Category: English

When we got married, Generals and Admirals in the Officer’s Housing fought to reserve the title of Godfather for our future child. My Captain husband wasn’t in a hurry, applying for delayed family planning every year. I thought he was busy with work, temporarily no mind to welcome a child. Until I scrolled to a mom blogger’s sharing post. She detailed in the post how she met, fell in love, and had a child with her current lover. But someone in the comments section analyzed something wrong, “Is the blogger a mistress? Whose serious husband doesn’t get a marriage license, doesn’t go public, and isn’t home by 11 PM every day?” “Does the blogger know about this? Does the other party’s wife know about this?” That mom unashamedly admitted her identity as a mistress, and even boasted, “So what if I’m a mistress, the one not loved is the mistress, I just missed the timing to marry him.” “As for his wife, whatever General’s daughter or Admiral’s daughter, anyway no matter how powerful, still have to be my defeated opponent.” The comments section was noisy, but I felt like falling into an ice cave. Because from those scattered words, I pieced together a terrible truth. That unsuspecting pitiful original wife, is me. Chapter 1 These days Sean Sterling has been leaving early and returning late, busy to the point of not eating properly. I know his military exercise mission is nearing the end, it’s the critical time. I tidied Sean’s study as usual, but saw the final draft of the operation plan on the desk. Without hesitation, I drove to his base, thinking I shouldn’t miss the afternoon briefing. Bored on the road scrolling phone, scrolled to that mom blogger’s post. The Paracord Bracelet on the man’s wrist in the picture caught my attention. I recognized at a glance that was Sean’s birthday gift last year, I handmade from raw material polishing to weaving. My heart clearly skipped a beat, I forced myself to calm down. But a few minutes after the woman admitted being a mistress, this post was immediately deleted. Guess verified, I endured trembling hands clicking into the account’s homepage. Video update frequency not high, every one is little woman’s muttering, and some PDA pictures: “Daughter is born, Mr. S calls her Peanut, looks like another daughter slave!” “Peanut always cries at night, I can’t rest well, Mr. S heartaches me, gave me limited edition necklace.” I know the owner of this account, she is Sean’s Junior from the Academy, Valerie. Man’s face in photos all blocked, but I already confirmed that Mr. S, is Sean who been with me for seven years. Until today, that account newly updated this one: “Third anniversary with Mr. S, want to be happy forever!” My hands couldn’t stop trembling, until base gate I reacted, tears already completely blurred vision. Confront? Or pretend to know nothing, continue living muddled life? When consciousness returned, I already arrived at base family reception room. While seeing Sean, I also saw the young woman and stroller beside him. Everything in that account confirmed, impact of picture becoming real object still made me almost faint. Child in stroller looks two or three years old, cheeks chubby, wearing a small military uniform. Valerie with elegant playful makeup, exquisite to even nails trimmed neatly. Valerie blew soup cool handed to Sean’s mouth, Sean face full of doting, eyes not moving a bit. Child in stroller unknown so, smilingly shouted with babbling voice: “Daddy, Mommy! Happy!” Sean obviously hasn’t discovered operation plan left at home, whole person not anxious not impatient: “Valerie, why you come base today, not rest well at home.” Valerie face coquettish: “Few days ago Peanut sick, you busy non-stop daily, I heartache you ah!” Turns out previous time not mission busy, was child sick. I instead heartached Sean, sat in living room till late night waiting him back daily. Valerie finished speaking sighed: “When can I be by your side openly ah, Peanut getting bigger, how to explain to her later.” Sean held Valerie’s hand like promising: “Hubby also let you call, all my comrades only recognize you one sister-in-law, you still not satisfied.” “Now home still has many chores to handle, I not bear you work hard, Clara doing it very handy.” Valerie seemed not buying this, brows frowned: “Then what about Peanut, like last time no daddy by side how can do? I don’t matter, but you can’t let Peanut be shameful whole life right.” Raising hand I saw dazzling couple rings on two people’s ring fingers, that set of rings I liked for long time. That time ordering Sean said female size not mine, but to not let me disappointed, he specially found a replacement ring. I thought he loved me, didn’t expect original ring long worn on other’s hand. Chapter 2 I wiped tears again and again, until eyes dry tears ran out. Valerie words ugly, Sean also irritable, he pulled military uniform collar, but still very restrained coaxing her: “Don’t worry, I will give you and Peanut an explanation.” “But think, Clara with me so long time, her dad before death also promoted me a lot, I can’t suddenly go back divorce her right.” Valerie completely threw temper, exquisite eyelashes trembling with her words. “What you mean ah, you so heartache Clara why come provoke me? Boohoo poor Peanut, your daddy heart no us!” Child small, didn’t understand these words, but Valerie holding her cry, she also started sobbing, one big one small cried into tear persons. After all in military base, even family reception room can’t mess around, Sean could only soften tone more, hugged this mother daughter pair: “Wifey wifey I wrong okay? Very soon okay? Very soon I let you become Mrs. Sterling okay?” I laughed, suddenly relieved. I took out phone recorded video of scene before eyes, then wiped dry tears, tore operation plan in hand into pieces, threw into trash can, turned left. On way back, phone notification rang, Valerie updated another one. This time picture is one man one woman two big hands wrapping child’s fist, caption is: “Dear Mr. S, thank you for your promise, I will wear most beautiful wedding dress become your wife.” Comment section of this one exploded many people, I clicked in one by one found Sean’s comrades inside. “Ohohoh, Officer S and Miss Y finally lovers become family?” “I cry dead, family of three just need to be neat tidy, sister-in-law I will always support you!” “Back then timid junior sister, finally marrying dream god officer?” I looked at those comments, saying not heartache is fake. Turns out everyone knew Sean had new “wife”, only me still kept in dark. Busy here there so many years, finally like I became the one breaking others family. I finished reading all comments, scrolled to bottom, in corner no one noticed someone mentioned me: “Then what about S & C?” That comment was only one not replied, nor deleted, As if mocking me, forgotten, ignored, betrayed. Once I incredibly believed Sean loved me, we two grew up in military compound, marriage alone seven years long. Me and Sean always didn’t want child, he said we both young, still want contribute more to army, and I also didn’t want bounded by child steps. This point I don’t know say Sean considerate me, or we coincided, no matter how family urged, Sean blocked for me. Relatives friends all felt we two in love, only want two people world. And I besides busy my work, managed Sean daily life orderly, his big small matters can’t leave me. Seven year itch, I knew would be cold, didn’t expect welcoming would be such a big surprise. I screenshotted everything for evidence, exited Valerie homepage, Clicked open Research Institute official website apply, without hesitation participated in this international scientific research exchange project. It is also time for me to consider for myself. Chapter 3 My mentor once invited me countless times to go abroad participate exchange project, but I all refused. Reason very funny, also very simple, because exchange shortest four years, I couldn’t bear throw Sean in country. Now good, everything in time. I just finished applying received success message, Sean phone called in. I think he finally discovered his operation plan not brought. I set phone to Do Not Disturb, just watched Sean called eighteen times in one breath. Seeing me delay answering, his text bombing also came: “Clara, help me check if there is file bag on my desk, inside has operation plan.” “Clara why you not answer phone? Saw my message?” “Now see immediately call me back.” “Clara where you go? Reply me immediately.” I watched him jumping feet breaking defense on phone other end, sneered once turned off phone. Back home I cleared messy things at home, love souvenirs I once treated as treasure I packed sold to waste collector. Love letters he wrote me, military models he made me, and other miscellaneous things, total sold $17.50, bought out all our emotions. Sure enough not valuable. Finished packing I made up a good sleep, night I was woken by Sean. He home immediately came question me: “Clara where you go today! I sent you so many messages called so many phones why you ignore me?” I felt somewhat funny, he wouldn’t really treat me as his orderly right, I must be on call anytime. “Body uncomfortable didn’t look phone, what wrong?” I not slow not fast, Sean irritably scratched hair: “My operation plan can’t find, maybe left home I wanted let you send me, but fine I explained to superior, look tomorrow.” I stretched waist lazy look him: “Oh, then you come back find yourself ba.” Sean seemed finally discover my emotion wrong, voice softened a bit: “What wrong Clara, is it I voice too fierce just now, sorry ma I just anxious…” I spread hands, face full indifference, anyway he calls everyone wife, who knows exactly how many wives he has. “No ah, I looked home no ba, maybe you left in your other home.” Sean face panicked for a moment, I hurriedly supplemented: “After all you often go your comrade home dinner something, right.” Chapter 4 I took Sean’s wonderful expression all in eyes. Sean sighed relief want come hug me, just then his phone rang. Sean looked phone, no remark number, but his expression very subtle, then looked up at me. “Why not answer ah?” I pretended reasonable look. Sean raised hand touched my head, I endured nausea looking at him. “Good oh I listen to you, I go answer now.” Sean followed steps down, picked phone ran to balcony start calling. Past times he avoided me answering phone, I all defaulted he military affairs phone, would leave enough space for him. But today different from past, this time I quietly hid at balcony door, heard his phone content. “Didn’t I say when I home you don’t contact me? I feel today she a bit suspicious.” Sean voice somewhat impatient, trying suppress temper. Phone other end don’t know said what, Sean sighed voice gentle down: “Good Valerie, I not that meaning, is want divorce but can’t let her discover ah, can’t let her have handle right.” “Mm mm, I know good Valerie, I go over immediately okay? You and Peanut obedient wait me fine.” I pretended nothing happened back to bed sitting, Sean walked out, sat bed side want hug me, I calmly dodged: “What wrong?” “Clara, today didn’t bring operation plan, mission report postponed, superior leaders not too happy, I today want go socialize apologize, not accompany you.” I look of understood, originally he at home I also not convenient pack things, hurry leave quite good. But I still want see, Valerie in his heart exactly how important. “But already very late, you haven’t accompanied me for days, I miss you.” I spoke against conscience, endured nausea look his reaction. Sean looked phone, heart tangled bad: “Clara, I promise you, accompany you tomorrow okay, you understand me a bit.” I looked his eyes somewhat forgot his original look, current Sean makes me so strange also so disappointed. “Okay, you go.” Sean like liberated quickly wore military uniform went out, I opened phone clicked into Valerie homepage, sure enough updated one: “Peanut slept early, I one sentence lonely Mr. S immediately fly back my side la, tonight use this lingerie take him down.” Picture is Valerie in sexy nightdress. I turned off phone, last trace expectation for Sean also gone, I packed things well, slept early. Next morning early, I printed divorce agreement lawyer sent me signed placed on table, and all evidence I grasped all spread on table, left without looking back. When Sean saw these I already sat on plane flying abroad, and I left for Sean only remain that divorce agreement, and my message: “Sean Sterling, let’s divorce.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390508”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Cousin Chase suffered from kidney failure and needed $50,000 for a transplant. Aunt Brenda tagged everyone in the “Family Reunion” group chat, asking for donations. Relatives cried about their hardships one after another, symbolically donating $20. Only my mom took everything on herself: “We are all family, why scrape together? I’ll pay the $50,000 surgery fee.” Watching my mom enjoy the relatives praising her as “The Saint” and “Living Bodhisattva”. My heart skipped a beat. Since I can remember, my mom has been the “Saint” praised by relatives, preferring to eat chaff and swallow vegetables herself, just to dedicate selflessly. Especially for cousin Chase’s family, as long as they cry poor and sell misery, my mom would scour property from me to give them. Sure enough, next second, my mom called me, asking for $50,000. After being refused by me, she directly brought cousin’s family to break into my house. Sitting on the floor wailing: “You must pay the $50,000 for your cousin’s treatment!” “Otherwise, where do I put my face?” Chapter 1 Aunt Brenda wiped her non-existent tears. “Luna, your cousin is only 23, the doctor said if he doesn’t get a kidney transplant, he will die!” “You are successful now, making money, just take the money out, save your cousin!” I looked at Chase aside, face pale, thin out of shape. Indeed looked like seriously ill. But that sinister look in his eyes made me shiver. I subconsciously protected my 6-month pregnant belly: “I don’t have money.” “How can you not have! I see you just don’t want to save him!” Aunt Brenda immediately screamed sharply, eyes quickly glanced at the house, exchanged a look with my mom. Took out documents prepared long ago. “How about this, Auntie won’t make it difficult for you, don’t you have a house?” “Sign this paper, transfer the house to your cousin, we use it for mortgage, get a loan for surgery.” “When your cousin gets better, makes money, then return the house to you.” I picked up the file to look, it was an agreement giving full authority of the property to Chase. As long as I sign this, Chase can dispose of my house worth $200,000 at will. This is not borrowing money at all. Clearly planned to rob my house! I put the file back on the table. “Impossible! I won’t sign!” Aunt Brenda’s face sank: “Luna, are you leaving him to die?” “We said we would return it to you later, how can you be so cold-blooded! Watching your cousin die?” I almost laughed in anger. Every time said borrow, but never seen return. “Why don’t you mortgage your own house, insist on robbing mine?” My mom climbed up from the ground, scolded me sternly: “How do you talk to elders! If mortgage their house, where will your cousin live later?” “How can you be so vicious!” I looked into my mom’s eyes: “I am vicious?” “Mom, I am your biological daughter, I am pregnant!” “Given the house to them, with a big belly, what should I do?” My mom frowned tight: “Can you be same as him?” “He is your cousin, the only male heir of our Chan family!” This sentence again. The only male heir. So, I deserve to be their blood bag. “I don’t have money.” My attitude very firm: “Won’t sign either.” Aunt Brenda turned face on spot: “Carol, look at the good daughter you raised! Such a vicious heart, deliberately wanting to harm my Chase to death!” My mom rolled her eyes, plopped kneeling down, hugging my legs crying: “Luna, mom begs you… just sign it…” “Your cousin can’t die…” “If he dies, our Chan family line ends…” This trick again: cry, make scene, threaten suicide! Aunt Brenda’s family of three stood aside, watching coldly. My heart felt blocked by a stone, pressing me breathless. “Mom, get up.” My voice dry. “No!” My mom continued crying: “If you don’t sign I won’t get up!” “Then you just kneel.” I pried her hands open, about to return to room. She suddenly smashed her head against the wall. Huge dull sound hit my heart fiercely. Her head full of blood, screaming loud: “If you don’t agree, I die here today!” I froze on spot, cold all over. My mom, for others, threatened me with death. Took mom to hospital to bandage wound. Back home, Aunt Brenda’s family already left. Fruits and supplements in fridge already emptied, even stored ribs disappeared. Only left a mess in the house. I with big belly, cleaned until midnight. My mom didn’t mean to help at all. Even with a black face, constantly scolding me. “How did I raise such a selfish daughter like you!” “Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, this is also accumulating virtue for the child in your belly, don’t you understand this principle?” “I already promised in front of all relatives, I will pay your cousin’s surgery fee.” “You embarrassing me like this now, how can I face relatives later?” “You really, lost all my face!” … I finally couldn’t bear it, red eyes shouted: “For your face, you have to suck my blood, force me to sell house?” “Mom! Do you want to force me to death?” My mom froze for a few seconds, then turned angry from shame: “I am the recognized Saint, Living Bodhisattva! Is it wrong for me to help relatives?” I laughed with tears flowing: “Saint? Living Bodhisattva?” “Mom, your face, your so-called Saint persona, are all exchanged by drinking my blood, cutting my flesh!” “I am your daughter, not your blood bag!” “Even less your tool to earn face!” My mom chest heaving violently, pointing at me, fingers trembling: “You…” “You unfilial daughter!” “Knew earlier you are such selfish person, should have strangled you to death when born!” Finished, slammed door into guest room. Door vibration made my heart twitch in pain. Since childhood, I lived under shadow of mom’s “Saint”. As long as Aunt Brenda came to cry, cousin sick, cousin needs tuition. My mom sent all money at home to them. My shoes wore holes, money from selling bottles picked for half a year, wanted to buy a pair of new shoes. My mom turned around stole my piggy bank, subsidized cousin to buy $80 new sneakers. In college I worked day and night for living expenses, but cousin wanted to buy $300 game console, mom stole my money to give him without a word. I collapsed crying, questioning her why. She put on a face educating me, people can’t be selfish, all family, need help each other. But, all her joy of helping others, was built on depriving my interests. I returned to room tiredly, opened phone. All Aunt Brenda’s words in group condemning me leaving them in lurch, selfish. Even specially tagged me: “As long as you sign, then apologize to us, we won’t count with you.” My mom apologized one by one, saying didn’t educate me this unfilial daughter well. She definitely will gather surgery fee for Chase. Midnight, I got up passing guest room door, still could hear her mumbling phone call, guessing discussing how to force me sign. My heart ice cold. Husband sent abroad for business trip, I alone with big belly, no one to help. In case something happens, what to do. Thinking of this, I ordered pinhole camera overnight. Next day, taking advantage of mom mysteriously going out, hurried let master install it. Until night, mom came back carrying big and small bags of luggage. Smilingly said: “You with big belly, not convenient, mom come take care of you for a few days.” I felt a chill in heart. Pregnant till now, she never said come take care of me. Something wrong must have a demon. But, I never expected, my biological mom, would go this far for an outsider. Chapter 2 After a day, Aunt Brenda’s family came with a few rotten fruits. Enthusiastic as if the dispute day before yesterday was my hallucination. Making my heart hairy. Few people exchanged looks obscurely. Aunt Brenda smilingly reached out to pull me. “Luna ah, day before yesterday was Auntie too anxious, our fault, don’t take it to heart.” I withdrew hand, didn’t speak. She dry laughed twice, continued: “We went back thought about it, letting you give up the house, indeed not appropriate.” “We are all family, need understand each other, help each other.” “You are a girl, later inevitably need natal family brothers help, this is also for your good.” I watched her acting quietly. Her eyes rolled: “So, we thought of a good way, no need you pay money, also can help your cousin, accumulate virtue for child in your belly.” Seeing I didn’t answer, she embarrassed for few seconds, said to herself: “We asked doctor, if use family member’s kidney, no need spend money buy kidney source, can save a big sum.” My mom nodded repeatedly: “Right! This is a good way!” Aunt Brenda looked at me: “So, we came today, just to take you to do a matching test, in case matched, no need spend your money, and can save your cousin!” “We give you another $500 nutrition fee, worth your half month salary!” I protected belly, trembling all over. Turns out, this is the way they thought of! Their abacus, played too loud! $500, exchange my one kidney! I still have to be grateful, thank them for charity nutrition fee! Saying, she wanted to pull me to test. I stepped back directly, avoiding her. “I won’t go.” “Luna!” Uncle Bob stood up, voice unquestionable: “This blood, you don’t draw, have to draw!” Chase looked sinister: “Cousin, do you just hope I die?” My mom voice suddenly raised: “Luna! How did I raise such an ungrateful wolf like you!” I covered belly, looking at three sanctimonious people, unbelievable: “I am pregnant 6 months!” “Don’t you know, if donate kidney, must abort the child?” My mom shoulders shook, dared not look straight into my eyes. Aunt Brenda waved hand, face full of indifference. “Don’t worry, we arranged everything, as long as match successful, we arrange abortion surgery, very fast.” “After surgery, few days can donate kidney.” I red eyes, voice choked. “This is my child! Is a living life!” Aunt Brenda impatient: “Child can bear again!” “You are 28, why still so insensible?” “Is the money-losing goods in your belly important, or your cousin’s life important? Why can’t you distinguish?” I looked at this room of people more terrible than devils, holding phone in hand, trembling wanted to secretly call police. A slap suddenly hit my face, center of gravity unstable, fell on sofa, phone landed. Uncle Bob face twisted, pointing at me scolding: “I educate you well for your mom!” “Why you so selfish!” “Your child gone can conceive again, but your cousin’s life only one!” “Why you so vicious! Not giving your cousin a way to live!” My mom stepped forward, lips moved, said nothing. Aunt Brenda picked up my phone, suddenly screamed: “Not good, this damn girl wants to call police!” Everyone face changed. Uncle Bob face gloomy, voice like evil ghost crawled out from hell. “I knew you wouldn’t be obedient.” “Since so, don’t blame me being impolite!” Before I could react, was held by arms. “What are you doing? Let me go!” I struggled desperately: “This is kidnapping! Is illegal!” “Mom! I am your daughter! Beg you, save me!” My mom eye rims red, dodged sight: “Luna, just go check, count mom begging you…” A cloth with pungent smell covered my mouth and nose. My vision started blurring. Before completely losing consciousness, heard Aunt Brenda’s voice say, “Carol, since all need check, then you also go check.” Chapter 3 Open eyes again, I lay in my own bedroom. Inner arm a patch of bruise, huge needle hole stung my eyes painful. “Awake?” Aunt Brenda’s face magnified in front of eyes, smile creepy. Family occupied bedroom, drove my mom to sleep on living room sofa. They confiscated my phone, not allowed me go out. I finally understood, why that day my mom specially ran back pack luggage, but claimed to take care of me. At that time, they already decided to imprison me! I protected belly shouting: “Let me out!” “You are illegal detention! Is illegal!” Uncle Bob pressed cigarette butt on floor. “Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!” “Stay obediently, release you naturally when matching result comes out in few days!” Three days in a row, I begged mom for help countless times, begged her give me phone, begged her help me call police. But she just looked difficult: “Luna ah, just listen, just donate a kidney, not painful.” My heart died completely. Few days later, result finally came out. Aunt Brenda holding few papers, eyes shining: “Matched successfully!” “Son, you are saved!” Family of three wept with joy. No one saw my mom dodging, hiding her own matching report. Uncle Bob took out donation consent form put in front of me: “Hurry sign.” Family took turns persuading me. Aunt Brenda said, wait I donate kidney, their family work like cattle and horses for me. Uncle Bob said, I don’t donate, not Chan family member, later die not let me and mom enter ancestral grave. Chase eyes sinister: “You think, you can escape?” They approached step by step, I retreated step by step towards door direction. Just when I was about to touch doorknob, Aunt Brenda suddenly screamed: “Bad! She wants to escape!” Uncle Bob face changed, grabbed me back, pulling my hair pressing to ground: “Damn girl! Dare escape, I beat you to death!” I clenched fists dead tight, unwilling to sign. Crying looking at mom: “Mom! I am your biological daughter!” “You just watch helplessly they force me and child to death?” “Mom… beg you, save me…” My mom stunned aside, lips trembling: “Child… can want again… you still young…” My face pain, Aunt Brenda hideous face magnified in front: “Don’t dawdle! Sign quickly!” My mom hand extended, retracted again. “Don’t… don’t hit her… she still pregnant…” Uncle Bob snorted, pushed me towards wall: “Pregnant what! Anyway this bastard seed all aborted!” I hit wall, belly hit table corner hard. “Ah! My belly!” I curled up in pain, bright red blood flowed from between legs. “Mom…” I reached out, voice weak: “Send me hospital… child…” My mom wanted rush over support me, pulled by Aunt Brenda. “Don’t believe her! She just doesn’t want donate kidney, deliberately faking!” My voice weak, trembling all over: “Not faking…” “Beg you… save my child…” Aunt Brenda eyes rolled: “Miscarriage just right! Saved abortion surgery money!” “Quick! Take chance now, let her sign!” She excitedly greeted: “Also, let her sign house authorization too!” My mom knelt in front of me crying bitterly: “Luna, just sign it…” “Sign mom send you to hospital…” I started consciousness blurring, felt someone holding my hand writing something. Signed, my mom shouted: “Quick! Send her hospital!” “Rush what!” Aunt Brenda snatched file, holding property deed: “Hurry transfer house! Or what if she regrets!” My mom face difficult: “But Luna she…” “Can’t die!” My mom dragged away by Aunt Brenda. Moment door closed, she looked back at me once. Eyes had struggle, but finally turned and left. I used all strength, crawled towards door direction bit by bit. Dragged a long blood trail behind. Crawled to door, supported body hard, opened door. “Help… me…”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390524”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Since we got married, my husband Julian only earned $3,000 a month. So I always scrimped and saved, even with a fever of 104°F, still stayed up late working, just to subsidize household expenses. Until I died of Cardiac Arrest in bed, my soul floated out of my body. Accidentally saw, Julian was signing a property purchase contract with a woman at a luxury condo sales office. Turns out, in these few years of marriage, he earned millions. But kept pretending to be poor in front of me. Also kept a mistress outside. However, when Julian returned home and saw my corpse. He collapsed on the spot. Chapter 1 When working overtime, I forced myself to sit straight, raised hand touched forehead, felt burning hot. Fever not light. And heart position came waves of tightening dull pain, very uncomfortable. “You look terrible, Jane.” “Hands also so cold, still shaking! You must have high fever, hurry go home rest!” Colleague Sarah walked over, concerned touched my hand. I barely smiled at her, shook head: “It’s okay, Sarah, I can hold on. Wait I finish this proposal then leave.” “Still do what proposal! Health important!” Sarah tone became serious. “I heard people say, fever especially high fever, easy trigger Myocarditis, even precursor of heart attack! This is not joking!” Heart attack? This word made my heart skip a beat. But soon, I threw it behind head. Too exaggerated, I still so young, how possible. “Really okay, maybe just common cold.” I persisted, gaze back to screen. “This proposal due tomorrow, boss said, if done well, this month can get $1,000 bonus.” This money very important to me. $1,000 bonus, can let Julian no longer worry so much about next month rent. Thinking can share a bit for him, I feel this fever can be endured. Me and Julian married three years. These three years, our life very hard. He just an ordinary employee in a small company, income not high. Every month budget carefully, can barely save a little money. But, Julian treats me very good, very very good. Although he earns not much, but gave all considerateness and gentleness to me. So money less a bit what relation? As long as our hearts together, days will always slowly get better. I always believe this point. Therefore, I willing fight all strength. Time slowly passed in fever and discomfort. When I finally typed last word, office only left me alone. Strong exhaustion like tide drowned me, I almost propped up from chair. Heart dull pain became continuous and clear, accompanying every breath, bringing a burst of slight sting. Good thing back home, moment push door, a wave warmth came to face. Julian haven’t slept, sitting on sofa watching TV waiting me. “Wifey, you back!” He immediately stood up welcome, seeing my pale face, brows tightly frowned, “What happened to you? Face so ugly!” “Nothing, just a bit fever, maybe too tired.” I squeezed a smile, didn’t want him worry. He reached hand probed my forehead, exclaimed: “So hot! Definitely high fever.” He involuntarily pressed me on sofa, turned went kitchen, “You don’t move, I make you a cup honey water.” Looking his busy back, my heart filled with a kind of sour happiness. Body discomfort seemed also reduced some. He soon brought a cup warm honey water, watched me drink mouthful by mouthful. Then, he sat beside me, holding my hand, tone carrying apology and reluctance: “Wifey, sorry, company temporarily arranged me business trip tomorrow morning, go New York for a week.” “So long?” My heart sank, sudden separation made me somewhat lost, and is when I body uncomfortable. “Mm, a quite urgent project.” He hugged me in arms, “I will miss you.” I leaned on his warm chest, listening his steady heartbeat, felt relieved a lot. “I will also miss you.” I softly said. “Just because want leave a week…” His voice suddenly lowered, carrying a trace of acting spoiled meaning, hand also started restless gently rubbing on my back. “Wifey, tonight… okay?” I immediately understood his meaning. If usual, I naturally would enthusiastically respond. But now, I whole body weak, heart that disturbing dull pain also never disappeared, I really want immediately lie down rest. I opened mouth, wanted tell him my body very uncomfortable. But words to mouth, swallowed back again. He tomorrow want business trip, a week can’t meet, I don’t want spoil his fun. Besides, he work so hard, this bit small request, how can I refuse? So, I suppressed body discomfort, tried hard let my voice sound normal even carrying point expectation. “Okay.” Got my permission, he happily kissed my forehead, then picked me up, walked to bedroom. In process of intimacy, my consciousness sometimes clear, sometimes blurred. High fever made my body burning, but more terrifying me is, heart load seemed rapidly increasing. Every heartbeat heavy and loud, that tightening pain feeling more and more clear, even brought bursts of slight suffocation feeling. I very afraid, want push him away, want shout stop. But, looking his devoted and satisfied expression above me. Feeling his desire and attachment to me, I retreated again. Chapter 2 Everything finally ended. Julian satisfied lay beside me, soon emitted even snoring. I however no sleepiness. Body exhaustion reached peak, but heart that abnormal feeling more and more strong. I struggled prop up body, pushed Julian beside, “Julian, you wake up…” He confusedly “Mm”ed, half open eyes, mumbled asked: “What wrong, wifey?” “My heart… special uncomfortable…” I difficultly organized language. “Can’t breathe… can we… go hospital look?” Hearing “Hospital” two words, Julian seemed awake some. He turned over, turned on bedside lamp, rubbed eyes, didn’t first care my condition, instead yawned, carrying complaining tone said: “Hospital? This middle of night go hospital for what?” He reached hand touched my forehead. “Still burn very high? Eat some Tylenol sleep a sleep fine. Go hospital is just blind toss.” “I tell you, our company that Little Wang, few days ago also felt self here uncomfortable there uncomfortable, insist run hospital, result you guess what?” “Checked a big pile, nothing wrong, wasted over thousand dollars for nothing! Hospitals now ah, heart too black, just thinking ways take money from your pocket!” His words, like a basin cold water, extinguished courage I just mustered. Our budget this month already very tight. If I go hospital, really like Little Wang checked a circle but fine, isn’t it wasting Julian hard earned money for nothing. He knew definitely will heartache, will pressure bigger. Under weighing, that bit weak help seeking thought, by worry of wasting money and fluke psychology of maybe fine thoroughly overwhelmed. However, Grim Reaper didn’t give me chance wait till dawn. Around 2 AM, a burst unprecedented severe pain fierce tore my chest! That feeling indescribable, as if whole chest cavity instantly exploded, all air pumped empty. I couldn’t even emit a shout. Extreme pain only lasted short few seconds. Then, my consciousness became light floating, detached from that heavy and painful shell. I “saw” myself still lying on bed, face under weak moonlight showed a kind of terrible blue grey. And Julian, knew nothing about this, still sleeping sweet. Chapter 3 I died? Just died like this?! No! Impossible! I crazy pounced to Julian, used all strength beat his face. “Julian! Wake up! Quick wake up! Send me hospital! Beg you! Save me!” But, my palm directly passed through his body. My screaming also dissipated in air, didn’t stir a trace ripple. He just smacked lips in sleep, turned over, continued sleeping. Huge despair instantly swallowed me. Just in this extreme despair moment, those happy moments belong to me and Julian, uncontrollably surged into my mind. Remember when we just married, family no money, he yet always could live ordinary days full of poetry. He would use wild flowers weave wreath put on my head, would under moonlight read clumsy love poems he wrote for me. Once, we poor only left last bowl instant noodle. He lied to me said he ate, insist pushed all noodle to me, watching me eat. Later I then found, he hungry stomach drank plain water whole night. These bits and drops, not involve money, but full of love details, constituted our marriage most solid happiness cornerstone. He although money earn not much, but he gave me his all, gave me most precious romance and considerateness. These memories more sweet, current reality more cruel. Slideshow like happiness pictures flashed fast before my eyes, finally froze on his sleeping face. My soul just dry sat by bed, whole night, my gaze almost didn’t leave Julian’s face. I how hope he can suddenly wake up, find my abnormality. Even only a trace tiny chance. Morning 6 AM, on bedside table that phone set vibration to not wake me up, emitted slight buzzing sound. Julian almost immediately woke. He quickly pressed off alarm, then first reaction is turn head look me. However, seeing I still “sleeping”, face showed relieved expression, movement became more gentle. He carefully lifted quilt, tiptoed off bed, afraid make a bit sound. He dressed neatly, then back to bed side, leaned down, printed a gentle and warm kiss on my forehead. But, skin he touched a piece ice cold, this strange touch made him slightly frown. He low voice talk to self, carrying doting blame. “So cold, must be kicked quilt last night.” Finished, he carefully helped me tuck quilt corner, pulled quilt till my chin. As if this can drive away that death coldness. I aside watched heart like knife twisted, used all strength scream: “Not cold! Julian! You touch my pulse! You try my breathing! Quick call 911 ah!” But he completely couldn’t hear. He gazed my face, eyes gentle can drip water: “Honey, wait I back from this business trip, give you a surprise.” Surprise? My heart because this sentence full of hope violently twitched painful. But, I can’t wait anymore. Finished, he last nostalgically looked me once, lifted already packed luggage, light hand light foot opened door, then gently closed. Then, my soul also followed him floated out. However, arrived Amtrak station, a fashionably dressed young woman waiting him. My soul instantly stiffened in place. They all way talking laughing, relationship looked very intimate. Julian even actively helped that woman carry bag. My uneasy feeling also at this moment, became more and more strong. Chapter 4 Boarded train, found seat sat down, already noon. Attendant pushed food cart over ask if need lunch. Julian picked up menu, unhesitatingly pointed most expensive two sets on it, ordered two. I again shocked. Julian always frugal, when we train together, he never willing buy expensive lunch on train, always prepared bread and water in advance. I thought this time because company reimburse. However, when that woman looked food in tray, charming voice said to Julian: “Brother Feng, you treat me so good every time, so happy.” This words like a poison quenched sword, fierce pierced my soul! Turns out, his generous and willing, never was for me! He cried poor to me, calculated to me, but to another woman so generous! Huge betrayal feeling and absurdity feeling let me almost soul fly spirit scatter. Lunch ended in an atmosphere suffocating me. That woman used napkin elegantly wiped mouth corner, then leaned close Julian, carrying spoiled nasal sound whispered: “Brother Feng, tonight… can we only open one room? Like this… can save some money.” I dead stared Julian, waiting his reaction. Soul trembling. Good thing after short silence, Julian voice sounded: “No need, travel standard enough. Rooms already booked, two rooms.” Luckily… he pushed away. That woman obviously stunned a bit, smile on face somewhat stiff, but soon recovered soft charm: “Brother Feng, you really are… gentleman.” Julian didn’t take words again, just picked up phone, started handle work messages. Following few days, my soul like an invisible shackle, tightly followed Julian. I saw that female colleague called Lyla, almost pervasive trying approach him. After an informal dinner with client, slightly drunk Lyla again leaned to Julian side, half complain half spoil. “Brother Feng, you treat yourself too harsh. Earned so much money, still fight life for what?” “You are our department big hero, these years earned not less than Five Million right? Heard headquarter want promote you be department manager, is it true?” Julian brows slight frown, seemed not like her talk these, only faintly hummed, count as admitted. Five million? Department manager? These few words like thunder exploded in my soul! How possible? He clearly told me, he only has $3,000 salary every month, performance bad even deducted money! We for hundred dollars electricity bill calculated, for a pair hundred dollars sneakers hesitated half year. He everyday home complain work tired, make money hard, pressure big to insomnia… If these all fake, then why? Why hide from me like this? That night, back to hotel. Julian just finished shower, wearing bathrobe sitting on sofa reading contract. Knock sound rang. Outside door stood Lyla. She changed daytime business suit, only wearing an almost transparent black silk slip nightdress. She said nothing, moment door opened, like a soft water snake, directly pounced into Julian arms, arms tightly circled his waist. “Lyla! What you doing!” Julian low shouted, body fierce stiff, immediately force, almost roughly tore her from body, pushed away one step outside. His face iron green, bathrobe belt pulled loose. Lyla pushed stumble a bit. Stand firm, deliberate created charm on face disappeared. “Julian! You pretend what gentleman! You these years earned so much money, a cent not tell your home that yellow face woman, not just long not loved her, want change a wife?” “You secretly bought that large flat in South City ‘Lake Shore Drive’, decorated so luxurious, not just for living with other woman?” “Based on what can’t be me? Where am I worse than her? Since you not love her, why not divorce? Guarding that broken marriage acting, you not tired?” “Shut up!” Julian finally exploded. “Lyla, I warn you, don’t insult my wife!” “My this life, only love her one person.” “Everything I hide from her, only because a vow I once gave her!” Lyla face instantly became pale. Then she fierce glared Julian once, fierce turned, slammed door left. Room fell into dead silence. Just then, his phone rang. He looked caller ID, is my mom. However once answered phone, came my mom anxious million parts voice. “Julian! Where is Jane? Her phone why always off? I called three days!” “I went your home knock door, knocked half day also no one answer!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390541”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After divorcing my billionaire ex-husband, I married an ordinary man. Every day he is silent, wearing a tattered jacket with messy hair, bargaining over a few cents when buying groceries. Friends teased me, although consumption downgraded, aesthetic shouldn’t downgrade too right. I just smiled: “Back then I slashed Sebastian Sterling’s little secretary’s face in front of everyone in the company.” “For her, Sebastian made a huge scene with me, my reputation long stank.” “When just out of Federal Prison, even dogs walked around me, now having someone willing to marry me is already very good.” Saying this, my knife fell, skillfully gutted a fish. While bagging for customer, while greeting next one. “Boss, new fish arrival, pick whatever you like.” The other party stunned, then tremblingly said: “Joanna, to disgust me, you ran to this kind of place to degrade yourself? Is it necessary?” Chapter 1 I didn’t look up. The blunt fish knife in hand slammed heavily on the cutting board. I skillfully scraped scales, scales mixed with bloody water splashing everywhere. Sebastian stood there, wearing a well-tailored Bespoke Tom Ford Suit, completely out of place here. He stared at my hands full of chilblains and cracks, those hands once only played piano, now rough like withered tree bark. “Don’t block the way if not buying, people queuing behind.” I casually wiped hand with rag, took the bag handed by the auntie behind. Sebastian ignored by me, expression on face couldn’t hold. He stepped forward, knocked the knife out of my hand. “Clang” a sound. Knife fell on concrete floor, bounced twice. “Miss Sterling, top student of Finance Department, killing fish here?” He roared out, voice carrying disbelief and suppressed anger. Attracting surrounding vendors and grocery buying aunties to look sideways. “Joanna, do you think this way I will heartache? Will regret sending you in?” Contempt in his eyes about to overflow. In his view, everything I do is to gain his attention. Even making myself so embarrassed. I bent down picked up that knife, wiped hard on apron. “This gentleman.” “This knife $30, just fell rolled edge, you have to compensate.” “Also, I don’t know you.” Sebastian stunned. He didn’t expect I would talk money with him. Still merely thirty dollars. Surrounding aunties started pointing fingers. “Who is this guy? Dressed like a human, running here to bully a fish seller.” “Exactly, look how scared Little Jo is.” “I see must be hooked up with Little Jo before, now see people down and out come to step a foot.” Discussion sounds drilled into Sebastian’s ears. His face green and white. Assistant behind wanted to come up stop, pushed away by Sebastian waving hand. He dead stared my eyes, like wanting to dig out some past affection from inside. Pity, inside nothing. Only numbness. “Pretend what stupid?” Sebastian gritting teeth, lowered voice. “If Uncle Sterling knew your current virtue, coffin board couldn’t hold down.” “Your hands are used to point country mountains, not used to dig fish intestines!” “If you lack money, why not apply to big companies? With your degree…” Speaking here, he suddenly stopped. Mouth corner hooked a sarcastic arc. “Oh, I forgot.” “You have criminal record.” “Was me personally sent you in.” “So you blame me? Use this way revenge me?” More he said more felt he reasonable. That high above superiority came back. I ignored him, turned fished a fish from water tank. Pressed, knife fell. Fish blood squirted out, straight splashed on his pant leg. Sebastian subconsciously retreated, face showing disgusted expression. I expressionlessly bagged fish, handed to customer beside. “Fish cleaned, $25, scan code on wall.” Whole process didn’t look Sebastian once. This ignoring more uncomfortable than quarreling for him. He took out a clean white handkerchief, wanted reach hand wipe blood spots on my face. I tilted head dodged. Handkerchief hung in mid-air, awkwardly stopped. “Sir.” I pointed QR code on wall, tone no wave. “Knife just now $30, plus lost work fee, total $50.” “Scan code, don’t delay my business.” Chapter 2 Sebastian hand froze in mid-air. That white handkerchief was fiercely crumpled in his palm. He stared at me, chest heaving violently. Obviously angered by my attitude. “Money? You just want money?” He sneered, took out checkbook from chest, swish swish wrote a string of numbers. Took out a stack thick cash from wallet again. “Pap” a sound. All thrown on cutting board full of fishy smell and bloody water. “Close stall.” He ordered, tone unquestionable. “Accompany me eat a meal, say words clear.” “These money, enough you sell fish a year in this broken place.” People around sucked cold air. That stack money say less also have $2,000 – $3,000. For people in market, this is a huge sum. Sebastian raised chin, waiting see me cry bitterly, or angry from embarrassment throw money back. After all previous Joanna, most couldn’t stand this insult. I looked at that stack money stained with fish blood. No hesitation. Reached hand grabbed that stack wet bills, weighed in hand. Then stuffed into that fanny pack patched many times. “Thank you boss.” I nodded to him, face no half humiliation. “Want what service? Kill fish or scrape scales?” Sebastian pupils fierce shrank. “Joanna…” His voice trembling, finger pointing me shaking. “Do you still want face?” “Before for a limited edition bag not bought, you could cold war with me three days.” “Now for this bit money, you don’t even want dignity?” I impatiently took off apron. Inside was a washed white old T-shirt, neckline loose. “How much a pound is dignity?” I asked him back, conveniently picked up water hose beside washed mud on rubber boots. “Let’s go, didn’t want eat?” “But say first, high-end restaurant I not go, disheveled clothes they not let in.” Sebastian choked by me speechless. Could only black face follow behind me. I took him through narrow dirty alley back door of market. That is road to Low-income Housing. Ground full sewage and rotten vegetable leaves. Air filled with a moldy smell. Sebastian walked carefully, afraid dirty his shoes. “Walk two steps you know why I love money.” I said without looking back. Passing alley entrance, Landlady blocked there cracking melon seeds. Seeing me, immediately spit shell. “Little Jo, when pay last month utility bill? Not pay again I cut power!” “Auntie Wang, immediately, just opened business.” I accompanied smile, took out few bills Sebastian just gave from pocket, didn’t count handed over. Auntie Wang seeing money, face immediately changed. “Ouch, rich ah? Okay okay okay, give you few days grace.” Walk forward again. Scrap picking Uncle Liu pushed cart over, wheel stuck in pit. I word didn’t say went up help push cart. Finished bargained with Uncle: “Uncle, last time that cardboard you calculated me 50 cents less, today have to make up.” Sebastian stood aside watching all this. Face more and more ugly. He watched me calculate few cents with people. Watched me bow and scrape to landlord. Watched me skillfully shuttle in this bottom world he felt suffocating at a glance. That reality, like slaps, fiercely fanned on his face. Finally, he couldn’t stand it, grabbed my arm, strength big like want crush my bone. “Enough!” He roared. “Joanna, stop acting.” “I don’t believe you can accept this life.” “Move out, I arrange apartment for you, find job for you.” He took out phone, fingers flying operation. “I transfer you $1 Million.” “Later don’t let me see you lose face in this kind place.” He eagerly wanted use money to wash guilt in heart. Or say, wanted buy a peace of mind. Prove he didn’t ruin me so thoroughly. I didn’t move. Quietly watched him operate. Few seconds later. “Ding” a sound. Not transfer success prompt sound. But transaction failed error sound. Sebastian stunned. He looked red words on phone screen, face blank. “What happened? Network bad?” He tried again. Still failed. System prompt: Recipient account frozen due to “Blacklisted by Credit Bureaus” identity, restricted high consumption and large transfer. Sebastian hand froze. He fierce looked up at me. I also looked at him, mouth corner pulled a sarcastic smile. “President Sterling noble person forgetful.” “Three years ago, to force me admit guilt, was you personally applied asset freeze and credit blacklist to court.” “Till now, haven’t unsealed yet.” Sebastian face instantly pale. He opened mouth, wanted explain something, but couldn’t make sound. That means once wanted force me to dead end. Now became wall hindering his charity “kindness”. How ironic. Alley entrance came engine roar sound. A red Porsche stopped there, extremely dazzling. Door opened. A foot wearing red bottom high heels stretched out. I looked that direction, plainly said to Sebastian: “Your wife came.” “Not go look?” Chapter 3 Tiffany got off the car. Wearing current season Chanel suit, neck hanging huge diamond necklace. That was auctioned by Sebastian last month. News hyped hot then, said was anniversary gift for beloved wife. She took off sunglasses, gaze circled between me and Sebastian. Immediately face piled sweet greasy smile, fast walked over. “Sebastian, why ran to this kind of place?” She affectionately held Sebastian arm, whole person about to stick on him. Eyes however like knife scraped my face. “Aiya, so big fishy smell ah.” She exaggeratedly covered nose, retreated two steps, other hand non-stop fanning wind in front of face. “This smell smell long will nausea, Sebastian, let’s go quickly.” She frowned, like saw some dirty thing. That physiological disgust, no disguise. Sebastian body stiffened a bit, didn’t push her away, also didn’t speak. Just eyes complex looking me. Tiffany seeing me not speak, moved forward again, pretended just recognized me. “OMG, isn’t this Sister Joanna?” She covered mouth, face surprised. “How you… how became like this?” She reached hand, seemed want touch my face, but stopped in mid-air. Like afraid dirty her hand. “Sister Joanna, although back then you scratched my face, harmed me almost disfigured…” She touched her smooth as initial cheek, eye rims instantly red. “But I long didn’t blame you.” “After all that time your emotion unstable.” “But seeing you like this now, my heart really so sad.” She saying, tears about to fall. Sebastian originally some guilty expression, instantly cold few points. He remembered that scene back then. Remembered Tiffany full face blood miserable state. That bit just sprouted sympathy, pressed down again. “Sister Joanna, how you sell this fish ah?” Tiffany suddenly turned topic, pointing bag in my hand. “Since met, I definitely want take care your business.” She saying want take that bag. I didn’t let go. “Miss Tiffany this pair hands precious, don’t touch this dirty thing.” I wanted put bag back on ground. Tiffany however suddenly reached hand to grab. “Aiya, polite what.” Just at moment her hand touched bag. “Splash” a sound. Bag flipped. Water inside, along with that dead fish. All splashed on my body. Originally dirty T-shirt, now more soaked, stick on body. “Ah! Sorry sorry!” Tiffany loud screamed, jumping feet dodge. “How this fish so slippery ah!” She while shouting, while observing Sebastian reaction. Seeing Sebastian frown, she immediately changed a face. Pointing fish on ground loud shouting: “Sister Joanna, is your fish stinky ah?” “Smell why so strong?” “You wouldn’t be selling dead fish pit people right?” “This if let people eat sick what do? Heard you have that kind disease…” She deliberately didn’t finish. Surrounding neighbors and passerby originally loved watch fun, hearing this, one after another surrounded over. “What disease ah? Contagious?” “Sell dead fish? This too wicked right.” “Later can’t buy at her place.” Public opinion wind direction instantly changed. For us stall vendors, reputation is rice bowl. I stood in place, let dirty water drip down along hair. Face no expression. I didn’t rush up tear her mouth like three years ago, just bent down picked up fish on ground, put back in bag. Then raised head, look straight Tiffany eyes. “Miss Tiffany.” My voice not loud, but word word clear. “My fish are all just pulled back this morning.” “Neighbors on this street, ate half year all fine.” “Instead Miss Tiffany.” I swept glance her face coated full powder. “Powder on face about fall into water.” “This fish if dead, also poisoned by your cosmetics.” People around burst laughter. Tiffany face instantly swelled into pig liver color. “You!” She pointed me, angry finger shaking. “Little Jo sells fish most honest, never short weight.” In crowd, that Auntie Wang cracking melon seeds stood out. “Exactly, you this woman dressed like human, how full mouth spray dung ne?” Uncle Liu also pushed cart help voice. “People Little Jo not easy, you rich people don’t bully people too much.” Wind direction turned back again. Bottom people although love watch fun, but also have simple justice sense. Especially seeing Tiffany this arrogant look, naturally have resistance. Tiffany she help looked at Sebastian, tears watery. “Sebastian, look her…” Sebastian looking whole body soaked, but still straight spine standing there me. Eyes flashed a trace irritation. He suddenly felt this farce very embarrassing. “Enough!” He low roared, threw off Tiffany hand. “Still dislike not enough shame?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390557”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My husband Pierce Donovan’s newest student, Brooke Miller, wasn’t just curious; she was a goddamn investigative journalist of my private life. The first time she was alone with me, she asked if I’d leaked urine after childbirth and if Pierce, the revered professor, still found me sexually attractive. Later, under the guise of “researching the human body,” she relentlessly pestered Pierce to let her examine him. It escalated to sending him lingerie photos late at night, asking which set would make a man “get off.” Yet, every time I confronted him, Pierce would cite her troubled background as an orphan and insist I show compassion and restraint. “She’s just a curious baby, Scarlett,” he’d sigh. I kept my mouth shut. I kept my rage tucked away. Until Christmas Day. I had stepped out with my mother-in-law to pick up a new playing card. When I returned, I found Brooke, not just holding a handful of crushed walnuts, but shoving them into my five-year-old daughter Daisy’s mouth. Walnuts. Daisy has a severe, life-threatening nut allergy. After rushing my daughter to the hospital, the adrenaline of terror gave way to pure, blinding fury. I slapped Brooke across the face. Pierce immediately pulled the sniffling girl into his arms. He looked at me, his handsome brow furrowed in disappointment. “Scarlett, you need to calm down. Why are you attacking a kid who has no family? Brooke was just curious about the reaction. An academic observation, that’s all. It’s not like Daisy is permanently damaged.” “She’s fine, isn’t she?” I closed my eyes, the cold finally seeping into the deepest parts of my soul. If he was going to protect his so-called “curious baby” like this, then the role of the Perfect Wife was officially vacant. 1 “Mrs. Donovan, I really was just too curious.” Brooke dabbed at her eyes, leaning on Pierce. “You let me stay in your home for the holidays. If I made a mistake, aren’t you the one with the bigger responsibility?” Even Pierce looked at me with a cold, accusing stare. “Brooke is young, Scarlett, and still just a kid. You knew Daisy has allergies, so you shouldn’t have any nut products in the house to begin with! This is your fault.” Standing outside the emergency room doors, my anger was so extreme it circled back around to a terrifying calm. I just nodded. “You’re right,” I said. “It is my fault.” My mistake wasn’t the nut products. My mistake was suffocating myself for so long, swallowing my justifiable feelings and compromises just to become his Perfect Wife. Daisy has a severe nut allergy, but my mother-in-law loves pecans. To accommodate everyone, I painstakingly prepared all the favorite holiday foods. Now, I realized I was the only person I had forgotten to accommodate. I remembered the past months. Every time Brooke’s “curiosity” led to inappropriate behavior with Pierce, I had gently questioned him, only to be met with that familiar, cold irritation. “Scarlett, I’m busy. I don’t have time for your silly, jealous games. Brooke is a student, not some mistress. We’re not the disgusting people you think we are.” That single sentence—disgusting people—had shamed me into silence and completely crushed my courage to ever question him again. From that moment on, I learned to rationalize their oversteps. I threw myself into being the perfect homemaker and hostess, desperate to earn his public acknowledgment as a “good wife.” I had it all wrong. The Perfect Wife gets neither his love, his attention, nor the ability to protect my daughter. Pierce, expecting a fight, looked confused. His expression softened with a complicated mix of relief and subtle condescension. “I’m glad you finally see your mistake.” Just then, Daisy was stabilized and rolled out. Her small face was pale, and she was silently mouthing “Mommy” and “Daddy.” Pierce, the doting father, took a step toward her. But his step was snagged by Brooke, whose legs suddenly buckled. “Professor, I feel faint…” He looked at his frail daughter, then down at the picture of helpless distress in his arms. He lifted Brooke, cradling her. “Daisy’s stable, Cami. You stay here. I have to get Brooke back to her dorm. She probably skipped breakfast ‘to observe the symptoms of hypoglycemia’ or some bullshit.” He hurried away. Daisy’s eyes filled with tears as she was wheeled into the recovery room. She clung to me, her voice a small, broken whisper. “Does Daddy hate me? Why did he hug the bad sister and not stay with me?” Her pale face was marked by the small, red scratches Brooke had left when forcing the nuts into her mouth. “I’m sorry, Mommy. Is it because I’m not a good girl that Daddy doesn’t want to come home? I’ll be quiet. I’ll be good.” My heart shattered. I hugged her tight, trembling, telling her over and over that none of this was her fault. That her mother loved her fiercely. The next day, Pierce was supposed to pick us up. He never showed. We were already in the car when he finally called. “The lab is crazy, Scarlett. I can’t leave. Take Daisy home, and I promise, I’ll make it up to her.” But through the phone, I heard Brooke’s voice, sickly sweet, complaining that her hand hurt and begging him to feed her. The tiny spark of hope in Daisy’s eyes died. “Mommy,” she whispered. “Can we go to a house with just you and me? Daddy likes my little brother. I don’t want a Daddy anymore.” Little brother? I froze. Pierce and I only had Daisy. Where would a “little brother” come from? Watching my five-year-old weep, a cold, hard knot formed in my stomach. I didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” I said, putting the car in drive. “We’re moving today.” As I drove Daisy to the first safe place I could think of, I called a private investigator. “I need everything you have on Pierce Donovan and Brooke Miller. Everything. And I need to know if they have a child.” The neighborhood was alight with festive decorations, firecrackers popping in the distance. It was a holiday. But when I arrived at the apartment building with Daisy, the security guard stopped me. “Who are you? Gotta have a keycard to get in!” I frowned. “My husband has the keycard, but I’m the owner of unit 603.” The guard snickered. “Mistresses are getting bold these days. The owner of 603 is heavily pregnant and definitely does not have a kid that big.” I stared at him. That apartment was my property, bought before Pierce. It was our first place, where we lived for three years, packed with the early memories he’d sworn were sacred. He’d promised it would be our “love nest,” the place we’d return to when we were old. The deed was in my name alone. I swallowed the rising panic. “I am the owner. I bought the unit eight years ago—” “Get lost!” The guard waved me off impatiently. “Go find a better time for this, lady! I don’t care about your story. No outsiders allowed on Christmas.” His eyes slid to Daisy, a look of outright contempt that seemed to call my daughter a bastard. The insult was a physical slap. I reached for my phone and pulled up the digital deed. He took his time reviewing it, waiting until a couple passing by paused to watch. Reluctantly, he handed the phone back. “The registration list doesn’t have your name, lady. Even if this is real, I need to see you open the door. That’s Professor Donovan’s home, and you are not going to cause a scene.” His arrogant face fueled my sudden calm. “Fine. You can follow me upstairs and watch me open my own front door.” I parked the car and took Daisy’s hand. The guard scoffed behind me. “What are you waiting for? Can’t even open your own front door, huh?” I extended my finger to the biometric reader. BEEP. Authentication failed. The guard laughed. I tried the keypad, punching in our anniversary. Password incorrect. “Told you you’re a mistress! The owner can’t get into her own house? Now take the brat and get out!” The guard lost all pretense of patience and reached out to grab my arm. Daisy screamed, terrified. As I fought to pull away, her small teeth sank into the man’s arm. He bellowed and viciously kicked my daughter. Her tiny body slammed against the stone wall. Her head snapped back, and she collapsed. “Daisy!” My vision swam red. I fought desperately against the guards, but all I could do was watch as the man who kicked her raised his security baton high above my unconscious daughter’s head. “Stop!” It was Pierce. My tightly wound body relaxed for a split second. Daisy was still his daughter. He would never allow them to hurt her. But the Pierce who stepped out of the apartment was not the Pierce I knew. He wrapped his arm around Brooke’s shoulders, his expression dark with fury. “Scarlett! I told you that child isn’t mine! I’m married! Stop harassing us!” In front of everyone, he hesitated, then pulled out a wad of cash and threw it, hitting my face. “This is charity, for you. Bringing a child out in the middle of winter as leverage? You’re a terrible mother.” “Guards, get them out. Don’t let them bother me again.” I gaped at him, my eyes burning. “Pierce Donovan! This is my apartment. My pre-marital asset—” Before I could finish, he kicked me—hard—in the chest. “Lies! Guards! Are you really going to let an outsider terrorize a resident?” The stunned security officers swarmed me, roughly dragging me and Daisy away. I shielded her body with mine, screaming, my voice raw with heartbreak. “Pierce Donovan! I was blind! I threw away my whole life for you!” For a fleeting second, his eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of panic. But it vanished quickly. Brooke took his hand and placed it on her stomach. I couldn’t hear what she said, but I saw the doting, tender smile he gave her. The neighbors’ scornful whispers surrounded me. “No shame, trying to claim a married man like that.” “Look at the poor kid. Her life is ruined with a mother like that.” Out in the ice and snow, my daughter, just recovering from anaphylaxis, was being rushed to the emergency room for the third time in two days. Pierce’s texts popped up on my phone. He claimed that because Brooke had no parents, he was just letting her stay in the apartment temporarily. “Scarlett, don’t be ridiculous. If the neighbors find out you’re my wife, how is Brooke going to live here? You sound like a screaming shrew, Cami. Where is the calm, gentle wife I married?” Screaming shrew. That final line was the last, cold-blooded blow that shattered the lingering pieces of my love. The ‘gentle wife’ was a performance, a straightjacket I’d worn for him. Now, I was just raw, furious, and determined. My hands trembling, I called home. “Dad,” I said, my voice breaking. “I’m sorry… I made a terrible mistake. I need your help.” While Daisy was being treated, I made two major moves. First, I hired a professional legal team and drafted divorce papers that would ensure Pierce left with nothing. I also immediately sold the pre-marital apartment at a deep discount. Second, I had my family cut all hidden financial support for Pierce’s university research and, more immediately, instructed the nurse taking care of his paralyzed father to quit immediately. I had been the dutiful, sacrificing wife for so long that I’d almost forgotten the kind of leverage and freedom Scarlett Blake once possessed. The day the nurse left, Pierce called dozens of times. When I finally answered, his voice was tired and frantic. “Scarlett, where are you?! My father has been lying in his own filth for a day, the place is covered in dirty clothes and trash, the fridge is empty!” I listened, unmoved. “I’m with my daughter. She’s recovering.” His rant paused. His voice went husky. “I… I forgot. How is Daisy? I’m coming right now—” His words were cut off by a girl’s soft squeal, then the sound of urgent footsteps and a lingering kiss. I hung up, expressionless. He didn’t deserve to see our daughter again. He didn’t deserve any genuine human emotion. Pierce didn’t visit the hospital once during Daisy’s stay. He only rushed in when I was checking her out, right before our flight. “I’m so sorry, Scarlett. Home has been a total mess without you. I finally realize how much you do. When we get back—I promise, I’ll make it up to you and Daisy.” He knelt, forcing a weary smile onto his haggard face. “Daisy, sweetie, can Daddy hold you now?” My phone buzzed, saturated with texts from Brooke. “You know why the Professor hasn’t visited? I passed the three-month mark today! I told him I was curious about pregnancy sex, so he stayed in bed with me for seven days straight!” I looked up. There was a faint red mark just beneath Pierce’s collar. But this time, no emotion stirred in my chest. Daisy looked at Pierce, hope and fear warring in her eyes. She hugged my leg and whispered to me. “Mommy, can I just hug Daddy once? Then I really don’t ever want him again.” I stroked her hair and agreed. I left for only a moment to grab our belongings from the room, but when I returned, Pierce and Daisy were gone. I screamed her name, running hysterically down the halls. I stumbled around a corner, and a sharp, paralyzing pain exploded in the back of my skull. Darkness. I woke up in a freezing warehouse. Daisy was strapped into a restraint chair with electrodes. Her mouth was taped shut. She was crying hysterically, her face beet red, struggling for breath. “Professor, they say shock treatment makes kids smarter. Just let me try it, please?” I was paralyzed by shock. “Pierce Donovan, are you insane?! She called you Daddy! And you’re going to electrocuteher?!” Pierce’s eyes flickered with a hint of remorse, but it vanished as Brooke started to weep pitifully. “Professor! If I don’t satisfy my curiosity, I won’t be able to eat or sleep! My tummy hurts right now!” At the mention of her stomach, Pierce was instantly focused on her, his face a mask of panic. “Okay, okay, anything you want…” “Brooke Miller, don’t you touch her! If you hurt Daisy, I will rip you to pieces—” SMACK! A stinging blow split my lip. Blood bloomed on my chin. I stared at Pierce in utter disbelief. He was snarling. “Daisy wouldn’t listen to a damn thing I said! I just asked her to call Brooke ‘Mommy,’ and she bit her! She bit her!” Brooke seized the opportunity, cuddling into his side. “The bite hurts! Shock treatment doesn’t just make them smart, it makes them obedient. Professor, I want to play!” The “bite” was a tiny, unbroken red mark on her arm. I screamed and struggled, the ropes around my wrists cutting deep, drawing blood, but I couldn’t stop Brooke from flipping the switch. A current surged. Daisy cried out, instantly losing control of her bladder, convulsing, and passing out. But Brooke wasn’t finished. She cranked the dial up and hit the switch again. Daisy was only five! She started foaming at the mouth, her entire body twitching violently. Brooke laughed, picking up a metal rod and whipping it across Daisy’s face. Daisy woke up, screaming in raw pain. “Shut up! Stop crying! Tell me you’ll listen to me!” But a five-year-old child could only cry for her mother. My heart was hemorrhaging. “Stop it! Stop, you monster!” Seeing Daisy’s continued tears, Brooke’s eyes hardened. “How will you ever be a good big sister if you don’t learn obedience? You’re going to get a good lesson this time.” She reached for the highest-voltage switch. Pierce didn’t see it, but I saw her look at me, a silent, vicious challenge in her eyes. “Your daughter is going to die.” “NO!” Just as her finger made contact with the button— The warehouse doors were violently kicked open. Highly trained men in black suits swarmed the room, instantly tackling Pierce and Brooke to the floor.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390574”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

“The son you kept secret for two decades is here, Dad. And he’s asking for the house.” I stood by the hospital bed, looking down at my father. He was skeletal, barely a shadow of the man he’d been. His eyes darted away from mine. His lips moved, dry and slow. “Dee, he’s your brother…” My brother? I had spent eight years of my life waiting on him. Eight years of bedpans and feeding tubes, eight years of quitting my job, foregoing marriage, sacrificing my entire life. Eight years. And he had kept a whole son secret for twenty years, a child whose existence he’d never even hinted at. Now, that “brother” was here. Here to divide the legacy. 1. When the man first stood in the doorway of the hospital room, I honestly thought he was lost. “Excuse me, is Arthur Stone staying here?” I paused. “Who are you looking for?” “Arthur Stone,” he repeated. “I’m his son.” My mind went blank. I hadn’t processed the words. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?” “Arthur Stone’s son, Ronan Mills.” He spoke with an unnerving casualness. “I’m here to see my dad.” Arthur Stone was my father’s name. I, Delilah Stone, was Arthur Stone’s only child. “You have the wrong room,” I said, flatly. He smiled, a practiced, easy smile, and pulled out his phone. He scrolled to a photo. It was my father. Younger, maybe forty, standing next to a small boy, seven or eight years old. My father’s hand rested heavily on the boy’s shoulder. Beneath the photo was a handwritten inscription: “Ronan’s 8th Birthday. Dad loves you always.” My hands started to shake, gripping the doorframe. “Who in God’s name are you?” He tucked the phone away and looked up, meeting my eyes. “Dee, I’m Ronan Mills. My mother is Lydia Shaw. Dad and my mom were together about twenty years ago.” Dee. He called me Dee. I leaned against the frame, feeling the world tilt on its axis. “That’s impossible,” I whispered. “My father would never—” “That’s enough, Delilah.” My father’s voice, raspy and weak, came from the bed. “Let him in, Dee.” I spun around. My father sat up against the pillows, his face utterly devoid of surprise. Not an ounce of shock. He knew. He had been expecting this visit. “Dad…” “Let him in,” he repeated, his voice firm despite the weakness. “I have something to tell both of you.” That afternoon, I learned the secret he’d hidden for twenty years. The year I turned ten, my father had an affair. The woman, Lydia Shaw, was a colleague. They were together for three years. They had a son. Ronan Mills. “I didn’t know how to tell you.” My father stared out the window, avoiding my gaze. “It happened too long ago.” Too long ago? I was thirty-two years old. This secret had been locked away for twenty years. Did Mom know? “Your mother knew,” my father said, as if reading my mind. “I cut off contact with the woman eventually. Your mother forgave me.” Forgave him. A thick knot of something—rage, grief, nausea—coiled in my chest, making it impossible to breathe. “And him?” I pointed to Ronan, who was standing quietly by the wall. “You cut off contact, but he’s still here. How?” “I cut off the mother,” my father said. “But he’s my blood. I couldn’t abandon him.” Couldn’t abandon him. “You’ve been supporting him this whole time?” My father remained silent. Ronan answered for him, smoothly. “Dad always wired money to my mother for support. He also paid for my college tuition.” Every month. Support checks. Tuition fees. A memory surfaced, sharp as glass. My senior year of high school, I wanted to take a two-week summer intensive English course. It cost two thousand dollars. My father said it was too expensive, that it was unnecessary. I worked three consecutive summer jobs just to save enough for a modest college exchange program. And all the while, he was funding another woman’s life. Paying another child’s tuition. “How much?” I asked, my voice barely a thread. “Excuse me?” Ronan asked. “How much did you send them every month?” My father wouldn’t look at me. Ronan said, “Eight hundred dollars.” Eight hundred dollars a month. For twenty years. I did the math quickly. One hundred and ninety-two thousand dollars. Plus four years of college tuition, easily another sixty thousand. A quarter of a million dollars, minimum. My two-thousand-dollar summer course had been “too expensive.” His $250,000 secret family fund had been necessary. “Dad.” My voice was dry and shaky. “Why couldn’t you have told me any of this over the years?” “Told you what?” My father finally looked at me, a flicker of impatience in his eyes. “What good would it have done? So you could hate me?” So I could hate him. I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms. “I don’t hate you,” I said. “I just want to know what I meant to you.” My father didn’t answer. Ronan stepped in, his tone mild and conciliatory. “Dee, let the past stay in the past. Dad isn’t well right now. We shouldn’t stress him out.” His voice was calm, concerned, even affectionate. As if he were the true, devoted child of the house. As if I were the interloper, the source of the drama. “Why are you here, Ronan?” I asked him. “To see Dad,” he said. “And to finally meet my sister.” “And what else?” He hesitated, just a breath. “Dad wants to settle his legacy.” The legacy. He was here to claim his share. 2. My father’s illness had been diagnosed four years ago. Stage IV lung cancer. The doctors gave him a year at most. I quit my job in marketing and became his full-time caretaker. One year turned into two, two into three, and now we were in the fourth year. He’d had six hospital stays, three major surgeries, and over a dozen grueling rounds of chemo. Every single time, I was the one who was there. Making appointments, standing in lines, paying the bills, fetching medications, bathing him, wiping him down, emptying the bedpan. Three a.m., he’d cry out in pain, and I’d crawl out of bed to give him a massage. Six a.m., he wanted his oatmeal, and I had to be up by five to cook it. Four years. One thousand four hundred and sixty days. I haven’t had one full night of uninterrupted sleep. My mother, Victoria, was frail and elderly herself; she could offer little help. Relatives made symbolic visits, bringing fruit and murmuring, “You’re doing great work, Dee,” before disappearing completely. I carried the entire weight of it alone. I was thirty-two. The age when my peers were getting married, I had no partner. The age when I should have been building my career, I had no income. The age when I should have been living my life, I was eating stale crackers in hospital hallways. I’m not saying I didn’t resent it. But he was my father. I thought I was his only child. I thought he would remember everything I did. Now I knew the person he remembered was someone else entirely. A son he’d hidden for twenty years. “Dad.” I sat by the bed that evening. “Who has been taking care of you for the last four years?” He kept his eyes closed, silent. “It was me,” I answered myself. “It was me who quit my job. It was me who cleaned up your mess. It was me who held your hand through surgery, who stayed awake night after endless night.” “I know that,” he mumbled. “And him?” I gestured toward the door where Ronan was staying with my mother. “Where was he for the last four years?” My father opened his eyes and looked at me. “He didn’t know I was sick.” “You didn’t tell him?” “No.” “Why not?” “He’s young. He has his career to focus on,” my father explained. “I didn’t want to disrupt his life.” Didn’t want to disrupt his life. And me? I was also young. I also had a career. What did you say to me when I hesitated about quitting my job? You said: “You’re my daughter, Delilah. It’s expected that you take care of me.” Expected. “And me?” I demanded. “Did you ever think about disrupting my life?” He didn’t answer. “I’m thirty-two,” I continued. “My friends are all married. Some have kids in kindergarten. What do I have? No partner, no savings, no career. For four years, I have had nothing.” “You’ll have it,” my father said. “When I’m gone, you’ll be free.” When he was gone. I would be free. A hollow laugh escaped me. “Dad, do you even hear yourself?” Silence. “You say when you’re gone, I’ll be free,” I said, standing up. “So what was all this for? What does my sacrifice of the last four years amount to in your eyes?” “I remember it,” my father insisted. “You remember me, or you remember him?” He looked at me. His eyes held something that wasn’t guilt. It was impatience. “Delilah, can we please stop with the drama?” Stop with the drama. I had provided four years of selfless care without a single word of complaint. He had hidden a secret son for twenty years, and my asking about it was “drama.” “Fine.” I took a deep, shuddering breath. “No more drama. Just tell me why Ronan Mills is here.” “He came to see me.” “He came for your legacy,” I countered. “Didn’t he?” My father didn’t speak. “Didn’t he?” “…He is my son,” my father finally stated. “If I want to leave my assets to him, what is the problem?” His assets. Left to his son. What is the problem? I stood there, feeling utterly, mortally cold. “Dad, what about me?” “You are my daughter,” my father said. “Daughters eventually marry out. They become part of another family.” 3. That evening, I returned to the house to find Ronan standing in the living room. He was examining the space, looking at the sofa, the TV, the family photos on the wall. “Dee.” He turned, giving me that same placid smile. “This house is pretty big.” It was 2,000 square feet. It was my father’s only property. He had bought it for 400,000 years ago. Now, in this Brookline neighborhood, it was easily worth 1.2 million. “What are you looking at?” I asked. “Nothing, just checking it out.” His tone was light. “This was Dad’s house, right?” “Yes.” “Whose name is on the deed?” I paused, taken aback by the bluntness. “My father’s name is on the deed.” “Good,” he nodded. “That’s good to know.” Good to know? What did he mean? “Look, Dee, I’ll be direct with you.” Ronan sat down on the sofa and crossed one leg over the other. “Dad’s intention is for the house to come to me when he passes.” I felt a sharp, internal stab. “What did you say?” “He said he’s giving the house to me,” he repeated. “Plus all of his savings and investments. He mentioned it was around $4.5 million, all told.” $4.5 million. Plus the $1.2 million house. $5.7 million. My father’s entire life’s worth. All of it to Ronan. “Are you joking with me?” I demanded. “No.” Ronan took a folded paper from his pocket. “This is Dad’s will. It’s been notarized by his lawyer. You can read it.” I took the paper. The Will. It was written clearly: “I, Arthur Stone, hereby voluntarily bequeath my entire estate, including one property, all bank savings and investments, to my son, Ronan Mills.” My son, Ronan Mills. Not my daughter, Delilah Stone. I flipped the document over and saw my father’s signature, and the thick, red ink of his thumbprint. The date was three months ago. Three months ago, I was at the hospital, holding the basin while he threw up from chemo. He was letting me care for him while secretly signing away everything he owned to his illegitimate son. “Dee, don’t get upset,” Ronan said, watching me. “Dad said you worked hard these past few years. He left you a little something—$50,000. It’s his way of saying thank you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390592”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Everyone used to tell me I hit the jackpot. I got the trophy wife—beautiful, smart, and a whiz with a budget. Only my five-year-old, Quinn, looked at me like I was a textbook case of bad judgment. That was until my wife’s “close colleague” moved in, wearing my tailored blazers and using my shaving kit. Quinn shook me awake in the middle of the night. “Dad, what on earth are you still holding onto with a snake like that?” I stared at her. “What did you say?” She sighed. “I lived to be twenty-five in my last life. I watched you put up with her for your whole adult life.” “This time, just listen to me. Get a divorce.” “Once you do, I’ll set you up with a real stunner. Hotter than Mom, sweeter than Mom, and the key thing? She’ll only have eyes for you.” 01 Geneva’s cheating was broken to me by my daughter, Quinn. She was five, just started kindergarten. She walked in that day, tossed her pink backpack onto the sofa, and came straight over to me. “Dad, Mom’s seeing someone else.” I was wiping down the kitchen counter. My hand froze for a second, then I kept wiping. “Don’t talk nonsense.” “It’s not nonsense.” She climbed onto a high barstool, swinging her little legs. “I saw her today at the mall. She was wrapped around some guy—tall, wearing a black leather jacket.” I tossed the rag into the sink, splashing water onto my hand. “You must have been mistaken.” “I wasn’t mistaken.” She hopped off the stool and stood in front of me, looking up. “Dad, it’s okay to cry. You’ll feel better if you let it out.” I didn’t cry. I actually laughed. “Kid, you’ve been watching too many soap operas.” She shook her head, reaching for my hand. It was so small and soft. “Dad, I’m not a kid.” She spoke slowly, every word measured. “The truth is… I came back from eighteen years in the future.” I froze. “Eighteen years from now, you’re dead,” she said, her eyes turning red fast. “Lung cancer. Stage four, right out of the gate. Mom was remarried by then. Three months after your funeral. She said a house couldn’t run without a man, and Daisy was still young.” The kitchen light flickered. I felt a sudden rush of dizziness. “I didn’t cry, honest.” She wiped her eyes, leaving a wet streak on her hand. “I didn’t cry at your wake. Grandpa Rose said I was cold, said I had no heart. But I knew. I remembered the last six months, you hurting, unable to sleep all night, and not one of them was there to ease the pain.” I stumbled back, leaning against the refrigerator. One of Daisy’s little art magnets slid off and hit the floor with a hollow clack. “Dad.” She came closer, hugging my leg this time. “Stop doing all the chores for her. Your cooking is the best, but she always found something to pick at. She’d complain that all you did was ‘hang around the house,’ and still couldn’t even keep the place clean.” I wanted to deny it, to say, Gen wouldn’t say that. But the words wouldn’t come out. Because last Wednesday night, she did say exactly that. I’d made her favorite Sticky Ribs, and she said they were too sweet, not salty enough, and the meat was tough. Then she took a call, said her friend had an emergency, and walked out. “Dad.” Quinn looked up, tears blurring her face. “Come with me. I can make money. I can take care of you.” “You’re only five…” “I’m twenty-three,” she cut in, her voice suddenly rock-steady. “In my timeline, I was twenty-three, a Vice President at a major investment bank. I could afford a house, a live-in nanny. I could let you sleep in every day and not have to be up at six to make breakfast.” I knelt down, meeting her gaze. Those eyes were too familiar. They weren’t a five-year-old’s eyes. There was something in them I didn’t understand, but I knew it wasn’t a lie. “Why did you come back?” I whispered. “Because I missed you.” The tears started again. “I missed you for eighteen years. Every night. I remember those last days, you were so thin, just a pile of bones, but you still insisted on getting up to make Daisy and me breakfast. You said you didn’t want us to be late for school.” She reached out and touched my face, her small fingers trembling. “Dad, she’s not worth it,” she said. “She’s not worth it, and neither are we. You ran yourself into the ground, and it didn’t even help us grow up right. I was twenty-three and terrified to date, afraid I’d turn into you. Daisy was worse. She ended up…” She didn’t finish the sentence, but I knew it wasn’t good. A key turning in the lock outside. Quinn instantly wiped her tears, pulled away from me, and ran to the sofa to grab a picture book. When the door opened, she was already pointing at a bear on the page. “Dad, this little bear is so cute.” Geneva walked in, dropping her handbag by the door. She glanced at me. “Why are you just standing there, Adam? Is dinner ready?” I didn’t move. Quinn jumped off the sofa and ran to her. “Mom, Dad isn’t feeling well today. Let’s order takeout.” Geneva frowned. “What’s the drama?” “No drama.” Quinn tilted her head up, giving her a sweet smile. “I really want a burger. Dad’s cooking every day gets boring. Let’s mix it up.” Geneva looked at me. “You’re not well?” I looked at her face. I’d seen this face for seven years—five years married, two years dating. I used to think she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Now, I suddenly noticed the fine lines around her eyes, the constant edge of impatience around her mouth. When she looked at me, there was very little warmth. “Yeah,” I said. “Headache.” “Fine. Order takeout.” She put down her bag. “I have a video conference in half an hour. Call me when the burgers arrive.” She walked into the bedroom. Quinn ran over and pulled my hand. “Dad, let’s go change.” “Change into what?” “That black suit. The really sharp one,” she dragged me toward the walk-in closet. “The last time I saw you wear it was my fifth birthday. You never wore it again after that.” There was a black suit in the closet. We bought it for our anniversary. Geneva said it was too formal for daily wear. Quinn pulled it out and shook it open. “Put it on.” “Why do I need to wear this now?” “Wear it for me.” She insisted. “Dad, you’re thirty-one. Not seventy-one.” I changed into the suit. The man in the mirror was a stranger. My body wasn’t bad, but my complexion was dull, and there were dark circles under my eyes. Quinn climbed onto the dressing table and picked up my hair gel. “This one holds well.” She uncapped it and handed it to me. “A little spray.” I sprayed it. She then opened the aftershave, her movements unnervingly practiced for a child. She dabbed some on my face, straightened my collar, her touch gentle. “You’ll get even hotter,” she said. “A hundred times hotter than this. Lots of people will chase you. There’s this gallery owner who’s obsessed with you, chased you for three years. But you never said yes.” I looked at her. “How do you know that?” “Because I saw it.” She put the aftershave down and scrutinized my face. “Before I came back to this world, I visited another one in my dreams. In that world, you didn’t die. You divorced, opened an auto repair shop, you dressed sharply, and had a ton of friends. When you were fifty, you took up mountain climbing and posted pictures on Instagram, smiling so genuinely.” She jumped off the dressing table and pulled my hand toward the door. “In that world, every time I saw you, I cried,” she said. “Because I knew that dad wasn’t my dad. My dad died at thirty-one. His last words were, Don’t forget the noodles on the counter.” She pushed the door open. Geneva was coming out of the bedroom just then. She saw me and stopped dead. “You…” She tried to speak. “Why are you so dressed up?” Quinn cut in before I could answer. “Dad’s taking me out for dinner. Mom, you can order your own takeout. We’re getting French.” She yanked me toward the exit. Geneva called from behind, “Adam Kincaid!” I didn’t look back. Quinn tiptoed to open the door, pushed me out, then squeezed out herself, pulling the door shut behind us. The motion-sensor light in the hallway flickered on. She pulled me down the stairs, skipping two steps at a time. She pushed open the main door on the ground floor, and the evening breeze rushed in, lifting her hair. She stopped under a streetlamp, catching her breath, and looked at me with a smile. “Dad,” she said. “From today, I’ve got you.” I looked at her glowing eyes, and suddenly felt like I really had died once already. And now, I was alive again. 02 That steak dinner cost us three-hundred-and-eight dollars. Quinn sat across from me, cutting her steak with a scary level of expertise. She even ordered a whiskey for me. The waiter looked at her like she was an alien. “Kids can’t drink,” the waiter said. “It’s for my dad,” Quinn said without flinching. “He needs it.” When the drink arrived, she poured me a glass. “Drink it, Dad. When was the last time you had a drink?” I thought about it. I couldn’t remember. Probably at the wedding, the champagne toast. Gen said I had a low tolerance and told me to stop drinking. And I did. I picked up the glass and took a sip. It was strong. Quinn watched me, and then suddenly said, “Dad, do you remember taking me to the amusement park when I was three?” “I do.” “Mom had promised to come, but she canceled last minute, saying her friend had an emergency.” She cut the steak, the knife and fork clinking against the plate. “You took me on the roller coaster all by yourself, waited in line for ice cream, and carried me for two miles looking for a bathroom. When we got home, I fell asleep on your shoulder, and your arm was sore for a week.” I remembered. Gen definitely didn’t come that day. She said a very important friend had broken up with her and she couldn’t leave. She didn’t get home until ten that night, and I smelled men’s cologne on her. When I mentioned it, she snapped that I was being ridiculous, and it was the friend’s boyfriend’s. “I remember thinking,” Quinn put the steak in her mouth and chewed slowly, “when I grow up, I’m never going to let my dad be this tired.” She swallowed and looked up at me. “But when I grew up, you were already gone.” Other tables were loud with laughter, couples feeding each other, a kid throwing a fit. Only our table was hushed, like a funeral reception. “Dad.” She put down her silverware. “Get a divorce.” I stayed silent. “The house, the car, the savings—take everything you’re entitled to. She has a high-end PR firm, shares, and you’re the legal husband. You can split it all,” she said, her expression as cool as if she were discussing a stranger’s affairs. “I know you’re soft-hearted, but don’t be this time. In the last life, you were too soft. You took nothing but custody of Daisy and me. And what happened? She kept dragging her feet on the support payments.” I looked at her. A five-year-old face, a twenty-three-year-old gaze. “How do you know all this?” I asked. “I read your journal,” she said. “I found it under your desk after you died. A hardback notebook, the cover was worn thin. You wrote about everything, starting from the day you got married, right up to the day you were diagnosed with cancer.” She paused, her voice dropping. “The last entry read: My greatest regret was giving everything I had to others, and keeping nothing, absolutely nothing, for myself.” My hands were shaking. She saw it and reached over to hold them. “Dad, this time is different.” Her grip was firm. “I’m here now. I know all her tricks. I know what Grandma Rose will say. I know how to find the evidence and the right lawyer. Trust me this once, okay?” I looked at her for a long time. Then I said, “Okay.” She smiled. Her eyes curved up, and for the first time, she looked like a five-year-old kid. 03 We got home at ten. The living room light was still on. Geneva was sitting on the sofa, a pile of snack wrappers in the trash can next to her. “Decided to show up?” Her voice was ice. Quinn stepped in front of me. “We went out for dinner.” “Did I ask you?” She looked past Quinn to me. “Adam Kincaid, are you getting brave now? No dinner, no watching your kid, just running off dressed like a runway model?” I stood my ground, saying nothing. Quinn tugged my hand and whispered, “Dad, go take a shower. I’ll handle the rest.” I hesitated, but she pushed me. “Go.” I went into the bathroom. As the hot water ran, I heard their voices outside the door. Quinn’s voice was calm. “Mom, let’s talk.” “What is there to talk about with you?” “Let’s talk about you and the guy in the black leather jacket,” she said. “I took pictures. Want to see them?” There was a few seconds of silence outside. Then Geneva’s voice, low and sharp. “What are you talking about?” “Fifth floor of the mall, outside the Boba shop, three p.m. yesterday.” Quinn recited it like a police report. “He had his arm around your waist. You bought him a watch—$5,200, swiped your card. The receipt’s in your bag. Want me to go grab it?” I turned off the water and pressed my ear to the door. Geneva’s voice was starting to sound rattled. “Did your father make you take those pictures?” “I took them myself,” Quinn said. “Mom, I’m only five, but I’m not an idiot. I know your phone password is my birthday. I’ve known it forever. The guy in your texts, ‘Troy E.’? That’s Troy Evans, your firm’s new twenty-four-year-old marketing coordinator. Fresh out of college. Really, Gen? Him?” “Quinn Kincaid!” Geneva roared. “Shh, Dad’s showering.” Quinn’s voice remained even. “Mom, if you want to play around, fine. But don’t bring it home. If you insist on bringing him home, then file the papers first, split the assets cleanly, and then you can bring home whoever you want.” I heard the sound of a handbag being opened—Geneva was likely searching for the receipt. “Honey, you’re too young to understand,” Geneva’s tone softened slightly. “Mom has a lot of pressure at work. Sometimes I need to decompress. But that doesn’t change how much I love your father and this family.” “Really?” Quinn chuckled. “So last Wednesday, when you said your friend had an emergency, you were actually watching that romantic drama with him? Back row of the theater? You two were holding hands while Dad was home reheating your soup for the third time.” The silence outside was absolute. I pulled the door open and stepped out. Geneva saw me, and her face fell. Quinn ran over and grabbed my hand, her palm slick with sweat. “Dad, you’re done?” I nodded, looking at Geneva. “Is what she said true?” Geneva stood up, reaching for me. “Adam, let me explain—” “Just tell me if it’s true or false.” She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. I looked at her and felt a strange, cold amusement. Seven years. I’d done her laundry, cooked her meals, earned the money, and looked after her parents. When she was struggling to launch her firm, I gave her my entire savings for my own venture. She told me to focus on the family, so I shifted my career from project lead to support and logistics. And now, she was telling me she was under pressure and needed to decompress. “Gen Rose,” I said. “We’re getting divorced.” She was stunned. Quinn gripped my hand tighter. “What did you say?” “Divorce,” I repeated. “The house, the car, the savings—everything gets split. I want half of the firm’s shares. The kids stay with me. You pay child support.” Geneva looked at me like a stranger. “Adam Kincaid, are you out of your mind? Do you know what my firm is worth? You want half? Do you even understand how to run it?” “I don’t,” I said. “But the law does.” Her face darkened. Quinn suddenly spoke up. “Mom, if you don’t agree, I’ll send the pictures to your firm’s group chat. Your phone is synced to your office computer. I know the password. I can access the chat.” Geneva snapped her head toward Quinn, her eyes murderous. “You wouldn’t dare!” “Try me,” Quinn said, meeting her gaze without flinching. “I’m five. I could probably get away with murder. Want to find out?” Geneva raised her hand, and I stepped forward to shield Quinn. “Try to hit her.” Her hand froze in mid-air. We stood there locked in a silent standoff, the living room clock ticking away the seconds. Finally, Geneva dropped her hand, smoothing her dress. “Fine, Adam. You’re playing hardball. You have guts.” She grabbed her bag and slammed out the door. The moment the door closed, my legs went weak. I nearly collapsed onto the floor. Quinn caught me. “Dad, are you okay?” I shook my head, looking at her. “Those photos… did you really take them?” She blinked. “I lied. Where would I get a phone to take pictures?” “Then the mall, did you really see it?” “I saw it,” she confirmed. “But no photos. I just said that to scare her.” I was speechless. She led me to the sofa and leaned against my shoulder. “Dad, with people like her, you have to be tougher. The softer you are, the more she’ll walk all over you.” I stroked her hair, a hollow space in my chest. “Quinn,” I asked. “Was the last life… really that awful?” She didn’t answer, just hugged me tighter. After a long while, she said, “Dad, not this time.” “I promise.” 04 Geneva didn’t come back the next morning. When Quinn woke up, she went to the kitchen and warmed milk, toasted bread, and fried an egg for me. “Dad, breakfast.” She carried the plate to the bedside. I looked at the perfectly fried egg, the edges crisp and golden. “When did you learn to cook?” “Last life.” She climbed onto the bed next to me. “I learned when you were sick. After you were gone, I had to take care of Daisy.” She took a bite of her toast, chewing slowly. I suddenly remembered to ask, “Where’s Daisy?” “At kindergarten. It’s Friday, so we pick her up this afternoon. Dad, go see the lawyer today. Before Mom has time to think.” I sat up. “So fast?” “Fast,” she nodded. “She’s definitely going to meet up with Troy to plan their next move. If they get their story straight and come up with a strategy, we’ll be on the defensive.” She hopped off the bed and pulled a piece of paper from her tiny backpack. “This is the best divorce lawyer in the city. I looked him up in the last life. Mr. Alistair Cross. Specializes in this exact kind of case. Tell him I sent you.” I took the slip of paper. It had a name and number. “How did you…?” “I did my homework before I came back.” She smiled. “Your daughter is pretty smart, Dad.” I looked at her smiling face, and my last bit of hesitation vanished. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll go.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390616”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The day I was diagnosed with Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD), the doctor said to me: “Your world cannot exist without Liam Vance’s love.” I became Liam’s “Emotional Glass Doll”. He put me first in everything, even turned down various important Mergers to accompany me to therapy. Until the day my condition stabilized, he finally smiled. His Childhood Sweetheart Stella also smiled: “I told you it wasn’t that serious? Isn’t it all just Sister doing it on purpose to trap Liam?” That time, was the first time he hit Stella, forcing her to apologize to me. But the day Stella went to the bar, I just whispered that my heart was panicking. Liam suddenly smashed the medicine bottle in his hand: “Can you not be so selfish? Stella is very sad about her breakup!” “I revolve around you every day, can’t I go take care of her for a few hours?” “If you want to have an episode, just have it, I’ve had enough!” He kicked all the pills on the floor, grabbed the car keys, and slammed the door leaving. I didn’t speak, just looked at the red marks on my wrist scratched due to anxiety, breathing becoming more and more difficult. … Chapter 1 I hurriedly went to pick up the medicine. Several pills down my stomach, still didn’t work. I suddenly remembered what the psychiatrist said. “Your body has developed a dependency on the medication, but the dependency that can truly give you a sense of security is Liam Vance.” I tremblingly reached out to take the phone to call him. But the other end only mechanically repeated “No Answer”. I suddenly remembered, Stella didn’t like Liam revolving around me all the time. I wanted to try hard to calm down by myself. But just sat on the sofa, saw a lace panty not belonging to me stuck in the gap. Bad images constantly circled in my mind. My breathing became more and more difficult. I hurriedly opened the cabinet to get the oxygen tank. But inside there were only photos of Stella and Liam. There were several photos, the two kissing together. My heart beat like thunder, swept all the albums on the floor. Exploding glass fragments cut my hand. Blood soaked the photo paper drop by drop. The mess on the floor suddenly reminded me of Liam’s breakdown. “Willow, what exactly do you want me to do so you don’t have an episode?” He must be sick of me always making the house messy. I hurriedly wanted to clean up. But not taking two steps, the whole person spun around. Countless terrifying voices pulled in my ears. I was extremely scared, stumbled and hid into the bedroom closet. Enclosed space can briefly relieve my anxiety. I missed Liam very very much. I hesitated again and again, dialed Stella’s number. She said, if there is anything, I can also contact her. One ring, two rings… Stella actually picked up! There were loud stereo sounds and glasses clinking sounds over there. I vaguely guessed, this is a Bar. “Why are you always so haunting?” “Stella, I’m uncomfortable… I want to see…” Phone was snatched by Liam, voice very impatient. “You are uncomfortable every day!” “Can you stop pretending for me? Can’t I just accompany Stella to relax?” “Please, you are twenty-five years old, can you stop playing this kind of childish game?” Next second, busy tone sounded in ear. Faint screen light reflected my face wanting to cry in darkness. Liam was right, I am not a child anymore, but always implicate his life. I simply don’t deserve such a good boyfriend like him. Beside my hand was his shirt. I took it down and wrapped it around myself. Still as fragrant as every time he hugged me before. I greedily absorbed the pine scent in the air. Just as if he was still by my side comforting me “I am here, don’t be afraid”. Don’t know how long passed, I almost stopped breathing. Last trace of light at the gap also disappeared. I closed my eyes, reviewing past times like a revolving lantern. Maybe my death is a relief for everyone. Liam no longer has to give up multi-million projects for me. Stella also no longer has to throw tantrums because her childhood sweetheart cares too much about me. I also no longer have to try hard to disguise the worsening condition in front of the doctor. I gave up the idea of pushing open the closet. Head buried in the shirt, seemed Liam came back to coax me to sleep. Chapter 2 Open eyes again, I already saw myself stiffly curled up in the closet. Turns out this is the feeling of relief. Soul floating in the house, Liam came back holding drunk Stella. “Liam, I like you so much…” Shy dreamy tone made my chest fiercely pain. Liam didn’t reject. Just gently put her on the sofa. “I’ll go make you Hangover Smoothie.” Passing by that mess on the floor, he stunned a bit. “Why so many our photos at home?” “Isn’t it taken together few days ago, I felt good looking so printed out.” “Seems Sister intentionally finding fault again, earlier even called to scold me…” Stella is pretending drunk. She turned over, strap slid down along with it. Liam just casually replied a sentence. “Don’t calculate with a madwoman, tomorrow I take you to re-develop photos.” He turned head into kitchen. Even treated me as not existing in this home at all. I tightly bit teeth, heart suddenly missed a piece. Stella soon swayed and circled Liam from behind. “I haven’t eaten your cooking for a long time.” Since I got sick, seeing Stella always had stress reaction. Liam ordered three times and five times Stella not allowed to enter door. But now, he indulged Stella’s fingers wandering. Extremely doting scraped her nose. “So good, feels like back to before again.” Under orange light, I felt two people would kiss in next second. Fragrant smelling food soon served on table. “I go call Willow.” “Don’t, it’s so late, she kept quiet, definitely doesn’t want to see me, I don’t want her to go crazy again.” Stella grabbed Liam’s wrist. Liam’s steps paused, considered default. Stella smilingly demanded him to feed her Hangover Smoothie. “Before every time I got drunk, didn’t you carry to bed and feed me?” “Since you had girlfriend, I can’t feel your care anymore!” Liam sighed, feeding spoon by spoon. “You also know Willow’s illness, this period indeed wronged you.” “It’s okay, anyway Sister’s illness cured, later we can eat together again.” Stella eye bottom flashed a trace provocation. I thought of once world of two always had her existence. She was also always the one to be taken care of. I protested more than once. But Liam flipped back and forth, only those few sentences. “Stella is my sister, spoiled since childhood, you as sister-in-law should yield to her more.” I changed from anger to numbness. Then suddenly one day, diagnosed by doctor with Emotional Disorder. Thinking now, that dark days. Instead was the closest time for me and Liam. Just thinking, Lucky who always sneak out came back. It “Meow”ed few times, didn’t see me, attracted by food fragrance on table. “Dirty dead ah!” Stella hurriedly slapped Lucky wanting to jump on table. Liam a hug held it threw down. “Where is your mom? She doesn’t feed you?” “Willow! You throwing what temper here again? Even ignore your own cat?” “Hurry come out for me! Stella originally mood bad because breakup, you still have to bully her at this time?” Anger in Liam’s tone gradually deepened. Lucky was bought by him back then to soothe my illness. I always doting, but at this moment I floated beside hungry Lucky, powerless. Lucky seemed to sense my existence, scared fur exploded screaming. Running around, knocked over soup on table. Stella splashed all over. She screamed. “Isn’t it just let you accompany me few hours today? Why Sister so stingy?” Liam grabbed cup smashed at Lucky. “Dead beast! Roll!” “Tell your mom, today if she doesn’t come out apologize, don’t think let me sleep with her!” “Willow! I know you definitely can hear, my patience is also limited!” I stood in front of him crazy explaining. But no one can hear. Lucky was scared to corner. My thousand words stuck in throat, finally can only say “Sorry”. Stella was carried to bathroom to shower. “I didn’t bring change clothes, want your shirt as dress.” Steam filled space, ambiguous atmosphere constantly magnified. When Liam came out, opened chat page with me. “Just now indeed bit fierce to you, but Stella is indeed innocent.” “You hurry come out, don’t play hide and seek with me again, I am really tired today.” “Me and Stella really nothing, you don’t always random suspect like this!” He while walking to bedroom, while constantly sending voice messages. He knew every time I had episode throw temper would deliberately hide. Sometimes he searched for two hours. “I brought your favorite cupcake, you not come out eat again, cream going to melt.” He turned on bedroom light, subconsciously swept a glance at bed. Then sighed, one hand pressing voice input, one hand put on closet door handle. I suddenly started nervous, heart thump thump beating non-stop. What if he sees my corpse? Will he be sad or relieved? Following his opening action, my heartbeat already reached throat. I already saw myself exposed half body. But Liam’s attention still on phone chat interface. He continued voice bombing, head didn’t even lower, just conveniently pulled away that shirt on my body. I wanted to call him stop, but opened mouth, no sound at all. Closet inside fell into darkness again. I looked at cream melted by AC on table. Suddenly felt pity. He clearly promised me, every time eat cake must be together. I sat before table, imagining Liam just beside let me make wish. Soon, Stella came out with wet hair. Shirt just to hips, open collar wet by water. Body outline faintly visible. “Since Sister not willing come out, then go your bedroom blow hair okay ma?” Liam frowned, eyes swept over phone with no reply message. Still carried Stella to bed. His action blowing hair very gentle. I even started trance, when he treated me like this before. Was “Willow” equal to “Stella”? “Liam, I tell truth, not worthy you.” Hair dryer sound stopped abruptly. Stella looked up, eyes carrying aggression. “You two originally not people of one world, could it be just because her that bit life saving grace, want pay your whole life?” “You already paid enough for her! Don’t say she now has mental problem, even no problem, could it be your parents would agree you marry her?” Liam stunned in place, expression obscure unclear. Stella actively circled his neck. “You think think, you because this woman, lost how much Capital? Uncle, Auntie opinion very big.” “We two families count as true strong strong alliance.” Yes, I am just an ordinary girl. Liam trained in company base level. Me and all female employees same, would also privately gossip him. Three years ago site accident, I blocked falling chandelier for him. Come and go, I also didn’t expect, he would confess. At beginning, we indeed had sweet times. But very fast, Stella’s time and time intervention, let me and Liam quarrel constantly deepen. I also remember Stella’s warning: “Like you this kind woman, Liam just play play that’s all, don’t take yourself too seriously.” I looked at their close distance contact, suddenly felt incomparable match. Stella and him are people can spend rest life happiness together. Use my death to exchange Liam return to original correct track, also count worth. I looked at myself in closet once. So good, no longer need have episode annoy people. But Liam pushed away Stella. “You don’t continue nonsense again, I to you is treat as sister!” “But I like you!” Stella suddenly became hysterical. “Could it be I even this kind of bitch can’t compare?” “Enough!” Liam impatiently pulled out power cord, then let Stella go out. “Feeling this thing, not you say how then how.” “I indeed very like, and her illness isn’t already recovered almost? Me and her very fast can live normal life.” “Parents side I will think way solve. I soon can independent out, I already bought house, wait time mature I will propose.” My heart fiercely twitched. I countless times threw out Stella question. He every time was vague response, just let me wait. I always thought, he just treated me as pastime. Or maybe just want repay kindness to me that’s all. If back then he could say out in front of me. Maybe I wouldn’t sick to serious level… Stella still not give up, she tore open clothes. “Have ability you face me admit, you to me a bit feeling no have!” Liam flustered wrapped quilt for her. “Exactly how many times you want me say? I only treat you as biological sister see!” “You know I once had a sister! All because I didn’t watch her well so car accident!” Stella stunned a bit, disbelief looking him ask. “So, you do so many things for me, all just treat as compensation to your sister?” “You can understand like this.” Clearly can’t flow tears, I but felt eye rims sour. I once always didn’t believe Liam and Stella relationship. Countless quarrel scenes surged into mind. Is me time and time forced him want explain. I want hug him apologize, but again feel everything I saw, indeed truly hurt me. Pain regret emotion hit, I feel soul all become heavy. Liam exit bedroom, start search places I once loved hide. “Willow, you just come out ba, I apologize to you okay?” “I really want have a home with you, but I also don’t want everyday fear, afraid which sentence provoke you emotion lose control.” Assistant call come, after he answer, brows locked deeper and deeper. He sighed, sat on sofa open laptop. I saw enterprise message said project had problem. I already very long not like now good good look him. Eye corner grew fine lines, dark circles cover not住 (can’t cover). “Sorry ah, you already so tired, still have to everyday take care me.” “Later good good take care self, I not worthy.” I squat beside him, hand passed through his body. He seem felt something, suddenly look towards my side. Stella in room a scream. I was scared a jump, realized Stella might saw my corpse. But Liam ran in, Stella actually covering wrist wound crying. “Sister just now rushed out from closet stabbed me!” “I already died ah!” I angered laugh by this black white reverse words. But Liam carrying anger sight fell in opened closet. Angle problem, he can only see my curled lower body. “Okay! Hurry come out apologize!” “You don’t again use yourself sick do excuse, hurt people is wrong!” See I late not have movement, his voice more raise a degree. “Willow! I already give you face enough! You again continue so unreasonable make trouble, I really will angry!” Finished, he reached hand just want pull me. I dead block in front of him, shouting don’t move. I don’t want till die still be seen ugly state by him. But I can only watch helplessly he grab my wrist. “Clatter” a sound, I like a pale statue fell on ground. World seemed at this moment quiet. Chapter 3 Liam disbelief looked at his own hand. Seemed scared by my that cold and stiff touch. Stella suddenly screamed beside. “She definitely stabbed me afraid being pursued responsibility, so intentional pretend faint here!” She walked forward, used that “injured” hand to pull Liam’s arm: “Liam, I really so afraid… but she after all is your girlfriend, I look at your face can not call police.” “You let her hurry get up ba, big midnight don’t torture people.” Liam’s brows frowned tighter. He looked at me fallen on ground, eye bottom complex emotion fly fast surge. “Willow, stop noise.” “I know you will because I accompany Stella angry, but hurting Stella too excessive!” “You get up, we good good talk, I can not pursue you anything.” My soul squatted down. I can clearly see my pale skin suffocated death due to lack of oxygen, lips also start turn black, I suddenly felt this face bit scary. Liam waited few seconds, see I still not move, finally squatted down. He reached hand pushed my shoulder: “?” My body along with his force swayed, stiff like frozen meat block. “Don’t pretend.” His voice carried a trace anxiety, “I really still have many things to handle, tomorrow early meeting very important…” He again force shook me. But I still whole body stiff. Liam’s hand suddenly froze. His gaze dead fell on my face. Then put warm palm on my face. One second, two seconds, three seconds… His expression started change. “How… so cold?” “Willow?” He called again. This time voice added a trace tremble. No response. “Willow!” He suddenly raised volume, hands grab my shoulder force shake. “You wake up! Don’t scare me!” My body like broken string puppet, along with his action stiffly sway, head neck weak hanging. His voice started shaking: “Wake up! I let you wake up hear not!” He fierce hugged me up, tightly hold in arms. My head leaned on his shoulder, soon slid down. “Wrong… wrong…” Liam’s voice completely changed tune, he use hand pat my face, “Open eyes, Willow, open eyes look me!” He seem fierce realized something wrong. He suddenly stopped all action, whole person froze there. Then reached hand put under my nose. Suddenly, blood color on his face faded clean. His lips trembling, eyes opened extremely big, eyeballs rapidly climbed full bloodshot. He slowly turned head, look towards Stella. “Just now really used knife hurt you?” Stella stared by his terrible eyes back a step: “Of, of course ah! You look my wound…” “You mean, you just now stabbed by a dead person?” Liam this gaze cold like ice, Stella instant opened big mouth. “She died? How possible? She clearly…” “No, she definitely intentional pretend dead! You not don’t know she has mental illness! To attract your attention, she what thing can’t do ah?” Stella want drag up Liam. Liam a throw away her, constantly pinch my philtrum. “Willow!” He crazy shake me, pat my face. Towards my mouth try do CPR, again hand busy foot messy go press my chest. “Wake up! I beg you wake up! I not calculate! I what all not calculate!” “Not you want me accompany you ma? I accompany you! I everyday accompany you!” “You look me! You look me ah!” His tears smashed on my face, I seem still can feel a trace warm. I so want hug him, tell him don’t sad for me. But room crying sound bigger and bigger. His hand shook too severe, phone three times fell on ground. Finally unlock after, he pressed wrong twice number, third time then connect 911. “Save my girlfriend! She not work! Beg you guys fast point! Fast point ah!” Hang up phone after, he again hug me tight. Attempt use that point heat on his body let me feel warmth. Ambulance came very fast. Medical staff rushed in time, Liam still tight hug me not willing let go. Doctor squatted down, flip open my eyelid use flashlight shone, again checked my carotid artery and breathing. “No vital signs.” “Pupil dilation, rigor mortis already formed, body temperature obviously lower than environment temperature… death time at least above four hours.” Liam blank sat there, like didn’t understand doctor words. Nurse soft voice supplement: “Sir, your girlfriend… already passed away.” Whole world quiet a moment. Then, Liam he open big eyes look me on ground. “No… impossible! She not dead! Save her! You guys save her ah!” Liam like suddenly wake trapped beast, fierce pounce doctor. “She only twenty-five! She just now still… she just now…” He couldn’t say down, because he simply don’t know after he impatient hang up phone, I experienced what. “If need investigate, still need you go call police.” Always shrink in corner Stella suddenly panic loud scream: “Can’t call police! Liam, you calm point think!” “Willow is died in your bedroom closet! This matter if spread out, media will how write?” “You will implicate whole company stock price!” Liam slowly turn head, bloodshot covered eyes dead stare Stella. “Stella, you so afraid call police… is because you guilty ma?” He fierce throw away Stella hand, force so big let her stumble back few steps. “Willow’s death, with you have relation or not?” Liam press forward a step. “You today exactly did what to her? Why she in closet suffocate? Say!” “No! I nothing did!” Stella sharp voice refute. “I always with you together ah! Bar so many people can testify! How I harm her?” “Always with me together…” Liam mumble repeat this sentence, like instantly pumped away all strength. He tall body swayed, Then, fierce raise hand. “Slap!” A crisp loud slap, heavy whipped on his own face. “I not human… I really f*cking not human!” He tears surge out. “I clearly know she has DPD… I clearly know she can’t leave me! She today afternoon call me… she said she uncomfortable… she said she maybe need me…” He painful hug head, fingers deep insert hair between: “But I did what? I scold her not sensible! I dislike her annoying! I threw her alone in this empty house… whole day!” He fierce lift head, crimson eyes stare towards Stella: “I early let you go back early! You insist pull me accompany you drink! Cup after cup! In bar waste till midnight!” “If we could come back early… even early one hour! She maybe just…” “This how can blame me?” Stella scared by his eyes, but still stiff neck defend. “That time she called, didn’t you also hang up?” “Is yourself said ‘don’t care her, let her calm herself’! Who knew she would so extreme, really die at home ah!” She wiped face, voice inside carry disdain. “Besides, like her this kind ordinary person, mind so fragile, have sickness also not good treat, move not move just want die want live…” “Now accident happened, could it be all want others responsible? She died is her own choice, based on what…” “You shut up!” Liam explode a deafening roar. He fierce towards Stella face just a slap. “Not allow you say her one word again! You not worthy!” He like a beast completely lost reason. Wait police come time, Stella half face already high swell. “Please you detail tell a bit, today you last time see deceased Ms. Willow, is when? That time her state how?” Liam slowly lift head, lips move half day, then emit dry broken voice: “She… she has DPD… she can’t leave me…” Liam repeatedly repeat this sentence. Then fierce use fist smash own forehead. “Blame me! All blame me! I shouldn’t hang her phone! I shouldn’t let her alone at home!” I look Liam this despair look, heart position come a burst hollow pulling pain. I died, still want drag him like this. His company project still has key negotiation. But now, he trapped here, handle this sudden mess. I sure enough, till end still his most troublesome burden. Another side, a female police asking Stella. She face full impatient. “Willow she originally mind not too normal, have that what DPD, leave Liam just like can’t live.” “Today estimate is again throw temper, Liam ignore her, she just can’t think open bei. Want me say, this is suicide.” “She just herself mind fragile, drill cow horn tip. Die at home, really… bad luck.” This sentence float to Liam ear. He fierce lift head, dead stare Stella, eyes inside re-ignite anger. “Stella! You say again try!” He struggle want stand up, but pressed shoulder by side police. Stella instead raise volume: “I said wrong what? This matter if let your parents know, definitely again want big noise a scene! Really bad luck dead, implicate me!” Liam face intense anger like tide fade. Stella see situation, tone more matter of course: “Want me say, back then you shouldn’t date Willow this kind person. She herself sick, still drag others…” “Roll.” Liam squeeze a word from teeth gap. Police timely separate two people, propose want Autopsy. “Test ba… how do then how do… check clear she exactly…” Liam choked, can’t say down.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390632”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My mom is a well-known “Good Stepmom”. She treats her stepdad’s 3 children better than me. Even when 4 people got flu at the same time, she was afraid neighbors would gossip, only gave medicine to stepdad’s children, let me suffer through it. She countless times touched my face and said: “Stella, being a stepmom is hard, can’t treat them badly, otherwise mom’s backbone will be poked rotten.” “You will understand mom, right?” I understood many times, every time swallowed grievance silently. Until encountering police checking overload, rain pouring outside, mom again like before let me get off car to avoid. I stood still, because my leg was hit by stepbrother into a lame, couldn’t walk more than half an hour. Mom annoyed, force dragged me off car: “You child stubborn what! Be sensible okay!” “Find a place hide from rain, wait rain stop hurry go home.” I stunned in rain, this home is not what I want. … Chapter 1 This heavy rain, it didn’t stop. Water on ground already spread to my knees. Let me fall in rain water again and again. City street lights, hazy shining pitch black night. “Stella?” “Stella?” When I fell in water again, mom holding umbrella anxiously ran towards me. She always like this. Let me can’t love. Also hate not thorough. Her small body like a piece of paper in wind, blown down in water. Rain blurred my vision. Until mom ran to my side, her face and voice then clear in front of me. She difficultly fished me up from water, saw my face full of resentment. Carelessly did thought work for me again: “I know you uncomfortable in heart, mom also no way ah.” “You are my biological, they three are not.” “But if treat them a little bad, whole world will know, how I still be human ah.” “I know you suffered grievance, mom sorry you.” Speaking to last two sentences, she cried thick. Full of helplessness of not being understood, and involuntary of being stepmom. I didn’t utter a sound, under her support, returned to that home again. On dinner table only left leftovers. Even ginger water mom boiled for me to prevent cold, were drunk clean. Even trampled in cat bowl didn’t leave a sip for me. Two stepsisters and stepbrother all don’t like me. Surface polite to me, love ignore not ignore. Behind back they all say I am, living under others roof, only fit be their servant, even worse than dog. They also don’t like my mom, but enjoy mom’s good to them. Stepdad Frank sitting in living room watching TV, didn’t give us an extra look. Only perfunctory said a sentence: “Back.” He is very polite to me, no care no ask, no beat no scold. Like a just known uncle. But my mom loves him. Very love very love, even suffered many grievances, she also feels this is happiness running-in. Also exactly because love him, then after knowing stepdad original wife died of illness, regardless everything, even leave with nothing taking me also want divorce marry him. Mom said stepdad is her first love. If not because grandpa grandma blocked, their relationship wouldn’t be so bumpy. Also exactly because love stepdad, she love house and crow treat stepdad’s 3 children extra good. Mom supported me to bathroom, let me took a hot bath. Then brought me a cup of hot water, my stomach hungry rumbling. Just wanted open mouth say, mom I hungry. Then heard she say: “Not early, drink some water pad first, your second sister Brittany has neurasthenia, her room close to kitchen.” “Can’t hear a bit noise, tomorrow I get up early, then cook.” Words to my mouth, swallowed back again. Since became stepmom, she always can consider everyone in family. But only can’t consider me. She to be good stepmom, to not be gossiped. Even I got into Ivy League, she also because Big Sister Ashley a sentence: “We three didn’t go college, if Stella goes, do you have to compensate us three brothers sisters each one college money.” “Otherwise is you this stepmom biased!” Even my college tuition didn’t need stepdad pay. Mom’s salary enough for me go college. But she for fairness sake, also when couldn’t take out savings satisfy Ashley’s request. Crying begged me: “Stella you smart, even not read college later also can have way out.” “Don’t you love writing novels? Might as well write novels try, maybe this is your best way out.” That was my first time resist her. Collapsed crying hoarse voice: “They can’t go, that is they no ability test in.” “I use my own mom’s money go college can’t I?” “Even you don’t give me money, I can apply student loan myself.” But no matter how I noise, mom always helpless crying. Even knelt to me, fierce slap own face. I then knew my acceptance letter was torn into pieces by Brittany’s cat. Mom begged me not noise, begged me not let her hard got family have crack. I finally didn’t go college. Not only lost future, also lost leg. Even stepbrother Caleb, because driving without license reversing car broke my leg. She also because afraid I make matter big, Caleb go jail, afraid this family can’t maintain. Force with death, not allow me call police. She said this home is her life, Caleb also counts her biological child. If because me went jail, not only Caleb hate her, also will affect her relationship with stepdad. After another despair, I only felt, she is not their stepmom. She became my stepmom. Chapter 2 Next day, I indeed cold fever. Whole body weak paralyzed on bed. Mom morning came look me. Hurriedly put a cup of hot milk and egg on my bedside table. See I burned severe, prepared Tylenol for me again. She very hurried. Hurried to talk with me no time look me straight. “Stella, I go work, you sleep more.” “Fever a while can retreat, home hand to you.” This home only I one idler. Just because I am lame, can’t find suitable work. Except writing novels at home, is responsible for whole family food clothing living. Noon my phone ding ding pop messages. In family group chat, Brittany first sent @me: Little sister, I want eat lotus root meatballs today. Not pass 5 minutes, Ashley @me: Stella, night make a braised fish, your braised fish last time not bad. Half hour later Caleb @me: Little sister, you make a braised pork, then mix two cold dishes, hard work. Below message he sent a Venmo. Every time red packet only $6.6, he beautiful name said meaning six six big smooth. This time presumably also. I didn’t accept red packet. Also didn’t reply anyone’s message. After searching city info whole morning, I booked a cheapest train hard seat to Portland. Time set at 3 days later morning. Also used an afternoon time, wrote last letter to mom. Every write a word, kinship bond all couldn’t help let my nose sour. Dark, I fever again. Shrink in quilt shivering. Don’t know when, came door open sound. Then is a swarm of complain sound. “Why pitch black, Stella not at home?” “What time already, cold pot cold stove meal not made.” “What meaning ah? This is strike? Who provoked this grandaunt again.” Mom and stepdad came back. They three complain sound bigger. “Worked whole day, tired dead, back even a hot meal can’t eat!” “What meaning ah, don’t want cook just say clearly!” “Isn’t part of this family! Clearly is each do own duty matter, even a meal not make!” Brittany suddenly voice sharp, anger full: “Clothes not washed ah! Also underwear ah, one not washed!” “Underwear how can put so long time, will grow bacteria ah! Mom you say say your daughter ah, what exactly she mean ah!” “My this underwear new bought, $30 a pair only wore once, like this how I still wear ah.” Mom good voice good air comfort them: “Stella not intentional, maybe fever uncomfortable, I go look.” Stepdad also fake look fake appearance said: “Alright, all say few words.” Mom steps hurried walked into my narrow room. Turned on light, dazzling light instantly lit up whole dark room. I still dizzy lying on bed. “Stella what happen to you? Is uncomfortable?” Mom concern sound carried few points ask crime. Speaking she pulled open quilt over my head, very naturally reach hand test my forehead temperature. “Fever again, took medicine?” “Mm.” I faintly responded. Room door came Caleb complain sound: “Mom, what our family eat tonight ah, I about starve dead.” Just showed point concern to me mom, busy go coax him: “What you want eat, I make now.” Ashley mumble a sentence: “What time already, wait you make want eat at night ah.” Mom busy fawning propose: “How about our family go eat Hot Pot, didn’t you want eat hot pot two days ago? Today I treat.” This word out, home heavy atmosphere completely disappeared. Each happy up, couldn’t wait pull mom go restaurant. Stepdad fake asked a sentence: “Stella not go?” Brittany yin yang weird air said: “Isn’t she uncomfortable, fever people usually no appetite, if she want go eat hot pot then explain she is pretending.” So I again was left behind. Like an outsider, not suitable attend their family gathering. Tears again unpromising wet pillow. Brain will uncontrollably emerge, 10 years ago mom not remarried, she loved my look. That time she to me, was hold in palm afraid drop, hold in mouth afraid melt. I had to accept reality. She now already not my one person mom. When they ate full drank enough back, I hungry stomach pain, curled in quilt. Mom brought a cup of milk put my bedside table again, maybe afraid angry. She coax child like said: “Wait your illness good, I also take you eat hot pot.” Every time is wait wait wait. Ashley fed my bought dried strawberries to dog, she said next time buy for me. Brittany wore my skirt saved稿费 (royalties) long time bought, without a greeting on herself, she said next time buy for me. Caleb took my laptop bought for writing novel play game, she also said next time buy for me. But Mom, next time in your mouth, forever is a illusionary lie. I didn’t utter sound, she gratified across quilt touched my head: “Still biological good, can understand me, my Stella ah, really sensible.” She paused, feeling sighed: “Stepmom hard do ah, you can understand mom, I really very gratified.” But Mom how much you gratified, I have how much heart sour. Chapter 3 Sick for about 2 days, I finally better. Tomorrow going leave, looking at old and few clothes in closet. Suddenly found, I have no luggage to bring. Just happen also weekend, they didn’t work. In living room discuss Caleb marriage matter. I didn’t participate, also felt atmosphere heavy. Stepdad said: “New marriage house down payment at least need $300,000, me and your mom savings barely enough help you pay.” “Wedding gift $180,000, also three gold money, you are biological siblings, can help a hand still want help a hand.” Ashley first state: “My savings not much, only can out $20,000.” Brittany also unwilling said: “I also only have $20,000.” She suddenly towards my room deliberately raised volume: “Our family not have a writer ma, everyday crackle crackle knock keyboard at home, royalties definitely not few.” Her tone sarcasm full. Before said I idiot dream, earned royalties not enough eat shit also she. Mom believed her words, bitter mouth mother heart came my room wipe tears: “Stella, stepmom hard do, your big brother marry, me this stepmom definitely have to help, you are his sister, we all one family.” “Can you take point royalties out? Count I borrow yours also okay, okay?” She every time use my money help them three, all say borrow, but didn’t return once. “I no what royalties, a month just $2,000, and unstable not enough myself spend.” “Little sister, all one family, you don’t hide hide tuck tuck, I not believe you a month just $2,000, unless you show us account.” Ashley don’t know when leaning door window standing at door. Stepdad they all came, everyone eyes examining me. Mom to please them, face to face require me: “You show account to me.” To let them dead heart, I showed bank account and website account all to them. After they confirmed my royalties just this bit, each look me eyes overflowed contempt. Brittany yin yang weird air ridicule: “You no that ink water, still want eat writer this line rice, this not simply is day dream!” Anyway I tomorrow going completely leave, didn’t fight mouth war with her. They continued discuss Caleb wedding gift matter. Finally was my mom and stepdad decided loan $100,000, solve this matter. Then is three gold jewelry problem. Mom went cabinet took a 30g Gold Bangle left by my biological father before death. Also a 50g Small Gold Bar. Dad gave these to me time, that time I only 13, Mom said I age small, she help me save wait grow up return me. But now she said: “Take this go exchange new, now gold price expensive, buy now too not worth.” I instantly came fire, excited rushed over snatch: “This is my Dad left for me! You no right take my things give him!” Mom didn’t expect my reaction so big, unhappy scold me: “I later buy for you again, now your brother marry is urgent matter, also big matter!” She not return me, and directly handed to Caleb hand, instruct him: “Quick take exchange! Quick!” I rushed over to snatch, blocked dead by mom: “Stella Jiang, you understand point matter okay!” I completely collapsed, past grievance in a moment turned into anger, crying shouted at her: “You not their stepmom! You are my stepmom!” “I hate you, you today if gave things to him, you no me this daughter!” Mom stunned a bit, follow come is a heavy slap fanned on my face, and rage sound: “Roll! Roll out!” I no hesitation picked up laptop limped walked. Behind came her manipulate my voice: “Rolled, then forever don’t come back!” She didn’t know, I have this plan. Mom was at third day, didn’t hold breath called me. But respond her forever is power off prompt tone, she suddenly panicked. This time stepdad panic ran back: “Community gate a girl hit dead by car, can’t see face but a lame all say is Stella? You quick go look is it?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390647”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The Sterling family, the wealthiest dynasty in New York, posted a recruitment ad that shook the internet: 【 High-Price Seeking Daughter-in-Law We are looking for a wife for our sole heir. Reward: $5 Million for a boy, $3 Million for a girl. You just handle the birth; the Sterlings will handle the bill. 】 I smirked. My chance to get filthy rich had finally arrived. First pregnancy: Triplets. Three boys. Mrs. Sterling threw a party that shut down Manhattan, grinning so hard her eyes disappeared. Second pregnancy: Quadruplets. Two boys, two girls. Mrs. Sterling smiled politely, asking if I needed a nap. Third pregnancy: Triplets again. All boys. Mrs. Sterling couldn’t smile anymore. Now, she grabs anyone she sees and whispers, “Why won’t God just take me?” 1 My family has a genetic predisposition for extreme fertility. My great-grandmother had eight sons and two daughters. Back in the Great Depression, she single-handedly ate a wealthy landowner out of house and home until they were farming dirt. My mom had a pair of fraternal twins—me and my brother. She wanted more, but finances forced her into early retirement. Summarizing the experience of two generations, my mother gave me one piece of advice: “Harper, find a man who is hot, and find a man who is loaded!” After all, our constitution is volatile. Twins are a glitch. Triplets are the standard. Occasional quadruplets or quintuplets? Just a Tuesday for us. Find a handsome one so the army of kids is at least pleasant to look at. Find a rich one so they don’t starve. We didn’t want a repeat of Great-Grandma’s “eating the landlord poor” incident. I took this to heart. So, I stayed single. Until two days ago, when the Sterling family posted The Ad. Applicants swarmed like bees. But I, Harper Vance, fought through the preliminaries, crushed the semi-finals, and took the championship crown! When I held the contract, I called my mom, shaking. “Mom, we’re about to be richer than astronauts!” My mom heard the details and gasped. “Baby, pace yourself. Don’t bankrupt them.” 2 Day one on the job. Mrs. Eleanor Sterling sat on a velvet throne, giving me the orientation speech. “The Sterling line has had only one son per generation for eight generations. We are desperate. So don’t blame me for favoring boys slightly.” “Once the first child drops, you get the marriage license and the cash transfer. Instantaneously.” “If you can’t produce? You get a severance package and an Uber home.” I thumped my chest confidently. “Don’t worry, Boss Lady. Mission accepted.” Mrs. Sterling looked pleased. She waved her hand, and the guards brought in the father-to-be: Sebastian Sterling. Sharp eyes, chiseled jaw, legs for days, and a glimpse of an eight-pack through his disheveled shirt. Honestly, in any other context, he’d be the guy you dream about. Unfortunately, right now, he was a mess. He was hogtied with red silk ropes, carried in by eight bodyguards like a prize hog at a county fair. He was struggling and screaming: “Let me go! Am I a stud horse to you people?!” “Get out! I don’t touch women!” “Put me down! Marriage is a democracy! My body, my choice!” He screamed until his voice cracked. I suddenly understood why they had to hire a wife. The eighth-generation heir was… playing for the other team. Oh, heartbreaking. Mrs. Sterling looked pained. “Sebastian, I respect your lifestyle. I’m not a bigot.” “Just give me one heir. After that, you can fly to San Francisco, date men, date drag queens, date aliens—I don’t care!” Sebastian thrashed harder. “Mom, stop ‘understanding’ me! Who said I like men?!” Mrs. Sterling wiped a tear. “Oh, I get it. You like non-binary performers. That’s fine, but they can’t get pregnant! Just give me this one wish!” Sebastian howled. “Stop guessing!” Mrs. Sterling ignored him and pointed at me. “This is the mother I picked. Your future wife.” “I know your tastes are… unique. But Harper is a good girl. You can’t give her a normal marriage, but don’t you dare bully her!” Sebastian sneered at me. “Useless. Mom, tie down my body all you want, but my soul will fight for its virginity!” Mrs. Sterling ignored him. “Harper, can you handle this tonight?” I looked him over. Disheveled clothes. Forbidden vibe. The ropes were tight, but they didn’t obstruct the essential equipment. I looked up. “No problem, Ma’am. No matter the difficulty, the vendor will deliver!” Mrs. Sterling scolded Sebastian. “Look at her attitude! Now look at yours!” For some reason, Sebastian stopped struggling. He locked eyes with me, and the tips of his ears turned bright red. 3 That night, to be safe, Sebastian was tied to the king-sized bed. He was as quiet at night as he was loud during the day. I assumed he had accepted his fate. I rubbed my hands together. Imagine: A six-foot-two billionaire, restrained, at my mercy. And I get paid millions for it. “Um… I don’t have much experience. Tell me if it hurts.” I started stripping. Sebastian’s face flushed crimson. His eyes darted around the room. “Harper.” “Yes, Boss?” “Do… do you have someone you like?” I paused, holding my shirt. I remembered the freelancer’s code: Take the client’s questions seriously. I shook my head. “Nope!” Sebastian sighed. “I do.” Oh. Awkward. I stood there in my bra. I felt bad. Is this ethical? Sebastian glanced at me. “Why did you… stop?” I crawled over to him. “I didn’t know you had a partner. If you aren’t willing, we can skip it.” I mean, it’s just a few million dollars… sob. But I have a conscience! Sebastian looked like he was about to combust. He coughed. “It’s fine. Continue.” I ripped his shirt open. “Wait, won’t your partner mind?” “If it’s you… it’s okay.” Wow, his partner is open-minded! I got his pants off. We were skin to skin. But I wiggled around and couldn’t quite figure out the mechanics of a tied-up man. Sebastian panted. “Be good. Untie me. I’ll do it.” No way! My bottom line is twins. That’s a guaranteed $8-10 million. If I untie him and he runs, my millions run with him! I struggled for another ten minutes until I accidentally kneed him somewhere sensitive. Sebastian hissed. “Sweetheart, untie me. You’re going to break it.” I untied him. Because honestly, this was exhausting. Money is hard to earn. The moment the ropes fell, Sebastian flipped over and pinned me down. Lights out. Shift starts. My last thought before passing out was: Sebastian is definitely a Top. His stamina was terrifying. 4 I woke up alone. There was a new contact in my phone. Seb: [Emergency at the office. Call if you need anything.] I sighed. Such a considerate client. Before I could reply, my best friend Chloe called, screaming. “Harper Vance! Where the hell are you? We have the pitch meeting with Horizon Corp today!” “If we miss this, I will have your head on a spike!” I checked the time. 10:00 AM. I scrambled out of bed. I was so busy with the side hustle, I forgot my main job! Chloe and I run a boutique ad agency. The Horizon contract is worth $500k. To Chloe, this is life or death. I rushed to the Horizon building, but we were three minutes late. The receptionist was stone cold. “Sorry, your slot is gone. Reschedule.” Chloe grinded her teeth. “You better explain where you were yesterday.” “I… took a gig?” “What gig is more important than a half-million-dollar contract?” Well… a forty-million-dollar one. The elevator dinged. A group of suits walked out. The leader was cold, handsome, and radiated ‘Main Character’ energy. Chloe, being Chloe, shoved me aside and lunged. “Mr. Sterling! I’m Chloe from Starlight Ads. Just one minute, please!” Sebastian didn’t even slow down. His assistant blocked her. “Sorry, Mr. Sterling is busy.” My phone buzzed. Seb: [Home in 20. What do you want for lunch?] 5 I looked at my desperate friend, then at the power-walking Sebastian. I raised a timid hand. “Um…” Sebastian stopped dead. He looked up. His gaze darkened when he saw me. His Adam’s apple bobbed. I blushed. I felt a twinge of jealousy. That damn partner of his eats well! He extended a hand. “Give it here.” Chloe shoved the portfolio at him. “Mr. Sterling, this is the draft. We can change anything!” Sebastian ignored it. “The contract.” I pulled the contract out of my bag. He didn’t read it. He flipped to the last page, signed his name, and shoved it back at me. “Wait for me at home.” He didn’t whisper. Instantly, every employee in the Horizon lobby stared at me. Shock. Gossip. Who is she? I wanted to melt into the floor. Only Chloe was oblivious, drowning in the joy of money. “I knew it! Thick skin wins the game!” “Tonight, drinks on me! Invite your college buddy Liam too. Celebration dinner!” The stares intensified. Wow, the CEO is getting cucked? Sebastian spun around on his heel. He planted himself in front of me. His eyes were predatory. “I love celebrations. Add a plus one?” Chloe beamed. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I pinched her. “Girl, you are playing with fire.” Chloe shrugged. “For a client this big, I’ll burn.” 6 That night. A roadside taco stand. Four people at a plastic table. The stools were too low for Sebastian’s long legs. His knee kept brushing against mine. “So you’re Harper’s ‘Senior’ form college? Thanks for looking after her.” Sebastian smiled—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes—and draped an arm possessively around my shoulders. Liam’s face went cold. He pushed Sebastian’s arm away. “No need to thank me. I enjoy taking care of Harper.” “Also, keep your hands to yourself. As far as I know, Harper doesn’t have a boyfriend.” Sebastian re-draped his arm, eyebrows raised. “My Harper is shy. She doesn’t need to tell outsiders about her private life.” Liam clenched his fist. “I’m not an outsider. I’m her closest… boy friend.” Sebastian scoffed. “Space that out. Male. Friend.” The air crackled with testosterone. Chloe was happily munching on nachos, watching the drama. “Fight! Fight!” I grabbed her arm. “Stop it! Why are we eating street tacos for a celebration dinner?” Chloe threw her hands up. “Mr. Sterling picked it!” You’re kidding. Billionaire Sebastian Sterling eating a $2 taco? Chloe whispered, “Tell me the tea. How did you snag him?” Before I could answer, Sebastian plucked the jalapeño popper from my plate. He smiled gently. “You’re preparing for pregnancy. No spicy food.” K.O. The table went dead silent. Chloe choked. “Holy sh*t! You guys got married?” I shook my head. “No. But… we slept together.” Chloe: “WTF? When?” “My gig yesterday…” Chloe shrieked. “You became a sugar baby?!” Me: … Can this woman let me finish a sentence?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390664”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel