Category: English

When the car pulled over onto the highway shoulder, I thought Caleb Thorne needed to use the restroom. “Lily is asleep, try not to wake her,” I whispered, pulling my daughter’s small blanket up to her chin. Caleb didn’t turn around. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel. “Grace, take Lily and get out of the car.” I froze. “What?” From the backseat, Vanessa spoke in her soft, syrupy voice. “Caleb, honey, it’s fine. We can squeeze.” Her daughter, Bella, immediately started wailing. “No! I don’t want to sit next to the dirty kid! She coughed earlier!” Caleb turned around. His eyes were colder than I had ever seen them. “Did you hear me? Get out.” “Tessa is already on her way. She’ll be here in thirty minutes.” “Just wait here for a bit.” It was December 28th. The highway was a sheet of ice. The temperature was 23 degrees. I clutched my three-year-old daughter tight and watched him restart the car. The taillights faded into the snowstorm. Until they disappeared completely. 1 The snow fell harder. I held Lily close, standing by the guardrail, trying to shield her from the biting wind with my body. “Mommy, where’s Daddy?” Lily whispered, her cheeks flushed red from the cold. “Daddy… Daddy went to Grandma’s house first,” I forced a smile. “Auntie Tessa is coming to pick us up soon.” “But it’s cold…” I wrapped her inside my down jacket and covered her head with my scarf. My phone had 30% battery left. I called Tessa. Once. Twice. Three times. Finally, she picked up. “Grace? What’s up?” The background noise was loud, like she was at a club. “Tessa, your brother said you were coming to pick us up. Where are you?” “Huh? Pick you up?” Tessa paused. “Oh, right. Caleb mentioned it.” “But I’m partying with friends right now. I can’t leave.” “Just wait a bit. I’ll come later.” “Tessa, it’s freezing out here. Lily can’t handle this…” “Ugh, Grace, stop being so dramatic. What’s the big deal about waiting a little?” “Caleb said Vanessa and Bella can’t catch a cold, so he had to rush them back.” “You two are tough. Waiting a bit longer won’t kill you.” Click. I gripped the phone, my fingers stiff with cold. I called Caleb. Voicemail. I called again. Still voicemail. Lily was shivering in my arms. “Mommy, I want to go home…” “Soon, baby. We’ll be home soon.” I kissed her forehead. My eyes burned. Four years of marriage, and I never knew Caleb could be this cruel. For his ex-girlfriend Vanessa’s daughter, he abandoned his wife and child on the side of a highway in a blizzard. Just because Bella said she didn’t want to sit next to the “dirty kid.” Headlights approached from the distance. I waved frantically. A black SUV slowed down and stopped in front of us. The window rolled down. A young man looked out. “Need help?” It felt like grabbing a lifeline. “Can you give us a ride? Just to the next service station!” The man looked at the child in my arms and frowned. “Get in.” “Thank you! Thank you so much!” I reached for the door handle… “Grace?” I froze. Another head popped out from the back. It was Caleb’s cousin, Ethan. He looked at me, then at the empty highway. “What are you doing here? Where’s Caleb?” I briefly explained what happened. Ethan’s face turned dark. “Is he insane? Leaving you and Lily here?” “So Vanessa’s daughter is human, but his own daughter isn’t?” He swore under his breath and turned to the driver. “Mark, let them in. We’ll squeeze.” The front was full, and the back seat next to Ethan was crowded with gear. “There’s no room…” Mark hesitated. Ethan opened the door and jumped out. “You guys go. I’ll wait here.” “No, you can’t!” “Hurry up!” Ethan shoved me toward the car. “Lily’s face is purple. She can’t stay out here!” I climbed into the back seat with Lily. The heat hit me, making my frozen skin sting. Ethan slammed the door and knocked on the window. “Grace, call me when you get to the service station. I’ll make Caleb come get you!” “Ethan, it’s freezing. What about you…” “I’m a man, I’ll be fine! Worry about the kid! Go!” The car started moving. I watched through the rear window as Ethan stood in the snow, his figure growing smaller and smaller. Tears welled up. My own husband left us to freeze. In the end, the one who saved us was an outsider. 2 Lily fell asleep in my arms, but her face was unnaturally flushed. I touched her forehead. It was burning hot. “Mark, can you drive faster? My daughter has a fever!” Mark nodded and accelerated. I took out my phone to call Tessa again. No signal. The highway wound through the mountains. Reception was spotty. “How much longer to the service station?” “Twenty miles. But with this snow, at least thirty minutes.” Thirty minutes… I held Lily tighter, constantly checking her temperature. Hotter and hotter. “Baby, wake up. Don’t sleep…” Lily opened her eyes groggily. “Mommy, I don’t feel good…” “I know, baby. We’re almost there. Just hang on.” She started coughing, a hacking sound that turned her face purple. I patted her back, tears finally falling. “Please, faster!” “I’m going as fast as I can! The roads are slick!” Mark shouted back, tension in his voice. Lily’s coughing got worse. Her breathing sounded like a broken bellows. “Mommy… I can’t breathe…” I unzipped her coat. Her chest was heaving violently. Acute pneumonia. She had it last year. We almost lost her. “Lily, look at Mommy. Don’t close your eyes!” “Mommy will tell you a story. The one about the little white rabbit…” Her eyes fluttered, half-closed. Her breathing grew faint. I banged on the window like a madwoman. “Help! My daughter is dying! Help us!” But outside, there was nothing but snow and darkness. The car finally pulled into the service station. I rushed into the convenience store with Lily. “Is there a doctor? My daughter is dying! We need help!” The clerk looked terrified. “No… no doctor here…” “Call 911! Now!” “The cell tower is down… landlines aren’t working…” My legs gave out. I nearly collapsed. In my arms, Lily had gone silent. The owner of the small motel next door rummaged through a first-aid kit and found some children’s fever reducers and antibiotics. “Try giving her these?” My hands shook so hard I couldn’t open the packaging. Lily lay on my lap, her breath so shallow it seemed like it would stop any second. I managed to get the medicine in her mouth, but she had no strength to swallow. “Lily, swallow it, please baby…” The liquid trickled out of the corner of her mouth. The owner couldn’t watch anymore. “I’ll drive you to the county hospital. But the snow is heavy, the roads might be closed…” “Go! Please! Go now!” I emptied my wallet and shoved all the cash into his hands. “Please!” The owner gritted his teeth. “Alright! Let’s risk it!” 3 The car crawled along the snow-covered road. Every bump made Lily’s body go limper. I held her tiny hand, talking nonstop. “Lily, remember you wanted to go to Disney World? Mommy will take you.” “We’ll ride the biggest carousel.” “You’ll wear your Elsa dress, right?” “We’ll go to Universal too. See the Transformers. Your heroes, remember?” Her eyelashes fluttered. But her eyes didn’t open. My phone buzzed. Signal! I dialed Caleb’s number with trembling fingers. It rang for a long time before he answered. “Hello?” The background was quiet. He was home. “Caleb…” My voice was a raspy croak. “Lily is sick. It’s bad…” “Where are you?” His voice was terrifyingly calm. “On the way to the county hospital. Come quickly…” “Grace.” He interrupted me. “Didn’t Tessa pick you up?” “She didn’t come! She never came!” “Impossible. She just posted on Instagram that she was on her way.” I froze. I opened Instagram. Found Tessa. Latest post, ten minutes ago. A selfie. Background: highway. Caption: “On my way to pick up the sister-in-law~ Bro worries too much~” The geotag showed she was sixty miles away. In the city. She hadn’t moved. She was lying to Caleb. And lying to me. “See?” Caleb said. “Tessa will be there any minute. Just wait.” “We can’t wait! Lily is dying! Our daughter is dying, Caleb!” “Grace.” His voice dropped to zero. “It’s New Year’s. Don’t talk about death. It’s bad luck.” “Vanessa and Bella just got here. Mom is happy. Don’t ruin it.” “When Tessa gets you, take Lily to a clinic.” “Kids get fevers. It’s normal. She won’t die. Stop being dramatic.” Click. I stared at the phone, my blood running cold. The owner looked at me in the rearview mirror. “Husband?” I nodded. “Bastard,” he spat. “Hold on tight. I know a shortcut. We can’t let the kid die!” The car swerved onto a mountain road. The snow fell harder. Lily’s breathing was almost inaudible. I checked her pulse. It was weak, almost like a hallucination. “Lily… don’t scare Mommy…” “Mommy was wrong. Mommy shouldn’t have been so stupid in love!” “Mommy was wrong. I shouldn’t have married him…” “Mommy shouldn’t have let you suffer…” sobbing, I reached into my inner pocket and pulled out a button-sized metal device. My father gave it to me. He said: “Grace, the Thorne family values sons over daughters. If one day they mistreat you because Lily is a girl, press this.” I pressed it. No sound. But I knew the signal was sent. Father said his people would be there within three hours. But three hours… Could my Lily wait three hours? 4 We finally reached the county hospital. I rushed into the ER with Lily, my voice gone from screaming. The nurse took one look at Lily and yelled for a doctor. “Acute pneumonia! Heart rate dropping! Prep for resuscitation!” I was stopped outside the trauma room. Through the glass, I watched them intubate Lily, hook her up to monitors. That tiny body, lying on the bed, looking like she could disappear at any moment. I crouched in the corner, shaking uncontrollably. My phone rang. Caleb. I answered, saying nothing. “Grace, where are you?” He sounded annoyed. “Mom is waiting to eat.” I opened my mouth, no sound came out. “Speak!” “Hospital…” I squeezed out. “Lily is in resuscitation…” “What?” He paused. “Why are you at the hospital? Where’s Tessa?” “She didn’t come…” “Bullshit. She just texted me she got you.” I opened the family group chat. Twenty minutes ago, Tessa sent a message: “Bro, got Grace. Heading back now.” Attached was a blurry photo of a car interior. The back of a woman’s head in the passenger seat, wearing a jacket like mine. It was an old photo she took of me months ago. She was lying. Using prepared photos. “She’s lying,” I said. “Caleb, come to the hospital. Now.” “Grace.” Silence for a few seconds. “You just don’t want to come back for New Year’s, do you?” “Is it because Vanessa is here? You’re jealous?” “So you make up these lies?” I was stunned. “You think I’m lying?” “What else?” He sneered. “Why would Tessa lie to me?” “She’s my sister. What are you?” “A woman who served her purpose after popping out a girl.” I gripped the phone so hard my nails cut into my palm. “Caleb, if Lily dies today, I will never forgive you.” “Whatever,” he said. “Mom said Vanessa can still give me a son.” “If you can’t, then step aside.” The line went dead. I listened to the dial tone, sliding down the wall to the floor. The trauma room doors opened. A doctor walked out, mask pulled down. “Family?” I scrambled up. “I’m her mother.” The doctor looked at me, eyes full of pity. “We got her back, but…” “But what?” “Because of the prolonged hypoxia, there’s brain damage.” “It might affect her intelligence, or even… permanent paralysis.” My vision went black. I grabbed the wall to stay upright. “How… she’s so small…” “We did our best.” The doctor sighed. “Go handle the admission. The ICU costs won’t be low.” I stumbled to the billing window. Card declined. Insufficient funds. Caleb only gave me $500 a month for “allowance,” saying it was “enough for a girl.” I called him. “What now?” Noisy background. Glasses clinking. Laughter. “Lily needs surgery. Transfer me $10,000.” “$10,000?” His voice spiked. “Grace, do you think I’m an ATM?” “Caleb, she’s your daughter!” “Just a girl. Even if we cure her, she’s a losing investment.” “Are you going to transfer it or not?” “No,” he said. “Earn it yourself if you’re so capable.” “Oh, and Mom said don’t bother coming back. Going to the hospital on New Year’s is bad luck.” “After the holidays, we’ll divorce.” “The house is mine. You didn’t pay for it, so you get nothing.” “As for Lily…” He paused. “If you can’t afford her, send her to an orphanage.” “I don’t want a burden anyway.” I hung up, drained of all strength. I looked at the billing clerk. “Can we treat her first? I’ll pay back slowly…” “Sorry, hospital policy. Deposit first.” I walked out of the hospital into the snow. My phone vibrated. Ethan. “Grace! Where are you? Caleb said Tessa got you?” “Ethan.” My voice was so calm it scared me. “Do me a favor.” “Name it!” “If I die, help me take care of Lily.” “What are you talking about!” “I have no money. Lily is dying.” “Caleb doesn’t want her. I can’t save her.” “Send her to an orphanage. At least she’ll live.” “Grace, don’t do anything stupid! Where are you? I’m coming!” “No need.” I hung up and turned off the phone. I walked back to the ICU. Lily lay there, tubes everywhere. Pale face, looking like she was just sleeping. I held her hand. “Baby, Mommy is sorry.” “In your next life, don’t be my child.” “Find a good family. Be a princess everyone loves.” I leaned down and kissed her forehead. Then I turned and walked out. The hospital roof. The wind was howling. I stood on the edge, looking down. The people below looked like ants. One jump, and it would all be over. Lily would go to an orphanage. Caleb would marry Vanessa and have his son. Everyone would be happy. Except me and my daughter. I closed my eyes. Leaned forward. A hand grabbed my wrist. Yanked me back violently. I fell onto the concrete roof and looked up.

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My biological parents, the Vaughns, came to take me home. Neighbors warned them it was a terrible idea, calling me a walking jinx who brought trouble to anyone near. They ignored it and took me to replace their fake daughter, who had bullied the daughter of the richest tycoon and needed a scapegoat. On day one, the fake heiress tried to frame me for pushing her. She tripped and got a concussion. On day two, my biological brother forced me to livestream and take the blame. He got tangled in wires and nearly choked. On day three, the tycoon sent men to attack me, thinking I was the bully. A sudden hailstorm from a clear sky beat them badly before they reached me. Unable to get to me, the tycoon took revenge on my parents. Their failing company pushed them to beg my adoptive parents to take me back. “Please, we’ll give you anything, just take this cursed creature off our hands.” … When the Vaughns first arrived, my neighbors and my adoptive parents tried to warn them, over and over. “Our Hannah… she’s got a bit of a dark cloud over her head. Things tend to go wrong around her.” “You really need to think this through before you take her.” The wealthy couple waved it all away, their annoyance growing. “Can you stop with the superstitious nonsense? We’re her biological parents. We’re taking her home, not leading her to slaughter.” I let out a cold, quiet laugh. They clearly didn’t recognize me. I had seen them when they first pulled into our small town. I was on my way home and saw them hiding by their car, talking on the phone. “Serena, darling, you know the only reason we’re bringing this biological daughter home is to take the fall for you.” “The girl you cyberbullied is the daughter of Mr. Croft. This is the only way to protect you.” “Don’t you worry. As soon as his anger has cooled, we’ll kick her right back out.” “By then, she’ll probably be too broken to even know what happened.” The girl on the other end finally seemed to calm down. “Fine. But when she’s there, you can’t be nice to her. I’m your only daughter.” The couple promised fervently before hanging up. Hearing all that, I actually felt a pang of pity for the poor girl they were about to drag into their mess. What kind of cosmic bad luck did you have to have to be born to parents like that? Turns out, the joke was on me. “Alright,” I said, stepping forward. “Let’s go. I probably won’t be staying long anyway.” The moment our car was clear of the town, their faces changed. My biological mother looked me up and down like I was something she’d scraped off her shoe. “Your name is Hannah, is that right?” “We are a respected family in Crestfall City. If you’re going to live with us, you will follow our rules.” “You will be treated as an adopted daughter. Serena is, and always will be, our true daughter. You will defer to her in everything. If you make Serena unhappy, you will face the consequences.” I met her gaze calmly. “My adoptive parents might not have explained it clearly enough.” “I have a strange sort of… condition. People who are unkind to me, who wrong me, tend to have very bad luck.” My biological father scoffed. “Save the spooky stories and superstitious garbage for your simple-minded adoptive parents. Try that nonsense on us, and you’ll regret it.” The words had barely left his mouth when the car began to swerve violently. It fishtailed across the highway, spinning in a nauseating drift. The couple screamed, clutching their seatbelts for dear life. The driver wrestled with the wheel, but it was useless. The car flipped. As if summoned from the sky, a huge chunk of rock smashed through the roof on their side of the car, tearing a massive piece of flesh from both of their arms and legs. The scent of blood filled the cabin. Their screams turned to shrieks of agony. I shook my head, which was spinning a little, and looked over at them. “I told you bad things would happen. Why didn’t you believe me?” I clicked my tongue, shaking my head. “That looks painful. A real pound of flesh.” They stared at me, their faces a mask of terror, fear, and impotent rage. “This was an accident! Just an accident! Don’t you dare look so smug!” I just shrugged. The rescue team arrived quickly. As they were being loaded onto stretchers, the canvas tore. Twice. Then, as they were being lifted into the ambulance, the automatic door slammed shut without warning, nearly crushing their feet. By the time they were finally secured, their injuries were significantly worse. As the ambulance prepared to pull away, they were still screaming at the rescue team driver. “Make sure you take her to our house! I refuse to believe she’s this much of a jinx!” I rode back to Crestfall City with one of the rescue workers. Since neither of us was seriously hurt, they just had me wait for observation for half an hour before the driver was cleared to take me to the Vaughn estate. He handed me over to the butler, Stewart, and even let him listen to the voicemail from my biological father. Even from a distance, I could hear the man’s bellowing rage. “Stewart, I want you to teach this ungrateful brat a lesson! Because of her, your mistress and I are stuck in the hospital! Teach her some damn respect!” The butler’s eyes glinted with malice. He dragged me into the grand foyer and threw me to the floor. “You’re the reason the master and mistress are hurt. It’s time you learned about our house rules.” I got to my feet, rubbing my bruised arm. “I’m just giving you a friendly warning,” I said. “Hurting me brings bad luck.” “Is that so? Then I can’t wait to see what kind of bad luck I’ll have.” He came at me with a whip made of braided wire. You just can’t reason with a fool. Somehow, as he swung, the wire whip got tangled in the power cord of a large decorative lamp. The cord was live. In an instant, the circuit shorted. I could have sworn I saw a blue arc of electricity dance across the butler’s body. “Aaaaaahhh!” The servants heard the screams and rushed in, some yanking plugs from the wall, others trying to help the twitching man. Stewart’s hand was still pointing at me, his eyes overflowing with a venomous hatred. The next second, a phone flew out of the hands of a maid who was dialing for an ambulance, soaring through the air and landing squarely on his nose. There was a sickening crunch as the bone shattered. “Aaargh!” Another scream. The driver was still standing at the door, his jaw hanging open. “Is this for real?” I gave him a small smile. “The butler seems to be out of commission. Who are you supposed to hand me over to now? Maybe I’ll just find my own way around.” The driver nodded vigorously. “Miss Vaughn, I think finding your own way around is an excellent idea.” Just then, Serena emerged from her room at the top of the stairs. Our eyes met. Hers were filled with pure disgust. “So you’re the one. Mom and Dad’s real daughter.” She smirked. “Perfect timing. I’m on my way to a party.” I beamed. “Oh, that’s just wonderful.” Serena’s expression tightened, her breathing growing heavier. She was clearly infuriated by my cheerfulness. I thought she’d be taking me to some fancy restaurant or club. I was wrong. She led me to a seedy, rundown bar. The moment we entered a private room, I was hit with a wall of smoke and the sight of a dozen greasy-looking thugs. Serena shoved me inside, a cruel smile plastered on her face. “Boys, this is the ‘real daughter’ my parents dug up. If she’s confirmed as the true heiress, I won’t have any more money to treat you all to the good life. What are we going to do about that?” The leader, a guy with bleached-blond hair, smashed a beer bottle on the floor. “Trying to steal our little sister’s spot, is she? Don’t worry, we’ve got ways of dealing with girls like her. A few naked photos will have her begging like a dog.” Serena crossed her arms, settling in to watch the show. Blondie gestured to his crew. “She’s not bad looking, boys. Looks like we’re in for a treat today.” He yanked a girl with a numb, vacant expression up from the floor and gave me a sinister grin. “She’s a little preview of what’s in store for you. Honey, why don’t you have a chat with our new friend?” The girl nodded, her empty eyes fixed on me. “Be a good girl like me and do what they say. It’ll hurt less. Otherwise, the boys can turn you into a dirty rag.” She pointed to a door at the far end of the room. “If they take you in there, there won’t be much of you left.” I looked at the half-open door and could almost smell a foul odor wafting from it. I sighed and turned to Blondie. “I’m sincerely advising you all not to touch me.” “I have this… weird thing about me. Back in high school, some punks tried to mug me. Before I could even hand over my money, they were struck by lightning.” “In college, a classmate who hated me tried to set me up to be assaulted. The place she sent me to got hit by a vice raid, and she was arrested for pimping.” I looked at the thugs, my voice patient. “I’m a bit of a jinx. But here’s the thing: anyone who tries to harm me ends up ten times unluckier than I am.” Blondie heard me and burst out laughing. “Oh, I’ve just got to see this. Let’s see how unlucky I can get.” He grabbed me by the hair and started dragging me toward the back room. The vacant-eyed girl squeezed her eyes shut in fear. Serena watched, her arms crossed, waiting for the entertainment to begin. The next second, the glass door of the private room exploded inward. Shards of glass flew everywhere, embedding themselves in Blondie’s skin. “Aaaaaahhh!” His screams filled the room. The thugs around him weren’t spared either. One of them caught a piece of glass right in the eye. As for me, I had a tiny scratch on my hand. Serena’s eyes went wide. “How is that possible?” The main door was kicked open, and a squad of police officers stormed in. “We received a tip about illegal activities happening in this room! Nobody move! Hands on your head and get on the ground!” In the end, Serena and I were cleared of any involvement and picked up by my biological brother, Alexander. The moment Serena saw him, she burst into tears. “Alex! I was just taking my sister out, and I don’t know what happened, we ended up in that horrible place! I swear I didn’t do anything bad to her!” Alexander, who had doted on this girl his entire life, was immediately convinced. He wrapped his arms around her. “Of course it wasn’t you.” He then looked at me. “Find her a room to stay in.” Serena nodded eagerly, the malice in her eyes never wavering. She led me up to the third floor, vaguely pointing to a room she said would be mine. Before I could even see where she was pointing, I felt a hard shove from behind. I stumbled forward, crashing into the railing. But Serena, the one who pushed me, had twisted her ankle in the process and fell backward. “Aaaah—” She tumbled all the way down the grand staircase, landing in a heap at the bottom. Alexander heard the noise and came running, only to find Serena unconscious on the floor. His hair practically stood on end with rage. “You! How dare you do this to Serena! Call the police! Someone like you belongs in a cell!” I held up my hands, feigning helplessness. “Look, big brother, you’re not going to believe this, but I really didn’t do it. She tried to hurt me, and that’s why she fell.” “You think I’m going to believe that?” he roared. “You’re just jealous that Serena had the life that should have been yours!” I couldn’t be bothered to explain myself to a stranger. The police arrived quickly. By a stroke of cosmic irony, it was the same officer from the bar raid. The first thing he did was ask to see the security footage. Serena was clever enough to have a maid disable the cameras before she made her move. But, unfortunately for her, the butler’s electrocution earlier that day had caused a short circuit. And by pure chance, the one camera on the third-floor landing had rebooted itself and was fully operational. “Looks like her plan backfired,” the officer said dryly. “Mr. Vaughn, this is clearly a domestic dispute. Are you sure you want to press charges?” Alexander’s glare could have set me on fire, but he was powerless. He forced a smile for the officer. “It seems it was all a misunderstanding. Sorry to have wasted your time.” From the look on his face, I knew he now hated me with a passion. Serena was taken to the hospital. The diagnosis was a concussion. There, Alexander ran into his parents and learned the real reason I’d been brought home. Remembering the string of disasters that had followed me, he decided to change tactics. “Brute force isn’t working,” he strategized with them. “We need to be smarter. We can’t let Mr. Croft get to Serena. Why don’t we have Hannah do a live stream and publicly confess to the cyberbullying? That way, no matter what happens, Croft will target her, not Serena.” His parents agreed it was a brilliant plan.

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My mother showed up at my doorstep, her face etched with worry, telling me my uncle had fallen and needed thirty thousand for surgery. I hurried her to the ATM, my mind racing with a hundred thoughts. But when we stood before the machine, I froze, utterly dumbfounded. “Insufficient Funds,” the screen blinked back mockingly. This card belonged to Lillian Vance. We’d agreed when we married that it would be our joint savings, a “deposit only” account. Every payday, without fail, I’d deposit eighty thousand into it. This had been going on for five full years. Thirty thousand? We should have had millions. More than enough. Yet, there it was: a pathetic 1.03 dollars. I dialed Lillian’s number a dozen times, but she didn’t answer. Eventually, her phone went straight to voicemail. I had no choice but to call a friend and borrow the money. An hour later, she finally sent a message. “Dean, I was with Brandon Miller looking at houses. It was so loud, I couldn’t hear my phone.” “What’s up?” 1 I swallowed hard, forcing down the surge of anger. I quickly concocted an excuse, then asked her where they were looking. She replied with ‘Riverside Manor.’ It was an upscale community, with prices upwards of thirty thousand per square foot. We’d looked at it last year when it first opened. I’d even considered buying a unit, but she’d dismissed the idea outright. I didn’t press further, just hung up. Lillian finally returned home at seven that evening. A faint scent of men’s cologne drifted from her, the familiar woody notes of the fragrance her childhood friend, Brandon Miller, always wore. Our one-year-old son, Arthur, sat in his highchair, babbling and playing with a spoon. I spooned some steamed egg into his mouth, then looked up at my wife, who was shedding her coat. “How was the house hunting with Brandon today?” I asked, my voice flat. Her movements faltered for a fraction of a second. Then, her usual gentle smile appeared. “It was alright. Brandon thought the layout at Riverside Manor was good, the view was nice, and the price was fair.” “You didn’t say that when we looked at it,” I murmured, stirring the soup in my bowl. “You said it was too out of the way, that the amenities weren’t developed yet, and it wasn’t worth the price.” “Oh, well, that was then, this is now,” she replied smoothly. “It’s developed so much since. I hear the subway will be ready next year.” She sat down, picked up a piece of greens with her chopsticks, and deftly changed the subject. “By the way, what was so urgent this afternoon? I couldn’t quite catch it on the phone.” “Nothing. Just a small matter with my mother. It’s been sorted.” She simply said, “Oh,” and didn’t probe further. Arthur patted the table with his little hand, wanting water. Lillian got up to fetch his cup, cooing softly to him. I watched her retreating back. Her long hair was loosely pinned up, and the creamy white loungewear made her silhouette look gentle and soft. Three years of dating, five years of marriage. Eight years. I thought I knew this woman who slept beside me every night. Until this afternoon, when the glaring balance on the ATM screen slapped me hard across the face. “Oh, right,” I said, putting down my chopsticks, as if it were an afterthought. “I’m thinking of replacing the old car. I saw the new BMW model, about thirty thousand. What do you think?” Lillian’s hand, which was giving Arthur water, paused. She turned, a slight frown creasing her brow. “Why the sudden urge to change cars? The one we have is only eight years old, isn’t it?” “It’s a bit old, and the space is too small. We can’t fit everything when we go camping with Arthur.” “But thirty thousand is too expensive…” She put down the water cup and sat back in her chair. “Won’t it put too much pressure on the family if you buy a new car?” “Our monthly living expenses are already quite high.” “A car is a depreciating asset. It loses value the moment it leaves the lot.” “Besides, your current car is well-maintained. It’s perfectly fine for a few more years. There’s no need to buy a new one just for appearances…” She listed off her points, one by one, with clear logic and apparent sincerity. She sounded like a frugal wife, always thinking of her family’s best interests. In the past few years, I’d heard these words countless times, feeling satisfied, even guilty, about her practicality and devotion to our home. Now, hearing them felt like a thousand tiny needles, pricking my heart. I stayed silent, offering no rebuttal, just focused on eating my rice. After I finished the dishes, Arthur was already drowsy, rubbing his eyes in Lillian’s arms. “I’ll take him to bath and bed.” She picked up Arthur and headed towards the bathroom. On the coffee table, her phone screen was still lit. I walked over, picked it up, and quickly opened the banking app, loading the transaction history. Densely packed, full of transfers. 2 The recipient’s name was partially obscured, but the last few digits of the account number were clearly visible, and they were all the same. The transfer frequency was astonishingly high – several transactions every month. The amounts varied, some were three to five thousand, others tens of thousands. The largest single transfer? A staggering fifty thousand. It had happened today. I held my breath, scrolling back to the earliest record. March 15th this year: a transfer of five thousand. Brandon Miller’s social media post about returning to the country, with a picture at the airport, was dated March 14th. Deep into the night, I lay awake, unable to sleep. Beside me, Lillian’s breathing was steady; she was fast asleep. I watched her quietly, feeling a chilling unfamiliarity emanate from her face. Five years ago, on a night much like this, we had just gotten our marriage license. She had brought up the idea of our savings with a serious tone. “Dean, we need to plan for our future.” “We’ll want to have children eventually, and our parents will get older.” “This money will be deposit-only, our safety net and security.” I was deeply moved then, believing I had found a virtuous wife. For the next five years, every payday, the first thing I did was transfer eighty thousand into that account, leaving myself only the bare minimum for living expenses. To save money, I quit smoking after ten years, declined all social gatherings that cost money, and wore my clothes and shoes until they were worn out, unwilling to replace them. Whenever colleagues upgraded their cars or watches, I’d just smile. In my heart, I pictured the steadily growing number on that card and felt it was all worth it. It was my investment in the future, my commitment to our family. But I never imagined it would end like this. Five years, sixty months, four hundred eighty thousand. Reduced to 1.03 dollars. Suddenly, many small details from these years flashed through my mind. Lillian always strongly supported my frugality. When I wanted to take her out for a nice meal, she’d say cooking at home was healthier. When I wanted to buy her a down jacket, she’d call it a waste. I used to think she was sensible and good at managing money. Now I understood. It was merely a way to make me more willing to keep funneling money into that card. And what about her? Her skincare products were always high-end brands. Her clothes, though seemingly simple, were made of expensive fabrics and tailored impeccably. I used to assume it was occasional support from her family, or her own salary. Now, I suspected my four hundred eighty thousand had largely subsidized her refined lifestyle. The most laughable part was that I had even felt guilty about it. Believing she hadn’t lived a very luxurious life with me, that I had somehow wronged her. I walked out to the balcony, leaned against the railing, and lit a cigarette. My first cigarette in five years. The next day was Saturday. When Lillian woke up, I had already made breakfast. “Why are you up so early today?” She seemed surprised, rubbing her eyes. “Couldn’t sleep.” I placed the fried egg and milk on the table. “Arthur’s still asleep. Let him rest a bit longer.” She sat down, took a bite of toast, and, as usual, scrolled through the news on her phone. Her demeanor was natural, betraying nothing. I watched her quietly, then spoke. “Did Brandon manage to scrape together enough money for the house?” “Why the sudden question?” She smiled, put down her phone, and took a sip of milk as if nothing was amiss. “Just curious. Riverside Manor isn’t cheap, and he just returned to the country this year. Where would he get that much money?” “His family supported him, and he also has some savings of his own.” Her answer was quick, clearly a prepared response. “Is that so?” I lowered my head, cutting my fried egg. “I heard the down payment for the smallest unit there is over a million. Can his family really afford that kind of support?” Lillian was silent for a few seconds. “Brandon studied abroad. With his capabilities, buying a house shouldn’t be a problem.” “You eat first. I’ll go check if Arthur’s awake.” I watched her somewhat guilty back, my heart sinking little by little. I picked up my phone and sent a message to a friend: “Are you there? I need a favor.” Five days later was my father-in-law’s birthday, and the Vance family courtyard was packed with cars. Carrying my modest gifts of tea and health supplements, I felt somewhat out of place amidst the bustling crowd. Every member of the Vance family looked at me with a subtle, yet unmistakable, hint of disdain. I was from a rural background, got into university, and stayed in the city for work. Through sheer hard work, I’d climbed the ranks to project manager at my current company. But in this family, they only saw my origins. When I first married Lillian, the Vance family had fiercely opposed it. Her mother, Mrs. Vance, had called me a country bumpkin, unworthy of her daughter. Mr. Vance, though silent, had been equally cold in his demeanor. In the end, it was Lillian’s persistence, coupled with my genuinely good income, that finally swayed them to reluctantly agree. Five years later, the situation hadn’t improved. 3 From the kitchen, Mrs. Vance’s voice drifted out. “Lillian, when is Brandon arriving? I specifically called and told him he absolutely had to come today.” “Don’t worry, Mom, he said he’d be here,” Lillian replied. I walked out to the courtyard and lit a cigarette. The pack I’d bought yesterday was already half empty. “Brother-in-law, why are you out here alone?” Lillian’s younger brother, Scott, walked over, his tone light and somewhat flippant. I told him I needed some fresh air. He chuckled, patting my shoulder. “Brother-in-law, don’t take it to heart. Our family is just like this. Honestly, I think you’ve done really well.” His words sounded like comfort, but the perfunctory look in his eyes was unmistakable. By half past eleven, all the guests had arrived. Two large round tables were set in the living room, with Mr. Vance seated at the head. I was placed at the secondary table, alongside a few distant relatives of the Vance family. Just as we were about to begin the meal, the sound of a car engine echoed from outside the gate. Everyone looked up. A brand-new black Mercedes pulled into the driveway. Brandon Miller emerged from the driver’s seat, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, carrying several exquisite gift boxes. Mrs. Vance’s eyes lit up. She immediately rushed to greet him. “Brandon, darling, you’re here! Come in, come in!” Lillian also stood up, an unconscious smile playing on her lips. I saw it clearly: a sparkle in her eyes. Brandon greeted everyone politely, distributing numerous gifts: fine wine for Mr. Vance, an imported silk scarf for Mrs. Vance, and the latest model phone for Scott. Even for my son, Arthur, he had prepared an expensive Lego set. “Brandon, you’re too kind!” Everyone laughed, thrilled as they accepted their gifts. In stark contrast, my tea and health supplements, placed in a corner, looked pathetically meager. Brandon was seated at the main table, right next to Mr. Vance. From my seat at the secondary table, a few chairs away, I watched them converse and laugh. Lillian sat diagonally opposite Brandon. Their eyes would occasionally meet, then quickly dart away. Just like every other gathering in the past, maintaining a perfectly appropriate distance. That’s why I’d been kept in the dark until today. The meal began. Dishes were served one after another, and the tables grew lively. I ate quietly, listening to their chatter. “Brandon, nice car. New buy?” Lillian’s cousin suddenly asked. Brandon smiled modestly. “Just picked it up. Only fifty thousand, not really a great car.” “Fifty thousand isn’t great?” Mrs. Vance’s voice rose a few pitches. “Someone’s thirteen-thousand-dollar old car has been driven for eight or nine years, hasn’t it?” “And still no money to replace it, sigh.” The table fell silent for a moment. Mr. Vance cleared his throat. “Eat, everyone, eat.” But Mrs. Vance clearly wasn’t done. “I always say, a man needs to be capable.” “Look at Brandon. He’s only been back in the country for a short while, and he’s already bought a car and looked at houses.” “But some people, well, they just have no ambition.” “Probably destined to stay the same forever.” Lillian tried to intervene softly. “Mom, please stop.” “Am I wrong?” Mrs. Vance glanced at me. “I never approved of him from the start. A country boy, how high could his ambitions be? If you hadn’t been so stubborn about marrying him, I never would have agreed!” Brandon tried to smooth things over with a laugh. “Auntie, actually, Dean works very hard.” “What good is hard work?” Mrs. Vance shook her head. “Look at the gifts he brought. So cheap.” Other relatives at the table chimed in, their eyes full of scorn. I said nothing, continuing to eat. Brandon, perhaps buoyed by the flattery, continued discussing his house purchase. “Auntie, I’ve actually already paid the deposit for Riverside Manor. The down payment was transferred yesterday. Now I’m just waiting to sign the contract.” Someone asked about the down payment. “One hundred eighty thousand,” Brandon replied proudly. “My family helped with some, and I saved up a bit myself.” Mrs. Vance’s eyes gleamed again. “See? Now that’s what I call successful!” “Unlike some people, living in a run-down place, driving a cheap car, and still thinking they’re pretty good.” She glared at me. “If I had known this, I never would have let Lillian marry you.” “A bumpkin is a bumpkin. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!” Everyone looked at me. Lillian’s face was pale. She said in a low voice, “Mom, enough.” 4 Mr. Vance also spoke, his voice firm. “Alright, it’s my birthday today. Let’s keep the peace.” I put down my chopsticks. Wiped my mouth, and stood up. Mrs. Vance sneered. “What, can’t take a little criticism?” “Are you angry?” I looked at her, then at Lillian. She avoided my gaze, fiddling with her napkin. Brandon stood up. “Dean, Auntie is just outspoken. Don’t take it to heart.” “I’m not taking it to heart.” I looked at my father-in-law. “Dad, happy birthday.” Mr. Vance nodded, his expression complex. I took a deep breath, my voice not loud, but clear enough for everyone to hear: “Also, I’d like to take this opportunity today to announce something.” “I’ve decided. I’m divorcing Lillian Vance.” My words stunned everyone. After the initial shock, Lillian jumped to her feet. “Dean, what kind of nonsense are you talking?” “I’m not talking nonsense.” I looked at her calmly. “I’m genuinely divorcing you.” “A reason? Just because my mother said a few things to you?” she demanded. “A reason?” I took an envelope from my jacket’s inner pocket, pulled out a stack of printed papers, and tossed them onto the lazy Susan. “First, you answer me. For the past five years, the eighty thousand dollars I religiously deposited into that ‘couple’s reserve fund’ card every month, totaling four hundred eighty thousand dollars, where has it gone?” The papers slowly rotated with the lazy Susan, laying themselves bare before the Vance family. A dense list of transfer records: dates, amounts, and the last few digits of the recipient’s account number. Lillian froze, staring at the stack of papers, her lips pressed into a thin line. The Vance family was utterly silent, exchanging uneasy glances. “You don’t want to say? Then I will.” I glanced at Brandon, who was equally stiff, then pulled out my phone, displaying the investigation results my friend had sent me. “Starting this March, in less than eight months…” “Funds transferred from this card to account ending in 8347, registered to Brandon Miller.” “A total of forty-seven transactions, amounting to four hundred sixty-eight thousand seven hundred thirty dollars.” “March twentieth: five thousand dollars, for Mr. Miller’s new wardrobe after returning to the country.” “May seventh: twelve thousand dollars, for Mr. Miller’s annual membership fee at a high-end club.” “From July to now, two fixed transfers totaling thirty thousand dollars each month, all used to repay a car loan.” “Oh, right. That’s the new Mercedes parked outside.” “Last Friday: a fifty-thousand-dollar transfer to the specified account of the Riverside Manor developer, with the memo ‘deposit’.” “And these here,” I tapped the screen, “correspond to consumption records at several high-end hotels in the city.” “Do I need to state the hotel names and your check-in times?” With each transaction I revealed, Lillian’s face drained of more color. Brandon, meanwhile, tried to avoid everyone’s gaze, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The Vance family’s expressions shifted from shock and confusion to disbelief and shame. Mrs. Vance opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to interrupt me, but no sound came out. “Oh, and one more thing,” I said, putting away my phone and looking at Lillian. “This new jacket you’re wearing, bought last month, twenty-eight hundred dollars.” “That limited edition skincare set on your vanity, twelve hundred dollars.” “All paid for with the secondary card from that account. I’ve checked the transaction history.” Lillian’s body trembled slightly. She finally spoke, her voice dry. “You hired someone to investigate me?” “If I hadn’t investigated, how would I have known that the savings I painstakingly built over five years had long become capital for someone else to squander, conveniently funding my wife’s refined lifestyle and…” I paused, my gaze sweeping over Brandon, “her affair.” “Enough!” Lillian shrieked, cutting me off, her chest heaving, her face a mix of red and white. “Dean, aren’t you saying all this just to get a divorce?” “Fine, I agree! Let’s get divorced!” “We’ll split the assets evenly, but Arthur’s custody must go to me!” I, who had always been so compliant, laughed. “Split evenly? Don’t dream about it.” “My demand is that you leave with nothing.” “And that four hundred eighty thousand dollars, you must return every penny.” “You’re the one dreaming!” Scott finally couldn’t hold back. He slammed his hand on the table, pointing at my nose and cursing, “Dean! Who do you think you are? What makes you think my sister should leave with nothing?” “Even if she cheated, that money is still marital property!” I pulled out the last paper from the envelope and gently placed it on the table. It was the conclusion page of a paternity test report. I spoke each word clearly, my voice cold. “Because of this.” “Not only did Lillian Vance have an affair during our marriage, she also had a child with someone else.” “Arthur’s biological father is not me!”

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At the annual awards gala, I was about to receive the “Top Salesperson” award. But before I could accept it, the CEO’s girlfriend, Bella, grabbed the mic and sneered: “Riley, it’s just an award ceremony. Don’t you think your dress is a bit… sl*tty?” “Actually, I’ve seen you selling drinks at nightclubs. Working two jobs is tough, but you should respect your body.” Then, she pulled out a stack of photos showing me meeting various clients. She accused me of closing deals by day and sleeping with clients by night. The crowd erupted. Colleagues pointed fingers, whispering in disbelief. “No wonder her sales numbers are so high. She sold herself for them.” “Does she have any diseases? Gross, I sit right next to her!” I thought the CEO, Ethan, would defend me. After all, he was there every time I signed a major contract. Instead, he turned on me: “It’s just an award, Riley. You are dressed too proactively. Since your sales record is suspicious, we’re withholding the trophy and the bonus.” Oh, so that’s how we’re playing? I pulled out my phone and dialed 911. “Help me, officer! I think I was drugged without my knowledge!” 1 The hall went dead silent. Ethan was the first to react. He rushed over to grab my phone. “Are you crazy, Riley? This is the awards gala! Stop making a scene, aren’t you embarrassed enough?” I deftly dodged him, protecting my phone and my dress, while giving the address to the operator. “Yes, Grand Crown Hotel, Rose Ballroom. Please hurry, I’m terrified!” As soon as I hung up, I switched to video recording. I aimed the camera straight at Ethan and the stunned Bella. “Come on, say it again for the camera. Did you just claim I sleep with clients at night?” I zoomed in on the “intimate photos” in Bella’s hand to ensure high-definition evidence. Bella finally snapped out of it. She swatted my phone, sending it crashing to the floor. Smash. The screen shattered. But she immediately hid behind Ethan, looking aggrieved. “I was just telling the truth. Riley, why are you escalating this? You’re ruining the party for everyone. You’re so selfish.” Hearing this, colleagues started piling on. “If you didn’t do it, Bella wouldn’t have photos.” “Exactly. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Why would she single you out?” “We haven’t even complained about potential health risks yet, and you’re playing the victim!” Behind Ethan, Bella put on a brave smile and “kindly” advised: “I just didn’t want everyone to be deceived. That’s why I exposed Riley’s true face today.” “Work should be fair. If bonuses go to people who cheat the system, it’s unfair to you all, right?” Her words earned a round of applause. Everyone praised her beauty and integrity, saying she truly deserved to be the CEO’s girlfriend. And me? Just a worker destined for the gutter. While they criticized me, I quietly gathered the photos from the floor. Evidence of defamation. I decided to give Ethan one last chance. He was my senior in college and had taken care of me. When I first started, my sales were bottom-tier. He ran every lead with me and introduced me to clients. Out of gratitude, even after becoming the top salesperson with my own client base, I never accepted offers from headhunters. “Ethan, are you sure you want to cancel my bonus and trophy?” 2 Ethan, arm around Bella, chatting with colleagues, darkened his face instantly. “Riley, how many times do I have to say it? Bella is my girlfriend. Her words are my words.” “If you weren’t a veteran employee, we would have fired you for moonlighting as an escort and ruining the company’s image.” “Be grateful we’re saving you some face by letting you stay. As for the bonus, forget it!” I was utterly disappointed. Based on a few photos, he labeled me an escort. How could I stay in this company? Besides, Bella might not know where those orders came from, but didn’t he? Since he gave me no way out, I wouldn’t leave him any dignity. This party is over! I walked onto the stage, cut the music, and projected my sales records onto the big screen. “Since the police aren’t here yet, let’s pause on Bella’s defamation. I can skip the trophy, but I want every cent of my bonus.” Ignoring the shock in the room, I went through every order, holding up the photos one by one. “December 1st. This photo. I squatted outside Mr. Pang’s office for three hours for a five-minute meeting. I slipped in the rain, he helped me up. Seeing my dedication, he renewed the contract.” “December 2nd. This one. Mr. Chu’s wife was sick. I visited her. He hugged me in gratitude and gave us the new project.” “December 3rd…” I had evidence and logic for every single picture. Bella didn’t expect my memory to be this good. I not only explained the context but cleared my name. She marched up and unplugged the screen. “Riley! This is the company gala, not your personal show! Is it appropriate to waste everyone’s time?” Ethan also frowned, ordering me down. “Riley, enough!” “If everyone acts like you, how can we hold the gala?” The double standard was laughable. “When you defamed me and canceled my bonus, you didn’t care about the gala. Now that I’m clearing my name and asking for my money, it’s a problem?” Bella realized something. “So it’s all about the money?” “Fine, get down. We’ll give you the bonus during the awards segment!” 3 I didn’t expect Bella to agree. Ethan looked unhappy but nodded to save her face. Since I got what I wanted, I didn’t need to waste more time on stage. As I stepped down, I saw Bella whisper something to Ethan, and they went into the lounge. I followed quietly. I wanted to see what they were plotting. Inside, Ethan questioned Bella immediately. “I staged this whole thing because I didn’t want to pay her bonus! Now you’re giving it to her? Why did I bother?” Bella soothed him softly. “I said I’d give her a bonus, I didn’t say what bonus. Don’t worry.” “I promise she won’t get a single cent today!” She whispered something in his ear, and Ethan burst out laughing. “Great! You always have ideas. Let’s do it!” Outside, I cursed myself for being naive. Of course. Bella wouldn’t dare make a scene without Ethan’s approval. But why? Even if my bonus was six figures, Ethan shouldn’t be sweating over such a small amount. Before I could figure it out, my shattered phone rang. I ducked into the bathroom. “Riley! Why didn’t you tell me you were being bullied at work?” My dad yelled. “Quit immediately! My daughter won’t suffer this humiliation!” “Defamed by an escort girl? How can I show my face in this town?” I was confused. Then I saw the link my dad sent. It was a clip of the gala livestream where Bella humiliated me. My defense was conveniently cut out. She looked like a righteous whistleblower. I looked like a scheming slut. My dad continued: “No wonder she quit my club so suddenly. She found a sugar daddy!” “Wait, Dad, who are you talking about?” “That colleague of yours! She used to sell drinks at my club, didn’t you know?” My dad sent photos and videos of Bella working at his club. I almost laughed. Bella accused me of selling alcohol, when she was the real pro! I wonder if Ethan knows? 4 I received a text from the police saying they were stuck in traffic but arriving soon. Back at the gala, Bella enthusiastically pulled me onto the stage. “Riley, I was just joking earlier. Don’t be mad. Come get your bonus.” Ethan stood before me, holding a trophy and a red envelope, his face beaming with a fake smile. “Riley, you’re a veteran employee. I’m proud of your achievements. Here is your trophy and bonus. Congratulations.” “Just… since you have a stable job now, stop with the side hustles. It looks bad if people find out.” I rolled my eyes. “Ethan, I explained clearly. I don’t have side hustles. But your girlfriend…” Bella shoved me off the stage before I could finish. “Riley, I know you hold a grudge because I told the truth, but don’t be petty.” “Go on, you got your money.” True. Priority one: get the money. But the red envelope felt light. Too light. My commission and bonus should be at least $15,000. It shouldn’t feel like air. I opened it. Inside was a single piece of paper with handwriting: “Bonus: $15,000.”

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The new department supervisor loves to play favorites. The “nepo babies” come in late, leave early, yet somehow get full attendance bonuses every month. Those without connections are forced into unpaid overtime and docked $500 for being late just once. In meetings, he constantly throws shade at employees from modest backgrounds: “Winter really shows the wealth gap. A rich person’s coat is worth ten of your polyester rags. You’ll freeze or get shocked by static.” “Don’t blame society for being cold; blame yourselves for being born into the wrong families.” I was away on a business trip. When I finally returned to the office, the supervisor docked my pay just because I walked in wearing a pair of knockoff Converse. When I found out he transferred my $15,000 performance bonus to a new hire carrying a Louis Vuitton bag because he thought I was “too low-class” and “damaged the company image,” I laughed. Who do you think you are? Snob. I’m a hidden shareholder with ten years in this company. Do you really think a clown like you can sanction me? 1 Fresh off a business trip, I stepped into the office only to be halted by a stranger. He bent over with exaggerated disgust, pointing at my shoes. “What on earth are those?” I looked down at my feet, about to speak, then realized something was off. “Who are you? Don’t you have work to do instead of analyzing people’s footwear?” The man’s expression went blank. He asked who I was. Just as I opened my mouth, my colleague Leo rushed over and tugged my sleeve. “Arthur, this is our new supervisor.” “Supervisor, this is Arthur Reed, our company’s top salesman. He’s been on a long business trip and just got back today.” The supervisor looked me up and down, nodding perfunctorily. “Business trip? Or did he just close a couple of deals and use ‘business trip’ as an excuse to slack off?” A bit of a reach, but sure, that happens. I actually appreciated the new supervisor’s diligence. I smiled. “Supervisor, the company has strict policies. Business trips are all tracked and documented. You don’t need to worry about that. When did you start? What’s your background? Where did you work before…” I slipped into interview mode. Watching the supervisor’s face change, I realized I asked too much. Can’t blame me, though. This department hasn’t had a supervisor in ages. The last few were slick old-timers full of office politics. I quietly got rid of them all. Seeing a new face after so long, I couldn’t help myself. “Heh… funny guy. A totally average employee wearing totally garbage knockoff shoes, actually caring about my resume.” The supervisor joked with Leo. Then he turned to me. “The General Manager has my resume. Should I have him send it to your office?” 2 The smile froze on my face. “No need, supervisor,” I said dryly. I turned to go inside. But the supervisor blocked my path. “Hey, what’s your name again? Oh, Arthur Reed. Did I say you could leave?” I stopped but didn’t turn around. In the bullpen, my colleagues were winking furiously, anxious for me. The supervisor walked around to face me. Arrogantly, he asked: “You haven’t answered my question. What are those things on your feet?” “Did the company institute a dress code while I was gone?” I countered. He paused, then let out a cold laugh. He ignored me and walked away. Leo immediately dragged me into the stairwell. “Why are you wearing those shoes? Don’t you usually wear designer brands?” “What’s going on?” I asked. “Why is the new guy so passive-aggressive?” Leo sighed, checked for eavesdroppers, then whispered: “He’s sick. A massive snob! While you were gone, he made our lives miserable!” “His favorites do whatever they want. Those without connections work unpaid overtime.” “And he judges everyone by their clothes. If you dress cheap, you’re ‘low class.’ He targets you, insults you, calls you poor and says your parents are poor.” I was shocked. People this brain-dead exist in the workplace? Who hired him? Leo urged me, “Go home and change into your expensive stuff. He hates you right now. Watch your back.” I sneered. Unbelievable. I wore these cheap shoes because my good ones got soaked on the trip. I’m brand loyal, and there wasn’t a store nearby, so I bought a cheap pair to make do. But if he’s such a snob, how did he miss that my suit is a custom piece worth $50,000?! “Do you guys have recordings of this?” I asked Leo. “Give me the evidence.” Leo covered my mouth. “What are you doing?!” “Don’t talk crazy! Anyone in a key position here has connections. How can you even think about fighting him?” “You’re the top salesman, making six figures. Don’t risk it for a jerk like him. just keep your head down.” Keep my head down? Not my style. I’ve been a hidden shareholder for over ten years. I was here when this company was nothing. I watched it grow. I poured my heart into it. Let’s put it this way: the only person with more shares than me is the Chairman. He wanted me to be General Manager, but I declined because I lack the patience for management. I just have money and a silver tongue. I’ve seen ten supervisors come and go. They had their flaws, but this kind of extreme snobbery? That’s a first. I’m going to see what he’s made of. 3 I returned to my desk. Before I could even get comfortable, the supervisor marched in with a beautiful woman, clapping loudly. “Everyone, stop what you’re doing. Let me introduce a new colleague, Bella. Give her a round of applause.” A smattering of claps echoed through the office. A colleague whispered near me: “See that LV bag? That snob supervisor is going to put her on a pedestal.” Just as he finished, the supervisor looked around and pointed directly at me. “Bella, you sit there. Good sunlight, great view.” “Arthur Reed, pack your stuff immediately. Find somewhere else to sit.” Bella smiled and thanked him, walking straight toward me. “I can’t move,” I said instantly. Bella stopped, looking awkwardly at the supervisor. The supervisor’s face twisted. “Arthur Reed, are you disobeying a direct order from your superior?” 4 That’s a heavy accusation. I explained: “I injured my leg as a kid. It can’t handle cold or dampness. I need the sunlight.” It wasn’t a lie. I fell while hiking as a child. Medical care was spotty back then, and it never fully healed. Even in summer, I wear a thick knee brace. Cold makes it ache like hell. The supervisor stared, incredulous. “Can’t handle the cold but you wear knockoff shoes? Stop pretending to be something you’re not.” “How fragile can you be? More fragile than a little girl? Are you a man, Arthur? Refusing to give up a seat?” “Supervisor, my spot has sun too. I’ll switch with the new colleague,” Leo jumped up. “No,” the supervisor barked. “I want him to move! Arthur, are you moving or not?” 5 The atmosphere solidified. Bella whispered, “Never mind, I can sit anywhere.” The supervisor waved her down, keeping the pressure on me. “Move. Or don’t.” “Can’t move,” I enunciated every word. Leo sighed in disappointment and hung his head. Other colleagues looked at me with pity, as if I was making a huge mistake. The supervisor scoffed. “Great. Top salesman indeed. Got personality. Rebellious, huh?” He turned his back and made a call. “Manager Zhou, it’s Rex. We have an employee named Arthur Reed who’s being extremely arrogant and insubordinate. What should we do?” He spoke loudly, casually addressing the General Manager. Showing off his connections to everyone. The pity in my colleagues’ eyes deepened. Leo winked at me frantically, signaling me to quit while I was ahead. I ignored him and went back to work. Rex finished his call and ordered: “The GM wants to see you. Go on, Mr. Top Sales. If I can’t manage you, maybe he can.” 6 Aside from the Chairman, no one knows my identity. But it doesn’t matter. As a ten-year veteran, I know the GM. I can lodge a complaint and see where he stands. And I’m genuinely curious who this Rex guy is. In the GM’s office, he sighed before speaking. I was disappointed. “What’s wrong?” The GM put down his pen. “Arthur, you’ve been here so long. How could you disobey an order?” “Manager, I’m not disobeying. You know about my leg.” “I know, but the new guy needs to establish authority. I don’t want you in the crossfire.” I smiled dryly. “Manager, whose guy is he?” The GM frowned. “Arthur, how can you ask that?” Then he sighed again. “Look, just know he has backing. Asking won’t change anything.” “We have a good relationship, and you carry the sales numbers. Do me a favor, don’t fight him.” “I’ll get you a personal heater for your leg. Let’s just let this go. Being stuck in the middle is hard for me.” 7 I guessed the situation from the GM’s words. Back in the bullpen, everyone stared. I silently packed my things. Rex sneered. “See? That’s right. Listen to advice. Go on, Bella, take your seat.” Bella let out a contemptuous laugh and walked up to me quickly. “Senior, I heard you’re the top sales rep. Please teach me. Oh, right… I’m curious, is the status of a top rep really this low?” I paused, looking at Bella suspiciously. Based on her earlier “I can sit anywhere,” I thought she was just a timid newbie afraid of offending a veteran. Turns out she’s a “nepo baby” too. Seeing Rex crush me so easily, she instantly grew a backbone. I smiled and nodded. “Sure, ask anytime.” Bella’s lips curved slightly. She gave a mock-polite bow. Then she pulled out the chair and sat down hard. “Wow, this chair is comfy. Senior Arthur, you’re not taking this chair, are you?” Her voice was loud. A declaration of status to the entire department. 8 The department was dead silent all morning, save for typing sounds. The group chat was exploding. [Arthur, are you stupid? Fighting him won’t end well!] [Hey, do you think Bella is sleeping with the dog supervisor? So arrogant on day one!] [Working under this trash… why bother? Quiet quitting time!] I replied: [Don’t be negative. I bet he’s gone within a week.] [The Prophet speaks! Arthur’s predictions have come true before. Hope this one does too!] It will. Let’s see how long he can dance. … In the afternoon, a delivery guy brought an AC unit/heater. He asked for me, saying the GM sent it. I pointed to the spot next to me. “Install it there.” My colleagues’ expressions were priceless. “Whoa, looks like Arthur has the GM’s favor too! Personal AC!” “I believe the prophecy now! Hahaha!” They taunted Bella with their looks. Bella glared at me venomously and went straight to the supervisor’s office. Moments later, Rex arrived. The workers were unpacking the unit. “Wait. What is this?” Rex marched over. The worker said the GM ordered it for me. Rex immediately barked: “No! Who approved unauthorized equipment in my department?” “I have a layout plan! Do you think this is a flea market? Doing whatever you want?” “Arthur Reed, you think you’re big? Snitching to the GM to get an AC? I’m fining you $1,000!” 9 The office erupted in noise. The workers stopped, calling the GM. The GM arrived, frowning, and pulled Rex aside. We could see Rex throwing a tantrum, waving his arms. The GM just kept sighing. After a full thirty minutes, the GM waved his hand helplessly. “Fine, take it back. Don’t install it.” Just as the workers moved, I stood up. I walked over to the GM. “Manager, I gave you face by moving desks.” The GM looked helpless. “That guy is stubborn. I really can’t do anything.” “No, you might have misunderstood. I said I gave you face by moving. Now, you don’t need to worry about this.” I turned to the workers. “Install it!” 10 “I dare you!” Rex stormed back, shocked. “Arthur Reed, are you born defiant? Do you not understand English? I said no!” “You don’t listen to the supervisor, now you don’t listen to the GM?” “No discipline. I think people like this should be fired,” Bella rolled her eyes and commented blandly. I asked, “Are you qualified to speak?” “What did you say?!” “You’ve been here one day. Do you have a say? What, is your background strong too?” I emphasized “too.” Rex panted, turning to the GM. “Manager, you see this? How can we manage a guy like this? Just fire him!” “I can’t make that call,” the GM said. “The Chairman specifically ordered that any personnel changes regarding Arthur must go through him.” “Oh? Interesting. Fine, if that’s the case, I’ll make the call.” Rex pulled out his phone and put it on speaker. “Hello, Cousin… uh, Chairman Zhao. This is Rex. We have an employee named Arthur Reed who insists on installing an AC at his desk because of ‘leg pain’…” [Install it! You don’t need to ask me about this, isn’t the GM there? Just install it. Two if one isn’t enough. His leg was injured.] The Chairman cut him off before he could finish. Not only validating me but implying Rex overstepped. Why call him when the GM is right there? 11 The office went deathly silent. My colleagues’ eyes were wide. Bella looked like she swallowed a fly. “What are you waiting for? Install it,” the GM broke the silence. He coughed and said to Rex: “Rex, follow the chain of command next time. This is a warning.” The GM strode away. Rex gritted his teeth and retreated to his office, defeated. Bella’s arrogance vanished. She didn’t dare look at me. In the group chat: [Arthur’s “Install it!” was so cool!] [Even the Chairman protects Arthur. That dog supervisor is toast!] 12 The AC was installed. That afternoon, Rex issued a memo. Department staff must wear formal attire. Strict brand requirements. Minimum cost per outfit: $10,000. This sparked outrage. $10,000 is a huge sum for most people. Many considered quitting. I messaged the group: “Wear whatever you want. He’s targeting me. I’ll take the heat.” The next day, I wore the most basic suit imaginable. Rex, as predicted, blocked me at the door.

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After the story’s grand finale, I arrived fashionably late, transmigrating into the wealthy, vicious young lady of the novel. I raised my arms and cheered on the spot: “Poor for twenty-two years, suddenly striking it rich! Tonight, I’m custom-ordering a massive gold bracelet, just like a baller!” Excited heart, trembling hands. When I checked my phone balance, there was only twenty bucks left. A subscription renewal instantly deducted nineteen. Only then did it hit me. Because I was obsessed with the male lead and repeatedly framed the female lead, my family had been suppressed by the male lead until we went bankrupt. When it was time to enjoy the wealthy young lady’s life, I missed out. Bankrupt, broke, and here I am. The scorching sun made me dizzy. I fiercely threw away a half-eaten cheap hot dog and decisively threw myself in front of the male lead’s car. Ear-piercing brakes sounded. After descending from the sky, I poked my gnashing face out from the landscaping: “Hey, handsome.” “Driving skills improved, huh?” “Sent me flying twenty feet in one breath.” 1 The doors of the Rolls-Royce opened, and the male and female leads, covered in designer brands from head to toe, appeared before me. Noble and elegant. Forming a sharp contrast with my wretched state. The female lead, Chloe, looking like an obedient, fragile little white flower, covered her mouth and deliberately acted surprised: “Miss Sterling? Why are you dressed so shabbily?” Then she lifted her haute couture skirt, intending to step into the landscaping to admire my miserable state. I yelled: “Don’t come closer!” This is a crime scene, you can’t destroy it randomly. Otherwise, it’ll affect the subsequent compensation issues. Chloe’s extended hand trembled. She hesitantly pulled it back, her eyes turning red in an instant: “I know, Miss Sterling hates me and still misses Arthur.” “But we are truly in love, and we are already together.” The contempt on Arthur Vance’s face couldn’t be suppressed: “Mia Sterling, it seems your family going bankrupt wasn’t enough to teach you a lesson.” “What trick do you want to play on Chloe now?” 2 When did I ever deal with this little white flower, Chloe? It was only when she clearly knew I was engaged to Arthur, yet still acted naive, bringing breakfast to her boss rain or shine. I slapped her. When Arthur picked me up to go to his family’s estate, she sat securely in the passenger seat, smiling and saying she got carsick and didn’t want to sit in the back. I opened the passenger door and dragged her out. When the two accidentally rolled onto the same bed, she cried and said she had loved Arthur for a long time. As the male lead’s fiancée, I kicked her out of the company. How is this vicious? It’s clearly an act of justice on behalf of heaven. In this domineering CEO and his little wife novel. As long as you don’t follow the male and female leads’ wishes, you’ll be branded as vicious. Arthur couldn’t be bothered to look at me, obviously taking my act of blocking his car as my obsession with him. He put his arm around Chloe and turned to leave. The Rolls-Royce gradually moved away, becoming a phantom. Only then did I unhurriedly take out my phone and dial three numbers: “Hello, 911?” “Someone hit me with their car, got out, arrogantly scolded me, and then committed a hit-and-run!” 3 In the police station, Arthur, who had returned, sat on the side with a grim face. The young police officer couldn’t help but reprimand him: “You’re a grown man, how could you hit someone and run?” “You have money to drive a Rolls-Royce, but no money to compensate the victim?” “Do you know that a hit-and-run can lead to detention or even jail time!” I timely covered my forehead: “I’m so dizzy, I want to throw up.” The male lead’s face could no longer be described as just ugly. He stared at me gloomily, squeezing words through his teeth: “Mia Sterling, you think doing this will make me look at you one more time?” The young police officer couldn’t bear it: “Hey, turn your head around. You don’t need to look at her, look at this settlement agreement in my hand first.” “If Miss Sterling doesn’t sign it, you’re going to jail!” 4 Arthur was slightly stunned. Obviously, he hadn’t realized the severity of a hit-and-run. He tried to defend himself: “She did it on purpose for extortion.” “Are there cameras in that alley?” “…No.” “Do you have a dashcam?” “…It’s broken.” The dashcam naturally couldn’t be checked. The book wrote it. The male lead’s dashcam just happened to break, and he hadn’t had time to replace it. Arthur is a company CEO. If he goes to jail, tomorrow the stock price will plummet through the floor, and the board of directors will jointly fire him. Seeing no room for maneuver, his face tightened: “Mia Sterling, how much compensation do you want to sign the agreement?” I rubbed my head: “My head hurts so much.” “Five thousand.” “My skull seems to have comminuted fractures.” “Fifty thousand.” “How about I stay in the hospital for three to five years?” “Half a million, that should be enough!” This huge number hit my head, making me dizzy. I stood up and bowed slightly: “Boss is generous, I’ll sign immediately.” “If there are such good things like hit-and-runs in the future, remember to call me.” 5 As night fell, I dragged myself back to the urban village. Although I was fully prepared for that hit, finding the right angle to fly into the landscaping to cushion the blow. My body was still covered in bruises. Since the family went bankrupt, the once endlessly glamorous eldest young lady became a rat crossing the street. The sycophantic friends around her disappeared, and the properties under her name were all auctioned off. She could only rent in a cramped urban village. The down-and-out life the eldest young lady avoided like the plague was the life I desperately wanted before transmigrating. Before transmigrating, I was an orphan. Stumbling all the way to get into a top university. At the same beautiful age. Others recklessly enjoyed their youth. While I carried a woven bag, picking through every trash can at school. Working hard to gather money for next month’s living expenses. Until I died in a car accident and came to this world. I carried a bag of recyclables slowly upstairs. Having been poor for so many years, no matter where I go, I’ll pick up some cardboard and water bottles along the way. Save them up to sell for money. Life is not easy; every bit of subsidy counts. But the competition in this barrier-free track is fierce. My spoils today were not many. At the end of the dim stairs, a man with sharp features stood at my door. His aura was low and oppressive. Upon seeing me, he coldly spat out a sentence: “Mia Sterling, your family going bankrupt didn’t teach you a lesson. You’re still lingering around Arthur like a ghost, making Chloe sad for a long time today.” “If you don’t go apologize to her, don’t blame me for not being polite to you.” 6 I tried hard to search through the dusty memories in my brain. Only then did I match this face with a name. He is the childhood friend who grew up with me. Also the infatuated second male lead in the book, Leo. Before the female lead appeared, Leo and I were as close as siblings, and Arthur and I were a famous loving couple. But after the poor little white flower female lead appeared, in our former trio, my position was replaced by the female lead, Chloe. Leaving only me standing in place, stubbornly clinging to past memories, unable to extricate myself. I lazily lifted my eyelids and swept a glance at him. Pausing at his waist. I thought, I’m really crazy from poverty. Looking at people, I subconsciously look at their kidneys first. Seeing I didn’t respond, Leo couldn’t help but raise his voice: “Mia Sterling, did you hear what I’m saying—” “Give it to me.” I interrupted. He was stunned, hesitating: “Give you what?” I cleanly snatched the Evian bottle from his hand. Poured the unfinished water into a flowerpot, then skillfully crushed it flat and tossed it into the woven bag behind me. After doing all this, I wiped the sweat beads: “What did you say just now?” Leo moved his gaze away with difficulty, becoming aggressive again: “Chloe found your lipstick in Arthur’s pocket, she cried so hard she almost fainted.” “Why are you so vicious, always standing between them, disgusting everyone.” 7 Leo probably forgot. I am the male lead’s true fiancée. Arthur and I had been engaged since our teens. Because of the engagement, when the Vance family’s capital chain broke, it was the Sterling family that raised a large sum of money to help him tide over the crisis. But when the female lead appeared, everything turned upside down. With teary eyes, she stood stubbornly in front of me and questioned: “Miss Sterling, why must you use money to tear Arthur and me apart?” “We are the ones truly in love.” Arthur’s wavering heart completely lost balance, staring at me ruthlessly: “Except for her background, Chloe is better than you in every way.” The Sterling family’s bankruptcy came swiftly. My parents couldn’t bear the blow and passed away one after another. I deliberately put the lipstick there when I left the police station. To cause a fight between the male and female leads. If not for these two crazy people, I would have transmigrated as the eldest young lady of the Sterling family. Just a little bit. I could have lived a life with both parents, money, and love. Cutting off my wealth is like digging up my ancestral graves. The money that belongs to me. I will definitely get it all back, principal and interest. I met Leo’s angry eyes: “How do you know Chloe cried so hard she almost fainted?” He gritted his teeth: “Chloe argued with Arthur and ran out, nowhere to go, could only come to my place.” “Do you know, she cried so much she couldn’t speak a complete sentence, and held onto my sleeve tightly, not letting me come find trouble with you.” Didn’t let him come, but didn’t he still come? Truly an infatuated second male lead. When the female lead is happy, he watches from the sidelines. When the female lead is in trouble, he’s the first to step up. The book once said, Leo is Chloe’s eternal regret in her heart, the unattainable after she chose the male lead for life. I don’t get it. Since it’s such a regret. Why not just let the female lead start a harem and take Leo in as a boy toy? Schedule their nights, spread the rain and dew evenly. That should smooth over all the female lead’s regrets, right? Leo stepped forward and grabbed my wrist: “Mia Sterling, you must come with me to apologize to Chloe today.” 8 He’s completely unhinged. Like the cheap takeout orders I used to get. Mixed with poisonous mushrooms. I unhurriedly broke free from his grip and put away the woven bag in my hand. Pointing to the dilapidated, mottled building behind me. “Do you know where this is?” Leo looked down from his high horse, speaking slowly: “Isn’t this just the urban village.” “You are no longer the aloof eldest young lady of the Sterling family. Living here is the price you pay for constantly bullying Chloe.” I nodded in reassurance. To deal with someone, you must first drag them down to your level, then defeat them with rich life experience. Like ordering takeout, Leo’s coupons will never inflate as high as mine. In the dim stairwell, I lowered my eyes, gathering momentum, and delivered a flying kick to the unguarded Leo. An earth-shattering scream echoed through the stairwell. He tumbled down the stairs miserably, his left leg hitting the hard concrete slab, yelling in pain, veins popping on his forehead. Soon oozing a thin layer of sweat. The voice-activated lights lit up in response. Illuminating my proud, disdainful eyes. An extremely calm voice reached his ears: “Leo, you need to understand.” “In the stairwells of the urban village, the cameras are all broken!” 9 A wailing ambulance took Leo away. Before being loaded into the vehicle, I heard the infatuated second male lead’s hysterical, pain-enduring roar: “Mia Sterling, just you wait!” I lay back on the narrow bed in the dark, cramped urban village, staring at a yellow stain on the ceiling, carefully recalling the plot of the book. After I moved to this urban village, the whole book had drawn a perfect period. The male and female leads lived happily together, about to hold a grand wedding, envied by all. The infatuated second male lead, though regretful, became the eternal pain in the hearts of millions of readers. The vicious female supporting character got her deserved retribution, satisfying everyone. The villain who went against the male lead was also thoroughly trampled into the mud, unable to turn over and do evil again. The author’s ink abruptly stopped here. No one knows what will happen after a perfectly concluded story. I viciously took a bite of the newly bought cheap hot dog. Focusing my thoughts on the villain. In this world. I clearly did nothing wrong, but defending my rights was branded as vicious, becoming cannon fodder dealt with by everyone. And the villain only competed fairly with the male lead in the business world, yet bore the name of being sinister and was wantonly trampled into the mud by the male lead. I threw the hot dog in my hand, quickly pulled out the villain’s personal information in my mind, and took a cab to the infatuated second male lead’s home. As night fell, in the brightly lit old mansion, Leo’s leg was already cast in a thick layer of plaster. His tall body was fixed in a small wheelchair. His face was pale; he looked like he could turn into a zombie at any moment. Upon seeing me, his face showed ferocity: “Mia Sterling, it’s useless for you to come apologize now.” “I originally thought we had known each other for twenty years, and I would let you off the hook, letting you spend the rest of your life safely in the urban village.” “Now it seems, you will never change your vicious nature!” I stretched my neck and looked behind him: “Who said I came to apologize?” “I just heard your leg was broken, specially bought some fruits your brother likes to see him.” “By the way, where is your brother?”

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1 After pulling a 38-hour shift, I found myself transmigrated into a cheesy romance novel—as the doomed sister of the devoted second male lead. In the novel, my brother not only pines after the popular female lead for years, but he also drains the family fortune for her. In the end, he even sacrifices himself to save the male lead, earning nothing but a few worthless tears from the girl. The moment my brother dies, the original owner of this body, a pampered heiress, is instantly orphaned. Targeted by the female lead’s admirers, she ends up destitute on the streets, freezing to death. What a joke. I spent twenty years utterly alone in the real world. There’s no way I’m letting this ridiculously handsome and wealthy brother of mine walk the same tragic path. I swear on my life, I will protect my golden goose of a brother! So when the female lead, her eyes red-rimmed, holds my brother’s black card and says to him with deep emotion, “Alistair, why did you take so long to get here…” I dash forward and flash Penelope a sweet smile. “Don’t be sad, Penelope. My brother was late, it’s not like he died young!” “So, does this mean your boyfriend’s black card isn’t activated for you yet?” … Penelope, who had been crying dramatically in my brother’s arms, freezes mid-sob. She whips her head around to look at Alistair. My brother is stunned by my words. He slowly pushes her away, his eyes filled with a new kind of scrutiny and doubt. “Penelope… are you and Conrad together?” Penelope clearly didn’t see that coming. Her expression flickers for a second before she adopts a look of tragic, romantic indecision. “Alistair, has your sister misunderstood me?” “It’s true that Conrad has been pursuing me,” she says, her shoulders trembling with a perfectly pitched, nasal tone. “But I haven’t made up my mind. He’s not as thoughtful and gentle as you are.” Her whole masterclass in manipulation sets off alarm bells in my head. Seeing the softened look in my brother’s eyes, I can practically hear the sound of money flying away again. “That’s not right, Penelope,” I cut in, swiftly derailing her pity party. “Didn’t you and Conrad make it official last night?” As I speak, I snatch her phone with a playfully innocent expression. I quickly find a specific post on her Instagram and shove it in Alistair’s face with a naive grin. “Silly brother, look! You missed it! You didn’t get to congratulate them!” It was a post Penelope made last night. The photo showed two hands, fingers intertwined under candlelight. The caption was pure saccharine bait: [After all this time, I’m so lucky to have finally found you.] Of course, Alistair could never have seen this post. Penelope had long since put him on a restricted list. After my performance, I clap a hand over my mouth as if I’ve just realized my mistake. “Oh! Did I say the wrong thing?” Alistair’s face turns to stone. He stares at the two entwined hands on the screen, his eyes slowly turning red. His voice is hoarse when he finally confronts Penelope. “Why did you block me from seeing this?” “What am I to you?” Penelope shoots me a venomous glare before scrambling to do damage control. “Alistair, I blocked you because I care about you so much! I was afraid it would hurt you to see it…” “Wow, you’re so thoughtful, Penelope!” I say, looking at her with wide-eyed admiration. “Since you’re so considerate, you definitely won’t be asking my brother for money anymore, right? I mean, what if Conrad found out? He might get the wrong idea and think there’s something going on between you two.” My words land like a punch to the gut. Alistair’s expression darkens even further. He coldly plucks his credit card from Penelope’s hand. “I’m sorry, Penelope. If you’re in trouble, you should ask Conrad. I’m afraid I can’t help you.” Penelope bites her lip. She’s always maintained an image of a pure, independent woman in front of Conrad, turning down his lavish gifts only because she had my brother as a personal, bottomless ATM. Now that I’ve shattered that illusion, how can she keep up her “I’m-above-money” act? She opens her mouth, ready to try again. I immediately link my arm with Alistair’s. “Brother, let’s go. You two were just wrapped around each other. What if someone starts a rumor that you’re the other man?” The phrase “the other man” stabs Alistair right where it hurts. He nods, his voice weary. “Penelope, we should probably see less of each other from now on. To avoid any… misunderstandings.” Without another glance at her, he pulls me into his car. But I know this is just the beginning. A main character like her has the tenacious life force of a cockroach. Sure enough, late that night, the phone in the Sterling family mansion rings. 2 Alistair picks up the phone. It’s Penelope, her voice a small, whimpering plea for help from the other end. She claims she’s being harassed by thugs at a bar, trapped and unable to leave. She begs him to come and save her. The moment he hears her crying, Alistair’s reason goes offline. He hangs up and rushes for the door. “Vivi, Penelope’s in trouble! I have to go check on her. Lock the doors and stay safe!” Of course, I don’t resort to crying or faking a sprained ankle to stop him. For a top-tier manipulator like me, such tactics are amateur hour. I launch myself at my brother, clinging to him like a koala. “I’m going too! I have to help Penelope!” The moment we enter the club, I spot her. Penelope, looking fragile and helpless in a corner booth, her hand being forcefully held by a devilishly handsome man. Before I can even assess the situation, my brainless brother charges forward and shoves the man. “Let her go!” The man explodes in anger, jabbing a finger in Alistair’s face. “Who the hell are you?” Alistair, his sense of justice at an all-time high, puffs out his chest. “I’m Penelope’s friend! You’re harassing a woman in public! You want me to call the cops on you?” “Harassing?” The man scoffs, a humorless laugh escaping his lips. “Me, harassing her?” Penelope flinches, her teary eyes meeting Alistair’s. “Alistair, I want to go. I want to go home.” Alistair puts a protective arm around her, glaring at the other man. “Don’t be afraid, Penelope. Let’s go!” The man, now furious, blocks their path. “Penelope, did I say you could leave?” Alistair’s temper flares, and he looks ready to throw a punch. “You scum! And you say you’re not harassing her!” Seriously, bro? You think you’re Bruce Lee? Why are you always ready to fight? I throw myself onto Alistair’s arm, internally screaming. Alistair Sterling! You traded ten lifetimes of common sense for one lifetime of god-tier looks! Is that it? Were you reborn as a beautiful, brainless Ragdoll cat? I quickly bat my eyelashes, turning an innocent gaze on the man. “Excuse me, sir. You know Penelope, right?” The enraged man is momentarily thrown off by my question. “Of course I know her! She’s the one who asked me to meet her here tonight. Now she wants to leave after less than half an hour?” Penelope’s sobs stop abruptly. She looks at me with pure terror in her eyes. Alistair is also frozen. “Penelope, you know him?” She starts to panic, trying to explain. “Alistair, it’s… I…” I don’t give her the chance. I keep pressing. “Sir, I just figured since you knew her name, you must be friends. See how worried my brother is? He thought you were some kind of creep!” Now it’s my brother and the other man’s turn to be stunned. The man’s eyes narrow as he seems to finally understand. He glares at Penelope. “Penelope, so you’ve been telling people I’m harassing you? That I’m a creep?” My brother, completely lost, mutters to himself, “So… you weren’t being harassed? You know him?” Penelope is cornered. Facing two men she can no longer fool, she starts spouting nonsense. “No! Marco, listen to me!” “Alistair, you’ve misunderstood! Actually…” Just then, a commotion erupts at the edge of the crowd. “What’s all this noise?” “Nobody move! Police!” A group of uniformed officers storms in, quickly taking control of the scene. I hide behind Alistair, a barely perceptible smile playing on my lips. Sorry, everyone. I wasn’t just standing around. I took the liberty of making a quick call. The reason? A report of a public disturbance involving illegal activities and women being forced to drink with clients at a certain club. With my future-vision, I had to get my brother and the Sterling family out of this mess. After all, if my brother made an enemy of a mob boss’s son this early in the game, the Sterling family would be in danger. And my Porsche, my Hermès bags, my gold chains and fancy watches, would all be in danger. 3 The police took all of us down to the station for questioning. The officer in charge of my statement slams his hand on the table. “Who called this in? Who reported a public disturbance and illegal activities?” I raise my hand timidly, my voice barely a whisper. “Officer, it was me.” The cop gives me a skeptical look, his brow furrowed. “Do you have any idea what the penalty is for filing a false report, young lady? This looks like a simple lover’s quarrel.” I blink, my face a perfect mask of innocence and fear. “No, officer, it’s not! I heard Penelope on the phone with my brother… she said they wouldn’t let her leave unless she drank with them…” I lower my head, twisting my fingers together as fat tears begin to fall. “I was so scared. I was scared for Penelope. And I was even more scared for my brother.” The officer’s expression softens slightly. “Alright, alright. Even though it was a misunderstanding, you’ve given us a reason to keep a closer eye on this place.” He then turns to lecture Penelope, telling her to sort out her romantic entanglements and not cause public disturbances by two-timing men. His words make Penelope’s face flush with a mixture of shame and anger. In the end, it’s Conrad who comes to pick her up. I don’t know what lies Penelope sobbed to him, but after he helps her into his car, he pulls up right in front of us. He rolls down the window, his gaze cold and menacing as it lands on me. “Vivienne Sterling, is it?” he says, his voice dripping with venom. “I’ll remember what happened tonight.” With that, his Maybach roars away. Alistair just stands there, watching them go, looking completely lost. I internally flip him the bird. So this is the novel’s famous tyrant CEO? The one who’s supposed to be so intimidating? He’s nothing compared to my brother. I turn and tug fearfully on Alistair’s sleeve. “Brother… should I not have called the police?” That snaps him out of it. He reaches out and ruffles my hair fondly. “It’s okay, Vivi. None of this is your fault.” He sighs, pulling me into a hug. “It’s for the best. Now I see things more clearly. Penelope… she has someone else to protect her now.” I thought the drama was over for the night. But at three in the morning, Penelope posts to her private Instagram story, visible only to Alistair. A photo of her wrist, with beads of blood welling up. The caption is pure melodrama: [This world is so cold. Only pain makes me feel alive. If no one cares about me, maybe I should just disappear.] Los Angeles at 4:30 AM might not have seen it, but my dear brother certainly did. Once again, he starts pacing anxiously in the living room in the middle of the night. I hear him and quickly emerge from my bedroom. “Brother,” I call out softly. “Are you worried about Penelope?” While he’s still processing, I rush over and wrap my arms around his waist. “I was so scared today, brother,” I whisper, my voice thick with fake tears. “Conrad’s eyes were so fierce. Does he think I was bullying Penelope?” “Brother, did I cause trouble for our family?” “But I was just so scared something would happen to you. You’re the only family I have left.” “Mom and Dad are gone. If something happens to you too, how am I supposed to go on…?” The more I “cry,” the more genuine my sadness becomes. The loneliness from my past life bubbles to the surface. I thought I had just found a golden ticket, a meal plan for life. But after these past few days, I’ve realized how gentle, handsome, and kind he truly is. He shouldn’t be a mere sacrifice for the main characters’ grand love story. Why should he have to be a supporting character in someone else’s life? Alistair feels the small, trembling body in his arms. After a long moment, he gently hugs me back. “Vivi was so scared today,” he murmurs, his voice filled with self-reproach. “I promise you,” he says, his tone firm. “Brother will never, ever let an outsider scare my Vivi again.” 4 I knew it. That main character plot armor was a relentless beast. I don’t know what new manipulative trick Penelope pulled, but in the following weeks, her relationship with the tyrant CEO, Conrad, progressed at lightning speed. Their public displays of affection became headline news. And my brother? My big, beautiful Ragdoll cat was, of course, utterly heartbroken. But Penelope, the master manipulator, wasn’t done. While busy making headlines with her new beau, she would send late-night texts to my brother. [If only he understood me the way you do. But there are no ‘if onlys’ in love.] [Maybe when I’ve finally lost all hope, I’ll realize how precious the one who was always by my side truly is.] And so, my kind, foolish brother, despite having cold water thrown in his face time and time again, still held onto a sliver of hope for her. Meanwhile, Conrad continued to target our family. Fueled by Penelope’s constant lies and crocodile tears, he was convinced that my brother was relentlessly stalking his girlfriend, and that I, the bratty little sister, was intentionally slandering the love of his life. To get revenge for Penelope, the unhinged CEO used his influence to freeze the Sterling Group’s liquid assets. He even sent a message to Alistair: the funds would only be released when Penelope was happy. After two days with no response, Conrad had the audacity to show up at our house, Penelope in tow. He sat on our sofa, looking down his nose at my brother. After a long silence, he sneered. “Alistair Sterling, you need to know your place. Do you really think you’re worthy of Penelope?” “And as for your sister…” He tapped a lazy rhythm on the armrest. “So young, yet so vicious. Spreading malicious rumors and ruining Penelope’s reputation.” “Now, have your sister get on her knees and kowtow to Penelope a hundred times. Do that, and the thirty million will be in your account immediately.” Veins bulged on Alistair’s forehead. He shot to his feet, roaring, “Conrad! Don’t you dare go too far! This is business! Come after me! Why are you dragging my sister into this?” Penelope gently tugged on Conrad’s arm, her eyes full of pity as she looked at Alistair. “Alistair, don’t blame him. Vivienne was out of line this time.” “As long as Vivi admits she called the police on purpose to hurt me that night at the club, Conrad will stop making things difficult for the Sterling family. After all,” she added, her voice dripping with false concern, “hundreds of Sterling employees are waiting for their paychecks. We can’t let them all starve just to save one person’s pride, can we?” I stood on the stairs, watching my brother’s trembling back, and thought to myself: Brother, sometimes you have to break to rebuild. You need to take this bitter medicine today. I descended the stairs, one step at a time, and walked directly to Penelope. A flash of triumph crossed her face. She straightened her back, waiting for me to kneel. I let out a soft laugh, my eyes suddenly sharp and cold. “Apologize?” “The Sterlings do not bend the knee!” Before anyone could react, I snatched a fruit knife from the coffee table. With a swift, unhesitating motion, I plunged it into my own chest. Blood sprayed instantly, splattering across Penelope’s face and dress. She screamed, collapsing into Conrad’s arms. As I fell into a pool of my own “blood,” I looked at Alistair’s face, twisted in horror. I gasped for air, my voice weak. “An apology is impossible, Conrad. So take my life instead. You can have it in exchange for the money…” “After all, Penelope’s dress is dirty now. Only my blood… is enough to pay for it.” Alistair lost his mind. He shoved the still-screaming Penelope aside and scrambled to my side, pressing his hands desperately against my wound. “Vivi! Vivi, don’t you scare me! Somebody call an ambulance! Call an ambulance, now!” The last thing I saw before I closed my eyes was the faint smile on my own lips. Silly brother. The blood packet I rigged looks pretty realistic, right? The show is just getting started.

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Mom went to the hospital for a check-up. When she came back, she often cried over a piece of paper. I secretly took that paper to Dad. Dad tore it to shreds, roaring at her, “How long are you going to keep up this ‘playing sick’ act? Are you using our child now too?” He slammed the door and left. I crawled into bed and hugged Mom, crying, “Mommy, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have gone to Daddy.” Mom said nothing. She just wiped away my tears and smiled gently at me. Later, Mom really died. And my father, the aloof CEO who never loved her, held her lifeless body, crying like a madman. 1 Mom hadn’t spoken to me for a long time. No matter what I said to her, she ignored me. I could only curl up on the sofa by myself, playing with my building blocks. When I was hungry, I’d eat snacks and fruit from the fridge. I really wanted to call Dad. But Mom’s phone was dead. After I charged it and turned it on, it asked for a password. I didn’t know Mom’s password. So, I just waited for Dad to call us. But in my heart, I knew. Dad wouldn’t call us. He didn’t want us anymore. He had been living with Aunt Serena. The last time I saw him was when he brought Aunt Serena’s daughter, Bethany, to our kindergarten sports day. Seeing him, I was so excited. I hadn’t seen Daddy in such a long, long time. I wanted to rush over and yell, “Daddy! Daddy!” But Mom pulled me back. She said, “Sweetheart, that’s not your daddy. You’re mistaken.” How could that be? That was my daddy. I couldn’t be mistaken. I still wanted to call out, but Mom picked me up and carried me to a quiet corner. I huddled in her arms, watching Daddy hold Bethany the whole time. He wiped her sweat, gave her water, and tore open a chocolate bar, feeding it into her mouth. When Bethany fell and scraped her knee, Daddy immediately ran over, checked her injury, and asked tenderly, “Does it hurt? Come on, let me blow on it, make the boo-boos fly away.” Bethany wailed, stretching her arms out to my daddy. “It hurts! Hug me! I want a hug!” Daddy picked her up. He gently wiped the tears from her face with his finger, whispering comforting words to her. I heard him say he was taking her for a hamburger. I understood. I was mistaken. That wasn’t my daddy. 2 My daddy rarely hugged me. He had never taken me for a hamburger. Once, I fell on the street, and I couldn’t help it, tears just streamed down my face. I looked at Daddy pitifully, reaching out my hands, timidly saying, “Hug.” I saw him frown, then turn to Mom. “How do you raise your daughter? Crying over every little thing. Children shouldn’t be so delicate.” I didn’t understand Daddy’s words. But I could tell he was scolding Mom. Was it because I fell? Or because I cried? I quickly wiped away my tears, gritted my teeth against the pain, and stood up by myself. I walked in front of Mom, spread my arms, and shielded her. “I don’t hurt, I don’t hurt at all, Daddy, please don’t scold Mom anymore, please.” Daddy glanced at me, said nothing, and turned away. I looked up at Mom, wanting her to praise me. Tears welled in her eyes. She pinched my cheek and said, “I’m sorry, my precious, Mommy has failed you.” My teacher taught us that only those who do wrong need to say “I’m sorry.” I shook my head and said very seriously, “Mommy, you’re not sorry.” Because the one who did wrong was never my mommy. 3 My daddy rarely came home. Every time he did, he would argue with Mom. The last time he came home, I had gotten a gold star at kindergarten, and Mom rewarded me by buying me a hamburger. The moment Daddy opened the door, he swept all the hamburgers off the table. “I’m not home, and you feed her this junk food every day? Is this how you take care of our daughter?” I was terrified, hugging Mom and crying. Mom gently wiped away my tears, telling me not to be scared. She said, “You misunderstood, this is just…” “I don’t need to hear your explanations.” Daddy was very impatient, cutting Mom off. He threw a thick document at Mom and said, “Here’s the divorce agreement. Take a look, just sign it.” “This house is yours, the car is yours, the child…” “I want our child!” Mom hugged me tightly. She gripped my shoulders, and it hurt a little. But I didn’t struggle, because I could feel Mom’s fingers trembling. She must have been very scared. I hugged Mom back, very tightly, wanting to give her strength. “Your house, your car, your money—I can give it all up. I only want Skylar. She is my daughter.” Daddy stared at her for a moment, then suddenly laughed. It was a cold, uncomfortable laugh. “Eleanor Montgomery, what new trick have you learned now? Playing the doting mother, using the child to threaten me?” A rare flicker of anger crossed Mom’s usually gentle face. She turned her head away, not looking at Daddy. “I’m not threatening you. I just want my daughter.” “What would our daughter do with you? Eat this junk food every day?” I didn’t understand what they were talking about. But I knew what divorce meant. Sam, a boy from kindergarten, told us his mom and dad divorced, and he lived with his daddy. Some naughty children teased him, “Your mommy doesn’t want you anymore! You don’t have a mommy!” Sam cried terribly. I offered him a piece of taffy that Mom had tucked into my pocket. I comforted him, “Don’t cry. Your mommy won’t abandon you.” But he cried even harder, yelling, “They divorced! They don’t want me anymore! I don’t have a mommy or daddy anymore!” I was scared by him. And I started crying too. Now, I remembered that. I burst into tears. “I don’t want you to divorce! I want my mommy and daddy! I want my mommy and daddy!” Mom was heartbroken. She cried with me, holding me tight. Daddy froze, then grew even angrier, his brows furrowed in impatience. “Eleanor Montgomery, what nonsense are you teaching her every day? So many schemes at such a young age. Do you think using the child to control me will stop me from divorcing you?” Mom looked up, her face filled with an anger I’d never seen before. “Richard Reed, I forbid you to speak about my daughter like that! Apologize to my daughter!” “What ‘your’ daughter? Eleanor Montgomery, I will absolutely not let our daughter stay with you. Don’t dream about it.” Once again, Daddy slammed the door and left. 4 Mom’s phone rang. It was Daddy. I ran over, wanting to pick it up. It only rang once before he hung up. I gently shook Mom in bed. “Mommy! It’s Daddy’s call! Daddy’s coming for us!” Mom didn’t react. That’s right. Every time Daddy came home, he argued with Mom. It was only natural that she didn’t like him coming back. I tucked Mom in properly. Then I sat obediently on the sofa, waiting for Daddy to come home. Daddy arrived very quickly. The key turned in the lock. I stood up impatiently and ran to the door. Daddy opened it, saw me, and paused. “Where’s your mom?” “Mommy’s in the room…” “Never mind. I have nothing to say to her anyway. Skylar, go change your clothes and come out with me.” “Daddy…” I couldn’t stop him. He was already at the elevator, smoking a cigarette. Mom hated the smell of smoke. Daddy never smoked inside the house. Before, when his friends came over, he would always make them go outside to smoke. “Go outside to smoke, my wife can’t stand the smell.” At times like that, his friends would laugh and say, “Richard really spoils his wife, doesn’t he?” “Yes, I envy Eleanor.” And Mom would always blush, saying, “It’s fine, just smoke inside, don’t make them go out.” Daddy would put his arm around Mom’s waist, stop her, and kiss her. “Don’t worry about them, let them go outside. Let’s see who dares to smoke in front of my wife.” They had once been very much in love. What broke all of that? Was it me? Was it because I always clamored for hamburgers? Was it because I always cried over the smallest things? Was it because I wouldn’t let them divorce? Was it because I wanted to fight Bethany for Daddy? Was it my fault? Was that why Daddy hated Mom? Mommy, I’m sorry. It seems I messed everything up. 5 I couldn’t pull up the zipper on my dress. I patted Mom on the bed. “Mommy, help me zip it up. I can’t reach.” Mom still didn’t respond to me. Was I too disobedient? Now, even Mom didn’t want me anymore? I felt a little scared and didn’t dare wear that white dress. I changed into another outfit. When I walked out of the house, Daddy saw me and frowned. “How does your mother take care of you? Doesn’t she know to buy you new clothes?” No. It’s not like that. Mommy is very good to me. I just couldn’t wear that dress. I screamed this inside my head. But I didn’t dare say a word. I was afraid that if I spoke, Daddy would dislike me even more. Daddy took me to kindergarten. The teacher was happy to see Daddy. When she saw me, her expression was a little strange. “Hello, Miss Albright. Could you please call Bethany Hastings out?” “Certainly, Mr. Reed. One moment, please.” Bethany came out quickly. Seeing my daddy, she was delighted, skipping over and throwing herself into his arms. “Daddy!” I quietly took a step back. My daddy patted her cheek and said, “Good girl.” When he looked at me, his smile vanished. His face hardened. “Skylar Reed, did you fight Bethany?” “No, I didn’t.” I shook my head. It wasn’t a fight. I just snatched her hairpin. “Still lying?” Daddy frowned, his voice much colder. “Is this how your mother teaches you? Bullying other children and then lying, not daring to admit it? You disappoint me greatly.” I didn’t understand what Daddy meant. But I could deeply feel that he disliked me very much now. My nose stung, and I felt like crying again, but then I heard him roar at me. “Don’t you dare cry!” “Crying over every little thing! How can you be my daughter!” I tried not to cry, but I just couldn’t help it. By the end, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. It was the kindergarten teacher who came over and patted my back. “Skylar, breathe, quickly, breathe.” But I didn’t dare breathe. If I breathed, I wouldn’t be able to stop crying. Daddy sighed, didn’t scold me anymore. “Apologize to Bethany.” I opened my mouth, using all my strength to control myself from crying. I whispered, “I’m sorry.” “Louder.” “I’M SORRY!” Tears streamed down my face. My vision blurred. I couldn’t see anything. Daddy still wasn’t satisfied. He asked me, “What did you do wrong?” “I shouldn’t have snatched her things, Daddy, I was wrong, please don’t hate me.” Daddy ignored me. He just took Bethany’s hand and turned to me. “Come inside with me.” He tried to pull me into the classroom. The teacher tried to reason with him. “Mr. Reed, please, they’re just children. It’s normal for them to have little squabbles.” “She did something wrong, and she has to pay the price. Skylar Reed, come inside with me.” I sniffled, following Daddy’s footsteps. He interrupted the teacher who was giving a lesson. He made me apologize to Bethany in front of all my classmates. I looked at Bethany, who he held in his arms. She was wearing a new hairpin on her head. It was even prettier than the last one. I knew it must have been another gift from my daddy. And I, I was wearing old clothes. My hair was messy, and I looked a complete wreck. No, I couldn’t be like this. I couldn’t embarrass Mom. I wiped the tears from my face and said, “I’m sorry.” “Louder.” Daddy’s voice was cold and indifferent, nothing like the tenderness he used when speaking to Bethany. “I’M SORRY!” “What did you do wrong?” He looked at me, like a judge, not my father. “I’M SORRY! BETHANY HASTINGS! I shouldn’t have snatched your things! I was wrong! Please forgive me!” After I said it, the tears wouldn’t stop anymore. I burst into loud sobs. Daddy frowned, about to scold me, but the teacher noticed something was wrong and came to hug me. And I, I just saw black, and fell backward. Before my eyes closed, I saw my daddy’s impatient expression. He was still holding Bethany. He didn’t want to come over and check on me at all. 6 I woke up in the hospital. The doctor said I was malnourished and needed an IV drip. Daddy was very unhappy. “Is this how your mother takes care of you?” He kept calling Mom, but she didn’t answer a single call. He was furious. He asked me, “What has your mother been doing at home lately?” I thought about it, not daring to tell the truth. “Mommy cooks for me every day, takes me out to play, buys me new clothes. She’s very good to me, Daddy, please don’t scold her anymore.” “Lying at such a young age. Your mother has really ruined you.” He told Mr. Davies, his assistant, “Go back to the house, bring Eleanor Montgomery here. I want to see how she’s raising our daughter.” Mr. Davies was about to leave when Daddy received a call from Aunt Serena. “Richard, where are you? Come back quickly, Bethany has a fever, she’s calling for her daddy!” Daddy was in a hurry. He called out to Mr. Davies. “Give me the car keys. You can take a taxi to send her home.” Then, he was about to leave. “Daddy…” I called out to him. He paused for a second. “Skylar, you go home first, listen to Mr. Davies. Daddy will come find you in a couple of days.” He was lying. He would never come find me. Mr. Davies took me home. He didn’t come inside. After I got home, I ran into the house to find Mom. Mom was still asleep. She really slept a lot. The Mom I knew before wasn’t like this. She rarely rested; she was either cleaning the house, playing with me, or taking care of Daddy. Every night, I would also beg her to tell me a story. Daddy would always squeeze in and say, “I’ll tell her. You’ve had a long day, go to sleep.” “No need, I’ll do it.” “Sweetheart, be a good girl, go rest.” Daddy would kiss her. Mom would push him away, glance at me, and say, “Our daughter is watching!” “What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with me kissing my own wife?” Mom could never argue with him, and would always blush and run off. After Mom left, Daddy would put on a stern face. He would poke my nose, deliberately scaring me, saying, “Skylar, don’t you dare bully my wife, you hear?” But I knew Daddy wouldn’t actually hurt me. I would giggle, bury myself in his arms, and say, “Daddy, tell me a story! Daddy, tell me a story!” He would laugh too, holding me, and say, “What do you want to hear? Daddy will tell you.” Accompanied by Daddy’s gentle voice, I would soon fall asleep. It had been a very, very long time since I heard Daddy tell me stories. Now, even Mom didn’t tell me stories. I hugged Mom’s arm. There was a strange smell on her, like the smell I sometimes caught when passing by a garbage truck. I kept calling her, crying, my voice growing louder and louder. I cried until I was tired, and then I fell asleep. When I woke up, Mom still hadn’t woken up. Mommy, you’re really so sleepy.

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1 At three months pregnant, a drop of blood sent my husband racing down the highway at 110 mph. I sat beside him, watching his jaw clench as he hit the gas. Remembering how scared Cole used to be of driving, I reached out. “It’s okay, honey,” I whispered. “Just a little spotting. Maybe I scratched myself.” “I never thought you got your license for me. This is your first time driving. Please, slow down.” Cole stayed silent, lips tight. At the ER, the ultrasound showed the baby was fine. I sighed in relief—until I checked a local gossip forum and saw a photo of our car. I expected anger about his speeding. Instead, I froze. Holy sht! I never thought I’d see the Legend behind the wheel again! Welcome back, Cole, the King of the Track! Still drives a Ferrari like it’s the Grand Prix!* My ultimate ship! Didn’t Cole swear off driving after Ivy’s accident? Is Ivy back? Breaking: Original track queen Ivy is alive! Cole’s rushing to the airport to pick her up! Seven years of waiting—my heart’s exploding! We’d dated five years, married one. All that time, Cole never drove. He always said he didn’t even have a license. Now, watching him make soup in our kitchen, he felt like a stranger. … “Did you see the forums?” I asked, my voice trembling as I walked into the kitchen. “I saw them.” His face was completely devoid of emotion. But his hand twitched, dumping an extra spoonful of salt into the broth. I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, forcing a casual tone. “It’s okay, honey. Everyone has a past. The fact that you broke your rule to drive me to the hospital makes me so happy…” “It was a one time thing.” He cut me off. A flicker of impatience crossed his face. “I’m not driving again. If you’re that worried about the baby, go stay with your parents.” I froze. Cole was always reserved, his words often blunt and unpolished. I was used to his communication style, knowing he rarely meant harm. But in this moment, a wave of intense grievance washed over me. Remembering the forum threads, I pieced together the past he had hidden from me. Cole and Ivy met at an elite racing club. He was a raw, talented rookie; she was the free-spirited, original “It Girl” of the motorsport influencer world. She taught him the nuances of the track. He was her co-pilot. They were each other’s first loves, the guardians of each other’s dreams. Until the day Ivy went into a rally race crying. Halfway through the course, her car veered off the track and plunged down a cliff. She vanished without a trace. Cole retired that same day, vowing never to touch a car again. My fingers tightened around my phone. A new notification popped up showing Ivy’s flight arrival information. My throat tightened. I wanted to stop him, but Cole was already walking out of the kitchen, grabbing his jacket. It was painfully obvious where he was going. “Cole,” I said desperately. “I want some soup.” Cole turned around, his expression unreadable. “Sienna, don’t overthink this. We are married. I just don’t want to watch her die in front of me again.” It was an impossible statement to argue with. When life and death are involved, any attempt to keep him home makes me look like the villain. But my pregnancy hormones and my breaking heart made me lash out. “You know we’re married? I am three months pregnant with your child! Are you really going to abandon me to go see another woman?” Cole’s back stiffened. He hesitated for a fraction of a second. Then, his phone lit up. The caller ID flashed two piercing words. Ivy. Cole answered immediately, as if terrified she would hang up. “Ivy, I’m here.” Ivy’s soft laughter echoed through the quiet room. “Cole, I know you are. You promised. You said you’d always be there.” Cole glanced at me instinctively. He fell silent, unable to reply. Ivy continued, “I saw online that you have a wife now. I’m so happy for you, Cole.” “I don’t want to make things difficult for you. You don’t need to pick me up. I rented a car. I can drive myself back.” “You want to drive yourself?” Cole suddenly exploded, his voice rising in panic. “Don’t even think about it! Do you value your life at all? I will absolutely not allow you to drive ever again!” “What else can I do?” Ivy sighed, sounding utterly helpless. “I have no family left. Nobody is coming for me. There are so many paparazzi outside the airport. I can’t just take a cab, what if a stalker follows me?” “Don’t worry, my international license is still valid. I can manage.” Without another second of hesitation, Cole snatched my car keys from the table. “Stop talking. I’m coming to get you. Do not touch that steering wheel, I’m begging you. Okay?” “Welcome home.” “Wherever you want to go from now on, I will drive you.” 2 The front door clicked shut. My plea died in my throat, swallowed by the silence of the empty house. The baby seemed to share my grief. A sharp cramp twisted in my lower abdomen. I walked into the kitchen and turned off the stove. Remembering the doctor’s orders to stay hydrated, I ladled some soup into a bowl and took a sip. It tasted raw, metallic. The extra spoonful of salt made it bitterly salty. I poured the soup down the sink and crawled back into bed, refreshing the forum pages. The newest thread was blowing up. [Wait, false alarm! Cole was speeding to take his wife to the OBGYN. Rumor is she was bleeding. My friend at the hospital said his wife is just a regular civilian. Shows over, everyone.] [Cole is married? And not to Ivy? My shipper heart is broken!] [Hey above, don’t cry yet! Newest paparazzi shots show Cole at the airport! That pregnant woman is probably just a relative, or some random side piece! Cole swore he would never marry anyone but Ivy.] My eyes locked onto those cruel words. I couldn’t breathe. Without thinking, I pulled out our marriage certificate, snapped a photo with my burner account, and posted it in the comments. It was a desperate claim of ownership. The photo was shared instantly. [That really is his wife! The marriage license got leaked! Fellow shippers, meet me on the roof to jump!] [Didn’t someone say his wife was bleeding? I know this sounds evil, but I really hope she lost the baby. Otherwise, Cole and Ivy really have no chance. Real fans know how much Cole wants kids!] [Same! Praying the civilian wife miscarries!] [Hold up. This marriage license is photoshopped! Look closely. Even the seal from the county clerk is wrong! I refuse to believe Cole is a man who breaks his promises!] Blinded by fury at the toxic comments, I was about to reveal my identity when a notification popped up. Cole had retweeted my photo. He used his official verified account to share my burner’s picture of the marriage license. He added only one word. “Fake.” As if to prove it, he used a red digital pen to circle the official seal. I zoomed in. The county clerk’s seal was indeed incorrect, slightly blurred and pixelated. The marriage license Cole and I had framed on our wall… he had forged it? So, Cole and I weren’t even married? Seconds later, Ivy posted an update on her official account. “The marriage license is fake. Cole didn’t break his vow, guys! But we did break up a long time ago. The Cole/Ivy ship has sailed. Please stop shipping us, it’s not fair to the woman he lives with.” “But that doesn’t change the fact that Cole will always be the man who treats me best in this world.” The attached photo showed Ivy sitting in the passenger seat of my car, flashing a peace sign at the camera. Next to her was Cole, his eyes focused intently on the road. I couldn’t control the agonizing pain anymore. I dry heaved violently, clutching my stomach as a fierce, tearing pain ripped through my abdomen. The bleeding this time was much heavier. My vision blurred. I felt like I was dying. It was 2 AM. My parents were asleep, and I couldn’t bear to wake them. With trembling fingers, I called 911 for an ambulance. Then, I dialed Cole. If I needed surgery, he was the only emergency contact I had. “Cole, I’m bleeding again. Please, come home! I need to go to the hospital!” An annoyed sigh came through the receiver. “Didn’t we just get checked out a few hours ago? Everything was fine. Why are you bleeding again?” “Are you just making up excuses to force me to come home?” “Sienna, Ivy already posted a clarification online. Stop being so petty. Once I drop her off at a hotel, I’ll naturally come home to be with you.” I gritted my teeth, screaming into the phone. “You choose right now. Keep chauffeuring your ex, or save your unborn child.” “When the baby is gone, don’t you dare regret it.” It didn’t matter anymore. We weren’t married. I didn’t plan to keep this child under these circumstances anyway. But the physical pain was overwhelming. The moment I hung up, I collapsed onto the bed, blacking out from the agony. When I woke up, Cole was shaking my shoulders. His face was contorted with anger. “Sienna, you made me abandon Ivy in the middle of the night just so I could come back and watch you sleep?” 3 My brain was foggy. I instinctively reached down to check my pajama pants. Thankfully, the bleeding had slowed. I hadn’t bled out. “I was bleeding heavily,” I whispered, exhausted. “I was terrified. The pain made me pass out. I feel a bit better now. I called an ambulance, are they not here yet?” Cole clenched his jaw. “I sent them away. If you’re going to lie, why waste public resources on your little drama? Sienna, since when did you become so manipulative?” “Fine, you say you’re not lying. Where is the blood? Show me the blood!” The blood was in the toilet. I had flushed it before crawling back to bed. I stared at the fake marriage license on the nightstand. Cole was rarely this talkative. The more he spoke, the colder my heart grew. Let him think whatever he wants. I was done explaining. The standoff was broken by the scent of expensive perfume. A gorgeous woman with long, flowing hair walked into the bedroom, carrying a designer bag and smiling brightly. “Hi there! You must be Cole’s wife! I’m Ivy, his former teammate and ex-girlfriend.” I looked at her outstretched hand and let out a cold laugh. “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not his wife. After all, our marriage license is fake.” A flash of guilt crossed Cole’s face. He opened his mouth to explain, but Ivy beat him to it. “Oh, don’t be mad at him! Cole is just stubborn like that, he doesn’t know how to bend the rules! I mean, what man can keep every promise he makes for a lifetime? And Cole, really, was that necessary? She’s carrying your child, you need to be sweet to her! Women get emotional, especially pregnant ones!” With just a few words, she painted me as the hysterical, unreasonable one. Cole cleared his throat. “I handled the license wrong.” “But don’t worry, the fact that we’re a couple hasn’t changed.” “Once things settle down, we’ll go get legally married. I’ll explain everything to the public then.” “The post earlier was just to stop people from mocking Ivy. She went missing for seven years, recovering alone in a foreign country. She finally came back to make a comeback, and I didn’t want her met with ridicule.” I cut him off, pointing directly at Ivy. “Get her out of my house.” Cole’s face darkened. “That’s enough, Sienna. She has no family, nowhere to go. What’s wrong with letting her crash here for a few days?” “Besides, I was going to help her find a hotel. But you lied to get me back. I had no choice but to bring her with me.” “Ten years ago, she almost died driving a race car because of me. How could I leave her on the side of the road?” “You’re about to be a mother. How can you have zero empathy?” I pushed myself up and grabbed my coat. “Fine. The house is yours. I’m leaving. Wish you two the best.” Cole grabbed my wrist. “Sienna, why do you think I’m standing here right now? I chose you.” “Stop playing the victim.” He shoved me roughly back onto the bed. Without sparing me another glance, he locked the bedroom door, then turned to grab Ivy’s sleeve. “Come with me. I’ll take you to the guest room.” He still didn’t understand. I never wanted to be a choice. I wanted to be the only one. Outside the door, Ivy laughed. “I told you I’d be fine alone. Why go through all this trouble?” “Driving a regular car isn’t like driving a race car. It’s not that dangerous. Besides, my accident back then was your fault anyway. Who told you to break up with me right before a race?” “Or… are you regretting it now? Do you want to take back the breakup?” Both Cole and I froze on opposite sides of the door.

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An hour before my wedding, I stumbled upon an anonymous post. [Let’s talk about my sister’s ‘Repayment’ Wedding: The groom says marrying her is just paying a debt, his true love is the younger sister.] The main post was a photo: in the reflection of a hotel vanity mirror, the profile of a figure in a wedding dress bore a striking resemblance to me. The caption read: [Is there anything more thrilling than swapping the bride on the wedding day?] My fingers trembled as I zoomed in. On the vanity, clear as day, was the iris brooch I had personally chosen for my bridesmaid. Hundreds of comments had already flooded the post. In the latest reply, the original poster had attached a close-up of two hands holding. The man’s ring finger bore a familiar old scar, identical to the one my fiancé, Julian, had from a car accident. When someone pressed for details, the poster simply replied: [My sister spent ten years helping him build his company. He says this marriage is just repayment. But tonight, I will be the one looking into his eyes and saying: I do.] A knock came at the door. Sophie entered, holding the hem of her dress. She leaned in close, her voice sweet as honey in my ear. “Sis, the ceremony is about to start. Look, don’t you think my brooch is pretty?” 1 I forced a smile. “Yes, it’s beautiful.” She took my arm, giggling. “You’re the beautiful one, sis. You’re the most beautiful bride today. We should hurry, don’t want to keep the groom waiting.” I took a deep breath and pushed open the side door of the chapel. Soft music played, and the pews were filled with guests. Julian stood at the altar, his back ramrod straight. The officiant approached me, beaming. “Miss Reed, there’s a small last-minute adjustment to the program. Did you see the note?” I took the paper he handed me. In the original schedule, the bridesmaid was only supposed to hand over the rings. Now, a handwritten line had been added: “Bridesmaid’s speech (2 minutes).” The elegant script was familiar. “Who added this?” I asked. The officiant lowered his voice. “Mr. Lewis specifically requested it this morning. He said he wanted to add a more personal touch. Your sister must be a wonderful writer; he praised her draft several times.” I gripped the edge of the paper. “I don’t approve this part of the program.” “Well… it might be too late to change it now. The guests are all waiting,” the officiant said, looking troubled as he glanced towards the altar. Julian turned his head then, his eyes meeting mine. He gave me a slight nod, his lips pulling into a strained smile. I said nothing more and walked to my reserved seat in the front row. My mother pulled me down beside her, whispering, “Sophie prepared a little speech. She wants to thank you for taking care of her all these years. Such a thoughtful girl.” Just then, the music changed. The officiant’s voice boomed through the microphone. “And now, let us welcome the bride’s sister and today’s bridesmaid, Miss Sophie Reed, to offer her blessings.” Applause rippled through the room. Sophie took the microphone, her gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally landing on Julian. “Thank you, everyone. Today is my sister’s most important day. As her sister, I should be offering words of celebration.” She paused, her fingers gently stroking the microphone. “But I’ve realized, if I don’t say some things today, I might never have the chance.” A low murmur went through the guests. Julian’s body tensed. Sophie’s voice began to tremble. “For years, I’ve watched my sister and Julian on their journey together. I know how much my sister has given, and I also know… that some feelings were misplaced from the very beginning.” She lifted her eyes, staring directly at Julian. The spotlight caught the glint of tears in her eyes. Her voice was choked but clear as she spoke, word by word. “Some love is destined to cross boundaries. Even if it means being condemned by the world, you can’t pretend it doesn’t exist.” A dead silence fell over the chapel, followed by a rising tide of whispers. “What does she mean by that?” “Oh my god, is she confessing her love?” “The bride is sitting right there!” My mother gripped my hand tightly. “What is Sophie talking about!” I pulled my hand away, my eyes fixed on the stage. All the color had drained from Julian’s face. His lips moved, but no sound came out. Sophie continued, “I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t control it. Julian, I…” Julian didn’t stop her. He just stared at her. The officiant hurried forward, trying to smooth things over. “The bridesmaid seems a bit emotional! We understand this deep sisterly bond! And now, let us…” I didn’t hear the rest. My gaze was locked on the hand hanging at Julian’s side. The scar—its position, its shape—was identical to the hand in the photo. My phone vibrated in my palm. I looked down. The screen was lit up with the latest reply on the anonymous post. The poster had uploaded a new picture. It was a close-up of a man’s hand, the one with the scar. In the corner of the frame, another hand was gently sliding a platinum wedding band into view. I looked back up at Julian’s hand. The wedding ring he was supposed to give me… it was the same one from the photo. 2 The ceremony ended in a hurried, awkward mess under the curious stares of the guests. My mother tried to talk to me, but I shook her off and went straight to the private lounge on the second floor. The door was unlocked. Julian was standing by the window. He turned when he heard me enter. He spoke first, his voice low and hoarse. “Victoria, about today… I’m sorry.” “When did it start?” I asked. Julian’s jaw worked. He didn’t deny it. He just said my name again. “Victoria, we’ve known each other for ten years.” “And?” “And so…” He looked up, a kind of defeated exhaustion in his eyes. “So I can’t lie to you anymore. And I can’t lie to myself.” The air conditioning was blasting. I felt a chill spread through me. “Explain.” Julian took a deep breath. “For you, it’s always been gratitude. You were with me when the company was at its lowest. Those proposals, those clients… without you, there would be no Julian Lewis today.” His fingers unconsciously rubbed the ring on his finger. “But gratitude isn’t love.” My own voice sounded unnervingly calm. “Is that your excuse for cheating on me? Love is love, not loving someone is not loving them. But what was the point of this whole spectacle at our wedding? Did you enjoy watching me be humiliated?” He didn’t answer right away. But sometimes, silence is the answer. He finally said it. “All these years, the person I’ve really wanted to marry has always been Sophie.” “When did it start?” Julian looked away. “Three years ago. When you went to Austin for that project. I got drunk, she came to take care of me… and it never stopped after that.” Three years ago. I did the math. That was when I had landed his first ten-million-dollar contract. I had pulled four all-nighters in Austin while he was on the phone telling me, “You’re working so hard, darling,” before getting into bed with my sister. What a joke. “Did you know she was going to confess her love to you at the wedding?” “It was Sophie’s idea,” Julian’s voice grew quieter. “She said… it would force you to let go. That you wouldn’t be able to handle the public opinion and you’d call off the wedding yourself.” “If you wanted to marry her, why didn’t you just tell me?” He gave a bitter smile. “I didn’t dare, Victoria. You’re too intimidating. Half the company’s shares are in your name. The core team only listens to you. If I had broken up with you, I would have lost everything.” I nodded. So that was it. Not love, but calculation. Not impulse, but a cost-benefit analysis. Julian stood up. “I can compensate you. I don’t need the shares, and the company…” “Julian,” I interrupted, holding out my hand. “Give me back the ring.” He instinctively covered his finger. “Victoria, we can still…” “Give it back.” After a few seconds of stalemate, he slowly slid the ring off and placed it in my palm. I took it, walked to the bathroom without a word, and flushed it down the toilet. As I left, I heard Julian’s voice behind me. “I don’t love you anymore. I love Sophie.” He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. I didn’t look back. The moment I pulled the door open, I saw Sophie leaning against the hallway wall. She was holding her phone, the screen facing me. It wasn’t a photo or a chat log. It was the editing interface of a forum’s backend. The post title read: [Let’s talk about my sister’s ‘Repayment’ Wedding] The poster’s ID: RipplingSophie. She looked up, waggled the phone at me, and a sickly sweet smile spread across her face. 3 Despite everything, I felt a strange calm. The next day, I got up and went to work as usual, ignoring the strange looks from my colleagues. All day, I worked, my mind replaying the events, trying to understand how Julian and I had come to this. That evening, I drove home, my fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly my nails dug into the leather. The living room lights were on. My mother was on the sofa. My father stood by the window, smoking. The ashtray was already filled with cigarette butts. My mother stood up when she saw me, her voice uncertain. “You’re home. Are you hungry? There’s soup in the kitchen…” “Did you all know?” They all knew. They all kept it from me. Why? To keep Sophie happy? I cut her off, my voice sharp in the quiet room. My mother’s hand froze in mid-air. “Know what?” “About Julian and Sophie. About what was going to happen at the wedding. About me being kept in the dark, like a fool.” My father stubbed out his cigarette and turned around. “Victoria, it’s not what you think.” “Then what is it?” My mother sat back down, twisting a tissue in her hands. “Sophie… she’s had a difficult life. She’s been frail since she was a child, you know about her heart condition. She’s suffered so much, and Julian… he truly cares for her…” “So? So I should just step aside?” My mother’s voice suddenly rose. “She’s your sister! Can’t you be more understanding? The doctor said she can’t handle any emotional stress! After that scene today, she had to take two pills as soon as she got home!” I laughed. “Mom, it was my wedding today. I was the one publicly humiliated. My fiancé was cheating on me with my sister. You’re worried about her taking pills? Were you ever worried about how I managed to drive myself home?” My mother opened her mouth but said nothing. My father walked over. “Victoria, Julian doesn’t love you. There’s no point in forcing it. Better to find out now than to get divorced later.” “When did you find out?” Silence. “I asked, when did you find out!” My father averted his gaze. “Last year. Sophie showed us a pregnancy test. The baby was Julian’s.” “She was pregnant?”

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