatment. Remembering how he’d helped me, I’d always cave first. I’d force myself into those skimpy outfits, trying to please him, satisfy him. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Back then, Ethan was everything to me. I could overlook his weird kinks. But now that I knew what I really was in his eyes, I wasn’t going to humiliate myself anymore. My refusal this time didn’t deter him. He shoved his phone in my face. It was a private photo of Chloe, wearing sexy lingerie – the exact same style he’d just shown me. A disgusting thought crossed my mind: maybe the one he handed me was hers, already worn. “Look how cool my colleague Chloe is! She wore it, even sent me pics, no big deal. See how open-minded she is?” “You’re my woman! You need to have some awareness!” When I still didn’t respond, just climbed into bed and turned my back, Ethan sighed dramatically. “Ugh, girls from the sticks just don’t get it. No class.” Seeing that pleading and bullying weren’t working this time, Ethan switched tactics. Reverse psychology. He started praising Chloe right in front of me – how amazing she was, how understanding. He was so bold now because he was convinced he had me completely under his thumb. That my old self would never, ever leave him. But even after all his prodding, I didn’t give in. He didn’t seem too angry, just went back to texting Chloe. After a minute, he nudged me with his foot. “Hey, Maya. What’s your hometown like? Scenery-wise?” “Holiday’s coming up. Chloe mentioned wanting to get out of the city, see some mountains and rivers, but doesn’t know where to go.” Hearing the words “hometown” sent a chill down my spine, making the hairs on my arms stand up. It wasn’t because he was so blatantly trying to provoke me. It was the flood of terrifying memories those words unleashed. The villagers’ leering faces. My mother’s wild eyes. A nightmare I could never fully escape. 4 Seeing I still wasn’t talking, Ethan figured I was just sulking again. Based on past experience, he assumed I’d be crying and begging for his forgiveness soon enough. Muttering “What a buzzkill,” he rolled over and went to sleep. The next morning, Ethan left early without even saying goodbye. My heart felt completely frozen. I started packing my things, ready to leave this place, find somewhere no one could ever find me. This time, I was serious. It was really over. I was about to delete our photos from his laptop when I noticed his Discord was still logged in. A group chat named “The Wolf Pack” was flashing insistently. Someone had uploaded a bunch of files. I clicked one at random. It was a video of me, wearing that revealing lingerie, trying to appease Ethan, just like he’d demanded. “Damn, Ethan! Even got innocent little Maya wrapped around your finger.” “Whoa! Didn’t know you had it in you, man. Such a player. How’d you PUA her? Share your secrets!” As the group members started commenting on me, objectifying me, Ethan posted a smug emoji, then typed: “That’s nothing. Maya and I had a good foundation. She was crazy in love with me, would do anything I wanted.” Everyone in the chat was envious. Then someone typed: “Maya’s got the body and face, sure, but still not quite on Chloe’s level.” Others chimed in: “Yeah, Ethan, when are you gonna share some real action with Chloe for the bros?” But when faced with this request about Chloe, Ethan instantly became protective, like a dog guarding its food. “Dream on. Chloe’s my goddess. Her divine beauty isn’t for peasants like you to even gaze upon.” The ‘wolf pack’ responded with eye-roll emojis, calling him selfish. Someone immediately challenged him: “But Maya’s your actual girlfriend, right? How come you can just share her private videos with us?” Ethan replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world: “Maya? Girlfriend? LMAO, she’s just a toy. Don’t compare her to my pure goddess, Chloe.” “To me, she’s just a maid who cleans and cooks during the day, and a doll that moves and makes noise at night.” “If any of you guys are interested, maybe one day I’ll slip her something extra, and then you can… hehehe…” The rest of the chat was too disgusting to read. Ethan clearly reveled in being the center of their sleazy attention. I closed the laptop, my whole body shaking violently. Tears streamed down my face, splashing onto the floor like raindrops. I buried my head between my knees, replaying everything that had happened since Chloe appeared. My initial disappointment and heartache had curdled into pure disgust and fury. So, all my love and devotion had been