Category: English

1 In our house, everything had a price tag. A goodnight hug from Mom was one dollar. Dad spinning me in the air for three minutes was five dollars. I kept a careful record of these transactions in my head, then paid them, coin by coin, from my little teddy bear purse. Dad said it was to teach me to be independent and to never take anything for granted. He called it “paying your way.” The thing I feared most wasn’t monsters in the dark. It was Dad looking at the bill and saying, “Willow, you’ve overspent on affection today.” I tried so hard to save up, to buy more and more love. Until the day a strange man offered me a piece of candy in a shiny wrapper. I habitually asked him how much it cost. He said it was free; all I had to do was walk with him for a little while. … My teacher, Mrs. Davis, gave me a shiny star sticker. It glittered on the back of my hand like a real star. All the other kids held up their stickers for their moms to see, but I didn’t. I carefully peeled it off and hid it in my pocket. My little hand clutched my pocket all the way home, my mind racing with calculations. Dad had taught me that its value needed to be assessed, then used to offset my “educational expenses.” How much was it worth? A dollar? Two? I was nervous. If I priced it too high, Daddy would call me dishonest. But if I priced it too low, it felt like I was disrespecting my teacher’s praise. When I got home, Mom was mopping the floor. I ran to her and fumbled inside my faded little teddy bear purse, finally pulling out a single coin. I held it out to her. “Mommy,” I whispered, “I want to buy a hug.” Something flickered in her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it came. She straightened up and opened her arms. I stepped into them. One second. Two seconds. She let go. She took the coin from my hand and dropped it into a glass jar on the kitchen windowsill. A thin layer of coins already covered the bottom. My father, Arthur, was sitting on the sofa. He glanced up, then tapped something into his phone. “What did you accomplish at school today?” he asked, his eyes still glued to the screen. My heart pounded as I pulled the star sticker from my pocket and handed it to him. He took it without a word of praise, snapped a picture with his phone, and uploaded it with a note: “Return on Educational Investment (ROEI): Non-monetary asset x1. Estimated value: $2. To be deducted from educational expenses.” I breathed a sigh of relief. My estimate was close. Just then, the doorbell rang. Mom answered it. My aunt Claire and my cousin Leo were standing on the porch. “Elara!” my aunt cried, sweeping me up from the floor and planting a huge kiss on my cheek. “Oh, my sweet girl, I’ve missed you so much!” I froze. Aunt Claire’s hug was warm. It wasn’t fast like Mom’s. And I knew Dad wasn’t timing it in his head. But… but this hug was too expensive. I squirmed out of her arms and hid behind my mother, clutching her dress. “Mommy, Auntie’s hug… how much do I have to pay? I don’t have enough money. Can I owe you?” The smile vanished from my aunt’s face. She stared at me, then at my parents, her expression one of pure disbelief. My cousin Leo, a year older than me, didn’t understand the sudden shift in mood. He ran over and pushed his Transformer into my hands. “Here, Willow! You can play with this!” I recoiled as if I’d been burned, clutching my teddy bear purse to my chest. “I can’t just take things from you.” “Arthur! Elara! Look at what you’ve done!” Aunt Claire finally exploded, her finger trembling as she pointed at my parents. “Are you insane? You’re turning a child into a monster! This is a home, not a corporation!” My father adjusted his glasses. “You don’t understand, Claire,” he said calmly. “This is a progressive parenting philosophy. We’re cultivating her independence, teaching her the value of things. It will give her a competitive edge later in life.” “Independence? A competitive edge?” My aunt laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. “She’s four years old! What she needs is unconditional love, not a damn quid pro quo!” My mother tugged on her sister’s arm. “It’s okay, Claire, please. This is our way. Don’t interfere.” Aunt Claire looked at my mother, her eyes filled with disappointment. The argument ended, as it always did, in a tense stalemate. As my aunt was leaving, her eyes shimmering with tears, she knelt down and secretly pressed a piece of candy into my hand. The wrapper was so shiny, more beautiful than anything I had ever seen. She lowered her voice. “Listen to me, Willow. What your aunt gives you is love.” “Love, sweetheart. Love is free.” I clutched the candy, lost in a profound confusion. Love… is free? That night, I came down with a fever. My body was a war of ice and fire. I felt miserable. I wanted to call for my mom, but I didn’t dare. I quietly opened my teddy bear purse. Inside were only two coins and a few “love coupons” I had drawn myself. I was sick. Mom taking care of me would cost “fees,” and nighttime service would definitely be more expensive. I didn’t have enough. I couldn’t afford it. I was scared of “going into debt.” Daddy said debt was a shameful thing. So I wrapped myself tightly in my blankets, clutching the candy from my aunt—the only free thing I owned—and willed the morning to come. The next day, when Mom came to wake me, she touched my forehead and gasped. Her hand was cool and felt good against my burning skin. But Dad’s first reaction was to pull out his phone and open the accounting app. “Estimated pharmacy costs, eighty dollars. My delivery fee, calculated at minimum wage, is twenty dollars. Total, one hundred dollars. Elara, you need to transfer fifty dollars to the family medical emergency fund.” “Arthur, just go get the medicine! She’s burning up!” Mom’s voice was choked with tears. “The rules must be followed,” he insisted. They started arguing at my door. Words like “cost,” “payment,” and “unfair” floated through the wood. It was my fault. By getting sick, I had spent too much money. I had caused a “deficit” in our family. I was a bad asset. I climbed out of bed and ran to them on bare feet. I took my teddy bear purse, with all my assets inside, and the piece of candy I had been saving, and pushed them all into my mother’s hands. “Mommy, I’ll pay you back,” I cried. “Please don’t fight. I won’t… I won’t get sick anymore.” My mother looked at the pathetic offering in my hand, then at my flushed, feverish face. Suddenly, she broke. For the first time ever, she screamed at my father. “Arthur, look! Look what you’ve done to our daughter!” It was the first time I had ever seen her fight back. A tiny part of me felt happy. Dad was stunned by her outburst. His eyes fell on the imported candy in my hand, and his expression turned even colder. “This is your sister’s fault. Her interference has confused Willow’s values! This must be corrected!” The “correction” was a new, more detailed “Family Contribution and Reward Chart.” Dad taped it to the wall. It read: Wipe the table: 2 points. Arrange the family’s slippers: 3 points. Buy something from the corner store alone: 5 points… And a bedtime story cost 10 points. To earn a story, I had to stand on my tiptoes, using all my strength to wipe down the dining table that was taller than me. One day, Dad sent me to the corner store to buy a bottle of soy sauce. He gave me the exact amount, not a penny more, not a penny less. Outside the store, I saw a strange man giving candy to the other kids. The wrappers were shiny and bright, just like the one my aunt had given me. Her words echoed in my head: “Love is free.” The smile on the man’s face looked a little like my aunt’s smile. I watched him, and the strange, warm feeling fluttered in my chest again. That night, my parents got into another huge fight over a two-dollar discrepancy in the electricity bill. I hid behind my bedroom door, listening to them yell about “losses,” “unbalanced books,” and “unfairness.” It was me. I had consumed too much love. I had made this family run at a loss. I had to earn money for them. I had to fix the deficit. I had to go out and find that free love and bring it home. The next morning, the house was silent. Mom and Dad were in a cold war, not speaking to each other. There was no breakfast on the table, no one in the living room. This only strengthened my resolve to go out and “earn.” I got dressed and put on my teddy bear purse. Inside were my two coins and my “love coupons.” I also brought the candy from my aunt, the one I still hadn’t eaten. These were my total assets, my proof of credit. At the front door, I hesitated, looking back at the quiet house. I whispered to the empty air, “Daddy, Mommy, I’m going to earn money for our family.” Then I turned the knob and walked out. I walked from memory, back to the community garden where I had seen the strange man. I was in luck. He was there again. When he saw me all by myself, his eyes lit up, and a friendly smile spread across his face. He walked toward me and pulled a piece of candy from his pocket. It was even bigger than the one my aunt gave me. The wrapper was gold foil with a cartoon bear on it. It was the most beautiful candy I had ever seen. He held it out to me. “Here you go, little one. This is for you.” I took a step back. I had been raised well. I couldn’t just take things from people. I looked at him warily and asked, in a serious voice, “Mister, how much does this candy cost?” This was the most important rule Dad had taught me. The man paused for a second, then a look of understanding crossed his face. He played along. “This candy is special. It doesn’t cost money. But you do have to help me with something.” I understood immediately. It was a “labor for payment” transaction. Just like wiping the table to earn a bedtime story. It was fair. I nodded seriously. “Okay. What do you need help with?” The man smiled. “I’m lost, and I can’t find my way home. If you walk with me and help me find my mommy, this candy is yours.” I didn’t doubt him for a second. I obediently put my small hand in his big, warm one. I was even a little happy. I was about to “earn” such a beautiful piece of candy. I could bring it home and show Daddy and Mommy that I wasn’t making them run at a “loss.” And so, we walked, step by step, out of the neighborhood. The sun felt warm on my face. By evening, the cold war in my house had finally ended. It wasn’t until my mother went to make dinner that they realized I was gone. At first, they thought I was hiding in a closet or playing at a neighbor’s house. They searched everywhere and asked everyone. No one had seen me. Panic began to set in. My mother called my aunt Claire. The moment my aunt heard, she knew something was wrong and urged them to call the police. My father was still complaining that it was an overreaction, even muttering that he wondered if they would have to “pay” for the public resources wasted if the police couldn’t find me. Just then, my mother found a small note under the doormat. It was a crayon drawing I had made. In it, a little girl was giving a huge bag of gold coins to her parents. Beside it, in my wobbly, newly-learned handwriting, were three words: “Gone to earn.” I felt myself getting lighter, like a feather, floating up. It was very dark, and my body didn’t hurt anymore, but I wasn’t scared. Just a little cold. I saw a version of “me,” wearing my clothes, lying on a cold metal table. The man who gave me the candy was talking to another strange man. “This batch of ‘goods’ is high quality. You can settle the bill now.” I didn’t understand what they were talking about, but I had completed my “payment” for the golden candy. Maybe, just like in my drawing, I had even “earned” a lot of money for my family. When Dad and Mom saw the final invoice, they would be so happy. I missed my mommy. As soon as I had that thought, I was floating again, passing through walls, back in my house. It was still quiet. Mom and Dad were sitting on the sofa, not speaking. I saw the drawing I’d left by the door, the wobbly words—”Gone to earn.” I was happy. Soon they would know I had contributed to the family. I saw my mother find the note. Her face turned white, whiter than the walls. I didn’t understand. Why didn’t she look happy? She grabbed my father’s hand, her voice a sound I had never heard before as she screamed “Call the police!” My father’s expression was strange, too. For the first time, he threw his phone with the accounting app onto the sofa. I floated along with them to a place with lots of men in uniforms. I heard my parents describe me to a police officer, telling him how I loved “paying my way,” how I loved “transactions,” and how I always carried my teddy bear purse. The officer’s face grew very serious. I felt a little proud. See? Even grown-ups I didn’t know understood my rules. Then my face appeared on a screen. I saw myself holding the man’s hand, getting into a white van. Mom and Dad suddenly became very agitated. I was happy, too. Were they coming to pick me up from “work”? But then a phone rang, and the police officer said the license plate was fake. My mother started to cry. My father punched the wall. I floated over to my mom, wanting to give her a hug like my aunt would, but my hands passed right through her body. For the first time, I felt confused. Why were they so sad? Didn’t I go to “earn”? Shouldn’t this be a happy thing? Aunt Claire arrived, and the house was thrown into chaos. Dad kept increasing the reward money online, mumbling, “Any amount, I’ll pay it, I’ll pay it!” I looked at the numbers, more than all the money in my teddy bear purse and all my “love coupons” combined, multiplied by a million. Daddy was this rich? Then why did he make me pay for a hug? The phone rang again. A girl who looked like me had been found in the next city. I “floated” beside the car as my parents raced there. I heard my mom sobbing in the car, saying that when they found me, she would never keep accounts again, that she would buy me the most beautiful dresses in the world and all the candy I ever wanted. A warm feeling spread through me. So, completing such a big “deal” could earn so many “rewards.” But the girl wasn’t me. I saw my mother let out a terrible, keening sound. Dad held her, and my calm, rational father was crying, too. I floated beside them, and for the first time, I felt their sadness. Just when they were at their most desperate, the police officer called them over. I followed them into a small white room. The first thing I saw was my little jacket, my favorite one. Except it was covered in red, like when I accidentally spilled my red paint. Next to it was the wrapper from the golden candy I had “earned.” I was so happy! It was my “proof of transaction.” They had found it! Now they would know I had completed the deal. When my mother saw the jacket, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed. Dad caught her just in time. I desperately wanted to tell him, “Daddy, don’t be scared! I earned this!” But no sound would come out. I heard the police officer speak to my father, his voice low and heavy. “…The child’s organs were harvested… based on what was left at the scene, we’ve put together… a bloody invoice.”

