Category: English

A new girl, Sienna, transferred in—a bombshell with a sharp attitude. She vowed to have my childhood best friend, Noah, in her bed within months. Without looking up, Noah said, “Stay away. I’m a germaphobe.” But then he gripped my hand, eyes red, and whispered, “Aria, I’ve only ever been yours. Why wait until after graduation? Waiting is killing me.” He paused, then added, “But fine. I’m traditional. A few more months won’t kill me. Your happiness comes first.” Sienna chased him for half a year; he never glanced her way. I thought it was true love—until the pre-semester party. Drunk and barely standing, he leaned on me, murmuring my name desperately: “Aria, have pity on your future husband…” My heart raced. Alone, I tried to steal my first kiss. But as my lips touched his, his hazy eyes snapped open. He pinned me against the door, his voice a rough whisper: “Why so shy tonight? No tongue? Last night in the music room, you were all over me.” A chilling cold washed through me. The boy who swore I was his one and only… was wearing a mask I’d never seen. 1 Noah’s kiss was deep and possessive, his movements far from clumsy. He kissed like an expert. He said last night. So, who was he with last night? Before I could even form the question, he pulled away. He was completely wasted, his eyelids heavy. He let out a low groan, his brow furrowing slightly. “You dummy, still haven’t learned how to breathe?” “Did I teach you nothing?” I took a sharp breath, pushing against his chest. My fingertips trembled, but I forced my voice to stay level. “Noah, look at me. Look who I am.” Noah went silent for a beat, squinting at me. I never imagined that the few seconds before his answer would feel like an eternity. A dreadful possibility was clawing its way into my mind. But I needed to hear it from him. He patted his own cheeks, then gently pinched mine, his words slurred with alcohol. “Sweetheart, are you still in my dream?” “Aria… you’re so much better in my dreams. You let me kiss you whenever I want.” My eyelashes fluttered. Hearing my name, that gnawing anxiety in my gut subsided, just for a moment. So, he thought he was dreaming. Noah cupped my face, his warm lips descending on mine again. “Breathe, sweetheart. Don’t hold your breath and turn all red like last time.” He cooed and kissed me, peppering his words with all the old pet names he had for me. When he was done, he flopped onto the bed and buried his face in the pillows, as if embarrassed. “Damn, this dream feels real.” I sat beside him on the edge of the bed, my thoughts racing. After a few moments, I stood up. Whatever. Noah was an idiot. He’d been chasing me his whole life. Even if he was hiding something, he was terrible at keeping secrets. It would come out eventually. No one else was home tonight. I pulled out my phone to order some hangover soup, but it died right in my hand. Too lazy to find a charger, I grabbed Noah’s phone instead. The lock screen was still the latest picture I’d sent him. He always claimed he got bored easily, so he demanded at least three new, different photos of me every week. If I didn’t deliver, he’d pout and ignore me, a real pain to win back over. I always teased him about it. “If you get bored so easily, how have you been stuck on me for so many years?” He’d just grin, all carefree charm. “Tough luck. You’re the one I like.” But when I tried my fingerprint to unlock the phone, it failed. Of the five fingerprints registered on his phone, one was his. The other four were mine. I tried each of my fingers. All of them failed. Did he delete them by mistake? Noah wasn’t that careless. I tried the passcode next: my birthday. He’d used that code for years. He wouldn’t change it. But it failed, too. Just then, a notification popped up on the screen. It was a picture, from Sienna. The girl who had been chasing Noah for months. 2 My hand tightened around the phone, my knuckles white. When did they become friends on social media? Didn’t Noah say he couldn’t stand her? To be fair, Noah had always had a legion of admirers. But he was aloof and had a sharp tongue. That, combined with his blatant, unwavering devotion to me, made most girls give up pretty quickly. Sienna was the only one who had lasted this long. And she was the only one who truly got under his skin. I remember one evening after our late study session, she cornered me in the hallway. Her voice was laced with ice. “Aria, you and Noah aren’t actually dating, are you?” “So it’s fair game. May the best woman win.” Her hostility was palpable. Before I could respond, Noah appeared, snagging my backpack and slinging it over his shoulder with practiced ease. He handed me a warm carton of milk and carefully adjusted my scarf and hat. Noah was usually so mild-mannered, but that night, I could feel the storm brewing inside him. He took my hand, his tall frame shielding me from her glare, and his voice was cold steel. “She doesn’t have to compete with you. Because I’m the one chasing her.” “And you’re right, we’re not dating. I’m just her future husband.” Noah was silent the entire walk home that night. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and poked his arm. “What’s wrong?” His eyes were red, and he pinched my cheek, his tone accusatory. “Aren’t you even a little bit jealous?” “Someone says that to you, and you have no reaction? Do you not even like me?” Oh, so that was it. I shook my head. “No, because I know your heart only has room for me.” Noah’s lips pressed into a thin line, but I could see he was pleased. He took my hand again, his grip tight. “I can’t wait for graduation, Aria. I want to date you so badly.” I looked down, remembering what Noah’s mother had told me. “Aria, sweetie, I know Noah has loved you since you were little, and I don’t object to you two. But can you promise me you’ll wait until after graduation to say yes to him?” I squeezed Noah’s hand, thinking to myself. Just wait a little longer, Noah. There’s only one semester left. 3 I put Noah’s phone down and went to my own room downstairs. The room I had lived in for over a decade. When I was three, my parents divorced. My mother, raising me alone, found a job with the Scotts, Noah’s family. She worked as their housekeeper, and we lived there with them. Noah and I are the same age. We grew up side by side. Even as a kid, Noah had this “keep your distance” aura. I was a little scared of him, but I was always polite, calling him my big brother. He never answered back, but he always included me when he played with his friends. I guess I was a cute kid, because one of the boys once told Noah to share me with him. Noah, who was always so cool and collected, exploded. He tackled the boy, pinned him to the ground, and just snarled, “Get lost.” It was the first time I’d ever seen him angry, the first time I’d heard him swear. On the way home, I trailed timidly behind him, calling his name. Still fuming, he turned and yelled at me, another first. “Don’t call me your brother!” I was so scared I avoided him for days, until he finally cornered me. His tone was softer then, and he used a nickname for me for the very first time. “Aria, are you dense?” “Brothers and sisters can’t get married.” I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. I’d imagined he hated me, that he was annoyed by me… But I had never, ever imagined he might actually like me. After his confession, Noah became even more shamelessly devoted to me. His love wasn’t quiet like he was; it was loud, passionate, and on full display. Everyone knew it. Noah Scott would only ever marry one person in his life. Aria Lane. But tonight, my mind couldn’t stop racing. His practiced, expert kiss. The way he called me “sweetheart.” And that picture from Sienna, the one I couldn’t see. 4 The next day was the first day of the new semester. My mom had taken a month off to visit family, and Noah’s parents were away on a business trip. It was just me and Noah in the house. I hadn’t slept a wink, so naturally, I overslept. The moment I opened my door, I walked straight into Noah’s chest. A faint scent of citrus hit me. I sniffed the air, asking without thinking, “Did you change your body wash? It smells… unfamiliar.” For years, he had insisted on using the same brand as me. He’d never switched, not once. Even yesterday, when we went out, he smelled like my body wash. Noah’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He gave a quiet “mmhmm.” He clearly didn’t want to elaborate. “I made you breakfast. Let’s get to school.” I took the breakfast sandwich he handed me and pursed my lips. “My mom told me to take care of you…” Noah grabbed my hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. “You, take care of someone? You practically threw me on the bed last night and disappeared.” I seized the opportunity. “I was going to order you some hangover soup, but my phone died. And you changed your phone’s passcode.” Noah paused for a second before explaining, “The guys figured out my password was your birthday last time. It’s not secure.” “You know my phone is filled with pictures of you. I’d lose my mind if even one got out.” “Oh,” I said. He continued, “I changed it to the day I first told you I liked you.” I nodded, pretending to understand. But a thought still nagged at me. That doesn’t explain why you deleted my fingerprints. Just as I was about to press him further, Noah handed me his phone and leaned back against the car window, closing his eyes. “Go ahead, look. It’s not every day I get an inspection from you.” “Finally starting to care about what I’m up to, huh?” I’d never done anything like this before, but today, I had to know. So I opened his chat history. Sienna’s contact was gone. I tossed the phone onto his lap. “I saw Sienna send you a message yesterday. It was a picture. It’s gone now.” Noah didn’t even open his eyes. “Yeah. She sent me an explicit photo. I blocked and deleted her.” 5 …An explicit photo? A lump formed in my throat. I wanted to ask him why he’d added her in the first place. I thought he couldn’t stand her. But what right did I have to ask? We weren’t anything, officially. Everyone thought I was just stringing him along, refusing to say yes after he’d poured his heart out for so long. But Mrs. Scott had taken my mother and me in when we had nowhere else to go. We owed them everything. I had to honor the one condition she’d given me. Besides, it was just a little longer. Being with Noah at all was more than I could have ever hoped for. “Aria, I didn’t know it was her when I accepted the request.” He held up his phone, showing me his lock screen—my face—his eyes softening with a genuine tenderness. “It just disgusted me. She’s got nothing on my Aria.” In class, Noah sat beside me as usual. He expertly unpacked my various snacks from his backpack, along with new pens and notebooks, and a few other little things he knew I sometimes needed. He was always like that, taking care of every little detail. Sienna was the last one to arrive. On this frigid winter day, she wore a tight, cropped top under a thin jacket, paired with a skirt that barely reached her mid-thigh. She sauntered in, chewing gum, and tossed her bag onto the desk across the aisle from Noah. Noah’s pen froze for a second. He glanced at me. “Aria, switch seats with me.” Sienna just smirked and plopped down into her chair. I moved to Noah’s seat. As soon as I sat down, I was hit by a wave of citrus. The same scent that was on Noah. Only here, it was much, much stronger. 6 First period was a study hall. I told myself to stop overthinking and buried my head in my workbook. A folded note slid onto my desk. It was from Sienna. I hesitated for a moment, then unfolded it. “He smells like me, doesn’t he?” I crumpled the note into a tight ball and threw it at Noah in frustration. He was in the middle of organizing my notes on problems I’d gotten wrong. He raised an eyebrow at me, then slowly unfolded the paper. As he read the words, his fingers clenched, crumpling it again. Noah muttered a curse under his breath and pulled me out of my seat and into the hallway. The class monitor called after us, but we were already gone. He sighed and wrote both our names on the board for detention. At the end of the empty hall, I yanked my hand free. “What is wrong with you?” “What kind of lies is she feeding you now?” I pressed my lips together. “She’s not lying. You both have the same scent.” Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Don’t listen to her nonsense. I ran into her the other day when I was buying you snacks.” “She must have seen me grab some new body wash. She’s doing this on purpose to mess with you.” It felt like too many coincidences, but I chose to believe Noah wouldn’t lie to me. “Okay, I get it. I didn’t say anything. Let’s go back to class.” Noah reached for my hand, but I flinched away instinctively. I was distracted for the rest of the day, making stupid mistakes on the simplest problems. On the walk home, for the first time in forever, Noah didn’t hold my hand or talk to me. Usually, the walk from the classroom to the school gate was his dedicated pestering time. He’d chatter endlessly, a stark contrast to the cool, quiet persona he showed everyone else. It was an endearing, adorable side of him that I loved. But today, he was just staring at his phone. He had long legs and a fast pace. He forgot about me, leaving me trailing behind. I clutched my backpack straps and jogged to catch up. 7 That evening, Noah brought a glass of warm milk to my room. He leaned against the doorframe, watching me drink it all. Then he pushed his hair back from his forehead and smiled. “Can I have a hug?” I nodded. We’d already kissed last night, so a hug didn’t seem like a big deal. I walked over and stepped into his embrace. The scent that hit me wasn’t the citrus from earlier. It was my scent, the one he was supposed to smell like. Didn’t he say he switched his body wash? Noah’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it. Then he released me and left without looking back. “Get some sleep.” I stood frozen in place, the lingering scent of him clinging to me, a confusing, unsettling presence that I couldn’t shake. Later that night, as I was getting ready for bed, I got a new friend request. The profile picture was familiar. It was Sienna. I accepted. A message came through immediately. [Remember what I said three months ago? Well, I did it.] [I tested him out for you. He’s amazing, by the way. And very… gifted.]

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The women in the office had a sick obsession with turning everything into a sexual rumor. If I wore a dress, it was to “seduce men.” If my employee number was eight, they whispered I was a high-end escort, “Technician Number Eight.” One colleague, a decent guy, once tried to defend me. Tara Jenkins just scoffed. “It’s just a joke, hon. Does she still want that full-time offer or not?” That was her secret weapon—holding our internships hostage. It wasn’t until the day I went to headquarters to drop off files and hitched a ride back with the Chairman that Tara finally found a rumor she could hang onto. “Hey, Andrea,” she called out, pausing just long enough for the entire floor to look up. “The man who drove you back today in that Maybach, he looked pretty old. Was that your dad?” Everyone knew I was an orphan. It was the one piece of personal information I couldn’t hide. Tara slapped her forehead, feigning a sudden, tragic recollection. “Oh, darn it! He was being so affectionate—arm around you, leaning in—I just assumed he was your father. I completely forgot you don’t have a dad. You’re not mad, are you?” A few nervous, ugly snickers rippled through the cubicles. I looked her dead in the eye, maintaining a professional smile. “Tara, do you genuinely believe he was my dad?” She covered her mouth with her hand, a practiced gesture of false apology. “Well, yeah! With all those wrinkles, anyone would think he was your dad. I’m just kidding, though! Don’t take it personally.” I wouldn’t take it personally. Not anymore. What she didn’t know was that I had a system. A gift, or maybe a curse, designed to counteract the poison of public slander. I called it the Rumor Reality System. If I was slandered exactly ninety-nine times, I could pick one, any one of those rumors, and make it irrevocably true. Since she was so generous as to try and bless me with a billionaire father, I decided I would accept her gift. … 1 I leaned forward, making my question as earnest as possible. “Tara, you truly think the man in that car was my dad?” Tara covered her mouth again, her eyes shining with malicious amusement. “Totally! An old guy like that standing next to you? Who else would he be? Though,” she paused, leaning in conspiratorially, “Maybe not a biological dad. A sugar dad, then!” She gave a high-pitched, fake laugh. “Honestly, I’m just a joker. You have to get used to it. How else are you going to survive here once you’re full-time?” There it was again. The threat of the full-time offer, the secret key she used to control all the interns. The system chimed. Rumor Count: Ninety-Six. I stayed silent, hoping my lack of reaction would make her lose interest. Please, just stop. But as I bent over my keyboard, a phone was suddenly thrust inches from my face. Tara held the phone toward me, a wide, predatory grin on her face. “Hey, guys, look at this! Our little intern here is moving up in the world. She won’t even deliver files unless it’s in a Maybach! Baller, right?” She turned the camera back toward herself and winked. “You want to know how she lives like that? Does she rely on her mom or her dad?” She gave an overly suggestive, slow blink. “Oh, right, she’s an orphan. She doesn’t rely on her parents. She relies on working hard all day, and working harder all night!” Her voice was thick with implication. I started to speak, ready to finally snap back. Tara cut me off with a sickeningly sweet, fabricated smile. “Andrea Hale, I mean you work so hard you take two jobs! How is that not sitting in a luxury car based on your own efforts?” A nearby colleague shifted uncomfortably. “Wasn’t that Maybach the Chairman’s car? I think he just gave Andrea a ride because it was on the way.” Tara immediately scoffed, rolling her eyes as she returned to scrolling through her feed. “My point exactly. Like you could ever afford to sit in a Maybach on your own.” I forced down the searing spike of rage and focused on my screen. Just then, Tara burst into loud laughter. She looked up, her expression a mask of undisguised malice. “Andrea Hale, the chat thread says someone actually recognizes you!” I frowned, confused by the new angle. “Wait a minute, I think I do too…” Tara tapped her chin. “I remember! Didn’t you used to work at that spa? What was it called… The Sapphire Room!” She snapped her fingers, certainty settling on her face. “That’s it! The Sapphire Room! I knew you looked familiar the first time I saw you.” The local colleagues immediately murmured in confusion. “The Sapphire Room? Isn’t that that high-end escort place?” Tara turned to me, gripping my hand with a false show of motherly concern. “Andrea, you need to listen to me. You can’t keep working at The Sapphire Room. This company fires people for having second jobs, especially that kind.” The looks aimed at me hardened. Pity curdled into disgust. I took a deep breath, gently pulling my hand away. “Tara, you’re absolutely right. We did meet at The Sapphire Room. I recognized you the first time I saw you, too.” Tara froze, the smile sliding off her face. “I—” I tilted my head, letting a cold smile play on my lips. “Your memory must be going, Tara. You thought I was a colleague of yours.” I leaned closer, pitching my voice just loud enough for the immediate area. “I was there with an executive meeting, and I actually booked you a couple of times when you were a ‘technician.’ Did you forget?” 2 A collective snicker, then a wave of choked-off, muffled laughter, broke out across the office. Tara shrieked in protest. “You’re lying! What kind of bulls**t is that? I’ve never been a technician!” I covered my mouth, mirroring her earlier gesture. “Oh, Tara, I’m just pulling your leg! You know, making a little joke to lighten the mood!” “You wouldn’t mind, would you?” Tara was speechless, her face crimson with fury. Ryan Cross, my boyfriend, rushed over and pulled me away. “Tara, she’s being an idiot. I’ll talk to her, I promise!” He dragged me to the side of the room. “What did I tell you? She’s a gossip, she doesn’t have a filter, but you can’t let her get to you! Does it actually hurt you to let her talk?” I laughed, a sharp, bitter sound. “She just publicly implied I’m a prostitute! And I can’t respond?!” Ryan ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched on his face. “Do you know how many people are desperate to get into Summit Group? We need this full-time offer, and we have to kiss her butt to get it. Why are you picking this fight?” I kept my face cold, refusing to answer. A flicker of impatience crossed his features, quickly replaced by something meaner. “Why is it that everyone else can handle this, but you have to make a scene? You need to look at your position here. You’re not exactly irreplaceable…” I heard the last part, even though he mumbled it. You’re not exactly irreplaceable. The phrase struck me with the force of a blow. I was about to respond when the manager walked in, announcing the dates for the mandatory annual corporate physical exams. As soon as the manager finished, Ryan tried to approach me again. I ignored him, gathering my things and heading straight home. The next morning, I arrived at the clinic at the scheduled time. After completing a series of routine checks, I carried my chart to the last required stop: the pelvic examination. The doctor didn’t look up. “Andrea Hale, right? Pants off, lie down.” I hesitated. I was unmarried, and this was an invasive exam. But the doctor was impatient, so I complied. She adjusted the speculum and began the examination. “Ah!” A sharp gasp escaped me. Cold sweat immediately broke out as a jolt of pain stole my breath. The doctor froze, the instrument still inside me. “Every married woman gets this exam. Stop being so dramatic!” I stared at her, stunned, before managing to explain I was not married. “Unmarried? Why are you even here for this? Are you wasting my time?” The doctor was genuinely angry now. She pointed at the file note on her computer screen. “It says right here your company noted you have three prior marriages and are sexually active and high-risk. You’re flagged for a full workup!” I saw the highlighted, yellow-marked text on the monitor. My mind went instantly blank. The noise of my outburst drew the attention of the people waiting in line behind me. Their judgmental stares felt like physical blows. I stumbled out, my brain reeling, and didn’t stop until I burst back into the office. I slapped the notes sheet down on Tara’s desk. “How dare you tamper with my medical exam form?” Tara stifled a giggle. “Consider it a free premium wellness package upgrade! Are you happy with it?” I was shaking, my teeth grinding. “This is a criminal offense!” Everyone turned to look. Tara’s eyes immediately welled up with fake tears. “Everyone, please judge! I was worried about her health, so I upgraded her exam, and I might have accidentally checked the wrong box! She doesn’t appreciate it and is trying to blame me!” One colleague spoke up to mediate. “Andrea, everyone makes mistakes. You didn’t suffer any real damage, did you? Don’t be so unforgiving.” “Yeah, she was trying to help you. That’s a terrible way to talk to someone!” another added. Someone else shook their head. “Ungrateful much? She gets extra benefits, and she gets mad? No good deed goes unpunished.” I was vibrating with fury. “She changed my status from single to having three marriages and added a vaginal ultrasound to my required tests!” “If this had gone through today, it would have been a double assault—on my reputation and my body!” I yelled. “Who is going to be held accountable for that?!” The room grew quiet. “Well, that’s… that is a bit much.” “Tara, honestly, a young woman like that, how is she supposed to get married now?” Hearing the general disapproval, Tara’s fake tears instantly dried up. She shouted, voice dripping with self-righteousness, “I was just trying to protect all of us!” “She has syphilis! It’s contagious!” 3 The office fell into a stunned silence. When the colleagues registered what she’d said, their shock turned to immediate terror. Tara pointed at me, her voice ringing with false authority. “I’m in HR. I saw her file. The company can’t reject a candidate just because they have a communicable disease. But a dirty disease like this could spread to all of us!” “I only asked the doctor to check her thoroughly to ensure everyone’s safety! Is that wrong?” Blood rushed to my head. I stared at her, my voice a dangerous whisper. “What did you just say?” Tara pulled up a screen shot on her phone, a supposed disease confirmation. “Some people pretend to be pure college students on the surface, but who knows what kind of depraved life they lead to catch something like this!” The colleagues erupted in an angry chorus. “What the hell! No wonder she was so angry about a simple check-up! She has something to hide!” “Oh, God, I sit right next to her! I’m taking the rest of the day off to go get checked!” … The room was chaos. Tara looked at me, her eyes full of triumphant malice. I felt a profound, chilling calmness settle over me. “Tara Jenkins, I am calling the police right now. Are you ready to take responsibility for every word you just said?” A flicker of panic crossed her face. I pressed the call button, but the phone was suddenly snatched from my hand by Ryan, who had just walked in. He threw my phone hard onto the floor and started yelling. “How much longer are you going to keep this up? It was a few office jokes, and you’re going to call the police? What a drama queen!” “You clearly don’t know how to navigate basic office politics. If I wasn’t here to protect you, you’d have been fired eight hundred times by now!” The suppressed emotion of weeks finally broke. Tears poured from my eyes. “She just told the entire office I have syphilis! Am I supposed to just agree with her?!” Ryan was momentarily stunned. He dragged me out of the office. His eyes looked genuinely hurt. “Andrea, I know how hurt you are. Do you think I don’t suffer when she says those things?” “But we need that full-time offer! And my mom already hates your background. If we don’t stay at Summit Group, she’ll never let us be together.” “They announce the full-time transfer list tomorrow at the staff meeting. I’m begging you. You’ve put up with it for weeks. Can’t you just hang on for one more day?” His desperate plea didn’t soften me. It hardened me. In his eyes, my reputation, my dignity, and the profound trauma I’d just endured were utterly insignificant compared to his job promotion. My last vestige of hope for him evaporated. The system chimed. Rumor Count: Ninety-Seven. Two more. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe and calm down. Given Tara’s speed, Ryan’s dream of a full-time offer was likely about to crash and burn. Seeing my silence, Ryan mistook it for surrender. He was ecstatic, pulling me into a hug. “I knew you were the reasonable one! I promise, the second I get that offer, I’ll go with you to sue her! I won’t let her hurt you again!” The next day, during the employee assembly, the interns delivered their final reports. Summit Group only granted a tiny fraction of full-time offers, and this year, only one person per team would be selected. I was awarded “Outstanding Intern” for having the highest performance scores on the team. The company had prepared gifts for every intern. The first intern received a new laptop. “Perfect! My old one just died!” he shouted excitedly. The next few received expensive designer scarves or limited-edition collectibles. Each gift was something the intern needed or specifically liked. Ryan received a pricey bespoke suit. He enthusiastically thanked Tara, who presented the gifts. When it was my turn to go on stage, everyone leaned forward, eager to see what I’d receive. “A phone? A computer?” “Andrea was the top performer, it has to be something expensive! Someone over there got a three-year car lease!” Under the gaze of hundreds of colleagues, I slowly lifted the lid of the box. Inside, resting on a bed of satin, was a vibrating dildo. 4 The entire hall erupted in a shocked murmur. I involuntarily recoiled, letting go of the box. The item clattered to the floor. “Andrea, don’t drop your gift! Handle it carefully.” Tara picked it up using two fingers, her face a mask of undisguised malice. “We appreciate your contributions to the company during your internship, Andrea. But we can’t exactly endorse the methods of contribution…” “Four settings, portable and waterproof, with current stimulation. I figured this is the kind of repair you’d need most! Don’t mention it!” Tara’s words caused an instant uproar. “Wait—what is she implying? That Andrea slept her way to her performance numbers?” “Didn’t Tara say she had a dirty disease the other day? God, it all makes sense now…” The whispers, the jeers, and Tara’s triumphant face. The system’s prompt—the ninety-eighth rumor—was irrelevant now. My blood boiled over. “What the hell are you talking about now?!” Tara just smirked at me. A sudden, terrible premonition hit me. A collective gasp swept through the audience. I turned to follow their line of sight. On the massive screen behind me, my presentation slides had been replaced. In their place was a slideshow of explicit, high-definition private photos. One after another, images flashed of my face paired with the bodies of various different men. None of the bodies were mine. My hands and feet went ice-cold. I was rooted to the spot. As soon as I realized what was happening, I lunged to shut off the projector. Tara snatched the microphone. “Intern Andrea Hale has engaged in promiscuous private conduct and has used inappropriate methods to gain contracts. Due to the severe damage Andrea’s behavior has caused to the company’s reputation…” I roared, cutting her off. “Those are not me!” Tara gave me a look of pure contempt. “I’m sorry, but we received an anonymous, sworn statement.” “Your full-time offer is rescinded immediately and will be offered to the next candidate.” I finally understood. I spun around and looked at the second-place candidate, Ryan Cross. “It was you!” Ryan’s eyes darted away. He reached out to steady me. “Just calm down—” “Calm down?! How can I calm down!” The pain, the anger, and the weeks of suppressed rage exploded. “You knew how much she was hurting me with those rumors! Why did you do this?!” Tara stepped in, playing the role of Ryan’s defender. “Andrea, why are you attacking Ryan? What man would tolerate his girlfriend cheating on him? If anything, Ryan is the victim here!” The colleagues joined the pile-on. “Tsk tsk. She sells her body, and she expected Ryan to keep it a secret?” “If I were her boyfriend, I’d charge her for emotional damages. Ryan is a saint!” The high-level executives in the room looked furious, claiming I had disgraced the company and threatening to blacklist me from the entire industry. The wave of insults made me dizzy. A mechanical voice cut through the haze. “Ding! Congratulations, Host! Tara Jenkins has spread ninety-nine rumors. You may now select one rumor to make irrevocably true. Activate?” I didn’t hesitate. Confirm. A company representative stepped forward, demanding my ID badge and telling me to leave immediately. Ryan’s expression flickered with a hint of shame, but he remained silent. Tara’s eyes narrowed, a sharp glint of triumph in them. She leaned closer and whispered, “I didn’t force him, he came to me. For you interns, if I want you to stay, you stay. If I want you gone, you have to pack your bags and crawl out!” Then, she waved an arm and summoned the two security guards. “Strip her and search her thoroughly! She isn’t allowed to leave with even a single company pen!” I fought back, pain lancing through me. “Tara Jenkins, you will regret this! I swear you will!” Tara laughed dismissively. “You? An intern? You don’t know whose turf you’re on, shouting at me like that!” “Who the hell do you think you are?” She signaled the guards to move. They surrounded me. “Stop!” The main doors burst open. An older man with a shock of white hair strode quickly toward the stage. It was Wallace King, the Chairman of Summit Group. He scanned the scene—the tear-streaked intern, the security guards, the crude image on the screen—and his face turned to thunder. “I’ll tell you who she is!” “She is my biological daughter, lost for twenty-three years, and the sole heiress to the Summit Group!”

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The New Year’s Eve bell just rang, I timed it perfectly to send a message to Julian Brooks: “Dr. Brooks, when can we go public with our relationship?” But before he could reply, my dad suddenly raised his hand, pointing at a street lamp not far away, tone full of surprise: “Hey, isn’t that Julian? Holding hands with a young girl, looks like their relationship is unusual.” My heart skipped a beat, subconsciously following their gaze. Next second, blood all over my body seemed to freeze. In the warm yellow halo of the street lamp, Julian leaned slightly, kissing the girl in his arms. I recognized that girl, she was the newcomer the department head mentioned a few days ago, coming to start work next week. Perhaps my gaze was too burning, Julian suddenly looked up. At the moment our eyes met, his pupils shrank, Adam’s apple rolled quickly twice. Few seconds later he let go of the person in his arms, walking towards us. “Professor, Mrs. Song, let me formally introduce, this is my fiancée Sarah.” When it was my turn, his eyes hid a trace of evasion, didn’t even dare to look at me for too long, just hurriedly swept over my face, introducing to the person beside him: “This is Professor and Mrs. Song’s child Chloe, counts as my half-sister.” Hearing his words, I smiled self-mockingly. Turns out, the person who shared bed and pillow for 365 days and nights, is actually just his half-sister. Chapter 1 Sarah turned to smile at me: “Sister Chloe, later when I start working in the hospital, I will trouble you a lot.” She leaned closer to Julian, holding his hand tighter, eyes curved adding: “After all Dr. Brooks is too busy, department matters are enough to make him scorched head and rotten forehead (busy and anxious), where does he have energy to care about me.” I looked at the matching rings shining on their ring fingers, only felt my eye sockets burning. Julian is indeed busy. Busy lying to me about consultation on New Year’s Eve, busy holding another girl’s hand to cross the year, busy kissing another person while I was full of expectation for his reply. Julian’s ear tips turned red, he looked down at Sarah, with a coaxing tone: “What nonsense? Even if I’m busy, I won’t ignore you.” “Which time you needed me, I didn’t appear in front of you first time?” Words out, sourness instantly spread from heart to throat. I remembered last week I had a fever of 102 degrees, messaged him asking to bring a box of fever medicine, he said department busy feet not touching ground, replied let me order delivery myself, then no follow-up. Turns out, he didn’t lack time, just his time, never belonged to me. Just then, my dad suddenly patted Julian’s shoulder, face full of gratified smile, tone carrying a few points of emotion: “So good, I watched you two grow up together since childhood, now you both have people you like, we elders are also happy.” He said, turning to look at me again, eyes carrying some smile: “Speaking of which, Chloe also has a boyfriend, heard dated for a year, but never told us who he is.” “Your Mrs. Song and I guessed secretly at first, thought it was you and our Chloe together, after all you two are childhood sweethearts, later worked in same hospital, seeing each other every day.” My dad laughed heartily: “Result seeing your girlfriend today, realized we made a big misunderstanding!” Fireworks around exploded instantly, reflecting on my pale face. Julian almost immediately took the words, tone calm without a flaw, even carrying a meaning of crying and laughing. “How possible Professor, I always just treat Chloe as sister, she has straight personality, in department I also took care of her a bit more, didn’t expect let you misunderstand.” I stared tightly at Julian’s smiling face, suddenly felt surrounding noise like drowning, a silent suffocation wrapped me, making me unable to escape no matter how. One year of underground romance, three hundred sixty-five days and nights of sneakiness, in his light sentence of sister, shattered not even dregs left. I took a deep breath, forced a smile, actively stepped forward, held my dad’s arm: “Mom, Dad, don’t worry, wait till Chinese New Year, I will bring my boyfriend back for you to see.” My dad stunned, then eyes lit up, patting back of my hand happily: “Good ah, that time must let me look carefully, exactly which handsome lad made you spend so much effort hiding for a year.” My mom also followed laughing, pulling my hand carefully instructing: “Right, that time say in advance, we good prepare meal, can’t slight people.” Julian seemed not listening to what we were saying here, just holding Sarah’s hand looking at her. I looked at the unconcealed happiness on Julian’s face, that dense pain in heart suddenly surged up, forcing me to birth a few points of almost masochistic prank thought. I hooked lips looking at him: “Speaking of coincidence, my boyfriend is also a doctor, and works in the same hospital as Dr. Brooks.” Words out, air around instantly solidified. Smile on Julian’s face froze instantly, he couldn’t care about Sarah, eyes locked dead on me, lips moved silently, that mouth shape clearly saying “Don’t make trouble”. Like exactly when we secretly kissed in his office before, someone knocked, he panic pushed me away, also afraid I aggrieved, secretly winked at me begging for mercy. But now, panic in his eyes, is afraid I ruin his good match with Sarah, afraid I expose his dirty act of stepping on two boats. I looked at his familiar eyes, heart like grabbed fiercely by an invisible hand, painful making my fingertips tremble. I pulled corner of mouth, withdrew gaze, didn’t look at him again: “But well, he is relatively low-key, wait till brought back during Spring Festival, you will know.” Julian obviously sighed relief, tightness on back faded a lot, only ears still red piercing, don’t know if guilty conscience, or lingering fear. Just then, my dad’s phone suddenly rang, he answered, smilingly responded few times, hung up then waved at us: “Old Wang and them 2 missing 2, urging me and your mom to go make up numbers, already past 12, just right catch an all-nighter.” My mom also echoed: “Then we go first, you young people have fun.” She turned to look at me, eyes carrying a few points uneasiness: “Chloe, so late, you alone go home not safe, let Little Julian send you.” Sarah immediately held Julian’s arm, smiling obediently: “Uncle Auntie rest assured, me and Julian send Sister Chloe back together, guarantee send her home safely.” My heart burst of nausea, hurriedly waved hand refuse: “No need, Uber I called already arrived, just at intersection.” I said about to turn, wrist was grabbed by Julian. His force very big, like deliberately doing for my parents to see, also like warning me: “Professor and Mrs. Song handed you to me, I must send you home safely.” Voice just fell, he dragged my wrist, pulled me into back seat. Moment car door closed, I saw Julian go around to other side, bent down to fasten seat belt for Sarah. His movement very light, fingertips brushed Sarah’s hair tip, didn’t forget to lower head instruct “Sit steady”. Sarah looked up smiling at him, reached arms around his neck, printed a kiss on his cheek, coquettishly said: “Knew it, you drive slow.” I sat in back seat, gaze swept inside car, heart like fiercely grabbed, painful breathless. Before, this passenger seat was my exclusive position, car hung Lucky Cat charm I ran three streets to buy, dashboard placed photo of us first time went amusement park, even car fragrance was my favorite citrus scent. But now, Lucky Cat charm missing, photo changed to side face of him and Sarah hugging, fragrance also changed to rose scent Sarah prefers. Even cartoon cushion I forced to him, changed to lace style same color system as Sarah’s dress. Turns out, he long pulled my traces from his life, by the roots. I turned head away, dead staring scenery retreating fast outside window, eye sockets sore and swollen terrible, but forced back tears about to roll down. Silence all way, car stopped downstairs my home, Julian first pushed door get off, went around to back open my door: “I send you upstairs.” He turned to smile at Sarah in passenger seat: “Sarah, you wait me in car a while, I come down soon.” Sarah obediently nodded, waved at me. I ignored her, walked straight to community. Julian silently followed behind me, street lamp pulled our shadows very long, one front one back, separated by not far not near distance, like exactly our relationship unable to see light in this year. Until walked to unit building door, Julian finally opened mouth: “Your things I already packed, all put at doorman.” “That apartment, Sarah wants to live, letting her know not good…” My hand pinching key paused, fingertips ice cold. That apartment we secretly lived for small a year, wall still pasted wallpaper I bought, fridge still stuffed food he loves, wardrobe still hung our couple pajamas, turns out in his eyes, that is just a place can’t let Sarah know, hiding secrets. I didn’t speak, didn’t turn back, just lowered head, staring at keyhole. Julian behind silent few seconds, low voice spoke again, tone carrying a trace of guilt: “Chloe, sorry.” I finally turned around, looking at him. Stairway light fell on his face, reflecting panic flashed in his eyes. I pulled corner of mouth, revealed an extremely faint, sarcastic smile: “No need apologize, after all we never together, just Friends with Benefits only.” Friends with Benefits three words, like a needle, fiercely stabbed him. Julian face instantly changed, he fiercely grabbed my hand, force big making me frown: “Chloe Song, must you speak so ugly?” I looked at him, chill in eyes bit by bit漫 (spread) up. Ugly? Compared to him lying to me overtime on New Year’s Eve, turning head holding other girl kissing, compared to him wiping my traces completely from life, turning head taking new love live into our rental, compared to him facing my parents, lightly saying only treat me as sister. This sentence, really not count as ugly. After Julian left, that strength holding up whole night finally collapsed. Tears held too long in eye sockets, finally without warning smashed down, smashed on back of hand, hot making people hurt. I just squatted on ground like that, cried till whole body trembling, cried till night faded, sky light slight bright. Cried tired, I buried myself in quilt, phone off, curtains pulled tight tight, let room fall into a piece darkness. I asked a week leave, didn’t tell anyone reason. In these few days, I didn’t eat a mouthful rice, didn’t step out room door one step, only when thirsty to extreme, would climb up drink a mouthful cold water. Stomach empty, hungry limbs soft, but that hole in heart, how also can’t fill. Until 5th day evening, sunset outside window through curtain crack, fell on floor. I stared at that beam light for long time, suddenly felt, seems no need torture myself like this anymore. I slowly climbed up, walked into bathroom. Person in mirror face pale, under eyes hung heavy blue black, lips dry cracked skin, haggard unlike words. I turned on hot water, washed a good bath, then dug out cosmetics, gave myself a good makeup. Draw brows, apply eye shadow, put on a bright lipstick. Looking at myself in mirror re-glowing few points brilliance, I suddenly smiled. I changed into a beautiful dress, stepped on high heels, walked out of home. I came to that private kitchen restaurant I missed for long time, pushed door in, ordered a table of my favorite dishes. Steaming hot Sweet and Sour Ribs, crispy flavorful spicy chicken… When first bite of sweet and sour ribs sour sweet taste melted on tongue tip, my eye sockets somewhat hot, but not because sad. But because I suddenly understood, Julian compared to delicious food, really counts nothing. Those hypocritical sweetness he can give me, far not as solid as a plate of sweet and sour ribs. Eat full drink enough, stomach warm, bringing mood also good a lot. I paid bill, slowly walked along street side, evening wind blew on face, a trace of cool. Passing by hospital, my steps paused, thought, straight walked in. Nurse at duty desk saw me, even smiling greeted: “Chloe, didn’t you ask leave? Why came?” I smiled at her, just wanted say process resignation, she step ahead lowered voice: “You don’t know right? Department just decided, Attending Position quota given to Sarah, is that girl came last week…” I stunned, immediately reacted. Also, I phone off this week, hiding at home not out, naturally wouldn’t know these things. Can’t say what mood, not uncomfortable, nor angry, even a bit surprise none. Seemed long expected this result. I pulled corner of mouth, smiled to nurse: “Knew, thanks, I just came to process resignation.” Before shuttling in this building, always thinking fast turn regular, thinking can stand beside Julian openly, but now standing here, only feel body relaxed. Procedures went very smooth, signed last name, I put work ID on table, turned out of hospital. Moment walking out hospital gate, I long exhaled a breath, like unloaded thousand pounds burden. I didn’t go home, instead directly bought plane ticket to South three days later. Done all this, I then called parents, said resignation and travel things together. Phone other end, parents stunned half day, immediately burst out surprise cheers. With Julian this year underground love, I lived carefully, gain and loss worried. Put all time and energy on Julian, but forgot most should accompany is Mom and Dad. Hung up phone, I hummed song back home, started rummage chests cupboards pack luggage, those things related to Julian, all by me one brain stuffed into trash can, threw clean clean. Three days later, I dragged suitcase, with parents downstairs ready go airport. Just to community gate, a familiar figure suddenly blocked in front of us. Is Julian. Under his eyes green black, hair messy, looked haggard a lot. Seeing suitcase in my hand, his pupils fierce shrank, tone carrying few points urgent question: “Where you going? Why resign? Message I sent you why not reply?” I then suddenly remembered, since that night cried, I never touched WeChat again. I in front of her face, took out phone unlock, click open WeChat. Top pinned chat box, densely packed all his messages, from initial “Where are you” “Why didn’t come up”, to later “Are you still blaming me” “Don’t make trouble”, to finally carrying anger “Chloe Song, then what exactly you want” “Attending quota will have again, next time I give you okay?”. Looking these messages, I quickly screenshot, then look at Julian: “$100,000, hush money, otherwise I send these messages to Sarah.” Words out, Julian face instantly sank, brows dead frowned: “Chloe Song, everyone is adult, each take what need that’s all.” I pulled corner of mouth, didn’t take his words, just steadily looked at him, eyes carrying few points mockery. Julian stared at me few seconds, like judging true fake in my words. Anger in his eyes gradually faded, gradually, a wipe annoyance and fear climbed on cheek. He probably really afraid I make thing big, afraid Sarah know all this, ruin his carefully maintained deep affection image. Silent for half day, he took out phone from pocket, fingers flying tapping on screen, tone impatient but carrying few points compromise: “Fine, I transfer you, don’t make thing to unmanageable step, not good for you me.” Transfer notification sound soon rang, phone screen jumped out 100k arrival notification. Julian put away phone, face still ugly, but still forced suppressing emotion, tone eased few points, like comforting: “Money transferred, you good follow Professor Mrs. Song go out play play also fine, treat as relax.” “Hospital position I keep for you, when want come back work, anytime tell me.” He probably still thinks, I do all this is playing temper, thinks I sooner later will turn back, thinks I can’t without him. I looked at his self-righteous look, heart only felt a burst nausea. I didn’t look him one more glance, turned smile to parents: “Mom Dad, let’s go, don’t delay plane.” Julian stood in place, didn’t chase up again, but I could feel a gaze staring dead at me behind my back. But these, all irrelevant to me. 100k, counts as his compensation to me for this year absurd underground love, from today, he owe me nothing, I also owe him nothing. Chapter 2 Plane shuttled above clouds, outside window is large large soft cloud sea. Sunlight shone in through window, shining on body warm. I leaned on seat back, just wanted close eyes rest mind. Dad beside suddenly gently patted back of my hand: “Chloe, tell Dad truth, that boyfriend you dated before, is it Julian?” I fiercely opened eyes, heart missed a beat, subconsciously wanted deny: “Dad, what you saying, no…” Words not finished, Mom held my other hand: “Silly child, you are our precious daughter, your every move can’t hide from us.” “New Year’s Day when we met Sarah and Julian, I saw your face poor scary.” She paused, sighed: “You locked yourself at home seven days, me and your Dad also didn’t dare go back disturb you, just wanted give you some space, let yourself slowly recover.” “We know you suffered grievance, also know you don’t want let us worry.” I originally didn’t want cry, but this moment, poked through all disguise by parents, those emotions forced down, finally couldn’t hold anymore. Tears like broken line beads, rolled down without warning. I turned head, wanted avoid their gaze, but gently cupped face by Mom: “Cry ba cry ba.” My Dad voice carrying few points choke: “Aggrieved just cry out, don’t hold in heart, have Mom Dad here.” I couldn’t hold anymore, pounced into Mom’s arms, shoulders violently trembling, suppressed long crying finally intermittently overflowed. I choked, incoherent: “Mom, I so silly ah, I dated him one year underground love, just want wait day he public our identity.” “But… but he with someone else, also said only treat me as sister.” My Mom gently patting my back, saying again and again: “Not silly not silly, our Chloe just too serious, so spared no effort pay all.” “Is Julian that bastard not worthy our Chloe.” I nestled in Mom’s arms, cried long time. Until cried all grievance clean, then gradually stopped tears. Trance, memory uncontrolled surged up. High school Julian, was poor student in class. My Dad his head teacher, saw his grades top but family poor, not only helped him actively apply financial aid, also often brought him home eat. I was at that time, slowly moved heart to this boy three years older than me. He would red face thank my Mom, would when I couldn’t solve math problem, patiently lie on table explain to me, fingertip occasionally touched my finger, would bounce away like electric shock. Later he admitted famous medical university, I fought life chase his steps, college application filled same city medical school as him. University graduation year, he entered Best Hospital in City, I sharpened head also squeezed into that hospital. He just on day I started work blocked me in fire escape. He said: “Chloe, I like you.” “But I now just started, can’t public, wait I stand firm heel, definitely give you a title.” Secret crush so many years person, personally confess to me. Where I still care what underground love, full heart all joy, didn’t think agreed nodding. Those days, we kissed on duty room sofa, hugged in unmanned stairwell, said goodnight in late night WeChat. I thought as long as I wait, wait him turn regular, wait him promotion, can wait him hold my hand, stand under sun openly. Now think, really naive laughable. Got off plane, parents didn’t rush go hotel, instead pulled me straight run city most famous steak house. Tender steak roasted sizzling sound, rich aroma came to face. Dad also ordered me a cup sweet fruit wine, smiling said: “Adult, drink a bit no matter.” Start from this day, we started our travel. Parents seemed more excited than me, holding camera snapping non-stop. A while pull me take group photo, a while squat roadside take a unknown small wild flower. Those annoying things once happened, those bits and drops about Julian, seem really in this journey scenery, slowly washed light. Days passed fast, we walked one after another city, tasted one after another food, took full an album photos. Until street red lanterns gradually hung, mall rang familiar New Year song, I then reacted, turns out we already out playing more than a month. New Year footsteps closer and closer, every family started prepare New Year goods, air floating faint fireworks smell. Parents looked calendar, smiling said to me: “Time go home, we have to go back paste couplets, wrap dumplings, have a lively New Year.” Just then, Dad suddenly thought of something, patted my shoulder: “Right, before go back take you see someone, is Dad’s proud student, you childhood also saw.” I heart mumbled, besides Julian, who else is Dad’s proud student? When we carried luggage walked out airport arrival exit, far saw a figure standing by pickup sign. Man wearing simple camel coat, posture tall and straight, waving towards our direction. I stared him few seconds, only felt between brows revealed inexplicable familiarity, but just can’t remember where seen. “Caleb, here.” My Dad smiling welcomed up, patted man’s arm. Man called Caleb walked fast over, politely greet parents: “Teacher Song, Mrs. Song, long time no see.” His gaze turned to me, smile deeper a bit: “Chloe, long time no see, remember me?” Dad aside smiling explained: “This is Caleb ah, high school always came our home eat, grades special good, later he went abroad didn’t have time come back, this year just back country, said first time wanted come see us.” I finally remembered. These years he changed lot, faded youth green, added few points mature steady bearing. I somewhat shy smiled: “Long time no see, you became handsome, just now didn’t recognize.” Caleb ears instantly red thorough, he scratched head: “You don’t tease me, so many years no see, you instead didn’t change a bit, still same as childhood, like tease people.” This words amused parents laugh loud, good while later Dad then lifted my suitcase, waved hand to us: “Okay okay, don’t stand here blow wind, hurry home.” Caleb hurriedly took suitcase in Dad’s hand put into trunk, also thoughtfully helped me open car door. Parents in back seat chatting travel funny things, also said wait New Year start want go abroad. Me and Caleb sat front row, occasionally chat two sentences. Suddenly, Caleb turned head look Dad in rearview mirror, tone serious: “Teacher Song, matter you let me handle before, I all done.” I stunned, somewhat puzzled look my Dad: “What matter ah?” My Dad leaned on seat back, cold snort: “Julian that bastard bullied my daughter so, I can just let go?” “I just asked Caleb, poke news he step two boats, to their hospital department group and leaders that’s all.” Dad looking my astonished look, tone sank: “He occupied our family support finish study, turn head spoil you so, really treat our Song family easy bully?” Caleb aside echoing nod, added: “After news sent out, their hospital all exploded.” “Heard Julian promotion quota revoked, also called by leader scolded.” “Sarah knew truth, on spot broke with him, now whole hospital up down everyone knows what virtue he is.” I looked scenery retreating fast outside window, heart couldn’t say what taste. Turns out parents long vented this anger for me, but why I don’t have imagined pleasure? Probably that relationship, along with those unwillingness and resentment, long thrown behind head by me.

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After suffering from Clinical Depression for nearly eight years, I decided to end my life. Before that, I transferred the remaining few thousand dollars in my bank account to my mom, Linda, because she repeatedly said that the grace of giving birth to me, I couldn’t repay even in eight lifetimes. Then, I went to my dad’s grave, visited him one last time, and kowtowed three times heavily. Then I jumped off a desolate peak. Opened my eyes again, but returned to the day Mom decided to divorce Dad. Since God gave me a chance to live again, this time, I choose Dad. Chapter 1 “Sunny, Mommy decided to separate from Daddy, who… do you want to live with?” I opened my eyes groggily, heard a familiar voice chattering in my ear. “Although Mommy knows, you definitely can’t bear to leave Mommy, but Mommy is preparing to open a Boutique, will be very very busy, don’t have much time to take care of you…” I frowned and looked around. It was the old house from my childhood. Did my soul float here? Looking at Mom’s worried face, I wondered how I was so blind in my past life, actually didn’t hear that her words inside and outside meant she wanted me to say “I’ll live with Dad”. Mom gently shook my arm doubtfully, “Sunny, are you listening seriously?” Surprised to find I could feel temperature, I realized, I seemed not a bodiless soul, but a living person. I, reborn?! Then in this life, Mom, I will do as you wish. I interrupted her, “Mom, I thought about it, I want to live with Dad.” “But… What?!” Mom touched my forehead in shock, “Strange, no fever… Sunny, you really think so? Daddy is a man, not as thoughtful as Mommy, might not take good care of you…” I sneered in my heart. What hypocritical and pretentious words. Actually Mom, from beginning to end you didn’t want my custody that much, did you? In my past life, I chose you without hesitation and willfully, but you? You just used having my custody as a tool to show off and declare war on Grandpa and Grandma. See, no matter how good you treat her, she will choose me, her biological mother. Thinking of Grandpa and Grandma’s ending, my heart twitched with pain. After leaving with Mom, she strictly forbade me from seeing Dad and all his relatives again. Grandpa and Grandma could only secretly squat on my way to and from school to see me once. Unknown if because of this heartache, the two old people passed away successively within a few years. In this life, I want Grandpa and Grandma to live a long life. “Mom, isn’t opening a boutique your dream all along? You said, if not for taking care of the family, you would have built a famous brand ten years ago. I am your daughter, of course I have to fully support you chasing your past dream! Don’t worry, I can take care of myself, I don’t want to become a burden on your way forward!” Facing my sincere words, Mom’s face turned completely red. I knew, she was moved. “Sunny, Mommy… Mommy is sorry to you woo woo woo…” She hugged me and sobbed softly. I comforted gently, “Mom, you go for it, when your career picks up, we mother and daughter will always have a moment of reunion.” But in my heart I felt incomparably disgusted. In past life after Mom divorced Dad, she remarried quickly and gave birth to a daughter, living even worse than now, often beating and scolding me to vent anger, blaming me for insisting on following her back then, causing her to be picky before remarriage, failing to find a rich partner, and her longing clothing business couldn’t start. Mom, in this life I do as you wish, I wait to see how big a career you can make. Chapter 2 Like in the previous life, Mom disregarded Dad’s begging and retention, dragged Dad to get the divorce certificate. The day she left, Dad and I went to the station to send her off. I cried. “Sunny…” She also cried until her eyes were red, looked at me fixedly for a few seconds, turned around decisively and left. I pretended. I raised my hand to wipe the tears on my face, Dad behind me squatted down and hugged me, “Sunny, sorry, blame Dad for being useless, couldn’t keep Mom, causing you to become a child of a single-parent family at such a young age…” “Then Dad can you promise me one thing?” I turned back and said seriously. Dad immediately nodded like pounding garlic, he always loved me this baby daughter, responded to everything, “Sunny you say, no matter what Dad promises you.” I said solemnly: “You ask for leave from work tomorrow, go to the hospital for a careful checkup.” Dad looked at me doubtfully. But he finally nodded, “Okay, Dad listens to you, ask for leave, go to the hospital!” According to the development of the previous life, Dad was diagnosed with a Tumor one year after divorcing Mom, pity it was already late stage then, he lost weight rapidly within a month, finally died painfully in the hospital bed. Since I reborn, I must kill this hidden danger in the cradle. At dinner time, Grandpa and Grandma were secretly wiping tears, my eye rims couldn’t help but feel a burst of heat, hurriedly said jokes to make them happy: “Grandpa Grandma don’t want me this drag bottle? Worried to keep dropping tears.” Grandpa Grandma anxious chopsticks fell, “How could it be granddaughter! You are Grandpa Grandma’s most beloved treasure, how could Grandpa Grandma dislike you and not want you?!” I got up and held their hands one left one right, “We don’t cry, we going to live good life later, don’t cry away the fortune.” Grandpa Grandma broke into laughter. Dad also looked at us with gratification. In this life, Dad will be fine, Grandpa Grandma won’t die early due to missing me excessively. Our family will all be fine, safe and healthy. Chapter 3 Bad news: Dad’s body still found a tumor. Good news: Found early, and the tumor is Benign. Grandpa and Grandma were scared bad after hearing the news, hurriedly took out all the money they saved these years, said no matter what must treat Dad’s illness. Dad laughed and cried: “Dad, Mom, no need to take out your pension fund for me, didn’t I buy Insurance before? Can reimburse thousands, you guys rest assured, money on me is enough!” Hearing him say this, Grandpa Grandma finally put down their hearts. I used simple and easy-to-understand words to explain Dad’s condition to them, two old people’s suspended hearts finally completely put down. However, speaking of pension fund. I secretly pulled Dad, “Dad, I tell you something, do you believe me?” Within five years at most, housing prices in a certain inconspicuous area in East City (gentrifying neighborhood) will skyrocket at an amazing speed. If Dad can buy two sets at a low price now, when the time comes we live in one set, sell the other, simply earn big! I thought of my deskmate’s dad seemed to be in real estate business, so lied that this was inside information from her dad, let Dad know himself, don’t tell others. In case lose then, others definitely will find trouble. Dad lowered head pondered for a while, “How about, we buy one set first?” I understand Dad’s concern. That area now can be said sparsely populated, so few people that birds won’t fly over to poop, really hard to imagine it will develop into a high-end community with a series of advanced facilities in the future. I nodded, “Okay, this is safer.” Dad smiled and touched my head, “Our Sunny has been clever since young, when housing prices really double, Dad will definitely wrap a super big big big big big red envelope for you.” I hooked pinky with him, “It’s a deal!” Few days later, Dad mysteriously took out a red book to show me. “Daughter, Dad later thought seriously, still listen to what you said at first, buy two sets, one 90 square meters one 120 square meters.” He magically conjured another one from behind, looking forward to my expression: “Quick open and see!” I carefully checked the detailed information of the two houses, confirmed correct, it is the location where that community will rise in the future, great! Dad stuffed both property deeds to me, let me keep them. “Listening to daughter, Dad definitely can earn big money!” “Mm, later our family’s life will get better and better!” To buy these two houses, Dad borrowed tens of thousands loan from bank, but the smile on his face was much more than before. He said, as long as thinking of the future, he is full of motivation to work every day. Chapter 4 The surgery to remove the tumor was very successful. Doctor said, as long as Dad rests well afterwards, his body is no different from normal people. I breathed a sigh of relief. Dad, in this life I finally successfully saved you. Worried Grandpa Grandma’s body couldn’t take it, I volunteered, asked for half a month leave from school, personally took care of Dad in the hospital. In past life Dad died early, I didn’t have chance to serve filial piety in front of him, this life I want to double good to Dad. “Sunny, Dad is really too guilty to you, if you can’t keep up with schoolwork after returning, Dad will hire a tutor for you…” “Absolutely not! No need!” I threw the towel into the basin, “Dad, money should be spent on the blade! Dare to bet with me, when I go back, the throne of first place in grade is still mine Sunny Xiang’s!” Just kidding. In past life my grades were always stably good, dumping the second place far behind, now reliving with memory, I will only “abuse” the second place more excessively. Dad was amused by me. “Dad of course believes you, Dad promises you, when my body recovers, take you to amusement park!” Old soul me had long lost interest in amusement park, but to coax him happy, I still pretended innocent clapping and cheering: “Yay! Long live Daddy——” After Dad’s body recovered, I also returned to school, attended class normally. Less than a week, something unexpected happened: My grades not only didn’t regress at all, but better than before. Dad and Grandpa Grandma were overjoyed, kept saying Bodhisattva bless, although I don’t believe these ghosts and gods sayings, seeing three people piously kneeling on cushion kowtowing, also honestly followed kneeling kowtow. Bodhisattva, if you can really hear, please bless me and my family peace and joy. Chapter 5 About half a year later, Mom actively called me. Said she wants to marry a man named Buck. Listening to her sweetly telling me about that man who is about to become my stepfather on the phone, I really had a hard time holding back laughter. Buck. Like in the past life, this is the man who destroyed the peaceful life of me and Mom. He hid the truth that he owed hundreds of thousands in debt, cheated Mom to get the certificate with him, then pulled my mom in front of several creditors, saying this stupid woman would pay back money with him in the future. He even shamelessly asked those creditors, if they willing let Mom accompany them drink to offset debt. These were all Mom crying and telling me after returning home that night. Luckily those creditors still had conscience, didn’t touch Mom, and promised as long as they pay back on time, wouldn’t do anything, otherwise the consequences really unimaginable. “Great Mom, congratulations on finding your happiness!” I pretended to weep with joy, “You must live well with Uncle Buck!” Hehe, congratulations, Mom. Accurately found your retribution. Even if I with past life memory choose to tell her Buck’s true face at this moment, she won’t believe half a word. Even after knowing clearly she was designed and cheated by Buck, she still loved this man to death, saying anything also want to give birth to a son for him, maybe this is men not bad women not love, anyway I don’t understand. So in this life I don’t need to look for trouble, bring fire to myself. I just quietly wait for her to eat her own evil fruit. Hearing my blessing, Mom was extremely happy, promised to take me to western restaurant eat steak next time meeting, buy me few new clothes. I smiled and thanked, said I was sleepy, quickly ended this call. Sure enough, Mom soon experienced the terrifying night of the past life. She called me crying, saying want to borrow money from Dad to fill the hole Buck poked. I stunned. Her face skin really thick enough! “Mom, you don’t know right, Dad is sick, to treat his illness, Grandpa Grandma took out all pension money, family life is very difficult now…” Not. Family now has Roast Chicken every meal. I licked my lips, still remaining roast chicken oil fragrance, “Count I beg you Mom, don’t tell Dad okay? Dad this person is most kind, you know, if he hears your encounter, heart definitely can’t stand, in case he can’t make it… Grandpa Grandma definitely will take family relatives go your house make trouble!” Mom immediately hung up the phone in panic. Only passed short two months, I heard news of her pregnancy from neighbor Auntie Shen. “Sunny ah, don’t blame Auntie speaking ugly, I don’t understand what your mom thinks, husband owes butt load of debt outside still dead alive refuse abortion want birth child, tsk tsk tsk, really…” Yes ah. Just like the unclear me in past life. I remember at that time Mom asked me with tears how to decide the stay or leave of the child in her belly, after all family situation not optimistic, raising another child, undoubtedly cost more money and energy. “Sunny, Mommy can feel her kicking me… She is your biological sister with same mom ah…” Facing the weak unable to take care of herself her, plus “same mom biological sister” brainwashing, I resolutely said to her, birth! You and Uncle Buck busy, not still have me? I will take good care of sister. Recalling this sentence I want go back to past fiercely give myself two big slaps. I raised Joy, this half-sister with shit and urine, she played tricks with me in dark, again and again acted pitiful pretended wronged in front of Mom, hypocritically cried to Mom and Buck that I bullied her, causing me to be slapped countless times by two people. Fuck it, not my daughter, this life, Joy you don’t think touch my side! I enthusiastically pulled Auntie Shen: “Auntie Shen, you knowledgeable, friends many, have any single auntie suitable for my dad, introduce one for him? I see him alone really too lonely, can’t bear ah…” Besides loving gossip, big mouth, Auntie Shen is very loyal, remembering two families are neighbors for years, during time Dad hospitalized, she often took husband and son to visit Dad. Auntie Shen cracking sunflower seeds hand paused. Turned eyes then brows beaming with joy. “Tom Xiang you this little clever ghost! Auntie really knows one, she is university teacher, another day I ask her ah!” I turned hand stuffed just bought Roast Chicken to Auntie Shen. “Little heart, trouble Auntie Shen!” Recently ate too much Roast Chicken, bit greasy, time to change taste. Auntie Shen holding Roast Chicken happily went home. Suddenly, a head carefully drilled out from behind her door. Is her son Chris. In past life me and Chris often played together, after parents divorced I followed Mom left here, never saw him again, later vaguely heard from others, he thirty something still refused to marry, often quarreled unhappily with his mom for this. I quickly threw these things behind head. Turned back to market, bought a big box of Pot Roast, my dad loves beef most, give him a surprise at night, he definitely likes.

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One in the morning, and I was scrolling through a local community board when I saw an SOS post. [S]: Help me. I’m on the metro and I can’t get off. A few replies had already trickled in. [User774]: Pro tip: the train has to stop before you can get off. [NightOwl21]: Sounds like someone’s half asleep. Then the original poster, S, replied again. [S]: I’m not asleep! I know how a metro works! But this train has been moving nonstop for ten minutes! The trip between these two stations is only supposed to take four minutes! [User774]: Whoa, okay, stay calm. Maybe it’s a malfunction. Which line are you on? I can try to contact transit control for you. [S]: Riverton Metro, Line 2. I stared at the last reply, and my blood ran cold. I was on that train. 1. I glanced at the time on my phone: 1:11 AM. It had been exactly eleven minutes since I boarded. Line 2 was Riverton’s main commuter line. The trains were frequent, the stops close together. Running this long without stopping was definitely not right. If I hadn’t stumbled upon that post, lost in the endless scroll, I might not have even noticed. My fingers flew across the screen as I replied. [Ava91]: Which car are you in? I think I’m on the same train. He replied almost instantly. [S]: The last one. It’s just a habit. [Ava91]: Don’t move. I’m coming to find you. 2. Three minutes later, I found him in the rear car. He introduced himself as Sam, a sophomore in college. “Thank God,” he breathed, clutching his chest in relief. “Another living person.” “You have no idea,” he rambled, his words spilling out in a rush. “When I realized the train wasn’t stopping, especially after one in the morning… I was terrified. For a second, I thought I’d stepped into some creepypasta story, you know? Like I was in another dimension.” He looked at me, his eyes wide. “So, uh… what do we do now?” Looking into his wide, earnest eyes, I had no doubt he was just a college kid. He had the presence of mind to post on a forum but hadn’t thought to make a simple call for help. “Let’s start with the emergency line,” I suggested. A few more minutes had crawled by, and the train showed no signs of slowing down. A malfunction seemed like the most logical explanation. I dialed the six-digit number printed on a sticker by the door. “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service.” The automated voice made me freeze. Did I misdial? It was only six digits. I hung up, double-checked the number, and carefully punched it in again. “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service.” Again. And again. “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service…” After several failed attempts, the same robotic response echoed in the quiet car. Sam swallowed hard. “Ma’am… are you sure you’re dialing it right?” “I don’t think I’d get it wrong four times in a row,” I said, though a seed of doubt was planted. “Maybe it’s your phone,” Sam said, slapping his forehead as if struck by a brilliant idea. He pulled out his own phone. “Let me try.” “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in—” “NOT! IN! SERVICE!” a piercing shriek suddenly screamed from his phone, so loud and distorted that Sam nearly dropped it. His face went pale. “Ma’am… is my phone broken too?” At this point, my own composure was starting to fray. I was only three years older than him, just another corporate drone who’d been working for a year. I gripped a handrail, my knuckles white. “Why don’t you… check the post again? See what people are saying.” Sam fumbled with his phone, his hands shaking slightly. The thread had a dozen new replies. [CommuterDude]: Wow, another unlucky soul on board? [SleeplessInRiverton]: Hold on, does the metro even run this late? I thought they shut down at midnight. [CityDweller]: That’s only for the suburban lines. The main city lines in Riverton run until 2:30 AM. … [WorriedMom]: OP? Other commenter? Are you two okay? It’s been a while. [ScaryStoriesFan]: I’ve read enough of these online stories to know what happens next! They’ve crossed into a mysterious parallel dimension. Right now, they’re probably hiding from zombies or a vengeful ghost! Sam pointed a trembling finger at that last comment. “You don’t think he’s right, do you?” he whispered. “Probably not,” I said, pointing to another reply further down. “Look, this person says they called the emergency line for us.” Sam scrolled down. Sure enough, a user named SturdyCarrot had posted a few comments below. [SturdyCarrot]: Don’t panic, you two. I’ve already called it in. The staff said they’re running a system diagnostic now. [S]: Thank you so much! By the way, what’s the number you called? We keep trying, but it says it’s not in service. [SturdyCarrot]: It’s 618-999. “Son of a…” Sam swore under his breath. “The sticker on the wall here says 619-888.” “So we couldn’t get through because of a typo.” I sighed, shaking my head. “This whole world is held together with duct tape and a prayer.” Just like my boss, making me, a marketing specialist, write a technical grant proposal. That’s why I was on this damn train at one in the morning to begin with. A wave of relief washed over us. Knowing that help was on the way, we both relaxed, subconsciously pushing aside the memory of that bizarre shriek and one other, more fatal, inconsistency. 3. “Hello? Can you hear me?” A voice, crackling and distant, suddenly came through the train’s intercom. “Are there two passengers currently stranded on the train?” Sam, who had been dozing off, snapped awake. “Yes! Yes, that’s us! You finally found us!” “We sincerely apologize for this distressing experience,” the voice continued. “I will be performing an emergency stop shortly. After you disembark, you’ll need to walk approximately 600 yards down the track. You’ll see the next platform from there.” That sounded odd. “Why can’t you stop at the platform?” I asked. “I’m afraid the train’s system is completely compromised,” the voice replied. “A normal station stop is impossible.” “Whatever, man. As long as I can get off this thing and go home to bed, I don’t care where we stop,” Sam muttered, clearly done with the whole ordeal. “Understood. The train is now commencing an emergency stop. Please hold on tight.” The moment the words left the speaker, the train gave a violent, metallic lurch. And the lights went out. “Holy crap!” When the lights flickered back on, Sam and I were sprawled on the floor. “Ugh, a little warning would’ve been nice,” I grumbled, pushing myself up and dusting off my clothes. The train was still. A soft ding announced that the doors were open. “You may now exit the vehicle. Remember, the platform is straight ahead,” the voice said one last time, then fell silent. “Let’s go, let’s get out of here,” Sam said, eagerly jumping from the car onto the track bed. I looked out. The tunnel was a pitch-black maw, stretching into an endless void. There was no air movement, no sound. Something felt wrong, a cold knot tightening in my stomach, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. “Hey, Sam,” I called out. “Check your post. Has anyone else replied?” “Huh? Right now?” He looked back at me, confused. “We’re saved. Can’t it wait?” “Just let everyone know we’re okay.” “Fine, I’ll start a new thread,” he said, already typing. “But you should get off the train. We can walk and post at the same time.” He had a point. What if the train suddenly started moving again? I took a deep breath and swung one leg out of the car. The instant my foot left the train, a jolt like an electric current shot through my body. “I know what’s wrong!” I yelled. “Oh god, this is wrong!” Sam screamed at the exact same time. 4. In the next second, we scrambled back onto the train, shoving our way through the doors just as they began to slide shut. “You figured something out, didn’t you?” we asked each other in unison. I spoke first, my voice trembling slightly. “I just remembered something we completely overlooked.” “This train has been running for over half an hour. Not only have we not stopped at a station…” “We haven’t even seen a station,” Sam finished, his face ashen. Thirty minutes. Not a single glimpse of a platform, not even a flash of station lights in the darkness. Was this place still the city we knew? I had no idea what lay waiting for us in that dark tunnel, but my gut screamed that it was infinitely worse than staying on this train. Sam was shaking, his eyes wide with terror. He shoved his phone in my face. “That person, SturdyCarrot… they sent me a private message three minutes ago.” His finger pointed to a single, chilling line of text. “She said Line 2 was shut down for maintenance at 11 PM tonight.” “This train… it shouldn’t exist.” 5. The lights inside the car flickered violently, casting Sam’s face in a ghastly, greenish glow. The doors hissed shut, sealing us in. The intercom crackled back to life, but this time, it was the cold, automated voice from the phone call. “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service…” “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service…” “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service…” Sam’s voice was a choked whisper. “Are we… still alive?” A cold sweat trickled down my spine, but I forced myself to stay calm, for his sake as much as my own. “We’re alive,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “But I think… I think we’re in another timeline. Or something like it.” My mind raced. An idea sparked. “Wait! Your phone!” My phone had lost its signal ages ago, but Sam’s could still connect to that one community board. “Try to post again! Tell them what’s happened!” If we were trapped in some isolated space, two ordinary people like us stood no chance. But if an outside force could somehow “open” this space for us, maybe, just maybe, we had a shot. Sam’s eyes lit up with a sliver of hope. He scrambled to open the app. “It’s working! It’s really still working!” he exclaimed. “That’s so weird. No other apps connect, just this one.” “Don’t worry about weird. Just post,” I urged him. The train began to move again, pulling us deeper into the unknown darkness. [HELP! Experts needed! We’re trapped in another dimension!] Replies flooded in almost immediately. [User101]: Is this some kind of viral marketing stunt? [ScaryStoriesFan]: I KNEW IT! I TOLD YOU SO! This is a legit paranormal event! [SturdyCarrot]: Oh my god, thank goodness you’re okay! You vanished for a while, I was starting to think… [Writer wannabe]: This is a fascinating premise. OP, would you be willing to grant me the rights to write a novel based on your experience? [GoodGuyGreg]: Dude, really? Not the time. [SkepticSam]: You guys actually believe this? Come on. Amidst the noise of useless sympathy and outright disbelief, we found a beacon of hope. [Finn_Helps]: You’re on Metro Line 2? [Finn_Helps]: I studied this stuff with my uncle for a few years. I might be able to help. Tell me which station you got on at. I pointed at the screen, simultaneously slapping Sam’s thigh in excitement. “Him! Contact him, now!” “Ow, ow, okay! I’m typing!” Sam yelped. [S]: I got on at Willow Creek Station. He paused, then looked at me. “Where did you get on?” I met his gaze. “Willow Creek.” What a coincidence. It seemed the problem started right at the station. A new message from Finn appeared. [Finn_Helps]: Just as I thought. The problem is with the station itself. Willow Creek isn’t far from me. I’m on my way. Be there in five! 6. Five minutes later, as promised, Finn messaged us again. [Finn_Helps]: I’m here. And you were right. Something is definitely wrong with this place. [Finn_Helps]: But don’t worry. My uncle and I have dealt with something like this before. I can get you out. Finn’s words were a powerful sedative, calming our frayed nerves. The train was still speeding through the dark, but the suffocating panic had subsided. Sam let out a long, shuddering breath. “To be honest,” he admitted, “for a minute there, I thought maybe you weren’t human. This crazy stuff is happening, but you’ve been so calm.” I managed a weak smile. “I’m faking it. But maybe you should consider working on your own nerves, kid.” “At least we’re almost out of this,” I added. The truth was, I’d had my own suspicions about Sam. That he wasn’t human, or that something was wearing his skin. And I still did. Because a few minutes ago, I had glanced at our reflection in the dark train window. In the glass, Sam’s face was a complete blank. 7. I watched Sam closely, but his every move, every gesture, was perfectly normal. If I hadn’t seen that horrifying reflection, I would have just thought he was a fellow victim, another unlucky soul trapped with me. But what did it want? I didn’t know. All I could do was wait and see. For now, at least, it didn’t seem to want to harm me. “Hey, Finn says we need to go to the front of the train and find something,” Sam said, breaking the silence. To prove it, he held out his phone for me to see the messages. [Finn_Helps]: I’ve dealt with the anomaly at Willow Creek. Now you need to go to the operator’s cabin at the very front of the train. Find a specific object and destroy it. That will break the loop and return you to the real world. [S]: What is it? What does it look like? [Finn_Helps]: It’s hard to explain. But you’ll know it when you see it. It’s… obvious. Trust no one and nothing that tries to stop you. It’s all part of the illusion. Sam and I exchanged a look. “Let’s go,” I said. 8. We started from the last car, moving through the eight empty carriages. With every window we passed, our reflections ran alongside us. But out of the corner of my eye, Sam’s reflection was always just a fraction of a second behind his actual movements. Thankfully, our journey was unimpeded. No strange creatures, no ghostly apparitions. We made it all the way to the operator’s cabin without incident. “That was… too easy,” Sam panted, leaning against the wall. “I thought something was supposed to try and stop us.” I pulled my hand away from his, pretending to be annoyed. “Can you even pass a basic fitness test?” “A fitness test?” he asked, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. “Oh… uh, yeah. Yeah, I passed.” That momentary hesitation didn’t escape me. My heart hammered against my ribs. The cabin door was right in front of us. What was behind it? And what would the thing standing next to me do? My hand slipped into my pocket, fingers closing around the small eyebrow razor I’d forgotten to take out of my purse. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but it was all I had. “How do we open this?” Sam asked, fiddling with the locked door. On a whim, I stepped forward and knocked four times. The door clicked open. “Let’s go. Find ‘it’,” I said, starting to step inside. But Sam didn’t move. He grabbed my arm, his eyes fixed on me. “Wait,” he said. I spun around, the razor already in my hand, its tiny blade tracing a line across his neck. “What are you doing?!” he yelped. I kept my eyes locked on his. “Finn said to trust nothing that tries to stop us.” “What are you stopping me from?”

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I spent years chasing after my legal guardian, putting my heart on the line. Finally, on my nineteenth birthday, I summoned the courage to confess my love. But Julian looked at me with cold fury. “Hazel, don’t forget your place in this family.” Yet, clearly, three years ago at that gala, he was the one who pulled me into his arms. With the scent of whiskey on his breath, he whispered in my ear: “When you grow up, let’s get engaged, okay?” I took his drunken promise as gospel. He treated it like a forgotten dream. The day he publicly announced his engagement to his long-lost “one that got away,” I showed up with my suitcase. People scanned us with amused eyes, asking how I felt. For the first time, I didn’t cause a scene. “I wish Julian all the happiness in the world. As for me, I’m leaving the country to study.” He crushed the champagne flute in his hand, his eyes darkening for the first time. Later, he canceled the engagement. He stopped me on a snowy street in a foreign city, lowering his head in defeat for the first time. “I was wrong. Please, Hazel… come home with me.” 1 “Thank you, Professor Miller, but I won’t be joining the exchange program. Please give the spot to someone who needs it more.” After hitting send, I exhaled a shaky breath. A heavy weight lifted off my chest. This year, the university had a prestigious dance program in Europe. Professor Miller had been pushing for me to go. But my body… it could no longer support the dream of being a dancer. A cold wind cut through the air, and I couldn’t stop coughing. When I pulled the tissue away, it was stained crimson. Before stepping into the elevator, I crumpled the tissue and tossed it into the trash. Today was my nineteenth birthday. I couldn’t let Julian see this. Three years ago, he held my hand and told me to wait until I grew up. I had waited long enough. My phone buzzed. It was Julian. “Hazel, are you home yet?” Julian was my guardian. The man who raised me. I smiled involuntarily, my voice lightening. “Not yet, I’m just unlocking the door.” His voice sounded unusually exhausted. “Happy Birthday. Something came up tonight. I’ll be back before midnight.” I understood. I looked down and opened the door. The lights flickered on, revealing a room filled with pink flowers and blue balloons. On the table sat a velvet box containing the blue agate necklace I had begged him for last month. It was exactly what I expected. My mood soared, and my courage swelled. “Julian, I… I want to tell you something.” “Something I’ve kept buried in my heart for a long time.” Before I could spill my secret, the line went dead. Beep. I lowered my eyes, quickly composing myself. I placed the necklace back in the box, still hopeful, waiting for him to come back and clasp it around my neck himself. Midnight came. The clock struck twelve. Julian didn’t show up. This was the first time he had completely missed my birthday. I felt dazed. He must be too tired. That’s why he didn’t make it. Calculating it now, this was my tenth year living with Julian. When my parents passed away in a suspicious accident, rumors swirled that they had crossed the wrong people in the underworld. They left no bodies to bury. I went from being the pampered princess of the Cloud family to a girl standing in the mud. My father’s legacy was devoured by his so-called “best friends” and business partners over drinks and laughter. Red-eyed, I went from door to door, begging for help. But nobody in the city dared to take in an orphaned girl with a mountain of debt. On the day of the funeral, only one man in black arrived to pay his respects. Julian. I had never met him. Rumor had it he was a dangerous man, a fixer from the shadows who had lost all his own kin. He reached out his hand to me, his lashes lowering. “If you’re willing… you can come with me.” That was ten years ago. 2 The coughing fit returned. I swallowed a handful of pills with warm water and let the medicine drag me into a fitful sleep. When the sky began to lighten, a rustling sound woke me. “Hazel. Long time no see.” A woman stood in the kitchen, wearing Julian’s oversized shirt, busy plating food. Her shoulder was exposed, pale and marked with red hickeys. I froze, my hands clenching my sleeves. Vanessa. The woman Julian had placed in his heart years ago. Seven years ago, when Julian was in deep trouble, she left without a word. Why was she back now? My gaze shifted, and my breath hitched. She was wearing the necklace. The blue agate necklace Julian gave me for my birthday yesterday. I pointed at her neck, my voice trembling. “That belongs to me.” Vanessa looked at me with amusement. She wasn’t surprised. Instead, she yanked the necklace hard. Snap. “Ah!” She screamed dramatically and lunged toward me, whispering in my ear as she fell: “Hazel, you haven’t improved a bit in all these years.” Before I could react, she threw herself onto the floor. The necklace skidded across the tiles. “Hazel, I didn’t mean to wear your necklace! I’m sorry!” I narrowed my eyes. I walked over, picked up the necklace, and dusted it off. I suddenly remembered how many traps she had set for me seven years ago. How many fights she caused between me and Julian. I stood over her, my voice cold. “It’s been seven years. You still love framing people? There’s no one else here, Vanessa. Who are you acting for?” The next second, I was shoved aside. Julian stormed past me, helping the weeping Vanessa up from the floor. “Hazel, where are your manners?” I stood there, stunned. “She did it herself…” Vanessa cut me off, looking up with red, teary eyes. She looked fragile, like glass about to shatter. “I know… you blame me for leaving Julian seven years ago. You blame me for abandoning him when he needed me most.” “But I had my reasons!” She sobbed, collapsing into Julian’s arms, looking at me like I was a monster. But I caught the glint of victory in her eyes. I stood frozen. Since living with Julian, I had never been treated like this. I sneered. “Miss Vanessa, save the acting for the stage. Do you think this soap opera routine still works?” The air turned deadly silent. Only Vanessa’s soft sobbing remained. Julian looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping over Vanessa. His expression was unreadable. I stood my ground, watching their eyes meet, gripping the necklace in my hand until it hurt. 3 Vanessa wiped a tear, her eyes darting between Julian and me. Her tone was aggrieved, pivoting away from our confrontation to something sharper. “If I had known you and Hazel were together… maybe I shouldn’t have come back to disturb you.” My secret was out in the open. I forced myself to stay calm. It wasn’t a secret that I loved my guardian anyway. Julian raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning cold. “What nonsense are you talking about?” Vanessa let huge tears roll down her face. She tried to take off the apron and leave, but Julian grabbed her wrist. A stack of photos spilled out of the apron pocket. When I saw what they were, I froze. They were photos I had secretly taken of Julian. Candid shots that revealed my hidden admiration, my secret love. I had hidden these deep in my bookshelf. No one knew about them. A wave of shame washed over me. I looked at Julian. He stared at the photos scattered on the floor, his brow furrowing deeply. A moment later, he picked one up and tossed it into the lit fireplace. “These are just a child’s games. They don’t count.” I panicked, grabbing his sleeve. “How can this be a game? I’m nineteen, Julian! I’m not a child anymore!” “Do you remember… three years ago at the gala at the Royal Hotel? I came to pick you up. You said… you said when I grew up…” “Impossible.” Julian cut me off coldly, his eyes darkening into an abyss. “Hazel, I’ve indulged you too much.” “I have always seen you as a child. You shouldn’t have such disgusting thoughts.” I closed my eyes. My face went pale. I had anticipated the worst outcome, but hearing it broke me. He had spoken casually while drunk. I was the fool who took it seriously. Julian’s voice came from above, leaving no room for argument. “I bought a condo in the suburbs. The deed is in your name. Pack your things. You move out tomorrow.” I heard myself give a soft, defeated “Okay.” He was angry. I always thought I was special to Julian. That maybe, just maybe, he loved me too. The kitchen window was open. The wind blew the photos across the floor. I sniffled, squatting down to pick them up one by one. The cold air hit my lungs like razor blades. I couldn’t suppress the violent coughing. I felt the metallic taste of blood rising in my throat. I panicked, searching my pockets for a tissue, turning my back to wipe the blood and tears from my face. Julian glanced at me coldly, then walked around me. “If you’re sick, go to the hospital. The Sterling family isn’t so poor that we can’t afford a doctor.” Vanessa followed him closely. I stood up. “Julian.” I refused to give up. “You said last time you’d go to the hospital with me. I want to go tomorrow.” Julian stopped walking. I stared at his back, stubbornness fueling my voice. “I’ll wait for you tomorrow.” 4 The weather in the city turned bleak. Heavy rain poured down. I waited alone at the hospital for a long time. I waited until the storm turned into a drizzle. My heart sank. Finally, only Wes, his assistant, showed up. “Mr. Sterling said he’s accompanying Miss Vanessa shopping today. Here is a card. Buy whatever you need.” I pulled my coat tighter, asking the question I didn’t want the answer to. “Did he say anything else?” Wes lowered his head, hesitating. “Say it,” I urged. “Mr. Sterling said… he hopes you remember your position.” “In one month, he will be engaged to Miss Vanessa.” Engaged? I took the card expressionlessly. I finally realized that my relationship with him was gone. He was eager to start a new life. My feelings were a stain he wanted to wipe away. He was reminding me, every second, to remember who I was. In that moment, I felt foolish. Holding onto a drunken sentence for years? Pathetic. Fortunately, the test results came back. Not cancer yet, but I needed surgery. The doctor suggested I go north, or even abroad, for treatment. After hesitating, I decided to tell Julian everything one last time. When I arrived at the company, it was late. The light was still on in Julian’s office. Just as I was about to walk in, a woman stepped out of the shadows. It was Vanessa. She was sneakily arranging her clothes, hiding a file behind her back after snapping photos of it. Her phone screen lit up. She hurried to a quiet corner to make a call. The office was empty. I followed her to the stairwell. Her voice was light and triumphant. “Don’t worry, I got it. This data is enough to bring down Sterling Corp.” “Of course. He loves me so much, getting the key to his safe was easy.” My hands shook. I pressed the record button on my phone. Vanessa turned abruptly. The clicking of her heels got closer. She was coming towards me. I backed away, trying to keep my breathing steady. I retreated out of the stairwell, my heart pounding. Vanessa was dangerous. I had to tell Julian immediately. As I backed up, I bumped into a broad, warm chest. “You’re looking for me?” Julian was behind me. He took a deliberate step back to create distance. I was so panicked I almost cried. I played the recording. “Julian! I saw Vanessa stealing documents in your office! She’s on the phone with someone planning to destroy the company…” Julian’s face went rigid. To my shock, he snatched the phone from my hand. His expression was pitch black. Without hesitation, he pressed delete. “Since I’ve chosen to marry her, she will be your sister-in-law. I don’t want to see you doing this again.” “When did you become like this? Using such underhanded tactics?” I looked at him in disbelief. It felt like I was meeting a stranger. Julian was supposed to be sharp. Calculating. Ruthless to his enemies. Could a man like that lose all judgment over love? I fought back the tears, looking straight into his eyes. “Is that really how you see me, Julian?” He turned his back to me and lit a cigarette. I took a deep breath, wiped the corner of my eye, and let my heart die. “I came here to clear things up. I was immature before. I had feelings I shouldn’t have had.” “From now on, I wish you and Vanessa a long, happy life.” I did as he asked. Overnight, I moved everything out. I waited in the small condo for two weeks, confirming my surgery date abroad for the end of the month. While packing, there was a knock on the door. “Delivery.” I opened the package. It was a gold-embossed engagement invitation. Julian Sterling & Vanessa Li. Inside was a photo of them. Vanessa holding Julian’s arm, smiling brightly. I realized today was the engagement party. After packing the last of my life into a suitcase, I went to the venue. Before I even entered the hall, I heard the cheers. “Congratulations!” “What a perfect couple!” “Kiss her! Kiss her!” The moment I stepped through the doors, the room fell silent. All eyes fixed on me.

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The fake heiress, Veronica, was a mess of tears and mascara on the day I officially came back to the manor. Her drama queen moment? Mom and Dad were forcing her to marry Gideon Kessler—the notorious, ill-tempered playboy of the city’s elite, who also happened to be confined to a wheelchair. My mother, Elaine Ashton, glanced at my own rough hands, the skin calloused and scarred from years of manual labor, and let out a cold, dismissive laugh. “Since you’ve decided to show up, Maisie, you can take the contract. It’s not like you’ve seen the inside of a decent restaurant, let alone the world. You’ll be lucky to have it.” Veronica sat beside her, barely concealing a smirk, waiting for me to throw a fit, to beg, to refuse. Instead, I simply took a calm sip of the cheap coffee I’d been given and asked in my unpolished, direct way: “What’s the actual money we’re talkin’ here? Is the dowry stock options or cold, hard cash? And does the monthly allowance come on time?” The entire family froze. My mother, visibly stunned, stammered that the monthly allowance would be two million. I couldn’t help it—I laughed out loud, slapping my thigh. “Two million a month? You serious? Shoot, give me the money, and he can have the temper of a psycho. If he’s rich enough to pay, I’ll sponge-bathe him, flip him like a pancake, and tuck him in until he kicks the bucket!” “Where I come from, survival is the only virtue. What’s a little hardship, huh? Piece of cake!” My grand declaration landed with a thud. My birth mother stared at me as if I were a lunatic, before finally digging into her Birkin bag and tossing a bank card onto the coffee table. “Here’s a million. Your severance, so to speak. You’re the elder, but this marriage was always… well, never mind. Once you’re married, stay gone. Don’t come back and embarrass Veronica.” My hand shot out, pressing down on the card before it could slide off the polished wood. One million dollars. Back home in the country, my step-parents were ready to sell me to the village simpleton for a five-thousand-dollar bride price. To pay for my little brother’s school fees, I’d prick my hands bloody clipping thousands of threads a day at the factory just to earn fifty bucks. Now, I get a monthly salary and a one-million-dollar bonus just to play nursemaid to a rich cripple? This wasn’t a punishment. This was the lottery. “What’s the PIN?” I pulled out my beat-up phone—the screen spiderwebbed with cracks—and opened my notepad to write it down. Veronica, sitting primly across from me, covered her mouth, a sneer flashing in her eyes. “Sister, you’re just… going to check your dignity at the door? That’s the Kesslers. It’s a literal death trap. You might get the money, but you’ll never live to spend it.” I didn’t even lift my head. I jotted down the password, then carefully slipped the card into my inner pocket, patting it securely. Then I looked up. “Dignity, little sister? How much is that going for a pound these days? Does it buy dinner?” “Back home, I spent winters hauling a hundred-pound sack of feed to the pigs, with my little brother strapped to my back. If I was a minute late, I got hit. Now all I have to do is look after one guy for two million? Only an idiot like you would call this a death trap.” Veronica rolled her eyes, deciding I was clearly a lost cause, a peasant too poor to be reasoned with. My father, Robert Ashton, waved his hand dismissively from the head of the table. “Fine. Since you have no objections, pack your things and go. The Kessler car is waiting outside.” “You got it, Boss… I mean, Dad.” I agreed instantly, turned, and walked back to the cramped guest room where I’d left my belongings. I came out carrying one thing: a battered, bright red-and-blue utility tote. It held my entire life: two sets of faded clothes, a pack of my frozen pasta, and a few bottles of medical muscle rub. When I reached the front door carrying that ratty bag, Elaine’s face went pale green. “You’re going to show up at the Kesslers with that? Are you trying to make the Ashton name a joke in this city?” I looked down at the sturdy, synthetic canvas. “It’s durable. It holds a lot and it’s waterproof. We always used this kind for travel.” “Just go! Get out!” Elaine shooed me away, unable to look at me a moment longer. I shrugged, unbothered, and climbed into the stretch limo sent by the Kesslers. As the door closed, I looked through the tinted window. The three of them were huddled together: Veronica clinging to Elaine’s arm, whining, and Elaine stroking her hair. A perfect, intimate family tableau. I touched the bank card in my pocket, and a genuine, private smile stretched my face. If they knew this wasn’t punishment, but a rescue, a genuine opportunity for me, I wondered if they’d be furious enough to demand that million back. The car made a smooth climb into the exclusive hillside community. The Kessler estate loomed on the hillside like a silent, black beast. It was late, and only a few dim ground lights were on. The man who’d picked me up, the butler, stopped the car. His eyes held a mixture of pity and contempt as he opened my door. “Miss Ashton,” he said, using the wrong name as a deliberate slight. “We’re here. Mr. Gideon’s temper is… challenging. Especially at night. Good luck to you.” I grabbed my utility tote and stepped out, looking up at the obscenely large house. I took a deep breath. “Show me the way,” I said, straightening my spine. My gaze was steady, as firm as a rock. “I’m clocking in.” The butler led me to a door at the end of the second-floor hallway. He dumped me with a curt, “The master doesn’t want visitors. Take care of yourself,” and vanished, as if a ghost were chasing him. I held my bag and reached for the knob. The moment my hand touched the brass, a heavy, metallic scent of medicine wafted out of the crack in the door. “Get out!” The door was barely ajar when a black shadow accompanied by a furious, primal roar flew at the opening. The years of endless farm work and factory shifts had trained my reflexes better than any boxing class. I sidestepped, and a delicate porcelain cup shattered against the doorframe. The shrapnel grazed my cheek, leaving a stinging trail. The room inside was pitch black. The legendary crippled husband was hidden in the shadows, his voice a gravelly snarl. “Are the Ashtons that desperate for cash? Sending me this?” I touched my cheek, feeling the warm bead of blood, but I wasn’t angry. I was relieved. He could still throw things. That meant he wasn’t dead. My long-term meal ticket was secure. Instead of retreating, I pushed the door open, walked in, and flipped the main light switch. The sudden glare made the man in the wheelchair throw an arm up to shield his eyes. I took him in: gaunt, too thin, with a pale face and sunken eye sockets. But nothing could hide the sharp, exquisite bone structure of his face, or the dark, bloodshot fury in his eyes. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Gideon Kessler saw my cheap clothes and the ratty utility tote and his disgust intensified. He snatched a black Amex from the bedside table and threw it. It hit my collarbone—sharp, painful—but the crisp sound it made as it hit the marble floor was music to my ears. My eyes lit up. I bent to snatch the card faster than a gambler seizing a winning hand. “Boss, what’s the PIN?” I pulled out my phone, opening my banking app. Time to verify the goods. Gideon choked on his anger, clearly not used to someone so mercenary. He gritted his teeth. “Six eights! Now get out!” I typed it in. Search. Seeing the dizzying string of zeros on the screen, my breath hitched. Hundreds, thousands, millions… Two million. It was real. Back home, I cooked, fed the livestock, washed clothes for ten people, and still had to bring piecework home from the factory—all for barely three thousand dollars a month, tops. Now, I take one hit, and I get two million? “Thank you, Boss!” I tucked the card into my inner pocket, patting it firmly, afraid it would somehow fly away. My sheer, naked greed made Gideon laugh—a weak, humorless sound. He pointed at the door. “You have the money. Can you leave now?” “Oh, no can do.” I put down my utility tote, rolled up my sleeves, and walked to the corner, where I expertly located a broom and mop. “I’ve accepted the money. And where I come from, we honor a deal. The money’s taken, the job’s getting done.” I knelt down and began to silently sweep up the shards of porcelain. The work was second nature, quick and efficient. I wasn’t kidding; this felt like a break. In the old village, I spent winters washing ten people’s clothes in the icy river, my hands covered in cracked, weeping chilblains. I endured that soul-deep, burning pain for twenty-three years. Standing here now, in an air-conditioned mansion with the thermostat set to a comfortable seventy-eight degrees, and getting paid two million to sweep a floor? What reason did I have to leave? Gideon stared at me, as if I were a madwoman. “Are you deaf, or just trying to get yourself killed?” I finished mopping the floor until it gleamed, even wiping a smudge of dirt from his wheelchair tire, before standing up. I gave him a standard, deferential smile. “I’m Maisie Shaw. And from now on, I’m your full-time everything. You can have the worst temper in the world. As long as the checks clear, you can tear the roof off the house, and I’ll stack the bricks back up for you.” “Also, that cup looked expensive. Next time you need to vent, just smash the stainless-steel thermos. It won’t break, it’s loud, and it’s way cheaper.” My “dead pig doesn’t fear boiling water” attitude seemed to completely baffle Gideon. He stared at me, then slammed his finger onto the call button on his wheelchair armrest. Ten minutes passed. The massive mansion remained utterly silent. No one came. “Do you see now?” Gideon slowly lifted his finger, a self-mocking sneer on his lips. “In this house, I’m less than a dog. Follow me, and you’ll get those numbers, but you’ll get nothing else.” I ignored his cynicism, my attention snagging on the untouched food tray on his bedside table. It was a bowl of congealed pastas, topped with sickly yellow, rotting greens. The oil had solidified into white grease. I walked over and touched the bowl. Ice cold. Hard as a rock. “You’re supposed to eat this?” I frowned. Gideon turned his head away, utterly jaded. “It’s fine. Just go. Stop playing the martyr.” I didn’t say another word. I picked up the bowl and walked out. “Where are you going?” “To file a complaint.” Carrying that bowl of slop—worse than pig feed—I marched downstairs. As I approached the kitchen door on the first floor, I heard laughter, the sharp click of cards, and the rich, pungent scent of a catered hot meal wafting out. Unbelievable. The master eats cold slop while the staff hosts a party? I kicked the kitchen door open. The three housekeepers huddled around the table, their mouths slick with grease, nearly jumped out of their skin. The head cook, Doris, saw me and snorted, spitting a grape skin. “Well, look at the new Mrs. Kessler. Hungry? There’s some leftover dishwater in the pot. You can serve yourself—” “Splat!” I didn’t wait for her to finish. I backhanded the bowl of cold pastas onto the center of the poker table. Broth splattered everywhere. A long, yellow piece of congealed vegetable clung to Doris’s cheek. The room went dead silent. “Are you crazy?!” Doris shrieked, jumping up. “You backwoods—” “I am backwoods, but I know this much: you take the money, you do the job,” I cut her off. I grabbed the heavy meat cleaver off the cutting board and brought it down hard onto the corner of the table. It sank deep into the wood. The handle still vibrated. All three faces drained of color. Doris swallowed her next insult. I yanked the cleaver out, my voice flat and cold. “I don’t care what the old rules were here. I’m here now, and the rules change.” “That man upstairs? He’s my money tree. You feed him trash, you’re trying to starve my future.” “And messing with my money… is worse than killing my family. Got it?” My eyes were hard, the reflected light off the cleaver’s blade glinting. The sheer, unrefined menace I’d learned from decades of living under the threat of violence was now fully deployed. No one spoke. Doris’s legs were shaking. “Make him a pot of rice congee, slow-cooked. The best shrimp and dried scallops you have. It needs to be upstairs in half an hour,” I tossed the cleaver back onto the board. “Do it wrong, and I’ll make you taste that cold pasta slop.” Without another glance at the three bullies, I turned and went back upstairs. Returning to the room, Gideon was in the same position. Seeing me empty-handed, his eyes were full of scorn. “Get chased off already?” I didn’t answer. I walked over, bent down, and crossed my arms beneath his armpits and under his knees. Gideon’s eyes widened. “What are you doing? Don’t touch me!” “Ah!” Following his startled shout, I inhaled, centered my weight, and—with the strength of a woman who’d spent two decades hauling pig feed and firewood—lifted him, blanket and all, off the wheelchair. “Let go of me! Maisie Shaw! I will kill you!” Gideon’s face was crimson with rage as he struggled violently in my arms.

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On New Year’s Eve, I ran into Steven Constantini at an upscale restaurant near the office. I was there late, closing a deal. He was there with his secretary, enjoying a candlelight dinner. Our eyes met across the room. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a deep frown—a silent warning. As I choked down glass after glass of wine I couldn’t refuse, enduring the predatory gaze of my client, the night sky outside suddenly exploded with the New Year’s fireworks he’d arranged just for her. The brilliant flashes reflected in my eyes, searing my heart. After finally securing the last contract of the year, I calmly made a phone call. “Mom, I’ve agreed to break up with him. Please arrange for me to go abroad next week.” 1 I walked aimlessly down the street, still on the phone. The last night of the year was exceptionally cold. A freezing rain fell, and the wind cut straight to the bone. The midnight bells began to chime, followed by cheers from the passersby. I looked up and saw a line of text scrolling across the massive screen of the Constantini Industries headquarters. “To the most beautiful and capable rising star at Constantini Industries, Lyla. Happy New Year.” Even on the first day of the new year, her name was inescapable. The envious murmurs of the crowd carried through the phone. My mother’s voice was laced with fury. “That’s outrageous! I’m going to have a word with Arthur.” “Don’t bother, Mom. I’m leaving anyway.” I ended the call, my voice flat. The crushing weight in my chest wasn’t as suffocating as it used to be. But seeing the two-hour wait time on the rideshare app sent a spike of irritation through me. A jarring honk broke the night’s quiet. Steven’s car was shadowing me, keeping a steady, close distance. Lyla leaned out from the passenger seat, waving enthusiastically. “Josie! Are you heading home?” “Yes,” I answered evenly. She let out an exaggerated sigh of pity, practically melting against Steven. “Oh, the wait for a ride tonight is going to be ages. We’re going your way, but it’s such a shame Steven bought me so many gifts. The back seat is completely full, otherwise we could have given you a lift.” I stopped and peered through the car window. I could just make out a massive bouquet of flowers occupying most of the back seat. Before I could get a better look, a suit jacket was thrown hard against my face. I caught it instinctively as Steven’s sneer cut through the air. “Cover up that reek of alcohol. It’s disgusting. I don’t want you getting a complaint filed against the company because you stunk up someone’s car.” The heavy fabric of the jacket stung my cheek. I watched his taillights disappear down the street. Then, I took the jacket—the one I had personally ironed for him, now carrying the scent of another woman—and tossed it into a nearby clothing donation bin. It was three hours later when I finally got home. The house was brightly lit but empty. He must have gone out again. I thought I was used to it. But when the steam from the hot shower fogged up the bathroom mirror, revealing the ghost of two handprints, pressed intimately together, the alcohol in my stomach churned violently. I retched, a bitter mix of bile and tears. By the time I emerged from the bathroom, the sky was beginning to lighten. Two unread messages were on my phone. One was a flight confirmation. The other was from Steven. 【Something came up. Not coming home.】 I scrolled up. Our conversations over the past year were practically nonexistent. Mostly just his terse, two-word reply of “I’m busy” after I’d left a storm of hysterical, unanswered calls. I opened Lyla’s social media, a familiar, masochistic ritual. As always, a perfectly curated nine-photo grid greeted me. Nine hundred and ninety-nine roses, the New Year’s fireworks… and in the center, a mirror selfie of her and Steven in a tight embrace. I recognized the place. It was Steven’s property on the west side of the city. In the corner of the mirror, I could see the Zootopia sticker we’d brought back from a movie date. It was now soaked through, a limp, pathetic smear against the glass. Utterly sickening. Steven didn’t come home for the next few days. The housekeeper was on holiday, leaving me to drift through the vast, empty house like a ghost. Only the timely arrival of takeout deliveries reminded me that time was still passing. Cajun shrimp, Szechuan noodles, ghost pepper wings… When the fifth spicy takeout box appeared on the table, I finally snapped. I swept everything into the trash, took a picture, and sent it to Steven. 【Stop ordering. I’m not the one who likes spicy food.】 His call came almost immediately. His voice was a husky, post-coital rasp, laced with annoyance. “Are you pulling that hunger strike nonsense again? Fine. Just don’t call me when you end up back in the hospital.” Lyla’s playful, conciliatory voice chirped in the background. “You should just try it, Josie! Steven and I tasted them all, they’re super delicious!” “Ignore her,” Steven grumbled. “She can eat it or not.” I pressed my lips together, fighting the urge to ask the humiliating question. Steven, you remember I have stomach problems and need to eat regular meals. Do you also remember it was spicy food that put me in the hospital in the first place? The words died in my throat. All I managed to say was, “I’ll order my own food.” “Hah, order your own?” he repeated, his tone dripping with disdain before he scoffed. “Josie, you don’t want food. You just want money, don’t you?” 2 “Josie, you and your mother are only after my family’s money, aren’t you?” The mocking voice from a year ago merged with the present, hitting me with the same devastating force. A tear splashed onto the dining table. When I came back to myself, the line was dead. A bank notification showed a transfer of fifteen thousand dollars. It was followed by a voice message from Steven. “Five thousand for food, ten thousand for your trouble. Lyla’s bra strap fell into the sofa cushion. Find it and bring it to her at work on Monday.” I moved the couple’s throw pillows from the sofa and found the black strap tucked deep in the crevice. Steven and I had picked out this sofa together at a furniture store. I had fallen in love with it the moment I saw it. He had tested its firmness and grinned in agreement. “Perfect size. We should get a couple of throw pillows, too. Make it a little more… comfortable for us.” The words of lovers in their honeymoon phase, always tinged with a playful heat. I had playfully scolded him, and he had just laughed. We went on like that, picking out one piece after another, building the home of our dreams. But now, looking at the things I had so carefully chosen, sharing the same space with him and another woman… all I felt was a deep, nauseating revulsion. Since I was leaving, I might as well throw it all away. I worked from dawn until dusk. Eight years of a relationship, reduced to five boxes of junk and a single suitcase. After confirming that not a single trace of me was left in the house, the knot in my stomach finally began to loosen. Only one thing remained. I took a photo album from the bedside drawer. Inside were two hundred and seventy-nine pictures, each one torn to pieces and then painstakingly taped back together. From our high school graduation, through college, to moving in together and starting our careers, the photos chronicled our entire youth together. The last picture was from New Year’s Eve last year. We were raising our glasses under a sky full of fireworks, celebrating our seventh anniversary. Three days after that photo was taken, at a family dinner, my widowed mother and Steven’s divorced father announced they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Steven’s expression never changed. He agreed. I was happy for them. But when we got back to our apartment, he tore that last photo to shreds and threw it in my face. “Josie, you and your mother are just alike. You’re parasites, just after our money. ‘Bringing the families closer’? Don’t make me sick.” I stood there, stunned and helpless, as he unleashed his fury. We had both learned the news at the same time. I thought he had genuinely accepted it. I took out every single photo. Along the carefully taped seams, I tore them apart again. Then I threw them all into the boxes of junk. 3 The next time I saw Steven was at the first morning meeting after the holiday break. He sat at the head of the table, with Lyla perched beside him, whispering and laughing intimately in his ear. Our relationship was a secret at the office. In the past, to avoid suspicion, the most intimate we ever got was a shared, knowing smile across the room. My gaze fell on his hands, resting on the table. On the middle finger of his left hand, where a simple silver band—the match to my necklace—should have been, was now a gold ring set with a green diamond. A brilliant, flashy couple’s ring, identical to the one on Lyla’s hand. A gentle nudge from my colleague brought me back. “Don’t feel bad, Josie,” she whispered sympathetically. “We all know what kind of tricks she used to get where she is. You’re the real top seller in our hearts.” Her words made me look up at the screen in a daze. Today’s meeting was the annual review. The number one spot for sales performance was proudly displayed with Lyla’s name—someone who wasn’t even in our department. A single project had knocked my twenty-seven deals down to second place. Steven’s explanation was that the profit from that one project far exceeded the others. But that was the project I had stayed late on New Year’s Eve to close. The contract I had placed on his desk this morning, along with the bra strap. He had seen it with his own eyes. He knew exactly what I’d had to endure to get that signature. My pen slipped, tearing a gash across the paper. The sound was jarringly loud in the tense silence of the room. After the meeting, Steven called me into his office. We stood in stubborn silence, neither of us willing to speak first. Steven’s face grew darker by the second. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the desk, the ring on his finger flashing, making my eyes ache. I couldn’t stand it any longer. “Is there something you need?” “Don’t you have anything to ask me?” Our voices overlapped. I paused, then laughed. Ask him what? Why he stayed out all night on our anniversary? Why he gave my project to someone else? Or how much longer he intended for us to torture each other? None of it mattered to me anymore. My resignation letter, submitted to HR yesterday, had been specially approved by his father, bypassing him completely. My last day was today. My luggage was already packed in the trunk of my car. I could drive straight to the airport after work. I continued calmly, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.” Steven stared at me, his expression grim. “Where’s my gift?” It took me a second to realize he was talking about my anniversary gift. We always made each other something by hand. With the way things had been, I assumed it was an unspoken agreement to skip it this year. “I forgot,” I said, offering a weak excuse. His face hardened, and he yanked at his tie in frustration. “Josie, can’t you have a little empathy? Isn’t the money I give you enough? Do you really have to make a scene over this?” “Lyla is all alone in this city. I spent New Year’s with her out of basic human decency from the company. And she needs that bonus more than you do.” He paused, then added awkwardly, “If you really want the bonus that badly, I can just give it to you.” With one sentence, he invalidated all my hard work. After our fight last year, I had thrown myself into my job, working insane hours, pulling six-figure commissions for months on end. I wanted to prove to him that I wasn’t after his family’s money, that I could make more than enough on my own. But I still remembered the condescending look on his face back then. “That money,” he had said, “didn’t it all come from my family in the end?” Afraid of seeing that same contemptuous expression again, I just shook my head. “No, thank you. Is there anything else?” He made a frustrated sound, almost a growl. “No.” 4 As I was about to leave, a red string bracelet was tossed from behind the desk, landing by my feet. “If you don’t like it, just throw it away.” Steven’s voice was flat, a strange mix of offering and command. I looked down. The red string was clumsily woven, not particularly attractive, with a single, rather stingy-looking gold bead strung on it. It really wasn’t something to like. But I didn’t want any more complications. I bent down and picked it up. “Got it.” Tossing it in the trash outside would be just as easy. The moment I opened the door, I saw Lyla pretending to be busy but secretly watching the office. She greeted me with a sweet smile. “Josie, did you and Steven fight because of me? I’m so sorry. I just mentioned offhandedly that I wanted that project, I never thought he’d actually give it to me.” Her eyes flickered to the bracelet in my hand. Her smile froze for a split second before returning. “I was wondering why Steven was being so cheap, taking back the little gold bead that came with our rings. So it was a peace offering for you.” “When we bought the rings, the salesgirl said this little bead was a part of our love story. I guess it’s fitting that he gave it to you.” “Lyla!” Steven’s flustered voice came from inside before I could say a word. Lyla fluffed her hair, casually revealing her own large gold ring. “Steven’s calling me. I’ve got to go!” As the door clicked shut, I took the simple silver-band necklace from around my neck and threw it, along with the red string bracelet, into the nearest trash can. When I got back to my department, the acrid smell of spicy food hit me. An HR representative was awkwardly handing out afternoon snacks, and everyone looked less than thrilled. “What’s going on?” My team members swarmed me, finally having someone to complain to. “Josie, isn’t she just trying to piss us off?” I followed her gaze to the snacks on the table: extra-spicy snacks and double-sugar milk tea. And then I saw Lyla’s message in the group chat. “Mr. Constantini said the top seller gets to choose the celebration snacks, so I just ordered what I like. Don’t be so bland, everyone. Life is better with a little extra spice and sweetness.” No wonder everyone looked miserable. Our department worked the most overtime. A few bites of this, and half the team would be sick. “Throw it all out,” I announced. “Whatever you guys want for an afternoon snack, it’s on me.” “Josie for president!” I smiled as they cheered. I was going to miss my colleagues more than I would ever miss Steven. We had worked together for five or six years. I couldn’t tell them I was leaving, so this would have to be my farewell. As soon as the workday ended, my mother called. She asked if I had told Steven I was leaving. I said no and made her promise that if he asked where I was, she would say she didn’t know. I could hear Arthur’s apologetic voice in the background. “Josie, my dear, it’s Steven who has wronged you. I apologize on his behalf. Please don’t blame him. The boy is not having an easy time either.” Don’t blame him? I couldn’t. Steven and I were in the same class for all three years of high school. My mother was our homeroom teacher. Back then, the Constantini family wasn’t wealthy yet. Arthur was always busy chasing deals, and Steven was a problem student at the bottom of the class. I remember after a parent-teacher conference in our first year, Steven had a huge fight with his mother in the hallway. “To Dad, all you say is ‘take care of yourself.’ To me, it’s just ‘study hard.’ What else do you do besides laundry and cooking? You’re useless! If you can’t help, can you just shut up with all your pointless nagging?” Later that day, on her way home, his mother was in a car accident. She died at the scene. My mother, afraid he would spiral, took him into our home to live with us. I could understand Steven’s guilt and his inability to accept his mother’s death. But this past year… who had it been easy for? When Arthur and my mother decided to separate because of his cold ridicule, he sent them off to live abroad. When I tried to break up with him, he pointed his finger in my face and sneered, “What? Your mom took your place gold-digging in my family, so now you get to walk away scot-free? Don’t think it’s that easy.” Over the past year, any sympathy I had for him had been worn down to nothing. Tap, tap, tap. A knocking on my car window startled me. I turned to see Steven, his mouth moving. His voice was muffled through the glass. “My car’s in the shop. We’ll ride home together for the next few days.” 5 I rolled down the window, frowning at him. In the past, we would carefully avoid our colleagues every day, meeting in the parking garage to drive home together. But this past year, let alone driving together, he had barely even come home. Seeing my lack of response, Steven leaned on the window frame, his eyes meeting mine. “I said, we’re going home together for the next few days.” “You have more than one car.” My refusal was instinctive. My flight was at ten, my luggage was in the trunk. I had no time to play games with him. “Is it out of your way?” Steven’s brow furrowed, a questioning look in his eyes. “Or are you not going home? Where else would you be going?” Defeated, I unlocked the doors. “Let’s get something to eat first.” “I’m starving too. How about that hot pot place near the old campus?” His casual suggestion surprised me, but it worked in my favor. It was close to the airport, making my escape easier. The drive was silent, except for the rhythmic drumming of the rain. I was plotting my getaway while Steven, in the passenger seat, seemed to start and stop several sentences. Finally, he said carefully, “About the gold bead on the bracelet, that’s not what I meant. It was—” A flurry of message notifications interrupted him, followed by a shrill ringtone. The moment I saw the caller ID, I flicked on my hazard lights. Boldly displayed on his screen were the words “Little Josie.” He answered, and Lyla’s tearful voice came through the phone. “Steven, sniff, the elevators in the building are broken, and now I’m all alone in the office. I’m so scared.” It was just past seven. Most of our department was still at work. And the elevators at Constantini Industries had weekly maintenance checks. But of course, Steven believed her ridiculously flimsy lie. “It’s okay, don’t worry. Wait for me in the office, I’m coming back to get you right now.” By the time Steven hung up, I had already thoughtfully pulled over and unlocked the doors. “You should go.” “What do you mean? You’re not coming with me?” His eyes flashed with anger. We were already almost in the suburbs. If I went back to the city with him, I would definitely miss my flight. “I’m hungry.” “Fine, Josie! You’re really something else!” With a slam of the door, Steven was out of the car and yanking open the driver’s side. “Lyla’s in a real panic. I need the car. You can grab a ride home after you eat, or wait for me to come pick you up after I’m done.” The airport was only ten minutes away. The only downside was the rain. I quickly ran through the contents of my suitcase in my head—just clothes, all my important documents were in my purse. I let him take the car. As my flight was about to take off, my phone buzzed incessantly. “Are you home?” “Did you eat? Want me to bring you back a takeout box?” “I was hungry, so I got my own.” Attached was a picture of two takeout containers of hot pot. Just as the phone started ringing, the flight attendant announced that all electronic devices needed to be turned off. I blocked his number, switched to airplane mode, put on my eye mask, and slept soundly all the way to a new country. … 6 Meanwhile, Steven stared at the unanswered call, a knot of unease tightening in his chest.

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After overtime, my boyfriend drove me home. But his little assistant walked right past me and sat directly in the passenger seat. “Director Tessa, I adjusted this seat to my height. I was afraid you wouldn’t be used to it.” She apologized while buckling herself in. I didn’t speak, just glanced lightly at the back seat, piled high with a young girl’s bags and clothes. Sensing the atmosphere was off, Lucas tried to smooth things over. “She’s a new intern, just a kid. Don’t be petty with her.” I nodded thoughtfully, a hint of realization in my tone. “How can a child come out to work? Go to HR tomorrow and process her resignation.” Chapter 1 As soon as these words came out, both of them looked at me in unison. The little assistant huffed and got out of the passenger seat. “Director Tessa, I’m a Management Trainee officially hired this year. What right do you have to fire me just like that?” “It’s just sitting in the passenger seat. Are you that petty?” Looking at her flustered appearance, I couldn’t help but find it funny. “So you do know the passenger seat isn’t where you should be. I thought you were really just a child who didn’t know anything.” Indeed, she had a child’s temper. Blowing up after just two sentences, face flushing red, unable to squeeze out a word of rebuttal for a long time. Lucas finally reacted, smiling and putting his arm around my shoulder to mediate. “Mia is just my assistant, a kid fresh out of college. She can’t understand when you’re joking.” When he hugged me, there was a smell of very cheap perfume on him. I guessed the owner of the perfume was Mia, who was currently clenching her hands tightly, staring at us through the rearview mirror. I leaned against Lucas with a smile, but my eyes scanned Mia up and down. “But I wasn’t joking. Do you really need an assistant like this? No wonder you work overtime every day.” Hearing this, Lucas’s body stiffened for a moment, and his smile faltered. “Tessa, Mia is a bit rash, but if you fire her directly, people will say we treat new employees harshly. It doesn’t sound good.” Saying that, he signaled Mia with his eyes. Mia, who was still puffing up with anger, immediately softened her attitude and apologized to me pitifully. “Sorry Director Tessa, I’ve been with Brother Lucas for so long, I got too relaxed. I’ll give the seat back to you, please don’t mind.” She even stuck out her tongue playfully. Director Tessa, Brother Lucas. Tsk. Seeing no reaction from me, Mia seemed possessed by a drama queen. “Director Tessa, I will definitely, definitely, definitely pay attention next time~” Every sentence addressed “Director Tessa,” but her eyes only revolved around Lucas. I withdrew from Lucas’s arm and looked at Mia. “Next time? What do you want to pay attention to next time? Tell me.” Chapter 2 “Tessa, it’s late. Let me take you home.” Lucas spoke again. Every time he opened his mouth tonight, it was to defend Mia. This made me very unhappy. It’s true we agreed to have our own fun in this arranged marriage, but who allowed you to dance in front of me with your little lover and use me as a shield? Mia didn’t notice the undercurrent between us and spoke again. “Brother Lucas, I’ll go with you to drop Director Tessa off. It’s too late, I’m afraid you’ll be tired driving at night. I can keep you company.” “Keep him company? Miss Mia is such a thoughtful assistant. Brother Lucas, don’t you think?” I smiled and pulled Lucas’s tie. Caught off guard, he staggered towards me. He held my wrist pulling his tie, not too hard nor too light, with a hint of helplessness. “Mia, take a taxi back tonight, okay? Tessa and I have something to handle.” Mia caught the gentleness in Lucas’s tone and saw the seemingly intimate but actually confrontational posture between us. She bit her lip. “Is Director Tessa unhappy because of me? If so, I can apologize until she cools down.” I interrupted her performance, pointing to the pile of personal items in the back seat. “Save the apology for HR tomorrow. Now, pick up all your stuff, or wait to find them in the trash tomorrow.” “Hey! Aren’t you deliberately making things difficult for me? How can I take all these things?” Angry now, not even calling me Director Tessa anymore. I ignored her, picking up those clothes with two fingers and throwing them out one by one. Mia couldn’t pick them up in time and screamed in breakdown: “What do you want!” “I should be asking you that, right? Don’t you have a closet at home? Need to keep everything in your boss’s car?” “Don’t overthink it! I just left them temporarily when I was out on field work with Brother Lucas and forgot to take them.” She was a bit guilty, lacking confidence in her speech. I couldn’t be bothered to expose her, just smiling at her. “Perfect then. Today is the last day of ‘temporary’.” Mia’s eyes turned red instantly. She glared at me fiercely, almost diving into the back seat, scrambling to hug those bags and clothes, stuffing them into her arms. Too many things, she couldn’t hold them steady. A shiny hair clip fell to the ground. She squatted to pick it up, hair falling to cover her face, but I could see her shoulders trembling gently. After picking up her things, she left without looking back. Chapter 3 As Mia’s figure faded into the distance, only the two of us remained in the car. Silence reigned for a long time until Lucas finally couldn’t help but speak. “Mia is just a young girl after all, thin-skinned. You went a bit too far today.” I was leaning back with my eyes closed, resting. Hearing this, I sneered. “Her face matters, but my rules don’t?” Lucas tugged at his tie irritably. “Don’t push your luck. You know we…” He didn’t finish, but I knew what he meant. We were in a commercial marriage, the kind where we hadn’t even met before the engagement. No feelings whatsoever. Both our families’ companies had been declining in recent years and urgently needed transformation. Marriage meant we would prosper or decline together. We were the closest partners. The first time Lucas saw me, he said that for a commercial marriage, keeping up appearances was enough. I nodded lightly and stated my bottom line: “Since we’re married, we must maximize the value of this engagement. I accept playing separately, but if you make outsiders laugh because of private affairs, don’t blame me for turning hostile.” Lucas laughed indifferently: “As long as you have this awareness. Don’t worry, no matter how many flags flutter outside, they won’t be an eyesore to you.” Guessing he remembered his bold words back then, he spoke dryly after a long while. “I will make it clear to Mia.” “Good.” I closed my eyes again. “But my patience is like this passenger seat. There is only one. You’d better remember that.” Chapter 4 Our communication wasn’t pleasant, and coupled with busy work, we hadn’t seen each other for over half a month. Tonight there was a meeting with Mr. Sterling, the Chairman. Lucas sent someone to deliver a gown matching his suit. Mr. Sterling was a key figure both our companies wanted to win over. Half of the commercial value of this marriage depended on this. Lucas and I stood side by side, exchanging pleasantries with Mr. Sterling. Just as the conversation cut to the main topic, a figure inserted itself abruptly. It was Mia. Perhaps it was her first time attending such a cocktail party. exquisite makeup couldn’t hide the forced composure. The ill-fitting white dress made her look like a little girl stealing adult clothes. I narrowed my eyes slightly. In her glass, it seemed to be… juice? She trotted over in high heels, target clear: Mr. Sterling. “Hello Chairman Sterling! I’m Mia, a Management Trainee specially recruited this year. Just joined Mr. Lucas’s team not long ago. Please guide me in the future!” Mia held the cup with both hands, squeezing out what she thought was the most decent and obedient smile. I could clearly feel she emphasized “Mr. Lucas” and “Specially Recruited,” tone rising slightly, with undetectable showing off. In such an occasion, an intern introducing herself so abruptly and trying to chat was simply rude. The scene quieted for a second. Mia was oblivious, perhaps taking the silence as encouragement. She raised the orange juice in her hand, smile sweeter, voice crisp: “Chairman Sterling, I’m young and can’t drink, so I’ll toast you with this juice! Wishing you good health and prosperous business!” This time, even the surrounding conversations seemed to lower. The gazes of several nearby guests swept over subtly. I had no time to care about Lucas’s expression. I was so angry I wanted to kick Mia myself. What is your status? What is Mr. Sterling’s status? Toasting with juice? Do you deserve it? Lucas pulled Mia, who was still naively waiting for Mr. Sterling to clink glasses, behind him. He picked up a glass of champagne, squeezing out a near-fawning smile. “Sorry Chairman Sterling, I didn’t discipline my subordinate well. I apologize on her behalf with this glass.” He drank the champagne in one gulp, but Mr. Sterling didn’t even lift his eyelids. “Let’s talk about the cooperation another day. I have something to do.” Mia simply slapped his face in front of everyone. Mr. Sterling left the venue with his subordinates without even saying goodbye, leaving only his back to us. Lucas’s arm holding the glass froze in mid-air, face turning from green to white, then flushing with embarrassment.

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Since I can remember, I knew my family was poor. So when I suspected I had a serious illness, my first reaction wasn’t fear, but asking my parents carefully: “If… I got cancer, what would we do?” They laughed at my overthinking, but their tone was firm: “If that day comes, we’ll sell everything we own to treat you.” I tossed and turned all night, finally deciding—I couldn’t be a burden to them. But after I swallowed a whole bottle of sleeping pills, I “saw” them laughing and chatting in a penthouse in the city center. At that moment, I finally understood. The “hard life” that forced me to be sensible all these years was just a play they carefully choreographed. They were just pretending to be poor. And I… was really dead. Chapter 1 During recess, my nose started bleeding suddenly. I used up half a pack of tissues to stop it. My desk mate Hannah looked at my pale face and whispered: “My neighbor’s brother was like this. Later he was diagnosed with leukemia… His family spent all their money, but he still didn’t make it…” I smiled and called her a jinx, but my heart sank. Lately, I’ve had no energy. Running two steps in PE class makes me pant. Bruises appear on my knees for no reason and won’t fade. I tried hard to tell myself not to overthink, not to worry my parents for nothing, but the panic in my heart grew wild. What if… what if it’s true? I secretly went to the community clinic for a blood test. The doctor looked grave after seeing the results. He said he couldn’t rule out malignant blood disease and urged me to go to a big hospital for a full checkup ASAP. My heart hit rock bottom instantly. Clutching the light lab report, my steps were unsteady. I don’t even know how I dragged myself home. Mom was busy in the kitchen, wearing a faded apron. Hearing the door, she called out: “Wash your hands quickly. I made your favorite Mac and Cheese tonight.” I hurriedly crumpled the report and stuffed it deep into my backpack. A while later, Dad came back too. He looked exhausted, took off his jacket with frayed cuffs, threw it on the chair back, and let out a long sigh. Mom served the food. A plate of boiled cabbage, a bowl of watery soup, and a small plate of scrambled eggs in the middle—a rare treat. Dad ate fast and urgently, like he was starving. Mom ate while complaining that the price of pork went up again. I took small bites, tasting nothing. The doctor’s words echoed in my head, lingering. “Dad, Mom…” I called them softly, putting down my fork. They both looked up. “If… if I got a very serious illness,” I stared at the table, daring not to look into their eyes, “Like cancer… what would we do?” The table went silent instantly. Dad’s hand holding the fork stopped in mid-air. Mom’s spoon hit the bowl with a clink. “What nonsense!” Mom reacted first, frowning tight, “Kids shouldn’t say such unlucky things!” “I mean if… just in case?” I persisted, my eyes getting hot. Dad put down his fork, his rough hand rubbing my hair. “Luna, don’t overthink. Your job now is to study hard. If that day really comes…” He paused, “Don’t worry, Dad will sell everything, mortgage the house, to treat you.” Mom nodded quickly: “Yes, even if we go bankrupt! Eat now, food’s getting cold.” After they finished, it seemed the topic was over. Dad buried his head in eating. Mom put a piece of egg in my bowl: “Eat more, you’re growing.” I listened to them, looking at their faded old clothes and the simple meal. “Sell everything…” “Go bankrupt…” I slowly picked up my fork, lowered my head, burying my face in the bowl. Tears fell suddenly, dropping into the rice. I shoveled a big mouthful of food, swallowing it with my tears. Chapter 2 Since I can remember, I knew my family was poor. We lived in a dilapidated apartment complex. The paint peeled off the walls. When it rained, water seeped into the corners, growing fuzzy mold. There wasn’t a single new piece of clothing in my closet. All hand-me-downs from my sister, Stella. Cuffs worn shiny, colors washed white. Mom said they were still good, couldn’t waste. She always patted my head and sighed: “Your dad and I work double shifts every day. Every penny is hard-earned. So you have to be more sensible than others, understand?” Dad also looked at me seriously: “You have to be successful, study hard, to be worthy of our sacrifice.” I clutched the frayed hem of my shirt and nodded hard. Life went on tight like this. I had no allowance. Classmates bought snacks, stickers, colorful pens. I just watched. When they talked about eating pizza or going to Disneyland on weekends, I couldn’t join in, so I just lowered my head, silent. When hungry, I drank hot water. My stomach felt heavy and warm, not so empty anymore. If I felt unwell, I never said anything, just endured. Last winter I coughed for a whole month. Afraid of waking my parents at night, I covered my mouth and coughed until tears came out. The next day I went to school as usual. Mom and Dad always praised me: “Our Luna is the most sensible girl.” Hearing this, I didn’t know how to feel. Actually, I wanted to tell them something. That my throat itched terribly. That the old backpack from Stella was worn out, straps about to break. That I also wanted a small slice of cream cake on my birthday. But I was afraid. Afraid that if I asked for money, Mom and Dad would be more tired. I was afraid of seeing their troubled eyes, afraid of hearing their sighs, afraid my small wish would be the straw that broke the camel’s back. At night, I lay in bed, tossing and turning. In the dark, eyes open, the doctor’s grave face and my parents’ words about “selling everything” and “going bankrupt” spiraled in my mind. By dawn, I made up my mind. If treating me would drag this family down completely, push them to a dead end, I’d rather… rather disappear. Outside, sounds of movement. Mom and Dad got up. A while later, Mom gently pushed the door: “Luna, Dad and I are going to work. Breakfast is warm in the pot. Eat before school.” I lay in bed, hummed a low “Mmhmm,” eyes shut tight, daring not to look at her. The door closed gently. Footsteps faded. The room was scary quiet, only my heartbeat. I sat up slowly, took paper and pen from my bag, and wrote a letter to Mom and Dad, stroke by stroke. Folded it carefully and put it under my pillow. I walked to the old cabinet, squatted, and pulled the bottom drawer. Messy inside. I rummaged for a while before finding the yellowed pill bottle. I remembered when I was little, Mom took these for insomnia. She hid the bottle specifically, patting my head and warning: “Luna, kids can’t touch this. If you eat it… you will leave Mom and Dad forever.” I always remembered that. Now I’m grown up. I know “leave forever” means death. If I die, they will be free. I went to the kitchen for a glass of water, then sat back on the bed. Unscrewed the cap, poured all the white pills into my hand. Looking at the tiny pills, my parents’ smiling faces suddenly appeared. Nose sour, tears fell pat pat on my hand. I was suddenly scared, and reluctant. But the smiles faded quickly, replaced by their exhausted faces from daily toil. I closed my eyes, telling myself— Don’t be selfish. Leaving is the last act of sensibility I can give them. I took a deep breath, stuffed all the pills into my mouth, and swallowed them with cold water. A bit bitter, but soon I felt nothing. Put the empty bottle by the pillow, lay down, and covered myself. The heavy feeling in my heart seemed to vanish suddenly. Outside, light grew brighter. Birds started singing. I closed my eyes, feeling so tired. Just wanted a good sleep. Chapter 3 After a while, I seemed to “wake up” again, body light as a feather. Looking down, another me was still lying quietly on the bed, face calm as if sleeping. Am I… already dead? But where to go next? I didn’t know. I suddenly thought of my sister, Stella. Last time I saw her was Christmas. She stayed for only three days and left in a hurry. Yesterday I called her. Before I could say much, noise came from her end. She hung up before I could finish. Before leaving, I wanted to see her again. Thought flashed, vision blurred. I was standing outside a bright cafe. Through the floor-to-ceiling window, I saw Stella laughing with friends. She wore a beautiful floral dress, hair perfectly done, a delicate cake in front of her. My gaze fell on the brand-new designer bag beside her. I’ve seen this brand in the mall, secretly counted the zeros on the price tag. But how could Stella… I leaned closer to look. Her phone rang, startling me. She walked to a quiet corner to answer. I followed. “Mom?” Her voice was light. “Why call now?” Mom’s clear voice came through: “Has your sister contacted you lately? I feel she’s acting weird these two days…” “Oh, she called yesterday.” Stella’s tone was casual. “Said she wanted to buy textbooks, asked to borrow a hundred bucks.” “Buy textbooks?” Mom’s voice spiked, full of undisguised dissatisfaction, “Can’t she tell us if she needs books? That child… don’t know what schemes she’s plotting.” I lowered my eyes instinctively, heart feeling sour. Actually… I lied to Stella because I couldn’t afford the hospital checkup fee. “Relax, I didn’t give it to her.” Stella smiled slyly. “I pretended to be busy and hung up. Let her ask you guys.” “Smart girl!” Mom’s tone became serious, warning, “Remember, never give her money privately. If I find out, forget about your allowance! But speaking of which, you’re working now, should learn to be independent…” “Oh Mom—” Stella dragged her voice, spoiling, “I won’t give it. My salary barely covers rent, how can I shop without family subsidy…” “Okay okay.” Mom sighed helplessly, softening, “Anyway, be sharp in front of your sister. Don’t slip up. She’s sensitive. If she finds out, it’ll be big trouble.” “Got it, thanks Mom!” Stella hung up beaming, returned to her friends, chatting about the weekend concert. My mind was a mess. They were hiding something from me. Thought flashed, scene changed abruptly. A spacious living room, blindingly bright. Polished floors reflecting the crystal chandelier, a huge window overlooking the city skyline. Where is this? How am I here? I looked around blankly. A woman was lying comfortably in a massage chair, playing with the latest foldable phone. A man walked over with two glasses of fresh juice, wearing comfortable loungewear. I stared at their faces, brain buzzing—aren’t these my parents? Shouldn’t they be guarding the food stand at the market right now? “We spoiled Stella since she was little, she never focuses on the right path. Now Luna is learning bad habits too…” Mom frowned complaining, “She called her sister for money, saying she needs textbooks. Didn’t dare tell us, must be lying!” Dad put down the juice, comforting: “Luna is sensible enough. Maybe she really wants something. A little white lie is fine. Under our noses, nothing big can happen.” “True,” Mom hammered her shoulder, “Just tired of living in that dump to act out this play. Uncomfortable all over…” “Endure a bit more for Luna’s future.” Dad massaged her shoulders, tone soft, “When she gets into a good college, we’ll tell her the truth. She’ll be thrilled.” Mom sighed heavily: “Hope so… As long as she doesn’t waste our efforts, my suffering is worth it…” “Hard work for wifey! I’ll cook your favorites later to reward you.” Dad handed the juice, both smiling eyes curved. These words drilled into my ears, weird and indigestible. After a long time, I realized. So, they were pretending to be poor. But I… was really dead… Chapter 4 I floated in the center of the luxurious living room, staring at them blankly. My heart felt like it was being gently squeezed, a dull ache. So the exhaustion from early mornings and late nights, the bitterness of struggling for a living, were all just a play they put on. And all the hardships I suffered growing up were just their calculation “for my own good.” In a trance, I remembered finding a designer belt under Dad’s bed. He snatched it back, saying it was a fake from a street stall. Remembered the high-end face cream behind Mom’s mirror. She said it was a sample from a friend, worthless. Remembered the large window flashing behind Stella during video calls. I asked if she moved to a big house, she laughed and interrupted, saying it was a colleague’s place. Turns out those moments that felt off were clues to this scam. In this family, only I was like a fool, kept in the dark, guarding the fake poverty they created, living carefully. The sadness surged like a tide, then slowly receded. Whatever. Leukemia is a tough disease. Maybe even spending all the family’s money wouldn’t save me. By then, they might really be forced into that precarious, poor life. At least now, they don’t have to really get up early and stay up late at the stand, don’t have to haggle over pennies. They live so decently and comfortably, not hard at all. I have nothing to worry about. Thinking this way, I felt much more at ease. Curious, I started floating around this bright big house. Soft carpets, huge balcony, all kinds of high-end appliances, things I only saw on TV. I floated into a room. The vanity was full of bottles, closet door half open, filled with beautiful clothes. I recognized it instantly. This was Stella’s room, the place often in her videos. Then, I found another room. Walls painted pale pink. White curtains with lace edges. Bed covered in floral sheets. On the nightstand, a photo frame. Inside was me, about seven or eight, wearing the red plaid coat handed down from Stella, smiling shyly at the camera. This room… was prepared for me. My heart felt warmed by something gentle. I lay on that floral bed. Though I couldn’t feel the softness, I imagined if I could sleep here, it would be as comfortable as lying on clouds. Sunlight shone in, warming the whole pink room. I lay there, watching, feeling sad again. I knew, this perfect room prepared for me, I would never move into. Time passed. Suddenly, a phone rang in the room. Mom’s old phone. I floated over to look. The screen flashed with Teacher Wang’s name. Mom took a deep breath, answered, voice instantly switching to that familiar tired tone: “Hello, Teacher Wang? Yeah, busy at the stand. What’s up?” Teacher Wang’s anxious voice came through: “Luna’s Mom, I called several times! Finally picked up!” “Oh, so sorry,” Mom’s voice lowered, apologetic, “This broken phone always dies. Just turned on. Is something wrong at school?” “Luna didn’t come to school today. Didn’t ask for leave. Is she home? Is she sick?” Mom’s hand gripping the phone tightened. Surprise flashed on her face, voice rising: “What? Luna didn’t go to school?”

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