Category: English

1 My brother, Caleb, was the illegitimate son, the family’s dirty little secret. Growing up, he made it his mission to oppose me at every turn. When I finished first in my class, he reported me to the school for cheating. When I joined the board of directors, he crashed his sports car into the main gates of our headquarters. And when I finally found someone I loved, he became obsessed with stealing her from me. Thankfully, my girlfriend, Reese, came from a respected family of academics and carried herself with a cool, aloof grace. Every one of Caleb’s pathetic declarations of love was met with a stinging slap across the face. “I am going to be your sister-in-law,” she would tell him, her voice like ice. “So get rid of those pathetic little ideas you have.” Eventually, it seemed Caleb had accepted his fate. He stopped fighting me, starting from the very bottom of the company and working his way up. My father even praised him publicly at the annual company gala. Even Reese remarked with a pleased smile that my little brother had finally grown up. That all changed on the night I was officially appointed CEO of the entire corporation. Caleb sent me a video. On the screen, Reese, who had been conspicuously absent from the ceremony, was lounging in his arms, her eyes hazy with pleasure. … I didn’t hesitate. I floored the accelerator, racing to the hotel I recognized in the background. I kicked the door open. Reese scrambled for the sheets, but they couldn’t hide the messy constellation of love bites that stained the pale skin of her neck. Caleb, a smirk playing on his lips, provocatively tossed a used condom at my feet. “Sorry, big brother. Looks like you’re a step too late.” He leaned back, the picture of arrogance. “It’s a shame. I could’ve given you a few pointers on how to make Reese scream.” The cloying scent of sex in the room was so thick it made me want to gag. I strode over to the bed, ripped him out of it, and drove my fist into his smug face. Reese shrieked at me. “Julian, are you insane? Calm down!” I whipped my head around to face her, my eyes burning as I stared at her lips, swollen and red from his kisses. “Calm down? How the hell am I supposed to calm down when you’re in his bed?” Caleb staggered to his feet, a cold sneer on his face. “Is this all it takes to break you?” he taunted. “I told you, Julian. I’m going to destroy everything you have. Your love, your career, all of it.” I raised my fist again. Before it could land, Reese threw herself in front of him and slapped me hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed in the silent room, and a fiery sting spread across my cheek. She turned back to Caleb, tenderly wiping a smear of blood from the corner of his mouth before rounding on me again. “He’s your brother, Julian! How could you hit him?” My nails dug into my palms, the pain so sharp it felt like it was stealing the air from my lungs. Just hours ago, I was sick with worry because she wasn’t answering my texts. I was such a fool. She was busy rolling around in bed with my own brother; of course she didn’t have time for me. As if my humiliation wasn’t complete, Caleb added in a whiny, pathetic voice, “Come on, bro. We both have Vance blood, but you’re the one in charge of the whole corporation. I have nothing. Reese was just trying to… compensate me in bed. You’re not going to get petty over a little thing like that, are you?” At his words, Reese’s glare intensified. “He’s right. You don’t need to blow this out of proportion,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “Caleb just wanted to see what it was like to be with a woman. If you’re that bothered by it, I can go to a clinic and have it ‘fixed’.” She knew. She knew the betrayal was what was killing me, but she was deliberately trivializing it, trying to force me to back down. “No need,” I said, my voice flat and dead. Each word was a shard of glass. “Since you were so eager to climb into my brother’s bed, the wedding is off.” I turned and walked out. But the moment I opened the door, I realized the media had already caught the scent of scandal. 2 They swarmed me like sharks that smelled blood in the water. Microphones were shoved in my face. “Mr. Vance, is it true that your fiancée was caught in bed with your brother?” “As the new CEO of Vance Holdings, you’re starting your tenure with a major scandal. Do you have any comment?” My face was a mask of stone as I pushed through the crowd, repeating “no comment” over and over. Then, behind me, I heard Caleb’s voice, feigning weakness as he sobbed for the cameras. “It’s all my fault. I just love Reese so much. And… and I’ve been diagnosed with cancer. I don’t have much time left. I just wanted to be brave and fight for the woman I love in the time I have left…” I stopped in my tracks, stunned by the sheer absurdity of it. The way he was acting just moments ago? He was the picture of health, not a dying man. Then came Reese’s choked sobs. “Caleb did nothing wrong,” she cried. “The one at fault is Julian. He proposed to me, but he hid the fact that he’s impotent.” I spun around, my eyes wide with disbelief. To protect Caleb, Reese was throwing me under the bus, slinging the most damaging mud she could find. For the heir to a corporate empire, a rumor of physical inadequacy was more destructive than any financial scandal. Every camera, every microphone, every pair of eyes turned on me like a hundred poisoned arrows. “Mr. Vance, is this true?” “Sir, can you confirm your fiancée’s statement?” Their questions hammered down on my already shattered nerves. But Reese wasn’t finished. “I’ve been a virgin in all but name for five long years,” she declared, her voice ringing with false tragedy. “It was only after I was with Caleb that I finally understood what it feels like to be a woman.” She looked at Caleb with a raw adoration I had never seen from her before. She was the one who insisted on no sex before marriage, citing her family’s strict values. She was the one who pushed me away time and time again. And now, to save Caleb, she was pinning it all on me. The rage and betrayal were too much. My vision swam, the world tilted, and then everything went black. When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital room. Reese was sitting by my bed, her eyes red and puffy. The moment she saw I was awake, fresh tears streamed down her face. “Julian, you’re finally awake! You scared me to death when you collapsed.” She gripped my hand tightly, playing the part of the devoted lover. But she was the one who had put me here. I yanked my hand away in disgust. “What are you doing here? Come to see if I’m miserable enough for you yet?” Reese bit her lip, her gaze filled with manufactured guilt. “What I said last night… I had no choice. Reporters from every major paper were there. If the real story got out, Caleb would have been destroyed.” I stared at her. “And what about me? Did you ever stop to think what happens to me now that this rumor is out there?” She looked away, her eyes flitting around the room. “The story will die down. People will forget.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “You’re a communications professor, Reese. You, of all people, know the internet never forgets. Even if I issue a denial, who’s going to believe me now?” She wrung her hands nervously. “But it’s already out there. Julian… can’t you just sacrifice for me one more time?” Five years. For five years, I had sacrificed everything for her. I turned down a strategic marriage alliance with a family of equal standing, all for her, a woman with a humble background. To get my family’s blessing, I defied my father, knelt for three days in the family chapel, and withstood the full force of his fury. I remember her holding my hand in this very hospital after that ordeal, her tears falling onto our intertwined fingers. “Julian,” she’d whispered, “you’re the only one for me, for the rest of my life.” Her promise didn’t even last five years. 3 I was exhausted. I pointed a weary finger at the door. “Just go. And don’t ever come back.” Reese bit her lip, her expression stubborn. “I’m not leaving. You’re sick. I’m staying here to take care of you.” She opened a thermal container and poured out a bowl of chicken soup, carefully blowing on each spoonful to cool it. It was just like the time I was hospitalized for a bleeding ulcer after a brutal negotiation, and she’d cared for me with such tenderness. Back then, I was certain she loved me. Now, I couldn’t tell where her heart truly lay. She brought the spoon to my lips, but a notification on her phone made her jump. She shot up from her chair, a flicker of panic in her eyes. Realizing how she must have looked, she offered a clumsy explanation. “That’s… the university. Something came up. You rest, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.” Before I could say a word, she grabbed her purse and hurried out. The click of the door plunged the room into silence. She hadn’t even noticed. In her haste, she’d knocked over the bowl of steaming soup. It was all over me. I calmly called a nurse to help with the burns. Just as I was finishing up a call with my secretary to delegate my work, a message from Caleb popped up on my phone. [Guess where Reese and I are right now?] It was followed by a photo of the master bedroom in our old family estate. The room I had spent the last six months personally renovating for our marriage. [Already tested out your wife for you. Figured I should break in the bed, too.] In less than a day, he had defiled the sanctuary I had built for us. That was the last straw. I tore off the hospital gown, changed my clothes, and raced to the estate. The moment I walked in, I felt the servants’ eyes on me, their gazes lingering on my lower body. “So the young master really is… you know?” “Good thing Miss Reese found herself a backup plan.” “Can you imagine? A lifetime of that… poor woman.” My eyes swept over each of their whispering faces. I’d deal with them later. After I was done with that treacherous pair. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door to our bedroom. The scene that greeted me was somehow worse than the raw, physical betrayal at the hotel. Reese was on the phone, her voice laced with a sycophantic tone I had never heard from her. “Professor Miller, I know your program is incredibly competitive, but Caleb is just so talented. Could you please give him a chance? Just an interview, that’s all I’m asking…” The fawning, desperate expression on her face threw me back three years. Back then, my position in the company was still precarious. I had the skills, but the older board members saw me as too green. A key partner’s daughter was applying for grad school, and I asked Reese if she might tutor the girl as a favor. She had refused me flatly, looking at me with deep disappointment as if I had suggested something sordid. “You’re asking me to compromise my principles for business?” Because of that, I lost a billion-dollar deal. But in a strange way, it made me admire her more. I loved that fierce, unbending integrity. Now, here she was, throwing those same principles out the window for Caleb. Caleb saw me standing in the doorway. He wrapped an arm around Reese’s waist, a clear gesture of ownership. “Reese, my love, you’re pulling strings for me. You think my dear brother is going to get angry again?” She ended the call and pinched his cheek affectionately. “You’re different. For you, I’d do anything.” Only then did she seem to notice me. Her face hardened. “You’re supposed to be in the hospital. What are you doing here?” Caleb pouted. “Maybe he followed you.” Her expression turned icy. “Julian, do you have any idea that stalking is illegal? You’re being a real creep. No wonder your own mother didn’t want you when she left!” Her words hit me like a physical blow, a shard of ice driving straight into my heart. She knew. She knew my mother had left because she found out my father was keeping a mistress, one who had a son just three months younger than me. Reese had been the one to comfort me, to swear she would never betray me like that. And now she was using my deepest wound as a weapon, mocking me for being the boy his mother left behind. Caleb’s face was a mask of twisted delight. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” He nuzzled his face against Reese’s neck. “Thank God you finally saw my brother for who he really is, Reese. We’re the ones who truly belong together.” Just then, my father’s voice echoed from downstairs, clearing his throat loudly. He wanted to see us. Caleb shot me a look brimming with meaning. “Who ends up in charge around here is still up in the air, you know.” Reese gave me a look of pity. “Julian, things are about to change at Vance Holdings. You need to stop fighting with Caleb.” Caleb just squeezed her waist. “He’ll find out soon enough. No need to spoil the surprise.” Listening to them, a cold dread began to creep into my heart. 4 When I got to the living room, I saw that every single member of the company’s board was there, gathered in our family home. I looked at my father, sitting on the main sofa, and my throat went dry. “Dad… what is all this?” He struck my leg with his dragon-headed cane. “On your knees!” My knees hit the cold marble floor with a dull thud. I looked up at him. “Dad, what did I do wrong?” His face was etched with pain and disappointment. “If Caleb hadn’t told me, how long were you going to hide this from me? The future leader of Vance Holdings cannot be a crippled, impotent man!” He sighed heavily. “Julian, in light of your many years of service to this company, you will be reassigned to manage the overseas division. As for everything else… I am handing it all over to Caleb.” I shot to my feet. “Dad, that’s just tabloid gossip! There’s nothing wrong with me!” My father waved a hand, and two bodyguards instantly grabbed my shoulders, forcing me back to my knees. Caleb let out a triumphant chuckle. “Come on, brother. We’re all family here. No need to keep up the act. If there’s nothing wrong with you, how is it that Reese was with you for five years and was still a virgin?” My father’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of annoyance at Caleb’s insolence. But my supposed “condition” made him tolerate it. “Your brother is right,” he continued, his voice heavy. “More importantly, the world now believes you’re impotent. The media is painting you as a spoiled heir who strong-armed your way into a relationship and ruined a true love story. This negative press is already hitting our stock price.” He coughed into his hand. “After a unanimous vote by the board, you are hereby removed from your position as CEO, effective immediately. Caleb will be your successor.” Caleb could no longer hide his glee. To celebrate, he picked up a bottle of red wine and poured the entire contents over my head. “To the victor go the spoils, big brother,” he sneered, wine dripping down my face. “From now on, you’d better remember to call me Mr. Vance.” Blinded by rage, I struggled to lunge at him, but the guards held me fast. Finally, my father spoke again. “That’s enough, Caleb.” He turned his cold gaze back to me. “Julian, you will remain here at the estate to reflect on your actions. You are not to set foot outside these grounds without my permission.” I stared at him, aghast. “Dad, are you really going to hand this company over to an illegitimate son who knows nothing about running it? You’ve seen what I’ve done for Vance Holdings all these years!” He slammed his fist on the table. “A failure who can’t even keep his own woman has no right to talk about running an empire!” Caleb’s smile was pure victory. He bent down and patted my cheek condescendingly. “Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you. Reese is pregnant with my child.” I stared in shock at Reese’s still-flat stomach, then at my father, who pointedly avoided my gaze. And then it all clicked into place. The reason he was so determined to replace me. Faced with a supposedly flawed heir, he would naturally choose the one who was about to give him a grandchild. A laugh, raw and broken, escaped my lips. “Dad, you’re so confident. But how can you be so sure the child in Reese’s belly is the grandson you’ve been dreaming of?”

