Category: English

Seven years after my divorce from Julian, we met again at the school bus stop. He was dropping off his stepson for summer camp, and I was one of the teachers in charge of the event. I meticulously checked off his son’s registration details. He listened intently, like any responsible parent. It was only when I coolly addressed him as “Mr. Julian” that he seemed to flinch, a fleeting moment of lost thought. “Elara,” he said, “you’ve… changed a lot.” I focused on adjusting my microphone, offering no reply. Changed? Yes, a lot. At least, I wouldn’t waste my time waiting for him anymore. “Ms. Elara, what are you doing here? We’re just waiting for you to board!” Chloe, a girl with a high ponytail, jogged over from a distance. She was one of the students attending the summer camp, and also our class monitor. I smiled back at her. “Just finishing up with a parent. I’ll be there in a minute.” Chloe’s eyes followed my gaze, landing on Julian. A spark of admiration lit them up. “You must be Leo’s father, right? I’ve seen your pictures in financial magazines.” “They say you’re an outstanding entrepreneur in Maplewood, and you’re so good to him. We all wish we had a dad like that!” Leo was Julian’s stepson. The child he’d sworn to protect, no matter what. Julian offered a polite, strained smile, his gaze instinctively flicking to me. “He calls me Dad, so it’s only right that I’m good to him.” With the details confirmed, I neatly put the documents away. The zipper on my bag had corroded and was jammed in the fabric. I pulled out a small pair of scissors to snip it free, accidentally nicking my finger. Blood beaded and fell to the floor. Julian frowned. He grabbed my wrist, his voice tinged with a sudden worry. “Don’t move. Let me see the cut.” I glanced at him, then calmly pulled my hand away. “It’s fine. It’s not appropriate.” He paused, then said, “Wait here. I’ll go get you a band-aid.” I casually shook the blood off my finger, rejecting him flatly. “Seriously, it’s fine. I need to go.” As I turned, a single leaf spun down, landing at Julian’s feet. The bus to summer camp closed its doors with a heavy thud right in front of him. I settled into the passenger seat and took out a wet wipe, scrubbing at the spot on my wrist he’d touched. The driver, a nosy old-timer, chuckled. “That man in the suit, he looks like a big shot. Any woman who marries him would be set for life.” I smiled, completely agreeing. It had been seven years since my divorce from Julian. Seeing him again, I had managed to feel nothing. I’d resigned myself to us being parallel lines now. He chased his version of love, and I protected my peace. I’d almost forgotten. I once gave him everything. And he, in return, cost me child after child. He pushed me into the abyss with his own hands.

In the rearview mirror, the school bus stop receded into the distance. A memory flashed—this was also where Julian and I first met. Back then, he was desperately poor. He stood there, dirty, like a stray dog begging for scraps. In the biting wind, Julian hung his head, pleading bitterly. “My mom is sick. If you can just save her, I’ll do anything.” Everyone turned a blind eye, except for my dad, a doctor, who offered a helping hand. He arranged for Julian’s mother to be admitted, applied for the hospital’s benevolent fund, and even dipped into his own pockets, spending a fortune. Soon after, his mother’s condition improved. My dad took Julian in. “Elara, I found you a tutor.” Julian, six feet tall, clasped his hands nervously in front of him, his ears bright red. “I… I consistently rank in the top ten in my class. I’m pretty good at every subject.” He said that, but he was being modest. In truth, he wasn’t just good at academics. He was the kind of brilliant, all-around academic prodigy teachers raved about. Without the burden of his mother’s illness, he excelled even more. Soon, he was accepted into the top finance program at Maplewood University. And I, as my dad put it, rode on Julian’s coattails, barely scraping into Maplewood University as the last-place student. But no one could have predicted what would happen next. In Julian’s first year of college, his mother’s old illness relapsed, and she passed away. My dad, being a kind soul, felt awful about it. He said Julian had tutored me for so long, the debt of gratitude was already repaid. Now that his mother was gone, Julian wouldn’t have to carry that burden anymore. But Julian said, “Mr. Richard, this debt… it’s never fully repaid.” “You saved my mother’s life once, so I’ll take care of Elara for the rest of mine.” I traced the cut on my finger. It had stopped bleeding, but still throbbed. Looking back, I was so young then. He said that, and I believed him. I clung to Julian, shamelessly refusing to let go. We planned it all: we’d make enough money to buy a small place in Maplewood, then get married right after graduation. Live happily ever after, like most couples. But while Julian was good to me, his ambition burned brighter. That graduation year, he traveled hundreds of miles for a project. Those vows scattered like dust in the wind, all forgotten. He was so consumed by work, he was practically unreachable most days. On the rare occasion I did get through, before my joy could even settle, Julian said, “Elara, I’ve decided to stay here.” No apology. No mention of breaking up. Not even a single explanation. At that time, my elderly dad had retired from his job. He couldn’t stand seeing me cry every day. He advised, “You can’t force love. You have to let go when it’s time.” But four years of love—I couldn’t just give up. That very day, I packed my bags and boarded a train heading south. All the way there, I sent Julian messages. I poured out my heart, rambling on and on. “Julian, I’m coming to find you.” “So it’s fine if you stay, we won’t separate.” I sent him the train details, the arrival time. I wanted him to come. I wanted him to pick me up. But he didn’t. That day, it rained heavily in New Haven. I dragged my luggage, unable to find a single cab. I huddled there, crying for three hours as blood streamed down my legs. A sharp pain ripped through my stomach, and a terrifying realization dawned on me. It wasn’t my period. It was our unborn baby. It had come without me knowing and left just as silently. I looked up, panicked, desperate for help. That’s when I saw Julian approaching, shielded by an umbrella. A dark gray trench coat, gold-rimmed glasses—he looked impossibly polished, almost unreal. My legs were covered in blood, my clothes were bloody, my hands were bloody. I frantically grabbed Julian’s sleeve. “Our baby… I lost the baby.” His face was impassive, tinged with a flicker of annoyance. “Who told you to come?” Outside, the rain poured down. Julian’s face was like thunder. He asked, “Elara, who told you to follow me?”

The bus reached its destination, and I collected my thoughts, stepping off. There were dedicated staff to greet us at the summer camp, which made my job a lot easier. I was finally free to explore the area for a bit. My friend, Maya, came to pick me up, and immediately spotted Leo, who was holding a basketball. “That’s *her* son, isn’t it? You can tell just by looking at his eyes, he’s hers.” I nodded slightly, a silent confirmation. Maya, seeing my indifferent expression, got furious. Her anger simmered, then she started cursing Julian. “That scumbag is repulsive. How on earth did you ever agree to marry him?” It wasn’t really that complicated. After the miscarriage, I was admitted to the hospital. I was young then, fresh from losing my first baby, and terrified. Healing alone, a thousand miles from home, I hadn’t even dared to tell my parents. When I was at my most helpless, my most desperate for support, Julian proposed. I desperately clung to the idea, almost brainwashing myself that he wasn’t intentional. I just married him. After we got married, Julian was always busy, drowning in endless drinks and social engagements. Night after night, I’d wait, huddled over cold food, utterly drained. The constant emotional drain was agonizing. A sudden, unexpected pregnancy made my emotions incredibly volatile. I was at my breaking point. But that’s when Julian cheated. That woman was Seraphina. Not a business partner, not a socialite. Just a woman with a child, a widow. Their first meeting was anything but proper—in a private room at a club. Julian fell in love with her at first sight. It was just because she, with her 8-year-old son, had pleaded for his help, and it triggered something in him, reminding him of his own helpless past. He acted like he was possessed, bringing the child home. He lied to me, saying: “A friend’s son is sick and needs a quiet place to recover for a while.” I believed him, and I was even happy. Because of this child, he started coming home more frequently. Sometimes Seraphina would be with him. He introduced her to me: “This is Leo’s mother. Her husband was abusive, and she’d barely managed to escape with her child. Pitiful, really.” It left a bitter taste in my mouth, so I became even kinder to Leo. When he had a fever in the middle of the night, I stayed by his bedside, neglecting myself completely. If he wanted to eat something, I’d drag my heavy body out late at night to get it. But my kindness was met with cruelty. When I was seven months pregnant, Leo, upset with a meal he didn’t like, picked up a chair and smashed it into my stomach. Blood gushed out, a crimson stain spreading across the pale tiles. I frantically called Julian, but it was Seraphina’s voice I heard. She said, “Your man is sleeping with me. He’s in the shower right now.” I froze there, my heart went numb. All strength drained from my body. Leo, seeing the havoc he’d wreaked, opened the door and bolted. A passing neighbor discovered me and rushed me to the hospital. Predictably, the baby was gone. Smashed away by Seraphina’s son. And what was Julian doing then? He was sleeping with Seraphina. I’d been to hell and back. When I woke up, I was a madwoman. I smashed everything in the hospital room that I could get my hands on. I ripped out my IV, shredded my medical charts, and overturned the medicine cart. My eyes were bruised, my hair a wild mess as I frantically searched for Leo. I screamed hysterically, demanding he pay for my baby’s life. Doctors and nurses were at a loss; other patients scattered in fear. Julian appeared before me again. He grabbed my wrist, mercilessly pinning me down with all his strength. He asked, “Elara, are you done making a scene?”

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My boyfriend rejected my NYU scholarship offer on my behalf, giving the spot to Lily Davis, a student from a disadvantaged background. I broke up with him. But he just said: “During the last campus popularity contest, I chose you, not her, even with all the pressure. Lily’s family is so poor; she was really counting on that scholarship.” He spoke as if placating an unruly child. “Still mad? Once we’re married, you’ll have everything you desire. Why get so worked up over her?” I stared at his nonchalant face: “I said we’re breaking up. Didn’t you hear me?” He finally frowned, then quickly smiled again: “Alright, I’ll give you a week to cool down. Happy now?” He was so sure I couldn’t possibly leave him. But what he didn’t know. I had already received a full scholarship offer from Oxford University, and in five days, I would be flying to the UK. “You’re breaking up with Noah Harrison?” My best friend Chloe’s incredulous voice came through the phone. “Stella, are you insane? Noah’s dad is a top billionaire, and you’re just dumping him?” I held my phone away from my ear, leaning back against my headboard to scroll through the campus forum. The top-pinned post on the campus forum glared at me with a blazing red title: [Noah Harrison Gave Lily Davis the Scholarship to Shame Her!] The comments below were even more ‘interesting.’ “LOL, isn’t Lily always acting so virtuous and high-minded, claiming she despised the rich? How could she possibly accept this NYU scholarship spot?” “Noah must have done this for Stella.” Reading those comments, a wave of nauseating disgust washed over me. They thought Noah was standing up for me. Only I knew that this NYU scholarship slot, which I had slaved countless nights over and fought tooth and nail to secure, was just tossed aside to someone else with a casual “compensation” from Noah. “Stella, are you even listening? Say something!” Chloe was practically losing her mind on the other end. I tapped open Lily’s Ins profile; her latest post was from half an hour ago. No photo, just one line of text: “A gift that landed in my lap. And while I may scoff at it, it’s what I’m owed.” I screenshot it and sent it to Chloe. “See? That’s his ‘explanation’ to me.” Chloe went silent. After a long pause, her voice came through, dry and strained. “…So, the scholarship really was from him to Lily? But why? Didn’t he despise Lily?” “Every time Lily messed with you at school, wasn’t he always the first one to rush to your defense?” Yes, why? I used to believe he was on my side. I used to think those acts of ‘revenge’ were because he loved me, and thus hated anyone who hurt me. But the truth was, every superficial act of payback only led to a very real compensation for her. And I, the one who was deceived, was the only fool who gave genuine love. “Chloe.” I spoke softly. “Hmm?” “Noah and I, we’re really over.” “No misunderstanding.” On the other end of the line, Chloe gasped. I knew what she wanted to say—that Noah came from a prestigious family, that he was gentle with me, the perfect boyfriend everyone envied, and I shouldn’t be so impulsive. But all they saw was what he wanted them to see.

