Category: English

1 It all started when they found my boyfriend’s brother’s DNA—his fingerprints, his fluids—on my sister’s body. That’s when Julian Howard and I went insane. I hunted his brother down and returned the favor in blood and bone. And on the day of my sister’s funeral, he bought out every digital billboard in the city center and plastered my most private photos across them for the world to see. We were drowning in a sea of red, our hatred too wild, too fierce to contain. The love we once shared twisted into the sharpest of blades, and we plunged them into each other until we were both bleeding out. Eventually, High Command had enough. They shipped one of us overseas and kept the other stateside. The next time we met, Julian was a decorated Major General. And I was riddled with a sickness that would kill me in less than three months. … After picking up my prescription, I headed back to the flower shop I owned, right across from the main gate of the garrison. As I stepped inside, the large screen opposite was broadcasting a news segment on Julian’s return to D.C. The golden boy of the base, now the Army’s youngest Major General, was back from his overseas tour. It was major news, and every network was scrambling for coverage. I tore my eyes away and placed the fresh white daisies I’d brought before my sister’s photograph. Suddenly, the door burst open and a young woman in a white dress rushed in, clutching a massive, dazzling bouquet of red roses. She had a quiet look about her, but her voice was crisp and clear as she pointed to the imported Avalanche roses in the cooler. “All of these. I’ll take them all!” Right behind her was Julian’s adjutant, Marcus. His steps faltered the moment he saw me, his expression growing strained. “Linda, maybe we should try another shop?” “No,” she shot back instantly. “I sent Julian an eternal flower box from here once, and he said it was special. Tonight is his promotion dinner, and I want everything to be perfect.” She blinked her clear, bright eyes at me. “Ma’am, my fiancé was just promoted to Major General. He absolutely loves the flowers from your shop. I was wondering… could we possibly use your space to host a small celebration for him?” I couldn’t refuse. I simply nodded. “Could you add some lisianthus, too?” she added softly. I agreed, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking as I began to arrange the bouquet. It wasn’t fear, nor was it nostalgia. It was the sickness, flaring up again. The kind there’s no cure for. “Marcus, can you please help me? Julian will be here any minute, and I want to make him happy.” Marcus remained frozen in place. He knew better than anyone that seeing me would never make Julian Howard happy. On the screen, Julian offered the cameras a practiced smile, but his eyes were devoid of warmth. “I imagine she’s watching this,” he said as the camera zoomed in, the scar high on his brow stark and clear. “I’m very much looking forward… to this reunion.” I’d given him that one with a combat knife. No particular reason. I was in a bad mood, and he was there. And the puckered bullet hole just below my collarbone was his handiwork, from when he’d deliberately aimed high during target practice. No particular reason for that, either. We’ve always believed in an eye for an eye. We took pleasure in seeing the other bleeding and broken. On the TV, a female reporter was smiling. “Major General Howard, will you be stationed in D.C. for the long term? I see you’ve brought roses. Are you on your way to see someone important?” He paused, his voice low. “My fiancée.” In the shop, the girl was meticulously arranging the roses and lilies. Hearing his voice, she glanced back at the screen. “Marcus, I heard Julian had an old flame in D.C., someone he was tangled up with for years. Do you know anything about that?” I kept my head down, trimming stems, but in my peripheral vision, I saw Marcus’s gaze land on me. “Julian!” the girl cried out, shattering the tense silence in the shop. She ran outside, so eagerly she forgot her coat. “Linda.” Outside, Julian caught her leaping form with one steady arm, draping his uniform jacket over her shoulders with the other. She stood on her toes and pressed a rain-dampened kiss to his jaw. Julian seemed to turn his head just slightly, avoiding it. Across the misted glass of the window, our eyes met. Linda started to turn, but he cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a deep, possessive kiss. I looked away, snipping the last ribbon. Marcus was now standing in front of me. He hesitated, then lowered his voice. “Sienna, I’m begging you… It’s his promotion day. At least for today, don’t make a scene.” He paused, then added, “The girl just turned twenty. She’s the lead performer in the military’s arts corps. Her smile… it looks a little like yours did, when you were younger.” I nodded, my fingertips numb with cold. “It does. And she’s gentler than I ever was.” The door opened again. Julian walked in, holding a furled black umbrella. “Talking about my fiancée?” His lips were curved into a smile, but his eyes were chips of ice as they fell on me. Marcus held his breath, watching me, waiting to see if I would explode like I always did. But I simply held out the prepared flowers. “Your pre-ordered bouquet. Please check it.” Linda cupped her face in her hands, her eyes shining with adoration for Julian. “Julian, smell it. Isn’t it your favorite, champagne roses?” Julian’s fingers brushed against a petal, his thumb stroking the silk ribbon as he leaned in. “Too fragrant,” he murmured, his voice lilting as he teased her. “Cloying. Not really for me.” Linda looked down, confused. “But it’s so delicate! You’re teasing me again!” She didn’t see it. The moment she looked down, Julian’s eyes were locked on me. The next second, the glass door was thrown open. “Howard! Congrats on the promotion!” A few officers in civilian clothes burst in, their grins freezing on their faces the moment they saw me. Their eyes darted from me to Marcus, full of alarm and suspicion. I walked over with a tray of tea, and they took a collective step back—as if I were carrying a live grenade. Over the years, our battles on the training grounds had often involved them as collateral damage. They were just standard exercises, but I hadn’t realized I’d left them with such deep-seated muscle memory. One of them nudged Marcus discreetly. “What the hell is this?” Marcus just shrugged. “Please, have some tea,” I said, turning to leave. But Linda caught my wrist. “Ma’am, could you take a picture for us?” “No.” I gently pulled my arm free, refusing without a second thought. I had barely turned when a shadow fell over me. I looked up. It was Julian, his face a cold mask. “I know how you people in business are,” he said, his tone flat. “Everything has a price. Name it. How much to buy your…” He paused, his voice dripping with malice, as if waiting for me to lash out. When I didn’t react, he finished coldly, “…services as a photographer.” I looked him up and down, then started to walk around him. An old injury in my forearm screamed as he grabbed it. I stumbled, falling to my knees as a black credit card hit my face, the card’s edge slicing a thin, bloody line across my cheek. “There’s enough on that card to buy your life.” I pushed myself back to my feet, my eyes locked on his. Linda stepped between us, smiling brightly, trying to smooth things over. “Julian, don’t be like this…” “I’m so sorry, ma’am. My fiancé must be exhausted from his recent field exercises.” But his uniform was crisp, his breathing even. He was just looking for a fight, same as he had for the past decade. For the first time, I truly believed it. His years overseas had made him arrogant. He had forgotten just what kind of person I was. I knelt, picked up the black card, and stood before him. A snicker came from the group of officers. “Look at that, Howard. The woman hasn’t changed a bit. Sees money and she can’t walk away.” He held out his phone, a smug look on his face, clearly satisfied with my apparent submission. I wrapped a thorny rose stem around the black card, then grabbed his wrist and ground it into his palm. I didn’t stop until I smelled blood. Then I snatched two cups of tea from the table and threw them in his face. “Your mouth is filthy,” I said calmly. “Allow me to wash it out.” In the same motion, I slapped the man who had spoken. “You useless dog. If you can’t use your mouth for anything but barking, shut it.” It all happened too fast for anyone to react. The only sound was the rain lashing against the windows. Marcus leaned against the wall, downed a cup of tea in one gulp, and sighed. “Why did you have to provoke her?” Linda, snapping out of her shock, stepped forward, her voice trembling with indignation. “Ma’am! I know we were rude, but this is completely out of line!” Her face was flushed with anger. She raised her hand to strike me. “Ah!” The moment her arm moved, I caught her wrist, twisted, and a sharp slap echoed in the small shop. The only sound left was Linda’s choked sobs. Julian wiped the water from his face, his smile chilling. “Hitting me is one thing. But touching my fiancée… that’s where you crossed the line.” He pulled the weeping Linda behind him. “How about I smash this place up for you? Would that make you feel better?” Linda bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, and nodded. In an instant, several soldiers rushed in from outside. Flower stands toppled, glass shattered, crystal vases exploded. Icy rain and wind poured in, soaking my white shirt. Julian grabbed my chin, forcing my head up. “You weren’t wrong. But she needs an answer. Think about what you want for compensation. Write it down, send it to me. I’ll pay it in full.” His eyes were dark, like he was interrogating a prisoner of war. I shoved him away and broke into a violent coughing fit, frantically searching through the wreckage. A small pill bottle rolled out. My eyes lit up. But he was faster. He bent down, picked it up, and studied the label. “Six painkillers at once? You really do have a death wish.” With that, he casually tossed the bottle into a puddle of water, wrapped his arm around Linda, and left. I knelt by the puddle, retrieved the bottle, and swallowed two more pills. They didn’t just kill the pain; they calmed the storm inside me. I used to need half a pill. Now, even eight wasn’t enough. The pills were almost gone. My life, too, was almost over. In the last three years, both my parents had died. My health never fully recovered, so I took a medical discharge and used my savings to open this shop. Now it was destroyed, and I had nowhere else to go. Maybe it was the pain, a fresh wave crashing over me, but I didn’t have the strength to move. I just sat there, in the ruins, as the night rain soaked me to the bone. Overnight, the gossip spread through the garrison: “Major General Howard Trashes Old Flame’s Shop for New Fiancée.” As dawn broke, I prepared to leave. Before I went, I turned to the wreckage, sank to my knees, and bowed my head three times in a final, silent farewell. Julian appeared behind me, seemingly out of nowhere, and yanked me to my feet. “It’s just a broken-down shop. Is it really worth all this?” I wrenched my arm free, steadied myself, and then, with three sharp, clean motions, I slapped him across the face. “My parents’ military decorations were in there,” I said, my voice flat. “They’re gone.” He flicked his tongue against the inside of his bruised cheek and let out a cold laugh. “Is that right? Three slaps for your parents’ medals? Sounds like I got the better end of that deal.” I ignored him, my gaze fixed on the ruins. He stood behind me, his voice a low venom, deliberately saying things to cut me deep. “Sienna, I’m talking to you.” I acted as if I hadn’t heard, walking straight past him. He caught up in a few strides, blocking my path. “Don’t play stoic with me! Look at yourself. Your face is as white as a sheet. Who are you trying to fool?” “It’s just an old injury acting up. Makes me look a little tired, that’s all.” I looked up, forcing a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Julian, do you really think you’re important enough to affect me?” But I knew the truth. He had come back for this. To torment me. If my body were what it used to be, I wouldn’t have minded another round with him. I’d have enjoyed giving him another taste of a bullet tearing through flesh. But now, just standing here was draining the last of my strength. The military hospital smelled sharply of antiseptic. A group of army doctors stood around my scans, their faces grim. “The experimental medication I gave you last time, how much is left?” “It’s gone.” “Gone?!” Dr. Evans’ voice shot up. “That was a three-month supply! It’s only been a week!” Dr. Evans had been managing my case for a long time. The way he hesitated now, unable to meet my eyes, told me everything. My time was shorter than I thought. “Do you… have any family?” he asked tentatively. “You forgot, Doctor?” I replied calmly. “My father was killed in action. My mother is gone. My sister…” “I’m all that’s left.” He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “But you were stable for three years. What happened this week?” I glanced at my phone. The news feed had automatically pushed an article to the top. A picture of Julian with his arm around Linda at the promotion dinner. The person I thought I had stopped caring about could still wound me the deepest. Julian was the one bullet in my life that always found its mark, killing without leaving a trace of blood. “Your prognosis is not good. Once you’re off the medication, seven days, a month, three months… it’s all a critical period.” “Take this,” he said, handing me a small bottle. “Three pills when the pain is unbearable. Remember, no more than three…” Before he could finish, I had twisted the cap off, poured a handful into my palm, and swallowed them dry. The number didn’t matter. Not as long as it could silence the agony gnawing at my bones. Seven days or three months. It made no difference to me. After taking the pills, I slumped in a corner of the hospital corridor, my back pressed against the cold tiles. It was a trick I’d learned. If I could make myself cold enough, numb enough, the pain would recede. A cold sweat soaked through my clothes. For ten minutes, I listened to the prayers and weeping from outside the operating room next door, all those desperate hopes hanging on the thread between life and death. “Mommy, isn’t that the sister from the bed next to ours? Should we go say goodbye?” “Her illness… it’s not going to get better. Let’s not bother her. Poor girl. Both parents died in service, and now she’s so badly injured. I’m afraid at the end… there won’t be anyone to even collect her body.” The little girl looked up, confused. “But surely someone in the world must care about the pretty sister?” I blinked, my vision blurring, then focusing on my phone screen. A text from Julian. He’d been messaging me nonstop since last night, demanding to know what I wanted as compensation. I thought about it. Maybe there was no one who cared. But there was, at least, someone to collect the body. I dialed the number I knew by heart. He answered on the first ring. “Decided what you want?” I took a breath, swallowing the metallic taste in my throat. “If you really want to compensate me, Julian, you can collect my body.”

