Category: English

In this life, I didn’t accept my best friend’s invitation to check out the collection. Instead, I downed two Red Bulls and drove onto the highway in the middle of the night. When I saw the police checkpoint, I practically blew into the breathalyzer with a smile. And I walked into the back of that patrol car grinning from ear to ear. In my past life, my “best friend” invited me to visit a famous antique collector. While we were there, she slipped a priceless jade piece into my bag. When the police found it, I knelt and begged the collector to verify my innocence. But he just grabbed my sleeve, joining forces with my friend to identify me as the thief. My parents bankrupted themselves trying to save me. My fiancé’s reputation was destroyed by association. In the end, I was hacked to death by a crazed antique fanatic, my body left to rot in the wilderness. … 1 “Don’t drink and drive. Seriously, where did you learn the traffic laws?” The highway was a mess of flashing lights and sirens. Four or five patrol cars had set up a checkpoint. The officer stared at the flashing breathalyzer in his hand, shouting for me to get out of the car. I unbuckled my seatbelt and checked my phone. Sure enough, a new message popped up. [Bestie: Hey, I remember you love antiques. I met this old collector recently. Wanna come check out his stuff?] The exact same text message as my last life. My heart skipped a beat, my body trembling involuntarily. “Hey, you drunk or something? Can’t move?” Just as the officer was about to call for backup to help me out, I snapped back to reality and practically skipped into the patrol car. “Another crazy one.” “Must be out of her mind. Who looks happy about getting arrested?” Inside the car, a few other drunk detainees looked at me like I was insane. I ignored them, grinning so wide it hurt. At the hospital, the nurse prepared to draw blood for the alcohol test. She kept glancing up at me, sensing something was off. “Chloe! Are you okay?” “Baby, the police said you were drunk driving. Is it true?” The door burst open. My fiancé and my parents rushed in, faces etched with panic. “Who are you people? You can’t just barge in here!” “We’re here for Chloe Li! If there’s a problem, talk to us, don’t scare her!” My dad stood in front like a shield, while my mom and fiancé rushed to my side. Seeing their familiar faces, tears stung my eyes. It was okay. I was in time. In this life, I wouldn’t let my parents age overnight from worry. I wouldn’t let them lose everything for me. And I wouldn’t let my fiancé be dragged through the mud, abandoned by everyone because of me. During the questioning, the nurse kept eyeing me, and the officer grew suspicious. “You haven’t actually been drinking, have you?” A chill ran down my spine. The warmth of seeing my family vanished, replaced by panic. I didn’t know how he figured it out, so I forced a difficult smile. Like every drunk driver in denial, I lied through my teeth: “Haha, of course not. I don’t know why the breathalyzer malfunctioned.” Thankfully, he didn’t press further, just nodded and moved on to the others. I let out a shaky breath. My phone buzzed again. It was a voice message from my best friend, Sarah: “Are you asleep? Why aren’t you replying? I already booked the visit for tomorrow morning at nine. Don’t be late!” 2 In my past life, the morning after Sarah sent that invite, we walked into the collector’s estate. Not long after, she disappeared. When I left around noon and walked back to my own house, I found it surrounded by police. “It’s her! She stole Mr. Zou’s jade bracelet!” Before I could even process what was happening, Sarah jumped out of a police car and pinned me down. “She stole a national treasure? She doesn’t look like a good person!” “I heard it was a Tang Dynasty Empress’s bracelet, worth a fortune. Greedy girl!” “Scum. People like her should just die!” The accusations swirled around me, and I finally realized something was terribly wrong. In my panic, I saw the collector, Mr. Zou, in the crowd. I knelt, sobbing, begging him to clear my name. But the kindly old man frowned, grabbed my sleeve, and cursed: “Shameless! Stealing a national treasure I was about to donate to a museum! I let you into my home out of kindness, and this is how you repay me?” With Sarah and the collector testifying against me, and the bracelet inexplicably in my bag, my defense crumbled. My family and fiancé were ruined, treated like pariahs. And I died a gruesome death before I could even stand trial. The pain and blood of my past life were scars on my soul, feeding a burning hatred. In this life, I stood directly under the surveillance cameras. Between the video footage and my blood test, I had a double layer of protection. Let’s see who can frame me now! After the blood draw, I slept on the hospital bench. It was hard and cold, but I slept peacefully. When I woke up, the nurse announced my blood alcohol level was zero. The officer let me go. It was already noon. I had perfectly missed the window for Sarah to frame me. Just to be safe, I shamelessly asked the officer for a ride home, claiming my car was still impounded. As I got off the police motorcycle, a swarm of officers waiting at my apartment surrounded me. Sarah led the charge, grabbing my hands with tear-filled eyes. “Chloe! We agreed to just look at the collection this morning! Why did you have to steal?” My eyes widened in shock. Even the officer next to me was stunned. I had been at the hospital since last night. How could she still try to pin this on me? I frowned. “I was detained for suspected drunk driving last night, I’ve been…” Hearing this, Sarah got even more agitated, cutting me off: “Drunk driving? Oh my god, Chloe, what have you done? Alcohol isn’t an excuse for stealing national treasures!” A crowd of onlookers gathered, incited by Sarah’s words. My explanations were drowned out by the noise. Within a minute, I was being pinched and shoved by unseen hands in the crowd. My arms were already bruising. The police noticed something was wrong and moved to disperse the mob. I finally caught my breath and glared at Sarah. “I didn’t drink, and I didn’t steal any national treasure! Can we talk about evidence?” Sarah’s face darkened for a split second before she put on a worried mask again, pleading to the officers nearby: “Officer, you heard her. My friend did this because she was drunk. She’s still not thinking clearly.” “She didn’t steal it on purpose. Please, go easy on her!” Just as Sarah tried to drag me toward a police car, the traffic cop who drove me home stepped in. He blocked her path, shielding me. 3 “This lady has been in the hospital since last night. I just brought her back.” “You say she stole something? Where’s the proof?” Faced with the officer’s question, Sarah snapped without thinking: “Who are you? I’m assisting an investigation. unrelated personnel should stay out of this.” “He’s a police officer,” I said slowly. Sarah’s face changed instantly. “From the moment I was suspected of drunk driving last night until now, I have been under his supervision!” The crowd gasped. The detectives immediately verified the traffic cop’s ID. Then, they turned to Sarah with stern expressions. Why would she accuse someone with an ironclad alibi? Sarah hadn’t expected this twist. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. Just then, the collector, Mr. Zou, marched over. He pointed a shaking finger at my nose. “I can prove she’s the thief!” Seeing the man who indirectly caused my death again, anger flared in my chest. In my last life, I had at least entered his house. I could excuse his accusation as an old man’s mistake. But in this life, we hadn’t even met. How dare he accuse me? I gritted my teeth. “Old man, you can eat the wrong food, but you can’t say the wrong words! We’ve never met. Why are you framing me?” I stared at him, looking for a crack in his conviction. Mr. Zou grabbed my left arm. “I have a habit. Whenever a guest enters my collection room, I apply a strip of special ink to the cabinet doors.” “I mixed the color myself. I’d recognize it anywhere!” With that, he yanked up my sleeve. A dark brown stain was clearly visible on my forearm! 4 The crowd froze. Even I was stunned speechless. I hadn’t gone to his house in this life. I checked my clothes before coming home. How could this be here? “You steal petty things all the time, fine. But today you stole a treasure and bribed someone to lie for you? Too far!” Sarah seized the moment to blacken my name, malice dripping from her eyes. Then, she pulled a laptop from her bag, claiming she had surveillance footage to submit as evidence. In the video, at 9:30 AM that morning, a short-haired girl walked into the estate with Sarah. Her build, her outfit, even her hair clip—identical to mine. The crowd erupted: “That’s her!” “You can’t see the face clearly, but it’s obvious. She’s got some nerve, ignoring the cameras like that!” “Kids these days are fearless. She needs ten years in prison to learn a lesson!” Insults rained down on me. Someone kicked me from behind, the pain nearly making me black out. I fought through the pain, gasping for air as I shouted: “I have video evidence too!” I looked at the traffic cop. He pulled the body cam footage from his motorcycle. “My ID is verified. It can’t be faked.” “Ms. Li has been recorded by police body cams and hospital surveillance since she left the hospital. She has a perfect alibi.” Two videos pointing to two completely different truths. The crowd was confused. The police and Mr. Zou were confused. One officer started calling the traffic division and the hospital to verify my movements. Mr. Zou muttered to himself, insisting he couldn’t mistake his own ink. Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Sarah couldn’t maintain her fake concern anymore. She glared at me with pure hatred. I smiled coldly back at her. “Disappointed that the police verification will clear my name?” Unexpectedly, Sarah smirked. “What are you saying? We’re best friends. If you didn’t steal it, of course I’m happy.” Then, catching me off guard, she lunged at me, reaching for the fanny pack at my waist. She ripped open the zipper and screamed: “Officer! The treasure is in her bag! Grab her—” Her voice cut off abruptly. She stared at me in disbelief. “You… you…” I looked down at her shocked face and smiled. “Oh? What’s wrong?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388054”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Chapter 1 I was doom-scrolling during work hours when I stumbled upon a viral post. The title was clickbait gold: [Gen Z Intern Exposes the ‘Best’ Company for Being a Lie] The description sounded suspiciously familiar. I frowned. Just that morning, I had called a meeting to ask if anyone had suggestions about our benefits package. Our new intern, Harper Lin, stood up and said, “I think our benefits are still lacking. If we really want to be an ’employee-first’ company, you should provide free meals and housing, and a daily chauffeur service for our commutes.” I already provided a housing and transportation stipend that totaled over $800 a month. That was more than enough to cover rent and a subway pass in this city. So, I rejected her request but offered a compromise: employees could choose between company-provided housing or keeping the stipend. I asked them to discuss it amongst themselves and give me a unified decision. I didn’t expect the post to go up that very night. [Update: The boss got triggered and is cancelling the housing stipend. Avoid ‘Firefly Inc.’ like the plague, guys.] Seeing the name “Firefly,” I knew for sure. The poster was Harper Lin. I named the company Firefly. The comments were already flooding in. [Whoa! Firefly? That’s the company everyone wants to join! I heard they have a four-day work week!] Harper replied: [You’re so naive. Four-day work week just means you work until midnight every day to make up for it.] [No way! Firefly is famous for great perks. My company gives me $50 for travel, I heard Firefly gives like $500.] Harper argued: [But think about it, what if you live far away? $500 seems like a lot, but it can’t buy back your wasted time!] The commenter was swayed instantly. Another comment popped up: [I heard a rumor that the owner of Firefly is some rich heiress just playing business owner for fun.] I don’t know where they heard that, but they weren’t wrong. My family is rich. Stupid rich. I could lay in bed and do nothing for ten lifetimes and still not run out of money. I started this company out of sheer boredom. Honestly, I never planned on becoming a corporate giant. I just wanted to create a humane workplace. So, I made the benefits insane. Work two days, rest one day. Then work two days, rest two days. Basically a four-day work week. Housing and travel stipends totaling over $800. If anyone had trouble with rent, they could get an advance on the stipend. Whenever I craved bubble tea or fancy pastries, the whole office got some too. Bonuses for holidays and birthdays were a given. I enjoyed giving gifts more than the actual work. So, even if my employees did absolutely nothing, I could afford to keep them. But because the benefits were so good, the staff felt guilty. To repay me, they worked harder. Three years in, not only was I not losing money, I was actually turning a profit. Even my family was surprised. That’s why I kept it going. But the internet didn’t see it that way. The comments under the “heiress” rumor turned nasty. [So she’s a rich girl? No wonder she can’t manage a company. Probably just LARPing as a CEO.] [The only reason this place hasn’t gone under is probably daddy’s money.] [Weird how no employees ever brag about this place online. Is the ‘good benefits’ thing even real?] [The commenter above nailed it. Working for a place like this is scary. Piss off the princess and you’ll probably never work in this town again.] I smirked, speechless. Has it ever occurred to them that my employees don’t brag because they don’t want the competition? My turnover rate is practically zero. In three years, I can count the number of people who quit on one hand. I didn’t comment. I just forwarded the post to the company group chat. Let’s see how Harper reacts. Chapter 2 After I sent the link, the group chat was dead silent for thirty minutes. The first reply came from Harper herself. [Yeah, I posted it. So what? I was just raising a reasonable discussion!] Raising a discussion is fine. Spreading lies is not. I didn’t bother arguing. I just sent one message: [Meeting tomorrow at 9 AM. We’re settling this once and for all.] I thought I was clear yesterday. I wasn’t against company housing. I just wanted them to discuss it and give me a unified answer. Who knew they’d have so many opinions? And I noticed something subtle—even though the other employees didn’t speak up in the chat, the silence spoke volumes. They were wavering. I knew them well. They loved the company culture, and they liked me. Before this, they would have responded to anything I posted immediately. It seemed Harper hadn’t just been complaining online; she’d been sowing discord in the office too. And it worked. The next morning, when I walked into the conference room, everyone was already there. The atmosphere was heavy. I walked to the front, leaned on the table, and before I could speak, a voice rang out. “So, boss, have you figured out how to solve this?” It was Harper, looking at me with pure arrogance. I couldn’t tell if she was just young and reckless, or deliberately trying to sabotage the company. I ignored her and turned to the rest of the staff. “What do you all think?” Silence stretched for a few seconds before one of the senior employees spoke up. “Boss, actually, I think company housing would be more convenient. Harper is young, but she has a point.” “We hadn’t thought about it before, but since she brought it up, I support it.” I nodded. I remembered when I hired her. She was a career woman who had taken a break for family reasons and struggled to re-enter the workforce. I gave her a chance. For three years, she had been diligent and grateful. This was the first time she had ever raised an issue. Then another employee chimed in. “Yeah! My landlord kicked me out last month and I had to scramble to find a place. If the company provided housing, that wouldn’t happen.” Once the dam broke, everyone started talking. “I agree. We wouldn’t have to worry about rent and could focus on work!” As they spoke, I could feel Harper’s smugness radiating off her. When everyone had their say, two quiet girls in the corner stood up. “Boss, we don’t have an opinion. We’re happy with whatever the company decides.” They joined last year. Introverted, struggled to find jobs. They weren’t good at expressing themselves, but their messages to me were always full of gratitude. Hearing them now, the disappointment in my heart eased a little. But before I could respond, Harper cut in. “Are you two stupid? We’re fighting for our rights here! Unbelievable!” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her. She was a fresh grad. A week ago in her interview, she seemed so polite. Now the mask was off. I smirked and said calmly: “Since you’ve all reached a consensus, starting next month, we will switch to company-provided housing and a shuttle service. The housing and travel stipend will be cancelled.” I gave them exactly what they asked for. But hearing this, their faces fell. Chapter 3 “If there’s nothing else, meeting adjourned.” I waited two seconds. Silence. I turned to leave. “Boss, what do you mean? Are you threatening us by cancelling the stipend?” Harper’s voice stopped me at the door. I looked back, genuinely confused. “Where did you get that idea?” “If you’re not threatening us, why cancel the stipend?” she demanded. I blinked. “Didn’t you ask for company housing?” “Just because we get housing, you’re taking away the money? Aren’t you a rich heiress? Why are you being so cheap!” Hearing the accusation in her tone, I almost laughed. If I didn’t understand what was happening now, I’d be an idiot. I glanced around the room. Everyone else had the same look of agreement on their faces. So, that was it. They wanted to have their cake and eat it too. They wanted the $800 cash stipend and free housing and transport. Where in the world does a job like that exist? If they didn’t respect me, I had no reason to spoil them. I grew up never wanting for anything. My parents never let me suffer. Now I’m the boss, and I have to look at my employees’ sour faces because I’m not giving them free money on top of free rent? I threw the contract in my hand onto the table. “You want free housing, free rides, and the cash? Are you naive, or do you think I’m stupid?” “You’ve worked at other places. Tell me, which company has better benefits than mine? And now you’re letting an intern play you like fiddles? It’s laughable.” Seeing my anger, the guilt finally showed on their faces. I had been too nice. They thought I had no temper. No one dared to speak, except Harper. She was clearly not afraid of consequences. “It’s just $800! Is this necessary? You don’t need the money anyway!” “Or is your ‘rich heiress’ identity fake?” I didn’t understand where her malice came from. But I wasn’t going to investigate. Whether she was just young and dumb, or jealous, she didn’t matter to me. I didn’t need her approval, and I certainly didn’t need to explain myself. I looked her dead in the eye. “Since none of you are genuinely trying to improve benefits, this discussion is over. Everything stays as it is. And I’m not accepting any more requests.” Then I turned my gaze specifically to Harper. “Instead of wasting time stirring up trouble, maybe focus on passing your probation. If you don’t pass, none of these benefits will matter to you.” I don’t fire people lightly, but she was now on my blacklist. She seemed to catch my drift, her face turning ugly. I sneered internally and addressed the rest of the room. “If you’re unhappy with the benefits here, feel free to resign and find a better place. I won’t stop you.” “But if you want to keep stirring up drama in my company, don’t blame me for being unpolite.” No one dared to stop me as I left. By the end of the day, no one had resigned. I went home, thinking it was over. But that night, I checked the post again. Harper had updated. [LMAO what rich heiress? She’s just a mistress being kept by a sugar daddy! No wonder she’s so stingy, guess daddy isn’t paying enough!] Chapter 4 I zoomed in on the attached photo. It was my dad picking me up from work today. Only my back was visible, but my dad’s face was clear. It was obviously a sneak shot. The comments section exploded with attacks. [That guy is old enough to be her dad! Morals are dead. Mistresses are opening companies now? Anyone know who the wife is?] [I know him! That’s the CEO of Sun Group! I’m going to tag their official account!] [Disgusting. If I were the wife, I’d destroy her.] There were a few voices of reason. [Don’t spread rumors. What if that actually IS her dad? Didn’t people say she was a rich heiress?] Harper immediately attacked the sensible commenter. [Why are you defending her? Are you a mistress too?] [I’m not making this up. I searched online. Sun Group’s CEO is named Lin. Our boss is named Shen!] I laughed out loud. She did her homework, but she missed a spot. Yes, the CEO of Sun Group is named Lin. That’s my dad. But the Chairman of the Board is named Shen. That’s my mom. My dad took my mom’s last name when they married. He works for her. I didn’t bother explaining in the thread. I forwarded the post to my lawyer. [Send a cease and desist letter to everyone slandering me in this thread. Including Harper Lin.] I hate trouble. I prefer simple, brutal solutions. But before my lawyer could even send the letters, they tried to strike first. The next morning, my inbox was flooded with resignation letters. All of them had the exact same reason copy-pasted. They were organized. They thought this would scare me? Cute. I chuckled and checked the group chat. People were tagging me. [Boss, please approve my resignation. Thanks.] [Mine too.] I took a screenshot of my inbox and sent it to the group. [Harper convinced all of you to quit, but she hasn’t sent her own letter yet.] The chat went dead silent. A moment later, Harper typed: [My internet was just lagging!] A second later, her resignation letter hit my inbox. I nodded in satisfaction. If they wanted to play as a team, they could leave as a team. I didn’t approve the requests immediately. Instead, I called the two girls who hadn’t joined the mutiny into my office. For an hour, no one knew what we discussed. When they left my office, I heard the others pounce on them. “Zhang Ling, what did she say? Did she ask you to convince us to stay?” Before Zhang Ling could answer, Harper chimed in. “Obviously! She thinks the company can run with just two employees?” Zhang Ling just said one thing. “You guys are going to regret this.” Laughter erupted outside. I opened the door and walked out. The laughter died instantly. I scanned the room. “Everyone to the conference room.” Seeing their smug faces, I couldn’t help but smile. “I didn’t approve your resignations yet because we need to settle your final pay.” “So, once your salary is calculated, I’ll approve your resignation. Let’s begin.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388072”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 I had been in love with the award-winning actress, Seraphina Astin, for nine years. Finally, she agreed to marry me. At our wedding, just as we were about to exchange vows, she heard that the man she’d always considered her one true love was back in the country. Without a second thought, she abandoned me at the altar to go meet him at the airport. By the time I got there, a crowd had gathered, cheering them on as they kissed passionately. In the aftermath, I became the laughingstock of the entire entertainment industry. Everyone assumed I would forgive her. After all, I had loved her so intensely, so devotedly, for nine years. She looked down on me from her pedestal, as always, and offered me a crumb of her affection. “If you beg me,” she said, “I’ll consider going through with the wedding.” But this time, I just smiled. We’ll see who’s begging whom. … “If that’s how you feel, then maybe we should just call off the wedding.” Seraphina’s expression shifted, and she quickly moved to block my path. She clearly hadn’t expected me to say that. In her mind, Leo, her pathetic little assistant, was supposed to be on his knees, begging her through a flood of tears. “Leo, what is the meaning of this?!” I curved my lips into a slight smile and shrugged, the picture of nonchalance. “What do you think it means? It means we’re not getting married.” I had known Seraphina Astin for nine years, and for nine years, I had been her devoted follower, her shadow, her anything-she-needed-me-to-be. I was there with her every step of the way, from a nameless extra to the acclaimed actress she was today. For nine years, I would have moved heaven and earth to bring her anything that would make her happy. Every time her heart was broken, I was the one who stayed by her side, piecing it back together. Today, under the watchful eyes of hundreds of guests, I stood in the grand wedding hall. Nine long years. I thought I had finally won her heart. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. Before the wedding bells could even ring, she got the news that he was back. I rushed to the airport, only to see her throw herself at him like a moth to a flame, drawn to the man who had always held her heart. The crowd around them roared with approval as their lips met in a passionate, desperate kiss, as if they were the only two people in the world. Everyone thought they were witnessing a romantic reunion, a scene straight out of a movie. “Oh my god, isn’t that Seraphina Astin?” “Who’s that guy she’s kissing? They look so perfect together!” “Holy crap, this is huge news!” And me? I was just a supporting character in their drama, a jilted fool left to be ridiculed. I stood there, my heart feeling like it was being torn to shreds, but in that single, agonizing moment, clarity washed over me. Nine years. Nine years of waiting for her to see me, of giving everything I had to her. And for what? For a dream that was never mine to begin with. I looked at Seraphina. There wasn’t a trace of guilt in her eyes. Only pure, unadulterated adoration for the man in her arms. Afterward, I became the butt of every joke. They were all waiting to see how I would crawl back to her, how I would beg her to finish the wedding we had started. They thought I would do what I had always done—anything to win her back. But this time, I just smiled. Seraphina, perched on her throne, thought she could toss me a bone and I would come running like the loyal dog I had always been. “If you beg me, I’ll continue with the wedding.” Her voice was laced with a confidence born from years of my devotion. She thought I would fall to my knees at her feet. But I was done being her puppet. I smiled. “We’ll see who’s begging whom. I’m not marrying you. You can be with whoever you want, Seraphina.” Her face fell. The ever-obedient Leo, daring to speak to her like that. Just then, the man, Julian Croft, spoke up. He looked at the tense atmosphere between us and said, with an air of innocence, “I’m so sorry, Sera. I came all the way back just to attend your wedding… I had no idea…” “Leo, don’t be rash,” he continued, his voice smooth as silk, but his words sharp as daggers. “Sera was just so excited to hear I was back, that’s why she kissed me.” He even had the audacity to wipe his lips, where the faint trace of their kiss still lingered. I almost laughed looking at him, standing there protectively in front of her. Julian Croft, the one who got away, conveniently returning on our wedding day. The intention was as clear as day. He was marking his territory, telling me, I’m back, so you can step aside. I gave him a cool, dismissive glance and said nothing. He seemed to remember something and pulled a small, worn charm from his pocket. Seraphina’s betrayal was a knife in my heart. Julian’s presence was the salt in the wound. He held the charm out to me, a smirk playing on his lips, his voice dripping with condescension. “Leo, I believe this is yours. Sera gave it to me before I left the country. You can have it back now.” He smiled, a picture of innocence. “And thank you. It really works. It’s kept me safe all these years abroad.” I stared at the charm, a whirlwind of emotions churning inside me. A few years ago, after Seraphina was in a car accident, I had knelt in a temple for twelve hours straight, praying for that charm. Now, it was just a toy passed between them. “Leo, Julian is back now,” Seraphina’s voice cut in. “I got him a new one. You can have the old one back.” I let out a cold, humorless laugh and tossed the charm back at Julian. “I don’t need it anymore.” He caught it, a triumphant glint in his eye. “Leo, why be like that? Sera was just trying to be nice. She wants you to be safe.” I looked at his smug, sanctimonious face, and the anger I had been suppressing finally boiled over. “Cut the act, Julian. I don’t want any part in whatever is going on between you and Seraphina.” His expression faltered for a second before he composed himself. “What are you talking about, Leo? There’s nothing going on between Sera and me. Don’t make baseless accusations.” Sensing my hostility towards Julian, Seraphina frowned, her face darkening. “Leo, remember your place. You’re just my assistant. Show some respect to Julian.” Her eyes swept over me with disdain. “And since you don’t want to go through with the wedding, fine. Our engagement is off. Did you really think I would marry someone so far beneath me?” Her voice was sickly sweet, laced with mockery. She ripped the ring from her finger and threw it on the ground. “Take your cheap piece of junk and get out of my sight. It probably made my finger break out in a rash. Do you have any idea how much you’d have to pay to compensate someone of my stature?” Julian wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and they walked away, lost in their own world. “Come on, Sera, don’t waste your energy on a nobody like him. It’s been so long. Let’s go catch up. I came back for you, and for a very important awards ceremony…” I stared at the lonely ring on the airport floor, my eyes stinging. It was the only thing I had ever made with my own hands. I had chosen the design myself—a Möbius strip, a symbol of infinite, unending love, the idea that no matter where you start, you will always find your way to your partner. But it seemed my love had been misplaced. I had been wrong about her. I took a deep