Category: English

During the sign-ups for the collegiate esports league, my boyfriend insisted on adding me to his squad. But his “female bro” wasn’t having it. “Why are you dragging a girl into a guy’s competition?” she snapped. “Is she just here to drag us down?” I let out a soft, trembling sob. “Liam, forget it. Your friend doesn’t seem to like me.” “I don’t need to compete. I just wanted to spend a little more time with you…” Liam was visibly moved. He spent the rest of the time hugging me, kissing me, and doting on me. He didn’t even notice that his “female bro” had muted her mic in a fit of rage. So what if she’s a “pick-me” girl? Has she ever met a strategic manipulator? Chapter 1 Liam was my gaming partner for two months before we started dating online. He had a great voice, cracked skills, and a handsome face. I actually had real feelings for him and agreed to meet up in person. But one day, I checked his match history. Every night at 2:00 AM, he played Elimination mode with a female account named “Jordan.” “Oh, you mean Jordan? She’s just one of the guys! She fights like a dude and always wants to 1v1 me.” “Babe, don’t be jealous. I don’t even see her as a woman!” I obediently expressed my understanding. Then, I acted cute and asked if I could join his team for the upcoming esports league. “Of course! Carrying one person is easy for us.” As soon as I joined the lobby, I heard a sharp female voice teasing him. “Liam, where the hell did you kidnap this little sister from? Be honest, what number is she this month?” “Don’t talk crap! I’m a loyal man now! This is my official girlfriend. We’ve been together for two months.” “Tiffany, these two are my childhood friends.” I greeted them with a soft, gentle voice. Jordan went silent for a moment. Then she let out a weird laugh. “Hey sis, we aren’t Liam. Why are you using that fake baby voice?” The other teammate, Kyle, laughed and tried to smooth things over. “Oh come on, Jordan just speaks without thinking. Don’t mind her, sister-in-law! Your voice is top tier! Liam, you lucky dog.” Liam chuckled. He made his game character perform heart emotes and hugs around me, showing off our love. “Alright, alright, get a room,” Jordan snapped. “You’ve seen her. Now kick her, sis. We need to practice our aim.” Her tone allowed for no arguments. I feigned ignorance. “But… Liam said I could join the competition.” “You’re joking, right?” Jordan turned her rage on Liam. “Liam, you idiot, what do you mean? It’s a serious competition. Why are you dragging a girl along? To be a dead weight?” “Uh, actually, Tiffany’s aim isn’t bad. I taught her…” That seemed to trigger Jordan even more. “You taught her? You taught her. You sure ‘teach’ a lot of people, don’t you?” Oh, is she jealous? I sniffled softly into the mic. “Liam, forget it. Your bro doesn’t seem to like me.” “I don’t have to play. I just wanted to be by your side a bit more…” Liam was touched. We were in the honeymoon phase; any clingy behavior was just proof of love. So, he completely ignored his “bro” who had muted herself in anger. “It’s fine, it’s fine! It’s settled. You’re on the team!” Chapter 2 That night, a WeChat account with a basketball profile picture added me. They didn’t say anything. I checked the profile. Gender: Male. I scrolled down. The posts were… interesting. [Liam’s tolerance is trash. Half a bottle of vodka and he’s collapsed in Daddy’s arms! Hilarious!] The photo was taken from a high angle. Below a very curved tank top, you could see half of Liam’s drunken face. Further down, November 12th. [Carried this son of mine to nine wins in Elimination today! My skills speak for themselves.] [Some girls are such buzzkills. Dragging people out to FaceTime in the middle of a match? Will you die if you aren’t glued to your boyfriend for one minute? The gaming environment is toxic because of people like you!] I remembered that night. I was sick with Covid, lying in bed, unable to sleep, so I video-called Liam. Under that post, Liam had commented: [Okay, okay, I’m sorry. My baby was sick, I had to keep her company. I’ll buy you dinner tomorrow!] She replied with a sneer: [Can you cure sickness? She’s just being dramatic.] I kept scrolling. There were many similar posts. Duo queue records, photos of them kissing as a “truth or dare” punishment at a bar, and videos of her sitting on his lap in a gaming cafe. Doing everything a couple does, all under the guise of “bros.” I was too disgusted to scroll further. Just then, a new post popped up at the top. [I was wondering why he’s simping so hard. Turns out he hasn’t hit it yet. Guess I’ll play along this one time!] The image was a screenshot of Liam’s messages in their group chat. [It’s just the prelims. I’m just coaxing her. I obviously won’t let her play in the finals!] [Be a brother and understanding.] [I’ve already booked the hotel room for when we meet up!] I let out a soft laugh. So that’s the game plan? Chapter 3 A message from Liam popped up. [Hubby <3]: Wifey, what are you doing? I tapped the screen casually. [Me]: Thinking about you, big brother. I attached a photo of myself in a low-cut knit sweater, highlighting my collarbones. Liam video-called me immediately. The background looked like his dorm room. He pulled off his headset, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Babe... why are you teasing me in the middle of the night..." "I didn't mean to~" I pouted, lowered my eyes, and let a hint of unhappiness show. "What's wrong, babe?" He realized immediately. "Is it because of the team thing earlier?" "Look, trust me. Jordan didn't mean it. She's just loud and blunt, but she has a good heart. You'll see when we meet up." "When we meet... she's coming too?" "Yeah, she insisted on checking you out for me! But my wifey is so beautiful, I don't need anyone to check..." I looked up, silent, my eyes red. I stared at him with watery, glistening eyes. Liam couldn't handle it. He swallowed hard, his eyes glazing over a bit. "Babe..." "When we meet... I don't want her there." "Okay, okay. She won't come. Whatever you say, babe..." I had trained Liam well; his willingness to pay up was high. Not long after, two transfers of $520 came through. "Holy crap, Liam, you hoes-before-bros traitor!" The camera shook as Jordan burst into the dorm, jumping onto Liam's back and pummeling him. "I was wondering why you weren't online. You're in here doing 'hand crafts'? Let Daddy check if it's real..." "Get off!" Liam's face turned red as he laughed and wrestled with her. I hung up the video call with a blank expression. This scene was common in Jordan's feed. They had even coordinated to attend this co-ed dorm university together. Their excuse: Continuing the brotherhood. Well, I suppose I should help them out. Chapter 4 I continued to join their pre-match training. During Elimination mode, Jordan deliberately picked the same team as Liam. "Sis, you go to the other team. Liam and I have been partners for a long time, we have better synergy." Kyle groaned. "No way, you two are way better than us. How are we supposed to win?" "Guess you'll just get wrecked then," Jordan grinned. Liam hesitated and tried to comfort me. "Elimination is mainly to practice my synergy with Jordan. During the actual competition, you just follow us, smoke, and loot. Just bear with it for now, babe..." "Okay then," I said, sounding wronged. The match started. Jordan always charged first. And she specifically targeted me. With a Vector SMG, she hunted me down and killed me five times in a row. Kyle tried to block for me but got melted by her hip-fire. He screamed, "Damn, why are you playing so aggressive?" She gloated, "Liam, your girlfriend can't take a hit, huh? Is that it?" "I... I'm sorry, sister..." My voice trembled with tears. "I'm not as good as you. I'm clumsy... I need Liam to protect me..." I dropped my gun and hid behind Liam's character, acting terrified. "Alright, that's enough, you're scaring my baby! Go away!" Jordan choked on her anger. Liam spoke gently, "Babe, you go back to the other team. I'll play against you two. I promise I won't be so aggressive." "O-okay." After two months of sweet duo-queuing, Liam had a conditioned reflex to protect my character. So, for the next few rounds... I would occasionally stop to make heart gestures or hug emotes at him. And he would dutifully run over to hug back. Then Kyle would blast him to death with a full magazine. Jordan screamed in the background, "Liam, you idiot!"

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My brother, Leo, is devastatingly handsome and an incorrigible flirt—a walking trail of broken hearts. So when I caught a glimpse of him at the gala, engaged in a subtle, flirty exchange with the fiancée of Julian Sterling, the head of the entire Sterling dynasty, my world went dark. Stunned and furious, I frantically stomped on my brother’s foot under the table, a desperate, silent plea for him to stop. But then Jason, who had been studying his cards with his gaze lowered, slowly lifted his eyes to meet mine. His look was deep, unnervingly direct. Oh God. I stomped on the wrong man. 1 It was the engagement party for the Sterling family’s eldest daughter. As close family friends for generations, my brother Leo insisted on dragging me along to offer our congratulations. On the way there, he gave me the usual lecture, a litany of warnings to steer clear of certain trust-fund types. I nodded obediently through it all. “When it comes to love, Elara, remember this: all men are trash. Every single one.” I shot a silent, sidelong glance at my brother, with his ridiculously charming smile and eyes that promised nothing but trouble. “You do realize you’re a man too, right?” I reminded him. Leo just laughed. “Exactly. And I’m the worst of them all.” I was speechless, rolling my eyes so hard I thought they’d get stuck. He pinched my cheek, a devilish grin spreading across his face. “Elara, are you cursing me out in your head again?” “No!” I yelped, a little too quickly. Leo is five years older than me. Handsome, wild, with a romantic life that could fill a novel. But with me, he was a warden. Before I left for college, his rules were absolute: no dating, no late nights, and every outing had to be reported and approved. He was a tyrant. When we were kids, he’d parade me around in front of his friends. “Look! Isn’t my sister the prettiest, cutest thing you’ve ever seen? Bet you wish you had one.” Now that I’m older, he barely lets his friends near me and scrutinizes every interaction I have with the opposite sex. His justification? “My sister is beautiful, and the world is full of scumbags. I have to keep her safe. I won’t let anyone fool her.” Tonight’s gala was supposed to be my official entry into this world now that I’d graduated—a chance to network, to see and be seen. The Sterlings were the pinnacle of high society, after all. The guest list was a who’s who of power and wealth. I just never imagined that the one to cause the biggest scene would be my own brother, the very person who’d lectured me on propriety all evening. He was a player, a Casanova. But I never thought he’d be reckless enough to target the fiancée of Jason Sterling himself. The engagement party was held at a magnificent private estate, a sprawling garden that felt like something out of a fairy tale. After the formal ceremonies, Leo and Jason retreated to a quiet conservatory overlooking the grounds, joining a high-stakes poker game and talking business. I had wandered off, exploring the rose gardens, and was making my way back along a stone veranda. I glanced across a small koi pond towards the conservatory, and what I saw made my blood run cold. Even from a distance, my eyes locked onto the scene. Under the table, my brother’s foot was shamelessly, intimately toying with the woman beside him. I could see the amethyst silk of her dress ripple with the movement. And that woman was Stella Dalton. Jason Sterling’s fiancée. Jason was a man with a fearsome reputation. He had the face of a saint and the heart of a shark. He was impossibly handsome, exuding a gentle, cultured charisma in every interaction. But in the boardroom, his tactics were ruthless, merciless. He wouldn’t have clawed his way to the top of the Sterling family, surpassing six older siblings, if he were anything less. Had my brother lost his mind? His audacity was terrifying. My heart pounding, I hurried over to the conservatory. The men at the table barely glanced up as I entered, their focus locked on their cards. I squeezed myself into the small space beside my brother, positioning myself right between him and Stella. I pretended to watch the game, but my eyes were burning holes into the side of Leo’s head, wishing I could knock him unconscious and drag him out of there. “Care to play?” Jason’s voice, cool and smooth, cut through the tension. Startled, I flinched, my guilt over my brother’s actions making my heart leap into my throat. I looked up at him—at that face, with its flawlessly sculpted features and eyes that seemed to hold ancient secrets. The sheer force of his beauty left me flustered. I shook my head, managing a shy smile. “I’m not very good.” Then, trying to be playful, I added, “Besides, I’m broke. I haven’t even gotten my first paycheck yet.” A faint smile touched Jason’s lips. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, his voice a low murmur. “Your winnings are your own. Your losses are on me.” Unsure how to respond, I looked to my brother for help. A smug, unreadable smirk played on Leo’s lips as he patted my arm. “What are you waiting for? Thank your Uncle Jason.” Jason was the youngest of his generation, the Sterling patriarch’s last son. Though he was only seven years older than me, our parents’ generation considered him a peer. Technically, I was supposed to address him with a level of formal respect. “Thank you… Jason,” I mumbled, feeling my brother was deliberately trying to make this awkward. On the rare occasions I’d met Jason before, I always called him Mr. Sterling. Leo called him by his first name, yet he wanted me to call him ‘uncle’? Jason gave a slight nod, his eyes warm. Then, a ghost of a smile touched his lips as he looked from me to my brother. “If she’s calling me Jason, perhaps you should stick to Mr. Sterling, Leo. After all, you’ll be calling Stella ‘Mrs. Sterling’ soon enough.” Leo’s eyes narrowed, the smile on his face turning frigid. Stella, who had been sitting quietly beside him, kept her eyes downcast, a silent statue. Something was deeply wrong here. A love triangle? Some dark, hidden secret? My curiosity was a frantic, buzzing thing I couldn’t contain. Sensing the sudden frost in the air, I jumped in, my voice bright and eager. “Let me shuffle!” My attempt was clumsy, the cards fumbling through my fingers. It was obvious I barely ever touched a deck. Leo scoffed. “You don’t even know how. Why offer?” Stella finally looked up, offering me a gentle smile. “I can do it.” Jason just watched, his expression unreadable as he took a slow sip of tea. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. The oppressive atmosphere in the room seemed to lift, just a little. As it turned out, my luck was incredible. I won three hands in a row. But I couldn’t enjoy it. My brother was at it again. I’d been watching them like a hawk, and I saw the blush on Stella’s cheeks deepen. That was it. Furious, I kicked my leg out under the table and stomped on Leo’s foot. He didn’t even flinch. I stomped again, harder this time, then a third time, trying to signal that I knew exactly what he was doing and he needed to stop. Now. Still, he ignored me completely. I pressed my shoe down on his, grinding my heel in, baffled by his lack of reaction. It was then, in my confusion, that my eyes met Jason’s. His brow was furrowed slightly, his gaze resting on me, quiet and intense. A horrifying realization dawned. I froze, staring at him. I hadn’t just stomped on the wrong person. I had stomped on Jason Sterling. Repeatedly. Under the table, in front of everyone. An act that could only be interpreted as a brazen, intimate adHavens. Leo finally noticed my stunned silence. He flicked my forehead. “What are you staring at Jason for?” he asked, his tone sharp. Jason’s expression smoothed out, a slow, amused smile gracing his lips. “Yes, why are you staring at me, Elara?” he purred. “Want one of my cards?” My mind was a complete blank. Shock made me blurt out the first thing that came to it. “You’re just… stunning.” The moment the words left my mouth, reality crashed back in. My face exploded in heat. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. Jason’s gaze remained calm, and he simply gave a small, dismissive smile. He’d probably heard it a million times. My brother snorted. “What, more stunning than me?” Flustered, I just stammered, “You’re both stunning, everyone’s stunning…” The game ended soon after. Leo and Jason started talking business, their tones deceptively casual. After a few minutes, Stella excused herself to go to the restroom. A moment later, Leo got up and left too. Leaving me alone with Jason Sterling. I immediately leaned forward, my voice a mortified whisper. “Mr. Sterling… Jason… I am so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to.” My words tumbled out in a rush. “I was trying to mess with my brother, I thought that was his foot.” There wasn’t a hint of annoyance on his face. Seeing my panic, he even teased me. “And here I was, thinking my shoes had personally offended you.” My face burned even hotter. He had accepted my apology and wasn’t pressing the issue. He changed the subject, his voice casual. “You’ll be starting your internship at Sterling Corp soon, won’t you? Does your brother know?” Leo wanted me to work at our family’s company, but I’d refused. I lied and told him I wanted to enjoy my last summer before starting a real job. In reality, I’d secretly applied to Sterling Corp and gotten in. But I was just an intern. How would the CEO of a global conglomerate even know who was being hired for a bottom-rung position? Yet, here he was, mentioning it. He knew. Panic seized me. Did he think I was some kind of corporate spy? I was wrestling with how to deny it without sounding even more suspicious when he seemed to read my mind. “It was just a question,” he said, his voice soothing. “You earned that offer on your own merit. Come in, work hard, and don’t worry about it.” Relief washed over me, and my eyes lit up. I beamed at him, my gratitude shining through. Jason paused, his cool, moon-like eyes half-lidding for a fraction of a second, hiding an emotion I couldn’t decipher. It was as dark and complex as storm clouds gathering on the horizon. Leo and Stella were still gone. A knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. Using the restroom as my excuse, I slipped out to find them, muttering curses at my brother under my breath. The first thing I was going to do when I got home was call our older sister, Eleanor. We had three siblings. Eleanor, the eldest, was the business prodigy, the one who had inherited our family’s company. Leo was just her second-in-command. He’d spent his entire childhood on the receiving end of her discipline. He was terrified of her. I passed through a rock grotto, the mist from a small, man-made waterfall raising goosebumps on my arms. A sudden chill, like a silken thread, wrapped around me. I quickened my pace, only to stop dead a few yards later. There, in a shadowy alcove, were Leo and Stella, locked in a tense struggle. Before I could process it, Leo pushed her against the stone wall and crushed his mouth to hers. After a brief, token resistance, Stella melted into his embrace. Oh, Leo. My dear, idiotic brother. Were you trying to single-handedly destroy our family’s company? Making a move on Jason Sterling’s fiancée, on Sterling property… My vision swam. Seeing my own brother in such a sordid scene made my skin crawl. I couldn’t watch. I started to turn away, but a cold presence drifted into my senses, followed by a voice, right beside my ear. “Enjoying the show?” The voice was flat, devoid of emotion, and colder than the night air. The garden was dark, illuminated only by the faint, swaying red light of distant lanterns. Every hair on my body stood on end. A scream built in my throat, but it was smothered by a cold, firm hand clamped over my mouth. An arm snaked around my waist, trapping me against a hard chest. Terrified, I twisted my head and saw him. Jason. His face was a mask of indifference as he stared at the scene unfolding in the shadows. In the dim light, his perfect profile took on a terrifying, beautiful edge. I thought my heart was going to beat its way out of my chest. My mind reeled. Slowly, carefully, I brought my hand up to his, the one covering my mouth. I turned my body to face him, my eyes wide with fear. He looked down at me, his gaze dark and unreadable. His voice was a low, dangerous whisper. “Your brother is playing with my fiancée… So tell me, how would you feel if I played with his little sister?” 2 My brain buzzed and then went completely silent. It felt like it had short-circuited. What did he mean by that? Was he being literal, or was there some twisted, veiled threat I was failing to grasp? I was frozen solid, forgetting even how to breathe. The warm body pressed against my back, the clean, crisp scent of sandalwood that was distinctly Jason’s—it all enveloped me. But it didn’t feel comforting. It felt like being coiled in the grasp of a cold, venomous snake. “Jason… p-please don’t joke like that,” I stammered, my voice trembling uncontrollably. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, a sound that sent a paralyzing chill straight up my spine. “Do I look like I’m joking?” He wasn’t even looking at Leo and Stella anymore. His gaze was fixed entirely on me, intense and possessive. “Your brother has humiliated me. I have to get my dignity back, don’t you think?” “Elara,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Be my fi-an-cée.” He drew out the word, each syllable a nail hammering the terrifying proposition into my mind. Tears welled in my eyes. How did I get dragged into this mess? My brother’s romantic conquests had nothing to do with me. Why was I the one paying the price? “N-No… you can’t… my brother, he…” “Your brother,” Jason interrupted smoothly, his tone flat but carrying an undeniable weight of command, “is about to find himself in a world of trouble. The Havens family has money, it’s true. But compared to the Sterlings, it’s nothing.” “He crossed me. I could make him, and your entire family, pay for it. Or…” He paused, and the pad of his thumb began to gently stroke my cheek, a deceptively comforting gesture, like soothing a cornered animal. “Or, you could be a good girl and do as I say. Become my fiancée. Not only will I forgive your brother, but I’ll even ensure Stella gets what she wants—a clean break from our engagement, freeing her up to run off with the man she truly desires.” “So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?” I was stunned into silence. His offer sounded… terrifyingly tempting. He wouldn’t just let my brother off the hook, he’d actually help them get together? It seemed too good to be true. I tilted my head back, my gaze meeting his deep, bottomless eyes. There wasn’t a trace of humor in them, only the cold, dark glint of calculation. I had no doubt that if I refused, every terrible consequence he’d laid out would become my reality. Leo was an idiot, but he was my brother. I couldn’t stand by and watch him burn our family to the ground. “I… I’ll do it,” I whispered, closing my eyes. My voice was so faint it was barely a sound. “Good girl.” Jason smiled, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes, and released me. The moment he let go, my legs gave out, and I nearly collapsed onto the stone path. He caught me in a flash, his hand steadying my arm. “So scared of me?” he murmured, an eyebrow raised in amusement. I wanted to cry. Of course I was scared. You’re Jason Sterling, the man they call a gentleman predator! “So… what do I have to do?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Act,” Jason said simply. “From this moment on, I am pursuing you. Soon, you will be my girlfriend. And after that, my fiancée.” “In public, you must act completely and utterly smitten with me.” I stared at him, dumbfounded. Smitten? With his terrifying, ice-cold poker face? The acting challenge of a lifetime. As if reading my thoughts, he added coolly, “And if you’re a bad actress, we’ll just have to make it real.” A shiver went down my spine. I nodded frantically. “I understand! I’ll be the best actress you’ve ever seen. Oscar-worthy, I swear!” Across the garden, the sordid kiss finally ended. 3 Leo and Stella exchanged a few words before parting ways. As my brother turned, he saw me standing with Jason in the shadows. His expression froze, a flicker of panic in his eyes. Jason, however, acted as if nothing was wrong. He casually draped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close in a gesture of effortless intimacy. “Finished your chat?” he called out to my brother, his voice deceptively light. Leo’s eyes darted between the two of us, finally settling on the hand resting on my shoulder. His brow furrowed into a deep, angry line. “Jason, what the hell do you think you’re doing with my sister?” “Exactly what it looks like,” Jason replied with a lazy smile. “I find your sister… charming. I’m thinking of pursuing her.” The color drained from Leo’s face. “No way,” he snapped, his rejection instantaneous. “She’s too young!” “Oh?” Jason’s eyebrow arched. “Younger than Stella?” That one sentence shut my brother down completely. His face cycled through shades of red and white, a spectacular display of impotent fury. I huddled against Jason’s side, barely daring to breathe. When titans clashed, it was the mortals who got crushed. “Elara, get over here,” Leo ordered, his voice tight with restrained anger. I looked up at Jason, my eyes pleading for help. He patted my back reassuringly. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Then, he turned his cool gaze back to my brother. “She doesn’t want to go with you right now. After all, compared to a brother who publicly humiliates his future brother-in-law, I seem like the more trustworthy option, don’t you think?” “Jason!” Leo seethed, a vein pulsing in his forehead. I genuinely feared he was about to throw a punch. If he did, the Havens family wouldn’t just pay a price; we’d be wiped off the map. I quickly tugged on Jason’s sleeve and forced a smile at my brother that felt more like a grimace. “Leo, it’s… Jason and I… we’re…” I couldn’t finish the sentence, my mind blanking on a plausible lie. Jason, however, had no such problem. “We’re perfect for each other,” he finished smoothly. I could have died. How could he say that with a straight face? My brother obviously didn’t buy it. He stared at me, his eyes boring into mine. “Elara, tell me the truth. Is he forcing you to do this?” Could I say yes? If I did, our family was done for. I could only shake my head, tears welling in my eyes as I choked out the lie. “No, Leo. It’s my choice. I think Jason is… wonderful.” As I said it, I could feel my toes curling in my shoes from the sheer force of the lie. Leo looked at me with the heartbroken expression of a man whose beloved sister had completely lost her mind. “What do you know about him? Stay away from him! He’s not a good person!” You’re not exactly a saint yourself, I thought. It was the pot calling the kettle black. The standoff finally ended when one of Leo’s friends intervened, pulling him away. Jason, meanwhile, led me from the estate. As I sat in the silent, plush interior of Jason’s car, my head was still spinning. In the span of a single evening, I had gone from an ordinary recent graduate to the “scandalous new girlfriend” of a corporate tycoon. Life, it turned out, was full of terrifying surprises. The silence in the car was heavy. I stole a glance at Jason beside me. He was leaning back against the leather seat, his eyes closed. In profile, he was as perfect and unyielding as a marble statue. Without the mask of gentle charisma, a cold, unapproachable aura radiated from him. I shrank into my seat, trying to make myself as small as possible. “My driver will pick you up tomorrow morning at eight,” he said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence. “Huh? Pick me up… for what?” “To go to my house.” My heart skipped a beat. “W-what for?” He opened his eyes and turned to look at me, a playful glint in their depths. “To meet the family. And to get you acquainted with your duties as a fiancée.” My face flushed instantly. “So soon?” “What did you expect? For me to wait until your brother recovers and puts you under house arrest?” Jason said coolly. “For this to work, it has to be believable. And the first step is convincing everyone in your life that it’s real.” “Including your formidable older sister.” At the mention of Eleanor, my stomach dropped. I was done for. Leo was scared of our sister, but frankly, so was I. Eleanor was the acting CEO of Havens Industries, a ruthless workaholic who didn’t suffer fools. 4 If she found out I was tangled up with Jason Sterling, she would skin me alive. “Um… Jason, about my sister… can we maybe take it slow?” I ventured, my voice small. “No,” he replied without a shred of pity. “You’re coming with me tomorrow.” “That’s an order.” My shoulders slumped in defeat. Fine. When you’re caught between a rock and a hard place, you do what the rock says. This was all my brother’s fault. The next morning, I was in the middle of a nightmare where I was tearfully confessing my sins to Eleanor when my phone rang, jolting me awake. It was Jason’s driver, informing me he was already waiting downstairs. I scrambled out of bed, rushing through my morning routine. After tearing my closet apart, I settled on a simple, innocent-looking white dress. When I got downstairs, my parents were having breakfast. My mom paused, taking in my outfit. “Elara, you look so lovely today. Are you going out?” I nodded, my guilt churning. “Yeah, I’m meeting a friend.” “Which friend? A boy or a girl?” my dad asked, his protective instincts immediately on high alert. “A girl! Definitely a girl!” I insisted. Just then, the doorbell rang. My mom went to answer it, revealing a man in a sharp suit standing on our doorstep. It was Jason’s driver. He gave my parents a polite, formal bow. “Good morning. Is this the Havens residence? I’m Mr. Sterling’s driver. I’ve been sent to pick up Miss Elara.” My parents froze. “Mr. Sterling? Which Mr. Sterling?” my dad asked, his voice cautious. “Mr. Jason Sterling.” The air in the room instantly evaporated. My parents stared at each other, their expressions even more horrified than my brother’s had been the night before. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. Jason was ruthless! He’d brought the battle directly to my front door. My dad recovered first, his face darkening. “My daughter isn’t going anywhere today.” The driver’s polite smile never wavered. “Mr. Havens, I’m only following Mr. Sterling’s instructions. He said that if you were to refuse, he would be happy to come over and have a chat with you and Mrs. Havens personally.” He paused for effect. “And perhaps discuss some of Leo’s… recent activities.” My dad’s face went rigid. He knew all about Leo’s reckless behavior. Starting a war with Jason Sterling would be suicide for our family. In the end, choking back his anger, my dad could only watch as the driver “escorted” me to the car. As I left, I saw my mom standing in the doorway, her face etched with worry. My heart ached. Jason, you absolute monster. The Sterling family estate was even grander and more imposing than I had imagined. It was a true heritage mansion, surrounded by acres of meticulously landscaped gardens, exuding an aura of old-world power. I followed the butler down a long, echoing hall, my stomach in knots. In the main drawing room, the patriarch of the family, Mr. Sterling Sr., was seated in a high-backed armchair, sipping tea. Several other stern-looking, middle-aged men were seated around him. Jason was sitting just to his father’s right. When I walked in, he beckoned me over with a subtle smile playing on his lips. To me, it looked like the smile of the devil himself. “Grandfather, uncles, this is Elara Havens,” Jason announced, his tone so natural it was as if we were actually dating. “The young woman I’m courting.” Every pair of eyes in the room snapped to me. My palms began to sweat. I forced what I hoped was a sweet and harmless smile onto my face. “Good morning, Mr. Sterling. Good morning, everyone.”

