Category: English

Liam Vance and I were friends with benefits. The very first night we reconnected, I hit him with my terms for a trial sleep contract. “Go get a check-up at the clinic. Prove you’re clean and healthy. How else am I supposed to know if you can even satisfy me?” Hearing my words, the desire that had been building in Liam’s eyes instantly fizzled out. “Fine. Let’s get my body thoroughly checked out! We’ll see exactly how well I can satisfy you!” He gritted his teeth, looking at me, his eyes burning with the desire to conquer me. 1. Running into Liam Vance again was pure chance. That night, I’d been betrayed by my own fiancé. SMACK! “Ethan Cole! How could you do this to me! It’s my birthday, and you sneak off to get a room with my goddamn best friend? Are you two trying to deliberately screw with my head, get some sick thrill?!” Seeing the half-naked pair of dogs before me, I couldn’t hold back my fury any longer. I slapped my fiancé across the face. My eyes were red with rage, and I put all my strength into it. The slap nearly knocked Ethan’s head off, and half his face immediately started to swell. “Ah!?!” My ‘best friend,’ Jessica Bell, shrieked. Clutching the bedsheet, she ran over, carefully cupping Ethan’s face, her own expression filled with exaggerated pain. Tears welled in her eyes, making her look pitiful yet defiant. “Ava, you’ve gone too far this time. Even if Ethan and I did something inappropriate, you can’t just hit people! Look how swollen it is, that must hurt so much…” Her fake innocent act made my stomach turn. “Since you care about him so much, why don’t I just give him to you.” “Ethan Cole, we’re done. Hope you two live happily ever after.” After landing the blow, I didn’t waste another word. I turned sharply and walked away. Jessica gaped, seemingly shocked that I’d let go so easily. But Ethan panicked. He grabbed my hand, ignoring his own throbbing face. “Ava, I’m sorry, I messed up! It was a moment of weakness! We’ve been together for years, how can you just throw me away like this?!” Me throw him away?! Seeing his wounded expression, I just wanted to laugh. Seriously, how blind was I before? It was like I went dumpster diving and pulled him out. But hey, the world’s full of all sorts. Plenty of people seem to enjoy trash. Jessica wrapped her arm around Ethan’s and tried to ‘explain.’ “Yeah, Ava, there’s nothing going on between Ethan and me. He was just here helping me with a massage…” The challenge in her eyes was impossible to miss. Their closeness made even Ethan visibly uncomfortable. “Really?!” A cold smile touched my lips. “Of course… Jessica and I, we…” SMACK! Before Ethan could finish, I slapped him again, this time on the other cheek. He clutched his face, utterly stunned. SMACK! SMACK! Before he could react, I landed two more quick slaps on his right cheek. “There. Now it’s symmetrical.” I nodded, satisfied, looking at Ethan’s swollen face as if admiring a piece of art in a gallery. Jessica was too shocked to even scream. Ethan, now sporting four handprints, glared at me, face dark, veins popping. He looked like he wanted to punch me right back. Too bad for him, he didn’t have the guts. “Ava Sterling, you’re going way too far! I’m still your fiancé, you know! Even if I made a mistake, you should show me some respect in public! I’m your man, after all!” Hearing that, I rolled my eyes so hard I could practically see my brain. Never heard of a kept man, caught cheating by the woman footing the bills, trying to pull the ‘macho man’ card. Did being my lapdog give him a superiority complex? 2. Turns out, I actually did laugh out loud. “Heh…” I advanced on him, step by step. Ethan, who had been puffing out his chest, shrank back as I approached. “What… what do you want…” He swallowed hard, his voice tight with nerves. But I just extended one long, delicate finger and pressed it against his chest, delivering my judgment in an almost cruel tone. “Nothing much. Just wanted to inform my former man that you’re cut off. I’m revoking all my favors.” My voice was cold, detached. The commanding presence, ingrained in me from birth, seemed to suffocate him. He froze, terrified, and started to tremble uncontrollably. Tch, coward! Ballsy enough to cheat, but not to own up to it. I despised him from the bottom of my heart. Calmly, I stood up, smoothed my clothes, and walked straight out. As I passed Jessica, who was now frozen in fear, I paused and said four words to her. “Same goes for you.” After dealing with the trashy couple, I felt restless and didn’t want to go home. Instead, I went to my usual bar to drown my sorrows. After two drinks, it felt pointless. I thought about calling a friend, only to remember that the person rolling around with my fiancé was my supposed best friend, Jessica. “Hah. Pointless. So damn pointless.” I shook my head with a bitter smile and downed my drink. “How pointless are we talking?!” A shadow fell over me, and a familiar scent filled the air. “Liam Vance?!” I stared at the man sitting beside me, whispering his name. I rubbed my temples, blinked hard. Damn, I’d had too much to drink today. I was hallucinating. “What?! Little Ava, so shocked to see me you’re speechless? Or just dizzy with delight?” Liam held his glass, a playful smirk on his face as he watched me. That cocky grin and irreverent tone were all too familiar. “It really is you, Liam Vance…” I murmured. Liam was my ex-boyfriend. My first love. And also, my most disastrous relationship ever… When I was younger, I was the untouchable Ava Sterling, heiress supreme. My little hobby? Saving ‘troubled’ guys. And back then, Liam Vance was exactly my type. Worn-out, faded t-shirt, slightly messy mid-length hair, looking clean and cool all at once. And most importantly, drop-dead gorgeous. And I happened to be totally shallow. I remember spotting him across the basketball court one day – a single glance, and I was hooked. Don’t get me wrong, the guy couldn’t play basketball to save his life. When I saw him, he was in the middle of a 1-on-3 fight. He was getting beaten up, covered in bruises, lip split, his handsome face bruised purple. Even like that, he was still stunning, adding this layer of tragic beauty. Who could resist that? A broken boy fighting his way out of a desperate situation! My heart skipped a beat. My eyes were glued to him, couldn’t look away. All I could think was: “Grandma’s got her eye on you. You have to be mine!” However… How I wished he could have been mute. Not that his voice wasn’t nice. Quite the opposite, it was clean, matched his looks perfectly. It was just… “Son of a bitch! Had enough yet? You little punk, you think you can mess with me?!” And just like that, the tragic beauty vanished. My dream guy… the broken boy… turned out to be a total punk… 3. But later, I heard Liam was poor. Dirt poor. Working three jobs a month sometimes. I secretly followed him once. Saw him in greasy overalls, lying under a car, fixing it, sweat dripping down his face. And damn it, I was hooked all over again. Fine, a punk was a punk. It’s all the same in bed. I would never admit I had zero resistance to his looks. So, after Liam finished work that day, I ran up and blocked his path. “Hey, Liam Vance! I’ve decided I want you. Name your price, I can give you anything!” I’d imagined his reaction many times. Would he curse me out and tell me to get lost? Or would he gladly accept? But I never, ever expected… He broke into a brilliant smile, threw an arm around me, and pulled me close. “Alright. You can be my sugar mama~” Huh?! I admit, my brain totally short-circuited in that moment. Later, lying with Liam on that big hotel bed, my head was still spinning. Partly because I hadn’t processed it, partly because he’d kissed me senseless. “Wait!” As Liam’s hand slid under my clothes, I stopped him, my face flushed. He just kept smiling at me, leaning down to kiss my neck. His warm breath tickled my skin. “Little Ava, don’t you want me?” Under his spell, my resistance melted away. My body went limp, like water. Taking my silence as consent, the man grew bolder. That night, I screamed myself hoarse. The next morning, looking at the bruises all over my body, I belatedly realized I’d been played. Liam Vance was a fox. Cunning, but damn, so beautiful… During the two years Liam and I dated, we spent most of our time in bed. After all, I was seriously addicted to his body. Just like right now. Huh?! My wandering mind snapped back to the present. I looked down at the man currently nibbling on my chest, his shirt already off, revealing a set of lean, eight-pack abs. My face was already flushed. I managed to regain my senses just in time and grabbed a handful of Liam’s hair, pulling his head up. “Hey, hold on a sec!” I stared at Liam’s handsome face, my alcohol-and-lust-addled brain slowly rebooting. “Liam Vance, how did we end up here again?!” My voice was already husky. The soft tone sounded almost like I was pouting… “Little Ava, don’t you like it?” His large hand cupped my cheek. It was warm, and the places he touched grew hot too. My gaze was hazy as I looked at him, and his actions became even more daring. Just as he was about to take things further, I unexpectedly kicked him right off the bed and onto the floor. Liam had absolutely no warning. He lay there on the floor, looking utterly bewildered and dishevelled. “Pfft-” “Hahahahahahaha!!!!” It had been so long since I’d seen Liam look flustered, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Seeing me laugh hysterically, Liam’s usually smooth, seductive face finally cracked a little. “So you kicked me onto the floor just to laugh at me?” He didn’t seem too angry, though. Adaptable as ever, he just sat up cross-legged on the floor, arms folded, tilting his head to look at me. 4. “Of course not.” I mirrored his posture, folding my arms and facing him. “Then why?” Seeing Liam’s genuinely confused expression was deeply satisfying. Hilarious. I loved it when he couldn’t figure me out. “You wanna get in my bed? Think you can handle it?” I lifted my chin, casting a doubtful glance his way, my tone laced with provocation. Sure enough, the one thing a man can’t stand hearing is that he “can’t.” Hearing my words, the previously grinning Liam instantly stopped grinning. His face darkened as he stood up from the floor and slowly approached me. “Ava Sterling. Whether I can handle it or not… shouldn’t you know better than anyone?” Oh ho, he used my full name. That was his sign of being pissed off. He’d asked me the same way when I broke up with him. “Ava Sterling, do you really want to break up with me?” I mentally replayed the scene of our breakup. By the time I snapped back to the present, Liam had already pinned me underneath him. Provoked into a fury, Liam didn’t even have the patience to unbutton my shirt. He ripped it open, buttons flying everywhere. My face remained impassive. “Chanel. Thirty-eight hundred. You owe me.” “I’ll pay! Ten of them, a hundred! After we’re done, I’ll buy out the whole goddamn store for you, take your pick!” Liam whispered huskily, skillfully teasing me. He knew my body better than anyone, knew exactly how to make me feel good. In just moments, my body softened under his touch. Just as he was about to move further, I stopped him again, pushing him away forcefully. I avoided his gaze, grabbing the duvet to cover myself, taking deep breaths to regain control. “Ava Sterling, you…” “Want to sleep with me? You don’t qualify right now!” “What are you trying to pull?” Liam gritted his teeth, staring at me. “Go get a check-up. Prove you’re clean and… capable. Even guys hooking up need proof they’re healthy these days.” I continued to provoke him. I honestly thought he’d storm out in anger. But… “Fine! Let’s get it checked! Get it thoroughly checked! So you can see exactly whether I’m capable or not!!!” This time, it sounded like his teeth might actually crack. Liam stormed into the bathroom to take a cold shower, and I burst out laughing again. “Hahahahaha.” I had to admit, after all these years, I still got a kick out of seeing Liam Vance flustered. But then, remembering the reason we broke up wiped the smile right off my face. I stared towards the bathroom, lost in thought… Liam Vance, why did you even come back? Gradually, despite myself, I drifted off to sleep. Liam always had this faint, lingering scent of sandalwood about him. Subtle, but it always made me feel incredibly safe. I’d asked him once what cologne he used. His response was typically cocky. “Smells good, right? That’s my natural musk, baby. One of a kind. If you like it, I’ll graciously let you hug me more.” And then he’d pulled me into a bear hug, ignoring any protest. So dumb, so bossy, but I absolutely loved it. It’s a shame… I hadn’t felt that scent, that embrace, in ten years. Lost in that thought, I felt myself being pulled into those familiar arms again. The familiar scent, the familiar embrace, now mixed with the clean smell of soap. I instinctively shifted, but he murmured in my ear. “Don’t move. I promised, and I won’t break my word. Just holding you.” “Shh, little Ava. Let me get one good night’s sleep.” And strangely enough, I didn’t move again. That night, we both slept incredibly well. 5. The next morning, the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Liam’s bare chest. Honestly, it was a great view. But… “Damn it, Ava Sterling!!!” With another swift kick, Liam was back on the floor. And I felt wonderfully refreshed. I called my assistant to bring me a change of clothes. Just as I was about to head to work, Liam slung an arm around my neck. I tilted my head back reflexively to look up at him. “What do you want?” “Not so fast, little Ava. We agreed on a check-up at the clinic. How convincing would it be if you weren’t there to watch closely?!” Liam forcefully bundled me into his ridiculously flashy Maserati and drove straight to the hospital. And so, there we were, sitting obediently outside the Sexual Health Clinic. Him in an Armani suit, me in Chanel haute couture. We stuck out like sore thumbs. Everyone around us was throwing curious glances our way, and we could hear their hushed whispers. “See that? Some people look so glamorous, but who knows how wild they are behind closed doors. Probably riddled with diseases!” “I know, right? Such handsome and beautiful young people having those kinds of problems…” “Maybe they’re… you know… in that line of work? They wouldn’t get clients if they weren’t good-looking!” ………… I glanced sideways at Liam and saw his handsome face had turned thunderously black. An idea sparked. “Honey, what are we going to do? We both caught something… what about the baby?” I summoned my best acting skills, looking at Liam with wide, pitiful eyes. Liam turned to me, catching on immediately. He grasped my hand tightly. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We both love our baby. Falling on hard times wasn’t our choice, but don’t worry, I’ll take care of you both.” He spoke with such sincerity, his face earnest, even placing a hand gently on my flat stomach for effect. Great. Now I was the one feeling awkward. Feeling guilty, I quickly scanned our surroundings. The mother and daughter who had been whispering about us earlier now looked like they wanted the ground to swallow them whole. Damn it, he managed to look good even doing this. 【Calling number twenty-seven, Liam Vance, to Consultation Room 1.】 It wasn’t long before Liam’s number was called. Under my watchful gaze, he walked into Room 1 with a grim expression. I stayed outside, legs crossed, playing on my phone. I couldn’t help but smirk, imagining Liam’s awkwardness inside that room. “Ava? Is that really you?!” I looked up to see Ethan Cole and Jessica Bell. My gaze drifted down to where their hands were intimately linked. Noticing my stare, Ethan awkwardly pulled his hand away from Jessica’s arm. “Don’t misunderstand, Jessica and I, we were just…” Ethan scrambled to explain. But Jessica hooked her arm back through his, chin high, staking her claim. “Yes, I’m pregnant. Ava, we’ve been friends for so many years. I hope you can accept us, wish us well!” “Pregnant?!” I eyed Jessica’s slightly rounded belly. It actually did look like she could be pregnant. Seeing Ethan’s guilty expression confirmed they’d been sneaking around together for a while. 6. “Ethan, when did this happen?!” I folded my arms, questioning him. “Ava, let me explain! It was an accident! You were away on business, we both had too much to drink, one thing led to another… I never meant to betray you! But Jessica’s pregnant, I had to…” Ethan rushed to explain, blaming everything on alcohol and Jessica, painting himself as completely innocent. “Hmph!” I snorted, feeling increasingly disgusted by him. I wanted to smack my past self from two years ago. How could I have been so blind to pick him?! How could I have ever thought this greedy, lying sack of crap was anything like the clean-cut boy Liam used to seem like? I must have been seriously messed up. “Ethan, did someone force you to drink? Did someone force you to sleep with Jessica?” “But I was drunk! I wasn’t thinking straight! I just made a mistake any man would make! What did I do wrong?!” Provoked, Ethan lost his temper and yelled at me. “Tch, pathetic loser. Can’t control your own dick, so you blame it on every man on the planet? You really think we’re all animals like you?!” Before I could even respond, Liam emerged from the clinic room, slinging an arm around my shoulder and looking at Ethan with pure provocation.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “392338”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I’m Ethan Vance’s wife. We had a wedding, but we never made it legal, never filed the papers. That marriage license he gave up for his career eventually became the knife twisting in my chest. Later, he knelt in the rain like a madman, begging me to forgive him. But Ethan, dear… without that license, I didn’t even need to tell you I was leaving. 1. When Wendy Bellweather sat down across from me, I recognized her instantly. She was the hottest A-list actress right now, just one step away from winning her Oscar. “Mrs. Vance, fancy meeting you here.” “You’re… simpler than I imagined.” She smiled as she spoke. Movie stars really are on another level, looks-wise. Every little expression was captivating. If I were Ethan, I probably would have indulged a little too. “Ethan talks about you all the time, but he never wanted to bring me to meet you. Said he was embarrassed to show off his plain little wife.” She pouted, her eyes sparkling, but her words cut like a knife. What a perfect little actress, playing the innocent flower! I rarely kept up with entertainment news, but my secret husband was just too famous. Rumors about him were everywhere. After quitting my job, the housekeeper handled everything, so besides coming to this coffee shop, I hardly ever went out. Who knew the rare occasion I did step out, I’d walk into something like this. “It’s my birthday in a couple of days. Ethan said he’s throwing a party for me. Will you come too, Mrs. Vance?” She kept talking, relentless. But as I stayed silent, expressionless, a flicker of impatience and calculation started showing in her clear eyes. Honestly, I was silent because I wasn’t sure how to deal with a mistress who sought me out directly. Ethan had a new rumored girlfriend every year after winning his big award, but it was always just gossip. This one in front of me was the first to actually confront me. I’d lived by the book for thirty years, never imagining I’d end up in such a trashy, humiliating situation because of the man I loved deeply. “Huh, are you mute or something?” She was finally losing her patience, or maybe she just decided I was easy prey. A nasty look crept onto her face. She stood up and poked my forehead hard. “I really don’t know what Ethan sees in you, marrying a country bumpkin like you. Now you’re like gum on his shoe he can’t scrape off.” “Ethan has a scar on his upper thigh, he said you gave it to him when you were kids. Claire, don’t you think you’re just like that scar? The only blemish on his otherwise perfect life?” She even knew about the scar on his thigh. I couldn’t help but sigh softly. The flimsy veil of denial I’d desperately held onto for five years was finally ripped apart. The next second, the coffee in my hand was splashing across her face. 2. Two screams echoed simultaneously. One was Wendy Bellweather’s. The other came from a girl nearby. She must have been a fan of Wendy’s, watching secretly from a distance for who knows how long. “Wendy! Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” Luckily for her, the coffee had cooled down. Wendy quickly wiped the viciousness off her face, reverting to her usual pure and innocent look. A single tear slid perfectly from the corner of her eye right on cue – a truly pitiful sight designed to evoke sympathy. “Why did you throw coffee on our Wendy, you evil woman?” “Yeah, who even are you?” A barrage of insults hit me instantly. The quiet coffee shop turned chaotic. The light drizzle outside had unknowingly turned into a downpour. Wind and rain hammered against the windows, fraying everyone’s nerves. I grabbed my bag, wanting to leave, but someone shoved me back into the chair. A sharp pain shot through my ankle where it hit the seat frame. “Well, isn’t this lively today? How about I treat everyone to a little show?” The coffee shop’s background music stopped abruptly, replaced by a vaguely familiar voice over the speakers. At the same time, a security camera recording appeared on the large screen in the shop. In the footage, Wendy Bellweather was clearly visible, poking my forehead with a malicious expression. “Well, well, isn’t this the future Oscar winner Wendy, always marketed as the pure, angelic goddess? What brings you to my humble coffee shop to bully one of my customers?” The voice from the speakers dripped with sarcasm. The shop instantly fell silent. The atmosphere turned strange. Wendy’s public image was built on never getting angry, always being gentle like an angel. She’d never shown such a nasty expression in public. I shot a grateful look towards the second floor, at the somewhat nonchalant man standing there – Marc Riley, the owner of this trendy coffee shop. He was a former colleague. We weren’t exactly close. Years ago, back in Ridgedale, Marc had been known as one of the city’s top young lawyers. It was a mystery why he suddenly quit at the peak of his career to open a coffee shop here. But he was famous and good-looking, so the place quickly became a hotspot. I’d run into him here by chance. I didn’t know many people in Westbridge, so after a few visits, I became a regular. “I didn’t want to! But she’s a stalker fan! She’s been harassing me constantly, I couldn’t take it anymore! I’m about to have a breakdown! Please, Miss… Claire, just leave me and Ethan alone!” Wendy recovered quickly, expertly painting me as the villain with just a few sentences. “Oh, so she’s a stalker.” “Wendy is too nice! If I were harassed like that, I would have called the cops ages ago! And she’s begging her? Why?!” “Crazy bitch!” … Suddenly, a cup of hot coffee splashed directly onto my face. I stared in disbelief at the person who threw it. 3. As the coffee dripped down my face, I heard gasps and excited murmurs erupt all around. “Omg, omg, is that Ethan Vance?!” “No way, no way, no way! Ethan Vance is here!” The late autumn rain already carried a chill. Ethan was wearing a black trench coat today. I saw the disgust in his eyes directed at me. Before I could even speak… “Ethan, I… I just wanted to—” Wendy stammered, looking flustered, unable to form a complete sentence. But the next second, her expression shifted to shy adoration. Amidst the crowd’s hushed whispers, Ethan took her hand. “More people are showing up. My car’s right outside, let’s go.” “Okay, whatever you say, Ethan.” Wendy nodded, her voice soft enough to melt butter. But before leaving, she subtly tugged on Ethan’s hand, her gaze sweeping intentionally towards me. I was completely frozen, my mind blank. What was happening? My husband just threw hot coffee on me in public and walked away holding another woman’s hand right in front of me? Sticky coffee dripped from my hair onto my eyelashes. Through the blurry haze, I saw Ethan’s cold gaze flick over me. It was so unfamiliar. “Ethan, I—” I stood up numbly, my lips parted, but the word “hurts” never came out. The surrounding fans grabbed me roughly, cursing. “You stalker bitch, you’ve got some nerve! Still trying to bother them?” “She needs a good slap to learn her lesson.” In the jostling crowd, I saw Ethan frown and glance at me one last time. Then, holding Wendy’s hand, he walked out into the rain. Just before getting into the car, Wendy turned back and shot me a triumphant smirk. Tears finally streamed down my face. I gave a self-mocking curve of my lips. This really felt like a scene from a movie. “Smack—!” The next second, a stinging slap landed hard across my face. The fans, still not satisfied, swarmed around me. More blows and insults rained down. I threw my hands up to shield my face, feeling dazed, as if I were back in the orphanage of my childhood. Only this time, my little hero had walked off with another girl. He wouldn’t rush in front of me to protect me anymore. Claire, how did you let your life become such a mess? 4. In the end, it was Marc and his staff who rescued me. “Sorry, I made you close up early.” “Don’t mention it, Claire.” He placed a glass of hot water in front of me, then hesitated before speaking. “Have you seen what’s trending online?” “Trending?” I paused, then shook my head. “I deleted all those apps.” “Well… want to look at mine?” He held out his phone. The top three trending topics were all explosive. Number one: #EthanVanceWendyBellweatherOfficial. Ethan had many rumored girlfriends, but it was always just blurry paparazzi photos, and he never confirmed anything. This public display was indeed the first official confirmation. Number two was: #EthanVanceRumoredGirlfriends. But it was number three— I saw the hashtag #StalkerFan and my hand trembled as I tapped on it. The top post featured my face, with a big red X marked over it. “Don’t read the comments.” Marc quickly covered the screen with his hand, but I’d already glimpsed the vile personal attacks. I don’t know how I got home. By the time I snapped back to reality, it was completely dark. Marc’s words echoed in my head. Asking how I planned to clear my name. Asking what I was going to do. Asking me— I didn’t know. I didn’t know anything. The door opened, and a familiar figure hurried in, bringing the cold air from outside. “Honey.” As usual, Ethan immediately wrapped me in a hug the moment he walked in, nuzzling my neck like a puppy. All the cold indifference from earlier in the day was gone. “Honey, happy seventh anniversary.” He gently kissed my lips, placing a large bouquet of roses and a cake in front of me. His eyes were full of intense, sincere emotion. I stared at him, stunned. After a moment, my numb, stiff lips moved silently. “So you did remember… today is our wedding anniversary.” 5. “How could I forget?” His expression was still flawless, his long, fair fingers stroking my cheek with infinite tenderness. “That was the best day of my life,” he said. I looked at the man I knew so well he felt etched into my bones, but all I could see was Wendy Bellweather’s face from earlier that day. A perfect performance, impeccable acting. Suddenly, I felt like I didn’t recognize the man in front of me. “Before, I just thought you treated me like I was deaf and blind. Turns out, you think I’m an idiot too.” Ethan’s hand paused. His eyes finally showed a hint of panic when they met my tear-filled gaze. “No, Claire, that’s not it. You know it was all for publicity, it was all an act.” “An act? Do you really think I’m that stupid?” I sprang up from the sofa, dodging his touch. “Ethan Vance, you make me sick. Absolutely disgusting. Don’t touch me. You’re filthy.” His face instantly crumpled, filled with hurt and brokenness. The more he acted like this, the more disgusted I felt. “Claire, I thought you’d always understand, just like you always have,” he said. So that’s how he saw all my efforts over the years. Just… understanding. No wonder he never bothered to explain anything for so many years. No wonder he took it for granted that after abandoning me, humiliating me in public, I’d just continue to play dumb and treat him the same way. “Ethan, why?” I finally couldn’t stop myself from asking. “Is it because you don’t love me anymore? Is it desire? We could have gotten divorced, Ethan. Why did you have to humiliate me like this?” “Of course not, Claire!” He shot up, stepping closer urgently. “How could I not love you? I told you, I love you. Till death do us part.” “You know… my dream.” His dream. Always his dream. I slumped back onto the sofa with a bitter smile, feeling like I was stranded in an endless desert, unable to take another step. Because there was no hope in sight. 6. Ethan and I grew up in the same orphanage. We gradually developed feelings for each other in middle school. He confessed to me on high school graduation day, and I shyly nodded yes. I got into a top university, with some financial support from the orphanage. He went straight into acting, starting with bit parts, and would send me money for living expenses whenever he could. Then, two years after I graduated, we got married. Back then, he hadn’t won his major awards yet but was already a massive star, right in the middle of his career ascent. A recent romantic movie had gained him a huge following of female fans who saw him as their ideal boyfriend. For the sake of his career, we didn’t get a marriage license. But he insisted on giving me a wedding. So, in a rented villa outside the city, we invited a few close friends we grew up with from the orphanage and had a simple ceremony. He promised me that once he achieved his dream, he would give me the grandest wedding imaginable. I really used to look forward to that. But as time went on, the importance of the ceremony faded, and the dream wedding became a blur. Lately, all I hoped for was that he wouldn’t change, that his feelings wouldn’t waver. That would be enough. But even that small wish— “Ethan, I get disappointed too. When disappointment piles up, eventually, you give up,” I said calmly. Those words had been stuck in my heart for years, swirling around ever since the rumors started, and kept coming. But saying them out loud now surprised even me. My heart didn’t ache as much as I thought it would. It was like cutting out a piece of rotten flesh that had been festering in my chest for years. When I finally decided to remove it, the pain wasn’t as unbearable as I’d imagined. Ethan’s expression finally showed true panic. He always knew how to read me. “Claire, I messed up. I’ll cut ties with Wendy Bellweather right now. Not just her, I’ll clear up all the rumors with everyone.” “When I’m with them, I pretend I’m acting. Otherwise, I can’t stand it for a second. Claire, trust me, I never crossed the line with any of them.” See? He always knew what bothered me. Tears fell from his beautiful eyes. Ethan knelt pitifully on the floor, hugging my legs like a lost puppy. “Give me one more chance, Claire. Just one last time. I have a feeling this movie I’m negotiating for now… it’s the one I’ve been waiting for.” “After it’s done, we’ll go get the license.” “I’ll tell the whole world that you’re the only love of my life.” In the end, my heart softened. I never expected the consequences of that weakness to come so swiftly. 7. Two days later, same afternoon, same place, Wendy Bellweather sat across from me again. Probably still shaken from the last encounter, Marc proactively offered us a private room. “I’m pregnant. It’s Ethan’s.” She placed a medical report in front of me. A pregnancy test report. I’d seen them countless times on TV, imagined holding one myself countless times. To avoid the complications of having a child without being legally married and the child facing documentation issues, we had always held back from having kids. But no one understood the longing for a happy, complete family more than two people who grew up in an orphanage. “I know you two aren’t legally married. Ethan told me everything. So, as long as you don’t try to guilt-trip him with your past relationship, as long as you just leave cleanly, he can finally have a happy, perfect family.” I let out a cold snort, a sarcastic smile playing on my lips. “My husband gets a new woman every year. If you count, Miss Bellweather, isn’t your year almost up?” “Maybe you should worry about whether you’ll be sticking around first.” * That day was my birthday. It was also the anniversary of the day I was sent to the orphanage. I was already six then, old enough to remember things clearly. My parents, celebrating my birthday, had drunk too much and somehow started arguing. In the chaos, my dad shoved my mom towards a cabinet. A vase on top fell and hit her head. Blood trickled down from the corner of her eye. Mom slowly closed her eyes. Later, Dad frantically dropped me off at the orphanage gate. But as he turned to run away, a car speeding around the corner hit him, sending him flying. I lost both my parents on the same day. * Today, I went home early and cooked a big meal, waiting for Ethan. My childhood trauma made it impossible for me to spend this day alone. Ethan knew that. In the past, no matter how busy he was or how far away, he always came back to be with me. But this time, he broke his promise. Maybe it was some kind of intuition, but that day, I didn’t immediately call him to check if he was okay. Instead, I re-downloaded all the social media apps I had deleted. Trending #1: #EthanVanceProposal.

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The day before our wedding, my fiancée, Chloe, decided to test my love by inviting our families onto a yacht. When the wind picked up and the waves got rough, she pushed my mom overboard, then jumped into the sea herself. Caught in the middle, I panicked, torn about what to do. My mom was already choking on water, but she weakly pushed me away, gasping, “Save Chloe first! She’s your fiancée!” But after I struggled to drag Chloe back onto the deck, I looked for my mother again. She was silent, lifeless. Chloe watched me sob in agony, her eyes cold. “Stop pretending. Your mom was a competitive swimmer when she was young. How could she possibly die?” “You didn’t even try to save me first. Jake was right, you just don’t love me enough.” “Our wedding is postponed. When you’ve reflected on this, and you bring your mom to apologize, then we’ll talk about getting married.” With that, she walked off, arm-in-arm with her childhood friend, Jake. But she didn’t know. After a serious illness a few years ago, my mom couldn’t swim anymore. That push had cost her her life. … When they pulled my mom’s body from the water, she was cold, gone. I held her, trembling, trying desperately to wake her, but she didn’t move. Chloe walked over impatiently and kicked my mom’s hand, which had slipped to the deck. “Alright, enough with the act! Everyone knows your mom’s a pro swimmer. A few small waves aren’t going to kill her.” “Even if you play the victim in front of me, I’m not just going to let this go.” “I can’t stand being second best. Whoever marries me has to love me completely, put me first. You really disappointed me this time.” Even being kicked like that, my mom showed no reaction. A flicker of uncertainty crossed Chloe’s face. She started to bend down to check. Her friend Jake stepped in front of her, glanced at my mom’s pale face, and scoffed. “She looks fine to me, definitely doesn’t look like she’s dying.” He patted Chloe’s shoulder, acting like an expert. “I heard swimmers like her are great at holding their breath, two or three minutes is nothing.” “I bet they planned this together, mother and son, trying to intimidate you. So after you’re married, you’ll have to obey their every whim.” Chloe froze, clenching her fists. Her gaze slowly shifted to me. “Ethan, is that true?” Before I could answer, she cut me off: “Don’t bother explaining. It’s hard for me to trust anything you say right now.” “As punishment, our wedding is delayed by six months. When you learn how to love me properly, I’ll consider marrying you again.” Then, she turned and left with Jake, never looking back. Just then, I felt my mother’s fingers twitch in my arms. It was like grabbing a lifeline; I felt a surge of hope. I scrambled over and grabbed Chloe. “My mom’s alive! She can still be saved!” “We’re on an island, there’s no hospital! Please, can you just let your private doctor take a look?” Seeing her unmoved, I pleaded again, my voice low. “Have you forgotten how good she was to you? She treated you like her own daughter! Remember during that crazy lockdown, she risked everything to bring you food? She would never harm you! She’d never try to lay down rules before you even married in!” Chloe seemed slightly moved. She paused. She studied me with searching eyes for a long moment before finally agreeing. “Fine, I’ll call the doctor.” Jake tried to stop her. “Chloe, you don’t have to—” But Chloe cut him off. “But this is the last time I trust you on this. If the doctor comes and finds out your mom is fine, you both will pay the price.” I nodded frantically. Just getting a doctor was all that mattered. I couldn’t think about anything else. But just as the doctor in a white coat hurried over with his medical bag, my mom suddenly coughed up a mouthful of seawater, hacking violently. 2 Everyone jumped when my mom opened her eyes. I froze too, but there was no joy in my eyes. I knew this was likely the final surge of energy before death, the ‘last rally’. I rushed to the doctor. “She’s fading fast, please, give her CPR, do something…” Before I could finish, Chloe raised her hand, cutting me off. Her face hardened. “That’s enough! Your mom is perfectly fine.” “Jake, let’s go.” She turned and walked away without a second glance. I started to go after her, but my mom weakly tugged at my sleeve. A tear rolled down her cheek as she spoke, her voice broken. “Ethan… don’t blame Chloe… It’s my fault, I’m useless… couldn’t even swim a few hundred yards.” “Explain things nicely to her… don’t hurt her feelings… Mom will pull through… Mom still wants to be at your wedding…” But as soon as she finished speaking, her pupils dilated, and her hand slipped lifelessly from mine. No matter how desperately I called her name, she didn’t wake up again. My heart finally died. Numbly, I closed my mother’s eyes. Three years with Chloe. I couldn’t understand how we’d ended up here. Just a year ago, Chloe and I were inseparable, madly in love. But everything changed when her childhood friend, Jake, came back from abroad. She started acting distant for no reason, constantly setting up these ‘tests’ to gauge my love. She said I had to pass ninety-nine tests of my sincerity before she’d marry me. Last time, she called me in the middle of the night to go to Jake’s welcome-home party. The moment I walked in, a bowl of flour was dumped over my head. Jake held the empty bowl, looking pitiful. “It was me. Ethan won’t blame me, right? Just wanted to liven things up a bit.” Seeing Chloe watching me with questioning eyes, I swallowed my anger and just shook my head, saying it was fine. The next second, Jake winked at Chloe, congratulating me on passing: “Not bad, your boyfriend actually passed the test. Looks like he’s got a good temper. You won’t have to worry about domestic violence later.” Chloe’s expression softened slightly, but looking at my flour-covered mess, she offered no comfort. She just told me flatly to go wash up in the kitchen and then use the leftover ingredients to cook dinner for everyone. Even though I didn’t understand Chloe’s obsession with these tests, my love for her kept me from complaining. I told myself things would go back to normal once Jake went abroad again. I never imagined it would end like this. I sat slumped on the ground for a long time before slowly getting up. After finding a place to temporarily lay my mother’s body, I went to find Chloe, who was now at a party. All I wanted was to leave this island, give my mother a proper burial, and let her rest in peace. But on my way to find Chloe, people kept pointing their phones at me. They were taking pictures, whispering among themselves. I didn’t pay much attention at first, until someone jumped out and blocked my path, shoving their phone right in my face. “Hey buddy, how much did you sell your mom’s life for? Maybe next time I’ll try faking an accident in front of the rich girl too.” I froze, snatching the phone from his hand. I saw that Jake’s friends had posted videos online. The comments were brutal: 【Isn’t the old hag supposed to be a swimming champ? How could she not even make it a few yards to shore?】 【Yeah, who knows what shady tricks she pulled back in the day.】 【If I were Chloe, I’d be crying my eyes out. Stuck with such a poor, nasty mother-in-law and a gold-digging fiancé. Probably staged the whole thing so they could control the rich daughter-in-law after the wedding, planning to bleed her dry.】 3 I pushed past the gawker and ran, frantically searching for Jake. “Jake, why did you let your friends spread these lies online!” “I can take it, but what did my mom ever do wrong? Why does she have to suffer this kind of slander even after death?” Jake lounged with his feet up on a table, looking completely unfazed. “Isn’t this just the dirty stuff you guys pulled? What, you can do it, but you can’t handle people talking about it?” “Chloe falling for you is the luckiest thing that ever happened to you. We, as her friends, have to help screen you. After all, you’re just some poor kid. Who knows what your real intentions are.” The glass in my hand shattered. Blood dripped between my fingers, but I felt nothing. Before I could say more, Chloe interrupted. “Alright, Ethan, stop making a scene. Jake was just trying to look out for me.” “We’re going to get married eventually anyway. The wedding’s only postponed by six months. If you just admit you were wrong, everything can go back to normal.” Chloe had someone bring a first-aid kit. She took out some gauze, her expression softening with a hint of concern. “Your hand is bleeding. Come here, let me bandage it.” I just looked up at her. “You also think I was putting on an act?” Chloe didn’t answer. Her silence said everything. I nodded, a bitter smile twisting my lips. “If that’s the kind of person you think I am, then let’s just go our separate ways starting today.” “Chloe, the wedding is off.” I turned to leave, but Jake called out. “Wait. Since you’re leaving, you should give back the ring Chloe gave you.” He pointed to the ring on my finger. Chloe had it custom-made for me. Her ‘sincerity tests’ started six months ago and continued until now. I endured countless humiliations during that time. There were moments I wanted to give up. But right after I suggested breaking up, she threw a massive tantrum, smashing everything in her house, then stormed out in a rage. The next morning, she rushed back home, her eyes red, hugged me, and apologized. Then, she took a ring box out, pulled out a ring, and coaxed me softly, “This is your wedding ring, I’m giving it to you early. We can get married very soon, just as long as you pass all the tests. After that, I’ll belong only to you, okay?” My heart softened, and I didn’t push the breakup anymore. I never imagined it would lead my mother and me into this abyss. Thinking of this, I didn’t hesitate. I pulled the ring off my finger and threw it coldly onto the sand. “Take it back. We don’t owe each other anything anymore.” Chloe’s face turned ugly. But I didn’t care. I walked away without looking back. She called me many times on the way, but I didn’t answer. I just held my mother’s cold body tightly, unable even to cry. Back in our hometown, I wanted to arrange the cremation and burial immediately. But no funeral home would take her. No one would issue a death certificate. Even when I knelt and begged, they answered emotionlessly. “Miss Sterling gave instructions. We can’t accept.” “The Sterling family is planning a wedding. They can’t have a funeral associated with them; it’s bad luck.” Desperate, I had no choice but to call Chloe. But Jake answered, mocking me cruelly. “You’ve got some nerve. You break up with her, and now you’re calling to harass her again.” “Give it up already. The person Chloe will end up with is me.” “Those so-called sincerity tests? Just stuff I made up to mess with her. I was trying to get rid of you, but who knew you’d stick it out this long, even getting your mom killed in the process?” Jake hung up, his laughter loud and arrogant. When I tried calling back, the line was dead. I clenched my fists and slammed the phone against the wall. I went back to our old house and set up a simple wake, placing my mom in a coffin. After the traditional seven days of mourning, I was preparing for the burial when unexpected visitors arrived. Chloe burst in, looking furious. “Ethan, buying a coffin, holding a wake, when are you going to stop this charade?” “What happened last time already embarrassed the Sterling family enough! Now you’re doing this, giving people more gossip? Don’t think my tolerance means you can do whatever you want!” Her face was full of pain and disappointment, as if I had betrayed her deep love. But right then, I just said coldly, “Don’t disturb my mother’s peace. Whatever you have to say can wait until after she’s buried. You’re not welcome here.” I had never spoken to Chloe like this before. She froze. After a moment, she bit her lip. “Enough! How long are you going to keep up this act! Do you think I’m a child?” I just calmly repeated, “Please leave.” Chloe laughed, a bitter, tearful sound. She nodded, a desolate look in her eyes. “Fine. You say your mother is in this coffin, right?” “Men, take this coffin away!” The bodyguards she brought swarmed forward, lifting the coffin. They balanced it precariously on the edge of the window ledge. One hard push and it would fall. “What are you doing!” I struggled violently, but they held me fast. I couldn’t move. And Chloe actually said, “Since you insist on lying to me, let’s play one final sincerity test.” “Do you choose this coffin, or do you choose to marry me? You can only pick one.” I stared at Chloe in disbelief. I couldn’t fathom she’d do something so insane. “Put it back! That’s my mother in there! If you really throw it down, I will never forgive you!” Tears streamed down Chloe’s face instantly. “Even faced with a fake coffin, you won’t choose me?” “Ethan, you’re truly heartless. I declare that you have failed the final sincerity test.” “Then you can just watch me marry Jake. As for this…” Chloe looked at the coffin and sneered. “Throw it down! I’m sick of looking at it!” The men released their grip. The coffin plummeted from the high floor, crashing onto the ground below, shattering instantly.

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Hailey was the adopted daughter my dad brought home. She was sweet and sensible, deeply loved by my parents, and even received company shares from them. Outsiders knew the Miller family had one biological daughter and one adopted daughter, but they insisted Hailey was the real heiress. After I left, my parents showed up at my company’s entrance, begging me to come home. 1. I shot a cold look at my supposedly flustered adopted sister, my good birthday mood vanishing instantly. Just moments before, she’d tripped me hard as I came down the stairs, sending me sprawling. My carefully chosen party dress now had a huge tear in it. Seeing my parents approach, she quickly helped me up. “Chloe, honey, why were you so careless? Let big sis see if you got hurt anywhere?” Her overly affectionate act disgusted me, and I couldn’t help but push her away. Unexpectedly, my mother spoke, her face stern, “Look at you, what a mess. You’re old enough to know better than to get yourself like this.” Then Mom turned to this sister of questionable origin, “She doesn’t know any better. Are you hurt?” Hailey shook her head, a flicker of feigned tears in her eyes quickly replaced by a sweet smile. “Chloe’s the birthday girl today! Quick, put on the princess’s crown.” I turned my head slightly, avoiding her gesture, but then paused, slightly surprised. Why did her profile look so much like my dad’s? Could it be that she was my dad’s… “Chloe, why are you being so difficult?” Seeing me dodge, Mom tapped my head disapprovingly. “Since you don’t like the little crown, let your sister wear it. It doesn’t matter who wears it.” Before I could even protest, Mom took the crown and placed it on Hailey’s head. She looked moved, almost to tears. “This… this is the first time I’ve ever worn a crown.” Dad stroked her hair. “From now on, we’ll celebrate your birthday every year too.” “Dad will take you to cut the cake right now.” Watching the three of them walk away, forgetting who the real star of the day was, they looked more like a happy, harmonious family. Feeling wronged, I lowered my head and went back to my room. The feeling was strong, an intuition telling me she was Dad’s biological daughter. Even though Dad always insisted Hailey was just the daughter of the person who had saved his life. 2. “Mom, I need to tell you, that Hailey…” Just as I was about to mention Hailey’s resemblance to Dad, she appeared, carrying a plate of fruit. Putting on a show of filial piety for my mom, she said, “Mom, Hailey cut up some fruit for you. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I cut a little bit of everything.” This moved Mom deeply. She hugged Hailey and kissed her repeatedly. Then she shot me a reproachful glance, praising Hailey for being thoughtful. I just stood there, stunned. I’d done small things like this countless times before, but my parents never even batted an eye. But when it came to Hailey, how… Resentfully, I squeezed in beside them, trying to get Mom’s attention, but her focus was entirely on Hailey. She didn’t even spare me a glance. “Oh, Chloe,” Dad said later, “I’ve arranged for Hailey to transfer to your school. Look after her there.” “Did you hear me?” I remained silent. Hailey clung to Mom’s arm, her eyes full of mockery and triumph, as if showing off that Mom only had eyes for her. But her smugness didn’t last long. The first midterm exam at school delivered a harsh reality check. The ranking list posted in the classroom showed me at the top of the grade, while she was in the bottom three of our class. Even the teacher asked me, bewildered, if Hailey and I had the same parents. How could the same genes produce such drastically different results? I happily took my report card home to share the good news with my parents. But as soon as I walked in, I heard Hailey’s crying and my parents’ comforting words. “Hailey, honey, don’t be sad. Whether you do well in school or not, you’ll always be the apple of our eye.” The apple of their eye? They had never used those words for me. Even now. It suddenly hit me: no matter how hard I tried, how excellent I was, in my parents’ eyes, I felt more like the child they’d picked up off the street. Unloved, uncared for. 3. Perhaps my stellar grades provoked Hailey. To prove she was just as outstanding as me, Hailey started studying frantically, eventually fainting in the classroom one day. At the hospital, my parents fussed over her, showering her with concern. But when they saw me arrive, their expressions instantly soured. Mom came straight up and slapped me hard across the face. “Chloe, why are you so malicious? You know Hailey isn’t strong, yet you keep getting high scores just to provoke her!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a chill spreading through my heart. They kept saying I was provoking her, but it wasn’t like she’d actually died from it, right? “If you love Hailey so much, why did you even have me?” I couldn’t help retorting. But Hailey, on the hospital bed, spoke up again, sobbing. “Mom, Dad, I’m so useless. Chloe doesn’t like me, I’m bad at school… I really don’t want to live anymore.” Hailey cried so hard she could barely breathe, making onlookers think I had been bullying her at school. “Hailey, honey, don’t you dare think like that. It’s Chloe’s fault for getting first place.” “We’ve told you, whether you do well in school or not, you’re still Mom and Dad’s good daughter. It’s all Chloe’s fault for being so stubborn and difficult. It’s not your fault. Don’t ever talk about dying again.” Such kind parents, such touching family affection. When did I become the stubborn, willful side character in their narrative? The scene made me sick to my stomach. I gave a weak, helpless smile, though my eyes were already red-rimmed. Doing well in school was wrong. Not liking her was wrong. Why was everything always my fault? When they first brought Hailey home, my parents promised they would treat us both exactly the same, be fair to both of us. Was this their idea of balance? A bitter ache filled my heart. I bit my lower lip hard to keep the tears from falling. Leaving the hospital, I squatted by the roadside. A tall, handsome figure entered my vision. Ethan handed me a tissue and brushed the snowflakes off my shoulder. “You little scaredy-cat, did that idiot sister of yours make you cry again?” 4. Ethan was my classmate. In his words, Hailey’s brain didn’t seem like it had ever been used for schooling. But her academic shortcomings didn’t stop her from flaunting her status as the Miller family’s eldest daughter to outsiders. Over time, many people came to believe Hailey was the biological daughter, and I was the adopted one just living with the family. My family and Ethan’s family had some business dealings, so Ethan and I had known each other since we were kids. He had attended my birthday party last year, so naturally, he knew the real situation between us. “Knowing your temper, I thought you would have ripped that adopted sister’s mouth off by now.” I shook my head. My parents’ behavior had already chilled my heart. I didn’t want much to do with them anymore. “Next semester, I’m going to apply for boarding. Out of sight, out of mind.” This kind of affection, disguised under the banner of fairness, had never once landed on me. I didn’t care for it. Time flew, and soon it was Thanksgiving. At the big family dinner, everyone gathered together. The older relatives heard about my excellent grades and praised me, saying I had a bright future. My younger cousin playfully asked me to share my study tips. Grandpa was especially complimentary, saying I had his spirit from when he was young. I smiled and chatted quite a bit with my cousin. Unexpectedly, these few words made Hailey’s face fall. On such a festive day, she burst into tears, a real downpour. Mom and Dad immediately rushed over to comfort her, showering her with jewelry and designer bags to appease her. The other relatives’ faces instantly turned cold, muttering about how she was bringing bad luck on a holiday. But, as always, she knew exactly how to soften certain hearts. When she mentioned she was missing her biological parents, Grandpa’s expression, though still serious, softened considerably. He gave her a check just as generous as mine. Mom and Dad seized the moment, putting their arms around Hailey and looking pleadingly at Grandpa. “Dad, Hailey’s not well, and she’s had such a hard life. Why don’t we just transfer the shares meant for Chloe directly to Hailey? It would also repay the debt we owe her parents for saving your life.” “Chloe is so capable, she’ll be fine with or without those shares.” Why? My face instantly turned pale. Just because I was capable, they wanted to snatch away what was rightfully mine and give it to their adopted daughter to make her happy? Tears welled up in my eyes, but I clenched my jaw, refusing to let them fall. Only I knew what losing those shares meant in a family like ours. My own parents were stripping me of my inheritance rights— To give them to their adopted daughter. “Chloe is the Miller’s biological daughter. If you insist on giving Hailey shares, you can give her some from your own portions.” Grandpa’s words settled the matter, and the weight in my chest lifted. But that night, my parents came to me with a stock transfer agreement, trying to force me to sign it. They even promised that if I signed, they would ensure I married into a top-tier wealthy family, where I could live a life of leisure as a rich wife. Why don’t you offer such a wonderful life to Hailey, the one you cherish like the apple of your eye? 5. “Your grandfather is old, he doesn’t understand the situation. Since you’re more capable than Hailey, just give the shares to her.” I watched all this with cold eyes, searching my parents’ faces for any shred of affection for me. Sadly, I found none. “Mom, Dad, Chloe… I don’t want the shares. I just want everyone to get along peacefully.” Hailey popped out from behind Dad, saying she didn’t want them, but her hands were more honest than her words. She helped Mom hold down my hand, urging me to sign my name immediately. I suspected she knew all along that whether she asked for the shares or not, Mom and Dad would snatch them from me for her. Just like she had snatched away all of my parents’ love. “If I sign this agreement, can I sever all ties with you?” I stared steadily at Mom, a sliver of hope in my eyes. Mom seemed to think I was overreacting, frowning as she lectured me, “It’s just a few shares. Why can’t you be as understanding and considerate as Hailey?” “But if you insist on being so difficult, there’s nothing we can do.” My heart sank to the bottom. The contract was in duplicate. I signed my name, adding the clause I demanded about severing family ties, and had it notarized. On Thanksgiving night, I became truly and utterly alone. Just then, the sound of neighbors setting off leftover fireworks faintly reached me. Ethan’s holiday message arrived right on cue. “Hey Scaredy-cat, Happy Thanksgiving.” Tears immediately streamed down my face. Why did Mom and Dad have to give all their love for me to Hailey? Was I really the one who was picked up off the street? 6. Disheartened, after the break, I applied for boarding school without consulting my parents. Mom and Dad called a few times demanding to know why. Because my attitude was cold, eventually they stopped contacting me altogether. Hailey sought me out every now and then, claiming she wanted to mend our sisterly relationship, but in reality, she had her eyes on Ethan. His family was prominent, he excelled academically – definitely prime boyfriend material in our circle. But Ethan wasn’t blind like my parents. He wasn’t interested in idiots. I grew tired of being in the same class as Hailey, so I took internal exams and skipped from eighth grade to ninth. Ethan followed suit, ending up in the same class with me again. If I couldn’t fight her, couldn’t I at least avoid her? But even skipping a grade somehow provoked Hailey. As soon as she got home, she supposedly fell ill and couldn’t get out of bed – who knew if it was real or fake. Unable to reach me by phone, my parents came to the school personally. In front of my roommates, Mom slapped me across the face. She also unleashed a torrent of abuse on my roommates who tried to defend me. Mom forced me to kneel beside Hailey’s hospital bed, declaring that if anything happened to Hailey, I would kneel at her biological parents’ graves until I died to atone. I knelt for an entire night. Finally, I couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out. When I woke up, I learned Hailey was perfectly fine, being pampered by Mom and Dad in a VIP room. Meanwhile, I was lying alone in a standard room, an IV drip in my hand, with no one beside me. Years of accumulated resentment solidified into real hatred at that moment. From then on, I wanted absolutely nothing to do with this family. I blocked my parents’ numbers from my phone. After the IV drip finished, I limped back to school by myself. Ethan somehow found out I’d been forced to kneel all night and came to my dorm with other classmates to check on me. My parents, likely feeling guilty about the kneeling incident, brought Hailey to my dorm for a brief, awkward visit. This, however, sparked numerous rumors. Some said Hailey wasn’t the adopted daughter after all, but I was the illegitimate one. Others claimed Hailey was the illegitimate one, and I was being bullied mercilessly. I was sure the only ones defending me were Ethan and his friends. But honestly, I didn’t care about any of it. I was busy preparing for the entrance exam for a prestigious early admission program at an Ivy League university and had no time for their drama. The acceptance letter was mailed to my home address. Only then did my parents find out I’d gotten into a top school. They even wanted to use my achievement to boast, attempting to mend our broken relationship by eagerly offering to throw me a make-up birthday party. For a moment, I hesitated. I hadn’t celebrated my birthday in two years.

