Category: English

1 My period lasted over two weeks due to hormonal issues. Luke’s childhood friend Cassidy smirked, “Poor Luke, with a wife you can’t even use.” Our friends laughed. I replied sweetly, “Why would he be miserable? He’s happy to have a break from his little blue pills.” The room fell silent, then erupted in louder laughter. Luke lost his smile. “What are you talking about?” “I’m not making it up,” I said innocently. His ears reddened as he whispered, “That was one time! It’s private!” “And my hormones aren’t private?” I shot back. A friend teased, “Secrets? Is the missus complaining?” Still angry Luke had shared my health issues, I scoffed. He panicked. “Enough! She’s sensitive and just getting back at me.” “Right,” I said with a wry smile. “Just getting back at him.” My tone made it seem like I was saving his face. His friends exchanged knowing glances. Then Cassidy spoke up. “I can vouch for Luke’s stamina. He doesn’t need help.” I gave her a long, hard look. Her comment stunned the table into silence. The guy who had been teasing Luke earlier even tried to rein her in. “Cassie, are you insane? You’re going to wreck Luke’s marriage.” He then turned to me. “Reina, Cassie’s always been one to speak without thinking. Don’t take her seriously.” I crossed my arms, the fire I had just managed to bank flaring up again. Cassidy. I remembered her. She had always used a loud, “I’m just one of the guys” personality to mask her complete lack of manners. On my wedding night with Luke, she was the one who insisted we play some vulgar party game involving a banana. She’d grabbed one, and before she could shove it between Luke’s legs, his face had darkened. “Cassie, that’s enough.” Luke, at least back then, had the decency to shut it down immediately. I had let it go, dismissed it. But now, with this new stunt, it all came rushing back. Luke was about to speak. I beat him to it. “What? Did you two sleep together or something?” A blush crept up Cassidy’s neck. She had started this, but now that I’d called her bluff, she looked flustered. “No! Of course not.” The blush on her face deepened. The silence in the room was deafening. Luke’s voice suddenly sharpened. “Reina, that’s enough. Don’t be so aggressive. My friends have loose lips, that’s all. Let it go.” He shot me a look of clear disapproval. A bitter laugh escaped me, my anger spiking. “So now I’m the one being aggressive?” Seeing a full-blown fight was about to erupt, his friends quickly tried to mediate. “Cassie, just apologize to Reina, and we can all move on.” “Yeah, this is on you, Cass. Look, you’re causing a crisis in Luke’s marriage.” Cassidy pouted and mumbled an apology in my direction. I was cornered, hoisted on a pedestal of supposed magnanimity. I had no choice but to drop the argument with Luke. 2 Near the end of the night, I got up to use the restroom. Halfway there, I realized I’d forgotten a pad. As I walked back to the private room to grab one, I heard their voices drift out. “Over half a month without, huh? Ash, you basically a monk?” “No wonder Cassie was asking. I’m also wondering what the point of you getting married was.” “So is it true what your wife said? You really need the pills?” The room was filled with laughter, the tension that had been present when I was there completely gone. Cassidy’s voice was petulant. “Hmph, not a single one of you stood up for me just now, and here you are, running your mouths.” “Who told you to say something so reckless?” “Yeah, nobody was gonna touch that line.” “How would you know about Luke’s performance anyway? Did you test it out for him?” The jokes were getting more and more out of line. Cassidy’s voice held a trace of coyness. “Don’t be ridiculous.” But the friends, sensing blood in the water, pressed on. “So how do you know? Spill it.” “It was… back in college, we all went swimming together, remember? Luke was wearing swim trunks… it was… really obvious.” She stammered through the explanation. Her answer was met with a roar of laughter. “Cassie, you’re not telling us everything. Why were you staring there when you were supposed to be swimming?” “Ash, man, you got married too soon. It’s obvious Cassie’s been waiting to pounce.” Luke’s voice, laced with a helpless laugh, cut in. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. My wife’s here tonight, so rein it in. She can’t take a joke.” The mention of my name plunged the room into silence. Then, someone spoke up. “Man, you just can’t bring wives to guys’ night.” “If only all women could take a joke like Cassie.” “But seriously, Ash, how obvious are we talking?” There was a scrape of a chair, as if someone had stood up abruptly. “I’ll show you just how obvious it is right now.” Amid a chorus of whoops and hollers, I pushed the door open. Cassidy was draped over Luke, one of her hands frozen on his belt buckle. Any closer, and she would have been touching the very thing they were all talking about. Caught red-handed. They both looked mortified. A faint blush colored Cassidy’s cheeks. Luke frantically yanked his belt out of her grasp. “Wait, honey, let me explain.” I crossed my arms. “Explain what? Go on, let her pull it down. Let’s all have a look.” My words seemed to short-circuit his brain. “What?” I sneered. “Isn’t it so obvious? Let her unbuckle it so everyone can see just how obvious it is.” Cassidy didn’t dare make another move. I walked straight up to Luke, hooked a finger in his belt, and gave it a tug. He knew what I was about to do and jerked back, clamping a hand over his buckle. Any shred of guilt he might have felt vanished in an instant. “Alright, stop it. Aren’t you afraid of making a scene?” Making a scene? Who was the one making a scene here? “A minute ago, before I walked in, you were all having a grand old time talking about how she was checking you out. That wasn’t making a scene?” “Oh, so you guys talking about it is fine, but me asking you to show everyone is embarrassing?” No one at the table dared to speak. But I could feel their eyes on me. It wasn’t the cautious respect from before. It was annoyance. I had ruined their fun, again. My words left Luke speechless. The atmosphere was thick with tension. And, of course, it was Cassidy who spoke first. Her voice was a kitten’s mewl, dripping with fake contrition. “I’m so sorry, Reina. I really don’t know what’s okay to say and what isn’t. If I’ve upset you, I’ll just… I’ll leave.” She grabbed her purse and started for the door. Immediately, the other friends grabbed her arm, a flood of comforting words pouring out. “Cassie, you don’t have to go. We all know what you’re like.” “Yeah, Cass, it was just a joke. No one’s holding it against you.” “If anyone should leave, it shouldn’t be you.” One of them actually said it out loud. I raised an eyebrow at him, then looked back at Luke. “So, I guess that means I’m the one who should go?” Two can play at this game. I grabbed my own bag and made a show of rushing out. Not a single one of those hypocritical friends moved to stop me. It wasn’t until I reached the ground floor that I heard hurried footsteps behind me. Luke, after some deliberation, had decided to catch up. “Reina, don’t be angry.” He grabbed my arm, forcing me to turn and face him. Before I could say a word, I saw Cassidy scurrying down the stairs behind him. She was holding Luke’s phone. “Luke, your mom just called. She said she wants us to come to your parents’ place for dinner this weekend.” Cassidy placed the phone in Luke’s hand. Her eyes flickered towards me. A clear provocation. “Okay, thanks.” 3 He actually thanked her. I wrenched my arm out of Luke’s grasp. “Wow, you even know his lock screen password. I’m starting to ship you two.” His face stiffened. “Reina, don’t be ridiculous.” Cassidy hid behind Luke, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of me noticing that little detail. “Reina, it’s normal to know his password. Everyone knows Luke’s password is your birthday.” She sounded so reasonable. Luke looked even more embarrassed. I jumped in. “Everyone knows? Oh, so all his buddies can just unlock his phone whenever they want, answer his calls? His mom just called to invite the two of you to dinner. Why didn’t she invite the whole gang?” Luke took a step closer, trying to pull me away. “Don’t make it sound so ugly.” “My mom watched Cassie grow up. It’s that simple.” Cassidy stood to the side, looking anxious. “If it bothers you so much, Reina, I just won’t go.” “Oh no, don’t do that. Anyone can skip, but how could the two of you not go? If you don’t go, his mother will be so sad.” Luke tugged on my arm, signaling me to stop. I glared at him. “What are you pulling me for? Does your mother not have a son? Does Cassie not have parents? Why do they need to play happy family with someone else’s kid?” Luke’s face darkened. “Reina!” Whether it was my words that actually hurt her or not, I couldn’t tell. But Cassidy’s eyes welled up, and she turned and ran back up the stairs. Luke pressed his fingers to his forehead. “Reina, all I wanted was a peaceful dinner.” “Right. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have stopped you all from talking about me. I’m no fun. I can’t take a joke.” I looked at the blame in Luke’s eyes. It was like I was seeing him for the first time, and my heart sank. Luke was the one who pursued me. We had been interns at the same company. When we first got together, my family had a pretty good impression of him. He was smart, did well in school, and back then, he was even humble. The only thing they were concerned about was his family’s financial situation. There was no way he could afford to buy a house. Then they met his parents. After that, my parents were dead set against the marriage. My family wasn’t wealthy, but we were comfortably middle class. Luke’s parents were from a working-class background. And they had a certain… coarseness about them. We first met at a five-star restaurant. His parents were rude to the waitstaff. And when the bill came, they just sat there and watched my parents pay. Not even a token gesture of offering to contribute. What infuriated my parents even more was what happened next. At the time, Luke was renting an apartment. I would occasionally visit, and if it got late, I’d stay the night. His parents actually brought this up in front of my parents. The implication was clear: I was already one of them. On the ride home, I sat in my parents’ car. I rarely saw them lose their composure, but that day, they did. “Those people are thieves! You think they brought that up because they have no manners? No, it was a calculated move to get out of paying a dowry!” “Think about it! Why else wouldn’t they even offer to pay for dinner?” But I was blinded by love back then. I actually argued with them. “They’re just straightforward, they don’t have any bad intentions. The last time I went to their house, they said I was too skinny and made me pork knuckles.” “They probably saw you were already paying the bill and felt too awkward to say anything.” “Besides, I’m marrying Luke, not his parents.” My dad scoffed at that. “They can’t even afford a house. You’ll be crammed into some tiny apartment with them whether you like it or not!” But in the end, parents can rarely win against their children’s will. I refused to break up with Luke. My parents had no choice but to pay the down payment on a house for us. Their only condition to Luke was that he never let me be wronged. Perhaps Luke was grateful, once. But as time went on, he began to see everything my parents and I did for him as his due.

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At the Best Actress Award ceremony. In the group photo, a C-list actress took my center spot. The person in charge said with difficulty: “This is President Sterling’s girlfriend. He specifically asked us to take care of her.” “Would you mind… changing seats?” I agreed. After the ceremony ended. My agent comforted me in a low voice: “You had to yield. The Sterling family is powerful; we can’t afford to offend them.” “Darling, you’ve been wronged.” After a moment of silence, I shook my head. In the years I was with Liam Sterling. He did plenty of unreasonable things like this for me too. Now the tables have turned. It’s only fair. 1 When I broke up with Liam Sterling, I knew this day would come. What he once gave me, he would one day give to someone else. I rode his coattails and had it too easy back then. So much so that after the breakup, all the resources tilted towards me returned to their original positions. I suddenly fell silent, becoming a nobody in the industry. It took me a few years of playing supporting roles one after another to make a name for myself again. It’s the same for Bella Hayes. Young, an internet celebrity, never even acted in a serious drama. Yet she could appear at the star-studded award ceremony and occupy the position I fought for years to get. Coincidentally, at the dinner before the ceremony, Bella was also arranged to sit next to me. While taking a selfie, the tea cup in her hand jerked back violently. Scalding tea flew towards me. If I hadn’t been quick enough to block it with my bag. It wouldn’t have been my arm and neck that got scalded, but the haute couture gown worth eight figures. This was considered a significant accident. The organizers were startled and sent me to the hospital. Bella followed with a face full of guilt. The injury was a bit serious. The blisters needed to be pricked first, then medication applied. I was afraid of pain. In the past, I would grab the arm of the person next to me in fear. That person would look at my trembling appearance with amusement and say I was useless. Ironically, the person accompanying me now was his new love. Bella was on the phone, her voice trembling: “President Sterling… I caused trouble for you.” “I didn’t mean to spill the