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My husband, who has been sleeping in the guest room for six months, stood at the top of the stairs, hugging his pillow, blocked by me. “Our combined age isn’t even fifty. We’re in the prime of our lives. Is sleeping in separate rooms normal?” He frowned at me, his gaze making my back sweat. Finally, he nodded. “Yeah, not very normal.” Taking a bold step, I snatched the pillow from his arms, complaining, “You weren’t like this before.” “What was I like before?” “You used to hug me to sleep every night, and call me ‘little darling’ before bed.” “…Is that so?” “Yes!” Look at me. Do these look like the eyes of a liar? 1 On the day of our divorce, my husband got amnesia. The bad news is we didn’t have much affection to begin with, and now divorce is off the table. The good news is he forgot the past, making it easier for me to make a move. After all, I’ve been lusting after him for a long time. Ethan, 6’1″, 163 lbs. This man graduated from an Ivy League school, and all his ex-girlfriends were ABCs (American-born Chinese). If it weren’t for my grandfather leveraging a favor owed by his grandfather, this man would be completely out of my league (literally, I’m only 5’4″). I still remember our blind date. He stood on the flower bed, looking down at me, frowning slightly. “Why are you squatting?” I was bent over, looking for a four-leaf clover in a patch of clovers, and felt very annoyed. “…I’m not squatting.” His face looked even worse. “From up here, you look incredibly short.” “Then come down and look.” He did come down, standing on the same level, but still looking at me with those two handsome nostrils. “And?” “You’ll realize I really am short.” Him: … 2 The Sterling family looked down on me, but they held their noses and let him marry me. Back in the day, his grandfather was sent to the countryside for re-education. Because he was close with my grandfather, he often mooched meals at my house. Food was scarce then, making our tight rations even tighter. My dad was growing at the time and ended up with stomach problems from hunger that haven’t been cured for decades. His grandfather accidentally learned the truth and insisted on getting us together. Because Ethan was unwilling, the old man cried miserably on his deathbed for half a month, only passing away after seeing our marriage certificate. To show his firm disdain for me, this man slept in the guest room for three months after the wedding, keeping a meter distance when speaking to me. Talk about chastity. If you ask if I felt wronged, not really. After all, as long as I lived in the house for a day, he paid me my usual salary. We also agreed that if either of us found someone we truly liked in the future, we would bless each other and part amicably. If not, we’d just be housemates. See, except for not loving me, this man had no faults. So upon learning he had amnesia, the first thing I did was move our toothbrushes from two bathrooms into the same cup. If we can brush teeth together, can sleeping together be far behind? 3 To be honest, although I’m short, I’m decent looking. I wasn’t the school beauty, but I was always considered the class beauty. I refuse to believe that with God giving me a second chance, I can’t take down Ethan?! Joke. Night fell. A Mercedes van slowly pulled into the garage. I quickly refreshed my perfume and ran downstairs to hand him his slippers. “Hubby, you’re back?” Ethan opened the door and was stunned to see me. He must have eaten by now, but to show attentiveness, I still went up to greet him: “Hard day, hubby? I made dinner, let’s eat together?” “…Mm.” Of course, it was impossible for me to cook for him. Ethan sat opposite me, his brow relaxing as he looked at the table full of takeout. “Thanks for your hard work, making so many dishes.” “You worked hard too, tired all day.” Hypocritical couple, daily fake smiles. After dinner, he went to shower. I specially turned on the ambient lighting, letting a thin strap slip off my pale collarbone intentionally, not pulling it up until he appeared at the door surrounded by steam. At this moment, he gave me a deep look, a hint of ambiguity quietly passing. “Sleep early.” Suddenly, darkness fell before my eyes. He had turned off the light. I jumped out of bed in anger: “Where are you going to sleep?” Hearing my voice change, he stood at the door asking, “What’s wrong?” I went up and dragged him inside. “You’re almost twenty-eight, seen any couple sleeping in separate rooms?” He froze. The curtains weren’t drawn. Moonlight spilled through the French windows, laying a long, frosty path on the bed. The object of my desire for so long fell onto the bed, his silk robe pulled into disarray by me, a flawless face under messy hair looking quite bewildered. “You really want to sleep with me?” Have to say, this scene was a bit overwhelming. I swallowed, fished up one of my legs, and hooked it firmly around his waist. “Of course.” He was silent for a while. “Sleeping like this… is it comfortable?” “Comfortable.” “…Alright.” After a long time with no follow-up, I forced one eye open to look at him, only to find he had closed his eyes, breathing evenly. Hey, if you’re uncomfortable, don’t you know to take some initiative? I closed my eyes and continued to fan the flames. “Hubby, don’t you think it’s a bit too quiet?” “Sleeping should be quiet.” “That’s a lack of imagination. Although we are statically sleeping, it doesn’t mean it can’t become dynamic.” “Why should it become dynamic?” Go away. I pulled my leg off his waist, turned over, and huffed: “Men, get into a little car accident and become like this. You used to call me ‘sweetheart,’ now you’re cold!” After a moment of silence, an arm wrapped around my waist, gently encircling me. “Alright, sleep early, sweetheart.” I was delighted and immediately pressed on: “Usually, besides sweetheart, you also called me little darling.” “Goodnight, little darling.” “Okay, big darling.” Hooked his waist, got called little darling. I hugged Ethan’s arm and fell asleep contentedly. 4 The next day I woke up groggy, shuffled to the bathroom in slippers to brush my teeth. As soon as I entered, I covered my eyes. “Oops, sorry!” After quickly closing the door, I felt something was weird… Wait, why am I guilty? Our relationship is protected by law. That bouncy man with broad shoulders and long legs inside, it’s my right to look at him! Thinking wildly, the door opened. Ethan, with a small new towel around his waist, stood inside looking at me, wet hair hanging on his forehead, steam all over. “Coming in?” Although screaming internally, I responded politely: “Okay, going to be late for work, let me squeeze in.” Married for over half a year, this was our first time brushing teeth together. In the mirror, his upper body was bare, muscle lines faintly distinct… Let me count, one two three four five… “Why is your face so red?” “Ah, I’m a little allergic (to your abs).” “Is it okay?” Almost blurting out my real thoughts, I touched my nose: “Small problem, I can overcome it.” Just look more often. After that, seeing me rushing with makeup in front of the mirror, he asked: “Want me to drive you?” “Okay!” Didn’t expect Ethan after amnesia to be so considerate. I got into his van. He navigated in the front: “Bella, send me the company address.” Hearing this, my face darkened slightly. He observed my expression carefully in the mirror: “What’s wrong?” “What did you call me?” “Bella?” Seeming to realize something, he suddenly blushed, coughing lightly: “Little… darling, send me the company address.” “Okay, big darling.” I moved my fingers, sending the location to his WeChat. Getting out of the car, I knocked on his window. After he rolled it down, I leaned in and kissed his slightly red handsome face. “Thank you, big darling.”

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Gabriel Vance was probably the gentlest person I had ever met. I had been rejected twenty times because I talked too much. When we first met at a concert, I chatted his ear off for half an hour. I stopped only when I realized I was rambling, but he looked puzzled and smiled gently at me. “Keep going, I’m listening.” I fell for him quickly, and we got married. Three months into our marriage, he spoke pitifully little. Whether I nearly burned down the house cooking or ended up in the police station for causing trouble, he remained calm and gentle, never speaking more than ten words at a time. But right now, he was losing control of his emotions in front of me because of another girl. 1 “Gwen, how many times have I told you? Safety comes first when you’re out!” “You just came back, and you’re already in the police station. You’ve really outdone yourself!” The girl was about to speak, but Gabriel interrupted immediately. “What? You want to talk back?” “What bad habits did you pick up abroad for all these years!” I sat aside, watching intently. He said four sentences in one breath. That face, usually so gentle and peaceful, was now full of anger. So he did have emotions, just not for me. The next second, Gabriel finally noticed me. He immediately returned to that expression and reached out to me. “You’re here too?” I dodged his hand and walked out of the police station. I soon got Gwen Vance’s file, and felt like I had fallen into an ice cellar. Gwen was the adopted daughter of the Vance family. Five years ago, she was forcibly sent abroad because of her improper relationship with Gabriel. The Vance family took this last resort to protect their reputation. But in the past five years, Gwen had staged over twenty suicide attempts to come back. The last time she was saved, Gabriel endured ninety-nine lashes of family discipline. Father Vance finally compromised and agreed to bring Gwen back. But the condition was that Gabriel must marry another woman to cut off Gwen’s thoughts. So, I became Mrs. Vance, a fig leaf for their illicit relationship. And I was stupid enough to think it was all love. Gabriel’s car was waiting outside the police station. I quickened my pace and went around it. He guessed I was angry, got out of the car, and followed me all the way home. The blisters from my high heels made it impossible for me to continue. I found a flower bed to sit on. Gabriel was one step ahead and spread his expensive jacket on the ground. Gwen immediately jumped out of the car and hugged Gabriel’s arm. “Gabriel, I’ll keep you company. It’s all my fault for making sister-in-law angry. Let’s be punished together!” In a few words, she painted me as a petty and jealous woman. I lowered my head and smiled sarcastically, pretending not to hear, and continued walking. Wearing those little leather shoes with only three-centimeter heels, she complained of foot pain after walking less than five hundred meters. “Gabriel, you guys are fighting, why am I the one suffering?” She pouted, her whole body almost sticking to Gabriel. His gaze fell on Gwen’s slightly red instep, and his face became serious. “Get in the car!” Gwen shook her head and refused. “No! I want to be with you! Or… you get in the car too, stop walking! My heart aches for you!” Gabriel was silent for a moment, picked Gwen up, and stuffed her into the car. The Maybach sped away, leaving me alone with my head down, staring at my blistered and bleeding feet in a daze. An hour later, I finally opened the door to my home. Gabriel was treating the wound on Gwen’s foot, his expression devout and serious. Gwen’s foot rested unscrupulously on his thigh, and she didn’t forget to pout and act coquettishly. “Gabriel, it hurts, blow on it for me.” Gabriel blew on the wound, somewhat helpless, yet somewhat doting. I watched this scene and suddenly laughed out loud. Taking off my blood-stained high heels, I spoke calmly. “Gabriel, let’s get a divorce.” 2 The whole of Lion City knew how much I liked Gabriel Vance. So he just thought I was throwing a tantrum and joking. He paused for a moment, then perfunctorily said, “Go to bed early, there’s an event tomorrow.” He didn’t take this sentence to heart, so naturally, he didn’t know that I turned around and notified my parents of the divorce. Early the next morning, Father Vance’s whip cracked loudly, while Gwen knelt on the ground, tears in her eyes. “I said, I won’t marry!” Father Vance was full of anger. “Gwen, you have no right to negotiate with me! Don’t forget who you are!” Gabriel stood aside, his eyes full of anxiety and distress. When the whip fell, it was Gabriel whose skin split open. He held Gwen tightly in his arms and took the whip for her. Gwen shed tears of heartache, grabbing Gabriel’s hand and saying, “Gabriel, does it hurt?” “Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t marry anyone else, except you…” Father Vance’s face changed suddenly, and he shouted to stop. “Shut up!” He looked at Gabriel with a gloomy face. “Don’t forget that Lydia is your wife now. Are you doing right by her?” Gabriel’s face stiffened for a moment, he looked up and suddenly met my eyes. His expression was momentarily dazed, then he frowned and called me to his side, whispering, “It was you, right?” I was a little confused, then heard him say, “You’ve gone too far!” I finally understood. Gabriel thought Father Vance came to force the marriage early in the morning because I snitched. Anger rose from my heart, and I immediately denied it. “It wasn’t me! Yesterday’s matter…” Before I could finish, Gabriel suddenly interrupted me with a kiss. This was our first kiss from dating to marriage. I froze in place, not understanding his intention. The next second, Gabriel said to Gwen, “Gwen, the husband Father chose for you… is very good.” “Look at me and your sister-in-law now, we are also very happy.” He tried his best to control his tense muscles and sad expression. And I once again became a tool he used to protect Gwen. Gwen screamed in breakdown, while Gabriel forcibly pressed me into his arms and deepened the kiss. This time, I really got a vivid Gabriel, but all his vividness was because of another woman. That night, I accompanied Gabriel to a banquet as usual. As hosts, Gabriel and I wore custom-made masks. As soon as I entered, I spotted Gwen. Her mask was extremely similar to mine, and she had Gabriel’s most cherished bow tie tied around her wrist. Gabriel didn’t notice. He raised his arm as usual, signaling me to hold it. I ignored it and stepped aside. He paused slightly, his tone somewhat helpless. “Still angry?” His attitude was like warm water boiling a frog, burning me again and again. I lowered my eyes, word by word. “Gabriel, I’m not joking with you.” Saying that, I took out the divorce agreement and handed it to him. Just as he was about to take it, a cry erupted from the crowd. “Miss Vance! Are you okay?” Gabriel’s face changed drastically. He turned to leave but was pulled back by me. “Sign it first.” 3 He took a deep breath, seeming to disapprove of my untimeliness. After hastily signing his name, he ran towards the crowd without looking back. I looked at the divorce agreement and tried hard to suppress the dull pain in my heart. Soon, the party began. The gentlemen needed to find their female partners in the shuffled crowd. The fastest one would receive a gift from the Vance Group. Under the flickering lights, Gabriel walked towards me step by step. Those eyes, usually calm as water, were now rolling with heavy love. I was a little dazed. Suddenly the lights went out. When they came back on, Gabriel was passionately kissing Gwen under the gaze of everyone. They hugged each other tightly, breaths intertwined, looking incredibly happy. Envious voices erupted from the crowd. “President Vance and his wife really act like newlyweds, they look so loving!” “Yeah, they say Mrs. Vance is the one in love, but I think President Vance loves her very much!” The discussions pierced my heart like sharp blades. The lights went out again. Gwen turned her head and met my eyes. She raised her hand to wipe off the messy lipstick and mouthed word by word, “Admit! Defeat!” I smiled coldly, took off my mask, and walked over. I patted Gabriel without hesitation. “Did you mistake the person?” His face changed drastically. Just as he was about to speak, the lights came on, and the crowd stirred. I was pushed backward by the crowd and stepped on by countless people in the panic. My face turned pale with pain, but I saw Gwen always being carefully protected in his arms. Soon, the first couple to find each other stepped onto the center stage. The prize prepared by the Vance Group finally appeared. Amid the cheers of the audience, I saw a very familiar painting. That was my sister’s work. To complete this painting, my sister gave her all. Shortly after completion, she passed away from overwork. This painting was clearly stored in my sister’s studio. How could it appear here? “This painting is the final work of Master Ru Ting, with a market price as high as eight figures!” “Five years ago, after Ru Ting finished this painting, she completely disappeared and never showed up again.” “But today, we are fortunate to have invited Master Ru Ting to personally present this painting to the champion!” The spotlight flickered and finally landed on the mask that looked exactly like mine! I was furious. My sister died years ago. How could it be Gwen? I lost control of my emotions, excitedly pushed through the crowd and rushed forward. “She is not…” But before I could finish my sentence, a sharp pain suddenly came from the back of my head! When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on the bed in the villa bedroom. Gabriel sat aside, dealing with official business. I threw off the quilt, didn’t even care to put on shoes, and wanted to rush out. But the next second, Gabriel picked me up. “You have a fever.” Gabriel frowned, whispering, “Calm down.” I was put back on the bed, my face pale. “Gabriel, didn’t you see? Gwen is impersonating Ru Ting! She is impersonating my deceased sister!” “That’s my sister’s work. What right does she have? I’m going to expose her—” I was furious, but suddenly froze when I met Gabriel’s calm eyes. 4 In a flash, I suddenly understood something. After my sister passed away, I only took Gabriel to that studio. But Gabriel took the painting from there and let Gwen steal the honor that belonged to my sister! My heart was torn open, and the biting cold wind poured in, making my limbs cold and my whole body chilled. “It was you…” I finally murmured, “Why?” Gabriel’s slender fingers combed the broken hair on my forehead, his voice helpless. “You have a fever.” “I asked you why!” I suddenly exploded, staring at him with red eyes, almost gritting my teeth. “Gabriel, at the dance tonight—” “I saw everything!” Gabriel’s face remained calm, and he said lightly, “Saw what?” He asked back, “You burned yourself into confusion and recognized the wrong person.” Seeing me dazed, he took the opportunity to change the subject. “The painting, I’m very sorry.” Gabriel took out a blank check from his pocket and handed me a pen. “Consider it bought by me.” At this moment, I suddenly realized. Perhaps in Gabriel’s eyes, I was also a commodity waiting to be sold. I couldn’t help but smile miserably, took the check, and tore it in half. “Gabriel, I don’t lack money.” He frowned and tried to probe, “Then shares of the Vance family?” I remained silent. Gabriel was a little annoyed, but still patient. “Then what do you want?” I stared at him angrily, still not answering. He suddenly realized something and took a step back. “A child? Okay.” His tone was calm and powerful, but with a trace of imperceptible compromise. “Don’t you want a child?” Because of this sentence, the anger I had suppressed finally erupted uncontrollably. I had always wanted a child with Gabriel. But Gabriel was unwilling and always took contraceptive measures very well. Now, for Gwen, he agreed to have a child with me. How ridiculous! I trembled all over with anger and bit my lower lip until it bled. I took out the divorce agreement and smashed it into Gabriel’s face. “Gabriel, are you kidding me?” I said word by word. “We are getting divorced! How could I still have a child for you?” Gabriel’s face stiffened. Just as he was about to bend down to pick it up, The phone rang suddenly. It was a playful theme song from GG Bond. I suddenly remembered the GG Bond pendant on Gwen’s phone and realized this was her exclusive ringtone. Whatever was said on the other end of the phone, Gabriel’s expression changed instantly. Ignoring the papers scattered all over the floor, he turned and left without hesitation. I calmly picked up the divorce agreement and locked it in the drawer. Since he didn’t even bother to look at it, he couldn’t blame me. For the next few days, Gabriel didn’t come home, but sent me gifts in various ways. Sometimes they were valuable limited editions, sometimes sports cars I liked but was reluctant to buy. He even sent three luxury houses in a row. During this time, Gabriel accompanied her every day to choose wedding dresses and rings. Busy as if he were the groom-to-be. That night, Gabriel finally came home. His steps were unusually hurried, and his always gentle face was a little gloomy. He grabbed my hand, his eyes full of anger. “Is it you?” Gabriel questioned, “Since Gwen returned, you have been tit-for-tat with her. You are her sister-in-law, can’t you be a little more magnanimous?” This was the first time Gabriel said such a long sentence to me. So long that I couldn’t even count how many words he said. Gabriel’s eyes were shadowed. “Do you know that Gwen is now locked up in the detention center? She has been delicate since childhood, how can she endure such hardship!” I was unusually calm. “Gabriel, believe it or not, I didn’t do anything.” “Her charge is theft!” Gabriel took a deep breath. “If not you, who else could it be?” I just felt absurd. “Why do you think it’s me? Just because she stole my sister’s painting?” “Don’t forget I am the victim. I thought you had a brain!” Gabriel’s forehead twitched slightly, and he took a deep breath to suppress his anger. He held my body, word by word, “Lydia, you just need to go to the police station and admit that you gave her that painting.” Hearing this, I trembled with anger. “What if I die and don’t go?” My eyes were red, staring at him fiercely. “What if I die right now?” Gabriel’s brow twitched slightly, falling into a long silence. Finally, he took a deep breath. “You can’t bear to die.” He sighed, his tone certain and pitying. “You worked so hard to marry me, how could you bear to die?” He clearly knew… clearly knew how much I loved him and how much effort I put in to marry him! But he only used my deep love as a blade to threaten me! I suddenly calmed down, closed my eyes, and smiled gently. “Yes, I can’t die.” But not for you. But because I have decided to leave you and start life anew. Gabriel breathed a sigh of relief: “Then let’s go now…” But the next second, I kicked Gabriel hard in the leg and broke free from his arms. “But I still won’t save her.” Gabriel’s anger could no longer be suppressed. “Lydia, you’ve really gone too far this time.” He clenched his hands into fists, veins bulging on the back of his hands. “Lock the madam in the confinement room.” He turned and strode towards the door. “Contact me when you are willing to cooperate.”

