Category: English

My body isn’t quite like everyone else’s. To relieve my needs, I found a man at a club. After six months together, I fell for him too hard. Gritting my teeth, I coughed up the down payment for a house, wanting to build a life with him. But less than three months later, I accidentally discovered he was a rich young master. Being with a mechanic like me was just a game to him. I didn’t get angry, didn’t make a scene. I just grabbed him by the hair and said: “You little bastard, give me back my fifty thousand dollars!” 1 After an intense session. I sat leaning against the headboard, feeling a bit drained. Lit a cigarette and smoked. Lowered my eyes to look at Caleb, panting slightly, face flushed pink. This kid looks fair and tender. But he’s got quite the kick. Even someone like me, who does manual labor all year round, was worn out. Thinking this, I couldn’t help pinching Caleb’s waist and abdomen. Checking if he was hiding something in there. Caleb looked up sharply. Wriggled into my arms in a few moves: “Zane, again?” I moved my hand away, afraid of dropping ash on him. “No more, early shift tomorrow.” Caleb pouted, looking disappointed: “Fine, let’s rest then.” Saying this, Caleb propped himself up, took the cigarette from my hand, stubbed it out. Then dragged me under the covers: “Sleep!” 2 Next morning. Caleb was still curled up sleeping under the quilt. I got up, washed, and made breakfast. Seeing I still had some time before work. Sneaked into the bedroom and kissed Caleb. “I’m going to work, breakfast is warm on the stove.” Caleb was groggy, hadn’t opened his eyes, but wrapped his arms around my neck. Kissed me hard. A long, minty kiss. Caleb woke up a bit, opening his eyes and rubbing against my arm. “Be careful on the road, safe travels.” Sweet words warmed my heart. “Pick you up from school this afternoon?” Today is Friday, Caleb’s classes end at five. Perfect timing for me to go after work. Getting Caleb’s affirmative answer. I left for work satisfied. Passing the dining room, caught a glimpse of the flowers Caleb brought back yesterday on the table. Couldn’t help curving my lips. Remembered a friend saying two days ago. A relationship built on an improper connection like mine with Caleb is precarious. Couldn’t help sneering. He’s just jealous. Caleb and I are living beautifully right now. 3 Worked hard all day. Even had a sticky lunch with Caleb over video call. Finally endured until clock-out time. Humming a tune, I took off my work clothes. The cashier girl couldn’t help teasing: “So happy, Zane, got a date tonight?” I raised an eyebrow, tacitly agreeing. Just hadn’t walked out of the shop when my phone rang. It was my friend Leo. I answered the phone while getting into my second-hand Volkswagen. Before I could speak, the voice on the other end came first. “Zane! Come save me! The shop is overwhelmed today, begging you~” 4 Leo is a friend, but more like my mentor. After graduating high school with nowhere to go, Leo, who opened an auto repair shop, took me in. Worked hard to learn the craft until Leo’s shop became more and more high-end, catering to rich people. I’m a high school graduate, speak bluntly, often offending clients over modifications. Finally, having no choice, I withdrew myself, moved to another district, and opened a small shop. Now Leo calls for help. I can’t refuse. Sent a message to Caleb saying I’m working overtime. Turned the steering wheel and went to Leo’s shop. 5 Arrived at the shop, exchanged a few pleasantries. Grabbed tools and drilled under a car. Maybe if I finish early, I can still pick up Caleb. Thinking and working, time flew by. Seeing it wrapping up. My movements unconsciously sped up. Suddenly, I heard a familiar name. “Caleb, you kid, finally have time to see your precious car? We almost thought you abandoned cars for good!” Then, a familiar voice sounded. “Fuck off.” Not the usual clingy tone, but rather impatient. But the voice was clearly the one I knew. My hands stopped moving. Kicked my leg, sliding out on the creeper. Looked towards the voice. View too low, angle tricky. I only saw a pair of shoes clearly. A pair of white sneakers I washed yesterday, laced up, and put in the shoe cabinet at home. 6 Leo heard the voice and went out to greet them. Calling “Young Master” repeatedly. In a while, someone drove a light blue sports car out of the garage. “Master Caleb, your car, want to test it first?” The white sneakers moved, “No need.” Took the keys, several people walked towards the sports car. Shoes gradually walked out of sight. My body, stiff for a long time, subconsciously propped up to stand. Field of vision instantly widened. I saw that familiar back of the head. Caleb likes to nestle in my arms when sleeping at night. I’ve touched that head no less than a hundred times. I dare confirm, that is Caleb. I leaned against a car, watching the group go away. Also heard them joke a few sentences. “How does it feel being a poor innocent boy for half a year?” “How much longer are you gonna play with that old uncle?” “Caleb, if you really like him, you should tell him clearly soon.” I stood blankly. The breeze blew for a long time, until the engine roared. I didn’t hear Caleb’s reply. 7 The sports car kicked up a cloud of gasoline-smelling dust. I still hadn’t come back to my senses. Leo walked over unknowingly: “What are you looking at? Know him?” I didn’t answer, asked: “Who is that Master Caleb?” “You mean him? Know Victor Vance, the richest man in S City? His biological dad. He goes to university in A City. “What? You have beef with him? Hold it in, we can’t afford to offend this young master.” Saying this, Leo handed me a cigarette. Lit it, held in mouth. Seeing me not answering for a long time. Leo was surprised: “Really got beef?” I took a deep drag. Stimulated by nicotine. Brain gradually calmed down. Beef? Hard to say. But there is a huge debt to settle now. 8 Meeting Caleb. Wasn’t very proper. I was born with a physical defect, having an extra set of organs compared to others (intersex). Disliked by family since childhood, busy working after growing up. Always avoided my own physical needs. Until half a year ago, a close friend who knew my secret dragged me to a high-end club in the name of a birthday. Despite repeated recommendations from my friend. I didn’t relent. After all, this place looked expensive, and what I saved was money for buying a house and living. Seeing me unmoved, my friend didn’t persuade further. Finally drank two glasses of wine, went to the toilet ready to leave. Just happened to run into Caleb being harassed. 9 The first time we met, Caleb wore a white shirt, tucked into pants. Clean. Looked easy to bully. Standing in front was a drunk potbelly, wanting to get handsy. I didn’t want to meddle at first. This club has all kinds of demons and ghosts. But when retracting my gaze, saw Caleb frowning slightly. A trace of impatience flashed in his eyes. Matched with the mole at the corner of his eye. A layer of perverseness floated on his whole face. Heart jumped fiercely. Don’t know why. Before thought not to cause trouble. Now feet unconsciously stepped over.

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Once we became close, my “work bestie” started showing a subtle malice toward me. I bought a new coat, and she blurted out that I looked like a wild boar, then immediately covered her mouth, claiming it was just a joke. Passing by the clearance section at the grocery store, she grabbed me and said, “This stuff isn’t fresh. Lily, stop being so cheap.” I hadn’t even planned to buy anything. Before I could retort, she was already giggling about something else. But overall, she treated me well. We had a good relationship. Yet, I was constantly drained. I asked my boyfriend for help. He smiled, “It’s fine, isn’t it? I feel like you’re being too sensitive.” “Babe, you look so cute when you’re worried! Give me a kiss!” I went to my mom. She frowned, “I told you people in the city are bad. If you can’t handle it, just come back home with me and your dad.” Why did my boyfriend and mom also have this subtle malice? Out of options, I met Senior Sister, a mentor figure. She smiled calmly, “All relationships are power dynamics.” She looked me up and down kindly, “And you radiate an aura of being easily bullied. Of course, they’ll inadvertently suppress you.” I panicked, “Really? What should I do?” Senior Sister smiled confidently, “There’s still hope. Do as I say…” 1 On Monday, I wore the black long down jacket that Sarah said made me look like a wild boar. After clocking in, I marched straight to the Finance Department. Seeing me enter, Sarah scanned me, frowning. “Wearing that again?” “Lily, don’t blame me for being straight, but don’t wear this next time. It really doesn’t look good.” Even though I was prepared, her words still stung. Last time I wore it was right when the temperature dropped. I had just bought this long black down jacket I’d been eyeing for a while. It cost nearly $300. After Sarah’s comment, I never wore it again. 【Don’t self-doubt, don’t avoid, don’t get angry. The best defense is offense!】 I tried to smile casually, reciting Script #2 proficiently. “What do you know, you fashion disaster? Black long down jackets are versatile for layering, and simple and warm otherwise.” From my first sentence, the corners of Sarah’s mouth remained slightly raised, but her eyes held no smile. Relief and anxiety surged in my heart simultaneously. I quickly grabbed the power bank on the table, trying to keep my tone light. “Borrowed my power bank, yet I have to come get it myself. Sarah, are you actually a dog?” People nearby laughed good-naturedly. Sarah’s fake smile was faltering. “Lily…” “Gotta go, gotta go, back to the grind. Bye!” Not giving her a chance to perform, I waved my hand as if escaping and rushed out the door. Clicking on the recording, I thought my counterattack was confident and flamboyant, but in reality, I lacked confidence, and my voice trembled. The only merit was that it was relatively smooth. Changing into my work clothes, I started working. Sarah and I belong to the same company. She’s an accountant in the Finance Department, and I’m an R&D specialist in the R&D Department. We have lunch together every day at noon. She just lost to me, so she will definitely try to regain ground at lunch. I waited nervously. 2 “Hi, Lily…” Sarah waved at me as if nothing happened. As soon as I approached, she and the Accounting Supervisor, Ms. Lee, huddled together laughing, but their teasing eyes frequently fell on me. They were talking about me! My steps stiffened involuntarily. When I got in front of them, they finally stopped laughing. Sarah poked Ms. Lee, trying to cover it up. “Anyway, can’t laugh anymore, or Lily will get angry.” Saying this, she glanced at me, as if I was about to explode. “Okay, okay, no laughing, no talking. Let’s eat!” Ms. Lee waved her hand and led the way to the cafeteria. Arm in arm, the two discussed enthusiastically what dishes to choose later. A nameless fire blocked my throat, leaving me speechless. I quickened my pace to catch up with them. I wanted to ask: What were you saying just now? What were you laughing at? Why label me as someone who gets angry easily? But the topic had already shifted. Dwelling on a small matter would make me seem petty. If I spoke up, I would jump into their trap of “Lily is very petty” and “Lily gets angry easily.” I followed them with a cold face to get food. Just as I picked up my soup, Sarah suddenly turned back to look at me seriously. “Lily, why the long face? You’re not angry, are you?” Before I could react, she apologized immediately. “Sorry, it’s my fault for making you unhappy.” Ms. Lee, two steps ahead, looked back, and colleagues behind also looked over curiously. A familiar irritability swept over me. Saying “it’s okay” meant swallowing the grievance and getting a reputation for having an attitude. I couldn’t argue with her about what happened just now either; it would show I cared and was calculating. In my dilemma, I suddenly remembered Senior Sister’s words. 【When you really have no moves, expose her malice directly! Ask her back!】 【There aren’t that many purely evil people in this world. Many people are also panicked inside when testing your boundaries.】 Taking a hidden breath, I replied calmly: “Why would I be angry? Did you do something terrible?” “Suddenly turning back to apologize to me, it’s baffling.” A second ago, the hidden triumph in Sarah’s eyes was blinding, but hearing my words, she froze. Her eyes widened slightly, leaving only sheer astonishment. Even her mouth opened slightly subconsciously. She was surprised by my counterattack! She was really nervous! All her ease was built on the premise of my obedient cooperation! My heart pounded with excitement. Sarah wasn’t invincible! Holding my tray, I walked past her and left. Meeting Ms. Lee’s gaze, I smiled naturally. “Sarah is so weird today. Laughing one minute, then suddenly apologizing to me.” “I’ll head back to the R&D side first. I have data to verify urgently.” 3 My heart was still thumping lightly from the victory just now. I focused on my food, eating seriously, occasionally joining the chat of colleagues next to me. I ignored the few joyless glances Sarah cast my way. When Senior Sister pointed out I was in a low-status position in relationships, I was terrified. My instinct was to escape. Senior Sister hit the nail on the head. “Every relationship is a game. You can’t escape it.” “Relationships, simply put, are of four types—mutually charging, tug-of-war, business partnership, or… purely toxic. Except for toxic relationships, others can be adjusted. Which one are you and Sarah?” I thought about it. Like a tug-of-war. I was always retreating, she was always advancing. “If one day you pull her over, do you still want to be good friends with her?” I froze, thought seriously, and shook my head. Senior Sister stroked her chin. “Then use her for practice. Social skills need practice!” “While practicing, think about what kind of relationships you have with your boyfriend and mom?” After eating enough, I messaged her to report the victory. She replied instantly: 【Well done! I said you were sharp and smart!】 I smiled shyly. The next message followed closely. 【People used to you giving in will take your retreat as their due. When you wake up and resist, they will be furious! Feel betrayed! Will counterattack fiercely! Are you ready?】 I put down my phone and took a deep breath. Come on, I’m not afraid. I will take back the territory I tacitly gave away, piece by piece! 4 Sarah didn’t contact me for days. Her daily Instagram grid posts were unshakable: boba tea, hot pot, escape rooms… laughing without a shadow. The protagonists were all our mutual friends. When I saw them, I silently liked them and scrolled past. Even when Ms. Lee quietly probed, I played dumb and glossed over it. Until Friday. A group photo smashed into my vision: In the center of the crowd, the beaming old accountant Mr. Wang held flowers. HR, Finance, Admin, Production… even a few key members of our R&D department who had received his care were surrounding him. The caption read: 【Farewell to a workplace mentor, grateful for 30 years of dedication! The company will always have your legend!】 My blood rushed to my head with a boom. This was Mr. Wang’s retirement farewell party! Mr. Wang was famous for being a nice guy. He was always cheerful when anyone went for reimbursement. When I joined, he even taught me the rules for pasting invoices. But I didn’t know about this farewell party. In our traditional chemical industrial enterprise with slow personnel turnover and intricate relationships, such informal social occasions are often key for information exchange and emotional lubrication. You can, of course, streamline your social life, but being excluded from a consistent circle sends a devastating signal: either your popularity is extremely poor, so poor that the organizers think you are unworthy of coming; or you are indifferent to people and have no respect for seniors. I couldn’t even ask “Why didn’t you invite me?” Questioning would only fall into Sarah’s trap and get me labeled with more hats. And Sarah in the photo stood beside Mr. Wang. Her smile was warm, tears glistening in her eyes. Exiting the photo, more photos from other angles refreshed. Everyone liked and commented on each other’s posts, especially queuing up under Mr. Wang’s post. I opened the chat box with Senior Sister for urgent help. Senior Sister’s reply was fast. 【Emotions can’t solve problems. Act immediately. Send a private message to Mr. Wang.】 I froze for a moment, then immediately followed up: 【Say Sarah played dirty tricks, and I didn’t know about the farewell party at all? Then wish Mr. Wang well?】 【No! Say you regret not being able to make it due to something coming up.】 Senior Sister’s sentences were analytical. 【Directly saying ‘colleague played dirty tricks’ sounds like a child tattling. It confirms you have bad popularity and are a victim. You must seize the initiative in your own hands immediately!】 I stared at those words, my fingers slightly cold. Thanking Senior Sister, I opened Mr. Wang’s WeChat. Typed and deleted, finally leaving only the simplest sentences: 【Mr. Wang, seeing the photos of your retirement today, I realized you are officially starting your retirement life. I deeply regret not being able to see you off in person. I still remember when I first joined…】 Checked three times. No typos, tone sincere and brisk. Added two playful emojis, took a deep breath, and clicked send. Putting the phone aside, I anxiously waited for Mr. Wang’s reply. Suddenly the phone vibrated twice. I clicked nervously. It was my boyfriend. 5 【Babe, the weather is nice this weekend. How about we go camping and barbecue in the mountains? You’ve been moody lately, time to recharge!】 I subconsciously refused: 【Can’t this weekend, I have an appointment with Senior Sister.】 Feeling too rigid, I explained: 【It’s about work, asking Senior Sister for advice~】 Boyfriend replied instantly: 【Okay okay okay, my babe is a busy person now!】 【But seriously, you look really cute when you frown and think seriously. When you’re done, I’ll reward you properly!】 A nameless fire surged instantly. After Senior Sister’s nurturing, I can already identify this kind of control: infantalizing and sexualizing the partner, with zero respect. Reasoning with him and demanding respect is useless. Everything is “cute”! Taking a deep breath, I replied: 【Not as petite and cute as you!】 【I’m going to get busy. Be good yourself, ‘little’ cutie.】 Blocked him right after sending. Wait until I finish my business and master the ultimate martial arts, then I’ll deal with you! Just then, Mr. Wang’s message came too. Decent and gentle, attached with two rose emojis. Chatted a few sentences, quit while I was ahead. 6 Spent the weekend in hot springs with Senior Sister, carefree. Returned to work fully recharged. Same work clothes, same colleagues, but the atmosphere felt a bit off. Little Liu couldn’t hold it in and leaned in close to me. “Lily, did you meet some awesome headhunter? Our unit has such good benefits, yet you’re jumping ship directly!” “But really, you didn’t even go to Mr. Wang’s farewell party. You should have at least pretended!” My heart skipped a beat. I asked hurriedly: “How did I not know I was jumping ship? Tell me, who did you hear it from?” Little Liu’s face changed, stammering for a long time. “Just… people in Production were saying it too.” I lost my temper instantly. The news had spread everywhere. Rumors are tricky. Making a big fuss to investigate might not find the source I want. Instead, I’d get a reputation for making a mountain out of a molehill. Leaders would think I lack perspective and look for trouble. The atmosphere in the following regular meeting was also bad. Just as it was my turn to report project progress, Chen from the next project spoke up sarcastically. “Let the boss go first. The Great Miss Zhou looks down on our small temple. The capitalists outside pay more!” The meeting room instantly fell silent. Everyone’s eyes fell on me in unison. I suppressed the fire in my heart, tone calm. “Work is work, don’t bring personal emotions. Recently I’ve been communicating with peers and Senior Sister, and participated in some online exchanges, causing misunderstandings. I can say clearly, even if you leave, I won’t. Engineer Zhang knows this best.” Engineer Zhang, sitting at the head, swept his gaze over Chen, then landed back on my face. Chen lowered his head. Engineer Zhang finally spoke. “Since when did the R&D department become a vegetable market for spreading rumors?” “Little Zhou, report!” My palms sweated slightly. I knew I passed Engineer Zhang’s test. I’ve been working on catalyst formula optimization, often consulting Engineer Zhang on ideas and new technologies, just haven’t had results yet. No one in R&D will gossip anymore. I pressed the clicker. Experimental data, comparison curves, optimization hypotheses… My voice was steady, even clearer than usual. Engineer Zhang nodded. “Very good. The idea is feasible. Continue.”

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Married for three years, I ran into my runaway ex-fiancé outside my OB-GYN appointment. “Nina, are you still mad? I’m back to marry you.” Declan blocked my path, as arrogant and self-assured as ever. I instinctively shielded my stomach, my eyes filled with confusion. “Excuse me, sir, do I know you…?” He let out a patronizing sigh. “Alright, you can stop the act. Wendy is afraid of the dark, and she needed me to stay with her in the Arctic for three years before she was ready to come back.” “The moment it was over, I flew straight back to find you. You should be flattered.” I looked at the “wild man” before me, with his scraggly beard and frostbitten face. Seriously, where did he get this confidence? Did no one tell him that the day after he left me at the altar, I married his powerful, influential uncle? … “Nina, stop messing around. Come home with me.” Declan frowned, reaching out to grab my arm. His hand was covered in sores, the fingernails caked with some unidentifiable grime. A faint, stale fishy smell wafted from him. I flinched back, covering my nose and mouth. My stomach churned. “Don’t touch me! I’m a germaphobe.” Declan’s hand froze mid-air, his face instantly darkening. He probably still thought of himself as the dashing young heir to the Crawford fortune. He had no idea that after three years in the Arctic Circle, his unshaven, chapped-skin appearance made him look like a caveman. “Nina! That’s enough!” Declan snapped, his voice edged with anger. “I know you’re mad I ran out on our wedding, mad that I went to the Arctic with Wendy, but she was dealing with psychological trauma!” “She’s afraid of the dark! The aurora borealis was the only thing that could cure her. Can’t you have a little compassion for someone else’s suffering?” I almost laughed out loud. Afraid of the dark? And you cure that by going to the Arctic, where the polar night lasts for half the year? Wendy’s illness sounded like it needed a dose of common sense, not the Northern Lights. Before I could say anything, Wendy peeked out from behind him. She took off a pair of heavy goggles, revealing red-rimmed eyes. “Nina,” she said, looking at me with pitiable eyes. “Don’t blame Declan.” “It’s all my fault. My health is just so poor, I can’t be left alone. If you need to hit someone, hit me. Don’t work yourself up.” As she spoke, she let out a few fake coughs and swayed, collapsing dramatically into Declan’s arms. Declan, consumed with worry, wrapped his arms around her and shot me a furious glare. “Nina, it’s been three years. Haven’t you grown up at all? Still so jealous. How do you ever expect to marry into the Crawford family acting like this?” I rolled my eyes. Did these two freeze their brains in the Arctic? This was the entrance to the obstetrics and gynecology department. I was here for a prenatal check-up. And they, having just returned to the country, hadn’t even showered before rushing to the hospital to… get their heads checked? I shielded my belly and stared at the bizarre pair. “Declan, I think you’ve made a mistake.” “I’m not here to welcome you back, and I have no time to play out some long-lost lovers reunion scene.” “Now if you’ll excuse me, get out of my way.” Declan was stunned. He probably never imagined that the timid Nina who used to follow him around like a puppy would ever have the nerve to call him out like that. He narrowed his eyes, and his gaze fell on my swollen belly. His pupils contracted sharply. Then, a look of incredulous joy spread across his face. “Nina… you’re pregnant? Is it mine?” He was trembling, a sure sign his frostbite was acting up. “I knew it! I knew you couldn’t live without me! That night, three years ago…” “I was drunk, but I vaguely remember we…” He seemed to be lost in some self-aggrandizing fantasy. “No wonder you were waiting for me here. No wonder you never remarried…” “Nina, you’ve been through so much. You kept my baby a secret all this time, just to surprise me, didn’t you?” I was floored by his logic. Three years. It takes three years to birth a mythological deity, not a human child. Had he ever read a book? Did he have even a basic understanding of human biology? “Declan, besides watching the aurora, did you also happen to freeze your brain into a slushie?” I pointed at my stomach, exasperated. “I’m only five months along. You’ve been gone for three years. Did you impregnate me via telepathy?” The smile on Declan’s face froze. He stared at my belly as if trying to solve a complex math problem. Three years minus five months equals… No matter how he calculated it, the child couldn’t possibly be his, but he clearly refused to accept it. “Impossible! Who else would you marry? Everyone in this city knows you’re the woman Declan Crawford cast aside! Who would dare marry you?” Wendy chimed in, fanning the flames. “That’s right, Nina. Don’t just find some random guy to have a bastard with just to spite Declan.” “You’ll not only ruin yourself but also bring shame to your family.” “If you just admit your mistake and get rid of this child, Declan loves you so much, he’ll definitely forgive you.” Hearing this, Declan immediately put on a magnanimous air. “That’s right, Nina. If you get rid of this bastard and come home with me, I can pretend none of this ever happened.” “After all, I was the one who left you at the altar. I made you suffer. We’ll call it even.” I took a deep breath, my fists clenched. I really wanted to smack both of these delusional narcissists. Just then, a black Maybach pulled up to the curb. The window rolled down, revealing the stern face of our driver, Mr. Henderson. “Ma’am, Mr. Blackwood is still in a meeting. He asked me to take you home first.” Declan’s eyes lit up. “See! And you said you weren’t waiting for me!” “That’s the Crawford family car! Even Henderson is here!” Declan pushed past me and, pulling Wendy along, tried to get into the car. As he walked, he continued to lecture me. “Alright, stop pretending. You obviously had the family driver come to give me a proper welcome back.” “This car is a bit old for my current status, but since it’s a gesture from you, I’ll condescend to ride in it this once.” His actions startled Mr. Henderson. He stared at the foul-smelling man bundled up like an Eskimo, not recognizing him at first. “Hey, hey! What do you think you’re doing? If you’re begging, go somewhere else! Don’t get the master’s car dirty!” Declan’s face turned beet-red. “Henderson! Are you blind? It’s me, Declan! The Crawford heir!” Mr. Henderson paused, then seemed to recognize his tone. “Master Declan?” he asked, his voice full of doubt. “Did you… take up coal mining in the Arctic? Why do you look like this?” Declan was shaking with rage. “Cut the crap! Open the door! Wendy’s freezing!” He tried to force the car door open. Wendy added, “Mr. Henderson, Declan is the sole heir of the Crawford family. How can you speak to him like that?” But Mr. Henderson just locked the doors with a resounding click, his expression one of pure disdain. “Master Declan, I’m afraid you can’t ride in this car.” “Mr. Blackwood has a thing about cleanliness. With that smell on you, I’d have to spend three days cleaning it. Besides, I’m here to pick up the madam. I don’t have time to chauffeur you.” Declan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “The madam? Nina hasn’t even married into the family, and you’re already calling her that? Grandfather is spoiling her rotten!” He turned to me, his eyes full of accusation. “Nina, did you bribe Henderson? Did you get him to play along with this charade?” “Let me tell you, putting on airs like this before you’re even married… you’re in for a rough time once you join the family!” I ignored him and walked to the rear passenger door. Mr. Henderson’s expression immediately changed to one of respectful deference. He got out and opened the door for me, carefully shielding the top of the doorframe with his hand. “Ma’am, please be careful.” I got into the car, and the window slid up, sealing me off from the cold air and those two nauseating faces. Declan was still outside, banging on the window. “Nina! Get out! I am the Crawford heir! I should be riding in this car!” “Where is Wendy supposed to sit? She’s so frail!” The car began to move. I lowered the window a crack and shot back coldly, “If she’s so frail, she should go to the emergency room. And don’t bother going to the Crawford estate. There’s nothing for you there.” I raised the window. The Maybach sped away, leaving them in a cloud of exhaust fumes. In the rearview mirror, I saw Declan kick a nearby trash can in a fit of rage, then hop around on one foot like a pathetic clown. When I got back to the estate, I had just changed my clothes when the two of them arrived. I have no idea how they got in. The guards probably saw a faint resemblance in his ruined face and didn’t dare stop him completely. As soon as he entered the living room, Declan plopped down on the sofa like he owned the place. The pristine leather was instantly smeared with mud. The butler, Mr. Wallace, frowned. “Master Declan, you’re…” Declan waved a dismissive hand, adopting the air of the man of the house. “Wallace, go prepare some bird’s nest soup for Wendy. The finest quality, and add extra sugar. She doesn’t like bitter things.” “And get me a clean set of clothes. This gear is too heavy.” Wendy huddled beside him like a frightened quail. “Declan, maybe this isn’t a good idea… I don’t think Nina likes me very much…” Declan sneered. “This is the Crawford estate. I am the future master of this house! Who is Nina to give me attitude before she’s even married in?” “Just wait until Grandfather gets home. I’ll tell him everything!” Just as he was speaking, I came downstairs in a loose-fitting lounge dress, holding a glass of warm milk.

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To make Caleb Vance happy, I, a pampered heiress, learned how to race cars. To catch his eye, I drifted through traffic, drew a heart on the pavement with gasoline, and set my $3 million hypercar on fire—just to see him smile. My father, furious, sent me away on a “humble pie” reality show, banishing me to the mountains to dig potatoes for six months. When I crawled back home, dusty and humbled, I heard Caleb had fallen in love with the scholarship student I swapped lives with. At my welcome-back party, Caleb publicly shielded the girl, frowning coldly: “Ava, enough is enough. I love her.” Nosy reporters shoved microphones in my face. “Miss Ava Locke, everyone knows you love Mr. Vance more than life itself. Now that he’s moved on, are you as devastated as rumors say?” The internet waited for my breakdown. Instead, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud: “Love him more than life? Since when?” 1 After I spoke, the room went dead silent. A reporter shoved a microphone in my face: “Miss Locke, were you speaking out of anger just now?” I smiled. “It’s the truth.” “Then what do you think about Mr. Vance and Miss Bella’s relationship…” “I wish them the best,” I raised my champagne glass towards them. “A perfect match.” Caleb’s face darkened. He probably didn’t expect this reaction. In the past, I would have smashed glasses, screamed, and publicly demanded to know why he changed his heart. Bella spoke up in a soft, timid voice: “Sister, please don’t be angry, it’s my fault…” “It’s not your fault,” I interrupted her, turning directly to the buffet table to grab a slice of cake. My phone buzzed. Unknown number, one text: Enjoying the show? I deleted it. No need to guess who it was. Jax. My real lover, kept secret from everyone for three years. He knew about tonight. He knew how I should be feeling. Over by my parents, they saw Bella’s eyes turn red and immediately hugged her in distress: “Child, you’ve suffered…” My father patted Caleb on the shoulder: “Your parents talked to me. Treat Bella well.” Only then did they look at me. “Ava,” my mother’s tone was complicated, “Go easy on Bella. She hasn’t had it easy. You know her family situation…” Father sighed: “Let’s go home. Stop making a scene.” Bella timidly came over to tug my sleeve: “Sister, let’s go home together…” I pulled my hand back. “You go ahead. I have something to do.” Caleb immediately blocked my path: “Where are you going now? Racing? Drinking? Ava, stop messing around.” “Work,” I showed him my schedule on my phone screen. “Meeting someone about an investment.” He looked like he heard a joke: “What investment? Weren’t you digging potatoes in the suburbs for six months…” “Digging potatoes?” I finished his sentence, looking at him. “I wasn’t just digging potatoes these past six months.” In the underground garage, Caleb cornered me. “Ava, what exactly do you want?” I unlocked my car door. “Nothing.” “Why are you pretending?” He grabbed the door, stopping me from closing it. “Don’t come crying to me tomorrow, chasing me asking why…” “Cry?” I laughed. “Caleb, people grow up.” He froze, as if really looking at my face for the first time. But he had looked at this face for ten years. Ten years. I grew my hair long for him because he said “girls look better with long hair.” I changed my temper for him because he thought it was “embarrassing.” Even when he held his new love and told me “Ava, stop it,” I only asked “why” with red eyes. What did he say then? Oh, right. He said: “You’re always so childish.” “Bella is nice,” I sat in the driver’s seat and buckled up. “Obedient, listens well, treats you like her whole world. You two are a good match.” His face turned ashen: “What do you mean?” “I mean,” I started the engine, “I’m tired.” “Chasing you for ten years was pretty boring.” As I drove away, his figure grew smaller in the rearview mirror. I dialed the number I knew by heart. “Seen enough?” I asked. A low chuckle came from the other end: “This is just the beginning, my Ava.” “Sticking to the plan?” he asked. “Yeah.” “Let them be happy for a few more days.” I hung up. That night, I returned to the Locke mansion to find my room had been turned into Bella’s piano room. Mother held my hand, explaining: “Ava, you’re rarely home anyway. Bella likes to play piano, and this room has the best light…” I said nothing, dragging out the prepared cardboard boxes from under the bed and packing my things. When I took the photos off the wall, the backs were already yellowed. Bella stood at the door wiping tears: “Sister, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” “It’s fine,” I stuffed a frame into the bottom of the box. “As long as you like it.” Father couldn’t watch anymore: “Ava, there’s an empty room on the third floor…” “No need,” I smiled. “My apartment is more convenient.” Caleb was there too. He frowned at me: “Ava, don’t act like a victim.” I picked up the box, frowning slightly: “I’m not acting.” He choked. Bella immediately whispered: “Caleb, don’t yell at Sister…” Caleb’s tone instantly softened: “Don’t be scared, Bella. I’m here.” I watched them being affectionate and silently carried my box downstairs. Mother chased after me, stopping me at the stair landing: “Ava, Mom doesn’t love you less, it’s just that Bella…” “I know,” I turned to look at her. “Mom, as long as you’re happy.” I had said this many times. When she praised the neighbor’s daughter for being well-behaved, I said: “Mom, as long as you’re happy.” When she praised my cousin’s grades, I said: “Mom, as long as you’re happy.” It seemed as long as I was sensible enough, I could exchange it for a little love. But now it was different. Looking at the panic and guilt in her eyes, I suddenly found it laughable. So she always knew she was biased, yet expected me to swallow all the grievances myself. “Mom,” I smiled, “actually you don’t need to explain to me, because I’m not sad at all.” She froze. “Because now I know,” I pulled my hand back, “it’s not that I’m not good enough.” “It’s that your love is too cheap.” When I turned and walked downstairs, my steps were lighter than ever before. 2 The next morning, when I went to the old house to pick up things, Bella “accidentally” broke the jade bracelet my grandmother left me. That was my grandmother’s legacy. The bracelet broke into three pieces, hitting the marble floor with a sharp, crisp sound. Bella immediately cried like a pear blossom bathed in rain: “Sister, I’m sorry… my hand slipped, I didn’t mean to…” Caleb immediately shielded her: “It’s just a bracelet, Ava, don’t make a scene.” Mother rushed over too, glanced at the pieces, and sighed: “Ava, Mom will buy you a new one. Bella didn’t mean to.” Father frowned: “Alright, everyone say less.” I didn’t speak, squatting down to pick up the pieces one by one. The jade edges were sharp, and blood soon beaded on my fingertips. “It’s fine,” I said calmly, then stood up. “Out with the old, in with the new. Just like people.” Before Bella could react, I walked to the antique piano she cherished most. It was a gift Mother just gave her last month. As soon as the words fell, I grabbed the piano stool and smashed it onto the keys. CRASH! As she screamed and rushed over, I grabbed the photo frame she had just placed on the piano cover. Inside was a picture of her and Caleb. “This,” I let go right in front of her face, “also slipped.” The shattering sound was crisp and piercing. Caleb wanted to step forward but I stopped him with a raised hand: “What’s the rush? I’m not done.” I turned to my pale-faced parents: “Dad, Mom, all these years I’ve been wondering if I wasn’t good enough, which is why you always looked at other people’s children.” “Now I understand, it’s you who don’t deserve a good child.” I picked up my bag from the floor, walked past Bella, and whispered: “A counterfeit will never be the real thing.” “Just like you. Even if you live in the Locke house, deep down you’re still that pathetic creature who has to lie to be loved.” As I left, behind me was Bella’s breakdown of screams and sobs. I texted Jax: “Ready for the next step.” He replied instantly: “Been ready.” I looked up at the sky. The sky in the city was gray, much like my ten years in the Locke family. But soon, I would see the real light. On my birthday, the Locke family threw a grand banquet. The gold lettering on the invitation read: “Inviting you to the Homecoming Dinner of the Locke Family’s Second Daughter, Bella.” Not my birthday party, but Bella’s recognition party. I was coerced into attending. At the banquet, she played the piano in a million-dollar haute couture gown, winning a house full of applause. Guests whispered: “This is what a Locke daughter should look like.” Someone whispered: “Isn’t today Ava’s birthday?” Mother heard it and smiled awkwardly: “Ah yes… Ava, come, cut the cake.” The cake was a three-tier pink fondant cake, the style Bella chose. Pink, the color I had hated since childhood. Caleb fed Bella a small piece: “Sweet?” Bella nodded, eyes curving into crescents: “Sweet. Caleb, you eat too.” I put down the knife and told my parents: “I’m full.” As I turned to leave, I heard someone behind me say: “Ava has such a weird temper, no wonder Caleb chose Bella.” I scoffed. Who cares? Walking to the parking lot, I remembered my eighteenth birthday. Caleb promised to be with me but flew to the beach to watch the sunrise with an escort instead. I waited in the karaoke room until dawn. He sent a photo of the sunrise with the caption: “So beautiful.” I replied: “Didn’t you promise to spend my birthday with me?” He replied a long time later: “?” That day, my parents were on a business trip. I lit a candle alone at home and cried while making a wish. No one remembered me. The parking lot lights were dim. Jax straddled a black motorcycle, long legs touching the ground. Seeing me, he tossed over a helmet: “Let’s go. Taking you to eat a real birthday cake.” I caught the helmet, wrapped my arms around his waist, and pressed my face against his back. This was the first time someone remembered I was the main character on my birthday. Three days later, Caleb came to my apartment. “Ava, let’s talk.” I let him in. He looked around my small apartment, frowning slightly. “Bella wants to work at Locke Corp,” he said directly. “Arrange it.” “What position?” “Yours,” he paused, “or at least equal to yours.” I laughed: “Why?” “Because she’s the second Miss Locke now,” he frowned. “Because she needs a sense of security.” “What about me?” “You’re capable,” he said as if it were obvious. “Make your own way again.” I looked at him like he was a stranger: “Caleb, what do you take me for?” “For…” he stalled, “Ava.” “An Ava you can summon and dismiss at will?” He got annoyed: “Stop being unreasonable! Bella…” “She’s pitiful, she’s had it hard, she needs care,” I finished for him. “I know, I’ve heard it eight hundred times.” “So?” I asked calmly. “So I deserve to give up everything? My room, my bracelet, and now even my position?” He was silent for a long time. Then he said: “Ava, I’m begging you.” Ten years. The first time he used the word “beg” with me. It was for another woman. When Mother came to find me, her eyes were swollen like peaches. “Ava, Mom has a favor to ask.” “Say it.” “We plan to transfer the villa in the south to Bella,” tears fell from her eyes. “She says she feels insecure and wants a home of her own…” My heart constricted. That villa was my eighteenth birthday present from my grandfather. He said: “Ava, this will be your safety net.” “Mom, Grandpa left that to me.” “Mom knows,” she held my hand, her palm cold. “But Bella… she suffered too much before, we have to compensate her…” “So I should yield?” I pulled my hand back. “Compensate her with my things?” Mother froze: “Ava, when did you become so cold-blooded?” I looked into her eyes and asked word by word: “Mom, where were you during the six months I was digging potatoes in the mountains?” “I…” “You were with Bella,” I laughed, my eyes burning. “Every day without fail. She called you Mom, and you answered so happily.” Mother’s face turned pale. “I can give the villa,” I stood up and walked to the window. “But this is the last time.” “From now on, don’t ask me for anything else.” She left crying. The moment the door closed, I texted Jax: “My patience is running out.” He replied instantly: “I’m here.” 3 On the day I went back to the Locke house to sign the papers, I stood at the corner of the second-floor stairs, looking down at my phone. “Sister.” I looked up. It was Bella. She stood next to me, grinning: “Sister, look at me.” I frowned in confusion. Suddenly, she leaned back. Thump! She tumbled down the stairs. Caleb rushed over at the sound and saw the scene. Bella lay sprawled on the floor, gasping weakly: “Sister… why did you push me… I just wanted to talk to you…” Caleb turned and slapped me across the face. I fell to the floor, ears ringing, the taste of blood in my mouth. “Ava,” his voice shook violently, unsure if from anger or fear, “I never thought you could be so vicious!” When my parents rushed in, Bella was crying, Caleb was yelling, and I was sitting on the floor wiping blood from my mouth. Mother pointed at me, fingers trembling: “Get out! I don’t have a daughter like you!” I propped myself up against the wall, my left cheek burning with pain. I turned to my mother: “Mom, when I was ten and had a fever of 104, you went with my brother to his piano lesson. The nanny took me to the hospital.” “You never came to a single parent-teacher conference.” “Now,” I wiped the blood from my lip, “for a liar you’ve known for six months, you tell me to get out?” Mother’s face went white. Caleb wanted to speak, but I cut him off: “Caleb, I’ll remember this slap.” “From now on,” I scanned each of them, “none of you will ever take anything from me again.” As I turned, fake sobs came from Bella behind me. I didn’t look back. The last bit of warmth in my heart went completely cold. The entrance to the Locke house was crowded with reporters. Cameras shoved in my face: “Miss Locke, did you push Miss Bella down the stairs?” “Was it out of jealousy?” “Is it true the Locke family is disowning you?” Flashbulbs went off like crazy. No need to guess, she arranged it. Then, a black sports car burst through the crowd, screeching to a halt in front of me. The door opened, and Jax stepped out, black shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He walked straight over, put his arm around my shoulder, and spoke coldly to the cameras: “My girlfriend is tired. Move.” The reporters were stunned. Someone reacted: “Mr. Vance? You and Miss Locke…” Jax held my shoulder and smiled at the camera: “Let me introduce you properly. My fiancée, Ava Locke.” He waved his hand, and the trunks of nine sports cars parked by the road opened simultaneously, revealing a sea of red roses. The hood of the middle car had “Ava” spelled out in giant roses. “We’ve been together for three years,” Jax looked down at me, eyes tender. “We planned to go public later, but someone seems to misunderstand that my girlfriend is unwanted?” Just then, the door to the Locke villa opened. Caleb walked out supporting the red-eyed Bella, running straight into this sea of roses. He clenched his fists, staring at Jax’s hand on my shoulder. Everyone in the city knew Jax was Caleb’s hated rival, beating him in business and crushing him on the racetrack. “Ava!” Caleb looked panicked, voice trembling. “You and him… since when?” The man who was always composed in front of me now had red-rimmed eyes. He took a step forward but was blocked by Jax’s bodyguards. I didn’t answer, just fiddled with the ring Jax had just put on my hand. A three-carat pink diamond, dazzling with fire. Caleb’s adam’s apple bobbed, voice hoarse: “You did this on purpose, didn’t you? Anyone else, why him…” “Why not?” I finally looked up. “Find someone worse than you so you can keep thinking I should be humble without you?” He stumbled back. Bella tried to support him, but he flung her off. I’d seen that look before. Three years ago, when he misunderstood that I was eating with someone else, it was this same anger of betrayal. I took the rose Jax handed me, smelled it, then turned and threw it at Bella’s feet in front of everyone. “Sister,” I smiled brightly, “you want the man I used, so I’ll give you the flower I don’t want too.” Bella’s face was ugly. Reporters snapped photos frantically. Jax chuckled in my ear: “Happy?” I stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek, whispering: “Not bad. Let’s go, fiancé.” The crowd instinctively parted. 4 In the hilltop villa, Jax tended to my wound. His hand shook as the swab with medicine brushed the corner of my mouth. “I should have come sooner,” his voice was raspy. “Just right,” I pulled at the corners of my swollen mouth. “Any earlier and they wouldn’t have finished their performance.” He put down the swab and cupped my face: “How do you want to play it next?” I opened my phone and pulled up three files. Jax read them and laughed. “I want them,” I said softly, “to kneel and beg for my forgiveness.” The press conference was set for three days later. Jax sent the invitations himself. The title was explosive enough. Grand Vance Group Cooperation & Personal Announcement The venue was packed. As Jax led me onto the stage hand in hand, he announced into the mic: “First, Vance Group will enter a deep strategic partnership with Miss Ava Locke personally.” “Second,” he paused, looking at me sideways, eyes shining, “we are engaged.” Dead silence for a second, then the room exploded. “Mr. Vance! When did you and Miss Locke get together?!” Jax held my waist, smiling arrogantly: “Three years.” “Then Mr. Caleb and Miss Bella…” “Him?” Jax sneered. “Just a blind man who can’t tell a pearl from a fish eye.” Just then, the venue doors were slammed open. Caleb rushed in, suit messy, eyes bloodshot. As Jax led me off stage, passing Caleb, I stopped. “By the way,” I whispered, for his ears only, “the financial hole in your company can never be filled.” His pupils contracted sharply. The day after the evidence was mailed, the city nearly flipped upside down. Headline: “Humble Pie” Reality Show Participant Revealed as Real Illegitimate Child!? The diary stated in black and white: “Bella is Locke’s daughter. I didn’t want her to go back, but the Lockes are rich. Bella needs to acknowledge this father to have a good life…” Mother fainted on the spot seeing the newspaper. Father locked himself in the study for three days. Bella called Caleb like crazy: “Caleb, it’s fake! Someone is trying to harm me!” For the first time, Caleb didn’t believe her. Silence on the phone, then he asked: “Bella, tell me the truth. Are you really Uncle Locke’s illegitimate daughter?” “I…” she broke down crying, “I… I didn’t know about their affairs, but that’s not important, right? I love you, Caleb, isn’t that enough?!” Caleb hung up. The Locke family’s capital chain completely broke. Banks called eight times a day, three key projects halted simultaneously, suppliers blocked the company doors demanding money. Father Locke swallowed his pride to beg my father. My father smiled bitterly: “Old Locke, it’s not that I won’t help, but the one who can save the Locke family now… might be Ava.” “Ava?” “The cooperation with Vance Group is personal to her,” Father sighed. “The resources she holds now are more than the entire Locke Group.” When they found me, I was practicing driving at Jax’s private track. Caleb stood by the car, suit wrinkled, dark circles under his eyes. He lowered his voice: “Ava, help the Locke family.” I took the water Jax handed me, took a sip: “Why should I?” “For the sake of our ten years…” “Ten years you treated me as a backup,” I interrupted, screwing the cap tight. “Now you want me to be a savior?” Father Locke stepped forward, tearful: “Ava, Uncle knows he was wrong. We wronged you before…” “The wrong one is your son,” I looked at Caleb. “Caleb, what do you offer in exchange?” His throat moved: “What do you want? Money? Shares?” “I want you,” I smiled, “to kneel and beg me.” The air solidified. Caleb stared at me, eyes red as blood. His lips moved, but no sound came out. Then, he turned and walked away. But his mother came. At the hospital entrance, Mother Locke knelt down with a thud in front of everyone. “Ava, Auntie begs you… the Locke family can’t fall, it’s generations of blood and sweat…” Onlookers raised their phones to snap photos. I bent down to help her up: “Auntie, whether the Locke family falls depends on your son.” “When he learns how to be a human, I’ll consider helping.”

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This year, the Finance Department achieved a miracle. We saved the company $5 million in taxes through legitimate planning and recovered $30 million in bad debts. The night before the Annual Gala, the CEO ordered us to withdraw $8 million in cash and stack it in the main conference room. He specifically assigned the Finance Department to guard it overnight. “Gwen, thank you all for your hard work tonight. Tomorrow at the Gala, I have prepared a special, exclusive grand prize for the Finance Department!” That night, guarding $8 million in cash, we didn’t even dare go to the bathroom alone. “Gwen, $8 million smells so good,” the intern, Mia Lopez, whispered, staring at the mountain of cash with stars in her eyes. “Mr. Stone said he prepared a surprise. Do you think it’s a stack for each of us?” I smiled but didn’t answer. Knowing that cheapskate, a $500 bonus would be a miracle. But I never expected the bar to be lowered straight into hell. At the Gala, the Sales Department collected cash in literal sacks. The Top Sales Rep walked away with $300,000. When it was Finance’s turn, the CEO smiled and handed me a cheap device that screamed “Zero! Zero!” in a robotic voice. “The Finance Department works the hardest, always dealing with numbers,” he announced. “Here, a brand new calculator for each of you! Calculate faster, work less overtime!” 1 “Beep—Zero! Zero!” The crowd erupted in laughter, the sound nearly lifting the roof. Sales Director Rob Thorne laughed the loudest, clutching his sack of cash and pointing at us: “Mr. Stone really knows how to pick a gift!” “Let the finance ladies clear last year’s accounts to zero! Start fresh next year—more work, less nitpicking!” This was the “exclusive grand prize” Victor Stone promised. This was the “surprise” we earned by guarding cash all night until our bladders nearly burst. Last night, after hours, the building management turned off the heating. The conference room was 14 degrees Fahrenheit. To guard the $8 million he wanted to use to “flex his power,” the five of us huddled in surplus coats, taking turns staring at the cash, afraid to even blink. Mia, the intern, fell asleep on a stack of bills and drooled. She woke up terrified, thinking she’d be fined for soiling the money. My deputy, John Carter, has a severe herniated disc. He sat on a tiny stool all night and couldn’t walk straight this morning. We guarded a mountain of gold, only to receive a public execution. “Mr. Stone.” I took a step forward to the microphone. The laughter died down slightly, but the malicious gazes still pricked my skin. Victor Stone looked at me with a smile full of mockery: “What’s wrong, Gwen Bennett? Too excited? No need to thank me. It’s a small token from the company. A workman must sharpen his tools to do his work well, right?” “We don’t want tokens. We want fairness.” I stared at him, suppressing the rage in my chest. “This year, Finance saved the company $5 million in taxes through legal compliance.” “Last month, our entire department spent two weeks in the snow to recover $30 million in bad debts. We were bitten by dogs, splashed with water.” “Sales took a 5% commission. They deserved it; they are heroes.” “But what about us?” “We guarded $8 million in cash all night, and we get a $1.99 calculator?” The room went silent for a few seconds. The smile on Stone’s face faded. He spoke slowly: “Gwen, your math is wrong.” He picked up the mic, speaking earnestly to the whole room: “Finance works hard, sure. But you need to understand the logic.” “Sales is on the front line fighting the war. They are the ones feeding the company!” “And Finance? You are the nannies in the back. The money belongs to the company. The bad debts were recovered because Legal is intimidating. The tax savings are thanks to government policy.” “You just moved your fingers and pressed a few buttons. And you want a million-dollar commission?” “Should I give the receptionist shares because she presses the elevator button for me every day?” Laughter exploded again. This time, it was unrestrained and full of malice. “Exactly! Finance always has a long face, making reimbursement so hard. And they want commission?” “Mr. Stone is right. They’re just bean counters. No production, yet they want to split the money? Crazy!” The humiliation slapped me across the face. I felt my colleagues behind me reach their breaking point. I heard Mia sniffle. “Fine.” I nodded and slammed the calculator onto the podium. “Since Mr. Stone thinks we only know how to press buttons, this gift is too expensive for us.” I turned to the red-eyed women behind me. “Let’s go.” 2 Walking out of the hotel into the cold wind, I realized my back was soaked in cold sweat. “Gwen, I’m sorry, I couldn’t hold it back…” Mia squatted by the curb, sobbing uncontrollably. “My mom’s surgery is next week…” “The doctor said we need $15,000. I thought… I thought this bonus would be at least $5,000. With my savings, it would be enough…” “Stop crying.” Sarah Jenkins, a senior accountant, dug tissues out of her bag and roughly wiped Mia’s tears, her own hands shaking. “Who are you crying for? Didn’t you hear Rob Thorne and his goons? We are parasites!” “But Sarah…” Mia looked up, her makeup ruined. “That $5 million tax plan… you made so many versions to get it right. The $30 million debt… Gwen led us to hell and back to get it…” “How does it have nothing to do with us?” “When we signed the commitment letter, Mr. Stone promised us 1% commission.” I stood silently, lighting a cigarette. He agreed so easily back then probably because he was sure we couldn’t do it. Ding. A phone lit up. It was a notification on Sarah’s phone: Tuition Payment Reminder. She panicked and turned off the screen, avoiding my gaze. “I’ll figure out the money.” I looked back at the hotel. “What belongs to us, no one can take away. Go home and sleep. Tomorrow, show up on time.” The next morning, I arrived an hour early. Victor Stone’s office door was ajar. Inside, smoke swirled, and laughter boomed. “Mr. Stone, that move last night was brilliant!” “Those Finance b*tches turned green! Hahahaha!” “About time we took them down a peg. Always blocking my reimbursements. Now they’ll behave.” “Hmph, bunch of misers. Blocking me from using my own money.” Stone’s voice was cold. “If they weren’t still somewhat useful, I’d say even that $1.99 was a waste.” “By the way, how’s the ‘Cloud Finance’ AI system deal going with Mr. Fisher?” “Done!” “Service fee is only $20,000 a year. Way cheaper than feeding these idlers!” “And it’s AI. It listens, doesn’t talk back!” I stood at the door, my hand freezing on the handle. So that’s it. Not to liven up the atmosphere, not a whim. It was a premeditated slaughter of the donkey after it turned the mill. Humiliate us to force us to quit so he can save on the severance package. I pushed the door open. The laughter cut off instantly. Seeing me, the surprise on Stone’s face turned to impatience. “Don’t know how to knock? Where are your manners?” Rob Thorne leaned back on the sofa, legs crossed, looking at me with amusement: “Yo, Director Bennett is here?” “What, calculator broke? Want Sales to pool money for a new one?” I ignored the mad dog and walked straight to Stone’s desk, placing my hands on it and staring him down. “Mr. Stone, since you think Finance is useless, we won’t be an eyesore anymore.” “Here is our compensation plan. Severance plus the promised commission for the bad debts. Not a penny less.” “Sign it, and we leave immediately to make room for your AI.” I slammed the list I printed last night onto the desk. Stone glanced at the number, his eye twitching. “$300,000 commission? Gwen, are you robbing me?” “Is it a lot?” I sneered. “Yesterday Rob took $300,000 alone. We are asking for five people. Compared to the $30 million we recovered, this is peanuts.” “That’s the company’s money!” Stone slammed his cup on the table. “Gwen, don’t be ungrateful. Want to leave? Fine! Write a resignation letter and get out! Want severance? In your dreams!” “So there’s no negotiation?” 3 “Negotiate? What right do you have to negotiate with me?” Stone stood up, grabbing a stack of files and throwing them at me. “Believe it or not, I’ll have security throw you out right now!” “Public insubordination, terrible attitude.” “You’re fired! Without a cent!” Rob sneered from the side: “Hear that? Get lost. Don’t embarrass yourself further!” I looked at Stone’s face and suddenly smiled. The smile made him pause. “Mr. Stone, you might have forgotten one thing.” I said softly. “Accountants love keeping records. And we are experts at… auditing old accounts.” “If you want to do this cleanly, we follow labor laws. If you don’t…” “Then we’ll help you recall exactly how those $5 million in taxes were ‘planned’.” I turned and left without looking at his changing face. Back in Finance, the atmosphere was oppressive. Everyone’s computer screens were black. “Gwen…” Mia ran over, crying. “I can’t log in. Account frozen.” “And Admin just came to tell us to pack our personal belongings by today…” “Don’t panic.” I patted her shoulder. “Where’s Sarah?” “Small conference room. Director Vance from HR is talking to her.” HR Director Linda Vance. The woman who always smiles and preaches “family culture” was now acting as Stone’s executioner. I pushed open the conference room door. Sarah Jenkins was huddled in a corner, hair messy, looking ten years older. Linda sat opposite her, twirling a pen. Two strangers in black suits sat nearby. “…Accountant Jenkins, think clearly.” Linda’s voice was gentle as always. “This is embezzlement. Falsifying accounts.” “If the company pursues this, you not only have to pay back all wages but also go to jail for a few years.” “Your son is taking his SATs soon, right? If his file says his mom is a convict, his life is ruined.” “Stop! Stop it!” Sarah covered her ears, breaking down. “I’ll sign! I’ll sign voluntary resignation! Please don’t call the police!” “That’s right.” Linda smiled and pushed a document forward. “Wait!” I rushed over, snatched the document, and tore it in half. “Linda, who are you scaring?” I stood in front of Sarah, glaring at her. “Those accounts were authorized by Stone’s signature!” “To evade taxes, he made Sarah split that business into five shell companies. His signature is on every process sheet!” Linda glanced at me with disdain, slowly brushing off the paper scraps. “Gwen, I knew you’d be trouble.” She waved her hand, and the two suits stood up, blocking us. Linda pulled another document from her folder and threw it at me. “You can refuse to sign. You can sue.” “But let me remind you, the legal representative of those shell companies is that little cashier who left your department six months ago.” “Can you, the finance manager, stay clean?” “As for Stone’s signature… do you have proof it’s original? I can print as many of those as I want.” My heart sank. So they were waiting for me here. That cashier was Stone’s distant relative. She left six months ago. The trap was set back then. They buried all the mines under Finance. Once detonated, we are the perfect scapegoats. “And,” Linda leaned in close. “The AI finance team has taken over the backend data. All operation logs on your computers have been wiped. Gwen, what are you going to fight the company with?” 4 Sarah grabbed my sleeve: “Gwen, forget it… we can’t win…” “I can’t go to jail. My son has such good grades…” At the door, Mia and the others heard everything, their faces ashen. Against a company with hundreds of employees and billions in turnover. Are we accountants really just ants to be crushed? Linda watched my expression and smiled with satisfaction. “Tomorrow morning at 9 AM, All-Hands Meeting.” “Mr. Stone will announce the restructuring decision for Finance.” “Gwen, I give you one night to think. Take your salary and leave with dignity, or be ruined and go to federal prison. Your choice.” She left with her men. Only Sarah’s sobbing remained in the room. “Gwen, what do we do?” Mia held my hand, her voice trembling. “Are we really going to jail?” I looked at these comrades who had gone through hell with me. Some got ulcers checking accounts, some were nearly beaten collecting debts, some sacrificed family time without complaint. Now, they were being pushed off a cliff by their own people. “Don’t cry.” “Sarah, do you remember which account the $30 million bad debt was paid into?” Sarah froze, looking up with teary eyes: “It… it went into the general account at Chase Bank. Why?” “No.” I shook my head. “When I negotiated, because the other party didn’t trust Stone’s character, I added a clause in the supplementary agreement.” Mia stopped crying, eyes wide: “What clause?” “Fund Supervision and Final Confirmation Clause.” I explained. “On the books, the balance is there. But the actual status is ‘Frozen Pending Confirmation.’ Stone, that nouveau riche, only looks at numbers, not status. He thinks the money is his.” “According to the agreement, the funds must be system-confirmed by our finance manager before the end of the seventh business day, or they will be returned to the sender.” I looked at the clock. “Tomorrow is the seventh day.” “If I don’t operate by 10 AM tomorrow…” “That $30 million will go ding and fly back to their pocket.” Sarah gasped: “But… but Stone thinks the money is already his! I heard he ordered a Bentley…” “Exactly.” “He thinks he won. He thinks he kicked us out and doesn’t have to pay commission?” “Tomorrow 9 AM, All-Hands Meeting, right?” “Good.” “We’ll use that meeting to teach Mr. Stone a lesson on Financial Risk Control.” The next day, the large conference room was packed. The atmosphere was hotter than the Gala. Rumors that Finance was getting fired en masse, maybe even jailed, had spread. My team and I were seated in the front row, the most conspicuous spot. Reserved for “sinners.” Victor Stone stood on stage, high-spirited, his custom suit making him look almost human. Rob Thorne sat nearby, gloating. Linda Vance was busy distributing documents—pre-written “Confessions of Violation.” On the big screen, bold words read: [Notification Regarding Severe Violations and Personnel Adjustments in Finance Department] “Colleagues,” Stone cleared his throat, voice booming. “It pains me to call this meeting. I have always treated people well, but I never expected there to be traitors in our team!” He pointed at us. “Gwen Bennett and others in Finance abused their positions, repeatedly violated regulations, and are suspected of falsifying accounts and embezzling company assets!” “After a thorough investigation, the evidence is conclusive!” The crowd gasped. “You never know a person’s heart. Their hands are dirty, yet they use rules to block us!” “Tsk tsk, no wonder they wanted bonuses without performance. Appetite grew too big.” Stone was satisfied with the effect. He continued: “For the healthy development of the company, to enforce discipline, the company has decided to immediately fire all involved personnel in Finance! And reserves the right to pursue legal responsibility!” “Of course,” He put on a magnanimous air. “Considering they are old employees, as long as they sign the confession on the spot, admit their mistakes, and return illegal gains, the company may consider not handing them over to the authorities.” Linda placed a “Confession” in front of me. “Sign it, Gwen. This is your last chance.”

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My mom’s advice was simple: “Date the hot ones, marry the reliable ones.” So, at 24, I started dating Declan Ford. Declan was a notorious player. His motto: “Of all of them, you’re the one I love.” And me? I was a master of the game myself. My motto: “The only thing keeping me up at night is the thought of you.” Everyone who knew us thought we were a perfect, chaotic match. But a month ago, my mom was diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer. At the hospital, surrounded by so much loss and loneliness, I was suddenly struck by the desire to build a real home. I decided it was time to break up with Declan. 1 Declan rarely answered his phone, but finding him was never hard. He had a private booth at a downtown lounge, and out of 365 days a year, you could find him there on 360 of them. He was tall and devastatingly handsome; I could spot him in any crowd. Tonight, he’d just lost a drinking game and was sharing a drink, arm-in-arm, with some girl at the next table. When the girl saw me, she put on a sweet, innocent voice. “Oh, hi. We’re just playing a game. You don’t mind, do you?” “Of course not,” I purred, matching her tone. “You’re adorable. Why don’t you just move in with us?” My enthusiastic invitation earned me a dirty look. I turned to Declan, my voice trembling with faux hurt. “Declan, I think she hates me. Maybe I should just go.” I sighed dramatically. “But it’s raining, and I don’t have an umbrella. Maybe… maybe this young man could give me a ride?” I pointed to a college kid sitting nearby—sharp features, clear skin, and a tank top that showed off a pair of very solid biceps. Declan’s gaze shifted to the kid, scanning him from head to toe. The poor guy paled and started waving his hands frantically. “Whoa, no way. Don’t mess with me. Everyone knows Declan loves you more than anything.” Hearing that seemed to soothe Declan’s mood. He downed his drink, pushed the girl away, and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “I’m heading out, guys,” he announced to his friends. “My girl’s getting jealous. Gotta take her home and calm her down. Drinks are on me tonight.” “Long live Declan and Isla!” someone shouted. Amid the cheers, Declan led me out. In the car, he kept glancing over at me. “Are you really mad? You know it’s all just for fun. Of all of them, Isla, you’re the one I love.” He said that line at least once a month. I was getting tired of it. If I weren’t so obsessed with his looks, we would have been over long ago. He turned those eyes on me—the kind of eyes that could look at a dog with soulful devotion—and leaned in close, his voice a low murmur in my ear. “Baby, what perfume are you wearing today? It smells incredible. Baby, I want…” “I want to break up,” I said, cutting through his spell. He blinked, a slow smile still playing on his lips as he raised an eyebrow. “Alright, baby. What role are you playing this time?” We had a habit of role-playing. When I didn’t answer, he continued, his tone playful. “CEO and his naughty secretary?” “Passenger and the flight attendant?” “Patient and the nurse?” “…” “Declan, I’m serious.” My face was deadpan. His smile finally faded. He toyed with his lighter in one hand, the other draped casually over the back of the seat. He was the very picture of a rich, careless playboy. “Fine, Isla,” he said. “Give me one good reason.” “You have too many women.” “Has anyone showed up at your door? Did you catch me in the act? Isla, I need hard evidence.” Thinking back over the last three years, I realized I didn’t have any. “I want to get married.” It was a well-known fact that players feared the chains of marriage. I expected this to be my trump card. Instead, he looked completely unfazed. “Pick a date. I’ll meet you at the courthouse.” To him, marriage was just a piece of paper. The whole ‘in sickness and in health’ thing was a joke. I had to press on. “My mom wants me to find someone reliable.” He tossed the lighter aside, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Then I’ll just have to ask your mother what part of me isn’t reliable.” My mom was just out of the hospital. I didn’t want him bothering her. “No, no, don’t! I was just kidding.” He pulled me back into his arms, planting a satisfied kiss on my lips. “I knew it. I knew my baby was just playing with me.” 2 Later that night, his phone buzzed on the nightstand. I glanced at the screen. Serena. His old flame. The one that got away. His friends had told me that I only got my chance with him because Serena had moved abroad. “Declan, your phone.” He came out of the bathroom with a towel knotted around his waist, droplets of water still clinging to his skin, tracing a path from his neck down his chest… It wasn’t just his face. His body was incredible. It was the reason I’d been stuck on him for three years. I swallowed hard, burrowed under the covers, and pricked up my ears to listen. “Hello?” “Tonight?” “Okay. I’ll come get you.” He hung up and leaned over to kiss my cheek. “Baby, something came up. Be good and stay here, okay?” A man getting a call from his old flame at one in the morning and then leaving? There was no way I wasn’t going to catch him in the act. The moment his car left the garage, I was right behind him. I waited for a full hour outside the apartment before knocking on the door. A girl in a white slip dress answered, a single braid falling over her shoulder. She looked pure and innocent. In contrast, I felt like a villain, shoving my phone in her face, camera rolling. “Isla, are you that desperate to catch me cheating?” Declan emerged from the bathroom, still wearing the same clothes he’d left in, not a single crease out of place. I frowned. This wasn’t right. Declan’s usual “sessions” lasted at least two hours. Seeing my phone, his expression darkened. “Isla, delete the video.” He reached for my phone. I clutched it to my chest and shook my head. “You’re the one who said you needed hard evidence.” “And this is your evidence?” “It’s the middle of the night. You can’t possibly be using her bathroom.” At my accusation, Serena burst into tears. Seriously? I was the official girlfriend. If anyone should be crying, it was me. Serena clutched Declan’s sleeve, her voice a small whisper. “Declan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you trouble.” I almost laughed. Honey, I was playing this game when you were still in diapers. I grabbed Declan’s other sleeve, my own voice dripping with hurt. “Declan, you can hit me, you can yell at me, but I just need to know. Between her and me, who do you love the most?” He pulled his arm free from Serena’s grasp and wrapped it around me, his hand tight on my waist as he whispered in my ear. “Baby, stop it. Delete the video. Be good.” For a second, I thought I had won. But no, he just wanted the video gone. I forced a few tears from my eyes. “So you choose her. Is that it, Declan?” I could see his patience wearing thin. “Just go home. I’m busy.” I pressed my advantage. “I’m sorry. I’m too clingy. Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.” His grip on my wrist tightened. Serena stepped in. “Declan, maybe you should go. I’ll be fine on my own.” At her words, he turned to me, his voice low and sharp with warning. “Isla, we can play games, but you’ve gone too far tonight.” So much for being a master. A single word from his old flame, and I was nothing. I shook his hand off and deleted the video right in front of him. Then I walked out without a word. That night, I moved back to my own apartment. But there was a heavy feeling in my chest. Maybe after hearing him say “I love you” a hundred times, the magic had started to feel real. But now it was clear. He loved Serena. At least, he loved her more than he loved me. 3 My mom was thrilled that I’d broken up with Declan. After her surgery, all she wanted was to see me settled down. She dragged me to a matchmaking service the very next day. “Miss Pierce, we have the $1,888 package, the $3,888 package, and…” “Give my daughter the most expensive one,” my mom declared. “Mom, you still have chemotherapy. We need that money.” “At my age, life and death are out of my hands. Your happiness is what’s important. We’ll take the best package you have.” The matchmaker’s face lit up. After taking our payment, she handed me a stack of files. “Miss Pierce, these are our most premium clients.” The photos were… uninspired. All I could see in my mind was Declan’s infuriatingly handsome face. “Miss Pierce, your phone is ringing,” the matchmaker said. The screen lit up with his name: Declan. “Hello?” “Isla, what the hell! I thought you deleted it!” Hearing the fury in his voice was surprisingly satisfying. I had deleted the video. But then, out of spite, I’d recovered it from my recently deleted folder and sold it to a tabloid for two thousand dollars. Now it was the headline on every gossip site. #Ford Heir’s Late-Night Rendezvous# #Scott Family’s Illegitimate Daughter Makes Her Move# So Serena was illegitimate. No wonder Declan had been so desperate to get rid of the video. I put on my sweetest voice. “Declan, I just saw the news. I don’t understand, I’m sure I deleted it. How could it have been leaked?” I sighed. “I’m so clumsy. I can’t even do a simple thing right. I’m sorry to cause you more trouble.” He actually laughed, completely forgetting we had broken up the night before. “Where are you? I’ll come get you.” I reminded him, “Declan, we’re not together anymore. Besides, I’m really busy right now.” “Isla, I never agreed to a breakup.” Typical player. Pining for his old flame while trying to keep me on the hook. When I didn’t say anything, he asked, “Busy with what?” “A blind date.” I hung up and pointed randomly at a file in front of me. 4 I chose the location for the date: Declan’s favorite lounge. No reason. I just wanted to annoy him. The man sitting across from me was handsome, easily on par with Declan. He even had a similar vibe. “Hi, handsome. I’m Isla.” He smiled and shook my hand. “A pleasure. I’m Grayson.” Grayson? The name sounded familiar. He stood up gallantly and pulled out my chair. His manners were impeccable. As soon as I sat down, I got straight to the point. “Isla Pierce, 29. Single mother, own my own house and car, decent savings. I’ve had three prior relationships.” “So Declan wasn’t your first?” How did he know about Declan? And how did he know I’d told Declan he was my first? Before I could figure it out, Declan appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Grayson by the collar, the veins on his hand bulging. I tried to stop him, but he was already shouting. “I already explained about Serena! I’m handling the video!” Damn it. And here I thought he was being impulsive for my sake. It was still about his precious old flame. I had officially lost interest. I went back to sipping my coffee, watching the drama unfold. It took me a moment to realize what had happened. I had gone to the wrong booth. My reservation was for 608. This was 806. And Grayson was Declan’s older brother. That’s why the name was familiar. What a disaster. I grabbed my bag to sneak away, but Declan caught me. “Declan, what are you doing? I have to go!” He ignored my struggles and practically shoved me into his car.

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“Alice, for the team-building event, please transfer the money. It’s $386 per person.” Charlotte slammed her payment QR code onto my desk, tapping her nails impatiently. This was the 23rd time I’d received that QR code in my two years and three months at the company. I had never attended. “Alright,” I said, scanning the code, entering $386, and hitting send. She pocketed her phone, walking away without a backward glance. Laughter erupted behind her. Ben from the next team leaned over to ask her, “Charlotte, that sushi place last night was fantastic, wasn’t it? The salmon sashimi was incredibly rich.” “Right? We should go again.” I stared at the transaction record: $8,878. Two years and three months, $8,878. I turned off my phone and returned to refining my proposal. 1 “Alice, is the proposal ready?” Mr. Davies’ voice drifted from his office doorway. “It’s ready, Mr. Davies.” I emailed the file to him, then printed a copy and brought it over. He flipped through a couple of pages, nodding. “Good, we’ll present it to the client this afternoon.” I turned to leave, hearing him call out to Charlotte. “Charlotte, you’ll join me for the presentation this afternoon.” “Of course, Mr. Davies.” My steps faltered, but I didn’t turn back. I’d spent three days writing that proposal, pulling two all-nighters. Charlotte hadn’t touched a single word. Yet, she was the one presenting it. It wasn’t the first time. Back at my desk, Sarah was touching up her lipstick. Seeing me, she pursed her lips. “Oh, Alice, Charlotte said she optimized your proposal for you.” “Oh.” “Honestly, you’re too kind. Letting Charlotte touch up your own work, it’s a bit much, isn’t it?” I said nothing, opening the document to check the revision history. Last modification: Alice, yesterday 11:47 PM. Where was this “optimization”? I closed the document and continued working. At four that afternoon, Charlotte emerged from the conference room, a smile on her face. “Mr. Davies said the client was very pleased,” she said as she passed my desk, her voice just loud enough to be heard. “The project bonus should be substantial this time.” Ben crowded closer. “Amazing, Charlotte!” “Oh, it was mostly because the proposal was so well-written,” she replied, glancing at me. I couldn’t decipher the look in her eyes. Or rather, I pretended not to. At closing time, I received a group message. “Celebration tonight, same place, 7 PM.” It was from Charlotte. I glanced at the group name: “Operations Team Socials.” There were seventeen people in the group, and I was one of them. Over a dozen replies had already come in: “Okay,” “See you there,” “Got it.” I didn’t respond. Because I knew, though the message was sent to the group, it wasn’t really meant for me. Sure enough, at half past seven, Charlotte sent me a payment QR code. “Alice, for tonight’s dinner, it’s $412 per person.” I stared at the number, $412. A celebration dinner. Celebrating a proposal I had written. I opened the transfer page, entered $412. My finger hovered over “Send” for three seconds. Then I pressed it. 2 The next morning, I opened my computer. A new email lay in my inbox. Sender: Ms. Jenkins, HR. Subject: Q3 Project Bonus Disbursement. I clicked it open and scrolled down. “Operations Department Q3 Key Project – [Brand Name] Promotion Proposal, Bonus $15,000, Recipient: Charlotte Hayes.” I stared at that line of text for a long time. $15,000. My proposal, my sleepless nights, my lost hair. $15,000, and not a cent for me. “Alice, what are you staring at?” Sarah’s voice came from beside me. I closed my inbox. “Nothing.” “Oh, right. Charlotte said to put together next month’s schedule for her; she needs it this afternoon.” “Okay.” I opened Excel and started creating the spreadsheet. Halfway through, I heard Charlotte’s voice. “Mr. Davies, I received the bonus, thank you!” “You’re welcome. The proposal was indeed excellent this time.” “It’s mainly because of good teamwork; everyone contributed.” My fingers paused. Everyone contributed. I looked up, meeting Charlotte’s gaze. She smiled at me, a gentle, polite smile. “Alice, is the schedule ready?” “Almost.” “Hurry up, don’t hold things up.” She left. I continued working on the spreadsheet. During lunch, Lily, the new intern, sat across from me. “Alice, can I ask you something?” “Hm?” “Well, yesterday I heard Charlotte say that the [Brand Name] proposal was hers, but I remember…” She paused, lowering her voice. “I remember I printed the first draft of that proposal for you, and it had your name on it.” My hand, holding my fork, stopped. “You must have misread it.” “But…” “Lily,” I interrupted her, “in the workplace, ask less, say less, and mind your own business less.” She froze, her mouth opening, then closing. She said no more. I continued eating. My hand holding the fork trembled slightly. At five that afternoon, Charlotte sent another message in the group chat. “Friday department social: Escape Room + Hot Pot. Reply with ‘1’ to sign up.” The messages quickly piled up. “1” “1” “1” Over a dozen “1”s, but none from me. I didn’t reply. Because I knew, even if I did, no one would acknowledge it. I had tried it once, two years ago. I replied with “1” in the group, then waited at the office until seven that Friday. No one called me. I messaged Sarah, “What time are we leaving?” She replied, “Oh? Are you coming? I thought you weren’t. We’re already there.” Since then, I never replied with “1” again. But the money, they always collected. That Friday afternoon, Charlotte sent the payment QR code right on time. “Team-building fee, $298 per person.” I stared at the number, suddenly feeling utterly exhausted. Not physically, but a weariness that seeped into my very bones. Two years. I had been in this department for two years. I had written over thirty proposals, and not a single one bore my name. I had attended zero team-building events, but paid for twenty-three. I was like a ghost, only remembered when money was needed. “Alice, have you transferred it?” Charlotte’s voice came from nearby. I looked up at her. “Charlotte, can I ask you a question?” “What?” “Why am I never invited to these team-building events?” She paused, then chuckled. “You are invited, I post in the group, don’t I?” “But no one ever tells me the specific time or location.” “Well, why don’t you ask?” Her tone took on a hint of impatience. “Everyone’s busy, who has time to notify each person individually? Besides, you usually don’t talk much to anyone, so we just assumed you didn’t want to come.” “But the money…” “It’s splitting the bill, it’s normal. If you don’t come, that’s your choice. But everyone pays their share, we can’t expect others to pay more just because you don’t show up, can we?” She sounded perfectly righteous. I opened my mouth, unsure how to refute her. Her logic seemed wrong, yet somehow also perfectly sound. “Alright, hurry up and transfer it, I still need to book the private room.” She urged me. I lowered my head, scanned the code, entered $298, and hit send. “Transfer Successful.” I stared at those two words, and then I laughed. Laughed at myself. 3 Monday morning, I arrived half an hour earlier than usual. The office was empty. I opened my computer and logged into the company intranet. I was going to do something. Something I should have done two years ago. I opened the project management system and clicked into the [Brand Name] Promotion Proposal document. All revision histories, exported. Then the six proposals from the first half of the year, all exported. Then the twelve proposals from last year, all exported. Every document, every revision, who made it, what was changed, when it was changed—all clear as day. I saved them to a USB drive. Then I opened my phone and pulled up all my transaction records from the past two years. $8,878 + $298 = $9,176. I took screenshots and saved them to the USB drive. Finally, I opened my messaging app, found the “Operations Team Socials” group. This group was created two years and three months ago, the month I joined. I clicked on the member list, counting them one by one. Seventeen people. Then I clicked into the chat history, searching for the phrase “team-building.” One hundred and forty-seven messages. I scrolled through them one by one. Beneath every team-building announcement, there were dozens of replies. None were mine. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to reply; it was that every time I did, no one acknowledged me. Over time, I simply stopped replying. I screenshotted these chat records too, saving them to the USB drive. Done with all this, I leaned back in my chair and took a deep breath. Two years. I had spent two years weaving a cocoon around myself. I thought if I just endured, it would pass. I thought if I spoke less, I wouldn’t offend anyone. I thought if I just did my job well, I would be seen. I was wrong. The workplace wasn’t an exam where you got points for correct answers. The workplace was a jungle. If you didn’t bite, people would bite you. “Alice? What are you doing here so early?” Sarah’s voice came from the doorway. I closed my laptop screen, turned, and smiled at her. “Couldn’t sleep, so I came in early.” “Oh.” She gave me a suspicious glance, saying nothing more. At nine, Charlotte arrived, right on time. As she passed my desk, she casually said, “Alice, the team-building event last Friday was a lot of fun. Too bad you missed it.” “Really? I’ll definitely go next time.” She paused, probably surprised by my answer. Usually, I was silent. “Alright then, remember to come next time.” She smiled and walked to her desk. I watched her back, a faint smile playing on my lips. Next time? There wouldn’t be a next time. 4 Wednesday afternoon, a notice was posted in the company-wide chat. “Notice regarding Employee Satisfaction Survey and Work Feedback Collection. This Friday, at 3 PM, the Human Resources Department will conduct a session in the third-floor conference room…” I scrolled down and saw a line of text. “For any work-related issues or suggestions, written materials can be submitted to the HR office in advance.” I stared at that line for a long time. “Alice, what are you spacing out about?” Lily walked over with her water bottle, curiously peeking at my screen. “Nothing.” I closed the page. “Oh, by the way, Alice,” she lowered her voice. “About that proposal… are you really not going to say anything?” I looked at her young face, suddenly remembering myself two years ago. Fresh out of university, full of vigor, believing that effort would always be rewarded. “Lily, you know,” I said softly, “some things, saying them doesn’t always help.” “Why?” “Because even if you say them, no one believes you.” She fell silent. “But… that’s not fair.” “Where is anything fair in the workplace?” I smiled. “You’re new. You’ll get used to it.” She lowered her head, saying nothing more. I patted her shoulder and continued working. At five-thirty, I left work right on time. As I reached the elevator, I heard someone call my name from behind. “Alice, wait up.” It was Mr. Davies. I stopped, turned. “Mr. Davies, can I help you?” He hurried over, lowering his voice. “We have a client visit tomorrow afternoon. Could you organize the [Brand Name] proposal again? I need to present it to them.” “Of course.” “Oh, right,” he paused, “that proposal… it was really well done.” My heart stirred. I looked up at him. His expression was a little complex, as if he wanted to say something but held back. “Thank you, Mr. Davies.” “Hm, you should head home early.” He turned and left. I stood there, watching his retreating back, and a thought suddenly occurred to me. He knew. He knew who wrote that proposal. But he didn’t say anything. Why? I didn’t know. But it didn’t matter. What mattered was that I knew. 5 Thursday evening, I was at home organizing the files on my USB drive. Project document revision histories, transaction screenshots, group chat records—all printed out and bound into a booklet. Eighty-seven pages in total. This was my “accomplishment” of the past two years. And my humiliation. I looked at the stack of papers, suddenly remembering something. Last year, at the department’s annual party, during the raffle, I won an air fryer. Charlotte smiled and said, “Oh, Alice, you’re so lucky! My air fryer just broke. Do you even need one?” I said I did. She said, “Well, you can take it for now, but if you don’t need it later, give it to me, okay?” The next day, that air fryer appeared in her kitchen. She posted a picture on her social media: “First meal in my new air fryer, fried chicken wings!” I liked the post. And the mid-autumn festival the year before last, the company gave out gift boxes of mooncakes. Charlotte said, “Alice, can you eat all of these by yourself? How about you give me two boxes?” I gave them to her. And last winter, the company issued down jackets. Charlotte said, “Alice, that size is too big for you, but it’s perfect for me. Should we swap?” I swapped. That “too big” down jacket fit me perfectly. That “perfect” down jacket, she wore all winter. What was I thinking back then? I thought: Never mind, it’s just minor stuff. Why bother squabbling with colleagues over these things? I thought: She’s a senior employee, I’m new, I should be accommodating. I thought: As long as I’m agreeable, they’ll like me. But what was the result? The more agreeable I was, the more they took advantage. The more I tolerated, the more they treated me like a pushover. I stared at the stack of documents, my eyes stinging. Not from hurt. From hate. Hate for myself. My phone rang. It was my mother. “Honey, are you coming home for Christmas?” “Yes, Mom.” “How many days can you stay this year?” I paused. “Mom, I might be staying a bit longer this year.” “What’s wrong?” “Nothing, just… feeling homesick.” I hung up the phone and shoved the stack of documents into my backpack. Tomorrow, Friday. Employee satisfaction survey day. And my judgment day. 6 At 2:50 PM on Friday, I walked into the third-floor conference room with my backpack. Ms. Jenkins, HR, was already there, looking a little surprised to see me. “Alice? You’re early?” “Hello, Ms. Jenkins. I have something I’d like to give you in advance.” I pulled the stack of documents from my backpack and placed them before her. “What is this?” “You’ll see.” She opened the first page, intrigued. It was a project ownership summary. On the left was the project name, in the middle the actual writer, on the right the credited person. Thirty projects, thirty names. The “actual writer” column was entirely “Alice.” The “credited person” column was entirely “Charlotte.” Ms. Jenkins’ expression changed. She continued to flip pages. The second section contained screenshots of the project management system’s revision history, clear as day, in black and white. Every document’s creator was “Alice,” every revision log showed “Alice” pulling all-nighters. Charlotte’s name only appeared in the final submission records. “This…” Ms. Jenkins looked up. “Is this real?” “System records can’t be faked.” She continued to flip. The third section was transaction records. Twenty-three transfers, totaling $9,176. Each entry was marked with a date and amount, accompanied by corresponding team-building group chat records. “And what’s this?” “The bill-splitting for department team-building events,” I said. “Two years and three months, twenty-three team-building events. I was never once notified, but I paid every single time.” Ms. Jenkins’ brow furrowed even deeper. “They… didn’t invite you?” “No. They posted announcements in the group, but never told me the specific time or location. And when I asked, no one replied.” “Then the money…” “They collected it anyway.” I smiled. “Charlotte said that splitting the bill means everyone contributes. If I don’t come, that’s my business; they can’t expect others to pay more.” Ms. Jenkins fell silent. After a moment, she asked, “How do you want to handle this?” “I want justice,” I said, looking into her eyes. “My contributions should be returned to me; my money should be refunded; and an apology should be given.” “What if they deny it?” “The evidence is all here,” I said, pointing to the stack of documents. “Whether they admit it or not doesn’t matter.” The door opened, and people started to trickle in. I saw Charlotte at the front, still smiling. Seeing me, she paused. “Alice? Why are you here so early too?” “Employee satisfaction survey, I’m an employee too.” “Oh,” she smiled. “I thought you didn’t participate in these kinds of activities.” “I didn’t used to,” I smiled back, “today’s an exception.” She seemed to sense something, her expression momentarily faltering. But it quickly recovered. “Alright then, let’s do this together.” She sat down beside me. Ms. Jenkins cleared her throat. “Alright, everyone’s here, let’s begin.” “Excuse me, could you wait a moment?” I raised my hand. “What is it?” “I have something I’d like to say in front of everyone.” The room fell silent. Charlotte turned to look at me, a flicker of wariness in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” I stood up, picked up the stack of documents, and walked to the projector. “It’s like this,” I said, turning on the projector, “I’d like to show everyone something.”

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My boyfriend’s college junior crashed a multi-million dollar luxury car belonging to the city’s top heir. My boyfriend voluntarily took the blame, then threw the bill at me. “You’re so rich, just pay this off.” “Didn’t you always want to marry me? Once you pay the damages, I’ll consider proposing to you.” After investigating, I found out the junior was trying to mimic a romance novel heroine by intentionally crashing into the heir, hoping to seduce him. Turns out, he didn’t buy it at all. When she found out I knew the truth, she pushed me down the stairs. “I can’t let Caleb know the truth. Go to hell!” Facing police questioning, my boyfriend perjured himself, claiming I fell on my own. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day she crashed the car. 1 Caleb Moore ran over, panting: “Ava, I need a large sum of money right now. Transfer it to me quickly. I need 1.2 million.” On this day in my past life, Caleb also asked me for money directly like this. I didn’t give it immediately. I asked him what happened. Leaving aside whether I could produce such a large amount instantly, he must be in serious trouble. Caleb hemmed and hawed for a while before handing me a bill, saying he crashed a multi-million dollar car belonging to the heir of the Sterling family. He couldn’t afford it and had no choice but to come to me. “Ava, you’re so rich, just pay this off.” As if afraid I wouldn’t agree, Caleb laid out his condition: “Didn’t you always want to marry me? Once you pay the damages, I’ll consider proposing to you.” Honestly, that sentence instantly turned me off. But thinking about how long we’d been dating, I couldn’t just ignore him. I said my family had some connections with the Sterlings and I could plead for him. But Caleb refused adamantly. After some back and forth, I realized he was hiding something. I asked for some time to gather the money and investigated privately. That’s when I found out it wasn’t Caleb who crashed the car, but his college junior, Chloe. And Chloe crashed into the heir’s car on purpose. She read too many CEO romance novels. In those stories, when the heroine crashes the hero’s car, he makes her pay with her body. But the Sterling heir didn’t play along. He demanded cash. She immediately played the victim to Caleb, claiming she accidentally crashed the car and was being forced to pay. Knowing the truth, I was completely done with Caleb. I was on my way to break up with him when Chloe stopped me. “You know everything, don’t you? You’re going to tell Caleb I tried to seduce the heir?” “Don’t you dare!” She glared at me viciously and pushed me down the stairs. “I can’t let Caleb know. Die!” I died on impact. Fate took pity on me and gave me a second chance. In this life, I’ll show them that the Sterling heir isn’t the only one they shouldn’t mess with. Neither am I. 2 Seeing my silence, Caleb decided to tell the “truth.” Still the same story from my past life: he crashed the Sterling heir’s car and was being forced to pay. He urged anxiously: “Ava, transfer the money quickly. Or else the heir will send me to jail. Do you want to lose me?” “Did you total the car? Why so much money?” I took out my phone. Under Caleb’s hopeful gaze, I dialed 911. Caleb snatched my phone. “Why are you calling the police?” I rolled my eyes in disgust. “Helping you, obviously. Who doesn’t have insurance? If they ask for a million, are you really going to give it?” Caleb got angry. “In the end, you just don’t want to give me the money, right?” He took a deep breath, softening his tone to coax me: “Didn’t you always want to marry me? As long as you help me solve this, I’ll marry you.” I laughed out loud, as if hearing the biggest joke in the world. “When did I ever want to marry you? ‘Always’? Do you think you’re God’s gift to women?” Caleb froze. The more I looked at him, the more disgusted I felt. “Look at yourself. Are you worth 1.2 million? With that money, I could buy a dozen guys like you.” Caleb’s face turned red with shame and anger. “Shut up! Look at your ugly face now. I just asked for 1.2 million, do you have to be so hurtful? And your family is so rich. They were right, the richer people are, the stingier they get…” I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. “What are you barking at? I called the police to help you. Can you afford 1.2 million?” “Yes, I’m rich, but I’m not an idiot! You have no money but act so tough. Is this your attitude when begging?” “Remember, next time you beg, kneel first.” “Forget it this time. Since you can bark so loud, solve it yourself.” I turned to leave. Caleb panicked and chased after me. “Ava, don’t go. I… my tone was too heavy just now, it’s my fault. But you wouldn’t really make me kneel, right? A man has dignity. Even if I kneel, you couldn’t bear it.” I laughed again. “If you have dignity, why ask for money? Go find the heir. Kneel for him a few times. Maybe he’ll see your ‘dignity’ and waive the debt.” Caleb’s face twitched with rage. He raised his hand to hit me. I stood still, reminding him coldly: “Caleb Moore, I’m much more expensive than that car. Before that slap lands, weigh if your cheap life can afford the compensation.” Caleb’s hand froze in mid-air. He looked at me in disbelief. “Ava, why have you become like this? Didn’t you love me?” “Before asking that, look in the mirror and see how stupid you look.” I mocked him and got into my car. Arriving at my family’s company, I hugged my parents tight, tears streaming down. “Mom, Dad, I missed you so much.” Thinking about how I lost my life for Caleb in my past life, causing my parents the pain of burying their child, I hated myself. And I hated Caleb even more! My parents were startled. “What happened? Ava, don’t cry. Tell us, nothing is unsolvable.” I sniffled, letting go of them, shaking my head with a smile. “Nothing.” Under their worried questioning, I made up an excuse. “I broke up with Caleb.” I told them the truth about the breakup. My parents sighed in relief. “Good that you saw his true colors. No need to be sad over someone like that.” I nodded. If I was sad, it was for the pain I caused them in my past life. As for Caleb, even if he died, I wouldn’t be sad. I’d throw a party. 3 Caleb’s parents actually came to my house looking for me. The butler called to tell me. “Just throw them out,” I said and hung up. I didn’t want to see anyone from the Moore family. But a moment later, Caleb’s mother, Karen, called. Caleb’s family had a few hundred thousand in savings. Not enough for my monthly expenses, but enough for Karen to develop the bad habits of a “rich wife.” When she found out Caleb was dating me, she had him bring me over. With a superior attitude, she told me: “Ava, I know your family is rich and you’re a young miss, but since you’re with my Caleb, you better put away those airs.” “To be a daughter-in-law of the Moore family, there are many rules. The most important one is to listen to your husband and be filial to your in-laws.” At the time, I thought she was a hillbilly and ignored her, just glancing at Caleb. Caleb scolded her lightly: “Mom, we just started dating. How can you talk to Ava like that? Besides, even if we marry, Ava is my wife, not your daughter. Filial piety is my job, don’t outsource it.” If Caleb hadn’t said those seemingly correct words, I would have dumped him then and there. Later, I heard Karen tell Caleb: “You fool, I was showing her who’s boss for your own good. A girl like that, if she marries in, she’ll take over the whole house! I’m helping you suppress her so she listens to you.” Caleb said she truly loved me, and Karen scolded him for being useless. Thinking back, how could someone like Caleb speak up for me in front of his mother? I suspect they staged that whole thing for me. Now, Karen’s superior voice came through the phone, tinged with scolding. “Ava, your servants are so rude. We are guests, and they threw us out? Is this how the Pierce family treats guests?” “And I’m not just any guest, I’m your future mother-in-law. If your servants dare bully me now, what will happen when you marry into the Moore family?” Same annoying tone as Caleb. Like mother, like son. I chuckled. “Where are you now?” Karen said sharply: “At your gate. Come back immediately.” 4 I told my parents I was going home. They insisted on coming with me. “Work isn’t as important as this. I can handle it myself.” With so many security guards at home, was I afraid of them? “You haven’t dealt with people like this. You have no experience.” My mother’s voice was cool but firm. She and Dad pushed back their meetings by two hours to go with me. I found out Caleb was there too, waiting at the gate with his parents. Our car drove straight into the courtyard, and we entered the villa. It was the first time Caleb’s parents visited. They looked around, envy in their eyes, but kept their backs straight, pretending to be unimpressed. My parents sat on the sofa. “Sit.” Karen and Caleb’s father, Bob, sat down. Caleb glanced at me and sat next to his mom. Mom ordered tea, then looked at the trio. “What brings you here?” Before Caleb could speak, Karen jumped in. “Well, the kids have been dating for a long time. We came today to discuss the wedding.” Karen straightened her back. “Since we’re talking marriage, we have to talk dowry. We don’t want much, just five million.” “Don’t worry, once Ava marries in, I’ll treat her like my own daughter.” Mom nodded, not arguing, but asked: “And how much bride price have you prepared?” Karen smiled, neither humble nor arrogant. “I heard the Pierce family is wealthy. Why do big families always talk about money?” Mom looked at me. “Ava, see? This is what small-minded people are like. Mention money and they get defensive. Stay away from people like this in the future.” I nodded obediently. “I will, Mom.” Karen didn’t expect Mom to be so blunt. She stood up. “What did you say?” Mom kept her elegant smile. “Be careful. Don’t wave your arms around. If you break anything in this room, selling your house won’t cover it.” “Ava, you’re too much!” Caleb exploded. “You let your mom talk to your future mother-in-law like that?”

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After my rebirth, I ignored every call from my mob boss husband. I deleted every text without reading. I spent my days in bars with my best friends, surrounded by eager young men wagging their tails. When I stumbled home drunk for the eighth time, Dominic Vance was blocking the front door. “Where did the guy who bought you drinks touch you tonight?” I giggled, eyes blurry. “My hand. Where else? The dice cup won’t shake itself.” A storm brewed in his eyes. He ordered the henchman behind him: “Go. Find that man. Chop off his hand.” I scoffed and walked past him. “Whatever!” In my past life, we were married for eight years. Known as the “Queen of Cheats,” I won back the Canaan underground casino for him. I walked with him from a desperate outlaw to the uncrowned king of the underworld. But after achieving success, he became infatuated with a new card shuffler at the casino. Her name was Lily White. Sold into the casino like cargo, clean and fragile as a blank sheet of paper. Dominic placed her in the VIP shuffling room, personally teaching her how to deal and read chips. Until I discovered in the casino’s internal system that my marital status had been changed to “Divorced.” Dominic dismissed my confrontation with indifference: “Lily has no one. Giving her a title will stop people from bullying her.” “Everyone knows you’re the Boss’s wife. Why do you care about a label?” I broke down, rushed into the shuffling room, and slapped Lily in front of everyone. That night, my brother Sam, who risked his life for Dominic, was dragged back. His legs were broken in front of me, and he was thrown into the alley behind the casino. “Ava, this is your lesson for touching Lily!” I knelt on the ground begging him to stop, until my brother’s face lost all color and he died in front of me. I felt a rush of heat below, a tearing pain in my abdomen, and then darkness. When I opened my eyes, I was back on the day I discovered my status had been changed. This time, I didn’t cry or question. I secretly sold all my private jewelry and bought plane tickets. I just wanted to take my brother and escape this hellhole named Dominic Vance. 1 After discovering the anomaly in my status, I took my documents to City Hall to verify. “Ms. Ava Hayes, the system shows your marital status as divorced.” Hearing the clerk’s voice, I confirmed that everything from my past life was real. The date was processed on my birthday. Considering how busy Dominic was, I had booked the highest revolving restaurant in Canaan that day and ordered fireworks. I waited from sunset until the early hours of the next morning, but he never showed up. It turned out he was busy signing another paper, completely erasing my existence. Breaking free from the memory, I returned to the casino and saw Dominic’s black Maybach parked by the road. In my past life, I collapsed and rushed forward to question him. Afraid Lily would see, Dominic kicked me into a corner before the girl in the passenger seat could get out. This time, I immediately dodged into the shadows of a pillar. The car door opened, and Dominic got out first. He walked around to the passenger side and opened the door himself, a patience and attentiveness I had never seen before. A girl in a pale blue dress stepped out timidly. She stood helplessly beside the gleaming car, looking out of place. It was Lily White. Dominic took off his suit jacket and draped it over her thin shoulders, wrapping his arm around her waist as they walked toward the casino entrance. “Dom…” Lily stopped hesitantly. “I have nothing, only you… I really can’t afford to gamble…” Dominic turned and pulled her tightly into his arms, his voice filled with a certainty and gentleness I had never heard: “What are you afraid of? From now on, you are the mistress here. Besides you, no one else is qualified!” “If you don’t like it here, I’ll find a quiet place for you later, maybe build a resort…” The henchmen who used to bow respectfully behind me and call me “Sister-in-law” were now bowing to Lily, their voices loud and fawning: “Hello, Sister-in-law!” They surrounded the frightened deer-like girl and walked into the magnificent den of devils. I pressed my hand hard against my stomach. Only after they went in did I stumble away. Wiping away tears, only cold resolve remained in my eyes. I went to the hospital alone and scheduled an abortion. The doctor looked at the ultrasound screen, frowning: “Ms. Hayes, your constitution is special. You haven’t conceived in seven years. If you abort this time, you may never get pregnant again.” I smiled self-deprecatingly. “I’m already divorced. I don’t want the child to be born without a father.” The cold liquid pushed into my veins, and my consciousness gradually faded. In a trance, I saw the old Dominic pressing his ear to my belly, laughing that this kid would definitely be a gambling master and he had to teach him to read cards from a young age. He called fortune tellers to pick the luckiest name. He held me and promised that once he found a successor, he would take me and the child away from the casino to travel the world… In the end, all the warmth shattered into dust when he told Lily, “Only you are worthy of being the casino’s mistress.” After regaining consciousness, I dragged my hollowed body into my brother Sam’s ward. Fortunately, Sam was only slightly injured this time and would recover quickly. In my past life, my brother was beaten to death in front of me. In this life, I wouldn’t be foolish. I contacted people in the black market and bought two tickets to a third country for three days later at a high price. If we went through regular channels, Dominic would probably find out immediately. I called my only confidant, gave him a sum of money, and asked him to secretly discharge my brother. After doing all this, I finally relaxed. I hailed a taxi and gave an address some distance from the villa. This was my habit. The casino had many enemies, so I prevented anyone from finding my exact address. As soon as I got out of the car, a man covered my mouth from behind and dragged me backward! I struggled desperately to break free, but before I could run a few steps, another person slashed my back with a sharp weapon! Pain exploded instantly, warm blood soaking my clothes. No need to guess, it was Dominic’s enemies. The casino had swallowed so much territory that the line of people wanting him and those around him dead could stretch to the pier. I tried to reach for the knife in my bag, but my arm was twisted behind my back, and my phone was smashed to pieces. “Damn it, be quiet!” The man choking me dragged me toward a van on the roadside. Just as I was about to despair, the familiar black Maybach turned in from the main road. It was Dominic’s car! I mustered my last bit of strength, screaming hoarsely, struggling to attract the attention of the people in the car. The car clearly paused and slowed down. He saw me! But in the next second, the Maybach accelerated without hesitation, speeding away from the intersection. Through the window, I saw Dominic pull Lily in the passenger seat into his arms, shielding her eyes from looking this way. As if outside the window was not his wife being dragged away to be tortured and killed, but just a dirty farce unworthy of staining her eyes. All struggle and hope were instantly drawn from my body. Pain and cold swept over me, and darkness swallowed my last shred of consciousness. When I woke up, I was lying in a private ward. The door wasn’t closed tightly, and low voices leaked in. “Dom, the Madam is badly hurt this time. If she finds out about Miss Lily…” It was Dominic’s private doctor, Ken. Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Dominic’s cold voice: “Watch your mouth. Your job is to cure her, nothing else!” “Ava has been in the game for so many years. What ruthless methods hasn’t she seen? She’s a master herself.” “Lily is different from her. She’s clean as a blank sheet of paper. She can’t fight Ava.” He paused, his voice lowering even more: “If she makes a scene when she wakes up, bring her brother over. He’s her only family left; she can’t ignore him.” I gripped the sheets, biting my lower lip until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. The night I helped him take down Canaan’s biggest casino, he promised me: “Ava, from now on, no one in Canaan’s underground can touch a hair on your head.” The same words, the same protection, but the person he wanted to protect had changed. I, whom he once treasured, became the dangerous person with malicious intent he needed to guard against. Footsteps approached. I closed my eyes, pretending to have just woken up. “Awake? We found out. It was done by the Thai guy whose hand was crippled for cheating in the casino last time.” Dominic threw a document in front of me. “Sign this settlement agreement, and they agree to give up management rights in the East District.” The East District was the last relatively clean area in Canaan, near the sea, with no casinos or gray industries. I remembered what he said to Lily: “Find a quiet place for you to build a resort…” So my injuries were traded for the chips to build a golden cage for his new love. I asked hoarsely: “Dominic, when did you make this deal?” Was it the moment he saw me being dragged away, or long before, when he decided to pave the road for his beloved with my blood? He frowned, clearly displeased with my questioning. I twitched the corner of my mouth and stopped asking. The answer didn’t matter anymore. Perhaps to appease me, he stayed here for the next two days to handle business. But his phone never left his hand. While eating, he would take photos and send them to the other side, showing a gentle smile I hadn’t seen in a long time. I looked at his profile, vaguely remembering eight years ago. The first time I met him wasn’t in a casino, but in a dark alley. He was caught cheating, surrounded by seven or eight men with machetes, about to lose an arm. I had just won a large sum of money, intervened to save him, and brought him back to my apartment. Later, my father back home owed a huge gambling debt and was driven to death by drug lords. I was taken to pay off the debt, a poison needle hovering over my vein. It was Dominic who rushed in with his men at the critical moment and saved me. By then, he had taken over a small casino, making me the invisible “Queen of Cheats” behind the Golden Sparrow table. Helping him swallow one casino after another, draining one opponent after another. I knew my hands were already stained with unwashable filth and blood. But even if the whole world thought I was dirty, he shouldn’t! After leaving the hospital, Dominic used business as an excuse and never appeared again. I was leaving tomorrow. Taking advantage of Dominic’s absence, I returned to the top floor of the casino and took my passport and several important ID documents from the safe. When I walked out of the elevator, my legs went weak, and I stumbled forward. The expected fall didn’t happen; a pair of thin hands caught me in time. “Are you okay?” The voice was soft, carrying a cautious kindness. I looked up and met Lily’s clear eyes. She was wearing a casino dealer’s uniform, but she still looked out of place. She didn’t know me, thinking I was an ordinary gambler who had lost all her money and was despondent. “I’m fine, thanks.” I straightened up, wanting to leave quickly. But she didn’t let go. Instead, she pulled me toward the employee lounge: “You look pale. Come rest in the back for a bit!” For some reason, I didn’t refuse. She poured me warm water and took a pack of dried mangoes and bread from her locker. “Eat something. Don’t be too sad about losing money. Go home early, your family must be waiting for you!” Seeing I didn’t speak, she hesitated, then took a few bills from her uniform pocket and stuffed them into my hand. “This is for your cab fare… I can’t help you with the ticket home though.” My throat felt blocked. I wanted to tell her to stay away from Dominic. That man had no heart. His gentleness was poison wrapped in honey. But I swallowed the words. If she knew my identity, she would definitely break up with Dominic. Then I would be the culprit. With only one day left, I couldn’t gamble with my life and my brother’s. I accepted Lily’s kindness, thanked her, and turned to leave quickly through the back door. Just as I stepped over the threshold, a cold object pressed against my temple. A gun barrel! I instinctively looked back. Lily was already lying on the hallway floor. Before I could react, the butt of a gun slammed into the back of my neck, and I blacked out. When I opened my eyes again, Lily and I were tied up in an abandoned warehouse. Lily sobbed softly: “Who are you? Why did you catch us…” A man with a scar on his face slapped her hard. “Because of your fiancé Dominic! He swallowed my territory in the West District and cut off my income!” So it was the West District gang. That territory was recently acquired by Dominic using my settlement agreement. Luckily they didn’t know me, but Lily, who Dominic had been parading around recently, became the target. I quietly moved my wrists, using a micro-blade hidden under my manicure to cut the rope. Living on the edge for years, I always kept a backup plan. Scarface thought I was just a gambler too and spat at me: “Bad luck for you, getting mixed up with this woman. Call your family, bring five million, and I’ll let you go.” Lily cried like a pear blossom bathed in rain. “Miss, I’m sorry I dragged you into this. But don’t be afraid, my fiancé is very powerful, he will definitely come to save us!” Mentioning Dominic, trust shone in Lily’s eyes. I didn’t speak, speeding up the cutting of the rope. Scarface’s call didn’t seem to go through. He kicked over an oil drum in rage: “Damn it! Dominic isn’t picking up? Looks like I need to send him a big gift to wake him up!” He picked up a dagger from the ground, his lecherous gaze wandering over Lily: “I saw you go to the hospital. Pregnant with his seed, right? Perfect. I’ll cut that little bastard out and show Dominic!” My heart sank. So she was already pregnant with Dominic’s child. Lily froze in terror, her face pale as paper: “No! Please… don’t hurt my baby!” Several men nearby laughed lewdly and reached for her. At that moment, I snapped the rope, sprang up like a leopard, and slammed my elbow into Scarface. With my other hand, I grabbed the dagger, quickly cut Lily’s ropes, and shielded her behind me. “Damn it! Kill her!” Scarface clutched his jaw, roaring in fury. Five or six men immediately surrounded us, wielding iron bars. Even though I knew how to fight, I was freshly injured and facing so many desperadoes; I soon fell into a disadvantage. Iron bars slammed into my body with the sound of wind. The pain almost brought me to my knees. I could only use my body to withstand the increasing blows, protecting Lily tightly in the corner. Scarface obviously lost patience. He cocked his gun with a click, aiming the black muzzle at me. “Bitch, you want to die!” Just as he pulled the trigger— A deafening noise came from the warehouse door! Dominic rushed in with his men, and gunshots erupted instantly. Like an enraged lion, he charged straight at us, pulling Lily into his arms: “Lily, don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Lily whimpered in his arms. Overwhelmed by fear, she fainted completely upon relaxing. Dominic gently carried her to the car and settled her properly. Then, he turned and walked toward me. “Ava!” His voice was laced with icy chill. “Why are you here?” I supported my aching body, met his scrutiny, and forced a cold smile: “Are you suspecting me?” Before I finished, he slapped me viciously across the face! The force knocked me to the ground, blood filling my mouth. “I knew you always wanted to scheme against Lily, to drive her away, didn’t you?” I spat out the blood, my voice hoarse: “I didn’t.” He grabbed a dying thug from the ground, pressing the gun to his head: “Say it. Who hired you?” The thug trembled, looking at me with fear, as if grabbing the last straw, and screamed: “It was… it was she who found us! She gave us money to teach that woman a lesson…” My heart sank into an ice cellar, blood freezing. Dominic sneered and pulled the trigger without hesitation. He tossed the body aside, squatting down and stepping on my hand. Pain tore through my heart. His tone was almost a sigh: “These hands… used to be so obedient. Why use them to harm the person I love most now?” He pulled out a cold dagger. “I told you, Ava, don’t touch my things lightly!” As the words fell, a cold light flashed! My breathing stopped abruptly! The dagger pierced my palm fiercely, pinning it to the cold concrete floor. “Ah—!” I convulsed in pain, black spots dancing before my eyes, almost fainting. The despair of impending death made me scream: “Dominic! I shouldn’t have saved you from that alley eight years ago! Shouldn’t have helped you become the King of Canaan!” He personally buried the last bit of affection between us. He snorted disdainfully, stood up, and left the warehouse with his men without looking back. Only when numbness slightly replaced the piercing pain did I use my movable left hand to dig out a micro-locator from my bra and press it with trembling fingers. My confidant arrived quickly. Seeing my state, his eyes reddened instantly. He carefully pulled out the dagger. My right hand was a bloody mess, devoid of feeling. My voice was weak but carried unprecedented resolve. “Start a big fire. Help me erase everything here.” “From now on, there is no Queen of Cheats Ava Hayes in Canaan!” 2 Dominic guarded Lily in the VIP ward until she woke up. “Dom…” Her voice was weak, filled with lingering fear. Dominic held her, wiping the sweat from her forehead: “I didn’t protect you well. I let you get hurt.” Lily shook her head gently, as if remembering something: “What about the lady who was tied up with me? How is she…” Dominic’s eyes darkened, avoiding her question: “You’re too kind. I won’t let you get hurt again.” He patted Lily’s back soothingly until she fell asleep again uneasily. Then he ordered his men: “Clean out the hilltop villa completely. Throw away everything that shouldn’t be there. Lily will move in after she’s discharged.” The henchman nodded and handed over a document: “This is the compensation agreement for Sister Ava you ordered. As per your instructions, two casinos and 20% equity have been transferred, enough for her to start over.” Dominic grunted: “Send it to her. Make her sign it.” In his view, this was a great kindness and closure. Ava had been with him for eight years; she should know her place. However, a day passed with no response. Phone calls and messages to Ava sank like stones in the ocean. He called the villa housekeeper: “Where’s the Madam? Hasn’t she returned?” “Madam hasn’t been back.” Dominic felt a trace of uneasiness amidst his irritation. Besides his side, where else in Canaan could accommodate Ava Hayes? The henchman reminded him: “Dom, could Sister Ava still be in the hospital? She was badly hurt last time…” Dominic then remembered that two days ago, he had pierced Ava’s hand with a dagger. He suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and ordered: “Find out which hospital she’s in. Send the stuff over and make her sign.” The henchman took the document, turned to leave, but was called back. “After finding her, send two smart ones to watch her. She has a fierce temper; she might use dirty tricks on Lily.” “If you notice any unusual movement, control her brother first. If necessary, let her brother suffer a bit. She knows the stakes.” Late at night, Dominic went to the top floor of the casino. This used to be his and Ava’s love nest. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows was Canaan’s most prosperous night view, neon lights flickering, a galaxy inverted. Ava once pointed to half the lights below, smiling and saying this was their empire. He pulled off his tie irritably and threw it aside, but faintly heard a sound from the bedroom. She’s back? Right, where else could she go besides here? Given Ava’s temper, coming back quietly was definitely not a compromise. She either wanted to turn the world upside down or was hiding a more ruthless move aimed directly at Lily. His eyes suddenly turned cold. He stepped forward and pushed open the bedroom door. The neon light from outside outlined a slender figure. Dominic’s eyes froze instantly: “Who let you in here?” Lily trembled violently. She was holding a delicate press-on nail, her fingertips shaking slightly. “Dom…” She was like a frightened deer, voice trembling, “I just wanted to come in and look… the brothers at the door said no one lived here, don’t blame them…” Dominic’s gaze fell on the nail in her hand. Ava made that herself. Thin as a cicada’s wing, but hiding a secret mechanism inside, capable of easily slicing open skin or even thin sheet metal. Not just these nails, but Ava’s earrings, hair accessories, even a lipstick could hide deadly traps. The Queen of Cheats was never just a title at the gambling table. He looked at Lily’s eyes filled with uneasiness, and the hostility in his heart suddenly dissipated. He stepped forward and gently pulled her into his arms: “I don’t blame you. It’s just that the things here belonged to my late wife. If you like, I’ll have someone custom-make some for you.” Lily looked up, tears of emotion welling in her eyes. It seemed she hadn’t chosen the wrong person. If he could be so deeply affectionate to his late wife, he would definitely be a good husband and father. In the early morning, the urgent ringing of a cell phone woke Dominic. The henchman’s voice was filled with anxiety and panic: “Dom, Madam is gone! We searched all the hospitals in Canaan, nothing! But you’d better look at Madam’s previous medical records…” “Madam seemed to know about the divorce long ago. She even checked the records at City Hall.” Lily was woken by the smell of smoke. She came to the living room and saw cigarette butts all over the floor. “Did something happen at the casino?” she asked softly. Dominic came back to his senses but didn’t stub out the cigarette as usual. “Nothing.” His voice was terribly hoarse. “Just a small matter at work. It’s handled.” He hadn’t realized his eyes were bloodshot, exhausted beyond human likeness. His men told him Ava had an abortion at a hospital. That day was the day he took Lily to the casino. While he was bringing another woman into the empire they built together, declaring a new mistress, she was lying alone on the operating table, killing their child? How dare she?! The dawn outside turned white, illuminating Lily’s flawless face. Completely different from that woman covered in blood who dared to dispose of his child privately. This is fine. We’re divorced anyway. Ava leaving on her own saved a lot of trouble. “It’s okay.” He extinguished the cigarette. “Wait for me to take a shower.” He turned into the bathroom and dialed his henchman: “The scum in the East District, don’t leave a single one. Keep it clean. Throw the trash to feed the sharks at the port.” Lily moved into the villa, becoming the nominal new mistress. Dominic ordered countless expensive dresses and jewelry, and even arranged a leisurely and respectable position for her in the casino. But he felt an unspeakable exhaustion growing. Every time he dealt with the blood and storms outside and returned to Lily, facing those dust-free eyes, he felt split in two. One half was the ruthless Yamaraja of Canaan’s underground, whose word was law. The other half masqueraded as the successful businessman she imagined. He suddenly thought of Ava. Only in front of Ava could he be the real Dominic. She wouldn’t be afraid; she would plan for him, cleanly sweeping away obstacles. A gilded invitation lay on Dominic’s desk. The Southeast Asia Annual Casino Summit, inviting the King of Canaan and his wife to attend. In the past, Dominic wouldn’t have batted an eye. With Ava by his side, any gambling game was just another performance adding to their glory and capital. But now… he couldn’t remember how long it had been since he really sat at a gambling table. Years of obsession with expanding territory and handling shady business had made his skills rusty. Playing a few rounds with Lily occasionally was just coaxing a child. Dominic began habitually returning to the casino’s top floor alone late at night. Seeing the old items, he seemed to see Ava’s dashing figure again. Initially, he did save her from the drug lord and gave her shelter. Later, she won key games for him, swallowed opponents, her hands stained with blood without complaint. Between them, it was never one-sided charity and protection, but mutual reliance licking blood off a knife, tacit understanding and support in the dark. Without Ava, there would be no Dominic today! But why did he change? Was it because her hands were stained with blood and no longer clean? Or was he bored with the dependence and petty temper she showed later? But why did he feel it was natural, even pitiful, when the same dependence and fragility appeared in Lily? His heart felt like it was fiercely gripped, pricked with dense pain. He stood up abruptly. No.

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I was one of the most popular female celebrities on the internet when I suddenly announced my marriage into a wealthy family. Three months after getting married, I joined a couple’s live-stream reality show out of the blue. The whole internet mocked me. [Attention seeker. Our sister just joined this show, and she immediately glued herself to it.] [Definitely won’t be as sweet as our Harper.] [Of course not, it’s a business marriage between wealthy families. What feelings could they possibly have?] The show’s production team gave me a mission. I kept a cold face and tested my husband, saying, “I know everything.” To everyone’s shock, the usually aloof and arrogant CEO fell to his knees with a thud. Netizens: [Did he cheat? Dropping to his knees immediately?] “I borrowed some money, just for some cash flow.” Netizens: [He’s actually bankrupt! Otherwise, why would he marry an actress?] I was startled. “How much did you borrow?” His handsome face showed a hint of guilt. “It was quite expensive.” “I bought an annual SVIP subscription to a streaming platform.” “To binge-watch your TV dramas.” Netizens: [Brother-in-law, I’m crying! You really ask for the moon!] 1 The day I announced my marriage, Twitter crashed. It was a rare event. Countless netizens questioned why I was so love-struck. Abandoning a bright future to gamble on a man’s love. A group of my biggest fans and dedicated career-focused supporters were heartbroken. They publicly questioned me on Twitter: [Are you that desperate for a man?] [With your money, what kind of man can’t you find?] [Are you that starved for attention?] [We’re not stopping you from dating, but at least pick someone decent! If nothing else, look at Harper next door. Her husband is a famous director who can give her resources, and he’s super handsome.] Harper was an actress from my cohort. Our fanbases often clashed, but in reality, we didn’t interact much. Shortly after she got married, I announced my own marriage. I thought netizens would bless me just as they blessed her. But I didn’t expect… To be scolded terribly. Even though I emphasized that he was really handsome and rich. In the eyes of netizens: [When you’re infatuated, even sh*t smells good.] Right after, Harper announced she was participating in a couple’s live-stream reality show. The production team used me as a foil and tried to invite me. I originally didn’t plan on participating in this show. But a long-time fan wrote a letter saying: [Sister, we’re not against you dating. We really hope you find your own happiness. It’s just that your sudden marriage, without any build-up about your husband’s identity, and without any trace of your romance, makes us worry. We’re not against it; we’re just worried. Worried that you married the wrong person, worried that your career will stall because of this relationship, and eventually, you’ll lose both love and career. But, regardless, congratulations on finding happiness and starting a new chapter in your life. May the rest of your life be filled with joy, and may everything go smoothly. Stay happy.] I decided to join the show. Consider it an explanation to my fans. My relationship with him is actually quite good. It wasn’t a traditional arranged marriage where love comes later. There was a long period of “trial marriage” beforehand. I fell in love with him at first sight. Among the scions of wealthy families in arranged marriages, his character and looks were top-tier. Since an arranged marriage was inevitable, why not choose someone pleasing to the eye? I decided it had to be him from the very beginning. The beginning of the story: The Reserved Mr. Moore and the Passionate Miss Davis. I tirelessly recommended the TV dramas I starred in to him. Praying the big boss would invest. Also praying the big boss would be won over by my multifaceted charm. The development of the story: The Gentle Mr. Moore and the Tsundere Miss Davis. He unexpectedly visited the set where I was filming. Saw my desperate dedication. He felt bad but was moved by the light of my chasing dreams. He began escorting my career. I listened to my best friend, playing hard to get. Being a tease is the perfect solution. The climax of the story: The Refined Mr. Moore and the Successful Miss Davis. The resources he fed me, combined with my acting skills, helped me shed the “internet celebrity” label and become a respected actress. The lack of major awards was only due to insufficient seniority; I just hadn’t put in the time yet. The ending of the story: The Clingy Mr. Moore and the Composed Miss Davis. According to normal couple reality shows, our dynamic was perfectly fine. We could even gain a lot of fans. But I didn’t expect the show’s format to be a live-streamed daily life experience. With hidden cameras installed. And we couldn’t inform our partners about the hidden cameras. But some of his actions were really unbroadcastable! If broadcasted, the stream would be banned in minutes. But I had already boarded the pirate ship and couldn’t get off. The contract was signed. 2 The day the show premiered. As soon as I appeared in the live stream. The whole internet mocked me. [Attention seeker, saw our Harper joined, so you glued yourself to it too?] [So what if she joined? Definitely won’t be as sweet as our Harper. After all, that couple is publicly recognized as a perfect match.] I had just invited the cameraman in to install the hidden cameras. After netizens saw the decor of my house clearly, their tone changed a bit, but not much. [That painting? Seems like a unique piece? A 9-figure price tag?] [So she did marry into a wealthy family?] [Just a business marriage. Her husband must be ugly and frustrating, unlike Harper’s husband who is handsome and talented!] [Just using money to disguise the coldness and loneliness at home.] My husband wasn’t home yet. Bored, I clicked into Harper’s live stream. The comments were all shipping them as a couple. Hmm, so envious. Looking back at my own comments. I felt a bit stifled. I opened my phone’s chat box and asked: [How long until you get back?] Ethan Moore: [Something wrong?] I glanced at the director team; I couldn’t reveal information about the show. It was a genuine live stream of married life. I was a bit stuck. I just typed a short reply. [Nothing.] I shouldn’t have asked! The comments started a new round of mockery. [Mhm, I can tell they are a plastic couple.] [Not just an ordinary plastic couple! Look at that contact name, very official for a plastic couple.] [Just the full name. I rarely see such contact names among loving couples.] Me: … The previous contact name was a bit unpresentable. I specially changed it before coming on the show. Forget it, don’t be angry, don’t be angry. According to Ethan’s routine, he would be home in less than half an hour. The netizens’ stereotypes would be shattered immediately. I casually turned on a TV drama, preparing to boost my own view count. Less than half an hour later. The light in the entryway turned on. A man’s broad figure stepped in, wrapped in the cold wind from outside. He casually hung his dark overcoat on the coat rack nearby and loosened his tie with long, distinct fingers. His gaze swept over, softening instantly. It wasn’t until Ethan walked further in that the hidden camera captured his full face. Deep-set eyes. When his gaze fell, the surrounding air seemed to tremble slightly. A refined jawline, thin lips pressed lightly together. His steps were steady, and in his hand, he carried a sweet little cake that completely clashed with his aura. The comments went crazy instantly: [Ahhh! She really scored big!] [No one said you could meet someone this handsome in a business marriage!] [F*ck, this guy’s identity is not ordinary either, he’s the Prince of the Capital Circle!] [Sienna Davis, when you said he was handsome, you were telling the truth?! You really scored big!] [Even without love! Eating this well is worth it.] [Thought your family was rich, didn’t think they were THIS rich! Girl, how can I get your life script?] 3 He walked over quickly, not rushing to sit down, and carefully placed the cake on the coffee table. He leaned down, his warm chest pressing against me, directly pulling me into his arms, resting his chin on my shoulder. His low, husky voice was wrapped in fatigue and intimacy, “Hug.” A crisp, woody fragrance entered my nose. I was silent for a moment; his warm breath tickled the side of my neck. I tried to push him away, but he hugged me tighter. His slightly cool nose tip rubbed against my neck, getting more addicted the more he rubbed. His hot breath hit my earlobe, tinging the tip with a light red. He suddenly sat up straight, eyelashes lowered, but the corners of his eyes turned up, dark light churning in his pupils. His gaze scraped over the side of my neck inch by inch, resting on the shallow hollow of my collarbone, carrying a scorching breath. It burned my skin tight. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his gaze glued to my collarbone, refusing to move. I hurriedly pushed him away. He reached out, leaning backward, ready to pull me into his arms again. I stood up, moving further away from him. His deep, dark eyes revealed hints of grievance. The comments were a bit confused: [???] [Is the Prince this clingy?] [Wait, is this right? Who said this was artificial sweetness! Look at their natural, intimate state. If we weren’t here, it’d probably be R-rated content by now!] [Actually, is it possible they knew about the live stream in advance and are acting for us?] [The Prince’s usual image is completely different from now. This is absolutely acting for us!] I remembered the first task the production team gave me. I took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to hug him. He retracted his gaze, somewhat disappointed, and pushed the little cake on the coffee table towards me. His low, husky voice carried fatigue, “Bought it passing by.” I stared at the bakery’s logo. It was in the opposite direction from the company, almost across the city. But I didn’t expose him. I just glanced lightly at the cake. Turned to look at him, and said coldly, “I know everything.” He lowered his head and eyes, a flash of panic crossing his deep pupils. My heart skipped a beat. He really had something! What was he hiding?! Looking at the camera in front of me, Director Qian’s voice came through my earpiece. “Ask again.” I braced myself, keeping my face cold. “What you did, I know it all.” “Are you going to confess yourself, or…” I took out my phone, hadn’t even started contacting anyone yet. He hurriedly pressed down on my phone and dropped to his knees with a thud. My scalp tingled. His usually proud, straight back curved, his knees smashing onto the floor without warning. The muffled thud made my heart tremble. What huge mistake did he make! Holy crap. Could it be, on the first day of the live stream. I’m going to crash and burn? And I said I’d let fans witness that I’m doing well. Now… The comments were already watching the show eagerly: [Holy crap, is this the rumored aloof Prince of the Capital Circle? What huge mistake did he make? Dropping to his knees directly?] [This look, I’ve only seen it on cheating scumbags!] [Cheating? Is it this exciting on the first day of recording?] [Hahahaha! I believe the production team has no script now, the other couple is truly sweet!] [So the initial intimacy makes sense now. After all, cheating scumbags always use this trick to comfort their wives at home.] 4 I took a deep breath, suppressed the churning emotions in my heart, maintained my cold expression, and said flatly, “Speak.” Ethan’s jawline tightened, the tips of his ears flushing with a thin red. “I borrowed some money, just for some cash flow.” The comments flooded the screen instantly. [Is he bankrupt?] [Sienna just married into the family not long ago, and he’s bankrupt? I’m afraid this is a scam targeting Sienna.] [Sigh, advised her then not to be love-struck, not to fantasize about marrying into a wealthy family, now look…] [Makes sense, if he wasn’t bankrupt, why would a wealthy family marry an actress?] [Meaning, Sienna is carrying a mountain of debt now?] I sighed softly, borrowed… some money?! My tone trembled with surprise, “How much did you borrow?” He actually used it for cash flow. I started calculating, if I divorce now. How many years would I have to work in the entertainment industry to pay off the debt? He hesitated slightly. “A bit expensive.” My vision went black. As if I could already see a dark future ahead. He continued to speak. “To subscribe to a streaming platform’s SVIP.” The comments were already getting lively: [???] [Is this the streaming SVIP I know?] [No no no, it must be the rumored dark web, definitely not a streaming platform’s SVIP!] [CEOs all have rumored unlimited black cards.] I laughed in anger. Wait, you… Are just fear-mongering! A streaming SVIP used for cash flow? He quickly added, “To binge-watch your TV dramas.” The comments went crazy, screen full of: [!!!] [You dare play us?] [Brother-in-law, you really do ask for the moon.] [No, an SVIP for a streaming platform, is it worth you using ‘cash flow’ for?] Seeing me silent. He started speaking softly again. Explaining: “I knew you had a streaming membership, but your ‘Red Beans’ (fanbase name) said nowadays TV dramas depend on new user acquisition rates and viewing duration, so I subscribed.” I raised an eyebrow, not speaking. He paused, “I know you hate the process of faking traffic and data, wanting to rely on your own strength, but for your TV drama, I still wanted to show some support.” My cold eyes lifted. “Just for this little bit of money, you used the phrase ‘cash flow’?” Director Qian’s confused voice came through the earpiece. “Does your husband not even have pocket money usually?” I felt a bit guilty, hurriedly explained smoothly. “Although your primary card is with me, didn’t I give you a supplementary card?” Ethan spoke softly, “But then wouldn’t you see the transaction history? I didn’t dare use it.” Comments: [???] [No, bro, you…] [As a CEO, shouldn’t you be arrogant, cool, domineering, and dazzling? Need ‘cash flow’ just for a streaming membership?] He paused for a moment. “As for cash flow, Carter Zane’s family situation is similar to ours.” “I borrowed the money he uses for smoking this month, promised him that once my cash flow recovers, I’ll pay him back immediately.” I took a deep breath, eyes looking indescribable. “How are you going to recover your cash flow?” His guilty gaze drifted to the little cake on the table. “This little cake, I transferred a bit more money to the shop, and the shop gave me a kickback.” I felt a bit numb. Stared silently at Ethan. Ethan suddenly hooked the corner of his mouth, “You didn’t know? You tricked me?” I felt guilty. Thinking about how to resolve this situation. He loosened his tie, speaking seamlessly. “This room, the heating is a bit strong.” Started taking off his clothes one by one. Until, only a shirt remained. Looking up, his eyes somewhat impassioned. “Sienna, do you want to tear this shirt for fun?” The comments had become screaming chickens. [Ahhh!] [No wonder Sienna saw her brother-in-law kneel and had no reaction, looks like they often play this kind of game.] [I want to see too, brother-in-law’s body should be pretty good.]

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