Category: English

I can see a death countdown above everyone’s head. And my wife, Seraphina White, her death date was today. For ten years, she had maintained the pretense of being infertile. But today, she brought home a five-year-old child, along with her long-term secret lover, Alaric Sterling. She laid it all out for me, while the family elders circled, urging me to be magnanimous. “Cain, Seraphina hasn’t had it easy. A woman, you know, always wants children. Just think of it as gaining another son, there’s nothing wrong with that.” I looked at the rapidly ticking countdown above her head: [00:01:30]. I said softly, “I will not acknowledge this child of unknown origin.” Seraphina looked at me as if I were a fool she had utterly outmaneuvered. Her eyes gleamed with triumph. She smugly wrapped her arm around Alaric’s waist and announced, “Whether you acknowledge them or not, I will never abandon them, father and son. From now on, I’ll be with you during the day, and with him at night…” Countdown: [00:00:10]. I calmly stated, “In that case, let’s get a divorce.” Her eyes widened in fury, but then she clutched her chest and collapsed. The countdown hit zero. 1 The moment Seraphina collapsed, the entire White family living room fell into a dead silence. Alaric, who a second ago had a triumphant smile, now had all the color drained from his face. His scream ripped through the air. “Seraphina! Seraphina, what’s wrong! Wake up!” The five-year-old boy stood still, his face utterly bewildered, then burst into loud sobs. I stood rooted, watching the completely extinguished numbers above Seraphina’s head. There was nothing there now. She was dead. “Quick! Call an ambulance!” “It’s you! Cain Stowell! You drove her to her death!” Alaric suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes glaring at me. I pulled out my phone, my fingers steadily dialing for emergency services. Then, I dialed the police. “Hello, officers? My wife suddenly died. I suspect the gentleman with her is involved.” My voice was not loud, but it clearly carried to every corner of the living room. Alaric’s sobs ceased abruptly. He stared at me in disbelief, as if I were insane. “You… you’re talking nonsense! How could I harm Seraphina!” I lowered my gaze, no longer looking at him. The ambulance and patrol car arrived almost simultaneously. The emergency doctor checked her on-site, then regretfully shook his head. “Time of death approximately ten minutes ago. Preliminary diagnosis is sudden cardiac arrest.” The police began their routine: cordoning off the scene and questioning witnesses. My in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. White, rushed in upon hearing the news. My mother-in-law, seeing Seraphina on the floor, rolled her eyes and fainted, caught clumsily by my father-in-law. When she slowly came to, her first action was to charge at me, hand raised to strike. “You good-for-nothing! Did you poison her food? My daughter was perfectly fine! How could she just drop dead?” Her hand was stopped by an officer. I looked at her face, twisted with rage. The countdown above her head showed [3 years 2 months 11 days]. Not long, but enough for her to suffer. My unusual calmness became the biggest suspicion in their eyes. “Mr. Stowell, please come down to the station with us to cooperate with the investigation.” I nodded, took my phone, and followed the officers out. As I passed Alaric, he was holding the child, looking at me with a mix of venomous resentment and triumph. He thought I was finished. I glanced at the brightly lit [52 years 6 months 3 days] above his head, a faint, almost imperceptible curve on my lips. 2 The interrogation room lights were blindingly white. The officer opposite me asked routine questions, and I answered calmly. “What was your relationship with your wife like?” “Ten years of marriage, what do you think?” I retorted. “She brought her lover and illegitimate child home. How did you react?” “I didn’t want her to bring the child back.” The officer tapped the table, leaning forward, his gaze sharp. “Then why did you suggest divorce?” “Because he wanted me to share a room with them, father and son. I found it disgusting,” I said frankly. The officer fell silent, seemingly judging the veracity of my words. I added, “Seraphina White has a hereditary heart condition. She never told outsiders about it, not even her parents.” “She relied on medication to manage it, but I suspect she was too emotional today and forgot to take her medicine.” The officer immediately called to verify. I sat calmly in the chair, awaiting the results. My countdown ability had been with me since I could remember; it never made mistakes. Seraphina’s death was predetermined, and had nothing to do with me. But they wouldn’t believe it. Two hours later, the preliminary autopsy report came in. Cause of death: acute massive myocardial infarction. No toxic substances were found in the deceased’s blood or stomach contents. Combined with my testimony, and the medical records and medication found in her study safe, everything was perfectly logical. My name was cleared. As I walked out of the police station, dawn was just breaking. The White family’s car was parked at the entrance. My mother-in-law and Alaric were both there. Seeing me emerge, my mother-in-law immediately rushed towards me. “You scumbag! My daughter was perfectly healthy! How could she have a heart condition? It’s you! It must be you, you good-for-nothing, who killed her!” She was like a madwoman, held back tightly by my father-in-law. Alaric, clutching the child, was crying, his eyes bloodshot. “Mom, please don’t… Seraphina… she must have been too happy, finally having her own child… It’s all my fault. If we hadn’t come back and agitated Cain, Seraphina wouldn’t have…” His words, seemingly conciliatory, subtly shifted all blame onto me. See, what masterful manipulation. I watched their family drama unfold with cold indifference, my heart utterly unmoved. I walked up to Alaric. “Seraphina is dead. What do you plan to do with your child?” Alaric’s sobbing paused. He instinctively shielded the five-year-old boy. “This is Seraphina’s flesh and blood! Of course, I’ll protect him and make him happy!” “Oh.” I nodded. “Then good luck.” I walked past them, hailed a taxi, and drove straight away. Behind me, my mother-in-law’s curses grew sharper. I returned to the villa, which no longer felt like a home. Seraphina’s body had been taken away, but the cold scent of death still lingered in the air. I started packing; I didn’t want to stay in this place for another second. 3 Seraphina White’s funeral was exceptionally grand. Business elites, relatives, and friends—everyone came. As her husband, I stood there in a black Chanel suit, my face calm, accepting various looks of sympathy or scrutiny. Alaric also came, leading the boy named Julian White, dressed in white, weeping uncontrollably, as if he were the true Mr. White. My mother-in-law, leaning heavily on my father-in-law, shot me hateful glances throughout. During the eulogy, my mother-in-law suddenly attacked. In front of all the guests, she pointed a finger at me and cursed. “You useless man! You killed my daughter, and now you want to come and claim our White family fortune? I’m telling you, as long as I live, you won’t get a single penny!” She lunged at me, trying to tear at me, but was pulled away by a nearby relative. I stood still, not moving an inch, not even raising an eyebrow. “Mom, please calm down. Seraphina, in the afterlife, wouldn’t want to see you like this.” My address of “Mom” only stoked her fury further. “Who’s your mother! Don’t call me that! I don’t have a son-in-law as malicious as you!” Alaric chose that moment to “faint” into her arms, causing a chaotic scene. “Alaric, Alaric, what’s wrong?!” “Quick! To the hospital! He’s practically half a son to the White family now!” A solemn funeral had completely devolved into a farce of fighting over inheritance. I watched with cold eyes, finding it utterly ridiculous. After the funeral, it was time for the will reading. The White family’s exclusive lawyer, Mr. Davies, opened the file. Everyone held their breath, especially Alaric and my in-laws; they were certain Seraphina would leave her fortune to her “son.” Mr. Davies cleared his throat and began to read. “I, Seraphina White, hereby make this will… All property under my name, including but not limited to fifty-one percent of the White Group’s shares, three properties, and all bank deposits, securities…” He paused, looking at me. “Shall all be inherited solely by my legal husband, Mr. Cain Stowell.” The air was deadly silent. Everyone’s gaze focused on me—shock, confusion, anger. Alaric’s face instantly drained of color, and he swayed precariously. My mother-in-law was the first to react, letting out a shriek. “Impossible! This will is fake! How could my daughter leave all her money to this scumbag? This will must be fake!” 4 Mr. Davies calmly presented the notarized documents and date of the will. “Mrs. White, this will was drafted ten years ago and holds full legal validity. Ms. White did not execute a new will afterward.” Ten years ago. That was when we were most in love. She feared that if anything happened to her, I would be left alone, so she took me to get it notarized together. She had probably never imagined she would die so soon, without even having the chance to revise her will for her secret lover and illegitimate child. Truly, man proposes, God disposes. “I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!” My mother-in-law lunged to snatch the will, but was stopped by security. My father-in-law’s face was ashen, his eyes glaring at me. “Cain Stowell, you knew about this will all along, didn’t you?” I didn’t answer, simply stood up and adjusted my cuffs. “Mr. Davies, please expedite the property transfer procedures.” With that, I turned and walked away, no longer paying attention to the chaos behind me. What was mine, I wouldn’t give up a single cent. I underestimated their shamelessness. That same evening, as soon as I returned home, I found the digital lock had been changed. I rang the doorbell, and the housekeeper opened the door. She looked at me with a troubled expression. “Sir… the elder Mrs. and Mr. White…” I pushed past her and walked in. In the living room, my in-laws, Alaric, and the boy Julian White, sat on the sofa like they owned the place. My suitcase was thrown by the door, its contents scattered on the floor. My mother-in-law sat with one leg crossed over the other, cracking sunflower seeds, barely lifting an eyelid when she saw me. “Oh, still remembered to come back? I thought you’d run off with my daughter’s money.” I walked up to her, looking down at her. “This is my home. Why are you here?” “Your home?” My mother-in-law sounded as if she’d heard the funniest joke. “This house was bought by my daughter; her name is on the deed! She’s dead, so this belongs to the White family! What right do you, an outsider, have to live here?” Alaric spoke softly, “Cain, please let us stay. Julian and I need a place to live… Auntie also missed her grandson, that’s why she moved in.” His words reminded me. Seraphina was dead. According to inheritance law, her parents and children are first-line heirs. But in the presence of a will, the will takes precedence. This house was now mine. “Whose name is on the deed doesn’t matter. What matters is, the will states this house belongs to me.” I took out my phone, ready to call the police. My father-in-law suddenly stood up. He was an educated man, more concerned with appearances than my mother-in-law. “Cain, we’re not here to fight you for the house. It’s just that Seraphina just passed, and we’re heartbroken. We want to stay a few more days in the place where she lived, to be with her.” He played the emotional card. “And Julian is Seraphina’s only bloodline; we want to get closer to him. Don’t worry, once we’ve stabilized emotionally, we’ll move out naturally.” I looked at his “sincere” face, then at the countdown above his head: [8 years 1 month 20 days]. I smirked internally. They weren’t trying to mourn the dead; they were clearly trying to squat here, forcing me to hand over the property. I put my phone away and nodded. “Alright, in that case, you can stay.” I wanted to see what tricks they would pull. My concession, in their eyes, was weakness. The next day, I found my master bedroom had been taken. Alaric and Julian White had moved in. My clothes, my accessories, my belongings—all were thrown out, piled on the guest room floor. My mother-in-law stood with hands on her hips at the master bedroom door, like a victorious general. “This is my grandson’s room! You, a good-for-nothing who’s been relying on my daughter for ten years, what right do you have to the master bedroom? Go sleep in the maid’s quarters over there!” Alaric, wearing my silk pajamas, leaned against the doorframe, giving me a provocative smile. “Cain, I’m sorry. Julian gets restless at night and will only sleep here. Your things… I was going to help you tidy them, but Auntie said they were bad luck and told me not to touch them.” He finished, stroking Julian White’s head, his face full of contentment. “The doctor said Julian is a smart child. The White family will rely on this little man, Julian, in the future.”

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My period cramps were so bad I couldn’t get out of bed, so I asked my boyfriend to run to the store for some tampons. He turned around and posted a photo of me curled up in pain on his Instagram Story, meant for his “Close Friends” list. “Bro, who understands this? GF makes me buy her tampons, I ask her to Venmo me the $10 back, and I’m the bad guy?” The replies to his story were ruthless. “She acting up again? I got your back, bro! Going Dutch is the only way. Don’t let these females walk all over you!” “Why should you pay for her bleeding? She’s just using you for a free ride!” Keeping our relationship “50/50” was his idea—to keep things “pure,” he claimed. For the past year we’d been dating, everything from expensive dinners to a single bottle of water was split down to the exact decimal point on Venmo. Except, it was always on his terms. Clearly, this wasn’t the first time he’d posted something like this. He just forgot to hide it from me this time. Looking at those disgusting comments, a lump formed in my throat. So, we’re strictly going Dutch, huh? Fine. Two can play that game. 1 My fingers trembled as I refreshed his page, trying to convince myself that maybe Brandon was just trolling. But the more I scrolled through the replies, the colder my heart got. Line by line, it was nothing but a mockery of me. “Bro is speaking facts! 50/50 or nothing!” “I’d ask for the money back too. Why should guys be walking ATMs?” “She’s seriously crying over $10? And she made you play delivery boy?” I clicked his profile picture again and again. Three times. Five times. There was no mistake. It was Brandon, the man I’d been with for a year. My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. Over a ten-dollar box of tampons, I had become a “gold digger” in the eyes of his frat-bro friends. And Brandon? He was the poor, victimized boyfriend. Refusing to let it go, I logged into my burner account. Since it wasn’t blocked from his main feed, I could see everything. A sickeningly detailed “Dating Ledger” was plastered all over his highlights. Every post felt like a slap in the face. There was a post from the day I got my bonus and treated him to a $300-a-head steakhouse. He posted a picture of the Starbucks coffee he bought me the next day with the caption: “Equality in relationships. The perfect 50/50.” There was my birthday, when he took me to the pier to watch the fireworks. He took gorgeous photos of me, raking in comments about how “romantic” he was. He conveniently left out that the limited-edition sneakers I bought him that morning cost $800. Everything I gave Brandon was carefully chosen and expensive. What he gave me was always “sentimental” garbage—a cheap keychain from a carnival game, or a buy-one-get-one-free phone case from Temu. Just yesterday, he used a coupon to get a $3 pack of paper towels for free, then Venmo requested me for $1.50. I had brushed it off, thinking he was just overly meticulous about finances. Now that I thought about it, whenever the first of the month rolled around to pay rent and utilities for our shared apartment, his banking app conveniently “crashed,” leaving me to quietly cover the whole thing. I’d never held it against him. I genuinely thought he was just a frugal guy saving for our future. Clutching my phone, a chill washed over me. I couldn’t tell if it was the period cramps or the sickening realization of the truth. One comment under his post made my blood run cold. “Brandon is taking the crown for the ‘Zero-Dollar Dating Challenge’ this year! That $5k prize pool is yours, man. You gotta treat the boys to drinks!” Brandon’s reply: “Don’t worry, once her cramps are gone, I’ll make her pay for dinner. I’ll treat her to a $10 Chipotle bowl later. Massive ROI on this one.” My stomach violently turned. I thought his strict 50/50 rule was about building an equal partnership. I didn’t realize I was just a row on his Excel spreadsheet. What I thought was a two-way street was just him treating me like a low-risk, high-yield stock. Money really is a mirror. It shows whether someone is afraid of not giving you enough, or afraid you’re asking for too much. Trembling, I opened our text thread and typed out: Let’s break up. But wait. Just breaking up? That was letting him off way too easy. My thumb hovered over the send button, then I slowly backspaced. Just as I deleted the last letter, the front door clicked open. Brandon strolled in, sipping a Coke, and tossed the box of tampons onto the coffee table. 2 “Babe, you still hurting? Let me make you some hot tea,” he said smoothly. “Oh, by the way, just Venmo me $15. Ten for the tampons, and I bought myself a Coke as a delivery fee. I won’t charge you a service tax though.” He chuckled at his own joke and turned toward the kitchen. Staring at his back, I felt a wave of dizziness. My cramps were always severe, and Brandon used to always jump up to make me tea. He even watched YouTube videos on acupressure to rub my lower back when it got really bad. “Women have it so hard,” he used to say. “Seeing you in pain makes me hurt too.” Back then, I thought I’d hit the jackpot. I thought I’d finally found a good one. I didn’t realize his “gentleness” was a cheap act funded entirely by my bank account. He handed me the mug, snapping me out of my thoughts. Suppressing the urge to throw the hot water in his face, I took it and forced a pale smile. “I feel a lot better. You know what? To thank you, let’s go out for a massive seafood lunch. My treat.” His eyes instantly lit up. He practically hopped over to the sofa, rubbing his hands together with a grin stretching ear to ear. “Seriously? That’s awesome. Hey… do you mind if I invite a couple of the guys? We haven’t hung out in a while. It’ll be fun, and we can all get crab!” I opened my mouth, then shut it, nodding sweetly. “Whatever you want! The more the merrier.” While he turned his back to call his frat brothers, I quickly texted my best friend, Harper. “Emergency. I’m staying at your place tonight. Pick me up after work.” Harper replied instantly: “Staying over? Trouble in paradise? Did Mr. Excel Spreadsheet finally snap?” “I’ll explain later. It’s worse than you think.” I curled up on the sofa, watching Brandon out of the corner of my eye. He was practically vibrating with excitement on the phone, no doubt calculating how much he could milk out of my wallet today. By noon, Brandon’s three “bros” from the comment section were waiting outside. They exchanged smirks the second they saw me. Brandon proudly threw an arm over my shoulder, puffing his chest out. “Alright boys, order whatever you want today! Don’t hold back. Right, babe?” I nodded, playing the role of the sweet, clueless girlfriend perfectly. “Exactly! Eat up! Don’t be shy.” We piled into my Porsche Macan and headed straight for the most expensive waterfront seafood spot in the city. The kind of place where the lobster is flown in daily and you don’t get out for less than $200 a person. As soon as I parked, my phone buzzed. A Venmo request from Brandon. “Hey babe,” he said, tapping his phone. “The IRS mileage rate is 67 cents a mile. We drove about 10 miles, so I just requested $6.70 for the gas. I don’t want to owe you anything!” The guys snickered in the backseat. “Brandon, you’re wild for that,” one of them said. “Hey, we keep it fair,” Brandon grinned. Once inside, the boys flocked to the fresh catches like vultures. King crab, premium oysters, massive lobsters… they pointed at the most expensive items on the ice. They even ordered imported sparkling water. 3 Brandon wasn’t done. He pointed at the top-shelf wine list. “Let’s get two bottles of the Cabernet! It’s a celebration, right?” He turned to me. “Babe, what do you want?” I waved my hand gently. “Oh, nothing for me. I can’t eat seafood, remember? You guys go ahead.” He was already looking back at the menu. “What? It’s too loud in here.” I just smiled and played hostess. Once we sat down, I poured Brandon’s water, handed him napkins, and played the doting girlfriend. “Babe, seafood is too heavy for you when you’re cramping. I ordered you a side of clam chowder, but I had them take the clams out,” he announced proudly. “Damn, Brandon, boyfriend of the year!” one of his friends cheered. Brandon soaked it up, completely losing himself in the praise. He started bragging about his “50/50 philosophy.” “It takes discipline, boys. Like on Chloe’s birthday. I took her to the pier, bought some sparklers, took some aesthetic photos. Boom. Way more meaningful than a Gucci bag, right?” “You gotta find a girl who gets it,” he continued, gesturing at me. “We split everything. Dinners, rent, down to the Uber rides. Strict 50/50.” He gave me a thumbs-up. I smiled back, looking like a woman blinded by love. “Wait, how do you split a pizza?” one guy asked, laughing. “Easy. Count the slices. Or just pay for your own toppings.” I kept smiling, though a storm was raging in my head. The sparklers for my birthday? I bought them. He said “I’m not the one holding them” and made me pay the $15. Our matching anniversary iPhones? I bought them. His gift to me was the plastic case they came in. Plates of steaming, garlic-buttered seafood began flooding the table. The guys dug in like they hadn’t eaten in weeks. I took a few sips of my potato soup, then stood up, grabbing my purse. “Where are you going, Chloe? The lobster just got here!” one of the guys called out with his mouth full. The table went quiet. Eight eyes snapped to me. “Just running to the restroom,” I said softly. Brandon rolled his eyes and waved his crab cracker at me. “Girls take forever in the bathroom. Let her go, let’s eat before it gets cold.” The guys laughed and immediately went back to tearing apart crab legs. Once they were stuffed, leaning back and groaning about food comas, Brandon finally realized I hadn’t come back. “Where the hell is she?” he muttered. He stood up, walked toward the restrooms, and called my name. Nothing. Annoyed, he reached onto the table to grab “my” phone to call me—and froze. 4 “Wait… this is my phone!” Brandon yelled. “I thought this was hers!” The three friends exchanged nervous glances. Brandon’s hands started shaking as he grabbed his phone and dialed my number, trying to sound calm. “Babe? Where are you? You’ve been in the bathroom forever. We’re waiting for you.” I slowly pushed open the private dining room door, stepping inside. I sneered internally, but my face remained perfectly blank. “It was stuffy in here. I went outside for some fresh air. What, did you think I was going to dine and dash?” Brandon’s face cycled from red to white. He awkwardly let go of my arm. “N-no, of course not. Just worried about you. Lots of weirdos outside.” Trying to ease the tension, he pointed at the destroyed table. “Babe, the lobster was incredible. What was your favorite? We should definitely come back.” I looked at the absolute carnage on the table. Empty shells, picked-clean claws, empty wine bottles. Then I pointed to my pristine, spotless plate. “I wouldn’t know. I didn’t eat any of it. I’m allergic to shellfish.” Brandon blinked, processing this. Then he smacked his forehead with a forced, dramatic groan. “Oh my god, I completely forgot! I am so sorry, babe. Tell you what, I am cooking you dinner tonight to make up for it. My treat.” Looking at his exaggerated performance, I just felt exhausted. “It’s fine. I’m tired. Let’s pay the bill and go home.” I flagged down the waiter and asked for the check. Taking the leather folder, I pulled out my card. “Let’s see… I had the potato soup, which was $15. Plus the $5 seating fee. That’s $20.” I tapped my card on the machine, the screen flashing Approved. I slid the leather folder over to Brandon. “I paid for my half. Your turn.” Brandon’s smile instantly vanished. He stared at me like I was speaking a foreign language. He slowly looked down at the receipt. His eyes bugged out. His voice cracked into a high pitch. “One thousand, two hundred dollars?!” He practically jumped out of his chair, grabbing my arm again. “Wait, babe… you’re making me pay this?” Oh, sweetie. You’re breaking down over the appetizers? I have a whole main course planned for you.