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Six months after I broke up with Ethan, we got back together. I noticed he’d changed. The once rugged, no-frills guy now had a full-blown skincare routine. After we moved in together, he even started sitting down to use the toilet, something he’d learned was more considerate. He’d surprise me with gifts—delicate, lacey things I’d never seen him pick out before. One night, I teased him about it. “What happened to you? It’s only been six months and you’ve transformed into the perfect boyfriend.” He was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “I had a good teacher.” 1 In the bridal shop, my mother beamed as she held up another wedding dress for my approval. “You and Ethan, after all this back and forth, you finally found your way back to each other,” she said, her voice filled with warmth. “Promise me you two will make it work this time. No more fighting, no more breakups.” I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror, a stranger in white, and felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. Ethan and I had grown up together. I knew every line on his face, every flicker of emotion in his eyes. When he wet the bed at six, I was the one who helped him sneak the sheets into the wash in the middle of the night. When I got my first period at eleven and bled through my jeans, he was the one who, blushing furiously, ran to the store to buy me pads and a new pair of underwear. At twenty, we gave each other our firsts. But this time, after six months apart, it felt like I was living with a different person. My mom’s voice pulled me back to the present. “If you two hadn’t had that stupid fight, you’d be married by now. No more nonsense, you hear me? I’ve watched you two grow up. There’s no man on this earth who will ever love you more than Ethan.” “I know, Mom,” I said, forcing a smile and pushing down the strange feeling in my gut. “Don’t worry, we know what we’re doing. We’re going to get the marriage license in a few days.” 2 By the time I’d finished my makeup trial, Ethan was back. He was empty-handed. “Did you get the rings?” I asked, a little surprised. “Sorry,” he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “My fault. I forgot to update my shipping address on my phone, so they sent them to the wrong place. It’ll be a few days before they get forwarded.” He tugged at the collar of his shirt, loosening it. As he did, a tattoo just above his collarbone peeked out. Leah. A sharp pain lanced through my chest, followed by a slow, creeping unease. I’d first noticed the new ink when he came back, but I hadn’t asked about it. I knew it had to be a woman’s name. We’d planned to pick up the rings today, and then I was going to put on the dress so he could film a mock proposal video for our wedding announcement. That was off the table now. “It’s fine,” I said, my voice lighter than I felt. “We haven’t set the date yet, so a few days doesn’t matter.” I met his eyes in the mirror. “Ethan, after I change, let’s go get that tattoo removed.” He froze for a second, then quickly masked it with a shrug of indifference. “Sure.” So, I changed out of the wedding dress and we went to the nearest laser removal clinic. He took off his shirt and lay down. The technician prepped the laser, making small talk. “Girlfriend’s name?” he asked with a chuckle. “Right on the collarbone, huh? That’s gotta be one of the most painful spots. Closest to the heart. You must really love her.” He squinted at the fresh ink. “Looks pretty new, too. Why the change of heart?” I was sitting on a chair nearby, and my hands tightened around my purse. I answered for him, my voice quiet. “It’s not my name.” The technician stopped, blinking at me. He hadn’t expected that. A flash of understanding crossed his face, followed by an awkward flush. He cleared his throat and went back to work without another word. 3 Ethan didn’t make a sound during the entire procedure, gritting his teeth through the pain. He didn’t offer an explanation on the way out, either. But I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I stopped on the sidewalk. “Ethan, who is Leah?” I asked softly. “Did you date someone else during the four and a half months we were fighting?” I had been biting my tongue for weeks, but the question finally escaped. We’d said we were broken up for six months, but I knew the exact number: 135 days. The Ethan I knew was rough around the edges. He never used scented lotions or face wash, complaining they were too “girly.” He wasn’t the type to buy lingerie. He certainly wouldn’t have taken the time to learn about female anatomy and figure out that him sitting to use the toilet was better for my hygiene. But since we’d gotten back together, I’d noticed all these little changes, these tiny habits that felt like they belonged to someone else. It was like living with the ghost of another woman. Ethan stopped, too. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Finally, he just nodded, a low grunt his only response. He stepped forward and took my hands, his gaze firm and resolute. “Catherine, listen to me,” he said, his voice earnest. “It’s over between us. It’s completely done. When we fought and broke up, I went on a bender… I was a mess… and I met her. But I want to marry you. I swear, I will never have anything to do with her again. You have to believe me.” A damp, heavy feeling settled in my chest. But we were about to get married. I’d known since I was a little girl that I was going to spend my life with him. So I nodded, choosing to believe him. 4 Back home, my phone was buzzing with congratulatory messages from our friends. They’d all been worried during our long fight and were thrilled we were finally getting married. Ethan went to the living room to ice the raw skin where the tattoo had been. I replied to our friends about the wedding date while I started unpacking his suitcase from his trip. He’d flown to another city during our fight. Tucked beneath a layer of clothes, I found a small notebook. I pulled it out and opened it without thinking. My hand started to tremble. The handwriting was his—that familiar, childish scrawl our teachers used to complain about. February 10th. Taped to the page was a small corner of a blood-stained bedsheet. Leah’s first time. A piece of the sheet. I was too drunk, too rough. I must have hurt her. March 1st. Taped next to it was a sanitary pad, still in its wrapper. The brand of pads Leah uses. Saw her sweating from the cramps. I wish I could take the pain for her. March 26th. A pregnancy test with two pink lines fell out from between the pages. Leah’s pregnancy test. She’s pregnant. But I was drinking that night, and I took some medication. We can’t keep the baby. I feel so guilty. This is my fault. … I had forged his handwriting to do his detention assignments countless times as a kid. No matter how messy his writing was, I could read every single word. My vision blurred with tears. I stayed there, crouched on the floor, for a long time, the notebook clutched in my frozen hands. Ethan walked in and saw what I was holding. His face went pale. He rushed over, snatched the notebook from my grasp, and pulled me up from the floor, leading me to the bed. 5 “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice laced with regret. “That must have gotten mixed in when I was packing. I completely forgot about it, or I would have thrown it away. I didn’t mean for you to see it and get upset. I’ll go toss it right now.” He threw the notebook aside as if it were contaminated. I didn’t understand. How could he have lived an entire lifetime with another person in just 135 days? A lifetime that included a child that never was. My throat felt like it was full of fish bones, caught and painful. I pushed him away, my eyes stinging. “Ethan, we had our fight on February 9th. You slept with another woman on the 10th.” We had twenty-five years of history between us. Even though we’d had a terrible fight, our families were already discussing wedding dates before I left. I never, ever imagined he could move on so seamlessly. He pulled me back into his arms, holding me so tight I could barely breathe. His voice was raw. “Catherine, I know anything I say right now will sound like an excuse, but I was drunk. It was a stupid, meaningless mistake.” “We’re about to get married,” he pleaded. “Can we please just leave the past in the past? Let’s not dredge up things that will only make us both miserable.” The next day, the wedding date was set. Ethan’s parents came over to help decorate. Our families had been next-door neighbors our whole lives, so their house was like a second home to me. They treated me like their own daughter. His mom pulled me down to sit beside her, her face wreathed in a loving smile. “Catherine, come here. I have waited so many years for this day, to finally have you as my daughter-in-law.” “This long fight between you and Ethan… it had your mother and me so worried. Promise me, from now on, no matter how much you two argue, you’ll never stay apart for so long again.” 6 Ethan looked over at me with a soft, adoring smile before turning to our parents. “It was my fault,” he declared. “I shouldn’t have stormed off like that. I promise, after we’re married, I’ll never fight with Catherine again. Whatever she says, goes. And if she’s wrong, it’s only because I was wrong first.” Just then, the doorbell rang. I was closest, so I got up to answer it. Standing on the doorstep was a young woman I didn’t recognize. I froze. From the living room, Ethan called out, “Catherine, who is it?” The woman looked to be in her early twenties, with a round, pale face. At the sound of Ethan’s voice, her eyes lit up. She peered eagerly past me toward the sound. She pulled a small ring box from her pocket. Her voice was sweet and delicate. “Hi, is this Ethan’s house? I’m his ex-girlfriend.” “He called me yesterday,” she explained. “The wedding rings he ordered were shipped to my address by mistake. I was worried he’d need them right away, so I took the train here this morning to bring them to him.” Ethan had walked over by then. When he saw who was at the door, he stopped dead. “…Leah? What are you doing here?” Her eyes instantly filled with tears. “You bastard, Ethan! I thought you’d changed your mind! I thought you were proposing to me when a ring box with your name on it showed up!” She started pounding on his chest, sobbing quietly. That’s when I noticed it. On her middle finger, she was wearing the women’s wedding band. The one I had picked out. My heart stuttered. A sour, suffocating feeling rose in my chest. 7 Ethan quickly ushered her outside, closing the door behind them. The house fell silent. My mother was the first to speak, her voice sharp with anger. “Who was that girl? What did she mean, she’s Ethan’s ex-girlfriend? You two have been together since high school. Where did an ‘ex’ come from?” Ethan’s parents looked mortified and utterly confused. I gently stopped my mom, who was about to storm outside, and shook my head. An hour and a half later, Ethan finally came back. He opened his palm to reveal the two wedding bands. He looked at me with a cautious, pleading expression. “Catherine, I got the rings back. Here, let me put yours on you. Let’s see if it fits.” He was too close. I could see that his lips were red and slightly swollen, with a small bite mark on the lower one. His crisp white shirt was rumpled. He slipped the ring onto my finger. It was too loose; it slid right off. I remembered with perfect, painful clarity how snugly it had fit on the other woman’s finger. “That was Leah, wasn’t it?” I asked, my voice flat. “The woman from the tattoo. What were you doing for an hour and a half, Ethan?” “Yes, it was her. Leah,” he admitted. “She took an overnight train just to bring us the rings. She’s all alone in the city, I couldn’t just leave her there. I took her to a hotel nearby.” As he spoke, he nervously adjusted his collar. The tattoo was faded, but still visible. And next to it, on his neck, were two fresh, red scratches. 8 Ethan had always had fair, sensitive skin. When we were kids and we’d roughhouse, I’d barely touch him and he’d be covered in red marks that took forever to fade. Our parents were always apologizing to his. After we were intimate, he would be covered in faint marks, as if I’d savaged him. I didn’t want to think about it anymore. I couldn’t. The wedding drew closer, and I started sending out the e-invites. I don’t know what Ethan’s mother got out of him, but she started treating me with an even greater mix of affection and guilt. That night, I could hear the shower running in the bathroom. “Catherine,” Ethan called out over the water, “can you grab my phone and send the invites to my contacts list? I don’t want to miss anyone for tomorrow.” I had just picked up his phone when a shopping ad popped up on the screen. I meant to swipe it away, but my finger slipped and opened it. It was an ad for lingerie. And then I saw it. His purchase history. My fingers went cold. Starting in February of this year, there was a long list of purchases: condoms of all kinds, lace teddies, stockings… all shipped to the same address. The one where the rings had been mistakenly sent. Leah’s home. I started shaking uncontrollably. For the first time in our lives, I went through his phone. In his photo album, I found dozens of pictures and videos of him and Leah. Two of them were of them in bed. In one, the girl’s face was flushed red, and she was crying, pushing him away weakly. “Ethan, no more… didn’t your old girlfriend satisfy you? You’re insatiable.” “Hush, Leah,” he had murmured, his voice thick with desire. “Just one more time, then we’ll sleep.”