The next morning, a huge Hermès gift box was delivered to my dorm door. My roommates let out a collective gasp. “Oh my God, it’s the latest collection! Stella, Noah spoils you rotten!” “You guys are so in love! I’m totally jealous!” Inside the box was a card, inscribed with Noah’s elegant handwriting. “Countdown to cool-off period: 144 hours.” My roommates’ envious glances surrounded me. In their eyes, I was a princess held in the palm of a top heir’s hand, the absolute winner in this game of love. I only felt an endless wave of sarcasm. He thought money could buy anything, could smooth over any hurt, even my shattered dignity and trampled heart. I calmly took out my phone, snapped a photo of the bag that I hadn’t even had a chance to really touch. Then, with practiced ease, I opened a luxury resale app and started listing the item. Title: [EX’S CONSOLATION PRIZE, practically new, unboxed only. Serious offers only.] Once the listing was up, I shared the link with Chloe, asking her to keep an eye out for reliable buyers. Chloe’s call came through instantly. “Stella, are you crazy? Listing it on a resale site right after getting it? You’ll lose a fortune!” “I won’t be using it anyway.” I didn’t really care. Still on the phone, I dragged a pre-packed suitcase from the deepest corner of my closet. “Chloe, I’m flying to the UK in five days. Full scholarship to Oxford.” “What?” Chloe went completely silent. I could almost picture her jaw dropping. “When did you even—” “I applied ages ago. Just in case.” I smiled. This was probably the best decision I’d ever made for myself. After hanging up, a message from Noah popped up. “Did you get the gift? Why aren’t you replying? Don’t you like the color? I can get someone to exchange it for you if you don’t.” I couldn’t be bothered to reply, so I simply muted his chat. I started calmly packing my luggage, contacting a familiar international courier service for pickup. Just as I sealed the last box, my mom’s call came in. The moment I answered, her gentle coaxing began. “Stella, honey, are you and Noah having a spat? Noah even came to me complaining.” “Mom, we broke up.” “What nonsense are you talking?” My mom’s voice suddenly rose. “Stella, how can you be so unreasonable? For someone from our background to even get a Harrison, that’s pure luck on your part.” “Girls shouldn’t be so headstrong. Someone from Noah’s family, willing to lower himself to sweet-talk you like this, he’s already gone above and beyond. Don’t push it too far and throw away your good life!” I took a deep breath, cutting her off. “Mom, what if I don’t want this ‘good life’?” A long silence followed on the other end. Then, my dad snatched the phone. “Don’t you dare! Stella, we’ve worked our backsides off raising you all these years, not for you to be so stubborn! If you mess up this engagement, don’t even think about coming back home.” “Beep—” The line went dead with a harsh beep. Clutching my phone, standing in the middle of my chaotic dorm room, I suddenly felt incredibly light. Good. Let’s cut ties. Clean and absolute. That evening, a confirmation email from Oxford University popped up in my inbox. I stared at the lines of text for a long time, then slowly, deliberately, typed out my reply, confirming my enrollment. The moment I sent it, I let out a long breath. Finally, I was escaping.

“Stella, we’re having a family dinner tonight, and my mom specifically wants you there.” Noah called to announce. “Your parents will be there too. It’s time to put our engagement on the agenda. This is an opportunity my mom and I fought hard for, so don’t you dare look like a corpse again.” I rolled my eyes. Did he think I cared about this marriage? But then I remembered I had some important research papers still at home. This would be a good chance for my parents to bring them, and I could settle everything once and for all. “Fine.” I agreed. The Harrison family’s mansion was ablaze with lights. Noah’s parents sat at the head of the table. Their demeanor towards me was distant, almost frosty. Their words always subtly hinted that I came from an ordinary background, not good enough for their son. My parents, however, seemed utterly oblivious to the disdain, relentlessly flattering the Harrisons and plastering on forced smiles. They even went as far as to belittle me, just to curry favor. “Our Stella, she’s just been spoiled rotten by us. She has a bit of a temper, so Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, please bear with her in the future.” “It’s truly her good fortune to marry Noah.” I sat there stiffly, the judging stares making me feel like I was sitting on pins and needles. During the meal, Mrs. Harrison casually, almost artfully, brought up Lily Davis. “Noah, I heard you’ve been targeting a girl named Lily at school all these years?” A flicker of displeasure crossed her perfectly maintained face, but her gaze drifted, light as a feather, to me. As if she blamed me for dragging her son down. “Mom, don’t listen to rumors.” Noah set down his glass. “Actually, I quite admire Lily. She comes from a tough background and she’s fiercely independent. I just playfully teased her a few times, and always made it up to her later.” I pretended not to hear, numbly stuffing spoonfuls of abalone and lobster into my mouth. Halfway through the dinner, the butler ushered someone in. It was Lily. She wore a faded dress, looking utterly out of place in the opulent living room. She looked so pitiful, completely lacking her usual proud demeanor from school. Her beautiful eyes pleaded with Noah. Noah frowned, rubbing his temples, and told the butler: “Take her upstairs to change.” When Lily returned, she was like a different person. It was one of the Harrison family’s limited-edition designer dresses, and on her, it somehow evoked a fragile, almost pitiful beauty. Throughout the meal, Mrs. Harrison’s demeanor towards Lily was even warmer than it was towards me, the actual girlfriend. “Lily, isn’t it? Noah tells me you’re very hardworking and your grades are excellent. And now you’ve even secured that NYU scholarship! Such a good girl.” She took Lily’s hand, announcing she would fully sponsor her education. “If you ever face any difficulties, just tell me. Our family, the Harrisons, truly admires strong, self-made, ambitious young people like you.” Lily looked stunned by her attitude, her eyes welling up as she thanked her. I knew Mrs. Harrison was using Lily to publicly humiliate me. She was using this as a way to tell me that even a financially struggling student had more backbone and capability than I, a girl from a family with merely “some money.” I was the real nobody, vainly trying to latch onto their prestigious family. I couldn’t stand to watch my parents’ groveling, eager-to-please faces anymore. The churning nausea in my stomach threatened to erupt. I dropped my forks, stood up, and took the folder containing my research papers from my mom’s hand. “Excuse me, I’m not feeling well. I’m leaving.” Noah immediately stood up to block me. “Stella!”

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After I rejected Daniel Sterling’s divorce proposal for the third time, I did something incredibly stupid. I compiled all his SnapChat messages with his assistant, along with their hotel records, into a devastating PowerPoint presentation and posted it online. I even added all the pain, betrayal, and heartbreak I’d endured during our five-year marriage as an accusation. Just when I thought I’d finally get the sweet taste of revenge, the police showed up. That’s when I found out Daniel had reported me for invasion of privacy. And just like that, I was sentenced to the darkest five days of my life. On the third day in jail, He brought me Leo’s latest award-winning essay to read. The title was: “My Psycho Mom.” In that moment, the firm resolve in my heart shattered into a million pieces. Seeing the contempt in his eyes, I stopped fighting. My voice hoarse, I said: “Daniel, I agree to the divorce.” “Ava Thompson, you can ask for anything you want, except for Leo’s custody.” He finally got the answer he wanted. Daniel no longer acted like a man on the verge of losing it. For once, he actually looked at me with something other than anger. I felt nothing anymore. No more arguments. Just calmly stated what I wanted. “I want a million dollars.” Daniel’s face flashed with surprise. He’d probably thought I wouldn’t give up custody so easily, that I’d keep fighting him. He’d even prepared himself for how to deal with me if I tried to fight for Leo. But I was completely different from what he’d imagined. “Only a million?” He couldn’t believe it, questioning me again, “If you take this million dollars, Leo will have nothing to do with you ever again.” Facing his challenge, I calmly nodded. Daniel seemed about to say something. His mouth moved, but he didn’t continue. “Fine. We’ll go register the divorce as soon as you get out. Ava, you better not be playing games with me.” He dropped a warning, then turned and left. But after he was gone, My mom, Eleanor Thompson, who’d been living abroad and I hadn’t seen in five years, showed up with a lawyer. Soon after, she easily bailed me out. Walking out of the police station, she casually pulled a lady’s cigarette from her pocket. She lit it with a flick of her lighter. As she slowly exhaled a plume of smoke, She turned to face me, utterly exhausted. “So, are you ready to come with me now?” I’d lived for twenty-seven years. She’d asked me that question twice. The first time was when she divorced my cheating father. She asked for nothing, only wanting to take me with her. But everyone around me told me that six-year-old me would be a burden if I went with her, a woman with no money. So I didn’t follow my heart. I chose to stay with my father. When she got her answer, she didn’t force it, leaving with a resolute determination. But sometimes, I harbored a bit of resentment towards her. Resented her for heartlessly abandoning me, abandoning our home. So when I married Daniel, She came to the wedding and told me: “Ava, learn to love yourself before you love anyone else. Don’t put all your energy into others; be good to yourself.” Back then, I was incredibly naive. I thought Daniel and I had a solid ten-year relationship. He would love me consistently, just as he loved himself. With a defiant spirit, I retorted, “Do you think everyone is as selfish as you? Only thinking about how to make others love you, but never thinking about how to make yourself worthy of love.” She wasn’t angry about what I said. She just looked at me with a strange smile. Only now do I understand. Back then, I was truly foolishly naive. My throat was dry, like it was lined with razor blades. Every word I spoke was agony. Hoarsely, I replied to her, “After the divorce is finalized, I’ll go with you.”