wasted on a scumbag. My gratitude, my tolerance – he’d twisted them into excuses to trample all over my dignity. In his mind, Chloe was the angel, and I was the witch. Completely incomparable. I might have come from a dark place, but I never wanted to hurt anyone. I was even willing to give up my own life to hold onto that last shred of decency. Thinking this, I finally dialed the number I hadn’t called in years. The call connected. A familiar voice answered. “Yeah? Who is it?” “Mom,” I said, my voice flat, devoid of any emotion. “I’m coming home.” “Hmph. Finally snapped out of it? Or are you just scared now that you know you only have a year left?” “That doesn’t matter,” I cut her off. “This time, I’m bringing a man back with me.” A chilling laugh echoed from the other end of the line. My own eyes turned cold as ice.

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The day I got my cancer diagnosis, Ethan Cole secretly emptied my bank account. He took all that money to Maya Vance’s wedding as a gift. I went to the reception hall, desperate to get that money back for my surgery deposit. Maya, tipsy and bold, pointed at me and slurred, “Ava, you look so pale… anyone who didn’t know better would think you were dying!” Laughter erupted around us; they all thought it was just a drunken joke. I lowered my voice, telling her I was dying and needed the gift money back. But Ethan flared up first. “Maya just had a little too much to drink! It’s her big day, why are you making a scene?” He then dragged me out of the reception hall. He even took the last five hundred dollars I had on me. “You crashed Maya’s big day like that, you definitely owe her another gift.” “Look at yourself, Ava. All you do now is stir up drama and act jealous. You don’t even bother to take care of yourself anymore. You look frighteningly pale!” He was so sure I couldn’t live without him. But this time, I saw him clearly. So I turned around, went home, and called a real estate agent. “Ms. Thorne, if you’re not in a rush, we could probably get a better price for this place,” the agent suggested. I shook my head. “I am in a rush. Please find a buyer as soon as possible.” The young agent was diligent, calling several potential buyers right then and there. We scheduled meetings with buyers for the following week. On the way home, maybe I was lost in thought, spacing out. I didn’t notice the yellow light flashing at the crosswalk. A car, rushing God knows where, startled me, and I stumbled, cracking my arm hard on the curb. It was bleeding badly. Thankfully, a passerby called 911 for me. “Ma’am, I need to contact your emergency contact,” the paramedic said. I nodded, pointing to my phone. Ethan was saved in my contacts as “My Love.” Easy enough to find. The nurse kindly put the call on speaker. “Hello, are you Ms. Thorne’s husband? This is County General Hospital. Ms. Thorne was in an accident, we need you to come down as soon as possible.” “An accident? She’s really committed, isn’t she? Now she’s stooping to faking accidents out of jealousy? Fine, just call me when she’s actually dead so I can sign whatever papers!” Then, through the phone, came a sickeningly familiar voice. “Ethan…” The nurse instinctively hung up. But I’d heard it. It was Maya’s voice. 2 Today wasn’t the first time I’d encountered Maya. It just seemed like every time I did, Ethan and I ended up fighting. Like the last time, when Ethan got a call from Maya late at night. Without a second thought, he got dressed and rushed out to find her. “It’s late, she just broke up with her boyfriend, it’s not safe for a girl to be out alone. I’ll just check on her and be right back.” But that day, I waited until the early hours of the next morning, and Ethan never came home. Meanwhile, Maya’s social media feed was filled with pictures of her eating and drinking lavishly. And in one photo, showing someone peeling a crab for her… I recognized Ethan’s hand immediately. Because the wedding ring on that hand was the custom one I had specially made for him. Ethan had once told me that crabs were expensive and a pain to peel, and feeding them to me would be a waste. When he finally came home that day, I showed him the picture. He actually turned it around on me, accusing me of not trusting him. “Ava Thorne, I swear, you have too much time on your hands! All you do is pick fights and act jealous. Don’t you have anything better to do?” But I used to be a key player at a tech company. He was the one who said he couldn’t bear seeing me overworked, practically forcing me to quit my