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Leo and I were never anything special growing up. Just two perfectly ordinary kids from a perfectly ordinary town. But we both had big dreams. In high school, I set my sights on the handsome, popular rich kid, and he fell for the beautiful heiress. We clicked instantly, forming an alliance to help each other climb the social ladder. Years later, we’d made it. I was the girlfriend of Bob Thorne, CEO of the Thorne Group, and Leo was being vetted to marry into the Beaumont family, working at their company under the watchful eye of Vivian Beaumont herself. Life was smooth sailing for two years. Then, Leo and I hit the exact same roadblock. Bob’s childhood sweetheart came back from abroad. And Vivian’s old college flame returned home, too. 1 “Sigh…” Leo and I both rested our chins in our hands, a synchronized sigh escaping our lips. “What is it with living abroad?” Leo grumbled, completely baffled. “It’s like a factory for producing bombshells that drop back into your life out of nowhere.” “I’ve been by Vivian’s side for five whole years,” he continued, shaking his head. “I’ve traveled with her, shopped with her, worked with her. I’ve never once heard her mention some unforgettable ‘Ethan’ from college.” I nodded in solidarity. “Three years as Bob’s girlfriend, and I’ve met every friend and family member he has. Not a single peep about a childhood sweetheart named Isabelle.” Just as we were about to solidify our positions, these new rivals had appeared. This was our third strategy session. Life had definitely gotten harder since they’d returned. As if on cue, both our phones buzzed. We glanced down at our screens. “Isabelle stole another one of my design contracts,” I moaned. “I just don’t get it. She’s a jewelry designer. What is she doing poaching my interior design clients?” Leo, on the other hand, was unnervingly calm. “Ethan was brought in as a director. I’ve been reassigned. It was expected.” He was actually smiling. I stared at him. “Are you okay?” “It’s a good chance to take a break.” Leo’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Things at the company are a mess right now. Better to let him navigate the minefield.” I understood. The Beaumont family only had one daughter, and she had zero interest in running the business. The shareholders were ambitious, the internal politics were a snake pit. I’d been shocked when Leo first managed to gain a foothold there; I had no idea my old friend was so capable. “What about you?” he asked, finishing his iced tea and starting on a slice of cheesecake. “Anyone can see Isabelle is targeting you.” Me? I let out a small laugh. “She’s the darling princess everyone adores. All I can do is lie low and steer clear of the drama for now.” Besides, while Isabelle’s petty moves were an annoyance to my design studio, they weren’t a major blow. It had taken a mountain of effort, and finally leveraging my status as Bob’s girlfriend, to open my own studio in the first place. My first wave of clients all came from him—his circle of rich friends and business partners. He gave me a shot, and I ran with it. That’s how I got to where I am today. We both got our start through connections. It wouldn’t be fair for me to use them and then complain when his precious childhood sweetheart did the same. And if you really thought about it, Bob’s friends were Isabelle’s childhood friends, too. I had no desire to go up against a pack of trust-fund kids. Their logic could be terrifying. Leo finished his cake and started scrolling through his phone. “You should go,” he said, waving me off. “I’m on vacation. I can finally just chill on my phone guilt-free.” He was watching fishing videos. I rolled my eyes and padded away in my fluffy slippers. 2 When I got home, Bob wasn’t back yet. Ever since Isabelle returned, their little social circle seemed to be trapped in a non-stop party vortex. If it wasn’t a gala, it was a dinner party. If it wasn’t a dinner party, it was a wild night at some club. I’d gone from confused to completely numb. I was used to it. I wracked my brain but couldn’t remember what today’s special occasion was. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through our chat history. Ah, right. It was the birthday of some pop star Isabelle was obsessed with. Bob and his friends had hired the celebrity so Isabelle could personally celebrate with him. For a second, I actually felt sorry for the pop star, being forced to work on his own birthday. But then I remembered that making money is never easy, and I promptly called my personal masseuse to treat myself. I was lying on the sofa, deep in a state of bliss from the massage, when Bob walked in. He had a strange look on his face. He placed a gift bag on the sofa. “Isabelle told me everything. She didn’t mean to take your design contract. She was just testing her own skills. Don’t overthink it.” I opened the bag. Inside was a beautiful gold bangle. It looked gorgeous on my wrist. I looked up at him and smiled warmly. “It’s fine. We have a backlog of projects at the studio anyway. The team is swamped.” Bob stroked my hair, satisfied. “Have you eaten? I can call The Garden and have them send over your favorite king crab.” “I’ve already eaten,” I said. “Go get changed into something comfortable. I brought you some soup. You should have it while it’s hot.” It was really just leftovers I’d packed for myself, but the gold bangle had earned him a share. I shooed him away and went back to admiring my new prize. It was so pretty. A hand like mine was made for gold bangles. As for the contract Isabelle stole, I was laughing my head off on the inside. You see, the client was one of Bob’s trust-fund buddies. He was a decent enough guy—quiet, reliable—but a total mama’s boy. The last time my team designed a retail space for him, his mother was there for what felt like twenty hours a day, “supervising.” Her demands were endless, bizarre, and enough to make you want to tear your hair out. Worse, she demanded premium quality at bargain-basement prices and was a master of haggling and guilt trips. We were no match for her. By the time the project was done, we’d barely broken even. So, the moment I heard he’d bought his mother a new villa, I happily shared the news in our company-wide group chat. Within three days, every single design team had magically found other projects to work on. For Isabelle to swoop in and take that nightmare client off our hands? I wanted to give her a round of applause. 3 The next morning, as soon as I walked into the office, my best friend and lead designer, Maya, rushed over to poke me. “So, your Bob was out again last night, wasn’t he?” “Ooh, what happened this time?” A few other colleagues gathered around, their eyes gleaming. I gave my nosy friends an elegant eye-roll. “You guys are doing this on purpose, aren’t you? What else could it be? Another party for Isabelle.” I casually stretched, making sure my new gold bangle was on full display. “A little something I got yesterday.” “Nice,” Maya said, giving me a thumbs-up. “How many does that make?” “Seventeen,” I answered after a quick mental count. “Whoa…” “Bob’s taste is a little basic, though.” “It’s a gold bangle. It’s always going to look good.” “Any boyfriend who buys you solid gold is a keeper.” Maya leaned in conspiratorially. “Seriously, Senta, you’re not bothered by this whole thing with him and Isabelle? Look at this…” She showed me her phone. A photo slideshow on Isabelle’s TikTok had gone viral. There were pictures of her singing with the pop star, laughing and drinking with all the rich kids, and of course, a shot of her and Bob standing incredibly close. The caption read: ‘The most important people, my favorite people, all by my side. Another lucky day.’ Looked like they had a great time. I tapped her with a file folder. “Get back to work before this capitalist has to dock your pay.” That’s right. I’d leveled up from a workhorse to a capitalist. So even if things with Bob didn’t work out, I could always find another man. For the past three years, I’d been working tirelessly to cash in on the title of ‘Bob Thorne’s girlfriend’—networking with his family, his friends, his resources. I’d learned so much from him, acquired assets, and found investment opportunities. I had already gained more than I ever expected. My parents were open-minded and happily ran a little countryside inn, content with their comfortable life. My reliable relatives worked on my construction teams, and my wildly creative best friend was on my design team. They were even more dedicated to the company than I was, working diligently day in and day out. I guess because I never really lacked for love growing up—I was always surrounded by family and friends—romance has always been a ‘blessing if I have it, fate if I lose it’ kind of thing for me. Bob was a good man, and he was good to me. But if we didn’t end up together, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Still, it was starting to get on my nerves. 4 That evening, I treated the entire office to a buffet to celebrate dodging a difficult client. The city lights were just starting to glitter as we arrived. Maya linked her arm through mine, chattering away about her mom trying to set her up on dates. The dinner was great, right up until Maya nudged me again. “Hey, isn’t that your Bob over there?” I followed her gaze. Across the street, in front of a fancy hotel, stood Bob. A woman in a flowing white dress threw her arms around him, and the two of them started walking inside, talking intimately. I took out my phone, snapped a picture, and sent it to him. A second later, my phone rang. “Senta, where are you?” “Look to your left, darling,” I said, my voice perfectly calm. Through the massive glass window of the restaurant, I gave him a little wave. I saw him gently push the woman away and start explaining. “Don’t misunderstand. It’s Isabelle. You know I’ve always seen her as a little sister.” What he didn’t see was Isabelle, standing beside him, shooting me a triumphant smirk as she pretended to be upset, clinging to his arm. She leaned in and whispered something to him, her voice a theatrical pout. “Senta, please don’t be mad at Bob. We were just going to meet Mrs. Sterling to discuss the initial design concepts.” Bob pulled the phone away from his ear. “Senta won’t mind. You go on ahead and order Mrs. Sterling’s favorite dishes. I’ll just have a quick word with her.” Leaving Isabelle behind, he crossed the street and walked into the buffet restaurant. As always, he greeted my employees warmly before sliding into the seat next to me. He took my hand. “Should I have someone drive you home later?” he asked gently. “Don’t drink too much.” I smiled, smoothly pulling my hand away to pick up my wine glass. “No need. It’s girls’ night. I’ll be home late. You should go. Don’t keep your ‘little sister’ Isabelle waiting.” I propped my chin on my hand, my voice dripping with sarcasm, and gave him a slow once-over before turning away. Bob’s expression remained calm. He put his arm around my waist and leaned in to whisper, “Don’t be out too late.” The moment he left, everyone at the table stared at me. I found it amusing. “What? Want to gossip about the boss? I’ll have to dock your pay.” They immediately lost interest and went back to their food. Maya blinked at me. “You’re really okay?” “I really am,” I sighed. I guess from the very beginning, I never truly believed Bob and I would last. Everything happening now felt… acceptable. Almost like a sense of relief that the other shoe had finally dropped. After dinner, instead of going home, I went back to Maya’s apartment to binge-watch a show and gossip. That night, I shared the day’s events with Leo. He sent me a photo of Vivian having dinner with Ethan. Suddenly, I felt a whole lot better. Misery really does love company. We spent the next hour sending each other about eight hundred complaint-filled texts before finally calming down enough to analyze the situation. Leo: [I don’t think you can win against this Isabelle girl.] Me: [And I don’t think you can win against Ethan. He’s ridiculously handsome in that photo.] Leo: [A man’s appeal is his competence.] Me: [And Vivian clearly thinks he’s super competent! Why else would he be hired as a director out of the blue?] Leo sent me a hammer GIF, followed by a link to a trending topic about Isabelle and Bob. The headline: ‘Thorne Heir Introduces Girlfriend to Family Elders.’ I was silent for a moment, then sent Leo a GIF of a bloody butcher knife. Having thoroughly wounded each other, we both decided to cool off. I scrolled through my phone for a bit. Maya sidled up to me with a conspiratorial grin, holding a box. “Hey, stay over tonight.” “Why?” I asked, feigning suspicion. She giggled. “I’ve been learning mixology. Let’s get drunk!” I laughed. I knew she’d been binging cocktail-making videos, trying to cultivate a more artistic vibe. “Alright, but first, let’s see the snacks.” We checked to make sure the apartment was secure, then laid out a spread of fruit, crackers, appetizers, and bottles of liquor in every color. Later, when the world was starting to feel fuzzy, my phone rang. I forced myself to sit up, rubbing my forehead. “What is it?” There was a pause on the other end, then Bob’s voice. “Senta, I’m not coming home tonight. Isabelle ran into some problems with work, and I’m staying to help her.” The alcohol hit me harder than I expected. A sneer escaped my lips. “Wow, Mr. Thorne, a man of many talents. I didn’t realize you knew anything about design.” “I…” Bob started to say something. But my patience had run out. “Whatever. Have fun, Bob.” I hung up. It was pointless to waste any more energy on this. Isabelle’s triumphant attitude was obvious to everyone except Bob, who was willfully blind. His friends and family were all actively trying to set them up, pushing me to the side. Whether Bob realized it or not, the traces of my existence in his life were slowly being erased. I sighed. What could I do when they were all working together against me? Look, if they wanted to, they could ensure I never even saw Bob’s face. I’ve never been one to torture myself. The realization sent a brief, wild surge of anger through me, but then I thought about the good life I’d built for myself, and the anger subsided into a calm acceptance. Then another thought occurred to me. Maybe Bob was just waiting for me to take the hint and bow out gracefully.

