Category: English

My sixty-year-old husband took his first love on a thrill-seeking adventure, and they both had heart attacks while bungee jumping. As a lady of means, I’d never witnessed such a chaotic scene. All I could do was call my children for advice: “Your father and Susan are having medical emergencies right now. You need to tell me what to do!” My daughter snapped back: “Dad’s the Chief of Medical Staff! He wouldn’t have a heart attack even if *you* dropped dead!” My son scoffed at me: “I’m taking Jessica, Susan’s daughter, to a specialist out of state for a consultation right now. Don’t you dare cause more trouble.” I stared at the two old people, still tightly embracing each other even in unconsciousness, and dialed 91 The dispatcher, however, said they were too busy and would send someone as soon as possible. I openly wiped away tears in front of the park staff. If that old jerk dies, how am I ever going to spend this immense fortune all by myself? 1 Before Robert left, I reminded him he was getting on in years and shouldn’t push himself when out and about. But just to spite me, he took his first love, also in her sixties, bungee jumping. Watching the two old people still clinging together even after passing out, my heart shattered: “Robert, didn’t you say the hospital was busy with meetings? What in the world is going on here?” Robert grit his teeth, unable to utter a single word. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and looked around. The staff member was visibly trembling: “Ma’am, it’s like this. We tried to dissuade these two seniors, but they insisted they had some promise from their youth to fulfill, and kept talking about an ‘anti-establishment spirit’…” That explained everything. My old man, back in his youth, was smitten with Susan, who lived in the next town over. But his family was poor, and Susan’s family looked down on him. They forced Susan to marry a wealthy man. At the time, Robert had a certain pride, insisting he and Susan should jump off a cliff together to swear their eternal love. But in the end, neither of them dared to jump. And then, Robert met me. He told me that the moment he saw me, he no longer wanted to die. He wanted to live a good, long life with me. Though living with him was exhausting – he often called me stingy. And complained I was too overbearing. Yet we argued and bickered for decades, and both of us lived perfectly fine lives! How could he, in his old age, suddenly remember that “anti-establishment spirit”? It made no sense. Honestly, all my advice to him came from a place of care: “Robert, come home early after your meetings. You have so many pre-existing conditions; don’t go playing on dangerous rides like those young kids at amusement parks.” Oh, it’s all my fault. Perhaps it was my recent refusal to buy Susan a house for her retirement that sparked his rebellious streak. Robert’s face was ashen now, his jaw clenched tight. Gone was the arrogant smirk he’d wear when arguing with me. My gaze shifted to Susan beside Robert, and I sighed again. After living most of my life, I never expected to have a love rival at sixty. At my son’s engagement party, my two children excitedly ushered Susan in, everyone acting as if they were old friends. My good-for-nothing old man, Robert, even readily agreed to give her ten million dollars, plus two villas. Normally, if I bought a new dress, he’d complain for ages about my extravagance. How could he suddenly be so generous now? I sat on a mountain of wealth, yet felt like a useless old woman, so I secretly hired someone to investigate. Guess what I found. Not only did Susan know my children, but she was also having dinner and shopping with Robert every few days. I was furious. I flat-out refused to give them any money. I even drafted divorce papers to separate from Robert and take the fortune I’d built myself. But my children ripped the divorce papers to shreds: “Aunt Susan sees money as meaningless! You’re this old, and your mind is still fixated on that filthy lucre? Are you going to take it to your grave?” “Why can’t you be more like Aunt Susan? Other families discuss things together, but you dared to keep something as big as divorce from us. Don’t ever act unilaterally again!” The thought twisted my heart even more. I quickly pulled away the staff member who was trying to help: “Besides his heart condition, my husband also has high blood pressure, diabetes, and a whole host of other complications. Don’t touch him; it’s not safe for you.” The first responder immediately stepped back two paces. Their gaze, full of gratitude and tears, met mine: “Ma’am, you’re such a kind person. So, what do we do now?” What do we do? My children won’t let me make decisions on my own, so I guess I’ll have to consult them first. 2 I sighed and called my daughter, Chloe: “Chloe, your dad and Aunt Susan…” Before I could finish, my daughter interrupted with a sigh of her own: “What about Dad and Aunt Susan *now*? They weren’t together back then, is it a crime for them to have dinner and walk in the park together these days?” “Mom, I’m not trying to be rude, but how old are you? Why do you have to obsess over every little thing?” I went through so much pain giving birth to Chloe. When she was born, she was all wrinkled, her little face purple. Because I loved her so much, I used my meager savings to buy rare imported formula, while I drank vegetable broth, just hoping she’d grow up healthy and safe. As I wished, my daughter not only grew up but also became sharp-witted. But I never imagined she’d known about Robert and Susan all along. She even knew that on my birthday, during the national holiday, they were going out to the park together to reminisce and re-enact their “cliff-jumping” dream. Listening to my daughter’s sharp accusations, watching Robert and Susan’s faces gradually turn blue, I couldn’t help but interrupt her: “Um, Chloe, your dad and Aunt Susan had an accident while playing on the rides at the park. What do we do now? Should we send them to the hospital?” My daughter burst out laughing: “You’re almost sixty, can you stop playing these games? Are you trying to trick me into some kind of public spectacle to catch them in the act?” “Why don’t you think about Dad’s age? Even if he wanted to, what could he possibly *do*?” “They’re just reminiscing about their pure youth. You’re the one with the filthy mind…” I hung up before she could finish, under the strange stares of the staff. I stood there, weeping in the wind, my heart torn to shreds. I wanted to call an ambulance directly, but as a helpless old woman who had just been scolded by my daughter, I truly didn’t dare make the decision myself. I shook my head and called my son, Daniel: “Daniel, your dad and Aunt Susan…” Before Daniel could speak, a woman’s voice shouted from the other end: “Daniel, I can’t breathe!” “My chest hurts, and my head hurts too. Can you check on me, what’s wrong with me?” The phone clattered loudly, seemingly dropped. Then came Daniel’s panicked voice: “Jessica, are you still mad at my mom about the money?” “Don’t worry, ten million means ten million. I’ll make sure Mom pays it, not a cent less!” Then it was Jessica’s voice: “Why is your mother calling you now?” Daniel’s explanation was rushed and frantic: “It’s just Mom throwing a tantrum because Dad and your mom went out together for the national holiday. I swear, why can’t my mom be as graceful as yours?” “Aunt Susan is so much better – not only does she look great, but she handles everything so calmly. She’s never stingy like my mom, I really don’t know what goes on in her head.” “Dad’s lived his whole life, and now in his old age, he still has to be controlled by her. What kind of life is that?” As he was talking, my son seemed to realize the call hadn’t ended and quickly hung up. Listening to the dial tone, I felt the world spin. Someone helped me sit on the ground, and I slapped my thighs in despair: “My children don’t care about my husband! What am I going to do?” The staff, feeling sorry for me, came closer to offer suggestions: “Ma’am, how about this? Let’s just call an ambulance for them first?” My eyes lit up. I casually pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills from my bag to thank them, then dialed the emergency line for Robert’s own hospital. Even though it meant the whole hospital would see their esteemed Chief of Medical Staff, Robert, and the famous retired artist, Susan, embracing each other. But dignity is nothing compared to life itself! Calling an ambulance for this old couple, surely that counts as a good deed, right? As I dialed, I pulled out more money, stuffing it into the hands of the surrounding staff: “My children hate it when I make decisions. I’m only calling emergency services because I’m desperate. If they cause a fuss, you all have to vouch for me…” The staff, counting the large bills in their hands, looked at me with immense pity: “Ma’am, you’ve been through so much. We’ll all stand by you!” With that, they all pulled out their phones to record my “beautiful life,” and I finally felt a sense of relief.

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When the emergency call came in, the dorm manager, Mrs. Peterson, blocked my way. “A man? In the girls’ dorm? Over my dead body!” I was anxious, “In front of medical staff, there’s no distinction between men and women.” I ran as fast as I could and finally saved the girl. But then she tried to extort me. “This unethical doctor didn’t rescue me in time, which is why I have these complications.” “And when he was saving me, his hands weren’t honest; he touched me inappropriately.” Throughout the holidays, my family and I were cyberbullied because of this. Unable to bear the pressure, I jumped from the building. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Mrs. Peterson. This time, I wasn’t in a hurry. After all, the person lying upstairs was Mrs. Peterson’s daughter! “I said no, and that’s final. How can a man go up there?” Mrs. Peterson stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, refusing to open it. “You’re all thinking with your dicks, every last one of you! Letting you in would be like letting a creep through the door” I looked at Mrs. Peterson, masking the regret and surprise churning inside me. “Dr. Stone, please think of something! The patient is suffering from respiratory alkalosis,” Chloe, the nurse behind me, urged anxiously. I snapped back to reality. “She won’t let us in. What can we do?” Chloe looked at me, completely taken aback. I knew why she was surprised. This was completely unlike my usual behavior. In my previous life, I had stormed that door with the others, smashed it open, and rushed upstairs to save the girl. I’d snatched the patient back from the jaws of death, but then she’d tried to extort me, leading to my tragic end. Back again, I was determined to avoid that outcome. However, thinking of this family’s true colors, I quietly whispered to Chloe, “Get out your phone, and discreetly record this.” Watching her open her camera, I stepped forward to negotiate. “If we miss the optimal window for rescue, this girl could very likely suffer permanent complications.” Mrs. Peterson looked at me with disdain. “You can talk all you want, but I’m still not letting you into the girls’ dorm!” She scanned us, then pointed at me, spitting, “You don’t look like a good person! Are you some shifty-eyed fraud pretending to be medical staff?” I bit back a sarcastic remark, but my face showed only anxiety. “If we miss the rescue window, can you take responsibility for that?” She said smugly, “That’s just according to school regulations. Her life or death is her own destiny.” Chloe couldn’t take it anymore and shouted, “You’re just a glorified doorman! Not letting us up there is practically killing someone!” How could Mrs. Peterson tolerate her authority being challenged? Her eyes narrowed. “Are you his side piece or something, getting all worked up?” “And you look down on me? You’re just a servant yourself!” Our nurses were all new young women, no match for Mrs. Peterson. Hearing her words, Chloe’s eyes immediately welled up. I stepped in front of Chloe. “What ‘side piece’ are you talking about? Just because you’re that kind of person doesn’t mean everyone else is. Let us in, a student upstairs needs urgent care.” Mrs. Peterson’s face turned red, and she started spewing insults. “I’m not letting you up! Do you want to save a student, or just ogle the female students? You’re shameless!” I raised my hands to calm her. “Don’t get excited, just calm down.” Chloe quietly reminded me, “Dr. Stone, time is running out.” I sighed, putting on a conciliatory look. “What exactly will it take for you to let us in?” Mrs. Peterson puffed up her shoulders, munching on sunflower seeds. “You can call the principal. If he agrees, then I will.” I tried to reason. “Then give us the principal’s number.” She simply stopped talking. Chloe and I started contacting everyone we knew, and finally found the number. “Dr. Stone, it’s not going through.” Mrs. Peterson said triumphantly, “Can’t get through, can you? Well, there’s one more way.” I didn’t speak. Chloe urged, “Just tell us!” She pointed at me: “Make this man kneel down and beg me.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to save someone? What’s kneeling down for a life?” Mrs. Peterson pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds and started cracking them. I said in a low voice, “The student upstairs is a fresh, young life.” Chloe was indignant. “You wait. I’m going to report you.” I was secretly pleased; this was a godsend. People like Mrs. Peterson, once they hear “report,” would explode like a powder keg. Sure enough, Mrs. Peterson directly flung sunflower seed shells onto our faces. “I don’t need him to kneel. You kneel for me, and I’ll let you up.” Chloe’s face turned beet red with anger. “You’re just a filthy lowlife!” Mrs. Peterson stomped her foot, sneering, “Aren’t you supposed to be an angel in white? Well, someone’s waiting for you to save them, so why aren’t you doing it? You’re just faking it!” Chloe looked at me helplessly. I subtly shook my head. Mrs. Peterson mocked, “I think all this talk about saving lives is fake. You just want to show off in front of this man.” I was about to say something when a frantic voice interrupted me. A student came flying down the stairs, panting heavily, and stumbled in front of Mrs. Peterson. “Peterson, she’s really not doing well.” Mrs. Peterson pulled her arm away. “Even so, we have to follow the rules.” The student stomped her foot anxiously. “Peterson, the one who’s sick is…” Mrs. Peterson put on a business-like face. “Even if it were my own parents, we’d still have to follow the rules.” The student looked at me with pleading eyes, then rushed to the door. “Doctor, please come in! My roommate is really bad. I’ll open the door for you.” With that, she lunged at the door to open it. Mrs. Peterson grabbed her, gave her a shove, and the young girl’s body hit the ground like a ragdoll. We all gasped. “My hand hurts so much,” the girl’s face was contorted in pain. “Can’t you keep your hands off men? Wanting to open the door for him, you’re truly shameless!” Seeing the pained expression on the student’s face, I felt a pang of pity. The female student struggled to her feet. “Peterson, the one upstairs waiting to be rescued is Hai…” Before she could finish, Mrs. Peterson interrupted her again. “Get back to your room, or I’ll give you a major disciplinary warning!” I couldn’t stand it anymore and shot back, “What authority do you have to give out disciplinary warnings? You’re just a dorm supervisor!” Hearing me, the student plucked up her courage. “Exactly! I’ll tell my parents you pushed me like this! And, the one waiting upstairs is Hailey Peterson!” Mrs. Peterson’s face flushed with anger when she heard the student mention telling her parents. But when she heard that the one needing rescue was Hailey, her face instantly went ashen. “What? Hailey is sick? You silly girl! Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” No more nonsense this time. She immediately flung open the door, glaring fiercely at me. “You’re entering the girls’ dorm, so keep your eyes to yourself. Don’t even think about looking around, or I’ll call the police!” “If Hailey doesn’t make it, I won’t let you get away with it!” There was no elevator in the dorm building, so we had to climb. Mrs. Peterson kept ranting behind us, “Can’t you go any faster?” “You’re a man, and you’re running so slowly? Are you even a man?” I scoffed, “If you hadn’t blocked us, we’d have been treating her already. This is all on you.” “If you really wanted to save her, you would have knelt for me already. You’re not genuinely trying to save anyone, and you still have the nerve to call yourselves doctors and nurses!” The dorm was on the seventh floor. I was already out of breath and didn’t have the energy to deal with someone like her. Good thing her every word and action had been recorded. This time, let’s see how she tries to manipulate public opinion and cyberbully me! The dorm room door was wide open. I quietly reminded Chloe, “Keep the camera rolling.” The girl lying on the ground was still conscious. Hearing the sound, she weakly fluttered her eyes open and looked at me. “Why is it a male doctor? I want a lady doctor.” Chloe tried to reassure her. “Sweetie, your situation is very serious right now.” I said in a deep voice, “In our eyes, there are only patients, not genders.” “But I don’t even have a boyfriend yet! How can a male doctor touch me?” Mrs. Peterson said anxiously, “Oh, daughter, stop talking!” She shoved me. “What are you standing there for? Do something!”

Even knowing what this mother and daughter were like, I was a doctor; I couldn’t just stand by and let a patient die. After a quick examination, I turned to Chloe and said, “Alright, let’s get her onto the ambulance.” Mrs. Peterson trailed right on my heels. “Is Hailey okay? You’ve treated her, so why go to the hospital? You’re not just trying to milk us for money, are you?” I stopped walking. “She’s out of immediate danger, but she needs further observation.” She muttered quietly, “I know your type. You just want us to spend more money.” At the hospital, after further checks, it was confirmed by noon that Hailey Peterson was fine. Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. “It was a bumpy road, but at least we saved her.” Mrs. Peterson was not happy. “Hailey was fine already! You insisted on dragging her to the hospital just to make us spend more money!” “I’m discharging her!” I subtly signaled to Chloe to keep recording. Only after she nodded did I speak. “Keeping the patient hospitalized is to ensure she’s completely out of danger. If you want to discharge her now, you’ll need to sign a liability waiver for us.” As soon as Mrs. Peterson heard “liability waiver,” she refused point-blank. “A waiver? I’m not signing it!” I was all business. “Then she needs to remain under observation in the hospital for another week.” Mrs. Peterson immediately threw herself onto the floor, wailing loudly, “This hospital is bullying people!” Soon, a crowd gathered. Seeing people arrive, Mrs. Peterson put even more effort into her performance! “This hospital is trying to extort money! Hailey wants to leave, but they won’t let her!” Was I going to let her twist the facts? I looked around and said loudly, “According to regulations, she needs to stay for a full week. This is for the patient’s own good.” Mrs. Peterson scrambled to her feet, lowered her head, and bumped into me. “Bullshit rules! You just want to make money!” I let her bump me, but I didn’t reach out. “You can be discharged, just sign the liability waiver.” The people around us also chimed in, “Yeah, you have to follow the rules! If you don’t sign the waiver and something happens, who’s responsible?” I held the waiver out to Mrs. Peterson, enunciating each word. “Ma’am, aren’t you the one who values rules the most? Sign it.” Mrs. Peterson glared at me, gritting her teeth. She snatched it, tore it into pieces in a flash, and tossed them into the air. “I’m not signing!” With the drama over, the crowd started to disperse. After Chloe sent me the video, she asked worriedly, “Dr. Stone, do you think Mrs. Peterson will pull another stunt?” I smirked sarcastically. “Just wait.” Sure enough, the next day, Chloe rushed to find me. “Dr. Stone, that dorm manager ran off with her daughter!” Nothing these two could do would surprise me. “Were the fees paid?” Chloe checked and said indignantly, “She still owes $500.” I immediately transferred $500. “I’ll cover it for her.” After Chloe completed the transaction, she said sincerely, “Dr. Stone, you’re too kind.” I just smiled faintly and said nothing. It wasn’t that I was stupidly rich; that $500, along with those videos, would all come in handy later! After waiting a few days, this good-for-nothing mother and daughter didn’t show up again. I even thought they wouldn’t reappear. Just as I was lamenting that my prepared videos would go to waste, Chloe rushed in, panting. “Dr. Stone, you need to come out! That dorm manager is causing a scene!” I put down the patient’s chart and ran out, only to see the main lobby packed with people. Mrs. Peterson’s voice could carry for miles. “Hailey was treated by this quack doctor, and now she has complications!”

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I was locked in the trunk, the scorching air burning my throat. Every breath felt like swallowing a ball of fire, stifling and painful. I regretted it. I shouldn’t have put that blanket on Leo. I pounded on the trunk lid, my palms hitting the burning metal, producing dull thuds and searing pain. “Dad! Mom! I’m sorry! Let me out!” “I’m so hot… Mia knows she was wrong… I’ll never do it again…” But my voice was completely muffled. I remembered when Dad bought the car, he’d proudly shown me: “Look, Mia, the soundproofing on this trunk is amazing. When I drive, your music back here won’t bother me at all!” Back then, I clapped my hands and laughed, thinking Dad was so clever. Now, that proud feature had become my living hell. I screamed and pounded until my palms were raw and my throat hoarse, but I got no response. The car was moving. I could feel the bumps as the tires rolled over gravel, Each jolt sending my head slamming against the cold, hard inner wall. I don’t know how much time passed before the car suddenly stopped. A flicker of hope ignited in my heart. Had Dad finally cooled down? Was he going to let me out? I strained my ears, trying to catch any sound from outside. “Wow, the scenery here is beautiful. Arthur, quick, take some pictures of Leo!” It was Mom’s voice, full of excitement and joy. “Alright, come on, Leo, look at me, smile!” “That’s it, my good boy, you’re so photogenic!” Dad’s voice followed, dripping with affection. I heard the camera’s “click-clack” shutter, and Leo’s happy giggles as they played with him. They hadn’t stopped for me. Only because the roadside scenery was nice. My heart sank, bit by bit. No, they wouldn’t abandon me. They’re just still angry. I pounded harder on the trunk, my nails scratching against the inner wall with an awful screech. In the chaos, my hand brushed against a teddy bear tucked into a corner. It was a birthday gift from Mom, and if you pressed its belly, it would play a recording of my voice. “Mommy, I love you, Mommy is the best mommy in the world!” My clear child’s voice echoed in the cramped space. They must hear it outside! Mom would surely soften if she heard it! Clutching this last hope, I pressed the bear’s belly again and again. Sure enough, Dad’s impatient roar came from outside. “What’s all that noise?! Can’t you even behave in there?!” “Keep it up, and I’ll throw you into these mountains for the wolves to eat! That’ll teach you!” Dad’s voice was like ice water, drenching me from head to toe, extinguishing all my hope. Fear and the heat wave engulfed me, making me dizzy. The car was like a giant oven. My skin was searing, and sweat soaked my dress. My consciousness faded, and hallucinations flickered before my eyes. I saw myself as a tiny girl, Dad lifting me high above his head, through a crowded street. Brilliant fireworks exploded in the night sky, and he pointed to the brightest one, telling me: “Mia, you are my brightest star in the night sky, my most precious treasure.” Dad, your treasure is about to be cooked alive. When will you finally turn around and look at me? When I “opened” my eyes again, I found myself floating outside the trunk. The afternoon sun was dazzling. I looked down at myself; my body was semi-transparent. Am I dead? Not far away, Dad and Mom were walking back from a mountain path with Leo. They looked like they’d had a wonderful time. Dad fanned Mom with his hand, and Mom blew a small fan at Leo. Both were sweating profusely, but their faces were beaming with contented smiles. “Mom!” I rushed towards Mom, wanting to hug her like I used to. But my body passed right through her arm. I couldn’t touch anything. They couldn’t see me, couldn’t hear me. Mom walked to the car, opened the door to get some water, and gulped it down. She wiped her mouth, her gaze briefly sweeping over the trunk, and hesitated before speaking: “Arthur, Mia has been in the trunk for so long. What if something happens? It’s so hot…” My heart leaped with joy. Mom remembered me! She still cared about me! I floated beside Mom, looking at her eagerly, silently screaming: Open the trunk! Save me! Dad was wiping sweat from Leo, and at Mom’s words, his face instantly darkened. He snapped: “You feel sorry for her? Have you forgotten Leo almost died because of her?! I think she deserves this lesson!” He glanced at the trunk with disgust: “Let her stew in there! It’ll teach her a lesson! She’ll live. It’s a lesson she needs.” “It’ll stop her from getting any more twisted ideas about harming my son! So young and already trying to hurt my son. I’m being merciful by not breaking her legs!” “Say one more word, and you can join her in there!” Dad’s tone was full of disgust and icy coldness, as if I weren’t his daughter, but some sworn enemy. Mom trembled with fright, immediately shutting her mouth, not daring to utter another word. She just cast another worried glance at the trunk, then turned her head to continue doting on Leo in her arms. They got back in the car, started the engine, and drove towards the mountain villa. Soon, the car stopped at the villa’s entrance. Brenda Evans, my aunt, was already waiting there. As soon as they got out, she greeted them with a wide smile. “Oh, my sweet big nephew,Brenda has missed you so much!” Brenda took Leo from Mom’s arms and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. Then, she squinted at the car and said sarcastically: “Where’s that little troublemaker? You didn’t bring her along, did you?” “Arthur, I’m telling you, you should have gotten rid of that wasteful girl ages ago, she’s nothing but bad luck for our precious Leo!” I knew she was talking about me. From a young age, Aunt Brenda had never given me a kind look. She’d always say, “Girls are just a temporary expense, a placeholder until they marry out. But a son? A son carries on the name, he’s the family’s future, its true legacy.” Dad listened to Brenda and actually laughed, his voice full of agreement: “Leo is so well-behaved. Unlike some ungrateful brats, who after all these years, only harbor jealousy and can’t stand their own brother.” Mom also forced a smile, not daring to refute a single word. “Arthur, Eleanor, come inside quickly, dinner’s ready.” Dad nodded, about to walk towards the trunk, but Brenda grabbed his arm. “Oh, Arthur, it’s so hot outside, you can get the stuff later!” “I’ve made chicken soup, it’s getting cold. Hurry and bring my precious nephew in for soup!” Mom also chimed in: “Yes, Arthur, let’s eat first. We’re all hungry.” Dad looked at Leo, who was giggling in Brenda’s arms and smiling at him, his face filled with doting affection. “Alright, you’re right. Dinner first.” Without looking back, he casually pressed the car key. “Beep-beep,” the car lights flashed, and the doors locked. Dad didn’t spare the car another glance. He, Mom, and Brenda, crowded around Leo, walking happily into the villa as a family. They chatted about the day’s fun, planned tomorrow’s activities, their laughter echoing without end. After dinner, they sat in the living room watching TV. Leo was cuddling with Mom, and Dad was peeling an apple nearby. I floated by the cold car, watching the warm light stream from the door, feeling like a joke abandoned by the whole world. It turned out, without me, they were still a complete family.

That night, I floated into their bedroom. Dad was already fast asleep, even snoring softly. Mom tucked Leo in, kissing his forehead. As she stood up, her gaze instinctively drifted towards the window, towards where the car was parked. My heart leaped into my throat. Mom, did you remember me? But she only stood for a second before reaching out to pull the curtains shut, blocking out all the darkness and cold from outside. All night, I stood by their bed, watching their peaceful sleeping faces. Dad and Mom slept so soundly, as if they had completely forgotten me. The next day, the sun rose as usual. Dad walked into the yard, stretched, and prepared for his morning exercise. Passing by the car, he frowned, sniffing the air. “What’s that smell? So awful. A dead rat?” He muttered in disgust, walked around the car, showing no desire to investigate further. To celebrate Leo’s “recovery,” Brenda and Mom had prepared a lavish lunch. In the living room, Dad and Brenda were chatting on the sofa. “Arthur, I swear, you’re too soft-hearted. For a girl like that, you need tough love!” Brenda proudly shared her wisdom with Dad. “You did the right thing this time. You need to discipline her severely, so she knows who’s in charge in this house. Otherwise, what will happen?” “She’ll think she can run wild in this house!” Dad’s face showed his agreement. “If Leo hadn’t been so lucky this time, I would have broken her legs!” Seeing this, Brenda became even more animated, bringing up things from my childhood. “Exactly! Don’t you remember how she ‘accidentally’ pushed Leo’s bottle off the table when he was little?” “How she ‘accidentally’ put salt in Leo’s porridge?” “I always said, she’s rotten to the core, naturally jealous of our Leo!” In her mouth, I became a malicious older sister, constantly plotting to harm my brother. “I told you before, that girl is cunning, but you wouldn’t believe me.” “See? Now her true colors are showing!” “Thank goodness we found out early, otherwise my precious nephew would have suffered even more!” Dad’s face grew darker and darker. He gripped his wine glass, gritting his teeth as he said: “That ungrateful brat!” “I should have listened to you back then and sent her away! Keeping her around is nothing but trouble!” Mom was sweating profusely in the kitchen, bringing dishes to the table one by one. Dad saw that all the dishes were ready and called out to the kitchen: “Eleanor, stop working, come and eat with us.” Mom came out with the last plate of braised pork, a hint of hesitation on her face. She glanced at the dining table, then towards the door, and whispered: “Arthur… Mia… she hasn’t eaten since yesterday, will she be…?” My heart leaped. Mom, you still remember me, right? “Clack!” Brenda slammed her fork down on the table, cutting Mom off. “Eleanor, what foolishness are you talking about?! She almost killed Leo, and you still feel sorry for her?!” “If we don’t teach her a lesson now, make her feel the pain, she’ll never learn to protect her brother!” “Skipping a few meals won’t kill her! Let her reflect properly!” Brenda turned to Dad, her tone becoming earnest: “Arthur, don’t go soft now. Leo is the only one that matters, the one who’ll carry on the Miller name, your legacy. Mia? She’s just a girl, she’ll marry off and be someone else’s problem. You need to show her who’s boss now, or she’ll ruin Leo, everything you’ve worked for!” Dad glared fiercely at Mom, angrily scolding her: “You’re always making trouble! Always too soft-hearted!” “If you feel sorry for her, then get out there and stay with her now!” “I’d like to see how long your mother-daughter bond lasts!” “If you dare to say one more word for that ungrateful brat, you can leave this house too!” Mom’s face turned ashen, and her hand, holding the bowl, began to tremble. She immediately placed the dish on the table, forcing a smile that was worse than a cry, and dared not mention my name again. Dad and Brenda were drinking and chatting jovially. Mom continuously served food to Leo. They started planning their afternoon activity: a BBQ at a charming local spot. Leo clapped his hands with delight. Dad and Brenda laughed, and Mom joined in their laughter. No one mentioned me again, as if I had never existed. As they prepared to leave for the BBQ, an indescribable, faint stench of decay wafted out the moment the car door opened. Dad frowned deeply, cursing in disgust: “That rotten girl, she must have peed in there! What a nuisance, so dirty and smelly!” He said, opening all the car windows, hoping to air out the smell. The wind rushed through the windows, blowing through my semi-transparent body. How I wished this wind could also carry away my despair and pain. Dad stood outside the car for a while. When he thought the smell had dissipated enough, he got into the driver’s seat. He never opened the trunk again, never even glanced at it. Soon, Mom, holding Leo, and Brenda, carrying snacks, got into the car, chatting and laughing. “Oh, what’s that smell? Don’t let it stink up my precious little one!” Brenda exaggeratedly pinched her nose. “Arthur, whatever you do, don’t open the trunk! If that smell gets out, we won’t be able to enjoy dinner tonight!” “Don’t worry,” Dad impatiently started the car, “I couldn’t care less about her.” And so, the family drove off, taking my lifeless body wit

The third day was the day of my piano recital, which I had looked forward to for half a year. For this recital, I practiced three hours every day after school, my fingertips developing thin calluses. Dad had promised me that if I performed well, he would take the whole family to the mountain villa for a vacation after the recital. Now, we were on vacation, but I had missed the stage forever. At ten in the morning, the recital was about to begin, but I had still not appeared. Ms. Carter, my teacher, called my mother’s phone again and again. Finally, the call connected. “Hello, Mia’s mom? This is Mia’s piano teacher.” On the other end of the line, the background was noisy with the clatter of poker chips and Brenda’s laughter. Mom’s voice carried an unnatural hesitation: “Ms. Carter… is, is something wrong?” Ms. Carter asked anxiously: “Mia’s mom! The recital is about to start! Mia isn’t here yet! We’re waiting for her! Where is she?” Mom paused, then her tone became impatient: “Oh, her? She’s throwing a tantrum, locked herself in her room and won’t come out.” “This child is getting more and more disobedient, we don’t know what to do!” I floated in the living room, watching Mom deal poker chips while lying on the phone, my heart tearing. Just then, Brenda snatched the phone from Mom and yelled into the receiver: “What’s this about a recital? What’s the point of a girl learning all these fancy things? Can she eat it?” “She’s just going to get married and have kids anyway! Our Mia isn’t coming! She won’t be coming anymore! You can just cancel the lessons!” With that, Brenda abruptly hung up the phone. On the other end, Ms. Carter stood frozen, clutching her phone. She felt something was terribly wrong. She knew how much I valued this recital. I could practice a complex musical phrase all afternoon without eating or drinking. How could I possibly be “throwing a tantrum” at the last minute? The more Ms. Carter thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She immediately opened Mom’s social media. She found the name of the villa community and its location. She then clicked on Dad’s social media. Two days ago, Dad had posted a series of scenic photos with the caption: “Mountain air is good, brought Leo out for some fresh air.” Ms. Carter scrolled through the photos, and when she saw the last one, her heart plummeted. Ms. Carter didn’t delay any further. She decisively called the police. “Hello, 911? I need to report something. I suspect a child might be illegally detained in the trunk of a private car!” Upon receiving the report, the police swiftly mobilized. Following the location provided by Ms. Carter, they quickly found Dad’s family playing cards in the villa community’s game room. Facing the sudden appearance of the police, Dad still looked arrogant and dismissive. “Officers, have you made a mistake? Our family is just here playing cards, what law have we broken?” A police officer sternly showed his ID: “We received a report that you might be illegally detaining your daughter. Please, where is your daughter, Mia?” Dad scoffed, disdainfully throwing his poker chips onto the table. “Is it a crime to discipline my own daughter?” He pointed upstairs, saying indifferently: “She’s in her room upstairs, reflecting on her actions!” “Kids throw tantrums, they’re disobedient. You have to ground them for a couple of days, or they’ll get out of control!” Mom sat beside him, her face ashen, clutching the hem of her clothes, not daring to say a single word.

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In my past life, Liam’s beloved Maya died because of me. Liam was utterly devastated. He pretended to enter an arranged marriage with me, then ruthlessly dismantled my family’s empire, driving us into ruin. He tortured me into a deep, suffocating depression, until I had no choice but to leap from a building. In my final moments, Liam stood coldly before me, reaching out to cover my eyes. “Chloe,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth, “if there is another life… if you ever meet me and Maya again… do us all a favor and stay away.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back seven years in the past, standing on the familiar school path I walked every day. In the distance, Liam and Maya were walking towards me. Maya, with her sharp eyes, spotted me first and waved enthusiastically. “Chloe! We’re over here!” My mind, still reeling, jolted in shock. Like I’d seen a ghost, I hurled my backpack at them with all my strength, then turned and ran! “Chloe Davies! Class is starting! Where are you going?” I ignored my classmates’ shouts, weaving against the stream of students in their school uniforms. The passing breeze caught the sunlight, piercing through my chest, again and again. It felt so good! Being alive felt so good! Those oppressive shadows that had permeated my thoughts and body, tormenting me to the point of unbearable pain… they were gone. Now, I was seventeen-year-old Chloe Davies. Healthy, lively, radiant. Our families, the Davies and the Hayes, had been close for generations. Liam was a year older than me and had always been especially doting. From a simple candy when I was little, to a fancy princess dress in my youth, to a dazzling sapphire necklace for my sixteenth birthday, his kindness had filled a third of my life. Many girls liked him, but his side was always reserved for me. He was like an older brother to me, and also the boy I had secretly fallen for, I wasn’t even sure when. Then, during the school’s freshman sports meet, I suddenly fainted on the field. It was Maya who took me to the infirmary. From then on, Maya became a constant presence between Liam and me. They shared the same hobbies, both were brilliant students with impeccable reputations, and when they were together, they always had endless things to talk about. I slowly became their constant shadow. In my past life, the story of Maya being abused by her stepfather spread throughout the entire campus. Before she jumped, her hair was disheveled, and she stared at me with venomous hatred. “Chloe Davies, remember this! It’s your fault I’m doing this!” Then, with a resolute leap, she didn’t even give anyone a chance to stop her. She didn’t even give me a chance to explain. Liam went wild when he saw the note she left behind. He gripped my shoulder so tightly, his bloodshot eyes burning with a hatred that made my heart seize up. “Chloe! Why? Why would you do this?” “This… only you knew about this!” “I…” My throat constricted, dry and raw, but I managed to endure the sharp pain in my shoulder, forcing out a few broken words- “I didn’t.” “It wasn’t me.” But no one believed me. Maya’s unwavering certainty in her dying accusation, spoken in front of everyone, had already branded me a murderer. Any defense, when faced with the victim’s direct accusation, seemed pale and powerless. As a result, I faced an unprecedented wave of bullying and isolation. Everyone looked at me as if I were a killer; every student’s eyes in school held a sharp knife when they looked my way. Especially Liam. Four years later, the Hayes family proposed an arranged marriage with mine, and he agreed. It was as if he had forgotten all about Maya, returning to the way he used to be, showering me with kindness. I thought, finally, Liam believed me. Because he ruffled my hair, just like he had countless times growing up, his eyes warm and gentle. “Chloe, let’s get married.” The Liam in my memories had always been so gentle and doting. I thought my old Liam was back. Until the Davies family’s confidential information fell into Liam’s hands. He ruthlessly crushed my family’s businesses, my parents were forced to leave Westlake, and I was kept a virtual prisoner in my own home. Hatred, cold indifference, and silent cruelty filled every moment of my existence. Liam stopped pretending. His eyes were cold and distant when he looked at me. “Chloe, every bit of suffering Maya endured, you deserve to experience it too.” “Chloe, why don’t you just die? If you die, perhaps… I can forgive you.” As Liam wished, seven years later, Chloe Davies, like Maya, jumped to her death in despair. … I stood dazedly on the street, the school bell still echoing in my ears. The agonizing pain of a fractured skull, the soul tearing itself away from my body, and Liam’s cold, heartless whisper in my dying moments finally began to fade from my mind. “Chloe, if our paths cross again in another life – mine and Maya’s – do yourself a favor and stay far, far away from us.” I let out a long, shaky breath. This time, I would definitely stay far, far away from Liam and Maya. Then I turned and ran swiftly towards home.

“Chloe? Shouldn’t you be in class right now?” As I burst through the door, my mom was sitting in the backyard, leisurely sipping coffee. She looked surprised to see me. My eyes welled up, and I rushed to hug her tightly. In my past life, their life’s work was destroyed, and they were forced out of Westlake by Liam, a boy they had watched grow up. Before I died, I didn’t even get to see them one last time. “You’re so grown up and still clinging to your mom. What will you do when you get married?” My mom’s gentle, complaining voice drifted down from above. But that word, “married,” sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. I hugged her even tighter. “I’m not getting married. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you and Dad, looking after the family business, and being a carefree heiress with no ambition beyond enjoying my family’s wealth…” Mom feigned helplessness but her smile deepened. “Oh, is that so? I suppose we’re stuck with our little moocher for life, then.” After a night of trying to compose myself, I went back to school normally the next day. Our driver, Mr. Clark, dropped me off at the school gate. As I got out, I caught a glimpse of Liam and Maya standing at the intersection nearby, laughing and talking. That was our usual meeting spot; they were waiting for me. Fearing they would spot me, I quickly buried my head, clutched my backpack, and hurried into school. The school path, the three of us walking together. My eyes were on Liam, but Liam’s eyes were always on Maya. This unspoken crush, it should have ended long ago. But in my naive youth, I always secretly rejoiced that I could steal another glance at Liam on this path. After school, I dawdled, slowly making my way out. Liam and Maya were waiting at the school gate. There was no escaping them, so I had no choice but to push through. Maya didn’t ask about me running away the day before; she still linked her arm through mine, as affectionate as ever. “Chloe! We waited for you so long at the intersection today, why didn’t you come?” I tried my best to resist, but couldn’t. I subtly pulled my arm away from hers. Maya’s expression froze for a second, but she quickly recovered, her smile unwavering. “It’s my birthday today, Chloe. Aren’t you going to celebrate with me?” My heart suddenly trembled. In my past life, it was on Maya’s birthday night that she got drunk, and with teary eyes, we confided in each other. She unintentionally told me about being abused by her stepfather when she was young. This time, how could I dare to listen to her secrets? I avoided looking at Liam, who stood beside her, and stammered, looking down. “I… I have something at home. I can’t go. Happy birthday.” Then, without waiting for Maya’s eyes to instantly redden, I turned and walked away quickly. Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed behind me. “Chloe Davies.” It was Liam. My heart seized up, and I hurried even faster, head still down. Liam caught up to me in a few strides, blocking my path entirely, his shadow instantly falling over me. “Why are you running?” Finally, for the first time, I lifted my head to look at the just-turned-eighteen Liam. He was wearing the familiar school uniform, his face sharp and chiseled, but the deep, distant look in his eyes, unbefitting his age, was identical to the Liam of my past life. Suddenly, I realized that the eighteen-year-old Liam wouldn’t look at me like that. I was startled, instinctively stepping back a few paces, almost losing my balance. But the Liam before me stepped closer, his shadow following mine. “Chloe, you seem… afraid of me?”

The next second, Liam’s expression softened. He reached out to ruffle my hair, just as he always had. “Chloe, are you feeling unwell? Why are you hiding from Maya and me?” “It’s Maya’s birthday today. She’ll be really sad if you don’t come. How about we go celebrate with her, okay?” Liam was smiling, but I detected a hint of suspicion. It made sense; since yesterday, I had been acting completely out of character, avoiding them whenever possible, and not showing Liam the same eagerness as in my past life. If… Liam wasn’t the eighteen-year-old Liam, he would definitely suspect if I was truly the seventeen-year-old Chloe. After three years of marriage, my feelings for Liam had long vanished, replaced by all the mental torment. Now, I both hated and feared Liam. “I… I…” I managed a strained smile, but Liam had already spoken first, addressing Mr. Clark, who was waiting by the road to pick me up: “Mr. Clark, it’s a friend’s birthday today. I’ll take Chloe to celebrate for a bit and then bring her home.” Mr. Clark, aware of the Davies and Hayes families’ close ties, smiled and nodded before driving off. I could only follow silently behind them. In the past, when the three of us were together, I mostly watched Liam and Maya talk and laugh with perfect synchronicity, my heart aching. But now, I simply watched them, my emotions flat. I was even calculating what excuse I could use to leave midway.

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After Liam and I got married, he treated me like a queen, envied by everyone. Anything I wanted, he’d go to any lengths, even promise to pluck the stars from the sky for me. But when my water broke, in my desperate scramble to dial 911, my shaking hands accidentally swiped away an incoming call. It was Chloe, Liam’s best friend since childhood, calling from the airport. The slap cracked through the room. First time he’d ever hit me. His eyes held a rage I’d never seen. “I’d give you my last breath,” he snarled, “so why can’t you give me a little trust?” “Chloe is sensitive. I don’t want your selfish jealousy to embarrass her.” With that, he grabbed my arm and forcibly shoved me into the trunk. His voice was chillingly cold. “Calm down and reflect. Once I pick up Chloe, apologize to her, and I’ll let you out.” I curled up in the cramped trunk, intense contractions racking my body until I was almost unconscious. I hammered on the inside, screaming for help, but Liam didn’t even flinch. He just dialed his phone again. “Chloe, I’m on my way. Stay right there. Just wait for me.”

The car sped onto the highway. Every sudden brake slammed me uncontrollably against the trunk door. I shielded my pregnant belly, trying to let other parts of my body take the brutal impact. My water had already soaked the entire trunk, and now, blood was mixing with it. “Liam! Liam! Get me to the hospital, I’m bleeding!” My voice was weak, and cold sweat drenched me. But Liam wouldn’t even glance at me. He just pressed harder on the accelerator. “Chloe landed half an hour ago! If you hadn’t hung up, would she have to wait this long for me at the airport? And now you expect me to take *you* to the hospital first?” I painfully clawed at the back of the seat, struggling to lift myself enough to beg him to look at me. “Liam, please, I’m dying. If we don’t go to the hospital now, both the baby and I will die.” Liam slammed on the brakes, stopping the car abruptly on the emergency shoulder. Ignoring the speeding traffic on the highway, he got out, walked to the back, and opened the trunk. The moment it opened, a foul stench overwhelmed him. Liam frowned deeply and covered his nose. “God, you’re disgusting! You’re a grown woman, can’t you control your bodily functions?” Tears and sweat streamed down my face. I desperately crawled towards Liam, whispering my plea. “Liam, I’m in labor, I’m in so much pain. Please, can you take me to the hospital?” Liam looked down at me, a cold sneer on his face. “You’re in labor, but you still have the energy to be jealous and hang up on Chloe? You seem perfectly fine to me. Stop putting on this pathetic act!” Seeing him about to close the trunk again, I desperately grabbed his jacket, clutching onto one last sliver of hope. “I really didn’t mean to. Please, it’s *your* baby in my belly. You can’t do this to me.” My words made Liam hesitate for a moment, but then his phone rang again. “Liam, what’s taking you so long? I’ve been freezing out here, I think I’m catching a cold.” It was Chloe. “I’m so sorry, Chloe. Ten more minutes, I’ll be there soon. Find somewhere warm, don’t catch a cold.” With that, Liam ignored my pleas, slammed the trunk shut, and sped off towards the airport. Pain and terror enveloped me, slowly suffocating me. Soon after, the car stopped. Liam got out, and the door slammed shut. He must have reached the airport. Liam will pick up Chloe, then he’ll take me to the hospital, right? I just have to get through this, make it to the hospital, and the baby and I will both survive. I silently cheered myself on, completely unaware of the growing pool of blood beneath me.

I don’t know how much time passed. Then, footsteps approached, and the car door opened. I opened my mouth to call out to Liam, but realized I was too weak, I couldn’t even speak. All I could do was reach out, desperately grasping forward, but Liam didn’t see me. He had only returned to the car to grab something. a large bouquet of pure white roses. He said they represented his and Chloe’s twenty-five years of pure friendship. He took the flowers, slammed the car door shut, locked it, and walked away without a backward glance. “Liam, two years, and you look even better than before. Your wife must really take good care of you.” I heard Chloe’s voice from outside the car. She even mentioned me. “Oh, don’t even bring her up. Alice? That woman can’t take care of anyone! Not like you, Chloe. You’ve always understood me, ever since we were kids. Do you remember when we were little…” Their voices faded into the distance, and my own consciousness began to blur. In a haze, memories of Liam and I flashed before my eyes like a carousel. He put a ring on my finger, vowing to love me for all eternity. On my birthday, he held a cake he’d baked himself, his eyes seeing only me. When we got that ultrasound, his eyes were red as he touched my belly, promising he’d never let our child or me suffer a single hardship. But when I accidentally hung up the phone, he slapped me, his face twisted in fury. “How dare you hang up on Chloe? I’ve spoiled you too much, made you forget your place!” I felt the other little life inside me slipping away. Everything around me began to spin, to blur. I wanted to lift my hand, to touch that once vibrant bump one last time, but my fingers only twitched weakly. Endless darkness gathered from all directions, like a gentle shroud, or a cold tomb. Then the car door opened again. Liam got in, and Chloe sat in the passenger seat. I instinctively tried to reach for Liam, but I couldn’t touch him. I was in the same space as them, yet I was like a ghost, able only to observe, without form. Chloe frowned as she got in, fanning her hand under her nose. “What’s that smell? It’s so stale and foul. Liam, how long has it been since you washed this car?” Liam looked a bit awkward and brushed it off quickly. “Oh, probably just a rodent that died in the engine a few days ago. The smell hasn’t completely gone away yet.” Chloe nodded, no longer complaining. She simply flipped open the vanity mirror above her head and started fixing her hair, quite at ease. Liam watched her as he drove, unconsciously chuckling. “You’re still the same, you never get carsick in my car.” Chloe smiled sweetly, playfully patting Liam’s hand on the gear shift. “Yes, it’s always been you, Liam. All these years abroad, every time I took a car, I wished you were driving. It’s been so long, hasn’t it?” They chatted away, oblivious to the other presence in the car. I stared at them, my heart slowly cracking. It hurt, yet I felt numb. “I heard your wife was pregnant. Did she give birth yet? Boy or girl?” Chloe suddenly asked. At the mention of me, Liam glanced in the rearview mirror, then snorted coldly. “Don’t know, don’t care. She’s throwing a fit today, just because I said I was coming to pick you up. Who raised her to be so spoiled!” “She’s still lying in the trunk, no need to bother with her.” Chloe gasped, covering her mouth in surprise, then straightened up to look behind her. “No one’s there… Besides, your wife is pregnant. Isn’t it bad to lock her in the trunk?” “Alice? Alice?” Liam called a few times. When there was no answer, he grew angry. He pushed Chloe back into her seat, then glared into the rearview mirror, as if I could see him. “Forget her. Let her play dead if she wants. Better yet, if she really died, I’d be glad to pick up her corpse!” My eyes felt hot, but no tears would fall. Chloe looked at Liam with a troubled expression, pursed her lips, but said nothing more.

The car continued driving, stopping in front of a French restaurant. This was the restaurant where Liam proposed to me. He had told me he’d researched for ages, that the view from the window seat at 10 PM was the most beautiful. I was so touched, I put on that heavy shackles without a second thought. Before getting out of the car, Chloe glanced back at the trunk again. It was pitch black inside without the light. “Liam, is your wife really in the trunk? Do you want to check on her?” Liam pulled her hand, giving her an impatient look, then quickly averted his gaze. “That’s just how she is. She thinks if she gives me the silent treatment, I’ll always cave. I can’t be bothered! Come on, let’s go eat! Do you remember this restaurant? We used to come here for milkshakes after high school.” I froze as if struck by lightning. All that talk about “romantic spots” and “best night views” – it was just a trick he used to string me along. It was all his and Chloe’s shared memories. I was the interloper. Chloe waved her hand and smiled. In a daze, I saw a reflection of someone in her. My reflection. Or rather, I had Chloe’s reflection. We were similar in height and build, even the dimples that appeared when we smiled were so similar. I heard she went to Canada for college after graduating, and that was the year I happened to meet Liam. Liam’s pursuit of me was relentless from the start. We only dated for six months before getting married. I wasn’t unaware that he had a best friend studying abroad, but I never imagined I was a substitute for that person. Inside the restaurant, Liam was engrossed in conversation and eating with Chloe. I floated by the door, silently watching. He ordered Chloe a mango milkshake, and her face lit up with surprise. I remembered the cake Liam made for my birthday last year, piled high with mangoes. “I remember you love mangoes,” he’d said. I shook my head then, telling him I was allergic to mangoes – something discovered during our premarital check-up. Liam’s expression had been a little awkward. He scratched his head, saying he’d mixed it up, and I just smiled it off. Now I knew. The one who loved mangoes was someone else entirely. I touched my belly, still nine months pregnant. Only, the little life inside me had already been buried with me, in that cramped trunk. “Baby, I’m so sorry.” I murmured, watching Liam toast with Chloe. Chloe glanced at the ring on Liam’s ring finger and suddenly spoke. “Speaking of which, I haven’t even met your wife. When are you going to introduce me?” Liam paused, uncomfortably twisting the ring. “What’s there to see? Two eyes, one nose, one mouth – she just looks like a person.” I floated in front of him, reaching out to pinch and rub his face, but he couldn’t feel it. “But I think your wife must be a really good person. You seem to have changed a lot.” I looked at Chloe in surprise. Was she actually defending me?

She cupped her face, smiling as she looked at Liam. “You used to hate wearing any jewelry, and you’d complain for ages about how suffocating a hat felt.” “But from just now until this moment, you’ve touched your wedding ring at least ten times.” Chloe pointed to Liam’s ring finger. “You must really love your wife. It’s a subconscious reaction.” Liam, loved me? I tilted my head, staring at Liam. His eyes began to fluster. “No way? It’s just a habit. Plus, my finger feels a bit itchy…” Chloe smiled, then encouraged him to call me. Liam couldn’t argue with her, so he pulled out his phone and dialed my number. My heart jumped. I instinctively reached for the phone in my pocket, but found nothing. Oh, I forgot I was already dead. The phone vibrated in the trunk. Liam had silenced it earlier because he found my ringtone too noisy. Several calls went unanswered, and Liam hung up. “Just because I said a few harsh words, she has to give me the silent treatment for this long?” He slammed his phone on the table in frustration. Chloe’s smile faded. She looked out the window. “You just told me you locked your wife in the trunk. That was a joke, right? The car doesn’t feel like there’s anyone in it.” Liam felt an inexplicable panic. He glanced at the several unanswered calls on his phone, then took a deep breath. “Maybe she opened the door and ran off. Ugh, what could possibly happen!” Liam didn’t know if he was trying to reassure himself or what. He took off his ring directly, acting like “out of sight, out of mind.” “Forget about that. You’re only back once in a blue moon. How about I show you around here? It’s changed so much in two years!” I stood by the car, and suddenly felt a dampness on the back of my hand. Was it raining? I looked up, seeing the same boundless starry sky. I wiped my face again, only to find tears streaming down like broken pearls. It wasn’t the earth that was sad. It was me crying. Because Liam really didn’t love me. He didn’t care if I existed, or about his baby and me. The two of them left the restaurant, walked past the car, and headed straight up the hill. I wished he would glance at the trunk. Just one look, and I would forgive everything he had done to me. But no, he had completely forgotten that I was lying alone in the trunk. I wanted to curse him. “Liam! May you die a terrible death!” But the words caught in my throat. I swallowed them back. Liam was a heartless man, but I still wished him happiness, even if it wasn’t with me. I rubbed my stinging nose, wiped away my tears, and shamelessly continued to follow behind them. They walked and talked about old times, reaching the hilltop before they knew it. The evening breeze rustled Chloe’s dress. Liam thoughtfully took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, his eyes fixed on the distant city lights. I wondered if, at any moment, he would remember that among those countless lights, there was a home for him and me. Suddenly, a phone rang abruptly. Liam answered, and his expression instantly changed.

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The day after I left the special forces, the wealthy Thorne family “recognized” me as their long-lost daughter. My cloying stepsister, Seraphina Thorne, cut me off. Her gaze traveled slowly from my head to my toes, taking in every inch of my desert-toughened skin. She wrinkled her nose, her voice a soft, almost pitying murmur. “Sister, your tactical physique isn’t quite the standard for beauty here.. From today on, I’ll join you at the gym.” “A slender figure is essential for pretty gowns. Otherwise, how will you ever find a husband?” I raised an eyebrow. Were the fitness standards in high society this insane? My 18% body fat, which I maintained as a special forces operative, was considered “fat”? Seraphina remained oblivious, cheerfully handing me a “sweat-it-out” weight loss class schedule. A thirty-kilogram weighted cross-country run, five hundred push-ups, an hour of combat training, three hours of high-intensity workouts daily. I couldn’t help but snort. Wasn’t this just the absolute minimum for recovery training? …

“What’s so funny?” Seraphina whined delicately, about to press me for an answer. That’s when our father, Richard Thorne, descended the grand staircase, immaculate in his suit. “Father.” Richard Thorne’s brows immediately furrowed when he saw me. “Crude behavior is one thing, but you don’t even have a pretty face…” He sized me up, his disapproval undisguised. “Announcing your identity now would only bring shame upon our family name.” I met his gaze, my mind a blank slate. Honestly, his manufactured gravitas was less than a tenth of what my drill sergeant commanded back in basic training. Ignoring the lengthy lecture he was clearly preparing to deliver, I looked him straight in the eye. My voice was crisp and clear. “Understood. Eight AM tomorrow. I’ll be there on time for training.” My absolute obedience clearly caught them off guard. Richard Thorne’s prepared tirade of admonishments instantly choked in his throat, neither coming out nor going back down. Seraphina’s triumphant smile on her perfectly sculpted face also froze. She pouted, letting out a dismissive huff. “Such an act!” At the dinner table, the atmosphere grew even stranger. The long table was laden with an extravagant spread, yet Seraphina’s plate held only a few sad-looking pieces of salad. She chewed daintily, her posture impeccable. “Most accomplished young women know how to maintain their figure these days, sister,” she subtly jabbed, her voice dripping with passive aggression. I paid her no mind, accurately calculating calories as per my military habit. I piled my plate with ample portions of steak, seafood, and rice. Muscle was critical for survival on the battlefield. Without enough protein and carbs, the body was nothing more than an engine running on fumes. “Oh my goodness!” Seraphina gasped dramatically. “Sister, you’re eating that much? No wonder…” She trailed off, but her pointed gaze said it all. Father’s frown deepened. He set down his fork and knife with a displeased clatter. “No decorum whatsoever for a young lady! What an outrage!” I didn’t respond, continuing to eat. Inwardly, though, I decided I’d start cooking my own meals tomorrow. While the food here was exquisite, it was far too oily and salty for my standards. I needed fuel, not baggage. Less than five minutes later, I finished the last bite on my plate, wiping my mouth with a napkin. “I’m done.” I rose from the table, preparing to leave the dining room. Richard Thorne’s cold voice stopped me. “Hold it right there.” I paused, turning back to him. “Tomorrow’s training will be monitored by the butler. If you dare to slack off or try any tricks…” I calmly cut him off. “Don’t worry. I’ve never resorted to such deceitful tactics.” With that, I turned and walked away, ignoring the stunned expressions on both their faces. The next day, I arrived punctually at the opulent private club. The polished marble floors reflected my image, and the crystal chandeliers sparkled with brilliant light. Looking around, I was reminded of crawling through mud and forced marches under the scorching desert sun, burdened with heavy gear. To me, this place was practically a five-star spa. Inside the club, Seraphina had already been waiting for a long time. She wore a meticulously tailored Pilates outfit that perfectly accentuated her slender figure. “Sister, you’re finally here. The coach has been waiting for ages; he’s notoriously strict.” I nodded. “Good.” The stricter, the better. After all, a lenient general never forges a fierce army. The coach soon made his entrance. A towering, muscular man, over six feet tall, with a bronze complexion scarred and tattooed. He introduced himself as a retired Marine. Then, he swept his gaze over me, a hint of disdain in his eyes, before announcing today’s training regimen. Thirty kilograms weighted run, at a speed above 15. Five hundred standard push-ups, to be completed within a time limit. One hour of freestyle combat. With each item he announced, Seraphina’s eyes lit up a little more. The combined intensity of these exercises was enough to make even a regularly fit adult man pass out on the spot. She was clearly eager to see me collapse to the ground, crying and wailing in utter disarray. She leaned in close, whispering conspiratorially, a smirk on her face. “Sister, there are cameras everywhere, you know. Father will be watching your performance.” I raised an eyebrow, a subtle smile playing on my lips. I turned to the muscular coach, extending my hand. “Thank you for your hard work.” “I appreciate having such professional facilities and supervision.”

The coach paused, then gave my hand a perfunctory shake. I didn’t bother to explain further, simply started warming up my wrists and ankles. A series of crisp clicks and pops echoed from my joints. The training began. For the thirty-kilogram weighted cross-country run, I pushed the treadmill to a speed that made its system error out. For the five hundred push-ups, I completed them with one hand, my other hand even charging my phone. For the hour of combat training, I disarmed and pinned the former Marine coach to the ground in just three minutes. The coach lay on the floor, drenched in sweat, his face a mask of disbelief. I stood up, not a single bead of perspiration on me. “Is the warm-up finished?” “When does the real training begin?” Hearing this, Seraphina, who had been secretly touching up her makeup in front of the mirror, let out a sharp gasp as her powder compact slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. She spun around, staring at my completely unruffled appearance, stammering. “Sister… were you in the Italian Mafia or something?” The coach shakily picked himself up from the floor. He looked at me as if I were some kind of deity. “It’s already… it’s already over…” I sighed in disappointment, shaking my head. I walked to the nearby lounge area, tore off a club promotional flyer, and flipped it to the back. I quickly scribbled down an application. “Application. Double training intensity, extend duration to six hours.” “Reason. Current program insufficient to activate muscles.” “Applicant. Alexandria Thorne.” I finished writing, preparing to hand the paper to the coach. Just then, the gym door was pushed open by a young man in a sharp suit. Seeing the newcomer, Seraphina’s lips curved into a pout. Her body seemed to lose all strength, and she crumpled dramatically into Julian Maxwell’s arms. “Julian… Brother Julian…” She was on the verge of tears, her voice laced with a sob, “Sister forced me to train with her… I really can’t take it… it’s so hard…” Julian Maxwell’s brows furrowed exactly as expected. He steadied Seraphina, his eyes filled with reproach as he looked at me. “Alexandria Thorne, isn’t it? I know you might have some resentment, but Seraphina is a victim too! She’s frail; what if something happens to her? Would you take responsibility?” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with such illogical nonsense. I walked forward without a word. I reached out and grabbed Seraphina by the back of her collar. Like lifting a kitten, I plucked her out of Julian Maxwell’s arms and casually set her aside. I rolled my eyes at her. “Those superficial moves you were doing? You call that training? Stop blocking the way.” Then, I handed the promotional flyer with my application to Julian Maxwell. “Please pass this training adjustment plan to my father.” By now, the coach had finally recovered from his immense shock. He rushed over, speaking excitedly to Julian Maxwell. “Mr. Maxwell, you’ve misunderstood! You’ve completely misunderstood!” “Ms. Thorne is a military prodigy! I’m not fit to be her coach; she should be teaching me combat!” Julian Maxwell frowned, instinctively glancing down at the flyer. His eyes widened in sudden astonishment. When he looked up again, the disdain was gone, replaced by a profound curiosity. Seraphina, standing nearby, watched this scene unfold, her face alternating between green and white. The hatred in her eyes was almost palpable. She stomped her foot angrily, then burst into tears and ran out of the club.

That night, Seraphina came to my room. “What exactly do you want?” she asked, her voice choked with tears. I looked up, realizing her eyes were red and swollen from crying, making her look utterly vulnerable. “Close the door.” Seraphina paused, probably not expecting that reaction. She sniffled but obediently closed the door. “Alexandria, please, I beg you, don’t take Julian from me, okay?” She began to sob. “He’s the only one I have… I never had a mother, and while Father cares for me, he cares more about family interests. Only Julian is kind to me…” I felt a pang of exasperation, first closing my laptop which still contained classified information. “I don’t go for weaklings.” Seraphina looked bewildered for a moment, not understanding my words. I quirked a corner of my mouth, offering a smile that was far from friendly. “Seraphina, what exactly is going on in your head?” “A man like Julian Maxwell? I could knock out a dozen of his type with one punch. Marry him? Am I insane?” Seraphina recoiled, shocked by my words. “Your language is so crude! And girls aren’t supposed to be that strong… Don’t you understand anything?!” The image of a true vs. fake heiress in her mind involved fighting to the death over a man, not me directly expressing utter disdain for him based on his physical prowess. I stood up, taking deliberate steps toward her. I was half a head taller than her, and the aura from years of intense training made her feel uncontrollably afraid. “You think you’re pitiful for being dependent and having no one to rely on, but your most pitiful aspect isn’t your lack of support.” My voice was cold, each word distinct. “It’s that you’ve made fragility your only weapon, and you attempt to survive on the pity of others.” “Do you really think everyone falls for that?” Her face turned ashen, her lips trembling uncontrollably. Yet, she still tried to retort, her chin jutted out defiantly. “What do you know! Men like delicate girls! No one will ever like someone who’s all about fighting like you!” A surge of irritation rose within me, and I was about to simply throw her out. But then, the piercing fire alarm blared through the entire mansion without warning. My expression changed. After a split second of shock, I instantly calmed. Professional instinct drove me straight to the door. I yanked it open. A wave of scorching heat, mixed with thick smoke, slammed into my face! The hallway outside was already engulfed in raging flames! Dense smoke was rapidly spreading upwards from downstairs, reducing visibility to almost zero. My brain kicked into overdrive, running calculations in 0.1 seconds, plotting the optimal escape route. Seraphina, seeing the inferno, let out a piercing shriek. “Shut up!” I roared at Seraphina, who was still screaming. She flinched at my intensity, instantly falling silent, leaving only her trembling body. “If you want to live, follow me!” My brain had already analyzed the situation. The fire originated downstairs and was spreading upwards. The smoke was toxic; we had to evacuate immediately via the emergency exit in the opposite direction. Without a moment’s hesitation, I spun to the window and tore down the heavy velvet curtains. I rushed into the bathroom and thoroughly soaked the curtains in the bathtub. “Cover your nose and mouth!” I threw a wet piece of cloth at her. Seraphina was still trembling, but the instinct for survival made her catch the wet cloth and hastily press it to her face. I draped a larger wet cloth over myself, ready to pull her along. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the delicate lace stockings on her feet. “Take them off!” I commanded sharply. “You… why are you so mean…” she whimpered, frightened, but her body obediently started to shiveringly pull off her stockings. Nylon and synthetic fibers melt rapidly under high heat, adhering to the skin and causing severe burns. This was basic survival knowledge. Unfortunately, she didn’t know it. I grabbed her hand, crouching low, and rushed toward what I remembered as the emergency exit. The hallway was filled with rolling smoke, and the temperature was terrifyingly high. Seraphina, in her exquisite silk nightgown and soft slippers, ran less than twenty feet before she started panting, her strength failing. “I… I can’t run anymore…” Her legs gave out. Low blood sugar combined with extreme shock made her collapse to the ground, almost fainting. “Do they starve you in this ‘elite’ family?” I muttered under my breath. Time was critical; no time for pointless talk. Without hesitation, I bent down and hoisted her onto my shoulder. She was incredibly light, probably weighing less than ninety pounds. To me, it was no different than carrying a field ration pack. “Ahhh, Sister… are you even a woman?!” Seraphina shrieked, utterly shocked. “If you don’t want to die, shut up!” I held her tight, my steps steady as I pushed through the inferno. It was like a simple weighted cross-country run on the training ground. The seldom-used back door was long piled high with clutter. I swiftly kicked aside the debris and slammed my body against the locked back door. In just three or four impacts, the lock was completely violently destroyed. I kicked open the tightly shut back door, and a rush of fresh, cold air flooded in. “Alright, we’re safe.” I set Seraphina down outside the mansion, frowning as I looked back at the smoke-billowing house. I wondered if there were any other victims who hadn’t escaped. With that thought, I was about to rush back into the fire to save people, but Seraphina grabbed the hem of my shirt first. “Alex, don’t leave me alone…”

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I was introducing my girlfriend of three years, Chloe, to my parents when she shattered the dinner-table peace. “Leo,” Chloe asked, voice deceptively light, “if your mom and I both were drowning, who would you save?” I froze, caught off guard. It felt completely out of place to ask something like that in front of my parents. But then my mom, Eleanor, leaned forward, her expression serious. “I’d like to hear your answer, too, son.” The air instantly thickened, turning tense. Feeling annoyed and cornered, I blurted out without thinking, “You only have one mom, you can always find another girlfriend. I choose Mom!” Chloe’s face didn’t just fall – it collapsed. Regret surged in me, and I moved to comfort her. But before I could, she grabbed a fruit knife from the table and, without a moment’s hesitation, plunged it into her own heart. Blood erupted in a terrifying gush, splattering across my face. Chloe died right there, in front of us. That horrific moment became a relentless nightmare in my mind. After Chloe’s funeral, I stumbled back home, numb and exhausted. My mom suddenly turned to my dad,her gaze oddly intense. “Richard, I’ve always wanted to know…” she began, her voice soft and deadly. “If your mom and I fell into the water, who would you save?” …

The day Chloe was buried, the sky wept with a dreary drizzle. I stood by her grave, watching her parents clutch her tombstone, their wails tearing through the air. My mind was a complete blank. The police had closed Chloe’s case as an accidental death. I staggered back home, a ghost of myself, collapsing onto the sofa, my brain still trying to process the brutal reality of her sudden demise. Dad came over, patting my shoulder, telling me to try and move on, that it was just an accident. But then Mom sat beside me, her eyes fixed on Dad with an unsettling intensity. “Honey, actually, I’ve always wanted to know…” “If your mom and I fell into the water, who would you save?” I shot up, my blood turning to ice. The image of Chloe stabbing herself flashed relentlessly in my mind, painting my vision crimson. “Mom! What… what are you asking this for?!” My throat constricted, and my scalp prickled with dread. Dad looked horrified too, his eyes wide. “Why are you asking that out of nowhere? It’s creepy!” But Mom’s gaze remained locked on Dad, an empty, lurking something in her eyes. “Quick, tell me, who would you save?” she urged, her voice sharp. My heart hammered against my ribs, lodged in my throat. I couldn’t even breathe. This scene, especially Mom’s tone, the pauses in her words, her unnervingly serious expression… It was an exact replica of what happened before Chloe died! “Oh, come on, why ask such a boring question?” Dad said, a hint of impatience in his voice. “My mom passed away years ago. What’s the point of asking that now?” Mom ignored him, her stare unwavering, her words deliberate. “Just pick!” As far as I remembered, Mom and my grandma had a wonderful relationship when Grandma was alive. My grandma was incredibly kind to Mom, and Mom was very devoted to her. Mom had never been the unreasonable, badgering type. This was the first time she’d ever cornered Dad like this, demanding an answer. I couldn’t understand. Why had Mom changed so much after Chloe died? Dad didn’t want to answer, but Mom wouldn’t let it go. Her expression grew increasingly agitated, almost ferocious, as if someone was chasing her for an answer. Seeing Mom’s emotions spiraling, Dad finally relented, answering patiently. “You’re my wife, of course, I’d choose you!” I thought that would be the end of it, but the next second, Mom shrieked like a maniac. “You’re lying!” “You’re only choosing me because your mom is dead!” she screamed hysterically. Before Dad and I could react, Mom burst out of the house. We chased after her in a panic, only to see her grab a bottle of pesticide and chug it down. “Mom!” I yelled in terror. The next second, foam frothed from her mouth, and a strong, acrid smell filled the air. She writhed, her body curling, eyes rolling back, convulsing in agony on the ground. Dad was paralyzed with fear, his face ghostly white, as he lunged towards her. “Call 911!” I fumbled for my phone, but it slipped from my trembling hand and clattered to the floor. Then I heard Dad’s heart-wrenching wails. Mom was gone. I collapsed onto the ground, my ears ringing with the last words Chloe and Mom had spoken. “If your mom and I both fell into the water, who would you save?”

By the time Mom reached the hospital, she was gone. I stood there, numb, the lingering warmth of her body still on my trembling hands. Dad lay sprawled over her, sobbing uncontrollably. My best friend, Noah Miller, rushed over as soon as he heard. He patted my shoulder, his face grim, and sat with me, offering what comfort he could. When he heard about the bizarre behavior of both Chloe and Mom just before they died, his eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re saying both Chloe and Aunt Eleanor asked the exact same question before they died?” His voice was filled with incredulity. “How could that be such a coincidence?” “Isn’t that just the classic ‘mom or wife’ dilemma? It doesn’t usually end with people dying, does it?” I slumped to the floor, tearing at my hair, shaking my head frantically. The horrific images of Mom and Chloe dying replayed constantly. I was losing my mind. “I don’t know!” “They just suddenly asked that question, demanding that my dad and I choose who to save.” “I chose my mom, and Chloe died. My dad didn’t choose his mom, he chose my mom, and my mom died too!” Noah looked utterly perplexed. “But why? It’s not like… like that question carries a curse, right?” I froze, my mind a terrifying blank. In just two days, I had lost two of the most important people in my life. A sharp pain tore through my chest, and tears streamed down my face. Noah watched my agony, his own eyes welling up, and he wrapped me in a silent hug. Just then, my uncle, Walter Shaw, called, his voice a desperate, frantic plea. “Leo, you have to come to my place! Your aunt Joyce, she’s gone mad!” We hadn’t even had time to tell our relatives about Mom’s death yet. I was confused by Uncle Walter’s panicked call. But before I could ask for details, he let out a terrified scream, and the call abruptly ended. A chilling sense of dread surged through me. Noah, seeing my grim expression, immediately offered to come with me. “Did your uncle say what happened to Aunt Joyce?” Noah asked on the way. My head throbbed, and I felt dizzy and disoriented. “He just said Aunt Joyce went crazy. I have no idea what’s going on.” My uncle and aunt had visited me just two days ago after Chloe’s death. Aunt Joyce had seemed perfectly fine then. What could have possibly happened to them? Why did Uncle Walter say she was mad? The car quickly pulled into my uncle’s driveway. As we reached the door, Uncle Walter burst out, his hands covered in blood, his face a mask of terror. He saw me as if I were his savior. “Leo, help me!” He scrambled behind me, gasping for breath, his eyes wide with fear. “Your aunt, she’s trying to kill me!” Noah and I stared, stunned. “Why?” we asked urgently. But before Uncle Walter could answer, his pupils constricted, and he trembled, pointing ahead. It was Aunt Joyce! Her hair was disheveled, and she was covered in blood, emerging from the house like a phantom, slowly, holding a pair of scissors. Her gaze was chilling, her expression twisted. One sentence from her made my blood run cold. “Walter, I’m asking you one last time!” “If your mom and I both fell into the water, who would you save…?”

My pupils dilated in terror, and I instinctively recoiled, staring at Aunt Joyce in horror. “Aunt… Aunt Joyce, why are you asking that question too?!” My voice trembled. Noah was equally stunned. He tugged my sleeve, whispering urgently in my ear, “Leo, something’s seriously wrong!” Uncle Walter, still hiding behind me, flushed crimson and cursed angrily, “Are you insane?! Why are you forcing me to choose?!” He gestured with his arm, which was bleeding profusely from a slash wound. “Look what you did to me! You almost crippled me, you crazy woman!” “You… you’re trying to murder your own husband!” Aunt Joyce’s lips curved into a chilling, eerie smile. “Just choose!” “Don’t choose!” I almost screamed. I spun around, frantically looking at Uncle Walter, shouting in a panic, “Uncle Walter, you can’t choose!” “My mom, and my girlfriend… they both died because my dad and I answered that question!” “Please, don’t choose!” Uncle Walter stared at me as if I were a ghost. “What are you talking about? Your mom was fine earlier today!” Thinking of Mom, my heart ached, and my eyes instantly welled up. “It’s true, Uncle Walter, Mom died. You can’t choose.” “If you choose, Aunt Joyce will die too!” I thought Uncle Walter would calm down after hearing my words. But as soon as I finished, he exploded like a firecracker. “Then let her die!” he roared, shoving me aside. He then launched into a furious tirade at Aunt Joyce. “Joyce, just die already!” “I’ve had enough! You want me to choose? I choose my mom! You hear me? I choose my mom!” My heart leaped into my throat in terror, and I instinctively tried to cover Uncle Walter’s mouth. But he angrily slapped my hand away, spewing his rage uncontrollably. “My mom isn’t like you, trying to murder her husband! Why would I save you?!” “If you want to die, just do it already! I don’t want to be with you, you lunatic! Just die, don’t say I didn’t choose…” “Uncle Walter, stop talking!” I turned back in horror, only to witness a sight that made my blood run cold! Aunt Joyce, a few feet away, her eyes were filled with utter brokenness. Her pupils fluttered, and tears streamed down her cheeks, but they were blood-red. “I’m going to die!” “No!” An alarm blared in my mind, and I screamed, lunging towards her. But it was too late. Right in front of us, Aunt Joyce raised the scissors in her hand and plunged them into her own neck without hesitation. Pffft! Blood sprayed in an arc. She clutched her throat, stumbled back two steps, blood continuously oozing between her fingers. The next second, with a muffled thud, Aunt Joyce collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Noah and I were both frozen in horror. Uncle Walter was so terrified he crumpled to the ground on the spot. “Ahh!” he wailed, scrambling on his hands and knees towards her. “Honey, what are you doing?!” He stared helplessly at Aunt Joyce lying in a pool of blood, then knelt to check for her breath. The next second, all color drained from his face. He slammed a hand on his thigh, then sank back, cradling Aunt Joyce in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “Honey, why did you kill yourself?!” “I… I didn’t mean what I said!” Everything before my eyes felt like a nightmare, choking me. My mind was a chaotic mess, threatening to explode. “How… how could this happen?!” Uncle Walter cried out, his voice hoarse, looking at me with helpless eyes. I stumbled backward in a daze, tripped over the doorstep, and fell heavily. In a blur, I saw two familiar figures walking towards me. It was Mom, and my deceased girlfriend, Chloe. Their expressions were sinister as they slowly knelt down. “Leo…” Their voices merged into an eerie overlap, grinning as they whispered. “If your mom and I both fell into the water, who would you save?”

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I was watching a show on my husband’s laptop in his office when an AI assistant notification suddenly popped up. “Hey there, handsome boss! Stop working so hard, you need your rest. We’ve got a big night ahead, you know?” I stared at the cutesy font and the screen full of pink hearts, utterly stunned. Clutching the screenshot, I stormed up to him while he was meeting a client. “Are you seeing someone else?” He paused, then chuckled, pinching my cheek. “Silly. That’s just an AI virtual girlfriend our company developed. I’m just personally testing it.” I calmly nodded, then turned and asked someone to investigate. After getting the IP address behind this virtual girlfriend, I immediately posted it in the company SnapChat group. “Come clean now, and I might just spare you some public humiliation.” Taking my money, treating me like a fool – you should be prepared for your life to be utterly destroyed! The bustling company SnapChat group instantly fell silent. Five minutes later, Alex burst through the door, his forehead beaded with sweat, breath ragged, a desperate look on his face. “Tori, it’s really just program testing, you have to believe me!” Several core senior employees followed him in, all rushing to explain. “Ms. Sterling, it’s just a beta version. There’s absolutely no real person operating it.” “The dialogue content is pre-scripted. It doesn’t mean what you think it means.” Mr. Henderson, the Technical Director, pulled out the meeting minutes and handed them to me. “These dialogue templates were designed by the team together. The goal is to boost user engagement and loyalty.” “Mr.Thorne was personally testing it for our team’s project. If you misunderstand him, we’ll all feel terrible.” Their words were earnest, all of them defending Alex. Alex took my hand, his eyes full of sincerity. “Tori, I’m so sorry I upset you. If you don’t like me using this, I’ll never touch it again.” He knew his sincerity always swayed me. Back when he was dirt poor, I saw something in his character and wholeheartedly backed his startup. To achieve success, he worked overtime for half a month straight, not coming home at night. I never doubted him, instead keeping our home perfectly organized, waiting for his return. When he needed funding, I secured investment from my father, agreeing that he’d have full control over the profits for the first five years. In the end, when the business didn’t take off, I didn’t blame him. Instead, I used his “rich experience” as a reason to recommend him for a position at the corporation my father founded. The day he became CEO, at his celebration banquet, he proposed to me a second time. He told me his love for me would always be as pure and passionate as when we first fell in love, and he would only ever love me. Every wedding anniversary after that, he would propose to me again. To prove he stayed true to his original vows. His loyalty to me, by all accounts, should have been unwavering. I wearily pinched the bridge of my nose, waving them off. “I understand. I won’t pursue this any further.” They left the office, relieved. Alex also visibly relaxed and started to walk over to embrace me. I pushed him away. I had already seen Alex’s chat logs with the AI assistant. It messaged him every few dozen minutes. While most of the content was weather alerts or schedule reminders, the language was always ambiguous, even suggestive. There were also custom, faceless emojis, and it was clear they were all from the same person. Even with all my trust in him, I couldn’t help but feel suspicious. I had to get to the bottom of this. I still had contacts among the corporation’s technical staff. I excused myself to the restroom and sent the IP address to them. The response came quickly. The user was inside our corporation building. Cross-referencing with HR records, I found her name. Chloe Miller. A new intern in Operations Department Two. My heart suddenly clenched. They kept insisting there was no real person behind it, didn’t they? Now I even had her name and profile. I took the elevator straight downstairs, spotting her the moment I stepped out. Everyone else was engrossed in their work, but her screen was streaming a reality show full-screen. Her desk was cluttered with expensive hand creams and snacks, and a personal humidifier just for her. I walked into the office. She saw me from the corner of her eye, seemingly sensing my presence, and quickly reached out and flipped over a framed photo of them together on her desk.

She slowly paused the show only when I was right beside her desk. My hands clenched discreetly. I wondered if Alex had given her such immense privileges. “Excuse me, but are you watching a show during work hours? Is all your work done?” Chloe Miller glanced at me dismissively. “I’m tired from working, so what if I take a break? Are you here to pick up recycling? Breakroom’s just around the corner.” The employees nearby looked like they didn’t want to get involved, but one still quietly reminded her, “This is Ms. Sterling, the daughter of our corporation’s founder, and Mr. Thorne’s wife.” Chloe Miller looked at me with an innocent expression. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I always imagined the President’s wife would be incredibly elegant and beautiful, so I didn’t recognize you. My apologies.” A surge of anger shot through me. Just as I was about to reprimand her, Chloe Miller glanced elsewhere, and her eyes instantly welled up. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Sterling.I’ll go back to work right away.” “What’s going on?” Alex’s stern voice cut in from behind me. Several employees immediately crowded around, all talking over each other. “Ms. Sterling accused Chloe of not working hard, and the poor intern was crying because of Ms. Sterling.” “Chloe’s work is excellent; her team lead specifically allowed her a break. Ms. Sterling is being too strict.” I was surprised. Just moments ago, these people had been silent, fearful of getting caught in an argument between me and Chloe Miller. But the moment Alex appeared, they suddenly knew which way the wind blew and started defending Chloe Miller relentlessly. “Enough.” Alex pointed at Chloe Miller. “You, come to my office tomorrow to report on your work. I’ll personally review your workload.” Chloe Miller lowered her head and agreed, but a subtle smirk played on her lips. My heart suddenly twisted in pain, a sour, churning feeling in my chest. Was he trying to warn her, or was he just creating an excuse to be alone with her at the office? I composed myself, raising my voice. “I’m not here to supervise. I’m here to announce that the corporation will be upgrading equipment. Starting with your department, all computers will be replaced.” At this news, the employees brightened with surprise. Only Chloe Miller pouted, clearly displeased. “Why so sudden? I’m used to my computer. Can’t I keep it?” “No.” Alex directly rejected her protest, then turned to me with a soft smile. “My wife represents me. All of you will follow her plan!” Chloe Miller looked at him in disbelief, her face flushed red, stifling her annoyance. I couldn’t stand her theatrics anymore. I said a quick goodbye to Alex and went home. Not long after, Alex came home early, looking a bit disheveled as if he’d rushed. He had my favorite cake in his left hand and the bag I’d eyed a few days ago in his right, an apologetic look on his face. “Tori, I’m so sorry. The AI virtual girlfriend testing has been handed over to someone else. I absolutely won’t touch anything that makes you feel neglected ever again.” I took his gifts, calmly saying, “For work, I understand.” He sighed, pulling me into a hug, his voice full of tenderness. “I know I’ve neglected you, I’m sorry. My phone password is your birthday. If you’re worried, you can check it anytime.” I nodded, saying nothing more. That evening, while Alex was showering, I unlocked his phone. It was clean, no suspicious activity at all. Suddenly, a text message popped up. “Your hot drink delivery for a female recipient has arrived.”

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My mom nearly didn’t make it when I was born, which is why I remained my dad’s only child. So, eighteen years ago, he adopted a poor young boy, raising him as his heir. He wanted someone truly trustworthy by my side in the future, someone who could help safeguard the family business and look out for me. But then, at the peak of his career, my dad suddenly died. I couldn’t handle the shock. I fell terribly ill and spent a whole year recovering abroad. When I returned, I found that the owner of the auction house was now Victor Sterling. All of my dad’s treasured collections had been sold off by him, at rock-bottom prices, to overseas dealers. What he didn’t know, though, was this: My dad adopted more than just him. Victor Sterling twirled a pen between his fingers, his gaze cold and distant, devoid of the tenderness I remembered. “Who said you could come in?” He spoke, the coldness in his voice piercing my eardrums. I took two steps forward, glaring at him. “Victor, this is my dad’s auction house.” He scoffed, leaning back in his chair. Chloe, her bright crimson nails gleaming, lifted her head from his embrace and playfully tugged at his tie. “Cassidy, get it through your thick skull. This auction house is Victor’s now.” She leaned closer to Victor’s ear, purposely raising her voice. “Some people just don’t know when to quit, do they? Couldn’t hold onto what was theirs, and now they’re crawling back, shamelessly begging.” Victor didn’t push her away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist, his eyes turning even colder as he looked at me. Seeing them like this, I felt like a vice was squeezing my heart. “Victor, have you forgotten what you promised my dad on his deathbed?” “You said you’d protect the Preston legacy, that you’d treat it like your own business!” “Have you forgotten who entrusted you with all the Preston collections? Who believed in you and made you the head of the auction house?” Victor idly twirled a strand of Chloe’s hair around his finger, not even bothering to lift his gaze. “Cassidy, your sentimental games? I’m so over them.” “Those collections, those promises, they were just your dad’s wishful thinking,” Chloe added, her voice dripping with mockery. “Did you really think Victor would hold onto that ‘sentiment’?” I searched Victor’s eyes, hoping to find a hint of the man I once knew. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. “It was a setup from the start, wasn’t it?” “You got close to me, close to the Preston family, all for this auction house, for our collections?” My voice trembled, but I forced the words out. Victor finally looked up at me, his lips twisted into a cruel smirk. He didn’t answer directly. He reached out and pinched Chloe’s cheek. “See? She’s only just figured it out. Isn’t that a little stupid?” Chloe shook with laughter, a sickening, theatrical sound. I started coughing, the taste of blood rising in my throat. Every word I spoke dripped with hatred. “You owe the Prestons, you owe my dad, and I swear, I’ll make you pay back every single cent, twice over!” But Victor just chuckled as if I’d told a joke. He stood up and walked toward me. He loomed over me, his eyes full of disdain. “Pay back double? Cassidy, you have nothing left. What are you going to fight me with?” “This auction house? I call the shots now.” He then reached out and brushed his knuckles against my cheek, a gesture so dismissive and insulting it made my skin crawl. “I advise you, be smart and leave Starhaven City. Find some quiet place to live your life.” “Otherwise.” “If I can take your dad’s auction house, I can make sure you have no place to stand in Starhaven City at all!” The pain in my chest intensified, yet I started to laugh. “Victor, do you really think you can take all of this?”

The words barely left my mouth when my wrist was suddenly seized. The next second, Victor’s hand clamped down hard on my jaw. The sharp pain in my bones made me wince. “Cassidy, I’ll say it again.” His eyes were menacing, his grip tightening relentlessly. “This auction house is mine now!” “If you dare make another scene here, I won’t hesitate to have you dragged out.” People around us started to gather, their whispers like needles pricking my ears. “Is that Professor Preston’s daughter? I heard she squandered all the family collections.” “She sure did. Now she’s making a fuss here, acting like a total lunatic.” “Mr. Sterling was kind enough to take over the auction house and clean up her mess. And she’s so ungrateful.” I wrenched my hand free from Victor’s grip. “Squandered the collections? Victor, do you dare deny that you sold my dad’s priceless antique books and paintings to overseas dealers?” Those ancient texts were my dad’s life’s work! Victor scoffed, stepping back and pulling Chloe closer by the shoulder. “Easy there, Cassidy. You can’t just throw accusations around.” “You were the one desperate for cash, secretly selling off the collections. Your dad was so furious, it triggered his illness.” “Now, all of Starhaven City knows that Cassidy Preston is an unfilial daughter.” His tone was calm, but every word he uttered was a dagger straight to my heart. At the same time, Chloe pulled a blue-bound notebook from her bag and waved it in front of me. It was my dad’s Personal Appraisal Log, the culmination of thirty years of his painstaking work! “Your dad treated this log like gold. He never let anyone outside the family even glance at it.” “And what did it get him? He raised an ungrateful daughter like you, who couldn’t even protect the family fortune.” “Give it back!” My eyes blazing, I struggled to snatch it. But Victor suddenly stepped forward and kicked me hard in the knee. My balance instantly gave out, and I fell heavily to the floor. My back slammed into a nearby display stand, making a jarring crash. Bang! A delicate antique vase on the stand wobbled, then crashed straight to the ground. Shards flew everywhere, and a sharp piece of porcelain sliced my arm. Blood instantly welled up. Ignoring the pain, I tried to push myself up. But Victor crouched down, pulled a document from his suit pocket, and tossed it in front of me. “This is the collection custody agreement you signed and fingerprinted.” The signature and fingerprint on it were undeniably mine. But I had never signed anything like this! “This is fake!” I crumpled the paper in my hand, my voice filled with despair. Victor raised an eyebrow, looking at the people around us. “Everyone, take a look. Aren’t these Ms. Preston’s signature and fingerprint?” “Looks like it, I’ve seen Ms. Preston’s signature before.” “Maybe she willingly gave them up and now wants to back out?” “How can Professor Preston’s daughter be so shameless?” Accusations rose in a chorus, like a net, trapping me tightly. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. The bitter taste of being utterly speechless, with no way to defend myself, stung more than the cut on my arm. “Cassidy, what do you have to say for yourself now?”

“Do you have any conscience at all?” “My dad treated you like his own son, raised you as his heir. Is this how you repay him?” Back then, my dad saw he was alone and not only put him through school but also personally taught him how to appraise collections. He even entrusted him with the core operations of the auction house without reservation. Victor scoffed, tugging at his tie. “His own son? Cassidy, don’t you forget.” “When you secretly sold off collections to pay debts, who helped you keep it from your dad?” “And that time you were cornered in an alley by creditors, who got you out of there?” “It was me!” He emphasized the words, as if taking credit. “But you? You turned around and forgot all my kindness, and now you’re here slandering me!” These twisted lies made my blood run cold, then boiled with fury. Then, I abruptly pushed past the bodyguard next to me and lunged at Chloe. “Give me back my dad’s things!” But Chloe seemed prepared. As I charged, she suddenly recoiled, raising her hand high. Rip. The crisp tearing sound was like a knife plunging straight into my heart. The blue-bound log was torn clean in two. Paper scraps fluttered to the ground, my dad’s thirty years of painstaking work, destroyed just like that. Immediately after, Chloe’s legs gave out, and she clutched her stomach, collapsing to the floor. “Ah! Victor, my stomach hurts…” Victor, quick as a flash, caught her. His eyes, when they turned to me, were instantly filled with murderous rage. “Cassidy! You dare push her?” “I’m telling you, from today onward, I’ll make sure you can’t even get a meal in Starhaven City!” I stared at the shredded fragments of the log on the ground, my mind blank. The surrounding clamor faded, leaving only the sound of my own heavy breathing. My dad’s image, bent over his desk, writing in that log, still flashed vividly before my eyes. He used to say, every word in this log was the root of our Preston family. But now, the root was gone. A wave of pure rage surged from deep within me. I bent down, snatched a ceramic shard from the floor, and lunged toward Chloe. “I’ll kill you!” But after just two steps, security guards rushed up from behind, pinning my arms tightly. I struggled desperately, the ceramic shard in my hand digging deeper into my palm. Its sharp edges bit into my flesh. Blood streamed from between my fingers, dripping onto the floor, blooming into blinding crimson flowers. Victor set Chloe down and slowly walked toward me. His dress shoes crunched on the blood droplets I’d shed, making a sickening, sticky sound. “Do you really think those collections can be recovered?” He leaned down, whispering into my ear, his voice laced with venomous amusement. “I’ve already turned them into luxury cars and mansions, bought jewelry for Chloe.” “Your dad’s life’s work? Now it’s just capital for me to spoil Chloe.” I trembled with rage. “Victor, you ungrateful snake! You beast!” “My dad never should have saved you, never should have pulled you out of that gutter!” “You’ll get your comeuppance! You will!”

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In my past life, my twin sister, Lily, saved a mob boss’ life. In return, he became obsessed with claiming her. Terrified of his violent world, she pushed me, her twin sister, into her place. My biased parents also forced me to comply. “Have you forgotten that your sister donated her bone marrow to save you when you were sick? What’s the big deal about stepping in for her now? You owe her this!” “You can’t be so selfish, thinking everyone should revolve around you. You need to give back!” It was true Lily had given me her bone marrow, and for years, I’d been repaying her, an endless cycle. I was sick and tired of that life. Looking at their cold faces, I nodded. Later, the mob boss went straight for me, establishing a legitimate business empire. I became the glamorous wife of a billionaire. Meanwhile, Lily was scammed out of money and herself by some street punks. In a fit of rage, she plunged a knife into my chest. “You stole the life that should have been mine! If you die, I can take your place and have a good life!” I didn’t struggle. Because what she didn’t know was that the mob boss had a serious obsession, twisted and insane. As for me, I had been tortured to the point where I no longer wanted to live. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day before the mob boss was supposed to pick up his bride.

“My poor darling girl, Mom doesn’t want you to be taken by someone like that, but he’s from the underworld, and he’s foreign. He kills people without batting an eye. What are we going to do?” “Lily, if only you hadn’t saved him, it’s your good heart that caused all this trouble. Your life is ruined.” Hearing Mom and Dad’s worried voices, I realized I had been reborn. In my past life, at this very moment, Lily was sobbing dramatically, her eyes intentionally glancing at me. “Why is my fate so cruel? Is being kind my fault? I wouldn’t ignore even a stray animal on the street, and I donated my bone marrow to my sister without a second thought when she was sick. Why do good deeds go unrewarded?” At her ‘reminder,’ Mom and Dad finally noticed me zoning out on the couch. Their eyes immediately lit up. Dad was the first to suggest, “Rose, you and Lily are twins. I sometimes get you confused. Do you think that boss might not be able to tell the difference? After all, he’s only met you once.” Mom understood his meaning. “Are you saying… we should let Rose marry him in Lily’s place?” I immediately refused. “No way!” I had just gotten into my dream university and had my life all planned out. I didn’t want it derailed by one of Lily’s schemes. Lily’s crying suddenly intensified. “Mom, Dad, that’s not fair to Rose. Just blame my bad luck!” Mom frowned. “And that’s fair to you?” Then, she glared at me fiercely. “Have you forgotten that your sister donated her bone marrow to save you when you were sick? What’s the big deal about stepping in for her now? You owe her this!” Dad chimed in, “You can’t be so selfish, thinking everyone should revolve around you. You need to give back!” I was speechless. Yes, Lily donating her bone marrow to me was a fact. But all these years, I’d been repaying her, and it felt like it would never end. Anything I owned, if Lily wanted it, she would simply take it. This included, but wasn’t limited to, a limited-edition doll, a dress, and even a boy I had a crush on when I was first discovering love. Whenever I expressed dissatisfaction, she would use the bone marrow incident against me. My parents would side with her, constantly accusing me of being insensible, only knowing how to take and never give back. For years, I’d been suffocated by their expectations. Finally, even my entire life was being thrown away. I knew Mom and Dad’s favoritism stemmed from Lily’s lively and outgoing personality, while I was quiet, withdrawn, and didn’t know how to please anyone. So, to end it all, I eventually agreed to sacrifice myself. The ironic part was, I ended up dying by Lily’s hand. But in this life, I wouldn’t obediently comply again. I was about to speak, but unexpectedly, Lily suddenly declared loudly, “It’s fine! I’m willing to marry him! I believe he’ll go straight for me and live a normal life!” Meeting her determined gaze, I realized she had also been reborn, though I didn’t know how she died. Perfect, it saved me the trouble. I curved my lips into a slight smile. “Well, congratulations, Lily. No more suffering through school. You’ll marry the boss early and reach the pinnacle of life in one step.”

Lily rolled her eyes at me. “Cut the passive-aggressive act. So what if you’re good at studying and got into a good university? After graduation, you’ll probably make three thousand a month, while I’ll be married to the boss with more money than I can spend. It’s normal for you to be jealous.” Me, jealous? Oh, I was so jealous. I hoped she could still smile after she learned about Lucian’s obsessions. Mom and Dad were bewildered by her sudden change in attitude. “Sweetheart, didn’t you say you didn’t want to marry him? You cried for days, your eyes were swollen. Why the sudden change of heart?” Lily quickly put on a show of being understanding. “Mom, Dad, I’m not like Rose, who’s so good at her studies. If I really let her go in my place, her whole life would be ruined. I can’t be that selfish. Even if… even if my life is over, at least Rose can take care of you in your old age.” Mom and Dad were completely swept away by her ‘sacrifice’, the three of them hugging and crying endlessly, making isolated me feel like an outsider. Though I was used to it, this scene still stung my heart. Even if Lily herself was willing to marry him this time, Mom and Dad still couldn’t help but feel resentment towards me. Even though I hadn’t said a word this lifetime, they still blamed me for not actively shielding Lily from this fate. Instead, Lily’s ‘sacrifice’ for the ‘greater good’ filled them with guilt. In my past life, on the day the boss came to pick up his bride, Lily, terrified of being recognized, hid in her room and didn’t show her face. Mom and Dad also lied, claiming they only had one daughter. This time, Lily began to groom herself before dawn, eagerly anticipating a life where the mob boss would cherish her above all else. Unaware of her true feelings, Mom and Dad hadn’t slept a wink, worried about her leaving. In the morning, Lily came to my room and warned me fiercely, “I’ve already told Mom and Dad to keep quiet, saying we only have one daughter. Don’t get any stupid ideas. Don’t you dare come downstairs and be an eyesore later!” I was more than happy to comply. After everything in my past life, I never wanted to see that man again. “I know. I won’t go out.” But Lily still wasn’t reassured. She stubbornly tied me to a chair. Soon, there was a stir downstairs. He had arrived. My dad ran a small business, and while we weren’t poor, we certainly weren’t wealthy. This townhouse was his big splurge, and to save money on renovations, the soundproofing was… well, let’s just say ‘barely there’. I could hear the conversation downstairs clearly. I thought that after being reborn, I wouldn’t tremble at the sound of his voice again, but when he spoke, I still held my breath. “Miss Henderson, it seems you’re ready.” His voice was deep, laced with an authority that sent shivers down my spine. It wasn’t directed at me, but at Lily, yet it echoed the nightmares of my past life, and I couldn’t help but tremble slightly. “Yes, let’s go!” Lily’s voice was jubilant, probably captivated by his appearance. In my past life, it was after she saw Lucian that her hatred and jealousy towards me reached its peak, making her determined to kill me. Lucian, though born and raised abroad, with mixed heritage, was a perfect blend of Eastern and Western features. He was tall and lean, with fair skin and sharp, deep-set features-the dream of countless young women. Just like in my past life, Lucian left Mom and Dad a hefty sum of money for their retirement, enough to astound my small-town dad, who was easily impressed. I prayed for them to leave quickly, to banish the nightmare of my past life far away from me. Suddenly, Lucian asked, “Is she your only daughter?” I froze. Had he asked that question in my past life?

Searching my memories, I found no answer. I wasn’t sure. Lucian couldn’t possibly have been reborn too, could he? A man so careful with his life, so powerful and wealthy-I couldn’t imagine anyone being able to kill him. Mom, Dad, and Lily all said in unison, “Of course. We only have one daughter, and she’s the one who saved you.” “Is that so… Then let’s go.” Lucian’s tone was unreadable. Hearing them leave, I let out a long breath. Soon after, Mom came to untie me. She excitedly told me, “He gave us a check for a hundred million, and it’s US dollars! Can you imagine how much that is in local currency?! Your dad and I can relax for the rest of our lives!” Yet, she had been crying and reluctant to let go of her precious daughter just before Lucian walked in. In my past life, they could have also retired comfortably with this money they got from ‘selling’ me. But Lily, uneducated and irresponsible, got carried away with the money. She spent her days in nightclubs, drinking and partying, and fell in with a group of punks who claimed to be trust fund kids. Whether they were actually rich, I don’t know. But in the end, she was scammed out of money and herself, dragging Mom and Dad back to square one overnight. I forced a smile. “Congratulations.” Mom paused, then changed her tone. “Congratulations for what? Congratulations that your sister was snatched away by a gangster and will never come back? This money is the payment for your sister’s life. Do you even have a heart?” Do I have a heart? I wasn’t the one smiling happily while holding the money. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. Anyway, once I started university, I planned to live on campus. I’d walk my own path from then on, wanting no more ties to them. Four years flew by. My university life was unexpectedly smooth and peaceful. I thought I had completely escaped the shadows of my past life, but then, news came that Lily was returning. Lucian had indeed gone straight for her, moving his businesses domestically, but I knew the suffering she had endured behind the scenes. On the day she came home, she made a grand entrance, escorted by luxury cars, covered in designer brands. I knew her; no matter how miserable she was behind closed doors, she always had to appear superior in public. So Mom and Dad didn’t notice anything amiss. They even called to warn me, “Your sister’s back. Don’t come home for a while. We told our son-in-law we only have one daughter, we can’t let him find out.” I laughed. “Mom, I haven’t been home in two years.” The last time was when Mom accidentally broke her leg and called me back to care for her. My words silenced Mom for a moment. Then, she grumbled, “You’re truly useless. In the future, your dad and I will have to rely on your sister and our good son-in-law.” She hung up after that. I shook my head helplessly. I hoped so too. That evening, I had just gotten back to my rental apartment from work when Mom called again. “Come home. Your sister wants to see you.” It was a command, and she hung up before I could refuse. I didn’t want to listen to her, but considering Lily had also been reborn, if she wanted to see me, she would definitely find me. It was better to humor her and see what drama she was planning.

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