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On our fifth anniversary together, I found myself sitting alone at a table full of cold food, just like the years before. Julian had promised to celebrate my birthday with me, just like he always did. And just like always, he broke that promise. This year, his excuse was his childhood friend, Bella. She wanted to do a photoshoot and needed him and his “boys” to be in it. Without a second thought, he ditched me and ran to her side. At 11 PM, Bella posted a photo on her social media, visible only to me. In the picture, four men in black briefs and bowties were kneeling around a woman draped in sheer fabric. The caption read: “Some people beg for a slice of cake, but I own the whole bakery.” I took a screenshot, then sent it to the girlfriends of Julian’s three best friends. If you guys think I’m beneath you, I hope you never have to kneel and beg me for anything. 1 Staring at that photo, something inside me quietly shattered. The lighting was warm and golden, making the four half-naked men look like Greek gods worshiping their queen. They gazed at her with adoration and submission. Bella, the queen in question, wore nothing but a translucent black veil, showing off every curve, radiating an arrogant, raw sexuality. The caption was a direct provocation. “Some people beg for a slice of cake, but I own the whole bakery.” I looked at the cold dinner I’d prepared, then back at the picture of Julian and his friends acting like trained pets. Suddenly, the anger evaporated. It wasn’t worth it. None of it was. I liked Bella’s post and commented: “A match made in heaven. Trash belongs with trash.” Then, I took a screenshot before the post magically disappeared. I sent it individually to the girlfriends of Julian’s three friends: Leo, Chris, and Sam. Ten minutes later, my phone exploded. Leo: “Linda, are you crazy? I was just helping Bella with a photoshoot! Why did you have to tell my girlfriend? You got a big mouth! She’s mad at me now, are you happy?” Chris: “You psycho! What did I ever do to you? Why involve my girl? If you’re bored, go jump off a bridge!” Sam: “Bitch! Stay out of my business! I hope your whole family gets hit by a car!” I was about to reply when Julian called. “Linda, what the hell is wrong with you?” he shouted. “Because of your little tattling, Leo and the guys are all fighting with their girlfriends. Do you know what you’ve done? Are you that twisted that you can’t stand seeing other people happy?” “Bella is crying because she feels guilty! This is all your fault!” “Get over here right now, explain yourself, and apologize to Bella. Or don’t expect me to be nice to you ever again.” “Bella is crying?” I asked calmly. “Of course! Why else would I be yelling at you? I’ve spoiled you too much.” “Is she still wearing that mosquito net that doesn’t cover anything while she’s crying? Are you guys still in your matching underwear comforting her?” Julian’s voice faltered. “Linda, stop being unreasonable. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Really?” I sent him the screenshot. “Julian, Bella is practically naked. Did you guys get hard during the shoot?” He hung up. 2 He probably didn’t expect Bella to post that just to spite me, or for me to go nuclear and send it to everyone. Since he hung up, I texted him: “Why hang up? Aren’t you going to yell at me anymore?” He started typing, then stopped. No reply. So, I posted the screenshot and the abusive texts from his friends on my own feed. Caption: “Happy birthday to me, even if I’m celebrating alone.” It was past midnight, technically the day after my birthday, but my feed blew up. Friends commented instantly: “WTF! Julian ditched you on your birthday for this? Trash.” “Don’t be mad, Linda. We’ll celebrate with you.” “Julian looks like a decent guy, but damn, he plays dirty. Four kings and a queen?” “Is she really wearing that? Is she advertising services?” Ten minutes later, Leo’s girlfriend joined the chat. She reposted the screenshot and announced her breakup. “If Leo can wear underwear for her today, he can take it off for her tomorrow. Trash belongs with trash. Go lick your queen’s feet, dog.” The chaos intensified. But Julian remained silent. I wasn’t going to let him hide. I sent the screenshot to his parents. That finally got his head out of his shell. Early the next morning, Julian’s mom called. “Linda, dear, can you come over? We saw the photo. There must be a misunderstanding. You two have been together for so long, the wedding is soon… why make it so ugly?” “Mrs. Miller, you saw the picture. I don’t think there’s a misunderstanding. I’ve been nothing but good to Julian. I love him, but that doesn’t give him the right to hurt me.” Out of respect for his parents, I agreed to go. “I’ll be there soon.” I drove to the Miller estate. Julian’s parents were waiting outside, with Julian standing behind them, head hung low. I got out of my car. Just as I shut the door, a black sports car roared out of nowhere, speeding straight for me. “Linda, look out!” Julian sprinted toward me and shoved me out of the way. Thud! I hit the ground hard. I watched as Julian flew into the air. 3 The sports car sped off. Julian was rushed to the hospital. He had saved me but paid the price with two broken legs. Staring at Julian in his hospital bed, casts on both legs, I felt… nothing. Yesterday, seeing him like this because of me would have destroyed me. I would have been crying my eyes out, wishing it was me instead. But today, I was just glad I only had a few scrapes. Julian woke up post-surgery, weak and pale. “Linda… you’re okay,” he whispered. I ignored the sentiment. “Julian, do you know what yesterday was?” He frowned. “Linda, I’m hurt. I got hurt saving you. If not for me, you’d be the one in this bed. How can you be so cold? Still thinking about your birthday?” His mom chimed in, “Linda, how can you talk to him like that? He saved your life! He’s your fiancé!” “Oh, now I’m the fiancé? I thought you guys preferred someone else.” I looked back at Julian. “Answer me. What was yesterday?” “It was your birthday! Happy now?” He snapped. “I missed it, big deal. I’ll make it up next year.” I laughed. “What about last year? And the year before? And the year before that?” “I…” “Last year, Bella wanted to watch the sunset, so you hiked with her all day while I waited at the restaurant until closing.” “Two years ago, you promised to come. I rented a yacht. You ditched me to help Bella move and took my car, leaving me stranded at the dock.” “Three years ago, Bella came back from abroad. You and your boys booked my hotel for a week-long party, forgot my birthday entirely, and stuck me with the $150k bill.” “And this year… you dressed like a stripper to take photos with her. If I did that with a guy, what would you think?” Anger flashed in his eyes. “Linda, stop being so disgusting. Bella’s photoshoot was art! It was about capturing her beauty and confidence. You’re just jealous because you don’t have an artistic bone in your body. Your mind is filthy.” “So, my boyfriend ditches my birthday for ‘art,’ and I should just be okay with it?” “Yes! Your birthday comes every year. Bella’s youth doesn’t. I was helping a friend achieve her dream. What’s wrong with that?” I nodded slowly. “You’re right. Absolutely nothing wrong.” “Since you love art so much, go chase it. We’re done.” 4 “Done? You’re breaking up over this?” Julian panicked. “Linda, are you insane? Bella is all alone. I was just being a friend. Stop being unreasonable! I’m lying here with broken legs, how long are you going to keep this up?” “I’m not being unreasonable. You say Bella is alone, but my parents are abroad. You promised them you’d take care of me. Did you?” He looked away. “You’re just wrong about this.” “Fine. If you think I’m wrong, I have nothing else to say.” “Recover well. I’ll cover your medical bills.” I turned to leave. Suddenly, Slap! Julian’s dad slapped him across the face. “Dad! Why?” His mom tried to protect him. “Are you crazy? Why hit him?” “He deserves it! He’s getting married, yet he’s fooling around with another woman! If he hadn’t gone to see her, would he be in this hospital bed? It’s his own fault!” Mr. Miller turned to me apologetically. “Linda, don’t be mad. I’ll teach him a lesson. I promise this won’t happen again.” “No need,” I raised a hand. “I can forgive him, on one condition.” Julian’s eyes lit up. “Anything! Name it!” “Call the police.” I stared at him. “Report the driver for attempted murder. Press charges.” “No!” He almost jumped out of bed. “Leo didn’t mean to hit me! It was an accident! He’s my brother. If I sue him, we’re done. No way!” “Suit yourself.” I walked out. “From today on, tell your ‘brothers’ not to expect any more handouts from the Lin Group.” “Julian, since you value the friend who tried to kill your fiancé more than me, I’ll handle it myself.” Outside the hospital, I ran into Bella. She smirked. “Heard Julian got hurt. Mind if I visit?” “Go ahead. We broke up. Sleep with him for all I care.” I tried to walk past, but she blocked me. “Linda, don’t think you’re special just because you have money. Julian stays with me because he wants to. He only dates you for your family’s business. He told me you’re just a glorified ATM to him.” “He never talks about you when he’s with me. Even when he’s drunk or dreaming, he calls my name.” Her eyes were venomous. “And Leo and the guys? They do whatever I say. I snap my fingers, and they jump.” “So Leo trying to run me over was your idea?” “Hmph, I never said that.” She tossed her hair. “You rich girls are so boring. You don’t know what men really want. I love watching you high-and-mighty princesses cry. It makes me happy.” I nodded. Then I looked behind her. “Did you guys hear that?” Bella turned around. Three women stood there, looking murderous. Leading them was Leo’s ex-girlfriend. “So you’re Bella? The bakery owner? You think sharing your boyfriend is fun?” Bella gasped. “You set me up!” I smiled. “I was waiting for them. Who were you waiting for?”

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By day, I was just Julian Sterling’s executive assistant. By night, I took the private elevator straight to his penthouse suite. Julian was clingy. In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, we did everything lovers do. But that didn’t stop the news from breaking: he was getting engaged to Layla Vance. When we discussed the breakup, Julian offered a lot of compensation: a luxury apartment in Manhattan, a villa in the Hamptons, and a historic townhouse in Georgetown… The only condition was that I could never resign from Sterling Corp. 1 The day Julian’s lawyer came to discuss the breakup, I was already irritable because my period was late. I tuned out most of her legalese, but the last sentence caught my attention. “As compensation, Mr. Sterling is gifting you a penthouse in Manhattan, a villa in the Hamptons, and a historic townhouse in Georgetown.” I was stunned. I knew Julian was rich—we’d been “together” for seven years—but I didn’t expect him to be this generous to a secret lover. The lawyer continued, “Ms. York, do you have any objections to these terms?” I shook my head vigorously. Only an idiot would say no to money like this. “Mr. Sterling has only one condition,” the lawyer added, looking puzzled. “He insists that you never resign from Sterling Corp. Can you… agree to that?” “Absolutely,” I said without hesitation. “Is the contract ready?” “Not yet. I’ll contact you when it’s drafted.” “Thank you.” I stood up to leave, but the lawyer, usually so professional and cold in her black suit, suddenly spoke up. “Wait, Ms. York. I have something personal to say.” “I’ve known Julian for over a decade. I’ve never seen him treat a woman like this.” “He has his responsibilities. Please don’t blame him.” “To Julian, you really are special.” I wanted to laugh. Instead, I patted her shoulder. “Don’t overthink it, Ms. Zhang. You really need to stop reading those romance novels on your phone.” 2 When I returned to the executive office, the buzz was all about the Chairman’s impending marriage to Layla Vance. Some said he’d waited years for her. Others claimed the rooftop hotel, “The Summit,” was designed just for her. I was listening with interest when the Chief of Staff stood up. “The boss is treating the whole company to bubble tea.” Whispers erupted immediately. “The boss drinks bubble tea?” “It must be Layla’s favorite. She’s visiting today. We’re just benefiting from it.” I shook my head internally. Nope. Julian loved the stuff. Even if he looked like a stoic statue while chewing on tapioca pearls. Amidst the noise, the Chief of Staff’s eyes landed on me. “Eva, go pick up the order for our team.” “I’m not feeling well today,” I said. Lately, I’d been unusually drowsy. “Don’t be a princess,” she scoffed. “If you don’t go, I’m putting your name first for the next overseas assignment.” As I stood up, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I nearly fell. “Are you okay? I can go,” my colleague Jenny offered worriedly. “I’m fine,” I smiled. “Just low blood sugar. Skipped breakfast.” 3 Carrying a massive bag of bubble tea back into the lobby, I spotted Julian immediately. He was surrounded by an entourage. It was hard to miss him. At 6’3″, his lean frame was wrapped in a bespoke black suit, the buttons done all the way up, revealing a perfectly knotted silver-grey tie. When Julian took over Sterling Corp, the media loved him. One headline read: “Smarter than the models, better looking than the scholars, and richer than God. His only flaw is he never smiles.” Whether in the office or on camera, Julian was always cold, serious, and impeccably dressed. But only I knew that the silver-grey tie he was wearing had once been used to blindfold me while I screamed until my voice gave out. Thinking about the breakup, I felt a twinge of regret. The food during our years together had been exceptional. A black Lincoln pulled up. Julian walked over and helped a graceful woman out of the car. “Layla.” I heard his deep voice. She looked up at him with tender eyes. “I just came to visit. You didn’t need to come down.” A golden couple. A match made in heaven. I stopped watching. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t sad. But thinking about the Manhattan penthouse, the Hamptons villa, and the Georgetown townhouse… I had to think of every tragedy in my life just to keep from laughing out loud. 4 Because the future Mrs. Sterling was visiting, the building was buzzing with excitement and gossip. I used the opportunity to slack off until 6:30 PM. Just as I was packing up, the Chief of Staff messaged me. “Ms. Vance wants to try on wedding dresses. The boss is in a meeting. Go with her.” I never expected my first time in a bridal shop would be with Julian’s fiancée. She tried on dress after dress, tireless. “Since you’ve been with Julian the longest, you should know what he likes.” My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my composure. “You are the one he loves. He’ll like whatever you wear.” Layla gave me a meaningful look. “You have a sweet mouth.” She yawned. “I’m tired. You try on the rest. I’ll just watch.” The staff drew the heavy curtains around me. Putting on the feather-light white gown, staring at myself in the mirror, I felt a moment of trance. But I didn’t expect that when I stepped out, Julian would be standing there. He looked like he’d rushed over, tired. When he saw me, his expression froze. “How is it?” Layla leaned into him, smiling. “Let’s use this one for the wedding.” “Nonsense,” Julian frowned, scolding me. “You’re here to help her, why are you wearing it?” “She looked like she wanted to, so I let her,” Layla explained. Julian looked like he wanted to say more, but his phone rang. He walked away to answer it. I sighed. “Ms. Vance’s face-changing skills are impressive.” Layla looked confused. “It’s just a dress, Ms. York. Why so serious?” She smiled, then added, “But coveting a dress is one thing. Coveting anything else would be laughable. Don’t you agree?” I realized then. Choosing me wasn’t a coincidence. Layla was here to mark her territory. But how did she know? No one in the company knew. “You worry too much,” I said smoothly. “Everyone knows you and the boss are childhood sweethearts. Now that his dreams are coming true, why would he care about anyone else?” I bowed slightly. “I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.” Just then, Julian returned. Layla paled, looking at him anxiously. “Julian, I…” Julian glanced at her, then at me, and pointed at the door. “Get out!” “Yes, sir.” I obeyed instantly. I changed out of the dress and left. through the gap in the door, I saw Layla leaning into Julian’s chest, looking fragile. I mused. So that’s the type Julian likes.