job. “Ms. Thorne?” I snapped back to reality, looked at the nurse, and forced a smile. “Wrong number. That was just an old nickname from a game I forgot to change.” “I… I don’t have a husband. And my family lives out of state. Can I just handle this myself?” That day, thankfully, the kind young nurse stayed with me and helped get my arm treated. But the gash was deep. The doctor warned me not to put too much strain on my arm for a while. After thanking the nurse profusely, I took a cab home. Before I even opened the door, I heard Maya’s voice. “Ethan, do you think maybe it’s my fault? Otherwise… otherwise, why would something like this happen to me? Being left at the altar…” No wonder I hadn’t seen the groom at the wedding hall. Turns out, he’d run off. “How could it be your fault? It’s definitely because Ava showed up today and made such a scene. When she gets back, I’ll make sure she apologizes to you!” Ethan’s words were meant to be comforting. If only I wasn’t the one being blamed. I unlocked the door and walked in, my eyes immediately falling on the two of them snuggled together on the sofa. So that was the proper posture for comforting someone. 3 “You finally decided to come back? Get over here and apologize to Maya. Do you have any idea that because of your stunt today, Maya’s wedding was called off?” “So you have to hold her like that? Is that how you’re apologizing for me?” Ethan looked startled for a second, released Maya, and stood up. “Ava, look, this whole thing is mostly your fault. You should at least apologize to Maya. And if you hadn’t stormed into the wedding demanding money, tonight would have been Maya’s wedding night.” I nodded with a humorless smile. “Since you think it’s my fault, why don’t you help her make up for the lost wedding night? Don’t worry, I won’t disturb you.” No anger, no shouting. I calmly walked into the master bedroom. Surprisingly, Ethan actually followed me this time. Standing in the bathroom, I looked at my bandaged arm, wondering how I’d manage. “Ava, don’t be mad. Maya’s going through a tough time, you know.” Ethan hugged me from behind, his hand brushing against my injured arm. “You… you really got hurt? Just your arm? That nurse was overreacting, saying you were in a car crash!” I didn’t say anything, just pushed him away. But he tightened his grip, pulling me under the showerhead. “Since you’re hurt, let me help you wash your hair. I know how clean you like to be; you probably can’t stand going a night without washing it.” Ethan turned on the shower, full blast, water soaking the bandage on my arm. He didn’t seem to care at all. “Ava, your clothes are soaked too. Might as well just take them off.” He tugged at my shirt without any hesitation. “Ethan, I’m injured.” My voice was flat, devoid of emotion as I refused him. He let go of my shirt. Only to slide his hand onto my waist. I let out a bitter laugh, took his hand, and placed it on my back. Because of the cancer, I hadn’t been able to eat much lately. I hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time. It wasn’t until the diagnosis day that I realized how frighteningly thin I’d become. Ethan’s hand touched my bony back. The next second, he snatched it away. As fast as if he’d touched something monstrous, something that could devour him. “Ava, I…” Just as Ethan started to explain, a crash came from the guest room where Maya was staying. Ethan immediately ran out. But moments later, he stormed back in like a madman, roughly dragging me from the bed to the guest room. On the guest room bed, Maya lay still, as if asleep. Sleeping pills were scattered on the floor. “Ava Thorne, you knew Maya was vulnerable right now, and you still put sleeping pills in the guest room drawer! You did this on purpose, didn’t you!” “Do you realize I could call the cops right now and report you for attempted murder!” I looked at my arm, where his grip had reopened the wound slightly, then at the pills on the floor. They were indeed my sleeping pills. 