Category: English

The Echo in the Mirror: My Mother’s Escape My mom was a university student, sold into an isolated rural community to be a breeder. She always said her biggest regret was giving birth to me. When Grandma forced her to do heavy labor, only allowing her a bowl of thin gruel, she called me a curse. When her father-in-law groped her, she called me that little monster from the Miller family. When Dad, drunk, beat her black and blue, she’d ask me when I was going to die. “That year, I could have escaped. Why did you have to run out? Why did you call me ‘Mom’ and make me soft?” “I wish I never had you, my daughter!” She must have said that a thousand times. I never understood it. Until that day. I saw her young face in the mirror Mom cherished most. It was smudged and dusty, but free of wrinkles and scars. She asked, “Who are you? Can you save me? I was tricked into coming here!” That moment, I finally understood what “shackles” in books truly meant. I was Mom’s shackles, the chains that bound her to a life of misery. The next second, I spoke to my younger mom. “I’ll save you. This time, I’ll definitely get you out!”

Just as dawn broke, Grandma burst into the rundown shack and yanked Mom up. “You lazy, good-for-nothing hag! I paid so much for you, and you can’t even birth a son, and you’re useless around the house. What a jinx you are.” Her complaints made Mom tremble slightly. She wasn’t unable to conceive; she simply couldn’t anymore. I heard Dad had beaten Mom so savagely, he’d ruined her insides. Everyone was furious that day, except Mom. She was smiling, so genuinely happy. She’d said, “Finally, I don’t have to bear little beasts for these animals.” But ever since that day, she’d gone from being Dad’s plaything to Grandma’s workhorse. Just then, Dad, who hadn’t returned all night, stumbled back. Drunk, he lurched towards Mom, and before she could react, he slapped her hard across the face. “You worthless bitch! I paid for you, you’re *my* property, and you dare glare at me?” “You bring nothing but bad luck! It’s definitely because of you I lost all my money gambling. I’m going to kill you!” His fists and feet rained down on Mom. Mom’s pained cries were hoarse, like Grandpa sawing wood, cutting into my heart. I couldn’t help but rush over, sobbing, “Dad, please, stop hitting Mom!” The words had barely left my lips before Dad kicked me mercilessly, sending me flying. “Hmph, two little parasites. Someday I’m going to beat both of you to death.” He spat on the ground, burped, and staggered away. Grandma just rolled her eyes and shuffled off. “Honestly, he doesn’t know his own strength. Nobody’s going to work today.” I ignored the sharp pain in my stomach and crawled over to Mom. Her eyes were closed; Dad had knocked her unconscious again. I was so sad, and utterly helpless. I couldn’t get any medicine. They never gave Mom proper care, not unless she was on the verge of dying. In my despair, a glint of light caught my eye. I focused, seeing a small mirror lying on the ground. What was astonishing was that the mirror didn’t reflect me, but a girl. And she looked incredibly like Mom. “Little one! Can you hear me?! I’ve been kidnapped, please, can you call the police for me?” “My name is Annabelle Anderson, and I live at…” I froze, picked up the mirror, and hesitantly asked, “Sister, what year is it where you are?” “It’s 2005.” My eyes widened. “It’s 2020 here.” The other side fell silent too. My deepest suspicion was confirmed: I was talking to my mom in the past. My past mom was so beautiful, no wrinkles, no scars on her face. She was the prettiest girl I’d ever seen. No wonder Mom wanted to escape. Before she came here, she had another home, and her family there had cared for her so well. She had her own name, Annabelle Anderson. Unlike here, where I called her Mom. Dad called her “Hey!” and “Bitch,” Grandma called her “Hussy,” Grandpa called her “Slut.” No one knew her real name. Taking a deep breath, I said to the mirror, “Mom…” I stopped myself. I couldn’t let her know I was her daughter. This time, I absolutely couldn’t be her obstacle. Thinking quickly, I corrected myself, “I’m sorry, sister. I can’t find a way to call the police right now.” Disappointment flickered in her eyes. I added, “But I’ve heard about you. You’re the woman bought by the Miller family from the edge of town.” “I can help you. Help you escape.”

The next morning, Mom was in too much pain to get up. Before Grandma could speak, I ran out. “Grandma, I’ll do extra work today. Can Mom rest for a day?” “If Mom gets too tired, no one will help you with chores.” Grandma looked at Mom’s suffering face and grumbled, “Frank, honestly, why does he hit her so hard?” But she still compromised, dragging me off to the fields. After a moment of thought, I asked Grandma, “Grandma, how did you catch Mom the first time?” Grandma glared at me. “What are you prying about, kid?” I whispered, “If Mom tries to run away again, I can help you find her. I don’t want to lose you, Mom.” Hearing this, Grandma patted my head, pleased. “Good girl, that’s what I like to hear!” She lowered her guard around me and recounted, boastfully, “That hussy first ran away in the middle of the night…” Grandma told me that night, Mom, confused by the paths, ran in the wrong direction and ended up circling back to the village. Old Man Henderson, who was up early for work, saw her and brought her back. Grandma laughed at how foolish Mom was, but I felt a chill run down my spine. How desperate Mom must have been then, thinking freedom was within reach, only to find herself right back in the lion’s den. I fought back tears, forcing a smile. “Grandma, if there’s a fork in the path, which way leads back to the village entrance?” “Of course, it’s the path to the right, where the old well is.” I nodded. “Okay. If Mom runs away next time, I’ll trick her into thinking the right path leads to freedom.” Later that night, I took out the mirror and told Mom, “I found out you were caught because you ran in the wrong direction.” “Sister, when you get to the back hill, and you see a fork in the path, whatever you do, *do not* go right. Remember, the right path with the abandoned well—don’t take it!” Mom on the other side of the mirror nodded solemnly. After just one day, her face was already swollen, blood staining the corner of her mouth. My heart ached as I gently touched the mirror’s surface. “Sister, you have to escape!” Escape, forget me, and find your own family. The next morning, I opened my eyes. And saw Mom’s rough, sickly yellow face, still covered in fresh bruises. I sat up with a start. Why… Why was Mom still here? Why hadn’t I disappeared? My hands trembled as I reached out to touch her cheek. The next second, Mom opened her eyes. “What are you doing?” she asked coldly. My voice shaky, I replied, “Nothing… nothing, Mom. I just wanted to touch you.” “Hoping I was dead, weren’t you? Too bad for you, I’m still alive, still here to make your life miserable.” Mom painfully propped herself up, her voice laced with sarcasm. As she moved, I saw a new scar on her arm. It was long, like a twisted earthworm writhing on it. My pupils contracted sharply, tears streaming uncontrollably. Mom failed to escape… And was beaten again. Mom’s gaze followed mine to the scar, and she shivered, as if recalling a painful memory. The next second, she slapped me hard. “What are you crying about? Playing the dutiful child now? Trying to make me feel more sorry for you? More attached?” “If you knew how much hell I live in here, you never would have run out and called for me that day!” “What good is acting all sympathetic now? It’s too late. Everything’s too late!” I covered my stinging face, feeling a wave of injustice. That day, I hadn’t known she wanted to escape. I only knew I’d stolen a plate of roast chicken, wanting to give it to her. My good intentions backfired, and I only caused her more harm. “I’m sorry,” I choked out. She turned her head, annoyed. “Stop pretending!” The atmosphere fell silent, only the buzzing of mosquitoes filled the air. After a long while, I cautiously asked, “Mom, how did you get caught the second time you ran away?” Her gaze drifted through the narrow wooden slats towards the sky, and surprisingly, she answered me. “The second time I ran? The second time… was when I was forced to marry that animal, Frank Miller.” “I took advantage of them drinking outside, gnawed through my ropes in the room, then climbed out the window and ran.” “I ran and ran, until I finally saw a road. On the road, I saw a stranger, and I thought I was saved. I rushed over and begged him.” “I told him I’d been kidnapped. Please save me, take me to the police. I’ll give you any money you want.” Mom’s voice caught, as if a savior truly stood before her. “That man was so kind. He said, ‘Don’t worry, young lady, I’ll take you to the police right away.’ So he led me through winding paths, walking for a long time.” She paused, and my breath hitched. Then, Mom’s tears flowed again. “But then! That two-faced monster tricked me right back to the Miller house! He laughed and said he was Frank Miller’s uncle, here for his nephew’s wedding, and I was the ‘grand gift’ he delivered to his own nephew!” My face stiffened, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Yes. Mom was right. The Millers, they were all animals.

Late that night, I took out the mirror again. Mom’s face, streaked with blood and dirt, appeared before me. I could barely make out her features. “Little one, I failed… they still tracked me down by my footprints…” “I was too naive and too desperate, I didn’t think of that.” She mocked herself, weakly. My heart ached, and I murmured, “It’s okay, sister. We still have a chance.” She caught her breath, then asked with a flicker of hope, “Tell me.” I immediately recounted everything I’d heard that day. At the end, I emphasized, “Sister, don’t trust anyone.” Mom nodded gravely. “Okay, I won’t trust anyone.” After our talk, I watched my sleeping mom beside me. I still couldn’t relax. My wish used to be to stay with Mom forever. Now, I wished Mom could just disappear. How wonderful that would be. Ten days later, it was the day of my parents’ wedding, fifteen years ago. Late that night, I secretly crept out of the rundown shack. The image in the mirror swayed. Mom, dressed in red, ran without stopping. Then she paused. After a long time, she whispered, “The man is gone.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Then hurry and follow the main road! You’ll definitely get out.” “Okay!” She nodded with determination. The night deepened, and my head grew heavier. The fatigue from working all day swept over me like a tide. “You’re that liar!” Suddenly, Mom’s terrified scream jolted me awake. Followed by the sound of her frantic footsteps. “Sister! What happened?!” I cried out. “I… I met a car on the main road. The person inside was the one who kidnapped me and brought me here!” As her words ended, she let out a piercing scream. The next instant, the mirror reflected my own pale face. “Sister! Sister!” I called out anxiously. The mirror remained unresponsive. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground. “Who are you talking to?” Mom’s cold voice reached my ears. I stiffly turned my head, my pupils instantly constricting. Mom’s leg was crippled… “Mom… your leg…” My words seemed to hit a nerve. The next second, she raised her crutch and slammed it down on me. “Don’t you dare remind me! Yes, my leg is crippled! Your wonderful father did this to me!” I hadn’t saved Mom. Instead, I’d caused her to lose a leg. Tears streamed down my face. I crawled on the ground, frantically punching my own leg. “I’m sorry! I wish it was my leg that was crippled! I’m useless! Why, why can’t I just get you out of here?!” My actions seemed to douse Mom’s fury. She dragged her heavy leg towards me, slowly crouching down. “Stop hitting yourself. You won’t cripple it that way. You don’t need to act.” I looked up, my face smeared with snot and tears, meeting Mom’s eyes. “Mom, I’m not acting. I *will* save you! Please believe me!” Her eyes widened, their dull, listless gaze seeming to clear. After a very long time, she wiped away my tears with her hand and sighed. “You little monster, when you grow up, when you have the ability to leave these treacherous mountains, then come and take me out.” No, Mom, I’ll take you out soon! I murmured to myself. For the next few days, I spent my days exploring the village vicinity, memorizing the terrain. At night, I’d convey the details to my past mom through the mirror. What panicked both of us was that our chances to speak through the mirror grew fewer and fewer.

Sometimes our voices would break up. Sometimes we could only speak for ten minutes. Mom’s expression grew grave. “Little one, have you seen Cinderella? If this mirror has magic, then this situation feels like the magic is fading.” I looked blank, shaking my head. “Sister, I haven’t read that book you mentioned. I only went to school for two years before I was pulled out to work.” Mom’s face softened with pity. “It’s okay. When I escape, I’ll send you lots of books, and we can read them together!” My heart ached. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t see the books Mom sent, nor would I wait for her to teach me to read. Swallowing my tears of reluctance, I forced a smile and nodded. “Okay, Sister. You’ll definitely escape!” Three days later, while searching for routes, I encountered an important person. It was a man with a nice backpack. I feigned curiosity and asked him, “Mister, I’ve never seen you before. Are you from another village?” The man chuckled. He pointed ahead and explained, “I’m a staff member at the weather station, heading to relieve my colleague.” “A weather station? I’ve never heard of that. Does our village have one? Has it been there for many years?” I asked, pretending to be curious. The man was amused by my childish questions and patiently explained, “It’s a weather station, not a convenience store. It was built thirty or forty years ago, and it’s quite far from your village. I still have to climb for another half hour to get there.” “Is it just by climbing along this road that I’ll get there?” I asked. The man nodded. “That’s right.” Then he seemed to remember something and gently added, “Little one, don’t bring your friends up here. The mountain path is dangerous, and the staff at the station are working, very busy.” I nodded obediently and waved to him. “I understand! Be careful on your way! I’m heading home now.” On my run back, my heart thumped like a wild rabbit. Fifteen years ago, the weather station was already there. This man wasn’t from the village; he was very likely from a big city. He was patient, polite, a good man. I weighed these thoughts in my mind as I flew down the mountain. Because I’d been lazy with farm work, Grandma beat me. This time, I didn’t cry. Instead, I kept smiling foolishly. Grandma was startled. She threw down her bamboo stick and rubbed her hands. “That kid, is she touched in the head?” I ignored her, unable to feel the pain. Instead, I happily scurried back into the rundown shack. That night, I secretly drew the route map on the dirt floor and showed it to Mom in the mirror. “A weather station? Little one, you’re so clever! How did I not think of that? These government sites must have people!” Mom exclaimed excitedly. I sniffled, grinning. “Hehe, I just happened to run into that man by chance.” “I’ll leave tonight. These past few days, I’ve been playing them, making them drop their guard. Now is my chance to escape.” “Can you tell me your name? When I escape, I’ll definitely come back for you!” My heart pounded. I suppressed a sob and replied, “Sister, my name is Hope Anderson.” Hope, for Mom to escape. “Oh, we both have the same last name, Anderson. What a coincidence!” Mom said, surprised. Yes, of course it’s a coincidence. Being your daughter is the greatest blessing of my life. I didn’t say that out loud. I just waved to her. “Okay, then hurry and go. I’ll guide you if you get lost.” I held my breath, watching Mom carefully climb out the window. Then came her soft gasps, like sticks tapping against my heart. “Go right here. After you see the red house built with red bricks, turn left.” I whispered the directions. She nodded at me. I watched her run along the correct route, quickly heading up the mountain. That moment, I breathed a sigh of relief. Just keep climbing, and she’d reach the weather station. Listening to the crunch of leaves underfoot, my heart slowly settled. Suddenly, a shout came from the mirror, “Hey! What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?!” My heart instantly skipped a beat. The next second, the mirror shattered.

