Category: English

My husband, Caleb, can’t forget his “first love,” the one that got away. Drunk in a VIP lounge, he spilled his guts to his friends: “I’ve loved her for years. Back then, it was a pity she got married. Now, it’s a pity I got married.” I didn’t get angry. I stayed by his side, just like always. Caleb hates me. He thinks I’m a spineless doormat, an obstacle between him and his true love. He wants a divorce desperately. Every time he asks, I refuse. What he doesn’t know is that he’s just a target in my mission. I just need to refuse the divorce three times, and the System will let me leave this world forever. 1 I rushed to the club in the pouring rain, arriving just in time to hear Caleb’s confession through the half-open door. “I’ve loved her for years,” he slurred. “But before I could tell her, she got married.” “Now she’s divorced, and I’m the one stuck in a marriage.” His friend laughed. “So get a divorce, man.” Caleb scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “That woman is obsessed with me. She’d never agree to sign the papers.” “You guys don’t know… seeing her hover around me all day makes me sick. She has no personality, no spine.” “She can’t even compare to Chloe’s pinky finger.” I froze outside the door. Behind me, the click-clack of high heels announced the arrival of the “white moonlight” herself, Chloe. “Ava, why are you standing out here?” Chloe smiled brightly, her beautiful eyes hiding a sharp malice. “Eavesdropping?” The men inside froze. They looked at Caleb, guilty. Caleb’s face flashed with panic, then hardened into ice. “You heard that?” I played dumb to save his face in front of his friends. “What? I just got here.” Caleb sneered, turning away in disgust. I walked in to help him up. “It’s late. Let’s go home.” He shoved me away. “I told you I wasn’t coming home tonight! Why are you here? Do you know how annoying you are?” Drunk Caleb didn’t bother hiding his contempt. His face twisted into a scowl I barely recognized. Actually, no. I recognized it. He’d been like this ever since Chloe announced her divorce. “Caleb, don’t talk to Ava like that,” Chloe said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “She came all this way because she cares about you. How about this? Ava and I will drive you home together.” Caleb looked at Chloe, and his expression softened instantly. “Okay.” So, I drove while Caleb and Chloe sat in the back. Whether he was drunk or doing it on purpose, Caleb laid his head on Chloe’s lap. They looked like a couple deeply in love. It burned my eyes. “Ava, don’t misunderstand,” Chloe said from the backseat. “Caleb is just drunk. Don’t fight because of me.” I didn’t respond. Arguing with a pick-me girl is a waste of energy. But she wouldn’t stop. “You really are boring, aren’t you? No wonder you guys haven’t built any real connection in five years.” 2 That comment stung. Years ago, I fantasized about a “marriage first, love later” romance with Caleb. But in the end, the first love always wins. When we arrived at the villa, Chloe helped Caleb inside without waiting for me. I didn’t stop them. I sat in the car and looked at the photo I had just taken. The next morning, when Caleb sobered up, I showed him the picture: him sleeping on Chloe’s lap, her gazing at him with love. Caleb stared at it, then smiled. He was clearly enjoying the fact that Chloe still had feelings for him. So I threw a tantrum. “What is going on between you and that homewrecker Chloe?” Caleb frowned. “Ava, watch your mouth. Have some class.” “Even if I have no class, I’m your wife! I have the right to question you and that shady woman!” My words were harsh. Caleb’s face went cold. “Is that so? You think being my wife gives you that right?” “Let’s divorce then,” he said, looking bored. “Ava, I want a divorce.” I screamed, “I don’t agree! Caleb, I won’t divorce you!” Caleb looked like he expected this. He looked at me with pure exhaustion and slammed the door as he left. As soon as he was gone, I dropped the angry act and sat down calmly. Finally. He said it. Six years ago, the System pulled me into this world. My mission: Make Caleb fall in love with me. I spent six years playing the devoted wife. I even fell in love with him for real. But Caleb never loved me. Mission failed. Now, the exit clause: If Caleb asks for a divorce three times and I refuse, the mission terminates, and I go home. One down. Two to go. When Caleb returned, I was in the study organizing my portfolio. In this world, I was a housewife, but secretly, I was also a popular webcomic artist. I was working on my debut graphic novel, a project two years in the making. I planned to take it back to my original world. Hearing the door, I closed my sketchbook and smiled. “You’re back?” Caleb looked stiff. I walked toward him. “I made your favorite soup. I’ll get you a bowl.” When I walked out, I saw why he was acting weird. Chloe was in the living room with a suitcase. “Ava,” Chloe smiled apologetically. “I have a stalker fan harassing me at my apartment. Can I crash here for a few days?” I stared at her blankly. Caleb spoke up, his voice quiet with guilt. “It’s true. Someone found her address. I can’t leave her in danger.” Seeing my silence, Caleb got impatient. “There’s nothing going on between us. We’re just old friends. She’s in trouble.” “Ava, stop being unreasonable. Grow up. Don’t be the same jealous girl you were years ago.” “Fine,” I said, cutting him off. “She can stay.” 3 Why not let her stay? If she lives here, conflicts will escalate. Caleb will ask for a divorce sooner. The faster he asks, the faster I leave this hellhole. Caleb looked surprised, suspicious even. “You agree?” “Are you unhappy that I agreed?” He frowned. “Don’t try anything. If I find out you’re bullying Chloe, I won’t let it slide.” I wanted to laugh. He’s my husband, yet he defends an outsider like a guard dog. Caleb ignored me and carried Chloe’s bags to the guest room. “Ava made some soup. I’ll bring you a bowl later. Her cooking is the only thing she’s good at.” I laughed out loud. Caleb, do you think marriage made me your servant for life? I can’t wait to see your face when I vanish. I went to the kitchen, drank a bowl of soup myself, and poured the rest down the drain. I’m not feeding that adulterous pair. I went back to the study. Soon, Caleb burst in. “Where’s the soup?” “Poured it out.” “What?” Caleb exploded. “Ava, what is wrong with you? If you didn’t want her here, just say no! Why act passive-aggressive?” “If I said no, would you have been happy?” Caleb stared at me, silent. I waited. Say it. Ask for a divorce. But he didn’t. He slammed the door and left. That night, I went to bed early. Caleb and Chloe were drinking and laughing downstairs. In the middle of the night, I felt someone hugging me from behind. It was Caleb. He smelled of alcohol. He kissed my neck. Disgusted, I pushed him away. “What are you doing?” Caleb sobered up a bit. “You’re my wife. What do you think I’m doing?” Seeing my resistance, his face darkened. “It’s your duty. Ava, if you’re going to be like this, get out of my house.” Since I found out about Chloe, I hadn’t let him touch me for three months. “Your house?” I asked. Caleb smirked. “You married me with nothing. This house is mine. Did you forget you begged me to marry you?” “If you won’t put out, get out!” 4 I laughed. Yes, I begged him. It was for the mission. I didn’t expect the man I once loved to weaponize that against me. “Fine. I’m leaving.” I grabbed a small bag. I paused at the door, waiting for him to threaten me with divorce. Instead, he sneered. “Go ahead! Leave!” He thought I was bluffing. I needed more chaos. I marched to the guest room and pounded on the door. Caleb rushed over and grabbed me. “Ava, are you crazy?” “Let go! You love Chloe, right? Let me ask her if she loves you back!” I thought this would trigger the divorce talk. Instead, Caleb slapped me. The sound echoed in the hallway. I went silent. Caleb looked at his hand, stunned. He opened his mouth to apologize but stopped. “Go back to your room.” I looked at him, eyes burning. Caleb couldn’t meet my gaze. “Ava, if you keep acting crazy, I really will divorce you.” Bingo. Even though I wanted to jump for joy, I forced out a tear. “I don’t agree.” I turned and walked out of the villa. Just one more time. One more refusal, and I’m free. I walked aimlessly through the streets. Six years in this world, revolving around Caleb. I had no life of my own. Luckily, I had my art. I checked into a hotel. Days passed. Caleb didn’t call. I didn’t want to waste time, so I planned to go back and force the third divorce request. But then, disaster struck. Chloe posted my comic on her art account. She traced my hand-drawn panels into digital art, copying the characters, plot, everything. I was furious. I called Caleb. He didn’t pick up. He turned off his phone. I went online and exposed Chloe for plagiarism. Chloe was an influencer artist. She denied it, claiming I was slandering her. She demanded an apology. My original drafts were at the villa. I couldn’t prove anything yet. Her fans swarmed my account, sending death threats. 5 I called Caleb again while taking a cab home. This time, he picked up. He sounded guilty. I hit record. “Did you give my drafts to Chloe?” “Where are you?” he deflected. “Answer me! You know that comic is my life’s work!” “I’ll compensate you,” Caleb said impatiently. “What do you want? A new apartment?” “Why did you give my work to her?!” “I said I’d pay you! Once Chloe monetizes it, she’ll pay you too. Delete your posts. If you do, I promise I won’t bring up divorce again.” “Ha.” I laughed. Never bring up divorce? That’s the only thing I want from you. “Dream on. I’m taking back what’s mine.” I hung up and posted the recording. The internet exploded. I arrived at the villa. Caleb and Chloe were in the living room. Chloe was crying on his shoulder. “Where are my drafts?” I demanded. Caleb marched over, grabbed my wrist, and smashed my phone on the floor. “Ava, you disappoint me. You said you loved me, but you won’t sacrifice a few drawings for me? You posted our call online?” “Do you want to ruin me? You used to be so obedient.” “I’ve lost all interest in you.” “Let’s divorce, Ava.” Caleb stared at me, expecting me to beg, to refuse, to cave. He didn’t know this was the magic number. Three strikes. Mission complete. I can leave.

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In my last life, my wife, a SWAT officer, chose to save someone else when the kidnappers gave her an ultimatum. She did it to avoid the appearance of nepotism. But our one-year-old daughter wouldn’t stop crying for her daddy. And I, desperate, used that fact to force my wife’s hand, to make her choose me. The negotiation failed. The man she chose, the man she’d always loved, was executed by the kidnappers, tortured to death. My wife fell into a deep depression for three years. And for three years, she hated me. Then, on our daughter’s fourth birthday, she suddenly broke from her usual cold indifference. She came home with a cake. I thought she was finally ready to let go of the past. I never imagined the cake was laced with poison. As I coughed up blood, I stared at her in disbelief, asking her why. Her smile was a twisted, ugly thing. “It’s because of you. Because of you, Flynn died! If I could do it all over again, I would never have saved you…” In the end, she tortured me and our daughter to death. But then, the unthinkable happened. I was reborn. This time, I chose to let go. I chose to face death with open arms. But after I died, my wife… she regretted everything. 1 “Cassidy! Make the call! Who are you choosing?” The familiar voice roared in my ears. My eyes snapped open, and the horrifying reality hit me. I was back. I had truly been reborn. Here I was, on the edge of a skyscraper rooftop, tied up next to Flynn Pierce—the man my wife, Cassidy, had always loved. Eighteen stories of empty air yawned beneath us, and a single, fraying rope was all that kept each of us from the abyss. Down on the street, Cassidy hesitated, her face pale, a sheen of sweat on her forehead. The kidnapper’s voice crackled through a bullhorn, impatient. “You’re SWAT’s legendary Cassidy Holt, famous for your lightning-fast decisions! Quit stalling! We don’t have all day to play your little games!” My voice was a raw croak. “Cassidy, if they take me, they’ll kill me.” I knew how this ended. I knew the negotiations would fail, and I would die. But the image of my daughter, Sunny, not even two years old, flashed in my mind. I had to try. Beside me, Flynn was a sobbing wreck. “Cass, I’m scared!” he wailed. “I’m so damn scared! Please, save me! I don’t want to die!” Cassidy’s hand tightened into a fist. She raised her own bullhorn, her voice finally steady, stripped of all doubt. “Release Flynn Pierce! I’m choosing Flynn!” Even knowing it was coming, even in this second life, a sharp, brutal pain lanced through my chest, as if a hand had reached inside and squeezed my heart. But this time, I accepted it. After all, even if I had returned to her side, death was waiting for me anyway. Better to end it now than to repeat the gruesome tragedy of my last life. Cassidy’s voice came again, this time directed at me. “Cole, I’m sorry. But you’re a cop’s husband. They won’t really kill you! Flynn… he’s not strong like you. His heart is weak. He can’t take this. Just hang on. I promise I’ll come back for you!” I closed my eyes, a wave of despair washing over me. The kidnapper let out a booming laugh. “Well, well, Cassidy! Looks like you still love your old flame more! Fine, I’ll grant your wish!” With a single, swift motion, he sliced through the rope holding Flynn. Flynn dropped like a stone, landing squarely on the inflatable cushion the police had set up below. He tumbled right into Cassidy’s waiting arms and promptly passed out. And me? The kidnappers dragged me onto a helicopter, and we disappeared into the city skyline. They took me to an old, abandoned warehouse that reeked of mold and decay. When I came to, they were all gathered around me, their faces twisted into ugly sneers. The leader stepped forward. “Boys, that bitch Cassidy Holt has been a thorn in our side for years. Tonight, we finally get our revenge.” My blood ran cold. This wasn’t how it happened last time. In my previous life, there was a second round of negotiations. Why was this happening now? “Don’t come near me,” I pleaded, my voice shaking. “Please, I’m begging you. My wife, she’ll come back for me. She’ll give you whatever you want. Money, anything. Please, don’t hurt me. I have a daughter… she’s waiting for me to come home…” My words only seemed to amuse them. Their smiles turned predatory. “Oh, listen to that! He’s a daddy!” “This is gonna be fun. I love it when they fight back, knowing they can’t escape.” They started tearing at my clothes. I tried to resist, but a vicious backhand sent me to the ground, my nose and mouth exploding with the coppery taste of blood. No matter how much I begged, there was no escape. They tied me to the floor, helpless, like a fish on a cutting board. Then they brought out their tools. Tears of humiliation streamed from my eyes as they beat me, over and over again. “I’m sorry, Sunny,” I whispered into the darkness. “Daddy’s not coming home… Daddy broke his promise…” Seeing my despair only seemed to fuel their cruelty. Finally, they grew tired. The leader draped a white cloth over my head. And with a single, final blow from a hammer, he ended my life. 2 The pain was gone. My soul felt weightless, drifting upwards. Then, as if pulled by an invisible string, I found myself floating beside Cassidy. She was at the hospital, sitting by Flynn’s bedside. After a while, he began to stir, waking with a startled gasp. He scrambled into her arms, whimpering like a frightened child. “No, please, don’t hit me anymore… I’ll be good…” Cassidy soothed him, her voice soft and gentle, until he finally calmed down. On the television in the room, a news channel was replaying the events from the rooftop. The public response was overwhelming. Comments flooded the screen: “I can’t believe Officer Holt was so professional! She didn’t give her own family special treatment!” “I heard they just got married and have a daughter. To risk her own family to save a civilian… she’s a true hero!” Watching the screen, Cassidy finally seemed to remember me. She stood up and poured Flynn a glass of water. “Flynn, I’m so glad you’re awake. I’m going to head back to the scene, see if I can find any more clues to get Cole back. You take care of yourself while I’m gone. Call me if you need anything.” She turned to leave, but Flynn immediately broke into a violent coughing fit. “Flynn? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” she asked, rushing back to his side. He looked up at her, his face pale and weak. “Cass, I’m sorry. I’m holding you back from your work. But my head… it’s killing me. The doctor said it’s a side effect of the trauma. I can’t be alone right now…” He looked at her with pleading eyes. “Can’t you… can’t you assign Cole’s case to one of your colleagues?” Cassidy hesitated for a moment, then nodded. I watched it all, a detached calm settling over me. It didn’t matter. I was already dead. I didn’t need justice. 3 That night, after Flynn had fallen asleep, Cassidy slipped out and drove back to the crime scene. She swept the area with her flashlight. After a thorough search, she found it: the silver locket I had deliberately left behind. She picked it up, her brow furrowed in thought. It was the clue I had left for her. As the kidnappers were dragging me onto the helicopter, I had managed to bite through the chain and drop it. The locket was from a small shop near the old chapel in the south district. That chapel had since been torn down, and the entire area was now a desolate, industrial wasteland. “Demolition… wasteland…” The words sparked something in her mind. She understood. She immediately pulled out her phone. “Captain Reyes, I need a team. I want to request a grid search of the abandoned industrial park in the south district. Focus on any old churches or warehouses where they could hide someone.” But just as she finished speaking, her phone rang again. It was a nurse from the hospital. “Officer Holt, Mr. Pierce is extremely agitated. As his emergency contact, you shouldn’t have just left him here. You need to come back. Now.” She wanted to keep searching, to follow the lead, but in the end, she got back in her car and drove to the hospital. In her heart, Flynn’s safety had always come first. The moment she walked into his room, he threw himself into her arms, sobbing. “Cass, you have no idea… I had the most horrible nightmare. I reached for you, but you were gone. I was so scared. Please, promise you won’t leave me again.” Guilt washed over her face. “I’m sorry, Flynn,” she said softly. “I promise. I’ll stay with you.” She helped him back into bed. “Cass,” he asked, his voice hesitant. “Where did you go?” “I went back to the scene,” she admitted. “I was looking for clues. It’s been more than twelve hours since the kidnappers took Cole, and they haven’t made contact. I’m worried that…” “Oh, he’ll be fine,” Flynn interrupted. “Don’t worry so much about him, Cass. During the days we were held, Cole and the kidnappers… they got along surprisingly well.” Cassidy looked stunned. “Got along? What do you mean?” Flynn shifted uncomfortably. “Well… those guys were sickos, you know? Capable of anything. And Cole… to get them on his side, he… he offered himself to them. He even tried to convince me to do the same, but I refused. That’s why they kept beating me…” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I never imagined Flynn could be so monstrous. After we were taken, they gave us one bowl of watery porridge a day. I always gave half of mine to him, trying to protect the timid man I thought he was. And I had never, ever done what he claimed. But Cassidy believed him. Her hands clenched into fists. “Why would he do that?” she muttered, her voice tight with anger. “Cole… did you have so little faith in me? Did you really not believe I would get you out?” It was useless. I should have known. Cassidy had never trusted me. Not even once. The next morning, the police received a new message from the kidnappers. It was written as if it were from me. “Cassidy, wire the kidnappers ten million dollars. I’ve negotiated a deal with them. As soon as they get the money, they’ll let me go. Cass, I’m waiting for you to save me!” She was torn again. If she paid the ransom, it would set a dangerous precedent for future cases. But if she didn’t, my life was on the line. As she wrestled with the decision, a video call came in from Flynn. The moment she answered, his frantic sobs filled the air. “Cass, it’s horrible! My apartment… it’s been robbed!” “A break-in?” she asked immediately. “Did they force the door? Did security see anything? I thought your building was secure.” “No,” Flynn cried. “They knew my keypad code. It had to be Cole. Remember that time you came over for dinner and he showed up? He must have seen the code then. He must have given it to the kidnappers to save his own skin. My savings, my gold… it’s all gone!” That was the last straw. All of Cassidy’s hesitation vanished, replaced by cold fury. She replied to my message. “Cole, are you insane? Do you have any idea what being a hostage means? Your job is to wait for rescue, not to cut your own deals by sacrificing others! I am not sending that money! It would only make things worse!” Then she turned her attention back to Flynn. “Flynn, stay put. I’m on my way. Don’t go inside until I get there.” As she was speeding toward Flynn’s apartment, a call came in from her captain. “Cassidy,” Captain Reyes said, his voice urgent. “We found a male body in a warehouse in the south district. The face is… it’s unrecognizable. You need to get down here. We think it might be…” They had found me. Two days later, my body had started to decompose, swarming with flies. But Cassidy cut him off. “It’s not him. Just take the body back to the station for a DNA test. Flynn’s apartment was just robbed. I need to go check on him first.” I wanted to scream, to wrench the steering wheel from her hands. If she would just go, just look, she would see the distinctive birthmark on my thigh. She would know it was me. But I was just a ghost. She was already at Flynn’s building. The sight of him huddled by the door, sobbing, shattered her heart. She immediately took him back to our home. “Flynn, you can stay with me for a while,” she said. “Just until we’re sure you’re safe.” He clung to her tightly. “Thank you, Cass. Without you, I don’t know what I’d do.” That night, they slept in the same bed. Our bed. The irony was a bitter pill. Our marital home, now occupied by another man. As if he were the master of the house all along. Early the next morning, her phone rang. It was Captain Reyes. “Cassidy, the DNA results are in. It’s…”