4 It was just from that period when the constant stomach pain kept me awake all night. Afraid of disturbing Ethan’s sleep, I had moved into the guest room. But the pain still wouldn’t let me sleep, so I bought a bottle of sleeping pills. And now… “Ava Thorne! What time is it to be throwing a tantrum! Hurry up, grab the car keys, and take Maya to the hospital!” I held up my bleeding arm for him to see. He just impatiently swatted it away. “Ava Thorne! This is a person’s life! Don’t you have a conscience?” Ethan roughly shoved me aside. Then he carefully lifted Maya and rushed towards the door. Ethan basically forced me all the way down to the underground parking garage. “Get in! Unlock the car!” He yelled so loud that several neighbors cursed at us. Thinking about selling the house in a few days, I didn’t want things to get too ugly. So I got in the car. The entire ride, Ethan sat in the back, holding Maya. He kept talking about their shared memories, trying to rouse her. And I was just the invisible driver. A free driver, at that! The moment we reached the hospital, Ethan rushed Maya into the emergency room. He didn’t even glance at the bandage on my arm, now soaked bright red with blood. “It’s you again! Your arm…” Thankfully, I ran into that same kind young nurse. “Get off your feet! Didn’t the doctor tell you not to strain that arm?” She asked a hospital valet to park my car and quickly pulled me inside. “Dr. Evans, quick, take a look at her! I think her wound reopened.” She anxiously found a doctor for me. “You need to be careful with this wound! If this keeps up, forget about avoiding a scar, you’ll probably get an infection!” Dr. Evans carefully re-bandaged my arm. “Ava Thorne! What are you doing here!” Ethan barged in, roughly pushing the young nurse aside. “I just heard him call your name, I thought he was your friend…” the nurse explained timidly, afraid she’d caused trouble for me. I shook my head. “Maya is still in the ER getting her stomach pumped, and you’re here fooling around with this guy!” I was truly amazed by Ethan’s audacity. “Thank you. Uh, could I talk to him alone for a minute?” I watched Dr. Evans lead the nurse out, then turned to face Ethan. “Ava Thorne, why did you make them leave? Feeling guilty?” “Let me tell you, I am definitely calling the police! You better go wait outside the ER right now, and when Maya wakes up, you apologize and beg her forgiveness. Otherwise, you really will end up at the police station!” 5 I looked at him, amused, and pointed to the trash can containing my freshly removed bloody bandage. “Ethan! Do you see that? That’s the bandage I just changed.” “If you insist I tried to poison Maya, then call the police! I’ll wait right here!” Ethan froze, about to argue. Just then, a voice came from the direction of the ER. “Maya Vance’s family? Where is Maya Vance’s family?” As usual, Ethan dashed off immediately. But this time, as if afraid I’d run away, he grabbed me and took me with him. He actually remembered to grab my uninjured arm. “You wait here until Maya wakes up. After all, if it weren’t for you, Maya wouldn’t be lying here.” He locked me in the hospital room, forcing me to watch over Maya. Until Maya finally woke up. “Ethan, what are you doing? My… my situation has nothing to do with Ava.” “It’s just my bad luck, being jilted at my own wedding. I couldn’t bear to live anymore, and then I just happened to see those sleeping pills in the nightstand drawer…” “I thought… it must be a sign from heaven… It has nothing to do with Ava, she just happened to leave a bottle of sleeping pills there.” Tears streamed down Maya’s face as she spoke. Those tears were like fuel for Ethan’s anger. He spun around, grabbed my wrist, demanding I apologize to Maya. “Ava Thorne! Did you see that? Maya is lying here in a hospital bed, and she’s still trying to cover for you!” “Ava Thorne, it’s just one apology, is it really that hard for you?” “And even if tonight’s suicide attempt had nothing to do with you, it was still your tantrum at her wedding that caused her groom to leave her! So either way, isn’t it still your fault?” I looked at him, forcing a laugh as my stomach started cramping violently again. “Since she’s awake, can I go now? As for the apology you mentioned, sorry, I did nothing wrong, so I won’t apologize. If you think that’s unfair to her, then call the police and have me arrested.” Clutching my stomach, I quickly walked out of the room. But the pain was too intense. I collapsed just as I reached the corner of the hallway. When I woke up again, I was in a room in the oncology department. “You’re awake?” It was Dr. Evans, the one who had bandaged my arm earlier. The young nurse was behind him. “Ma’am, this is the third time we’ve met, and each time you look so pitiful…” A sharp look from Dr. Evans silenced the nurse. “Thank you, you saved me again.” “It’s okay, ma’am. Oh, here’s your phone.” Dr. Evans repeatedly warned me not to get too emotional. If the cancer cells spread before the surgery, the success rate would drop significantly. I nodded, understanding. Bored, I scrolled through videos on my phone. Suddenly, a recommendation for a local live stream popped up. I tapped on it instinctively. “Thank you all for your concern, babies. I’m okay. I’m feeling much better now. Thankfully, I have him here with me.” It was Maya. And the “him” she was referring to was Ethan. 