Category: English

My mother’s body was frail, and she went through hell to conceive me. The doctors said I wouldn’t make it, but she insisted on keeping me. Hormone shots, nutrient injections—they were a daily ritual. After each one, I would stir uncomfortably in her womb, a wave of sickness washing over me. Even then, my mother would grit her teeth through her own pain to soothe me. “Be a good baby,” she’d whisper. “You have to grow up healthy and strong.” Her morning sickness was severe. She’d eat, throw up, and force herself to eat again, all so that I would be healthy. To make it easier for her, I learned to stay perfectly still, no matter how much I hurt. Until I heard her ask the doctor: “Doctor, can we induce the birth soon? Her sister is waiting for the umbilical cord blood and bone marrow to save her life.” And just like that, I understood. My mother didn’t love me. She only loved my cord blood and my marrow. Rather than become a living organ bank for my sister, I’d rather take my chances and be reborn. … The moment my mother asked if I could be cut out of her, I unleashed a tempest in her womb. It was a stark contrast to the quiet, compliant way I’d been growing. My mother felt the full, long-forgotten force of a baby’s kick. She lay weakly in bed as my father’s voice, laced with concern, filled the room. “This baby’s been so quiet, never bothering you. Why such a commotion all of a sudden?” My mother’s voice was sharp, her teeth clenched. “This one’s a little demon, here to collect a debt. If it wasn’t for Pearl, I never would have kept it.” “Pearl was so good,” she went on, her tone softening with pride and affection. “I barely felt a thing when I had her.” But I was good, too. Wasn’t I? My mother’s body was a hostile environment, and I was in constant discomfort, my tiny form aching all over. But I endured it. I grew quietly inside her. She quizzed my father about my sister’s condition, asking about every little detail, down to what she ate. My father answered her with equal care. It was as if they had both forgotten about the child still inside her. I listened in silence. I told myself that if she said she loved me, just once, I would stay and be her child, even if my existence was born of calculation. The suffering she endured for me was real, after all. I waited and waited. Finally, she spoke of me. Her voice was bright with excitement. “The doctor said this one’s liver, kidneys, and heart are all developing perfectly. All my suffering wasn’t for nothing. Now, even if Pearl’s kidneys fail someday, she’ll have a replacement.” My world went silent. I felt my breath hitch in my nonexistent lungs. I wanted to cry. At only six months in the womb, I understood a brutal truth. My mother didn’t love me at all. I wanted to tell her that I had waited in line for eighty years for a chance to be reborn, that I had waited so, so long to be her child. I wanted to tell her how much I hurt, how sick I felt every single day, but how I forced myself to absorb every nutrient, to grow strong, just for the chance to be born. But my luck had run out. The nurse came in with another needle. This one went straight into the belly. Every time I saw that sharp point pierce her skin, I would recoil in fear, but I always held still for my mother’s sake. Not this time. I didn’t want to be her child anymore. I aimed a powerful kick right at her belly. She cried out in pain. Seeing the bulge on her stomach, the nurse hesitated, needle in hand. “Do it,” my mother hissed. “I won’t be defeated by this little monster in my own body.” Her voice rose to a shriek. “What are you waiting for? If I can’t deliver this baby, you can kiss your job goodbye!” I thrashed and kicked, but they found their moment and plunged the needle in. A wave of drowsiness washed over me. My limbs went slack. My mother was drenched in sweat, panting through the pain. Over and over, she chanted a name. “Pearl… Pearl…” As if the name itself gave her strength. Then, my father gasped. “Blood! You’re bleeding!” My mother was rushed into the emergency room. I felt so sleepy, so heavy, as if I could drift away from this world at any second. It was for the best. I could get back in line and try again. Mother, a child who isn’t loved should never be born at all. I was still inside her. I overheard the doctors and nurses. My mother had performed a miracle, they said. She had used some kind of superhuman willpower to keep me from miscarrying. The price was that she would be confined to bed until my birth, enduring three hormone injections every day. She didn’t care. All she cared about was when I could be delivered. My sister’s condition had worsened. She needed my cord blood and marrow. To ensure I would be viable when they cut me out at seven months, my mother began consuming a litany of supplements. Bitter herbal tonics, thick, gelatinous soups, anything and everything that was rich in nutrients. I hated the taste of it all. I kicked upwards, a sharp jab right into her stomach. “Ugh—” Everything she had just forced down came right back up. But my mother was relentless. She had someone bring another bowl. The moment she drank, I kicked. She vomited until there was nothing left but bile. I was exhausted, my kicks turning into feeble waves in the amniotic fluid, but she still didn’t give up. She played a recording of my sister singing. Listening to that voice, she choked down bowl after bowl of the bitter medicine. In that moment, a venomous hatred for the sister I’d never met bloomed inside me. Why did they love her so much? What had I done wrong? Why should I have to sacrifice everything for her? I refused to live that life. I gathered what little strength I had left. When I was too weak to kick, I used my fingernails, scratching at the walls of her womb. She clutched her stomach with one hand, her mouth with the other, writhing on the bed. Her cries were so agonizing that a small crowd gathered outside her room. “I know her,” someone whispered. “She’s been here on bed rest since she got pregnant. Must have spent a fortune, all to save this baby.” “And you know why? Her first child has a blood disease. This baby is just for the cord blood and marrow.” “Poor thing. Condemned before it’s even born.” Hearing their words, I fought harder. Back when I was waiting in the afterlife, I’d met other souls like me, conceived to be a cure. One of them told me his story. His life had been a nightmare. Constant blood draws, a strictly controlled diet—he existed solely for his older sibling. The marrow extractions were so frequent that his body gave out. He died at seven and was back in line with the rest of us. But he was happy. “It’s great,” he’d said. “Being dead means no more operating tables. This time, I’m going to be born into a good family. I’m going to eat fried chicken and soda.” A shudder went through me. That life was too terrifying to imagine. I’m sorry, Mother, but I can’t be born into a family like this. “Mommy!” A little girl with no hair appeared at the door, held by my father. She was tiny and frail, a ghost of a child. It was the first time I saw my sister. The sight of her seemed to fill my mother with a new strength. She forced a smile. “Pearl, what are you doing here? Did you eat properly today?” The two of them spoke with an intimacy that left me on the outside, listening quietly, imagining it was me. Imagining my mother stroking my face, holding me with aching tenderness, blaming herself for not giving me a stronger body. My sister touched my mother’s belly. “Mommy, now that you have another baby, will you stop loving me?” My mother shook her head emphatically. “You are my only child. This one in my belly was only created for you. You will always be my precious girl.” My sister looked down at me, her face clouded with worry. “But what if the baby is healthier than me? If I had a healthy body, Mommy and Daddy wouldn’t have to worry so much, right?” Tears welled in my father’s eyes at her maturity. He wrapped them both in his arms, his voice thick with emotion. “Never. Even if we have other children, you will always be the most important one.” They cried on the outside. I cried on the inside. I would not follow their script. I would make sure their plans came to nothing. I grabbed the umbilical cord and bit down. Hard. “Ah!” A cold sweat soaked my mother’s clothes. After my father took my sister out of the room, she screamed at her belly. “You little monster! Do you know how much your sister is suffering waiting for you? You keep fighting me! What if you damage the quality of the cord blood? All my suffering will be for nothing!” What baby wants to be born with a price tag on its head? I hated my sister. I hated my mother. I hated my father. I wrapped the cord around myself and spun. The pain was so intense my mother could no longer scream. I thought, after all that, surely I would be gone. But my mother’s superpower was formidable. She grew weaker, but I remained stubbornly alive inside her. “See? Nothing like Pearl,” I heard her say to a visitor one day. “When I was carrying Pearl, it was so peaceful. I never suffered like this. But this one…” She trailed off, aware of her audience. I knew what she wanted to say. She wanted to curse me. The difference between love and its absence was so painfully clear. I was almost seven months old, and she still hadn’t given me a name. I was just “the baby,” or “this one.” Only on a good day would she call me “my baby.” Panic began to set in. Seven months was fast approaching. My parents had already decided. At seven months, they would cut me out. My life and death would no longer be my own to decide. The doctor had ordered my mother on strict bed rest. She couldn’t even get up to use the bathroom. Any movement, he’d warned, could risk the pregnancy. His tone was severe. My mother was confused. “But you said the fetus was healthy. Why is it suddenly so critical?” she demanded, her voice rising with agitation. “I’ve followed all your instructions! I haven’t missed a single injection! How can you say you can’t save it?” I was my sister’s only hope. The doctor explained that I was never viable to begin with; I was being kept alive by sheer medical intervention. The news sent my mother into another rage. She cursed me for being weak, for being useless. But soon, she had no time for me. My sister had a relapse and was moved to the ICU. Ignoring the doctor’s warnings, my mother got out of bed. My parents stood outside the glass doors of the intensive care unit, watching my sister. My mother’s grief was a palpable thing, a heavy wave that washed over me, but all I felt was annoyance. I was just an innocent baby caught in their tragedy. I didn’t want to live for my sister. The sight of Pearl, so still and lifeless in that bed, finally broke her. She grabbed the doctor, her voice frantic. “Can you deliver the baby now? My daughter can’t wait any longer!” The doctor was horrified. He tried to reason with her. “The baby’s lungs aren’t fully developed. A C-section now… the chances of survival are incredibly low.” A flicker of hesitation crossed my mother’s face, but it was gone in an instant. Her eyes saw only her dying daughter. “I don’t care if the baby lives or dies,” she spat. “Even if it dies, I won’t hold you responsible. I just want my daughter to be safe!” “This,” she said, stabbing a finger at her own belly, “is its only reason for existing!” My father pulled her into his arms, stopping her from hurting herself. How noble. What a great mother’s love. If only it wasn’t at my expense. My resolve hardened. I could not, would not, be born. I had to get back in line, quickly. Maybe I’d get a better chance next time. After much persuasion from the doctor and my father, my mother abandoned the idea of an immediate C-section. But she was a nervous wreck, checking the fetal heart monitor every hour to make sure I was stable. This made my plan much more difficult. Every time I tried to wrap the cord around my neck, the machine would blare an alarm. “Fetal heart rate dropping! Fetal distress! Prep for surgery!” I would quickly let go, terrified. But I knew a secret: if the host body is weak, the parasite cannot survive. So I waited. I stayed awake all day, and at night, when she tried to sleep, I would dance and spin inside her womb. Time and again, I thought I was on the brink of death, but she would have the doctors give her another injection. The needle was thick and menacing, but she wouldn’t even flinch. The drugs pulled me back from the edge of oblivion, over and over again. Sometimes, she would look at her belly with the same loving gaze she gave my sister. But she would always catch herself. “It’s just the hormones,” she’d mutter. “I still love Pearl more. Pearl is my real child.” With the help of modern medicine, I remained stubbornly alive. As my seventh month approached, the smiles on my mother’s face grew more frequent. One day, her sister—my aunt—came to visit. My mother took her hand and placed it on her belly. She had grown frighteningly thin, claiming I had drained all her life force. I disagreed. I was still very small. Feeling the large hand on her belly, I placed my own tiny hand against it from the inside. My aunt gasped in delight. “He just held my hand! Look, do you think he likes me?” My mother just gave her a cold, empty look. My aunt hesitated. “This isn’t right,” she said softly. “Pearl is a wonderful girl, but you shouldn’t have to sacrifice another child to save her.” She loved Pearl, too, but I was her blood as well. The thought of my future—endless marrow extractions, perhaps even organ harvesting—made her feel sick. Was this really the right thing to do? My mother’s eyes turned to ice. “I gave him life. He will do as I say.” “If it weren’t for his sister, he wouldn’t even have the chance to be born. He should be grateful.” My aunt looked at my mother as if she were a stranger. “He was just unlucky,” my mother said quietly. “For Pearl, anything is worth it.” She rubbed her aching back, her hand resting on her belly. Her expression was unreadable, almost sad. I didn’t believe in luck. My fate was my own to decide.

