Category: English

I have a habit: no matter who I’m talking to, I always say, “That’s great!” When my real, wealthy parents finally came for me, they carefully asked if I’d mind letting the fake heiress stay. I said, “That’s great! Raising someone else’s child for them—how selfless!” At the mansion, Felicity, the fake daughter, sidled up and sweetly offered me her room. I toured the bright, spacious space. “Fantastic!” I said, patting her shoulder. “And you’re so thoughtful, knowing your big sister suffered sixteen years and offering her the best room!” Felicity went pale. Seeing her upset, my new brother Ryan shoved me. “Don’t bully her.” I rubbed my shoulder. “Awesome. You’re so strong—you must eat well.” I lowered my voice. “Unlike me. I never knew where my next meal was coming from.” Ryan glared, calling me a manipulative witch. I kept on. “Wow, that’s great! So you know all about that, huh? Tell me, does your dear Felicity fit the description?” Felicity burst into tears and ran to our mother, sobbing that I was targeting her. I just frowned. What were they talking about? I was only praising them! … Mom gave me a troubled look. “Audrey, how could you say that to your sister?” I feigned confusion, scratching my head. “But Mom, you said you wanted us all to get along. I’ve been doing my best—I haven’t stopped complimenting everyone since I walked in the door.” “But Ryan,” I added, glancing at him, “he came right at me, showing off his muscles. He bruised my shoulder.” I slipped off my jacket. Underneath, the fresh mark from Ryan’s shove was visible, but so was a constellation of older, faded scars from years of abuse. My foster parents had always known I wasn’t their real daughter, and they’d never let me forget it. They pulled me out of school the moment they legally could and forced me to work. If I hadn’t run away and literally bumped into my biological parents, they probably would have sold me off. At the sight of the old scars, my mother gasped. Ryan just stared, completely at a loss. “I… I had no idea your life was so hard.” His eyes were wide and guileless, reminding me of a kitten I had once. I couldn’t help myself. I stood on my toes, patted his head, and said, “That’s great. So now you know, right?” He just stared, then nodded dumbly. A moment later, he was eagerly hauling my luggage into Felicity’s room. Felicity stomped her foot, grabbing his arm. “Ryan! Are you taking her side against me?” He scratched his head, looking flustered. “Felicity, she’s not an outsider. She’s Mom and Dad’s real daughter. Besides,” he added, “didn’t you just offer her the room?” Felicity clearly hadn’t expected this. She ran to Mom, her eyes welling with tears. “Mom, I want to be nice to my sister, I really do, but… this room… I have so many memories here…” Before Mom could say a word, I cut in. “Mom, if my sister doesn’t genuinely want me to have her room, that’s fine. I can stay somewhere else. As long as we’re all together as a family, it doesn’t matter where I sleep.” A wave of emotion washed over my mother’s face. She stroked my hair, calling me a good, sweet girl, then ordered Ryan to move my things back to the small guest room. As he dutifully wrestled with my suitcase, I clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re doing great, Ryan!” The praise seemed to energize him. He practically carried my luggage back to my new room. I glanced over my shoulder. Felicity stood frozen in place, guarding her prize. She looked like she’d won, but also, somehow, like she hadn’t. But guilt is a fleeting emotion, while sixteen years of affection is a bond not easily broken. All Felicity had to do was squeeze out a single tear, and Mom and Ryan would flock to her side. I heard Mom’s gentle voice from inside the room. “Felicity, darling, how could you think I’d ever neglect you just because Audrey is here?” Felicity whined, “I don’t care! You’re already taking her side!” “Sweetheart,” Mom said, her voice strained, “Audrey is my biological child, after all.” Felicity shot back, “Fine! If that’s how it is, maybe I should just go back to them!” Mom’s voice rose in alarm. “Absolutely not! Those people are dirt poor. Your sister was tormented for sixteen years. How could I ever let you suffer like that?” I smiled. A cold, bitter smile. So, Mom knew. She knew I had been tormented for sixteen years. I thought of all the beatings, of hiding under the table like a dog, waiting for them to toss me scraps. Meanwhile, Felicity had been showered with fine food, expensive clothes, and all the love in the world. That’s why she could throw tantrums and act out with such confidence. She had the security I never did. It would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt. But I couldn’t cry. I wasn’t Felicity. I leaned against the doorframe, listening until the very end. When Ryan opened the door and saw me, he looked mortified. “Audrey, what are you doing here?” I put on a bright smile. “Ryan, Felicity is amazing! She cries so loudly. You can tell she’s full of life!” Unlike me. The louder I cried, the harder my foster parents hit me. Before I could say the last part, a sharp sting exploded across my cheek. Felicity had slapped me. Her hand was trembling as she pointed at me. “Audrey Prescott, what is your problem? Stop being so passive-aggressive!” Mom gasped when she saw Felicity hit me. For a foolish second, I thought she might actually discipline her. She didn’t. She just took Felicity’s hand, cooing like she was calming a toddler. “There, there, Felicity. You’re not pretty when you’re angry. Come on, let’s go have dinner.” She shot me an apologetic glance before leading Felicity downstairs. I stood there, my hand pressed to my swelling cheek. Ryan sighed. “Audrey, Mom just managed to calm her down. If we say anything else to her, she might do something drastic.” He brought the first-aid kit and began dabbing ointment on my face. “We’ve spoiled her rotten,” he muttered. “She’s been throwing fits ever since she heard you were coming. Just… try to avoid her for a while, okay? For everyone’s sake.” I looked down, and a tear I couldn’t stop splashed onto his hand. “Why should I?” “This is my home.” “I already gave it up to her for sixteen years. Isn’t that enough?” Ryan swallowed hard. “Audrey, it’s not Felicity’s fault… and she’s been diagnosed with depression before. If we sent her back to that family, she wouldn’t survive it.” Not her fault? I laughed inwardly, a cold, sharp sound. But I quickly smoothed my expression into a smile. “You’re doing great, Ryan. My face doesn’t even hurt anymore.” At the Prescott house, Felicity had many privileges. One of them was choosing the menu. Coincidentally, ever since my arrival, every single dish she ordered was something I was allergic to. She knew I was deathly allergic to shellfish, so on my very first night, she requested a massive seafood feast. She even “thoughtfully” tried to shove a large shrimp into my mouth. I dodged, but it grazed my lips. My mouth immediately swelled up, and the world tilted sideways before I collapsed. Felicity looked down at me with feigned concern. “Oh, sister! I know it’s your first time eating real seafood, but you don’t have to be that dramatic.” Only then did it seem to dawn on my mother. “Oh, dear! I completely forgot Audrey can’t eat shellfish!” I ended up in the hospital. Even after that, the dining table was laden with seafood for the next two days. Felicity would call out sweetly, “Sister, come and eat!” I stood at the top of the stairs. “Is there lobster?” Felicity held one up with her chopsticks. “How about baby shrimp?” She picked one up. “Crab.” She found a crab leg. “Clams.” “Mussels.” She patiently displayed every single item I named. “So, sister, which one do you want?” I gave her a thumbs-up. “That’s great! I can’t eat any of these. Did you get that for next time?” Felicity was dumber than my cat. I told her I couldn’t eat it, and she still had the chef make it day after day. I knew she was doing it on purpose. But my father just glanced at me and said, “Felicity just wants to eat seafood, Audrey. It’s not about you.” I nodded eagerly. “You’re right, you’re right. Not about me at all.” I turned to him. “Dad, you’re in great shape! Eating so much seafood for so many days straight, and you’re not even worried about your uric acid levels spiking? You’re not afraid of getting gout?” The piece of fish on his chopsticks fell onto the table with a soft plop. He cleared his throat. “Felicity, dear, let’s have the chef make some other things. Some vegetables, some meat. Lay off the seafood for a bit.” Felicity threw down her chopsticks. “I want to eat seafood! That’s all I want to eat!” Immediately, everyone rushed to console her. I, meanwhile, stirred a few cents’ worth of fermented bean curd into my plain rice and ate with gusto. My father, rubbing his temples, turned and saw me happily shoveling rice into my mouth. He couldn’t help but ask, “Audrey, there’s nothing on the table you can eat. How can you look so happy?” Oh, so he knew. He knew there was nothing for me. He just couldn’t be bothered to intervene in his children’s squabbles. I put down my clean bowl. “Of course. The food I used to eat was spoiled. Just getting to eat fresh, white rice is a luxury for me.” “Mom, Dad, Ryan, Felicity, I’m full. You guys enjoy.” I ignored the guilty looks they shot my way, washed my bowl, and went upstairs. I heard later that my father revoked Felicity’s menu privileges. He told the chef to start making some of my favorite dishes. When Ryan told me, he expected me to be touched, maybe even cry with gratitude. I was mostly just confused. Wasn’t making food I could eat the bare minimum? But I played my part, putting on a naive smile. “That’s great! Does this mean I can finally have big chicken drumsticks and that delicious braised pork belly?” Ryan’s eyes grew misty. He patted my head. “Is that all you want? Chicken and pork? Anything else, just tell me and I’ll let the chef know.” “No need,” I said lightly. “You should make some seafood, too. It’s Felicity’s favorite.” The next day, a huge platter of seafood sat in front of Felicity. In front of me sat a plate of braised pork and a crispy chicken leg. I beamed. “This is perfect! Now my sister and I both get to eat what we like!” High society life means endless parties and galas. When I came downstairs in my custom-made gown, Felicity clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, sister! That dress looks ridiculous on you.” I nodded in agreement. “It’s amazing, right? Custom-made for my measurements, and it’s still this baggy.” Mom, looking irritated, summoned the tailor and demanded an explanation. The terrified woman confessed immediately. “It was Miss Felicity. She told me Miss Audrey would surely gain weight and that I should make it a few sizes larger.” Mom turned to Felicity. Felicity just pouted. “I was just trying to be thoughtful! How was I supposed to know she wouldn’t gain any weight? It’s like we’re starving her or something.” I nodded silently. That’s great. You hit the nail right on the head. Felicity only wanted to embarrass me; she hadn’t considered that as a Prescott, my appearance reflected on the family. But Mom couldn’t bring herself to scold her darling, so she just hassled the poor tailor to alter the dress on the spot. “Forget it, it’s fine,” I said, grabbing a wrap from the hall closet and draping it over my shoulders. “This way, you can’t even tell.” Mom and Dad were busy networking, and Ryan was quickly absorbed by his friends. Before he left, he entrusted me to Felicity. “Audrey, Felicity has lots of friends here. You should go meet them.” “That’s great, Ryan. You’re so considerate.” I smiled, my eyes crinkling at the corners. He completely missed the sarcasm. “Right? I’m a good brother.” Felicity took my hand and dragged me over to her clique. Then, they all started speaking rapid-fire English. They’d talk for a bit, then stop abruptly and stare at me, waiting for a reaction. I just maintained a polite, placid smile. After a few seconds of silence, Felicity let out a giggle. “Audrey, they’re asking for your name. Don’t tell me you can’t even understand that?” One of her friends wrinkled her nose. “Ugh, where did this country bumpkin come from? She can’t even speak English.” I just smiled and nodded. “That’s great. Your English really is excellent.” “My foster parents—Felicity’s biological parents—abused me, so I had to drop out of school years ago.” Her friends froze. “Wait, what? Is that true?” one of them finally asked. “Felicity, isn’t Mr. Prescott your father?” To protect Felicity’s feelings, my parents had never publicly announced the switch. They were even considering letting me stay on as the “adopted” daughter, while Felicity remained the true heiress. Before Felicity could answer, I did. “No. Felicity is the fake heiress. I’m the real one they switched me with.” Felicity’s face turned ugly. She ripped the wrap from my shoulders. “You’re lying, Audrey!” she shrieked. “I’m the real one! I’m their real daughter!” Every head in the room turned toward us. The ill-fitting dress hung off my skinny frame, making me look like a clown. I reached for my wrap, but Felicity grabbed a glass of red wine and threw it in my face. She smirked. “You like saying ‘that’s great,’ right? So tell me, how great was that?” She looked up, saw our parents rushing over, and viciously pinched her own arm, forcing out two fat tears. “Mom! Dad! Sister said I’m not your child… Why? I’ve always thought of you as my real parents.” Predictably, they immediately started comforting her. Then my father turned on me. “Audrey, didn’t we discuss this? You and Felicity are both our children. Why would you say such things?” I smiled. “That’s great. So, for Felicity’s sake, you’re going to tell the world I’m the adopted one?” Mom looked desperate. “The switch was an accident! It wasn’t Felicity’s fault. She’s innocent!” I let out a bitter laugh. “Mom, Dad, you could find out if it was an accident with one simple investigation. If Felicity is so innocent, how did she know about my seafood allergy and serve me a death platter on my first night?” Ryan jumped to her defense. “Audrey, it was just a coincidence! She wanted to give you the best…” I was suddenly so tired. All they had to do was look at her phone, check her bank transfers. It was all there. I looked straight at Felicity. “Mom and Dad have been trying to protect you, trying to keep you from finding out you were the fake heiress. They’ve been secretly searching for me for the past two years. But the truth is, you’ve known all along, haven’t you?” Her face went pale. “What are you talking about?” “Are you brave enough to let me see your phone?” I held out my hand. Naturally, she refused. But under the weight of everyone’s stares, she flushed with anger and shoved the phone at me. “Fine! Look all you want, Audrey!” But when I opened her messaging app, there was nothing incriminating. Wait. She had to have a second account. Just as I was about to switch, Felicity’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she collapsed. I was stunned. The words just fell out of my mouth. “Brilliant. The acting is just top-notch.” Suddenly, my head snapped to the side from the force of a blow. I looked up to see my father, his face purple with rage. “Yes, you’re right! We love Felicity!” he roared. “No matter what she’s done, our feelings for her will always be stronger than our feelings for you! Are you satisfied now?!”