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The world’s richest man commissioned a ten-billion-dollar ring, custom-made to my exact size, and declared he would marry whoever it fit. In my first life, the fake heiress secretly had the ring resized and married him. The magnate lashed her face raw and screamed, “It’s not her!” In my second life, my adopted sister lost sixty pounds to fit into the ring. The magnate shoved her from a balcony and snarled, “It’s not her either!” In my third life, my stepmother, in a grim act of determination, shaved the flesh from her own finger to force it on. The magnate just laughed coldly and drowned her in the bathtub. In my fourth life, they ran out of ideas. Terrified, they pushed me forward. I slipped the ring on. It was a perfect fit. The whole family breathed a sigh of relief. But the moment the magnate saw me, he drew a knife and gutted me, his voice a roar of despair: “How are you still not her? Where is she!” In this, my final life, the magnate’s secretary delivered the ring. This time, all four of us said it didn’t fit. But the secretary gave us a strange look. “Mr. Sterling was very clear. The owner of this ring is among you.” … The four of us stared at the diamond, the size of a pigeon’s egg, completely baffled. Every eligible woman in the family had already tried marrying him. Who on earth did this man actually want? My stepmother, Meredith, repeatedly questioned the secretary. “Are you certain there hasn’t been a mistake? I don’t believe anyone in the Ashwood family is Mr. Sterling’s beloved.” Otherwise, we wouldn’t have nearly completed a collection of family corpses over four attempts. But the secretary’s brow furrowed in annoyance. His voice was stern and serious. “At Mr. Sterling’s gala, the four of you occupied a table alone. He glanced your way and told me explicitly that the ring’s owner was among the four ladies of the Ashwood family. There is absolutely no mistake.” He held out the velvet box, his posture oozing arrogance. “Shall we try it on, one by one?” Seraphina, the fake heiress who cared most about her appearance, shrank back. “I’m… allergic to diamonds. I’ll die on the spot.” Lily, my adopted sister who would do anything for money, waved her hands frantically. “I’m so fat, I’d break the ring!” Meredith, who had been looking for a way out of her widowhood for years, forced a smile that was uglier than a grimace. “My heart belongs to my late husband. Mr. Sterling couldn’t possibly be in love with me.” Finally, all eyes fell on me. The secretary’s face crinkled into a wide grin. “Miss Elara Ashwood, wasn’t it you who shared a fateful glance with Mr. Sterling? Love at first sight, I believe?” “This ring must be meant for you.” Love at first sight? My heart was barely beating at all. In my last life, when I heard those words, I had been moved to tears. After all, Alistair Sterling and I had been in a secret relationship. He’d even had the ring made using my measurements. So when I finally escaped the clutches of the other three and married him, I thought my suffering was over. I waited for him in our marriage bed, trembling with a mix of excitement and shy anticipation. But the moment he saw my face clearly, his expression contorted with rage. He grabbed a fruit knife and stabbed me until I was nothing but holes. His eyes, reflecting my own terrified face, burned with an inferno of fury. “How dare you take her place? You are not her!” I bled out in agony, and even after I woke up in this new life, I couldn’t understand it. If the woman Alistair was searching for wasn’t me, then who could it possibly be? Lost in thought, I stood frozen, not taking the ring from the secretary’s hand. He smiled condescendingly. “Marrying into the Sterling family is a great deal of pressure. I suppose you need some time to prepare yourselves mentally. Very well. Mr. Sterling will come in person tomorrow. That gives you one night to think it over. I’ll leave the ring here for now.” He left the box on the table and departed in a diamond-studded, stretch Maybach. But as we stared at the blindingly brilliant diamond, none of us dared to touch it. We were all too afraid to die. For the first time in years, the three women who had made my life a living hell were on my side. We held an emergency meeting in the living room. They took turns trying to slip the ring on, but in the end, they confirmed it again: my finger was the only one that came close. Meredith looked at me suspiciously. “Are you sure he killed you on your wedding night too?” I rolled my eyes. “My body was delivered back to this house looking like a sieve. You all saw it, didn’t you?” Lily nodded vigorously. “It was brutal. There wasn’t an inch of skin left untouched.” Even Seraphina sighed. “I spent ten years fighting with Elara, but when I saw that… even I felt sorry for her.” We looked at each other and let out a collective, hopeless sigh. Meredith broke down. “If we can’t produce the right woman tomorrow, is he going to kill us all?” The other two looked just as grim. Suddenly, I had an idea. “There might be a way. The gala… there must be security footage, right? If the person he’s looking for isn’t one of us, maybe we can find his real beloved on the tape.” Driven by the need to save our own skins, we sprang into action, immediately hailing a cab to the hotel where the gala was held. Lily, a master of playing the victim, used her crocodile tears to gain us access to the security room. The footage began. As the gala opened, the Ashwood family, having lost its patriarch, was relegated to a lowly table in the corner. Meredith frowned. “That’s definitely us, tucked away in the back.” And because the four of us radiated a force field of animosity, no one else dared to sit with us. Not even our distant relatives. Seraphina was puzzled. “And it’s only the four of us.” Then, Alistair Sterling made his grand entrance, striding down the red carpet. But as he passed our table, he stopped. He turned with unnerving precision, his gaze landing directly on us. A shockingly tender smile spread across his face as he leaned over and said something to his secretary. Watching that smile now, we felt nothing but a cold, creeping dread. “It seems,” I said, my voice hollow, “that his beloved really is one of us.” Four pairs of eyes met, and in each, I saw the same stark terror. If we didn’t all share the memories of our past four lives, this would be an unsolvable mystery. Lily shivered. “If it’s really one of us… then why would he kill us in such horrible ways?” I took a deep breath. A single, desperate plan began to form in my mind. I looked at them with newfound resolve. “I think I need to go to the Sterling mansion. Wait for my signal.” Under their gazes of awe and gratitude, I set off. They had no idea that I was the most bewildered of all. Because, up until this very moment, Alistair Sterling and I were still in a secret relationship. And he was the one who had pursued me. Using the private entrance we always used for our clandestine meetings, I easily slipped into Alistair’s private study. He started when he saw me, then his expression smoothed over. “You’re here. Why didn’t you call first?” The gentle man before me flickered, overlapping with the image of the madman who had butchered me in my last life. I suppressed a tremor of fear and stepped forward. “The woman you intend to marry… is it me?” Alistair paused, a strange, unnatural flicker in his eyes. “We’ve been together for so long. Don’t you know my heart by now? I sent the ring to the Ashwood family to ask for my beloved’s hand. Of course, it was for you.” He smiled, pulling me onto his lap in an intimate gesture. But I detected a critical omission in his words. He said he was marrying his beloved, but he never explicitly said his beloved was me. I dug my nails into my palm and forced a smile. “So, who is she, then? Your beloved?” He fell silent, his eyes raking over me. “You should know. Why are you asking me this?” I thought he would continue to be evasive, but then he added, “Of course, it’s you, Elara. As long as you want it to be you, it will be you. Marry me tomorrow, and I promise I’ll treat you well.” I stared into his eyes, seeing nothing but deep affection. Ever since our affair began, he had been incredibly good to me. I wasn’t the brightest, I was constantly bullied by Meredith and the others, and I had no shares in the family company. But Alistair had supported me in secret, giving me gifts that the Ashwood family could only dream of. A man born with a silver spoon, he would personally tie my shoelaces and cook for me. I had once been so sure that I was the one he wanted to marry. But I had also seen him transform into a deranged monster, screaming as he plunged a knife into my heart. “You’re not her! Why do you get to marry me in her place?” “A hollow title is all you have! Do you really think you’re worthy of me?” “You were just a toy to pass the time! How dare you dream of replacing her!” I snapped back to reality as he took my hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. I had to fight the urge to snatch it away. But that one gesture sparked a thought—an insane, yet terrifyingly logical theory. I looked at him, my eyes wide with disbelief. “Your beloved is…” He cut me off, placing a finger over my lips. His eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. “You’re asking a few too many questions tonight, aren’t you?” The warmth returned to his expression just as quickly. “Tomorrow is our big day. You should go home and get some rest.” A fine, chilling fear prickled my skin. I nodded quickly and left. When I got back to the Ashwood house, the other three were still awake, pacing anxiously. They swarmed me the moment I walked in. “What happened? Do you know who his beloved is?” I said nothing, just shaking my head. Their faces fell, filled with a mixture of frustration and despair. Lily started to cry. “I don’t want to die! Maybe we should just run away!” Meredith snapped at her. “Run where? Alistair Sterling is the most powerful man in the country. He’d find us no matter how far we went.” Seraphina’s jaw was set. “There are only four hours until dawn. Running would at least buy us a few more days. It’s better than dying tomorrow.” But I cut in, my voice firm. “We can’t run.” “Someone has to marry him.” “And it’s going to be me.” Seraphina stared at me in disbelief. “I know I despise you, Elara, but have you forgotten how horribly you died last time?” Meredith frowned. “If you’re still this blinded by love, I’m starting to think I was too easy on you all these years.” The billion-dollar ring still sat on the table, its massive diamond glittering under the light. If Seraphina wore it, her face would be beaten to a pulp and she’d be left to die of infection in a cellar. If Lily wore it, she’d be pushed from a balcony, her body shattering on impact, left to die in agony. If Meredith wore it, she’d be drowned in a tub, her body bloating before being unceremoniously dumped back on our doorstep. And if I wore it, my death would be the most painful of all. To punish his impudent mistress, Alistair had stabbed me twenty times, each wound carefully placed to avoid a quick death. I had bled out slowly, feeling the life drain from my body, a terrifying, drawn-out execution that had left even my worst enemies shaken. The perfectly cut diamond sparkled, a beautiful guillotine waiting for one of us. I walked over and slid the ring onto my finger without hesitation. “Of course I know the risks. But this is the only way for all of us to survive.” Lily stared at me, her eyes wide. “What do you know?” Telling them the truth would certainly increase our chances of success. But if my theory was correct, the truth was too bizarre, too horrifying. I couldn’t drag them all into it. I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I can’t tell you yet.” Seraphina’s expression was grave. “What do you need us to do?” I lowered my eyes. “I need you to attend the wedding tomorrow and act as if you know nothing.” Meredith’s brow furrowed deeply. “He’s going to stab you to death after the ceremony, and you want us to pretend everything is normal?!” The three of them looked at me, their faces etched with genuine concern. For the first time, we were truly on the same side. I thought about all the petty things they had done to me over the years—small schemes to get more money or make my life difficult, but never anything that threatened my life. And yet the man I loved and trusted had tortured me to death on our wedding night. I took a deep breath and decided to tell them a part of the truth. “When I went to see Alistair tonight, he grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. That’s when I realized who his beloved is.” “She is one of the four of us. Someone we would never, ever suspect. She is…” I looked each of them in the eye, delivering the answer they had been waiting for. Lowering my gaze to hide the guilt and sorrow, I pointed to myself. “Alistair Sterling’s beloved… is me.” The other three were aghast, shaking their heads in disbelief. Lily grabbed my arm. “That’s impossible! If you were really the one he wanted to marry, why would he kill you so brutally?” Seraphina’s eyes were red. “I saw your body with my own eyes. It was you. It makes no sense for him to marry you just to murder you in such a cruel way!” Meredith couldn’t wrap her head around it. “The Ashwood and Sterling families have been business partners for generations. There’s no feud between us. He has no reason to torture the woman he loves like this.” “Believe me or not,” I said, “it’s me. That’s all I can tell you.” Though they didn’t believe me, there was nothing they could do. The next morning, Alistair arrived with his secretary. I went to greet him, wearing the ring, and studied his face carefully. He smiled warmly, his eyes filled with adoration as he looked at me. For a moment, even Meredith, Seraphina, and Lily started to believe my story. If only they hadn’t seen my mangled corpse in a past life. The wedding proceeded as planned. At Alistair’s supposed request, we both walked down the aisle wearing veils. In front of all the guests, he recited his vows with heartfelt sincerity and placed the wedding band on my finger. When we lifted our veils, he looked at me with an expression of profound love, as if he had finally found the person he’d been searching for his entire life. “This ring belongs to you,” he said gently. “It suits you perfectly.” The massive diamond was a perfect fit, clearly made just for me. I looked at his familiar face, and a memory flashed through my mind: him, holding my face with such tenderness as he drafted the papers to transfer company shares to my name. He had hated seeing me bullied at home and wanted to give me the power to stand up for myself. When I was sick, he would drop everything to take care of me. The time I spent with him had been the happiest of my life. I smiled at him. “I love you.” The room erupted in applause, the guests moved by his devotion and my love. There wasn’t a single crack in Alistair’s facade. During the reception, I changed into a traditional gown and went with him to greet my family’s table. Seraphina leaned in close, her face a mask of confusion. “Is my memory failing me? Does he actually love you?” Lily looked just as baffled. “You weren’t lying to us, were you?” After all, in our previous lives, there had been no wedding ceremony, just a quick, perfunctory process before I was sent to the bridal suite. But this time, there was a grand wedding, and Alistair was looking at me with eyes reserved only for a beloved. I forced a smile and said nothing. If only I had been lying. But the fact that he had brutally murdered me in my last life was an unchangeable truth. I tilted my head back, drank my wine, and waited for the night to fall. Even the grandest reception must end. When the last guest had departed, I went to the bridal suite to await my husband. On the table sat a sharp fruit knife next to a peeled apple. I knew hiding it would be useless. In my last life, the knife he’d used had been hidden under the mattress. He had likely stashed weapons all over the room, all for the purpose of killing me. As the night deepened, the servants of the Sterling estate discreetly withdrew, leaving the two of us alone. I glanced at the clock. He would be here any second. The door opened, and Alistair walked in. The moment he saw me, his brow furrowed, his face twisting into a mask of madness. “You are not her! How dare you marry me in her place!” He snatched the fruit knife from the table. “I’ll kill you!”