I stayed at my mom’s hotel for one night. The next day, I put on the new clothes she’d bought me. Then I went back to the house I’d lived in for six years. When I returned, Leo, who was playing with his toys in the living room, saw me. Surprise and annoyance flashed in his eyes. He muttered softly, “Didn’t she say she’d be in there for five days? How is she back after only three?” At that moment, Daniel also came downstairs. Seeing me, surprise also flickered across his face. It was as if he hadn’t expected me to be out so quickly. But he quickly composed himself. He said calmly, “You’re back, so go wash up and rest. Don’t cause any more trouble.” I shook my head. “No need. We’re going to the registrar’s office to file for divorce now.” Hearing this, Leo’s face changed drastically. He quickly ran behind Daniel, shouting at me, “If you’re leaving, just leave! Don’t even think about taking me. I’m not going anywhere with you!” Looking at his angry face, filled with rejection towards me, I silently pulled at the corner of my mouth. Yesterday, when Daniel left, he’d left Leo’s essay. That essay. I had read it over and over again. I clearly remembered him saying: “My mom is really like a psycho. My dad works so hard, but she always argues with him, throwing things around the house like a lunatic and hitting my dad. If I could, I really wish this crazy woman wasn’t my mom.” Daniel first brought up divorce when I discovered he was cheating. I calmly took photos of the SnapChat messages and hotel records I saw on his phone. When he came home, I went through the evidence I’d captured, one by one, right in front of him. I clenched my fists, suppressing all my anger. Silently, I waited for his remorse, waiting to see him on his knees, apologizing. During that wait, I imagined all the ways he’d cry and beg for forgiveness. But he didn’t. He just looked at me calmly. There wasn’t a hint of guilt in his eyes. Instead, there was a brazen defiance, now that he’d been caught. He told me, “Ava, either delete those photos and quietly be Mrs. Sterling, or we get a divorce.” Before this, I had naively thought that if he just apologized, I could try to forgive him this once. Because when a family breaks apart, the child suffers the most. I didn’t want my child to go down the same path as me. To force a five-year-old to make the cruel choice between living with his dad or his mom. But he didn’t apologize. His defiant attitude enraged me. In my grief and anger, I grabbed everything around me. And threw it at him, repeatedly. But when I heard the nanny and Leo talking, I desperately tried to control my breakdown. I didn’t want Leo to see the ugly scene between his parents. Only, my efforts to hide it failed. Leo saw me throwing things at Daniel like a psycho. But he didn’t hear Daniel’s words from before. Now, looking at the child who treated me like a lunatic, I once again accepted this sharp sword, born of my own flesh, piercing me. “Don’t worry, I don’t want you. After the divorce, I’ll be gone.” I was remarkably calm, my face devoid of any expression. Leo didn’t believe me. He looked up at Daniel. Daniel met his gaze. He said calmly, “Since that’s the case, we’ll go register the divorce tomorrow. I’ll have someone draft the parental rights termination agreement now; you sign it, and Leo will be at peace.” Leo’s eyes, which had just been filled with suspicion, lit up when he heard Daniel’s words. His face was filled with anticipation. I pursed my lips. And answered, “Okay.”

Daniel’s lawyer was incredibly efficient. In just two hours, The parental rights termination agreement was in my hands. I didn’t hesitate; I signed my name. The moment I signed, I distinctly heard a joyful sigh beside me. Leo happily took the agreement. He laughed, “I finally don’t have a psycho mom! No one at school can make fun of me anymore!” Facing my stunned gaze, Daniel, standing beside him, showed a hint of scorn in his eyes. “Someone took photos when you were taken away from home, and they were posted online. Because of you, Leo got a lot of cold looks at school.” His words carried undisguised blame. But he forgot. The cause of everything was him. I didn’t argue with him anymore. I went along with his narrative. Let him push all the blame onto me. But when I saw the disdain in his eyes, It reminded me of the second time he brought up divorce. Back then, I was so unwilling to accept it. I went crazy, running to his company. In front of all his employees, I furiously accused him and his assistant, Rachel Miller. He stood in the crowd, completely unaffected. He watched me perform like a clown with cold eyes. And I forgot. Those employees were paid by him. They wouldn’t casually judge their boss’s private life. And they certainly wouldn’t lose their jobs for someone unrelated. Everyone watched me as if I were a joke. Their curious stares made it impossible for me to escape. I instinctively wanted to run. But then I heard someone in the crowd say: “She might be pretty, but her temperament really can’t compare to Assistant Miller. If I were the boss, I wouldn’t pick this ugly woman either.” “Right? There are plenty of cheating men in this world, especially the rich ones. Why is she so stupid? Can’t she just turn a blind eye?” “If I were her, I wouldn’t make a scene at all. Couldn’t she just take the money and live a good life at home? Why make a fuss like a psycho and become a laughingstock?” I stood amidst the crowd, Listening to the whispers around me. I suddenly remembered the year Daniel started his business. To help him secure a deal with a client, I drank myself sick, ending up with stomach ulcers in the hospital. It was Daniel Sterling who sat by my hospital bed, Holding my hand tightly, crying and choking out: “Ava, I swear I’ll never let you down in this life. I’ll give you a home and make you the Mrs. Sterling everyone envies.” I opened my mouth, wanting to retort, to tell them. It was Daniel who promised me a future. It was he who said we’d love each other until we were old. I hadn’t had a chance to speak yet. Rachel Miller came running, crying. She fell to her knees in front of me with a thud. Bowing her head, she sobbed, “Mrs. Sterling, I never intended to come between you and Mr. Sterling. If you don’t like me, I can resign immediately and never see Mr. Sterling again. But I beg you, please don’t make a scene here. If you keep this up, how will Mr. Sterling face his employees?” She acted like a devoted wife, solely concerned for Daniel’s well-being. With one sentence, she branded me an unreasonable lunatic. Daniel looked at her tear-streaked face. He tenderly walked over and helped her up. He angrily snapped, “Enough! Ava, we’re getting a divorce! I don’t want to spend another day with you! I’m sick of this suffocating life!” Leo’s essay also recorded that day. Only then did I realize that the day I went to his company to cause a scene, Leo had skipped his after-school activity to go play with Rachel at the office. And in his essay, he wrote: “My mom isn’t just a psycho, she also embarrasses me so much. I don’t understand why I have a mom like this. If Aunt Rachel were my mom, that would be so much better.”

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My brother couldn’t afford a wedding. So Gary Thompson, Brittany’s father, proposed: an exchange of wives. Brittany could marry my brother, but I would have to marry him. I refused, but my whole family conspired, drugged me, and delivered me to Gary Thompson’s bed. As I tried to escape, Gary and Brittany accidentally pushed me off a cliff, and I fell to my death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we were supposed to go to the Thompsons’ to discuss the wedding. I woke up with a pounding headache, finding myself in Gary Thompson’s house. He lunged at me like a shriveled zombie. I ran out, screaming, as if my mind had broken. Gary Thompson and Brittany Thompson chased frantically after me. “Daisy, my dad’s already touched you! No other man will want you now! For my wedding to Jake, just make this sacrifice and be with my dad.” I felt numb, my mind a blur. I felt utterly defiled, soiled by that old, ugly, disgusting Gary Thompson. Why? Why was all of this happening? I ran desperately, finally cornered at the edge of a cliff. Gary Thompson rushed up, grabbing my hair and yanking my head back, slapping me hard across the face twice. “Why are you running? You’re mine now, old man’s property!” “Your parents and I already agreed. Brittany marries Jake, and you, as part of the exchange, marry me.” I shook my head frantically, sobbing, completely broken. “No! Absolutely not! My parents would never marry me off to you, let you abuse me!” Brittany tried to persuade me from the side. “Daisy, just accept it. They’re the ones who handed you over to my dad.” “Just be with my dad, and Jake and I will be grateful to you for the rest of our lives.” “Come on, let’s go back. It’s cold out here, you’ll catch a cold. Just go home with my dad and settle into your new life.” Gary Thompson tugged at my hair, getting ready to drag me back, and said gleefully, “Once she’s carrying a Thompson baby, she’ll settle down and be a good wife.” “She’s young, maybe she can even give me a son!” Brittany immediately chimed in, “Dad’s right! Once she has a kid, she won’t even *think* of leaving, even if we told her to!” I struggled against them with all my might, wanting to go back and get answers from my parents and Jake. Gary and Brittany worked together, determined to take me back, no matter what. In the struggle, caught between their grasping hands, I felt a sudden shove. I plummeted over the edge, smashing into the rocks below!

“Daisy! Daisy! What are you daydreaming about, you brat?!” I snapped back to reality, the anger and hatred from my previous death still surged through my veins, a burning tide. I clenched my fists without thinking. My mom said, her face heavy with worry, “Oh, your brother’s wedding is driving your dad and me crazy!” My dad sat nearby, smoking silently, and said helplessly, “Gary Thompson is demanding three hundred thousand dollars just to let Brittany marry Jake. Regular folks like us, how could we ever afford that?!” “It’s because you’re useless! You’re making it so I can’t even get married! Mom, Dad, if I can’t marry Brittany in this life, I’d rather just die!” “Oh, my precious boy! You’re going to kill your dad and me! If you die, how will we ever go on?!” “If I can’t even afford a wife, what’s the point of living?!” “How about we all go to the Thompsons’ today to formally propose, and then we can discuss the dowry?” My dad took a drag from his cigarette and sighed. In my previous life, my parents suggested going to the Thompsons’ first to discuss the wedding. Then they planned to slowly negotiate the money with Gary Thompson, hoping to reduce the amount. I was worried they’d be mocked by Gary Thompson, so I went with them. Who knew that Gary Thompson would take one look at me and propose an exchange marriage? Brittany could marry into our family for free, on the condition that I marry him. I refused to give in, even if it meant death. But that night, my whole family conspired, drugged me, and delivered me to Gary Thompson’s bed. This time, I took a few seconds to calm down and think about how to handle it. Gary Thompson wasn’t just a vile, short-tempered creep who loved to steal; he was infamous throughout the whole town. Even his first wife, Brittany’s mom, he tormented to death. So now, I sneered and said, “If Brittany really loved Jake and wanted to be with him, she’d convince her dad to lower the price herself.” Jake grew agitated. “Brittany grew up without a mom; her dad raised her all by himself. She’s a good daughter, always respects him—she wouldn’t dare go against him!” “Then that means she doesn’t love you at all and doesn’t care about you! Her dad knows we don’t have that kind of money, but he’s still demanding so much. No, I think he just wants to sell his own daughter!” “What nonsense are you spouting? Brittany and I grew up together; she truly loves me, and I’ll marry no one but her in this life!” “Forget it. Do you even have the money to marry her? She’s asking for three hundred thousand, you know!” I deliberately provoked him. “You brat! Stop spouting nonsense and upsetting your brother, or I swear I’ll beat the living daylights out of you! Are you just jealous he might get married?!” “Go get ready! We’re all going into town to buy some gifts, then we’ll head to the Thompsons’ to propose.” My mom started urging me to go. “I’m not going! Go propose what? We have no money! Everyone will laugh us out of town.” “Daisy Liu! I’ve had enough of you! I’m going to kill you today!” Jake said, getting ready to rush at me and hit me. My heart jumped, and I immediately took off running. Soon, I was out of sight. Finally, I escaped that situation. I didn’t have to go to the Thompsons’ house. Later, my parents and Jake went to the Thompsons’ by themselves and were verbally abused. Not only were all the gifts they bought thrown out, but they were also kicked out of the house. They made it clear: “Three hundred thousand dollars, not a penny less!”