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Eight years ago, my mom was dying of late-stage cancer. My dad, Mark Collins, wouldn’t spend a dime, just let her waste away, waiting to die. Eight years later, we ran into each other at the hospital. His face twisted with disgust: “If you’re going to die, do it somewhere else. Don’t drag the Collins name into anything!” Pretty soon, he’d be on his knees, begging me to help his company. I shoved him away: “Mark Collins, the day you started keeping a mistress on the side, you stopped being my father!” 1 I had just walked out of the OB/GYN clinic, report and prescription in hand, when a soft female voice called out: “Maya, is that you?” I didn’t turn around. Just hearing that voice made disgust churn in my stomach. I quickened my pace. “Maya! Brenda’s talking to you. Where are your manners?” It was my biological father, Mark Collins. I took a deep breath and turned. Mark had one arm linked with Brenda’s, the other holding her expensive-looking designer handbag. Dressed impeccably, looking utterly devoted. A world away from the cold-blooded man who offered nothing when my mother was gravely ill, letting her wither away alone in a hospital bed. He was like a completely different person. I forced a smile. “My name is Maya Stern. And since I had a mom but no dad to raise me, isn’t it normal to have bad manners?” “You!” Mark glared, taking a step forward like he was about to teach me a lesson. “Mark, honey, let it go. It’s so nice to run into Maya, don’t ruin the day.” Brenda pulled Mark back, her voice syrupy sweet. Then she turned to me, smiling. “Maya, dear, what are you doing here? This place… isn’t your boyfriend with you?” Ostensibly making peace, secretly fanning the flames. After all these years, Brenda hadn’t changed a bit. Mark caught the implication in her tone, his gaze sharpening as he looked at me. I held up the report, opened my mouth, and nonchalantly dropped a bomb: “Accidentally pregnant. The dad doesn’t want it. Came to arrange the termination.” Mark raised his hand, ready to slap me. “You tramp! You’ve dragged the Collins family name through the mud!” I shot back: “Ha! Look who’s talking!” “When you were cheating on Mom with her,” I gestured towards Brenda, “were you worried about the family name then?” “What’s this, an old married couple visiting the OB/GYN? Trying for another kid?” Brenda put on her usual wounded expression, still playing the frail victim as she intervened: “Oh, Mark, kids grow up, they have their own lives…” “Your blood pressure, remember? You need to think about Lindsey and Alex!” Mark finally snorted, dropped his hand, and glared at me, spitting out harsh words: “Maya, I’m washing my hands of you! If you’re going to crash and burn, do it far away from the Collins family!” I was about to retort when a warm hand gently rested on my shoulder. A calm voice, gentle yet firm, flowed like cool water into the undignified chaos: “Just a little argument, why would you say I don’t want this child?” 2 I looked up and saw the impeccably handsome, distinguished face of my boss, Julian Thorne. If Mark’s rage and Brenda’s fake concern made me want to laugh out loud, the uncharacteristic tenderness in Julian’s eyes sent a chill down my spine. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Julian glanced at Mark and Brenda and asked, “And these two are?” Julian was tall, impeccably dressed, with an undeniable air of authority. Everything about him screamed that he was not an ordinary person. Brenda, ever the opportunist, tugged at Mark’s sleeve and offered Julian a practiced smile. “We’re Maya’s parents. You must be… her boyfriend?” Julian gave a slight nod and stepped forward, extending his hand to Mark. “Julian Thorne.” Mark Collins had carved out a decent niche for himself in the city’s business circles. Hearing Julian Thorne’s name, his cautious scrutiny instantly turned into delighted surprise. He eagerly shook Julian’s hand. “The name certainly rings a bell! A pleasure, a real pleasure to meet you, Mr. Thorne! I’m Mark Collins, of Collins Industries.” Julian retracted his hand and asked with concern, “What were you saying to Maya just now?” Mark chuckled awkwardly. “Just tough love, you know how it is with daughters. A misunderstanding. Heat of the moment!” Julian nodded, then put an arm around my shoulders, preparing to lead me away. “We have some things to attend to. We’ll see you around.” Mark hurried after us, his thick fingers gripping my wrist. His eyes practically overflowed with fatherly affection. “Maya, don’t be mad at Dad. No hard feelings between father and daughter, right?” “Dad’s birthday party is this weekend. Bring your boyfriend and come early, okay?” Julian remained noncommittal, looking at me expectantly, as if waiting for my decision. Although I had no idea what had gotten into the big boss today, my fear was mixed with a surge of confidence. Clothes make the man, as they say. And today, facing my deadbeat dad, I might as well lean on the imposing presence of Julian Thorne. I pretended to consider it, then said hesitantly, “I’m not sure yet… depends on Julian’s schedule.” Mark nodded understandingly, urging us gently, “Come if you can, come if you can.” The pressure on my wrist clearly signaled that I had to bring this important connection to the party. I nodded, took Julian’s arm, and turned to leave. Once we reached the parking garage, Julian abruptly dropped my hand. “Ms. Stern, your family drama is quite something.” “Eh, it’s nothing special. Thanks to Mr. Thorne for stepping in and playing the part!” I bowed slightly, opened the car door for him like a chauffeur, then hurried around to the passenger seat. Mike, the driver, handed me a bottle of water as he started the car. “Took you a while in there, Ms. Stern,” he asked kindly. “Everything okay? You should take your medicine.” If he hadn’t mentioned it, I’d almost forgotten why I was at the hospital in the first place. The adrenaline rush from the confrontation had made the cramps that tormented me all afternoon vanish. Now that he reminded me, sharp pain began radiating from my lower abdomen again. I tipped my head back, swallowed the pills, and leaned back in the seat, trying the sleep-it-off method. When the driver woke me, the car was parked outside my apartment building. Streetlights were just beginning to glow outside. Dazed, I unbuckled my seatbelt and patted Mike’s shoulder. “You’re a good guy, Mike. Thanks for waiting. Must’ve been here a while.” Mike subtly gestured towards the back seat. Only then did I realize Julian was still in the car. Julian was wearing wire-rimmed glasses, reading a document. As I looked back, he raised his head, meeting my gaze. Elegance and refinement hit me all at once, seeming to heal the hurts I’d endured earlier. For the first time, I felt that good looks weren’t just appealing; they could actually ease pain. It all felt too good to be true. I almost suspected my usually harsh boss, the one who frequently chewed me out, had been replaced by an imposter. Thinking about all his kind gestures today, I felt genuinely grateful. “Mr. Thorne, thank you for today.” Julian casually looked away. “Don’t mention it.” Then, in the same flat tone he used for reading reports, he recited: “Accidental pregnancy, termination, ‘our Julian’.” Mike’s eyes, fixed straight ahead, seemed to burn with the heat of someone eagerly listening to gossip. I stammered, trying to explain, but a faint smile touched Julian’s lips. “Maya, the reputational damage you’ve caused will be deducted from this month’s salary.” “Mike, let’s go.” I stood there in the cold wind, watching the understated Rolls-Royce drive away from my modest neighborhood, crying invisible tears. His kindness was all an act. Damn capitalists. 3 Standing under the shower spray, I looked at the crisscrossed scars on my palms, long since healed, and thought about Mark Collins’ invitation. Normally, I wouldn’t go. But this time… I turned the handle, and warm water cascaded down like heavy rain. My mom got sick right after she found out Mark was cheating on her. She forced smiles every day, but her body truthfully sounded the alarm. After she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Mark didn’t care at all. He never came home once. Let alone visit her in the hospital. Less than three months after Mom died, Mark brazenly brought Brenda and her daughter home. Along with the seven-month fetus Brenda was carrying. Back then, A picture of our family of three still sat on my desk – Mom and Dad holding me, smiling warmly. But Mark ordered me to call Brenda “Mom.” Brenda, even then, played the gentle, understanding role, stepping between Mark and me. “The child can’t accept it right away, Mark. It’s too soon to say these things.” Then she looked at me, softly stroking my face. “Maya, just call me Aunt Brenda for now.” I was already a junior in high school by then. I wasn’t stupid. The moment I saw Lindsey standing behind Brenda, I understood everything. Since freshman year, everyone in our grade buzzed about it: there were two ‘belles’ in our year. One was Maya Collins in the science track, the other was Lindsey in the arts program. Even stranger, the two girls looked remarkably similar. The only differences were that Maya was taller, had cooler-toned pale skin, a higher nose bridge, and a more reserved air. Lindsey, on the other hand, looked like a girl raised on sugar and spice. Her wide, doe-like eyes seemed innocent above her petite nose. Her clothes, her mannerisms – everything about her radiated a sweet, apple-cheeked charm. If it hadn’t been for Lindsey and her friends constantly targeting me for no apparent reason, I would have just found it amusing. Seeing her stand behind Brenda that day, a triumphant smirk on her face, it all clicked. All the similarities weren’t some coincidence. It was because Mark Collins, that animal, had secretly maintained another “family” throughout his entire marriage to my mother. I finally understood why Mark was always “away on business trips” every few weeks. Finally understood why Mark never showed up for my parent-teacher conferences. Finally understood why, when Mom was dying of late-stage breast cancer, Mark not only didn’t visit but claimed he had no money. He clearly owned a factory, lived in a mansion, drove a luxury car. But he said he had no time, no money. Mark Collins, the boy from a poor background, chosen by my mother for his sharp mind and charming wit, had never forgotten his life goals: Be a rich man, find a gentle wife, have a son. The last two desires couldn’t be fulfilled with my mother, who came from a family of respected professionals. But he could leverage my grandparents’ connections to climb the ladder in the business world. From the beginning, my mother hadn’t found a good match, but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And I wasn’t some product of love; I was just a mongrel carrying half of Mark Collins’ filthy blood. I flipped the table. Dishes, cups, everything crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces around our feet. Mark slapped me with all his might, then immediately turned to check if Brenda and Lindsey were hurt. The impact knocked me to the ground. My hands landed on the shards, pain shooting through me. My left ear was ringing. I heard my sixteen-year-old self hiss through gritted teeth, “Mark Collins, you bastard, you’ll rot in hell!”… Julian Thorne’s face floated into my mind. A risky plan began to form. I wiped my face, my eyes snapping open. Mark Collins, this time, I will make you pay. 4 After the morning meeting, I deliberately slowed down, packing my things, waiting for everyone else to leave so I could talk to Julian. Normally, I would never be this bold. But this was a golden opportunity, practically heaven-sent. If Julian agreed, I’d willingly work for him for free for 10 years. As I was dawdling, Ms. Evans, his executive assistant, walked over to me, smiling pleasantly. “Ms. Stern, Mr. Thorne would like to see you.” Slightly confused, I followed her, mentally reviewing my work from the past few days, wondering if I’d messed something up. Or had Julian, that sly fox, already guessed my audacious thoughts? I stood somewhat nervously in the vast office suite. Julian gestured for Ms. Evans to leave. Then he stood up, sipping his coffee, and handed me a thick file. “Information on Collins Industries. You should probably be familiar with it.” I flipped through the pages. It contained detailed information about Mark Collins’ company: business scope, scale, recent projects, history, even clear summaries of its finances and debts. I had indeed kept tabs on these things privately, but nowhere near this level of detail. Julian walked to the window, looking down at the glass-and-steel cityscape. “Apex Tech has recently approached Collins Industries about a new partnership. What are your thoughts?” I answered formally, “Although Apex isn’t huge, they have strong momentum and are potential competitors for our new project. If Collins and Apex team up…” Julian turned around, nodding in approval. “Of course, that’s from a business perspective.” “Privately,” Julian gave a faint smile, opened a drawer, and took out an exquisite velvet box. “Since Ms. Stern has already announced we have a… child?” I quickly stood up, waving my hands. “Mr. Thorne, you can’t pin that entirely on me! You were the one who stepped up and claimed it!” Julian chuckled softly, his voice smooth like aged wine. “As it happens, I have a small inconvenience of my own. Perhaps Ms. Stern could help me out?” With that, Julian opened the deep blue velvet box and placed it in my hand. It was the first time in my life I’d seen one of those ridiculously large diamond rings from magazines in person. Under the sunlight, it glittered blindingly before me. “Mr. Thorne, this…?” Julian returned to his chair, sitting formally, put his glasses back on, and resumed his commanding tone: “You’re coming with me after work.” “Things happened quickly, so use this for now.” “If you lose it, it comes out of your salary.” 5 And so, at six o’clock that evening, still dressed in my work clothes, I found myself accompanying Julian to an upscale resort nestled by a lake in the hills outside the city. Rich people really are different; even their matchmaking venues are this fancy. I habitually followed a step behind Julian. After a short walk, he stopped and frowned at me. I immediately understood. “Mr. Thorne, any instructions?” Julian took my oversized shoulder bag from me, told me to loop my arm through his, and muttered, “What on earth do you carry in here? It weighs a ton.” I listed the contents matter-of-factly: “Laptop, files, water bottle…” Julian cut me off, looking exasperated. “Alright. Is the ring on?” I quickly flashed my right hand. Julian nodded, satisfied. A waiter led us towards a pavilion by the water. A slender, ethereal woman, looking like a fairy, was leaning back in her chair, gazing at the scenery. Facing us was another woman, slightly rounder and shorter. Seeing us approach, she gently tapped the fairy-like woman’s arm. The fairy turned with the grace of a swan extending its elegant neck. The moment she saw me, the sophisticated smile on her face froze, like it was still loading. “You must be Miss Song?” Julian politely extended his hand. Though clearly displeased, Olivia Song managed a brief, handshake. Olivia Song sized me up. The woman beside her spoke first, “Mr. Thorne, do you always bring your secretary on blind dates?” Julian pulled out a chair for me, gallantly helped me sit down, then took his own seat, smiling and shaking his head. “Not my secretary.” He then took my hand, gently stroking it, revealing the blindingly large diamond ring. “Her name is Maya Stern. She’s a department manager at my company. Hardworking, smart, beautiful inside and out. I knew I wanted her the day she joined the company.” Even though I knew Julian was just putting on an act, hearing him praise me like that for the first time still made me secretly pleased. Olivia Song’s face turned thunderous. She grabbed her coat, shot up from her chair, and delivered her first and last words of the evening: “Julian Thorne, your family is unbelievable! You’re already involved with your subordinate, and you still show up for a setup like this?!” Then she stalked off on her long legs, leaving us with her furious back. The other woman, equally indignant, threw out a “This is outrageous!” and hurried after her. That went smoothly, I thought admiringly. Leave it to the ruthless capitalist, no messing around. Seeing the mission accomplished, I asked Julian, “Mr. Thorne, they’re gone now. Should we perhaps…?” Julian, however, took the menu from the waiter and began studying it seriously. “We’re already here. Might as well eat before we leave.” 6 It’s Saturday afternoon, 5 PM. I’m in Julian Thorne’s massive downtown penthouse apartment, being fussed over head-to-toe by a styling team. This all started because of a comment he made during that dinner: “Maya, watching you eat is surprisingly relaxing.” “I think I’d like to do it again.” “I’ll go with you to the Collins Industries party on Saturday.” Lord have mercy. While I, navigating the corporate world alone, don’t have many airs and graces, being told my eating habits are “relaxing” by a man who seems to float above the mortal realm made the lobster I was eating a little hard to swallow. But regardless, Julian had offered this opportunity before I even had to ask. I secretly marveled that sometimes, fate actually treated me like a favorite grandchild. Once the primping was done, looking at the elegant beauty in the mirror, I felt a little more grounded. Dressed to the nines, as they say. Today, Maya Stern was ready to shine. Holding my skirt carefully, I got into the waiting Rolls-Royce. Mike, the driver, saw me, and his eyes lit up: “Ms. Stern, you look incredible today! Really… uh… glamorous!” The smile that had just bloomed on my face froze slightly. Master and servant, both blessed with such silver tongues. The car glided towards the Grand Lexington Hotel. Mike explained, “Mr. Thorne had a few things to wrap up. He asked me to bring you here first.” I nodded in understanding. I looked down at the massive diamond ring on my hand. I had taken it off that night, carefully wrapped it, and tried to return it to Julian. He’d waved it off dismissively. “It’s just sitting around anyway. You might as well wear it for now. Good for keeping up appearances.” I asked worriedly, “Mr. Thorne, what if…” Julian’s expression turned serious. “Then you pay for it, market value.” I touched the ring, shifted slightly in the back seat to ease my posture, and mentally reviewed the information on Collins Industries. Julian wanting to intervene in the Collins and Apex deal was a certainty. But he had also given me detailed files on Collins Industries’ debts and questionable projects. Julian never did anything without a reason. If I wasn’t mistaken, Julian meant exactly what I thought he meant. I closed my eyes for a moment. Mark Collins, this time, I absolutely will not let you get away with it.