breath, pushing down the pain and the rage. The ring glinted faintly, a perfect reflection of my own dim, broken heart. I bent down and carefully picked it up, brushing off the dust. If you won’t cherish this love, then I will take it back. Watching them walk away, I remembered the first time I met her. She was just a struggling actress, running from one set to another. I had just returned from studying film abroad, eager to find a lead for my first project. We met then. She told me how hard her life was, how much she wanted a chance. She promised she would make the most of it. And she did. The short film we made, Spring, won Best Picture and I won Best Director. Seraphina took home the award for Best Newcomer. She became an overnight sensation. In the beginning, she didn’t have an agent, and her family was managing her career. It was a mess. I couldn’t bear to see the star I had created fizzle out because of mismanagement, so I offered to be her assistant until she found someone suitable. Whenever I was with her in a negotiation, we almost always closed the deal. She noticed it too. She didn’t question my background; she just thought I was her good luck charm. The entertainment industry is full of superstitious people. So she begged me, tears in her eyes, to give up my dream of directing and be her full-time assistant. “Leo, please,” she had cried. “You wouldn’t want to see me stuck as a small-time actress forever, would you?” I agreed. And so, for nine years, I stood by her side as her assistant, watching her climb to the top. When she finally accepted my proposal, I was ecstatic. I thought my devotion had finally paid off. I was too blinded by joy to notice the mocking smile on her lips. Looking back, all the signs were there. The small, private wedding, her insistence on keeping it a secret so it wouldn’t affect her career, the talk of getting legally married “later”… She never intended to marry me. It was all just a cruel game. Back at my apartment, I stared out at the city lights, a glittering tapestry that did nothing to pierce the darkness in my heart. Ding. My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. It was a news alert. “Actress Seraphina Astin Spotted in Passionate Airport Kiss with Mystery Man, Sparking New Romance Rumors.” The comments were a flood of excitement. “I was there! Seraphina and her boyfriend are so cute together!” “So jealous of everyone who saw it live!” “I have a friend in the industry who said she was supposed to get married today. Could this be the guy?” “Maybe! I have sources too, and they say this is the one she’s been waiting for all these years!” I let out a cold laugh and tossed the phone aside. They were wasting no time, already using the media to build their narrative. The next morning, I went to the office to collect my mother’s belongings, the last tie I had to this life, and to make a clean break from Seraphina. I could feel the stares—pity, schadenfreude, and mostly, cold indifference. I knew this wouldn’t be easy. I walked into my office and stopped dead. My personal belongings were strewn across the floor—files, photos, even private items, all carelessly discarded. The floor was littered with nine years of my life with her. Every contract, every negotiation note, a testament to my dedication. And in the middle of the chaos, the one thing I treasured most—the watch my mother left me—was gone. My heart sank. I looked up and saw them standing in the doorway, smug smiles on their faces. “Looking for this, Leo?” Julian dangled the watch from his fingers. It was my mother’s. It meant everything to me. He examined it closely. “This is quite a piece,” he said, feigning surprise. “Looks like it’s been around for a while…” He handed it to Seraphina. She, of course, knew nothing about watches. To her, it was just an old, possibly valuable, trinket. A flicker of rage ignited in my eyes. “Give it back, Julian.” He sneered. “Give it back? You think this is a toy? This is company property.” I clenched my fists, knowing this was just another one of their cruel games. I tried to stay calm. “Seraphina, I’m not here to fight. I just want to get my things and leave.” “Leave?” she scoffed, tossing the watch back to Julian. “You think you can just walk away?” He caught it, his eyes glinting with malice. “You want the watch? Beg for it.” I took a deep breath. I couldn’t lose my cool here. I would find another way to get it back. At first, Seraphina just couldn’t stand the idea of me leaving. In her mind, I was supposed to be her assistant for life, her ever-loyal follower. But seeing my defiance, she decided to up the stakes. I turned to leave, but her voice stopped me. “Leo, if you walk out that door today, you’re never coming back.” Her voice was a threat, laced with contempt. She couldn’t stand being defied. I didn’t turn around. CRACK. A sickening sound filled the air, and a wave of dread washed over me. Seraphina’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Look at your precious watch. Doesn’t it look just like you now? Utterly worthless.” My heart seized. I saw it lying on the floor, the band broken, the face shattered. My mother’s watch. My most precious memory. “Seraphina, you…” My voice trembled with a rage so profound I could barely speak. Julian stepped forward and ground his heel into the watch, sending shards of metal flying. “This is what you cherish?” he sneered. “It’s nothing to me.” A darkness I had never known before flooded my vision. This was my mother’s legacy, my only connection to her, and they had destroyed it with such casual cruelty. “You…” I growled, each word forced through gritted teeth. “You will regret this.” They exchanged a look, a shared, mocking laugh in their eyes. “Regret? Leo, what are you going to do? You’re nothing but a pathetic loser we cast aside. You’ll never work in this town again. You’re blacklisted. You understand?” Oh, really? There was one thing they didn’t know about me. I had another identity.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388089”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My husband is a world-renowned scientist. In an interview, when asked about relationships, he said: “I don’t consider myself a qualified partner.” “No matter what, love will never be my priority.” “I only wish to use my limited time to pursue the infinite truths of science.” After the program aired, he was universally praised for his fearless dedication to science. I quietly put away my medical report. I have cancer. Terminal. While he travels to London to accept an award, these will be my last days in this world. 1 The last moment of consciousness was the blinding light of the operating lamp. Then, I floated out of my body and saw the whole operating room. I saw the heart monitor next to the bed flatline. That’s when I realized. I think I’m dead. 2 I don’t know why, but I became a spirit, able to drift anywhere. This morning, I was fine. I even talked to Julian. He had a conference abroad and a flight at noon. So, I got up at 7 AM to make him breakfast. Julian looks like he doesn’t care about anything, but he’s a picky eater. His toast has to be slightly burnt, his milk heated just so. Our son, Leo, always said, “Mom, you’ve spoiled Dad’s taste buds.” I never denied it. After taking care of him meticulously for almost thirty years, even the most troublesome tasks became habit. 3 “Julian, I heard there’s a cold front hitting the UK. The temperature’s going to drop.” “I packed an extra down vest for you.” “Gum is in the left pocket of your backpack. Your ears always pop on flights; chewing it helps.” “Don’t stay up too late. Your heart has been bothering you lately, right? Sleep early…” “It’s a Polar Continental air mass.” He interrupted me abruptly. I looked up dully and met his clear, indifferent eyes. Time has been kind to Julian. His brow is still sharp, and even nearing middle age, the years haven’t left a mark. That coldness he’s carried since his youth can still pierce straight to my heart. He was correcting my first sentence. It wasn’t just a “cold front”; it was a “Polar Continental air mass.” I just wanted to care for him. I lowered my eyes. I straightened his tie. “Got it.” “Safe travels, Julian.” He walked past me sideways. He thought I had nothing to do this afternoon. But I did. He was going across the Atlantic for a scientific conference. I had a meeting too. My pre-op meeting. The doctor said the success rate of the surgery was only twenty percent. 4 When the doctor told me the stomach cancer wasn’t found in time and had spread, I sat in the hospital hallway all afternoon. The TV mounted in the corner was replaying an interview Julian did a few days ago. The man with the cold eyes didn’t want to waste time on anything but research. Even when asked about his wife, he brushed it off. “I’m dense when it comes to emotions.” “I don’t understand romance. A wife… to me, is more of a responsibility.” “Celebrate anniversaries? That’s just formalism. I’d rather run a few more experiments than waste time preparing for that.” It sounded exactly like Julian. Forget anniversaries; he didn’t even celebrate birthdays. When we were young, I used to pester him about it, hoping one day he’d show up with a bouquet of red roses. But I never got those roses. A brain that could memorize endless data refused to remember the four digits of my birthday. Eventually, I’d just sit alone at the table with a bowl of noodles and call it a celebration. Julian is a stone; stones don’t bloom. It took me over twenty years to accept that. In recent years, I started to feel like maybe I was the problem. Call it exhaustion, call it giving up. The funny thing is, he is him, and I am me. He laid this truth out decades ago, but I only understand it now. I folded the diagnosis report into a small square, put it in my pocket, and only called my son. 5 Leo is close to me. Julian doesn’t like kids, and his only son has zero aptitude for science. After listening to my emotionless narration, Leo’s voice choked up. “Mom…” “Did you tell Dad…” “I didn’t.” I looked down at the granite floor. “I don’t want to tell him.” He is him, I am me. Besides, what would he do if he knew? Would he drop his obsessive research to take care of me? “Leo.” “Mom doesn’t know how long she has left.” “If I die one day, don’t tell your father.” Why bring something Julian doesn’t care about to his attention just to annoy him? “Okay.” Leo replied on the other end. “Mom, honestly, Dad doesn’t deserve you.” “He really doesn’t deserve someone as good as you.” … 6 My spirit floated in the hospital hallway. I saw the doctor walk out of the operating room, shaking his head regretfully. Leo slumped over my hospital bed, crying. He had brought me to the hospital at noon and waited outside the OR until nightfall. But Mom wasn’t strong enough; I couldn’t open my eyes. He cried so heartbreakingly. I was frantic beside him, but he couldn’t see me. I wanted to hug him, tell him not to cry like when he was little. Leo has worked hard. Although he didn’t become a scientist like his father hoped, his paintings are loved by many. He has a solo exhibition in Italy later this year. I sat beside him, looking up at the stars, singing to him like I used to. He couldn’t hear me, but I felt like this way, he’d know Mom was with him. … Suddenly, a gust of wind carried me far away. The senses of a spirit are strange. I could sense what was happening in the hospital after my death, yet I also arrived at Julian’s conference venue. His conference was supposed to last seven days. A man in a suit easily becomes the center of attention. Young, handsome, with a resume that’s practically unmatched. Julian has always been the center of attention, since he was a kid. In college, girls flocked to him. Back then, some girls were bold enough to pursue him right to his dorm. Every time, he looked at them with that distant gaze. Wearing a plain white shirt, book tucked under his arm, he’d look down with restraint and detachment: “Sorry, I don’t like you.” Merciless. The popularity many men would kill for was just a nuisance to him. He was already winning national awards left and right. Professors constantly mentioned his name. I was one of the students looking up at him from the fringe. I only dared to catch a glimpse of his shirt as he left the cafeteria. Julian definitely didn’t know I had a crush on him for three or four years before we were set up on a blind date. And I never dreamed that three years after graduation, my family would arrange a date with him. “I won’t have someone I like.” That was the first thing Julian said to me. “If I have to say I like something, I like experiments, calculations—things that have nothing to do with people.” He frowned slightly, but even that couldn’t hide his dazzling good looks. He stated his position clearly and concisely. “We are not discussing love.” “We are merely ensuring progeny. Can you understand that?” … Actually, back then, Julian was very clear. I was the one who thought I could accept it. I was the one who wanted to be with him. I always thought we had time. I thought one day his clear gaze would settle on me. I thought he— Would fall in love with me. Call it hubris, pinning my day-and-night devotion on the hope that feelings would grow over time. My spirit drifted to his side. I watched him converse seriously with another scholar. Tall, indifferent, elegant. “Was I stupid?” I put my hands in my pockets and looked at him. “They say smart people look at normal people the way normal people look at idiots.” On the other side, my body was loaded into a hearse. The academic conference was buzzing with voices. “Julian, did you think I was stupid?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388105”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The day before our final exams, it was Chloe’s birthday. Chloe, the prettiest girl in our class, the one everyone adored. Her boyfriend, Jason, our class president, suggested the entire class go to a bar to celebrate and blow off some steam before the big day. Somehow, the advanced placement class unanimously agreed. In my past life, as the academic representative, I tried to stop this madness. I told them they needed to rest, that drinking and partying would ruin their performance the next day. Jason just glared at me. “You’re just jealous again.” My classmates sneered. “Stop acting so high and mighty. You’re just mad Jason treats Chloe better than you.” Ignoring their mockery, I begged them not to go. I stayed up all night calling each of them, making sure they were home resting. The next morning, I waited at the exam center under the scorching sun, calling everyone again to ensure they arrived on time. They all performed exceptionally well. But on the day the scores were released, tragedy struck. Chloe had gone to the bar alone that night to celebrate her birthday. She got drunk and was taken advantage of. Unable to cope with the trauma, she attempted suicide. Jason lost his mind after receiving her goodbye call. He rallied the entire class against me. They cornered me on the roof and pushed me off. I died instantly. When the police questioned them, they lied in unison: “She threatened us not to save Chloe. She said anyone who helped her would fail the exam.” “She jumped because she was afraid of getting caught.” The calls I made that night and the security footage of me checking attendance became their “evidence.” I was cyberbullied. A crazed netizen doused my house in gasoline and set it on fire, burning my parents alive. Jason lived next door. He listened to my parents’ screams with his arms crossed on his balcony, waiting until they were dead before calling the fire department. Only after death did I learn that Chloe had orchestrated it all. Reborn, I stood there as Jason held Chloe’s hand, announcing loudly, “See you at the bar tonight!” I put on my backpack and turned to leave. This time, they can party all they want. I’m done saving ungrateful people. 