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After successfully “capturing” the villain and faking my own death to escape, I’ve somehow been resurrected. When my name comes up, Julian Thorne looks cold, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Why would she think I’d throw my life away for her again?” “I’m not that pathetic.” I get it. Message received. I start keeping my distance. But not long after, I receive a video of a very drunk Julian. In the video, he’s screaming his heart out, teary-eyed and desperate. “She’s ignoring me again.” “I don’t want to live anymore.” “I’m just going to drop dead right here.” 1 It took me a year to capture Julian’s heart. And for 300 of those days, I was totally slacking off. Mostly, I just sent him cheesy pickup lines from the internet every now and then. Called him “Hubby” a couple of times. And boom, mission accomplished. When the System congratulated me, showing me Julian’s affection meter soaring way past the target, I stood there dumbfounded. In my head, it asked if I wanted to stay. I zoned out for a second and didn’t answer. The System took my silence as a “no” and defaulted to ejecting me from that world, cooking up some random “death” scenario for my exit. After being “dead” for a year. It came knocking again. [Help! Host! We lost the data from the previous mission!] I asked, unconcerned, “So?” [So you might need to go back and do it again.] What? I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Can I refuse?” [You can, but the sports cars, villa, and money you have now might be revoked.] It took me 0.01 seconds to react: “Quick! Send me back!” Before I could finish speaking, a wave of dizziness hit, and I was transported to a strange place. I looked up and found myself face-to-face with Julian, who was in the middle of scolding someone. He was wearing a suit and gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze fierce. He froze when he saw me, the corner of his mouth curving into a mocking smile. He kicked the person in front of him. “Who told you to bring a fake here?” Seeing him like this, I started to get cold feet. I can tease a puppy, but a wolf? I really can’t handle a wolf. I weighed the probability of a successful escape. Before I could put any plan into action, Julian’s gaze shifted to me. “You. Get over here.” My brain went into overdrive, and I decided to strike first. I pinched my thigh hard, squeezing out a tear. I turned to look at him with utter resentment. “Julian! You dare yell at me!” “Is this the attitude you have seeing me now?” “Do you know how much I suffered just to come back to see you!” Julian froze at my words, the glass in his hand trembling. He looked at me, disbelief in his voice: “Serena?” “Serena?” I pretended to be heartbroken, repeating the name. “You used to call me Serena-baby or Honey. Now you’re using my full name.” “Julian, have you changed?” Julian scoffed, as if hearing a joke. “Changed?” “I recall we broke up a long time ago, didn’t we?” I really wanted to ask shamelessly when exactly we broke up. But I didn’t have the moral high ground. Damn System. I cursed it out in my head. Seeing my silence, Julian’s eyes darkened, and his grip on the glass tightened. I was about to make up some excuse when a voice interrupted. Someone walked in, greeting Julian familiarly. I didn’t see his face clearly at first. After saying a few words, the newcomer finally realized the atmosphere was off and turned to look at me. The moment our eyes met, we both saw shock in each other’s gaze. Can someone please tell me… Why is the male lead here? And why is he so chummy with the main villain, Julian? Chase Sterling looked at me like he’d seen a ghost. He thought for a few seconds, then realization dawned. He looked at Julian with an indescribable expression. “Bro, seriously? Read too many romance novels? You’re doing the whole ‘replacement’ trope?” “But where did you find her? She looks exactly like Serena.” “Holy crap! You didn’t get someone plastic surgery to look like her, did you?” I felt like he might have lost his mind. Chase felt my gaze, and his voice unconsciously got louder. “Holy cow, even the look in her eyes is identical! Serena loved looking at me like I was an idiot.” I couldn’t help it; I cursed at him. Chase’s shock only grew. “You… you came back from the dead?” Two years later, and I still haven’t figured out how Chase became the male lead of a sweet romance novel. After confirming I was real, Chase’s eyes darted between Julian and me. Finally, he frowned and asked Julian, “Don’t tell me you’re going to forgive her just because she said a few words?” Julian coughed to cover up, acting tough: “Impossible.” Chase obviously didn’t buy it and started lecturing him. “You have to be ruthless this time. What if she plays you again?” “Things easily obtained are not cherished. You absolutely cannot agree to her so easily this time.” Julian’s expression didn’t change. He fingered his glass, looking at me with a playful glint in his eye. “Agree to her?” “Did I say I wanted to get back together with her?” Chase was caught off guard by this. He took a few seconds to react, then asked tentatively, “You mean no matter what she does, you won’t forgive her?” Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he squeezed out two words through his teeth. “Of course.” My heart sank. My expression froze. My fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of my shirt. My nose started to sting. Before a tear could fall, the System’s voice popped up. [What is this guy pretending for?] [If I didn’t detect an affection level of 80, I’d actually believe him.] [What a poser.] Me, who had just mustered up the emotions: “…” 2 Julian ended up driving me home. Before I got out, he said this was the last time. The System cursed him out again for being pretentious. I found my old phone at home. As soon as I turned it on… A flood of messages popped up. All from Julian. The most recent one was from yesterday. [Serena, you’re something else. Disappeared for a year.] [You don’t think I’m still waiting for you, do you? Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve almost forgotten you.] [Did you never actually like me?] [Was saying goodbye properly that hard?] He sent me huge paragraphs almost every few days. From the panic of first learning I was gone, gradually turning into sadness, anger, and finally calm, looking like acceptance. Reading paragraph after paragraph made my chest tight. After thinking it over, I sent him a cheesy pickup line. He didn’t reply instantly. After ten minutes, just when I lost hope, his message popped up. [Serena, you still have the nerve to copy this trash from the internet and send it to me?] [If I hadn’t seen this online, I might have actually believed your nonsense.] [I’m not the idiot I was before. This trick doesn’t work on me anymore!] I could feel his anger through the screen. Before I could say anything, the System notification sounded. [Congratulations Host, Affection +2. Current Affection: 82. Keep up the good work.] “…” Talk about stubborn. I explained a few things to him. Julian didn’t seem to believe me and didn’t reply again. I don’t know who leaked the news of my resurrection. A bunch of people, acquaintances and strangers alike, came asking me. The most surprised was Holly. My only friend in this world. [Girl? You’re alive?] [So you didn’t die.] [Then what was all that paper money I burned for you this past year?] I smiled. [Consider it a donation.] Holly replied instantly. [Well, I still didn’t burn as much as your Julian.] [Last Tomb Sweeping Day, he cleared out several shops. The scene was jaw-dropping.] [Pity I couldn’t take a picture, otherwise I’d definitely show you.] Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t have a fetish for watching people mourn my grave. Mentioning Julian opened the floodgates for Holly. [You don’t know, when you disappeared, he drank all day long. Drank himself into stomach bleeding and the ICU.] My heart skipped a beat. Suddenly my throat felt tight. Julian’s message popped up right then. It was a medical report for gastritis. Before I could look closely, he recalled it. [Sorry, wrong person.] [You probably didn’t see it, right? I really sent it to the wrong person.] [Actually, that report isn’t mine, don’t overthink it.] [Okay, fine, it is mine.] After Julian sent these messages, his affection value fluctuated wildly. The notification sound didn’t stop. I didn’t know how to reply for a moment. After thinking about it, I decided to send a polite message of concern. But my hand slipped, and I sent the cheesy pickup line I hadn’t deleted from the text box. I hurriedly tried to recall it, but accidentally clicked delete for myself instead. “…” Julian didn’t reply, but the affection value plummeted. The notification sounds were getting annoying. Finally, the affection value stopped at 70. [Serena, you are ruthless.] I could almost imagine Julian gritting his teeth when he sent that. I tried to salvage the situation. Futile. Julian seemed genuinely hurt this time. No matter what I said, he didn’t react. I sighed, feeling like my mission career was looking bleak. 3 After learning I really wasn’t dead, Holly insisted on throwing me a birthday party. I refused at first. But she said Julian would be there, so I had to bite the bullet and agree. In the end, twenty or thirty people came, most of whom I had crossed paths with. Everyone who saw me had to mention Julian. The protagonist of their conversations walked in at the very last minute of the agreed time. Everyone tacitly left the seat next to me for Julian. He hesitated for a few seconds, then sat down. Holly was great at warming up the crowd. After a few sentences, everyone was chatting enthusiastically. Only Julian and I remained silent. He seemed to find the atmosphere unbearable too, reaching for a wine glass. But I raised my hand to stop him. Julian turned his head, looking at me with confusion in his eyes. I whispered to him, “Didn’t you say your stomach is bad? Better not drink.” Julian stared at me quietly, as if evaluating or probing. Finally, he curled his lips. “Serena, you should know why my stomach is bad, right?” “Didn’t Holly tell you I drank until my stomach bled?” “Guess because of whom?” He was a bit aggressive. I slowly moved my hand away. “Because of me?” Julian chuckled again. “No.” “Because I have no self-respect.” Saying self-deprecating words, he downed a mouthful of wine. My chest felt tight, so I picked up my glass and drank a few mouthfuls too. Feeling it wasn’t enough, I started drinking straight from the bottle. Everyone cast surprised glances at me. Julian reached out to stop me. My alcohol tolerance is actually very good. But Julian didn’t know that. When I was capturing his heart before, I often used the “pretending to be drunk” trick. I repeated the old trick, falling into Julian’s arms. I felt his body stiffen instantly. The thundering heartbeat stimulated my eardrums. Julian’s deep voice came from above: “How many times are you going to use this drunk act?” “You really think I can’t tell?” I was startled. Only a year has passed, how come this guy Julian not only got smarter but also sharper-eyed? I leaned my head further into his arms, trying to struggle a bit more. But he remained unresponsive. So I awkwardly prepared to get up, but a pair of hands wrapped around my waist without warning. At the same time, the affection value went up by 5 points. Julian picked me up and walked out. Whispering in my ear: “Throwing yourself at me while sober? I have no reason to refuse.” As soon as we walked out, we bumped into the latecomer Chase. He took one look at me in Julian’s arms and exploded. “I knew it! You were just being stubborn before. It’s only been a few days, and you forgave her?” If I wasn’t still acting. I would have stood up and fought Chase. This guy holds a grudge too much. Just because I accidentally tripped him up while he was chasing his girl, does he have to take revenge now? Julian didn’t answer him directly, just said a seemingly random sentence: “She’s drunk.” “Drunk?” Chase’s tone was full of disbelief. “Are you kidding me?” “She drank me under the table several times before. You might not know her tolerance, but don’t you know mine?” “Unless she’s been drinking for hours, she is definitely lying to you.” Is Chase living too good a life recently? Thinking just because he’s the male lead and married the female lead, he can sit back and relax? Wait until the female lead’s first love comes back in a few months, he’ll suffer. Thinking of that scene, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Julian looked down at me. His tone was somewhat serious. “If you’re going to act, act seriously.” My mouth twitched. Chase looked dumbfounded. 4 Julian carried me all the way to the car. But he didn’t start the engine. He propped his head on one hand against the window looking at me, the other hand tapping the steering wheel rhythmically. Even with my eyes closed. I could still feel him watching me. I held on for a few minutes. Finally, I couldn’t hold it anymore. I glared at him in exasperation. Julian’s mouth curled up slightly, looking at me leisurely. “I thought you could act all night.” He really has gone bad. Before when I pretended to be drunk, he would be flustered, ears red as blood. Not calm and breezy like now. “You did it on purpose.” I accused him. Julian found it funny, the curve of his mouth rising even more. “Are you referring to this time, or before?” I snapped at him: “You saw through it before, why didn’t you expose me? Just watching me make a fool of myself?” “Before, I called it… playful romance.” Julian’s tone was overly serious. So serious my cheeks burned. I flusteredly pressed the window button. Cold wind poured in, sobering me up for a moment. Anyone knows his next sentence won’t be good, so I deliberately didn’t ask. Julian continued on his own. “Played by you repeatedly, even Hello Kitty would get angry.” “It’s just that you’ve used this trick too many times; there’s no novelty left.” I pouted, unwilling to show weakness. “That’s because I only used it on you. If I use this trick on others now, it will be fresh.” [Congratulations Host, Affection +5. Current Affection: 80. Keep up the good work.] Going in circles for days, right back to where we started. Julian suppressed a smile, silent for a few seconds before saying: “You’d better not use it on others.” “After all, not everyone is a gentleman like me.” The nerve of him. Don’t know who stole a kiss from me before. Kissed and then acted like the whole world didn’t know, face blushing like crazy, walking with same arm and leg. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help laughing out loud. Seeing my sly smile, Julian became a bit angry from embarrassment. “What nonsense are you thinking about?” My smile didn’t fade. “Haven’t seen you for a year, you’ve become so domineering, controlling heaven and earth and now controlling my thoughts?” Julian couldn’t out-talk me, reached out to start the car to divert attention. Just turned the key, suddenly remembered he drank, had to give up and call a designated driver. Julian and I sat on each side of the back seat. Far enough to fit another person. Watching the scenery flash by outside the window, my eyelids slowly became heavy. My whole body tilted crookedly towards that side. Finally leaning on someone’s shoulder. In my haze, I seemed to hear the system’s affection increase notification. And Julian’s voice. “Pretty good acting this time.” After he finished, he slowly lowered his head. And placed a kiss on my forehead.

