Category: English

I went home for Christmas with a split lip. My childhood friend, who always looked down on me, sneered: “Did a dog bite you again?” In front of a room full of relatives, I said: “My boyfriend bit me.” My childhood friend’s face turned black instantly. Chapter 1 Under my mom’s ultimatum to come home early for the holidays or else, I rushed back on the very last day of the deadline, arriving at night. The moment I stepped through the door, I saw my childhood friend, Julian, and his parents. We locked eyes for a moment. Julian put on a mocking expression: “Chloe, did a dog bite you again?” When I was five, I insisted on kissing a dog and got bitten, resulting in three rabies shots. Julian was the one who accompanied me to get the shots, albeit reluctantly. But this became his go-to joke to mock me. Probably recalling the past, the adults in the room all laughed. I touched my lip. The wound had scabbed over, standing out starkly against my pale lips. Amidst their laughter, I said: “No, my boyfriend bit me this morning.” The laughter stopped abruptly. Everyone looked shocked, except for Julian, whose face turned dark. Because we used to have a “baby engagement.” Chapter 2 In the pin-drop silence, Julian’s mom spoke up: “Chloe has a boyfriend?” I responded politely: “Yes, a senior from my college.” Under Julian’s almost furious gaze, I continued: “He didn’t have time to come this trip. I’ll find a time after New Year’s to bring him over for dinner.” Julian finally exploded, shouting: “Dinner my ass!” Then he turned and stormed out to the balcony. Julian’s mom gave me a panicked look and followed him to the balcony. I shrugged, used to this, and wheeled my luggage into my room under the awkward gazes of the remaining adults. I could still hear snippets of the argument from the balcony. “You were the one who said you’d rather die than marry Chloe! Now she has a boyfriend, what are you freaking out for?” Julian’s mom finished, and after a long silence, I heard Julian say: “Anyway, I don’t agree!” I lowered my eyes and smiled. Three years ago, at a gathering of our two families, Julian’s mom joked again, calling me “daughter-in-law.” Unexpectedly, Julian snapped on the spot, accusing his mother of not knowing boundaries with jokes, then turning to accuse me of being shameless and following him around, telling me not to bother him anymore. Julian’s dad slapped him right there. And he blamed me for it all. We parted on bad terms. I even chose a university in the Southwest, far away from Julian. I thought Julian and I would just be childhood acquaintances from then on. So what is he doing now? Chapter 3 By the time I changed into loungewear, Julian was already sitting at the dining table. I don’t know how his mom coaxed him, but he seemed less angry than before. During the meal, everyone deliberately avoided the topic from earlier, only asking about my studies. Just as the atmosphere relaxed a bit, my phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the caller ID, I pursed my lips in a smile. “Taking a call. Auntie, please continue eating.” I got up and walked out the door. It was my boyfriend Ethan calling, just asking if I had eaten. I whispered to him: “Why did you bite my lip so hard it bled? I didn’t even notice.” Ethan hummed and hawed on the other end before squeezing out: “I did it on purpose.” Just as I was about to speak, a loud bang came from behind the door. I turned my head. Julian’s face was red, full of impatience: “Are you eating or not? If not, I’m washing the dishes.” Ethan’s voice came from the phone: “You haven’t finished eating yet? Should I order you some fried chicken?” Hearing Ethan’s voice, Julian’s face turned iron green: “Who is that?” I looked up at him, smiled, and said slowly: “My boyfriend.” Chapter 4 Ethan was silent for a moment on the phone, then said: “Call me tonight. Waiting for you~” The sound of him hanging up came from the other end. In the hallway, only silence remained between Julian and me. Julian stared at my lips for a long time before suddenly saying: “How long have you been dating? And you… kissed?” I turned off the screen and put the phone in my pocket: “Almost a year.” I watched his face turn black then red. “How come I haven’t seen you mention him?” I thought about it. Julian was probably talking about my social media. After falling out with him, I didn’t delete him, but we rarely messaged each other. I rarely updated my status, didn’t change my profile picture or bio, and never posted anything about Ethan. I said: “I forgot to update.” I put the phone in my pocket as I spoke. Julian chuckled lightly: “Seems like you don’t like him that much.” He seemed relieved. I looked at him in confusion: “Why do you say that?” “If you liked him, you wouldn’t not mention him at all.” I clenched my fist lightly. “No, I like him very much.” I looked up, staring into Julian’s eyes, wanting to tell him I wasn’t lying. Julian looked down at me. Seeing that I didn’t seem to be lying, a trace of unease flashed in his eyes. I didn’t want to tangle with him anymore and started to walk away. Passing by Julian, he asked softly: “How could you move on so quickly?”

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At the party, my asthma flared up. I scrambled to grab my emergency inhaler. Only to find the canister empty. My boyfriend, Ethan, explained: “Chloe said her throat was dry, so I gave her the inhaler. Just have a cough drop, it helps too.” But my breathing was getting harder and harder. “Her throat was dry? Why didn’t she just drink water? You guys are going to kill me!” He frowned, dissatisfied. “Can you stop being so dramatic? You always act so fragile, like you’re some delicate princess.” “Chloe is right, you’re just needy.” I didn’t argue further. I texted my mother: “My asthma is acting up, but Ethan gave my inhaler to Chloe.” 1 Ethan saw the message and scoffed. “Pulling this again? Always tattling like an elementary schooler?” He snatched my phone, holding it high, looking down at me. I tried to grab it back. But as soon as I stood up, my vision went black, and I fell back down. “I’m having an asthma attack, help me,” I gasped urgently. Just then, Chloe walked over, waving the inhaler in her hand. “Oh my, Princess Sophia, are you really feeling bad? Or just trying to get attention?” “Ugh, I knew we shouldn’t have brought a girl to a guys’ night out. Always causing drama and competing for attention.” I gasped for air, staring daggers at Chloe. She was Ethan’s childhood friend. She always hung out with the guys, acting like “one of the bros.” Ethan had mentioned her to me more than once, praising her for being a “cool girl.” At first, I had a good impression of this carefree “bro-girl” Ethan described. After we got serious, Ethan introduced me to his circle. Chloe always acted very supportive of girls. “Wow Ethan, you have good taste! Where’d you find this princess?” “Yas queen, let’s stick together and ignore these smelly boys.” But I could always feel a hint of malice in the way she looked at me. Her methods were subtle. She claimed to support girls, but her actions deliberately ignored me. For example, at parties, she would always bring up inside jokes from their childhood. I couldn’t join in, forced to sit silently on the side. Then, she would loudly joke with me. “What’s wrong, Princess? You’re not upset because I’m talking to Ethan, are you?” I told Ethan how uncomfortable this made me. But Ethan just called me petty. He said Chloe was just trying to liven up the atmosphere, and I was too sensitive. But now, Chloe’s malice was undisguised. “A princess is always a princess. Is it because we aren’t revolving around you that you’re unhappy, so you’re faking being sick?” Hearing her words, the guys around us snickered. “I’m really not feeling well, give me the inhaler!” I raised my voice. Seeing me like this, the room went quiet for a second. Then erupted into even louder laughter. Chloe put her hand on Ethan’s shoulder. Watching me gasp for air, she laughed so hard she leaned back. “Wow, the acting is on point. Ethan, you’re not feeling sorry for her, are you?” The others goaded Ethan too. “Yeah, Ethan, you’re not gonna be whipped after you get married, right?” “Don’t embarrass us, bro! The man is the head of the house. If a woman misbehaves, you gotta teach her a lesson.” Ethan couldn’t stand the provocation. He stiffened his neck, avoiding my eyes. “Who feels sorry for her? She needs to be taught a lesson, always making trouble out of nothing.” I couldn’t breathe. I desperately pulled at Ethan’s sleeve, making wheezing sounds from my throat. “Save… me…” Seeing me like this, Ethan hesitated. But Chloe spoke up again. “Alright, alright Sophia, we’re all straight dudes here, no one buys your damsel in distress act.” Knowing I couldn’t get through to him, I tried to leave the room. But just as I propped myself up, Chloe pushed me back down. “The party isn’t over, how can you leave? That’s so disrespectful to me.” She pushed hard. I wasn’t paying attention, and the back of my head hit the wall. Thud. My head spun even more. Before I could react, Chloe screamed first. 2 She covered her mouth, exaggerating her shock. “Omg? You are so manipulative.” “I barely touched you, and you hit your own head against the wall to frame me?” Hearing this, Ethan looked at me with even more impatience. “Sophia, you’re crossing the line.” I bit my lip, trying to stay conscious. “I have severe asthma. If you don’t want someone to die, stop it.” My throat hurt; every breath felt like inhaling glass shards. Chloe waved the inhaler in front of my face tauntingly, taking a dramatic puff. “Can’t give it to you, my throat is dry.” “Gotta say, expensive stuff is good. This feels great to use.” I struggled to raise my hand to grab it. She laughed and held it high, dodging me. “Nope, not giving it.” I was so angry my vision went black again. Ethan stood by with his arms crossed, watching. “Look at you, begging like a beggar. Chloe just wants to use it for a bit, don’t be so stingy.” “Chloe saw your medical report. You don’t have asthma, you’re just short of breath sometimes.” I tried to calm myself down. “Ethan, haven’t you seen me have an attack before? What reason do I have to lie to you?” Before Ethan could answer, Chloe cut in. “For attention, obviously. In this day and age, there’s always some attention seeker faking illness.” “Hehe, Sophia, are you like those internet snowflakes who claim to have depression too?” Hearing this, Ethan’s bros laughed even louder. Someone whistled. “Ethan, your girlfriend is too petty. Not even half as cool as Chloe.” “Yeah, you’re gonna suffer when you marry her.” I gasped for air, using my last bit of strength to reach for the inhaler in Chloe’s hand. But just as my fingers were about to touch it, she dodged nimbly. I lost my balance and fell forward onto the carpet. “Oops, the acting is so realistic!” Chloe exclaimed dramatically. Then she squatted down, whispering so only I could hear. “Hehe, hurry up and die. If you die, Ethan and I can finally be together.” She stood up, raising her voice deliberately. “Sophia, stop it, get up. Everyone is waiting to toast you and Ethan.” Ethan felt something was wrong. He stepped forward to help me up. “What’s going on with you, are you really sick?” “Help me…” I struggled to spit out the words. My hand gripped Ethan’s wrist tight, only able to emit broken gasps. “In… inhaler…” Ethan’s brows knit tight, panic and struggle finally appearing in his eyes. He looked at Chloe. “Chloe, maybe give it to her.” Chloe’s face fell instantly. She stubbornly hid the inhaler behind her back, stomping her foot in frustration. “Ethan, are you blind? She’s obviously faking it! Did you forget what a diva she used to be?” Saying that, she suddenly shouted to the others. “Look guys, this kind of competitive girl just knows how to act. And of course, Ethan falls for it.” The guys immediately backed her up. “Ethan, we grew up with Chloe. Would she harm you?” “These princesses just love making trouble out of nothing. Don’t spoil her.” Ethan’s face changed. His grip on me loosened. I could feel his hesitation. Between my painful attack and Chloe’s manipulation. “But, her face looks really pale…” 3 Ethan was worried, his eyes on my bloodless lips. Chloe suddenly slapped her forehead. “Oh!” “I saw her take a tampon to the bathroom earlier. She must have period cramps.” She acted like she was being considerate. “Sophia, if it’s cramps, just say it’s cramps. Why lie about an asthma attack? Making Ethan worry for nothing.” Hearing this, Ethan sighed in relief. He looked at me with blame. “Don’t joke like that again. You almost scared me to death.” I had no strength left. Luckily, I took preventive medication before leaving the house. Otherwise, with their stalling, I would be dead already. Chloe hid behind Ethan, smiling provocatively at me. Then she pulled a small bottle from her bag. “Here, I have throat lozenges. Sophia, didn’t you say your throat hurts? Have one!” She shoved the lozenge into my mouth. The minty flavor rushed into my nose, making the burning in my throat worse. I wanted to spit it out. But she gripped my jaw tight. “Swallow it! What is wrong with you? You really are faking it for sympathy.” She only let go when I started dry heaving, then turned to Ethan. “See? She won’t eat it. If she’s not faking, what is it?” Ethan looked at me, then at the spat-out lozenge on the floor. The panic in his eyes vanished, replaced by annoyance. He felt I was making a big deal out of nothing. He sighed heavily and dropped me onto the sofa. My back hit the armrest, pain making me gasp. “Fine, let’s drop it. Don’t do this again.” “No, I…” I wanted to explain, but my throat could only make wheezing sounds. Chloe patted Ethan’s shoulder. “Come on, ignore her. Let’s go drink. If no one pays attention to her, she’ll be fine in a bit.” Ethan nodded. He glanced at me one last time before leaving. That look held impatience and annoyance, but no worry. Dragged by Chloe towards the crowd, he dropped one last sentence. “Behave yourself. Don’t embarrass me again.” The crowd dispersed with them, running off to drink. I curled up in the corner, watching Ethan and Chloe being urged to drink a “cross-cupped wine” (a wedding tradition/intimate gesture). “Come on, cross cups!” “Don’t be a killjoy, drink up!” “It’s just a game, your girlfriend isn’t that petty, right?” In my blurred vision, I saw Ethan glance at me from afar, then put his arm around Chloe and kiss her… I felt the air in my lungs being drawn out bit by bit. I really couldn’t breathe. My phone was thrown on the floor by Ethan. But I didn’t even have the strength to crawl to it. In despair, I suddenly remembered I had put an asthma pill in my bag last month. Summoning my last bit of strength, I fumbled around. My heart jumped when my fingertips touched the chain of my bag. I clawed at the strap, dragging it over. Leather rubbed against the sofa. The bag was open. I tipped it. A pill rolled out onto the carpet. This is it! Although just an emergency release tablet. Slower than the inhaler, but it could buy me time. I almost cried. But just as I reached out, fingertips about to touch the pill—a high heel stepped on it. 4 Right in front of my eyes, the heel ground the pill into dust. It was Chloe. She smiled down at me, toe still twisting. “Oops, almost let you eat the medicine.” Blood rushed to my head. “Get out! I’ll kill you! My mom won’t let you get away with this.” Suffocation surged. After saying this, I collapsed back onto the sofa, like a dying beast. “Heehee, seeing you rage helplessly makes me so happy.” Chloe squatted down, poking my face with her long nails. “You deserve it. Trying to take my things. Ethan is mine. Even if I don’t want him, it’s not your turn.” saying that, she yanked my hair hard. “Alright, you can die now.” My scalp stung. I wanted to struggle. But I couldn’t even lift my arm. “I am… Xu Group…” In my blurry vision, Chloe’s face twisted. She cut me off. “Ethan is drinking over there.” She leaned close to my ear, voice sickeningly sweet. “He can’t be bothered with you. Say, if you died right now, would he be sad?” I tried to bite her hand, but she dodged easily. She stood up, patted my face, then shouted to Ethan in the distance. “Ethan! Come look! Sophia seems really mad!” Ethan came over. Seeing me limp on the sofa, his frown deepened. “What are you doing now? It’s just cramps, don’t act like you’re dying. Every woman gets cramps.” “I, I really have…” I gasped weakly, “Asthma…” Ethan’s gaze swept over my pale face, then looked at Chloe. Chloe shrugged helplessly, indicating she couldn’t do anything. Ethan fixed his eyes on me, full of disappointment. “Sophia, I’ve had enough of you. If you keep this up, we’re breaking up.” With that, he turned and left. Chloe trotted after him, turning back to flash me a “V” sign. I felt my lungs were like leaking bellows, every breath tearing with pain. Static filled my vision. Chloe’s face in the distance zoomed in and out in the halo, like a demon from hell. My eyelids were heavy. Over there, the crowd cheered around Chloe. In my peripheral vision, Ethan toasted with his bros. Chloe pretended to be drunk and leaned into Ethan’s arms. He didn’t push her away; instead, he held her waist tighter. “Ethan…” I used all my strength to call him. Voice weak as a mosquito. He turned back inexplicably. Chloe immediately whispered something in his ear. He frowned, shaking his head impatiently. In that moment, the last warmth in my heart turned cold. I slowly closed my eyes. I regretted it so much. Why was I with Ethan? Ethan was just a poor student from an ordinary family. And my mother was a billionaire entrepreneur. Afraid Ethan would feel inferior, I never told him this. He always thought my family was just slightly better off than his. Chloe walked back. She squatted in front of me. “I heard you’re from a single-parent family. If you die, your mom will cry to death, right?” “But it’s okay. Ethan will handle your funeral as your fiancé. Maybe your mom will be touched and give all the inheritance to Ethan…” Chloe sure could dream. But before she finished, the private room door was suddenly pushed open. “Sophia!” It was Mom’s voice.

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During the Black Friday sales rush, I was live for eighteen hours a day. I sold every last mango from Maple Creek. That night, the town mayor, Mr. Henderson, shoved a payment QR code in my face. “Rachel,” he started, a greasy smile on his face, “you’ve been live for over two weeks. You must’ve eaten a few hundred pounds of our mangoes.” “They’re selling for over a dollar a pound now. You’ve worked so hard for us, so we won’t ask for much. How about you just pay us a buck a pound for what you ate?” The other townspeople chimed in, their voices a greedy chorus. “That’s right! Rachel, you’re a huge influencer now. You can’t be taking advantage of your own people, can you?” I was just… stunned. For two weeks, I had been selling their mangoes for free. I didn’t take a single cent in commission. And now they wanted me to pay for the mangoes I sampled on camera? A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I scanned the code and sent them three thousand dollars without a word. Two months later, the second harvest was ripe. Mayor Henderson found me again. “Rachel! You need to go live for a few more days! Sell this new batch for us!” I pulled a contract from my briefcase and slid it across the table. “Mr. Henderson, I have thirty million followers now.” “My fee for a single product feature is fifty thousand dollars. Payment upfront.” 1 When the final Black Friday livestream ended, my throat was raw. For fifteen straight days, I’d been staring at a screen for eighteen hours, and my teammate Kevin was so exhausted he’d fallen asleep right in his chair in the back. I pulled out my phone and sent everyone on the team a generous bonus, then cleared my tight, aching throat. “You all worked incredibly hard these past two weeks,” I rasped. “While every other streamer was cashing in on the holiday traffic, we were here, selling mangoes for our hometown for free. I know you all passed up lucrative partnerships for this, and I won’t forget it.” My assistant, Jenna, rubbed her bloodshot eyes. “Rachel, you’re the one who’s exhausted. The deals you turned down these past two weeks… we’re talking seven figures, easily.” Kevin, now awake, added his own hoarse comment. “She’s right.” “You did this for your old neighbors, paying for the equipment rentals and logistics out of your own pocket, without taking a dime in commission.” “You’ve got a heart of gold, Rachel.” I looked at the mountains of mango crates stacked in the warehouse, a sense of quiet satisfaction settling in my chest. Helping my hometown sell their harvest was worth earning a little less. Just then, the warehouse door creaked open. Mayor Henderson walked in, flanked by a dozen other residents of Maple Creek, his face stretched into a wide smile. He fumbled with his phone and held up a QR code for me to scan. “Rachel, my girl! You must have eaten your fair share of mangoes these past two weeks, eh?” He rubbed his hands together. “We won’t charge you the full price. Let’s just call it a dollar a pound.” My uncle, Jack, spoke up from the back. “She must’ve gone through at least two thousand pounds! That’s two thousand dollars right there!” I stood frozen, the words not quite registering. Jenna shot to her feet. “Sampling the product is to show the quality! Every streamer does it! How else would anyone buy them?” She gestured wildly at the warehouse packed with crates. “Rachel just sold out your entire town’s harvest! At market price, you’ve all made over six hundred thousand dollars. She didn’t take a penny, and you’re coming after her for a few hundred bucks for samples?” “We paid for the equipment and shipping ourselves! That was over ten thousand dollars right there, and we never asked you for a thing!” The townspeople exchanged uneasy glances. Some of them looked down at their feet. But Uncle Jack just stuck his chin out. “Business is business. Even family has to settle accounts. She has to pay for what she ate!” Jenna’s eyes welled up with furious tears. “Do you have any idea how many corporate sponsorships Rachel turned down for you? One of those deals alone could have bought every mango in this town!” The young woman’s raw anger silenced the room, but only for a moment. Mayor Henderson’s shifty eyes darted around before he cleared his throat. “Now, Rachel, we all know you worked hard. The whole town is grateful.” “But these mangoes… we wake up before the sun to grow them. This harvest is all we have to live on for the whole year.” He pointed to the people behind him. “Look at your uncle Jack. His son’s college tuition is due. And Mrs. Gable’s husband is sick. We’re not like you, making a fortune with every livestream.” Uncle Jack added his own two cents. “Two thousand dollars is a fancy dinner for you. For us, it’s six months of groceries.” The mayor pushed the phone closer to my face. “You’re a big-shot influencer. You’re not going to nickel-and-dime your own people over this, are you?” 2 That line seemed to straighten their spines. The murmurs started again, louder this time. “Exactly! The donations you get in your streams are insane. You’re telling us you can’t spare two grand?” “Growing these things is back-breaking work! You just talk into a camera and get rich. You owe us a piece of that!” Mrs. Gable started dabbing at her eyes. “I can’t even afford my husband’s medicine. You can’t just eat our mangoes for free.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Mrs. Gable, you can’t afford his medicine?” I asked, my voice dangerously calm. “Every year before this, your mangoes would rot on the branch. This year, your family alone sold eight thousand pounds.” “At the current price, that’s at least eight thousand dollars in your pocket. How can you not afford medicine?” She froze, her eyes darting away, unable to meet my gaze. Uncle Jack quickly jumped in. “That’s a separate issue! We’re talking about you eating our mangoes for free!” Looking at his self-righteous face, I felt a sudden, sharp sense of absurdity. For two weeks, I had survived on three or four hours of sleep a night, my voice so raw I could barely speak, yet I kept pushing through the streams. My team was right there with me, eating cold sandwiches and sleeping on army cots. And for what? So these people could have a better life. And now? The moment the money hit their accounts, they were here, demanding I pay for the samples. I looked down at my own chapped lips and suddenly felt like the past two weeks had been a complete waste of time. Seeing my silence, Uncle Jack pointed a finger at my face. “Have you forgotten where you came from, Rachel Miller? Your parents were dirt poor! If this town hadn’t pooled its money to send you to college, where would you be today?” “You used to come to my house for dinner every single day when you were in school! And now you’re arguing with us over a few bucks?” “That’s right! We treated you better than our own daughter! You can’t be so heartless!” A few of the older folks started nodding and muttering. “We never should’ve helped her get an education. Just raised an ungrateful viper.” Their words were like lashes, dredging up every small kindness from my childhood and using it to whip me. I took a deep breath, fighting to keep my voice steady. “You’re right, Uncle Jack. I did used to eat at your house.” “But do you remember? I always had to wait until your dog, Rusty, had finished eating before I was allowed to get the bowl you saved for me by the stove.” “Sometimes I could see scraps of meat in Rusty’s bowl. Mine just had watery, sour porridge.” Mrs. Gable tried to interrupt, but I held up a hand. “And about the tuition money… you might have forgotten.” “But I remember my father, on his knees in your living room, signing a loan agreement that used our house as collateral. You only agreed to lend him the two hundred dollars after he promised you a thirty percent interest rate. I’m sure the town hall still has the record somewhere.” Jenna, her eyes blazing, stepped in front of me like a protective lioness. “The first thing Rachel did after she got a job was pay everyone back! She worked a day job and streamed at night, saving every penny. She paid back the principal and the interest!” she yelled. “In fact, she gave every family an extra hundred dollars on top, and you, Uncle Jack, you complained that the interest was calculated wrong and should have been more!” She pulled out her phone, scrolling through photos. “And what about the ten thousand dollars she donated to pave the town road? Or the five thousand for the school? Do you want us to pull out the receipts for all of that, too?” The townspeople looked at each other, and a few started to back away. Uncle Jack’s face went from red to white, his mouth hanging open. Just then, the mayor’s daughter, Eva, pushed through the crowd with a few other young people. She crossed her arms, looking me up and down with a condescending smirk. “Rachel, darling, dragging up the past is just tacky. Helping you back then was a favor. Isn’t it only right for you to pay it back to the community now?” “Besides, you were the one who promised to sell all the mangoes for free. You can’t go back on your word.” The kids behind her nodded in agreement. Eva’s gaze drifted to the crates of mangoes, and she sighed dramatically. “We know you’re not short on cash. And you’re always talking on your streams about creating ethical standards for helping farmers. You can’t be the one to break the rules, can you?” “You ate so many mangoes during the stream. You can’t just let that slide.” She gently pushed the QR code closer to me again, her voice soft but laced with steel. “Two thousand dollars is just one less designer bag for you. But for these people, it’s a year of hard work.” A young man with bleached hair behind her chimed in. “If your fans found out you were getting free food and handouts from your poor hometown, you might lose a few followers, huh?” “We’re all recording this, by the way. So, Rachel, what’s it going to be?” Instantly, several of them raised their phones, pointing the cameras at me. “If we don’t get the money today, this is going straight online!” Uncle Jack shoved Jenna aside, his face contorted with rage. “If you don’t pay up today, none of you are walking out of Maple Creek!” The warehouse erupted into a chaotic scene, the townspeople swarming around me, hands outstretched, demanding their money.

