Category: English

The day I finally snagged the Best Actress award, The viral sensation Chloe Shen went live, crying about being bullied in college. All fingers pointed straight at me. Furious netizens swarmed my social media. Until I spoke up: “I never went to college.” Chloe quickly changed her story: “Oops, I misremembered! It was high school.” I calmly added: “I never went to high school either.” Furious Netizens: Bruh, seriously? Are you a literal elementary schooler? Chapter 1 After grinding in the industry for a decade, I finally won the Best Actress trophy. I finished my acceptance speech on stage, But when I got back to my seat, my agent didn’t look happy at all. His face was beet red. He shoved his phone at me. “You’re getting roasted.” Over the years, getting dragged online has become a weekly thing, so I barely batted an eye. I took a quick look. Just before the awards show, Chloe Shen had gone live, weeping about being bullied by a college roommate. She was crying crocodile tears on stream, and the netizens were absolutely heartbroken for her. Instantly, the entire awards show buzz was hijacked by Chloe Shen. Her name dominated the trending topics. She didn’t name the bully, but the internet detectives got to work. It didn’t take long for eagle-eyed fans to realize that based on Chloe’s hints, I was the only possible suspect. Same age, currently red hot—it had to be me. The live stream for the awards show was completely overrun by people demanding I apologize. I brushed the phone away, stating flatly, “It’s fine. Just ignore it.” Since debuting, I’ve always been pretty Zen about my career. I take any gig that pays, which earned me ridicule for being “tacky.” As for Chloe Shen, I didn’t think she was talking about me; we’ve literally never crossed paths. After the ceremony, I went straight home. I slept until morning, only to find my phone had blown up. My agent had sent 99+ messages, telling me to call him ASAP. Confused, I called him back. My agent said sternly, “Chloe Shen is claiming you bullied her. How are we going to clean this up?” I told him to hold on and checked my social media first. My DMs were so jammed it took several tries to load. People were calling me a “bully queen” and telling me to get out of Hollywood. The storm from the night before was escalating. Last night, Chloe Shen had posted an ambiguous message, Suggesting her fans shouldn’t make a big deal of it, Which only triggered the well-meaning vigilantes, who flooded my comments with even more anger. I frowned while looking at the comments. Then, my agent said, “Just issue a statement. Tell everyone you didn’t do it.” I replied with a simple “Uh-huh.” But, of course, the internet wasn’t buying it. The mockery intensified. [Everyone knows that [insert name here] won a defamation suit, but still…] [Apologize, Bully Queen.] [Skye Lin, get out of the industry.] The tide had overwhelmingly turned against me. My agent was furious. “I reached out to Chloe Shen’s team. They’re ghosting me.” We both knew the move we had to make. My agent and I both knew I never went to college. But to avoid being judged for my educational background, I’d never publicly mentioned that I hadn’t graduated. After a moment of thought, I logged into my social media account. The feeding frenzy began immediately. [Skye Lin is online.] [Bully Queen couldn’t sit still, could she?] [Remember this day—it’s the height of your career.] [Quit, quit!] Chapter 2 Among the chorus of demands for me to quit, I quickly posted one simple statement. [I sympathize with Chloe Shen’s experience of being bullied. But I never went to college.] Along with the text, I posted a screenshot of my official education records, showing I had no college enrollment history. A beat. The angry netizens suddenly had nowhere to direct their outrage. [Skye Lin says she never went to college, so who bullied Chloe Shen?] [Oop, plot twist.] [Did Chloe Shen lie?] The internet seemed to finally realize they had been played. They immediately swarmed Chloe Shen’s page, demanding an explanation. Perhaps sensing the mood shifting, Chloe immediately reappeared and started another live stream. On screen, Chloe wore a white dress, her long hair draped perfectly. She looked like a delicate, pure flower. She looked on the verge of tears at the camera. “The years I was bullied were very confusing for me, so my memories are often jumbled.” Seeing the audience was still skeptical, she continued, “I misremembered! It was high school when I was bullied.” At the same time, she posted a picture of her medical records, showing she suffered from moderate depression. Chloe cried harder. “Because I was bullied, I choked during my performing arts college audition. But the person who bullied me is now raking in awards. Does the villain really get away with it?” The trending topics exploded again, most tagged with a “Savage” marker. It was a complete circus. Chloe had attended a prestigious art college. Her team had always marketed her as a straight-A student. Now, fans and netizens thought: Chloe still scored so well while being bullied. If she hadn’t been bullied, she would have done even better, right? The cannons of public opinion swung back to me. [Skye Lin, the bully queen, ruined someone’s life and then went to Hollywood to make easy money.] [Thank goodness Chloe had the guts to fight back. Even with a bad audition, she still got into a good school. The bully queen didn’t even make it to college.] I was watching the live stream. I moved my fingers and posted one more update. [I dropped out at fifteen to work and entered the industry at eighteen. I didn’t go to college, but I also didn’t go to high school.] The netizens were stunned. They started hounding Chloe Shen again, asking who exactly bullied her. Chloe once again claimed her mind was too foggy to remember, only that the person’s name had a “Sky/Skye” sound. Towards the end of the stream, she stuck out her tongue. “My bad, Skye Lin! I might have gotten the wrong person.” Her apology was completely insincere. She didn’t even apologize for the online violence I’d endured all day. She just kept claiming she had depression and would have a breakdown if pushed further. Chapter 3 Chloe Shen had always enjoyed excellent public perception. Her fans were still trying their best to defend her. [Stop harassing our Chloe, okay? She’s a victim of bullying. She’s been through enough.] [You’re the ones who attacked Skye Lin. Why are you blaming Chloe now?] The trending topics were a hot mess, like a chaotic marketplace. In the middle of it all, one topic slowly started to climb. [Skye Lin, the Grade-School Dropout.] My agent had always hidden the fact that I never finished high school because he was afraid of this. Once that label sticks, you’re mocked as illiterate. [I always thought Skye Lin was just outspoken. Turns out she’s just uneducated, so she created a ‘straight-shooter’ persona.] [Are they letting just anyone into Hollywood now? Everyone knows there’s easy money in this business, even dropouts.] [Bruh, they used to say she argues like an elementary schooler. Turns out Skye Lin is an elementary schooler.] Sure enough, the moment the controversy hit, everyone started attacking my education. I scrolled through a few comments and logged out. I watered my plants, watched a movie, and cooked myself a meal. Then, I got a call from my agent. “You’ve got a reality show offer.” My agent’s voice was tinged with worry. “At a time like this, they’re definitely trying to use you for clicks. The show might try to push the narrative.” I’ve always taken every gig, as long as it paid, so I happily accepted. But on the day of filming, I found out Chloe Shen was also a guest. Chapter 4 The drama had finally died down in the last few days, thanks to Chloe Shen’s team’s strategic silence. But us appearing on the same show immediately reignited the controversy. I hadn’t kept up with the online noise. I arrived early and dropped off my luggage. As I familiarized myself with the house, I heard movement outside the door. I went out to greet them and ran right into Chloe Shen. Chloe was with another young female idol, tall and thin, carrying two enormous suitcases. They both greeted me. Chloe’s expression was completely normal, as if she hadn’t been bothered by the drama at all. I smiled warmly and offered to help with the bags. The other idol was named Maya. Seeing her huge suitcases, I chose to help her first. However, I hadn’t taken two steps when I heard Chloe start crying for the camera. She bowed her head, saying pitifully, “I’m used to being excluded by other girls. I’ve always been isolated since I was little.” I was carrying Maya’s huge suitcase. Maya and I exchanged a blank look. Wait, who was I excluding? This was a live reality show, so our brief interaction had already been broadcast. [Is Skye Lin seriously not excluding Chloe? She only helped the other girl with her luggage, not Chloe.] [Sure enough, the bully queen is always the bully queen.] [Skye Lin even acted in a bullying scene before, right? She must be method acting.] Chloe had likely already guessed the comments’ direction. She faked embarrassment for the camera. “It’s fine! My luggage isn’t that heavy. I can carry it myself.” With that, she reached for her suitcase and staggered toward the living room. Just then, an anxious and affectionate male voice called out, “Chloe, that bag is too heavy. You can’t lift it. Let me.” The guy who walked in was Ethan Zhou, the leading man who had recently co-starred with Chloe. Their publicized fake romance had recently dominated the trending topics. Just last night, Ethan had posted on social media expressing sympathy for Chloe’s bullying ordeal and promising to protect her from now on. This sent their fandom into a frenzy. They were among the most aggressive people attacking me. Ethan took Chloe’s suitcase, comforted her intensely, and then threw some shade. “It’s okay, Chloe. I’m here. No one’s going to bully you.” [Ethan is protecting Chloe so well! Hope this can heal Chloe’s trauma.] [I can’t believe Skye Lin! Bullying someone right to their face? How brazen!] [Thank goodness for Ethan. Chloe doesn’t have to be bullied anymore.] [Mama Bear is here to defend her baby!] Maya tugged my arm, clearly upset. “Seriously, they are totally twisting this.” I patted her reassuringly. “It’s fine. Let’s go unpack first.”

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The call came out of nowhere, a voice from ten years ago. On the line, a boy’s voice, cocky and untamed, but buzzing with excitement. “Viv, ten years from now, do we have a boy or a girl?” My own voice was calm. “You’ll have a son.” He clicked his tongue, then his tone dropped into a playful whine. “My dearest Viv, you can’t love him more than you love me.” Across from me, a man in a tailored suit took a drag from his cigarette. His voice was flat. “Honey, Clara’s going into labor.” He slid a stack of papers across the polished mahogany table. “Sign them. It’s time you did some soul-searching.” I signed the divorce papers while replying to the boy on the phone. “Don’t worry. I’ll never love another woman’s son. Or her husband.” 1. The boy on the phone went silent. For a few seconds, there was nothing. Then, a raw shout exploded through the speaker. “Shit, what the hell?!” But I wasn’t listening anymore. I hung up. Then, stroke by stroke, I carefully wrote out my name: Vivian Hale. Tim Vance turned around. The years had chiseled away the wildness in his handsome features, replacing it with a cool, mature reserve. He glanced at the signature on the divorce agreement, the hand holding his cigarette freezing for a fraction of a second. After a moment, his voice, laced with sarcasm, cut through the silence. “So decisive, honey?” I put down the pen, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. “Let’s just end it. There’s no point in dragging this out anymore.” Tim’s expression flickered as he tried to gauge if I was serious. Just then, my phone began to buzz violently on the table, a relentless incoming call. He let out a short, sharp laugh, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “Are you that pathetic, honey?” he sneered. “Still desperate to hear my voice from back then? This scammer, pretending to be me in high school… he must be getting a nice payday out of you, huh?” I flinched. I knew that look—that infuriating, triumphant smirk he used to provoke me. And it always worked. In the past, I’d lose it, make a scene, turn into the hysterical madwoman he seemed to expect. But why? Wasn’t this divorce what he wanted? “Yeah, you’re right,” I said, too tired to fight, too tired to even think. I pushed his hand away and calmly switched my phone off. Tim’s smile faltered, just for a moment. He stubbed out his cigarette, his voice dropping to an icy warning. “It better be. Don’t let me find out you’re pulling something, Viv. You know what I’m capable of.” I dug my nails into my palm, welcoming the sharp sting of pain before I let go. Oh, I knew exactly what he was capable of. Last week, I publicly humiliated Clara at the office, announcing to everyone that the baby in her belly was Tim’s. The very next day, I was “asked” to resign and take a leave of absence. Years of hard work, of building my career, all vanished because of one tearful tantrum from his mistress. That was Tim’s punishment. I took a deep breath and watched his retreating back as he strode out of the room. He was walking so fast. He didn’t even give me a chance to tell him. Don’t call me “honey” anymore. 2. Ten years ago, I would have never believed it. That the person who would tear my life with Tim to shreds would be Clara Ross. In high school, I was the radiant swan everyone admired. And Clara? She was the school’s resident ugly duckling. Poor, plain, and hopelessly chasing after Tim Vance with a foolish, desperate passion. Just as relentlessly as Tim was chasing after me. The difference was, I eventually said yes to Tim. Clara never even got a second glance from him. That changed a year ago. Tim took me to a corporate gala. I saw her there—Clara, draped in a stunning red dress, radiating a confidence that was completely new. I also saw Tim’s throat bob, saw the flash of raw admiration in his eyes. It was so fleeting I almost missed it. But I remembered it vividly when, months later, Clara triumphantly slapped a positive pregnancy test onto my desk. Only then did I realize who the “other woman” was, the one who had turned my marriage into a battlefield. Clara stood before me like a victorious general, gloating over her conquest. “Vivian, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for years,” she’d said, a smug smile on her face. “You never really thought you were all that special, did you?” Back in high school, Tim would wrap his arms around me and joke that my fiery temper was a product of him spoiling me rotten. But that day, after Clara’s taunts sent me into a blind rage and I shoved her to the ground, his face went cold. His voice was laced with a contempt I’d never heard before. “You should take a good look at yourself in the mirror right now, honey,” he’d snarled. “Bullying a pregnant woman. Does that make you feel powerful?” 