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For our family Christmas gift exchange, I bought my husband a pair of Italian leather loafers worth nearly a thousand dollars. I bought my son a limited-edition collector’s model kit he’d been begging for. And what did I receive? A pair of cheap, yellow rubber dishwashing gloves from the dollar store, with two scouring pads tied together to look like a “flower.” My husband hugged our son, looking at me with a doting smile. “Honey, you work so hard. This is for you.” I took the “flower,” forced the corners of my mouth up, and gave a stiff smile. The next second, my son looked at me with expectation. “Mom, you said you couldn’t cook the holiday dinner because you hurt your hand. But now you have gloves! You can cook now, right?” My husband chimed in immediately. “Yeah, whip up some wings and nachos. The guys are coming over for drinks later.” In that moment, the throbbing pain in my stitched-up hand was nothing compared to the cold ache in my heart. 1 For years, I don’t think I’ve received a single decent gift. I had told them weeks ago that walking to the grocery store in the winter wind was freezing. I wanted a red cashmere scarf. I didn’t expect a gift that was essentially a command to work harder. I listened to the sound of Mark scrolling through TikTok in the bathroom. Like clockwork, once he came out, I was expected to go in, open the window to air out the stench of his cheap cigarettes, and use the gloves he bought me for $1.99 to scrub the toilet stains he and our son left behind. Just thinking about it made a dull suffocating feeling rise in my chest. I tried to walk to the balcony for some fresh air, but I tripped over something. My son, Leo, had scattered his toys all over the floor I had just vacuumed. “Leo,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “Put the toys in the bin if you aren’t using them. Don’t leave them all over the living room.” “I won’t! If you want them picked up, you do it!” Leo snapped back without looking up. I grabbed his arm to pull him up and lecture him on respect. But before I could speak, Mark’s voice boomed from the bathroom door. “It’s just some toys, Sarah.” He wiped his hands on his pants, frowning at me. “Why do you always have to ruin his fun? You can just pick them up while you’re walking by.” Leo stuck his tongue out at me and dove back into his pile of plastic. The fire in my chest roared to life. It was always like this. Mark played the “Cool Dad,” and I was forced into the role of the nagging, unreasonable villain. I wanted to tell Mark that he was spoiling the boy rotten, but he cut me off impatiently. “Forget it. We’re starving. Go start dinner!” “Make sure there’s plenty of appetizers. The game starts at seven.” I clenched my fist. The stitches on my palm throbbed. “My hand is injured. I can’t cook.” “I know,” Mark said, as if it were obvious. “That’s why we got you the gloves.” “Don’t be so dramatic. It’s a tiny cut. It’s been two days, it should be fine by now.” I raised my left hand, showing him the bandage. “I got two stitches, Mark. You think this is fine?” Mark didn’t even look. He waved me off dismissively. “Who asked you to be so clumsy? You fell walking to the store. That’s on you.” “You’re just looking for excuses to be lazy.” The wound was still oozing slightly. The cold reality of his words stung more than the injury. I looked at Mark’s indifferent face, then at Leo, who was engrossed in his game. A wave of exhaustion washed over me. If Leo hadn’t thrown a tantrum demanding fresh lobster, and if Mark hadn’t insisted on specific cuts of steak, I wouldn’t have walked three miles to the butcher shop in the freezing rain before dawn. I wouldn’t have slipped on the icy pavement trying to protect the groceries. The anger I had been suppressing finally erupted. “Yes, I’m lazy,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “That’s why the food cooks itself, the clothes wash themselves, and this house magically cleans itself.” “Look at you, getting an attitude,” Mark sneered. “If you can’t handle a little housework, I might as well hire a maid. She’d do a better job than you.” “Then hire one,” I snapped. “Don’t ask me.” “Are you crazy?” Mark finally looked up from his phone. “If you don’t even cook, why the hell am I supporting you?” “You support me?” I looked at the rubber gloves and the steel wool “flower” on the floor and laughed. “You support me with this trash?” Since Leo was born, I gave him the best of everything. Organic food, expensive tutors. To save money for the family, I stopped buying skincare at Sephora and started using generic drugstore brands. I always thought Mark was the pillar of the family. He needed to look good for work, so I never complained when he bought designer clothes. And what did I get? Laundry detergent. A vacuum cleaner. And now, cleaning gloves. In their eyes, I was only worth gifts that served them. Mark frowned at the gloves on the floor. “I knew it. You’re ungrateful. We spent time preparing a gift for you, and you just turn your nose up at it.” “Fine. I’m not going to argue with you. I’ll Venmo you fifty bucks. Go buy whatever junk you want tomorrow.” 2 I took the fifty bucks. I grabbed my coat and walked straight out the door. I went to the mall. I bought a beautiful cashmere sweater and a satin skirt I’d been eyeing for months. I went to a bakery and ordered a slice of their most expensive cake. Then I walked into a jewelry store and bought a necklace I liked. It was dinner time. I picked a nice restaurant and ordered two dishes I loved—spicy curry and grilled scallops. Mark hated curry, and Leo was allergic to shellfish, so I never ate them. Tonight, I ate until I was full. After the meal, the heavy feeling in my chest lightened. I thought about Mark and Leo. They probably hadn’t eaten. Habit kicked in, and I pulled out my phone to call Mark. It rang and rang. No answer. Maybe he was in the shower. I sighed, ordered two takeout dishes from the restaurant, and hurried home. The house was empty when I got back. Mark must have taken Leo out. Toys were still everywhere. Ash on the floor. The toilet seat was up, and there were droplets on the rim—deliberate weaponized incompetence. I held my breath, opened the window, put on the gloves they gave me, and started cleaning. Just as I finished, collapsing onto the sofa, the door opened. Mark walked in, smelling of beer. “Oh, look who’s back. Done being lazy?” Leo nodded in agreement behind him. Mark saw the takeout boxes on the table and the shopping bags on the sofa. He scoffed. ” spending my money on yourself? Is that all you know how to do?” He turned to the two friends behind him. “Women have it so easy. We slave away at the office all day, come home, and can’t even get a hot meal.” His buddies laughed awkwardly. “Hey, Sarah. Sorry to intrude.” They pulled Mark toward the living room. I stared at Mark’s moving lips, but the sound seemed to fade in and out. There was a hole in my chest, and the wind was whistling through it. By the time I snapped out of it, they were already playing video games on the TV. Looking at Mark laughing with his friends, a sudden, uncontrollable wave of disgust rose in my throat. I turned around, went into the bedroom, and curled up under the covers. For ten years, I handled the school pickups, the homework, the teacher conferences, the extracurriculars. If the toilet clogged, the lightbulb burned out, or the kid got sick, I was the first responder. But the moment I bought something for myself, it was an unforgivable sin. If I rested for a moment, I was a criminal. He didn’t see the endless loop of labor. He only saw the moment I sat down. And Mark? He just had to show up to work, come home, tease the kid, and he was “Father of the Year.” Is this fair? As the sun began to rise, I made a decision. 3 The next morning, Mark sat at the table, his face dark when he saw no breakfast. “Sarah, you’ve been slacking off for days. That’s enough. Are you trying to starve us?” I didn’t answer. Leo mimicked his father’s tone. “I want pancakes! And bacon!” I looked at them quietly. My gaze slid over their righteous, demanding faces. “If you want pancakes, ask your father to make them. Don’t ask me.” Leo was a picky eater. When he was small, I spent hours making cute bento boxes just to get him to eat. I worried constantly about his nutrition. Now he was tall and strong. And this child, whom I poured my life into, hadn’t said a nice word to me in days. I knew he was acting out to support his dad. In every argument, Leo sided with Mark. Mark sneered. “It’s just breakfast. You act like you’re doing brain surgery.” “If you don’t cook, don’t expect another penny from me for household expenses.” He patted Leo’s shoulder. “Come on, son. Let’s go to Denny’s.” I watched their backs as they left. I wasn’t angry. I felt a strange, light sense of relief. For years, I had been too hard on myself. I thought that if I was the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect daughter-in-law, if I kept the house spotless and anticipated their every need, they would cherish me. But in the end, my sacrifice only raised two selfish, entitled men who took everything for granted. When they came home, they went straight to the gaming room. I was invisible. Fine by me. Usually, when Mark went on a business trip, I’d pack his bag a week in advance—underwear, socks, razor, chargers. This time, I knew he was leaving the next morning. I didn’t remind him to sleep. I didn’t pack a thing. At midnight, Mark called me from his hotel. He was furious. He had forgotten his underwear. “Why didn’t you remind me? What kind of wife are you?” In the past, I would have found a 24-hour store near him or DoorDashed him some basics. Today, I just said, “Oh.” And turned off my phone. When he returned, he complained for hours. I acted like I was deaf. That night, he tripped in the bathroom. “The light is burnt out! Why didn’t you fix it?” “I can’t reach it,” I said calmly. “Buy a new bulb tomorrow and change it yourself.” Mark looked furious. I ignored him. After a week of no cooking, no cleaning, and no talking, Mark cracked. He came home from work with a bouquet of grocery store flowers. “Okay, okay. Here’s your gift. Stop making a scene.” “I don’t know why you need this superficial stuff. It’s not practical, unlike what Leo and I gave you.” Leo glared at me, clearly agreeing with his dad. Right. Practical. But when I gave him “practical” gifts, he sulked for a month. “Practical” was only a requirement for my gifts. I looked at the wilting flowers. They looked like me. Mark thought I was pacified. “By the way, my mom is going in for surgery next week. You need to go to the hospital and take care of her.” “No.” I refused instantly. “If you don’t go, who will? You’re the only one with free time. I already told her you’d be there. I’ll give you an extra two hundred bucks for the month.” “Let whoever wants to go, go. I’m not doing it.” When I was pregnant, Brenda, my mother-in-law, said, “Whoever birthed it can raise it. I’m not helping an outsider.” She never lifted a finger to help with Leo. Never gave a dime. “Sarah, how can you be so cold-blooded?” Mark yelled. “That’s my mother!” “Exactly. She’s your mother. If you’re so filial, why are you outsourcing it to an ‘outsider’ like me?” Mark exploded. “Are you done yet?” “You don’t care about the kid, you don’t clean the house. I was blind to marry you.” “If you can’t live like a normal wife, then let’s divorce!” “Okay. Let’s divorce.” I agreed immediately. “House is mine. Car is yours. Savings split 50/50.” Mark was stunned into silence. But Leo started screaming. “Why do you get the money? That’s my dad’s money! That belongs to me!” “You bad woman! I don’t want you to be my mom anymore!” 4 I looked at the child I had raised from a baby. My chest tightened with a sharp pain. This was the boy who used to cry in the night, who would only sleep if I held him. Now, he didn’t need me. I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat felt blocked. Finally, I just nodded. Very gently. “Okay. I understand.” I looked at Mark. “You can have custody of the child, too.” Mark realized I was serious. He smashed his phone on the ground. “Sarah! You think you can threaten me with divorce?” He looked me up and down with a sneer. “Look at yourself. You’re in your mid-thirties. You think you can live the good life without me?” “You couldn’t even get a job as a maid. Don’t dream!” I looked him in the eye. “Divorce.” Mark paced the floor, agitated. He pulled out a cigarette, tried to light it, failed, and threw the lighter across the room. “Fine! Divorce! Whoever backs out is a coward!” “You’re leaving the kid with me? Fine. Just don’t expect anyone to beg you to stay.” I let out a cold laugh. “Finally said what you really think, huh?” “You and your parents never wanted me to work. This was the plan all along, wasn’t it? Make me dependent so I couldn’t leave.” “Say whatever you want. You asked for this!” Mark yelled, his face red. I didn’t say another word. I went to the bedroom and started packing.

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On New Year’s Eve, a strange girl kept asking to borrow things from me. “Hey girl, do you have any tissues?” “Hey girl, I think I got my period. Do you have a pad I can borrow?” The third time, a forum post popped up on my phone. [Fam, my chosen target isn’t cooperating at all. What should I do?] I scrolled up. The OP said she was an ordinary person who could only afford the slow train. Her mom demanded she cough up 200,000 for her brother’s wedding. If she couldn’t, she’d have to marry the cripple at the east end of the village. The top-voted comment suggested this: [This is simple. Find a random unlucky passerby to scam!] [For example, pick a naive-looking college student, preferably a girl. Ask to borrow something—tissues, a pad, or a mask. As soon as she lends it to you, clutch your stomach and fall over. Claim there’s something wrong with the item. Then you decide how much she pays.] 1 ??? My phone slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a thud. My heart skipped a beat. Just three minutes ago, I boarded the slow train home, ready for New Year’s. Unexpectedly, the girl in front of me walked up, saying she had a runny nose and wanted to borrow a pack of tissues. Originally, I wanted to say yes. But reaching for my bag, I remembered the tissues were in my checked luggage, so I could only shake my head apologetically. Next, she asked for a pad. But my period wasn’t due, so I didn’t have any on me. Until the third time. She lowered her head, eyes shifting, asking to borrow a mask. This time, I actually had one. Just as I was about to unzip my backpack and get one for her, this post popped up on my phone. I didn’t want to look at it, but the OP said she was on a slow train, going home for New Year’s. And so was I. But as I read on, something felt wrong. The things the OP borrowed were exactly what that girl just asked me for. Down to the last detail. For a moment, my mind was in chaos. But the girl in front of me looked well-behaved, nothing like the person in the post. Seeing I didn’t answer, the girl tugged lightly at the hem of my clothes. “Hey girl, just lend me a mask. It’s winter, and there are so many people on the slow train. I’m worried the air isn’t clean and I’ll get sick. I… don’t have money to see a doctor.” Before I could answer, an older woman next to me urged, “You girl, come on. We’re all women here. When you’re out and about, you should help each other!” Another older man nodded. “It’s not easy for a young girl. She already asked. How can you have the heart to refuse? Look at you, a student, dressed so well, yet your heart is so black.” “Exactly, exactly. A mask isn’t anything expensive. Why fuss over it with a little girl?” A man in a suit grinned. Originally, I really intended to give it. But right now, my right eyelid was twitching, and I felt panicked. Thinking of the post’s content, I felt uncomfortable. Seeing I didn’t move, the suit guy started cursing. I got angry too. Besides, giving or not giving is my freedom. I zipped up my backpack, picked up my phone, and sat back down. “Little sister, sorry, I used up my masks. You should ask someone else.” The girl bit her lip and left. I planned to close my eyes and rest for a while. Just then, my phone dinged. The post updated. [What to do? The target I chose won’t listen at all. She’s clearly dressed so well, new Chanel from head to toe, Van Cleef & Arpels on her wrist. Obvious she’s not short on money.] [But she won’t take the bait. How can I make her pay me back the 200,000?] 