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1 The night before my thesis defense, I discovered that Leslie, my girlfriend of four years, had been financially supporting an underprivileged student. Every dollar she saved from her allowance went straight into that boy’s pocket. I confronted her, phone in hand. She was silent for the entire night, finally offering only a single, defiant sentence: “Yes, I pity him. Is that what you want to hear?” Four years of us, wiped away by a single pang of her pity for him. I couldn’t just let it end like that. I wiped away my tears and stood beside her in the line for our graduation photo, forcing a smile. That’s when her roommate rushed over. “Leslie! Leo heard you and Ben are getting engaged after graduation! He’s in his dorm—he took a bottle of sleeping pills!” Leslie’s graduation certificate slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground. She bolted, a blur of motion. I clutched my own certificate, shouting after her, “You walk out that door now, you’re choosing him!” Her footsteps faltered for a single, agonizing second. Then, without a shred of hesitation, she vanished into the crowd. I stood there, frozen, the tassel of my graduation cap swinging in front of my eyes. The world around me was a cacophony of laughter and celebratory screams, but it all sounded distant and warped. The university president stood on the stage, microphone in hand, looking from me to the empty space where Leslie had been, utterly at a loss for words. Leslie’s parents, their faces ashen, rushed over and grabbed my hands. “Ben, I’m going to drag that wretched girl back here myself! The nerve of her!” her father seethed. I just shook my head. Slowly, I rolled up the certificate in my hand. “Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, just let her go.” The expressions on my own parents’ faces were even worse. My dad was white with fury, and my mom was openly crying. “What is this supposed to be? Her graduation, our engagement party! How could she humiliate our family like this?” my dad hissed. I stepped off the platform and took my mother’s arm. “Mom, Dad, let me take you home.” The scene was pure chaos. Leslie’s roommate, Daisy, scurried over, wringing her hands. “Ben, I’m so sorry. Leo’s condition was critical, I had to…” I looked at her and said nothing. Daisy had been Leslie’s roommate for four years. She knew Leo. In their eyes, Leo was the fragile one who needed protecting. But a truly fragile person doesn’t try to kill themselves on the most important day of someone else’s life. I picked up my degree, turned my back on the celebration, and walked away. My phone vibrated in my pocket, again and again. I didn’t answer. I knew it was Leslie. She would explain, apologize, tell me how dire the situation was, how she had no choice but to go. After four years together, I knew her inside and out. She had a crushing sense of responsibility, especially towards anyone she felt she had wronged. Two years ago, during the review for the university’s financial aid grants, Leslie, as the Student Council President, had publicly questioned the documentation Leo submitted. She thought something didn’t add up. It turned out to be a misunderstanding. Leo had just filled out the forms incorrectly. But the incident turned Leo into a laughingstock in our department and became Leslie’s personal cross to bear. That guilt had haunted her for two years. I used to think she was right to help him. She’d made a mistake; she should make amends. It was only today that I finally understood. Some amends cross a line. Back in my dorm, I stripped off my cap and gown and changed into my own clothes. I knew that if Leo had been rushed to the hospital, it would be the university health center, the closest one. I grabbed my keys and headed over. In the emergency room, just as I’d expected, Leslie was sitting by his bedside. Leo was lying there, an IV drip in his arm. He was pale, his eyes closed, with tear tracks still glistening on his lashes. Leslie was clutching his other hand, her brow furrowed with worry. I walked in. When she saw me, she shot to her feet, her eyes filled with apology. “Ben, you’re here. I’m so sorry, about today…” “How is he?” I cut her off, my gaze fixed on the boy in the bed. “The doctors pumped his stomach in time. He’s not in any danger, just weak and emotionally unstable.” I nodded. “Good.” I turned to leave. Leslie grabbed my wrist. “Ben, don’t be angry. This happened because of me, I couldn’t just ignore it. He’s just a kid, his family’s poor… he’s in such a pitiful state.” I pulled my hand away. “Leslie, I’m not angry. I just think our graduation day should have been more important than a freshman we’ve known for two years.” “That’s not it! Ben, you’ll always be the most important person to me! But he was dying!” “The doctor said he’s not going to die,” I stated, my voice flat. Leslie’s lips parted, but no words came out. Just then, Leo’s eyes fluttered open. The moment he saw me, fresh tears welled up. “Ben… I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I didn’t mean to… I just… I just couldn’t control myself.” He sobbed, his body trembling. “I saw you two at the ceremony, and I started thinking about my own life… I just lost it. I’m sorry, I ruined your graduation…” Leslie immediately sat back down, murmuring reassurances to him. “It’s okay, it’s all over now. Don’t think about it. You just need to rest.” The look she gave me was laced with blame: See? He’s already like this. Can’t you have a little compassion? I didn’t say another word. I just turned and walked away. Outside the hospital, the summer air was hot and sticky, clinging to my face like a film. It was only then that I realized my hands were shaking. The next morning, Leslie was waiting for me outside my dorm with breakfast. I buzzed her in but told her not to come up. She handed me the bag, a placating smile on her face. “Ben, I’m apologizing on Leo’s behalf. He was just emotional yesterday, he didn’t do it on purpose.” “Does he not have a mouth? Why do you have to apologize for him?” Her smile froze. “He’s… he’s still weak.” “Leslie, let’s forget about him for a second and talk about us,” I said, looking her straight in the eye. “Our graduation was ruined, our engagement party is a joke. What are you going to tell our families and all our friends?” She was silent for a moment. “We’ll wait a while, until this blows over. Then we can just have a small dinner with them.” “A dinner?” I laughed, a short, bitter sound. “You think a dinner is going to fix this?” “Well, what else can we do? It’s already happened!” She was getting frustrated. “Ben, I know you’re hurt, but Leo has nothing, and he almost died. Can’t you just find it in your heart to pity him, to be a little more understanding?” There it was again. Understanding. I took the breakfast from her and set it on a nearby ledge. “Fine. You should go back. He’s all alone at the hospital, he needs someone to look after him.” Leslie visibly relaxed, thinking I had conceded. “I knew you had a soft heart. Don’t worry, as soon as he’s discharged and stable, I’ll make this all up to you.” She turned and left. I watched her walk away, then picked up the breakfast from the ledge and threw it into the nearest trash can. Later, I went to the administration building to complete my checkout procedures. On the way, I passed the university hospital and, on a dark impulse, decided to go in and see Leo. He was propped up in bed, scrolling on his phone and laughing with the patient in the next bed over. He looked perfectly fine. The moment he saw me, his smile vanished, instantly replaced by a look of pathetic misery. “Ben. You came.” I nodded. “Yeah. Came to see how you were doing.” I walked over and picked up his chart from the bedside table, flipping through it. “Looks like you’re recovering well. You’ll probably be discharged tomorrow.” “Yeah,” he mumbled, looking down. “Thanks for… for coming to see me.” “Don’t mention it. Just don’t do anything stupid again. It’s your life.” He bit his lip, his eyes turning red again. “I know, Ben. It’s just… sometimes it’s just too much to handle.” I didn’t respond. I put the chart down and left. That afternoon, I found a friend of mine who was interning at the hospital. “Hey, Sarah. You remember that kid who was brought in for an overdose yesterday? Leo?” Sarah thought for a moment. “Oh, that guy. Yeah, I remember. A gorgeous girl brought him in, practically carrying him. She was pale with panic.” “What was the dosage like?” “Ha, don’t even get me started!” Sarah scoffed. “It was a few vitamin pills mixed with a couple of sleeping pills he probably got from god-knows-where.” “The dose was less than what I take to get to sleep some nights. It looked scary, him coming in crying and all, but everyone in the ER knows the type. It’s all for show. He was never in any danger of dying.” My heart sank, stone by heavy stone. That evening, Leslie came to take me to dinner, to celebrate my acceptance into the graduate program. She seemed to be in a good mood. Leo had been discharged, and she’d gotten him settled. “I booked a table at your favorite steakhouse.” In the car, she kept trying to take my hand, but I pulled away each time. “Ben, I know I’ve put you through a lot. I owe you a graduation ceremony, and I promise, I will give you an even bigger, better one.” I stared out the window at the passing city lights, saying nothing. “Leslie, how much money do you give Leo every month?” I asked suddenly. She flinched. “Not… not much. Just… half of my allowance.” Leslie’s family was well-off. Half her allowance was not a small amount. “Didn’t he apply for financial aid?” “He did, but it’s not enough. And you know how proud he is, he’s too embarrassed to ask his family for more.” “So you’ve been keeping him?” My voice turned to ice. Leslie frowned, her own tone growing sharp. “Ben, what kind of way is that to put it? Keeping him? I’m making amends for a mistake I made!” Her voice rose. “I almost ruined his reputation! The least I can do is make sure he doesn’t have to worry about money for the rest of his life! Is that so wrong?” I didn’t answer. The temperature in the car plummeted. We ate our meal in stony silence. On the way back, Leslie’s phone rang. It was Leo. Her voice instantly softened. “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?” “The power went out in your dorm? Don’t be scared, and don’t move. I’ll be right there to check on it!” She hung up and forced a smile at me. “Ben, I’ll drop you off first, then I have to go check on Leo. He lives alone, and he’s easily frightened.” I just stared at her. “Leslie, what is he to you?” The smile on her face froze. “He’s… my friend. My underclassman.” “So you’re responsible for the rest of his life, including fixing his circuit breakers?” “Ben!” She was genuinely angry now. “Why are you being so unreasonable? He’s all alone, he just got out of the hospital, and his room is pitch black! I can’t just ignore him!” “He could call the dorm supervisor. Or the campus electrician.” “It’s not the same! He doesn’t trust other people!” I laughed. “Right. He only trusts you.” I reached over and opened the car door. “Don’t bother dropping me off. I’ll walk. You go. Your little brother is waiting.” I got out and slammed the door. Leslie’s car idled behind me for a moment, and then, it drove away. In the direction of Leo’s dorm. After that, we were in a cold war. Leslie didn’t contact me. I didn’t contact her. The apartment we’d rented for grad school was ready and waiting. We were supposed to move in right after graduation. I went there alone. The place was huge and empty. We had picked out every piece of furniture together. I sat on the sofa for a long, long time. A week later, Leslie called. She sounded exhausted. “Ben, we need to talk.” We met at the new apartment. She was thinner, with dark circles under her eyes. “Ben, I’m sorry. I haven’t been fair to you lately,” she began. “Leo’s been really unstable, and I’ve had to spend more time with him.” I said nothing, just waited for her to continue. “I know you’re upset, but Ben, we’ve been together for four years. Don’t you know me by now? All I feel for Leo is guilt and responsibility. Nothing more.” “I know,” I said. She let out a breath of relief. “I knew you’d understand.” She moved to hug me. I took a step back. “Leslie, I came here today to tell you… I don’t want this apartment anymore.” She froze, her arms still outstretched. “What… what do you mean?” “The lease is in your name, you paid the deposit. I don’t want it.” “Why? Ben, this is our home!” she said, her voice rising in panic. “Because one day, the power will go out in Leo’s dorm again, or his sink will get clogged, and you’ll decide that he needs a home more than I do.” The color drained from her face. “Ben! Why do you have to talk like that? Why are you trying to hurt me?” “Am I not telling the truth?” “I’m just helping him! It’s a small thing!” “Running out of our graduation in front of thousands of people was a small thing? Giving him half your allowance every month is a small thing? Leslie, your ‘small things’ are adding up.” She opened her mouth, but couldn’t find the words. Finally, she took a deep breath. “Fine, Ben. If that’s what you think, then I’ll prove you wrong.” She locked her eyes on mine, her voice deliberate. “I’m going to have Leo move in here. He can take the guest room.” A buzzing started in my head. “What did you say?” “I said, I’m moving Leo in!” she repeated, her voice louder, as if trying to convince both me and herself. “I can’t trust him to be alone in the dorms, he’s always having some kind of crisis. If he’s living under our roof, I can keep an eye on him, and then you won’t have to worry! That should solve everything, right?” I stared at her as if she were a complete stranger. “Leslie, you’re insane.” “I’m not insane, I’m being responsible! I can’t let anything else happen to him! It’s my duty!” Each word was a hammer blow. Suddenly, I felt tired. A deep, bone-weary exhaustion. “Fine,” I said. “Have him move in.” Leslie seemed stunned that I’d agreed so easily. I took my key out of my bag and placed it on the coffee table. “Here’s your key back.” “From now on, this is your home. Yours and his.” “I wish you two a happy life together.” I stood up and walked out of the home I had once been so excited about. As the door clicked shut behind me, I thought I heard the sound of something smashing inside. And finally, the tears came. Four years. Over. Just like that.