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My boyfriend’s childhood sweetheart lost a game. The penalty was to slap a female friend in the room. And the only other woman there, was me. She stood up, acting all hesitant. “I don’t know, Victoria is older than us. She probably doesn’t like the kind of games we young people play.” The rest of the crowd jeered: “If you don’t slap her, you have to down your drink.” Mia looked conflicted. “But I’m severely allergic to alcohol.” My boyfriend nudged me toward Mia. “Just let her slap you, it’s not a real slap anyway, just for show.” “Mia is allergic to alcohol, she can’t drink. Don’t make this hard for her.” I thought I misheard him. I asked again. Noah was slouching lazily on the couch. “I said just let her slap you, it’s not real, we’re just playing a game.” I froze. “What if I don’t want to?” Mia smiled and explained. “Victoria, I won’t really hit you.” “I’ll just lightly tap your face, and we can say I passed the dare.” I still flat-out refused her. The others started hollering again. “Then drink! Mia downs the drink in front of her and it’s over.” Mia looked at the shot glass in distress. “But I’m allergic, what am I supposed to do if I can’t drink?” My boyfriend beside me got annoyed. He curled his lip. “You really can’t just play along and pretend for a second?” “Mia is allergic, stop giving the poor girl a hard time.” I stared at him. “I’m giving her a hard time?” “Aren’t you?” I let out a dry laugh. “Let’s break up.” The eyes of the entire room snapped toward us. Noah looked stunned. “Break up? Why? Just because Mia has to slap you for a game?” “Yes, just because of this.” Mia laughed awkwardly. “It’s just a game, Victoria, don’t take it so seriously.” “Noah is just worried about me. When I was a kid, I accidentally had two sips of liquor and immediately passed out on the floor, unable to breathe. He was so terrified he gave me CPR right then and there.” She nudged the two friends sitting next to her. “Ugh, I told you guys we shouldn’t play this. Victoria is a few years older than us, she doesn’t get the fun of the game and now she’s mad.” Every word was dripping with passive-aggressive condescension. I wasn’t about to indulge her. “Why do I need to ‘get’ this kind of game? A bunch of people using a game as an excuse to grope each other?” I pointed at one of the guys. “Does your girlfriend know you’re passing water mouth-to-mouth to other women?” “And you, your wife is home nursing your baby, and you’re sitting here with another woman in your lap calling her babe.” “And dragging innocent bystanders into this, running up to someone just to call them ugly for no reason, what is wrong with you?” “Whether you’re actually playing a game or just using it to cheat, you know best.” Noah’s frat brothers turned beet red at my words. Someone muttered under their breath. “It’s literally just a game, taking it way too seriously.” “Told you not to date older women.” “Generation gap.” “Almost 30 and still such a buzzkill.” I pushed open the door of the VIP room. Without looking back. “That’s right, I am a buzzkill, so this older woman is out of here.” “They’re a bunch of toxic losers.” After venting to my best friend, I felt a lot better. “Vic, are you really going to break up with your golden retriever boyfriend this time?” “After all, with how hot he is, you used to say you’d give him anything if he just shed a tear.” I’ve always been a sucker for a pretty face. Noah had a gorgeous face and an incredible body. And his skills in bed were phenomenal. He checked every single one of my boxes. I had indeed said things like that in the past. But if looks were all there was… Anyone would get tired of it eventually. I stared at the nineteen missed calls from Noah on my phone. And made up my mind. “Yes, I’m really breaking up with him this time.” My best friend smiled and shook her head. “Alright, I’ll bet three days.” “In less than three days, he’ll definitely come begging for you back, and you’ll forgive him.” I didn’t have to wait three days. Because Noah was already at my door to repent. When I got home. Noah was kneeling on the front porch. It was raining outside. He was completely drenched. Even though he clearly arrived a while ago, he made no effort to change out of his wet clothes. The thin white dress shirt clung to his skin, tracing the smooth, muscular lines underneath. He kept his head bowed. “I was wrong.” “I panicked back there, I’m sorry.” I stepped around his body. And sat straight down on the couch. “What were you panicking about?” “I…” I lit a cigarette. Taking my time to speak. “You were panicking that she might actually have an allergic reaction if she drank that shot, right?” Noah stayed silent. “Yes. I promised Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan I’d take good care of her.” “Acute anaphylaxis is serious, she could go into shock.” I blew out a ring of smoke. “So you needed her to slap me?” “She wasn’t actually going to slap you.” Noah panicked and tried to explain. “She wasn’t really going to hit you. Look, I messed up, Vic, can you forgive me?” My face hardened. “There were so many other ways to get her out of that dare. You could have taken the shot for her, or let her accept whatever the penalty was for losing.” “But you didn’t. Your first reaction was to make me play along and be her prop.” “You didn’t want her to drink, and you didn’t want her to be punished.” “So you offered up my face.” “When I refused, you guys had the nerve to say I was being a buzzkill.” “Who gave you the right?” Noah kept apologizing while moving closer to my side. He carefully took off my high heels. “It’s my fault, Vic.” “I didn’t think it through, I’m so sorry.” I pushed him away coldly. “A person’s subconscious first reaction exposes a lot of problems, do you know that?” “Noah, you don’t love me nearly as much as you think you do.” Noah had begged me to go to this party. Normally, I hate attending things with the younger college crowd. Noah gave me the puppy dog eyes and pleaded for five days. “Just this once, please?” “My friends all really want to meet you.” “And my neighbor just moved back from Europe, she wants to meet you too.” “Neighbor?” “Yeah, my old neighbor.” I knew Noah had a childhood sweetheart he grew up with. Their families lived right across the hall from each other. Noah’s mother died early. His dad became violently abusive whenever he got drunk. During Noah’s dark childhood. It was Mia’s family that gave him love and care. Later, Mia’s family moved to Europe. The two of them gradually lost touch. Noah met me in college. We met, fell in love, and the relationship was pretty smooth sailing. Right around our three-year anniversary. Noah suddenly got news that his childhood crush was moving back to the States. “Vic, she’s literally just the neighbor who lived next door to me growing up.” I looked at the picture on Noah’s phone. A sharp nose, big bright eyes. “She’s pretty.” Noah wrapped his arms around me. “You’re not actually jealous, are you? Relax, I don’t mix business with pleasure. I’ve always seen her as a little sister.” “If I had any feelings for her, we would have dated a long time ago.” As we spoke. Noah’s lips found mine again. In the heat of the moment. Noah whispered in my ear: “You know me, I don’t like young girls. Girls my age are too much drama, I like older women.” I was six years older than Noah. The year he started college as a freshman, I went back to campus for a recruiting event. I was incredibly stressed out and busy at the time. While walking through the student center, I accidentally bumped into a guy coming the other way. The iced coffee in his hand spilled all over me. The kid realized my blouse was designer and expensive. He bowed his head and apologized. “I’m so sorry. Please tell me how much the shirt costs, I’ll pay you back in full.” I was too busy with work. I just waved him off. “Don’t worry about it.” I didn’t expect him to latch onto me because of it. “Please, if you won’t let me pay for the shirt, at least let me do something else to make it up to you.” “If there’s anything else I can help you with, please let me know, otherwise my conscience won’t let it go.” “Miss Sterling,” “Victoria,” “Boss,” “Beautiful”… He haunted me like a charming little ghost, popping up everywhere until he wore me down. Until we finally ended up sleeping together. My best friend laughed at me. “Never thought you’d fall for a younger guy.” I stuck my tongue out. “Dating a younger guy actually has its perks.” In the days that followed. He was like a loyal puppy. Satisfying my every need. I just didn’t expect. That no matter how good the dog is, if he sees a wild bone outside, he’s going to want a taste. In the month before Mia came back to the States. Things subtly started to change. Once, Noah was in the shower. His phone suddenly got a call. It was an international number. I remembered him mentioning his childhood friend who lived abroad. So I answered the call. I said “Hello” twice, and asked “Who is this?” A hostile voice suddenly demanded from the other end. “Who the hell are you?” I replied politely. “I’m Noah’s girlfriend. He’s in the shower, but I’ll tell him you called as soon as he’s out.” Before I could even finish. She slammed the phone down and hung up. When Noah got out, I told him what happened. His expression instantly changed to pure panic. He didn’t even care that the water dripping from his hair was soaking his clean shirt. “Did you say anything else to her?” “No, that was it.” “Okay, I got it.” He grabbed his phone. I don’t know what he texted her. But that night. That international number called him fifteen times. Until Noah finally picked up the last call. I heard the voice on the other end say: “Wow, Noah. You get a girlfriend and you wait until now to tell me?” That was when I realized. That he had completely hidden our relationship. He never told his childhood friends about me. And that welcome-back party. Was actually a firing squad set up specifically for me. The moment Mia arrived, she completely bypassed me and made a beeline for Noah. Only after hugging him and kissing his cheeks did she remember I was there. She pointed at me: “Noah, who is this?” Noah put his arm around my waist. “My girlfriend, Victoria.” Mia covered her mouth in exaggerated shock. “Oh! So she’s your girlfriend? I honestly thought she was one of your corporate managers.” Noah’s other frat buddies snickered along with Mia. “Haven’t seen you in a few years, didn’t know you were into this type, bro.” I suppressed my anger. And reached out my hand amicably. “Hi, I’m Victoria.” When she looked at me again, her eyes were filled with an inexplicable, fiery hostility. “I’m Mia, Noah’s childhood sweetheart.” Realizing that sounded a bit out of line. She quickly added: “Hahaha, I’m kidding, please don’t be mad. I’m just the girl who grew up in the apartment next door to him.” At the dinner table. They came at me from every angle. Prying into my career, probing about my income. Interrogating me on how Noah and I got together. “Victoria, you’re almost 30, when are you and Noah planning to tie the knot?” “Too bad Noah is only 24, he probably won’t settle down this early.” “If Noah doesn’t want to get married, aren’t your parents breathing down your neck?” “Are you really willing to wait until he’s 30 to get married?” “But if he’s 30… you’ll be 36.” “Victoria, does anyone ever call you a cougar for dating him?” I shot down these questions one by one. “I’m not in a rush, my family doesn’t pressure me.” “Marriage? Depends entirely on my mood.” “My family doesn’t have a royal bloodline to pass down, so I’m not stressing about having kids.” “Cougar? Never heard of it. I’ve heard of a sugar baby though, I wonder if that means the same thing.” Until Noah finally decided to step in and rescue me. “Alright, stop messing around guys, Victoria and I have a long way to go, we haven’t thought about marriage yet.” I don’t know why. But when Noah said that. His eyes kept darting over to Mia. Even an idiot could tell. That there was absolutely some history between him and Mia.

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When I saw the “Unattainable Queen” of my college years again, her empire had crumbled into dust. Her company was bankrupt, her daughter was permanently injured, and the “perfect” high-school-sweetheart husband she’d once worshipped had vanished into thin air. At a park in downtown Chicago, Margot Vance—now a shadow of her former self—approached my food truck with trembling hands. “Can I… can I just buy half a sandwich?” she whispered, her eyes avoiding mine. I didn’t say a word. I just nodded and handed her two full meals, on the house. Years passed. We built something new from the wreckage. We became a power couple, rising back to the top of the city’s elite. On the day Margot’s new firm went public and her daughter, Maya, received her acceptance letter to Harvard, a ghost appeared at the celebration. Sebastian looked exactly as he did in the old photographs—young, handsome, wearing a crisp white shirt that made him look like a tragic hero from a classic novel. He moved with a practiced, gentle grace. Ignoring my parked Rolls-Royce, he pulled out a stack of hand-drawn “Daddy Coupons” and handed them to Maya as a graduation gift. “Maya, remember these? You loved them when you were little. With these, you can have Daddy’s time whenever you want.” Then, he placed a heart-shaped river stone into Margot’s hand. “Margot, this represents my heart. It hasn’t changed. Not for a single second.” Only after this performance did he turn to me. His eyes were cold, dripping with effortless disdain. “During the years I was lost with amnesia, I appreciate you looking after my wife and daughter,” he said, his voice smooth. “But now that the original is back, the substitute can leave.” I raised an eyebrow and looked at Margot. When Sebastian first disappeared, she had spiraled into a clinical depression that lasted three years. She had tried to end her life seven times. I was curious. I wanted to see how the woman who swore she would never forgive him would choose today. 1 Margot stood there, the stone clutched in her palm, staring at Sebastian with an expression I couldn’t read. But I knew. The moment Sebastian appeared, the grip she had on my hand tightened so hard it bruised my skin. I smiled inwardly, keeping my face a mask of calm, and gently patted her hand. “Sebastian,” I said, my voice cutting through the tension. “You regained your memory right after Maya’s accident and just as Margot’s first company went under? That’s a hell of a coincidence, don’t you think?” I wasn’t just accusing him; I was throwing a lifeline to Margot’s logic. Margot set the stone down on a nearby table. “Sebastian, please leave. You aren’t welcome here.” The rejection hit him like a physical blow. Sebastian’s eyes instantly welled with tears. “Margot, how can you do this to me? I had amnesia. I didn’t stop loving you. I didn’t stop loving our daughter.” He turned his gaze toward me, pointing a finger. “How could you betray me while I was lost? You’re only with him because he’s a vulture circling the family assets. Can’t you see that?” Before anyone could blink, the sound of a sharp crack echoed through the hall. Margot hadn’t hesitated. She had slapped him across the face. “George is my husband,” she hissed. “I won’t let anyone slander him.” Sebastian touched his cheek, tears streaming down. “You hit me for him? Fine. If this is how it is, I don’t want to live. I’ll give you what you want.” He turned and bolted toward the roof of the hotel. The guests gasped, some rushing to stop him, but Margot stood like a statue. “Let him go,” she said coldly. “Don’t stop him.” But Maya broke. “Mom! That’s my father! Do you want him to die?” In her rush to follow him, she knocked over the twenty-three-tier custom cake and the champagne tower I’d ordered for her. Glass shattered, and gold-leaf frosting smeared across the floor as she ran for the elevator without a second look at me. The party was a ruin. Margot insisted on seeing me to the car first, but I’ve known her long enough to see the cracks. She was already gone, her soul hovering somewhere on that rooftop. Sure enough, as soon as the valet closed my door, she leaned in. “George, I just remembered something urgent at the office. I need to handle it.” She didn’t wait for an answer. She turned and ran back into the building. Ten minutes later, my contact inside the building sent a video to my phone. In a deserted stairwell, Sebastian had Margot pinned against the wall. He was kissing her—hard, desperate. Margot didn’t kiss him back, but she didn’t push him away either. Her hands were balled into fists at her sides, her knuckles white. After a long, suffocating silence, Sebastian pulled back. “Admit it, Margot. You still love me. Why are you lying to yourself?” He grabbed her hand and forced it open. “Look at your palms. You’ve dug your nails in so deep you’re bleeding.” “Enough,” Margot whispered, pulling her hand away. “When you left me, you should have known there was no coming back.” Sebastian stared into her eyes. “Fine. Then I’ll go finish what I started on the roof.” As he turned, Margot’s hand shot out and gripped his wrist. “I thought you didn’t care?” he mocked. “Why are you holding me?” She didn’t answer with words. She pulled him in and kissed him back—an aggressive, hungry, devastating kiss. The wet, rhythmic sound of their breathing filled my earbuds. Finally, she pulled away, her hand moving to his throat, gripping it almost like she wanted to choke him. “Sebastian, hate lasts longer than love. I want you to spend the rest of your life drowning in the guilt of what you did to us.” I felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. The string I’d kept pulled taut since Sebastian appeared finally snapped. I turned off the feed. That night, I called my lawyer. I started the inventory of our shared assets and pulled out the divorce papers Margot had signed months ago as a “legal precaution” for the merger. I signed my name next to hers. I had always hoped this was a safety net I’d never need. I didn’t expect to fall into it so soon. 2 Eight years ago, Margot Vance was the undisputed titan of the Chicago tech scene. I was a nobody, a ghost in the back of the room. I remember watching her on a stage at a tech summit; she looked like an untouchable marble statue—cold, elegant, and brilliant. I was in the last row, clutching a brochure, not even brave enough to clap too loudly. Six months later, I found her in a crowded night market. I was running a food truck to scrape together seed money for my startup. Margot was pushing a wheelchair; Maya, with a heavy cast on her leg, sat inside. The glory was gone. She was so broke she had to ask if she could buy half a sandwich. From the whispers on the street, I learned the truth. Margot had been defrauded by a partner she trusted like a brother. Her empire collapsed in a month. Then Maya broke her leg in a freak accident, and Margot’s mother suffered a stroke from the stress. In the three days following the collapse, Sebastian’s family scrubbed any mention of the Vances from their lives. Sebastian himself vanished that same night. Margot broke. The depression hit her like a tidal wave. I couldn’t get the image of them out of my head. Every night, I watched for them. I started giving them “samples”—full meals hidden in small bags. Eventually, we talked. I brought her into my world—AI development. I had the vision; she had the sharp, serrated edge of a veteran CEO. We were a perfect match. Naturally, we fell in love. Or so I thought. While Sebastian was in Europe, reportedly marrying a French heiress and spending his days at spas, I was cleaning Margot’s mother’s bedpans. In the dead of a Chicago winter, my hands were cracked and bleeding from washing their linens in cold water when the heater broke. While Sebastian was learning floral arrangement and sipping Earl Grey, I was studying physical therapy techniques to massage Maya’s atrophied leg muscles. I carried that girl—already five-foot-five back then—up and down the stairs for her rehab sessions. While Sebastian was traveling the world for “inspiration,” I was sleeping two hours a day to keep our new company afloat, terrified to close my eyes because I was afraid Margot might try to hurt herself again in the middle of the night. And now, Sebastian’s heiress had gone bankrupt. After ten years of being a lapdog, he wanted to come back and harvest the fruit I had planted. He wanted me gone. The hell he does. I was pulled from my thoughts by the sound of the front door. Margot walked in, her phone on speaker. Her legal team was asking if she wanted to file a defamation suit against Sebastian for his comments at the party. I looked at her. Her eyes flickered away. She hesitated, then shook her head. “Forget it,” she said. “Let’s just let today go.” She noticed me then and hung up quickly. “George… I just don’t want any more drama with him. It’s cleaner this way.” “What if I say no?” I asked. “What?” She looked startled. I had never used that tone with her—cold, clinical. “What if I told you I don’t agree? What if I want him prosecuted for slander? What will you do?” “Do you have any idea how important today’s IPO was for our stock price?” I continued. “This isn’t just a ‘squabble.’ It was a calculated attack on our brand.” Margot sighed, looking at me with a touch of patronizing exhaustion. “George, it was a minor scene. Don’t blow this out of proportion. I’ve already handled the PR team.” Her voice was soft, but it made my chest tighten. “Come on,” she said, reaching for my hand. “Don’t be like this. I’ll take you to dinner.” She started pulling me toward the door, not waiting for my consent. 3 She took me to a bistro I hated. I had told her a dozen times the salt air there made me nauseous, but she never remembered. We hadn’t even looked at the menus when Maya walked in, leading Sebastian by the hand. “Mom, Dad didn’t have anywhere to eat, so I brought him,” Maya said, her voice defiant. I stood up to leave, but Margot grabbed my arm. “George, it’s just a meal. Don’t be petty.” Sebastian shot me a smirk that was gone in a flash, replaced by a humble, “house-guest” smile. He sat down and started arranging the silverware for Margot and Maya as if he were the master of the house. I sat back down. Fine. I wouldn’t starve myself for his sake. I pulled out my phone to scan the QR code for the menu. As I looked through the options, Margot and Maya began ordering in sync—both picking the heavy, cream-based dishes Sebastian loved. They caught each other’s eyes and shared a small, knowing smile before correcting the duplicates. I ignored them and ordered what I liked. Sebastian suddenly turned “thoughtful.” “This is so much food. The four of us can’t possibly finish all this, can we?” Margot glanced at the digital cart. Without a word to me, she deleted everything I had ordered. I snatched the phone back and added them back in. Margot looked embarrassed for a second, then rubbed her temple and stayed quiet. While we waited for the food, Sebastian leaned toward Maya. “Show me that school form you mentioned. The emergency contact one.” Maya pulled a paper from her bag. In the “Mother” column was Margot’s name. In the “Father” column, she had already written Sebastian’s. I stared at the ink. I remembered when Maya’s leg had finally healed, but she still walked with a limp. The kids at school called her “The Broken Doll.” The local bullies used to corner her after class. She never told Margot; she didn’t want to add to her mother’s stress. I found out when I saw the bruises. That day, I went to the park where those kids hung out. I didn’t even bring a weapon. I just stood there. They hit me with a wooden bat until my legs gave out, but every time I fell, I stood back up. I didn’t stop until they were terrified of me. They never touched her again. After that, I spent every evening helping Maya with her stretches, retasking her brain to walk without the limp. From that year on, her emergency contact had always been me. But Sebastian comes back, does nothing, and the world resets to his orbit. I ate my meal in silence. Sebastian took a bite of a spicy dish, and both Margot and Maya reached out simultaneously to stop him, knowing his stomach was sensitive. He laughed, took the half-chewed bite out of his mouth, and dropped it into Margot’s bowl. “Don’t want to waste it,” he said. Margot didn’t even blink. She just picked it up and ate it. After dinner, Sebastian said he wanted a private word with me. He told Margot and Maya to head to the car. I tried to walk away, but he followed me like a shadow. It turns out, the man was truly unhinged. We reached a Y-junction on the sidewalk, near the parking lot entrance. Suddenly, he shoved me. The two branches of the Y divided us. Margot’s SUV and Maya’s sedan were both pulling out of the lot, accelerating toward the street. When they saw us in the middle of the road, their headlights flared. The screech of brakes filled the night. To the left: me. To the right: Sebastian. In that split second, the laws of physics and the loyalty of hearts collided. Both cars veered. CRASH. It wasn’t a clip. It was a solid, bone-shattering impact. The pain was a physical wall that slammed into my senses. My body felt weightless, then impossibly heavy as I hit the asphalt. I heard the wet sound of my own bones snapping. Blood, warm and metallic, poured from my forehead, filling my mouth. Through a haze of red, I saw Sebastian standing perfectly fine on the other side of the road. He mouthed two words at me: “You lose.” I could hear Margot and Maya’s voices, frantic and high-pitched. They weren’t calling my name. They were screaming for Sebastian. I woke up in the hospital to the sound of an argument. “Sebastian, do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You can’t play games with traffic! I told you, I have a life now. Get out of my house!” “No! If I can’t have you, no one can. I only left because I was sick. It wasn’t my fault! You’re mine, Margot. You’ve always been mine.” “Admit it, Margot. You and Maya still love me.” The shouting went on for half an hour. Neither of them would back down. Maya was in the middle, playing peacemaker, trying to soothe them both. They looked like a family. A messy, dysfunctional, perfectly matched family. I tried to reach for the water glass on my bedside table. My hand shook, and the glass shattered on the floor. The room went silent. Margot finally walked over, taking my hand with a look of practiced concern. “George, you’re awake. Thank God. I was so worried.” “Get out,” I croaked. “All of you. Get the hell out.” My roar was enough to finally clear the room. For the next few days, Margot tried to “prove” her loyalty by making Sebastian act as my nurse to “atone” for the accident. He used the time to torture me. He put insects in my food. He “accidentally” tripped over my oxygen line while I was sleeping. He switched my meds. I ended up back in the ICU twice. Margot yelled at him, but she never kicked him out. I saw her then for exactly what she was. I banned all visitors, hired my own private security, and finally discharged myself. 4 The first thing I did was head to the office for the final asset split. But when I walked through the doors, the world had changed again. The minimalist, professional grey-and-glass interior I had designed was gone. It had been replaced by gaudy gold accents and velvet furniture. I walked toward the boardroom. Usually, I led these meetings. Today, Sebastian was at the head of the table. “I don’t care who you thought was the man of the house before,” Sebastian was saying to our senior leads. “From now on, I’m the one in charge. I’m the legal husband here. Certain people who stole what wasn’t theirs will be escorted out soon. I suggest you choose your side wisely.” When he finished, several industry titans—men who wouldn’t have looked at Margot if I hadn’t brokered the deals—started clapping. Margot had used her remaining social capital to buy him a seat at the table. I remembered when I was sick during our first year. I had a rare, agonizing nerve condition. I asked Margot to use her contacts to find a specialist. She told me she “didn’t want to call in favors” for something personal. I spent two months in agony, just white-knuckling through the pain. Love and indifference are two different universes. I reached for the door handle, but someone grabbed my arm. It was Maya. She handed me a legal notice. “This is from Mom. It’s a formal transfer of shares. My dad is going to be a founding partner, just like you.” She looked at me with a cold, detached pity. “Look, you don’t have kids. This company was always going to come to me anyway. My dad joining now is just moving up the timeline. There’s no point in fighting it.” “You don’t have kids.” I laughed. When we first married, Maya was so fragile I agreed not to have more children so she wouldn’t feel replaced. Later, as the company grew, the stress of the Vance family’s internal board-room wars took such a toll on my health that I missed two windows for IVF. By the time the dust settled, my body was too broken to try again. Margot had held me while I cried from the physical pain of my surgeries, swearing she would never let me suffer again. And all that sacrifice earned me was: “You don’t have kids anyway.” I shoved past her, went to my office, and started packing. Margot walked in as I was clearing my desk. “George, what are you doing?” “Taking out the trash,” I said. She winced at my tone. “Are you mad about Sebastian? Look, don’t misunderstand. Maya said his presence is good luck for the brand this year. It’s just branding. Think of him as a mascot. After the fiscal year ends, I’ll phase him out. Don’t overthink it.” “And the shares? Does a ‘mascot’ need voting stock?” Margot stammered. “He… he has no degree, George. He has no job. How is he supposed to survive in this city without an equity stake? It’s just…” “Stop.” I opened the door to escort her out. Suddenly, Sebastian came stumbling down the hallway. His clothes were torn, and there was blood on his face. “Margot! Save me!” he gasped, clutching her sleeve. When he saw me, he flinched, shrinking back. “George… I’m sorry. I’ll leave. I’ll leave Chicago. I’ll never see her again, I promise…” He let out a single, perfect tear. Then he turned and limped toward the exit, looking like the loneliest man on earth. I was stunned. His acting was so good I almost believed I’d hired a hitman to beat him. I looked at Margot. She was expressionless. “Do you really think I did that?” I asked. She stepped forward and hugged me. “I know you, George. You wouldn’t do that.” I felt a tiny spark of relief. At least she wasn’t completely gone. But the next morning, my lawyer called. “George, Margot just used her tie-breaking vote to remove you from the board. Your entire stake has been ‘temporarily’ reassigned to Sebastian under a loyalty clause. And… she’s issued a gag order. No one is allowed to tell you the time or location of the IPO bell-ringing. She’s taking Sebastian instead.” I sat in the silence of my empty apartment. The IPO was the culmination of a decade of my life. And she was giving my moment to a ghost. My heart didn’t break. It just went cold. The day of the IPO, Sebastian was dressed in a custom-made tuxedo that cost more than a mid-sized sedan. He looked every bit the victor as he led Margot onto the podium at the exchange. The host invited Sebastian to the center of the stage. Margot took his hand, lifting it toward the bell. Just as they were about to strike…

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Chapter 1 My husband couldn’t forget his first love. He spilled his true feelings in a private VIP room at a club, drunk out of his mind. “I’ve loved her for years. I was too late to confess before, and she got married. Now she’s divorced, but I’m the one who’s married.” I didn’t get angry. I just stayed by his side. My husband despised me. He thought I was a pathetic, clingy woman with no sense of self, an obstacle standing between him and his first love. He was desperate to divorce me. Every time he brought it up, I refused. What he didn’t know was that he was just a target for my mission. I only needed to refuse his request for a divorce three times, and the system would force the mission to end. … When I rushed to the club through the pouring rain, I arrived just in time to hear Arthur say, “I’ve loved her for years. But before I could confess, she got married.” “Now she’s divorced, but I’m married.” One of his friends teased him, “Well, you could always get a divorce too.” Arthur’s drunken voice dripped with contempt and disgust. “That woman is obsessed with me. There’s no way she’d agree to a divorce.” “You guys have no idea. Every time I see her buzzing around me, it just annoys the hell out of me. She has absolutely zero personality or sense of self.” “She can’t even compare to a single finger on Chloe’s hand.” I froze outside the door of the VIP room. Behind me, the sharp click of high heels echoed down the hallway. It was Arthur’s beloved first love, Chloe. “Evelyn, you’re here. Why aren’t you going in?” She spoke up proactively, flashing me a brilliant, arrogant smile. Malice hid in her beautiful eyes. “What are you eavesdropping on out here?” The people inside finally noticed me. Their faces instantly changed, shooting guilty looks toward Arthur. For a split second, Arthur looked sober and panicked, but his expression quickly hardened into something cold. “You heard that?” The room was packed. To save Arthur’s ego, I played dumb. “What? I just got here.” Arthur let out a disgusted, cold laugh and turned his head away, refusing to look at me. I walked into the room to help him up. “It’s late. Let’s go home.” Arthur ruthlessly shoved me away, his impatience boiling over. “Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t coming home tonight? Why the hell did you come looking for me? Do you know how annoying you are?” He was drunk, and he didn’t bother reining in his temper. His expression was colder and more hostile than I had ever seen it. It made him look like a stranger. No, not entirely a stranger. He had been treating me like this for quite some time now. Ever since his first love announced her divorce. “Arthur, don’t talk to Evelyn like that. She only came to pick you up because she cares about you,” Chloe chimed in with fake sweetness. “How about this? Evelyn and I will take you home together. Is that okay?” Looking at Chloe’s face, Arthur’s expression slowly softened. “Okay.” So, I ended up driving while Arthur and Chloe squeezed together in the backseat. I don’t know if Arthur was actually blackout drunk or just doing it on purpose, but he laid his head directly on Chloe’s lap, acting as intimate as a couple deep in the honeymoon phase. The sight made my eyes burn. Chloe offered me a fake apology. “Evelyn, please don’t misunderstand. Arthur is just drunk. Please don’t fight with him over me.” I didn’t say a word. I had absolutely zero desire to waste my energy dealing with a manipulative “pick-me” girl. But Chloe wouldn’t stop. “You really are a boring person. No wonder you and Arthur have been married for five years and still haven’t developed any real feelings for each other.” Chapter 2 Those words struck a nerve. It was true. Once upon a time, I used to fantasize that Arthur and I would have an arranged-marriage-turns-to-true-love kind of romance, that feelings would grow over time. But in the end, Arthur loved his first love more. When the car stopped, Chloe ignored me and practically carried Arthur into the house herself. I didn’t try to stop her. I just sat in the car, looking at the photo I had just taken. The next day, when Arthur sobered up, I showed him the photo. It was a picture of him sleeping deeply on Chloe’s lap, while Chloe gazed down at him with deep affection. Arthur stared at it in a daze, and then a look of joy washed over his face. I bet he was secretly thrilled that Chloe’s eyes looked so full of love for him. So, I intentionally threw a massive fit, demanding an explanation. “What exactly is going on between you and that homewrecker, Chloe?!” Arthur immediately frowned. “Evelyn, stop using such ugly words. Have some class, will you?” I yelled angrily, “Even if I don’t have class, I’m still your wife! I have the right to keep you in line, and I have the right to curse out that homewrecker you’re messing around with!” My words were harsh, and Arthur’s face darkened just as expected. He glared at me coldly. “What? Am I not your wife? Do I not have that right?!” “Then let’s get a divorce,” Arthur said, his expression filled with revulsion. “Evelyn, let’s get a divorce.” I shouted excitedly, “I refuse! Arthur, I will not agree to a divorce!” Arthur gave me a “just as I expected” look, as if he knew all along I wouldn’t agree. Utterly sick of me, he slammed the door and left. Once he was gone, I dropped the angry facade and calmly pulled out a chair to sit down. I finally got him to bring up divorce on his own. Six years ago, the system pulled me into this world and assigned me the mission of making Arthur fall in love with me. For six years, I worked diligently, playing the role of the deeply devoted lover, sacrificing everything to marry him. At one point, I even developed genuine feelings for him. But Arthur still didn’t love me. My mission was a failure. Now, as long as Arthur brought up divorce three times, the system would force the mission to end, and I could return to my original world. Now, there were only two times left. When Arthur came back, I was in the study organizing my illustration drafts. After marrying Arthur, I became both a full-time housewife and a full-time illustrator, gaining a small following online. Right now, I was organizing the manuscript for my very first graphic novel. I had spent over two years preparing it. I originally planned to publish it in this world, but since I was leaving soon, I decided to take the work back to my original world with me. Hearing the sound of Arthur opening the door, I closed my manuscript folder, looked back at him, pretended nothing had happened, and said gently, “You’re back?” Arthur’s expression was stiff and awkward, like he wanted to say something but was holding back. I stood up and walked toward him. Even though I knew he had something to say, I played dumb. “I made your favorite soup. I’ll go get you a bowl.” As soon as I walked out of the study, I immediately understood why Arthur had that expression. Chloe was there, and she had her luggage with her. “Evelyn,” Chloe smiled warmly at me, adding a touch of apology to her tone. “I’ve been getting harassed by some crazy fans lately, and it’s not safe at my place. Could I crash here for a few days until things blow over?” I looked at her expressionlessly and didn’t say a word. Arthur, looking guilty, spoke softly to explain. “It’s true. Some fans found out Chloe’s address. They knock on her door every night and even follow her.” Seeing that I remained silent, Arthur started to get impatient, his brow furrowing. “There really is nothing going on between Chloe and me. We’re just friends who have known each other for years. She’s in trouble right now, I can’t just ignore her.” “Evelyn, there has to be a limit to your unreasonable behavior. Stop testing my patience. We’ve been married for years, can’t you show a little maturity? Stop acting like a spoiled child.” “Fine.” I looked away and said to Arthur, “I agree to let her stay.” Chapter 3 Why wouldn’t I let her stay? Only if she moved in would the conflicts between Arthur and me escalate faster, which meant I could hear him bring up divorce for the second time much sooner. The sooner I could leave this world, the better. Arthur looked at me in total surprise. The look in his eyes was strange, as if he was still dissatisfied. “What, I agreed and you’re still not happy?” Arthur frowned and warned me, “Don’t try any funny business. If I find out you’re bullying Chloe behind my back, I won’t let it slide easily.” I wanted to laugh. He was supposed to be my husband, but right now his loyalty was entirely with an outsider. I really wanted to ask, Arthur, in all the years we’ve been together, have you never felt even a shred of genuine affection for me? Arthur ignored me and quickly went downstairs to help Chloe with her luggage and prepare the guest room. While he was at it, he enthusiastically offered, “Evelyn made some restorative soup in the kitchen. Once we’re done unpacking, I’ll bring you a bowl.” “Evelyn might not be great at much else, but her cooking is top-notch. You haven’t been feeling well, let her cook for you and help you get your strength back these next few days.” I let out a dry, speechless laugh. Arthur, did you really think that just because we got married, I became your servant? That no matter how you treated me, I would never leave you? I really want to know how you’re going to react when I’m gone. I walked downstairs, went into the kitchen, drank a bowl of soup myself, and then poured the rest of it straight down the drain. I spent all day making that soup. I’d rather pour it out than let you two toxic pieces of trash drink it. I went back to the study and continued organizing my comic. It didn’t take long for Arthur to storm into the study, demanding, “Where’s the soup you made?” I kept my eyes downcast and said coldly, “Poured it out.” “What?!” Arthur sounded like a completely different person, his tone explosive. “Evelyn, what is the meaning of this? If you didn’t want Chloe to stay, you could have just said no! Instead, you play nice to my face and then pull this petty, passive-aggressive bullshit behind my back!” I countered coldly, “If I had said no, would you not have gotten angry?” Arthur stared at me, speechless. I stared back at him, waiting to see if he would bring up divorce for the second time. But I was disappointed. He didn’t. Arthur slammed the door and stormed off again. Late that night, after washing up and getting into bed, I could hear Arthur and Chloe drinking and chatting in the living room. The atmosphere sounded incredibly cheerful; even from upstairs, I could hear their laughter. I don’t know how much time had passed, but while I was deep in sleep, I felt someone hug me from behind. It was Arthur. His breath was scorching hot and reeked of alcohol as he affectionately kissed the back of my neck. I felt utterly disgusted and shoved him away forcefully. “What are you doing?” Arthur sobered up a bit, complaining, “You’re my wife, what do you think I’m doing?” Seeing my entire body radiating rejection, his face gradually darkened. “This is your duty as a wife, Evelyn. If you’re going to keep acting like this and refusing to let me touch you, then get the hell out of my house.” Ever since I discovered Arthur was cheating, I had refused to let him touch me. It had been almost three months now. “Your house?” I asked. Arthur looked smug, as if he was absolutely certain I would submit. “You married me with absolutely nothing to your name. I owned this house before we met, so of course it’s my house. Evelyn, did you forget? You were the one who begged me to marry you.” “Now, if you won’t let me touch you, get out!” Chapter 4 I was left speechless, then silent, and finally, I started laughing. Back then, he was my mission target. To complete the mission, I really did beg him to marry me. I couldn’t deny that. I just never expected that this man, who I once genuinely had feelings for, would use that to attack my dignity. “Fine, I’ll leave.” I opened the closet and packed a few essentials. Before walking out the door, I paused slightly, waiting for Arthur to say something harsh, like threatening to divorce me if I dared to step outside. But Arthur completely misunderstood my hesitation. He mocked me mercilessly, “Didn’t you say you were leaving? Go on, get out!” His tone made it clear he was convinced my threat to leave was just a manipulative tantrum, not a genuine intention. I felt like the fire needed just a little more fuel. So, I marched over to the guest room where Chloe was staying and started pounding on the door. I wanted to manufacture a massive fight, something that would push Arthur to finally say the word “divorce.” Arthur quickly rushed downstairs and grabbed my arm. “What are you doing, Evelyn?! Are you crazy?!” I struggled. “Let go of me! Arthur, don’t think I don’t know what’s going on in your head. You like Chloe, right? Well, I’m going to ask her right now if she likes you back.” I thought this would force Arthur to bring up divorce, but to my absolute shock, he raised his hand and slapped me across the face. I instantly went quiet. Arthur froze too. He looked panicked and at a loss for what to do. His lips moved, perhaps realizing what he had done and wanting to apologize. But in the end, he didn’t apologize. He just said, “Go back to your room.” I was utterly disappointed in Arthur. I stared at him, my eyes bloodshot, on the verge of tears. Arthur avoided my gaze. “Evelyn, if you keep acting this crazy, I’m genuinely going to divorce you.” I finally heard the words I had been waiting for. Even though I was thrilled on the inside and wished we could sign the papers immediately, I had to hold back. Acting aggrieved and furious, I let tears stream down my face. “I refuse.” I turned around and walked out of the house. Finally. Finally, just one more time, and I can leave. I walked the streets for a long time before stopping. Looking at the empty roads and the dim yellow streetlights, I felt a sudden sense of aimlessness, like I had nowhere to go. Six years ago, when I arrived in this world, my entire life revolved around Arthur. I had been focused on him for so long that I didn’t even have my own social circle. Thankfully, I hadn’t given up on my career. When I returned to my original world, I could still use my new work to become a successful comic artist. Thinking of that, I suddenly felt a wave of frustration. How could I have forgotten to bring my comic manuscript with me?! It seemed I had to find an excuse to go back and pack it up. I found a hotel to stay in temporarily. For days, Arthur didn’t reach out to me. I didn’t want to waste time pointlessly, so just as I was preparing to swallow my pride, go back, and force Arthur to bring up divorce one last time… something happened. Chloe posted my comic on her social media art account. Even though it had been converted from hand-drawn pages to digital art, the character designs, the storyline, and even the storyboards were completely plagiarized. I was so furious I saw stars. I immediately called Arthur. I called several times, but Arthur didn’t answer. Eventually, his phone was just turned off. I tried to calm down. I logged online, tagged Chloe, and publicly exposed the fact that she had plagiarized my work. Like me, Chloe was a professional illustrator. The difference was that I focused purely on drawing, while she leaned heavily into being an influencer. She had previously capitalized on her divorce to gain massive online traffic, and she was currently riding a wave of popularity. Chloe denied the plagiarism accusations, claiming I was slandering her. She demanded I produce evidence, or she would force me to issue a public apology. My original manuscripts were all back at the house, so naturally, I couldn’t produce them right then. Consequently, her fans swarmed my accounts, burying me in insults and hate messages. The volume of notifications was so massive it caused my phone to freeze. Chapter 5 I called Arthur while in a cab heading back to the house. This time, he finally answered. I could clearly hear the guilt in his voice. Being cautious, I turned on the call recording feature beforehand. “Did you take my manuscript and give it to Chloe?” Arthur didn’t admit it, instead asking, “Where are you?” “Answer my question, Arthur! You know perfectly well that comic is the result of years of my hard work!” Arthur sounded impatient. “I’ll compensate you. What do you want? I’ll buy you a house, how’s that?” I gritted my teeth. “I’m asking you, why did you give my comic to Chloe?! That is my work!” “Didn’t I say I’d compensate you? Once Chloe gets the revenue from the comic, she’ll compensate you too.” Arthur once again shattered my understanding of how low he could sink. “Delete those posts online. If you agree, I promise I will never bring up divorce with you again.” “Ha.” I laughed out loud. Never bring up divorce again? My biggest dream right now was for him to bring up divorce. “Keep dreaming,” I said fiercely. “Arthur, I am getting my work back.” I hung up the phone and immediately posted the recording online. It instantly caused a massive uproar. The hate comments subsided slightly, but there was still a huge amount of skepticism demanding I produce concrete proof. Otherwise, who knew if the recording was real or faked? The cab stopped. I got out and ran toward the house. Arthur and Chloe were both in the living room. Chloe’s face was covered in tears. She leaned pitifully against Arthur’s shoulder, sobbing. When she saw me, she immediately put on a pleading expression. Arthur stared at me coldly, as if I were his worst enemy. I only cared about one thing. “Where is my manuscript?” Arthur didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he marched over, roughly grabbed my wrist, snatched the phone I was using to record a video, and smashed it violently against the floor. He glared at me and said, “Evelyn, you’ve disappointed me so much. You said you loved me, that your whole life was devoted to me. But when I ask you to sacrifice this one little thing, you refuse, and you even post our recording online.” His expression was full of disappointment, entirely focused on blaming me. “Are you trying to destroy me? You never used to be like this. You used to be obedient and compliant. That was the version of you I liked.” “The way you are now, I have absolutely zero interest in you.” “Let’s get a divorce, Evelyn.” Arthur stared into my eyes, a deep sense of expectation and certainty hiding in his gaze. He assumed that I would definitely refuse, that I would submit to him, and that in order to stay by his side, I would agree to all his demands. But he didn’t know that this was the final strike. He had now brought up divorce three times. This time, I didn’t need to refuse. Because the system had already determined that my mission was about to be forcefully terminated. I was free to leave. Chapter 6 I looked at Arthur’s confident expression and suddenly smiled. “Okay,” I told him. “Let’s get a divorce. Right now!” This time, it was Arthur’s turn to freeze. His pupils contracted as he stared at me in disbelief. “Evelyn, I said I want a divorce!” He couldn’t believe it. He thought I must have misheard him, so he ridiculously asked again, “Do you really have the guts to divorce me? Can you really bear to do it?” I looked straight into Arthur’s eyes and told him, word by word, “Even if you ask me ten thousand times, I will only give you one answer: I agree to the divorce.” “Arthur, honestly, I’ve wanted to divorce you for a long time. I refused before just to give you a chance, but you constantly disappointed me.” “Now, if you want a divorce, fine. I don’t care.” I walked around him and headed straight upstairs to the study. When Arthur proposed divorce for the third time, I could have left immediately. But I still hadn’t gotten my comic manuscript back. It was the one thing I needed to take back to my original world. I had to find it. So, I chose to stay for an additional three days. After three days, I would be forcibly extracted. I rushed upstairs and yanked open the drawers, but my comic manuscript wasn’t there. I had no choice but to return to the first floor. Arthur was still standing in the living room, looking stunned. Chloe held his hand, whispering to him, “You’ve always wanted a divorce, maybe it’s for the best. As for the comic, I’ll go apologize.” She wiped away her tears, looking incredibly fragile and pitiful. “Let the internet attack me, Arthur. You shouldn’t sacrifice yourself for me anymore. Now, it’s my turn to sacrifice for you.” Chloe squeezed Arthur’s hand, a flash of triumph in her eyes. I really couldn’t stomach this disgusting performance any longer. I walked over and interrupted them. “Arthur, I’ve agreed to the divorce. Where is my artwork? Give it back.” Arthur slowly looked up, glaring at me with bloodshot eyes. “Evelyn, do you really hate Chloe that much? You’re willing to sacrifice our marriage just to destroy her?” I sneered. “Our marriage was destroyed by you a long time ago. Arthur, I don’t want anything from you right now. I just want my comic manuscript back.” Arthur stared at me. “Then sign the divorce papers first.” “Fine.” He called his lawyer, who quickly drafted the divorce agreement. Arthur printed it out and placed it in front of me. “If you really want a divorce, sign it right now.” I picked up the pen without hesitation. But just as I was about to sign, a bad feeling washed over me. I flipped back through the agreement and realized that Arthur wasn’t just demanding I leave with nothing. He had also inserted a mandatory clause forcing me to forfeit all ownership rights to the comic, transferring the copyright to Chloe completely free of charge. I pointed at the clause. “Delete this.” Arthur looked at me coldly. “You want a divorce? This is the condition.” I mocked him, “Arthur, could it be that you actually can’t bear to divorce me? What, don’t you want to be with your beloved Chloe anymore?” Chloe looked up, staring at Arthur with hidden anticipation. But Arthur didn’t even look at her. Instead, he stared intensely at me. “Evelyn, I said it. You want a divorce, this is the price and the condition. If you don’t sign, don’t ever think about getting a divorce.”