tea, I will apologize, but the public opinion…” She spoke timidly for a long time, weeping like a pear blossom bathed in rain, humble and pitiful. The man on the other end sounded indifferent: “Such a small matter, and you bother me with it.” Bella whispered: “She’s quite a big star, and the burn is serious. If her fans make a fuss…” Her sobbing was interrupted impatiently by the man: “Who?” “Chloe Vance.” Silence on the other end for a second. Liam’s tone was very light: “I know.” Hanging up the phone, Bella breathed a long sigh of relief. She smiled embarrassedly: “About the center spot… I didn’t know.” Perhaps not wanting to make enemies, she explained apologetically: “I just wanted to attend for some exposure, so I mentioned it to President Sterling… I didn’t expect he would arrange the center spot for me directly, sorry.” She still didn’t understand Liam’s style. With his status, since he arranged it, his subordinates would automatically offer the best. Things have come to this. I smiled politely back: “It’s a small matter.” I was also a beneficiary back then. Now I can only say what goes around comes around. There’s nothing to feel wronged about. 2 After the event, my agent, Sister Yu, came to the hospital to see me. The Best Actress award was an upset this time. It was given to a newcomer whose works and acting skills were inferior to mine. Obvious manipulation ruined my efforts of the past few years. Sister Yu looked at me with heartache: “If you were still with Liam Sterling, who could snatch your award?” I was silent. Some things are not meant to last. I was the one who proposed the breakup. After all, he came home later and later, and his attitude towards me grew colder. News of the CEO of Sterling Group marrying the daughter of an overseas conglomerate was everywhere. I wanted to save some face for myself. Actually, when I was with Liam, I also suffered a lot of grievances. After all, he was the embodiment of resources and wealth. Whoever had him could have stardom within easy reach. At that time, the female lead in the same crew was Liam’s ex-girlfriend. Unluckily, I played the supporting female role. A scene where the heroine slaps the scheming supporting female lead was NGed more than twenty times. When I came out of the studio, my face was swollen like a pig’s head. Too many similar things happened, but I endured them all. Liam didn’t know, or maybe he knew but couldn’t be bothered to ask. After all, in his eyes, I was no different from those women who stayed with him for resources. At most, he just teased me lightly: “You can endure quite a lot.” I told Sister Yu this as a joke. She was stunned: “How can you think like that? You are the one who went through hardships with him.” I smiled. What does that count for? 3 I was like her. Everyone thought Liam lost in that upheaval among the Sterling family’s top management. Liam’s father suffered a cardiac arrest and died suddenly in the company. Liam’s uncles suddenly rebelled, occupying the Sterling family’s assets and joining forces to squeeze the young heir out of the company. When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter. During that time, I was the only one left by Liam’s side. I started taking roles desperately. The pressure was too great, I always had nightmares, then woke up screaming, subconsciously hugging Liam. He opened his sleepy eyes, gently pulled me into his arms, and asked me warmly what was wrong. I sobbed: “I dreamed you committed suicide.” “You must not do anything foolish, no matter what happens… I will be by your side.” That was the first time I saw Liam stunned. He narrowed his eyes, cupped my face, and looked at me silently. I also saved Liam’s life once. When the out-of-control car rushed over, I subconsciously pushed him away. Lying in the ambulance, I held his hand and cried in fear: “Liam Sterling, am I going to die?” … After waking up, there was a red string on my wrist. It was what Liam’s mother kowtowed step by step to pray for in Tibet, saying it could ensure safety. Liam had always worn it close to his body. Now, for some unknown reason, it appeared on my wrist. During that time, he seemed to have changed a lot. The high-and-mighty person would also cook meals for me personally. If I had no appetite, he would bring the bowl to the bedside and feed me mouthful by mouthful. While I was hospitalized, the Sterling Group’s top management underwent a second thorough purge. They all said Liam Sterling made a comeback. I thought so too, happy for him beyond measure. Until one day, I went to deliver a watch to Liam. Outside the clubhouse door. Several young masters surrounded by pretty girls sat opposite Liam: “Congrats Brother Liam, finally cleaned out those old ministers.” “We were scared to death when you had the car accident, thought those old guys really wanted to off you, didn’t expect it was all staged by you from beginning to end.” “What’s the name of the girl who pushed you away? Saving your life, you have to repay with your body, right?” Liam tapped the ash lightly: “Her? Not worthy yet.” “This kind of woman is best at acting, with three parts true feelings, acting until you fall into it, finally offering all your assets with both hands.” Those young masters fell silent: “Then… how do you plan to deal with her?” He didn’t speak, sitting with lowered eyes in the dim light. Several pretty girls sensibly leaned over, pressing against his chest. I didn’t want to watch anymore, turned and left. 4 Sister Yu is one of the few people who knew I had a past with Liam. When I met her, she was still Liam’s secretary. Witnessed our relationship from beginning to end. Many years later I broke up with Liam. I was suppressed for a long time. She quit her decent and high-paying job beside Liam and ran over to be my agent. I asked her what she was thinking. She laughed heartily: “I bet you two can reunite, then I will be the boss’s wife’s leader.” Sister Yu is the smartest person I have ever met, only lost once in this matter. It is now the third year since the breakup. Liam has changed girlfriends I don’t know how many times. I am secretly married with a daughter, my career is stable, and I have my own family. We have long been strangers. The next day, I video chatted with my husband. Daughter didn’t know where she went to play, only my husband looked at the wound on my jaw, frowning: “I have already bought a plane ticket, coming to take care of you…” I smiled and shook my head, just about to speak. Bella walked in holding fresh flowers, leading a group of staff carrying cameras. My heart sank, I hung up the phone. She expressed her condolences for a long time, with sincere words, obviously a drafted script. I also cooperated with polite remarks. Whether I recognize it or not doesn’t matter. The organizers have already come forward, saying the seating chart was wrong. Online comments turned to Bella’s side, gaining her a wave of fans. The power of capital. I shook my head, maintaining a polite smile. The atmosphere was always harmonious. Until the ward door was pushed open. The man opening the door wore a suit, bowing and smiling apologetically. Then, a tall and slender figure walked in.

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On the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Liam Sterling suddenly demanded that his aunt’s child be registered under my name. “Aunt Bella is pregnant out of wedlock. Her reputation in the circle is ruined. If we register the child under your name, we can pretend it’s ours.” When I refused, Liam dropped a bombshell: “We’ll get the license when you agree!” He left me at the City Hall and strode away. This was the ninth time our marriage registration failed because of his “Aunt” Bella. Did he think I would still wait for him like before? I looked down at my phone and saw a notification from a friend’s post: “The girl I love most is about to marry someone else. Heartbroken!” I sent him a message: “Want to get married? Waiting for you at City Hall. Now.” 1 Fifteen minutes later, Noah rushed over in his car. “Really? We can get married? With you?” His eyes couldn’t hide the joy, nor the disbelief. “Cut the crap. Did you bring your ID?” Noah muttered softly: “I dropped an eighty-million-dollar contract signing to come here. Can’t I ask one more question?” But after getting the license, he stared at the little red booklet repeatedly: “I really married you, Chloe? You’re my wife now?” Then he apologetically told me he had to go back to sign the contract and asked me to take a taxi home. While waiting for the taxi, Liam pulled up in front of me with Bella. “Get in.” I pressed the bag containing the marriage certificate and opened the car door. “For you.” He handed me a box. Inside was a silk scarf. Liam was always like this. After making me unhappy, he would give me a small gift. Then we would tacitly never mention the unhappy event again, as if it had passed. Bella, Liam’s “Aunt,” quietly touched the bag beside her. Looking at the scarf in the box again, I realized it was just a free gift that came with that bag. As usual, I pretended not to notice and put the gift box aside. Bella curled her lips into a mocking smile. “Where are we going?” I asked. Liam looked at Bella