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After taking in a troubled youth, he blushed and promised me he wouldn’t be an Escort anymore. I worked three jobs a day, desperately helping him pay off his club debts. Caleb Vance always thanked me physically in bed. When emotions were intense, he would softly act spoiled: “Scarlett, I like you so much.” “Shall we get married in the future?” My heart skipped a beat. On his birthday, I took a big order to deliver a cake to a young heir of the Upper East Side. Just about to push the door open, a familiar voice came from the VIP Lounge. “Little Master, haven’t you played enough? You wouldn’t be serious about that old woman, right?” The usually obedient Caleb, now with a cigarette between his fingers. Sneered: “How is that possible? Just teasing her for fun.” “Her, she loves me crazily. If I really left, she might seek life and death.” My gaze, however, crossed over Caleb and looked at the man beside him. That was a man who looked fully eighty percent like him. Actually the person I hid in the bottom of my heart, dared not think of again. … Chapter 1 Caleb seemed not wanting to continue the topic about me. He frowned, impatience appeared on that exquisite face. “Why hasn’t the cake delivery come yet? I have to go back before twelve.” People around looked at each other, but no one dared to speak. Everyone knew, this Young Master Vance is the most moon-surrounded-by-stars little prince in New York. But recently he actually fancied an old woman full eight years older than him. What’s more shocking is, this little prince specially pretended to be poor and pitiful to beg for shelter. And the old woman being played in everyone’s eyes, me. Was standing outside the lounge door carrying the cake. At this moment I didn’t care about Caleb’s sarcasm at all. Gaze dead fixed on the man beside him. That man wore a black shirt, cuffs rolled up to forearms, side profile sharp and familiar. Fully eighty percent similar to Caleb. Man seemed to sense something, suddenly looked up towards the door. Gaze sharp as a hawk, landed squarely on me. I hurriedly lowered my head. A waiter happened to push a dining cart over to serve dishes. I put the cake on the cart, asked him to help me send it in. Inside the lounge came Caleb’s careless voice: “Bro, what are you looking at?” Bro? My whole body shook, brain exploded with a bang. Turns out they are brothers. No wonder they look so alike. When I got home, it was already approaching early morning. I collapsed on the bed exhausted. When Caleb pushed the door and entered, I had already fallen asleep lightly. He got on the bed and hugged my shoulder, dropping a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Sorry Scarlett, company overtime today, I came back late.” I smelled the faint tobacco scent on him, frowned. Asked knowingly: “Did you smoke?” Caleb’s face changed, immediately denied: “How is that possible? Scarlett you said you don’t like smoke smell, I never smoke that stuff.” “This might be accidentally stained on clothes, I’ll go take a shower.” I was sleepy, lazy to continue tangling with him. “Forget it, don’t bother, sleep first.” Caleb’s hand unbuttoning clothes paused. “Scarlett, did you forget something?” “Today is my birthday… where is my birthday gift?” Caleb liked a watch for a long time, it was a light luxury brand, cost several thousand. I saved salary for more than a month, just lacked three hundred. Accidentally took the order to deliver birthday cake to the Upper East Side heir, running fee alone was five hundred. Original thought was to buy the watch back for him after work. Now it seems, there is no need anymore. The Upper East Side heir doesn’t lack these few melons and dates. I closed my eyes, “It’s past midnight now, your birthday ended early.” Seeing my cold reaction, Caleb’s patience completely ran out. He pulled me up from the bed. “Scarlett, you can’t be like this.” “You said you would treat me well, how come you changed heart now? Even my birthday you don’t care?” I looked at his aggrieved eyes, couldn’t help sneering. “Okay, since you are so insecure, shall we go get Marriage License tomorrow?” “Didn’t you say you want to marry me?” Chapter 2 This time it was Caleb’s turn to be speechless. I continued to press: “What? You are not willing?” He lowered his eyes, voice soft and aggrieved: “No, I just think it’s a bit too sudden…” “I have no savings now, can’t afford house or car, can’t give you a good life.” “Wait for me a few more years, okay?” I really admire Caleb’s touching acting skills, almost fooled himself. Recalling the first time I saw Caleb, it was in a bar. He was surrounded by a group of women, constantly pouring alcohol into his mouth. I was instantly attracted by the tear mole at the corner of his eye. Like, too alike. Whether it’s looks, or situation. So when the tenth bottle of wine was pushed onto the table, I rushed up without hesitation. “How many bottles left? I’ll drink for him.” Those women were about to speak with dissatisfaction, but Caleb looked up. The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up. He stumbled up from the sofa, gently grabbed my cuff. “Sister, save me…” Ghost messenger god send, I took Caleb away from the club. Knew I shouldn’t meddle. But the way he looked up at me, was too like him back then. Same brows and eyes, same embarrassment, same… made my heart soft. Back then I failed to protect him, watched helplessly as he disappeared. This regret, like a thorn, pricked me for several years. So hearing Caleb owed the club one million Penalty Fee, I still brought him home without hesitation. Even if I had to work three more jobs a day, tired to half death. But whenever I saw that similar face, could stay away from noise and debauchery, live peacefully. I felt very safe. But now, I am tired. “Caleb Vance, how long are you going to pretend?” “No, I should call you Young Master Vance right? You condescended to play house with me for so long, should be enough right.” The expression on Caleb’s face cracked. He pulled a stiff arc at the corner of his mouth: “Sister, what are you talking about? I don’t understand…” I didn’t speak, just looked at him coldly. Time passed minute by minute, air stagnated. Smile on Caleb’s face completely couldn’t hang on. When he looked up again, his eyes were mocking, “Fine, since you know everything, I am too lazy to continue acting.” “Yes, I am the young master of Vance Group. Back then in the bar, I just lost a dare, was punished to drink ten bottles of wine.” “It was you who came up yourself, blocked in front of me with a worried face, and foolishly paid that so-called ‘penalty fee’ for me.” He hooked his lips and chuckled, contemptuously said: “I originally just felt bored, thought your overflowing saint heart look was quite interesting, so I played the poor boy with you for so long.” Saying that, he took out another Black Card, threw it on the coffee table in front of me. “It doesn’t matter if you know the truth now. House, car, luxury jewelry, I can give you whatever you want.” “But you want to marry into the Vance family? Dream on.” My fingertips turned white, didn’t look at that card. Only squeezed out three words from teeth: “Get out.” “What did you say?” Caleb looked incredible. I closed my eyes, repeated: “I said, you get the hell out for me.” Caleb’s face sank instantly, “Scarlett, don’t give face not want face! I tell you, if I leave, don’t come kneeling to beg me later!” He dropped harsh words, slammed the door and left. Chapter 3 At night, my phone vibrated. It was a photo sent by Caleb. In the photo, he sat in the center of the bar booth, hugging left and right, women in his arms smiled like flowers. His neck was printed with ambiguous red marks, eyes looked provocatively at the camera. Caleb probably wanted to anger me, wanted me to regret, wanted me to cry and beg him to come back. But my attention was all attracted by the corner of the photo. There sat a man. He held a cigarette between his fingers, was turning his head talking to the woman beside him, eyes smiling, whole body exuded a careless laziness. My heart fiercely tightened. Him in memory, always in a clean white shirt, silent. When just fell in love, even holding my hand would blush. But him now, brows and eyes revealed the indifference of the romantic field, completely different from the boy back then. My fingertips trembled, sent message: [Where are you?] Caleb replied almost instantly, sent location over. When I rushed to the club, the private room door was not closed tightly, noise inside vaguely came out. I pushed the door open, saw Caleb on the booth at a glance. He saw me, immediately hugged the woman in his arms tighter: “Scarlett, I knew you couldn’t bear to leave me.” “Rushing over so hurriedly, say it, how do you plan to beg me now? Kneel down…” He didn’t finish his words, because I ignored him at all. My gaze passed through him, straight landed on the man behind him. Man sensed my gaze, turned head to meet my eyes. He only glanced lightly, then moved his eyes away. Like seeing an irrelevant stranger. Then looked at the woman beside him again, mouth corner hooked a gentle smile. My heart, felt like fiercely grabbed by an invisible hand. “What are you looking at?” Caleb saw me ignoring him, face instantly turned iron green. He grabbed my wrist, forcefully dragged me to the corridor outside the private room. “Scarlett, you have big guts ah.” “Having me one is not enough, now you are eyeing my brother?” Caleb forced me into the corner, tall figure instantly shrouded me. “But I advise you to have some self-knowledge.” “My brother has a fiancée, it’s that woman beside him just now.” “Miss Lila Sterling of Sterling family, distinguished family background, looks even throw you ten streets away.” He fiercely pinched my jaw, “You also weigh yourself how much you weigh.” I was pinched painful, but dead bit my teeth, eyes stubbornly glanced elsewhere. Caleb was completely enraged by my ignore. He fiercely leaned over, lips with strong alcohol smell about to come close. “Caleb.” A cold voice suddenly sounded, interrupted Caleb’s action. My whole body stiffened, looked up. Julian Vance’s gaze fell on Caleb’s hand holding my wrist, eye color dark scary. Caleb’s arrogant momentum faded mostly, resentfully let go of me. “Bro, you also want to manage me flirting with girlfriend?” “Roll now, don’t force me to go back and use family law.” Julian spoke again, chill in tone even worse. Caleb gritted his teeth, finally dared not talk back again. Before leaving still unwillingly glared at me, “Scarlett, you be honest for me!” Footsteps faded away, only me and him left in the corridor. Air quiet scary, I could hear my own violent heartbeat. Long time, I used all strength, gently called out that name hidden in bottom of heart: “Julian.” His eyes cool thin, “Scarlett, haven’t seen for few years, you become more and more cheap.” Chapter 4 My throat tight, wanted to explain, but was blocked speechless by his next words. “Back then disappeared without a word, left me in place like a fool, now you have face to come back.” He tone sarcastic: “Means also brilliant, can’t seduce me, go hook up my brother?” I looked at the anger surging in Julian’s eyes, that was the fire seed buried by my own hands. After many years, finally burned into a prairie fire. He stepped forward two steps again, looking down at me: “Next month, I and Lila engage.” “Ceremony address, I will let Caleb send to you.” He hooked a faint smile at corner of mouth: “Welcome you to come.” How I went home, I can’t remember myself. Just pushed open the door, saw Caleb leaning on the sofa, looking at me with a smile yet not a smile. “How was it? Rejected right? I said long ago, my brother simply doesn’t look up to your kind of goods.” My whole body strength seemed to be pumped out, didn’t even have mind to argue with him. Just coldly looked at him: “Caleb Vance, we break up, you get out of my house now.” “What did you say?” Smile on Caleb’s face froze, “Scarlett, I don’t agree, want break up? No door!” I looked at his pestering appearance, last bit of patience also ground away. “You pretended poor sold misery, let me pay one million penalty fee for you, treated me as fool played for so long, this account I haven’t calculated yet, what qualification do you have to talk about disagree with me now?” Caleb uncomfortably looked away, “I can pay you back double that money! You can have as much as you want!” “I want money, also want you to get out.” “I won’t get out!” Caleb continued pestering: “Scarlett, there is a party in a few days, my brother will take Lila together. I also need to bring a female companion, you must accompany me.” I was silent for a long time, long enough for Caleb’s face to become darker and darker. Finally slowly opened mouth: “Okay.” Some things, indeed should have an end. On the day of the party, I wore a simple white long dress, followed beside Caleb, walked into the villa. In the magnificent hall, cups and chips exchanged. Julian wore a black suit, posture tall and straight. Lila intimately held his arm. Two people standing together, talented man and beautiful woman, matching dazzlingly. He held Lila, slowly walked towards here. “Caleb, this is your female companion? Rather compare to my imagination… ordinary.” My fingernails deeply embedded into palm. “Ordinary doesn’t matter.” Caleb seemed to sense my wrongness, reached out to embrace my shoulder, “I like is fine.” Julian hooked lips, didn’t speak again. Just looked down at Lila beside him, concerned: “Cold or not? Want to go sit over there a while?” Lila smiled charmingly and nodded, snuggled in his arms, two people turned to leave. When passing by me, Lila suddenly stumbled. Red wine held in hand, mostly spilled on my long dress. Dark red wine stain, bloomed on white fabric, embarrassed unbearable. “Oh my, really sorry,” Lila looked at me with apologetic face, “I didn’t mean it, are you okay?” Julian frowned, but words were spoken to Lila: “Careful, don’t fall.” I pulled corner of mouth, “It’s okay.” “There are spare dresses upstairs, you go change one.” Lila said softly, a trace of subtlety flashed in eyes. I nodded, turned and walked upstairs. Just walked into the room, door behind was closed. Lila followed in. Apology on her face vanished, replaced by a victor’s posture: “Scarlett, I know who you are.” She walked to me, sized me up: “You are the one forgotten in the past by Julian brother right?” “I advise you be sensible, leave early.” “You abandoned him before, don’t expect him to turn back.” “Julian brother’s future wife, will only be me.” I didn’t speak, just looked down at wine stain on body. Just then, whole villa suddenly fell into darkness. Power outage. Chapter 5 Sudden darkness made me tremble all over. Fear instantly swept through whole body. I have night blindness, afraid of dark since childhood, even sleep need to turn on a small night light. Darkness like an invisible hand, tightly gripped my throat. My breathing became rapid, body uncontrollably curled up on the ground, hands dead hugged knees. “Ah! Why sudden power outage!” Lila’s scream sounded, she ran to door shouting: “Julian brother! Save me! I’m so scared!” Not long after, rushed footsteps came from outside door. Door lock opened, a flashlight beam shone in. Julian’s voice anxious: “Lila, how are you?” “Julian brother!” Lila cried and threw into his arms, “I’m so scared, just now so dark…” Julian tightly hugged her, softly comforted: “Don’t fear, I am here.” His gaze, swept over me curled on the ground, but only a faint glance. Then hugged Lila, turned and left the room. I couldn’t help thinking of Julian before. He would put my hand into his coat pocket, would squat down when I was afraid of dark, cover my eyes with warm palm. Softly coax: “Scarlett, I am here, nothing need fear.” Darkness swallowed me again. I didn’t know how long I stayed on the ground. Until villa power system recovered, lights lit up again. I then slowly stood up, stumbled out of room. Banquet downstairs, lively again. I saw Julian at a glance. He was sitting on sofa, patiently peeling orange for Lila. Lila saw me, smiled and waved at me: “Scarlett, you changed clothes? Quick come sit.” I walked over, just sat down, Lila handed a plate of shrimp to me. “Just now matter really sorry, this plate shrimp you taste, count as my apology.” I looked at that plate of bright red shrimp, face pale. I am allergic to Shellfish, very serious kind. This matter, Julian knows better than anyone. Childhood I accidentally ate shrimp, whole body red rash, almost shock. He carried me on back, ran three streets, sent me to hospital. Since then, he never let me touch shrimp again. I lifted eyes look at Julian, his mouth corner held a smile, “Eat, Lila specially peeled for you.” Lila seeing me not move, pushed plate forward again. Surrounding gazes, all fell on me. That bit of luck in my heart, completely shattered. Picked up a shrimp, put in mouth, chewed few times, swallowed. Not long after, a wave of itching feeling, surged from limbs and bones. Large patches of red rash, rapidly spread on my body, both painful and itchy. I dead bit lower lip, not letting myself make a sound. Caleb sensed wrong, fierce stood up, face changed greatly: “Bro, Scarlett is allergic to shrimp, are you crazy!” His voice, attracted everyone’s gaze. Julian also finally looked up, eyes ice cold: “Here not turn for a substitute to speak!” “Bro… what do you mean?”

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The day I died of illness, the ward was crowded with people sending me off. Even my lifelong rival came. Only my husband of twenty-five years, Gavin Rutherford, was absent. He accompanied his “The One That Got Away” and her son to Iceland to see the aurora. The moment before I breathed my last, my phone received a text from him. [Back then for the family, I had to marry you, but all these years I made you take birth control pills, forbid you to have children, you agreed, count as a good wife.] [If there is a next life, I will still choose you. Rest in peace in this life, I will personally arrange the funeral.] My rival Zoe Vance saw the text, sneered sarcastically: [Lily, you really are not suitable to be Mrs. Rutherford at all.] [Next life, don’t fight with me.] Unexpectedly her words came true. Open eyes again, we both returned to the day of drawing lots for marriage in the Rutherford Estate. Gavin said coldly: [Lily, you drew the short stick, so you will be the young mistress of the Rutherford family.] I unhesitatingly stuffed the short stick to Zoe. [I feel the position of Mrs. Rutherford suits Zoe better.] … Chapter 1 Mrs. Rutherford saw this, face full of confusion. “Lily, you and Zoe used to make a huge fuss fighting for Gavin.” “Now fate favors you, why do you refuse?” Sterling, Vance, and Rutherford are the three top wealthy families in New York, equal in power, non-interfering. But coincidently both Zoe and I fell in love with Gavin. Rutherford family, to not offend Sterling and Vance families, thought of drawing lots, this fairest way. In previous life, after I won the lot, I cried tears of joy. But didn’t expect what I got was a life of loneliness, suffering all kinds of torture. Start over once, I dare not want this fate, also don’t want it anymore. I calmly answered Mrs. Rutherford. “Auntie, I am indecisive, afraid marrying over won’t be able to hold up the big business of Rutherford family.” “Miss Zoe is famous for being resolute, indeed more suitable than me.” Seeing my mind is set, Mrs. Rutherford turned to ask Gavin: “What do you think?” Gavin sat by the table filtering tea, eyelids too lazy to lift. “Marry anyone is fine.” Yes, can’t marry the one in heart, isn’t it marrying anyone is fine? Gavin’s heart person is named Chloe, who is the mistress he kept outside in previous life. Chloe is a Motorcycle Sales. Gavin’s sophomore year, dragged by classmates to attend a biker gathering, after seeing Chloe galloping on a motorcycle, he could never forget her. He felt she was dashing, felt she was different, felt only being with her, could live vigorously. Pity, Rutherford family’s huge foundation doesn’t allow him to marry a woman with no background. He could only accept fate, choose one to marry between Sterling and Vance families. Mrs. Rutherford seeing Gavin not objecting, also not good to say more. Just instructed us two: “You guys discuss well.” “Our three families are friends for generations, can’t have conflict because of this.” I understand Mrs. Rutherford’s worry. Zoe and I liked Gavin since childhood. My personality soft, not fighting not grabbing. But Zoe is not a kind person. Gavin felt I was weak, always favored and took care of me more. Zoe felt neglected, targeted me everywhere. Slandering me cheating in exams, spreading rumors I am a “Green Tea”, these are common meals. I also got used to not getting angry, only when anxious, would confront a few sentences itchlessly. Now reborn a life, knowing Gavin’s true heart, only feel we both are pitiful clowns. Where would continue tit for tat? I calmly nodded: “Auntie rest assured, Zoe and I discussed, absolutely won’t have conflict.” Mrs. Rutherford then satisfied. “Okay, Gavin’s grandfather is critically ill, can’t wait too long, wedding date set in three days.” Leaving Rutherford family, Zoe and I just found a place to catch up, Gavin brought Chloe chasing over. But he was not looking for me. He held Chloe’s hand, standing in front of Zoe, a look of matter of course. “Zoe, since our marriage is set, then there is one thing I need to tell you.” “You know I love Chloe, so I can’t not want her because I marry you.” “Later if nothing big at home, I will live at her place.” In previous life, Gavin also said this to me. That was the first time he made a request to me, I didn’t want to disappoint him, so agreed. But that time I thought, he was just fresh to Chloe. Wait freshness passed, naturally would collect heart. But didn’t expect, Gavin loved her deeper than I imagined. And Chloe was not as well-behaved as she promised at first. Her jealousy was specially strong, strong enough to find trouble with me every few days. Sarcastic mockery was light, sometimes even self-injured to frame me, provoke relationship between me and Gavin. Reason Gavin didn’t have children with me, was because Chloe deliberately fell their first child, blamed on me. Gavin believed it true, let me use a life of childlessness to redeem. Sourness just surged to heart, Zoe’s voice interrupted my thoughts. She laughed mockingly. “Gavin, what era is it, still playing feudal society three wives four concubines set?” “Listen well, if you dare move to live with Chloe, I will make her never return to New York!” Gavin trembled all over. Zoe is famous for being spicy, but gave only gentleness to Gavin. Gavin didn’t know we reborn, naturally didn’t understand why Zoe changed so big. He only treated as Chloe’s appearance stimulated Zoe, so softened tone to explain. “Zoe, don’t make trouble, Chloe is pregnant.” “Can’t do without my care.” Zoe didn’t buy it at all, she looked at Chloe sneering: “Such a big person, pregnant can’t even take care of herself, then why give birth?” “Just abort it.” Chloe’s face instantly pale. Gavin heart ached bad. He also lazy to pretend, black face angrily said: “Zoe, shut your mouth.” “This child is what Chloe and I looked forward to for a long time, absolutely impossible to abort.” Zoe shrugged indifferently. “Up to you, just remember, if after marriage you dare move to live with her, I have plenty ways to make you regret.” Probably felt staying with them bad luck, Zoe pulled me out of the shop door. But Chloe chased up alone. She pulled Zoe’s sleeve, face hanging aggrieved expression. “Miss Vance, I know you don’t like me, but the child is innocent, he can’t be born without a father.” “Beg you don’t force us to death okay?” I subconsciously looked up at the coffee shop just now, sure enough saw Gavin staring intently here. I suddenly remembered previous life was also like this. Seventh day of marriage with Gavin, he wanted to move out. I tried hard to stop, after that Chloe volunteered, alone came to apologize and beg me. At that time she also dragged my sleeve like this, pretending it was me pushing her down stairs, causing miscarriage illusion. My heart shocked, just wanted to remind Zoe, didn’t expect Chloe already repeated old trick, fell backwards. My heart lifted to throat. Although this time Chloe framed not me, but previous life before death, Zoe accompanied me to the end, I already treated her as a friend. Good thing at the critical moment, Zoe reached out and grabbed Chloe’s collar. She turned to ask me: “Did she frame you with this child back then, causing you childless for life?” I nodded heavily. Zoe looked at Chloe mockingly, sneered: “Even use this dirty means, looks like you really don’t want this child.” “Since so, I personally help you solve, save you coming to slander me.” Finished, Zoe let go hand, let Chloe fall onto the road surface. A car just drove by, too late to dodge, car front heavily hit on Chloe’s belly. Gavin in the distance flew over, eye rims red scary. He tightly hugged blood-covered Chloe, eyes splitting staring at Zoe: “Zoe Vance, you are so vicious!” “Person like you, not worthy to be young mistress of my Rutherford family!” “Even if you kneel and beg me, I won’t marry you.” Finished, Gavin self-righteously looked at me, tone was unquestionable order. “Lily, you go back prepare, marry me in three days!” I haven’t had time to refuse, ambulance already arrived. Gavin followed Zoe onto the car, didn’t even leave a straight eye for me. Watching the ambulance going away, I curiously asked: “Zoe, previous life I lived such days.” “You saw it all, still want to marry him?” Zoe expression trance, half晌 (a while) then answered me: “I do one last thing, if he still disappoints me, I tell you my answer.” Finished, Zoe made a call. “Dad, accompany me to hospital…” Chapter 2 I actually understand Zoe very well. Because I was also so unwilling. Gavin biased to believe Chloe, misunderstood me countless times. Friends advised me to divorce him. But after all person loved from small to big, I really couldn’t bear. So I persuaded myself time and time again, he was just ghost obsessed heart. Time and time again convinced myself, forgave him. I understand very well, emotional matters can only think through by oneself, otherwise no one can help. So I didn’t persuade anymore, calmly said: “Okay, what you want to do, I accompany you.” Rushing to hospital, Chloe already out of danger woke up. Seeing me and Zoe walk into ward, Gavin vigilantly protected Chloe behind him. “Zoe Vance, Chloe’s child miscarried, I haven’t settled account with you, you actually sent yourself to door!” Zoe eye bottom pain, explained: “Gavin Rutherford, I didn’t plan to hurt her.” “Is she wanted to frame me, I then moved hand.” Chloe heard, aggrievedly choked: “Gavin, I didn’t.” “My original intention was want to apologize to Miss Vance alone, beg her forgiveness, don’t press you aggressively anymore.” “But she not only didn’t accept, also scolded our child is bastard, not worthy born.” “Gavin, say to end still I not worthy you, how about we just forget it…” Gavin panicked, he pressed Chloe in arms, heartachingly kissed her forehead. “Don’t say silly words, whole world only you worthy me!” Finished, Gavin black face turned back. “Zoe Vance, I said, our marriage cancelled.” “Three days later, I will marriage alliance with Sterling family.” Zoe sneered: “Gavin Rutherford, you think not marry me, Lily will marry you…” “Can.” My voice not loud, but shocked Zoe dumbfounded. I didn’t rush to explain to her, but continued to say to Gavin: “My Sterling family can marriage alliance with Rutherford family.” “But Miss Chloe sick, you probably no mind prepare wedding, then let me handle.” “Three days later, you directly come Sterling family pick up bride, after that then supplement marriage certificate fine.” Gavin flattered, subconsciously smiled: “Lily, still you gentle sensible.” I raised hand stop. “But I have a condition.” “Today’s matter, I witnessed whole process, fact indeed same as Zoe said.” “So, let your Miss Chloe apologize to Zoe.” Chloe unwillingly quibbled: “Gavin, she slandered me…” Gavin also frowned tight, voice unhappy. “Lily, waste I thought you understanding, didn’t expect same raccoon dog with Zoe Vance!” I self-mockingly bitter smile. “Gavin Rutherford, we three childhood sweethearts, understand each other’s character most.” “Why you just refuse to believe me and Zoe ne?” Gavin disdainfully cold snort. “Because I understand Chloe’s character more!” “Every time we go out riding, she will specially go see local lonely old people and left-behind children, buy them food and clothes.” “How can such kind person frame Zoe Vance?!” “I see is you two jealous nature, join up bully her!” “If not family force, I beat death also won’t consider you two!” Me and Zoe same disappointed. I helplessly shook head: “So, us two you who also don’t want marry right?” Gavin unhesitatingly said: “Yes, you can marry me is your fate good.” “But other things don’t extravagant hope.” “Later you obedient, then forever are Rutherford young mistress.” “If not obedient, then don’t blame me not polite.” Zoe heard fire冒 (burst) three zhang, but stopped by me. I calmly said: “Good, I understood.” “Wedding I will prepare well, you don’t be late.” Turn leaving ward, Zoe hate iron not steel asked me: “You crazy?” “I came to break my thought, what fun you join?!” “Previous life haven’t suffer enough, still want marry?!” I closed room door, then answered. “Don’t rush, I said is can marriage alliance.” “Also didn’t say is me marry…” Zoe haven’t had time ask detail, two old men at door then one person one dragged us two out of hospital. Zoe looked person beside me, surprised said: “Uncle Sterling, why you also came?” I laughed: “Allow you call dad help, not allow I call ah?” But two dads at this moment simply can’t listen my joke. Their faces one race one black. Uncle Vance furious: “Zoe Vance, you let me come, is watch you being humiliated withdraw marriage?” Zoe awkwardly scratched head. “No, I was worried Gavin settle account with me, afraid I can’t beat him, so called you come support.” I hurry smooth things over. “Uncle Vance, you came also good thing.” “At least know what kind person Gavin is, future in business field also can guard against.” “Moreover, Zoe this not call be withdrawn marriage, but advance jumped out fire pit.” Uncle Vance face then eased some. But my dad’s face more black. He squinted eyes looking at me, angry extreme reverse smile: “Lily, you know that is fire pit, still rush up jump in.” “Your Simp brain really no cure!” I chased Gavin ran so many years, my dad all saw in eyes. He always felt unreliable. Now personal ear heard Gavin those bastard words, more don’t understand why I must post upside down. But scold return scold, my dad pain daughter is famous. He himself finished say, again shook head: “No, even if you hate me lifetime, I also want go tell Gavin clear, we not marry.” I hurried pull him. “Dad, don’t rush ah.” “Marriage alliance with Rutherford family has benefit to Sterling family.” “Aren’t you always want unite Rutherford family together develop west city that piece land?” “If now tear face, business still do not do?” My dad angry corrupt low roar: “I again want do business, also impossible take daughter lifetime big matter go exchange!” Uncle Vance also persuade me: “Lily, all are father, your dad mood I understand.” “Business again important, also can’t compare children.” “You don’t worry, west city that piece land although Rutherford family already internal decided, but if our two families join hand, also not certain can’t take down.” Zoe hooked my arm, full face unbearable. “Okay Lily, this time you just listen.” “I like Gavin same as you, but today I finally saw clear, he this person really not worth marry, you don’t repeat mistake again.” Three people you a word I a word, make me cry laugh not get. Hard easy wait them stop, I finally found explain chance. “You guys listen me say first.” “Not I want marry.” Three people look each other, didn’t understand my meaning. I continue patience explain: “I told Gavin is Sterling Rutherford two families can marriage alliance.” “As long as marry is Sterling family daughter not fine ma?” My dad still head fog. “I just you one daughter, not marry you marry who?” I meaning deep long smiling remind: “Dad, after Uncle Auntie passed away, didn’t cousin sister adopt to your name?” “She is also upright Sterling family Miss ah.” My dad subconsciously waved hand. “Your this cousin sister both can pretend and bad through root, I hard easy then got her abroad, marry over not make a chicken fly dog jump?” My cousin sister call Lydia, simply is a born evil seed. My parents adopted her many years, to her can say dig heart dig lung. But she not only not grateful, still full strength want snatch family property. Even harmed my mom broke leg, lower half life can only rely wheelchair walk. But Uncle is my dad only relative, also single hand pulled my dad big. My dad not bear send her prison, could only force her abroad. Now think, no one more suitable than her marry to Rutherford family. Three days later wedding, I special arranged into Chinese style. Lydia rushed back country, replace me covered red veil. Watching Gavin take sedan chair leave, me and Zoe then from shadow side by side walk out. Zoe curious stare Gavin: “Lily, you say Chloe and your cousin sister who can laugh to end?” I didn’t answer, but took out phone booked two flight tickets. “Who win not affect us.” “We two go Iceland see aurora ba, take few photos, later send give Gavin and Chloe look.” “I have premonition, this life they two no chance go…” Chapter 3 That night, Zoe went my home. We two nest in sofa, watch a rebirth short drama. Watching heroine regret look, Zoe suddenly open mouth: “Lily, I also regret.” “Early know Gavin is this kind person, previous life I just not hate you.” Previous life, after I draw lot won, Zoe heart gray cold, married abroad. Her husband is her elementary school classmate, always waiting her. Heard he treat Zoe very good, hold in hand afraid fall, hold in mouth afraid melt. But Zoe just not happy. Probably because get not is best ba. She guilty lift head, apologize to me: “Lily, after you and Gavin married, actually I secretly did not few disgusting things.” “I contacted Gavin, let him divorce with you, be with me.” “He not agree, I still thought he is really love you.” “I therefore even more hated you.” “But didn’t expect, you same as me, also victim.” “Sorry, Lily.” I calm laugh out sound, accepted this confession bureau. “Actually you contact him matter I know.” “I also not good where go, I also secretly told him, you this person bad through, never peace good heart.” “Now finally understand, turns out we two are jumping beam clowns.” Zoe then sigh relief. “This just too good, my heart guilt feeling also can light point.” Zoe re-shrink back sofa, lean on my shoulder. “You say Lydia can fight win Chloe?” “In case fight not win, I can be hold dead by this mouth evil air!” Zoe words actually reminded me. Lydia although vicious, but Gavin too love Chloe. Face his kind paranoia and crazy, Lydia really not certain is opponent. I indeed have to think way help her. Not only for vent anger, also want let Lydia owe me a favor, future to Sterling family business have help. “Zoe, did Gavin go your family hospital see doctor?” Vance family main industry is do medical and drug, New York biggest private hospital is their family. Zoe not understand my meaning, but still careful recall a bit. “See doctor no, but he every year will go our family hospital physical exam.” “Too good, still half month should be physical exam day, can you go back door, let doctor good good check him.” Zoe head fog, but loyal said: “You say, check which aspect?” My face red, awkward pick hand. “Men, Men’s health…” Previous life, Gavin always force me eat birth control pills, just afraid I pregnant will threaten Chloe mother son status. But I too wanted a child, so also would take advantage he not notice, secretly throw birth control pills. But strange is, I just how also not pregnant. I went hospital check, doctor said I no problem. That time I comfort myself is fate not arrive, now calm down, instead feel not right. Listen finish my words, Zoe face full shock. “Could it be Gavin have problem?!” “Not right ah, he if have problem, then Chloe child where pop out?” I laughed: “This is biggest problem ah.” “If confirm Gavin can’t reproduce, then still need worry Lydia fight not win Chloe?” Zoe sudden realize, excited take out phone: “I this call, wait physical exam day arrive, then what all know.” But Zoe just hang up phone, my home big door was knocked dong dong ring. Zoe action fast, snatch first rush to electronic screen front. Next second, her brow twist out water. “Is Gavin, he come do what…” I still nest in sofa, move also didn’t move. Tone calm no a bit wave. “No matter, open door let him come in ba.” “Bride changed person, he sooner or later want find come.” “Solve finish, we two then good peace mind see aurora.” Zoe although agreed, but vigilant went kitchen, carried a kitchen knife. But door just open, kitchen knife haven’t play use, Gavin already push away her, rush to my front. He wedding suit didn’t take off, face full of exasperation. “Lily, you play me right?!” “Actually let Lydia that kind evil woman substitute marry!” Haven’t time answer, another female voice ring: “What evil woman? Gavin, you mouth give me put clean point!” I then find Lydia also follow come. She also not show weakness, start accuse me: “Lily, you guys said let me marry go Rutherford family is enjoy blessing.” “Enjoy fart blessing ah! This bastard even veil didn’t lift, just anxious want go accompany mistress!” “If not I stop, tomorrow I become New York biggest joke!” I look front two swords drawn bows bent people, not panic not busy opened mouth. “Gavin, my cousin sister before was not sensible.” “These years went abroad, long change evil return right.” “You if again use evil woman slander her, is go against my Sterling family.” “Even fight fish die net break, we Sterling family also will protect own people.” Lydia whole body stiff, incredible ask: “Lily, you, willing help me?” I of course not willing. But for can let dog man woman self eat bad fruit, also for family interest, I pretend also have to pretend willing look. “Sister, we again have what unhappy, after all is one family.” “I where have help outsider bully you reason?” Lydia eye bottom flash a trace micro not detect guilt. She no longer aggressive, but stood behind me. Gavin see situation, sneer non-stop. “Turns out you guys are a gang.” “But Lily, my Rutherford family have face have face, marriage alliance is real heiress, you do this is not put Rutherford family in eyes?” “If let Rutherford family elders know, absolutely let you eat not finish pocket go.” “So I give you a chance, now change back, I guarantee no one know truth.” Lydia afraid I snatch away her chance marry into rich family, nervous stare me. I pat her shoulder, then gave her a calming pill. “Gavin, Lydia long adopted to my parents name, is Sterling family name verify real eldest daughter.” “Moreover, Rutherford family know you keep mistress not few.” “You if really want noise, others only will feel you push luck, not know good bad.” Gavin face white, he very clear I said are facts, so a time dumb mouth no words. I continue blow ear side wind: “I want be you, just happy accept this marriage.” “Not only so, for little lover reputation and safety, I will also treat Lydia better a bit.” “After all, only she not noise, you and your little lover can live stable.” Gavin although heart not willing emotion not wish, but finally can only chose this dumb loss. He disgust glance Lydia one eye: “Enough, I tonight follow you go back sleep, tomorrow morning get license finish you not allowed again care me!” Finished, he fast step leave. Lydia to me slightly put down vigilance heart, but bone inside evil still drive her. “Lily, I know you are help me, but I impossible not noise.” “Wait find chance, I must kill that vixen not can!” I shook head. “Don’t rush, noise big you just no chance control Rutherford family.” “This period time you pretend good virtuous wife good mother, wait time arrive, I send you a big gift.” Half month later, me and Zoe right in Iceland watching aurora, her phone suddenly came message. She excited lift phone to my front: “Lily, you guess right, Gavin really no fertility ability.” I early have psychological prepare, calm said: “First save report good, don’t let people know.” “Calculate time, still two months Chloe will pregnant.” “Wait child born, then give report to Lydia.” … Because my persuasion, Lydia quite honest. This year, she pretend model act a gentle considerate wife. Not only not stop Gavin cohabit with Chloe, even after Chloe pregnant accompany run front run back. Gavin gradually change view to her. Although no feeling, but start slowly release power. Lydia for get big gift I said, for Sterling family fight to not few big projects. Father company can say is steam steam day up. Soon, one year pass. Chloe give birth child that day, me and Zoe also went visit. Of course not want see her. But want fulfill promise to Lydia. Gavin seem to me still have gas, see us come in, mock sneer. “Lily, many thanks you ah, sent me such a understanding wife.” “I with Lydia get along down, compare with you comfortable much.” “She and Chloe now good like biological sisters.” Chloe also vent anger like say: “Zoe Vance, you harm dead my one child, thought can strike me?” “Humph, you wrong, Gavin love me, as long as I want, how many children he will give me.” Zoe this year also grow a lot. No longer like before so violent impulsive. She not angry not annoyed smile: “Really?” “Gavin really can give you child ah?” Chloe face change, guilty scold: “Nonsense!” “Gavin is my first love, my child of course is he give!” I don’t want again with this pair dog man woman nonsense, turn head to Lydia say: “Sister, confirm you fine I rest assured.” “We two still have a party, you send us out ba.” Arrived garage, see four down no one, Lydia finally can’t help fire. “Lily, you also saw, that vixen how arrogant.” “As long as Gavin not here, she also so talk to me.” “You say, I exactly still want endure till when?!” I put printed physical exam report in Lydia hand, smile: “Time arrived, no need endure.” “Go ba, do smart point.” “Don’t let Gavin hate on you, after all your goal is Rutherford Group.” “You want is he guilt you, heart willing emotion willing hand family to you.” Lydia lower head look one eye physical exam report, smile on face then hide not住 (can’t hide). “Lily, this indeed is a big gift.” “Not waste I wait one year more.” “You two go back wait ba, good show you want see I act for you.” … Three months later, Rutherford family privately for Chloe child prepared 100 Days Celebration. Everyone although dislike Chloe, but child after all is Rutherford family blood, crowd still value. Probably afraid influence not good, 100 days celebration didn’t invite outsider. But Lydia for repay me, sent scene monitor to my phone. Me and Zoe connect projector, relish taste watch up. In screen, Rutherford family whole family right happy harmonious sit around together. Lydia and Chloe one left one right sit beside Gavin, laugh happy. Suddenly, doctor Lydia bribed anxious panic break in. “Mr. Rutherford, yesterday you for give Little Master blood transfusion did full body check, check result show, Little Master he not, not your child…” Lydia listen my words, didn’t direct expose. But under Zoe help, let doctor give that child open a diagnosis certificate. Severe anemia. Gavin love son heart cut, unhesitatingly accept doctor blood transfusion suggestion. Then did a comprehensive body check. Check down, Gavin no fertility ability matter just float out water surface. Gavin hold physical exam result, heavy slap in front Chloe, face red ear red. “Exactly how matter?!” “If I cannot reproduce, then child is whose?!” Chloe scared face pale, can only mouth hard. “Gavin, you don’t believe, definitely is hospital mistake…” Father Rutherford hear words, also not give Chloe chance say more, snatch child direct clap board say: “Immediately take do paternity test!” Chloe hear words, legs soft, fierce paralyzed sit on ground. Rutherford family are business field touch crawl roll beat many years people, see this scene, naturally what all understand. Gavin no exception. He angry eye rims red, long gone past gentleness. He a grab Chloe collar, angry ask: “Whose child?!” “If dare lie, I let you with your adulterer together disappear!” Chloe scared extreme. She force break free Gavin, thump a sound kneel on ground. “Gavin, I wrong.” “But I also forced helpless.” “I no name no title follow you, if no child, you sooner or later will dislike me.” “I just want always be with you, then forced helpless beg ex-boyfriend give me a child…” Lydia timely fan wind light fire. “One child?” “You before not also miscarriage one ma?” “Also your ex-boyfriend?” “Pregnant this kind thing also not hundred shots hundred hits, looks like you two didn’t less try ah.” Chloe angry mouth not choose words, scold Lydia: “You shut up!” Voice not fall, heavy slap already fall on Chloe face. Gavin angry voice all hoarse. “You shut up!” “This year Lydia for me heart care you, never treat you bad a bit.” “You a slut have what qualification scold her?!” Watching this farce, me and Zoe only feel mood comfortable. She curious ask me: “Lily, you say this time Gavin will soft heart ma?” I shook head. Gavin all along love is Chloe unique, love is her frank sincere. Now discover her hypocritical true face, if still soft heart, that is slide world big joke. Sure enough, Gavin waved hand, cold order: “Throw this bitch and wild breed she born out.” “Again find her adulterer out.” “Notify New York everyone, not allowed give them arrange work, not allowed rent sell house to them.” “If not follow do, is against my Rutherford family!” Finished, he ignore Chloe tear heart crack lung cry howl, threw two out door. This sky cold ground freeze, no place shelter mother son also don’t know will or not freeze dead. Think here, I dialed a phone number. “Go Rutherford old house help Chloe a hand, don’t too obvious, as long as not let her die fine.” Phone that end ask: “Child ne? Also want help ma?” I calm answered: “Child just no need help.” After all, only child died, do mother then will go crazy. Put down phone, Zoe puzzle ask: “Lily, you this is want do what?” I meaning deep long smile: “Chloe already wasted.” “A wasted person of course is not afraid die.” “I want borrow her hand, revenge for my mom…”

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The Harbor City Gala was less a celebration and more a livestock auction. I stood in a line with a dozen other eligible young women, waiting to be selected. As the disgraced, illegitimate daughter of the Shore Dynasty’s gambling lord, I knew the stakes. If I didn’t receive a flower—the symbolic gesture of intent—tonight, by morning I’d be shipped off to The Metropolitan District for a miserable, arranged marriage. Grant Kingsley, my childhood friend and the man I’d clung to for a decade, was supposed to be my anchor. But as he approached our line, his eyes—the same shade of warm whiskey I’d stared into a thousand times—slid past me. He stopped beside Summer Davies, the recent recipient of his massive scholarship fund. He handed the rare, golden-tipped Orchid to her. He leaned in, his breath a warm, sickening contrast to the chill seizing my chest. “Just let Summer have her moment, Kenzie. This is the highlight of her whole life. Don’t worry, I’m here. No one will dare finalize your engagement while I’m around.” I offered him a desperate, pleading look, but he dismissed it instantly. He offered Summer his arm, the gesture formal, almost possessive. “Summer is graceful and elegant, and frankly, she carries herself with a dignity worthy of the Orchid.” Dignity worthy of the Orchid. The words, meant to elevate her, instantly made me the butt of every whispered joke in the room. The next morning, I left for the Metropolitan District alone. Grant, in a panic, shut down the entire city’s air traffic trying to find me. … Summer Davies’s hand rested on Grant’s arm with an affected, practiced elegance. Under the chandeliers, they looked like a perfect, polished pair. My own heart was a tight, painful knot, but I forced my expression to remain smooth. He, of course, was oblivious to my quiet crisis. The room was thinning out. I stood alone, flowerless, my fate sealed: the arranged marriage loomed. Grant, noticing me abandoned in the corner, sauntered over with a glass of champagne. “Seriously, the nerve of some people,” he griped, rolling his eyes. “I told a few of the guys to make sure you got something, just to save face. Can you believe they disobeyed my order?” I sighed, staring at the man I had practically grown up with, a man who, until tonight, I believed was my only ally. “Do you even know what the Gala means?” The Harbor Gala wasn’t just a party; it was a matchmaking event for the most powerful families. The Orchid symbolized the heir’s intention to marry the recipient. As an illegitimate Shore—a social stain—no one but Grant, the city’s most eligible bachelor, would risk offering me that kind of commitment. My stepmother, Elaine Shore, had forced me to come precisely because she knew I’d be rejected, forcing my hand into the Capital marriage. I had begged Grant for three years of protection—three years to gain footing—and then he’d be free to love anyone. He’d sworn he’d protect me. But when the time came, he chose a fleeting moment of performative charity over my entire future. Decades of loyalty dissolved in a single evening. A look of faint guilt crossed Grant’s face, and he waved Summer off with a quick, paternal pat. “Look, Kenzie, you see this stuff all the time. But for Summer, a scholarship girl, this is her one shot at the limelight. Just let me thank you on her behalf.” He leaned in, his expression turning into a familiar, charming pout that he knew usually melted me. “Why now? You can have anything else. Why are you making a big deal out of this?” When I didn’t soften, he cleared his throat awkwardly. “Today is her graduation. It also means she won’t be accepting my stipend anymore. I promised her one unforgettable night, that’s all.” It certainly was unforgettable for me, too. And now, it was irreversible. “Grant, you know what the Gala flowers signify—” Summer, like a well-timed interruption, glided back to his side. “Oh, Kendall,” she whispered, her eyes wide. “Did I ruin something? Please don’t be mad at Grant. I begged him…” Grant scowled at me as Summer theatrically tucked her chin, appearing distressed. “It’s fine, Kenzie,” he snapped. “It’s just a damn flower. I’ll buy you one.” He plucked a random, fully bloomed red rose from a passing floral arrangement and shoved it into my hand. It was dripping water, its thorns hastily shaved off, the stem brutally snapped short. “Roses are better suited for you anyway—passion, fire. Why are you being so dramatic about a single Orchid? It’s completely unlike your easygoing nature.” The rose was a cruel mirror. The Orchid signified respect, the dignified qualities a family heir seeks in a wife. The blazing rose, severed and de-thorned, was a symbol of passion without promise—a cruel irony for the gambling lord’s bastard. The snickers around us grew louder. People weren’t bothering to hide their gossip anymore. “The mistress’s daughter, always fetching and carrying for him, actually thought she could marry into the Kingsleys. Didn’t you hear? The scholarship girl has more ‘dignity’ than her.” Grant shot a look at the gossipers, and the girl shut up, but not before shooting me a venomous glare. “I’m so sorry, Kendall,” Summer murmured. “You’re so elegant all the time, I just wanted one night of that special attention. I didn’t realize—” “Elegant?” I cut her off, my voice dangerously low. “I’m a bastard child. Do you think Grant is unaware of how my family treats me?” Summer fumbled a mini-quiche, which landed squarely on her satin shoe. Her eyes immediately welled up with artful, wounded tears. Grant’s jaw tightened. “Look, this is ridiculous. Let her finish her night. I’m going to take her to change. You can go home now, Kenzie.” Go home. I had no home to go to. Brad Lawson, a low-tier heir notorious for his handsiness, sidled up to me, sniffing loudly near my hair. “Smells expensive, Ms. Shore.” Without Grant’s protection, I was easy prey. “Grant told me to give you a flower, but I passed. I told you to stop chasing his heels and flirt with me for once. How does it feel now? Humiliating, right?” I was stunned. Grant had assigned him—a known shark—the task of giving me a pity flower? My hand clenched around the broken rose. The betrayal, the casual disrespect, was nauseating. Brad, noticing my stiff silence, slapped a furry hand onto my shoulder. “Look, Kendall, if you weren’t so damn gorgeous, a bastard like you would be fair game for anyone. Did you think Grant Kingsley would actually protect you forever?” Before his fingers could dig in, Grant’s hand shot out and smacked Brad’s arm away. “Lawson. I told you not to touch what’s mine.” “But you chose the charity case! You’re just keeping Kendall as a backup, huh?” Brad sneered. “Stay out of my business.” Grant spun me around to face him, his eyes blazing. “Why didn’t you fight back?” The question was the final blow. I was beyond disappointment. “Why would I? Isn’t that what you ordered?” “You need to understand, Kenzie, I can protect you in this room, but I can’t be glued to your side every second.” “But you knew what the Gala meant—” Summer returned instantly, her tears magically dried, a bright, cheerful smile now plastered on her face. “I’d love to try a cocktail, Grant. May I?” A sullen woman begging for her future versus a bright, adoring girl asking for a drink. The choice for Grant was obvious. “Of course. Tonight, you’re the star. Whatever you want.” He turned back to me. “We’ll talk tomorrow. I’ll come to your place.” Tomorrow. I gave a tight, mirthless laugh. Tomorrow, you’ll have to come to the Metropolitan District to find me. Grant excused himself to greet a senator. Summer returned to me, a ruby-red drink in hand, the feigned meekness gone, replaced by a subtle, almost-Kingsley air of authority. “Why, Kendall, you have everything. Do you really need to steal this one little piece of glory from me?” I should never have selected her from the roster of Grant’s scholarship applicants years ago. “You’ve lived a privileged life since birth. I only asked for Grant’s protection for one night.” “Privileged? I’m a bastard,” I replied flatly. My mother died young. Elaine Shore brought me back only to torment me. My father, the gambling lord, had a dozen children and no interest in me. I learned to be invisible. I learned that my face was my only currency. That currency was what I used to approach my uncle, Victor Shore, a man as cold and sharp as a glacier. I begged him to train me, to back me. “Your father has twenty-odd children. Why should I invest in a useless little bastard who will inevitably fail?” he’d asked. “Because I have no weakness. I have nothing to lose, and I’m willing to fight dirty,” I’d promised, trembling slightly beneath his unblinking stare. But the time wasn’t right. Victor wouldn’t help me yet. The man I was slated to marry in the Metropolitan District, Weston Albright, was rumored to be ruthlessly cold. The Shores wanted an alliance, but didn’t want their legitimate daughters suffering, so they chose me. Victor must have known the outcome of the Gala. A text buzzed in my hand: Find your own way. I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. Summer, playing the host, placed a warm hand on my ice-cold one. “Do you think Grant even knew what the Gala meant tonight?” I had to act. I tracked down Grant immediately. “Did you know what the Gala meant?” “Yeah, a matchmaking event. So what? It’s just tradition. Who actually marries the person they give a flower to these days?” He knew. “I’ll handle the Shores. They won’t marry you off.” “Then will you please get the Orchid back from Summer? I only need it for the night. I’ll return it.” Grant looked at me, surprised, then uneasy. “I don’t think so. I already gave it away. I’ll buy you a dozen, Kenzie. Just don’t be so petty about Summer.” The Orchid had that unique, counterfeit-proof gold edging. The suppressed rage of the entire evening finally erupted. “Grant Kingsley, I told you I wouldn’t cling to you! I told you I have someone else I want to be with! I told you I only needed three years and you could be free! Why are you humiliating me like this?” His smile vanished. His expression turned hard, and he backed me against a wall. “Someone else? Who, Kendall? No one else would dare claim you. You can only want me. The whole damn city knows you’re my shadow.” To hear the word shadow—the word for the desperate hanger-on I’d had to be to survive in the Shore house—filled me with absolute shame. I took a step back, accidentally bumping into Summer, who stumbled slightly. “Kendall, please don’t fight with Grant!” Grant immediately pulled Summer into his arms. “Kenzie, it’s just one night. Don’t be so dramatic. Tomorrow, she’ll go back to her life.” Summer’s look suggested she had no intention of letting go of this sudden, unexpected wealth. I left the banquet and climbed into the sleek, black sedan Victor had sent. Victor Shore sat inside, a chilling reservoir of stillness. “You lost. You made a bet. Go to the Metropolitan District tomorrow and let fate decide the rest.” “I will come back,” I told him. “Prove it.” He twisted his lips into a cool, calculating arc, effectively washing his hands of me. Back at the Shore mansion, Elaine Shore glanced at Victor’s retreating back, her expression one of practiced elegance. “Eighteen years of being provided for. It’s time you repaid us. Since the Kingsley son has chosen his fiancée, you leave tomorrow.” Nothing in the Shore house belonged to me. I had to pay for my own flight. Victor said nothing, merely retreating to his room. I went to the tiny bedroom that had always been mine. My elder half-sister leaned against the doorframe, examining her freshly manicured nails. “If I were you, I’d have skipped the Gala and saved myself the embarrassment. Mother told me to watch you. You can’t take anything valuable—even the dress you’re wearing has to stay.” “Mother says you’ve enjoyed enough of the Shore name. The rest is up to you.” “Oh, and Mother says that Metropolitan guy probably has a Golden Standard—the idealized woman he can never touch. Good luck.” I stripped off the designer gown, removed the borrowed jewelry, and placed everything in a tray. I walked to the bathroom in just my silk slip, and my sister finally lost interest and left. On my phone, Summer’s dazzling smile lit up a social media post. Thank you for the most magical night. It’s my turn to repay you now. The sleeve cuff hugging her shoulder featured the custom silver cufflink I had given Grant for his last birthday. I left all of Grant’s gifts behind. The next morning, I was up before dawn. I slipped out without saying goodbye to anyone, a simple backpack my only luggage, and headed straight to the airport. Security was swift. I boarded the flight. As the plane taxied onto the runway, I turned my phone completely off, severing the last connection to Harbor City. Suddenly, the pilot’s voice crackled over the intercom. “We apologize for the inconvenience, passengers. Due to an urgent, city-wide search by the Kingsley family, the city’s air traffic control has been ordered to suspend all outgoing flights. We are returning to the gate.”