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I had been arranged to marry Liam, the heir to New York’s wealthiest real estate dynasty, since we were kids. Because of this status, I controlled almost every aspect of his life growing up. Whenever I got too strict, Liam would always spit out the same vicious threat: “Chloe, just you wait. Sooner or later, I’m going to break off this damn engagement.” Later, I accidentally discovered I was switched at birth and was actually a fake heiress. I decided it was time to lay low. I stopped asking about his life. I stopped forcing him to fulfill his “fiancé duties.” After noticing I hadn’t nagged him for over two weeks, Liam’s frat-bro friends threw him a massive “Freedom Party” to celebrate. I never expected Liam to completely lose his mind on the spot. “Mind your own business! All of you, mind your own fucking business!” “Are you happy now?! She actually found someone else!” 1 “Chloe, Liam is out messing around with Carter and that crowd again.” The bass in the nightclub was deafening. When my best friend, Harper, leaned in to tattle on Liam, I was completely distracted. I took her phone. In the video, Liam was wearing a flashy burgundy silk shirt, leaning lazily against a sports car, a lit cigarette pinched between his fingers. He was surrounded by a group of trust-fund playboys, each with a gorgeous woman hanging off their arm. I watched the clip calmly and handed the phone back to Harper. “It’s fine. Let him do whatever.” “What’s wrong with you?” Harper pressed the back of her hand against my forehead. “You don’t have a fever.” “Are you an imposter? Who are you and what have you done with Chloe?” “Harper.” I shot her a look. “Do I need to bring up the time you peed your pants in first grade to prove my identity?” With that, I grabbed my purse and walked out. Honestly, I couldn’t blame Harper for overreacting. Ever since I was eight years old and got engaged to Liam, I had kept him on an incredibly tight leash. Before, I had the right to control him. Now… I wasn’t so sure. Because very soon, I wouldn’t be Liam’s fiancée anymore. 2 Just three days ago, I accidentally found out I wasn’t my parents’ biological daughter. I was switched at birth. It wouldn’t be long before the real heiress of the Sterling family was brought back. The fate of a fake heiress like me was entirely predictable. Over the years, riding high on my status as the Sterling family heiress and the future Mrs. Vance, I had offended quite a few people. Half of Manhattan’s elite circle was waiting to watch me fall from grace. Especially Liam. Since the day our engagement was set, I used his grandfather’s backing to control him. When he turned eighteen, I laid down three absolute rules: Rule 1: No smoking, no heavy drinking, no fighting, and no hanging out with garbage friends. Rule 2: No staying out all night. You must be home before midnight. Rule 3: You must fulfill your physical duties as my fiancé. We sleep together at least three times a week. Whenever I enforced these rules, Liam would glare at me and spit: “Chloe, just you wait. Sooner or later, I’m going to break off this damn engagement.” I never took his threats seriously. But things were different now. In high-society marriages, equal social standing is everything. No matter how much Liam’s grandfather liked me, he would never let his grandson marry a woman with zero social capital to offer the family business. This engagement was doomed. If I didn’t want Liam to completely destroy me once my fake identity was exposed… I needed to cut my losses immediately and stop interfering in his life. 3 I didn’t go looking for Liam. I just went straight home. But the moment I walked through the door, Liam arrived right behind me. Hearing the noise in the foyer, I instinctively looked up. Our eyes met. Liam looked slightly guilty and tried to look away, but then forcibly locked eyes with me. He raised his chin, intentionally raising his voice: “That’s right, Chloe. Not only did I hang out with Carter and the guys today, but I also drank and smoked.” I didn’t argue with him like I usually would. I just gave a soft “Okay,” stood up, and headed for my bedroom. “Chloe—” Liam closed the distance in three strides and grabbed my wrist. His dark eyes stared intensely into mine, his tone carrying a trace of hidden anxiety: “Listen to me. I said I smoked and drank today.” “I know.” I looked at him calmly. “You don’t need to report to me. As long as you’re happy.” “Alright, Chloe.” The corner of his mouth quirked up, sounding incredibly certain. “I know you’re still mad.” “It was my fault for not going to the gala with you last time.” “You haven’t spoken to me in three days.” “No, I wasn’t…” Before I could finish, Liam cut me off: “You can be on top tonight. I won’t complain.” Saying that, Liam started unbuttoning his shirt. He had an incredible body. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, and solid eight-pack abs. He looked amazing. I had ridden those abs more times than I could count. He grabbed my hand and pressed it flat against his stomach. Then, he arrogantly turned his face away, though the tips of his ears slowly turned pink. “Consider it a favor. You can touch whatever you want tonight.” I glanced at the calendar and realized today was one of our scheduled “duty” days. Usually, I had to remind him. But tonight, Liam was being terrifyingly proactive. “Liam, I’m not in the mood tonight.” I dropped that sentence and practically sprinted back to my room. 4 When I woke up at noon the next day, Liam surprisingly hadn’t left the house. He was sprawling lazily on the living room sofa, casually scrolling through his phone. Seeing me walk out of the bedroom, he put his phone away, let out a low cough, and said casually: “Chloe, didn’t you complain that your closet was getting boring? I have some free time today. I can take you shopping.” “No thanks, I have plans with Harper.” I rejected him without a second thought. “Seriously, Chloe, how long are you going to stay mad?” Liam marched over, grabbed my wrist, and furrowed his brow. He pressed his lips together, sounding impatient: “I’m literally giving you an out right now. Are you planning to tattle on me to my grandfather again?” So that was why he was acting so weird today. I couldn’t really blame him; I used to do that all the time. “Relax, relax.” I quickly waved my free hand to deny it. “I won’t. I admit I used to be way too controlling.” “The three rules I made? They’re all void. From now on, you can do whatever you want. I won’t interfere in your life anymore.” “I swear.” Afraid he wouldn’t believe me, I raised three fingers like a scout. “I promise.” “Chloe, you…” Liam stared at me in disbelief. A watery, red sheen began to pool in his eyes. His eyes grew redder, his chest rising and falling heavily. Finally, he coldly turned his face away, his voice hard as rock: “Fine. Whatever.” Immediately after, the front door slammed shut with a massive BANG. What the hell?! What was he so mad about? I met Harper at a cafe. I told her the truth about my identity. Harper sat there stunned for a long time before she could process it. “So you think you and Liam are going to call off the engagement, which is why you stopped keeping him on a leash?” “But have you ever thought that maybe Liam actually cares about you? He wouldn’t just break off the engagement that easily.” “Liam doesn’t like me.” I pulled a bitter smile, mocking myself: “Just last week, he said it himself.” “I didn’t realize until then just how much he despised being engaged to me.” 5 After being with Liam for so many years, saying I had no feelings for him would be a lie. The night I accidentally found out I was a fake heiress, I desperately wanted to find Liam, sleep with him, and vent my emotions. But standing outside his VIP room at the club, I overheard his conversation with his friends: “Liam, are you seriously going to let Chloe control you for the rest of your life?” “Everyone says you’re totally whipped, completely controlled by a woman.” “You haven’t actually fallen for her, have you?” “Impossible!” Liam declared with absolute certainty. “I could fall for anyone in the world, but not her.” “Chloe is just pale with big eyes, she is absolutely not my type.” “If my grandfather hadn’t forced this engagement down my throat, I never would have bowed down to her.” Standing outside the door, an unspeakable mix of emotions crashed over me. The tiny sliver of fantasy I had harbored about Liam shattered instantly. I quietly left the club and walked alone for a very long time in the dark. “He said it himself.” I looked at Harper, pursing my lips. “He can’t wait to get rid of me.” Harper opened her mouth, looking at me like she wanted to say something, but ultimately stayed silent. I told her my concerns. I have always cared deeply about my pride. Once the news broke that I was a fake heiress and the Vance family dumped me, the entire elite circle would laugh me out of town. So I planned to initiate the breakup myself, before the real heiress was officially brought back. 6 Without me managing him, Liam didn’t come home for the next few days. Normally, if he wasn’t home by midnight, I would either blow up his phone or personally hunt him down. One night, just as I was getting ready for bed, one of Liam’s lackeys sent me a video. [Boss lady, Liam insisted on hiring some ‘conversation companions’ tonight. Do you want to come handle this?] I clicked on the video. Liam was slouching lazily on a club sofa, a very innocent-looking girl standing nervously in front of him. My chest tightened. It seemed he had taken my “do whatever you want” speech to heart very quickly. [Okay, noted.] I closed the app, but another video immediately came through. Liam had his arm around the innocent girl and shoved a black Amex card into her chest: “My fiancée doesn’t care about me anymore. Use whatever tricks you’ve got.” My eyes burned. I immediately blocked the lackey’s number. Before officially breaking off the engagement, I needed to move out of Liam’s penthouse. This place was originally bought by the Vance family as our future marital home. Since we were breaking up, I had no reason to stay. After looking at apartments for a few days, I found one I liked and went to sign the lease today. Stepping out of the elevator, I unexpectedly ran into Ethan, an older guy from my college days. We were chatting and laughing as we walked out of the building. But right at the exit, I ran into a very familiar figure. Liam was staring dead at me and Ethan. His eyes were a chaotic storm of absolute disbelief, rage, and insecurity. His gaze locked onto my face. His eyes were inexplicably red, and he asked through gritted teeth: “Chloe, who is he? Don’t forget, you have a fiancé.” “Not for much longer,” I murmured very quietly. Liam’s pupils contracted violently. He charged forward and grabbed my shoulders, his fingers digging in so hard his knuckles turned white. He was breathing heavily, a watery, furious sheen building in his eyes: “Chloe, are you fucking telling me you’re dumping me for this guy?!” I opened my mouth to say something, but Liam grabbed my arm and violently yanked me into his car. He crashed his lips onto mine, then bit down hard on my earlobe: “Chloe, we are childhood sweethearts! What the hell is he compared to me?!” “Get off!” I shoved hard against his chest, but his kisses just trailed down to my collarbone. “Chloe, you’re telling me to get off?” Liam slid his hand up my thigh, kissed me aggressively, and threatened: “If you dare get out of this car, I will kiss you right in front of him.” … That night, Liam walked around half-naked, showing off his eight-pack. “Chloe, inspect the goods.” He grabbed my hand, pressed it against his abs, and desperately explained: “I didn’t touch anyone that night. When you blocked my guy, I drove straight home.” “Chloe, you obviously still care about me.” Hearing this, my heart softened slightly. Deep down, Liam actually did care about me, didn’t he? I pushed him away slightly, ordering: “You still smell like alcohol. Go take another shower.” Liam looked like he wanted to talk back, but obediently walked into the bathroom. 7 While Liam was in the shower, his iPad on the sofa lit up. I opened it. It was messages from his group chat with the guys: [Liam, we looked into him. That guy is an upperclassman from Chloe’s college.] [If you care this much about that guy, you must actually be in love with Chloe, right?] Liam: [Who the hell likes Chloe? I’m just pissed off that she shifted her attention to someone else.] [I don’t want a woman who jumps from bed to bed.] [Once I train Chloe properly and make her fall completely in love with me, I’m going to dump her!] So his anger today was completely faked. Behind my back, he was planning this. I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. While I was lost in thought, a freshly showered Liam pressed himself against my back. His breath was scorching hot. His kisses trailed down my neck, his voice raspy: “Chloe, we haven’t done it in a long time.” I raised my hand, shoved him away, and said coldly: “Liam, don’t touch me. I don’t want to!” Liam cursed under his breath, frowning deeply: “Chloe, you won’t let me touch you? Are you saving yourself for Ethan now?!” Remembering the messages in his group chat, I suddenly didn’t want to explain anything. This engagement was going to end anyway. At least this way, I looked like the winner. I wouldn’t look so pathetic. I pursed my lips: “Yes. From now on, I won’t interfere in your business.” “And don’t interfere in mine. We can both do whatever we want.” “I refuse!” Liam’s eyes were completely bloodshot. “Chloe, you either cut him off completely, or we call off the engagement.” “Fine.” I followed his lead. “Then I’ll arrange a meeting between our families tomorrow.” Having said that, I fought back my tears and slammed the door as I walked out.

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My sworn enemy had filled out my information on a dating site. The moment I received the call, I was about to yell at the scammer when a stream of pop-up comments flashed before my eyes: 【The male lead is afraid of an arranged marriage with the female side character, so he just randomly filled out her info, and she actually reeled in a rich, handsome catch.】 【Too bad the female side character isn’t destined for it. The rich, handsome man she rejected becomes the female lead’s most devoted, exclusive lapdog.】 【The unrequited male supporting character even dies saving the female lead in the end; such a tear-jerking setup.】 …Wait, what? Devoted, exclusive, lapdog, rich, handsome? I immediately cleared my throat, my voice softening: “I’m free tonight. Let’s pick a place to meet.” 1 The voice on the other end of the line was still pleasant and efficient: “Alright, Ms. Sullivan, I’ll send the location to your phone shortly.” With that, the person hung up. Before I could fully process what had happened, I saw the comments section light up again: 【OMG, what’s wrong with this female side character? Why did she agree? Shouldn’t she reject him and thoroughly humiliate him?】 【Nooo… what if the male supporting character actually falls for her? My lapdog second male lead can only be for the female lead!】 【How could he possibly fall for her? What does the female side character have besides her looks that can compare to our darling female lead?】 I casually looked up the name of the website the man had mentioned. The moment I typed it in, I was stunned. This dating site wasn’t just legitimate; its membership fee was an astounding ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine dollars. I now fully understood just how much Logan Thorne detested me. He was truly willing to spend money to avoid an arranged marriage with me. But arranged marriages were usually meddled with by parents; Logan and I hated each other so much, we could only be enemies, never spouses. For my evening meeting, I simply booked a facial at a beauty salon. Just then, I received a call from my mom. “I’m telling you, you’re in your twenties, and it’s almost the holidays again. What am I supposed to tell the relatives?” I sighed, “Mom, our family isn’t poor, and our relatives are all well-off. Why are they all so idle that they have to meddle in other people’s business?” My mom was surprisingly candid: “Well, it’s because your mom, me, was too bored in previous years and used to badger them all. Now they’re just getting their revenge.” “Couldn’t you have just refused?” “The me from back then made it impossible for them to refuse.” That boomerang really stung… My dad had pampered my mom so much she spent her days playing mahjong. Her hands were busy enough, but her mouth never stopped either. I was too annoyed to speak, but still replied with my pre-planned line: “Stop trying to set me up with Logan. I have a boyfriend.” “Since when? What does he look like, what does he do?” “Just stop asking. I’ll bring him home for the holidays, won’t I?” I hung up. Then I started to panic again. Just like the comments said, I had only secured a chance to meet the male supporting character. Whether I would like him, or whether he would like me, was indeed an unknown. I muttered casually, “If it really doesn’t work out, it looks like I’ll have to rent a boyfriend to take home for the holidays.” But the comments seemed to relax: 【So she’s also afraid of an arranged marriage. But to believe a phone call so easily, she’s really not vigilant at all.】 【The second male lead belongs to the female lead, and to the audience. He just can’t belong to the female side character.】 【I don’t think the second male lead’s taste is that bad. How could such a perfect second male lead be suitable for this female side character? Anyone would know how to choose once they meet the female lead, right?】 That evening, the first time I saw Julian Knight, I couldn’t help but exclaim: He truly was a handsome man. So, I directly addressed him: “To make a long story short, shall we get married?” 2 I’d read a ton of comments. Every single one said he was devoted, exclusive, and a rich, handsome man. They even said he had no bad habits and was single only because he was dedicated to his work. They’d even detailed his family background—more accurate than any background check. He just paused, then immediately responded, “I haven’t introduced myself yet.” I nodded. “I just feel a strong connection with you.” What more could I ask for in such a perfect man? 【LOL, what ‘connection’? She’s just impressed by his looks, right?】 【Why couldn’t it be that she’s also afraid of an arranged marriage with the male lead? I don’t think the female side character is as bad as you all say.】 【The female lead is about to appear. Let’s see how she can compete.】 I listened carefully as he introduced himself, then hastily introduced myself. I stood up and invited him, “If you’re still free tonight, why don’t we go for a walk? It’s better than us both sitting here awkwardly.” If I couldn’t beat it, I could at least avoid it. I had to create more opportunities for myself. Isn’t that how people reach the pinnacle of their lives? He had no objection and followed me out of the coffee shop. As we walked along the lakeside promenade, I asked him, “With your background, why are you on a dating site? Don’t your family arrange suitable matches for you?” I was practically asking why he wasn’t in an arranged marriage. In truth, my family’s circumstances were far inferior to his. He nodded. “I’m a person who goes by feeling. For someone I’ll spend my life with, I hope it’s someone I genuinely like. As for circumstances… I don’t think those are the main point.” 【Exactly! That’s why when the female lead caught his eye, he had no one else in his sight.】 【His love for the female lead is undeniable, and his ending makes me sob uncontrollably.】 I looked at the stray cat that suddenly appeared at my feet. I pulled out a portable pouch of cat food from my pocket. “You carry that with you?” I thought he meant the cat food, and immediately explained, “Yes, feeding stray cats wet treats isn’t ideal; they can get oral inflammation. My pouches double as bowls, which are more convenient and don’t harm the environment.” He smiled. “Do you also have cats?” “Four cats and a dog. You’ll get to meet them if there’s a chance.” 【The female side character is so cunning, she’s trying to establish a caring image for herself, but the male supporting character likes that ‘feeling.’】 【Does she think taking the male supporting character away and preventing him from meeting the female lead will work? They’re destined to meet. She’ll regret it.】 Who knows what the future holds… Before I even finished that thought, I knew the comments were right. At that moment, the female lead, Anna McCarthy, appeared. She ran past us, shouting, “Stop, thief!” Behind her, a crying old lady slapped her thigh. The kind female lead quickly ran out of breath. Now, it was my turn to show what I could do. The comments had only praised my face, no one mentioned my strong limbs. I quickly charged forward. Just as I was about to grab the thief, I saw the comments. 【This female side character is so stupid, a woman daring to charge. The thief has a knife.】 3 At the same time, I saw the thief making a movement as if to pull out a knife. Although I was a little flustered, self-preservation was the most important thing. As I lifted my leg, someone else’s foot had already connected. It was Julian, who had rushed over behind me. The thief cried out, collapsing to the ground, the knife he’d just pulled out flying away. Julian then pinned the thief down. Due to the momentum of my missed kick, I also stumbled and fell. At that moment, Anna McCarthy arrived, panting. She anxiously helped me up. “Are you alright?” My knee hurt a little, so I had to be honest: “Ouch, I wanted to pretend I was fine, but my knee hurts too much. I want to cry.” 【Hahahahaha, why is the female side character so funny?】 【The female lead is so pure, so beautiful. Now that she’s a little sweaty, she’s like a goddess descended.】 I took a closer look at Anna. What would be an exaggerated amount of exercise for her had only made her slightly sweaty, her face beautifully flushed. She thanked Julian, then snatched the recovered bag and hurried off to find the old lady whose bag had been stolen. Good heavens. She was so kind, I almost fell in love with her myself. Julian stared at her retreating back, and I already had a premonition that such feelings might indeed be predestined. But then Julian, busy subduing the thief, turned to me again. “Help call the police.” After I dutifully called the police, he asked me, “Are you alright?” I shook my head. “I’m fine. He didn’t even get the knife out.” Robbery was one thing, but assault with a deadly weapon was another. The police arrived swiftly. Watching the thief being led away by officers, Julian suddenly walked over to the weeping old lady. After her ordeal, she was still too shaken to recover. We had all clearly heard her crying earlier, saying the bag contained her husband’s life-saving money, just withdrawn from the bank, and there wasn’t enough to begin with, almost getting stolen. The female lead anxiously comforted the old lady nearby. “I can help you figure something out.” Julian listened, then made a call. “Grandma, would you mind telling me your husband’s hospital? I’ll cover your husband’s medical bills.” So, for the female lead, the male supporting character truly would try to do anything. Under their joint persuasion, the old lady left, relieved. 【Seriously, the female lead and male supporting character together are a delight to behold.】 【I’m on Team Male Supporting Character; I support him moving up.】 【What’s the female side character still standing around for? Can’t she see the atmosphere is just right? Why intrude?】 Actually, it wasn’t that I wanted to intrude, it was that after I stood up, I found my foot was hurting badly. In a moment, Julian walked up to me again. “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” I tried to walk a few steps. “My foot hurts terribly; I think I twisted it.” 【The female side character is such a manipulative green tea, pulling out all the stops.】 【My foot hurts too, can a handsome guy take me to the hospital?】 Julian took me to the hospital without a second thought. That was impressive. I ran and kicked, and ended up with a hairline fracture. What angered me even more was that the most bizarre comment was: 【The female side character has already lost so badly, and now she has a hairline fracture. How can that compare to the female lead’s perfect bones?】 4 It was almost the holidays, and I’d managed to fracture my bone. Logan heard about it instantly. He swaggered into my house, even bringing a ridiculously expensive pair of crutches. His handsome face always spouted crazy things: “Holiday season, and you’re on crutches, you’re something else, Scarlett Sullivan.” I genuinely couldn’t imagine a girl like Anna McCarthy falling for someone like Logan. Truly a misfortune for our family. “Don’t you worry your head, it’s a hairline fracture, not a full break. You don’t need to be so happy.” He unexpectedly poked my head with his finger. “Can you even remember you’re a woman? You charged at him even though he had a knife? Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Logan and I might be sworn enemies, but we certainly didn’t wish death upon each other. “How was I supposed to know he had a knife when I chased him? But thanks to you calling me a menace, I guess I’m unkillable. Just don’t tell my mom.” I was afraid my mom would tie me down in the hospital for the entire holiday. I glared at him, asking the crucial question: “Anyway, since when do you care if I live or die? What are you doing here? Just passing by?” His face changed, even flushing slightly. “I deigned to check if you were dead.” I glanced out the window, understanding. “Oh? This is the university district. Did you fall for a college student?” He instantly became flustered, his face turning even redder. Annoyed, he stalked towards the door. “If I ever come to see you again, I’m a dog.” Did I hit the nail on the head? I called out to his retreating back, “Logan, you didn’t fall for a male college student, did you?” He responded with a raised fist. The comments section buzzed: 【The male lead fell in love with the female lead at first sight on the street, even chasing her to her campus gate.】 【If the male lead’s mom hadn’t insisted he invite the female side character over, he wouldn’t have come.】 …I really wanted to say. He ran off too fast, he didn’t even tell me about his aunt inviting me to dinner, did he? Not two minutes later, the doorbell rang. I hopped over to open the door. “What, you again—?” But it was Julian Knight standing outside. Behind Julian, there were many people. Such a grand entrance immediately scared me into a precarious one-legged stance. I lost my balance and fell backward. As Julian caught me, my hands landed directly on his chest muscles. It was… a very nice feel. “Your foot isn’t good, so I’ve brought people to take care of you.” “But, can you please stop squeezing for a moment?” Since he hadn’t been immediately swept away by the female lead, I saw no reason not to keep fighting for him. I didn’t let go, still enjoying the feel. Casually, I asked him again, “Julian, shall we get married?” “Yes, but before we get married, can you please stop squeezing?” “Sorry, I’ve just never touched… that before.” Wait, what did he just say? He actually agreed? 5 He scooped me up and gently placed me on the sofa. Watching the procession of people stream into my apartment, I joked, “What… is all this? This isn’t exactly how you propose, is it?” The people behind him were either carrying medical kits or various types of groceries. He gestured to the people behind him to help me. “This is my private doctor. I brought him to give you another check-up. If it’s serious, we’ll go to my private hospital.” “Wait, how do you know where I live?” “You said you wanted to get married, didn’t you? So I asked the friend who came to see you at the hospital, and she told me.” How could anyone be even more direct than me? “It’s inconvenient for you to live alone. And I know you wouldn’t want to stay at my place, so I brought people to cook you some nutritious meals. Once you’ve eaten, I’ll take them all with me so as not to disturb your rest.” “Also, I brought a professional pet groomer, Sarah, to help you take care of your cats and dog these next few days. From now on, whenever you need anything, you can entrust it to her; she’s very professional.” I was practically moved to tears. And also shocked by the comments: 【Oh my god, this is the preferential treatment our darling female lead should be enjoying, I’m so jealous.】 【This made the male supporting character completely miss the female lead. This female side character is too sly. And he’s so considerate, how did he even think of the pets?】 【Good thing the male lead has already met the female lead and had a heroic rescue moment for her.】 To be honest, compared to the feast about to appear in my house, I was more curious about what Logan’s heroic rescue situation was like. Seeing me a little dazed, Julian started to self-critique. “Am I moving too fast? Did I scare you?” I waved my hand, speaking without filter, “Too fast for what? It’s not like we got our marriage license on the first meeting and slept together on the second. Uh… you know, I’ve just read too many brain-dead CEO novels.” He chuckled, making my heart flutter. Next time I see Logan, even if I can’t hit him, I’ll have to praise him a little: that ninety-nine thousand dollar membership fee was truly worth it. 【The male supporting character is most afraid of girls crying. Every time our darling female lead cries, he gets flustered and panicky, practically giving his heart away.】 After the family doctor finished examining me, I stared at my badly bruised ankle… I wanted to cry but couldn’t! I didn’t have a tragic family background, and my life was quite free, so I genuinely… couldn’t squeeze out any tears. I sighed, only able to change my approach. I scooted closer. “There’s something, Mr. Knight, I don’t know if you could help with?” “What is it?” “The holidays are in half a month.” I hesitated. “My mom said if I don’t bring someone home, she’ll force me to marry anyone, and if she makes me marry an old man…” Sorry, Mom. He agreed in a second. “Okay, I’ll go home with you for the holidays this year.” I was extremely happy, and asked him directly, “I’m not an easy woman, and I’ve never been in a relationship before. But I’m very happy right now, so I want to hug you. May I?” He immediately embraced me tightly. “That’s something the man should do actively.” I don’t think I’d been hugged like that in a long time. “Julian?” “Hmm?” “If you act like this, I’m going to get serious.” “Okay.” “If I do this, or that, or whatever, you can’t blame me.” “Okay.” I pulled away from him, exasperated. “Are you thinking that a high membership fee means there are no scammers? Are you too trusting? And why do you agree when I say marriage? What if someone else said marriage?” 【The male supporting character isn’t that simple, how can the female side character believe everything?】 【Oh my, I’m kind of shipping these two, what do I do?】 【The female lead is attracted to the handsome male lead. When are they going to have a kissing scene? I’m a SVIP, I want to see it.】 He still looked the same: “I’m not a fool to believe everything others say; it’s just that I believe everything you say. Later, tell me all your parents’ preferences, and I’ll prepare some gifts for your home. These days, I’ll bring people over, you can only go home once your foot is healed.” This was a direct hit, impossible to fend off… When had I ever met a man like this? I was momentarily flustered, somewhat forgetting I was an injured person. I stood up and took a step, then remembered I couldn’t walk, pulled my leg back, my brain and foot out of sync, and stumbled right into him again. This time, something even more embarrassing than public humiliation happened. I head-butted his crotch. He grunted in pain. I was so ashamed I almost cried. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. I mean, if I were faking it, I wouldn’t use this much force, and aim for that area… I swear I really didn’t mean to…” The more I explained, the more chaotic it became. I tugged at him. “The private doctor is still here; should he take a look?” He grabbed my flailing hand. “It’s fine, don’t rush. It won’t affect our marriage.” He wiped my tears, a little flustered, saying things that were even more charming than mine. “Don’t cry. Rather than showing that part to a man, I think it’s better to save it for your wife.” 【Oh no, the female side character actually cried, and as soon as she cried, the male supporting character softened.】 【This female side character is so clumsy; I maliciously suspect she wants to destroy what she can’t have.】 【Is she trying to confiscate the ‘crime tool’?】 Confiscate your ghost! Haven’t even committed a crime yet! 6 “Julian, your family owns a chain of malls, don’t they?” I asked, gesturing at the carload of goods, a slight tremor in my voice. The backseat and trunk were crammed, not just the passenger seat. 【LOL, of course the male supporting character’s family owns malls.】 【The male supporting character even complained before leaving that the car was too small to fit everything.】 “Is it not enough? I’ll prepare more then.” I quickly stopped him. “It’s too much, okay? Julian, you could be proposing with all this. We’re just going to make an appearance; there’s no need to be so exaggerated.” Besides, nothing was set in stone yet. This guy, no matter how much I tried to get close, remained as firm as a statue. Even when he blushed, he would restrain himself and endure. If the comments hadn’t said he genuinely wasn’t interested in the female lead, I would have thought he was saving himself for her. It was such a strange feeling. I didn’t even have much information about him, yet he was already coming home with me to meet my family. I almost felt like I’d gotten a free rental boyfriend for the holidays. On the way, I expressed some concern. “Julian, if you come home with me, won’t your parents be upset?” He didn’t hesitate. “Of course not. They were very happy when I told them I was going home with my girlfriend for the holidays.” “Huh?” That sounded so unreliable. How could his parents be so nonchalant? “I was mainly worried you’d be bored. You could have been with your family and friends. Here, you don’t know anyone.” “Friends can be met anytime, it’s no trouble.” He suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right, I’m afraid you might be shy around new people. After the holidays, I’ll take you to meet my friends. They’re all great, just a bit fond of joking around.” 【This male supporting character, once he commits, he’s incredibly thoughtful.】 【I can’t stand it anymore, what does he see in the female side character?】 My parents, having lived so many years, had certainly seen a few things. But even they were a little overwhelmed by the array of expensive gift boxes. My mom pulled me into a corner. “Where did you find such a gem?” Could I tell her Logan had paid for him? “I don’t know, I just have a very shapely figure.” My mom smacked me on the back. If my foot hadn’t recovered, I would have fallen. “Still being silly and improper. I don’t know what he sees in you!” My mom glared at me twice more, then went back to host Julian. My dad seized the opportunity to discuss with me, “First visit, with all these gifts he brought, the cash gift should be substantial.” I nodded; that seemed logical. But this guy was truly something. He pulled two large red envelopes from his pocket. They were so thick, you’d think they were two big red books. “Uncle and Auntie, I’m very happy to have met such a wonderful girl as Scarlett Sullivan.” “This is my first visit, and I’m a little nervous. I always feel like I haven’t prepared enough. I’ve prepared these holiday envelopes for you, and I hope you won’t mind my presumptuousness.” “I’ll take good care of Scarlett from now on.” This was completely turning the tables! Even more incredible was my mom. She hadn’t prepared a guest room at all. She had simply placed an extra pillow on my bed. When I questioned her, she nudged me: “Do you think I don’t know what you young people are up to? Remember, if you get pregnant, don’t just indulge yourselves and decide to get rid of it. If you have it, our family can afford to raise it.” “Oh, and there’s… that stuff on the nightstand…” I was speechless. “If the person I brought home wasn’t satisfactory, would you still prepare the same way?” “There are plenty of hotels outside; doesn’t he have legs?” 【OMG, this mom is too funny. Is she really that afraid her daughter won’t get married?】 Me???

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391323”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 Seven years long-distance. I quit my job, hid it from my boyfriend, and traveled far to Seaview City—for a surprise proposal and wedding. At the desk, a sharp-eyed receptionist eyed me oddly when I asked for Eric. “He’s in a meeting. Wait.” I frowned—Eric hadn’t mentioned a promotion. Last week he’d moaned about work stress, saying promotion was distant. Turning, I overheard: “Is that his side piece?” “Brave, showing up here.” “Mrs. Hillman will go mad if she finds out.” I moved to explain—Eric wasn’t married; I was his real girlfriend. But the door opened, revealing a woman in Chanel. Receptionists fell silent, greeting, “Madam.” She was on the phone, sweet: “Darling, I’m downstairs. Come get me—prenatal appointment!” A deep, familiar voice replied, adoring: “Alright, my queen. Meeting’s almost over. Wait in the lounge.” That voice—Eric’s. For seven years. Like my heartbeat. … Thud. My handbag slipped from my grasp, hitting the polished marble floor. As I bent to retrieve it, a crumpled prenatal report fluttered from my bag to my feet. Twelve weeks pregnant. The father’s name, printed starkly on the form, was Eric Hillman. Around that time, Eric had always claimed to be swamped, only picking up my calls once a week. Once, when he finally agreed to a video call, I’d spotted a hickey on his neck. “Mosquito bite,” he’d explained quickly. “Elara, all these years apart, have you ever seen me with anyone else?” I’d believed him, even apologized, blaming my own overthinking. Now, he was someone else’s husband. And soon, a father. The woman, noticing the report, picked it up and handed it to me with a polite smile. Seeing me frozen, she asked, “Are you here to see Eric too?” I nodded. “Then let’s go up together. My husband’s meetings always run long.” That word. Husband. It pierced my heart without warning, leaving a raw, bleeding wound. In the guest lounge, she introduced herself as Clara Vance, the treasured daughter of the Vance family of Seaview City. “My husband’s just stubborn, always saying he’s too busy, but he comes to every prenatal check-up.” She stroked her belly, her tone complaining but her eyes sparkling with affection. “He’s been working late a lot lately, says he needs to earn enough for the baby’s formula. As if the whole company isn’t his anyway, making up excuses to humor me.” My knuckles whitened as I clutched my bag, fighting to rein in the burning rage inside. Eric had told me he was just an ordinary employee, sidelined and struggling for promotion. Seven years of long distance, and he’d used the distance as an excuse, constantly postponing our marriage. So, after finishing my last project at work, I’d immediately quit, rushing to Seaview City to marry him. Footsteps approached from the corridor. Several men in crisp suits passed the guest lounge, nodding respectfully to Clara. “Mrs. Hillman, waiting for Mr. Hillman again?” When Eric walked into the lounge, his colleagues immediately started teasing him. “Mr. Hillman, your wife’s here to check up on you!” Clara flung herself into his arms. “Darling, I’ve been waiting so long my back hurts.” Eric naturally put his arm around her waist. Then he looked up, saw me, and his smile faltered, freezing on his face. It was only a second before he regained his composure, his voice chillingly distant. “What are you doing here?” Clara turned to me, a curious tilt to her head. “Darling, who is this?” His colleagues exchanged glances, quickly jumping in to explain for Eric, their voices full of knowing smiles. “What else could she be? Just a friend of Mr. Hillman’s, of course.” “Don’t worry, Mrs. Hillman, everyone knows how devoted Mr. Hillman is to you.” Eric took a step forward, subtly positioning himself between Clara and me. His explanation was polite, yet utterly detached. “She’s a… university acquaintance.” He then turned to his assistant. “Please escort this young lady out. We wouldn’t want to disrupt anyone’s work.” I stared at him, incredulous. His gaze, however, was entirely fixed on Clara. As the assistant approached to usher me away, Eric was already taking Clara’s hand, playfully flicking her nose. “Come on, my little queen, let’s get you to your appointment.” Clara stood on tiptoe to kiss him, her voice a purr. “You’re the best, darling.” As they passed me, Clara glanced back. “Darling, isn’t it a bit rude to leave your acquaintance standing there?” Eric didn’t even turn around. “Just a casual acquaintance, hardly important. You are.” Tears welled, then spilled down my cheeks, uncontrollably. Passing employees watched my humiliation with mocking fascination. Ten years of shared life, seven years of long distance, traveling over a thousand miles… all for a dismissive “casual acquaintance.” On my phone, a message from Eric, sent just three days ago, still lay unread: Elara, just a little more time. Once my job is stable, I’ll marry you. For those words, I’d quit my job, traveled across the country. I never imagined it was all a lie. 2 My phone vibrated, a new message from Eric flashing on the screen. Go back with the assistant. I’ll explain later. I stared at the terse message, my heart twisting. Finally, I couldn’t hold back, typing: Why did you lie to me? Eric’s reply was cold: Just go back. Behave. Don’t make a scene at the office entrance. It hit me then. Every time I’d suggested visiting Seaview City, he’d found an excuse to put me off. He was afraid of me showing up, afraid of being exposed, afraid of his embarrassment. I looked up to see a huddle of employees, their phones out, filming me. “The mistress dares to show up? How shameless!” “So young, so many other things to do, but she chose to be a home-wrecker.” I quickly raised my hand to cover my face, my voice choked with sobs. “I’m not a mistress! Eric lied to me…” All I got in return was a chorus of laughter. The assistant grabbed my suitcase and almost shoved me into a waiting car. Thirty minutes later, it pulled up to a sprawling villa. Eric, who’d told me he was cramped in a tiny rented apartment, lived here. I’d even worried he wasn’t doing well in Seaview City, sending him half my salary every month. The assistant pushed me inside, and I heard the click of the lock as the door shut behind me. “You can wait for Mr. Hillman here.” A faint scent of perfume hung in the air. I’d smelled it on Eric a few months ago, when he’d visited Fairview. I turned, and my blood ran cold. On the living room wall hung a colossal wedding photo. Eric, in a black suit, embraced Clara, who was radiant in a white gown. The date in the bottom right corner screamed at me. The day they took their wedding photos was also my birthday. The first birthday Eric hadn’t spent with me. He’d said work was too demanding, he couldn’t get away. Frantically, I rushed into the bedroom. The walls were covered with photos of Eric and Clara. In the closet, a slinky lace nightgown hung next to Eric’s shirts. The dresser overflowed with luxury brand cosmetics. The last sliver of hope shattered completely when I saw the almost-empty box of condoms on the nightstand. So, Eric’s “busy” meant building a family with another woman. I sank to the cold floor, burying my face in my hands, crying uncontrollably. I hadn’t come from much. My parents were farmers, and I’d fought tooth and nail to get into a big city university. Any moment I wasn’t in class, I was working part-time off-campus, which was how I met Eric. I was a scholarship student from the countryside, he was a rebellious heir who’d fled his family’s expectations. We had no family support, only ourselves. Months later, we were a couple, and our classmates had jokingly called us the “struggling sweethearts.” We truly were broke back then. But for every birthday, Eric would somehow scrape enough money together to buy me a gift I loved. He’d eat only two meals a day just to save up for a branded lipstick. He always said, “Other girls have these things, and you shouldn’t go without.” No matter how tough things got, he always made sure I was cared for. After graduation, I stayed in Fairview, while Eric moved to Seaview City. I rented a discounted apartment in Fairview, just eight hundred a month. Eric came back every weekend. We’d lose ourselves in each other in the darkness, the old bed creaking under our weight. He’d kissed away the tears from my eyes, his voice hoarse, promising, “Elara, once my job is stable, I’ll marry you.” To save enough for our wedding, I worked relentlessly, often staying late until two in the morning. Eventually, my body gave out, and I collapsed at work. When Eric found out I was sick, he immediately took time off and rushed to the Fairview hospital. He’d cursed me for being foolish, then gripped my hand, his eyes red-rimmed. Eric had tried to take more leave to stay and care for me, only to be torn apart by his superiors. It was the first time I’d seen him so humbled, a bitter smile on his face. I’d begged him to go back to work, not to worry about me. But he’d looked at me, utterly serious. “Elara Ewing, nothing is more important to me than you.” In that moment, I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that Eric loved me. And it was that unwavering belief in his love that carried me through seven long years. 3 When Eric returned home, he found me with swollen, tear-stained eyes. He pulled me into a tight embrace, his gaze filled with sorrow. “Elara, I’m so sorry.” “My father passed away unexpectedly, and I had no choice but to return to Seaview City to inherit the family business. Your background… it’s too humble. My family elders would never allow me to marry you.” I couldn’t bear to hear another word. I sobbed, pushing him away. “So you married someone else? Eric, what was seven years of long-distance for?” Eric stood above me, his eyes regaining their cold composure. “Elara Ewing, I’m the head of the Hillman family. I have responsibilities. Clara and I are from similar backgrounds; our marriage is a beneficial alliance for both families.” “Clara said, as long as you’re discreet, she’s willing to look the other way, to let you stay with me.” I looked up at him, tears streaming down my face. Eric leaned down, gently wiping away the tears. “Elara, you’ve been with me all these years. I won’t mistreat you. If you want to stay in Seaview City, I’ll arrange for you to work at the company as my assistant.” But instead, I slapped him. His eyes widened in shock as I grabbed my suitcase and rushed out the villa door. As I sped away in a taxi, Eric sent a voice message. “Elara Ewing, don’t be foolish. Hillman Corp isn’t a place just anyone can walk into. I’m giving you three days to think this over.” Then, he transferred ten thousand dollars to my account. Before, to maintain his carefully constructed image, he’d never sent more than a hundred. Now, ten thousand. I didn’t reply, sending the money back. After finding a temporary place and settling in, I reopened my phone. The internet was on fire. Someone had posted a video of me at the company entrance. My frantic, cornered expression in the video was brutally humiliating. The trending topic declared Eric was cheating, and his mistress had brazenly shown up. I, his legitimate girlfriend, was now being reviled as a homewrecker. In a fit of desperate defiance, I uploaded our entire relationship history, including screenshots of our messages. The timeline clearly showed that Eric and I had been together long before his marriage to Clara. The tide of public opinion immediately turned, and the entire internet condemned him as a scumbag. Eric called several times, but I ignored them all. A few minutes later, Clara posted a photo of her marriage certificate on social media, claiming her and Eric’s marriage was harmonious, and accusing me of faking everything for clout. Hillman Corp’s PR team swiftly intervened, declaring my chat logs were “fabricated” and threatening me with a defamation lawsuit. Influencers and gossip sites went wild, spreading rumors, branding me as a mistress who’d provoked the wife. The comments section of my post was completely overwhelmed. “Mistress’s attack failed, even got a legal warning, hilarious!” “The real wife wins, of course. A few words and this arrogant mistress is crushed!” “Being a mistress, destroying someone else’s family, and trying to get clout? Disgusting!” My DMs were flooded with insults, some even wishing me dead. Half an hour later, my posts vanished, and my account was banned. It was then I understood for the first time how utterly powerless I was in the face of absolute wealth and influence. My phone rang again and again. I wouldn’t answer, but they wouldn’t stop calling. Finally, reluctantly, I picked up. It wasn’t Eric. It was Clara. “Miss Ewing.” Her laugh was laced with disdain. “Let’s talk.”

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In the viral video taking the internet by storm, my twenty-three-year-old self is wearing a heavy, suffocating mascot costume. Drenched in sweat but beaming at the camera, I shout: “Hey, thirty-three-year-old Maya! Are you and Silas on your honeymoon in the Maldives yet? Working three jobs is exhausting! You better make Silas pay you back for every bit of this, you hear me?” I didn’t. He didn’t pay me back. Thirty-three-year-old Maya Miller had been left in the dust by Silas Sterling a long time ago. 1 In late June, a documentary suddenly trended on social media. The director had passed away ten years ago. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, he quit his corporate job, grabbed a camera, and set off on one last journey across the country. He filmed the people he met along the way and asked a friend to edit and upload the footage ten years later as a final parting gift to the world. The first two episodes drew sentimental praise for his courage in the face of death. But when the third episode dropped, the documentary exploded into a global phenomenon. At the 13:22 mark of Episode 3, a face appeared that no one expected. —Silas Sterling, the reigning A-list Oscar winner. Back then, he was a struggling extra on a backlot, his face still holding the nervous, raw edges of a rookie. But he wasn’t the star of the episode. I was. Twenty-three-year-old Maya, her eyes overflowing with a love she couldn’t hide, boasted shamelessly to the camera: “I guarantee you, Silas is going to be the biggest star in the world. If he doesn’t win an Oscar one day, I’ll crawl across the Brooklyn Bridge on my hands!” 2 I didn’t even know Silas and I were trending until my manager, Elena, called to wake me up. We had been at the top of the search results all night. I clicked the video. Seeing my ten-year-younger self was like a punch to the gut. It took me a long time to dig that memory out of the scrap pile of my mind. It was our first year after college. I was supporting Silas while he chased bit parts in Hollywood. He acted; I worked. I remember a man with a camera following me around, asking to film me for a documentary. I told him I wasn’t interested, but he was like a shadow—persistent and silent. Eventually, I stopped caring and let him film while I worked. Elena asked if I wanted our PR team to scrub the video. I shook my head. “No. Let it run. We could use the engagement.” Curious, I scrolled through the comments. Five years ago, when our breakup went public, the internet treated me like a parasite. I expected more of the same. Instead, the tide had turned in a bizarre direction. 【OMG, can I say it? I’m actually crying. This is the ultimate ‘expired sugar’.】 【Look at Maya’s eyes. I haven’t seen a look that pure and full of love in years. It’s making me sentimental about my own life before I became a bitter adult.】 【Maya worked three jobs a day to support Silas’s dream back then! Man, I used to bash her in the forums… now I don’t know what to feel.】 【No matter how it ended, that kind of devotion is rare.】 I watched the video again. I wanted to see what kind of “look” could make the internet forgive a woman they had branded a “cheater” five years ago. Ten years is a long time. Between the grind of the industry and the trauma of the breakup, my memories were blurred. But the screen didn’t lie. Twenty-three-year-old Maya loved Silas Sterling with a heat that was, quite frankly, devastating to witness. 3 While Silas was grinding in Hollywood, I was working three shifts. I woke up at 3:30 AM to help at a local bakery, finishing at 10:30 AM. I’d go home for a one-hour nap, then at noon, I’d squeeze into a heavy mascot suit to hand out flyers at a shopping mall. Summer in a plush suit is a special kind of hell. It’s a swamp of heat and sweat, plus you’re constantly dodging toddlers who think it’s funny to kick the “giant bear.” By 2:00 PM, I was soaked to the bone. At 2:30 PM, I started my shift at a boba shop. It was a long commute, so I’d stop at a cheap public gym nearby to take a five-minute shower just to feel human. I finished at 10:00 PM, cleaned the shop until 10:30, and by 11:00 PM, I was picking Silas up from his latest set. The documentary director had tried to follow me for a full day twice and gave up. It wasn’t until his third attempt that he made it to the end. He collapsed on the curb at midnight and asked me, “How do you do this? Aren’t you exhausted?” Of course I was. But there was no choice. Even with three jobs and Silas’s meager acting checks, we barely covered rent in LA. And the most important part— In the video, I’m leaning against a brick wall, eyes closed while Silas rants about a director who ignored him. I look like a ghost—deep dark circles, shoulders slumped with bone-deep fatigue. But a second later, I hear his voice and my eyes snap open. The light that floods into my expression in that moment is enough to blind you. I look like a wilted flower that just found a drop of water. I throw myself into his arms, laughing. The most important part was that I loved Silas Sterling. I had burned every bridge with my family and walked away from a comfortable life just to be his safety net in a city that didn’t know his name. Love is a hell of a drug. 4 In the video, Silas sees the cameraman for the first time. He pulls me behind him, protective and wary. I explain the situation. He sighs, a reluctant smile forming as he pinches my cheek. “How many times have I told you not to talk to strangers? Last month you gave fifty bucks to a guy who ‘lost his wallet’ and he drove off in a Mercedes.” I giggle and promise to be smarter next time. The director records us in silence before finally prompting us for an interview. The questions are standard—dreams, work, the industry. We answer with the usual naive optimism of twenty-somethings. Until the final question. The director looks at Silas and mutters, “You’re a handsome guy.” Then he turns to me. “Maya, Silas has the kind of looks that bring a lot of temptation in this town. Are you worried he’ll get distracted? Are you sure he’ll always love you?” The question was sharp, invasive. I blinked, then laughed as if he’d told the funniest joke in the world. I linked my arm with Silas’s and looked at him with absolute, terrifying certainty. “I’m not worried. Silas will always love me. I know it.” I looked at Silas and gave a mock-serious cough, holding my hand out like a queen. “Well, Mr. Future Movie Star? Someone is questioning your loyalty. You going to let that slide?” Silas was used to my drama. He looked at me with a gaze so tender it felt like a physical touch. He dropped to one knee, took my hand, and slipped a simple silver band onto my finger while I stared in shock. “He’s right, Maya. I am going to love you for the rest of my life.” “So, Maya Miller, will you marry me?” I covered my mouth, looking at the director who was grinning behind the lens. They had planned this together. Huge, fat tears rolled down my face as I choked out the words. “I w—” I exited the video. I couldn’t watch the “Yes.” I checked the comments again. The mood had shifted into a war zone. 【Who are these people romanticizing this? Silas is with Chloe Vance now! They’ve been together for five years. Why are you digging up his ex? It’s disrespectful to the current couple.】 【’Expired sugar’ my ass. When the news broke five years ago and Maya was caught ‘climbing into a director’s bed,’ you guys were ready to stone her. Now you’re crying over a ten-year-old video? Give me a break.】 【Is my memory failing? They broke up because Maya cheated on him with Director Thompson. It was a mess. She was branded a social climber and vanished.】 【Maya Miller is probably just paying for these bots. She’s desperate for a comeback. Girl, Silas is about to marry a real Oscar winner. Stay in the trash where you belong.】 As the drama peaked, Chloe Vance—the current “it girl” of Hollywood—posted a photo on Instagram. No caption. Just a picture of her leaning into Silas’s chest, showing off a massive, multi-carat diamond ring on her finger. Five years into their relationship, Silas Sterling had finally proposed. 5 To understand Silas and Chloe, you have to go back to the movie that made him. At twenty-four, Silas landed the lead in The Immortal, a massive fantasy epic directed by the legendary Arthur Thompson. He became an overnight sensation. The next year, he starred in a rom-com with Chloe Vance. Their “ship” name, Silas-Chloe, trended for months. Chloe’s agency wanted them to fake a romance for PR. Silas refused. At the height of the hype, he officially announced that he had a long-term girlfriend—a non-celebrity named Maya Miller. He was a man of principle back then. He loved me. Even when the studio tried to blackball him for a year because he wouldn’t play along, he just held me close. “Don’t apologize, Maya. I love you. I won’t let you be a secret. It was my choice.” It made my heart ache. At twenty-seven, Silas worked with Chloe again on The Sunset. At twenty-eight, during reshoots, a video was leaked of me entering and leaving Director Thompson’s hotel room at 2 AM. The world went nuclear. Silas and I had a loud, ugly, public breakup. At twenty-nine, Silas and Chloe both won Best Actor and Best Actress for The Sunset. On the podium, Silas officially announced they were dating. The fans rejoiced. Compared to me—the “cheating social climber”—Chloe was a saint. For five years, they were Hollywood’s golden couple. But they never got married. Rumors of breakups popped up every six months, only to be crushed by their fans. And now, with this proposal, the fans were throwing a digital parade. 【Suck it, haters! Silas and Chloe are endgame. To those still feeling bad for the cheating trash: protect your own partners, because people like Maya are everywhere.】 Soon, the five-year-old hotel video was being reposted everywhere. My personal inbox was a sewer of insults. I didn’t care. I was just glad Director Thompson and his wife weren’t on social media. I shut my phone and went back to work. I had a war to fight in three days. 6 The #SilasProposed hashtag stayed at number one for forty-eight hours. People discussed the ring’s clarity, the cost of the estate he rented for the occasion, and the three nights of fireworks he set off. It was the ultimate romantic gesture. Just as the world thought the Maya Miller “glitch” was over, a new announcement shook the industry. After The Immortal, Director Thompson hadn’t produced a single film in ten years. Five years ago, his wife, the famous screenwriter Sarah Thompson, moved to London. Arthur followed shortly after. The internet assumed my “affair” with Arthur had ended their marriage. Some even claimed Arthur took me to London while I was pregnant with his secret child. Until today. Director Thompson’s team announced a live press conference for a new project: The Chronicle of Gods. After ten years, he was returning to work with his wife. The news was big, but the cast list was bigger. My name was right there at the top as the Executive Producer and Lead Consultant. 【Gross. They aren’t even hiding it anymore.】 【I feel so bad for Sarah Thompson. Imagine having to work with your husband’s mistress. This is disgusting.】 【Boycott this movie. Don’t let these predators win.】 Three days later, the live stream began. Director Thompson was a titan in the industry. He invited half of Hollywood to the event. For the sake of optics, he even invited Silas and Chloe. Predictably, their teams declined with “scheduling conflicts.” In the green room, I met with Arthur and Sarah. “Maya.” Sarah touched my cheek, her eyes full of worry. “Are you okay?” I smiled and squeezed her hand. “I’m fine, Sarah. It’s been years. Honestly, we should thank them for the free PR. They saved us millions in marketing.” She smiled, but the sadness in her eyes remained. “Alright, the kids say they’re fine, so let’s stop worrying,” Arthur said, patting my shoulder. The conference started. They talked about the vision for the film and their years studying in London. Everything was going by the script until the Q&A. “Director Thompson!” a reporter shouted, lunging forward like a coyote. Arthur pointed to him. “Director, have you and your wife spent the last five years solely on ‘studying’?” “Yes. You never stop learning in this industry. We needed fresh blood, a new perspective.” “Was it just the two of you in London? Or was there… someone else?” Arthur looked at him, his smile not reaching his eyes. “Someone else? Who exactly are you looking for? Or are you asking if Maya Miller was with us?” The room went silent. Flashbulbs went off like machine-gun fire. Arthur’s face went stern. “I am going to address the baseless rumors once and for all. Maya is a child my wife and I have known since she was a little girl. We love and protect her like our own daughter. “As for why Maya was seen entering my hotel room five years ago? I’ll tell you. I was in town for a meeting, and Maya came to see me specifically to beg for an opportunity for her boyfriend at the time—Silas Sterling.” The reporter froze. “You mean… Silas got his breakout role because…” “Correct,” Arthur nodded, staring into the camera. “Without Maya, I wouldn’t have given Silas the time of day. He wasn’t talented enough for my lead role back then. Agreeing to give him an audition because Maya begged me is the biggest regret of my life. “Moving forward, neither I nor any of my subsidiaries will ever work with Mr. Sterling or his new fiancée. I refuse to work with people who steal relationships, destroy reputations with lies, and lack basic human decency.” The room erupted. At that exact moment, the final episode of the documentary was uploaded.