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I pulled out all the stops to get Ethan Miller. I knew he carried a torch for someone else, his old flame, but I figured if I just tried hard enough, I could eventually take her place. Turns out, that was just wishful thinking. I never stood a chance against her memory. So, I decided to give up. But the day I broke up with him… I died. 1 “You’ve been sitting here for over an hour. Is that boyfriend of yours actually coming or not?” Mom knew Ethan was supposed to come meet her. She’d ordered a mountain of food at the restaurant, and it had been sitting on the table getting cold for ages. Still no sign of him. Truth is, Mom and I aren’t exactly close. She and Dad divorced when I was little. Mom didn’t want custody, Dad remarried, and I ended up with my grandma. Grandma passed away while I was in college. Dad had his new family, and me, the “outsider,” didn’t really fit in. Dad told me to go find Mom. Mom didn’t want me either and got into a huge fight with Dad about it. In the end, Mom reluctantly “took me in.” She travels constantly for work, so she couldn’t really take care of me. She just sends money regularly. Like more money makes up for anything. She never once acted like a real mother. Today was her birthday. I wanted Ethan to meet her, hoping maybe, just maybe, I could get her approval for once. I’d specifically told Ethan two days ago. “My mom’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. Think you could take the day off, come meet her?” Ethan had said, “Work’s crazy right now, big project. Not sure if I can get away.” “Okay, well, if you really can’t make it, just let me know.” The morning of her birthday, I texted him, Can you make it today? He replied, Yeah, I can. That’s why I told Mom he was coming. Half an hour ago, I texted him again, Where are you? When will you be here? No reply. “Mom, maybe something came up last minute at work? He might just be late. Let’s wait a little longer?” “Wait for what? It’s my birthday, and I’m supposed to wait around for some kid?” Mom was furious. She didn’t even touch her food, just paid the bill and stormed out, leaving me alone in the private dining room. I stared at my phone screen. Still no reply from him. Then I saw a notification dot on my social media feed. I clicked on it. It was a post from Sophia Wallace. She was a senior when I was a freshman. Ethan’s unforgettable ex-girlfriend. The caption read: Long time no see! So good to catch up. Underneath was a picture. And in that picture was a figure I knew instantly, painfully well. My boyfriend, Ethan, the one who wasn’t answering my texts. Back in college, everyone called Sophia and Ethan the golden couple. They looked perfect together. Everyone assumed they’d get married right after graduation. But then, Sophia moved abroad, and they broke up. I’d had a crush on him from the first time I saw him, but they were still together then, so I kept it to myself. After I heard they broke up, I pursued Ethan relentlessly. It took a long time, but I finally got him. Now Sophia was back, and he couldn’t wait to run off and see her. Suddenly, I didn’t seem very important anymore. So, it really was true. When the ex comes back, the current girlfriend always loses. All the hurt and frustration I’d been bottling up just burst out. After a good, long cry in the empty dining room, I started to calm down. I was done. I couldn’t keep chasing after Ethan anymore. I was just too tired. It was time to say goodbye to this dead-end relationship. I walked out of the restaurant and sent him a text. We’re done. 2 Leaving the restaurant, I just wandered down the street aimlessly, breathing in the feeling of being single again. God, I hadn’t felt this light and free in ages. Without really thinking, I ended up at the entrance to the amusement park. The amusement park. I’d always wanted to come here. When I was a kid, nobody ever took me. After I started dating Ethan, we came once. But he got called away for work almost as soon as we got inside. He left, and playing alone was zero fun, so I just went home. I bought a ticket and went inside. I went on a bunch of the craziest rides – roller coasters, anything that dropped you from a height. Looking for the next thrill, I saw the Ferris wheel. There’s that old legend about Ferris wheels: if you make a sincere wish when your car reaches the very top, your wish will come true. I bought a ticket and got into a car by myself. Staring out at the view as it climbed higher, a wave of emotions washed over me. I found myself wondering if things would have turned out better for me and Ethan if we’d actually ridden the Ferris wheel together that first time and made a wish. I caught myself thinking that and let out a bitter little laugh. Like a wish would have magically fixed everything. Our problems were way more complicated than that. The sadness came quickly, but it faded just as fast. By the time the car reached the highest point, I felt strangely calm. I closed my eyes and made a wish. “I wish I could let go of the past and start completely fresh.” Suddenly, there was a horrible grinding noise. The Ferris wheel lurched. Some of the cars actually flipped upside down. The sudden jolt sent us passengers hanging upside down, suspended high above the ground. I grabbed onto the safety bar for dear life. I glanced down. My stomach plummeted. It was so terrifyingly high. Did I have some kind of curse on me? How could I be this unlucky? And seriously? Right after I made my wish? I prayed the rescue crews would get here fast. Just as I was clinging on, waiting, the bar I was holding ripped loose from its fixture. In that instant, I knew. This was it. I wasn’t going to be saved. I just broke up with Ethan. I hadn’t even started my new life yet. How could I be dying now? As I fell, my last thought was: If I could do it all over again… Mom, Ethan… I wouldn’t want anything to do with either of them. I just want my own life. 3 “Hannah? Hannah, honey, wake up.” A worried voice pulled me out of the darkness. The voice sounded so familiar. I groggily opened my eyes. My vision was blurry, but everything around me felt strangely familiar. As my sight cleared, I saw my grandma leaning over me, her face tight with worry. Was I in heaven? How could I be seeing Grandma? I reached out and touched her cheek. It felt so real. “Grandma? Are you here to get me?” “Silly girl, what are you talking about? Take your medicine first, then you can sleep.” “Medicine? What medicine?” “For your fever, of course. Did the fever fry your brain, child?” “But… I died, didn’t I? Why do I need medicine?” “Don’t say such things! What’s all this talk about dying?” Grandma gave my shoulder a sharp pinch. “Ow! That hurts!” “See? You can still feel pain. Now stop talking nonsense.” It finally hit me. This wasn’t a dream. I was back. Back in the past. I tried to wrap my head around it. I couldn’t believe it. I was… reborn? I really thought that was the end. It seemed my wish actually came true. Still, I never thought something so cliché, so… out of a movie, would happen to me. It was almost funny enough to make me laugh, even in my confusion. And I did let out a small laugh. My reaction seemed to scare Grandma. “Hannah, what’s wrong? Don’t scare Grandma like this!” That familiar concern, something I hadn’t felt in so long… Tears started streaming down my face. I threw my arms around her and held on tight. “Grandma, I missed you so much.” Grandma, though confused about what was happening, hugged me back just as tightly. “I missed you too, sweetie.” She gently rubbed my back. “My goodness,” she sighed fondly, “such a big girl now, but still so clingy when you have a fever.” “Am not,” I mumbled into her shoulder. Looking at her now – her hair was mostly silver, but her face looked healthy, well-cared for. I remembered… before, there was a time when Grandma kept saying she didn’t feel well. I urged her to go to the doctor, get checked out. She always brushed it off. “Just old age, honey. Nothing to worry about.” She just didn’t want me to worry. Later, she died suddenly from a massive stroke. But now… I was back. I wouldn’t let that happen this time. “Grandma, let’s go get you a check-up soon, okay?” “Why? I feel fine. No need for doctors.” “Please, Grandma? Just for my peace of mind. If anything happened to you… what would I do? You’re all I have.” “Alright, alright, fine. I’ll go, happy now?” I knew she couldn’t resist when I laid it on thick. At the hospital, after Grandma went through a bunch of tests, the doctor said she was generally healthy, just needed to watch her diet and get more exercise. No major red flags. Back home, I wrote down all the doctor’s advice for her. Grandma was getting older and could be forgetful, so I stuck notes up in obvious places around the house. Back in my old room, I looked through my things. My mind drifted back. This must be when I was a freshman in college. I’d caught a nasty fever after stupidly taking a cold shower and had to come home from the dorm for a few days. And at this point… I hadn’t even met Ethan yet. I met him sophomore year. After Grandma died in the original timeline, I was a complete wreck for a long time. I had no energy. Besides dragging myself to class, I just stayed in my dorm room alone. I never told my roommates what happened back home; they probably just thought I was moody. Eventually, they got tired of seeing me waste away and literally dragged me to the dining hall after class one day. On the way there, one of my roommates mentioned the dining hall had supposedly hired a new cook, and the food was actually pretty good now. When I took a bite… I just broke down crying. The food… it tasted almost exactly like Grandma’s cooking. “Hannah! What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” “Nothing,” I choked out, “It’s just… this food is surprisingly good.” “Phew, you scared me! I thought something awful happened. Well, if it’s good, eat up!” They all started piling food from their plates onto mine. I was so stuffed after that meal. Leaving the dining hall, I didn’t go back to the dorm with them. I made up some excuse and went to wander around the campus quad by myself. I found a quiet, deserted corner and just sat down, hugged my knees, and sobbed my heart out. I don’t know how long I cried. Eventually, the tears just stopped. “Need a tissue?” That voice. It was Ethan. That’s when he handed me the tissue. And that’s when I fell for him. Instantly. That moment led to everything else. But now… Hannah Davis is back. And that means everything can start over. 4 Before, I turned down a chance to study abroad because of him. This time, I wasn’t giving up something I really wanted for Ethan Miller. Grandma seemed stable for now, so I could focus on my own stuff without constant worry. As for Mom… as long as Grandma was okay, she probably wouldn’t contact me anyway. After all this time, stepping back onto that familiar campus felt strange and wonderful. Everything looked the same. It felt so good to be back. Returning to the dorm, seeing my friends again… I just grabbed each of them in a huge, long-overdue hug. After college graduation, we all scattered. We kept in touch frequently at first, but then… life happened, and the calls and texts dwindled. It always made me sad how close friends could just slowly become strangers. But now it was different. I had a second chance. “Guys! It feels like forever! I missed you all so much!” Chloe tilted her head. “Hannah, are you sure you’re over that fever? We literally saw you two days ago.” “Absence makes the heart grow fonder!” I grinned. “Ew, Hannah, since when are you so cheesy?” I just laughed. Maybe facing death makes you appreciate everything a little more. “Okay, lunchtime? I’m starving.” “What do you want? I can order us something,” Maya offered. “No delivery! Let’s go to the dining hall.” “The dining hall? We haven’t eaten there in ages. Why the sudden urge?” “Exactly! Since it’s been so long, let’s check it out. What if it actually got better?” Honestly, I was just craving that specific food again. It took promising to clean the entire dorm room for a week to get them to agree to go with me. And wouldn’t you know it, right at the entrance to the dining hall, I ran into the last person I wanted to see. Ethan Miller. I remembered… after that first tissue incident in the original timeline, I didn’t really see him around much. I wanted to find out who he was, but I didn’t even know his name. So, I started wandering campus more, hoping to bump into him again. And strangely enough, I did start seeing him everywhere. Back then, I thought it was fate. Destiny! Why else would I keep running into him? Except for the period when I knew he was dating Sophia – then I pretty much hid in my room unless I had class. All those later encounters… I orchestrated them. I deliberately put myself in his path, trying to get noticed, trying to win him over. So why now? When I actively didn’t want to see him, was he suddenly right here? I looked at him, and somehow, my eyes met his. Right now, in this timeline, this should be the first time he’s ever really seen me. He shouldn’t know who I am. So why did his eyes hold such a complicated expression? I quickly looked away, trying my best to ignore him, laughing and talking with my roommates. As we walked past him, I couldn’t resist glancing back over my shoulder. “Hannah, what are you looking at?” Chloe asked, following my gaze. “Oh, uh, nothing.” I snapped my head back around. Chloe gasped dramatically. “Whoa! Campus royalty in the same frame! Ethan Miller and Sophia Wallace! God, they look good together.” I turned again, watching Ethan standing there with Sophia beside him. Ethan wasn’t just smart; he was seriously good-looking. The kind of guy everyone crushes on. And his romance with the most popular girl on campus was legendary. To everyone else, them standing together was a picture-perfect moment. To me, it felt like acid in my eyes. “Come on, stop staring. Let’s eat,” Chloe nudged me. She sighed dramatically, “Okay, fine.” While we were eating, I couldn’t help but ask. “You guys know all about… them, right?” “Who, Hannah?” Maya asked around a bite of food. “You know… the king and queen of campus.” “You don’t know?” Chloe looked surprised. Back then, I honestly didn’t. I was so focused on my studies. I only found out about their history when I started trying to get Ethan’s attention. “Not really the details.” “Seriously? Everyone knows Ethan – Mr. Cool and Aloof – was actually the one who chased her. When they were freshmen, people saw him waiting for her after class all the time, bringing her coffee, the whole deal.” Even though I knew their story, hearing it again still twisted something painful inside me. When Ethan and I were together, I was always the one making the effort. I was never his first choice. If Sophia hadn’t come back, I might have gone on thinking his work was the only thing competing for his attention. But that was all in the past. I wouldn’t let it bother me anymore. My brow furrowed. Wait a second. It had only been a week since I got back to campus. How was I running into Ethan Miller all the time? At least three times a day. This was getting ridiculous. A few days later, I got a text from my cousin, Alex. Hannah! Been a while. Grab some food soon? Sure! I texted back. Cool. Usual spot? Our “usual spot” was a popular diner just off campus. During the meal, Alex was acting super weird, all fidgety and hesitant. Not his usual loud, straightforward self at all. “Alex, spit it out. What’s wrong? You can tell me anything, you know that.” “Uh, is it that obvious?” “Dude, seriously?” He finally confessed he had a huge crush on my roommate, Chloe, and wanted me to help him out, maybe put in a good word. “When did you develop a crush on Chloe?” “Remember last month when you brought your roommates to eat with me? It was love at first sight.” “Then why didn’t you say anything back then?” “I was too chicken.” “So what makes you brave enough now?” “Because if I don’t make a move soon, someone else is gonna snatch her up!” I blinked, confused. “Snatch her up? What are you talking about? Chloe doesn’t have a boyfriend.” “Are you sure? I swear I’ve seen this guy hanging around her the past couple of days. They look pretty close.” “Oh, that guy? That’s her younger brother.” “Her brother? Really? I totally thought he was trying to ask her out!” I laughed. “So, according to you, any guy near a girl is her boyfriend, and any girl near a guy is his girlfriend?” Alex didn’t say anything, which was basically a yes. “Look, maybe just… ask her? Before you jump to conclusions.” “Yeah, yeah, I know. So, Hannah… are you gonna help me or not?” “Of course, I’ll help! This is my cousin’s future happiness we’re talking about!” He blushed a little at my teasing. It wasn’t just because he was my cousin; I actually knew Chloe kinda liked him too. “Okay, okay, thanks, Hannah! If this works out with Chloe, I owe you big time. Fancy dinner, anywhere you want.” “You bet! I’m picking the most expensive place.” “Deal.” Alex slung an arm around my shoulder, leaning in to ask me about Chloe’s favorite things, what she liked, what she didn’t. I answered all his questions. Suddenly, I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck. Like someone was staring holes into me.

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Last time around, my stepmother and stepsister got me killed. I can’t believe I’m back, reborn, with a chance for revenge. My stepsister, Jessica, slung her arm around the guy I used to crush on, basically strutting right in front of me. “Taylor,” she sneered, “you’ll never win against me.” Oh yeah? Back for round two, you think I’m just going to roll over and die again? 1. The Williams’ house. I was locked in a dark storage room, staring blankly at my own hand. Just a second ago, there was a hole here, deep enough to see bone. I’m back. I’ve been reborn. In my past life, after Jessica’s mom, Linda, married my dad, Jessica became my stepsister. I treated her like gold, like a real sister. But Dad always misunderstood, called me a troublemaker, a little menace. One time, Jessica ran away from home. When I went looking for her, I got kidnapped, tortured, and eventually killed. Only before I died did I find out: Jessica planned the whole runaway thing just to lure me out. And she’d been poisoning Dad against me the whole time, trying to steal my inheritance! It was Thanksgiving night. They dumped my body, barely clothed, right on our front lawn. I died with my eyes wide open. And now, somehow, I’m reborn. This is my chance, given by fate, or whatever. This time, I’m exposing Linda and Jessica for the frauds they are. I’m fighting for what’s mine, and I’m going to live, really live, for myself! Just as I was thinking this, the door creaked open again. This time it was Richard Williams, my actual father. But right now, his brow was deeply furrowed. Linda and Jessica hovered behind him like shadows, shooting me mocking little smiles. “Taylor, have you learned your lesson?” Just a little while ago, Jessica smashed Dad’s favorite crystal sculpture. She was scared of getting yelled at, so she pinned it on me. And I was stupid enough to take the fall. I lifted my chin. My stomach cramped from not eating. “What lesson?” I asked slowly. “What did I do wrong?” Richard immediately lost his temper. “Are you telling me you didn’t break that crystal sculpture? You mess up and won’t even admit it? What’s gotten into you, Taylor?!” 2 I snorted, pushing myself up slowly using the wall. “Wrong is wrong. I didn’t do it! Maybe you should ask your little informant exactly how she saw me break it.” “Jessica! You tell me!” Richard was furious now, pulling Jessica forward to explain herself. Jessica jumped, startled. She probably didn’t expect me, the usual doormat, to suddenly find a backbone. She hadn’t rehearsed this part. She stammered for a bit, then tears started welling up. “Dad!” she sobbed to Richard. “Don’t blame Taylor! She didn’t mean to do it!” I rolled my eyes. Why is the air in here suddenly thick with fake sweetness? Oh, right. Jessica’s here. The second Jessica started crying, Linda rushed over, grabbing her hand and dabbing at her own eyes for Richard’s benefit. “Richard, this girl Taylor is just dragging my Jessie’s name through the mud for no reason! You have to stand up for us!” Watching this mother-daughter drama unfold, I felt sick. Richard couldn’t stand Linda’s waterworks. He tried to soothe her while glaring daggers at me. “Taylor! Get over here and apologize to your sister!” Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Getting angry just made me feel strangely calm. Richard saw I wasn’t moving and looked ready to shout again. I beat him to it, looking up, letting two clear tears splash onto the floor. “Dad, do you remember what you promised Mom?” “I…” “You said you’d never, ever treat me badly. But look at you now! You’re condemning me based on Jessica’s word alone. If Mom knew about this, how sad, how heartbroken would she be?” “That’s enough!” Richard’s anger deflated. He looked guilty. He didn’t have much ground to argue on. His biggest regret in life was my mom, who died years ago. She didn’t just support him when he had nothing; she sold her own family heirlooms to fund his business. And Richard? An ungrateful jerk. He actually got back together with his high school sweetheart while married to Mom, cheating on her for over a decade behind her back! Richard mumbled something, clearly remembering how good Mom had been. Linda saw things weren’t going her way and quickly jumped in, “I saw it!” I crossed my arms, leaning against the wall. Only Jessica and I were there when the crystal sculpture shattered. Let’s see what kind of story she cooks up. 3 Linda started explaining, very dramatically, “Taylor brushed against the bookshelf as she walked past, and that’s what knocked the sculpture over and broke it!” Hearing this, I burst out laughing. Richard’s face visibly darkened. Jessica tugged at her mom’s sleeve, whispering, “Mom! The sculpture was on the table!” Linda faltered for a second, then quickly regained her composure. “Well, maybe I remembered wrong, but Taylor definitely broke that crystal sculpture!” “Enough!” Richard finally roared. He couldn’t watch this anymore. He shot Linda a glare. “We’re dropping this.” He turned to leave. I stopped him. “Dad, it’s pretty obvious what happened. Are you still going to pretend you don’t see it?” I pushed, not letting Jessica get off easy. “That crystal sculpture, Mr. Henderson gave it to you, didn’t he? If he found out it was broken, wouldn’t he think you don’t value his gift? Wouldn’t that affect the business deal between our families? Dad, you need to think this through.” I knew how crucial Henderson Corp, our biggest partner, was to Richard. Mentioning Mr. Henderson meant Richard couldn’t just sweep this under the rug. Sure enough, Richard whipped his head around, glared resentfully at me, then yelled at Jessica, “You’re grounded for the rest of the summer! Stay in your room, no going out!” “Dad!” Jessica wailed, chasing after Richard as he stormed out of the dark room. Linda glared at me, teeth clenched. “Taylor, is this you declaring war?” “I’m just taking back what’s mine. What belongs to the Williams bloodline.” Hearing this, Linda’s face changed. “What do you know?!” she demanded frantically. Heh. I know plenty. Like, for instance, whether Jessica is actually my dad’s kid at all. I just don’t have proof yet. I need backup. 4 Summer vacation flew by. With Jessica locked in her room and Linda rarely home, I actually had a pretty peaceful time. After summer, Jessica and I both started Senior year. The day before school started, Richard suddenly announced that my older brother, Stephen, was back from studying abroad. From now on, he’d be driving Jessica and me to and from school. Hearing Stephen’s name brought a handsome, sharp face to mind. He’s my full-blooded brother, but in my last life, we barely spoke. We were practically strangers. He didn’t like me much. Seemed to prefer Jessica, actually. As for the private chauffeuring? That was always for Jessica. When did I ever get a ride? Sighing inwardly, I decided not to bother Stephen. The next morning, when I was ready and went outside, sure enough, not even a shadow of the car. So, I had to lug my twenty-pound backpack and walk to school. My time estimate was off, and I was late. And just my luck, I ran right into Dean Evans doing his rounds. The pot-bellied middle-aged man looked me up and down, took off his glasses, and sighed. “Taylor Williams, now you’re showing up late too? School just started. Are you even planning on applying to college?” “I’m applying to college,” I stated. “What?” Dean Evans looked like he’d heard the funniest joke ever. His tone was exaggerated. “Ranked dead last and aiming for college? What are you gonna rely on, miracles?” Ignoring his mockery, my voice was firm. “Not only am I going to college, I’m getting into Harvard!” “Oh, for crying out loud!” Dean Evans spun around in a circle. “If you get into Harvard, I’ll do anything you ask.” I opened my mouth to respond, but the door suddenly cracked open. A head poked in, looking mischievous. “So, if I get into Harvard too, Dean, will you bark like a dog over the school intercom?” I looked over. It was a boy with sharp features, radiating youthful energy. Dean Evans irritably threw a notebook at him. The boy sidestepped smoothly as he entered and caught it. The Dean asked, “Alex Miller, what are you doing here?” Alex shrugged. “I was late. Homeroom teacher sent me here for punishment.” The Dean looked at Alex, then at me, and sneered. “Three-thousand-word essay. Write it now. You’re not leaving until it’s done!”

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The new intern, determined to maintain her “ditzy darling” persona, had been “accidentally” eating my pre-ordered lunch for a whole month. She even took my food to curry favor with the picky boss. And because of her “clumsiness,” she’d once forced a scalding bowl of spicy ramen down my throat, nearly burning it through. By the time I got to the hospital, they had to remove half my stomach! When I asked her for medical expenses, she burst into tears and threw herself into my boyfriend’s arms. “Waaah… I’m just a little clumsy, you know? I didn’t mean to eat her lunch…” “Her pre-ordered lunch only cost a few bucks, and I even compensated her with my spicy ramen…” My boyfriend, all sympathy, didn’t hesitate to fork over my $10,000 year-end bonus to her. Meanwhile, the boss, whom I’d been busting my butt for for over a decade, fired me without a single penny of compensation and even blacklisted me in the industry. Because I couldn’t get the money in time to pay for my surgery, my beloved grandma passed away. She, that airhead, enjoyed the adoration of my boyfriend and boss. And when my body was found, my phone was still looping a trending video: #GoldDiggerTwoTimerKillsGrandmaGetsWhatSheDeserved# Then I woke up. I was back to the day she ate my pre-ordered lunch for the nth time! 1 “Oh my god, is Lynn okay? Is it low blood sugar? Everybody back up, let me handle this!” That sugary-sweet voice grated on my ears. My senses gradually returned. I opened my eyes to see Zoe rushing towards me, clutching a steaming bowl of spicy ramen. My face went white. Last time, after Zoe swiped my lunch, she found me passed out and tried to force a whole bowl of spicy ramen down my throat. The searing heat shocked me awake, but she ignored my struggles and kept pouring the ramen over my face. I almost burned my throat through. I had to get half my stomach removed, and my face was scarred, leaving me ugly. I demanded compensation, but she just ran crying into my boyfriend, Kyle’s, arms. “Waaah, I’m just a natural airhead, I didn’t do it on purpose. Lynn is being so petty!” Hearing it was just a pre-ordered lunch, my boyfriend’s face darkened immediately. “You’re feeding Zoe that garbage? You’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel! Luckily, Zoe’s okay, or you’d pay the price!” And my boss, Simon, whom I’d been working my tail off for since graduation, sided with her unconditionally. “Kneel down and apologize to Zoe, or you don’t have to come back!” To please Zoe, they fired me and stripped me of everything. When I tried to sue, they threatened my grandma, who was about to have surgery. Reluctantly, I started live-streaming to earn money, only to be smeared by Zoe. She gained a massive following for her “ditzy” image. And my grandma and I were just stepping stones to her fame, leaving us to die with regrets! As Zoe got closer, my stomach started to clench involuntarily. “Get away! What kind of idiot tries to revive someone with scalding spicy ramen? Can’t you see I’m having a stomach spasm? Are you trying to kill me?” “Even if I did have low blood sugar, wouldn’t a glass of water be better?” I roared with all my strength, trying to vent all the resentment from my previous life. A coworker chimed in, “Is Zoe doing this on purpose? She was standing ten feet away. I was right next to Lynn and didn’t see what happened. How did Zoe just grab that bowl and run over?” “Plus, she yelled so loud, I thought she was grabbing medicine, not spicy ramen. Look at that steam! If that gets on someone’s face, it could cause serious damage!” Zoe clearly didn’t expect me to wake up suddenly, or that my usually friendly coworkers would be whispering about her. Instantly, her pretty face crumpled. 2 “You’re all so mean! You’re not friendly to us clumsy people at all! You’re so bad!” Just then, my boyfriend, Kyle, came to inspect the office. He was a company shareholder who usually only came once every two weeks. Ever since Zoe arrived, his visits had become way more frequent. Seeing Kyle, Zoe immediately produced a few shimmering tears and ran to him, looking wronged. “Kyle, I’m so sorry! It’s just because I’m so clumsy. Lynn is right to be angry. But I was just trying to help her!” Kyle, full of sympathy, comforted her, asking if she was okay. Only after he was sure she was fine did he relax. Then, he glanced at me on the ground, disgust plain on his face. “Who do you think you are? Everyone knows Zoe’s clumsy. Can’t you be more understanding?” “As a senior employee, you’re arguing with an intern and hurting the company’s reputation. Half your salary for this month is docked!” “Gah!” Finally, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I barely managed to crawl to the trash can before I threw up. The office filled with a foul odor. Zoe, unable to hide her revulsion, yelled at me. “Lynn, that’s so gross! You’re throwing up in the trash can!” My stomach was in unbearable pain. It felt like there was a blender inside me, and I almost passed out. I couldn’t focus enough to deal with her. “Oh my god! What is she doing?” I heard my coworkers exclaim. I hadn’t even opened my eyes to see what she was doing, and I felt my mouth being forced open. “Mmmph…” An unbearable taste filled my nose and mouth. Zoe suddenly grabbed my neck and squeezed, preventing me from moving away. “Lynn, don’t move! I’m saving you!” I shook my head frantically, trying to push her away, but I couldn’t summon any strength. After she finished forcing it down, I barely managed to whisper, “What… did you give me?” It tasted sour and rotten. It made me feel physically and mentally sick. Her voice was triumphant and proud. “You said the spicy ramen was too strong for your stomach, right? Then, there shouldn’t be any problem with what you threw up, right?” “I turned over a trash can for you, and I even dirtied my nails.” I was shocked! “Was I your entire family in a past life? What kind of moron does that?” My blood boiled, and I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I threw up again. But Kyle just praised her, “You’re so thoughtful, Zoe! You’re clumsy but you work hard!” Whether it was anger or pain, I couldn’t take it anymore. I passed out just as I heard the ambulance arrive. 3 When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed. My throat was hoarse, but my face wasn’t scarred, and my stomach wasn’t bandaged. Only then did I feel a little relieved. As I wondered what to do next, the hospital room door was kicked open. “Don’t play dumb, Lynn! I didn’t know that you would fake an illness to slack off and give your work to Zoe!” “Get back to the office and keep the client happy, or I’m firing you!” It was Simon, my boss. We’d grown up together. To thank me for taking care of his grandma when he was in college, I’d followed him into this business right after I graduated. During the company’s development, Simon wasn’t good at management and faced many setbacks. Whether it was a lack of funds or contacts, I was the one who begged people and saved the company. He had promised me countless times that when the company grew, he would give me a promotion, a raise, shares, and help me buy back the house I’d sold. But ten years had passed. The company had grown, but he hadn’t fulfilled any of his promises. Instead, he made me do the work of six people. He called it “making the most of my abilities.” What did he say back then? “It’s so hard to find a job these days. I gave you one, and you’re not grateful. Instead, you dare to ask for a raise?” My salary was still only $3,000 a month. In my previous life, he even gave my year-end bonus to Zoe. When I brought up leaving, he always used my grandma’s medical expenses as an excuse. Thinking about this, I wished the company would go bankrupt right now! The words “I quit” spilled out of my mouth. “Fine, go! But before I go, you have to pay back the $100,000 I put into the company. Plus the $30,000 interest, my $10,000 year-end bonus from last year, arbitration compensation, monthly bonuses, and so on. When are you going to give me $150,000?” I opened my phone and showed him the receipts. Luckily, I’d always kept track of my finances. I’d been waiting a long time for this moment! Simon’s eyes widened. “You’re out of your mind! When did you put money into the company? And because of your work, there is no year-end bonus, and we can even ask for compensation for losing the client. And you dare to ask for money?” I was about to say something when Zoe’s voice sounded. “Why do you have to be so materialistic? Simon is giving you a platform to show off your talents. How could a recent graduate find such a good job?” “Apologize to Simon, or so many days you’re unexcused absence will spread around and after that no one will hire you.” I smirked and glanced at her. “The only reason you’re saying all that because you’re worried that after I leave, no one will clean up your mess!” Zoe choked and looked at Simon, feeling wronged. He immediately came to her defense. “I will protect Zoe. My Simon Company can run without you!” Okay, let me see which department of Simon Company can operate normally without me! 4 Simon then made a promise to Zoe. “Zoe, you will take over her position after Lynn leaves!” “Me? Really? But I’m just an intern, what if I mess things up?” Zoe said these words but was smiling with joy. The two were flirting, and Kyle couldn’t watch it anymore. “Simon, Lynn has been working at your company for ten years. Zoe is under my protection, so don’t take advantage of her.” “Zoe, don’t worry. I’ll have Lynn be your assistant, and if you mess up the work, just give it to her!” Hearing this, I laughed. “Impossible!” I answered definitely, but it led to Kyle’s disdain. “Look at these and then answer me!” He looked at his phone. When I looked at it, he had naked photos of me when I was asleep! “Kyle, are you sick?” Three years ago, I saved his life. But he started chasing after me. The company was being funded, and Kyle became the second-largest shareholder. He was always in the office every day. I am just a normal girl, and it is hard for me not to get moved by a rich and handsome guy. But after we got together, he changed. He stopped caring about me. Especially after Zoe entered the company, he got more distant. After death, I found out that the reason he was with me wasn’t a way to thank me for saving him, but because he had never been with a poor girl like me. And the reason he didn’t break up with me because he wanted to me to work for Zoe. Thinking of this, I wanted to kill the bad couple! “Not willing? Then I’ll show these pictures to your grandma. She’s in the same hospital as you. It doesn’t matter if she dies sooner or later. It would be more interesting to make her angry to death.” He smiled but forgot that without me, how could he be a family member in the family! “Okay!” I planned to take the money and leave. If this is how it is, don’t blame me for not being polite! 5 To shame me, Simon arranged a seat next to the bathroom for me. He was in a suit and ordered me, “The company is tight on money, and the cleaner is gone. Lynn, you are closest to the bathroom. Clean the bathroom from now on.” And Zoe stopped being clumsy and started knocking on my table. “Lynn, do you have a sense of time? We need this PPT for the meeting later. Why haven’t you finished it?” “There will be reporters for the interview. This will damage the company’s face. Don’t think I’m clumsy and trick me!” I laughed. She told me the work for months ago today and want me to finish it in the morning? “This looks like a good lunch. So much, you won’t be able to eat it all. We’ll eat it together later!” This time it wasn’t mistaking it but purposely taking it. But I wasn’t against it. It was a prepared lunch with special ingredients. In my past life, my friend opened a restaurant and because of my stomach, she gave me the prepared lunch. She said it was all to get known, and I shouldn’t worry. But did her restaurant need to get known? I knew what she meant but didn’t reject. How else would they think it was a normal prepared lunch, how could they take over the picky mouths? And Zoe saw me being obedient and finally left. The bathrooms were broken early on. Simon didn’t have people fix it. Simon gave the dirty work to me. Everyone was getting on me. I was in the air with all the other workers. Only Zoe were flirting. Smile! You won’t be smiling later! [Lynn, the company has arrived. The reporter has arrived and are waiting for the elevators!] Lynn sent me a message. I responded, getting ready to go to them. Simon then walked in a rush. I stopped him, “Boss, let’s go meet the client and reporter!” He tried to get my hand off him. “What did you feed me?” Kyle came and swore, but the bathroom doors were closed. The coworkers were working, but they were all eavesdropping. Zoe felt wronged but held herself in. “Simon, Kyle, how about you use these?” She gave them plastic bags. How would they do this in front of everyone. “It’s okay, we can hold it!” The partner arrived. “Simon and Kyle are young and talented!” Mr. Smith walked over to them and reached out his hand to hold, the reporters took out their cameras. But the next moment, everyone heard a giant noise!

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My wife, Ashley Miller, ditched me on our anniversary to go to her old flame’s bachelor party. Unreal, right? She got back around 3 AM, and when she saw me asleep, she took her ripped fishnet stockings and set our freakin’ house on fire, using gasoline. Seriously?! “If I hadn’t said yes to your proposal, I would be marrying Chad tomorrow!” she yelled. “I really regret being with you!” I could barely breathe, and all I could smell was men’s cologne on her. That’s when I knew, she’d been cheating on me for years. And I was just a total simp, ending up with absolutely nothing. I woke up again, and it was the day I was gonna ask Ashley out. This time, I threw away all the stupid love letters and just focused on becoming a better version of myself. Ten years later, I’m still a washed-up, nobody actor, while she and her golden boy, Chad, are A-list celebs. On a reality TV show, she keeps putting me down. But the second she sees the freakin’ Oscar-winning actress I’m dating climb into my lap, she loses it. “Ethan, didn’t you say I was the only woman you’d ever love, in any lifetime?” she whined. 1. After chilling at home for six months, my wife, Sarah, gets annoyed that I’m just loafing around, so she randomly finds me a reality show gig. I don’t get it. I’m basically a nobody actor, why would they want me on a show like that, except to be a filler? I was chilling in a corner, trying to stay out of camera shot, when I saw Ashley and her husband, Chad Johnson. “The director didn’t say anything about this. Are they special guests or something?” I muttered to myself. Ashley was dressed in a perfect designer gown, and the freakin’ rock on her finger was blinding. “Ashley and Chad are, like, the perfect couple in Hollywood. They even do reality TV together!” “It’s so great that Chad respects Ashley so much. I remember there was this one movie that was kinda racy, but Ashley said it would help her acting, and Chad was totally cool with it.” “Hey, what about that simp who used to chase Ashley around? The dude even wrote her songs!” “Probably saw Chad was about to become a superstar and chickened out. Plus, Ashley’s not some newbie anymore.” When they said my name, Ashley’s smile froze and she looked super uncomfortable. She quickly recovered, though. One of the guests didn’t notice and kept talking. “He was actually pretty into her, writing all those love letters and everything.” “Back then, he was running around trying to find Ashley jobs, doing all kinds of stuff.” Ashley saw Chad starting to look pissed, so she changed the subject. “I’m married to Chad now, why are you bringing up old stuff? Besides, I didn’t ask him to do anything. It was all his own thing.” Chad’s face went back to normal, and he said with a smile, “Everyone makes mistakes when they’re young. We’re really happy now, so let’s just leave the past in the past!” I just rolled my eyes. Seriously, still talking about stuff from years ago? If this show airs, my wife is gonna freak out! I coughed and said, “Actually, there wasn’t really anything between her and…” “Oh my god! What are the chances?! Ethan’s on this show too!” someone yelled, cutting me off. “Isn’t that Ethan? You haven’t said anything, you wouldn’t have showed up because you knew Ashley was gonna be on this show, right? You really can’t let it go, huh? She’s married, dude.” “Ashley and Chad are A-listers now, they just show up to these shows for fun. A washed-up guy like you should be practical and get as much camera time as you can. Or you’ll never get another gig!” I ignored them. “I really didn’t know they were coming to this show, or else…” “Or else what?” some young dude near Ashley asked, narrowing his eyes. “Or else you’d be waiting for Ashley backstage, right? You need to realize there’s a big freakin’ gap between you and Ashley. You’re a nobody actor, you can’t even compare to someone like Chad. You’re just here to watch them be in love. You don’t have a chance.” “You like stalking Ashley so much, why are you doing reality TV? You should be a paparazzi! Put that dedication to work, and you’ll be successful, dude!” They were just trying to be funny for the camera, so I ignored them and started counting the lights on the ceiling, feeling like I was in freakin’ jail. I thought about the afternoon filming and it was a pain in the ass. 2 I finally got to lunch, so I went into a random bistro and ordered a couple of things. After the first bite, I knew something was off, and I was about to ask the waiter to take it back. But then I saw Chad and Ashley coming in to eat. Behind them were the people who were making fun of me earlier. When they saw me, someone frowned and looked down their nose at me. “Yeah, right. You’re not still in love with Ashley? You’re eating here ’cause she likes French food? Don’t try to act all rich, you can’t afford this place as a B-list actor.” I put down my silverware and frowned. “Can’t I come here?” “Acting all gentlemanly, how much did you pay to learn that? You gotta know that she’s awesome, and dating her can help you raise the bar, but you should realize your place. You’re just a nobody actor, you can’t handle her.” Ashley spoke up, “Honey, I really didn’t know he was gonna be here. Wanna go somewhere else?” Chad looked at me and smiled. “Nah, let’s stay here.” Ashley gave me a look like I was a bug she wanted to squash. “I know you still have feelings for me, but I’m doing great now. Please don’t bother me anymore.” Then she frowned at the food on my table. “This place is expensive, you shouldn’t come here. I’ll pay for it this time.” Before I could say no, the waiter brought a bottle of red wine to my table. Chad sat right across from me, poured a glass, and pushed it over. “Sorry we didn’t send you a wedding invite, but you should still drink to our happiness. It’ll help Ashley finally get over you.” I thought they were acting crazy, so I waved my hand. “It’s rare to be friends after a breakup. Since we’re not friends, I don’t need a wedding toast. If you want, I’ll send a gift.” Chad’s face instantly turned cold, and he glared at me. “I was gonna get you some screen time on this show…” He kept talking, making it clear what he meant. “I still have some pull in Hollywood. If you don’t drink today, you’re gonna have a hard time getting work.” I understood what he meant. He was gonna blacklist me. “You’re hilarious,” I said. I thought of all the crap I went through, and couldn’t hold back a smile. Chad glared at me. Then he said, “Ashley, your simp still can’t let you go! You make him drink!” Ashley looked pissed. She couldn’t believe Chad was treating her like crap in public. And it was all because I was back in her life. Ashley took the glass and gave it to me. “Just drink it. It’s been ten years, you need to move on.” “Besides, I never really liked you,” she said. I just glared at them. Then, because they wouldn’t let it go, I spilled the beans. “My wife set me up for this show. I’ve been married for years.” “You’re thinking way too highly of yourself. I don’t feel anything for you. And my wife and I are trying to have a baby, so I can’t drink.” I pushed the glass away again, getting annoyed. “You? Who in their right mind would want you?” Chad laughed. Everyone was trying not to laugh, but when Chad laughed, they all cracked up. “Ethan, looks like your wife isn’t anything special. Thought you were dating a sugar mama. Is this the only show she could get you?” “Maybe you should just quit acting. I can find you a decent job that pays way more than you’re making.” “You suck at being a gold digger. I’ll give you some money to buy some decent clothes.” I took a deep breath, fighting back the anger they stirred up about my wife. “Not necessary. But I’m gonna warn you, watch out for karma!” Chad laughed when I said that. “Is that all you got? I thought you were gonna tell us who your wife is! Why won’t you say her name? Is she that embarrassing?” Ashley seemed nervous when she heard I was married, but when she heard that, she gave me a smug look. “Chad’s just trying to help you out, and you’re acting ungrateful,” she said. “That’s how you always were. You gotta stop being so proud. Do you really think you’re some kind of saint?” Hearing that, I felt really disappointed. I thought she’d be a better person this time around, but she was just as bad as before. I ignored them and got up to pay. Chad yelled after me as I walked away. “Ethan, we’re working together! You can’t even drink to us? Are we really gonna make this hard?” Someone else joined in. “Yeah, if you walk out now, we’re gonna make you look bad on the show!” “Why are we even paying attention to him? Is he trying to get famous off of us?” I didn’t look back and paid and left. 3 When I got to the studio in the afternoon, they gave me evil looks, like I owed them money. Filming started out okay, and they were just showing off near the cameras, so I didn’t bother going over. But then they started playing some kind of competitive game, and I had to deal with it. They were all on the same team, and they were messing with me where the cameras couldn’t see. They started getting more aggressive, and it was almost like they were actually trying to hurt me. “Snap!” I felt something snap on my neck. Then I saw Chad holding my necklace. “Give that back. My wife gave me that,” I said, feeling bad. He thought the necklace was fancy and expensive, but when he heard my wife gave it to me, he scoffed. “This is cheap crap. I thought you bought it at a flea market.” Ashley gave me a look when she heard us. Last time around, she only gave me one cheap necklace. I could tell she got the wrong idea. The one she gave me, I tossed after I woke up. This one, my wife gave me. Chad followed my gaze and saw Ashley’s expression. He got furious, snapped the necklace, and threw it on the ground. Ashley glanced at Chad, took a deep breath, patted his back, and said, “It’s just filming a show. Stuff happens. Since my husband broke it, I’ll pay for it. Is five grand enough?” I was pissed at how she was treating me. “This was an anniversary gift. You can’t just put a price on that.” She didn’t even look up. “Fine, I’ll give you another five grand! Ten grand for your necklace.” She was being mean, and all the good memories I had of her went out the window. Time really changes people. “You…never mind. I’m just gonna go,” I said, trying to keep it cool. “You just want money, right? Here, take it. Why are you acting like this?” she snapped, blocking my way. I was sick of dealing with them, so I pushed her and tried to get past. “Move!” Ashley was shocked. She couldn’t believe I was treating her like that. I used to be a simp who did everything she wanted. Even though I didn’t make much money last time, she still lived a pretty good life. But after I woke up, she didn’t get any special treatment from me, and I was actually way worse to her. She was thinking about the past and didn’t notice Chad turning red. “You’re dead!” Chad yelled and kicked me in the chest, forgetting they were filming. Everyone around us got ready to throw down. I kept dodging them and tried to fight back. Some of them were already on the ground, crying. Just when they were starting to hesitate, Chad yelled, “Just cut this out! I’ll take the blame! Do it!” I kept my distance from them, not panicking at all. This was being filmed, this was a stage accident. I just needed to wait for the staff and security to come and break it up. “Bang!” I heard a loud noise above me, then I felt a lot of pain. I was seeing stars, and blood was dripping from my forehead. When I looked back, I saw Ashley holding a bloody microphone, looking ice cold. “I love you, Ashley!” Chad yelled 4 The people who were about to beat me up freaked out when they saw me lying on the ground bleeding. They were just there to get paid, and they only went after me ’cause Chad was a big star. Now that something actually happened, they all backed away and tried to act like they had nothing to do with Chad. The blood seemed to bring out Chad’s animal side, and he was about to start hitting me again. Just then, a woman’s voice came from behind the stage. “Stop it!” she yelled. Chad’s eyes went back to normal, and he looked stunned when he saw who it was. “Willow Hayes? You’re the special guest the director mentioned?” Everyone in the room was excited. “The director went all out, even getting an Oscar winner!” “She’s the biggest star in Hollywood right now! Winning awards for acting, singing, everything!” “I wish I could be in Willow’s management company!” The actress made everyone nervous. Willow just finished filming for the day and wanted to check things out. But when she got to the studio, it was chaos. “Chad? What happened?” Willow glared at everyone, and the people who felt guilty started shaking. She’s one of the top talents and has a lot of power, and a ton of resources. If anyone could get in with her, they’d be set for life. “Sorry, Willow, we were just doing the game the director told us to do,” Chad lied. “But someone wasn’t following the rules and tried to harass my wife, so I lost it.” Chad was putting all the blame on me. Willow looked at the necklace on the ground, didn’t see me, and frowned. “Willow, my head hurts. Can you help me up?” I heard my wife say, sounding dazed. Chad swore when he heard my voice. “Who the hell are you to call Willow by her name?” Willow ran over to me, looking worried. “Honey, what happened?”