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It was a senior class road trip. I suddenly grabbed the steering wheel and plunged the car off a cliff. Four people, including our head teacher, died instantly. I, however, was thrown from the window, sustaining only minor injuries. The victims’ families camped outside the police station daily, and online, the outrage was deafening. “This sociopath deserves to be put down, not just once, but a hundred times over!” My mom spent a fortune hiring a lawyer for me, but I went wild and bit the poor guy, sending him to the hospital. Yet, she still refused to give up. “Jade is still a child; she wouldn’t hurt anyone without a reason! Please, give her another chance!” “What reasons?” I sneered, flipping off the jury. “I just didn’t want to live anymore and decided to take a few people down with me.” The internet branded me a demon who deserved to die, while my mother sobbed before the cameras, pleading for mercy. In the end, the judge gave me three days. “If no hidden circumstances can be proven in this case within three days, Jade Vance will be sentenced to death, effective immediately!” In a corner no one saw, I let out a silent sigh of relief. Just three more days. Everything would be fine. ……

“Defendant, what was your motive for these murders?!” It was a live-streamed court session. Facing my stone-cold defiance, even the seasoned judge looked visibly frustrated. “You know the jury will decide your fate, yet you publicly bit your lawyer?” “I felt like it!” Licking the blood from the corner of my mouth, I pulled a cruel smile. The victims’ families in the courtroom erupted instantly. “She admitted it! What more do you need? Just give her the death penalty and let my daughter finally rest in peace!” I coldly watched the disheveled, distraught woman in the spectator’s box. It was Chloe Miller’ s mother, one of my former high school dorm mates. Just two days ago, I’ d personally sent her daughter straight to her grave. Beside her, crying inconsolably, were the parents of my other two dorm mates. “Kill her! Four lives lost and not a shred of remorse!” “This kind of antisocial filth, leaving her alive will only lead to endless trouble!” The comment section of the live stream was a furious torrent. The jury stared intently at my every move, trying to find a crack in my facade. But I just looked indifferent, even leaning back, legs crossed, and letting out a casual whistle. Only three days, anyway. If I kept my mouth shut during this time, they couldn’t pry anything out of me. It was a shame I survived the crash, by some twist of fate. But I had to die. “Defendant, please show some respect!” The judge’ s face darkened. “You have a successful career, a decent income, a reasonably happy life. Not long ago, you even booked plane tickets for a family vacation.” “How did you suddenly become a sociopath and brutally murder your high school dorm mates?” I paused, then quickly regrouped. “They were showing off their wealth.” I pointed a finger back towards the spectator box. “It was her daughter, Chloe Miller. In the car, she insisted on showing me some designer jewelry and luxury bags, even laughing and calling me a poor nobody!” “Back in school, I was the poorest in the whole class, fighting tooth and nail just to get by! How dare she get all that without lifting a finger?” “Just for that?” “Just for that!” “You’ re lying!” Mrs. Miller gasped, choking back sobs. “My husband went bankrupt three years ago! Chloe couldn’t possibly buy luxury items anymore!” I stammered. “Then I misremembered!” “Anyway, one of them was showing off. As for who… I hit my head, I can’t quite recall!” “I’ ve always hated you holier-than-thou rich people. It’ s disgusting…” With that, I spat in the direction of the spectator box. Then I flipped off the jury. “Jade Vance is a pathological liar!” “This kind of person is obviously consumed by jealousy! Her three dorm mates had such bright futures, all ruined by her!” “And her homeroom teacher, Mr. Davies, was a top educator in the district!” “My daughter wasn’t a bad person!” A staggering figure suddenly burst into the courtroom, making my heart lurch. It was my mom, Eleanor, who had been knocked unconscious and sent to the hospital just moments ago, after arguing with the victims’ families outside the courthouse. She’ d returned, dragging her injured body back here. “Here’ s her junior high transcript, look… A straight-A student, always in the top ten!” “Even if she did something wrong, it’ s because her dad and I failed as parents. If someone needs to be jailed, send us to prison!” The mention of my dad, Arthur, brought a sudden surge of bitter memories. My mom’ s tearful plea made the jury exchange uncertain glances. Netizens were buzzing. “It’ s been over six years! What does a junior high transcript prove now?!” “Jade Vance is 22, and in her mom’ s eyes, she’ s still a child? No wonder she raised a daughter like this!” “Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, and victims’ families, I’ m kneeling here on behalf of my daughter!” My mom dropped to her knees, her bandaged forehead hitting the floor with a heavy thud. A shocking crimson stain spread. I struggled to look away, forcing myself to stop trembling. “There must be some hidden story here. How could Jade harm four strangers for no reason?” A flicker of surprise crossed the judge’ s eyes. Suddenly, I went wild, shoving past the court officers and scrambling out of the defendant’ s box. I lunged forward, tackling my mom to the ground. Quickly, I chewed up the transcript and swallowed it. In doing so, my clothes ripped, revealing a mosaic of old scars on my back. “Defendant, who caused these injuries on your body?!” I’ m done for, I thought.

I hastily tried to cover my back. But everyone in the courtroom, including the live stream viewers and my mom, had seen it clearly. The judge called for a forensics team to examine my injuries. While waiting for the report, he persisted with his questions. “Is this why you refused to stay in the hospital or change your clothes after the car crash?” I remained silent. “Who inflicted these injuries on you?” “Those three bitches, okay? Are you happy now?” The internet exploded. “No way! Is this about bullying?!” “They looked so innocent and sweet, not like people who’ d do something like that!” I glanced at the big screen displaying the comments. “You idiots know nothing! Haven’t you heard that appearances can be deceiving?” “You’ re lying!” Brooke Johnson’ s father, Mr. Johnson, suddenly stood up. “My daughter was an excellent student, a model student chosen by teachers and classmates. How could she bully you…?” “They were jealous of my grades, obviously!” I forced a smile. “Mr. Johnson, you were quite busy back then, weren’t you? Did Brooke ever tell you about cheating on exams?” “Did she tell you she paid me to do her homework?” “I…” The man was momentarily speechless. I scoffed. “You don’t know your own daughter at all! Because of negligent parents like you, I was bullied for a year and a half!” “Defendant.” The judge’ s voice was stern. “Is this why your grades suddenly plummeted in the second semester of junior year?” “Yes.” “What about my husband?” Mr. Davies’ s wife glared at me. “Even if Brooke and her friends bullied you, what does that have to do with my husband?! Why did you have to kill him too?!” “Because he knew and did nothing!” My face darkened. “I told him about the bullying back then, but he didn’t want to offend your well-connected families. He chose to turn a blind eye.” “Just because I came from a poor background, did I deserve to be abused?!” After a heated exchange, my mom listened, utterly bewildered. Just as she was about to ask something, the medical examiner arrived with my injury report. The results surprised everyone. My old scars were indeed consistent with injuries sustained around six years ago. But the force required was far beyond what three underage girls like Chloe, Brooke, and Skylar could inflict. “Defendant! Are you still lying now? Who was the man who beat you like this?!” My mom finally snapped out of her daze and rushed to hug me. “Jade, who did this to you?” I turned my face away, not wanting to see the tears in her eyes. “It’ s my fault, Jade! If your dad and I hadn’t been so busy working, you wouldn’t have been unsupervised and ended up like this…” “Did you fall in with bad company?” My mom desperately held my hand. “Were you threatened by some gang members? Tell me, Mom will get justice for you!” “No, no, no!” I impatiently shook off her hand. “Stop playing the devoted mother act. Who are you trying to fool?” Before I finished speaking, Chloe’ s mom suddenly grabbed a chair and charged at me. Thud. My mom blocked me, collapsing to the floor in pain. I clenched my fists, unmoving, my nails digging deep into my palms. “What kind of person is she? Her mom almost died protecting her, and she just stands there, cold-faced and indifferent?” “Ma’ am, you should give up! This kind of heart can’t be warmed. Saving her is pointless…” The court officers tried to send my mom to the hospital, but she waved them off, struggling to her feet. “Are you refusing to speak because you’ re trying to protect someone?” My mom clutched me tightly. “The person who beat you… it wasn’t your dad, was it…?” A pang of pain shot through my heart. “Your dad lost his job this year and went back to our old village. I thought you’ d be safer with him looking after you. I never imagined he’ d hit you?” “N-no… it wasn’t…” “I’ ll go confront him!” My mom turned angrily, but the judge called out to her. “Eleanor Vance, who did you just mention?” My mom turned back, confused. “My husband, Arthur Vance! Jade’ s dad!” “But…” The judge frowned. “Mr. Vance passed away five and a half years ago…” “What?!” My mom looked as if she’ d been struck by lightning. “How can that be? I personally saw him off to work in the city just last month!” “Look at the photos of the four victims. Do you recognize them?” My mom shook her head blankly. “They were Jade Vance’ s high school homeroom teacher and dorm mates.” The judge suddenly understood. “I thought you just weren’t involved enough in your daughter’ s life to remember her teachers and classmates…” “Jade Vance’ s mom… could she have amnesia?” On the other side of the camera, netizens discussed my mom’ s anguished expression. “No wonder she kept talking about juvenile protection laws and her own negligence…” “So that’ s why she still thinks Jade is a child?” “What trauma did she suffer to lose her memory? It looks like what she forgot might be connected to Jade’ s murders!” The judge thought so too. He immediately ordered the police to summon witnesses to the stand. My mom had contacted my junior high teachers, intending to prove I was a good student. But now, she looked at their aged faces and fell into a panic. “How can this be?” My mom clutched her head, roaring helplessly. “Didn’t Jade just finish junior high? Didn’t her dad just go to work in the city?” But seeing her like that, I could do nothing but feel a crushing heartache. Things were spiraling out of control, so the judge decided to adjourn the court. It was also because the police had found a new lead. After my dad died, my mom had a boyfriend named Malik. That name sent a chill through my entire body. My mom, however, claimed she didn’t remember him. “This Malik was an orphan, with no family left.” The trial resumed the next day. The police publicly announced the new lead they’ d found. “According to our investigation, he came to the town of Sunnybrook five years ago for work and soon began a relationship with Eleanor Vance.” “Later, the two decided to move back to the village to open a general store, so they relocated to her old home.”

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When I was seventeen, I rushed into a burning building to save Leo. A falling beam hit my head, and from that day on, I became simple-minded. To save money for my rehabilitation, he dropped out of school and took on all sorts of dirty, back-breaking jobs. Ten years later, Leo became the youngest entrepreneur in the city. And I was still the idiot who needed her shoes tied and her meals spoon-fed. Later, Leo started coming home later and later, his eyes filled with nothing but disgust when he looked at me. Until that day, I accidentally broke the music box his assistant gave him. For the first time, he lost his temper with me. He dragged me to the rooftop. And ordered me to jump from the fifty-story building. I didn’t understand why he wanted me to do that. I just knew that being a good girl earned me rewards. I’d been afraid of heights since I was little, but now, I was even more terrified of him leaving me. I smiled, taking a step back: “Leo, please don’t be mad. I’ll listen to whatever you say.”

The moment my body tilted backward, a powerful force yanked me back. I stumbled into his arms, and before I could even steady myself, a stinging slap landed on my face. “Are you insane?! You’ll die if you fall from here! Don’t you even know what death is?!” Leo’s voice cracked as he roared at me. Feeling the sharp pain on my cheek, I belatedly started to tremble. I didn’t know if it was from the fear of nearly falling, or the unsettling sting of his harsh scolding. But I still instinctively raised my hand, wanting to wipe away the tears at the corner of his eyes. “Leo, I’m sorry.” But the next second, Leo roughly pushed me away: “You idiot, what else can you say besides ‘I’m sorry’!” Just then, the iron door to the rooftop burst open. Chloe rushed in, looking frantic. She glanced at the two of us, her face instantly paling: “Leo, have you lost your mind? What are you doing bringing her to a place like this?!” “If anything happened to her, you’d be charged with aiding and abetting suicide. You’d go to jail for that!” Her voice was hoarse as she clutched Leo’s arm tightly, then pulled him into a fierce embrace: “If you end up in prison, what will I do?” At that moment, Leo finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably into her shoulder: “I don’t know… I’m just so tired…” Watching his trembling back, I vaguely realized something. For the past ten years, I seemed to have truly become the source of all his pain. After Leo calmed down, he noticed the large scrapes on my knees. A flicker of guilt flashed in his eyes: “Scarlett, does it hurt? I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to be so harsh just now.” He helped me up, and together with Chloe, we went downstairs. Back home, Leo found the first-aid kit and, as he had countless times before, carefully dressed and bandaged my wound. But this time, though his movements were still practiced, his eyes held nothing but exhaustion and weariness. After treating my injury, Leo handed me a piece of candy and gently told me: “Stay home, be a good girl.” Then, he took Chloe’s hand and walked out the door. I was a little curious, so I quietly crept to the door. I heard snippets of their conversation. “Chloe, I’m really tired… As long as she’s alive, I won’t have a single day of peace.” “You know what? I even thought that after she jumped, I’d just die with her…” Hearing this, Chloe’s brows instantly furrowed: “Leo, what nonsense are you talking about! You’ve already sacrificed a whole decade for that idiot, and you’re still thinking of throwing your life away too?” Leo replied weakly: “But what can I do? She became like this saving me back then. I owe her too much.” Just then, Chloe suddenly noticed me eavesdropping behind the door. She rushed over, grabbing my collar: “Scarlett, even if you’re an idiot, you should at least have some shame, shouldn’t you? Do you really want to drag Leo down your whole life, content to just be a parasite?” Leo quickly pulled her back: “Chloe, why are you arguing with her? She doesn’t understand any of this.” “Alright, stop it. Come with me for a walk. There are some company matters I need to discuss with you.” Leo glanced at me, told me to stay home and be good, then left with Chloe. After they left, I stood by the door, frozen for a long time. A few neighbors happened to pass by and saw me. They began to whisper amongst themselves. “Oh, poor Leo, he has such a hard life. Busy with company matters all day, then he has to take care of an idiot when he gets home.” “I heard that young lady, Chloe, has proposed to him several times, but Leo never agreed, all because he can’t let go of this idiot.” “If you ask me, Leo is just too kind. In this situation, he should send that idiot to a psychiatric hospital.” “Or if she just died, Leo’s life would be much easier…” Hearing those words, my heart gave a violent lurch. I couldn’t help but walk closer. The neighbors saw me approach, fear crossing their faces as they took a few steps back. But I just blinked, nervously asking: “Auntie, Uncle, if I go to the psychiatric hospital, will Leo not be sad anymore?” Seeing them not answer, I pressed on: “Then… if I die, will Leo be happy?”

The neighbors didn’t answer my questions. They just scurried away, as if avoiding something dirty. Watching their retreating backs, I suddenly remembered. Last year, for my birthday, Leo had taken me to a park far from home. He told me to sit on a bench, gently stroking my head and saying: “Scarlett, wait for me here. I’ll be back soon.” But I waited from noon until the sun began to set, until the streetlights flickered on one by one. He never came back. In the end, I had to find my way home myself, relying on vague memories, one step at a time. I remember thinking then, that after being gone for so long, Leo must have been frantic with worry. But when he opened the door and saw me, there wasn’t a trace of joy on his face. Only disappointment and sorrow. It was only now that I vaguely understood. He actually wanted to abandon me that day, didn’t he? A wave of sorrow washed over me, and my nose stung. I crouched down, burying my face in my knees, tears gushing out uncontrollably. But soon, I remembered what the neighbors had said. If I truly disappeared, would Leo’s life be much easier? Would he finally be able to smile happily? Thinking this, I wiped away my tears, stood up, and gathered my courage to step out of the house. I walked aimlessly along the road for a long time, not understanding traffic lights or directions. I didn’t know how to find the “psychiatric hospital” they spoke of. Distracted, a speeding car suddenly swerved towards me. I froze in place, my legs rooted to the spot. Just then, a pair of hands violently pulled me back to the side of the road. Still shaken, I looked up, only to see Leo’s face, filled with terror and lingering fear. “Scarlett, I told you to stay home, didn’t I? What are you doing running out again?!” “You idiot, can’t you just make my life a little easier for one day? Do you just want to drive me crazy before you’re happy?!” Seeing him so distraught, I shivered, whispering: “Leo, I want to go to the psychiatric hospital. I just wanted to go there and…” Hearing this, Leo froze. A flicker of confusion and guilt crossed his eyes, then he sharply asked: “What are you babbling about?! Did those people put ideas in your head again?” I quickly shook my head, a little nervous: “No, I want to go myself. Leo, please take me there, please.” No sooner had the words left my lips than Leo suddenly cupped my face, his voice trembling: “Scarlett, I’ll never abandon you, never!” “I’ll protect you and take care of you my whole life. Don’t overthink things anymore.” Looking at his reddened eyes, I nodded obediently. But deep down, I knew. Just now, when that car was about to hit me. I had actually seen Leo standing by the roadside earlier. In those few seconds, he had hesitated again. The next morning, Leo took me to the hospital for a follow-up. Although I didn’t understand what the doctor was saying, seeing his tightly furrowed brows, I realized my condition might have worsened. This thought weighed heavily on my heart. No, I couldn’t go on like this. I couldn’t keep dragging Leo down. While he went to get the car, I quietly slipped away from the parking garage. I turned and ran outside. This time, I had to succeed. I had to find that place. But as soon as I reached the entrance, I ran straight into Chloe. Seeing me alone, her face instantly darkened. She violently grabbed my arm, making me flinch in pain. “Scarlett, how did you sneak out alone again? Can’t you make Leo’s life a little less difficult?” She gnashed her teeth and hissed. “It’s always you, always you!” “Because of you, Leo rejects me again and again. Haven’t you ruined his life enough? Do you have to ruin my happiness too?” Her gaze suddenly turned sinister. As if having made a decision, she stared at me intently, muttering to herself: “Leo, you’re always so kind, always too soft-hearted…” “It’s okay. This time, I’ll help you get rid of her for good.”