I had thought that as long as I didn’t go to the Thompsons’, Gary Thompson wouldn’t set his sights on me. But late that night, I overheard my parents and Jake talking. And that’s when I finally understood why, in my previous life, they had been so heartless, drugging me and delivering me to that old, ugly, disgusting Gary Thompson’s bed. My dad: “So, Gary Thompson wanted all that money just to buy himself a young new wife.” My mom: “No wonder he was asking for three hundred thousand dollars. He’s truly selling his daughter, worse than an animal.” “Oh, my son, you should just give up on this. With our family’s finances, where would we get three hundred thousand dollars?!” My parents sighed, a heavy, desperate sound, repeatedly. Jake remained silent for a while. Then, His voice, lowered to a whisper, came through the wall. “Mom, what if we married Daisy off to him? Then he wouldn’t demand three hundred thousand for Brittany, would he? Daisy’s so pretty, and she’s even in college – Brittany’s dad would be thrilled!” “Nonsense! Daisy is your sister! How could she marry Gary Thompson, who’s even older than me?!” My dad’s words held a hint of accusation towards Jake. “What sister? She’s just a stray you picked up, not your real daughter! You’ve raised her all these years; now it’s time for her to repay you!” “Mom, Dad, don’t forget, I’m your real son. You’ll be relying on me for your old age! Once Brittany and I are married, we’ll give you beautiful grandkids to make you happy!” My mom seemed to waver. “But Daisy’s grown up now, not a child. Will she agree?” “Exactly. If she doesn’t agree, are you just going to tie her up and take her there?” “I’m telling you, forget it. Give up on marrying Brittany.” My dad poured cold water on Jake’s idea. “Mom, Dad, do you want to watch me die? If I can’t marry Brittany, I won’t live!” “I’ll be honest with you: Brittany’s pregnant!” “What? What did you say? Is that really true?!” My parents almost simultaneously exclaimed to Jake, then quickly lowered their voices, realizing they were too loud. “It’s true!” “Oh… then what should we do?” Inside, I heard my dad start smoking. “I know a type of sleeping pill. We just give it to Daisy, then take her to the Thompsons’ and she won’t be able to refuse.” “Don’t worry too much about Daisy. There are so many of us; we can handle one girl, can’t we?” Then, a dead silence filled the room. After a while, the three of them started talking again. My parents and Jake had reached an agreement. They were willing to sacrifice me for Jake’s marriage. Next, they quietly discussed the details of the plan. I pressed my ear to the wall, listening carefully, remembering every single thing. The next day, Jake called Brittany over, probably to tell her the plan. She’d go home and inform her dad beforehand. When Brittany came out, her eyes on me had changed. I could tell she was subtly pleased that her wedding to Jake finally had a chance. That day, Jake ran out and didn’t come back until late afternoon, almost dinner time. I knew he’d gone to get the knockout drops. I pretended to be my usual self, going about my day. After dinner, my mom came into my room, bringing me a bowl of chicken soup. She said I looked a bit thin lately and she’d specially made the soup to nourish me. She urged me to drink it quickly, saying it would get cold. I picked up the bowl and, right in front of her, drained it in one gulp.

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My adopted brother, the one who had raised me for seven years, was drugged on his birthday. That night, he pinned me against the bed, taking me over and over again. I never imagined the media would capture the scene. To protect the company’s reputation, he was forced to marry me. On our wedding day, his first love found out and, in her agony, jumped into the sea, dying by suicide. Julian Ashton, in a fit of rage, set the entire ballroom ablaze, burning me alive inside. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in college. I had been reborn. This time, Julian sent me straight abroad. Five years later, he was as successful as he had been in my past life. When we met again, he was standing at the company’s annual gala, with Serena Monroe, her belly swollen with pregnancy, nestled in his arms. The moment our eyes met, he sneered, pinching my jaw. “Mia Sterling, it’s been five years. Don’t tell me you still can’t forget me?” “I’m your brother. Your twisted thoughts actually disgust me.” Just then, a clear, cool voice echoed from the phone in my hand. “Sweetheart, when are you coming home? Our son misses his mommy.” …… Five years later, I saw Julian again at the company’s annual gala. As the host, he stood elegantly under the spotlight, dressed in a custom-tailored suit. “Julian, congratulations! You’ve secured the project with the Hayes Group this year. Achieving so much at such a young age, your capabilities are truly admirable!” A man beside him chuckled, raising his glass and walking over with a deferential smile. “If you ask me, Julian has a wonderful wife. Isn’t there a saying that behind every successful man is a supportive wife?” Serena Monroe blushed at the compliments, tightening her grip on Julian’s arm. “Julian deserves everything he has today. I just feel useless, like I can’t help much.” Hearing her, Julian immediately pulled her into his embrace, his voice softening with a deliberate coaxing tone. “Serena, don’t say that. My achievements today are all thanks to you being by my side.” “If it weren’t for you, I probably would have given up a long time ago.” I stood in the corner, almost laughing out loud at Julian’s words. In my past life, I had also stayed by his side, selfless and asking for nothing, just like Serena. But in the end, he treated my love for him like trash. That night, it was clearly *him* who knocked on my door. He shoved me onto the bed without a word. Completely disregarding my feelings, he vented his desires on me. “Oh, by the way, Julian, what about your adopted sister? I remember she used to follow you everywhere. How come we haven’t seen her in the last few years?” The moment my name was mentioned, Julian’s face stiffened, but the disgust in his eyes was impossible to hide. “She went abroad.” He was silent for a moment before slowly uttering those three words. “After all, we’re not blood-related. I raised her to adulthood; I’ve done right by her.” “Besides, I’m married now and have my own child. If she had any self-respect, she should stay abroad and build her own life!” Julian’s tone was dismissive as his gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing abruptly on me. In that moment, the surroundings seemed to fall silent. The complex emotions in his eyes intertwined with mine. The people around us noticed and turned to look at me. “Mia Sterling?” “Who allowed you to come back?” Julian’s accusing words came before mine. He instinctively stepped in front of Serena. “Mia, why didn’t you tell your brother you were coming back? What if something dangerous happened? We’d be heartbroken.” Serena smiled, walking past Julian to stand before me, her hand deliberately resting on her slightly bulging belly. It was as if she was showing off to me. She was now the mistress of the Ashton household. 2. Before I could even speak, Julian strode over and slapped me across the face without a word. The stinging pain immediately made half of my cheek swell with a red mark. “Your sister-in-law is talking to you, are you deaf?” My head snapped to the side from the blow, and the business partners around us began to whisper. “Mia, you were such a good girl. How did going abroad make you lose all your basic manners?” “Serena is Julian’s beloved wife, you should at least greet her!” I clenched my fists, fighting back the rage bubbling inside. “I have my own reasons for coming back to the country…” Hearing this, he scoffed. He looked at me with a mocking expression, as if I were a joke. “Mia Sterling, you really can lie through your teeth.” “You have no parents. If I hadn’t taken you in and raised you all this time, you’d be six feet under by now!” Serena also feigned sympathy, taking my hand. “Mia, I know you don’t like me.” “After all, you’ve never been able to forget him…” “What?” At her words, a murmur of shock rippled through the room. “Can’t forget? Is it what I think it is?” “I can’t believe Mia has *those* kinds of feelings for her own brother!” “That’s disgusting. If she were my sister, I’d disown her immediately!” They pointed at me, gossiping openly, completely disregarding my feelings. They stood on their moral high ground, relentlessly tearing down my character. Julian just narrowed his eyes, watching me with a cold smirk. “Mia Sterling, five years later, you still haven’t moved past *those* feelings for me, have you?” “Julian, don’t say that. Mia’s love for you, no matter what, was sincere. Don’t hurt the girl’s feelings.” When Serena said this, she looked a little angry. But the smile at the corner of her lips couldn’t be suppressed. “Serena, you’re too kind; that’s why you’re fooled by her innocent facade! You don’t know, she’s rotten to the core!” “A year ago, I had someone clean Mia’s old bedroom, and guess what? They found a diary. It clearly detailed all her dirty, disgusting thoughts.” As everyone stared in stunned silence, Julian’s assistant pulled a pink leather-bound diary from his briefcase. My gaze fell on the cover, and I froze for a moment. That was a secret I had hidden in my heart, recorded during every sleepless night in my past life. It was the unspoken affection from five years of secretly loving Julian. The moment that diary was opened, I felt as if I had been stripped naked, exposed under everyone’s gaze. “Brother, I have a secret, one only I know.” “I think I’ve really fallen for you.” “Not a sister’s love for a brother, but a girl’s love for a boy.” Julian held the diary between two fingers, as if repulsed by it. He wished he could stand on stage, wished he could grab a microphone and brutally tear open the scabbed-over wound in my heart. 3. “Julian, can you please not date anyone?” “Can you please be with me?” “Can I… sleep with you…?” He laughed, cruelly and unrestrainedly. His eyes, when he looked at me, were devoid of any warmth. It was as if a deep hatred lay between us. My nose stung. My eyes welled up, feeling dry and raw. My heart felt like a dull knife, twisting violently inside me. I fought back the tears, desperate to leave this place. But the next second, Julian grabbed me, pulling me back. “Mia Sterling, do you even realize that what you thought was your love, to me, was nothing but a nuisance?” “Even if Serena had never appeared, I would never, ever be with you. Your twisted, filthy mind makes me genuinely sick every single moment!” He gripped my jaw, sneering as he spoke each word. “Damn it, Julian was so good to you, and you tried to get into his bed!” “Even without blood ties, he’s still your brother! He raised you for years, and you want to ruin his family!” I couldn’t retort, so I just tried to bury my head. That diary was indeed the trace of my five-year secret crush from when I was eighteen. I guess I never could have imagined. The man I once cherished. Would now, in front of everyone, use that diary to mock my twisted affection. “Mia, don’t be sad. Julian is just angry; he didn’t mean to read your diary out loud to everyone. Try to understand him, after all, he’s only ever felt a brotherly affection for you. Anyone would struggle to accept something like this…” Serena walked to my side, reaching out to pat me gently in a comforting gesture. I stood stiffly. My teeth felt like they were chattering. I didn’t understand. I had tried my best to avoid Julian. Why wouldn’t he just let me go? “Julian Ashton, I *did* like you.” “But that’s in the past. Now I just want to cut ties with you. Just as you said, I’m an adult, and I know myself better.” Hearing this, he didn’t get angry; instead, he laughed. “Mia Sterling, are you serious? You want to cut ties with me?” “You’ve eaten and drunk at the Ashton’s all these years, and now you want to pretend none of it happened? Even a dog I raised for this long would at least wag its tail for me!” Harsh and piercing accusations echoed repeatedly in my ears. Suddenly, a girl roughly my age burst out of the crowd and shoved me to the ground without a word. “You little slut! I’ll teach you for seducing Julian!”