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Five years I’d been with Alistair Finch, and I finally mentioned marriage. He was propped against the headboard, smoking a post-coital cigarette. Hearing my words, a careless smile played on his lips. “Nora, that’s what I like about you. You’re so sensible.” “I’ve told you before. You want to leave, you can walk away anytime. I won’t stop you.” With that, he stubbed out his cigarette, even thoughtfully pulling the collar of my pajamas closed and wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. He knew with perfect clarity that the moment he deployed his ultimate weapon—those four words, “walk away anytime”—I would, like every time before, back down, surrender, and never mention it again. But he didn’t know that this time, things had changed. I’d made a bet with someone. The wager was whether Alistair Finch would be willing to marry me. If I lost, I would disappear for good. 1 On the third night of my business trip to London, my mother called, ignoring the time difference completely. I didn’t bother mentioning how expensive international roaming was; I just listened to her ramble. After a long, winding preamble, she finally got to the point. “It’s not that I’m trying to pressure you, dear, but you always praise that boyfriend of yours to the high heavens. You’re pushing thirty now. If he really cared about you, how come there’s not even a whisper of marriage?” I’d always thought London was a perfect city for romance, its rainy days made for kissing under the covers. But it was a terrible place for a breakup. Too cold, too lonely. Alistair pushed open the bathroom door, his hair still damp, the belt of his robe tied loosely. A few red marks, souvenirs from our earlier passion, were still visible on his chest. He sat down beside me, the sofa cushion sinking under his weight. Seeing me staring blankly at my phone, he reached out and brushed a finger against my cheek. “The future mother-in-law checking in? Trouble?” I turned to look at him. Alistair Finch was, objectively, a stunning man. His mother was a famous socialite from the Hong Kong scene, of mixed heritage, and he had perfectly inherited that touch of the exotic. High brow bones, deep-set eyes, but with the soft, refined features of the East. The clash was deadly. I caught his hand and held it, pretending to be casual. “My mom is on my case about blind dates, says there’s a guy back home with great prospects.” “She doesn’t even believe I have a boyfriend, thinks I’m making it all up. I told her I was just too busy with work to take you home for the official inspection.” I tried to give him an out, pausing before I continued. “Once this busy spell is over, maybe you could come back with me for the New Year, and we could…” “Nora.” Alistair cut me off with a smile. His handsome eyes curved, but they held no warmth. “Don’t test me. You know that doesn’t work on me.” He crossed his legs, looking at me in the dim glow of the floor lamp, his voice light and airy. “I’ve said it before. If you want to end this relationship, you can, at any time.” I stared at him for a long moment, a strange calm settling over me. The first time he’d said that, I had been devastated. I’d dared to throw a fit, to fight with him. I wouldn’t let him off so easily. “What do you mean, ‘this relationship’?” I’d yelled. “Alistair, have you lost your memory? I’m your girlfriend! The one you actually pursued and who said yes!” “Don’t talk to me like you’re shooing away a beggar!” Back then, he was quick to apologize, showering me with sweet words. I had a temper then, but I ended up crying and begging him never to say such hurtful things again. But hearing those words now, I felt no pain. No anger. Alistair leaned in, his touch gentle as he brushed my cheek. “See? You can’t bear to leave, yet you insist on making trouble. Crying like this… it breaks my heart to see it.” I touched my face and realized tears were streaming down without me even noticing. So this is all that’s left. Just sorrow. “But you made promises before,” I whispered. “You said we would get married.” The tears flowed along the lines of his palm. He sighed, as if dealing with a petulant child. His words were blunt, stabbing into me like knives. “Isn’t what we have now good enough? We don’t have to compromise over petty domestic things. Haven’t you been happy these past few years?” “And if you’ve been happy, why do you need a piece of paper? This spot next to me… I haven’t let anyone else have it.” He’d said all that needed to be said. The meaning was crystal clear. In his mind, I had no reason to complain anymore. Seeing that I had fallen silent, he slipped back into his lazy, lord-of-the-manor persona. “Hungry? You’ve been picking at Western food like it’s medicine. There’s a decent Chinese place in Chinatown. Hot pot, Szechuan… what are you craving?” “Not hungry? Then I’ll make you a bowl of noodles. You just rest.” He stood up, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and ruffled my hair. I don’t know when it started, but Alistair had perfected a killer move against me. It was exactly this: to brush past the issue as if it were nothing, ignoring all my pain and struggle. Because he was certain that as soon as he uttered the words “end this relationship,” I would panic, I would be terrified, and in the end, I would have no choice but to swallow all my grievances. This wasn’t the first time I had tested Alistair. But it was the last. And the result was the same. The wind outside was turning damp. It was going to rain again in London tonight. The space between Alistair and me was just like this wretched weather—damp, cold, and hidden from the light. When we first got together, I’d even considered sacrificing my career for a proper title. I was naive enough to think he kept our relationship secret to avoid office gossip, since he was the big boss and I was a junior employee. I was so head-over-heels back then. “I can resign,” I’d declared. “I’ll leave Apex Group. Once we’re not boss and subordinate, we can be open about it, right?” I was truly crazy then, willing to throw everything away just for the right to stand by his side. I had studied for over twenty years, fighting tooth and nail to land a job at Apex Group. My resume was impeccable, my skills top-notch. With time, I knew I could make a name for myself. Any sane person would never dream of leaving Apex. So when I said it, even Alistair, who had seen it all, was taken aback for a second. He quickly composed himself and started to reason with me. “Nora, your work is important. Don’t be impulsive.” I was younger then, and my feelings for him were tangled with a humble insecurity. His words were enough to extinguish my fire. “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Your career is more important than mine.” Alistair was the heir to the Finch fortune; his time at Apex was just for show, a bit of training. Hearing me, he first looked surprised, then shook his head with a smile. “Not my career. Yours.” He began to lecture me, trying to save a young woman lost in the throes of a consuming love. “It’s not easy for a woman to make it in the corporate world. Never, ever joke about your future, not even for a boyfriend.” “I hope that one day, when you make it big at Apex, it will be because of your talent, not because you’re the boss’s rumored girlfriend.” I rarely stopped to wonder how much of what he said that day was genuine. But later, in the dead of many nights, after I’d landed one major project after another, my bonuses piling up, I was always grateful that Alistair had stopped my younger, crazier self. After that, my tests became more subtle. Like inventing a few non-existent “suitors.” I wanted to see a flicker of jealousy on Alistair’s face. But his wealth and talent were the source of his arrogance. No matter how outstanding my supposed suitors were, he dismissed them all as “idiots.” He wouldn’t stoop to competing with idiots, and he didn’t believe I would be foolish enough to trade a diamond for a pebble. From beginning to end, he stood on high ground, utterly secure in his position. I stood on the balcony, watching the housekeeper lock up and leave. Truthfully, setting aside our emotional mess, Alistair was generous, whether as a boyfriend or a patron. I had once casually complained that staying in hotels was inconvenient, and he immediately bought me this apartment near Hyde Park, a place to stay during business trips. Of course, I could continue to play dumb, to cling to the small comforts he provided. I could let logic slowly devour my emotions, staying with him, never asking about the future. But I knew better than anyone that it was a dead end. My phone screen lit up and went dark, then lit up again. On the third buzz, I answered. After a moment of silence, my best friend Jenna’s voice came through. “I told you, a guy like that would never marry you.” “Sometimes you have to hit the same wall a few times before you finally see sense.” She was still talking, but I didn’t say anything. I turned and looked inside through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Alistair was standing at the dining table, watching me. He had just hung up a call. Seeing me look at him, he tapped the table, signaling for me to come back and eat my noodles. I stared at him for a long, long time, until my eyes began to ache. Then I spoke softly into the phone. “A bet’s a bet. I don’t go back on my word. As soon as the paperwork is done, I’ll come find you.” Was the bet that valuable? Was it absolutely necessary to follow through? Not really. It was just that it was time for the show to end. Alistair stood inside, never stepping through the door. He just watched her silhouette, knowing he didn’t need to go out and coax her. She would come back on her own. A moment ago, his mother had called from Zurich. After some small talk, she’d asked about me. “So, are you two planning a wedding? When are you going to bring her home for me to see? You can’t just keep stringing her along.” He had laughed carelessly. “What wedding? When did I ever say I was getting married?” His beautiful mother sounded a little indignant on my behalf. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, darling. Playing with a young woman’s heart comes with consequences.” “That’s what my last competitor said right before he lost to me.” Alistair sprinkled chopped scallions over the noodles, his patience endless. “And what happened? My business just got bigger and bigger.” “That’s different. I always tell your father, your life has been too easy. You found a girl who adores you completely. You deserve to suffer a little.” Alistair raised an eyebrow, not taking her seriously at all. “Who’s going to make me suffer? Her? She wouldn’t have the heart.” He offered a few more platitudes and hung up, his eyes lifting to the balcony. He met my gaze as I turned to look at him, even through the dark night. He could imagine the devotion in my eyes. How could she possibly have the heart to leave him? In the following days, neither of us mentioned what happened that night. A working girl has no time for heartbreak. I had to reply to client emails while tears streamed down my face. The business trip ended, and I rushed back to the office. I walked through the halls, delegating tasks as I went. “Chris, can you check Mr. Davies’s schedule for me? If possible, book a meeting for three tomorrow afternoon. I need to sync up with him on the European progress.” “And have Alex come to my office in ten minutes.” Deciding to leave was one thing, but I liked clean breaks. Apex was the first stop in my career. The longer I stayed, the harder it would be to disentangle myself. A few days later, news broke about a new smart factory project, with the lead position still undecided. While the rumors were flying, Mr. Davies called me into a meeting room. Besides me, there was one other person in the room. I gave her a nod. Sabrina was proud and had never liked me. She didn’t even bother to lift her eyes, launching straight into her attack. “Whether it’s the technical proposal or past experience, my team is the best fit. I’ve been following this from the start. Why is some outsider suddenly sticking their nose in?” Mr. Davies looked at me. “Nora, what are your thoughts?” In the past, I would have fought her for it, tooth and nail. But this time, I didn’t rush to speak. After a moment, I stood up. Sabrina slammed her file on the table, her tone mocking. “You really have to compete with me for everything, don’t you? We’ve done extensive preliminary research on this project. You can’t win this one.” I looked at her, and for a second, my mind drifted. When we were new hires, we weren’t always at each other’s throats. We had joined in the same recruitment batch, comrades in arms. There was a time when we even shared a sense of mutual respect. But then I started landing major deals one after another, my promotions coming so fast it was like I was on a rocket ship, leaving her far behind. The way she looked at me changed. It became wary and competitive. She had to best me in everything. Just as I was about to speak, someone pushed the door open. Sabrina’s eyes lit up. She pushed her proposal in front of the newcomer. “Mr. Finch, for this upgrade project, our team has prepared detailed calculations. I’m confident we can secure this contract.” I had used work as an excuse to avoid Alistair for days. He scanned the room with a professional air, then picked up Sabrina’s proposal. After flipping through a few pages, he made his decision. “Send it to my office.” “Thank you, Mr. Finch!” Alistair didn’t spare me a single glance. Not that it would have mattered if he had. Who would ever guess that the aloof Mr. Finch from the boardroom would be tumbling into bed with a regular employee like me at night? Sabrina shot me a triumphant look and followed Alistair out the door. Mr. Davies patted my shoulder. I gave him an “OK” sign. Alistair was always like this at work—completely impartial. He would never pull strings for me just because of our secret relationship. He only cared about the company’s bottom line. If my work was subpar, he would tear into me just as mercilessly as anyone else. At first, it hurt. But later I understood: he looked down on everyone equally. Back then, if he berated me during the day, I wouldn’t dare talk back. But at night, unable to stand my sullen face, he would patiently walk me through my mistakes, teaching me how to solve the problem. Even if I couldn’t see a shred of affection in his eyes now, I had to admit that the Alistair of the past had been a generous teacher. In these past few years, I had been broken down and rebuilt in his hands, growing at an astonishing rate. Before leaving work, I sat in my office for a long time, until almost all the lights on the floor had gone out. Only then did I click “submit” on the company’s internal portal. Seeing “Resignation Application Submitted” on the screen, I closed my laptop. Just then, my phone buzzed. A message from Alistair. “There’s a party tomorrow night. I had a gown sent over.” “I thought you’d refuse, like you always do. The dress suits you.” Alistair leaned over to buckle my seatbelt, a hint of surprise in his voice. In the past, to avoid suspicion, I would have turned down any invitation like this. We had to be careful not only of our colleagues, but also of the paparazzi outside. They had been tailing Alistair for a solid year, trying to dig up some dirt. But the photos they got were always of him working late, or at the racetrack, on the ski slopes, or on his yacht. Once or twice, they caught a shot of my back. But before the tabloids could even run the story, Alistair’s PR team had quashed it. When he wanted to keep a secret, no one could uncover it. I watched the city lights streak past the window. He was holding my hand. I shifted my fingers but didn’t pull away. The gown and his suit were a perfect match. This would probably be the last time we looked like a couple. When we arrived, I realized it was a wedding reception. The top-floor ballroom had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire Victoria Harbour. The host had to be one of Alistair’s closest friends to get him to show up. A few people came over to chat. Their eyes lit up when they saw me. “Well now, what a beautiful young lady. Puts the pageant winners to shame. Mr. Finch’s girlfriend?” Before Alistair could speak, I stepped in, my tone detached. “You’ve misunderstood, sir. I’m an employee at Apex. Mr. Finch’s secretary had a prior engagement, so I’m just filling in.” Alistair didn’t say anything. He just turned and gave me a long, deep look, his expression unreadable. For the rest of the evening, no one dared to gossip about us. When it was time for the bride to toss the bouquet, I was pushed into the crowd by a few playful guests. As the bouquet sailed directly towards me, I instinctively sidestepped. The person next to me snatched it out of the air. After I regained my footing, I looked down at the tables. The faint smile that had been playing on Alistair’s lips slowly vanished the moment he saw me dodge the flowers. “Why didn’t you catch it?” On the way back, Alistair suddenly broke the silence. It took me a second to realize he was talking about the bouquet. “The one who catches the bouquet is supposed to get married next.” I turned to him, my voice even. “If I’d caught it, what would you have done when I started pressuring you to marry me? Weren’t you afraid?” Alistair probably hadn’t expected me to be so direct. His face was a shifting canvas of light and shadow from the passing streetlights. Over the low hum of the engine, he deftly deflected. “The newlyweds were lucky tonight. It’s always good to catch a bit of good fortune. It’ll bring you luck.” I turned back to the window, my nails digging into my palms until it hurt. I almost wanted to laugh at myself. Even now, at this final stage, I couldn’t resist testing him one last time. The result was the same. No surprises.

