Category: English

Arthur was known in our circle as the perfect husband, obsessively devoted to his wife. He personally created an “Evelyn Manual” for me, detailing every single one of my preferences and allergies with obsessive precision. No contact with strawberries, zero exposure to pollen, and the warm water I drank every morning had to be exactly 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Even more insane, he required every employee at his company to memorize it. I used to deeply believe that I was living a life of fairy-tale happiness that others could only dream of. Until the night of our fourth wedding anniversary. He spent the entire evening busy in the kitchen, finally bringing out my favorite blueberry mousse. I took the first bite, and an agonizing, prickling itch instantly clawed at my throat. Five minutes later, hives had spread all over my body. As the ambulance wailed outside, Arthur held my hand, his face deathly pale. “Impossible. I made it myself. I checked the recipe three times…” But through the dizzying haze of suffocation, I could distinctly taste it—hidden beneath the blueberry aroma was the unmistakable flavor of strawberry. He didn’t care about my fatal allergy anymore. … When the light above the emergency room doors finally clicked off, I still had a breathing tube down my throat. Before the anesthesia fully wore off, my hearing returned. Through the crack in the door, the nurses’ hushed conversation hit my eardrums, word by word: “Mrs. Vance is so lucky. Ten minutes later and she’d be gone.” “No kidding. Mr. Vance was so frantic his eyes were totally bloodshot… But hey, do you remember that Miss Chloe from the VIP maternity ward last month?” “Oh yeah, the one Mr. Vance accompanied, right? We were just saying how incredibly attentive he was to his ‘sister.’ He didn’t miss a single prenatal appointment. He was even more meticulous with her than with his own wife.” “Sister, my ass,” a voice whispered, dropping an octave. “My cousin works at the County Clerk’s office. She said that massive estate in the hills on the West Side was transferred to Chloe’s name three months ago.” Footsteps approached. I closed my eyes. Arthur sat on the edge of my bed. He grabbed my hand, his voice hoarse. “Evie… I’m so sorry…” I’m so sorry. Those three words acted like a key, violently unlocking the floodgates of my memories. I had gone into anaphylactic shock from strawberries three times before. The worst time, they had to perform an emergency tracheotomy. Arthur had knelt outside the ICU that day, swearing on his life that he would never let a single strawberry product within a hundred-yard radius of me again. He even put it in bold print on the first page of his corporate employee handbook: Strawberry products are strictly prohibited. Violators will be terminated. And now, strawberries had somehow made their way into the anniversary dessert he personally made for me. It wasn’t carelessness. It was a change in habit. He was no longer hyper-vigilant and terrified of the word “strawberry.” Because someone else wasn’t allergic. In fact, she loved them. If it hadn’t been for the nurses’ gossip just now, my heart probably would have softened. Just like the past twenty years—every time he made that face, I would forgive him. But now, my heart felt like it was being crushed by a massive, invisible fist. The pain made my entire body curl up. The heart monitor started blaring. My heart rate was spiking. “Doctor!” Arthur shot up, his voice panicked. In the chaos, the screen of the phone resting on his bedside table lit up. A new notification popped up: [Artie, I miss you.] Sender: Chloe. In that fraction of a second, all the sound in the room faded away. Only those four words remained, searing into my heart like a red-hot branding iron. Searing it until this heart would never beat for him again. My heart rate gradually stabilized. Arthur let out a long sigh of relief and tucked the blankets around me. “Sleep. I’ll stay right here with you.” The night grew deep. I looked at his sleeping profile. This face used to be the absolute religion of my youth. At six, he got a scar fighting a bully for me. At twelve, he blushed furiously while buying pads for me. At eighteen, he changed his college applications just to stay with me. At twenty-four, at our wedding, he knelt in front of my mother’s grave and swore: “I will protect Evelyn with my life.” Now, he had split his life in half and given the other piece away. Given it to Chloe. The product of my father’s infidelity. The same girl who, fifteen years ago, handed me strawberry juice disguised as strawberry ice cream. The girl who stood outside the ICU glass window, smiling as she watched me hover between life and death. The most laughable part was that her triumphant return was entirely orchestrated by Arthur. He probably thought I was his caged bird now, unable to fly away. Just like he was absolutely certain that my family’s corporation, Sterling Group, couldn’t survive without the Vance family, and that I couldn’t survive without him. My phone vibrated. It was an encrypted message from my family’s head butler, Uncle Ray: “Miss, the property deed has been verified. The West Side estate was transferred to Chloe three months ago. The payment account is directly linked to Mr. Vance.” I knew it. In that moment, my heart plummeted into a glacier. Strangely, I didn’t feel any pain—just a freezing, absolute numbness. “Keep tracking the cash flow. I need every single transfer record. Don’t miss a cent.” “Also,” I paused, typing, “contact Attorney Lee. Tell him to prepare to execute the emergency corporate structuring plan my mother left behind. But tell him to hold off until I give the final order.” “Understood.” On the third day after I was discharged, I drove to the West Side estate. The security guard at the gate stopped me. “Who are you here to see?” “Arthur Vance.” I rolled down the window. “I am his wife.” The guard’s expression turned incredibly awkward before he finally let me through. In my rearview mirror, I saw the guards huddling together, whispering. See? Everyone knew. In this marriage, the biggest fool of all was me. I parked the car and stood outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the villa. I watched as Arthur gently fed a bright red strawberry into Chloe’s mouth. I suddenly remembered when I was twenty. I was hospitalized again due to allergic complications. Arthur sat by my bed, repeatedly stroking the IV needle marks on my hand, his eyes bloodshot. “Evie, I swear I will never let another strawberry get near you.” His heartbreak was genuine back then. But the plate of bright red strawberries sitting on the coffee table right now was also genuine. Arthur noticed me. His movement paused for just a second. Then, he stood up and walked toward the front door. There was no panic on his face—only the distinct annoyance of being interrupted. “Evie,” his tone was flat, even carrying a hint of reprimand. “How did you find this place?” “Explain.” My voice was raspy. “Chloe moved back to the States to start her career. She needed a place to stay.” He lit a cigarette. “You know how unreliable your father is…” “Fifteen years ago, she almost murdered me,” I cut him off. Arthur blew out a puff of smoke, obscuring his expression. “Evie,” he frowned. “How long ago was that? Chloe was only ten. She didn’t know any better.” “And now?” I pointed inside the house. “She knew perfectly well I was allergic, yet she intentionally bought strawberry jam and swapped it with the blueberry. Is that ‘not knowing any better,’ or is that trying to murder me a second time?” “Evelyn,” his voice turned cold. “Chloe just grabbed the wrong jar. Do you really have to be this aggressive?” Aggressive… In the past, he would say other people were malicious. Now, I was the one being “too petty.” Chloe pushed the front door open and walked out. Her loose loungewear couldn’t hide the slight curve of her pregnant belly. She was holding half a strawberry, the red juice seeping through her fingers. “Sister, please don’t be mad at Arthur. It was my fault…” The sight of that bright red juice made my stomach churn violently. And Arthur just stood there, watching. He didn’t stop her. He didn’t immediately neutralize the threat like he had a million times before. Instead, he subtly shifted his body, stepping slightly in front of her, shielding her. That tiny, subconscious movement… …shattered the last pathetic shred of hope I had left. My fingernails dug so deeply into my palms that the sharp pain helped me maintain my composure. “Monday’s board meeting,” my voice was unnervingly steady. “I want your three proxy votes.” Arthur visibly let out a sigh of relief. A knowing, arrogant smirk touched his lips. “Of course. Didn’t we agree on that ages ago?” “I’m talking about a permanent proxy transfer,” I continued. “And this estate. Sign it over to my name tomorrow.” Chloe’s face instantly went pale, but Arthur just laughed and shook his head. “Evie, stop acting out. What’s mine is yours.” He was giving me an “out,” absolutely certain that the Sterling Group desperately needed the Vance family’s backing. He was certain that twenty years of history meant I could never leave him. Every word he spoke was a reminder: Evelyn, you don’t have the leverage to burn this bridge. Chloe gently tugged at the hem of his shirt, her voice soft and whiny: “Artie, I don’t need the house. Just please don’t be mad at her…” “See how understanding Chloe is?” Arthur looked at me, his eyes filled with disappointment. “Evelyn, you never used to be like this.” Used to be. The Evelyn of the past believed in love. The Evelyn of today didn’t. “The three votes. The estate,” I repeated, even offering a small smile. “Or, I revoke the corporate backing for your clean energy licensing renewal.” I watched his smile instantly freeze. I enunciated every word: “Those connections belong to my mother’s estate. I gave them to you, and I can take them back.” Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and walked away. As I got into my car, a text from Arthur popped up: “Let’s talk. You know I love you.” I stared at those three words, remembering how he had just shielded Chloe with his body. I dialed a number. “Take the evidence of Chloe’s father embezzling corporate funds and send it anonymously to the FBI’s financial crimes division. I want it done today.” In the rearview mirror, Arthur’s figure sprinting out of the house grew smaller and smaller. “And take the evidence of Arthur transferring marital assets and committing adultery… package it up, and send it directly to his mother.” The lights at the charity gala were blinding. When Arthur brazenly walked in with Chloe on his arm, the entire ballroom fell dead silent for a fraction of a second. The smooth, jade bracelet on Chloe’s wrist stabbed my eyes. It was the heirloom bracelet my mother had personally placed on my wrist right before she died. Arthur walked straight toward me, his tone entirely casual. “Jewelry is meant to be worn.” He noticed me glaring dead at the jade bracelet and frowned slightly. “Besides, you’re the older sister. You should be more magnanimous.” Older sister… I remembered the vow he made kneeling at my mother’s grave. He swore he would never let any filth touch anything I cared about. Now, he was personally hand-delivering the absolute worst kind of filth right to my face. “Take it off,” my voice was as cold as dry ice. Arthur grabbed my arm. “It’s just a bracelet.” He lowered his voice, his breath brushing against my ear. “Evelyn, you’ve been spoiled by power for too long. You can’t handle the slightest bit of compromise. That’s a bad trait.” He raised his hand, seemingly wanting to caress my cheek, but stopped mid-air. “I’m helping you grow.” Grow… Using my dead mother’s heirloom, my husband’s betrayal, and an illegitimate sister’s provocation… to help me grow. At that moment, Chloe started taking the bracelet off, but her movements were exaggeratedly slow, like a scene playing out in slow motion. “Sister, please don’t be mad. I’ll give it back to you right now…” Her fingers trembled, her eyes reddened. She looked like a terrified, bullied victim. But her eyes were smiling. Fifteen years ago, standing outside the ICU glass window, that was the exact same smile she wore while she watched me fight for my life. As she spoke, the jade bracelet slipped from her wrist, tracing a perfect arc through the air. I saw Arthur instinctively reach out to catch it. And I saw the microscopic, deliberate flick of Chloe’s fingertips right before the bracelet fell. SMASH! It felt like my heart violently seized in sync with the sound of the shattering jade. Something inside me shattered right along with it. After a moment of silence, Arthur bent down and picked up the largest shard. He glanced at it casually and tossed it back onto the floor. “It’s fine that it broke.” He wrapped his arm around Chloe’s trembling shoulders. “I’ll buy you a new one tomorrow.” Then, he looked at me. “You terrified Chloe. Apologize.” The eyes of the entire ballroom were locked on us. He was waiting for me to lose control. He was waiting for me to scream. He wanted me to act like a hysterical, unhinged wife and physically attack Chloe in front of everyone. Because then, he could perfectly justify his narrative: “See? Evelyn is just too spoiled.” It was his twisted way of proving he still possessed absolute control over me. I took a deep breath, swallowing the metallic taste of blood rising in my throat. Then, I heard my own voice. It was terrifyingly calm. “I am sorry.” A flash of absolute shock, mixed with an imperceptible trace of anxiety, crossed Arthur’s eyes. He clearly hadn’t expected me to bow my head so peacefully. But the anxiety vanished in a second. Very quickly, his eyes returned to the arrogant composure of a man in control. I followed his gaze toward the auction stage, and my breath caught. It was my mother’s vintage violin. He had actually put it up for auction. My private accounts only had five million dollars in liquid cash right now—the initial funding for my new project. And Arthur, knowing exactly where my vulnerability lay, bid the price up to six million, brutally crushing my dignity. Bang. The gavel fell. Amidst the applause, Chloe stood up and raised her champagne glass toward me, her smile sickeningly sweet. Arthur turned his head and gave me a faint smile. “Chloe wants to learn the violin. Mrs. Sterling’s violin going to a daughter of the Sterling family is perfectly fitting.” The guests around us exchanged sly, knowing looks. So, CEO Vance has finally gotten sick of his domineering wife and is elevating the gentle, sweet illegitimate daughter to take her place. After the gala, Arthur forced me into his car. “Next week’s board meeting,” he lit a cigarette. “I’ll vote ‘yes’ with my three proxy votes. But my condition is… you have to publicly acknowledge Chloe’s child as a legitimate heir to the Sterling bloodline, and eventually add the child to the family trust.” I turned to look at him. “And if I don’t?” Arthur laughed. It was the laugh of a man holding all the cards. “You won’t,” he said. “You care too much about the Sterling Group. You care too much about the empire your mother built. Evelyn, you’re too emotional.” The car pulled up to the estate. He leaned over and unbuckled my seatbelt. “Think about it carefully. I want your answer before the board meeting on Monday.” I got out of the car and walked through the front gates without looking back. The moment the heavy doors clicked shut behind me, I called Uncle Ray. “Initiate Plan B,” I said. “Deliver all the evidence to the District Attorney’s office first thing tomorrow morning.” …

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My coworker, Sienna, saw me pull up in a luxury car and asked, her voice laced with envy, “Roxanne, did you buy this car yourself?” Remembering my dad’s advice to keep a low profile, I answered casually, “It’s my husband’s.” Three months later, she showed up with a group of people and sued me. I was completely bewildered, but she was crying like she was the most wronged person in the world. “It was Roxanne’s husband who assaulted me. I went to her house to drop off a file, but she wasn’t home. Her husband saw me, got ideas, and forced himself on me.” “I’m pregnant with his child! I demand they take responsibility! Otherwise, I’m suing them both for marriage fraud!” She demanded five million dollars in compensation and half of my assets. A tidal wave of condemnation washed over me, but I remained calm, a smirk playing on my lips as I watched her performance. She had no idea that I’d been single for five years. I did have a husband once. But he died five years ago. 1 “You just said you’re pregnant with my husband’s child. Are you sure about that?” In the courtroom, I looked calmly at Sienna, a woman I had worked with for three years. She had always been overly friendly, fawning over my clothes and accessories. She’d complimented a bracelet I was wearing, so I gave it to her. She was always trying to get me to buy her coffee, and I never made a big deal out of it. But I never could have imagined that she would show up three months pregnant, her belly slightly rounded, and accuse my husband of assaulting her in front of a judge. Sienna lifted her chin, her voice firm. “Of course, I’m sure!” “Roxanne, out of respect for our time as colleagues, I wanted to handle this privately, but you refuse to admit it.” “I had no choice but to take legal action. Now, in front of the judge, you might as well tell the truth.” Sienna’s mother glared at me, her face contorted with rage. “You’re Roxanne, right?” “Your monster of a husband committed this crime, but he doesn’t even have the guts to show his face in court?” “If he hadn’t defiled my daughter, she would still be an innocent young woman! How could she possibly be pregnant?” “I suggest you bring him here right now. It doesn’t matter where you hide him; a scumbag like that deserves the death penalty!” The mother-daughter duo put on a dramatic performance, their voices loud and accusatory. I could barely watch. I shook my head in exasperation. “I think you’ve got the wrong person. Instead of wasting your time with me, you should be out looking for the real perpetrator.” “I’ll say it again: my husband would never do something like that.” My words were like a lit match to gasoline. Sienna’s mother exploded. “How can you be so sure he wouldn’t? My daughter is young and beautiful; men can’t take their eyes off her. I bet your husband is no saint.” “If she hadn’t gone to your house to deliver that file, she wouldn’t have been subjected to such a brutal attack!” “The way you’re defending him… maybe you two planned this together, to lure an innocent young girl into a trap!” Sienna’s mother started to dab at her eyes, her gaze falling on her daughter’s swollen belly as she wailed to the heavens. “My poor daughter! You just graduated a few years ago. You had your whole life ahead of you, and now it’s been ruined by that monster!” Her cries were so heart-wrenching that the jury and the coworkers who had come to watch started to look at me with disdain. “The victim is on the verge of a breakdown, and you’re just sitting there, unmoved.” “Rich women are all heartless bitches.” “I bet she’s covering for her husband. Maybe they even planned the whole thing together!” Seeing the tide of sympathy turn in her favor, Sienna played her part to perfection. Her eyes were red and swollen as she looked at me with a pitiful expression. “Roxanne, it was your husband. Why won’t you admit it?” “Because of his selfish desires, my life is ruined. I can’t get married, and now I’m pregnant. The doctor said if I have an abortion, I might never be able to have children!” “My demands aren’t unreasonable. Just five million dollars for emotional distress and a share of your assets. After all, I’m carrying your husband’s child.” “Your family is well-off. Can’t you spare that much?” 2 A smirk played on my lips. “There it is. The real you is finally showing.” “This has always been about money, hasn’t it? Just pin a crime on me that’s impossible to disprove.” “Sienna, you’re more cunning than I gave you credit for.” My words hit their mark. A flicker of panic crossed her face, but she quickly masked it. “I am the victim here! Am I not allowed to seek justice for myself?” “Roxanne, how can you be so cruel? Do you have any conscience at all?” “If you’re just going to slander me like this, I might as well just end it all right here…” Sienna made a show of trying to run headfirst into a wall, thrashing about until her mother and a few jurors managed to restrain her. Everyone rushed to comfort her. “Miss Vance, please, don’t be rash. Now that you’re in court, we will ensure that justice is served.” Then, they shot me a cold glare. “People like her, who enable monsters, will get what they deserve.” Just then, the judge banged the gavel. “Order! Since the two parties cannot reach an agreement, you will each present your evidence.” Sienna wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and began her story. “That night, I saw that Roxanne had left a file at her desk. It was urgent for the next day. I somehow found her address and went to deliver it. As I was getting into the elevator, I saw her husband coming out of apartment 302. He looked me over and asked if I was Roxanne’s colleague. I said yes.” “He nodded and said that Roxanne wasn’t home, and that I should wait for her in the car. But then…” Sienna started to sob again. “The moment I got in the car, he locked the doors. Then he started touching me, tearing my clothes… I struggled, but after he was done, he just patted my shoulder and said he would be seeing me often. He even asked if I wanted to be his mistress.” “And then?” someone from the gallery asked, completely engrossed. “Of course I said no! I pushed him away and ran.” “But after that, he started stalking me.” “He cornered me downstairs from the office and forced me to go to a hotel with him several times. He threatened to post my pictures and videos in the company group chat if I didn’t comply, so I had to agree.” “I’ve been trying to break it off with him, but then… I found out I was pregnant.” “I went to him to take responsibility, but he blocked me and pretended he didn’t know me. Who else am I supposed to turn to?” All eyes were on me, filled with a mixture of anger and disgust, as if they wanted to tear me apart. “Roxanne, do you have anything to say?” I shook my head, a cold smile on my face. “This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.” “If that man was really my husband, why would he ask a colleague to wait in the car instead of inviting them inside?” Sienna’s face paled slightly. “How should I know? Maybe your husband had sinister intentions from the start!” “He locked the car doors. I couldn’t escape.” Something still felt off. “You’re just spinning a tale with no proof. Where’s your evidence?” Sienna’s voice was defiant. “I have it!” She produced a surveillance video. It showed her arriving at the entrance to my apartment complex. It’s an upscale building, so she loitered outside for a while. Then, a man with his back to the camera emerged from my building. Sienna approached him, and they started talking. The video cut off there. “See? He was right outside your building. It was obviously your husband!” My expression turned serious. Apartment 302, Brighton Towers. I had randomly put down that address when the company was collecting employee information. But I live in a villa and rarely go to that apartment. I never thought she would dig that up. And the man… his back did look vaguely familiar. Still, I shook my head. “Impossible. I almost never stay at that apartment. How could a husband of mine just suddenly appear there? I suggest you tell the truth in front of the judge. Otherwise, I will be suing you for defamation.” Sienna’s face contorted with a mixture of anger and fear. She was clearly shaken. Her lawyer whispered something to her, and her confidence seemed to return. “Don’t try to turn this around on me!” “Your husband assaulted me and got me pregnant! I have proof!” “I even heard him take a phone call. It was your voice on the other end. He called you ‘honey.’ Don’t deny it!” I was completely baffled. Could there really be someone out there impersonating my husband and deceiving Sienna? “That’s impossible. Describe the man to me. What were his distinguishing features?” Sienna sneered. “Stop pretending, Roxanne.” “I know your husband. His name is Peter Hayes!” The name dropped like a stone, and a wave of amusement washed over me. “Say his name again?” Suddenly, this whole situation had become very interesting.

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When my fiancé passed away in the earthquake, he entrusted his brother, Aaron Hayes, with my care. That care lasted five whole years. One night, fueled by alcohol, we lost control and conceived a child. Thinking of the diamond ring he kept hidden in his drawer, I rushed home, eager to surprise him. But as I stepped inside, I interrupted a passionate scene between him and the woman he’d always loved. My face went white, and I scrambled to flee. He called out, his voice hoarse, “Eliza, could you grab me a pack of condoms?” I clutched my pregnancy test results, my smile more grotesque than a cry. I bought the items and returned, only for Aaron to Venmo me a hundred dollars for my troubles. Scarlett glanced at the box, her eyes filled with open hostility toward me. “Aaron, your sister-in-law might look innocent, but she has sharp tastes!” Aaron’s sharp gaze cut over to me. “Eliza, you’re still a child, you shouldn’t be looking at inappropriate things. Go stay at a hotel for a few days and come back later!” I aborted our child, obediently left, and never returned. 1 The doctor looked at me, perplexed, as I reappeared. “Is something bothering you?” It wasn’t surprising she asked. When I’d first learned I was pregnant, my face had been flushed with excitement. Now, it was utterly pale. “Please schedule the earliest possible abortion for me.” Having witnessed countless human dramas, the doctor didn’t try to dissuade me. But when it came to signing the consent forms, she insisted I find a family member to sign. I pulled out my phone and instinctively pressed the speed dial. The phone beeped once before Aaron hung up, faster than my own reflexes. I gave a bitter smile and told the doctor, “I don’t have any family; I’ll have to sign myself.” After the procedure, I saw that Aaron had taken a moment to send me a screenshot of a hotel booking. He was so thoughtful, he’d booked me a room for a week. “Unless it’s life or death, don’t bother me these next few days. You understand.” When I saw that diamond ring on her hand, what was there left for me not to understand? How laughable, my self-deception, believing the ring was for me. Even more laughable, that I thought he would remember that night of utter abandon. I glanced at the bloody, indistinct embryo, my heart dead inside as I left. The luxury suite had everything, comparable to the cozy bedroom Aaron had decorated for me. But as I curled up under the covers, I felt nothing but a chilling cold. My hands trembled as I dialed a number. “Professor Miller, you mentioned assembling a team to go to Africa for medical aid. Count me in.” Professor Miller, ever perceptive, was delighted that I wanted to join but also asked tentatively, “Eliza, didn’t you say before that your brother-in-law was worried about you going to Africa? Did you two have an argument?” “Don’t be stubborn and run off with me. He’ll go frantic digging up the earth to find you later!” Professor Miller’s concern was natural. After Aaron and I had that chaotic night, I’d slipped away early, mortified, while he was still asleep. Afterward, he acted as if nothing had happened, treating me with the same big-brother demeanor. Angry that he wouldn’t acknowledge what we’d done, I had silently gone traveling to clear my head. As a result, Aaron had turned the whole town upside down looking for me. Everyone knew he cherished his sister-in-law more than his own eyes. Seeing the news, I automatically interpreted it to mean I was very important to him. Turns out, I was overthinking. Now, he could spend a passionate night with the woman of his heart and put me up in a hotel for a week. Once they were married, there would certainly be no place for me in that home. I also didn’t want to watch him and another woman in sweet affection day after day. “Professor, he’s agreed to it.” “Alright, then I’ll submit your name to the list. I’ll send you the materials shortly so you can prepare.” Looking at the documents, I booked my flight for seven days later. Perfect, I’d stay in the hotel for seven days, then leave. As for what to bring, I tried to recall, but it seemed there was nothing I absolutely needed. Since the earthquake, homeless, everything I owned had been bought by Aaron. He covered all my expenses, so the inheritance my parents left me remained untouched. I owed him. I kept a small amount for myself and transferred the money I owed him back to the card he’d given me. After doing all this, my mind clear, I fell into a deep sleep. In my slumber, I felt the building sway again. The phone rang repeatedly, but I didn’t hear it at all. Then, an urgent knocking at the door. “Eliza? Open the door!” 2 Aaron’s anxious voice left me disoriented, unsure of where I was. Groggy, I opened the door. He saw I was unharmed, let out a sigh of relief, then erupted in anger. “What’s wrong with you? Not answering calls, not replying to messages—is it fun to scare me like this?” I picked up my phone and saw a string of missed calls from Aaron. While I’d been sleeping, another earthquake had hit. “I’m sorry, I was sleeping too deeply to hear.” “Liar! You’re terrified of earthquakes. Every time there’s even a slight tremor, you can’t sleep!” It was true. Whenever that happened, he would stay up all night with me, constantly telling me he would protect me. Even if the building collapsed, he’d be there, ready to die with me. I glanced at the misbuttoned buttons on his shirt, a strange warmth spreading in my heart. He did care about my safety after all. But the hickey on his neck told me not to flatter myself. He was only protecting me, a poor orphan like himself, because of his brother’s dying wish. “Maybe I was just too tired.” Aaron clearly didn’t believe me. He stared at my face for a few seconds, then coldly scolded me. “Why did you paint your face so white in the middle of the night? Just to trick me into coming over?” I looked up, seeing the displeasure in his eyes. Before, when the earth shook, he would tell my pale face not to be afraid. Now, deathly pale from a miscarriage, he claimed I’d painted my face to trick him. I tugged at the corners of my lips, my heart feeling like a plum steeped in ice water. “It was my fault for ruining your plans, Big Brother. You should go back to your fiancée.” It had been a long time since I’d called him “Big Brother.” The title, slipping from my tongue, made Aaron’s thin lips press into a taut line. His eyes, dark as a deep pool, held an emotion I couldn’t decipher. “Come back with me. If there are aftershocks, I’d rather you be with me. Scarlett and I would both feel better.” “Lest you cause more trouble.” “I won’t cause trouble. You go!” I stood stubbornly, refusing to move. Aaron’s brow furrowed, his patience worn thin. “Just because you wouldn’t answer your phone, I left Scarlett alone at home. Can’t you be a little more considerate?” But I had already aborted the baby and resolved to leave without a word. Wasn’t that considerate enough? Before I could speak, Aaron’s phone rang opportunely. A sweet, delicate female voice sobbed, “Aaron, when are you coming back? I’m a little scared…” “Don’t be scared, Scarlett, I’ll be right back!” Aaron soothed her gently, while giving me a pointed look. I was already content that he’d thought of me first when the earthquake hit. A non-relative, he had looked after me for years. If I still didn’t get the hint, I’d be ungrateful. Aaron couldn’t hang up the phone right away, and I still refused to leave. So he forcefully hoisted me onto his shoulder and headed for the elevator. I struggled violently, telling him to put me down, and accidentally knocked his phone to the ground. Annoyed, he reached out and slapped my bottom. The sharp smack echoed in the hallway, making both of us stiffen. The heat of his palm, through the thin fabric, burned uncomfortably against my skin. Thinking of that wild night, my icy body instantly flushed hot. A young girl passing by stifled a giggle and ran off, but at the corner, I heard her voice message to a friend, gossiping: “Just saw the cutest couple! I bet they won’t leave their hotel room for three days!” Aaron was already frozen, startled by his own impulsive action. Hearing this, he immediately dropped me, as if I were scorching hot. The usually composed man blushed right down to his neck. “Look at the trouble you’ve caused! How embarrassing! I shouldn’t have bothered with you!” With that, he picked up his phone and left alone. I used all my strength to stand steady, holding on until the elevator doors were almost closed before I could no longer bear it. He was the one who forcibly carried me away, and he was the one who crossed the line by hitting my bottom. If that was embarrassing, then what was getting me pregnant? My emotions surged, and the blood flow below wouldn’t stop. Everything went black, and I fell straight backward. The young girl, hearing the commotion, quickly shouted towards the elevator, “Hey, your girlfriend fainted!” 