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1 The doctor’s eyes were filled with pity as I swallowed the painkiller. Three days left to live. After taking the pill, I walked to Lily Ashton’s room. Inside, my father was peeling an orange for her while my mother chatted at her bedside. The moment I walked in, the warm smiles on their faces froze, replaced by a chilling indifference. “What, done faking your little act and ready to cause more trouble for Lily?” my father’s voice was like ice. “Let me tell you, Keira, as long as we’re here, you won’t lay a hand on her.” “The Sterlings have always prided themselves on their principles,” my mother chimed in, pointing a finger at me. “I don’t know where you learned to be so rotten, so jealous you’d steal her spot in the chemo trial.” Her voice cracked with disgust. “I wish I’d never had you!” In a corner my parents couldn’t see, Lily smirked at me, her eyes gleaming with triumph. I lowered my gaze. I’d heard these words a thousand times before. In the past, I would have fought back, screamed, tried to expose Lily for the snake she was, even though they never believed a word I said. But I was tired. I didn’t have the strength to fight anymore. “Still, it’s good you’re here,” my father said, breaking the silence. “There’s something I need to discuss with you.” A hollow smile touched my lips. “Funny, Dad. I have something to tell you, too.” I took a breath. “Lily wants my company and the retail shops, doesn’t she? I’ve thought it over. They’re hers.” My father stared, stunned. My mother’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How did you know I was going to bring that up today? You… you agree?” I gave a slight shrug. Their shock was understandable. Lily had been coveting my assets for years, and my parents had tried everything—pleading, threatening, shaming—to make me hand over the business I’d built from the ground up. I’d never budged. But for a dying woman, none of it mattered anymore. Seeing the resolve in my eyes, my mother’s face finally softened into a relieved smile. She stepped forward, her hand patting my head in a rare gesture of affection. “You’ve finally come to your senses!” she cooed. “Lily was always brighter than you, even in school. And despite her illness, she has a much better head for business. We’ll rest easy knowing your company is in her capable hands.” The corner of my mouth twitched. I pulled the transfer agreements from my bag and handed them to Lily. As soon as Lily’s signature was on the page, my parents were all over me, grabbing my hands, calling me their good girl, their wonderful daughter. A bitter irony churned in my stomach. How pathetic. The only time my mother smiled at me was when I surrendered something to Lily. A question flickered in my mind. When they finally saw Lily’s true colors, after I was gone, would they feel a single shred of regret? That evening, I returned home to find my husband, Lucas, and our daughter, Chloe, laughing together in the kitchen. The cancer had made me move quietly, and the soft click of the door went unnoticed. They were so absorbed in their cooking. When Lucas turned, holding a freshly plated dish, the smile on his face froze for a split second before snapping back into place. “Keira, you’re back. I didn’t hear you come in.” My eyes fell to the plate in his hands. A vegetable stir-fry. Lily’s favorite. From the looks of it, he’d become a pretty damn good cook. Another bitter irony. I was on my deathbed before I learned that the man I’d spent five years with even knew how to cook. He’d always criticized my food, and under his influence, Chloe had started to do the same. I’d poured my soul into this family, and earned nothing but their contempt. The old me would have screamed, thrown things, had a hysterical breakdown. The new me just calmly walked past them and sat on the sofa, sorting through my purse. My silence seemed to unnerve Lucas. He hesitated, set the dish on the dining table, and walked over. “Keira,” he began, rubbing his nose awkwardly. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” He paused. “It’s about your sister, Lily.” A cold dread washed over me. I had a very bad feeling about where this was going. His next words confirmed it, leaving me frozen in place. “Lily’s been so depressed since her chemo. Your parents… they think it would lift her spirits if I married her. You know, to bring some happiness back into her life.” A roaring filled my ears. It took a long moment for my own voice to break through. “And you agreed?” Lucas sighed, as if burdened by my lack of understanding. “Keira, I know she’s not your biological sister, but she’s family. Besides, it’s just for show, to help her recover. As soon as she’s out of the hospital, I’ll be your husband again. Chloe’s father.” Before I could answer, Chloe piped up from the kitchen. “Yeah, Mom! Godmother Lily has been really sad lately. You have to understand!” I stared at the two of them. The man I had loved for years. The child I had raised. I had given them everything, my conscience clear. And this was my reward. Betrayal. But it didn’t matter anymore. If Lily wanted them, she could have them. She could have it all. I was done. Lifting my head, I looked Lucas straight in the eye. “Fine. I agree.” Surprise flashed across his face. “Really?” Without another word, he rushed to a drawer, pulled out a set of divorce papers, and slapped them on the coffee table. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Oh, Lucas. Your eagerness is so naked, you don’t even try to hide it. I picked up the pen and signed my name. A look of profound relief washed over Lucas’s face, replaced by a somber, heartfelt expression. “Keira, once Lily is better, we’ll get remarried. I promise. I’ll never let you down.” He signed his name, then looked at me with a heavy sigh. “You’re so much more mature now, Keira. I know I haven’t always been fair to you, and I’m sorry. After Lily recovers, I promise, you won’t have to worry about a thing ever again.” “That’s right, Mom!” Chloe added, puffing out her chest like a little adult. “You’re being so good to Godmother Lily. I’m proud of you!” Looking at them, my heart turned to ash. A tiny, foolish part of me had held on to a last sliver of hope for Lucas and Chloe. Now, it was gone. There was nothing left to hope for but death. I stood, intending to go to my room, but a wave of dizziness crashed over me. My vision swam, and the world went black. In that final instant, I saw the panic on Lucas’s face. I woke to a biting cold. Opening my eyes, I found myself still on the floor. Lucas and Chloe were standing over me, their faces etched with disappointment. “See, Dad? I told you she was faking it,” Chloe said, her voice sharp. “Mom, can you please stop being so childish? You’re going to make us late to see Godmother Lily at the hospital!” Faking it? Then Lucas spoke, his voice heavy with disapproval. “Keira, can you stop with the dramatics? I already told you, even though we’re divorced, you’re the one I love. You don’t need to pull these kinds of stunts to test me.” Their words hit me, and I finally understood. The pain medication they’d given me didn’t just block the pain for three days; it made me appear completely normal. Healthy, even. But the side effect was brutal. After three days, my organs would fail. The drug was working perfectly. I pushed myself up. “It must be low blood sugar. It’s nothing. I’ll go to the hospital with you. There are some other transfer documents Lily needs to sign.” Lucas nodded, unsurprised. My parents must have already told him. At the hospital, Lily was watching TV in her room. Her face was still pale, but her energy was clearly returning. The smug triumph in her eyes, however, was impossible to miss. “Keira, you’re here!” she chirped. “Thank you for trusting me with your business. I promise I won’t let you down!” “That’s right, Keira,” my mother added with a beaming smile. “You can just relax at home and collect the dividends. Isn’t that wonderful?” I pulled the last of the paperwork from my bag. “In that case, let’s have her manage my entire estate. Then I won’t have to worry about a thing.” The room fell silent. Everyone stared at me. “Keira, are you serious?” Lucas grabbed my arm, his eyes wide with shock. “You’re giving everything to Lily?” Now it was my turn to be confused. They had always taken Lily’s side, given her whatever she wanted, and scolded me when I refused. Now that I was giving her everything, why were they acting so surprised? My father was the first to recover, his face glowing with pride. “The girl has finally grown up! Our love for you wasn’t wasted after all.” “Keira, learning to accept your sister is a wonderful thing,” he continued. “Now you two can live in harmony. We can finally grow old in peace.” Peace? Dad, Mom… you’ve been fooled by her act for so long. Do you really believe she’ll take care of anything that was mine? My head swam again. A strange tickle in my nose. I touched it and my fingers came away stained with blood. “Keira, your nose is bleeding. The weather hasn’t even been that dry,” my mother noted. My hand froze. I couldn’t stop myself. I looked at them, my voice quiet. “Dad, Mom… if I were to die from an illness one day, would you regret any of this?” My mother’s expression didn’t even flicker. She just gave me a dismissive smile. “You look perfectly healthy. How could you die from an illness? Don’t say such morbid things.” “Exactly,” my father added, his gaze shifting worriedly back to Lily. “Lily is the one we need to worry about. Once she’s better, we need to make sure she eats well and gets her strength back.” “I think so too!” Chloe chimed in. “Mom is super healthy. Godmother Lily is the one who needs us.” The last ember of hope inside me died. There was nothing left. I looked down at Chloe and forced a smile. “Chloe, haven’t you always wanted your godmother to be your real mom?” I said softly. “I’m making your wish come true. From now on, Lily is your mother. Aren’t you going to call her ‘Mom’?” A delighted gasp escaped Chloe’s lips. “Really?!” I nodded. “Once you call her Mom, you can eat her cooking all the time. She can be with you whenever you want. Isn’t that what you’ve always dreamed of?” Chloe jumped up and down with excitement. “Yay! Mommy, you’re the best in the world! Thank you!” She pulled her hand from mine and threw her arms around Lily. My parents and Lucas watched the scene, their faces beaming with approval. I turned and walked away. I glanced back one last time. My parents were cooing over Chloe with Lily. Lucas was standing beside them, a gentle smile on his face. Not a single one of them noticed I was gone. I closed the door to the hospital room and left. With only one day left to live, I had nowhere to go. My life had been a frantic rush, with never a moment to myself, never a chance to just… be. I booked a ticket to Brighton, a city by the sea. I watched the waves crash under the night sky and thought about hiking a cliffside trail. But my body wouldn’t let me. Just as the world started to tilt and fade, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in almost five years. Then everything went black. When I woke up, I was in a hospital. My eyes darted to the clock. Six hours left. Sitting beside me, her eyes red from crying, was Jenna. My childhood friend. She had begged me not to marry Lucas, insisting he wasn’t worthy of me. I hadn’t listened. We’d had a terrible fight, and she didn’t even come to my wedding. I knew I shouldn’t have bothered her now, after all this time. But besides her, there was no one else in the world. “What the hell happened to you, Keira?” she choked out, her voice thick with tears. “Weren’t you so happy after marrying Lucas? The perfect little family? Why are you like this? Why is the doctor saying your organs are failing?” I was on a ventilator, but I managed a weak smile. We’d made a pact as kids. If one of us was at the end, the other would handle everything that came after, no matter what. I couldn’t speak, so I mustered the last of my strength and pointed a trembling finger at my handbag. Jenna understood. She retrieved several folders from the bag. She studied them for a moment, then gave a solemn nod and placed them in her own purse. I was relieved to see our bond was still strong enough to communicate without words. Three hours left. I refused any further intervention. After another period of unconsciousness, I woke up to Jenna showing me her phone. It was a text from Lily. [Keira, I won. I got everything.] [Did you really think you could compete with me? It’s your own fault for being so pathetic. Your parents always liked me better anyway.] [Just disappear quietly. I’ll take good care of your mommy and daddy for you. And your husband and daughter, too. 😉 ] Jenna started sobbing, cursing Lily under her breath. I sighed, a wave of self-mockery washing over me. In my entire life, I had only one regret: convincing my father to sponsor Lily Ashton. I first saw her at a rundown orphanage. I was a young volunteer, tagging along with my teacher. It was snowing heavily that day, and all the other children were huddled inside for warmth. But Lily was out back, by the dumpsters, picking meat off discarded bones. I couldn’t stand to see it. I begged my father to help her. After that, Lily and I became inseparable. The next year, she transferred to my class. Her charm and intelligence quickly won over the teachers and students. I was so proud every time someone praised her. Then, slowly, things started to change. My friends began to drift away from me, gravitating toward Lily. The boys who’d had crushes on me grew distant, only to make grand declarations of love for her. Even my parents started inviting her over constantly, for dinner, for sleepovers, until finally, they split my bedroom in two and gave her half. I was too naive, too blind to see it then. Lily’s greatest talent was using the praise of others as a weapon to steal everything that was mine. By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late. My room was gone. My family was gone. Everything I had was hers. I asked her once, why she did it. Her answer chilled me to the bone. “Keira, did you really think I’d be grateful? How could I be? I couldn’t stand watching you flaunt your perfect life in my face. I wanted to take everything from you. I wanted to see the despair on your face when you had nothing left.” I used to believe I could drive her away, that I could make my parents and Lucas see her for who she was. But I was a fool. I underestimated her cunning, and I fatally misjudged how deeply she had charmed my family. I had lost. Utterly and completely. Nine minutes left. My consciousness was fading, my vision blurring. But I could still make out the screen of Jenna’s phone. A new message from my mother. [Keira, have someone repaint your old house pink in the next few days. Your sister loves pink.] [Also, your sister will be discharged in about two weeks. When she is, you need to move some of your things out to make room for hers.] Even in my final moments, all she could think about was Lily. I truly meant nothing to her. So be it. I could hear Jenna crying, screaming my name, but the sound was distant, muffled. I’d been fighting for so long. I was so, so tired. Finally, I could rest. November 24th. Keira Sterling died at Brighton General Hospital. She was 29 years old. Lily was watching television in her hospital bed when the door to her room burst open. She looked up and saw a man standing there. Her biological father. “What are you doing here?” she snapped, her eyes flashing with a mixture of disgust and fear. Rick Ashton let out a cold laugh. “What, you think you’d have landed this rich family if I hadn’t dumped you at that orphanage? I’m broke. Transfer me a hundred grand. Now.” Lily shot up in bed. “Why should I? You haven’t done a single thing for me since the day I was born!” Rick casually sat down on the sofa. “Cut the crap, Lily. I know all about your dirty little schemes. You give me the money, and we can all play nice. If not… well, you know what I’m capable of.” Lily’s hands clenched into tight fists. After a long moment, she relaxed them. “Fine. Just give me some time. I need to get out of the hospital before I can get the money.” He sneered. “Born for the gutter but caught a princess’s disease. It’s just early-stage cancer, what a waste of money. You have two days. If I don’t see the money in two days, I’m going to pay a little visit to your rich ‘daddy.’” He stood, kicked the door open, and left. Lily swept a glass off her nightstand, sending it shattering against the floor. She was breathing heavily, her eyes burning with pure hatred. Why? Why did everyone else get to have a happy life while she was stuck with a parasite for a father, left to rot in an orphanage? Why was she the one who had to endure that life of scorn and pity? She had worked so hard to usurp Keira’s place, to drive the precious Sterling heiress out. She would not go back to that hand-to-mouth existence. Never! Lily got out of bed. Since tricking Keira out of the chemo spot, her recovery had been swift. She would be discharged soon. But now, she had a new plan. She would sell off all of Keira’s properties and businesses immediately, transfer the money to an overseas account in installments, and then leave the country for good. Her scumbag father would never find her. The idiotic Sterlings would never find her. Yes. This had to happen, and it had to happen fast. She told the nurse she was going for a walk, went downstairs, and hailed a cab to the bank. Her heart pounded with excitement as she handed the debit card to the teller. In moments, all of Keira’s money would be hers. She would finally be free. But the teller looked up, a strange expression on her face. “Ma’am, the name and identity on this card do not match your own.” The teller looked at her again. “Are you sure this is the right card?” Lily froze. “How is that possible? My family already transferred ownership of this account to me when we signed the paperwork!” She leaned in. “Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?” The teller shook her head. “Ma’am, the account is still legally under the name Keira Sterling. Furthermore, a protective hold has been placed on this account.” Lily’s mind went blank. A protective hold? Impossible. How? She had watched Keira sign the transfer agreement with her own two eyes! She’d read it over and over before signing it herself. Had Keira pulled some kind of trick afterward? Wait, the company and the shops! Lily stumbled out of the bank and called a contact she knew. She sat on a bench outside, waiting anxiously. A few minutes later, her phone rang. “Lily, I checked. All those retail locations and the company you mentioned… the legal owner is still a Keira Sterling. And two days ago, her lawyer, acting on her behalf, filed for a comprehensive asset protection order on all of them.” A roar filled Lily’s ears, and her world exploded into white noise.