6 Maya was sitting up in bed, live streaming. Ethan was beside her, handing her water, peeling an apple for her. After a short while, Ethan disappeared from the camera’s view. The comment section flooded with people asking where he went. Maya, while saying they were “just friends,” picked up her phone and got out of bed. The next second, Ethan appeared in the frame. He was crouched over a small basin, washing Maya’s underwear. “Oh! Ethan, I told you I could do this myself!” “The water’s cold here, don’t touch it.” The comment section erupted with blessings and praise. 【OMG, marry a guy like that!】 【Wow, why can’t I ever meet a good man like him!】 I looked at the comments and exited the live stream. Cold water. I’d heard that excuse before. Only the original words were, “This water is so cold, how could I touch it?” Ethan and I dated for three years, married for four. I hadn’t ignored little things like this. It’s just that Ethan always seemed uninterested. I just figured he wasn’t the romantic type. When we were dating, he pursued me. But every time we ate out, I paid the bill. When we traveled and needed a hotel, I paid. Even his daily expenses were often covered by me helping him out occasionally. Because his family was struggling financially, and he had to support his parents. I always thought we would definitely get married, so there was no need to split hairs over money. Even the roses he gave me the day he proposed were ones he’d picked out of a trash can. But I never called him out on it. After we got married, he took my support for granted even more. Never mind simple chores like putting clothes in the washing machine – he found even that too troublesome. Even taking out the trash on his way downstairs to work, something perfectly convenient, he’d say wasn’t his job. So usually, the cooking and cleaning at home fell entirely on me. I laughed bitterly at myself. What a ridiculous fool I used to be. Completely manipulated by a guy who married up. I took a deep breath and decisively blocked Ethan’s contact information. Then I put my phone aside and, for once, slept soundly. 7 “Honey, sweetie, your phone’s ringing.” The older lady in the next bed woke me up. Seeing an unknown number on my phone, I answered. “Ahem… It’s Ethan.” “Where have you been the past few days? Why haven’t you even come home?” “We’re out of cooking oil at home. How are we supposed to cook if you’re not back?” “Uh… I was just going out to buy oil anyway. Where are you? I can swing by and pick you up.” I listened to Ethan’s self-absorbed rambling and ridiculous excuse, shaking my head. But remembering I had the meeting with the buyer in a couple of days, and I needed him to move out before that… I agreed anyway. “I’ll send you my location in a bit.” After hanging up, I sent him the hospital’s location. He arrived shortly after. But his first words were: “I know you’re angry, Ava, but you don’t need to waste hospital resources just to make me worry!” Lying in the hospital bed, I looked at him, amused. He knew nothing. His first reaction was to assume I was just throwing a tantrum. “Alright, get up, get dressed, and go handle the discharge paperwork. I’ll come pick you up later.” Ethan turned and walked out. When I finished the discharge process, I ran into Ethan. He was holding a bouquet of red roses. “Turns out Maya is being discharged today too. She doesn’t have anywhere to stay right now, so she’s coming back with us to stay for a little while longer.” I nodded. This time was about laying everything bare anyway. Whatever happened after wouldn’t concern me. Back home, he kept harping on about my hospital stay. “Ava, stop throwing these tantrums. Maya was really sick when she was hospitalized, you saw it that day. There’s nothing wrong with you, staying in the hospital not only wastes medical resources, but it’s also kind of morbid, don’t you think?” I constantly reminded myself of the doctor’s warning: don’t get too emotional. But Ethan was just too disgusting. I threw the diagnostic report right at him. “I am sick! Read it carefully!” Ethan stared blankly at the report in his hands. After seeing the diagnosis, Ethan quieted down considerably for a few days. Maya, however, found out I was sick. She actually started cooking soup. “Ava, this is beef soup I simmered