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1 After twenty years of being childfree by choice, my husband, Marcus, suddenly wanted to adopt. The moment the paperwork was signed, he turned to me with a casual air. “Oh, I forgot to mention. Kevin is actually my biological son.” “A little something from a few years back,” he said, shrugging. “His mother died. I had to bring him home.” The air hitched in my lungs. “Then what were the last twenty years… What was our agreement for?” “Consider it a blessing?” Marcus slid a pen toward me, his voice devoid of emotion. “You got to play around for two decades, and now you get a devoted son without the pain of childbirth.” “Most women would kill for this.” My hand, clutching the strap of my purse, trembled. Inside that purse was a medical report. The one confirming Marcus’s sterility. I was still reeling from his words when the boy, who looked to be in middle school, bowed his head respectfully and called out to me. “Mom.” His voice was clear, laced with a deliberate attempt to please. Marcus smiled, ruffling the boy’s hair before his gaze fell back on me. “What’s done is done, Autumn. You can’t honestly expect me to abandon my own flesh and blood, can you?” Seeing the blood drain from my face, Marcus softened his tone, trying to coax me. “I only found out last month when I was here for a charity event. I wasn’t trying to deceive you.” My throat was so dry I could barely speak. It took all my effort to force out a single question. “Are you so sure he’s yours?” Marcus let out a soft, confident laugh. “She was a sweet girl from the countryside. Incredibly pure. I was her first.” He leaned in, his voice a low whisper. “There’s no way he could be anyone else’s.” His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. My fingers flew to Kevin’s file, tracing the information until they landed, hard, on his date of birth. I stared at Marcus, my voice shaking with dawning horror. “This was… This was when my grandmother died? When you went back to my hometown with me for the funeral?” Marcus nodded, not a flicker of guilt on his face. “You wouldn’t even let me touch you back then,” he stated flatly. “And I’ve never been one to deny myself.” The last thread of my composure snapped. I snatched the stack of adoption papers and hurled them at his face. “Marcus!” The papers scattered like fallen leaves, but Kevin suddenly lunged in front of his father. The bulk of the files missed Marcus, but the sharp edge of a page sliced a bright red line across Kevin’s cheek. The warmth vanished from Marcus’s face, replaced by a mask of ice. He pulled Kevin behind him, his eyes filled with a disgust I had never seen before. “You women who’ve never had children,” he spat, “you have no maternal instinct at all.” He turned, pulling Kevin with him toward the door. “You’d better think long and hard about this.” His voice, cold and laced with threat, drifted back to me. “Don’t make this difficult for me, Autumn. Or our twenty years of marriage will have to end right here.” He paused at the door as if remembering something. “Oh, and your mother’s medical bills,” he added, the words a final, devastating blow. “Those will end right here, too.” 2 A violent tremor wracked my body. The wind whipping around the entrance of the adoption agency felt like it was seeping into my bones, chilling me from the inside out. My mind, against my will, drifted back to when I first met Marcus. He had been so good to me. So good that he’d thrown himself in front of me when a group of thugs had me cornered in an alley, even though he didn’t have a penny to his name. I found out later he’d worked three jobs to pay them off, working until he collapsed in his tiny apartment from a bleeding ulcer. But when I asked him about it, he just said, “It had nothing to do with you.” “I needed to save up anyway.” Slowly, I learned that Marcus was an orphan. So every school holiday, I made up excuses to bring him home with me. I’ll never forget the day my grandmother slipped him some cash for his books; he was a tall, strapping man of six-foot-two, but his eyes welled up with tears. He once mentioned offhand that he’d never had real, homemade meatloaf. My mother spent the entire afternoon mincing meat by hand, presenting him with a massive, steaming loaf just for him. I don’t remember how many plates he had that night. I only remember that he ate so much he landed himself in the hospital. Then, in my junior year of college, my father died unexpectedly. The pillar of our family was gone. My mother’s medical bills and my own tuition suddenly became an impossible mountain to climb. It was Marcus who dropped out of school without a second thought. He worked day and night, grinding away at any job he could find to support me and my mother. “Don’t be afraid,” he promised me. “I’m your family now.” I truly believed our love could withstand anything. So when the doctor gave us the results of his fertility test, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I hid the report. I took all the pressure, all the questions from our families, and told everyone that I was the one who didn’t want children. We were childfree for twenty years. I thought it was just another beautiful chapter in our love story. But now, reality had just delivered a brutal, stinging slap to my face. “Ma’am? Are you alright?” A staff member from the agency was calling out to me, her voice gentle. I raised a hand to my face and was shocked to find it slick with tears. The sweeter the past, the sharper the pain of the present. My phone buzzed. It was my mom. “Autumn? Where are you? I thought you were just popping out to buy a few things for the new boy?” In the background, I could hear Marcus’s voice, smooth and reassuring, making excuses for me. “Mom, she’s just being a little overeager. It’s her first time being a mother, you know. She sees something, she wants to buy it for Kevin.” My blood ran cold. Marcus… he had taken that boy to my mother’s hospital room. The phone was passed over, and Marcus’s voice filled my ear. “You should get back here. We’re all waiting for you, the whole family.” I grit my teeth so hard my jaw ached. Grabbing my purse, I bolted from the agency, flagged down the first cab I saw, and raced to the hospital. As I arrived, I saw Marcus and Kevin coming out of the main entrance. Marcus headed toward a nearby convenience store, leaving Kevin to wait by a corner, where he pulled out his phone. I was about to confront them when I heard Kevin’s voice, dripping with a venom that was completely absent from the polite boy I’d met an hour ago. “Just some stupid old hag and her sick old bag of a mother,” he sneered into the phone. “I wonder how much money they’re gonna drain from my dad.” “If that old witch doesn’t play nice, I’ll find a way to finish off the old lady myself.” A roar filled my ears as all the blood rushed to my head. I stormed forward and, with all the strength I could muster, slapped him hard across the face. “Say that again!” Kevin clutched his cheek, his eyes burning with pure hatred. Before he could speak, a powerful kick slammed into my lower back. I was thrown forward, crashing hard against the brick wall of the building. The impact jarred every organ in my body. Marcus was back. “Autumn, I’ve spoiled you rotten, and you’ve forgotten your place!” he roared, his face contorted with rage. “If you don’t want this life, then fine! I’ll grant your wish!” 3 The next day, the hospital’s billing department called. “Ms. Autumn? Your mother’s account is overdue. If the balance isn’t settled, we’ll have to discontinue her medication.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell my mom that Marcus had cut off her lifeline. But when I went to pay with my own card, the machine read: INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. I tried another. And another. Every single one of my cards had been frozen. It was then I remembered. The company we had built together after our marriage… Marcus was the sole legal owner. He’d always said he wanted to protect me, to keep me from the stress of business dinners and let me be a carefree homemaker. I once thought that was love. Now I understood. It was just a gilded cage he had been building for me all along. With no other options, I began selling the things Marcus had given me over the years. Anniversaries, birthdays, even the day we first met—for twenty years, he had never forgotten a single occasion. Jewelry, designer bags… each item had once been a testament to our love. Now, they were just proof of how masterfully he had deceived me. My mother saw how haggard I was becoming and assumed we were just fighting. “Autumn, dear, all couples argue,” she said, her voice soft. “I know Marcus. That boy has eyes only for you. Just try to be a little more patient with him.” I looked down, hiding the tears that threatened to spill. Patient? How do you find patience for betrayal? Just then, the door to her room swung open. Marcus walked in, carrying a fruit basket. He moved with a familiar ease, peeling an apple for my mom as if nothing had happened. “Mom, Autumn is just being a bit stubborn,” he said, his tone gentle. “I’m here to take her home.” He even pulled Kevin forward, presenting him to my mother on her bed. “Mom, once you’re feeling a bit stronger, we’ll take Kevin back to the old town to visit Grandma’s grave.” My mother smiled, her face filled with relief. “Stop being silly, Autumn,” she urged. “Go home with Marcus.” Under her hopeful gaze, I reached out and let Marcus take my hand. His palm was warm, but it felt like being coiled by a venomous snake. The moment we were out of the hospital room, he flung my hand away. “Autumn, for your mother’s sake, I won’t divorce you,” he said, his voice cold. “But you will listen to me. And you will treat Kevin as if he were your own son.” I looked up at him. “Marcus, it’s not like I can’t have children of my own.” A strange, chilling smile spread across his lips. “You can’t.” My entire body went rigid. He looked at me, his expression calm, almost placid. “Last month, when you had your appendix out… I had the doctor tie your tubes while you were under.” “You will never have a child of your own.” I was plunged into an icy abyss, every limb frozen in shock. Marcus stepped closer and, just as he had a thousand times before, gently stroked my hair. “Autumn, I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he murmured. “But I couldn’t risk it.” “This is the only way I could be sure you would love Kevin with your whole heart.” I broke. Pointing a trembling finger at the boy who was engrossed in his phone down the hall, I choked out, “For him?” Marcus nodded. “I have to take responsibility for my actions. That girl… I took advantage of her all those years ago.” I couldn’t breathe. It felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing my heart, crushing it. But Marcus simply pulled me into his arms. “Autumn, I really do love you,” he whispered. “That’s why I didn’t want to lie to you about this.” “Can’t we just go back to how things were? Can’t we just be happy?” In that embrace I had once cherished more than anything, I felt, for the very first time, the suffocating grip of true despair. Marcus continued to whisper in my ear. “There’s a new experimental drug from Europe. It’s very effective for your mother’s condition, but it’s incredibly expensive.” “Be a good girl, and I’ll find a way to get it for her. Okay?” I don’t know if it was exhaustion or pain, but in the end, I gave a weak, defeated nod.