3. That fight with Tim was apocalyptic. I fell apart, consumed by a desire to destroy him, but I could never bring myself to do it. He tried to smooth things over, of course. He’d hold me, whisper promises that once the baby was born, everything would go back to the way it was. But I hated him. I hated him for betraying me, for turning our perfect, storybook romance into a cheap joke. And I hated myself even more for not being able to let him go. So we tortured each other, becoming the bitter, warring couple everyone whispered about. Things hit a new low when Clara sent me a video of her and Tim in bed. Shaking with rage, I confronted him, and it escalated into the worst fight we’d ever had. I smashed everything in the house I could get my hands on, screamed the most vile things I could think of, and even threatened to leak the video online, to ruin him completely. But Tim just sat there on the sofa, calmly smoking, a lazy, confident smile on his face. He extinguished my fury with a single question. “So what if I’m openly keeping a mistress? So what if I knocked her up, and there’s a sex tape floating around?” he asked, blowing a smoke ring. “Are you really going to leave me, honey?” I froze, an icy dread creeping through my veins, as if someone had dumped a bucket of freezing water over me in the dead of winter. All I could do was stand there and tremble. Tim laughed, his eyes full of pity and scorn. “Pathetic.” After that, he knew he had me. He bought Clara a penthouse, flew with her to Switzerland for prenatal checkups. When they found out it was a boy, he threw a lavish party to celebrate, months before the due date. He made sure the entire world knew he didn’t love me anymore. He turned me into a punchline, a cautionary tale whispered at cocktail parties. Sometimes, watching them together, so open and blissfully in love, a sliver of doubt would creep in. Maybe I was the one who should just walk away. But I couldn’t. I was too proud, too stubborn. So I stayed, rattling around in our empty mansion, slowly turning into a paranoid, obsessive mess. I just couldn’t let go. Not until the day I stumbled upon a video of an interview at our old high school. 4. Tim had taken a very pregnant Clara back to our alma mater for a donation ceremony. In the video, he was wearing a simple black windbreaker, his hair unstyled for once. He stood under the shade of a poplar tree, a faint, easy smile on his lips. For a dizzying moment, I saw the boy he used to be—the one with the cocky slouch who waited for me after class every day. Then I blinked, and the illusion shattered. I saw him gently stroking Clara’s swollen belly. A reporter asked them about their relationship. They exchanged a look, a perfect picture of domestic bliss. My eyes started to burn. I wanted to turn it off, but then I heard the reporter’s next question. “What is your biggest regret from your high school days?” Without a moment’s hesitation, Tim looked directly at Clara, his voice soft and full of meaning. “Probably that I was blind back then,” he said. “That I didn’t fall for her sooner.” He squeezed her hand. “I just hope the universe gives me a second chance. This time, let it be my turn to chase you.” Clara playfully swatted his shoulder, a shy, happy blush on her cheeks. The reporter gasped with delight. The students around them cheered. And I just stood there, frozen. The world went silent, so quiet I could hear my own heart hammering in my chest. Thump. Thump. Thump. And then, with one final, shuddering beat, it stopped. In that instant, every tower I had built inside me came crashing down. Something inside me shattered completely. It was the last, lingering piece of my obsession with the boy he used to be. I finally understood. Sometimes, letting go isn’t a process. It’s a single, blinding moment. 5. I blinked away the sting in my eyes, pushing the memories aside. Then I got up and started to systematically gather everything that belonged to Tim in the house. One by one, I carried it all out to the curb with the trash. When I was finally done, I let out a long, slow breath. I turned my phone back on. A flood of missed calls and frantic texts poured in. I knew, with absolute certainty, that the calls were from the real, 18-year-old Tim. But I felt nothing. I calmly ignored the number and called a friend back. She was inviting me to a class reunion next week. I didn’t hesitate. “Sure, I’ll be there.” As I was about to put the phone down, my eyes caught the string of desperate texts from the unknown number. [Shit, Viv, don’t scare me like this!] [What’s going on? Pick up the phone!] [Your man just ran eight laps around the track and now his heart feels like it’s gonna explode.] [If you don’t answer, I swear I’ll drop dead right here and now!!!] The familiar words hit me. He was talking about that day it poured, the day I got caught in the rain. My white shirt was soaked through, and a few guys were making lewd comments. Tim had appeared out of nowhere, his face a mask of cold fury. He’d grabbed a chair and brought it down on one of them, hard. Afterward, the coach made him run eight laps as punishment. He collapsed with a fever afterward, got seriously ill, and missed the championship soccer game he’d been training for for two years. I remembered how, besides me, Clara had been devastated. She had glared at me with pure resentment. “Can’t you just stop being such a drama queen?” she’d spat. “You love seeing him torture himself for you, don’t you, princess?” Before I could even respond, Tim cut her off, his voice sharp despite his exhaustion. “What’s it to you?” he’d snapped, looking right at her. “It’s my choice, isn’t it?” That day, Clara’s face had been even paler than Tim’s. But times change. The boy Tim from back then could never have imagined. That the thing he’d regret most in his thirties, at the height of his success, was making Clara Ross sad. 6. The reunion was already in full swing by the time I arrived. The divorce hadn’t left me with a car. So when a sudden downpour started, all I could do was hold my purse over my head and make a run for it. I burst through the doors, breathless and slightly disheveled, and my eyes immediately landed on Clara, looking immaculate and radiant. She looked me up and down, a smug, superior smile spreading across her face. “Vivian, darling. I never thought I’d see you looking so… desperate.” Laughter rippled through our old classmates. They were enjoying the show. Life is fickle. So what if Tim cheated? So what if Clara was a homewrecker? Siding with the powerful and kicking the weak—that’s just human nature. My gaze drifted past them to Tim, who was watching with a lazy, amused smirk. I dug my nails into my palm, crushing the tiny pinprick of pain in my chest. Suddenly, someone gasped. “Is that… Clara Ross?!” All eyes snapped to a phone someone was holding up. Someone had leaked the video. The video of her and Tim. A guy snickered. “Damn, and while she’s pregnant, too.” The next second, the sound of shattering glass echoed through the room as Tim smashed a bottle over the guy’s head. “All of you, shut the hell up!” he roared. But it was too late. The color drained from Clara’s face. She looked like she was about to snap. Her eyes found mine, and with a guttural scream, she hurled her glass directly at me. “You did this! You leaked it!” Tim’s face hardened as he turned to me, his voice a low, menacing growl. “Honey, did you forget what I told you?” 7. I didn’t have time to dodge. The glass shattered against my forehead, the sharp pain making me wince. The water inside splashed all over my dress, leaving me looking even more of a wreck than when I’d arrived. I pulled out a tissue, pressing it to the cut. “First,” I said, my voice steady despite the throbbing in my head, “I didn’t leak the video. Second, I’m not your honey.” Tim’s jaw tightened. He just stood there, seething, though I couldn’t tell what he was angrier about. But before he could respond, Clara let out a choked cry. The shock had sent her into labor. The room descended into chaos. For the first time, I saw panic in Tim’s eyes. He had fought too hard for this child. He swept Clara into his arms and started pushing through the crowd. As he passed me, he paused, his voice dripping with scorn. “I underestimated you. Are you satisfied now that you’ve made this mess?” He leaned in closer. “Don’t think for a second that I’ll let you off the hook if anything happens to Clara, Vivian.” I glanced at the crimson stain spreading across the tissue in my hand. Then I looked up, and I swung. My hand connected with his cheek with a loud, satisfying crack. “That,” I said, my voice ringing with clarity, “was for Clara.” Tim’s head snapped to the side. His face was a canvas of shock and disbelief. Before he could react, I shook out my stinging hand and, without a backward glance, turned and walked away. 8. The rain was still pouring outside. I stood under the awning, watching the frantic scramble of people, and answered my phone. “The money’s been transferred to your account, Ms. Quinn. A pleasure doing business with you.” “Likewise,” I said, and hung up. It was true, I hadn’t leaked the video. Not directly. A CEO’s affair and a mistress’s pregnancy—that kind of scandal could do serious damage to a company. So I simply sold it to Tim’s biggest corporate rival. After all, Tim hadn’t exactly been generous in the divorce settlement. A girl has to look out for herself. A sudden clap of thunder split the sky. “Viv! I finally found you!”

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My husband betrayed me. I decided to kill him. Later, as his body was breaking down and he was spitting blood, he confessed to me, apologizing for hurting me. I smiled and told him it was okay; I forgave him. After all, I was the one who had put arsenic in his food and laced his clothes with paraquat, ensuring his agonizing death. 1 It was nine o’clock at night when Marcus Black came home. His shirt reeked of cheap perfume, and his neck was covered in hickeys. “Welcome home, honey.” I pretended not to notice his cheating, even walking up to him to help him take off his jacket. “Go fix me something to eat. A late-night snack.” Marcus was polite and academic in public, but at home, he dropped the façade and ordered me around without hesitation. I asked him sweetly: “What would you like, honey?” “Whatever.” I obediently walked into the kitchen. I knew the truth. Marcus didn’t love me. While I was agonizing in the delivery room, giving birth to his child, he casually told me he was cheating. He was so arrogant because he assumed our child was my only anchor, and I would never dare divorce him. Marcus was wrong. Even without the child, I wouldn’t have left him after his betrayal. The best way to deal with a scumbag isn’t to leave him. It’s to kill him! On the cutting board, I already had fresh shrimp ready. Next to the board, water was mixed with a high concentration of Vitamin C. The combination of shrimp and high-dose Vitamin C produces arsenic when consumed by the body. I heated the oil, poured the live shrimp into the pan, and the extreme heat made them twitch and struggle violently. But within seconds, they changed color and died in the sizzling oil. Soon, the fragrant shrimp and a bowl of seaweed soup fortified with Vitamin C were on the table. Marcus looked impatient. “Can’t you cook faster?” I kept my head down, looking humble and remorseful: “I’m sorry, honey.” He grunted, picked up a shrimp, and ate it. I stayed still, not daring to move, but I couldn’t stop staring at him. Eat. Eat more. The more you eat, the faster you die! Thud. A sharp shrimp head suddenly landed on my head. Marcus wiped his hands with a napkin and sneered: “I cheated, but you keep trying to please me and suck up. You’re more obedient than a dog.” I covered my forehead, maintaining the illusion of silent devotion. “Oh, Sarah Green, Sarah Green. Do you think the more I cheat, the more afraid you are of losing me, and the nicer you become?” Marcus leisurely picked up the spoon and drank the soup. After one sip, he glanced at me, spitting out venomous, repulsive words: “You are truly pathetic. If I had known you were so desperate, I would have told you sooner: I slept with another woman on our wedding night.” 2 I flinched. His dirty hands touched someone else, then came back to touch me! The disgust made me physically ill. “Haha, are you upset?” Marcus grinned, holding up three fingers: “I didn’t just sleep with one; I slept with three.” I clenched my teeth, desperately trying not to throw up. On our wedding day, I was full of expectation. But he claimed a student needed him urgently and he had to return to the university. I truly regret it now. If I had known he was chasing other women that night, I would have called the police without hesitation. After dinner, Marcus openly called his mistress right in front of me. “Baby, I miss you so much.” Before he could say more, I put on a look of unbearable pain and rushed toward the balcony. I needed Marcus to see me as a weak, helpless wife who was silently suffering from her husband’s infidelity. Only then would he lower his guard. … Marcus had a habit of drinking milk before bed. I added a sleeping pill to his glass. He was dead to the world that night. Staring at the gentle rise and fall of his throat as he breathed, an intense urge to kill surged through me. I truly wanted to take a knife and slit his throat. But as the blade touched his skin, I forced myself to stop. To plan his silent murder, I had sent our newborn daughter to stay with distant relatives and constantly acted subservient to him. I had sacrificed too much and endured too much. I couldn’t let a moment of impulse ruin everything! Next, I used Marcus’s fingerprint to unlock his phone. He had three unread messages on his social media. “Are you coming back to see me tomorrow?” “Professor, you are so handsome. Can I pursue you?” “Professor, you bought two dresses online. Which color do you want me to wear? Pink or black?” I clicked on each profile. They were all beautiful female college students. Then, I looked through his chat history. Most of the students initiated contact with Marcus. Marcus had good looks and the aura of a university professor, naturally making young women flock to him. But he didn’t sleep with every student. After a careful check, I found Marcus had slept with fifteen students. Their common traits: beautiful, not locals, and from poor backgrounds. The student who had maintained the longest relationship with Marcus was named Maya Lin. I started scrolling through Maya Lin’s social media. In a photo dated November 25, 2021, a corner of Marcus’s shoe was visible. And the message, “Professor, you bought two dresses online. Which color do you want me to wear? Pink or black?” was from Maya Lin. Hah. This cheating couple has been together for four years. I smiled coldly, a vicious plan forming in my mind. I wouldn’t let the scumbag go. And the tramp wouldn’t escape either! 