1 After I died, Chloe started a livestream, shedding crocodile tears: “Even though she bullied me and stopped our classmates from saving me… out of respect for the dead, I forgive her.” “But I’m too traumatized to retake the exam. I’ve decided to go abroad. I’m sorry I couldn’t fulfill my promise of getting into Harvard.” She had always branded herself as the “Beauty with Brains,” determined to attend an Ivy League school. Hearing this, netizens praised her kindness and resilience. She gained a million followers overnight. But the moment the camera turned off, she was laughing in bed with a stranger. “I cheated my way to high scores. If I actually took the test, I would have been exposed. Thank god I came up with this plan. It covers up my pregnancy and gives me a perfect excuse to skip the exam.” “I was planning to trick Jason into coming that night and pin everything on him, but that bitch Sarah ruined my plan. But this isn’t bad. Jason feels so guilty he promised to take care of me and the baby.” Her maniacal laughter cut through my soul like a knife. I wanted to strangle her. But the next second, a familiar voice rang in my ear: “Sarah, what’s with the long face?” “Chloe’s birthday wish is to celebrate with the whole class. She invited you, and instead of being grateful, you’re giving us attitude. Disgusting.” “Chloe is an influencer and still scores higher than you. You only get third place by studying like a nerd. Are you jealous?” “You simped so hard for Jason, but he doesn’t even look at you. Seeing him celebrate Chloe’s birthday broke you, huh?” I froze, realizing where I was—the day before the final exams. I pinched myself. It hurt. Tears sprang to my eyes. I was really reborn! Seeing me cry, the classmates who had just mocked me fell silent. “Were we too harsh? She was just trying to help…” Chloe immediately started crying. “Sarah, I didn’t know you hated me this much. Cursing everyone to fail… We’re the AP class. How could celebrating my birthday make us fail?” Jason immediately shielded her, sneering at me: “Don’t worry about us. We aren’t like you, getting scared shitless over a test. Running to the bathroom constantly and failing because of it.” “For geniuses like us, this exam is a piece of cake.” The class erupted in laughter. I clenched my fists, my heart aching. During the placement exams sophomore year, stress gave me severe stomach issues. I kept needing the bathroom, couldn’t focus, and missed the cutoff for the AP class. After the test, I hid in the study hall and cried. Jason found me then, wiping my tears. “I had my mom make you some porridge. I knew you’d be crying. It’s okay, there’s always next time. I’ll tutor you. We’ll go to the same college…” I thought our mutual crush would have a happy ending. Until Chloe transferred in, and everything changed. I took a deep breath and unclenched my fists. Ignoring their laughter, I packed my bag. “You’re right. In that case, I hope you have fun.” I didn’t explode in anger or cry like they expected. Their smiles froze. The fun of mocking me was gone. Someone shrugged and started discussing what to drink. “Fruit cider. Only 3% alcohol, won’t affect the exam.” I scoffed internally. The fruit cider at that bar could knock out an adult with one glass. My dad, a doctor, often treated patients rushed to the ER with alcohol poisoning from that place. In my past life, that was why I tried to stop them. But this time, I wouldn’t interfere. I shouldered my bag and turned to leave. But Jason didn’t look happy. He frowned at me. As I walked past, he grabbed my wrist. “No. You have to come with us.” 2 Everyone froze, looking at me in confusion. “Why bring her? She’s a buzzkill.” Chloe chimed in with her sickeningly sweet voice, “If Sarah comes and we don’t do well tomorrow, she might blame me. That would be so unfair.” Her eyes were guarded. She was terrified I would actually go. If I went, how could she get drunk and pin her pregnancy on Jason? Jason sneered, explaining: “Sarah is manipulative. Remember Memorial Day? The English teacher forgot to assign homework, but she called to ask for it and then texted everyone, ruining our holiday.” The class went silent. Many glared at me. I laughed bitterly. That was a practice test from a top private school. The teacher got it specifically to help us boost our scores. I notified everyone because I didn’t want them to miss out. But my responsibility was their burden. Jason raised an eyebrow. “If she goes home, she might call your parents and snitch.” I finally snapped. “I’m not that bored.” I suppressed my anger. “I promise I won’t interfere or call anyone. Okay? I just want to go home and rest for tomorrow.” I tried to pull my hand away, but he snatched my backpack. “What are you doing!” I screamed, my heart sinking. The next second, he pulled out my exam admission ticket and waved it in the air. My face went pale. I lunged for it. “You’re crazy! Give it back!” Jason held it high, teasing me like a cat, looking down with arrogance. “I don’t trust you. I have your ticket now. If you want to take the exam tomorrow, behave yourself. Don’t ruin Chloe’s birthday.” My eyes turned red with urgency, my voice trembling. “Jason, you asshole!” He paused at the hatred in my eyes, his tone softening slightly. “As long as you don’t snitch, I’ll give it back. Didn’t we promise to go to the same college? Of course I’ll give it back.” “Just don’t ruin Chloe’s eighteenth birthday.” I looked at him, making promises he wouldn’t keep, and my heart sank. Eighteen years of friendship. My future wasn’t as important as Chloe’s birthday party. I was shaking, staring at him. He avoided my gaze, turning to the crowd with a light smile. “Alert over. Everyone can celebrate in peace tonight.” Chloe immediately leaned into him, her voice dripping with honey. “Thank you, Jason. This party is the best eighteenth birthday gift.” Jason’s ears turned red, but he didn’t push her away. He just touched her hair. “As long as you’re happy.” The classmates cheered loudly. “I think the best gift isn’t the party, it’s our class president!” “You’re both adults tonight. A kiss isn’t too much to ask, right?” Jason laughed, “Stop it.” But the affection in his eyes was undeniable. I stood there, watching coldly, digging my nails into my palms until they bled. Laugh. Have fun. Let’s see if you can still laugh in the exam hall tomorrow. I didn’t even want my bag anymore. I turned to leave. But they weren’t done with me. Jason said coldly, “Lock her in the gym.” “Let her out after the party.” I glared at him, struggling violently. “Are you insane! Let me go!” Several boys rushed me, tying my hands behind my back and dragging me to the abandoned gym. They threw me to the ground, scraping my arm. Jason hesitated for a second, but excitement quickly took over. He stomped on my phone until the screen went black. “Stop being jealous and just wait here,” he soothed. “I’m the class president. I’m just helping a classmate fulfill a wish. If it were your birthday today, I’d do the same.” “Just stay here. I’ll come back for you.” Then he shut the door. The heavy iron door slammed shut, plunging me into darkness. I lay on the floor, screaming for help until my voice was hoarse. I don’t know how much time passed before footsteps approached. I scrambled to the door. “Help—” The door opened. It was my dad. He rushed in, panic etched on his face, and hugged me tight. “Baby? What happened? I couldn’t reach you, and Jason said you were at the party.” “How could you be partying right before the exam? I knew something was wrong! I came looking for you immediately… I can’t believe you were locked in the school!” “Did Jason do this? I won’t let him get away with it!” Seeing my dad alive and well after two lifetimes, I burst into tears in his arms. Dad was terrified. “It’s okay, don’t be scared. Tell Dad what happened.” “I’m fine.” I wiped my tears, forcing myself to be calm. Stopping Jason’s party now would be letting them off too easy. I wanted them to regret this for the rest of their lives. When my mom arrived and saw my injuries, her face fell. But I just whispered, “I’m fine, Mom. I don’t want to go to college here anymore. I want to study abroad. Let’s move overseas.” In my last life, I gave up an offer from a top foreign university to take the entrance exams for Jason’s “let’s go to college together” promise. And I got a tragic death in return. This time, I didn’t want to bet on him keeping my admission ticket safe. I was giving up on this exam. Back home, I slept fitfully until dawn, nightmares of my past life flashing before my eyes. When I woke up, my pillow was soaked. I dried my eyes, put my SIM card into an old phone, and turned it on. My feed was flooded with updates from my classmates, Jason, and Chloe. In the photos, Chloe leaned into Jason’s chest, looking up with a flushed smile. Jason looked tender. I glanced once and noticed the pile of empty cider cans on the table. Drinking that much… forget affecting their performance, some of them might not even wake up tomorrow. Someone even posted a video of the crowd chanting “Kiss! Kiss!” Jason held Chloe tight, kissing her urgently and deeply. It was disgusting. I closed the video. The newest post was from Chloe, visibly set to “Only Sarah Can See.” 3 I opened it to the sound of grotesque panting. Frowning, I watched two entangled figures. I didn’t need to look closely to know the man was Jason. Chloe’s breathless voice taunted me: “Sarah, Jason said he likes me the most. He’s going to marry me after college. What makes a nerd like you think you can compete?” Then, she sent a photo of my admission ticket, torn to shreds. “I made him choose between us. To prove his loyalty, he tore up your ticket. He said this way he doesn’t have to go to the same college as you, and he has an excuse to dump you.” “Can’t wait to see your breakdown tomorrow haha. Happy gap year~” Even though I was prepared for my ticket to be destroyed, seeing the pieces still made my breath hitch and my chest ache. Three years of tireless effort, destroyed so easily by them. The phone rang in the living room. I opened my door to see my dad looking shocked. “What? Students from First High? The seniors taking the exam tomorrow? Alcohol poisoning? Okay, okay, I’m on my way.” His face was pale and sweaty. Seeing me, he thought I was worried about my classmates and quickly comforted me: “Don’t worry, it might not be your class. I’ll go check. Even if it is, I’ll get them recovered ASAP. Won’t delay the exam.” Looking at his worried face, I remembered my past life. I was so worried about them drinking that I dragged my dad to the bus stop the next morning, just in case someone was hungover and needed emergency help. I never expected those ungrateful wolves to claim my dad was there to help me threaten them. That led to the crazed netizens murdering my family in the name of avenging Chloe. But this time, I would absolutely not let my dad get dragged into this mess. … The next morning, I ate the breakfast my dad made and took a taxi to school. Time ticked by, but the bus stop for the exam shuttle was silent. The teachers’ faces grew darker by the minute. “What’s going on? Is the AP class skipping the exam?” The homeroom teacher arrived, looking haggard, followed by a few pale students. Seeing me, they dodged my gaze, guilt and regret written on their faces. The principal listened to the homeroom teacher’s stammering explanation, his face turning black with rage. “I told you a thousand times! Watch your diet and sleep before the exam! And you go drinking at a bar the night before?!” “Only five people can take the test? The rest are getting their stomachs pumped? Some are in the ICU?!” “Are you crazy? Ruining your lives and burning my career down with you?!” His shouting attracted the attention of parents and media nearby. “Oh my god. We cook carefully for them, and these kids drink themselves into the hospital?” “Partying at a time like this? They aren’t scholars, they’re delinquents.” “My kid has average grades, but at least he’s responsible. Those parents must be furious.” “I’ve been a reporter for years, never seen a whole class drink themselves out of an exam.” Cameras flashed. The principal roared in despair, “I’m ruined! The school is ruined!” The English teacher, who always favored Jason and Chloe, paled. “Where are Jason and Chloe? They were our top prospects for Ivy League!” The homeroom teacher looked down. “Can’t reach them. We called the police.” The principal stumbled, clutching his chest. He looked at me, a spark of hope in his eyes. “Sarah is a good kid. She didn’t mess around with them. We can still save one spot.” I lowered my eyes, feigning regret. “Jason took my admission ticket because he was afraid I’d snitch. He hasn’t shown up, so I probably can’t take the test.” Thud. The principal hit the floor. Chaos ensued. Some took him to the hospital; others took the remaining students to the exam center. I got on the bus. The atmosphere was oppressive. Some were already crying. “My dad is going to kill me… shouldn’t have gone to the bar…” “What do I do? I won’t make the cutoff… it’s all Chloe’s fault…” I stared out the window blankly, listening to their sobs. Didn’t they say they were geniuses? That the exam was just a formality? Now they’re scared of failing? Now they cry? At the exam center, I was denied entry without my ticket. A classmate looked at me with guilt. “Sorry.” Confirming I couldn’t enter, I turned and left. My dad was furious, comforting me while cursing Jason. Before we could leave the area… The news had exploded. Parents of the AP class students started a livestream, issuing a joint statement to call the police and hire lawyers, holding the school, Jason, and Chloe responsible. A scandal like this during exam season broke the internet. Netizens flooded Chloe’s social media with insults, calling her a “disaster.” Chloe, missing all day, suddenly started a livestream. Next to her sat a haggard Jason. Tears streamed down her face. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know this would happen. We just wanted to eat cake. It was my classmate Sarah who insisted on ordering alcohol. She said it was non-alcoholic, so we could drink as much as we wanted.” “We got a bit drunk, but we were sent to the hospital in time. We would have been fine. But Sarah wanted revenge, so she made her dad—the hospital director—deliberately mistreat us, causing the alcohol poisoning.” She nudged Jason. “You’re her childhood friend. You can testify, right?” Jason stiffened. Under her urging, he looked up, eyes struggling, before finally gritting his teeth. “Yes. I can testify. Sarah insisted on ordering the alcohol. She was jealous of Chloe and the talented students in the class. And… her dad really is a doctor at that hospital.” 