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After high school graduation, I finally received my acceptance letter to the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was a dream come true. But just a few days into the semester, I was reported. By my best friend. He claimed my father was a drug addict and a dealer. I was pulled out of training by the administration for an investigation. The result? Not only was I cleared, but I was also guaranteed a spot in grad school. My best friend was stunned. Yes, my father was involved with drugs. But he was an undercover cop who died a hero. Chapter 1 When the acceptance letter arrived, my mom and I hugged and cried in front of the blank tombstone at the local veterans’ cemetery. We thought it was the beginning of a new chapter. I never imagined the nightmare that would start just days after I arrived on campus. The school received a formal complaint. It claimed my father was a junkie and a trafficker, and that I had no right to wear the uniform. The complaint demanded my expulsion and a public statement denouncing me. Simultaneously, a video detailing these accusations was posted online, sparking a firestorm on social media. I was at the shooting range when it all went down. I had no idea what was happening online. Suddenly, several administrative officers surrounded me. Under the gaze of the entire battalion, I was escorted away, utterly confused. In a massive conference room, the dean, several officers, and my tactical officer sat in a row, their faces grim. Their eyes scanned me like I was already guilty. I sat opposite them, barely daring to breathe. “Cadet Liang, the academy received a formal complaint regarding your background. are you aware of this?” I froze. My blood ran cold. “What? A complaint? Against me? For what?” Questions tumbled out of my mouth. I had been a model student my entire life. Being reported was foreign to me. The dean’s eyes bore into mine. “It claims your father was a drug addict and involved in trafficking. Is this true?” I was stunned. My father was a narcotics officer. His identity remained classified even after his death. It made sense they wouldn’t know. But before I could explain, I was cut off. “Don’t bother with excuses yet. We’ve notified your family. We’ll discuss this when everyone is present.” “Also, to the admissions department: How did this slip through? West Point only accepts candidates with impeccable backgrounds. If this is true and the media gets hold of it, who takes the fall?” The admissions officer looked baffled. “Sir, Cadet Liang’s file was vetted by the state board and verified by his local precinct. Procedurally, everything is clean.” My tactical officer frowned, his tone accusatory. “Son, how many people did you bribe to get in here? Do you understand the consequences if this proves true?” I knew the gravity of the situation, but my file was clean! “Sir, I didn’t hide anything! It’s complicated, I…” He raised a hand, silencing me. “Enough. Save it. We’ll know the truth when your family and the police arrive.” Sweat beaded on my forehead. I couldn’t just blurt out that my dad was an unsung hero. When he died, I wasn’t even allowed to attend his funeral for fear of cartel retaliation. Only after every member of that syndicate was behind bars could I finally kowtow at his grave. Chapter 2 Time ticked by agonizingly slowly. The conference room was dead silent. Finally, the door opened. Five men in police uniforms walked in. The one leading them had stars on his shoulders—a high-ranking official. Behind them came my mom. She was dressed in black, holding a framed photo of my father covered in a white cloth. I stood up instinctively, fists clenched, lips pressed into a thin line. I took a few deep breaths before calling out, “Mom—” She looked up. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts. My heart broke. I rushed over and hugged her and Dad’s photo. “Mom, why did you bring Dad?” She didn’t answer. She just stroked my hair gently and nodded. Then, in a steady voice, she announced, “I am Liam Liang’s mother. I brought his father today too. If you have questions, ask.” A young officer stepped forward. “This is Chief Marshall from the State Police.” The school leadership immediately handed the complaint letter to Chief Marshall. The dean started to speak, but my mom cut him off. “Wait. Since this complaint has caused such a public uproar, clearing my son’s name must be done publicly too.” Silence from the police and officials. Taking that as consent, the school’s official social media account started a livestream as per my mom’s request. By the time everything was set up, students had gathered outside the door, and over a hundred thousand viewers had flooded the stream. Then, two more people entered. A young officer, followed by… Evan Xu. Evan grew up in my house. He was an orphan, same age as me. My mom took him in out of pity. We ate together, slept in the same room. What I had, he had. I often felt he had it worse since he had no parents at all, while I at least had Mom. So I always gave him the best of everything. Getting into West Point was our shared dream. But he choked during the SATs and missed the cut. I thought he was brought in as family for the investigation. But the young officer’s words froze me in my tracks. “Chief, the whistleblower, Evan Xu, is here.” Chapter 3 My mom and I stared in shock. “Evan… how? Why? You know about Dad…” He kept a straight face, refusing to meet our eyes. He stood before the camera, his voice trembling with a strange excitement. “Because I know too much, I can’t let you continue this charade! West Point is sacred. I won’t let a criminal’s son tarnish it!” “If I let a drug dealer’s son slip through, how could I face the heroes who sacrifice everything for us?” Murmurs erupted outside the door. “Holy crap, how big is his backing to bypass the background check?” “You can’t hide forever. See? Caught in days.” “Liam Liang really screwed himself this time. And his mom bringing the drug dealer dad’s photo? Insane.” Rage boiled inside me. I pointed a trembling finger at Evan. “Evan Xu, you ungrateful wolf! My mom raised you for years! Did she feed a dog instead of a human?” Evan didn’t flinch. He stood taller, chin up. “Don’t try to guilt-trip me. I’ll pay back every cent I cost you once I start working. But! You can’t deny your dad was a dealer! You don’t deserve to be here!” My mom looked at the boy she had loved like a son, now stabbing us in the back. She gasped for air. “Evan,” she said, voice shaking. “I know you’re hurting because you didn’t get in. But you still have me! We support you retaking the exams. We saved money for your prep courses.” “You shouldn’t ruin Liam’s future just to vent your anger!” Evan scoffed, immediately distancing himself. “First, you aren’t my mom. You aren’t even my legal guardian. Since I found out your husband was a dealer, I cut ties with your family!” “Also, did you even file the adoption papers? Officer, I seriously suspect I was trafficked!” That accusation hit my mom like a physical blow. She swayed, nearly collapsing. She couldn’t understand how Evan had become a stranger overnight. Before this, we were brothers. He swore he’d treat my mom like his own. The livestream comments were exploding. “Righteous dude! Exposing his own family! This is exactly the kind of integrity West Point needs!” “If the school covers for Liam Liang, they’re failing every other student! Punish this fraud!” “Don’t worry, kid! If the Liang family cuts you off, the internet will crowdfund your tuition!” My mom clutched her chest, gasping. I helped her into a chair. Students outside were filming with their phones. “Look, she’s faking a faint. Guilty conscience.” “Imagine sitting in class next to a drug dealer’s son. Terrifying.” “Worse, imagine him graduating and infiltrating the military. A literal cancer in the system!” The malice was suffocating. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Shut up!” I roared. Silence fell for a second, then erupted louder than before. “A dealer’s son acting tough?” “Just wait! They should lock up your whole family!” I covered my mom’s ears and screamed back at them. “This is just Evan’s word! The police haven’t charged me! Who gave you the right to judge? This is cyberbullying!” “West Point doesn’t need students who jump to conclusions without facts!” They finally quieted down. Seeing the tide turn, Evan panicked. “Stop stalling! Do you dare tell everyone I’m lying? Do you dare say your dad was clean?” Seeing his smug, vicious face, my mom couldn’t hold back. She rushed forward and slapped him. Slap! “Evan Xu, from this day on, you are nothing to us!” Evan clutched his chest, feigning heartbreak. “Don’t worry, ma’am. I was going to cut ties anyway.” Chapter 4 The situation was spiraling. Chief Marshall cleared his throat loudly. He stepped forward and whipped the white cloth off my father’s photo. Gasps filled the room. The school officials stood up reflexively. Chief Marshall looked at the photo with deep respect for a few seconds, then called Evan forward. “Evan Xu, look closely. Is this man in the photo the person you reported? Liam’s father, Daniel Liang?” Evan glanced at it and nodded vigorously. “Yes, that’s him! Daniel Liang, the drug dealer.” He was so focused on the face, he ignored the uniform my father wore in the photo. And the badge on his chest. Chief Marshall stared at Evan sternly, then spoke with authority. “Evan Xu is correct! Daniel Liang was indeed involved in drug use, trafficking, and smuggling.” The students outside, who couldn’t see the photo, erupted. The livestream chat went nuclear. “BUT—!!!” I looked at Mom. She was caressing Dad’s face in the photo, eyes red. My heart felt like it was being stabbed. Chief Marshall raised a hand for silence. “This information was classified. But a martyr’s family should not be wrongly accused!” “Officer Daniel Liang was an undercover agent.” “His true identity was a highly decorated narcotics officer. Over a decade ago, during a major operation, he was tortured and killed by the cartel!” “To infiltrate the syndicate, Officer Liang risked everything. He provided critical intelligence that led to their takedown. Tragically…” Marshall choked up. He turned away to wipe his eyes. Dead silence. For ten full minutes, not a sound. Only my mother’s sobbing echoed in the room. “Danny… oh, Danny…” I turned away, clenching my fists until my nails dug into my palms. We were a widow and an orphan, bullied by the world without cause! If my father were alive, seeing us attacked like this would break his heart. He would never have let this happen! “Impossible! Daniel Liang was a junkie! How could he be an undercover cop?” Evan shook his head, refusing to believe it. “Did they pay you off? Yes, they must have bribed you!” “No! You’re just their protection racket!” Chief Marshall’s gaze sharpened, terrifying Evan into silence. “Son, watch your mouth. As the State Police Chief, I have lived a clean life. You want to report me? Go ahead. I welcome the investigation!” “But! Daniel Liang died for this country. I will not allow you to slander him for your own selfish gain!” Marshall walked over to my mom and saluted the photo. “Ma’am, I’m sorry you and your son had to suffer this. We failed to protect a hero’s family.” I rubbed Mom’s shoulder. She wiped her tears. “The country has taken good care of us. We are grateful. If my son hadn’t been slandered, if Danny hadn’t been insulted, I wouldn’t have troubled you to come here.” Marshall waved his hand dismissively, then took off his hat and covered his face, weeping. “Don’t say that. We were so focused on protecting his identity that we left you open to attacks like this. I am ashamed.” “From now on, if you need anything, come to me. Daniel Liang gave everything. His family will not be bullied!” “We cannot let our heroes bleed and their families cry!” The students outside, hearing this, turned beet red and hung their heads. The livestream comments flipped instantly. “Guys, not to be that person, but I knew Liam and his mom looked too decent. Evan looks like a weasel.” “Where are the people who were cursing Liam? Apologize now!” “Apologize! I live near the border. We are safe because of cops like Daniel Liang! I won’t stand for his kids being bullied!” Students started whispering and pointing at Evan. His face was gray. He screamed, jumping like a cornered rat. “You hypocrites! Why didn’t you say that earlier? Just because he says he’s a martyr means he is? I lived in that house for ten years! I know the truth!” Marshall barked a reprimand, then spoke gravely. “Narcotics officers are a special category of martyr. To protect their families from retaliation, they often have unmarked graves! You lived there for ten years—did you never notice that Liam and his mother never visited a grave on Memorial Day?” “Young man, you keep doubling down on your lies. What is your true motive?” Evan’s legs gave out. “Dean, ladies and gentlemen, Officer Liang’s file is at headquarters. If anyone has doubts, get a warrant and come check. But I will not tolerate slander against his family!” My mom and I teared up. It was an honor we couldn’t speak of. We endured years of side-eyes and gossip from neighbors. Mom composed herself and addressed the dean loudly. “Dean, my son’s identity is proven. I demand the school issue a statement restoring his reputation!” The dean looked ashamed. “I am unworthy to face Officer Liang. Please rest assured, I will handle this properly. Liam will be cleared. And we promise him a guaranteed spot in our graduate program. Is that acceptable?” Mom and I exchanged a smile. “Thank you, Dean. The school was just doing its due diligence. You didn’t know.” Suddenly, a voice shouted from the crowd. “Don’t let Evan Xu get away!” Everyone’s eyes locked onto Evan. He swayed, turning red from his neck to his ears. He looked around, seeing only hatred in everyone’s eyes. He stumbled back into a corner, swallowing hard. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t know.” “I just heard some neighborhood aunties gossiping. I must have misheard.” I gritted my teeth. After all this, he claimed he misheard? I looked at Marshall. “Chief, do I have the right to sue him? Not just for the damage to me, but for desecrating my father’s memory.” Marshall nodded. “Absolutely! That is your right as a citizen!” Hearing “sue,” Evan broke out in a cold sweat. His face changed instantly. “Liam, please don’t sue me. I really didn’t mean it. Forgive me, I won’t do it again. I have to take the SATs again next year. If you sue me, my life is over.” I stared at him coldly. “You say you were impulsive? I say it was premeditated!” “You’re a selfish coward. You were jealous I got in and you didn’t. The law won’t protect you.” At this point, my heart was completely cold toward my former best friend. He lived with us for over a decade. He knew our character better than anyone. He waited until school started to report me, to maximize the damage. If he succeeded, I’d lose my spot and be attacked by the internet. I might have even ended my life. The young officer patted my shoulder. “Mr. Liang, if you wish to press charges, we can detain him right now.” Evan screamed. Seeing I wouldn’t budge, he turned to my mom. “Mom! Mom! Save me! Don’t let Liam sue me.” “I don’t want to go to jail. You raised me! You know I’m not bad! I’m just young and naive. Mom, say something!” My mom looked at him with dead eyes. “Evan, did you forget what you said? I’m not your mom. I’m not even your guardian. You cut ties with us.” Evan shook his head frantically, clinging to her arm. “No, no! I was angry! It wasn’t real! You’re the adult, don’t hold a grudge against a kid. I can’t have a criminal record! I won’t be able to get into West Point!” Murmurs of disgust rippled through the crowd. “He still wants to get in here? Shameless.” “With a mind like that, he’ll never get in.” Mom peeled his fingers off her arm, one by one. “It’s too late. Consider the last ten years the price of my own stupidity. You plotted to destroy my son. If I forgive you, I’m failing him.” Evan grabbed her leg as soon as she pushed him away. Mom finally snapped. “LET GO!” Her scream startled everyone, including me. My mom was known for her gentle nature. For her to shout like that meant Evan had truly broken her heart. Evan realized no one would speak for him. He collapsed on the floor, eyes vacant. Two officers hauled him up and dragged him out in front of everyone.

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My roommate had the ability to project her thoughts into other people’s minds. In my past life, she crafted an image of pure innocence, using her inner voice to spread rumors and tear me down. I was despised and ostracized for no reason, even harassed by thugs she manipulated. It wasn’t until the moment I died that I realized she had been broadcasting lies about me the entire time. Reborn, I found myself bound to a “Modification System.” During a class meeting, my roommate projected a fake “worried” thought to everyone: (Daisy is working as an escort again… it’s just not right for her to do that.) I scoffed internally and used the system to rewrite what everyone heard: (Ugh, it feels itchy again. Maybe I should go strip at the club tonight to scratch the itch.) 1 “Bitch, playing hard to get, huh?” A drunk thug lunged out of the darkness, grabbing me by the throat and slapping me across the face. I was stunned by the blow. In that moment of daze, my roommate, Bella, shoved me hard to the ground and used the distraction to run away. I couldn’t move. A piercing pain shot up from my ankle. The drunk, acting like a madman, grabbed my collar and rained another fist down on me. I opened my mouth to scream for help. Realizing what I was doing, the thug clamped a hand over my nose and mouth, dragging me toward a dark alley. As I struggled, my strength faded, and my breathing grew shallow. On the verge of death, I saw Bella hiding nearby. She was holding up her phone, recording, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Noticing my pleading gaze, she smiled, her lips moving silently. I barely made out the words: “Die, you bitch.” My strength finally gave out, and I suffocated in the darkness. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my dorm room. … I sat at my desk, hand raised in confusion, when the door swung open. Bella walked in, pushing a suitcase, flashing that same innocent, sweet smile. “Hi there! Are you Daisy? I’m Bella. We’re going to be roommates!” Looking at her beaming face, a storm raged inside me. I had actually gone back to the first day of college. Just like in my past life, Bella was incredibly warm to me right from the start. But remembering her betrayal made my stomach turn. I responded with a lukewarm greeting. Bella acted like we were soulmates, completely ignoring my coldness. She clung to me all day. Just as I started to wonder if my rebirth was just a dream, night fell. I lay in bed, and Bella’s angry voice suddenly rang in my ear. (Ugh, what a pretentious bitch.) I frowned, about to tell her to keep it down since I was trying to sleep. But a second later, her voice continued: (Daisy, that little slut. If I didn’t need to steal her luck, who would bother with her? Acting all high and mighty.) I froze. That wasn’t spoken aloud. It was her inner voice. A stream of insults and curses flooded my ears. Hearing these thoughts, my feelings were complicated. This was the first time we had met in this life. Just because I was a little cold, she hated me this much? I sat up and looked at her bed. Sensing my gaze, Bella sat up too. Her voice was soft, her smile gentle. “What’s wrong, Daisy? Can’t sleep?” But her inner voice was full of disgust: (What is she looking at? Did she hear me? Impossible. I didn’t choose to let her hear my thoughts.) Looking at her two-faced performance, I stayed silent for a moment, then shook my head and lay back down. That night, I had a dream. I watched Bella from a third-person perspective. Finally, I understood why, in my past life, people who were initially friendly started looking at me with disdain and disgust shortly after school started. Even the counselor became biased against me. I gritted my teeth. It was all Bella. She was using her ability to project her thoughts into others’ minds, spreading rumors about my “chaotic” private life. In her broadcasted thoughts, I was a gold-digger with a nasty personality who badmouthed everyone behind their backs, slept around, and stole other girls’ boyfriends. Everyone could hear her thoughts—except me. People assumed that since they were “accidentally” overhearing her inner monologue, it must be the truth. Naturally, they didn’t suspect she was fabricating it. Because of her “thoughts,” everyone quietly distanced themselves from me. Bewildered by the isolation, I had no choice but to cling to Bella. This made her look like the innocent, kind-hearted flower being deceived by me. In everyone’s eyes, I was the leech attached to her. And then later… Bella repeatedly “accidentally” walked past thugs outside campus, projecting thoughts that I had a crush on them but was too shy to make a move. Hearing this over and over, the thugs believed it. Whenever they saw me, they would harass me, getting handsy and making lewd comments. I couldn’t take it anymore and called the police. But after getting out of the station, one of the thugs got drunk and came looking for revenge. That led to the final tragedy. Bella pushed me down to save herself, then recorded my assault. She used that video to “confirm” the rumors of my loose morals, ensuring that even in death, I was spat upon. I woke up from the nightmare drenched in cold sweat, shaking with rage. Bella was fast asleep. I wanted nothing more than to strangle her right then and there. Digging my nails into my palms, I forced myself to calm down. I didn’t know why I was reborn, but if Bella continued her tricks, I stood no chance. What was I supposed to do? Grab people and yell, “Bella’s thoughts are fake, don’t believe them”? That was unrealistic. I furrowed my brow, desperately thinking of a solution. Bella had targeted me from the start for my “luck.” It was clear she wouldn’t let me go easily this time either. Just as I was racking my brain, a mechanical voice sounded in my head. “Luck Thief detected. Scanning special ability… Ability confirmed: Thought Projection.” The voice paused, as if loading. “System adjusting based on Thief’s ability. Beep… beep… beep…” “Modification System customized. Binding in progress…” Before I could react, the voice spoke again. “Beep. Binding successful.” 2 I swallowed hard and tentatively thought, “Are you… a system? What does ‘Luck Thief’ mean? Is it Bella?” The mechanical voice replied instantly. “Yes. Detection confirms the individual near you—Bella—is a Luck Thief. A Luck Thief is someone who, after accidentally acquiring a special ability, uses it to destroy others’ destinies and steal their luck for their own benefit.” The system continued in a monotone. “These actions cause immense resentment in the victims. This System exists to sanction selfish individuals like the Luck Thief.” I nodded and asked, “So what is the Modification System? What can it do?” “The Modification System is specially customized to counter Bella’s ability. You can use this system to modify the content of Bella’s projected thoughts heard by others. Additionally, whenever Bella uses her ability, the Host will be able to hear it.” My eyes lit up. Talk about perfect timing. Thinking of the pain and humiliation of my death, and the slander that followed, my expression turned cold. A plan for revenge began to form. … I thought Bella would act quickly. But for several days, her emotions were stable, and I didn’t hear any thoughts. She hadn’t projected anything to anyone. I asked the system uncertainly, “Has Bella not used her ability lately?” After getting a confirmation, I frowned. Just then, Bella approached me with a smile, chatting about some interesting things she’d seen. If I didn’t have my memories, I would have believed we were truly close friends. I pushed her away coldly, deciding to provoke her. “Why are you always clinging to me? Don’t you have anything else to do?” “Huh?” Bella’s face stiffened for a second, then she stood there looking helpless and wronged. “Daisy, I just wanted to be good friends with you…” Her pitiful act was incredibly convincing. If not for the violent thoughts flooding my ears, I might have softened. (Little bitch, do you think I enjoy being around you? Once I steal your luck, I’ll kill you. After today, when everyone avoids you like the plague, you’ll come crawling back to me.) Catching the key information, I smirked imperceptibly. I pretended to be moved, patting her hand apologetically. “Sorry, Bella. I’ve just been really stressed lately. I didn’t mean to snap at you.” “Oh… it’s okay, Daisy. You can talk to me if you’re upset. I can comfort you.” On the surface, she was understanding. Inside, she was venomous. (Stressed? You’ll have plenty more to stress about later when I expose all your secrets.) Her eyes sparkled with concern, as if she truly wanted to help. Knowing her true nature, it was chilling. I smiled faintly and changed the subject. “Class meeting starts in half an hour. Let’s go.” I walked out first. … In the classroom, Bella chatted familiarly with everyone. With her sweet smile and easygoing nature, she made a good impression. She pulled me over and playfully joked with the class president, Sarah. “Sarah, you look so pretty today! Simply radiant.” She turned to me. “Don’t you think so, Daisy?” I smiled slightly but didn’t answer. Who doesn’t like compliments? Sarah waved her hand, smiling. “You’re cute too.” After the pleasantries, everyone settled down. The counselor went over some freshman orientation points. As the meeting was wrapping up, the crowd got a bit noisy. Bella’s inner voice rang out: (Daisy is going to work as an escort again tonight. It’s just not right for her to do that.) She sighed internally. (Ugh, so worrisome. What if the counselor finds out?) The moment Bella’s thoughts appeared, the Modification System kicked in. I sneered and rewrote the broadcast: (Ugh, it feels itchy again. Maybe I should go strip at the club tonight to scratch the itch.) 3 The noisy room fell silent instantly. Suddenly, countless eyes turned toward us, filled with bizarre and uncomfortable looks. Bella assumed those gazes were directed at me. She rested her chin on her hand, blinking innocently, and broadcasted again. (Should I tell Sarah that Daisy has a crush on her boyfriend? Sigh, both are my friends. Who should I help?) My lip twitched. She really dared to lie. I didn’t even know Sarah had a boyfriend. Well then, let Bella taste her own medicine. Silently activating the system, I modified the message everyone heard: (Sarah is such a slut. How dare she dress better than me? Oh wait, her boyfriend looks kinda hot. Maybe I should hook up with him.) Sarah’s face turned green. Recalling Bella’s earlier compliment, it now sounded like pure sarcasm. Sarah shot a hateful glare in our direction. Since Bella and I were standing together, Bella probably thought Sarah was glaring at me. Many eyes darted between us and Sarah. I leaned into Bella’s ear, feigning confusion. “Why do I feel like everyone is staring at us?” A smile threatened to break onto Bella’s face, but she quickly suppressed it. “You’re too sensitive. Don’t overthink it.” She comforted me casually. Many students lingered, sensing drama. The counselor walked over to disperse the crowd. “Why are you all gathering here? Go home if there’s nothing else.” Bella glanced at me quickly. I knew she was cooking up another bad idea. Sure enough, her inner voice sounded again. (Why is the counselor here? I definitely can’t let her know Daisy called her an old witch behind her back.) But after my editing, the broadcast became: (Why is this old hag here? She’s always looking for trouble. So annoying to look at.) Hearing this, the counselor’s face darkened. She looked around but saw no one speaking. Bella continued her internal rant. Realizing the voice belonged to Bella, the counselor’s expression turned grim. But since it was “thoughts,” she couldn’t scold her directly. The counselor glared. “Meeting adjourned. Stop loitering. Go back.” “Hmph.” Sarah led the way out, shooting a vicious look at Bella before leaving. The earlier sisterly vibe was gone. Bella still thought Sarah was mad at me and was bursting with schadenfreude. The counselor gave Bella a cold look and dropped a warning: “Stop causing trouble at school.” Bella naturally assumed the warning was meant for me. Her thoughts, now closed to the public but loud to me due to her excitement, rang clear: (Great! Everyone must have a terrible impression of Daisy now. Get ready to be the outcast.) The remaining students whispered among themselves, casting glances at us. “Let’s go,” I said calmly, walking out first. “Daisy, wait for me!” Bella put on her pitiful act and trotted after me. Unbeknownst to her, scornful gazes followed her back. I walked fast, a smile playing on my lips. Bella had no idea. Her plan had failed at step one. The morally corrupt schemer in everyone’s eyes was her. This was the first step of her karma. 4 I thought Bella’s tactics were limited to ruining my reputation. But her malice exceeded my expectations. Back in the dorm, Bella presented me with a jar of face cream like it was a treasure. I accepted it with a smile, but I had no intention of using it. I wanted to see what she was up to. Bella didn’t seem to care if I used her gift immediately. After I accepted it, she happily went to wash up. I watched her back suspiciously. I set the cream aside and reached for my own skincare products. “Beep. Harmful substances detected.” The system’s warning halted my hand. I looked at the jar Bella gave me. “Is there poison in this cream?” “Strictly speaking, aside from this cream, harmful substances have also been placed in your other skincare products. Long-term use will cause facial disfigurement.” I ground my teeth. No wonder she didn’t care if I used her gift. She knew pushing it would make me suspicious, so she tampered with my own stuff. I couldn’t swallow this anger. But if I suddenly changed all my products, she would get suspicious. Calming down, I asked the system, “Can you transfer these harmful substances into Bella’s serum?” “Affirmative.” Surprised by the system’s versatility, I watched it transfer the toxins. I waited until Bella came out of the bathroom, then applied the cream she gave me (now safe). I beamed at her. “You’re done? This cream you gave me is really good. Thanks!” A flicker of contempt passed through Bella’s eyes. She tried to hide her excitement. “I’m glad you like it.” “I really, really like it.” I scooped out a big dollop and applied it all over my face. Then, I leaned in close and playfully smeared some on Bella’s forehead. Bella’s face changed. She instinctively tried to wipe it off. I grabbed her hand, smiling innocently. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to apply some?” “It’s nothing…” She explained dryly. “I haven’t washed my face yet, so I won’t put anything on…” I didn’t expose her clumsy lie. I kept smiling brightly, as if genuinely happy about the gift. Turning around, I looked in the mirror. I saw Bella frantically wiping her forehead. She rubbed so hard her skin turned red. I sneered internally. So she knew fear. Whatever she put in there must have been potent. But there was one thing I didn’t understand. I asked the system, “With such clumsy sabotage, if something actually happened to me, wouldn’t it be easy to trace it back to her?” The system explained: “Destroying the Host’s face reduces the Host’s luck. As Bella steals all your luck, your presence will fade. Any unreasonable actions she takes will be ignored or even erased by the world’s logic.” I scoffed, my eyes cold. Too bad for her. Not in this life.

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I was secretly married to a superstar actress for nine years, and for nine years, her name was constantly linked to other men in the tabloids. All the while, she left me to rot in the city’s poorest district, the Warrens, without a second thought. I spent a decade washing dishes in that slum. Then one day, she showed up, wanting to take me back. “Victor,” she said, “I told you, as soon as Julian was established in the industry, as soon as his confidence was strong enough, I’d bring you home.” “He just won Best Actor at the Golden Phoenix Awards. I’m here to keep my promise.” I raised my hands, swollen and cracked with chilblains, to shield my eyes from the blinding sunlight, and stared at the elegant, unfamiliar woman before me. “I know you feel wronged,” she continued, “but Julian is the junior I mentored, the one I watched grow up. He’s timid. As his big brother figure, you should be willing to step aside for him.” “But you are still my husband. Come home with me, and I’ll make it up to you.” She kept talking, instructing me that when I returned, I was to live in the basement and stay out of sight of the paparazzi. I flicked the dishwater from my hands, cutting through her monologue. “Ma’am,” I said. “Who are you?” 1 My detached gaze seemed to freeze her in place. She blinked, then that familiar, weary smile returned to her lips. “All this time in the Warrens, and your temper hasn’t changed a bit.” She chuckled softly. “I suppose that means you’ll be able to handle Julian, even if I have spoiled him a little.” But her smile quickly faded, her expression turning serious. “Julian is a very sensitive soul. When we get back, you are forbidden from mentioning our relationship in front of him.” “From this day forward, you are my new personal bodyguard.” “You’ll be responsible for his daily needs, reminding him to eat on time. But don’t worry,” she added, as if it were a great comfort, “in my heart, you and he are equally important.” Listening to this ludicrous speech, I finally placed her. Sienna Moreau. My ex-wife. Ten years. The woman I had once loved with every fiber of my being now felt like a complete stranger. “Ms. Moreau,” I said, my voice flat and devoid of emotion as I stared at her. “You abandoned me here for a decade. What makes you think I’d just wait around for you, playing the faithful husband?” Sienna instinctively reached for me, but I stepped back, avoiding her touch. “Don’t be dramatic,” she chided. “You loved me so much back then. You couldn’t have moved on that quickly.” “Besides, you’re thirty now. No education, no real job. Who would want you, other than me?” “Even if some woman was attracted to your face, what kind of life could she offer you? Come back with me. At least I can guarantee you’ll have a roof over your head and food on the table.” Her tone was so matter-of-fact, as if my worthlessness was a given. After our secret wedding, she had given me a brief period of happiness. One day she was cuddling up to me, whispering promises of forever; the next, because her precious Julian threw a tantrum, she had me shipped off to the Warrens. I had been the bedrock of her rise to fame, loved her to the bone, and was discarded without a second thought. I couldn’t accept it. I had even begged her, humiliating myself. All I got in return was her impatience. “Julian has depression,” she’d said. “He can’t handle any stress, and he relies on me. You’re used to hardship anyway, so just stay here for a little while.” “You are, legally, my husband. I’ll give you what you’re owed, eventually.” “Once Julian is stable in his career, once he’s mature enough, I’ll come get you.” Those words had severed the last thread of hope I had for her. I just never imagined that Julian’s “stabilization” would take ten years. But I was no longer the naive boy who would debase himself for love. I had met someone who cherished me. I had built a new, warm life. “Sienna,” I said softly. “You’re too late.” I lifted my left hand. On my ring finger, a simple wedding band gleamed in the sun. “I’m very happy now. I’ve already found the person I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.” Not long after I was exiled to the Warrens, I met the daughter of the city’s wealthiest man, who was there doing charity work. She noticed me right away. I was in the middle of teaching a lesson to some young punks who were bullying an old man. She walked up to me, a playful smile on her serene face. “You’re good with your hands,” she’d said. “Ever thought of being my bodyguard?” And just like that, we got to know each other, and fell in love. When she learned about my past, she didn’t hesitate to use her family’s connections to help me legally dissolve that sham of a marriage. “Victor, you always were too proud,” Sienna scoffed, eyeing my ring. “Which flea market did you buy that piece of junk from?” “Alright, alright,” she said, her tone softening into a playful scold. “Stubborn men end up alone, you know.” “I know you still have me in your heart. Why else would you write me letters every week? I’ve read every single one.” I almost laughed out loud. Leaving aside the fact that those letters were undoubtedly from her legion of obsessive fans, had she never once suspected anything, given that the handwriting was different on every single one? I did send her one letter when I first arrived in the Warrens. It contained nothing but a signed divorce petition. For whatever reason, it had vanished without a trace. I suspect someone deliberately cut off all contact between us. “You waited ten long years for me,” she said, her voice filled with a self-satisfied warmth. “You must be so excited that I’m finally here to take you home.” “I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time, too.” “Julian’s victory party is next week. After it’s over, I’ll come get you.” Old Man Chen, who ran the diner I worked at, had rushed out and was standing nearby, wanting to say something but unable to get a word in. Sienna continued her monologue, instructing her assistant to unload gifts from the car. “And you, pull yourself together. Don’t always look so… shabby.” I glanced down at my comfortable, casual clothes. Shabby? The luxury car outside purred away. Chen finally let out a long sigh. “What’s that superstar ex-wife of yours up to now? Does she really not know you’re remarried?” I went back to scrubbing the plate in my hands. “Let her be,” I said calmly. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” “Chen, give these gifts out to the neighbors. A little something to brighten their day.” I was only supposed to be stopping by today, just to visit the old neighbors who had been so kind to me. But after Chen insisted, I ended up staying for a few more days. It wasn’t until later that I remembered the real reason for my trip. 2 When I was forced to leave all those years ago, I’d left behind a locket my parents had given me. It was still at Sienna’s house. I needed to get it back. After all this time, I was genuinely surprised she still lived in the same villa. Even more surprised that the security code for the door was the same. I pushed the door open and stepped into the familiar space. Sienna had bought this place with the money from her first big acting gig. It wasn’t large, but it had once been filled with all our hopes and dreams. Before she became a megastar, we would curl up on the couch here, planning our future, talking about everything from the color of the wallpaper to the names of our future children. Before I could get lost in the memories, Sienna emerged from the living room. Surprise flickered in her eyes, quickly replaced by a knowing smile. “So impatient?” she purred, leaning against the doorframe. “Weren’t you the one who’d supposedly found someone to spend your life with?” “The party just ended, and I haven’t even had a chance to come get you. And here you are. Still say you don’t love me?” It was laughable. When had she developed this god complex? Not wanting to waste my breath, I tried to move past her to find the locket, but she blocked my path. “Now that you’re back, you could at least try to be a little sweet,” she said, her eyes dropping to the simple canvas bag in my hand. “And how did security even let you in dressed like that?” “What happened to the clothes I sent you? Dressed like this, people will think a beggar broke in.” Her arrogant dismissal was so absurd I had to laugh. “What I wear is my business. It’s not for you to judge. Now move. I’m just here to get something.” My coldness clearly annoyed her. “So you’re still mad that I took so long to come for you?” “I already explained, I had to wait until Julian was stable. You’re a grown man, why are you so petty?” “You could learn a thing or two from him about being gracious.” “Sienna.” A low voice drifted from the bedroom. Julian, wrapped in a silk robe, appeared, an aura of pampered privilege radiating from him. “This must be Victor, right?” he asked with a faint smile. “I hear you’re the new bodyguard Sienna hired for me?” “I have to ask, what skills do you bring to the table? You can’t protect me without some serious talent, you know.” He suddenly covered his mouth with his hand in a gesture of apology, but the taunt in his eyes was unmistakable. “Oh, I forgot you grew up in the Warrens. It must have taken a lot of work to get where you are today.” Every word was laced with condescending pity. “I’m not your brother,” I said flatly. “Don’t get familiar with me.” I had no patience for their act. The study door was open, so I decided to head straight there. As I went to push past Julian, I barely touched him, but he let out a cry and stumbled backward, knocking over a vase in the entryway. Sienna’s face contorted with fury. She rushed to his side. “Julian!” He leaned into her embrace, a shallow, bloody scratch now visible on his cheek. Sienna looked up, her gaze like a shard of ice, fixing on me. My stomach dropped. I instinctively tried to explain. “It wasn’t me…” Before I could finish, a sharp sting exploded across my cheek. She had slapped me. “Victor! Are you trying to say he threw himself on the floor just to frame you? He’s an actor! Don’t you understand how important his face is to his career?” That slap shattered the last wisp of nostalgia I felt for this house, for her. “Sienna, I started a new relationship eight years ago,” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “I only came here today to retrieve something I left behind. My wife is wonderful, my life is wonderful, and I have no intention of ever coming back to you.” Sienna’s face darkened completely. “Victor, do you take me for a fool?” “Our marriage certificate is sitting on the nightstand in my bedroom right now. You started a new relationship? Who do you think you’re kidding?” I said nothing, just held her gaze. A flicker of panic crossed her stony face. “Victor, stop this nonsense,” she said, her voice a little less certain now. “Just apologize to Julian. This tantrum has gone on long enough.” She said the words, but a deep unease was creeping into her heart. The man she had discarded for a decade was now a stranger, and it terrified her. 3 Sienna was about to say more, but Julian let out a pained whimper from her arms. She immediately helped him toward the door. I stopped her with a cold voice. “Wait.” I pointed toward the study. “Where is the locket my parents left me?” Sienna shot me an irritated glare. “In the safe, bottom shelf. The code is your birthday.” She turned and left without another look back, helping Julian out the door while calling for an ambulance. As she turned, Julian, leaning on her shoulder, shot me a triumphant, mocking smirk over her shoulder. News of Julian’s “accidental injury” immediately shot to the top of the trending topics. Photos showed him in a hospital bed, a bandage on his forehead, looking weak while Sienna dutifully peeled an apple for him. The comment sections exploded. “Who did this? Who hurt my Julian?!” “I know it’s bad, but… they look so good together! Sienna stayed with him all night!” I was oblivious to all of this. I found the locket and left quietly. But the next morning, two new headlines were trending on Twitter. [BREAKING: SIENNA MOREAU AND JULIAN CROSS CONFIRMED TO BE LIVING TOGETHER!] [SHOCKING: SIENNA’S BODYGUARD ATTACKS JULIAN OUT OF JEALOUS RAGE!] I clicked on the hashtag. A series of paparazzi photos were going viral. One showed Sienna and Julian returning to her villa together after his awards party. Another was a shot of the security log showing my entry into the villa. The comments were a frenzy. “So it was this bodyguard who hurt Julian?” “I heard he’s been obsessed with Sienna for ten years! He got jealous when Julian won the award!” “But this bodyguard is gorgeous! Would he really do something like that?” As the debate raged, a new comment shot to the top. “This guy worked for Sienna ten years ago and tried to assault her! After she fired him, he lived in the slums for a decade. She took pity on him and hired him back, and this is how he repays her!” Attached was a private photo of Sienna and me from ten years ago. It was from a time when she was overworked and would come home late at night, using me to de-stress. In the photo, I was half-undressed. It was a moment that should have been for our eyes only. Seeing the leaked photo and the false accusations, my face went black with rage. I called Sienna. She finally picked up on the fourth try. “Sienna, was this you…?” Who else could have had those photos? There was a pause on the other end. Then, her voice, cold and firm. “Victor, this is the price you pay for hurting Julian.” Hearing her words, I laughed until tears streamed down my face. A price? “Then what about the price he should pay for the ten years I spent in the Warrens because of him?” “Victor!” she snapped, cutting me off. “Must you be so petty about everything?!” “I don’t want this to escalate any further. Apologize to Julian immediately. I’ll have him release a statement forgiving you, and we can put this behind us.” Put this behind us? She said it so casually, as if the damage to my reputation was nothing compared to a scratch on Julian’s face. I clenched my jaw, trying to stay calm. As I was about to speak, I heard her assistant’s voice in the background. “Ms. Moreau, Mr. Cross is awake and asking for you.” “I’m on my way,” Sienna said quickly. When I looked at my phone again, the call had been disconnected. Sienna hurried towards Julian’s room. Halfway there, she stopped and turned to her assistant. “That white agarwood bracelet the brand sent over last week, do we have it?” The assistant nodded eagerly. “Have it sent to Victor. Agarwood is his favorite.” Sienna knew me too well. She knew I had a proud streak. Forcing me to bow my head to Julian would be a humiliation. But in her mind, if you do the crime, you do the time. And besides, I had always been easy to placate. In the past, whenever I was angry, a small gift was all it took to win me over. She assumed this time would be no different. 4 “Oh, and the matching pendant,” Sienna added, “give that to Julian.” The bracelet arrived just as I was watching Julian’s live hospital interview. He was propped up in bed, Sienna tenderly adjusting his pillow. A reporter asked, “Mr. Cross, about the recent rumors, is it true that Victor attacked you out of jealousy?” Julian gave a weak smile. “It’s not his fault. Sienna is an incredible woman, she has a lot of devoted fans…” The reporter immediately jumped on it. “So the rumors are true? This Victor is a monster! I hope all of your fans will make him pay for this!” Julian simply smiled and let his eyes drift closed, feigning exhaustion. The reporter noticed the wooden pendant around his neck. “That agarwood pendant is beautiful! It’s from the new collection at L’Arome, isn’t it? I heard there’s a matching bracelet!” Julian looked at Sienna with eyes full of affection. The reporter understood instantly. “So the rumors about you two being a couple are true?!” Sienna simply smiled, a silent confirmation. I turned off the livestream and stared at the exquisite agarwood bracelet on my table. I knew that one word to Clara would make this entire storm disappear. But I didn’t want to trouble her. More than that, I wanted to show Sienna that I was no longer the soft-hearted fool who would clear her path and let her walk all over me. When Sienna had bought the villa, the deed was put in my name. The property management system had a complete record of the ownership history. I contacted several media outlets that were direct competitors of Sienna’s and had them release a joint statement. “The legal owner of this villa has always been Mr. Victor Vance.” “It appears he was forced out years ago by Sienna Moreau and Julian Cross, only to be brought back and mislabeled as a ‘bodyguard’.” “Is a security log of him entering his own home enough to convict him of assault? This is a gross miscarriage of justice.” “There is more to this story. We call for an immediate end to the online harassment of a private citizen.” At the same time, I released a formal statement from a newly created Twitter account. The tide of public opinion began to turn. But then, to my utter shock, Sienna herself responded. “Years ago, I saw that he was homeless but a diligent worker, so I gifted him the villa. I never imagined he would harbor such delusions and repeatedly overstep his boundaries. And now, he has attacked an innocent person!” Attached was a bank transfer record from the time of the purchase. The payer’s name was clearly listed as Sienna Moreau. In that moment, I felt the blood drain from my face. Her initial payment hadn’t been enough to cover the full price. To give her a home, I had secretly gone to the realtor and paid the majority of it with the inheritance my parents left me. I remember her holding me, her eyes red with tears. “Victor, that was everything your parents left you, how could you…” Now, that act of love had become the knife she plunged into my heart. Chen was shaking with rage when he heard. “The marriage certificate! Where is it? Show it to everyone, let them see the truth!” “She has it,” I said quietly. She had insisted on keeping all our official documents, worried they’d be found by the paparazzi. Chen fell silent. After a long moment, he asked softly, “Victor… were you two really in love when you got married?” I managed a bitter smile. Just then, my phone lit up. A message from Clara. “Do you need me to step in?” She knew. “No,” I typed back. “I’ll handle this myself.” I put my phone away and handed a prepared file to a waiting reporter. “Please publish all of it.”

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I pretended to be the long-lost heiress to a billionaire family. The family was just about to kick me out. Suddenly, a stream of floating comments, like a live chat, drifted across everyone’s vision: [Don’t kick her out! Sophie really is your biological child!] [Lisa is the fake! She acts innocent, but she’s plotting to steal the family fortune and kill everyone!] [Even worse, Lisa is manipulating her ‘brother’s’ feelings. The Sterling family is being played like fiddles!] Everyone could see the comments—except Lisa. What they didn’t know was that I was bound to a “Live Stream System.” I was the one sending the comments. My goal? To avenge my dead mother and cousin. 1 The moment the comments appeared, the faces of Lisa’s “parents” and “brother” changed. A heavy silence fell over the room. “What does this mean? I did a DNA test with Lisa. She is my daughter,” Mr. Sterling said, frowning. Lisa, oblivious to the floating text, pointed a finger at my nose and screamed. “How can someone be so shameless? Randomly claiming people as parents! Mom, Dad, kick her out right now!” The brother, Luke, looked bewildered. He looked at me, then at his mother. “Mom… why does she look exactly like you did when you were young?” Mr. Sterling nodded in agreement. “It is uncanny. Let her stay. We’ll do a DNA test first.” Lisa exploded. “Mom! Dad! Are you doubting me? This is so hurtful!” She stomped her foot and ran upstairs, yelling over her shoulder, “Fine! I’ll make room for her since I’m just an eyesore now!” Mrs. Sterling gave me a long look, then instructed the maid to show me to a guest room before rushing upstairs to comfort Lisa. I lowered my eyes, acting like a child who had done something wrong. “Actually,” I whispered, “I just wanted to see what my biological parents looked like. Since you already have a daughter, I won’t disturb you. Seeing you once is enough for me.” Through the system, I sent another wave of comments: [OMG, the real heiress is heartbreaking. She’s too soft!] [How can Sophie be so humble? It’s not her fault she was switched at birth and lived a hard life without knowing her parents.] [You can’t blame Mr. and Mrs. Sterling. Lisa showed up at ten years old with a fake DNA test. They’ve raised her for eight years; they have feelings for her.] I turned to leave, but Mr. Sterling called out. “Sophie, was it? Stay.” Mrs. Sterling grabbed my hand, her eyes scanning my face. The more she looked, the more she saw herself. “Resemblance… the resemblance is undeniable.” Inside, I sneered. Of course I looked like her. My makeup skills were god-tier. Making myself look like her younger self was a piece of cake. Her attitude softened completely compared to moments ago. “If you really are my daughter, I promise you won’t suffer anymore.” I played the obedient girl perfectly. Luke and Lisa had a deep sibling bond. When I moved in, he warned me, “Real or fake, you better be polite to my sister.” They collected my hair for a DNA test. I wasn’t afraid. The hair I gave them belonged to my cousin, who had been dead for eight years. And my cousin was Mr. Sterling’s biological daughter. 2 My aunt was Mr. Sterling’s first love. But for the sake of the family business, he married Mrs. Sterling instead. He wanted my aunt to be his mistress. She refused and left him. She didn’t know she was pregnant. When she gave birth, she was in the same hospital as Mrs. Sterling. Mrs. Sterling’s friend switched the babies. Later, that friend told my aunt the secret. Lisa overheard it. She went to the Sterling family, claimed to be the lost daughter, and used a fake DNA test. After the switch, Lisa resented my cousin for “stealing” her life as a rich miss for ten years. She bullied my cousin relentlessly, eventually driving her to suicide. My aunt nearly went insane. Later, Mrs. Sterling found out my aunt was Mr. Sterling’s first love. Terrified they would reconnect, she hired men to assault my aunt. But they got the wrong person. They grabbed my mother instead. My mother was humiliated and tortured to death. My father and I searched for days, only to find her naked body in an abandoned building. The pain was unbearable. Even worse, the men took the fall to protect Mrs. Sterling. If Lisa hadn’t bragged about it to a friend while I was within earshot, the truth would have been buried forever. I hated Mrs. Sterling and Lisa to my core. Then, I bound with the Bullet Screen System. I came to the Sterling house for revenge. Why should the perpetrators live a life of luxury? 3 Mrs. Sterling spent half the day coaxing Lisa. At dinner, I sat opposite her. She held her head high, looking down her nose at me. “Fake is fake. When the results come back, get out of my house.” Since returning to the Sterling family, Mrs. Sterling felt guilty and spoiled Lisa rotten. Lisa had become increasingly arrogant. I squeezed out two tears and forced a smile. “I’m sorry my presence bothers you, sister. I just wanted to feel the warmth of a family. No need to wait for the results. I’ll leave tomorrow. Seeing Mom and Dad was enough.” Luke shuddered. “Such a ‘pick-me’ girl. Definitely not my sister.” I wiped a tear. “I… I’m not a ‘pick-me’.” I looked devastated. Mrs. Sterling spoke up. “Sophie, Lisa is just straightforward. Don’t take it to heart.” It was normal for them to be skeptical before the results came out. Luke opened his mouth to scold me again, but the comments floated by: [Heartbroken for Sophie. She’s the real daughter but treated like an outsider.] [Keep defending Lisa, Luke. When she tries to seduce you later, don’t come crying to us!] [Lisa calling someone else a ‘pick-me’? Did she forget how she acted when she first arrived? Crying constantly, acting like the cousin bullied her.] My cousin was the one mentioned. Luke’s face turned red. He muttered, “What the hell? Seduce me? No way…” Mr. Sterling looked sternly at Lisa. “Until the results are in, be polite to Sophie!” “Dad! She’s fake! Why wait? Look at how much I look like Mom!” She did look like Mrs. Sterling. But she didn’t look a thing like Mr. Sterling. “Shut up. Since when do you give orders?” Mr. Sterling’s eyes were cold. “You were so sweet when you came at ten. Now you’re spoiled rotten.” “Dad…” Mrs. Sterling tried to mediate, tugging Lisa’s sleeve. “Whether she’s my daughter or not, I won’t let you leave.” Lisa looked incredulous. “Mom, what do you mean? I am your daughter! This random girl says two words and you doubt me? Do you have no judgment?” They had judgment. But my comments were interfering, making them doubt themselves. [Look at her arrogance, challenging Mr. Sterling. She won’t hesitate to destroy the family later.] [Mr. Sterling is such a pushover, letting an adopted daughter scream at him.] [What a coward.] [If my daughter yelled at me like that, I’d slap her.] I cursed Mr. Sterling internally, and the system translated it into comments. Mr. Sterling slammed his chopsticks on the table. “Lisa! If you can’t eat properly, get out!” 4 Lisa’s eyes turned red. “Dad, you’re yelling at me for this impostor?” The atmosphere was heavy. Mr. Sterling looked imposing. “Look at your sharp tongue. Where are your manners?” “I’m being bullied in my own home, and you talk about manners?” Mrs. Sterling pulled Lisa. “Don’t fight your father. Eat quickly, you’ll be late for school.” Seeing no one was on her side, Lisa swallowed her anger. She stood up to leave without eating. Angry already? What a fragile princess. I acted nervous about their fight. Mr. Sterling put food in my bowl. “Ignore her. Eat.” I wiped a tear, ate the food, and looked at him gratefully. “It’s delicious. Thank you, Dad.” [Mr. Sterling is a boss!] [So satisfying seeing that fake get scolded.] [Hope he keeps protecting Sophie. Poor little thing.] Compared to the bratty Lisa, my obedience softened their hearts. Mr. Sterling looked at the butler. “Old Zhou, drive Sophie to school.” Lisa’s eyes widened. “Dad! Old Zhou is mine and Luke’s driver! Can’t someone else take her?” Mr. Sterling wiped his mouth slowly. “Today, you learn who makes the rules in this house.” Lisa glared at me. “You green tea bitch. Wait until the results come out. You’re dead.” As I got in the car, I waved at Lisa. “Bye, sister! Dad is so thoughtful!” Watching her stomp her foot in rage felt amazing. This is just the beginning, Lisa. The DNA results came back in less than a day. It was exactly what Mr. Sterling expected, but not what he wanted. He called me immediately. 5 In the coffee shop, Mr. Sterling tapped the table, eyes sharp. “Tell me, who is your mother? The results say you are only related to me.” I looked up, eyes brimming with tears. “My mom is Cherry Mo. I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to disturb your happiness. I just missed you.” Cherry Mo was my aunt. Hearing the name, Mr. Sterling froze. “Cherry…” I let the tears fall. “One night, Mom was drunk, crying over your photo. That’s how I knew. I didn’t come for anything. I just wanted to see you.” His gaze turned tender. “Child, don’t say that. I haven’t been a father to you all these years. Stay. Let me make it up to you.” “But Mrs. Sterling won’t agree.” “Don’t worry about that. I have a plan. How… does your stepfather treat you?” My aunt never married. To avoid Mr. Sterling, she cut contact with everyone, including my mom. Until Lisa switched places with my cousin, and my aunt returned to the city. Ironically, they missed each other like characters in a bad drama. After my cousin’s suicide, my aunt tried to jump into the river. Mr. Sterling saved her. They met again. He wanted to rekindle their romance. Mrs. Sterling found out and ordered the hit. Thinking of my mother’s brutal death, I clenched my fists under the table. “Mom says she only loved one man in her life. She’d rather be a single mother than marry just anyone.” He was stunned. “Really? Last year, she told me she was happily married and told me not to bother her. She lied… She’s still hiding from me.” He rambled on about their past love. Finally, he ordered his assistant to forge a DNA test showing I was related to Mrs. Sterling too. So I could enter the house legitimately.

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1 The moment my best friend, Sophia, learned my secret—that I possessed eternal life and boundless wealth—she conspired with a mystic to murder me. Their plan? To cast my soul into Hell and steal the perfect fate that was mine. On the windswept rooftop of a skyscraper, my pleas were torn apart by the wind. “Don’t kill me, Sophia, please! You can have all the money!” I’m terrified of dying. Truly terrified. Not just of the fall, but of what comes after. My ex—the one from down below—made a promise when I left him. If he ever saw me again, he’d throw me into a cauldron of boiling oil and slice my soul to ribbons. “Sophia, we’ve known each other for ten years! I’ve always been good to you, haven’t I? Please, let me go…” “You can have everything! All the money, I swear!” I was on my knees on the gritty concrete of the rooftop, dignity shattered, ready to smash my forehead against the ground if it would save me. Sophia’s lips twisted into a cruel smirk. The sharp point of her stiletto dug under my chin, forcing my head up. “I don’t just want your money, Elara. I want your endless life, too.” Her voice was a venomous whisper. “We’re best friends, aren’t we? What’s yours is mine. And since you care so much about me, you should just give it all to me.” With that, she shot a look at the dark-robed mystic beside her. He understood instantly. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me toward the ledge. Thirty-three stories high. Down below, directly under me, a ritual circle glowed faintly on the pavement—a trap they’d laid. The second I hit the ground and died, their ritual would be complete. My soul would be theirs. I wouldn’t even get the chance to be reborn. Sophia was making sure I couldn’t come back as a vengeful ghost; she was erasing me completely. The wind howled, a frigid blast against my face as I scrabbled desperately to pull myself back from the edge. Sophia’s greed, ignited by my secret, now burned like a wildfire. She lunged forward, and together with the mystic, she kicked me off the roof. The world became a blur of wind and city lights. Then, a sickening CRACK exploded in my ears as my body shattered against the concrete. When awareness returned, I was no longer flesh and blood. I was a spirit, floating in the dim expanse of the underworld. Two spectral reapers flanked me, thick, thumb-sized soul-chains clamped around my neck. A thick, grey fog clung to everything, but the screams of the damned ahead were terrifyingly clear. I knew this place. It was the entrance to the Gates of Hell. I had my darling ex-husband to thank for the tour. When I’d tried to leave him, he’d dragged me here in a blind rage, trying to scare me into staying. He never actually threw me in, but now, it seemed my time had come. I was about to be annihilated. I thrashed against the chains, my voice a desperate rasp. “This is wrong! I was murdered! I’ve done nothing to deserve this!” My struggle only earned me a sharp sting. One of the reapers, a wiry one with a thin mustache, lashed out with a barbed whip from his belt. The pain was unlike anything I’d ever felt, searing straight through to my very essence. I collapsed, too stunned to even scream. “Listen up, lady,” Moustache-Reaper sneered. “Doesn’t matter who you were. Now that you’re in our hands, you’re finished.” Still, anything was better than being erased. I had to take a chance. What if my ex still had a shred of feeling for me? A chance at reincarnation was infinitely better than oblivion. The thought gave me a sliver of courage. “I… I know your Lord,” I stammered, my voice trembling. “I know Kaelan! I demand to see him!” The two reapers exchanged a glance. Then another whip crack, this one so vicious it nearly split my soul in two, silencing me. Moustache spat near my head. “Who the hell do you think you are, saying the Lord’s name like that? I don’t care how you learned it. You’d better shut your mouth if you don’t want more of this.” Helpless, I was dragged forward like a sack of dead weight. The other reaper, who’d been watching quietly, sounded nervous. “Hey, what if she’s telling the truth? We could be in deep…” Moustache scoffed. “Get a grip. The mystic told us she’s some kind of anomaly, not even listed in the Ledger of Souls. So what if some freak knows the Lord’s name? Don’t be such a coward. No record, no problem. We got paid to do a job, so let’s get it done before something goes wrong.” It all clicked into place. They were in on it with Sophia and her mystic. Corrupt reapers, taking bribes to destroy a soul. The Gates of Hell loomed before us, a towering, monstrous structure that made my spirit tremble with primal fear. As the reapers chanted, the massive gates began to creak open, and my heart sank into an abyss of despair. Suddenly, a voice cut through the fog, drawing closer. “A new arrival? Has she been through Judgement?” It was Silas, the Black Watcher! He knew me! My eyes locked onto the figure emerging from the mist. “Silas…” I gasped. Before I could say more, a hand clamped over my mouth, and I was yanked aside. I watched in a panic as Moustache intercepted Silas, my hope slipping away. I struggled, earning another brutal kick to my lower back. Moustache pulled out a pack of cigarettes, his face plastered with a sycophantic grin. “Silas, hey! What brings you down to this dreary gate? Here, try one of these. Fresh from the mortal world. Got a real kick.” Silas brushed some dust from his official robes, his expression annoyed. “Cut the crap. I asked you a question. Has that soul been judged?” Moustache swallowed hard. “Yeah… yeah, of course. We wouldn’t dare skip the proper channels, would we? You and your sister are run ragged up there. You should take a break. Have a smoke.” Silas took the cigarette and lit it, falling silent. The fog was too thick for him to see me clearly. Fearing this was my only chance, I bit down—hard—on the hand covering my mouth. The reaper yelped in pain, his grip loosening. I scrambled towards Silas, but a leg shot out, tripping me. I fell flat, a boot pressing my face into the grimy dirt. The foul sand filled my mouth, choking me, silencing my cries. But the commotion had caught Silas’s attention. He took a few steps closer. “What’s going on over there?” The reaper whose hand I’d bitten pressed down harder, a petty act of revenge, threatening to crush my skull. “Nothing, boss. Just a feisty one. Still fighting, even at Hell’s door. You know how it is. The ones who end up here are never the good ones. Don’t want her filth to dirty your eyes.” Silas stopped. “Fine. Just be thorough. These types are the worst of the worst. We can’t afford any mistakes. Get her inside.” As Silas turned and vanished back into the fog, my heart died with him. After a final, groveling farewell to Silas, Moustache stormed over to me, venting his frustration with a series of vicious kicks. Unsatisfied, he raised his whip and began lashing me relentlessly. Soon, my spiritual form was a tattered mess of wounds, barely recognizable. Finally finished, he knelt and grabbed my chin. “You bitch,” he hissed. “You almost ruined everything. Don’t worry. Once you’re inside, I’ll be taking special care of you.” I was nothing more than a rag doll as they tossed me into the first circle of Hell. This was the Penance of a Thousand Needles. As far as the eye could see, countless platforms held tormented spirits, each impaled with thousands of shimmering needles, like grotesque pincushions. Their souls weren’t destroyed here, only tortured, and their unending screams echoed through the cavernous space. I drew a shuddering breath, using my last ounce of strength to force out the words. “I… really… know… Kaelan. When he finds out… what you did… he’ll destroy you…” It was a bluff, mostly. Kaelan wouldn’t care if I lived or died. He probably never wanted to see me again. Why else would he have granted me eternal life? To keep me wandering the mortal world, never aging, never dying. He was terrified I’d die and show up in his underworld, an unwelcome sight… Once we were inside the gate, the two reapers weren’t afraid of my threats anymore. Moustache tapped my cheek condescendingly, his smile pure malice. “Quite the imagination you’ve got. Been watching too many mortal dramas? You really think you’re worthy of our Lord’s attention?” My head lolled to the side. A wave of nausea washed over me, and I coughed up a cloud of nether energy. I felt my form grow even more transparent. They strapped me to one of the platforms. Moustache returned with a wicked grin, holding the instruments of torture: Soulthorns, each as long as my forearm. “You’d better hold on tight,” he purred. “There are seventeen more circles of Hell waiting for you. We’re going to have so much fun.” He lifted a Soulthorn and aimed it at my thigh. “Down here, even the most stubborn souls learn to break.” The tip plunged half an inch into my spirit-flesh. The agony was blinding, and an uncontrollable tremor seized my entire body. “Aaaargh—!” Just then, a figure hurried toward us. “Stop!” The needle was pulled out. Gasping for breath, I forced my eyes open to see who had come. It was the warden of this circle, a man I remembered. His name was Marcus. Back when Kaelan was trying to scare me, he’d been the one trying to calm him down. “My Lord,” he had said, “the young mistress is merely naive. There’s no need for such anger. You wouldn’t want to harm her.” Hope surged through me. I prayed that after all these years, he would still remember me. “Warden Marcus… it’s me… help me…” The journey here had left me utterly drained, my voice a broken, sandy whisper. But I knew he heard me. He stared, his eyes widening in recognition, then in absolute terror. He remembered. Before I could feel a moment of relief, he quickly looked away, his face a mask of indifference. “A message just came from above,” he announced coolly. “They want to witness this one’s final destruction personally. They’re on their way. You will wait.” I was stunned. Marcus… he was in on it, too? My last hope extinguished, a bitter laugh escaped my lips. Kaelan, oh Kaelan. Is this the underworld you rule? A place where your own underlings can deceive you, break every rule, and act with total impunity? I never imagined Sophia would come here herself. I didn’t know whether to call her bold or cowardly. Bold, for daring to step into the realm of the dead. Cowardly, because she was so afraid of me—of the loose end I represented—that she had to see me utterly destroyed before she could enjoy my money and my lifespan in peace. Soon enough, Sophia and the mystic appeared. To enter this realm, they had temporarily left their physical bodies behind, arriving as spirits. Sophia was terrified at first, clinging to the mystic like a shadow. But when she saw how chummy he was with the local reapers, her confidence returned. After all, she was the one with the money. She took a Soulthorn from one of the reapers and approached me, her eyes gleaming with manic excitement. “Elara, I have to thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would never have known the joy of being truly rich. They say money makes the world go ’round, and it’s true. With enough of it, I can even take a tour of Hell.” “You’ve lived long enough,” she cooed. “I’ll take over from here. You can rest in pieces. That way, I can finally have some peace of mind, too.” I looked at her, my gaze empty. “Was I not good to you?” I rasped. The question felt pointless as soon as I asked it. If she had a conscience, she never would have plotted this. Sophia burst out laughing. “Hahahaha… You think you were good to me? I was your glorified maid, wearing your hand-me-downs, always standing in your shadow. Do you really call that being good to me?” I didn’t argue. You can’t reason with a viper you’ve warmed at your hearth. The first time I met her, it was snowing, and she was shivering in a threadbare coat. She’d come from a poor village with nothing, unable to find work. I took her in. I didn’t need a maid; I was used to my solitude. But I felt sorry for her, so I gave her a job. I always treated her like a friend. I gave her anything she asked for, and I paid her far more than any other maid would make. But gradually, she stopped seeing herself as an employee. She began to demand more and more. I suppose I was too lenient. She started to think she was my equal… or that she could replace me. My mistake was trusting her with my secret. My silence only fueled her rage. “Nothing to say? So you admit it, don’t you? You never saw me as a friend. Now, die!” She aimed the needle at my heart. She really, really wanted me gone. The reapers nearby shifted uncomfortably, but none of them moved to stop her. The nether energy bled from my wounds, my form becoming dangerously translucent. My thoughts grew hazy. Sophia was still stabbing me, a frenzied attack, carving up my body, paying special attention to my face until it was a ruined mask. Through the fog of pain, I thought I saw him. Kaelan. Walking towards me. He was still as breathtakingly handsome as ever, more beautiful than any man I’d seen in my hundred years of life. His robes, dark as a starless night and embroidered with cloud patterns, spoke of absolute power. His ink-black hair framed a face of sharp, severe angles and deep, commanding eyes that could captivate a soul at a single glance. Was it a hallucination? It had to be… He never wanted to see me again. But why… why were all the reapers dropping to their knees? “My Lord! What brings you to this place in person?” Marcus was panicking, his body shaking like a leaf as he prostrated himself on the ground. He knew he was doomed. Taking bribes from mortals was a capital offense. Allowing them into the underworld? Unforgivable. And now he’d been caught red-handed. The mystic’s face went pale. He yanked the still-frenzied Sophia away from me, and they both fell to their knees. Kaelan’s gaze swept over them, each glance a physical blow. Behind him, his Chamberlain spoke, his voice high and sharp. “Insolence! If the Lord hadn’t come today, who knows what atrocities you traitors would have committed in his name!” The two reapers who had brought me here pressed their faces to the floor, not daring to breathe. I tried to speak, but my mind was a chaotic storm, and the sharp agony in my soul stole my voice. Would he recognize me? And if he did… what then? Would he save me from this nightmare? Or would he make good on his old promise—to throw me into boiling oil and slice me to ribbons? Either way, it didn’t matter. My soul was already fading… After a long, heavy silence, Kaelan finally spoke, his voice like cracking ice. “Marcus. I entrusted this first circle of Hell to your command. Is this how you perform your duties?” At the mention of his name, Marcus began banging his head on the ground, faster and harder than I had when I begged Sophia for my life. “I was wrong, my Lord, I was wrong! It was those two reapers who brought the mortals here! I knew nothing of it! I was just about to cast them out when you arrived!” The reapers, seeing Marcus throw them under the bus, were furious. Moustache shot back, “This is your domain! Mortals on your turf is your failure! How dare you try to pin this on us?” “You’re the ones who found a way to take money from the living!” Marcus snarled. “I was dragged into this!” I finally understood. Kaelan wasn’t here for me. He was here because he’d discovered the corruption in his ranks. My presence was just a coincidence. I felt like a transparent bystander, watching them tear each other apart while the mystic and Sophia trembled at the center of the storm. Kaelan let out a cold snort. “Enough. The two mortals will not be returning. Detain them for judgment. As for the rest of you… you are sentenced to the Path of Beasts. You will be reborn as animals for all eternity, never again to be human.” The verdict struck Marcus like lightning. He collapsed from his kneeling position, his face ashen and numb. The two reapers had the same look of utter devastation. The reality of her situation finally hit Sophia. She was never going back to the mortal world. “No!” she shrieked. “My life isn’t over! Even your underworld has rules, doesn’t it?!” She couldn’t bear to lose the long life and vast fortune she had stolen from me. The mystic, terrified of being associated with her, tried to pull her down. She shoved him away and scrambled to her feet. “I’m leaving! Send me back right now!” The mystic wouldn’t dare. He just closed his eyes and played dead. Sophia grabbed his robes, shaking him violently. “What are you waiting for?! I paid you a million dollars! Do your job! I said I want to go back now!” She didn’t know one of Kaelan’s biggest triggers was loud, incessant noise. The next second, her spiritual form flew through the air like a broken kite. As if guided by fate, she landed squarely on the table of torture instruments, her backside impaled on a cluster of Soulthorns. The agonizing pain she had inflicted on me was now her own. Her face contorted in a mask of horror, and a piercing shriek tore from her throat. The Chamberlain waved a hand. Other reapers swarmed forward, gagging her and pinning her to the ground. With them dealt with, Kaelan finally turned his gaze to me. I could feel it—a cold, piercing stare. The Chamberlain stepped forward. “Who are you? State your name.” Marcus, already facing one death sentence, wasn’t about to risk another. He was terrified Kaelan would find out I’d been brought here without judgment, terrified he’d recognize me. He quickly interjected, “She’s just a newly deceased soul, my Lord. None who end up here are innocent… Please, don’t dirty your eyes with such filth.” Kaelan’s brow furrowed in annoyance. The Chamberlain snapped, “He wasn’t talking to you. Silence!” I opened my mouth, but only a dry, hissing sound came out. When no answer came, the Chamberlain approached to inspect my wounds. He shook his head grimly. “My Lord, this woman’s soul is on the verge of dissipating.” Kaelan, for all his fury, was a just ruler. “Check her identity,” he commanded. “If she does not belong here, have her healed. See if she can be returned to her body or sent for reincarnation.” The Chamberlain immediately sent for the Ledger of Souls. While we waited, Sophia continued to struggle against her restraints, her mind still fixated on the life of luxury she was losing. A moment later, a reaper returned with the great tome. The Chamberlain leaned close to me. “What is your name?” I summoned every last shred of my being and whispered two words, my voice as faint as the buzz of a mosquito. “Elara…” This Chamberlain was new; I’d never seen him before. He heard me and began to work his magic on the Ledger. As the seconds ticked by, a look of confusion spread across his face. “This… this can’t be right…” Kaelan’s patience, always thin, was wearing out. A dangerous aura began to emanate from him. “What is it?!” he demanded. The Chamberlain trembled. “My Lord… this person… she is not in the Ledger of Souls!” Of course not. That had been Kaelan’s doing. He had made me immortal, a wanderer in the mortal realm. Me on Earth, him in the Underworld. That way, we would never meet again. He clearly hadn’t made the connection. He must have assumed it was more treachery from his subordinates. He snatched the Ledger, his voice a low growl of fury. “What is her name?” “Elara,” the Chamberlain replied. The moment he heard my name, Kaelan froze. His entire demeanor shifted. His eyes, cold as glaciers, locked onto me, a flicker of disbelief in their depths.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386620”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The phone buzzed just as I was about to leap from the bridge. The caller ID read Danny Vance—my ex-fiancé, the newly crowned movie star who had, just thirty minutes ago, publicly announced his relationship with Zoey Bell, the long-lost heiress of the Sterling family. I answered. His voice, dripping with condescending triumph, slid through the speaker. “I’m going to be a father, Aria. And the mother isn’t you.” He thought this was his final judgment, his ultimate victory. He had no idea he was setting me free. I’m a transmigrator. My mission was to save four villains on the brink of their descent into darkness, Danny included. But everything I had, everything I was, had been stolen by a woman named Zoey. Now, with my final mission failed, I could finally escape. The System had been clear: once all missions failed, I could return home through “death.” Home… Even if it meant facing the pain of my sickbed again, it was worth it just to see my parents one more time. “Congratulations,” I whispered, and let the phone slip from my fingers, a dark speck swallowed by the black water below. I climbed onto the railing, spread my arms, and prepared to embrace an embrace I had longed for. “ARIA!” A raw scream tore through the night, followed by the screech of tires. 1 Before I could even turn, a powerful arm yanked me back from the railing. My back slammed into the guardrail, the impact forcing a pained grunt from my lips. The person held me from behind, their grip so tight it felt like they were trying to merge my body with their own, the pressure making my bones ache. A familiar scent of fir, mingled with sweat and the ragged sound of frantic breathing, filled my senses. Kian Archer. The new prodigy of the tech world. What was he doing here? Oh, right. The tracker he’d installed on my phone years ago. When we were in love, he’d said it was because he was afraid of losing me. After we broke up, I forgot to delete it. And now, it had become the first shackle to chain me to this world. He was a wall, trapping me between his body and the cold metal of the guardrail. His tie was askew, his chest heaving. My escape had failed. A surge of white-hot anger flared within me. I glared at him, a cornered cat with its tail stepped on. “Aria,” he ground out, his usually impassive face twisted with fury. “You want to die that badly?” The Patek Philippe on his wrist dug painfully into my skin. For a moment, I was transported back to a leaky, drafty apartment, where I’d spent a month eating instant noodles with him, a broke student. I’d used my very first scholarship payment to buy him that watch on an installment plan. His eyes had been red then. He’d held me and promised, “Aria, from now on, all my time is yours.” Now, he looked at me as if I were a bug in his code, his words sharp as a scalpel. “So Danny dumped you, Zoey has everything, and this is your next move? A pity party on a bridge?” “Who’s this performance for?” “Aria, since when did the woman who took a check from my rival just to backstab Zoey become so pathetically simple-minded?” My heart felt like it had been squeezed by a giant fist. So that’s what he thought. In his mind, even my desire to go home was just another calculated performance. A single lie from Zoey was all it took for him to brand me a vicious, money-grubbing shrew. I looked at the disgust in his eyes and suddenly felt an immense wave of exhaustion. I stopped struggling. My body went limp as I looked up at him, a hollow smile on my face. “Kian,” I said softly. “You’re wrong.” “This isn’t a performance.” “I just… want to go home.” As the words left my lips, the world tilted. A combination of low blood sugar and the complete release of all my tension sent a wave of blackness over me. In the last second before I lost consciousness, I thought I heard a strange, strangled sound escape Kian’s throat. It was a sound of fear, as if the perfectly logical world he had built for himself had just shattered into a million pieces. 2 The sharp smell of antiseptic forced my eyes open. Another white ceiling. Still not dead. I laughed, but tears slid from the corners of my smile, tasting of salt and bitterness. I was so close. I almost made it home for my mom’s birthday dinner. The thought made me laugh harder, my shoulders shaking. I sat up abruptly, still laughing, and pulled the IV needle from the back of my hand. A single, perfect bead of blood welled up, shockingly red. Barefoot, I padded over to the window. The twenty-eighth floor. Surely, I wouldn’t fail this time. But the handle had been removed, and the glass was covered with a thick, shatterproof film. Kian had turned this room into my cage. The smile froze on my face. The door opened and Kian walked in, flanked by two bodyguards. He had changed his clothes, but the oppressive aura was the same. His eyes fell on the blood on my hand, then to my position by the window, and his expression turned to ice. “Aria. Are you done?” He tossed a file onto the table. “The doctor says you’re suffering from long-term malnutrition and severe depression.” “Is this your new strategy for gaining sympathy? Testing my limits with self-harm?” “Mr. Archer,” I used his most formal title, “is a person happily preparing to go home just another line of code for you to debug?” His expression flickered. A cold smirk replaced it. “Your behavior is illogical. Until I figure out what it is you truly want, you’re not going anywhere.” He stepped closer, looming over me. “Today is the most important day for Zoey and Danny after their announcement. I don’t want her seeing any trashy headlines.” “She suffered for twenty years before she was found. She doesn’t need you causing her more pain.” He was afraid I’d die at an inconvenient time and spoil Zoey’s big day. He turned and left. The door clicked shut, locked. I don’t know how much time passed before it opened again. It was my brother—my adoptive brother—Ethan Sterling. He had the same cold, detached look, his eyes sharp behind gold-rimmed glasses. “Kian said you were sick,” he stated, placing a thermal flask on the nightstand. His voice was flat. “Zoey is very worried about you. She couldn’t sleep all night. She asked me to come and check on you.” Zoey again. I didn’t move. I just stared at him. My silent gaze seemed to unnerve him. He opened the flask, and the rich aroma of chicken soup filled the room. “Our cook made it. It used to be your favorite.” My stomach churned. I remembered when Zoey first came to live with us. She was frail and sickly, and the cook made her this soup every day. I’d taken one sip out of curiosity, and Ethan had snatched the bowl away, his face a cold mask. “This is for Zoey. She grew up in hardship, not like you. Can’t you be more considerate?” But two years ago, when our parents died in a plane crash, when the house felt like a tomb, it was him. He was the one who had clumsily tried to make me soup, coaxing me, “Aria, please. Drink this. It will make the bitterness go away.” And now, he was offering me the very soup that once belonged to Zoey, the soup that had branded me “inconsiderate.” I slowly sat up and took the bowl from him. A flicker of relief, almost imperceptible, crossed his face. I smiled at him. And in the next second, with a slight tilt of my wrist, I sent the bowl of scalding soup crashing to the floor. It shattered into a hundred pieces. “Aria, what are you doing?!” For the first time, Ethan’s voice was ragged, his perpetually cool facade finally cracking. I ignored him. While he was stunned, I bent down and picked up the sharpest shard of porcelain. I didn’t say a word. I didn’t threaten anyone. I simply, in front of him, drew the sharp edge across my other wrist. Not too deep, not too light. A red line appeared, then welled up into beads of blood that began to drip, one by one, to the floor. “Brother,” I said, looking up at him, guessing the smile on my face was hideous. “The Sterling family’s charity… I’m just the thief who stole someone’s life for twenty years. I can’t accept it.” “ARIA!” Ethan’s scream was sharper than the sound of the shattering bowl. He lunged at me, grabbing my wrist. The warm blood quickly soaked the cuff of his crisp, white shirt. 3 “Let go of me!” “When you listened to Zoey’s lies, when you thought I was targeting her at every turn, did you feel like a worthy heir to the Sterling name?” I sneered. “And now you bring me her leftover soup, pretending to care.” “Ethan, what are you so afraid of?” “Are you afraid that if I die here, your precious, long-suffering sister will have nightmares?” “That’s not it!” Ethan’s face went deathly pale. “Believe it or not,” I said, pressing the shard a little deeper, “if I bleed out here today, the Sterling Industries’ stock price will get a big ‘surprise’ tomorrow morning.” The door opened. Kian, who must have returned at some point, walked in to this exact scene. Me, a madwoman, with a bleeding wrist and a shard of porcelain, smiling as I faced a horrified Ethan. Kian’s face was grim, his eyes analyzing me like a program on the verge of a fatal error. Ethan clutched my wrist, shouting at the bodyguards in the hall. “Get a doctor! Now!” He turned to Kian as if grabbing a lifeline. “Kian, don’t listen to her! She’s lost her mind! Ever since Zoey came back, she’s been like this, always hurting herself for attention!” Kian’s brow furrowed. He glanced at my still-bleeding wrist, his voice cold. “She… she almost jumped off a bridge earlier.” “It’s just an act!” Ethan insisted. “I know Aria. She’s terrified of death. She would never actually do it.” The flicker of doubt in Kian’s eyes vanished, replaced by a self-mocking certainty. I watched them, the two of them working in concert to define my despair as a pathetic performance, and I started to laugh. Fine. If a physical death was off the table, I would find another way home. My fingers went slack. The porcelain shard clattered to the floor. In the instant Ethan let out a sigh of relief, I moved like lightning, snatching the phone from his pocket. “Aria, what are you doing?!” I backed into a corner, my fingers flying across the screen. His passcode. It was still my birthday. How ironic. I opened a live-streaming app, ignoring their wary stares, and pointed the camera at my own pale, blood-streaked face. I quickly typed in a title: Aria Sterling’s Last Words: A Public Funeral. As I was about to press ‘Go Live,’ a name flashed in my mind. Leo Cruz. A scholarship student my mother had sponsored, now the most fearless investigative journalist in the city. Leo, if you’re watching, help me one last time. I hit the button. “Hello, everyone,” I said softly. “My name is Aria.” “Today, I’d like to perform something for you. It’s called ‘A Solo Funeral.’” Kian’s expression changed completely. He finally understood what I was doing—putting myself on trial in the court of public opinion. He lunged toward me. But I was faster. With my back against the sealed window, I held the phone high above my head. “Don’t come any closer,” I said, smiling, waving my bloody wrist in front of the camera. The smile was probably terrifying. “One more step, and I jump.” “Twenty-eighth floor. A live-streamed suicide. That should make the headlines, don’t you think?” “It would add a nice, festive touch to Zoey and Danny’s new romance, wouldn’t it, Brother?” Kian froze, his face a mask of fury. Ethan was frantic. “Aria, what do you want?!” “I want to prove something.” I turned the camera back to myself, watching the viewer count skyrocket. I spoke each word with chilling clarity. “I, Aria Sterling, adopted daughter of the Sterling family, hereby make my public last will and testament.” “Upon my death, all assets in my name—including the five percent of Sterling Industries’ original shares left to me by my parents, as well as all my jewelry and real estate…” I paused, my gaze sweeping over Ethan’s ashen face. “…will be donated, in their entirety, to the state.” “You all think I did this for money, right? Fine.” A tear escaped, but I was still smiling. “Then I’ll take the things you think I value most, and I’ll destroy them, right here, in front of everyone.” “Aria, you’re insane!” Ethan yelled. “Mom and Dad left that for you, to protect you!” “Why wouldn’t I dare?” My smile was tragic. “I’m dying anyway, aren’t I?” Just then, the door was thrown open with a violent crash. Danny Vance, my newly-a-father-to-be ex-fiancé, rushed in, looking like he’d run all the way here. He was unnervingly calm. He walked toward me, pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket, and held it up. A hospital diagnosis. “Severe depression with suicidal tendencies.” Danny’s voice was soft. “Aria, you’re sick.” 4 He handed the paper to Ethan and Kian. “Zoey has been worried about your mental state for a while. A doctor prepared this preliminary diagnosis as an emergency measure.” His voice was thick with self-reproach. “The doctor said your live stream, your suicide attempts… it’s all because of your illness.” “Nothing you say can be taken seriously.” A single piece of paper, a single diagnosis, and all my defiance was dismissed as the ravings of a madwoman. I thought of the time he was being trashed by the entire internet. I sold the only piece of jewelry my mother had left me and stayed up for days writing the lyrics and music for his comeback song, “Starlight.” But now, after a few tears from Zoey, who claimed she had been his silent supporter all along, he believed her. He had even accused me of stealing her work. Danny’s eyes began to redden. “Your live stream went viral.” “Zoey… she saw it. And she had a complete breakdown.” “She left a note, saying it was all her fault, and then she disappeared.” “I can’t find her, Aria.” In an instant, the gazes of Ethan and Kian were like daggers, piercing me once again. “A brilliant move,” Kian’s voice was glacial. “Forcing her hand like that.” “Aria, how could you become this person?” Ethan’s eyes were filled with disappointment. I looked at them and finally, truly, laughed. Zoey didn’t even have to be here to turn me into the evil sister who drove the kind, gentle one away. “Find her.” Danny’s eyes locked on mine, a terrifying madness swirling in their depths. “Aria, I don’t care how you do it, but you will find her and bring her back.” “Or else,” he leaned in, his voice a whisper only I could hear, “I will lock you away, break your legs, and make you spend the rest of your life watching me, begging me.” I was done playing their game. I looked up, meeting his obsessive gaze, and said calmly, “Fine.” “I’ll help you find her.” They all stared, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. I stood up, ignoring the wound on my wrist, and walked toward them. “The keys to Ethan’s car. Give them to me.” Ethan frowned. “What do you need the car for?” “To find her,” I said. “Zoey sent me a message. A picture of herself at the edge of a cliff. She said if she doesn’t hear that I’m safe within three hours, she’ll jump.” “Give me three hours.” “If I can’t find her, you can have my life.” Kian scoffed. “And why should we believe you?” “You don’t have to.” I shrugged. “You can stand here and waste time, and wait for the police to scrape Zoey off the rocks. Or, you can take a chance.” My words hit their weak spot. In the end, Ethan tossed me the keys. I turned and walked out. I settled into the driver’s seat of the black Bentley, floored the accelerator, and shot out of the parking garage. I wasn’t looking for Zoey. I knew she was probably relaxing in some five-star hotel, enjoying the show. I drove straight for the winding mountain road that led to the cliffs outside the city. Three hours. Enough time to get to the summit, and then send myself, and the car, into the ocean. This time, no one would be able to save me. I cranked up the stereo, blasting an old rock anthem about freedom. I’m going home. Dad, Mom, I’m coming home. The end of the road was the cliff’s edge. My foot pressed the accelerator to the floor. At the same time, in another car, Kian watched the red dot representing me race towards the cliff on his monitor, his eyes turning bloodshot. He activated his emergency comms, his voice a raw scream. “JAX! SHE’S GOING OVER! I’VE SENT YOU THE LOCATION! YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE CLOSE ENOUGH! WHATEVER IT TAKES, STOP HER!” Just as the car was about to launch over the guardrail— CRUNCH! A black, military-grade SUV materialized out of nowhere, slamming into the front of my car with the suicidal force of a missile.

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I was tangled in the sheets with my boyfriend in broad daylight, basking in the afterglow. Suddenly, a violent bang echoed from the front door. Someone was kicking it. I blinked open my heavy eyelids, confused. “Is someone knocking?” The man above me didn’t stop. He nipped at my earlobe, his voice raspy and slurred with heat. “No, baby. You’re hearing things.” Suddenly, floating text scrolled across my vision like a live stream chat: [Succubus baby, maybe take a closer look at who’s in your bed?] [LMAO I’m dying. The male lead thought the soul bond meant she could only feed on him. He forgot he has a twin brother with the exact same bloodline!] [Hehe, twin sandwich! Our girl is never going hungry again. She is EATING good!] Before I could process the glowing words, a furious, trembling roar erupted from the hallway. “Jax! Get your ass out here right now!” 1 I’m Zoe, a succubus Julian picked up off the street. Because I “bullied” Tia, he hadn’t fed me in two weeks. I stubbornly reiterated my defense. “I didn’t bully her! I just told her to stop calling you in the middle of the night. I can never get a full meal…” Julian lifted his cold eyes. “You think you’re in the right?” He glanced at the text on his phone—Tia saying she wanted to draw a line between them—and his tone dripped with impatience. “You’ve been with me for so long, yet you haven’t learned a thing. But you’ve certainly mastered the art of using money to humiliate people.” “I didn’t humiliate her,” I said. His gaze was icy, judging me. I stood my ground. “If she thinks money is humiliating, that’s her problem. I think money is the best thing in the world.” Besides, it was her fault. My feeding time was strictly Sunday nights. For an S-Class succubus, that’s barely a snack. And she always interrupted. Every time we started, she’d call. She was being harassed by thugs at a diner, or she was drunk and needed a ride. Julian would leave immediately, leaving me half-starved. So, I went to her privately. I handed her some cash and asked if she could maybe schedule her crises for a different time slot. She acted like I’d slapped her. She gritted her teeth, stepped on the bills, and emphasized every word: “Miss Zoe, rest assured. I have zero interest in your boyfriend. I despise arrogant rich people like him. Before you two met, I rejected him at least ten times.” “He said he wanted to be friends. I didn’t know you were so insecure.” Her eyes were red as she sneered, “Honestly, you make it seem like I’m doing something shady. Please tell him I won’t ask for his help anymore. I don’t want to be labeled a homewrecker.” She walked away, head held high, looking proud and unyielding. That straight spine of hers… yeah, I could see why it triggered a man’s conqueror complex. I processed her words and concluded: Great, she won’t interrupt my meals anymore. But before I could celebrate, the story reached Julian. For the first time, the calm, elegant Julian lost his temper with me. He was convinced I bullied Tia and refused to admit it. “It took so much for her to ask for help, given her pride. And you? You destroyed the last of her dignity.” I teared up but held my ground. “…It wasn’t my fault.” I was usually obedient, but not on this. Finally, his patience snapped. “If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll never learn your place.” He loosened his tie, standing up with a look of disgust. “The estate upstate is empty. Go there and reflect on your actions.” “And if you don’t behave, you starve. Who else can feed you but me?” Meeting the warning in his dark eyes, I held back my tears. “Fine! Don’t feed me! I don’t need you!” I’m an S-Class succubus. I can get any man I want! He scoffed, unbothered. No one knew better than him what our soul bond meant. I was physically incapable of feeding on anyone else. 2 I held onto my grudge for three days. Then another three. Even when I was dizzy from hunger, legs turning to jelly, I refused to call him. The best way to tame a prey is to corner it, wait until it exhausts all strength struggling, and then appear as the savior. Julian was always a patient hunter. Summer was humid and rainy. On my tenth day in the villa, a massive storm hit. Thunder shook the house. I curled up on the couch, burying half my face in my knees, weak and trembling. I kept looking at the floor-to-ceiling windows. I thought, If Julian shows up right now, I might forgive him. Just a little. In the past, whenever it stormed, he’d drop his work and pull me into his arms, scolding me for being “useless” while wiping away my tears. But now, the villa was silent. Not even a phone call. I sniffled, burying my face deeper, trying to hide from the world. Suddenly, lightning illuminated the living room, followed by a crack of thunder. The front door burst open, slammed by the wind and rain. I looked up, dazed. A figure in a red racing suit appeared in my line of sight. Tall, cold, black hair soaked, eyes familiar yet strange. My body’s dependency overrode my brain. The tears I’d been holding back finally fell. I threw the pillow aside, ran to him barefoot, and crashed into his arms. “Julian!” 3 I was still angry. But the moment I hugged his waist, overwhelming grievance washed over me. “I hate you…” I hammered my weak fists against his chest, crying like a loser. “I hate you so much…” A cold, wet hand suddenly gripped my wrist. The man pulled back, creating distance. His voice was lazy, teasing. “Whoa. Throwing yourself at me?” Maybe it was the wet hair covering his forehead, but he looked less cold than usual. The red racing suit gave him a wild, rebellious edge. I vaguely felt that this Julian was different. But I was starving, and my brain was mush. I just frowned, confused. “Why are you dressed like that?” I remembered Julian hated racing. He called it barbaric. He circled my feverish wrist with his fingers, frowning. “You’re here alone?” I was confused. “You told me to come here and reflect.” He looked around the empty villa, then placed a hand on my forehead. I leaned back, dazed by the coolness. He clicked his tongue. “With a temperature this high, you didn’t know you had a fever?” Fever? I touched my cheek blankly. It was burning. 4 I hated the heat, so the AC was blasting despite the rain. The first thing he did was find the remote and turn off all the AC units. The villa was empty—no food, no medicine. He got a wet towel to cool me down. Then he made a call. It rang for a long time. The voice on the other end was impatient. “What?” The man in the racing suit—Jax—didn’t beat around the bush. His tone was lazy and arrogant. “Can’t I just call my brother? By the way, that little succubus you locked in the upstate villa seems to have a high fever. You coming?” “What are you doing there?” Julian sounded instantly displeased. “Car broke down nearby. Came in to hide from the rain.” On the other end, a GPS voice announced: Entering Old District. Jax’s tone turned mocking. “Oh? Heading to the Little White Lotus’s house? Playing the knight in shining armor again?” In the background, Tia’s cold voice cut through, sounding pouty. “No need to detour. Just drop me at the next intersection.” “Shut up,” Julian snapped at her, then spoke coldly to Jax. “Jax, get a doctor for Zoe. I don’t have time.” Jax looked at the storm outside, tapping his long fingers on the window sill. “Bro, I’m curious. You’re ignoring your feverish girlfriend to drive Tia home in the rain? Is she made of gold? or are you planning on cheating?” He was blunt. “We’re just friends,” Julian corrected stiffly. “Tia got caught in the rain, she looks pale. I can’t just leave her.” “And Zoe?” “She’s fine. Succubi heal fast. Starving a few days won’t kill her. She needs to learn a lesson.” Jax almost laughed. “Damn. I guess being the mistress really does get you the special treatment these days.” Tia heard the “mistress” comment and snapped, “Julian, don’t bother. I can handle myself.” “Sit still,” Julian ordered her. Then to Jax: “Jax, I said we are friends. Say one more word, and I’ll disband your racing team tomorrow.” “Get her a doctor, then get out. I’ll see her in a few days.” Click. The call ended. Jax smirked dangerously. Friends. What an ambiguous, convenient word. He turned around and saw me, burning up, delirious. My skin was flushed pink, my almond eyes misty, looking at him with total confusion. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He wanted to be “friends” with this little succubus too. The kind of friends who sleep together. 5 The rain was getting heavier. After a while, he checked my temperature again and swapped the towel. His phone rang. He answered it and turned to leave the bedroom. I grabbed his wrist. “Don’t go…” I knew this scene too well. Late-night calls. Either work or Tia. Sickness makes you fragile. My eyes welled up, and I unconsciously nuzzled his wrist bone. “Julian… stay with me, please?” He was still on the phone, but I saw his throat move. Thunder rumbled outside. The hunger came clawing back, stronger than before. I sniffled, widening my eyes to look as pitiful as possible. “Don’t go… I’ll starve to death.” He looked at me, unmoving. In the silence, the hope in my eyes dimmed. I remembered when he pushed me away cold-heartedly. “Is your brain filled with nothing but intimacy?” I whispered, “But I’m hungry…” “Can’t you endure it? Isn’t once a week enough? If you can’t control your desires, how are you different from an animal?” He wanted me to have self-respect. But a succubus’s instinct isn’t ruled by logic. Hunger eats away at reason until only the instinct to survive remains. When I first tried to feed on someone else, he caught me. He laughed in anger and tricked me into the soul bond. He said it was for protection. “Men outside are dirty.” He didn’t like me touching others, but he refused to feed me properly. Just like today. Jax hung up the phone. He looked down at me and scoffed. “Tsk. So much trouble.” The cold tone was exactly like Julian’s. I watched him walk out of the bedroom, tears pooling in my eyes.

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