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When the city code enforcement officers were chasing me and my daughter away from our street stall, my ex-husband stepped in to help. He sighed, “Let’s get remarried. Lily is still young; she shouldn’t have to suffer like this.” I agreed without hesitation. After returning, I stopped being jealous or throwing tantrums. Lily stopped fighting for her father’s attention against the daughter of his childhood sweetheart. When he stayed out all night with his childhood sweetheart and her daughter, neither my daughter nor I called to check on him. When we ran into them outside, my daughter and I tactfully avoided them. We became exactly the sensible, understanding family he wanted. But instead of being happy, his eyes turned red. “Wifey, why aren’t you angry?” “Lily, why don’t you act spoiled with Daddy anymore?” 1 After completing the remarriage paperwork, we went home. Jason trailed a step behind us. Lily and I were standing at the door. “Why don’t you go in?” I said calmly, “The passcode was changed.” Just then, the door opened from the inside. Hannah, wearing an apron, scolded playfully, “What took you so long? Bella asked several times—Miss Xu?” I nodded politely. “Miss Xu, please don’t misunderstand. Jason has been busy with work lately, so I came over to make him some soup.” “I always forget the passcode, so Jason changed it to my birthday. I’ll change it back right away.” But she made no move to do so, her eyes unable to hide the smugness. “Daddy!” A small figure threw herself onto Jason’s legs. Hannah hurriedly covered the girl’s mouth, acting as if she were afraid of me. “Bella, didn’t Mommy tell you to call him Uncle Jason?” Jason looked over awkwardly. Seeing that Lily and I didn’t make a scene like before, a look of surprise crossed his face. There were many new things in Lily’s room. Hannah bit her lip lightly. “Bella sometimes sleeps here…” The small hand in mine tightened. Lily said softly, “Mommy, I can change rooms.” My heart, which had been calm, suddenly ached. In the past, whenever she saw Jason caring for Bella, she would pout and cry, shouting, “Daddy is mine alone!” Every time, Jason would scold me for not disciplining her properly. Now, she just quietly looked at her changed room. Children are sensitive; she had learned that only those who are favored can afford to be spoiled. Jason frowned. Hannah quickly said, “I’ll take the things away. Miss Xu, you and Lily, please don’t be angry with us—” The mother and daughter huddled together, trembling slightly, looking pitiful. In the past, I would always be provoked by her suggestive words and end up arguing with Jason. But now, I just watched indifferently without speaking. Jason suddenly spoke up, “Don’t come in and out of my house freely in the future. As a single mother, people will gossip.” After packing up, Bella said with a sob, “Daddy, Bella wants you to drive us.” Jason hesitated and looked at me. I smiled. “You and Miss Hannah have been friends for so many years; you should drive them.” He opened his mouth to say something, but I turned to boil water. Before leaving, Jason hurriedly said, “Wait for me to come back. We need to talk properly.” Only after they left did Lily and I completely relax. Soon, a message popped up on my phone. Hannah: [So sorry, Miss Xu. Bella is used to Jason watching cartoons with her. He’ll be back a bit late.] 2 That familiar “so sorry” again. I smiled and replied briefly: [Okay.] Jason didn’t return until the next day. I was reading a bedtime story to Lily before her nap. I didn’t question him. Making a scene or getting jealous like before would only cause him to be dissatisfied with me and would implicate Lily. After Lily fell asleep, Jason handed me a box. It was the black diamond necklace I had wanted but lost to another bidder. If it were before, I probably would have been ecstatic and hugged Jason. But now, my heart was very calm. I used to love jewelry. But after moving into the low-income housing, a thief grabbed my necklace and pulled me down the stairs, leaving me bleeding from the head. From then on, I realized these things were flashy but useless, and could even cost me my life. Not getting the enthusiastic reaction he expected, Jason’s expression shifted slightly. “Let me put it on for you.” I smiled and dodged. “Thank you, but I don’t like wearing jewelry anymore.” He stiffened. I went to the kitchen to cut fruit. When I came out, Jason was gone. In the afternoon, I took Lily out. Money had been tight for the past two years, and Lily often wore hand-me-downs from the landlord’s daughter. Now I could finally buy her clothes that fit. When we entered a children’s clothing store, we ran into Hannah and her daughter. And Jason. The sales clerk was attentively introducing items to them. “Mr. Jason, Mrs. Jason, this is the new arrival from yesterday. It suits little Princess Bella perfectly.” Bella screamed, “I want this one!” Jason smiled and swiped his card. “Ma’am, do you need anything?” A sales clerk approached me. I said softly, “I want to buy a couple of outfits for my child to wear now.” Jason and the others looked over. I pretended not to see them and pulled Lily inside. When we came out after trying on clothes, Hannah and her daughter were gone. Jason looked at me with a complicated expression. “Today is Bella’s birthday. I bought her clothes as a gift…” “Mm, wish her a happy birthday for me.” After speaking, I turned to the puzzled sales clerk. “Pack both of these sets.” Just as I was about to go pay, Jason grabbed me. I quickly pulled my hand away. The sales clerk’s gaze shifted back and forth. “Ma’am, you and Mr. Jason…” I smiled. “We’re acquaintances.” A clatter sounded behind me. “Mr. Jason, you dropped your phone!” I turned back. Jason was staring at me intently. “What nonsense are you talking about?” I was confused. “Aren’t you going to celebrate their birthday?” He continued to glare at me, his chest heaving violently, but he didn’t say a word. I didn’t understand, but I didn’t dare provoke him, so I pulled Lily and walked out. Just as we stepped out of the store, Jason grabbed me. He asked in a low voice, “You’re just going to let them misunderstand our relationship?” I laughed. “Aren’t you the one who cares most about Hannah’s reputation?” Jason choked on my words. It took him a while to speak. “Why are you different from before?” I used to make a fuss over things like this. Jason was always impatient. “Stop being unreasonable. It’s not easy for Hannah as a single mother. With the title of Mrs. Jason, no one will bully her.” But now, what was the point of fighting with Hannah over these things? I just wanted to raise Lily well and give her the comfortable life she deserved. I said calmly, “Isn’t this what you always wanted?” Jason’s face turned livid, and he stormed off. I didn’t care. I took Lily to eat and drink, and bought quite a few things. This life without worrying about livelihood felt like returning to before the divorce. 3 After getting married, I became a full-time housewife. Everyone around me envied me. I had a wealthy father and married a self-made young talent. I once thought I would be this happy forever. Until Hannah got divorced. The first time Jason missed Valentine’s Day, he told me he was working overtime at the company. But as soon as he got home, Hannah delivered his tie. I was confused. He just pinched the bridge of his nose. “Hannah works at the company. She dropped it off on her way.” I wanted to ask more, but seeing how tired he was, I couldn’t bear to. I lived a life of leisure at home, while he worked so hard outside. It seemed I really shouldn’t suspect him. I told myself there should be basic trust between husband and wife, and I shouldn’t be blindly jealous. But later, more and more such incidents happened. On our wedding anniversary, Jason left me alone in the restaurant to rescue Hannah, who was being given a hard time by her landlord. During a sudden rainstorm, Lily and I were trapped at the early learning center, while Jason drove Hannah and Bella home. Lily caught the flu and had febrile convulsions. I couldn’t reach Jason and took her to the hospital alone, only to see him there with a team of experts looking at Bella’s scratched hand. Every time, Hannah would proactively message me to report. [So sorry, Miss Xu. Jason said he wouldn’t let me live here anymore and arranged for me to stay at his property.] [So sorry, Miss Xu. It’s all because I felt dizzy. Jason will pick you up right after dropping me off.] [So sorry, Miss Xu. Jason is just too nervous about Bella. I’ll scold him later.] I couldn’t stand it anymore. I questioned Jason time and again: who exactly were his wife and daughter? At first, he explained patiently. “We’ve known each other for so many years. I help where I can.” Later, he became increasingly impatient. “Your family is rich; you don’t understand the hardships of people at the bottom. Can’t you be more understanding of her?” “It’s not easy for Hannah as a single mother. Why do you have to target her?” “Don’t you have the ability to take care of yourself? I have so much work to do, and I still have to revolve around you two?” “If you can’t teach the child well, get someone else to do it! Learning to bully others at such a young age, she’ll become a menace!” Lily and I no longer waited for him to come home with anticipation. Because as soon as he returned, arguments greeted this small family. Lily became more and more silent. Even the kindergarten teacher asked me if something had happened at home. What made me finally decide to divorce was the day of Jason’s company annual party. He told me he was working overtime. I was always tired and sleepy during that time, so I forgot about the annual party. Until I scrolled past a local post on social media. [The boss and lady boss of Hengda Tech are such a perfect match. Like a couple from a romantic drama.] The attached photo showed Jason and Hannah standing side by side at the annual party. I called Jason five or six times, but no one answered. The seventh call finally connected, but Hannah’s voice came from the other end. “Miss Xu, Jason is very busy right now. You can tell me whatever it is.” I asked her to put Jason on the phone. She laughed coquettishly. “Miss Xu, I’m Jason’s secretary. He has no secrets from me.” “Did you know, many people today said I’m more suitable to be Mrs. Jason.” Trembling all over, I hung up the phone and rushed to the annual party venue in my slippers. 4 Hannah had her arm around Jason’s waist, leaning her whole body into his embrace. Furious, I pulled them apart and glared at Jason. “This is what you call overtime? Is hugging her also overtime?” Hannah came over to pull me. “Miss Xu, I drank too much, don’t misunderstand—” I shook off her hand and glared at her. “Don’t touch me! Homewrecker!” I didn’t use much force, but she cried out and fell to the floor. “Sarah Xu! Are you crazy?” Jason shoved me hard, then solicitously helped Hannah up, carefully checking her condition. My lower back hit the corner of a table, painful enough to bring tears to my eyes. Hannah’s eyes were red, holding back tears. “It’s all my fault. Don’t fight because of me…” Jason quickly comforted her. “It has nothing to do with you. She’s crazy.” Then he turned to me and said coldly, “Sarah Xu, I’ve told you many times. Hannah’s mother entrusted me to take care of her on her deathbed.” “Do you know how hard it is for her to raise a child alone? As a woman yourself, how can you be so vicious as to insult her with terms like ‘homewrecker’?” His gaze toward me was cold, even tinged with disgust. “My patience with you has limits. Stop while you’re ahead.” “Don’t make me regret marrying you.” As soon as he finished speaking, a buzzing sound filled my ears. I looked at Jason in disbelief. I wanted to say, You are my husband, Sarah Xu’s husband. How can you side with an outsider? I wanted to say, Don’t you know Hannah provokes and shows off to me every time? I wanted to tell him her true colors revealed on the phone just now. But something blocked my throat. After a long while, I only managed to say, “Then let’s divorce.” The moment the words left my mouth, I felt a sudden release. I didn’t even want to care about Hannah’s gloating expression. Jason froze, then sneered. “Sarah Xu, what can you do besides threaten divorce? Is there nothing else in your life besides jealousy?” With that, he supported Hannah and left. That day, I went home and sat in the living room until dawn. It wasn’t until Lily cried loudly that I realized there was blood between my legs. The second child who had quietly arrived, quietly left. A week later, Jason and I went through the divorce procedures. I got custody of Lily. Later, my dad’s company ran into trouble. Several cooperative projects were maliciously stolen, and within half a year, he had to file for bankruptcy. My dad had a heart attack and was hospitalized. Despite several resuscitation attempts, he passed away. I used the remaining assets to pay the employees’ wages, transforming from a rich heiress to a single mother in low-income housing. Lily suffered a lot with me. Countless times I woke up crying from dreams, regretting that I had harmed her. This time, I wouldn’t revolve around Jason and get jealous. As long as I could provide a good life for myself and Lily, I would turn a blind eye even if Jason found ten “Hannahs.”