2 My sleepiness vanished instantly. Looking up, I saw the girl from before, head down, brows furrowed, fiddling with her phone. And today, I happened to be wearing the latest Chanel dress. On my wrist was indeed a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet. How could everything coincide so perfectly? I felt my breathing quicken. I immediately scrolled through the post. The OP’s name was Xiang Xiang, and the person helping her was called Little Sprout. Little Sprout’s latest reply: [What are you afraid of? If once or twice doesn’t work, try again. Are you afraid she’ll refuse? There are plenty of ways. If she doesn’t help, force her. Moral kidnapping works wonders.] Xiang Xiang (poking fingers): [But I… I’m afraid she’ll scold me…] Little Sprout: [Do this. Offer to buy it from her for ten bucks. If she doesn’t agree, offer fifty, finally a hundred. Girls are thin-skinned. If she still doesn’t agree, wipe your tears towards the men nearby. Someone will feel sorry and help you.] Xiang Xiang replied with a heart emoji: [Sister Sprout, you’re so nice. I’ll go right now.] Little Sprout (cheering): [Relax, you’ll definitely succeed.] I stared at my phone in horror. Before I could react, I saw the girl who wanted to borrow the mask crossing the seats again, walking over. Head down, biting her lip, she shoved a crumpled ten-dollar bill at me. The money looked like she had saved it for a long time. “Hey girl, my family isn’t well off. Can I… buy a mask for ten dollars?” “I… can give you fifty too…” Seeing I didn’t take it, she turned and pulled another crumpled fifty from her pocket. Now I was certain. She was the OP, Xiang Xiang. And I was the sucker she chose, the scam target. I never expected the first big event of the New Year to be this. My heart raced, fingers trembling. Breathing was difficult. I couldn’t imagine a girl who looked so innocent would plot something like this. If more people got involved, I wouldn’t be able to escape. I immediately stood up, wanting to flee my seat and hide in the bathroom. Xiang Xiang, sharp-eyed, grabbed my hand, raising her voice, eyes brimming with tears as she pointed at my backpack. “Hey girl, I just saw it. You have a pack of Capybara collab masks in your bag, nine left. I’m not greedy, I just want one. Is a hundred dollars really not enough for one?” I trembled as I shook off her hand, voice shaking. “I don’t have any. I won’t sell. I’ve used those masks.” My lips quivered. Xiang Xiang’s voice became even more aggrieved, pretending to wipe tears. “Hey girl, do you look down on poor people’s money? Don’t worry, I earned this through hard work, it’s not dirty.” This directly incited dissatisfaction from the suit guy next to us. He crossed his legs. “What’s wrong with you? Dressed so well but cheating people out of money. You have the nerve to ask a hundred for a mask? I’m afraid these clothes were bought by selling yourself too!” The older women and men rolled their eyes at me. “We thought it was weird just now, hugging the bag so tight. Are you afraid we covet your broken masks? Usually, I wouldn’t take that thing even if given for free.” Xiang Xiang continued to wipe tears. She was young, and her crying looked pitiful. How could the suit guy stand it? He stood up, pointing at me and cursing. “Speak up! Are you giving the mask or not? Believe it or not, I’ll hit you!” Saying that, he tried to snatch my backpack to get the mask. I was anxious. The suit guy was too strong. I reached out several times but couldn’t touch it. Xiang Xiang held her breath, staring at him tightly. Seeing the suit guy unzip the bag and take out the pack of masks, I rushed over with all my might, knocking him away with my back, tearing open the masks, throwing them on the ground, and stomping on them. “Not giving. I bought these myself. I give if I want to give. No one can rob me if I don’t give. If you want to be good people, go buy masks yourselves. It’s not like the conductor doesn’t have any.” “Damn, dog stuff, heart so black.” The suit guy spat in front of me. The older woman waved at Xiang Xiang. “Girl, go buy from the conductor. Only one dollar each. Stay away from this black-hearted person.” Xiang Xiang stared at the suit guy and shook her head. “Gra… Grandma, I’m fine. I don’t want it anymore. I can endure it, won’t trouble others.” She bit her lip, glared at me viciously, and returned to her seat. I sat back down heavily, heart beating faster and faster, wrist trembling uncontrollably. In my panic, I immediately took out my phone, unlocked it, clicked on the post, and pressed special follow. Sure enough, the post updated again. Xiang Xiang: [Sister Sprout, what to do? That person doesn’t have masks anymore. Did she see through me?] Little Sprout: [Impossible. She’s stupid, doesn’t have that kind of brain.] But soon I realized something was wrong. What does this sentence mean? As if the replier knows me. Also, I never took out that pack of masks from my backpack. How did she know I had a pack of masks, and nine left? 3 The more I thought, the colder I felt. My heartbeat accelerated involuntarily. The post continued to update. Little Sprout: [It’s almost noon. Impossible she won’t eat. If she doesn’t give a mask, ask her for food.] Xiang Xiang (heart emoji): [Sister Sprout, you’re so smart.] Little Sprout (waving hand): [Don’t mention it. I don’t need to teach you the rest, right? Finish eating, clutch your stomach and roll on the ground. By then, the five hundred thousand will be in hand. If she doesn’t give food, even better. Grab it directly, eat, fall down. Many ways, as long as you make contact, everything is OK.] Xiang Xiang sent a smiley face. During this time, more and more people were watching the post. Many netizens retorted, saying they were going too far. [Your own business, why let an innocent person take the bullet? If you can’t do it yourself, you want to drag others down.] [Exactly. I sympathized with you before, thinking your parents favored boys over girls, helping you think of ways. Now I wish you’d marry over there immediately. Birds of a feather.] [You guys actually believed it. This post is obviously staged. Trying to build an account, right?] [I don’t think so. Obviously that Little Sprout is jealous and hateful. Maybe she even knows that unlucky person. Otherwise, how could she say exactly nine masks? Miss wearing Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, using Capybara masks on the slow train, be careful. You’re being targeted.] Little Sprout panicked and cursed directly: [Shut up. Who… who said we know each other? What do you know? Besides, I’m happy with money earned by ability. I think you’re just sour grapes.] Xiang Xiang (agreeing): [Sister Sprout is right. Why are there so many rich people and we are poor? They can afford Chanel, use luxury brands, they should take out money and share. That’s fair.] I gripped my phone tighter and tighter. Breathing rapidly. I had no idea what deep hatred that person opposite had for me, wanting to put me to death, and even seeming to know me well. I originally planned to eat a boxed lunch to pad my stomach. After all, I got up late in the morning and hadn’t eaten anything. But now, to avoid everything happening in the post, I had to swallow my saliva and sit there motionless. Anyway, there was still an hour before getting off. At worst, I wouldn’t eat. I hugged my backpack, stomach rumbling. Just then, the slow train stopped. Quite a few people got on and off. Just at this moment, a rider in yellow rushed through the car door, carrying takeout and placing it in front of me. “Li Le Guo, right! This is the Szechuan Pork Slices set you ordered. wish you a pleasant meal and enjoy the ride.” I was completely dumbfounded. My heart went thump thump. What happened! I didn’t order anything at all. I immediately called the rider. He held the delivery slip, blinking at me. “Customer, don’t joke. The person on this slip is Li Le Guo, seat 11 window side, phone tail number 5356. All this matches your information.” “Impossible, I really didn’t order. I don’t even have a food delivery app.” The delivery rider scratched his head. “Customer, I have other deliveries. If really not, ask your friends and family if they ordered.” Finished, the rider ran off the train. Looking up again, I saw Xiang Xiang tilting her head, watching me, grinning proudly. My mind was getting messier. Just then, my best friend Yu Hui Hui sent me a message. [Babe, you’re almost home, right? I specially ordered train takeout for you. Mildly spicy Szechuan Pork Slices, can’t let my babe starve.] 4 Yu Hui Hui? Little Sprout? Could they be the same person? I didn’t even dare to think about the guess in my heart. Yu Hui Hui and I grew up together, went to primary and middle school together, and agreed to go to the same university in the future. However, in the first year of high school, Yu Hui Hui dated a blonde boyfriend, and we had a fight because of this. I threw the fifty-cent bracelet the blonde gave her into the trash can. “Hui Hui, we agreed to take the college entrance exam together, to see a different world. How can you date now? This is senior year, the most important time.” Yu Hui Hui pushed me away with a face full of disgust. “Guo, did you study yourself stupid! What’s the use of learning those things. Look at this guy in my family, elementary school diploma earning thirty thousand a month, a small boss. College students come out and still work for these small bosses.” “But don’t you want to see the outside world anymore? Maybe your thoughts will be different later. Besides, the exam is coming soon. You can study first and talk about these later.” Yu Hui Hui shook me off directly, blowing on the bracelet like a treasure. “Enough. Aren’t you just jealous seeing me find a rich boyfriend? Yes, your family is good, buy whatever you want. Unlike me, I only have myself to rely on. Since our values don’t align, let’s not be friends.” After that day, Yu Hui Hui skipped class every few days, even missed the college entrance exam. The day I walked out of the exam hall, she sat in a BMW, looking at me with disdain. “Heh, what you have, I will have too.” Later I went to university. Yu Hui Hui blocked me, until she added me back not long ago. At that time I was packing my backpack to go home for New Year’s and answered her video call. In the picture, Yu Hui Hui smiled brightly, only showing her face, much thinner than before. I showed her the Capybara collab masks I bought. I opened one and put it in my pocket, leaving nine in the backpack. Yu Hui Hui asked me when I was going home, train number and seat. I told her without reservation. At that time I really thought our friendship could be restored. But now, my mind was in a mess. A thought told me Yu Hui Hui was very likely Little Sprout. Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental, everything matched. But I couldn’t understand why she hated me so much. To find out the truth, I immediately switched to my alt account and questioned under the post. Me: [Sister Sprout, I also think you’re right. Rich people should give us money. They clearly have so much money yet show off. Pity I’m so stupid, surrounded by poor people. I don’t know luxury brands, don’t know who to scam.] [Sister Sprout, I also want big brand bags, five-figure clothes. I’m not convinced. So many rich people, what’s wrong with one more me.] Until I posted ten consecutive comments, Little Sprout liked them and actively added me as a friend. [Sister, don’t rush, let’s chat in detail.]

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1 The moment I learned that my husband, Sean, was actually Adrian Stephen, the sole heir to the Stephen fortune who had vanished in a plane crash, I did the sensible thing. I drew up a divorce agreement. He tore it to shreds. “Ava, I don’t remember any of that!” he pleaded, his voice ragged. “I want to go home. I miss the smell of the sea, I miss Goldie and Patches.” He grabbed my arm. “Let’s go back to Seaside Cove. Let’s not waste another minute with these people.” I looked up. Victoria, the woman who had been Adrian’s wife before his memory loss, was staring at me with a look of pure, venomous despair. Nearby, a little boy—Adrian’s son—was crying, trying to run to his father, only to be held back by his nanny. I swallowed hard, my fingers stiff as I pointed to the signature line. “Sign it, Sean.” “You can let me down,” I whispered, “but you can’t abandon the wife and child who have been searching for you for six years.” … Sean’s eyes went red. This gentle man I knew roared, shoving Victoria away as she tried to approach him. “Don’t touch me! How many times do I have to tell you? I don’t remember anything from before! You’re Adrian Stephen’s wife, that’s Adrian Stephen’s son! What does any of that have to do with me, with Sean?” He clutched his head in anguish. “I’m begging you, just leave me alone! Are you trying to drive my wife away? Is that what you want? I don’t have a single memory of being Adrian Stephen, so why are you all trying to make me responsible for his life?” Seeing his pain, Victoria opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her eyes grew vacant, and only when she looked at me did a flicker of life return to her hollow expression. She hated me. With every fiber of her being. In her eyes, I was the other woman who had stolen her husband, the homewrecker who had destroyed her family. And from a certain point of view, she wasn’t wrong. The year I met Sean, he was a married man. But I didn’t know that. And neither did he. I found him on the rocks near my small fishing village, Seaside Cove. A shredded parachute was still strapped to his back, and half his face was caked in dried blood, but even then, his handsome features were undeniable. I took him to the small police station on the island. He couldn’t remember a thing, not even his name. He joked that he might be a merman who had swum up from the depths of the ocean. Officer Miller took one look at his dazed expression and figured he was a mentally ill man abandoned by his family. He took a routine blood sample for the database and told me to take him home for the time being. “Ava, he might be a few cards short of a deck, but he’s built solid,” Miller had said. “You don’t have a man around the house. He could be a great help. A hot meal for a strong back? Sounds like a good deal for you.” “We’ll contact you if we ever find his family.” So, I took him in. I even gave him his name: Sean. He said he was a merman from the sea, so I picked the name of a merman from an old storybook. And just like that, Sean became a part of my life. For six years, he went from coming back with empty nets to being the undisputed fishing king of Seaside Cove. From a man who couldn’t cook to a master fish filleter who moved with ruthless efficiency. He went from being the hired hand at Ava’s place to being Ava’s husband. I thought our simple, happy life would go on forever. Then Officer Miller showed up at our door again. He looked at me, his expression grim. “Ava… whatever I’m about to tell you, you need to be strong…” “Sean… he wasn’t abandoned. We got a DNA match. He’s Adrian Stephen, the only son of the Stephen family, the wealthiest family in Northwood City. He went missing in a plane crash.” “The impact must have caused his amnesia. And before the crash… he was already married. With a child.” “Ava,” Miller said gently, “I think your merman has to swim back to the sea.” My heart plummeted into the pit of my stomach with a silent, sickening thud. I stood there, frozen, until Sean’s enraged shout snapped me out of it. He had flipped over Officer Miller’s desk. “Miller, you’ve got a thing for my wife, don’t you? Is that why you’re stirring up this trouble? So that’s why you’re still single, you’re trying to steal her from me!” “Don’t think I won’t deck you just because you’re a cop! You dare spread lies about me, I’ll…” Sean was detained for a week for obstructing an officer. The day I picked him up from the station, I dragged him onto a plane to Northwood City. I had to know the truth. Was he someone else’s Adrian, or was he my Sean? The answer, as it turned out, was not the one I wanted. Officer Miller was right. Sean was the missing Stephen heir. He had a wife, and his son was now eight years old. From Victoria’s perspective, I was the villain. The homewrecker, the cause of all her pain. Sean clutched my wrist, his eyes pleading like a big, abandoned dog’s. “Ava, don’t leave me,” he whispered. “I don’t know them. How can I be responsible for them?” He looked terrified. “You haven’t found someone else, have you? Is that what this is? Are you using this as an excuse to get rid of me? If that’s it, we can figure it out. You know I’m not a jealous man.” Victoria’s breath hitched, and she looked as if she might shatter into a million pieces. The hatred in her eyes shot toward me like poisoned arrows, a constant reminder that the happiness I’d found had been stolen directly from her. I bit my tongue, hard. The pain jolted me back to reality. Steeling myself against the dull ache in my chest, I pulled my hand from his grasp. “Stop it, Sean… Adrian.” “The Stephens have hired the best therapist for you. I’m sure your memory will come back soon.” I took a shaky breath. “Do you remember Mrs. Gable next door? Her husband ran off with another woman while he was working on the mainland. You were always giving her fish. You know better than anyone how hard her life is, raising her son alone.” “You always said that a child without a father is the most pitiful thing in the world. Well, look at Cole. He’s your son. Are you going to be the kind of man who abandons his own wife and child?” Eight-year-old Cole bit his lip, fighting back tears, refusing to cry in front of the ‘bad woman.’ He stared at Sean, his small face a mixture of stubbornness and hurt. The man and the boy mirrored each other, the same expression on their faces. It was a bond of blood, something that could never be truly severed. Victoria, seeing the flicker of pity in Sean’s eyes, gave Cole a gentle push. The boy immediately stepped forward and threw his arms around Sean’s legs. “Daddy!” He was just a child. A child who hated the father who had left him for another woman, but who desperately wanted him back. Cole pulled a stack of old photos from his pocket and pressed himself into Sean’s embrace. Sean flipped through them, one by one. In each photo, a stranger who looked just like him had one arm around the boy and the other around Victoria. His expression grew more and more tormented. He instinctively pulled Cole into a tight hug. I took my chance. I turned and walked away. Standing on a bustling Northwood City street, surrounded by the rush of people, my heart felt emptier than it ever had facing the vast, open sea alone. I was torn, hoping he would run after me and terrified that he would. “Ava, stop.” My heart seized. I froze. It was Victoria. 