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My husband and I had planned a ski trip for Christmas. It was supposed to be our getaway. But then, he bailed. He rented out an entire ski resort for the “one who got away”—his first love. She sent me a video from the slopes, her voice soft and feathery in the background: “I had no idea Julian would ditch you for me. I feel terrible. Maybe next time, I’ll tell him to make it up to you.” I replied calmly: “Have a blast. Don’t worry about the cost.” Oh. She probably didn’t know that the resort Julian rented out? I own it. 1 When Julian came home, I was reviewing the resort’s quarterly revenue on my laptop. He walked in and handed me a gift box. “Chloe, I brought you a present.” It was a green box. The standard complimentary souvenir for anyone who spends over $15,000 at the resort. I didn’t even need to open it to know it was the limited-edition Christmas snow globe with the green glitter. I looked up. “Did you have fun with Bella?” Panic flickered in his eyes for a second, followed by a sigh of relief. “So, you know. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to overthink it. Bella is going through a messy divorce. She’s depressed. I just took her there to clear her mind. It meant nothing.” “Okay,” I nodded, my eyes returning to the spreadsheet. He stared at me, brows furrowing. “Are you mad? Over this?” His tone shifted to impatience. “Chloe, drop it. I just got back. I’m exhausted.” He turned and went into the bathroom to shower. His phone, left on the coffee table, lit up. A message from Bella. [Julian, is Chloe mad? Should I explain it to her?] [I’m scared she’ll be even angrier if she sees me.] It was the first time I saw the contact name he had for her: Little Fragile One. Unlike mine. In Julian’s phone, I was permanent and static: Chloe Yu. Full legal name. 2 I picked up his phone and replied to Bella. [No need to explain. An apology will do.] [Cash transfers show the most sincerity.] I sent it as a voice memo. Bella didn’t reply for a long time. She didn’t send any money, either. When Julian came out of the shower, he checked his phone. Then he glanced at me. Just then, Bella finally replied. She sounded cautious and timid. [Chloe? Why are you replying? Are you guys fighting because of me? Please… don’t fight. It was my fault for asking Julian to keep me company…] Julian listened to her message, then clicked on mine. “No need to explain. An apology will do. Cash transfers show the most sincerity.” He listened to it twice. His face darkened completely. “Chloe, is money the only thing you care about?” “What else should I care about? You?” I looked at him, genuinely surprised. I opened the green box he gave me, tracing the cheap green roof of the snow globe. “Should I care about the free gift you got for spending money on another woman?” Julian froze. His anger stalled, replaced by awkwardness. “The flight was tight… I didn’t have time to shop. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.” “Okay,” I nodded. “Cash is fine too.” “Chloe!” His voice rose. I looked at him, perplexed. I didn’t understand where his sudden indignation was coming from. We stared at each other for a long moment. Finally, Julian gritted his teeth. “You’re unbelievable.” He stormed into the guest bedroom and slammed the door. Psycho. 3 Early the next morning. I was packing a bag for a business trip. Julian opened the guest room door, his face instantly sour. “Chloe, what are you doing? Running away from home first thing in the morning? Are we doing this?” I frowned. “I have a business trip.” Julian’s expression softened slightly, but he stayed silent. He turned and went to brush his teeth. By the time he was ready, I was dressed in my suit. “Let’s go.” He blinked. “Where?” “To your office. I need to pick up the bid documents.” He finally remembered. The original plan was for us to go skiing because I had a bid meeting for the Snow Village development project in Aspen. Halfway there, Julian signaled to turn left. The car’s display screen lit up. Incoming call: Little Fragile One. He glanced at me instinctively. “Inconvenient to answer?” I asked, not looking up from my tablet. “Don’t be passive-aggressive,” he snapped. He answered via Bluetooth. A woman’s voice, bright and cheery, filled the cabin. “Julian, where are you? I’ve done my makeup and I’m waiting!” Julian cleared his throat. “You should call a heavy Uber. It’s not convenient for me right now.” Her voice paused, then turned frantic. “Julian, what’s wrong? Did something happen?” In the car, the atmosphere solidified. I chuckled softly. “Yeah, something happened. His wife is sitting in the passenger seat.” Dead silence on the other end. Then, Bella’s panicked voice. “Chloe? Oh god, I’m sorry to cause trouble, I really didn’t mean anything by it, don’t misunderstand…” “Enough.” Julian interrupted her, frowning. He paused, then his voice softened. “Just call a car. Go to the office first.” He hung up. At the red light, he glanced at me, hesitating before explaining. “Bella lives in a remote area now. It’s hard to get a cab.” I laughed. “Do you want a gold star for being so considerate?” Julian’s face shut down. He didn’t say another word. 4 I was printing the bid documents in Julian’s office. While I was drinking tea, the office door burst open. Bella stood there, eyes red-rimmed. “Julian, I still couldn’t get a car…” She looked at him with wet, puppy-dog eyes, hesitating. “Did Chloe throw a tantrum today? Can you… can you still come pick me up?” She looked down, dejected. “And… can I still work at your company?” I was sitting on the sofa with my back to the door. I set my teacup down on the saucer with a crisp clink. “Good tea,” I said aloud. Bella’s face went pale instantly. She looked at Julian for help. “Chloe.” Julian’s voice was low, warning. “That’s enough.” He called his secretary right in front of me to settle Bella in. Then he locked the door and rubbed his temples. “Stop treating her like an enemy. She’s divorcing, unemployed, and homeless. I’m just looking out for her.” I laughed out loud. “Just looking out for her?” “Familiar enough to barge into your office without knocking? Are your security guards and secretaries dead? Do they just let strangers waltz in?” Julian’s face twitched. “Save it, Julian. It’s disgusting.” I sneered, grabbed my documents, and walked out. Bella was standing by the secretary’s desk. Our eyes met. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly. It was a look only another woman would understand. It said: Look, I’m stealing your man. I stopped walking and raised my voice. “Miss Yao, what are you smiling at? Are you proud of yourself?” Her expression shifted to panic in a split second. Julian pulled the office door open behind me. Bella nervously tugged at the hem of her shirt. “I… I wasn’t smiling…”

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The day of my wedding, I made a last-minute decision: I was choosing a new bride. It was all because my fiancée, Rina Aniston’s, childhood sweetheart had been diagnosed with cancer. His one dying wish was to marry her. Five years later, I returned to the country for Old Man Aniston’s eightieth birthday. During the banquet, I twisted my ankle. Rina immediately knelt to inspect the injury. The sight sent whispers rippling through the crowd, dredging up the old scandal. “What is she doing? Wasn’t she the one who ruined their wedding by flashing a marriage certificate with another man, demanding they postpone for a year?” “That’s right. I remember Matt Cross set their wedding portrait on fire right there, tore off his tuxedo, and left the country. It was an absolute mess.” But now, back in this city, Old Man Aniston grasped my hand. “You’re the only son-in-law I’ve ever wanted,” he said. “Rina has never forgotten you all these years.” He leaned in closer. “She said if you’re willing, she’ll divorce him and marry you right now. She’ll give you a wedding grander than anything you could have imagined back then.” Too bad for them. My kid’s already old enough to talk back to me. 1. “So, Matt, what do you think?” Old Man Aniston sat at the head of the table, dressed in a custom-tailored suit. His expression was benevolent, but it couldn’t hide the calculating glint in his eyes. A sudden hush fell over the room. All eyes turned to our table, hungry for the drama about to unfold. I took a slow sip of wine, my gaze lowered to hide the cold indifference in my eyes. For Rina to do what she did on our wedding day, and now to talk about marrying me again… the audacity was breathtaking. But her grandfather was an elder, and it was his birthday. I had no desire to make a scene. When I looked up, my smile was a mask of polite distance. “I appreciate the thought, Mr. Aniston, but I’m afraid I’m not so fortunate. I could never be worthy of someone like Miss Aniston.” The ballroom erupted in a cacophony of murmurs. “Did Matt Cross just refuse her? I thought he would marry no one but Rina Aniston!” “Twenty years of their lives tied together by an engagement, and he’s just letting her go?” It was true. Rina and I had been engaged since we were children, a twenty-year story of two kids growing up side-by-side. I’d started calling her my “wife” when I was three. I spent more time with her than with my own parents. I’d give her my only piece of candy. I’d save up my allowance to buy her pretty dresses. I was the one who, blushing furiously, bought her first box of tampons when she got her period. The year my love for her burned brightest, I drove across half of Seacrest City at two in the morning, all because she’d whispered that she was craving a cupcake. She used to say I was her husband, and spoiling her was my sacred duty. And I treated it like my mission in life. Back then, I believed love was a lifetime promise. No matter how ruthless I was in the boardroom, with her, I was always the gentle, attentive husband who put her first. Until one week before the wedding, when Liam Vance came back. He was the son of Rina’s beloved mentor. He’d been abroad for years and only rushed home when he heard she was getting married. At first, out of respect for his late father, both Rina and I were nothing but courteous to him. But then, slowly, she started caring more and more about Liam’s affairs. She even started canceling our dates to spend time with him. The day we were supposed to shoot our engagement photos, I waited an hour for her. I called her a dozen times, only to get a curt, one-word text: “Busy.” Minutes later, I saw it on her Instagram: a photo of her and Liam, smiling together. When I opened the comments, my blood ran cold. Her friends were calling him “brother-in-law.” They were joking and laughing as if they were the ones about to be married. I couldn’t take it anymore. I video-called her. But it wasn’t Rina who answered. It was Liam. Through the blurry screen, I saw with dawning horror that they were in a bridal shop. And Rina was wearing a magnificent wedding gown. My voice turned to ice. “What the hell are you two doing?” Rina finally looked up from the dress, startled. There wasn’t a trace of guilt on her face, only a flicker of annoyance. “Didn’t I tell you I was busy?” “Your ‘busy’ is trying on wedding dresses with Liam?” The question came out laced with a pain I couldn’t hide. For all my strength and resolve, the sight of them shattered something inside me. Her expression stiffened for a second, and she avoided my gaze. “You’re so controlling, Matt,” she muttered. “You never even let me explain.” “Liam was bored all alone at home, so I brought him with me to help pick out my dress. I just wanted it to be a surprise for you.” For a moment, I was lost. Her excuse was flimsy, pathetic even, but a seed of doubt took root in my mind. Was I really that overbearing? Others had said it before, but as the heir to the Cross family and CEO of our corporation, I’d never felt the need to apologize for who I was. But this was Rina. Her words cut deep. Maybe she saw the uncertainty on my face, because a flicker of sympathy crossed her features. She softened her tone, trying to soothe me. “Matt, I’m sorry. That was my fault. I shouldn’t have said that.” “I’m just… not feeling well.” My hand clenched into a fist. “Rina, does being with me make you… uncomfortable?” She offered a reassuring smile and apologized again. “I misspoke. Please don’t be angry with me, Matt. Please?” Seeing her gentle, patient demeanor, just like always, my heart began to settle. The old confidence returned to my voice. “If you ever dare to do anything to betray me,” I warned, my tone sharp, “I swear I will not let you off easy.” “Hmph. Trying to do something nice and I get threatened for it. Someone’s a real tyrant, isn’t he?” Her playful jab made my face flush with irritation. I shot her a look that could have cut glass. Before she could say more, the phone suddenly jolted, followed by a loud bang from the other end. A panicked voice stammered, “I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry, I didn’t mean it! Mr. Cross, please don’t be angry. It was my fault, I insisted on coming with her. Please don’t blame Rina…” 2. The screen went black. I stared at it, momentarily stunned. Was I really that terrifying? I’d scared Liam so badly he’d dropped the phone. The phone must have landed some distance away, because I could faintly hear Rina’s voice, soft and low as she comforted him. It was a tone gentler than any she’d ever used with me. The next time I visited the Aniston family, Rina’s mother greeted me with a look of disapproval. “Liam is young,” she said coolly. “If he does something wrong, you should be more accommodating. Don’t hold it against him.” Rina quickly chimed in. “Matt, Liam is my mentor’s son. Now that she’s gone, he’s all alone in the world. It’s our duty to take care of him.” That strange, unsettling feeling washed over me again. But Rina’s tone was so earnest, and Liam’s position was… delicate. I nodded. A smile lit up her face. She reached out and smoothed a wrinkle on my suit jacket. “I was wrong about you. The great Matt Cross isn’t so unreasonable after all!” Her playful intimacy quieted the unease in my gut. I handed her a thick folder containing stock certificates and property deeds. I didn’t know what other fiancés gave as pre-wedding gifts, but for me, my company, my shares, my assets—they were the most important things I had. And I wanted to share them with the person I loved most. Her eyes gleamed with excitement. She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. “Matt Cross, I love you!” Her sudden affection made me blush. “I love you, too,” I mumbled back. But I didn’t know then that her love was a firework—dazzling, brief, and never meant for just one person. While I was drowning in wedding preparations, her affection began to drift, to tilt in another direction. Her social media became a gallery of her and Liam. April 16th, morning: they were feeding pigeons in Central Square. April 17th, evening: they were releasing flower lanterns under the old Phoenix Bridge. … Soon, the rumors started. Whispers that Rina had fallen for Liam, that she was going to call off our engagement. Uneasy, I went to confront her about it. Before I even stepped through the door, I heard Liam’s apologetic voice. “I’m so sorry, Rina. I was just in a bad mood and wanted you to keep me company. I never thought it would start rumors like this.” His voice was choked with guilt and self-reproach. When he saw my grim expression, his eyes reddened with fear. I had no choice but to let it go. We were getting married in a few days. The rumors would die on their own. But the day before the wedding, I received a text from Liam. “Mr. Cross, I bet you don’t know. Rina has already decided to marry me. I’m her lawful husband now.” “A domineering, unreasonable man like you? No woman could ever truly love you.” At the same time, he posted a photo of himself and Rina in a hotel room. The caption read: Looks like the childhood sweetheart couldn’t compete. We found our way back to each other in the end. 3. In the photo, her skin was pale against the rumpled sheets, her hair a mess, her body sinking into the soft bed like a perfectly carved Greek statue, igniting the darkest corners of the imagination. I fought down the rising tide of nausea and dialed her number. She answered quickly, her voice slightly hoarse. “Matt, what’s wrong?” I sent her screenshots of the post and the text messages. Then I waited, the silence on the line stretching into an eternity. The phone’s microphone was sensitive. I heard her breath catch. A long, heavy silence followed. Finally, she spoke. “Matt, those pictures are fake. Don’t you trust me?” Her voice dropped. “…Besides, Liam is so kind. He would never say things like that. Matt, are you sure you’re not mistaken?” My heart plummeted. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Twenty years of history, the ironclad proof in the screenshots, and her first instinct was to defend him. Was it that she didn’t believe me, or was she desperately trying to hide something? The anxiety I’d been feeling crested into a tidal wave. Something was terribly wrong. Before I could process it, a warm body pressed against my back. It was Rina. She’d rushed over. She wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight, and leaned in to kiss me. “Matt, please believe me. I love you so much. I would never let you get hurt.” Her voice was a desperate whisper. “We’re getting married tomorrow. Please, don’t overthink this.” “As for Liam… he’s my mentor’s son, and now that he’s… I just feel obligated to look after him. You can understand that, can’t you?” She buried her face in my neck, showing a rare vulnerability, like a cat seeking a safe harbor. I stroked her back, my mind a warzone of conflicting emotions. Finally, I gave in. “As long as you haven’t betrayed me,” I promised softly, “I will always trust you. And I will always love you.” Her body went rigid. She didn’t reply as she always had. She just stayed silent, hidden against my neck. I never got her answer that day. I went home alone, my heart filled with a gnawing dread. The next morning, I arrived early to pick up my bride. I waited in the limousine at the foot of her building for what felt like an eternity, but Rina never appeared. My calls went straight to voicemail. My messages went unanswered. Every unanswered ring, every unread text, screamed that my worst fears were coming true. But how could they? This was Rina, my childhood best friend, the love of my life for twenty years. Clinging to a final, desperate sliver of hope, I went up to her apartment. The scene that greeted me was a nightmare. Rina, in her wedding dress, standing next to Liam. She couldn’t meet my eyes. “Matt,” she mumbled, her voice cracking, “can we… postpone the wedding? Just for a year?” Before the words had even settled, Liam began to sob dramatically. “Mr. Cross, I don’t have much time left. Marrying Rina is my only dream. Please, just grant me this one wish!” I stared at the grotesque tableau before me, tears streaming silently down my face. “Rina,” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, “are you really going to marry him?” Her head bowed lower, her voice trembling uncontrollably. “Matt, just give me one year. After a year, I swear I’ll give you a wedding even grander than this one.” It was the height of summer, but a chill colder than any winter seized me. “Growing up together, inseparable… does none of that mean anything to you anymore? The promises, the vows of love… was it all just a lie?” My questions weren’t an attack. They were a eulogy, delivered with a dead, hollow finality. Her silence was its own answer. I closed my eyes, ready to turn and walk away. But as I did, Liam grabbed my sleeve. “Mr. Cross, this is all my fault. Please don’t blame Rina.” I shot him a venomous glare. Before I could speak, Rina jumped to his defense. “Matt, don’t you dare touch him.” In a blind rage, I ripped my arm away from Liam. He cried out, and something fluttered from his sleeve, landing on the floor. I instinctively glanced down. The sight of the bright red marriage certificate burned my eyes. On it was a smiling photo of Rina and Liam. The room fell silent for a heartbeat before erupting into a roar of shock and gossip that nearly tore the roof off. “She’s already married to him? She’s dragging the Cross family’s name through the mud!” “I heard Matt gave her a huge portion of his company shares. He’s lost everything—the woman and the money.” My mind went blank. My hand moved faster than my thoughts. The sharp crack of my palm against her cheek echoed in the stunned silence. “You bitch, Rina.” The crowd’s chatter grew louder. All eyes were on Rina, waiting for her reaction. But she remained silent. She simply pulled Liam into her arms, shielding him, and walked away without a single backward glance. As they turned, I saw it clearly: a triumphant smirk on Liam’s face. I had never been so humiliated in my entire life. Fury consumed me, a wildfire burning away all reason. On the spot, I ordered my men to tear down the wedding decorations. I ripped off my tuxedo. And in front of everyone, I declared that from that day forward, the Cross and Aniston families were severing all business ties. For the next five years, I stayed abroad. I never once returned to the city that had broken my heart. My mind snapped back to the present. I realized with a strange sense of detachment that the all-consuming love and hate of the past had faded into a distant, muted ache. “Matt, what happened back then was Rina’s fault,” Old Man Aniston was saying, his voice earnest. “But you were childhood sweethearts, after all. A bond like that doesn’t just disappear. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.”