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1 I was back at my in-laws’ for the holidays with my husband, Jake, and our three-month-old son, Leo. But my ten-year-old niece, Ashley, and her friend decided to throw him from an upstairs window while he was napping. Leo was killed instantly, right before my eyes. His cries were cut short, replaced by two faint whimpers before silence took over. He never moved again. I went mad, scooping him up to race to the hospital, but it was too late. He was already gone. Because of her age, Ashley faced no real consequences. The judge ordered them to pay half a million dollars in damages, but my sister-in-law, Karen, wailed that I was trying to ruin them. I didn’t want their money. I just wanted my baby back. I cried until my soul felt like it was tearing apart, begging them for some semblance of justice. But my husband and mother-in-law just scolded me. “Ashley’s just a child! Are you going to destroy her life just because your son is dead?” My quest for revenge went nowhere. That winter, my heart finally gave out. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. It was the day of the holiday party. The first thing I did was call my parents and have them take Leo away. But this time, a baby was still thrown from the window. … I had just sent my son off and stepped into my mother-in-law’s yard when a sickening thud echoed from the patio. A tiny body, wrapped tightly in a blanket, had slammed onto the stone tiles. Blood seeped through the fabric, staining it crimson. Stunned, I looked up. On the second floor, my niece, Ashley, shot me a defiant look before disappearing from the window. Jake and his mother rushed out at the sound. My mother-in-law let out a piercing scream, her legs giving way. Jake stumbled forward, his whole body trembling. He glanced at the bundle on the ground. “Nina… the baby… he’s not breathing.” I couldn’t even bring myself to look. I bolted upstairs and found Ashley had locked herself in her room. I kicked the door. “Ashley, you open this door right now! Who did you throw out that window!” No answer. But I could hear her and her friend giggling inside. “Ashley, what if they call the cops? Is my mom gonna ground me?” “Chill. We’ll just say it was an accident. Besides, the cops can’t do anything to kids.” Their careless words pierced me like shards of ice. I started to shake uncontrollably. I threw all my weight against the wooden door. “Get out here! Do you have any idea what you’ve done? This is murder!” Jake, who had followed me up, grabbed my arm. His eyes were red-rimmed. “Nina, calm down. You’re scaring them.” I stared at him, my eyes burning with a familiar hatred. It was just like last time. Our son was dead, and his first concern was not frightening his niece. My mother-in-law, wiping away tears, added, “Ashley went a little too far this time, but Nina, you shouldn’t be so unforgiving.” “Leo was only three months old. He’s gone. You two can just try for another one.” I froze. It took a moment for their words to register. They thought it was my son. They thought Leo was dead. But I had just sent him away with my parents. So who was the tiny, broken body lying downstairs? 2 Jake moved to hug me, vowing, “Nina, I promise we’ll get justice for Leo, but Ashley is just a kid, she doesn’t know any better…” I shoved him away before he could finish. “She doesn’t know any better? Then why didn’t she jump herself?” With a surge of fury, I grabbed a chair and slammed it against the door. The wood groaned and shuddered, the vibrations shaking the whole house. “Ashley, get out here right now, or I swear I’ll break this door down!” How could she kill someone and feel nothing? Even if it wasn’t my son today, I would get justice for that poor child. My violent assault must have rattled her, because she finally yelled from inside, “Stop it! If you keep banging, I’ll jump!” I was panting, my arms aching. I turned, stormed to the kitchen, came back with a butcher knife, and hacked at the door. The blade bit deep into the wood and stuck fast. “Jump! If you don’t, I’ll come in there and kill you myself!” The threat finally worked. Ashley opened the door, her face a mask of bored annoyance. “Who did you throw out the window?” She tilted her chin up, rocking back and forth with a lazy arrogance. “Your son, who else?” I slapped her. Hard. The crack echoed in the hallway. Her head snapped to the side. Tears welled in her eyes as she cupped her cheek, her expression one of pure disbelief. “Why did you hit me? My own mom doesn’t hit me! You bitch—” Another slap, just as hard as the first. “That’s the problem! Because your mother never disciplined you, you’ve turned into a monster!” I grabbed her by the collar, my voice a low, furious growl. “I’ll ask you one more time. Who did you throw?” The fight went out of her. She mumbled, still holding her face, “It was your Leo. But it was an accident. I just wanted to see what would happen when he fell.” “I didn’t think he’d actually die.” 3 I glanced into the room. The window was wide open, letting a bitter wind whip through the space. Ashley’s friend was huddled on the edge of the bed, silent and terrified. They were old enough for elementary school. They knew damn well how dangerous it was. Jake tried to mediate. “She’s already said she’s sorry, honey. You’ve let off some steam. Let’s… let’s just bury the baby.” The absurdity of it all struck me. A human life was gone, and a simple “I’m sorry” was supposed to be enough? My mother-in-law rushed over and pulled Ashley into a tight hug, stroking her face. “You hit her so hard,” she murmured, full of pity. “Look how red her poor cheek is.” Her cheek was red. But that baby had lost its entire life. I shoved my mother-in-law aside and dragged Ashley by her hair toward the open window. “You wanted to see what would happen? Why don’t you find out for yourself?” Ashley started screaming, struggling against my grip. “No! I don’t want to! I’ll die! You’ll go to jail if you kill me! You’ll go to jail!” So she did know. She knew it was a crime, and she did it anyway. For the second time in my life, I couldn’t comprehend how a child could be so profoundly evil. A sharp pain shot through my arm as Jake wrenched me away. The force of it sent me stumbling, and my head cracked against the wall. I felt something warm and wet trickle down my temple. Jake shielded Ashley, his face a mask of exasperation. “Will you stop it? The boy is dead. Why are you taking it out on a child? You’re the one who wasn’t watching him!” Both he and his mother stood in front of Ashley, guarding her, looking at me as if I were the enemy. Just like last time. It finally clicked. They were a family, bound by blood. My son and I? We were nothing. Clutching my bleeding head, I reached for my phone with a trembling hand, ready to call the police. Jake kicked it out of my grasp, the phone skittering across the floor. “This is a family matter! Why are you calling the cops?” “Ashley’s not even eighteen. It’s useless to call them.” I used the wall to pull myself up, my gaze locking onto his, full of shattered hope. “That’s your son down there. And you’re just going to let it go?” A flicker of guilt crossed his face when he saw the blood on my forehead. “Nina, we can have another baby.” “But I only have one niece.” 4 What a great husband. So devoted to his family. I’d married him because he was filial and kind to his relatives. I never imagined that very quality would become the knife he’d plunge into my heart. He had never considered me and Leo to be his family. His family was them. His niece meant more to him than his own son. I turned to go downstairs, but my sister-in-law, Karen, came charging up, slamming her shoulder into me. She threw herself at Ashley, hugging her tightly. “Who do you think you are, hitting my daughter?” she shrieked. “I barely lay a hand on her! What gives you the right?” I was shaking with rage. “Why don’t you ask your daughter what she did?” “So your son dies and you blame my daughter? Maybe your son was just unlucky!” I hated her. But all I could think about was the child on the patio. Who was he? And what was he doing at my mother-in-law’s house? “Karen, you’re a mother too. If it was your son who died today, could you still say something so heartless?” Her pupils constricted. She pointed a finger at me, her voice dripping with venom. “You shameless bitch. Your son dies, so now you’re cursing my family? I’d say it’s a good thing your son died! Serves him right!” I grabbed my cracked phone from the floor and started walking downstairs. My mother-in-law shouted, “Stop her! She’s going to call the police!” Karen scoffed. “So what? Ashley won’t go to jail anyway.” “Are you stupid? If she calls the cops, they’ll sue us! We’ll have to pay!” Realization dawned on Karen’s face, replaced by an even deeper disgust. “Jake, look at the wife you married! Her own son is dead, and all she can think about is scheming for our money!” Jake’s face was grim as he chased after me. I had already texted my parents to call the police. He lunged for my phone and saw the message. His face contorted with rage, and he slapped me. “I told you this was a family matter! Why did you have to call the cops?” “My brother’s family is already struggling. Are you really trying to bleed them dry? I never knew you were so malicious.” I clutched my chest, a desperate, broken laugh escaping my lips. Malicious? Oh, I was. I wanted his entire family to burn in hell. Without another word, I continued downstairs. I had to know who that child was. A terrible suspicion was already forming in my mind, but I couldn’t bear to believe it. 5 Seeing that I was ignoring him, Jake grew frantic. He followed me down to the first floor. Just as I reached the back door, he grabbed my shoulders, his grip tight. “Nina, can you please stop making a scene? I already checked on Leo. He’s gone.” “Let’s just bury him. We can pretend none of this ever happened, okay?” I pushed him away, my face a blank mask. But then my eyes widened in horror. The spot on the patio where the baby had been was empty. I seized Jake’s collar. “Where is he? What did you do with the body!” Sirens wailed outside. Two police officers walked into the yard. “Who called this in?” Jake clamped a hand over my mouth, forcing a smile. “Officers, it was a mistake. My wife got it wrong, nobody called.” My mother-in-law and Karen hurried down, the former pointing at me and shouting, “She’s crazy! We were just having a little argument, and she calls the police over nothing!” The officers looked skeptical, but assuming it was just a domestic dispute, they took a brief statement and left. As soon as they were gone, Jake released me. “Nina, don’t you think I’m hurting too? The baby’s dead!” “But you had to make a scene and get everyone involved! How is Ashley supposed to face her classmates now? What will the people in this town think of our family?” I wiped the cold tears from my face. “Is any of that more important than a human life?” My eyes darted around the yard, desperately searching for the child. But he was nowhere. I searched every corner of the house, but the body was gone. Then my gaze fell on the outhouse. As I started towards it, Karen grabbed my arm. “That toilet’s broken. Go somewhere else.” I coldly shook her off and walked toward the small wooden structure. The stench hit me before I was even close. A corner of the bright red blanket was visible, floating in the filth. My entire body began to tremble, and a raw, agonized scream tore from my throat. “Are you even fucking human?”