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My ultimate life goal? To be a pampered sloth. Not just any sloth. I want to be the kind that only eats air-freighted ingredients, wears custom couture, travels with an eight-person security detail, and whose life is henceforth devoid of all stress and inconvenience. A top-tier, kept slacker. Unfortunately, I was just Daisy Holt, the second daughter of the Holt family, forever living in the perfect shadow of my older sister, Stella. Then, on the eve of her engagement to Lachlan Shaw—a formidable prince of the New York financial circuit—my sister was reborn. She sobbed to our parents that her fiancé was a monstrous control freak, that marrying him meant stepping into a gilded cage, and she’d rather die than lose her freedom. I was about to offer a platitude when a line of text flashed before my eyes, like a streaming comment or a social media pop-up: [Here we go! The ‘She Runs, He Chases’ forced-love trope! The heroine says he monitors her social life and restricts her movements. Pure hell!] Listening to my sister’s hysterical protests, and reading the plot leak, I felt a thrill that brought tears to my eyes. Restricted social life? Perfect, I’m a recluse! Restricted movement? Fantastic, I’m a homebody! Where my sister saw a nightmare, I saw a bespoke slice of heaven tailored specifically for my low-energy, highly anxious existence. When I saw Mom and Dad preparing to break the engagement for Stella’s “freedom,” I dropped to my knees with a theatrical thud. “Dad! Mom! If my sister doesn’t want to jump into the fire,” I declared, my eyes shining with genuine, tearful sincerity, “then for God’s sake, let me take the dive!” 1 I suspect my sister, Stella Holt, was, in fact, reborn. Otherwise, I couldn’t explain how the woman who had been demurely flaunting her three-carat engagement rock the day before, woke up weeping and begging to call the whole thing off. In the living room, she was currently pouring out her heart to our parents. She claimed that Lachlan Shaw, the New York elite’s darling, was a velvet-glove tyrant—a secret, obsessive control freak. She hadn’t even met Lachlan in person yet. I was about to interject when the comments flashed again: [Wait, why did the heroine just reset the timeline?] [It’s a sick, obsessive forced-love story. If the heroine doesn’t marry him, what am I supposed to read?!] [Hold up, commenter above, maybe a fresh start is good for her. The heroine loves her freedom. I mean, can you imagine that life? Food has to be air-freighted, clothes are all private custom orders, even the brand of toothpaste is dictated by the hero. A life with no choices and no turbulence? How could she possibly survive that?!] My eyes lit up. This world, I realized, had gone completely mad. I don’t love freedom! That life—the one with no turbulence and pre-selected high-end everything—is the ultimate dream I, a socially anxious, lazy-to-the-bone human, have been striving for! But the madness didn’t stop there. Mom and Dad, faces etched with sympathy, helped Stella up and righteously declared they would break the decades-old agreement. They were willing to risk bankruptcy and earn the ire of the entire New York financial circuit to protect their daughter’s “precious independence.” Excuse me? Isn’t there another daughter? The trope of the substitute bride? Did no one read the handbook? As Dad’s hand trembled, reaching for the phone to make the fateful call, I executed my perfect, dramatic kneel. “Dad! Mom! Stella doesn’t want him,” I pitched my voice with just the right amount of desperate piety. “I’ll marry him. Will that work?” The living room fell silent for two seconds. Mom swiftly pulled Dad’s arm away from the phone. “Oh, honey, you forgot about Daisy! If she’s willing to marry him, that’s just perfect! Don’t make the call, honey. The contract never specified which daughter.” Dad dropped the phone like a hot potato, visibly relieved. The family drama was solved, and everyone was suddenly delighted. 2 That evening, I was happily packing in my small room, humming to myself. Comments: [Who is this random extra popping up and stealing the heroine’s spotlight?] [She looks genuinely thrilled. Does she really think losing her freedom will be easy?] [Hmm, is it just me, or is the Holt family’s attitude toward the two sisters drastically different?] [Replying to the comment above: I noticed that in the living room. And look at the rooms! Stella has the master suite with an ensuite bathroom; Daisy is in a converted nanny closet. Definitely playing favorites.] [Why not? Stella is the heroine. The world should revolve around her.] I ignored the bickering comments and carefully organized my meager possessions. A knock came at the door. Stella stood in the doorway, her gaze flickering nervously. “Are you really going to take my place and get engaged to Lachlan Shaw?” My heart stuttered. Was she about to backtrack? “Well… should I not?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Stella didn’t answer directly. She bit her lip and continued, “Lachlan is a terrifying person. You have no idea. His ruthlessness in business could drive a man to ruin.” Business ruthlessness had nothing to do with me. “But… does he hit people at home? Does he make you do chores?” Stella paused, shaking her head with a strained, bitter smile. “Ten times worse than that.” My stomach tightened in anticipation. The next second, I heard her dreaded warning: “He will monitor your social life and restrict your movements!” Sigh. Is that all? Well, never mind then. Social life? I’m low-energy. No thanks. Going out? I’m a couch potato. Leaving the house is what actually kills me. Stella looked confused by my sudden visible relief, and she clearly wanted to say more. I quickly used the excuse of being tired and shut the door. All my life, if Stella was unhappy, Mom and Dad would inevitably find a reason to criticize me. I was desperate to escape that shadow, and this was my one and only chance. 3 The next day, our whole family boarded a private jet to New York. Our family certainly couldn’t afford a private flight; the arrangement was a courtesy of the Shaw family. The engagement ceremony was ostentatiously grand. In the waiting lounge, I met the legendary Lachlan Shaw for the first time. And I swear, I was a total S-W-O-O-N. Based on Stella’s horror stories, I’d prepared myself for someone vaguely decent-looking but ultimately menacing. I certainly didn’t expect a tall, broad-shouldered, impossibly handsome man radiating the kind of effortless power that only comes with old money. I hit the jackpot. At the ceremony, he took my hand and smiled gently. “Walk with me, my fiancée.” I felt my heart thunder in my chest. Comments: [I’m done. The hero is so hot. Five minutes of possession, please!] [OMG, did anyone else notice the heavy emphasis on the word my? So commanding!] [Guys, stop shipping this! Can’t you see Stella in the audience? She’s about to cry. This was supposed to be her ceremony!] [The commenter above has issues. She gave it up herself, remember?] After the ceremony, my sister pulled my parents over to say goodbye and, rather oddly, tried to shake Lachlan’s hand. I immediately grabbed her hand instead. “Stella, thank you. I remember everything you said. And so does your future husband, by the way!” Lachlan looked at me, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. Stella bit her lip. She looked conflicted—partly resentful, partly relieved. 4 That night, Lachlan took me back to the Shaw family’s Manhattan penthouse. Gazing at the enormous room with its sprawling city views and private balcony, I asked uncertainly, “Is this… really for me?” When he confirmed it, I nearly burst into tears. But the real shocker was yet to come. Seeing how much I loved the space, Lachlan immediately called the house manager to draw up a contract, intending to transfer ownership of the penthouse to my name. Happiness had arrived too quickly. It felt unreal. “You’re giving me the apartment, too? Seriously?” Lachlan pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head. “As long as you never leave me, everything I own is yours.” I instantly swore a silent oath to the high heavens, mentally bowing to my new sugar daddy. Comments: [That’s the vibe! The dark, controlling male lead is SO satisfying~] [I’m not jealous at all. She got a multi-million-dollar penthouse, but she lost her precious freedom. Waaah!] [Seriously? Why does she deserve this? All of his possessions should belong to Stella, our true heroine! This random girl is so shameless.] [Okay, I need to punch the commenter above.] I signed the contract, then happily drifted off to sleep. In that half-asleep state, I couldn’t shake the feeling of a burning gaze watching me from the side of the bed. 5 The flawless first day must have lulled me into a false sense of security. The next morning, I woke up to find my personal luggage had been neatly taken away by the housekeeper. Just as I was mentally preparing for a dramatic Downton Abbey confrontation, a maid came to escort me to the dressing room, saying Lachlan was waiting for me there. The “dressing room” was easily twice the size of our family’s entire living room. I stared at the racks and racks of designer gowns, bags, and shoes, all meticulously arranged by color. The realization that I would henceforth only cry Prada tears over my Gucci problems made me chuckle out loud. “What’s so funny?” Lachlan had walked up beside me, holding a simple, sleek dress. I waved dismissively and asked if all these clothes were actually mine. He lowered his lashes and looked at me, his eyes dark with intensity. “These clothes were all purchased last night based on your measurements… I’ve imagined you in every single piece. From now on, only I will decide what you wear. Is that acceptable?” My eyes instantly welled up. I lowered my head, overwhelmed. This is when the comments went absolutely ballistic: [It’s happening! In the original, the heroine, Stella Holt, immediately flips out and calls him a sick control freak, causing their relationship to instantly sour and leading to the hero’s descent into full-blown obsession.] [The original was just toxic drama for the sake of it. The hero wasn’t malicious. He just wanted to say that he and his fiancée belong exclusively to each other.] [OMG, look! Daisy is having a much bigger reaction! She looks like she’s crying in anger, and the hero thinks she hates him. His face is already turning cold!] Seeing this last comment, I snapped my head up. I was met with Lachlan’s dangerously guarded expression. 6 His lips were pressed into a thin line, and the light in his eyes was slowly dimming. The air pressure around him plummeted. [Oh, no, she’s crying! He definitely thinks she finds him twisted!] [For heaven’s sake, explain yourself! You were enjoying this! Don’t mess this up for all of us!] [Wait, is she playing him? Pretending to go along, then planning an escape? Clever girl.] I saw the hurt beneath Lachlan’s carefully constructed mask of hardness, and my heart genuinely ached for him. I wasn’t angry! I was touched! I grabbed his hand and looked up at him, tears streaming down my face. “I… I’m just so incredibly moved.” “No one has ever been this good to me. Not ever.” “My parents only ever had eyes for Stella. My clothes were always her hand-me-downs. My room was the maid’s quarters. Even my name, Daisy, was chosen because Stella means ‘Star,’ and they wanted me to be ‘quietly happy’—to never compete with my sister’s brilliance.” “I have never owned anything this beautiful, and I couldn’t have imagined that someone would prepare all of this for me overnight.” I grew more emotional with every word, my tears flowing freely. “Lachlan, you are too good to me. I’m afraid this is all a dream.” Lachlan froze. He gently reached out, wiping the tears from my cheeks with his thumb. His movement was tentative, almost a careful exploration. “So… you don’t hate me for trying to control you?” I shook my head like a bobblehead. “Hate it? Not at all! Please, I beg you. Micro-manage me to death!” The storm cloud vanished from Lachlan’s eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a smile he couldn’t quite contain. He pulled me into a tight embrace, resting his chin on my hair, and let out a deeply satisfied sigh. “Daisy,” he whispered. “You are wonderful.” [??? This is not the plot I signed up for.] [Well played, I have to say. Reverse manipulation! She just overloaded the hero’s CPU.] [This is genius-level strategy! Sisters, take notes! When faced with the CEO’s forced love, don’t resist—cry and tell him he’s too good to you!] [Taking notes now. I’ll use this when I reincarnate.] In the following days, I experienced what could only be described as a celestial existence. Mornings, I slept until my body decided it was done. Lachlan was already at his office, but my breakfast was always hot, with dozens of international and American options to choose from. After eating, I’d curl up in the penthouse’s private cinema or play games in the dedicated gaming room. In the afternoon, a professional aesthetician and a massage therapist would arrive for my in-house spa service. In the evening, Lachlan would be home on time to eat dinner with me. He really was true to my sister’s word about “monitoring my social life.” He bought me a bespoke new phone, then recorded his own fingerprint/Face ID into it right in front of me. “I will check your phone whenever I want,” he stated. I nodded obediently. “Of course. And the password is your birthday.” He paused, then lowered his head and kissed my forehead, a chuckle in his voice. “Good girl.” [Awww, I can’t take it! What is this perfect little romance?] [Heroine: I don’t have a social life. You’re checking nothing but the weather app.] [LOL. I bet she has fewer than twenty contacts, and ten of those are customer service bots and official brand accounts.] The comments were spot on. My only social interaction was texting my mother. The content was always simple. Mom: [Daisy, dear, how are things? Is Lachlan treating you well?] Me: [Very well.] Mom: [That’s good. Your sister has been a little down lately. Could you mention to Lachlan—you know, have him introduce Stella to a good, wealthy man? She sacrificed so much for you.] I nearly snorted a mouthful of cherry juice at the word “sacrifice.” I immediately handed the phone to Lachlan. “Look, my mom wants you to find a rich guy for my sister.” Lachlan took the phone, scrolled through the messages, and his brow furrowed. “They talk to you like this often?” “Pretty much,” I shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m used to it.” He said nothing, only taking my phone and promptly blocking both my parents’ numbers. Then he looked up at me, his gaze serious and intense. “From now on, I am your family.” “You only need to rely on me. All right?” What was I supposed to say to that? I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and tackling him onto the sofa, shouting with pure, unadulterated devotion: “Yes! You are my only family! My one and only, Daddy!” Lachlan: “…” [HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!] [‘Daddy?’ What is her thought process?] [Lachlan Shaw: I treat you like a wife. You treat me like a father/sugar daddy. The power dynamic is completely scrambled!] 7 Days turned into weeks, and my relationship with Lachlan grew deeper. I realized he wasn’t a freak at all. His so-called “control” was more like a clumsy, intense, singular focus. He restricted me from going out because he thought the outside world was unsafe and that I might encounter danger. As a result, every time I (was forced by him to) step outside, I had an eight-person security detail. The spectacle was like a presidential motorcade. He controlled my diet because I had a sensitive stomach and was a picky eater. He hired a team of professional nutritionists and chefs, who prepared endless variations of healthy, delicious food. After a month, my face was noticeably rounder. As for restricting my clothes… I looked at the overflowing racks of designer bags, shoes, and clothes, and my only thought was: Please, increase the intensity. Don’t ever stop! One day, as I lay on the sofa eating air-freighted cherries, Lachlan handed me an engraved invitation. “There’s a charity gala tonight. I need you to accompany me.” My brow furrowed immediately. “Can I skip it?” I hated those social events—they were noisy, exhausting, and required a lot of fake smiling. Lachlan gently pinched my cheek. “No, you can’t. This one is important. Many key partners will be there.” “Come on, just go for me.” Since he put it that way, I reluctantly agreed. That evening, dressed in a custom, star-colored evening gown Lachlan had personally selected, I walked into the ballroom on his arm. The pairing of the handsome mogul and the beautiful debutante instantly captured the entire room’s attention. Feeling slightly self-conscious, I instinctively shrank closer to him. Lachlan noticed, leaning down to whisper in my ear: “Don’t be nervous. Just stay glued to my side.” He led me around to greet several important business associates. My role was simple: smile, nod, and act as a beautiful, silent accessory. Just as I was about to find a quiet corner to raid the dessert table, an unwelcome guest appeared. My sister, Stella Holt. She was wearing an ethereal white dress and perfect makeup, and she was accompanied by a gentle, artistic-looking man. When she saw me, a flash of pure envy and resentment crossed her eyes, quickly masked by an expression of deep, sisterly concern. “Daisy, what are you doing here?” Before I could speak, Lachlan cut in, his voice cool and flat: “She is my fiancée. Where else would she be?” Stella’s face went white. She bit her lip. “Lachlan, I know you have immense power, but you can’t do this to Daisy! She is young! You shouldn’t treat her like a bird in a gilded cage!” [Oh, snap! The original heroine is here! She brought her Male Lead No. 2 with her!] [This guy must be Orion Nash, the sensitive painter from the original plot, representing freedom and art.] [Here we go! The classic showdown! The older sister brings ‘freedom’ to rescue the ‘imprisoned’ younger sister!]

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The officiant—Brock, Garrett’s supposed “best man”—kept intentionally botching my name with every line. He was using the little pet name Garrett had for his college sweetheart. “My bad, man,” Brock slurred into the microphone, not looking sorry at all. “Your last act was just too memorable. I seriously thought today was going to be her walking down the aisle with you… But hey, the new Mrs. is great too, I guess.” Garrett didn’t even look annoyed. Instead, a wave of sickening nostalgia washed over his face. I lifted the edge of my six-figure veil and smiled, a cold, hard thing. “Don’t worry,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “The Mrs. will make sure you get an unforgettable gift—an exclusive feature on the front page of the city paper’s ‘Worst Wedding Nightmares’ section.” 1. The spotlights were uncomfortably hot on my face. I stood at the center of The St. Regis Ballroom, holding a bouquet of rare, six-figure Ecuadorian roses and wearing a custom haute couture gown that took eight hundred atelier hours to stitch. Brock, Garrett’s so-called ‘iron brother,’ was red-faced and yelling into the mic—drunk or just thrilled by his own audacity. He leaned in conspiratorially toward Garrett, his voice booming through the top-tier sound system into the ears of every single guest. “Garrett, do you take Sloane Maxwell to be your lawfully wedded wife? For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…” The air congealed in that instant. He hadn’t said Jocelyn. He had said Sloane. My practiced, polite smile faltered. The background hum of chatter cut off as if a giant pair of scissors had snipped the sound, only to be immediately replaced by the roaring tide of speculation. I knew this wasn’t a slip of the tongue. I turned my head to look at Garrett. If he frowned right now, if he grabbed the mic and offered even the slightest correction, I could dismiss this as an incredibly crude joke—one I’d make Brock pay dearly for later. But Garrett did nothing of the sort. Instead of correcting the man, he looked utterly spellbound by the name. His gaze drifted past me, past the cascading champagne tower, and zeroed in on the sixth table near the back. That’s where his college friends were seated. Garrett’s lips curved into a soft, uncontrollable smile, and his eyes held a tenderness and a hint of regret I had never once seen directed at me. It was as if that other name was the key that unlocked his true soul, and I was merely a prop standing by to foot the bill. “The name is wrong.” I took the microphone from Brock’s hand. My voice was icy. I needed to salvage my dignity, no matter how much I was internally bleeding. 2. Brock jumped back as if scalded, hitting his thigh with a loud, theatrical “Whoops!” “My bad, my bad! Tongue-tied, folks!” Brock waved his hands toward the crowd, a greasy, unrepentant grin plastered on his face. “Mrs., you know how it is. Garrett and Jocelyn were the campus Golden Couple back in the day. We’re all just used to it.” He turned back to me, his tone shifting from joking to something truly vicious. “Listen, Mrs., don’t be too sensitive. Yeah, you might not have the same spark as her, but you’re the main event now, you’re the real deal. You have to be the bigger person. Don’t make the rest of us laugh.” A burst of drunken laughter erupted from Garrett’s fraternity brothers. My knuckles were white against the cold metal of the microphone. This was Garrett’s friend, celebrating a wedding I paid for. He was eating nine-hundred-dollar-a-plate food and publicly humiliating me by saying I was less than Garrett’s perfect, tragic first love. 3. “Brock, enough.” Garrett finally spoke. But his tone held no reprimand, only a kind of weary, almost affectionate indulgence, like a father scolding a mischievous child. “Alright, alright, no more messin’ around,” Brock snapped his fingers and yelled toward the back. “Cue the video! Time to look at the groom’s beautiful youth!” By the official schedule, this was when the romantic documentary of my and Garrett’s engagement trip to Paris and Tuscany should have played. I had hired a professional team and spent two weeks on the shoot and edit. The massive LED screen flickered. The image that appeared wasn’t the Eiffel Tower or a Venetian gondola. It was a series of grainy, decade-old photos. They were all of Garrett and a girl: holding hands on a quad, sharing a booth in a cafeteria, sleeping side-by-side in the library. The majestic strains of the classical wedding march were abruptly replaced by some sad, overplayed indie folk song. Across the screen, four large words flashed: A REQUIEM FOR LOST YOUTH. The entire ballroom erupted in a collective gasp. I stood beneath the giant screen, the last photo showing Garrett in a college sweatshirt, pinning the girl against a tree and kissing her passionately. The girl, with her delicate profile and innocent eyes, was Jocelyn. In that instant, this million-dollar wedding transformed into a grotesque farce. 4. I looked at Garrett. His eyes were red. He was gazing up at the screen, his Adam’s apple bobbing, completely lost in a haze of self-pitying tragedy. “Garrett,” I called out. He didn’t hear me. He was looking out at the crowd. I followed his gaze. At the sixth table, a woman was standing up. She wore a pure-white, delicate lace dress, a style that was disturbingly similar to my own gown. Wearing a dress that looked like a wedding dress to someone else’s ceremony is the ultimate, universally understood act of provocation. But now, she covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears, the perfect picture of an innocent woman both deeply wounded and overwhelmed with emotion. It was Jocelyn. “That is enough!” A roar came from the main table. My father, shaking with rage, slammed his wine glass onto the floor. The shattering of crystal was shocking and loud. My mother went pale, clinging to the table edge to keep from falling. Their daughter, whom they had cherished, was being trod upon like trash on her most important day. “Family, please, settle down!” Garrett’s parents immediately rushed forward, grabbing my father’s arms. Garrett’s father forced a smile, but his words were chilling. “It’s just the kids’ idea of a joke! Kids these days are always stirring things up for a little fun! If us parents get angry now, we’ll just embarrass the kids. Don’t make a spectacle for the rest of the guests!” An idea? Broadcasting photos of the groom making out with his ex-girlfriend at his current wife’s wedding—that was an idea? My father struggled to get to the stage, but Garrett’s beefy relatives held him in a death grip. 5. Brock, seeing the chaos, became even more energized. He loved having control of the room. He bellowed into the microphone: “Looks like everyone is moved! Our youth may be gone, but the friendship is still here. Since the two main characters are in the room, I propose—” He deliberately stretched out the silence, his eyes darting between Jocelyn and me, before landing on Garrett. “Why don’t we have Jocelyn come up? The three of you can share a toast to closure. It’ll symbolize the turning of a page, and you can all still be great friends! What do you say?” “Yeah!” “Get up here!” “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” The crowd of his friends began to chant, punctuated by wolf whistles. I stared at Brock in disbelief, then back at Garrett. This wasn’t just an insult; it was peeling the skin off my face and stomping on it. “Garrett, I dare you.” I stared into his eyes, the words squeezed out through my teeth. Garrett finally looked at me. His eyes held no guilt, only a flicker of deep irritation. “Sloane, stop being so dramatic, okay?” He lowered his voice so only I could hear. “Brock is just trying to lighten the mood. Look, Jocelyn is crying. She’s a girl, she’s embarrassed in front of everyone. I’ll just go get her, we’ll take a quick sip, and we move on. Be the bigger person.” The bigger person? I’m supposed to be the bigger person as my fiancé, at the wedding I paid seven figures for, goes to hold his ex-girlfriend’s hand? Before I could speak, Garrett had already turned his back on me. He walked away, leaving me alone on the stage, taking step after step toward the woman in the white dress. 6. The crowd’s roar of approval reached a crescendo. Garrett reached Jocelyn and offered his hand with a gesture he clearly thought was chivalrous. Jocelyn shook her head, her face a mask of sorrowful beauty, but her body was already leaning into him. Garrett, half-reluctant and half-eager, took her hand and led her up the crimson aisle like a knight escorting his princess. At the other end of that aisle, there was me. I stood there like an expensive, superfluous backdrop, utterly alone on the stage. Brock leaned in beside me, flipping the mic switch off. He whispered, his voice cold and oily: “Sloane, don’t think your money makes you special. Some women are just blessed—they do nothing and get a man’s heart. You? You bought the ring, the house, the car. And what did you get? Real love isn’t on a price tag.” 7. Garrett and Jocelyn arrived at the center of the stage. Standing side-by-side, her white lace dress and his white tuxedo complemented each other perfectly, as if they were the true, intended stars of the day. I, in my heavy, crimson reception dress, felt like an outsider who had wandered onto the wrong set, a garish backdrop to their perfect, beautiful moment. Brock, smiling ingratiatingly, held the mic out to Jocelyn. She took it, tears streaming down her face, looked at me with a pitiful glance, and then gazed lovingly at Garrett. “Honestly, I shouldn’t have come today… I never wanted anything, just for Garrett to be happy. As long as the Mrs. can make room for that little piece of my heart he keeps for me, I’m content.” The room sighed in collective sympathy, seemingly touched by this ‘great love.’ I watched the scene and, overwhelmed by anger, I finally laughed. In that moment, the last sliver of hope I had for Garrett crumbled, replaced by a clarity colder than any ice. I took a few sharp steps forward and snatched the mic right out of Brock’s hand. He was so stunned, the emptiness in his hand seemed to shock him physically. “Sound technician, cut the music.” My voice, amplified by the mic, was terrifyingly calm, without a single tremor. 8. The sad indie folk song stopped dead. “Lighting director, put all the spot-lights on the three of us.” The blinding, harsh light pierced the dark. Garrett and Jocelyn instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes, looking suddenly panicked and disheveled. I didn’t cry, I didn’t yell. I simply pulled my phone from my clutch and connected it to the projector. The massive screen behind me flickered. The disgusting “Requiem for Lost Youth” disappeared, replaced by a dense, intimidating Excel spreadsheet. “Since we have everyone here, let’s settle some accounts.”

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My mom has Bipolar Disorder. She always has an uncontrollable urge to destroy things. But she’s afraid of paying for damages, so she has used me as a cover since I was little. When I was small, she was in a bad mood and smashed the neighbor’s vase. When the neighbor found out, she blamed it on me: “Why is this child so naughty, touching other people’s things? Don’t worry, I’ll discipline her properly!” She actually made me kneel on a washboard, leaving my knees full of scars. After starting school, Mom took me to the mall and secretly slashed a leather jacket at a counter. When the salesperson found out, she cried and wailed: “How could I raise such a vandal! I’d rather you have bad grades than bad morals!” The mall made me pay, classmates shunned me, and I got depression and had to drop out. When I grew up and finally married my husband, my mom broke the jade bracelet my mother-in-law gave me on my wedding day. When my mother-in-law found out, my mom threatened to cut ties with me on the spot: “Your mother-in-law treats you so well, why did you do such a thing again?” The video was posted online, and everyone called me a shrew. In despair, I slit my wrists. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment when Mom said I broke the vase. Chapter 1 The sunlight was blinding, and the neighbor Mrs. Zhang’s angry questioning was right in my ear. I widened my eyes, looking carefully at my mom: “Mommy, you were the one who threw it down, why do you insist on saying it was me?” As soon as the words fell, the panic on my mom’s face instantly turned into an iron-green hue. She lowered her voice, squeezing threats through her teeth: “You little brat, dare to talk nonsense again? I think your skin is itching! I’ll tear your mouth when we get home!” I stared at my mom’s bloodshot eyes, filled with guilt and anger. These were the eyes that, in my past life, watched me being accused by thousands, watched me kneeling and begging, yet never showed a trace of pity. I used all my strength and bit hard on my mom’s palm covering my mouth. She screamed in pain and instinctively let go. I seized this opportunity, using the most innocent, most miserable crying voice, shouting to everyone in the yard: “Mrs. Zhang, I’m sorry! I didn’t break the vase! Mommy threw it!” “She saw your new dress just now and said it looked better than hers, so she got angry!” “She also said, why is your yard bigger than ours, she gets angry just looking at it! Then she lifted the vase and threw it with a bang!” “Mommy, why do you lie? Teacher said, admit mistakes when you do wrong, lying is not a good child. If you keep doing this, Nora won’t like you anymore!” I deliberately used the most naive, childish way to expose my mom’s dark jealousy completely, and then used childish logic to label her a “bad child.” A six-year-old child, crying her heart out, looked exactly like a pitiful worm frightened by an unreasonable mother but still struggling to “reason.” The following plot was the same as the previous life, but I changed my strategy. I no longer just cried and denied, but clearly listed Mom’s previous “destruction records,” successfully turning the neighbors against her. Amidst contemptuous gazes, my mom paid all her savings and dragged me home in disgrace. Back home, she slumped on the floor, eyes empty. I thought she would hit me, but she didn’t. She just stared dead at the ceiling, muttering to herself: “Why… why do they live in big houses, and I live in a broken building… why…” I knew why she had Bipolar Disorder. Grandpa John and Grandma Betty favored boys over girls, giving all resources and love to my uncle Lucas. My mom, as the eldest daughter, was a sacrifice from childhood. She didn’t dare to resist her parents, so that pent-up hatred twisted into a desire to destroy everything beautiful. In my previous life, I hated her, hated why she was crazy, hated why she dragged me down. But now, looking at her red eyes, I suddenly realized. Her illness was forced out by that family; her hatred had an original sin. Every debt has its debtor. Since the root of the illness lies with the patriarchal grandparents and the beneficiary uncle. Then why not—destroy the environment that drove her crazy! I walked over, handed her a glass of water, and gently patted her back. “Mom, don’t be angry,” I whispered. “Let’s not smash neighbors’ vases anymore. The neighbors are not wrong; the ones sucking your blood are wrong.” My mom froze, a glimmer of light flashing in her turbid eyes. Because Uncle Lucas’s son’s First Birthday Party was coming up. Chapter 2 Uncle, full name Lucas Liu, was the apple of Grandpa and Grandma’s eye, a “Golden Boy” raised on my mom’s youth and sweat. On the day of the party, the scene was extremely grand. The hotel was the most luxurious five-star in the city, with fifty tables set. Grandpa John specially wore a dark red Tang suit, standing at the door with a glowing face to welcome guests. Grandma Betty held the chubby grandson not yet weaned, smiling from ear to ear, giving cash gifts to everyone she met. “Oh my, my big grandson is so blessed, definitely material for a high official in the future!” My mom wore a washed-out old coat, shrinking in the corner, looking out of place. I also wore ill-fitting old clothes, holding a red envelope stuffed in my hand for show, which actually contained only two crumpled ten-dollar bills. I sat beside her, looking up at the uncle surrounded by people on stage, and then at my mom, humble as a clown. I wanted to see what this fire suppressed for half a lifetime would burn into. Halfway through the banquet, the host shouted in an exaggerated tone: “Next, please invite our Golden Couple to cut the cake for the lovely baby!” A three-layer giant cake decorated with exquisite chocolates and fruits was pushed onto the stage. Just then, Uncle’s wife’s mean best friend passed by our corner table with a wine glass. She glanced at my mom, then at me, suddenly covering her mouth and laughing: “Oh my, isn’t this Lucas’s miserable sister? Why dress like this to a party? Would think you came to beg for food.” “Look at that child, silly too, like a little wooden stake.” I felt all the muscles in her body tighten, a sign before the storm. I gently pulled the corner of her clothes and said in a voice only we two could hear: “Mom, don’t be angry. Getting sick from anger, no one loves you, and you have to spend money to cure it.” My mom turned her head, eyes full of bloodshot veins, and a desperate madness. “Nora,” she muttered, “Is Mommy useless?” “You are not useless, they are,” I said coldly. “Mom, look at that cake, $5,000. That’s the amount you saved for five years to scrape together. But they use it as a toy for a doll that can’t even speak.” “Is it fair?” These three words were like a drop of boiling oil dripping into my mom’s red-hot heart. “Unfair… unfair! Why! Why!” My mom’s breathing began to quicken. “Then go take it back,” I stared at the stage, whispering, “Take back what belongs to you.” My mom stood up stiffly. She walked through the crowd, straight to the stage. Before everyone could react, she suddenly stretched out her hands, used all her strength, and pushed hard against that huge cake! Crash—!!! A thunderous noise. The exquisite three-layer cake collapsed instantly. Dead silence in the whole venue. Uncle’s smile froze on his face, the baby in his arms cried in fright. Auntie screamed: “Ah! Oh my god! Who… who did this?!” My mom stood in the mess, hands still trembling slightly. She turned to look at me. Then, her shrill wail resounded through the entire banquet hall: “Oh god! Nora! You… how could you do such a thing!” She dragged me to the cake wreckage, pointing at the ground, tears coming instantly, beating her chest and stamping her feet: “You jinx! Are you jealous of your cousin’s blessing? You embarrassed your uncle completely! On such an important occasion, you actually pushed over the cake!” Chapter 3 All eyes hit me instantly like spotlights. “This is Lucas’s niece, right? Looks honest, why so bad?” “Sigh, heard this child is from a single-parent family, psychology might be a bit twisted.” “Pushing over the birthday cake? This is a big taboo, not wanting people to have a good life.” Grandma Betty rushed over with an iron-green face, raising her hand to hit me: “Little beast! I knew you were an ungrateful one! Who let you come over? Huh?!” Just as Grandma’s hand was about to land on my face, I suddenly spoke. Voice not loud, but exceptionally clear, even with a sneer. “Grandma, don’t hit me. Mom pushed this cake.” “You are talking nonsense!” My mom screamed, reaching out to cover my mouth again. “Everyone judge! This child has lied since she was little! How could I push my own nephew’s cake? I am his real aunt!” “Really?” I looked up, gaze passing her, looking at the uncle beside who was trembling with rage. “Uncle, do you remember? Last night at home, Mom said, this cake costs $5,000, enough for your younger brother’s tuition for two years, but you only gave us a two-hundred-dollar red envelope.” Uncle’s face instantly became very ugly: “You… what are you babbling about!” I ignored him, continuing to speak, voice getting louder and louder, enough for people at surrounding tables to hear: “Mom also said, Grandpa and Grandma secretly sold Mom’s gold ring to buy you this suit.” “She said, she is not jealous of the cake, she just feels… why is the younger brother the golden grandson, and I am just grass?” Uproar in the venue. Grandpa and Grandma’s faces turned pale instantly, like being slapped hard. Uncle’s face turned liver-colored. He pointed at my mom, fingers trembling: “Sis! You… what nonsense are you talking to the child! You gave me that gold ring voluntarily!” “Voluntarily?” My mom froze. She didn’t expect that instead of dodging the blame, I brought out this old account. But the next second, her pathological defense mechanism activated. She roared hysterically: “Yes! I pushed it! So what?! I can’t stand it!” She grabbed an unbroken wine bottle on the table, pointing at Uncle’s family and cursing: “Lucas Liu! You ungrateful white-eyed wolf! Who paid for your tuition back then? Who gave the down payment for your marriage house?” “Now you are rich, living in a mansion, but reluctant to give my daughter a decent red envelope!” “Get out! You get out!” Uncle shouted exasperatedly, losing all face. “I get out? I have a share in this hotel too! Why should I get out? You bloodsuckers!” Security rushed up, dragging her away in a flurry. I stood in the mess, looking at Uncle’s extremely ugly face. This is just the first step. Chapter 4 The party became the joke of the whole city. Uncle’s family was furious, wanting to sue my mom for intentional property damage and have the police arrest her. But my mom had anticipated this move long ago. After being taken to the police station, she didn’t resist. Instead, she started a hunger strike and banged her head against the wall, shouting: “I have no money to pay! No money, just a life! I only have this one daughter, arrest me, let this child die!” The police couldn’t do anything with this “rascal” plus “Bipolar Disorder,” could only criticize and educate, then notify the family to pick her up. Grandpa and Grandma were afraid of losing face, finally had to swallow their pride, paid for the cake, and took my mom back to that dilapidated home. But this didn’t end. On the contrary, this was just the beginning of the tug-of-war. From that day on, my mom seemed to have completely opened Pandora’s box. She no longer hid her hatred, aiming all spearheads at Uncle’s family. Every day after school, she would drag me to squat at the gate of Uncle’s newly bought villa. “Nora, look, that’s your uncle’s house. We paid for it, and now he shuts your mom out like a dog.” My mom suddenly became violent, grabbing stones by the road and smashing them hard against Uncle’s wall. Bang! Bang! Stones hit the wall, making dull sounds. Soon, the nanny in the villa ran out, pointing at us and scolding: “Who is it! Have any public morality! Calling the police to arrest you!” My mom wasn’t afraid, instead more excited. She picked up mud from the ground, smeared it on my face, then shouted at the top of her voice: “Come look everyone! Lucas Liu, this ungrateful man! Abusing his own niece! Denying his own sister!” A circle of people soon gathered around. Uncle drove back. Seeing this scene, his face turned green with anger. He rushed down and kicked my mom: “Do you have any shame! Are you crazy!” “I am crazy! Driven crazy by you!” My mom rolled on the ground, grabbing Uncle’s pant leg and not letting go. “Give me money! Give me $50,000! Otherwise I’ll make a scene at your door every day! Make you unable to do business!” Uncle is a man who cares about face, especially now that he has just made a name for himself in the circle, most afraid of such messy things. He gritted his teeth, took out a stack of money from his wallet, and threw it hard on my mom’s face: “Take it and roll! Don’t let me see you again!” My mom picked up the money, a smile of victory on her face. I stood aside, mud still on my face, but eyes cold as ice. This is not enough. This kind of small fight isn’t painful enough.

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On New Year’s Eve afternoon, my best friend’s flower shop received an order from my husband. I checked the WeChat ID of the person placing the order on the shop’s phone three times. Confirmed it was indeed my husband, who was supposedly on a business trip out of town. But the recipient wasn’t me. I made a video call, which connected after a long time. Just as I was about to question him, my best friend squeezed into the screen smiling, speaking before me. “Not even coming back for New Year’s? What gift did you buy for our Cynthia to apologize?” The room on the other side was pitch black. My husband covered his head with a quilt, squinting his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching unnaturally. “Honey, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.” “Stayed up all night yesterday, too tired. I’ll sleep a bit more.” This interruption calmed me down a lot. I perfunctorily said a few words and hung up. Picked up the wrapped bouquet and walked out the door. “I’ll deliver this order.” Chapter 1 The delivery address wasn’t far from the flower shop, a new luxury condo complex opened last year. Security stopped me. “No deliveries allowed inside.” I took out the flower shop’s phone, dialed the number, and explained the situation with a pinched voice. My husband’s voice came from inside. “I’m Vincent, owner of Unit 1603, Building 5. Let her in.” Security acknowledged, registering the info before letting me pass. The elevator door opened with a ding. I took a deep breath. “I’ll go in myself.” My best friend Grace nodded and walked to the stairwell nearby. “Call me if anything happens.” I turned on my phone’s video recording and pressed the doorbell. Vincent’s shout came from inside, “Wifey, open the door.” After footsteps, the door opened, and she froze. “Luna’s mom?” I froze too. She was my daughter’s art teacher at the interest class. She quit half a year ago due to pregnancy. Is she carrying my husband’s child? Seeing the flowers in my hand, she looked me over, lowered her head and smiled, shy yet provocative. “Luna’s mom, you started delivering food now?” She wore a loose long nightgown, her belly bulging high. The paper wrapping the flowers was crushed by my tightening grip. She reached out to take the flowers, looking considerate. “Thank you. It’s so cold, must be hard. Want to come in and rest?” “Sure, thank you.” She was stunned, didn’t expect me to agree so easily. Glanced hurriedly at the kitchen, then smiled and opened the shoe cabinet, taking out a pair of slippers. Many men’s shoes in the cabinet. One pair was what I bought for Vincent last month. He wore this pair on the day he left for the business trip. Cartoon photos of the two were displayed at the entrance. Lyla sniffed the flowers. “My husband is always so romantic, never forgets to arrange surprises for any festival.” I sneered, “Does he send flowers on Tomb Sweeping Day too?” She opened her mouth, paused, then said: “Life after divorce must be hard, rich wife starting to deliver food.” I looked at the decoration inside. The floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the entire Emerald Lake. The sunset shining in had an ultimate beauty. My heart could only feel its desolation right now. Dense pain spread throughout my body. “Yeah, unlike Teacher Lyla. Following President Vincent, quality of life leaped a thousand miles.” Relationship exposed, she became triumphant. “If not for Luna, President Vincent would have divorced you long ago. But my child is more important. Hearing I was pregnant, he divorced you immediately.” “Divorced?” “Stop pretending. Vincent told me everything. Going back once a month is just acting in front of Luna. Since you saw it, be sensible. Don’t use this trick to pester my husband.” “We are all women, I know your little thoughts very well.” She said confidently with her head high. Just then, Vincent came out of the kitchen with freshly stewed chicken soup, carefully placing it on the dining table and serving soup. He didn’t see me. Lyla held his arm, voice sticky. “Hubby, we have a guest.” Vincent turned around, saw me, hand shook, bowl fell to the ground with a crash, shattering into pieces. “Why are you here!” Lyla sighed with pity. “Luna’s mom is having a hard time, delivering food now.” Vincent glanced at the flowers on the table, recalling the delivery person’s voice just now was indeed similar to mine, but never expected it to be really me. He pulled me awkwardly. “Listen to my explanation, this…” Before he finished, Lyla pulled him to declare sovereignty. “You guys are divorced, what’s there to explain.” “Luna’s mom, President Vincent will pay Luna’s child support. Don’t be shameless and pester him.” I stared into Vincent’s eyes. “It is time to divorce.” Chapter 2 Vincent shook off Lyla and pulled me outside. “Let’s talk outside. Lyla is in late pregnancy, don’t scare her.” Lyla slipped on a piece of broken porcelain, fell to the ground unsteadily, pulling Vincent’s pant leg. “Hubby, my belly.” Vincent turned pale with shock, picking her up in panic. “Lyla don’t be afraid, I’ll take you to the hospital.” I was hit hard by his elbow, severe pain coming from my lower back. “Ah!” Vincent looked back subconsciously, “Cynthia…” Lyla moaned, interrupting him. He looked at the painful expression of the person in his arms, speeding up with heartache. I walked out the door, Grace ran to support me. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” Grace held up her phone chat interface. “I suspect he’s secretly transferring assets. Asked my brother to check.” Grace’s brother is a lawyer. I nodded thanks, sending the video I just recorded. “That woman is Lyla, Luna’s former art teacher. Ask your brother to draft a divorce agreement too.” “Okay, I’ll drive you back.” Grace said my state wasn’t suitable for driving, insisted on sending me home, and picked up Luna to stay at her place for two days. Grace’s brother was fast. Just got home, he sent the found information. The house and car under Lyla’s name were bought by Vincent. Plus transfers, about 70 million ($10 million USD). A year ago, Vincent told me the branch company had issues, needing him to go there often. Turns out it was a love nest. Every time he lied about business trips, he was here with Lyla. I immediately called the company CFO. “Director Wang, send me the accounts of the company and branches for recent years.” “Madam, company secrets, you have no right to view.” “I am a shareholder!” Pause on the other end for two seconds. “I will apply to President Vincent. I’ll send it to you after he signs and agrees.” Good, very good. Since pregnancy, I never asked about company affairs, shopping and doing SPA daily, taking care of the child. Everyone thought I married well. Probably even Vincent forgot, I am the largest shareholder of the company, qualified to remove him anytime. I started clearing the trash at home. Opened the closet, threw Vincent’s clothes on the floor one by one, tearing and stomping, venting my dissatisfaction like a madwoman. Throwing to the end, a storage box appeared in the corner of the closet. Inside were all the things Vincent gave me during four years of college. Tulip LED night light, hand-sewn backpack, personally designed hairpin, star bottle with sweet moments written, etc. His family was poor, no money for expensive gifts. Most gifts were handmade by him. I hugged them and cried loudly until dawn. The next day, mother-in-law and sister-in-law entered early, cursing loudly seeing the messy room. “Cynthia, are you crazy? You smashed such expensive things? Is it easy for my son to make money! How did he marry such a wasteful wife like you? Can’t give birth to a son, and can’t even manage a household.” Seeing me, a slap came straight. “Bitch, almost harmed my grandson.” “Daring to show off in front of Lyla after giving birth to a girl. Be sensible, divorce my son quickly, get out of our Wan family.” Sister-in-law packed all the bird’s nest, sea cucumber, aged ginseng and other supplements in the kitchen into bags. “Wasting good stuff on her. Mom, let’s take them all to give little sister-in-law for her body.” Mother-in-law rushed to the kitchen hearing this, packing with hands and feet. “Right, Lyla is our family’s great hero, must nourish well.” The day I gave birth to Luna, she looked once, saw a girl, and never appeared again. I didn’t care about her attitude, but that Lyla actually gave birth? “Where is Vincent?” Mother-in-law spat. “Of course accompanying my grandson. I warn you, if anything happens to him, I’m not done with you!” Chapter 3 Lyla gave birth to a boy. The whole family knew about them long ago, hiding it from me. Until afternoon, Vincent came home, eyes tired, face full of impatience. “My mom just took some stuff from home, and you called the police? These were bought with my money, what’s wrong with my mom taking them?” “Pack up and go to the police station to explain.” Mother-in-law and sister-in-law left, I called the police immediately, reporting theft. Home surveillance captured clearly, taken items worth over ten thousand, enough for investigation. Police found them at the hospital. Only Vincent was left to care at the hospital, overwhelmed. Finally contacted a confinement nanny, had time to come back and settle with me. I looked at him sneering. “Your money?” He seemed to hear a joke, tone mocking. “Not my money, is it yours? If not for me propping up the company these years, it would have gone bankrupt long ago. I’ve been raising you, letting you enjoy life for over ten years.” “My big company needs an heir. You be your Mrs. Vincent obediently, no one can threaten your position.” I pointed at the family photo on the wall questioning. “Isn’t Luna your child?” “What’s the use of a girl? Eventually falling into others’ hands.” My heart trembled. What does falling into others’ hands mean? Could it be… “Vincent, you approached me in college for this reason too?” Vincent lowered his head grabbing my hand, tone softening. “Cynthia, I love you.” I threw the printed divorce agreement on him. “Sign it.” He glanced at the agreement twice, threw it on the ground, sneering. “Cynthia, look at others. Who doesn’t drink and party, keeping several mistresses? For so many years, I just made a small mistake, and you want a divorce?” “Stop making a scene okay? My mom wants a son, you can’t have a second child, I had no choice. At worst, bring the child back to raise with you when he’s older.” His tone was like saying the weather is good today. I looked at him in disbelief, backhanded two slaps. “Scumbag!” He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Wifey, I know you are angry, but how can you live without me? Really going to deliver food?” “Don’t forget, the company is mine.” Vincent chuckled. “Don’t be silly. For over ten years, people in the company stopped listening to you long ago.” “Let’s live a good life. I promise you, no one will ever affect your position as Mrs. Vincent. I won’t give less to Luna either.” “As long as I don’t agree, you won’t get custody of the child. Can you bear to leave her? Bear to let her have a broken home? For Luna, think about it carefully.” Truly laughable. He didn’t think of the child when cheating, now moral kidnapping me. When Father died, he gifted him 10% shares, hoping he would treat me well. Now it became a weapon against me. Before marriage, I hid my identity. After graduation, we joined the company together. When we ran for executives, I found out I was pregnant. Father found out, held a wedding for us quickly, ordering me to stay home and rest. Not long after, Father died of a sudden illness. My depression caused a miscarriage. After discharge, I had severe depression. He took care of me while helping me prop up the company. He said he would guard Father’s empire for me. I believed him, uniting other shareholders to support him as Chairman. In that situation, I indeed had no energy to manage the company. Since then, I became the envied Mrs. Vincent, and gave birth to a beautiful daughter. Because I lost a child, I valued Luna very much. Vincent knew this, so he thought of using the child to persuade me. “Vincent, the naive one is you, not me.” Chapter 4 A few days later, I used my shareholder status to remove Vincent from all positions and notified that I would take over all company affairs. Email sent to every employee’s mailbox. I put on the professional suit I hadn’t worn for a long time and walked into the company. Front desk stopped me. “Miss, who are you looking for?” I haven’t been in the company for at least five years. Many employees don’t recognize me. “I am Cynthia, here to work.” “Cynthia?” The receptionist muttered, remembering the email seen in the morning. “You are the new Chairman!” She opened the door for me respectfully. Elevator rose to the 26th floor. The moment the door opened, Vincent stood at the door with other shareholders, as if waiting for me. He smiled, seemingly saying I overestimated myself. The first to speak was Uncle Wang. He started the business with Father for many years, watched me grow up. Now putting on an elder’s posture to lecture. “Cynthia, Vincent told us everything. You are making too much trouble! Couple fight shouldn’t come to the company. Chairman is such a big matter, not for your tantrums!” Employees watching the fun snickered. “President’s wife probably can’t even read reports, right?” “Not staying home to raise kids, coming to the company for what fun.” “I know this kind of housewife. Just afraid husband runs away with someone, coming out to brush existence.” Other shareholders also smiled and advised me. “Mrs. Vincent, Chairman position is not a joke. Go home and accompany the child.” “Cynthia, The Group grew bigger under President Vincent’s lead. Why cause trouble.” “Company isn’t yours alone. What right do you have to make such a decision?” Vincent smiled confidently, relieving me. “It’s all my fault, made Cynthia angry, causing such trouble. I apologize to everyone for her.” “President Vincent is joking. Since it’s your family matter, we won’t participate.” “Cynthia, no more jokes like this!” A group of people laughed and went down the steps, ready to go back in twos and threes. Vincent bent down and whispered in my ear. “See? No one will stand by your side.” Many are confidants who followed Father for years, now all side with Vincent. I looked around, chill in heart growing bit by bit, spoke coldly. “Joke? I am the largest shareholder of the company. I demand the immediate removal of Vincent from all positions.” Shareholders froze, looking at Vincent in unison. Vincent wasn’t annoyed, “Just right everyone is here. Convenient to hold a Shareholders’ Meeting, elect a new Chairman together.” “Assistant Sun, take everyone to the conference room. Notify Director Lee too.” We walked into the conference room. Vincent sat naturally in the main seat, taking out his equity agreement. He actually has 20% shares! “Scattered shares were acquired by me long ago. I hold 20%, Cynthia has 35%. Who do you support?” Uncle Wang, Uncle Zhao and others successively expressed support for Vincent. Vincent crossed his legs looking down at me, tone arrogant. “Now 40% stand by my side. You only have 35%. Give up.” I looked at the door, waiting for another shareholder. Vincent looked away, mouth curling into a sarcastic smile. Half an hour later, Director Lee arrived late, looked at me. “Cynthia, you shouldn’t be like this.” My eyes reddened instantly. “Third Uncle, Vincent betrayed me.” Third Uncle pulled me aside to scold. “Even if Vincent is wrong, you shouldn’t bring it to the surface. Men need face. Alright, solve this at home.” “I support Vincent.” Others aside, didn’t expect my own Third Uncle would help Vincent. Voice fell, Vincent stood up thanking everyone. “Cynthia, 46% support me total. What else do you have to say.” “President Vincent don’t forget, there is still a 19% share holder who hasn’t expressed stance.”

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After I found out my husband, Finn, was cheating on me. To get back at him. I went out with no less than 10 different men in six months. The night I broke up with number 10, a sweet college kid. I asked Finn for a divorce. “Oh, darling.” “How many times have we been here?” Finn finally looked up from his phone. “What’s the matter? Not happy with the latest boyfriend?” He smirked, a cruel little twist of his lips. “Did he disappoint you so much that my usually placid wife has to come bother me with her little tantrums?” He laughed and reached for his jacket. “I’m afraid I don’t have time for this, darling. I have plans tonight.” I stared at him, still trying to understand. How could a man separate love and sex so completely, as if they were two different countries with a hard border between them? “Finn,” I said, stepping in his way and holding out the divorce papers. My voice was calm. “I’m serious.” “Let’s just let each other go.” 1 “Darling.” Finn’s expression was still infuriatingly casual. “I really don’t have time to play these games with you.” He held up his phone, showing me his open messaging app. “The kid’s going to get upset.” He smiled, but the warmth didn’t reach his eyes. “And you know how it is. She’s not easy to placate.” The screen showed a profile picture. It was one half of a matching set. His was the other half. The girl was complaining, sending an angry emoji. [How much longer do you have to spend with that old hag?] [You said she had a boyfriend now anyway. Or have you decided you prefer older women after all? Are you trying to patch things up with her?] She was shamelessly mocking my age. Finn just thought it was cute. He typed back: [Don’t be jealous.] Suddenly, a video call notification popped up on his screen. The jarring ringtone shattered the tense silence between us. Finn gestured to his phone. “See, darling? I’m a very busy man.” He answered the call, right there in front of me. The girl’s voice was a playful pout. “Finn. I’m already at your gate.” “I’ll give you three seconds.” “If you don’t come out.” “We’re breaking up!” I listened to her confident, demanding tone and watched the flicker of annoyance on Finn’s face melt back into a fond smile. “You little troublemaker.” His voice was a low murmur, meant only for her. “My wife’s home, you know. Aren’t you afraid she’ll come after you with a kitchen knife?” “And if she does, don’t you dare come crying to me.” He was flirting with her, right in front of me, as if I wasn’t even there. The girl on the phone just laughed. “You wouldn’t let her.” “You promised you’d protect me!” I knew what I was supposed to do. I was supposed to stay silent. I was supposed to let him leave, to give him his space. Everyone told me the same thing: as long as I was Mrs. Thorne, I would have a life of unimaginable luxury. I would want for nothing. My mother, who was seriously ill in the hospital, would continue to receive the best possible care. But I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t stand it for one more second. I snatched the phone from his hand. His eyes widened in shock as I spoke into the receiver. “You’re right. The wife is very mean. If you dare set foot inside this house, I’ll make sure you’re carried out.” I ignored the girl’s shrieks on the other end, her accusations that I was shameless. I smashed the phone on the ground, strode to the front door, and threw it open. The girl stood there, her face red with fury. I raised my hand and slapped her, hard. “Do you know what you are?” My voice was sharp, but my face was a mask of cold calm. “As long as I am in this house, as long as I hold the title of Mrs. Thorne, you are nothing but a cheap little homewrecker.” I grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head against the door. The loud thud was followed by her terrified scream. “You’re crazy!” “Finn!” “Finn! Are you just going to stand there and let her do this to me?!” “Finn!” I raised my hand to strike her again. A hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. From behind me, I heard Finn’s voice, a lazy drawl that was somehow both amused and threatening. “Darling. Don’t you think you’re being a little… undignified?” 2 His voice was still light, still laced with that mocking amusement. But I heard the warning underneath. “The kid is at an age where looks are everything,” Finn said. “If you mess up that pretty face of hers, you’ll be the one who has to deal with the consequences. Why make things harder on yourself?” His tone was casual, but his grip on my wrist tightened, forcing me to let the girl go. “Let’s just say the kid was being impulsive tonight and overstepped,” he continued, his gaze shifting to me, his eyes hardening. “But if there’s a next time, darling… my patience has its limits.” I watched as he gathered the sobbing girl into his arms, murmuring comforting words. “It’s okay.” “Shh, you’re okay.” She clung to him, her tears soaking his shirt. He lifted her into his arms as if she weighed nothing and turned to leave. But I called out to him. “Finn.” He didn’t stop. I ran after him, blocking his path. “If you really like her,” I said, my eyes on the girl’s tear-streaked face, “then you should make it official.” I leaned in and whispered in her ear, my voice a soft poison. “It’s not me who won’t step aside.” “It’s your dear Finn who refuses to let me go and make room for you. If you’re really so special,” I said, my voice dropping, “then you get him to agree. Just like he did for me, all those years ago. You make him bring you into the Thorne family.” The girl’s body went rigid. Her expression changed. She looked up at Finn, her eyes wide and uncertain. Finn sighed, a long, weary sound, and gently set her down. He walked over to me. “Chloe.” His voice was cold. “Don’t regret this.” He took the divorce papers from my hand and signed his name on the dotted line. Then he turned back to the girl, his voice soft again. “Happy now?” Tears of joy streamed down her face. She threw her arms around him, but her eyes were on me, a silent, triumphant challenge. She had won. I didn’t look at either of them. The enormous weight that had been crushing my chest for so long had finally lifted. I couldn’t name the feeling. I just sat in the empty villa, watching as the movers carefully packed up every trace of me. My phone buzzed. It was a video from Finn’s new fiancée. In the video, Finn was on one knee, kissing her hand, his expression as reverent as if he were holding the most precious treasure in the world. “Lily,” he was saying. “My love for you isn’t just words.” “You wanted a grand gesture, a promise. I’m willing to give you all of it. So,” he said, pulling out a diamond the size of a pigeon’s egg and slipping it onto her finger, “are you happy now?” Lily was crying and laughing at the same time. She sent me a text. [Chloe, everyone talks about how much Finn loved you. How he defied his entire family just to marry you. How he knelt in the family shrine for seven days without food or water, even endured the family punishment, just to get them to agree.] [And your mother, the one who’s barely hanging on? The only reason she’s still alive is because Finn hired the best team of specialists in the country for her.] [But here’s something you don’t know.] She sent another video. [It’s not what you think.] The video was dark, filmed in the private club Finn always went to. I recognized the faces of the men with him. I heard someone ask, “Finn, what’s the deal with you and Chloe? This has gotten messy.” Finn sat in the middle of the group, toying with his wedding ring. The man continued. “Chloe’s been running around town with at least five different pretty boys. Aren’t you worried she’ll catch something? That she’s… dirty?” “She’s out of control. And you’re just going to let it happen?”