3 The next morning, I prepared Marcus’s breakfast: plain porridge, fried dough sticks (you-tiao), eggs, and hot milk. The fried dough sticks were cooked in cheap oil. The porridge contained a bit of sugar. The hot milk and sugared porridge, when eaten together, create fructose-lysine. Fructose-lysine can induce coronary heart disease and vascular blockages. Marcus ate everything. After he finished and left for work, I headed to the hospital. Last night, I had thoroughly researched the student Marcus had been cheating with for four years. Maya Lin, Nursing Major, a graduating senior, currently interning at the city’s top hospital. It was the best hospital in the state; countless medical students fought tooth and nail to get in. Maya Lin got the position easily thanks to Marcus… At the hospital. I immediately recognized Maya Lin among the nurses. She was very pretty, slender, and looked innocent. “Excuse me, how do I get to Lab B21?” I pretended to be lost and approached her. “Take the elevator to the 7th floor, then walk straight, then turn right…” Maya Lin’s voice was soft, and she was patient, but I felt sick. She was the mistress! I interrupted her, acting anxious: “I don’t know the way. Can you take me?” Maya Lin hesitated, then agreed. On the way, I played the victim, weeping that I might have cancer and was dying soon. My college major was psychology; I knew how to quickly establish intimacy. Maya Lin immediately showed concern. She took me to the lab and even added me on social media, saying if I had any questions about my condition, I could message her, and she would try to help. I was surprised. She wasn’t the arrogant, aggressive mistress I had imagined. After leaving the hospital, I subtly started extracting information from Maya Lin. She had a boyfriend. But she didn’t know her boyfriend was married. She was the unsuspecting other woman. … Three months later, under my careful nourishment, Marcus started showing signs of weakness. That day, the delivery man brought a new potted plant to the door and asked for acceptance verification. Normally, I would open the door and take the package. But I was conveniently in the bathroom and couldn’t come out. Marcus was teaching an online class, so he couldn’t immediately vent his frustration at me. I sat on the toilet, watching the surveillance video on my phone. Marcus politely told his students to wait a moment. He stood up, opened the door, and impatiently took the package from the delivery man. The moment the box landed in Marcus’s hands, his body swayed downward, and his expression changed immediately. It wasn’t anger; it was shock. I was ecstatic. He must be shocked that a grown man couldn’t hold a simple box! Hahaha! Every meal I meticulously prepared for him was designed to counteract the body’s functions. Celery and rabbit meat to cause hair loss. Liquor and dog meat to suppress the heart. Banana and beef to damage the spleen. Tomato and mung beans to deplete vital energy. … Thud! The potted plant fell heavily to the floor. A few clumps of dirt spilled from the box. Marcus staggered, staring at his hands in disbelief. I laughed uncontrollably. The countdown to death had officially begun. Marcus, enjoy the last moments of your cheating life! 4 I turned off the surveillance, took a deep breath, and adjusted my expression before leaving the bathroom. “Honey, what’s wrong?” I rushed to Marcus, looking anxious. “The box has a plant; it’s light. Why can’t you hold it? Are you too stressed from work lately?” “Get lost, you pathetic…” Marcus’s curse was cut short. He seemed to remember he was still teaching. He glared at me and rushed back to his study. I smiled, tossing the spilled dirt into the trash. … During this time, thanks to my psychology expertise, Maya Lin and I became close friends. Maya Lin told me everything. She told me her boyfriend was her university professor. She said she loved him so much she even had an abortion for him… I asked tentatively: “Why did your professor ask you to have an abortion? Wouldn’t getting pregnant be the perfect way to get married?” Maya Lin lowered her head: “He said he was at a critical stage of his career and didn’t want to be distracted by a child. But he promised to make it up to me with a grand wedding later.” I pressed: “Could it be that your professor is already married and is just playing with you?” “Absolutely not!” Maya Lin said without hesitation: “He swore to me that if he ever had another woman besides me in his life, he would be struck by lightning and die a horrible death.” I rolled my eyes. Marcus said the exact same passionate words when he married me. I guess there are too many scumbags, and God can’t strike them all down. So, I’ll just have to ensure he dies a horrible death myself! … Marcus’s health worsened daily. One morning, while drinking milk, he suddenly got a nosebleed. “What is going on?” Marcus tried to wipe the blood, but it only flowed faster. “Honey, what’s wrong?” My eyes widened. I frantically reached for a tissue. Marcus pushed me away. But he had no strength. I stayed put, pretending to worry: “Honey, are you under stress? Should I make you some cooling tea?” “Get out!” Marcus roared, covering his nose and stumbling toward the bathroom. But after only two steps, he collapsed to the floor. He had passed out. “Tsk tsk. You’ve been hollowed out.” I didn’t hesitate to kick him lightly. After twenty minutes, I finally dialed 911. Three hours later, Marcus woke up in the hospital. The test results were in. The report showed absolutely nothing wrong with his body. “Nothing wrong? If nothing’s wrong, why do I bleed from my nose and pass out?!” The inexplicable symptoms made Marcus drop his pretense. He yelled at the doctor: “The lab made a mistake! I want another full body scan, blood work, and physical examination!” The doctor looked at Marcus as if he were an idiot. Marcus wasn’t stupid. He understood the doctor’s disdain, which only fueled his fury. The angrier he became, the happier I was. I acted like a busy bee, dutifully paying bills and submitting forms. At the nurses’ station, snippets of conversation drifted my way. “The patient in room 302 looks presentable, but he’s a maniac.” “I know! This is the state’s best hospital. How could the lab make a mistake?” “You’re missing the point. Didn’t you notice that patient is Maya Lin’s boyfriend?” “What? He’s Maya Lin’s boyfriend? But his file says he’s married!” “Is Maya Lin a mistress…?” The nurses’ chatter set off an alarm in my head. I absolutely couldn’t let Maya Lin find out I was Marcus’s wife. If she grew suspicious, everything I had done would be ruined. … I hardened my heart and decided to move up Marcus’s death date! I went to a remote farming supply store and bought a bottle of Paraquat, a deadly herbicide. I also bought a new shirt that Marcus often wore. Back home, I soaked the brand-new shirt in Paraquat. The shirt soaked for a day and a night, then I rinsed it repeatedly until the smell was gone. To be safe, I used a test strip to check the Paraquat levels. Only after confirming they were minimal did I iron the shirt and put it in a luxury box to give to Maya Lin. “I bought this shirt for my husband, but it didn’t fit.” I gave the high-end gift box to Maya Lin, smiling: “I bought it overseas, so I can’t return it. Since you mentioned your boyfriend is the same size, I thought you might want it.” “Wow, this brand is expensive! Are you sure you want to give it to me?” Maya Lin was genuinely surprised. She had told me she came from a poor family and was saving up to buy Marcus a gift. Since I was handing her a ready-made one, she happily accepted it after a brief exchange of pleasantries. I smiled coldly. Paraquat is incredibly toxic. Just 0.01 grams is enough to kill a person. Marcus wouldn’t ingest it directly. But the shirt would be worn directly against his skin. The Paraquat would seep through his pores into his capillaries. In less than a month, Marcus would die a painful death!

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My boyfriend, seeking a thrill, convinced me to drink a spiked beverage. But just as the effects kicked in, he was called away by his “moonlight.” I was about to protest when scrolling text appeared before my eyes: [That despicable jerk! How could he abandon our girl at a time like this! I’m furious!] [The jerk is going back to the moonlight again! Our girl is so tragic!] [Girl, forget the jerk! Go find Dr. Alex next door! He’s crazy about you!] [Don’t hesitate! Dr. Alex is your antidote!] I couldn’t think straight. I struggled against the agony and stumbled, knocking on the neighbor’s door. “Dr. Alex, help me…” 1 After taking the call, Leo Black pulled his halfway-off pants back on. “I have to go out. You figure yourself out.” The drugs were already taking effect. I was stunned. “You’re leaving now? What about me?” Leo’s face instantly darkened at my protest. “Chloe, you’re an adult. Can’t you handle yourself?” Seriously? He drugged me and now expected me to handle myself? Before I could plead with him, his voice became impatient. “Enough! Tiffany is sick. Can you stop causing drama at a time like this?” The pleading words died in my throat. I watched, desperate and burning, as he walked away. The moment the door slammed shut, scrolling comments flashed across my vision: [How could the jerk abandon our girl now? This is too much!] [This is the eighth time Tiffany has been “sick” this month! Every single time, the jerk leaves our girl for her! No wonder she’s a tragic heroine—this is awful!] [I can’t watch! Someone save our girl!] [Girl, forget the jerk! Go find Dr. Alex next door! He’s your antidote!] [Yes! Hurry next door! Dr. Alex is tall and hot—way better than that jerk!] My mind spun, trying to process the comments. Dr. Alex? The same Dr. Alex Lynn who always wore a cold expression and seemed utterly untouchable? The drugs made my body uncontrollably hot. I couldn’t care less about the comments anymore. I stumbled out, fighting the agony, and knocked desperately on the neighbor’s door. 2 I knocked a few times, but no one answered. I must be hallucinating. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a door open behind me. A voice called out, “Chloe?” I turned and met Dr. Alex Lynn’s dark, deep eyes. He must have just showered. He was shirtless, his lower body wrapped in a white towel. I couldn’t help but notice. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, eight-pack abs… Water droplets clung to his taut muscles. For my current state, the sight was pure fuel. My heart raced, and my chest heaved with every accelerating breath. A cool voice broke the silence. “Is the view satisfactory?” I subconsciously looked up. Even against the light, I could clearly see his prominent brow bone, high nose, and slightly upturned lips. Why had I never noticed before? Alex’s face was like an anime heartthrob brought to life! Mesmerized by his beauty, I blurted out: “Very satisfactory…” The moment I spoke, he visibly froze. His expression instantly looked uncomfortable. The comments exploded. [OMG! Our girl is so blunt! I love it!] [What am I seeing? The ice prince is blushing!] [Blushing is an understatement! Our girl says he’s hot, and he’s… that’s ridiculous!] I instinctively glanced down, unable to help my observation. …It was, indeed, ridiculous. The comments continued: [Save me, he’s wearing only a towel, and he’s… I can’t imagine…] [Hahaha, Dr. Alex is absolutely smitten!] [I’m so nervous! Is the plot I’ve been waiting for finally happening?!] [I order you two: now, immediately, get to it!] 3 I felt like a waterlogged sponge, melting into Alex’s embrace. “Dr. Alex, I feel awful…” “Can you kiss me?” His figure stiffened at my request. [Who understands this? Our girl’s voice is soft and tearful. It’s melting my heart!] [Forget you, Dr. Alex is about to lose his mind! Hahaha.] [I get it. He’s been crushing on her for three years. He must be going crazy.] [Exactly! Every time he saw her with that jerk, his heart must have been breaking.] The comments stunned me. He liked me for three years? I had no idea! But there was no time to think. A sudden, strong force pulled me inside his apartment. The door slammed shut behind me. A tall figure blocked the light. He looked down at me. His long, elegant fingers grazed my cheek, tilting my chin up with warm breath. His voice, however, remained cool. “Explain… what did you mean?” I was forced to look up. Seeing his face so close made me too flustered to speak. But he wasn’t letting up. His intoxicating face leaned closer to mine. “Tell me clearly…” “Where does it hurt?” 4 His question made my face flush. I didn’t know how to answer, but the agony was overwhelming. I finally grabbed his long, defined hands. [OMG! Is this legal? Our girl is so bold!] [Who can resist this? Next step, a physical exam? So exciting!] [I can’t handle this! My composure is gone!!!] Alex’s breath hitched at the touch. He froze, his face turning bright red. I seized the opportunity, wrapping my arms around his neck. I stood on my toes and kissed him. The moment our lips met, he completely surrendered. I don’t know how long we kissed. I found myself on a soft bed. I watched his muscular body lean over me, casting a shadow that enveloped me in the dim light. “Chloe, how do you want me to help you?” Before I could answer, his nose grazed my neck and shoulder. A tingling sensation spread from my earlobe through my entire body. I trembled. But then, my phone rang—totally inappropriate timing. Overwhelmed by lust, I fumbled and hung up. But another call immediately came through. Alex stopped, looking toward the phone. “I’m sorry, I’ll turn it off right now.” I moved to grab my phone. But his hand pressed down on my wrist. “Maybe… let’s just stop.” 5 “Stop? Why?” Did my phone bother him? Is that why he’s mad? I looked at his tightly furrowed brows. I had a terrible thought. Is it because… he can’t perform? My eyes instinctively dropped. [Hahaha, what is our girl looking at? Is she doubting Dr. Alex’s skills?] [She hasn’t realized yet, has she? Dr. Alex is just jealous.] [I’m so mad! That deadbeat jerk had to call now and ruin everything! How can I watch the plot now?] I finally realized the issue. Just as I was about to explain, he spoke first. “Chloe, I don’t want to be the side guy…” “Can you accept that?” His last three words were barely audible. [That’s weird. Didn’t Dr. Alex wish on a photo of her two days ago that he’d be her side piece or even her side-side piece if she just gave him a chance?] [I can confirm! He promised he’d sacrifice everything for love! Now he wants respect? How calculating!] [Wait, why is that calculating? Dr. Alex guarded her for three years! He deserves respect!] [I agree. That jerk abandoned her on Valentine’s Day, and she was followed by creeps until Dr. Alex saved her! He’s done so much for her!] I opened my phone right in front of him. Ignoring the endless missed calls from Leo, I pulled up the breakup text I’d drafted but never sent. I hit send. Then I blocked, deleted, and powered down the phone. Seeing this, Alex looked like a stray dog finally finding its home. I leaned in and kissed his lips. “Dr. Alex, are we good now?”

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I was at my poorest when I met the city’s most notorious playboy. He’d already burned through thirty-five girlfriends; I was number thirty-six. He asked me out three times, and I said no. The fourth time, I threw myself into his arms and sobbed, “It’s you I like, not your money.” Asher Wolfhard held me, deeply moved. But in private, he complained to his friends, “I’ve seen all her tricks before. I’m just playing along because I’m dying to get in her pants.” When I overheard that, I went to bed with him without a word. Unsurprisingly, he dumped me right after. A few days later, my roommate became his thirty-seventh girlfriend. Everyone laughed at me, but I didn’t care. Not long after, Asher was diagnosed with HIV, and I found out I was pregnant. Suddenly, the child in my belly became the most precious treasure of the Wolfhard family. 1 Every Friday, a spectacle unfolded at the gates of Northwood University. A fiery red Maserati would roll up, dropping off a different beautiful woman each time. The car’s owner was Asher Wolfhard, Northwood’s most infamous playboy heir. Every woman who slept with him was said to be left utterly obsessed. But he never went back for seconds, never lingered on any woman for a moment longer than necessary. He would conquer one and, without missing a beat, move on to the next. Three months into the semester, he’d already had thirty-four girlfriends. Number thirty-five was my coworker at the bubble tea shop, Felicity. The moment she got the invitation text, she quit her part-time job on the spot and rushed off to a salon to get her hair and nails done. “Oh my god, my golden ticket finally landed on me,” she said, changing her clothes. “Thank you, universe.” “Willa, seriously,” she went on, “you should buy some nice clothes, maybe get a haircut. Your bangs are too long; they’re hiding your supermodel good looks. That’s why Asher hasn’t noticed you yet.” “If he saw your face and knew you were hiding a rare 36D under that jacket, he’d fall head over heels for you.” I just smiled and said nothing. After she left, I bent down and picked up the panda hair clip she’d dropped. The soft white fuzz trembled in the breeze, just like my restless heart. I was so poor. I’d never owned a single nice piece of clothing in my life. My father was a simple farmer who knew nothing but the soil. My grandmother was sick and needed medicine constantly. My mother… she had left a long time ago. She went to find work in the city, met a construction worker, and never came home. Since I was a little girl, the weight of money had been suffocating me. Now in college, while everyone else was enjoying campus life, I was constantly scrambling for part-time jobs just to eat. The first time I heard the name Asher Wolfhard, a plan began to form in my mind. The Wolfhard family was influential in Northwood City. His mother was a famous entrepreneur, his father a distinguished university professor. Asher was their only child, born late in their lives, and they had spoiled him rotten. A purely physical relationship with him would be fleeting, and I’d be forgotten. Any payout would be minimal. So I waited, biding my time, observing, looking for a better opportunity. The next day, that fiery red Maserati pulled up in front of the tea shop. Felicity got out, dressed in a Chanel knockoff and carrying a designer bag, but her expression was anything but bright. After the car sped away, she grumbled, “I can’t believe it. I didn’t even get his number.” I recalled the fleeting glimpse I’d caught through the car window. “Whose? Asher’s?” “Yes! He slept with me, gave me ten thousand dollars and this outfit, and that was it. The girl from the dance department got twenty thousand! What, am I not as good as her?” I had no answer for that. Felicity sat and fumed for a while longer before her anger finally subsided. “Damn it, I’m so pissed. I need to go get something nice to eat,” she said. “Whatever. With this ten grand, at least I don’t have to work for the rest of the semester. I’ll figure out the rest later.” She smiled at me. “Willa, I’m not trying to lead you astray, but you really don’t have to make things so hard on yourself.” “Just lie back, have some fun, and make some money. What’s so bad about that? It’s a hell of a lot better than shaking bubble tea until your arms fall off for less than three thousand a month.” 2 I didn’t close the shop until 11 PM. On the way back, Felicity’s words echoed in my head. Was I making things too hard on myself? Everyone else was taking shortcuts. Why shouldn’t I? If I couldn’t lock down Asher as a long-term investment, I could just find someone else. At least I could get a quick ten thousand to solve my immediate problems. My head started to ache. I almost laughed at myself. Willa, Willa, you’re getting desperate. The thought of killing the goose for a single golden egg was something I was actually considering. As I turned down a small side street, I saw a car stopped by the road, smoke pouring from the hood. It had crashed into a guardrail. The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious. I ran to the driver’s side and saw it was Asher Wolfhard. There was no time to think. Terrified the car might catch fire, I started pulling him out. I wasn’t strong enough. It took all my strength to drag and haul him to a safe distance. While I was on the phone with 911, Asher started to come to. He looked at my face, a flicker of surprise and awe in his eyes. “You…” I quickly pressed him down. “Your head is bleeding. Don’t move.” I used my handkerchief to apply pressure to the wound. Soon, the paramedics arrived and loaded him onto a stretcher. I used his phone to contact his family, then turned and walked back to campus. A few days later, as I was leaving class, Asher blocked my path, holding a bouquet of flowers. He still had a bandage on his forehead, and his lips were pale, but his eyes were shining. “You were the one who saved me the other day, right, Willa?” I nodded. “It was nothing. Don’t worry about it.” “How could I not? You saved my life. I’m a pretty big deal, you know. So what you did was a pretty big deal, too.” He thrust the flowers into my arms and then held out a credit card. “There’s ten thousand on here as a thank you. I was wondering if you’d do me the honor of having dinner with me tonight?” He was asking me out. I looked into his charming, almond-shaped eyes, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. But after a few seconds, I shook my head. “I can’t have dinner with you. I have to go to my part-time job.” “What’s so great about that job? I’ll just give you the money.” “No, thank you. I have hands and feet. I don’t need to take advantage of you.” I fought to keep my racing heart in check, coolly rejecting his offer before turning to leave. I knew he was watching me, probably seeing right through my act. But I was playing the long game. Even if the chances were slim, I had to try. 3 Sure enough, at 7 PM, Asher showed up at the bubble tea shop where I worked. He’d probably never been rejected by a woman before, and he didn’t look happy about it. His face was a thundercloud when he saw me. “You turned me down to work in this dump?” he sneered. “How much do they pay you an hour? Twenty? Thirty? Fifty?” My expression turned even colder than his. “That’s none of your business. Either order something or get out. I don’t have time to play games with you.” Asher was taken aback. He took a deep breath. “I’ll give you one last chance. Ten thousand an hour. Are you coming with me or not?” My face was a mask of indifference. “Get. Out.” Furious, Asher spun around and stormed off. But he only made it to the door before whirling back. He slammed a card on the counter, followed by his hand, slapping it down with a sharp crack. “Everyone in here gets the most expensive drink on the menu. My treat.” “You like shaking bubble tea so much? Tonight, you can shake until you drop.” He was ruthless. For two straight hours, I made over 180 drinks. My hands were trembling, but I didn’t say a word. His face grew darker and darker. When he saw me shaking as I tried to carry in a new container of toppings, he blocked my path. “Fine, that’s enough. Stop.” “There are still three drinks left on your order.” “So I’m canceling them! Just stop, damn it. I’ve never seen anyone so stubborn.” Asher turned and left, and this time, he didn’t come back. Not only that, but he had tipped five thousand into the shop’s account. The ten-thousand-dollar card was still on the counter. On my way back, I stared at the card, a storm of emotions churning inside me. So this was what a shortcut felt like. The money came so fast. What had I been doing all those years, working myself to the bone? Just then, I saw Asher sitting on a bench on the side street. The late autumn night was cold, and he was still in his hospital gown, his head bowed. I had already walked past him, but I hesitated, then turned back. “Here,” I said, holding out the card. “You forgot this at the shop.” Asher looked up, his face deathly pale. “It’s for you.” I pushed the card back into his pocket. I started to walk away but couldn’t stop myself. “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?” Asher stared at me for a long time. “I’m fine. Just a headache.” He pursed his lips, looking unhappy. “Leave me alone. You don’t have to care. It’s not like anyone cares if I live or die.” What a load of crap. His parents doted on him, and he had a legion of girlfriends who would have done anything for him. I didn’t argue. I just moved behind him and started gently massaging the back of his neck. “It’s a side effect of the accident. You should be resting, not running around and getting angry.” He grabbed my hand, his voice weak. “If you hadn’t refused to go out with me, I wouldn’t have gotten so worked up.” “…Then I guess you’ll just have to stay angry. I don’t have time for this.” The Wolfhard family car arrived to pick him up. As he got in, he pushed the card back into my pocket, a rare look of disappointment on his face. “This money is just to thank you for saving my life. Please, take it.” “Okay.” The car sped away. I turned, a small smile playing on my lips. Inside the luxury car, Asher was smiling too. “Sly little fox, playing hard to get with me. We’ll see who’s better at this game.” He closed his eyes and inhaled. “A faint, milky scent… soft 36Ds. Even though I was out of it, I couldn’t have been mistaken. She’s a masterpiece.” The driver had seen it all before. “If you like her, sir, just go after her. There’s no one you can’t have.” Asher chuckled. “What do you know? Beautiful women are a dime a dozen. But a sly fox like her… that’s rare. I haven’t met a woman who could get under my skin like this in a long time. I’m going to have some fun with this one.” 4 When I got my paycheck of three thousand, I sent two thousand home. My grandmother’s heart was getting worse, and she was back in the hospital. My father had no money, so her medical bills fell to me. After paying a school activity fee and buying some necessities, I was left with only five hundred dollars. I lay on my dorm bed, staring at the credit card, my mind at war with itself. I knew its owner, Asher Wolfhard, was also waiting for a notification that it had been used. Just then, the door opened, and my roommate, Tara, walked in. She’d been out at a club all night and reeked of smoke and stale alcohol. The smell quickly filled our small room. A moment later, she stumbled to the bathroom and started vomiting violently, leaving the door wide open. The sour stench was overwhelming. I wrinkled my nose. “Tara, can you please close the bathroom door? The smell is awful.” No answer. When she was finished, she staggered out, ripped open my bed curtain, and snarled, “Mind your own damn business!” Then she collapsed onto her bed and started snoring. Sleep was impossible. I went to the library to catch up on my studies. Time passed, and I almost forgot about Asher. Then one day, as I was leaving the tea shop, I saw him leaning against his car, holding a bouquet of flowers and a cake. “Happy birthday, Willa,” he called out. My eyes welled up. No one had ever celebrated my birthday before. How did he know? As if reading my mind, he said, “Don’t ask how I know. Just come make a wish and blow out the candles.” My first instinct was to walk away, but then I saw the little panda drawn on the cake. My nose stung. “Why a panda?” “Because when you saved me, I saw you were wearing a panda hair clip. I thought it was cute.” “…Thank you.” We found a spot on the curb, made a wish, and cut the cake. We sat side-by-side, and I asked him, “Is your head all better?” “Yeah, it’s healed.” “Let me see.” I leaned in close to look at the wound on his forehead. The stitches were out, leaving only a faint red line. Without thinking, I blew on it gently. I looked up and saw that Asher was blushing. He cleared his throat, his eyes shining. “What… what are you doing?” I quickly looked away, embarrassed. “S-sorry. I didn’t mean to.” We were both a little flustered. We finished the small cake in silence. I stood up, brushing off my pants to leave. Asher grabbed my hand and pointed to his red sports car. “Let me drive you.” I pursed my lips stubbornly. “No. I won’t get in.” I knew how many other women had sat in that passenger seat. Asher seemed to understand. His eyes flickered, and he ran his tongue over the inside of his cheek. After a moment, he pulled out his phone. “Fine. But can I at least get your number?” 5 I had finally gotten Asher Wolfhard’s number. His social media was simple: a few birthday photos, an occasional picture of his car or a party. None of the thirty-five other women had ever made an appearance. I casually liked one of his posts. A message came through almost immediately: [Home yet?] Me: [Yeah.] [Get some rest.] [Okay.] [Want to get dinner sometime?] [We’ll see. I’m a little busy lately, picked up another tutoring job.] [Let me know when you’re free.] [Okay.] I turned off my phone and closed my eyes. There was no tutoring job. I just needed more time to figure out my next move. Asher stared at the screen, a smirk on his face. This damn little fox. One lie after another. He’d given her the card over a month ago, and she hadn’t spent a dime. Her clothes were frayed, her shoes were falling apart, but she was still playing her game. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested. The way her eyes faintly gleamed whenever she saw his car, the way she unconsciously touched her nose when she lied—Asher had been around the block enough times to know. She was playing the long game. And even knowing that, he wanted to see what this seemingly innocent girl would do next.

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It had been two months since I broke up with Julian after our cold war, and he still hadn’t sent me a single text. I couldn’t take it anymore. I was ready to cave and apologize first. But that very day, I suddenly received a confession from the school’s poorest student, Hudson. I was about to reject him when a wall of text—like a livestream chat—flashed before my eyes: “LMAO, the side chick actually thinks Hudson likes her.” “He just lost a bet with the female lead. He’s forced to confess.” “Poor male lead. Just realized his crush is pushing him away, and now he has to get rejected by this shallow, gold-digging prom queen.” “Must be heartbroken!” “It’s okay, it’s okay! Once he gets reclaimed by the billionaire Harper family in New York, worth billions, our female lead will come running back!” …Wait, what? The Harper family from New York? The super rich one? Hold up! Pause the makeup session. I want this broke boy! 1 I am a gold digger. But I’m good at hiding it. Usually, I treat all my classmates equally and with kindness. Except when it comes to dating. My bottom line is non-negotiable— He has to be rich. And, of course, hot. Julian was the closest thing to my ideal in my eighteen years of life. His family is loaded, old money. Rumor has it they’re second only to the Harper family in New York. Of course, a family like the Harpers is out of my league. Julian was arrogant, cold, and high-maintenance. I chased him for months before he finally agreed to be my boyfriend. But once we were together, he constantly complained that I wasn’t clingy or caring enough. He’d threaten to break up over anything. “Let’s just end it. You only chased me for my money anyway.” “I saw you talking to the basketball captain. Interested in him now?” “Don’t let that used McLaren fool you; it’s worthless.” “Block his number right now, or I’m done!” This happened all the time. By now, he’d practically monitored every good-looking guy in my contacts. Two months ago, Julian picked another fight. The reason? I was twenty minutes late to his birthday party. “This shows you don’t value me!” “You weren’t late to the school assembly! Am I less important to you than the principal?” “Let’s break up. We need to cool off!” Same old routine. Are they even comparable? I’m not a trust fund baby like him. I can’t just offend the principal whenever I feel like it. I was getting tired of it anyway, so I just went along with it. “Fine. Break up then.” “Don’t contact me.” 2 That day, Julian’s face went pale. He glared at me for a long time before smashing a bottle of wine worth thousands on the floor. And true to his word, he never contacted me again. Two months passed. I calmed down. Let’s face it, Julian was the ceiling of what I could reach. Who doesn’t love money? My family is average. My parents favor my younger brother and give him everything good. I want out. But I’m not smart enough. Even studying my butt off only gets me into the top 80 of my grade. My biggest asset is this face… So what if I use my looks to get ahead and satisfy my ambition? What’s wrong with that? Thinking like this made me feel better instantly. School was just letting out. Julian had been playing basketball every afternoon lately. I packed my bag and headed to the courts. I planned to intercept him, apologize, act cute, and smooth things over. But just as I reached the gym entrance, someone unexpected called my name— Hudson. 3 Hudson. Our school’s famous genius. Always number one in the grade. He’s 6’2″, super hot, and once narrowly beat Julian for the title of School Hottie— One of those votes came from me. No ulterior motive. Hudson is just exactly my type. My Libra nature demanded fairness, so I gave him a vote. But aside from that, I had almost zero interaction with him. He kept to himself, barely speaking to anyone. Rumors said someone saw his mom scavenging for vegetable scraps at the market. Others said his dad died young, and his grandma was sick, costing tens of thousands a year in medical bills. Basically, Hudson’s family was struggling. He applied for financial aid every year and worked part-time at a boba shop and a convenience store. In the cafeteria, he only bought the two cheapest veggie dishes. Even the girls wouldn’t be full on that, let alone a growing boy. Once, feeling generous, I took fifty bucks from my allowance and secretly slipped it into his pencil case. Anonymous. Now, at the gym entrance. When Hudson called my name, I frowned— Did he find out about the fifty bucks? In those cliché novels, these poor but proud scholars usually have massive egos. He probably thinks I was trying to humiliate him. Is he here to pick a fight? Before I could come up with a defense, his next words stunned me. “Sophia.” “I like you.” “Will you be my girlfriend?” 4 I was dumbfounded. The gym entrance was crowded. I looked back toward the basketball courts. Julian had walked out without me noticing. He must have just finished playing; sweat was dripping from his forehead. A few of his friends were around him, all looking at us with interest. They were talking loudly, not bothering to lower their voices. “Hey, isn’t that Sophia, Julian’s ex?” “Ex? Watch your mouth, bro. Ex-girlfriend!” “Haha, right! Ex. Gotta say, Sophia’s got backbone this time. Two months! Usually, she’d be crawling back by now.” “Did she find a rebound?” “Oof, Hudson. The scholarship kid.” “Julian, you think she’ll say yes?” Hearing them, I felt awkward. I instinctively looked at Julian. I wanted to give him a look, tell him not to misunderstand. But he never even looked my way. He just bounced the ball, looking bored. Like he was watching something completely irrelevant to him, he smirked mockingly. “Hm?” “Why would I care? Hudson’s a top student. If he likes Sophia, she’s punching up.” My heart sank. Julian really didn’t like me much, did he? He only accepted me because I chased him so hard. Agreeing to break up must have been a relief for him. That’s fine. Not trying to get back together saves me some dignity. 5 Even though I wasn’t planning on getting back with Julian, I wasn’t going to say yes to Hudson either. We’d spoken maybe twenty sentences in three years of high school. Starting a relationship out of nowhere seemed irresponsible to both of us. Just as I was about to reject him, a wall of text floated before my eyes— “Here it comes! The drama! The male lead confesses to the side character!” “Haha, look at her face. Does she really think Hudson likes her?” “It’s just a dare he lost to the female lead. Forced confession.” “Sigh, poor guy. Just realized his crush doesn’t like him and is pushing him to someone else. Now he has to get rejected by this shallow girl.” “Must hurt!” “Don’t worry! Once he gets reclaimed by the billionaire Harper family in New York, worth billions, our female lead will come running back!” …What? The Harper family? New York billionaires? My heart rate spiked. I knew some gossip about the Harpers. Rumor had it Mrs. Harper was frail and only had one child. But due to a business rivalry, that son was kidnapped at four or five. Lost. Never found. Over a decade later, despite expanding their empire, the Harpers never stopped looking. The text kept scrolling. “Almost there! Three months until Hudson gets found!” “The Harper family is abroad right now. Once they meet the kidnapper in London and get the info, they’ll fly back immediately…” “Our boy won’t have to suffer anymore!” Three months. Okay. For someone who loves money as much as I do, how could I let a golden ticket slip away? I crinkled my eyes into a perfect smile. “Sure.” “I accept, Hudson.” I was so shocked by the floating text that I didn’t notice Julian behind me. I didn’t see his face go pale or his fingers tremble. 6 “What? She said yes?” “No way! Isn’t she a gold digger?!!!” “She only dated Julian for his money. Total snob.” “In the plot, she’s supposed to regret it only after Hudson becomes rich!” “Exactly!” “Besides, what about our Wendy?” Wendy. Hudson’s childhood friend. The “female lead” the chat was talking about. They said Wendy made a bet with Hudson to make him confess to me because she liked Julian (the “second male lead”) and wanted to kill any chance of Julian and me getting back together. In the original story, I rejected Hudson, and Julian didn’t take me back. Instead, this “pure” childhood friend went to comfort Hudson immediately. Hudson didn’t have feelings for me, but being rejected publicly is awkward. Wendy, the mastermind, played the innocent flower. She kept Hudson on a hook while spreading rumors that I was a shallow girl who looked down on poor people’s feelings. But secretly, she chased Julian. Until Hudson was found by his rich family. Then she finally “accepted” his feelings. Happy ending for everyone. 7 I had to admit, this girl was good. If she hadn’t dragged me into this stupid bet and spread rumors about me, we might have been friends. But not anymore. I wasn’t going to be nice to someone who wished me ill. I glanced at the corner. Wendy looked shocked that I said yes. She froze for a second, then looked delighted as she turned to Julian. Rumor had it I pestered Julian into dating me, and he was sick of it. Now that he was finally free, he must be happy, right? But as I stepped forward and took Hudson’s hand, the crowd gasped— Julian slammed the basketball onto the ground. Face blank, he pushed through the crowd and stormed out without a word. His friends chased after him, apologizing to the people he shoved. “Sorry, sorry, urgent business.” “No, he’s not mad! Julian’s in a great mood!” “Why the scary face? Maybe he didn’t play enough… hehehe…” “Don’t ask, we gotta go! Bye!”

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When Liam Sterling lost his memory, he forgot I was his sugar baby. He wired me a breakup fee and told me to get lost. I rubbed my pregnant belly and happily ran for the hills. Money? Check. Good genes for the kid? Check. No more catering to a demanding man? Double check. Life was good. But my happiness was short-lived. Every time I went to the hospital for a prenatal checkup, I bumped into Liam. Once, twice, three times… The more we met, the darker and more intense his gaze became. Terrified he might remember our past, I seriously considered fleeing the country. But then, he took a deep breath and strode toward me. After all those chance encounters, he finally spoke: “A man who doesn’t accompany his wife to prenatal checkups is trash.” “But a child shouldn’t grow up without a father.” “What I mean is… I fell for you at first sight.” “If I may ask… can I be your child’s father?” 01 I was Liam Sterling’s kept woman. Pretty, obedient, and suspiciously compatible with him in bed. That’s why Liam, known for being indifferent to women, did something that shocked everyone—he kept me around for three years. Just when people started whispering that he might actually be in love with me… He got into a car accident. And forgot only me. Damn you, Liam Sterling. Did you fake amnesia just to save on the severance package? I was fuming silently while his assistant, Wang, relayed the amnesiac Liam’s verdict over the phone. He put it delicately. “Miss Summers, after the accident, Mr. Sterling finds his past behavior of keeping a mistress… baffling. He doesn’t believe he has any feelings for you and doesn’t wish to see you again. I’m afraid you’ll need to move out of the villa at Sunset Bay within two days.” Sunset Bay was where Liam stashed me. It was also where we’d spent three years tangling in the sheets. After three years, it felt kinda like home. I’d decorated the place with pink lace and filled the garden with sunflowers. So, hearing I had to leave made me a little sad. But hey, his property, his rules. His money, too. I nodded listlessly, ready to pack up and leave empty-handed. Then Wang cleared his throat. “Mr. Sterling isn’t heartless. He knows you’ve been with him for three years. So, he’s transferring a breakup fee and gifting you an apartment in the suburbs. The only condition is… you don’t contact him again.” Ding. A text notification from my bank. Seven figures. My sadness evaporated. Fireworks exploded in my brain. Pew! Pew! Pew! I tried to suppress a grin as I promised Wang: “Don’t worry! I’ll move out today! I promise never to appear in front of Mr. Sterling again!” I was laughing all the way to the bank. I had money, and I was carrying a baby with top-tier DNA. Plus, I no longer had to service a man with an insatiable appetite. Jackpot. 02 Yes, I’m pregnant. I love kids. When I first found out, I tried testing the waters with Liam. “Do you like kids?” He shot it down instantly. “No. Noisy and annoying.” He glanced at me, frowning. “Do you want kids?” His expression was dead serious. Like if I said yes, he’d kick me out on the spot. So, naturally, I lied through my teeth. I shook my head vigorously. “No way! I hate kids. Besides, people in our… situation shouldn’t have kids…” No status, no ring. I thought my answer was perfect. It clearly expressed Liam’s sentiments. But Liam looked like he’d swallowed a bad mushroom. He snapped. “What situation?” “You don’t want to have a child with me?” His reading comprehension skills were clearly lacking. So I mentally flipped him off behind his back. Of course, the dog of a man threw me onto the bed anyway. Luckily, the kid was tough. Even with his dad pounding away like a pile driver all night, he held on. But that just confirmed my decision. So when amnesiac Liam told me to scram… I took the money and ran, happily. 03 I transferred the apartment deed that same day. Moved in overnight. Started my blissful life of incubating. Days were for walks, cooking, and freelance art commissions. Nights were for reading, music, and liking videos of hot guys on TikTok. Back when I was Liam’s canary, life wasn’t this good. The psycho had a rule: one like on a hot guy video equaled one round in bed. Sure, he was hot and good in the sack, but my waist couldn’t take the abuse. So I had to watch hot guys in secret. Liking? Never dared. Now? I was free. I fell in love with 108 different guys a day. My like button was on fire. And the next video was always hotter. Materially secure, mentally thriving. Life was bliss. Time flew. Soon, it was time for my prenatal checkup. Thinking about seeing my little bean made me giddy with happiness. So giddy, I ignored the tiny sliver of unease in my gut. 04 I never expected to see Liam at a suburban hospital. I spotted him instantly in the crowded lobby. Bandaged head, blue and white striped patient gown. His glorious black hair was shaved into a buzz cut due to the injury. But it didn’t dim his looks. If anything, his features looked sharper, more striking. When his gaze swept over, I ducked my head in panic. Feeling his burning stare on the top of my head, I screamed internally. He’s the prince of a business empire! Even if he wasn’t at a private clinic, shouldn’t he be at a top-tier city hospital? What was he doing at a mediocre suburban public hospital? While I was cursing my luck, the gaze lifted. I peeked up cautiously. Liam’s back was disappearing into the crowd. I patted my chest, exhaling a breath I didn’t know I was holding. It’s fine. It’s fine. Everything is fine! He has amnesia. He forgot me. So even if he saw me, it’s fine. To him, I’m just a stranger. comforting myself, I headed to the OB-GYN department. 05 It’s 2025. Not many people are having babies. Getting a number and waiting was quick. The checkup went smoothly. When the doctor handed me the ultrasound and said the baby was healthy… I was nervous and excited. His arrival let me feel a blood connection again after losing my family. He was my miracle in this world. Even though he wasn’t born yet. I loved him. I was keeping him. I stared at the ultrasound happily, wondering how to preserve it. First photo! Need to laminate it, get a cute frame… “Oof!” Someone running towards me slammed into me. I couldn’t dodge. As I stumbled, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, steadied me, then instantly let go. I stood there, shaken, touching my belly as I watched the ultrasound photo drift to the floor. The person who hit me tossed a half-hearted “Sorry” over their shoulder and kept running. I cursed them silently and bent down to pick up the photo. I blew off the dust and looked up to thank the Good Samaritan. He was looking down at the ultrasound in my hand. When I saw his face, my voice died in my throat. Sharp brows, piercing eyes, high nose… The guy who just saved me and my baby was Liam Sterling? My jaw dropped. The “thank you” stuck in my throat. Liam looked me up and down, then at the photo. His usual icy face had evolved from a glacier to permafrost. I panicked. What if he remembered? What if he dragged me to get an abortion? Or worse, kept the kid and kicked me out? My imagination ran wild with terror. I blurted out: “The kid isn’t yours.” Regret hit instantly. Liam had amnesia. Why was I confessing? Talk about a self-own. I forced a smile and tried to salvage it: “Haha, just kidding.” “Thanks, handsome. My husband isn’t here right now. Good thing you caught me, or I couldn’t explain it to him. This baby is the heir the Wang family has been waiting for…” I started babbling nonsense. Liam’s face turned darker. Finally, unable to handle my rambling about the “Wang family heir,” he turned and walked away without a word. Holy crap. That was scary. Next time, definitely changing hospitals. I patted my chest, watching him walk away.

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My foreign language skills are a joke, so it’s ironic I’m dating Adrian, a diplomat fluent in eight. On my birthday, I waited excitedly at the upscale French restaurant he’d booked. The waiter had already approached me patiently seven times when Adrian finally texted: [Work came up. I ordered for you—please eat without me.] Soon after, I saw a post from Vivienne, his unforgettable ex: a photo of Adrian handing her a disposable bib while pausing his order. The caption: [He treated me, worried I’d starve because I forgot English~] Suddenly, the night felt meaningless. I handed the French menu—which I couldn’t read—back to the waiter. “One of everything, please.” After eating my fill and packing the rest, I saw dozens of missed calls. Adrian’s last message said: “Don’t overthink it. Vivienne’s new here—I was just helping. Next time, I’ll make it up to you.” I didn’t reply. If a relationship always needs a “next time,” is it really worth having? 1 I never expected to run into Adrian at a bar. I’d just settled into a booth with my best friend when a firm hand clamped down on my arm. Adrian’s eyes widened in disbelief when he saw it was me. “Amanda? You’re ignoring my texts to come out drinking this late?” Before I could say a word, my friend yanked my arm free and shot a look at the woman standing behind Adrian. “What’s the problem? It’s fine for you to be here alone with another woman, but she can’t be here with her best friend?” Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don’t jump to conclusions. Vivienne brought a client here to unwind. I was just worried they’d run into trouble if they drank too much, so I tagged along.” “Besides, I told Amanda where I was going. She just never replied…” He trailed off, a hint of frustration in his voice. I checked my phone. He was right; there were a few more messages from him, trying to soothe me and explaining where he was. I was genuinely surprised. Adrian, proactively telling me his whereabouts? In the past, if I even asked how long his business trips were, he’d shut me down. “Amanda, everyone needs their own space. Can you stop trying to keep tabs on me all the time?” It took a mountain of apologies and a solemn promise to never ask about his schedule again before he’d finally forgiven me. I pocketed my phone, my voice flat. “Sorry, I didn’t see them.” Adrian was speechless. Just then, Vivienne drifted over. “Adrian? If Amanda minds, you should just take her home. I’ll be fine getting a cab on my own.” I clinked glasses with my friend without looking up. “I don’t mind. You two do whatever you want.” Adrian’s brow furrowed as he gave me a once-over. “Amanda!” “Be good and go home first. If you want to drink, I’ll pick up a few pounds of your favorite crawfish after I drop Vivienne off, and we can drink all you want. How does that sound?” Adrian is a neat freak; he can’t stand strong smells in the house. After we got together, I gave up all my favorites: smoky barbecue, spicy curries, and messy crawfish boils. Assuming he was just desperate to get Vivienne back to her hotel, I nodded vaguely. “Fine. You should get going.” He seemed surprised by how easily I agreed and ruffled my hair as a reward. “Good girl. Wait for me at home. I’ve already called you a car.” He left in such a hurry he didn’t even notice me flinch away from his touch. It was three in the morning when I finally got home. The moment I pushed the door open, I nearly collided with Adrian, who was clearly on his way out to look for me. He saw me and his voice was cold. “Amanda, do you have any idea what time it is? How old are you? You can’t just run off and come home this late like a teenager every time you’re upset.” I was so exhausted I could have passed out standing up. I didn’t have the energy to argue, so I tried to sidestep him and head to the bedroom. He blocked my path. “Stop being so jealous. If anything was going to happen between Vivienne and me, it would have happened long before you came along.” He pulled a small jewelry box from his pocket. “Here. Your birthday present. You’re another year older now, so you can’t keep acting as petty and childish as you did tonight.” I was too tired to even speak. I took the box without a glance and walked toward the bedroom. “Right. Thanks for the gift.” I tossed it onto the nightstand. Whatever. I crawled into bed and shut my eyes. I was dead to the world before I could even register the sound of the front door slamming shut. 2 The next morning, I woke up and scrolled through my phone to clear my head. That’s when I realized Adrian had stormed out last night. Vivienne had a new post up. [Wish time could just stand still right here.] The picture was of her and Adrian, their backs to the camera, watching the sunrise from a mountaintop. I gave it a like and sighed. Well, good for you two. A shame my front door had to suffer for it. After a quick breakfast, I took a cab to the office. My manager was thrilled and relieved when I told her I would accept the overseas assignment. She’d been so disappointed when I’d turned it down before, not wanting a long-distance relationship with Adrian. “You’ve finally come to your senses! Transportation is so convenient these days, a two-hour train ride is all it takes to see each other. You know what they say, ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder.’” I smiled at her teasing before finally telling her the truth. “I’m planning on breaking up with him.” I finished the transfer paperwork right as the lunch bell rang. My work friends insisted on taking me out for a farewell meal. Laughing, we all piled into the elevator. But as soon as we stepped out of the building, Adrian materialized out of nowhere, shoving a bouquet of flowers into my arms. “A peace offering.” My colleagues erupted in good-natured laughter. “Whoa! What did you do to get on our sweet Amanda’s bad side, Adrian? You’re even waiting with flowers!” “Haha, you’re too late, Adrian! We’ve already booked Amanda for lunch.” Adrian took my hand, steering me toward his car while offering apologies over his shoulder. “So sorry, everyone. Amanda and I have an emergency. I’ll treat you all next week to make up for it!” Thinking something serious had happened at home, I said my goodbyes and let him guide me into the passenger seat. The first thing I did was toss the bouquet into the back before buckling my seatbelt. Adrian got in just in time to see it. His lips thinned. At the next red light, he couldn’t hold it in any longer. “You don’t like them?” I was busy handing off work tasks on my phone and it took me a moment to look up. “What?” His words finally registered. “Oh, the flowers,” I realized. “I’m allergic to pollen. Did you forget again?” Adrian froze, a look of deep regret on his face. “I’m sorry. I’ll remember this time. I promise.” My eyes were already back on my phone. “It’s fine.” It wasn’t the first time. How could a diplomatic genius who could converse fluently in obscure languages fail to remember something so simple? He just didn’t care enough. But it didn’t matter anymore. I didn’t need him to. “We’re here.” Just as Adrian announced our arrival, I finalized my start date with the branch office. I glanced out the window and saw we weren’t at our apartment complex, but in an airport parking garage. I was confused. Before I could ask, Adrian was already opening my door, pulling me by the hand. He was pulling me in a mad dash through the terminal. I was a little stunned. In my mind, Adrian had always been the epitome of calm and collected maturity. This boyish, energetic side of him was something I’d only ever seen in Vivienne’s Instagram posts. “Come on, Amanda, hurry! Our flight is already boarding.” It was only after I was breathless in my seat that I had a chance to ask him what was going on. “What’s wrong? Did something happen to your family?” His family lived abroad, so that was my first assumption. Adrian was still catching his breath. He tucked our passports and IDs safely away. “I know you haven’t used your vacation days this year.” “You’ve always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, right? I’m on leave, so I thought I’d take you. Please, don’t be mad at me anymore, okay?” It hit me then. In three years together, this was our first trip. Because every single one of his previous vacations had been claimed by Vivienne. Or rather, Adrian’s vacations were for Vivienne. He would go with her on a safari in Africa, chase the Northern Lights in Iceland, or see kangaroos in Australia. But when I asked him to just explore a few local coffee shops with me, he was always too busy with work. Whatever. I’ll just think of it as a breakup trip. A final, clean break. I pushed down the urge to end things right there. “Wait, if we just boarded like this, what about our luggage?” Adrian patted my head. “Don’t you worry, my little planner. I was afraid we’d miss the flight, so I had a friend who’s also heading to Paris take our bags to the hotel ahead of us.” I nodded, my mind elsewhere. Thank God I was between assignments. If I had to request time off this suddenly, I wasn’t sure my company would have approved. 3 It was late at night when the plane landed. We’d just pulled up to the hotel when Adrian’s phone shattered the quiet. He answered. “Don’t cry. Stay right where you are. I’m coming now.” He snatched the car keys back from the doorman, his face etched with anxiety. “Amanda, Vivienne followed us to Paris.” “It’s not safe here at night, I’m worried something might happen to her. You go on up to the room and get some rest. I’ll be back as soon as I pick her up.” With that, he floored the gas and sped off into the distance. He completely forgot that not only do I not speak the language, but he also had both our passports and IDs. The trip was so sudden I hadn’t had a chance to set up international roaming. Unable to contact Adrian, I tried using a translation app to communicate with the front desk, but without any identification, I ended up stuck in the lobby, waiting. The long flight and the late hour were catching up to me. I was dozing off on a plush sofa in the lobby. The airport was only a half-hour drive from the hotel. But the clock hands made two full rotations, and there was still no sign of Adrian. I couldn’t be bothered to imagine what he and Vivienne were doing. I closed my eyes, ready to drift off again, when a deep voice suddenly sounded right beside my ear. “Amanda?” My sleepiness vanished instantly. I whipped my head around in shock. “Leo! What are you doing here?” I jumped to my feet, overjoyed. Seeing a familiar face in a foreign country—especially your high school desk mate of three years—was an incredible relief. Leo walked over, a warm smile on his face. “Here on business. Managed to close the deal a few days early.” His eyes scanned the lobby before narrowing slightly. “Did Adrian bring you? Where is he?” He’d immediately ruled out the possibility of me traveling alone. Anyone who knew me knew my talent for foreign languages was zero. I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the front desk, waving a dismissive hand. “He went to pick up a friend.” “Just get me a room, quick. I’m about to pass out.” Before we parted ways, Leo made sure to add, “They couldn’t give us adjacent rooms on such short notice. I’m just upstairs in 1312. Come find me if you need anything.” I nodded. “Got it, got it. You’re still such a nag, just like in high school.” “Go get some sleep. Good morning.” 4 I hadn’t been asleep for long when a series of loud bangs on the door woke me. Thinking it was Leo, I stumbled to the door, eyes still closed, and opened it. The person on the other side immediately pulled me into a tight hug. “Amanda, are you out of your mind? You’d actually sleep in a room some strange man got for you? Do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for you?” The fog of sleep finally cleared. I pushed Adrian away. “And what was I supposed to do? Sit in the lobby like an idiot and wait for you all night?” Adrian’s anger deflated. He was so taken aback by me pushing him away that he forgot to be shocked. He opened his mouth, then closed it. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Vivienne lost her passport, and I was helping her look for it at the airport.” He reached for my hand. “Amanda, come back to our room with me. This one will be perfect for Vivienne.” I sidestepped his touch, my voice flat. “No need. I trust you two. After all, if anything was going to happen between you, it would have happened long before I came along.” Adrian froze. Those were his own words, the ones he always used to brush me off. Like the time two years ago when Vivienne came back for a visit, forgot her pajamas, and wore his t-shirt to bed. Or last year, when she got a single mosquito bite and insisted on being cradled in his arms like a princess. And just this year, when she borrowed his electric razor to shave her legs. Every time I felt their interactions crossed a line and asked for some distance, he would placate me with that exact phrase. I yawned, too tired to deal with him anymore, and slammed the door in his face. I fell back onto the bed, eager to get back to sleep. 5 In my dreams, I vaguely remember hearing more banging on the door. It wasn’t until I woke up and saw a note, some cash, and my passport slipped under the door that I realized it hadn’t been a dream at all. [Amanda, I’m taking Vivienne to get a replacement passport. I’ll be back as soon as we’re done. Don’t be afraid to spend the money. I’ll take you for a boat ride on the Seine tomorrow.] I pocketed the cash and my passport, tossing the note into the trash on my way out. After getting ready, I stepped out of my room and ran right into Leo, who was just about to knock. I beamed. “Leo, what a coincidence!” Leo smiled back. “It is.” “Is Adrian here? I think I saw him leaving with someone when I went down for breakfast this morning.” “He’s probably not back yet,” I answered simply, not wanting to let irrelevant people ruin a perfectly good vacation. Leo took my bag from my shoulder. “Well, in that case, want to go see the Eiffel Tower this afternoon? I’ve chartered a boat.” “Really?” I couldn’t hide my excitement. “Let’s go! I’ve been dying to find out if the coffee by the Seine is as good as they say!” The Parisian sun was especially bright that day. Leo and I walked through the Arc de Triomphe, cruised down the Seine, listened to a violinist play by the riverbank, and finally had dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower. When we got back to the hotel, I left my door ajar since Leo was going to bring his camera down to transfer the photos to my laptop. A message from him came through: [Amanda, the hot water is out on the 13th floor. Would you mind if I used your shower?] I replied: [Sure, no problem. Bring the camera down with you.] Leo handed me the camera and disappeared into the bathroom with a change of clothes. I was completely absorbed in scrolling through the beautiful pictures. When a knock came at the door, I instinctively called out in English, “Just a second!” At that moment, Leo emerged from the bathroom and went to open the door for me. The next thing I heard was a guttural snarl: “You bastard.” I looked up just in time to see Adrian swing his fist at Leo. Adrian pointed a trembling finger at Leo, who stood there bare-chested, a single white towel wrapped around his waist. His eyes, blazing red, locked onto mine. “Who is he?”

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I came back from a week-long business trip to find a jade “Fertility Buddha” sitting in my husband’s home office. He lied and said a client gifted it for “good fortune.” I immediately pulled up his new intern’s Instagram. There it was—a post from three days ago, geo-tagged at a famous spiritual temple known for fertility blessings. The caption read: “Prayed for a son. Hoping Mr. J gets his heart’s desire.” I realized instantly: My husband, Julian, wasn’t just cheating; he was trying to secure an heir via a surrogate. Before I could screenshot it, the post was deleted. Julian immediately texted me, claiming the intern was his “distant, slow-witted cousin” and told me not to overthink it. I stared at his lies, full of holes like Swiss cheese. I replied with a simple “Okay.” Then, I forwarded the screenshots directly to our angel investor. “Mr. Sterling, would you be interested in hearing about how Julian is embezzling company funds to pay for his ‘cousin’s’ surrogacy plan?” 1 “Oh?” Mr. Sterling’s reply came instantly. I put away my phone and walked into the study, staring at that jade statue. I’d been married to Julian for five years. We went from having nothing to listing our company on the stock exchange. He used to value his reputation above everything. Now, this statue was a monument to his greed, a god invited into our home to bless his betrayal. At 10 PM, Julian came home. He tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa. His collar was loose, and he reeked of alcohol and a perfume that definitely wasn’t mine. “I’m back,” he said flatly, heading straight for the wet bar. “Mmhmm,” I responded, my eyes landing on his wrist. It was bare. The Patek Philippe I bought him was gone. I had bought that watch for his 30th birthday with the first big check we ever earned. He swore it was a witness to our struggle and that he’d wear it forever. “Where’s your watch?” I asked. He paused mid-pour, keeping his back to me. “Sent it in for maintenance.” “Which shop? I’ll pick it up tomorrow.” Julian turned around, brows furrowed, impatience written all over his face. “Chloe, can you stop being so aggressive? I’ve been working all day. I’m exhausted.” He always did this. Whenever his lies were on the verge of collapsing, he used fatigue and gaslighting to shut me up. I didn’t argue. I just went to the bedroom. Once the door was closed, I sent Mr. Sterling a second message. “That watch on his wrist is worth seven figures. It’s currently on Mia’s wrist.” “Also, I audited the company’s accounts for the last six months. There are several ‘procurement’ payments that lead to nowhere.” This time, Sterling replied even faster. “Send me the address.” The next day, I didn’t go to my office. I went straight to Julian’s department. Mia’s cubicle was easy to find. It was in the prime spot, with a bouquet of fresh white roses on the desk. She looked exactly like her name—innocent and harmless. She was wearing a white dress, organizing files. And there, dangling loosely on her slender wrist, was a massive men’s luxury watch. Julian’s Patek Philippe. I walked over and tapped on her desk. She looked up, saw me, and immediately stood up. “Mrs. Zhou? I mean… Chloe? Why are you here?” Colleagues started to look over, curious. “Looking for Julian,” I smiled, staring pointedly at her wrist. “That’s a unique watch.” Mia instinctively tried to hide her hand behind her back, but it was too late. Her face flushed crimson. “Oh… this… it belongs to my cousin. He… he was afraid he’d lose it at home, so he asked me to safeguard it.” “Cousin?” I feigned shock. “Since when does Julian have a sister? Why didn’t I know?” She bit her lip, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. “Chloe, I… I’m Julian’s distant cousin. He probably didn’t think it was worth mentioning such a small thing to you.” “A small thing?” I stopped smiling. “When it comes to Julian, nothing is a small thing to me.” Mia’s face went from red to pale. She looked like she was about to faint. Just then, Julian stormed out of his office. He rushed over, shielding Mia behind him, and glared at me. “Chloe! What kind of scene are you causing here?” He didn’t ask what happened. He just convicted me on the spot. Watching him protect another woman like that felt like swallowing broken glass. “I’m causing a scene?” I laughed coldly, pointing at Mia. “Why don’t you ask her to explain why your watch is on her wrist?” Julian’s expression turned ugly. He clearly didn’t expect me to storm the office over a watch. He glanced at the gathering crowd and lowered his voice. “This is a place of business. Let’s talk at home.” “Home?” I repeated the word. “Which home? The one with me, or the one you bought for her?” 2 Julian was speechless. He grabbed my arm and practically dragged me into his office. The moment the door clicked shut, he exploded. “What is wrong with you?! Do you have to air our dirty laundry in public?” “I just want the truth,” I said calmly. “The truth is she is my cousin! I let her wear the watch for a few days to show off to her friends! Is that a crime?” I looked at him and suddenly felt nothing but pity. When did our marriage become nothing but cheap lies? Just then, my phone rang. It was my mother-in-law. I put it on speaker. Her shrill voice filled the room. “Chloe! Are you harassing Julian at work again? Do you have no shame? A woman running around in public like that… people will think the Zhou family relies on you to eat!” She paused to take a breath. “And let me tell you, don’t think you can hide it forever. If you can’t get pregnant, stop hogging the position! The Zhou bloodline cannot end with you!” Julian’s face went white. He tried to snatch the phone, but I dodged him. “Mom, what do you mean by that?” I asked. “What do I mean? Julian told me everything! Five years and your stomach has been flat as a board. The doctor said you’re the problem! You can’t carry a child!” Her voice got louder. “Now that his cousin is finally willing to help out as a surrogate, you have the nerve to cause trouble? Do you want the whole world to know you’re a hen that can’t lay eggs?” So that was it. He had scripted the whole thing. He pushed all the blame onto me. I hung up and looked at Julian. He looked away, terrified to meet my gaze. “Julian.” I enunciated every word. “Is that what you told her?” He was silent for a long time before squeezing a sentence through his teeth. “I just… didn’t want her to worry.” “Didn’t want her to worry? Or were you paving the way to bring your illegitimate child home?” He snapped his head up. “Chloe, since you know, I won’t hide it.” “I need a son. I need an heir for everything we’ve built.” “And you can’t give me one.” Finally. The mask was off. “So, the baby in Mia’s belly is yours?” I stared into his eyes, looking for a shred of guilt. I found none. Only entitlement. “We haven’t… yet. But soon,” he looked away. “Mia is a good girl. She’s willing to bear my child without asking for a title.” “Without asking for a title?” I laughed out loud. “So the Patek Philippe, the luxury apartment she just leased, and the cash transfers you’ve been making… those just fell from the sky?” Julian’s expression shifted rapidly. “That’s just compensation!” “Compensation?” I stepped closer. “Are you compensating your mistress with company funds?” He was cornered. Shame turned into rage. “Enough! Chloe! This doesn’t concern you! Just stay in your lane as Mrs. Zhou and I won’t mistreat you!” “Mrs. Zhou?” I looked at him. “You know what? I really don’t want that title anymore.” I turned to leave. He grabbed me from behind. “Where are you going?” 3 “Somewhere without you.” I shook off his hand and walked out of the office without looking back. Julian didn’t come home that night. I sat alone in the empty living room, reviewing the files Mr. Sterling had sent me. One was a medical report. Mia’s. It clearly stated she was already six weeks pregnant. So even his “soon” was a lie. He had already done the deed. I flipped through the pages. The man who claimed he loved me, who said I was the only one, had created a new life with another woman weeks ago. The most disgusting part? The payment record for the prenatal checkup came from the corporate account. He was expensing his mistress’s ultrasound to the company. Julian, you truly have no bottom line. My phone buzzed. A text from Julian. “My mom’s heart is acting up. I’m staying at the hospital with her. Go to sleep.” Another lie. I clicked on the live location tracker Mr. Sterling had provided. He and Mia were currently at the city’s most expensive French restaurant, enjoying a candlelight dinner. In the attached photo, Mia was cradling her belly, and Julian was looking at her with pure adoration. Champagne, red wine, and 99 red roses on the table. How ironic. In five years of marriage, he never looked at me like that. Even on my birthdays, he used “busy work” as an excuse to buy a generic cake. But for a pregnant mistress, money was no object. I closed the app and called my mother-in-law. “Mom, Julian said your heart is acting up. Are you okay?” On the other end, the old woman scoffed. “I’m fine! At least he has a conscience and cares about me. Unlike some people who only know how to make me angry.” I smiled. “That’s good. Mom, since you’re so healthy, you’ll definitely live to see your grandson.” “What grandson?” “Oh, right. I wanted to tell you.” “Julian told me Mia is pregnant. Six weeks along. It’s your biological grandson.” “What did you say?” “I said, Mia is pregnant. Six weeks,” I repeated calmly. “You’ll be holding a baby soon.” Heavy breathing came from the other end. After a long pause. “Really? You aren’t lying?” “I have no reason to lie,” I paused for effect. “However, Julian doesn’t seem to want to bring her into the family. He said Mia doesn’t want a title, she just wants to have the baby quietly.” “That won’t do!” The old lady exploded. “The Zhou bloodline cannot be illegitimate! No, I have to make him give Mia a proper status!” “But I’m his legal wife,” I reminded her softly. Silence. I knew that in her heart, my feelings were nothing compared to a hypothetical grandson. “Chloe,” her tone softened, dripping with fake sincerity. “Look, how about this? You divorce Julian for now. Let Mia have the baby. Then you two can remarry. The child will be registered under your name, you’ll still be the lady of the house, and no one can threaten your position.” She really thought she was a genius. Make me move aside, let the mistress birth the heir, then bring me back to raise it and pay the bills? Dream on. “Mom,” I chuckled. “Do you really think that’s possible?” I hung up. The next day, Julian called, furious. “Chloe! What nonsense did you feed my mother? She’s forcing me to divorce you and marry Mia!” “I just told her the facts.” “What facts? I never said I was going to marry her!” Julian sounded panicked. I listened to his impotent rage with total calm. “Julian, did you ever consider that maybe… this is exactly what Mia wants?” He froze. I didn’t give him time to recover. I hung up. Then, I texted Mr. Sterling. “Let’s begin.” 4 The next morning, the company was in chaos. Mr. Sterling, as the majority shareholder, demanded a complete audit of the last year’s financials and froze the funds for several projects. Julian, as the project lead, was immediately suspended pending investigation. He called me, his voice shaking with rage. “Chloe, you did this, didn’t you?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Don’t play dumb! Why would Sterling suddenly audit us? You told him something!” I walked into the study, picked up the jade fertility statue, and weighed it in my hand. “Julian, when you embezzled public funds, you should have seen this coming.” “I didn’t embezzle anything! Those were necessary expenses for business development!” Still lying. “Is that so? Renting a luxury apartment for Mia, buying Patek Philippes, taking trips to spiritual temples… that’s business development?” Dead silence on the other end. Finally, he gritted his teeth. “What do you want?” “Divorce.” Two words. “Impossible!” He refused instantly. “Chloe, I admit I messed up, but we don’t need to go nuclear. Give me time. I’ll handle Mia.” “Handle?” I laughed. “You mean wait until she births your ‘dragon heir,’ then kick me to the curb?” “No!” He denied it frantically. “I just… I just wanted a child. The Zhou family line hangs on a single thread…” “So you hired a womb and pinned the infertility on me?” I cut him off. “Julian, you disgust me.” I hung up and blocked him. Moments later, his mother called. “Chloe, dear, Mom was wrong. I was confused yesterday, that’s why I said those awful things.” “Don’t hold it against Julian. He was just confused for a moment.” “You’ve been together so long, there’s no hurdle we can’t cross. You can’t divorce him!” “If you leave him, what happens to the company? How will our family live?” I listened quietly. They weren’t afraid of hurting me. They were afraid of losing the money I brought in. “Mom.” I spoke. “When you were forcing me to divorce him yesterday, did you think about how we’d live?” “I… I didn’t…” “You said, ‘If a hen can’t lay eggs, she shouldn’t hog the nest.’” I repeated her words back to her. “Well, the nest is empty now. Go find your golden phoenix.” I hung up and blocked her too. 5 Julian was suspended. At the emergency board meeting, Mr. Sterling sat at the head of the table, looking grim. Julian stood in the center like a criminal, sweating under the shareholders’ glares. He tried to argue, blaming the accounting department for “negligence.” “I admit my management was lax, but I never pocketed a dime!” He spoke with such passion, acting like the victim. I pushed the door open right as he hit his crescendo. Every eye in the room turned to me. Julian saw me, his pupils shrinking. “Chloe? What are you doing here?” “I’m a shareholder. Why wouldn’t I be here?” I walked to my seat, sat down, and slapped a stack of documents onto the table. “Mr. Zhou just said he never pocketed a dime, correct?” He stiffened his neck. “Correct!” “Then please explain these transfers to Ms. Mia Lin’s personal account.” I projected the bank statements onto the big screen. Every amount, every date, clear as day. “And this apartment under her name. Rent is $5,000 a month, paid via the company petty cash fund.” “And this Patek Philippe watch. Seven figures. Marked as ‘Client Entertainment Expenses’.” Faced with hard evidence, Julian’s face drained of blood. He stared at me, eyes filled with hatred. “Chloe, you investigated me… just to ruin me?” “I’m not ruining you,” I said calmly. “I’m exterminating a pest in the company.” The room erupted. An older shareholder pointed a shaking finger at him. “Julian! We trusted you! You used company money to keep a mistress?! Do you have no conscience?” Julian had no defense. Suddenly, he turned on me. “It’s you! You forced me to do this!” He screamed like a maniac. “You’re domineering! You’re bossy! You control everything! I have no dignity in my own home! That’s why I made a mistake!” “You think you’re a saint? If it wasn’t for your dad back then…” Bang! Mr. Sterling slammed his hand on the table and stood up. “Enough! Julian, this is a boardroom, not a street corner! Security!” “Get him out of here!” Two guards dragged Julian away as he kicked and screamed. “Chloe! You’ll die screaming! Just you wait!” The heavy doors slammed shut, cutting off his curse. I sat in my chair, feeling cold all over. His last words stabbed precisely into the oldest wound in my heart.

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My husband’s “best female friend” went into premature labor and specifically asked for me to deliver the baby. When she needed a blood transfusion and required a family member’s signature, Logan gripped my shoulders, his nails digging into my skin. He screamed: “You must save my wife and child! Or I’ll tear this hospital apart!” I am his wife. Yet he was calling another woman his wife. “Mr. Rhodes, calm down! Dr. Miller is doing her best!” the midwife yelled. “And… isn’t Dr. Miller your wife?” Logan froze for a split second. But only a second. Immediately, he reverted to his frantic state, his grip tightening until I thought my bones would snap. “Lexi means everything to me. If anything happens to her or the kid, I swear I won’t let you off the hook!” he threatened. The midwife tried to defend me. “Mr. Rhodes, how can you treat your actual wife like this for a friend?” Logan’s eyes were bloodshot as he roared, “A wife is worthless to me! I can replace a wife any day, but Lexi is my partner, my soulmate! She is more important than my life!” A sharp, stinging pain spread across my chest. We were married. We had the ceremony, the prenup, and lived together for over a year. But we never signed the official marriage license. He said we’d do it after a two-year “trial period.” I waited patiently for over four hundred days, only for it to boil down to “I can replace a wife any day.” I took a deep breath and slapped him across the face. Hard. His handsome, cold face swelled instantly. His bodyguards rushed forward, but Logan stopped them, glaring at me with red eyes. “You’re a doctor, Susan. Don’t forget your duty.” 1 Logan threatened the hospital’s reputation, so the Chief of Staff forced me back into surgery. In the end, Lexi delivered a baby boy. Logan and Lexi’s actual husband were ecstatic. When I did my rounds wearing a mask, Logan’s younger sister, Lola, was holding the baby, smiling at me. “Thank you for saving Lexi for my brother. You don’t know how much she means to him.” Logan never told his family about my job, so Lola didn’t recognize me behind the surgical mask. She innocently told me the story of Logan and Lexi. She talked about how they’d known each other since they were thirteen, how Lexi was his right hand in business. She even mentioned how depressed Logan was when Lexi got married, and how he “gave up” and married some random woman just to fill the slot. That random woman was me. For the first time, I realized that in everyone’s eyes, Lexi was the indispensable light of his life. I was just the consolation prize he settled for. I let out a low, uncontrolled sob, interrupting Lola. As everyone in the ward turned to look, I pulled off my mask. “Susan? Why are you so loud? Don’t you know Lexi needs rest?” Logan didn’t explain himself. Instead, he stared at me coldly, his voice dripping with disgust. “With that attitude, how are you even a doctor? Come here and apologize to Lexi!” I didn’t respond. I clenched my trembling fingers and turned around. It wasn’t that I was afraid to face him. I just suddenly didn’t want this anymore. Trying to sustain a relationship alone is exhausting. Watching me walk away seemed to anger him further. He turned to his assistant. “Tell the Director to suspend Susan. She can come back to work when she learns how to apologize.” Then, his voice softened as he looked at Lexi. “Did she scare you? Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one can bully you.” 2 Luo’s call reached the Director’s office before I did. But I had already printed my resignation letter. The Director frowned, sighing. “Susan, just apologize to Mr. Rhodes. You’re our most promising OB/GYN. A suspension will hurt your record.” I placed my resignation letter on his desk. “Director, I’m resigning. I’m going abroad for my fellowship.” He paused, then nodded. “You should have gone years ago. Logan held you back.” I met Logan at an alumni mixer. He needed a wife to secure a contract; I needed a marriage to give my terminally ill mother peace of mind. We hit it off. I asked to make it legal immediately. He said his company was unstable and didn’t want his potential debts to affect me. I believed him. I signed the agreement and gave him my heart. Later, I found out his company was massive. After he used me to secure that project, he never mentioned our relationship publicly again. To the world, Lexi, who was always by his side, was his partner. I used to fight with him about it. He never comforted me. Instead, he’d grab my face, eyes full of disdain. “You only know how to hold a scalpel. You can’t help me in business. Lexi is different; she has vision. She doesn’t care about titles. While you’re being petty, she’s helping me build an empire. Instead of being jealous, go read a book.” I had angrily shown him my acceptance letter for a PhD program at Harvard Medical School. He had hugged me tight, dominantly declaring, “You’re not going. I forbid it.” I missed my first chance to go because I thought his possessiveness meant he loved me. But in the end? I was just a disposable object. 3 I was finishing my handover. As I saw my last patient out, I ran into Logan picking up Lexi. I looked at them indifferently and didn’t say a word. But Lexi dragged Logan over to me, speaking in that soft, sugary voice. “Susan, thank you so much. Without you, my son and I would have been in danger. I heard Logan lost his temper with you. He’s just like that—he loses control whenever it concerns me. Don’t be mad at him, I apologize on his behalf.” Then, her gaze dropped to my stomach. She adopted the tone of a wise elder. “But really, a woman needs a child to stabilize a family. You should stop working and go home to focus on getting pregnant. Logan, you love kids. Let Susan give you one.” Logan pinched her nose affectionately, smiling teasingly. “She doesn’t have your good fortune.” I knew Lexi baited him into saying that. In the past, I would have fought back. Now, watching their PDA, I just felt tired. I waved my hand dismissively. “I can’t afford that kind of fortune. Mr. Rhodes, please save it all for Miss Lexi.” I walked into the elevator without looking back. Maybe the cold “Mr. Rhodes” triggered him. As I walked out of the hospital, he grabbed my wrist. He tried to drag me into his car, but I slammed my hand against the door, refusing. “Susan, haven’t you made enough of a scene?” “I’m not making a scene.” He frowned at my blank expression. “Lexi’s husband was there. What you said could cause a misunderstanding.” I laughed, disgusted. I pushed him away. “If you were actually afraid of her husband misunderstanding, you wouldn’t have acted like the father in the delivery room, and you wouldn’t be holding her waist right now.” “She’s my best friend. Physical contact is normal,” Logan insisted, arrogant as always. “Is asking her to have your baby normal too?” I scoffed. Logan lost his patience. “If you want to think that way, I can’t stop you.” He got into the car. “You’re emotional. I won’t come home for a few days. We’ll talk when you calm down.” He rolled up the window and drove off. The black sedan disappeared from my sight, just as he completely disappeared from my heart. 4 My visa was processed quickly. The day I booked my flight, Lola found me. Lola was different from her brother. She was innocent and rarely interacted with me, which is why she had praised Lexi that day in the hospital. Once she found out the truth, she stopped associating with Lexi. When I told her I was leaving, she looked sad. “You were with my brother for so long. Can you really let go?” I nodded. “I can.” When you give everything and get nothing but coldness in return, even the strongest heart eventually shatters beyond repair. Seeing I was serious, Lola started crying. She was pregnant by accident. She wanted to tell Logan, but Logan, taking Lexi’s advice, was planning to marry her off to some business partner she hated. She wanted to keep the baby and escape the arranged marriage. She asked if she could come with me. I was surprised. Logan was willing to sacrifice his innocent sister just because Lexi suggested it? It turned out, Lexi really was the only person he wouldn’t sacrifice. Lola cried pitifully, and I agreed. I used my connections to get her into a auditing program at Harvard and used my ID to get her prenatal checkups done. Once the baby was cleared, we flew out. As soon as we landed in Boston, we found our bank accounts were frozen. It was Logan’s classic move. Starve us until we crawl back. He underestimated us. Lola sold her designer bags and watches. I had already secured a waitressing gig at a restaurant near campus. The neighborhood wasn’t the safest at night. One evening after my shift, I noticed a shadow following me. I gripped the pepper spray in my pocket, walking faster toward the main street taxi stand. Just as I reached the curb, a hand grabbed my shoulder. My heart sank. I spun around, aimed the can, and sprayed. “Hiss—!” A man covered his eyes with one hand. In the other, he held up a wallet with a Kuromi sticker on it. In fluent Mandarin, he gasped, “Student… is this your wallet?” 5 The man was Julian Grey, an actor. He was filming on campus, found my wallet, and followed me to return it. I treated him like a stalker. My pepper spray was the heavy-duty kind. His eyes were swollen shut instantly. He held my hand, looking pitiful. “Sister… is all medical student pepper spray this spicy?” I turned beet red. Out of guilt, I brought him back to the small townhouse I rented. Lola was asleep. As I washed his eyes out, I told him not to hyperventilate. His eyes were like a galaxy—deep and starry—now overflowing with tears and saline. “Sister, if I don’t breathe, I’ll die.” Feeling terrible, I worked faster. When I finished, I noticed his face was flushed, his lips turning blue. I touched his forehead. “Julian? What’s wrong? Answer me.” Julian gasped for air like a drowning puppy. “Sister… can I breathe now?” Pfft. He had actually held his breath the entire time because I told him not to hyperventilate. I couldn’t help but laugh, patting his shoulder. “Are you stupid?” Julian shook his head, looking at me seriously. “Sister, you finally smiled. Do you know you look beautiful when you smile?” I froze. It was the first time anyone cared if I smiled. 6 After my parents divorced, I lived with my mother, who had severe OCD and was a perfectionist. She was rigorous in life and work, and she demanded the same of me. I never dared to laugh freely like other girls. When she got cancer, she forced me to date. I chose the calm, mature Logan to please her. On her deathbed, she held my hand and said maybe Logan was different from her—that I should try to be myself. But in the year I lived with Logan, he was just as strict as my mother. He compared me to Lexi constantly. If I relaxed even a little, he’d scold me: “Susan, you’re a married woman and a medical professional. Can you be more mature? If you’re going to laugh like a schoolgirl, don’t come home!” I didn’t want to fight, so I became the person he wanted: serious, cautious, unsmiling.

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