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To secure investment for my sister, my husband took me to a private party hosted by a legendary female tycoon known for her twisted tastes and appetite for both men and women. Before entering, my husband gripped my wrist tightly, eyes dark: “Winter, Big Mama Sue has a weird temper, no matter what she does to you later, you must not resist, don’t drag down Wendy’s project.” I nodded with tears in my eyes, after all, he loves Wendy, married me only out of necessity, it’s normal he doesn’t care about me. Next second, that three-hundred-pound Big Mama Sue pushed open the door, beady eyes shining, pulled Julian Pierce into her arms. “In my parties, I haven’t seen such a sweet man?” Julian struggled hard, annoyed Big Mama Sue, she gave him two big slaps. I hurriedly persuaded: “Husband, no matter what she does to you later, you must not resist! Wendy’s project is important!” Chapter 1 I am Winter, Julian Pierce’s wife in name, also the “Doormat” of high society everyone laughs at. Julian loves Wendy, love that shakes heaven and earth. Even Wendy went abroad to study, he kept himself pure for her, turning a blind eye to me, his legal wife. This time Wendy returned to start a business, eyed a film project, short of $50 Million investment. Julian without a word, pulled me out to “sacrifice”. Location set in “The Strip”, Las Vegas’s most luxurious money pit. Investor we meeting is called Sue, nicknamed “Big Mama Sue”. Rumor says this old woman plays hard, especially likes torturing young pretty girls. In elevator, Julian was still brainwashing me. He straightened his non-existent wrinkles, that face kissed by God tight, revealing a scum indifference under gentleman appearance. “Winter, Wendy health not good, can’t take stimulation, this money very important to her.” “Although Big Mama Sue reputation not good, but you are Mrs. Pierce, she will give some face, at most let you drink few glasses, touched few times.” “You thick skin, endure it will pass.” Listen, is this human words? I lowered head, bangs covered mockery in my eyes, voice soft like a frightened bunny. “But Julian… heard last month a starlet came out from Big Mama Sue’s room, went straight to ICU…” Julian impatiently interrupted me, tone full of disgust. “That’s them not sensible! I warn you, later no matter what Big Mama Sue wants do to you, you must not resist, if you ruin investment, I only ask you!” “Don’t drag me down, even more don’t drag Wendy.” Ding. Elevator door opened. I looked up, eye rims red, obediently nodded: “I know, Julian. For you, for Wendy, I willing do anything.” Julian grunted satisfied, walked out elevator first. Looking at his tall back, my mouth corner hooked a imperceptible sneer. Idiot. Since you so generous, hope later you can also think so. Private room door pushed open, a strong smell of cigar mixed with cheap perfume came to face. Under dim light, a mountain of flesh sat in middle of leather sofa. Big Mama Sue wore a leopard print tight dress, neck hung big gold chain, fingers full of gem rings, live like a nouveau riche spirit. She hugged left and right, two handsome young boys tremblingly feeding her grapes. Seeing us enter, Big Mama Sue’s beady eyes narrowed, swept a circle on me, then—— Extremely disdainfully moved away. “Mr. Pierce, this is… sincerity you brought?” Big Mama Sue voice rough, like broken bellows pulling, hear people scalp numb. Julian hurriedly changed a fawning smile, pushed me forward不動聲色 (quietly). “Big Mama Sue, this is my wife Winter. Although she not sensible, but win in young obedient, if you fancy…” Words not finished, Big Mama Sue suddenly stood up fiercely. That instant, I felt floor shook three times. She pushed away two boys beside, stepped on sky high heels, walked with pace not recognizing six relatives, straight to… Julian. Julian still chattering promoting me: “Winter, not hurry toast Big Mama Sue?” I just about reach for wine glass. A fat greasy big hand, directly bypassed me, grabbed Julian’s wrist. “Ouch, this small hand, really smooth.” Julian whole body stiff, fake smile on face froze instantly. “Big… Big Mama Sue?” Big Mama Sue simply ignored him, that pair beady eyes dead staring Julian’s handsome face, saliva about to flow down. “Tsk tsk tsk, in my private room, when seen such fresh man?” “This waist, yo, look this ass, this small face…” Big Mama Sue while saying, while pinched hard on Julian’s waist. “Mr. Pierce, turns out best sincerity, is yourself!” I stood aside, almost couldn’t hold back laughter. Deserve! Let you want send wife away, this time good, sent yourself in right! Julian obviously didn’t predict this trend. He dignified Pierce family eldest son, when suffered this humiliation? Immediately face black, subconsciously wanted throw off Big Mama Sue’s hand. “Big Mama Sue, please respect self! I come talk business!” “Slap!” Crisp slap sound echoed in room. Big Mama Sue backhand a slap, directly beat Julian confused. “Give face not want face thing! Old lady touch you is look up you!” “Pretend what chaste man? Entered this door, is old lady’s person!” Big Mama Sue strength huge, Julian that pale face instantly emerged five bright red finger marks. Surrounding bodyguards immediately surrounded up, each fiendish, rubbing fists. Julian panicked. Although he rich second generation, but just a flower shelf, where seen this black white eat all battle array? He help looked at me, eyes full of horror and command: “Winter! Not hurry help me speak!” I blinked, immediately changed a “virtuous wife good mother” expression. I stepped forward, didn’t pull Julian, instead held Big Mama Sue other hand, face sincere. “Big Mama Sue, you don’t angry, my husband he just shy.” Finished, I turned look Julian, earnest words, word word weep blood. “Husband, just now in elevator how you taught me?” “You said, no matter what Big Mama Sue wants do, must not resist, don’t drag down project.” “How can you speak not count?” Julian widened eyes, unbelievable looked at me: “Winter! You crazy? I let you…” “Let me sacrifice for sister Wendy, right?” I interrupted him, eyes contain hot tears, a look of righteousness. “Now chance come! As long as you submit Big Mama Sue, sister Wendy’s 50 million has landing!” “Husband, later no matter what Big Mama Sue do to you, you don’t resist! Life important, project important!” “You think about Wendy, think suffering she suffered abroad, you bear heart let her disappoint?” I bit “Wendy” two words extremely heavy. This is legendary——use magic beat magic. Walk green tea road, let green tea no road walk. Julian angry whole body trembling, pointed me “You you you” half day, one sentence can’t say out. Big Mama Sue heard my words, actually showed appreciative eyes to me. “Ouch, still this little wife sensible.” She arm around Julian neck, that force like want strangle a chicken. “Heard not? Your wife let you submit me.” “Mr. Pierce, don’t struggle, spring night one moment worth thousand gold.” Big Mama Sue saying, dragged Julian walk towards suite inside private room. Julian desperate struggle, two legs kicking on ground, shoe dropped one. “Winter! Save me! Call police! Quick call police!” “I not talk! This project I don’t want!” I stood in place, motionless, even intimately helped him pick up that leather shoe, put on shoe rack aside. “Husband, this is your wrong.” “Being human want word have trust, how can you for own bit chastity, ignore sister Wendy dream?” “You rest assured go, I will guard you here.” “Fighting! You are the best!” I made a cheering gesture to him. “Bang!” Suite door heavy closed. Isolated Julian pig killing like scream. I long exhaled, walked to sofa sit, picked a grape stuffed mouth. Beside two boys looked each other, looking me eyes full of awe. One bold, leaned over poured me cup wine. “Sister, you… really cow.” I smiled, held wine glass sipped. “Basic operation, don’t 6.” Just then, phone in my bag vibrated. Took out look, screen jumping two words——”Wendy”. Yo, main owner came. I slow orderly connected phone, opened speaker. Phone other end came Wendy delicate voice, carrying few points probing and anxious. “Sister, did you and brother-in-law see Big Mama Sue?” “Talk how? That 50 million… Big Mama Sue agreed?” I glanced at closed suite door, inside faintly came belt whipping sound, and Julian voice changed begging. Battle situation fierce ah. I cleared throat, voice gentle can pinch water. “Wendy ah, you rest assured.” “Your brother-in-law for you, that is really fought life.” “He is conducting… deep, negative distance communication with Big Mama Sue.” “I see this 50 million, stable.” Wendy obviously didn’t understand my implication, voice revealed surprise. “Really? Brother-in-law so good! I knew brother-in-law loves me most!” “Sister, you also don’t jealous, brother-in-law doing this all for our future…” Listen, this tea smell, across screen can smoke people dead. I forced back smile, echoed: “Yes ah yes ah, I not jealous, I moved too late.” “After all, like your brother-in-law this, willing sacrifice body for sister-in-law man, world rare ah.” “You later must good repay him.” Best is lower half life pushing wheelchair take care him. Hung up phone, I mood very good. Just prepare eat two more grapes, private room door suddenly pushed open. A man wearing black trench coat, figure tall walked in. He wore gold wire glasses, temperament cold ascetic, hand holding a string of Rosary Beads. Behind followed a row black suit bodyguards, aura stronger than just Big Mama Sue hundred times. Originally watching show two boys, seeing this man, scared face white, plop kneel on ground. “Lo… Lord Lo!” Lord Lo? Lorenzo “Lo” Russo? That in High Society truly hand eye sky, eat people not spit bone living Hades? Grape in my hand scared dropped. Finished. Could it be Julian this grandson still has back hand? Chapter 2 I looked at grape dropped on floor, looked again that evil god at door. Brain buzzing. If Big Mama Sue is physical attack, then Lo is magic damage plus true damage. This man hand that string rosary beads, heard every time fiddle one, want one family bankrupt. In High Society spread a sentence: Rather provoke Hades, don’t provoke Lo Buddha. At this time, this Lo Buddha using that pair seemingly merciful, actually cold eyes, faintly swept whole venue. Finally, gaze landed on my… mouth corner stained grape juice. He brows slightly frowned, slender fingers turned rosary bead. “When did The Strip class so low? What cat dog can enter.” Voice not loud, but like splashed a ladle cold water in oil pot, whole venue dead silence. Those two boys already shook into sieve, kneeling on ground head dare not lift. I swallowed saliva, just thinking should find a crack drill in. After all exes meet, exceptionally red eye. Especially when I dumped him back then, reason made up specially rotten——I said he that aspect not good, can’t satisfy me. Just then, inside suite came Julian heart tearing lung splitting roar. “Winter! Where you dead! Quick let people come in save me!” “Ah! Sue Dong! Don’t! There cannot!” “Help ah——” Voice shrill, hearer sad, listener… want laugh. Lo brow tip slightly raised, eyes playfully looked at that closed door. “Looks like, Julian plays quite flower.” This time, door opened. Big Mama Sue disheveled hair rushed out, face carrying unsatisfied flush, originally wanted scold which blind disturb her elegance. Result looked up, saw Lo. That pancake face instantly pale, two hundred pounds flesh mountain actually flexibly came a slide kneel. “Lo… Lord Lo? Why you came?” Lo ignored her, strode long legs into private room, straight walked to me. He taller than me a head, extremely oppressive. I subconsciously shrank back, back waist pressed on sofa back. “Mrs. Pierce,” he bit heavy these two words, tone cool thin, “Good mood.” I dry laughed twice: “Lord Lo joking, I this is… helping others happy.” This time, Julian finally crawled out from suite. Really crawled out. Clothes ragged, face blue purple, neck has several bright red lip prints, live like cabbage arched by hundreds pigs. He once saw Lo, like saw savior, roll crawl rushed over hug Lo thigh. “Lord Lo! Lord Lo save me! I am Julian!” “This crazy woman want rape me! Also Winter this poison woman, she see death not save! Lord Lo you want decide for me!” Julian cried snot tears, completely lost usual high mountain flower look. Lo disgusted frown, a kick kicked him away. “Dirty.” Julian rolled two circles, hit tea table, pain teeth grin mouth. He unbelievable looked Lo, then looked me, seemed not understand why Lo so cold to him. “Lord Lo, our Pierce family had cooperation with you…” “Pierce family?” Lo took out handkerchief, slowly wiped pant leg touched by Julian just now, as if stained some virus, “Start tomorrow, no Pierce family.” Julian stunned: “W… what meaning?” Lo ignored him, but threw that wiped handkerchief casually on Julian face. Then, a warm big hand suddenly pinched my chin. He forced me look up, thumb roughly wiped my mouth corner, wiped away that bit grape juice. Action ambiguous and carrying few points ruthless. “Winter,” he leaned close my ear, voice deep low only we two can hear, “This is man you back then dead live want marry?” “For such a waste, abandon me?” “Your eye sight, really is… rotten thorough.” I guilty looked away, dare not look him. “That time young not sensible…” “Heh.” Lo sneered, let go me, “Now sensible?” He straightened body, high above looked Julian on ground, also swept glance beside trembling Big Mama Sue. “Sue Dong.” Big Mama Sue scared a shiver: “Here! Lord Lo you order!” “Since Julian wants secure investment so much, then let him perform well.” Lo tone faint, “Tonight if not serve Julian comfortable, tomorrow your company also no need open.” Big Mama Sue heard, instantly spirit came. Since is Lord Lo order, then she this is imperial decree commit crime ah! “Lord Lo rest assured! I definitely let Julian… want immortal want die!” Finished, Big Mama Sue smiled hideously walked to Julian, like dragging dead dog dragged his ankle. “No! No! Winter! Save me! Lord Lo! Beg you!” Julian despair screamed, hands dead scratching carpet, nails broke. I stood aside, cold eye bystander. Save you? Next life ba. Lo one hand buckled my wrist, no explanation pulled me walk out. “Show watched enough, time calculate our bill.” “I this is listening your words ah.” “Besides, I see Sue Dong quite satisfied with you, heard next day sent 50 million to company account.” “You should thank Sue Dong… thick love.” Mention “thick love” two words, Julian face instantly green. Butt seemed started faintly pain again. “You roll! Roll out! I want divorce with you!” “Wendy is one loves me most, only she heartaches me!” “Divorce?” I bit a banana, smilingly said, “Okay.” “But, Julian, did you forget, back then we married signed agreement.” “If is you propose divorce, you want leave with nothing.” Julian stunned. He obviously forgot this stubble. Back then for let my dead ghost dad agree this marriage, he indeed signed such unequal treaty. That time he felt I loved him love die live, absolutely won’t let him leave with nothing. Pity, water in his brain, now then shake out. “You… you threaten me?” Julian angry bad. “No ah, I just remind you.” I finished banana, threw skin into trash can, “Also, that 50 million investment, is signed in name of Pierce Group.” “Meaning, if divorce, this money… also couple joint property.” Wendy heard, anxious. “Sister! This money is brother-in-law pulled investment for me! How can you rob?” “This is my dream ah!” I looked her that greedy face, sneered. “Dream? Your dream is using man ass exchange money?” “Wendy, you this dream quite unique.” “Want me introduce few rich women for you? Or rich men? You also go sacrifice a bit?” “You!” Wendy angry whole body trembling, turned pounced into Julian arms, “Brother-in-law! Look sister she humiliate me!” Julian heartached bad, wanted reach hand hit me, result pulled wound, pain howl howl. “Winter! You wait for me!” “Wait I discharge, I definitely let you look good!” “Okay, I wait.” I clapped hands, turned leave ward. Walked to door, I suddenly stopped steps, turned back smiled. “Right, husband, forgot tell you.” “That night, I also recorded video.” “You if dare mess, I send this video online.” “Title I thought well: Pierce family eldest son sacrifice for love, two hundred pounds rich woman passion night.” “You say, will this on Trending?” Julian face instantly green turn black, black turn white. Wonderful extreme.

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At my 30th birthday gala, my husband called out from the kitchen. “Babe, come help me pass the soup.” Before I could get up, my cousin had already walked quickly over, reaching out from behind him to take the soup bowl. Seeing me stunned, she hurriedly explained: “I’m always ordered around by my mom at home, it’s become an instinctive reaction, don’t overthink it.” I showed no emotion, calmly completed the entire banquet. After sending off the guests, I calmly said to my husband who was clearing the dining table: “Let’s divorce.” Julian Hale slammed down the silverware with a “Clang”, glaring at me: “Seriously? Just because she helped me serve a bowl of soup?” … “Scarlett, married for five years, I couldn’t bear to let you touch a drop of oil smoke, putting you first in everything.” “Now just because of your cousin’s unintentional action, you actually want to divorce, destroy this home? Do you have a heart!” Julian questioned me with red eyes, as if I had done something unforgivable. I didn’t answer directly, but moved my gaze to the dining table, that plate of Boeuf Bourguignon with a little left. “Married for five years, every time we eat, you know I love this dish most, in the past it was always placed in front of me first.” “But this time, it was placed directly in front of Selena’s seat, who also likes this dish.” Julian’s breath hitched, tone urgent: “What does this matter? No one helped when serving, I was busy and messy, how could I care about these.” I shook my head, voice slightly hoarse: “Not just this dish. When seated, you also pulled the chair for Selena first.” “Her glass was empty, you opened a new drink, and it was lime flavor she likes but I hate.” “When taking photos, you stood between me and her, arm seemingly unintentionally touching her back.” “Julian Hale, subconscious partiality can’t be hidden. Whoever is in the heart, gaze and thoughts will flow to whom.” “In those moments you call ‘negligence’, those subtle inclinations are the most real.” “This is the key reason I want a divorce.” Julian’s face suddenly turned gloomy, staring at me like examining a stranger: “Scarlett, are you too idle? Few unintentional actions, can be woven into so much drama by you, why don’t you go write novels?” “Besides is that ‘someone else’? That’s your cousin, a relative who watched you grow up! You even jealous of this?” “If not considering your feelings, would I take extra care of her? In your mouth it became me having an affair with her? Are you reasonable!” He walked into the study, flipped out a photo album, slammed it in front of me. Inside one by one, all photos of me and Selena from childhood to adulthood, in teenage photos we heads touching, smiles brilliant. Last few pages, stopped at our wedding, Selena as maid of honor, standing by my side in a light purple long dress. During the ceremony, she looked at me and Julian kissing with tears in eyes, expression moved. Another one, she hugged me tightly on stage, holding the bridal bouquet I gave her, smile bright. I gazed at these photos, suddenly laughed softly, with self-mockery. “When kissing each other, her eyes were looking at you, so she wasn’t moved by my happiness, but crying for you.” “When hugging me, she was smiling at someone outside the frame, judging from the shooting angle, that person was you.” “Turns out five years ago, she already had thoughts about you, no wonder she stayed single these years.” “What about you? When did you start?” Julian stepped back half a step, face interwoven with disappointment and anger: “Scarlett, I thought you were just momentarily confused, didn’t expect you crazy enough to twist the past!” “It’s me spoiled you too much, spoiled you so suspicious, unreasonable!” “I give you one day to calm down. Tomorrow is my grandma’s 75th Birthday Gala, if you still understand respecting elders, don’t bring trouble to her!” He threw the rag heavily, slammed the door and left. I looked at the messy table, sat weakly into the chair. I met Julian in college. My family is wealthy, but never looked down on him, a poor student studying on loans, tried my best to help him in studies or life, even actively sponsored him to go to a top university abroad for a master’s degree. Julian has a sensitive mind, knows his situation well, cared for me meticulously after marriage, never let me suffer half a grievance. But even the most thorough person, when heart is messy, will reveal traces. I opened my phone, found Julian had unknown when stopped sharing location with me. I didn’t tell anyone, changed into low-key clothes, went straight to the Tea House operated by Selena. Because of low-key clothing, no one noticed after entering. Crossing the corridor, I walked straight to outside the “Cloud View” room she used to entertain friends. Before I could push the door, I heard Julian’s complaining voice: “I’m being made difficult by the one at home, you guys laughing happily, have any sympathy?” Room sat a group of people, looked up, most actually were friends who came to the banquet tonight! They were relaxed, chatting and laughing, no one spoke for me. Amidst bursts of laughter, I only felt bone-chilling cold. Center of the box, Selena played with a purple clay cup, side head smiling at Julian beside her: “Who let you be careless, actually called me ‘Babe’ at Scarlett’s birthday banquet?” “I didn’t react for a moment, smoothly helped you roll up sleeves.” “Thought she wouldn’t notice, didn’t expect still seen by her.” Putting down tea cup, she smilingly picked up a cup of sake, used still the limited edition vintage cup I gave her last year. Just about to drink, cup was naturally taken away by Julian reaching out: “About to be a mother, why still so willful? Said no alcohol during pregnancy!” Selena always stubborn, before her father forbid her drinking, she could pick up bottle to confront. But at this moment, facing Julian, she showed a docile smile I never saw: “Okay, listen to you, not drinking.” “After all you are my child’s father, of course you have the say.” She stroked her not yet showing lower abdomen, smilingly leaned on Julian’s shoulder. My whole body blood seemed to freeze instantly. Selena and Julian not only had an affair, actually even had a child! “Want me say, Scarlett is also stubborn, good life insist on being Child-free.” “Yeah, Brother Julian family only him one son, isn’t she intentionally making it difficult?” Listening to everyone’s discussion about me, cousin who always defended me in public actually sneered, echoed: “She was spoiled since childhood, doesn’t know how to think for others.” And my husband Julian, held Selena’s hand, deeply affectionate: “Selena, you willing to carry child for me, not only my lover, also benefactor of my Hale family.” “From now on, we live and die together, never separate.” My tears rolled down, almost unstable standing. Back then, my mother died of Amniotic fluid embolism when giving birth to me, didn’t even have time to hug me once. So I always had fear of childbirth, told Julian at beginning of relationship: I decided to be Child-free this life, if he cares, we can separate here. That time he hugged me tightly, whispered in my ear: “Having you is enough this life, child not important, my love for you won’t be half less.” I once deeply believed I met true love transcending secularity. Now, watching his deep