Chloe dragged me to a deserted corner, slamming me against the wall. She smirked, then suddenly grabbed my hand and fiercely raked it across her own face. “No… let go of me!” I screamed in terror, struggling to pull my hand back, but I couldn’t match her strength. Chloe quickly scratched her face, leaving bloody marks. But she didn’t think it was enough. She pulled out her phone and violently smashed it on the ground; the screen instantly shattered. Under my horrified gaze, she lunged and slammed her forehead against the wall. Blood immediately streamed down her brow. “You idiot, you owe Leo so much, and now I’m going to make you pay for all of it!” Chloe glared at me viciously. The next second, she suddenly shrieked: “Help! This maniac is trying to kill me!” Soon, hurried footsteps came from nearby. Several hospital security guards saw Chloe’s blood-soaked face and me standing frozen in place. They immediately rushed forward and pinned me to the ground. “It wasn’t me… I didn’t…” I cried, barely managing to stammer out a few words, but no one listened. Everyone thought I was the deranged assailant. Before long, Leo also rushed over, freezing at the sight before him. He dashed to Chloe’s side, his voice trembling: “Chloe, are you okay?! What happened?!” Chloe leaned on his shoulder, her voice weak: “Leo, please don’t blame Scarlett… She just had an episode, she couldn’t control herself…” Before she finished, Leo’s gaze fell on the shattered phone. His face changed dramatically: “Scarlett, do you have any idea how many important files were on here, you idiot!” “Leo, it really wasn’t me…” I cried, shaking my head, but then Leo saw the bloodstains on my hands. His eyes grew colder and colder. “Ten years… I gave up everything for you, and this is how you repay me?!” Leo’s voice suddenly rose, his breakdown laced with despair. His fists rained down on me like a storm, each punch carrying immense resentment. Finally, he kicked me in the head. A security guard tried to intervene, but Leo pushed him away. “Do you know how much I lost because of you?!” He cried out as he hit me. “You hurt me enough, and now you have to hurt the people around me too? Scarlett… what did I do wrong to be tormented by you like this?!” I curled up on the ground, letting him vent. My entire body trembled from the pain, but my heart ached even more. Finally, Leo seemed to have tired himself out. He stood up and made a call. He summoned his subordinates, then dragged me from the ground and took me with them. They took me home and threw me into the dark basement. As the iron door slammed shut, the entire world plunged into darkness. The wounds on my body stung with a burning pain. I huddled in the corner, shivering. I don’t know how much time passed, but I started to develop a fever, my throat dry as dust. “Water… I want water…” I called out weakly, but no one answered. Just then, through the vent, I heard voices from upstairs. “Chloe, I really put you through a lot today.” It was Leo’s voice. “Only now do I understand how stupid I was… to willingly sacrifice my own happiness for an idiot.” “Leo, it’s not too late. You still have a long life ahead of you.” Chloe responded softly. After a moment of silence, Leo spoke again: “Chloe, I’ve made up my mind… I promise you, we’ll get married next month.” “It’s time… for me to truly live for myself.” A moment later, I heard the sound of two people embracing and crying from upstairs. I lay on the ground, tears silently streaming down my face. So, if I disappeared, Leo could find happiness. This heartbreaking truth, strangely, brought me a glimmer of relief. The pain in my body didn’t seem so unbearable anymore. In a hazy stupor, I gradually lost consciousness.

Days later, Chloe had me sent to a pigsty on an outlying farm. She locked my ankle with an iron chain, just long enough for me to move between the feeding trough and the straw pile. The air was thick with the foul stench of feed and manure. “This place really suits you. You’re no different from an animal anyway.” Witnessing all this, Leo simply stood by in silence. I guessed he had given his unspoken consent. From then on, I lived with the pigs every day. And Leo, after he left, never came to see me again. Until one morning, I woke from a daze. I heard footsteps approaching from a distance. Looking up, I saw the one person I longed for—Leo. He was dressed in a sharp suit, walking cautiously closer. He knelt down, looking at me through the fence: “Scarlett, I’m marrying Chloe today.” I gazed at him blankly. He looked so handsome, more handsome than I’d ever remembered him. “I’m sorry, you’ve suffered these past few days. After the wedding, I’ll come and get you.” His voice was very soft. I nodded in bewilderment, reaching out to touch the hem of his suit, but then I saw my own dirty hands and pulled back. He stood up, gave me one last look: “Wait for me to come back.” With that, Leo turned and got into his car. Watching the car drive away, I didn’t call out to stop him. I just repeated over and over: “Leo, I’ll wait for you.” Around noon, the pigsty door was suddenly pushed open. I thought it was Leo, but instead, I saw a stranger. “Idiot, Miss Chloe specifically told me to send you off.” He said coldly, then began splashing liquid around. The pungent smell made me cough. I instantly realized he was pouring gasoline. “Blame yourself for being in the way. As long as you’re alive, Miss Chloe won’t have a single day of peace.” “Go on and die quietly. People like you are better off dead.” The next second, as flames erupted from the corner. The pigs, startled, scattered and fled. The fire spread rapidly, and a scorching pain radiated from my skin. The thick smoke made me cough relentlessly. Even if I wanted to escape, bound as I was, I had no way. I’m really going to die this time, aren’t I? But, maybe that’s not so bad. The wooden beams of the pigsty began to collapse. I looked at the small patch of sky outside the fence. I thought of Leo in his suit again. “Leo, you have to be happy…” This time, I won’t be a burden to you anymore. In a daze. I seemed to hear the screech of tires in the distance, and Leo’s heart-wrenching cry: “Scarlett—!” Before I completely lost consciousness, I only heard someone quietly regret: “Mr. Leo, she has no heartbeat.”

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In my past life, I welcomed Ruby into our home as our adopted daughter. She, in turn, utterly destroyed my family. Mark and I poured every last penny into treating her illnesses. Not only was she ungrateful, but she also killed our biological son. After she yet again demanded money with no success, she revealed the truth about our son’s tragic death, then pushed me down the stairs with a smile on her face. After I died, she had Mark institutionalized, and tricked my parents into shouldering massive debts. Reborn into this life, I immediately tossed her back to where she belonged. If she couldn’t appreciate a good life, then she could roll back to her hell! I opened my eyes, shocked to find myself reborn on the very day we found Ruby. At that moment, my husband, Mark, looked up at me, stars shining in his eyes. “Honey, since you want to adopt her, let’s give her a name.” “What should we call her?” “How about Ruby? ‘Ru’ for joy, symbolizing eternal happiness, and ‘by’ for precious jade, representing beauty and value.” “Let’s make her our forever happy little girl.” Mark’s face was alight with dreams for the future. At this moment, he didn’t have the prematurely white hair of my past life, nor was he the raving madman locked away in a mental institution. He was in the prime of his life, untouched by half a lifetime of suffering. Seeing my silence, he lowered his head and gently cooed at the baby in his arms. My eyes welled up slightly. In my past life, we had just gotten married when we found Ruby. Even without a biological child of our own, we chose to adopt her. She had a congenital cleft lip that needed surgery, and after being abandoned in the snow for too long, she was suffering from a persistent, dangerously high fever. To pay for her treatment, we drained all our savings. We even took on considerable debt, enduring the bewildered stares of our relatives. After she was discharged from the hospital, she didn’t just need normal things like formula and diapers; she also required various medications for her ongoing treatment. On top of that, she was a high-needs baby, crying incessantly at the slightest disturbance, unable to be left alone for a moment. Mark’s parents had strong reservations about Ruby, feeling she was a huge burden, and they completely disregarded their adopted granddaughter. In desperation, I had to quit my job and dedicate myself entirely to her care. A constantly wailing infant, and me, unable to work because I was tied down with childcare. The entire weight of our family rested squarely on Mark’s shoulders. Under immense pressure, we had to give up on having our own child. For this, Mark endured endless lectures and harsh words from his parents. To protect Ruby and me, he even spread a rumor that he was infertile. We were subjected to endless whispers and gossip, yet our love for Ruby never wavered. But how did she repay us?

Later, when she was old enough to go to school, I was able to go back to work, improving our family’s quality of life. Things were getting better and better, so Mark and I discussed having a second child. When she found out, she secretly started putting birth control pills into our tea. Later, she even showed up at our workplaces, screaming and causing a huge scene, trying to force us to give up on having a second child. But we were dead set on having a child of our own. She didn’t succeed that time. She cried, saying she was sorry and would never throw a tantrum again. The child we had raised by hand was crying so heartbrokenly, that in the end, Mark and I believed her. Not long after, our son, Leo, was born. She seemed thrilled, actively feeding him formula, changing his diapers, and even washing his clothes. She said, “Mom, you worked so hard for me, doing so much. Now it’s my turn to help you.” We were so touched that she had grown up and become so sensible. But we never imagined that a few months later, she would smother our baby boy in his crib. After Leo was gone, Mark and I aged decades overnight. Unaware of the truth, even after suffering the unbearable pain of losing a child, we continued to dote on her. Until she reached adulthood, and her demands became even more outrageous. When we couldn’t afford her lifestyle, she got involved with predatory high-interest loans, from some really shady lenders. When her creditors came knocking, her first thought wasn’t repentance, but our “inheritance.” She said, “Mom, Dad, I know I messed up. This is the last time. If you don’t forgive me, I’ll just have to die.” Our hearts softened again, and we opened the door, ready to welcome our beloved daughter. But it wasn’t our beloved daughter who walked through that door. It was a hungry wolf. She behaved for a few days, then tricked Mark into leaving, and then told me the truth about our son’s tragic death. She gesticulated wildly, excitedly telling me how her little brother had struggled, how he had stopped breathing. “I stood right there next to him, watching his face turn red, until his tiny hands fell limp, and he slowly ran out of air.” “If I could do it again, I’d make him die an even worse death.” I lunged at her, wanting to fight her to the death, but she shoved me down the stairs, and I died a brutal death. After I died, Mark fell into even deeper despair. Losing a son in middle age, then a wife in his later years. He developed suicidal depression, and Ruby used this as an excuse to have him sent to a mental institution. Not content with that, she also tricked my parents into shouldering massive debts. And yet, this heartless monster, she lived a life of ease and freedom.

I suppressed the hatred in my heart and blurted out, “‘Baby?’ I scoffed, ‘More like bad news.’” “Honey, I don’t want to adopt her anymore.” Mark looked stunned. “But you just said you wanted to adopt her. What made you change your mind so suddenly?” I snatched the child from his arms, staring at the incessantly wailing Ruby. “I just remembered something I once heard.” “Some children are just born to bring bad karma, to make your life hell.” “And these bad kids, they get their evil from their parents, you know.” “Mark, think about it. If we had a child, would we ever abandon them? Even if they weren’t smart, or healthy, or beautiful, or even if they had a serious illness?” Mark immediately replied, “Of course not. Even if it meant selling everything we owned, draining our life savings, and piling up debt, I would never give up on them.” “See? That’s what normal people think.” I took a deep breath. “The parents of this child, they’re not normal people.” “There’s no telling if this child might have inherited their twisted genes.” Reincarnation was too unbelievable, and society wasn’t ready for talk of it back then. And my sudden change in demeanor, from doting to disgusted, would have been enough to convince anyone I’d lost my mind. “Alright, you’re right. Then we won’t adopt her.” Mark nodded, understanding. Ruby, in my arms, seemed to understand our conversation and cried even harder. Tears streamed down the tiny person’s face, her wails tearing through the air. Her little hands flailed desperately, trying to grasp my clothes, as if by doing so, we wouldn’t abandon her. Mark saw this and his face softened with pity. “So, what do we do now?”

I seriously considered Mark’s question. If we left Ruby here now, and someone else took her, then another kind soul would suffer. But that possibility was low. After all, no one wants an extra child they know nothing about; who knows if she has any diseases? Besides, Ruby’s face was disfigured by her cleft lip, and she had a persistent fever. No one would willingly bring such trouble home. But letting her freeze to death in this snow? That would be too easy for her. I couldn’t let go of the grievances from my past life, yet my tormentor was just an innocent infant. Even if I got my revenge, she wouldn’t even know it. After careful consideration, I thought of a good place for her. “Honey, let’s take her to the orphanage.” A flicker of hatred flashed in my eyes. Ruby once told me, playing on my sympathies, that if Mark and I hadn’t taken her in, she’d have been stuck in the hell of the orphanage. She claimed to be incredibly grateful that Mark and I had saved her from that hell. This time, I didn’t need her “gratitude.” I just wanted to send her back to where she belonged. Ruby was still crying, gasping for breath. Mark, seeing her pitiful state, wavered slightly. “Honey, she’s crying so pitifully. Maybe we could…” I naturally wouldn’t let him change his mind. I cut him off directly. “Honey, there are too many unfortunate people in the world. We’re just ordinary people; we can’t save them all.” “Taking her to the orphanage out of goodwill is also a kind act.” Mark could only nod in agreement.

Soon, Mark and I rode our bike to the orphanage gate. As soon as Mark stopped, I carried Ruby over to a flowerbed by the entrance. Ruby, who had cried herself tired, immediately started to wail again, her cries tearing through the air. I curled my lips into a cold smile and gently placed her on the edge of the flowerbed. As I stood up, I looked down at her. Her crying stopped for a moment, and I saw a torrent of hatred pour from her eyes. A chill ran down my spine. A terrifying thought pierced my mind: Could she have been reborn too? This thought made the hatred in my heart surge, instantly engulfing me in its tide. I couldn’t stop myself from raising my hand, aiming for her neck. Just then, Mark called out from behind me, “Honey, it’s cold. Let’s head home soon. Mom and Dad are waiting.” I snapped back to reality. Heaven had given me a second chance, not to lead me down the path of despair again. I had a wonderful life ahead of me. Even if I wanted revenge, I shouldn’t throw my entire life away for it. “Okay,” I said. We went home.

That very night, I pinned Mark to the bed. He paused for a moment, then a blush crept onto his face. “Honey, you’re a little different tonight, aren’t you?” My passionate kisses were his only answer. In this life, I wanted to have our child sooner. I wanted to give him everything we had. If there was any regret, it was that I had failed them both in my past life – him and our son. Now, all I wanted was to make it up to them.

I wasn’t sure if Ruby had been reborn. But I knew for sure that if she had, with her deranged and malicious personality, she would eventually come back for revenge. Deep down, I almost *looked forward* to her return. But to my disappointment, the next six years were uneventful. In those six years, I accomplished a lot. I quit my old job and, leveraging my foreknowledge, opened my own restaurant. I also borrowed a lot of money and invested in old properties, just waiting for them to skyrocket in value. And throughout those six years, I had kept tabs on Ruby. She was no different from the other children at the orphanage. They ate together, played together. If anything was different, it was that the other children often picked on her. They would snatch her food when adults weren’t looking, make her do extra chores. They would even drag her into deserted corners and beat her up. She often came back with bruises and scars, seeking help, but no one bothered to intervene. She became the lowest of the low in the entire orphanage. When I heard the news, I gave a bag of candy to Tommy, the neighbor’s kid. He happily ran off. His grandmother lived near the orphanage, and he often went there to play. Once, he saw me near the orphanage, and noticing my look of disgust towards Ruby, he bravely approached me and asked, “Auntie, don’t you like that little girl?” I nodded. “No, I don’t.” He was often fed candy by me. Hearing my words, he immediately rushed into the orphanage and gave Ruby a hard slap. Tommy was a wily kid; he’d deliver a quick slap and then vanish in a flash. When he returned to me, I promptly handed him a handful of candy. His eyes lit up, and with that, a new world opened for him. We reached an unspoken agreement. He was responsible for bullying, and I was responsible for the candy. Tommy, eager for more sweets, even roped in other kids at the orphanage who hadn’t tasted candy before. I was more than happy to see this play out.

In the seventh year after I abandoned Ruby, she disappeared from the orphanage. No one knew where she had gone. The orphanage staff searched frantically and reported her missing to the police, but she was nowhere to be found. I secretly helped look for her a few times too. If she could simply escape hell like that, it would be too easy for her. Unfortunately, despite our extensive search, we couldn’t find her. I pondered over it for a long time, but found no clues. That unsettling thought rose again. Could this stupid, malicious person have *really* been reborn? I couldn’t help but feel annoyed. “Mom, what’s wrong?” My six-year-old son, Leo, asked in his sweet voice. “Did Leo make you angry?” My son was just like his dad—gentle and considerate by nature. My heart softened, and all the sharp edges within me receded. “No, Leo is wonderful.” I stroked his head, and much of my lingering obsession faded. If I couldn’t find her, then I would let her go for now.

A year after Ruby disappeared, I had given up on finding her. But just then, she came looking for me. That day, I was busy at the restaurant. I had just brought a dish out from the kitchen when I saw a little beggar child rush in from outside. I quickly put down the plate, ready to go forward and ask if she needed help. Before I could reach her, she ran up to me and hugged my leg. She sat on the floor, crying loudly, “Mommy, I’m your daughter!” She cried as she looked up, revealing a pathetic little face. In an instant, the entire place erupted. In those days, abandoning a child, or having an affair and a child out of wedlock, was something people would scoff at. The restaurant immediately buzzed with gossip. The neighbors were already green with envy over our success. Now, with an excuse to attack us, they all chimed in with accusations. “Is that child really yours from outside your marriage?” “Mrs. Johnson, that’s a terrible thing to say. Couldn’t they both have had her?” “Then they must be heartless to abandon their own daughter just to have a son.” “…” People always sympathize with the weak, especially such a small child. Ruby instantly became the object of everyone’s pity. With just one appearance, and one sentence, she successfully stirred up everyone’s anger towards me. She skillfully cast herself as the victim, turning everyone to her side. At that moment, I knew for sure: Ruby had been reborn too.

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Three years into our marriage, my husband, David, now a major success, decided it was time to finally buy our wedding rings. But before the custom rings were even ready, I got a call from the jewelry store. “Mrs. Hayes, if the ring isn’t comfortable, you can bring it back anytime for adjustment.” I was completely baffled. I hadn’t even picked up the rings yet, how would I know if they were comfortable? I immediately called David to ask, but he stammered and mumbled. “How would *I* know? The jewelry store staff must have made a mistake, called the wrong number!” “Don’t worry, I’ve paid the deposit. If they can’t deliver, I’ll go settle the score with them myself!” My blood ran cold. I instantly knew something far more complicated was going on. David Hayes, so you get a little money and immediately jump into an affair? I’ll make sure you both pay for this, big time! 1 After hanging up, my heart ached with sharp, agonizing pain. I remembered three years ago, David was just a broke guy from a small town, new to the city. He’d been swindled out of all his money and was shivering, huddled on my doorstep in the dead of winter. He may have been down on his luck, but he was handsome. My heart softened, and I took him in. He didn’t have connections or a fancy degree, but he was incredibly charming and knew how to make people feel good. He charmed my entire family, and my dad, completely won over by his charisma and ambition, practically pushed me to marry him! To support David’s entrepreneurial dreams, my dad even sold our only family property for a million dollars to fund his investment. David didn’t disappoint. In just three years, he grew his company to a market value of a billion dollars, becoming a genuine business magnate. When we got married, he was just starting out, and times were tough. We only registered our marriage. Forget a wedding ceremony; we didn’t even buy wedding rings. Finally, with money in hand, he held my hand, full of gratitude, promising me the most magnificent wedding. And a pair of the most expensive custom rings. But now, just as I was eagerly anticipating our personally designed rings, they had been picked up by someone else. I didn’t even know who that woman was, yet she had impersonated me. My gut screamed that something serious had happened. I was going to find out exactly who this *bitch* was! Wiping away the cold tears on my face, I took a deep breath and drove straight to the jewelry store. I stormed up to the service counter, forcing down my anger, and demanded to know. “I’m Mrs. Hayes, who ordered custom wedding rings here a month ago. Who picked up my rings early today?” The sales associate looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. “Ma’am, you must be mistaken. Mrs. Hayes picked up the rings an hour ago!” “And the rings were finished a month early, we notified Mrs. Hayes to pick them up a day in advance. Who are you?” Just as I suspected, it wasn’t a mistake. Someone had deliberately impersonated me. “I am Mrs. Hayes! You let someone impersonate me and walk off with the rings without verifying their identity? What are you going to give me now?!” Seeing my tone turn harsh, the sales associate’s face showed some displeasure. “We have the customer’s registered phone number. She even came in with Mr. Hayes three days ago to ask if the couple’s rings could be rushed. How is that impersonation? And you, you keep saying you’re Mrs. Hayes, but we’ve never seen you before!” The sales associate’s words left me even more bewildered. 2 I suddenly remembered that when David said he wanted to get us custom rings, we were both away on a business trip. He’d tasked his secretary, Jessica Feng, with handling it. David had even sent our design requirements to his secretary in advance. So, the sales associate was right; I hadn’t shown up at all. But I had no idea that the imposter, the one pretending to be me, had actually come to the jewelry store with David, using my name? Now I was even more certain David was lying. He knew *exactly* who picked up those rings! I was furious, about to call David right there and then to demand an explanation. Just then, the click-clack of high heels echoed from behind me. I instinctively turned around and saw a woman in her twenties, draped in jewels. What really made my blood boil was the limited-edition handbag David had promised to buy me last month – the one he’d said was impossible to get – was slung over *this woman’s* shoulder! And I knew this person. It was Jessica Feng, David’s secretary! I was about to rush over and demand what she was doing here, but Jessica’s expression froze, and she spoke first. “Sarah? What are you doing here?” Before I could even open my mouth, the jewelry store sales associate scurried out from behind the counter. Beaming, she greeted Jessica. “Mrs. Hayes, you’re here! Are the rings the wrong size? We can adjust them for you right away!” The sales associate’s words made Jessica’s face change. She immediately walked over, grabbed my arm, and started pulling me out, lowering her voice. “Sarah, if you want to buy jewelry, I can introduce you to another store. This place’s styles aren’t great…” I instantly understood what Jessica was trying to do. She was afraid I’d expose her for impersonating me right there! I immediately stopped, my face cold, my eyes filled with sarcasm as I glared at her. “So eager to drag me away? I was just about to ask you: impersonating me and taking my husband’s and my wedding rings – what exactly do you think you’re doing?” My words were laced with fury, my voice loud and sharp. It instantly drew everyone’s attention. Several sales associates and dozens of customers browsing in the store all looked my way. Jessica’s face first contorted in extreme embarrassment, but then, in a blink, she launched into her performance. She pouted her lips, turning on the waterworks, and whimpered pitifully at the onlookers. “Sarah, how could you… I picked up *my* wedding rings, the ones *my* husband ordered for *me*. Why are you accusing me of stealing yours…?” Jessica’s sob story, combined with my aggressive stance, instantly had everyone wrapped around her finger. They started scolding me. “Where did this psycho come from? So aggressive! She’s taking her own ring, and this woman claims it’s hers?” “Yeah, I’ve been here the whole time, I heard it all. She ordered the rings with her husband, and this woman is trying to steal them?” “I think this crazy old lady must be having a meltdown. Is she even mistaking other people’s husbands?” Even the sales associates looked at me with smug pleasure, as if *I* were the crazy person trying to steal someone’s wedding ring. I couldn’t be bothered to waste words on these clueless bystanders and spoke directly to the sales associate. “It’s simple. Let’s both call our husbands right now, and we’ll know who’s telling the truth.” 3 I expected Jessica, the imposter, to get cold feet, but instead, she gritted her teeth and lifted her chin defiantly. “Fine, let’s call! The truth is the truth! Let my husband prove it himself!” She immediately pulled out her phone and dialed, putting the call on speaker. As soon as the call connected, she deliberately started crying into the phone, her voice full of grievance. “W-w-woobie, come quick to Happy Jewelers and save me! I just picked up the ring, and it feels a little loose, so I came to get it adjusted, but this crazy woman jumped out and said I impersonated her to take her wedding rings, and she won’t let me leave…” I clearly heard David’s furious voice explode from the phone. “Which psycho dares to accuse you of taking her ring? I’ll make her pay for this!” “Boo hoo hoo, I can’t even talk right now. Just come see for yourself!” With that, Jessica decisively hung up, her eyes full of provocation as she looked at me. “My husband is on his way. Let’s see who he acknowledges as his wife in front of everyone!” I was so angry my teeth ached. I couldn’t understand what gave Jessica the nerve to be so brazen. She knew David was married, she knew *I* was his wife and a company shareholder – we’d met plenty of times! While Jessica and I waited for David, the sales associate from the service counter approached. She rolled her eyes at me and spoke coldly. “Ma’am… you, who *claims* to be Mrs. Hayes, if you’ll permit me to say, you should leave now before Mr. Hayes arrives. Save yourself the embarrassment of being exposed. They could even sue you for fraud!” Several other sales associates chimed in, scoffing. “Yeah, ma’am, take a good look in the mirror. You’re old, fat, tacky, and ugly. You must be almost fifty, right? And you have the nerve to impersonate Mrs. Hayes? Do you even deserve it?” “Exactly! The real Mrs. Hayes is young and beautiful. Look at her outfit, all designer brands. That limited-edition handbag alone is worth over a million. Can *your* cheap clothes even fetch a hundred bucks?” “Who gave this old woman the courage to impersonate Mrs. Hayes and put on such an act? How embarrassing when she gets exposed!” I’d always known that some luxury store salespeople were snobby and judged people by their wallets. It seemed jewelry stores were no different. It was true, my family had poured everything we had into helping David start his company. But his specialty was quality control. All the market expansion and sales channels? I was the one running them. I was constantly out and about, entertaining clients, so I dressed for comfort, not style. I probably looked older than my thirty years. But it was precisely because I tirelessly built his sales channels and secured deals that we got order after order. And the comfortable life we now enjoyed. I was so focused on building the business that I neglected my appearance. Of course, I wasn’t as young and radiant as Jessica. But no one knew that once, I was a renowned beauty, the most popular girl in school. Lost in thought, a tall, imposing figure pushed through the crowd and strode quickly into the store. “Jessica! Where’s that crazy woman who was bothering you? I’ll teach her a lesson!” David didn’t even notice me. He rushed over and pulled Jessica into his arms, comforting her with doting eyes. My chest tightened in agony. I stared at the scene, unable to believe it, and spoke to David through gritted teeth. “So, David Hayes, tell me yourself, between me and this woman, who is your wife?” 4 If I still didn’t believe David and Jessica were having an affair, I would truly be the biggest fool on earth. I wanted to see how he would try to defend himself now that I had personally caught him red-handed with Jessica. I expected David to be shocked and ashamed when he saw me. Instead, his reaction completely shattered my bottom line. David froze for a second, then suddenly glared at me, his brows furrowed in rage. “Sarah Song, are you out of your mind? You’re just my cleaner, what are you doing impersonating Mrs. Hayes? Do I really need to come all the way here to prove that my wife is Jessica Feng?” “I know you’re ugly and old, and your small-town husband doesn’t want you anymore, but you can’t fantasize about being my wife and then bully my *actual* wife! You’re absolutely despicable!” David’s words stunned me into silence. “David Hayes, you… you say that again. I’m your cleaner? She’s Mrs. Hayes?” “I’ll say it a million times! What, are you so desperate to be Mrs. Hayes that you’ve gone crazy? Believe it or not, I’ll fire you right now! Now get home and scrub my toilets!” David’s aggressive stance intimidated everyone present, and people started pointing and cursing at me. “No way! Even cleaners are dreaming big now? Another one of those ‘CEO falls for the maid’ stories, I guess!” “Hahahaha, this is hilarious! Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are so unlucky to run into such a deranged cleaner!” “Hey, cleaning lady, stop making a fool of yourself. Go home and scrub those toilets, or you’ll really be jobless!” The store staff and customers suddenly erupted in a collective roar of laughter. It was as if I really was a cleaner fantasizing about a CEO, and my face instantly burned crimson. Jessica, so openly defended by David, walked right up to me, sneering. “I told you, Auntie Sarah, my husband himself has come to prove it. Are you going to stay here and make a bigger fool of yourself? Get lost!” Seeing me stand still, Jessica raised her leg and kicked me. I instinctively defended myself, raising my hand to push her away. But my hand didn’t even touch Jessica, when she let out an exaggerated shriek and fell to the ground. “David… my stomach hurts so bad, our baby…” The next second, David rushed over and scooped Jessica into his arms, then slapped me hard across the face. “Sarah Song! You’re a twisted, sick woman! Jessica just found out she’s pregnant with my child, and you push her? You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!” I stopped arguing, pulled out my phone, and dialed 91 “Hello, I’d like to report a crime. Someone here is impersonating me and has fraudulently taken wedding rings valued at ten million dollars. Also, my husband is having an affair and is suspected of transferring company assets to his mistress…” In the stunned silence of everyone present, I calmly hung up. David was completely bewildered, staring at me with rapid breaths. “Sarah Song, are you serious?” I silently took out our marriage certificate from my bag and displayed it for everyone to see. “In your mouth, everything is a lie, but my marriage certificate with you, that’s real.” My single sentence made all the onlookers’ eyes widen in shock.

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During my senior year, I was staying with my aunt’s family when my cousin Blake put me on blast online. All because I accidentally picked up a piece of meat from our dinner. He cried hysterically, claiming that not only was I freeloading at his house, but I also cherry-picked all the meat from the dishes, leaving him malnourished! The internet did the rest. I was trending within hours. Everyone called me a leech, a parasite, a shameless mooch. The comments screamed: Get out of their house! So, I decided to humor them. That very day, I packed my bags and moved out. But then my aunt and her family came begging me to return. After all, without me there, they’d no longer receive the $15,000 monthly allowance my mother sent for my living expenses! I never imagined that with a monthly allowance of fifteen thousand dollars, I’d get cyberbullied over a single piece of meat. Watching Blake’s tearful video on the trending topics list, my body trembled with fury. “His parents are always away working out of town, so I felt bad for him and agreed when Mom suggested he come live with us.” “But why does he have to treat me so badly?” “It’s bad enough he’s living here for free, but he always takes the best food!” “I was so tired from studying today, and Mom specially made my favorite stir-fry. But he ate all the meat from the entire dish! I didn’t even get one piece!” “It’s not that I care about a plate of meat, it’s just… I feel so wronged. I’ve been so good to him, why can’t he show some empathy? I always share everything with him, but he just hogs all the good stuff and now I’m practically malnourished!” “Why am I so unlucky to have such a cousin…” In the video, Blake’s eyes were bloodshot and brimming with tears, as if I had truly tormented him. My parents both worked for a highly classified agency, which meant they rarely had time for me. As I entered my senior year, my aunt, Sarah, specifically sought us out, saying her house was right across from the school, and suggested I move in. It would be perfect for me and Blake to focus on our college applications and final exams together. Mom thought it would be better for me to stay with relatives and have someone look after me, rather than living alone at school, so she agreed. To ensure I was comfortable, Mom sent Aunt Sarah fifteen thousand dollars every month for my room, board, and daily expenses. But on my very first day at Aunt Sarah’s house, Blake shoved a “House Rules” list at me. 1. Do not touch any personal belongings without permission. 2. Lights out by 10 PM. 3. Showers no longer than five minutes. 4. Air conditioning usage limited to two hours per day. 5. Avoid bothering anyone; if someone is in a bad mood, you must stay out of sight. … After all, I was living under their roof, so I always made sure to prioritize their family’s comfort and needs. For the past six months, I had strictly followed every rule. I even proactively did chores every day and diligently tutored Blake, who was failing his classes. At the dinner table, I rarely ever reached for the meat dishes, always feeling like they were reserved for the hosts. Until this one time. I was eating dinner and reviewing English vocabulary, distracted, and accidentally picked up a piece of meat. Blake immediately slammed his fork down. At the time, I thought he was just in a bad mood and didn’t think much of it. Not until I saw that trending video. In the video, Blake tearfully accused me, painting me as a lazy, selfish “vampire freeloading relative” who constantly bullied their family. The comment section exploded. Tens of thousands of comments were cursing me out. “Kids these days are so disrespectful! How can he be so arrogant when he’s living under someone else’s roof?” “Freeloaders are worse than beggars. Their skin is thicker than a fortress wall! And they feel entitled to suck others dry, as if people owe them something.” “Why keep such an oblivious leech around? Kick him out already!” Blake replied. “I wish I could be tough, but he’s my cousin, after all. I can’t really kick him out, can I? I guess I’ll just have to tolerate it!” My hands trembled with a simmering rage. Fifteen thousand dollars a month for living expenses! That was enough for me to stay in a five-star hotel every day and eat gourmet meals for every single sitting! I wasn’t going to stick around to be hated. I immediately packed my bags and moved out of their house. After calling my teacher and arranging to stay at the school dorms, I sent a message to my mom. “Mom, I’ve moved out of Aunt Sarah’s and into the school dorms. You can just transfer my allowance directly to my bank account from now on.”

The moment she received my message, my mom called right away. “Alex, why did you suddenly move out of Aunt Sarah’s house? Is something wrong?” Hearing the tension in her voice, my nose stung, and I felt incredibly wronged. My aunt, Sarah, was my mom’s only sister. Mom had always been incredibly generous to her. When Aunt Sarah mentioned Uncle Michael had lost his job, Mom immediately pulled some strings and arranged a well-paid, low-stress position for him. Knowing Aunt Sarah struggled commuting on her scooter, Mom, without a second thought, bought her a brand-new Mercedes-Benz. Even the house Aunt Sarah’s family lived in now was paid for by my mom. I didn’t want to worry my mom, nor did I want to ruin the relationship between the sisters, so I just vaguely said that living at school would give me more time to study. After hanging up, I returned to school. The moment I reached the dorm room the teacher had assigned me, I heard my roommate, Jake, speak up with a snide, mocking tone. “Well, well, well, isn’t it the freeloading vampire who always pigs out on meat? Did someone finally kick you out?” Jake was Blake’s little minion. He’d always subtly targeted me before, but I hadn’t thought much of it. Now, it seemed it was all connected to Blake. Jake’s shrill voice instantly drew students from other dorm rooms. In a flash, everyone started pointing fingers and whispering about me. “No wonder he didn’t live at school, he was mooching off his aunt’s family!” “How disgusting, the freeloading vampire on the trending list is in our class. How embarrassing!” “Some people are just poor and pretentious. If you’re living under someone else’s roof, why can’t you just act like a grateful guest? Why fight with your hosts over food?” Amidst the chorus of mockery, Blake rushed over from his aunt’s house, looking displeased. “Cousin, why are you so sensitive? People just said a few truthful things online, is that really enough to make you throw a fit and run away?” “You’ve been mooching off us for so long, and now you pull this stunt. Are you deliberately trying to make everyone think our family bullied you?” I looked at his condescending face and suddenly found it all a bit laughable. “You think I’m taking advantage of you by staying at your house?” Blake snorted, raising an eyebrow. “Isn’t it obvious?” “Do you know how expensive things are these days?” “Do you know how much money your free room and board for the past few months has cost my family?” As he finished, Jake immediately chimed in. “That’s just shameless! Everyone in our class knows how well-off Blake’s family is. He kindly took you in, and not only are you ungrateful, but you’re also audacious enough to act like you’re royalty?” “I think you’re just taking advantage of Blake’s good nature, riding roughshod over him and bullying him!” It was truly absurd. Before I moved into Aunt Sarah’s house, Blake was just an unremarkable background character at school. His monthly allowance of barely a hundred bucks meant he couldn’t even afford to join class outings. But ever since his family started getting my mom’s fifteen thousand dollars a month, the boy who once couldn’t afford a decent shirt now flaunted designer clothes and flashy jewelry every day. With money in his pocket, he immediately became active in class, frequently treating his classmates to lavish spending sprees with his massive allowance. Seeing him spend money without batting an eye, everyone naturally assumed Blake was a generous scion of a wealthy family. And I, always low-key, slowly became the “cheapskate,” “freeloading relative” everyone gossiped about. I looked at Blake, and firmly reminded him. “I advise you to go home and ask your mom, clearly, whether or not I’m truly living there for free!”

Blake didn’t hesitate. “Don’t you dare try to use my mom to pressure me!” “Your parents are always working out of town, so poor they can’t even come home for years at a time. Do you honestly think they could afford to send you an allowance?” “I thought you’d be grateful like a dog for freeloading at my house, but I never expected you to be so ungrateful!” My parents’ work was highly specialized, and hardly anyone knew what they did. But that didn’t mean my family was poor! In fact, ever since I could remember, Aunt Sarah’s family had been benefiting from my family’s generosity. What right did he have to think I was taking advantage of his family? Blake’s words made everyone dislike me even more. “Some people are just poor and dramatic! They can’t even manage to be a good leech!” “Exactly! They kindly provide him food and shelter, but he freeloads, picks out the best food, and even makes Blake so malnourished, it’s disgusting!” “I hate poor relatives like him the most. No ability but thick-skinned, like a disgusting bloodsucking tick you can’t shake off!” “Blake, you’re just too kind. You should keep your distance from shameless vampires like Alex, don’t let him tarnish your reputation as a rich heir!” Their words, one after another, praised Blake to the skies while demeaning me completely. Blake’s lips curved into an undeniable smirk as he basked in the compliments. “If only certain shameless poor people were half as sensible as you all!” Then, he looked at me, and condescendingly offered. “Alright, alright, I’ll forgive you this time, seeing as you’re poor and have never had anything good to eat!” “Now, stop making a scene with your luggage and come home with me!” I chuckled lightly, my voice cold. “No thanks. From now on, I’m staying at school!” With that, I ignored Blake, calmly made my bed, and settled into the dorm room. I thought my refusal would bring me some peace. But the next day after school, Aunt Sarah suddenly showed up. She waited downstairs by the academic building, walked straight towards me through the bustling crowd, and spoke with a worried expression. “Alex, I saw the video online. Blake was being foolish, and I’ve already talked to him.” “It’s your senior year, a crucial time. Who will take care of you if you live at school?” “Come on, come home with me. Don’t let this affect your studies and health.” Looking at the genuine concern in Aunt Sarah’s eyes, for a moment, I couldn’t tell if she was truly worried about me or just about that fifteen thousand dollar allowance. If she genuinely cared, why had she never told Blake that my mom paid fifteen thousand dollars a month, allowing Blake to humiliate me endlessly? I looked at Aunt Sarah, my voice calm. “No need, Aunt Sarah. I’m doing just fine at school.” My refusal instantly annoyed Blake. “Alex, don’t be so ungrateful! My mom came personally to ask you back, what more do you want?” “Do you expect our whole family to get on our knees and beg you to stay at our house?” His voice was sharp and loud. It immediately drew everyone’s attention. In an instant, everyone started shouting at me. “Alex, you’re so ungrateful! Your aunt is being the bigger person, personally inviting you back, and you’re still putting on airs?” “Exactly! You were the one who was rude first, and now that they’re overlooking your mistakes, why are you still playing the victim?” “The poorer you are, the more you cling to your pride! Do you really think you’re some rich heir?” Knowing the situation was gaining traction, Jake even pulled out his phone and started a live stream, pointing it at me. “Everyone, look! The freeloading cousin who’s been all over the trending topics these past two days is causing trouble again!” “His aunt is worried about him living alone at school affecting his health and studies, so she specially came to school to invite him home. But not only is he ungrateful for her kindness, he’s putting on a show and refusing to go back!” “He’s probably trying to act like a victim to gain sympathy and get people to beg him to live for free!” With Jake’s exaggerated commentary, the live stream’s chat was flooded with insults. “Poor people just love to play the victim while still trying to grab benefits, acting all high and mighty as if that hides their greedy, disgusting nature!” “Why even bother with such a freeloading relative? Let him die out in the streets!” “I hate these poor relatives the most. My dad went bankrupt because of his freeloading relatives. These bloodsucking relatives should just drop dead!” Facing the public’s curses, I solemnly explained. “I wasn’t living for free at my aunt’s house. My mom paid for my living expenses.” Hearing this, the students present scoffed. “How ridiculous! With your family’s situation, can they even afford living expenses?” “Exactly! Look how shabbily he’s dressed. His mom probably just collects garbage, and pays for his living expenses with a pile of junk every month!” “That meager amount wouldn’t even buy a pair of socks for Blake, the rich heir! How can you even say that with a straight face?” The surrounding students burst into laughter. The live stream chat was also plastered with messages calling me a clown. Blake scoffed, his voice dripping with condescension. “Still talking about living expenses? How much could your parents, who are too poor to even afford a train ticket home, possibly give you? A hundred? Two hundred?” I looked at him, enunciating each word. “Fifteen thousand.” “Fifteen thousand dollars a month for living expenses.”

The moment the words left my mouth, the place erupted in massive laughter. “Fifteen thousand dollars a month? Are you insane?” “Poor people are just pathetic, they’ll say any lie for the sake of appearances!” “LOL, he must be so poor he’s hallucinating. Fifteen thousand a month? Why not a hundred million?” The live stream chat scrolled wildly, everyone calling me a liar, saying I was delusionally rich. Blake, looking smug, sneered. “Alex, you really do love making a fool of yourself, don’t you? With your pathetic appearance, have you ever even seen fifteen thousand dollars?” Facing the endless laughter and mockery, I suppressed my anger, looked at Aunt Sarah, and spoke firmly. “Aunt Sarah, please clarify for everyone. Does my mom send you fifteen thousand dollars every month for my living expenses?” Seeing my serious question, the entire area instantly fell silent. Everyone turned to look at Aunt Sarah. Aunt Sarah looked at me with a complicated expression for a moment, then slowly said. “Alex, I know you want to save face and regain your dignity, but… but your family truly hasn’t given us any living expenses.” “I don’t want to embarrass you, but I can’t lie for you either!” I stared at Aunt Sarah in disbelief, as if struck by lightning. I had personally seen her receive my mom’s transfers! Why was she lying?! Hearing Aunt Sarah’s answer, the mockery grew even louder. “See! I told you he was lying!” “How disgusting, taking advantage of his aunt’s kindness, then trying to force her to lie for him?” “No wonder he refused to go back with his aunt. He was waiting for this moment! If his aunt had actually, for his sake, admitted to receiving the fifteen grand, he’d probably extort her relentlessly later!” “He’s utterly shameless! Not only does he freeload off others, but he also tries to exploit their kindness for his own gain!” Laughter and insults surged like a tidal wave. The live stream chat was even more ruthless, full of curses and condemnations. Blake glared at me with pure disgust, his voice full of hatred. “Alex, aren’t you ashamed? You’ve been freeloading at our house for so long, and now you want to extort money from us?” Then, he turned to Aunt Sarah. “Mom, let’s settle this with him today, so he can’t spread rumors later that we mistreated him!” Aunt Sarah’s face flashed with panic. She tried to stop him. “Blake, just let it go…” “No, we can’t!” Blake insisted. “Isn’t he so stubborn? Didn’t he brag about giving our family fifteen thousand dollars for living expenses? Today, I’m going to expose him!” He pulled out his phone and began calculating earnestly. “Listen, our house is across from a top high school, a prime school district! Renting out one room would be at least three hundred dollars a month!” “Your three meals a day, at least ten dollars a day, that’s three hundred dollars a month!” “Utilities – water, electricity, gas, property fees – split among us, that’s a hundred dollars a month for you!” “Plus Mom doing your laundry and cooking every day, let’s say a nanny fee of eight hundred dollars a month!” “300 + 300 + 100 + 800 = 1500 dollars a month. You stayed at our house for three months, so 1,500 dollars a month multiplied by three months is 4,500 dollars.” After calculating, Blake looked down at me, extended his hand, and said coldly. “Business is business, even among family. Hand over that 4,500 dollars right now!” “After that, you can live wherever you want. We won’t care if you die out there!” At this, everyone gloated. “That’s what you get for bragging! Now you’re speechless, huh?” “LOL, didn’t your family give you fifteen thousand a month for living expenses? What are you waiting for? Pay up!” “Exactly! Could it be your parents didn’t collect enough garbage today and can’t afford it?” The live stream chat was also flooded with insults, mocking me for bragging and telling me to pay up. Aunt Sarah stood to the side, her lips moving, but ultimately she remained silent. I looked at the mother and son, and the last shred of warmth in my heart was completely extinguished. Under everyone’s gaze, I calmly took out my phone, my voice icy. “Alright, since you want to settle accounts with me, let’s do it, item by item, and make it crystal clear.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299305”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf #玄幻Fantasy #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

I landed a huge deal at the end of the year, bringing in a five-million-dollar bonus. The company, in a gesture of goodwill, allowed me, eight months pregnant, to start my maternity leave early. My mother-in-law, Brenda, asked why I wasn’t going to work. Lying on the couch, I joked, “With the company cutting back, I was laid off.” “Guess I’ll just be a stay-at-home wife and mom from now on.” To my shock, Brenda immediately slapped my heavily pregnant belly. “Then why aren’t you off your butt doing laundry and cooking?!” “Just because you’re carrying a girl, you think you can freeload?!” Mark, my husband, happened to walk in, pulling Brenda into the nursery. Feeling completely wronged, I opened the hidden camera feed they didn’t know about, wanting to see whose side Mark would take. But what I uncovered were chilling secret after chilling secret. 0 Brenda, flung a raw, mud-caked potato at me, hitting my eight-month pregnant belly with a dull thud. A sharp, searing pain shot through me. “Ashley! I’ve been wanting to tell you for ages, but I’ve been holding my tongue!” “Parading around, all dressed up every day! Anyone who didn’t know you were going to work would think you were soliciting on the street! What kind of boss would keep such a loose woman?!” The sudden outburst stunned me. Three months ago, Mark said my pregnancy was progressing, and Brenda would come to take care of me. “I’m often on business trips. I’d feel better with Mom here.” Indeed, after Mark’s promotion, his business trips became exceptionally frequent. Considering it would be inconvenient to be alone, and that my previous short visits with Brenda had been smooth enough, I happily agreed. Brenda had, in fact, been meticulously caring for me during this time, preparing every meal herself. When I tried to help, she’d shoo me out of the kitchen. “You’re busy with work. Cooking is a small thing, don’t worry about it.” I thought I’d never have to face mother-in-law conflicts in this lifetime, but one joke turned Brenda into a completely different person. “Your elder is speaking to you! Don’t you know to stand up?!” “You orphan trash! No wonder you have no manners!” Her words stopped me cold, just as I was about to explain, piercing me to the core. My parents died in an accident when I was fifteen. The first time I visited Mark’s family, Brenda held my hand, her eyes full of pity. “My biggest regret in life is not having a daughter. From now on, you’re my own daughter!” At that time, I thought I finally had a family again. So over the years, even when Brenda and I had a clash of values, I tried my best to compromise and adapt. I couldn’t understand why a single sentence could make her completely transform like this?! I was still reeling when Brenda started nagging again, full of discontent. “Living in the city is expensive! Now it’ll all fall on my son!” Seeing me still dazed, Brenda slapped my lower back. “You still have the nerve to lie there?!” The slap was incredibly forceful, sending me sprawling off the couch, my knees hitting the floor with a heavy thud. My first instinct was to clutch my aching belly, desperate to explain. I’d just managed to call out “Brenda,” when Brenda had already settled onto the couch, placing her smelly feet right on my back! Her weight, about 170 pounds, pressed down deliberately, leaving me unable to move. “Brenda?! What are you doing?!” I was utterly shocked and bewildered. Brenda snorted. “Teaching you the rules of being a daughter-in-law in my family, of course!” “Mark used to say you made good money, so for my son, I tolerated you, you damn girl, for so long!” “Now you don’t make money anymore! You better cut the attitude from now on!” “Let me tell you! I’ve been furious since the first day I arrived! You threw out a whole pot of stewed chicken I brought!”

Knowing Brenda was coming, I’d spent two days cleaning the house from top to bottom. New bedding, fresh fruits, and vegetables piled high on the table. Brenda didn’t come empty-handed either, carrying a plastic bag filled with stewed chicken. “Free-range chicken! You can’t get this in the city!” “For Ashley to regain her strength!” At the time, Mark grumbled that his mom was making unnecessary trouble, but I smiled, accepted everything, and thanked her profusely. However, after the long train journey, the chicken was already spoiled and rotten. “The chicken was spoiled, didn’t Mark tell you?” But before I could finish, Brenda kicked me to the ground. “Still daring to talk back! You beggar, choosing your food! Just because you’re carrying a girl, you think you’re some kind of queen?!” I frowned, about to argue, when the front door suddenly opened. Mark, who was smiling and looking at his phone a second ago, froze in his tracks, frowning at the scene. “What’s going on?” Before I could speak, Brenda cut in. “Go ask your wonderful wife! She got herself fired!” “My poor son, such a tough life! He finally started making something of himself, and now he’s stuck with a freeloader!” “I, as his mother, said a few words, and she’s sticking her neck out, talking back!” “Ashley, let me tell you! This is the only time! If you dare to do this again, get out of this house!” Mark frowned, looking at me. “You got fired?” I was carrying his child, kicked to the ground by his mother, and he didn’t try to help me up. Instead, his first question was about being fired. Looking at my husband of three years, a chill ran through me, and I didn’t want to explain anything. “If you also think I’m a freeloader, then talk to your mom and figure out which of us should get out of my house.” When we got married, Mark’s family wasn’t well off. This house was my parents’ inheritance. An eight-month pregnant woman, not only bullied by her mother-in-law but also told to get out of her own home. Lying in bed, tears of injustice streamed down my face. Hearing Mark pull Brenda into the nursery, I suddenly remembered the hidden camera I’d installed two days ago. It was for keeping an eye on the baby later, and I hadn’t had a chance to tell Mark or Brenda. I thought I’d see how Mark would mediate the conflict between Brenda and me, but when I opened the feed, I heard an earth-shattering secret. It sent chills down my spine. “You said she might get a promotion and a raise by the end of the year! Now look, she got fired!” “She’s about to give birth, and she is too. You’re supporting two families on one salary, my heart aches for you, son!” Brenda’s face was full of annoyance, and she even dabbed at her eyes. She? Two families? Could Mark have another family behind my back?! Thinking of his frequent business trips recently, a sinking feeling of dread suddenly gripped me. In my late pregnancy, I had frequent bathroom trips at night. Several times, I’d caught Mark sitting on the toilet with a strange smile on his face. Sometimes he’d be so engrossed in his phone that he wouldn’t even notice me come in, then he’d almost drop his phone when he saw me. His explanation was that work stress kept him awake, and he scrolled through funny videos, not wanting to disturb my sleep in bed. I wasn’t without my suspicions, but Mark would casually hand me his phone. “Look, look! I think your pregnancy hormones are just acting up, making you paranoid!” Checking his phone, I didn’t find anything, so I had to let it go. I quickly continued listening, but Mark didn’t respond directly, only saying, “A few days ago, I asked her team members, and they did say she had a good chance of closing a big deal and getting a promotion. How could she just get fired?” “Could it be she closed the deal, earned the money, and just doesn’t want us to know?” “I’ll double-check.” My scalp tingled. Mark had secretly contacted my team members?! And I knew nothing about it!

Realizing this, I quickly created a private group chat and added all my team members. Being an orphan, I cherished human connections deeply. We shared profits generously, and my chosen team members clicked really well with me. They proudly called themselves my “chosen family.” [If Mark contacts any of you, stick to the same story! The big deal didn’t go through! I was fired by the company!] [All] I stared at my phone screen, seconds stretching into an eternity, terrified Mark would get a response before me. Sure enough, after a few ‘received’ messages, my assistant Sarah replied: [Ashley, is this a surprise for Mark? Mark just asked me, almost blew your cover! Got it! I’m going to play hard to get with the info!] After a sigh of relief, I sent another message. [My marriage is in crisis. More details when I have time, but for now, if Mark contacts any of you, you MUST stick to the same story!] This time, almost instantly, no one asked any questions. A flood of “Got it” messages appeared. I deleted the group chat. On the surveillance feed, I saw Mark frowning at his phone, muttering a curse. “That useless Ashley really screwed up the deal and got fired!” Brenda also grew anxious. “Chloe is about to give birth! I promised her a $15,000-a-month luxury post-birth recovery suite!” When I first got pregnant, I also wanted a postpartum recovery suite, but Brenda refused outright when she heard the $5,000-a-month price. “Outsiders can’t take care of you as well as family! With me here, why waste that money!” Chloe? I suddenly remembered once when I’d forgotten some documents at home. When I returned to get them, Brenda was at home, chatting and laughing with a young pregnant woman. The table was laden with expensive fruits I’d bought, and the two had made a huge mess. Brenda had said she was a distant niece, Chloe, who came to the city for her prenatal check-ups! No wonder I’d felt an inexplicable hostility from Chloe back then, and her words had been full of snide remarks. When I’d vented to Mark about it, he’d just said I was being petty. So, they had boldly brought his mistress into my home! On the recorded feed, Mark said another word, then turned and left. Brenda, left alone, rolled her eyes in annoyance, muttering under her breath, “I gave her so much medicine! Why hasn’t that useless burden miscarried yet?!” “Could the medicine be fake? No, it can’t be, I paid a lot of money to Dr. Peterson in the village for it…” A cold sweat drenched me instantly. Brenda had been drugging me! Just as I was shaking with fear, the bedroom door was pushed open the next second! The moment Mark walked in, I frantically exited the surveillance app on my phone. Looking at the husband before me, my heart hammered against my ribs. Just now, I had clearly heard Mark say on the recording: “The house is her pre-marital property, so let’s wait until we’ve swapped houses before divorcing.” “If she plays nice, fine. Otherwise, a pregnant woman with no family to back her up… if we don’t press charges, who’d care what happens to her?” A while ago, Mark had said the house would feel small after the baby was born, and he wanted to sell this one to get a bigger house. Two hours earlier, I’d been daydreaming that with the bonus, we could not only get a bigger house but also take Mark and Brenda on a lavish trip. But I never imagined that the path to happiness I’d envisioned was actually a trap designed to destroy me! Mark’s once somewhat handsome face now seemed sinister and cruel. No wonder he’d been so extraordinarily attentive after learning I was an orphan. He’d had this plan all along!

“Honey, you really got fired? Them firing you while pregnant is a violation of labor law, I’ll go talk to your boss!” I quickly stopped him. “No!” Under Mark’s suspicious gaze, I tried to keep my voice steady. “It was my fault for losing the order. If it weren’t for me working tirelessly without complaint all these years and being pregnant, the company would have pursued damages and compensation.” “Millions in compensation. Our life savings wouldn’t cover it.” Mark frowned even deeper. He just grabbed my phone and dialed my boss’s number. “I’ll ask, I can’t let you be wronged.” As the phone rang, my heart nearly pounded out of my chest. The next second, the call connected, and my boss’s impatient voice came through. “Ashley! I’ve already made it clear to you! The company not pursuing charges is already the best outcome for you! Don’t even dream of compensation!” Luckily, I was quick-witted. While I was recording the surveillance earlier, I had briefly explained my predicament to my boss. My boss was a fierce businesswoman who hated scumbags, and she immediately said the company would stand firmly by me. After hanging up, Mark stared at my pale face, brushing back my sweat-soaked strands of hair. “Honey, why are you so nervous?” “So what if you lost your job? I can still support you. Mom just felt the pressure of me being the sole breadwinner. She’s going through menopause and prone to emotional breakdowns. For my sake, just let it go.” “Perfect, now you have time. The sales agent for that house we liked has called several times for us to sign the contract. No time like the present, let’s go today! It’ll wash away your bad luck from losing your job!” Mark, without a word, pulled me and Brenda to the sales office. To my surprise, Chloe was already waiting there! Brenda intimately linked arms with her as soon as she got out of the car. “I called Chloe to come along, for her advice.” Chloe puffed out her belly, showing off. “Mark, Auntie Brenda was worried about your taste, so she asked me to come and approve. You don’t mind, do you~” She’d been like this at home too. “Ashley, don’t just rely on being pregnant and make my aunt do all the work.” “My Mark works hard for his money, Ashley, you need to learn to be thrifty! Look at all these packages! You’re married, who are you dressing up for?” “I’m just direct~ Don’t mind me, Ashley~ I’m only saying this for your family’s good.” At the time, I thought she was just jealous of Mark and my good life, spouting sour grapes, so I paid her no mind. After marriage, I had always played the role of a devoted wife and dutiful daughter-in-law. Even Mark had forgotten that an orphan girl had clawed her way to the top—I wasn’t someone to be easily taken advantage of. New and old resentments flared, and my face hardened. “Even if I did mind, you’d still cling on like an irritating rash, wouldn’t you?” My sudden counterattack stunned both Brenda and Mark. Chloe pouted petulantly, looking at them, stomping her foot and huffing. Brenda immediately glared at me. “You’re rebelling! You uncultured brat! Who gave you permission to speak to a relative like that!” For the first time, I talked back without backing down. “I’m buying a house, and a distant relative who has nothing to do with this comes here bossing around. Who’s really uncultured?!” My voice wasn’t quiet, drawing stares and whispers from the onlookers. Mark frowned and pulled me. “Can’t you just let it go?! It’s not that big a deal!” “No matter what, you can’t talk back to my mom!” I coldly shrugged off his arm. “Then listen to your mom. Let your mom pay for the house too.”

Mark’s frown deepened. “What are you talking about?! We already agreed to sell this house and put extra money down to upgrade, didn’t we? You saw the upgrade contract last time! Besides, where would my mom, a stay-at-home mom with no job, get the money?! Alright, alright! I know you’re still holding a grudge about what happened earlier!” “My mom has diligently taken care of you all this time! And just because she said a few words, you’re so unforgiving! Fine, fine! I’ll apologize for her, okay?!” Seeing the onlookers pointing and whispering, Brenda’s eyes darted. “I knew it, getting old means becoming a burden! It’s all my fault! All my damn fault! For running my mouth and annoying my daughter-in-law! I’ll just slap my own mouth off!” Brenda feigned slapping herself, but Chloe quickly intervened. “Auntie! Blame me, I’m young and foolish, I spoke out of turn and upset Ashley! Ashley, I’ll kneel and apologize to you! Please, for my aunt’s sake, she’s old! Don’t bully her anymore!” Chloe started to kneel, but Mark quickly caught her. “Chloe! You’re pregnant!” “You absolutely can’t get emotional!” Mark glared at me. “Ashley! Are you only happy when you make everyone miserable?!” “Getting a bigger house is for both of us, it should be a happy occasion! You just have to make everyone unhappy!” As he lectured me, he seemed to forget that I was also a pregnant woman about to deliver, and I couldn’t get emotional. Mark was still holding Chloe’s arm, frowning. “Alright! Stop making a scene! Aren’t you embarrassed with all these people watching?! Let’s just sign the contract first!” The sales manager, fearing his commission slipping away, eagerly handed the prepared contract to Mark. Just as Mark was about to sign, I snatched the contract away. “How come this purchase agreement only has your name on it?” Brenda, who moments ago was playing the victim, now glared, eyes wide. “What kind of talk is that?! Mark is the head of the household, if not his name, whose name should be on it, yours?!” Mark reached out to grab the contract. “Everything after marriage is marital property, whose name it’s under doesn’t matter!” I held the contract further away. “If it doesn’t matter, then why not put only my name on it?” Mark’s eyebrows furrowed, and he glared. “Ashley! What is wrong with you today! Can you stop being so unreasonable?! You can’t just make the whole family miserable just because you lost your job!” I sneered, staring into his eyes. “Your ‘whole family’ refers to you, your mom, and your mistress Chloe with her bastard child in her belly, right?!” My words dropped, and the crowd of onlookers erupted in gasps. Chloe reacted first, shrieking in a high-pitched voice. “You’re slandering my good name!” “If you don’t clear my name today, I’ll die here with my baby to prove my innocence!” Brenda plopped onto the floor, wailing. “Ashley, I know you despise this old woman, take your anger out on me, I don’t mind a little suffering! But you two must be well!” “To openly slander a woman’s good name, you’re trying to drive her to her death!” I watched her thrashing on the ground and shouted back even louder. “Selling my pre-marital assets! To buy a big house for his mistress and her bastard child!” “Who’s really trying to drive someone to their death?!” Mark’s face went white, his jaw clenched so hard the veins on his forehead pulsed. “What nonsense are you spewing?! Just because you’re out of a job, you’re full of suppressed anger with nowhere to vent?!” “I won’t change houses today, is that enough?! Let’s go home and talk about this!” With that, Mark grabbed my arm and tried to drag me out. If he managed to get me into the car today, my fate would be sealed! I struggled desperately, but Mark’s hand was like a vice clamping my wrist. I shouted for help to the people around me, but Brenda yelled, “This is our family business! Stay out of it! Don’t get mixed up in our family drama!” Just as I was about to be dragged out the door, a panting figure blocked our way, forcefully pushing Mark’s grip away, and shielding me behind them. “Who dares touch my Ashley!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299306”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf #玄幻Fantasy #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

My husband and I shared a lifetime of love, only to be reborn together in the 80s. Driven by the hope of rekindling our past, I waited for him at the dance hall where we first met, for two agonizing years. As I watched him confidently stride toward me, my heart swelled with joy. I reached out, ready to embrace a new life, a new beginning, with him. But his steps carried him right past me, stopping instead before the manager’s daughter. “May I have this dance with you?” Turns out, he’d decided he wanted a different partner entirely. “Scarlett, you’ve checked the door at least ten times. Who are you waiting for? All these gorgeous men here, and not a single one catches your eye?” I barely registered Chloe’s words, my gaze fixed intently on the entrance. I was reborn. And today, this very day, was when I first met my husband, Dylan. In our past life, Dylan and I were the epitome of a power couple. We started from nothing, building our lives together for over sixty years. We were poor, we argued, we fought, we cried, we fussed, we complained, but we never once talked about breaking up. At our lowest, we split the last piece of bread, huddling together for warmth. After we got wealthy, we moved into a mansion, never forgetting to help our family and friends. We walked through life hand in hand, a model couple everyone envied. On my deathbed, I asked him, “If we could be reborn, would you still ask me to dance that day?” He kissed me without hesitation. I closed my eyes with a smile, ending that life. So in this life, When other men showed interest – no matter how capable or handsome they were – I rejected them all. I was waiting for Dylan. I was going to be his wife again. I never attended the company singles mixers. I told my frantic parents that I had someone special in my heart, and he’d be joining our company this time next year. My parents thought I was out of my mind. So I waited, year after year. Dylan, who should have joined the company in 1986, only appeared in 1988. That’s when I learned he’d spent two years in the military. In our previous life, Dylan had often lamented not having served in the army. Now, he’d actually taken two years to do it. I guessed he must have been reborn too. When I heard Dylan was attending the singles dance, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was the first to sign up. Even though it was two years later, I wore the same red polka-dot dress as in my past life and got a fresh perm. I politely turned down every man who asked for a dance, sitting in the waiting area, my eyes glued to the door. Today, I was finally going to properly greet him. “That’s our company’s new engineer.” “Looks like he just came back from the military too~ You can tell; he’s got that military bearing.” Chloe nudged my arm, pointing towards the main entrance. That familiar figure entered my view. The restless music in the dance hall seemed to slow to half speed. Slightly disheveled short hair, a sharp jawline, he glanced left and right as if searching. The moment our eyes met, he gave a shy smile, revealing his signature grin. He walked through the crowd, heading towards me, just like in our past life. Twenty-four-year-old Dylan still made my heart flutter. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding as he drew closer. I raised my arm, ready to embrace the happiness of this new life. My hand, suspended in mid-air, froze. He walked past me, towards Chloe, who was standing behind me. “Hello, miss, may I have this dance with you?”

Chloe looked flustered, her face instantly flushing crimson. Colleagues around us, loving the drama, started to hoot. “Dylan’s new to the company, Chloe, don’t crush his confidence!” “Yeah, just dance with him!” Chloe found it hard to refuse and reached out, letting her hand rest on Dylan’s. Dylan took Chloe’s hand, and they walked onto the dance floor. The crowd cheered. I sat there, stunned. No matter how loud the music was, I couldn’t hear a thing. Dylan hadn’t even spared me a glance; his steps had marched directly to Chloe. In that first life, was it Chloe he wanted to ask to dance? I scrambled out of there. The sky opened up, pouring rain, and memories from my previous life flooded my mind. In my past life, Chloe had invited me to that singles dance. She’d picked out my entire outfit, from head to toe. Her favorite red polka-dot dress, her signature 80s perm. We were similar in height and build. Dressed up, we looked almost like twins. I didn’t know how to dance, so I just sat in a corner. Dylan came straight up to me, head bowed, and asked me in front of everyone, “Hello, miss, may I have this dance with you?” The stage lights were dim. He didn’t dare to look up. When I didn’t move, he bravely spoke again, “I’ve liked you for a long time. Please, dance with me!” That was the first time I truly heard my own heartbeat. I’d secretly liked Dylan for ages, and being suddenly confessed to by the man I adored left me flustered. I mechanically reached out my hand, my mind a blank, and replied, “I like you too.” My colleagues around us started to cheer. Only then did Dylan finally look up and meet my eyes. Back then, I couldn’t read the shock in Dylan’s eyes; I thought it was surprise. After that dance, I became more proactive in pursuing Dylan, and he never refused me. It seemed everyone at the company assumed we were a couple. Marriage and children followed naturally, a course of least resistance. Even though he was always distant, I just figured that was his personality. But then I thought of the fervent look in his eyes just now on the dance floor. Turns out, Dylan had wanted to ask Chloe to dance from the very beginning. I remembered Chloe once saying she had a weakness for guys in uniform. So, the first thing Dylan did after being reborn was to join the military. What he called his “regret” actually pointed to Chloe. Dylan, like me, had a clear purpose in being reborn. Only, the objects of our affections had changed. I went home in the rain, caught a fever, and my parents worried outside my door for days. Once I recovered, I calmly announced, “Mom and Dad, I’m ready for blind dates.” Dylan in this life seemed like a completely different person. In our previous life, he was always cautious. He’d think everything through before acting. But in this life, he practically moved his desk next to Chloe’s. As if he wanted to tell everyone at the company that he liked Chloe. His forwardness and intensity were something I’d never witnessed. In our previous life, if I even walked a little too close to him at the company, he’d try to keep his distance. “We work at the same place. People will talk.” I didn’t know what kind of “talk” he meant, but now, he’d already been warned several times by the supervisor. Yet, he didn’t reduce his closeness to Chloe. Chloe was my best friend, and she couldn’t help but complain to me about Dylan. “He’s so annoying! Dylan, he’s stuck to me like glue, he’s everywhere!” “You don’t like him? I saw you accept his gifts and go to the movies with him.” “Accepting gifts means we’re together? Plenty of guys send me stuff.” Chloe had many suitors. Even though Dylan had returned from two years in the military, his other prospects weren’t exactly stellar. Chloe shared the imported chocolate Dylan had bought her with everyone. As I held a piece in my hand, a pang of envy struck me. Back then, when I was pregnant and craved a sweet chocolate, he’d say that when starting a business, every penny counted. And with a baby on the way, money would be tight everywhere. No matter what I wanted, he always had a thousand reasons not to give it to me. But now, if Chloe simply said she wanted some, he’d buy her so many boxes, more than she could ever eat. Turns out, whether there was love or not had always been crystal clear. It was just my love-struck self, blinded and deluded, who chose to ignore it all.

One day at work, feeling a bit lightheaded, I opened a bar of chocolate Chloe had given me and ate a piece. “How dare you eat that?” This was the first time Dylan had spoken to me since being reborn. But his next action was to slap the chocolate out of my hand. “That’s for Chloe! Where did you steal it from?!” His words chilled me to the bone. He actually accused me of “stealing.” “What are you doing?! I gave this to Scarlett myself!” Chloe immediately stepped in to protect me. Dylan gave an awkward laugh. “Oh, right. My bad then…” “Chloe, this chocolate is really expensive. It cost me half my salary. Could you maybe eat it yourself?” “I can give it to whoever I want! What’s it to you?! Scarlett, let’s go, I’ll take you out to eat!” When Dylan said “steal,” the look in his eyes was like he was looking at a complete stranger. He didn’t even consider that I might have been reborn too. After all, we’d spent sixty years together, started a business, built a home, raised children. Even if there was no love, surely there was some family bond. His cold tone towards me, laced with hatred, as if he feared I’d contaminate him. He even begrudged me something he’d given to someone else. “So, Chloe, when are you and Dylan going to make it official?” Chloe sighed, adding some food to my bowl. “His family background is pretty bad. Besides his military service, he doesn’t have much else going for him. I’m still thinking about it.” Despite her words, less than two months later, the news that Dylan and Chloe were an item spread throughout the company. Many said Dylan was chasing Chloe because she was the company Manager’s daughter, hoping to be a gold digger and climb the ladder fast. But Dylan, to show his “true love,” got a tattoo of Chloe’s face on his arm. I remembered how in our past life, when our son got a tattoo of my photo and his, Dylan had ripped into him, humiliating him. And now he was using that exact same move to chase Chloe. Chloe’s parents were even more disgusted by Dylan’s behavior, especially with the rumors of him being a gold digger spreading through the company. Chloe’s parents ordered them to break up immediately. But young people are like that; the more you try to stop them, the more they cling to each other. To prove he wasn’t a gold digger, Dylan swore he’d buy Chloe a proper house in the city, outright, by next month. Listening to the gossip, a question suddenly struck me. Dylan, from a poor background, where would he get the money to buy a house? And he set himself a deadline for next month? Wait, what?! I suddenly remembered that next month, the city was hosting the first National Bridal Gown Design Competition. In my past life, I entered it on a whim. My design won the gold prize and was bought by an industry expert for a staggering fifty thousand dollars. That was fifty thousand dollars in the 80s. That money later became the seed fund for Dylan’s and my business. My mind raced. In my previous life, I only submitted the design sketches. If I could actually produce the gown, wouldn’t I earn even more? I worked overtime for over a month, burning the midnight oil. The moment I arrived at the competition venue, I heard exclamations of admiration. “Who designed this? It’s a work of art!” “This level of skill could compete on the world stage!” “I totally underestimated Dylan! This intricate craftsmanship is absolutely masterful.” … The praises kept coming. I looked towards the huddle of people. A gown identical to my design from the previous life was on a model. The intricate details, the choice of jewels, the lace patterns—everything was identical. The only difference was, this piece was credited to “Dylan.” I’d forgotten that in my previous life, he had seen this award-winning design countless times, often using it as a company endorsement for various projects. I looked at Dylan, and our eyes met. I had no intention of questioning him, but his eyes were full of provocation. He then turned to all the contestants present and declared, “Competitions should be about sincerity. I think those who only bring sketches shouldn’t even bother!” “My work started over a month ago; every stitch is a piece of my heart!” He was clearly implying that I, just like in the previous life, had only brought design sketches. The onlookers praised his dedication, and those who had only brought sketches lowered their heads in shame. My mom, who came to help me, saw Dylan’s work and instantly panicked. “Honey, how is his work identical to yours?” Mom’s words were overheard by Dylan and the people around him. There was a moment of silence. Dylan then seized his chance. “Scarlett! We’re from the same company. You weren’t peeking while I was designing, were you?” “This is a major competition! Is someone already cheating in the very first year?!” Dylan was clearly prepared, firing off a barrage of accusations. Mom, furious, immediately opened my bag and started arguing with him. “This is my daughter’s hard work! Who is the real copycat?!” My gown had just been finished this morning. The basting stitches were still in, and the threads weren’t even trimmed. This immediately solidified the accusations of me being a “copycat.” The whispers grew louder, people pointing at me, trying to prevent me from competing. Even Chloe, standing beside Dylan, looked at me as if I were a thief. If I hadn’t lived through a previous life and seen every kind of situation, I would have fled right then! But I remained unfazed, my expression calm. I registered, filled out the forms. Seeing my composure, Dylan feigned concern. “Forget it, I guess Scarlett was just blinded by ambition. We’re all colleagues; let’s give her some slack.” “Designs can sometimes be similar. I believe she didn’t do it on purpose this time.” He played both the good guy and the bad guy, pretending to be magnanimous despite being wronged. The crowd’s approval of Dylan soared. “For fairness, Scarlett, your piece isn’t even finished, and it’s identical to mine. You should just withdraw from the competition to save yourself further embarrassment!” I suddenly smiled. “Dylan, I never said this was my competition entry.”

“She’s been exposed, hasn’t she? Is she just making things up now?” “It’s barely been a month of prep time! One person making an entire finished bridal gown is already incredibly difficult!” I ignored the whispers around me. I calmly asked the judging panel for five mannequins. Returning to my competition spot, Mom and I calmly pulled out clothing bags. I was prepared. I was here to make money, and every piece at this competition would be sold. The more, the better. Having lived a lifetime, I’d spent sixty years in fashion. I’d made ten gowns in a single month before. Even though the tools weren’t as advanced in this life, my sixty years of skill were still sharp. Some onlookers scoffed, “Can she really win by sheer volume?” People were still whispering, but as my gowns were placed one by one on the mannequins, everyone fell silent. My past life’s design was an intricate, heavily embroidered gown, extremely complex to recreate. That’s why I left it for last, to make it if I could, and skip it if I couldn’t. All my focus in this life had been on these five designs. Each one was an award-winning design that hadn’t yet appeared in this era. Elegant, grand, and minimalist – a standard that wouldn’t be outdated even in that time. When the five dresses were perfectly displayed, everyone was speechless. The judging began. All the judges lingered for a long time in front of my designs. They asked me about my design philosophy, my inspiration, and I answered them honestly. Actually, long before those contestants stopped gossiping about me, I already knew the answer in my heart. But to my dismay, first place still went to Dylan’s intricately crafted gown. The contestants who had mocked me earlier now offered consolation. “Chloe’s dad is one of the organizers. We all think your designs were better.” Dylan, holding his medal, shot me a triumphant glance. “Copying is copying. Trying to win by quantity is just pathetic. How utterly ridiculous.” But then, Dylan’s smile faltered. The next awards, second place, third place, all the way to sixth place, They all went to me. The judges commented, “The works are mature, with a unique style. While they show echoes of the first-place design, they are more refined. The only drawback is that as bridal gowns, they are perhaps too minimalist; the mainstream still prefers more decoration.” The room fell completely quiet. Anyone who knew anything about design understood. Decorations can be added later, but the fundamental design and cut of the garment are what truly matter. Dylan’s cool demeanor finally crumbled. I calmly gave my acceptance speech, focusing on one key point: “They are available for purchase.” Several judges’ eyes lit up with interest. My creations were right here. Whether they were copied or not, everyone could judge for themselves. Even Chloe understood, giving Dylan a disgusted look before directly leaving the venue. Dylan stubbornly stayed. He needed to make money. The auction began with the first-place design. Dylan’s piece started at $10,000, and Chloe’s father bid it up to $15,000. But the price wouldn’t go any higher; no one else raised their paddle. In my past life, this gown sold for fifty thousand! Had that person not shown up? I felt a little worried. Would my gowns not sell for much now? When it was my turn, Chloe’s father privately approached me. “Scarlett, if your designs could stay with the company, I’d promote you and give you a raise.” I didn’t know how to respond. Just then, my gowns went up for auction. All five pieces at once. “$50,000!” “$150,000!” “$200,000!” Everyone frantically raised their paddles. The price per piece had long surpassed Dylan’s $15,000. I grew more excited; I hadn’t expected such an incredible response to these five pieces. Dylan stood in front of his own gown, his face growing darker and darker. “$500,000!”

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After my husband Julian Blackwood got a heart transplant, he fell for a widow seven years his senior. At my birthday party, he gave her my seat at the head of the table. “Audrey doesn’t like chocolate. Change the cake to strawberry.” I stood up, face set in stone, and walked out, leaving behind the obedient wife I used to be. He roared after me, “Why are you being so unreasonable? My new heart makes me love her—can’t you try to understand?” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. The truth he never learned was that the donor had loved me since the very beginning. As I was about to leave, Julian’s hand clamped down on my wrist. “Audrey, give your design drafts to Serena Thorne. She needs a new piece for her show the day after tomorrow, to legitimize her name.” Those design drafts were the culmination of three years of my hard work. He knew exactly what they cost me, yet he said tonelessly, “I’ll compensate you.” How could he compensate for all my years of sacrifice and humiliation? I only remembered that a month ago, I refused to rig the new artist award in Serena’s favor. In retaliation, he posted my private photos all over the internet. I pulled out my design drafts and my USB drive, then formatted my computer right there, in front of everyone. I offered my congratulations obediently. “I wish you great success.” Julian’s expression softened at my words. “Audrey, this is how you should always be—obedient and sensible. As long as you’re good, I can give you anything you want.” But the next second, Serena clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. Julian immediately shoved me aside, and he was doting on her, practically falling over himself. His movements were careful, yet clumsy. His panic and helplessness were plain for everyone to see. They watched me, smirking, their eyes full of mockery. They weren’t the only ones who looked down on me. I looked down on myself, too. Three days prior, I suddenly started bleeding down there. Julian was just about to leave to take Serena out for a candlelight dinner. I crawled to his feet, a long trail of blood marking my path behind me. The man ignored my desperate plea, forcefully pulling his pant leg free from my desperate grip. Just before I completely gave up hope, Julian turned back. He frowned at the bloodstains behind me, pinched his nose, and ordered, “Clean up the mess, and get her a fresh change of clothes. Serena gets sick to her stomach at the smell of blood.” I silently turned to leave, only to be violently pushed to the ground by him. The champagne tower and cake toppled onto me, leaving me utterly humiliated. “Kneel.”

Before I could even speak, I was dragged in front of him. “You deliberately made her uncomfortable, made a scene, and messed up this place.” “If you didn’t want to give her the design drafts, you should have just said so. Why resort to such despicable methods, causing her to have an attack? Is this how you ‘repay’ her?” Repay a debt. Repay a debt. Publicly slapping me was ‘repaying a debt.’ Making love in my bed was ‘repaying a debt.’ Tying me, six months pregnant, to a freefall ride was ‘repaying a debt.’ Thinking of this, I resigned myself and knelt, striking my head hard against the glass shards on the floor three times, the sounds echoing through the room. “Is this enough?” I said, my voice hoarse. Seeing my humiliated state, Julian’s breathing grew heavier. “Stop faking it, Audrey. No one here is going to sneak you information, and no one’s going to back you up.” “Cut out that repulsive look on your face.” I couldn’t be bothered to explain. As soon as Serena on the sofa seemed to recover, Julian immediately pushed me away and swept her into his arms. Julian rushed upstairs. I limped towards the door. Catching a glimpse of a faint figure in my memory, I quickened my pace. Before I could even speak, a dull thud hit me from behind, and then I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, the air was thick with the smell of disinfectant. I was being held down, kneeling by the door of a hospital room. From a distance, I vaguely heard the housekeeper’s trembling voice. “Sir, Madam just had a miscarriage a few days ago, and her knees are still wounded. The floor is so cold, she won’t be able to bear it.” “The doctor also said Miss Serena’s condition isn’t serious. It’s better to let Madam treat her wounds first.” “Enough.” A cold glare silenced the housekeeper. “Audrey won’t kneel at the door, and Serena won’t be able to sleep.” “It’s just a minor procedure, she’s been through it before.” The familiar scent of pine grew stronger. I closed my eyes, tears falling silently. “Don’t cry.” “Just bear with it a little longer. I have her lover’s heart. I need to compensate her.” His voice was coaxing, filled with tenderness, but it only made me sick. Two hours passed, and I was swaying precariously. Suddenly, Serena in the hospital room let out a whimpering cry. Julian’s expression, which had softened slightly, immediately hardened. “Hold her down. She must kneel until Serena wakes up tomorrow morning.” The nurse, unable to bear it, said that if the wounds on my knees weren’t treated, they could easily become infected and lead to necrosis or even amputation. The man didn’t hesitate. “Do as I say.” “Sir…” I raised a hand to stop the housekeeper who was about to speak up for me, enunciating each word. “It’s fine. I’ll kneel. I owe her, I should repay my debt.” “After I finish kneeling, we’ll have nothing more to do with each other.” After I spoke, the man didn’t agree. Instead, he furiously gripped my face. “Who are you putting on this show for? Don’t play these mind games with me, Audrey. You’re thirty, not eighteen.” “I just want to repay a debt. Do you really need to act so pitiful?” Serena’s cries were just a murmur in her sleep. Julian immediately plastered a smile on his face and went to her side. I don’t know how much time passed, but my world plunged into darkness again. When I woke up again, Julian was asleep by my bedside, my hand clutched in his. Feeling the steady beat of his heart, my eyes welled up, as if the catastrophe had never happened. I pulled my hand back, waking him. He reached out to check my forehead. “When did you wake up? Are you still uncomfortable?” I simply turned away. “You made me miss my flight.” Julian had never seen me so distant, and an awkward silence lingered for a while. When he saw me booking another flight on my phone, he couldn’t help but ask. “Where are you going for work?” In the past, he would never have asked so much. Before, even a little bit of concern from him would have thrilled me. Now, it just annoyed me. “None of your business.” “I’ve spoiled you too much, you’re getting completely out of control.” “Can’t you learn to be a little gentle, like Serena?” He just kept rambling on and on. Annoyed, I simply closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. He stormed out, leaving the hospital room in shambles. The moment he left, I opened my phone and switched to another app. I just clicked it open, and hundreds of messages flooded in.