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Relatives partnered up to start a business and made five hundred million dollars. But when it came time to divide the dividends, my dad ended up owing fifty thousand. When Uncle Richard called everyone together to collect their dividends, he suddenly pulled out a big cardboard box, “This year we’ll distribute the dividends in a more exciting way.” The relatives looked at each other, wondering what was different from usual. Uncle Richard threw the cardboard box on the table, “There are words on the slips of paper inside. You get however much you draw.” Half of the company’s shares were in Uncle Richard’s hands. Although the relatives looked helpless, they could only do as they were told. Just as my dad reached out to draw, Uncle Richard slapped his hand away. “It costs five thousand dollars to draw once. The grand prize inside is five million dollars. A small investment for a big return, you won’t lose out.” Uncle Richard watched us draw one cent in turn and said sarcastically, “Don’t say I didn’t put the grand prize in there!” Saying that, he reached into the box and pulled out ten thousand dollars. When my family’s account balance turned to zero, my dad knelt before me crying, asking me what to do. My mom was also complaining about my dad’s incompetence on the side. I watched the smug Uncle Richard and stepped forward. “Uncle Richard, I’ll draw on behalf of my dad.” 1 “You’ve never been as good as your brother since you were little. Now you’ve lost all the family fortune just drawing for dividends. Marrying you was the worst luck of my life!” My dad knelt on the ground crying, my mom’s fists pounding on him one by one. “I just wanted to trade five thousand for five million, to get more money for our family. I didn’t expect my luck to be so bad. Fifty thousand dollars only drew two cents. Now even the money for Jason’s surgery is gone…” I looked at Uncle Richard sitting arrogantly in the chair and spoke, “I’ll draw on behalf of my dad.” Just after I told Uncle Richard I wanted to draw, Dad thought I was delirious from losing too much money. He hurriedly pulled me aside to persuade me, “Claire, come back quickly. Our family has no money left, don’t try to be a hero!” I patted Dad’s back to tell him to relax. Everyone spent a hundred thousand dollars drawing these slips, and the total amount drawn was only a few hundred dollars. It would be one thing if only Dad had bad luck, but it’s not an accident if everyone has bad luck. I realized he must have done something to the box and walked straight forward. Uncle Richard looked contemptuous, “We are all shareholders representing our families to draw dividends. What are you, a kid, joining in the fun for? Besides, do you have money?” Hearing this, I took out my phone and fiddled with it, borrowing from all possible platforms, plus the scholarships I saved from school. I showed the phone screen to Uncle Richard, “It adds up to more than forty thousand. That should be enough for me to draw a few times.” Dad pounced forward trying to snatch my phone, but I dodged sideways. “You child, if you don’t draw anything, our family will really fall apart!” Aunt Susan also advised earnestly on the side, “Claire, don’t draw. Look, I only drew fifty dollars with thirty thousand. With so many slips inside, who knows if there’s a grand prize.” Uncle Richard pointed at Aunt Susan’s nose and scolded, “You damn woman, so much trouble. Daring to slander my character.” He stiffened his neck, looking unconvinced, “All the dividends from this project are in there, including my share! I kindly wanted to distribute more money to you, don’t slander people!” “I originally thought whoever was lucky would take the grand prize. Now you blame me because you can’t draw it yourself!” “I’ll draw one on the spot for you to see right now!” Uncle Richard said and reached into the box to grope around. Not long after, Uncle Richard took out the selected slip. “Look clearly, I also took it randomly. See if it’s really your bad luck!” He said as he unfolded the slip in his hand. Ten thousand dollars was clearly written on the paper. The surrounding relatives exclaimed instantly, “So there really is a prize, we just didn’t touch it.” Uncle Richard sat in the chair with his legs crossed, looking smug, “See! Whoever wants to draw a prize, bring me the money!” The relatives’ eyes were eager, but they dared not draw again because they had lost too much before. I fiddled with my phone and transferred five thousand dollars to Uncle Richard. “Money transferred. I want to try drawing once.” Uncle Richard pointed to his side with a cigarette in his mouth. “The box is here, hurry up and draw. I want to see what new tricks a different person can have.” 2 First draw. I sat upright in front of Uncle Richard and looked at him, “I want to see how my luck is today.” Saying that, I reached my hand into the big box and stirred it for full three minutes. Uncle Richard rolled his eyes and shrugged, “Hurry up. No matter how much you touch, it’s just that little stuff. If you ruin the paper by touching it, how can others draw!” I touched a slip from the box and threw it casually on the table, not in a hurry to open it. Uncle Richard looked me up and down and joked, “You little brat, I’m optimistic about you. Don’t tell me you won on the first try!” Hearing this, I smiled and greeted the surrounding relatives to come and see. “Uncle Richard, you said there is a grand prize of five million here. Don’t tell me if I really draw it out, you won’t redeem it for me. You should put the money here first to prove it!” Relatives also nodded one after another, “Who doesn’t know Richard’s family is famously stingy. When taking dividends before, he dragged us for almost half a year.” “Exactly, exactly. Now taking dividends and making this fuss. This is what we deserve, and now we have to spend money to get it.” “He said there was a grand prize himself. So many of us spent so much money and only drew more than three hundred in total.” I didn’t miss the flash of guilt in Uncle Richard’s eyes, but his tone remained tough, “Don’t blame the road for being uneven if you can’t walk. You saw me draw a prize with your own eyes!” I sneered in my heart. Uncle Richard really calculated well. Not only did he want to monopolize all the dividends alone, but he also wanted to empty our family fortune. Seeing that everyone around was staring at him suspiciously, Uncle Richard turned and rummaged through his satchel. Slap. Three bank cards were placed on the table. “This one has fifty thousand, this one has five million, and the last one has fifty million. The passwords are written on the back of the bank cards.” “Whether you can take them away depends on your ability.” I smiled harmlessly at Uncle Richard, “Let’s open the prize.” Under everyone’s gaze, I slowly opened the slip. Thank you for your patronage. Uncle Richard’s burst of laughter was out of place with the sighs of others. “Oh my, my luck is bad. Another round!” “Drawing one by one is boring. Give me five draws, twenty-five thousand!” Dad’s face turned livid at this time, walking over with a serious face, “Claire, if the family savings are gone, we can earn money again. If you owe so much money at a young age, you will be ruined in the future.” Looking at my dad’s graying hair, I squeezed his hand, “It’s okay Dad, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” My dad has always cared about face since he was young. As long as someone provokes him, he gets agitated immediately. Uncle Richard is the most successful one in our family, and even has a high status in the whole village. He looked down on my dad from the beginning. In order not to lose face in front of Uncle Richard, Dad lost himself in Uncle Richard’s words and lost everything. Uncle Richard pulled me away from my dad, “I say, brother, the child is grown up and sensible. Don’t restrict her in everything. It’s a good thing for the child to have her own ideas.” “Don’t raise the child to be as shrinking as you.” “If it really doesn’t work, you guys should go home and farm early!” Uncle Richard really understands my dad. He knows my dad can’t stand this the most. Although he said so, the expression on his face betrayed him. I hooked the corners of my mouth and transferred another twenty-five thousand to Uncle Richard’s account. Since Uncle Richard wants to suck our blood to get rich so much, he can’t blame me. 3 Uncle Richard handed the box to me with a beaming smile. “Heh, draw, draw. Hundreds of slips, choose however you want.” I drew five slips as seriously as last time. Groping in the box for a full ten minutes. Reached out and opened the first one. Thank you for your patronage. The second one was still Thank you for your patronage. Dad’s face turned red with anxiety, “Don’t draw anymore Claire! Return the remaining three, Dad will pay the loan for you!” Uncle Richard was immediately unhappy and squeezed my dad aside, “What are you doing! No returns once the bet is placed!” Dad couldn’t care about anything else at this time, “Honey, quickly persuade Claire!” Mom looked indifferent, “The child isn’t anxious, what are you anxious about! We are all a family, why fuss so much?” Dad slapped Mom angrily, “Is Claire your daughter or not? If this continues, her life will be ruined. How will she get married in the future!” Surrounding relatives came over to persuade the fight. Mom glared at Dad and stepped aside covering her face. “Are you still drawing or not? If not, this year’s dividends end here!” Uncle Richard pretended to take the box and leave. I stopped Uncle Richard. “Don’t rush. Haven’t I finished opening yet? Besides, I still have a few thousand in my pocket.” Uncle Richard nodded, “Your daughter is better than you. Your dad is like a sissy. You are more like a man than your dad.” Saying that, I opened the third slip. Five thousand. Dad and the surrounding people exclaimed instantly, “Opened a prize! Really opened a prize!” I cast a reassuring look at Dad. Uncle Richard frowned and muttered in a low voice, “How is this possible? Did something go wrong?” At this moment, I still had two slips in my hand. I opened them one after another under everyone’s attention. The fourth one, Thank you for your patronage. The fifth one, one dollar. Although reluctant, Uncle Richard took out five thousand from his pocket and slapped it on the table. “Don’t say I didn’t give you money. Take it.” I could feel Uncle Richard’s heart bleeding. Taking money out of Uncle Richard’s pocket was simply killing him. Uncle Richard frowned and said nothing. He was about to reach into the box. I pulled Uncle Richard back. “Uncle Richard, we all paid to draw. It’s not good for you to draw directly like this.” “For fairness, you should also take five thousand to draw. You drew once before, adding up to ten thousand.” “You…” Uncle Richard stared at me angrily, speechless for a moment. Seeing all of us looking at him, he was embarrassed to draw directly. Took out ten thousand from his bag and slapped it on the table. “Is it enough now?” “Uncle Richard, please.” I made a gesture inviting him over. Uncle Richard froze as soon as he put his hand into the box. His eyes were red, staring at me fiercely, “What did you do!” 4 We were startled by Uncle Richard’s sudden scream. I looked at Uncle Richard innocently, “I didn’t do anything. Didn’t you watch me draw? What could I do?” I groped in the box for a long time and learned that Uncle Richard had stuck all the grand prizes to the upper part of the cardboard box. And those at the bottom of the box were small prizes not exceeding fifty dollars. I put my hand in the box just now to deliberately swap positions, sticking a bunch of non-winning slips around the box as well. I deliberately drew a five thousand to let Uncle Richard discover the anomaly and reach in to feel for the prize himself. Uncle Richard looked at me as if he wanted to eat people. I pretended not to see anything. Mom was also shocked at this time. Recovering, she walked towards Uncle Richard with concern, “Big brother, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so angry? Harmony breeds wealth.” Uncle Richard pushed Mom away in a rage, “It’s all because of your good daughter!” Although Mom was full of doubts, she didn’t know what happened. In this situation, she couldn’t ask privately. My eyes circled around Mom and Uncle Richard, pondering for a moment. Mom has never cared about Dad so much. Every quarrel is muddying the water. Saying something like a family should know how to be modest. I piled a smile on my face, “Uncle Richard, why are you so angry? Continue the lucky draw dividends!” “Good good good, continue drawing. Now I want to participate too.” Uncle Richard gritted his teeth, “There are hundreds of slips inside. I don’t believe you have so much money to draw them all. When you spend all your money, the fifty million is still mine!” In his anger, Uncle Richard finally exposed his intentions. The relatives looked at Uncle Richard with resentment. I turned sideways to make way for Uncle Richard, “Uncle Richard, please.” Just now, drawing prizes cost a total of thirty thousand. Now I have fifteen thousand left in my hand, only enough for three draws. I transferred this little surplus money to Uncle Richard, “Give me three more times.” Uncle Richard was wealthy and generous. He took out a bank card from another bag, “Here is the money your dad and those aunts transferred to me.” “I have withdrawn it to the card. A total of one hundred thousand. Enough for me to draw twenty times!” “Then I’ll go first. I only draw three times.” Uncle Richard waved his hand to let me go ahead. First slip, ten dollars. Second and third slips were both Thank you for your patronage. Uncle Richard breathed a sigh of relief, “You are all small fights. As long as I throw enough money, the grand prize will eventually be mine.” I sighed and shook my head, “My luck is no good. Uncle Richard, you do it.” Uncle Richard was disdainful. He reached into the box and dug for three minutes before getting all twenty slips. He sat and looked at them one by one slowly. With every one opened, the gloom on his face increased. Ten minutes passed. Fourteen Thank you for your patronage, four one-cents, one five-dollar, and one fifty-dollar. Uncle Richard banged the table angrily, suddenly changing to a smile thinking of something. “You have no money either, right? Since no one has money, I’m taking the grand prize away?” I looked at Uncle Richard, “I still want to draw!”

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My sister, who died in an accident, moved into my body and shared it with me. At first, my parents didn’t believe me. Later, they got used to our souls switching. Eventually, they found a hypnotist to erase my existence. 1 I went crazy and smashed everything movable in the house. Countless fragments on the floor were like the cries for help from my soul. Mom covered her mouth, face streaked with tears, while Dad looked angry but didn’t stop me. I screamed at them: “Why? This is my body! Why should I give it to her?” Dad rubbed his forehead, as if making a determination: “We consulted a psychologist. It’s not sustainable for you and Chloe to go on like this. Neither of you can live properly, so we can only erase one of you. “Mom and Dad are also in pain. You are our daughter too. If there were any other way, we wouldn’t make this decision. You have to understand Mom and Dad.” I grabbed the cup by my hand and smashed it at Dad’s feet. Broken glass splashed everywhere. Dad instinctively took a step back, wanting to scold me but stopped when he remembered what he was asking of me. “I understand you, but who understands me? You are in pain, you have no choice, so why should I die? This is my body originally. If anyone should disappear, it should be Chloe Miller.” Anger and despair enveloped me. I couldn’t understand how my parents, who doted on me just a few days ago, now wanted to erase me. Hearing my words, Mom choked with sobs, but Dad frowned and corrected me dissatisfiedly: “What dying or not dying? Your sister will live for you using your body. Whether you agree or not, this matter is settled.” After speaking, Dad had no patience to deal with me anymore and dragged Mom out of the house directly. I smashed things again and then slumped weakly on the ground, three words repeating constantly in my mind. Why? 2 I have a sister three years older than me, Chloe Miller. I remember when I was six, my parents came home very late with sad faces. Seeing me, Mom broke down crying, hugging me and saying incoherently: “Chloe is dead. Sophie, you don’t have a sister anymore.” I was baffled, but seeing Mom cry, young me couldn’t help crying along. While crying, I pointed to the pile of dolls next to me and said, “Isn’t sister right there?” At first, my parents didn’t believe me and scolded me several times for it. Later, I repeated several conversations my parents secretly had in their room. They first thought I was eavesdropping, but over time, they found out I wasn’t and finally believed me. I indeed didn’t lie to them. Chloe had always been by my side. She went back to her room to sleep as usual, went to school with me, and the things my parents said in their room were all told to me by her. She knew she was dead. But when I told others I could see Chloe, they looked at me like I was a fool. Some would even say: “Done for! The family has two kids, one dead, one a fool.” Even relatives and classmates said I was a liar trying to attract attention. On the surface, classmates still played with me, but more than once I heard them secretly mocking me. Every time this happened, Chloe would rush up to fight them, but Chloe was just a wisp of a ghost and couldn’t cause any harm to living people. At most, she made them sneeze twice. Later, I never mentioned Chloe to anyone else except my parents. At home, we still lived together as usual. My parents also got used to her existence in my words, though they couldn’t see her. But when buying things for me, they would also buy a portion for Chloe. No distance could affect their deep love for their dead daughter. I would also convey Chloe’s thoughts to them, becoming the microphone between them. Until I was sixteen, suddenly I couldn’t see her anymore, and at the same time, I lost two days of time. My parents said Chloe woke up in my body, and those two days I lost were Chloe living in my body. Since then, I often woke up to find several days had passed. Chloe and I lived sharing one body like this. The movements during the days of disappearance would be written in a notebook to inform each other. Three years passed in a flash. I just didn’t expect that in just three years, my parents could abandon me for her. 3 I don’t know if my subconscious rejection of Chloe caused it. I could feel her sleeping very deeply inside me. I breathed a sigh of relief, but thinking of what my parents said yesterday, I sucked that breath back in. After venting yesterday, my brain became incredibly clear. Originally, I wasn’t as flamboyant as Chloe. Yesterday’s actions were already my limit. If I wasn’t too terrified, I absolutely wouldn’t have smashed things. After washing up, I guessed they would be very disappointed to see it was still me who woke up. Suppressing the sourness in my heart, I opened the door. Sure enough, the moment my parents saw me, their eyes went from expectation to disappointment. Although prepared, this feeling of being abandoned by my biological parents still tore at my heart fiercely. Yesterday’s messy home had been cleaned up at some point, and missing items were replaced with new ones. I pretended to be calm and went downstairs. Dad snorted through his nose and ignored me directly. Mom wanted to speak several times but it turned into sighs. Nose stinging, besides my grievance, waves of floral scent mixed into the air. Several lilies were placed in the center of the dining table, on the coffee table in the living room, in the bathroom, and even on the side cabinet in the kitchen. Everywhere I looked were Chloe’s favorite lilies. While my parents were demonstrating against me in this way, they were also expressing welcome and expectation for Chloe’s awakening. I heard the sound of my love for my parents shattering, and also the cracking sound of my own impending break. The pungent aroma, the oppressive environment—I finally couldn’t hold it back, grabbed my bag, and ran out. Only after running out of the community did I realize my face was soaked with tears. I took the bus to school mechanically, sobbing while watching the scenery outside the window flash by quickly, just like my life in these three years. Walking into the classroom, I was informed by surprised classmates that I had transferred majors. At this moment, unprecedented anger burned away my last bit of affection for Chloe. 4 The counselor said I no longer met the conditions to transfer majors again. My major was special; once transferred out, there was no possibility of transferring back. I walked despondently to the classroom of the School of Business Administration. Listening to professional terms I didn’t understand at all, surrounded by the noise of strange classmates. I felt like I was in another world. Enduring until class ended, it was still broad daylight. I had no desire to go home, wandering aimlessly on campus. Thoughts chaotic in my mind, but one thing I could confirm. Chloe had long premeditated to replace me. No wonder she wrote less and less in the notebook; she didn’t want me to know what she did. After walking for a long time, my legs were a bit sore. I sat dejectedly on a roadside bench, not knowing what to do next. On one side was a major with zero experience, on the other were family members trying to seize my body. I leaned back on the bench, imagining myself surrounded by the sky. Turning my gaze back, the word “Library” came into view. When I came out of the library holding a pile of books, the sun had already set. Back home, Mom had already cooked. Seeing me holding a pile of business administration books, her face was a bit awkward. Looking at her expression, it wasn’t hard to guess that they definitely knew about the transfer of majors, and maybe it was even their suggestion. At the dinner table, the food was tasteless to me. I only took a few more bites of my favorite dishes. Mom smiled to ease the atmosphere: “Honey look, Sophie really takes after us, loves fish just like us. Chloe can’t, she hasn’t eaten anything from the water since she was little.” This remark was better left unsaid; the atmosphere became even more awkward than before. Dad put down his wine glass and said: “Heard you brought back a lot of business books. Then you should already know Chloe changed majors. Listen to me, Chloe is smart. Studying this major will help me more in the company. Even if you study now, it’s forcing a duck onto a perch, useless. Sophie, you know what Dad means.” I nodded and continued to put a few grains of rice into my mouth. Seeing my obedience, my parents thought I agreed. They exclaimed in surprise: “So you’ve thought it through. Good. I’ll contact the hypnotist in these few days, so you can finally live a normal life.” I looked up, staring straight at Dad with clear black and white eyes asking: “Is it me being normal or Chloe being normal?” Dad frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed: “She is the older sister. You share one body. Isn’t her being normal the same as you being normal?” I nodded again, and under their delighted gazes, said word by word: “Even if I burn this body, I won’t give it to Chloe Miller to use.” Dad, reacting, smashed his wine glass with a swing of his hand, pointing at me panting, obviously furious. Mom looked at me complainingly while helping Dad smooth his breath. I really couldn’t stay in this home anymore. If I stayed with two people eyeing my body covetously every day, I would definitely go crazy. Simply packed my luggage and moved back to the school dorm overnight. 5 During the days living at school, I attended classes during the day and frantically foraged for knowledge in the library at night. Dad always thought Chloe was exceptionally intelligent, but he didn’t notice that I basically had a photographic memory. As long as it was knowledge I wanted to learn, it would take root in my brain after one or two passes. During this period, Mom contacted me several times, first persuading nicely, then later starting to say I didn’t know what was good for me. I just didn’t understand. I just wanted to live. Being their daughter too, just because Chloe died once, they felt guilty and wanted to make up for it, so they wanted to use my sacrifice to fulfill them. Seeing persuasion was hopeless, my parents found a lobbyist, someone I couldn’t refuse. Ethan. My childhood sweetheart and the object of my unrequited love. “Sophie, please, give Chloe back to me, okay?” “What… what do you mean your Chloe?” A chill instantly shot up from the soles of my feet. I heard my own voice trembling and weak. Ethan didn’t seem to notice my emotions: “Sophie, actually I knew about you and Chloe long ago. I knew you definitely wouldn’t agree, so I beg you, I really can’t live without her. You have lived for so many years, but Chloe had an accident when she was so young. It’s only been 3 years since she managed to survive using your body. Who knows, she might suddenly disappear one day. Thinking she might disappear, I feel like I’m suffocating. So I beg you, agree to Uncle and Auntie. This way your body and Chloe’s soul unite as one, isn’t it good? Why are you so selfish?” I was shocked beyond belief, frozen in place. Ethan continued: “Sophie, we grew up together. I never begged you for anything. Now I beg you. Do I need to kneel for you?” Saying that, Ethan actually knelt down. I trembled and reached out to help him up, but he suddenly grabbed me, eyes crimson: “Sophie, promise me quickly.” I was frightened by his fierce look, instinctively wanted to break free but found I couldn’t. Overly frightened, I blurted out. “You are also here to force me to die. Let me tell you, don’t even think about it. I won’t die. The one who should die is Chloe Miller.” I regretted it as soon as I said it. I shouldn’t have put myself in danger for a moment of spirit. Sure enough, Ethan’s handsome face gradually twisted. He stared at me viciously: “In that case, don’t blame me. I absolutely cannot lose Chloe.” The next second, a hot large hand covered my mouth. The place we met was a hidden corner of the campus. No matter how I struggled, it was hard for anyone to discover. Finally, I fell into darkness. 6 Ethan looked at the sleeping person in his arms, a trace of apology flashing in his eyes: “Sorry, Sophie. If possible, I can only repay you by being your servant in the next life.” With that, he quickly carried the person in his arms out of the school gate and into the car.

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“You don’t deserve this room.” Bethany stood in the doorway, my backpack clutched in her hand. I was eight years old, home from school, only to find the lock on my bedroom door had been changed. “This room is for Troy now.” She tossed the backpack at my feet. “You’ll be living at your grandmother’s house.” I looked at Dad. He was staring at his shoes, refusing to meet my eyes. “Dad…” “Just listen to your mother.” That night, dragging my suitcase, I stood on Grandma Ruth’s front stoop. When she opened the door and saw me, she froze for three seconds, then pulled me into her arms and just cried. 1. In 2003, I was eight. That summer, my father got remarried. His new wife, Bethany, brought her six-year-old son, Troy, into our house. On the wedding day, Bethany wore a cream-colored dress, and her smile was so sweet it felt sticky. She patted my head and said, “We’re a family now, Callie. Call me Mom.” I did what I was told. “Mom.” She smiled in response, then immediately turned to hug Troy. I thought this was the start of a new life. My birth mother died young. I was only two when she was gone. Grandma Ruth always said Mom’s health had failed after giving birth to me, and she never recovered. For years, Grandma helped raise me, because Dad worked constantly and couldn’t manage it all. Now that we had a mother in the house, I thought things would finally be different. They certainly were. On the third day after the wedding, Bethany replaced the family portrait in the living room. The new photo showed Dad, her, and Troy. I wasn’t in it. I asked Dad, “Why am I not in the picture?” He said, “We’ll add you next time we take one.” When was next time? I didn’t know. But I knew the things in our house started to change, little by little. Troy’s toys multiplied, spilling out of every corner of the living room. My own toys were packed away into the storage closet. “They take up too much space,” Bethany declared. Every day, Bethany cooked Troy whatever he wanted—mac and cheese, crispy chicken tenders, hot dogs. And me? “You’re not a picky eater, Callie. You can eat anything.” Back then, I didn’t understand what favoritism was. I just wondered why Troy got two chicken fingers, and I only got one. Why Troy could stay up late watching cartoons, but I had to be in bed by eight. Why Troy could mess up and Bethany would just say, “Oh, he’s just a little boy, he doesn’t know any better,” but when I broke a water glass, I had to stand in the corner for two hours. I asked Dad about it. His answer was always the same: “You’re older, honey. You need to be more sensible.” Older? I was only eight. That fall, things escalated. Troy was starting elementary school. Bethany decided Troy needed a quiet environment to study. My room faced south. It was bright, and it was quiet. Troy’s room faced north, right over the street. It was too noisy. “Troy is moving into your room. You can take the north one.” I didn’t want to. It was the room I’d lived in my whole life. My mother’s last photo was still taped to the wall there. “No,” I said. “It’s my room.” Bethany’s face hardened immediately. “I’m talking to you, young lady. Watch your tone.” I looked at Dad. He just repeated the mantra: “Listen to your mother.” That night, I was forced to move into the small room facing north. Eighty square feet. A bed, a small desk, and a window that was broken—it wouldn’t shut properly, letting the winter draft whistle in. I carefully re-taped Mom’s photo to the wall of my new room. It was the only stand I took. But it wasn’t over. A month later, Bethany found a new reason. “There are only three bedrooms in this house. Your father and I have the master, Troy has the south room… wherever you are, it feels crowded.” She paused, then put on a saccharine, “I’m-doing-this-for-you” expression. “I think you’d be better off staying with your grandmother. Ruth is all alone; it would be so good for her to have company.” I just stared. “What are you saying?” “I’m saying you should go live at your grandmother’s.” Bethany sounded completely justified. “It’s not like you can’t visit. You can always come back for the holidays.” I looked at Dad. He was sitting on the sofa, staring at the TV, silent. “Dad, say something.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Listen to your mother.” I lay awake that night, listening to the wind rattle the faulty window, and didn’t sleep a wink. The next day, when I came home from school, the lock on my old door was changed. The key was in Bethany’s hand. “I’ve packed all your things.” She pushed a suitcase toward me. “Your grandmother is coming to pick you up today.” I looked at the suitcase. A pink, 20-inch carry-on. It had belonged to my mother. It held all my clothes and schoolbooks. I looked at Dad. He was standing in the kitchen, holding his mug, still not looking at me. “Dad.” He didn’t answer. “Dad, are you getting rid of me?” He finally looked up, meeting my eyes for one fleeting second. In that glance, there was guilt, helplessness, but mostly, avoidance. “Your grandmother will take good care of you,” he said. “I’ll send you money every month for expenses.” I didn’t cry. Eight-year-old me stood in the middle of the living room, looking at the house I’d lived in for eight years, and suddenly felt like a complete stranger. Bethany leaned against the doorframe, a faint, satisfied smile playing on her lips. Troy peeked out of my old bedroom, holding my small teddy bear nightlight. “Mom, this lamp is cool!” “If you like it, keep it.” My mother had given me that lamp. I wanted to rush over and snatch it back. But I didn’t. Because I knew that in this house, I no longer had the right to ‘snatch’ anything. Grandma Ruth was waiting outside. The moment she saw me, her eyes welled up. “My Callie-girl.” She knelt down and wrapped me in a tight hug. “Time to come home with Nana.” I nodded. Dragging the pink suitcase, I walked out the door. Behind me, the lock clicked shut. That was October 15th, 2003. I will never forget that day. Because from that day forward, I no longer had a home. 2. Grandma Ruth lived in a run-down complex on the south side of town. A two-bedroom apartment, about 600 square feet. The building was old, the paint was peeling, and the room was quite cold. But Grandma had cleaned out the biggest bedroom for me. “Callie-girl, this room is all yours now.” She held my hand. “This is your home from now on.” I stood in the room, looking at the clean bedding, the new desk lamp, and the small potted plant on the desk. Grandma lived on her own, with a small monthly pension—barely enough for one. She had bought all these things just for me. That night, lying in bed, I finally let myself cry. Not because of the injustice. But because of Grandma Ruth. She was getting old, her health was fragile, and she took three different medications every day. She was supposed to be enjoying a quiet retirement, but instead, she was now responsible for an eight-year-old. “Nana, I’m sorry.” Grandma held me and softly stroked my back. “Silly child, what are you sorry for? You’re my granddaughter. If I don’t take care of you, who will?” From then on, I lived with Grandma. Life was simple. Grandma walked me to school in the mornings, I ate lunch in the school cafeteria, and in the evenings, she cooked and waited for me to come home. Grandma’s food was the best. Even though it was simple, comfort food, it tasted far better than anything Bethany ever cooked. At least here, I always got two chicken fingers. Dad had promised to send money every month. The first month, he sent $300. The second month, $200. The third month, nothing. Grandma called. Bethany answered. “Ruth, it’s not that we don’t want to send it. But things are tight right now. Troy has tutoring, and there are so many expenses. Just tell Callie to be more frugal.” Grandma was so angry her hands were shaking. “That is your husband’s flesh-and-blood daughter!” “Is she? And are you the one raising her?” Bethany’s voice was ice cold. “She eats your food and lives in your house. Does it really seem right to ask us for money?” The phone went dead. Grandma sat on the sofa, silent for a long time. I came out of my room and saw her wiping away tears. “Nana, it’s okay.” I knelt and took her hand. “I don’t need their money.” “Oh, my sweet child…” “I’m not silly.” I looked up, my eyes dry. “Nana, I’m going to make money one day. I’m going to take care of you.” I was eight years old. Even I didn’t quite believe the words. But I never forgot them. After that, the allowance from Dad stopped completely. Occasionally, he’d send $100 or $150, but it was sporadic and unpredictable. Grandma never asked them again. Her pension, plus the small amount she earned doing alterations for neighbors, was just enough for the two of us. I knew how hard Grandma economized. The clothes she bought for me were new; the ones she wore were ten years old. She gave me meat; she ate only vegetables. She couldn’t afford to run the old gas heat much, so she slept under two heavy quilts. I saw it all. But I was too young to do anything. The only thing I could do was study. I knew that a good education was the only way I could give Grandma a good life later. When the holidays came, Dad would call. “Callie-girl, come home for Christmas dinner.” Home? Was it still my home? I didn’t want to go. But Grandma would say, “Go, honey. He is still your father.” So I went. The moment I opened the door, I saw a new chandelier in the living room, a brand-new sofa, and a thick carpet on the floor. Troy, in a new designer jacket, was glued to a gaming console on the sofa. Bethany peered out from the kitchen. “You’re back? Have a seat, dinner will be ready in a minute.” Her tone was casual, as if I were a distant relative stopping by. I looked down at my clothes. It was one of Troy’s old coats from last winter, which Bethany had given me before the holiday. “It’s still practically new. Troy didn’t want it anymore, but it’ll fit you perfectly.” Wearing Troy’s hand-me-downs, standing in this newly furnished house, I felt utterly out of place. During dinner, Bethany put the best portion of the slow-cooked roast in front of Troy. “Eat up, Troy. I made extra just for you.” In front of me, there was a plate of steamed vegetables. Dad reached over and put one small piece of the roast onto my plate. “Eat up.” One piece. Just one. Troy ate half the platter; I had one piece. I kept my head down and ate in silence. After dinner, Dad slipped me a $100 bill. “Take this. Get yourself some school supplies.” $100. I glanced at the new 60-inch flat-screen TV in the living room. It must have cost thousands. Then the gaming console in Troy’s hands. His new jacket. His brand-name sneakers. I took the money. Because Grandma needed it. “Thank you, Dad.” He patted my head. “Keep up the good work in school.” That year, I stayed in that house for only two hours. I ate, and I left. Bethany stood by the door, politely saying, “Come back soon.” Soon? When was soon? I didn’t know. Walking out of the complex, I looked back once. The living room light was on. Through the window, I could see Troy bouncing on the sofa, while Bethany and Dad were laughing, watching him. A perfect, happy family of three. I turned my back and walked into the cold winter night. That day, for the first time, I clearly understood— I had been abandoned by this family. Not just “staying with Grandma.” Abandoned. 3. Life went on. Elementary school, middle school, high school. I lived with Grandma Ruth the entire time. She poured all her love into me. All I could do in return was study hard. My grades were always good—top ten in my middle school, and I got into the Honors track in high school. Every time I brought home a report card, Grandma’s face would light up. “My Callie-girl is so brilliant!” That was her greatest source of pride. During the holidays, she’d tell the neighbors, “My granddaughter has amazing grades. She’s going to college!” A neighbor would sometimes ask, “Does her father help her?” Grandma’s smile would falter for a second. Then she’d say, “Of course, he helps… he comes to see her every Christmas.” Every Christmas. Yes, only at Christmas did I go back to that house once a year. It was the same routine: a quick dinner, a hundred bucks, and then I left. Bethany’s attitude was always politely distant, treating me like a relative she barely knew. Troy completely ignored me. Dad’s attitude was guilt, but guilt that never translated into action. I grew used to it. And I stopped expecting anything. In my junior year of high school, I needed a computer. The school started requiring a computer literacy class. I didn’t have one. Grandma had saved up her pension for years, accumulating maybe a thousand dollars. She wanted to buy me one. I refused. “Nana, keep that money for yourself. I’ll ask Dad.” It was the first time I ever called my father proactively. The phone rang for a long time before he picked up. “Hello, Callie? What’s going on? Why are you calling?” I took a deep breath. “Dad, I need a computer for school. I need about a thousand dollars.” Silence on the other end. “A thousand?” “Yes.” “Things are really tight right now. Troy is starting high school, and we’re saving for his tuition and fees…” I gripped the phone tightly. “Could you loan it to me? I promise I’ll pay you back.” “Callie, what kind of talk is that? Loan? It’s not like I won’t give it to you. I’m just short on cash right now…” “So, when will you not be short on cash?” “What is with your attitude?” He sounded annoyed. “Doesn’t your grandmother have her retirement money? Ask her to cover it for now. I’ll reimburse you later.” Later? When was later? When I was little, he said “next time,” now he said “later.” I had waited ten years for “next time.” “Never mind.” I hung up the phone. That night, I told Grandma, “I don’t need the computer. I can use the school’s lab.” Grandma didn’t say a word, she just looked at me and sighed. The next day, I came home to find a used desktop computer sitting on the desk. Grandma had found someone to help her buy it for five hundred dollars. “It’s not new, but it works.” Grandma wiped the sweat from her brow. “You’ll have to make do with it.” I looked at the old computer, at Grandma’s graying hair, at her increasingly frail figure. The tears came immediately. “Nana…” “Don’t cry.” Grandma wiped my tears. “Seeing you graduate and go to college will be worth everything.” The year I took my SATs, I was ranked third in my entire school. My score was high enough for the state’s top university. The tuition was $6,000 a year. With room and board and living expenses, it would be at least twenty thousand a year.

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After I died, I discovered my husband, Caleb Vance, could see my ghost. He wept with joy, saying we could be together forever. Later, he started staying out late. Even later, I saw the girl who followed him around. She looked exactly like I did when we first met. One day, that girl suddenly fell ill with a strange, incurable sickness. The psychic said a “dirty thing” was haunting her. Caleb suddenly turned his gaze to me, the ghost floating helplessly in the corner. 1 I didn’t react at first. I shook my head at him desperately. No one else could hear us or see me. “Caleb, it’s not me. You know me best.” On the bed, Sophie began to whimper. “Caleb… I feel so sick…” Caleb didn’t speak. He just stared at me, floating in mid-air. His eyes were filled with suspicion and resentment. I remembered what the psychic had just said: “This young lady is being haunted by a dirty thing.” Sophie looked terrified, shrinking into Caleb’s arms. “Caleb, I haven’t done anything bad. Why is a dirty thing haunting me?” Caleb comforted her. “Sophie, it’s not your fault.” I didn’t understand what that meant at the time. Now I do. It turns out it was my fault. I am the “dirty thing.” Sophie asked the psychic, “Is there any way to suppress this thing?” The psychic pulled out several talismans and a wooden sword. Sophie took the wooden sword, waving it around in fear. Whether intentionally or not, the tip pointed straight at me. Almost instantly, I felt my soul tearing apart. I couldn’t dodge. I was pinned in the air. Even without a body, the pain made me feel like I would dissipate the next second. Caleb watched me, unmoved. Sophie threw down the sword and looked at Caleb with the talismans. “Caleb, can you help me put these up?” I watched Caleb walk over and take the talismans. Then he smiled and patted Sophie’s head. “Okay.” When the talismans were placed in the four corners of the room, I was blasted out of the house, exhausted. This was my marital home with Caleb. The home where we lived together for seven years. I crawled up from the ground, trying to pass through the door, but it was useless. The pain from the wooden sword lingered. After failing to enter, I collapsed in the corner. The door opened. I scrambled up in surprise. “Caleb…” Caleb looked at me, his expression complicated. “Haley, don’t come in anymore.” “Maybe you didn’t mean to.” “But her health is really bad. Don’t hurt her anymore.” I didn’t know what to say. It’s hard to describe how I felt hearing those words. The man in front of me seemed nothing like the Caleb who promised to love me forever. A year ago, when I died, he cried so hard. Why has everything changed? “But this is my home. Our home. Why can’t I go in?” “Because you’re dead!” “Because you are a wandering spirit now. You aren’t afraid of anything, but she is. She gets sick because of you.” “Haley, you weren’t this unreasonable before.” As Caleb turned to go inside, I murmured to myself. “I didn’t hurt her.” He paused, then closed the door. And I… I’m not afraid of nothing. I wonder if he noticed that my soul has started to fade. 2 I used to watch horror movies where ghosts had cool powers. They weren’t afraid of anything. They could scare people. But after I died in an accident, I realized I wasn’t one of them. I have no powers. Except for Caleb, no one can see me. In the beginning, I felt like I would disappear at any moment. My body would suddenly turn transparent. Whenever Caleb noticed and cried, begging me not to leave, I would stabilize. Today, he probably didn’t notice. I curled up in the corner, laughing bitterly. There are other things in this neighborhood besides me. Strange things. I can barely hold my form together now. I don’t know how I’ll survive tonight. When did things change between us? Probably when he started staying out all night. Before, I could go wherever he went. That night, I suddenly found I couldn’t follow him. Maybe because of what he said when he left: “Don’t follow me today.” I remember his friends tricked him into seeing a psychiatrist. They thought he lost his mind after my death because he often talked to the air. Later, paparazzi snapped photos of Caleb Vance, CEO of Vance Corp, visiting a psych ward. The reason: talking to himself. It caused a stir. Caleb felt people were laughing at him. I still remember how devastated he was when I died. When he first realized he could see me, he wept with joy. He said heaven was moved by our love and let us stay together. Now, this “earth-shattering” love has become his burden. He doesn’t want to be seen as crazy. So he minimized our outings. He even stopped talking to me. Soon, he brought Sophie home. I don’t know who she is. I only know she calls him “Caleb” sweetly, and they can talk openly. And I can’t. Before she got sick, it had been a long time since Caleb had a real conversation with me. “Well well, isn’t this the canary from the big villa?” “Kicked out?” “I told you, the living and the dead don’t mix. Come play with me instead—” There aren’t many ghosts here, but the few that exist are vicious. I once saw a wandering spirit torn to shreds by him. I stood up in terror, shouting for Caleb. “Caleb! I’m scared!” A pale hand grabbed me. “Your man is busy loving that new girl. I saw them making out in the car. Tsk, men.” “You’re dead. Why bother him? Let him find true love!” I refused to believe him. Caleb swore he would never betray me. But the harder I banged on the door, the louder the music inside became. They were dancing. Sophie was laughing in his arms. Maybe he’ll post it on Instagram. Maybe his friends will congratulate him on moving on. Then he’ll be a normal person, not the madman haunted by his dead wife. 3 When dawn broke, the things left. I’m not afraid of the sun. But I was so weak I couldn’t move. They like to tear souls apart for fun. But I’m different. Every time I’m torn, I miraculously recover. They think it’s fascinating. I used to spend every night in Caleb’s bed, where they couldn’t reach me. But now… I don’t know how to survive the nights anymore. The door opened. Caleb rushed out holding Sophie. I curled in the corner, watching him quietly. I felt myself fade a little more. “Hospital! Now!” He didn’t look at me. After putting her in the car, he glanced back with a frown. That look held many emotions. Mostly blame. But I didn’t even know what I did wrong. I wanted him to ask if I was hurt. Maybe that’s impossible now. When Caleb returned from the hospital, I was still in the corner. “Haley, let’s talk.” My voice was raspy. I laughed softly. “Here?” He didn’t invite me in. “Let’s talk here. If you go in, she might get sick again.” “We need to clear things up.” Before he could continue, I interrupted. “I didn’t hurt her.” Caleb exploded. He punched the wall behind me, his fist passing through my body. “Then tell me why she gets sick every time she stays here!” “Don’t tell me it’s a coincidence! Haley, I’m not an idiot!” His eyes were red. “You know people think I’m crazy. She risked her reputation to help me.” “Only she believes I can really see you.” I sat up. “You told her you can see me?” Caleb didn’t think that was the point. “If she didn’t believe me and stay with me, my reputation and the company’s stock would tank!” “Everyone would think I’m a lunatic!” I looked at him calmly. I felt helpless. “Caleb, you love her, don’t you?” I just stated a fact. He got more agitated. “Why are your thoughts so dirty?” “I said I would never betray you, and that hasn’t changed. Is this why you’re hurting her?” I didn’t want to repeat myself. “So what do you want me to do?” He exhaled. “Leave for a while. Stay away from me.” I asked, “If I leave and she still gets sick, proving it wasn’t me, will you let me come back?” He was silent. He didn’t speak. I knew the answer. 4 If I’m going to leave, I have to go now. When those things come out tonight, I won’t be able to escape. I know begging Caleb is useless once he’s made up his mind. I won’t beg. Avoiding his gaze, I stood up with difficulty. “Leaving so easily?” “You were bored of me anyway, right? I just gave you an excuse.” He wasn’t happy that I left without a fight. I didn’t want to say more. My soul felt heavy. Every step was hard. But I didn’t want to stay another second. I heard footsteps behind me. Then they stopped. Followed by violent coughing. “Mr. Vance? Are you okay?” “We need to go to the hospital to see Miss Sophie anyway. You should get checked too.” “Do you think… that dirty thing hurt Miss Sophie and now wants to hurt you?” I wouldn’t defend myself anymore. It’s useless. I didn’t care what Caleb said after that. Since he chose to believe that, nothing I say matters. Leaving the villa, I felt lost. This was my first time being a wandering ghost. I didn’t know why I became like this—dead but unable to move on, unable to leave Caleb until he told me to go. Was it really as he said? Did his love move the heavens? Thinking about it now, it’s laughable. Where can I go? I don’t know. I only know I’m getting more transparent. It hasn’t been long since I died. But I’ve already forgotten so much. Suddenly, I lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I was in a temple. I had no memory of it, yet it felt familiar. There was no one else. Just me and a lamp. The flame was weak. The light was dim. But even when the wind blew, the flame didn’t flicker. Memories flooded back. “I ask for nothing else. I only hope my wife recovers and returns to me.” “If I can, I want to live and die with her.” “I don’t want to live alone.” A man kowtowed every step, climbing to the top. His forehead was swollen and bleeding. I remembered. That was the year Caleb loved me the most. At the company gala, a chandelier fell. I pushed him out of the way and got hit. I was in a coma. I occasionally heard Caleb whispering. He said if I didn’t make it, he would die with me. In my unconscious state, I learned that because of Caleb’s piety, a Lamp of Eternal Life was lit in the temple. Fueled by our souls. If one soul left the other, the other would die. I thought, I can’t let him die. The will to live woke me up. I thought the lamp was a good thing. As long as we loved each other, nothing could separate us. Today, floating here, I learned another secret. I stayed not because Caleb’s love moved the heavens. But because I, newly dead, begged the Judge to let me return.

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Caleb Vance had always been the devoted type. But on the day his “first love” was diagnosed with cancer, he handed me a pill that induces amnesia. “Ava, Summer is dying. Give me three days. I want to fulfill her dream of a wedding.” “I won’t hurt you. This pill causes temporary memory loss. Three days later, after the ceremony, you’ll take the antidote, fall in love with me all over again, and we’ll remarry.” Seeing the determination in his eyes, I took the pill and swallowed it without hesitation. What Caleb didn’t know was that I developed the pill myself. There is no antidote. In three days, I will forget him forever. 1 We walked out of the courthouse, divorce papers in hand. Caleb checked his watch. “Two minutes until it kicks in. For the next three days, you’ll forget you ever loved me. When you take the antidote, you won’t remember what happened during this time. You won’t have a chance to be sad.” “This divorce is just temporary. Once this is over, we’ll remarry. Don’t worry, my only true wife is you.” I looked at him silently. There would be no remarriage. As the creator of the drug, I knew exactly how it worked. It didn’t wipe memories instantly. It eroded them slowly, piece by piece, until the person you loved was a stranger. And the antidote? It didn’t exist yet. But Caleb didn’t know that. “Are you sure you won’t regret this?” I asked softly. He smiled, ruffling my hair affectionately. “Summer has loved me for years. Her only wish is a wedding. I can’t refuse a dying woman. I won’t regret it.” “Ava, I know you’re understanding. There’s no need to compete with a sick person. When this is over, we’ll go back to our happy life.” I curled my lips in a self-deprecating smile, letting the bitterness spread through my chest. I didn’t say another word. In our most passionate years, I drank until I vomited blood to secure contracts for him. He stayed up until his heart fluttered to help me with my research. Once, I teased him: “What if one day I get old and forget you?” His eyes turned red, and he kissed me fiercely. “Ava, I love you. Please don’t forget me. I’d go crazy.” Now, learning his first love has cancer, he actively divorced me and asked me to erase our memories. I guess he wanted to give her three days of perfect love—flawless, without the existence of a wife like me. A complete love just for her. If he dared to change his heart so openly and feed me drugs, why bother with the charade of remarriage? I laughed abruptly. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced my head. I swayed and fell forward. Caleb caught me, his dark eyes filled with worry. “Are you okay? If you’re scared I won’t come back, I can give you the divorce certificate and all our documents for safekeeping.” I forced myself to stand, looking at him with confusion. “What divorce certificate?” Caleb froze, then probed tentatively. “Ava… do you remember we got divorced?” “Divorced?” Seeing my blank expression, a flicker of joy passed through his eyes. I looked down at the certificate in my hand and understood. The drug was working. The first thing it erased was the memory of our divorce. Caleb quickly snatched the certificate, afraid I’d see his name on it. His voice softened. “Ava, I’m your brother. You’re sick and lost some memories. I’ll keep these important documents for you.” I looked into his evasive eyes and didn’t expose him. Fine. If he wants to act, I’ll play along. Just then, a sugary voice called out. “Caleb! There you are!” I looked over. Summer was jogging toward us, but she “accidentally” tripped. Caleb instinctively let go of me to catch her. 2 Thrown by his sudden movement, I slammed into the wall. My already throbbing head exploded with pain. Summer fell into Caleb’s arms, smiling shyly. “Thanks for catching me, Caleb.” Caleb realized what happened and his face changed. He looked at me frantically. “Ava, are you hurt? Summer is sick, if she bleeds it won’t stop, so I had to catch her. I’m sorry.” I stood up, enduring the pain, and dusted myself off. “I’m fine.” Summer clung to Caleb’s arm, whispering. “Caleb, it’s just a divorce. Why did it take so long? I waited forever.” Seeing me staring, Caleb coughed awkwardly, looking guilty but not pushing her away. “It’s done. We can focus on the wedding now.” Summer beamed, shooting me a triumphant look. “Ava, I’ve been dating your brother for five years. We’re getting married in three days. You have to come!” I smiled. “My brother’s wedding? Of course I’ll be there.” Summer’s smile widened. “You should be our videographer! You have to capture the moment Caleb and I kiss…” “Summer.” Caleb’s face darkened, cutting her off. He looked at me, finding no sadness in my eyes, and felt an inexplicable pang in his heart. “She doesn’t need to come.” My expression didn’t change. Seeing Caleb defend me, Summer frowned and suddenly collapsed into his arms. “Caleb, my heart… it hurts. I can’t breathe.” Caleb’s eyes filled with panic as he held her. “Is it happening again? Hang on, I’ll take you to the hospital.” He looked up at me, voice low. “Ava, do you remember where home is? Do you need a ride?” I shook my head. “No need. I remember.” Caleb paused. The lab techs told him the drug only erased memories of the person you loved most. Thinking I loved him most, he relaxed. “Okay, go home then. I’ll take Summer to the hospital.” He carried Summer to the car. “Caleb,” Summer whispered weakly, “being held by you openly… even if I die now, it’s worth it.” Caleb scolded her gently. “Don’t talk nonsense.” Through the window, I watched as he buckled her in. Summer wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his earlobe. Seeing this intimate scene, my heart felt a sharp, cold stab. The sting of betrayal. His car sped away. At that moment, my phone rang. “Ms. Ava Lane, the Paris Research Institute is ready for your arrival. We welcome you in three days.” 3 I hung up and went home, only to realize the house was a shell. This was the home Caleb and I decorated together. He said we would live here forever. Now, the tea sets we designed, the ornaments we picked—everything related to him was gone. Even the soil in the balcony planters had been turned over, probably fearing I’d remember planting flowers with him. I smiled bitterly at the empty house. Caleb, are you thorough because you’re afraid I’ll be in pain, or afraid I’ll remember and ruin your wedding? If you knew there was no antidote, and I would never recover my memory, would you regret this? I took off my wedding ring. I wrote him a letter, put the ring inside the envelope, and tucked it into the gap of a flower pot. My phone rang urgently. It was my best friend, Lily. “Ava, I have to tell you something. I think Caleb is cheating. I just saw him hugging a woman at the hospital.” “Mmh,” I said. “Whatever. Let him be.” Lily was shocked. “Ava… are you okay?” Her nervousness made me laugh. “What could be wrong? Caleb and I are already divorced.” “Divorced?!” I briefly explained the situation. When I mentioned taking the pill, she exploded. “That scumbag! Shameless! He’ll do anything to marry that woman!” “You gave up the Institute for him! Half his success is because of you! Now he wrongs you for another woman and calls it ‘sparing you pain’? Feeding you amnesia pills? Who does he think he is?!” Pain finally surfaced in my eyes. My face went pale. Five years ago, when Caleb was at his lowest, I married him without hesitation. I used all my connections to save his company. Back then, he held me every night, whispering I was his eternal love. But people change. His heart found a new home. He forgot my sacrifices, demanding I be obedient and accept his “charity” toward Summer. Is loving one person consistently that hard? Why can I do it? 4 Lily ranted until she was out of breath, then concluded: “I guarantee, divorcing you and feeding you drugs… Caleb will regret this until he dies!” “He definitely doesn’t know there’s no antidote. Let him suffer. And you… you can finally move on.” I looked at the flower pot. Living with Caleb for years, I knew his habits. When he was upset, he drank on the balcony. If he truly regretted it after I left, he would find the letter. Late at night, Caleb came in, rummaging through closets. “What are you doing?” He paused, seeing me in pajamas at the door. He frowned and draped his jacket over me. “It’s cold. Why are you wearing so little?” I ignored the gesture. “What are you looking for?” “I want to borrow your wedding dress. Summer wants to wear it.” Caleb explained, “You might have forgotten, but it’s the one you wore.” I stared at him in silence. Of course I hadn’t forgotten. He designed it himself. From sketches to the final product, it took two months. All because I once said, “I want a one-of-a-kind wedding dress.” And now, he was taking it to complete another woman’s wedding. I felt a surge of absurdity. “Is that dress important? Why that one?” My question seemed to trigger a memory. He paused. When the dress was finished, he told me, “This dress belongs only to you.” He hesitated for a second, then said: “It was designed by a master. It’s the only one of its kind. Summer likes it too. Her only wish is to get married in it.” Seeing my downcast eyes, he added, “Don’t worry. I’ll return it right after the wedding. You can ask for anything you want then.” Still lying. My heart took another hit. On our wedding day, his eyes never left me. Afterward, he stored the dress carefully. I teased him. “Why do you cherish it so much?” He looked at me seriously. “Because you gave it its unique beauty. I want to preserve this memory forever.” But now, just because Summer liked it, he gave it away without hesitation. The dress lost its meaning. It became just a tool to make Summer happy. “It’s late. Go to sleep. I have to go out.” Caleb didn’t notice my strangeness. He took the dress and left. I dropped his jacket on the floor. Looking at the empty closet, I felt overwhelming disappointment. “It’s okay. I’m like you. Once he clears everything out, it’ll be fine.” Just being abandoned. Once my memory is wiped, I can truly let go. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my head. Another chunk of memory vanished. I was abruptly pulled out of my sorrow. 5 The next day, Lily told me Caleb was frantically preparing the wedding. It rivaled the scale of ours. I nodded thoughtfully. He was busy, yet still sent me three meals a day. Trying to have it all. Tough job. On the wedding day, Lily took me to the venue. We sat in the corner. Caleb and Summer were arm in arm, surrounded by bridesmaids. “I remember Caleb threw a wedding this big for Ava too. Tsk, Summer is so lucky.” Hearing my name, Summer tightened her grip on Caleb. Caleb explained, “Ava and I are divorced. Today is Summer’s day. Let’s not talk about the past.” Hearing him cut ties, the bridesmaids chimed in. “Summer is young and beautiful. Ava can’t compare.” “Caleb, Summer’s trusting you with her life. Don’t let her down.” Caleb smiled gently, just like he once promised me. “Don’t worry. I won’t let her down.” My eyes dimmed. Lily ground her teeth. “What kind of twisted values are these? Homewrecking is justified now?” Someone shouted, “Such a good day! Caleb, kiss Summer!” The bridesmaids chanted, “Kiss! Kiss!” Summer blushed, looking at Caleb. Her shyness was practiced. Amidst the cheers, Caleb stroked her ear, leaned down, and kissed the corner of her lips. The cheers reached a fever pitch.