affection with Selena, realized I was wrong ridiculously! Someone in box asked: “But, do you plan to hide from Scarlett forever?” “Have child already, better confess, divorced can also be together openly.” Everyone looked at them, Julian immediately shook head: “No. Selena has blood relation with her, cousins again, I can’t let her break with family because of me.” “Moreover, my career is deeply connected with Xia family, can’t completely fall out with Scarlett.” “So from being together, me and Selena agreed: Relationship absolutely can’t be exposed in front of her, divorce even more impossible.” Turns out he also clear, wealth and status today, all come from my family’s support and investment. Maintaining marriage, just for benefits. Amidst sighs, someone looked at Selena sympathetically: “Selena, you such a strong person, willing to let child never see light?” Selena chuckled, turned Julian’s face, dropped a kiss on his lips: “Marriage is just a paper, I don’t care.” “Besides, wife not as good as concubine, concubine not as good as stolen. Living like this under her nose for a lifetime, isn’t it more interesting?” If not heard with own ears, I absolutely wouldn’t believe this came from my biological cousin. Laughter continued in box, I fell into ice cave. Overnight, I went from self-proclaimed happiest woman, to a joke betrayed by both love and family. More sadly, I was actually the last person in circle of friends to know. Friends I thought close, always covering for them, watching me kept in dark, but no one reminded. Crying, I walked out of Tea House, dialed lawyer phone: “Prepare divorce agreement, I want Julian Hale leave with nothing.” “Also, help me do a few more things…” Chapter 2 Next day, is Hale Grandma’s 75th birthday. Hale family prepared for long time, early decorated festively in riverside apartment I bought, fresh flowers gifts everywhere, also hired string quartet live performance. But when I entered, saw Selena sitting by main table. Mother-in-law who always not very satisfied with me, now affectionately holding her hand, caring: “Selena ah, pregnant person needs nutrition, must eat well rest well.” “You too thin, I look heartache. Later I make soup for you every day, let Julian send to you!” Selena smiled obedient and sweet, seeing me enter, also no panic: “Scarlett, such important day, why you came so late? I waited you for a while.” If usual, I would think this is ordinary greeting. Now, I heard depreciation in her words, implying I don’t care about in-laws big event. Sure enough, Hale family members at table heard, face already bad became darker: “She is big miss, willing to come is good enough, what more to ask?” Mother-in-law sarcastically poked me a sentence, turned to smilingly push stewed bird’s nest to Selena: “Selena quick taste, Julian specially asked people send from Southeast Asia early morning today, most nourishing.” Selena greeted me sit beside her, I walked to sit opposite, across a whole long table calmly spoke: “Pregnant how many months? My mother-in-law saw it, I look like an outsider.” Selena expression slightly stiff, then curved lips: “Just found out not long, wanted tell you personally today, didn’t expect Auntie sharp-eyed, saw it first.” “Of course, pregnant person look different, we mothers all understand!” Mother-in-law while chiming in, while not forgetting sweep me a glance: “Scarlett you no experience, normal can’t see.” I ignored, just quietly looked at Selena: “Who is child’s father? When plan to hold wedding?” Hearing chill in my words, Selena smile faded a bit: “I don’t plan to marry. Child born always someone love, I don’t care about that paper.” I laughed lightly: “You being mother really open-minded. Others want give child a justifiable home, you willing let him born with an unclear identity.” “Unclear” two words I said especially clearly, voice just fell, whole room instantly quieted down. Selena face green white alternating, staring tight at me, couldn’t say a word. At this time, Julian who hadn’t shown up supported Grandma walking in. Once saw Selena at table, he immediately changed face: “Selena? Who let you come?” “I invited!” Mother-in-law suddenly stood up, pointed at me scolded: “Old lady hoped for great-grandson how many years? All blame this hen not laying eggs delayed!” “Now Selena pregnant with our Hale family flesh blood, still want hide? I insist let her come congratulate birthday gloriously!” This remark fit my mind, but also completely tore Julian’s last fig leaf. Julian anxious forehead sweating: “Mom! Don’t talk nonsense! Selena is just me and Scarlett’s cousin, her pregnancy what relation with me!” He desperately winked, mother-in-law threw him off: “What can’t admit? Unable to bear child is originally Scarlett’s problem, she still has face say my grandson origin improper?” “I hoped stars hoped moon finally hoped this child, no one think trample him!” Julian unable to defend, just about to explain, Selena suddenly stood up, looked straight at me: “Scarlett, you actually knew long ago right?” “Since so, I also not hide, I carry indeed Julian’s child.” “These years he good to you, I saw all in eyes. Both envied, and hated you not know cherish, even child unwilling bear for him.” “Good man you don’t want, plenty people want!” She held Julian’s hand in front of me, tone determined: “Julian, what she can give you, I can give same.” “I don’t want hide anymore, from today, I want be with you upright.” Julian eyes wandering, seemed hesitating. But soon, he forcefully held back Selena’s hand, like determined looked at me: “Since trouble to this step, Scarlett, let’s divorce.” “Your things you take away, but Hale Group is my years blood sweat, don’t think touch.” Looking at his righteous appearance, I almost laughed out. If not my support back then, he a graduate without foundation, based on what got startup fund, and based on what took down those key projects consecutively, climbed up wealth list in few years? But no matter, compared to tangling with him, I have more important things to do. Under everyone’s gaze, I took out phone, dialed number: “It’s me.” “Capital siege against Xu family and Hale family, can start now.” Chapter 3 Julian’s face became extremely colorful in that instant, from initial holding winning ticket, to uncertain doubt after hearing my phone content. He let go of Selena’s hand, walked quickly to me, lowered voice roared: “Scarlett, are you crazy? On this kind of day, is it fun to make such joke?” “You think I’m joking?” I looked at him calmly, smoothly picked up tea cup on table, gently sipped. That was top quality Da Hong Pao, but couldn’t cover bitterness rising in my heart, “Julian Hale, did you forget, who’s name is on property deed of this apartment you in now? That 30 million financing your company just negotiated last month, who holds the lead investor?” Julian’s breath stagnated, a trace of panic flashed in eyes. But he soon straightened back again, sneered: “That’s normal commercial investment, contract signed, you think based on your one sentence can withdraw capital? Scarlett, you too naive.” “Contract indeed signed, but contract has a ‘Key Man Clause’ and ‘Morality Clause’.” I put down tea cup, making a crisp sound. “Once company core management appears major moral flaw or involves legal dispute, investor has right to activate protection mechanism, withdraw capital and pursue breach responsibility. And you, Julian Hale, as CEO, during marriage existence having improper relationship with spouse close relative and causing pregnancy, this enough for your investors re-evaluate your integrity.” Voice just fell, Julian’s phone started crazy vibrating. He looked down, face instantly pale, that was call from his company finance director. He tremblingly connected, haven’t heard few sentences, whole person swayed, phone almost slipped. “How possible… how could be so fast…” He muttered to himself, looked up at me, eyes finally carried fear, “You prepared long ago?” I didn’t answer, just turned to look at Hale Grandma sitting in main seat, now already somewhat dumbfounded. Old lady although hoped grandson, but she understood importance of money more. She tremblingly pulled Julian’s sleeve: “Julian, what’s happening? What withdraw capital? Our family company has trouble?” Mother-in-law aside also panicked, she rushed over wanted grab my arm, dodged by me sideways. She screamed: “Scarlett! You vicious woman! You are ruining Julian! He is your husband!” “Soon won’t be.” I pulled out a stack of documents from bag, heavily slapped on dining table, “Divorce agreement, Julian Hale, sign. Based on evidence of your cheating during marriage, and our Prenup, shares and real estate under your name, will all belong to me as compensation. Simply put, you have to leave with nothing.” Selena finally couldn’t sit still. She stared dead at that agreement, face pale like a sheet of paper. She originally thought she won, won this man, won wealth behind him, even won so-called “status”. But now, she found she hugged actually a shell about to bankrupt. “Scarlett, you can’t do this.” Selena stood up, tone carried some begging, yet still maintained that weak appearance, “Julian just momentarily confused… child is innocent, do you want child born carrying debt?” I looked at her, only felt stomach churning. This is my good cousin, after depriving my family, still can righteously demand me continue support her greed. “Innocent?” I sneered, “Selena, when you decided to conceive this child to provoke me, you should have thought of price. Since you think ‘wife not as good as concubine, concubine not as good as stolen’ is more interesting, then you accompany him to live that ‘interesting’ hard life.” I stood up, looked around this room full of irony. Those Hale relatives who once fawned on me, now one by one shrank necks, afraid being involved in this storm. “Lawyer and moving company arrive in half hour. Julian Hale, except your personal clothes, everything here not allowed take away.” I walked to door, looked back at them last glance, “Oh right, Grandma Hale, bill for this birthday banquet I will send to Julian, after all, I am not Hale family member now, no reason fulfill filial piety for him anymore.” Walking out of riverside apartment, cold wind by river messed my hair. I took deep breath, coolness from lungs made me feel unprecedentedly awake. Phone kept popping messages, from those so-called “friends”. “Scarlett, are you okay? Just heard Julian company has trouble.” “Scarlett, actually we were also kept in dark before, don’t angry ah.” “Gather tonight? Everyone very worried about you.” Looking at these hypocritical greetings, I directly clicked group member list, blocked those people talking and laughing in Tea House one by one. These people circled me when I was glorious, watched my joke when I was humiliated, now sensed wind direction wrong, want come play peacemaker again. I drove to Selena’s Tea House. Since want settle, then must be thorough. Tea House door already pasted “Suspend Business” notice. I pushed door in, few clerks gathering whispering. Seeing me enter, they looked at each other, no one dared stop. I walked straight to Selena’s office, where stored her business accounts these years. Xu family these years always relied on Xia family support, this Tea House shop space, also low price lease I helped her get using connections back then. “Miss Xia, Sister Selena not here…” A clerk whispered. “I know she in hospital, or in Julian Hale arms.” I walked into office without looking back, dialed property manager phone, “Manager Wang, I am Scarlett. Tea House lease expired, I decided not renew, also not accept any form of sublease. Please clear field within three days according contract.” Hung up phone, I saw a group photo on desk. That was three years ago, me, Julian and Selena went skiing together. In photo, I laughed heartless, while Selena’s hand, seemingly unintentionally put on Julian’s ski suit pocket. Turns out, all betrayals have traces to follow. I prepared to leave, hurried footsteps came from outside door. Selena panted running in, she obviously just rushed from apartment side, hair somewhat messy, eye sockets red swollen. “Scarlett, must you do this?” She held door frame, big mouth panting, “You withdrew Julian capital, now seal my shop, you are forcing us to death road!” I stopped steps, looked at her coldly: “Road chosen by yourselves. Selena, things I gave you, naturally can also take back. Since you look down on these materials, then now without these, you should be happier, after all you possess ‘pure’ love.” “You clearly know I pregnant!” She screamed, voice echoed in empty tea room, “Doctor said my emotion unstable, risk of miscarriage! If child has accident, you are murderer!” I walked to her, gaze fell on her flat lower abdomen. That moment, my heart no trace of pity, only endless disgust. “Don’t use child as shield. If you really love this child, shouldn’t let him become your tool for climbing up and blackmail.” I leaned close to her ear, softly said, “Also, don’t think I don’t know what you thinking. I already told Uncle, if he dares sponsor you a cent, all business dealings between Xia family and Xu family, cut off immediately. Guess, between you and family interest, my that snobbish Uncle will choose who?” Selena body fiercely trembled, she looked at me desperately, like knowing me first time. “You… you became so scary.” “Is you guys taught me.” I pushed her away, walked straight out of Tea House. Behind came sound of porcelain breaking, probably she smashed those antique tea sets she was proud of. But this has nothing to do with me anymore. Back in car, lawyer sent message: Julian refused sign, he demands see you once. I looked at screen, self-mockingly smiled. See me? Probably want play emotional card, or want squeeze last bit residual value. I replied: Tell him, see in court. Chapter 4 Julian eventually didn’t hold till seeing in court. His company debt problem exploded faster than I imagined. Lost Xia family credit endorsement, suppliers came collect debt one after another, originally agreed partners not only withdrew intention, even started suing him breach of contract. Three days later, I returned to that riverside apartment. Moving company already packed my things almost done, room appeared empty and cold. Julian dejectedly sat on living room floor, surrounded by cigarette butts. He once most valued appearance, now stubble messy, suit wrinkled piled on body. “Scarlett, you finally willing see me.” He looked up, voice hoarse terrible. I stood at foyer, didn’t change shoes, didn’t approach. “Signed?” I asked. He laughed miserably, pointed at that divorce agreement on table already crumpled and flattened: “You really cruel ah. Five years couple, you don’t even leave me a way to live. My debt now exceeded fifty million, if not use shares offset, I have to go jail.” “That is also what you deserve.” I looked at him calmly, “Julian Hale, back then you startup no money, was me took out all lucky money, went beg my dad invest first sum for you. You said will treat me good lifetime, you said you don’t care child, only want grow old with me. These words, you said personally.” “I really loved you!” He suddenly stood up, emotionally waving arms, “But you too high above! In your Xia family eyes, I forever that poor boy rely your charity. Your dad look me eyes, forever carry scrutiny. I want a child what wrong? I want an heir flowing my blood, is this wrong?” “So you found Selena?” I interrupted him, “Because she can satisfy your humble self-esteem? Because she can pretend docile in front of you, make you feel like a savior?” “She understands me!” Julian roared low, “She knows what I want! She unlike you, forever so calm, so rational!” I only felt absurd. Turns out in betrayer eyes, all faults can be pushed to victim. Because I gave too much, so made him feel pressured; because I independent enough, so made him no sense of achievement. “Since she understands you so much, then you guys be together well.” I pointed door, “Now, please leave my house.” “Scarlett…” His tone softened, tried walk over grab my hand, “Can we really not go back? As long as you willing help me this time, I immediately let Selena go abort child, I break with her clean clean, we start over okay?” I stepped back, avoided his touch. “Julian Hale, you really make me sick.” Not only for myself, more for that child not born yet treated as chip by biological father. Selena thought she caught treasure, but didn’t know she fell in love with, is a coward completely no bottom line. Just then, doorbell rang. I opened door, outside stood pale face mother-in-law and gloomy face Selena. Mother-in-law once enter door knelt in front of me, crying snot and tears: “Scarlett ah, Mom beg you! You save Julian! Those creditors about dismantle home! Selena child not stable yet, can’t be scared ah!” Selena stood behind, although didn’t kneel, but that crumbling look, obviously also reached collapse edge. I looked at this family, only felt ironic to extreme. “Mrs. Hale, please respect self.” I coldly pushed away mother-in-law hand, “Also, don’t call me Scarlett again, also don’t claim be my mom. This house I already sold, new owner will come take house afternoon. If you don’t want taken by police, better move out now.” “You sold house?!” Julian screamed, “This is our home!” “This is my property, I sell if I want.” I took out a card from bag, threw on Julian, “This is my agent lawyer. About debt and divorce all details, go talk with him. Now, get out.” Julian and Selena moved into a dilapidated rental house. This I learned from mouths of those “mutual friends” haven’t been blocked yet. Those people seeing my firm attitude, started defect one after another, trying to gain my good will by reporting those two’s misery to me. “Scarlett, you didn’t see, Selena now where has half bit socialite look? Daily wearing cheap maternity dress go market pick cheap vegetable.” “Julian more miserable, heard went a small company apply job, result people heard his reputation, directly boomed him out.” “Xu family side also completely cut relation with Selena, her dad angry at home, said no this shameless daughter.” Listening these words, my heart didn’t have imagined that kind pleasure, only felt dull. Two weeks later, Selena actively asked meet me. Location set in a simple fast food shop. She sat by a greasy table, face gray defeat, originally exquisite nails long mottled unbearable, red marks left by washing clothes vaguely visible on back of hand. “You won.” She looked at me, voice revealed a dead silence. “I never thought compete with you.” I sat opposite her, didn’t even order water, “Find me what matter?” “I want a sum money.” She straight to point, eyes flashed a trace madness, “Julian owes usury, those people block us at door daily. My belly child almost four months, I can’t let him born in that environment.” I laughed out: “Selena, did you find wrong person? You are his mistress, carrying his seed, based on what ask me for money?” “Based on you surname Xia!” She suddenly excited, lowered voice roared, “Scarlett, you childhood have everything, best clothes, best school, best family background. Me? I can only pick your leftover! Even Julian, also because he knew you, I then became that unseen light one. You already destroyed his career, destroyed his reputation, must watch us die then willing?” “If you think this life is ‘death’, then when you calculated seduce him back then, should thought this ending.” I looked at her, eyes ice cold, “Your so-called ‘true love’, can’t even eat this bit bitter?” “True love?” She mockingly smiled, tears burst out, “Where has true love, I just unwilling. But I wrong… Julian that waste, without your halo, he is nothing. He drinks drunk daily scold me, said is me destroyed his future.” I silenced. This probably is most real human nature. When interest fig leaf torn, so-called deep affection just a farce torturing each other. “Money, I won’t give a cent.” I stood up, looked down at her, “But I can give you a suggestion. If you still want keep this child, leave Julian. He that kind person, sooner later will sell you and child to pay debt.” Selena stunned, she blankly looked at me, like poked deepest fear in heart. I walked out fast food shop, sunlight a bit dazzling. Phone rang, lawyer called. “Miss Xia, Julian signed divorce agreement. He only has one request, hope you can help him clear that usury.” “Tell him, dream.” I hung up phone, directly dragged number into blacklist. This farce, time draw period. Day divorce procedure finished, rained heavily. I holding that dark red divorce certificate walked out City Hall, Julian followed behind, hand tightly clutching his copy. He looked thinner, suit hanging empty, eyes hollow. “Scarlett.” He stopped me on steps, “Do you really… not give me a bit chance?” I stopped steps, didn’t look back: “Julian Hale, from you shouted that ‘Babe’ at my birthday banquet, we already died that night. Current me, just clearing trash.” “I regretted.” He suddenly choked, “If that day I didn’t let Selena come, if I wasn’t so greedy… we now should be planning go Switzerland ski.” “No if.” I opened umbrella, walked into rain curtain. Back company, I devoted whole heart into work. Xia family business needs re-organize, I also need fill life blank through busy. One month later, I received an unexpected news. Selena premature birth. Because Julian conflict with people during hiding debt, Selena fell down stairs in pulling. Child not kept, she herself also removed uterus due massive hemorrhage. When hearing this news, I was trimming a pot green plant in office. Scissors made crisp sound, a dead branch responded sound fall. I thought I would feel pleasure, but actually, I only felt sorrow. For a simply not worthy man, for that bit twisted vanity, she paid most painful price a woman can pay. And Julian, after knowing Selena can no longer bear child and child gone, actually didn’t even go hospital, directly rolled away Selena last bit savings, disappeared without trace. Some said saw him in border small casino, some said he owed gambling debt chopped hand. Those Hale family members once circled him, also scattered flee because his disappearance. Mother-in-law heard went back rural hometown, daily cursing on village entrance, said Xia family no conscience, said Selena bad luck star. I let secretary remit a sum money to hospital, enough pay Selena medical fee and follow-up conditioning fee. This not pity, but for completely end. “President Xia, Miss Xu woke up, she said want see you last time. She said, she has something give you.” Secretary whispered. I hesitated moment, still went hospital. Ward filled with pungent disinfectant smell. Selena lay on sickbed, whole person thin out of shape, eyes hollow looking ceiling. Seeing me enter, she struggled turn head, touched out an old notebook from under pillow. “This is… Julian’s diary.” She voice weak, like squeezed out from chest, “I found from his old school bag. You read… will understand.” I took notebook, casually flipped a page. That was five years ago, eve of our wedding. “Scarlett is a perfect wife candidate, she rich, power, simple easy cheat. As long as marry her, I can struggle less thirty years. As for child, I don’t want, just right she afraid birth child, this simply heaven help me. Wait I get Xia family resources, stand firm heel, then find an obedient one birth son. Anyway, she forever won’t suspect me.” I closed notebook, hand slightly trembling. Turns out, from beginning, this was a thorough scam. What child-free, what true love, all lies he made up to climb power. “Sorry.” Selena looked at me, corner eye flowed a line clear tear, “I thought I snatched your treasure, result… I snatched a demon. Scarlett, we both destroyed by him.” I looked at her, long time then spoke: “No, destroyed only you and him.”