2 She was clearly exhausted, but she held her head high, forcing an air of superiority. “Ava, we’re both women. Don’t think I don’t see through your little act,” she said, her voice sharp. “Playing the magnanimous one, pushing Adrian back to me… you’re just trying to make him feel sorry for you, to make him need you even more.” She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a hiss. “You just love being the other woman, don’t you?” 3 As much as I disliked her aggressive tone, in that moment, I felt a pang of pity for her. She had spent six years searching for her husband, only to find he had built a new life, a new family, with someone else. A husband who, for the sake of that other woman, was ready to abandon her and their child all over again. If I were in her shoes, I’m not sure I could have been as strong. “You’re mistaken, Mrs. Stephen. I intend to cut all ties with… Mr. Stephen,” I said quietly. “I’m a victim in this too. If I had known he had a family, I never would have—” Victoria wasn’t listening. She looked manic as she shoved me to the ground, pulling a bank card from her purse and throwing it at my face. “Ava, if you’re really going to cut ties with him, then get out of here now! Disappear!” she shrieked. “Or I swear, I will make sure every single person on your pathetic little island knows you’re a homewrecker who steals other people’s husbands!” I pushed myself up and picked up the card. She was right. If I was serious about leaving Sean, then I needed to disappear. Now. Anything else was just an act, a way to keep the connection alive. Clutching my bruised arm, I hailed a cab. Victoria ran after the car, her voice a mixture of sobs and curses. “Is this what you wanted, Ava? Money? I’ll give you anything you want! Just give me back my Adrian!” Officer Miller had told me about her. She was the daughter of a wealthy family, a Harvard graduate, a titan of business who had single-handedly kept the Stephen empire afloat after her husband’s disappearance. This hysterical, broken woman was not who she was supposed to be. I had stolen her husband. I had done this to her. Pressing a hand to my tight chest, I told the driver, “To the airport.” Victoria was generous. The card had five hundred thousand dollars on it. Enough to ensure I would be comfortable for the rest of my life. But the price was that I could never go back to Seaside Cove. I could never see Sean again. I fumbled my way through getting a passport and boarded a flight to Iceland. I hadn’t even known the country existed before I met Sean. “Sweetheart, when the fishing season ends and we have some time off, I’ll take you to Iceland,” he used to say. “You want to see snow, right? They say Iceland has the most beautiful snow in the world, and the most beautiful auroras.” “It’s like the end of the world there. Even the houses are painted in rainbows.” I had wondered how he knew so much. He would just smile and say he must have swum there in a past life, when he was a merman. I should have known. A man like Sean—handsome, cultured, knowledgeable—how could he have been simply abandoned? Finding a bar of gold on the street and keeping it isn’t so different from stealing. I hadn’t found Sean; I had stolen him. And now, I was giving him back. Life in Iceland was lonely and clumsy. It wasn’t the paradise Sean had described. The days were short, the nights were long, and it was bone-chillingly cold. I didn’t speak the language, so I couldn’t make any friends. I wanted to go home, but I couldn’t break my promise to Victoria. After some time spent in a listless haze, she called me. She wanted me to come back. Her voice was trembling, hollowed out with exhaustion. “Ava, you win.” “Come back. I’m begging you, please come back.” “Adrian says… he says if he can’t see you again, he’s going to kill himself. I thought he was just bluffing, until I found him in the bathtub this morning… the whole tub was filled with blood…” 4 I rushed back immediately. Sean was lying weakly in a hospital bed. The moment he saw me, his eyes, which had been dull and lifeless, lit up with a brilliant light. I took the bowl of porridge Victoria handed me and began to feed him, spoonful by spoonful. “You’re a grown man. What are you doing, trying to kill yourself, going on a hunger strike?” Sean’s shoulders slumped, and he looked at me with red-rimmed eyes, his face a mask of misery. “You’re the one who left me first.” “I tried to run after you that day, but you know I have no sense of direction. The only roads I know are the ones in Seaside Cove. I walked around in circles until the housekeeper told me I hadn’t even made it past the front gate of the estate.” “Sweetheart, can we please go home?” he pleaded. “I can’t eat this bloody rare steak, and I can’t sleep on a bed that’s softer than a cloud. I just want to go home, back to our boat.” As he spoke, tears started to stream down his face. I knew I had to say no. But looking at him like this, I didn’t have the heart. Victoria tilted her head back, fighting to keep her own tears from falling. She reached out and tucked the blanket around him. “When you’re discharged from the hospital, I’ll let Ava take you home,” she said, her voice strained. “As long as you listen to the doctors and take your medicine, I’ll agree to whatever you want.” She had given in. She wanted her husband by her side, but she never wanted to drive him to his death. Hearing her words, Sean let out a long sigh of relief and happily ate another large bowl of porridge. The single tear that Victoria secretly wiped away fell like a drop of lead onto my heart. Later, as we left the room together, Victoria gave me a self-deprecating smile. “Don’t think you’ve won, Ava.” “If Adrian hadn’t lost his memory, I know, without a doubt, he would have chosen me.” She took a locket from around her neck and opened it to show me the photo inside. “Here. This was taken in Iceland.” “I told him I wouldn’t agree to his proposal until I saw a rainbow aurora. The fool insisted we stay in Iceland for a whole year. He said if we didn’t see one, we’d just live there forever.” Her voice cracked. “The plane crash… he was on his way to an auction in France. He was going to buy a sapphire to have it made into a brooch for me… Damn it. If only I didn’t like sapphires.” She smiled and tilted her head up, but tears streamed down her cheeks. “Forget it, Ava. Take Adrian Stephen with you. As far as I’m concerned, he’s already dead.” For a moment, I wavered. But my conscience wouldn’t let me. Victoria was his wife. They had a son. She had sacrificed so much more than I had, and she and her child needed him more. Besides, Sean—Adrian—had loved her. He had just forgotten. His dream of taking me to Iceland was born from his love for her. Stolen things always have to be returned. Better sooner than later. I looked at Victoria. “Do you have a brick?” She stared at me, bewildered, but pointed to a construction site next door. “The crew should have some. What do you need a brick for?” I hurried downstairs with Victoria close behind me. “To get Sean’s… Adrian’s memory back,” I said. “It’s how they always do it on TV. One knock causes amnesia, another brings it back.” “You’re insane!” Victoria hissed, but I could see a desperate flicker of hope in her eyes. We went back to the room. Sean was lying in bed, his eyes bright as he watched me. “Sweetheart, you’re back! Did you and that mean woman work things out? When are we going—” I didn’t let him finish. I swung the brick and hit him squarely on the back of his head. “Hiss…” He clutched his head and passed out. When he came to, his eyes fluttered open. He looked around, and his gaze settled on someone. “Honey,” he rasped. But this time, he was looking at Victoria.

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I died under a stamping press at the factory. My entire right arm was pulp. My coworkers screamed. An ambulance came and went. At the wake, my mother-in-law’s wails were gut-wrenching. “My dear daughter-in-law!” My husband knelt before my coffin, bowing his head once, twice, three times. The compensation was $800,000. My mother-in-law took $500,000 to buy a house for my brother-in-law. My four-year-old daughter, Lily, was sent to an orphanage. That winter, the heating broke. No one fixed it. Lily huddled in a corner, clutching a photo of me, and never woke up again. When I opened my eyes, the calendar read: March 15, 2024. Three days before the accident. This time, I wasn’t the one who was going to die. 1 I sat up in bed, drenched in sweat. The image of Lily’s face from the dream still haunted me. Her lips were purple, her small hand clutching my photo, her fingernails cracked from the cold. “Mommy, I’m cold.” I squeezed my eyes shut. The door opened, and my mother-in-law, Brenda, came in with a bowl of chicken soup. “Sarah, you’re awake? Here, drink this. You must be exhausted from all those night shifts.” Her smile was warm and kind. I stared at that face. In my previous life, three days after I died, she had worn that same expression as she sat in the living room, counting stacks of cash. She finished counting, looked up at my brother-in-law, and said, “It’s enough. Enough for the down payment.” “Just put the soup there, Mom,” I said. “Alright, drink it while it’s hot.” Brenda placed the bowl on the nightstand. “Oh, and get to bed early tonight. You have the night shift tomorrow.” She turned and left. I picked up the bowl and took a sip. The soup was genuinely delicious. Brenda was a good cook. In my five years with the family, I had eaten her food every day. Of course, “good food” wasn’t free. My entire monthly paycheck of $4,500 went straight to her, every single cent. “Sarah, why don’t you just let me hold onto your paychecks? I’ll save it all up for Lily’s college fund.” She’d been saying that for five years. I’d believed her for five years. I put the bowl down and walked to the window. Lily was playing in the yard, drawing circles in the dirt with a stick. She was so small and thin for a four-year-old. She wore a faded pink coat, the only one she owned. Brenda always said kids grow too fast and buying new clothes was a waste of money. My eyes stung as I looked at my daughter. In my last life, she died alone on a cold floor. This time, I wouldn’t let that happen. A phone buzzed in the living room. Brenda’s phone. I tiptoed over and glanced at the screen. The message was from “Jason.” It was just three words: “Is it set?” Brenda came out of the kitchen and saw me, freezing for a second. “Oh, Sarah, you’re up. Did you drink the soup?” “I did,” I said, taking a step back. “Mom, I think Jason is trying to reach you. Your phone just went off.” A flicker of unease crossed her face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. “Oh, it’s nothing. He’s just asking what’s for dinner tomorrow.” She picked up the phone, typed a quick reply, and shoved it into her pocket. I said nothing. That evening, while Brenda was out grocery shopping, I slipped into her room. There was a small gap behind her wardrobe, just big enough for a recording pen. I’d bought it last year online, intending to use it to learn a new language. It was still in its packaging. Now, it had a purpose. I tucked the pen into the gap, set it to voice-activated mode, and left the room. Lily was watching cartoons in the living room. She looked over at me. “Mommy, what are you doing?” “Mommy’s looking for something.” “Did you find it?” “I did.” I walked over, knelt down, and pulled her into my arms. She felt so fragile, so thin I could feel her bones. “Mommy, I’m hungry.” “Hungry? I’ll get you some crackers.” “Not crackers. I want meat.” I paused. Lily rarely asked for anything. “What kind of meat?” “The braised ribs. The kind Grandma makes for Uncle Jason.” My heart clenched. Brenda’s braised ribs were reserved exclusively for her younger son, Jason. The most Lily ever got was a tiny scrap. “Okay,” I said, my voice thick. “Mommy will buy you some tomorrow.” “Really?” Lily’s eyes lit up. “Really.” The front door opened. Brenda was back. She was carrying a bag of groceries and frowned when she saw me holding Lily. “Sarah, don’t spoil her like that. Always carrying her around. What’s she going to do when she starts school?” “I know, Mom.” I gently put Lily down and stood up. Brenda went into the kitchen. Lily tugged on my shirt and whispered, “Mommy, Grandma doesn’t like me.” I knelt and squeezed her cheek gently. “That’s not true. Grandma loves you.” Lily shook her head. “Grandma washes apples for Uncle Jason. She doesn’t wash them for me.” I didn’t know what to say. In this house, Lily ranked lower than Jason. In Brenda’s eyes, her younger son was everything. Her older son, my husband Mark, was a tool. I, the daughter-in-law, was an ATM. And her granddaughter, Lily, was a burden. Only Jason was the apple of her eye. At ten o’clock that night, I was lying in bed when I heard voices from Brenda’s room. It was my husband, Mark, and Brenda. I held my breath, straining to hear. The words were muffled, but I caught a few fragments. “Tomorrow… night shift… that machine…” My heart skipped a beat. In my previous life, the accident happened during my night shift. Stamping Press No. 3. The safety lock was broken. No one had fixed it. When I walked past, the machine suddenly activated. My entire arm was gone. I thought it was an accident. Now I knew it wasn’t. 2 The next morning, my brother-in-law, Jason, brought his fiancée, Jessica, over for lunch. Brenda was ecstatic, waking up at dawn to braise a rack of ribs. Lily stood at the kitchen doorway, staring longingly at the pot. “Grandma, can I have a piece?” Brenda didn’t even look up. “Go on, shoo. This is for your aunt and uncle. What’s a little kid like you doing eating ribs? You’ll choke.” Lily’s lip trembled, and she ran off. I saw the whole thing from the living room. When Jason and Jessica arrived, Brenda’s face was split with a grin. “Jessica, you’re here! Come in, sit down!” Jessica was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands. The handbag she carried, I’d seen it in a department store. Over eight thousand dollars. She glanced at me, a faint smirk on her lips. “Oh, Sarah’s here too.” “I am.” “Haven’t you had that outfit for a few years, Sarah? I’m pretty sure you were wearing it the first time I came over.” I looked down at my clothes. A gray cotton jacket, the collar worn and faded. “It’s been a while.” Jessica covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a laugh. “Jason told me your factory isn’t doing so well, that they can barely make payroll. It must be tough.” Brenda jumped in. “It really is. Sarah gives me her entire paycheck every month, doesn’t keep a penny for herself. She’s a very dutiful daughter.” “So where does all of Sarah’s money go?” Jessica asked, raising an eyebrow. “It’s not…” “It’s all being saved!” Brenda interrupted. “For Lily’s college fund!” Mark came out of the bedroom just in time to add, “That’s right. We trust my mom to handle the money.” I watched their performance, a cold smile hidden inside me. I’d believed them in my last life. My monthly paychecks, five years of my youth, all of it gone. All for an “accident” and an $800,000 settlement. At the dinner table, Jessica casually remarked, “Brenda, Jason and I saw a new condo development. A three-bedroom, close to the subway. The down payment is five hundred thousand.” Brenda placed a large rib in her bowl. “Yes, yes. I’ve got it covered.” Jason grinned. “Sarah, your factory’s doing so poorly, isn’t it about to go under?” “It’s fine,” I said. “That’s good.” He glanced at Brenda. “Sarah, do you have worker’s comp?” “I do.” “Oh,” he said, focusing on his food. “That’s good. You’ll be covered if anything happens.” My grip on my chopsticks tightened. He was probing. Jessica shot me a sideways glance. “What do you do at the factory, Sarah?” “Assembly line.” “Ah, the assembly line. That must be exhausting.” She took a bite of a rib. “I hear there are a lot of accidents on assembly lines. You should be careful.” Brenda tapped the table. “Alright, that’s enough. Why talk about such unlucky things at the dinner table?” “You’re right, Mom,” Jessica said with a smile. “I’m just concerned about Sarah.” I stayed silent. Beside me, Lily tugged my sleeve. “Mommy,” she whispered, “I want a rib.” “Lily, be good,” Brenda said sternly. “The ribs are for your aunt and uncle. You eat your vegetables.” Lily’s eyes welled up. I picked up a rib and placed it in Lily’s bowl. Brenda’s face darkened. “Sarah, you—” “Lily is part of this family too,” I said, looking Brenda straight in the eye. “What’s wrong with her having one rib?” The table fell silent. Mark tugged my sleeve. “Sarah, Mom didn’t mean it like that…” “I know.” I looked down and continued eating. Brenda’s face was livid, but she didn’t say anything else. Lily held the rib in her small hands, nibbling on it carefully. After dinner, Jessica and Jason were in the living room, looking at floor plans. Brenda joined them, the three of them whispering with their heads together. I was washing dishes in the kitchen when I heard Jessica’s voice. “Mom, the down payment is five hundred thousand. How much can you put together?” Brenda lowered her voice. “Don’t worry. The money will be ready before the end of the month.” “Where are you going to get that kind of money?” “You don’t need to worry about that.” Brenda paused. “I have my ways.” My knuckles turned white as I gripped the bowl. Five hundred thousand. Before the end of the month. In my last life, my accident was on March 18th. The worker’s comp settlement was $800,000. The timing was perfect. That night, my husband Mark came into our bedroom. “Sarah, don’t you think you were a little out of line at dinner today?” “How was I out of line?” “Mom’s face changed the second you gave that rib to Lily.” “Lily is your daughter. What’s wrong with her wanting a piece of meat?” Mark sighed. “Can’t you just let things go with Mom? She’s old, she’s short-tempered.” I looked at him. “And Lily? She’s only four. Should she have to let things go with her grandmother?” “Why are you being so difficult?” Mark frowned. “Mom treats you like her own daughter, and you still argue with her over every little thing?” I didn’t answer. He sat on the edge of the bed, his tone softening. “Sarah, Jason’s wedding is a big deal. Mom’s been under a lot of stress. Try to be more understanding.” “Understanding about what?” “Jason’s short on the down payment for the house. Mom was thinking…” “Thinking what?” “If you could lend Jason the money from Lily’s education fund.” I looked up and stared at him. “That’s five years of my wages.” “I know, it’s just a loan. He’ll pay you back after the wedding.” “No.” Mark’s face fell. “Sarah, why are you being so selfish? Jason is your brother-in-law! His wedding is a family affair!” “That is my daughter’s money.” “Lily is only four! It’ll be years before she needs it for school!” He stood up, his voice rising. “You’re just so petty!” He slammed the door on his way out. I sat on the bed and heard him talking to Brenda in the living room. “Mom, she won’t lend it.” “Hmph. I knew it,” Brenda’s voice was cold as ice. “It’s fine. There’s another way.” “What way?” “Don’t you worry about it. Just make sure she’s on the night shift tomorrow.” “The night shift?” “Yes. Over by Machine No. 3. The safety lock is broken, and no one’s fixed it yet…” Their voices grew quieter, and I couldn’t hear the rest. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Stamping Press No. 3. A broken safety lock. The night shift. The scenes from my past life flashed before my eyes. This time, I wouldn’t be so foolish. 3 On the third day, Brenda’s kindness was almost suffocating. She brought me breakfast in bed. “Sarah, time to eat. I made you sweet poached eggs.” I stared at the bowl. In the five years I’d been married into this family, she had never once made this for me. “Mom, what’s the occasion?” “What do you mean?” she said with a smile. “I just think you’ve been working too hard lately. You need to build up your strength.” I took the bowl. “Thanks, Mom.” “Don’t thank me. We’re family.” She sat on the edge of my bed. “Sarah, I know I haven’t been good to you all these years.” I looked up. She sighed. “I’m old, and I get grumpy. Sometimes I say harsh things. Don’t take it to heart.” “What things are you talking about, Mom?” “Oh, you know.” She took my hand. “It was wrong of me to take your paychecks. As soon as Jason is married, I’ll give it all back to you.” I looked into her sincere eyes and laughed inwardly. I’d fallen for this in my last life. I was so moved I almost cried. “It’s okay, Mom.” “Are you sure?” She leaned closer. “Then, about Lily’s education fund…” I looked down. “Mom, I really can’t touch that money. It’s for Lily’s future.” A flash of irritation crossed her face before being replaced by her warm smile. “Alright, alright. I won’t pressure you.” She stood up. “You get some rest. You’ve got the night shift tonight.” She left. I finished the eggs and got dressed. Lily was watching TV in the living room. Brenda was busy in the kitchen, and Mark had already left for work. “Lily, where do you want to go today?” She looked up, her eyes shining. “Are you taking me out to play, Mommy?” “Mmm-hmm. Mommy’s off today. Let’s go to the amusement park.” “Really?!” Lily jumped off the sofa. “I want to ride the merry-go-round!” Brenda poked her head out of the kitchen. “The amusement park? What a waste of money.” I took Lily’s hand. “Mom, Lily hasn’t been out in a long time. Just for today.” Brenda pursed her lips but said nothing. I took Lily to the park. It was just a short bus ride away. She sat on a painted horse on the merry-go-round, smiling so wide her two little front teeth showed. “Mommy, I’m so happy!” I stood nearby, watching her. In my past life, she had never been to an amusement park. I was always thinking, I’ll take her later. Later. And then there was no later. “Mommy, I want to ride that!” Lily pointed to the Ferris wheel. “Okay, let’s go.” As the Ferris wheel climbed higher, Lily pressed her face against the glass, looking down at the world below. “Mommy, the houses are so tiny!” “They are.” “Mommy, is that our house?” “No, our house is on the other side.” “Oh.” She tilted her head. “Mommy, can we live in a big house someday?” I stroked her hair. “We can. Mommy will buy you a big house.” “Really?” “Really.” Lily beamed. My heart ached watching her. In my last life, I couldn’t give her a big house. I died, and she was sent to an orphanage. That winter was especially cold. The heating broke, and no one cared. She huddled in a corner, clutching my photo. She froze to death. I blinked hard, forcing the tears back. Not this time. I would not let that happen again. When we got home that evening, Brenda met us at the door. “Sarah, you’re back! Did you have fun?” “We did.” “That’s good,” she said, smiling. “I made your favorite, braised ribs. Go on, eat.” Lily cheered. “Ribs!” Brenda patted her head. “There’s some for you too, Lily.” At the table, Brenda kept piling food onto my plate. “Eat more, Sarah, you’re too thin.” “Have this. It’s good for you.” “You’ve got the night shift, so get to bed early tonight.” I nodded as I ate. Mark chimed in, “See, Sarah? Mom’s good to you, right?” “She is.” “Good.” Mark looked relieved. “From now on, let’s just be a happy, peaceful family.” I didn’t reply. After dinner, I was giving Lily a bath. Brenda was on the phone in the living room, her voice a low whisper. “…everything’s arranged… tomorrow night… don’t worry…” I strained to hear more, but couldn’t. Lily splashed water in the tub, getting my face wet. “Mommy, what are you listening to?” “Nothing.” I started drying her off. “Lily, Mommy’s on the night shift tomorrow. You be a good girl for Grandma, okay?” “Okay,” Lily nodded. “When will you be back, Mommy?” “In the morning.” “I’ll wait for you.” I lifted her out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel. “Lily, listen to me. No matter what happens, Mommy will always come back for you.” Lily blinked. “What are you talking about, Mommy?” “Nothing,” I said, kissing her forehead. “Time for bed.” At ten o’clock, I slipped into Brenda’s room and retrieved the recording pen. I found a quiet corner, put on my headphones, and pressed play. Brenda’s voice filled my ears. “Mark, is that machine ready?” “It’s ready. I had someone remove the safety lock.” “She’s on the night shift tomorrow. It’s quiet over by Machine No. 3…” “I know, Mom.” “If something happens, how much will the compensation be?” “I asked. For a workplace death, it’s at least eight hundred thousand.” “Eight hundred thousand is enough. Five hundred for the down payment, and the rest for Jason’s wedding.” “What about Lily?” “Send her to an orphanage. We can’t afford her.” “Okay. Whatever you say, Mom.” The recording ended. I took off the headphones, my hands shaking. Eight hundred thousand. Workplace death. Send her to an orphanage. So this was the endgame after five years in their family. I clenched the recording pen and walked to the window. The moonlight was cold and stark. Fine. Just fine. Tomorrow night, we’ll see who dies.

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Harlan Sterling, the heir to the Sterling empire, was suddenly exposed as having a secret marriage and a daughter. He immediately issued a public clarification. “No secret marriage, and certainly no daughter.” “As everyone knows, I have been single all these years.” I watched his cold face on the TV. Then I looked at our daughter, who was crying secretly, feeling wronged and confused. My years of obsession suddenly dissolved completely. When he came home, I didn’t greet him at the door with our daughter like before. Nor did I look forward with excitement to our reunion after a short separation. Instead, I opened the messages I had received again. A vasectomy report from six days ago, and a sentence: “As long as you are willing, Lily will be my only child from now on.” With tears streaming down my face, I replied: “Come pick me up. I don’t want to stay in the Sterling house anymore.” 1 I stared at Harlan Sterling’s handsome, indifferent face through the camera lens. For a moment, I was in a daze. He was known for his cold personality, deep scheming, and poker face. But contrary to the rumors of him being an ascetic workaholic, Harlan had a high libido. Before his business trip, ignoring my tears and pleas, he tied my wrists with his tie and pinned me down, taking me four times. I couldn’t help but bite his neck; the mark should still be there. The navy blue tie with the subtle pattern he wore was an anniversary gift I hand-picked. This is the fourth year of our marriage. We have a lovely daughter who just turned three. But now, my nominal husband, Harlan Sterling, just clarified to the media in the coldest, most serious tone. “No secret marriage, and certainly no daughter.” “As everyone knows, I have been single all these years.” He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses on his high nose bridge. The cold light in his deep eyes was palpitating. It felt like he was looking through the lens, straight at me with a chilling gaze. “I advise those with ulterior motives to stop their wishful thinking and embarrassing themselves.” 2 After saying this, Harlan stood up abruptly. His bodyguards and personal assistant immediately dispersed the crowd, escorting him to his car. I stiffly turned off the TV. The living room plunged into darkness. Only the floor lamp in the corner emitted a faint, cold light. Suddenly, I heard a low sob. I turned around sharply and saw my little daughter. Her face was tear-stained, full of grievance and confusion, standing there frozen. “Lily?” I quickly got up and hugged her. “Why aren’t you sleeping? Why did you sneak downstairs?” Lily buried her wet face in my chest. Her small mouth pouted as she asked chokingly. “Mommy, why did Daddy say he doesn’t have a daughter?” “If he doesn’t have a daughter, what is Lily?” My heart twisted in pain instantly. Harlan was usually stern and taciturn. Although he loved Lily, he spent little time at home and rarely smiled. Lily adored him but was also a bit afraid of him. Because of this, she was more sensitive than other children. As tears poured down again, it seemed the obsession that had supported me for so many years suddenly dissipated into dust. I wiped the tears from my daughter’s face. “Lily, do you want to leave here with Mommy?” “Where are we going?” “Will we come back home?” I looked down and smiled: “No.” “This isn’t our home.” I looked at Lily and answered with utmost seriousness: “This is your Uncle Harlan’s home.” “We’ve stayed for a long time and disturbed him enough.” “So, it’s time to leave here and go to our own home.” Lily nodded, seemingly understanding, and replied in her milky voice. “Lily listens to Mommy. Where Mommy goes, Lily goes.” “Good girl.” I carried her back to her room and kissed her cheek lovingly. “Sleep. Mommy will stay here with you.” Lily fell asleep. My gaze fell on the photo frame on her bedside table. It was a photo of our family of three. The only photo of the three of us. In the photo, Harlan sat upright with his usual distant expression. I held one-year-old Lily, smiling shyly and happily, leaning slightly towards Harlan. But he didn’t lean towards me. Lily was fast asleep. I took the frame and quietly left the room. When I cut the photo, I suddenly realized. The gap left between our bodies back then was meant for today, so I could easily cut along it. 3 A week later, Harlan returned from his business trip. It was already 10 PM. In the past, my daughter and I would wait for him no matter how late. But tonight, Lily had bathed and fallen asleep long ago. I wasn’t in the master bedroom but in the guest room on the second floor. When the familiar engine sound rang out, I was on the balcony, staring blankly at the message received six days ago. The vasectomy report still stung my eyes and brought tears. “Marianne, just nod your head if you’re willing.” “I will treat Lily as my own.” “From now on, she will be my only daughter, no, my only child.” I stared at those lines for a long time. Until the screen went dark. Until Harlan’s footsteps came upstairs. Until he came down from the third-floor master bedroom and stood outside the guest room. Then, a knock. “Marianne, open the door.” I wiped my tears hastily and hid the phone under the pillow. “I’m sleeping. Let’s talk tomorrow…” But before I could finish, he opened the door from the outside. I was stunned at first, then quickly sobered up. This is Harlan’s home, Harlan’s house. He naturally has 100% sovereignty. “Why did you move to the guest room?” He seemed displeased, his voice colder than usual. I slowly sat up and looked at him. He looked tired from the long flight, rubbing his brow as he spoke. His voice was hoarse. Ignoring the last trace of heartache, I looked away. “I haven’t been feeling well these days. Didn’t want to infect you.” “I don’t mind. Move back.” Seeing me still sitting on the bed without moving, he frowned slightly. “Marianne?” “I want to sleep. You should rest early too…” Harlan didn’t respond but walked straight to the bed. He bent down and picked me up. “It’s been a week. Don’t you want it?” He lowered his head to kiss me. But I turned my face away. He was surprised, and soon his expression turned displeased. “Marianne.” “What tantrum are you throwing?” 4 In four years of marriage, I had never rejected him. He had high needs. Except for my period or business trips, we did it almost every night. If it were before, after a week-long trip, I wouldn’t have slept all night. Back then, I was happy, even blissful. Because only in bed did I feel like he liked me. Normally, I was afraid of him getting angry. But privately, during our intimacy, I secretly wanted him to get angry. Because when he was angry in bed, he was so different from his usual self. Once, we had a disagreement, and I ran off to stay with my best friend for a week. Harlan personally came to pick me up in Hong Kong. That day, in the most luxurious penthouse suite, he coldly unbuckled his belt with one hand and pinned me against the massive floor-to-ceiling window. I cried until my voice was hoarse, but he wouldn’t stop. At the end, he gritted his teeth and whispered in my ear. “Marianne, if you dare play the runaway game again, I’ll kill you in bed.” “Crying won’t help.” Maybe I had a bit of a weird fetish. His cold, slightly angry look easily got to me. I liked that he lost control of his emotions because of me. But now, my body felt closed off. It was calm, like a pool of dead water. Just like my heart. I struggled out of his arms. “Harlan, let’s separate.” I looked at him calmly, then suddenly laughed at myself. We have a child, yet I can only say “separate.” Harlan and I, apart from a piece of paper agreement, don’t even have a marriage certificate. He was stunned at first, then asked in a deep voice. “Because I clarified the marriage to the media?” I wanted to say, not just because of the clarification. If it were just that, I might have found hundreds of reasons to comfort myself. But he denied our daughter’s existence. These past few days, whenever I close my eyes, I see my daughter’s aggrieved and confused look. I can’t accept it. “Yes.” “You know that was just to deal with the media.” Harlan looked at me with a distant and serious expression. “I’m very busy. I don’t have time to soothe your emotions over such a small matter.” I tried to look at him calmly, but my hands hanging by my sides couldn’t help trembling. My eyes felt like they were being pricked by needles, but I held back the tears. “I don’t need your soothing.” “I’m serious.” “We can tear up the previous agreement. I just want Lily.” A hint of sarcasm seemed to flash in Harlan’s eyes. “Are you using Lily to force me to reveal your identities?” “No…” “I told you, that’s impossible.” “At least for the next few years, absolutely impossible.” He interrupted harshly: “Marianne, I can indulge you in many things.” “But there’s no room for negotiation on this.” He looked down at me like I was a stranger. The room was constantly temperature-controlled, but I felt incredibly cold. The chill seeped into my bones, making me shiver. Before marriage, my best friend had subtly advised me against it. But I was brave and unafraid. “Even if Harlan is a stone, so what?” “Water dripping day by day wears the stone away.” But now, I’m giving up. I want to be free water, not a droplet confined under the eaves for a lifetime. “Think about it tonight. Move back when you’ve thought it through.” Harlan turned and left the guest room. The door closed with a heavy sound, unlike his usual controlled demeanor. I pulled up the quilt and closed my eyes. In a few days, Grandpa Sterling would return from his recuperation in the south. He was the one who decided on Harlan and me back then. As long as he nodded, I could leave with Lily. The Sterling family valued sons over daughters. Mrs. Sterling rarely looked at Lily directly. She had her own preferred daughter-in-law, so naturally, she disliked me. Now that I wanted to take my daughter and leave the Sterling family, it would probably suit them perfectly.

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