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The very day my father ‘died’, Liam Harrison called off our engagement. He immediately turned around and got engaged to his childhood sweetheart, planning to kick me out of my own home. He was sprawled on the couch in my family’s mansion, his expression chillingly indifferent. “Your dad’s gone, so there’s no need to hide it from you anymore. Amber’s pregnant with my child, and I have to take responsibility for her.” “If you can just stay by my side, be subservient and take good care of Amber and the baby, I might still throw you a bone. Otherwise, get out!” Liam’s mother, Maureen, who used to be our household help, stepped forward, hands on her hips, jabbing a finger right at my face. “I worked as a maid for the Vance family for twenty years. Your father just up and died, leaving nothing behind! This mansion? Consider it my compensation. From now on, you’re the maid here!” Looking at the arrogant sneers on their faces, a cold chill spread through my heart. My father’s ‘death’ was actually just a stunt, a strategic move in a brutal business war. Who knew it would expose the true colors of this mother and son duo so perfectly.

“Eleanor Vance, didn’t you hear my mother talking to you? Are you staying, or are you going to pack your things and clear out now?” Important documents in my father’s study, and my mother’s precious belongings – they’re all still here. I can’t leave. “I’ll stay.” A flicker of triumph flashed in Liam Harrison’s eyes. “Smart girl. Glad you know your place. If you’re willing to stay, then do as my mother says. From now on, you’re the maid of this house. Lunchtime is almost here, go make some food!” “Amber will be over soon. She loves honey-glazed salmon the most. Hurry up and make it! And remember, every single bone must be picked out clean!” I froze. Maureen suddenly lost her temper. “What are you staring at?! That’s my grandchild in Amber’s belly! What’s wrong with asking you to de-bone a fish? Still think you’re the rich heiress you used to be? Your dad’s dead! Didn’t leave you a single cent!” “Stop acting like some pampered princess! Get to the kitchen and clean that fish, now!” Maureen quickly ripped off her apron and flung it at me. “Hurry up and follow me! I’m only showing you once!” Liam, buttoning up his shirt, urged me on. “Faster, faster! Don’t drag your feet. If Amber arrives and you haven’t finished, you’ll see how I deal with you!” He casually picked up my father’s car keys and drove off. I watched Liam’s receding figure, feeling a strange disconnect. Just a month ago, he was kneeling before my father, repeatedly kowtowing, thanking him for agreeing to let me marry him. He was just a kid from the wrong side of the tracks, decent enough, but always lacking courage. He only really started making something of himself thanks to my father’s constant support and countless opportunities. My father had been vehemently against the marriage, but it was Liam’s meticulous attention, his always-agreeable attitude, that finally swayed his mind. Who would have thought that less than a day after my father’s ‘death’, he’d already morphed into a monster. “What are you looking at?! He’s not your man anymore!” A cold, fishy-smelling pair of scissors clattered onto my foot. Maureen roughly nudged me. “Stop daydreaming! Cleaning this fish is what matters now!” Ribbonfish bones are tiny and numerous. Maureen, fearing I wouldn’t be thorough enough, refused to let me wear gloves. My fingertips were a bloody mess, riddled with thorns, before I’d even cleaned half the fish. My father also loved ribbonfish, but he was never good at picking out bones. Yet whenever he asked Maureen to make it, he’d always say she was too old, afraid she’d hurt herself. He never made her de-bone them. I met Maureen’s ugly sneer with a cold smile of my own. Go on, dig your own grave. What goes around, comes around. Under Maureen’s relentless urging, the dishes were all on the table just as Liam walked in, his arm wrapped around Amber Reed’s waist. Honey-glazed salmon, barbecue ribs, creamy truffle pasta, and a rich beef stew – every single one was a dish Liam had specified, Amber’s favorites. Only the simple steamed broccoli in the corner – my favorite. Liam knew that, but he merely glanced at it before sweeping it straight into the trash can. “Eleanor Vance, how many times have I told you? Amber doesn’t eat vegetables! What’s the meaning of putting a plate of broccoli on the table?” “That’s my—” “Yours? When has my mother, the maid, ever sat at this table in twenty years? Is that a place for you, a maid?!” “For your insolence, you won’t be eating lunch today! Just stand by Amber’s side and serve her!” This wasn’t my first time seeing Amber. Every previous meeting, she’d been all smiles, calling me ‘Ellie-jie’ with sickening flattery. Now, her expression had soured. She daintily pointed a finger at the fish, her voice a sickly sweet whine. “Ellie, darling, could you please get me a piece of that ribbonfish? I’d love to taste your cooking.” “Amber, that fish is closer to you than it is to me…” “Eleanor! What are you blabbering about?! Amber told you to serve her, so serve her!” “And ‘Amber’? Is that how you address her? From now on, you call her Mrs. Harrison, got it?” Something inside me clenched. I mumbled for a few seconds, feeling utterly disgusted, but the words still wouldn’t leave my mouth. Seeing my hesitation, Amber snuggled deeper into Liam’s embrace, letting out a simpering giggle. “It’s fine, Liam, don’t bother Ellie. Just let her serve me.” Desperate to avoid any more sickening encounters, I picked up my forks and reached for the dish of fish. My forks had just touched the fish when Liam suddenly called out, “Wait!” He quickly pulled out his phone from his pocket, exchanged a look with Amber, and then raised an eyebrow at me. “The Vance heiress serving others – now that’s a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle! How could I not go live? Wouldn’t want to disappoint all those guys who used to fall all over themselves for you, would we?” The moment I reached to serve Amber the fish, Liam went live…

“Make sure you check every single bone for Amber!” As I meticulously tore apart that piece of fish, checking every tiny fragment, I saw the live chat exploding with comments. “OMG! Isn’t that the Vance heiress? What’s she doing in an apron, serving people?!” “Of course! Her dad died, and now she’s serving her ex-fiancé’s new girlfriend – the one who’s already pregnant! What else is she gonna do? A fallen queen is worth less than a peasant!” Suddenly, a notification for a huge, extravagant gift popped up. “Hey streamer, here are ten Royal Supercars! How about you make the fallen heiress eat someone’s leftovers, right out of their mouth?” Liam’s eyes lit up greedily. He grabbed his phone, ready to respond. I quickly pulled his arm. “Don’t agree. I’ll give you all the jewelry from my box. It’s worth far more than those gifts.” Fearing Liam would refuse, I pleaded, “Liam, for the sake of all those years we spent together, leave some dignity for yourself—and for me.” “We never had ‘feelings.’ If I had any, they were for your dad. Now he’s dead, so what ‘feelings’ are you even talking about?” He snarled. “This house is mine now. Your jewelry? That’s my property too! Stop wasting my time!” The moment Liam typed “Okay” on the screen, Amber had already chewed up the fish she’d just put in her mouth and spat it out right in front of me. “Ellie, darling, go on, eat. I even left you a little flavor.” The live stream audience had already surpassed 1 million. Royal Supercars scrolled across the screen, one after another, as the comments section went wild. “Eat!” “Eat!” “Eat!” Before I could even react, Liam grabbed my head and shoved my face down towards the plate. The heap of filth Amber had spat out pressed directly against my lips. A putrid, fishy stench filled my nostrils. I couldn’t hold it in. I kicked Liam hard with all my might and retched violently. The comments section instantly exploded. “Didn’t even eat it, just threw up? What’s wrong, streamer? This isn’t good enough, refund! Or make her eat what she just threw up!” Liam grabbed my collar and yanked me up, his eyes cold and vicious. “Eleanor Vance, are you useless or what?! You absolute trash! Get that mess back in your mouth, now, or listen to what the top donor says!” The comments section boiled over again, constant notifications showing the stream being shared. “Wow, Mr. Harrison! Now you’re ordering around the Vance heiress? No longer a kept man, are we?!” “Mr. Harrison, you’re awesome!” “Mr. Harrison, my idol!” The sycophantic comments in the chat only inflated Liam’s already colossal ego. Seeing me hesitate, he stepped forward, intending to shove my face onto the table again, just like before. I’d only intended to play along with their cruel game, but this? This was beyond my limit. The instant Liam charged at me, I grabbed a dinner knife from the table and plunged it straight into Liam’s palm. “Ahhh!” Blood splattered across my face. Liam let out a piercing shriek of agony. Maureen and Amber instantly sprang from their chairs, rushing at me in unison. I pointed the knife directly at them. “Who dares move?! One step, and I’ll end you!” Maureen and Amber immediately froze, not daring to stir. Liam, seeing me holding the knife towards his mother and Amber, ignored the gash in his hand. He grabbed a nearby dinner plate, aiming to smash it at me. Maureen’s eyes darted around. After two seconds of frantic thought, she rushed forward to stop Liam. “Son, don’t be impulsive. She was a pampered heiress for over two decades. Who knows what powerful people she still knows? Going this far, this early, might not be wise.” “Anyway, she’s already been humiliated, and we’ve got the gifts. Let’s just leave it at that for today…” Liam gradually calmed down. He smashed the plate on the floor, then looked at me. “You’re a disgrace. Clean this place up! I’m taking Amber and my mother out for dinner. Keep your phone on and stay available. I’ll call you if I need anything!” “Oh, and clear out your bedroom for Amber. From now on, you’re in the guest room!” With that, Liam put his arm around Amber and, along with Maureen, stormed out, slamming the door behind them.

No sooner had they stormed out than I received a text from Chloe, the manager of the bridal boutique. [Ellie, a girl named Amber Reed just came in, demanding to try on your wedding dress – the one we just finished altering for you! We’re about to call the police.] [No, don’t. Let her try it. Make sure she’s well ‘served’.] Chloe is the daughter of one of my father’s oldest, most trusted friends. She was probably in on the whole ‘stunt,’ but we had to play the part perfectly. When my father ‘left,’ he’d repeatedly warned me not to let anyone suspect a thing. If this plan succeeded, the Vance family would be untouchable, securing the top spot among the country’s wealthiest families for the next three decades. This was no time for me to slip up. Thinking this, I also dismissed the idea of calling someone to clean up. I started to pick up the mess on the table myself, piece by piece. Halfway through, Liam called. “Get to the bridal boutique. Be here in 20 minutes.” When I arrived at the bridal boutique, I immediately spotted Chloe, her face a mask of furious indignation. Following her gaze, I saw Amber already wearing the wedding dress that had just been altered for me. She was much shorter than me, so the long train of the dress dragged ludicrously on the floor, looking quite comical. “Do you have any concept of time?! I told you to be here in twenty minutes! Look how late you are! Eighteen whole minutes!” To keep up appearances, all my premium credit cards had been frozen. A cab from our mansion would have cost hundreds of dollars. I’d taken buses and subways to get here. “What are you gawking at?! Can’t you see the dress is dragging on the floor? Go help Amber hold it up!” “Hey! What’s wrong with you?! This is Ellie’s dress! It’s one thing for Ellie to be generous enough to let her wear it, but you’re making Ellie serve her?! Are you out of your mind?!” Chloe furiously defended me. Liam sprang from his seat and aimed a slap at Chloe’s face. “You’re the crazy one! Her dad’s dead! You still think she’s some pampered heiress?!” I instantly stepped in front of Chloe and took the full force of the slap right across my left cheek. Perhaps the incident with the knife still rattled Liam, because when he saw he’d hit me, he didn’t say another word. My face swelled up instantly. Chloe looked at me, her eyes brimming with tears and guilt. I patted her hand, giving her a look that said I was okay. Then, I knelt down to help Amber hold up the train of the wedding dress. In the mirror, Amber looked at me, a highly provocative and mocking smile playing on her lips. Then, she deliberately leaned back, her fifteen-centimeter heel grinding directly into the back of my hand. Excruciating pain instantly shot from my fingertips, through my hand, and up my arm. Before I could even make a sound, Amber shrieked in a high-pitched voice, “Ellie, if you’re upset I’m wearing your dress, just say so! Why would you push me? I have a baby in here!” Seeing this, Liam immediately stepped forward, and a slap landed squarely on my face. “Eleanor Vance, how could I have never seen how evil you truly are?! I knew something was up when you suddenly became so agreeable, doing whatever you were told! You’ve been plotting something wicked all along, haven’t you?!” “Stop making a scene and embarrassing everyone! Get out of here and go home!” Unable to afford a cab, I had to take the bus. The moment I boarded, I became the center of attention. “Isn’t that the fallen heiress from the Vance family? I just saw her get slapped at the bridal shop! Look, you can still see the marks on her face!” “Right? If she doesn’t serve Mrs. Harrison well, she’ll get even more beatings later!” “Serves her right! She’s had it good for too long, it’s about time she got a taste of hardship!” Amidst the cacophony of cruel whispers and insults, I received a text from Chloe. [Ellie, just hang in there a little longer. My dad just sent a message. In three days, everything will turn around.]