4 I couldn’t believe my ears. Were they insane? Who would believe such a lie? But the parents, who were just demanding Jason and Chloe be punished, turned their rage toward me and my dad. Smash! A U-lock shattered the car window and hit my dad’s forehead. Blood gushed out. The car stopped abruptly. I slammed into the dashboard, vision blurring. Screams deafened me: “Kill these inhumane monsters! Putting my son in the ICU just to bully a classmate? Pay with your lives!” Others chimed in: “Deserved! A doctor committing malpractice for his daughter? Break his hands so he can never practice again!” I screamed desperately, “We didn’t! Check the cameras! I wasn’t at the bar! My dad wasn’t on duty last night!” Fighting through the pain, Dad crawled over to shield me. “Don’t be scared, Dad’s here.” Tears flowed uncontrollably as I screamed, “You’re being lied to!” My phone lit up. A text from Jason: “Sorry Sarah, Chloe’s family is poor. If she gets sued, she’s done. Your family has money, you can afford to pay. We had to push it on you. Once this blows over, we’ll repeat the year and go to college together, okay?” I laughed bitterly. So that was it. Chloe couldn’t pay, so the parents shifted their target to me. Just because my family had money, they could get a payout from us. “Jason, you bastard! You deserve to die!” The parents dragged me and my bloodied father out of the car, kicking and punching us. Someone started livestreaming. Soon, Chloe and Jason saw it on their screen. Chloe sighed in relief, leaning into him. “Thank you for saving me, Jason.” Jason forced a smile, unable to hide the guilt and panic in his eyes. “As long as you’re okay, I’ll do anything for you.” Amidst the chaos, my mom rushed in, pushing the parents away. She shielded us, roaring, “Don’t touch my husband and daughter!” She held up her phone, voice icy and firm: “The ones who really hurt these students are Chloe and Jason. I’ve posted the evidence online. See for yourselves.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388121”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 Three years after the car crash that supposedly stole my memory, I saw Lucas Kennedy again at a Sotheby’s auction. He was there to bid on jewelry for his wife. I was there to reclaim what was mine. Years apart had etched lines of exhaustion onto his face, while I, in contrast, glowed with a newfound brilliance. The sight of me left him visibly uncomfortable. When the piece we were both there for was presented, he finally broke the silence between us. “Sophia,” he said, his voice strained, “I lied to you three years ago, when you lost your memory. The truth is… I was your boyfriend.” I ran a thumb over the massive diamond on my ring finger and offered him a faint, cool smile. Who ever said I actually had amnesia? … The centerpiece of the entire auction was a vintage emerald bracelet. Its only imperfection was a series of hairline fractures spiderwebbing beneath the gold of its inner clasp. Lucas’s pupils contracted. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes as he looked at me. Of course he recognized it. He was the one who had put those cracks there. That was three years ago. It was also the twentieth year of my love for him. Ever since we were children, I’d followed him around like a shadow, offering him the best of everything I had just to see him smile at me. He was indifferent at first, but with time, he grew accustomed to my constant presence. When he was eighteen, another girl confessed her feelings for him. As he turned her down, his eyes found mine across the room. The playful glint in them saw right through my carefully hidden crush. Later that day, he leaned in, his breath warm against my skin, and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “You know,” he murmured, “yours is the only confession I’ve ever wanted to hear.” A hot blush crept up my cheeks. I tried to pull away, but he cupped my face, his lips tracing a path from my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, and finally, settling on mine. It didn’t take long for his grandfather to notice the spark between us. With his blessing, we were officially engaged. At last, I had a legitimate reason to be by his side. But that was also when everything began to change. Lucas’s gaze fell on a faint scar on my shoulder, now artfully concealed by a rose tattoo. A wave of pain washed over his features. “Sophia,” he asked, his voice barely a whisper, “is that from the crash?” I smiled, my eyes as placid as if I were looking at a complete stranger. Just then, a cloying, sweet voice cut through the air. “Lucas, darling, that’s the one I want! You have to get it for me, please?” The voice continued, “It looks so much like the one that—” The words died in her throat the moment she saw my face. Christiane Reed, whose face had been glowing with a triumphant smile just a second ago, went deathly pale. Her expression hardened into a mask of pure, unadulterated jealousy. She recovered quickly, tightening her grip on Lucas’s arm as if to show him off. “Sophia, what a surprise. It’s been so long. Lucas and I are married now. I hope that doesn’t upset you.” The next second, she covered her mouth with a hand, a spark of malicious glee in her eyes. “Oh, right, I forgot. You don’t even remember the past, do you? How could you possibly be upset?” I swirled the amber liquid in my wine glass, watching them with a calm, elegant poise. Christiane had changed a lot in three years. When I first met her, she was a timid girl fresh from the countryside, wide-eyed and nervous about everything. She was Lucas’s junior from college and became his assistant after graduation. At first, I didn’t think much of the extra attention he gave her. I was so sure of our love, so certain that there was no room for anyone else. That belief shattered the first time I walked in on him gently kissing the tears from Christiane’s cheeks. My mind went blank. Lucas saw me and shoved her away, his voice laced with panic. “Sophia, it’s not what it looks like. Christiane was just upset about a mistake at work. I was comforting her.” I fought back the stabbing pain in my heart and forced a smile that felt more like a grimace. “I know.” But I didn’t know. I didn’t know that was only the beginning. 2 After that day, Lucas and Christiane became inseparable. He said he needed to train her, to show her the ropes. But I saw them. In the convenience store downstairs from the office, she’d be standing in front of me in line, her fingers looped around his cuff, curled against him like a kitten. During meetings, her hand would be clasped in his under the table. He even canceled a dinner date we’d planned for weeks because she called him complaining of a “small headache.” That night, I stood in a torrential downpour, soaked to the bone. When I finally dragged my miserable self back to our villa, he barely glanced up from his work. “Sophia, don’t overthink this,” he said, his tone dismissive. “She’s all alone in this city. It’s not easy for her. I’m just looking out for her.” I nodded, my heart twisting into a tight, painful knot. My throat was so raw I could barely speak. “I know.” But only I knew that later, huddled under the shower, I cried until I couldn’t breathe, letting the sound of the water drown out my sobs. I came down with a raging fever the next day. For the first time in a long time, Lucas seemed genuinely worried. He rushed to the hospital and pulled me into a fierce embrace, his voice low and thick with concern. “Sophia, how could you let yourself get like this?” I blinked open my heavy eyelids, the familiar scent of pine from his cologne filling my senses. For a fleeting moment, I felt like we were back in the good old days, before everything fell apart. Then his phone rang. Christiane’s voice, a mixture of tears and a practiced helplessness, came through the speaker. “Lucas, the power’s out at my place. It’s so dark, and I’m scared. Can you come stay with me?” The arms holding me went rigid. Instinctively, I tightened my grip on his sleeve, but he flinched away, letting me slide from his embrace. He took a deep breath, his hand stroking my hair as he planted a soft kiss on my forehead. His voice was calm, but his words were devastatingly cruel. “Sophia, you have nurses here to look after you.” “Christiane’s a young woman, all alone at night. She’ll be terrified, she won’t be able to sleep. The poor thing.” “I’ll just go for a bit. I’ll be back before you know it.” With that, he gently but firmly pulled his sleeve from my grasp and walked out without a backward glance. He never came back that night. Instead, a message appeared on my phone. He doesn’t have you in his heart! He doesn’t love you! He’s happiest when he’s with me! Why don’t you just disappear, you old hag! Attached was a video of the two of them, tangled in bedsheets, their bodies moving together. A wave of nausea and rage washed over me. Combined with the fever, the world swam before my eyes, and I nearly passed out. When I woke up the next morning, Christiane was standing by my bedside. She deliberately angled her neck to show off the fresh love bites, a smug, victorious smirk playing on her lips. “You have no idea how wild he is with me, Sophia. How much he craves me. I bet he’s never satisfied you like that, has he?” I was raised doted on by two families; I wasn’t one to take insults lying down. I grabbed the flower basket from the nightstand and hurled it at her. Just my luck, Lucas walked in at that exact moment. Christiane immediately collapsed to the floor, sobbing into his arms. “Lucas! I just came to see how Sophia was doing, but the moment she saw me, she went crazy and attacked me…” Before I could say a word, a sharp slap echoed through the room. My head snapped to the side, my cheek stinging. “Sophia! When did you become so vicious?” Lucas roared, his eyes filled with disgust. “You’re a bigger disappointment than I could have ever imagined!” I stared at him, my heart shattering into a million pieces. It was the first time he had ever laid a hand on me. 3 After that, Lucas and Christiane were even more brazen, appearing everywhere together. Meanwhile, Christiane had secretly filmed me throwing the flower basket at her and posted it online. In an instant, the internet mob descended, branding me a psychotic, spoiled heiress. Even my own colleagues at the company started whispering behind my back. “Do you think Sophia’s really losing it?” “I heard she was obsessed with Mr. Kennedy for years. When he got together with Christiane, she just snapped.” It got so bad that one day, a self-proclaimed crusader for justice grabbed me on the street, yanking my hair and raining down blows. “It’s her! The rich bitch from the internet who bullied that poor girl! She’s a homewrecker!” At the word “homewrecker,” a crowd swarmed me, pinning me to the ground. Slaps landed on my face, one after another, until I was black and blue. Someone shouted they should strip me naked. A dozen hands clawed at me, their nails digging into my flesh. I clutched at the shredded remains of my dress, my pleas for help lost in the noise. No one listened. By the time the police finally arrived, I was barely conscious. They casually escorted me from the scene and dropped me off at the villa. Lucas took one look at my bruised and battered state, his brow furrowed not with concern, but with irritation. “Sophia, is this some new way to get my attention?” he asked coldly. “I’ve told you before, there’s nothing between me and Christiane. You need to calm down and think about what you’ve done.” Then, he turned and walked out, leaving me alone. A few weeks later, when Lucas and I returned to the family estate, the air was thick with contempt. My relatives looked at me with open disdain, whispering that I had brought shame upon both our families. Grandfather Kennedy had passed away years ago, but every time we came back, we paid our respects at his memorial. This time, however, Christiane was with us. Traditionally, only family members were allowed in the family crypt, but Lucas made an exception for her. When our relatives questioned his decision, Lucas defended her without hesitation. “Christiane may not be family, but she has more grace and respect than some people who call themselves high-society ladies. She genuinely respects my grandfather. Why shouldn’t she be allowed to pay her respects?” Every eye in the room turned to me. I saw it all: disgust, mockery, judgment. I felt like I was being crucified in public. I couldn’t bear it. I lowered my head and fled to the solitude of the crypt. Thinking of how much Grandfather Kennedy had adored me, my eyes started to burn. Just then, Christiane walked in. She shot me a contemptuous look, then glanced at the marble plaque with his name on it. Her voice was dripping with resentment. “Sophia, with a reputation like yours, you can’t possibly still think you’re going to marry into this family, can you?” she sneered. “If it wasn’t for that meddling old fool and his ridiculous engagement contract, I’d be Mrs. Kennedy right now!” Before I could react, she snatched the memorial urn from its pedestal and smashed it on the stone floor. The urn shattered, scattering ashes everywhere. I stared in horror, frozen for a moment before I lunged at her. “Are you insane?! That was the man Lucas and I respected most in the world!” “So what?” she spat, unafraid. “Not only am I getting this dead old man out of the crypt, I’m going to take everything that’s yours and kick you out of this family for good!” The commotion brought Lucas running. Christiane expertly threw herself to the ground, tears streaming down her face. “Lucas! I just thought Sophia’s bracelet was beautiful and asked to see it, and she… she threw grandfather’s urn at me! She said she was going to drive me out of the family…” SLAP! The sound of his hand connecting with my cheek was even louder this time. He looked at me with pure loathing. “Sophia, you are such a disappointment. After how much grandfather loved you… You were his choice to be the next lady of this house, and now you’ve desecrated his final resting place. You’ll be dealt with according to family law.” “It’s not what happened! Lucas, let me explain!” But he wasn’t listening. He had his men drag me down to the estate’s old, stone cellar. They took a riding crop to my back, the leather biting into my skin with each sharp crack. When I was covered in bleeding welts, lying in the cold, filthy water that pooled on the floor, he ordered them to stop. The pain was excruciating. I screamed until my throat was raw, but no one showed me an ounce of pity. Through the open cellar door, I could see my relatives looking down, shaking their heads. “She destroyed the old man’s ashes. She deserves this.” When I was on the verge of passing out, Lucas finally had them pull me up. For a split second, I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes, but it vanished the moment Christiane wrapped her arms around his, sobbing. “Oh, Sophia, I only wanted to look at your bracelet. How could you do that to grandfather? You’ve broken Lucas’s heart!” I glared at her, too weak to speak. Hearing Christiane mention the bracelet again, blaming it for the desecration of his grandfather’s ashes, Lucas’s fury reignited. He gestured, and the estate guards and his bodyguards swarmed me, pinning me to the ground. I knew instantly what he was going to do. “No! Please, don’t! Lucas, that was my grandmother’s! It’s the only thing I have left of her! It’s the most precious thing I own! Punish me again, lock me back in the cellar, just please don’t take my bracelet! I’m sorry, I was wrong!” I screamed and begged, but he was deaf to my pleas. He ignored my desperate struggles, knelt down, and ripped the emerald bracelet from my wrist himself. A sharp cry of pain tore from my lips. Lucas held the bracelet up, his eyes burning with hatred. “For this… for this worthless thing, you would dishonor the grandfather who adored you for so many years? Do you have a heart at all, Sophia?” “Today, I’m going to make you feel the same pain that I feel right now!” And with that, he hurled the bracelet against the stone floor. The emerald cracked into pieces. The combination of physical agony and soul-crushing heartbreak was too much. A final, desperate wail escaped my lips before I blacked out. 4 I woke up in the estate’s dog kennel. Everyone was convinced I was responsible for scattering Grandfather Kennedy’s ashes, and they refused to have me under the main roof. Lucas, unable to argue with the family elders, had put me here. Through the kennel door, I could hear Lucas and Christiane talking. She was pouting, her voice a childish whine. “Lucas, darling, why did you have to break that bracelet? It was such a shame, I really liked it…” “Enough!” Lucas snapped, his voice cold and sharp. “Know your place, Christiane. A piece like that is far too valuable for someone like you to wear. I punished Sophia because she was wrong. Don’t think for a second you can use this as an opportunity to take what’s hers.” He stormed off, leaving Christiane standing there alone, her face twisted with resentment. A sharp pain in my chest brought me back to reality. In my entire life, I had never been so humiliated. I forced my aching body to stand and stumbled toward the garage. I found my car, got in, and sped away from that place without a second thought. I never saw Christiane standing on the estate’s front steps, a cold, triumphant smile on her face as she watched me leave. At the same time, a Lamborghini roared out of the estate, hot on my tail. Rain was pouring from the sky. Heartbroken and furious, I drove. Lucas’s Lamborghini quickly caught up. He rolled down his window, shouting at me to pull over, but I ignored him. I slammed my foot on the accelerator, desperate to escape him. Suddenly, a barrier and a “ROAD CLOSED” sign appeared in my headlights. I slammed my foot on the brake. Nothing. The brakes were gone. Someone had tampered with them. Panic seized me. I watched, helpless, as my sports car crashed through the barrier and plunged into a deep construction pit. My last memory was the violent jolt of the airbag deploying, and a universe of pain. When I regained consciousness, Lucas was by my bedside. His chin was covered in dark stubble, and his eyes were sunken and shadowed with exhaustion. When he saw me awake, a look of profound relief washed over his face. He took my hand, about to speak, but I beat him to it. “Who are you?” He froze, his eyes darting to the doctor standing nearby. The doctor explained that I was likely suffering from amnesia due to the severe impact. So… Lucas hesitated, looking back at me. I asked him again. “Are you my boyfriend?” This time, his expression changed. The concern was gone, replaced by something unreadable. He gently took Christiane’s hand, who had been standing silently in the corner, and spoke to me in the detached tone one might use with a stranger. “You’re mistaken, young lady,” he said. “I’m not your boyfriend. I’m her boyfriend.” In that instant, a pain so sharp and visceral ripped through my chest that I thought I would suffocate. But I forced a smile, blinked back the tears that threatened to fall, and whispered, “Oh. I see. Do you think… do you think my boyfriend will come for me soon?” Lucas paused, a choked sound catching in his throat. “Yes,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “He will. I’m sure he will.” Then he grabbed Christiane’s hand and practically fled the room. The moment they were gone, I could no longer hold it back. I clutched the fabric over my heart and wept, the sobs silent but wracking my entire body.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387877”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I cheated way too hard on an exam and accidentally landed myself in the advanced placement class. As a result, the placement test exposed me completely. To avoid being kicked out, I confessed to my academic rival, the school genius: “Julian, I’ve liked you for a long time.” He slowly took off his glasses: “Oh? Let’s give it a try then.” Later, he pinned me down to grind through practice problems: “Keep count yourself. Get one wrong, get a kiss.” I was kissed until I was breathless: “I got this one right…” He chuckled low and kissed me again: “That’s a reward.” 1 “Our AP class is all about excellence. We weed out the weak!” Mr. Wang banged on the podium. “If your total score is below 600, it means you can’t keep up with our pace. You should go to the regular class to adjust! This is for your own good!” My head buzzed. I’m done for. Totally screwed. Last month’s exam, I got lucky and sat right behind Julian Sterling—the academic god who’s always at the top, his name practically glowing with holy light. Following my life motto of “take advantage when you can” and “copy if you can, copy more if it works.” My 20/20 vision worked overtime, and I “borrowed” heavily from his math and science answers. But I didn’t expect to “borrow” my way to a 600! For me, that score is like a miracle, a divine intervention! And now, I’m stuck in the AP class. That day, my dad cracked open his prized whiskey, and my mom excitedly broadcasted to everyone: “Oh my! Our Manny has made it! She’s in the AP class! That’s Ivy League material! Top-tier university guaranteed!” If they knew their “Ivy League material” was now shivering in the elimination zone… I shuddered. I couldn’t imagine the lecture and the grounding that would follow. “Manny, especially you! As a newcomer, you need to work harder!” Mr. Wang’s pained gaze locked onto me. “Don’t spend all day chattering with Xavier. It’s like you rented your mouth.” Xavier, my desk mate, had the honor of being second to last, just one point above me. Mr. Wang looked at us like we were dragging down the entire class’s IQ. “Recently, some students suggested we implement a one-on-one mentorship program. So, we’ll rearrange the seats. The last place sits with the first place, and so on.” First place? Isn’t that Julian? Who wants to sit with that annoying guy! “Julian! As her desk mate, help the new student out, even though it might be difficult.” Julian turned slightly, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses—standard issue for the refined scumbag—and curved his lips into a calm smile: “I’m used to it. It’s fine.” I gritted my teeth and rolled my eyes at him. Pretentious jerk! Julian Sterling, my childhood friend, and the stumbling block, comparison point, and ultimate “neighbor’s kid” in my life. We’ve known each other since (probably) before we were born, and have been compared all the way up. He’s well-behaved; I’m a troublemaker. He gets perfect scores; I celebrate passing. He’s a walking wall of honor; I’m a living letter of apology. My mom’s classic mantra, “Look at Julian!”, is basically the main theme song of my life. Infinite loop, never muted. 2 After a math class, I felt my CPU was overloaded and smoking, my soul drifting miles away. Turning to look at Julian, this guy’s notes were flowing like water, and he even raised his hand to add a point or two occasionally. “Julian made a very good point.” The teacher smiled until his eyes were slits. “I hadn’t even thought of that solution.” The bell rang, and I slumped in my chair, feeling drained. “Manny!” My best friend peeked in from the back door, waving excitedly at me. I rushed out of the classroom like I was escaping. “How is it? How is it? Being in the AP class, bathed in the academic aura every day, did your IQ go up by 10?” Her eyes shone, the fire of gossip burning bright. “I feel like dying.” I said with a mournful face. “There’s another monthly exam next week. I’m definitely going to be last. If I get kicked out of Class 1, my mom will break my legs.” “What do I do? Should I go steal the answers from Mr. Wang’s office?” I was hopeless. “Isn’t there a ready-made answer sitting right next to you? Julian! Ask him to tutor you!” My best friend reminded me. I was speechless: “Him? Did you forget how he reacted when the class beauty from next door gathered the courage to ask him a physics question last time?” “‘You don’t even know the most basic formulas. I suggest repeating freshman year.’” Her eyes darted around: “I have an idea.” “Spill.” “Confess to Julian!” She lowered her voice, counting on her fingers to analyze for me. “Think about it! If it works, he’s your boyfriend! It’s only natural for a boyfriend to tutor his girlfriend, right? Would he dare have an attitude? You could make him kneel on a washboard in minutes! If he rejects you—” She giggled. “He’d feel at least a little guilty, right? You’re the childhood friend he grew up with! Once he feels guilty, and you ask nicely, can he still give you a hard time? Either way, you win, sister!” I was stunned. “Will that work?” “This is called finding life in death!” She patted my shoulder. “Think about your mom’s feather duster and your dad’s belt!” I shivered. “Besides.” She leaned in mysteriously. “I heard Julian has never dated anyone. Maybe he’s secretly in love with his little childhood friend?” “Give me a break.” I rolled my eyes: “What he loves is probably ‘5 Years of Exams, 3 Years of Simulations’ or that ‘Advanced Mathematics’ book thicker than a brick!” Last semester, the school beauty confessed to him, and he didn’t even look up, dropping a line: “Sorry, I don’t date anyone with a score under 700.” One sentence, driving away all suitors. However, although my best friend’s words were outrageous. But… it seems, maybe, possibly… there’s a tiny bit of logic? Right now, there’s no way out. I’ll bet on it! “Fine!” I gritted my teeth. “I’ll do it! It’s just a confession! Going all out!” “That’s the spirit!” My best friend patted my shoulder excitedly. “Show the passion you use when chasing your anime husband! Remember, sincere eyes! Deep tone! Go! The organization believes in you!” 3 Back in the classroom, Julian was reading a book. Sunlight spilled through the window onto his profile, outlining a perfect jawline. I have to admit, this guy is somewhat attractive. If you ignore that “strangers stay away, acquaintances get lost” aura. I took a deep breath, then another deep breath: “Ju… Julian!” His finger turning the page stopped. He slowly looked up. I squeezed my eyes shut and yelled with the determination of facing death: “I’ve liked you for a long time! Julian!” My voice was a bit loud; half the class went quiet. I realized it too late and covered my mouth, but it was done. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Dead silence, absolute dead silence. I peeked through a slit in my eyes. Julian’s expression… No expression. He looked at me like he was looking at a math problem he could solve in three seconds. He slowly put down his pen, took off his glasses, and rubbed his brow. “Oh?” He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: “Let’s give it a try then.” Me: “???” I froze on the spot, my mind going blank. That’s not how the script goes! Given Julian’s personality, shouldn’t it be “Are you worthy?” or “I suggest you get your brain checked at the hospital”? Try? Try what? How to try? My brain crashed completely. “What, changing your mind?” Julian put his glasses back on, a glint I couldn’t read flashing in his eyes behind the lenses. “Who, who’s changing their mind!” I stiffened my neck, feeling my face burning. “Try it is!” “Wait for me after school.” “What for?” I looked at him warily. The half-smile on his lips deepened as he clearly spat out one word: “Date.” D… date? I feel like I dug a pit for myself… 4 After school, only the two of us were left in the empty classroom. Julian pointed at my test paper with a score of 88, looking at it like it was a biological weapon: “Why did you choose B for this question?” I answered guiltily: “It looked pleasing to the eye.” “Math isn’t metaphysics.” He pushed up his glasses. “You should know the most basic function formulas. You shouldn’t have missed this one. I’ll explain it to you once.” He suddenly leaned close, and I smelled the faint scent of mint on him. I shrank my neck. His breath was too close, making my already scattered attention drift even further. “Look at the question.” He tapped the test paper, forcefully dragging my wandering soul back. “So, what’s the final answer to this question?” I stared at the steps he just wrote, my mind blank: “A??” He narrowed his eyes, the gaze behind the lenses becoming dangerous: “Why?” “Can’t I just guess!” Embarrassed by his stare, I got angry. I stiffened my neck and yelled back. The next second. He suddenly reached out. Crossing over my body, he braced himself on the edge of the desk on both sides of me. I was trapped between the narrow desk and chair and his warm chest! My eyes widened: “Julian, you you you… what do you want?” “Starting now.” He leaned down slightly, his deep voice carrying a hint of teasing and irresistibility: “Get one wrong, get a kiss.” He paused, as if to emphasize the fairness of the rule. Adding, “Keep count yourself.” What??? This dog! This is definitely premeditated revenge! Abuse of power! Refined scum! Beast in human clothing! Hypocrite! (Omitting ten thousand words.) “You… you’re being a pervert!” I stomped my foot in anger. “Didn’t you say you liked me?” He raised an eyebrow, his tone matter-of-fact. “Kissing my own girlfriend is only natural.” I was speechless. This lie came back to bite me hard.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387893”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I went night fishing by the river, only to be stopped by a hot cop who mistook me for a body dumper. I tried desperately to explain: “I’m here to fish!” The cop didn’t buy it: “Where’s the bait?” I shrugged helplessly: “Fish ate it.” The cop pressed: “Where’s the rod?” I sighed: “Fish dragged it away.” The cop sneered: “Where’s the fish? I’ve been watching you for half an hour, not a single fish. Are you the Air Force commander?” I broke down instantly: “Haha, actually I’m the killer! I’m really the killer! Arrest me! Arrest me now!!” 1 Not catching a single fry all night, I might as well be the killer! The handsome cop probably didn’t expect a simple questioning to break me. He quickly tried to patch things up: “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything else. I just really didn’t expect you were here to fish, given how clean your bucket is.” Hearing this, I cried even louder. Bro, are you comforting me or twisting the knife? While handing me tissues, the cop persisted: “If you didn’t catch any fish, did you catch anything else?” I sobbed: “Does catching a shoe count?” The cop nodded immediately: “Of course! Where’s the shoe?” I pointed to the pond in front of us: “I got too mad, threw it back.” The cop took a slow breath: “Exactly where? Can you fish it out again?” I shook my head, troubled: “Unlikely. Just now, a frustrated angler got so mad he went down to fight the fish, probably kicked the shoe away.” The hot cop tsked, looking a bit headache-prone, and contacted his colleagues to come dredge for the shoe. Curious, I tentatively asked: “Did something happen?” The hot guy answered with a question: “Have you encountered anything strange?” Absolutely! I slapped my thigh: “This pond! I’ve been here five days, at least three hours a day, and haven’t caught a single fish. Tell me, isn’t that strange!” The hot guy smiled slightly: “Let’s not discuss luck.” I thought to myself, how can you call this luck! This is clearly suspicious! Does anyone really go home empty-handed for a week straight? I don’t believe it! I wanted to argue for myself, but the hot cop’s colleague arrived first: “Officer Lu, how’s the situation on your end?” Seeing me, the other cop’s eyes lit up: “Caught a suspect?” The hot guy waved his hand: “This lady is just here to fish.” “What?” The other cop was clearly incredulous: “Fishing? Then why is her bucket empty? “We released three thousand pounds of fry into this pond, and she didn’t catch a single one?!” 2 Enough! I said enough! You two cold-hearted men! You better sleep with one eye open tonight! “Stop it,” the cop named Luke couldn’t bear to look at my tragic expression, quickly patting his colleague, “Should be nothing here, let’s check over there.” Filled with grief and indignation, I followed them to the side. “Where are you going?” Luke blocked me. I pouted: “Retrieving my fishing rod, I set up a big one over there.” Luke let go then, asking as we walked: “Are you familiar with the fishing buddies around here?” I nodded and shook my head: “Sort of, just familiar faces, don’t know their names.” Luke said “Oh”: “Any suspicious persons?” I kept a straight face: “Plenty. Officer, you need to know, anglers only have two states: extremely calm and extremely manic. “For example, right now I look extremely calm, but actually I really want to jump into the water and fight the fish.” Luke suppressed a laugh: “Maybe jump later, finish answering our questions first.” As we spoke, we reached my fishing rod. Observing the water surface, confirming there was no movement, my heart turned to ash instantly: “Then ask quickly, I’m ready to go in.” Luke quickly grabbed me: “Don’t get exci—” Before he finished, the float on the water surface shook, then started to drift. I froze, then rejoiced, pouncing to pull the rod: “Up up up! Fish on!!” Must be a big one, quite heavy. I couldn’t pull it at first and almost threw my back out. Seeing this, Luke quickly helped me: “Slow down, don’t get excited!” How could I listen to him, waving my hand frantically: “Net net net! Give me the net!” Luke scanned around: “No net!” Damn, hooked a big one once a year, and forgot the landing net today! “It’s fine!” I gritted my teeth instantly, “No net, I’ll pull it hard!!” Just a fish, twenty pounds max! I don’t believe I can’t pull it up! … Overestimated. Feels like eighty pounds. But luckily this fish didn’t struggle. Luke and I pulled hard for nearly half a minute, finally seeing a shadow surface. “This fish… has a weird shape.” As the shadow got closer, my expression grew stranger: “This fish… why is it rectangular??” 3 Good news: Didn’t go home empty-handed today. Bad news: What came up wasn’t a fish. Midnight by the pond, red and blue police lights flashing. And I squatted by the pond, touching my heavy rod, weeping silently: You worked hard, big rod. Since you came to my hand, didn’t catch a single fish, but caught human fragments first. “Is the rod damaged? Still usable?” A voice came from above. I looked up, meeting Luke’s handsome face, my sorrow instantly lessened. “It’s fine, this rod can handle 130 pounds.” Although until now, I’ve never seen a fish over 30 pounds. Luke hummed “Mm”, his eyes quite gentle in the night: “Tell us if it’s damaged. After all, you helped us retrieve a body, the police can offer some compensation.” I wiped my tears dramatically: “Then it’s definitely damaged. Officer Lu, my soul is severely injured, need comfort urgently.” Luke suppressed a laugh: “Send you a pennant later? Fishing King?” I choked: “Are you sure you’re not being sarcastic?” Before Luke could speak, a pungent stench drifted over. It stank for ten miles, bringing tears to anyone who smelled it! “What’s happening?” I almost vomited, covering my nose hurriedly. Luke looked over: “The coroner opened the suitcase.” Hearing this, I instinctively looked back, but Luke blocked my eyes almost immediately. “Don’t look.” His palm landed before my eyes, pushing gently, making me retreat: “You’ll have insomnia for a long time if you look.” I blinked, knowing it was for my own good, and obediently retreated behind the police car following his force. Only when completely away from the suitcase did Luke let go: “It’s late, I’ll drive you back first.” I said “Ah”, my mind still on the suitcase. “Hey.” Luke waved in front of me, “What are you thinking about?” I snapped back, grabbing Luke’s hand, pointing at the distant suitcase: “That suitcase, I seem to have seen it somewhere.” 4 Not seem to, I definitely saw it somewhere. The floral print on the side of the suitcase looked so familiar! Luke was stunned too, then became serious: “Really? Think hard then, this is a big clue for solving the case.” Of course I knew, but often the harder you try to remember, the blurrier the memory gets. After thinking for a long time, my brain was still mush. Seeing this, Luke took out his phone: “Let’s exchange contact info first, contact me anytime you remember.” I nodded “Oh oh”, exchanging numbers with him. Luke looked at me: “What should I call you?” I said: “My last name is Wen, Wen Mian.” (let’s call her Wendy) “Okay.” Luke looked at me, slowly exhaling, “It’s late, I’ll send you home first. Come to the station tomorrow to make a statement. “Think carefully about that suitcase when you get back tonight.” I waved my hand: “It’s fine, I drove here, I can go back myself.” Luke insisted: “It’s very late, unsafe for a girl to go back alone. My colleague will drive your car back for you.” Since he put it that way, I couldn’t refuse. Thinking this guy is handsome and kind, I got into the car happily. On the way back, I chatted with Luke at first, then got too sleepy and lazy to speak, leaning against the window thinking about the suitcase print. That flower is too familiar, where exactly did I see… Holy cow! The car braked suddenly. Unprepared, I was thrown forward, chest hurting from the seatbelt. “What happened?” I rubbed my chest, coming back to my senses. “Arrived at your community.” Luke pointed to the gate ahead, “I’ll register, send you downstairs.” I wanted to say no need for the trouble, just a few steps, but Luke already rolled down the window greeting the security booth, finishing registration in a few sentences. “Quite responsible to the people…” I muttered. Luke just smiled upon hearing it: “Should be.” The car quickly arrived downstairs. I unbuckled the seatbelt: “Thanks Officer Lu, you go back and rest early too.” Luke looked at me, gaze indecipherable: “It’s okay, remember to come to the station tomorrow.” I nodded “Mm mm”: “I know.” Luke didn’t unlock the door, but repeated: “Must come.” I thought I’m not senile, no need to repeat so many times. But stared at by Luke’s deep eyes, I swallowed the complaint. “I will definitely go.” Luke seemed satisfied then, unlocking the door to let me out. Back home, showered and cleaned up, it was almost dawn. Leaning on the balcony drying my hair, forcing my eyes open waiting for the washing machine, I glanced down and saw a very familiar car parked downstairs. Isn’t that Luke’s car? Why hasn’t he left yet?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387909”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My wife gave a college kid a hundred million dollars. Then she personally produced a 24/7 reality series about him. The series, titled “A Hundred Million Dollar Life,” went viral. And the comments were flooded with people shipping them as a couple. 【This is so sweet! Is the $100 million giveaway still on? Where do I sign up?】 【How could you not fall for her? She gave him a fortune and then personally molded him into a superstar influencer. This is literally the definition of nurturing someone you love.】 【When is this series ending so you two can start filming your life as a couple? I can’t wait!】 I warned her not to take it too far. Her response? “Liam, it’s art. Don’t tarnish it with your petty jealousy.” Fine. Art, is it? The next day, I found a college girl of my own. And I gave her a hundred million dollars. 1 “You’re the one.” From a long list of candidates, I chose a young woman who was the polar opposite of my wife, Claire. The girl, unable to contain herself, practically jumped out of her chair. “Mr. Wood, are you for real? A hundred million dollars?” “And you want me to mirror his channel, right? Performing is my major. I can do this.” “But… won’t we get sued for copyright infringement? What if they report us?” Infringement? My voice was flat, calm. “The creator of that channel is my wife.” She stared at me, completely baffled. “Sir… are you two some kind of philanthropic power couple?” A fair question. I’d asked Claire the same thing a year ago. When she first pitched the “Hundred Million Dollar Life” concept, I was confused. Not by the idea itself, but by her choice of star. “Why does it have to be a guy?” I’d asked. She said I didn’t understand, that a male lead would generate more buzz. “Isn’t a hundred million a bit much?” I’d pressed. She reminded me that it was our joint marital property. She was free to do as she pleased with her half, and I had no right to question it. To this day, I still don’t know. Was this whole grand project just an elaborate excuse to get close to him? 2 The day after we signed the contract, the college girl was buzzing with excitement. I decided to copy Claire’s method and film her myself. Claire’s channel was called “Snowfall on Bamboo.” She claimed she chose the name because it contained the character for ‘wood’—a nod to my last name, a symbol of our shared creation. But I knew the college kid she was filming was named Ethan Cole. Close enough. A private joke at my expense. I wasn’t in the mood for clever wordplay. I named the new channel after the girl. “Maya Song.” Claire’s first video was about how Ethan spent his first day with a hundred million dollars. It exploded online the moment she posted it. Because the very first thing Ethan bought was a scarf for Claire. He was handed a life-changing fortune, and he didn’t buy a car, or a house. He bought a ridiculously expensive scarf. He looked straight into the camera, his eyes shining. “I know you’re incredibly wealthy and you don’t need me to buy you a scarf,” he’d said, “but you’re always wearing that lopsided, hideous thing. I wanted to get you a new one.” That “hideous thing” was a scarf I had knitted for Claire myself. It had turned out so ugly that I’d thrown it in the trash in frustration. Claire had fished it out, treating it like a treasure. “Liam made this for me,” she’d said, wrapping it around her neck. “It’s not ugly at all. I’ll wear it forever.” The memory brought a sting to my eyes. In the video, when Ethan presented her with the new scarf, she just smiled softly. Then, she unwound the one I had made. And dropped it into a nearby trash can. Without a moment’s hesitation. I didn’t sleep that night. I replayed the video over and over, dissecting every frame. I confronted her, demanded to know why she’d thrown away my gift. She came home later that night with the scarf. The once-cherished item was now shoved carelessly into a cheap plastic bag. “I told you, it’s for the show. It’s just work. Can you stop overthinking everything?” She glanced at her watch. “If there’s nothing else, I have to go. Ethan needs me on set. I’ve probably missed a dozen great shots just by coming here for an hour.” 3 “Mr. Wood, what do you think I should buy for you?” Maya’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Her gaze fell on the simple, plain band on my finger. “You’re so rich. Why are you still wearing this?” “A diamond-encrusted ring would suit you so much better.” This was the first ring Claire had ever given me, back when we were just starting our company. As we became more successful, she bought me countless expensive, beautiful rings. But I always wore this one. It represented our beginning. Our promise to never forget where we came from. But now… Maybe forgetting was the only way forward. “Alright,” I said with a smile. “Let’s shoot it just like that.” 4 A female-led channel, a direct answer to “Snowfall on Bamboo,” appeared overnight and immediately sparked a firestorm online. 【Wait, there’s another one? Why do they keep these giveaways a secret from us?】 【Another chance to get rich, missed. The opportunities are dwindling, people.】 【So you’re the one who got the hundred million? Congrats, I guess.】 【Both channels are based in the same city. Is this just some big production company stunt? All scripted?】 I was scrolling through the comments when Claire’s call came through. “Liam, have you lost your mind?” “My project has commercial value. Yours? This is just a pathetic, jealous tantrum.” I laughed. “Commercial value? Is he going to make back a hundred million for you in ad revenue?” She started to speak, but a young man’s whining voice cut through from her end. “Claire, my leg hurts…” She hung up immediately, terrified I might hear another word. After my channel blew up, many of Claire’s friends tried to talk me down. “Don’t compete with her, Liam. Her content is getting stale. She’ll get bored in another six months and come back home.” “Yeah, man, she was always going to come back when she was done playing. By fighting back, you’re just making her dig her heels in.” “They’ve been together 24/7 for a year, but you have no actual proof she’s cheating. Just let it go.” “We all know Claire loves you more than anything. We watched you two build everything from nothing. If she ever truly betrayed you, we’d be the first to call her out. It’s just a professional relationship with Ethan, we promise.” 