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I am allergic to scallions. When we ordered, I specifically asked several times: no scallions. But when the dish arrived, it was sprinkled with a generous layer of green onions. Frustrated, I asked the waitress to pick them out. My boyfriend, however, decided to play the peacemaker: “Let it go. The girl works hard; it’s not easy for her.” Seeing someone on her side, the waitress immediately put down her chopsticks. “Exactly. A little scallion makes it taste better anyway. If you’re this petty about everything, you’ll never be happy in life.” I was stunned. I waved her away. My boyfriend nodded in satisfaction. “See? People should be more forgiving.” Forgiving. What a great word. In that moment, I realized this relationship was rotten to the core. 1 “Let’s break up.” When I said this, Leo was still rambling on, criticizing me. One moment he said I was too calculating, the next he said I was too harsh. As if asking a waitress to remove an allergen was a heinous crime. “I said let’s break up. Did you hear me?” I repeated myself. Leo finally shut his mouth. Displeasure was written all over his face. “Stop joking.” “I’m not joking.” “You want to break up over something this small?” “This isn’t small.” I closed my eyes. “You studied bioengineering in college. You should know better than I do that severe allergic reactions can lead to shock, even death.” Leo was silent for a moment before frowning again. “You’re exaggerating.” That sentence again. I lowered my eyes, losing even the desire to argue. I grabbed my bag, stood up, and walked straight out. Panic finally flashed across Leo’s face. He chased after me and grabbed my arm. “Stop being angry. I’ll pick the onions out for you, okay?” “It’s not about the onions.” I pulled my hand away forcefully, enunciating every word. “It’s about the fact that every time my well-being is threatened, you never stand by my side. instead, you ask me to swallow it for the sake of peace.” 2 Similar incidents had happened too many times. Small things, like when a cashier overcharged me and I asked for a refund, Leo dragged me away because he thought it was embarrassing. Big things, like when a project I collaborated on won an award but my name was omitted. My colleague claimed she forgot to include me during submission and said we should just leave it. I called the organizers to withdraw the work, and Leo accused me of being unforgiving and undignified. Item by item… I really couldn’t understand. We were supposed to be the closest people to each other, yet he always helped others hurt me. I’d had enough. “Sarah.” Seeing I was determined to leave, Leo finally softened his tone. “Stop being mad, okay? We’ve been together for three years. Don’t you know me? No one loves you more than I do. My job just requires me to maintain a certain level of dignity. I thought you were used to it. Why the big reaction today?” That excuse again. Leo’s identity as a “university lecturer” was his go-to defense for everything. But if he hadn’t mentioned it, I almost would have forgotten— “You say you value dignity, but I heard you spent days sucking up to the administration to get Bella hired at your school. I heard you even made things difficult for other interviewees for her sake, to the point where someone got into a fight with you. Leo, is your dignity selective?” Leo looked surprised. He thought he had hidden it well. But the surprise only lasted a few seconds. He quickly regained his composure. His face hardened, and he looked at me coldly. “I was wondering why you were acting so crazy today. Turns out you’re just jealous and suspicious of my relationship with Bella.” 3 Naturally, we parted on bad terms. Leo drove off, leaving me at the restaurant entrance. I thought I would be sad. But in reality, too many similar things had happened. My feelings had been consumed bit by bit, my emotions diluted drop by drop… Watching the black sedan disappear into the distance, I felt nothing. I called a taxi and went to my apartment a few miles away. I bought this apartment when I first started working. At the time, Leo was dead set against it. He said he had already bought our marital home. He said buying this apartment was a waste of money, completely unnecessary. Looking back, I had foresight. I slept soundly that night. The next day, I specifically chose a time when Leo would be at work to return to our shared home to pack. But I didn’t expect to see him there. Or Bella. “Long time no see, Sarah.” Bella greeted me first. Still with that aloof, arrogant air. I nodded. It had indeed been a long time. Bella and I were roommates in undergrad. Her family was exceptionally wealthy back then. She only lived in the dorms for two weeks freshman year before complaining it was too crowded. She bought an apartment across the street and moved out. After that, she rarely came to class, and I rarely saw her. I started seeing her again when she started dating Leo, who was in the same club as me. Yes, she is Leo’s ex-girlfriend. Later, for some reason, they broke up. Bella and I never saw each other again. Leo, however, went to the same grad school as me. It was during grad school that he started pursuing me relentlessly. At first, I had zero interest in him and declined all his invitations. He wasn’t discouraged and continued to show concern and care for me every day. The turning point happened one night. I was walking back to the dorm from the library when a man jumped out of the dark bushes. He held a small knife, grinning at me with yellow teeth. He walked toward me, laughing. I was frozen with fear. Just then, Leo appeared out of nowhere. He kicked the man and started wrestling with him. Afterward, I accompanied him to the campus clinic to treat his wounds and asked why he was there. He looked a bit embarrassed: “I saw on the campus app that there have been creeps around lately. You’re so pretty, I was worried…” Seeing me frown, he quickly waved his hands: “Of course, I know you don’t want to see me, and I didn’t want to be annoying. I just wanted to secretly walk you back to the dorm and leave once you were safe.” My heart trembled imperceptibly. After that night, my relationship with Leo changed. Later, I accepted his confession. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. 4 “So you decided to come back?” Leo’s sarcastic voice pulled me back to reality. “I thought you had some backbone. Only one night away and you’re already crawling back to make peace?” Leo couldn’t hide the smugness in his tone. Before I could answer, he added: “I’m going to a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Bella later. I need to change into a suit. Pour her some tea and entertain her for me.” With that, he walked straight upstairs. I didn’t even want to acknowledge him and started packing immediately. Bella, arms crossed, walked over to me and chuckled, “Where’s the tea?” “Pour it yourself if you want it,” I said without looking up. Her laugh grew more scornful: “Sarah, oh Sarah, you’re funny. Back then you were so proud, refusing to bring me takeout even when I offered to pay you. Who knew that behind the scenes, you were picking up my leftovers?” “Did you hear that? She called you her leftovers.” I stared blankly at the space behind Bella. Her face froze instantly. She panicked and tried to explain: “I didn’t! She’s lying—” She stopped abruptly. Only then did she realize there was no one behind her. “You played me!” Bella glared at me, grinding her teeth, looking like she wanted to slap me. Gone was the noble, aloof demeanor. But I ignored her and continued stuffing things into my suitcase. Bella felt like she had punched cotton. Her chest heaved with anger, but she had no outlet. After a long while, she squeezed out through her teeth: “What do you have to be proud of? If I hadn’t gone abroad, Leo and I never would have broken up, and you wouldn’t have had a chance. Now that I’m back, let’s see if he still wants you.” Bang. I slammed the suitcase shut. “It’s me who doesn’t want him anymore. I’m returning this ‘item’ to you. Wishing you a hundred years of happiness and early childbirth.” With that, I picked up the suitcase and headed upstairs. There were still some expensive bags and jewelry up there. I wasn’t going to let Leo profit from them.

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1 Caleb Brady rejected his stepsister Seraphina in front of everyone—then asked me, the quiet scholarship student no one noticed. Sera shattered, and her madness soon turned toward me. Yet every time she attacked, Caleb pulled me behind him, a slow smile spreading as he watched her face pale. “She’s clean. She’s beautiful. You and her aren’t in the same league.” His voice dropped low. “Leave her alone—or you’ll regret it.” The students cheered. I felt a warmth in my chest, believing I’d found the best man alive. Until Sera cornered me in the hall, ripped my shirt open, and had her crony force a kiss on me while everyone filmed. Caleb snapped. He pulled me into his arms, then dragged Sera into a stairwell and slammed her against the wall, kissing her over and over. Muffled groans tangled with sharp breaths. “Is this my punishment or reward, brother? You tell me,” Sera’s voice purred through the door gap. “You won’t be my boyfriend? What should I do next time?” “Go on—warn me again.” “Don’t you dare say you love her. You’re the one who let me play psycho to punish her.” Her mocking laugh pierced me like ice. Cold rose from the floor, freezing me in place. All along, I was just a prop in their twisted game. “Don’t flatter yourself, Sera,” Caleb’s voice was strained. “I only let you pretend to be crazy so she’d depend on me more.” “You have no idea how soft she gets when she melts against me, all hurt and needing comfort.” Sera’s foot traced a slow path up his calf. “Flatter myself? Soft, you say?” “You’re such a bad liar, big brother. That’s not what you were saying last night, when you were holding me in Mom and Dad’s bed.” “Tell me, do you have to pop a pill to get it up for Chloe, too?” “Or was that just for me? A little something to earn your reward?” Her arms snaked around his neck, her laughter bright and sharp. The sound was followed by the wet noise of biting kisses and ragged breathing, punctuated by Sera’s coquettish murmurs. “Next time, I’ll leave your lips so swollen you won’t be able to go home,” Caleb growled, his voice thick with something that sounded dangerously like pleasure. “I know,” she cooed. “I’ll be sure to try even harder.” “See you tonight, brother.” Long after Sera’s footsteps faded away, I heard Caleb’s quiet echo. “See you tonight.” My fists clenched, a roaring sound filling my ears. A few minutes later, Caleb stepped out of the stairwell, his expression a perfect mask of concern. He wrapped his arms around me, just like he always did. But this time, I didn’t dissolve into tears. I didn’t beg for his help. I didn’t even return the embrace. He stroked my hair, his touch gentle. “My sweet girl, you’ve been hurt. But I’m here now.” “I just punished her for you. Don’t be angry anymore.” I looked up at him, my eyes landing on his lip—swollen and split, a tiny bead of blood welling at the corner. My public humiliation, my helpless, screaming breakdown… was just a “punishment” in his eyes. A trivial event. Worse, it was just an excuse for their twisted foreplay. Those beautiful, almond-shaped eyes had once captivated me completely. The day another boy tried to ask me out, Caleb had smoothly cut in. “Hey, good girl. Mind if I cut in line? I’ve got a confession to make, too.” His long, elegant fingers offered me a folded note. Inside, the handwriting was bold and sweeping, filling the page with passionate words. My face burned. I couldn’t speak. He was the one who laughed first. “You’re blushing already? How red are you going to get when we’re under the covers?” He had the face of a poet and the mouth of a sailor. In a daze, I nodded my consent. From that day on, he walked me to and from school. Every single day. Rain or shine. I felt a dizzying sense of vertigo. Were they the same person? Just like now. He was talking to me, but his gaze kept drifting in the direction Sera had disappeared. I pushed myself out of his arms. “Caleb, I’m telling a teacher.” No response. Instead, his voice came out choked with anguish, full of a desperate sincerity. “I truly love you.” My heart stuttered. I looked up, only to find him staring at Sera’s retreating back in the distance. A suffocating tightness squeezed my chest. I raised my voice, forcing the words out. “Caleb, I’m going to the principal. I deserve justice.” That finally snapped him back. His hand shot out, grabbing my arm. “I told you, I already punished her.” “She’s mentally ill. She’s pitiful enough as it is. Don’t hold it against her.” “Besides,” he added, his tone dismissive, “I trust you. It’s not that big of a deal.” The casual indifference in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. Not a big deal? Then what was? Oh, right. Seraphina’s happiness. That was what mattered. Caleb draped an arm over my shoulders, a hint of impatience in his gesture. “We’re practically family, anyway. Just let it go.” “Let’s get back to class.” I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, but the sharp tang was nothing compared to the agony ripping through my heart. As we walked, whispers and stifled giggles followed us like a cloud of flies. They were all pointing, all staring. Suddenly, someone shoved me hard, sending me stumbling into our classroom. A blizzard of photos rained down on me, their sharp edges kissing my skin like paper cuts before fluttering to the floor. They were all of me—my shirt torn, my face twisted in shock as that boy forced himself on me. “Surprise!” Sera appeared, holding another handful of even more explicit shots, scattering them over my head. “We’re all so curious, Chloe! Why don’t you give us a little performance right now?” “Performance!” “Performance!” “Performance!” The chant hammered into my skull. My entire body started to shake. Helplessly, my eyes found Caleb. Our gazes met for a split second before he looked away. “Shut up,” I screamed, grabbing the nearest textbook and hurling it at Sera. But Caleb’s hand shot out, his fingers closing around my wrist like a vice. “That’s enough. Everyone, disperse,” he commanded. “Class is starting.” As the crowd melted away, Sera shot me a triumphant smirk. She unhooked a lacy bra strap from under her shirt and casually looped it around Caleb’s wrist. Then she raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at me in a blatant challenge. “What is this supposed to be?” he grumbled, but he quickly pulled down his sleeve to cover the strap. My heart felt like it was bleeding, drop by painful drop. This was the same guy who thought my simple hair clip ruined his image, yet here he was, treasuring his stepsister’s underwear like a trophy. I sank into my seat, a numb automaton. The whispers around me grew louder. “Too bad for Caleb. Guess he only gets sloppy seconds.” “Seriously. I was late today, I missed everything. Someone send me the pics?” “She looks so innocent, but who knows how many guys she’s slept with behind his back.” The words were quiet, but they felt like needles stabbing into my back. I gripped my pen, but my hand was trembling too much to write. Suddenly, a hail of trash—half-eaten snacks, fruit peels, wadded-up napkins—pelted my head and shoulders. Someone even threw the contents of a small trash bag at me. I whipped around. Sera just hummed, looking bored. “What’s wrong, good girl? Why don’t you ask my brother for help?” “Give him a little kiss. He’d probably die for you,” she said, covering her mouth in a mock giggle. My voice was a choked sob as I reached out my hand. “Caleb.” He flinched away from my touch. His eyes were fixed on Sera’s back. “Go wash up,” he told me, his voice flat. “Tonight, I’ll lock her in the dark room. I promise I’ll make it up to you.” In the girls’ bathroom, I scrubbed frantically at my skin, trying to wash away the filth and humiliation. Through the crack of the stall next to me, I saw her. Sera, perched on his lap. “Don’t push it, Sera.” “She’s pure and clean. She’s not someone you can mess with.” Sera just giggled. “Is that so? But my dear, dear brother—” “Why did you pull away from her just now?” “Don’t even try to tell me you weren’t disgusted by her.” “Shut up,” Caleb hissed, his voice tight with rage. “I have a thing about germs.” “You think everyone’s like you, swapping partners like they’re changing clothes?” “It’s disgusting.” Sera was unfazed. “Brother, you’re not a very good liar.” “Does my lingerie smell nice? Is it satisfying, holding it while you sleep at night?” “I’ve been with so many men, but you still sneak into my room every night to kiss me, don’t you?” Caleb’s breathing grew heavy and ragged. “Shut up! That’s your punishment! For what you do to her.” “Tonight. The dark room.” “The dark room? Tonight, I want to be on top.” “And the sheets are getting old. The bed isn’t soft enough.” “I saw the maid outfit you hid in the closet. I want you to wear it for me tonight.” Caleb’s body went rigid. “If you dare touch her, I’ll double your punishment.” “In Mom and Dad’s bathtub this time? It’s nice and big in there.” Sera leaned in and pressed her lips to his. “Admit it, brother. You’re madly in love with me.” I stumbled backward, my hand flying to the wall to keep myself from collapsing. My nails scraped against the tile, leaving bloody streaks, but all I could feel was a hollowing ache inside me. My heart was emptying out, becoming a vast, cold cavern. A bitter smile twisted my lips. Caleb, oh, Caleb. What a true love you are. When I got back to the classroom, a girl grabbed me by the hair and shoved my head toward a trash can. “Thief! How dare you steal from me!” I struggled wildly. “I didn’t…” A series of sharp slaps rocked my head. “Still denying it? We found the necklace in your bag!” “You’re just a poor charity case! How could you ever afford something like that?” Pain exploded behind my eyes, and the world started to go gray. I reached out, grasping for something, anything. “What’s going on?” Caleb walked in, looking a bit disheveled. Sera stood behind him, a smug look on her face. A moment later, our teacher followed. After hearing the story, the teacher frowned at me. “Chloe, is this true?” I shook my head. “No.” “But the necklace was found in your possession.” “Sera told me yesterday she saw you acting suspiciously in the classroom after hours.” My heart seized. I whirled on Sera. “It was her! She’s the one who has it out for me!” “She’s doing this on purpose! She’s jealous of me and Caleb, so she framed me!” “She even had someone rip my clothes this morning!” The teacher looked conflicted, her gaze finally settling on Caleb. He looked at Sera, and a flicker of understanding crossed his face. He stepped in front of me. “Ma’am, Chloe told me yesterday how much she liked that necklace.” “She didn’t mean any harm. I’ll apologize on her behalf. Please, let’s just forgive her.” The teacher sighed, looking at me with a mixture of pity and disappointment. “Your scholarship is revoked. And I want a ten-thousand-word apology on my desk by tomorrow morning.” I stood there, frozen. A bone-deep chill spread through me. In this vibrant, lively school, I felt like a ghost. Caleb patted my shoulder. “It’s okay. So what if it’s revoked?” “It’s just a few thousand dollars. I’ll transfer you the money right now.” A second later, my phone buzzed with a notification from my bank. Sera shot him a glare. “Well, aren’t you someone’s little treasure?” “You better take good care of her. We wouldn’t want her turning into a little thief again, would we?” “Get back to your class,” Caleb snapped at her. He turned back to me and gently wiped a tear from my cheek. “Don’t be scared, sweet girl. I’m here.” I stood there like a wooden doll, unmoving. Sera was right. He was already hopelessly in love with her. And I was just the shield he used to deny it. I opened my phone, staring at a familiar contact. My thumb hovered over the words I had typed out, the most decisive words I’d ever written. Then I let the screen go dark. 2 Maybe it was guilt. For the next few days, Caleb stuck to my side like glue. But his mind was elsewhere. His thumb was always rubbing the jagged scar on his wrist. I knew the story behind it. I’d overheard it one day. Sera had been dating some guy, and Caleb had lost his mind with jealousy. He’d hunted the guy down and started a fight. But Sera had protected the other boy. In the ensuing chaos, she had been the one to shatter Caleb’s wrist. He should have hated her for it. But when she came to apologize, to gently clean the wound and apply medicine, he forgave her instantly. He even refused to change the dressing she’d put on, wearing it until it was gray and frayed. How ironic. When we first started dating, I’d worried about that scar. I’d gently touched it once, and he had recoiled violently, shoving my hand away. He’d rushed to the nearest sink and scrubbed his skin raw, as if terrified my touch had contaminated that sacred ground. Just like now, in the cafeteria. From across the room, Sera let out a small cry, and Caleb was on his feet in a second, rushing to her side. His face was a mask of panic, which quickly soured into annoyance when he realized it was just a prank. Sera wrapped her arms around his waist in front of everyone. “Brother, I ordered too much food. I can’t finish it.” “Can you help me? Please? Just eat the rest for me.” He grumbled and said no, but then he took her plate and finished every last bite, without even changing the fork. He even ate the fatty piece of pork she’d left, the one thing I knew he absolutely detested. If I had ever asked him to do something like that, he would have lectured me about how disgusting it was to eat someone else’s leftovers. It wasn’t the food that was disgusting. It was the person. I stared down at my own plate, my vision blurring. My phone buzzed. [I’m only going along with her because I’m afraid she’ll bully you. Eat up, my sweet girl.] How kind of him to find the time to string me along. I couldn’t breathe. It felt like a dull knife was being dragged over my skin, again and again, leaving me a mangled mess of flesh and blood. A wave of nausea hit me, and I ran to the bathroom, heaving until my stomach was empty. When it was time to go home that evening, Caleb still hadn’t noticed anything was wrong. He just muttered something about having to take care of something and left without me. My face was pale as I walked down the street alone. Suddenly, a bag was thrown over my head. I was dragged into a narrow, damp alley. Sera clapped her hands together, her voice sharp and gleeful. “Hit her hard. I’ll pay you double.” “Beat her until she’s half-dead. It’ll be more fun that way.” “Don’t hold back. I’m a certified psycho, remember? My brother will clean up any mess I make.” The sharp clicks of her heels echoed as she walked over and kicked me hard, several times. “Harder! You think you can mess with me? You overestimate yourself.” “Don’t you know who I am? I’m the princess of the Brady family.” “You’re so small and skinny. My brother says there’s nothing to grab onto. I don’t know what he sees in you.” A brick slammed into my collarbone with a sickening crack. A pained grunt escaped my lips. I was in so much agony. “Caleb…” I whispered his name, a desperate prayer. I still clung to the hope that he would appear like a savior and rescue me. The blows rained down, heavier and heavier. Finally, I stopped fighting back, collapsing onto the grimy pavement as darkness encroached. Through a haze of pain, I thought I heard familiar footsteps. He won’t leave me like this, I thought, a desperate flicker of hope igniting within me. He couldn’t. Not when I’m this broken. But the next voice I heard was Caleb’s, cold and detached. “Are you done venting? We can go now.” “You’ve been a little hard on her lately. She’s been crying in secret. Don’t go too far.” He sounded so indifferent, but Sera just melted against him, her voice a playful whine. “But it’s her fault for messing with me. I’m not done yet.” “That’s enough. Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because I’m here.” Sera’s voice turned demanding. “Then tell me you love me.” “Don’t be ridiculous.” “Tell me you love me, and I’ll stop.” A long silence stretched out. Just when I thought he wouldn’t answer, he did. “I love you.” “That’s more like it.” Sera snorted. “I knew you loved me most. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have tipped me off that she was coming this way.” “If I hadn’t done this, you already had people lined up to take care of her, didn’t you?” “The only tough thing about you is your mouth… my sweet, dear brother.” She planted a series of loud, wet kisses on his face. Satisfied, she signaled for her goons to leave. Caleb stepped into her path, blocking her way. “Now, what about my reward?” “Three hours. Is that enough?” “Not enough. I want the whole night.” He cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheek before he leaned in and kissed her deeply. “You’re so greedy,” she murmured against his lips when they finally broke apart. She leaned against him, her body pliant. They stayed like that for a long time before finally leaving together. Caleb glanced back at the crumpled figure on the alley floor. A frown creased his brow for a moment. Then, without a second thought, he turned and walked away. I don’t know how much time passed. I managed to drag myself up against the rough brick wall. A stray dog trotted over and snatched my shoe. My hand was sticky with something warm and metallic-smelling. I couldn’t seem to draw a full breath for the pain. My phone lit up with a message that felt like a devil’s whisper. [Chloe, you shouldn’t have touched her.] My bloody fingerprints smeared across the screen as I clutched the phone, a wave of helplessness washing over me. The edges of my vision were growing darker. I remembered when we first got together. He held me close and promised, “Sweet girl, no one will ever bully you again. I’ll make you happy.” Even with his demanding schedule, he found time to write me poems. He once stood up in front of our entire class and read one aloud before leaning in to kiss the tip of my nose so gently. Now I realized it was all just a performance. Another way to provoke Sera. My collarbone was broken. The delay in getting treatment meant it would never heal properly. It was a twisted, ugly knot under my skin, like a maggot. I was out of school for a long time while I recovered. Caleb never came to see me. He’d send the occasional placating text, claiming he was busy. But he wasn’t busy. He was in the park just down the street. Kissing his stepsister. When I finally returned to school, the taunts were louder, the cruelty more blatant. They put glue on my chair, tore up my books. Someone spat in my water bottle. They’d hoot with laughter when they succeeded. Caleb was always there, standing on the sidelines with a cool, detached expression. His silence was a green light for all of it. Occasionally, he’d offer a few hollow words of comfort. But every time he did, Sera would retaliate with something even worse. Which would lead to another one of Caleb’s “punishments.” And I would fall deeper and deeper into the abyss. I couldn’t take it anymore. I dragged Sera up to the rooftop. She just crossed her arms, completely unfazed. “Well, well. The good girl finally snapped?” “How many times have you cried yourself to sleep?” “You did all of it on purpose.” My voice was tight, my chest aching. She just smiled, then reached out and pulled my collar aside, exposing my mangled collarbone. “Tsk, tsk. Look at that… so ugly. I wonder if brother will still be able to stomach kissing you now.” I grabbed the front of her shirt. “Sera!” “Chloe, stop it!” Caleb charged onto the roof, breathing heavily. He looked terrified. But his terror wasn’t for me. It was for her. I threw a small audio recorder at his feet. “Listen to it.” “They did it on purpose. They planned it all.” “I’m going to expose everything!” Caleb’s eyes widened. He was scared. Scared of how he was going to clean up Sera’s mess. “Sweet girl, come here.” “She’s sick. Let’s not stoop to her level.” “You’ve been in love with her all along, haven’t you!” “What? How could you think that?” “She’s disgusting. I’d never be interested in her. Sweet girl, are you feeling insecure?” Even now. Even now, he was still lying. “Then you release the recording. Right now.” His brow furrowed. “It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s the Brady family name…” I pulled Sera back toward the edge of the roof. “I don’t care! Do it now! Post it!” “Don’t! Sweet girl, don’t move!” “Choose! Choose right now!” I was getting more and more frantic. He lunged forward. And pushed me off the roof. Maybe he didn’t mean to. Maybe, in his rush to grab Sera and pull her to safety, he just shoved me out of the way. By some miracle, I survived. When I came to, I heard their voices. “Sera, you have to stop,” Caleb was saying. “You’ve gone too far recently.” Sera scoffed. “No way. Why are you so concerned about her?” “She’s my girlfriend. Your future… sister-in-law.” “She is not!” Sera shrieked. She grabbed Caleb’s head and pulled him down for a bruising kiss. “Why do you call me disgusting?” she demanded. “I was young and stupid, someone tricked me. But now, you’re the only one I want, brother!” “You know you have feelings for me, too. Now let me sit on your lap.” Caleb turned his head away, silent. “What if she wakes up…” “I don’t care! I want to! You bastard brother!” He gave in. I clutched the bedsheet, tears sliding silently down my temples. The pain was sharp, drilling into my very bones. I didn’t dare open my eyes, didn’t dare face what was happening. A week later, I chose a time when I knew they’d be out and went home to get my things. From down the street, I could hear the sound of things smashing. The inside of our small apartment was destroyed. And my brother, my only family, was lying in a pool of his own blood. “Leo!” I screamed, rushing in and gathering him in my arms. Sera saw me. She didn’t even seem to care. She was on the phone with Caleb. “She’s back. Way to ruin the mood.” I screamed into the phone, my voice cracking. “Caleb, help! It’s my brother, he’s—” His voice on the other end was calm, unhurried. “Alright, sweet girl. Maybe you’ll learn your lesson this time.” “I’ve already taken care of everything. Don’t even think about calling the police or making a scene. It won’t do you any good.” Sera raised a triumphant eyebrow at me. “The good girl,” she purred. “Brother says… being with me is exciting. It’s interesting.” “And you? You’re just a toy to pass the time.” The ambulance arrived too late. My brother was dead. The day of his funeral, a cold rain fell from a gray sky. And I dialed a familiar number. “About what we discussed before… I’ll do it.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387872”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was born with a dual personality. Normally, I’m a gentle, good girl. But three drinks in, I switch to a ruthless, bloodthirsty monster. When I was seven, at my aunt’s wedding, I sneaked three glasses of wine. When I woke up, my hands were covered in blood. At my feet lay a dozen skinned tabby cats and a massive hunting dog that had been strangled to death. My parents, shaking with fear, threatened suicide to make me swear I’d never touch a drop of alcohol again. But now, at my fiancé’s birthday party, his childhood sweetheart, Felicity, insists I drink. I shook my head, claiming an alcohol allergy. Felicity, glass in hand, teared up: “Ethan, I knew she looked down on me. What did I do wrong?” Ethan, my fiancé, snapped impatiently: “Felicity is toasting you. It’s just a drink. Will it kill you?” He grabbed my chin, forcing the high-proof liquor down my throat. “Be good! Drink three as punishment. Apologize to Felicity.” 1 One glass of white liquor burned its way down my throat. Watching Ethan pour the second, I shook my head, trying to stay lucid. My voice was raspy. “I really can’t drink. Something bad will happen.” Felicity looked wronged. “Ethan, I think she just doesn’t welcome me. I should go.” Ethan grabbed her to comfort her, then turned to me with thinly veiled anger. “Anna, why do you have to be so difficult?” I smiled bitterly. Once upon a time, Ethan would block every drink for me. I remembered him holding my hand under the table, defending me: “My Anna is allergic to alcohol. I’ll drink for her…” I took a deep breath. Standing up, I stumbled. A buzzing sound filled my head, like a pair of eyes slowly opening in the dark. Ignoring everything else, I staggered to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face, desperate to stay awake. “Pathetic. Didn’t you say you were allergic? Why are you fine?” Felicity stood nearby, arms crossed, eyes full of mockery. Her tone dripped with sarcasm. I clenched my fists. Bad. The alcohol content was too high! I gritted out through clenched teeth: “Get out!” Instead of leaving, Felicity smirked and stepped closer. “You don’t know, do you? Ethan and I set this up just for you. You’re drinking whether you like it or not.” “Because Ethan is going to get you drunk and give you away as a toy.” I snapped my head up, eyes wide with disbelief. “Impossible!” Ethan and I had been together for three years. We were engaged. I couldn’t believe it. But the moment I stepped out of the bathroom, Ethan walked towards me with a dark face and a glass of wine. “Two more glasses. Drink up, Anna. Apologize to Felicity!” I looked at him, my heart sinking. I can’t drink! The memory of those skinned cats from when I was seven was etched into my brain. I promised my parents. No more killing. I rushed to the door, turned the handle, but it was locked tight. “Open the door! I’m leaving!” Ethan advanced on me, holding the glass. “Anna, show some class. You haven’t finished your apology drinks. Where are you going?” I almost growled. “Open the door! If you force me to drink again, you won’t be able to handle the consequences!” Ethan sneered. “Anna, who are you scaring? You always say you’re allergic, but look, you drank one and you’re fine. Just two more, and we’re good.” Ethan’s buddies chimed in. “Exactly. In this day and age, who doesn’t drink? Stop being dramatic.” Felicity smirked at me, her smile widening. Seeing no escape, I exhaled, staring Ethan down. “Felicity said you’re going to get me drunk and give me away. Now you’re forcing me. Explain.” Ethan’s face changed instantly. 