Category: English

I was just scrolling, ready to call it a night, when I saw the post from the campus queen bee: [I’m three months into an online relationship and meeting him next week. What do I do if he’s a 300-pound absolute unit?] The top-rated comment was viciously brilliant: [Gift the account and the guy to someone you hate. Let those two hot messes internally combust.] The queen bee was thrilled with the idea and went through with it. I shook my head, silently thanking my lucky stars that my girlfriend wasn’t like that. Not long after, I was on a sweet date with my girl when the queen bee tracked me down, pointing at my girlfriend and screeching: “You bitch! I was supposed to be Silas Archer’s girlfriend! Hand him and that account back right now!” 1 I was about to crash, but the post grabbed my attention instantly. I recognized the poster: Madison Hale, the reigning queen bee of the whole university. Seriously, she was dating someone online? Madison was currently melting down in the comments: [I swear to God, he told me he was six-foot-one and looked like a Greek statue. I bought it for three solid months!] [But I forgot to ask about his weight!] [I had a delivery guy scope him out today. He said a giant stepped out—a mountain of a man with a belly bigger than his chest, like a walking water heater. I want to die right here just thinking about calling a water heater “Baby” for three months!] The replies were a joke-filled disaster zone: [When the destiny drama hits hard and you’re a total looks queen.] [A guy gets hot for someone online and a photo drop brings him back to reality.] Madison was clearly losing it: [This isn’t about being messed with anymore! I’m supposed to meet this guy next week. I want to run over every single Orc on the planet!] Huh. Funny coincidence. My girlfriend and I were also set to meet next week. I flipped to our chat. The last message was from earlier in the evening. X: [Headed to the lab tonight. Don’t wait up for me.] It was nearly ten now. I shot her a quick message: Me: [Baby still swamped?] Me: [Seriously, I just saw this post that is so messed up!] 2 She must have been busy; no reply came for a while. I knew she couldn’t carry her phone around in the lab, so I wasn’t worried. I went back to the thread. In the meantime, Madison had added several more updates, each more brutal than the last: [Ugh, the Orc never quits. He just messaged me again.] [Just seeing his avatar makes me nauseous, let alone chatting with him.] [I need to go throw up.] The thread was mostly people gloating, though a few defended the guy. Madison shot them down without mercy: [Oh, you’re so noble? You talk to the Sasquatch then.] [He looks like that and has the nerve to date online? Has he apologized to me? I’m being nice just by not ripping him a new one!] More suggestions were pouring in. I skimmed through them, losing interest, and switched back to the chat. Still nothing. What was going on? She’d never gone this long without replying. Was she pulling an all-nighter in the lab? I couldn’t stay up. I sent her a quick goodnight, turned my phone off, and passed out. First thing the next morning, I checked my messages. Still radio silence. What the hell? But Madison’s thread had new updates. I frowned at the top comment: [This is super easy to solve. Poster, you can give the account and the boyfriend to someone you hate, let those two hot messes internally combust!] Seriously? That was dark. A lot of replies agreed the idea was shady, but Madison loved it: [Brilliant, sis! I’m so over my cousin, the drama queen. Done!] 3 Madison had a cousin? Never heard of her. Whatever. That was their drama. My main problem was why my girlfriend hadn’t messaged back. I scrolled through our chat history again. Nothing bad. She’d sent me a sushi delivery and proactively told me she was heading to the lab. So why no message? Just as I was considering calling, my phone buzzed. Her: [Good morning, Baby.] I immediately relaxed. Me: [Why’d you ghost me all night?] Her: [So sorry, Baby. Lab got a little intense.] Okay. Just the lab being the lab. I was completely relieved. Me: [Fine. I’ll let it slide, barely.] Her: [Don’t let me off the hook so easily. You can throw a fit if you want, Baby.] I actually blushed a little at the repeated use of “Baby.” Me: [What’s with the sugar rush today?] Her: [Missed you.] I felt my cheeks warm. Me: [We talk every day. You still miss me?] A few seconds of silence before she replied: Her: [So much.] Her: [I can’t wait to see you, Baby.] 4 She was on fire today! A flicker of strangeness crossed my mind, but my heart was racing. I quickly switched apps to scroll and calm down. We’d been dating online for almost four months. She was usually the cool, pulled-together one. She used terms of endearment, but rarely this mushy. Something was off. Seriously off. Was she hiding something? Had she done something bad? The previous night’s thread flashed in my mind. The warmth I’d just felt evaporated, replaced by a cold knot of suspicion. I sent a serious message: Me: [You’re acting weird. Spill. What did you do?] The chat went silent for a moment. Then, a voice message came through: “Busted, huh, Baby? I bought you a coke. Looks like I’m derailing your diet plan today.” I felt a rush of satisfaction listening to it. She’d sent me voice messages before, but they were always a sort of overly sweet, affected “girly” voice. This one, though, was clearer, warmer, and totally melodic. I saved the clip and sent a voice message back: “You are so strange today. Your vibe is strange, your words are strange, and your voice is strange.” She replied quickly: “And this ‘strange’—do you hate it?” Of course not! I’m a total sucker for softness. I cleared my throat and held the record button: “I don’t hate it. Keep it up.” She laughed instantly: “Okay, Baby. Come downstairs and grab your tea.” 5 coke first thing in the morning—pure sin! I mentally chastised myself while sprinting out of bed to brush my teeth. “Silas, you’re up early today,” my roommate, Nolan, said, sounding amazed. I grinned. “My girlfriend sent me a coke. Need me to grab anything for you?” Nolan waved me off. “I’ll go get my own.” I frowned. “You grabbed mine yesterday. It’s my turn.” Nolan was already standing up. “Let’s just go together. I use the stairs as part of my workout.” He was dealing with some health issues and medication that caused weight gain, and he was always quietly trying to lose weight. Since he insisted, we went down together. Deliveries were on shelves near the dorm entrance. It was early, so few people were there. I quickly found the drinks—four of them—with a clear note: [One for my Fawn Baby, three to treat The Fawn’s roommates.] I stared at the note for two seconds and laughed, showing it to Nolan. “My girlfriend’s treating everyone.” Nolan took the bag and whooped. “Thanks, Archer and his lady! Is this an anniversary? Did we just hit the jackpot?” I was surprised, too. She rarely sent me food, and never to share. Did her all-nighter in the lab result in some breakthrough? Was she just ecstatic? I was about to text her when someone called my name up ahead: “Silas?” I looked up, stunned. “Madison.” It was Madison Hale. She walked over, her gaze drifting casually to Nolan beside me. A faint look of disgust crossed her face. Then she glanced at the coke in his hand, and I saw a flash of— Schadenfreude? 6 I hated her look. I cut her off. “Something I can help you with, Madison?” Madison snapped back to attention and cleared her throat. “My club is having a big retreat next weekend. It’s actually really cool. Want to come?” I frowned slightly. Didn’t Madison have a boyfriend? Why was she inviting me? Wait. I paused, remembering the post and the comment. Madison had handed the account to her cousin, the one she hated. So, she was… single? A cruelly single person. I rejected her immediately. “Sorry, Madison, I can’t. I’m meeting my girlfriend next weekend.” Madison’s face froze. “You have a girlfriend??” I held my patience. “Yes. We’ve been dating for a while now.” Ignoring her deep frown, I pulled Nolan along and walked away. “Archer, you don’t seem to like Madison much.” Nolan nudged me. “Didn’t she low-key try to flirt with you last semester? Posted those cryptic messages on the confessional wall?” Sending a few vague messages counted as flirting? Plus, she had an online boyfriend while hitting on people in real life. Her character was definitely lacking. Back in the dorm, I took a picture of the coke and sent it to her. Me: [Thanks for the treat, Wife!] She replied almost instantly, focusing on a peculiar detail: Her: [Wife?] I smiled and held the voice key: “My bad. Thanks for the treat, Girlfriend.” Her: [Say it again.] I indulged her. “Giiiiirlfriend.” Silence for a few seconds. Then, a shower of Venmo notifications hit. I watched a string of transfers—$500, $1000, $999. I was shocked. Me: [Are you insane? Why so much money?] To be clear, in all the months we’d talked, she’d only sent me money once for my birthday—a $5 and a $20, the most awkward $25 ever. Her: [So happy. My Baby needs to be happy with me.] I couldn’t help but laugh. I was about to reply when another message popped up: Her: [Baby, I want to come see you sooner. Can I?] 7 My heart leaped, and the corners of my mouth curled up. Me: [Sooner as in?] She sent a screenshot of a train ticket: departure this Saturday, destination my city. I noticed the booking time: 6:03 AM today. She’d bought the ticket the second the booking window opened. My heart felt warm and fuzzy, but also a little nervous. I looked again at the passenger name: Jocelyn Reid. A beautiful name. Seeing I hadn’t replied, she started to worry: Her: [Baby?] Her: [Was that too sudden?] Her: [Let’s stick to next week then, okay? Don’t be mad…] Mad? How could I be mad? I quickly typed: Me: [Not mad. Just surprised.] Me: [Come! I’ll pick you up at the station! (p≧w≦q)] Jocelyn immediately relaxed and copied my emoticon: Her: [Yay! (^o^)/~] She was such a dork. I scoffed good-naturedly, but I was smiling. I thought for a moment and asked: Me: [Should we swap photos first? Just so we don’t miss each other.] Jocelyn and I met through a game. We’d only added each other’s secondary accounts; neither of us had photos posted. Jocelyn didn’t reply. Minutes ticked by. I started to worry. Was she going to be—unconventionally attractive? After a moment of panic, I sent another message: Me: [At least tell me your height? To narrow down the search?] Still nothing from Jocelyn. I was beginning to understand Madison’s frustration! Just as I was about to give up and make a video call, my phone vibrated. Jocelyn had finally replied. 8 A straightforward selfie. White shirt, long dark hair, a look that was both pure and sultry, and a tiny beauty mark near the corner of her eye. I stared at the face for one stunned second, then slammed my phone face down. Holy hell, she was gorgeous!!! How did I, of all people, end up with her? My phone buzzed again: Her: [Baby, I’m not really pretty… My roommates say I look cold QAQ] Her: [Baby, I promise I’m not cold.] Her: [Baby, you can boss me around.] Where was my oxygen tank?! Where was my oxygen tank?! I let out a groan of disbelief before forcing myself to calm down, replying with forced nonchalance: Me: [Not cold. Very beautiful.] Then a new wave of anxiety hit. She looked like that. What did I look like next to her? As if she knew my thoughts, Jocelyn sent a comforting message: Her: [Baby just knowing what I look like is enough. I’ll love whatever you look like.] That made me sound even more shallow. I wanted to defend myself, but Jocelyn shifted the topic: Her: [Baby, I have my final exam for this class now. Gotta go.] I sent back an ‘OK.’ Looking at the little cat-kiss emoji she sent last, I sighed deeply. I deserved the best, sure, but landing this best made me seriously nervous! After some thought, since I had a light class schedule, I dragged Nolan to the mall. New clothes, haircut, styling… When I was finally done, Nolan squinted at me. “Is the Mr. World competition happening on campus soon?” I laughed. “No, I’m just about to meet my girlfriend!” Nolan shook his head. “Man, you should just wear gym shorts and show her your profile from the balcony.” We were joking around when I accidentally bumped into a passerby. I apologized immediately. “Sorry about that… Madison? You’re shopping, too?” Behind me, Madison Hale had the weirdest expression. She looked me up and down, her brows knitting together. “Silas, are you online dating?” “Are you and your girlfriend… meeting, too?” 9 What the hell? She was eavesdropping and connecting it to herself? My girlfriend was nothing like her! I gave her a quick, vague answer and hurried away with Nolan. Back at the dorm that night, Jocelyn was in an evening class, which she’d warned me about. Bored, I lay on my bed scrolling the university forum. Madison’s post was even hotter, with everyone curious about the outcome. [Poster, what’s the situation?] [You gave the account away, why the silence?] [Did the cousin get busted? Do you need a GoFundMe for her hospital bills?] Madison’s reply was smug: [My cousin is such a thirsty idiot. I told her he was a six-foot-one hottie, and she just nodded along.] [They’ve been talking so much. Calling each other ‘Baby’ constantly. I heard they’re actually going to meet up!] [Damn, my professor just called. I can’t witness the carnage, but it makes me feel so good, hahahaha!] I cringed at her continuous use of the word “Orc.” I’d been a chubby kid growing up, and my grandmother indulged me, making me anything I wanted. In elementary and middle school, I hadn’t thought much of it. It wasn’t until high school that I faced some isolation and bullying because of my size. That’s when I realized that in the teen world, fat guys are definitely not popular. I started desperately trying to lose weight. Though I did slim down, I was still sensitive to those kinds of insults. Disgusted, I was about to close the thread when the page updated. Madison had posted a new comment, but this time, it wasn’t smugness—it was confusion: [I ran into my crush tonight. He’s also online dating and about to meet his girlfriend. What are the odds?] The comments section was full of people laughing: [My dog just took a giant dump. Want to taste-test it?] [Who cares who he dates? Mind your own business!] [Did the Orc crash into your head? You seriously think your crush is your online date?] I narrowed my eyes and coldly logged off the forum. Saturday arrived quickly. I woke up early, got ready, and headed straight to the train station. When Jocelyn booked the ticket, I saw her departure point was just a few hours away within the state. I reached the station just after nine. I clutched the bouquet in one hand and my phone in the other, my heart pounding as I constantly checked the clock. 9:20 AM. Another crowd poured out of the arrival gate. A girl in a white coat instantly caught my eye. She was tall and slender, wearing a white baseball cap pulled low, hiding half her face. But her presence screamed “stunning.” I instinctively took a few steps forward, and our eyes met. She visibly froze. Oh no. Did I get the wrong person, or was she already disappointed? Just as I panicked, a hand clapped my shoulder. That annoying voice came from behind me: “Silas! What a coincidence. Are you here to pick someone up, too?”

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The Department of Vital Records was the last place I expected to run into the ghost of my husband’s past. We were there to register our daughter’s birth. I was holding our newborn, three weeks old and swaddled tight, when the clerk at the window looked up. It was Piper, Adam’s childhood best friend—the one he always referred to with a sigh of responsibility and a faint, unattainable devotion. She stared at the infant in my arms for a beat too long, a subtle, cold assessment replacing the initial surprise. Then, a slow, manufactured smile spread across her face. “Well, isn’t this a coincidence,” she murmured, her voice laced with honey that always felt slightly sour to me. “By extension, I suppose that makes me her… aunt. What’s the little one’s name, Jenna?” “Sophie Grace,” I recited softly, the name we’d chosen meaning exactly what I wanted for her: a life of wisdom and favor. Piper glanced from me to Adam Miller, then back to me, tilting her head. “Lovely. I’ll make sure to expedite this for you both.” I watched as she typed the required information. The printer whirred, spitting out the final confirmation form. My eyes, as always, went straight to the most crucial line: the “Name” field. The breath caught in my throat. The world tilted. —ILLEGITIMATE— “What is this?” I demanded, the polite decorum of the office shattering around me. “It’s supposed to be Sophie Grace! This is more than a mistake, it’s… it’s outrageous!” Seeing my face, Piper let out a small, mocking puff of laughter, the sound muffled by the glass partition. “Oops? Did I make a typo?” she said, feigning innocence. “No, I don’t think so.” She leaned forward, her smile tightening into something cold and vicious. “A child conceived to force a marriage? In the eyes of some, the term is Illegitimate. I thought… it was rather fitting, actually.” “Jenna, dear, don’t you agree?” 1 Time paused. The frantic buzz of the fluorescent lights, the muffled crowd noise, the insistent BEEP of the waiting-list monitor—all of it receded into a distant, underwater hum. My ears were ringing, and the only sound that mattered was the heavy, sickening thump-thump of my own heart against my ribs. My daughter, startled by the sudden tension, began to whimper, a tiny, distressed sound. That cry was a key. It unlocked the blind fury that had jammed my throat. I fixed my gaze on Piper’s still-smiling face and spoke, each word a piece of shattered glass. “Whether this was intentional or a deliberate, malicious act, I want it corrected. Now.” Piper’s smile finally faded. She picked up a desk-side tumbler, sipped her water, and sighed with theatrical patience. “Oh, Jenna, don’t be like that. The system automatically submitted it. To make an alteration now would be a nightmare—a formal process, an incident report, managerial sign-off, the whole nine yards. It’s not something I can just undo.” She gave a helpless shrug, all officiousness and feigned empathy. “I’m sorry, but those are the rules. My hands are tied. Maybe… you two should just come back in a few days?” “How long is a few days?” My fingernails were digging painful crescents into my palm. “Who knows?” she chirped, a flash of pure malice in her eyes. “Days, weeks, maybe months. Anything entered into the system causes a ripple effect, you know. Big government bureaucracy.” “Piper!” Adam finally exploded, his voice loud enough to turn heads. “Stop the nonsense! This is a legal document! Fix this immediately!” Adam’s shout seemed to genuinely shock her. Her eyes widened, and her chin began to tremble, her face turning red with a speed I knew all too well. “Adam, you’re yelling at me?” she sniffled, tears welling up instantly. “How am I causing a scene? I’m just following procedure! The record is submitted. I don’t have the authority to override the system, I can’t just push a button to fix it, Jenna! You know I can’t!” She was sobbing now, the performance in full swing. “I… I really didn’t mean to be insensitive. I was just so happy you got to marry Adam and have his baby… I was just joking! We used to joke all the time! Why are you suddenly so quick to judge me… so cold?” She buried her face in her arms on the desk, her shoulders shaking. Adam looked at her tears, and the anger in his face instantly deflated, like a punctured balloon. He shot me a look—a familiar, weary look that clearly communicated: See? You’ve made her cry again. He turned back to Piper, his voice involuntarily softening. “Hey, Pip, don’t cry… I’m not mad at you. It’s just… this isn’t the kind of thing you can joke about. Our daughter’s name is important.” “How important?” Piper lifted her tear-stained face, her voice choked with sobs. “More important than your little sister? More important than a friendship that’s lasted over a decade? Adam, you only see Jenna and the baby now. Everything I do is wrong. I try to make a joke and it turns into a federal case…” “That’s not what I meant…” Adam rubbed his temples, a gesture of weary, male helplessness. “Then what did you mean?” Piper pressed, tears streaming faster. “I was just jealous of Jenna. I spoke out of turn! I’m sorry, okay? Jenna…” She turned her wet, pleading eyes toward me. “Please don’t be mad. I really didn’t do it on purpose. It was just an automatic reflex…” I watched Adam. He was visibly torn, but his concern—his heart—was clearly on the other side of that glass barrier. The whole scene felt grotesque, a piece of dinner-theater drama acted out in a government office. Yet, I was also chillingly clear-headed. My daughter continued her small, distressed sobs in my arms, a tiny, rhythmic hammer against my heart. I slowly inhaled, took the paperwork with the malignant “ILLEGITIMATE” on it, and gently placed it back on the counter. Then, I stood up, cradling Sophie Grace close. “Adam.” Both he and Piper looked at me. “Since you are incapable of handling this situation,” I said, my voice low and steady. “I will handle it my way.” I turned and walked out of the Vital Records office, my daughter and the awful piece of paper left behind. Behind me, I faintly heard Piper’s tearful voice. “Adam, did you see how she looked at me? She hates me! I didn’t mean it, I swear…” And Adam’s muffled, soothing, exasperated reply: “It’s fine, Pip, stop crying. She’s just… sensitive. I’ll go talk to her and get this sorted out.” The late summer sun was mercilessly bright, hitting me with a sudden blast of heat. I lowered my head and kissed my daughter’s damp little cheek, burying her warm, crying face in the hollow of my neck. “Don’t cry, baby,” I whispered, to her and to myself. “Mama is here.” “Your name is going to be Sophie Grace.” “No one is taking that from you.” “No one.” 2 I didn’t go home. Our house was full of Piper’s subtle, insidious presence. There was the spare, monogrammed bath towel in the guest bath, the forgotten designer sweater in the closet, the artisanal coffee pods she preferred in the kitchen cabinet—all reminders of the “poor girl who needs us to look out for her.” Adam always rationalized it: “She’s on her own in the city, Jenna. It’s the least we can do.” So I looked the other way. For years. On our wedding day, Piper had worn the bridesmaid dress I bought her, and her eyes had been red-rimmed. She’d clung to Adam’s sleeve, her voice a small tremor: “Adam, you’re getting married. Will you still look after me like you always have?” I had felt the current, the subtle undercurrent that was more than just friendship, but I dismissed it, excusing it as the clinginess of a girl Adam treated like a little sister. Later, when she landed her government job, Adam celebrated like she was his own sibling, hosting a dinner party. And then she’d used the excuse of “wanting to get familiar with the city” to crash in our guest room for half a year. I had always prided myself on being the generous, accommodating wife. Now, I realized my goodwill had been utterly wasted. With a heavy foot on the accelerator, I drove to my old studio apartment downtown. I bought it right after a promotion—a quiet space that was entirely mine. Adam had laughed at the time. “The house is huge, what do you need a tiny place for?” He didn’t understand. Some sense of security can only be self-provided. I gently placed Sophie Grace into the bassinet in the master bedroom. She had cried herself out and now lay peacefully, sucking on my finger, tear tracks still faintly visible on her long lashes. I sat on the edge of the bed and watched her sleep. The sharp, searing pain in my heart was slowly being replaced by something cold, hard, and utterly focused. My phone vibrated in my pocket. Adam. I let it go to voicemail. After the call dropped, a barrage of text messages followed. Jenna, where did you go? Don’t run off with the baby. Piper knows she messed up. She’s distraught, she’s been crying for hours. She’s just thoughtless, not malicious. Did you even think about how you made me look, storming out like that in front of everyone? She’s my family, Jenna. It’s just paperwork. We can get the name fixed, eventually. Why do you always have to make such a big deal out of everything? Can’t you just come home and talk? It’s just paperwork. I stared at the last line, a bitter, hollow laugh rising in my chest. Paperwork. The first official document of our daughter’s existence, the symbol that would follow her for life, had been maliciously replaced by his “thoughtless” little sister with the most insulting, demeaning slur. And he called it “just paperwork.” I closed the notifications without replying and immediately called the one person I knew could fix this mess without sentiment. “Mr. Caldwell, it’s Jenna Stone. I need your help, immediately. This is not about a contract; it’s about a criminal act.” 3 After hanging up, I walked over to the desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a file folder. Inside were scattered receipts, a few printed photos, and an old burner phone. I powered it up. It held the things I had once convinced myself I was “overly sensitive” to see: Screenshots of texts from Piper to Adam at 2:00 a.m.: I’m scared, I think someone is breaking in. Can you come, Adam? A photo of Piper, wearing one of Adam’s dress shirts, making breakfast in our kitchen. The contact name in Adam’s phone, which I discovered had been changed from “Piper” to the nauseating “Pip-Star.” And once, I had found a cheap, sickeningly sweet cherry-flavored lip gloss in the pocket of his suit jacket—one that was not mine. I had always rationalized. They were childhood friends, practically family. Piper had a rough start; Adam was just being supportive. I had spoken up—gently, then intensely—and the response was always Adam’s frustrated impatience: She’s just a kid, why are you so insecure? or, the classic, If there was anything between us, we’d have been together already, you know that. Looking back, I was an absolute fool. I photographed every piece of fragmented evidence, organized it, and emailed it all to Mr. Caldwell. When I was done, a wave of profound exhaustion hit me. I went back to the bedroom and lay beside my daughter. She was sleeping soundly, a little pink rosebud of a face, oblivious to the storm brewing around her. I held her tiny hand and whispered: “I’m sorry, sweetie. I didn’t build a strong enough wall for you right away.” “But I promise you. From this moment on, I will not let anyone, in any way, hurt you. Not a single scratch.” “Your name, your future, is mine to protect.” The apartment was silent. My phone screen glowed again. Adam’s final message, this one heavy with suppressed rage: Jenna, are you done with the drama? You shouldn’t be out this late with a newborn! Come home, we need to talk! I’ll talk to Piper; she’ll go through the proper channels to fix the name. Fine? Don’t be so vindictive! “Vindictive.” I let out a silent, weary laugh at the word, turned off the screen, and tossed the phone aside. Talk? Oh, yes. We were definitely going to talk. But it wouldn’t be me talking to him. It would be the facts, the evidence, and the law doing the talking—to both him and his precious “little sister.” 4 Mr. Caldwell moved with incredible speed. By mid-morning the next day, he called with an update. “Ms. Stone, based on the material you provided, Piper’s actions constitute a serious abuse of public office and the fabrication of facts for the purpose of defamation. Given the target is a newborn, the nature of the offense is highly egregious.” “I have drafted a formal complaint and a request for investigation, filed simultaneously with the Inspector General’s Office for her superior division, and with the District Attorney’s Office.” “Thank you, Mr. Caldwell.” I held the phone, staring out at the hazy sky. “It’s my job, Ms. Stone.” His voice softened slightly. “Protecting your and your daughter’s legal rights is my commitment. Please contact me immediately with any new developments.” I hung up, sitting on the sofa, cradling Sophie Grace after her feeding. My little one, still oblivious to the gravity of the legal procedures her name had initiated, simply cooed and flailed her tiny fists. The calm lasted only until noon. First, a few work friends and acquaintances began texting me with vague, worried messages. Jenna, you okay? How are you holding up? accompanied by a worried emoji. Congrats on the baby! But… I’m hearing some really nasty things going around. Don’t pay attention to it. My stomach plummeted. I opened a direct message to a particularly frank colleague. “What are you hearing? About me?” She took a long time to reply. Jenna, I didn’t want to say anything, but I need to warn you. Someone is spreading a story that… that you were the other woman. That you snatched Adam from his girlfriend, got pregnant to force the marriage, and that’s why the baby… can’t get a proper name, and had to be registered secretly. They’re saying it with a lot of detail, about how the real childhood sweetheart was horribly victimized by you. I know you’re not that person, but the rumors are everywhere—local city forums, social media, a gossip blog. It’s bad. It was exactly as I had suspected. Piper was even more toxic than I had imagined. Not content with the public shaming in the office, she wanted to completely delegitimize me in the court of public opinion, brand me as a home-wrecker, and ensure my daughter would forever live under the shadow of “Illegitimate.” My hands were shaking as I held the phone, not from fear, but from a cold, absolute rage. Sophie Grace sensed my emotional shift and squirmed uncomfortably. I forced a deep breath, calming myself, and gently patted her back. “Don’t worry, baby,” I murmured. “Mama is here.” I pulled up the local gossip blog my colleague mentioned. Sure enough, a prominent, bolded headline was pinned to the top: SHOCKING! INSIDE SCOOP ON THE NEW COUNTY CLERK EMPLOYEE: HOME-WRECKER USED HER PREGNANCY TO FORCE MARRIAGE, AND THE BABY’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE NAME IS A JAW-DROPPER! The anonymous poster claimed to have inside information: A source close to the Department of Vital Records witnessed the whole thing! A woman named Jenna Stone, using her looks, hooked up with Adam Miller while he was with his childhood sweetheart, Piper. She immediately got pregnant, threatened him with the baby, forced him to break up with Piper, and rushed into marriage. The kicker: When Jenna brought the baby in for the certificate, the employee at the window just happened to be a close friend of the scorned girlfriend! The employee ‘accidentally’ typed in ILLEGITIMATE as the child’s name! The home-wrecker went ballistic, but the clerk simply said rules are rules—it was submitted, and it’s a long wait to fix it. Karma is a bitch! The comments section was already a frenzy. OMG! Seriously? That clerk is a hero! ‘Illegitimate’? Amazing! Jenna Stone? Isn’t she the one at [My Company]? She looks so innocent, but you never know! My heart breaks for the original girlfriend. That beautiful relationship destroyed by a tramp. The baby is innocent, but the mother created this mess. The clerk was wrong. A baby is a baby. STFU, Saint! Home-wreckers deserve this! Support the clerk! I heard Piper works at that office. Sweetest girl. Imagine having to process the paperwork for the woman who stole your man. The cruelty! The mob mentality was overwhelming, the narrative entirely against me, painting the “scorned Piper” as the victim. They were starting to doxx my workplace and my school, threatening to report me for “moral turpitude.” My phone vibrated again, wildly. Adam. I picked up.

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My husband has Bipolar Disorder. Every time he beats me, he guiltily transfers $10,000. I never resist. I silently accept the money, covering the bruises with foundation. My best friend calls me cheap, urging me to divorce. I count the balance in my account, a sneer curling my lips. “Don’t rush, the pig isn’t fat enough yet.” Until one day, he punched me in the stomach, and I miscarried. Chapter 1 “Venmo received: $10,000.” The mechanical female voice echoed in the empty living room, sounding particularly harsh. I spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, a bit metallic, like the taste of rust. Lucas sat on the sofa opposite, head in hands, fingers buried in regret. His hair was messy, grabbed by himself during his madness just now. “Sorry… Honey, sorry… I couldn’t control myself…” His voice carried a sob, trembling like a withered leaf in the wind. I didn’t speak. Just silently climbed up from the floor. My knee hit the corner of the coffee table just now, piercing pain. Probably bruised. I walked to the mirror in the entryway. Left cheek swollen. Five finger marks clearly visible, red turning purple. Lucas didn’t hold back this slap. He really wanted to kill me, or rather, the “him” during the episode wanted to kill me. I picked up the concealer, covering it layer by layer. The foundation liquid was cold, touching the burning wound, this temperature difference sobered me up a little. Heavy footsteps came from behind. He hugged me from behind, burying his head in my neck. Tears dropped into my collar pata pata, burning me to a shiver. “Honey, hit me, scold me… I’m really not human…” “It’s okay.” I looked at myself in the mirror, pulling a perfect, tolerant, even saint-like smile. “I know you are sick. I don’t blame you.” Lucas cried even harder, like a child who made a mistake. He took out his phone again. “Venmo received: $10,000.” Plus the one just now, twenty thousand. This slap, twenty thousand dollars. Quite worth it. My monthly salary is only eight thousand, enduring the boss’s bad breath and clients’ difficulties. But at home, taking a beating, just enduring a few minutes of pain, equals three months of my salary. This account, however calculated, is a bargain. Lucas is a Trust Fund Baby, family owns factories, money is just a number to him. To me, it’s life. Chapter 2 Lucas fell asleep. Beating people is also physical work, especially beating hysterically like him. I covered him with the quilt, looking at that face which still seemed a bit gloomy in sleep. If not for the episodes, Lucas actually looks quite good. High brow bone, straight nose, a pair of seemingly affectionate peach blossom eyes. Who would have thought, under this skin, hides a beast? I closed the bedroom door, walked to the balcony, and lit a cigarette. I don’t smoke much, only one when it hurts too much to sleep. Phone lit up. WeChat from best friend Sarah. “Still alive?” I took a screenshot of the bank balance and sent it over. Silence on the other end for a while, then a long voice message. “Nicole are you sick in the head? Do you have masochistic tendencies? Twenty thousand bought you? Do you know domestic violence has only zero and countless times? One day he beats you to death, will you spend these millions in hell?” Sarah scolded fiercely, but I knew she meant well. She is the only one who knows Lucas beats me. I blew out a smoke ring, watching the smoke dissipate in the night. Typed reply: “Soon.” “What soon?” “The pig is almost fat enough.” Sarah sent a string of ellipses, probably thinking I was hopeless. Of course I’m not crazy. I am very sober. More sober than anyone. I touched my belly. It was flat, soft, without any sign of life. But I need it to have one. Lucas’s Bipolar Disorder is getting worse. Used to be throwing things, then pushing, now using fists. Frequency changed from once a month to once a week. I know, that critical point is coming. Once crossing that line, I might really die. But I can’t leave now. The current Lucas, although guilty, is not enough. His guilt value hasn’t reached the amount I want. I want more than these twenty or thirty thousand pocket money. I want his everything. Or, his life. Chapter 3 Preparation work is almost done. That blood bag was bought online, special for movie effects, realistic texture, even with a disgusting b****y smell. As for that “fetus.” Obtained through some special channels. Very small, only palm-sized, an unformed lump of flesh, heart-stopping to look at. I hid it in the bottom freezer drawer, wrapped in three layers of black plastic bags. Every time I open the fridge for milk, I feel that lump staring at me with cold air. This is crazy, I know. But to hunt a beast, the hunter must be crazier than the beast. This Friday is Lucas’s birthday. According to custom, he will drink some wine. Alcohol is taboo for Bipolar Disorder, especially mixed with medication. But I still prepared the best red wine for him, Screaming Eagle, costing a small half of my savings from a year of beatings. Investment, always has costs. At 7 PM, Lucas came back. He looked in a good mood, carrying an Hermès bag. “Wifey, happy birthday.” I froze: “Today is your birthday.” Lucas smiled, walked over and kissed my forehead: “I know, but I want to give you a gift. As long as you are happy, I am happy.” At that moment, I was even a bit dazed. Ignoring those violent nights, Lucas is really a perfect husband. Rich, romantic, gentle. Pity, he’s a lunatic. I opened the gift, a limited edition Birkin bag. “Like it?” He looked at me expectantly. “Like it.” I nodded smiling, “Let’s eat, I made your favorite Sweet and Sour Ribs.” On the table, candlelights flickered. Lucas drank one glass, two glasses, three glasses. His eyes began to blur, cheeks flushed, voice louder. I knew, the drug effect started. Not the alcohol, but the “seasoning” I added to the wine. It’s a neuro drug that amplifies emotions and induces rage. Lucas has been taking Lithium Carbonate prescribed by the doctor recently, but I swapped the pills. Swapped for vitamin tablets that look exactly the same. And the real strong medicine, is all in this wine. “Nicole…” Lucas suddenly smashed the wine glass on the table heavily. Red wine splashed on the white tablecloth, like an exploding blood flower. “Do you look down on me?” His eyes changed. That familiar, violent, murderous look returned. Show time. Chapter 4 I pretended to be panicked, shrinking back. “Hubby, what’s wrong? How could I look down on you?” “You just look down on me! You think I’m a lunatic! You think I live off my family!” Lucas stood up abruptly, knocking over the chair. He walked around the table, approaching me step by step. I didn’t retreat but advanced, protecting my belly desperately. This action stimulated him greatly. “What’s in your belly? Huh? Is it a bastard!” This step I didn’t expect. His paranoia flared up worse than I imagined. But it fits my plan perfectly. “Lucas! Are you crazy? This is your child! I’m three months pregnant!” I screamed, voice shrill. “My child? Hahahaha! I can’t have children at all! I’m sick! I’m a lunatic! How can a lunatic have children!” Lucas roared, like a wild boar losing reason. He rushed over, grabbed my hair, and smashed me against the wall. Bang! Very painful. But I endured. I fell to the ground, curling into a ball. “Don’t hit me… please… don’t hit the child…” I cried out, voice getting weaker. But this didn’t awaken his conscience, instead acted like a catalyst, making him crazier. “Die! All die!” Lucas raised his foot, kicking my belly viciously. Once. Twice. I felt the illusion of broken ribs. But I must wait for that hardest hit. Now! I pressed the blood bag hidden in my clothes fiercely. Warm, viscous liquid gushed out instantly, soaking my dress, flowing down my thighs all over the floor. Bright red blood, spreading on white tiles, shocking to the eye. I let out the last scream, then pushed the prepared “fetus” out from under my skirt. It mixed in the blood pool, a small lump, purple-black, hideous and terrifying. The world went quiet. Lucas stopped moving. He panted heavily, eyes staring dead at the pool of blood on the floor, and that lump of flesh in the blood. His pupils shrank violently, whole person like struck by lightning, frozen in place. I also “fainted.” But the moment before closing my eyes, I saw the expression of extreme collapse on Lucas’s face. That was fear. Pure fear. Not because he hit me, but because—he killed someone. Chapter 5 When I woke up, I was lying on the bed in the bedroom. The sheets were new, but I was still wearing that blood-stained dress, even the blood stains had dried and hardened. Lucas didn’t dare change my clothes. Nor dared send me to the hospital. He was afraid. He was currently huddled in the corner of the room, like a frightened mouse, hugging his knees and shivering. The room was filled with a heavy smell of blood, and the smell of urine. Seems he peed himself in fear. I moved my fingers, letting out a weak moan. Lucas looked up sharply, eyeballs full of red blood streaks. “Wifey… you woke up… you didn’t die… great…” He crawled over, wanting to touch me but daring not, hand trembling in mid-air. “Child…” I spoke weakly, tears flowing from the corner of my eyes. “Where is my child…” Lucas’s face instantly pale as paper. He pointed to the bathroom, voice shaking uncontrollably: “In… inside… I… I don’t know what to do…” “Lucas, you killed him.” I looked into his eyes, saying word by word. “That was your own flesh and blood, a boy, I already named him… but you killed him.” “Ah!!!” Lucas covered his ears, letting out a beast-like wail. “I didn’t mean to! I really didn’t mean to! I didn’t know… I didn’t know you were pregnant…” “I’m calling the police.” I struggled to reach for the phone on the bedside table. Lucas pounced like crazy, snatching the phone, smashing it hard against the wall. Phone screen shattered, like a spider web. “No police! No police! Police mean I’m done! I’ll go to jail! I’m mentally ill, but I don’t want to be locked in a mental hospital for life! Nicole, please, don’t call the police!” He knelt by the bed, kowtowing to me frantically. Thud thud thud. Forehead broke quickly, blood flowing all over his face, but he seemed not to feel pain. I saw the timing was about right. The torture of this night, plus the side effects of drugs, his psychological defense had completely collapsed. The current him is a lump of mud for me to knead. “No police is fine.” I looked at him coldly, tone suddenly becoming calm, eerily calm. “But you have to pay the price.” Lucas looked up, face covered in blood and dirt, eyes dull: “What price? How much do you want? One million? Five million? Ten million? I’ll give you all! As long as no police!” I shook my head. “I don’t want money.” I propped myself up, enduring the severe pain (it really hurt this time, he hit too hard), pulling out a document from under the pillow. This was prepared long ago. “Sign it.” Lucas took the document with trembling hands. By the dim light, he saw the title clearly. [Voluntary Organ Donation and Full Body Disposal Power of Attorney Agreement]. Beneficiary/Executor: Nicole. “What is… this?” Lucas looked at me blankly. “This is your indulgence ticket.” I leaned close to him, whispering in his ear, voice like a devil’s whisper. “You killed my child, that’s a life of yours. Since you don’t want to go to jail, give your life to me for safekeeping.” “As long as you sign, this agreement takes effect. In the future, whether you live or die, your heart, your liver, your kidneys, even your corneas, are under my control.” “If you dare touch me again one day, or when I want you to die…” I extended a finger, gently sliding across his carotid artery. “I’ll take you apart, sell pieces one by one, to sacrifice to our child.” Lucas shivered. This is actually a threatening document with no legal effect, even absurd. But in the eyes of a lunatic on the verge of mental collapse, deeply mired in guilt of killing his son, and poisoned by drugs, this is a judgment from hell. And his only straw to clutch at. “I sign… I sign…” Lucas grabbed the pen, hand shaking like Parkinson’s, crookedly signed his name. Last stroke fell. I smiled. This time, not a saint’s smile. It’s a hunter’s smile. Pig, finally in the cage.

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“Your husband got a half-million-dollar bonus this year! What are you guys doing for the holidays?” It was the company’s annual gala, and my husband Nathan’s colleague’s wife, Laura, was smiling at me. I froze. Half a million? Nathan told me it was five thousand. He said business was slow this year, that everyone took a pay cut. I stared at Laura’s genuine, smiling face, suddenly at a loss for words. “Oh, you know. The usual,” I heard myself say, my voice sounding distant and hollow. On the drive home, I replayed the last eight years in my mind. Business is slow. The company’s struggling. Just wait a little longer. I had been listening to those words for eight years. 1 When I got home, Nathan was on the sofa, scrolling through his phone. The TV was on, the volume barely a whisper. A half-empty glass of cold tea sat on the coffee table. “You’re back?” He glanced up at me for a second before his eyes returned to the screen. “How was the gala?” “It was fine.” I put down my purse and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Standing at the kitchen doorway, I watched the back of his head. Eight years. We had been married for eight years, and he never let me manage our finances. “I’ll earn it, you’ll spend it,” he’d promised when we got married. But what had I spent in these eight years? The house we lived in, he bought before the wedding. The car was his before we married, too. The year I quit my job, he said, “Just stay home and take care of the kids. You’ve got me.” I believed him. “Nathan,” I said, walking over to sit beside him on the sofa. “How much was the year-end bonus?” His thumb froze over the screen. It was a tiny, almost imperceptible hesitation, but I saw it. “I told you. Five thousand. Business was slow this year.” “What about Kevin?” Kevin was in the same department as him, having joined the company two years after Nathan. “Him?” Nathan frowned. “Probably about the same. Why?” “No reason.” I didn’t press him further. But I remembered what Kevin’s wife, Laura, had said at the gala. “Your department did great this year! My husband got $400,000, so yours must have gotten even more.” Even more. That’s what she’d said. Even more. That night, after Nathan showered, he left his phone charging on the nightstand. I lay in bed, pretending to read. He went out to the balcony for a smoke. I stared at the phone, my heart hammering against my ribs. In eight years of marriage, I had never gone through his phone. He had never gone through mine. We were the kind of people who “respected each other’s privacy.” But tonight… My hand reached out and picked up the phone. I knew the passcode. Our wedding anniversary. I opened his messages, scrolling through the chat history. Nothing out of the ordinary. I opened his payment app and checked his transactions. Nothing there either. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, about to put the phone down— When a single line item caught my eye. “Transfer to Bank Account ending in 8856: $35,000” Thirty-five thousand dollars? I scrolled down. The same account, last month: $28,000. The month before that: $32,000. And further back— Every single month. A transfer. The amounts varied, the lowest being twenty thousand, the highest fifty. My heart began to beat faster, a frantic, painful rhythm. I didn’t recognize that account number. It wasn’t any of our cards. The balcony door slid open. My hand trembled. I quickly placed the phone back on the nightstand and squeezed my eyes shut. Nathan came back to bed. He climbed in beside me and fell asleep almost instantly. But I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, until the sun came up. The next morning, after Nathan left for work, I dropped our daughter, Phoebe, at her kindergarten and didn’t go home. I went to the bank. “Hello, I’d like to check the account holder’s information for this card.” The teller glanced at me. “And you are?” “I’m his wife.” “I’m sorry, ma’am. We can’t disclose another person’s account information.” I paused, then forced a smile. “Of course. Thank you.” I walked out of the bank and stood on the sidewalk for a long time. Account ending in 8856. Twenty to thirty thousand dollars a month. That was three to four hundred thousand a year. Over eight years… I didn’t dare do the math. Back home, I opened my laptop and logged into Nathan’s email. The password was his mother’s birthday. I knew it by heart. I found his pay stubs. A monthly salary of $48,000. With benefits and bonuses, his annual income was nearly $800,000. Eight hundred thousand dollars. He had told me it was $300,000. He said business was slow, that everyone was taking pay cuts. He said the bonus was only five thousand, that I should be careful with money. And me? The last time I bought a coat for $200, he gave me the silent treatment for a week. “Why do you spend so much? It’s not like you don’t have clothes to wear.” I returned the coat. That afternoon, I went to a coffee shop near Nathan’s office. I wasn’t there to see him. I was there to see Laura, Kevin’s wife. We’d met a few times. We weren’t close, but we had each other’s numbers. “Sophie? What’s up?” Laura looked curious when she arrived. We rarely met up alone; she probably thought it was strange. “Nothing much, just wanted to chat,” I said, smiling as I ordered her a coffee. “I had to leave the gala in a hurry the other night, didn’t get to finish our conversation.” “Oh, really?” “Yeah.” I looked at her directly. “So you said your Kevin got a $400,000 bonus?” “That’s right,” Laura beamed. “It was a great year. He said their department was number one, and everyone’s bonus was up almost fifty percent from last year.” “So what about Nathan? He’s the department head. He must have gotten more, right?” Laura paused for a second. “I guess so? Kevin said Nathan got the biggest bonus in the department, something over half a million, he heard. Why?” I smiled. “No reason. Just curious.” Half a million dollars. He told me it was five thousand. When Nathan came home that evening, I had a full dinner waiting for him. Braised short ribs, sweet and sour fish—all his favorites. “What’s the special occasion?” he asked with a grin, taking a seat at the table. “Did I win the lottery?” “No reason. Just felt like cooking.” I served him a bowl of soup. “Nathan, how long have we been married?” “Eight years,” he said, picking up a piece of pork. “Why the sudden question?” “Eight years, and I’ve barely traveled anywhere,” I said. “How about we take Phoebe on a trip for the holidays this year?” “A trip?” Nathan’s brow furrowed. “Where to?” “Maybe Hawaii. Phoebe’s been saying she wants to see the ocean.” “Hawaii?” He put down his chopsticks. “That’s so expensive. Flights and hotels during the holidays would be tens of thousands.” “But didn’t you just get your bonus?” “It was only five thousand. What’s that going to cover?” he said, shaking his head. “Besides, I’m swamped with work after the new year. I don’t have time to go anywhere.” I just looked at him, saying nothing. He went back to eating as if nothing had happened. I suddenly remembered when Phoebe was three. I told him I wanted to take her to Disneyland. Nathan said it was too expensive. Maybe later. Phoebe is six now. “Later” still hadn’t come. After dinner, Nathan went to the balcony for his smoke. As I was clearing the table, his phone rang in the living room. I glanced at the screen. The contact was saved as “Mom.” But it wasn’t his mom. I had his mother’s number saved. The last four digits were 3344. This one ended in 6677. I answered the call. “Hello? Nathan? Max has a fever. Can you come over?” It was a woman’s voice. Young, with a hint of a sweet, wheedling tone. Max? Who was Max? “Who is this?” Her tone changed instantly. “Who’s on the phone?” I didn’t speak. Neither did she. Three seconds later, she hung up. I stood there, phone still in my hand, frozen. Nathan walked in from the balcony and saw the look on my face. He stopped. “What’s wrong?” I held the phone out to him. “Who is Max?” 2 The color drained from Nathan’s face. It was only for a second, but I saw it. Then he chuckled, taking the phone from me. “Max? Oh, that’s my subordinate’s son. She’s a single mom, things are tough for her. The kid got sick, she must have panicked and called me.” “A subordinate?” “Yeah, her name’s Isabelle. Just started last year. Her husband’s working abroad, so she’s raising the kid on her own.” He slipped the phone into his pocket. “I’m her boss. I have to help out sometimes.” I stared at him. He met my gaze, his expression open and honest. “You don’t believe me?” He smiled. “Fine, I’ll delete her contact. Here, you can watch.” He pulled out his phone, opened his contacts, and scrolled to a name. The profile picture was of a very young woman, posing with a little boy. The child looked about five or six, with a bright, happy smile. Nathan hit delete. “There. Happy?” He waggled the phone at me. “Seriously, you’re overthinking things.” I didn’t say a word. He patted my shoulder and walked into the bedroom. That night, he slept soundly. I didn’t. I waited until I was sure he was asleep, then quietly got out of bed and took his phone. He had deleted the contact, but not the call history. I found the number—the one ending in 6677. There were so many calls. At least two or three every week. Sometimes he called her, sometimes she called him. The longest one was forty-seven minutes. I wrote down the number, put the phone back, and returned to bed. The next day, I contacted a private investigator. It wasn’t that I couldn’t find things out myself. It was that I needed professional, undeniable proof. “This phone number. I need to know who it belongs to, where they live, and what they do.” The investigator was a man in his forties with a calm, seen-it-all expression. “Alright. You’ll have your answers in three days.” I went home, and life continued as normal. I cooked, took care of Phoebe, and waited for Nathan to get home from work. He acted just like he always did. Came home, ate dinner, scrolled on his phone, showered, and went to bed. As if nothing had happened. On the third day, the investigator called me. “Mrs. Davies, we have the results.” “Tell me.” “The number belongs to a Ms. Isabelle Reed. She’s thirty-two years old and currently resides at the Willow Creek Estates in the southern district.” Willow Creek Estates. I knew the place. A new luxury development that opened three years ago. The average price was over a million dollars for a condo. The place we lived in was worth a quarter of that. “She owns a 1,300-square-foot condo, which she moved into in 2022. She also has a car, a BMW X3, purchased in 2021.” “Did she buy the condo and the car herself?” “The property was paid for in cash,” the PI said, pausing for effect. “The payer was not her.” My knuckles went white as I gripped my phone. “Who was it?” “The system shows a wire transfer from a corporate account. The legal representative of that corporation is—Nathan Davies.” Nathan. I closed my eyes and took a deep, shaky breath. “What else?” “Isabelle Reed has a son. He’s eight years old, his name is Max. The father’s name is left blank on the birth certificate. However—” He paused again. “However?” “We checked through some other channels. The boy’s private kindergarten and elementary school tuition fees were all paid from Nathan Davies’s bank account. And every year, during winter and summer breaks, Nathan is the one who takes the boy on vacation.” I heard myself laugh. A quiet, dry, brittle sound. “Is there more?” “One last thing,” the investigator said. “The title deed for Ms. Reed’s condo has two names on it. Hers, and—” “Nathan Davies.” “Correct.” I hung up the phone and sat in my car for a long time, the engine off. Eight years old. The boy was eight years old. Nathan and I had been married for eight years. Our daughter, Phoebe, was six. That meant the boy existed before Phoebe was even born. Before we were married—no, wait. We got married in 2016. The boy was born in 2016. I thought back to the spring of 2016. Nathan and I had just gotten engaged and were planning the wedding. One night, he told me he had a last-minute work emergency and had to go on a business trip for three days. When he came back, he gave me a diamond necklace, saying he’d picked it up for me while he was away. I was so happy. I thought he loved me so much. It turned out he spent those three days with another woman while she gave birth to his son. I went home. Nathan wasn’t back from work yet. I sat alone in the living room, staring at our wedding photo on the wall. It was taken eight years ago. We were smiling so sweetly. I was twenty-six then. I had just quit a decent job at a good company, ready to become a full-time housewife after the wedding. Nathan had said, “Just relax and stay home. You’ve got me.” I believed him. Not only did I believe him, I was grateful. I thought I was the luckiest woman in the world to have found a man who wanted to provide for me. For eight years, I never bought a piece of clothing that cost more than fifty dollars. Because every time I bought something a little more expensive, Nathan would frown. “Our budget is tight. You need to be more frugal.” I switched my skincare from designer brands to drugstore ones. I swapped my designer-adjacent handbags for ones I found online. I even used the personal savings my mother gave me to help with household expenses. Because Nathan said business was slow, and he was under a lot of pressure. I felt sorry for him. I wanted to share his burden. And him? He bought another woman a luxury condo. He bought another woman a new car. He sent her tens of thousands of dollars every month, for eight straight years. Over eight years, that had to be at least three million dollars. I did a quick calculation. An average of $30,000 a month is $360,000 a year. Over eight years, that’s $2.88 million. Add the down payment on the condo, the car, the private school tuition— At least four million dollars. And what about me? How much money had I spent in those eight years? I tried to think, but I couldn’t calculate it. Because the amount was so small. So small I couldn’t even remember what I’d bought. At six o’clock, Nathan came home. “You didn’t cook tonight?” he asked, taking off his shoes and walking into the living room. I sat on the sofa, watching him. “Nathan.” “Yeah?” “Who is Isabelle Reed?” He stopped in his tracks. But he recovered almost instantly. “I already told you, she’s my subordinate.” “Then who is Max Reed?” This time, his expression finally cracked. “You’ve been investigating me?” “I wasn’t investigating you,” I said, standing up. “I was investigating the woman who’s been living off our family’s money for the past eight years—to the tune of four million dollars.” Nathan was silent. He stood by the doorway, not moving forward, not backing away. After a long moment, he sighed. “I was going to tell you, when the time was right.” I laughed. “The right time? You couldn’t find it in eight years?”