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Working alone until midnight, I was just about to head home when a barrage of bullet comments suddenly floated across the sky. [Is this the lucky girl chosen by the male lead to be escorted home? She’s so average. If I saw her on the street, I wouldn’t even look twice.] [Yeah, totally. The male lead is handsome and rich. An average girl like her getting the chance to be pampered by him for free? Her ancestors must be blessing her from the grave.] [Stop being jealous upstairs. The male lead is just a knight protecting girls. He won’t stop for any woman. He’s the male lead for all women, destined to conquer them all.] I froze, stopping my hand from pushing the main door open. Calling harassment “knightly escort”? The audacity! Escort me? Does he even deserve to? I immediately dialed my three brothers. But just as the call connected, a man suddenly rushed toward me. 1 “Hi there! My name is Jayden Huang. I’m doing a challenge to walk 100 girls home safely at night. You’re the 20th lucky girl I’ve picked! Congratulations!” His voice pitched up, like I’d just won the lottery. But I just stared at him warily, head down, fingers flying across my phone screen to send my location to my brothers. Seemingly dissatisfied with my reaction, he shoved a camera in my face. “So, miss, how do you feel about being chosen by me?” He deliberately leaned in close, creating an ambiguously intimate angle. Too close. I smelled the cloying cologne on him. After working until midnight, my brain was already foggy. That smell made me want to puke. Suppressing the nausea, I took a big step back. “I don’t need you to walk me home. My family is already on their way. Please leave immediately!” I thought I made myself clear enough for him to back off politely. But he suddenly laughed out loud. And then, he reached out and affectionately bopped my nose. “It’s midnight. If someone was picking you up, they’d be here by now.” “Come on, I know you’re just shy and lying because you’re worried I’m a bad guy. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you. But I’m really not a bad guy. I just saw a girl alone this late and worried about your safety. I want to protect you and walk you home. Give me a chance?” “Relax, I’m just doing a challenge. I’ll be your knight and give you the most wonderful night. Just trust…” Before I could answer, he suddenly grabbed my hand, tilting his head and acting cute. Feeling the heat from his hand on my arm, a wave of disgust hit me. I yanked my arm away violently. After shaking him off, I scrubbed my arm with a tissue, hard enough to almost break the skin. Jayden’s hand froze in mid-air, disbelief written all over his face. The bullet comments exploded. [No way, no way. This basic girl actually rejected our handsome male lead? Does she own a mirror? Does she have the right to be picky?] [I don’t think it’s rejection. She’s probably playing hard to get. Doing this just to make our male lead remember her. After all, the harder it is to get, the more he’ll want it.] [I think so too. Aren’t women all like this? No means yes~] Come to think of it, he is the male lead in a harem novel. The author’s setting makes him practically irresistible to women. Jayden’s face darkened for a second, but he quickly reverted to his gentle persona to apologize: “Sorry, I crossed a line and scared you. But I really just want to walk you home to complete my challenge. Beautiful, can you help me out?” He rubbed his hands together, wheedling: “Please, pretty sister? I promised my fans I’d do this task. Just help me out~” Goosebumps erupted all over my skin. Gross. “No. My brothers will be here soon. Leave now.” “If you want to challenge walking someone home, find someone else. Not me.” I stopped looking at him and opened Candy Crush on my phone to kill time. Just as the “UNBELIEVABLE” sound effect played, Jayden walked dejectedly toward the main gate, hugging his helmet. Watching him leave, I let out a long breath. Luckily, there were surveillance cameras here. He wasn’t crazy enough to force me right here. I quickly exited the game and opened the chat with my brothers. Usually, when I worked late, they’d pick me up. Tonight, knowing I’d be working until midnight, I didn’t want to disturb their sleep, so I planned to Uber home. But because of this stranger-escorting Jayden, I didn’t dare take a car alone anymore. From here to the main road, there was a 500-meter blind spot with no cameras. If something happened there, even the police wouldn’t find me. The only safe option was to wait under the surveillance cameras for my brothers. Just ten more minutes, and they’d be here. But just then, Jayden came back. 2 He was holding a bouquet of flowers, walking toward me with deep affection in his eyes. I was completely grossed out. I didn’t expect him to be this persistent. “Didn’t I tell you to leave? Why are you back!” I grabbed the pepper spray in my bag, watching him warily. If he made any move, I’d let him have it. But Jayden just held the flowers out to me. “Miss, this is a token of my sincerity. Please accept it. I disturbed you so late at night. Once you take this, I’ll leave immediately.” His eyes were full of sincerity, as if he really just wanted to apologize. Thinking of those street-snap influencers I’d met before who were also persistent but just doing their job… My heart softened slightly. Maybe I was thinking too badly of him. I hesitated for a moment, preparing to reach out. The bullet comments appeared again. [Bros, here it comes! Another highlight moment for the male lead. Every time he gives flowers, no girl refuses. Waiting for the female lead to slap her own face.] [Haha, she’s gonna be sticking to the male lead like glue soon.] [All material girls. Can’t look away once they see flowers. Women are so cheap.] My heart tightened. I held my breath and took several large steps back. Only when I was a meter away from him did I let go of my nose and exhale. As long as he gives flowers, no girl refuses? How could there be such an effective method? My sixth sense reminded me of news about “obedient water”—drugs that make you compliant just by smelling them. “I don’t want your flowers! Get out!” Jayden’s face changed, explaining aggrievedly: “What’s wrong, sister? I’m just giving you flowers to apologize. Did you misunderstand something?” “Is it because you don’t like roses? Are you allergic to pollen? If you don’t want them, that’s fine. Don’t be angry. I’ll leave the flowers here and go.” The panic in his eyes wasn’t fake. For a moment, I wondered if I was overthinking it. But suddenly, dizziness surged in my brain, and I almost lost my balance. Jayden, who had just turned to leave, exclaimed: “Miss, are you okay?” He tried to come forward to support me. I gritted my teeth and shouted: “Get lost! Take your flowers and get lost!” Instead of leaving, he moved closer. I panicked: “I told you not to come near me! Do you not understand human language?” “If you don’t leave, do you want to wait for the police?” I glared at him fiercely, holding up my phone with “911” dialed. “Or do you want them to check what you sprinkled on these flowers? What dirty stuff are you hiding? Are you sure you can still be an influencer if this gets investigated?” At this, panic flashed in Jayden’s eyes. He seemed surprised that I knew. Seeing his expression, I knew I guessed right. I just wanted to bluff him, but he exposed himself. This is the so-called male lead in the book? Disgusting. There were no girls willing to be with him; they were all tricked. He used girls’ soft hearts to achieve his goals step by step. The dialing tone sounded, and Jayden’s face changed. I pressed the phone to my ear, glaring at him viciously: “Hello, I want to report a crime. Someone is…” Seeing I was serious, Jayden grabbed the flowers and ran away in a panic. Once he was gone, I collapsed onto the bench. My brain was heavy, my whole body weak. That drug was too strong. I only took a whiff, but it still got me. I looked at my phone, which had just died, and smiled. Luckily, I bluffed Jayden before it shut down. Otherwise, it would have been dangerous. I slapped my cheeks hard three times to stay awake. Now, I could either go back to my office on the 25th floor to charge my phone or walk 500 meters to the security booth to use their phone. Thinking it over, I decided to go back to my office. I was afraid Jayden hadn’t gone far and was waiting outside. The security booth was 500 meters away. Clenching my fists, I walked slowly toward the lobby elevator. Pressed 25. The elevator doors began to close. I leaned against the wall to rest. But the moment the doors were about to shut, a large hand blocked them. I snapped my eyes open. Jayden, holding the flowers, tilted his head and smiled sinisterly: “Sister, I thought about it. I still need to give you these flowers.” “Look at you. Phone dead, can’t reach your family. How can you go home alone? I still need to walk you. It’s safer that way…” I was struck by lightning, daring not to move. I didn’t expect him to stay and figure out my phone was dead. Immense panic engulfed me. In the enclosed space, the smell from the flowers grew stronger. The dizziness worsened. My whole body went limp. Jayden’s voice sounded distant. “Sister, come with me. I know you’re a good girl. You’ll say yes, right?” He reached out his hand to me. My remaining consciousness screamed to refuse, but my hand raised uncontrollably. Tears streamed down my face. My mind was fuzzy. Just as I was about to touch his hand, I bit my tongue hard. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, giving me a moment of clarity. I grabbed the pepper spray from my bag and sprayed it right in his eyes. The spicy smell filled the air. Jayden let out a blood-curdling scream. He never expected me to fight back, so I succeeded. I grabbed my bag, smashed him away with all my strength, and ran. Just then, a security guard was patrolling. I ran towards him. “Help! Help! Someone’s trying to kidnap me!” 3 The security guard was a middle-aged man in his 40s. We’d met before; he’d helped me with packages. Hearing my cry, he picked up his phone to call the police. “Misunderstanding! It’s all a misunderstanding! Uncle, she’s my girlfriend. We just had a fight. It’s a lovers’ quarrel. You need to understand the situation before calling the police, or it’s filing a false report, and you’ll be responsible.” The guard thought he made sense and hung up. But he still tested him: “You say you’re this girl’s boyfriend. Tell me her name, what she does in the company, when is her birthday…” Jayden fell silent. I rejoiced. “Uncle, look, he can’t say it. I have nothing to do with him, I…” “Her name is Jane Huang, birthday April 20, 1997. She’s a video editor for a media company. She’s off late tonight because her colleague called in sick tomorrow, and she…” He squinted, reciting everything about me word for word. Even the details of my work were accurate. I felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave. How did he know all this? After hearing these details, the suspicion in the guard’s eyes faded significantly. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and grumbled: “I really don’t understand you young couples nowadays. Dating in an office building late at night? Go home quickly, stop wandering around outside.” Hearing this, Jayden nodded repeatedly: “Yes, you’re right. Sorry to delay your work. If I hadn’t run to buy flowers, we wouldn’t have been delayed so long.” He deliberately held up the roses. The guard, who still had a sliver of doubt, saw the flowers and patted Jayden’s shoulder. “You kid are quite romantic. Just be more considerate of the girl in the future…” Listening to these words, a wave of despair rose in my heart. I wanted to run, but my body had no strength. What if I ran out into the blind spot and got caught? But now the guard didn’t believe me and wouldn’t call the police. My phone was dead too. Did I have to go with him? No, never! I took a pen from my bag and held it to my throat. “Uncle, you know me. Please, help me call the police. He really isn’t my boyfr…” Before I finished, I fainted into Jayden’s arms. He intimately arranged my hair. “Really, you’re so old, yet so willful. Alright, alright, I’ll order that bag you wanted later.” I wanted to speak, but my mouth wouldn’t obey. I couldn’t make a sound. I could only see the bullet comments surging in the sky. [See, see? I told you this woman was playing hard to get. A gold digger…] [Acting. Still acting. Didn’t she fall into our handsome, dashing male lead’s arms in the end?] [Worthy of being a harem novel male lead. Just charming.] Jayden’s tone became even gentler. One hand on my waist, the other waving goodbye to the guard: “Uncle, we’re leaving now. Sorry to disturb your work.” Watching the guard’s back getting further away, despair welled up inside me. Tears fell like broken pearls. Jayden leaned into my ear, whispering so only we could hear: “It’s useless, Ms. Huang. I promised my fan I’d deliver you to his house. He paid me 200k. I’m taking that money, and as for you, I’m definitely delivering you.” I couldn’t speak at all. He took me to his motorcycle. He picked up the helmet prepared for me. Just then, familiar shouting came from ahead. My three brothers got out of a car. I tried to wave, but the helmet was jammed on my head, and his jacket thrown over me. “Damn it. If it weren’t for that accident causing a traffic jam, we wouldn’t have been stuck so long. And Jane’s phone isn’t going through.” Big Brother looked anxious. “Jane couldn’t have gotten into trouble, right? She said she was being harassed, and now she’s missing.” Second Brother was also frowning. “Let’s split up and look. Ask people around.” “Okay, split up.” Third Brother ran in my direction. But Jayden remained calm, provoking me as if for revenge: “Believe it or not, even if you were right in front of him, he wouldn’t recognize you. Who would think I’d be this bold?” He clamped my waist, mocking: “But since you want to greet your brother so much, let’s say hi before we go.” After speaking, Third Brother’s voice was right next to my ear. “Bro, have you seen a girl, about 165cm, big eyes, wearing a blue shirt, white skirt, oh right, and black-rimmed glasses?” Jayden shook his head with that “nice guy” look again. “Just got here myself, taking my girlfriend for a ride. Didn’t see her.” Hearing “girlfriend,” Third Brother looked at me. The helmet was so heavy I couldn’t turn my head. My mouth was numb; I couldn’t speak. I wanted to reach out, but Jayden held my hand tight. Third Brother looked at my jacket and quickly looked away. “Alright, won’t disturb you and your girlfriend then. Thanks.” Jayden smiled friendly, adding: “No problem. Hope you find your sister soon. Hope she’s safe.” Hearing me mentioned, Third Brother’s voice softened. “Thanks, bro.” Seeing Third Brother leave, Jayden stopped pretending. He sighed: “Jane Huang, oh Jane Huang. If you just agreed to let me take you, nothing would have happened. You had to resist. Now, my fan is anxious. You’re going to suffer.” The engine roared. I was utterly hopeless. I didn’t know who this fan was or why they were doing this to me. I closed my eyes, unable to accept my fate. If this was my future, I’d rather drag him down to hell with me. Just as I decided to headbutt him, a black Mercedes blocked the motorcycle. Big Brother got out. Second Brother held a bat. Third Brother gripped a brick. They were all glaring at Jayden. “Put my sister down right the f*ck now! Who said you could touch my sister?” Seeing the situation turn bad, Jayden pushed me off the bike and prepared to flee. But as soon as he turned, sirens wailed. The security guard was blocking the way with the police. I lay in Third Brother’s arms and passed out. 4 I woke up in the hospital. My parents and three brothers surrounded me. Seeing them, I couldn’t control my fear anymore and threw myself into their arms. Who would have thought I’d be targeted just for working overtime? Thinking of Jayden’s hateful face, I couldn’t stop shivering. “Brothers, where is that guy? Is he locked up?” Meeting my gaze, they all looked away. “Jane, according to the surveillance video, it only shows him pestering you, giving you flowers, you leaning in his arms, and leaving with him. He didn’t cause you substantial harm. The police just lectured him; they can’t charge him.” “How can they not charge him!” I was furious: “Bro, he went against my will, insisting on taking me home. I refused, so he drugged the flowers, knocked me out, and took me away. I…” “Right, the flowers! Just test the flowers, it proves he drugged me.” “Useless!” “He destroyed the flowers. We have no evidence.” Big Brother clenched his fists, panting heavily, and punched the wall. “That animal gave you flowers on purpose to pretend to be a suitor. Even if caught later, he can just claim it’s a relationship dispute.” “Who would have thought he’d drug the flowers? Without evidence, and with him being an influencer with 500k followers, if he uses public opinion, he could turn it back on us…” “Yeah, we suspect this isn’t his first time. Otherwise, how could he be so skilled?” Second Brother also frowned tightly. I looked around and saw my parents peeling oranges, Big Brother and Second Brother, but Third Brother was missing. “Where’s Third Brother? Mom, Dad, Brothers, where did he go?” He spoiled me the most; how could he not be here? Dad’s eyes turned red instantly: “It’s that animal. He tried to take you, so your Third Brother punched him a few times! He demanded an injury assessment, claimed he didn’t fight back, and demanded the police detain your brother for assault. He’s locked up.” “What! Third Brother just got first place in the civil service written exam. If he’s detained, how can he be a civil servant? What do we do?” I wiped my tears. “Third Brother prepared for a year for this job. I saw how hard he worked. It’s all my fault. I dragged him down.” “Why blame yourself? Blame that animal. If only we could find leverage on him…” Big Brother’s words struck me like lightning, clearing the chaos in my brain. I grabbed their hands and said: “Mom, Dad, Brothers, we might actually be able to find leverage.”