for hours. Try some.” I looked at her, amused. “You should save this soup to suck up to Ethan.” “Ava, you… you still mind me living here, don’t you? I can leave. But I really made this soup for you with good intentions.” Ethan heard the commotion and rushed out. “Ava, Maya is just trying to be nice, what’s wrong with you?” “I saw the soup too. Maya got up early this morning to make it, spent hours on it. You… you can’t keep being so prejudiced against Maya!” I took the bowl of soup and poured it directly into the kitchen sink right in front of them. “Ava…” “Ava Thorne! What is wrong with you!” “Stomach cancer patients can’t eat tough, greasy things like beef! Things like this only irritate the stomach and offer no benefits to someone with stomach cancer!” I retorted sharply, intending to turn and go back to my room. “Forget it, Maya. Don’t stoop to her level. She’s just being difficult because she’s sick.” “If she doesn’t want to drink it, fine. I’ll drink the soup.” Ethan’s voice wasn’t loud, but I heard him clearly. Back in my room, I confirmed the meeting with the realtor and a buyer for two days later. Then, just as I was about to message Ethan to schedule a time to talk… A message from Ethan popped up first. 【Let’s talk tomorrow night after I get off work.】 【Okay.】 Looking at the divorce papers I had already printed out, I felt a rare sense of relief. 8 The next day, Ethan left for work early. Only Maya and I remained at home. Maya, still smarting from yesterday’s rejection, was stubbornly making soup again. This time it was lamb soup. Gamey and pungent. Just the smell made my stomach churn. “Oh, Ava, you’re up?” “I told you yesterday, I can’t drink this kind of soup.” “I never said I made this soup for you. But if you want some, I don’t mind sharing a bowl. After all, more than anyone, I hope you kick the bucket soon.” Maya suddenly dropped the pretense, no more fake sweetness or manipulative words. It actually surprised me. “What? Done with the act?” “Acting? Of course, I have to act! But you only perform for people who matter. Someone like you, who won’t live long anyway, isn’t worth my time.” I didn’t want to get tangled up with her any further and turned to go back to my room. “What’s wrong, Ava Thorne? Does it sting realizing the man you defied everyone to marry isn’t all that great?” “Suddenly wish you’d listened to your parents back then, so you wouldn’t have ended up like this?” “Too bad, your parents are six feet under now. They can’t hear your regrets.” “But hey, you could beg me. Maybe after you die, I’ll do you a favor and put your ashes next to theirs.” It was true I had fought with my family about marrying Ethan back then. But besides Ethan, hardly anyone knew about it. Rage surged through me. I spun around and slapped Maya across the face. “Don’t you dare talk about my parents!” Maya crumpled to the floor, deliberately pulling the bowl of soup off the table as she fell. The hot soup splashed onto the floor, splattering upwards. Maya’s wrist got scalded slightly. But most of the soup splashed onto my leg. “Maya!” Ethan was back. Ethan rushed over and scooped Maya up. He carried her to the kitchen sink, running cold water over her scalded wrist. “Ethan, it’s not Ava’s fault! It was my fault, I said the wrong thing. That’s why Ava accidentally hit me.” Ethan shot me a look filled with blame. “Ava Thorne, when are you going to stop this drama! You’re constantly overthinking things and making trouble, no wonder you got sick!” My emotions were haywire. My stomach cramped fiercely. The burn on my leg started to throb with pain. “Ava Thorne, you better pray Maya doesn’t get a scar here, or you deserve to die! Maya’s a streamer, a scar like that is for life!” Ethan said, about to take Maya to the hospital. I curled up on the floor, clutching my stomach in agony, my voice trembling. “Ethan, call… call 911 for me…” Ethan saw me, his steps faltering for a moment. But Maya just whimpered “it hurts” in his arms, and he continued towards the door. “Ava Thorne! Stop acting! Your condition has been stable lately, you just need to wait for the surgery!” “And seriously, Ava, your acting is terrible! Stop it! I’m taking Maya to the hospital first.” Without a shred of hesitation, Ethan turned and carried Maya out the door. He was in such a hurry he didn’t even close the door behind him. Clutching my violently aching stomach, tears dried on my cheeks. “Help… someone… help me…”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “392325”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel