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When I awakened to the realization that I was the malicious supporting female character in a novel, the childhood sweetheart I had imprisoned and tortured was kneeling at my feet, his teeth clenched in pain and body trembling. As I untied him, my hands were shaking. He let out a chilling sneer: “Didn’t you say you were going to kill me? Miss Jiang.” My hand paused. In the plot, I imprisoned the male lead, Liam Sterling, physically and mentally abusing him, humiliating him in every possible way. Eventually, he sent me to a mental hospital, where I jumped to my death. I was scared to tears. I pulled a crumpled piece of paper from my pocket. And handed it to him. It was something Liam wrote for me when we were seven. “Coupon: Forgive Ruan-Ruan for Anything.” 1 When I awakened to the plot of being the malicious supporting female character, I was holding a blood-stained whip. Frozen on the spot. M… malicious supporting female character? I pointed at myself with trembling hands. Me? A muffled groan pulled my thoughts back. In front of me. A gloomy young man half-kneeled on the ground. His black hair was messy, his exquisite jawline hidden in the damp gloom. His arms were suspended in the air by iron chains, palms hanging limply. Breathing faintly. Liam Sterling. The male lead of this redemption novel. Also my childhood sweetheart who grew up with me. In the plot. I had a secret crush on Liam for ten years. Originally, I was just a pure and beautiful little white flower by the male lead’s side. Until the female lead appeared, my darkness value skyrocketed. Not only did I frame the female lead repeatedly, but I also imprisoned the male lead, humiliated and tortured him, doing a bunch of stupid things. Liam was completely disappointed in me, disgusted to the extreme. He personally sent me to a mental hospital. Not long after, I became mentally deranged and jumped off a building to commit suicide. And at this moment. Liam, who hadn’t yet grown into a big shot, was kneeling at my feet. The collar of his white shirt was torn open. The whip marks on his chest were bright red and shocking. His pale face was covered in cold sweat, lips trembling slightly. The moment I met Liam’s gaze. I understood. I probably lived to the end. Those eyes, like a trapped beast, seemed about to crack open, staring at me fixedly. Underneath surged a crazy hatred. I was about to cry. I, Chloe Jiang, have always done good deeds and been timid. I really don’t understand this malicious supporting female character stuff. Better late than never. With trembling hands, I unlocked the iron cuffs for Liam. But my gaze fell on the red marks on his wrists. A scene suddenly flashed through my mind. When locking him up, I touched every inch of his skin morbidly, bit by bit. Sharp fingernails left red marks on his pale face. “Liam, I want to lock you by my side forever.” “You can only look at me.” I shivered. The Jiang family and the Sterling family were old friends and lived extremely close. The two families even had a verbal engagement for us as babies. Liam is one year older than me. In my memory. I always followed behind him. Calling him Brother Liam sweetly and softly. Liam had a cold personality but treated me as a biological sister, spoiling me quite a bit. It’s just that later, my heart went wild. No longer satisfied with this sibling relationship without blood ties. Jealous of the male and female leads getting closer and closer. That’s why I caught the male lead for forced love. Clang— The lock opened, and the chain fell to the ground. Making a crisp echo in the dark and empty basement. I forced a pleasing smile. Actually, I was about to cry. “L… Liam.” “If I say I was possessed by something dirty, would you believe me?” 2 A sneer. The man curled his lips. Those good-looking phoenix eyes were cold and heartless. With a hoarse throat, he slowly and mockingly said: “Didn’t you say you were going to kill me? Miss Jiang.” My body stiffened. Liam probably really hates me. Before, he called me Ruan-Ruan (a nickname derived from Chloe’s middle name or affectionate term). The man narrowed his eyes, revealing danger and anger. Body approaching. The shadow enveloped me, forming an extremely strong sense of oppression. “Chloe Jiang, what game do you want to play now?” Memories flooded in. Three days ago. I gently patted his face with the whip. Smiling, I said I wanted to play a game with him. I unlocked his shackles. Threw him a key. Told him. Below this is a maze with a total of seven secret rooms. But there is only one way out, and only one door leading to the outside. If he could find it, I would let him go. Until he walked every route of the maze, tried all the doors, and fell to the ground exhausted. Only then did I appear in front of him. With red eyes. Questioning him crazily. “You want to go out that much? Isn’t it good to accompany me forever?” “Are you going to find Sarah Lin again?” “Why! Why do you only have her in your eyes now?” “Liam, you are mine! You can only look at me!” “If you try to run again, I’ll kill you.” Sarah Lin is the heroine of this book. After falling out with his family in high school, Liam was admitted to a top domestic university. In his junior year, he started a business with the equally capable heroine. The two came out of the laboratory together, participated in competitions, and established a company together. Inseparable, feelings growing. After overcoming various difficulties and obstacles, they reached a happy ending. And I am the biggest obstacle they are about to overcome. I not only targeted the heroine everywhere, tripping them up. But also kidnapped him here when Liam was about to lead the team to participate in an extremely critical competition. I closed my eyes, wanting to cry but having no tears. Chloe, oh Chloe, you are really capable. Dare to treat the male lead like a dog. How did you survive such a reckless life? Destroyed in a cool autumn. In CEO novels, offending the male lead will not end well. Seeing me distracted, Liam completely lost his patience. He suddenly pinched my shoulder, hurting so much that I seemed to hear the sound of bone cracking. “Chloe Jiang, speak?” “What exactly do you want to do?” “When will you let me go!” Liam’s face was scary dark. As if he wanted to tear me apart, chew me up, and swallow me into his belly. I wanted to cry but had no tears. After staring at him for two seconds with a look of death, I took a deep breath. Suddenly buried my head in his chest. Howling like a ghost, opening my mouth. “Brother Liam!” “I was wrong! I was so wrong!” “I was obsessed!” Sincerity is always the ultimate move! As long as I kneel fast enough, the ending of the malicious supporting female character won’t catch up with me! I sniffled and looked at Liam with teary eyes. Pitifully said: “Liam, I’m only twenty, you have to allow me to make mistakes.” 3 The air seemed to freeze. The man’s body stiffened for a moment. Then, probably because I bumped into his wound. He gasped in pain. Then pushed me away fiercely. “Chloe Jiang, do you think a simple apology can write it off?” “Who the hell do you think you are?” His eyes were scarlet. The look he gave me was as if he wanted to execute me by a thousand cuts. It’s over, it’s over. Liam still wants to kill me. I was so scared that tears fell continuously. Flustered, I pulled a crumpled piece of paper from the inside pocket of my clothes. Carefully unfolded it and handed it to him. This was written by Liam for me when we were seven. Too many years had passed, and the paper surface had developed fine, rough fuzz. The pencil writing had also blurred. But the words on it could still be vaguely recognized— “Coupon: Forgive Ruan-Ruan for Anything.” Actually, it was just a small thing. He knocked over my milk. But probably spoiled, I cried endlessly. Liam, who always acted like a little adult, panicked for the first time. To coax me, he wrote this note. Actually, in my previous life, I also took it out. Before he was about to send me to the mental hospital. It’s just that I had done all the bad things then, powerless to reverse the situation. To be honest, ending up like that, I didn’t hate Liam. After all, in the original plot, what I did was indeed inhuman. And now, this is my last life-saving talisman. Liam looked at the crumpled note and was stunned. Probably didn’t expect that I still kept it. A childish promise was taken seriously at this moment. His cold lips were tight. My tears kept falling. After a long time, the ice in Liam’s eyes finally loosened. He let go of the hand pinching my shoulder. Decisively got up and left. Before going out, he took a last deep look at me. Leaving a sentence: “Chloe Jiang, don’t do things that disgust me anymore.” Disgust? Yes, this perverted emotion. Is indeed disgusting. I fell to the ground as if surviving a disaster. Tears still hung in the corners of my eyes. But my hand quickly took out the phone— Shouted a dolphin sound. “Mom!” “Send me abroad to study quickly!” “Germany, go to Germany!” Liam belongs to the heroine. They are a match made in heaven. Only if my brain is damaged would I fight and snatch again. Playing myself to death. I believe. The three years of undergraduate study in Germany will be the most unforgettable seven years in my five-year life. Seven years later, the male and female leads will have long settled down. Naturally, I won’t repeat the same mistakes. Ending up miserable. 3 (Note: Chapter numbering reset in source, continuing logically) Liam’s return was a shot in the arm for the leaderless team. This competition attracted a lot of attention. The eyes of countless capitalists fell here. Rising stars also sharpened their heads wanting to stand out and get financing. On the first day of Liam’s semi-finals. The news was pushed to me via a phone pop-up. I took a glance. He wore a well-tailored suit, standing tall, features sharp, rimless glasses revealing a calm and highly intelligent feeling. A world of difference from the wretched appearance in the basement. In the lens. He looked at the heroine through the chaotic crowd. Different from the hateful look when looking at me. In front of the heroine, his eyes were always confident and firm. As if silently saying, I’ve got everything. High-spirited and invincible. I turned off the screen. In the novel, the basement imprisonment was just an appetizer. In the later stages, I forcibly tortured Liam, this noble young man, into a dark lunatic. Shattering every bone of pride in his body. Making him lose everything, only able to look up at me and cling to me in the gutter. Finally, because love turned to hate, he wanted to drive a car to kill me and my family. I rubbed my throbbing temples. How is this love? This is purely treating the male lead as a Japanese (enemy). No wonder Liam hates me. I tightly gripped the study abroad materials that needed to go to the dean’s office for a stamp. Pedaled faster. Liam. Berlin is 8500 kilometers away from Sea City (Shanghai/Coastal City), with a 7-hour time difference. This is the furthest distance from you I can think of. 04 These few days, in order to process the study abroad procedures, I was busy running off my feet. Walking on the road, still staring closely at the phone replying to the department head’s message. So much so that I bumped into someone head-on. I rubbed my forehead, just about to apologize. A chuckle came from the front. “Oh, isn’t this Brother Shen’s little childhood sweetheart?” “What a coincidence, running into our ‘Brother Shen’ again?” Looking up, I met Liam’s cold and vigilant eyes. He frowned. Hands hanging by his side clenched. Examining me for a long time, besides resistance and disgust, there seemed to be a trace of complex and inexplicable emotion hidden in his eyes. His tone was hard. “Why are you here?” My heart went cold. Opened my mouth, but still didn’t say “Liam”. The person next to him hadn’t noticed anything unusual. “What do you mean running into? With the way Junior Sister Jiang sticks to Brother Shen, it’s just short of installing a tracker on Brother Shen. Wherever we go, Junior Sister goes.” Everyone thought he was teasing me. But I felt like needles on my back. The phone I was holding suddenly became a hot potato. Almost thrown away by me. Because inside, there really was a positioning system connected to Liam. Since the heroine appeared beside Liam. They became partners walking side by side, having topics I could never insert myself into. Like a barrier excluding me. My uneasiness gradually became strong. Driven by perverted possessiveness, I installed a positioning system on Liam’s phone. Treating every surveillance as an encounter. Firmly guarding by Liam’s side, imprisoning him within my sight. Even proudly enjoying the teasing of people around. Deliberately creating unwarranted ambiguity in front of the heroine. Not only Liam was suffocating, I was suffocating too. “But why didn’t Junior Sister Jiang come to see our competition this time? Did you quarrel with our Brother Shen? You two hold grudges overnight?” Everyone’s sight still wandered ambiguously on me and Liam without any discernment. More than a quarrel… Already counts as murder. Seeing Liam’s face getting darker and darker. I cried bitterly in my heart. Gaze subconsciously looked at the heroine. Sarah Lin lived up to her name, cold and moving. Hearing everyone’s teasing, there was no strange expression on her face. Even looked at me with interest. Worthy of being the heroine, indeed calm and majestic. Simply disdainful of fighting with me, a malicious supporting female character. But away from the script, I, Chloe Jiang, am actually a coward. Just as I was rubbing my hands desperately, not knowing how to escape, A voice dragging like two-five-eight-ten thousand (mahjong terms for arrogance) suddenly sounded. “Where is Sarah Lin?”

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My whole family went to Aspen for a winter trip to see the snow. My husband told me not to buy a down jacket, saying it wouldn’t be cold and it was a waste of money. I listened to him and only packed a thin coat and flats. But when no one was looking, I silently searched on my phone: [How long does it take for an adult male to freeze to death in -22°F weather?] 1 Near the end of the year, my husband, Mark, said things were slow at work and planned to take his annual leave to take our family on a trip. Our son had mentioned wanting to see snow in the north many times, so the destination was Aspen, Colorado. A week before leaving, I was browsing down jackets online. Mark glanced at my phone screen, and his face immediately darkened. “You wasteful woman, who told you to buy a down jacket? Why buy a jacket that costs hundreds of dollars just to wear once!” I quickly explained, “It’s minus twenty-two degrees there right now.” “Cold in the north is physical; cold in the south is magical. The north isn’t damp and cold like the south at all.” Where we live, it’s hot all year round. Even when it’s coldest, a fleece jacket is enough. Mark’s face clearly showed impatience. He grabbed my phone and deleted all the down jackets from my cart. He threw the phone back at me unkindly. The phone hit my eye socket, making me cry out in pain, tears streaming down. He smiled triumphantly. “I work hard to make money outside, and you spend it without a care. How did I marry such an unlucky woman?” I didn’t speak. I silently got up and went to the bathroom to rinse my swollen eye with cold water. Because I knew if I talked back to Mark, I would only get a more violent beating. When I returned to the bedroom, Mark had turned off the light and gone to sleep. I tiptoed to the bedside, staring unblinkingly at the sleeping Mark. If I did something now, he wouldn’t know, right? No, for the sake of my two children, I have to endure. They can have a family without a father, but they can’t have a mother with a criminal record. According to Mark’s request, the whole family only packed thin coats and flats. I didn’t even bring thermal underwear. A small suitcase for four people, and there was still space left. On the way to the airport, Mark bragged while driving: “Don’t be like your mom when you grow up, making a big deal out of nothing. We’re used to the damp cold in the south; we’re not afraid of winter in the north at all. You’ll see when we get off the plane.” My son and daughter were still young, at the age where they just wanted to play. Thinking only about going on a trip, they didn’t understand what Mark was saying at all. I smiled gently at Mark. “Hubby, you know so much.” He freed a hand, pinched my cheek hard, and smiled with satisfaction. “That’s more like it.” In his eyes, I was like a doll he could manipulate at will. If the food I cooked wasn’t to his liking, he would dump it directly on my head. Regardless of time or place, if he wanted to, he would force himself on me like a dog in heat. Any slight disobedience, even having a nightmare, would become a reason for him to beat me. Every day living with him was lived in extreme tension and fear. The plane roared, and we flew high into the sky. Mark kept hitting his ears because of the tinnitus. I whispered in his ear: “Hubby, have a safe trip.” 2 The plane landed at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport. Walking through the jet bridge, the cold had already seeped in from outside. Mark’s face turned a bit pale, but he remained stubborn: “See, I said it wouldn’t be cold at all. No need for down jackets.” Passengers getting off with us heard him and looked back at him like he was an idiot. Upon reaching the arrival hall, more tourists from the south were changing into warm clothes in the restrooms. Mark whispered sarcastically that people were doing unnecessary things. My son pulled my hand, saying in a milky voice, “Mommy, I’m cold.” I rubbed his head lovingly. It’s okay, our saviors will be here soon. My best friend, Sarah, brought her boyfriend, Jason, to pick us up. She and Jason were carrying bags big and small. Seeing me, Sarah gave me a huge hug. I heard her choking voice in my ear. “You’re finally here.” I hugged her back, holding back the sourness. “Long time no see. Mark and I have been talking about you.” Sarah, Mark, and I were college classmates. Back then, the three of us were close, almost inseparable at school. Only then did Sarah smile and tease Mark: “Did you lock Moon up? You haven’t let her come play with me for so many years.” Mark always maintained the image of a good husband outside. He gently pulled me into his arms. “Who told you to run so far away? I can’t bear for my wife to travel so much.” Sarah’s complicated gaze went back and forth between Mark and me, finally smiling meaningfully. “You’re still the wife-doting maniac as always.” Sarah took out the things from her two big bags. She said these were the down jackets she prepared for us. Mark looked a bit unhappy, stubbornly saying, “I don’t need to wear it. Your north isn’t cold at all.” “Don’t be polite with me. I already bought them, just do me a favor.” Saying that, Sarah handed Mark his jacket. In college, Mark had a crush on Sarah, but she had a boyfriend then. He settled for pursuing me, and I, dazzled by his sweet words, agreed to be with him. Seeing his white moonlight smiling at him, Mark was mesmerized and accepted the down jacket. The children and I changed into ankle-length down jackets. Looking back, Mark was annoyedly stuffing his arms into the sleeves. Sarah snickered. “Oh my, Mark, you’ve rounded out quite a bit these years. I bought the clothes based on your size in college.” Mark lost face and threw his jacket unhappily on my head. “I’m dying of heat and don’t want to wear it at all. Put away Sarah’s kindness.” My hair was messed up by the hit, looking messy due to static electricity. Sarah wanted to reach out to help me, but I quickly signaled her not to come over. Sarah’s boyfriend, Jason, is eight years younger than her, a tall and handsome puppy dog. Jason thoughtfully came over to help me with the luggage. Although Mark didn’t stop him, his gloomy gaze kept staring at me. I lowered my head, pulled the two children, and hurried outside. When leaving the hall and contacting the real outdoor temperature, I saw Mark freeze for a moment. His whole body stiffened, and every step was extremely difficult. He cared about face; even if he was freezing enough to pee blood, he wouldn’t make a sound. Fortunately, the car was right there, and he was the first to drill in. 3 Sarah took us back to her villa. As soon as we got back, Jason insisted on dragging Mark out for a smoke, and I finally had a chance to talk to Sarah. Once the door closed, Sarah let loose, cursing Mark’s ancestors. “You went through such a big circle, bought down jackets and mailed them here specifically, what is this for?” Actually, the down jackets Sarah brought today were bought by me. “Mark wouldn’t let me buy them, saying I spend money recklessly. If he knew, he would definitely beat me again.” “He treats you like this, why don’t you divorce him?” “I proposed divorce the first time he hit me. He locked me at home and beat me for three days, forcing me to swear never to bring up divorce again.” Mark and I got married right after graduation, and soon had a son. To take care of the child, I haven’t gone out to work, staying at home as a full-time mom. Mark pretended to be a model husband at first, but during my confinement, just because I broke a plate, he grabbed the shards and beat me severely. I was covered in cuts from the shards, and I still have scars now. Looking at the scars on my body, Sarah trembled with anger. “This is murder. I want to call the police to arrest him.” I forced a numb smile, looking at Sarah sorrowfully. “I’ve used every method you can think of… but it’s useless, no one can save me.” I had reached out for help countless times, but those hands only pulled me back and advised me: —Go live well with him. —You have children, bear it for the children. —Every couple fights. A day as husband and wife means a hundred days of grace. Calm down, don’t be impulsive. I consulted lawyers and even installed cameras at home. But Mark wasn’t afraid at all. He said even if I had evidence, as long as he didn’t agree, our marriage couldn’t end. And facts proved so. I fought for half a year, during which I was beaten into the hospital by Mark three times. The last time, he threatened me that if I dared to divorce, he would kill my parents. Since then, I never mentioned divorce again. Soon, we had a daughter. I started pretending to accept my fate, not resisting, not making noise. Mark enjoyed the current days very much. During this time, I secretly worked part-time online. Now I can earn three or four thousand dollars a month drawing illustrations, enough to support me and the children. I also asked my parents to buy a house in Florida and let them stay there for the winter. Everything is ready, just one step away from the good life I imagined. Since Mark doesn’t want a divorce, then let him be widowed. 4 At night, I put the children to sleep. Mark came back smelling of smoke. He smoked with Jason on the balcony and was frozen stiff. I felt a cold body drill into the quilt. I closed my eyes pretending to be asleep. Mark’s side lit up; he was playing with his phone. Squinting, I saw him open WeChat, chatting with a contact named “Little Wild Cat.” [Little Wild Cat]: [Brother Mark, have you arrived in Aspen? I can’t wait to see you.] [No Desire No Want]: [Brother can’t wait to see my Little Wild Cat too. Did you receive the clothes I sent you?] I opened my eyes sleepily and asked him, “Hubby, why aren’t you sleeping yet?” Mark quickly put away his phone and got up to go outside. “None of your business!” After he left the bedroom, I took out a spare phone from the drawer. On the secondary WeChat account, Mark was sending me messages non-stop. Yes, Little Wild Cat is me. That idiot Mark still doesn’t know the person he’s been chatting with for three months isn’t fictional. [No Desire No Want]: [Brother can’t wait to see you wearing that dress. Where do you live? I’ll come find you now?] [Little Wild Cat]: [Annoying, I don’t want to see you.] [No Desire No Want]: [I spent a lot of money on plane tickets just to see you. Are you playing me?] [Little Wild Cat]: [I’m going to sleep, goodnight.] After sending the last message, I put away the phone and covered myself with the quilt to sleep. Sure enough, Mark came back depressed not long after. He slammed the door shut. The room lights turned on brightly. I pretended to wake up startled, looking at him in surprise. “What’s wrong, hubby?” His eyes were red, his eyebrows pressed low, looking fierce. He suddenly rushed over, grabbed my hair, and pulled me from the bed to the floor. I felt my scalp about to tear. Mark was in a bad mood because of being rejected. He would beat me to vent his anger whenever he was unhappy. Just as his fist was about to fall, I suddenly started struggling violently. “If you hit me now, you’ll definitely wake up Sarah and the others. Your image as a good husband won’t be kept!” Maybe because I hadn’t contradicted him for too long, Mark was stunned. He pinched my chin tightly, his eyes locking onto me. He gritted his teeth and said, “Just you wait, see how I deal with you when we get back.” He worked hard to maintain his image of a successful career and harmonious family outside. He would absolutely not leave any gossip for anyone.

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I am an only daughter from a seriously wealthy East Coast family, practically an heiress. The first time I brought my boyfriend home for the holidays, my extended family jokingly asked him about moving in and taking our family name. Brendan, my boyfriend, just smiled that warm, guileless smile of his, saying he’d do whatever I wanted. That night, though, I saw the post. LOL, are all these Greenwich girls this entitled? I went home with her for the New Year, and they actually suggested I become a live-in son-in-law. Does she actually think she’s some kind of princess? I froze, then glanced over at Brendan. His thumb moved, and the post updated instantly. She thinks she can demand a live-in husband when she doesn’t even have nine figures? Delusional. I managed a tight smile. Nine figures? Honey, my family passed the billion-dollar mark years ago. The blood rushed out of my head, leaving a cold ringing in my ears. I slowly lifted my gaze to the sofa across the room, where Brendan Keller was sitting. He was scrolling on his phone, a smirk playing on his lips. My palms started sweating. It can’t be him. Not Brendan. We’d been together for three years. He always seemed so mild-mannered, so accommodating. How could he possibly be saying these hateful things behind my back? Clutching the last shred of my faith in him, I switched to an anonymous side account and commented on the post: You’ve got a massive ego. What exactly are your qualifications? I watched as Brendan suddenly looked down at his screen and let out a scoffing laugh, before quickly typing a reply. Seconds later, my burner account got a response from the original poster: I’m a staff doctor at a prestigious downtown hospital and just picked up a new Audi A8. More importantly, my parents are healthy and have solid pensions. I have plenty of women chasing me. She should look at herself—a basic East Coast girl—and ask if she even deserves me to consider it. She’s not an heiress; she’s a gold-digger. Afraid I wouldn’t believe him, he even messaged me a private photo—a selfie taken in his new car, holding up his hospital ID badge. It was definitely him. The “staff doctor” position he boasted about was a temporary contract with a four-figure monthly salary, a detail I’d never brought up, worried about hurting his ego. His parents’ modest pensions barely covered their co-pays and prescriptions for chronic conditions. And the Audi A8? That was my three-year anniversary gift to him. How dare he claim he bought it? I just couldn’t process it. Only half an hour ago, he was publicly declaring his love and willingness to move in whenever I wanted. Now he was online calling me a gold-digger? Seeing I wasn’t replying, he kept harassing me: What, cat got your tongue? Let me tell you, the average man today makes over $200k. You want us to move in? You need to pay us for the 30 years of our youth! That’s $6 million minimum! A gold-digger with a $3k monthly salary expecting me to give up my career? Hilarious. Just you wait. Tomorrow I’m hitting her up with the dowry demand. That’s the only way to humble a gold-digger like her. Once she’s humiliated, she’ll be a good wife. I was shaking with cold fury. He used to ask me about my monthly income. Not thinking much of it, I’d vaguely waved him off and said something like $3k—a total lie to keep him from feeling inferior. He’d actually latched onto that number and built this grotesque fantasy of superiority. I turned off my phone screen. “Brendan,” I said, looking at him. “We’re done. And before you walk out, leave the key to the car I bought you.” “What?” Brendan looked up, completely baffled. “Because I didn’t immediately agree to your family’s absurd request? Besides, the car is legally mine now, you can’t just take it back.” He walked over and tried to sling an arm around my shoulder. “Look, I’ll go talk to your dad tomorrow. We can set a date. How about that?” I violently shook off his hand, my voice glacial. “Marry me? You can’t afford to stand in the same room as me.” “Brendan, I said we’re broken up. Now get out.” “I don’t think so,” he chuckled, sitting back down. “You want me out, but what will your parents say?” He paused, a derisive snort escaping him. “Look at your parents—they spent a fortune renting this old-money estate just to make me think you’re some sort of precious East Coast elite. They did all that so they could snag a ‘quality son’ for free.” “You Reeds,” he sneered, “your schemes are transparent.” He thinks this is a rental? I was genuinely speechless, unable to do anything but laugh at his staggering confidence. A contract worker making barely four thousand dollars a month, calling himself “quality.” Had I not been blind with affection, he wouldn’t have been worthy of shining my shoes. Seeing my silence, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Look, I’m willing to overlook your family’s little deception.” “You’re pretty, and your figure is certainly presentable, despite your dishonesty. Marry me, and as long as you behave yourself, I’ll love you.” Before I could tear into him, my father walked into the room. “Marry whom?” He eyed Brendan with unconcealed suspicion. “You and Skylar?” It was clear my father wasn’t impressed, either. My mother and a few relatives followed him. Aunt Carol, my mother’s sister, looked at me, then at Brendan. “Skylar, you are the Reed heiress. You’ve thought this through?” Before I could respond, Brendan jumped in. “Yes, if Mr. and Mrs. Reed agree, we plan to get our marriage license right after the holidays.” I rushed to my parents’ side. “I have thought it through. I’m breaking up with him.” Brendan’s smile evaporated. “Skylar! You’ve been with me for three years! Who else are you going to marry?!” “My mom says after the wedding, you just have to stay home and make babies. We’ll give you a thousand dollars for every one you pop out. How great is that?” My mother’s face went from pale to blazing. “Are you out of your mind? What do you think my daughter is?!” My father’s face was dark. He shot back with cold sarcasm, “Then go tell your mother you’re moving in. You can be the stay-at-home dad. I’ll pay you ten thousand dollars for every child you look after!” Brendan raised an eyebrow, a triumphant, I knew it look on his face. He shot me a smirk, then turned to my father. “So you do want me to become a live-in husband after all? It’s not impossible, sir.” “But I have my requirements.” He adjusted his collar, oozing a false sense of superiority. “First, the live-in fee. Given my qualifications, I require at least six million dollars.” “Second, the emotional distress this will cause my mother requires an additional one million dollars in compensation.” “Finally, the dowry. My minimum standard is two luxury cars, A-Class or better, and three luxury condos in the city center.” He looked directly at my father, a challenge in his eyes. “Can you meet those demands?” The entire room fell silent. Everyone stared at each other, stunned. My mother tugged at my sleeve, her expression troubled. “Skylar, the things he’s asking for, they’re just… too much…” Before she could finish, Brendan cut her off smugly. “Too much, right? If you can’t meet the demands, then I can’t move in.” He crossed his legs triumphantly and pulled out his phone, starting to play a game. Instinctively, I checked the gossip site. Sure enough, a new update: I laid out my demands. They were scared into silence, LOL. This ‘East Coast Elite’ thing is totally fake. Watch me, bros. I’m not only not going to move in, I’m going to make her beg me to marry her. Someone commented, What if they demand the same amount in bride price? Can you pay it? He replied dismissively: She’s a $3k-a-month woman. Why would she deserve a big bride price? You’re worth what you can command. Honestly, my mom plans to give her $18,000 for the wedding. She should be laughing all the way to the altar. As he was gloating, the rest of us finally burst into laughter. My mother had meant that his requirements were too measly to be taken seriously. The three luxury condos and two luxury cars he demanded were already just a fraction of the standard dowry she’d planned for me. Reed Industries’ wealth extended into the billions across multiple sectors. Seeing us laugh, Brendan frowned. “It’s fine if you can’t afford it. But next time you joke about someone moving in, know your own station, okay?” “Also, I’ll take Skylar to the Justice of the Peace tomorrow. The $18,000 bride price? I’ll wire a third of it now. We’ll wait until the baby is born healthy for the rest. Skylar is getting older, and the kids are more likely to have issues.” The air in the room combusted. My entire family roared at him. “How dare you! Say that again!” “You’re the one with the issues!” “To marry our Skylar, you’ll need at least two million eight hundred thousand dollars in bride price, or forget it!” “$2.8 million?!” Brendan was stunned, then stiffened his neck. “You don’t need to overreact just because you can’t meet my demands! Aren’t you embarrassed to ask for $2.8 million for someone of her caliber?” “Besides, Skylar is about to be a mother. I’m still willing to give $18,000. What more do you want?” “A mother?” I looked up at him sharply. “How do you know that?” He gave me that sickening smirk. “My mother said that if the condom breaks, you’re bound to get pregnant. You were screaming so loudly that time, Skylar. I thought you were enjoying it. Don’t worry, I’m strong—I bet it took on the first try.” My mind short-circuited. Before I could even process the violation, my father and uncles gestured toward the door. “Guards! Get this man out of here!” In seconds, a few large, uniformed men were flanking Brendan. He looked disdainful. “Quite the performance. You even hired actors to play bodyguards…” His words were cut short as the guards grabbed him and started walking him out. He looked back at me, disbelief twisting his face. “Skylar! Tell them to stop! If you don’t, even if you come to me on your knees with a pregnant belly, I will never look at you again!” Within minutes, his voice was muffled by the thick walls of the estate. My mother’s eyes were red with pity. “It’s okay, baby. Thank God you got rid of that disgusting pig.” My relatives rushed to comfort me, vowing to beat Brendan up if they ever saw him again. I nodded, but said nothing. That night, Brendan posted a new update. Fake heiress tried to trick me into becoming a live-in husband, then demanded $2.8 MILLION bride price! But I held the leverage! The condom broke, and now she’s a package deal! No one else will want this ball-and-chain gold-digger. She’ll be crawling back to me tomorrow, mark my words. The comments section exploded. OMG, bro, you’re so woke! Too many gold-diggers out there. They need to be taught a lesson like this! Alpha male confirmed. Never got manipulated. I crown you the King of Anti-Manipulation! I rolled my eyes and blocked his account. Then, I contacted my lawyer to reclaim the Audi A8. The next morning, I went to the hospital for a blood test. I turned down my parents’ offer to come with me. I just wanted to get it over with and let them forget about the whole ordeal. While I was waiting for the results, I heard Brendan’s voice behind me. “Well, look who it is. Said you didn’t care, but you came all the way to my hospital? Stalking me, Skylar?” I froze, ignoring him. He took two steps closer and lowered his voice. “Couldn’t sleep last night? Figured you’d come here to beg for a reunion?” He tilted his head back, beaming with arrogance. “The chief of staff here is my former professor. He’s very influential in the city. Since you’re here, I don’t mind introducing you. It’s an opportunity to meet an important person.” The chief of staff? I knew the man. Dr. Nolan. I often saw him at my family’s social functions, always treating my father with deep respect. He’s Brendan’s professor? “No need,” I said with a cold laugh. “Just leave me alone.” I turned to walk away. He grabbed my wrist. “Skylar Reed, you’re carrying my child, you’re practically my wife! Why the attitude?” “I’m telling you, Dr. Nolan doesn’t meet just anyone. You should be honored to get in via me!” I wrenched my arm free, ready to tear into him, when my phone vibrated. The blood test results were in. I tapped open the report, and when I saw the result, my entire body went numb. Positive. I was pregnant. Brendan, sharp-eyed, snatched my phone and his eyes lit up with excitement. “My mom was right! It worked!” He quickly pulled out his own phone. “I’ll wire you two thousand dollars right now. The rest will come after the baby is born and confirmed healthy.” “Brendan, you are insane!” I grabbed my phone back and headed straight for the family planning office. He realized what I was doing and violently yanked my hair from behind. “What are you doing!” he roared. “Are you going to murder my son! How dare you!” The sudden, brutal pull sent me stumbling to the floor. He stood over me, livid. “Skylar, you fraudulent debutante!” “You failed to trick me into marrying you, so now you’re going to kill my child so you can move on to scamming the next guy?” Bystanders stopped, staring at me with disgusted, judgmental eyes. I struggled to get up. “We’re not married! It’s my choice if I don’t want this baby!” Slap! A loud, stinging sound. His immense force made my ears ring. As I staggered, he roughly hauled me to my feet. “You think a $3k-a-month gold-digger like you could make me move in?” “If you weren’t carrying my kid, do you think I’d still want you?!” I fought him off. “You’re crazy! I’m calling the police!” Slap! He slapped me again. “Since you’re so vicious, you’re not getting the two thousand dollars either! Not until you give birth!” “Now, come home with me! Stop making a scene!” Just then, a man’s angry voice cut through the crowd. “What is going on here! Who is causing a disturbance in my hospital!”

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After my husband went bankrupt, I followed him into a basement apartment. We were broke, living a miserable existence, and yet he still had to support me—his cruel, demanding, high-maintenance wife. The System ordered me to maintain this persona. But my moral compass was too strong; I was wracked with guilt after every cruel act. So, every time I finished tormenting him, I would secretly cry my eyes out. In the middle of the night, I crept into his room and lifted the sleeve of his shirt. A gash, nearly four inches long, jagged and raw, stared back at me. He’d gotten it working himself to the bone to buy the designer coat I had demanded. As I cleaned and dressed the wound, tears streamed down my face. “System,” I whispered, “when is he going to ask for a divorce?” I couldn’t stand being cruel anymore. I couldn’t stand seeing him get hurt. The System glanced at my husband’s arm, now damp with my tears, then at his eyelashes, which were trembling ever so slightly. It sighed. 【Divorce? Honey,】 it said. 【He’s planning on loving you for the rest of his life.】 1. “I’m so glad no one took it. See? I told you it was pretty. The ribbon is tied so nicely, too.” It was already ten o’clock at night. I stood under a flickering streetlight, holding the bouquet I’d just fished out of the trash, my voice filled with a quiet joy. The System responded with a cold, humorless laugh. 【A handful of cheap roses, some jasmine, and ten-dollar wrapping paper.】 it sneered. 【A bouquet that cost less than twenty bucks. And for this, you sneak out in the middle of the night to go dumpster diving? Why don’t you just move in there?】 I stayed silent for a moment before whispering, “You can be really mean, System.” Another cold laugh. I didn’t have much room to talk. Not long ago, I’d said something just as cruel to Louis. I had thrown the flowers on the ground right in front of him. He bent down to pick them up, but I stopped him with a sharp command. “Other men buy 999 roses. And you? If you don’t have money, don’t try to act romantic. This is pathetic and embarrassing. Just looking at it makes me sick.” “Can’t you make more money? Being this broke… marrying you was the worst luck of my life.” It wasn’t just the flowers. There was also a small box of fresh strawberries. His boss had handed them out during a site inspection. Louis hadn’t eaten a single one, saving them to bring home to me. The System rolled its eyes, thoroughly disgusted by my sentimentality. 【Can you please stop caring about such meaningless things? Stick to your role! You are the vicious, cruel supporting character. Your only purpose is to humiliate the male lead. I am so sick of you acting like an idiot!】 Its voice was sharp, urging me to go back inside. I pretended not to hear. I crouched down, carefully separating the jasmine blossoms and pressing them flat to use as bookmarks before slowly walking back to our apartment. Strawberries he wouldn’t eat, flowers he went out of his way to buy. If these things, so despised by the System, were meaningless… Then what in the world had meaning? 2. 【Next mission: Force the male lead to buy you a designer coat before Christmas.】 And that was the System’s answer. Louis was home early for once, standing on a stool, fixing a faulty lightbulb. The building was old, the wiring shot. It was a constant cycle of fix and fail. “I bought a small desk lamp,” he said, not looking at me. “I’ll charge it every day before I leave. If the light goes out again, don’t touch it. Just use the lamp and wait for me to get home.” I stood behind him, holding a mug of hot orange juice, my face pale and soft in the dim light. Louis’s hands, once impeccably manicured, were now covered in grime, the palms crisscrossed with tiny cuts. “I…” After a long hesitation, I finally forced out the scripted lines. “Christmas is coming. You have to buy me an expensive coat so I can dress up properly. How am I supposed to celebrate Christmas otherwise?” I showed him a screenshot on my phone, trying to sound fierce. “This one. You have to get me this one. If you can’t, then you’re a useless failure, and you shouldn’t even bother coming home.” Louis washed his hands thoroughly before taking the phone from me. He stared at the screen for a long time before looking up, his expression unreadable. “Is this the only one you want?” At the same time, the System shrieked in my head. 【What the—$800?! Are you insane? Where did you even find a coat at that price?】 The brand specified in the script was far too expensive. Thankfully, I was resourceful. I had scoured online resale apps. Sure enough, I found the $2,000 coat, barely used, for $800, shipping included. Getting it for $800 meant Louis would have to work a few less days, shed a little less sweat. “Is this the only one you want?” Louis asked again. It was only much later that I understood the complex emotions swirling in his eyes. There was a time when $800 wouldn’t have even bought a single button on one of his suits. But now, for the woman who had followed him into a cramped, run-down basement, it was an “expensive coat” to be cherished, a chance to feel beautiful again. When he was on top of the world, I had received nothing from him. But when he hit rock bottom, I was right there beside him, sharing his hardship. At that moment, though, I didn’t understand. I assumed he thought the price was too high, that I was pushing him too far. Shame makes people say stupid things. “Oh, uh, well, I can try to haggle a bit more. Maybe I can get it for less than eight hundred.” I had completely forgotten my persona, my mind consumed by bargaining and panic. Suddenly, the mug was lifted from my hands. Louis reheated the orange juice and passed it back to me. “Lipstick,” he said softly. “A hat, ribbons for your hair, a Christmas tree, a little cake.” A cold wind howled outside, but inside our tiny apartment, it was peaceful. He gently guided me to the sofa. Louis knelt before me, and I found myself looking into a pair of deep, beautiful dark eyes. “You’ll need all those things, too,” he said. “To have a proper Christmas.” 3. Louis was a man of his word. The day before Christmas, I received my gift. It had a crisp silhouette, soft fabric, and a vibrant color. The System breathed a sigh of relief. 【You almost fooled me. Good thing the male lead bought it from the department store. Hahaha, guess you forgot he has a thing about cleanliness. Who would buy a second-hand coat someone else has worn? Only a complete moron like you…】 The System’s mockery was relentless, but I wasn’t listening. “You said… he bought it at the department store?” After Louis’s company went bankrupt, all his old rivals had blacklisted him. He couldn’t get a job at a major corporation or find any respectable work. He was forced to take day-laborer jobs at construction sites, in warehouses, on the docks—anywhere he could sell his strength for cash. And I, his spoiled, vain wife, would immediately squander every dollar he brought home. I bit my lip. “$2,000. Where did he get that kind of money?” 4. It didn’t take long for me to find out. Someone posted a photo online that quickly went viral because of how handsome the man in it was. 【The guy our building management hired to wash windows. Hot, right?】 【OMG, I want that window washing service… for reasons. Why doesn’t my building offer this? One star!】 【I live in this building too. The person on the floor above me has no class. They left a flowerpot on their windowsill, and it fell and hit the poor guy. The gash was huge, blood was pouring out. It was terrifying.】 【I know, right? And he was so nice about it. He just asked for compensation privately. If it were me, I would have blasted them all over the internet! Let everyone see what a trashy neighbor they are!】 That night, I snuck into Louis’s room. It wasn’t really a room, just a folding bed in the corner of the living room, sectioned off by a curtain. Another one of my cruel deeds. I had claimed the only bedroom for myself and refused to let him in. I lifted his sleeve. Sure enough, there was a gash nearly four inches long, jagged and horrifying. Dangling 26 stories high, clinging to the side of a building with only a single rope for support, washing window after window under the scrutinizing gaze of strangers… Louis, had you already decided then and there that you would go to the department store to buy me that coat? “You’re hurt, and you didn’t even tell me.” The wound had only been hastily cleaned. Louis had acted as if nothing was wrong. At dinner, he gave me an apple but didn’t peel it for me like he usually did. He’d said, “A Christmas apple has to be eaten with the skin on. That way, the peace it brings is whole and complete.” It wasn’t that he couldn’t peel it. It was that his left hand was injured. He couldn’t hold a knife, so he’d made up a clumsy lie. A lie that had only fooled his stupid, cruel wife. As I applied ointment to the wound, my fingers gently brushed over the old scars on his wrist. This one, from when I had a fever and needed to see a doctor. He’d taken a job hauling bricks and, being inexperienced, had been cut by a tool. This one, from when I demanded a gold necklace. He’d worked as a bouncer for a night and had been hit with a steel pipe. And this one, and that one… I tried to control my emotions, but the more I tried, the more the tears fell. The System attempted to comfort me. 【Stop crying. If you ask me, you’re the unlucky one. If you’d married him a year earlier, you would have been a billionaire’s wife. You would have gotten mansions as wedding gifts. Instead, you get nothing but a basement apartment. What’s the big deal about him spending a little money on you?】 I was supposed to resent Louis. Resent him for going broke, for being poor, for not being able to give me a good life. But what about Louis? One day he was a golden boy, the next he was at the bottom of a pit. Mocked, humiliated, working grueling manual labor under the scorching sun, enduring the strange looks from everyone. And when he came home, he was met with the accusations of his pampered wife: “You’re a failure. So useless. You can’t even buy me a piece of jewelry. If I were you, I would have killed myself by now.” In the dead of night, Louis, when you stare at this damp, cracked ceiling, do you ever think about the man you were a year ago? Ambitious, brilliant, with the world at your feet? A bitter wind rattled the windowpane. On the bed, the man’s eyelashes trembled. I pressed my cheek to his palm, my tears soaking his wrist. “System, when is Louis finally going to ask for a divorce?” I couldn’t do this anymore. I didn’t want to hurt him again. This Christmas Eve was dark and bleak. The apple tasted of ashes. If he could just divorce me, he wouldn’t have to work himself to death, right? He wouldn’t have to juggle three jobs a day. He wouldn’t have to get hurt anymore. 【Divorce?】 the System said, its tone dripping with something that sounded almost like pity. 【Honey, he’s planning on loving you for the rest of his life.】

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My husband, who had been dead for seven years, suddenly came back to life. Not only did he bring back another woman, but he also wanted me to voluntarily give up my position as his wife. “Jade almost lost her eyes trying to save me. I’ve already promised to marry her. As long as you obediently sign the divorce papers, I can let you continue living in the house.” I was silent for a moment, then spoke calmly. “Actually, I’m already married to someone else.” My husband rolled his eyes: “Why so stubborn? Everyone knows you love me to the bone.” 1 But I was no longer the Lily of seven years ago. That girl who obeyed his every word, humbling herself to the point of losing dignity. “I have no need to lie to you. I really am married to someone else.” Julian looked at me with disdain and sneered: “Lily, stop acting. I’m not asking for your permission; I’m informing you. Whether you like it or not, I will marry Jade.” Jade tugged at his arm, her voice laced with innocence: “Julian, don’t argue with your sister. It’s just my bad fate. You should send me back.” She pretended to leave, but her hand still held Julian’s arm, her eyes looking at me with determination. Hearing this, Julian’s gaze softened instantly. “Jade, you said we’d be together forever.” “Don’t worry, Lily loves me to death. She listens to me the most. We will definitely get married.” Seven years passed, and Julian’s shamelessness had only worsened. Before I could speak, he glared at me threateningly: “You’ve enjoyed the title of Mrs. Sterling for seven years. It’s time to give way to Jade. She has suffered too much; I won’t allow you to bully her.” A mocking smile appeared on my lips: “I haven’t done anything. Don’t throw dirt on me.” Julian’s face darkened instantly. He looked at me expressionlessly: “Do you think you’re someone important? If it weren’t for the fact that you waited for me for seven years, I would have kicked you out of the Sterling house directly. Why would I waste words with you here?” Kick me out? He doesn’t have that chance. Also, why does he think I waited for him for seven years? The day he abandoned me, I stopped waiting. Seven years ago, I sat on the bed in my wedding dress, waiting for Julian to pick me up. But he ran away from the wedding. On the way, the car fell off a cliff. Only the driver survived. For seven years, everyone thought he was dead. I even chose his grave myself. Marrying into the Sterling family was something my father fought hard for. Julian could disregard the Vance family’s face, but I couldn’t. Besides, their family didn’t only have Julian as a man. In these seven years, I became a wife and a mother. If he hadn’t suddenly returned, I would have forgotten him long ago. Therefore, reuniting after many years, my heart was calm. “Julian, I’ll reiterate. We are no longer husband and wife.” “Legally, you are a deceased person.” “So whoever you want to marry has nothing to do with me.” 2 Julian sneered disdainfully: “You’re sensible. If you hadn’t pestered me to marry you back then, I wouldn’t have run to a foreign country and hidden for seven years.” I knew it. In the same car, even the driver could escape. How could he die? It turned out to be a golden cicada shedding its shell. He really hasn’t changed from beginning to end—selfish, arrogant, and irresponsible. When the news of Julian’s death came, his mother fainted on the spot and fell ill, almost following her son. Julian’s words were overheard by the butler who rushed over. “Young Master, please don’t say that.” “She is now the wife of the Sterling Group’s CEO.” “CEO’s wife?” Jade rolled her eyes and asked seemingly casually: “Julian, didn’t you say your grandfather would only pass the CEO position to you?” Julian froze for a moment, then looked at me indifferently. “My father only has me as a son. Who else besides me is qualified to inherit the CEO position?” I stared at Julian calmly. Did he leave his brain behind when he went abroad? Does he know how stupid his words sound? The butler wiped sweat from his forehead in fear: “Young Master, what nonsense are you talking about?” “Madam is married to the Third Master. The Third Master is now the CEO of the Sterling Group. Did you forget? Your Uncle Ethan.” Back when Julian ran away from the wedding, I stood blankly on the street, surrounded by spectators. It was then that Ethan Sterling stepped forward. He said he was willing to marry me. At that time, I was lost and helpless. Everyone knew I was getting married that day, but the groom died on the way. Jinx, bad luck, ominous—these words nailed me to the pillar of shame. Suddenly someone said he was willing to marry me, proving to the world that I wasn’t what they said. He would save the Vance family’s face and take me out of the predicament. Why wouldn’t I marry him? Ethan hadn’t planned to attend his nephew’s wedding, but had to return due to the old man, yet unexpectedly married me. Julian looked at me with ridicule: “Everyone knows my Uncle Ethan is not interested in women; he only cares about his career. He wouldn’t even look at a simp like Lily.” Ethan is a famous business wizard in the capital. Half of the Sterling family’s assets belong to him personally. He is like an ancestor in the Sterling family. I still don’t understand why he married me. There were too many girls prettier and gentler than me. The butler was still persuading: “Young Master, it’s true. You can check the news online, or ask the family if you don’t believe it.” Julian scoffed disdainfully. He casually pointed to a gardener, then asked the nanny. Both gave the same answer. Julian’s face couldn’t hold it anymore. He looked at me coldly: “Good job, Lily. You really have methods. I’ve only been gone for a few years, and you’ve subdued everyone in the family to lie to me together.” I looked calm, not wanting to argue with him. I married Ethan. This is an undeniable fact. Whether Julian believes it or not doesn’t matter to me. He grew up spoiled. The butler, afraid he would continue to pester, immediately sent someone to call Ethan: “Call Third Master’s secretary quickly and ask Third Master to come back.” Ethan had an aviation project to discuss today, so he went to the company early. The old man and Julian’s mother were not at home either. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be his turn to be presumptuous with me. During the standoff, Leo suddenly ran in. “Mom, why didn’t you come back to play with me?” 3 Seeing Leo, Julian was furious, eyes wide with rage. No other reason, Leo was a miniature version of me, just a boy. Julian’s gaze moved back and forth between me and the child. After a long time, he raised a trembling hand and pointed at me: “You dared to betray me and even have a bastard child.” “Say it, whose bastard is this?” Leo inherited Ethan’s personality. Although he didn’t quite understand the word, he knew it wasn’t good. He stroked his chin and said like a little adult: “Who are you calling a bastard? My dad said a dirty mouth deserves a beating.” Leo is six years old. Almost everyone in the family knows him, but he hasn’t met Julian. Julian immediately scolded him: “Little bastard, you dare talk back.” Hearing this, I got angry. My precious son, born after ten months of pregnancy, what right does he have to call him a bastard? “Julian, clean your mouth, or don’t blame me for being rude.” Jade’s face was full of gloating. “This kid looks like he should be in elementary school, right? Did you get pregnant before marrying Julian?” These words were vicious. Hearing this, the look Julian gave me was murderous. The most unacceptable thing for a man is his wife cheating. Especially a woman who claimed to love him. I said calmly: “The child is six.” “Lily, you promiscuous woman. I’ve only been gone for seven years, and you have a child with someone else. Have you no shame?” Only gone for seven years? We only knew each other for a few years, and he left for seven. Besides, he abandoned me first. The butler hurriedly explained: “Young Master, this is your Uncle Ethan’s child.” Julian exploded: “Shut up, you ungrateful thing. Where are my parents? Who allowed her to be so arrogant? Cheating and still self-righteous.” “Everyone in the Sterling family knows about this.” When Julian ran away, his parents felt guilty, so they didn’t oppose Ethan marrying me. Hearing this, Julian was completely enraged. His gaze swept around like a knife, “Who is the wild man? Daring to cuckold the Sterling family, is he tired of living?” No matter how he looked, he couldn’t find a suspect. I laughed sarcastically. Jade, with a tone of “for my own good,” advised me: “Sister, just confess yourself. Otherwise, if you provoke Julian, I can’t help you.” I rolled my eyes at her, “Stop pretending, you thousand-year-old fox.” Before I could react, I was slapped by Julian. “Shut up.” “You cheated, shameless, and still have the face to lecture Jade.” I wasn’t prepared for his sudden attack, and my cheek swelled up instantly. Seeing me beaten, Leo charged at Julian like a little calf. “Dare to hit my mom, I’ll beat you to death.” “Leo!” 4 Julian grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up. My heart pounded: “Julian, let go of the child.” The servants also rushed up to grab the child: “Young Master, put the child down quickly.” “Otherwise, Third Master won’t let this go.” Everyone in the Sterling family knew Leo was Ethan’s lifeblood, usually doted on immensely. But Julian sneered: “If you don’t want to be fired, get lost. I must teach them a lesson today.” My heart tightened: “Julian, what are you doing?” His face was cold, and the atmosphere around him instantly became chilly: “Legally, you cheated during marriage and had a child. I can demand you leave with nothing and compensate for my losses.” But the problem is we never got married. My hands trembled with anger: “Julian, we didn’t get married, where does cheating come from?” “Put the child down!” Leo’s legs dangled, kicking constantly, but he wasn’t scared. Intimidated by Julian’s threat, no one stepped forward. Only advised him lightly. But Julian turned a deaf ear. He glanced at me meaningfully: “After I teach this bastard a lesson, I’ll deal with you personally.” After saying that, he carried Leo and walked out. People around looked at each other, but no one dared to stop him. In the end, it was the butler who blocked Julian. His face darkened instantly: “What? You dare to block me?” The butler wiped his sweat repeatedly, still respectfully saying: “Young Master, talk nicely, don’t be impulsive, release the Young Master quickly.” Taking this opportunity, I hurried to grab the child, but was pulled by Jade. She smiled smugly: “Sister, what are you doing? Don’t seek death.” I slapped her face, “If anything happens to my son, I will make you two regret being born.” Jade took the opportunity to hit the vase next to her, bleeding from her head. Julian’s eyes turned red, venting all his anger on Leo: “You dare touch Jade, see if I don’t beat this bastard to death.” He lifted Leo to throw him on the ground. My heart stopped for a moment. Instinctively pounced over, “Leo!” Seeing Julian go crazy, Leo was just a child after all, crying loudly in fear. Julian shouted at me: “Get lost, I’ll settle accounts with you later.” I hugged the child tightly, not letting go no matter how he pulled. Julian finally lost patience; he kicked me in the chest. I immediately felt breathless. The butler and others came up to pull him, all shaken off by him. “Young Master, stop quickly, that’s your Aunt.” Julian’s leg was hugged by him, and he wanted to kick me again. Just then, A cool and indifferent voice sounded from the door. “What is going on here?” “You’d better give me a reasonable explanation.”

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The “Crown Prince” of New York’s elite circle fell in love with a blind nightclub pianist who “refused to bow to money.” He insisted on dumping me, the financial prodigy groomed by his family. In my past life, to preserve his status as heir, I paid for the blind girl’s eye surgery and kept her as his canary. After regaining her sight and learning the truth, the blind girl fell into depression, miscarried, and became permanently infertile. Years later, the Crown Prince took full control of the Sterling Group and spent two hundred million dollars to marry his “true love.” And I? I was pushed off a rooftop by his own hands. He said, “Your life for our child’s life. We’re even.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the past. The Crown Prince was begging to marry the blind girl at any cost. Of course, this time, I chose to grant his wish. 1 I was the ward of the Sterling family, their designated future daughter-in-law. I was also the financial genius they had poured countless resources into cultivating. Everyone in the Upper East Side knew the rule: Whoever married me would become the heir to the Sterling empire. But fate has a twisted sense of humor. Caleb Sterling didn’t understand this principle. He made a high-profile public declaration of love to a blind girl who played piano in a nightclub—selling her art, not her body. He recklessly threw money around just to make her smile. He told everyone he met: “Daisy is surrounded by mud but remains unstained. Her clean smile is enough to wash away all the worldliness from my soul.” “Audrey Meng is too smart. Her eyes are always full of calculation. She’s too dirty.” So he insisted on dumping me. He didn’t hesitate to kneel before his grandfather, Chairman Sterling, begging for permission to marry Daisy Song. He completely humiliated me. 2 When I opened my eyes, I was sitting in a private VIP booth at a high-end club. Beside me were my close friends from our social circle. Directly in front of us, Daisy Song was playing the piano, her teary, unfocused eyes filled with grievance and indignation. “Playing like that, and she has the nerve to call it art? She’s far worse than Audrey,” one friend whispered. “Caleb must be blind to fall for such a ‘little white flower’.” “By breaking off the engagement with you, he really doesn’t want the identity of the Sterling heir anymore.” I listened to my friends’ gossip in a daze. Daisy finished her piece. She stood up, bowed to us, then groped for her white cane and walked toward the door, step by careful step. With a click, the booth door was pushed open. Caleb strode in. Startled, Daisy lost her footing and fell off the small performance stage. The fall made her cry out instantly. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks one by one, her lips trembling pitifully. Caleb saw this scene unfold. His handsome brows furrowed deeply. He strode over to Daisy, scooping her up into a protective embrace, his eyes full of distress. Then, he glared at the group of us on the sofa. When his gaze landed on me, it was clearly filled with rage. “Audrey, didn’t I warn you not to trouble Daisy?” “What are you doing now? Gang up to bully a blind girl?” I remained silent. A friend beside me defended me: “We just came here to hang out and happened to catch her performance. She fell because she wasn’t steady on her feet. How does that count as us bullying her?” Caleb didn’t care about facts. He only believed what he wanted to believe. His Daisy was crying, so someone had to pay. Everyone sitting here was heir or heiress to a major fortune. We were all entangled in the web of high-society interests. Only I was different. I was the Sterling family’s ward. A dog by Caleb Sterling’s side. He naturally turned his attack on me: “Audrey, come over here and apologize to Daisy!” In my past life, I apologized. I backed down. I endured. For Caleb and Daisy’s sake, I threw away my dignity. And what was the result? I was pushed off a rooftop by Caleb himself, smashed to pieces on the pavement below. I looked at Caleb and smiled gently. “You’re right. It was my fault today. I shouldn’t have joined the fun to watch Miss Song.” Caleb snorted coldly. “At least you’re sensible.” I continued, “But a verbal apology is so boring. How about I give Miss Song an apology gift?” My friends looked dissatisfied and tried to pull me back. I reassured them, took out my phone, and dialed Chairman Sterling’s number on speaker. In front of Caleb, Daisy, and the entire room of wealthy elites, I spoke clearly, word by word: “Chairman Sterling, I have seriously considered your proposal. Since Caleb is unwilling to marry me, let’s fulfill his wish to be with Miss Song. The heir to the Sterling Group doesn’t have to be him. I agree to the marriage arrangement with your youngest son, Roman Sterling. Let Roman be the heir.” Roman Sterling. The ascetic “Buddhist Son” of the New York elite. For years he had stayed away from women; countless wealthy families wanted to align with him but were rejected at the door. 3 Silence descended on the room. My friends were dumbfounded, looking like they wanted to give me a standing ovation. Caleb’s face turned visibly pale. His grip on Daisy loosened, causing her to sway and almost fall again. “Audrey, what did you just say? You want to marry Roman? My uncle?” I nodded slightly. “Yes. To let you and Miss Song be together, I am willing to step aside. Do you like this big gift, Young Master Sterling?” He stiffened, stammering, “But… the inheritance…” I smiled. “Young Master Sterling, surely you know? Chairman Sterling publicly announced years ago that whoever is my husband becomes the heir to the Sterling Group. If you don’t want to marry me, naturally, the position won’t be yours.” He gritted his teeth so hard I could hear it. My friends smirked triumphantly. “After all, our Audrey is the top female financial wizard in the country.” “The Sterling Group’s achievements today are largely thanks to Audrey.” “If Audrey didn’t intend to repay the Chairman’s kindness in raising her, the Sterling Group would have been hers long ago.” “Congratulations, Caleb. You finally got the beauty. Don’t forget to send us wedding invitations.” “I just wonder how much dowry the Sterling family will offer to marry this Miss Song, who comes from a nightclub but remains ‘unstained by the mud.’” With that, my friends surrounded me, and we left the booth together. The moment the door closed, we heard the violent sound of wine glasses and bottles being smashed inside, accompanied by a woman’s frightened scream. “Caleb treated you like a dog before. It’s a good thing to cut ties with him completely.” “He thought we hung out with you because of his status. Today he finally learned who holds the winning cards.” “Even Chairman Sterling is respectful to you. Who does Caleb think he is?” “We only gave him the time of day because of you. In the future, we don’t need to pretend anymore.” “Let him rot.” 4 News of me breaking off the engagement with Caleb spread quickly through the circle. Almost everyone recognized that Caleb was no longer the heir apparent. This caused Caleb to lose the conveniences brought by the heir’s halo. His black card limit was restricted. The seasonal couture he reserved was no longer released to him first. His VIP elevator access at Sterling headquarters was revoked. In food, clothing, housing, and transportation, he began to feel the gap. “I saw Caleb at ‘Le Bernardin’ today. He was actually holding a buzzer waiting for a table. Can you believe this is the arrogant Young Master Sterling?” “Caleb was kicked out of the Polo Club group chat because he couldn’t pay the annual dues.” “Didn’t Caleb order a handmade Steinway for that blind girl? It’s finished, but he can’t pay the remaining million. Hilarious.” Friends sent messages and photos in our group chat. I looked at them with a slight arch of my brow, feeling little emotion. I just felt the former me was blind. To have actually had feelings for Caleb. Without the decoration of abundant wealth, Caleb was just an ordinary rich kid. Idle, useless, nothing but a pretty face. However, Caleb’s mother dragged Caleb to find me. They sat in front of me in my office—one sipping tea demurely, the other glaring with cold hostility. I said nothing, waiting for them to speak. Mother Sterling spoke first: “After the Old Man received your call, he refused to see Caleb. I understand you felt wronged, so we came to discuss a compromise.” “Daisy is pregnant now. It’s not appropriate for her to show her face in public. Could you arrange a house for her and take care of her expenses?” “As the heir, Caleb can only marry you as his wife. Please talk to the Old Man, stop this stalemate with your own future husband.” Mother Sterling spoke coolly, her words polite but sickening. Caleb was much more direct. He slapped a document on the table. “This is a prenuptial agreement. We notarize our property separately. If we divorce, you don’t get a penny of the Sterling assets. Also, ours will be a marriage in name only. You need to tell Daisy that, make her believe my heart only belongs to her.” “After I become the Chairman, you must withdraw from the company immediately and disappear abroad.” “After signing, you will find famous doctors to treat Daisy’s eyes. When she recovers her sight, I will marry you properly.” I looked at the tyrannical contract in my hand and asked, “What benefit do I get from signing this?” Both were stunned. I continued, “What benefit do I get from marrying you, Caleb?” They frowned. I laughed aloud. “Marry you, let you be the heir, give you the money, cars, and houses. I have to take care of Daisy Song, find her doctors, work myself to the bone, and then be kicked abroad by you? It sounds like I’m lower than a servant.” Caleb stood up, looking down at me with supreme confidence. “At least you get to see me often!” “Audrey, I know you love me.” “Being able to see me often must be a gift to you.” My mouth fell open. Suddenly, I understood why, in my past life, despite all my hard work, I never got a word of gratitude. In his heart, allowing me to look at him was a gift. A gift! I gritted my teeth and smiled. After politely sending them away, I posted the surveillance video of their visit, unedited, on my social media. It immediately attracted hundreds of likes. Friends asked if they could share it. I had no reason to stop Caleb from becoming a national joke. I captioned it: Welcome to like, comment, and share! After two days of brewing, major influencers picked it up. The massive traffic pushed the video to the top of the trending list. [Gift? Does he think he is God?] [No, he thinks he is the God of Wealth.] [The money and power were earned by Audrey. He wants her to sacrifice everything just for his face? Thick-skinned!] [Sister, look at me! I’m a college student, young, cheap, obedient, and I speak nicely!] 5 This matter finally alarmed Caleb’s father. Father Sterling came to my office personally, bowing ninety degrees to apologize. He promised to give me an explanation. That same day, I heard Father Sterling beat Caleb so badly he ended up in the ICU. “When the ambulance came, Caleb was covered in blood and unconscious.” “But he kept gritting his teeth, refusing to apologize to you, saying you were the one who should apologize.” “Father Sterling was furious. He declared he wouldn’t care about Caleb anymore.” “Now Caleb can’t even enter the building. His parents froze all his cards. The circle is waiting to see him crash and burn.” Maybe heirs of other groups saw my value and wanted to network with me, so I always received updates on Caleb. Caleb was kicked out of the Sterling estate. He was now living in Daisy’s rental apartment, which cost three thousand a month. Caleb felt sorry for Daisy and wouldn’t let her work. But Caleb was arrogant; he refused menial jobs and wasn’t qualified for executive roles elsewhere. He was eating through Daisy’s savings. Daisy was pregnant and needed prenatal care, plus money for eye doctors. Caleb was tasting hardships he’d never known. Even so, he stayed with Daisy, refusing to compromise with his family. But Daisy didn’t have such endurance. She went to Mother Sterling, who helped them privately. But Father Sterling found out and cut off the supply. They plunged back into poverty. Daisy, although born poor, had been spoiled by Caleb for years. She couldn’t take the hardship anymore. So, she came to beg me. At the Sterling Group’s new product launch conference. Surrounded by media reporters. She knelt on the floor, holding her white cane, crying like a tragic heroine. She mumbled repeatedly, begging for my forgiveness, begging me not to suppress Caleb anymore. Her pitiful face looked so weak under the flashing lights. I sat in the executive chair, looking like the vicious corporate villain. Cameras focused on me, reporters firing questions: “Is it true President Meng ordered a blacklist on Young Master Sterling?” “Is the Sterling Group now run on your whims?” “Are you destroying him because you can’t compete with a blind girl?” Facing these prepared questions, I frowned slightly. But in two seconds, I relaxed. I realized that no matter how good Father Sterling looked on the surface, he wouldn’t easily give up his biological son. This launch was critical; only insiders knew the time and place. Security was maxed out. Yet Daisy, a blind girl, walked in unhindered to cry. Making me take the blame. It must have been orchestrated. Lucas is too proud. Mother Sterling isn’t smart enough. Father Sterling must have been dissatisfied with the Chairman (Grandpa) for a long time. Grandpa preferred me over Caleb. Now that I rejected Caleb, Grandpa gave up on him too. For Grandpa, there was another, more excellent son—Roman. But for Father Sterling, Caleb was his only hope. Using Daisy to create a scandal and push me into the line of fire was likely his first step. But Father Sterling was still too stupid. I smiled at Daisy. “I know no matter how I explain, people will think I caused Caleb’s predicament. But I never harmed the company. Since it has come to this, I will resign as CEO of the Sterling Group to give you an explanation.” I walked over and helped her up. “By the way, I heard you got your marriage license. This is my second gift to you. I believe Caleb will be able to return to the company soon.” She froze, lips pursed. She didn’t expect me to compromise so quickly. “T-thank you, President Meng!” I shook my head, smiling faintly. “No thanks needed. I wish you two a lifetime…” locked together in hell.

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1 On New Year’s Eve, the police came for me. Outside, fireworks lit up the night sky. My father’s star protégé, Liam, had just posted online: “Thank you, Professor Redding. For choosing justice over family, for not shielding your own daughter.” I thought it was a joke. In the holding cell, bruised and desperate, I gripped the bars. “Dad, I didn’t push her. I was framed. You’re the best lawyer—can’t you defend me?” A cold voice came through the glass. “Aurora, you’re grown. Face what you’ve done. The victim is Liam’s mother.” My father spoke calmly, without warmth. “I am a leader in law. As my daughter, I cannot appear to favor you. If I defended you, what would people think?” He paused. “I’ve already agreed to serve as Liam’s counsel. I will ensure you face the consequences and reflect on your actions.” I looked down at the indictment. “I understand. I won’t trouble you any longer.” My voice was empty. “I’ll confess. Then you won’t have to worry about appearances.” In the interrogation room, I signed the confession. This time, I didn’t tarnish the gavel of his justice. … New Year’s Eve. Two officers escorted me from the house. The front door of our villa stood open, my father, Arthur Redding, framed in the doorway. Liam stood beside him, clutching his sleeve. “Professor, I’m sure Aurora didn’t mean it,” Liam pleaded, his voice thick with false concern. “It’s New Year’s Eve, don’t let them take her away like this…” Arthur shook Liam’s hand off and looked at me, his face a mask of stone. “That is precisely why she needs to learn a lesson she won’t forget.” He gave a sharp wave of his hand. “Take her away.” An officer shoved me forward, and I was bundled into the back of the police car. Just before the door slammed shut, I saw my father clap Liam on the shoulder and turn back into the warmth of the house. Thirty minutes earlier, Liam’s mother had lunged, her head cracking against the corner of a table. I had reached out to catch her, but Liam screamed that I had pushed her. My father didn’t even look at the security footage. He just called the police. As the car pulled away, I looked back. The lights of our home vanished into the darkness. In the detention center, I curled into a corner, a searing pain in my chest. My congenital asthma flared up, each breath a blade scraping against my ribs. The other inmates were gossiping about the trending topics online. “Check this out. The great Arthur Redding, turning in his own daughter.” “Yeah, wouldn’t even shield his own kid. Sent her to prison himself.” “Justice? Sounds more like cold-blooded to me.” “What do you know? That’s what you call a pillar of the law.” Someone held up a phone. “Liam just posted again.” She read it aloud. “‘Thank you, Professor, for choosing justice over family. My mother was harmed by my senior, but the professor’s impartiality has shown me the true warmth and strength of the law.’” The comments were a flood of praise for Arthur Redding’s integrity and unwavering principles. A tickle started in my throat, and I coughed up a spray of bloody foam. I grabbed the bars and shook them with what little strength I had left. “Guard… I need a doctor.” The guard ambled over, nightstick in hand. “You again? Trying to get special treatment?” “My ribs are broken… cough… asthma…” The guard sneered. “We just got a call from Mr. Liam.” I froze. “He said you’re good at playing the victim. Told us to ignore you,” the guard continued. “Mr. Redding’s orders are to let you ‘reflect.’ A little hardship will teach you a lesson.” He turned and walked away. “Stop faking it. Any more trouble and it’s solitary for you.” I slid to the floor. Liam. The pain in my lungs was excruciating, my breathing ragged and shallow. I pulled out my necklace, opening the locket to the tiny photo of my mother inside. “Mom…” I whispered. “Dad… for the sake of his reputation, for Liam… he’s really abandoned me.” My consciousness started to fade, replaced by a desperate, rasping struggle for air. The next day, Arthur came. He sat on the other side of the glass, immaculate in his tailored suit, his hair perfectly coiffed. A document lay on the table before him. I was half-carried, half-dragged to the chair by two guards. I lifted my head, my prison uniform soaked in cold sweat, my hair plastered to my forehead. “Dad… I didn’t push her. There’s security footage at the house.” My voice was a broken whisper. “Just look at the camera… in the living room…” Arthur’s brow furrowed, and he slammed his hand on the table. “Aurora!” The sharp sound from the receiver was like a spike in my eardrum. “You are a grown woman! Have the courage to admit what you’ve done! Liam’s mother is still in the ICU. He’s collapsed from grief multiple times. And all you can think about is saving your own skin?” He pointed at the document. “I am a pillar of the legal community. I despise deceit. You are my daughter, which means I must be even more scrupulous! If I defended you, if I went looking for footage, what would people say? That I fabricated evidence for my daughter? If I showed favoritism, how could I maintain my standing?” He pressed the document against the glass. “I have accepted the prosecution’s request to act as Liam’s legal counsel. I will personally see to it that you have time to reflect. This is a confession. Sign it, and you might get a lighter sentence. Don’t force me to testify against you in open court.” I stared at the confession form. Every word on it had been drafted by my own father. To avoid impropriety, he was nailing the crime to his own daughter. “Dad.” I tried to smile, but a trickle of blood ran from the corner of my mouth. “If I sign this, your reputation is safe? You won’t be in a difficult position anymore?” His jaw tightened. “That’s not your concern. You made a mistake, and you will pay the price. That is the principle.” “Fine.” I picked up the pen, my hand trembling as I wrote my name: Aurora Redding. As the last stroke fell, a sudden emptiness hollowed out my chest. A mouthful of blood erupted from my lips, spattering the confession and the glass partition. Arthur recoiled, his face a mask of disgust. “Stop the theatrics. Save that act for the judge.” He collected the blood-stained document, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, adjusted his tie, and turned to leave. “Reflect on what you’ve done. Don’t contact me before the trial.” I watched his retreating back as my vision faded to black. That night, the heating in the detention center was shut off. I curled up on the cot, clutching my locket. I heard a guard’s voice outside the door. “Mr. Liam said a little cold would clear her head.” The chill seeped into my bones. The broken ribs felt like they were piercing my organs. My breathing stopped. I remembered when I was a child, being bullied in the schoolyard. Arthur had stood in front of me, a towering shield. “Don’t be afraid, Aurora. Daddy is a lawyer. I will always protect justice, and I will always protect you.” Liar. You protected justice. You just murdered me to do it. My hand went limp. The locket slipped from my fingers, clattering onto the concrete floor. Dad, this time, I won’t make things difficult for you. You don’t have to worry about appearances anymore. My consciousness sank into darkness. And then, I was floating. I saw the girl named Aurora, curled up on the cot, completely still. Her eyes were open, staring at the door. I tried to close them for her, but my hand passed right through her body. Oh. I’m dead. It wasn’t cold anymore. It didn’t hurt. I floated in the air, watching as the guard kicked my corpse. “Hey, get up! Stop playing dead!” He checked for a pulse, then scrambled back, falling to the floor in terror. “She’s… she’s dead!” I watched the scene unfold with a strange sense of calm. See, Dad? I wasn’t acting. The first day of the New Year. The lights were bright in the legal news channel’s studio. I floated behind Arthur as he walked onto the set. He sat under the spotlights, his expression grave. The host began. “Mr. Redding, on New Year’s Eve, you personally handed your daughter over to the authorities. It caused quite a sensation. Did you struggle with that decision?” Arthur adjusted his glasses. “Before the law, all are equal. Even if she is my daughter, she must be punished for her crimes. As a legal professional, I cannot undermine the integrity of our justice system. That is a line I will not cross.” The audience erupted in applause. I hovered above his head, watching him bask in their admiration, the irony a bitter taste in my non-existent mouth. Liam was sitting in the front row, wearing a new navy-blue suit. It was a New Year’s gift I’d bought for myself with three months of internship savings. I’d never even had a chance to wear it. Now it was on him, a perfect fit. After the interview, Arthur walked out with Liam. Liam smoothed the cuffs. “Professor, this suit is a perfect fit.” He sighed dramatically. “Aurora always had good taste. It’s a shame that now she’s…” Arthur snorted. “Don’t mention that ungrateful girl. The suit looks much better on you. If only she were half as sensible as you are.” I stood there, watching my father adjust Liam’s collar. A sour feeling churned inside me. I used to ask him to fix my collar, but he would always push me away. “Don’t be so familiar. We must maintain a professional distance. I can’t have people thinking I spoil my child.” I see now. He didn’t hate spoiling a child. He just hated spoiling me. Back at the house, Arthur called for the housekeeper. “Clear out Aurora’s room. Make space for Liam.” The housekeeper hesitated. “Sir, what about Miss Aurora’s law books, her trophies… where should I put them?” Arthur loosened his tie and sank onto the sofa. “That was all for show. She’s in prison now, what’s the use of keeping them? Throw them in the basement.” A triumphant smirk flickered across Liam’s face. The housekeeper sighed and returned with trash bags. I followed her into my room. Liam was already there, rifling through my bookshelf. A copy of Criminal Law Theory fell to the floor, a bookmark slipping out. It was a gift from Arthur ten years ago. On the flyleaf, he had written: “May my daughter, Aurora, always be a partner to justice.” Liam picked it up, glanced at the inscription, and sneered. “A partner to justice? How ironic.” He tossed the book carelessly into a trash bag. I stood beside the bookshelf, watching him throw my life away, piece by piece. I wanted to scream, to push him away. But my hands passed through him, creating only a faint breeze. He shivered. “Why did it suddenly get so cold?” On the sofa, Arthur’s phone rang. The caller ID was the detention center. He glanced at the screen and declined the call without a second thought. “It’s from Aurora’s facility again,” he said to Liam. “She’s probably demanding to see me, or faking an illness to get medical parole.” He shook his head. “Ignore it. She was spoiled rotten. A little hardship is what she needs.” At that exact moment, at the City Third Detention Center, an ambulance had arrived. A doctor examined my body and shook his head. “Time of death is over four hours ago. Cause of death appears to be a tension pneumothorax from a rib fracture, leading to asphyxia and cardiac arrest.” The warden was sweating. “Mr. Redding isn’t answering his phone… The inmate is dead, the family has to be notified!” “Keep calling!” the chief guard roared. “And call Liam! He’s a party to the case, call him!” Liam’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and stepped out onto the balcony to answer. I floated after him. “Hello? What? In shock? Sent to the hospital?” Liam’s voice was low, then he deliberately raised it. “Officer, my professor is in the middle of a major case. He’s very busy. Please don’t bother him with trivial matters. There’s no need to send her to a major hospital, she’s just faking it. She faked fainting during her last physical assessment, too. Just splash some cold water on her face, she’ll wake up.” He hung up and deleted the call from his history. Returning to the living room, he poured Arthur a cup of tea. “Who was that?” Arthur asked. “A telemarketer,” Liam said smoothly. Arthur nodded and took a sip of tea. Then he dialed his financial manager. “Freeze Aurora’s supplementary credit card and her study abroad trust fund. All of it. Not a single cent. I want her to learn that without me, she is nothing.” Yes, Dad. Without you, I really am nothing. But it’s okay. I don’t need any of those things now. Outside, firecrackers popped and fireworks bloomed across the sky. And I was lying in a cold drawer in the city morgue. Dinner was served. Dumplings. Liam placed one in Arthur’s bowl. “Professor, have a dumpling. Happy New Year.” Arthur smiled. It was the first genuine smile I’d seen from him in days. “Happy New Year.” I watched, numb, and whispered to the empty air. Happy New Year, Dad. Liam moved into my room. He found the box in my drawer. Inside was my mother’s last gift to me: a vintage, leather-bound law codex. It was a family heirloom Arthur had entrusted to my care. Liam took it out, snapped a picture, and posted it. “The master passes the torch. I will cherish it. The responsibility of justice is now mine to carry.” The likes poured in. “Liam, you’re incredible!” “Looks like Professor Redding sees you as his successor!” Half an hour later, our family friend, the lawyer Mr. Davies, burst into Arthur’s office. Arthur looked up from a brief, annoyed. “Frank, you’re old enough to know better than to barge in here.” Mr. Davies slammed a phone on the desk. Then he pulled a thermos from his bag and slammed that down too. “Arthur, are you insane? Sending Aurora to jail is one thing, but you’re giving away her mother’s keepsake to an outsider?” He pointed to the thermos. “Do you even recognize this? Aurora bought it for you with her first month’s internship pay! She said you had a sensitive stomach and went all over town to find it!” “She texted me saying her ribs hurt! I tried to visit, but you signed a ‘no visitation’ order! I couldn’t get in!” Arthur glanced at the thermos, his gaze flickering for a second before hardening again. He stood up, smoothing his cuffs. “You don’t understand. When I was young, I was accused of favoritism in a case involving a relative. It nearly destroyed my career. I will not allow the same thing to happen a second time. Especially not because of my own family.” His voice was like steel. “To avoid impropriety. I am Liam’s counsel. Letting Aurora’s friend visit her? What would the media say?” Mr. Davies was trembling with rage. “To hell with your impropriety! Arthur, you’re a murderer! Aurora would never push anyone! Did you check the dashcam? Wasn’t your car parked in the driveway?” Arthur froze. His car had been parked facing the living room window. The camera would have captured everything. But he’d never thought to check. Liam had already provided the “video evidence.” I floated behind him, screaming into his ear. Check it! Dad, I’m begging you, check it! The truth is right there! Just press the button and you’ll know I’m innocent! Arthur’s fingers hovered over his car keys, rubbing the fob. “The evidence is conclusive. Frank, please leave. If you persist, I’ll call security.” Mr. Davies pointed a trembling finger at him, his eyes red. “Fine. Arthur, you remember this day. Don’t you dare come crying to me when you’re on your knees.” He stormed out, slamming the door. Arthur sat back down, staring at the ceremonial gavel on his desk. He picked up his keys and went to the garage. Inside the car, his finger rested on the button for the dashcam footage. One press, and the truth would be revealed. I sat in the passenger seat, my entire being focused on that finger. Liam’s call came through the car’s speaker. “Professor, I’ve revised the indictment. Is there anyone else we need to add to the guest list for the celebration dinner tonight?” Arthur’s finger paused mid-air. He pulled his hand back and started the car. “No, that’s everyone. I’m heading back to the firm now. Let’s not talk about unpleasant things anymore.” The car rolled out of the garage. In that moment, my heart turned to ash. The fourth day of the New Year. The chief medical examiner, Dr. Peterson, was an old classmate of Arthur’s. The moment he saw my body on the autopsy table, his scalpel clattered to the floor. “Aurora?!” He immediately called Arthur. No answer. He tore off his white coat and raced to the villa. After ten minutes of ringing the bell, Liam opened the door. Dr. Peterson grabbed him, his eyes bloodshot. “Where’s Arthur? Get him out here! Don’t you know someone is dead?!” Liam averted his gaze. “Uncle Pete, the Professor is preparing for a major case and isn’t seeing anyone. What’s wrong?” “Aurora is dead! In the detention center!” Dr. Peterson’s voice shook. “Get your professor and come with me to identify the body!” Liam’s face paled, but he quickly composed himself. He leaned in close. “Uncle Pete, that’s not a funny joke. My senior just called and screamed at me a little while ago. She sounded full of energy.” “Impossible! The body is at my morgue…” “It must be someone with the same name,” Liam insisted, pulling out his phone and playing a recording. My voice filled the air. “Liam, you just wait! When I get out of here, I’ll kill you and your mother!” It was a line from a play we had rehearsed years ago, which he had secretly recorded. Liam sighed. “You hear that? Does that sound like a dead person? My senior is just trying to force the Professor to see her. If he finds out you were fooled, he’ll be angry.” Dr. Peterson listened, stunned. He let go of Liam. “Alright. As long as she’s okay. Just have your professor call me back.” Liam closed the door and sagged against it, gasping for breath. He ran upstairs and knocked on the study door. “Professor, Uncle Pete was here. He said Aurora sent a message with him. Said she’s dying in there and wants you to save her.” Arthur was writing a closing argument. The nib of his pen tore through the paper. He took off his glasses, rubbing his temples. “Pete is falling for her games too? I knew she was faking it. She’s been using that trick since she was a child. Now she’s using death to manipulate me? Outrageous!” he fumed. “Ignore her. Let her stay there until she learns her lesson.” He took a fresh sheet of paper and continued to write, adding another line to the list of my alleged crimes. I floated in the corner of the study, watching him. A laugh almost escaped my lips. Dad, even in death, you won’t believe me, will you? The fifth day of the New Year. Unclaimed bodies are cremated after the legal deadline. Dr. Peterson looked at the tag on the morgue drawer that read “Aurora Redding” and sighed. If Arthur said it was a fake, then it must be someone with the same name. “Proceed with the cremation,” he said, signing the form. I was wheeled towards the incinerator. The flames roared to life, consuming my body. It was so hot. But I felt nothing. I was Aurora, but I wasn’t her anymore. I was just a wisp of consciousness, attached to a package that had just been mailed. At a grand hotel, Arthur was hosting a charity gala for his legal aid foundation. Liam, wearing my suit, adjusted his tie in the mirror and smiled. “Don’t blame me, senior. You’re ‘dead’ anyway. It would be a waste to let these opportunities go.” A package arrived at the front desk. The sender was me. I had mailed it three days before I died. Inside was a backup of the dashcam’s memory card and a letter for my father. Liam glanced at it and tossed it into the pile of corporate gifts. At 7 p.m., the ballroom was filled with guests. Arthur entered with Liam on his arm, graciously accepting compliments. The large screen behind the stage lit up, ready to play the promotional video. Deep within the pile of gifts, my package lay in waiting. I floated above it, watching everything unfold. Dad, this is the last gift I’ll ever give you. You’d better be ready to receive it.

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I died in my world and woke up in a novel. Not as the heroine, but as the quintessential “mean girl” villainess. In the original plot, my character, Chloe, was destined to spend her life tormenting the female lead, only to be destroyed by the two powerful men who loved her. But when I arrived, the story hadn’t started yet. I chose a different path. I became best friends with the heroine, cheered on her romance, and eventually married the “gentle” second lead—the man who was supposed to pine for her forever. For thirteen years, I thought I had rewritten my fate. I thought I was loved. Until I found the journal. 1 I stared at the positive pregnancy test in my hand, my heart swelling with a peace I’d never known. Thirteen years in this world, and for the first time, I felt like I truly belonged. I wasn’t just a soul occupying a character’s body anymore; I had a real anchor. I had transmigrated after my death into this novel, taking over the life of Chloe, a girl who shared my name but was infamous for her cruelty. But I felt lucky. I arrived before the plot kicked off. I never did a single thing to hurt the leads. In fact, because Sarah was so bright and kind, we became inseparable. I was her ultimate wingwoman, encouraging her to chase the male lead, watching them fall in love, and eventually standing by her side as her maid of honor. Sarah was the second person I wanted to tell the news to. The first, of course, was my husband, Julian. Julian was originally the “nice guy” second lead who was supposed to silently pine for Sarah. But because of the butterfly effect of my changes, he stopped chasing her. He turned all his focus and devotion toward me. After thirteen years together, I truly felt cherished. I had married for love, or so I thought. Now, with our little family about to grow, I couldn’t wait to share the news with him. 2 I decided to be a little playful. Instead of just telling him, I wanted him to find the test himself. I slipped into his home office and sat at his desk. Rifling through a drawer, a weathered, old leather journal caught my eye. It looked out of place among his sleek, organized files. It was tucked at the very bottom, only visible because he must have been in a rush and left it slightly crooked. I picked it up, smiling. It looked like a vintage notebook from our college days. The edges were frayed, the pages yellowed. We never had secrets, so I didn’t hesitate to open it. The inside cover had a large, elegant script: Forever Love. My heart fluttered. Is this a collection of love letters to me? I thought. I took the pregnancy test, ready to tuck it inside as my own “love letter” to him. But when I turned to the first page, my world stopped. To my eternal soulmate, Sarah. Sarah. The heroine. The blood drained from my face. My throat felt like it was stuffed with dry cotton, making every breath a struggle. My hands shook, but I couldn’t stop. I read every single entry with a sort of masochistic obsession. It wasn’t a diary. It was a decade-long confession of unrequited love. It could be summarized in one sentence: Julian loved Sarah, and he could never have her. The realization hit me: Julian was a regressor. He had lived the original timeline. He was still deeply in love with Sarah. And every ounce of affection he had shown me was a performance. He stayed close to keep me under surveillance. He married me to ensure I would never be a threat to his true love again. The joy of the pregnancy vanished, replaced by a bitterness that tasted like ash. I never wanted to hurt Sarah, but in that moment, I hated her. I envied the fact that a tiny spark of kindness she showed him years ago was enough to make a man dedicate thirteen years to “playing house” with a villainess just to keep her safe. I don’t know how long I cried. The world around me turned into a terrifying hallucination. 3 I passed out on the sofa and didn’t wake up until I heard the door. Julian was home, smelling of bourbon and stumbling slightly. “Babe, I’m home…” he slurred, smiling at me. “Sorry, the networking event went late.” I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes and played the part of the dutiful wife. I helped him with his tie and unbuttoned his collar. “Thanks, honey. You’re the best.” I looked at him and realized how hollow his gratitude was. If he had looked at me for even a second, he would have seen my swollen eyes. But he wasn’t looking. He was just reciting lines he’d practiced for years. I helped him into bed. As the alcohol lowered his guard, his mask finally slipped. “Sarah…” I froze. I thought I was hearing things. My nails dug into my palms. “Sarah,” he whispered again, a soft, longing sigh. I felt a cruel urge to test him. I lowered my voice, imitating Sarah’s soft, airy tone. “Julian?” He suddenly grabbed my hand, his eyes bleary but filled with a tenderness I now knew wasn’t meant for me. “Sarah… as long as you’re happy, everything I’ve done… it was worth it.” The cage of his lies slammed shut around me. I couldn’t breathe. I bolted from the room, fleeing into the hallway. My “happily ever after” was nothing more than a well-staged joke. 4 My sleep was haunted by flashes of the original Chloe’s life. In the book, Chloe bullied Sarah, hired thugs to harass her, and used her family’s wealth to crush her. In the dream, the “villainess” turned around. She had my face. It was twisted, monstrous, and terrifying. Then the dream shifted. The hero and Julian grew powerful. They came for me. Julian looked at me with cold, dead eyes, as if looking at a piece of trash. “Since you love destroying lives so much,” he whispered, “let’s see how you like it.” In the nightmare, I was stripped of everything and left to die in a cold, dark alley. “No!” I screamed, jolting upright. I found myself staring into Julian’s worried eyes. The transition from the monster in my dream to the “caring” husband in front of me made me physically recoil. He was trying to tuck a blanket around me. “Babe? What’s wrong? Why are you sleeping on the couch? You’ll catch a cold.” “Babe, are you mad that I drank too much last night? I’m sorry, the client was very important.” I shook my head, too exhausted to speak. We didn’t have a guest room. When we bought the house, Julian insisted we didn’t need one. He said he’d never let an argument get so bad that he’d be kicked out; he’d rather sleep on the floor by my side. Now I realized the truth: he just wanted to keep me under constant surveillance. He didn’t notice my silence. He just rubbed his temples. “Honey, that meeting was brutal. My head is killing me. Where’s the hangover smoothie?” “I didn’t make it,” I said flatly. Julian’s family hadn’t been wealthy, while I was a typical “rich kid.” He always said he wanted to earn my father’s respect on his own. He worked himself to the bone, refusing help from my family to start his own firm. I had spent years taking care of him, staying up all night when he was sick. I thought I was supporting my partner. But I had read his journal. I knew the truth now. [Chloe uses her family’s power to hurt Sarah. I cannot let that happen. I must build my own empire, gain enough leverage to rival her father. If they try to hurt Sarah like they did before, I will burn the Chloe’s family legacy to the ground.] His hard work wasn’t for us. It was to build a weapon against me, to protect his true love.

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This was my fourth year as Spencer Sterling’s trophy girlfriend. He got bored and asked to break up. I planned to do my usual routine: cry, scream, threaten to end it all. Just like countless times before—perform deep devotion, satisfy his ego. But then, floating text appeared in the air before my eyes. The Comments. They said Spencer was serious this time. He had fallen for someone else. This was truly the last time we would meet. Instantly, I went silent. I shed a few silent tears while using my pinky finger to hook the stack of cash on the floor, rolling it into my palm and tucking it deep into my sleeve. Chapter 1 [The Male Lead is for real this time. The Supporting Female still thinks he’s flirting.] [Yeah, he just wants to dump her to chase our Princess. If she keeps clinging, it’s just pathetic.] I saw these floating comments three minutes ago, right when Spencer mentioned breaking up. Usually, when Spencer threatened a breakup, he was just throwing a tantrum, wanting to see me beg and say I couldn’t live without him. I had just brewed up some tears, ready to wail, when the text blocked the sound in my throat. I looked up. The man in front of me was as immaculate as ever in a black dress shirt, cuffs folded perfectly. But the watch on his wrist wasn’t the Patek Philippe I bought him for his birthday last year. It was a modest, mid-range brand. A brand the old Spencer never would have touched. The comments continued: [She has zero self-awareness. Can’t she see his dark face? Take the money and get lost, girl.] I looked into Spencer’s eyes. Eyes I had memorized over the last three years. This time, I didn’t need to squint to see the disgust. The eyes that used to fake affection no longer held my reflection. In that moment, I knew the comments were real. So, I choked back the scene I had prepared. My voice came out raspier than intended. “So, how much is the severance package?” Spencer froze, clearly not expecting that question. He pulled out a stack of bills and threw them into the air. Red hundred-dollar bills rained down on the floor. He looked at me coldly, waiting for my reaction. I pursed my lips and stood there. The text scrolled rapidly before my eyes: [Pick it up! This is your last chance to cash out!] [The Male Lead sees her true colors now. He’s humiliating her on purpose. He finally realizes that everyone else just wants his money, only our Princess is pure and uncorrupted.] [But didn’t she date him for three years? Breaking up this ugly… is the Male Lead really the good guy?] [What do you know? She’s just a gold digger. She took the money; she has no right to talk about dignity.] [As long as you’re alive, you have a right to dignity.] … While the comments argued, I had already squatted down, gathered the scattered bills, organized them neatly, and placed them in my purse. The comments were harsh, but they were right about one thing: this was my last payday from Spencer. I had to make it count. Maybe my scoop-and-go technique was too professional. When I turned to leave, I glanced back and saw Spencer’s face was dripping with darkness. Three years of intense training almost made me instinctively tear up and profess my love. But then more mocking comments floated by. I snapped out of it, bit my lip, and said dully, “Or… should you leave first?” Spencer didn’t speak. He stormed out, face cold as ice. I watched his back, thinking about the designer bags and jewelry he gave me over the years. My heart actually ached. Only now did I dare let the tears blur my vision. This might really be the last time. Goodbye, Spencer Sterling. Chapter 2 [Whoa, why does the Supporting Female look actually heartbroken?] [Doesn’t she only care about money? Why is she crying like that?] I saw the comments and quickly wiped my face. When I looked up, Spencer had turned around in the distance. He was looking at me, his expression complicated. Terrified he might ask for a refund, I turned sideways and power-walked away. My white sneaker stepped into a loose paving stone, splashing dirty mud all over the toe. I admit, my exit was a bit messy. But at least I got away safely. That night, in my rental apartment, I counted cash while sending out resumes. I deposited the $7,000 severance Spencer gave me immediately after leaving his gated community. If he had given me just $3,000 more, I would have hit my savings goal of $500,000. The economy is bad. I didn’t dare invest in stocks. I put it all in CDs. Low interest, but zero risk. After balancing the ledger, I lay on the bed and finally had time to be sad. I missed the money, sure. But I missed Spencer, too. When I graduated, I got scammed out of my savings by a fake landlord, then worked an unpaid internship where they fired me on the last day. I was starving when I met Spencer. Maybe when your luck hits rock bottom, it bounces. I was plain, but I was exactly Spencer’s type. He was generous. Ten grand a month allowance, plus expensive gifts. I couldn’t repay him with money, so I repaid him with ego boosts. He liked me clingy. He liked me helpless. I even took acting classes to provide better emotional value. I could turn 30% affection into 100% devotion. But luck comes fast and leaves faster. I stared at the ceiling, wondering where I’d find work tomorrow. Then, the strange text started scrolling again. [What is the Male Lead doing? He let Princess find out about the Supporting Female. Now Princess is mad. Poor baby.] [If I recall, the Supporting Female dated him first. Why is the Heroine mad?] [Stop being a troll. She was just a canary. A sugar baby doesn’t count as a girlfriend.] The comments started fighting. My eyes were getting blurry. Then, a bright red comment stopped the war. [The Male Lead is crazy. He wants to bring the Supporting Female in to make Princess jealous? Let’s see if she has the shame to show up.] The second the text vanished, my phone rang. “Come to Club Vane. Room 305,” Spencer said. Short and concise. I remembered the last comment and felt guilty. “We broke up, maybe it’s not…” “Five thousand.” “But…” “Fifteen.” “However…” “Thirty thousand.” “I’m on my way.” I hopped on my bicycle and rode against the night wind toward the location. The comments floating above the road were roasting me alive. Let them roast. Thirty grand for a cameo? They’d run faster than me if they had the chance. Spencer wanted me to act like a simp in front of the Heroine. At this point, I knew my place. But the moment I walked into the VIP room, the “Honey” on my lips froze. Because the person standing there, the “Princess” the comments worshipped… Was Jenna. The fake heiress who kicked me out of my own biological family. Chapter 3 Facing Jenna’s disdainful glare, the thirty grand suddenly didn’t seem worth it. I went silent. Spencer called me over. I responded absentmindedly. Sensing my lack of enthusiasm, Spencer’s face darkened. He ignored Jenna, who he was supposedly obsessed with, and frowned at me. Until the comments mentioned the Heroine again. He reacted like a puppet. He grabbed me and pulled me into his arms, right in front of Jenna. Then, as expected, Jenna’s eyes turned red with anger. In that instant, I felt so tired. I put my hand on his chest and pushed us an arm’s length apart. I dug around in my pocket for a while, finally pulling out a set of keys and tossing them on the table. “I only came to return the keys you left at my place.” I tried to sound relieved, but my voice shook. I didn’t actually know what keys these were—Spencer’s front door was biometric—but I bet Spencer didn’t know either. Someone snickered. Spencer’s friends. They always looked down on me. Like the scrolling text, they probably thought I was playing hard to get. A nameless fire rose in my chest. I pointed a trembling finger at Spencer. “A good ex should be like a corpse—dead and silent! Don’t contact me again, do you understand?!” I didn’t have the courage to look at him again. I turned and ran. I ran all the way out of the club before I dared to lean against a wall and sob. Spencer dumping me was fine. But choosing Jenna? That hurt. When Jenna stole my parents and kicked me out of the house, I was seventeen. Half of the hunger and humiliation I suffered these past years was her doing. I was waiting to save enough capital to pull a “revenge of the fallen heiress” plot. How did Spencer become her backer? I bit my lip, afraid to make a sound, shaking with silent sobs. The floating comments went quiet. [Damn, why does she look actually pitiful…] [Yeah, I’m kinda feeling bad for her.] What do you mean kinda pitiful? I am objectively miserable, okay? Finally, I couldn’t hold it. I squatted down and wailed. A tissue appeared in front of my face. The person holding it had one hand over his ear, looking at me with a complicated expression. “You love him that much? Enough to torture yourself?” It was Sawyer Sterling. Spencer’s younger brother. I didn’t speak. He squatted down and wiped my messy face. “I used to think you were just a glutton who loved money. I didn’t know you could love so genuinely. You cursed him out in public just to help him move on.” His tone was awkward, a blush creeping up his neck. He thought for a long time before speaking again. “Chloe, be with me. I’ll treat you better than my brother did.” I looked up, staring at him. He scratched his head nervously. “I mean it. Be my girlfriend. I won’t let anyone bully you. Whatever my brother gave you, I’ll give you too.” “Ten grand a month?” “Deal.” “Okay. We’re dating.” Chapter 4 Sawyer was visibly stunned by my speed. Then, a huge grin spread across his face. Before he could speak, a tall figure stepped out of the shadows. [Haha, the Male Lead thinks she loves him so much. He bet his friends she’d reject Sawyer instantly.] I realized Spencer had been watching me cry the whole time. He watched coldly until I accepted Sawyer. Then he stepped out. He looked at me, then at my hand tightly gripping Sawyer’s. He took a step forward. Sawyer stepped in front of me, grinning at his brother. “Bro, here to congratulate me? You always told Mom and Dad I needed a girlfriend. Now I found one. You should be happy.” Spencer’s face was grim. Sawyer ignored it. “No need for speeches. I want alone time with my girlfriend.” “Your girlfriend?” Spencer sounded like he was grinding his teeth. Sawyer acted oblivious, lifting our joined hands. “Of course she’s my girlfriend.” When Spencer saw the ring-free fingers interlocked with his brother’s, his pupils shrank. The rage in his eyes was almost tangible. It scared me. I instinctively hid behind Sawyer. The comments overhead went wild: [Male Lead thought she was loyal. They broke up this morning and she’s already sold the couple rings.] [Told you she’s a gold digger. Only our Princess truly loves him for him.] Spencer looked even worse after that comment appeared. Sawyer, enjoying the chaos, pulled me from behind his back and wrapped an arm around me. “She’s mine now,” he taunted. “What, you gonna stay and watch us make out?” He grabbed the back of my head and leaned in like he was going to kiss me. I went stiff. I saw Spencer’s fist clench. Just then, Jenna appeared and grabbed Spencer’s arm. “You’ve been gone so long. It’s boring without you.” She ignored us completely, focusing her whining on Spencer. Spencer’s irritation visibly smoothed out. He put on a gentle mask, rubbed Jenna’s hair, and said softly, “Just getting some air. Sorry to keep you waiting.” As a canary who spent three years pleasing him, I had never seen him this gentle. Sawyer tickled my palm. I looked up. He rolled his eyes at them and mouthed: They hooked up ages ago. Homewreckers deserve each other. But my brother treats her like a treasure. I laughed at his expression, then remembered who was standing there and frowned again.

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I’ve always been a man who prefers a clean shot. So, when I scrolled through my Special Tactics Unit fiancée’s private photo album and saw a strange man’s sleeping face, I walked straight up to Scarlett Pierce and demanded an explanation. She sat on the balcony all night, finally confessing, “He was the hostage I extracted from my last mission—the son of the Director. I won’t lie, Damon. I developed feelings for him. But we’ve been together for seven years. We’re getting married the day after tomorrow. I promise you, I will cut all ties with him.” Looking at the desperate sincerity in her eyes, I swallowed the searing pain and chose to forgive her. The wedding would proceed as planned. But on the wedding day, a young man burst into the chapel, pressing a pistol to his own temple. “Scarlett! If you marry him, I swear I will end myself right here in front of you.” Scarlett’s fingers instinctively curled inward. I grabbed her wrist, my voice a low, dangerous warning. “Scarlett, you walk out that door today, and we are permanently finished.” Her hand trembled as she picked up the wedding band. Then, a chillingly clear sound of a firearm being loaded echoed from the doorway. Like a flash of lightning, Scarlett bolted, rushing toward the door. She wrapped her arms around the boy and left the wedding ceremony without a single glance back at me. The wedding reception dissolved into a chaotic mess. The guests’ murmurs were like a thousand fine needles piercing my eardrums. Both sets of parents swarmed me, frantic and confused. I looked over at Cindy, who had been Scarlett’s partner for eight years. She nervously avoided my gaze. “D-Damon… Blake Kincaid is the Director’s son. Six months ago, he was kidnapped in Los Angeles. Scarlett was the one who pulled him out. The situation was complicated; they had to pose as a married couple for three months… Since they came back, he’ll only let Scarlett be his personal security detail…” Cindy’s voice faded to a whisper, her face flushed crimson. I didn’t have the energy to dwell on how many secrets she’d kept for Scarlett, or what her own connection to this Blake Kincaid might be. A dense, suffocating pain spread through my chest. I felt the betrayal deep in my bones. My parents held my hands, their worry palpable. “Who is that man to Scarlett? Where did they go? Does she not want to marry you anymore?” Mr. and Mrs. Pierce guiltily called Scarlett, muttering promises to me. “Damon, don’t worry. I’ll call her back right now. If she doesn’t come back, I’ll… I’ll disown her!” The diamond ring lay forgotten on the red carpet, kicked away by the rushing feet, a perfect metaphor for my shattered heart. I stood frozen. The immaculate hem of my suit was dragging on the ground, stained with mud. The wedding I had pictured countless times had become a spectacle of wreckage. The groom, abandoned in the center of a packed hall, sacrificed for another man. It was an unbelievable, shameful melodrama, and it was happening to me. Five solid hours. One hundred and eight calls. Scarlett answered none of them. I watched the screen of my phone dim, then brighten, then finally go dark. Sunlight filtered through the cathedral’s stained glass, casting fractured patterns on the floor. A cold, piercing light landed squarely on my empty ring finger. The guests gradually left, leaving behind the confetti and half-eaten catering. A wave of dizziness washed over me. Everything spun. The last sound I heard was my mother’s panicked cry. When I woke again, the sharp scent of antiseptic filled my nose. A nurse was adjusting my IV drip. She spoke softly. “You’re extremely run down. You can’t afford any more stress. You need to take care of yourself.” I stared at the ceiling. Tears slipped silently into my hairline. The seven years flashed through my mind like a sped-up film reel: the farewell kiss before she joined the Special Tactics Group at eighteen; the thick stack of letters from deployment; the emergency contact listed on every single one of her mission wills—always my name. I forced a bitter smile for my parents and the Pierces. How could I explain that this seven-year marathon had to end now? At seven in the evening, Scarlett, missing for six hours, finally appeared. Her face was pale. The look she gave me held a distinct layer of guilt. “Damon, I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice rough. “Blake… he’s my mission asset. No matter what, his safety has to come first…” I swallowed the bitterness. I couldn’t help but ask. “Did you take him away only because of your duty?” I fought back a sob. “You know exactly how he feels about you, yet you chose to protect him over me, over our wedding. Scarlett, I’m not an idiot.” She was silent for a long time. Then, she grasped my cold hand. Her voice was strained. “Damon Robert, in seven years, I’ve never asked you for anything. Just this once, I’m begging you. Don’t sensationalize this. Don’t let this ruin him. He’s young; he can’t be branded as the other man. Please?” I stared at the desperate plea in her eyes. My heart clenched tight, making it impossible to breathe. She shouldn’t be begging me; she should be apologizing. A person’s first reaction never lies. She hadn’t thought about my humiliation at the altar. She hadn’t worried about why I was in the hospital. Her first, her only, concern was Blake. It took all my strength to push one word past my throat: “Fine.” She visibly relaxed. “Blake is very unstable knowing I was about to get married. Our wedding… let’s postpone it for now.” “I need to be his dedicated security detail right now… just for a few months. When the mission is fully closed, maybe three months, we can finally have our wedding. Please?” Her voice was laced with cautious hope. I had waited seven years. Three more months truly wasn’t a lifetime. But looking at the genuine concern in her eyes—concern reserved entirely for someone else—I realized I couldn’t wait another day. My voice was flat, like stagnant water. “Scarlett.” “I’m not known for my great memory. But I remember your blush when you stole a kiss the day I dropped you off at the base.” “I remember the first letter you wrote, saying you wanted to grow old with me and see the world.” “I remember you surviving a near-fatal deployment, but still managing to bring back my favorite salted caramel tart.” “These years, you never wronged me. You always put my needs first, you remembered every tiny habit… I always believed you would love me forever.” I looked up at her, and the dam broke. Tears streamed down my face. “But today, I just can’t feel your love anymore…” Seven years of memories surged. Scarlett’s own eyes turned red, and a single tear slipped down her cheek. “But Damon,” she whispered, “Blake can’t be without me right now.” That single phrase, “can’t be without me,” obliterated the last of my hope. I looked at her, and a strange laugh bubbled up, mixed with my tears. “Then go.” She froze, clearly not expecting me to give in so easily. But she didn’t say another word, turning and leaving the room. The next morning, I was packing my few things, ready to check out, when I rounded the corner of the corridor and ran right into Scarlett. Her eyes weren’t even on me. Her entire attention was focused on the man beside her. Blake was handsome, charming, and looking at her with a raw, bright admiration. So this was the man for whom she’d abandoned me at the altar. My stare must have been intense because Blake noticed me first. He didn’t flinch, instead raising his chin with a casual, almost smug air—the relaxed confidence of a spoiled man of power. Only then did Scarlett turn. Her brow furrowed instantly, her tone edged with impatience. “Damon. Blake’s emotions are fragile right now. We need to go home. Say whatever you need to say there, but don’t cause a scene here. You’ll affect him.” Blake smiled and extended his hand grandly. “You must be Damon Robert. Scarlett talks about you all the time.” He added, without a trace of sincerity, “I apologize for interrupting your wedding the other day.” I gripped my discharge papers until my knuckles were white, then managed a faint smile. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m just here to check out.” I walked past them to the cashier. Scarlett looked at me strangely, surprised by my sudden composure. A flicker of something—disappointment? loss?—crossed her face. She reached out to stop me, but I turned my head, catching sight of a faint smudge on the sleeve of her trench coat. Her eyes followed mine. She saw me take the coat off, and she reached out to take it. “Give it to me, I know how much you like this coat. I’ll have it professionally cleaned.” I shook my head and tossed the coat directly into a nearby garbage bin. My tone was distant. “Throw it out. I don’t like things that are stained. You know I’m a clean freak.” The smile froze on Scarlett’s face. She knew I wasn’t talking about the coat. I was talking about the seven years of our life. Before she could speak again, I had settled the bill and walked away. Not far from the hospital, my phone vibrated. It was a text from Scarlett: Don’t be mad. I got you a salted caramel tart from that place you love. Remember to pick it up. When the delivery arrived, I stared at the familiar pink box and laughed without humor. This was her standard apology ritual. I mechanically took a bite. It used to be the sweetest thing I’d ever tasted. Now, it was just bitter and indigestible. Scarlett didn’t come home that night. Stripping away a seven-year relationship hurt more than I could have imagined. I stayed awake until dawn, then finally climbed out of bed to pack. The matching hoodies in the closet, the framed photos on the shelf, the sticky notes on the refrigerator—every object held a sharp, thorny memory. I thought of the day she got her deployment papers for the elite unit. She was heartbroken. “This is great news, why are you so upset?” She just hugged me, sighing. “I’ll see you even less. Husband, I’m going to miss you too much.” “Then buy me a huge house,” I teased, “so I can wait for you there, safe and sound.” She took my joke seriously. She took the most dangerous, highest-paying missions, including a terrifying extraction mission in South Asia. I was so scared I spent the night at a temple, praying for every deity to bring her back. She came back, scarred and exhausted, but smiling foolishly as she pressed the deed to a new condo into my hand. “Damon, you have your big house now. You can’t run away.” Now, the house was here, but the person I was waiting for refused to return. I closed the last storage box just as the sky turned a pale pink. When the moving truck arrived, both sets of parents showed up. I hadn’t told them the full truth, so they couldn’t understand why the couple who were supposed to be getting married two days ago were suddenly splitting up. My parents sighed, not arguing, just telling me, “Come home whenever you want.” Mrs. Pierce grabbed my hand, pleading. “Damon, please give Scarlett another chance! The wedding… she was just confused. It was a mistake…” I stayed silent, instructing the movers to keep going. Just as Mrs. Pierce was about to lose her voice, the front door opened. Scarlett was back. And she brought Blake with her. He looked around the room, curious and excited, as if he were the new master of the house. A terrifying silence fell over the room. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on them. Mrs. Pierce’s voice trembled. “Scarlett, did… did you do something unforgivable to Damon?” Mr. Pierce was shaking with fury. “Who is that man?!” Scarlett didn’t answer. She only scanned the empty living room, her eyes settling on me. “You’re moving out?” “Yes,” I answered calmly. “Back to my parents’ place.” She seemed to relax slightly. “Good. I’ll come pick you up before the next wedding.” She said it dismissively, then pulled Blake forward. “This is Blake Kincaid. He was the hostage from my last mission, and he’s the Director’s son. For the next while, I need to be his close-protection officer.” Her open, indifferent manner made all our previous suspicions seem petty. Blake smiled sweetly and reached out to link arms with Mrs. Pierce. “Auntie, hello. Scarlett takes such good care of me. She even brought me home for dinner today. Since everyone’s here, why don’t I cook? You can all try my famous pasta.” Mrs. Pierce looked awkwardly at me. “Damon, maybe… maybe we can just sit down and talk this out?” I was about to refuse when Blake jumped in, his eyes sparking with provocation. “Damon, you should stay too! The more the merrier, right?” SLAP— A sharp crack echoed through the house. I stared, stunned, as my mother stood there, having just slapped Blake across the face. “Mom!” She glared at me, her eyes red, her voice shaking violently. “I gave birth to you. You think I don’t know you?” “You’ve been with her since you were eighteen—seven years! For her, you, a young man, lived like a monk, praying to every saint to keep her safe. She was gone? You couldn’t sleep. You care about her that much. You wouldn’t walk away unless your heart was utterly broken!” “I don’t care who you marry, but today, she brings another man here to humiliate you—I will not stand for it as your mother!” “If you won’t stand up for yourself, I will!” My mother’s words struck me like lightning, and my eyes burned with unshed tears. Blake covered his stinging cheek, tears welling up. Scarlett immediately shielded him, her face darkening with fury. “Damon Robert! How old are you? Are you still running to your parents to fight your battles—” I didn’t let her finish. I rushed forward and slapped her. “Scarlett Pierce, you are the one who deserves it!” I thought of the times I was abandoned, the sleepless nights, the precious sincerity that was crushed. How could I pretend none of it happened? My eyes were wild. “We are over! Break up!” Before Scarlett could respond, Mrs. Pierce frantically interjected, “No! You’ve been together for seven years. You can’t just throw it away!” The usually stoic Scarlett’s face changed drastically. “Damon, listen to me. Don’t be dramatic.” “I’m not being dramatic.” I looked straight at her. “The moment you left me at that altar, we were finished.” Scarlett moved to explain, but Blake suddenly burst into loud sobs. “Damon, it’s all my fault! Please don’t blame Scarlett! I was confused, I fell for someone I shouldn’t have… I should die!” As soon as the words left his mouth, Blake ran out of the house, still weeping. Scarlett’s attention immediately snapped to the door. She looked at me gravely. “Damon, Blake is in a terrible state. I’m afraid he’ll do something reckless. Wait here, we’ll talk about us later.” She started to rush after him, but Mrs. Pierce grabbed her arm. “Scarlett, are you trying to kill your father and me? Who is your partner? Who matters more? Can’t you tell the difference?” But there’s no waking someone who is pretending to sleep. Scarlett wrenched her arm free. Frowning, she said, “Mom, if he leaves my sight, he’s at risk of reprisal. He’s a life, Mom! A life is at stake!” Silence settled over the room. Scarlett glanced at me, a flicker of guilt, and then turned to chase Blake. A sudden, torrential downpour began outside the window. Mrs. Pierce held my hand, closing her eyes. “Damon, with this rain… why don’t you wait until tomorrow to leave?” I looked at the sheet of water outside and shook my head. “No.” Let this winter storm be my final farewell to Scarlett Pierce. I went home with my parents that evening. Scarlett, meanwhile, spent the night kneeling in the same pouring rain outside my parents’ front door. The next morning, when I opened the door, her eyes immediately lit up. Struggling to stand, she looked at me. “Damon Robert. You’re awake.” She was soaking wet, shivering, and looked wretched. The all-night vigil had left dark circles under her usually bright eyes. I was utterly sick of her post-betrayal performance. If she cared so much, why did she abandon me every single time? Scarlett’s eyes were desperate. She held up her hand and swore. “Damon, I’ve explained everything to Blake. Someone else will be assigned to his protection now. From this moment, I will have no contact with him. It’s an official unit notice—look.” She held out her phone, her eyes full of stubborn pleading. I took the phone and slammed it onto the concrete. “Scarlett. There is no going back.” She stared at me, tormented. “Why? Damon, I told you I will give you a future. Can’t you wait just a little longer? Why won’t you believe me?” Even now, she didn’t get it. This was never about belief or commitment. This was about a third party staining the purity of our love. I said nothing, moving to call security. She let out a strangled cry. “Damon Robert!” Scarlett dropped to her knees in front of me, her palm open, holding the ring she had tossed aside at the wedding. “Forgive me. Let’s go to the courthouse right now. Please?” The truth was, Scarlett was exceptional. She was beautiful, capable, well-bred, and both our families loved us together. We had genuine love. Perhaps I could pretend the man in the middle never happened, and go on with her. But I couldn’t. The love I needed had to be flawless. The moment I reached for the diamond ring, her phone rang on the ground. I vaguely heard Cindy’s frantic voice yelling: “It’s Blake! He tried to overdose again!” The same performance, replayed countless times. Scarlett’s eyes flickered, but she clenched her jaw. “From now on, I don’t want reports on his situation.” She hung up, looking at me with frantic hope. “Damon, forgive me. I promise I’ll be a better man to you. I promise.” I couldn’t help but laugh. As I laughed, tears began to fall. I tossed the ring onto the ground. She picked it up. I tossed it again. Her face grew paler and paler. I spoke softly. “Some things don’t get a second chance.” “You corrupted seven years of our life. Scarlett Pierce, I wish you nothing but loneliness.” “I’m the one who is walking away.”

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