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On the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Xavier suddenly demanded that I take legal responsibility for his aunt’s unborn child. “My aunt is pregnant out of wedlock, and it would ruin her reputation. Put the child under your name, and we’ll raise it as our own.” When I refused, Xavier dropped a bombshell: “We’ll get married when you agree!” He left me at the courthouse, striding away without looking back. This was the ninth time our marriage registration had failed because of his aunt. Did he think I would wait for him like I always did? I looked down at my phone and saw a notification from a friend’s post: “The girl I love most is marrying someone else today. Heartbroken!” I sent him a message: “Want to get married? I’m at the courthouse, waiting for you. Now.” 1 Fifteen minutes later, Liam roared up in his car. “Really? We can get married? You and me?” His eyes couldn’t hide the secret joy and disbelief. “Cut the crap. Did you bring your ID?” Liam muttered under his breath: “I dropped an eight-hundred-million-dollar contract signing to come here, can’t I ask one question?” But after getting the license, he stared at the little red book repeatedly: “I really married you, Serena? You’re my wife now?” Then he apologetically told me he had to go back to finish signing the contract and asked me to take a taxi home. While waiting for a cab, Xavier pulled up in front of me with his aunt, Felicity. “Get in.” I pressed the bag containing my marriage certificate and opened the car door. “For you.” He handed me a box. Inside was a silk scarf. Xavier was always like this. After upsetting me, he would give me a small gift. Then we would tacitly never mention the unhappy incident again, and it would pass. Xavier’s aunt, Felicity, subtly touched the bag beside her. Looking at the scarf in the box again, I realized it was just a free gift that came with her bag. I pretended not to notice, as usual, and put the gift box aside. Felicity curled her lips into a mocking smile. “Where are we going?” I asked. Xavier looked at his aunt tenderly: “Picking up a gift, then heading to the old family mansion.” I remembered then, today was Xavier’s grandfather’s eightieth birthday. We had agreed to go long ago. It was good to go today, to say goodbye to Old Man Xie. Through the rearview mirror, Xavier looked at my face cautiously and explained for the first time ever: “Serena, don’t overthink it. Auntie being pregnant alone will cause gossip.” “Raising the child under our names will make it easier for her to marry in the future.” I said indifferently: “Indeed, being an unwed mother is bad for reputation. Not even having a boyfriend makes it look cheap. Raising it under your name is best.” Hearing my words, Felicity’s face turned purple with anger. She turned around and said, “You…” Xavier corrected me: “It’s raising it under our names.” Then he looked at me expectantly. I sneered: “What if I’m not willing?” Xavier’s face darkened instantly: “If you’re not willing, we break up.” I said “Okay.” Seeing Xavier’s face relax. My “Okay” meant breaking up. He must have misunderstood. He continued: “See, Serena, if you were this obedient earlier, we would have gotten the certificate already.” I didn’t answer, just watching the scenery fly backward outside the window. Just like our three-year relationship, flying away from me. Felicity and Xavier were the same age; she was the adopted daughter of his grandfather. And she was the thorn in our relationship. On dates, Xavier would bring her. At meals, Xavier would bring her. Even the house we lived in together had a room for her. I complained many times, but Xavier always said: “She’s my aunt, what are you thinking?” Xavier and his aunt grew up together and were very close. Every time he said this, I would back down. But Felicity seemed to lack boundaries, always deliberately showing intimacy with him. They got out to pick up the gift together, and Felicity specifically linked arms with him. From behind, they really looked like a couple. And I was left alone in the car, like an outsider. For almost three years, it had been like this. I felt like the third wheel. But I spent two years chasing Xavier and couldn’t bear to let go. He knew my psychology, which is why he abandoned me at the courthouse time and again. Lost in memories, my phone rang. It was Liam: “Wifey, finished signing the contract, but I have to entertain clients tonight, so I’ll be back late. Eat well by yourself.” “I’ll contact you when I’m done.” 2 I just realized I was someone else’s wife now. It was too sudden; I hadn’t adapted to this identity yet. But answering Liam’s call, I felt more relaxed than ever before. “Who was that?” Xavier opened the car door just as I hung up. He looked at me suspiciously. “A friend.” I don’t know why, but I didn’t want to tell him about marrying Liam yet. Felicity also got in the car carrying gifts. Putting down the gifts, she rubbed her hands and blew on them. “So cold.” Xavier immediately wrapped her hands in his: “I’ll warm them for you.” As if I wasn’t in the car. Suddenly I was glad he abandoned me at the courthouse this time. If we had really gotten the license, could I stand their ambiguity for decades? I shook my head gently. “Xavier, it was so cold outside just now, is the baby okay?” Hearing her words, Xavier looked nervous. He quickly took off the Bodhi bracelet from his wrist and put it on Felicity’s wrist. Through the rearview mirror, Felicity gave me a triumphant smile. I had climbed 999 steps on my period to pray for this bracelet for Xavier at a mountaintop temple. Caught in a storm on the way down, I was almost washed away. Two years ago when I gave it to him, he was moved to tears. He said he would never take it off. Now, just two years later, he gave it away so casually. The past flashed by like a meteor. I tried hard to hold back my tears. I grabbed Felicity’s hand, snatched the bracelet, and threw it out the window. A flash of anger crossed Felicity’s face, then she looked on the verge of tears: “Xavier, why is Serena angry? Is she blaming you for giving me the bracelet? Even if she’s angry, she shouldn’t throw it away, right? After all, it’s something you wore. She doesn’t care about you at all.” Xavier’s face was livid: “Serena, what are you fussing about now? It’s just a broken bracelet, not something precious. What’s wrong with me giving it to Auntie? If you keep being so selfish, I can’t marry you.” I said dismissively: “Then don’t marry, what’s the big deal?” Hearing my words, Xavier got even angrier. I should be the one angry about this, right? But he pursed his lips tightly and drove fast. Even running two red lights. As soon as we arrived home, Felicity was taken to a room by the old man. “Whose bastard are you carrying? If you can’t get engaged, abort it immediately.” “Women of the Xie family are not allowed to have children out of wedlock.” Even from far away, I could hear the old man’s roar. And Felicity’s sobbing. Xavier looked worried. He pulled me over, face solemn, and persuaded again: “Serena, you see how hard it is for Auntie.” “Go tell Grandpa you can’t conceive, and Auntie is a surrogate for you.” “You’re afraid of pain anyway; with this child, you won’t have to give birth yourself.” I slapped his hand away: “For your aunt, I have to say I’m infertile? Are you sick? Is this child yours?” Xavier’s face darkened, obviously displeased: “Serena!” He said heavily. “What nonsense are you talking about? How could I do such a thing?” “Didn’t you agree in the car just now?” I sneered: “The things you’ve done could fill a book.” Xavier grabbed my wrist: “Serena, if you still want to marry me, accept this child and stop spreading rumors about me and Auntie. Otherwise, we break up.” “Think about it.” Before I could answer, he shoved me and walked away. Near the end of the banquet, I was about to say goodbye to the old man. Turning a corner, I was dragged onto the terrace by Xavier. 3 Felicity was waiting there. Eyes red. Xavier gripped my wrist tightly, his voice cold as ice: “Serena, you must give a definite answer today. Will you put the child under your name or not?” I struggled hard but couldn’t break free. “Xavier, let go. You care so much about this child, it must be yours.” After saying this, I saw Felicity panic for a second. Xavier gripped harder, hurting my wrist. “Still spreading rumors. I’ve really indulged you too much.” His other hand pinched my chin forcefully: “Grandpa scolded Auntie today. Are you satisfied seeing Auntie embarrassed?” “If I knew you were such a vicious woman, I wouldn’t have accepted your pursuit back then.” Whenever he argued with me before, he always said he regretted accepting my pursuit. I would immediately surrender and start coaxing him. No matter whose fault it was, it was all mine. I apologized and made promises until he reluctantly accepted. But this time, I suppressed the anger in my heart and said softly but firmly: “It’s not too late now. Let’s break up!” Xavier was stunned for a moment. He let go of my wrist and took a step back. His skeptical gaze swept over my face again and again: “Serena, are you serious?” Before I could answer, he added: “You know me. If I agree to break up, you won’t even have a chance to regret it.” “Don’t say break up lightly in front of me in the future.” With that, he turned and walked out. I also turned to leave. This place, this Xie family, had nothing to do with me anymore. Just one step out, Felicity pushed me hard. In desperation, I grabbed Felicity’s arm. She rolled down the terrace steps with me. I was pinned under Felicity. Pressed too painfully, I pushed her. She rolled onto the ground. Turning half my body, sitting up, I slapped her face hard. Too much force, making my palm sting. Hearing the commotion, Xavier turned back. The blurted “Auntie” echoed through the banquet hall. He rushed over, kicked me away, and picked up Felicity. “Auntie, how are you? Where does it hurt?” Felicity was incredibly weak: “It hurts, it hurts. She hit me.” Felicity pointed at me, tears flowing instantly. Xavier looked at me with fire in his eyes: “Serena, I won’t forgive you this time. Just wait.” “Aren’t you even going to ask why?” Shouting this sentence, tears swirled in my eyes too. Partly from pain. Partly because Xavier always unconditionally believed Felicity, never me. It had been like this for three years. With that, he carried Felicity and walked out. After two steps, he turned back: “Serena, follow us to the hospital. If anything happens to Auntie, I will definitely call the police.” His tone contained a thousand years of ice. I hurt all over. Especially my legs; when Felicity fell, she landed right on them. My elbows hit the ground, now bloody patches. My injuries were more severe; anyone could see. But to Xavier, it was like he was blind; his eyes only saw his aunt. I stood up with difficulty, grabbed my down jacket, and followed them into the car. Xavier drove even faster than before, almost hitting the guardrail. While driving, he asked: “Auntie, don’t sleep, we’re almost at the hospital.” That tone, as if his aunt was about to die. Hearing his words, Felicity also pretended to be extremely uncomfortable. But she was just scrolling on her phone a moment ago. At the hospital, after blood tests, Felicity made me hold the cotton swab. After pressing, I quietly pocketed the swab. After a round of checks, besides a little anemia, Felicity was fine. Even the baby was growing steadily in her belly. Hearing about the anemia, Xavier was sweating with nervousness. “Anemia? What should we do?” “Right, Auntie has a rare blood type, and Serena has a rare blood type too. She can transfuse her blood.” He dragged me in front of the doctor. 4 The doctor looked at him mockingly: “It’s normal for women to be slightly anemic. No need for a transfusion at all.” But Xavier wouldn’t listen to the doctor. “You must give her a transfusion today. She’s pregnant; you can’t be responsible if something happens.” The doctor wanted to persuade him further, but Xavier flashed his business card. “My family invested in this hospital. If you don’t want to lose your job, draw the blood now.” Seeing Xavier’s obsession, I wanted to break free and leave quickly. The doctor saw my reluctance and said helplessly: “Even if we draw this lady’s blood, we need her consent, right?” He looked at me inquiringly. “I don’t consent. Why should my blood be given to someone else?” Xavier gripped my wrist tightly: “Serena, you have to understand. Auntie is pregnant and can’t be harmed.” “She can’t be harmed, but I can, right?” When I spoke, my voice trembled with anger. I didn’t know the man I had been with for so long was such a scumbag. Hearing my words, Xavier hesitated for a moment. But he still didn’t let go of my hand: “Serena, be obedient. After giving blood to Auntie, we’ll go get the license tomorrow.” “Haven’t you always wanted to? I promise not to break my word this time.” I tried to shake off his hand while shouting “Let go! Let go!” He still wouldn’t let go. And started calling security to help hold me down. In desperation, I dialed Liam’s number: “Save me—” Before Liam could answer, the phone was knocked to the ground. Liam’s voice still came from the receiver: “Serena, what’s wrong? Where are you?” But the surrounding noise drowned out Liam’s urgency. Several people pushed me into the blood draw room. I couldn’t move at all. My menstrual flow has always been heavy, so I’ve always been anemic. I’ve been treated many times without obvious results. Xavier knew this clearly. He even introduced me to Chinese medicine doctors before. But when facing his aunt, he could be deaf, mute, and blind. My health in his eyes wasn’t worth a single hair on his aunt’s head. Tears flowed uncontrollably. Watching the nurse’s needle about to pierce my arm, I closed my eyes in despair. Just then, chaotic footsteps approached. Seven or eight people ran towards us simultaneously. “Who wants to draw my wife’s blood?” It was Liam.

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Five years. Five years of secret dating Rhys Kingston. On the day of my twenty-fourth birthday, he married the ghost of his past. My silent question—the one that screamed in my eyes—meant nothing to him. “Delaney has late-stage cancer,” Rhys said, his voice flat with forced martyrdom. “She has less than a month left. This is her last wish. I can’t let her die with a regret like that hanging over her.” Delaney Cole leaned against his shoulder, her eyes flicking toward me with unmistakable smugness. “I’m not really one for tragedy,” Delaney purred. “A marriage should be a celebration! Let’s turn this birthday party into a wedding reception—right now.” With one casual demand from Delaney, the private dinner I thought was for my twenty-fourth birthday became the spontaneous party for her and Rhys’s sudden wedding. My older brother, Adam, and our friends rotated around the table, offering toasts and well wishes. When it came to my turn, I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. Under the harsh, warning pressure of Rhys’s eyes, I picked up my glass, my expression perfectly neutral. “To the newlyweds,” I said, my voice steady. “May you be happily stuck with each other for life.” 1 The air in the private dining room solidified into a thick, uncomfortable silence. Every head snapped toward me. Rhys’s knuckles were white where he gripped his glass. He tapped the empty space beside him. “Stop the drama, Stone. Avery, come sit over here.” That seat—the one immediately to his right—had always been mine. Now, it had an unwelcome, temporary occupant: Delaney Cole. I ignored his command and took the seat next to my brother, Adam. Rhys’s eyes turned dangerously dark. Adam laughed, trying to smooth over the tension. “Rhys, we all know you treat Avery like a little sister, but you’re a married man now. You can’t be so casual. Delaney will get the wrong idea.” Delaney wrapped her arm around his, pulling their bodies closer until they were nearly touching. Rhys let out a short, hollow laugh. “Relax. I just want Delaney to leave this life without regrets. This marriage is on a one-month timer, then it auto-voids.” He gave me a pointed look. “Besides, if I were ever truly going to marry her, I wouldn’t have waited until she was dying.” Adam and the others scoffed. “Come on, man,” a friend said. “When Delaney first moved overseas, you were depressed for six months. You were the most eligible, sought-after bachelor in the whole scene, and all you did was hang out with us, swearing off serious relationships.” “You kept saying you weren’t interested, and yet the minute Delaney snaps her fingers, you’re running to the courthouse? Nobody believes you weren’t waiting for her.” “Yeah, Rhys, you were wasted one night and admitted you were waiting for her to come back. I’m not making it up; everyone here heard it.” A chorus of drunken affirmations followed. I just stared at my drink, taking long, slow sips, a searing, spasmodic pain contracting in my chest. I’d been with Rhys since I was eighteen. At twenty-two, I wanted us to go public. He told me he was an investor in my brother’s company, and going public would invite malicious rumors about our relationship. He claimed I was too young to handle the scrutiny. At twenty-three, he promised me. Wait until you turn twenty-four, and if we’re still together, we’ll tell everyone. Today was my twenty-fourth birthday. And he married Delaney Cole. Delaney gave me a sickeningly sweet smile. “Avery, even if our marriage is for show, we’re legally wed. You’ve been getting nice birthday gifts from Rhys for years, haven’t you? Shouldn’t you offer a tribute to his happy occasion? I really love the necklace you’re wearing. Can I have it?” My fingers involuntarily curled, and a knot tightened in my throat. This wasn’t just a necklace. It was the gift Rhys had given me on my eighteenth birthday—the same year he first told me he loved me. Five years. I had never once taken it off. Adam saw my silence and tried to intervene. “Avery, you know Rhys has always carried a torch for Delaney. They missed so many years. Just be the bigger person and let them have this.” I looked at Rhys. He hadn’t said a word. Then, Delaney slid off her seat and settled herself onto his lap, draping her arms around his neck in a childish, seductive display. “Rhys, I really, really love it. Buy me an identical one, okay? Then I can die in peace.” Rhys chuckled softly, pulling her close to his side. “Stop talking about dying. That necklace is just a cheap trinket, anyway.” He turned to me, the light in his eyes cold and transactional. “Avery, since your sister-in-law likes it, just give it to her.” I didn’t know how to speak. For five years, I had sacrificed everything for this man. My reputation. My dignity. My own desires. I’d done everything he wanted. When he asked me to trade my comfortable white tees for sleek, revealing slip dresses, I did it. When he said he wanted the thrill of secrecy, I kept our relationship underground. But in this singular moment, I realized the heart I had offered him for five years was, to him, worth less than a piece of cheap costume jewelry. While Delaney was still basking in his attention, and as the table roared with approval, she captured his lips in a long, sensual kiss. Still silent, still refusing to give him the satisfaction of my tears or my rage, I unclasped the chain and placed it gently on the table. “Mr. Kingston is right,” I said, my voice empty. “It’s just a cheap trinket. Enjoy it.” 2 Rhys’s gaze locked onto me, a furious, frustrated fire smoldering in his pupils. He squeezed Delaney’s arm until she cried out in pain before he reluctantly loosened his grip. He sneered. “Since Avery is being so generous, Delaney, take it.” Delaney picked it up, examined it for a few seconds, and then wrinkled her nose in distaste. “It’s actually not that pretty. Far less impressive than the things you usually buy me, Rhys.” She tossed it dismissively to the catering assistant clearing the table. “Here. You can have it. You might get a few bucks for it.” Watching the necklace, the symbol of five years of my life, fall amidst the food scraps and dirty napkins, the blood in my veins seemed to condense into ice. Rhys noted my stark white face, his voice sharp and demanding. “What are you waiting for? We’re celebrating my wedding tonight. Everyone drink up. No one leaves early.” My face was the color of chalk. “No, thank you. You all enjoy yourselves. I have other plans.” The moment the words left my mouth, Rhys’s expression turned venomous. I ignored it, turned my back, and walked out of the private room. By the time I reached the secure parking level of his penthouse, my phone was still notification-free. Rhys hadn’t sent a single text, a single apology, a single explanation. But he had updated his social media. I tapped the app. The video showed him and Delaney feeding each other a single cookie, culminating in a passionate, dare-you kiss. As their lips intertwined, everyone in the comments gushed over the beautiful, tragic love story of Rhys and Delaney—five years apart, finally reunited—and no one in that cheering crowd knew about the woman who had been hidden for those same five years: Avery Stone. In the video, Delaney was blushing, all captivating femininity, as she pressed a provocative kiss to his throat. Rhys didn’t pull away. The look in his eyes—that dangerous, barely contained frenzy—was the look I knew from our most intimate moments. Now it belonged to Delaney. Rhys Kingston, if this is your choice, then I’ll grant you your wish. I gave a dry, self-mocking laugh. Then, I tapped the ‘Like’ button on his post. After that, I silently packed and cleared every last trace of my existence from the penthouse apartment he had given me. I had begged him countless times to go public. I had cajoled, threatened, and even, in the hazy aftermath of passion, whispered the question: When will we tell everyone? Rhys always had an excuse, a postponement. Until Delaney. For her, he introduced her to his entire inner circle, instructed everyone to call her his wife, announced their marriage, and took her to the courthouse. In this moment, I saw with brutal clarity: He wasn’t afraid of going public. He just wasn’t in love with me. Once everything was done, I drove back to my own apartment. The door had barely closed when my parents, currently overseas, video-called. “Sweetheart,” my mother chirped, “do you remember Kellan Croft? You two grew up together, and he’s back in the States. You should find some time to meet up.” During my years with Rhys, my parents had tried to set me up with countless good men, just waiting for me to say yes. Every time, I refused. I was twenty-four now. Starting a new life, a new romance, wasn’t too late. Seeing the cautious hope in my parents’ eyes, I didn’t hesitate this time. “Okay,” I said. “I will.” Immediately after, I submitted my resignation to Rhys’s company’s HR. My loyalty to Rhys had been absolute. I started as an intern the day I graduated, and to help him win a crucial bid, I’d stayed up for days, analyzing data, sourcing materials, and perfecting the pitch. I lost ten pounds during that stretch. Rhys had been so tender, so worried, sending his personal chef to the office with gourmet meals. Back then, even in secrecy, his devotion to me was undeniable. Now, that special attention belonged to Delaney. Moments after the resignation email went out, Rhys called. The moment I answered, the line went dead silent. In the past, no matter who initiated the call, I was always the one to break the silence and find a topic. This time, I couldn’t muster the energy. Just as I was about to hang up, assuming he wouldn’t speak, his voice—cold and laced with annoyance—came through. “Avery Stone, what is the meaning of the social media like and this resignation letter?” “Delaney has one month to live. Can’t you wait even that long?” he challenged, his voice rising. “Are you truly not afraid I’ll break up with you for good?” I used to be terrified. So, I played the good girl, the compliant one. I wouldn’t play anymore. “Rhys,” I said, my voice flat. “Then let’s break up.” 3 The day after the breakup, I received an email confirming my resignation was accepted. The HR tone was curt. I was instructed to collect my belongings immediately and warned never to set foot in the building again. Rhys was clearly furious. Walking past the cubicles, I heard the snide whispers. “The only reason Mr. Kingston gave her the time of day was because she was the partner’s sister. She actually thought she was going to be the next Mrs. Kingston. Now she’s just running off with her tail between her legs.” “So what if he spoiled her? She embarrassed the real Mrs. Kingston the other night. She deserved to be fired.” Deaf to the mockery, I focused on completing my final handoff. The moment the paperwork was stamped, I would be free of Rhys forever. “Hold it right there.” Rhys’s cold voice cut through the air behind me. Delaney was leaning against him, looking frail but shooting me a triumphant glance. “The confidential information for this morning’s bid was leaked. I heard that Ms. Stone, the secretary, handled those files.” I turned to Rhys, utterly stunned. “You suspect me?” “We’ll know for sure once we check the computer,” he said, his eyes devoid of emotion. At his nod, a pair of IT staff immediately moved to my desk, sitting in my chair. It felt like a slap across the face. I had poured my life into those bid documents, and now Rhys was accusing me of sabotage. “Don’t touch my computer!” They weren’t just looking for files; they intended to restore everything I had ever deleted. If they did that, the hundreds of private photos of Rhys and me—and the undeniable proof of our five-year relationship—would be revealed to the entire company. Security guards were blocking the way. I was helpless. “Rhys, tell them to stop. I didn’t leak anything.” He grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my skin, his face a mask of iron. “Did you leak the files?” The crowd murmured, the insults sharp. “Of course, it was Avery Stone. Why else is she reacting like this?” “She didn’t get the boss, so she got her revenge by sending the bid to a competitor? That’s sick.” Rhys cut them off, his voice ice. “Everyone shut up. Are the files restored?” “Restored!” I whipped my head around. “Don’t open it, Rhys.” He squeezed my wrist harder. “Open it!” As the intimate photos flashed across the screen for everyone to see, it felt like my last shred of privacy had been ripped away. The shame was so overwhelming I nearly broke down in tears right there. Rhys’s face was unreadable for a moment. Then, he smiled. He casually surveyed the digital evidence. “Avery Stone, are you a delusion case? Where did you find these pictures, and how badly did you Photoshop my face onto some stranger’s body?” The collective laughter of the crowd crashed over me. In that moment, the humiliation was a tide, threatening to drown me. He had married Delaney in secret, and I accepted it. He turned my birthday into their reception, and I tolerated it. But he would never acknowledge our life, even now, when it would save me. Delaney mocked me. “Avery, do you love Rhys? If you admit it, I might actually let you have him.” Rhys frowned slightly at her, then dismissed her words with a wave of his hand. “Don’t get involved in Avery’s nonsense, Delaney. Everyone here knows I treat her like a little sister. If you like those pictures, I’ll hire a professional to edit a few good ones of us.” He was retaliating for the breakup. He was deliberately denying me, humiliating me. But the words were still countless tiny knives slicing into my heart. I dug my nails into my palms until I drew blood, forcing myself not to cry. Delaney smiled, satisfied. “Rhys, you’re so cruel to break a girl’s heart like that! At least spare her some dignity. What if she runs away, like I did years ago? You might not get her back this time.” Rhys was absolutely certain I wouldn’t leave. “Where would she go?” he scoffed. “She’s either hanging around her brother or tagging along behind me. She’s throwing a tantrum. In three days, she’ll be begging me to reinstate her.” In the past, our fights never lasted more than thirty-six hours, and I was always the first to back down and come home. But the Avery Stone he was talking about was gone. How long would it take for him to realize it? 4 I was numb to the surrounding laughter and insults. After the IT staff left, I looked Rhys in the eye. “Mr. Kingston, the investigation proves the leak had nothing to do with me. Don’t you think you owe me an apology?” The crowd erupted in angry whispers. “Is she insane? Demanding an apology from Mr. Kingston? Who does she think she is?” “He’s letting her walk free! She should be grateful. No one can prove she didn’t do it.” Rhys frowned in annoyance. “I was following protocol by checking your computer before your departure. You want an apology for that?” He threw his hands up. “Avery Stone, are you crazy, or am I?” My voice remained eerily calm. “Three hundred photos on that computer. You know exactly where they came from.” “Five years, Rhys. All I’m asking for is one apology. Is that really too much?” His expression instantly became conflicted. Delaney walked toward me, her face full of forced kindness. “Today was a misunderstanding, Avery. Rhys and I didn’t handle things well. I’m sorry if I offended you.” As she spoke, she suddenly dissolved into a fit of harsh, racking coughs. Rhys’s tension instantly flared. He rushed forward to support her, then whirled on me, his face contorted in anger. “What did you say to her? What did you do?” He looked at me as if I were a dangerous criminal. “Avery Stone, take your anger out on me. She’s a patient. Why are you deliberately trying to upset her?” Delaney shook her head weakly. “I’m fine, Rhys. She’s just young. I’ll talk to her.” She gently pulled away from Rhys and walked toward me. I caught the fleeting, triumphant smirk in her eyes. Before I could even process what I was seeing, she deliberately let her legs buckle and collapsed onto the marble floor. The room went silent. Everyone saw her fall, unassisted. Except Rhys. He charged at me like a madman, shoving me away with brutal force. I stumbled, hitting the edge of a nearby desk with a sickening thud. A searing spike of pain shot through my lower abdomen, and my vision whitened. Rhys didn’t spare me a single glance. He was kneeling over Delaney, his voice full of protective fury, directed straight at me. “Avery Stone, you better pray Delaney is okay. Otherwise, I will make your life a living hell.” The man I had loved for five years was threatening to destroy me for the woman who had just faked her own fall. The last vestige of hope in my heart evaporated. Suddenly, a woman screamed. I looked down. My hand was covered in a slick, dark crimson. It was coming from me. Before everything faded to black, I saw Adam, his face pale with terror and rage, rushing toward me. He lifted me gently, his hands trembling. “Don’t be afraid, sis. I’m here.” As Rhys carried Delaney into the emergency room, he received a call from my brother. For the first time ever, Adam was screaming at him. “Rhys, I’ll deal with how you treated Avery later!” “Get over here right now. She just miscarried. The baby is gone.”

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The day after I found out I was pregnant, my husband Shane’s entire family descended on our house. They brought groceries, tonics, and a whole lot of unsolicited advice on how to “keep the baby safe.” In the middle of the chaos, Shane’s nephew, Tyler, took a shine to my dog, Bear. He was hugging him tight, not letting go. He asked me, “Auntie, how old is the puppy brother?” I smiled and told him, “Well, if you want to count it like that, he’s actually your puppy grandpa. Bear is fifteen years old.” My mother-in-law, Joyce, made a face. “Don’t talk nonsense. How can you call a dog a brother or grandpa? You’re gonna give birth to a puppy if you keep that up.” After lunch, I was exhausted. I made myself a cup of milk tea, went into the bedroom, and lay down. They chatted in the living room for a while longer, then left. But after they were gone, the silence felt wrong. Bear was a clingy old boy. He hated when people left. Usually, he’d be scratching at the door or whining. But today? Silence. He hadn’t come to nuzzle me since the guests walked out. I got up and searched the apartment. No Bear. A bad feeling hit me in the gut. I rushed to the window and looked down. There, in the driveway, was little Tyler, climbing into the backseat of their SUV, holding Bear in his arms. I lost it. I threw the window open and screamed, “Put my dog down!” The whole family looked up. Joyce immediately started waving her hands, signaling her eldest son—my brother-in-law, Travis—to drive. “Go! Go!” she mouthed. Travis actually started the engine. I didn’t think. I just reacted. I grabbed my half-full cup of milk tea and hurled it out the window. It was a perfect shot. The cup exploded against the front windshield, splashing sticky brown liquid everywhere. Travis slammed on the brakes; he couldn’t see a thing. Shane, seeing the mess, yelled up at me from the sidewalk, “Are you crazy?!” “I’m coming down!” I screamed. I sprinted down the stairs. Joyce tried to block me, babbling excuses, but I pushed past her and started banging on the car window. “Open the door! Give me back my dog!” Joyce grabbed my arm. “The kid likes the dog! Just let him raise it for a bit! You raised it for years, that’s enough. You’re pregnant now, you shouldn’t be around animals anyway!” “Bear is fifteen!” I shouted, shaking. “He’s geriatric! He is not a toy for a child!” Inside the car, Travis looked at his mom, annoyed by the sticky windshield. He cracked the window an inch. “Ma, just get a rag and clean this up. Calm her down.” That patronizing tone snapped something inside me. I pulled out my phone and smashed it against the glass. Thud! “Put the damn dog down!” I roared at Travis. “That is my dog! Your mom had no right to give him away, and you have no right to take him!” I kept smashing the phone against the glass until spiderwebs formed. Shane rushed over and grabbed my arm, digging his fingers in hard enough to bruise. He hissed through his teeth, “Have you lost your mind? You’re embarrassing me in front of my family.” I was shaking with rage. “I’m crazy? You’re crazy! You’re my husband, and you let them steal my dog behind my back?” “I Googled it!” Shane yelled back. “Do you know what toxoplasmosis is? Dog poop carries parasites! It affects the baby! I’m doing this for our child!” “Shut up! Your mouth is filthier than dog shit right now!” Travis, worried about his precious car window, finally unlocked the doors. I yanked the back door open. Tyler was clutching Bear, wailing at the top of his lungs. “I want the puppy! Auntie, give him to me! Please!” “No!” I reached for Bear, but Tyler turned his back, shielding the dog. He looked at his parents, sobbing. “I want the doggy!” My sister-in-law, Brenda, was the only one with half a brain. She sighed. “Tyler, give the dog back to Auntie. Mommy will buy you a new puppy tomorrow.” “I don’t want a new one! I want this one!” Tyler screamed. Joyce clutched her chest, acting heartbroken. “Look at you, making my grandson cry. You’re a grown woman fighting with a child!” I ignored her and held out my hand to the kid. “Give him back. I won’t ask again.” Tyler bit his lip, sobbing uncontrollably. Bear, sweet old Bear, didn’t understand he was being kidnapped. He licked the tears off the boy’s face. Then, Tyler snapped. Instead of handing Bear to me, he lifted the dog up and smashed him onto the asphalt. “Fine! Take him!” the kid screamed. My heart stopped. I watched Bear hit the pavement. He let out a high-pitched yelp of pain. He was fifteen. His bones were brittle. He struggled to stand, whimpering, holding one paw up. He was limping badly. The red mist descended. I didn’t think about consequences. I grabbed Tyler by the collar and slapped him across the face as hard as I could. Slap! Silence. Absolute silence. Shane stared at me, mouth agape. Joyce raised her hand to slap me back, but she froze mid-air. I knew why she stopped. Not because of me, but because of the incubator in my belly. I scooped up Bear. He was shaking, whining in a low, pained rhythm. Everyone swarmed Tyler. Shane was cooing at him, promising toys, promising McDonald’s. No one looked at the dog. I walked back upstairs, tears blurring my vision. Bear was twitching in my arms. I grabbed my car keys. I needed to get him to the vet immediately. Shane followed me in, slamming the door. “You go downstairs right now and apologize to Tyler!” I stared at him coldly, keys in hand. “You broke Mom’s heart, and you humiliated me! How are we supposed to have family dinners after this?” he ranted. “We don’t,” I said. “I’m taking Bear to the vet, and then I’m going to my parents’ house. Tomorrow, I’m filing for divorce. I don’t need you to raise this kid. It’ll have my last name.” Shane looked like I’d slapped him. I packed a bag one-handed, holding Bear close, and walked to the door. Shane grabbed my purse and ripped it away. “Put it down. Go to your room.” I looked at him and felt nothing but pure, unadulterated disgust. He really thought he was some alpha male, didn’t he? It’s funny how love dies. It doesn’t always fade. Sometimes, it just turns into nausea in a split second. “Keep the bag,” I said. I opened the door, clutching my dog. Shane lost it. “You’re divorcing me over a dog?” I turned back. “When I got 100% on a test in third grade, my mom bought me Bear. He was there when I graduated high school. He was there through college. He was there when I married you. He’s been with me for fifteen years. I’ve known you for four. How dare you give him away?” “You’re being dramatic!” “Just now, when I was alone against five people, did you stand by me? No. I’m done arguing. Let’s just divorce. I wanted a man who could protect his wife and child. You aren’t him.” His face twitched. “Fine. Divorce. But you pay me back every cent I spent on the wedding.” “I Venmo’d you while you were screaming downstairs. Check your phone.” He checked. His face twisted further. “You really act like this over a mutt?” Suddenly, Shane lunged. He snatched Bear from my arms. And just like his nephew, he threw Bear onto the floor. Hard. Bear hit the tiles with a sickening thud. He tried to scramble up on his little legs, slipping on the smooth floor, wailing in agony. “Get away from him!” I shoved Shane, trying to get to my dog. Shane grabbed my arm—hard. “I’m sick of your princess attitude! You want a divorce? Fine! Let’s make it permanent!” He dragged me into the kitchen and grabbed the chef’s knife from the block. My blood ran cold. “Are you going to kill me?” “I don’t hit women,” he sneered. He dragged me toward Bear. Panic, primal and overwhelming, flooded my system. “Bear! Run!” I screamed. Bear always listened to me. But he was old, and he’d been smashed into the ground twice in ten minutes. He tried. He scrambled toward the door, dragging his back legs, whimpering. Shane let go of me to catch him. He took two steps and brought the knife down. Blood sprayed. Bear convulsed and collapsed. Shane didn’t stop. He hacked at the dog. Again. And again. “This is for your twisted priorities!” Chop. “This is for hitting a child!” Chop. “This is for threatening divorce!” Chop. I watched my dog being butchered. He wasn’t dead yet. He was suffering. “Shane, I’m going to kill you!” I grabbed a heavy wooden dining chair and smashed it over Shane’s head. His scalp split open. Blood poured down his face, into his eyes, making him look like a demon. But he didn’t stop. He was going to chop Bear into pieces. I remembered my self-defense class. Go for the groin. I gathered every ounce of strength I had and kicked him squarely between the legs. Shane froze. His eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the floor, clutching himself, making a sound like a deflating balloon. Just then, Joyce walked in. She saw her son on the floor, the blood, the knife. She screamed and shoved me aside. “My family! You’ve ruined my family!” she wailed, cradling Shane’s bleeding head. I ignored her. I crawled to Bear. He wasn’t making noise anymore. He was… gone. Just a pile of fur and ruin. Shane, gasping for air, grabbed the dog’s severed head in one hand and the bloody knife in the other. He panted, looking at me. “Welcome to the real world, princess. Nobody’s gonna coddle you here.” He tossed Bear’s head at my feet. My legs gave out. I collapsed to my knees. Bear. My Bear. Since I was eight years old. Waiting at the school gate. Waiting at the bus stop. Licking tears off my face when I had my first heartbreak. Now, he was in pieces. I picked up his head. It felt so light. I remembered lifting him when he was a puppy, telling him, “You’re getting so heavy, buddy.” I packed what was left of him into a plastic trash bag. I left. Shane didn’t stop me—he couldn’t stand up. I drove to my parents’ house. I had arrived at my wedding in a limo with Bear on my lap. I came home with him in a bag. We buried him in the backyard, along with his favorite squeaky toys. My parents cried with me. They told me the backyard was going to be a garden soon. Bear would like that. I touched my stomach and told my parents, “Tomorrow, I’m getting an abortion.” I had planned to keep the baby, raise it alone. But not anymore. That man’s DNA didn’t deserve to exist. My parents agreed immediately. “A man who uses a knife in an argument isn’t a father. He’s a monster.” I cried all night.

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At the company’s anniversary gala, the newly appointed CEO made her first public appearance. I secretly snapped a photo of my stunning boss to send to a friend, bragging about her beauty. But I got caught red-handed. She scolded me coldly: “As an employee, focus on the company’s business, not on useless distractions.” I turned beet red, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. To salvage my reputation, I rushed to the CEO’s office as soon as the party ended, intending to explain myself. But when I knocked and entered, I froze at the sight of a clay figurine on her desk. Wasn’t that the birthday gift I handmade for my online girlfriend just a few days ago? It even had my initials carved on it. When the realization hit, my scalp tingled. The new female CEO was actually the girlfriend I had been dating online for three years. 1 Confirming that the new boss in front of me was my unseen girlfriend, I suddenly got nervous and blurted out, “This figurine…” “My boyfriend made it for me.” Chloe reached out and touched the head of the figurine on the desk, a rare tenderness flashing in her eyes. But the next second, she wiped the smile off her face and scolded me sternly: “What does this have to do with you? Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.” “Why are you here?” I touched my nose awkwardly, reluctantly withdrawing my gaze from the figurine: “Ms. Qin, I didn’t mean to sneak a photo of you just now. It’s because you look a lot like my girlfriend, and I couldn’t help it.” Hand to God, although this excuse was made up, given the current situation, it was the truest lie ever told. But Chloe obviously didn’t buy it at all, sneering directly: “Can you come up with a lamer excuse?” “With that lecherous look of yours, what girl with good eyesight would fall for you?” My face darkened instantly. Thinking about how bad my first impression was in her eyes, I wanted to drag my friend out and beat him up. It was all his fault for demanding to see the beauty. At the same time, I severely despised Chloe in my heart. Usually, when chatting with me online, she was gentle and soft. Who knew she could be so sharp-tongued in reality? Besides, how did a girl who claimed to be a fresh graduate worker suddenly become a domineering female CEO? 2 Leaving the office, I took out my phone and sent a cute spanking sticker to Chloe on WeChat. She replied almost instantly: “Hubby, what’s wrong? Did someone upset you?” The office door wasn’t fully closed. Through the crack, I saw Chloe happily holding her phone and replying to messages, the smile on her face completely different from the “Extermination Nun” (a strict teacher character) face just now. I gritted my teeth and replied: “Just got scolded by my female boss. She said a man like me couldn’t get a girlfriend.” The other end of the phone instantly got fired up, message notifications dinging non-stop. I looked up guiltily at the door crack, afraid of arousing Chloe’s suspicion, and quickly hugged my phone to the bathroom to reply. In the chat box, Chloe had already cursed herself out. “How could she say that about my dear hubby? Simply hateful!” “My hubby is the best, best, best man in the world. Your female boss must be blind.” “Hubby, when we meet in a couple of days, I definitely won’t let anyone bully you.” Heh, besides her, it seemed no one else in the company had bullied me. I’ve been working in this company for almost two years. Who would have thought my online girlfriend would turn out to be my direct boss and I’d get scolded by my own girlfriend? Who do I complain to? The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I decided to delay the meet-up with Chloe, leaving her hanging for a few days to vent my frustration. “I’m a bit busy recently, might not have time this month.” “What?” “No, hubby! I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for so long, how can you postpone it…” The phone exploded instantly, sending a dozen crying emojis in a row. Faced with the melodramatic plot that my online girlfriend of three years is my female boss, I hadn’t recovered yet and felt irritable. So I exited the chat interface and stopped replying. 3 My temporary escape for peace ended up making the whole company tremble in fear. Chloe’s temper suddenly became explosive. Any department reporting work would come out after being scolded bloody. First the Business Department, then the Finance Department, scolded one by one… Soon, the fire spread to our department. Because of a small issue in a proposal, Chloe called us to the office and scolded us harshly, not a single good word coming out of her mouth. The colleagues who came with me were scared and kept their heads down, daring not to speak. That unsmiling, stern attitude was completely different from her usual online persona. Little girl, acting quite well. I couldn’t help muttering, almost speaking my mind out loud. “Sam, you seem unconvinced by me?” I had to admire this woman’s eyesight. She accurately captured even my subtle movements. Chloe frowned and stared at me, her imposing aura pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. I quickly shook my head and defended myself: “How could that be, Ms. Qin? I am endlessly grateful for your guidance and will always keep it in mind.” She snorted and raised an eyebrow: “Okay, good.” “Smooth talker, your proposal must be good too.” “Then you redo this proposal alone. Hand it to me before you get off work tomorrow.” Amidst the sympathetic looks from colleagues, my brain crashed on the spot, ten thousand curse words galloping through my heart. It was almost time to get off work, and she wanted me to redo the proposal alone and hand it in by tomorrow evening. This was blatantly making me pull an all-nighter, wasn’t it? Fine, Chloe, since you openly gave me a hard time, don’t blame me for being “ruthless” behind your back. When I angrily returned to my desk, I received a message from Chloe. “Hubby, don’t ignore me, baby misses you so much.” “I won’t rush the meeting anymore. Can we talk about it when you’re free?” 4 To save my “colleagues” from suffering, I decided to sacrifice myself. Hesitating for a few seconds, I replied, “Okay, I’ll think about it.” Seeing my reply, Chloe bombarded me with messages even more frantically. “Great, hubby! You finally willing to talk to me.” “Hubby, tomorrow is your birthday. We can meet later, but I must send you this year’s gift.” “You promised me before, you can’t go back on your word.” Finally, a crazy kissing emoji. In our three years of online dating, I never told Chloe my home address. Several times she begged for my address to send gifts, but I ruthlessly refused. Because I didn’t want her to think I was the kind of man who coveted her gifts. But every year on her birthday, I would send her some handmade gifts to express my feelings. Not that I was stingy, I just didn’t want to burden this pure relationship. After all, she always claimed to be a poor worker before. How could I accept her gifts and add to her burden? Now that she exposed her identity as a female CEO, I had no worries. To give my colleagues a happy working environment, I could only sacrifice myself and send her the address. However, the address sent was the community’s package collection point. The community is so big, I wasn’t afraid she would track me down. So, that night, I successfully received the birthday gift Chloe sent via flash delivery. Inside the exquisitely wrapped gift box was a box full of paper stars and a low-key luxury mechanical watch. The handwritten letter smelled faintly of perfume, the same scent on Chloe. The handwriting reflected the person, delicate and grand, every stroke expressing love for me. A few short sentences made my heart surge.

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To spite the fake heiress, my fiancé and my brother decided to abandon me on a private island on my wedding day. They had a standing bet, wagering on how long it would take me to realize I was being played. My brother, Blake, slammed his expensive Rolex onto the poker table. “I bet a month.” He chuckled, the sound grating. “See, my sister—Willow—she was kidnapped as a child. A bad fever when she was little, and it left her… well, simple. A bit slow on the uptake.” “If Preston hadn’t, by sheer luck, found her and brought her home, she’d have died out there years ago.” My fiancé, Preston, coolly slipped off the vintage watch he’d worn since his twentieth birthday, an old family heirloom. He gave a cold, sharp smile. “I bet three days.” “She’ll be crying on the phone to me, begging me to come and get her.” The room erupted in loud, mocking laughter. Outside the room, my palms were clenched so tight my knuckles were bloodless, stark white against my skin. That night, I dialed the number etched deep in my heart, my voice trembling with wounded confusion. “Rhys, I want to go home. Please, take me home…” 1 “That’s savage, Blake! Aren’t you worried that when Madison realizes, she won’t forgive her dear brother?” The voice came from the billiards room, thick with drunken amusement. Blake laughed, a hollow sound. “I’ve already made arrangements. It’s just a lesson, a little scare, that’s all.” “We’re not leaving her there for good, are we?” “She’s a fool who can barely remember her own name. A few sweet words, and she’ll be fine.” Another man pressed the point. “Preston, you’re ruthless, too!” “The poor simple girl is happily waiting to marry you, and you’re sending her off for an island survival trial.” “Aren’t you afraid she’ll actually run away?” “Run?” His careless, dismissive laugh cut into my ear like a shard of glass. “Where is a fool going to run to?” “Once she figures out what she did wrong, we’ll bring her back, naturally.” The sinister words were swallowed by a chorus of derisive snickers. I clutched my chest, the dull, aching throb inside making me feel faint. I stared at my pale, drawn reflection in the window glass, trying desperately to figure out: What exactly did I do wrong? Was it the time I had a 104-degree fever and didn’t get Madison a cupcake? Or was it when it was raining, and I didn’t kneel down to wipe the mud off Madison’s shoes? But… I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong. Last time, when I donated a full pint of blood for Madison—Blake had promised me he’d never hurt my feelings again. And Preston had said he would be my family from then on. The Matron at the old home used to say that family doesn’t hurt family. It hurt to realize that, apparently, family does hurt family. The realization brought a fresh wave of injustice. My chest felt tight, as if filled with pins and needles. The tears welled up and clung to my lashes. A gentle blink sent them splashing onto the polished floorboards. The pain—a crushing, physical ache—stayed with me right up until dinner. At the large dining table, I instinctively retreated to my usual place in the corner, nervously watching Blake and Preston. They sat on either side of Madison, one laughing and chatting with her, the other carefully plating her food. A bright red chili pepper suddenly landed in my bowl. I turned my head and met a pair of maliciously playful eyes. “Blake said your favorite food is chili peppers. Is that true?” I hesitated, then picked up the pepper and put it in my mouth. The choking heat exploded, instantly searing my nose and throat. I couldn’t stop the violent coughing fit that followed. My face flushed a painful crimson. Blake strode over. When he heard what happened, he smacked the top of my head. “You’re about to be a married woman! Why are you still such a stupid pig?” “Someone gives you something, and you just eat it? You’ll be poisoned one day, and you won’t even know it!” I coughed, the effort tearing at my lungs. The sting in my heart deepened, layered now with raw confusion. Last month, they’d told me to jump into the koi pond to catch a fish. I’d told them I might drown. Blake had just thrown me in. He waited until I was almost sinking before having someone pull me out. Afterward, he’d cursed me for embarrassing him, and kept his face frozen in a cold mask for a whole week. Now, I had done exactly as I was told, eaten what I was given. Why was he still unhappy? I didn’t understand. I suppressed the coughs, but the noise in my ears felt deafening. Madison clattered her chopsticks down, her tone petulant. “Stop coughing! Your germs are everywhere. How is anyone supposed to eat?” Madison’s sharp voice had become a waking nightmare for me. I involuntarily hunched my shoulders and drew my neck into my body. The next second, Blake grabbed me by the arm and hauled me out of the dining room. As we left, I saw Preston still seated, casually talking to someone else. He didn’t spare me a single glance. Blake dumped me in the back garden. “Stand right here. You’re not coming back in until everyone has finished eating!” He walked away without looking back, leaving me alone in the mosquito-infested yard. I waited for what felt like forever. Blake never came back to get me. The sky began to weep small drops of rain. They fell onto the welts left by the mosquito bites, offering a moment of cool, brief relief. The rain lasted for thirty minutes. I stood there, drenched, for all thirty. Just as I felt I might pass out from the chill, a shadow appeared above me—the dark silhouette of an umbrella. I looked up. Preston’s face, framed by the misting rain, seemed terrifying and utterly unfamiliar. I flinched back, confused. The man’s voice was low and eerie. “Look at me. Who am I?” My brain was slow; I sometimes struggled to tell people apart. Preston always enjoyed playing this game—forcing me to fail. Forcing me to engrave his face permanently onto my memory. For the first time, I didn’t answer. Preston’s cold, biting voice dropped heavily onto my head. “Fine. That’s just great.” “It’s been five years, and you still can’t remember my face.” “Willow, what makes you any different from a stray you pick up off the street? An ingrate.” I shrank back, then, surprisingly, looked up and stared at him without fear. I stood up, pushed past him, and ran back into the house, racing to my room. I didn’t clean up. I just curled up inside the bed, soaked, pulling the covers tight around me. The laughter and noise from downstairs continued until past midnight. I woke up burning hot, the fever spiking. I grabbed my phone and dialed the number etched in my memory. As soon as the call connected, I couldn’t stop the sobs building in my throat. “Rhys… they… they’re all bullying me…” “I want to go home! Please, hurry, take me home!!” Rhys was my best friend from The Sunrise Home. Before he was adopted, he made me promise to memorize his number. If I ever needed him, I had to call. Silence stretched on the other end. Then, a man’s voice, thick with suppressed emotion, came through. “W-Willow? Is that really you?” “It’s me, Rhys. I want to go home…” “Okay. I’ll come get you. Just please, stop crying, alright?” I nodded, the tears pouring out even faster. Rhys, just like when we were children, began to hum a soft, familiar lullaby on the other end of the line, soothing me to sleep. I closed my eyes, the sound of my own shaky breathing gradually softening. I fell asleep, dreaming. I dreamed that in three days, I successfully left the Sayer house. I was back at the Home. Back with the Matron. I was holding Rhys’s hand again, telling him how much I missed him. Later that night, my fever was still raging. Through my delirium, I heard Blake complaining. “The bet’s on the line. Why did she have to spike a fever right now? What if she gets even stupider?” Madison whined. “Just give her a few more shots to bring the fever down.” “I don’t care. In three days, you have to dump her on that island. I need my satisfaction!” A sharp sting in my arm—an injection—traveled straight to my heart. Blake sighed, a sound of resigned compromise. “Fine, fine, your highness. Anything you want.” I kept my eyes closed. My chest felt so heavy, so tight, I could barely breathe. We were both his sisters. Why did Blake treat me like this? Was I not obedient enough? But the Matron had always said I was the most obedient child at the Home. When I finally woke up, Blake and Madison were gone. Mrs. Bell, the family caretaker, sat by my bed, holding a bowl of warm broth. I recalled Blake’s sickeningly indulgent tone with Madison and pursed my lips. “Mrs. Bell, am I really stupid?” Mrs. Bell’s palm was wide and comforting as she stroked my hair. Her voice was gentle. “No, Miss Willow. You’re not stupid. You are the kindest, most obedient girl I have ever known.” I nodded hard, tears splashing into the bowl of broth. I suddenly missed the Matron terribly. I missed everything about The Sunrise Home. I wished Rhys would come right now and take me away, never to return. After finishing the broth, I lay back down to sleep. When I woke again, the person by my bed was Preston. I shot up, scrambling back into the corner of the bed. Ever since I overheard his words in the billiards room, I felt a tremor of fear whenever I saw him. Seeing my reaction, his face darkened slightly. “You don’t want me here that much?” I pressed my lips together tightly. Normally, I was always thrilled when Preston came to see me. He was the one who brought me back to the Sayer house. He was the one who initially stepped in when Madison bullied me. But somewhere along the way, he had changed. He had become utterly unrecognizable… His expression turned colder. He gestured for me to approach. “Come here.” I didn’t move. He repeated the command. “Don’t make me say it twice!” Slowly, reluctantly, I slid closer. As soon as I was within reach, he grabbed the back of my head and crushed his mouth to mine. It was a harsh, punitive bite rather than a kiss. I shoved him away, my eyes wide with terror. Preston simply smirked. “Why the sudden shyness? It’s not like we haven’t kissed before.” His tone was perfectly normal, yet a chill ran down my spine. Preston used to hold me gently. He had always said we could only kiss if he loved me, and I loved him. But he had just called me a fool and said he didn’t like me. Why would he kiss me now? I retreated to the corner again, frantically wiping the blood from my lips, glaring at him. “You’re mean!” His expression instantly snapped to icy rage. He lunged forward to grab me. I tried to dodge, but he caught my wrist and yanked me back against his chest. Just as I prepared to bite his arm with all my might, the guest room door opened. Madison stood in the doorway, her eyes suspiciously red-rimmed. Instantly, Preston violently shoved me away. I hit the corner of the wall, the impact shaking me, a cold dread flooding my heart. Madison turned and ran. Preston sprinted after her. He was moving so fast that he knocked a small clay figure off the dresser. It was a figure Preston had personally molded five years ago to help me remember his face. I lunged forward, but I was too late. The sound of the clay figure shattering echoed loudly in my ears. It felt exactly like the time five years ago when Preston had scolded me. “Little fool, this figure looks just like me. If you break it, I’ll never talk to you again.” I picked up the mud doll, now broken cleanly in half. Tears streamed down my face. For the first time, I felt truly stupid. Truly, unbearably stupid. I couldn’t even hold onto this fragile, fleeting trace of love. I clutched the broken clay in my hands and ran out barefoot, desperate to find someone who could fix it. I held onto a sliver of hope—if the figure could be mended, maybe the Preston from five years ago could come back. That hope shattered the moment I saw Preston holding Madison close, wrapping his arms around her. In that instant, I finally understood. The Preston from five years ago wasn’t coming back. He was truly gone. And there was one less person in the world who loved me. A voice, sneering, reached my ears. “What else do you do all day besides cry?” I turned and looked at Blake. His face was malicious as he glanced down at the two embracing figures. “Quite the match, aren’t they?” “I honestly don’t understand. What does a fool like you have over Madi?” “Maybe simpletons really do get all the luck?” I didn’t speak. A bone-deep coldness spread from my feet through my whole body. Blake frowned, clearly dissatisfied with my silence. “What’s the matter, did the fever make you mute?” His gaze flicked down to the clay figure in my arms, and his eyes lit up with mean interest. “Is that supposed to be Preston? It’s so ugly. You actually thought of giving that to him?” He swung his hand and smacked the figure out of my grasp. This time, it shattered completely. It was beyond repair. I crouched down, looked at the fragmented face, and then looked up at Blake. “Blake, am I really that detestable?” It was the first time I hadn’t called him ‘Brother.’ He’d said himself that he was ashamed to have a sister like me. Now, however, Blake frowned tightly. “What did you call me? Did the fever fry your brain again?” He vented his frustration by slamming his foot down hard on my hand. The small clay shards dug into my palm, and blood immediately welled up. I bit my lip, pushed him away with all my strength, and ran toward the stairs. I ran fast, feeling like I was flying. As I passed Madison and Preston, I didn’t spare them a glance. Preston released Madison and yelled after me. “Willow! Where are you going? Stop!” I didn’t stop. The drops of blood from my palm splattered a steady, light pattern onto the floor. Outside, the morning light was dazzling. In a daze, I thought I saw the Matron. She held her arms open, her expression gentle and sacred. “Willow, let’s go home.” “Matron!” I lunged toward the vision, only to slam hard onto the ground. The pain brought me back to reality. There was nothing there. No one loved me. Preston carried me back to the bedroom and threw me onto the bed. “I want to go home! I want to go home!” I screamed, trying to reach for my phone to call Rhys and tell him to come now. Preston snatched the phone away, his voice laced with impatience. “Stop this noise. This is your home.” No. My home was The Sunrise Home. This place was not my home! Blake stood nearby, sneering. “She was already simple. Now she’s just completely lost it.” Madison hid behind him, acting terrified. “Brother, does she have a psychiatric condition?” Blake stroked her hair. “Don’t worry. Brother will protect you.” I glared at all of them, my gaze finally settling on Madison. Her expression was mocking as she mouthed the word: “Idiot.” The last of my control snapped. I lunged forward like a wild animal, trying to scratch and bite Madison. Before I could reach her, Preston shoved me with such force that I hit the corner of the nightstand, leaving me dizzy and disoriented. Madison was so startled she fainted. Blake picked her up, tossing a final, vicious threat my way. “I’ll deal with you later!” Preston looked at me with pure, chilling disdain. “Willow, you disappoint me greatly.” “Being simple is not an excuse to randomly attack people.” I hugged myself tightly, wrapping my arms around my chest, as if that could shield me from any more hurt. Mrs. Bell rushed in after hearing the commotion to clean up the mess. She gently peeled my arms away from myself and tended to my scraped knees. “Miss Willow, tell me if it hurts.” I pointed to my heart. “Here. It hurts so much, so much…” Mrs. Bell’s eyes were red-rimmed, and she sighed. I grabbed her arm, pleading. “Mrs. Bell, I want to go home. I want to go back to the Home…” Mrs. Bell sighed again, heavier this time. “Miss Willow, have you forgotten again?” “The Home was torn down three years ago. And the Matron who took care of you… she passed away from stomach cancer five years ago…” Yes. The Matron was dead. The memory started to surface from the murky depths of my mind. I remembered the Matron saying she would become a star in the sky to keep watch over me. I remembered Preston swearing to her, before he took me to the Sayer house. “From now on, Willow is my life.” I remembered the Matron lying in the coffin, impossible to wake up, no matter how hard I cried. I had no Matron anymore. I had no home. Blake came back the next day. He was still fuming. He threw open a suitcase and began frantically stuffing my usual items inside—my favorite cup, my pajamas, a change of clothes, and my favorite snacks… “Don’t think for a minute that you attacking Madi is over.” “Get out of here before she wakes up. You’re going to Preston’s house!” “You’re not allowed back until she forgives you, understood?” As he spoke, his eyes fell on the family photograph on my nightstand. It was taken right after I came home. Madison stood in the center, glowering. Blake was beside her, bent over, trying to cheer her up. I, the main subject, was huddled in the corner, managing a tentative, nervous smile. He hesitated, then stuffed the photo into the suitcase. His phone rang. He walked out onto the balcony to take the call. I took the photograph out and dropped it into the trash can. I wasn’t coming back anyway. There was no point in taking it with me. From a distance, I heard Blake’s cold laugh. “I’ve already given the word. This time, she needs to be locked up for at least a month. She’ll come home once she’s learned her lesson.” “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” He didn’t need to go through all this trouble. He wouldn’t be seeing me again, ever. He hung up, returned to the room, grabbed the suitcase, and pulled me downstairs. I thought for a moment, then struggled free of Blake’s grip and ran back into the bedroom. I took out a knife-carved portrait and held it out to him. He didn’t take it, glancing at it and dismissing it instantly. “What is this? It’s ugly.” I paused. “It’s a birthday present.” A month ago, I’d asked Blake what he wanted for his birthday. He’d asked for a knife-carved portrait of himself. Everyone knew he was purposefully making an impossible demand. But my slow brain didn’t realize. I took a small knife and worked quietly for a month, leaving countless tiny cuts on my hands. I hadn’t planned on giving it to him. But this was the last time I would ever give him a birthday gift. My reminder finally jogged his memory. He reverted to his usual disparaging tone. “You actually carved it? How could you be so foolish?” As soon as he spoke, I mimicked his own casual cruelty and threw the carving into the trash can. The next second, he pulled the carving out of the bin, roaring in anger. “What are you doing now? Are you going crazy?” “I didn’t say I didn’t want it!” I stared at Blake, utterly bewildered. He cleared his throat, placed the carving on the desk, and dragged me toward the door. “Let’s go. Stop cluttering up the house!” He didn’t stop lecturing, even at the doorway. “Be obedient when you get there, you hear me? Don’t humiliate me again!” “If anyone bothers you, call me. Did you hear that?” I just thought he sounded extraordinarily loud and irritating today, making my eardrums ache. The car that came to pick me up arrived astonishingly fast. So fast that Blake looked surprised. “Didn’t they say they were still half an hour away?” He didn’t dwell on it. He simply opened the car door, shoved me and the suitcase inside. I met Rhys’s gaze in the rearview mirror. We hadn’t seen each other in years. He only showed a pair of beautiful eyes above his mask. But I recognized him instantly. Rhys. He had come to take me home.

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It was the third year since I’d been blacklisted when I ran into my ex-fiancé, Marcus. I was working as a stunt double on a dusty soundstage outside Atlanta. He arrived in a whirlwind of attention, the CEO of his own media empire, here to visit his supposed girlfriend. A prince among the masses, surrounded by sycophants. Me? I was just the girl in the rough muslin costume, covered in grime. The scene called for his girlfriend, Avery, to slap me. In pursuit of “authenticity,” she’d taken the director’s encouragement and slapped me more than twenty times. My face was numb. The director finally yelled “Cut.” Marcus walked over. He stood over me, looking down at my swollen, stinging face. “Apologize to Avery. Kneel down and beg her forgiveness right now, and the part of the Ingénue in this movie is yours,” he said, the corner of his mouth curving into that familiar, venomous smile. “Otherwise, jump off that two-story balcony. Give the crew a show.” I didn’t hesitate. I turned and jumped, straight off the balcony and into the frigid, murky depths of the fake pond below. 1 As gasps echoed around the set, I heard Marcus’s furious bellow. “Sierra! You’d rather kill yourself than yield, wouldn’t you? You’re a goddamn piece of work!” I spat out a mouthful of the pond water, which tasted like chemicals, and hauled myself onto the bank. My body was shaking, but I held out a trembling hand to the unit manager. “Hazard pay. You owe me the hundred dollars for the high fall. Cash now.” All the love, all the hatred, all the history—it was all just dust now. But that hundred dollars? It was exactly enough to buy myself the cheapest possible urn at the city crematorium. The unit manager was frozen. He looked instinctively up at Marcus on the platform. Marcus didn’t say a word, his face dark enough to curdle milk. The manager, scared, backed away. I panicked. The tumor inside my head was throbbing, a frantic, rhythmic dance. I forgot all about dignity. I dragged my heavy, soaked clothes, limping after him. “Give me the money.” “The agreement was a hundred for the jump.” “Give it to me.” I must have looked like a deranged woman, clutching his sleeve, refusing to let go. The crew started pointing and whispering, their eyes full of scorn and pity. “The former A-list star, reduced to this?” “Risking her life for a hundred bucks. She’s completely obsessed with money.” “Serves her right, after that hit-and-run. Karma.” I’d heard it all a thousand times. It didn’t even sting anymore. I’d bark like a dog for this money if it meant getting it. “Sierra.” Marcus was suddenly there. His polished leather shoes stopped right in front of me. “Marcus, pay the man.” He let out a harsh, disbelieving laugh. He grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his furious gaze. “Are you that broke, Sierra? Making yourself look like a drowned animal for a hundred dollars?” “What is it? Did the pretty boy dump you? Do you need the cash to support your little fling?” The ‘pretty boy’ was the phantom lover, the imaginary ‘adulterer’ he’d used as an excuse to torment me for three years. I wouldn’t explain. He wouldn’t believe me anyway. “Just give me the money. I have to go,” I repeated, a mechanical loop. His anger flared hotter. That’s when Avery strolled over. She linked her arm through his, then pulled a thick wad of bills from her limited-edition designer handbag—about two thousand dollars in crisp hundreds. “Oh, Sierra. You’re just pathetic.” She wore pity like a designer scarf. “Take this and go buy some cold medicine. Stop embarrassing yourself here.” With a flourish, she tossed the money in the air. The pink bills fluttered down like vulgar confetti, scattering into the mud and puddles. The crowd roared with laughter. Marcus watched, clearly waiting for me to lunge and scramble like a dog. I did lunge. But I ignored the clean, pink hundred-dollar bills. I scrabbled through the mud, digging for the few crumpled tens and the loose change that the unit manager had dropped in his haste. It added up to exactly one hundred dollars. I clenched the money in my fist like I was clutching my last breath. I didn’t spare the two thousand a glance. I stood, swaying violently. A sudden warmth flooded my nasal cavity. Nosebleed. I used the back of my hand, still slick with pond water, to wipe the blood away quickly. I couldn’t let him see. Marcus exploded at my deliberate snub. “Don’t play the martyr, Sierra! You won’t touch the two thousand, but you’ll risk your life for this pittance? Do you think this act is going to make me feel sorry for you? Dream on!” He kicked the scattered bills on the ground and pointed toward the gate. “Get out! Don’t let me see your face again!” I felt a wave of dizzying relief. “Thank you, Marcus.” I clutched the hundred dollars, bowed a shallow, mocking bow, and walked away, dragging my soaked, aching body out of the studio lot. Behind me, Avery’s voice, sweet and cloying: “Darling, don’t let her upset you. She’s not worth it…” Then Marcus’s soft reassurance: “It’s fine. Let’s go get some expensive French food.” I heard them. And felt nothing. My mind was on one thing: I finally had enough for my urn. Outside the lot, the sky was darkening fast. I was shaking uncontrollably, the fever making my vision swim. But I couldn’t stop. To save the cab fare, I rode my ancient, battered bicycle the twelve miles out to the suburban funeral home. The wind was a razor against my face, and the wet clothes had frozen stiff against my skin. My phone buzzed. It was the manager at the crematory. “Ms. Sierra, someone else is trying to buy that unit.” “The director says if you’re not here in thirty minutes, the box goes to the other party. It’s the last cheap one we have. You know the drill.” The line went dead. Panic seized me. That was my final resting place. I couldn’t bear the thought of dying and not even having a place to sleep. I pedaled like a madwoman. My lungs burned; every ragged breath tasted of blood. Suddenly, a black Maybach surged forward, cutting me off hard. “Screech—” A violent screech of tires ripped through the night. I went down, bicycle and body, slamming onto the asphalt. My knees hit the pavement and went instantly numb. The hundred dollars spilled out of my pocket, scattering. I didn’t care about the pain—I scrambled to gather the bills. A polished leather shoe landed squarely on a crumpled twenty. I looked up. Marcus’s face was dark, a storm of suppressed fury. “Where are you rushing off to?” he demanded, towering over me. “To see him? The ‘adulterer?’ You’re throwing your life away for him?” I was kneeling, my hand reaching for the bill under his foot. “Marcus, please. Move your foot.” “I need to go. I’m begging you. If I’m late, it’ll be too late.” My voice was a choked sob. If I didn’t get there, I would truly have no home, not even in death. Seeing my desperation only fueled his rage. He yanked me up by the wrist, the grip iron-hard. “A quick errand? A quick hookup, is that what you mean? You’re repulsive, Sierra.” “I won’t let you go!” I fought him wildly, my nails tearing streaks of blood across his hand. “I won’t! Marcus, let go! I need to go to the funeral home! I have to buy the urn!” I screamed the truth, raw and hysterical. He just laughed—a cold, brutal sound. “Buy an urn? You couldn’t come up with a better lie than that? Joking about your own death? You’ll say anything to see that man.” He didn’t believe a word. How could he? In his eyes, I was a conniving liar, a manipulative woman who would use any trick for money. I was shoved into the car. The door clicked shut, the lock engaging. It sealed me off from the cold wind, but more importantly, it sealed off my last shred of hope. I stared out the window, watching the scattering coins and bills vanish into the distance. Tears finally streamed down my face. Finished. It was all finished. The clock on my phone was ticking down: five minutes left. We were miles away, driving into the heart of the city. I collapsed against the leather seat, all the strength drained from me. Marcus watched my despair in the rearview mirror, his lip curled. “So, you’re miserable without him? Sierra, you will never get away from me. Not in this life.” The Maybach pulled up to the familiar gates of the mansion—our former marital home. He dragged me out and into the house. The heating inside was stifling, yet I felt colder than I had outside. Avery was sitting on the Italian leather sofa, applying a hydrating mask. She glanced at me, a flicker of surprise, then pure smugness. “Darling, why bring her back? She’s filthy. She’ll ruin the cashmere rug.” Marcus ignored her, hauling me straight toward the storage room under the main staircase. “Go inside. Think about what you’ve done.” “When you decide to tell the truth, I’ll let you out.” He shoved me in and slammed the heavy door shut. Clack. The sound of the deadbolt. Darkness swallowed me instantly. I threw myself against the door, beating the wood with my fists. “Marcus! Let me out!” “Please, Marcus, I’m begging you!” I cried until my throat was raw. “Is that man really so important to you? Important enough to beg like a stray dog?” Marcus’s voice was muffled through the wood. “Stay in there, Sierra. Get that man out of your head.” The sound of his footsteps receded. I heard Avery’s cooing and his soft, affectionate reply: “There, there. My Avery is always so sweet.” I slid down the cold wall, my knees pulled to my chest. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I fumbled for it, the light burning my eyes. The message from the crematory manager: Ms. Sierra, the unit has been sold. Deposit is non-refundable.

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Two years after I died, I suddenly regained consciousness. My mom had found a new man and was living her best life. My dad got everything he ever wanted and was enjoying his golden years surrounded by grandkids. My bestie, the only person who truly got me, finally stopped grinding her life away for her career and decided to retire early to Europe. And the guy I secretly crushed on for ten years was finally walking down the aisle with the love of his life. Everyone was doing great. I thought it was great, too—even if my grave felt a little lonely sometimes. The night before the wedding, I floated into Lucas’s bachelor party. After a few rounds of drinks, I saw my bestie raise her glass to Lucas. “Lucas, honestly? I’ve always hated your guts.” “You shamelessly soaked up all of Jenny’s affection and effort while completely ignoring her feelings.” “But I know if Jenny were standing here today, she’d genuinely wish you happiness. ‘Happy wedding, happily ever after,’ all that jazz.” “So, I’ll say it for her.” “Happy wedding. Happily ever after.” 1 Hearing those words, I froze. Lucas, as always, kept his face devoid of emotion. “Rachel, you’re drunk.” “Fine, assume I’m drunk. Assume I’m talking nonsense,” Rachel said, downing her drink in one gulp. “Anyway, Jenny’s been gone for two years.” “I booked a flight for tomorrow morning. I won’t be at your wedding.” Rachel handed Lucas two red envelopes. “Here. One from me, one for Jenny.” Lucas didn’t take them. “Why are you giving me Jenny’s share?” “Why do you think? She prepared her gift money ages ago. Made me promise to give it to you.” “Hey, come on, it’s a happy day. Don’t bring the mood down,” an old friend chimed in, trying to smooth things over. “We know you and Jenny were tight, but Jenny never said she liked Lucas, right?” “Besides, she’s been gone a year. What’s the point of bringing this up now?” “Saying this the night before Lucas’s wedding… what is the bride supposed to think?” Rachel sneered. “I don’t give a damn what she thinks! I’ve hated her since day one.” “Relax. Even if I hate you guys, this is the last time you’ll see me.” Rachel shoved the envelopes into Lucas’s pocket and stormed off. I floated there, panicked. I looked at Lucas, hesitated for a second, then chased after Rachel. “Rach! Rach, slow down! My little legs can’t keep up!” Rachel always speed-walked when she was mad. She was tall, all legs. I always had to hustle to keep up. But every single time, she would eventually stop, huffing, and wait for me. Then she’d poke my forehead and call me a dummy. Too bad she couldn’t see me now. So she never stopped. 2 I never expected her to drive to my cemetery in the middle of the night. When I first woke up, I was tethered to my grave. There were no other ghosts around, so I just sat on my headstone like a gargoyle, watching the sun rise and set. No one talked to me. No one saw me. I talked to myself a lot. Sometimes I’d pop up in front of mourners and make faces. They’d chat right through my soul, and I’d call them rude. Then one day, I realized I could wander further. So I went to check on my old crew. They were all living good lives. So I figured, as long as they were happy, it didn’t matter if they visited me or not. 3 Rachel brought a handkerchief. She squatted in front of my grave and meticulously wiped away the dust. “Sorry. I know you hate being lonely, but I haven’t come to see you in so long.” Rachel sat down, leaning her back against my headstone. I sat down next to her, shoulder to shoulder. “You always said you were a coward, but you were way braver than me. Look at me. Even today, I can’t accept that you’re gone.” “I didn’t bring flowers today. Didn’t bring those candied apples you love. Are you mad at me?” I hugged my knees and smiled at her. “Since you cleaned my grave, I’ll forgive you.” “Jenny, I’m leaving.” “I’m emigrating. Probably won’t come back much.” “There’s nothing left for me here. Even you left me. No point staying.” I nodded. “It’s okay. Go if you want. Follow your heart.” “I know you’d support whatever I do. But I still have to tell you something that might make you mad.” “Lucas is getting married.” “To Chloe.” “I told him you had a crush on him for ten years. You probably hate that.” “But I just couldn’t get over it.” “Not throwing my drink in their faces was already me taking the moral high ground.” “I’ll never forget the look on Chloe’s face when she stood in front of you, calling you a desperate pick-me who throws herself at men for free.” “Your taste in people was always trash. Whether it was me, your friend, or Lucas, the guy you loved… we were never considerate enough.” “Most of the time, you were the one accommodating us.” “Jenny… is there another world after death? Are you happy there?” I thought for a moment. “I don’t know if there’s another world, but I’m doing okay right now.” Not super happy, not super sad. Just okay. “Rach, you don’t need to feel guilty. And you don’t need to take it out on Lucas. He didn’t do anything wrong.” “He just didn’t like me. That’s all.” 4 I always thought I was lucky. I was the product of a business marriage. My parents had their own careers and lovers; they rarely looked my way. But I lived a cushy life. Designer clothes, best schools. I was introverted. In high school, bullies targeted me constantly. But the worst time, I met Rachel. She bravely called the cops and even got hurt protecting me. I had no ambition, just wanted to coast. My parents didn’t care about my future, so I was lost. But Lucas stood out. The way he spoke on stage captured my heart instantly. To chase him, I studied my butt off and got into the same university. Rachel called me a chicken. She said I followed Lucas around like a puppy for years, and he didn’t even know I existed. So I gathered my courage and approached him as a “fellow alum.” Classmate, acquaintance, friend, good friend. That path took me forever. I thought about confessing. Even bought a gift. But Lucas had a traumatic childhood. He had severe issues with intimacy. So I thought, fine. Don’t force it. Just being friends was enough for me. Then one day, Lucas went on a business trip for a week. When he came back, he had a woman with him. Chloe. The high school prom queen. Now Lucas’s girlfriend. That’s when I realized: “trauma” and “walls” are just excuses. When you meet the right person, the walls come down. The shadows disappear. I couldn’t do it. But Chloe did. Love is so unreasonable. It doesn’t care about first come, first served. When “The One” shows up, everyone else becomes a background character. Too bad. I had main character energy but a side character destiny.

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My boyfriend stormed out again. The reason? I worked late and didn’t scoop the cat litter the second I walked in. This time, I didn’t run after him. Suddenly, a stream of floating text—like live comments on a Twitch stream—started scrolling across my vision. 【What is wrong with the FL (Female Lead)? The ML (Male Lead) is standing right outside. He didn’t even push the elevator button; he’s waiting for her to chase him!】 【The ML totally noticed she has low blood sugar just now. If she just opens the door, he’ll definitely come back and cook her something delicious. He won’t hesitate!】 【The ML is just super insecure, that’s why he’s throwing a tantrum about the litter box! Actually, all he needs is an “I love you” from the FL and he’d walk through fire for her. Who wouldn’t love a man like that?】 【FL, hurry up and comfort him! The ML is about to cry!】 【Yeah, he regretted it the moment he ran out. He’s probably eaten up with guilt right now, scratching at the walls. Boohoo, this is so angsty!】 I was hesitating, hand hovering over the doorknob, when my phone buzzed. It was a text from my boyfriend, Liam. [Liam: Chloe, let’s break up!] [Liam: Move out before I get back!] My heart seized, and my eyes instantly stung with tears. [Chloe: Okay.] 1 I put my phone away, wiped my tears, and dragged my suitcase out of the closet. The floating comments went wild. 【Omg, the ML is just being awkward! He’s dying to come back and hug her, but he’s stubborn and has a toxic mouth. Saying “break up” is just his way of showing insecurity!】 【Exactly! His parents divorced when he was a kid and both remarried quickly. He has abandonment issues! The FL knows this! Why is she actually packing? Girl, don’t! He loves you so much, how will he live if you leave?】 【That trash mouth of his! You can’t believe what he says when he’s angry. Just open the door, he’ll come wagging his tail back to you. Don’t pack, what will he do without you?】 【No one in this world loves you more than he does. You guys survived high school, went through four years of college, and finally graduated. You’re his whole life! If you leave, what happens to Liam? And what about Jelly?】 I started folding clothes, forcing myself to ignore the barrage of text floating in the air. I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened. Every time he says “break up,” he demands I move out. And every time we make up, he acts cute, pouts, and tells me he didn’t mean it. I remember the first time Liam kicked me out. I was terrified. We were supposed to go on a trip the next day, so I worked overtime to hand off all my projects properly. I wanted to enjoy the vacation stress-free. But Liam felt I didn’t care about the trip because I got home past 11 PM. He didn’t listen to my explanation. He didn’t care that I hadn’t eaten dinner. He shoved a suitcase into my hands and slammed the door in my face. I stood there for half the night, starving. It was winter. I didn’t even have my coat. I was shivering violently in the hallway. Liam never opened the door. If a neighbor hadn’t found me passed out from hypoglycemia and banged on the door to wake Liam up, who knows what would have happened? Liam was scared to death that time. When I woke up, he swore up and down: “Chloe, I love you so much.” “If I say hurtful things when I’m mad, please promise not to take them seriously, okay?” “You know I’m insecure. As long as you give me enough security, I won’t get mad anymore.” I believed him. So, every time we fought after that, and every time he told me to get out, I told myself he was just angry. I knew he was awkward. I knew he was insecure. So, I made him the center of my universe. But now? I’m tired. Eight years. Eight years of bowing my head, of apologizing, of being kicked out every time he had a mood swing. I am truly. Exhausted. 2 Packing didn’t take long. I made myself a bowl of instant ramen. I felt a tug on my pant leg. I looked down. It was Jelly. As soon as I crouched down, Jelly jumped into my lap. Jelly was originally a cat belonging to one of Liam’s junior classmates, a girl named Bella. She got tired of raising it after less than two weeks. Liam brought the cat home, and it became my responsibility. Scooping litter, vet visits, vaccines, deworming—it was all on me. If I ever slipped up, Liam would look at me coldly. “If it wasn’t because you liked it, why would I have brought Jelly home?” “Chloe, when did you become so irresponsible?” And coincidentally, this breakup was because I hadn’t changed the litter fast enough, and the apartment smelled a bit. While eating my noodles, I checked my phone. I saw that Bella, the “junior classmate,” had posted on her social media. [QAQ, my poor homeless senior is so pitiful. I guess I’ll reluctantly take him in. (๑>ᴗ<๑)] The photo was half of Liam's face, holding a drink at a bar. 【The ML is so pitiful. Look, he’s drunk but his eyes are glued to his phone. He’s still thinking about the FL!!】 【Girl, don't be mad! He only went to the Junior’s place to make you jealous. He doesn't like her at all, she’s just a tool to him!】 【Yeah, look at his phone, he’s staring holes into it. If you send one text right now, he’ll instantly turn back into your puppy dog.】 Before I could finish reading the floating comments, a video came through from an unknown number. In the video, Liam was leaning back, eyes closed, resting his head on a woman's chest. The woman asked, "Liam, if you sleep at my place tonight, won't your girl dump you?" Liam let out a cold sneer. "I'll just freeze her out for two days. She'll be begging to carry me back home in a sedan chair." The woman laughed, her voice trembling with amusement. "So she's a simp then? The kind you can't get rid of even if you try?" I held my breath. Then I heard Liam give a low, "Yeah." The video ended. I stared at the ramen in front of me. I couldn't take another bite. So. The heartache I felt for him, the step-by-step retreat I made for his "security"... In his eyes, and in everyone else's eyes... It just made me a doormat. A simp who comes when called and leaves when dismissed. I looked at the cup of noodles. Cold, with a layer of congealed grease floating on top. Disgusting. 3 Eight years of a relationship, boiled down to one small suitcase. "Meow... meow..." Jelly seemed to sense something and bit tugged at my jeans. I hesitated for a second. Considering I’ve been the one caring for Jelly for the past year, and knowing Liam wouldn't want the hassle, I picked the cat up. We were leaving together. It was 2 AM when I checked into a hotel. Early the next morning, I opened Zillow and started scrolling. Within an hour, I found a small studio apartment near my company. It was tiny, but the commute was practically zero. When we first graduated, we didn't live there. Liam loved to sleep in. Every morning was a battle to wake him up. He’d been written up twice for being late. I was the one who suggested we move closer to his company. Back then, I thought love could conquer all. As long as it was convenient for Liam, a one-hour commute for me was nothing. Later, when his startup succeeded and he bought a place, it was also near his office. We lived there for three years. Now that I’ve moved out, I can finally save those two hours of my life. I moved into the studio that same day. "Chloe, aren't you heading out? The subway is going to stop running soon," a coworker reminded me as I worked late. I looked at the unfinished report and shook my head. "I moved nearby. I'll head back after I finish this." "Whoa! Chloe, you finally came to your senses and moved?" My colleagues had always thought it was insane for me to waste two hours a day commuting. Inconvenient and a waste of life. Hearing I’d moved closer, everyone dragged me out for late-night drinks to celebrate. I went home and crashed, dead to the world. The next day, right after work, I got a text from one of Liam's friends. [Sister-in-law, did you and Liam fight? He’s at my place acting like a drunken maniac.] I paused. [Not a fight. A breakup.] He immediately sent a voice note back, his tone dripping with condescension. 4 "Chloe, come on, that’s not cool. You know how he is. In all these years, how many times has he said 'break up'? Has he ever meant it?" "You used to be so understanding. Why are you being so stubborn this time?" "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you come over now and say a few nice words, he’ll cool off and go home with you." "If you don't show up, and he decides to make the breakup real, don't come crying to me later." It was laughable. Even his friends were convinced I couldn't live without him. Before I could reply, the call ended. A second later, a location pin popped up. I blocked the number. Liam's friends had always treated me with indifference anyway. Since Liam and I are done, there’s no need to keep his friends in my contacts. 【Why does the FL look actually angry? The ML had his friend call on purpose to give her an out! Couples don't hold grudges overnight!】 【Exactly! The ML is just awkward. He loves her to death, otherwise, why would he give up his dream university to go to the same one as her? Sigh, our girl is just triggered. The ML has puked three times already, he’s gonna hurt his stomach.】 【Am I the only one who thinks the ML is just toxic? Why is it that when a girl acts up she's crazy, but when a guy acts up he’s just 'insecure'? It’s speechless behavior.】 I saw the last comment and couldn't help but smile bitterly. Exactly. Liam is toxic. In the beginning, he was okay. But ever since he "sacrificed" his dream school for me, he became impossible. Every time we fought, if I didn't apologize immediately, his friends would call. They’d guilt-trip me about how much he gave up for me. Do you have a conscience? they’d ask. But when we were filling out college applications, I told him repeatedly that I didn't mind a long-distance relationship. I told him that even if we were thousands of miles apart, he was still the most important person to me. But Liam stubbornly applied to the same school as me. When I asked him to confirm if it was truly what he wanted, he stayed silent. Then, the day after the deadline, he got blackout drunk. His friends called me then, too. Calling me selfish. Saying I forced him. That was the first time I realized his "dream school" wasn't the one we went to. Back then, I was moved by his "sacrifice." I rushed over and took care of him. But over the years, whenever he was unhappy, his entourage would remind me of my debt to him. It felt like because he gave up a college for me, I owed him my entire life. "Chloe, let's go, time to eat." 5 We worked late again, too late for delivery. We decided to hit a nearby bistro. I used to skip these gatherings because I was terrified of missing the last train. Now, knowing my apartment was a ten-minute walk away, I said yes. We were a group of five or six. After dinner, we decided to hit a bar. As soon as we sat down, I noticed the table next to us was loud. I glanced over instinctively. It was Liam and his crew. And, of course, his "junior," Bella, was there too. "Liam, a bet is a bet! You have to kiss someone here for three minutes! Hurry up, hahahaha!" Truth or Dare. My glance happened to lock with Liam’s. I didn't linger. I looked away immediately. Liam seemed to pause. A moment later, he replied slowly, "Fine." Cheers erupted from his table. "I didn't think Liam would actually play along! So, who are you picking? Hahaha!" Someone teased, "We're all dudes here, surely he picks Bella? Unless he wants you?" "Oh, stop it, you guys are annoying!" Bella covered her face, acting shy. "Come on, Liam, pay up. Pick someone now or I'm volunteering myself!" "Hahahaha, Liam's virtue is at stake!" The noise from the next table got louder. The floating comments started pleading again. 【FL, what are you doing? Don't you see the ML staring at you? He doesn't want to kiss anyone else, his brain is full of you right now!】 【He hasn't been home for days, he doesn't even know you moved out! He’s waiting for you to bow your head. Don't be stubborn now! If he gets pushed into a corner and actually kisses the side-chick, what then?】 【He’s not talking because he’s waiting for your reaction! Just look at him! You don't even have to go over there, just make eye contact and he’ll come over like a good boy. He won't look at anyone else!】 I picked up my drink and took a sip. As I put the glass down, my hand slipped, and the drink spilled across the table. "Oh no, Chloe, are you okay?" A colleague flagged down a waiter to clean it up. The commotion obviously caught the attention of the next table. The rowdy group went silent. Several pairs of eyes turned to me. Bella stood up aggressively and marched right up to my face.

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