2 He looked at Felicity disapprovingly. “Felicity, why did you tell her beforehand?” Felicity shrugged. “Ethan, what are you afraid of? She can’t escape today anyway.” My head buzzed. A white light exploded like lightning. My voice trembled. “Ethan, are you really doing this?!” “I’m your fiancée!” “Anna, listen. Felicity wants to get into the film industry. There’s a director willing to give her a chance, but the condition is… you. He likes your innocent look.” “Anna, don’t worry. Even if you sleep with another man, I won’t mind. The wedding is still on.” I watched Ethan’s mouth move, dazed. Was this the man who fought thugs for me? Why did everything change the moment Felicity appeared? “Ethan, do you hear yourself? Did you forget your proposal vows?” “And why should I, Anna Feng, sacrifice myself for Felicity’s career? Who the hell is she?” Ethan looked increasingly impatient. “Felicity is like a sister to me. You’re my woman, so you’re her sister-in-law. What’s wrong with helping her? Don’t be so selfish!” He stepped closer. “Anna, I know you wouldn’t agree if you were sober. Be good. This liquor is strong. Two more glasses and you’ll be drunk. You won’t feel pain. When you wake up, it’ll be over.” “You’re disgusting!” I trembled all over, teeth chattering. Tears flowed freely, cold on my face. Ethan, dark-faced, grabbed my hand like usual and pulled me into his arms. But the next second, he pinched my chin and poured the liquor down my throat without hesitation. “Anna, relax. It’ll be over soon.” I gagged and teared up, but Ethan squeezed harder, forcing the alcohol down. When the glass was empty, the eyes in my mind opened completely. Cold and cruel. I panicked. It was happening again. My memory would cut out, and then… blood. Everywhere. The smell of iron filling the air. I screamed hysterically: “No more! If I drink again, you’ll all die!” “Ethan, we’re done! Unlock the door and let me go!” Felicity laughed, her eyes full of contempt. “Ethan, Anna is really drunk. Saying we’ll all die? Who is she scaring?” She smiled sweetly. “Anna, my future depends on you. Take good care of Director Deng.” Ethan saw my grief and tightened his grip, his voice softening slightly. “Anna, stop fussing. You’re my fiancée, just help me, help Felicity. One more glass, and you’ll be out.” My heart felt like it was being sliced open. The first night I looked forward to was my wedding night with Ethan, not a sacrifice to a stranger I’d never met. Just then, the doorbell rang. Felicity lit up. “Director Deng is here!” The man who entered was short, bald, and his belly jiggled when he walked. He leered at me immediately. He asked Ethan, “Is this your fiancée? You’re really willing?” 3 Ethan gritted his teeth and pushed me towards the greasy man. “Director Deng, we have a deal. After tonight, Felicity is the lead in your new movie.” Director Deng pinched my waist, his fat face trembling with a smile. “Deal. But let’s be clear. I hate trouble. After I’m done with her, I don’t want any issues.” Ethan replied matter-of-factly. “Don’t worry. She’s my woman. She listens to me. She won’t make a scene.” He turned to me, commanding: “Anna, serve Director Deng well tonight. I promise to give you the grandest wedding.” I struggled furiously, eyes spitting fire. “Ethan, you bastard! Who gave you the right to decide for me!” Director Deng looked displeased. “Can you handle this or not?” Felicity got anxious, grabbing Ethan’s arm. “Ethan, Anna doesn’t seem willing to help me. What do we do?” Ethan glared at me, quickly pouring another glass, smiling apologetically at Director Deng. “Director Deng, relax. One more glass and she’ll be docile.” The greasy man nodded, gesturing for speed, then added: “I should warn you. I have some… special hobbies. I like it rough.” He pulled out his phone, showing pictures of women whipped until they were bloody. I was struggling against Ethan, but hearing this, my pupils shrank. A chill ran down my spine. “Ethan, are you trying to destroy me?” “Have you forgotten everything between us?” He paused. Felicity immediately whined, “Ethan, I don’t want to be a background actor anymore.” Ethan’s grip tightened instantly. “What’s a little suffering for Felicity? Being a sister-in-law means sacrifice!” “Be good! Drink this. The whipping won’t hurt as much when you’re drunk. Anna, I’m doing this for you.” My heart plummeted, turning to ice. I stared at him dead on. “Ethan, I really can’t drink. Three glasses and I turn into a homicidal maniac! Last chance. Let me go now, and we’re done.” With the alcohol accumulating, dizziness set in. I felt the string about to snap. The eyes in my mind were gleaming with cold, murderous light. She was stirring. I couldn’t hold her back much longer! “Anna, what nonsense. A maniac? Who’d believe that? Everyone knows you’re gentle.” Ethan dismissed my warning completely. Director Deng was impatient, reaching out to grab me with greasy fingers. Felicity watched with glee, her eyes full of disdain. I scanned these demons living among humans and suddenly grinned. Using the last of my strength, I snatched the bottle from Ethan. To everyone’s shock, I downed the entire bottle. The high-proof alcohol burned through every sense. “Ethan, you’re right. Drinking takes the pain away.” Surprise vanished from Ethan’s eyes, replaced by a satisfied smile. “That’s right. Glad you figured it out, Anna.” Felicity giggled. “Thought she was so chaste. Turns out she’s easy.” Director Deng grabbed my shoulder, fingers wandering. “Fucking obedient. Good girl!” My eyelids drooped, then snapped open. I spat out: “Useless trash! Should’ve let me out sooner.” Director Deng looked eager. “Yeah, you’re my little snack today. Feed me!” Felicity joked, “Director, go easy. Anna is fragile.” My gaze lingered on their necks. The arteries pulsing underneath. I licked my lips. “So thirsty!” The man hugged my shoulder, laughing lewdly, dragging me towards the bedroom. “I’ll feed you right now!” In the living room, Felicity stared at the closed bedroom door, snuggling into Ethan’s arms, smiling broadly. Now Ethan was hers. The lead role was hers. Anna Feng was just a stepping stone. She didn’t believe Ethan would want a used woman. She looked up and kissed Ethan’s cheek, speaking softly. “Ethan, thank you so much for today.” Ethan smiled. “Silly girl, you’re like my sister. I’ll try to give you whatever you want.” He lowered his head to deepen the kiss when a blood-curdling scream erupted from the bedroom! Felicity’s eyes lit up, but she said, “Oh my, Anna must be suffering! Ethan, does your heart hurt?” Ethan frowned, surprised. “Wait, that’s a man’s voice. It’s Director Deng!” 4 When Ethan and Felicity rushed in, they found the greasy man naked and hogtied. His neck was a bloody mess. He was paralyzed with fear, fat face trembling, muttering: “Don’t kill me, don’t kill me…” I looked away from the pile of lard, shaking my hand. Fresh blood dripped from my fingertips. I tilted my head at the dumbstruck pair in the doorway. Felicity seemed slow to process, eyes wide. “Director Deng is into this?” Hearing voices, Director Deng kicked his bound legs, screaming: “Did you set me up?! Trying to kill me?!” “Get this crazy woman away from me!” Ethan pointed at me furiously. “Anna, what are you doing? Do you know the consequences of offending Director Deng?” Felicity snapped out of it, exasperated. “Anna, how can you be so evil? You offended Director Deng, what about my lead role? I just asked you to service him a little, and you seek revenge!” She stomped her foot. “Ethan, look at her! She did it on purpose! She can’t stand seeing me succeed!” Ethan’s temple throbbed. He grabbed my wrist, gritting his teeth. “Didn’t you agree just now? Now you’re ruining it for Felicity? How can you be so vicious?! Believe it or not, I’ll announce our engagement is off tomorrow!” Messy hair covered my eyes. I slowly looked up, my gaze chilling to the bone. Ethan shuddered under my stare, then barked: “Anna, I’m talking to you! Cut the act!” “Apologize to Director Deng now! Let him play however he wants. Soothe him! Felicity’s lead role can’t be lost, she’s a future movie queen, hear me?!” His voice dropped, anger rising on his face. “Anna, if you still want me to marry you, obey! Or I’ll dump you in a second!” “Noisy!” I tilted my head, spat out a mouthful of blood, grinned to show bloodstained teeth, and fixed my eyes on Ethan’s neck. “Acting tough? I know you. A spider on the street makes you jump.” Ethan looked at the man on the bed, fawning. “Director Deng, don’t worry. I’ll tie Anna up for you later. I guarantee you’ll have fun!” He didn’t notice the man on the bed wouldn’t even look at me, shivering at the mere mention of my name. Ethan looked around for rope. Just as he turned, I spoke. “Looking for this?” His eyes landed on the rope in my hand. He reached for it, but the next second, I looped it around his neck. In an instant, he was choking, eyes bulging, fingers clawing at the rope. Voice tight: “Anna, what are you doing? Let go!” Felicity lunged, trying to pull the rope, slapping my hand frantically. “Anna, are you crazy? You dare hurt Ethan? Let go!” I rolled my neck, tightening my grip, lowering my eyes to leisurely admire the struggle beneath my hands. The more he struggled, the better I felt. That’s right. Trash, you should have let me out sooner. Ethan’s face turned purple. He squeezed out: “Anna, let go!” I smiled, letting go abruptly. He gasped, sucking in air greedily. Pointing at my nose, he cursed: “Anna, you just tried to kill me! I’ll kill you today!” But the next second, he couldn’t speak.

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Julian Thorne is bipolar, with a volatile temper. Yet, he ended up in an arranged marriage with me—a cowardly fake-good-girl. That day, Julian smashed everything in the living room. He yelled at his father, “You old fossil! How dare you make decisions for me? She’s got guts smaller than a mouse! What’s the use of being pretty?!” “Marry her? Ha! Over my dead body!” Then he turned around and bumped into me, shivering at the top of the stairs. Julian’s breath hitched. Suddenly blushing, he changed his tune, his voice softening. “Dearest father, marriage isn’t entirely out of the question. How about we set the date for next month—no, next week… actually, let’s just make it tomorrow.” 1 By the time I arrived, Julian had already trashed the living room. Expensive antiques from auctions were thrown like toys, shattering all over the floor. I stood at the door with my oversized suitcase, unsure whether to enter or flee. Just yesterday, I was informed I’d be marrying Julian Thorne. Everyone in our circle knew Julian had severe bipolar disorder. The worst incident was when he dislocated a rich kid’s arm over a joke, sending him straight to the hospital. The guy still hasn’t fully recovered. And me? I’m known as the timid, well-behaved girl. Cowardly, weak, prone to tears. The complete opposite of Julian. As an illegitimate daughter, I had no say in this arranged marriage. The very next day, I was kicked out with my luggage. I had no choice. To maintain my victim persona and gain some leverage, I had to start with Julian. The servants stood trembling on the side. Trying to minimize my presence, I dragged my suitcase slowly under the butler’s signal. But as soon as I reached the stairs, I heard Julian’s furious roar. “You old fossil! How dare you make decisions for me? She’s got guts smaller than a mouse! What’s the use of being pretty?!” “Someone saw her at a party the other day, tripping over nothing and crying on the floor for half an hour. Tsk, I hate crybabies.” “If you’re so obsessed with marriage, go be a matchmaker! The fees alone could boost the family business!” “Fifty is a great age for remarriage. Go get a new wife and have another son so you can stop nagging me!” “Marry her? Ha! Over my dead body!” Julian grabbed the last vase and threw it. It grazed his father’s forehead and smashed at my feet. Startled, I let out a scream. “Ah!” Julian, still fuming, turned around impatiently at the sound. However… I witnessed the volatile, spoiled prince freeze the moment he saw me. A flush spread rapidly from his ears to his neck. Huh? Wasn’t he supposed to hate me? This wasn’t going according to the script. Julian stared at me for a long time, only snapping out of it after his father called him several times. Suddenly blushing, he changed his tune, his voice softening. “Dearest father, marriage isn’t entirely out of the question. How about we set the date for next month—no, next week… actually, let’s just make it tomorrow.” 2 I was assigned the room next to Julian’s. Originally, I was supposed to stay in the guest room on the second floor. But Julian claimed the guest rooms hadn’t been used in ages and might have mice. I lowered my head, pretending to hesitate. Julian lived up to his reputation for being volatile and gloomy. My plan was to make him hate me. That way, I could maintain my pitiful persona and easily sabotage the marriage. But the current turn of events had me confused. Julian didn’t give me a chance to refuse. He picked up my suitcase and carried it upstairs himself. He kept stealing glances at me, muttering, “If you get scared and start crying again, I won’t have time to comfort you…” I stood frozen, looking helplessly at Mr. Thorne senior. He looked equally confused but patted my shoulder, telling me to settle in. Julian was extremely territorial; no one was allowed in his space without permission. This meant only the two of us lived on the fourth floor. He placed my huge suitcase gently on the floor. He wanted to help me unpack, but I stopped him just in time. The suitcase was filled with my personal items. If he saw them, my persona would crumble. My hand accidentally brushed his. It was cool. The next second, Julian spun around, quickly taking off his jacket and tying it around his waist. He cursed under his breath. “F*ck.” Me: “?” Is the prince this innocent? Julian kept his back to me, stiff as a board. I blinked and whispered an apology, sounding like I was about to cry. “I’m sorry.” Sure enough, Julian whipped around, stammering. “Why apologize? I should be the one apologizing. Sorry, sorry, was I too loud just now? Did I scare you? I’ll be quieter next time, please don’t cry…” He bent down, clumsily trying to comfort me. Seeing I stopped tearing up, he asked tentatively. “W-what’s your name again?” “Chloe.” I whispered. This dummy. He didn’t even know his fiancée’s name. I looked up, meeting his nervous gaze. Julian held it for a second before blushing again. 3 Before leaving, Julian left a sticky note with his number, telling me to call him if I needed anything. Watching his expectant look, I hid behind the door and nodded obediently. Once the door closed, my innocent act vanished. I rubbed my sore eyes and tossed the note into the trash. Then I opened my suitcase. I took out my strap dresses, tongue ring, and toys. Finally, I grabbed my tablet, opened my favorite site, and started enjoying some “content.” Meanwhile, Julian’s phone rang as soon as he got back to his room. It wasn’t Chloe, but his best friend, Zack. “Julian, Chloe isn’t as simple as she looks.” “Yeah, she’s got some moves.” “She’s not just a pretty vase. Some guys saw her at a club a few days ago—” Before Zack could finish, Julian cut him off impatiently. “Who the hell allowed you to badmouth Chloe?” “She’s not a vase! She’s clearly… a cute little hamster!” Julian’s ears burned as he spoke. “Forget it, can’t explain it to a single dog like you. Just wait for the wedding invitation!” He hung up. Julian opened his hand. In his palm lay a small sticker. He had secretly swiped it while carrying her luggage. The pattern was unclear. White with some pink. It carried Chloe’s unique gardenia scent. F*ck. Julian cursed himself and headed to the bathroom, turning the shower to the coldest setting. For the first time in his twenty-something years, his heart raced for a girl. There was no sound from next door. Julian pressed his ear against the wall, patiently listening. The air around him smelled strange. He listened to the faint, happy sounds coming from the girl next door. Late at night, still caught in the afterglow, Julian thought to himself: “Love at first sight is actually f*cking real.” 4 Over the next few days, Julian canceled all his plans. He just stayed home obediently. To be precise, he followed me wherever I went. His only private activity was calling people to rush the wedding preparations. I suspected he was possessed. But he justified it by saying: “Cultivating feelings with my fiancée.” Having a tail was annoying. Outwardly, I pretended to be scared, hoping Julian would get bored and kick me out. Preferably with a hefty “emotional damage” fee. To my surprise, instead of getting bored, Julian took me to a gathering. He claimed he wanted his bros to meet their sister-in-law. I stood outside the private room, hesitant to enter. To maintain my good-girl image, I wore a plain white dress with minimal makeup. Completely out of place in a noisy club. “I’m a little scared…” Scared of what? I knew these idle rich kids well. Colorful hairstyles, foul mouths, smoke everywhere. But when the door opened… A dozen guys in suits sat upright on the sofas, glasses of orange juice on the table. The air smelled of fresh gardenias. Everyone was smiling, hair gelled back neatly. It looked less like a club gathering and more like an elementary school assembly. Julian looked even more nervous than I was. “Babe, are you still scared?” I swallowed my prepared excuse and shook my head silently.

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