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On the day of our high school graduation, Ethan, my childhood sweetheart, shoved a thick journal into my hands. From the day he first realized he liked me, one page a day. Nine hundred and ninety-nine pages in total. Filled with a boy’s pure, unadulterated love. Moved to tears, a drop fell onto the very last page. Ink swirled, revealing a new line of text. I thought it was a hidden message Ethan designed as a surprise. But when I read it, I froze. It said: “On our third wedding anniversary, I realized I no longer love Scarlett.” Chapter 1 While I stood there in shock, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Ethan. Ethan: Scarlett, did you finish the journal? Will you be my girlfriend? I looked at the journal again. Was this some sick prank? When I didn’t reply, Ethan ran straight to my house. “Scarlett! Why are you ignoring me?” I pointed directly at that line of text. “What does this mean?” Ethan squinted. When he saw the words, his flushed face turned pale instantly. “What the hell? I didn’t write that! What is this?” He grabbed the journal, holding it up to the light, checking every inch. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead. The handwriting matched his perfectly. “Scarlett, I swear I don’t know what’s going on. Who is pranking me?” As he spoke, new words began to appear under the first line. “If only the person I met and fell in love with first was Stella.” Seeing text appear out of thin air, Ethan fell onto the floor in terror. “Ghosts?! And who the hell is Stella?” Seeing that name, I snapped back to reality. I snatched the journal and shoved Ethan out the door. Slam. My heart pounded against my ribs. The person writing these words might be the Ethan from three years in the future. And Stella… is my half-sister. Everyone around me who meets her ends up loving her and hating me. That’s why, for three years of high school, I never told Ethan about Stella’s existence. I slid down the door, sitting on the floor. To escape Stella, I applied to a high school in Seattle, far from my hometown in Oregon. I lived alone in the small apartment my mom left me. Did she really ruin my marriage in the end? The journal continued to generate new content. “I first met Stella at our wedding. Scarlett always said she had a bad relationship with her family and refused to invite them. But on the wedding day, Stella showed up with Scarlett’s father and stepmother. She apologized to me, explaining the family situation and how Scarlett had rejected her since childhood. She told me not to blame Scarlett, saying she understood how Scarlett felt about having her dad ‘stolen’. She was such an understanding girl. Even while being hated, she tried to fix Scarlett’s relationship with her family. Scarlett was stiff throughout the wedding. My parents weren’t happy about it. I decided to talk to Scarlett that night, to tell her about Stella’s good intentions. But Scarlett started a huge fight. She smashed everything in our new house. I had never seen her lose control like that. She cried and pushed me out the door, screaming, ‘Even you fell for her! You hate me!’ I held her tight, explaining over and over that I just wanted her to reconcile with her family. I couldn’t possibly fall for my sister-in-law. Only then did she calm down. When Stella heard about the outcome, she looked devastated. She even cried. She said this was her last attempt. She wouldn’t disturb us anymore, lest Scarlett think she was trying to ruin the marriage too. I grabbed her arm. I told her that as Scarlett’s husband, I had a duty to help bridge the gap. I swear, at first, I just wanted to learn about Scarlett’s childhood from Stella. But after spending time with her, I realized Stella was perfect. She was sunny and gentle, completely different from the sensitive, self-consuming Scarlett. I never expected that when Scarlett found out I was contacting Stella, she would threaten suicide! I was exhausted. After calming Scarlett down, I secretly drove to see Stella. That night, I fell completely into Stella’s comfort. But it wasn’t entirely my fault. Scarlett pushed me away, bit by bit.” Reading this, I was sobbing uncontrollably. My heart felt like it was being squeezed and torn apart. Ethan was still banging on the door. I yanked it open and threw the journal in his face. “I was blind to waste my time on you! Take your journal and get out! Go be with Stella!” Chapter 2 I locked the door, pulled the curtains. I buried myself under the blanket and cried. This was insane. My phone vibrated like crazy. I sent Stella’s number to Ethan. Then I blocked them both. But Ethan climbed up to my window on the second floor! He banged on the glass, begging. “Scarlett, let me in! I’m going to fall!” I took a deep breath and opened the window. As soon as he climbed in, he grabbed my hands. “Scarlett, maybe the future me really wrote that. I’m sorry. I deserve to die!” He grabbed my hand and slapped his own face with it. I struggled, not wanting him to touch me. “Scarlett! The future me changed, but you forgot that the present me loves you for real!” Ethan’s tears fell on my hand. They were hot. “Stella is clearly a ‘Pick-me girl’! She’s acting innocent to steal everything from you and make you look crazy!” He pulled me into a tight hug. “I apologize on behalf of my future self. Scarlett, please give me another chance. I know you’ve liked me for three years too.” “I’ve already seen through Stella’s act. Maybe the future can change!” I stopped struggling, staring blankly at the journal lying open on the floor outside. When I came to this strange city alone, Ethan was the first person I met. He lived next door. Seeing me struggling with boxes, he came to help. Since that day, he was involved in everything. Changing lightbulbs, unclogging drains. Study plans, exam analysis. If I refused to go to his house for holidays, he’d bring Tupperware to mine and eat with me. Worried about my safety, he even set up a device. If it triggered, he’d know instantly. I was sensitive and anxious about relationships. Ethan never found me annoying. He listened patiently, comforting me bit by bit. I had long considered him irreplaceable family. A friend. And I had fantasized about being his lover more than once. Seeing I was calm, Ethan gripped my shoulders. “Scarlett, my parents wanted to send me abroad. I refused because I didn’t want to leave you.” “Why don’t you come with me? We can go abroad, far away from Stella. She’ll never have a chance to interfere.” Looking at his pleading eyes, I rubbed my throbbing temples. “I need some time alone…” “I’ll go talk to my parents right now! Scarlett, wait for me!” Ethan rushed home. The next day, he knocked on my door as promised. But he handed back the scarf I knitted for him. “Scarlett, I thought about it. We should break up.” Ethan looked down, avoiding my eyes. “Why? Yesterday you said you’d take me abroad.” Ethan looked in pain. His hand on the door trembled. A terrifying guess surfaced. I asked in disbelief: “Ethan, did the journal change?” He didn’t answer. He turned to run. I grabbed his shirt. “The future really changed, but you still betrayed me in the end, didn’t you?” Chapter 3 Ethan stopped. But he didn’t turn around. “Scarlett, I’m just a piece of trash.” His voice cracked. “I don’t deserve you.” Watching his shoulders shake with sobs, I dug my fingers into the scarf. “What happened? We chose to stay away from Stella, didn’t we?” Ethan just kept apologizing. “Scarlett, it’s better if you don’t know. I’m sorry. As long as I leave you, none of this will happen. You won’t get hurt.” A wave of anger rose in my chest. I stormed into Ethan’s house. I locked his bedroom door and found the journal under his bed. The content had changed completely. The time in the first sentence was cut short: “On our second wedding anniversary, I realized I no longer love Scarlett.” My hands shook as I read on. “…After high school, my parents wanted to send me abroad. I wanted to refuse, but somehow I said I wanted to take Scarlett with me. After finishing our studies abroad, Scarlett got pregnant. I proposed. My parents insisted the child be born in the US, so we returned. While waiting for the baby, I felt an inexplicable anxiety. Like we ran away to hide from someone. On the due date, we ran into Scarlett’s family at the hospital. She had a sister named Stella. I don’t know why, but the moment I saw Stella, I felt a strange repulsion. I even felt like she was the person I was hiding from. Scarlett laughed when she found out. She said I must love her too much, so I hated the sister who stole everything from her, just like she did. Scarlett’s mother died in childbirth. Scarlett wanted a natural birth to overcome her trauma. I decided to be in the delivery room. Stella insisted I switch Scarlett to a C-section. I refused and warned her to stay away. But after the birth, I regretted it. The baby’s head got stuck. The doctor used scissors to widen the opening. Blood everywhere. The baby and filth poured out of Scarlett. I fainted. I couldn’t eat for six months. Everything looked like blood. If Scarlett touched me, I wanted to vomit. Stella asked about Scarlett. Hearing my story, she cried in my arms. I felt something change. She knew Scarlett hated her, yet she cared so much. If I had listened to her, we could have avoided the tragedy. After that, Stella visited often with supplements for Scarlett. I’m a man. I had abstained since early pregnancy. I was at my limit. Stella looked like Scarlett, but gentler, happier. Soon, I fell. We broke the taboo. When Scarlett found out, her reaction was worse than I imagined. I promised to give her the child and assets, but she jumped off the building with the baby. The baby died. Scarlett was paralyzed from the waist down. My parents aged overnight. I knew I wronged her. I quit my job to care for her. But she cursed me and Stella every time she woke up. Afraid she would hurt Stella, I hired a nurse to replace me. I planned to take Stella abroad once Scarlett agreed to divorce. Fate is funny. Maybe my anxiety back then was just the fear of missing true love. Because from the start, I loved the wrong person.” … I shook so hard I could barely hold the journal. Ethan was crying outside the door. “Scarlett, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I become like that.” “Stay away from me. I don’t want to hurt you.” I yanked the door open. “Ethan.” “Future you wished twice that you had met Stella from the start.” “Why don’t I grant that wish? I’ll take you to meet Stella right now.” Chapter 4 Ethan froze. Snot and tears running down his face, he looked ridiculous. I couldn’t connect the boy in front of me with the monster in the journal. “Meet Stella now? No!” Ethan backed away, looking terrified. “Our actions now can affect the future, but they can’t stop you from falling for Stella.” I analyzed calmly. “Whether I hide you from her, or you avoid her, she appears.” “Let’s try being proactive. Let’s find her and see if the ending changes.” I closed the journal, calming myself. No matter what, the Ethan in front of me loved only me. “For the sake of our last three years, I don’t want to give up like this.” Hearing this, Ethan’s eyes became firm. He squeezed my hand. “Scarlett, thank you for giving me a chance.” We got on a train to my hometown that day. Ethan was anxious the whole way. “Scarlett, if I still hurt you, don’t do anything stupid. Leave me immediately.” “The Ethan who doesn’t love you isn’t me. Don’t forgive him. Don’t look back.” I stared into his eyes. Before I could speak, he jumped up. “The journal is burning! It changed again!” Ethan clutched his pocket and ran into the bathroom, locking the door. “Scarlett, I’m scared the ending is still bad. I don’t want you to see my disgusting future self again.” “Wait until I read it!” I paced anxiously outside. Less than a minute later, Ethan came out. His face was white. He couldn’t speak. “Did it not change? Did you still betray me?” I reached for his pocket. “What happened? What did it say?” Ethan’s pocket only contained confetti. His voice was hoarse with fear. “I took it out, and it shattered into pieces in my hand.” “Scarlett, I don’t want to get off the train. I don’t want to see Stella.” “Future me must have met her, fell in love, and tore up the journal immediately.” Ethan backed away from me. “First, it was three years. Then two years.” “Now, we haven’t even started dating, and the journal is destroyed.” “Scarlett, the future can’t be changed. Run. I don’t want to hurt you.” The train shook violently. When I steadied myself, Ethan grabbed my hand. He smiled at me. “Scarlett, we’re here. I’m actually nervous to meet your sister.” I stared at him. A strange memory flooded my mind. In this memory, after reading the journal, I didn’t say yes to Ethan. I was worried he didn’t truly love me. So I took him to my hometown to test him with Stella. We were walking toward the Third Future. There was no turning back.

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I’m a delivery girl. Just when I managed to snatch an order with a $100 tip for a box of condoms, my joy was cut short. The delivery address was my boyfriend’s apartment. I charged into the elevator with a kitchen knife in hand. But inside, there was already a man wearing a raincoat, holding a sledgehammer. Just as I was about to press the button for my floor, several twisted lines of text floated before my eyes: [Is the cannon fodder female supporting character going offline already? The ex-girlfriend who just won’t let go.] [Holy crap, that’s the hidden serial killer next to her! Is the first scene this intense?] [She’s about to become the first victim. When the male lead finds her body, he’ll go on a revenge rampage and kill the serial killer.] [But isn’t the male lead with the official female lead right now?] [What do you know? The death of the ‘white moonlight’ is the ultimate weapon~] My finger froze in mid-air. The mirror-like doors reflected the shadow behind me. The man in the raincoat was silently raising his hammer, the shadow looming over the back of my head. Just as the wind from the hammer pressed down, I spun around violently. Instead of slashing with the knife, I slapped him heavily on the shoulder. “Bro, let’s make a deal.” He froze. “Can you let me kill that cheating couple first?” I gripped the knife handle tight, gritting my teeth. “Then I’ll come back and let you hammer me?” “?” 1 His gaze fell on the kitchen knife I was gripping tightly, and the hand holding the hammer slowly lowered. “Which floor?” “Eighth, thanks.” The numbers on the elevator panel jumped up one by one. Anger burned away all my fear. I scrimped and saved, delivering food day and night to put him through college. And in the script of his life, I don’t even deserve a decent exit? I’m just supposed to die under a stranger’s hammer to serve as a catalyst for his grief? Screw his plot. Screw his male and female leads. Even if I die today, I’m going to serve justice first and slaughter that modern-day Cheating Chad and his mistress! Ding. We reached the eighth floor. I strode out, but heard footsteps following close behind. I turned around. Raincoat Guy was following me at a leisurely pace. “Bro,” I shook the knife in my hand, “those two heads are mine. Don’t steal my kill.” From under the hood of the raincoat came a low, barely audible response: “…First time seeing someone catch a cheater live.” Got it. Some things really are engraved in DNA. Even a serial killer can’t resist the urge to watch the drama. I reached the door and knocked. “Who is it?” A man’s voice came from inside, a bit slurred. “Delivery.” The door opened a crack. The first thing I saw wasn’t a face, but a tanned, muscular chest with water droplets still clinging to it. Obviously fresh out of the shower. Moving my gaze up, I saw a handsome face. Deep set eyes, high nose bridge. Very striking. But I didn’t know him. I took a step back, instinctively looking up to stare at the metal doorplate. This is the right place. “…Is this Gu Cheng’s apartment?” The man who opened the door raised an eyebrow. He didn’t answer, just stepped aside and lazily called into the room: “Honey, someone’s looking for you.” “Who is it, hubby?” A voice I knew all too well rang out. Then, the face I had looked at for five years, the face I thought I would look at for a lifetime, poked out from behind the stranger. He was wearing loose home clothes, hair messy, a look of satisfaction on his face. The air solidified for half a second. My brain buzzed. Before my eyes, the barrage exploded with unprecedented speed and density, almost blocking my entire vision: [Holy crap??? Information overload! Is this a dual male lead script?!] [Wait a minute, my CPU is fried… So where’s the female lead? Who is she?] [Turns out the ‘official female lead’ meant… (pupils quaking)] [Nobody said the male lead was a bottom?!] So that’s how it is. I really am a huge idiot. I raised a massive bottom for five whole years! Rage instantly burned through my rationality. Without thinking, I swung the kitchen knife at Gu Cheng’s face. “Bastard! I’ll fucking kill you!” The sound of the blade slicing through the air stopped abruptly. A hand with distinct knuckles accurately clamped onto my wrist. It was the man who opened the door. He didn’t even look at me, just twisted his fingers slightly. Crack. A very slight but tooth-aching crisp sound. I didn’t even feel the pain immediately. I just watched helplessly as my wrist bent at an angle absolutely impossible for a human, limp and broken. Then, severe pain crashed into my brain, and my vision went black. Just as I was about to curl up in agony, A black blur, wrapped in a dull wind, swung violently from behind me. That heavy hammer smashed mercilessly into the man’s face. The last sensation before losing consciousness was my body being thrown out like a broken sack, the back of my head hitting a sharp cabinet corner hard. 2 When I opened my eyes again, overhead were the pale elevator lights and the metallic walls gleaming coldly. I stood frozen. My wrist was perfectly intact; the agonizing pain felt like a hallucination. Beside me, the figure in the raincoat also paused noticeably. His grip on the hammer tightened, the hood shifting slightly as if silently confirming our surroundings. Before my eyes, twisted text surged frantically again: [Holy crap… That Top is too fierce, isn’t he?! A double kill instantly? Took out both the female supporting character and the serial killer?!] [Didn’t they say the male lead has the strongest plot armor? Why is Gu Cheng standing there like a scared little boy? (laugh crying)] [What’s the situation? Reloaded save file? Can the plot rewind?] […Are you new upstairs? Don’t know the rules? If the killer’s mission isn’t complete, he can’t go offline early. He has to clear out everything else in this building first.] [Got it, forced plot lock. So this is… the second loop? Exciting!] The elevator doors were slowly closing. Without hesitation, I reached out and jammed my hand between the doors at the last second. The metal doors made a buzzing sound and reopened. I walked quickly towards the building exit. Are you kidding me? If my life is really at stake, I’m out. So what if I raised a cheating bottom for five years? Thinking about it now, I’m not that angry anymore. No reason to fight to the death with these lunatics. I reached the building entrance and pushed hard. It didn’t move. The door wouldn’t budge. Why is this happening? [What’s wrong with the female supporting character? Why isn’t she going to settle the score with the male lead?] [She seems to remember what happened in the first loop.] [Poor girl. The plot has already started. Unless the plot ends, the door won’t open.] Plot ends? The words “killer’s mission” flashed in the barrage. Does that mean… I can leave here once his mission is complete? I turned my head blankly and looked at the elevator. Surprisingly, the elevator doors were still open. The man in the raincoat had one hand casually blocking the door, silently watching me. Just as I hesitated whether to go back, a shuffling sound of footsteps came from behind, followed by an old, raspy voice. “Girl, make way.” I turned around abruptly. A hunched old lady, leaning on a cane, was trembling as she moved from the direction of the building entrance. She wore an old floral padded jacket, her silver hair sparse. Every step seemed slow and strenuous, as if she might fall apart at any moment. However, the moment she appeared, the barrage appeared before my eyes again. [Holy shit! Here comes the exciting part! It’s the Collector Granny!] [She loves collecting tall, strong men the most! Locked several in her basement just to drink… (content hidden due to violation)] [Explain clearly upstairs! You’re killing me! Drink what?!] [Don’t ask. Just know it’s for nourishment… (manual mosaic)] [This old lady looks like she’d break if you touched her. One hammer from the killer and she’s gone, right?] [Don’t underestimate her! She’s fierce. Carries poison on her.] Likes… tall, strong men? Almost instinctively, I stepped aside to let her pass, then silently followed behind the old lady, stepping back into the elevator together. The elevator doors slowly closed. From the moment she entered the elevator, the old lady’s cloudy eyes were glued to the tall, upright figure of the raincoat man. That gaze was murky, yet revealed a sticky greed that made one uncomfortable. I saw clearly that the raincoat man’s fingers gripping the hammer handle tightened one by one, veins popping on the back of his hand. Just as the hammer was about to be raised, I leaned towards him as if by accident, my arm gently touching and pressing down on his forearm that had just lifted. With this touch, the hammer was quietly pressed back down. “Did you know?” I suddenly turned my head and nudged the raincoat man with my elbow. “In 802, there are two incredibly handsome men.” “Especially the tall one. Great body, looks like a model.” 3 “How do you know?” The raincoat man’s raspy voice sounded in the narrow elevator car. “I always deliver food to them. Just this week, I delivered condoms to 802 four or five times.” I smacked my lips, deliberately dragging out my tone so every word drilled clearly into the old lady’s ears: “Tsk, young people… good stamina, strong desires. Understandable, understandable.” The moment my voice fell, The old lady’s cloudy, yellowed eyes moved extremely slowly away from the raincoat man’s tall figure. Then, she extended a dark purple tongue and licked her dry, cracked lips. That wasn’t the action of an ordinary old person relieving dryness. It was a conditioned reflex, a biological palpitation filled with craving. Her hand moved. Her finger lifted slowly and pressed the button for the eighth floor accurately. Then, she turned her head, wrinkles on her face stacking up with a smile. “Girl, give the stuff to me. I just happen to be… going to 802 to see them.” I instinctively pulled the bag back, shaking my head: “No can do. We have rules. Must hand it to the recipient personally.” “I’m their grandmother.” Her voice was raspy but carried a tone that brooked no refusal. “Just give it to me. Save you a trip. It’s a hassle.” Hesitation appeared on my face; I pursed my lips. Finally, as if compromising, my shoulders relaxed, and I handed the bag over. “Well… okay then.” I squeezed out a smile. “Thank you, Grandma.” “Don’t mention it.” Watching the old lady’s back as she walked out of the elevator, I focused on the constantly scrolling barrage. [What the hell… is the plot going off the rails? Why is the old hag going to the male lead?] [Can this old lady beat that big handsome Top?] [Hard to say, but I want to see it!] [It’s been so long, why hasn’t the killer started? Who’s the first victim?] [I hope he kills the pervert on the fifth floor first. Relying on being a pediatrician to molest little girls, absolutely disgusting.] [Relax, the killer attacks indiscriminately. He’ll kill room by room until only one person is left alive in this building, then the plot ends.] So, I’m doomed to die anyway. I lowered my gaze in silence, but the elevator stopped without warning. Looking up, I saw the raincoat man’s back as he walked out of the elevator. I looked at the floor indicator. Second floor. The barrage was right. He’s clearing floor by floor until only one person is left alive in this building. And in the original plot, the survivor was the male lead. This means… the killer himself will definitely not be the survivor. So… can I make a bet? I followed silently behind the killer, watching him swing the hammer. Bang! He smashed open the door of 201. He went in and looked around. No one. Only dust floating in the light of the empty living room. [Which apartment actually has people in this building?] [202 has a chainsaw maniac. Third and fourth floors are empty. 501 has that doctor. Sixth floor is the old lady. Seventh floor empty. Eighth floor is the male lead. That’s it.] [Not many people then. Isn’t this killer’s mission easy?] [Hehe, upstairs is too naive. Fewer people means it’s scarier. It means none of the remaining ones are easy to deal with.] [The female supporting character’s move just now directly put the male leads and the old lady together. 666] [Is the old lady gone already?] [Not yet, the killer hasn’t reached the eighth floor, perspective not unlocked. But think about it, how could that old lady beat that fierce Top?] 202 has a chainsaw maniac? My body stiffened. I slowly turned to look at 202 behind me, not three meters away. Instantly felt the kitchen knife in my hand was pathetically weak. Just as I was thinking about hiding, The door of 202 opened. 4 A naked man covered in muscle poked his head out from behind the door, glaring at the raincoat man, voice rough and loud. “Hey! Middle of the night, smashing your sister’s door! Have some manners!” The raincoat man slowly turned his head, looked at him silently, and walked over step by step with the hammer. “Oho?” The Muscle Man grinned hideously, suddenly raising the chainsaw in his hand and pulling the cord hard. VROOOM——!!! The ear-piercing roar exploded instantly, echoing through the entire corridor. “Two little punks dare to act tough in front of me?” Listening to that roaring chainsaw, my legs went soft instantly. Big bro… why include me? I was just passing by… [Holy crap! Exciting!!] [Feels like the third loop is starting… Killer only has a wooden-handled hammer, can he take on a chainsaw?] [Female supporting character: My life is over.] I scanned the floating text rapidly, desperately trying to find even a hint about the Muscle Man’s weakness. Unfortunately, not a single one. The harsh chainsaw roar continued to vibrate my eardrums. I stared at the crazily spinning teeth. Calm down. With that chainsaw, the raincoat man couldn’t get close to him at all. Muscle Man pressed forward step by step, forcing the raincoat man to retreat slowly. Seizing the opportunity, I turned and rushed into the elevator, shouting at the raincoat man: “Run!” Then I roared at the Muscle Man: “Chicken! Come find us in 802 if you have the guts! Our big brother won’t spare you! You chicken!” At the last moment before the elevator doors closed, the raincoat man flashed in. I frantically pressed the close button, my finger barely leaving it. Only when the doors completely closed and the elevator started ascending did I finally let out a breath. Glancing at the slightly disheveled raincoat man next to me, I couldn’t help but curl my lip secretly. Really, bro? That’s it? My gaze accidentally swept over the hammer in his hand, and I froze. The wooden handle, which should have been easily severed by the chainsaw… only had a shallow scratch. “Your hammer is so sturdy. Why didn’t you just take that guy down just now?” The raincoat man glanced at me faintly. “You think I’m stupid?” I rolled my eyes at him. The elevator just reached the fifth floor. I grabbed him and stepped out, pressing the close button behind me to let the elevator continue up empty. “501 has a doctor. The people from the second and sixth floors are heading to the eighth floor now. Let them fight first.” I lowered my voice and explained quickly. “When they’re both hurt, we’ll reap the benefits.” The raincoat man listened, looked at me once, didn’t ask much, walked straight to the door of 501, swung the hammer, and smashed it down. Clang——! The door opened at the sound. He carried the hammer and walked in first. I followed closely behind him, subconsciously holding the kitchen knife across my chest, blade outward, stepping extremely carefully. The room was terrifyingly quiet, only our slight footsteps echoing in the dark. The raincoat man stared at the sliver of light coming from under a door. Without hesitation, he kicked the door open. I just followed in, but froze in place. The room was packed with dolls over a meter tall. The doctor had his back to us, completely naked, gently stroking an exquisitely made doll in his arms with a posture bordering on intoxication. My gaze locked onto the faces of those dolls. Skin was cold, stiff blue-white. Pupils dilated and empty. Lips a supernatural purple. These aren’t dolls. These are clearly… corpses of little girls, dressed up meticulously. Fury exploded in my head. I didn’t even notice the raincoat man raising his hammer beside me. Not knowing where the brute force came from, I violently raised the kitchen knife and slashed down at that naked back. One slash! Two slashes! Three slashes! Warm liquid splattered on my cheek and neck. My vision turned scarlet. I heard nothing, only the dull sound of the blade chopping into flesh and bone, and my own heavy breathing. Only when my arm was so sore I couldn’t lift it anymore did I snap back to reality. The doctor had collapsed onto the messy bed. His neck was almost severed, only a layer of skin barely connecting it. His eyes bulged, staring straight at the ceiling, shock and death frozen on his face. Thick blood was gurgling from under him, soaking the sheets and dripping onto the floor.

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I was just checking out at the pharmacy, stocking up on Tylenol and gummy vitamins, when my phone vibrated. A friend request popped up on the lock screen. The profile picture was a blurry, low-light photograph of a rainy street corner, a shared memory from over a decade ago. My fingers froze. I knew instantly who it was. But we hadn’t spoken in five years. The break had been clean, absolute, as if we had never existed in the same orbit. I didn’t know what kind of game Glenn Easton was playing now. I tapped two short words into the verification box: Is this urgent? The reply was immediate, already waiting for me the moment I hit Send. “I’m back in the States. Can we meet?” “It’s critical. Has to be face-to-face.” Critical? I stared at the words, a ridiculous, bitter laugh rising in my throat. What could possibly be critical between us now? I pocketed the phone, handed my payment card to the cashier, and completed the transaction. The very first thing I did once I was back in the car was drag that contact straight into the Blacklist. My phone rang again as I was waiting at a stoplight. It was Stella, a friend from my college days. Her voice was cautious, testing the waters. “Harper, I just heard… he’s back in the city?” I didn’t wait for her to finish. “It has nothing to do with me.” A sigh came through the receiver. “I know, but, Harper, you run in the same professional circles. You’re bound to bump into him eventually—” “No, I’m not,” I cut her off. “I would rather take a long walk off a short pier than have any kind of interaction with Glenn Easton again.” I hung up. Almost immediately, another message flashed: a private message from Maya, another old college roommate. She was asking if I planned to attend the annual alumni mixer, quickly adding, “If you don’t want to go, I totally understand. Everyone knows what you’ve been through.” She sent a few more lines of clumsy, well-intentioned comfort. I looked at the screen, a surge of dark irony hitting me. I had finally put him behind me, yet the people around me seemed more determined to hold on to the drama than I was. Maybe it was the sheer intensity of the love and the spectacular, brutal crash that followed. It gave people years of material. But I was out. Truly, genuinely out. Now, I actually had to strain to clearly recall the details of Glenn’s face. Yet once, he had been my North Star, my entire world. Closer to me than family. We met in the trenches. Same junior high, same high school, same undergrad, and we even followed each other overseas for a time. My car alarm beeped—a reminder. I pushed the memories away. It was time for my annual ritual. I parked the car at the base of the hill and started the climb, the bag of supplies heavy in my hand. The young man who maintained the grounds of the small, quiet sanctuary on the hill saw me coming and smiled. “Ms. Maxwell, right on time.” I handed him the paper sack. He took it, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “Ms. Maxwell, you come at the exact same time every year, without fail. Is there a reason for the dedication?” I offered a small smile but didn’t answer. I headed straight for the rear annex, a small, simple room dedicated to private reflection. I pushed open the door. Inside, the space was minimalist. A simple stone altar, and on it, an engraved memorial plaque. I began to arrange the items from the bag on the altar. “The store clerk said this is the latest remote-control monster truck, the fastest one on Amazon,” I whispered. “Not sure what’s popular up there, but I got you the new model.” “And this picture book,” I continued, placing a brightly illustrated volume next to the truck. “The artwork is gentle. I think you would have liked it.” After the toys, I unpacked a few boxes of gourmet cookies. “I bet they don’t have to worry about cavities up there, do they?” I swallowed hard, reaching out to gently trace the engraving on the plaque. “Good. Then you can eat all the sugar you want. Mom bought your favorite flavors.” Without warning, tears began to stream down my face. I wiped them away quickly, my gaze fixed on the inscription: In loving memory of Noah Maxwell. Forever held in the heart of his mother, Harper Maxwell. The father’s name was blank. The sanctuary had a parking lot, but I always left my car at the bottom, forcing myself to walk every one of those hundreds of steps. By the time I reached the bottom, my tears had usually dried. I was reaching for the driver’s side door when my phone rang again. It was an unknown number. A familiar, desperate voice roared through the receiver. “Harper, even if you hate me, you have to let me see my son!” I hung up instantly and dragged that number into the Blacklist as well. The name “Glenn Easton” had been wiped from my life for five full years. And I had been thriving. Back at the office, I was barely settled into my chair when my assistant walked in, looking strained. “Ms. Maxwell, the firm we’ve been negotiating with for the last month just pulled out of the deal. They terminated the agreement.” I looked up. “The reason? Our proposal and bid were meticulous.” My assistant looked confused. “I pressed them, and they only hinted that… we might have ‘angered the wrong CEO.’ As in, Glenn Easton.” Glenn’s method of corporate punishment hadn’t changed a bit over the years. My assistant frowned. “But Ms. Maxwell, our business is completely different from Easton’s. Why would he target us?” I set down my pen, my voice flat. “Because he’s my ex-husband.” My assistant’s eyes widened instantly. She sucked in a quick breath. “He’s the one… the rumors… about the affair with his assistant, Tatum, and the divorce?” She clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing her slip. “Ms. Maxwell, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up.” I waved her apology away. “It’s over. There’s nothing left to talk about.” She still looked guilty, her gaze lowered. “I always thought those rumors had to be fake. You’re so accomplished, how could he possibly—” At the time, almost everyone thought that. Even I believed it. But reality proved that nothing is sacred, nothing is forever. I called my old roommate, Maya, back. I realized that after this planned move, I wouldn’t be seeing them often. I wanted one last dinner with the old dorm crew before I left. That night, six of us squeezed around a table. We ordered a case of beer and promised not to leave until we couldn’t walk straight. After a few rounds, the conversation loosened. Chelsea, the angriest and most protective of the group, held her beer glass, hesitating for a long moment before finally speaking. “Harper, there’s something I never told you.” “Glenn couldn’t find you, so he called me a lot. He wanted me to set up a meeting. He said—” Before she could finish, Chelsea slammed her glass down, the sound echoing with her anger. “Meeting for what? Glenn Easton is a low-life, opportunistic son of a bitch!” “If the Maxwells hadn’t pulled strings for his old man—if your father hadn’t risked everything to clear his name after the whole embezzlement scandal—Glenn would still be running a failed startup in a strip mall!” Maya quickly shot her a warning glance, afraid of upsetting me. But Chelsea was worked up. “No! I’m going to say it! If your father hadn’t put his own reputation and fortune on the line, the Easton Group wouldn’t even exist today! And how does he repay you? By screwing around behind your back. That kind of man—” Chelsea looked at me, her eyes red-rimmed. “Harper, you’re just too good-natured!” “How are you so calm after what he did to you?” I offered a dry smile. “It’s not good nature. It’s genuinely over.” Glenn was definitely a bastard, but I had to admit, he was ruthlessly brilliant in business. When my father helped clear up Glenn’s family scandal, Glenn was already twenty-six. The Easton family was already disgraced and penniless. The current Easton Group was entirely his own creation. And I had once been his most trusted partner. The days we spent building the company are still vivid. To lock down one of his pet projects, I once went through three back-to-back drinking events with a client, leaving me doubled over with acute stomach pain. To secure a key opportunity he wanted, I once went three days without sleep, redrafting a proposal. Back then, driven by his ambition, I practically lived at the office. I was so consumed by work that I didn’t even notice when things started with Tatum Blake. I think the first time I saw Tatum was at the old Easton family manor. I had stopped by with a new contract. As I walked in, I saw a stranger kneeling on the floor, gently massaging Glenn’s mother’s knees. Glenn was standing nearby, his expression soft. I immediately knew something was off. But Glenn explained it away: “She’s just a private home health aide who connected with my mother.” I started to object, but he cut me off with a frown. “Harper, you’re a CEO. Don’t start acting like one of those petty, domestic wives. You’re better than that.” I chose to believe him. I thought our shared history and deep bond were unbreakable. The day the Easton Group went public, we signed our marriage certificate. But things went downhill fast. I saw Tatum again, at the office. She was in a crisp suit, shadowing Glenn, now his new Executive Assistant. I confronted Glenn. His reason was infuriatingly professional. “Tatum has potential and drive. I need a sharp assistant.” From that day on, I noticed a clear, deliberate effort to sideline my responsibilities. The Marketing department was my baby; I’d handpicked every member. But Tatum, citing “restructuring,” transferred them out one by one, replacing them with her own people. When I challenged Glenn, he just said, “The company needs a refresh, Harper. New blood.” I finally understood: he was methodically dismantling my foundation in the company. As his partner in building this empire, watching my team be destroyed was an agonizing betrayal. I screamed at him and handed in my resignation. I was ready to start my own firm. It was just as I was preparing to leave that I discovered I was pregnant. Feeling the flutter of a new life inside me, my resolve softened. I willingly returned home, embracing the role of a devoted wife, trying to ignore the whispers. I thought my sacrifice would earn his respect. Reality, again, delivered a brutal blow. The rumors about him and Tatum intensified. Financial news, social media—they were everywhere, side-by-side at events, looking like the perfect power couple. I confronted him with the articles. He roughly pulled me to the mirror. He pointed at my reflection. “Look at you. Frazzled hair, maternity jeans, shadows under your eyes. You think I want to drag that to the quarterly gala? Be realistic, Harper.” Trust, once broken, can never be fully repaired. On Noah’s first birthday, the house was packed with guests. My intuition screamed that something terrible was about to happen. And it did. I walked into our bedroom and found Glenn and Tatum tangled up together. Tatum was wearing my favorite ivory silk robe, the one he bought me on our honeymoon. My mind went blank. My stomach violently rebelled. I collapsed onto the floor, dry heaving. Glenn’s face held no remorse, only the pure rage of being caught. He hissed a warning at me: “Harper Maxwell, you start any drama, and I’ll make sure the Maxwell name is a punchline on Wall Street by morning.” After that, he stopped hiding. He brought Tatum to live in our home. I discovered that his mother, who always claimed to treat me like a daughter, had known about the affair all along. She even tried to advise me: “A man like Glenn is a major league player, dear. You have to expect a few groupies. Just learn to look the other way.” I couldn’t endure the filth of that marriage for another day. I made up my mind to file for divorce. But just as I was getting the papers drawn up, Noah was diagnosed with acute leukemia. The doctors said his best chance was a bone marrow transplant. My match failed. Just as despair set in, Glenn’s results came back as a perfect match. In that moment, he became my only hope. For Noah, I put the divorce on hold. He donated bone marrow twice. Both procedures were successful. As Noah’s condition stabilized, Tatum announced she was pregnant. She brought in some charlatan who claimed this child was the Easton family’s “lucky charm,” a true heir. The Eastons treated her child like gold. Tatum claimed the master bedroom’s feng shui was bad for the baby and had me moved into a damp, moldy guest suite. Then she decided Noah’s room got the best morning sun and needed to be converted into a nursery. I watched the maids start tossing Noah’s toys and books into trash bags. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I rushed at them. “Don’t touch my son’s things!” The security guards were Glenn’s men, hired to protect Tatum. On her command, they pinned me to the floor. Tatum sat on the edge of the sofa, a malicious smirk on her face. “I’ll tell them to stop touching your son’s things, Harper.” “But only if you get on your knees and shine my shoes for me.” “Go to hell!” I spat, glaring up at her. “You pathetic wretch, you’ll get what you deserve!” The next thing I knew, a hand gripped my hair, wrenching my head back. A sharp, violent slap cracked across my face. My cheek instantly burned. Glenn was standing over me, his eyes cold. “Harper, are you insane?” “Tatum is carrying my child, the family’s future. How dare you curse her?” He used to fuss if I got a paper cut. Now, he hit me for another woman. From then on, Noah and I lived in a freezing hell. The nanny, on Tatum’s orders, gave us stale, half-cooked meals. Our guest suite was freezing and damp, even with the inadequate heating. One night, Noah woke me up, crying softly. “Mommy, I’m hungry.” I tried to sneak to the kitchen for a piece of fruit. Tatum found me and started screaming, accusing me of stealing. That night, in below-freezing temperatures, Glenn locked me outside in the courtyard. I stood there, shivering, numb, repeating the same mantra: Just hold on. One more transplant. When Noah is better, we’ll leave. The doctor said Noah needed one final transplant to fully recover. I swallowed the humiliation for that goal. But I never expected Glenn to deliver the final, killing blow. The day before the scheduled surgery, I saw the staff packing suitcases. A cold dread rushed through me. I tracked down Glenn immediately. His voice was calm, like he was talking about the weather. “Tatum wants to have the baby in Geneva. It’s aligned with our European expansion plan. We leave tomorrow.” My blood ran cold. “What about Noah’s surgery tomorrow?” Glenn shrugged it off. “I already found a donor. The surgery will proceed as planned. Don’t worry. I’ll be back once I’ve launched the European office.” I immediately called Noah’s oncologist. The doctor told me the surgery had been canceled. And there was no new donor. I charged at Glenn, screaming. “Why did you cancel it? Are you trying to kill Noah?!” He grew impatient. “Harper, stop being hysterical! You’re just looking for drama because you don’t want us to leave!” To ensure he and Tatum could leave without issue, he ordered his security team to lock Noah and me in the old storage vault in the basement. The sudden ring of my phone yanked me from the memory. I thought it was Hazel, our daughter, calling for a bedtime story. I snatched it up. But it was Glenn Easton’s guttural cry that came through the receiver. “Harper, they’re saying… they’re telling me Noah is gone…”

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My husband, Liam, and our nanny, Mia, just won the “Model Family Award” on social media. In the photos, they hug each other tightly, with my son Sam laughing between them. They look like the perfect family. Netizens praise them as the epitome of happiness. And I, the real wife and mother, am treated as an invisible woman, a boring housewife who knows nothing. Liam thinks I’m naive and easy to deceive. He doesn’t know that while he plays house with the nanny, I’ve already turned our home into a trap. The net is tightening. Chapter 1 That day, after Liam went to work and Mia took Sam to his prep class, the technician I booked arrived. I used the excuse that “the circuit breaker keeps tripping” to ask for a comprehensive check. A few hours later. The technician packed up his tools: “Everything is installed as you requested. The locations are absolutely hidden, and the signal is stable.” I clicked open the real-time feed on my phone—living room, dining room, study, guest room, main hallway, all clear. Cameras were hidden in book spines, wall lamp carvings, inside air vents, and even a micro device sewn into the badge of my son’s favorite down jacket. Every angle was calculated. Even if looked at closely, it was hard to detect anomalies. I turned off the screen and placed the phone face down on the table. How this show plays out next depends on them. Chapter 2 A week later, the organizer of the “Model Family Award” issued a statement. After verification, the winner Mr. Liam and Ms. Mia in the photo are not a married couple. The award was revoked due to false information. As soon as the news came out, public opinion shifted instantly. The original envy and blessings were drowned by a wave of doubts: [‘Outsourced’? I think it’s ‘Takeout’!] [Model family? More like Model Affair.] [Is the real wife invisible? This is disgusting!] The online uproar obviously affected Liam. Liam came home early. He slammed the door, tore off his tie, and threw it aside. As usual, I walked over to pick up his jacket. He turned abruptly, grabbing my wrist with great force. Eyes bloodshot, staring dead at me. “Sarah,” his voice squeezed through his teeth, “You’ve been… a little too quiet lately.” He leaned closer, breath hitting my face. “That award was exposed, the online rumors are so detailed…” “Did you leak it?!” Chapter 3 My wrist hurt from his grip. I looked up, meeting his angry questioning gaze. “Liam,” I whispered, face full of confusion, “Haven’t I been practicing calligraphy these days? You know that.” He still held me tight, scrutinizing me. I looked back calmly, gently pushing his hand away: “Calm down.” “Calm down. What good does it do me if this blows up?” I paused, lowering my voice, “But you are in a key position in the company. Many people are watching you. This event has such a big impact, could it be… someone wants to use this against you?” Liam’s face changed colors, finally relaxing his grip, but his expression sank. “…Those old bastards.” He gritted his back teeth, cursing low. I didn’t say more, turned back to the study, continuing to spread out the rice paper. The next day, after they all left. I clicked on the playback. In the video, Liam indeed went into Mia’s room again. Mia leaned in his arms, voice soft: “Is it… too risky now?” “Fear what.” Liam held her, tone certain, “They want to take me down with this little noise? Too naive.” “But I’m still a bit uneasy… especially about Sister Sarah.” Liam sneered: “Her? Once this promotion review is over, I have my ways to make her nod.” Light flashed in Mia’s eyes, but she still hesitated verbally: “I’m afraid Sister won’t be willing…” “By then,” Liam interrupted her, voice turning cold, “It won’t be up to her.” Chapter 4 In the following days, Liam’s reaction was swift. He recorded an apology video. In front of the camera, wearing plain loungewear, his expression sincere with just the right amount of fatigue, explaining it was just an ordinary pickup caught by accident. He emphasized that Teacher Mia in the photo is a professional child development specialist, trusted by the child for her diligence. “Didn’t expect an unintentional mistake to take up so much public resource and bring trouble to Teacher Mia. Really sorry.” He bowed slightly to the camera. His posture was low, explanation reasonable, even subtly creating an image of a “good man” who cares for his family but is troubled by public opinion. This operation was effective. Public opinion quietly turned: [Really sitting at home, pot falls from the sky.] [So open and honest, makes those speculations look dirty.] [Good to the child is good, he’s frank.] [Heard he’s a listed company exec, rare good man.] Some even started pointing fingers at me: [Shouldn’t the real wife reflect on herself?] [Support divorce! Let people with love be together!] [Teacher Mia is the one truly good to the child, some bio moms are worse than outsourced.] Liam went with the flow, quickly registering a short video account named [Sam’s Daddy]. The account started updating daily parent-child interactions intensively: reading picture books, building Lego, playing soccer in the park. Sam was naturally cute and not shy in front of the camera. Liam’s captions were also carefully designed, creating an atmosphere of “patience,” “companionship,” and “growth” everywhere. Soon, the account attracted a batch of “Mom fans” and “Passerby fans.” For a time, the image of “Deeply Affectionate Good Dad” became more deeply rooted. Zoey scrolled through those videos and comments, eyes red with anger, throwing the tablet on the sofa. “Using the child to whitewash, setting up a good dad persona, disgusting!” I took a sip of coffee from the table, tone waveless. “Seems the ‘Outsourced Mom’ providing ‘Full Service’ really satisfied someone.” “Sarah!” Zoey was anxious and angry, “They are stepping on you to climb up!” “Aren’t you going to do something? You still in the mood for coffee!?” I put down the cup, looking at the street outside. “What’s the rush.” I said. The glass reflected my calm profile. “The higher they stand, the harder they fall.” Chapter 5 Two months later, the annual influence awards ceremony of a well-known platform was held as scheduled. With the recent surge in popularity, the [Sam’s Daddy] account was invited. Liam dressed up specially, in a suit and leather shoes, high-spirited. He intended to bring Sam along, but gave up due to class conflicts. In the live broadcast lens, he walked on the red carpet, waving to both sides with a smile, dashing and elegant. The awards ceremony proceeded item by item. Finally, it was time for the “New Star of the Year” award. The big screen began to rotate the highlights of the nominees. When [Sam’s Daddy] appeared, the screen changed abruptly… Several high-definition photos popped up without warning. Mia smiled and adjusted his tie, intimate posture; Under the dim street lamp, Liam and Mia hugged tightly; There was even one in the car, Mia biting his ear… The scene was instantly dead silent, then erupted in suppressed gasps and discussions. The director cut the feed hastily, but the live signal had already been transmitted intermittently. Although the shot was switched quickly, quick-handed netizens had already screen-recorded. Barrage and social media exploded. [WTF! Solid proof?!] [Those few seconds just now!!] [Didn’t they say she’s just a nanny?? Nannying into his arms?] [No wonder the ‘family of three’ looked so natural, practiced for a long time, huh?] [Recorded! HD Uncensored!] The spotlight no longer deliberately played his shots. But in a hasty glimpse in the background, one could still catch Liam’s pale face. Chapter 6 The ceremony ended. But the fermentation online had just begun. Liam moved extremely fast. Overnight, he hired a top digital forensic team to technically analyze those photos. A few hours later. Report released. Conclusion clear: Photos show signs of synthesis. Liam immediately recorded a clarification video. In front of the camera, he looked slightly haggard, but his voice was hoarse yet firm: “Sorry to occupy public resources. I have a pure employment relationship with Teacher Mia, absolutely no improper behavior. The photos circulating online are maliciously forged, specific technical analysis has been issued by professional institutions (see graphic post). The innocent is clear, thanks to all friends who trust me.” The wind of public opinion became subtle again. But this time, there was more vigilance in the doubts of netizens. [Technical report is out, is someone framing him?] [Photos did look a bit fake… let’s wait and see.] [Don’t believe either side yet, let the bullet fly a while.] Zoey bombarded me with voice messages while scrolling videos. “This scumbag’s mouth is really hard! Still not ruined after this?” “I think those photos are real!” “What do we do next? Just watch him whitewash?” “Simple.” I picked up my phone, tone calm, “Find a few reliable alt accounts, spread the news. Say those ‘synthesized photos’ at the ceremony were forged and released by me, the unwilling ex-wife, due to psychological imbalance.” Zoey’s voice spiked. “Sarah! Are you crazy?! Splashing dirty water on yourself actively? What exactly do you want to do!” I held the phone, smiling slightly. “Just do it.” “Trust me.”