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When my new neighbor, a heavily pregnant woman named Tammy, found out I was the Head of Obstetrics at the local hospital, my life turned into a nightmare. “Dr. Lin! Open up! I feel weird down there, you need to check me!” “Are you dead in there? I’m carrying a miracle baby! If anything happens to him, you can’t afford the damages!” At 3 AM, my door was being pounded so hard I thought it would break. This was the sixteenth time this month. At first, I thought she was actually in trouble. I did a thorough checkup. Turns out, she just ate too much takeout. She was healthier than I was. But she took my kindness as a lifetime subscription to a free 24/7 private doctor. Every night, she demanded I check the fetal heartbeat. I had to work during the day and wasn’t sleeping at night. I almost fainted during surgery twice. I started refusing her. But she wouldn’t stop. Every night, like clockwork, the banging started. The other neighbors were furious. Just when I was at my wit’s end, I saw a post in a local rental group: “Looking for an apartment. Severe insomnia, chemically imbalanced, just beat up my last neighbor. Need a new place immediately.” My eyes lit up. I messaged him instantly. 1 He replied fast. We agreed on the rent, and he said he’d move in next month. I exhaled a long breath. Finally, someone who could handle this neighbor. Seeing no movement from my apartment, Tammy escalated. She screamed at the top of her lungs: “Dr. Lin! Are you trying to murder me and my baby?” “They say doctors are healers, but you’re heartless! You don’t deserve your license!” “I command you to come out and check me right now, or I’m calling the police and reporting you for malpractice!” Her screeching woke up half the building. The neighborhood group chat started pinging like crazy. “Again? Seriously? It’s 3 AM!” “301 and 302, whatever beef you have, take it offline. People are trying to sleep.” “Pregnant lady in 302, have some decency. My kid has SATs coming up. Shut up!” Tammy saw the message notification and immediately pivoted her rage to the hallway. “Your kid is stupid anyway! Can’t even stay up late to study? He’s probably going to community college.” “My baby is a one-in-a-million genius! The psychic said he’s destined to be a Senator!” “If anything happens to him, all your worthless lives couldn’t pay for it!” The parent was furious and tagged the building management. “Are you guys going to do anything? We pay HOA fees to get abused?” The property manager, sounding exhausted, called me. “Ms. Lin, can you please talk to Ms. Tammy? Ask her to stop screaming at night. We’ve tried, but she just throws a tantrum.” I wanted to talk, but does Tammy look like she speaks human? “You guys better come up. I can’t communicate with her either.” I rubbed my temples, a headache splitting my skull. Two days ago, I opened the door and told Tammy to go to the hospital for a checkup and stop harassing me. She barged into my apartment, yelling righteously: “Easy for you to say! Do you know how much a copay is?” “A checkup costs as much as my grocery budget! I’m not rich like you!” “My husband works construction out of state, every dollar is blood money!” She marched to my medical cabinet, grabbed my fetal doppler, and shoved it into my hand. She forced me to check the heartbeat. Then she raided my pantry and took a bunch of expensive prenatal supplements. 2 I wanted to snatch them back, but she was wielding that belly like a weapon. If we scuffled and she “fell,” I’d be sued into oblivion. Thinking about that, and hearing the BANG BANG BANG on my door, I wanted to rush out and slap her. I clenched my fists and breathed. Calm down. End of the month. The insomniac moves in. Let’s see how arrogant Tammy is then. Security arrived. I opened the door to find Tammy hands on hips, screaming at the poor guard. “I’m here to see the doctor! None of your business!” “Get lost! If you stress out my genius baby, can you afford it?” The property manager looked at me pleadingly. “Dr. Lin, maybe just… check her one more time? If this keeps up, no one sleeps tonight.” Tammy smirked triumphantly. “Dr. Lin, letting you check my son is an honor. I don’t let just anyone touch my belly.” I took a deep breath and put on my professional face. “I’m sorry, but I am not your private physician. I have no obligation to give you daily checkups.” “There is an Urgent Care two blocks away. If you feel unwell, go there.” Tammy’s eyebrows shot up. She pointed a finger in my face. “You’re the Head of OB/GYN! Why should I pay to go to a hospital?” “You doctors are all black-hearted! Won’t even lift a finger to help, just want to scam people out of money!” “I know! You get a kickback from the Urgent Care for referring patients, don’t you?!” “If you don’t check me right now, I’ll post about you online! I’ll ruin your career!” I had tolerated her for too long. Today, I snapped. “Ms. Tammy, let me be clear: I will never check you again.” “I have a Ring camera. Your slander is recorded. Go ahead and post it online. Let’s see who goes to jail!” I’m usually gentle, so my outburst stunned her. After a pause, she gritted her teeth. “Fine! Don’t check me.” “I have three months left. A checkup every two days… that’s expensive. Give me $10,000 for medical fees, and I won’t bother you.” The manager’s jaw dropped. I gasped, breathless with rage. “It’s not my baby! Why should I pay for it?” Tammy looked me dead in the eye. “You make six figures a month! My husband breaks his back for pennies! What’s $10,000 to you?” “Doctors are supposed to be angels! If you won’t help, pay up!” I have never met anyone so logically bankrupt in my life. The manager tried to intervene. “Ms. Tammy, Ms. Lin is just a neighbor…” “Shut up!” Tammy screeched. “She’s a doctor! It’s her job!” “Why are you defending her? Are you two sleeping together?” The manager’s face went black. “I’m married! Watch your mouth!” 3 Tammy rolled her eyes. “So what? Look at how slutty she dresses. She’s definitely seducing men.” “Probably hooked up with half the married men in the building.” “Thank god my husband is out of state. I wouldn’t feel safe living next to her.” I wear scrubs all day. Off the clock, I wear T-shirts and jeans. How is that slutty? I forced myself to stay calm, but my heart was pounding. “Ms. Tammy, slander is actionable. Say one more word, and I’ll see you in court!” Tammy snorted. “Whether it’s true or not, you know. You never open the door for me. Probably hiding a man inside.” “Look decent, act like a whore!” She kept going. I pulled out my phone and dialed 911. Seeing me actually call the police, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. But then she touched her belly, and the arrogance returned. The cops arrived in twenty minutes. Before I could speak, Tammy started wailing. “Officer! Help me!” “This doctor is bullying a pregnant woman! My stomach hurts so bad, I’m dying, and she refuses to help! It’s attempted murder!” The officers frowned and looked at me. “What’s going on here?” I didn’t argue. I just played the Ring footage. “I am a doctor, but I am not on call 24/7 for my neighbors. She pounds on my door every night and verbally abuses me. I want to press charges.” The cops watched the video, faces hardening. The lead officer turned to Tammy sternly. “Ma’am, your behavior constitutes harassment and disturbing the peace. Please come with us to the station.” Tammy didn’t expect this. She screamed, “Why arrest me?! She’s the one letting me die! Arrest her!” An officer reached for handcuffs. Tammy threw herself on the ground, clutching her belly. “Help! Police brutality! They’re killing my baby!” She was a rolling roadblock of a human being. The pregnancy made her untouchable. The officer looked at me helplessly. “Ms. Lin, she’s pregnant. We can’t force her.” “How about this: we’ll give her a formal warning. If it happens again, we’ll escalate.” I knew their hands were tied. I nodded. After that, Tammy was quiet for a few days. I finally got some sleep. Just when I thought it was over, I came home from work to find my window open. The security screen had been ripped off. I thought I’d been robbed. I rushed in, only to find Tammy sitting on my sofa, eating a durian. 4 She glanced at me, disgusted. “This durian isn’t ripe. Tastes like crap. Buy a better one next time.” I was stunned. “What are you doing in my house?” Tammy replied matter-of-factly: “I ran out of vitamins. You weren’t home, so I had to come in through the window.” I was shaking with rage. “This is breaking and entering!” “And what does your lack of vitamins have to do with me? Why steal mine?” Tammy rolled her eyes. “So stingy. How much does this cost?” “If my son is born with a deficiency because of you, can you afford it?” The vitamins were high-end imports I bought for my sister who was trying to conceive. Hundreds of dollars a box. I didn’t care before, but these were hard to get. I couldn’t let her have them. I walked over to snatch them back. She clutched them to her chest and screamed. “What are you doing?!” “I didn’t charge you for the checkups, and you won’t even give me some vitamins? You are so cheap!” She was screaming like a banshee. I couldn’t get close without risking a lawsuit. I called the police again. The cops looked exhausted seeing Tammy again. But this time, breaking and entering plus theft was enough to drag her to the station for a statement. It didn’t help. She left the station and immediately went online. She wrote a post full of lies. Title: [Elite Hospital Director Lin Refuses to Treat Dying Pregnant Woman, Colludes with Police to Bully Her] The post went viral. The hospital leadership called me, demanding I fix it immediately. I explained everything to the Dean. Then, forcing down my anger, I knocked on Tammy’s door. She took forever to open it. Seeing me, she smirked. “What? Ready to give me a checkup?” “Finally learned your lesson, bitch?” I shoved my phone in her face. “Did you write this?” Tammy grinned. “Yeah. That’s what you get for calling the cops!” I dug my nails into my palms. “Delete it. Now.” She scoffed. “Make me. It’s all true. Sue me!” “Even if you sue me, they won’t arrest me. Let’s see who loses more!” With trash like this, logic doesn’t work. I gave her a cold look and went home. I waited three more days. Finally, the day the new tenant was moving in arrived. I called movers and quietly packed up and left. I hired a lawyer to handle the online defamation and focused on work. A week later, my upstairs neighbor added me on WeChat frantically. “Dr. Lin! Huge news! The pregnant lady in 302 hung a banner at the gate accusing you of murder!”

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I was resting in the lounge when a girl burst in. She apologized, her face flushed red. But I could hear her thoughts: [Oh no, I think I’m in the wrong place.] [But this is all my sister’s fault for trying to bully me. I was in such a hurry.] [I heard no one is allowed in Mr. Landon’s private lounge.] [Oh god, what do I do? I’m so scared.] What she didn’t know was that I’d had a dream. In that dream, I followed her inner monologue, pitied her, took care of her, and ended up on a path to ruin. My company went bankrupt, my family died tragically, and in the end, she kicked me to the curb while debt collectors sold my organs. It was only after I died that I learned the truth: she could choose who heard her thoughts. It was with this trick that she, a fake heiress, became the head of the Warren family. Now, looking at the blushing, doe-eyed girl before me, I smiled. “Who are you? How did you get in here?” 1 The girl panicked. Tears welled in her eyes as her face turned crimson. She stammered, but her inner voice was working overtime. [Oh no, I really didn’t know this was Mr. Landon’s private lounge!] [If my sister hadn’t set me up, I wouldn’t have gotten lost.] [What am I going to do? If I get my family in trouble, I’d rather just die.] [Oh, Buttons, Patches, I’m so scared.] She was certainly interesting. If I hadn’t had that dream, I probably would have fallen for it, just like before—thinking I’d discovered some fascinating secret and becoming intrigued by her. And then, I would have walked step by step down that same path to destruction. After waking from the dream, I had her investigated. Her name is Chloe Warren. On the surface, she’s the youngest daughter of the Warren family, but in reality, she’s an adopted fake. She was taken in after the Warrens’ real daughter went missing. At first, she was just meant to comfort the elderly Mrs. Warren, but somehow, she won the hearts of the entire family and was showered with affection. In contrast, the real heiress, whom the Warrens found a few years ago, wasn’t so lucky. Within a few short years, she had gained a reputation throughout their social circle as being crass, tacky, and an ugly duckling. Even the Warrens treated her with disdain. I’d heard the Warrens never gave up searching for their biological daughter, only to treat her like this after finding her. I had my suspicions, but no way to prove them. I came here today, to my private art studio, to see if Chloe would show up. And just like in my dream, she did. Only this time, I made a different choice. I was curious to see how her story would end now. 2 I watched her with a smile. “Take her to the dean’s office. Ask him how he’s managing his students that anyone can just barge in here. Weren’t all new students supposed to be informed about this room?” Chloe’s expression froze for a second. [How could this happen?] [This isn’t how it’s supposed to go!] She quickly tried to defend herself. “Mr. Landon, I didn’t mean to come in, I just got lost…” My friend, Ryan, spoke up. “Come on, Liam. It’s not a big deal. Just let her go. Otherwise, those scholarship kids will start complaining about you getting special treatment again.” Special treatment? My family donated three of the main buildings on this campus. All I asked for was one room to be my private studio. What was wrong with a little special treatment? I glanced at him. Ryan’s face was sincere, looking as if he had my best interests at heart. But in my dream, he was the one who conspired with Chloe to bring about my downfall. I ignored Ryan and simply motioned for my security to take Chloe to the dean. Chloe’s eyelashes trembled. She stumbled back a few steps, then her body went limp, and she fainted on the floor. And just like that, her inner monologue stopped. I figured if it hadn’t, it would have been filled with curses directed at me. Ryan’s smile stiffened. It was probably the first time I had ever so blatantly ignored him. Seeing Chloe on the floor, he rushed to her side and gathered her into his arms. “Liam, she fainted. I’ll take her to the infirmary.” Without waiting for my reply, he carried her out. Let him. But I wasn’t going to let Chloe off the hook. “Go tell the dean that someone broke into my studio today,” I said to my other friend, Jake. Jake put down his paintbrush and nodded, leaving the room. The Landon family holds a 40% stake in this school. For student safety, there are cameras everywhere, running 24/7. I was confident that within the hour, the school would identify Chloe, and the entire campus would know about her attempt to seduce me. Once they were both gone, I packed up my things, ready to leave. 3 I was intrigued by Chloe’s claim that her sister had set her up. In my dream, not only did I forgive Chloe for trespassing, but I also investigated the matter for her. Sure enough, there were a few thuggish-looking students waiting for Chloe in one of the academic buildings. But the dream was limited; I never found out the full truth of that situation. All I remembered was that everyone believed the real heiress, an aspiring artist named Vera, had hired them to bully Chloe. Because of that, Vera was kicked out of the Warren family, and their fortune fell into Chloe’s hands. Now, I was going to see for myself what those thugs were really up to. Jake returned after speaking with the dean. As we were walking, Ryan caught up to us. “Liam, where are you guys going?” Jake immediately rounded on him. “What was that back there? Are you into that girl or something? Seriously, man, choosing some random girl over your friends?” Ryan had always been the most dedicated of our trio. I’d always preferred him to the more carefree Jake. But I had to admit, Jake was saying what I was thinking. Ryan’s face flushed. “It’s not like that.” My identity meant I had few true friends, so I had always cherished them and never wanted to put them in a difficult position. But now? Heh. “Maybe women are just more important to him,” I said coolly. Ryan looked up at me, startled. I just smiled and strode away. As we reached the bottom of the stairs, a bucket of dirty water came flying toward me. I reacted instantly, pulling Ryan in front of me as a shield. “You little bitch! How dare you mess with the Warren family’s eldest daughter! Don’t you know your place? You— Mr. Landon!” The girl let out a sharp cry. The group of students behind her stared at me in terror. A foul stench rose from Ryan. I quickly stepped back, putting a good ten feet between us. “What’s the matter?” I said with a grin. “Tired of living?” The girl trembled. “Mr. Landon, I’m so sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose.” “I was trying to throw it on Chloe.” I sneered. “So this is what the school teaches you? Bullying?” “Mr. Landon, it’s not like that! Chloe told us to throw it on her! We’re good students, we’d never bully anyone.” She gave me a fawning smile. “We really didn’t know it was you. We heard footsteps and thought it was Chloe. She’s the one who told us to do this.” “She told us to frame Vera, to say that Vera was the one who told us to bully her.” “Oh? And did I tell you to do that?” She spun around in shock, stammering, “Vera? Y-you… how did you get here?” Behind her, a crowd had gathered, and among them was the very Vera she had just mentioned. Everyone was looking at the girl with the bucket in disgust. “Was it me who told you to bully Chloe?” Vera asked, her expression serious. This Vera was nothing like the crass, tacky girl from the rumors. In fact, she was the complete opposite. To me, Vera was not only strikingly beautiful, in a way that was a world away from Chloe’s wilting-flower act, but more importantly, she carried herself with an elegance that surpassed even Chloe, who had been raised in the Warren household for fifteen years. Interesting. The girl was shaking, her eyes wide with panic. Hearing my question, she had no choice but to confess. “It was all my fault,” she whimpered. “My father works for the Warren Corporation. Chloe contacted me and told me to throw dirty water on her, and then to say Vera put me up to it.” “She said if I didn’t agree, she’d tell Mr. Warren I was bullying her at school and get my dad fired.” “I know the Warrens dote on Chloe the most. I had no choice! My dad can’t lose his job.” The crowd erupted in murmurs. Those who knew Vera looked at her with sympathy. I turned my curious gaze to Vera. “Miss Warren, it seems someone is trying to frame you.” Vera looked thoughtful. “Thank you for your help, Mr. Landon.” “What do you plan to do?” Vera glanced at the trembling students. “Forget it,” she said. “They were forced into it.” The three of them sighed in relief. “Thank you, Miss Warren, thank you. We’re so sorry.” Fine. If she wasn’t going to press it, I wouldn’t interfere. A shame about Ryan, though. His face was a mask of utter disbelief. 4 Just then, an announcement echoed across the campus PA system. “Due to a violation of school regulations, student Chloe Warren has been given a major demerit.” For a normal student, that punishment was severe. But Chloe wasn’t normal. She had done it on purpose. The dean was an old fox; he saw right through her little act. Chloe had cried in his office, claiming her innocence, but it was useless. She wasn’t a new student. She had been here for three years, and at every freshman orientation, the dean made a point of sternly warning everyone that my studio was strictly off-limits. The next day, I heard that when Vera went home, her mother had yelled at her and even refused to let her eat dinner. I couldn’t understand it. I was shocked. Jake told me, “I heard Mrs. Warren said it was Vera’s fault for not looking after her sister, which led to Chloe getting a demerit. She also accused Vera of hiring people to ruin her sister’s reputation. That’s why she punished her.” “…” I asked, incredulous, “Is Vera actually her biological daughter?” Or was Chloe really that good at manipulating people? Jake looked pensive. “Something’s not right.” Ryan remained silent, trying to make himself as small as possible. I’d been friends with him for years, and I’d never seen him so subdued. I went home for the weekend. My stepmother was waiting for me. The moment she saw me, she rushed over, her eyes scanning me anxiously. She only relaxed when she saw I was unharmed. “Liam, are you alright?” I was fine. But I was happy to see her. In my dream, even after my family went bankrupt and my father jumped from a building, this woman, who had always seemed so cold, worked desperately to earn money to keep me in this school. In the end, she died in a car accident, and I was sold off. Our rival, the Sterling family, had swallowed our company whole. The first thing they did after the acquisition was marry their heir to Chloe, and they became the internet’s favorite power couple. At that time, Ryan was Chloe’s most devoted and tragic suitor. It was only then that I learned the truth. Ryan had grown up next door to the Warren villa. They were childhood sweethearts. Later, Ryan’s family moved up in the world and relocated. But their childhood bond was apparently unbreakable. And I, in my naivety, had believed our friendship could never be broken by a woman. I had never once suspected him. I was such a fool. For the first time, I smiled at my stepmother. “I’m fine.” Her eyes widened slightly. Ever since I was a child, I had blamed her for breaking up my parents’ marriage. Even when my father told me he and my mother had fallen out of love long ago, I refused to believe him. So I had always antagonized my stepmother. No matter how kind she was to me, I resented her. “What’s the deal with that Miss Warren, barging into your studio like that?” she fumed. “And that dean is useless. I’ll have him replaced.” “It’s nothing,” I reassured her. “She can’t hurt me. I’m a grown man, am I supposed to be afraid of a little girl?” “Mom,” I added, “I’d like some salt and pepper lobster for dinner.” My stepmother froze, patting her ears as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. I felt awkward myself, so I quickly made my escape. 5 My old man was working in his study. When he saw me peeking in, he grumbled, “Get in here.” “You got it!” I hurried inside. My father and stepmother never planned on having more children. I knew this was something my dad had settled with her before they married. Though he had divorced my mother, he truly loved me. The thought of him in my past life, driven to jump from a rooftop because of my failures, made my eyes well up. My dad panicked. “What are you crying for? Are you still upset about that little incident yesterday?” I blinked back the tears and rolled my eyes. “Crying? Who’s crying? You’re nearsighted, can you even see clearly from that far away?” My dad scratched his head. “I must have seen wrong.” “Dad,” I said, “why would the Warrens punish Vera for something Chloe did?” He went back to his documents. “Why are you so concerned with their family’s business?” “But Vera got in trouble because of me. And besides, aren’t you planning on partnering with the Warrens? Look at them, they can’t even tell right from wrong. Are they really good business partners?” My dad nodded. “That’s a good point. If some scandal breaks out, our collaboration would definitely be affected. I’ll reconsider.” That night, the Warrens received news that our family was delaying the partnership. I heard that when Mr. Warren found out it was because of yesterday’s events, he gave his wife and Chloe a severe scolding. I told Jake about it. He burst out laughing. “Your dad is awesome! The Warrens are something else. Everyone knows what Chloe is up to. If her tricks actually worked, you’d have to be like an ancient emperor with a harem of three thousand.” He winked at me. I shot him a look. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Jake stifled a laugh. In my dream, after my family went bankrupt, Jake was the one who helped me. In the end, he was framed and sent to prison. How could Ryan have done that? I sneered. “Tonight, I’m going to teach Chloe a lesson for trying to set me up.” Jake immediately dropped his hand. “Liam, we can’t do anything illegal.” I nodded and whispered in his ear, “Don’t worry. There’s a good show tonight.” Jake’s curiosity was piqued. “What show?” “You’ll see tonight.” Jake pouted. “Seriously? Keeping secrets from me now?” In the mirror’s reflection, I saw Ryan’s face freeze. 6 He quickly composed himself, packed his things, and made an excuse to leave. Not long after, I received a message: Ryan was meeting with someone. He had just wasted the last chance I was going to give him. When I arrived, Ryan was being cornered by my men. He looked defeated. “Liam,” he said, “I swear I just said a few things, nothing out of line. We’ve known each other for seven years! You know me better than anyone!” Seven years. A long time. But the facts were right in front of me. I looked him straight in the eye. “Why are you so flustered? Have I said anything?” “Are you so desperate because you’re afraid I won’t believe you? Or are you afraid I’ll hurt your precious sweetheart?” Ryan was speechless. He probably realized I knew more than he thought. He stopped trying to make excuses. “Liam…” Jake was so angry he punched him. “Are you crazy? Betraying Liam for a woman? Do you have any idea how much Liam helped your family’s business get to where it is today? Is this how you repay him?” He then turned to me, his expression pained. “Liam, give him another chance! He’s just an idiot. He’s never been with a woman before. He got played and thought it was true love.” This is what a real friend would do. In my dream, the story ended after the Sterling heir, Kade, married Chloe. Ryan thought Chloe truly loved him, but in the end, she didn’t choose him either. He betrayed me and Jake for a love that was never his. But I was willing to do Jake a favor. “Fine. For Jake’s sake. Since you like Chloe so much you’d betray me for her, I’ll just wait and see how far you two get.” Ryan breathed a sigh of relief. “Liam, I’ll never forget how good you’ve been to me all these years. But I really do love Chloe.” Forget it. You couldn’t remember seven years of friendship. You think you’ll remember a woman? Don’t make me laugh. It would be a miracle if he ever managed to marry Chloe. I turned to leave. He raised his voice behind me, pleading. “Liam, whether you believe me or not, I never wanted to hurt you. I know Chloe likes you, and I thought if you two got together, I could at least see her every day. That was my only selfish motive, nothing more.” Wow. He had a bit of a cuckold fantasy going on there. Too bad I didn’t like Chloe. What good would setting us up do? Oh, right. In my past life, I actually did fall for her. God, I was so stupid. That night, I didn’t sleep well. I had another dream. In the dream, Kade Sterling and Chloe were in a car. Kade was complaining coldly that all Chloe did was cry and was completely useless. Chloe retorted angrily, “She obviously looks down on me! No matter how much I try to please her, it’s never enough.” Suddenly, another car sped toward them and crashed into their vehicle. Chloe, bleeding, looked at the driver of the other car. It was Ryan. He was manic, tears streaming down his face. “You said you would never hurt Liam! Why did you do it?” I woke from the dream as the sun was rising. I thought about it. Maybe what Ryan said was true. But once you start down a dark path, there’s no stopping. It begins with one small misstep, and before you know it, you’re being dragged into the abyss. And betrayal is betrayal. 7 I bought the penthouse apartment in the building where Chloe lived, right above her unit. I moved in directly above her bedroom. Chloe’s thoughts came through loud and clear. [Damn it! Liam can obviously hear my thoughts, why isn’t he falling for it?] [Was my acting not convincing enough?] [Ugh, Mom fell for it, why can’t he?] [That bastard. One day, I’ll make sure he dies by my hand.] “…” She sure had a big imagination for someone so plain. [Tomorrow is the party where Dad will officially introduce my sister to everyone.] [I’ve already got Mrs. Quinn’s bracelet. All I have to do is slip it into Vera’s bag.] She was always plotting something. The party to formally introduce Vera was an event our family couldn’t miss. Originally, we weren’t planning on going, but now I had to. The Warrens didn’t invite many people, just a dozen or so families, all business partners. I arrived early, afraid I’d miss the good stuff if I was late. As soon as Vera arrived, Chloe went over to her with a beaming smile. I quickly took out my phone and followed them. Chloe was so focused on Vera she didn’t notice me. Vera looked disgusted. “What do you want?” “Sister, let me introduce you to some friends,” Chloe said, linking her arm through Vera’s. Vera tried to pull away, but Chloe held on tight. Not wanting to make a scene, Vera had no choice but to go with her. Chloe led her around the venue, introducing her to a string of second-generation heirs—all minor players and people with less-than-stellar reputations. “Oh dear, where did my bracelet go?” Mrs. Quinn suddenly exclaimed. The soft music in the venue meant her cry was heard by everyone. Chloe immediately let go of Vera and rushed to Mrs. Quinn’s side. “Auntie Quinn, what happened?”

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I used to be a giant panda, the absolute top star of the breeding center. My daily routine was simple: eat, sleep, pose for the cameras, and wait for the aunties to line up just to see me. Then I woke up in the body of a D-list celebrity, only to accidentally charm the entire entertainment industry with my natural clumsiness. Even after skyrocketing to fame, I still preferred cornbread and apple slices. Liam Stone, the A-list heartthrob, couldn’t stand it anymore. “Lily, can’t you eat something better?” Hearing “something better,” my eyes lit up. I blinked excitedly. “Better? Like what?” Liam’s face turned red, and he pointed at himself. Me: “But you don’t look tasty.” Liam: “…” 1 “Oh my god, thank heavens! You’re finally awake!” The moment I opened my eyes, I saw a two-legged creature crying over me. Suicide? I ate well, slept well—why would I commit suicide? It took me a good long while to realize I had transmigrated into the body of an entertainment industry celebrity. A very unpopular, D-list celebrity. “Okay, okay, you’re awake, that’s what matters. Look, we might be unpopular, but it’s not worth dying over.” I nodded. “So hungry. Got any cornbread?” Two-legged creature: “Huh?” My name is Joy. I was a giant panda, the biggest star at the research base. My life was eat, sleep, work the crowd, repeat. I heard the ladies loved me. They’d get up before dawn and wait in huge lines just to watch me zone out. But things were different now. The current me had no gigs, and everyone hated me. I was gnawing on an apple when my agent, Cece, rushed in, grabbing my arm. “Good news! You finally got a show!” She shook me so hard my apple almost flew out of my hands. I quickly shielded it, hugging it to my chest. Cece’s mouth twitched. “Lily, didn’t you use to hate apples?” I gave her a wink, scratched my ear, and giggled. “Anyway, this is a rare opportunity. Do not say anything crazy on the show, okay?” “Okay.” “You’re being so obedient? Also… the show invited Tyler and… Chloe…” Cece said the names carefully. “Okay.” Cece grabbed my shoulders, inspecting me left and right. “Did the sleeping pills damage your brain?” We pandas aren’t dumb. Last night, this Tyler guy sent me a message. “Lily, I’m with Chloe now. We are completely over. Please stop harassing Chloe online. Let’s delete each other.” I was just figuring out how to use a human phone. Seeing “delete,” I happily typed “Okay.” And hit delete. “Tyler, right? Deleted.” Cece looked shocked. “Wow, Lily, you finally grew a spine.” I winked at Cece again. 2 As a panda, I slept whenever and wherever I wanted. But as a celebrity, even without much work, my sleep time was drastically cut. And no more napping on the floor. Early the next morning, while I was still dream-fighting other cubs, Cece dragged me out of bed to travel. I was so sleepy. So I fell asleep on the road. “Lily, wake up! Stop sleeping!” Cece shook me awake. I was bleary-eyed. “What’s wrong?” “I’m worried about you. Let me remind you again, this show is live-streamed 24/7. Watch your words and actions.” “And you’ve been sleeping so much lately. You can’t just sleep there and not work.” “Okay,” I yawned, answering seriously. Cece looked worried seeing me so dazed. She told me this variety show was hard to get. It had run for seven seasons, and almost every celebrity willing to do reality TV had been on it. This was the final season. Because it was live, some stars refused, afraid of getting canceled for a slip-up. Also, the guest list wasn’t announced beforehand, so the live comments might be intense. Psh, live stream? Big deal. Back at the base, ladies watched me all day. Many recorded videos. The more people watching, the more excited I got. Sure enough, before the car even stopped, I heard people screaming by the road. “Liam Stone! I love you!” “Chloe! Chloe!” Our van was high off the ground, and the original owner of this body was petite. I thought about it. No more paw pads to cushion a fall. If I tripped, it would hurt. So I decided to jump down with both feet for stability. Just as I poked my head out, I heard the whispers. “Omg, isn’t that Lily? The D-lister who fought with netizens for three days straight? Why did they invite her?” “Yeah, that’s her. She called me a three-day-old dead fish.” “I heard she tried to force a ship with Tyler after just one drama and stole someone’s boyfriend. So shameless.” Okay, great. Starting with the insults. I hopped down with both feet, feeling the strange looks from the crowd. “Wow, look at her. Even getting out of a car, she’s so dramatic and fake.” I looked at the big bag of freeze-dried apple slices in my arms. I walked up to the loudest hater, pulled out a slice, and asked, “Want one? It’s really good.” Totally ignored me. Their gaze shifted to a black van pulling up slowly. The car stopped, and a tall, thin man in a black cap got out. “Ahhh! Liam Stone!” “Liam is so handsome! Mama loves you!” Weird. Can they tell he’s handsome even with the hat? But I used to hear “Mama loves you” all the time at the base too. Big deal. I have lots of moms who love me too. Same entrance, totally different treatment for me and Liam. Liam walked toward me and politely extended his hand. “Hello, I’m actor Liam Stone.” So polite. I looked down at myself, quickly wiped my apple-dusty hand on my clothes. Then I shook his hand. “Hello, I’m Lily.” Liam looked shocked, the corner of his mouth twitching. 3 “This Lily is such a weirdo. Shaking our Liam’s hand with those dirty paws.” “Right? The audacity. That’s Best Actor Liam Stone.” “But it’s weird, can’t she hear us insulting her? Usually, she’d be calling us toads by now.” While Liam hesitated, two more vans arrived. Judging by the cheers, Tyler and Chloe had arrived. They got out separately but naturally walked together, flashing their signature smiles and waving to fans. “Wow, Chloe and Tyler are such a match. Our Chloe is beautiful.” “Yeah, that homewrecker Lily can’t compare to Chloe.” The scene was chaotic. I stood silently by my luggage, munching on freeze-dried apples. After their greetings, Chloe’s gaze turned to me, standing quietly on the side. “Long time no see,” she said with a fake smile. Her makeup was perfect, her outfit hot. In fifty-degree weather, she was wearing a low-cut mini dress. I looked down at myself. Black and white hoodie, jeans. I looked like a random passerby. I asked Chloe with genuine concern, “Hi there. Aren’t you cold?” “I’m not cold, thanks for asking.” She paused, glanced at the crowd, and answered politely. I thought, this Chloe seems polite enough. Why did Cece describe her like she murdered my whole family? The show I was on was called “Our Simple Life,” a slow-living reality show. The director said the house was about a mile away, and cars couldn’t go in. We had to walk. Chloe looked troubled, clearly unwilling. Tyler, who had been stuck to her side since arrival, spoke up. “Coco, let me carry it for you.” Chloe looked at me smugly and handed her suitcase to Tyler. I reached into my bag of apple chips and crunched loudly. The three of them looked at me like I was an alien. It made me a little shy. “Eat up, need energy, hehe.” Chloe and Tyler looked annoyed. Only Liam stared at me curiously. Did he want my apple chips? My slow brain processed this. I had six or seven bags in my suitcase. I guess I should share later. 4 I dragged my suitcase the whole way. Liam offered to help several times, but I refused. “Your suitcase is heavy. Did you bring a lot of clothes?” Liam asked seriously. He didn’t talk much, but he was polite to me. “No, just a few clothes. It’s mostly snacks,” I answered slowly. Liam looked shocked. “You don’t diet?” I looked down at myself. I could see my feet. Not fat. Why diet? “Nope. I eat six meals a day, sometimes snacks too. If I’m not full, I can’t sleep.” I explained seriously to Liam. Shock flashed in his eyes. The live stream exploded. “So this Lily is a foodie? Kinda cute contrast.” “She must be faking a foodie persona to clean up her image. What celebrity eats six meals?” The show’s two resident hosts were Host Zhou and Host Xue. They were waiting at the gate with two Shiba Inus running circles happily. “Welcome, everyone! Tough journey!” Host Zhou greeted us warmly, and Host Xue took our luggage. Since Chloe and I were the only girls, we had to share a room. Chloe looked displeased. So I spoke up, “If you don’t want to sleep with me, I can sleep anywhere. That swing outside looks comfy.” Chloe’s face turned red. “Stop talking nonsense.” Host Zhou jumped in to smooth things over. “Lily can’t sleep on the swing! Sleep inside, too many bugs out there.” “Oh right, this show is live-streamed, and the guests can hear the live comments through these devices.” He wiped sweat from his forehead. No wonder I thought I heard someone say I was faking a persona. On the way, Cece told me if I didn’t understand anything, ask the teachers. “Host Zhou, what is ‘faking a persona’?” Host Zhou looked at me and wiped more sweat. “Lily, let’s go check out the living room.” He pulled me away. I glanced back at Chloe, who looked at me with disdain. The device on my waist buzzed with a comment: “This Lily is definitely faking a ‘dumb beauty’ persona.”

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At 18, I walked in on my sister, Chloe, lifting Julian’s shirt to touch his abs. He just stood there, shirt loose, letting her do whatever she wanted. At 22, Julian married me because his family told him to. But everyone knew that even with a ring on his finger, he couldn’t let go of his intense love for Chloe. Years later, I asked for a divorce. He was silent for a long time before signing the papers. “If you ever need anything, just ask.” At 28, I returned for Julian and Chloe’s wedding. He glared at the man beside me, his eyes dark. “You were so eager to divorce me back then… was it for him?” 1 “I heard Sarah is back.” “Wait, wasn’t she the one who asked for the divorce?” “Now that Julian is the head of the Sterling Group, I wonder if she regrets it.” “What’s there to regret? She stole her sister’s engagement in the first place. This is just returning the husband to his rightful owner.” … I hadn’t even stepped into the private dining room when I heard my name. For three years, rumors about me hadn’t stopped. They said I was playing hard to get. Even my parents thought so. On the day of the divorce, my mom pulled me aside. “Since you’re divorced, don’t contact him anymore,” she warned. “Your sister hurt her leg; she needs Julian right now. Don’t upset her.” When I looked down, silent, she added, “This marriage was supposed to be your sister’s anyway. If she hadn’t gone abroad to study, you wouldn’t have had a chance.” My sister, Chloe, and Julian Sterling were the golden couple of our circle. Everyone envied them. But on the eve of the wedding, Chloe ran away. The news of the merger-marriage between our families was already out. Facing immense pressure, the Sterling elders decided to swap the bride. Me. I don’t know how they convinced him, but Julian eventually agreed to marry me. For three years, we lived like a normal couple. But everyone knew he never got over Chloe. He never let me into his study. Once, he forgot to close the door. I peeked through the crack and felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave. The walls were covered in wedding photos of him and Chloe. I had never seen Julian look like that. Vibrant, adoring, focused. His eyes were full of her. That was when the thought of divorce first crossed my mind. The day I finally decided to leave, I overheard him on the phone. He was coaxing someone, his voice gentle and soft. “Yeah, don’t be scared. I’ll be there in ten minutes… Don’t walk on it. Wait for me. Be good.” When he turned around, he saw me. “Dinner’s ready,” I said calmly. “Eat before you go.” He paused briefly, then continued walking. “You eat. Don’t wait for me.” Just as he reached the door, I called his name. “What?” Impatience flashed across his face. “Julian,” I said. “Let’s get a divorce.” 2 By the time my parents heard the news, we had already signed the papers. Julian didn’t shortchange me; he gave me half his assets. My parents summoned me home in the middle of the night. They interrogated me like a criminal, demanding to know why I was so cruel as to take half of Julian’s money. “Sarah, how did I raise you? Did you marry Julian just for his money?” Chloe stood to the side, leaning on crutches, wiping away tears. “Sarah, do you blame me? Do you blame me for coming back and taking Julian…” “Enough,” my parents cut her off. “Julian was supposed to be your husband. If you hadn’t run off, your kids would be in school by now.” Chloe loved Julian, but she loved dance more. Shortly after accepting his proposal, she got an offer from a prestigious dance company in Paris. She abandoned Julian without hesitation. For three years, they barely spoke. Until that night. Julian got an international call. He was resting his head on my shoulder, catching his breath. He answered it in front of me. Because we were so close, I clearly heard a woman sobbing on the other end. Julian froze. One second… five seconds… ten seconds… It took him thirty seconds to react. He grabbed a robe and stormed out. He didn’t come back that night. The next day, I learned from my parents that Chloe had an accident while dancing and broke her leg. Julian personally flew out to bring her back. Even though she lived with our parents, Julian handled everything related to her personally. My parents even tried to “counsel” me about it. “Don’t take it to heart. Your sister can’t dance anymore; she’s devastated. Only Julian can comfort her.” My parents had always favored Chloe. She was beautiful, smart, and talented—a singer and dancer. I was just a bookworm. Boring. Unskilled at charming people. Everyone revolved around the injured Chloe. Including my husband. He gradually lost patience with me. One evening, he promised to pick me up but left me waiting in the pouring rain for two hours. I got sick with a high fever. Julian had to leave Chloe to visit me at the hospital. My mother saw this as me manipulating him. She screamed at me hysterically, “Because you called Julian away, your sister almost killed herself last night! You’re healthy! Why do you have to compete with a disabled person?” I looked at her in disbelief. “But Julian is my husband…” “So what? This marriage belonged to her! You stole her husband!” But back then, she was the one who begged me to marry him. Before Chloe left for Paris, she came to me, trying to convince me to marry Julian. “Sarah, I know you like him. This is a good opportunity, isn’t it?” “Better to keep it in the family. You don’t want Julian with some stranger, do you?” I kept my head down, silent. Chloe got anxious. “Are you just going to watch our family go bankrupt?” “I’m begging you, Sarah. Or are you worried I’ll come back and fight you for him?” My expression shifted. She sighed in relief. “Don’t worry. Once I leave, I won’t contact him again. I swear!” She kept her promise for the first three years. But in the end, she forgot her vow. 3 After the divorce, I moved south, cutting off contact with my family for three years. Recently, they reached out to tell me Julian and Chloe were getting married. Chloe called me herself. “Sarah, please come to my wedding. Only if you’re there will I feel like I haven’t wronged you.” I was silent for a long time. “Okay.” The day I arrived home, the weather was beautiful. I dragged my suitcase through the door, and Chloe rushed out of her room. “Sarah!” Her steps were light. In the late autumn chill, she wore only a thin silk nightgown. Behind her, Julian followed with slippers and a coat. “Why can’t you remember to wear shoes? Next time, I’m going to…” His voice stopped abruptly. He saw me. It was the first time we’d seen each other since the divorce. “Long time no see,” I nodded politely. Three years later, Julian looked the same, but his eyes held less coldness and more tenderness. He nodded back, then looked away, draping the coat over Chloe. “You guys talk. I have work.” Chloe took my arm affectionately. “I was really afraid you wouldn’t come. I’m trying on dresses tomorrow. Come with me?” I pulled my arm back, face blank. “I’m busy tomorrow.” Chloe pouted. “Is it important?” “Yes. Very.” She thought for a moment. “Then let’s move it to the day after. Come back early tomorrow…” “I’m not staying here,” I interrupted. “Tell Mom and Dad I’m busy these days and won’t be staying over.” I picked up my suitcase and walked out without looking back. I hadn’t gone far when a car pulled up slowly beside me. The window rolled down, revealing Julian’s handsome face. “Get in. I’ll drive you.” I refused politely. “Thanks, but no.” He was persistent. I kept walking; he kept driving alongside me. “It’s hard to get a cab here. Get in.” Looking at the endless road ahead, I compromised. I got in and gave him the address. He frowned. “Why aren’t you staying at the Golden Bay condo?” “I don’t like it.” The Golden Bay apartment was part of the divorce settlement. He didn’t know I had already sold it. Julian’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t ask further. When we arrived, I got out. Julian followed. He grabbed my suitcase and wouldn’t let go. “Let’s go.” “I can take it myself.” I tugged the handle. It didn’t budge. He looked around at the run-down neighborhood. “Financial trouble?” This place was several tiers below Golden Bay. “No.” He ignored me and dragged the suitcase toward the entrance. “Which building? Which floor?” Julian is stubborn. Once he decides something, no one can change his mind. I gave up and led the way in silence. Elevator. Hallway. Door. I took the suitcase. “Thanks. It’s not convenient to invite you in.” “Wait.” I turned back. “How have you been these years?” I looked into his earnest eyes and felt a wave of disorientation. I didn’t remember him ever speaking to me in that tone. Just as I was about to answer, the door opened from the inside. A tall, strikingly handsome man appeared without warning. Broad shoulders, narrow waist—walking pheromones. He reached out and pulled me into his arms. “What took you so long, hmm?” He leaned in to kiss me. Just as his lips brushed mine, Julian’s angry voice rang out from behind us. “What do you think you’re doing?!” But the man didn’t stop. He deepened the kiss, then wrapped his arm around me and looked lazily at Julian. But his words were for me. “I’ve been gone for five minutes and you already found a replacement? You really are trouble.” I pushed him. He didn’t budge. I looked at Julian. “Let’s talk another time.” Julian’s hands balled into fists, his lips pressed into a thin line. The precursor to rage. But before he could explode, I was pulled inside. The door clicked shut. The man loomed over me dangerously. “If I remember correctly, you landed at 11 AM. It’s 2 PM. Three hours, and you’re already meeting the ex-husband?” I poked his rock-hard abs. “Evan…” He caught my hand. His voice dropped. “Don’t try to distract me.” I gripped the hem of his shirt, looking down silently. A large hand tilted my chin up. As our eyes met, Evan laughed in exasperation. “I haven’t even started punishing you, and you’re crying?” I sniffled. “I missed you…” 4 After the divorce, I went south and opened a bed and breakfast in a small town. The winters were warm, the summers cool, and the people were kind. I started to heal. Within a year, my B&B gained a reputation, and business picked up. Evan was the most reclusive guest I’d ever had. He stayed in his room most of the time. He only came out to the terrace when no one was around. At first, I worried he was suicidal and kept an eye on him. One day, while I was sunbathing in the courtyard, he walked up to me, a half-smile on his face. “Do I really look like I’m about to end it all?” I looked up in surprise. He lay down on the lounge chair next to me, lazy and relaxed. “I heard your phone call.” I was mortified. The night before, I told my best friend, “That guy is so handsome. If he offed himself, it would be a real waste.” Before I could apologize, Evan asked, “You don’t look like a local. Why open a B&B here?” I lied. “Too much money, too much time.” A low laugh escaped his throat. It sounded nice. I couldn’t help but look at him. It was a pleasant view—sharp jawline, sculpted profile as he looked at the sky. Julian was handsome, but Evan was in a league of his own. Sensing my gaze, he turned. We locked eyes. I don’t remember who looked away first, but the atmosphere shifted after that day. The day things changed, we went hiking. A sudden storm caught us on the way down, and we returned soaked to the bone. That night, I had a high fever. I tried to get water and broke a glass. Evan kicked the door open. Maybe it was the fever, but I swear I saw terror on his face. When he saw I was just sick, he visibly relaxed. I was bedridden for five days. Evan took care of me for five days. He moved his instruments into my room, and I found out he was a singer. “Are you going to leave soon?” I asked, holding a cup of hot water. “Do you want me to leave?” he countered. I didn’t answer. He took the cup from my hand and kissed me. His hot breath scorched my skin. I gripped his shirt, my heart pounding out of my chest. After that, Evan became the unofficial master of the B&B. Changing bulbs, fixing chairs—he did it all. Guests teased him. “You’re so handy. The beautiful boss should marry you already.” Whenever that happened, he’d ask me, “So, when are you going to marry me?” I always laughed it off. He acted like he didn’t care, but in private, he punished me in ways that made me beg for mercy. He never showed any. I thought we would live like that forever. But one day, Evan disappeared. I asked the guests. They said, “Where else could he go? A guy looking like that in his industry? Probably ran off with a sugar mama.”

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My boyfriend, Leo, was raised so strictly he was practically a saint. Kissing and cuddling were fine, but anything further was strictly off-limits. It drove me crazy, especially when I could see the dark fire burning in his eyes, see his Adam’s apple bob and weave. I couldn’t resist the allure of this perfect, domestic god. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. The day it happened, Leo’s twin brother, Jake, was pounding on the bedroom door, his voice a raw, desperate roar, begging me to stop. Seriously, who acts like such a controlling patriarch these days? The more he protested, the wilder I got, determined to lavish all my affection on Leo right then and there. When I finally opened the door, I found his brother slumped against the wall, a damp patch spreading between his legs. He was completely drained, and the look he gave me… it was anything but normal. Why did he look like he’d been the one thoroughly… loved? 1 My boyfriend, Leo, is ridiculously hot. His face is a masterpiece, and his body is even better. He’s nearly six-foot-three, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and legs for days. His chest is big enough to get lost in, and to top it all off, he’s emotionally stable, endlessly patient, and does all the housework. Landing a guy like him, I must have saved the universe in a past life. There was just one tiny problem: no sex. And with a body like that, telling me to keep my hands to myself was basically torture. Kisses were fine. Cuddles were great. I could even nuzzle his pecs all I wanted. But his belt buckle was a line I could not cross. Even when he was hard as a rock, standing at full attention, he’d just grit his teeth and say no. He couldn’t? If that level of hardness wasn’t good enough, then no man on earth was. Every single time, he’d end up in the shower, blasting himself with cold water. Wasn’t he worried about long-term side effects? “Leo~” I whined, rolling around on the bed. “You can’t do this to me! How can you be so indifferent with a goddess like me right here?” “I’m going to throw a tantrum!” He sighed, pulling me into his arms. “Nina, we can’t.” I buried my face in his chest, rubbing against him while grumbling, “But why not? Why, why, why…” Another chaste night passed. The next morning, he was holding me tight in his sleep, his body unconsciously grinding against me, the morning wood pressing uncomfortably into my backside. “Leo…” He jolted awake, instantly aware, and bolted for the bathroom to cool down. …With that kind of self-control, the man could achieve anything. That morning, I launched several surprise attacks. I was defeated every time. His belt, I swear, was forged in the fires of Mount Doom. I ground my teeth in silent frustration. “You promised we’d wait until after we were married.” Right. I had. Back then, I thought a girl should be demure. And it was just a relationship; we could break up at any time. Sex wasn’t a big deal. But after two years together, I was completely in love with him. When my landlord kicked me out a while back, he insisted I move in with him. The man owned at least five properties, if not ten. He was generous, and I accepted. To soothe my pride, he let me pay him market-rate rent, but then he’d just turn around and spend it all on gifts for me. Furniture, rugs, matching pajamas—anything he thought was cute, he bought to decorate our little nest. He kept the fridge stuffed to the gills. He loved cooking for me. He was just too good. A twenty-four-carat gold boyfriend, thoughtful in every way, providing all the emotional and financial support a girl could dream of. And let’s not forget that body. The first time I saw him shirtless, I just about short-circuited. Broad shoulders, tapered waist, and those shockingly massive pecs—which, I might add, were a lovely shade of pink. Who could possibly resist that? He’d stand in the kitchen, shirtless, wearing a pink apron. The ultimate house-husband fantasy. His chest looked so heavy. It was only fair that I help support it, right? I’d sneak up behind him, pressing my face into the groove of his spine, my hands creeping under the apron to roam free. He’d endure it, his breath growing ragged, before spinning around and pinning me against the counter for a deep, bruising kiss. My fingers would trail down his stomach, over the neatly arranged abs where thick veins converged, all leading south. I’m a healthy woman with normal hormones. It’s natural for me to want him. But that damned belt buckle was a fortress. The moment he sensed my intentions, he’d snap out of his haze. No meant no. And even foreplay was a no-go. Damn it. He was like a hero from one of those super chaste romance novels, guarding his virtue with his life. He’d carry me to the sofa, set me down gently, then retreat a safe distance away, panting as he tried to compose himself. If it weren’t for the persistent bulge in his pants, I might have thought he felt nothing at all. I was out of ideas. I collapsed onto the sofa and wailed, “Woe is me, a young widow! I can look, but I can’t touch…” He moved closer to comfort me, but he stayed poised, ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. …The humiliation! Suddenly, the doorbell rang. I draped myself over the back of the sofa to watch him answer it. Standing outside was a mirror image of Leo—his twin brother, Jake. Jake was identical to Leo in height and looks, but I’d never mistaken them. Their auras were polar opposites. He exclusively wore custom-tailored suits, the crisp navy fabric of this one looking cold and severe in the morning light. His expression was icy and arrogant, and he always looked at me with a critical eye. Their parents had died in a plane crash, leaving the two of them to run a massive corporation. As the older brother, Jake shouldered more of the burden, which made him more efficient, more demanding, and more… Well, frankly, he just didn’t like me. Jake’s gaze swept past Leo and landed on me. He looked at me like he was assessing a flawed item at an auction. His eyes traveled from my messy hair down to my bare feet, finally settling on the faint red mark on my collarbone. Instinctively, I pulled the collar of my robe higher. The fabric brushed against the love bite, and I let out a soft hiss. “It seems I’ve interrupted your… morning exercise,” Jake’s voice was an octave lower than Leo’s, laced with the kind of passive aggression you’d expect from a wicked mother-in-law. Leo shifted, completely blocking me from view. “What is it, Jake?” “…You stayed over again last night?” Leo looked down, guilty, as Jake’s glare condemned him. “Be home by eight tonight. No excuses.” I heard that. I ground my teeth. It was always like this. His brother acted like some feudal lord. Leo was twenty-five, and he still had a curfew! With a brother-in-law like him, I was never going to get to first base. I hated him! Jake left after only saying those two things, shooting one last withering glance in my direction. Leo turned to me, an apology on his face. Before he could take a step, I pointed a finger at him. “Mama’s boy!” I accused. Then I pointed toward the door. “Controlling patriarch!” He took my hand, lifting it to his lips for a soft kiss. “There’s a reason for all this.” I didn’t care what his reason was. The pressure was insane. No in-laws, but a brother-in-law who watched your every move. The thought of marrying into this family, of that coffin-faced jerk lecturing both of us at once, made my blood boil. “After we’re married, I’m not living at the family estate.” “Of course,” he agreed instantly. “We’ll live in whichever house you like.” I eyed him suspiciously. “And he’ll just let us be free?” He sighed. “It’s not that he’s controlling, he’s…” And there it was again. He always clammed up at the important part. Enraged, I lunged at him, ready to bite him. If you’re not going to use that tongue, I’ll just bite it off! He caught me, letting me plunder his mouth. Our bodies knew each other so well; in moments, he was swelling against me. He fought for control, about to head for another cold shower, but I clung to him like an octopus, refusing to let go. I ground my hips against his just twice, and a strangled gasp escaped him. His large hands clamped onto me, holding me steady. “Nina, be good.” 2 Watching him disappear into the bathroom, I hugged my knees in defeat. Damn it. I had to test his stamina before we got married. What if I ended up with a two-pump chump? My future happiness was at stake! So, I did something a little devious. I slipped a little something into his favorite tea. After his shower, he downed half the cup. A few minutes later, he was yawning, complaining of being tired, and passed out in the guest room. Heh heh heh. You’re all mine now. I pulled out the handcuffs I’d bought ages ago and secured his wrists firmly to the headboard. Forcing myself on someone… It was my first time, and in broad daylight, no less. I was actually a little shy… Leo was sleeping soundly, a lock of hair falling over his brow. His features were relaxed, his nose straight and high, and his lips still bore the mark from where I’d bitten him. My eyes drifted down. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, that gorgeous body. His pale skin seemed to glow under the lights, and yes, everything was still a perfect, tender pink. The lean muscle stretched over his six-foot-three frame was a symphony of alluring lines. My gaze crept lower. I knew… I knew the kind of explosive power coiled in those abs. I had been craving him for so long. Looks, personality, family background—he had it all. I just needed to confirm this one last thing… and he’d be the perfect husband. I tentatively poked his pec with my finger. It was soft… He was really out. Usually, whenever I touched him, his muscles would tense up instantly. This was my only chance to feel his chest when it was relaxed. I kneaded his pecs for a while, like a cat making biscuits, then leaned in for a few eager licks before rubbing my face against him. Sleeping Leo was so cute. So perfect. He smelled so good after his shower. Mwah, mwah, mwah~ I draped myself over him, nuzzling and rubbing. It felt incredible to be this close without any resistance. It didn’t take long for little Leo to wake up, pressing hard against my stomach. I watched his face carefully. His brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t wake up. Okay… I’m going for it… My fingertips traced the line down the center of his abs, slowly crossing the border… My face was burning, but I dutifully got to work, starting a timer in my head. Just as I was getting into a rhythm, Leo’s phone buzzed. The caller ID… Jake! I freed one hand and answered. “What’s up, Jake? Leo’s asleep.” For some reason, Jake was breathing heavily on the other end. Was he at the gym or something? “I’m in a meeting. Don’t you two…” My nerves got the better of me, and I squeezed a little too hard. A choked gasp echoed through the phone. …What the hell? What was he doing? “Stop…” I slammed the phone down, my ears turning scarlet. What kind of freak gets winded while talking to me on the phone? I looked back at Leo, who seemed so pitifully neglected. I leaned in to give him a kiss, just getting back into the swing of things when the phone started ringing again. Furious, I just switched it off. Finally, I could properly ravish… I mean, properly cherish my little Leo. Even in his sleep, he was restless, his breathing ragged. His hands strained against the cuffs, making them clink and rattle. His body twisted, as if trying to escape. I was relentless. More than ten minutes had passed. You can do it, Leo. His eyelids fluttered. The stimulation must have been too much, because he woke up. “Nina… you…” His voice was unbelievably hoarse. He was completely consumed by desire, yet he still asked me to stop. I was just helping him out. What was the big deal? Other guys would beg for this. Annoyed, I started biting him playfully all over, slowly licking my way up to his chest. That was his favorite spot. I teased him with the tip of my tongue, flicking and sucking intermittently. His eyes glazed over, his long legs tensed, and he kicked the sheets into a tangled mess. “Nina… don’t…” His pleas only fueled my fire. I grew bolder, more reckless, until his body went rigid, stretched to its absolute limit. I checked the time. Twenty-five minutes. Suddenly, a loud banging came from the front door. “Leo, open up!” Damn it! How did Jake get here so fast?! I looked at Leo. He was holding back, tears welling in the corners of his eyes. He looked so fragile and vulnerable. My sweet, sweet boy… To hell with it. Jake didn’t have a key; he couldn’t get in. I started up again. “Does it turn you on,” I whispered, “doing this with your brother right outside?” Leo bit his lip, refusing to make a sound, but a single tear traced a path down his temple. He was so adorable. I wanted to absolutely ruin him. With the rhythmic pounding on the door as our soundtrack, I pulled out all the stops. We were pushing forty minutes. He stopped telling me no. Instead, he started moving with me, his eyes clouded with a lust so thick there wasn’t a trace of clarity left. When I paused for a moment to tease him, his voice cracked with a sob. “Please, Nina, I’m begging you…” “Please… help me…” Finally, he let out a muffled cry. His jaw tilted back, the tendons in his neck standing out in sharp relief. His chest was flushed a deep crimson. It was an incredibly erotic sight. I glanced at the time. Sixty-two minutes. I rewarded him with a couple of soft kisses before running to open the door. The hallway was brightly lit. Jake was slumped against the wall, completely limp, as if all his strength had deserted him. He was panting, his temples slick with sweat. Even stranger, there was a dark, wet patch on the front of his trousers. He didn’t even have the energy to hide it. His eyes were vacant, staring blankly at me. “Jake?” I reached out to help him up. What was wrong with him? His hand suddenly shot out and gripped my arm. Before I could react, he yanked me down. I gasped as I fell, landing in a searingly hot embrace. The air was thick with a cloying, debauched scent. “You…” The rest of my words were swallowed by a sudden, punishing kiss. His arm clamped around me like a steel band while his other hand cupped the back of my neck, his grip so strong there was no chance of escape. This kiss was a punishment, fierce and brutal, and the coppery taste of blood soon filled my mouth. My eyes flew open. The face so close to mine was ninety percent identical to Leo’s, but the emotion churning in those eyes was entirely different. This was naked possessiveness, a madness that had been suppressed for far too long. In the shadows of his lashes lurked a deep, predatory aggression. “Mmph… let go!” During a brief gasp for air, I shoved him with all my might. The sharp crack of a slap echoed in the hallway. His head snapped to the side, his dark hair falling over his eyes. “What is wrong with you?!” I scrambled back, wiping my swollen lips, my heart hammering against my ribs. He slowly turned his head back. A clear, red handprint was already blooming on his cheek. I had hit him with everything I had, but I could have sworn I saw the corner of his mouth lift into a smile. “What’s wrong with me?” He advanced on me, the shadow in his trousers rising again. “When you were touching that, I told you to stop. Why didn’t you?” What was he talking about? When had I ever touched him? “Nina, what’s going on?” Leo’s voice called from inside the apartment. I gritted my teeth and shot Jake a glare, warning him to keep his mouth shut. Then I went back inside to uncuff Leo. 3 While Leo got dressed, Jake used the guest bathroom to sort himself out. A few minutes later, he emerged looking perfectly composed again, that mask of cool detachment firmly back in place. The two brothers met in the entryway. For a moment, the air crackled with tension. They stood facing each other like reflections in a mirror. Leo was in casual clothes, Jake in his sharp suit. One’s eyes held a warning, the other’s were frosty as ice. They shared the same face, but right now, they couldn’t be more different. I looked from one to the other, my toes curling in my shoes from the sheer awkwardness. I felt a pang of guilt, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong. My mind was a tangled mess. I tried to straighten it out. I did… things… with my boyfriend. His brother somehow knew we were doing it. I lavished affection on my boyfriend, and his brother looked like he was the one who received it. …Something was clicking into place, a conclusion so bizarre I couldn’t quite grasp it. “Nina.” Hmm? “Are you hungry?” I glanced at the clock and realized I was starving. I’d exerted a lot of energy today. I needed to refuel. The rhythmic thump-thump-thump of a knife on a cutting board echoed from the kitchen. Leo had tied on an apron and was skillfully prepping ingredients. He hadn’t taken his shirt off this time, but the tight black tank top he wore only accentuated his broad shoulders, trim waist, and massive chest. The open-plan kitchen gave me a perfect view. As I was enjoying the show, Jake slowly walked over. His eyes flickered between me and Leo. Then, with deliberate slowness, he unbuttoned his suit jacket. His chest muscles practically sprang free. He rolled up his shirt sleeves, loosened his tie, and joined Leo at the counter. The tailored trousers hugged his long, straight legs, and a leather belt cinched a ridiculously narrow waist. He was in just as incredible shape as his brother. “I’ve got this…” Leo’s protest was useless. Jake had already taken the knife from his hand. “You’re too slow, even with vegetables,” Jake’s voice was as cold as ever, but his movements were surprisingly adept. The brothers subtly jostled for space, bumping shoulders, until they caught my suspicious glance and suddenly became a model of harmony. …I had to admit, seeing two identical, yet completely different, gorgeous men standing side-by-side… I was beginning to understand the appeal of getting a two-for-one deal. Less than half an hour later, a four-course meal was on the table. The braised ribs glistened invitingly, the stir-fried vegetables were a vibrant green, the chicken and mushroom soup smelled divine, and there was a platter of my favorite garlic butter shrimp. I was so hungry I could have eaten a horse. I sat down and immediately dug in. Leo sat next to me, carefully ladling a bowl of soup for me. “Slow down. No one’s going to steal it from you.” Just then, a perfectly peeled shrimp was dropped into my bowl. Without looking up, I beamed reflexively. “Thanks, honey~” The air went dead silent for a second. I looked up and met Jake’s knowing gaze. He slowly set down the shrimp shell, a smirk playing on his lips, before picking up another one to peel. His long, nimble fingers worked the shell off with practiced ease before dipping the shrimp in sauce. When the second shrimp landed in my bowl, my toes curled in embarrassment. “Thanks… Jake.” Leo cleared his throat, then gently turned my face toward him and wiped a smudge of sauce from the corner of my mouth with his thumb, which he then casually popped into his own mouth. Whoa… he never did things like that in front of other people. Jake, meanwhile, continued to peel shrimp with a blank expression, though his movements were noticeably more forceful than before. An unspoken war was being waged at the dinner table. I just kept my head down and ate, pretending not to notice the silent battle raging between the two brothers. It continued until a small mountain of shrimp had been erected in my bowl. I loved shrimp, but this was ridiculous. I grimaced and tried to transfer some to Leo’s bowl. Suddenly, there was a sharp clink as a teacup was set down. It was Jake. What happened to his perfect table manners? “Nina doesn’t eat that much. She can’t finish all that shrimp.” “She looks like she’s got a healthy appetite. I think she can manage if she tries.” Then both of them stared at me, their gazes intense. To eat, or not to eat? That was the question.

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Ever since I got bitten by a stray dog with a weirdly large tail, I’ve been… changing. Fluffy ears. A fluffy tail. I was still struggling to process this new reality when my ex-boyfriend, whom I had just gotten back together with, caught me in the act. He was shocked. Then he was terrified. Then… delighted? To my utter disbelief, he popped out his own tail and shyly asked me to pet it. Excuse me? What is even happening right now? 1 I woke up in the middle of the night crying. I couldn’t help but run to the mirror. There they were again—fuzzy ears sticking out of my head and a fiery red tail tipped with white sprouting from my lower back. Based on years of watching National Geographic, I’m pretty sure I’m turning into a fox. I couldn’t accept it. I just kept crying. Although, I have to admit, the tail felt incredibly soft… Okay, maybe I can accept it a little bit. How did this happen? A few days ago, I got bitten by a dog. It came out of nowhere. Chomp. And now I’m turning into a freak show. The only silver lining is that the ears and tail only pop out late at night. I live alone, so no one sees me. Wait. I suddenly remembered my ex-boyfriend, William, whom I just reconciled with. I can’t… live alone forever, right? 2 The next morning, I got a call from William. “Today is day seven. Time for your third rabies shot. I’m waiting downstairs. Don’t rush, take your time.” I met William at the hospital where he works. One day, I wasn’t watching where I was going, tripped, and busted my head open. He was the one who stitched me up. He’s handsome—hazel eyes that look like they hold the stars. And he was so gentle when he treated me. I fell for him instantly. So, I staked out the hospital entrance until his shift ended and asked for his number. After chatting (mostly me) for six months, I asked him out. And just like that, we were together. Looking back on our year together, I suspect he only said yes because he was too polite to say no. I initiated everything—holding hands, hugs, kisses, dates. When I suggested breaking up, I was hoping he’d fight for me. Instead, he didn’t even reply. We just defaulted to “broken up.” Then came the dog bite. I went to the ER, and there he was again, treating my wound. One thing led to another, and we rekindled things. Part of it was because he suddenly seemed like a different person—so proactive. But mostly, it was because I still liked him. I wasn’t ready to let go. I threw on some clothes and ran downstairs. He was standing in the sunlight, looking radiant. The sun was bright. I squinted, and for a split second, I swear I saw a white tail behind him. It was huge—two or three times the size of mine. A tail that big must be amazing to pet, right? Probably great for cuddling, too. “What’s wrong? Why are you spacing out? Look at you, you rushed so much you still have toothpaste on your lip.” Suddenly he was right in front of me, smiling, his thumb gently wiping the corner of my mouth. “I think I’m hallucinating…” I mumbled, pulling a tissue from my bag to wipe the toothpaste off his finger. He pouted slightly, looking exasperated. “Did you stay up late watching dramas after saying goodnight?” “Ugh, no, no…” If I told him I was turning into a half-fox creature, would he freak out? 3 I don’t know if being half-fox heightened my pain sensitivity or if getting back together with him made me soft, but this third shot hurt like hell. It hurt so bad I thought my ears and tail were going to pop out right there in the clinic. Thankfully, William rubbed the back of my clenched fist with his finger, distracting me. After the shot, he naturally took my hand. “Come with me to grab my meal card from the office. We’ll eat in the cafeteria.” “Huh? You haven’t eaten breakfast? You usually…” He’s not like me. He’s disciplined. He never eats breakfast past 8 AM or sleeps in. It was almost 9 now. He tapped my forehead with his other hand. “That was then. From now on, I’m eating breakfast with you.” I must be dreaming. Did those words just come out of his mouth? I pressed the back of my hand to my burning cheeks. It was my first time in the staff cafeteria. It was cheap and had tons of options. While I was deciding what to eat, a colleague walked by. “William? Aren’t you off today? What are you doing here?” “My girlfriend needed her third rabies shot, so I came in.” It was another young doctor. I smiled politely at him. The doctor gave a very deliberate “Oh~,” patted William’s shoulder, and dropped a bomb: “Dr. Yu is going to be heartbroken.” Who is Dr. Yu? Do I have a rival already? William squeezed my hand. “Ignore him, he talks nonsense. Let’s sit here. I’ll get the food. Don’t tell me what you want—you have dietary restrictions right now. No spicy, no greasy. Trust me.” He rattled off the orders so fast I just nodded dumbly. 4 After eating, he walked me around to help digest, but I was incredibly sleepy. I could barely keep my eyes open. My head throbbed, and my spine ached in waves. After a few steps, I was clinging to his arm, whining. He put a hand on my forehead. “A fever already?” Fever? Do rabies shots cause fevers? I guess so… My consciousness started to blur. I vaguely saw two ears pop out of the top of William’s head. I reached out to grab them, but my hand grasped nothing but air. Maybe seeing those phantom ears triggered a weird dream. I dreamt that William turned into a half-fox like me. He wrapped me in his giant white tail, the tip tickling my forehead. He whispered, “Qing, I’m sorry you had to suffer…” I hugged his tail, burying my face in the fur. “William… so you turned into a fox too…” He kissed my forehead gently. “I always was.” He always was?! I bolted upright in bed, waking with a start. In my hand, I was clutching a small tuft of white fur.

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