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I woke up to find a naked stranger lying next to me, not my husband. My husband stood by the bed, his voice cold. “Divorce. You’re leaving with nothing.” My head throbbed. I tried to recall what happened. Dylan’s startup had failed, and he was on the brink of bankruptcy. To help him raise funds, I’d had my mother’s heirloom appraised. The appraiser said the jade bracelet was worth over a hundred million dollars and even gave me a buyer’s contact info. That night, Dylan cooked for the first time, celebrating this sudden fortune. I had a few too many drinks and fell into a deep sleep, vaguely sensing Dylan’s fervent passion in bed. The next thing I knew, it was midday… I looked at Dylan. “Wait, let me explain!” I scrambled up, finding my clothes scattered on the floor. The man beside me was still asleep. I dressed as quickly as possible and rushed to the living room. Dylan was there, face grim, smoking. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, were also present, their expressions like thunderclouds. Mrs. Jenkins glared at me, a venomous look in her eyes. “Dylan works his fingers to the bone, and you pull this kind of disgusting stunt? You’re a disgrace! Why don’t you just drop dead?” “Mrs. Jenkins, listen to me—” “Don’t you dare call me that. It’s sickening.” The disgust in her eyes seemed to overflow. “Just looking at you makes my eyes burn. How can you be so shameless? I remember you used to say you’d tear anyone who cheated limb from limb.” “I actually thought you were pure. How could I have been so blind? I never imagined you’d be such trash. If I’d known, I would have never agreed to your marriage with Dylan.” “Alright, that’s enough from you.” Mr. Jenkins cut her off. He looked at me. “We caught you in the act, plain and simple. Don’t bother explaining, we’re not interested.” “Dylan’s mom and I will stand by whatever Dylan decides.” My husband, Dylan, pointed to the divorce papers on the table. “Sign them. We’ll go our separate ways.” I picked up the divorce papers silently. Everything was spelled out in black and white. All real estate and cars would go to Dylan. I would also have to pay Dylan a million dollars for emotional damages. One clause, in particular, stood out. I was to return the jade bracelet that Mrs. Jenkins supposedly gave me. Seeing that line, I instantly understood everything. I said nothing, walking back into the bedroom. Sure enough… the jade bracelet in the jewelry box was gone. Sudden disaster and untold riches often turn family into foes. They were trying to seize my jade bracelet to claim that hundred million. And here I was, yesterday, thinking of sharing that joy with Dylan first, only for him to stab me in the back. And… I looked at the man still in bed. Dylan would stop at nothing to get his hands on that hundred million. Face grim, I returned to the living room. “Give me back the jade bracelet, and tell the man in there to turn himself in, or I’m calling the police.” “Calling the police?” Mrs. Jenkins glared at me. “You have the nerve to call the police?” I ignored her, looking directly at Dylan. “Are you returning it or not?” Dylan crushed his cigarette underfoot. He looked at me. “Out of respect for our marriage, I’ll give you one chance. Sign the divorce papers right now, or I’ll call the police.” He wanted to call the police too? I wanted to see what grounds he’d use. I wanted to see how he’d twist the truth once the cops arrived.

“Dylan, I won’t sign. Let’s see you call the police.” Dylan actually pulled out his phone and started dialing. He looked at me. “You confirm you won’t sign? I’m hitting dial right now.” “Hitting what dial?” Mr. Jenkins shot him a glare. “Aren’t we embarrassed enough? This kind of thing is best handled privately.” Mrs. Jenkins, however, looked at me. “You pulled such a disgusting stunt, and now you want to cling to Dylan? Do you think our family is that easy to bully?” “If you have any decency left, sign the papers already.” I stared at Dylan. “Dylan, you know the truth better than anyone. Call the police right now. Let’s see if you can be so calm and composed in front of them.” “The truth?” Mrs. Jenkins stood up, pointing at me. “Do you think we’re blind? That man is still lying in your bed! You want to cause more trouble? This is what happens when Dylan spoils you.” “Dylan works so hard on his startup, and he still has to take care of you, feed you, provide for you. And you? You decided to cheat on him instead, making a fool of him.” “Dylan!” I cut Mrs. Jenkins off with a sharp cry. “Your parents don’t know what I’ve done for you, but you do, don’t you?” “Where did your startup funds come from?” “Who’s been supporting our household expenses?” Facing my angry questions, Dylan looked at me calmly. “Valerie, I’ve tolerated everything you do, but you’ve crossed my line today. We have to divorce.” “I’ll say it again. If you’re not signing, I’m calling the police right now.” “Your unreasonable antics won’t work anymore.” Those two sentences from Dylan completely broke my heart. My annual income, with year-end bonuses, easily topped two million dollars. He came from a humble background. To spare his ego, I never talked about my job or my salary in front of his friends and family. Even his parents didn’t know. Before marrying Dylan, I already had assets worth tens of millions. I was the one who gave him ten million dollars for his startup. And now he was doing this. “I confirm I won’t sign. Go ahead and call the police.” Dylan pressed the dial button. “Hello, I’d like to report a crime. Someone has illegally entered my home. Yes… my wife brought a third party in.” The police arrived quickly. The man in the bed was also woken up. He looked at the police, bewildered and terrified. Dylan stood by, stating that he’d been busy with company matters recently and hadn’t been home. He’d decided to come back that morning and found me in bed with another man. Cheating is immoral but not illegal, so the police usually can’t intervene. Dylan’s reason for calling the police was illegal entry. That, they would investigate. “Ms. Valerie, do you know Mr. Oliver Hayes?” “Yes.” My face was pale, but I did indeed know the man in bed. “Are you close?” “Yes.” Oliver, a student four years my junior. I’d hired him at my company. He was my junior in school and my mentee at work. These facts would be easy to verify, so there was no point in lying. “Did you bring Mr. Hayes to your home?” “No.” “Mr. Hayes, how did you get here?” Oliver lowered his head. “Ms. Valerie invited me. She said she had good news to share. I never expected that after a few drinks, we’d… we’d… give in to passion.” “You’re lying!” I glared at Oliver. “Oliver, have some conscience! Tell me honestly, how much did Dylan pay you?” “Ms. Valerie, the truth always comes out. Since we’ve been caught, what’s there to be afraid of? Leaving with nothing? So what if it’s a hundred million? I’ll earn more in the future.” Dylan suddenly grabbed Oliver’s collar. “Wait, what did you say? A hundred million?”

Oliver shoved Dylan away and looked at the police. “Ms. Valerie said a bracelet Mrs. Jenkins gave her was appraised as an antique worth a hundred million. She was afraid that if she sold it, Dylan would divorce her and she wouldn’t get the money.” I quickly interjected, “You’re lying! Officers, they’re working together! That jade bracelet is my mother’s heirloom, it was never from Mrs. Jenkins!” “Valerie, are you saying I conspired with an outsider to cheat on myself?” Dylan glared at me, showing me his phone screen. “Look at this.” On his phone was a screenshot of a SnapChat conversation between me and Oliver. The messages were intimate, clearly showing that I had invited Oliver over. I looked at the chat’s timestamp. It was from after Dylan and I had gotten drunk. He had been plotting this all along. I suddenly remembered something. “Officers, there’s a security camera in my living room. Please check the footage!” Dylan’s face turned cold. “Valerie, you’re really something. You and Oliver were afraid to leave evidence during your rendezvous, so you destroyed the camera. Now you’re screaming to check the footage, hoping there’ll be no evidence? But your little scheme failed today. I caught you red-handed.” My last sliver of hope shattered. The police soon took Oliver away, and the atmosphere in the house grew even heavier. Dylan was the first to break the silence. “Sign the papers.” “Your whole family set me up.” When Oliver said the jade bracelet was from Mrs. Jenkins, she remained calm, even telling the police it was a family heirloom. From that moment, I knew everything was a setup orchestrated by his family, and Oliver had been bought off. “Sometimes being smart isn’t a good thing,” Dylan said, looking at me. “Sign it. With your earning power, your life won’t be that bad.” His coldness contrasted sharply with his usual tenderness. I couldn’t help but remember how we met. I used to work a lot of night shifts back then, and security wasn’t as good as it is now. One night, I was harassed by thugs, and he saved me. After that, he’d wait for me every night on that street and escort me home. I was always busy with work and didn’t have time for relationships. His appearance brought a new possibility into my life. His attentiveness made me fall in love. I didn’t care about his background; I just wanted a good person. But now, this man was a stranger to me. He’d already admitted it was a setup, and I actually calmed down. I looked at Dylan. “I think you should understand that if I sold the jade bracelet, I would have given you the hundred million without hesitation. And my future income would also support your career. Why did you have to plot against me?” “An old hag trying to play coy is still an old hag. You’re thirty-five, Dylan’s twenty-six. What twenty-something guy truly falls for an ‘older woman’ when there are younger options?” A strange voice came from the second bedroom. A woman in a nightgown emerged. She sat next to Dylan. “Does my appearance help clear up your confusion?” Dylan’s hand rested on her belly. “Her and my baby is on the way. We need to register the birth, and no matter how much money we needed, you’d have to make way for her. Besides, I think a hundred million is enough for us to live on. I’m not greedy.” “Of course, if you’re willing to stay by my side, I can let you be a mistress. Once her and my child is born, you can even help raise it.” I had never imagined anyone could say such shameless words. I tried my best to remain calm. I stared at the woman. “Youth doesn’t last forever. He can betray me, and he can betray you too.” “Trying to stir up trouble?” The woman smiled. “Valerie, let me tell you a secret.”