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My patient had a fever of 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit, and because I refused to prescribe fever reducers without a blood test, her mother later live-streamed a furious attack against me online. “Look at this heartless doctor, everyone! My child had a scorching 105.8-degree fever, and she insisted we get a blood test and wait for the results, stubbornly refusing to give her a fever reducer for an emergency!” “Healthcare is such a mess these days; it’s impossible to get affordable care, and it’s all because of doctors like you who order excessive tests!” “Angel in white? I see a greedy, corrupt opportunist! If my child suffers brain damage, can you pay for that?!” The video quickly ignited public outrage, and #MostImmoralPediatrician trended nationwide. I was doxxed and bombarded with online harassment. I even received a cursed package filled with blood-stained voodoo dolls and threatening letters. Meanwhile, Eleanor Vance, crying in her live stream about her child’s persistent high fever, received countless donations. Desperate to help, I ignored the insults. After donating a huge sum, I successfully connected with her via video call: “Ms. Vance, your child is this sick; you must take her to the hospital immediately for a blood test, then we can prescribe the right medication…” But she suddenly knelt down: “My daughter has a bleeding disorder and anemia. How can she withstand having so much blood drawn at once? Isn’t that going to kill her?!” “I just want her to get well. Why is it so hard?!”

With a startled gasp, Eleanor Vance cut off the live stream. I had tried to persuade her, but if she wouldn’t take her child to the hospital, it wasn’t like I could go to her house and forcibly draw blood. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the churning emotions within me. My professional instinct still prompted me to immediately report this serious online defamation and threat to the hospital’s administration and security. However, the online storm moved far faster than real-world procedures. After verifying my account with my real name, I shared an authoritative pediatric fever treatment guideline. I attached screenshots from reputable medical journals and tagged Eleanor Vance. I tried my best to explain in simple language why children with high fevers needed blood tests for accurate medication. Just minutes after my post went up, comments and private messages flooded in like a dam breaking. “Shameless! Now you want to clear your name? Why didn’t you do this earlier? Honestly, how much dirty money have you made?” “Still talking about guidelines at a time like this? Is a child’s life less important than your stupid rules? Will you die if you don’t earn a few extra bucks?” “This guideline couldn’t possibly be made up on the fly, could it?” “Look closely, everyone! This bitch is just trying to shirk responsibility!” In less than ten minutes, the number of abusive comments soared past ten thousand. Some people screenshot the guideline, stamping it with “FORGED EVIDENCE” in red letters. Others mocked my medical jargon word for word, claiming I was putting on a show to fool the public. A nurse, verified as working at my hospital, posted a comment: [To my knowledge, this doctor has always been fond of excessive testing.] This comment immediately became the top-rated one. Before long, someone dug up an old photo of me from college. In the picture, I was wearing a lab coat, pulling an all-nighter in the lab. The caption, however, was twisted into: [Breaking news! Back then, her favorite thing to do was use her uniform to seduce professors in the lab!] Before I could even defend myself, another post appeared, claiming to be from my high school classmate: “She’s always been this cold and unfeeling. When our classmate was writhing in pain from acute gastroenteritis, she calmly kept doing her homework.” The post went viral. Two colleagues, unable to stand it, openly defended me with their real names, but they too were swept into the storm. Even the entire hospital faced a boycott from netizens. Dr. Peterson called me into his office, incandescent with rage: “It’s just a fever reducer for her child, isn’t it? Why are you so stubborn? Don’t we usually provide fever reducers for free in such special cases right away?” “I know, but her child cannot be given it! Especially not for free…” Before I could continue my defense, reporters who had disguised themselves and snuck in surrounded Dr. Peterson and me. “Dr. Hayes, it seems all of this is your personal action and has nothing to do with the hospital, right?” To distance himself from me, Dr. Peterson immediately declared to the reporters that I had betrayed my medical ethics for money. “I hereby solemnly declare that the hospital will terminate Dr. Isabella Hayes’ employment and pursue all her professional misconduct and illegal gains!” Like a stray dog, I was thrown out by security at the hospital entrance, left to face the furious mob of netizens nearby. Only when I was beaten, bruised, and curled up on the ground did the crowd scatter like a flock of birds as a patrol car passed by. That night, I don’t know how I survived. My eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion, desperately searching for evidence to clear my name. But before I could find anything, my family also suffered. I finally drifted off as dawn broke, only to be startled awake by my sister Mia’s tearful call: “Bella, Mom was cursed at today when she took me to school, and our doorstep is covered in trash. Mom said, don’t send her money anymore, she can’t use it…” “This is a disaster!” In the background, I could hear my mother’s faint sobs. After hanging up, Liam, my boyfriend of three years, also sent a message: [Bella, I believe you’re innocent, but the public pressure is too immense. My parents want me to keep my distance from you for now. Let’s not contact each other for a while.] A cold, unopened takeout container sat on my table, but I had no appetite. My phone screen constantly popped up with news alerts. Eleanor Vance’s new video was trending again. She appeared without makeup, wearing black-rimmed glasses, clutching a framed photo of her daughter. Her voice was hoarse: “This unscrupulous doctor killed my child! I’ve already appointed a lawyer. See you in court, I will not accept a settlement!”

Just one night with a high fever, and her child was gone? I was utterly bewildered, but the suspicion I’d harbored grew stronger. The online bullying escalated, and the news of Lily’s death was like a match thrown into a powder keg, igniting a firestorm that left me utterly devastated. I knew silence equaled guilt. I had to act. I started a live stream and publicly released a statement, proposing a forensic autopsy for the deceased child to determine the true cause of death. This was the only direct and scientific way I could think of to prove my innocence. However, this last stand only ignited the fuse for a new wave of anger. Eleanor Vance cried until she almost fainted in her own live stream: “My daughter is gone, why won’t they let her rest in peace? That malicious woman, she won’t even spare my child’s body! She just wants to destroy the evidence and clear her own name!” Her family also appeared in interviews, tearfully condemning my heartlessness and cruelty. Netizens’ fury reached its peak: “They want to dissect a child who’s already dead? Dr. Hayes, are you even human?” “This is clearly stalling for time, trying to evade responsibility!” “Support Eleanor! Don’t let this vicious woman get away with it!” “Does she have a powerful backer? She’s so arrogant!” My insistence seemed so pale and powerless against the surging tide of public opinion. Even the police came to my door, gently advising me: “Dr. Hayes, the family is emotionally agitated and firmly refuses an autopsy. We can’t force it. How about you apologize first, calm the family down, and then we can discuss it further…” “But I haven’t done anything wrong. Why should I apologize?” To my dismay, after the police left, the paparazzi, who had been staking out my home, posted a recording of this conversation online. The netizens’ emotions were reignited. “A butcher who thinks nothing of human lives! And she still claims she’s not wrong!” “Eleanor, please don’t give up. We all support you in fighting for your rights!” I found myself in deeper trouble. With the path to an autopsy blocked, I couldn’t produce direct evidence to prove my innocence. Eleanor Vance, on the other hand, firmly occupied the moral high ground, receiving sympathy and financial support from across the internet. I shut myself in my dimly lit room, curtains tightly drawn, as if that could shield me from the devouring stares and vicious whispers outside. But every search term with “Isabella Hayes” in it felt like a poisoned dagger, repeatedly tearing at my nerves. “Ding—” A new push notification popped up. It was from Eleanor Vance. She posted a picture of a cemetery. The caption read: [My daughter, Mom chose a new home for you. There’s no pain there, and no heartless doctors. Mom will definitely get justice for you! @IsabellaHayes, can you sleep at night?] The comment section was instantly flooded with “Go Mom!”, “Rest in peace, angel baby!”, and “Karma will get her.” Immediately after, a link for a “Fundraiser for Eleanor Vance’s Legal Fight” was launched. The target amount: five hundred thousand dollars. The progress bar under the donation link grew almost visibly. Countless anonymous IDs left messages, expressing sympathy for Eleanor and Lily, and curses against me. I watched the constantly ticking numbers, feeling a chill shoot straight from my feet to the top of my head. This wasn’t a fundraiser. This was a grotesque spectacle of profiteering, using a child’s death! And I was the sacrifice, nailed to a pillar of shame, to highlight their supposed kindness and righteousness. No, I couldn’t just sit here and let myself be slandered. The autopsy path was blocked; I had to find another angle. Lily’s sudden death, followed by her swift cremation, could only mean Eleanor’s secret was about to unravel.

I tried to contact Chloe, the nurse who claimed to be my colleague, but found she had blocked me. She seemed to have anticipated that I would confront her when I was at my wit’s end. Undeterred, I dug out my college contact list and called every classmate who might remember that lab photo. “Bella, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but you know how people online are now… I’m scared!” “My wife is pregnant and can’t handle stress, I’m sorry…” Most calls went to a long busy signal before hanging up automatically. The few that were answered ended quickly with hesitant stutters and sighs. My supposedly deep friendships from school felt as thin as water-soaked paper in the face of the online mob. But I wasn’t disheartened. Dragging my utterly broken body, I returned to the hospital, hoping to ask former close colleagues to help me access Lily Vance’s past medical records through the internal system. Even a tiny clue might help piece together the truth. “I’m sorry, Dr. Hayes… You’ve already resigned and no longer have access to the internal system. Besides, this involves patient privacy…” My former colleagues, who used to greet me with smiles, now avoided my gaze, whispering so low I could barely hear them. Meanwhile, the donation page for Eleanor Vance continued to joyfully tick upwards, quickly surpassing the half-million-dollar mark. She posted a new video, without makeup, her eyes swollen like peaches, bowing deeply to the camera: “Thank you, everyone! My daughter in heaven will bless all kind-hearted people! I’ll use all this money to hire the best lawyers to make sure the murderer pays! Once we win, I’ll donate all the money to a children’s foundation!” The comment section was full of praise for her righteousness and kindness. And I was being screamed at by countless people to die. As I returned to my apartment building, a shout startled me, making me stumble: “The bitch is here!” With that explosion from a middle-aged woman, rotten vegetables and eggs flew at me. From that day on, my home address was publicly known across the internet. My doorstep was either piled with trash or covered in dead rats and foul, yellowish stench. My neighbors, unable to bear the constant harassment, and the building management, tired of being implicated daily, collectively petitioned me to move out. Unwilling to cause trouble for others, I packed my suitcase and left that very night. Unfortunately, when I tried to check into a hotel, the receptionist immediately refused me, claiming they were fully booked once they saw who I was. After being turned away repeatedly, with nowhere to go, I could only call the colleague who had openly defended me. The phone rang for a long time before she answered. “Dr. Hayes, please don’t call me anymore. I’ve been suspended because of you, and the hospital has launched an investigation into me…” The call was abruptly disconnected. In the cold dial tone, I leaned against the stained wall and slowly slid to the floor. Guilt, like a creeping vine, squeezed the breath from my lungs. Perhaps it was the days of fear, hunger, and utter exhaustion, but I fell ill. My forehead was so hot you could fry an egg on it, and my throat felt like I’d swallowed razor blades. Wearing a mask, I bought some medicine at a pharmacy and eventually found a cheap motel that didn’t require ID. In a blur of feverish awareness, my phone vibrated. It was an anonymous text message: “Dr. Hayes, I’ve got a lead on what you asked me to investigate.” The dizziness from the high fever eased slightly with that message. Just as I confirmed the evidence with the sender, there was an urgent knock at my door. I opened it to find two police officers in uniform. Behind them, countless flashing phone screens and prying eyes peered. “Isabella Hayes, you are suspected of medical malpractice leading to death. Please come with us to the station to cooperate with the investigation.”

The interrogation room lights at the police station were blindingly white. “Dr. Hayes, if you refused to prescribe fever reducers for Eleanor Vance’s daughter, why did you secretly send her medication afterwards?” “Did you know her daughter died after taking the fever reducer you sent?” I shook my head, denying it: “I didn’t secretly send any medication. Without a blood test to confirm the situation, I would never casually give her child any drugs!” “Then how do you explain this video?” The police showed me a video, which astonishingly showed me, fully disguised, at Eleanor Vance’s doorstep delivering medicine. “I don’t even know where she lives, how could I have…” The officer interjected, “The hospital system contains her detailed address; there’s no need to quibble.” Then the police handed me a file. “This is evidence provided by Ms. Eleanor Vance: an audio recording and her child’s medical death certificate.” I took it. The recording had clearly been meticulously edited. It only contained my cold insistence on “needing a blood test before prescribing medication” and her tearful pleas. On the death certificate, the words “acute severe infection with multi-organ failure” were horrifying. “Dr. Hayes, as a doctor with many years of practice, why would you do this? Was it truly to generate income for the hospital? To increase your personal earnings?” I didn’t know why Eleanor Vance was so determined to destroy me, but Lily had already been cremated. With the hospital unwilling to defend me, it was indeed difficult to prove my innocence. But I had the strongest evidence now. I sharply lifted my head, looking at the officer across from me: “Since Ms. Vance likes to resolve issues via live stream, I request that this questioning be conducted via a live video call, allowing me to confront her face-to-face.” A dead silence fell over the interrogation room. The young officer taking notes paused, looking up in astonishment. The lead interrogating officer frowned, his face full of bewilderment: “Are you sure? Do you know the public sentiment? They practically want you dead! If you can’t prove your innocence in the end, your life will be ruined!” “I know!” I met his sharp gaze, my fingernails digging deeply into my palms. “As long as I can confront her via video call, you’ll know why I refused to give her child a fever reducer, and you’ll also know why her child died.” After a long stare-down, the police agreed to my request. The news spread like wildfire, instantly sweeping across the entire internet. No one had expected that even after being taken to the police station, I would dare to be so arrogant as to go live and confront Eleanor Vance. Everyone awaited this face-off between the vicious doctor and the grieving mother. The camera focused on me, a cold red light flashing. On the electronic screen opposite, Eleanor Vance’s live video feed appeared. She still looked pale, eyes red-rimmed, forcing a strong facade of barely suppressed grief. The number of live viewers, at the moment of connection, rocketed, soaring past ten million. The barrage of comments was so dense it almost obscured the screen. [The bitch dares to show her face!] [Go Eleanor! We’re all with you!] [Look at her, still unrepentant!] The live stream began. The police questions were sharp and direct. “Isabella Hayes, why did you refuse to prescribe fever reducers for Eleanor Vance’s daughter, and then secretly send unknown medication that led to her death?” “Because… she deserved to die.” My words shocked the entire internet, and even the police slammed the table in anger. Only in Eleanor Vance’s tear-filled eyes was there a flicker of triumph. The next second, tears streamed down her face: “I knew she had ill intentions! It’s all my fault for cremating my daughter on impulse, otherwise an autopsy would definitely prove that the medicine she secretly sent was the poison that killed my daughter!” “If it weren’t for a kind person reminding me afterwards, I never would have thought Isabella Hayes could be so malicious!” “I only wanted an apology for my child, which is why I live-streamed that night’s consultation. But she actually poisoned my daughter because of it….” Her tearful accusations elicited a wave of pity and angry curses in the comments section. But I ignored her sorrow and challenged her: “Eleanor Vance, do you dare to say your daughter had no previous medical history?” “No! My daughter was just a little frail, with mild anemia and a bleeding disorder, which is why I couldn’t bear for her to have blood drawn…” “Is that so?” “Ms. Vance, you repeatedly emphasized your child’s anemia and bleeding disorder, refusing a blood test.” “Then, please explain this—” I raised my phone, unlocked it, and turned it towards the camera. For a second, the live stream was dead silent. Then, the entire internet erupted in shock!

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