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After my daughter died, I dragged my half-dead soul away from New York. Until I returned for the Class Reunion, a strange boy bumped into my arms. His brows and eyes were painfully similar to Gavin’s. The homeroom teacher smiled and said: “Is this yours and Gavin’s child? I knew you two had a spark back then.” “I even joked with others. Even though you were always at the bottom of the class, you found a best friend who was second, and a boyfriend who was first!” Just as I was about to explain, my former best friend, Wendy, rushed over and hugged the boy: “Why did you run off by yourself? You scared Mommy to death!” Gavin followed closely behind. He froze when he saw my face clearly. “Sunny, you’re still alive?” Chapter 1 Hearing this, Wendy looked up at me sharply, shock written all over her face. After all, to them, I had been buried at the bottom of the sea five years ago. I smiled faintly and said: “I have a tough life. Just drank a bellyful of water.” Wendy’s reaction was as fast as ever. Her expression returned to normal quickly. She rocked the boy in her arms and said to him: “Leo, this is Auntie Sunny. You should call her Godmother.” We promised back then. If we get married, we catch each other’s bouquet. If we have kids, we be each other’s godmother. The boy timidly called out “Godmother.” I didn’t respond. I turned to the teacher, said I had something to do, and prepared to leave. The teacher had long sensed the turbulence between the three of us and wished to send me away early. But Gavin followed me tactlessly. “Sunny, where are you going? I’ll drive you.” Wendy frowned imperceptibly but said: “Yeah, you can’t drive. It’s inconvenient alone.” I laughed inwardly. After so many years, she still treated me like a useless idiot. But if someone insisted on being my driver, why not? On the way, Gavin kept asking about my recent life. I only answered a few main questions simply. I was saved back then and survived. I lived by selling paintings abroad these years. I came back because a buyer who frequently bought my paintings wanted to meet me. Hearing this, Gavin’s voice suddenly rose: “Male or female? Are you sure he’s reliable? Keep your eyes open.” I mocked mercilessly: “Friends known for years are unreliable. Husbands sleeping in the same bed are unreliable. How can I judge a stranger?” Gavin shut up immediately. Wendy’s face turned iron green. Arriving at my place, I took my things and got out. But suddenly turned back to the boy beside Wendy. The boy named Leo. Upper face like Gavin, lower face like Wendy. Just as I reached out a hand, Wendy hugged the child in terror. “What are you doing? Want my child to pay with his life? He is innocent!” Gavin also called my name warningly. I just picked a fruit pit out of his mouth. “I was afraid he would be like my child. Choking to death while adults were right there.” Their faces turned white. Silence. Back home, I received a message from Mr. Jarvis. He appreciated my work very much. Whenever I had a new piece these years, he would view it even if he didn’t buy it. I came back this time to meet him, and also to settle a matter of the heart. In a quiet cafe, I met Mr. Jarvis. He looked fifty or sixty, with a lean face. “Miss Sunny, I can see many stories in your paintings. I am very curious.” “Do I have the honor to know a thing or two?” After looking around, I nodded. Chapter 2 In high school, I was a carefree rich girl. When classmates were studying hard, I only knew painting and having fun. Gavin was my opposite. Unshakable number one in the grade. Excellent grades, slick social skills. At first, I despised him, thinking he was a poser. Then Wendy came. Her family was poor, but she studied hard. After school, she had to work to subsidize her family. I admired her very much. I asked my dad to set up a scholarship specifically for students like her. I didn’t want to make a noise. But the teacher pointed out the origin of the scholarship in class and asked her to bow and thank me. Thinking back now, Wendy must have held a grudge against me since then. But I foolishly poured my heart out to Wendy, treating her as my best friend. Wendy’s biggest wish was to be first in the grade. However, Gavin was like an insurmountable mountain. Wendy was always second. After failing to take the throne again, Wendy cried loudly. To comfort her, I tried everything: “How about I chase Gavin? Date him and affect his studies!” Gavin, passing by, sneered: “Sunny, you are so dumb. Do you know how to chase me? Want me to teach you?” Later, we really got together. In my senior year, I met the biggest change in my life: My dad went bankrupt and committed suicide. When I was most desperate, Gavin and Wendy stayed by my side. Gavin promised he would take my dad’s baton and be the person who loved me most in the world. Wendy let me live in her house and racked her brains to tutor me. I cheered up and started studying hard. Before the SATs, I was stable enough to get into a good college. But an accident happened. Although I checked repeatedly, I couldn’t find my No. 2 pencils. Leaving the exam hall, I cried and slapped myself, feeling no one was more useless than me. It was still Gavin and Wendy who encouraged me constantly, helping me walk out of the shadow. They both got into NYU, the best university. Convinced I wasn’t cut out for studying, I worked as a waitress near NYU. Gavin came to help as soon as class ended. Over time, customers thought he was the employee. Gavin often told me his plans for our future. He said as soon as he graduated, we would marry. He would work hard to support me, buy me the best brushes, and let me continue to be a carefree rich wife. But I still felt a crisis. I begged Wendy to help me watch Gavin. Wendy looked at me with deep eyes and revealed a stiff smile. I only thought she was jealous of my display of affection, so I urged her to date too. Wendy said: “No need. I have someone I like.” Long later, I understood that smile, and who she liked. It was too late. Chapter 3 After Gavin graduated, we married as promised. Life was not as easy as he imagined. He worked desperately to make money, coming home exhausted every day, falling asleep immediately. To lighten his burden, I learned to cook and clean. I never knew before that there were so many chores. Endless cooking, endless sweeping… Each seemed trivial, but piling up, they drowned me. When the financial pressure eased, our daughter was born. I named her Joy, hoping she would be quiet like Wendy. But she was energetic from childhood, crying and making noise. Every night, I had to walk her around the living room to get her to sleep. When I got into bed, Gavin’s hand touched me. “Wife, we haven’t…” Despite physical and mental exhaustion, I obediently let him do what he wanted. But at the critical moment, the daughter’s cry came. I pushed Gavin away abruptly, jumped out of bed naked to hold my daughter. I didn’t see Gavin’s disgusted face behind me. Life finally ground me from an innocent princess into a disappointing housewife. That birthday, Gavin bought me the most expensive brushes. But I looked at the house and said: “We’re out of diapers. You should have bought diapers.” At that time, Wendy was killing it in the business world. She and Gavin joined the same company. Original intention unchanged, she still liked to compete with Gavin. And still couldn’t beat Gavin. Once she prepared fully, polishing the plan repeatedly, but the leader still chose Gavin’s. Wendy called, crying loudly: “Why can’t I beat Gavin!” “After so many years, can’t I win just once?!” I glared at Gavin, preparing to go out to comfort Wendy. But Joy hugged my leg and wouldn’t let me go. I had to send Gavin: “It’s unsafe for a girl to drink alone in a bar.” “You caused the trouble, you go solve it.” Gavin paused, looking at me intently: “You really want me to go?” “Of course.” Gavin seemed to make a big decision and said “Okay.” Before leaving that day, he looked back at me several times. I felt no premonition, just holding my daughter, telling jokes to coax her. Disaster brewed from there. That day, Gavin didn’t return all night. When he came back the next day, I just got up to cook. He explained a few sentences, saying Wendy was terribly difficult when drunk. He finally got Wendy home and fell asleep on the floor from exhaustion. His tone was natural. Wendy was my best friend. So I believed him easily. In the following days, Gavin worked overtime and traveled more and more. At first, I just thought the company was particularly busy recently. But slowly, I found something wrong. Hair on clothes. Strange perfume smell. Finally, when I found an opened condom wrapper in his pocket, I was sure he cheated. Heartbroken, I ran to Gavin’s company and made a big scene. I cried, screamed, rolled on the floor, demanding he hand over that woman. Gavin looked disgusted. “Sunny, I feed you and clothe you, letting you be a housewife who worries about nothing. Your repayment is framing me with baseless things!” He took out his phone, opened the camera, and aimed at my face: “Look at yourself now! An unreasonable shrew!” Chapter 4 In the phone screen, I saw my messy hair and sallow face. On the outdated clothes, there were many oil stains that couldn’t be washed off. Behind me, a group of female employees with exquisite makeup and decent clothes exuded the aura of career women. They looked at me with pity and contempt. Wendy walked out from among them. “Sunny, stop making a scene. It’s too ugly.” Gavin said sternly: “Let her make a scene! She wants to make me lose my job and let the whole family starve! Fine, go ahead, start a livestream, let everyone know!” Only then did I realize I had no capital to fight Gavin. After marriage, I had been detached from society, staying at home. And I only had a high school diploma. Once divorced, I had no competitiveness in the job market. My daughter would also be snatched by Gavin. I suddenly woke up, climbed up from the ground, and said: “I won’t make a scene. I’m going home.” After that day, I humbled myself, afraid of making Gavin angry. He became more and more brazen, lipstick marks on his shirt. But I was only afraid he would abandon me. What I could do was try to use our daughter to awaken Gavin’s feelings for this family. Fortunately, Gavin did love our daughter. When not busy, he even took her to the company to play. One day, he took our daughter away again. I finished housework and started scrolling on my phone. Accidentally, I stumbled upon a post. Title: “The Hate-Love Saga of the Eternal Second and the First Place.” I clicked in and saw the first sentence: “No one knows, what the eternal second wants most isn’t first place, but the attention of the first place.” My heart skipped a beat, something flashed in my mind, quickly scrolling to the back. “After losing to him at work again, I went to a bar to get drunk. He came to comfort me.” “He asked what I needed him to do. I asked him to kiss me. So he kissed me.” “From high school to now, he rejected my confessions ten thousand times. But the ten thousand and first time, he accepted. I took him home, and we did it until darkness fell.” “The first place I couldn’t reach finally became a subject under my skirt.” I felt like I fell into an ice cellar. So the person Wendy liked was Gavin. So the person Gavin cheated with was Wendy! I lost my reason instantly, ran to Gavin’s company, and barged into his office. Uninhibited moans came immediately from the lounge. I kicked the door open and saw Wendy sitting on Gavin disheveled. Rage attacked my heart. I threw everything I could touch at them. A heavy crystal award hit Wendy’s head. She bled. I burst into tears too. If Gavin’s betrayal chilled my heart, Wendy’s betrayal made me despair. “We are best friends. Why did you do this to me?” Wendy wiped the blood from her forehead and said coldly: “I never considered you a friend.” “A pampered waste. What you are best at is giving charity from high above.” “I hate you. Hated you since the first meeting.” I tried hard to find evidence to deny. “If you hate me, why did you take me in and tutor me back then?” Wendy sneered. “Because I like to fatten the rabbit before killing it. Why do you think you still forgot your pencils after checking so many times? Because I stole them outside the exam hall!” “What?” I was thunderstruck. Wendy shook Gavin smilingly. “There’s a witness here. Gavin, you saw me take the pencils back then, right?” Gavin’s face stiffened, turning his head away. “Don’t be shy. You didn’t tell Sunny then, so I knew you must love me.” In an instant, I felt my blood flowing backward, limbs weak, almost falling directly. “I’m going to re… report you…” Gavin’s face was gloomy, scolding: “Sunny! Enough!” “Think about our daughter!” After speaking, his face changed, looking around. Right, where is Joy? She should be here. Finally, we found our daughter’s body under the table by checking surveillance. Turns out Gavin and Wendy were messing around in the room, leaving Joy alone outside eating dried fruit. Joy choked on a pit, banged on the door for help, but was covered by their voices. She wanted to get the water on the table, but she was too small and couldn’t reach. She died silently, separated from her father by a door.

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I had breast cancer. My father, the hospital head, performed the double mastectomy. As the anesthesia faded, I overheard the assistant surgeon: “Dr. Sterling actually did it. Lying to his daughter to appease his ward… Her husband suggested it. Now she just has these bowl-sized scars.” My body shook. Once conscious, I scrambled up to confront them. My husband Damon wrapped an arm around Celeste and smirked. “What’s wrong? You always mocked Celeste for being frail. I guess you’ve learned your lesson.” I staggered forward, but my father shoved me back. “Stop making a scene. Celeste has had a hard life. Losing a bit of flesh is nothing.” Even my son Asher agreed: “He’s right, Mom. The way you look now… step aside for Aunt Celeste.” Then a dormant system woke in my mind: 【Host, your mission was completed long ago! Initiate immediate death and return?】 A relieved smile touched my lips. So this whole “journey of salvation” was a lie. A sick joke. Why should I care if they lived or died? I confirmed instantly. 【Upon death, all characters here will be erased three days after. Returning now. Reward: $700 million and a fully restored, healthy body in your world.】 … The thought of the reward was eclipsed by the sheer, ecstatic joy of finally going home. I stumbled to my feet, awkwardly climbing onto the windowsill. Every movement sent waves of agony through my fresh sutures. I looked out at the glittering skyline of the city, at the thousands of lights twinkling in the night. Not a single one of them was shining for me. The thought spurred me on. A sudden sneer from behind made me turn. It was my son, Asher. “Mom, what are you doing? You should be in bed resting.” He sounded bored. “You’re not some actress in a tragedy. Who are you putting on this ‘to be or not to be’ melodrama for?” “A melodrama? Who’s the one who’s been acting this whole time, lying to my face?” I stared into his eyes, searching for a flicker of remorse. But all I got was cold logic. “It wasn’t a lie. At most, it was a misdiagnosis from Grandpa. You don’t have cancer. You’re not going to die. You can stay with us. Isn’t that a good thing?” Oh. So I was supposed to be grateful that their cruel deception had been exposed? I turned back to the window. The wind whipped my hair around my face. I had climbed onto that operating table to live. Now, I was climbing onto this ledge to die, and in doing so, live again. Without another thought, I leaned forward, ready for the fall. But the exhilarating rush of descent never came. My son had slammed the emergency call button and was now desperately holding onto me. “Mom! What are you doing?! Grab my hand!” “Let go,” I rasped. Veins bulged on Asher’s arms as he gritted his teeth. “No!” “Mom, so you lost a part of yourself? It’s not a big deal! Dad said he’ll never be disgusted by you, no matter what you look like.” I was so tired of hearing those empty words. I thrashed my arms, trying to shake him loose. His eyes reddened, and his voice cracked with tears. “Can you really just leave me and die?” I looked up at the boy I had raised. The terror in his eyes looked so real, as if he truly couldn’t live without me. I gave him a sharp tug, my gaze turning to ice. “If you can’t bear to let me go, then come with me.” I pulled harder, twisting my body so he was dragged off balance. The color drained from his face, and his grip slackened in pure fear. I knew he was terrified. I felt my body begin to slip downwards. Just as I thought I was finally free, a powerful force yanked me back. Security guards and nurses had arrived, swarming around me. Damn it. I was so close. Hauled back from the brink, I lay limply on the bed. Asher was sobbing, completely terrified. Before I could process anything, Damon burst into the room. He pushed through the crowd and stormed over to me. SMACK! The force of the slap snapped my head to the side. The violent movement tore at my wounds, and I felt fresh blood seep through the bandages. “Are you fucking insane?” he roared, his eyes bloodshot. He grabbed my jaw, forcing me to look at him. “Asher is our son! Our own flesh and blood! And you were going to drag him down with you just to make a point?” “Aria, when is this going to end? Do you even have a heart?” The words caught in my throat, but a cold laugh escaped my lips. Was I the heartless one? Who lied to me about having cancer? Who put me through chemotherapy when I wasn’t sick? Who used the pretense of treatment to mutilate my body, all to get a smile from Celeste? But I was done explaining. Seeing my silence, Damon’s patience snapped. He grabbed my arm and started dragging me out of the room. “If you don’t want to be in the hospital, then you can come home with me!” I let him drag me to the car like a doll, my mind fixated on a single thought. I had to find another chance to escape this world. The city lights blurred past the car window. The world was so full of life, yet none of it felt like it was for me. The car turned onto a deserted mountain road. This was my chance. I lunged for the door handle. “You’re asking to die!” Damon snarled, yanking the wheel hard to the right. The car screeched, carving a dangerous arc across the road. I threw all my weight against the door, and it flew open, letting in a blast of icy wind. With what little strength I had left, I threw myself out. Just as I was about to tumble out, Damon unbuckled his seatbelt, abandoning the wheel to slam his body against mine, pinning me inside. The car was completely out of control. It smashed into the mountainside guardrail with a deafening crash. The impact threw us violently against the car’s interior. Damon’s forehead was split open, and blood streamed down his handsome face. He was breathing heavily, his eyes dark and menacing as he stared at me. “You want to die that badly?” I met his gaze, my answer firm. “Yes.” He was about to explode with rage when the sharp, acrid smell of gasoline filled the air. Damon’s face changed. “Damn it!” he cursed. Ignoring the blood pouring from his head, he fought to pull me from the twisted wreckage of my seat. I had no will to live left. In fact, I hoped the fire would come faster. “Just go,” I told him. “Leave me.” He acted as if he hadn’t heard me. He brutally bent the metal trapping me, then scooped me into his arms, holding me tight. The moment we were clear, a deafening explosion ripped through the night. A roaring inferno instantly consumed the expensive sports car. The heat washed over us, and he shielded me with his body, his eyes red-rimmed and furious. “Aria, I’ll say this one more time,” he growled, his voice a low threat. “I decide when you die. Not you.” The scene was eerily familiar. Years ago, we were trapped in a warehouse during a shootout with a rival gang. He had protected me just like this, whispering, “Don’t be afraid, Aria. As long as I’m here, you won’t lose a single hair on your head.” For those words, I had stood by him through everything. I fought beside him through blood and fire, even using my family’s influence—the Sterling family’s power—to secure his position as the undisputed king of the city’s underworld. But now, the same protective gesture felt like nothing but a bitter mockery. I don’t remember how I got back to the villa. As soon as we walked in, a wave of cozy, domestic warmth hit me, making me feel like an intruder. Celeste was carefully blowing on a bowl of soup. My father, Arthur Sterling, hovered behind her, his eyes full of doting concern. “Careful now, Celeste. Don’t burn yourself.” When they saw us, and especially the gash on Damon’s forehead, Celeste gasped and rushed over. “Damon, you’re hurt! What happened?” Her eyes flickered to me, to the flat expanse of my chest, and her look of concern shifted to one of pity. “Was it because of Aria? Don’t blame her. She’s probably just having a hard time accepting her… condition. We should be more supportive.” I snapped. I strode forward and slapped her across the face. “Shut up! What right do you have to stand there and play the saint?” Celeste clutched her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief. In the same instant, Arthur lunged forward, pushing me to the ground as he shielded her. “That’s enough!” he roared. “Look at you! You have none of the grace of a Sterling. We spoiled you, let you run wild and bully Celeste! This surgery was meant to teach you a lesson, and here you are, threatening to kill yourself over it!” I looked up at the man who had once adored me, my voice shaking with rage. “Is that why? Is that why you lied to me, told me I had a terminal illness, and let them turn me into this?” He didn’t answer. I couldn’t tell if it was out of guilt or because he felt utterly justified. When I first entered this world, Arthur Sterling had just lost his wife. As a man who had married into the powerful Sterling family, he was being crushed by internal politics. The system, driven by the original Aria’s desperate wish, had sent me to save him. For a long time, we saved each other. I had even decided to abandon my mission and stay. But ever since Celeste, a poor student I was sponsoring, appeared, everyone around me began to turn. A simple word of concern for her was twisted into an act of mockery. They were willing to tear me to pieces just to defend her honor. A bitter laugh escaped me. I grabbed a fruit knife from the coffee table… but I failed again. Damon was too fast. He kicked the knife out of my hand. “Aria, you’re getting addicted to this, aren’t you? Threatening to die every chance you get?” His voice was ice. “I, Damon, swear this to you: as long as you behave and leave Celeste alone, you will always be Mrs. Blackwood, no matter how much of a monster you look like.” I collapsed onto the floor, my voice flat and empty. “But I don’t want to be.”

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On the first of every month, my mother, Carol Evans, would review my performance from the previous four weeks before transferring my allowance. It wasn’t money; it was a contract. “A mandatory good-morning or good-night text to your father and me earns you twenty dollars,” her voice, sharp and precise, cut through the phone line. “But you only managed ten days last month, which means two hundred dollars.” I gripped the phone, standing in the cramped kitchen of my off-campus apartment in Seattle. “And the three-hundred-dollar ‘Excellence’ bonus is completely gone, of course. Full attendance, full communication, full grades. You know the rules.” My jaw was tight. “Add that to your ‘base stipend’ of one hundred and fifty, and this month’s grand total is three hundred and fifty dollars.” Three hundred and fifty. The number felt like a physical slap. “You’ll email me a written explanation for your poor performance. A signed, five-hundred-word apology and plan. When I deem it acceptable, I’ll transfer the funds.” My voice, when I finally spoke, was thin with panic. “Mom, I was taking my finals. I had to be at the library by five every morning just to grab a decent study spot. That’s why I missed those evening calls.” Tears were already stinging my eyes, a deep, hot shame mixing with despair. “The Greyhound ticket home to Pine Grove, Idaho, for Spring Break is nearly six hundred dollars. Three hundred and fifty isn’t enough. Mom, please, couldn’t we just—” She cut me off, her tone chillingly decisive. “The allowance contract, Lara, was designed specifically for you. It’s to help you break this entitlement and this deeply ingrained habit of expecting something for nothing. When will you understand my intentions?” The line went dead with a clipped snap. Just as the wall of helplessness was about to crush me, a flash of bright, coppery-blond hair appeared in the common area of the student union. He looked entirely wrong, like a cheap caricature of a bad boy. A guy named Mitch. He offered to buy my bus ticket. If I would just go with him. 1 I lowered my gaze, shame burning my cheeks. “I… I can’t pay you back.” Mitch and the two guys flanking him exchanged a look, the kind of dismissive, condescending glance people give a lost kid. “No repayment needed, sweetheart,” Mitch drawled, a cheap smile splitting his face. “Just have dinner with us. Do a little celebrating. I’ll give you the cash for the ticket right away.” A meal. That’s all it took to get the money to go home. The thought was intoxicating. I had to get home. Just last week, Grandma Betty had called me from the corner store in Pine Grove, using Mrs. Henderson’s landline. She’d made a point of saying she’d fluffed up my quilt with the softest, newest cotton. She’d also spent an entire afternoon sun-drying my favorite pecan brittle in the yard. Take it all back to Seattle, she’d said. Share it with your professors and classmates, ask them to keep an eye on you. Grandma Betty raised me. She was seventy-eight. And last year, she’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Every visit now was a gift—a precious, finite moment we wouldn’t get back. A thousand miles away, she was waiting. Home was waiting. I squeezed the pitiful $350 in my pocket, the crumpled bills slick with the sweat of my anxiety. I took a deep, shaky breath, and then, I nodded at Mitch. They took me to a dingy, off-the-grid rental house a few blocks from the bus station. Mitch gestured to a worn kitchen table where six bottles of cheap American beer were lined up. He slapped six hundred-dollar bills down next to them. “One hundred bucks a bottle, little girl. Finish all six, and your bus ticket is yours.” I stared at the cash. My grandmother’s face—wreathed in wrinkles, her eyes full of nothing but unconditional love—floated in my vision. You’re too thin, sweetie, she’d say, her hand stroking my cheek. Didn’t you eat at school? Grandma’s gonna cook you something good. The tears came again, blurring the harsh lines of the room. I quickly wiped them away, giving myself a silent, desperate pep talk. You can do this, Lara. Mom always taught me that if you’re a small-town kid, you have to work twice as hard and pay twice the price for what you want. This was just the price. Six bottles of beer, and I’d be home. It was nothing. I grabbed the nearest bottle, twisted the cap off, and began to chug. I had never had alcohol before. It hit me like a physical blow, choking me, sending me into a fit of violent coughing. The men around me cheered and whistled, their eyes predatory, sweeping over my body with a sickening, vulgar familiarity. The air suddenly turned cold, and a terrifying, primal alarm screamed in my head. I muttered something about needing the bathroom, scrambling to lock the flimsy door behind me. I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed my mother’s number. She has to pick up. She has to. It rang. Once. Twice. Then, a click. “Mom, help—” Her voice, loud and furious, cut me off before I could finish the word. “Lara Evans, I am so utterly disappointed in you!” “You always try to find a loophole. Always trying to break the system and cheat the rules. This need to get ahead without putting in the work is a moral failing!” Her breath hitched with manufactured outrage. “I am going to beat this disgusting entitlement out of you once and for all!” She slammed the phone down. I frantically tried to call her back, but the line went straight to voicemail. The flimsy bathroom door exploded inward. Mitch’s face was a mask of cold fury, and his hand clamped around my arm, yanking me out into the center of the room. 2 He was too strong. I couldn’t break free. Fear paralyzed me, a cold shock that told me it was already too late to run. I struggled, screaming and begging, but my pleas vanished into the indifferent air. They were like hunters with their prey, forcing the beer down my throat, bottle after bottle. My vision swam, and the world dissolved into an endless, terrifying dark. I slipped into a nightmare where I was a blood-soaked lamb, cornered by a pack of wolves, helpless and waiting for the inevitable slaughter. The next time I woke, I was on a bus heading home. I blinked, dazed, then a wave of pure, thrilling excitement washed over me. I was on my way. I would see Grandma Betty soon. But something was wrong. When the ticket attendant walked down the aisle, verifying each passenger, she passed right through me, as if I were thin air. Once off the bus, I ran, my feet barely touching the ground. I had to get to her. When I reached the edge of the village, I saw her immediately. Grandma Betty, frail and small, leaning on her old wooden cane, standing alone by the granite millstone at the town square. She was staring fixedly down the road where my bus should have come from. A neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, walked by and gently touched her shoulder. “Betty, it’s freezing out here. You really should go inside.” Grandma Betty shook her head stubbornly, a hopeful, heartbreaking smile on her face. She kept muttering, “Just a little longer. She’ll be here any minute.” I sprinted toward her, shouting, “Grandma! I’m home! I’m right here!” I threw my arms out, ready to fold myself into her familiar embrace. My hands passed right through her body. No resistance. Nothing. I stopped dead. I’m dead. I had died in that rotten rental house, murdered for a six-hundred-dollar bus ticket. I died during the first Spring Break of my freshman year of college. Grandma Betty waited until the sun had completely vanished below the horizon, and the light in her eyes faded, inch by painful inch. Shoulders slumped in disappointment, she slowly began the walk back home, her figure deeply bowed. The old yellow Labrador, Max, who followed her everywhere, bounded up to me, whining excitedly, nudging my leg with his head. He could see me. I followed Grandma Betty back to the house. A brand-new, sleek SUV was parked in the yard. My parents, Carol and Robert, were cheerfully unloading bags and boxes of expensive Christmas treats and gifts, their faces flushed with good cheer. Since when could we afford a car like that? Mom had been complaining all year that money was tight, that I needed to scrimp and save and stop asking for transfers. My little brother, Toby, now seven, skipped out of the car and ran to Grandma Betty. “Grandma, where’s Lara? Why isn’t she home yet?” he asked. “I wanted her to read me that storybook.” Grandma Betty gently touched his head. “The bus tickets must have been hard to get, honey. She probably had to book for tomorrow.” At that, Mom—Carol—slammed the heavy suitcase she was holding onto the gravel drive. “That spiteful little brat!” she shrieked. “She’s trying to punish me! Just because I docked her pathetic allowance, she refuses to come home!” “She can stay gone for all I care! I’ll pretend I never had a daughter!” Her face was mottled with rage. “She spends her father’s and my hard-earned money and can’t even manage a polite phone call every day. An ungrateful little wretch!” I stood right in front of her, waving my hands, frantic. “Mom, no! I’m not spiteful! I didn’t refuse to come home! I’m here! You just can’t see me!” “I’m not ungrateful! I tried so hard! I got the highest GPA in my entire major last semester!” But no matter how loudly I screamed or how wildly I waved, they couldn’t hear me. They couldn’t see me. 3 Grandma Betty went inside, and I followed, leaning gently against her back, just as I used to when I was little. I inhaled the familiar, comforting scent of old cotton and lavender, wishing the moment would never end. She put on her reading glasses and pulled a battered wooden box from under her bed. She opened it carefully, revealing three small bundles wrapped in faded floral cloth. She opened the first one. Inside was a passbook. “This is my life savings,” she murmured, a gentle smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “Fifty thousand dollars. I’m saving it for my Lara. For her wedding. A girl needs money of her own so she can stand tall and never be looked down on by her in-laws.” She had terminal cancer and wouldn’t even buy her own medicine, but she was hoarding every penny for me. My eyes were wet. So ghosts can cry. She unwrapped the second cloth. Two heavy, golden bracelets glittered inside. She’d never worn them, but they were polished until they shone. Grandma Betty fell silent, lost in a memory. “These were my mother’s, given to me on my wedding day. They are the most precious things I own.” She sighed, a deep, weary sound. “Oh, I just wish I could hold on a little longer. Wait for my little girl’s wedding day so I can put them on her myself.” I was sobbing now, a tearing, ragged sound no one could hear. “Grandma, I’m so sorry! I can’t do that! I can’t wait!” Finally, she opened the third bundle. Inside was a neatly folded piece of paper—the deed to the old property. A thread of guilt entered her voice. “Your parents already bought Toby a big house in the city, and he’s only five.” (She didn’t know he was seven). “I’m just a foolish old woman, I can’t buy you a mansion. But this old farmhouse… it will always be here to shelter you.” “If you ever get hurt out there, you come home to your own place. And if you miss me, you go to my grave on the east side of the cemetery and tell me about it. I promise you, I will hear you.” I flung myself at her, screaming the truth. I’m dead! Use this money for your treatment! Forget me! Don’t worry about me! Live! But my cries were silenced by the veil between worlds. I could only watch, paralyzed, as she lovingly tucked the wooden box back under the bed, her eyes full of bright, impossible hope. At dinner, Carol prepared a massive feast. Grandma Betty sat at the table, taking only a few small bites. She kept glancing at the door, her face a heartbreaking mixture of hope and anxiety. Robert, my father, finally broke the strained silence. “Maybe we should just call her, Carol.” My mother instantly slammed her chopsticks down. Her face darkened. “Call her what? You’re both spoiling her rotten! Do you think I don’t know how to raise my own daughter?” “I’m telling you now, no one is calling her today. She needs to reflect. We can’t enable her selfish, ungrateful behavior!” Grandma Betty, already frail, was so startled by the sudden violence that she began to cough uncontrollably. Robert rushed to pat her back. Carol spoke to Grandma Betty with a brittle, forced firmness. “Mom, I have to say this. Lara is undisciplined because of how you’ve raised her. My allowance system is good for her.” “It’s teaching her the rules of the working world before she enters it. She needs to understand that you pay the price before you get the reward! No handouts!” “As her grandmother, your indulgence isn’t love, it’s a handicap. She’ll be eaten alive by the real world if she doesn’t learn boundaries!” Grandma Betty was a meek, gentle soul who had never raised her voice in her life, much less argued with her son and daughter-in-law. Her lips trembled as she tried to argue, but the words wouldn’t come. She just sat there, her eyes welling up with tears, looking like a helpless child. 4 After a long, painful silence, Grandma Betty finally found her resolve. “If you two won’t call my girl, I will.” “If you won’t let her come home, I will!” She struggled to her feet, leaning heavily on her cane. My mother was instantly livid. She pointed a trembling finger at Grandma Betty’s back. “See! This is exactly how you’ve spoiled Lara! She’ll never be able to adapt to a tough environment! She’ll never be successful!” Driven by a blinding, self-righteous fury, Carol stormed toward my old bedroom—the room Grandma Betty had carefully prepared for my return. A knot of dread tightened in my ethereal chest, and I followed her in. I watched as Mom violently yanked my brand-new, fresh-smelling quilt off the bed and threw it onto the dusty floor. She stomped on it twice, her mouth twisted in a snarl. “She wants to cross me? Fine! She won’t sleep under this! She can stay out in the cold!” Then, she turned her attention to the wall. It was covered in ribbons, plaques, and awards—my achievements from elementary school all the way through high school. They were my pride, and Grandma Betty’s joy. Carol began to rip them off the wall, tearing them into small, vicious shreds. “What good are these stupid papers? Can they buy her food? Can they teach her respect?” she screamed. “Ungrateful, entitled! All the awards in the world don’t change the fact that she’s a deadbeat! A nothing!” I looked at the fragments of my hard-won honors scattered on the floor and screamed at her, a silent, raging plea. “Mom, I’m not spoiled! I worked so hard!” “I was hauling buckets of water to help Grandma water the garden when I was five!” “I cooked, I did the laundry, I took care of Grandma when she was sick. I knew you struggled for money; I never complained.” “Grandma and I lived on welfare and food stamps. I was careful with every single penny. I never wasted a thing!” I pointed to the closet, begging her to open it. Every garment inside was old, mended, patched. If she wouldn’t believe me, she could ask the neighbors, the teachers. Everyone knew I was kind, devoted, and a hard worker. Grandma Betty always told me that my parents loved me, but they were just too busy building their lives. I worked myself to exhaustion, studied until I was numb, and tried to be the perfect, dutiful daughter so I wouldn’t be a burden, so they would finally like me. Just then, a hurried commotion and the sound of heavy boots came from the doorway. A relaxed smile spread across Robert’s face. “See, Carol? I told you. She came back. The kid caved.” Mom instantly straightened, her spine rigid with smug vindication. The door burst open, and Mayor Thompson, the head of our village council, stumbled in, his face ghostly. Carol saw him and assumed I’d sent him to mediate. She crossed her arms, a cold, unyielding mask settling on her face. “Uncle Thompson, did Lara send you to talk us down? Well, you can tell her no. She made a mistake, and she needs to face the consequences.” “You tell her to write that five-thousand-word letter of apology and read it out loud in the town square. Otherwise, she is not setting foot in this house!” The Mayor’s jaw dropped. He was frantic, shaking his head and waving his arms. Grandma Betty was looking past him, desperate. “Where is my girl, Thompson? Tell me, where is she?” The Mayor looked at Carol’s self-satisfied face, and his own face crumpled. He stomped his foot and let out a tortured cry. “There’s been a tragedy! You blind, foolish parents! How could you push your child to this point?”

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