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My coworker Ashley loved playing the “crazy outspoken” card. But the weird thing was, every time she had one of her meltdowns, I was the one who got hurt. She’d go off on the boss about working late, calling him a corporate slave driver, just so she could duck out early. But somehow, I was the one who ended up getting fired. I became the office pariah everyone hated, while she somehow got praised for being “real.” People started avoiding me, muttering about me being unstable, maybe even dangerous. My own parents were disgusted with me. My boyfriend, Mike, told me I should just disappear. After taking the fall for her again and again, I started thinking something was seriously wrong. I decided to dig deeper. Big mistake. Ashley and Mike cornered me, locked me in an industrial freezer, and left me to die. Only then did I finally learn Ashley’s secret. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to my first day on the job, the same day Ashley started. This time? Oh, this time things were going to be different. 1 “I’m here to work, not be your goddamn slave.” “It’s quitting time! You can’t just keep us here! You pay us peanuts, you expect us to sell our souls for this dump?” “You greedy corporate vampires! Even medieval lords weren’t this messed up!” The shouting jolted me fully awake. I realized, I’m back. I really got a second chance. Across the office, Ashley was ripping into our supervisor, Mr. Henderson. She was the new girl, started today, same as me. After just one day, I’d pegged her as brutally honest, someone who stood up against unfairness. If something bugged her, she let you know. Immediately. Just like last time. The clock hit five, and she was instantly on her feet, grabbing her bag, making a scene. “You gotta stand up to these tyrants,” she announced loudly to the open office. “Otherwise, they’ll walk all over you your whole life.” Mr. Henderson tried to reason with her, stepping in her path. Ashley just slung her trendy tote over her shoulder, ready to bolt. He started getting mad, puffing up. “Your work isn’t finished. Leaving without permission is abandoning your post. I can terminate you for this…” He didn’t even finish the sentence. Ashley shoved him – not hard, but definitely a push – right in the chest. “Look at this pathetic power trip!” she yelled. “Threatening me now?” Last time, I’d been worried she’d lose her job on the first day. I tried to calm her down, told her to just bite her tongue for now. Her response? She’d sneered at me. “People like you, total doormats? You’ll never amount to anything.” So, I shut up. Figured she needed to learn the hard way. Seeing Mr. Henderson’s face turn purple, I braced for Ashley to get chewed out, maybe even fired on the spot. But then, the impossible happened. Again. He stormed past her, rage practically steaming off him, and stopped right at my desk, pointing a shaking finger at me. “Chloe! Pack your stuff and get out! You’re fired!” I was stunned. Speechless. “Wait… what? Ashley was the one yelling at you! Why are you firing me?” I stammered, trying to make sense of it. Suddenly, other coworkers chimed in, backing her up. “I saw the whole thing, Chloe. You were screaming at him. Now you’re trying to blame Ashley?” said Sarah from accounting. “Yeah, we all saw it! How can you lie like that?” added Kevin from marketing. I wanted to scream, to argue, but their next words just confused me even more. “Ashley just complained a little,” someone else muttered, loud enough for me to hear. “But Chloe actually pushed him! She totally snapped! No wonder she got fired.” “Yeah, getting physical changes everything. She’s way too aggressive.” And then Ashley, putting on a show of fake concern, rushed over. “Oh, Chloe was just trying to… stand up for herself, maybe? I’ll go talk to Mr. Henderson, see if I can smooth things over.” She hurried off towards his office, playing the hero. My coworkers murmured about how kind and brave Ashley was. But it wasn’t me. None of it was me. Why did everyone think it was? Filled with confusion and desperation, I followed Ashley and managed to apologize profusely to Mr. Henderson, somehow talking my way back into keeping the job, at least for now. 2 After that incident, Ashley’s “keeping it real” act got even bolder. She managed to piss off practically everyone in the company. And without fail, every single person she offended came looking for me. “Chloe, how could you be so vicious?” They dumped all their anger onto me. Ashley knocked over someone’s fancy latte? The victim would “accidentally” spill scalding water on my arm later. Ashley overwatered and killed someone’s prized desk plant? The owner would passive-aggressively jab me with a cactus clipping. When Ashley deleted a huge project file someone had worked on for weeks, the coworker went ballistic, complaining straight to management. And every time, Ashley would swoop in, pretending to plead my case. “Chloe, jobs are hard to find right now. Just hang in there, it’ll blow over,” she’d tell me with fake sympathy. But I hadn’t done any of it! Why should I have to “hang in there” while people abused me for things she did? Could she… could she be setting me up somehow? That night, I went home and told my boyfriend, Mike, everything. Instead of support, he attacked me. “What’s wrong with you, Chloe? You’re getting so paranoid. Ashley’s been nothing but nice, helping you out, and you’re backstabbing her?” “Ashley’s a sweetheart! She wouldn’t hurt a fly!” I froze. Mike and Ashley… didn’t know each other. Or so I thought. “How do you know Ashley? I’ve never even mentioned her name to you before.” Mike’s face shifted, his tone suddenly harsh. “Isn’t she like, some kind of influencer? I saw her stuff online, maybe a live stream. She seems totally genuine, really kind. Not like you, flying off the handle all the time. What are you, completely unhinged?” His reaction felt so wrong. My gut screamed that something was going on between them. I started trying to discreetly find out what was happening. But I wasn’t careful enough. They caught on. That evening, I walked into my apartment, and everything went black. Someone hit me from behind. When I came to, I was crammed inside… a freezer. My mouth was taped shut. And standing there, laughing cruelly, was Mike, with his arm wrapped around Ashley. “If you’d just played along, Chloe, it wouldn’t have come to this. Always so suspicious,” Mike sneered. “You probably never figured it out, huh? Ashley’s my childhood friend. Like a sister.” “And you? You were just useful. A tool.” With that, they slammed the freezer door shut. I heard the metallic rattle and clank of a heavy chain being wrapped around it, locking me in. I thrashed wildly, screaming against the tape, banging on the insulated walls, but it was useless. The cold seeped into me, deeper and deeper, until everything faded. I froze to death. 3 This time, I wasn’t going to be Ashley’s puppet. Just before she made the move to push Mr. Henderson, I faked a sudden dizzy spell, crumpling to the floor. All eyes immediately turned to me, completely derailing Ashley’s planned outburst. Lying in a hospital bed later (they’d called an ambulance as a precaution), I racked my brain. Why? Why did everyone see me doing the things she did? How could they all be so convinced? Was it possible Ashley had somehow gotten the entire office in on some massive, elaborate prank to mess with me? It seemed insane, but what else could it be? To avoid the nightmare I knew was coming, I typed up my resignation that night and emailed it in. Screw that job. As for Mike? A quick “We’re done” text, then block and delete. Good riddance to both of them. Let the trash take itself out. I thought maybe, just maybe, this time I could escape them, live a quiet life. But things went sideways again, fast. My mom came up from her town to visit. We went shopping. I stepped out of the mall restroom, and suddenly, right there in the crowded corridor, my mom slapped me. Hard. Across the face. In front of everyone. My head spun. I stared at her, utterly bewildered. “You… you ungrateful monster!” she shrieked, tears streaming down her face. “I raised you, loved you, and you hit me? How could I have raised such a violent child?” “From now on, you’re dead to me! I don’t have a daughter!” A crowd gathered instantly, whispering, pointing. “Oh my god, did you see that? She hit her own mother!” “Shhh, keep your voice down, she looks crazy. What if she comes after us?” I tried desperately to explain. “Mom, what are you talking about? I just went to the bathroom, I told you where I was going!” “I wasn’t even near you! How could I have hit you?” The whispers around me grew louder. “Sick! I saw her do it with my own eyes! And now she’s denying it? What a psycho.” My mom just gave me one last look, full of utter disappointment and disgust, then turned and walked away, leaving me there alone amidst the judging stares. Could this… could this be Ashley again? How? Frantically, I pulled out my phone and checked Ashley’s social media. And there it was. A video, posted just minutes ago. It showed the entrance to the restrooms. Ashley bumps into my mom, seemingly by accident. Then, facing the camera (clearly, someone was filming for her), Ashley starts laying into my mom. “Excuse me, lady! Watch where you’re going! You bumped me, you need to apologize!” My mom, indignant, fires back. “You bumped into me, young lady! And you should apologize! Are you blind?” The next second in the video… I walk out of the restroom. And I slap my mom. Hard. “You bumped her! I saw it! Apologize!” the video-me snarls. My mom looks utterly shocked, horrified. Then, the video-me grabs my mom by the hair and starts hitting her again and again. “I said apologize! Apologize!” Ashley rushes in, pretending to break it up. “Chloe! Stop! I didn’t know that was your mom! It was just an accident, please don’t hurt her!” The comments section below the video was exploding. All praising Ashley, condemning me. “Ashley is so brave, calling out bad behavior like that!” “But wow, Chloe is terrifying. Even if her mom was wrong, you don’t just attack her like that!” “Look at the rage in her eyes! She wanted to kill her own mother! People like that are dangerous.” I felt like I was going to throw up. Watching that video… watching myself act like a monster… my whole body started shaking uncontrollably. That was my mom. How could I? How could I hit her like that? So brutally? If the office stuff could maybe, possibly, have been some kind of mass delusion or conspiracy… this was different. My own mother wouldn’t lie about this. And the video… that was me. It looked exactly like me. In that moment, hopelessness washed over me. Crushing, absolute despair. It felt like no matter where I went, what I did, I couldn’t escape this twisted fate. 4 The weight of it all was suffocating. Was this it? Was my entire life destined to be lived in Ashley’s shadow? She gets the fame, the adoration, the perfect life built on lies, while I become the monster everyone spits on? The feeling was unbearable. It pushed me, step by step, up onto the rooftop of my apartment building. The wind whipped around me. The street below looked so far away. Just as I leaned forward, ready to let go, a hand clamped firmly onto my arm. I jerked back, startled. Standing there was an older woman. Maybe late sixties, with sharp, intelligent eyes and an unnervingly calm expression. She looked… different. Not homeless, but perhaps living outside the mainstream. Her clothes were simple, maybe a bit eccentric. “You’ve died once already,” she said, her voice quiet but resonant. “Are you really going to choose the same path again? Do you truly want to give up?” Give up? No. I didn’t want to give up. I was furious. I was heartbroken. But I wasn’t ready to let them win. Not really. But what could I do? The woman pulled me back from the edge. She studied me intently for a long moment, her gaze piercing. “Someone’s put a curse on you, child,” she stated finally, matter-of-factly. “Something that controls you.” My breath hitched. It felt like grabbing onto a lifeline in a raging storm. I stumbled forward, grabbing her arm desperately. I sank to my knees on the rough rooftop gravel. “Please,” I choked out, tears finally breaking free. “Please, can you help me? I’ll do anything!” She watched me for another long moment, then sighed softly. “Alright. Seeing as you’re in such a state… perhaps I can help. Just this once.” She looked me up and down again, then her lips moved silently for a moment. She gave a subtle flick of her wrist, almost like brushing something away, but aimed towards my own wrist. “That bracelet on your wrist,” she asked sharply. “Where did you get it?” I looked down. The delicate silver chain bracelet Mike had given me. I tried to unclasp it, show it to her, but the clasp wouldn’t budge. It felt fused together. “My… my boyfriend gave it to me.” A sharp pang went through my chest. Mike. He’d told me over and over again, this was a special charm he’d gotten blessed for me. A protection amulet. Wear it always, Chloe. Never take it off. And I hadn’t. Ever. All this time… the source of my nightmare… was this bracelet. “There’s a binding hex woven into the cord of that bracelet,” the woman explained. “It holds a sympathetic link. That other girl, the one causing the trouble… she holds the master link, the trigger. When she commits an act of violence or aggression, the hex redirects the action, making it manifest through you, through the link in the bracelet.” I stared at her, hope surging through me. “Can you… can you break it? Remove the hex?” Her expression turned grim. “It’s been too long. The link has… rooted itself too deeply into your energy, almost into your very being. It can’t be simply undone. Not quickly, anyway.” The fragile hope shattered, leaving me aching and empty again. I slumped onto the ground, the fight draining out of me. What was the point? “But,” she continued, pulling something from a worn leather pouch at her side, “that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be done. Here.” She pressed a small, antique-looking brass mirror into my hand. It felt cool and surprisingly heavy. “Take this. It can shield you. Keep it with you always.” 5 Back in my apartment, away from the rooftop and the strange old woman (who hadn’t even given me her name, just told me to call her Ms. Evelyn if I needed her again), I grabbed a pair of heavy-duty wire cutters. I had to get this cursed bracelet off. But no matter how hard I squeezed, the cutters couldn’t even scratch the silver chain. It was unnaturally strong. Worse, every attempt sent a wave of searing pain through my body. It felt like fire licking at my insides, trying to burn me up from within. Gasping, I fumbled for the brass mirror Ms. Evelyn had given me. The moment my fingers closed around its cool metal surface, the pain vanished. Instantly. Completely. From that moment on, I never let the mirror leave my side. Kept it in my pocket, my purse, under my pillow at night. And soon, things started to change. Ashley, apparently unaware that her curse wasn’t working on me anymore, pulled another one of her stunts. This time, she got into a shouting match with a mother in a park and ended up slapping the woman’s three-year-old kid. Hard. The kid’s father saw it. He went absolutely ballistic. He didn’t hold back, laying into Ashley, leaving her bruised and sobbing on the ground. Someone filmed the whole thing, and that video went viral. This time, the video showed Ashley, clear as day, hitting the child, screaming, “Shut up, you little brat!” The comments section flipped. Gone was the praise, replaced with pure outrage. “Ashley! Wtf? How could you hit a little kid like that??” “So the whole ‘sweetheart’ thing was just an act? She’s actually a monster!” Ashley must have realized her usual trick hadn’t worked – the blame hadn’t magically transferred to me. Furious and confused, she stormed over to my apartment and pounded on the door. “Chloe! What did you do? What tricks did you pull?” she shrieked the moment I opened it. Her eyes landed on the brass mirror I instinctively held tight in my hand. She snatched it away from me, then immediately turned her phone towards me, hitting ‘record’ for a live stream. “Chloe, how could you?” she started, instantly switching to her victim persona, tears welling up. “Don’t you guys see? This mirror… it’s evil! It’s an artifact she’s using to control people!” “I knew something was wrong! I haven’t been myself lately! She’s been using this thing to manipulate me, making me do things!” “I thought she was my friend,” she sobbed dramatically, “and she was hexing me the whole time!” 6 Instantly, the tide of online opinion, which had just turned against Ashley, swung violently back towards her. Her followers, easily swayed, bought her new story hook, line, and sinker. “See! I knew Ashley was too good to be true! Chloe must have forced her!” “Only a psycho like Chloe would stoop to using dark magic!” “Hitting a kid? That sounds exactly like something evil Chloe would do!” “Remember she hit her own mom? She’s clearly possessed or something!” “This is terrifying! Is there any way to stop her?” The same people who were calling Ashley a monster moments ago were now back to defending her, aiming all their venom at me. I became the villain again. Curses and threats flooded the chat, raining down on me. Ashley, basking in the renewed support, stood tall, holding the mirror like some kind of trophy. “Okay everyone, I need to be honest with you,” she announced gravely to her live audience. “I’m… sensitive to these things. Energies. The moment I met Chloe, I felt something dark around her. This mirror…” she held it up dramatically, “…it’s a tool of control. She used it on me, and who knows who else she planned to target?” “Imagine! She could commit any crime, do anything horrible, and just use this thing to blame it on innocent people! It’s terrifying!” Her words whipped her followers into a frenzy. “What a twisted, evil bitch! Trying to control people to get away with her crimes!” “If she can do that, nobody’s safe! Society would collapse!” “Someone call the cops! Get her locked up before she hurts someone else!” I lunged for the mirror, trying to grab it back while Ashley was distracted by her phone. “It’s not evil! It’s just a mirror an old woman gave me for protection!” I yelled desperately. “Ashley’s the one who put a curse on me! This mirror just blocks it! Don’t believe her lies!” But Ashley easily sidestepped me, tightening her grip on the mirror. “Still denying it?” she sneered, playing to the camera. “If this mirror isn’t evil, why are you so desperate to get it back?” “And that ‘old woman’? Probably her accomplice! Making cursed objects to help her!” “I’ve already been corrupted by her evil! Are you going to let her harm others?” Before I could react, Ashley raised the mirror high above her head and slammed it down hard onto the floor. CRACK! The sound echoed, but I felt it inside my head, like something shattering within my own skull. An unbearable pressure exploded behind my eyes. My legs buckled. I collapsed, hitting the floor hard. My body started convulsing uncontrollably, thrashing on the carpet. White foam flecked my lips. It felt like I was burning alive from the inside out. I tried to scream for help, but only garbled sounds came out. Through the haze of agony, I saw Ashley, standing over me, pointing her phone camera down. Her expression was one of mock pity and horror. “Oh my god, look!” she gasped to her audience. “The evil energy… it consumed her when the object broke! She’s lost control!” “I… I hope destroying the mirror helped her somehow. Maybe it released her?” “But honestly,” she added, a little harder, “she brought this on herself. If she hadn’t had such evil intentions in the first place, none of this would have happened.” The chat scrolled wildly with messages: “Ashley you’re so brave!” “Poor Ashley, having to deal with this!” “Chloe got what she deserved!” Ashley kept filming, occasionally nudging a shard of the broken mirror with her foot. Each time she touched a piece, a fresh wave of agony ripped through me. The pain was overwhelming, a black tide pulling me under. I coughed, a spray of blood hitting the carpet, and then everything went dark. The next thing I knew, I was staring up at the concerned face of Ms. Evelyn.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “392162”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel