Category: English

Year-end bonus arrived, I bought a surprise gift for my boyfriend and mailed it to his company. FedEx showed delivered. But he never came to ask me. A day later, he finally sent a voice message: “…Baby, did you buy me a gift?” He asked with extreme hesitation. I suddenly felt like testing him. Half-jokingly asked back: “No, did someone buy you a gift?” He laughed it off: “Maybe someone else sent it, I’ll go ask other friends…” My heart went cold. …Ask others? Who else would send him couple rings? Chapter 1 Realizing something was wrong, I deliberately asked again: “What gift is it?” Caleb Sterling hemmed and hawed. “…Not anything valuable, just a pair of sneakers.” He lied again. My heart trembled. The call on that end had already hung up. Restless all day. I knew, things were definitely not simple. At night he came home, looking normal. As if he had forgotten what happened during the day. I deliberately mentioned: “Where are the sneakers? Let me see.” He froze for a moment: “What sneakers?” After reacting: “Ah sneakers, colleague bought them, wrote my contact info, things already returned.” Finished speaking, he deliberately changed the topic. “I’ll go shower first, talk later.” Entering the bathroom, he clutched his phone tightly in his hand. Until sleeping at night, he still kept his phone close. Screen used privacy film, couldn’t see anything. I endured anxiety, quietly waited for him to fall asleep. Finally heard slight snoring. I held my breath, like a thief, fished out his phone from under the pillow. Fingerprint unlock. Together for eight years, this was my first time checking his phone. Nothing in messages. I kept an eye out. Swiped up phone screen, immediately appeared recently used apps. Besides some commonly used ones. I saw an almost forgotten app, Snapchat. Ghost-driven opened it. Message box inside was cleared long ago. But I remembered, Snapchat chat records won’t be deleted with message box unless set otherwise. I typed “Ring” in the search bar. Sure enough, a recent chat record appeared. …Found it. I clicked in with trembling fingertips. Heart pained fiercely. After asking me in the morning, Caleb immediately found this woman nicknamed Bella. Because of my denial, he was certain the gift was sent by this woman. [Baby, gift arrived.] […What gift?] [Couple rings.] [What rings? What are you talking about?] Caleb didn’t reply for a long time. Maybe realized, these rings weren’t sent by Bella either. He started to cover up the lie. [My project ended got bonus, bought a pair of couple rings for you, it’s my gift to you.] Other side replied instantly: [Thanks hubby~] Also added a cute emoji. I felt dizzy looking at it, world spinning. Caleb really seemed to find a mistress outside. But few seconds later, I overturned this thought. Because I saw Bella’s avatar. That was a wedding photo. And the groom was exactly Caleb… They… already married? I am the mistress? Chapter 2 Sleepless all night. I didn’t rashly ask Caleb. Instead pretended to know nothing. After he went to work, I took leave from company. Directly went to the house address mentioned in their chat records. Standing at the door brewing for a long time, finally pressed the doorbell. Opening door was a five or six year old boy. He looked at me curiously, turned back called: “Mom… someone is here.” Heart almost jumped to throat. Bella finally appeared. Face not much different from wedding photo. Wearing loose loungewear, face without makeup. Belly slightly bulging, at least six months pregnant. Holding a handful of unfinished chives in hand. Just like a wife waiting for husband to come home. I moved my gaze down. Saw the diamond ring on her hand. Exactly one of the couple rings I sent to Caleb. “Excuse me… who are you looking for?” She looked blank, hugging son asked. Throat dry and astringent. I asked: “Do you know Caleb Sterling?” Bella hadn’t spoken yet. Boy aside chirped: “Caleb Sterling is my dad! Do you have business with my dad?” Bella immediately followed: “Caleb Sterling is my husband.” Instantly sky collapsed. I almost couldn’t stand. “…How long have you been married?” Bella frowned slightly: “You… are who?” “I…” Before I could speak, phone rang. Actually was Caleb. I pressed decline, he persevered, kept calling. Moment picking up, came Caleb’s gloomy voice. “Scarlett, leave my house right now!” I gritted teeth replied: “Why? I want to figure things out today!” “Whatever you want to know, I can tell you, don’t trouble Bella, she is pregnant with baby, if she gets agitated and hurts the fetus, you can’t afford this responsibility.” His voice full of threat. Made me incomparably strange. Bella opposite still looked blank. “Do you have business with my husband?” “He went to work, won’t be back until after seven.” “Are you friends? Why not stay for dinner, I made extra dishes.” She smiled full of gentleness. I felt like stabbed in face by a knife. Painful almost breathless. Indeed, she is pregnant, a pregnant woman. If accident happens, consequences serious. Don’t remember how I left. Just arrived downstairs, saw Caleb rushing like crazy. Only then knew, he saw me through room surveillance. “You… didn’t say anything to Bella right?” “She is pregnant, Scarlett, count I beg you, don’t trouble her okay?” “Anything come at me.” Face full of pleading. Tears almost forced out. To maintain last dignity, I said: “Talk back home.” Finally home. He plopped kneeling down, caught off guard. “Scarlett, I sorry you, scold me beat me fine, as long as you calm down!” “…So child really yours? Bella also really your wife?” He face covered with tears, trembling nodded. I almost couldn’t stand, asked him: “So, who exactly is the mistress between us?” Chapter 3 He silenced for a long time. Finally told me truth. We two together for eight years. He cheated with Bella in the second year. “That time you were sent by company to London for business trip year and half… we gathered less left more, I am a man, need solve physiological needs.” “Bella was intern in my company, she confessed to me first…” “First time I was drunk, took her as you, didn’t expect hit once, pregnant with Leo.” “You also know my parents urged tight, let me marry quickly. I knew you focused on career, and because your parents divorced, you fear marriage, I didn’t want force you… Bella pregnant then, so…” I simply wanted to laugh in anger. “So you married her?” He silently defaulted. “Scarlett, but I love you, to Bella just responsibility… you have to believe me!” He tightly grabbed my hand. Stomach felt nauseous, I pushed him away. Man in front too strange. I business trip London year and half. He video called me every day. Reported where he went, doing what. As long as holiday, he immediately flew to see me. I still remember, Valentine’s Day he took three days off. With 102 degree fever, didn’t sleep day and night, just to rush downstairs my apartment on Valentine’s Day, give me surprise. I can’t forget till now. His face pale, taking out prepared gift, saying love me look… But also in this year. He not only cheated, but also married another woman. Treated me as fool to cheat. Following full six years, his every overtime business trip, was returning to that small home. Beginning of this year, he and Bella had second child… Happiness I thought, actually more fragile than bubble. All fake. “Scarlett…” Caleb cried out of breath. “Beg you forgive me, I really can’t live without you!” I quietly looked at him, only felt ironic. “You still want be with me?” He nodded desperately. “Then what about your wife and kid?” “I already agreed with Bella, we are Open Marriage, she won’t manage my business.” “As long as you don’t find her, don’t trouble her, she won’t trouble us either.” I laughed. Fiercely threw off his hand. “Caleb Sterling, Qing Dynasty died long ago, you still want three wives four concubines?” “Get out!” I grabbed ashtray on table, smashed hard on ground. Then used all strength drove him out of house. He still begging bitterly outside. A while later, dry voice came from outside. He didn’t act anymore, said to me: “Scarlett, Leo has fever, can’t without dad accompany, I have to go over…” Immediately, outside completely silent. I only felt head heavy feet light. Sweated all over. Thermometer measured, actually fever to 104 degrees. Groggily, slept whole night. Woke up again, Caleb hadn’t returned. I thoroughly slept sober. Impossible sink in this triangle relationship anymore, I want clear relationship with Caleb completely. Recalling Bella’s Snapchat ID. I actively added her friend. Straight to point said: [Do you know Caleb Sterling stepping two boats? Let’s meet.] Long time later, Bella replied: [Okay.] I went to her house again. This time, I let Bella unplug surveillance once enter door. I didn’t want hide from Bella. Told her whole story. “We both kept in dark, both victims, so let’s join hands, must make scum pay price!” Bella listened quietly, face expression bland. “Finished?” “Scarlett, you really think I don’t know your existence?” Chapter 4 That instant, my scalp numb. Bella smiled weirdly at me. “Your relationship, I knew long ago.” “Then you…” “Now Caleb is my husband, no matter when you together, you are mistress.” “Woman he loves most is me, we are legal couple, why should I help you deal with my husband?” I dumbfounded. “But he stepping two boats!” She laughed. “He continue entangle with you, also for our family.” “…What meaning?” “You wouldn’t really think he still likes you right?” “He with you, just coaxing you, aiming for your dad’s company cooperation business, frankly speaking, just for your dad’s resources.” “Oh right, also, now I pregnant, he heartaches me, afraid hurt me, can’t touch me, can only play you this free one.” She smiled brilliantly at me. “Speaking of which I have to thank you, help me serve my husband, so he won’t go outside find those dirty goods.” I simply couldn’t believe my ears. Bella face expression more and more hideous. “No matter how he plays with you outside, I just need know, he loves me most, loves our family most enough.” “Scarlett, you are the thorough fool.” “Five years ago you car accident, stayed in ICU one month, he said important project business trip, actually accompanying me waiting delivery, accompanying me every day, he personally stewed soup for me, wiped body, washed feet.” “Three years ago you pregnant, finally miscarriage, you sad half life almost gone, actually not accident at all, was me let Caleb add Mifepristone in your water!” “Oh also year ago, he borrowed fifty thousand from you, said lend brother startup, actually not at all, but paid down payment for our new house, this house bought with your money.” Bella voice sharper and sharper. “You are just a blood bag he raised, Scarlett, you are the most pathetic person!” Anger overflowed chest, I almost crazy. Raised hand want slap her. Leo aside suddenly rushed over. Kicked and beat my leg. “Old witch, not allowed bully mom!” “I tell dad, let dad fix you!” I bound hands feet. This moment, Bella actually rushed at me like crazy. “Scarlett, be sensible hurry leave Caleb! We are family!” “Caleb off work soon, you hurry get out! Don’t delay our family three parent-child time!” I stumbled few times, pushed out door by her. After anger was deep despair. Body couldn’t stop cold sweat. High fever not fully retreated. Eyes rolled back, I fainted. Open eyes again, I lay in hospital bed. Sky dark. Phone had message from Caleb. [Scarlett, company business today, I come back later.] He reported to me like usual. As if nothing happened. My heart thoroughly cold. Half day later, phone message reminded. On Snapchat, Bella sent few photos. Today is Leo birthday. Their family celebrating for Leo at home. Not only Caleb and Bella. Also Caleb’s family, and his best childhood friends. Turns out… everyone knew their relationship. Only me kept in dark. Treated as fool to cheat. Body shaking uncontrollably. I collapsed crying loud. Prepared thoroughly showdown breakup with Caleb. But Caleb didn’t return whole night. Next day, I went to company with black eye circles and weak body. Just sat at desk. Outside actually came noise of big quarrel. I didn’t expect, actually was Bella…

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Bored on the Amtrak home, I scrolled to a help post on Reddit: [Mistress is pregnant with a boy, I want to take her back to my hometown to meet the family, how can I send my wife away?] The top comment was extremely vicious: [Just say the psychic said the wife’s horoscope clashes with the family this year, going home for holidays will offend ancestors and the God of Wealth, let her go back to her own mom.] I shook my head reading it, this man really is a piece of trash, using such a lame excuse. Phone vibrated, husband sent a voice message, tone anxious: “Shelby, Mom just found a psychic, said your horoscope is hard this year, going home for holidays will curse the whole family,” “Especially will clash with our family’s fortune, you sacrifice for a few days, stay in a hotel okay?” Before I could refute, a TikTok video just posted by my mother-in-law popped up on my phone. In the video, my husband carefully supported a woman with a big belly into the door, face full of smiles. The caption read: [Finally waiting for my big grandson! Golden grandson enters, sweep away bad luck!] … Chapter 1 On the phone, my mother-in-law’s TikTok likes and comments were still jumping. [Is she wearing the Limited Edition Victoria’s Secret pajamas?] [Envy, this mother-in-law treats daughter-in-law so well!] I didn’t believe in evil, hailed an Uber, dragged my suitcase and killed my way back home directly. Just arrived downstairs, I saw Julian Mills’s car. Shouldn’t he be busy with year-end inventory at the company? I dialed Julian’s number, rang for a long time, he finally picked up. “Didn’t I say? Mom calculated you can’t come back this year.” “Will clash with fortune, you stay in hotel first, talk after holidays.” I gripped the suitcase handle, metal hurt my palm. I said to my own front door: “Julian, I am right at the door.” Phone went silent. Few seconds later, door “click” opened a narrow gap. Julian appeared behind door, squeezed a stiff smile: “Wifey, why you… arrived so fast.” I ignored him, looked over his shoulder inside. On living room sofa, my mother-in-law was diligently feeding fruit to a pregnant woman. That woman’s belly bulged high, wearing on her body, Was exactly the limited edition pajamas I bought last month, reluctant to wear even once. She is the mother of that golden grandson in mother-in-law’s TikTok. I was blocked by husband at my own door. Mother-in-law saw me, smile on face instantly disappeared, Apple in hand “Bang” smashed on coffee table. “Ouch, Shelby is back! Quick stand at door, don’t move!” Mother-in-law pulled an ugly smile on face, but hands protected that pregnant woman’s belly. “You just got off train, full of dust, didn’t even tell family.” “Psychic said you offend Mercury Retrograde this year, will flush away family’s God of Wealth!” “You stand there, don’t bring bad luck in!” That pregnant woman shrank behind mother-in-law, “Auntie, all my fault, I better go.” “Don’t make sister unhappy because of me and baby.” “Go where you go!” Mother-in-law shielded her behind, glaring at me. “What you carry is our Mills family’s three generations single pass root! Precious!” “Can’t break in my hands.” Julian saw my face pale, hurried step forward. “Wifey, don’t calculate with Mom, she just wants grandson too much.” He lowered voice, leaned to my ear: “Just treat… treat as helping me a favor okay?” “Whitney alone, helpless, where can she go?” I threw off his hand, staring at his eyes asked: “Julian Mills, child in her belly, is it yours?” Chapter 2 Julian panicked, stammering explained: “Listen to me, this is… this is my distant cousin.” “Family met disaster, come, come to seek refuge, don’t think too much…” He said while looking at his mom. Mother-in-law answered for him, “So what if it is! Our Mills family three generations single pass, can’t break root here!” “Shelby, if you sensible, should know this family no descendant.” “I go down no face see ancestors!” She sized me up. “Since you can’t give birth yourself, should actively give way, don’t occupy latrine not shit!” I trembled all over, nails pinched a row of blood red crescents in palm. Bypassed Julian, I rushed straight in. Mother-in-law saw can’t stop, sat on floor, patted thigh howled: “No justice ah! This woman heart vicious, want harm my golden grandson ah!” Julian turned back roared at me: “Shelby have you troubled enough!” I looked at them one patting thigh, one covering belly, one red eyes staring me, Suddenly laughed. I put suitcase aside, pulled mouth corner. “Fine ah, isn’t it afraid I clash fortune?” “Then you say, what to do?” Mother-in-law crying stopped abruptly, Exchanged a look with Julian, eyes flashed a trace calculation. She climbed up from ground, pointed at door: “Go, wipe our home from inside out with Sage Water for me!” “Especially main door threshold, place golden grandson stepped over entering.” “You have to kneel on floor wipe, wipe all bad luck clean!” I lowered eyelids, whispered: “Okay, I wipe.” I knelt at door, knees on cold marble, came a burst dull pain. Sage water bitter and astringent, splashed on back of my hand, Skin immediately rose a patch red rash, itchy and painful. I lowered head, inch by inch wiped threshold. Behind came Whitney’s voice: “Auntie, this Bird’s Nest Soup so sweet, thank you Auntie.” That was what I specially drove to specialty store before business trip, Queued half hour to buy for mother-in-law to supplement body. Mother-in-law smiled eyes unseen: “Ouch, my good granddaughter-in-law, eat more if you like! Million don’t be polite!” She paused, raised voice. “Unlike some people ah, self is a hen don’t lay eggs, still want people serve!” Julian walked over holding empty bowl, I subconsciously looked up, thought he wanted help me up. Result he walked around me without looking sideways, gently said to Whitney: “Baby, finish eat I serve you another bowl.” He heavily stepped over the threshold I just wiped clean, leaving a dazzling shoe print. “Aiya, how you wipe floor? So dirty!” Mother-in-law shouted, “Re-wipe! Use some strength!” My knees already numb, supported door frame wanted stand up relieve. “Kneel wipe!” Mother-in-law kicked on back of my hand. “Master said, must kneel wipe to show sincerity, to remove bad luck!” I stumbled, knelt on ground again, palm rubbed rough ground, burning pain. In living room, Julian was picking up apple, peeling for Whitney. He never peeled fruit for me once, always said too troublesome. That pair hands, clearly yesterday still sending me message: “Wifey hard work, go home early, I miss you so much.” I looked up saw blank on wall, That wedding photo said to hang for lifetime gone. Replaced by, a picture of Guanyin Sending Children. “Daze what! Hurry!” Mother-in-law urged. “Finish wiping floor, go clean up guest room again, my golden grandson will live there.” Guest room mother-in-law said is my home office. Inside has all my client data, project contracts and work computer, Half of company’s core data all inside. “That is place I work.” My voice hoarse. “What work not work, golden grandson about to be born.” “Nothing more important than my precious golden grandson!” Mother-in-law rolled eyes. “Those rubbish of yours, hurry throw out for me!” Julian walked over, he looked at me, brows tight locked. “Shelby, you just move first, put things in storage room temporarily.” “Whitney body heavy, child also need a sunny room.” I obediently nodded. “Okay, I go clean now.” I walked into master bedroom, closed door, Gaze swept that locked old iron box on top of bookcase. I remembered, second year of marriage I wanted open look, Julian grabbed it away, said inside is his youth. His flushed face then, was guilty conscience. I dug out spare key from deepest drawer, Hand shaking almost couldn’t aim keyhole, “Click”, box opened. Only a stack of diagnosis reports. Bold words like branding iron burned my eyes, Date, was half year before we married. I clutched report dead in hand, nails almost embedded into palm. So that’s it, so that’s it! Chapter 3 I took out a micro Voice Recorder from my purse, stuck it in the most hidden corner under desk. Done all this, I then slowly picked up a stack of files, pretending moving out. Julian saw me sensible, said to me: “Shelby, I know you aggrieved, but now is for family’s next generation.” “You just treat as temporary sacrifice.” Again sensible. Me and him married five years, everything thought for him, sacrificed for him, Exchanged is today kneeling on ground, scrubbing bad luck for him. I just walked out door, heard Julian turned head gently coaxed Whitney: “Baby don’t angry, wait few days company that money arrive.” “We go re-take wedding photos, hang on wall.” “That old one, should thrown long ago.” Whitney shyly leaned on his shoulder: “That so embarrassing, will sister be unhappy if know?” “Her?” Julian sneered. “A woman can’t give birth, keeping occupy place is good enough.” “Wait get money, give her a sum compensation send away just fine.” I just put files at storage room door, mother-in-law took out a document, slapped in front of me. “Sign!” I looked down——《Agreement on Voluntary Waiver of Marital Joint Property》. “Mom, what does this mean?” My voice trembling. “What mean?” Mother-in-law arms crossed. “You can’t birth son, based on what share our Mills family property?” “Whitney belly carries our Mills family blood!” “This house, car, company, later all my golden grandson’s!” Julian smoking aside, smoke curling, Couldn’t see his expression clearly, but he didn’t oppose. I looked at that agreement, wrote on it, “Shelby voluntarily gives up all joint property after marriage…” “I won’t sign.” “Not sign?” Mother-in-law took out phone, found video she secretly filmed me kneeling wiping door. “Then I send your look like this to your company group! Send to all your clients!” “Let them all see, President Xie they cooperate with, how serves mistress at home!” My face instantly pale. Company next week want sign with biggest client, At this juncture, if my reputation damaged, tens of millions contract will bubble. Julian extinguished cigarette at this time, opened mouth: “Shelby, you just sign.” “I won’t let you leave with nothing, isn’t that old broken small apartment still under your name?” “Enough for you to live.” “You a woman, want so much money for what? Behave yourself, good for everyone.” I looked at him. Five years ago, when he knelt in rain begging me forgive his startup failure, didn’t say so. That time, was me took out dowry my mom left me, accompany him rise again. Now, he let me sign, roll out home we fought together. My hand, tremblingly picked up pen. Mother-in-law eyes all bright. Whitney covered mouth, smile in eyes couldn’t hide. They want use a bastard, force me sign, force me leave with nothing. I suddenly laughed, walked to door, grabbed that half bucket Sage Water, Turned, towards those few people on sofa, splashed over! “Splash——!” World quiet instant, followed by piercing scream. “Ah——!” Mother-in-law and Whitney splashed right on, soaked all over, Sage leaves stuck on their hair and face. “Rebel! Rebel! You this poison woman!” Mother-in-law angry whole body trembling, pointing me. Whitney even screamed, covering belly want fall on ground: “Ouch… my belly… so painful… Julian, save me… save our child…” Chapter 4 Julian wiped dirty water on face, recovered spirit, A arrow step rushed over hugged Whitney, turned back roared at me: “Shelby! You crazy! She has child in belly! You want kill people!” I threw away bucket, bucket rolled few rounds on ground, “Oops, hand slipped.” “She belly pain, not go hospital, shout what here? Insurance Fraud to home?” “You… you…” Julian blocked by me speechless, could only hug Whitney constantly comfort. Mother-in-law jumped from sofa, teeth dance claws pounce towards me, raised hand want slap me. I dodged sideways, backhand grabbed her wrist, force threw. She stumbled, hit on wall, pain teeth grin mouth. “Enough!” Julian hugging still moaning Whitney, roared at me. “Shelby, what exactly you want do! Must turn this home sky flip earth over?” “Is I want turn?” I laughed out sound. “Julian, brought mistress home, forced me kneel wipe door, forced me sign give up property agreement, is you guys!” “Rob my office, want cut my career, want me leave with nothing, is you guys!” “Now, you guys instead ask me want do what?” Julian eyes dodged, but thought of that money, tone tough again. “Company money, you must transfer to me!” He dead stared me. Arrived this step, he heart heart miss, still money. Julian deep breath, pulled me aside, lowered voice: “Shelby, this matter concerns our company life death.” “That 3 million balance payment next week, can’t have any mistake.” “Master my mom found said, your wealth star dim this year, money touched will become dead money.” “If this money passed your hand, business definitely yellow! Company will bankrupt!” He paused, added a sentence. “Master also said, this money only I this golden grandson father personally handle, can wealth source rolling!” “You be sensible, for our family!” This is their real purpose today. “Julian said right! You this broom star (bad luck), hurry hand over money!” Mother-in-law also didn’t care embarrassed, rushed over help voice. I looked at Julian, that man once promised protect me lifetime, At this moment his face, only greed and impatience. I flipped out work computer. In front of them, logged in company online banking. Julian and mother-in-law eyes instantly bright, dead stared that long string numbers on screen. In their expectant gaze, I fiercely closed laptop, Used whole body strength, smashed it on living room floor tile! “Crash——!” Computer shell shattered, screen instantly black, parts splashed. “Shelby! Are you fucking sick!” Julian roared, pounced over save computer wreckage. I looked at furious husband, calmly took out phone, “Ledger and client data, I have cloud backup in phone.” “Money, you don’t think get a cent.” Julian movement stagnated, he looked up, eyes complex looking me. “Company account is Joint Account, need two people present same time, to change authority or large transfer.” I continued say, threw out my condition. “You want money, can.” “Either, tomorrow go bank together, we cut clean.” “Or, everyone just consume like this, no one think move that money.” “Company bankrupt, we go on dishonesty list together.” Julian dead stared me, muscle on face twitched because anger. Long time, he squeezed a word from teeth gap: “Good.”

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I bought an RV and parked it right below the office building just so I could get a decent nap during my lunch break. One of my male coworkers from the department walked up to me and stuck out his hand for the keys: “Look, you’re working all afternoon anyway. Leaving the van sitting there is just a waste of resources. Why don’t you give me the keys?” “My girlfriend and I have nowhere to go for some privacy. We’re colleagues, right? You wouldn’t say no to a small favor like this? People who are too selfish don’t last long in this industry.” I was so angry I actually started laughing. I paid for that van in full with my own money. I pay for the gas. And now, suddenly, it’s supposed to be the company’s public lounge? I’m about to find out exactly who isn’t going to “last long” around here. 1 Looking at my phone screen, I smirked. I re-read the text. Caleb was the “old grease” of our department—a guy who lived for petty handouts. He’d piggyback on your Starbucks order to get the discount but never pay you back, or ask you to carry his heavy Amazon packages up because “you were going that way anyway.” I texted back: “Do you even know how much that rig cost? You’ve got a lot of nerve asking.” Caleb’s reply came instantly. “Oh, come on, Avery. Don’t be like that. We’re friends, aren’t we?” “A vehicle is just a tool for transportation. It depreciates whether you use it or not.” “I’m just trying to help you maximize your resources.” “Besides, me and my girl just want to lay down for an hour. It’s not like I’m driving it away.” “We sit in the same office every day. You’re really not going to give me this much face?” I slammed my phone face down on the desk. Less than two minutes later, Caleb sauntered over to my cubicle. He held a Yeti tumbler with the company logo on it and gave me a crooked grin. “Hey, Avery. About what we talked about on text… what do you think?” He raised his voice, making sure it carried. A few coworkers nearby lifted their heads to watch. “My girlfriend’s been feeling under the weather lately. Slumping over a desk at noon is killing her back.” “Think of it as a good deed. What’s the harm in letting us use the keys for two hours?” I spun my chair around and stared him down. “Caleb, your girlfriend’s health is your problem. What does it have to do with me?” “If I’m going to do a ‘good deed,’ it won’t be for someone like you.” “The van is my private property. The answer is no. Do you understand English?” The smile on Caleb’s face froze. He slammed his tumbler onto my desk with a loud thud. “Avery Smith, don’t be so stuck-up. We’re coworkers. We have to see each other every day.” “You think you’re better than everyone just because you could afford an RV? You think money gives you the right to look down on us?” “Everyone, listen to this! I just asked for a place to nap at lunch, and she’s acting like I asked for her kidney!” “Her van just sits there empty. Why is it so hard for her to be a decent human being?” A few colleagues started whispering. “Honestly, Avery, it wouldn’t hurt to let him use it. You’re working anyway.” “Yeah, Caleb’s not a stranger. It’s just so everyone can be more refreshed for work.” “Young people should be more generous. Don’t ruin the office vibe over something small.” I pulled out my phone, opened the photo of my purchase contract, and shoved the screen in Caleb’s face. “Look closely. $85,000 cash. With the interior mods, it’s over $100k.” “Every cent of that came from my parents because they didn’t want me exhausted at work. It has zero to do with this company.” “You want a place to sleep? Great. Go buy your own rig. Sleep however you want.” “And stop trying to guilt-trip me with this ‘colleague’ crap. It’s not working.” Caleb pointed a shaking finger at my nose. “Fine, Avery. You’re rich, you’re the boss. Whatever.” “We’ll see how long a selfish person like you lasts in this office!” He grabbed his tumbler and stormed off, kicking a trash can on his way out. 2 As soon as the afternoon shift started, I was called into the office by the HR Manager, Brenda. She sat there with a cold face, tapping a pen on her desk. “Avery, I’ve had reports from staff. Apparently, you’ve parked a large recreational vehicle downstairs.” “People are saying it’s too big, it’s ruining the company’s professional image and messing up the parking flow.” “And napping in a van during the day… it doesn’t look good for us.” “Even though lunch is your own time, you need to think about the optics.” I reached into my bag and pulled out a document. “Brenda, first of all, the parking lot downstairs is managed by the building’s property management, not the company.” “This is a long-term lease I signed with them. I have a designated, private spot.” “I specifically chose a corner spot so I wouldn’t block anyone. And where I sleep at noon is my business. The Department of Labor doesn’t mandate that employees have to sleep face-down on their keyboards, does it?” Brenda took the contract. The official notary stamp was hard to miss. Her expression shifted. “Well… the contract is fine, but this is a workplace…” “Caleb mentioned that your van is causing ‘internal friction.’ People feel like you’re flaunting your wealth, making yourself out to be special.” “How about this? Move the van, or hand the keys over to HR for safekeeping.” “That way, if a colleague has a special need to rest, they can apply to use it.” I almost laughed out loud. “Brenda, that van is my personal asset, not a company perk.” “You want me to turn my private vehicle into a communal asset? Does that sound legal to you?” “If you think I’m flaunting wealth, are the executives downstairs going to donate their Porsches and Teslas too?” “If Caleb feels it’s unfair, tell him to go rent a spot and buy a tent. I don’t care.” Brenda was speechless. She finally waved me out. “Fine, fine. If the paperwork is legal, I can’t stop you. Just… try to be a team player.” I walked out of HR and ran into Caleb at the coffee station. He dodged my eyes for a second. I stood next to him and fixed a coffee. Caleb scoffed. “Think you’re hot stuff because you have a key?” “Everyone’s been in a nice car before. Let’s see how long you can keep up this act.” “A van sitting out there in the sun… it’d be a shame if it got scratched or dented.” “The repair bill would probably cost more than your monthly salary, right?” I turned, looked him dead in the eye, and dropped my spoon into the cup. “Caleb, if you so much as touch my van, I’m calling the cops.” “I’ll settle every old score and new grudge at once. We’ll see who ends up in the dirt.” Caleb pulled his neck back like a turtle. But he wouldn’t back down. “Who wants to touch your trashy van? Psycho.” He scurried back to his desk. 3 Caleb didn’t confront me again. But I felt his eyes on me constantly. Every time I looked up, he’d snap his head back to his monitor, pretending to work. Wednesday at noon, I went down to the van as usual. Shortly after I lay down, I heard movement outside. I peeled back the curtain a fraction of an inch. Caleb was circling my van. He was on the phone, his voice hushed. “Yeah, babe, just hang in there. I’m working on it.” “The girl is too stingy. Won’t budge.” “It’s fine. The locks on these things aren’t that great. I’ll figure it out.” He walked to the driver-side door and tugged the handle. When it didn’t open, he pressed his face against the glass, his fingers picking at the trim. I grabbed my key fob and hit the Panic button. The alarm blared through the parking garage. Caleb jumped back a good five feet, looking around wildly. I pushed the door open and stood on the steps, looking down at him. “Caleb? What are you doing lurking around my car?” “Planning to boost it? There are cameras everywhere. You really want to do a stint in county jail?” Caleb froze, then his face turned a deep, blotchy red. He squared his shoulders. “Who’s stealing? Don’t go throwing accusations around!” “I was just walking by. Can’t a guy look? Do you own the pavement now?” “Besides, you’re the one trying to give me a heart attack with that alarm!” I hopped down, crossing my arms. “Walking by? You were pulling that handle pretty hard for a ‘passerby.’” “What, were you hoping for a miracle? That it would just pop open for you?” “I’m warning you, stay away from my van. If I find a single scratch on it, it’s coming out of your hide.” Caught red-handed, Caleb’s face turned even darker. He pointed at me, stuttering. “Fine. You think you’re so tough.” “You think you can guard this thing 24/7? Good luck.” He turned and bolted. 4 Back at the office, he started playing the victim. He was sighing loudly among a group of female coworkers. “I don’t know what to do. My girlfriend has such bad cramps today, she can barely stand.” “I just wanted a place for her to lie down and have some hot tea.” “Avery is just so cold-blooded. She watches people suffer and does nothing.” “It’s not like I wouldn’t pay. Am I the type of guy to take advantage of people?” The women started chiming in. “Wait, her cramps are that bad? Poor thing.” “Avery really is being a bit much. It’s a huge van. One hour wouldn’t hurt.” “Exactly. We’re all women here. Where’s the empathy?” I walked in and felt the daggers in their eyes. One woman spoke up. “Avery, we heard about your RV. Must be nice.” “But we shouldn’t be so selfish. Caleb’s girlfriend is really struggling.” “Just do a good deed for once. Let them use it. Everyone would appreciate it.” I threw my bag on the desk and scanned the room. “Are you the parking police? Or my accountant?” “If his girlfriend is in that much pain, he should take her to the ER, not my van.” “Is my van a hospital now? Does lying down in it cure medical conditions?” “If you guys are so empathetic, why don’t you let her lie down at your desks? Or better yet, why don’t you all chip in and get her a suite at the Four Seasons? I won’t stop you.” Silence. Caleb walked over and pulled a ten-dollar bill from his pocket. “Avery, I know you think I’m a free-loader.” “Fine. Here. Take it. Consider it rent.” “Ten bucks for a ‘cleaning fee.’ Me and my girl just need one hour.” “Now you have nothing to complain about. We’re colleagues. Don’t push things too far.” I swiped the bill off my desk and let it flutter to the floor without looking at it. “Caleb, take that ten dollars and go buy yourself some Gatorade. You clearly need to hydrate your brain.” “The van is not for rent. Not for any price.” “If you harass me one more time, I’m asking the boss for a desk move.” Caleb stared at the money on the floor. His expression turned ugly. He knelt down, picked it up, and hissed under his breath. “Stingy bitch. Someone’s gonna wreck that trashy van of yours eventually.” It was quiet, but I heard it. 5 That evening, I found a pile of trash dumped next to my front tire. And there it was—a long, jagged scratch across the door. It caught the light perfectly. I knew it was him. I took a deep breath. I didn’t blow up in the group chat. Instead, I went on Amazon and ordered a high-end hidden camera system. I installed it inside the cabinet trim, angled perfectly toward the door and the bed area. I even hooked it up to a backup battery. As I checked the live feed on my phone, I let out a cold laugh. “Caleb, if you’d stayed in your lane, I would’ve let this go.” “But if you really put your hands inside my home… I’m going to ruin you.” Friday afternoon, just before clock-out, I “accidentally” dropped a package. Caleb practically sprinted over to help me pick it up. “Oh, Avery, let me get that. You shouldn’t be doing the heavy lifting,” he said, beaming. “Listen, I’m sorry about my attitude the other day. Let’s not let it get between us, okay? We’re all here to work. No need for bad blood.” Looking at his fake smile, my heart sank, but I nodded. “Sure. Let’s move on.” Caleb’s eyes flickered with a strange glint. “By the way, we have a huge client coming in Monday. The boss wants you to prep the materials. You’ll probably have to run out to the industrial park in the suburbs to drop off some samples. I saw the admin sent the itinerary to your email.” I checked my inbox. There it was: a delivery task at an industrial park on the outskirts of town. It was a remote area, at least a three or four-hour round trip. The timing was tight—right in the middle of the Monday lunch hour. I caught Caleb out of the corner of my eye. He was looking at his phone, a tiny, triumphant smirk tugging at his lips.

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My best friend discovered her husband’s old flame a year after their wedding. The woman ruined her life. Left with nothing, she sank into a year-long depression. Visiting her, she clutched my hand, crying: “If I’d known, I would’ve died before marrying him.” When my father arranged my marriage, I researched Sean Blackwood thoroughly. Perfect reputation, no past lovers, clean break from exes. Only odd detail: the Blackwoods adopted a girl ten years ago, studying abroad since. My father brushed it off: “She’s just his adopted sister. They set up a trust fund for her at eighteen—enough to live comfortably abroad.” I married Sean. But on our third wedding anniversary night, he brought his adopted sister home. She timidly opened our bedroom door, wearing a thin white nightgown. “Brother, it’s so quiet here… I’m scared to be alone…” Sean sighed, got out of bed, and told me to go back to sleep. I sat alone in the dark for hours. Then I invited over a dozen models to throw a party at our home. 1 The sound of music and laughter was what finally drew Sean out of the guest room. “Get out!” His voice was deceptively calm, but it sent a chill down everyone’s spine. The handsome men scrambled away like frightened animals, leaving just the two of us in the vast living room. “What is the meaning of this?” Sean frowned, his gaze fixed on me. Behind him stood Lily, still wrapped in that scandalously short, white lace nightdress, her long hair framing a picture of delicate innocence. I lounged comfortably on the sofa, crossing my legs and swirling the wine in my glass. “Isn’t your little sister scared of being alone? I just found her some company.” Lily’s face went pale. “What do you take me for!” I smiled, a bright, sharp thing, and enunciated each word with chilling clarity. “A shameless little tramp trying to seduce her own brother.” Sean’s expression turned to ice. “Rebecca Pierce.” Lily’s eyes welled with tears, her body trembling with rage. “What right do you have to talk to me! Everyone knows what a player you were! You’re a slut! If it weren’t for the marriage contract between our families, my brother would never have married a woman like you!” “Lily, that’s enough!” She froze, hurt flashing across her face before the tears began to fall. “You’re yelling at me? You’re yelling at me for her? Didn’t you hear how she insulted me? Fine, I’ll leave! I’ll leave right now!” The girl made a dramatic dash for the door, her pathetic excuse for a nightgown threatening to fall apart with every overwrought step. Sean’s frown deepened. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to her room before finally turning his attention back to me. “Go to bed.” I didn’t move, just watched him with a cold smile. He sighed, a note of exhaustion in his voice. “I’m tired, Rebecca. I’m really, really tired. Can we not do this right now?” “Did you hear what your sister called me?” “Lily’s young. She doesn’t always think before she speaks. I’ll apologize on her behalf.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “She’s not wrong, though. It’s true. Our families are well-matched, this was a business merger, the contract was signed a long time ago. But I, Rebecca Pierce, was a player. I was never short on men, especially the handsome ones.” The warmth drained from Sean’s eyes, leaving them cold and hard. He pinned me against the sofa, his kiss a punishment, his voice a low growl. “Rebecca, need I remind you that you are now my wife?” I laughed, but my eyes were burning and my voice trembled despite my best efforts. “But don’t you forget! Who was the one who dragged me out of bars night after night? Who was the one who shamelessly declared himself my fiancé to every man who looked at me? Who was the one who begged and pleaded for me to marry him?” Sean pulled me into his arms, his voice softening. “It was me. It was always me. I couldn’t live without you.” I shoved him away and slammed the bedroom door shut. “Sean, it’s her or me. Get her out of this house by tomorrow.” The next morning. Lily, wearing one of Sean’s dress shirts, greeted me cheerfully at the dining table. “Hi, sister-in-law! Good morning!” I froze in place. 2 Sean, who hadn’t set foot in the kitchen once in our three years of marriage, was standing at the stove, wearing an apron and stirring a pot of soup. “You have to try this, Rebecca! Sean’s fish soup is the best. Whenever I’m feeling down, one sip of his soup makes everything better!” Yesterday she was calling me a slut; today she was beaming, showing off how indispensable Sean was to her. And Sean acted as if nothing had happened. “You’re awake? Come, sit.” I took a deep breath, fighting down the wave of rage and pain rising in my chest, and pulled out my phone. “Get my breakfast ready,” I snapped to my new assistant. “On my desk by nine. Sharp.” Without another glance, I turned and walked out. Behind me, I heard Lily’s whining complaint. “I was trying to be nice to her. What more does she want? Fine, don’t eat it. Sean made it for me anyway.” On the way to the office, I called my brother. “I want a divorce.” “Are you kidding me?” I clutched my handbag, my knuckles white. “I’m not kidding.” My brother sounded incredulous. “Did Sean… agree? He went through hell to marry you…” “His opinion doesn’t matter,” I cut him off. “I want a divorce.” “Alright. Give me a month. I’ll get everything ready for you.” I tossed my phone aside. On that humiliating morning, I had made my decision. I would let Sean have his manipulative little snake. After the morning meeting, a huge bouquet of my favorite yellow roses arrived from Sean. I gave them a cursory glance before handing them to my new assistant. “Here, they’re yours.” Then I pulled out a credit card and tucked it into his shirt pocket. “The breakfast was perfect. A little bonus for you.” The assistant smiled, accepting both gifts without a hint of hesitation. “Thank you, boss.” Sean watched him leave, his face a calm mask. Then he cornered me against my desk. “You know exactly how to push my buttons. Is this your idea of revenge?” 3 I scoffed. “If I wanted revenge, I wouldn’t have given him a credit card. It would have been the keys to my private villa.” Sean’s expression was weary. “I postponed a full day of meetings to come see you. Are you still angry?” He pulled me into an embrace. “Rebecca, what are you so angry about?” I almost laughed out loud. I had been seething all night, and he had no idea why? I held out my phone for him to see. It was a friend request from Lily. Her profile picture was new, taken just this morning. In it, she was still wearing Sean’s shirt, surrounded by a sea of yellow roses, her face cupped playfully in her hands. “The breakfast. You made it for her, not for me. We’ve been married for three years, and you’ve never once cooked.” “The flowers. You send me one bouquet, and she pesters you until she gets an entire field of them. Am I wrong?” Sean was silent for a moment before he spoke. “If this is what it’s about, I can cook for you tonight. I can send you…” “Enough!” I cut him off, my voice shaking with fury. “Sean, don’t you get it? Lily is crossing a line! And you, you’re letting her! You’re letting her run wild and destroy what we have!” He looked at me as if I were insane. “Rebecca, what are you talking about? She’s just my sister.” “I’m my brother’s sister too,” I retorted coldly. “But I don’t prance around his house in a nightgown that short. I don’t, as a grown woman, need him to tuck me in at night. And I certainly don’t leave a bite mark just below his collarbone.” Sean flinched, his hand instinctively going to his neck. “Did you think I didn’t see it last night?” He tried to laugh it off, a strained, frustrated sound. “She’s always been like that, ever since she was a kid. Like a puppy, always nipping at people.” I held up a hand. “Stop. I don’t want to hear about your past. And don’t you forget, she is not your real sister.” He paused. “She’s not. But please, don’t twist our relationship into something so sordid.” I laughed, a harsh, broken sound, and pushed him away. “Get. Out.” But a slow smile spread across Sean’s face. He leaned in close, his eyes dancing. “Rebecca, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you this jealous.” “I’ll talk to her. I’ll tell her to be more mindful of her actions.” “Don’t be angry anymore, please?” He knew exactly how to soothe me when I was spitting fire. I was about to say something, to give in, when his phone rang. The caller ID read: Lily. 4 Sean answered, murmuring a few distracted phrases into the phone. After hanging up, he took my hand. “I’ll call my parents and have her move back home.” His warm lips brushed against my ear. “Come home early tonight. What do you want to eat? This time, I’ll cook just for you.” My mind flashed back to the past. To him, pulling me out of a bar, his eyes red-rimmed. To the helpless, pleading look on his face as he asked, “Rebecca, what do I have to do to make you look at me, to just see me?” A lump formed in my throat. “Alright, Sean. I’ll trust you one more time.” “But if you lie to me again.” “I will never, ever forgive you.” He smiled, a genuine, relieved smile, and gently kissed my damp eyelids. “Rebecca, I have never lied to you.” That evening, I returned home to find Sean wasn’t back yet. Lily was sitting on the sofa, radiating resentment like a sullen ghost. “Why didn’t you accept my friend request?” I gave her a dismissive glance. “Why would I?” “What did you say to my brother?” she demanded, blocking my path. “Why is he making me move out?” I had no desire to engage with her. But she suddenly snapped, grabbing a vase and hurling it at me. The heavy glass crashed against my forehead, the impact making my ears ring. The thorns from the roses scraped bloody lines down my cheek and arm. Just then, the front door opened. Lily immediately snatched a shard of glass and pressed it to her own wrist, her voice rising in a hysterical, tear-choked scream. “I was just trying to apologize to you! Why are you doing this to me? Do you want me to die? Is that what it will take to make you happy?!” Sean’s eyes widened in horror. He rushed toward her, his face a mask of panic. “Lily!” “Brother…” she sobbed, shaking her head tragically. “I know… I’ve always been the extra one in this family. I won’t get in the way of your happiness anymore, I promise…” Blood welled up on her wrist. Sean’s face went white. I had never seen him so terrified. “Don’t say that! Brother will take you to the hospital.” He swept her into his arms. From beginning to end, he never even looked at me. I slid down the wall, slumping to the floor. It felt as though my heart had been carved out with that same shard of glass. 5 Sean returned late that night, looking utterly exhausted. He stood in the doorway of our bedroom, jacket in hand, frowning as he watched me pack a suitcase. “You’re leaving?” “What else would I do?” My barbed tone made his voice harden. “Why are you making a scene? No one is blaming you.” “Oh, is that it? Is that the greatest mercy you can show me?” I dropped the suitcase and faced him, a cold sneer on my lips. “Sean, what right do either of you have to blame me?” He struggled to control his temper, trying to reason with me. “I already told you I was sending her home. Why did you have to provoke her?” “Provoke her? What did I do? I didn’t accept her friend request. I may not have any say over who you choose to sleep with, but I damn well have the right to control my own friend list!” His face darkened, his voice laced with a rare anger. “Rebecca Pierce! Must you always be so cruel with your words? I told you, she is my sister!” “Yes, she’s a bit dependent on me. But that’s because when she was a teenager, she found out she was adopted. It made her unstable. She became sensitive, attempted suicide several times, and was diagnosed with severe depression. I was the one who took care of her, who sent her abroad to study and get treatment.” “She can’t handle being provoked. I’m begging you! Can you not show her just a little bit of compassion? A little understanding?” I stared at the man before me, this stranger consumed by rage. A bleak emptiness settled in my heart. In three years of marriage, he had never been this angry with me. Not even during the days when I deliberately tried to make him jealous, not even then had he ever raised his voice to me. The words caught in my throat. I couldn’t speak. I fought to control the trembling that wracked my body. “You’re right. I’m cruel. I’m vicious. So please, Sean, go. Go and live happily ever after with your innocent, fragile, pitiful little sister!” He took a deep, ragged breath, as if he had reached his breaking point. His voice was like ice. “You don’t have to pack. I’ll take her and leave. We can talk when you’ve had a chance to calm down.” I locked myself in the room. I heard the sounds of him packing, and then, the cold, final click of the front door closing. I learned that when your heart truly breaks, you can’t even cry. Sean and I were separated. I didn’t know where he went, and I didn’t care. His cousin, however, sent me a few screenshots of Lily’s social media posts. “Who has a brother that still tells them they can’t go to bars at twenty-four? Teehee, not listening.” Attached was a screenshot of her texts with Sean. “Today’s special: my personal chef of a brother. Another day of being fed by the best~” The selfie showed Sean in the background, trying to spoon-feed her, his expression one of pure indulgence. “Can confirm, men’s dress shirts are incredibly comfortable to wear.” A selfie of her curled up on a sofa, intentionally framing Sean working in the background. The old me would have hunted them down and slapped them both across the face. But now, I felt nothing but a hollow sense of amusement. Just as a text from my brother arrived with an update on the divorce proceedings, my assistant placed a cup of coffee on my desk. I had to admit, Cole was an excellent assistant. In just two short weeks, he had learned all my preferences, anticipating my needs before I even voiced them. He perched on the edge of my desk, a brilliant smile playing on his lips. “Good news calls for a drink.” I raised an eyebrow and hooked a finger in his tie. Cole’s eyes darkened a fraction. “But I’m not in the mood for a drink today.” I took him to my private villa instead.

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The girl I’d been talking to online mentioned she had a thing for the “clean-cut, preppy” look. Before we were set to meet in person, I silently purged my closet. Out went the faded hoodies and gym shorts; in came the crisp, white button-downs. That’s when the text started scrolling across my vision, glowing like a neon news ticker suspended in mid-air: [Why is the Side Character changing his wardrobe? If he actually cleans up, how is the Hero supposed to impersonate him to get the Girl?] [Relax. The Hero will make one snarky comment, and the Side Character will feel so insecure he’ll change back into his rags.] [Actually… the Side Character has broad shoulders and a runner’s build. He’d honestly look better in that shirt…] [Who cares about looks? The Hero is the Golden Boy of the Finance Department. This guy reeks of poverty. How could he ever match with the Simona heiress?] My fingers froze on the buttons. The dorm door swung open. Brody walked in, spinning a basketball on his finger, his eyes landing softly on my new shirt. “Carter? You bought that?” He walked over, his voice dripping with that practiced, effortless charm. “Honestly, man? That style just… isn’t you. It looks like you’re playing dress-up. It’s a little awkward.” 1 Awkward. The word was a needle, sliding precisely into my insecurity. My parents always raised me to be practical, invisible. Keep your head down, Carter. Wear clothes that last. So, I lived in oversized sportswear. But what twenty-year-old guy doesn’t want to look good? Brody patted my shoulder, flashing that winning, sunlight-bright smile. “I’ve got a new tracksuit I haven’t worn. You can have it. I just don’t want you going out there and getting laughed at.” If this were yesterday, I would have burned with shame. I would have stripped off the shirt and buried it in the bottom of my laundry hamper. Countless times I’d wanted to elevate my style, and every time, Brody was there to “gently” steer me back to mediocrity. I truly believed he was looking out for me. That is, until I overheard him in the hallway telling our other roommates that I actually had better bone structure than him, and if I ever figured out how to dress, he’d lose his spot as the campus heartthrob. Brody gave me the silent treatment for three days after that conversation. I was the one who apologized. I begged for his friendship back. I thought he was my best friend. I was so paralyzed by my own low self-esteem that the idea of competing with him never even crossed my mind. But today… I shook my head. I looked in the mirror. I didn’t see a charity case. I saw a man. I hooked a smile onto my face. “I’m good, thanks. I want to try something new.” Brody’s smile faltered. It was like a glitch in the simulation. The ticker in my vision flared up again: [What is the Side Character doing? Does he actually think he looks good?] [If he keeps this up, how is the Hero going to steal his identity and bag the Heiress?] [Don’t worry, everyone. The Side Character never sent a face pic to the Girl. The Hero is smart; he’s already planning the ‘accidental’ meet-cute. Carter is about to become the imposter in his own life.] [Exactly. The Hero just has to play the victim, and Tiffany Simona will melt. Who cares about Carter?] It hit me then, with the force of a physical blow. I was just a prop. A “cannon fodder” character in a trashy romance novel. My existence served one purpose: to make Brody look better and to facilitate his romance with Tiffany Simona. In the original ending, Brody frames me for trying to sabotage their love. I get expelled, blacklisted, and end up working manual labor in some godforsaken place, miserable until the day I die. Well. I’m awake now. And I’m not playing by the script anymore. I wanted to see what happens to a romance novel when the side character decides he’s done hating himself. I straightened my spine, squaring my shoulders in the mirror. I looked Brody dead in the eye. “My girlfriend said she likes guys in white shirts. I figured it was time for a change.” The corners of Brody’s mouth tightened. “Is that so? Carter, come on. You can’t take online flings seriously. She probably just said that…” “Maybe,” I interrupted, adjusting my collar. “But let’s test the theory. Who knows? I might just pull it off.” 2 That night, Brody didn’t try to talk me out of it again. But the air in the room was thick with his irritation. He tossed and turned all night. We didn’t have classes the next morning. When I woke up, Brody’s bed was empty. I washed up and checked my phone. A message from T-Simona. T-Simona: You mentioned yesterday you wanted to change up your look. I hope I didn’t pressure you. Just be yourself. No pressure with me, ever. I stared at the screen, a warmth spreading through my chest. We met in an online book club six months ago. She didn’t say much, but every word she typed felt like it had weight, like it came from a deep, quiet place. We clicked. We’d been “dating” for two months, but I’d always been too insecure to send a face reveal. I looked at the mirror. The white shirt was crisp. I looked clean. Capable. I snapped a photo. No filters. Just me. And I hit send. Carter: No pressure at all. I wanted the change. What do you think? Almost instantly, the mental ticker scrolled past: [He actually sent it! Too little, too late. The Hero already has her schedule. He’s probably initiating the encounter right now.] [The drama! The Hero is wearing a nearly identical shirt today. He’s going to wait for her to mistake him for Carter!] [Carter sends the photo now, but the Girl will just think he’s the copycat. The Hero is going to spin such a sob story.] [The Hero and the Heiress are destiny. Why is this garbage character fighting it?] My heart dropped into my stomach. I texted her: Where are you? No reply. I shoved my feet into my shoes, grabbed my bag, and sprinted. I reached the bottom of the stairs when my phone buzzed. It wasn’t her. I remembered vaguely that the book club organizer mentioned she was in the Fine Arts program. I ran toward the Arts wing. From fifty yards away, I saw them. Under the sprawling shade of the old oak tree near the side exit. A guy in a crisp white shirt, hair styled perfectly. He was looking down at a girl, his profile sharp and handsome. It was Brody. The woman had her back to me. She was slender, wearing a simple, elegant beige dress. Brody reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was practiced, tender. The ticker screamed in excitement: [Yes! That’s the look! The soulful second lead energy! Look at him, Tiffany! He’s the one!] [The Hero looks so vulnerable. If he says Carter stole his photo, she’ll believe him in a heartbeat!] The next second, Brody leaned down and kissed her forehead. The small flame of hope in my chest hissed and died. The woman looked up. Her gaze drifted past Brody and collided with mine. She didn’t look away. Brody followed her line of sight. When he saw me, his smile froze, then shattered. “Tiffany.” His voice was tight. “Let’s go. We’re going to be late for the gallery.” I found my voice, stepping forward. “Actually, I’m the one who—” “He’s my roommate, Carter,” Brody cut in, his voice dropping to a theatrical whisper, practically trembling. “I… I didn’t want to tell you…” He looked at her with wide, wet eyes. “He bullies me in the dorm constantly. He even stole my photos to catfish people online…” He rolled up his sleeve, revealing angry red scratches on his forearm. “Yesterday, I tried to ask him to stop, and he… he came at me with a utility knife…” The woman’s expression shifted instantly. When she looked at me again, the curiosity was gone. Replaced by a cold, aristocratic disgust. “Brody is my boyfriend now.” Her voice was ice. “If you touch him again, or try to use his identity…” She paused, looking me up and down like I was something she stepped in. “I will make sure you don’t just leave this university. I’ll make sure you disappear.” She turned her heel. They walked away. I stood there, the summer breeze feeling like liquid nitrogen against my skin. I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I opened our chat. Carter: Why would you believe a stranger over me? Sent. Thirty minutes later. The vibration buzzed against my palm. T-Simona: Something urgent came up. I’ll find you. My heart hit the floor. I laughed, a dry, cracking sound, as a tear hit the screen. Carter: I get it. I hope you’re happy. I hit send. Then I tapped the corner of the screen. Block. Delete conversation. 3 If I couldn’t change the plot of this damn novel, I could at least remove myself from it. I would stay in my lane. I wouldn’t touch their toxic love story. But the tree craves silence, and the wind won’t stop blowing. The anonymous post on the campus forum—”The Preston Whisperer”—went live the next morning. The headline was in bold, aggressive red: EXPOSED! Psycho Stalker Carter steals Roommate’s Photos for Catfishing, Bullies Victim into Silence! The post was a masterclass in fiction. It wove a narrative of a jealous, psychotic loser terrorizing the golden boy. I was the villain. The comments section was a dumpster fire. [Whoa, for real? Carter looks so quiet though.] [It’s always the quiet ones. I heard he’s on financial aid—probably jealous of Brody.] [I’m next door to them. I hear Brody sighing all the time. Now it makes sense. Terrifying.] [Expel him! We don’t need freaks like that at Preston!] I scrolled, my fingers numb. When I walked into my lecture hall, the stares felt like physical pricks. My desk was covered in blue ink. The sticky liquid dripped onto the floor, a dark stain against the linoleum. After class, I was cornered in the stairwell. Three guys. The leader was one of Brody’s frat brothers. He crossed his arms, sneering. “Well look at that. The Great Pretender. You have some nerve showing up.” “Move,” I rasped. Another guy leaned in. “Check the forum? Ten thousand views. You’re famous, stalker.” They formed a semi-circle. Down the hall, leaning against a locker, was Brody. He was watching, a faint, satisfied smirk playing on his lips. One of the guys grabbed a fistful of my hair and shoved my head toward the trash can. “Get off me!” I struggled. “You’re defending a liar! Brody is the one bullying me!” “I never used his photos! He’s impersonating me!” Someone kicked the trash can. Coffee grounds and old noodles splashed all over my white shirt. “Garbage human,” someone spat. People walked by, averting their eyes or whispering that I deserved it. I broke free and ran, hiding in a dead-end corridor of the Science building until the sun went down. My phone wouldn’t stop vibrating. Unknown numbers. Get out of Preston, freak. Die, stalker. By evening, my stomach was eating itself. I had to go to the dining hall. The moment I stepped in, someone “tripped” and splashed a cup of scalding tea on me. I yelped in pain. The cafeteria went silent. All eyes on me. The guy was Brody’s shadow, always trailing him like a puppy. “What is wrong with you?!” I shouted, my patience snapping. He gritted his teeth and slammed his food tray onto my chest. Marinara sauce exploded over me. “Stop whining! You fake piece of trash, using Brody’s face to scam girls and then cutting him up?” “I caught you today, so I’m settling the score for Brody!” I opened my mouth to argue, but his friends circled me. Up on the mezzanine level, looking down from the VIP balcony, was the woman in the beige dress. She frowned, looking at the commotion. Her friend whispered something like, “Tiffany, ignore him. He deserves it.” Down below, I was being shoved, my hair pulled. Suddenly, Brody’s voice cut through the noise. “Guys! Stop! What are you doing?” The crowd parted. He rushed in, looking like a saint, reaching out to help me up. “Are you okay, Carter?” He frowned, turning to the mob. “Don’t do this. As long as Carter learns his lesson…” Watching his performance made bile rise in my throat. I instinctively slapped his hand away. He threw himself backward like he’d been shot. As he fell, his sweatpants caught on the edge of a chair. RIIIP. The fabric tore from the knee up, revealing… thermal long johns. In June. Time stopped for a second. Then Brody started wailing, curling into a ball on the floor. “Carter! I was trying to help you! Why would you attack me again?” The woman on the balcony, Tiffany, came sprinting down the stairs. 4 She ripped off her designer cardigan and draped it over Brody, helping him up. She turned to me. If looks could kill, I’d be a stain on the floor. “Carter.” Her voice was a low growl. “I warned you yesterday.” “Get out of my sight. Now.” In this broken narrative, arguing was useless. I turned and walked out, humiliated, sauce drying on my skin. I needed to transfer. I needed to leave. Then came the notification. “Emergency Dorm Meeting.” Mandatory. It was a trap. I knew it. But if I didn’t go, I’d be expelled for truancy. I pushed open the door to the student lounge. Brody and his crew were waiting. “Ah, the guest of honor.” I gripped my backpack straps. “Where’s the RA? Where’s the Dean?” “There is no meeting.” One of the guys spun a keychain around his finger. “This is an intervention.” Someone set up a phone on a tripod. “Livestream title: Stalker Carter Confesses. 10k likes and we let him go.” Blood rushed to my head. “This is false imprisonment.” “Imprisonment?” The guy laughed, slapping my cheek lightly. “This is community service. We’re cleaning up the trash.” “Or… you can drop out. Right now. Disappear from Tiffany’s life.” Before I could answer, two guys grabbed my arms. “Let go!” One pulled out a permanent marker. “Should we write ‘LIAR’ or ‘SHAME’ on his face? Oh, right, you like stealing Brody’s look?” The marker tip hovered near my eye. I jerked my right arm free and shoved him. hard. He stumbled back, knocking over a chair. “He fights back?!” Another guy rushed me, twisting my arm behind my back and slamming me against the whiteboard. “Do it the hard way, then.” Brody rushed forward, grabbing the collar of my stained white shirt. He yanked. Buttons popped, pinging against the floor. The fabric tore, exposing my chest and shoulder. Wolf whistles and laughter filled the room. The camera flashed. “Keep going, Brody! Strip him! Let’s make him famous!” “Actually, he’s ripped. Too bad he’s a psycho. Title it: The Real Face of the Stalker.” Humiliation burned like acid. I struggled, but the hands holding me were iron. Another hand grabbed my waistband. “No—!” The scream caught in my throat. The lounge door swung open. Light flooded in. It was her. My online connection. She stood in the doorway, silhouette sharp. “What is going on here?” For a second, I thought I was saved. “Miss Simona! Perfect timing!” Brody’s lackey shouted. “We’re teaching the scammer a lesson. He tried to hit Brody again!” Tiffany walked into the room. Her eyes landed on my face. “Don’t go too far.” Brody immediately latched onto her arm, fake tears welling up. Tiffany was silent for a few seconds. Then she spoke, slow and bored. “…Just don’t kill him.” Five words. They crushed the last bit of hope I had. The goons cheered. “You heard the lady!” “Strip him!” Hands grabbed at my remaining clothes. CRASH. The double doors were kicked open. A figure stood there, backlit by the hallway lights. A long black trench coat, tall, radiating a chill that froze the room instantly.

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In the rarefied world of luxury fragrance on the East Coast, there was an unwritten rule: no high-grade essential oils or ancient aromatic resins entered the country without the Beaumont family’s approval. Eight years ago, Camilla “Cami” Beaumont lost her sense of smell in a horrific car crash. The only scent she could register—the only one that anchored her—was the custom-blended Sustaining Scent I created. That unique power made me the Beaumont House consort, the trophy husband, the man tethered to her side. I was the one who was supposed to be the beating heart of her world. Then Blaine Maxwell arrived. The new male assistant had been with the company barely a month when I saw Cami’s eyes track him across the mahogany boardroom table. “He smells so… alive,” she’d murmured, her voice laced with a raw hunger I hadn’t heard in years. From that day on, she took him to galas and industry meetings I was expected to attend. The nights Cami spent away from our penthouse grew more and more frequent. Three months later, a pristine white envelope was left on our doorstep. Inside was Cami’s prenatal scan report. Blaine’s number flashed on my phone. He answered with a victorious, challenging laugh. “Trophy husband,” he drawled, the words designed to hit low. “My scent is natural. Cami says it’s got a pulse, a real person’s scent. Better than your manufactured dead perfume.” He didn’t hang up. Instead, he sent a video. Cami was lounging on a chaise, her eyes distant and cold. “If Grandmother Beaumont hadn’t forced me to swear on her deathbed that I wouldn’t divorce Caspian Thorne, do you think he’d have lasted a single week as the Beaumont Consort?” She let out a dry, bitter laugh. “Eight years of smelling that one, unchanging scent. It makes me sick to my stomach now.” I gripped the phone, my knuckles bone-white against the black glass. Cami didn’t know the truth. She died in that car crash eight years ago. The Camilla Beaumont who was walking, laughing, and getting pregnant relied entirely on the Soul Incense—a fragile, forbidden alchemy—to keep her fractured life force tethered to her body. Grandmother Beaumont had lost her gamble. It was time for me to walk away. 1 Grandmother Beaumont’s will stipulated that on the first day of every month, only I was permitted inside the family’s old Memorial Chamber. I worked quickly, competently, placing the fine ash of the Sustaining Scent into the small, ancient ritual vessel that held Cami’s residual life force. Before I could finish, I heard a clamor at the door. Blaine Maxwell burst in, his eyes suspiciously red and brimming with theatrical tears. He dropped to his knees in front of me. “Mr. Thorne, please. Have mercy on me and the baby,” he pleaded, his voice cracking. “You can get divorced and remarry. You don’t have to cling to the title and pretend to be this child’s father.” I closed my eyes and continued my silent prayer for the Beaumont family’s ancestors. I knew this move. Every time he played the pathetic victim, Cami would arrive, ready for a fight. Sure enough, a furious shout erupted behind me. “Caspian Thorne! Blaine was right! You’re using your Consort status to abuse him, forcing him to grovel!” Cami’s face was dark, clouded with fury. “Who gave you the authority to throw your weight around in my family’s sanctuary?” I stared at the two security guards at the door, who looked away like startled quail. “Why didn’t you stop him? Are you all incompetent?” “Don’t you dare lecture my staff, Caspian.” Cami’s voice was sharp with rage. She strode over and gently helped Blaine to his feet. “Don’t be afraid of him, Blaine.” She tenderly wiped the manufactured tears from his cheek, treating him like a priceless, fragile heirloom. I pressed my lips together and turned away, trying to mask the tremor of rage in my hands. To cover my distress, I feigned calm and adjusted the ashes in the vessel. As I closed the lid, a hand slammed down, knocking the small box to the marble floor. The fine, silver-gray ash exploded upward, clouding my face and stinging my eyes. “All you ever do is fuss over this junk—this incense for the dead,” Cami spat. “The ashes, the scents, it all smells like a goddamn mausoleum.” Her gaze suddenly landed on the small, ancient oak plaque in the center of the chamber. Her eyes narrowed. She grabbed my throat, her grip instantly tightening. “How badly do you want me dead, Caspian? Why did you put my name on a tethering plaque in the family’s Memorial Chamber?” A bitter, humorless smile touched my lips. She had finally noticed. Eight years ago, Cami had survived the crash with her body mostly intact, but her psyche was shattered, her soul fragmented. Grandmother Beaumont, desperate, came to me—the last of the Thorne scent-alchemists—begging for a solution. I agreed on one condition: I would create the Sustaining Scent and use the ancient Thorne Plaque to tether her life force. The debt was mine, the secret was ours, and during the duration of the ‘Scent Bond,’ she could never be told the truth. So, when Cami demanded an answer, I said nothing. But Blaine, ever the opportunist, leaned forward, a look of faux contemplation on his face. “I… I heard of a kind of old-world occult magic. Where you tether a name to a marker to keep a spirit trapped…” He shook his head quickly, acting horrified. “No, no, that’s impossible. Mr. Thorne would never dabble in anything that dark. I must be wrong.” Cami didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the oak plaque and smashed it to the floor, stomping on the fragments. I screamed, the sound tearing from my throat. “Cami, stop! You’ll destroy yourself!” Without that anchored fragment of her soul, her time was terrifyingly limited. My panic only seemed to fuel her conviction. She sneered. “Stop the theatrics, Caspian. What will it take for you to give Blaine his rightful place as the Beaumont consort?” My throat was tight, choked with despair. I managed to force out one word. “Divorce.” Cami’s brows knitted together. She massaged the throbbing vein in her temple. “You know Grandmother’s Will prohibits it unless ninety percent of the family signs off. You’re asking for the impossible.” I twisted my mouth into a pained smile. “And aren’t you doing the impossible to me?” Cami fell silent, the rage briefly replaced by a flicker of confusion. Blaine immediately pointed to her slightly swollen belly, reminding her of the urgency. “Cami, our baby can’t wait. Why don’t we talk to the elders tonight? Maybe they’ll finally agree.” After a moment of thought, Cami pulled out her phone and had the house manager summon all the senior Beaumont family members to the old estate. Half an hour later, Cami stood holding Blaine close, announcing to the gathered assembly, “I want to divorce Caspian Thorne.” 2 The conference room fell into a sudden, icy silence. Uncle Robert, the eldest patriarch, slammed his hand onto the table, splashing his Earl Grey tea. “Absolutely not! Over my dead body, Camilla.” A chorus of agreement followed. “He’s right, Cami. You’re not getting any younger. What kind of snake oil has this boy been feeding you? You’d throw Caspian away?” they muttered, shaking their heads in disappointment before filing out. Cami was vibrating with fury. She pointed a trembling finger at me. “What did you promise them? What kind of blackmail do you have on them to make them support you like this?” Blaine, his face crumpled with fake sadness, sighed dramatically. “If Mr. Thorne won’t agree, let’s just drop it, Cami. The baby can always just take his last name.” Cami pulled him into a fierce embrace, promising, “I will fix this, Blaine. I promise you.” I lowered my eyes to hide the devastating loneliness churning inside me and walked straight upstairs. My covenant with Grandmother Beaumont was simple: as long as I was the Consort, Cami’s physical safety was my paramount responsibility. With the Plaque destroyed and her soul-fragment scattered, I had to create an even more potent Soul Incense just to keep her body alive. I pulled out the sealed Thorne Family Grimoire—the book of formulas my father left me—and worked for three days straight. I found a way, a desperate, final solution, requiring a single, harrowing catalyst: my own heart’s blood. When the three-inch needle pierced the skin just above my heart, I didn’t cry. But when I looked at the bowl containing the precious, nearly-congealed paste, I sank to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Cami had promised me she was only using Blaine to try and recover her sense of smell. She swore he was merely a tool, and that I was the one she truly loved. I had been the fool, buying the lie and becoming the industry’s joke. Lost in the crushing memory, I didn’t notice the sharp, burnt smell emanating from the ceramic dish until it was too late. “Need a hand, Cas?” Blaine had appeared silently behind me. Quick as a snake, he grabbed the jade mortar and began mixing the paste rapidly. My eyes widened in terror. “Give that back!” He sidestepped my outstretched hand, a glint of perverse pleasure in his eyes. Crash. The mortar slipped, shattering into a million white fragments on the floor. “What did you do?” Rage, primal and suffocating, burst from my chest. Cami, hearing the commotion, rushed in. Her immediate concern was for Blaine. “What happened here?” “I just wanted to help Cas, but I accidentally broke his dish. I even cut my finger.” He showed her the microscopic scratch on his thumb. Cami’s face was instantly flooded with concern. She turned on me, her voice a roar. “Caspian Thorne, what in God’s name is the matter with you?” She stopped short, her eyes landing on the scattered pieces of jade. An uncharacteristic flicker of guilt crossed her face. My shoulders shook, and I choked on the lump in my throat. “You know… you know that was my father’s.” Cami looked away. “It was an accident, Blaine didn’t mean it. Besides, your father left you so much. What does one dish matter?” Her blatant favoritism was a physical punch to the gut. I bit my lip until I tasted blood. “Would you be so generous,” I whispered, “if he had smashed your mother’s last possession?” The question hadn’t even finished leaving my mouth when a stinging slap connected with my cheek. My right eye immediately swelled. Cami was breathing hard, her eyes blazing with hatred and disgust. “Don’t you dare bring my mother into this! If it weren’t for you, she’d still be alive!” Five years ago, Grandmother Beaumont had a massive heart attack. The staff had the day off, and I was away on an emergency trip. I had promised Cami before we married that I would always look after her family. I broke that promise. It was the poison that had slowly killed our marriage. Seeing Cami on his side, Blaine grew emboldened. “Caspian, Cami is the heir. How dare you publicly challenge her like this?” He turned to the guards. “For a lesson, smash every single one of his things! Do it!” The security team immediately began following his orders. Glass vials, delicate measuring cylinders, and precious copper vessels were all smashed against the tile floor. I was shaking, a silent scream caught in my throat. I lunged forward, but Cami pinned my arms behind my back. “Regret it now, don’t you? Where was this passion five minutes ago?” My instruments—my inheritance, passed down through generations—were being destroyed. It felt like watching my family die again. But Blaine wasn’t finished. He held up my father’s Grimoire, the leather-bound book that held centuries of Thorne knowledge. I fell to my knees, pleading, tears streaming down my face. “No. Please. Don’t.” It was the last piece of him I had left. Blaine raised an eyebrow, a triumphant smirk on his face, and tossed the book into the massive stone fireplace. In that instant, as the flames licked the ancient leather, I wrenched free of Cami’s grip and dove headfirst into the fireplace. “Caspian, are you insane!” Cami shouted, a flicker of genuine fear in her eyes. It only vanished when I stumbled back out, coughing and scorched. My hands were covered in massive blisters, but I clutched the remaining, charred pages of the Grimoire to my chest, sobbing until my ribs ached. Blaine, pleased with the spectacular result of my breakdown, swaggered off to the master bedroom. Cami threw a tube of burn cream at me. Her fingers twitched, as if she wanted to touch me, but I turned my head away, my jaw locked. “You are impossible!” Cami muttered, her face hardened again. She spun and stalked off. I stayed huddled in the corner, clutching the sacred, burnt pages, staring blankly at the ceiling. Then, my phone rang. “Caspian,” a familiar voice purred. “Interested in making a deal?” 3 The voice belonged to Blair Ashworth, Cami’s fiercest business rival. “Yes,” I said, nodding even though she couldn’t see me. “But you have to do something for me first.” Cami’s cruelty had been absolute. I had nothing left to lose. Blair agreed without hesitation. I buried my head in my arms, allowing myself one last moment of grief before I began my final campaign. A while later, my face wiped clean of tears and my expression a mask of indifference, I knocked on the master suite door. The muffled laughter inside immediately stopped. Cami opened the door, her silk robe slightly askew. “What do you want?” I handed her the remaining jar of the precious, thick paste. I spoke in a dead, flat tone. “I won’t be making Scent anymore. This is the last batch…” Before I could finish, Blaine snatched the jar from my hand. He held it up, a triumphant look on his face. “It’s this stuff. I had a little bit of the residue tested last week. It contains a chronic toxin. It’s highly addictive and leads to systemic collapse and eventual death.” Cami’s eyes narrowed into slits of pure fury. She slapped the tray from my hand, sending the last of the Sustaining Scentsplattering onto the carpet. I watched the precious balm absorb into the wool, my expression unchanged. I had expected this. Her shoe ground the paste into powder. “I knew it! I’ve been feeling so light-headed without your perfume lately. It was withdrawal! Caspian Thorne, you have a truly vile heart!” She grabbed my throat again, her eyes bulging. She was waiting for me to beg. I refused. Without the Sustaining Scent, Cami had less than a month to live. I didn’t say it. She wouldn’t have believed me anyway. I was done explaining. Seeing my lack of reaction, Cami’s grip tightened, but she was suddenly distracted by a sharp, aggressive bark. Winston, our elderly Golden Retriever, stood with his tail high, baring his teeth at Cami. “The disloyal brute,” Cami snarled, kicking out at him. Winston easily dodged her. We had gotten Winston when we first married. Cami never had time for him; I had raised him. He was fiercely loyal to me. I gasped for air and gently stroked the top of his head, signaling for him to go out to the garden. I returned to my room and began packing. One carry-on suitcase. It was all I needed. A knock. Blaine stood there, looking remorseful. He slipped his arm around mine, far too familiar. “Cas, I was a total jerk this afternoon. I apologize, okay? I made a feast to make it up to you.” He pulled me into the dining room and seated me at the table. The meal was spectacular, and the aroma was genuinely tempting. But when I looked at the shimmering, perfectly cooked meat on the platter, a strange sense of unease settled in my gut. Seeing I wasn’t eating, Blaine smiled thinly and placed a piece of meat on my plate. “Go on, Cas. Eat.” When I still hesitated, Blaine looked to Cami. She cleared her throat. “If you eat this meal, I promise I will move out with Blaine immediately. We won’t bother you again.” At her final word, I took a small bite. The moment the meat touched my tongue, Blaine slammed his hands on the table and let out a manic, cackling laugh. “Caspian, doesn’t that taste familiar? That’s your sweet little Winston!” Staring at his gloating, triumphant face, a wave of nauseating horror washed over me. Gag. Puke. I vomited violently, the food mixing with bitter bile. Ignoring the mess, I sprinted outside to the garden. Winston wasn’t there. Instead, I saw a bloody pile of fur and muscle near the stone fountain. Two bodyguards were calmly washing the dog’s skin. “The Madam really spoils the Young Master,” one chuckled. “He wanted Winston’s fur for a rug, and she just had the dog killed. Wonder what Mr. Thorne will do.” “Who cares? He’s yesterday’s news. The future is the Young Master.” Tears streamed down my face, hot and agonizing. I raced back inside and slapped Blaine across the face with all the remaining strength I had. “You sick psychopath!” Cami fiercely shoved me away. “It was just a joke, Caspian! You don’t need to be so dramatic about a dog that was going to die soon anyway. I’ll buy you a new one!” My forehead cracked against the corner of the dining table. Blood streamed down my face. I glared at her, trembling with venomous hatred. A look of genuine distress crossed Cami’s features. She started to reach for me, but Blaine immediately shouted, pointing down. “Cami! Look! You’re bleeding! The baby! That bastard Caspian must have caused this!” He was a master of his craft. I was the one who was bleeding and broken, yet he somehow made himself the victim. Cami felt a sharp cramp. She immediately forgot me and rushed off to the hospital, not forgetting to leave one last warning: “If anything happens to my baby, I swear I will make you pay!” 4 By the time Cami returned from the hospital with Blaine, the old estate was packed with every senior member of the Beaumont family. Her eyes were murderous when they landed on me. She spat out the words. “Caspian Thorne, what fresh hell are you trying to cause now? Did you call them here to defend you?” I was given the blame before I had a chance to speak. Uncle Robert stood up, looking at Cami with an expression of profound disappointment. “Camilla, we came on our own accord. We have conferred, and we agree: We approve your divorce from Caspian.”

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My best friend’s Navy SEAL brother retired from the military and came back. It is said that he was seriously injured in a mission and lost his fertility. Best friend sighed everyday for this: “I decided to be Child-free in this life, now my brother also had this accident, I see our old Zimmerman family is going to cut off the incense, completely lonely ending!” Who would have thought, a few days later, when I finally saw this legendary tough guy soldier with my own eyes, I was completely dumbfounded. How does he look exactly the same as the father of my child from a one-night stand a few years ago! Chapter 1 “All blame my dad for giving unlucky names, I am Zoe, my brother is Jace. Sounds like ‘Zero’ and ‘Cease’, can it be good!” In a BBQ Joint, best friend hugged a beer bottle wailing like a ghost. “Originally I wanted to wait for my brother to come back, introduce him to you, let Nina become my biological niece.” “But a man can’t reproduce, what’s the difference from waste. We have such good relationship, how can I harm you!” Just talking, her phone rang. I glanced at the screen. Jace. Best friend already drunk lying on table, didn’t hear at all. I struggled for a moment, when the impatient ringtone rang for the third time, I answered for her. “Mom said if you are not dead, roll back home.” Voice deep. Quite good to hear. I pinched my inexplicably hot earlobe. “Hello, I am Zoe’s friend.” “We are at the BBQ Joint on South Main St, do you have time to pick her up?” Looking at best friend like this, it would be hard for her to go home by herself today. I drank not little either. If someone can pick up, naturally more convenient. Opposite haven’t responded, best friend originally lying on table suddenly “corpse revived”. “My that pitiful brother yo, went to military academy young age, old age still a Virgin, now this situation later fear no one wants…” Receiver end suddenly fell into weird silence. Awkwardness made my drunkenness fade a bit: “She really drank a lot.” “Address.” “8 South Main St.” Phone hung up. Chapter 2 Before I heard best friend talk about her brother. A tough guy with will like steel. Her idol since childhood. But when we knew each other, her brother was already out executing missions. I never saw him. Until a week ago, best friend’s brother retired, I then knew he was heavily injured. Seeing time about right, I supported best friend waiting at door. Far away saw a black Ford F-150 drove over. Down came a tall man. Wearing sharp work clothes, shoulder wide legs long. Can’t see face clear, only glimpsed a sharp silhouette. Same time, video call came. “Is it Nina?” Best friend dazedly looked at my phone. “So late suddenly find you, don’t be any situation.” “You quick answer, my brother already arrived.” Saying, she waved hand to not far away man. I heart also some not worry little kid situation. Too late to greet other party, only wait man walk closer then hurriedly walked aside answer video. Almost immediately. Nina’s small face appeared opposite. “Mom!” Kid smiling, I then sighed relief. “Why not sleep yet?” “Miss Mom!” Saying, phone that end came my mom voice. “Today took her to countryside catch crawfish, played crazy. Home not willing sleep, insist video with you. You outside, why not home yet?” “I out gather with Zoe.” These few days my mom took kid back old house, I also rare got leisure. “Godmother also there?” Nina’s small face squeezed over again: “Mom, I want talk to Godmother!” I turned head looked at main gate. Zoe already carried on shoulder by tall man, like a sack directly thrown into that truck beside. Yes. Is thrown. I twitched mouth corner. Really is… tough guy style. Chapter 3 Giving birth to Nina counted as an accident. Four years ago I just broke up. Bar buy drunk met a man. Calm abstinent. Every breath precisely stepped on my aesthetic point. Taking advantage of alcohol, I slept him. Unexpectedly, that night we abnormally match. I still remember man’s rough big palm brushed over me, caused light tremble. That time I thought happening a romance also not impossible. Didn’t expect next day open eyes, other party answered a call expression suddenly serious. “Copy that, I go immediately.” Then rapidly get up wear clothes. Wrote a string numbers on paper: “I have an emergency mission now, you can call this number contact me.” Whole process I even didn’t know his name. Originally I thought we later won’t have intersection, but didn’t expect next month I found out pregnant. Under ten thousand helpless, I called this number. Several times no one answer. I thought myself was cheated. He should be not interested in me, casual found an excuse leave. Afterwards afraid I pester, made up a contact way dismiss me. Because body reason, I still gave birth to this child. But I never regretted this decision. Nina obedient and smart, these years I also very rejoice have her company. Next morning best friend sober, called me complain. “My brother too rude, knocked my hand green. I tell you this kind man absolutely can’t find, have violence tendency…” Voice not fall, over there came warning deep voice: “Zoe.” Best friend suddenly silent, then thought something, voice fawning: “Bro, afternoon free not, help my friend move some goods?” “No free.” “Great!” Best friend simply ignore her brother say what, said to me, “Found you a labor, afternoon help you move things together.” “No need no need, I afternoon myself can.” “All own brothers, have what embarrassed! He anyway unemployed at home, whole day idle also nothing do.” Originally I thought best friend just joking. Didn’t expect afternoon she really came. Behind still followed a tall man. Chapter 4 I opened a Lingerie Boutique in downtown. Operated many years, business count not bad. Didn’t specially hire clerk, inside outside all myself manage. Sometimes busy not come over, Zoe will also come help. Noon just counting stock, heard someone arguing outside. “You let me move goods, is women lingerie?” “Lingerie what wrong, you usually not wear underwear go out ah? Jace you again like this I tell Dad, say you gender discrimination!” “You feel yourself not cleaned enough, right?” Man tone obviously impatient. “You could it be want beat woman? Then I sue world!” Seeing two people about quarrel, I busy walk out. “It’s okay, it’s okay, goods not many use not so many people help.” Look up want apologize to best friend brother: “Really sorry, Zoe didn’t say clear with you what shop, just rashly called you over. I…” Words not finished, I thoroughly saw clear other party appearance. Sharp edges, features handsome. Whole body testosterone followed that dark brown jacket pounce face come. I thoroughly forgot myself want say what, four years ago memory surging pounce come. Knuckles embedded in hair, veins popping arms, heavy powerful panting. I surprised myself actually every detail remember so clear. “Forget it forget it, you not willing then go, put a stink face really thought we beg you ne!” Zoe rolled eyes, hooked my arm. “Don’t apologize to him, few years not back, now a bit gentleman manner no have!” “Wait.” Man blocked in front of us. Sight firmly lock me. I suppressed inner waves, pretended calm look back. He light coughed: “Where are things?” “What things?” “Didn’t say let me move goods, where are things?”

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Transmigrated as an NPC in a romance novel, the System wanted me to Conquer the novel’s second male lead. He wanted me to serve him tea and water, I even massaged his shoulders and legs. He wanted to eat Wonton Soup ten miles away at night, I drove overnight to buy it. When the conquest value was about to reach ninety-nine, the female lead kissed him in front of me. At that moment, the conquest value cleared to zero. The System asked me. “Failed for the third time, still want to continue?” My heart was dead as ash. “No, I want to go home.” In an instant, I saw him suddenly look up, looking at me with eyes full of panic. … Chapter 1 Lila lost Truth or Dare, had to choose a boy to kiss on the spot, she chose my fiancé Adrian Thorne at a glance. At that time, I was sitting aside, peeling off the white strings on the orange Adrian wanted to eat one by one. Adrian’s friend looked at me. “Sister-in-law won’t mind right, just playing a game.” Adrian put his hand on my shoulder, coldly glanced over. “Don’t disgust me.” This scene made his friend feel chill, said my fate is really good, to be loved by Adrian. But he knew, his hand pinched my shoulder painful, when I looked at him for help, he stared tightly at Lila, unaware at all. Today was originally a class reunion, Lila was the campus goddess back then, everyone was jeering to let her kiss one quickly. Lila’s eye corners flashed with tears, forced a smile, peripheral vision dead staring at us. The man who failed to pursue her back then embraced her shoulder. “Adrian unwilling, it’s okay, have me.” The man smiled wretchedly, kept leaning towards her. “Just once is fine, come on come on.” Adrian lowered his head, picked up the orange I just peeled and stuffed it into his mouth. He smiled gently as always, even broke a piece of orange wanting to feed me. But I saw the conquest value above his head falling down. I knew he was heartache, just using me to distract attention. Lila endured tears, finally when about to touch, fierce pushed the person away. “I am not willing.” The orange paused at my mouth. “In my heart always only have one person.” “I know he is about to get married, but I still want to be brave once today.” Saying, Lila strode over to pull me away, cupped Adrian’s face and kissed him. Whole field silence. Adrian didn’t resist, even the moment Lila left, pulled her into his arms, deepened the kiss. The orange in hand caught off guard rolled to the ground, stained with dust. In an instant everyone in the field stood up jeering, some even picked up phones to record. When I bent down wanting to pick up the orange, watched it burst under someone else’s feet, became disgusting. Can’t pick back anymore. System beside me angry shouted. “Male Two do you still remember you have a girlfriend!” Pity, except me no one can hear his words. Alarm sound in brain still sharp repeating. “Conquest value cleared! Conquest value cleared!” After two people kissed for a long time, panting, hands still on each other’s shoulders, eyes sticky. Next second, Adrian carried Lila horizontally in front of everyone and walked out. System dejectedly asked me. “Third conquest failed, still want to continue?” My heart dead as ash, repeatedly shook head. “No, I want to go home.” In peripheral vision, I saw Adrian paused for a moment, finally still head not back walked away. Abandoned me in front of everyone. Chapter 2 Adrian’s car long disappeared without trace, and here is remote, I can only walk home. Car after car sped past me. Adrian’s friend who couldn’t stand me specially stopped to mock. “Long couldn’t stand your dog leg look, just knew to snatch man when Lila not notice, shameless!” “Peacefully be your assistant, don’t delusional anymore!” Finished deliberately blasted me a face of exhaust gas. I took out wet tissue wiped face, conveniently wiped tears away. I didn’t deliberately snatch man. When transmigrated into this romance novel, Lila had already abandoned Adrian and went abroad to engage with male lead Caleb Sterling. System told me, conquest value 100% not only can thoroughly change his destined death ending, but also can take away four million dollars home. I already conquered him third time. First conquest, Adrian trapped in a big fire caused by crew mistake, I risked death to save him out. But he woke up forgot all, also treated me as initiator hung on net to scold. Second conquest, he relented willing to marry me, I diligently planned for half a year. Wedding day, Lila crying called him, he immediately abandoned me. All this, I could originally blame on my only 60% conquest value. But this time, 99%, still couldn’t escape fate of clearing. System comforted me, at least still have ten days can go home. But because against heaven, before going home will suffer a little backlash. I smiled bitterly, held back impulse to cry again. I was tortured so long because want to please him, still afraid of last little bit? Because next day Adrian has filming task, I rushed to scene early to prepare in advance. Going home soon, I also don’t want to add trouble to anyone. Adrian was late, I called for an hour no one answered. Director dared not fire at Adrian, could only vent on me. “You are his assistant, don’t know communicate with him in advance?” But I clearly agreed with Adrian yesterday. I repeatedly bowed apology, opened WeChat sent message after message asking when Adrian can arrive. I subconsciously worried about his career development. This drama is very important to him, if acted well, can impact the Oscar he desired for four years. And director is famous big shot in circle, offending him won’t be easy later. When I was anxious turning circles, learned just now Adrian sent message to director, saying he has something today asking for leave. He has good credit in circle, high status, director instantly believed his words, immediately agreed. But crew loss already produced, director sent cost to agent asking her compensation. Agent knew after, blamed everything on me, immediately deducted my three months salary to teach me lesson. Even sent this matter to company group with Adrian to warn others. Adrian also didn’t defend for me, just silence. Soon, Lila posted a Instagram. In photo two people fingers interlocked. “Hee hee, one sentence bored let future Actor Adrian lie ask leave accompany me out play.” Below soon someone commented. “This is talented man beautiful woman born pair!” “Wish together forever, don’t let Scarlett that bitch take advantage again.” “Sigh, take advantage again so what, four years time she also can’t catch Brother Adrian heart, a waste.” Adrian only replied Lila: “As long as you happy, I willing do anything.” He calmly publicized favor to Lila, ignored others humiliation to me. I couldn’t help send message question him. “Why not tell me in advance you want ask leave, I am not only your assistant, more is your girlfriend.” He replied quickly. “You are just an assistant, I no need tell you everything in advance.” Good a just assistant. For Lila, always never asked leave him suddenly asked three days leave, now even want draw clear line with me. Sure enough, no anyone anything more important than Lila. I lazy to reply again, deleted all info about him on phone. Don’t want care, I want resign. Chapter 3 When I went company find agent, coincidentally bumped into Lila. She frowned rubbing shoulder, looked up want scold, saw clearly is me took back words. “So coincidental?” Probably is Adrian want come back handle something, bear not let her lonely so brought. She eye fast hand quick picked up my resignation contract dropped on ground exclaimed. “Adrian isn’t just ask a leave accompany me play ma, why you noise want resign.” She one sentence just fixed me on unreasonable position. She pulled my hand apologize. “Sorry ah Sister Scarlett, is we played too late bit tired, begged him ask leave accompany me, moment forgot tell you.” “You rest assured we later won’t like this, absolutely tell you early early, not let you difficult.” “Last night that post scolded too ugly, you don’t take into heart ah.” “Actually I still very thank you accompany Adrian so many years, took care him so well.” She smiled gentle generous. I also smiled, want pull hand out. “No need say these, I am really…” Lila smile unchanged, but dead grabbed my hand. I didn’t think much, just unwilling have any entanglement with her again. Fierce used force, I flung a slap on her face. Lila fair face instantly more a clear red palm print. When she covered face, a look of disbelief, then wanted counterattack. Adrian rushed over grabbed her hand. “Lila, what you doing?” I looked Adrian blocked in front of me, full belly grievance surged up, couldn’t help tear. Lila same tears watery pointed her own face. “Brother Adrian, is she hit me first, she said I shameless snatch others boyfriend, flung me a slap, I angry want counterattack, this just happen by you bumped, this definitely is she deliberate provoke me!” Adrian slowly let go her hand. He believed Lila words, used hand stroke her face, tone gentle. “Is I misunderstood you, pain not pain?” He wiped Lila tears, protected person behind, coldly looked at me. “Apologize.” My tears haven’t fall finish, he but tsked a sound. “Character corrupt person is you, how still have face cry.” System can’t watch down, beside shouted at Adrian. “You blind just go cure ah, based on what she speak you believe, own girlfriend speak just not believe!” “Back then Lila abandoned you go abroad marry Caleb matter you all forgot ma, is Scarlett save you a life when you suicide!” “Is you said, she is your only salvation in this world, you all forgot.” “Wait ba, that time she really left, have you regret.” Adrian lightly laughed, then calm open mouth. “In my heart always only have Lila, others I one not care.” His words out, not only I stunned, System also stunned. “How he seem can hear my words?” I didn’t sound, just gently wiped own tears, then faintly open mouth. “Sorry.” Adrian somewhat surprised. “You said right, I character corrupt, naturally not worthy be your assistant.” I took back my resignation letter sign on it. “So I apply resign.” His expression froze a moment, smile slowly cold down. “You serious?” I didn’t care him, then walked past him. He just wanted chase up but grabbed arm by Lila. “Adrian, she just act sample, how would bear really leave.” He sure enough stopped. I sneered once, didn’t care. Is it true, later naturally understand. Chapter 4 Submit finish resignation application, hand over all work after, already evening. Tomorrow can go home, just stepped out company door my heart a burst cramp pain. System told me, this is backlash before going home. I squatted aside eased for long time, suddenly thought home still have a little cat. Little cat was I adopted road side when came to this world, in that period time not yet liked by Adrian, it was my only comfort. Without it, I probably early collapsed. After home, I rely memory unlock enter door found whole room changed. My slippers at door gone. Not only so, couple photo on TV cabinet, succulent plant in kitchen all thrown away. Original position already replaced by Adrian and Lila photo, and rose bouquet Lila likes. I stunned, straight rushed to cat room. Whole cat room things all cleared, became Lila dance room. Little cat gone. I turned over whole room, inside outside all no little cat figure. Huge panic suppressed me. Click. Home big door opened. A moan. I watched Adrian press Lila on wall, single hand hold Lila waist, lower head at Lila neck. Lila just want hug back Adrian when met my eyes, obviously scared. “Adrian, home have people…” Adrian tsked a sound, turn head eyes like want eat me, then instant stunned. I endure nausea, angry run over question. “Where is my cat.” Lila smiled, careless said. “I allergic to cat hair, last night threw it.” My tears fierce fell down, instant hands feet ice cold. My little cat so timid, so clingy. Lila actually cruel throw it to garbage dump. I angry shaking, instant grabbed her collar. “Threw where.” Lila strangled fierce cough, eye corner flash tear flower. “Say ah!” Adrian want pull my hand open, I raise hand flung him a slap. “You base on what let her throw my little cat, it not belong you raise!” “Just so anxious let her enter door ma, Adrian Thorne you really hopeless!” Adrian pulled down my hand, dead grabbed, raise hand brush away my eye corner tears. I dead stare him. “My little cat if gone, you guys also don’t think good pass.” Adrian like somewhat panic, low voice coaxing. “You don’t angry, I take you find little cat okay?” Little cat was force drag on car by Lila. I looked at it in surveillance claws dead buckle ground, not willing move forward. But Lila still hesitate not drag it on car, leave arrogantly. I coldly stare her. “Lead way.” I drive myself, Lila sit passenger seat all way point. Point to a slaughterhouse. Here environment dirty, stink not disperse, Adrian endure nausea all way follow by my side. I heard inside come little cats little dogs voices, miserable grievance, like waiting master save them home. I heart under more panic, fear my little cat really accident. Get boss permission after, I rush in search. Inside little cats little dogs not many, but everyone look haggard much, barking at me. Barking little cats special many, I from dark flipped to dawn all didn’t find. I dead bite lip, fear tears fall down. Even System sigh once comfort me. “Maybe wait few years, wait little cat reincarnate, you go home not long can good good raise it ma.” I not willing wait little cat next life. Finally, in I near despair, boss point a corner ask me. “Is this one?” I fierce turn body rush towards direction boss point. Corner little cat no any movement, I couldn’t help soft voice call its name. No any response. I couldn’t help touch forward then realized, its body touch still count warm, but long no breath. Instant, I collapse loud cry. I found little cat. But it just now died. If I could find it earlier could save it back, I more think cry louder, near faint. Adrian face heavy hug me in arms. “It’s okay, we will have other little cat.” “Later we go re-adopt one okay?” Nose tip all Adrian body bring perfume smell, is Lila favorite freesia scent. I push him away, repeatedly shake head. “No need.” Adrian force twist me face him, question. “Why, you now all so cold?” “You to me a bit heart panic feeling no have ma?” I tragic smile, look up at him, only feel his words ask inexplicable. Boss suddenly open mouth tell us. “Hey you guys car on have a person always patting door, anxious very.” Is Lila. Adrian hear after lift leg just go. Just he just leave instant, my heart in a instant cramp pain. In System call sound, I two eyes black.

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My best friend became an overnight billionaire and tossed me a limited-edition Louis Vuitton bag like she was throwing a bone to a stray dog. I took it and used it to haul rotting trash from the dumpster behind the cafeteria. Why? Because I’ve died before. In my past life, Bella Sterling bound herself to a parasitic entity—a supernatural curse that allowed her to siphon off every ounce of my luck through the objects she gifted me. She became the untouchable “It Girl,” the natural-born genius who went viral with a single makeup-free selfie and signed million-dollar contracts before graduation. Meanwhile, I spiraled. I developed a severe metabolic disorder, flunked every class, and eventually died from cardiac arrest during the gym class mile run, my body giving out under the weight of a stolen life. But I’m back. I’ve been reborn. And if she wants to trade lives, I’m going to make sure she gets exactly what she paid for. Chapter 1 I was walking back from the water fountain during passing period when I saw a crowd gathered around my desk. “Harper! Oh my god, you’re finally back! Look what I brought you from the shoot!” Bella Sterling spotted me and waved enthusiastically. Her smile was dazzling, the kind that stopped traffic. Every movement she made was calculated perfection. I walked over. Sitting on my desk, basking in a sunbeam like a holy relic, was a pristine Louis Vuitton Capucines bag. The leather shimmered under the fluorescent lights. The surrounding classmates let out a collective gasp of envy. “No way. That’s a legit LV. Bella is literally the best friend ever. Harper Vance must have saved a country in her past life to deserve her.” “Please. Look at Harper. She’s a total mess. She looks like a bloated tick. A bag like that on her? It’s like putting lipstick on a pig.” “Seriously. If I had a friend like Bella, I’d be on my knees thanking her right now.” Bella heard every word. She tilted her chin up slightly, soaking in the praise, before turning her “concerned” gaze to me. “Harper, are you in shock? Come on, swap your stuff over! That old backpack you’re carrying is falling apart. It’s practically leaking pens.” It was almost funny. A long time ago, Bella was the poor, insecure, overweight girl. I was the one who bought her lunch, who helped her study. Then came my sixteenth birthday. Bella gave me a bag she had “hand-stitched” herself. That was the moment my perfect life shattered. Bella had bound the Curse to me. That handmade bag was her extraction tool. If I put a mirror in it, she stole my beauty. If I put my textbooks in it, she drained my intelligence. I remembered the time I caught the flu. I carried my medicine in that bag to school. The next day, I could barely walk without wheezing, while the historically sickly Bella suddenly ran a six-minute mile. I had spent years in a spiral of self-hatred, while Bella quietly encouraged the school to isolate the “weird, fat girl.” Staring at the designer leather, I let out a cold laugh and looked up. “Bella, didn’t you hear everyone? Someone like me makes a bag like this look like trash. Honestly, my old backpack matches my vibe way better.” I paused, scanning the room. “But I’d hate to waste your generosity. So, I’ll pay it forward. Does anyone else want a free Louis Vuitton? First come, first served.” The room exploded. The classmates who had just been mocking me lost their minds. “Me! I want it!” “Back off! I need that bag!” “Move, losers!” A girl named Roxy—tall, broad-shouldered, and mean—used her linebacker build to shove everyone aside. She slammed her hand on the desk, glaring at the crowd. “Anyone who touches this bag gets a black eye!” Bella’s face went pale. The air of superiority vanished, replaced by sheer panic. She shrieked, “No! You can’t! That was a gift for Harper!” “But she said she didn’t want it,” Roxy sneered, clutching the leather handle. “Besides, look at her. She’d probably just get mugged for it in five minutes anyway.” Bella looked like she was choking. She watched Roxy claim the bag with a mix of urgency and terror, her entire body trembling with rejection. Watching her panic, a thought crossed my mind. If the bag holds someone else’s belongings… does the extraction spell work on them instead? Chapter 2 “Harper, I hand-picked that for you! You can refuse it, but why do you have to trample on my feelings like this?” Bella’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. The switch was flipped; she was now the tragic heroine in a soap opera. “I treat you like my sister, and you just toss my gift to a stranger? That is so incredibly cold-hearted!” She suddenly clutched her chest, stumbled backward, and collapsed gracefully onto the linoleum floor. Roxy freaked out. She yelped and threw the LV bag back onto my desk like it was a live grenade. Chaos erupted. The boys in the class surged forward, eager to play the hero for the fallen princess, but hesitating to actually touch her. Suddenly, a voice cut through the noise like a whip. “The bell rang two minutes ago. What is going on in here?” Standing in the doorway were the Hall Monitors—specifically, the Student Council Disciplinary Board. At the front was Chase Montgomery. Tall, leaning against the doorframe with an air of bored aristocracy, he had pale skin and dark, intense eyes that seemed to analyze everything they touched. The guy behind him, holding a clipboard, scowled and scribbled something down before handing it to Chase. “President. Room 302. Disorderly conduct during study hall. Minus ten points.” The class went dead silent. You could hear a pin drop. Even Bella, currently staging a faint on the floor, cracked one eye open. It wasn’t just about the points. It was about Chase Montgomery. He was the Golden Boy. His father was a Senator, his mother was a tech mogul who owned half the prime real estate in the city. And Chase? He was a prodigy, already scouted by USC’s School of Cinematic Arts for directing. Chase took the pen, his expression unreadable, and signed the violation slip. Just as the group turned to leave, Bella “miraculously” found the strength to stand up. “Chase! Wait! This isn’t the class’s fault. It’s all my responsibility!” In full view of everyone, she pushed through the crowd and stood before him, looking up with wide, teary eyes. Silence stretched for a few seconds. Chase instinctively took a step back, turning his face slightly away. His voice was low, almost raspy. “Reason?” Bella took a breath, ready for her close-up. “I fainted because of a personal shock. The class was just trying to help me. The noise was… unavoidable.” Chapter 3 Bella blinked her watery, doe-like eyes, speaking in a soft, trembling voice. “I gave my best friend a Louis Vuitton bag. She didn’t want it, which is fine, but she tried to give it away to humiliate me. I couldn’t stop her…” Bella choked back a sob. Seeing her act so righteously, the rest of the class jumped in to defend their queen: “Yeah! It’s Harper Vance! She’s trying to start drama. Bella was just being nice!” “That fat loser’s backpack is literally falling apart, and she still acted stuck up. I think she’s trying to frame us!” “Harper’s just jealous because she’s ugly and broke. She’s always sabotaging Bella.” “She’s a sociopath! She bullies people all the time behind the teachers’ backs!” “Bella fainted from the stress! Please, President, put all the penalty points on Harper Vance!” They piled on, throwing every insult they could think of, dumping all the blame squarely on my shoulders. No one noticed that Bella had inched closer to Chase. She reached out, her fingers lightly grazing the hem of his blazer—a calculated move of vulnerability. “President, please,” she whispered. “Don’t punish the class. Our homeroom teacher will kill us.” Chase looked down at her. His cold, indifferent gaze seemed to soften. The tips of his ears turned a faint shade of pink. “Where is this Harper Vance?” “Right there!” Without warning, someone shoved me hard from behind. I stumbled, unable to catch my balance, and face-planted right at Chase Montgomery’s feet in a pathetic sprawl. Cruel, sharp laughter erupted around the room. I gasped in pain, feeling the skin on my palms scrape raw against the floor. “Oops! Wow, Harper, so clumsy. Why are you crawling on the floor? You’re embarrassing the whole class.” I gritted my teeth and scrambled up, ready to defend myself. But Chase had already made his judgment. He lifted his pen, writing as he spoke, his voice dripping with disdain. “Harper Vance. Bullying classmates. Disruption of order. Twenty points deducted from your personal record. You are barred from all merit awards until graduation.” He didn’t even look at me. “If you have an objection,” he added coldly, “bring the security footage to the Dean’s office.” Chapter 4 Chase didn’t give me a single second to explain. He turned and walked away with his entourage without looking back. The class exploded into laughter. Someone sneered, “Everyone knows the cameras are just for show. They only turn them on during finals. Suck it up, Harper.” Rage boiled in my chest. I spun around, grabbing the collar of the boy who had shoved me—the one laughing the hardest. I put my entire weight into it and slapped him across the face. Smack! The sound echoed through the room. “Harper, are you crazy?! You hit me!” He widened his eyes, raising a fist to strike back. But I weighed 180 pounds. Weight moves weight. His skinny frame was no match for my adrenaline-fueled mass. “You said I was bullying classmates, right? You already deducted the points. So, I might as well earn the title!” I shoved him back into his chair. The class, usually so comfortable tormenting me, went silent. They looked terrified. Bella, the architect of this misery, smiled at me with fake sympathy, assuming I was too stupid to catch her drift. “I’m so sorry, Harper. I really wanted to take the blame, but the President wrote your name down… We’re still besties, right? You won’t hold a grudge?” I looked at her, and the corners of my mouth curled up slowly. “Of course not,” I said. “My. Best. Friend.” Right in front of her, I picked up the Louis Vuitton bag, shoved it into my desk cubby, and sat down to study. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her let out a breath of relief. She thought she had won. Chapter 5 After school, I grabbed the bag and sprinted out of the classroom, running straight to a back alley a few blocks away. There was a recycler there—an old woman who sat on the ground every day at 4 PM, sorting through trash. The sun was brutal. The woman wiped sweat from the deep wrinkles on her face as she organized aluminum cans. “Ma’am, I want to buy your stuff.” I pulled a handful of cash from my pocket. Tens, twenties, mostly ones—my lunch money for the month. I gritted my teeth and handed her a twenty. The woman looked up, her weather-beaten face full of shock. She stood up, wiping her dirty hands on her pants. “I want to buy the trash you’ve collected. Or the garbage you have piled up at home. Just give me twenty dollars’ worth. I’ll be back for more.” She had never seen a student try to buy trash before. She hesitated, eyeing my school uniform, but the cash was real. Half an hour later, I was hauling the Louis Vuitton bag back to the dorms. It was stuffed to the brim with crushed plastic bottles, greasy ramen wrappers, and bags of rotting food scraps. My heart was pounding like a drum. In the past, I avoided mirrors. I hated my reflection. But this time, I walked straight to the full-length mirror in the hallway and looked up. It wasn’t a hallucination. My face was smaller. Where my neck used to merge directly into my jaw, there was now the hint of a jawline. Even my eyes, usually buried in puffiness, looked wider, brighter. The reverse curse worked. To ensure I had enough money to keep buying trash from the recycler, I didn’t sleep during lunch. I spent the time doing homework for the rich kids who were too lazy to do it themselves. My brain, usually foggy and slow because of the drain, felt clearer. But it was still hard work. When I got back to the classroom, the place was buzzing. “Holy crap, Bella, you’re legendary! I saw Chase Montgomery walking you to class!” “They just met this morning! That is insane progress. He’s ignored every girl for three years!” “I know! He’s always alone with his camera on weekends. He barely speaks.” Someone sighed dreamily. “Well, it makes sense. Bella is the Queen Bee. She’s already modeling. The King and Queen belong together.” I rolled my eyes. A heartless psychopath and a blind idiot. A match made in hell. “Chase just thought I was too innocent,” Bella said loudly, making sure everyone heard. “He said he was worried I’d get bullied again. Oh, and he said I speak very elegantly. He thinks I read a lot.” Bella walked past my desk, her smile barely containing her triumph. “Don’t spread rumors, guys. We aren’t dating… yet.” She leaned against my desk, turning her back to me. “By the way, have you heard? That reality show, Finding America’s Sweetheart, is coming to scout high schools. The winner gets a lead role in a blockbuster movie.” She lowered her voice, but kept it loud enough for the room. “Modeling is fine, but I want Hollywood. I want to be a star. Then, when I’m with Chase, no one will be surprised. They’ll just say he has good taste.” It was a great speech. Very “Main Character energy.” Too bad she was building her castle on my bones. She hadn’t read a book in years; she just stole my intellect. Bella, I thought, staring at her profile. Your double chin is showing. Chapter 6 The final bell rang. The class stampeded toward the cafeteria. I stayed behind, finishing a calculus problem set for a junior in another class. Bella stood at the front of the room, frowning into her compact mirror. She kicked the chair in front of her. “What the hell? Why does my face look puffy? Is that cow not dieting anymore?” She muttered to herself, glancing suspiciously at my desk. When she saw the bulging Louis Vuitton bag stuffed in my cubby, she relaxed. “Harper! You’re doing the right thing. Study hard!” She beamed at me, looking at me like I was a useful farm animal. “Skip dinner, okay? Look at how big you’re getting. You really need to fast. One meal a day is plenty for you.” I didn’t even look up. Bella sashayed out of the room, heading to the cafeteria to gorge herself. She didn’t know that every bit of effort I exerted now was solely for me. Once she was gone, I counted my earnings. Twenty-three dollars. Perfect. I grabbed the bag and ran out the school gates. This time, I bought a stack of old, yellowed newspapers the recycler used for insulation. I stuffed them into the LV bag until the seams groaned, then skipped back to school. At the main gate, a crowd had formed. A boy in a black shirt and a baseball cap was cleaning a camera lens. Behind him, a gaggle of girls clutched their dinner, whispering and squealing. “God, he’s so hot. Chase Montgomery.” “He’s already accepted to USC. He just comes to school to mess around with his camera.” “Is that girl his girlfriend? I’m so jealous. It’s like a movie scene.” I walked closer. It was Chase. And his lens was pointed directly under the school’s archway, at a posing, “candid” Bella Sterling. He bent down, focused, and click. “Chase! Let me see!” Bella bounced over to him. Standing close, they looked like a magazine cover. I clenched my fists, a bitter acid rising in my throat. That was my life. That was the stolen potential she had ripped out of me. I swallowed the hate and tried to walk past them into the school, but Bella spotted me. “Harper! Come here! Let’s take a picture together!” Chapter 7 Bella grabbed my arm, digging her nails in, and dragged me into the frame. “Chase, shoot it! I want a picture with my BFF!” Chase looked at me with open disgust, but he adjusted the focus—keeping it sharp on Bella, leaving me in the blur. The crowd watched, eating their sandwiches and laughing. “She looks like a mountain next to Bella. So embarrassing.” “If I were her, I’d hide. It’s humiliating.” “Comparison is the thief of joy, but wow, that’s a brutal contrast. Beauty and the Beast.” Bella looked ethereal next to my bulk. I stiffened, resisting with every muscle fiber. I knew exactly what this was. She needed a prop to make herself shine brighter. “Just a few more! These are memories, Harper!” “Smile! Come on, I’ll stand in front to make your face look smaller. Don’t move!” She wrapped her arm around my neck in a chokehold masked as a hug. I snapped. I shoved her away with both hands. “Enough! Are you deaf?!” “I said no! Get off me!” The onlookers jumped. My voice was raw, screaming with years of suppressed rage. Bella stumbled back and fell onto the pavement, looking up at me with wide, shocked eyes. Chase was there in a second, helping her up. He turned his glare on me, his eyes cold as ice. “Harper Vance. What is wrong with you? Apologize to Bella. Now. Or else.” He looked ready to destroy me. Around us, phones went up, recording the “crazy fat girl” losing her mind. “Apologize? Why the hell should I apologize? She dragged me!” I didn’t care anymore. My hair was a mess, I was sweating, and I was screaming. “Why does everyone ignore the facts just to target me? Is it just because I’m ugly? Does that make it okay to treat me like an animal?” “You people are sick! And you’re all going to pay for it!”

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Nine months pregnant, and my husband was demanding a sex doll. I reluctantly agreed. The day it arrived, he banished me to the guest room. He then spent the night tucked away in our marriage bed, presumably riding roughshod over his new synthetic fantasy. I swallowed the acidic burn in my chest and tried to sleep alone. The next morning, my husband burst into the guest room, white as a sheet. “It’s over! The sex doll… it came to life!” I just stared at him. Funny coincidence. I had a sex doll of my own waiting to be resurrected. 1 Tate hadn’t touched me since I got pregnant. To deal with his personal problems, as he called them, he had a genius idea. “Ainsley, what if I got one of those sex dolls? I hear they’re pretty awesome.” I frowned instantly. “Don’t you think using something like that is… creepy?” He bristled. “Creepy? No way, it’s completely normal, actually.” But seeing the thunderous look on my face, he switched tactics, launching into a month-long campaign of relentless emotional manipulation. “Come on, Honey… please just let me buy one. Can you really stand to see me suffering so much every single day?” Tate Wells was a man who wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted. He spent thirty days browsing models on his phone, softening me up with constant pleas and sighs. I finally cracked, just for the sake of silence. At least I’d have some peace and quiet. Tate immediately clicked “Buy” on the expensive, silicone mannequin he’d been eyeing. A few days later, he came home, beaming, carrying a massive box. I didn’t have the energy for him. I lay on the couch, scrolling through my phone, refusing to even look his way. But he actually dragged me off the cushions. “What is wrong with you?” I demanded, utterly bewildered. He winked conspiratorially, pushing me toward the living room. “I’m opening the package, you need to be out here. I’ll be too self-conscious with you watching… unless, of course, you want to join the fun?” I was too disgusted to speak. He slammed the master bedroom door shut and locked it. The sound of tape ripping and cardboard tearing soon followed. I couldn’t describe the sick feeling swirling in my stomach. I couldn’t stop imagining him tucked away in our marriage bed, conquering his synthetic fantasy. A wave of painful, acidic sadness washed over me. I took a deep breath and walked to the guest room. I was already telling myself what I needed to hear: the moment I finished my maternity leave, I would file for divorce, cutting him out entirely. This marriage had ceased to exist the second he first proposed that grotesque purchase. Half an hour later, Tate emerged. I was morbidly curious about the doll and wanted to see what he’d bought, but he blocked the doorway, refusing to let me in. If I needed anything, he’d fetch it. I glared at him, pure venom in my eyes. He instantly softened his voice. “Come on, please. And… you should sleep in the guest room tonight, okay? You’re the best, Ainsley!” My blood was boiling. I wanted to scream, to tear him apart, but thinking of his relentless, nauseating campaign over the past month, a tidal wave of exhaustion washed over me instead. I just didn’t have the fight in me anymore. I turned and walked away. The next morning, before I was even fully awake, he slammed open the guest room door. “It’s over! It’s all over! The sex doll came to life!” I sat up in bed, my brain sluggish with sleep. What in the hell does that even mean? I spent a few seconds waking up, and then the truth hit me with a cold, hard certainty. My face went utterly expressionless. He was cheating. 2 Tate clearly didn’t realize I’d instantly seen through his pathetic lie. He pulled me into the living room to look. I sized up the young woman standing in the middle of the room, her face completely blank. She was slender, thin, and wearing only a piece of cheap, ill-fitting lingerie. “This is… your sex doll?” I asked, my voice flat. Where did he even find her? He managed to hide his mistress this well? And she was striking, slender, and attractive. How desperate do you have to be to go after Tate? He was decent-looking and charming before we married, but afterward, he’d bloated into a selfish, entitled pig. Since I got pregnant, he’d been a nightmare. Did they start this before the wedding? The thought was deeply unsettling. “Yes!” Tate clapped his hands together, frantic and sweating, pacing in a tight circle. “I finished using it last night, and just kept it next to me while I slept. I woke up this morning, and she was on the bed! The doll was gone! No one else could have gotten in, so it has to be the doll coming to life!” I stood silent for a long moment. “So, the heavy package you brought home yesterday… woke up?” I asked, watching the woman’s expression. She didn’t react, her eyes remaining wide and vacant, as if she didn’t understand what I was saying. “That’s exactly it! Ainsley, what are we going to do?” I nodded thoughtfully. Then I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the cheek. He clutched his face, his eyes wide with shock. “Why did you hit me? You don’t believe me? But I’m telling you the truth!” I almost yelled, Do you think I’m an idiot? That I’d fall for that imbecilic lie? But I swallowed the words. Instead, I leaned in, my voice dripping with weary irritation. “Tate Wells! How dare you even ask me what to do? This is a national incident! A sex doll achieving sentience! You should be reporting this to the Pentagon immediately! Do you have no sense of civic duty?” Tate froze. He glanced quickly at his ‘sex doll,’ then back at me. “But…” I pointed a sharp finger at him. “The government must regret ever investing in your education.” Then I reached for my phone to call 911. The police would run her fingerprints, check her ID, and the whole pathetic truth would unravel instantly. A sex doll came to life, indeed. I bet his entire family was a bunch of inflatable knock-offs. Before I could dial, Tate lunged and snatched the phone from my hand. I gave him a look of utter bewilderment. He lowered his gaze, chewing on his lip, looking profoundly uncomfortable. “The police… maybe we shouldn’t call them?” “Why not?” He remained silent, only giving me a shifty, guilty sidelong glance. I pressed him, asking Why? Why? Why? My voice rising with each repetition. Finally, he cracked, gritting his teeth and spitting out the truth. “Because she’s a gift from Heaven!” “Why didn’t anyone else’s doll come to life? Only mine! That means she’s a sign—a great blessing to make up for all the suffering I’ve endured!” “I’ve had to live in such subservience for so long, trying to please you. And now I finally have the chance to have my cake and eat it too! Can’t you just let me enjoy it? Why are you so jealous? She’s not even fully a person!” 3 Tate’s speech made my stomach heave, the bile rising in my throat. My unborn baby kicked gently, responding to my sudden distress. I rubbed my chest, trying to calm the nausea, and addressed him with heavy gravity. “The most important thing you need to do right now is uninstall every single trashy romance novel app on your phone.” “And what is this ‘subservience’ you’re talking about? Has marrying me truly made you this miserable?” Tate pursed his lips and kept his eyes downcast, constantly stealing glances at me—the picture of an oppressed, long-suffering spouse. He whispered weakly, “What else? I’ve been living like a monk, staying loyal just for you… you have no idea how much simple male pleasure I’ve had to sacrifice…” “Look at you now. You’re not affectionate, you’re moody, you snap at everything, and you’re so big and…” He trailed off, but I knew what he was going to say: fat and ugly. I was furious, followed immediately by another wave of nausea. The fetal movement grew frantic. Everything was telling me not to lose my temper. Nine months pregnant, I had to be smart—smarter than him. Arguing with this vile man was not the priority. The pregnancy hormones made controlling my emotions a Herculean task. I clutched my stomach, took several deep, measured breaths, and finally managed to find some calm. I looked at the ‘sex doll.’ She stood awkwardly in the center of the room, curiously scanning her surroundings. The vacant, bewildered look in her eyes didn’t look faked. Could she actually be a doll that came to life? The absurd thought flashed through my mind. I picked up a throw blanket from the couch and draped it over her shoulders. She wrapped it tightly around herself and gave me a soft, thankful smile. The strange feeling in my stomach intensified. “Does she need to eat?” I asked suddenly. Tate blinked. “…I guess so? I checked her over. She’s definitely a living human.” Checked her over? How, exactly? I frowned, saying nothing, and gently touched the exposed skin of her forearm. The warmth, the pulse, the fine veins—definitely a real person. The woman looked at me, confused, clearly not understanding why I was poking her. “Does she speak? Does she understand English?” Tate shook his head. “Doesn’t seem to.” “Hmm.” I nodded thoughtfully. “So, you’ll have to teach her to speak?” Tate suddenly gave me a slimy, oily smile and walked over, gently stroking my pregnant belly. “Perfect! We’re going to teach the baby to speak soon, so this is great practice. And when the baby is born, we can have her take care of you during your maternity leave. Isn’t that perfect?” Have her take care of me? Absolutely not. Tate held my hands, his tone pleading again. “Please, Ainsley… what if you call the cops and they take her away for live testing? Would you really want that? You have a good heart.” I kept my face cold, saying nothing. I hated the way he begged. It was the same relentless, grating plea he’d used for a month to get the doll in the first place. “Honey, come on! It’s like earning good karma for our baby! Plus, we get a free, live-in nanny. A two-for-one deal!” It was, in fact, an extremely practical arrangement. It only meant one extra mouth to feed, and with our savings and income, we could easily afford it. I bit my lip, mulling it over. A plan began to solidify in my mind. I held out my hand to him. “Let me see your phone.” Tate looked confused but handed it over quickly. I opened his shopping app and checked his purchase history. There it was: the sex doll, marked as “Confirmed Delivery.” Could I request a refund based on the doll coming to life? I wondered wryly. I memorized the company name and returned the phone to him. I then adopted a sharp, commanding tone. “Fine. Let her stay, but we’ll observe her first. If she’s useful, I won’t call the police. If she’s not, I’m sending her away, no matter what.” “And you are solely responsible for teaching her the language and house chores. Don’t expect any help from me.” Tate’s face lit up with undisguised joy. “That’s amazing! I knew my wife was the best!” He hugged me quickly, then took the woman’s hand, led her into the master bedroom, and locked the door behind them. I rolled my eyes at the closed door, completely indifferent to whatever obscenity was about to unfold inside. I walked into the guest room and locked my own door. I opened my phone, looked up the doll company, and browsed their catalog. I quickly saw he’d bought their cheapest model—a half-body model, lacking a head. The full-figure model was twice the price. I let out a cold, cynical laugh and opened the customer service chat. Me: [Do you have male sex dolls?] The representative took a while to respond. They sounded like a veteran of the e-commerce wars, completely unflappable. Customer Service: [No, but we can do a custom order.] Perfect. Who says I couldn’t have a ‘sex doll’ waiting to be resurrected, too? Me: [Please customize one for me. Half-body is fine.] The agent immediately sent a deposit link. I paid it without hesitation, then asked for more details. Me: [Will the doll be wearing clothes when delivered?] Customer Service: [Female dolls wear lingerie. Male dolls will wear shorts, but nothing else.] Me: [Where is the inflation port?] 4 An hour or so later, a satiated Tate left for work, leaving me alone with the ‘sex doll.’ He sent me a few texts. [I named her Doll.] [Have her make you breakfast later.] [I already showed her tutorial videos for cooking. She’s a fast learner.] Me: [Fine.] Have her cook for me? Was I trying to win a Darwin Award? I changed my clothes and left the guest room. Passing the kitchen, I saw Linh—the name I was using for her in my head—wearing my silk nightgown, skillfully washing the pile of dishes in the sink. Remembering Tate’s claim that she was a fast learner, I narrowed my eyes, examining her hands. Were they smooth, like those of someone newly born, or rough, like those of a woman who’d spent years doing manual labor? She turned around and looked at me, a slight panic in her eyes. She stared for a moment, then made a gesture for eating, nodding and smiling sweetly, indicating that breakfast would be ready soon. I found the scene strangely unsettling. I jerked my chin at her and waved my hand, indicating she should just eat by herself. Then, I went into the master bedroom and scanned the space. The huge shipping box was still there, but the contents were gone. It would be hard to dispose of a synthetic body that size without a trace, I thought. But then I remembered: the community trash truck collected all garbage at 5 AM sharp. Tate had woken me up just after five. Was it a coincidence? Or was he deliberately timing his trash run? Just in case the ‘sex doll’ was also a thief, I locked up all the valuables in the master bedroom. Only when I was sure everything was secure did I leave the house to grab breakfast at a coffee shop downstairs. Sipping my oat latte, a sudden, ridiculous thought struck me. I opened a messaging app, found the profile of an old university friend, Brooks Carrington, and sent him a cryptic message. Me: [Want to be my sex doll?] Brooks was a bored, eccentric millionaire—a perfect blend of rich playboy and goofy performance artist. He was constantly looking for the next spectacle. I knew the story of a sex doll coming to life would hook him immediately. My due date was less than a month away. After the birth and my recovery, I’d ditch Tate and keep the baby. But before then, I needed to make my own ‘fun’ and exact my revenge on this pathetic man. I couldn’t suppress the smile on my face as I imagined the look on Tate’s face when he found out my sex doll had also achieved sentience. But when I returned home and found that woman slumped over the toilet, dry-heaving… I stopped smiling. I panicked.

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