5 I wasn’t in a good state for the second video shoot. What should have taken an afternoon dragged on into the evening. My empty stomach began to protest. On the ride home, Maya seemed to notice something was wrong. “You’re not feeling well?” “Stomachache. It’s an old problem.” She had the driver pull over. She came back with several different brands of stomach medicine. “Thanks.” “You shouldn’t eat greasy food when your stomach hurts. Do you cook?” I shook my head. “I’ll just order something.” “Order takeout?” she said, a little too brightly. “Liam, as long as I’m here, you won’t have to.” It had been a long time since I’d had a home-cooked meal. I made an exception and let her come to my apartment. I never expected Claire to come home that night. She walked in just as my hands were circling Maya’s waist, tying the strings of her apron. The heavy slam of the door was followed by Claire’s cold, mocking laugh. “Zhou Mu. Did you know I was coming back? Did you stage this little scene for me?” “You think this will get to me? This pathetic performance is a disgrace to art!” I didn’t want to fight in front of Maya. I untied the apron I’d just fastened and gestured for her to leave. Maya didn’t move. “I’m worried she might hit you.” I gave her a faint smile. “Don’t worry. She wouldn’t dare.” After I saw Maya out, I found Claire rummaging through our bedroom. “What are you looking for?” She straightened up. “That plain ring I gave you. You used to wear it every day. I didn’t see it on you today. Where did you put it?” So she did remember our first ring. But I had already thrown it away. A pang of guilt hit me. It was quickly extinguished by her next words. “Find it, quickly. I need it for a new video series with Ethan.” I stood there for a long moment, the words not registering. “You’re going to use our ring… to shoot a video with Ethan?” “Yes,” she said, her eyes alight with a creative spark. “Everyone’s getting tired of the ‘life-changing’ angle. They want romance! I’m planning one final, killer video to wrap up the series.” “We’ll transition from the plain band to a diamond one. I’ll splice in some old photos of you and me, and frame the narrative as if he was the one who was with me when I earned that hundred million, and now I’m giving it back to him. It brings the whole story full circle.” “Liam, it’s going to be a masterpiece! It’ll go viral!” “But… that’s our story,” I asked, my voice hollow. She threw her arms around me. “Liam, you’re so smart! That’s exactly it. It’s our story. I was even hoping you’d write the script for this episode.” I pushed her away. “If it’s our story, why am I not the one in it?” 6 Claire finally sensed that something was seriously wrong. She cupped my face in her hands. “Liam, you’re overthinking again, aren’t you?” “You’re not a professional actor. What if your performance was awkward? Besides, Ethan and I have been working together for so long, we have a natural chemistry.” But Ethan wasn’t a professional actor either. I’d looked into him. He was an alumnus of our university, just three years behind us. The year Claire and I graduated and started our company, he was just a freshman. I don’t know if they were in contact during those three years. All I know is that after three years, the very first thing Claire did after achieving success was pull out a hundred million dollars to build a media empire for him. Was her choice really a coincidence? I didn’t know. Those three years of building our company were a blur of exhaustion. I never noticed a thing. I pushed her hands away, too tired to argue anymore. “I threw the ring away. And I’m not writing your script.” For the first time, a flicker of genuine emotion crossed her face. “Liam, that was the first ring I ever gave you. How could you throw it away?” If she had actually watched my first video, she would have known that I’d tossed the ring into a trash can on camera. A look of dawning realization crossed her face. “Is this because I threw away your scarf?” “So you copied my video and threw away the ring?” “Yes,” I admitted. Claire let out a bitter laugh. “I went back and got that scarf the same night. Why are you still so hung up on this one little thing?” She got the scarf back. But she never wore it again. It wasn’t the scarf she’d thrown away. It was us. “There’s nothing going on between me and Ethan. If you don’t want to write the script, fine. I won’t force you.” “I admit, I’ve been completely focused on work this past year. I haven’t been there for you.” “Just give me a little more time. After I finish this last series, I’ll take you on that vacation we talked about, okay?” She hugged me, placing a light kiss on my forehead. “Be good. And that channel of yours… just shut it down.” “Don’t make things difficult for me.” It had been so long since we’d been this close. For a split second, my body instinctively wanted to lean into her embrace. But she pushed me away just as quickly. “Okay, I only got two hours off from the set with Ethan.” As she was leaving, she noticed the stomach medicine on the table. “Your stomach is weak,” she said coolly. “Remember to eat on time.” 7 After Claire left, a tidal wave of emotions washed over me. I tried to hold it back, but it was no use. The bitter sting in my throat spread to my sinuses. Of all the things she had done, the one thing I couldn’t forgive… was her taking our story, our struggle, our love… and broadcasting it to the world as hers and Ethan’s. All those years of supporting each other through the hardest times… what did they mean now? A knock on the door startled me. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this. I waited a long time, composing myself before I opened it. It was Maya. “You’re still here,” I said, clearing my throat, trying to keep my voice steady. She must have seen that I’d been crying. She looked flustered. “Um, I haven’t finished cooking dinner yet.” “Can I come in and finish?” “I waited outside for a while. I didn’t see you order any takeout.” She was offering a simple, honest kindness. I couldn’t refuse. I let her in. Maya was respectful of my space. She really did just cook me a meal. She didn’t ask a single question. The food was delicious. And my mood, surprisingly, began to lift.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387925”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The love of her life killed himself. All because she married me. For the thirty years of our marriage, our most common wish for each other was to die a miserable death. Right before I died, we had just had a massive fight. As she stormed out, she slipped something into my tea. The moment the poison hit, I knew who had done it. I forced myself to stay alive until she came home, and then I plunged a knife into her stomach, making sure she would join me in hell. But as I lay dying, I heard her stop one of her men from finishing me off. With her last breath, she gasped: “The antidote I found… give it to him…” “After I’m gone… you must… keep investigating… who’s been poisoning him all this time…” “And… when he wakes up, don’t tell that madman… it was me who found the cure for him…” A single tear escaped my closed eye. Only in my final moment did I realize how catastrophically wrong we had both been. When I was reborn, I immediately changed my university application and chose a school on the other side of the world. Let the vast oceans separate us. Let her years be lived without me, so she could finally be with the man she truly loved. … When I opened my eyes again, I was leaning against something soft, and a spoonful of hot ginger tea was being offered to my lips. I snapped my head around and met Victoria’s bloodshot eyes. For a heartbeat, we both froze. This was the morning after I’d spent an entire night standing in a storm, trying to force her to marry me. Victoria clearly hadn’t slept a wink. Dark circles bruised the skin under her impeccably cared-for eyes. “Drink it yourself.” Seeing I was awake, the flicker of worry in her eyes vanished, replaced by the familiar, combative tension of our last life. She pushed me away. “Victoria…” I managed, my voice a raw croak. “What?” “Let me hold you… just for a second…” She stood up to leave. But in the next instant, I had my arms wrapped around her from behind. I could feel her entire back go rigid. “Adrian…” she warned, her hands gripping mine, trying to pry them off. “You can’t force a flower to bloom.” “I know.” I pressed myself against her, soaking in her warmth for what I knew would be the last time. “I get it now.” “You get it now…” She let out a weary, humorless laugh. “Isn’t that what you always say?” She wrenched my hands apart, shoved me back onto the bed, and walked out without a backward glance. The way she slammed the door behind her was an eerie echo of our last moments together in our previous life. I looked down at my palms. Her warmth still lingered there. But she didn’t know. This time, I really, truly understood. I was the boy who grew up with her, the son of the man who had saved her family. But I was not, and would never be, her husband. I closed my eyes. I understand now. I’m letting you go. My phone vibrated. It was one of my assistants. “Sir, we’ve scouted the coastal villa. You’ve always wanted to have your wedding there, right? Should we change the venue?” “Go ask Mr. Leo Vance. He loves the ocean too. If he agrees, then change it.” “Sir?” my assistant asked, thinking he’d misheard. “But… you’re the groom.” “Not anymore.” I hung up and dialed my PhD advisor. “Are you sure about this? The wedding’s off? You’re coming abroad with me for the project?” he asked, wanting to confirm one last time. I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “I’m sure. I won’t back out.” My advisor let out a sigh of relief and quickly signed the necessary papers, as if afraid I’d change my mind. “Even though you’re about to graduate, they’ve been trying to get me to keep you on. A lot of people applied for this project, but no one can replace you, Adrian.” “You finally seeing sense is a good thing. Marriage can wait. A few years won’t make a difference.” A pang of guilt hit me. The project had specifically requested me from the start. But I had been so obsessed with Victoria that I’d stubbornly refused my advisor’s invitation. He had been forced to look for other candidates, but no one met the qualifications, and the entire project had been delayed. I was in his office finishing the last of the paperwork when I heard a plaintive voice from outside the door. “I worked so hard for this, but then Adrian suddenly decided he wanted the spot. My entire month of effort… it’s all wasted…” It was Leo. My hand tightened on the doorknob. Victoria’s one true love. The man who had stood between us for thirty bitter years. I opened the door, and a familiar scene played out before me. Victoria stood there, looking down at me with a coldness I had never seen from her before. “Adrian, give the spot back.” Looking at her expression, and at Leo standing behind her with a tear-streaked, pitiful face, I shook my head. “Impossible.” “Adrian…” An expression of pure disbelief crossed her face. “I’ve already bent to your will and agreed to marry you. You think I don’t know you’ve already booked the wedding venue? You have no intention of going! You’re just doing this to torment Leo!” Leo stepped forward, his eyes red. “Adrian, I really did work so hard for this. Once I’m gone, I won’t be able to bother you two anymore. You’ll have your peace…” “You know damn well how hard you actually worked,” I said flatly. “You wouldn’t have gotten this project anyway.” Leo froze, his eyes growing even redder. Before applying, his original plan was to have Victoria go with him, so I couldn’t stop them. But after I’d repeatedly harmed myself to manipulate her, Victoria, burdened by the debt her family owed mine, had finally caved and agreed to marry me. In a fit of pique, Leo had decided to go alone. But his preparations over the past few months had been driven more by anger than by actual effort. In our last life, he had failed to get the position. But Victoria didn’t know that. Her brow furrowed. “You never even gave him a chance. How can you be so sure he would fail?” I held up the signed document. “Because Professor Miles has already signed off on me.” “Adrian…” Victoria’s fists clenched, her eyes filled with an unprecedented level of disappointment. “I always thought you were just spoiled and willful, but I never imagined you could be so cruel. You don’t need this opportunity, but Leo has sacrificed so much to get here! I can’t believe you’d waste a spot from Professor Miles just to spite him!” Her breathing grew ragged as her anger mounted. She stared at me, her voice like ice. “Listen to me. You may have blackmailed me into this marriage, but because of this, I will never, ever see you as my husband.” “I know.” I nodded calmly. I had already lived through that reality. Victoria turned away, taking Leo’s arm and comforting him in a soft voice. “It’s okay. I’ll fund you myself. We’ll find other opportunities. Don’t be sad.” That gentle tone… I had dreamed of hearing it directed at me countless times in my past life. But I never got it then, and I wouldn’t get it now. I really have to go, Victoria. I assumed Victoria wouldn’t want to see me again before the wedding. But when I returned to the penthouse I’d arranged for us, I opened the door to find her standing there. Our eyes met. Before I could speak, she brushed past me and strode out. I still wasn’t fully recovered. On the kitchen counter sat a bowl of ginger tea, still perfectly warm. A wave of complicated emotions washed over me. I remembered, in our last life, how she had always taken care of me even while she despised me. All because she had promised my parents before they died that she would look after me. So, no matter how terribly we fought, when I was hospitalized, she had donated blood for me without a second thought. Even if we had just sworn to never see each other again, the moment a car was about to hit me, she would instinctively throw herself forward to push me out of the way. She was just repaying a debt with her life. And I… I had always demanded her heart as well. As I drank what was likely the last bowl of ginger tea she would ever make for me, a memory surfaced. I glanced at the date. My heart clenched. I slammed the bowl down, scrambling for my shoes as I dialed my assistant. “Get to the alley off 13th and 6th, now!” It was pouring rain outside, but I didn’t even have time to grab an umbrella. I just ran. Guided by memory, I found the alley where Leo had been beaten in our past life. Just as I remembered, a dozen large men were surrounding a boy. “Just because your parents are dead doesn’t mean their debts are! We’ve given you enough time. No money? Then we’ll take an arm!” “Stop!” I smashed a beer bottle over the leader’s head, grabbed Leo’s hand, and pulled. “Run!” “Ah!” The rain-slicked pavement sent Leo sprawling to the ground. I yanked on his arm, but he was dead weight. The thugs were already closing in. I had no choice. I shoved him behind me. “Go! I’ll hold them off!” “I… I…” Leo was terrified, huddled on the ground and shaking. “Run!” I yelled, doing my best to fend them off. Ten years of martial arts training was no match for a dozen grown men. “I can’t hold them for long! Go get the police!” “I… I’m so scared… I can’t move…” Leo’s voice was trembling uncontrollably. I gritted my teeth and kicked one of the men away, buying myself a precious second. I turned back to haul Leo to his feet, but he let out a sharp cry and shoved me—hard. A blade pierced through my body. My breath hitched. “Shit… there’s blood!” The leader hadn’t expected me to stumble into the knife. He clearly hadn’t intended to kill anyone, and his hand on the hilt was unsteady. My eyes were wide, fixed on Leo. He was staring at me, head in his hands, trembling. “I-I’m sorry… I was just so scared…” Clenching my jaw, I ripped the knife out of my own body and lunged at the thugs, swinging it wildly. They were already spooked by the blood. Seeing me go berserk was the last straw. The group scattered and fled. I staggered, barely staying on my feet. Rain blurred my vision. Through the haze, I heard footsteps approaching quickly. I reached out instinctively for support, but a powerful force shoved me, and my back slammed against the brick wall. Victoria was holding a shivering Leo, her jaw tight as she glared at me. “I already agreed to marry you! Why do you still have to hunt him down like an animal?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387941”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel