Category: English

My new husband discovered my secret. He stared at the NSFW webcomic drafts on my computer—where the male lead looked suspiciously like him—for a long time. Then, he slowly opened his mouth: “So, this is why you agreed to marry me?” Help! Is it too late to say I have a split personality? 1 “Do you have anything you want to explain?” Caleb Thorne, freshly showered and wearing only a bathrobe, sat on the sofa, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. Explain…? I glanced at the steamy drafts on the screen in front of him and hung my head in utter shame. “I’m sorry…” Help! Is it too late to fake Dissociative Identity Disorder?! Let’s rewind thirty minutes. I was occupying Caleb’s study, rushing to meet my comic deadline as usual. I didn’t expect Caleb to come back early from his business trip abroad. Not only did he come back, but he also discovered the earth-shattering secret I’d been hiding! “Sorry?” Caleb glanced at one of the male leads on the screen, subtly adjusting his robe to cover his magnificent chest. He let out a chuckle that I couldn’t quite decipher. “Your observation skills are quite… detailed.” Hearing this, I wished the floor would open up and swallow me whole. “When did this start?” His tone was casual, yet it made me instantly obedient, like a student called into the principal’s office. “T-two months ago.” “We’ve only known each other for two months.” Caleb’s tone was ambiguous. His gaze held a hint of scrutiny, and then he suddenly laughed. “Well, it seems I need to rephrase the question.” Caleb stood up. His tall, towering figure cast a shadow over me, bringing an inexplicable sense of oppression. He raised an eyebrow, his voice cooling slightly. “So, this is why you agreed to marry me? For art?” “No!” I instinctively wanted to deny it, but then I remembered that I did have that thought the first time I saw Caleb. My voice trailed off guiltily. “I didn’t expect my little wife to have such an interesting job.” Caleb gave me a half-smile, his posture relaxing. “This is good. We each get what we need. No need to take it too seriously.” Get what we need? I looked at Caleb’s deeply handsome face, and my gaze slowly drifted downward. …If you put it that way, I guess he’s not wrong? 2 The first day I met Caleb, I drew a picture of him. Yes, without clothes. He was seemingly buying boba tea for someone, his suit jacket draped over his arm, revealing a Patek Philippe watch on his wrist. Sharp brows, an aura of nobility. Head-to-body ratio of 1:9. Perfect comic book proportions. Excellent. He fit the male lead settings for my new comic perfectly! I immediately pulled out my sketchbook and quickly sketched his precise lines. But as I moved lower, I paused, struggling with the proportions. “This size seems a bit small…” “Size?” A stranger’s voice interrupted. Lost in my thoughts about incorrect sizing, I replied without thinking, “Yeah, I feel like it should be bigger.” “Bigger…?” The voice held a hint of surprise. I realized something was wrong and stiffly looked up, meeting Caleb’s face. He smiled gently at me, but his voice was chilly. “So, what size do you think it is now?” “101, 77, 95…” [Chest, Waist, Hips in cm] I blurted out a string of numbers instinctively. As soon as the words left my mouth, Caleb’s smile deepened, looking elegant and refined. He took off his glasses and wiped them. “Your visual estimation skills are indeed impressive.” “May I have this drawing?” “Of… of course.” Without his glasses, Caleb was completely different from his previous gentle self. His dark eyes stared straight at me like a predator eyeing its prey. The immense pressure made me nod tremblingly. “Thank you.” Caleb thanked me politely, then extremely politely asked for my phone number. Just as I thought my spring of romance had arrived, Caleb smiled brightly: “My lawyer will contact you later regarding the violation of my portrait rights.” I instantly went poker-faced, cursing internally. Then, this man who threatened to sue me turned out to be my blind date that evening. Beside him sat a cup of boba tea bought that afternoon. —Oh, so he bought the tea for himself. Seeing me stare at the tea, Caleb leisurely took a sip, his tone apologetic. “I didn’t realize Miss Tory was my date, so I only bought one cup.” I let out a “Heh.” Old grudges and new hate combined, making my brain hot. I grabbed the tea Caleb just put down and drank half of it in one go. “It’s okay. Sharing a cup is romantic. I get it.” I deliberately winked at Caleb, eagerly expecting to see his face turn black. However, Caleb just froze for a second, then smiled. “$6.25. Venmo?” The tea was $12.50. I drank half, so $6.25. Realizing this, I cursed internally, vowing to draw Caleb as the bottom in my new BL comic. I aggressively scanned his QR code, added him, and sent the money. Caleb glanced at his phone, his smile widening. “Miss Tory is very interesting.” Pah! Dog man! 3 But in the end, I flash-married Caleb. Seduced by beauty, constantly tempted by beauty. Caleb was polite and gentle, making it clear from the start: “I need a wife to deal with my parents.” “Coincidentally, me too.” Back then, I was stubborn. Later, every time I bragged about “how handsome my hubby is,” I regretted it. —Wasn’t this just slapping my own face? But for now, Caleb didn’t know I liked him. I sighed heavily and messaged my bestie group chat: “Mr. Thorne came back tonight…” I briefly recounted the evening’s events. However, the focus of my four chaotic besties was clearly off— Bestie 1: “Late at night, freshly showered…” Bestie 2: “And saw steamy comics…” Bestie 3: “And in the end, he just coldly put on clothes and went back to the office??” Only Bestie 4 hit the nail on the head: “Tory, you weren’t wearing those Teletubby pajamas, were you?!” I retorted: “I wasn’t! Don’t talk nonsense!” Then I looked down at my Peppa Pig pajamas and thought, well, technically I didn’t lie. “Wear the one I gave you!” Sasha called immediately, sounding exasperated. “Put it on and wait in bed for your Mr. Thorne to come back.” “Tory, tonight is do or die!” I sniffled, gave a wronged “Oh,” and rummaged through the closet to find the wedding gift Sasha gave me— A themed outfit that extremely conserved fabric for the nation. However, I sweated buckets and couldn’t figure out how to put it on. So, I took a picture to ask Sasha. After sending it, I continued to struggle with the outfit. No reply for a long time. Confused, I picked up my phone and realized in horror that I sent it to the wrong person. Not only the wrong person, but I sent it to Caleb. —I nicknamed Sasha “Hubby Wubby” and Caleb “Hubby.” One word difference, fatal mistake! I tried to unsend it, but the time limit had passed. Just as I was racking my brain wondering if Caleb would believe the split personality excuse now, he replied. “Is this also a plot in your new comic?” 4 Sasha says I’ve always been bold. But right now, the “bold” me sat on the bed, clutching my phone, staring at Caleb’s message. After a long while, I tremblingly replied: “You guessed it…” After sending the message, I buried myself under the covers and let out a long sob. —So freaking cowardly! However, Caleb replied quickly: “Prepared for the protagonist based on me?” A few seconds later, another message popped up: “Although as the author you have absolute control over the character settings, the prototype prefers red.” Red… red? I stiffly turned my head to look at the black translucent fabric spread on the bed. My brain uncontrollably imagined Caleb changing into this outfit— I gasped, suddenly feeling Sasha was right. Risk it all, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle! Fight hard, and babies will drop! 5 To capture Caleb’s heart as soon as possible, I stayed up all night drafting a detailed plan. However, when I sent it to the group chat, everyone fell silent. “That’s it?” “You read The Art of War and only learned to run away?” “Honestly, I haven’t seen a ‘steamy’ date plan where kissing is the climax since elementary school.” Sasha immediately sent a screenshot— It was the protagonist based on Caleb from my new comic, with a red circle highlighting a hickey on his fair neck. Me: “???” Me: “I refuse to discuss work in non-formal talks!” Sasha is my bestie and editor. “Heh,” Sasha sneered, typing furiously. “This is the hickey you spent days drawing? Honestly, if you told me a pig gnawed on him, I’d believe it. Tory, the prototype is right beside you and you draw like this? I think you should switch careers to pig farming!” I fell silent. I was enlightened. So, I grabbed my tablet and marched to the study. Just as I was about to knock, the door opened from the inside, and my hand landed right on Caleb’s chest. Hiss— Big. Solid. Want to touch more. Caleb wasn’t wearing glasses. His gaze was sharp with a hint of scrutiny. He glanced at my hand with a half-smile, meaningful: “Preparing for the new comic again?” This sounded familiar; he seemed to have said it last night too. But a dead pig doesn’t fear boiling water. I feigned calmness, pretending not to notice where my hand was, tone deep: “Actually, I do have a favor to ask you…” Caleb didn’t speak, just raised a brow, signaling me to continue. “Sasha said the hickey I drew looks like it was gnawed by a pig.” I carefully observed Caleb’s expression and boldly continued, “You know, one must make sacrifices for art!” I saw Caleb’s smile stiffen for a second. His gaze swept over my neck darkly. He pinched the bridge of his nose and chuckled. “So?” Thinking of the group chat mocking my perfect seduction plan, I gritted my teeth. Heart steeling, I jumped onto Caleb, wrapping my arms around his neck, and buried my face into his neck for a big suck. “Tory—Mmph!” 6 According to my plan, I should have sucked hard on Caleb’s sexy Adam’s apple. Ideally triggering his beastly instincts, leading to this and that, achieving my ultimate goal. But I underestimated Caleb’s height. This bite landed hard on his collarbone. It hurt so much my tears instantly sprang out. Caleb grunted, instinctively cupping my butt to support me, his tone sounding a bit teeth-gritting: “Get down!” “No!” Even though it hurt like hell, I clung to Caleb like a koala, refusing to let go, crying and arguing: “This is for work!” “Work?” Caleb laughed in anger. He carried me into the study and dropped me into a chair with one hand. I instinctively covered my mouth, looking up at him tearfully. Caleb leaned on the armrests, squinted at my mouth, and suddenly laughed. “Art really comes from life.” I stared at him blankly, covering my mouth, unable to react. “Pig gnawing.” Caleb pointed at my covered mouth, the smile in his eyes deepening. “Seems your friend was right.” Me: “…” So freaking mad. “Put your hand down,” he sighed, helplessness appearing between his brows. “Let me see.” I whined, trying to act cute, but was scared into obedience by Caleb’s look. “Nothing serious—does it hurt?” Caleb curled his lips, changing the subject. Maybe the dim light in the study added some ambiguity, or maybe Caleb was incredibly gentle right now, so I plucked up my bear courage to ask for benefits: “Hurt, it hurts a lot!” I thought Caleb would comfort me, but he just straightened up, looking down. “Hurting is correct. Since it’s your work, why isn’t it on your body?” “It’s… it’s inconvenient to draw looking in the mirror!” I looked away guiltily, mumbling, “Besides, even if I draw it, it’s not drawing me…” Caleb took a deep breath and smiled at me. “Seen enough?” “No…” I glanced at the mark on his straight collarbone, painfully contemplating the probability of him agreeing to “one more time.” “Want to do it again?” Just as I was lost in thought, Caleb’s voice carried a hint of seduction. His eyes smiled, clear and gentle. “Or, give our dear author ‘Lady Wine’ some more creative inspiration, for example…” His fingers moved down slowly, unbuttoning one by one. His superior physique peeked through. My eyes lit up, completely missing that he said my pen name. I even obediently closed my eyes when he whispered for me to. Then, Caleb held my waist and pushed me out the door. I watched dumbfounded as he buttoned up his shirt one by one in front of me, his slow movements carrying a hint of ruthlessness. “Rest early,” Caleb’s voice was gentle, even polite, “or go busy yourself with work.” Then the door slammed shut in my face. I turned around expressionlessly, pulled out my phone, and typed furiously in the group chat: “I’m so mad!!!” “Caleb Thorne is impotent!!!”

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The New Year’s Day dinner was loud, crowded, and already too boozy. My mother, bless her heart, chose that moment—right between the turkey and the pie—to become utterly weepy. She grabbed my wife, Vanessa, the CEO of the local manufacturing plant, by the hand, her eyes swimming. “Vanessa, honey, thank you. Thank you for making an exception and hiring my oldest boy as the Chief Engineer.” “Felix never finished high school; jobs are so hard for him. It’s a miracle you—his sister-in-law—helped him out.” “I promise, he’ll pay you back…” I smoothly took the glass of wine from her hand. “Mom, easy on the Merlot. Vanessa’s infamous for being ruthless and playing by the book. She even fired me years ago just to avoid any hint of nepotism. No way she’d bend the rules for Felix.” My mother looked genuinely confused. “You don’t know? Vanessa said… you agreed to it.” I froze. I turned my head, staring at Vanessa. She immediately looked away. “Nolan, you know how hard it is out there for Felix with his background. I just felt a pang of pity. He needed a break. But you’re different. You have me. A job isn’t the most important thing when you’re married to the CEO.” Her voice was smooth, a practiced balm. “Besides, I’ve always provided for you. It’s my way of… making amends, I suppose.” I let out a laugh that tasted like tears. Good. That train ticket, the one tucked away for three years, inviting me south to a fresh start, could finally stop being a secret. … A sharp clink and the wine glass hit the floor, shattering the silence. Mom instantly sobered up. “Did… did I say something wrong?” A bitter, scalding flush of tears finally broke free. I swung around, fixing my gaze on the man sitting rigidly opposite me, as agonizing memories roared through my mind. Vanessa was instantly on high alert, physically stepping in front of Felix. “Nolan, this is ancient history. On New Year’s, you really have to ruin the night for the whole family?” I stared coldly at both of them. “So, you admit it?” The room was dead silent. No one answered. Rage surged. I reached up, tore off the pendant I’d cherished for a decade, and hurled it out the window. “Nolan, are you insane? Do you know how expensive that was?” Vanessa’s voice was a furious crack in the quiet room. I turned back, my eyes moving past her angry face to settle on Felix, who was shrinking behind her. He was wearing a brand-new leather jacket—crisp, expensive, and a perfect fit. Just last month, when Vanessa went to the city for a conference, she’d told me she was too busy to pick up anything for me. Now I knew where her attention had gone. “Expensive?” My voice was unnervingly calm. “Is it more expensive than my entire future, CEO Vanessa?” Vanessa’s face changed. She walked toward me. “Stop causing a scene. We can talk about this later.” “We’ll talk now!” I roared, losing all control. “On New Year’s? Do you need to be so dramatic?” Her tone was infuriatingly level. “Dramatic? How did I lose my job, Vanessa?” I hammered the table. “You told me if I got promoted, people would call it nepotism. You fired me yourself, in front of everyone, accusing me of trying to get in through the back door!” “And now you’re telling me you did it all just so Felix could walk into my spot and get the Chief Engineer title?” “I waited ten years for a shot at the city office. Ten years! And you wiped it all out with a single lie!” “SLAP!” A sharp sting against my cheek. Vanessa’s chest was heaving, her finger trembling as she pointed at me. “On a holiday, you want to dredge up old resentment?” Relatives rushed over to grab her arms. “Woah, easy there, Vanessa! It’s the holiday, talk it out, don’t hit him.” Just then, Felix suddenly burst into tears, dramatically throwing himself onto his knees in front of me. “Nolan, please, stop arguing with Vanessa. It’s all my fault! Only mine!” “I’ll quit! I’ll give up the job! I’d rather starve or beg in the street than cause a rift between you two! If you’re still not satisfied, I’ll just end it!” He bolted for the door. Vanessa grabbed him. “What are you doing?” The crowd rushed to restrain him. “Felix, hold on, talk it out…” Vanessa took a deep, shaky breath, then glared at me, her eyes spitting fire. “Look what you’ve done to Felix!” “Don’t you know everything I did was for you? If Felix hadn’t dropped out of school and handed over his tuition money, would you even have a degree today? I’m just repaying a debt! Can you stop being so selfish for once?” I stood frozen. The truth was, Felix had skipped school constantly, chasing gambling debts. He’d been beaten half to death and come home stealing Mom and Dad’s money. They were the ones who finally said he was hopeless and told me to go to college. I was the one who lost everything, yet I was the one being told to be reasonable? “My job is gone,” I whispered. “You fired me, gave my life to him, and you claim it was for my own good?” I slammed my fist onto the table, blood immediately welling up between my knuckles. The relatives clamored, and even my mother got up, speaking in that worn-out, long-suffering tone. “The past is the past, Nolan. Why make a scene? Just apologize to Vanessa. Your brother had it rough, too. It’s right that Vanessa helped him. Can’t you be supportive of your wife? She has it hard!” Vanessa lowered her head, a look of contrived remorse flashing across her face as she reached for my hand. But Felix was faster. He shoved himself between us, grabbing my bleeding hand. His eyes were wild. “Little brother, don’t be like this. It’s all my fault. I’m a drain on everyone.” “I’m a curse on this world. Just let me die! Don’t fight with Vanessa; she only tried to compensate me, she meant well—” He spun around, grabbed a sharp shard of broken porcelain from the table, and lunged it toward his neck. “It’s my fault! I’ll pay you with my life!” Vanessa screamed and threw herself forward, wrapping him in a desperate embrace. “Felix!” she sobbed. “Why are you taking the blame? If he hadn’t stolen your place all those years ago, you would be the one standing by my side!” The naked truth, a tidal wave of genuine feeling, crashed over the silent room. Vanessa shoved me out the front door. “Felix is trying to kill himself because of you! Are you going to stay here and torment him further?” The cold wind whipped against my face, turning the wound in my heart into a burning scar. I heard Felix’s hysterical crying behind the closed door. “It’s my fault! If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be fighting. I’m just a burden. Let me die!” Then, Vanessa’s voice—a tenderness I had never once heard directed at me—cut through the noise. “Don’t talk about dying. You are the man I love most. Don’t speak such awful things.” “I only recognize you as my husband.” I was hit by a shockwave, yet I started to laugh. Oh. I was the interloper. A torrent of memories flooded my mind. I was twenty-two, and the air was full of fireworks as Vanessa and I married. I was broke, but she was the factory’s rising star. She chose me anyway. “The men who want to marry me only want my money. But I know you want the man, Nolan. I’m only willing to be tied down by you.” Later, when she became CEO, everyone saw us as the golden couple. I was about to transfer to the city, my career peaking. Then she shot down my transfer application. “Nolan, the factory whispers are getting loud. People say I favor you. If you get promoted here, I’ll lose all authority.” “For our family, make a sacrifice. Don’t quit; I’ll fire you. You can collect a severance package.” I was too stunned to argue. She was the CEO, and her signature was law. No one else would touch me. Afterward, she held me, her eyes swimming with remorse. “I’m so sorry, Nolan… but this factory is my life’s work. I can’t let our marriage ruin my reputation. I’ll find you another job. A better one.” I chose to understand, seeing her self-reproach. But she never found me a job. Worse, she made calls, warning off any company that did business with the plant. I was forced into early retirement, spending my days keeping house, cooking, and doing her laundry. I thought I was sacrificing for our future. I realize now: my destroyed career was just to clear a space for Felix. I looked at my hand, the wound still bleeding. I wished I had a scalpel right now. I’d carve open Vanessa’s chest and see what was inside—was it stone, or was it iron? The hysterical crying inside had softened into gentle laughter. I shivered, whether from cold or anger, I couldn’t tell. I didn’t turn back. I dragged my exhausted body into the street, walking aimlessly. Passing under a highway overpass, a couple of thugs surrounded me. “Look at the fancy coat. Must be a rich boy. Time to hand over some holiday cash.” I frowned. “What do you think you’re doing? My wife is the CEO of the county plant! You want to rob me? I’ll have you locked up.” “Who cares about the CEO? God himself couldn’t help you now!” They jumped me. A blinding flash of pain, and I was curled on the ground, powerless. I tasted copper. I reached for my tie to wipe the blood from my mouth. One of them raised his foot, aiming for my head. I shielded myself, bracing for impact. Then a blur of motion. A few sickening thwacks, and the thugs were groaning on the ground. I looked up, a spark of warmth igniting in my chest. “Vanessa…” She stood over me, looking down with a mixture of disgust and contempt. “Well, Nolan. You talk about a future and a career, but here you are, hanging out with bums and lowlifes?” “I was blind. I never saw what a useless, pathetic waste of space you were.” A bitter taste rose in my throat, and before I could deny it, she grabbed my wrist. “Enough. Get up and come home. Do you have any idea how worried Felix is?” Back home, Felix sat innocently in the corner chair. Vanessa pulled a document from her pocket and slapped it onto my chest. “Sign this. After the holidays, you won’t need to show up at the plant anymore.” It was a resignation form. “What… is this?” She frowned, impatient. “I’ve secured Felix’s position. He can’t stay in that dumpy old house. I’m arranging for him to replace you, so I can officially apply for one of the larger factory houses.” She saw my expression and added, softer, “When Felix is settled, this house will be a testament to your contribution. A form of compensation.” Ten years of marriage, ten years as her subordinate, ten years in a tiny shack. I’d asked for a bigger place when I was fired. She said, as CEO, she had to consider the employees first and couldn’t be seen taking a bigger house for her husband. Now, the status I’d never attained was easily handed to Felix. My world collapsed, finally. “Let’s get a divorce,” I said, quietly. She didn’t answer right away. She was too busy nuzzling into Felix. “Red, you’re the best,” Felix murmured. Vanessa stroked his hair, a tender, chastising look on her face. “Stop being silly with me.” Watching their sickening intimacy, and contrasting it with her coldness toward my despair, I was done. I walked to my room, only wanting the box of train tickets. Vanessa looked up, instantly alert. “What are you looking for?” “Are you trying to hide the necessary paperwork so Felix can’t get the job?” She rushed over, pulled the file from the cupboard, and clutched it. “Give it up! I promised Felix I wouldn’t let him suffer!” Seeing her zeal, a dull ache started in my chest. There was no point hiding it anymore. “I’m not looking for files. I’m getting my train tickets.” She laughed out loud. “Tickets? Are you kidding? You think a weak threat to leave is going to scare me?” “Where are you going to go without me?” Yes, where could I go? She’d taken my job. But staying felt like a fate too brutal. I laughed through my tears, my voice raspy. “Vanessa, we are getting a divorce.” She paused, a genuine look of surprise on her face. “You… you know?” Her expression turned jubilant. “I was planning to hold a small wedding for Felix and me during the holidays. But since you’re still my legal husband, I couldn’t make a big show of it.” “Since you agree to divorce, that simplifies things.” She took my hand, a rare gesture of warmth. “Don’t worry, it’ll just be a temporary legal formality. If you agree to sign the papers, I can give Felix the grand wedding he deserves. After he’s settled, we can get back together. How does that sound?” She spoke casually, as if asking me to pick up milk. My heart was bleeding. “No need,” I told her. “I only want the divorce. I won’t be coming back.” She was too high on the excitement to notice. “Don’t be silly. I promised I’d be with you forever.” “Even if we divorce, it’s temporary. In my heart, you’ll always be my only husband.” I was disgusted. I wasn’t interested in being a placeholder. She frowned impatiently. “Since you agree, you must come to the wedding tomorrow—it’s at the biggest hall in the county. Felix and I will be there.” “Oh, and the money you had saved with me? I’ve used it. It’s for the wedding. Felix deserves a good ceremony so no one looks down on him.” I froze. She then took the pendant I’d thrown out earlier, retrieved by one of the relatives. “This is the necklace you threw. Take it. Don’t lose it again.” I took it in silence. She gave me a satisfied smile. The next day, after signing the divorce papers, I walked straight out into the freezing storm. Vanessa felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of emptiness, a crucial piece ripped from her core. She wanted to chase me, but Felix called out to her. The ceremony was about to begin. She stopped. That afternoon, firecrackers popped, and bells chimed. Friends and family congratulated Vanessa on her “new life.” And I was on the southbound train. Later, back at home, she and Felix celebrated. She glanced at the pendant on the coffee table, and a deep, cold dread settled in her stomach. The image of Nolan’s face, cold and final when he said he wouldn’t remarry, flashed into her mind. She felt heavy, unable to breathe. She threw open a window. Toot— A whistling sound, the steam from the old green train, pierced the air. She looked at the metal box on the bedside table. It was empty. The tickets were gone. She realized everything at once and ran to the bedroom. “Nolan!” “Nolan?” She screamed my name, but only silence answered. “What’s wrong?” Felix looked up at her from the couch. “Nolan… Nolan is gone.” Felix’s eyes grew wide, a sudden flicker of concern. “He didn’t come to the wedding today. I knew he was still angry at me.”

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It was the fifth year of my sentence. My mother came to visit me for the first time. She was a legendary defense attorney, a name known across the country. She was also the key witness who had personally put me behind bars. We picked up the phones, separated by a thick pane of shatterproof glass. Her eyes were red-rimmed as she asked how I’d been all these years. I told her calmly that everything was fine. Just as the visit was ending, she suddenly said, “Anya, Mom bought you a house in Seacliff. When you get out in three days, we can start over.” I managed a small smile but didn’t answer. There was no starting over for us. She didn’t know that to grant a final wish for a cellmate dying of cancer, I had helped her end the pain. The price for that mercy was my own life. I’d been sentenced to death. The execution was in three days. 1 A bitter draft snaked through the bars of the window, chilling the visitor’s room. The only sound was the low hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. My mother pulled a sheaf of documents from her bag and pressed them against the glass. “Anya Macqueen, this is the deed to the house. It’s in your name.” “And this,” she added, her finger tapping another paper, “is a letter of recommendation for the art school you always dreamed of. I’ve already taken care of everything.” She glanced at me, her expression a familiar mix of authority and expectation. It was her habit to arrange my life. “When you get out, you should go abroad for a while, lay low until people forget about… that incident. Then you can come back…” I nodded, offering a few polite, empty words. Seeing that our time was almost up, I hung up the phone and stood to leave. As I turned, my mother shot up from her chair, her hands slapping against the glass. “Anya, are you still angry with me?” “It doesn’t matter anymore.” I took a few steps back, putting more distance between us. My voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “Ms. Macqueen, you’re a public figure. You should mind your image.” I let a cool smile touch my lips. “We wouldn’t want your colleagues to get the wrong idea.” As I walked away, I thought I heard her cry out, but the soundproofing was too good. I couldn’t make out the words. A cold sweat had soaked through my prison uniform, making the fabric cling unpleasantly to my skin. I casually rolled up the damp sleeve. Under the dim, flickering lights, the network of pale scars on my wrist stood out in stark relief—souvenirs from a time I had tried to end it all myself. I paused, a strange thought occurring to me. Seeing my mother today, on the fifth anniversary of my incarceration, I felt none of the burning hatred I’d expected, none of the hysterical rage that had consumed me in the beginning. I just felt… nothing. As if I were looking at a stranger. Back in my cell block, the guard had already unlocked the heavy iron door. I pulled my sleeve down and walked toward my bunk. Brenda, the convicted murderer who slept below me, gave me a complicated look. “You’re back, kid? I helped pack your things.” She gestured to a small cardboard box. “See if there’s anything you wanna keep. The rest you can just toss. Start fresh, you know?” I opened the box. Lying right on top was a fountain pen my mother had given me before I was sent away. Engraved on its side were the words: To my beloved daughter, Anya. Brenda’s interest was piqued. She leaned over for a closer look. “Hey, from your mom? Looks expensive. She must’ve really doted on you.” Her eyes scanned the inscription. When she saw the familiar signature engraved below it, she froze. Her voice trembled. “Eleanor Macqueen?” “You mean the Eleanor Macqueen? The Iron Lady of the courtroom?” Her voice rose with each question, a crescendo of disbelief. “The top lawyer who never lost a case, who put countless powerful men behind bars?!” Brenda’s gaze shifted to me, now filled with utter shock and confusion. “Anya… with a mom that powerful, how in the hell did you end up in here?” I tossed the pen into the trash bin. My voice was quiet. “Because I am her daughter.” The daughter she had framed with false testimony to protect her own immaculate reputation. 2 As Brenda kept pressing, I sank onto the cold concrete floor and told her the story of my mother and me. In the beginning, my mother wasn’t a legal legend. She was just an intern at a law firm, a single mother with a child in tow, fetching coffee and making copies. No connections, no husband. The man who was my father had thrown us out like trash. The northern winters were brutal, the cold sharp enough to cut skin. I remember my mother in a thin blazer, holding me as we shivered under a concrete overpass. I knew she was starving, so I went and begged for a piece of bread, pushing it into her mouth. From that rock bottom, an astonishing strength ignited within her. My mother was reborn. At thirty, she won the industry’s most prestigious award. By thirty-five, she was a partner at her firm. At forty, a case she handled became a national sensation, and accolades poured in. The same man who had kicked us out came crawling back, begging for a reconciliation. She stood before him, her expression like ice, and slapped a lawsuit into his hands. “I keep a perfect record of who was good to me and who kicked me when I was down,” she said, her voice dangerously low. “From this day on, Anya and I have nothing to do with you. I will give my daughter the best life imaginable, and no one will ever hurt her again.” From then on, her career skyrocketed, but she never left me behind. No matter how busy she was, she always carved out time for me. When I was applying to college, she turned down a multi-million dollar case to help me study. When I was looking for a job, she called in every favor to pave my way. I worried I was holding her back, that I was a burden. But she would just look at me and say, “Anya, back in that snowstorm, if it wasn’t for that half a bagel you gave me, I would have given up. From that moment, I swore I would give you the world. You are my life, Anya. No matter how high I fly, you will always be my only weakness.” That was the kind of person she was. Her principles were ironclad. Once she made up her mind, she saw it through to the end. It was true in the courtroom. It was true in how she raised me. And it was true when she sacrificed her own daughter for the sake of her so-called “justice.” “Sacrificed you?” Brenda’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You two were all each other had. With a bond that deep, she’d still send you to prison? What in God’s name did you do? Kill someone? Burn down a building? Were you running a drug cartel like in the movies?” None of the above. The crime that put me here was aggravated assault. The year I turned twenty-two, my mother was an unshakeable titan in the legal world. She was no longer satisfied with winning corporate cases. She began pouring her energy into what she called “social justice.” She didn’t care for money or power. What she craved, with an almost fanatical devotion, was her reputation. It didn’t matter if you were a billionaire or a politician. If you broke the law, my mother would take you on and send you to jail. Her proudest achievement was her carefully crafted image of absolute impartiality. “This integrity is what put me at the top of my field,” she’d often say. “The law is blind. Everyone is equal before it. Even my own family must face punishment if they do wrong. There can be no exceptions, not a single grain of sand in the gears of justice.” She said she loved the law. But I think she loved the feeling of holding people’s fates in her hands even more. In the theater of the courtroom, she was God. Guilty or innocent, life or death. She decided. I never really understood her grand speeches. But one day, Kevin, a scholarship student my mother was mentoring, looked up from his books with shining eyes. “Ms. Macqueen is right. I admire that kind of spirit,” he said. “Justice shouldn’t depend on who you know. It’s about having a clear conscience. Look how well I did in the mock trial today. It’s all thanks to her guidance.” That summer, under the incessant drone of cicadas, my fate began to turn. 3 After that, my mother started bringing Kevin home often. She’d tutor him, run him through debate simulations. Our sprawling villa practically became his second home. Their bond grew closer and closer, almost like that of a mother and son. Then one day, she suggested he move in with us. “His family has no money, and the dorms are a terrible environment for studying. Let him stay here while he prepares for the bar exam.” Kevin nervously fiddled with the cheap ballpoint pen in his hands. He forced a strained, eager smile onto his dark, earnest face. “Anya, I promise I’ll be quiet. I’m a good student, and I swear I’ll repay Ms. Macqueen for her kindness. If you’ll just give me a chance, I’ll do anything to thank you both!” Looking into his seemingly sincere eyes, I was suddenly reminded of my mother holding me under that overpass all those years ago. Helpless. Desperate. My heart softened once again. For a long time, I treated Kevin like a little brother. I cooked for him, bought him books, and taught him how to navigate the city. He called me “big sis” and told me I was the kindest person in the world. He promised that when he became a great lawyer, he’d protect me for the rest of his life. And he didn’t disappoint my mother. He passed the bar exam with flying colors. On the stormy night we celebrated, he climbed into my bed. My mother was out of town on business. I’d bought wine and food to celebrate with him. By midnight, my head was spinning, and I passed out on the sofa. When I woke up, it was to his predatory face looming over me. And a tearing, searing pain through my body. In that instant, my world shattered. I fought back, clawing and screaming, grabbing the heavy ashtray from the nightstand and smashing it against his head. I sent the plates and glasses on the table crashing to the floor. Kevin clutched his bleeding forehead, his eyes cold as he watched me struggle. “Cut the act, Anya,” he sneered. “Your mom’s not home. Who are you trying to seduce, dressed like that?” Given the choice between his future and my innocence, he chose to destroy me without a second thought. I couldn’t bear it. I called the police. Then, sobbing, I called my mother. She rushed back overnight, her brow furrowed as she took in my disheveled state. “Anya, calm down. If this gets out, it will ruin your reputation.” Kevin immediately dropped to his knees in front of her. “Ms. Macqueen, I know I wronged Anya, but I was drunk! She was the one coming on to me, I just… I lost control for a moment. You’re the best lawyer there is! I have a bright future ahead of me, you can’t let a small thing like this ruin it! If you help me this one time, I’ll be like a real son to you for the rest of my life!” I was only twenty-two. Still young enough to believe in justice, to believe my mother would fight for me. I pressed charges. I wanted to see that monster locked away. But reality quickly taught me a brutal lesson. To demonstrate her unwavering impartiality, my mother recused herself from my case and became a witness… for the defense. In court, she stood on the witness stand, dressed in her sharp suit, her face an emotionless mask. “This is my daughter,” she stated to the court. “Her personal life has always been… promiscuous. I urge the members of the jury to look at the facts objectively. Kevin is a good, honest young man. On the night in question, to my knowledge, it was Anya who invited him to drink with her. I don’t deny that Kevin made a mistake, but in my view, this was a tragedy sparked by seduction, and instead of reflecting on her own actions, Anya grievously injured him.” She even testified that I had expressed a romantic interest in Kevin on multiple occasions. She knew her words were destroying me. She just didn’t care. All that mattered was preserving her saintly image in this high-profile case, even if it meant sacrificing her own flesh and blood. And what about me? What was I? Sitting at the plaintiff’s table, I wept in disbelief. My ears were ringing with the contemptuous whispers from the gallery.

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A new broom sweeps clean, and I was the first piece of dust she decided to toss. “You’re fired.” I didn’t argue. I didn’t beg. I calmly opened my laptop and began wiping my work drives. The new director, an external hire, crossed her arms and let out a small, contemptuous laugh. “Oh, playing the rebel? Deleting files won’t help you, you know.” She leaned in, feigning curiosity. “By the way, what exactly was your project? I don’t recall seeing anything critical.” I just offered her a slight, hollow smile, pulled a thumb drive from the port, and pocketed it. “You’ll find out tomorrow morning.” 01 The conference room was suffocatingly hot. The harsh fluorescent lights above cast a sickly pallor on every face, including the freshly installed Head of Projects, Naomi Price. “To optimize our organizational structure and boost team vitality.” Her voice was clear and carried a sense of inherent superiority as her gaze swept deliberately over every person present. Finally, that sharp, predatory look settled on me. “Kai Lawson, you are terminated, effective immediately.” The room went completely silent. I could feel a dozen pairs of eyes lock onto me—some offering pity, a few genuine shock, but mostly schadenfreude and cool indifference. I was the sacrificial lamb, dragged out to be butchered in front of the flock. I didn’t give her the reaction she expected—no outrage, no desperate plea. I simply looked up, met her gaze through my glasses, and gave her a calm two-word reply. “Understood.” My compliance clearly threw her off balance. The rehearsed speech she had prepared must have died in her throat. She frowned, visibly annoyed that her ‘lamb’ was being so meek. The meeting concluded in an awkward, heavy silence. I returned to my desk, a quiet corner by the window where I kept a few struggling succulents. My colleagues avoided my eyes as if I were carrying a contagion. Only Sam Miller, the intern who sat across from me, risked a quick, worried glance. I gave him a slight nod, letting him know I was fine. Then, I opened my work computer. Every click of the mouse was loud and deliberate. – “Format drive C.” – “Format drive D.” Two progress bars appeared on the screen, the blue bands creeping forward with slow, steady certainty. The sharp click of high heels grew louder, stopping just outside my cubicle wall. It was Naomi Price. She stood there, arms crossed, looking down at me with undisguised mockery. “A tantrum, Kai? Really?” Her voice was low, yet loud enough to carry through the quiet office. “I wouldn’t bother with these petty theatrics. Everything is backed up on the company server.” I ignored her, my focus fixed on the slow march of the progress bars. My indifference infuriated her. She stepped into my space, and the rich, expensive scent of her perfume instantly saturated the air—so intense it made my stomach turn. “Still fighting? Deleting files won’t change anything, you know.” She leaned in, body forward, and whispered close to my ear, feigning conspiratorial interest. “Tell me, what was your project again? I don’t recall anything essential. Just some dispensable, fringe work?” She was too close, her breath tickling my ear, and a wave of nausea washed over me. I finally turned my head, looking her directly in the eyes for the first time. Her face was a mask of the victor’s arrogance and the contempt for the loser. I looked at her, and then, I smiled. It wasn’t a smile of anger or sadness, but one of complete, cold detachment that she couldn’t possibly comprehend. The instant the progress bar hit one hundred percent, I reached out and, with a soft click, pulled a small, plain black thumb drive—the one with the scratched casing—from the side of the host machine. I slipped it into my jeans pocket, grabbed my worn-out messenger bag, and stood up. I met her eyes—now wide with confusion and a flicker of unease at my inexplicable calm—and said, slowly, deliberately: “You’ll find out tomorrow morning.” Without a backward glance, I walked out of the place where I had poured three years of my life. The colleagues I left behind were frozen in their seats. 02 I slept until I woke up naturally the next morning. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting warm, shifting patterns on the floor. I rose leisurely, brewed myself a pour-over coffee, and carried the mug to the balcony to water my small collection of succulents. My phone lay silent in the living room. I hadn’t touched it. I knew that soon, it would turn into a scorching hot brand. Meanwhile, dozens of miles away, the headquarters of Vanguard Tech was already in chaos. At 6:08 AM, the core operations channel for The Nexus, the company’s flagship AI system, registered its first red alert. [Level 1 Alert: Core Database Connection Failed!] Immediately, hundreds of thousands of error messages flooded the screen like a burst dam. The backend indicators for The Nexus, normally a calming, stable green, were now flashing a frantic, blood-red. All front-end services relying on The Nexus, from the smart customer service on the company website to the AI recommendation engines in key partner applications, now displayed a single, chilling message: “SYSTEM ERROR.” “SYSTEM ERROR.” The Nexus was completely down. Naomi Price’s recently promoted Technical Lead, a man named Brian, was dragged out of bed by a frantic series of calls and arrived at the office by 6:30 AM. He sat in front of the terminal, his eyes puffy with lack of sleep, sweating as he stared at the screens filled with low-level code he couldn’t understand. His mind was blank. Server restart. No effect. Rollback to a previous version. Insufficient permissions. Attempted repair. The code was a monolithic firewall, rejecting all unauthorized access. At 8:00 AM sharp, the roar of CEO Robert Montgomery echoed through the entire Technical Department. “What in God’s name is going on! Someone tell me!” Robert, a man in his late forties who usually embodied polished professionalism, was disheveled, his face ashen, pacing like a caged lion. Naomi trailed behind him, pale but still trying to bluff her way through. “It has to be Kai Lawson! Robert, it must be him! He was disgruntled, he maliciously sabotaged the company system!” Brian immediately jumped in to agree. “Yes! It was definitely Kai! His access was the highest; he’s the only one who could have done this!” A few older employees gathered in a corner, murmuring amongst themselves. “Nonsense, Kai isn’t like that.” “The Nexus was built from the ground up by Kai. The core architecture, the algorithms—all his. No one else here can touch the foundation.” “I knew something was wrong yesterday. How could Naomi fire Kai so casually? It’s like cutting off your own arm.” Naomi overheard their comments, her face tightening with fury. She shrieked at Robert. “We have to call the police immediately, Robert! Get Legal ready to sue! This is corporate sabotage!” “Shut up!” Robert spun around, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her. “The priority is fixing the problem! Not finding blame! If the system isn’t back online before the market opens tomorrow, the company is finished!” The entire morning was spent in frantic, disorganized efforts. But faced with the impenetrable fortress of The Nexus, all attempts failed. The company’s stock began showing violent, anomalous fluctuations, and several major partners had already called with furious inquiries. In the midst of the chaos, someone finally remembered the sight of me formatting my computer the day before. “Robert, when Kai left yesterday, he wiped everything on his local drive!” “I checked it myself!” Brian immediately chimed in, eager for credit. “The drives are empty! He left nothing behind!” Robert’s gaze snapped to him. “What about the backup server?” A new layer of cold sweat broke out on Brian’s forehead. He stammered, “The backup server… the core module for The Nexus… it shows… it shows ‘Access Denied: Insufficient Permissions.’” Boom. Naomi felt a sharp, sickening explosion in her head. She finally understood. The cold smile I gave her as I left, the calm finality of “You’ll find out tomorrow morning”—it wasn’t a threat of a childish prank. It was the precise timing of a calculated counter-strike. Her face, already alarmed, completely drained to a terrifying shade of ash-gray. 03 The sunlight on the balcony was perfect, and the breeze was warm. I had just finished watering my last cactus when the phone in the living room finally rang. It was an unrecognized number. I slowly set down the watering can, dried my hands, walked into the living room, and picked up the call. “Hello.” There was a moment of sharp, ragged breathing on the other end, followed by a voice attempting to project calm authority. “Hello? Is this Kai? It’s Robert. Robert Montgomery.” The CEO. I waited, letting the silence stretch. “Kai, listen… we’ve had a bit of an issue here at the office. Are you available right now?” He chose his words with extreme care, as if testing a live wire. I took a slow sip of my coffee. It was rich and complex. “Robert, I’m no longer an employee of Vanguard Tech. Per company policy, my employment was terminated yesterday at 5:30 PM.” My tone was as neutral as if I were discussing the temperature outside. The line went audibly quiet. After a few seconds of silence, Robert started to play the sentiment card. “Kai, I know you’re upset. Naomi acted rashly, and I’ve already reprimanded her. But the company has supported your career for years, and you have a loyalty to the work we’ve done here, right?” He paused, his voice now laced with undisguised urgency. “Look, can you… can you please come in and help us restore the system?” I almost laughed out loud. Help? Supported my career?

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I found an earring in the passenger seat gap of my professor husband’s car. It was the style his favorite female student often wore. He glanced at it and explained: “It snowed today, so I gave two students a ride on the way. Probably dropped it accidentally.” I thoughtfully put it away and said to him: “It’s okay, no need to explain.” I knew the students Ethan mentioned. The only one who liked sitting in the passenger seat was his female student, Chloe. Because of her, I had countless hysterical arguments with Ethan like a madwoman, and threatened divorce many times. After my miscarriage, he was the first to concede, promising me he wouldn’t interact with her privately alone. Seeing my indifferent face, Ethan was stunned, unable to hold back his question: “Do you not care at all?” Once, my care for him was exchanged for countless arguments, endless tears, and the loss of my child. Now, I really don’t care anymore. Chapter 1 I didn’t answer Ethan. When we got home, he stopped me, his face filled with deep fatigue. Looking at me with complex eyes, “Why?” I smiled and asked softly: “Isn’t this what you wanted?” Ethan was silent for a moment, then explained again: “Chloe is my student. Today I didn’t just drive her, but another student too, that’s all. Why do you…” He didn’t finish the rest of his sentence. I silently added for him in my heart. Why do I always speculate on their relationship like this? He realized his slip of tongue and sighed helplessly: “I didn’t interact with her alone. She sat in the passenger seat because she gets carsick.” “Besides that, she is my student, I am her teacher, there is no relationship.” I didn’t speak. Ethan’s expression changed slightly, carrying imperceptible exhaustion and helplessness. “Emily, then what do you want me to do?” I looked at Ethan calmly. “I don’t want you to do anything.” “You don’t need to explain so much to me either.” Thinking of the earring in the car, I said again: “How about you send it back to her now? Otherwise, it’s unsafe for her to come over in the middle of the night.” Ethan’s face changed. Chloe had come to our door late at night twice looking for Ethan. The first time her lab report was accidentally left in Ethan’s car. She came to Ethan with red eyes in the middle of the night. Finally, Ethan drove her back. Half a month later, I found a lipstick under the passenger seat of Ethan’s car. Ethan explained lightly: “Probably Chloe dropped it accidentally.” He put it away naturally. I frowned, suppressing the strange feeling in my heart. Still asked nothing. Unexpectedly, Chloe came again in the middle of the night. Naturally reaching out to him, “Professor Clarke, give me back my lipstick.” Ethan took it out of his pocket and handed it to her, tone indifferent: “Be careful next time.” Chloe stuck out her tongue playfully at him, “Got it, Professor Clarke~” She skillfully acted coquettishly towards Ethan, making demands. I froze on the spot. That was the first time I quarreled with Ethan. At the end of the argument, he closed his eyes and rubbed his brows, “Emily, not everyone’s mind is full of these messy things like you.” “Chloe is different from you, she is excellent.” My tears were still hanging on my eyelashes. Staring blankly at Ethan. Ethan said no more, turned and left. Recovering from thoughts. Ethan stared at me tightly, seeming to want to see a trace of change on my face. Unfortunately, none. My expression didn’t change at all. When I turned to go upstairs, Ethan’s hoarse and expectant voice sounded behind me. “Emily, today is our fifth wedding anniversary.” “Do you remember?” If Ethan hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Since Ethan started mentoring students, he only had one word for our anniversary. Busy. Last year’s anniversary, I called him nervously and excitedly. The one answering wasn’t Ethan. It was Chloe. “Mrs. Clarke, Professor Clarke is drunk. Do you want to call back when he is sober?” Hearing Chloe’s voice, I felt like a bucket of cold water was poured from head to toe. Ethan disliked others touching his phone, even I was no exception. The first year of marriage, I accidentally took his phone by mistake. Although he said nothing. But his expression wasn’t good. Since then, I never touched his phone again. However, Chloe could answer his calls without permission. Because of this, I had another big fight with Ethan. He slammed the door and left. Those meals and gifts I carefully prepared were left overnight just like that. I turned around, “Forgot.” Ethan’s expression froze, face full of disbelief. “Forgot?” I didn’t answer him again. Went upstairs, back to the room. Chapter 2 In the middle of the night, I was woken up by noises downstairs. Opened the door groggily, wanting to go down to see what was happening. Just walked to the stairs, heard Chloe’s voice. “I want to know what I did wrong? Professor, did Mrs. Clarke misunderstand something about us?” “You keep ignoring me, not replying to my messages.” “If so, I can go explain to Mrs. Clarke.” Speaking to the end, Chloe’s voice was already tinged with crying. Chloe is the only female student among the students Ethan has mentored for two years. Perhaps for this reason, others intentionally or unintentionally took extra care of her. Even Ethan mentioned her name much more often. After a long time, Ethan’s helpless voice sounded. “It has nothing to do with you, don’t blame yourself.” “Really?” Chloe asked suspiciously with a crying tone: “But, you ignore me.” “Mm.” Chloe finally smiled. I walked down slowly. Just happened to bump into Chloe throwing herself into Ethan’s arms, hugging Ethan’s neck tightly. I glanced, didn’t speak. Bypassed them to get water. Ethan’s face changed. Pushed Chloe away abruptly. Chloe wiped her face somewhat flustered, explaining to me carefully: “Mrs. Clarke, it’s not what you saw. I was just too excited, so…” I turned my head, smiled: “It’s okay, no need to explain.” “I want to rest, please keep it down.” Chloe’s face froze, subconsciously looking at Ethan. After sending Chloe away, Ethan came up to find me. “Emily.” He said somewhat tiredly: “There are problems between us, let’s talk properly.” I smiled: “What do you want to talk about?” “Talk about Chloe?” Ethan was silent. I sighed, looking at him with exceptionally calm eyes, calm as if looking at a stranger. “Ethan, I don’t think there’s anything to talk about. Chloe is your student, and your only female student. It’s normal for you to be good to her. I won’t be angry about these things, you don’t need to explain to me specially.” I said: “Nothing to explain, I understand all.” Ethan’s face turned white instantly. These were the words he said to me during our umpteenth argument about Chloe. Now I return them intact. He wanted to say something more, phone rang. It was Chloe calling. Ethan looked at me, hesitated. Finally picked it up, and turned on speaker. Chloe on the other end cried: “Professor Clarke, I got into a car accident, can you come over? I’m so scared.” Ethan frowned. “Did you call 911? Don’t worry, I’ll find someone to go over.” Hung up the phone. Ethan lowered his head dialing someone. Explained the matter in a few words then hung up. He looked at me, speechless for a moment. I spoke first: “If known earlier, how good if you sent her back just now.” Ethan was silent for a long time, then said: “It wasn’t convenient for me to send her.” I twitched my lips. The conversation with Ethan didn’t continue after all. He went back to the room. I was completely sleepless. Half an hour later, a very light door closing sound came from outside. Not long after, car sound rang. Ethan still went to find Chloe. I lay in bed, suddenly laughed. Chapter 3 Ethan and I met in the same competition in college. It was also me who pursued him actively. After three years of campus romance with Ethan, we got married after graduation. Two years after marriage, my relationship with Ethan was quite good. In the first year of his PhD, he won a breakthrough prize in physics. With his solid strength, he stayed at the university to mentor students after graduation. Becoming the youngest professor in the department. Ethan started to become very busy. Busy with experiments every day, frequent business trips, I understood all. Even on my birthday, he didn’t come back. No matter how lost I was, I still smiled and said it’s okay, work is important. I felt sorry for his hard work mentoring students. Afraid he wouldn’t eat well, I delivered meals to him whenever I had time. After a continuous year, he suddenly said: “No need to bring meals in the future, I can eat at the cafeteria, you running back and forth is too hard.” Later I found out, Ethan accepted a female student. When asked, he said: “Recommended by another professor, inappropriate not to accept.” I expressed understanding, didn’t ask more. Until I found Chloe often circling around Ethan. She was innocent and romantic, interesting in speech, especially good at acting coquettishly. Ethan, who hated noisy people so much, allowed a Chloe to turn around him, texting him to share life. When he returned Chloe’s lipstick, we had a big fight. Ethan felt I was making a fuss over nothing, “Emily, she is my student, don’t be too sensitive.” So, we had more and more conflicts. Quarrels became more frequent. All because of—Chloe. Even got to the point of divorce, but didn’t divorce in the end. Ethan didn’t agree. During that time, I was almost like a lunatic, checking Ethan’s phone neurotically, questioning his schedule. As long as he didn’t reply to messages, I started to think wildly. He took students to participate in competitions. I was questioning him crazily via messages. Until Chloe sent a voice message using his phone: “Mrs. Clarke, Professor is busy now, he will call you back when he finishes.” “I know you have strong controlling desire, but you have to pick time to make a scene with him~” “Can you not disturb him for now?” I couldn’t help it, sent many nasty words to Chloe. After Ethan came back, another big quarrel. He looked at me with disappointment: “Emily, how did you become like this?” “Do you know what impact your words will have on Chloe? If Chloe spreads those chat records, how will the school see me? And how will they see you?” “Have you thought about it?” Ethan didn’t mention a word about Chloe crossing the line. Only determined I was making trouble without reason. Until I fainted from being too emotional. Waking up in the hospital, informed by the doctor of pregnancy. Thinking of this, I touched my belly. Pity, I will never have children again. Ethan didn’t come back until the next morning. He didn’t explain anything to me. I didn’t ask either. Chloe was observed in the hospital for three days. After discharge, she sent many thank-you text messages to Ethan. After all, during the three days she was hospitalized, Ethan visited her whenever he had time. I didn’t ask a single word. Did what I should do. Didn’t even spare a look at Ethan. The other party hesitated to speak several times, but didn’t know what to say. After dinner at night, Ethan stopped me. Said to me somewhat hesitantly: “She was hospitalized these few days, as a teacher, it’s inappropriate for me not to visit her.” I froze for a moment. Thought Ethan would say something. Didn’t expect it was this matter. I raised a smile, “I understand, don’t worry I won’t trouble her.” “Anything else?” Ethan seemed unable to bear it anymore, questioning me with trembling tone: “Emily, enough.” “How long are you going to treat me like this?” He said: “You are different from before.” My smile faded. Ethan looked at me. “Are you blaming me? The child is gone, I am also very sad.” I looked at Ethan coldly. “Shouldn’t I blame you?” Ethan went silent instantly. I accidentally fell from upstairs. Ethan, who was almost home, turned back to send Chloe home because she said there was no car. Before I finished the rest of my words, the phone was hung up. When I was finally sent to the hospital, the child was gone. Doctor said if came a bit earlier, maybe could have saved it. Then came another bad news, my body was too weak. After this child was forced to miscarry, it would be difficult for me to conceive again. When Ethan knew, he knelt by my hospital bed blaming himself for two days. Begging for my forgiveness. After I was discharged, he started to change. Except for necessary communication, he no longer contacted Chloe privately. Would actively let me check his phone, report his whereabouts to me. But I don’t need it anymore. Too tired. And, I already bought a ticket to Chicago. I didn’t look at Ethan anymore, turned and went upstairs. Chapter 4 The day I left, Ethan’s team achieved another breakthrough and accepted an interview out of town. Also live-streamed. When the camera pointed at Ethan, he only said one sentence: “Thanks to my wife Emily.” The live broadcast room boiled, praising him as a loving husband. Chloe’s smile was a bit forced, but still finished the interview. I turned off the phone, went to the airport. Before boarding, Ethan called. Perhaps, this is the last call. Just picked up, heard Chloe’s cheerful voice on the other end. “Professor Clarke, you are amazing!” “Let’s celebrate well tonight?” I hung up the phone. Boarded the plane. Ethan subconsciously covered the phone, afraid of being heard by Emily. Hesitated, nodded. Chloe hugged his arm cheerfully, “Then Professor, it’s settled.” Ethan looked at the phone, only to find the call had long been hung up. The day he returned to Chicago. Chloe ran to his office in panic holding an urgent mail. “Pro… Professor, Mrs. Clarke sent this over.” “What is it?” Although puzzled, Ethan still took it. After opening and seeing clearly what was inside. His face changed instantly. Ethan slowly pulled out the two sheets of paper. When seeing clearly what it was, the office quieted instantly. Chloe stammered: “…Mrs. Clarke, what… what does she mean?” “Does she want to divorce you?” Ethan turned a deaf ear. Staring dead at the divorce agreement in hand, where Emily’s name was signed and fingerprint pressed. He never thought Emily would divorce him. Suddenly, his fingers felt something else in the file bag. His heart trembled. Understood what it was in his heart, but dared not believe. Ethan couldn’t control his shaking hands, pouring out the contents. A silver ring. Plain band, nothing on it. That was their… wedding ring. When just married, they didn’t have much money. Emily’s parents didn’t agree to her marrying Ethan. They felt Ethan came from a single-parent family, had nothing but good grades. Marrying would be suffering. Emily didn’t listen, eloped with the marriage license to register with Ethan. When picking wedding rings, others looked at gold jewelry. Only Emily picked this. He was unwilling, Emily pretended to be angry. “Just buy me expensive ones when you make money later?” Ethan’s eyes reddened instantly. He promised Emily to treat her well for a lifetime. But now, Emily wants to divorce him. “Professor Clarke?” Chloe called him twice again. Ethan came back from his thoughts. He didn’t sign. Put the things back. Chloe glanced at the agreement, complaining: “Mrs. Clarke is too insensible, knowing you just came back tired, still throwing a small temper.” “Professor, don’t worry.” “This isn’t the first time Mrs. Clarke mentioned divorce to you, didn’t she end up not divorcing?” Ethan frowned. Warned her in a deep voice, “Chloe, don’t say this kind of words a second time.” Chloe stuck out her tongue, a bit playful. “Okay.” But Chloe’s words also comforted him. When Emily made the biggest scene with him, they went directly to City Hall. But finally didn’t divorce. He determined, this was Emily throwing a tantrum again. When returning home, Ethan found Emily’s things missing by half. After coming back from Chicago, he was too busy to touch the ground. Didn’t go home. Looking at the empty house, he called Emily. Checked Emily’s messages repeatedly. Since the miscarriage, Emily changed a lot. No longer arguing or making noise with him, no longer asking about his whereabouts, nor actively texting him. Their chat page stopped at Ethan telling Emily about the business trip, the other party replied okay, after that it was his active sharing of life in Chicago, Emily didn’t reply. Thinking of this, Ethan edited a message to send to Emily. [Emily, when are you coming back?] But waited for a long time, Emily didn’t reply. Until before Ethan slept, phone vibrated. It was Emily’s reply. [If need to process procedures, I will go back.]

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I knew from the beginning. Julian Hale never got over the ex-girlfriend who almost cost him half his life. He allowed me to stay by his side for five years, promising me a title, Only because I was more obedient than Madison. I wouldn’t cry and say he trampled on my dignity with money when he gave expensive gifts. Nor would I threaten to break up over his scandalous rumors, staging a “chasing wife” drama. So on our wedding day, he felt justified running off to comfort Madison. Leaving me alone to face the embarrassment of the full venue. The officiant tried awkwardly to smooth things over, while his rich buddies laughed in a group: “Sister-in-law, being a wealthy wife isn’t that easy. Consider today our first lesson for you!” Unfortunately, Julian and they all calculated wrong. I didn’t swallow my pride to marry into a wealthy family, begging him to change his mind. Instead, I took off my wedding dress on the spot, took the money Julian gave me over the years, and quietly left New York. Chapter 1 Three hours past the ceremony time, Julian still hadn’t appeared. Ignoring the sympathetic or mocking gazes around me, I calmly removed the white veil pinned in my hair. Connor Hale leaned against the door, sneering with a curled lip: “Can’t wait already? Julian is just a little late. Want to be the future mistress of the Hale family, but don’t have this little patience?” I didn’t look up, continuing to face the mirror, taking off the matching jewelry piece by piece. His cousin, who always looked down on me, leaned in, persuading with a soft voice: “Sister-in-law, don’t take it to heart. Cousin Julian is always punctual. Today… maybe Madison is suddenly sick and needs his care~” She deliberately said the name “Madison” slowly and clearly, her exquisite eyes unable to hide her schadenfreude. I looked at her expression in the mirror and suddenly laughed. “Take it to heart?” I repeated, gently placing the last earring back into the jewelry box. “Why should I take it to heart?” The air in the dressing room suddenly quieted. I turned around, my gaze calmly sweeping over faces with various expressions. “You guys don’t really think I’ve been waiting for him for these three hours, do you?” Connor’s face darkened: “Scarlett, what do you mean?” I stood up, fingers touching the zipper on the back of the wedding dress, slowly pulling it down. “This dress is quite expensive. Pity not to take a few photos.” My tone was as flat as discussing someone else’s affairs. “Scarlett, don’t be ungrateful!” Someone couldn’t help but speak up. “It’s a huge grace that Julian is willing to give you a title. You want to play the runaway bride game? I tell you, if you dare walk out this door today, there will be no place for you in New York tomorrow!” Zipper down to the bottom, the gorgeous wedding dress slipped off. I had already changed into a plain shirt and pants underneath. I bent down, finding my old phone used for years from that pile of jewelry worth millions. Then, looked at every pair of eyes staring at me in the room, smiling faintly: “I never belonged here anyway.” “So, there’s nothing to lose.” With that, I ignored their stunned expressions and walked out without looking back. Julian is the sole heir of the Hale family in New York. Naturally, those around him are rich kids who grew up in piles of money. They always looked down on me. Compared to them, my background was like a glass bead mixed into a pile of pearls. No one knew why Julian chose me. So even if I was about to become his wife, the contempt in their tone never diminished by half. The person who disappeared today was clearly him, but in the end, I was the one facing criticism and ridicule. I should have had a good fight with them, returning the grievances and injustices accumulated over five years one by one. But I didn’t have time. I was leaving New York tonight and had to rush back to pack. Julian fleeing the wedding today, I wasn’t surprised at all. The night before the wedding, tossing and turning in bed, I opened my phone and accidentally entered Madison’s livestream. At 3 AM, she was still selling cosmetics hard in front of the camera. Years after leaving Julian, she didn’t seem to be living easily. The popularity of the livestream was unexpectedly high. But most people didn’t come for cosmetics, but were attracted by the constant screen-flooding gifts and that mysterious Top Donor. [Turn off the stream, go rest.] [Your stomach condition can’t handle staying up late. Madison, if you faint again, I won’t go take care of you.] [Unblock me, send me your account number, I’ll transfer you some money.] [I’m getting married tomorrow. Don’t contact me again, and stop putting on that pitiful look.] Accompanied by every cold text, dazzling gift animations filled the screen. Julian was generous to everyone, even to this ex-girlfriend he once hated to the bone, spending money like water. Madison’s voice explaining products already carried a slight tremor. She lowered her head to wipe the corner of her eye, voice so light it was almost inaudible: “Julian, don’t use money to insult our past feelings.” [Did we have feelings?] [Madison, for you, I almost lost half my life. I fell out with my family, even to force myself to forget you, I’m marrying a woman I don’t love at all tomorrow. I wanted to erase all your traces like a madman. It was you who let go first, you destroyed everything between us.] I stared at the phrase “woman I don’t love at all,” stunned for a rare moment. The comment section was already out of control, full of “Get back together” and “Don’t get married.” Madison bit her lower lip tightly, looking at the camera with red eyes: “Julian. If I say, I’m willing to come back to you, willing to pay any price to make up for it.” “Can you… not get married?” Chapter 2 I didn’t see Julian’s answer, but his absence today explained everything. It’s no secret that Julian can’t let go of Madison. Two years ago, my back injury relapsed. Julian insisted on giving up the superior medical conditions in New York and took me to a hospital thousands of miles away in the north. As expected, we met Madison in that hospital. She was still like the old photo in Julian’s wallet, young, beautiful, innocent. Julian supported my waist, looking at her expressionlessly, gaze obscure. But only I knew, the second Madison appeared. Julian’s fingers around my waist tightened suddenly, so hard that I frowned slightly. “Sorry, I didn’t know you would come here…” The girl retreated a few steps in panic. “I’m leaving now. I said I wouldn’t disturb you again.” Julian’s Adam’s apple rolled. I stood quietly aside, gaze falling on the tattoo on her collarbone. A puppy that looked very much like Julian’s dog. Indeed, a good match with the kitten on Julian’s collarbone. “Move.” Julian’s voice was cold as ice. But waiting for the elevator, his eyes kept drifting to the end of the corridor. “Hold it tight.” I said, “Don’t lose it.” The black card Madison held was Julian’s supplementary card. He was a man of clear boundaries. People who offended him in business never had a chance of reconciliation. And that unlimited black card was probably the last bit of warmth, a way out he gave the girl. Even though he said she was the person he least wanted to contact in this life. On the way back, a rainstorm suddenly started. Julian held the steering wheel with one hand, somewhat distracted. Phone screen lit up. A number not saved in contacts. He glanced at it and slammed the brakes. I rushed forward, forehead hitting the windshield hard. Blood gushed out instantly. “Julian…” Suppressed sobbing came from the phone. “Sorry, I really shouldn’t call you… but my mom is critically ill, the hospital says it’s urgent, I don’t know who else to call…” “I’m so scared… I…” Julian looked at me, panic unable to be hidden in his eyes: “Scarlett, you go back first, I have something urgent.” I rarely saw Julian like this. Even when the company faced life and death, he hadn’t been this panicked. Panicked enough to let me get off at a highway exit late at night. Panicked enough to drive recklessly in the rainstorm. Panicked enough to forget, on a winter night of minus five degrees, I was only wearing a thin shirt. He just left. Leaving me shivering in the howling cold wind. The highway exit was desolate. I couldn’t call a car. After standing in the cold wind for nearly four hours, Julian came back with hazard lights flashing. Obvious fatigue between his brows. “Madison fainted.” I lowered my eyes. “Arrived at the hospital only to find out her mother was just hospitalized normally. She exaggerated the condition in a panic. I turned to leave, she fainted from emotional agitation. She’s fine now.” He approached, holding my hands red from cold. “Sorry, made you wait alone for so long… She’s been in a bad state recently, I was afraid she would do something stupid.” I didn’t know what to say. “Have you really… let her go?” I heard my own voice asking. If he really couldn’t let go, I wouldn’t tactlessly continue to stand in the middle. After driving far away, Julian whispered: “There’s nothing about letting go or not. I’m not a fool to hang myself on one tree.” “Just… seeing her helpless now, felt a bit pitiful.” Oh. So he hasn’t let go. Since then, Julian consciously hid all news related to Madison from me. I knew, but I didn’t care. Because every time after he got involved with Madison, the jewelry or real estate he casually compensated me with was enough for an ordinary person to strive for a lifetime. So what? One can’t refuse real money for self-esteem. Chapter 3 Because everyone knew how much Julian cared about Madison, they never thought I could stay by his side for long. So when we announced our marriage, almost everyone thought it was incredible. A week before the wedding banquet, Connor organized a grand bachelor party. He booked the most high-end private club in the city, inviting the most playful socialites in the circle. All with exquisite makeup and slender figures. Of course, Madison was invited too. I had no reaction. Instead, Julian frowned slightly, whispering to me: “These people play without limits. If you feel uncomfortable, find an excuse to go back first later.” Just as he was about to lead me inside, Connor blocked the way smiling: “Sister-in-law, you don’t usually come to our gatherings. It’s normal not to be used to it.” Wearing a deep V black shirt, he handed me a glass of champagne. “Our circle is like this, playing open, different from your rhythm of living a steady life.” I smiled, took the glass, and took a sip. Looking down to adjust my skirt, tone calm: “It’s okay, as long as you enjoy yourselves. Just don’t play too late. Watch Julian for me, don’t let him drink too much.” Julian was obviously stunned, seeming not to expect my reaction. Connor didn’t notice his brother’s strangeness, putting his arm around Julian’s shoulder: “Julian, sister-in-law said so, what are you waiting for? Come in!” “I specially messaged Madison to come. Last single night, rare opportunity.” For Connor’s childish provocation, my heart had no waves, just calmly waved at Julian. Unexpectedly, he suddenly grabbed my wrist, brows locked tight: “Scarlett, what do you mean? Pushing me out?” Pushing you out? But when did you ever truly belong to me? I felt it a bit laughable, looking up and asking back: “Then if I say, I don’t want you to go, don’t want you to see Madison, can you agree?” Inside the private room, lights were blurry, music restless. I looked at Julian quietly. Connor spoke before him, raising his voice: “Julian! Everyone is waiting!” Julian’s eyes flickered, Adam’s apple rolled, finally letting go of my hand. “Scarlett, wait for me at home.” Before he finished, he was pulled in forcefully by Connor. Standing in the shadow of the corridor, I glanced through the door crack, turned and left, never looking back. On the way out, a loud noise suddenly came from the next private room. Followed by a girl’s suppressed crying. Very familiar, sounded like Madison. Just as I approached, the door was pushed open violently. A man stumbled out covering his bleeding forehead, smelling of alcohol: “Who do you think you are? Dare to hit me?” “This isn’t over today!” Madison looked up, looking like she suffered a huge grievance. “I don’t know you! You kept pestering me!” The man was exasperated: “You slut pretending to be pure! Either pay up, or don’t think about leaving tonight!” Madison’s eyes reddened, tears swirling but stubbornly held back. Red eyes swept towards me. “Laugh if you want… I have no backer, but I’m not lower than anyone. Don’t look down on me!” Speaking as if the person humiliating her right now was me. The man steadied himself, grabbing her wrist. “Then pay.” “I have no money.” “Then drink all this wine, and I’ll let you go.” The man glimpsed the corner of the black card in her bag. “Using this kind of card and telling me no money?” “No!” Madison cried out, “This can’t be touched!” “I’ll drink!” She squatted by the coffee table, grabbing the bottle and pouring it into her mouth. Alcohol choked her into coughing violently, but she wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t stand it. “How much, I’ll pay.” “Don’t need your hypocrisy!” Madison screamed out of control. She raised her hand, slapping me hard. “It’s all your fault! You stole Julian!” “Didn’t you call me here today just to show off you’re marrying him? You think I don’t know?!” “Now using money to trample my dignity! I don’t want your charity!” Ears buzzing. Spinning, I saw the door pushed open, Julian rushed in, passing me. He held the trembling girl tightly in his arms. “Madison, stop being cowardly, hit back!” “Why didn’t you use the money I gave you!” I almost couldn’t stand steady. Holding the wall, cheek burning with pain. “Scarlett!” Julian looked at me, eyes cold as ice. “You said go back first, just to come here to trouble Madison?!” I opened my mouth, said nothing, turned and left. Of course he wouldn’t know, I wished he thought I did it. After all, the more he hates me, the cleaner I can leave. Julian finally returned home at 3 AM smelling of smoke and alcohol. I hadn’t slept, checking immigration procedures in the study. He leaned over, hugging me from behind, chin on my shoulder, hot breath mixed with alcohol spraying on my ear. “Why haven’t you slept? Waiting for me?” “Mm. Is Madison okay?” “Sorry, I misunderstood you. That man deliberately troubled Madison. I handled it, sent her home and came back.” He nuzzled my neck, tone fawning: “I kept checking my phone, you didn’t send a single message. Still angry?” I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. Who knew he was extra clingy today, insisting on turning my face to look into my eyes. “Jealous? I swear, I didn’t touch Madison, Connor can testify. I didn’t touch any of those girls, didn’t give contact info.” I looked at him for a long time, finally sighed, resignedly supporting him to the bedroom. Chapter 4 First time I met Julian was by the old book stall outside the north gate of NYU. He probably just came out of the club opposite, holding a black umbrella, face gloomy, like he just had a big fight. Just as he was about to get in the car, the stall owner suddenly grabbed me trying to put back an old dictionary. “Stop! Page corner folded, you have to buy this book!” “I just opened it to look… this crease was already there.” I tried to explain, voice drifting in the wind. Owner relentless: “I say you did it, you did it! Thirty dollars, don’t leave without a cent less!” During the struggle, the backpack strap couldn’t bear the load, ripped open, books scattering all over the ground. The student loan overdue notice sandwiched in the book floated out, instantly soaked by puddle water. Just as I squatted to pick it up, a black umbrella steadied over my head. “How much?” Julian’s voice wasn’t loud, but carried an unquestionable coldness. The owner froze, looked up at him and the car behind him, momentum instantly weakened: “Th… thirty…” Julian didn’t speak. Assistant behind him already pulled out a bill and handed it over. Owner took the money, muttering and retreating behind the stall. He then looked down at me. Gaze swept over my soaked hair, finally landing on that crumpled tuition bill. “Which school?” “…NYU.” He nodded, handed the umbrella to me, squatted down himself, picking up my books soaked in dirty water one by one, stacking them. I stood there blankly holding the umbrella, watching him take off his trench coat, putting it on my thin sweater without refusal. “Get in, I’ll send you back.” His car was parked by the road, interior spotless, heating on high. “Short of money?” He looked ahead, tone flat as discussing weather. “Mm.” “Name?” “…Scarlett.” He tapped the steering wheel twice, seeming to think. “Follow me. Your tuition, living expenses, I’ll cover. Plus, $50,000 monthly allowance.” Reason told me to refuse immediately. This was too absurd, unreasonable. No free lunch in this world. But from the corner of my eye, seeing luxury goods placed everywhere in his car, and dollar bills thrown all over the back seat. I wavered. I needed this money, needed to get rid of the immediate predicament, needed… to seize this sudden possibility. Car stopped at the tree-lined avenue outside the dorm area. Rain had lessened. He didn’t rush me to get off, just waited quietly. “Why?” I heard myself ask. He turned to look at me, no warmth in his eyes: “You look quite obedient.” Paused, he added: “Besides, this little money means nothing to me.” Yes, indeed means nothing. My embarrassment, my struggle, in his world, small enough not to mention. I lowered my eyes, gripping the wet books in my arms. “…Thank you. I will consider it carefully.” At that time, I didn’t understand why he did this. But later hearing his roar on the phone, I understood everything. To him, I was just a whim, just to prove to Madison who left him that he had moved on, just a… tool to provoke old love. But perhaps it was the desire for money, or a trace of inexplicable heartbeat, that made me choose silence at that moment. I knew what I was doing, and knew what I wanted. Anything but love. … Maybe because my attitude towards Julian’s absence was too calm, his friends were uncertain, secretly calling him. “Julian! Scarlett seems to be going home to pack, looks like she’s leaving New York!” Girl’s joyful laughter came from the phone. Julian’s voice carried a faint impatience of being disturbed. “Leaving? What is she making a fuss about now.” “Today is your wedding… guests are all here.” “So what?” Julian chuckled lightly. “Tell her, don’t be willful, I’ll go over when I’m done.” “Julian, this time seems not willful, she…” Julian interrupted, tone casual: “Those pearl earrings I gave her last month, suitable for today, let her wear them.” Silence on the other end for a moment. “…Mentioning this now is probably inappropriate. Scarlett looks serious.” “What’s inappropriate?” Julian’s voice was careless. “She stays with me for money, right? Real estate, shares, jewelry, what have I given less? Putting on this attitude now… taking herself too seriously.” He paused, seeming to sip wine. “Tell her, I’ll transfer another million to her account, make her behave. If not, I’ll say some nice words when I get back. Women, just coax them.” Phone hung up. Whispering outside the door stopped abruptly. Those friends who tried to smooth things over for him now looked complex. “Just for money?” “Just coax her.” I hooked the corner of my mouth extremely sarcastically at the lonely wedding ring on the vanity table. Then opened the door, walked out calmly under everyone’s varying gazes. Let him leave his money and love to Madison.

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“Alice, the company has decided to terminate your employment.” HR director Janet’s voice was flat. I glanced at my phone—the photo of the positive pregnancy test still lit the screen. I’d just found out yesterday. Today, I was being let go. “On what grounds?” “Restructuring.” I almost laughed. Three months ago, my colleague Jessica got pregnant. Our boss even gave her a bonus and three months of paid leave. The day after I find out, I’m suddenly “restructured.” “And the severance?” “Two months’ salary.” After six years, standard compensation should be around $120,000. She was offering twenty. “Fine,” I stood up. “But a reminder—the Astra Group contract renews next week. I haven’t handed over the files yet.” Janet paled. I walked out. An $18 million account. Good luck landing that without me. 1 The conference room door clicked shut behind me. I leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath. My palms were slick with sweat. Down the hall, my boss, Bonnie, was standing by the door to the breakroom. When she saw me, she picked up her mug and strolled over, her pace infuriatingly casual. “Alice. All done in there?” she asked, as if she were asking what I wanted for lunch. “Bonnie,” I said, looking her straight in the eye. “I want to know why.” “Why what?” “Three months ago, Jessica announced her pregnancy, and you gave her paid leave.” I held her gaze. “The day after I find out I’m pregnant, I’m being pushed out.” Bonnie smiled. “Alice, you make it sound like the company is targeting you.” She took a sip of her coffee. “Jessica’s situation is different from yours.” “How is it different?” “She has a high-risk pregnancy. She needs to rest. You don’t.” “That doesn’t mean you can fire me the very next day,” I said, my voice tight with anger. “I’ve worked here for six years. I’ve handled the Astra Group account by myself from the very beginning.” A flicker of something—annoyance? unease?—passed through Bonnie’s eyes. “And?” She set her mug down and leaned in closer. “Alice, let me be honest with you. This company doesn’t pay people to sit around.” “You’re pregnant. You’ll be on leave for at least half a year, right? Who’s going to manage the account then?” “I can work remotely while I’m on leave, I can—” “And you think the client will be okay with that?” she cut me off. “Look, don’t get emotional. This was a company decision, not something I could control.” I clenched my fists. “Then what about Jessica? She’s taking leave, too. Why does she get to stay?” Bonnie’s expression shifted. A subtle, unnatural stiffness, the look of someone caught off guard. “Her situation…” “How is her situation any different?” I pressed. “She’s only been here a year, she’s never managed a major account. Why does her pregnancy get her a vacation, while mine gets me fired?” Bonnie was silent for a few seconds. Then she laughed. “Alice, you’re a capable employee, no doubt.” “But you think you’re more important than you are.” She turned and walked away, leaving me with one final, cutting remark. “This company will do just fine without you.” I stood frozen in the hallway, watching her go. My phone vibrated. A message from my husband: How did it go? I didn’t reply. Because I saw someone else. Jessica was coming out of Bonnie’s office, holding a folder. She saw me and stopped for a second, then walked over with a smile. “Alice, I heard you weren’t feeling well. Are you taking some time off?” Her baby bump was just starting to show. And the file in her hand… I saw the title. Astra Group 2024 Partnership Renewal Proposal. It was the proposal I wrote. My name had been crossed out. Hers was written in its place. 2 I didn’t say a word. Noticing my stare, Jessica instinctively hid the folder behind her back. “Alice? Is everything okay?” “That’s my proposal,” I said, pointing behind her. “I worked on it for three months. I just finalized it last week.” She blinked. “Oh, this?” “Bonnie said you were leaving, so she asked me to start getting familiar with the account.” “When did I say I was leaving?” Jessica’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second. Then it was back. “Alice, you’ll have to ask Bonnie about that. I’m just doing what my manager told me to do.” She tried to step around me, but I blocked her path. “Jessica, be straight with me,” I said. “What do you know about this?” She looked up at me, her eyes darting away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Alice. I’m just taking over a work assignment.” She sidestepped me and hurried away. I stood there, pieces clicking together in my head. Jessica had joined the company three months ago. Bonnie had introduced her as a distant cousin and asked me to “show her the ropes.” And I did. Client files, communication protocols, email chains—I taught her everything, step by step. I thought I was training my successor. Turns out, I was training my replacement. My phone vibrated again. Three frantic messages from my husband. How’s the baby? What did the company say? Don’t panic. Whatever it is, we can talk about it when you get home. I shoved my phone in my pocket and walked toward my desk. As I pushed open the glass door to our department, two dozen pairs of eyes snapped toward me, then quickly looked away. The office was eerily silent. Liz, the office gossip, was staring intently at her screen, motionless. The intern, a young man named Jake, opened his mouth as if to speak, then shut it. I walked to my desk. A cardboard box was sitting on my chair. Next to it was a document. Employee Offboarding Checklist. They’d even packed for me. I picked up the list. First item: Astra Group project files and client contact information. Second item: Shared departmental drive administrative access. Third item: Company-issued laptop and access card. At the bottom, a line was reserved for my signature. The date was today. I put the list down and opened my laptop. Before I could even type my password, a message popped up on the screen: Your account has been disabled. Please contact the IT department with any questions. The account was locked. They weren’t even giving me time to process it. “Alice.” A quiet voice came from behind me. I turned. It was Jake, the intern. “What is it?” He bit his lip, his eyes flicking toward Bonnie’s office. “During the morning meeting…” “What meeting?” “The daily huddle. Before you went into the conference room, Bonnie already told us.” His voice got quieter. “Told you what?” “That you had resigned for… for personal family reasons.” “She also told us to be understanding and not to pressure you.” I stared at him, stunned. “I resigned?” Jake nodded. “She also said Jessica would be temporarily taking over the Astra account. Her exact words were… ‘at Alice’s recommendation.’” He looked at me, his expression troubled. “I just thought… I just thought it was strange. You work so hard. Why would you suddenly quit?” I didn’t answer. Bonnie’s office door opened. She stood in the doorway and beckoned to me. “Alice, come in for a second.” 3 I walked in. Bonnie was sitting behind her desk. She gestured for me to close the door. “Have a seat.” I remained standing. “Bonnie, I have a few questions.” “Go ahead.” “First, on what legal grounds am I being terminated?” “Departmental restructuring. Didn’t Janet tell you?” she said, flipping through a file without looking up. “Second, why did you tell my colleagues that I resigned?” Bonnie’s hand paused. “Alice, you’re a veteran employee. Isn’t it better to part ways gracefully?” “I don’t need grace,” I said, my eyes fixed on her. “I need a reasonable explanation.” She finally looked up. “What explanation do you want?” “Is there a problem with my performance?” “No.” “Have I ever caused the company any losses?” “No.” “Then why are you forcing me out?” Bonnie sighed. “Alice, you’re a smart woman. There are some things I’d rather not say so bluntly.” “I’m not afraid of blunt.” She looked at me, a complex expression on her face. “Fine. I’ll be direct.” “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” “Yes.” “Your pregnancy, maternity leave, and nursing leave will add up to at least a year. Can you work normally during that time?” “I can—” “You can what? Work remotely? Part-time?” She gave a small, humorless smile. “Alice, our clients aren’t idiots. Astra Group pays us eighteen million dollars a year. Why should they wait for you to have a baby before they talk business?” “Then you could have at least let me complete the handover—” “There’s no time,” she cut me off. “The renewal window is next week.” “And besides…” She paused. “Besides what?” “Besides, Mr. Vance at Astra already knows you’re leaving.” I froze. “What?” “I spoke with him this morning,” Bonnie said, her expression perfectly calm. “I told him you were resigning for family reasons and that Jessica would be taking over. He said that was fine.” My head was spinning. She had notified the client before I was even called into the meeting. This wasn’t a negotiation. It was a dismissal. “So,” Bonnie said, standing and walking around her desk to face me, “you sign the papers, and we can all move on amicably.” “If you don’t sign…” Her voice dropped. “Alice, it’s been six years. You know how I operate. I have a hundred ways to make you sign.” She patted my shoulder. “Don’t burn your bridges.” I stood there, motionless. She walked past me and opened the door. “Oh, one more thing.” She glanced back. “Finish the handover by the end of the day. You don’t need to come in tomorrow. I’ll have the front desk mail your things to you.” The door closed. I was alone in her office. Outside the window was the city’s central business district, a forest of skyscrapers and a river of traffic. I had worked here for six years. I had started as a junior assistant and worked my way up to marketing manager. I had landed the Astra Group account all by myself. And now, they were kicking me out. Without even giving me twenty-four hours. My phone rang. I pulled it out. The caller ID read: Dominic Vance. Marketing Director at Astra Group. My college classmate. He had been the one to bring me this project. Because he was my guy. I answered. “Alice, what’s going on?” Dominic’s voice was urgent. “Your boss Bonnie just called me, said you’re resigning?” “I didn’t agree to it,” I said. “What do you mean you didn’t agree?” “Dominic, I’ll explain everything later,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Right now, I just need to ask you one thing.” “Shoot.” “Next week’s renewal. Can you hold off on it for a bit?” There was a two-second pause on the other end. “Alice, what are you planning?” “What am I planning?” I looked at the file on Bonnie’s desk. The Astra Group Renewal Proposal. My blood, sweat, and tears for the last three months. The cover page now bore Jessica’s name. “Dominic,” I said, my voice steady. “I’m planning on showing some people that they can’t just take this eighteen million dollars.” 4 At three o’clock, I ran into Jessica in the breakroom. She was making coffee and her hand jolted when she saw me. “Alice.” “Hey.” I went to the water cooler and filled a cup. She stood there awkwardly. “Alice, Bonnie asked me to go over the Astra files with you this afternoon. Is now a good time?” “It’s fine.” I turned to face her. “Jessica, can I ask you something?” “When you found out you were pregnant, what did Bonnie say to you?” She froze. “What do you mean?” “I mean… how did she arrange your maternity leave?” Jessica looked down, stirring her coffee. “Bonnie told me to focus on my health and not to worry about work. She also said she’d give me a raise when I came back.” “How much of a raise?” “Twenty percent.” I laughed. I had been there six years and only got a five percent raise last year. She’d been there one year, and was getting a twenty percent raise for getting pregnant. “What’s so funny, Alice?” “Nothing.” I put my cup down. “Come on, let’s go to my desk. I’ll give you the files.” She followed me, her steps small and hesitant. At my desk, I took a flash drive out of my drawer. “Everything for the Astra account is on here. Client contacts, email history, price quotes, draft contracts—it’s all there.” She took it, surprised. “So fast?” “I always keep backups.” I looked at her. “There are a few other things I should tell you.” “Okay.” She opened the notes app on her phone, ready to type. “Dominic Vance is the main point of contact. He’s a pretty laid-back guy, prefers to talk business in informal settings. We closed the last deal over drinks.” Jessica nodded seriously. “Also, he doesn’t like corporate jargon. The more direct, the better.” “Got it.” “And one last thing.” I paused. “Dominic is a very loyal person. He’s worked with me for three years because we’ve known each other since college.” Jessica’s fingers stopped typing. She looked up. “You and Mr. Vance were classmates?” “We were.” I looked her straight in the eye. “He’s the one who brought this account to me.” The breakroom was suddenly very quiet. I could see it in her eyes—panic, calculation, and a faint, tell-tale flicker of guilt. “Alice…” “I’m not trying to cause trouble,” I said with a small smile. “I’m just reminding you that some things can’t be solved just by swapping out a person.” I picked up my bag. “The files are all yours. I’m leaving now.” “Alice!” she called out after me. “What?” “Are you… are you really resigning?” I didn’t answer. I just walked away. As I reached the elevator bank, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. It was Bonnie’s voice. “Jessica, how did it go? Did she hand everything over?” “She did.” “Are the files complete?” “They are, but…” “But what?” “Bonnie, Alice and Mr. Vance were college classmates.” A few seconds of silence. “I know.” “So…” “It’s fine,” Bonnie said, her voice as composed as ever. “Dominic Vance is a businessman. He cares about the bottom line, not old friendships. As long as the terms of the contract are good, it doesn’t matter who the contact person is.” The elevator arrived. I stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor. Bonnie was right. Dominic was a businessman. But she had overlooked one crucial thing. The most important thing to a businessman isn’t the terms of the contract. It’s trust. 5 It was almost seven when I got home. My husband was waiting at the door with a glass of warm milk. “What took you so long?” “Handing things over.” I slipped off my shoes and dropped my bag on the couch. He followed me and pressed the glass into my hand. “What did the company say?” “They told me to finish the handover today and not to come in tomorrow.” “What about the severance?” “Two months’ salary.” He stared at me. “You’ve been there six years. The law says you’re entitled to N+1.” “It should be about $120,000,” I said, sinking onto the couch and taking a sip of milk. “They’re only offering twenty grand.” My husband sat down next to me, silent for a moment. “What are you going to do?” “What do you think?” He looked at me. “I think you’re not the type to take this lying down.” I smiled. “You know me so well.” “Of course I do.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “So, tell me. How are you going to make them pay?” I leaned against him, staring at the ceiling. “I brought in the Astra Group account myself. Bonnie knows that Dominic and I were classmates. What she doesn’t know is that Dominic was the one who approached me three years ago. He had just been promoted to marketing director and needed a reliable agency. He chose me, not the company.” My husband understood. “So, if you leave, he leaves with you?” “Not necessarily,” I said, shaking my head. “Dominic’s a smart guy. He’s not going to sacrifice business for a personal relationship.” “Then what’s your leverage?” I picked up my phone and pulled up an email. “This is Astra Group’s internal procurement process. Every partnership has to go through three levels of approval: the marketing director, the procurement department, and the VP of Finance. Dominic is just the first gatekeeper.” My husband glanced at it. “And you can get past the other two?” “The head of procurement is a woman named Heather,” I said. “Last year, her son was applying to a private international school. The consultant quoted her $18,000. I called in a favor and got it done for five. She told me she owed me one.” My husband raised his eyebrows. “And the VP of Finance?” “The VP of Finance is a guy named Michael. I don’t know him. But,” I said, swiping to another email, “he just submitted his resignation last month. Next week is his last week. The new VP is an external hire and hasn’t started yet. Which means the renewal approval this week is basically just a formality on the finance end. As long as Dominic and Heather sign off, the contract will go through.” My husband was silent for a few seconds. “You had this all planned out?” “No,” I said, putting my phone down. “I honestly thought I would work at that company until I retired. I thought they saw my contributions. I thought Bonnie was my boss, not my enemy.” I closed my eyes. “They’re the ones who broke the rules first.” My husband didn’t speak, just tightened his arm around me. After a long moment, he said, “So, when are you going to make your move?” I opened my eyes. “Next Wednesday. The last day of the renewal window.” “That’s the day Bonnie is taking Jessica to Astra Group to sign the contract. She thinks she has it all figured out. She thinks Dominic will play along. She thinks the client won’t care who their contact person is.” I smiled. “I’m going to show her that that eighteen million dollars was never hers to begin with.”

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My wife’s sponsored student used my credit card to buy luxury cars as gifts and even tried to outbid me for the model I wanted, mocking me publicly. I froze his card and had him thrown out. Victoria wasn’t angry—that night, she was more affectionate than ever. As a holiday gift, she surprised me with a limited-edition Lamborghini. Overjoyed, I spun her around, but her nail accidentally scratched the car’s paint. She brushed it off, then hurried to the restroom, handing me her card to pay. At the counter, the manager looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, Mr. Pierce, but this card has been declined.” 1 “That’s impossible,” I said, my brow furrowing. “I just used it yesterday. Are you sure your machine is working?” The manager, trying to be helpful, swiped it again. And again. Each time, the result was the same. “You see, Mr. Pierce?” he said, his patience thinning. “It’s definitely an issue with the card.” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Now, do you have another way to pay? I should mention, a globally limited-edition model, especially one that’s been… damaged… is non-refundable.” My hand tightened around the useless piece of plastic, the heat of embarrassment crawling up my neck. I could feel the smug, mocking stares of the men at a nearby table. “Hah, look at this guy. Talk about all show and no go,” one of them snickered. “Acts like he can buy a limited-edition Lambo on a whim. Turns out he’s just here to make a fool of himself.” “Yeah, let him posture,” another added. “Let’s see how he gets out of this one.” I looked up at the manager, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. “It’s alright. My wife will be right out to pay. She’s just in the restroom.” We waited. An hour crawled by. The dealership was getting ready to close, but there was still no sign of Victoria. The manager’s attitude had soured, his initial warmth curdling into impatience, then into cold contempt. The way he looked at me now was laced with pure disdain. A knot of dread tightened in my stomach. I hurried to the back of the showroom. “Victoria?” I called out, pushing open the women’s restroom door without thinking. It was empty. She was gone. I walked back into the main hall like a man in a trance. My eyes fell on the deep scratch marring the Lamborghini’s perfect finish, a scar left by her fingernail. A terrible premonition began to form in my mind. I tried calling her, over and over, but every call went straight to voicemail. Slowly, I lowered my phone. I remembered her words this morning, insisting I not use my own cards. My darling husband should only ever use his wife’s money, she’d cooed. I’d believed her. I’d walked out of the house without a single card of my own, and now, I was trapped. Just as I was about to call a friend for help, my phone died. The manager was a seasoned vulture. He could smell desperation a mile away. Sensing I was broke, he subtly signaled a security guard to position himself by the main entrance, watching me like a hawk. “Mr. Pierce,” he said, his voice dripping with false politeness. “Do you have any other means of payment?” He paused, letting the silence hang in the air. “If not, then we have a problem.” He leaned closer, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. “You remember last week, don’t you? That young man who tried to buy this very car? Scratched it just like you did, then his card was declined. You were the one who had him thrown in a holding cell to ‘learn a lesson’.” His eyes glinted. “If you can’t pay for this car tonight, it’ll be your turn to be locked up.” Of course, I remembered. It was Cody, the scholarship kid Victoria sponsored. He’d come in here with my card, acting like a king, calling me a worthless freeloader who’d married into the Quinn family fortune. And then it hit me, a thought so cold and sharp it stole my breath. Was this all a setup? Did Victoria orchestrate this entire charade, a mirror image of last week’s events, just to get revenge for her little pet? “Heh. That look on your face,” a voice purred from behind me. “I think you’ve figured it out. This is for Cody. How does it feel?” 2 I whipped my head around. Victoria stood there, transformed. She’d changed into a tight, black dress that clung to her curves. Her neck, once flawless, was now a canvas of fresh, angry-purple hickeys. They looked like they’d been made just moments ago. My fists clenched, the plastic of the credit card groaning under the pressure. Standing beside her, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist, was Cody. He stared at me with an expression of pure, unadulterated hatred. The showroom, which had quieted down, erupted in whispers. “Whoa, is this for real? Is she cheating on him right in front of his face?” “I don’t get it. I thought the great Victoria Quinn adored her husband. What the hell is going on?” “Dude, have you never heard about the scandals of the super-rich? Nothing is sacred.” “So-called love has an expiration date, you know? And let’s be real, even a handsome guy gets old. Rich women always want the young, hot model on their arm.” “Serves him right, though. A good-for-nothing freeloader who married up. Relying on your looks to get into a rich family is a dead end.” The whispers were like knives, each one a fresh stab of humiliation. My gaze lifted, and I locked eyes with Victoria, my glare burning with rage. The only reason I’d agreed to marry into the Quinn family wasn’t for their damned money. It was because I loved her. And the power of my own family, a secret I’d kept from everyone, was more than enough to silence anyone who dared call me a freeloader. But Victoria didn’t know that. None of them did. She smiled, a slow, cruel curve of her lips, and sauntered toward me, leaning on Cody’s arm. The crowd parted for them like she was royalty. “Don’t worry, Cody,” she said, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “However Alan Pierce shamed you that day, you and your friends can do the same to him tonight.” Cody’s face lit up with malicious glee. Ignoring the gasps from the onlookers, and my own thunderous expression, he dipped his head and captured Victoria’s lips in a long, passionate kiss. “Really, Victoria?” he breathed, pulling back slightly. “But… I’m worried you’ll be angry with me afterward.” “Never,” she purred. “As long as you keep me happy in bed, anything is possible.” “Thank you, my queen.” After another lingering kiss, Cody signaled his friends. They surged forward, grabbing my arms and holding me fast. Then, he stepped up and slammed a fist into my face. The onlookers gasped again. “Damn, that’s bold. Making out with another man’s wife in front of him, and then hitting him? This kid has no shame.” The mockery was just another layer of pain on my already bruised ego. “Hahaha! What’s the matter, Alan?” Cody taunted, his face inches from mine. “You’re so high and mighty, aren’t you? Thought you were better than me?” He spat on the floor near my feet. “You’re nothing but a kept man, a piece of trash. What right did you have to cancel my card? I’m younger, better-looking, and Victoria loves me more. If I want, every car in this place is mine!” To prove his point, he pulled out a pocketknife and dragged its blade across the hood of another expensive car nearby. “Manager!” he barked. “Get over here and put this on my tab!” The manager, now completely subservient, scurried over with a bow. “Yes, sir. Right away, sir.” Victoria lit a slender cigarette, her eyes glinting in the showroom lights. “Alan,” she said, exhaling a plume of smoke. “The dealership closes in thirty minutes. Have you figured out how you’re going to pay for that Lamborghini yet?” I didn’t answer, just stared at her with murder in my eyes. “Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she chided, a playful smirk on her face. “You started this. Are we not allowed to finish it? That limited-edition Lamborghini is scratched. Whether you can afford it or not, you’re buying it tonight.” As soon as she finished speaking, the room erupted in laughter. “Hahaha! Like that freeloader has any money to buy it!” “He probably can’t even afford to fix the scratch, let alone pay for the whole car!” “His whole life has been about leeching off others. All his wealth, all his status, it all came from Ms. Quinn.” “And now that she’s kicked him to the curb, he’s less than nothing.” 3 I opened my mouth to speak, but Victoria cut me off, exhaling another cloud of smoke. Her voice, cold and commanding, swept across the room. “Let me make one thing clear to everyone here,” she announced. “Nobody is to help Alan Pierce. If you lend him a single dollar, you make an enemy of me. And you all know what happens to my enemies. Their endings are never pleasant.” Everyone in Crestview knew the power of the Quinn family. They were at the top of the food chain. No one in their right mind would dare cross them. Across the room, I saw a few business partners I’d worked with on past projects. They had started to move toward me, ready to help, but froze in place at Victoria’s threat. They exchanged nervous glances and melted back into the crowd. “Did you hear that? She’s dead serious about punishing him.” “Looks like Alan Pierce’s luck has run out. She’s clearly infatuated with that new boy toy of hers.” “We’d better just focus on sucking up to the new favorite.” “Man, it’s crazy. They were the golden couple just a few years ago. Their wedding was the event of the century. Three years, and it’s all turned to dust.” With Victoria’s decree, any glimmer of hope I had for assistance vanished. Everyone actively avoided my gaze. A surge of pure fury coursed through me. I broke free from my captors and lunged forward, grabbing Victoria by the arm and pulling her from her chair. “Victoria, tell me,” I snarled, my voice raw with pain. “Did you sleep with him? Are you really doing all of this, humiliating me like this, for him?” Victoria just laughed, a cold, sharp sound. She ripped her arm from my grasp and slapped me hard across the face. An assistant immediately rushed forward with a bottle of water, pouring it over her hand to wash away the spot where I had touched her. “Yes, I slept with him,” she said, her voice dripping with venom. “In the hour I was gone from this showroom.” I stared at her, my heart shattering. I couldn’t believe this was the same woman I knew. When I first arrived in Crestview, I didn’t know a soul. It was Victoria who took me under her wing, who showed me the city, who defended me from local thugs and even took a knife for me. At our wedding, she had sworn an oath, promising to be faithful forever, or else she would fall from grace into ruin. “Hahahaha!” A laugh, empty and broken, escaped my lips. Three short years. That was all it took for her to trample on everything we had. But what she, and everyone else in this room, didn’t know was that I wasn’t some freeloader living off her charity. I was Alessandro Wright, the sole mixed-heritage heir to the powerful Moretti family from Italy, one of the wealthiest dynasties in the world. Victoria settled back into her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. “Instead of wasting your breath yelling at me, Alan, you should be figuring out how to pay your bill.” Her eyes darkened with a cruel glint. “Because if you can’t, it’s going to be a long night for you. I’ll let Cody tear the clothes right off your back, and then we’ll auction you off to the highest bidder among these old crows. You can be their new, spineless boy toy.” The room buzzed with a sick, excited energy. A group of wealthy older women stared at me with predatory hunger in their eyes. “You heard her, girls! Ms. Quinn said it herself!” “Let’s just hope she doesn’t get sentimental and change her mind!” “What’s so great about that young kid anyway? Look at Alan. That face, that aristocratic air… and that body… I bet he’s incredible.” “Hahaha, the man slept with the queen of Crestview herself! I have to have him. I’ll pay anything!” A murderous rage, cold and absolute, washed over me. I had never been so humiliated in my entire life. “Every single one of you,” I said, my voice low and dangerous, “who laughed at me tonight, who dared to shame me… your end will be a painful one.”

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My daughter was born with a severe allergy to seawater. When I received the doctor’s call, my daughter’s heart had already stopped beating. I emotionally collapsed and called my husband ten times in a row, all hung up. Until the eleventh time, he answered impatiently: “Why did you pick up the child without telling me? Coming out once, dare not play this dare not play that, is this how you usually educate her? Today the Company Retreat really made me lose all face?” “Wait until I go back, I will listen to your explanation!” Before I could speak, the phone was hung up and blocked by him. Just then, Giselle updated a TikTok: Romantic seaside, two people holding hands happily dancing a suggestive dance. Matching sunglasses looked particularly dazzling. I silently shed tears, sent a message. “Roll back to divorce.” … Chapter 1 When I rushed to the hospital, my daughter’s heart had already stopped beating. “Knowing the child is allergic to seawater, still let her go surfing?” “For your own happiness, don’t want daughter’s life anymore? Never seen such a mother.” Out of professional ethics they didn’t scold me too hard, but I could still feel the contempt from doctors and nurses. Just I seemed to hear nothing. In my eyes, only that small body on the morgue bed. Daughter’s face pale blue, lips dark purple. Hair wetly pasted on forehead, body still carried the salty wet coldness of seawater. On her small face, expression painful and twisted, full of fear and struggle before death. My heart felt like fiercely grabbed by a big hand, painful to unable to breathe. Julian Vance said today was daughter’s birthday, wanted to take her to Company Retreat, experience the adult world in advance. I didn’t think too much, ordered her favorite strawberry cake at home, prepared a table of dishes, waiting for them to come back. Result I waited was the news that daughter would never come back. A whole day, I alone, ran front ran back, handling daughter’s funeral affairs. Julian didn’t have a single phone call, a single message! As if he also died at the seaside. I thought, this marriage should end here. Wait I and lawyer drafted the divorce agreement, he then returned home. First sentence was questioning me: “You picked up the child early, didn’t even tell me. Giselle waited for the child to send coconut until sunburned. You are really too selfish, agreed today child I take for a day, you are not willing to give me even a day’s time?” I sneered: “Still send coconut?! Julian are you crazy, your daughter is only six years old. You let the coach press her on the surfboard, said not allowed to come down without three hours, you let her use what to send, use her life to send?” Julian’s face instantly gloomy, smashed computer bag directly on me. “What are you shouting for, just three hours, other kids can, why just she can’t?” “She caused Giselle to be sunburned and still in hospital now, she still has face to complain first? I see she is spoiled by you, now let her roll out, immediately follow me to hospital apologize.” “Since you this mother can’t teach, then I this father want to good teach her the principle of being a person!” I endured anger, threw the divorce agreement on his face. “Sign, my daughter how is not your turn this cheating scumbag to teach, what thing are you? Since you like Giselle, I fulfill you guys.” Julian saw the four words divorce agreement, instantly furious. “Just because I discipline daughter, you want divorce me?” “Serena, are you sick? What crazy fit? My biological daughter I can’t say two sentences right? Did wrong thing go apologize what’s wrong? Spoiled by you like this, I don’t manage again, this child definitely will be useless in future!” Julian’s questioning pierced me like a knife. I rose angrily, eyes seeing stars. “I spoiled her? Julian, your daughter is six years old this year, have you fulfilled a father’s responsibility? Did she do anything against heaven and reason, to be pressed on surfboard for three hours by you this biological father? You this biological father don’t know she is allergic to seawater…” I haven’t finished, interrupted by his roar: “You have no end right? Surfing just less than five meters from shore, also have coach watching aside, what can happen?” “She came back then complained to you right? Company Retreat other kids very sociable, just she diving not want go, swimming not want go, no princess ability but have a pile of princess temper.” “I tell you, later child matters I manage determined, you don’t interfere!” Looking at his hideous face, I suddenly felt, daughter’s death no need to tell him. Such father better not have. Julian casually threw down a packaging box. Like giving me a sky big grace. I casually looked, is a free gift from two people’s matching sunglasses, a cleaner. “Last time you said glasses can’t wash clean, I always remembered, yesterday just passed by bought it.” Julian always like this, finished sending gift to Giselle, then throw free gift to me. Before I knew truth, but to give daughter a complete home. I endured. Even for maintaining this pathetic marriage, still have to pretend surprised ecstatic. But my concession didn’t preserve this home well. Instead let daughter lose life. Now daughter gone, this ridiculous marriage, I also don’t want. “No need, give your secretary.” “You sign now, later daughter also won’t come noisy you.” “Daughter did nothing wrong, only wrong, is having a dad like you.” See me so not know good bad, Julian cold to extreme “You have no end right, gift I also gave, still want how? Daughter now so big, you want divorce me? Dream!” “Daughter’s custody you don’t even think, my Vance family child can only my Vance family raise. If you can’t manage, I have plenty ways manage her.” Roared at me finish, Julian directly went back room. Ten years, this is our first cold war. He probably still thought, I same as before, just jealous, throwing temper. He waited for me next morning, like usual, put breakfast on table, give him a step down. But he thought wrong. This time, I really can’t hold, too tired. Key, and signed divorce agreement, I all left in that cold home. I left, left this place trapped me ten years. Outside car window neon flashing, past days like movie passing in brain. Just met Julian time, he embarrassed unbearable, business failed, collapsed. Giselle, his childhood sweetheart, disliked him no future, turned head went abroad. Was me, accompany him, bit by bit climbed out from mud. Passionate love that while, he said I was his light, his salvation. I foolishly thought, I this late comer catch up, won against that childhood sweetheart. Laughable, in the end, still people childhood sweetheart love stronger than gold. Day Giselle returned country, was our wedding day. Julian, threw me alone at wedding scene, butt bump ran to give her welcome. To show off how successful he is in front of her, offered twenty times salary hire her as “Private Secretary”. Really a big slap on my face. For daughter, I endured so many years, grievance all swallow into stomach. I thought child can tie this home, result? Trapped only myself. I held daughter’s urn back to pre-marriage home, that small nest only me one person. Cemetery said burial need queue wait three days, just enough for me clean up daughter’s little dresses, little hair clips, and those papers drawn with crooked little people. Third day, I holding urn just opened door, head on bumped into Julian and Giselle. Behind them stood a row of black suit bodyguards, like a wall squeezed into my home door. “Where is the child?” Julian’s voice cold. I was bumped a stumble fell on ground, hands dead protect urn in arms, inside that is my daughter’s last trace. Julian grabbed my collar, angrily said: “Serena, you really capable ah, now dare cold war with me three days? Think like this I will soft heart? Go dream your spring autumn dream!” “You indulge daughter do this kind of thing, even you guys run to sky end sea corner, I will also catch people back!” I looked up, word by word pop out: “My daughter now has no half dime relation with you, take your lover, roll out of my house, otherwise I call police.” His slap directly flung on my face, burning pain made my eyes black. “I said how daughter became so vicious, turns out upper beam not straight lower beam crooked ah!” “You usually talk like this in front of child? No wonder she can grow into this virtue today, since you can’t teach, later child matters you also don’t think interfere!” “Last time matter Giselle already generous not pursue, she actually dare intensify, looks like I also no need save face for you!” He turned to bodyguard roared, “Find for me!” Ten odd men in black rushed into my room, started searching for daughter. My heart sank to bottom at once, fingers unconsciously dug tight urn edge. “What do you mean? My daughter exactly did what? With me here, you don’t think let my daughter carry black pot!” Eye see my emotion about to explode, Giselle grievance walked forward. “Julian, forget it… child only six years old, she definitely not intentional. Maybe just have some misunderstanding to me, later I slowly communicate with her fine, little kid…” More she act good person like this, anger in my heart burn more prosperous. Surface pleading for daughter, actually every word pouring dirty water on my daughter. Julian’s face instantly gloomy down. “You now actually still want speak for that little rabbit bastard? Today dare destroy your work, tomorrow don’t know will do what thing! You indulging her like this, is harming her!” “Have Serena this kind of mom, this child not good discipline, sooner or later will cause big trouble!” He gritted teeth said. I fierce look up hiss roar: “Julian! That is your biological daughter ah! You rather believe this bitch words also not believe own flesh blood?” Daughter all cremated, this woman still not willing let go her. “Slap!” Julian’s slap again heavy fan on my face. “Shut up!” He roared. “You instigate child break into Giselle home, burned her work, do you know this is company’s most important project this year?!” “You usually jealous I just endured, now actually do this kind of thing, you f*cking became what look? That is whole company one year blood sweat!” “Child only six years old, you let her be your accomplice, you this kind person not worthy be mother! I really blind eyes then fancy you!” My head buzzing, but brain still can turn. High-end community Giselle lives, enter out need face recognition, my six years old daughter how possible enter? “Daughter only six years old! How can she alone find that place?” I roared back at him, “You go crazy also move brain ah! Giselle self didn’t put work well, based on what blame my daughter?” I voice hoarse strength exhaust, ten years grievance like flood explode. Julian’s eyes almost spit fire, more furious than me. “Giselle room only she entered, home no others, not her who is?” “Have you this good mom, places she can go many! House Giselle live just under my name, record a face not very easy? You everyday behind back check me, how possible not know address?” “Don’t pretend! Giselle home monitor all filmed. Where child hide? Hurry hand out!” I just about counterattack, Giselle already took out phone, click open a video. In monitor screen, a small figure wearing my daughter’s that day floral dress, steps unsteady walked into study. Small hand holding lighter, trembling lit that exquisite wedding dress work. Wedding dress twisted deformed in flame, less than two minutes turned to ashes. Giselle lowered head, force act grievance sobbing. “Sister Serena, I know you don’t like me, but I follow Julian really just for work ah! That work is company this year most important project, you… you hate me again, also shouldn’t take daughter vent destroy everyone blood sweat ba?” “Now work gone, whole project scrap, one year effort all wasted! You let me how face so many colleagues trust me?” She hand busy foot messy closed phone, movement fast like thief. But my eyes faster than her hand. Monitor time I saw clear clear. Two days ago. That time my daughter already became a box of cold ashes. I face hung tears, sneered. “Giselle, to frame me and my daughter, you really painstaking ah.” “Want be Mrs. Vance just say clearly, why act this bitter drama? Position give you, no need so vicious pour dirty water on dead person.” Julian angered by my attitude, whole face twisted into a ball. He kicked on my chest. Urn rolled out from my arms, turned few circles on floor. I like crazy pounced over, whole person lie on ground, dead protect that box containing daughter. He quick eye quick hand, grabbed my hair pull back, nails embedded into my scalp. “What hidden in this box?” I gas extreme. “With you have what relation?” Julian furious, hand strength increase, I feel whole piece scalp want be torn down by him. Warm blood flow down along hair root, sticky on neck. Bodyguard came out from bedroom, expressionless reported: “Mr. Vance, child not here.” Julian took deep breath. “Where is child? I ask you last time.” I looked up face, tears blurred vision, but couldn’t block irony on my face. “Child? You now know care child?” “In your eyes beside this bitch still have what? You still remember you have a daughter? Tell you, she died! Died! You satisfied?” Julian’s hand paused, immediately face surfaced deeper anger. “Just discipline child, need you make up this kind ghost talk?” “Serena, I thought you just won’t be wife, didn’t expect even being human so disgusting!” “Learn surfing at seaside can die people? Then national so many seasides early closed!” Giselle’s gaze fell on urn I dead hugged. “Julian, what inside that box? Sister Serena hug so tight, maybe hid work original drawing ne.” Julian immediately reach hand come snatch, I desperate protect, nails scratched blood marks on floor. “Roll away! Don’t touch my daughter!” “You all give me roll out!” Julian gave bodyguard a wink. Five six men in black swarm up, press my limbs, like subdue mad dog press me on ground. My face suffered dozen slaps, burning pain. Julian holding urn weigh in hand. “Serena, do wrong thing should be punished.” “Wait find child, you leave with nothing, custody belong me, perform good, one year let you see once.” He fierce force, urn lid flew out. Inside box only gray white ashes. “Original drawing ne?” He roared at me. I red eyes, break free bodyguard, pounce towards him. “Here no thing you want! Giselle say what you just believe what! I say daughter died why you not believe! You really sick! Return my daughter! Don’t touch her!” Just rushed out two steps, was pounced down by behind bodyguard, face heavy hit on floor. Giselle again gently said. “Under box will or not hide something? Pour out look ba.” Julian hands flip. Daughter’s ashes spilled a ground, quietly paved on floor. I hiss roaring, crying shouting. Julian can’t find wanted thing, anger burn heart, swing urn smash on my head. Warm blood flow down along forehead, vision blur. His leather shoe stepped on my hand back, bone emit break sound. “Serena, you really not see coffin not drop tear, like acting right? Good, I fulfill you.” “Daughter I definitely will find, this life you don’t think see her one face again!” Bodyguards filed out, only left me and a ground ashes. I lay on ground, like holding treasure, gather ashes bit by bit into arms. Julian hugging Giselle, sneering stepped up. “I let you pretend!” He force step, ashes fly up, like a smoke, from door crack drifted away mostly. Vision suddenly pitch black, I anytime want faint pass. Julian cold face took out phone, dialed assistant number. “Immediately find my daughter, bring person back for me! Also, re-draft a divorce agreement for me, Serena must leave with nothing, a cent don’t think take away!” Assistant on phone end silent two seconds. “Mr. Vance…” Assistant voice obviously reveal confusion, “Your daughter already passed away three days ah, this moment body should already cremated finish ba. Before we couldn’t contact you, cemetery still I helped Mrs. Vance queue…” Assistant voice more and more light. Julian froze in place at once. Giselle take advantage his lost mind moment, turn to me.

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Been with Xavier Sterling for seven years, there was always a gap of social status between us. Today, his mother came again, without extra pleasantries, directly pushed a photo in front of me. Xavier and my best friend Serena stood side by side, behaving intimately. Mother Sterling’s voice was calm and cruel, “Miss Luna, Serena is the ideal daughter-in-law in our hearts.” “Some gaps cannot be filled by feelings. Please leave my son.” Mind in a trance, I got into a car accident. Woke up again in the hospital, Serena stood by my bed, insisting I take the chance to test Xavier. “You just say you have Amnesia, see his performance.” I was also curious what exactly Serena wanted to do, so nodded and agreed. Xavier pushed open the ward door with a hurried look, I pretended not to know him. “You are?” Next second, Serena hooked his arm. “Silly, this is my boyfriend, you can’t recognize him?” Her hand was shaking slightly, eyes staring at Xavier full of expectation. Xavier stunned, then held her palm. He whispered: “Mn, I am Serena’s boyfriend.” I looked at them for a long while. Suddenly laughed out loud: “Then should I congratulate you guys?” Just after hearing this sentence, Xavier’s face instead sank. … Chapter 1 Sight fell on their intertwined arms, my mind was blank. One is my best friend for fifteen years. Knowing I was hit by a car, she ran until her high heel broke. The other, is my boyfriend of seven years, about to discuss marriage. He was on a business trip two thousand miles away, only three hours since my accident, he rushed back. Are they teaming up to prank me? But today is not April Fool’s Day. Just as this thought popped up, Serena tiptoed, dropped a light kiss on Xavier’s lip corner. “Xavier, I said Luna would bless us.” “You refused to tell her before, all your own blind worry.” She turned to look at me, eyes and brows full of smiles. “Luna, you will, right?” I seemed to be choked by an invisible hand, couldn’t speak. No camera in the corner, no one recording my clown-like dull expression. This is not a prank scene. Couldn’t help it, I looked at Xavier. He slightly turned his head, avoided my sight. Eyelashes blinked rapidly a few times, shutting the truth I wanted to know inside. Just last night, he used the same pair of eyes to gaze at me intently in the video call, as if in this world, he could only see me. “Luna, I fly back tomorrow night then take you home.” “This time no matter how my parents object, I must marry you.” He came back early. Promise seems not counting anymore. I pinched my palm, forcefully pulled out a smile. “You guys, when did you get together?” Throat dry, I whispered: “How come… how come I just didn’t know.” Serena revealed a sweet smile. She just about to speak, I softly interrupted: “Don’t let it be all you saying, I want to hear what your boyfriend says.” I stared dead at Xavier, fingernails pinching palm scratched out a blood mark. A burst of dull pain. He unconsciously pursed his lips: “Just end of last year.” Tone was the gentleness I was familiar with to the bone marrow. That hand I could recognize even with eyes closed, was holding someone else. “Met on a Blind Date, felt fate, so got together.” I stunned. Sterling family is a famous academic family, his parents are both renowned professors at Harvard. And me, father serving time in prison, mother remarried for many years. Just two months ago, Mother Sterling forced him with death, requiring him to go on blind dates. I had insomnia all night, proposed breakup. Wish him happiness. Xavier stood downstairs in freezing rain for a whole day. He hugged me into his arms, whole body trembling. “Luna, I only want you, we don’t break up, okay?” I raised hand to touch his face, couldn’t distinguish those wetness were tears or rain. Turns out, all fake? “Luna.” Serena interrupted my thoughts. “Actually me and Xavier are more compatible, aren’t we?” Yes. Serena’s parents are also university professors, matching door and household with Sterling family. She smiled. “You have amnesia forgot past things also doesn’t matter, now, it’s your turn to bless me.” Heart fierce suffocated. Remembered that summer high school ended, I excitedly ran to share news of dating Xavier with Serena. She stared big eyes, hand loose, water cup dropped. A crisp sound, glass shattered all over ground. “How could it be? Xavier didn’t even agree to Prom Queen’s confession, how could he…” I was too anxious pulling her away from those fragments that might cut her. Forgot to think deep, the complex emotion in her eyes. Time changes world changes. Me and her swapped identities. I drank a mouthful of water, swallowed the bitterness stuck in throat. As if swallowed, was that pile of sharp fragments back then. Just about to speak, doctor pushed door enter. Chapter 2 “Patient’s leg bone severely displaced, need surgery, who is the family member?” “Me.” Xavier’s subconscious word, made room atmosphere fall into stagnation. Serena bit teeth: “Xavier, did you hear wrong?” She squeezed out a smile: “Doctor is asking family, you are not.” “Need signature right? Give me.” She scanned me: “My this friend father in prison, mother long ran with someone.” “I should be the friend she knew longest, I sign.” Actually not only longest, also best. From I carrying broom drove away those punks blocking her for money start, we inseparable. Full fifteen years. We shared homework answers, cried or laughed for same movie. Also shared home password, clothes in closet and family matters I never told others. I had no defense against her. Didn’t expect today, have to share same man. I inexplicably felt funny, reached hand to doctor: “No need, I sign myself can.” Consent form slid across Serena’s palm. Her face not too good looking. “Doctor.” Xavier suddenly spoke. “Her amnesia, possible to cure?” My hand holding pen froze. “Patient has concussion…” Doctor just said a sentence. Serena a cry of pain: “Hiss——” Xavier’s attention, immediately hooked by her. “What’s wrong?” He bent down to look at Serena’s broken heel, frowned. “Rainy day road slippery, next time don’t wear high heels.” Concerned tone, so familiar. He picked up Serena, put her on the chair beside. Squatted down, he gently took off Serena’s shoe, used wet wipe bit by bit wiped clean mud spots on her foot. I scribbled signature, just leg pain severe, making people unable to ignore. Serena act spoiled shook man’s arm. “You go buy me a pair of shoes, okay?” “Mn.” Xavier stood up, lightly scanned me once, turned and left. Doctor closed door, air quiet only could hear rain sound outside window. “Luna.” Serena opened mouth, tore the last trace of peace. “Don’t blame me.” “Xavier he deserves better, I also have right to fight for what I want.” I didn’t speak, just felt rain sound too quiet. Couldn’t cover pain at wound. Serena still felt not enough, counted one by one. “Bag you wanted him buy back from Paris, not out of stock, is in my closet.” “His phone password and wallpaper made of your photo changed, not want to appear more business, but I required.” “Last month your grandma death anniversary that day, Xavier didn’t business trip, was accompanying me to concert.” “Also wedding house Sterling family looking at, not prepared for you.” Every sentence, like a nail hammered into my heart. She didn’t let me go, gently stroked belly. “I am already pregnant.” “Xavier wanted to find a good time to tell you, I feel today is quite suitable.” I was nailed in place. Just during breakup noise at end of year, I lost a child. Just because Xavier said a sentence. “Luna, now is not the time yet.” Rain sound tik-tok, my tears surging. Blurted out: “Shut up! Get out!” I raised hand, dead pressed leg part. Too painful. Chapter 3 Moment anesthesia took effect, my whole body cold. Eyes went black, I remembered day found out pregnancy. I spent 3 hours made a table of good dishes, hid pregnancy test report in gift box. Celebration cake candle flickering, Xavier however silent long time. He rubbed back of my hand, deep voice said: “Luna, I hope our child, can be born in a blessed environment.” And in my phone, still saved message Mother Sterling scolded me shameless day before. In his family’s eyes, I am a puddle of rotten mud by road. Should consciously stay far from him. Tears instantly smashed down. I tremblingly questioned: “Xavier Sterling, you confessed to me at 18, promised you would give me a very good very good home, is it not counting anymore?” He lowered head refused to look at me, only said: “Luna, I also have difficulties.” Later, I alone went on operating table. That time seemed also rainy day, I only felt whole body very heavy. Was wetness can’t disperse. Woke up, ward quiet. Took out phone reply work message, I scrolled to a Serena’s Instagram post. Small square box lying in flowers, inside placed a ring inlaid with Pigeon Blood Ruby. Was style I mentioned wanted with Xavier when young and ignorant. I liked it. Passed 5 minutes, Xavier sent new message. [Luna, did you finish surgery, what did doctor say?] [Your amnesia matter, did doctor say possible recover?] I replied: [You are Serena’s boyfriend, my matter has nothing to do with you.] Not waiting him reply, I blocked both of them. Raised by grandma me, when met them two, thought was fate couldn’t stand I pitiful, gave me gift. A big dream. Now I also should wake up. Care worker auntie asked me: “Little sister, where is your family?” “You can’t hide surgery matter from them, if you were my daughter, I knew would heart ache dead.” I smiled: “I have no family.” “Not a single one left.” I closed eyes, hid hot eye rims well. One week later, I followed doctor advice discharge. Back to that so-called “Home”, I started packing things. Just struggling stuffing clothes into suitcase, room door opened from outside. Laughter came. Is Serena and Father Sterling Mother Sterling. Once saw me, Mother Sterling raised thin long brows. “Why are you here?” “Our Xavier about to get married, how you still have face to come?” I paused. Put in past, I didn’t want Xavier sandwiched in middle uncomfortable, always endured again and again. Now, actually no need. I cooled face down: “I paid money for this house, why can’t come?” “Carefully calculate, you guys are the ones no qualification.” University last year, Xavier wanted to found his own gaming company. Father Mother Sterling didn’t agree, cut his living expense, forced him go abroad study academic path. Was me took out money earned from modeling, raising him, also raising his startup team. Even this house, also had a part money I paid. Now Xavier startup successful company about IPO, I instead became little model can’t get on table in Sterling family mouth. “Really no breeding.” Father Sterling raised hand pointing me. “How you talk to us, immediately apologize!” I just about to choke back. Corner of eye glimpsed familiar figure in elevator hall. Moment recognized who, a chill rushed up along spine bone.

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