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Julian handed Serena every agonizing detail of my assault. The raw, unfiltered horror of it all. Serena, an unknown director, was desperate for an award-winning hit. A breakthrough that would make her name. And Julian, my boyfriend and my defense attorney, kept it all a secret from me. The day of the documentary premiere, I still went. On the giant screen, the desperate humiliation that had shattered my life was twisted, edited to look like a transaction – me selling my body for money. And the men who had ruined me? They were portrayed as “lost youths” who just “couldn’t resist temptation.” When the film ended, Serena was hailed as a star, flanked by admirers as she was escorted onto the stage. She smiled, her gaze finding Julian in the audience, and introduced him to everyone: “This is the lawyer in charge of the case, also the legal consultant for my documentary, my muse, my inspiration.” The audience erupted in applause, and the host gushed about them being a match made in heaven. Amid Julian’s stunned gaze, I slowly raised my hand. “I have a question for this ‘muse’ lawyer.”

The host clearly hadn’t anticipated this, but professionally handed me the microphone. “Ma’am, what’s your question?” I didn’t take it immediately. Instead, I stared across the sea of people, straight at Julian. His lips moved silently, forming words. “Skylar, don’t make a scene.” I forced a twisted smile and took the mic. “Mr. Hayes.” I began, my voice quiet but amplified, echoing through the entire theater. “I’d like to ask, as the legal consultant for this documentary, do you confirm that all content in the film is based on fact, especially the parts concerning the victim, Skylar Davies?” I used my full name. Skylar Davies. A name he had once again personally dragged into the abyss, and then nailed to a pillar of shame. Julian’s face went even paler. He looked like someone had choked him, unable to utter a single word. On stage, Serena reacted quickly. She gracefully took over, her smile flawless. “Miss, thank you for your question. I can responsibly tell you that our team has rigorously verified every detail.” “Mr. Hayes, as the lead attorney for this case, provided us with the most authoritative and authentic information.” She paused, shooting Julian an almost proprietary, adoring glance. “It’s precisely because of Julian’s help that we were able to get so close to the truth, isn’t that right?” Julian gave a stiff nod. But his eyes were locked on me, filled with a desperate plea and a stark warning. “Is that so?” I scoffed softly, turning the microphone to myself. “Then why do I know a completely different version?” Boom— The crowd erupted. After all, I was publicly crashing their party. Camera flashes exploded around me like crazy. Reporters, like sharks scenting blood, instantly stirred into a frenzy. “Didn’t they say it was a true story?” “Are there unknown secrets? This is juicy! Tomorrow’s headlines are set.” The host clearly hadn’t expected me to call them out so directly. He tried to regain control. “Everyone, please quiet down! Quiet down! Miss, please…” “Please what? Don’t speak out? But should the truth be twisted like this?” I looked at Julian, walking step by step towards the stage. Security guards tried to stop me, but the frantic reporters pushed them aside. That winter, I walked out of the precinct after giving my statement, trembling, barely able to stand. It was Julian who pushed through the crowd, came to me, and wrapped his coat around my shoulders. He held my icy hands and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m Julian Hayes, your defense attorney. I’ll get you justice.” His warmth then was my only light. Now, I was walking towards him. Standing just a foot away, I could clearly see the cold sweat beading on his forehead. “Julian,” I looked him dead in the eyes, asking each word distinctly, “The film claims Skylar took ten thousand dollars from them, and everything was consensual. So, is that how it’s recorded in the files you provided to Director Serena?” His throat bobbed, his lips parted, but no sound came out. “Speak up.” I took another step closer. Faced with my accusation, his face was ashen. Serena’s flawless smile finally faltered. She stepped forward, placing herself between Julian and me, adopting the posture of a protector. “Miss, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but the real events are as depicted. Please don’t create a scene here…” “Get out of my way.” I cut her off coldly. “I’m talking to my boyfriend. Who do you think you are?” Serena’s expression instantly froze. “Boyfriend?” She sounded as if she’d heard the most ridiculous joke, turning to Julian, her eyes full of accusation. Julian instinctively took half a step back, avoiding her gaze. The entire hall fell silent. All eyes were on the three of us.

“Julian,” Serena’s voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tremor, “Who is she?” Julian finally spoke, his voice dry, like sandpaper. “She… she’s my client.” He had chosen to distance himself after all. I laughed, tears welling up in my eyes. Serena seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her gaze towards me now laced with impatience. “Miss, I don’t know what you’ve been through, but since you once entrusted Mr. Hayes with your case, you must know what kind of person he is.” “I can also empathize that some people, after experiencing trauma, might fall for someone who helped them.” “But I truly hope you won’t continue to be unreasonable.” “Client?” I raised the microphone, my voice suddenly sharp. “So, you’re saying Mr. Hayes can treat his clients however he pleases?” “He can slice open her wounds, display them raw and bloody for everyone to see, then pour salt on them and tell everyone she deserved it?” “He can hand over a hospital diagnosis of severe depression to Serena, so she can edit it into proof of the client’s mental instability!” “He can change photos of torn clothes into evidence implying seduction!” “Julian, don’t your nightmares ever scream at you?” My voice was shrill, laced with blood and tears. The theater was deathly silent, broken only by my ragged breathing. Julian was pushed back by my questions, his face as white as paper. The people present didn’t understand what was happening, what could render the usually articulate Mr. Hayes utterly speechless. Suddenly, as if all strength had been drained from him, he mumbled, “I… I was doing it for her own good…” “For her own good?” I repeated those four words, finding them utterly absurd. “So you turn the real victim into a slut who sold her body for money?” “And beautify the perpetrators into lost youths?” “Julian, can you look me in the eyes and tell me who this was really for?” It was for Serena, your childhood friend who has been lying in wait for years, desperately needing a hit to prove herself! I didn’t utter the words, but my gaze said it all. Serena’s face completely changed. She probably never imagined that her meticulously planned triumphant masterpiece would turn into a public trial. Seeing this, the host immediately signaled for security guards to step forward. “Miss, please calm down, we…” “Don’t touch me!” I shrieked, violently swatting away the hand reaching for me. In that instant, dark memories flooded back. The cramped room, the stale air, the men’s heavy breathing, and those dirty hands pressing down on me… “Ah—!” I hunched down, clutching my head, trembling uncontrollably. The world spun, my ears buzzed with static, Julian’s and Serena’s faces distorted and twisted before my eyes. Julian rushed over, trying to help me up. His hand had barely touched my shoulder when I violently flung it away. “Don’t touch me!” I looked up, my bloodshot eyes fixed on him. “Julian, you’re disgusting.” My voice was soft, but it landed like a heavy hammer on his heart. Just then, a reporter couldn’t help but ask, “You’re saying all this as if it’s true, but what evidence do you have to prove any of it?” Soon, others chimed in: “Yeah, this is Director Serena’s and Mr. Hayes’s crowning achievement! Are you just a hater hired by a rival?”

These questions made Julian’s face turn even uglier. He looked at me almost pleadingly. Serena also quickly spoke, “Miss, I don’t care who paid you, if you keep spreading lies, I’ll pursue legal action against you.” All eyes were on me. Some probing, some mocking, some sneering. I opened my mouth to speak, but Julian grabbed my arm. “Stop making a scene, I’ll take you home.” He snatched the microphone from my hand and quickly pulled me away. My attempts to defend myself were drowned out by Serena’s voice speaking into the mic. Suddenly, a loud voice rang out: “Police! Make way!” The crowd parted, and a man in a trench coat, with a refined face, walked through. He walked directly up to me. “Ms. Davies, do you remember me?” I looked up, and through my blurry vision, a familiar face came into focus. It was Detective Miller, the officer who handled my case back then. He rescued me from Julian, took off his jacket, and draped it over my shoulders. Shielding me from those scrutinizing gazes. “I’ll take you out of here,” he said, his voice low but with an undeniable authority. I nodded. As I passed Julian, he suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Don’t go.” His voice was hoarse, tinged with a hint of pleading. “Let’s talk properly.” I looked at him and suddenly felt ridiculous. At this point, what was there to talk about? I spoke calmly. “The moment you handed that diagnosis to Serena, there was nothing left for us to talk about.” That diagnosis was my deepest nightmare. It documented every breakdown, every instance of self-harm, and my most complete despair with this world. I had only shown it to him. Because I thought he was my savior. He stayed by my side, recording my pain while transforming it into a badge of honor for another woman. My gaze shifted from his face to Serena, standing behind him. Serena had regained her composure. She looked at me, lowering her voice. “Skylar, don’t get too smug.” “Do you really think causing this scene today will destroy everything? You’re just a mentally unstable slut. Who’s going to believe anything you say?” Her words were like a poison-tipped knife, precisely piercing my most painful spot. My body stiffened. Julian and Serena had already paved this dead end for me. It turned out, no matter what I said, they could always explain everything away with “she’s mentally ill.” I looked at Julian, my heart sinking little by little. Suddenly, Detective Miller’s deep, authoritative voice echoed through the entire viewing hall. “Ladies and gentlemen, aren’t you curious why this woman knows all of this so clearly?” “Because she is the victim of the 619 case, Skylar Davies.” “I was the lead investigator on the case. The truth of the case has been maliciously distorted and used to mislead the public. The police department will pursue legal action regarding this matter.”

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Mom pinned me down, roughly digging the candy Dad had given me right out of my mouth. Then she turned to Dad and said, “All your sweetness, it’s just for me! No one, absolutely no one, can steal your love from me!” Dad picked Mom up in his arms. “You’re my one and only princess.” Eight-year-old me stood up, trembling, tears streaming down my face. Dad had promised me, if I kept quiet about Brittany, I’d get candy every single day. Bang! The door to Mom and Dad’s bedroom slammed shut. Mom’s cries echoed from inside, a constant stream of pleading. Was Dad hitting Mom again? Just this afternoon, he’d promised me he’d only ‘hit’ Brittany from now on, never Mom. I looked out the window. It was already dark. Half an hour later, they emerged. Mom’s clothes were torn and disheveled. Her face was flushed, covered in red marks, yet she smiled at me and said, “Mommy’s so tired, no dinner tonight. There’s instant ramen in the cupboard; just make yourself something.” Dad gave her a doting look. “You should rest if you’re tired. I’m going to work overtime tonight. Didn’t you say you wanted a new bag? My overtime pay should definitely cover it.” Mom laughed, cupped Dad’s face, and gave him a big kiss. “You’re the best, honey!” Then, she looked at me with a triumphant smirk. “See? Dad’s mine. He buys me bags, not you.” My jaw dropped, staring at her in disbelief. Had Mom gone crazy? She took a shower, then went straight to bed. I pulled up a stool to the kitchen counter, filling the kettle and setting it to boil. Dad looked utterly exhausted as he walked over to me. He slipped a candy into my hand. “Smart girl, you gotta hide this one well! Don’t let Mom find it.” I happily tucked the candy into my pocket, nodding enthusiastically. He playfully tapped my nose. “Remember our deal, okay? Don’t ever tell Mom about your tutor, Brittany. Be a good girl, and tomorrow Dad will give you chocolate.” Then, he left. Dad worked so hard. I filled a thermos with hot water for him, planning to catch him before he drove off so he could take it to work. Good, Dad hadn’t driven away yet. Wait… why was Brittany also in the car?