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Eight years after the divorce, I ran into my ex-wife and my adoptive sister in a remote little town. In the years since I’d seen them, one had become a superstar, the other the head of the powerful Prescott family. And I was running a tiny, hole-in-the-wall diner. The moment our eyes met, they both froze. Seraphina, my ex-wife, quickly hid a medical report behind her back. Isabelle, my sister, slipped a limited-edition watch she’d bought for her brother into her pocket. I calmly finished packing the takeout order and handed it to them with practiced courtesy. “Here you are, ladies.” The formal, distant address seemed to rattle them. As they were leaving, Seraphina suddenly turned back. “Didn’t you say you’d only ever cook for me?” I offered a polite, empty smile. “The foolish promises of youth. They don’t mean much now.” Just like the people and memories I once thought I could never get over. With time, they had all faded to nothing. … Through the open glass door, the noise of the street drifted in, but it couldn’t dispel the frozen silence that had settled over the diner. The two women who had conspired to ruin me, to cast me out of my own home, now stood at the counter, unwilling to leave. Seraphina clutched the plastic bag of food, choosing her words carefully. “Owen is injured and needs to recuperate. The facilities here are excellent, so we brought him to stay for a while.” “Mom and Dad… they came too,” she added. “Do you want to see them?” I shook my head, wiping a grease stain from the countertop. “No, that’s not necessary. Please give my regards to Mr. and Mrs. Prescott.” I paused, then added, “Actually, it’s probably best you don’t mention me at all. Being associated with someone like me would only tarnish the Prescott name.” At that, my adoptive sister Isabelle’s brow furrowed. “Noah, these past few years, we—” “Noah!” A young woman with streaks of red in her hair bounced into the diner, instantly latching onto my arm like a koala. “I’m starving! The school cafeteria food was literal poison today!” I chuckled, ruffling her hair. “You say that every day, Gigi. There’s a plate of your favorite shrimp scampi in the kitchen. I just made it. Go get it yourself.” Gigi just hugged my arm tighter, whining. “Nooo, you have to eat with me.” Noticing that my other two visitors still hadn’t left, my smile faded. “Is there anything else I can get for you ladies?” The message was clear, but it took them a long moment to shake their heads. Seraphina seemed to drift off for a second when she heard “shrimp scampi.” Isabelle stared at Gigi clinging to my arm, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. I led Gigi into the back, the curtain falling behind us and cutting off their view. When I came out again, they were gone. “Hey,” Gigi said around a mouthful of shrimp, “did you know them? They weren’t here to cause trouble, were they? I’ve seen them on TV. One’s a huge celebrity, the other runs the Prescott corporation. They’re kind of a big deal.” I placed another shrimp in her bowl. “Just regular customers,” I said with a light laugh. “If I knew people like that, do you think I’d be running this little diner? I’d have moved us all into a mansion by now.” Gigi giggled, then leaned in conspiratorially. “I heard that superstar’s husband is the one who’s sick. The whole family came all the way out here just to take care of him. Must be nice, having that many people who care about you.” “Hm,” I said calmly, wiping a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth. Oh, I knew exactly how much they doted on Owen Prescott. Eight years ago, for his sake, one of them had publicly accused me of slander and assault, sending me to prison. The other had announced to the world that I had taken my own life out of guilt, personally ensuring I was erased from the Prescott family forever. They worked in perfect, seamless harmony to cast me into a hell from which I was never meant to return. “Hey, what’s this?” I was clearing the table when Gigi popped her head out from behind the counter, holding up a small, withered ring woven from dried grass. It was the kind you could make from weeds on the side of the road. It was stained with old, dark blood. Originally, it would have had a small, white daisy tucked into it. It was the “wedding ring” Seraphina had given me when we were young. Back then, she wasn’t a world-famous actress. She was just a girl, abandoned near the Prescott estate by her foster father as payment for a massive debt. I found her on a winter night, huddled in a corner of the wall, shivering in the snow, her thin clothes no match for the cold. Her hand had unconsciously gripped the hem of my coat. Against the wishes of my parents and my sister, I brought her home. I used my allowance to pay for a doctor, slowly pulling her back from the brink of death. And so, fifteen-year-old Seraphina stayed, becoming my little shadow. When I skipped class, she covered for me. When I got into fights, she took the punishment. When I was cornered in an alley by a group of bigger kids, she stood with me, trembling with fear but refusing to abandon me. Later, when we fell in love, we would hide behind the wall of roses in the garden, kissing and laughing like a pair of fools. Then, when she turned seventeen, a famous talent scout came to the house, begging her to become an actress. “Noah, wait for me,” she promised, kissing my face over and over. “I know I’m not good enough for you now. But when I’m a star, a household name, I’ll be able to stand beside you as your wife.” “I will make it. You’re the only person I ever want to marry.” I knew I couldn’t change her mind, so I cooked her a feast of all her favorite foods as a farewell. As she was leaving, she slipped the grass ring onto my finger. “One day, Noah, I’ll give you the biggest, most beautiful wedding ring in the world.” My parents and sister never liked her, but they didn’t want to see me unhappy. They used the family’s connections to pave her way in the industry. Within two years, Seraphina was everywhere. I watched her on TV as she became the youngest actress to ever win the Grand Jury Prize. The day she was set to return, my hands were shaking with excitement. But that was the same day the truth about my birth came out. I wasn’t a Prescott. I was the son of a pair of day laborers, switched at birth with the true heir by someone who had slipped past the nurses. The day the real son, Owen Prescott, was brought to the estate, my adoptive mother held my hand. “Even with Owen here, you will always be a son of this family.” My sister ruffled my hair, her smile unchanged. “What’s one more person? The Prescotts aren’t so poor we can’t afford to feed another mouth.” Seraphina even canceled a shoot and flew back overnight. She held me tight and swore, “I can protect you now. Even if the Prescotts don’t want you, I will.” The knot of fear in my chest slowly loosened. Out of guilt, I started putting Owen first in everything. I helped him with his studies, taught him etiquette, let him have first choice of everything, terrified he would feel out of place. He, in turn, followed me everywhere, calling me “brother.” I was truly happy then. I thought I was the luckiest person in the world, blessed with such a wonderful family and a love like ours. Eventually, Owen started tagging along on my dates with Seraphina. At first, she complained about the third wheel. Owen would fire back that he was just making sure her intentions were pure. I mediated between them, and they reached a tense truce. Slowly, without me noticing when it started, Seraphina began to remember Owen’s favorite things, to understand his moods, even to remember his birthday. And Owen would casually ask me questions about Seraphina’s childhood. It all came to a head during a trip to the mountains, when a sudden rockslide sent boulders tumbling down the slope. I watched, frozen, as Seraphina grabbed Owen’s hand and pulled him to safety. I managed to scramble out of the way, but not before a rock gashed my leg open. In the hospital, she explained through tears, “I’m so sorry, Noah. In that moment… I thought Owen was you.” I said nothing, but my heart felt like it had been plunged into ice. Something was spinning horribly out of my control. The day I was discharged, I went home early. I even bought a bouquet of roses on the way, planning to surprise her. But there, under the rose wall in the garden, I saw them. Two figures, tangled together. Seraphina’s arms were wrapped around Owen’s neck, and she was kissing him with a deep, focused passion. I stood rooted to the spot, feeling as if I’d walked into a nightmare. But the sharp pain of the rose thorns digging into my palm was too real to deny. I charged forward and tore them apart, a shower of rose petals falling around us. I slapped Seraphina across the face. She didn’t even flinch. But when I turned to Owen, she shoved me, hard. I stumbled and fell, my palms scraping against the gravel path. She stood over me, shielding Owen. “He’s your brother. What gives you the right to touch him?” she spat. “Look at you, Noah. You’re acting like a madman.” Owen stepped up beside her, his face a mask of regret. “I’m sorry, brother… but Sera and I are in love. If we had never been switched, I would have been the one to meet her first.” Then, he intertwined his fingers with hers, his eyes meeting mine, full of defiance. “I apologize. You can hit me, you can scream at me, but I will not give her up.” The last thread of my sanity snapped. I grabbed a rock and threw it at them, screaming every vicious word I could think of. Seraphina just pulled Owen further away, her expression one of disgust. “You really need to see a doctor.” My parents and sister came running at the sound of the commotion. They saw me, disheveled and covered in dirt, and their brows knitted in disapproval. “Noah, that’s enough.” “Owen is your brother. Can’t you just let him have this?” They stood together, a united front, their faces identical masks of cold disdain. And I stood opposite them, looking like a wild animal. In that moment, all the little oddities, all the strange moments from the past few months, clicked into place. But I wasn’t ready to give up. I found out where Seraphina was filming and went to the studio, screaming and demanding answers. She stood at a distance, watching with contempt as her bodyguards pinned me to the ground. “Don’t ever come near me again,” she said. “And if you spread any more rumors about Owen, you’ll regret it.” Rage and desperation consumed me. I went to the tabloids. I told them everything: Seraphina’s affair, Owen knowingly becoming the other man. I plastered the story everywhere I could, determined to ruin them. I wanted the world to know that the beloved actress I had helped create was nothing but a backstabbing traitor. But the Prescott family crushed the story. I fought them, screamed, smashed everything in the house, even threatened to jump from a window. All I got for my efforts was a stinging slap from my sister. “Noah, have you made enough of a scene?” she’d said, her voice dripping with ice. “You stole Owen’s life! All of this should have been his from the start. We raised you for twenty years, and this is how you repay us? You can’t tame a stray.” They locked me in the cellar. Days blurred into one another in the pitch-black silence, with only a stale, cold piece of bread pushed under the door each day. The darkness was a swamp, slowly drowning me. I don’t know how long I was in there before the door finally opened. Seraphina stood silhouetted against the light. “Our promise still stands,” she said. “I will marry you, Noah.” They let me out, and a wedding was hastily arranged. I wasn’t naive enough to think it was because they’d had a change of heart. The Prescott family was powerful, but not invincible. My public breakdown, though mostly suppressed, had still made ripples. If Seraphina were to marry anyone but me, it would only confirm the “crazy” stories I had told. The day before the wedding, my adoptive mother spoke to me in the living room. “Now that you’ve come to your senses, don’t cause any trouble tomorrow. Owen has been very unstable lately. I want you to go and apologize to him today.” My sister swirled the red wine in her glass. “Noah, everything you have was given to you by this family. Behave, and we might let you keep some of your dignity. You know what to say and what not to say tomorrow.” It was all so absurd I didn’t even have the energy to laugh. Seeing my silence, Seraphina’s face darkened. “I’m marrying you, Noah. What more could you possibly want? If anyone should be complaining, it’s not you. You’re the one who stole someone else’s life. Don’t be ungrateful.” “Brother, it’s all my fault…” Owen started, stepping toward me. “Get away from me!” I snarled, slapping his hand away. “Ah!” he cried out, stumbling back. My family’s expressions turned thunderous. “Noah, what do you think you’re doing? Apologize to Owen now!” Owen, sheltered behind them, murmured, “I’m fine. It wasn’t his fault.” Seraphina glared at me. “No, Owen, you’re too kind. He needs to apologize to you today!” A strange look crossed Owen’s face. “Why don’t you make me some of your shrimp scampi, brother? The way you used to make it… just for Sera.” Shrimp scampi. It was a dish Seraphina’s birth mother had once mentioned to her. The mother had disappeared, and the dish had become an obsession for Seraphina. To comfort her, I had sought out the best chefs, learning the difficult, precise recipe until my hands were covered in burns and scars. It had become our secret, something just for us. She had once made me swear, in a moment of passion, that I would never make it for anyone else. And now, it was just a party trick for her to please her new lover. The rage I thought had been extinguished roared back to life. I laughed, a raw, broken sound. I snatched a priceless vase from the table and smashed it at Owen’s feet. The peonies my mother had loved scattered across the floor, and a shard of porcelain sliced Owen’s leg. He cried out in pain. My parents and sister rushed to his side. Seraphina had the bodyguards restrain me. She kicked me hard in my injured leg, forcing me to my knees. “You brought this on yourself!” After that, the scandals about me were everywhere. Under Seraphina’s expert manipulation, I was painted as an ungrateful imposter who had bullied the true heir, tried to steal his fiancée, and then resorted to slander when I didn’t get my way. Together, my ex-wife and my adoptive sister sent me to prison. And while I was gone, Owen and Seraphina were married in a lavish ceremony, blessed by all. While I was being beaten by inmates, hovering on the edge of death, they were making love in the bed that should have been mine. Six months later, I was dragged from my cell, barely breathing, and thrown out of the prison gates like a bag of trash. The snow was falling heavily, the night wind biting and cruel. Just like the night I had found Seraphina. But I wasn’t as lucky as she had been. No one was coming for me. No one would save me. The only thing I had left was the blood-stained, misshapen grass ring clutched in my fist.

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