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Early in the morning, the door was banged loudly. I just opened the door, upstairs neighbor Mr. Baker gave me a slap. Then scolded loudly. “It’s you! Your family’s Boy Toy, hooked my wife’s soul away!” His shout made many neighbors gather around, pointing fingers at my door. He held a yellow hair in his hand, “Your husband this hooligan seduced married woman, hair fell on my wife’s pillow! Solid evidence!” I stunned at the door. Even his wife lowered her head and confessed to this matter. For a time crowd sentiment excited, Mr. Baker brought people to break into my home, wantonly smashed, threatened to peel my husband’s skin, even forced me to compensate $50,000 for Emotional Damage. Because I always refused to let husband show face, everyone determined I was shielding adultery. Until the police forced me to open the bedroom door. Everyone was stunned. … Chapter 1 Early in the morning, the security door was banged loudly, as if to tear the door panel apart. I just unlocked the door, door was violently pushed open, upstairs neighbor Mr. Baker rushed up “Slap” gave me a slap. “It’s you! Your family’s Boy Toy, hooked my wife’s soul away!” This shout penetrative power extremely strong, less than two minutes, corridor crowded with neighbors watching excitement, even someone raised phone start recording. Mr. Baker saw more people, more energetic, a pull over Mrs. Baker hiding behind him timidly. “Everyone come look! This pair of shameless dog man woman! I also count unlucky eight lifetimes, neighbor with such corrupt morals people!” He held a thin long yellow hair in hand, eyes red staring at me: “Solid evidence! Your husband this hooligan seduced married woman, hair fell on my wife’s pillow! This color, this length, except your husband, who else can be?” I touched hot cheek, eyes turned cold. “Mr. Baker, trespass private house and hit people, you want go inside squat few days?” “I squat few days? I see is your wild man should be Publicly Shamed!” Mr. Baker not only not afraid, instead stepped into my entrance, pointing at closed bedroom door roaring, “Let that broken shoe smell boy roll out! Dare do dare admit, hide behind woman count what ability! Today I must educate him well for you!” Onlooker neighbors pointed fingers at my home, whispers endless. “Look this girl usually quite quiet, didn’t expect husband at home actually is a Boy Toy?” “One quilt sleep not out two kinds people, this girl definitely also not decent person!” “Know person know face not know heart ah, Mrs. Baker usually look honest, actually engage extramarital affair, still just downstairs, really rabbit eat nest side grass.” “Aiyo, that hair look indeed like man’s, evidence all here, can’t run.” I coldly looked at this farce. “You say this hair is my husband’s?” “Nonsense! In this building dye this kind sluty yellow hair, still all day not go out see people, except your family hiding that one, who else?” Mr. Baker this moment completely in crazy state, he fierce pushed Mrs. Baker beside, “You say! Is it that little demon!” Mrs. Baker lowered head, stammered half day: “Is… is him. He… he too clingy, I… I didn’t hold.” This sentence made scene instant explode. “God, really admitted!” “Too shameless, admit mistress clingy in front of original match?” Mr. Baker heard this, burst out earth shaking crying howl, a butt sat on my floor patting thigh: “No heaven reason ah! I hard work earn money raise family, old still want suffer this anger! I not live! Today not tear that male vixen face rotten, I just die here!” Follow his crying noise, few grandpas usually good relation with him also squeezed in, a look of justice messenger. “Little girl, be person can’t like this, hurry let your husband come out apologize, this matter done too wicked.” “Exactly, hiding count what matter? Dare seduce woman then don’t fear see people ah!” I blocked at bedroom door, body motionless, coldly looking at this room full of smoke and miasma. “You guys simply are slander! Get out for me!” I angry pushed Mr. Baker. “You dare hit me! Adulterer adulteress want kill person silence mouth la!” Mr. Baker a look of rascal appearance. Mr. Baker fierce jump up from ground. “She guilty! Brothers, search for me! Catch that shameless one out!” He gave an order, led people force break in. Those few grandpas take chance jeer, pushing me want rush inside. “Little girl you still dare move hand? Guilty right!” “Smash! Smash this淫 (obscene) nest! See where that Boy Toy hide!” In chaos, don’t know who first pushed down shoe cabinet, immediately after, living room things start suffer disaster. Accompany crackle rattle broken sound, my living room instant a mess. “Come out! Smelly hooligan you give me roll out!” Mr. Baker roared, rushed to closed bedroom door. That is whole house only place haven’t been affected, also place my “Husband” sleeping. I blocked at bedroom door, tight protect door panel, not let them close. “Mr. Baker, you dare move this door a bit try.” My tone revealed coldness let Mr. Baker subconsciously retreat half step. But Mr. Baker more energetic, he thought I was afraid adultery exposed, more determined inside hide unspeakable secret. “Continue smash for me! Smashed rotten count mine!” Mrs. Baker shrunk in corner, eyes blinking, neither dare persuade fight, nor dare look me, just mouth still mumbling: “Sin ah, sin ah…” Just then, outside door came a angry shout: “Doing what ne! All stop hand for me!” I looked up, Manager Tom brought two security guards, finally late arrived. Manager Tom squeezed into room, looking at floor mess, brows tight lock. “What happen? Early morning noise what noise? Still want let other owners rest not?” Mr. Baker saw judge came, immediately climb up from ground, first voice snatch people, a handful snot a handful tears pounce to Manager Tom. “Manager Tom ah! You have to decide for me ah! This days can’t pass!” He pointed me, finger almost poke my nose tip: “This family not only engage broken shoe seduce my wife, now still want beat die me this original match ah! You look beat me, still want take vase smash my head!” Manager Tom turned look me, eyes inside carrying few points impatient and scrutiny: “Ms. Lily, this how matter? Neighbors, how still moved hand?” I pointed smashed rotten living room, sneer once: “Manager Tom, if your eyes not blind, should can see who is moving hand. This group people trespass private house, beat smash rob burn, I am self defense.” “Bullsh*t! You that is self defense? You that is guilty!” Mr. Baker jump foot scold, “We if not for catch that male vixen, who rare enter your this chicken nest? Manager Tom, that Boy Toy just hide in bedroom, this girl dead alive not let people come out, you say is this heart have ghost?” Manager Tom heard a general idea, seem also feel this matter has bit style problem. “Ms. Lily, this matter ba, indeed not too glory. Since people all find door, evidence also have, you just let your lover come out, say words clear. If really have misunderstanding, untie not fine? Noise down like this, to your reputation also not good.” I look Manager Tom that look of mixing mud, heart clear like mirror. Mr. Baker is old resident in community, also active element of owner committee, mix familiar with property management. And me, usually not much interact with people, in Manager Tom eyes, obviously is that soft persimmon can random pinch. “Manager Tom, you also feel I should let them search?” I ask back. Manager Tom sighed, put on a look for my good: “Not search, is mediation. You look Brother Baker angry like this, his wife all admitted, you this don’t hard top. Young people, commit mistake attitude want correct, apologize, pay some money, private settle count. Must noise to police station, that is leave record matter.” “Apologize? Private settle?” I was angered laugh, “He smashed my home, hit me a slap, you let me apologize?” “Aiya, one slap not sound ma!” Manager Tom impatient wave hand, “You if walk straight sit straight, you fear what? Call person out confront ah! Unless…” He eyes ambiguous glance at bedroom door, obviously also determined I golden house hide man. Mr. Baker see Manager Tom bias him, arrogance more rampant to extreme. He took out phone, towards me and messy living room just a burst crazy shoot, mouth still righteous words: “I see you not see coffin not drop tear! Manager Tom said right, you dare not let person come out is heart have ghost! I now just start TikTok Live, post WeChat Moments, post owner group! Let everyone come look this pair adulterer adulteress face!” “Right! Expose her!” Beside few grandpas also one after another take out phone. “Title I all thought good, 《Young Girl Gang Up With Husband Set Trap Seduce Sixty Years Old Lady, Original Match Come Door Ask Explanation Suffer Beat》!” I eyes cold, reach hand want block Mr. Baker phone. “You dare touch me a bit try! Touch a bit I just lie down enter ICU!” Mr. Baker push phone to my face, lens almost stick my pupil. This moment, phone screen already start have bullet screen. Mr. Baker actually really is a small Influencer possess few ten thousand fans, usually post fishing, chess videos, today this catch mistress big play, instant detonate his live room. [Holy sh*t, so explosive? Just downstairs steal love?] [This man look human model dog sample, actually do this kind thing, disgusting!] [That auntie also blind eyes right, leave original match don’t want find mistress?] [Anchor don’t fear, we support you! Beat die mistress!] Looking at full screen abuse, Mr. Baker proud: “Saw it? Masses eyes are snow bright! Surname Lin, I now give you last chance, let your husband roll out give me kowtow admit mistake, compensate me Emotional Damage 500 thousand! Also this smashed broken things, that is he deserve suffer, you also don’t think rely my head! Otherwise, I just let you in whole city mix not down!” Live stream heat very high, soon I received company boss call, boss words very sharp, claim my family scandal affect company reputation, want proceed suspend process to me. I dazed hung up phone. Mrs. Baker seem feel noise big not good: “Old Baker, almost enough, don’t live stream…” “You give me shut up! Useless thing!” Mr. Baker a slap pat open Mrs. Baker hand, “This time know shame? Drill people quilt time why not know shame? You just now not admitted ma? In front live room old iron (fans) face, you again give me say once! That male vixen exactly how seduce you?” Lens fierce turn to Mrs. Baker. Mrs. Baker scared a tremble, face lens, her that face full of wrinkles swell red, eyes but uncontrollable float to that closed bedroom door, swallow saliva. “He… he really is… too white, too soft…” Mrs. Baker stammer said, eyes actually reveal a trace aftertaste look, “One call I just leg soft, I… I really didn’t hold…” Live room instant explode. [Solid hammer! Party personal mouth admit!] [Too white too soft? Vomit… this auntie really wretched!] [This female lead actually still protect? Must be want play 3P!] “Ms. Lily, this matter I can’t manage. All this time, you still protect? You this is want put yourself in ah!” “Brother Baker also victim, emotion excited point can understand. You a little girl, hide hide tuck tuck, is it guilty?” Manager Tom hear this words, face also become extremely ugly, back a step, seem want draw line with me. I look Mrs. Baker that lecherous and cower look, heart a burst nausea, but more is a kind absurd ridiculous. “Fine, since you guys must do thing absolute.” I took out phone, no longer care Manager Tom and Mr. Baker, directly dialed 911. “Hello, police ma? Here have people enter room beat smash, pick quarrel provoke trouble, also suspect cyber violence, trouble you guys quick come.” Mr. Baker hear me call police, not only not restrain, instead shout to lens: “Family members heard not? She still dare call police! Thief shout catch thief ah! Good, police come just right, let police catch this pair dog man woman parade street show public!” Chapter 2 Police came very fast. Lead is a middle age police, surname Davis, one look is experience rich. He one enter door, looking full room mess and confront both sides, brows just lock into a river word. “All doing what ne? Gather crowd make trouble ah?” Officer Davis stern voice shout. Mr. Baker see police came, that acting skill instant switch to victim mode. A butt sat on ground, hug Officer Davis leg just start howl. “Police comrade ah! You finally came! You if again late come a step, I just be beaten die by this family ah!” Officer Davis frown pull leg out: “Have words good say, don’t move hand move foot. Who beat you?” “Her! Is her!” Mr. Baker point me, voice tear tear down, “This surname Lin, gang up her husband seduce my wife! By us caught a current, not only not admit mistake, still move hand beat people! You look my family Mrs. Baker, all by that Boy Toy confuse become what look!” Officer Davis turn head look me. “Is you called police?” “Is me.” I expressionless pointed full ground fragments, “Trespass private house, destroy property, this enough file case right?” “You fart! That is catch adultery!” Mr. Baker jump up, from pocket take out that root by him grip wrinkle yellow hair, lift to Officer Davis front, “Police comrade you look, this is evidence! This is that Boy Toy hair! Found from my wife pillow! My wife all admitted!” Officer Davis took over that hair looked, brows lock more tight. This hair fine and soft, color golden yellow, look… indeed bit like dyed hair, but texture again bit strange. He turn head ask Mrs. Baker: “Auntie, this hair how matter? You with this family male host, really have improper relation?” Mrs. Baker by police one ask, trembled a bit, but looked Mr. Baker that want eat people eyes, again looked my that tight closed bedroom door, hard head nodded. “Is… is have relation.” “What relation?” Officer Davis pursue ask. “Just… that kind relation.” Mrs. Baker face red. Live room inside bullet screen already crazy, Mr. Baker more proud like a win cock. “Listen! Listen! Police comrade, this still need trial ma? Adulterer adulteress, iron proof like mountain ah!” Manager Tom this time also lean up, put on a fair person look: “Officer Davis, I am property manager. This matter ba, indeed is this owner wrong first. Brother Baker although impulsive point, but also emotion forgivable. How about you persuade Ms. Lily, let her hand person out, apologize pay money, this matter count.” Officer Davis look me, eyes inside also bring few points doubt. After all have witness, plus this hair, witness evidence logic chain complete. “Little girl, since people all testify, if is true, this although belong moral problem, but triggered public security case, you still want say matter clear. Hurry call your husband out cooperate investigate.” I look Officer Davis: “Officer Davis, just rely a hair and a old confuse crazy talk, you just fix my crime? Still want search my bedroom?” “This not fix crime, is investigate collect evidence.” Officer Davis serious said, “If you refuse cooperate, lead situation worsen, you also want bear responsibility.” “Good a investigate collect evidence.” I sneer, “Then if check out not that matter, my loss who pay? My reputation who responsible? This right live stream ne, few ten thousand people watching, my innocence destroyed, you guys one sentence misunderstanding can uncover?” Mr. Baker scream: “Impossible have misunderstanding! If no that matter, I eat sh*t he just pulled! Surname Lin, you don’t here delay time, is it want let your husband jump window run ah? Tell you, run not away, you this 500 thousand pay determined!” He shout to live stream lens: “Family members! This woman still quibble! She using legal loophole protect mistress! We absolutely can’t agree! Rush that door for me!” Bullet screen inside a piece cheer sound, even someone start send gift support Mr. Baker replace heaven act way. Officer Davis face sink, realize situation if not control, immediately will evolve violence conflict. He gave me final ultimatum: “Ms. Lily, please you immediately open door! To guarantee you and inside person safety, also for clarify fact, we must confirm inside situation.” I looked one eye Officer Davis, again looked crazy clamor Mr. Baker and that full face wretched Mrs. Baker. “You sure with you happen relation is inside this door him? You sure that yellow hair is on his body?” Mrs. Baker default. “Fine.” I stood straight body, hand put on door handle, gaze sweep everyone present. “You guys must look, then I just give you look.” “But Mr. Baker, you remember.” I dead stare him, “This door once open, you just finished. Also you, Mrs. Baker, you also finished.” I deep breath, slowly press down door handle. “Click” a light sound. Under everyone gaze, in live room few ten thousand people watch, bedroom door, slowly opened a crack. Mr. Baker hold breath, those few phone holding grandpas also lean forward, wish lens push into door crack. Manager Tom and Officer Davis also expression tight, ready respond sudden situation. Everyone waiting that clothes not neat, oil head powder face “Boy Toy” appear. However, door opened. No man. No scream. Also no what panic footsteps. Only see a figure round, hair color golden yellow Orange Cat, step elegant cat walk, slow slow squeeze out from door crack. It seem by outside noise wake up, squinting eyes, dissatisfied towards crowd “Meow——” a sound. This voice, delicate, indeed quite clingy. Air, in this instant solidify. Mr. Baker chin almost drop on ground. Officer Davis stunned, looked ground cat, again looked hand evidence hair——color, texture, with this big Orange Cat body hair, simply exactly same. Live room bullet screen after stop one second, instant exploded! Whole field dead silence. Live room bullet screen, from crazy abuse became full screen question mark. [???] [Cat???] [Holy sh*t, I watched half day catch mistress, result mistress is a cat?] [Anchor doing what ghost? Script ma?] That big Orange Cat, also my husband, obviously never seen such big battle. It tilt fluffy head, again towards closest Mr. Baker “Meow” a sound. Mr. Baker face from swell red became pale, again from pale became iron green. He point cat, again point me, lips trembling, a word can’t say out. Officer Davis bend down, careful careful from big Orange Cat body twist a hair. He put this hair with evidence in hand together compare. Color, length, texture, not differ a bit. “Mr. Baker.” Officer Davis voice cold like ice, “This is you said, that Boy Toy?” “No! Not!” Mr. Baker finally found back voice, hysterical scream up. “He hid that man! This cat is blind eye method!” “He definitely take advantage we not notice, let that Boy Toy run from window!” He like crazy just want rush into bedroom, want go search window. I side body blocked him. “Mr. Baker, my window outside is twenty third floor high sky.” “You want prove my husband can fly ma?” My voice not loud, but like a heavy hammer, fierce smash on everyone heart. Everyone subconscious look out window, back a burst cold. Live room inside, wind direction instant reverse. [Twenty third floor? That indeed run not away, unless is Spiderman.] [So… this start to end just a oolong (misunderstanding)? Because a cat?] [My god, this anchor also too can brain supplement, face a cat output half day?] [Heart ache that miss, slapped a slap, home smashed, work also lost, just because her husband is a cat?] [This already not oolong, this is enter room robbery plus defamation ba!] [Anchor quick apologize ah! This matter done too wicked!] Mr. Baker look scrolling comments on phone screen, whole body shaking. He know, he finished. I coldly look him, word by word open mouth. “My husband, Butter.” I bend waist, hug big Orange Cat in arms, gentle stroke its back. “It indeed very white, also very soft.” “Call up voice, also indeed let people leg soft.” “Mrs. Baker, you say is right?” I turn sight to wall corner that start to end shivering woman. Mrs. Baker face “Swish” a一下 (once) all white, cold sweat instant soak her back. Officer Davis keen catch not right. “Mrs. Baker, you better say words clear, otherwise consequence very serious.” “I… I…” Mrs. Baker stammer, eyes dodge, dare not look Mr. Baker. “Speak!” Officer Davis stern voice shout. Mrs. Baker by this roar scare a tremble, finally collapse. “I say! I say!” “Is him! All blame my husband force me, I gamble lost one million, my husband just come up a bad idea, together act to scam money!” “These people also all one hundred a day hired!” Mr. Baker like strike by thunder, dare not believe look own wife. Mrs. Baker words, like bombs, bomb present crowd dizzy. Live room more thorough crazy. [God reverse! I thought catch adultery, result is catch cat adultery?] [Mr. Baker face now definitely compare palette still colorful.] Mr. Baker excited scold: “You nonsense!” Officer Davis face already black like pot bottom. He turn to me: “Ms. Lily, situation we basic understand.” “To your suffered loss, we deep express sympathy.” “Now, please follow us back police station, formal do a record.” “These few, suspect trespass private house, intentional destroy property, pick quarrel provoke trouble, defamation, one also run not away.” He pointed Mr. Baker, and those few just now arrogance rampant grandpas. Those few grandpas legs all soft, one after another wave hand. “Not concern my matter ah police comrade, all Mr. Baker let us come!” “Right right right, we just come look excitement!” “We also take money do work ah!” Mr. Baker a butt sit on ground, finally know fear. He crawl over want hug my leg, by me a foot dodge. “Little Lin! Ms. Lily! I wrong! Is I have eyes not know Tai Mountain! Is I deserve die!” “You adult have big measure, spare me this once ba!” “I pay money! I pay you money still not okay ma?” I look him, smiled. “Pay money?” “You just now not said, want me pay you 500 thousand Emotional Damage fee ma?” “Now, turn to me.” “My mental loss, slap on my face, my smashed home, my destroyed reputation, also my lost work.” “Mr. Baker, you feel you pay afford ma?” My voice very light, but let Mr. Baker like fall ice cave. “Also.” I lower head, look in arms scared trembling Butter. “My husband suffered scare, this account, we also want good good calculate.”

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When the gentle Second Male Lead in a CEO Romance Novel was about to jump off a building because the heroine broke off their engagement. I, with a pregnant belly, shouted to stop him: “Mr. Hale, before you die, can you sign an Abortion Consent Form for me? I’m pregnant with your child!” The male lead looked at me, finally remembering, a few months ago he was drugged and had a one-night stand with a stranger, that woman was me! … Chapter 1 When I realized I was just an insignificant extra in a female-oriented CEO novel. The domineering CEO Second Male Lead Julian Hale, because he was publicly dumped by the heroine at the engagement party, couldn’t think straight and was standing on the rooftop of the 66th floor, ready to jump. This had nothing to do with me. As a nameless extra in the story, I didn’t have many scenes. The fleeting romance with him that night a few months ago was my entire role. But just now, I found out I was pregnant. The Pregnancy Test showed two lines. Pregnant with the CEO’s child, if I do nothing, it seems a bit too sorry for such a good opportunity! An opportunity that can change my destiny. He wants to die, but I want to rise to power through my child, so he better not die for now! So when one of his feet was about to hang in the air, I rushed to the rooftop and shouted at him: “Wait a minute!” Julian turned his head, frowning in confusion: “If it’s about salary, rest assured, the group employees’ salaries will be paid as usual after I die.” After speaking, he closed his eyes resignedly, intending to jump and end his unloved life. I looked down at the hotel uniform on my body, knowing he misunderstood. This hotel is also under Julian’s name. He probably thought I was afraid no one would pay me after he died, so I shouted to stop him. At the critical moment, I shouted to him again: “Mr. Hale, don’t jump yet! “I want to say, before you die, can you sign an abortion consent form for me first? I’m pregnant with your child! But I’m an orphan, the hospital won’t let me sign the consent form myself.” After speaking, to make myself look more pitiful, I looked at him with a pitiful and helpless look. Heard he is the most responsible person, I don’t believe he can close his eyes and jump after hearing I’m pregnant with his child! I’m betting, betting his sense of responsibility will make him give up jumping for this child temporarily. A few seconds later, he looked back at me in disbelief, carefully distinguishing the truth of my words. He has a child? When did it happen? How did he not know! Then after carefully examining me for a few times, the tips of his ears gradually turned red, and then his whole person was like a cooked shrimp. He remembered, about the absurdity of that night. The despicable Sebastian drugged his wine to rob Lila from him, and then he treated me, a hotel maid cleaning the room, as the antidote, cooked raw rice into cooked rice for a whole night. When he woke up in the morning, I had already fled in panic, leaving only a touch of red on the bed sheet. That was his first time, and also my first time. Thinking about it now, if I’m really pregnant, the child in my belly is really likely to be his. He indeed has the obligation to sign the abortion consent form for me. Thinking like this, he sighed. Feeling this child, came a bit untimely! Just happened when he wanted to seek death. But now, seeking death can only be paused. The stay or leave of the little baby in my belly is more important than his seeking death. After all, seeking death is his own business, and the child in my belly is related to my future. He has already hurt me once, I am innocent, he can’t watch helplessly as I face this matter alone. So he withdrew his foot from the edge of the rooftop and said to me: “When is your surgery, which hospital is it arranged in? I’ll sign the consent form for you.” Seems rumors are not false, he is indeed a very responsible person! I bet right! Chapter 2 In the next two days, Julian arranged all surgical matters for me in detail. From choosing the hospital, to the operating surgeon, to the Postpartum Recovery care after the abortion surgery, he arranged everything for me. Even afraid that after he jumped off the building, I wouldn’t have money to recover my body well, he gave me a card with $1 Million in it, saying it was compensation for my abortion. On the day of the surgery, he personally stared at me for twelve hours before the surgery, not letting me eat anything, then held my hand telling me not to be afraid, telling me this was just a minor surgery, he would wait outside all the time, and go to die after confirming the surgery was successfully completed. After he personally signed the surgery consent form for me, he waved to me, like a farewell sending me to the battlefield: “Go! If no accidents, we won’t meet again.” However, my appearance was the biggest accident. Five minutes later, the door of the operating room opened again. I walked carefully to him and said apologetically: “The doctor said I am now in the second trimester of pregnancy, abortion will be particularly harmful to me. After abortion, I may never have children again. “I regret it, can I keep this child? “I am an orphan, helpless, this child can be my only relative in the future, I will raise him well!” After speaking, I touched my slightly showing belly, looked at him with red eyes, like a puppy about to be abandoned, the look was just right. Julian hesitated, give birth? A child of his blood, if the child’s mother really wants this child, why not? In his opinion, that’s my business, he respects my choice. So the easy-to-talk Julian compromised with me again. His eyes lightly swept over my belly, then nodded: “Okay.” Done! Next, I just need to repeatedly jump on his bottom line! Because I found he is a soft bun easy to manipulate, not at all like the decisive killer rumored outside. In the matter of children, I can see the softness in his heart. He respects my choice very much, and he has been making concessions for this. Next, please watch my performance of holding the emperor to order the princes! Chapter 3 After giving up the surgery, Julian arranged for me again in order to die early. This time it took ten days. In these ten days, he bought a school district house with top elementary and middle schools nearby and gifted it to me and the child, as a place for me and the child to settle down. He also gave me a card with $5 Million, enough for me to raise the child to adulthood. And refunded the auntie hired to take care of my post-abortion recovery before, then booked a gold medal postpartum care center service for me, and paid the fee in one lump sum. Then when I said my aesthetic was bad and afraid his child would wear ugly clothes in the future, he waved his big hand again, prepared a room full of baby clothes for the child, from boy to girl styles, from birth to three years old, all prepared once. Crib, stroller, full set of baby supplies, all prepared! If not afraid of expiration, maybe milk powder and diapers he would also prepare in advance. After doing all this, he, who had no love for life, stood on the rooftop again one night. Still that rooftop, just last time he stood here watching the sunset, now he stands here watching the lights of thousands of families. When I rushed over, he was sitting very calmly on the edge outside the roof handrail, feet swinging, could fall down at any time. I watched with fear, but didn’t persuade him not to die. If a person is determined to die, he can’t be persuaded! Only delay! How long can delay, depends on his luck! I reached out and gently patted his shoulder, very politely said: “Sorry, disturb you again!” He was not impatient, just habitually frowned, intending to solve a new problem for me: “What’s wrong?” I said coyly: “I heard from the servants, you have lots and lots of money. If you die, this money will be carved up by your relatives. They didn’t treat you well before, calculated against you in various ways. “I just thought, instead of leaving the money to them, why not leave it to our child? “At least he is your only blood in this world, he didn’t bully you! I also have no grudge against you! “Fertile water does not flow into outsiders’ fields, instead of cheapening them, better cheapen your child!” After speaking, I pointed to my belly. Just at this moment, a lump suddenly protruded on my belly, it was fetal movement. My child moved! I think if he has perception, he will definitely agree with me. After all, as long as Julian agrees, he and I can struggle one hundred years less! Once born, he is a top rich second generation! Because Julian’s wealth comes from the accumulation of three generations of grandparents, it is not an exaggeration to say their family is filthy rich. This time Julian was silent for longer, but fortunately, finally he turned back and nodded slightly: “Also fine!” He was determined to die. After Lila abandoned him, he had no hope for this world,一心 (wholeheartedly) wanted to seek death. But I am not, the child in my belly also doesn’t want to die. We both want to live, want to live well. He felt what I said made sense. Instead of leaving the inheritance to those relatives who have grudges against him, better leave it to his own flesh and blood. He doesn’t need this money, but the child can need it! He finally decided to compromise with me again. When he climbed back over the railing, I reached out and supported him: “Slow down!” I was afraid he would accidentally fall, then the inheritance for the child in my belly would fly away. Of course there is another point, he is a very good and responsible person, I don’t want him to die, I want him to live well. After Julian landed smoothly, he reached out and took off his coat to drape over me. He said: “The wind is strong at night, you a pregnant woman, don’t catch a cold, it will be very troublesome!” I nodded, reached out unceremoniously to tighten the coat on my shoulders. The clothes had a faint, very nice smell, like some kind of shower gel smell, a sweet and refreshing scent, like morning dew on jasmine flowers. Chapter 4 Julian asked his assistant to liquidate all his assets, then called a lawyer in front of me, signed an agreement. In the future, no matter what accident happens to him, everything he has after death belongs to the child in my belly. In case this child cannot be born safely, all his property belongs to me. Before the child grows up, all his property is handed over to me for temporary custody. I suddenly went from an ordinary person to a top rich woman, lived in his mansion, drove his luxury car, travel with a driver to help drive, at home a nanny to help cook and beat legs, wearing famous brands all over, eating mountain delicacies and sea flavors. Although I am not his wife, the Hale family almost wants to offer me up like an ancestor, because their income in the future all depends on me! The term “mother expensive by child” is vividly displayed on me. When those relatives of his learned about this, each one jumped with anger. Even broke into my home and his office, finding faults with him in various ways. In order to solve them and shut them up, Julian spent a full ten days dealing with it this time. In these ten days, I saw what is called the thunderous means of a superior. He first released the scandal collected before, causing a rift between his third uncle and third aunt. The couple fought inextricably, then got busy, making a scene until divorce, and had no time to find fault with us. Then he gave the evidence of his cousin embezzling company reserve funds directly to the police, getting his cousin locked up, estimated to be in prison for several years. Then his two worrying uncles, Julian was afraid they would trouble me, directly cut off their cash flow, citing their poor work ability, transferred them to remote overseas branches, similar to exile. After doing all this, he took a shower, put on his favorite black suit, put on the watch the heroine gave him, and stood on the rooftop again. Even when passing by me, he smiled and greeted me: “Good evening! Baby needs nutrition, remember to eat more rice every day in the future, you are too thin.” He thought, this time, I would definitely be satisfied, and wouldn’t go to the rooftop to disturb his seeking death anymore. Because everything I wanted, I owned! He can die in peace! However, he underestimated my ambition and desire.

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