I crept quietly to the car window and heard Brittany and Dad chatting. Dad had his head buried in Brittany’s neck. “Don’t be mad, it’s all my fault. But what could I do?” Brittany’s eyes were red as she kept pushing him away. “You were just with me all afternoon, and you still went and touched her?” “I didn’t want to, but you didn’t see her! God, it was sickening. She’s so old, still trying to act like a young girl, batting her eyelashes. If I don’t give in, she just clings to me forever.” Brittany started crying. “How much longer do we have to live like this? When are you finally going to divorce her?” Dad pulled her into a tight hug. “Soon, soon, I promise. Don’t worry.” Brittany looked up and suddenly saw me in the rearview mirror. She shrieked, a sound that pierced my eardrums. “You… what are you doing here?” Dad quickly pushed Brittany away, opened his door, and rushed out to me. “Cherry, what are you doing here?” I was startled too, tears welling up in my eyes. I held up the thermos. “Dad, I boiled some hot water. I wanted to bring it to you, I was afraid you’d forget to drink water while working overtime tonight.” Dad finally let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “Oh, that’s what it is. Does Mom know you came out?” I shook my head. Dad cupped my cheek. “Dad’s office has hot water, don’t worry. Take this back and drink it yourself. Brittany has some errands, and I’m just giving her a ride.” Just then, Brittany got out of the car too. “Cherry? Oh my goodness, you scared me! Have you eaten? Here, this is for you.” She handed me a bag containing an exquisite strawberry cake. “Just remember our little secret, okay? Tell them your dad bought it for you.” I stared intently at the cake inside, nodding happily. Then, Dad opened the trunk and handed me two bags. “This is the dress you need for your performance tomorrow. Your teacher said pink, so take it home. The other one is for Mom.” Wait, that’s not right. I thought I heard earlier… The other dress was too big for Brittany, and she complained the material was itchy. But she didn’t want to bother with returns, so she just left it. Adults are so strange. How did it become a dress for Mom?

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Ever since my best friend, Chloe, got divorced and had nowhere to go, I let her move into my place. I never imagined she’d try to claim my home as her own. When I refused, she trashed me online, accusing me of seducing her husband and causing their divorce. She even claimed I’d swindled all his money to buy my luxury apartment. The entire internet branded me a toxic bestie, wishing death upon me. What I never expected was for her ex-husband to step forward, corroborating her lies and claiming I seduced him. But watching the internet tear me apart, I couldn’t help but smile. Chloe sat on my sofa, three stacks of crisp bills clutched in her hand, which she then slapped onto my coffee table. “Mia, transfer the ownership of this apartment to me. Consider it a testament to our friendship all these years.” This apartment was worth ten million dollars. The irony was, just yesterday, I’d pulled some strings and finalized her daughter Lily’s school admission. I had planned to surprise her over dinner this weekend. Instead, she’d given me this massive “surprise” first. “Chloe, do you even hear yourself?” I set down my water glass, trying to keep my voice calm. Chloe immediately frowned, the smugness on her face dissolving into annoyance. “Mia, how good are we? You’re so well-off now; you don’t even need this apartment!” “But I’m different. Lily is starting school soon, and we can’t do that without a home!” “Can’t you just understand how hard it is for me as a mom? You wouldn’t refuse to help me with such a small thing, would you?” I patiently explained, “It’s not that I don’t want to help. But if I agree, this apartment would be legally yours. Even if you’re in a tough spot, you shouldn’t be asking for something like this.” At that, Chloe shot up, slamming her hand on the coffee table. “You’re living so comfortably now, what’s wrong with giving me a hand?” “I think you’re just stingy! Selfish! Terrified I’ll take advantage of you!” “If I’d known you were like this, I never would have been good to you in the first place!” Her temper flared like spilled gasoline. I was still trying to patiently explain when a small figure suddenly darted towards me. It was Lily, Chloe’s daughter. She clutched a plastic toy knife, aiming it right at my leg. “Bad lady! You’re bullying my mommy! I’m going to kill you!” Lily’s eyes held a viciousness unsettling for her age. The plastic tip of the toy knife poked my leg. It didn’t hurt, but it made my stomach churn. I froze. Lily’s upbringing had always been rough. Before, she’d snatched toys from other kids and even hit them. I’d constantly urged Chloe to teach her better. But Chloe always brushed it off, saying kids would grow out of it. Now, it was clear: it wasn’t a kid’s problem; it was an adult’s. “Lily! What are you doing!” I instinctively pushed her away. Chloe immediately pounced, shielding Lily in her arms. “Mia! Are you crazy? Hitting a child?” I took a deep breath, trying to calm the anger bubbling inside me. “Don’t you think you should do something about your daughter’s behavior?” Chloe, however, became enraged, yelling: “Is Lily wrong? You ARE a bad woman! Bullying us mother and daughter!” “I’m doing this for Lily’s schooling. As her godmother, can’t you just give me the apartment for her sake?” I had felt pity for Chloe and Lily, letting them stay here temporarily. Now, it seemed like a huge mistake. I sighed in exasperation, “I’m not giving you this apartment. You two need to move out now.” Chloe’s eyes immediately widened. “You were the one who let us move in! Now you want to kick us out? No way!” “Today, you either transfer this apartment to me, or we’re staying here indefinitely!” She stood in the middle of the living room, hands on her hips, an utterly unreasonable look on her face.

I stared at Chloe’s unreasonable face, a fire blazing fiercely in my chest. But thinking of our decade-long friendship, I forced myself to calm down. I tossed and turned all night. Ultimately, I still softened. I decided to tell her that Lily’s schooling was already sorted. Maybe then she would back off a little. So I grabbed my phone, opening the screenshot of the principal’s reply from yesterday. But just then, a trending news alert for our city popped up on the top of my screen. The headline stabbed at my eyes. “Best Friend Sits on a Million-Dollar Home While Forcing Mother and Daughter onto the Streets.” My hands trembled as I clicked on the video. Chloe sat on the living room sofa, her eyes red and swollen from crying. “I know I don’t have much, and maybe I don’t deserve to be her best friend, but she shouldn’t treat me like this!” “Not only is she kicking us out, but she also hit my daughter and called her ill-mannered!” “Most importantly, she seduced my husband. Our divorce? It’s all her fault!” The comments section exploded, filled with insults aimed at me. “This woman is too cold-hearted, isn’t she? Does having money make you superior?” “To be so ruthless after a decade of friendship, who would dare be friends with her?” “And seducing her best friend’s husband? That’s just disgusting!” My phone shook in my hand, blood rushing to my head. Unable to hold back, I stormed to her room door and violently pushed it open. Chloe was busy replying to comments on her phone. Seeing me, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. “What are you doing here? This is my room, get out!” I didn’t say a word. I just raised my hand and slapped her across the face. *SMACK!* The sound was sharp and clear. That slap was for my decade of genuine friendship, and for her vile slanders. Chloe clutched her face, stunned for two seconds before she shrieked, “Mia! You dared to hit me?” Then, she immediately turned her phone towards me, the live comments scrolling wildly. “OMG! This b*tch is hitting people!” “So arrogant! Hitting someone live on camera!” “We have to cyberbully her! Make her pay for bullying people!” It was then that I realized she had been livestreaming. She did it on purpose. She intentionally provoked me to make a fool of me in front of the entire internet! “Get out! Get out of my apartment, right now!” Chloe suddenly laughed, a cold, sinister sound. “How can you afford a million-dollar apartment and live so lavishly? Isn’t it because you seduced my husband? You swindled all his money, and that’s how you bought this place!” “My husband used to be so good to me. Ever since he met you, he started to act cold! He stopped bringing money home. I bet you took it all!” “You’re a whore! You specialize in ruining other people’s families and still dare to bully me!” Chloe had clearly rehearsed her lines, dumping all the blame on me in one go. With those words, the livestream chat went completely wild, a deluge of insults raining down on me. I was so furious I could barely breathe. Just then. A heavy knock echoed from the front door. Chloe immediately ran to open it. The person at the door was indeed Mark, Chloe’s husband. His face was ashen. He didn’t give me a chance to speak. He raised his hand and slapped me. 2. My cheek burned. Mark’s slap was so powerful it felt like my bones would shatter. Then he roared into the camera: “Mia! You’re a bloodsucking liar, a manipulative whore who preys on men!” “This luxury apartment? You clearly bought it with my stolen money! How dare you try to kick us out?” The livestream comments surged even faster, vile words densely covering the screen. “It’s true! This woman looks innocent, but she’s so evil underneath!” “She needs to return the money! Give Chloe justice!” “Mark, don’t be soft! Today, you get back what’s yours!” Clutching my burning cheek, I glared at Mark in a fury: “What nonsense are you spouting?! This apartment was paid for with my parents’ inheritance! It has absolutely nothing to do with you!” Chloe’s lips curled into a sneer. “Mia, we’ve been best friends for over a decade. I know how tight your finances were growing up! Better than anyone!” “Your parents died so young. Back then, you couldn’t even afford college tuition and had to borrow money from me! Where would you get an inheritance?!” “What can you do besides seducing men and swindling their money?!” The commotion soon alerted the neighbors. Several people gathered at the door, starting to gossip about me. “No wonder she could buy a luxury apartment so young. Her money must be dirty…” “A girl in her twenties, how could she have such means? Definitely relies on men!” Their whispers pierced my ears like needles. “Have you forgotten how I treated you all before?” I couldn’t help but roar. Ever since inheriting my parents’ estate, I had genuinely been good to Chloe. Any designer bag she liked, I’d buy for her the moment I saw it. The total was easily over a hundred thousand dollars. When she got married, I gave her a fifty-thousand-dollar cash gift and personally helped decorate her wedding venue. Mark wanted to buy a BMW and was thirty thousand dollars short. When Chloe asked me, I transferred the money that very day, without even asking for an IOU. Even after Lily was born, every time I visited, I bought her clothes and toys, caring more than her own mother. But now, they were conspiring to slander me. Chloe scoffed, “You did all that just to seduce my husband, didn’t you?” “Until you tricked him out of every penny! Forcing him to divorce me!” Mark held Chloe close, his gaze firm as he addressed the camera: “Wife, don’t worry! Once this is sorted, I’ll remarry you and make it up to you and Lily!” “As for a whore like Mia, she just disgusts me now!” I trembled with rage again. I couldn’t fathom how they could be so shameless, so utterly vile! “You two are slandering me, fabricating lies! Aren’t you afraid of the law?!” “Slander?” Mark’s face darkened, then he pulled out his phone and played a video. “Mia, you forced my hand. Now everyone gets to see how you seduced me back then!” When I saw the video’s content, my pupils constricted. I gasped sharply.

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