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As teens, my childhood sweetheart Wyatt and I were in his room watching a forbidden movie. He kissed me just as the door opened—both sets of parents saw. Under their scolding, Wyatt vowed to marry only me. We became Crestview’s golden couple, but as the wedding neared, he vanished after taking down a Southeast Asian black market ring. I searched globally, found him—but he’d lost his memory. He kept his promise, and we married. Yet for seven years, our home was cold and silent. He eventually moved to a remote Zen retreat, leaving me alone in our mansion. Then my father was framed for fraud. Wyatt used all his influence to clear our name, and took a poisoned needle meant for me. Dying, he whispered, “In this life, I’ve failed no one but Evanna. I owe her a life. In the next, don’t look for me. Let me live simply with her in the Old City Tenements.” Through tears, I agreed. When I opened my eyes, I was back to the day I first found Wyatt. … The evening breeze from Victoria Harbor carried the damp, salty scent of the sea, and the city’s neon lights shimmered like scattered jewels. Beside me, Mrs. Quinn was weeping with joy. “Is Wyatt really here?” “Yes, ma’am,” an assistant confirmed. “A Miss Evanna Ross rescued him from the docks. They’ve been living together in this tenement building ever since.” “I’ll go up myself.” I snapped back to reality. The smart watch on my wrist cast a cool, blue glow in the fading light. Before me, the worn façade of the tenement building was a chaotic web of electrical wires. A cheap, festive wedding decoration was taped to one of the windows, its bright red color jarring against the grime. This was it. The place Wyatt had spoken of over and over again as he lay dying. The Old City Tenements. On instinct, I reached out and stopped Mrs. Quinn. “Wait.” She turned, her expression puzzled. “Autumn, what’s wrong?” In my past life, by the time I found this place, Wyatt had already fallen in love with the bubble tea girl who had saved him. They were about to get married. I had tried to reason with him, but he was adamant about staying in the tenements with her. To bring him back, I had called in Mrs. Quinn and a team of top neurologists. And it was on this very night that Wyatt, after seeing his mother, finally agreed to undergo deep hypnosis therapy. The next day, his memory returned, and he agreed to come back to our life on the Peak. But no sooner had we left, the bubble tea girl, Evanna Ross, committed suicide by overdose. Her death became an unbridgeable chasm between Wyatt and me, a knot that could never be untied. Even as he lay dying to protect me, his last wish was for another life, a chance to have a happy ending with her. Thinking of this, I suppressed the sharp pain in my chest and spoke in a low voice. “Mrs. Quinn, they’re about to be married.” Mrs. Quinn patted my hand reassuringly. “Silly girl. Wyatt has only temporarily lost his memory. Once he remembers, he’ll know who the most important person in his life is.” “You two grew up together. We’ve all seen the bond you’ve shared for over twenty years.” I took a half step back. “There’s something I’ve never had the courage to tell you. Seeing Wyatt fall in love with someone else because of his amnesia… perhaps it’s a sign from fate.” “I… my uterus is damaged. It’s very unlikely I’ll ever have children.” The only sound was the distant horn of a ferry. Mrs. Quinn’s face went white, her lips trembling. “You’re still so young. Modern medicine is so advanced…” “The world’s leading specialists have already confirmed it,” I said, my tone firm. For two years, I had traveled through the most dangerous parts of the world searching for Wyatt. The physical toll had been immense, and I’d never paid any mind to my irregular cycles. It wasn’t until our relationship thawed years into our marriage, when we started trying for a child, that the doctors told me my chances were almost zero. After a long silence, Mrs. Quinn let out a heavy sigh. “Even so, the Quinn family will not abandon you. And that boy, Wyatt, he wouldn’t care about that.” I bowed slightly. “My mother passed away when I was young, and you have always treated me like your own daughter. I am forever grateful for your kindness, but I cannot let the Quinn family line end with me.” In our past life, though Wyatt’s memory had returned, he always believed that his mother and I were responsible for Evanna’s death. He treated us with an icy indifference. He spent his years in that remote monastery, and during that time, not only did I lose a husband, but Mrs. Quinn effectively lost her son. Mrs. Quinn sighed again, a sound heavy with resignation. “Fine. We won’t disturb Wyatt today. We’ll reconsider our options.” When we returned, Mrs. Quinn immediately summoned her private medical team to examine me. The results confirmed what I had told her. The lead physician considered the charts. “With several years of intensive conditioning, there might be a slim chance, but… there are no guarantees.” I handed back the engagement gift, a ring that was also an encrypted chip. “My fate with the Quinn family has run its course. Since Wyatt no longer remembers, perhaps it’s best to let nature take its course. We can all go our separate ways and find peace.” Mrs. Quinn’s expression was a mix of sorrow and conflict. The next day, I continued to press my case. At first, she still refused to accept Wyatt’s marriage to the bubble tea girl. But then she saw it with her own eyes: the fierce, protective way Wyatt shielded Evanna. In the end, her heart softened for the son she had almost lost forever. We returned to the tenements. The iron gate creaked open. When Evanna Ross saw me, the color drained from her delicate face. My previous visits had already put her on high alert. She wore a cheap red dress, her eyes wary. “What… what are you trying to do now?” “I’ve told you, Wyatt’s head injury hasn’t fully healed. If you try to force him to leave, you’ll only hurt him.” “When did I say I was taking him?” I replied calmly. “Wyatt is the sole heir to the Quinn Corporation. His mother now approves of your relationship. There’s no need to rush the wedding.” During my previous attempts, Evanna had always used Wyatt’s injury as an excuse to keep me away, blocking me at every turn. Evanna bit her lip. “You’ve come to see my fiancé again and again. How do I know this isn’t some scheme to break us up?” Hearing this, Mrs. Quinn, standing behind me, bristled. “Are you suggesting I would lie about a promise I made myself? Besides, even if my son is injured, he has access to the best medical teams in the world. You don’t need to be so alarmist.” Mrs. Quinn came from a prestigious family and carried an aura of command. Evanna seemed intimidated, and tears welled up in her eyes. She stumbled backward and fell to the ground. “But… but his headaches… only my massage can relieve them. It’s a family technique…” “What are you doing here?” A tall figure strode forward, helping Evanna to her feet and pulling her behind him. He looked at us with the cold, unfamiliar eyes of a stranger. “I’ve said it before. I don’t care who you are. Evanna saved my life, and she is my wife. If you continue to treat her like this, don’t blame me for being rude.” At his words, Mrs. Quinn swayed. I had been prepared for this and quickly stepped forward to support her. “This is your mother,” I said, my brow furrowed as I met his deep, familiar yet alien gaze. Wyatt froze. His eyes scanned Mrs. Quinn’s face, noting the subtle resemblance in their features. After a moment, he spoke. “…Mom? I’m sorry.” From behind him came Evanna’s soft sobs. “Wyatt, so it’s true… Are you… still going to marry me?” The plan today had been to bring Wyatt and Evanna back to the Peak, but Evanna insisted on having a simple ceremony here first. Mrs. Quinn had no choice but to agree. Inside the cramped tenement apartment, two figures stood side by side, their every movement filled with a tender affection. I stood off to the side, my mind drifting far away. I saw a sun-drenched terrace at our villa in Repulse Bay. A boy with a bright smile tossed a custom USB drive to me. “Autumn Caldwell, I’m going to marry you someday. This is my promise.” I looked up, but his face was a blur against the backlight. Only his voice remained, warm and resolute. I snapped back to the present just as the two of them exchanged cheap, simple wedding bands. The ceremony was complete. The next day, we set off for the Peak. Along the way, Mrs. Quinn, seemingly unwilling to give up, deliberately brought up stories from Wyatt’s and my childhood. “At your first birthday party, you weren’t interested in the keyboard or the model gun. The first thing you reached for was Autumn’s hand.” “When you were seven, you stole the original Bitcoin wallet from your father’s safe. You got a thrashing for it, but we later found out you’d given it to Autumn.” Mrs. Quinn was getting animated, but I noticed Wyatt’s expression growing darker and darker. I quickly cut in. “There’s a coffee shop up ahead. Why don’t we take a break?” Mrs. Quinn nodded. After we got out of the car, Evanna looked at me, her voice small and hurt. “Mrs. Quinn… she doesn’t like me, does she?” “You’re overthinking it,” I said flatly. Evanna mumbled a quiet “oh” and turned back to the car. From inside, we heard Wyatt’s voice. “My head is starting to hurt again.” “I’ll massage it for you,” Evanna said, her tone full of concern. A flicker of suspicion sparked within me. I didn’t remember him having this problem in my past life. Before we set off again, Wyatt approached me alone. Before I could react, he pulled me into a dark alleyway nearby. “Did you put my mother up to saying those things?” he demanded, his deep-set eyes narrowed, his expression cold. I was stunned. “I didn’t…” “It doesn’t matter if it was you or not,” he cut me off. “From now on, please don’t let my mother do anything that upsets Evanna again. As for you and me, whatever was between us in the past… Evanna is the only one in my heart now. Please… just forget it all.” Wyatt gave a slight, formal nod, his posture distant. I opened my mouth, then closed it. Finally, I gave him a serious answer. “Alright.” I turned and walked out of the alley first. Evanna, waiting by the car, saw Wyatt emerge right behind me. Her eyes instantly turned red. Wyatt lost all of his previous composure. He rushed past me to her side. I got back in the car. For the rest of the journey, I could faintly hear Wyatt’s low voice, coaxing and reassuring Evanna. “There’s nothing between us.” “If you’re worried about me recovering my memories, I’d rather have amnesia forever.” … The weather was clear when we arrived at the Peak. At the entrance to the Quinn estate, I helped Mrs. Quinn out of the car. Just as I was about to follow her inside, Evanna’s voice rang out from behind me. “Speaking of which, I still don’t know who this young lady is. Is she allowed to come and go from the Quinn household as she pleases?” I paused and turned around. Evanna was clutching Wyatt’s sleeve, looking at me with undisguised resentment. Wyatt’s gaze was calm as he looked at his mother. “Mom, Evanna is right. I’m a married man now. It’s not appropriate to have other women coming and going freely.” Mrs. Quinn’s anger flared. She shot a sharp glance at Evanna. “And since when do I need your approval to decide who can and cannot enter my home?” Evanna’s face flushed. “That’s not what I meant… It’s just that Miss Caldwell clearly has feelings for Wyatt, and Wyatt has promised to love only one person for the rest of his life. I just don’t want to see her waste her time.” “It was my idea,” Wyatt added. “I have a family now. I shouldn’t be involved with people from a complicated past.” Twenty years of friendship, erased by amnesia, reduced to a “complicated past.” The irony was laughable. Wyatt truly hadn’t changed. He was fiercely devoted in his affections. As a boy, he had made me a solemn vow. “After we’re married, I will be completely devoted to you. I will never get involved with any other woman. I will never fail you.” But now, I was the “other woman” he was so desperate to distance himself from. Mrs. Quinn’s expression was grim. She was about to speak again, but I gently squeezed her hand. I turned and said calmly, “Mr. Quinn, you’re worrying for nothing. Our families have been friends for generations, and Mrs. Quinn has always treated me like a daughter. I only think of you as an older brother, and I respect Mrs. Quinn as I would my own mother.” Mrs. Quinn’s eyes reddened. She grasped my hand. “Alright. Today, I am officially making Autumn my goddaughter. From now on, anyone who bullies her will be making an enemy of the Quinn family.” Evanna’s eyes flashed with resentment, but Wyatt, upon hearing his mother’s words, seemed momentarily lost in thought. I paid it no mind. I accompanied Mrs. Quinn into the house and then made an excuse to return to my own family’s home. One problem was solved, but another remained. Seven years from now, my father would be framed for stock market manipulation by a once-trusted subordinate, a man who was currently a senior executive at our company. Ever since I woke up in this new life, I had been using my hacking skills to monitor him. Recently, I had finally detected suspicious activity. After gathering all the evidence, I took an encrypted hard drive to my father’s study. We talked late into the night. I laid out all the information I had on the traitor. My father, a veteran of the business world for decades, would not be caught off guard like he was in the last life. As for my marriage, my father sighed, his eyes filled with sorrow. “I never imagined that one international operation would lead to so much trouble. Since it’s come to this, there’s something I should tell you.” “Before you were born, your mother and her best friend arranged a marriage between you and her friend’s son. Later, when you grew up and fell in love with Wyatt, I politely declined their offer. We were in the wrong, really. The boy’s family is in San Francisco, a very good environment.” “Why don’t you… take this opportunity to go away for a while, clear your head?” Having lived one life already, I had seen through the illusions of marriage. I shook my head. “I don’t want to leave Crestview, and I don’t want a new relationship.” My father looked at me with concern. “Are you staying in Crestview because you still can’t let go? I know you’re a sentimental person. If you just say the word, I won’t let Wyatt get away with breaking the engagement.” I shook my head again. “I was the one who called it off. I’m over Wyatt.” My father sighed softly. “He’s not the only good man in the world. I just want you to be able to move on.” I gave a faint smile and changed the subject. “I heard you had some contact with a hypnotic investigation team from Southeast Asia years ago. I’d like to invite a few professionals to Crestview to look into Evanna Ross.” My father was taken aback. “You think there’s more to Wyatt’s change in behavior? Then you…” I looked up, my gaze steady. “Whether there is or not, I don’t care. This is just a precaution.” My father nodded. For the next half month, I lived a quiet life—coding, drinking coffee, and diving. It was a rare period of peace. Then, I received an invitation to a yacht party from the daughter of the Lu family. I had heard the rumors swirling during my seclusion: that I was heartbroken after being jilted, a recluse who couldn’t face the world. Now that I was rested, it was time to reappear. I gladly accepted the invitation. The party was a swirl of champagne and chatter. The other socialites treated me as they always had, but now there was a hint of pity in their eyes. When they saw my calm demeanor, that pity quickly turned to curiosity. “You have no idea. That Evanna girl is acting like the lady of the manor now. She’s the one who doesn’t know the rules, but she always acts like we’re the ones bullying her.” “Exactly! Last time, she accidentally spilled wine on my dress, and I didn’t even make a fuss. But she dragged Wyatt over to my house to apologize, making it seem like I was deliberately giving her a hard time.” “So petty. I don’t know how Wyatt puts up with her.” As they were talking, a figure dressed in the latest designer fashion walked in. The chatter immediately died down. I looked up. Evanna Ross, wearing a diamond hair clip and a lavish gown, had shed the rustic air of the tenements. She looked refined, almost elegant. I deliberately ignored her. Halfway through the party, I found an opportunity to leave, but she caught up with me on the deck. I stopped. “Is there something you need?” Evanna bit her lip. “Miss Caldwell, you’re still waiting for Wyatt, aren’t you?” I frowned. “Where did you hear such a ridiculous rumor?” “If you weren’t waiting for him, why haven’t you left Crestview? Why have you turned down all the marriage proposals you’ve received?” I was silent. Not leaving was, in a way, an obsession. Wyatt had died for me. I wanted to see with my own eyes if he would truly be content after getting his heart’s desire. My silence, however, was taken as an admission. Evanna pressed on, her voice sharp. “And my struggles in high society… you’re the one secretly telling people to target me, aren’t you?” “My marriage is my own business, and your situation has nothing to do with me,” I said calmly. “I admit, I didn’t like you from the moment I met you. But I wouldn’t stoop to targeting you. It was just a relationship. To me, it’s something I can take or leave.” From the moment I found Wyatt, I had decided that if he was in love with someone else, I would not interfere. But I had sensed something strange about Evanna. She was frail, yet she insisted that she alone had rescued Wyatt from a gunfight at the docks. She seemed vulnerable, yet she harbored an inexplicable hostility toward me, which was why I had been so insistent on restoring his memory in my past life. I understood now that whether Evanna was a good match for him or not, it was Wyatt’s choice. I had no right to intervene. But now, a flicker of a cunning smile crossed Evanna’s face. “Miss Caldwell, so you finally admit you hate me.” I sensed something was wrong. I started to step back, but I saw Evanna lean backward, her body going limp as she plunged into the cold sea.

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I am a homeroom teacher who has brought out three consecutive Valedictorians. One night, the parent of the top student in our class suddenly posted a few pages of a diary in the Parent-Teacher Facebook Group. [Class monitor explained the math problem to me, his logic is so clear, I admire him so much…] [He gave me an eraser with little stars on it, I will use it well.] Following were three 60-second voice messages in a row. “Everyone look, what is the grade’s top student thinking about every day?” “Full brain is all men oh!” “Everyday thinking about seducing men, what kind of cheap stuff is inside her head!” Parents in the group persuaded one after another to respect the child’s privacy. But next second, she directly posted a video in the group. … Chapter 1 At 10:30 PM, my phone vibrated crazily. The class group chat was suddenly spammed. [@Miss Parker, you come out for me!] [Why did Lily drop two points in this exam?!] [Is it you guys didn’t explain clearly? Or she simply didn’t study in school?] I was stunned. Lily is the student I admire most, has always been the unshakeable number one in the grade. I immediately typed to explain and comfort. [Hello Mrs. Baker, this exam’s overall difficulty is higher than last time, the grade average score has dropped.] [Lily is still number one in the grade, her performance is very stable, please don’t be anxious.] Next second, her words were like dynamite. [Don’t talk to me about average score! What does others’ score have to do with me?] I sighed, originally thought this was just a mother’s excessive anxiety about grades. Just wanted to comfort her, but Mrs. Baker suddenly threw out a few photos. It was an open diary, I recognized Lily’s neat handwriting on it. [Class monitor explained the math problem to me, his logic is so clear, I admire him so much…] [He gave me an eraser with little stars on it, I will use it well.] Following was a long voice message, tone sharp and piercing. [See that? This is the good student you guys thought, head full of these dirty, shameless things!] [Thinking about men all day long! Mind not on studying, no sense of shame! Heart holding these dirty things, no wonder grades dropped!] When seeing the diary, I was angry to trembling hands. These are the most normal thoughts, most normal feelings of a teenage girl. I immediately typed, tone tough. [@Mrs. Baker, please withdraw immediately! This is the child’s privacy, if you have questions please private message me!] Other parents in the group also persuaded. [Posting child’s diary in group, not too appropriate right…] Mrs. Baker retorted fiercely. [Not appropriate? Is it appropriate for her to write these shameless things?] [Diary counts as what privacy? When she came out of my stomach, why didn’t she say she wanted privacy?] Unreasonable! I immediately exited the group chat, dialed her phone. Phone was picked up, her sharp voice pierced through the receiver. “Miss Parker, your school atmosphere has problems, boys and girls mixing together every day!” “How hard is it for me to raise her alone, she actually has such cheap thoughts in school!” I suppressed my anger: “Lily is very good, you need to trust her.” “Trust? Don’t give me this useless talk!” She directly interrupted me, “I see it’s your loose management, or you took some benefits from those male students, helping to cover up right?” Her tone was vicious to the extreme. Not waiting for me to reply, the phone was hung up fiercely. I didn’t even recover from that vicious speculation, phone vibrated again. Mrs. Baker, posted a video in the class group. In the video, Lily wore an old school uniform washed to white, kneeling straight on the cold concrete floor. She lowered her head, using a voice without fluctuation, repeated over and over. “I was wrong, I shouldn’t score low, I shouldn’t think about men…” Outside the camera, was her mother’s malicious voice. “Say it yourself, this behavior of yours, shameless or not?” Lily’s expression numb, eyes empty, tightly scratching the seam of pant leg, tears sliding from eye corner. “…I am shameless.” In the video background, was cracked concrete floor, faded plastic stool, and a chipped enamel basin. My tears instantly came down. I finally understood why Lily always lowered her head in school, why never participated in any after-school activities, why uniform sleeves always pulled to the bottom. This video thoroughly detonated the parent group. [xx Mom: This is too excessive! How can treat child like this?!] [xx Dad: Mrs. Baker, education is not taught like this! Child has self-esteem!] But Mrs. Baker didn’t allow rebuttal, bit whoever she caught. Finally she @ that male parent who helped speak. [@xx Dad, why are you so excited?] [Did you fancy my Lily?] [Or this little slut also seduced you in school?] This bottomless, groundless rumor malicious speculation came out, the whole class group, instantly dead silent. No one dared to speak again. No one wants to provoke a mad dog. I only felt a bone-chilling cold rising from the soles of my feet. A mother, could actually use such dirty imagination, to publicly slander her own biological daughter. I trembled hands, repeatedly dialed Mrs. Baker’s phone, wanting to stop her behavior. No answer. After a few times, Mrs. Baker directly blocked my number. Huge absurdity and powerlessness, swallowed my whole person. Chapter 2 Monday morning, I stepped into the classroom. I saw many students intentionally or unintentionally sweeping the corner, with curiosity and sympathy. The storm stirred up in the class group over the weekend, ripples not yet settled. I looked at Lily worriedly. She wore a set of old school uniform washed to white, face pale, head buried very low. Her deskmate lowered voice to remind her. “Lily, today is Open House, Miss Parker said to wear white top, why didn’t you wear it?” I just walked to her side, hearing this, my heart thumped. Just wanted to say I have spare white T-shirts in my office, Lily spoke first. Lily’s shoulders shrank a bit, voice very small. “I told my mom yesterday… she said bring it before class.” My brows locked tight. If her mom is coming today, I must have a good talk with her. Open House is about to begin, in the back rows, visiting parents and other teachers took seats one after another. Lily’s body tensed tighter, she gripped the pen, but eyes glanced anxiously at the door from time to time. “Bang——!” The moment the class bell rang, the back door of the classroom was pushed open fiercely. Lily’s mother barged in. She clutched a yellowed old white shirt in her hand, looked around, walked straight to Lily’s desk. Sharp complaining voice resounded through the whole classroom. “You debt collector!” “Do you know how many people I begged to borrow this ragged shirt? I went out before dawn, knocking door to door!” “My old face is all lost! Just for you, do you know?” “You still don’t study hard, repay me well in the future!” Students were dumbfounded, parents and teachers in the back row locked brows, looking at each other. Lily’s face lost all color, head hung lower, wishing to drill into the ground on the spot. Mrs. Baker stuffed that white shirt into her arms. “Still dazing for what? Hurry put it on, don’t delay class!” Lily’s body trembled, whispered begging: “Mom, can I go to the restroom to change…” “Go what restroom?” Her mother’s volume suddenly rose: “Class bell rang, can study wait?” “Every second counts understand? Change right here, quick!” “You a little child, no ghost in heart, have what shameful? Ah? What you hiding? Fear what looking?” I quickly stepped forward, blocked in front of Lily, trying to use body to separate that suffocating gaze. “Mrs. Baker, please calm down, don’t affect class…” “Get out? Based on what I get out?” She pushed me away, strength surprisingly big, voice full of twisted desire to persuade. “Miss Parker, you are also a teacher, you say. Is so-called face important, or seizing time to study important? Ah?” “Let her say herself, is it she insisted on wearing white shirt? I satisfied her, what is she still dawdling for?” Lily’s tears swirled in eyes: “Mom, I beg you, I go out change, one minute is enough…” Mrs. Baker suddenly looked around, looked at the leaders in the back row, proudly said. “Must change here!” “I just want everyone to see, how my family Lily fights for every second!” “Let some spoiled, mind floating students see, what is the look a student should have!” Voice not fallen, Lily closed eyes in despair, she trembled hands picking up the shirt, trying to put it on over the uniform. But the shirt was too tight, her movements clumsy and difficult. Mrs. Baker raged again, caught off guard, a slap fiercely hit on Lily’s face. “Idiot! Why pull so hard?” “This clothes is I borrowed, you stretch it deformed, what I use to return people?” “You have no gratitude in heart! You don’t heartache me, also don’t heartache other’s things?” Finished, she grabbed Lily’s uniform with both hands, savagely lifted up. “Take off uniform, wear shirt directly! Quick!” Students faces all shock and discomfort, one by one lowered heads, chose not to look. Class monitor clenched fists, stood up, but was pulled tight by his deskmate. “Mrs. Baker, you stop!” I could no longer maintain calm, dead grabbed her arm: “You can’t do this, this is a classroom!” Mrs. Baker’s expression suddenly sank, mouth corners down glaring at me. “I change clothes for my daughter violate which law?” I angrily shouted back. “Lily is already big, she needs respect!” “Teenager kid understand what respect, grades are the biggest respect!” “Can’t test into good high school, looked down by people for a lifetime——” Finished, she fiercely threw away my hand, I stumbled hit the table corner beside. And Mrs. Baker used force with both hands, directly tore off the thin uniform on Lily! My brain buzzed. Too late to react waist hit painful, I hugged the girl, quickly put that shirt on her, blocked all sight. Lily motionless, let me manipulate. She didn’t cry, didn’t scream. In extreme shame, expression was total despair and numbness, only silent trembling. In the classroom, filled with strong unbearableness. Parents and leaders in back row some shook heads, some showed disgust and helplessness. Done all this, Lily’s mother tidied her messy hair. She walked to the leader side, sat down in empty seat self-righteously, fawning smiled. “Leaders, laughed at, child not sensible.” “Now conditions too good, move not move talk about dignity. When we were young where care this? I do this all for her good.” Chapter 3 Open House just ended, I immediately chased out, stopped her in the corridor. “Mrs. Baker, please stay.” I took a deep breath, forced down anger in heart. “We must talk, I think your education method treating Lily, I feel has big problem.” Mrs. Baker turned around, arms crossed, mouth corner pulled out cold sneer. “My method has problem?” “If not you there fake benevolence blocking, my daughter early wore clothes sat well!” She stepped forward, aggressive. “Open House, how important face showing chance, just like this ruined by you! Do you know how big impact on my daughter?” I simply about to be laughed by this black white reversed logic. “No matter out of what reason, child is independent individual, she also has dignity and privacy…” My words seemed to ignite her, her voice instantly sharp piercing. This movement, made other classes also look over through window. “I raised her so big, provide her study, she has to listen to me! Don’t say change clothes in public——” “Even I strip her naked let her kneel in school, you also can’t manage!” Her eyes vicious, looking at my face becoming stiff, seemed very satisfied. Reasoning with a madman is useless. I gave up arguing, changed a way, tried to make tone gentle. “Mrs. Baker, we don’t talk right or wrong. I just want to say, recently Lily’s state not too good. Have you thought, child might have depression tendency, you…” “Depression?!” These words like stepped on her tail, she instantly exploded, voice suddenly rose high. “Bullsh*t! Miss Parker who you cursing?” She came up pull my hair: “My daughter very good! Grade first depression what?” “I see is you self psychology dark, life unfortunate, can’t see us mother daughter good!” I grabbed her wrist, forced myself keep calm, insist my stand. “If really has psychological problem, early find early intervene is good thing. Can go see psychologist…” “Psychologist? Pah!” She roughly interrupted me, spit on my face, face full of disdain. “What depression, all western spread poison thought! We childhood who not beaten big? How didn’t see so many diseases!” “All idle out diseases, is excuse trash find for themselves!” Suddenly, she looked at me with venomous eyes, made my hair stand on end. “If my daughter really has any problem——” “That is also you this kind teacher, everyday instill her what self, dignity trash thoughts!” Voice not fallen, she fiercely hit my shoulder, squeezed past me. Shoulder hit painful, but more heavy is that giant stone in heart. I thoroughly understood, with this woman, simply unable communicate. Before I thought she was ignorant. No. She is very sober, she knows her behavior will make Lily embarrassed. But still did so. Chapter 4 After Open House day, Lily’s soul like pumped away. In class her eyes unfocused. When roll call she stood up like electric shock, lips trembling, couldn’t say a word. Her face paler day by day. Until that day break, I saw her back neck collar exposed a patch of deep purple bruise. My heart fiercely sank. A bad premonition spread in heart. I must go to her home look, personal eyes see exactly what environment she lives in. I applied for formal Home Visit to school. Lily’s home is in an old community. Mrs. Baker opened door seeing me, face instantly sank, raised hand want close door. I hurriedly blocked: “Mrs. Baker, I come to report good news!” “School has a city speech contest, Lily very likely win prize, prize money has $1,500!” Her eyes from vigilant to suspicious, hearing $1,500 prize money, eyes became greedy. Living room narrow dim, table still set with bowls and chopsticks. Lily was lowering head, bowl was piled with greasy meat slices. Mrs. Baker glanced at her, suddenly knocked her head with chopsticks. “Look what look? Eat all. Can’t test into good high school, is because your picky fault!” Wait Lily finished eating, we walked into the room. Narrow space set two beds, Lily and her mom live in one room. Closet covered by a cloth curtain, all drawers not locked, glance all view. I closed door, softly asked her: “Lily, recently pressure too big?” Lily didn’t speak, tears fell first. I heartachingly walked over, gently rolled up her wide uniform sleeves. Shocking sight. New old overlapped scars, have blue purple bruises, also have just left not long, burning red swelling. “Lily, these wounds… how matter?” Her body uncontrollably trembled. I said nothing, just heartachingly hugged her into arms. Lily long suppressed emotion finally burst in my arms: “Miss Parker… is my mom beat.” My heart suddenly tightened: “She… always treat you like this?” Lily’s tears rolling down, face was a miserable smile uglier than crying. “Exam didn’t get full score, grades dropped, all deserve beat.” She stroked a new wound on arm, voice numb. “Yesterday night sleeping, I… my breathing sound too heavy, she said I was sighing, complaining her. She used data cable, stroke by stroke whip on my body.” I dead hugged her trembling body, lowered voice, but incomparable firm. “Don’t fear, this is abuse! Teacher will help you, you must leave this environment…” Lily however in my arms despair shaking head. “How help? She is mom ah…” She repeated, like convincing me, also like convincing herself. “She is my mom ah…” “Bang——!” Suddenly, room door was fiercely kicked open!

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Fifth year after being Blacklisted by Julian, I met him in a Bar. He spent thousands, celebrating his “The One That Got Away”, Scarlett, winning the Best Actress Award. And I was here as a Bottle Service Girl. He found me, asked me to come over and drink with them. “Left me, result is being a hostess, thought you had so much guts.” “Julian, don’t say Sister Serena like this, she changed from a big star to a hostess, think about it also not easy, give more tips later.” Scarlett hooked Julian’s arm, proud curves on chest tightly pressed against his arm. Julian leaned back, legs casually rested on the table. “Don’t, people have high integrity, how can look up to others’ charity, tips definitely want to earn by herself ah, right Big Star Serena.” He pointed at that row of alcohol on the table, eyes dark. This bit of verbal humiliation to current me counts as nothing, Lily still waiting for money to save life. I smiled shallowly, “Mr. Julian said right, earning money is not shabby.” Voice fell, I didn’t say second word, drank up that row of alcohol on the table. Then took out Venmo QR code, “Many thanks Mr. Julian.” … Chapter 1 “Panic what, so many people in private room, you accompany well money won’t lack yours.” Originally noisy private room, because Julian’s one sentence became quiet for a moment. Those people’s faces besides disbelief and schadenfreude, still vaguely revealed some expectation. Once I was a top trending star, Julian was just a poor boy whose family went bankrupt and just started business. These people in private room who started business with him, put in past don’t say drink with me, even see me was hard. Because followed right person, now everyone worth a lot. Now they sit on high platform, I fall into dust, naturally no half respect to me. A hand quietly climbed on my waist, accompanied by a pull, I was dragged onto sofa, look closely beside is a wretched face. “Miss Serena, I request not much, just drink a cup of cross-cupped wine.” Voice just fell, “Bang” a sound, wine glass by Julian hand fell ground. Scattered wine, and glass shards, under light refraction reflected his fragmented shadow. Such occasion I see everyday not thousand times also hundred times. As long as not too excessive, for money I choose endure. I ignored this small episode, calmly lifted man’s hand on my waist, stuffed a glass of wine, then smilingly drank cross-cupped wine with man. Crowd seeing situation started jeering, Julian’s face however gloomy down. Scarlett frowned said: “Sister Serena, past anyhow followed Julian, you earn this kind dirty money, not afraid lose Julian’s face.” I faintly smiled, again picked up a new glass of wine. “I am accompanying drink, not accompanying sleep, nothing dirty.” “Past accompany brand side, investors drink, now accompany customers drink, essentially no difference.” “If Miss Scarlett needs, I can also accompany you drink.” Scarlett choked by my words, angry eyes staring at me. “Serena you a hostess also dare yin yang me.” Slap a sound, a loud slap fell on my face. Burning pain hit, I light laughed, “Miss Scarlett, this is another price, remember add price later.” I didn’t care crowd reaction, in everyone surprised eyes, one cup after another almost drank with everyone in private room once, left one person time, stomach started uncontrollably cramping pain. Face just now red because slap gradually became pale, cold sweat on forehead. Hand holding wine started weak powerless, but I haven’t finished, money haven’t got hand, I force support came to last person Preston front. He is Julian’s childhood friend, also that thorn in me and Julian heart. Wine glass sent to mouth blocked by him, Preston eyes gloomy. “Enough Julian, can’t you see Serena already very uncomfortable?” Julian still lay on chair, gaze switch back and forth on me and Preston, full eyes disdain and disgust. “Tsk tsk tsk, should I praise Sister Serena charm infinite ne, or praise President Preston long affection ne?” Scarlett spoke first. “Five years ago, you guys behind Julian cheated, even made a bastard, now preparing continue fate?” That was a night I full heart joy preparing wedding with Julian. Because too many things bit tired, just muddleheaded slept. Wake up again time, I naked slept with Preston together. I scared whole body hair stood up, heart beat fast like want break ribs. Last night memory like lost, how also can’t remember. I hurriedly get up want wear clothes find Julian. Lift eyes but hit a pair eyes wrapped full anger, Julian just stood at door looking me. I want explain, open mouth but don’t know say what, throat dry can’t make sound. “Roll.” Faint one word to me seem have thousand pounds heavy, grievance and tears no longer can hold. After near two months Julian didn’t see me, threw me in south city villa, confiscated my phone, also not allow me see him. I couldn’t stand such coldness, so ran to that apartment nearest company find him. When he work busy would live there, I wanted find him say clear, even if he want break up with me also okay. I but saw him and Scarlett enter out together. That moment my heart like knife twist, we together ten years, just because a not yet verified mistake, he threw into others embrace. Maybe his heart never forgot Scarlett, back then if not Scarlett went abroad, he might not make do with me. I heart gray cold packing own things, bumped into Julian come back take document midway. “You still want separate with me?” He slapped document in hand on table, loud shouted at me, that was first time he threw fire at me in memory. “You have what face separate with me, want separate also I say!” My hand pinching bag stop not shaking, heart like blocked a stone, let me can’t breathe also stab me pain. “Julian, I also don’t know why that thing happened, I really didn’t betray you.” He light hum, picked up that document want go, I cry shout step forward hug him. “Julian we talk, I really didn’t, can you…” He ruthless threw me away, foot unstable, a burst dizziness hit, I fainted. Wake up again I was in hospital bed. Open eyes, first sentence he said was, “Abort the child.” I then react, surprise and helpless touched flat lower abdomen. “Miss Serena uterus has cyst, if this child aborted, future might not have way want child, you guys want consider clear.” Doctor added aside. I knew Julian meaning, he felt this child is Preston’s. Although I can’t remember what happened that night, but maybe woman intuition, I felt child in belly is Julian’s. So I pulled his hand beg said: “Julian, just let me give birth to this child okay.” “If it not yours, I will self watch do.” “And doctor said, this might be my only child.” “Okay not okay, count I beg you.” Julian abnormal cold, disgust pulled away own hand, look me eyes like look dead thing. “Child impossible be mine, so… abort.” “No discussion.” Dropped this sentence, he then left. I lay in hospital bed one day, finally still decided give birth to child. So I hid from Julian left Los Angeles. Ten months later I had a cute daughter, eyebrows eyes extremely like Julian, I full heart joy took daughter go back find him. But forgot, before I left he already with Scarlett together. Two people sweet enter out pair, we already two worlds people. Just want leave, Scarlett found me. “Serena?” Julian followed her voice look over, gaze carried scrutiny, disgust even hate. “You still dare come, still bring your bastard.” Julian raised eyebrow, “Back then left so decisive, now come back do what.” “What, he even own child not care, you can’t raise want let me be pick-up man?” I force endure sadness, walked forward two steps. “Julian, you look this child, she and you…” “Take your bastard far away.” Scarlett pushed me away, “Really treat Julian as fool?” Julian knit brows, “Throw your this bastard, I then let you come back, otherwise don’t think step into my Jiang family one step.” I looked his cold face, suddenly understood, me and him already can’t go back. “I don’t need your charity.” I held daughter resolutely left. Anyway I alone also can raise child well. “Serena, you for this bastard do to this step, you don’t regret.” But very fast I was ruthlessly slapped face by reality. Work already stagnated one year because birth, because various gossip news, and Julian operation snow on frost. Overwhelming marketing accounts talking about me and Preston matter. A time I became bitch seducing brother, everyone shout beat. All work completely pause, agency cancel contract with me. Hard easy have capital look on past affection willing pull me a hand, but at about sign contract, learned someone let words, in entertainment circle, if someone dare give me work, that is against Julian Group. I didn’t expect Julian hate me so much. Entertainment circle can’t mix, I just find other work. When Julian just start business, I occasionally also went company help, many things are interlinked. So I found a normal enterprise enter. Although not earn much as before, but days count stable. Originally thought life just calm go on like this, change happened at company I work had cooperation with Julian Group. Project start second day, I was notified, company want fire me. From then on, no matter which company I go, always stay not two months will be fired. I knew this is Julian revenge. I don’t want compromise, but Julian Group long not past small company, now in Los Angeles can say is thumb one, in industry no one willing offend. I had to find a restaurant serve waiter. Days although bitter, but daughter day by day grow up, my inner heart also by these ordinary happiness fill bit by bit. Pity heaven love joke with me, two years ago, Lily got Leukemia. Bone marrow transplant is a big sum money, I can’t take out. No road to go under I even thought go find Preston, but I can’t contact him, inquire then know after that matter he was sent abroad by Julian, never came back. Lily everyday fee let me unbearable heavy burden, come money fast and legal way I can think only bottle service. Rely on ex movie star identity, accompany drink earn not less, just for Lily medical fee also cup water cart wood. Good thing Lily luck good, already found matched bone marrow. Now just lack last forty thousand then enough give Lily do surgery. So I day night drink wine, this moment even Scarlett want me kneel to her I don’t bring hesitate. Let alone her few sentences verbal humiliation. Thoughts return cage, I force endure stomach pain, accompany smile face, drink down last glass wine. “Mr. Julian, Miss Scarlett, don’t know you guys still satisfied?” “Wine I already drank finish, please settle money ba.” Saying I again extended Venmo QR code. Julian face ugly, open phone action a pause. “I dislike dirty, find my assistant settle bill ba.” Voice fall, he get up just leave still force pull away Preston. Others also followed left, very fast noisy private room only left me one person. Stomach pain let me almost stand not stable, I curled on sofa, pain faint pass. Wake me is manager, “Later no need come, offend who not good bias offend Mr. Julian.” Such scene I familiar no more, but this time I can’t compromise, lose income Lily illness what do! “Manager, can give me another chance, next time Mr. Julian they come not appear, won’t let them find, beg you.” Manager merciless, “Beg me also no use, who dare offend Mr. Julian, not leave I just let people throw you out.” Helpless can only leave. Not walk few steps, received hospital urge me pay money call. “Lily Mom, surgery money you prepare good ma? Pass today still not pay, then Lily surgery want arrange backward, patients arrange behind already start complain, just like this words, again don’t know want wait till when have matched bone marrow, Lily situation not optimistic, anytime have life danger, still want asap surgery good.” “Knew, I today within definitely will gather.” Hang up phone, I first went find Preston. I admit I some shameless, this originally not his responsibility, but I really no way. Pity this time I still can’t contact him, last night when he taken by Julian I should thought. Julian still hate me, naturally don’t want I earn money, otherwise won’t let bar fire me, more won’t even promised accompany drink money not pay. Walk no road, I had to drag pain body run to that apartment, go find Julian, go beg him. He charity me fine, humiliate me fine, I must from him there want money. Now person can save daughter only him. I wait at apartment door, but only waited come Scarlett. “Serena, you come do what?” “Yesterday money haven’t settle, Miss Scarlett can give me ma?” Look at my humble look, Scarlett finally not act. “Hahaha,” she laughed rampant, “Serena ah Serena you also have today.” “You still don’t know right, actually that day you and Preston nothing happened, is I gave you guys drugged, see you now so miserable, also not waste I back then painstaking plan a scene.” That time I heart also suspected, but I no evidence. “Why?” “Me and Julian childhood sweethearts, just because your appearance he actually didn’t wait me, you say you deserve die not.” “Rob things with me people no good ending, I gave you chance, five years ago I just use Preston let you roll away from Julian side, now you since still want come entangle, then I let you see you and your that bastard how die.” Voice fall, she gave herself a slap, then turn body hit on wall, forehead seep blood color, then step forward pull my hand, I haven’t react, she just fall on ground. I then understand she want do what, Julian just came. “Serena! You doing what.” I coldly look he face full worry look, “Mr. Julian, can settle yesterday money ma?” “Or, you don’t want settle, can borrow me ma? I now really need money.” “As long as you willing give me money, you let me do what I all agree you.” Julian light hum, “You think you who, have what is worth me pay money?” I kneel on ground hug his leg like beggar, beg him. “Julian I beg you, I really need this sum money, my daughter…” Scarlett see situation, delicate voice interrupt me, “Julian, I so uncomfortable, you first send me go hospital okay.” Julian glance me, didn’t say what again, took Scarlett left. I look his gradual disappear back, heart like dead ash. Chapter 3 I flip open phone, try find a person can borrow money from inside. But I flip through contacts, find no one can find. These years I took Lily alone live, also made few friends, but finally don’t know why finally all lost contact. Later I then knew this is also Julian instruction. Gradually I side also no what friends. I thought take daughter go other city live, but Los Angeles has best medical condition, especially target Lily illness, in domestic research all walk in front. For daughter, I do what all willing. Fingertip slide to a remark called Wang Nan. Is a middle age real estate developer from outland, over fifty widower. Before come bar time hinted me, if willing follow him, then buy me house buy car. I didn’t plan use body go change money, I think future Lily grow up if know own mom is what kind, she will sad. But this moment, I seem no better road can walk. Future she sad, also always better than no life strong. Hesitate again and again, I pressed dial key. Appointed with him in hotel, right on way rushing past, again received hospital call. “Lily Mom, Lily enter emergency room, you come a bit.” Hear words, I crazy like rush to hospital. When I arrive, Lily just come out from emergency room. Small face pale no blood color, small one lie on sickbed. I reach hand go pull her still warm small hand, but can’t hold, small hand slide away from my palm. I panic hands grab her, question doctor, “What happen, Lily this is asleep? Or anesthesia not wake? Why not put instrument on her.” Doctor helpless pat my shoulder, “Lily Mom, restrain grief.” I don’t believe doctor words, how can? My Lily how can just go like this, she still said wait get better want go amusement park with me. She is most strong child, so small age, every time do chemotherapy even a sentence pain not shout. Impossible, Lily won’t leave me. I hug her small soft body, but never get a trace response. Doctor light sigh, “Lily very good, before enter emergency room, still said with you some, I let nurse record down, already sent your WeChat.” I tremble tremble open WeChat, click that voice message. “Mom… Lily not pain, just miss Mom.” “Wait this time out, Mom then always accompany Lily okay… not okay.” This moment, that tender voice like that sharp small knife, bit by bit slice me. I finally couldn’t help lose voice pain cry. “Sorry Lily, all Mom useless.” “Mom accompany you, lifetime accompany you.” Whole person like pumped dry soul, muddleheaded passed few days. I used remaining money, made daughter ash into Memorial Diamond necklace. Like this I can accompany her lifetime. I return rental room, wait get necklace then leave this place, this destroyed me also destroyed Lily place. I received a stranger call. “Not lack money ma?” “Come apartment take.” Hear this impatient tone, I then react is Julian. I no strength say what with him, I now also don’t need money, so direct hung up phone. Behind few days also successive have stranger call come in, but I one didn’t answer. This day, institution notify me, say necklace done. I first put luggage to airport storage, then rush institution go take necklace. That diamond not big, but very shiny. Hold in hand that moment, inexplicable peace. On way rushing to airport, I met Wang Nan. “Miss Serena, stand people up not authentic.” “Sorry, home had point matter, is I impulsive, we between still…” Voice not fall, he then lean forward come, broad body almost cover me. “You let me bitter wait one night, you just give me this bit explanation, say not past ba.” I low drop head, “President Wang really sorry, but we really not suitable.” “I still have thing just go first.” Wang Nan drag me, “Stinky bitch, pretend what high noble, you think you still before Serena ma, follow me is I look up you.” “Yo, this is where come diamond necklace, could it be you hook up other sugar daddy?” Saying he snatch necklace in my hand. I take out phone, angry voice: “Return necklace me, otherwise I call police.” “Here everywhere monitor, if you don’t want your daughter know dad is a harasser words, then stay far from me.” Wang Nan stunned, I hurry take necklace back from his hand. Turn head but saw a familiar face——Julian. He big step walk to me, “Phone not answer, text not reply, this is your attitude beg people?” “Also, you this found new sugar daddy, think come is not lack money.” He towards Wang Nan direction disdain look once. Immediately again scrutiny necklace in my hand. “Your taste also too bad, this kind goods all look up, before follow me time, this kind diamond when enter your eye.” I finally didn’t hold heart bottom anger, step forward gave him a slap. “Slap” a sound, surrounding all follow quiet. Julian disbelief look me, eyes weird. “Serena, I give you face right.” He hands press my shoulder, like want crush me general. “Roll, I don’t want see you again.” Julian frown, want ask clear but interrupted by a phone call. I take advantage he answer phone time hurry left this place, taxi went airport. Finally can leave here. I last look window outside Los Angeles, pull down shade. I came Seattle, daughter sick time said want come place. Pity that time she can only stay in hospital, now good, she finally can look expect inside Seattle. I casual rent a small yard, just settle down, by a group stranger find door. Lead is a man a woman, I open door they just splash a bottle water on my face. “Shameless mistress, actually dare interfere my sister feeling.” “You also not look look you count what thing.” I start haven’t react, but see this group people body wear all Scarlett support clothes, I just understand how matter. “You guys this is private intrude home, as long as I a phone call, can let you guys in, that time I again post Weibo, you say your sister opponent see, will or not give me free promote.” They stunned, look each other. Suddenly one person high voice said: “This all we self can’t watch down, concern our sister what matter.” “Again say you a mistress, even if whole net know, lose face is also you.” “But as long as you apologize, we can consider let go you.” I cold snort, “I didn’t do wrong, won’t apologize.” A fan click open Weibo, is Scarlett a imply meaning Weibo. Inside video picture, just right is Julian press my shoulder. “You want face or not, with others boyfriend pull pull tear tear.” They more say more excited, start pull tear me. I want call police, phone but snatched, they press me kneel on ground, record video for me. Finally still come find me landlord see this scene called police. Among them except those two lead, most are minors. I look these kids, thought of my daughter. No heart pursue them what, signed understanding letter. And I know, this matter true culprit, is Scarlett hide behind fans. I all left Los Angeles, she still grab not let go, then don’t blame me ruthless. Anyway now Lily not here, I nothing afraid. That night I open many years unused Weibo main account, organized me and Julian between bits and drops, and Scarlett appear time point. Not out expect, this Weibo very fast explode. A time about me and Scarlett good few tags, instant occupy list top five. My comment area also rare appeared start speak for me people. Very fast public opinion then start judge her. After all she such a topic degree artist, every move all under everyone watch. Most people just want watch her fall altar, not care truth. So heat degree stay high not down. Just like back then me. Just this time, I say all facts, also stand netizens deep dig.

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“Company policy. No spouses allowed.” The lie. The mantra. He’d been saying it for eight years. Eight years, sixteen corporate retreats, and I had been left behind every single time. Today, while sifting through a box of old photos, I stumbled upon a group picture from their company’s retreat last year. Several couples were smiling brightly in the front row. I recognized his coworker, Mark—Mark’s wife was standing right beside him. And there was Dan from Sales, with his wife, too. My husband, Trevor, was standing in the second row. Beside him, stood a woman in a white, knee-length dress. I used to own an identical dress. I’d thrown it out three years ago. 1. I stared at the photograph for a long time. White, floral print, cinched waist, falling just above the knee. I bought it at a mall boutique three years ago for $99. I only wore it once, to my mother’s birthday dinner. Then it disappeared. I asked Trevor about it. He said the cleaning service must have accidentally tossed it. I believed him. Now, that same dress was on another woman, standing right next to him. I zoomed in on the photo, desperate to see her face. The pixelation was too poor, offering only a blurred outline: long hair, slender frame, not very tall. Her hand was resting lightly on Trevor’s arm. The gesture was natural, easy—like muscle memory. I heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. The door opened. Trevor was home. “Back already?” I put my phone down, face up on the cushion. “Long day at the office?” “Mhm. Finalizing the West Coast project.” He kicked off his shoes. “Did you eat?” “I did.” I watched him walk into the bathroom to wash his hands, his movements the same as they’d been for eight years. Familiar. “The company retreat is next month,” I said. “Lake Haven Resort, right?” His movements stalled. “Oh?” “I saw it on Lisa Kwan’s post—Mark’s wife. She sounded excited.” Trevor turned off the faucet and dried his hands. “That’s the Sales Department retreat. Tech isn’t necessarily going to that one.” “But don’t Sales and Tech usually go together?” “It depends on the year.” He walked out, his expression neutral. “Management hasn’t finalized the venue yet.” I nodded, letting it drop. He went into his study, saying he needed to hop back on the computer to wrap up some emails. I sat on the sofa and pulled up the photo again. It was taken in front of a grand resort entrance, a sprawling lawn in the background. I recognized the place. Two years ago, after his retreat, I asked him where he’d been. He said it was just some dull, rustic B&B—nothing special. The photo clearly showed something far from rustic. I opened my browser and searched the place. Four stars. Dinner service runs about $150 a head. Some dull, rustic B&B. Right. My phone rang. It was my mother. “Have you eaten, Nat?” “Yes, Mom.” “Is Trevor home?” “In his study, working late.” “Tell him not to overdo it. Look after his health.” “I know.” After hanging up, I walked to the study door. It was slightly ajar. Trevor was on the phone. “…Don’t worry about next month. I’ll handle everything.” His voice was low, careful—as if he didn’t want to be overheard. “Alright. Talk soon.” He hung up. I knocked. “Come in.” I pushed the door open. “Who was that?” “A client.” His eyes remained glued to the monitor. “It’s about the project rollout.” “You’re still talking projects this late?” “Yeah, overseas client. Time difference.” I didn’t press him further. Back in the living room, I saved the retreat photo to my phone’s camera roll. Later, as we lay in bed, he automatically pulled me close, his arm draped across my waist. “Are you feeling okay lately?” he asked. “Fine.” “The retreat next month—it might be three or four days.” “Mhm.” “You’ll be okay by yourself?” “I’ll be fine.” He kissed my forehead. “Go to sleep.” I closed my eyes, listening until his breathing settled into the slow, steady rhythm of deep sleep. Eight years. Eight years, sixteen retreats. Every single time, he’d told me it was company policy: No spouses allowed. Every single time, I had believed him. But in that photograph, every other man’s wife was there. Only mine wasn’t. I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling. His hand was still on my hip, warm and familiar. Yet suddenly, that hand felt utterly foreign. 2. The next day was Saturday. Trevor said he had to go into the office for half a day to take care of some urgent paperwork. “Will you be back for lunch?” “Should be.” I watched him leave, then I went straight to my computer. I navigated to his company’s corporate website and clicked the “Employee Events” tab. It was a gallery of photos: retreats, holiday parties, anniversary dinners. I went through them, year by year. 2016 Retreat: Miami. Trevor was in the photo. Standing beside him was a woman. Not me. 2017 Retreat: The Rockies. Trevor was there. Standing beside him was the exact same woman. Still not me. 2018 Retreat: San Diego. The same woman. 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. Every year, every single photo, she was there. She wore different outfits, changed her hairstyle, but her features were the same: a delicate, oval face, single eyelids, and a small dimple when she smiled. I didn’t know her. I had never seen her. Yet she had been standing beside my husband for eight years. My hands started to tremble. I saved every single one of those photographs. When I was done, I picked up Trevor’s phone. He never used a password. He always said, “We don’t need secrets, Nat.” I found a contact named “Veronica C.” and opened their message thread. The latest message was from 11:00 PM last night. Trevor: Did you get home okay? Veronica: I did. Thanks for today. Trevor: Get some rest. Veronica: [Kiss emoji] I scrolled up. The day before. Veronica: Did you book the hotel for the retreat next month? Trevor: Yes, The Intercontinental at Lake Haven. Veronica: The same suite as last year? Trevor: Mhm. Lake view. Veronica: *Can’t wait ~* A searing knot tightened in my stomach. I kept scrolling. One month ago. Trevor: Wear the blue dress for the client dinner. Veronica: Okay! Are you wearing a tie? Trevor: The one you gave me. Veronica: Our matching one! Make sure no one notices. Trevor: Who cares if they notice. Three months ago. Veronica: Did your wife ask where you were going again? Trevor: No. She never asks. Veronica: She’s so easy to fool. Trevor: She’s not easy to fool, she just trusts me. Veronica: Then you should be better to her. Trevor: I know. Six months ago. Veronica: What should I wear for the holiday party this year? Trevor: You look good in anything. Veronica: Your wife won’t be there, right? Trevor: No. She never is. Veronica: Perfect. I can dress up then. Trevor: Whatever you want. A year ago. Veronica: Can I post the photos from the Maldives? Trevor: Sure, just block Nat. The Maldives. A year ago. I remembered. A year ago, I was three months postpartum. That was the time he said the company retreat was mandatory and that the dates were inflexible. I was home alone with a newborn. He was in the Maldives. With her. I put the phone down, struggling to draw a full breath. The front door opened. Trevor was back. “What’s wrong?” He saw my face. “You look terrible.” I just stared at him. I had looked at this face for eight years. I woke up next to it, and I went to sleep next to it. I thought I knew everything about him. Now I realized I knew nothing at all. “Nothing,” I managed, standing up. “I’ll start on lunch.” “I’ll do it. You go rest.” He rolled up his sleeves and walked into the kitchen. I stood there, watching his back. That back was familiar, too. But what did familiarity matter? She was just as familiar with that back. Maybe more so. 3. On Monday, I took a personal day. I went to Trevor’s office building. Not to see him, but to see Lisa Kwan, who worked in HR. Lisa was my high school friend. She’d been at Trevor’s company for five years. “Well, this is a surprise,” Lisa said, genuinely shocked. “I was in the neighborhood. Wanted to grab a coffee.” We walked to a nearby cafe. “Does Trevor know you’re here?” “No. I thought I’d surprise him later.” Lisa smiled. “You two are so sweet.” I forced a smile in return. “So,” I said, trying to sound casual, “I was thinking of coming along for the next company retreat. Are spouses allowed?” Lisa paused. “Spouses? Of course they are.” “Oh. Trevor always told me company policy was strictly no family.” Lisa’s face changed. It was subtle, but I saw it. “No, that’s not right. We’ve always allowed spouses at the retreats. The company even covers half the cost.” My heart stopped for a beat. “Always?” “Since I started, yes. You didn’t know that?” “Trevor said…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. Lisa saw the look on my face. She reached across the table and took my hand. “Nat, what’s going on? Is something wrong with you and Trevor?” “No.” I shook my head. “Maybe I misunderstood.” “Don’t lie to me.” Lisa lowered her voice. “Tell me. Has Trevor been…” I looked at her, silent. She sighed. “The truth is… I’ve wanted to tell you for a while, but I didn’t want to interfere.” “Tell me what?” “Trevor brings a woman to every single event.” My hand began to tremble. “We all assumed it was you. His wife. But then one time, I saw her name tag. It said, ‘Veronica Crystal.’”

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Ethan is five years older than me, but I never call him “brother.” Watching him switch girlfriends one after another. For each one, I would obediently call her “sister-in-law.” On my twenty-second birthday, I waited all day, but Ethan didn’t come. I made a wish to never like him again. After my birthday, when I went downstairs to throw out the trash, I saw a familiar figure. It was Ethan’s best friend, Caleb. “Caleb, why are you here?” “Ethan couldn’t get away, so he asked me to bring you a gift.” “Oh, thanks. Where’s yours?” He smiled and said: “I prepared two gifts. I’ll decide which one to give you after you answer my question. “Ava, liking him is tiring, right? How about trying someone else? Be my girlfriend.” 1 I looked at Caleb in surprise. When did he find out I liked Ethan? I clearly hid it very well. I never showed a trace of jealousy in front of Ethan. “Caleb, I don’t understand what you mean.” He pressed his lips together, clearly smiling. But there seemed to be some nervousness in his eyes. “Then let me rephrase. “Ava Lin, I like you. “I want to ask you, would you give me a chance to date me?” But he is Ethan’s best friend. When I was five years old and met Ethan for the first time, Caleb was right beside him. Come to think of it, I’ve known Caleb for seventeen years too. I stared at his face and suddenly remembered the wish I made tonight. Caleb laughed out loud under my stare. “Why look at me like that? “Think I’m causing you trouble?” I shook my head. Not trouble, just a bit unexpected. Caleb is different from Ethan. Knowing him for so long, I don’t seem to have seen him date anyone. For a while, I even treated him as a love rival. While Ethan, never lacked women around him. Thinking of this, my heart felt like it was pricked by a thorn again. After a sharp pain, I looked at him and said: “I just wished to be in a relationship tonight, and you delivered yourself to my door. “Caleb, you must have been arranged by Cupid. “Then I’ll follow God’s will and date you!” Caleb was stunned, seemingly not expecting me to really agree. He looked at me for a while, then smiled. He turned around and took out a beautifully wrapped gift box from the car. Handed it to me. “This one is for my girlfriend.” 2 I opened it in front of him. It was a necklace set with small diamonds, looking very expensive. “Isn’t this too expensive?” I knew his family was rich, but usually for birthdays, his gifts were similar to Ethan’s. When it was his birthday, I would return a similar gift. Caleb walked over and rubbed the top of my head. “It’s for you, not expensive.” As soon as he got close, the faint scent of cologne on him drilled into my nose. Different from the scent on Ethan. His was colder, like bitter lemon filled with ice cubes. I quietly stepped back, creating distance. Just as I was thinking about how to return the gift, Caleb’s phone rang. “Caleb, is the gift delivered?” The night was quiet, and Ethan’s voice came through the receiver. Along with the laughter of the girl next to him, clearly audible. “Mm, delivered.” When Caleb spoke, he kept looking at me. I felt inexplicably cramped. Eyes looking elsewhere, ears still listening to the voice on the phone. “That’s good. I just called Ava and she didn’t answer, thought she was angry.” Caleb chuckled low. “No, she went downstairs to throw out the trash and didn’t bring her phone.” “Right, she has a soft temper, never gets angry with me. “Hey wait, how do you know she didn’t bring her phone? Is she next to you? Let her answer the phone.” I turned my head immediately, afraid Caleb would hand the phone over. I just agreed to be his girlfriend. Now asking me to answer Ethan’s call. It felt awkward no matter how I thought about it. Unexpectedly, Caleb turned around and lowered his voice: “It’s not convenient for her to answer. If you have anything to say, just say it, I’ll pass it on.” “Then wish her a happy birthday, and strive to get a boyfriend this year. Every time I take her out for dinner, I have to explain unnecessarily, lest people misunderstand she’s my girlfriend.” Ethan’s teasing voice lightly spoke of my embarrassment. I clenched my hands, nails digging into my palms. Caleb lowered his voice and chuckled. “Won’t happen in the future.” Ethan paused for two seconds, his voice turned cold. “What do you mean? She’s dating?” Caleb stepped forward, his free hand holding mine. I was stunned, wanted to pull my hand away, but he interlaced his fingers with mine tightly. Caleb looked down at my eyes and whispered: “Mm, she’s with me. She’s my girlfriend from now on. If you have nothing else, hang up.” 3 Hanging up the phone, Caleb didn’t let go of my hand. “Any plans for tomorrow?” I stared at the ground and whispered no. “Then I’ll pick you up tomorrow to go out and play. It’s quite cold at night, you go up first.” I nodded. Waiting for him to let go, I fled upstairs. Caleb called me from behind: “Ava, you won’t regret it, right?” I stopped but didn’t dare to look back. “No.” “That’s good. If you regret it, I’ll have to pester you relentlessly.” My face felt hot. Walked into the elevator without looking back. After returning home, sure enough, I saw missed calls from Ethan on my phone. And many messages. [Happy birthday, Ava.] [Bro is busy outside. Caleb was passing by your place on a business trip, so I asked him to bring the gift over.] [You’re with him?] [Since when?] [Why didn’t you tell me?] [Didn’t see you talking much with him usually, how come you’re dating?] [Is he pursuing you and you’re embarrassed to refuse? Don’t be afraid, bro will go talk to him for you.] I looked at the messages. Heart felt heavy. Couldn’t describe the feeling. The pleasure of revenge? Guilt towards Caleb? Or, unwillingness, grievance… After considering for a long time, I replied with a “Mm”. Ethan called via voice chat immediately. But I didn’t want to answer, clicked reject. Ethan sent another message. [Ava, have you really thought it through?] Thought it through. Don’t want to like you anymore. Ethan’s message popped up again. [Do you like him?] I don’t know. The Caleb I knew always had a faint sense of alienation at gatherings. But that superior face and cool temperament often attracted flirtations. Tonight he confessed first. Besides being surprised, I was a bit panicked. Now calming down, I also felt that agreeing to him was a bit impulsive. But Caleb might not be a bad choice. Ethan couldn’t wait for my reply and called again. I accidentally answered by mistake. “Ava, are you really with Caleb?” Ethan on the phone sounded anxious. So he can panic too? I gave a low “Mm”. Then heard him curse irritably. “Caleb forced you, right? Damn it, he knows you’re my sister, yet still made a move!” “Ava, you don’t need to be afraid of him. I’ll go talk to him—” I interrupted him, asking: “I’m not afraid of him. He said he likes me, so I agreed.” And you never said you liked me. So, why are you angry? Ethan’s anger stopped abruptly. Followed by the sound of smashing things. A woman’s frightened voice came from the side. Screaming asking him what happened. I suddenly felt that all the complex emotions just now disappeared. Ethan belongs to any woman. But impossible to belong to me. I should have seen it clearly long ago. I looked at the necklace Caleb gave me. Whispered: “Ethan, I thought you would bless me.” Before, I called him Ethan by full name. And was scolded by him for being impolite. Why call Caleb “Caleb” but not call him “Brother.” But now, I called him brother, and he’s unhappy again. Rustling sounds came from the opposite side, Ethan’s voice was tight. “Ava, wait for me, I’m going back now. We’ll talk when we meet.” The call hung up, Caleb’s message came just in time. [Ava, if Ethan comes back to find you, don’t be soft-hearted, okay?] [Give me some face, dating for a week is fine too.] I imagined what expression Caleb would have when saying this. Probably with helplessness, and faint pampering. I couldn’t help but smile. Replied “Okay” to him. 4 The next day after nine o’clock, Caleb called to ask if I was up. I hadn’t reacted yet. “Anything wrong? Caleb.” Only heard Caleb chuckle softly on the other end. “Forgot as soon as you woke up.” I immediately remembered agreeing to date him last night. Sat up abruptly. “Ah, I didn’t forget, I’m getting up now.” Caleb’s smile deepened. “It’s okay, no rush. Let me know when you’re ready.” After hanging up, my heart pounded. Covered my face in regret. Before when meeting Caleb. Ethan was always present. Oh right, speaking of Ethan. He said he was coming back to find me today. Thinking about it makes it more chaotic. Don’t know what crazy fit he’s throwing, getting so excited hearing I’m with Caleb. He doesn’t like me. Why care who I’m with? Clearly last night on the phone, I heard a woman’s voice beside him. I adjusted my mood and set Ethan’s WeChat to do not disturb. Forced myself not to think about him. Since I agreed to be with Caleb. Focus on it. When I dressed and went downstairs, I saw Caleb’s car parked downstairs. His tall figure leaned against the car door. Wearing a cashmere coat, standing posture lazy and casual. The indifferent face, upon seeing me, revealed a smile. Lifted his foot to welcome me. “Caleb, sorry, I overslept.” He gave a “Mm”. “Then how do you plan to compensate me?” I didn’t expect him to say that, stunned on the spot. “Then, I treat you to dinner?” He smiled and came to hold my hand. “Okay, but I hope you agree to another condition of mine more.” Although didn’t know what condition Caleb would raise. But being late for the first date is indeed impolite. I could only bite the bullet and agree. “Sure, say it, as long as I can do it.” “Change the way you address me, don’t call me Caleb.” (Note: In English, using first name is already intimate, so the distinction is less stark than Chinese. Assuming the request is to drop formalities or use a nickname.) “Ah? Then call you what?” “Cal.” After he finished speaking, he looked down at me. Face faintly showing expectation. “Cal” read once in heart. When about to say it out loud, it felt like burning my mouth. “C-Cal.” My voice was as small as it could be. Still heard by Caleb. The smile on his lips deepened, and he responded to me very seriously. “Mm, I’m here.” Setting aside the relationship with him. Caleb’s face, when smiling, is really lethal enough. Especially when you know, his smile is because of you. It makes one even more shy. I blushed and changed the subject. “Let’s go eat, I’m hungry.” Caleb said nothing, took my hand. He seems to like interlacing fingers very much. Last night when I agreed to date him, he held me like this too. But I’m not used to it. After eating, Caleb pulled me to see an art exhibition. “Cal, aren’t you here on a business trip? If the company is busy, we won’t go see the exhibition, you go back first.” Caleb’s family wanted him to go back to manage the company. But he said before thirty, he wanted to start his own business first. Before, every time there was a gathering, he would come sit for a while and leave. During the meal, calls and emails were endless. In my impression, he is a CEO busier than a workhorse. But today while eating, he didn’t look at his phone once. Now he wants to take me to see an art exhibition. Unexpectedly, Caleb said lightly that the company’s affairs were handled last night. Today’s time all belongs to me. I blushed, pretending to be calm. “Cal, I’m not a child, don’t need you to accompany me.” “Oh, then I am a child, I need you to accompany me.” Help, face hotter.

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When I was seven, Dad brought home a girl and told me to treat her like my own sister. Later, I found out she was the child of his late “white moonlight” (first love). After that day, Dad’s gaze never fell on me again. My “sister” was in poor health, so Dad spent most of his time at the hospital. Even when Mom passed away, he couldn’t make it back to see her one last time. He apologized to me: “If you’re angry, take it out on Dad. Don’t blame your sister, she’s not well.” In the past, I would have turned the world upside down. This time, I just looked at the father and daughter indifferently: “As long as she’s okay.” 1 Mom’s funeral ended. Dad cried until he was a tearful mess; it took several people to pull him up. Long after returning home, he was still holding a box, lost in thought. That was the first gift he ever gave Mom, a box she couldn’t bear to throw away. Seeing me enter, he hurriedly got up and ran towards me, almost tripping: “Did your mother leave any words for me?” I glanced at Sarah, who stood timidly behind him, and shook my head: “Mom left in great pain, she couldn’t say anything.” Dad noticed my gaze, shifted his steps slightly, and subtly shielded Sarah. Even so, he was still worried and added: “Dad is sorry to you, this is all Dad’s fault. If you’re angry, take it out on Dad, don’t blame your sister, she’s not well.” There were still faint scars on his arm, made by me. My reputation for being rebellious and unfilial was known far and wide; I would get physical with my own father at the drop of a hat. And my dad was known as a good man, gentle, considerate, never even speaking a harsh word to anyone. Everyone’s eyes were telling me, go ahead and make a scene, just like usual, find a handy tool and smash it at them. But this time, I only felt exhausted. I understood why Mom told me before she left not to make trouble like before, that it would be very tiring. She had been tired for over a decade and didn’t want me to be like her. She wanted me to walk out, leave here, leave that home. “As long as Sarah is okay.” Dad’s eyes widened, seemingly in disbelief. I turned around holding Mom’s portrait and went into my room, closing the door. Over the years, to treat Sarah’s illness, the family’s savings were almost gone. The house was sold, the car was sold, and the current home was rented for us by my uncle. Sarah’s illness was almost cured, but my mom passed away because there was no money for timely treatment. In the afternoon, I went out and dyed my eye-catching red hair black, and combed up my heavy bangs. I wandered the streets for a while, not knowing where to go, and went to the cemetery again. I wanted Mom to see, she liked me looking well-behaved and spirited the most. When I returned, Dad was cooking, and Sarah was helping on the side. The two were talking about something, their faces beaming with smiles. Sarah even posted a moment on social media: [I have the best dad in the world.] The accompanying picture was a beautiful dress. I casually liked it, and the post was deleted very quickly. Sarah looked at me, her small face pale. Dad hurriedly walked over to explain: “Emily, she… she couldn’t wear dresses before because of her illness, just commemorating it, don’t be angry.” “It looks nice.” The two looked at each other, confused. I sat at the dinner table: “What’s for dinner tonight?” Sarah hurriedly brought the dishes out, surprised: “Sister dyed her hair back?” Only then did Dad notice: “Why did you think of dyeing your hair black?” I shrugged: “The school doesn’t allow students to have red hair.” Before, I always went against Sarah. She liked wearing white, I wore black. She was well-behaved and sensible, I was rebellious and flashy. I wanted to be different from this good child in everything. I thought, this way Dad would definitely see me, blame me, scold me, right? After all, before Sarah came, he devoted all his efforts to educating me, giving me everything he could. But no, he never scolded me for this. Actually, he never noticed my changes. His eyes only fell on Sarah, so I bullied Sarah, putting cigarette ash in her cup, deliberately spilling soup on her white clothes. Sure enough, Dad got angry and hit me for the first time. Mom had a huge fight with him because of this. Sarah was scared into an episode, and Dad took Sarah away from home for half a year. Finally, it was my uncle who came to mediate and took Mom to apologize before he came back. At night, I got up to drink water and found Dad hadn’t slept yet. He was sitting on the sofa mending clothes, Sarah’s school uniform. “Emily? Up for water?” “Mm.” He held the clothes somewhat awkwardly: “Dad will mend yours after finishing Sarah’s.” “I mended mine.” His eyes widened, staring at me motionlessly. Before, I would throw the clothes directly on his head, ordering him to mend them for me. If they weren’t torn, I would deliberately tear them. Whatever Sarah had, I had to have too. I thought by making a fuss, I would get it. Now, I don’t care anymore. After drinking water, I went in to study. I promised Mom I would get into college. 2 Over the past few years, I had fallen behind too much in my studies, and the teachers had given up on me. Fortunately, I called the teacher just now to ask about homework. Seeing the sake of my late mother, she told me kindly and suggested I buy some basic workbooks to start from the simplest. The next day at school, classmates and teachers were surprised to see me like this. The homeroom teacher nodded: “Look how spirited you look now. Before you looked like a little delinquent, what was good about that?” I stood up and bowed to apologize to the teachers: “Before, I was ignorant and caused trouble for all the teachers. I will study hard in the future.” If it weren’t for my mom repeatedly going to the school to plead with teachers and leaders, I would have probably been expelled long ago. I did these things to get Dad’s attention, but it only implicated Mom. He never came once. Many classmates thought I was from a single-parent family. The teacher even made a special home visit to help me. As a result, seeing that I was actually sisters with the model student Sarah, she sighed helplessly: “Growing up in the same family, how can there be such a big difference?” Dad hurriedly pulled Sarah to pour water for the teacher, humbly and flatteringly saying: “Our Sarah is in poor health, we still have to trouble the teacher to take care of her at school.” Mom and I stood silently aside. When Mom left, she left me some money. It was the college fund she had saved for me over the years. I signed up for online courses and studied like crazy for a month. My grades finally weren’t so infuriating. Sarah’s birthday arrived too. It was her eighteenth birthday, and Dad meant to organize a good one. However, our family had no money to eat out. He cooked himself and asked Sarah to invite friends to play at home. Mom’s portrait was still hanging in the house; her “first seven days” (mourning period) hadn’t even passed. The kitchen was full of ingredients Dad prepared, all Sarah’s favorites. “Sarah can’t eat spicy food.” Seeing me chopping Thai chili peppers, he said. I ignored him and continued chopping. He suddenly walked over, grabbed my hand, and snatched the knife away: “I told you, Sarah can’t eat spicy food. She just recovered from her illness. What do you want to do?” He shouted a few sentences and wasn’t satisfied, then earnestly educated me: “It’s your sister’s eighteenth birthday today. Let’s not make trouble, okay? Can we let her have a happy birthday? Consider it Dad begging you.” What about my eighteenth birthday? My eighteenth birthday was spent in the hospital with Mom. He didn’t even say happy birthday. It wasn’t until the next day when he saw the cake bag in the ward that he remembered and made up for it with a gift bought casually at the hospital entrance. “Sister.” Sarah screamed, “Your hand.” Only then did I feel a burning pain in my palm. Blood flowed down my fingertips to the floor. My palm was cut by the knife with a thin and long slit. Not deep, but a lot of blood gushed out. Dad was startled and hurriedly threw the knife on the cutting board. “Emily, Dad didn’t mean to.” His voice trembled a little, looking at my face carefully, “Dad will take you to the hospital to bandage it right now.” I pushed his hand away: “It’s Sarah’s birthday today.” His movement stopped. “I’ll go by myself. It’s not serious anyway.” After speaking, I took my phone and ID card and walked out of that home. I didn’t see Dad looking at my back for a long time at the door, murmuring: “Has Emily changed?” 3 I didn’t go to the hospital, just found a pharmacy and bandaged it myself. Then I went to the bookstore, bought test papers, and started working on them. I got seven out of ten questions wrong. Angry, I slammed my injured hand on the table, the pain almost making me jump up and scream. “Even if you self-harm, you still won’t know it. It’s an IQ problem.” I turned my head and saw Lucas Reed sitting behind me. He curled his lip and smiled maliciously: “It’s really rare to see you here.” He is the academic god. Before, I never felt how amazing he was. But a few days ago, the teacher proudly announced that he got full marks in math again. And me, thirty points. Thinking of this, my eyes couldn’t help but fill with adoration. “Hehe, we’ll meet often here in the future.” He shrank back: “Whoever you are, get out of Emily’s body quickly.” I wasn’t angry at all, brazenly moved quickly to his side: “Teach me.” He glanced casually: “Choose B.” “Why?” “Can only choose B.” Me: “…” All afternoon, I forgot my injured hand and almost gave the academic god a heart attack in the library. When it was getting dark, I packed up to go home. Lucas had a dark face. The moment he walked out of the library, he said hatefully: “I hope I never meet someone as stupid as you again in this life.” “Hehe.” He stepped back a few steps in fright: “What? Don’t even think about it.” My eyes reddened instantly: “You know, my mom just passed away. Her biggest wish was…” “Okay, okay, okay.” He raised his hands in surrender. “If you’re not afraid of being humiliated and scolded by me, I have nothing to be afraid of.” “Thank you, thank you.” I excitedly held his hand, “My mom will definitely come to thank you personally from the netherworld.” “Thank Auntie for me, personally is really not necessary.” The bus came, I ran over quickly, and sincerely thanked him again. This afternoon, I suffered the most insults since birth. Lucas is smart, studies well, looks good, and comes from a good family, but has almost no pursuers because his mouth is too poisonous. However, amidst the scolding, I completed a test paper for the first time. Turns out, doing problems can also be so fulfilling. When I went back, Sarah’s birthday party was over. As soon as I entered, Dad hurried over, made a “shh” gesture, and pointed to Sarah’s room. Only then did I hear sobbing coming from inside. “She invited a friend but he didn’t come, she’s sad, don’t provoke her.” I pushed him away and turned into my own room. After a while, Dad knocked and came in again: “How’s the hand? What did the doctor say?” As he spoke, he handed over an exquisite gift box from behind: “This is what Dad bought specially for you.” Inside must be a hairpin. I have received many identical ones. Every time he lost his temper with me because of Sarah, he would buy something to coax me. The price isn’t high, incomparable to Sarah’s gifts, but it’s wrapped by him personally, exquisite and beautiful, making it seem like he values and cherishes this daughter very much. But, I am just this spineless. Every time I received it, my resentment towards him dissipated, and then I sat happily in the corner, telling myself that he must love me. He only treats Sarah so well because of her poor health. “Thanks.” I took the gift and put it casually on the desk, then continued doing problems. He stood by my side, watched for a long time, and finally sighed and went out. When I came out after showering, I saw Sarah standing in front of my desk, wearing that new dress. She didn’t notice me coming in, just focused on examining my test paper, her hands trembling slightly. “Who let you in?” She turned around a beat slow, looking at me with red eyes. Only then did I see what she was holding was the test paper I snatched from Lucas. “This, this, where did you get this from?” A young girl’s thoughts are just this obvious. Actually, I discovered her crush on Lucas earlier than she did. “Do you think I stole it?” I walked slowly to her and took the test paper. There was no name written on it, but she recognized it at a glance. Like him this much? “Sister,” she also realized her loss of composure and hurriedly changed the subject, “I came to bring you cake, saved specially for you.” She held the cake carefully, looking at me. “Thanks, but I ate out with Lucas today, very full.” Her smile nearly cracked, but she still tried hard to maintain it: “Is, is that so? Then, I’ll put it in the fridge first.” Watching her fleeing back, I felt somewhat carefree in my heart, but this pleasure of revenge was fleeting and didn’t stay long. Over the years, Sarah tried every way to please me and my mom. No matter how I bullied her, she just wiped her tears secretly, and after wiping tears, followed my butt calling sister this and sister that. However, no matter what efforts she makes, it cannot cover up the fact that because of her, our family fell apart. The next day, as soon as I arrived in class, Lucas came over brazenly and snatched my schoolbag: “I’m checking if you slacked off last night.” Then, while checking, he scolded me as a pig over my wrong answers. I looked up slightly and saw Sarah looking at Lucas, looking somewhat pitiful. Feeling wronged just like this? Perhaps, I should be more intimate with Lucas to make her suffer more. But I couldn’t do it no matter what, finally just sat silently in my seat. “You can get this question wrong too? Do you really have no brain, or are you deliberately angering me?” I lay on the table, answering honestly: “Really no brain.” Lucas was stunned, coughed twice, and actually started explaining to me. With Lucas helping me, my grades indeed improved relatively fast. By the end of the first mock exam, I was no longer at the bottom of the class. The teacher even specially issued a certificate to praise me, asking me to call my dad over, saying he wanted to award me in front of the parent. Since I went astray and rebellious, I had never received a certificate again. “My dad doesn’t have time.” The teacher was somewhat disappointed. But when I got home, I saw Dad made a big table of dishes saying to celebrate my progress. Seeing Sarah beside him, I knew what was going on. “Sister, these are all made by Dad specially for you.” I looked at the table full of bland dishes. Made for me? “Let’s eat.” I ate without tasting, then went into the room. Sarah whispered: “Sister seems unhappy?” Dad answered her: “Your sister has had this bad temper since she was little, unpredictable, don’t mind her.” When I was about to sleep, Dad knocked and came in, praising my progress again, and saying he would make me nutritious meals every day. “Just say it if you have something.” He was interrupted by me from painting a big picture (making empty promises), and wasn’t angry. After thinking for more than ten seconds, he said: “I remember your mom left two gold bracelets, right?” 4 My heart lifted instantly, looking at him warily. “Although Sarah’s surgery was successful, this medicine still needs to be taken for a while, so Dad thought…” “Don’t even think about it.” To treat Sarah’s illness, everything in the house that could be sold was sold. Only these two gold bracelets were left by Grandma. My mom had a huge fight with him and almost jumped off the building to keep them. This also became the only thought Mom left for me besides the pile of old clothes and shoes given by others. “Don’t worry, when Sarah gets better, Dad will definitely return them to you.” I stood up, trying hard to control my anger: “How return? This is what Mom left me, can you buy them back?” “No no no,” he waved his hands repeatedly, “Dad will definitely buy a pair of better ones for you.” “Get out.” I pointed at the door, “Do you have a conscience? What kind of life have Mom and I lived for Sarah these years? Now that she’s dead, you still covet her things. Are you human?” His face instantly turned cold, but after a few seconds, he looked like a good old man again: “Dad has been unfair to you these years, but Sarah is the sister who grew up with you. Are you going to watch her die?” “What does her life or death have to do with me?” I shouted at him hoarsely, “It’s best if she dies.” Slap!!! I lost my balance and fell to the ground. My left face went numb instantly, and my ears were buzzing. It took a long time for the dizziness to disappear, and my face followed with burning pain. “Do you still look like a daughter? I came to discuss with you because my temper is too good.” Saying that, he was about to push me away to find things. However, turning my room upside down, he couldn’t find those two bracelets. “Where are the things?” “Sold.” “Where’s the money?” I smiled coldly: “Spent.” “You…” He raised his hand to hit me again but was hugged by Sarah who rushed in suddenly. “Dad, I still have medicine, don’t hit sister.” I don’t know how much sincerity was in her persuasion, and I didn’t care to check. David Song (Dad) pointed at me with trembling fingers: “Get out.” I slowly got up, packed my few clothes into my schoolbag, took my ID: “Do you think I want to stay in this house?” If it weren’t for Mom’s shadow here, I wouldn’t want to look at them again. I put on my bag and strode out. David Song was still cursing behind me: “If you leave today, don’t think about entering this house again.” “Don’t worry,” my steps didn’t stop, “I won’t come back.”

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