3 I struggled to open my eyes, seeing only the numbers on the elevator screen rapidly descending. It finally stopped on the first floor and remained motionless for a long time. The young girl, having only half-finished her gossip, rushed over and helped me up. Seeing the pools of blood spreading beneath me, she was indignant. “What happened? Did your boyfriend just abandon you and run off?” I gave a bitter smile. “You misunderstand, he’s not my boyfriend.” She, however, automatically assumed we’d had a fight and broken up. I leaned on her for support, trying to get back to my room, but after only a few steps, I completely passed out. When I opened my eyes again, all I saw was sterile white. The familiar scent of disinfectant reminded me I was in a hospital. “You’re awake?” The nurse, after confirming I was alright, began to chatter. “What’s going on with your emergency contact? I called several times, but they just hung up on me.” “The young girl who brought you to the hospital paid your medical bills.” I took out my phone and checked the call history. My heart understood; Aaron was truly angry. But I no longer had the energy to explain or seek reconciliation. I was even grateful he hadn’t answered, otherwise, my miscarriage wouldn’t have remained a secret. I rested in the hospital for a few days, then returned to the hotel to retrieve my luggage. But I was told Aaron had already checked me out. The attendant handed me my luggage apologetically, though her eyes held a hint of amusement. As I left, the whispers behind me reached my ears, word for word. “She’s fallen out of favor, hasn’t she?” “Mr. Hayes is already engaged. There’s no place for his sister-in-law anymore.” “I thought that after being by Mr. Hayes’s side for so many years, she’d have the advantage, but who knew she’d still lose to his first love!” In the hotel lobby, a preview of Aaron and Scarlett’s engagement party tomorrow was playing. I seemed not to hear, hailed a taxi, and headed for the airport. The scenery outside the window blurred backward, and I closed my eyes, exhausted. The car drove for a long time without reaching its destination, and when I opened my eyes, I realized something was wrong. Panic set in. I glanced at the rearview mirror; the masked driver’s accidental gaze was like a venomous snake. Forcing myself to stay calm, I pulled out my phone to call for help. The masked man noticed my intention, sneered, and slammed on the brakes. “Too late now.” He got out and pressed a wet cloth over my mouth and nose. My consciousness immediately blurred. He snatched my phone, his voice mocking. “Trying to call for help?” “How about we make a bet? If he answers your call, I’ll let you go. If he doesn’t… hehe…” The man used my fingerprint to unlock the phone and dialed the top contact. Sure enough, Aaron didn’t answer. Then he directly hung up. On the last attempt, he finally picked up. I tried to call for help, but the sound that came out was barely a whisper. On the other end, he was furious. “Eliza Lee, get your identity straight! My brother is dead. You’re nothing more than a stranger to me! Don’t try to cling to me anymore!” His roar was deafening, mixed with the masked man’s mockery, stinging my eardrums and my heart. At an abandoned factory, the masked man dragged me from the car and threw me onto the ground. A pair of high heels entered my vision. Before I could make out the woman’s face, she unceremoniously kicked me twice. Weak, I saw stars. “Eliza Lee, you are truly shameless!” “Aaron treated you like a dear sister, yet you shamelessly slandered him!” The familiar voice made me realize who was assaulting me. That day, when I walked in on Scarlett and Aaron’s passionate encounter, her first glance at me was filled with hostility. Seeing I remained silent, Scarlett took out her phone and questioned me. “Did you arrange for this photo to be released?” “If Aaron hadn’t handled it quickly after I discovered it, you would have succeeded!” I looked at the photo, finally understanding why Aaron had said those words.

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The day after I gave birth, everyone denied it ever happened. The hospital said I had no delivery record. What baby? My husband said he was unmarried, that it was impossible for me to be pregnant with his child. Even my parents cried and begged me. “Audrey, you were never pregnant. Please, stop this.” I called the media, forced my way into the neonatal unit to find my son, and was dragged away like a lunatic. They sent me to a psychiatric hospital. The last time I tried to escape, I died under the wheels of a truck. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Today was my due date. A sharp pain ripped through my abdomen. My water broke. I was in labor again. … I gasped for air. The familiar ache in my belly, the familiar, heavy pressure. “Audrey? Audrey, what’s wrong?” Mark’s face was a mask of worry. I looked up at him. That was the face that had, in my last life, used the gentlest voice to invalidate my entire existence. “It hurts… the baby…” I managed to choke out. “It’s time? Oh my God!” Mark leaped to his feet, fumbling to help me up. “Come on, we have to get to the hospital!” The hospital? Yes, we had to go to the hospital. The last time, the hospital was where I lost everything. “Wait!” I couldn’t just walk in unprepared like before. “My ID… and yours…” I pointed toward the bedroom. “There’s no time for that! We need to go!” Mark was genuinely panicked, sweat beading on his forehead. “No, I’ll get them!” I forced myself up and pulled our marriage certificate from the back of the drawer. Mark Peterson and Audrey Thorne. Our names, printed in black and white. I glanced at the wedding photos on the wall. Every single one was real. The contractions came again, stronger this time. I lay in the back seat while Mark drove. At a red light, he called my parents. “Mom, Dad, Audrey’s in labor…” “Yeah, we’re on our way to the hospital now…” I pictured my parents’ faces. Their love for me had always felt real, too. So why had they also told me I was never pregnant? Between waves of pain, I shakily pulled out my phone. I snapped a picture of the street sign outside the window, then a candid shot of Mark’s anxious profile. Finally, I aimed the camera down and took a close-up of my swollen belly. Mark noticed. “What are you doing?” “Documenting… an important moment…” I forced a weak smile and uploaded the photos to my cloud storage. These images, time-stamped and geotagged, had to be undeniable. Finally, we reached the hospital. I was rushed to a delivery room, and a nurse checked me. “You’re fully dilated. Let’s go!” Everything was happening exactly as I remembered. But this time, through the blinding pain, my mind was crystal clear. “Waaah!” With a sharp cry, my child was born. The midwife held up the tiny, red body, bringing him close to my face. “Look, a beautiful baby boy.” Tears streamed down my face. As I reached out to touch my son, I used the last of my strength to pluck a few strands of hair from his head. The baby wailed in pain. My heart ached, but I had to have proof. If they tried to tell me I never had a child, or that this child wasn’t mine, I would have his DNA. The midwife was already cutting the cord, weighing him, and swaddling him in a blanket. They moved me to a private room. I was so exhausted, I closed my eyes, just for a moment. When I woke up, the first thing I did was reach for the bassinet beside my bed. It was empty. The space where my son should have been was vacant. I slammed the call button. A young nurse hurried in. “You’re awake! How are you feeling? Is the incision painful?” “My baby?” I demanded. “Where is my baby?” The nurse’s smile faltered. A flicker of confusion crossed her face. “Baby? What baby?” “The baby I just delivered! My son! I had him last night!” My voice rose with panic. The nurse walked to the foot of my bed, glanced at the chart hanging there, then looked down at her clipboard, frowning. “Ma’am, are you sure you’re not mistaken?” “This room was on standby yesterday. You were admitted for observation late last night. The chart says you came in for acute abdominal pain. The diagnosis is still pending.” BOOM. My world tilted. “That’s impossible!” I grabbed her sleeve. “I had a baby! How can he be gone? Where is my husband, Mark? MARK!” He was supposed to stay with me, but he was gone, too. The nurse, startled, tried to pull away. “Ma’am, please calm down! There is no record of a newborn. You were admitted alone. There are no family members on your record.” “You’re lying!” I screamed. The tearing pain between my legs flared up with the sudden movement. “Get your supervisor! Check the security footage!” My shouting brought more people. The head nurse rushed in, her words a soothing but empty echo of the first nurse’s. No delivery record. No baby. “Mark… I’ll call my husband…” My hands trembled as I found his number. The phone rang for a long time before he answered, his voice thick with sleep. “Hello? Audrey?” “Where are you? Where’s the baby? The hospital says he’s gone! They’re saying I never even had a baby!” The words tumbled out in a frantic, tearful rush. There was a two-second pause on the other end. Then, a weary sigh. “Audrey, did you have another nightmare? Is your stomach hurting again? Just listen to the doctors and let them run their tests.” “I told you yesterday, I have an early meeting at the office this morning. I’ll come see you as soon as it’s over.” “What are you talking about?” I shrieked. “I just had a baby! You’re supposed to be here with me!” “A baby?” Mark’s voice was filled with genuine confusion. “Audrey, we’re not even married. Where would a baby come from?” Not married… where would a baby come from… The exact same words as last time. I froze. I had expected it, but hearing it again was still a physical blow. “Let’s call security,” the head nurse murmured to someone beside her. “This patient is emotionally unstable.” Two uniformed guards appeared at the door. They didn’t enter, but their presence was an implicit threat. Just then, I heard frantic footsteps in the hallway. “Audrey! My baby girl!” My parents burst into the room. My mother, her face etched with worry, threw her arms around me. “Why did you come to the hospital? You scared me to death! You were so incoherent on the phone…” I clung to her like a lifeline. “Mom, I had the baby! But he’s gone! They won’t admit it!” My mother’s body stiffened. She pulled away, her eyes clouded with concern. “Audrey, honey, you weren’t pregnant.” “Have you… have you been working too hard? Are you seeing things?” My father stepped forward and sighed. “Audrey, your mother has a weak heart. Don’t frighten her. Let’s just cooperate with the doctors, get a check-up, and go home.” Hallucinations? Again with the hallucinations? A cold dread washed over me. “I’m not hallucinating! I have proof!” I opened my cloud album and showed them the photos from the car, especially the close-up of my belly. “Look! I took these on the way to the hospital last night! Look how big my stomach was!” My mother glanced at the phone, and her eyes welled up with tears. “Oh, Audrey. You can do anything with photo editing apps these days. Why are you torturing yourself like this?” My father’s brow furrowed. “We know you want to start a family, but you have to take things one step at a time. You can’t just… invent things because you’re desperate to marry Mark.” I stared at them in disbelief. The evidence was right there, but they refused to see it. “I want to see my husband! He drove me here! Let him tell you what happened!” I swung my legs out of bed, staggering as a sharp pain shot through me. My mother rushed to steady me while my father blocked my path. “Audrey, stop making a scene! Haven’t you caused enough embarrassment?” The security guards stepped into the room. “Ma’am, please remain calm. If you continue to disturb the other patients, we will have to take necessary measures.” No matter how much I cried or pleaded, no one believed me. Just as the chaos reached its peak, Mark appeared. He was dressed in a crisp shirt and trousers, holding a briefcase, looking like he’d just stepped out of an important meeting. “Mark!” I cried, all my pain and fury erupting at once. “Tell them! Tell them we’re married, that I was pregnant with your child, and that you brought me here last night to give birth!” Mark walked to my bedside, his expression a mixture of pity and sorrow. “Audrey, we are dating, and I care for you deeply. But marriage… we never did. And a child… that’s simply not possible.” He turned to my parents and the hospital staff. “She’s been under a lot of stress from work, and I think our recent breakup hit her harder than I realized… she’s developed some unhealthy fantasies. I’m so sorry. This is my fault.” Breakup? Fantasies? I watched his performance, my blood turning to ice. “You’re lying!” I ripped open the document folder I’d brought from home. “This is our marriage certificate!” I held the two red booklets high. Inside were our names, our photos, and a wedding date from one year ago. Mark just sighed. “Audrey, aren’t those the fake certificates we bought online for April Fool’s last year? We posted a picture on social media, remember? Our friends and family were all so shocked.” My parents nodded. “Yes, we told you two to stop messing around!” Fake? How could they be fake? Mark pulled out his phone and opened his online shopping history. And there it was: a purchase record for two replica marriage certificates. I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “No, we went to City Hall. Look, it has the official seal.” Mark’s patience was clearly wearing thin. “If you still don’t believe me, I can check the state’s official records portal right now.” He logged in and entered his own name. His marital status: Unmarried. Then he entered mine. The same result: Unmarried. I was stunned. I snatched the phone from his hands, checking and rechecking, but the result was the same. Mark gently touched my forehead. “You must want to marry me so badly that you’ve started to imagine things.” My parents looked at me with pity, shaking their heads. But no matter what they said, I refused to believe it. “No! None of this is a hallucination!” I screamed, thrashing against their grip. “You’re all lying to me! Why? WHY?” My struggles were futile. I was easily overpowered. History was repeating itself in the most suffocating way possible. They injected me with a sedative. It left my body limp, but my mind was wide awake as they transferred me from the maternity ward to the psychiatric ward. Just like before. My parents stayed with me. My mother cried silently while my father paced outside, chain-smoking. I closed my eyes and forced myself to remember every detail of the previous night. That’s right. The strands of baby hair. I shakily retrieved them from my pocket. They were still there. I really, truly had a baby. When my parents weren’t looking, I called my best friend, Linda. “I need you to take something for me and get a DNA test done at a different lab. Don’t tell anyone. Especially not Mark or my parents.”

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On a variety show, the host randomly checked the seventh photo in the guests’ phones. I showed a picture of Arthur’s brand-new Rolls-Royce. The “innocent little white flower” actress instantly teared up: “Elena, I know you usually target me, but could you please not pretend to be associated with my boyfriend’s car?” I was stunned: “Since when did the guy at my house get a girlfriend without me knowing?” The little white flower cried and called Arthur right there: “Hubby, someone is bullying me…” There was a pause on the other end, then Arthur’s voice came through, deadly serious: “Who? Where are you? I’m flying back to the country right now to find you.” My jaw dropped. The internet exploded: [I knew Elena was just clout-chasing again!] [Bet you didn’t expect this! You can’t just use CEO Vance for clout!] [CEO Vance spoils her so much! You two need to get married right now! Make Elena choke on her jealousy!] No, seriously, I just didn’t know when my little brother secretly started dating my arch-nemesis! 1 My jaw-dropped expression was quickly turned into a meme and trended online. [Hahaha! Does Elena actually think Chloe is joking with her? Does she think Chloe is a clout-chaser just like her?] [Does she really think she can use CEO Vance for clout? LMAO, this meme is the best of the year!] [Hahahaha, this is so satisfying to watch! I love seeing this fake bitch get slapped in the face by Chloe!] The live stream chat was scrolling crazily. I immediately ran out of the studio and into my dressing room. [Is she too ashamed to show her face now?] [Seeing her get humbled is so satisfying!] I closed the dressing room door and immediately called Arthur. His voice sounded a bit rushed: “Sis, something urgent came up. We’ll talk later.” “Let me guess, your girlfriend is getting bullied?” Arthur froze: “Sis, how did you know?” “Are you out of your mind, dating a woman like her?!” “Sis, you don’t understand. She’s the most special girl I’ve met in my twenty-five years.” I almost choked: “She’s an actress! What can’t she act out? Let me tell you, I know exactly what kind of person Chloe is. Break up with her right now!” “She’s not acting!” Arthur sounded completely self-righteous: “Even when she’s drunk, she tells me she loves me!” I felt a block in my chest: “What’s so hard about that? I can act that out too. I love you, I love you, I love you!” “Are you crazy? What kind of psychotic fit is this?!” Arthur got goosebumps and hung up the phone directly. Puffing my cheeks in anger, I turned around, only to find someone already standing at the door of my dressing room. Chloe had one hand covering her mouth and the other holding her phone, looking incredibly innocent: “Sister, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were in here too.” I sneered: “Funny, I seem to recall you staring right at me when I walked into this room.” “Sister, you…” Chloe’s eyes instantly turned red. The live chat went crazy: [Ahhh! You psycho, stay away from Chloe!] [I’m so sick of this fake bitch. Terrible acting, terrible personality. She’s the one who tried to steal Chloe’s boyfriend first!] I had no interest in playing these petty games, so I turned and left. But unexpectedly, in the short time it took me to touch up my makeup, the trending topics exploded again. I clicked on it. It was a three-second video of my “confession” to Arthur. Trending Title: Arthur Vance: Are you crazy? What kind of psychotic fit is this?! Elena attempts to be the other woman, gets fiercely reprimanded as a psycho by Arthur Vance. My vision went black. 2 The dressing room had excellent soundproofing and privacy. The only person who could have filmed that video was Chloe, who opened the door at the very end. The video started recording exactly when I “confessed.” It made it look like I was crazily telling Arthur “I love you,” only for him to avoid me like the plague. Thinking of this, I sought out Chloe and showed her the three-second video: “You secretly recorded me?” Chloe quickly smiled: “Sister, don’t misunderstand. I just happened to be taking a selfie and accidentally…” “If you were taking a selfie, why was the camera pointed at me? And if it was an accident, why did you post it?” Chloe’s face paled. She just realized that admitting she filmed it was the same as admitting she leaked it. But her persona had always been the harmless, innocent little white flower. Her eyes reddened, and tears suddenly fell: “Sister, I’m begging you, please stop pestering my boyfriend, okay? I’ve tried to persuade you for so long, but you wouldn’t listen. I’m not good at arguing, and I really didn’t have any other choice, that’s why I… “This is the first time I’ve met a boy I like so much. I’m begging you…” I cut her off: “That act works on him, but it doesn’t work on me. “Play enough dirty tricks, and you’ll eventually be found out. It’s only a matter of time before he dumps you. Watch yourself.” With that, I turned and walked away. The premise of this variety show was experiencing rural life. As I was preparing for the next leg of our trip into the countryside, my manager called me: “My little troublemaker, can you please lay low? It’s only been a little while, and you’re already on your third trending topic!” I hurriedly opened my phone. The number one trending topic had a glaring “Explosive” tag next to it: Elena threatens Chloe Just moments ago, an audio recording was leaked, supposedly by a staff member of the show. It was the exact conversation I just had with Chloe. But I was absolutely certain that only Chloe and I were present at the time. My social media was being bombarded. [Lady, take a good look. Chloe is the girlfriend personally acknowledged by CEO Vance! And you’re telling her to watch herself?] [Homewreckers deserve to die, along with their whole families.] [I was wondering who it was. Turns out it’s you, you fake bitch. Well, that’s not surprising then. Hope your whole family drops dead soon.] … Meanwhile, Chloe started a live stream from her car. The corners of her eyes were slightly red, tears glimmering in them, yet she smiled “stubbornly”: “Everyone, please stop saying that. There must be some misunderstanding between me and Sister. “If anyone else gets hurt because of me, I’ll be very sad too.” The netizens were heartbroken: [Ahhh, baby, you can’t be too kind! Elena is targeting you on purpose! Don’t speak up for her! Ahhh!] [Baby is so sweet, my heart aches for her sob! I’m going straight to Elena’s page to curse her out!] [Protect the best baby in the world! Elena deserves to die a horrible death!] I sat in my car, my vision darkening repeatedly. So, I called Arthur. 3 “Break up with her. Break up with her right now!” I got straight to the point. Arthur was completely confused: “Sis, I told you, this is true love.” “Are you completely blind to her ability to manipulate public opinion against me? Have you even looked at the trending topics?” “Oh come on, Sis, when are you not getting cursed out online? I’m used to it for you.” …He actually had a point. “It’s fine, Sis. When I get back, I’ll treat you both to dinner and clear up the misunderstanding. Chloe is a really good person. She’s definitely not what you think.” “Forget it. I have more experience surviving in the entertainment industry than you have signed contracts.” “Isn’t your ‘experience’ just getting yelled at?” “You!” “Alright, alright, Sis. How about you just retire from the industry? Look at the terrible movies you’ve been starring in.” I argued back vehemently: “What do you mean terrible movies?! If I put effort into acting in them, they’re not terrible!” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, you put effort in, but you inherited Mom’s acting skills!” I had no comeback for that. Arthur laughed: “Alright, Sis, come back and take over the family business. You’d earn way more doing this than struggling in the entertainment industry. And it would make my life easier. Why suffer out there?” “No! I didn’t join the entertainment industry to make money. I did it for Liam!” “…” 4 It’s true, I had no need to enter the entertainment industry. My parents nagged me every day to take over the family business and work with Arthur to make the company even bigger and stronger. But I stubbornly chose the entertainment industry, all so I could get up close and personal with my idol, Liam Sterling. The star who was the same age as me and whom I had been a fan of for five years. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I never publicly announced my relationship with Arthur. I took my mother’s maiden name, while Arthur took our father’s. So for all these years, no one ever suspected we were related. I never expected things to turn into such a massive farce now. I suddenly felt deeply regretful. As the guiding figure in my younger brother’s life, I used to watch him like a hawk to ensure he didn’t date in high school. I didn’t realize that the consequence of missing out on young romance would make him so easily seduced by a manipulative woman. I sat in the car, rubbing my forehead in regret: “If I had known, I would have let him date more back then!” 5 However, the gloom in my heart was quickly swept away. Because the moment I stepped out of the car, I learned the identity of today’s mystery guest. “Liam?!” I cried out in surprise: “Is it him? Is it really him?” A staff member gave me a disdainful look, snorted coldly, and walked away. The entire production crew had been treating me coldly ever since I supposedly “stole” Chloe’s boyfriend. Later, when they realized this attitude earned them unanimous praise from netizens, they looked down on me even more. I didn’t care. After surviving in this industry for so long, I had endured plenty of eye rolls and mockery. Liam was the only one worth my attention. The moment Liam stepped out of his car, everyone let out a piercing scream of excitement. I dashed forward and handed him a gold-rimmed photo card: “Mr. Sterling, I’m a huge fan! Could I get an autograph?” He pulled down his mask and smiled: “Sure.” He took the card, casually scribbled something on it, and handed it back to me. Just as I was about to carefully put it away as a treasure, I saw what he wrote. Two words: [Dumb bitch] I froze. I looked up. He was glaring at me with contempt, letting out a cold laugh. “Liam!” An excited voice interrupted my thoughts. Chloe’s car had also arrived. The moment she stepped out of the car, she dashed over and threw herself into his arms: “It’s really you! Weren’t you filming somewhere else?” Liam caught her and spun her around in a circle: “I knew you were here, so I came specifically for you. Or, I just had a sudden whim to join this variety show. Which one do you want to hear?” The live chat scrolled frantically: [Let me say it! Let me say it! He came specifically for you! For you, for you, for you!] [So smooth! sobs…] Chloe pouted her lips, furrowed her brows, and feigned anger: “You’re teasing me again!” Liam smiled and tapped her nose: “Still so easily angered.” I frowned: “Don’t you have a boyfriend?” Liam protectively shielded Chloe behind him and gave me a disdainful smile: “Chloe and I are childhood sweethearts. We’ve supported each other since we were kids to get where we are today. “I hope Ms. Elena doesn’t project her own dirty mind onto everything she sees.” 6 The live chat started its carnival again: [Classic Liam! He can spot a bitch from a mile away!] [Quote of the day: Just because someone likes being a homewrecker doesn’t mean everyone else does, okay?!] [They are childhood sweethearts, they’ve always been like this. A certain someone named Elena shouldn’t be so quick to project her own flaws onto others.] I was furious. Just as I was about to say something, my assistant suddenly pulled me aside: “Elena, calm down. He just landed the lead role in a massive Hollywood IP. So many people are willing to back him up. If you clash with him, you’ll be the one who loses out.” “Massive IP?” I laughed out of pure anger. My assistant nodded: “Yes, a mysterious billionaire fan of his invested a fortune in him. I heard the billionaire has very high hopes for him. If you anger him, we can’t afford the consequences.” “Hah! The investment was because they respected his acting skills. Who said he gets to walk sideways and act like he owns the place?” My assistant smiled, looking at me with a hint of pity: “Elena, it’s better not to try and guess the thoughts of billionaires.” “I don’t need to guess,” I laughed coldly. “I’m withdrawing the investment right now.” “Elena, you… sigh!” My assistant sighed and shook her head: “How have you become so delusional that you can’t even tell who you are anymore?” With that, she turned and walked away. When she met a colleague, there was another sigh: “Elena has lost her mind. She actually thinks she’s Mr. Sterling’s investor. “Do you think getting yelled at so much recently has driven her crazy? First, she thought she was CEO Vance’s girlfriend, and now she’s hallucinating that she’s an investor.” I was already puffing with anger as I grabbed my phone and dialed my secretary, my tone decisive: “Withdraw the investment. You heard me right, withdraw the investment!” The secretary on the other end froze for a moment: “But President Vance, aren’t you Mr. Sterling’s biggest fan?” “Consider me previously blind. Withdraw the investment immediately. Cancel every single bid related to him!” “Yes, President Vance.” After hanging up, I finally felt a little better. As I walked towards the soundstage, the sight before me almost made me drop my phone— Liam was drinking a bubble tea, and on the straw was a lipstick mark in the exact same shade as Chloe’s! He took a sip and handed the bubble tea back to Chloe: “It is a bit too sweet. This place didn’t make it right.” Chloe naturally put the straw in her mouth: “I thought so too, but since you bought it, Liam, I guess I’ll just have to force myself to take a couple of sips~” “You’re so mischievous.” “Hold on…” I interrupted them both: “You have a boyfriend right now. Even if you are childhood sweethearts, shouldn’t you keep some distance?” Liam very naturally shielded Chloe behind him again: “I told you before, Ms. Elena, don’t project your own dirty mind onto everything.” My temper flared. I raised an eyebrow: “If some people are just inherently dirty, then anyone looking at them would find it disgusting, wouldn’t they?” “You!” Liam was genuinely angry now. Chloe’s eyes instantly turned red: “Sister, are you calling me dirty?” I raised an eyebrow: “Is there anyone else here besides you two?” Liam’s face instantly darkened. Thankfully, the director arrived just in time to stop the situation from escalating further. Terrified that I would “cause trouble” again, the production team unprecedentedly gave me a private room. But just as I had finished unpacking my luggage into the room, someone came to notify me: “You don’t need to film anymore.” My assistant was stunned: “Why? We signed a contract!” The staff member was utterly dismissive: “This is Mr. Sterling’s request.” My assistant deflated. She turned to me and sighed: “Elena, it looks like we really have to go.” I was so angry I laughed: “Fine. So he’s making arrangements for me now? “If I have to leave, I leave. Perfect timing, anyway. I’ve had enough of playing around in this entertainment industry!” That very day, I hit the trending topics once again: Elena finally forced to retire from the entertainment industry.

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Everyone’s a Villain? My Secret Identity is Leaking. I was standing in the middle of a “Welcome Home” gala for a long-lost heiress when the comments started flickering across my vision like a glitch in the Matrix. [This girl is a disaster. To get back at the “fake” heiress, she actually stole the engagement heirloom? Talk about desperate.] [Even if she’s technically the “real” daughter, look at her. The hero has taste; he knows the “fake” sister is his true soulmate.] [What fiancée? She’s just a common thief. Someone kick her back to the slums where she belongs.] Maya Montgomery, the girl currently wearing a princess-cut gown and surrounded by the city’s elite, glided toward me. She looked like a dream—the kind of girl who’d never known a day of hunger in her life. “Sister, you’re finally home,” she said, her voice dripping with artificial honey. “Mom, Dad, and I have missed you so much. From now on, we’re a family.” I didn’t say a word. I just kept chewing on my buffalo wing. When I didn’t respond, Maya’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. With a practiced, sudden movement, she reached into my battered backpack and pulled out a diamond-encrusted women’s watch. “Why would you do this?” she sobbed, holding the watch up for everyone to see. “I know you’re bitter about being replaced, but you can’t just steal the engagement gift Harrison gave me! I wanted us to be sisters, but you’re a criminal!” Harrison Kent, the golden boy of the city’s tech scene and my supposed fiancé, stepped forward with a look of pure disgust. “Give it back to Maya right now, then get the hell out of this house.” Under the judgmental glares of the 1%, I looked up at the stage where my boss was currently clinking glasses with Maya’s father. I tilted my head, genuinely confused. “Steal what?” I asked. “I’m not here for a family reunion. I’m just here because my boss invited me for the free catering.” The comments went into a frenzy: [LMAO, too awkward! She’s not the daughter, she’s just an employee?!] 1 Maya’s eyes widened, her voice hitting a sharp, frantic pitch. “Employee? How could you be an employee!” She turned back to Harrison, the tears flowing even faster now. “Harrison, look at her! She’s still lying! She’s so jealous of everything I have that she’s invented this whole persona just to save face!” Harrison took a step closer, his tall shadow looming over me like a self-appointed judge. “Enough. Stop the act.” His tone was dripping with condescension. “Did you really think such a pathetic lie would work here?” I swallowed the last of my chicken, took a napkin, and wiped my mouth. This was getting ridiculous. My father is actually the wealthiest man in the state. However, because I work at his firm and hate being treated like a “nepo baby,” I keep my identity hidden and refer to him simply as “my boss” in public. When the Montgomerys invited him to this gala, he turned them down, citing his busy schedule. I was the one who wanted a change of pace, so I begged him to let me go in his place just to see how the other half lived—and to eat some high-end appetizers. I didn’t expect to become the main course of the drama. “Why would I be acting?” I asked calmly. “Mr. Montgomery invited my boss. My boss was busy, so he sent me. Is there a problem with that?” I met their eyes directly, refusing to flinch. The comments exploded again. [Lol, what a reach. “Sent her”? What kind of boss sends an entry-level employee to a private family gala?] [She’s just digging her own grave. Does she think playing dumb will help?] [She’s probably trying to imply her boss is more powerful than the Montgomerys. Delusional.] Maya caught onto my words, her face contorting into a mask of faux concern. “Sister, stop it. You look exactly like Mom and Dad. How could you not be my sister?” That one sentence silenced the room. Every eye settled on my face. Internally, I sighed. People with good genes tend to look alike. My father and mother are strikingly attractive people. Maya’s mother, Mrs. Montgomery, did share a passing resemblance to my own mother, but her aura was miles away from my mother’s grace. “Look at them! Everyone sees it!” Maya pointed at the whispering guests, a twisted sense of triumph in her voice. “You’re family. You’re the daughter who grew up in that trailer park! I know it’s a lot to take in, but you can’t let jealousy turn you into a thief!” Her rhetoric was flawless. First, she forced the “family” connection, then she branded me as the “trashy girl from the sticks,” and finally, she cemented the crime of theft. Harrison scoffed, his eyes burning with loathing. “Don’t waste your breath on her, Maya.” He pointed a finger at my chest. “Give the watch back, and get out. The Montgomerys don’t welcome thieves.” The socialites around us began to chirp like vultures. “So she’s the one from the country? No wonder she’s so classless.” “How embarrassing for the Montgomerys to have a daughter like this.” “Look at her outfit. Does that cost even fifty bucks? Of course she’d go for Maya’s watch.” I looked down at my work blazer. It was a company uniform, sure, but the quality was top-tier—my dad doesn’t skimp on his staff. I took a breath, trying to be the adult in the room. “First, this watch belongs to me. Second, you’ve got the wrong person. The ‘real’ daughter you’re looking for is probably out there somewhere, waiting for you.” I caught a glimpse of a movement in the corner of the ballroom. A thin girl in a server’s uniform was watching the scene with wide, terrified eyes. Her features were a 90% match for Mrs. Montgomery. 2 Harrison lunged forward, grabbing my wrist with a bruising grip. “Give Maya her bag back! Don’t make me get physical.” A sharp pain shot up my arm, and I felt my temper flare. “Let go of me.” “It’s my watch,” I snapped. “Why would I give it to her?” [Whoa, she’s fighting back? The audacity of this girl!] [Harrison is so hot! Alpha energy! That’s how you handle a woman with no shame!] [Snatch the bag! Let’s see what else she’s pilfered!] I remembered my dad’s voice on the phone a few hours ago: “Ava, Arthur Montgomery is a bit of a social climber. I’ve never liked his vibe. Go there, see if their ‘family values’ are as solid as they claim, and just enjoy the food.” Well, Dad. The values are non-existent, and the vibe is toxic. Seeing that Harrison had me pinned, Maya grew bolder. she reached out to snatch my backpack. “Get off! This is my bag!” I struggled, twisting my other arm to shield my belongings. In the middle of the scuffle, a woman draped in diamonds and silk approached. It was Victoria Montgomery, Maya’s mother. She immediately pulled Maya into a protective embrace, as if I were a rabid animal. “Maya, darling, what’s happening?” She looked at me with cold, aristocratic disdain. “Mom!” Maya wailed, burying her face in Victoria’s shoulder. “She’s the one… the girl from the country! She stole the watch Harrison gave me, and now she’s attacking us!” Victoria’s expression shifted from confusion to pure vitriol. “So, it’s you.” She patted Maya’s back, her voice soothing for her daughter but venomous for me. “Oh, honey, of course she won’t admit it. Look at her. She reeks of desperation. She’s not fit to be a Montgomery.” She paused, raising her voice so the entire room could hear. “I see now. It was a mistake. The hospital must have been wrong. My Maya is the only daughter I need. As for you…” She pointed a manicured finger at me. “A creature who crawled out of the dirt shouldn’t expect to keep things that don’t belong to her. You’re delusional.” [Burn! Go Mrs. Montgomery!] [This is the reality check she needed. Know your place!] [The ‘fake’ is the real queen. Twenty years of breeding vs. blood—breeding wins every time!] I actually laughed. The absurdity was too much. “Mrs. Montgomery, you might want to watch your tone.” “On what grounds are you claiming I’m a thief? Or that I’m from the ‘dirt’?” Victoria blinked, stunned by my defiance. Her face turned a mottled purple. “You dare talk back to me?!” She turned to Harrison. “Harrison, why are you just standing there? Take what’s ours! I feel sick just looking at her.” Harrison took the cue, his grip tightening until I thought my bone might crack. “I’m not asking again. Give. Me. The. Bag.” “No!” The pain sparked a white-hot anger. I swung my leg and kicked him square in the shin. Harrison groaned, stumbling back, but he didn’t let go. Maya shrieked, “Oh my god! She’s violent! Harrison, she’s attacking you!” The entire ballroom felt like it was closing in on me. The whispers turned into a roar of condemnation. My dad was upstairs in the study, likely closing a deal with some high-level contact, completely unaware that his daughter was being lynched in the lobby. 3 Victoria watched Harrison stumble and her eyes turned murderous. She folded her arms, looking down at me as if I were a bug she was about to squash. “Shameless. And a brat to boot.” She addressed the crowd. “I apologize for the scene, everyone. We thought we were bringing home a long-lost relative, but it turns out we just invited a viper into our home.” With those words, my fate was sealed in the eyes of the guests. [Mrs. Montgomery is so poised. She’s handling this like a pro.] [By comparison, this girl looks like a street brawler.] [Call the cops already. Stop talking to her.] Harrison, bolstered by Victoria’s support, yanked my arm again, trying to drag me toward the corner. “You heard her! Give it back!” I lost my balance, stumbling into a table. Enough was enough. I used every ounce of strength to shove him away. “Don’t touch me!” Harrison wasn’t expecting me to fight back so hard. He crashed into a dessert table, sending a champagne tower wobbling. Maya saw her opening. With the timing of an Oscar-winner, she let out a theatrical gasp and threw herself backward. “Ah!” She didn’t hit the floor. She landed perfectly in Harrison’s arms. “You’re actually hitting people now?” Harrison roared, holding a ‘trembling’ Maya. Victoria was shaking with rage. “This is it! You ungrateful little peasant! We were going to give you a life, and this is how you repay us? Stealing, lying, and now assault? You’re a common thug!” I looked at this family of actors and felt a wave of nausea. “I hit someone? He put his hands on me first. That’s self-defense. I shoved him because he was trying to rob me.” I pointed at Maya. “And as for her? That fall was the fakest thing I’ve seen since her last Botox appointment.” “You!” Maya turned white. “Liar! I was terrified!” She huddled closer to Harrison. “Harrison, I’m so scared… she’s crazy… what if she has a knife?” Harrison’s eyes were filled with murderous intent. “Security!” he bellowed. “Where is security?!” “We have a thief and a violent trespasser! Get her out of here and call the police!” Two uniformed guards came running. Victoria added coldly, “Pin her down. Don’t let her run. When her ‘boss’ comes down from his meeting with my husband, I want him to see exactly what kind of trash he’s employing.” The guests parted, their faces filled with a sick kind of excitement. [Finally, the handcuffs! So satisfying!] [She needs to go to jail to learn a lesson.] [Let her rot! Make her pay for ruining the gala!] The guards closed in. I backed up until my spine hit a cold marble pillar. There was nowhere left to go. My heart sank. My dad was just a floor away, but he was being kept in the dark while his daughter was being humiliated. “Get her!” Harrison urged. A rough hand reached for my shoulder. I gritted my teeth and reached into my bag for my phone. If logic wouldn’t work, I’d have to call in the cavalry. I had to call my dad. 4 Just as I unlocked my screen to dial the number I knew by heart, a dark shape blurred in front of me. Smack! My phone was swatted out of my hand. It skidded across the polished floor, hitting a wall with a sickening crack. The screen shattered instantly. It was Harrison. “Looking to call for backup?” He sneered. “Who do you think you are? A thief from the gutter—who’s coming to save you? Even if your ‘boss’ shows up, what is he compared to the Montgomerys and the Kents?” My heart went cold. He’d cut off my only lifeline. [Good move! Shut her down!] [Let her feel the despair! Hahaha!] [Harrison is such a boss. This is how a real man protects his woman!] Maya leaned into Harrison’s chest, watching my face pale. She mouthed two words at me: You lose. Victoria folded her arms, gesturing to the guards. “Stop wasting time. Bind her hands. When the police get here, we’ll have the stolen goods and the witnesses. I want to see her try to lie her way out of a cell.” The guards moved in again, zip-ties in hand. I was pinned against the pillar, alone, surrounded by a sea of cold, mocking faces. Humiliation and fury bubbled in my chest. I had done nothing wrong, yet I was being treated like a criminal because I didn’t look the part. Why? Because I looked “poor”? Because I didn’t have their “status”? A hand grabbed my forearm, twisting it behind my back. I struggled, but I was no match for two trained men. The cold plastic of the zip-tie touched my skin. Harrison spoke, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. “Regretting it now? If you had just played nice and given the watch back, you could have slunk away with a little dignity.” Maya chimed in with her fake pity. “It’s true, sister. I didn’t want it to end like this. But you’re just so stubborn.” The guard yanked my arm harder, forcing me into a painful wince. “Ow—” Suddenly, a voice like a thunderclap erupted from the top of the grand staircase, vibrating through the very bones of the building. “STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HER!”

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I was killing time on the drive back to my hometown for the holidays, scrolling through TikTok, when I hit a post that made my blood boil. “How to handle your ‘needs’ during the holidays back home, girls? Watch and learn.” The video was a series of text overlays: “Step one: Pick a target and start a rumor. Everyone’s back in town—friends, family, the whole neighborhood. His parents will be so obsessed with their ‘reputation’ that they’ll practically gift-wrap him for me.” “Result? A free space-heater for my bed, and I don’t even have to pay for dinner. Absolute perfection.” In the comments, someone asked: “But Tiff, are you actually gonna marry him?” The creator replied: “LMAO. You know me. I’m all about that new-car smell. Once the holidays are over, he’s trade-in value.” I felt a surge of genuine disgust. I closed the app, trying to shake off the ick. But the moment I stepped through the front door of my childhood home, I didn’t get a “Welcome Home.” My father was standing in the foyer, his face a dark, stormy mask of resentment. “I didn’t think after a few years in the city you’d turn into such a degenerate,” he spat, his voice trembling with shame. “Living with a woman, getting her pregnant, forcing her into a back-alley clinic?” I froze, my suitcase halfway over the threshold. “What are you talking about?” “Don’t play dumb!” he roared. “You’re moving into her place tonight. You’re going to make this right before the whole town finds out what a coward I raised.” My heart did a slow, sickening thud against my ribs. Wait. Why did this script sound so familiar? 1. My head was spinning. Was I… was I being set up? The absurdity of it almost made me want to laugh. Almost. “Dad, you can’t seriously believe that crap,” I said, trying to keep my voice level. He stepped toward me, his jaw set. “It’s not ‘crap’ when the whole parish is talking about it! Besides, why would a woman like her—a successful CEO—make something like that up?” CEO? “Her?” I asked, squinting. “Are we talking about Tiffany Snyder? Tiffany is a CEO now?” How long had I been away? Had I missed a total shift in the space-time continuum? My father’s face reddened further. “You’re supposed to be the one with the college degree. We worked ourselves to the bone to send you off to school, and what do you have to show for it? Nothing. Tiffany barely finished high school and she’s already buying property in the city. And look at you. You’ve been ‘grinding’ for years and you can’t even afford a decent car.” The contempt in his eyes was a physical weight. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have wasted a dime on your tuition. I should’ve just put you to work and saved my money.” My sister, Lexie, didn’t even look up from her gaming headset on the couch. “Told you, Dad. You should’ve bought me that high-end PC instead. I could’ve been a pro-streamer by now. Investing in Brooks was a total loss.” My father nodded in grim agreement. “I expected you to be our ticket out of this place. Now, after this scandal, I’ll be lucky if I don’t have to pay her family to take you off my hands. Your mother should have listened to her gut when she was pregnant with you.” The cruelty of it hit me like a physical blow. I opened my mouth to defend myself, but my father cut me off. “I’ve already called her. You’re heading over there tonight.” “Excuse me?” I stood up, my pulse hammering in my ears. “What choice do we have? You think you have options after what you did? She’s willing to take you in despite the disgrace. You should be thanking your lucky stars.” I felt like I was losing my mind. Was I back in the nineteenth century? Some woman spreads a baseless lie about me, and my own family decides to sell me into domestic servitude to save face? I pulled out my phone. Tiffany’s TikTok had just updated. “Update, girls! He’s coming over today. Get ready for some ‘content.’” She panned the camera to a sheer, lacy nightgown laid out on her bed and added a suggestive, greasy smirk. “If you know, you know~” The comments were flooding in: “God, I wish I had your moves!” “Doing the Lord’s work for us single girls!” “Don’t forget to livestream the good parts!” I gripped my phone so hard I thought the screen might crack. This was not happening. 2. My first instinct was to grab the tire iron from my trunk and go settle this the old-fashioned way. But I stopped. That’s exactly what she wanted. If I showed up screaming, it would just look like a lover’s quarrel. It would validate her narrative. I took a deep breath and opened a burner account on TikTok. I commented: “How are you so sure he’ll show up? This sounds like slander. He could literally call the cops.” Tiffany replied almost instantly: “Sweetie, you clearly don’t know how small towns work. Let me educate you.” She was so arrogant she didn’t even realize she was talking to her target. “His dad is a widower who lives and dies by what the neighbors think,” she wrote. “And it’s the holidays. The pressure is ten times worse. Unless his family wants to be pariahs, they’ll practically force-feed him to me. News travels faster than a wildfire here.” Then she added: “Besides, I’m ‘rich’ now. People around here worship anyone with a dollar. My word is gospel.” The sheer, calculated coldness of it made my stomach turn. “I tap a few keys, tell a few stories, and a man gets delivered to my door for free. No dating apps, no effort. Maximum ROI.” I was shaking with rage. Tiffany sent one more message to the thread: “You want in on this, girlie? Venmo me $500 and I’ll coach you on how to land a ‘Holiday Rental’ of your own.” Before I could reply, my father came behind me with a broom, literally shooing me toward the door. “Move! You’re bringing bad luck into this house just standing there!” Fine. I’d go. I wanted to see this train wreck with my own eyes. I pushed open the front door and was hit by a blast of freezing wind and sleet. My shoes were soaked through within seconds. I cursed Tiffany Snyder with every step. If it weren’t for her pathetic little scheme, I’d be curled up by the fireplace with a beer and a book, not trudging through the slush. I hit a hidden pothole, and freezing water filled my shoe. My phone buzzed. “Breaking News: The ‘husband’ has arrived on foot! Look at that charm.” I clicked the link. She had filmed me from her window—stumbling, soaked, and looking utterly miserable. “He couldn’t wait to get into my bed. Look at him running to me in the cold. That’s the Snyder Magic™.” The comments were a cesspool of admiration. “Iconic.” “Queen behavior.” “Post the bedroom pics later!” I was vibrating with fury. It felt like she had stripped me naked in front of the whole world. But then, I noticed something in the background of her video. One of her followers had commented: “Umm, forget the guy, is that a Porsche in the driveway??” “Is that the new Taycan? That’s like a hundred-thousand-dollar car!” “Tiff, how are you so loaded? Teach us your secrets!” The car. I stopped in the middle of the slushy road and squinted at the sleek, matte-pink vehicle parked in front of Tiffany’s house. I rubbed my eyes. I knew that car. I snapped a photo and messaged my Head of Operations at the firm. “Is this the car you just bought? The one you were bragging about in the Slack channel?” I’d recognize those custom neon-pink brake calipers anywhere. A minute later, the reply came: “Yeah, that’s mine! How’d you see it? I’m back home for the break, so I put it on a luxury rental app for the week to cover the insurance. Some girl paid a premium for it.” A rental. I felt a slow, predatory smile spread across my face. Oh, this was going to be fun. 3. The anger was gone, replaced by a cold, sharp clarity. I pushed open Tiffany’s front door without knocking. Inside, the house smelled like stale cigarettes and cheap perfume. Tiffany was sprawled on a velvet sofa, wearing a tight, ill-fitting designer blazer. She had a massive, obviously fake Rolex on her wrist. “You’re here,” she said, her voice dripping with mock-boredom. “I knew you couldn’t stay away.” She looked at me with a greasy, self-satisfied grin. “Brooks Miller. Long time no see. Remember when I used to chase you in high school and you acted like you were too good for me? Look at us now. One little ‘update’ and you’re right where you belong.” I stared at her. “You know exactly what you’ve done, Tiffany.” She shrugged, checking her nails. “So I used a little leverage. Big deal. I’m a success story now. You’re lucky I’m even interested. If you play your cards right and keep me happy, maybe I’ll let you ride in the Porsche.” She looked down at her phone, and a second later, the TikTok updated: “Training the husband. He’s so obedient, he’s afraid to even breathe without my permission.” ‘Husband’? I felt a wave of nausea. “Don’t just stand there,” she barked, pointing to a corner. “Grab the broom. My relatives are coming over soon, and I need this place spotless. Then you’re starting on dinner.” She kicked off a boot and peeled off a damp sock, tossing it at my feet. “Wash these, too. By hand.” She immediately went back to her phone: “Having a man around is so convenient. He’s already doing my laundry. Life is good.” The comments hailed her as a ‘General’ and a ‘Boss Babe.’ It was surreal. This woman was a slob, a liar, and a thief of other people’s reputations. And her family was just as bad. Her mother walked into the room, looking at me like I was something she’d found on the bottom of her shoe. “Well, at least he’s pretty,” the mother said. “Even if he is a little tramp. I don’t know why my daughter wants a ‘used’ man like you when she’s a CEO.” “Exactly,” her father added, stepping in from the kitchen. “She’s a world-class executive. Look at her clothes—high-end custom couture. You better count your blessings.” These people were delusional. They were clearly reciting the script Tiffany had fed them. I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms. “So, Tiffany is a ‘big boss,’ huh?” The mother puffed out her chest. “The biggest. She owns a Fortune 500 company.” I almost laughed. “Is that so? Which one?” Before she could answer, the front door swung open. A group of extended relatives filed in, buzzing with excitement. They were all gravitating toward Tiffany, kissing her ring, acting like she was the Second Coming. “Brooks, what are you waiting for?” Tiffany’s father hissed. “Get to the kitchen and start the appetizers! Don’t embarrass us!” The audacity was breathtaking. I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to my Head of Ops. “I need a favor. I’m about to dismantle a fraud. Give me full access to the rental logs and the employee database. Now.”

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1 When I learned again that the child my wife carried was conceived with her new lover, I didn’t rage or push for an abortion as before. Instead, I silently supported her pregnancy, ensuring she carried it to term. Soon, I became gossip fodder for the elite circles—every cheating socialite wanted a spouse as “magnanimous” as me, mistresses hoped to ensnare my wife, and rich househusbands called me a disgrace. Ten months later, she gave birth safely. Emerging from the delivery room, Catherine, ever gentle, kissed my hand. “Thanks to you, my child with Liam is healthy and beautiful. Don’t worry—he only wants to be a father, not threaten your place as Davies’ son‑in‑law. You’re still the one I love most.” People said I loved her so blindly I accepted the mistress, but only I knew—this was a child the Davies matriarch forced me to protect, using an old life‑saving debt. With their firstborn now born, the divorce agreement she promised should finally take effect. … The night before Catherine’s delivery, I was given a sufficient dose of tranquilizers and bone-weakening agents to prevent me from harming her or the child. When the medication wore off, I opened my eyes to see her embracing the baby with unbridled joy. “Darling, Grandma has already named our child. Just sign here, and we can register him.” She handed me the birth certificate. Seeing the name “Michael Davies” on it, my foggy mind instantly cleared. Michael. That was the beautiful wish I had for my unborn biological son. It was our hope for our love. It was also the name of the thirteenth generation’s firstborn son in the Davies family tree. Years ago, to save Catherine from kidnappers, I took a knife wound for her, damaging my reproductive function. That part of my life became difficult. Our first IVF child, a boy, was seven months along when Catherine, in an act of misguided compassion, helped a drugged Liam. After a night with him, she suffered a massive hemorrhage, leading to a forced abortion. That was a fully formed boy. I had prepared to give him a symbolic burial, to bring him into our ancestral graveyard. But the fortune teller said the child didn’t count as a full-term stillbirth, the timing was bad, and we had to wait. That wait stretched for over a year. During her pregnancy, she whispered to me countless times that she wanted to give the name “Michael Davies” to this illegitimate child. I always refused. But now, looking at her expectant eyes, I only found her past tears and apologies disgusting. I knew Grandma couldn’t have chosen this name. It was merely Liam, who liked to snatch everything from me, whispering ideas into Catherine’s ear. Anyway, divorce was a certainty. A heartless mother’s surname was not worth having. “Whatever. Call him what you like.” “I only have one request: don’t put my name down as the father. My biological son in heaven would be displeased.” Catherine paused, guilt flickering in her eyes. “Noah, don’t worry, I’m only using him because of his shared bloodline with you. Liam and I…” She didn’t finish speaking when a sudden crash came from outside the door. “You beast, who allowed you to show your face here!” Liam was knocked to the ground, his eyes red. “I just wanted to see the child.” Grandma Davies relentlessly struck him with her cane. “Get out!” In that instant, Catherine was like a startled bird. Disregarding her post-delivery body, she carelessly tossed the baby onto me and rushed out. The hundred-plus needle marks and self-inflicted wounds on my arms, each as thick as a child’s arm, were pressed open. But she left as if she hadn’t even noticed. Her unwavering movement, shielding Liam from the old lady’s cane, made her earlier comforting words seem incredibly ridiculous. “Grandma! It was my idea! I did it for the Davies family! Don’t hurt an innocent person!” Grandma Davies froze, unconsciously looking at me. Seeing the white bandage on my arm soaked with blood, she was angry at her own helplessness. “You wicked child! He was given hundreds of injections just yesterday! Can’t you see all his wounds?” Catherine’s eyes widened with panic and regret. She was about to rush over to me. But Liam suddenly collapsed behind her. She panicked, disregarding my injuries, and helped him up, intending to leave. Grandma Davies fiercely blocked her path. “You’re not leaving! You’re so reckless right after giving birth!” “Your husband is still inside! Do you even want this family anymore!” 2 Catherine’s eyes were filled with hesitation. “Yes! But Liam is hurt from your beating! I can’t just abandon him! Noah… he has you, he’ll be fine!” Once upon a time, she had been just as reckless for me. Once upon a time, she would never have made me the choice to be cast aside. I cast her an indifferent glance. “Grandma, let her go.” She seemed surprised by my magnanimity. After all, in the past, to keep her from leaving, I had thrown tantrums, rolled on the floor, self-harmed, and shed all my masculine dignity. Her expression was complex. She wanted to say something, but ultimately, she left. A nurse helped me re-dress my wounds. The baby was sleeping soundly. My phone suddenly showed a message from her. [I’m sorry. I just didn’t want a scene at the hospital. It would affect the Davies family’s reputation.] [Liam is unconscious and can’t be left alone. I won’t come over for now. I’ll recover with him. Don’t worry.] I stared at the screen, stunned for a long time. I remembered once, when I heard she was injured on a business trip, I took an eleven-hour flight, accompanied her to her check-ups, and stayed by her side every minute. Back then, she was overwhelmingly touched, swearing she would never let me down in this life. Seeing me sigh, Grandma Davies snatched my phone away. She read the cold words on the screen and snorted. “That ungrateful girl! I’ll deal with her when she gets back. Noah, don’t worry, Grandma…” At this, I suddenly laughed, my gaze calm as I looked at her. “You tacitly allowed all of this, didn’t you?” “I no longer care what happens to her. You promised me earlier that you would help me divorce once this child was safely born. I hope you keep your word.” Her expression froze, her eyes filled with deep guilt. “Grandma is sorry.” “I’ve already tricked her into signing the divorce agreement. You rest up well. We’ll leave after she finishes her confinement.” Grandma took the baby with her, arranging for someone to care for him. I, in turn, discreetly returned to my pre-marital residence, avoiding gossip. But that very night, rumors spread throughout the business world about the Davies heiress’s rage for her lover, defying her powerful family to protect her uncle, despite her postpartum state. Davies Group stock continued to fall, leaving Catherine overwhelmed. Liam’s influencer account was swarmed by netizens. The incident where I had personally exposed him for seducing his sister-in-law, which Catherine had suppressed, resurfaced. The platform was full of condemnation. If not for Catherine’s help, his account would likely have been shut down with heavy penalties. The next time I saw her was seven days later. The first thing she did was look at me with disappointment. “Noah Harding, are you happy, seeking revenge on us like this?” I paused, then quickly realized she was blaming me for the spread of the gossip. Of course. After all, I used to work in media. My specialty was fanning the flames. Unfortunately, the first time I went crazy and exposed her affair with Liam, she threatened my company with privacy violations and defamation, forcing them to fire me. Now, it truly wouldn’t be easy to find someone to help. I gave her a sidelong glance, long past the feeling of being wronged when misunderstood. I picked up the anniversary memorial gift for Michael. “You should know, your scandals aren’t just the obvious ones. If I wanted to expose more, you’d probably have to bleed even more.” She stood by the door, stunned for a long time. Almost helplessly, she spoke. “After this, I’ll break up with him. But promise me, can we live a good life together from now on? With a child, we could be a happy family.” She had said things like that almost every day during her pregnancy. Yet it didn’t stop her from continuing to be entangled with Liam. Either she felt sorry for him being an illegitimate child, or she thought he was lonely without family to rely on. In short, there were a thousand reasons for their passionate involvement and her helping him rise to prominence. She stood by the door, refusing to leave, as if I wouldn’t move until I answered. Looking at the sunlight she blocked, I perfunctorily agreed. It wasn’t until the next morning, when unblurred videos of my alleged infidelity went viral, that I understood what she meant by “after this.” Catherine released a clarification video. In the video, she tearfully told the media that I had been caught cheating during her pregnancy by my younger brother and had then falsely spread rumors about her as revenge. 3 Liam, in turn, sorrowfully claimed that he had merely advised me not to hurt Catherine’s feelings, but I, believing he would expose my affair, sought revenge. Everyone urged Catherine to divorce me, this upstart. Yet, she maintained an image of deep affection. “No matter what mistakes Noah makes in this life, I cannot stop loving him.” Watching her hypocritical act, I couldn’t help but vomit. Hearing this, Catherine, who was outside the door, rushed in. “What’s wrong?” I frowned, looking at Liam, who had followed her in, and shook off her hand. “Nothing, just disgusted with you. To protect your mistress’s crimes, you’ll slander your husband’s reputation at any cost. Catherine Davies, your love is truly magnificent.” Her face turned ashen. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain. But Liam suddenly knelt down. “I’m sorry, brother, it’s all my fault! Sister-in-law only used you as a shield for me. But she’s still in confinement, afraid you’d be angry, she came to explain to you despite her condition. Don’t be angry with her.” Catherine looked at him with tenderness, her gaze chastising me. “I came here to tell you about this. Those videos were all AI-generated by me. Ultimately, he’s your brother. It’s only right for you to sacrifice yourself to help him. My helping him is helping you maintain your family ties. Why must you be so aggressive towards him?” “Moreover, you’re unemployed. Reputation means nothing to you. What outsiders say won’t affect my feelings for you. It’s enough that I know it’s fake. But he’s different. He has no one to rely on, and he depends on the media for his livelihood. If his image and reputation are ruined, everything is over for him.” Listening to her sanctimonious justifications, I only felt nauseous. Unemployed, was that not also thanks to her? She not only forced my company to fire me but also warned the entire media industry that anyone who hired me would be going against her. My job interviews constantly hit dead ends. I finally found a private studio, but she maliciously reported us. Ultimately, all my media professional licenses were revoked, and I became a disgrace to the industry, hated by all. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. All in all, in about half a month, I would be completely free. Grandma also promised me that she would clear my name then. Their opinions no longer mattered. I looked at her with an expressionless face, let out a long breath, and turned over to lie on the bed. “Do whatever you want. It’s up to you.” She thought I was going to try and hit Liam like before, so she tensed up, fiercely shielding him. But seeing me turn my back and lie down, all her emotions came to an abrupt halt. After a long moment, she asked me, her voice filled with disbelief. “You… you’re not angry?” My voice was flat. “Haven’t you always wanted me to get along with him?” She let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “You’ve finally learned your lesson. I knew you weren’t that heartless. I’ll definitely make it up to you later.” I didn’t respond. I didn’t even look at her until they left. After a long time, I touched my chest, which felt completely still. So this was what letting go felt like. In the following days, she seemed to feel guilty, sending me gifts every now and then. She wasn’t discouraged when met with resistance, only endlessly recounting our beautiful future life together. It wasn’t until she brought up the child’s full moon celebration that she hesitantly spoke. “Liam will never be able to acknowledge his biological child in this life, so I want him to openly attend the child’s full moon celebration as the father while the child is still too young to understand.” “It would complete his regret, don’t you think?” My hands didn’t stop their work; I didn’t even glance up. “I told you, it’s up to you. This isn’t my child to begin with. Whatever you want to do has nothing to do with me.” She stiffened, her eyes welling up with redness and a hint of anger. She snatched the memorial items for Michael from my hand. “Why have you been like this all these days? Do you know what his attendance represents? It represents tacitly acknowledging him as a son-in-law of the Davies family. You used to never agree to that.” I paused, then glanced at her indifferently. “Isn’t this better? Last month, when you were ‘helping’ him with his needs, didn’t you also say it was a pity he couldn’t have a proper status in this life?” Watching her, ashen-faced and frozen like a statue, I retrieved the items. My emotions were so stable it was as if nothing had happened. Her endless explanations, attempting to claim she didn’t love him, but only had physical intimacy and felt responsible for him—disgusting rhetoric—were defeated by my silence.

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When the internet leaked the news that I was just one of thirty-eight mistresses kept by Silas Sterling—a “Fake Mrs. Sterling”—I was eight months pregnant, busy managing the PR crisis involving him and a young model’s bed photos. Everyone said I was the most dedicated PR Queen in the Manhattan elite circle. My husband’s scandals flew ahead, and I followed behind, cleaning up the mess with a straight face. I had handled over a hundred crises for Silas and issued non-disclosure agreements and hush money to countless women he had slept with. I never expected that one day, I would become the subject of the PR myself. When I found Silas, he was lying naked with Chloe Vance in the nursery I had prepared for our baby. Condoms were scattered across the floor. Seeing me, the usually lethargic man shushed me. “Talk outside. Chloe is a light sleeper.” I didn’t explode. I only asked calmly, “Does today’s news need a statement?” Thinking of the photoshopped marriage certificate Chloe had posted, Silas smirked. “Good girl, Elena. Chloe is sensitive. Don’t expose her.” I nodded. “Understood.” I turned around and posted a public statement on social media: [I am indeed not in a marital relationship with Mr. Sterling. I would like to congratulate Mr. Sterling on his new marriage.] A wave of mockery erupted online, but Silas grabbed my hand, satisfied. “Once you have the baby, we’ll have a proper wedding.” I didn’t answer. He didn’t know that once this child was born, my debt to the Sterling family would be paid in full. And someone else had been waiting ten years for me. A wedding was already prepared—just not by him. The man on the other end of the phone was ecstatic. “Elena! You finally said yes.” “Wait for me! I’m flying back to marry you right now!” I hung up, only to find Silas standing behind me. “Did you talk to the reporters? Is it handled?” I looked down at my contact list; it was almost entirely journalists. I curled my lip. I had revolved around him for so long that I had no friends left to call. No wonder he assumed I was working. Seeing my silence, Silas narrowed his eyes and leaned in. “What are you looking at?” I clicked the screen off. “Nothing.” Behind him, movers were bringing in mountains of luxury goods. Brands I had coveted for years but could never justify buying. Seeing the smirk on his face, I reminded him, “I’m about to give birth. I won’t fit into those…” Before I could finish, Silas was excitedly directing the men. “Turn the nursery into a walk-in closet. Move everything in there.” Then, he held out his hand for my keys. “Chloe is packing her bags. She loves this place. Elena, you need to move out for now.” I froze. “What did you say?” Silas smiled carelessly, leaning close to my face. He handed me a deed to a different property. “Consider this your bonus for the hard work.” I watched the maids tear down the curtains I had carefully chosen. The sunlight streaming in was blinding. I remembered the first time Silas brought me here. He had pressed the keys into my palm and said, “Elena, this is your home. No one can ever kick you out.” I had once told him my mother and I were evicted when I was young. He knew I wanted a home that could weather any storm. He gave it to me, and that security kept me by his side for ten years. Through every night he didn’t come home. Through every provocation from other women. Through the mockery of high society. Now, he wanted the keys back. Ten years later, I was being evicted again. “Fine,” I said. I handed him the keys, took the new deed, and turned to leave. Silas looked surprised that I didn’t cause a scene. Usually, I wasn’t the “calm and collected” wife the tabloids described. Every time he cheated, I fought like a lunatic. I even threatened to end it all. He would just pacify me with checks and jewelry. But this time, I was done. I was ready to settle for a quiet life for the sake of the baby, but Silas could sleep with anyone except Chloe Vance. Chloe was the living proof of my father’s betrayal. Chloe and her mother were the ones who drove my mother to jump from a thirty-second-story window. Silas grabbed my wrist. His fingers brushed against the faded scars on my arm, and he flinched, unable to hide his disgust. Then, a rare flash of guilt crossed his eyes. “I’ll have the driver take you. The new place has great light. You’ll like it.” I nodded. Halfway there, the driver turned the car around. “The boss wants us back, ma’am.” Inside the house, smoke filled the air. The servants stood trembling while Silas stared at a scorched pot. Seeing me, he dragged me into the kitchen. “Elena, that soup you always make… teach me how to do it.” I watched him. I watched him sweat as he turned on the stove, overcoming his lifelong fear of fire just to make a pot of soup for the woman he loved. Chloe had posted on Instagram: “In this cold winter, if someone brought me a bowl of hot soup, I’d marry them on the spot!” So Silas, who had never touched a kitchen utensil in his life, was clumsily cooking because of a joke on social media. A few days ago, when I fell in the kitchen, Silas had watched from a distance as if I were a stranger. Later, he posted the security footage of me struggling to get up to a private circle of friends. His caption: “Like a fat pig rolling on the floor.” I silently made the soup for him. He took notes on his phone. When it rang, he answered immediately. I saw the contact name: “Wife.” I felt a hollow chill. If Chloe was his wife, who was I? As he stepped onto the balcony to talk to her, I called his number. It went straight to a busy signal. He had blocked me. I laughed at myself and left. Silas’s mother was waiting for me at the family estate. She sighed. “Elena, I thought you decided to stay for the baby…” I placed the divorce papers on the table. “According to our deal, if I provide an heir, the medical bills the Sterlings paid for my mother are settled. I’m three days from my due date. Let me go.” Ten years ago, Silas was the playboy prince and I was a dishwasher at a bar. He chased me for eighteen months. When his mother found me, my mother was in critical condition. She told me I was the only woman Silas couldn’t forget. She wanted me to manage him and give the family an heir. In exchange, they would pay for my mother’s life support. I didn’t hesitate. “It’s Silas’s loss,” his mother said, nodding. “I’ll arrange your departure after the birth.”

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Because I didn’t get home on time to present a welcome gift to Elias’s illegitimate daughter. He punished me by making me kneel in the snow and reflect for three hours. Subsequently, I received news that my grandmother had been kicked out of the Dawson family villa and sent to a rental apartment. I just calmly dialed my assistant’s number. “Please print another copy of the M&A agreement for Mr. Sterling.” 01 When the butler reported to Elias that his canary had returned to the country with her daughter. Elias was finalizing the details of our wedding anniversary celebration with me, which was seven days away. Upon hearing the news, he immediately instructed the butler to remove the anniversary decorations. And to decorate the Sterling villa into a dream castle for a little princess. He added ten times the budget to buy gifts, insisting on coaxing the mother and daughter back. After giving his orders, he explained to me lightly: “I just want to compensate the child for the fatherly love she missed all these years. If you don’t make things difficult for them, they won’t shake your position as Mrs. Sterling.” I didn’t speak, thinking about how to successfully secure the M&A agreement for the Sterling Group in the afternoon. The deadline for the valuation adjustment agreement (VAM) I signed with Elias during our arranged marriage is in exactly seven days. Once this M&A deal is completed, I will fulfill the last clause of the agreement. The rest is what Elias owes me. Before I left for work, Elias suddenly stopped me. “They will arrive home at 5 PM. I expect you to be home on time to give my daughter her welcome gift. Don’t play any tricks.” To ensure everything went perfectly, there were many details to finalize for the M&A. Even though I rushed home, disregarding the slippery, snowy roads and nearly getting into an accident, I was still ten minutes late. Looking at the gift I prepared, Elias was very cold. “Luna, giving a show of strength to someone coming to our door for the first time is wrong.” He turned and instructed the butler. “Make her kneel in the snow for three hours to reflect on her mistakes.” Three hours later, I saw the message from my assistant. My grandmother had been kicked out of the Dawson family villa and sent to a rental apartment. I rubbed my freezing, numb knees. Calmly, I dialed my assistant’s number. “Please print another copy of the M&A agreement for Mr. Sterling.” 02 After instructing my assistant to take good care of my grandmother. I entered the house again. A little girl wearing an Elsa princess dress rushed over and squirted water all over my face with a toy water gun. “You big bad witch, why are you in my daddy’s house?” A woman in a white lace nightgown stopped her with a gentle tone. “Mia, you can’t be impolite to others.” She tilted her neck, revealing patches of red hickeys. Even though I had seen her countless times on Elias’s phone screen. Her appearance still made my heart skip a beat for a few seconds. The little girl didn’t stop her actions, instead aiming the water gun at my body. Chloe looked meaningfully at my ruined makeup, a smile playing on her lips. “Mrs. Sterling, the child is just playing Elsa casting a spell, please don’t hold it against her…” Soaked and shivering from the cold, I was about to change my shoes and go find Elias to sign the papers. The little girl, with unknown strength, suddenly pushed the shoe-changing stool away. Stepping on the puddle on the floor, I fell heavily to the ground. My forehead hit exactly on the corner of the shoe-changing stool, and blood immediately gushed out. The nanny tried to reach out and help me. Chloe glared at her, and she retracted her hand, explaining to me in a low voice. “Madam, sir instructed that we should treat Miss Chloe as the hostess of the house…” When Elias arrived upon hearing the noise, the little girl had already started crying. She grabbed Elias with one hand and clutched her chest with the other. “Daddy, this auntie just accidentally fell and is bleeding, I’m so scared…” My pupils dilated. Even though I was mentally prepared, I was still shocked by the little girl’s superb acting skills. Elias frowned at me. “Why are you glaring at Mia? You’re not going to tell me she made you fall, are you?” I gritted my teeth and stood up. “I was careless.” Elias nodded impatiently. “You’re an adult, next time remember not to make a fool of yourself in front of the child and scare her.” Noticing my bleeding forehead. He pursed his lips and told the nanny to get the first aid kit for me. He then hurriedly went upstairs carrying the child. Chloe followed Elias smugly. At the corner, she looked back at me with contempt. Mouthing word by word: “What do you have to compete with me?” 03 After the nanny helped me treat the wound, I went back to my room to pack my personal belongings. When I finished packing, Elias stumbled back in. Two buttons of his shirt were undone, with a smudged lipstick mark on it. He saw the room looked much emptier and sneered. “Are you trying to remind me that I should have bought a gift for you too? Luna, don’t forget your place!” Elias and I had an arranged business marriage since childhood. Later, my parents died in an accident, and my uncle seized all the shares of the Dawson Group. Elias unilaterally announced the cancellation of our engagement and kept a beautiful canary by his side. But Old Mrs. Sterling recognized only me and, before she died, ordered Elias to marry me. Upon learning this, Chloe left the country overnight. Elias, heartbroken over losing his love, forced me to sign a VAM agreement. Within eight years, I had to earn a billion dollars for the Sterling Group, and he would give me 30% controlling shares of the Dawson Group, but I had to divorce him. I didn’t have much affection for Elias. To get the Dawson Group back, I treated my marriage as a business all these years, striving to make everything go his way. But now, the words of apology were on my lips, yet I couldn’t say them. Seeing me not replying for a long time, Elias’s tone softened. “The child just came back, I have to bond with her. When she accepts me, I’ll have them move out.” Smelling the alcohol on his breath, I stepped back, avoiding his hands that were ready to hug me. Elias frowned. “I know you’ve always wanted a child. Chloe had a hard time alone abroad all these years, so I just had a little drink with her. I promise, starting tomorrow, I won’t touch a drop of alcohol, and I’ll give you a healthy baby, okay?” I smiled inwardly. During these years of business marriage, I never thought of bringing a child into such a family. Every day after he fell asleep, I would regularly take a birth control pill. I calmly handed over the documents in my hand. “This is the M&A agreement for the subsidiary, please sign it, Mr. Sterling.” Elias took the pen, scribbled his name, his frown deepening. “Don’t you have anything to ask me?” I opened my mouth, wanting to say something. The little girl appeared at the bedroom door holding a stuffed animal. She pouted. “Daddy, I can’t sleep alone, I’m scared… Can I sleep with you?” Elias looked at me somewhat hesitantly. I had already closed the file. “I’ll go to the study.” Elias breathed a sigh of relief. The little girl cheered and threw herself into Elias’s arms. “The witch is gone, now Daddy is all mine!” Elias paused his movement of hugging her, but still smilingly held her in his arms. “With Daddy here, my little princess has nothing to fear! Tell me, how do you want Daddy to coax you to sleep?” 04 A doodle was stuck on the study door, depicting a witch’s hat and broom drawn in a child’s handwriting. I frowned and ignored it. “Ah—!” Pushing the door open, I was startled. It was crawling with spiders of all sizes… Elias rushed over angrily. “Luna, how long are you going to make a fuss? Mia was just about to fall asleep and you woke her up!” The little girl followed behind him timidly, and before I could speak, tears streamed down her face. “Daddy, I specially decorated this for auntie. Is auntie doing this because she doesn’t like me?” A spider crawled out from the crack of the door, and Elias’s face turned pale. Shortly after we got married, Elias took me back to the Sterling family’s old mansion to pay respects. His cousin’s little nephew accidentally threw a toy spider onto my coat. I was terrified and threw myself into Elias’s arms on the spot. At that time, disregarding his sister-in-law’s dark face, he taught the little nephew a lesson. “If you dare to scare your aunt again, I’ll break your legs!” Afterwards, he teased me: “Is Mrs. Sterling so afraid of spiders?” But after returning home, he ordered the servants to clean every place in the house where bugs might grow. “Apologize to Mia!” Elias’s cold voice pulled my thoughts back. “Mia kindly prepared the room for you. As an elder, have you thought about how sad the child would be with such a reaction?” Chloe came out of another bedroom, looking sleepy. She pulled the child into her arms, her tone carrying a mother’s fierce resolve. “Mrs. Sterling, I know you have issues with me, but the child is innocent. Direct your dissatisfaction at me, don’t target the child.” She rubbed the little girl’s head, her tone gentle. “Mia, Mommy told you long ago that auntie wouldn’t welcome us, but you insisted on following Daddy back. Now you know how sinister people can be, right? Come with Mommy. Even if we live in a rental, it’s better than suffering here!” The little girl pouted and burst into loud wails. Chloe turned to leave. Elias glared at me fiercely. “I said Chloe is also the master of this house. Whoever dares to make them suffer, get out of the Sterling family!” I didn’t want to stay another night in the Sterling house anyway. I just didn’t want my grandmother to see my disheveled state and worry about me. Ignoring Elias’s ugly expression, I went to the nanny’s room. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.” 05 Early in the morning, I was woken up by a noisy sound. The little girl was clamoring to build a swing in the garden. She gestured, directing the servants where to put the swing. “Put it right where this laurel tree is!” Chloe also helped command the servants. “Didn’t you hear my daughter say to cut down this tree?” A servant looked up at me and explained in a low voice: “But this is Madam’s favorite tree, Sir never lets anyone touch it…” I was born in August when the laurel flowers were in full bloom. My parents named me Luna (Moon) and personally planted a laurel tree at the Dawson family villa, symbolizing purity and wealth. After my uncle seized the Dawson Group, he used underhanded means to sell my parents’ villa. Shortly after we married, Elias somehow heard about this. He spent a fortune to buy back the Dawson family villa. And transplanted the laurel tree to the Sterling family’s garden. He said as long as the laurel tree is there, it’s like my parents are still guarding me. At that time, a trace of warmth suddenly emerged in my heart. Maybe when the VAM agreement ends, I can try to truly accept him, even give him a child… The little girl started crying and shouting. “I don’t care, I want the swing right here!” Chloe looked at me provocatively. “If I remember correctly, Mrs. Sterling seems to have been kicked out by Mr. Sterling last night?” She gently comforted the crying little girl. “Everything Daddy has is yours, no one dares to say no.” I took the suitcase handed to me by the nanny. “Miss Chloe, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t read much and don’t understand basic legal knowledge, but it’s not good to be a bad influence on the child.” I looked at the little girl, mimicking Chloe’s gentle tone. “During the years auntie and your daddy have been married, half of your daddy’s assets belong to auntie, that part isn’t yours.” Chloe’s face looked terrible. The little girl, with tears in her eyes, looked at me in disbelief. “Enough!” Elias’s deep voice came from behind. “Luna, how can you use legal jargon to destroy a child’s innocence?” In the second year of our marriage, Elias was set up, and a sex scandal broke out. The Sterling Group’s stock plummeted, wiping out hundreds of millions in market value. It was me who staked out lawyers for days and hired PR firms to suppress the matter. When I fainted from low blood sugar, he held me in his arms, his heart aching. “It hurts me to see you worrying so much for me. Just stay home and be Mrs. Sterling from now on, okay?” I almost believed it was true. Fortunately, my uncle had taught me a lesson earlier. You can’t completely trust even the closest people. What you hold in your hand is the most real. “Mr. Sterling, I’m just telling the truth. If you feel offended on behalf of your precious daughter, please send me a lawyer’s letter.” I turned and left. As the car started, Elias chased out, his face deadly pale. “Luna, I didn’t mean that…” I ignored him and stepped on the gas pedal.

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