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On my way to take the graduate school entrance exam, my parents revealed the secret of my birth. “Harper, don’t come home right after the exam.” “We have good news: our biological daughter is coming back.” I thought they were joking. But my brother hugged me. “Harper, it’s true. You can’t call me ‘brother’ anymore.” Seeing my pale face, my parents laughed. “Oh, don’t tell me this child actually thinks she can keep staying in this house and calling us mom and dad now that our real daughter is back?” My brother affectionately ruffled my hair, just like he always used to. “Silly Harper, wake up. We can only be strangers from now on, understand?” 1 Standing at the entrance of the exam hall, my mind was completely blank. I hadn’t yet recovered from the shocking revelation that I wasn’t my parents’ biological daughter. Just a second ago, my brother, Mason, had been checking my admission ticket and making sure I had all my specific exam pens. Now, he waved his hand in front of my face and chuckled. “Seriously, Harper, what’s with that expression?” “Don’t tell me you object to my real sister coming home?” “She’s the true daughter; you’re just the fake, the imposter.” “You’ve been hogging everything that rightfully belongs to her all these years.” “Don’t you feel even a little bit guilty? Are you trying to compete with her?” I had just found out about my true identity. They hadn’t even given me a moment to process it. My mind was still stuck on the happy images from this morning: my dad personally cooking breakfast and wishing me success; my mom braving the freezing cold to wear a qipao (a traditional dress symbolizing victory) to wish me a triumphant return; my brother canceling important meetings to personally drive me to the exam hall. How could they go from caring for me meticulously one second to looking at me like I was a wicked imposter the next, guarded against me, and telling me we were now strangers? I could only grit my teeth. My heart felt cold and bleeding, yet I forced a smile. “No, I don’t. Congratulations on your family reunion.” “I’m going in for the exam now.” The wariness on Mason’s face finally melted into affection, and he patted my shoulder. “That’s a good girl. Go on in, and do well on the exam.” My mom pointed to her beautiful qipao and said: “Harper, remember when you took the college entrance exam? I wore this exact qipao, and you passed with flying colors.” “Trust me, this lucky outfit will guarantee you pass the grad school exam on the first try.” “Oh, wait, ptui ptui, I almost forgot. I can’t call myself ‘mom’ anymore.” “Harper, from now on, you have to call me ‘auntie’.” “Come on, let me hear you practice calling me ‘auntie’ first.” My mom looked at me with eager anticipation, waiting to hear the word “auntie” from my lips. But this woman standing in front of me was the mother I had called “mom” for twenty-three years. My nose stung terribly. I bit down hard to keep the tears from falling. My throat felt blocked. My lips parted several times, but I couldn’t utter a single syllable. Yet, they seemed completely oblivious to the fact that I was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. My dad actually put on a smile and urged me. “Harper, hurry up and say ‘uncle’ and ‘auntie’.” “If you don’t get used to changing how you address us now, our real daughter might overthink it when she gets back. She’s sensitive, and we can’t hurt her feelings, understand?” I felt like I was being shoved into the deepest pit of hell. My heart was dying, all hope turning to ash. With immense difficulty, I forced out two words: “Uncle, Auntie.” My dad carefully observed my expression, seemed to sigh in relief, and let out a hearty laugh. “Haha, that’s right! This is how you should address us from now on.” My mom gave me a tight hug. “Our precious Harper, hurry inside for your exam. Make sure you get a good score.” At that moment, I desperately wanted to scream hysterically: If you really wanted me to get a good score, why couldn’t you wait until the exam was over to tell me?! Telling me now—how am I supposed to focus on the exam?! But I couldn’t bring myself to ask any of it. I could only drag my leaden feet into the exam hall. As I turned around, the tears I had been desperately holding back finally broke free, falling in large drops. No matter how hard I wiped them, they kept coming. During the security check at the entrance, the proctor noticed my red, swollen eyes and asked what was wrong. “Student, nothing is more important than the graduate entrance exam right now. You need to adjust your mindset quickly.” I fought back the tears and nodded. There’s a saying: The first sword you draw after reaching the shore is used to cut down the one you love. But I hadn’t even reached the shore yet, and my family had already cut me down. How ironic. Honestly, why were they in such a rush to sever ties with me? Couldn’t they have waited two days? Let me finish the exam without distractions? I gripped my pen tightly, my heart numb with pain, but I had to face reality. They found the true daughter and didn’t want me, their fake daughter and sister, anymore. Fine. Then I’ll do as you wish. I wouldn’t shamelessly cling to them. Once the two-day exam was over, I would immediately leave this city and disappear from their lives forever. 2 From 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM, the first exam was Ideological and Political Theory. I forced myself to calm down. I thought about all the hardships I had endured over the past year preparing for this exam. Even if the sky was falling, I had to stay calm and not let my terrible mood ruin my performance. Finally, I finished all the questions and walked out of the exam hall. When I retrieved my phone from the storage area, I discovered that my dad had kicked me out of the family group chat. He even sent me a private message to explain: [Harper, how did you do this morning?] [You worked so hard; Uncle believes you definitely did great.] [Oh, by the way, Uncle kicked you out of the family group chat.] [Mainly because I was afraid you’d feel awkward. After all, Chloe and us are the real family of four. You’d definitely feel uncomfortable staying in the group, but probably too embarrassed to leave on your own. So, Uncle did you a favor and helped you out. Don’t feel any psychological burden, okay?] A lump of stagnant anger blocked my chest, unable to go up or down. What, am I supposed to be profoundly grateful? Thank my dad for being so understanding, for kicking me out of the group chat to save me from awkwardness? It was laughable. I thought I had the happiest family. Growing up, I never experienced gender discrimination. My dad loved me, my mom doted on me, my brother spoiled me. When I got sick, the whole family would hover around me, anxious and fretting, asking if I was warm enough, wishing they could suffer in my place. Was all that familial love fake? Just because we didn’t share blood, did everything cease to exist? I didn’t understand. Suddenly, a car pulled up in front of me. Mason rolled down the window and looked at me. “Harper, why are you crying? Did you not do well?” “That shouldn’t be. You spent the whole year studying diligently, pulling all-nighters. You even memorized notes in the emergency room when you had a high fever.” “Logically, this exam should have been a breeze for you.” I suddenly realized my face was covered in tears. I quickly wiped them away. Feigning calmness, I explained: “I finished all the questions.” A look of relief washed over Mason’s face. “I knew you could do it! Get in, I’ll take you to lunch.” As we passed a shopping mall, Mason parked the car and dragged me to the cosmetics counters. “Harper, what’s your favorite skincare set? Don’t hold back, pick whatever you want, I’m paying.” My chilled heart warmed up just a little bit. “Mason, it’s okay. I don’t need any skincare products.” My brother instinctively reached out and ruffled my hair. “Silly Harper, it’s not for you. I want you to pick out your favorite skincare set as a welcome gift for Chloe. She wants to meet you, and insisted I bring you along for lunch.” “Hurry up and pick something. Don’t just stand there. Pick the most expensive one, the one you usually wouldn’t dare buy for yourself.” “You have no idea how nervous I was when Mom, Dad, and I went to the high-speed rail station to pick Chloe up this morning. It’s my first time being an older brother to my biological sister. I’m terrified she won’t feel how much I like her. How about this set? What about this one? It’s too hard to choose, maybe I should just buy them all and let her pick?” I turned into a statue. So Mason didn’t specifically come to the exam center to pick me up for lunch. He did it to please the true daughter, Chloe? My nose burned intensely. “Mason, can I not go?” Mason frowned slightly. “Why? Harper, do you not like her?” “Are you hostile toward her?” “Do you think she shouldn’t have shown up? Is that really what you think?” I picked up the most expensive skincare set and handed it to Mason. “No. A lot of girls like this La Mer set. I’ll give her this one.” While Mason went to pay, I bought a plane ticket to the capital for tomorrow night. I couldn’t stay in this city any longer. With every breath, I felt like I was suffocating to death. I wanted to go stay with Professor Lu, who taught at Tsinghua University. She was my mom’s best friend, and also my godmother. She was always telling me to study hard and try to become her graduate student. She used to say: “If your mom hadn’t been faster on the draw, you would’ve been my daughter.” “Since you can’t be my daughter, how about being my student?” “A teacher for a day is a mother for a lifetime. Godmother will love you like her own flesh and blood.” Only today did I understand what she meant. It turned out my parents had become sick with longing after losing their daughter. So, they went to an orphanage and adopted me. I sent a WeChat message to Professor Lu. But even after I arrived at the restaurant with Mason, I hadn’t received a reply from her. 3 It was almost 1:00 PM when Mason and I arrived at the restaurant. The afternoon graduate exam started at 2:00 PM, but we had to enter the exam room half an hour early. Calculating the time, I didn’t have time to stay for lunch. So, before opening the private room door, I explained the situation to Mason: “Mason, I’ll go in, give the gift to Chloe, and then I have to catch the subway to the exam center.” Mason looked at me with pity. “You’re not going to eat anything before you go?” “I’ll buy a couple of buns at the entrance and eat them on the way. I really don’t have time. It takes about half an hour to take the subway from here to the exam center. I can’t delay.” Mason agreed, but suddenly changed his tone: “Harper, don’t call me ‘brother’ in front of Chloe. Remember to call me ‘Mr. Vance’.” “After all, she’s my real sister. I can’t give her the illusion that I want both of you. Between the two of you, I have to choose one, and I must choose her, understand?” I clenched my fists, forcing a smile. The brother who used to dote on me now only guarded against me. “I’m sorry, I forgot to change how I address you.” “Don’t worry, from now on I will treat you like a stranger and never call you ‘brother’ again.” With that, I consciously stepped back, putting distance between us. Just then, a waiter carrying a tray of dishes filed past, almost bumping into my back. Mason grabbed me and pulled me to his side, scolding the waiter: “Watch where you’re going! You almost spilled soup on my sister’s back! She has an important exam today, can you afford to delay her?!” The waiter apologized profusely. I smiled bitterly. So Mason did know today’s exam was important to me. Then why did he keep stabbing me in the heart, over and over again? 4 Mason pushed open the door to the private room and motioned for me to go in. Three people were already seated inside. My dad, my mom, and Chloe, the true daughter, who was being showered with their affection. Seeing me, my mom enthusiastically introduced us: “Harper’s here! Come meet Chloe.” “Your uncle, auntie, and Chloe have been waiting for you for a long time.” My mom specifically emphasized the words “uncle and auntie,” making me feel incredibly awkward. But a smile bloomed on Chloe’s face. When she smiled, the mother, father, and brother who used to love me all smiled along with her. That kind of cautious, fawning affection stung my eyes. I looked away, not wanting to see the scene, and forced myself to explain: “I’m sorry, Uncle and Auntie, I’m late.” I handed the La Mer set to Chloe, the true daughter. “Hello, Chloe. A small welcome gift. I hope you like it.” Chloe picked up a half-human-sized stuffed bear from the seat next to her and handed it to me. “Hello, Harper. Your gift is indeed quite small, not as big as mine.” “But, it’s the thought that counts. I like it very much, thank you.” I suppressed my anger and didn’t explode: “…” If she wasn’t embarrassed, I felt embarrassed for her. After all, anyone could see whose gift was truly “smaller.” But I noticed that my parents’ eyes held only affection for her, and blame for me. As if buying high-end skincare that Chloe didn’t recognize and making her look foolish was my fault. My dad put on a cold face and told me to sit down and eat. I really couldn’t stay any longer. Every look from my parents suffocated me. Thankfully, I had a ready-made excuse. “Uncle, Auntie, I’m short on time, so I won’t eat. Enjoy your family meal.” “Having an outsider present at your first reunion meal would make it imperfect.” “Chloe, take your time eating, I have to go.” But just as I was about to step out the door, Chloe cried out: “Mom, Dad, did I say something wrong and make Harper mad?” “Why is she leaving as soon as she arrives? Is she not even willing to eat a meal with me?” “I’m kind of dense. I don’t understand social etiquette, and nobody taught me. Unlike Harper, who grew up in the big city and had you to guide her. If I did something wrong, you have to tell me. Once I know, I’ll fix it.” My dad couldn’t stand seeing Chloe cry; it broke his heart. “Harper, come back! How can you be so rude?” “Chloe waited an hour on an empty stomach just to eat with you.” “You want to leave as soon as you get here? What kind of behavior is that?” “Sit down right now and eat something before you go.” If I stayed to eat, how would I take the afternoon English exam? I looked at Mason for help. But Mason seemed to not see me. He personally pulled out a chair for me. “Harper, sit down. Be a good girl and at least have a few bites.” I couldn’t hold it in anymore and turned around to explain: “It’s not about you. I have an exam at 2:00 PM. The graduate entrance exam is very important to me.” Chloe blinked at me, looking completely innocent and naive. “Wow, Harper, you’re amazing! You have the best educational resources and can even take the graduate entrance exam. Unlike me… I grew up in the countryside. The teachers there just coasted along. I didn’t even get into college. Is the graduate exam really more important than me?” She stood up from her seat and enthusiastically came over to pull me into the chair. “Good sister, it’s an hour until 2:00 PM. You’ll still make it if you leave at 1:30 PM. Mom, Dad, what do you think?” Not a single person in the room contradicted Chloe. Just this morning, an hour and a half before the exam, my mom was rushing me to leave. “Harper, hurry! You have to be in the exam room half an hour early. Don’t be late!” But now, they seemed to have collective amnesia. None of them dared look at me, but they eagerly agreed with Chloe: “Our precious daughter is right. Even if the sky falls, nothing is more important than you.” My heart plummeted into an ice cellar. I was utterly disappointed. Unable to control my anger any longer, I was just about to snap back. Suddenly, Professor Lu replied on WeChat: [My precious Harper, of course you’re welcome!] [I saw the WeChat Moments your mom posted. She found her biological daughter.] [That’s wonderful! Harper, do you want to be my daughter?] [Make sure you focus on your graduate exams these two days. Come to the capital as soon as you’re done.] A ray of warm sunlight finally broke through the freezing cold in my heart. “You’re right. A mother’s heart aches for her own daughter. My mom just messaged me. She’s telling me to hurry up and take my exam. I have to listen to my mom. Goodbye, Uncle and Auntie.” My mom abruptly stood up, her face changing drastically. “Harper, what nonsense are you talking about? Isn’t your mom…” SLAM. I slammed the door shut and walked out, cutting off the rest of my mom’s sentence. 5 Mason caught up to me at the restaurant entrance and grabbed my arm. “What’s your problem? Do you think I don’t know you’re in a hurry?” “If you had just sat down and taken two bites, I naturally would have found an excuse for you to leave. Why did you have to make the atmosphere so awkward? And you even dared to make up a lie, saying your mom was rushing you to your exam?” “Your mom is still sitting in the private room. Which eye of yours saw her send you a WeChat message?” I yanked my arm back forcefully and yelled angrily, my heart completely dead. “Mr. Vance, please conduct yourself properly. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate to grab a strange girl’s arm in public? Besides, isn’t that my aunt sitting in the private room? Where is my mom?” Passersby stopped and asked if I was being harassed and if I needed help. Mason furiously growled at them: “Get lost! I’m her brother!” Hilarious. Now he’s admitting to being my brother again? I loudly refuted him: “He’s not. We are strangers.” Mason looked at me with hurt eyes, but I didn’t want to look at him anymore. Taking advantage of the passersby blocking Mason, I pushed open the restaurant doors and ran out as fast as I could. I bought two buns at the subway entrance to fill my stomach, my tears falling harder with every bite. Thankfully, I made it in time for the afternoon English exam. At 5:00 PM, I walked out of the exam hall. The world was vast, but I had nowhere to go. I hadn’t forgotten my parents’ instructions from the morning, telling me not to come home right after the exam. But I still wanted to go back and pack my bags. I had bought a ticket for 7:00 PM tomorrow. Tomorrow, right after the exam, I would head straight to the airport. There wouldn’t be time to go home and pack. I took a cab home, but no one opened the door for me. Through the large iron gates of the villa… Mrs. Xu, the nanny, looked at me with pity as she shoved my thickest down jacket and some a change of clothes into my arms. “Miss Harper, the Master and Madam took Miss Chloe to the mall to buy clothes and haven’t returned yet. But before leaving, the Master instructed that you are not allowed to sleep here tonight. It’s so cold, please find a hotel to stay at quickly.” I stood awkwardly outside the gate, telling Mrs. Xu it was fine. A cold front was moving in, and large snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky. Like a stray, homeless cat, I pulled the down jacket tightly around myself and explained to Mrs. Xu: “I’m not trying to sleep here. I just want to pack my bags.” “Just give me one hour.” But Mrs. Xu shook her head vigorously: “I really can’t.” “The Master said if I let you through these gates today, I’ll be packing my bags and leaving too.” “Miss Harper, I have two kids in college. I depend on this job to support my family and pay their tuition.” I couldn’t bring myself to put the nanny in a difficult position. I stood outside the iron gate, shivering from the cold. “Then could you pack for me?” “I don’t want any of the clothes or jewelry the family bought me.” “But please get all my award certificates, diplomas, and things like that from over the years. I earned those with my own hard work.” “They’re in the safe in my bedroom. The code is 074523.” Mrs. Xu probably knew I had been kicked out and kindly nodded. “Miss Harper, wait here. I’ll go pack for you right away.” “Okay, thank you.” I stood at the gate waiting. The snow and wind grew heavier. It was so cold. I sneezed several times. My breath plumed in the freezing air, and my face felt like a block of ice. If this were the past, my parents would be worried sick. But now, they probably didn’t have time to worry about me. They had their biological daughter to care for. Mrs. Xu rushed out carrying my travel bag. “Miss Harper, it’s packed.” “See if anything is missing, and I’ll go back and look for it.” I unzipped the bag and made sure my most important certificates and IDs were there. “This is fine. Thank you, Mrs. Xu.” Just as I was about to leave, two headlights shone directly on my face.

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