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1 The night before my wedding, I found my fiancé tangled in the sheets with his savior’s sister. She was wrapped in our scarlet silk duvet, the flush of passion still on her cheeks. I slapped the positive pregnancy test onto his bare chest. “Do you still want this baby?” I asked, my voice dangerously calm. He chain-smoked until dawn, then crushed the last cigarette. “It’s a responsibility with her,” he said, his voice raspy. “But it’s you I love.” For that single phrase, I put on the white dress. I decided to give him one last chance. Instead of my groom, I got a message: “I’m so sorry, Ms. Vance. Mr. Lockwood says the wedding is off. Miss Reed had a heart attack, she’s in critical condition.” The bouquet slipped from my fingers, shattering on the marble floor along with my dignity. I ran outside just in time to see his car disappearing down the street, leaving me in a cloud of exhaust and humiliation. I called him, my voice cracking on the edge of a scream. “Tim Lockwood! If you go to her today, I swear I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow and make sure the Lockwood line ends with you!” A moment of dead silence, and then he hung up. … The dial tone buzzed in my ear. I stood at the hotel entrance, a bride without a groom, the gown a cruel joke. Guests whispered behind their hands, their pity like a thousand tiny needles. The officiant stood awkwardly on the stage, microphone in hand, at a complete loss for words. Tim’s mother, Catherine, hurried over, grabbing my hand. “Stella, come inside. Don’t give them a spectacle.” I looked at her, my voice barely a whisper. “Catherine, the wedding is off.” “Nonsense!” she hissed, her voice low and urgent. “Tim is just confused. Lily’s condition is critical, he can’t just ignore her.” “So he can take care of her, but not me?” “You’re the woman he’s marrying. You need to be the bigger person.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I pulled my hand from her grasp. “Then I won’t be Mrs. Lockwood.” I turned, gathered the ridiculous skirt of my dress, and walked towards the back rooms. Catherine’s voice followed me, sharp and threatening. “Stella Vance! If you walk out that door today, you will never set foot in our family’s home again!” I didn’t look back. In the dressing room, I tore off the wedding gown and changed into my own clothes. The makeup artist carefully removed the pins and jewels from my hair. “Miss Vance, your makeup…” “Leave it.” I picked up my purse and walked out. Outside, the sky was a bruised, unforgiving grey. I hailed a cab. “Mercy General Hospital, please.” My phone buzzed in my purse. I pulled it out. It was Tim’s assistant, Mark. I ignored the call. I already knew the script by heart. Mr. Lockwood is handling an emergency. Mr. Lockwood didn’t mean for this to happen. Mr. Lockwood will explain everything later. After ten years, I was tired of their lines. Lily Reed was Tim’s responsibility. Because her brother, Liam, had died five years ago saving Tim’s life. It was a debt that had shadowed Tim for five long years. I used to think it was right for him to look after her. I used to believe in his honor. It was only today that I understood. Some debts have boundaries, and he had crossed them long ago. The taxi pulled up to the hospital. I paid the driver and walked into the emergency building. Tim was sitting on a bench outside the ICU, his head in his hands, fingers tangled in his hair. His suit jacket was tossed carelessly beside him. He heard my heels click on the linoleum and looked up. He scrambled to his feet when he saw me. His eyes were shot with red. “Stella, what are you doing here? I’m so sorry, today…” “How is she?” I cut him off, my gaze fixed on the closed doors of the ICU. “The doctors said it was acute heart failure. They’re still working on her. It doesn’t look good.” “I see.” I nodded. I turned to leave. Tim grabbed my arm. “Stella, don’t be like this. Liam died for me. I can’t abandon Lily. She has no one else in the world.” I shook his hand off. “I’m not being ‘like this,’ Tim. I just find it interesting that our wedding wasn’t as important as a woman you’ve known for five years.” “That’s not it! Stella, you’re the most important thing in my life! But she’s dying!” “The doctors haven’t said she’s going to die,” I stated, my voice flat and even. Tim’s lips parted, but no words came out. Just then, the ICU doors swung open and a doctor emerged. “Who’s with Lily Reed?” Tim rushed forward. “I am.” “The patient had a panic attack that caused her heart rate to spike. We’ve stabilized her. She’s not in any mortal danger. We’ll move her to a regular room for a couple of days of observation.” A wave of relief washed over Tim’s face. He turned to look at me, and his expression held a hint of reprimand. “See? The poor girl is all alone. Can’t you have a little compassion?” I said nothing. They wheeled the gurney out. Lily lay on it, her face pale, her eyes closed. As she passed me, her eyelashes trembled, her eyes cracking open just enough to meet mine. Tears instantly welled up, spilling down her temples. Tim was by her side in a second, taking her hand. “Lily, don’t be afraid. I’m here.” I turned and walked out of the hospital. The cold wind hit my face, and only then did I realize how hard my own heart was pounding. 2 Tim didn’t come home the next day. The wedding suite was cloaked in a dead silence. I called a real estate agent and put the apartment on the market. “Yes, an urgent sale.” He came back that afternoon, his face etched with exhaustion. “Stella, I’m apologizing on Lily’s behalf. She didn’t mean for what happened yesterday.” “Can’t she apologize for herself?” Tim hesitated. “She’s still very weak.” “Tim, let’s not talk about her. Let’s talk about us. What about the wedding? What do we tell our friends and family?” He was quiet for a long moment. “We’ll wait for things to blow over. Then we’ll have another ceremony.” “Another ceremony?” I stared at him. “You think this is something you can just ‘re-do’?” “Then what do you want me to do? It already happened! Stella, I know you’re hurting, but Lily just survived a near-death experience. Can we please just show a little understanding?” There was that word again. Understanding. I stood up, walked into the bedroom, and pulled out a suitcase. I began to pack. Tim frowned. “What are you doing?” “I’ve listed the apartment.” His face hardened. “Stella, are you done with this tantrum?” “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I folded a shirt neatly into the suitcase. “I just don’t want to live here anymore.” He strode over and grabbed my wrist. “You are not selling this place! This is our home!” “It stopped being our home the moment you abandoned it for another woman.” The anger in his eyes flared. “You’re being completely irrational!” His phone rang, shattering the tense silence. He answered it, and his tone shifted instantly. “What’s wrong? Another nightmare? Don’t be scared, I’ll be right there.” He hung up and let go of me, his face a mask of impatience. “Stella, stop this. Lily isn’t stable yet. I have to go check on her. We’ll talk when I get back.” He expected me to yield, just like all the other times. “If you walk out that door today,” I said, my voice cold as ice, “don’t bother coming back.” He froze mid-step. He turned to look at me, his gaze glacial. “Stella, my patience has its limits.” And then, he left. I listened to the sound of the door closing. I placed the last item in my suitcase and zipped it shut. 3 I moved back into my studio, a small loft space with my design workshop downstairs and living quarters upstairs. Tim didn’t call. And I didn’t call him. A week later, his mother, Catherine, asked to meet. At the café, she slid a check across the table. “Ten million dollars. Leave my son.” I stared at the long line of zeros. “Catherine, this isn’t about money.” “I know,” she said, lifting her coffee cup. “You two have a decade of history. But you need to understand, Stella, the Lockwood family needs a wife who is gracious, who can support Tim, not a liability who only causes trouble.” “And Lily is gracious?” “Lily is simple and kind. And her brother saved Tim’s life. It’s only right that Tim protects her. As his fiancée, you should be supporting him, not fighting him.” I finally understood. In their eyes, all my pain, all my humiliation, was just me “causing trouble.” I pushed the check back to her. “I don’t want the money. And I don’t want Tim anymore, either.” I stood up. “I wish him and Lily a lifetime of happiness.” I walked out of the café and blocked every number associated with the Lockwood family. The world finally went quiet. I threw myself into preparing for the Milan Jewelry Design Competition, three months away. It was the highest aspiration I held as a designer. Life was full, and peaceful. Until an unwelcome guest showed up at my studio one day. Lily. She wore a simple white dress, no makeup, the very picture of fragile innocence. “Stella, I came to apologize.” She sat down across from me, her eyes already red-rimmed. “On the wedding day… it was my fault. I shouldn’t have…” “Get to the point,” I said without looking up from my sketch. She faltered. “Tim… he’s been in a really bad way these past few days. Drinking all the time. I know it’s because of me.” She took a credit card out of her purse. “This is the card Tim gave me. I saved up everything he gave me, I never spent it. I’m giving it back to you. Please, just don’t be angry with him anymore, okay?” I finally put down my pen and looked at her. “Lily, do you enjoy this?” The rehearsed expression on her face froze. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about…” “Every time you get sick, every time you have an ‘incident,’ it’s always right at a crucial moment for him and me. You time this, don’t you, Lily?” Her face went pale. “No, I would never…” “Take your card and get the hell out of my studio.” She bit her lip, and tears began to fall. “Stella, I know you hate me. But… but if the person who died five years ago had been Tim instead of my brother, what would you do?” I stared at her, silent. She stood up and placed the card on my desk. “Believe me or not, I never wanted to destroy what you had.” “I’m just… so lonely.” She turned and left. I threw the card in the trash. That night, Tim came. He was drunk, reeking of whiskey as he kicked open the door to my studio. “Stella! What did you do to Lily?” He stormed towards me, grabbing my shoulders. “She went home and slit her wrists! If the housekeeper hadn’t found her, she’d be dead! Are you satisfied now?” My heart sank into a cold, dark pit. The same old trick. “I didn’t do anything.” “Still lying! She’s a kind soul, she came to give you her savings, and you had to provoke her?” His grip was crushing, my shoulders ached. “Tim, who do you believe? Her, or me?” He stopped. I stared into his eyes, watching the storm of emotions warring within them. Finally, he shoved me away. “I’m taking you to the hospital. You’re going to apologize to her!” “I’m not going.” “It’s not up to you!” He grabbed me, trying to drag me out the door. I fought back, struggling against his hold. “Tim, you’re insane!” “You’re the one who’s insane!” he roared, his eyes wild. “You never used to be like this! When did you become so vicious, so unreasonable?” He was right. I never used to be like this. The old me would have believed every word he said, understood his every dilemma. I would have shouldered his responsibilities as if they were my own. When did it all change? It probably started when he began choosing another woman over me, time and time again. He dragged me down the stairs, his car parked right outside. He wrenched the passenger door open and tried to shove me inside. With a final surge of strength, I broke free. “Tim,” I said, my voice eerily calm. “We’re over.” He froze, as if he couldn’t process what he’d just heard. “What did you say?” “I said, we’re breaking up. From now on, you and your precious Lily have nothing to do with me.” His face turned to stone. “Stella, don’t you dare say something you’ll regret.” “My biggest regret is spending ten years pulling you from the gutter, only for you to spend the next ten pushing me back into it.” I turned, walked back upstairs, and slammed the door, locking it behind me. I leaned against it, listening to him pound on the wood. Again and again. Then, the sound of an engine roaring to life. He was gone. I slid to the floor, hugging my knees. A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my abdomen. I looked down. Blood was trickling down my legs.

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On the way to take the SATs, my best friend and I saw someone drowning. My friend, focused on the exam, told me to mind my own business. I thought saving a life was more important, so I jumped into the river. I saved the girl, but I missed the test. It turned out the girl was the daughter of the wealthiest family in the city, the Sterlings. To thank me, the Sterlings gave me a huge sum of money. Later, even though I only had an associate’s degree, they gave me a high-paying executive job. I was set for life. My best friend, struggling to find a job despite her degree, went mad with jealousy. She slipped poison into my water. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the SATs. This time, my friend shoved me aside and jumped into the water first. I heard her inner voice, clear as a bell: “This time, that massive fortune is mine.” 1 “Help! Someone’s drowning!” The cry for help snapped me back to reality. Below the bridge, a figure was bobbing in the turbulent water, struggling desperately. The current was strong. Jumping in was dangerous; one slip and you could die too. In my past life, this was the moment. My best friend, Chloe, and I were on our way to the SATs. We both knew how to swim. Chloe told me to ignore it, that the test was more important. This time, Chloe shoved me aside and dove into the rushing river with a splash. She looked back at me, shouting, “Ava, go to the test! Don’t be late! I’m a better swimmer, I’ll save her!” At the same time, I heard her thoughts echo in my mind: “This time, that massive fortune is mine.” Seeing the greedy determination in her eyes, I realized instantly: She had been reborn too. How could I refuse such a kind gesture from my best friend? There were only twenty minutes left before the doors closed. In my last life, I missed the test because I saved the girl. All my years of studying were wasted. I ended up at a community college. My parents were humiliated by Chloe’s parents for years because of it. This time, I turned around and ran toward the testing center without looking back. In my past life, the Sterling family made a huge show of thanking me. They gave me a fortune, and I became a local hero on social media. Everyone praised my beauty and kindness. Back then, Chloe was grinding her teeth in jealousy. She spread rumors that she was going to jump in first, but I stopped her to steal the glory. She said it so much she started believing it. Her hatred grew. Eventually, when she couldn’t find a job after college and saw me—a community college grad—sitting in a C-suite office at Sterling Corp making millions, she snapped. She poisoned my water when I wasn’t looking. Reborn, I glanced back at Chloe struggling in the water as I ran. A cold smile touched my lips. Let’s see who laughs last this time. 2 I sprinted to the testing center, making it just in time. Holding the test booklet, I forced myself to calm down. Failing to get into a good university had been my biggest regret. That summer, I had memorized the questions and answers, obsessing over what could have been. I never thought I’d get a second chance. I wasn’t going to waste it. Chloe was assigned to the same testing room as me. Unlike me in my past life, she didn’t rush back after saving the girl. She didn’t show up at all. When the exam ended, I went home. I saw Chloe getting out of a luxury car in front of her house. She was wearing limited-edition designer clothes, waving goodbye to someone inside the car with a sweet smile. We had been neighbors for years. Naturally, we were close. She turned and saw me. She rushed over, practically vibrating with excitement. “Ava! You’ll never guess who I saved today!” “The Sterlings! The daughter of the richest family in the city, Bella Sterling!” She described the Sterlings’ wealth with wild gestures, but her eyes were fixed on me, probing. She suspected I was reborn too. I feigned ignorance, frowning with concern. “Chloe, you missed the test today. You completely failed the SATs. How are you going to explain this to your mom?” After a few seconds of silence, she confirmed my concern seemed genuine. I heard her thought: “I was overthinking it. Rebirth isn’t like cabbage, you don’t find it everywhere.” She rolled her eyes at me. “Ugh, Ava, you nerd. You’re so boring.” “If my mom knew I latched onto the Sterlings, she’d be praising me.” “Listen, the Sterlings said they’d give me a huge sum of money to thank me. They promised to help me with whatever I need in the future. My life of luxury is starting. Who cares about the SATs?” I pretended to argue, but she cut me off. “The Sterlings said once Bella is out of the hospital, they’re throwing a celebration gala to thank me publicly.” She handed me a black invitation with gold lettering. “Here. I’ll take you to see the world. Once you see it, you’ll know I’m not lying.” 3 Having successfully latched onto the Sterlings, Chloe didn’t even bother showing up for the second day of testing. When I left the house the next morning, Chloe’s mom poked her head out. Seeing me, she sneered. “Ava, going to the test?” “My Chloe is too tired from saving lives yesterday. She’s not going today.” It seemed the whole family was banking on the Sterlings now. As I left, I heard her mutter, “Just a nerd who only knows how to study. No future.” Two days later, Chloe came to find me, excited. The car from the Sterlings had arrived to pick her up for the gala. I didn’t want to go, but Chloe insisted on dragging me along. She said she wanted to show me the high life, but the gloating in her eyes was unmistakable. “In her last life, she lived so glamorously. This time, I need her to see me rise to the top to feel satisfied.” Chloe dreamed of stepping on me to feed her vanity. Thinking of what the Sterlings did to me in my past life, I swallowed my refusal. I decided to go along with Chloe. I really wanted to see if she’d still be this happy once she knew the darkness hiding behind the Sterling name. The gala was held at the Saint Grand Hotel, the most luxurious venue in the city. The moment we stepped out of the car, Chloe was mesmerized by the opulence. Her eyes were filled with naked greed. When she saw my feigned shock, she immediately put on an air of nonchalance, mocking me. “Ava, wipe your drool. I’m a VIP guest of the Sterlings today. I’m being nice by bringing you, so don’t embarrass me.” She lifted her skirt and strutted in on her high heels, chin up, acting like she belonged to the elite. With her exaggerated ballgown, heavy makeup, and waddling walk in heels she couldn’t handle, she looked like a clown. Chloe didn’t notice. She basked in the attention. Mr. Sterling, the head of the family, greeted Chloe with a smile. She beamed and sweetly called him “Uncle Sterling.” Remembering something, she pulled me forward. “This is my good friend Ava. She heard I was coming to the banquet and begged me to bring her along to see the world. You don’t mind, do you, Uncle?” Mr. Sterling looked at me. Chloe tensed up. To highlight Chloe’s “elegance,” I had dressed simply in a white t-shirt and jeans, wearing thick glasses, looking timid. Mr. Sterling glanced at me once, lost interest, and turned back to Chloe. “Of course not. You’re Bella’s savior. You’re welcome to bring friends anytime.” I heard Chloe sigh in relief. “Thank god. He didn’t look at Ava differently like in the last life.” She relaxed completely. 4 Halfway through the banquet, the guest of honor arrived. Bella Sterling wore a haute couture silver mermaid dress. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Her entrance instantly made Chloe look like a child playing dress-up. After some pleasantries, Mr. Sterling brought Bella over. He patted her shoulder. “Bella, this is Chloe. She saved you from the river. Make sure to thank her properly.” Chloe was floating on cloud nine from the praise, completely missing the mockery in Bella’s eyes. All night, Chloe tried desperately to chat with Bella, but Bella’s responses were lukewarm. After the party, the Sterlings arranged a car to take us home. On the way, Chloe complained internally. “The princess is so high and mighty. What is she proud of? If I hadn’t fished her out, she’d be dead.” She resented Bella’s coldness. I recognized the driver. He was a Sterling family loyalist. Chloe didn’t know; she thought he was just a random employee. I spoke up deliberately. “Chloe, Bella seemed quiet tonight. Is she just shy?” Chloe rolled her eyes, blurting out, “I think she’s just looking down on people.” “I’m her savior. Her dad treats me like a VIP. What gives her the right to act like that? Who is she trying to impress?” Through the rearview mirror, I saw the driver glance at Chloe. I knew every word said tonight would reach Bella’s ears. Chloe was in for it.

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My mother gave my heart transplant spot to someone else. The surgery was a success. Reporters flocked to the hospital to interview her. “Dr. Vance,” a journalist asked, holding a microphone to her face, “we heard your own son has been on the transplant list for three years…” My mother, the esteemed Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, cut him off smoothly. “As a doctor’s family, my son has understood from a young age that medicine requires sacrifice. He knows that a physician’s duty is to put others before oneself. He supports my decision wholeheartedly.” I stood in the shadows, remembering three months ago when she told me the donor heart had “complications” and I needed to wait. But right now, the recovering patient was on stage, tearfully thanking my mother. “Dr. Vance is my savior. She didn’t just waive my surgical fees; she took me into her home and gave me a family…” To make room for him, my mother had banned me from coming home for the last six months. Watching them hug on stage, a sharp, crushing pain radiated through my chest. My heart was giving out. I stood up to get my medication. But a producer spotted me and dragged me onto the stage. My mother frowned, annoyed by my lack of a smile. In front of the cameras, she announced that she had officially taken her sponsored student under her wing as her godson. She nudged me to call him “brother.” Blood rushed to my head. I heard my own voice, calm and terrifyingly steady. “Since you have a new son now, I’ll remove myself from this family. I wouldn’t want to interrupt your mother-son bonding.” Chapter 1 I threw the microphone to the floor and turned to leave. Before I could take a step, my mother grabbed my arm. “Julian needs long-term rehabilitation,” she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “You are my son. Acting like this in front of the press? Do you know what people will think? Do you know how this stress could affect his recovery?” I looked at her in disbelief. She didn’t care about my pain. She was terrified that my departure would tarnish the reputation of her shiny new “son.” My father rushed over to block my path. “There are cameras everywhere, Liam. Where is your dignity? Even if you have to fake it, get through the interview.” I was forcefully dragged back in front of the lens and told to apologize to Julian. The three of them held hands—a perfect unit. I looked like a stranger crashing a family portrait. The dam finally broke. I took the crystal award the reporters had brought for my mother and smashed it onto the floor. It shattered into jagged pieces. My mother charged at me, her hand raised to slap me, freezing in mid-air. “How did I raise such an ungrateful wolf?” I stared straight into her eyes. “Ungrateful?” My voice rang out, crystal clear in the suddenly silent auditorium. “When my myocarditis first flared up, you said it was common and told me to drive myself to the ER for an IV.” “But when Julian’s bloodwork was slightly off, you flew in a specialist team from Boston overnight.” The air in the room solidified. Camera flashes went off like strobes. My mother tried to intervene. “Liam, we discuss family matters in private…” “Private?” I laughed, tears streaming down my face without permission. “Three years ago, I was lying in the ER, shaking because every heartbeat felt like a knife. Which one of you came to see me?” “The attending physician suggested admission. You said beds were tight and I should yield to a more critical patient.” “I get it now.” I looked past the cameras at Julian. “The ‘tight bed situation’ was just a reservation for the son you actually care about.” My dad lunged to grab me, but I shook him off. “And you! I’m your biological son! But you knew my heart wouldn’t last another year, and you still agreed to give my matched heart to an outsider?” “What is it? Is this poor scholarship student actually your illegitimate child?” Slap! My mother’s hand finally connected with my face. “That is enough! Apologize to Julian right now!” “Apologize?” I chuckled, tasting blood. “I’ve been in the ICU multiple times, critically ill, and I couldn’t even get a private room because you didn’t want to ‘abuse your power.’” “Your colleagues begged to pull strings for me, but you refused. You said we couldn’t be special.” “So why can you pull strings for an orphan whose condition hadn’t even worsened yet?” I couldn’t understand. Even if she wanted to be selfless, wasn’t a doctor’s job to save lives? I was dying. Why did I always have to be the one to step aside? “Since you love him so much, let him be your child.” Chapter 2 I turned to leave, but a sledgehammer of pain slammed into my chest. I doubled over and vomited a mouthful of bright red blood. When I opened my eyes again, my chest felt like it was being crushed by a boulder. Every beat was agony. Through the glass of the ICU, I could hear Dr. Harris, my mom’s colleague, whispering urgently. “This collapse was acute heart failure. With his dilated cardiomyopathy… best case scenario, he has six months. If he has another episode like this…” The ICU door pushed open. My mother walked in, wearing her pristine white coat. Julian was with her, eyes red and puffy, holding a bouquet of flowers. He stood timidly by the door. “You’re awake?” My mother walked to the bedside. There was no concern in her tone, only exhaustion and irritation. “I managed to suppress the story with the press for now, but what you did today was damaging. Julian was cornered by reporters. He almost had a panic attack.” I opened my mouth, but my throat was too dry to make a sound. “Liam… I’m sorry,” Julian stepped forward, tears falling. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have accepted the surgery. I… I’ll give the heart back to you…” “Don’t be ridiculous,” my mother snapped, turning to support him. “The surgery was a success. You’re recovering perfectly. Don’t say stupid things.” She patted Julian’s back with a tenderness I had never experienced. Then she turned her cold gaze back to me. “Look how sensible Julian is. He knows how hard this opportunity was to come by. He does his rehab without complaint. And you? Making a scene in public, making us a laughingstock, putting Julian in a difficult position.” My dad sighed from the corner. “Liam, your mother has a hard job. You need to be more understanding.” “Understanding?” The heart monitor began to beep erratically. “I’ve been understanding for twenty-three years! I understood your career, I understood your patients, I understood your ‘selflessness’!” Dr. Harris rushed in. “Dr. Vance, the patient cannot handle stress right now!” My mother ignored him. “Do you know how hard Julian has had it? Growing up in the foster system, studying his way into med school on scholarships… he never complains because he’s afraid of being a burden. You grew up with a silver spoon. Have we ever mistreated you? Just this one time…” “One time?” I laughed, tears flowing freely now. “When I was ten and hospitalized for the first time, you said the ward was busy and left me with a nurse.” “When I passed out in gym class at fifteen, the school nurse said I needed a specialist. You said grades came first and we’d check in the summer.” “When I was nineteen and diagnosed, you said I was young and could manage it.” Every word felt like glass in my lungs. “But for Julian? You organized a national panel of experts. You got him the VIP suite. You gave him the heart I waited three years for!” Julian started sobbing louder. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry… Dr. Vance, please, give the heart to Liam. I… I can wait…” “What are you waiting for?” I snapped my eyes to him. “Your heart function is near normal now. Are you waiting for me to die so you can perform grief?” “Liam!” My mother shouted. “Watch your mouth! Julian has a good heart!” “A good heart?” I stared at my mother. “Mom, you’re so selfless. So ethical. So willing to sacrifice…” I gasped for air, black spots dancing in my vision, but I had to finish. “When the cross-matching was done, your blood type was a match too. You’re his godmother. Why didn’t you donate your heart to him? Wouldn’t that have made you even greater?” Chapter 3 Deathly silence filled the room. My mother’s face drained of color. Her lips trembled. “You… You…” She pointed a shaking finger at me. “Me what?” I leaned back, numb from the pain. “You said a doctor’s family needs to make sacrifices. You said ‘others before self.’ So donate. Give Julian your heart. I’ll wait for my own. That way, nobody owes anybody anything.” “Insolent! Absolutely insolent!” My father was shaking with rage. “How dare you speak to your mother that way!” Julian dropped to his knees with a thud, wailing. “It’s all my fault! I’ll go find a doctor right now. I’ll ask them to cut it out! My life belongs to Dr. Vance anyway, I’ll give it back to Liam!” He made a show of rushing for the door, but my mother caught him. “Silly child, stop this nonsense!” She hugged Julian tightly, then looked back at me. Her eyes held disappointment, and something that looked terrifyingly like hate. “Liam, I never thought you would become so vicious.” She had clearly lost her composure. “Julian just had major surgery. You want him to extract the heart now? You want to kill him?” “And is it wrong that I want to live?” Dr. Harris couldn’t take it anymore. “Elena, the patient is unstable. He needs quiet…” “He needs to reflect!” My mother cut him off, walking to my bed. “Liam, I am telling you this now: Julian is my son. I will take care of him until he is fully recovered. As for you…” She paused, making a final decision. “When you stabilize and are ready to apologize to Julian, we can talk.” She grabbed Julian’s hand and walked out of the ICU without looking back. My father gave me a complicated look, sighed, and followed them. The door clicked shut. Through the glass, I saw my mother tenderly wiping tears from Julian’s face in the hallway. My father patted his back. Their shadows blended together under the fluorescent lights. A perfect family of three. I lay in the ICU, listening to the fading rhythm of my own heart. Some things are more suffocating than heart failure. Dr. Harris hesitated, then whispered, “Actually… last week, there was a brain-dead donor who was a match for you.” “But… your mother signed the paperwork to transfer that heart to another patient.” I stared at him blankly. “W-Why?” Dr. Harris’s voice trembled. “That patient needed a transplant, yes, but their urgency status was far lower than yours. The entire department felt… it wasn’t right.” It made perfect sense to me. She had to prove she had no bias. To prove she was selfless. To prove her ethics were impeccable. Even if the cost was my life. “Thank you for telling me.” My voice was muffled by the oxygen mask. “Don’t give up,” Dr. Harris said urgently. “I’ve contacted transplant centers in other hospitals. We can figure this out…” “No need.” I shook my head slightly. “Can you get me a paper and pen? I want to write a will and sever legal ties.” I looked at the retreating backs of my parents. “And I need to sign the organ donation forms.” Chapter 4 My parents didn’t show up again. Julian, however, started sending me videos every day. Videos of them redecorating my bedroom for him. Videos of my parents brewing herbal remedies for him personally. Videos of them throwing away my childhood plushie, Mr. Bear. My mom bought me that bear when I was scared alone at night while she worked the graveyard shift. I had dragged that tattered bear through twenty years. Now, I didn’t need it either. “Liam, I feel like Mom and Dad don’t really like you. They’d rather take me on a trip than visit you.” “Can’t you just apologize? Raising you wasn’t easy. You’re so ungrateful.” I stared at the screen as the heart monitor screamed. Finally, I opened TikTok. I changed my handle to @LiamWaitingForAHeart. I posted my medical diagnosis. Then I posted the receipts of my mother’s lies. Finally, I uploaded Julian’s taunting videos. Caption: Under what circumstances does a biological child rank lower than a stranger? Three hours later, my mother stormed in, her hair a mess. “Liam! What did you post?!” She snatched my phone. “Delete it! Delete it now!” The screen was lit up. 999+ shares. Ten thousand comments. “Do you know what you’re doing?!” Her voice was piercing. “Julian has been doxxed! People are calling the scholarship fund! He just had surgery, he can’t handle this stress!” I looked at her calmly. “And me? I’m in the ICU. Can I handle him sending me videos every day telling me to die?” “He’s trying to connect with you!” “Connect?” I smiled. “He’s checking to see when I’ll die so he can fully take my place.” “You…” She raised her hand but forced it down. She took a deep breath, switching to her professional doctor mode. “Liam, you are emotionally unstable. These posts are causing serious damage to the hospital and my reputation. Delete them, issue a public apology, and I won’t pursue this.” “Pursue this?” I whispered. “Mom, how will you pursue it? By cutting off my medical funds again?” Her eyes darted away for a split second. That was my answer. “Dr. Harris,” she turned to her colleague who had rushed in. “As of today, discharge Liam. This hospital does not treat patients who incite harassment.” Dr. Harris was shocked. “Elena! He can’t be discharged in this condition!” “Then transfer him,” she said coldly. “We’re too small a temple for this big god.” She leaned down, her lips close to my ear, her voice ice-cold: “Delete. Apologize. Admit you made it up because you’re mentally unstable. Otherwise, no hospital in this state will take you.” I looked at her face. The face that used to check my fever. The face that once promised to cure me. Now, only threats remained. “Do whatever you want,” I said. She turned to leave. At the door, she looked back. “Liam, don’t blame me for being cruel. You ruined Julian’s life first.” The door slammed. Dr. Harris stood by the bed. After a long time, he whispered, “I can call a hospital out of state…” “No need.” I stared at the ceiling. “Dr. Harris, thank you for everything. But I’m tired.” Truly tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of waiting. The next morning, I processed my discharge against medical advice. The account showed a balance due of $27,000. She had indeed cut off all funding. I transferred the last bit of savings I had to the hospital and signed a promissory note for the rest. Dragging my suitcase out of the inpatient tower, my heart throbbed with agony. “Liam!” My mother’s voice came from behind.

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I can’t stand the “cool girl” act—calling herself “one of the guys,” to get what she wants. While I am a walking lie detector. When my fiancé brought his “bestie” home, I sighed. “Fine. You two are soulmates. I’ll sleep under a bridge. The bed is yours.” Henry stared at me. “She’s just a buddy. I don’t even see her as a woman.” I took out a notebook. Henry leaned in. “Writing your will?” “Predicting how your ‘buddy’ will cross the line.” 1. Complain she’s hot and strip in front of you. 2. “Accidentally” spill a drink on your crotch, then wipe it with her hands. … Henry swore she wasn’t like that. Then his “buddy” screamed, poured coffee on his thigh, and grabbed his pants. “Take them off! We’ve known each other since diapers—let me check if you’re burned! I’ll blow on it!” I checked “spill drink on crotch” and held the notebook up. “Perfect score.” Henry clamped his legs together, remembering my list. “You’re overreacting. She’s just open and trying to help. Now put that away before you hurt her feelings.” 1 Summer’s hand was still on Henry’s belt as she giggled. “Monica, you’re not actually mad, are you?” “Henry and I go back more than a decade. I used to flick his little thingy when we were kids.” “This is just what friends do for each other.” I ignored her, looking down to write a new prediction in my notebook. Henry, fumbling with his belt, frowned at me. “Monica, is this really necessary? It was a small thing. Can’t you be a little more gracious? We’re all friends here.” Summer’s eyes welled up. “Monica, if it bothers you that I helped Henry, I just won’t touch him anymore.” I paid no mind to her crocodile tears, continuing to write. Seeing my silence, Henry snatched the notebook from my hands and threw it onto the sofa without even looking at it. “Stop writing! Who are you trying to impress with this passive-aggressive crap?” “Summer’s staying here tonight. The guest room isn’t ready, so she can have the master bedroom. We’ll sleep in the spare room.” I picked up my notebook and looked at him calmly. “Alright. Just a moment.” I drew a neat checkmark next to the line I had just written: “The cuckoo takes the nest, claims the master bedroom.” Henry caught sight of the checkmark, and his face turned to stone. “When did you write that?” I closed the notebook. “The moment you walked her through the door.” At that, Summer’s eyes instantly reddened. She grabbed Henry’s sleeve, tears streaming down her face. “Henry, I told you Monica wouldn’t accept me, didn’t I?” She made a show of leaving, but her steps were agonizingly slow, clearly waiting for him to stop her. As expected, Henry grabbed her arm and spun around to yell at me. “Monica! Are you trying to drive her to her death?” “Summer has a bad back! She can’t sleep on a hard mattress! What’s the big deal if you sleep in the spare room for a few nights?” I looked at the man I was about to marry, who was so brazenly kicking his fiancée out of their marital bedroom for another woman. I didn’t argue. I didn’t get angry. I just nodded, took my notebook, and walked toward the spare room. Behind me, I heard Summer’s triumphant little laugh. “Henry, you’re the best. I could just die, I love you so much.” “Oh, stop it, you. Go take a shower. I’ll come in and scrub your back in a bit.” I closed the door to the spare room and took out my phone, activating the recording feature on the hidden camera I’d installed. I’d originally set it up for security, never imagining I’d be using it to catch a thief already inside the house. Sitting on the rock-hard bed, I opened my notebook and wrote down my prediction for the night. Sure enough, at two in the morning, the door to our room was thrown open. Summer, wearing nothing but one of Henry’s oversized white shirts, burst in, sobbing. “Henry! The room doesn’t smell like you! I can’t sleep!” She bypassed me completely and threw herself onto Henry, trembling in his arms. He woke up groggily and instinctively wrapped his arms around her, his hand patting her back in a soothing rhythm. “Shh, it’s okay. I’m here, Summer. It’s okay…” Click. I switched on the bedside lamp. In the harsh light, the scene was blindingly clear. Summer was straddling Henry’s waist, the top three buttons of her shirt undone, revealing a wide expanse of pale skin. One of Henry’s hands rested on her bare thigh. When the light came on, Summer shrieked and buried her head in Henry’s neck. “Monica… I’m so sorry, it was just instinct… Henry and I used to sleep like this all the time. You don’t mind, do you?” Henry was fully awake now. He didn’t push her away. Instead, he pulled the blanket up, covering her completely, and glared at me defensively. “Monica, what the hell? Can’t you see you scared her?” I said nothing, simply pulling my notebook from under my pillow with a deadpan expression. I put a checkmark next to “Pretends to be scared, climbs into bed in the middle of the night.” Then I held the book up right in front of his face. “Congratulations. Another direct hit.” Henry’s face turned a furious shade of purple. The shame of being so perfectly predicted morphed into rage. “You’re sick! That’s all you do, isn’t it? Just write in that stupid book!” He roared, pulling the woman in his arms even tighter. “Nothing happened! We’re just friends! You’re the one with a dirty mind who sees filth everywhere!” Summer sobbed in his embrace, making a weak attempt to get up. The hem of her shirt lifted, revealing that, just as I’d suspected, she was wearing nothing underneath. Henry quickly pushed her back down. “Don’t go anywhere! It’s storming outside! You’re sleeping here tonight!” I picked up my notebook and phone, threw back the covers, and got out of bed without another word. “Hope you two have a lovely night. May the thunder not strike you down.” I closed the door, shutting the whole absurd scene behind me. Lying on the living room sofa, I opened my phone and saved the footage I had just recorded. Then, I wrote down my predictions for the next day. The next morning, I was woken by the sound of flirtatious laughter from the kitchen. Summer, still in that loose shirt, was pressed against Henry’s back, her hands over his, “teaching” him how to fry an egg. “Oh, Henry, you’re so hopeless. You can’t even flip it right.” “Stop moving, that tickles.” They laughed and played, looking for all the world like a pair of newlyweds. I stood in the kitchen doorway, feeling like an intruder in my own home. When Summer saw me, she let out an exaggerated gasp. “Monica, you’re awake! Come try the special breakfast Henry made with love.” Henry adjusted his pajama top. “Now that you’re up, go wash your face. Don’t just stand there.” “Summer specifically asked me to make a portion for you. Don’t be ungrateful.” I walked into the bathroom and found my toothbrush in the trash can. In its place, in my cup, were two toothbrushes: Henry’s, and a new pink one. Their heads were nestled together intimately. I walked out carrying the trash can. “Care to explain?” Summer stuck out her tongue, the picture of innocence. “Oops, sorry, Monica. I was still half-asleep this morning. I thought that was my old one, so I just tossed it.” “I bought that pink one yesterday. It’s a matching set with Henry’s. Cute, right?” Henry walked over with a plate, his brow furrowed with annoyance. “It’s a damn toothbrush. Is it really worth all this drama? I’ll send you a hundred bucks later, go buy yourself a new one! Can you please not start a fight first thing in the morning?” I took a deep breath, pulled out my notebook, and checked off “Takes over my space, throws out my things.” The sight of the notebook made Henry’s temper flare. “Monica! Are you ever going to stop with that?” I showed him the notebook. The next prediction was: “Feeds him in front of me.” Henry sneered. “Impossible! I have my own hands. Why the hell would I need her to feed me?” The words had barely left his mouth when Summer picked up a piece of fried egg, blew on it, and casually held it to Henry’s lips. “Henry, open up. Ahhh—this one’s a little burnt. Can you taste it for me and see if it’s okay?” Henry instinctively opened his mouth and ate the egg. After a few chews, he froze. The silence in the room was absolute. I calmly put a checkmark next to “Feeds him in front of me.” “Such a good boy.” Henry’s face went crimson. He didn’t know whether to swallow the egg in his mouth or spit it out. The humiliation of being read like a book finally made him snap. “MONICA!!” Summer, as if just realizing the situation, threw her chopsticks down and burst into tears. “Why are you always targeting me, Monica? All I did was give Henry a bite of egg!” “We used to feed each other all the time when we were kids and it was never a problem! Why is it suddenly a crime with you? Why is your mind so dirty?” She grabbed a fruit knife from the table and made a show of pressing it to her wrist. Henry was terrified. He snatched the knife away and pulled Summer into a protective embrace. When he looked at me, his eyes were filled with disgust and hatred, as if I were the most vile woman on earth. “Are you satisfied now, Monica? Are you going to be happy when you’ve driven her to suicide?” I looked at the hysterical Henry and the woman hiding in his arms, who was now shooting me a victorious smirk. I nodded. “Fine. I’ll leave.” When I came out with my suitcase, Summer was sitting on Henry’s lap, dabbing sweat from his forehead. I stopped at the door and tossed the densely filled notebook onto the coffee table. “Henry, this is for you. Consider it an early wedding present.” “There’s one last prediction in there. You can see if it comes true.” Henry picked up the notebook with contempt and flipped to the last page. He scoffed. “You’re insane! Absolutely delusional!” He threw the notebook into the trash without a second thought and turned back to comforting the woman in his arms, not even sparing me a final glance. I sat in the coffee shop downstairs, watching the live feed from the hidden camera on my phone. I knew. My predictions about her type were never wrong. After I left, the show on my phone screen was quite a spectacle. Within two days, Summer had found the six-figure, custom-made reception dress I’d had made for our wedding. It was hand-embroidered, with an impossibly small waist. Summer was a size larger than me, but she tried to squeeze into it anyway, whining. “Monica’s clothes are just so pretty. What’s the big deal if I borrow it?” With a sharp rrrrrip, the sound of tearing fabric came through the monitor. My heart bled at that moment, but Henry just sighed with helpless affection. “If it ripped, it ripped. I’ll just buy her another one later. The important thing is you didn’t hurt yourself.” Next, she had him open my safe and put on the five-carat diamond ring he had spent his entire savings on. “Henry, doesn’t this ring look so much better on my hand than on Monica’s?” Henry’s eyes were glazed over. As if possessed, he nodded. “Yeah. It looks beautiful.” I sneered at the screen, saving the recording of it all. That weekend was Henry’s grandfather’s eightieth birthday party. I put on some haggard-looking makeup, wore my oldest clothes, and showed up at the Blackwood family estate right on time, carrying a basket of organic eggs. The moment I pushed open the door, the entire party fell silent. Summer was wearing my reception dress—which she’d had altered to fit her—and my diamond ring, arm-in-arm with Henry as they greeted guests. “Well, look who it is,” Summer said, her eyes glinting with provocation. “Why are you dressed like a beggar? You’re embarrassing Henry.” I ignored her and walked straight to Henry’s grandfather, setting down the basket. “Grandpa, I’m so sorry I’m late…” Grandpa Blackwood took my hand, his face etched with concern. “Monica, dear, you’re so thin! Hasn’t Henry been taking care of you?” My eyes welled up. I fixed my gaze on Summer and pointed with a trembling finger. “My reception dress… and my engagement ring… why are they on you?” The room erupted in whispers. The relatives’ expressions immediately turned strange. Henry panicked and rushed over to pull me away. “Monica! What are you talking about? You said you didn’t want the dress! And you lent the ring to Summer!” “Don’t make a scene in front of everyone!” I shook his hand off and took a step back. “When did I ever lend it to her?” “Henry, you opened your fiancée’s safe just to please your little ‘buddy’?” That single sentence shattered his public image. Seeing things go south, Summer immediately clutched her stomach and collapsed. “Oww… my stomach hurts… Henry, did Monica poison the wine…? I think I’m dying…” It was a clumsy performance that anyone could see through. But to escape the crushing embarrassment of the moment, Henry chose to believe it. He stormed toward me and, without a word, raised his hand and slapped me across the face. CRACK! The sharp sound echoed through the hall. The force of the blow sent me sprawling to the floor. My hand landed on a piece of broken glass, and blood began to flow. A collective gasp went through the crowd. Grandpa Blackwood was shaking with rage. He raised his cane. “You bastard! Who do you think you’re hitting?” “Get this homewrecker out of my sight! Get out of this house! Both of you!” I slowly lifted my head, wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, and the last spark of warmth in my eyes died out. “Henry, you really think you’re God’s gift, don’t you?” He paused, turning back with a sneer. “What? Regretting it now? Want to get on your knees and beg me not to leave? Unless you bow to Summer three times right now, I…” BOOM! A loud crash cut him off. The heavy doors of the banquet hall were kicked open from the outside. A group of security guards filed in, blocking the exit. Henry stumbled back, his face pale. “Who are you? You dare to barge into the Blackwood estate? Do you have a death wish?” The lead guard shoved him, sending him stumbling back into the center of the hall. I walked toward him, step by step, and pulled the notebook from my bag, a cold smile on my lips. “Break off the engagement? Of course.” “But before you walk out that door, we have some accounts to settle.” I raised the notebook and slapped it hard across his face. “You think you can just hit me and walk away? Life doesn’t work like that.” “Lock the doors! No one leaves until I say so!” Henry watched the approaching guards and screamed, “Monica! What do you think you’re doing? This is my family’s house! You wouldn’t dare touch me!” I let out a cold laugh and walked over to the pair, now pinned down by my guards. “I’m just here to take back what’s mine. And collect a little interest.” Before the words were even out, I swung my hand with all my might and struck Henry twice across the face. SLAP! SLAP! The blows were far harder than the one he had given me. His face swelled instantly, and blood trickled from his lip. He started to struggle and curse, but a guard kicked him behind the knee, and he fell to his knees before me with a thud. “Those were to teach you some manners.” Then, my gaze, sharp as a knife, turned to Summer, who was cowering behind him. I pointed to the diamond ring on her finger. “Take it off.” Summer clutched her hand, shaking her head frantically. “No… Henry gave this to me…” I didn’t waste any more words. I gave a nod to the guard. He moved forward, ignoring her screams, and brutally ripped the ring from her finger, tearing the skin. “AHH! My hand!” Summer shrieked. I took the ring, wiped it disgustedly with a sanitary wipe, and put it in my pocket. “There. The trash has been taken out.” I pointed to the door. “Now, take your garbage and get out.” Henry scrambled to his feet. Hearing the whispers of the guests and the furious shouts of his grandfather, his eyes burned with a venomous hatred. He wanted to threaten me, but one look at the stone-faced guards at the door made him bite his tongue. He clenched his jaw and dragged Summer out of the hall. I turned to face the stunned guests, my eyes finally landing on my grandfather, who was still trembling with rage. My voice was calm and resolute. “Since everyone is here, you can all be my witnesses.” In front of the entire Blackwood clan, I officially broke off our engagement. And I demanded that Henry return my half of the down payment for our house: two hundred thousand dollars. Back at our apartment, Henry smashed the coffee table in a rage. “That bitch! How dare Monica make me kneel in public!” Summer huddled on the sofa, clutching her swollen finger, a vicious, calculating glint in her eyes. “Henry, Monica is ruthless… She didn’t just hit you, she humiliated you. She’s trying to destroy your reputation in our circle, to make sure you can never hold your head up again!” Seeing Henry’s thunderous expression, she quickly pulled out her phone and cued up a video. “Good thing I was smart enough to secretly record it.” “She wants to ruin you? We’ll strike first. We’ll use public opinion to crush her! When we’re done, you won’t have to pay her back a dime. She’ll be the one on her knees, begging you for forgiveness!” Henry watched the video, a savage grin spreading across his face. “Post it! Post it now! I want her to know what happens when you cross me!” That night, a video went viral in our city.

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

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

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