tenderly: “Picking up a gift, then heading to the Sterling family estate.” I remembered then, today was Liam’s grandfather’s eightieth birthday. We had agreed to go long ago. It was good to go today, to say goodbye to Grandfather Sterling. Through the rearview mirror, Liam carefully looked at my face and explained, which was unprecedented for him: “Chloe, don’t overthink it. Aunt Bella is pregnant alone; people will gossip.” “Raising the child under our name will make it easier for her to marry in the future.” I said indifferently: “Indeed, being pregnant out of wedlock is bad for one’s reputation. Not even having a boyfriend makes people call you loose. Raising the child under your name is best.” Hearing my words, Bella’s face turned purple with anger. She turned her head and said, “You…” But Liam corrected me: “It’s raising the child under our names, yours and mine.” Then he looked at me expectantly. I sneered: “What if I’m not willing?” Liam’s face instantly darkened: “If you’re not willing, we break up.” I said, “Okay.” Seeing Liam’s face relax, I knew he misunderstood. My “okay” meant okay to breaking up. He continued: “See, Chloe? If you were this obedient earlier, we would have gotten the license already.” I didn’t answer, just watched the scenery retreating rapidly outside the window. Just like our three-year relationship, speeding away from me. Bella was the same age as Liam, the adopted daughter of his grandfather. She was also a thorn stuck between us. When we dated, Liam brought her along. When we ate, Liam brought her along. Even the house we lived in together had a room for Bella. I voiced my dissatisfaction many times, but Liam always said: “She’s my aunt. What are you thinking?” Liam and Bella grew up together and were very close. Every time he said this, I would back down. But Bella seemed to have no boundaries, always deliberately showing intimacy with him. They got out of the car together to pick up the gift, and Bella specifically linked arms with him. From behind, they really looked like a couple. And I was left alone in the car, like an outsider. For three years, it was almost always like this. I felt like the third wheel. But it took me two years to chase Liam, and I couldn’t bear to leave. He knew my feelings, which is why he abandoned me at the City Hall time and again. Lost in memories, my phone rang. It was Noah: “Wife, contract signed, but I have to entertain clients tonight, so I’ll be back late. Eat well by yourself.” “I’ll contact you when I’m done.” 2 Only then did I realize I was someone else’s wife. It was just too sudden; I hadn’t adapted to this identity yet. But when answering Noah’s call, I felt more relaxed than ever before. “Who was that?” When Liam opened the car door, I had just hung up. He looked at me suspiciously. “A friend.” I don’t know why, but I just didn’t want to tell him about getting the license with Noah yet. Bella also got in the car carrying the gift. Putting down the gift, she kept rubbing her hands and blowing on them. “So cold.” Liam immediately wrapped her hands in his: “I’ll warm them for you.” As if I wasn’t in the car. Suddenly glad he abandoned me at the City Hall this time. If we had really gotten the license, could I stand their ambiguity for the next few decades? I shook my head gently. “Liam, it was too cold outside just now. Is the baby okay?” Hearing her words, Liam looked nervous. He quickly took off the Bodhi bracelet on his wrist and put it on Bella’s. Bella smiled smugly at me through the rearview mirror. That bracelet was something I prayed for at a mountaintop temple during my period, climbing 999 steps for Liam. I got caught in a rainstorm on the way down and was almost washed away. When I gave it to him two years ago, he was moved to tears. He said he would never take it off in his life. Now, only two years later, he gave it away so casually. The past flashed by like a meteor. I desperately held back the tears. I grabbed Bella’s hand, snatched the bracelet, and threw it out the window. A flash of anger crossed Bella’s face, then she looked like she was about to cry: “Liam, why is Chloe angry? Is she blaming you for giving me the bracelet? Even if she’s angry, she shouldn’t throw it away, right? After all, it’s something you wore. She cares about you too little.” Liam’s face was livid: “Chloe, what are you fussing about now? Just a broken bracelet, not something precious. What’s wrong with me giving it to Aunt Bella? If you keep being so willful, I can’t marry you.” I said disdainfully: “Don’t marry then. What’s the big deal?” Hearing my words, Liam was even angrier. I should be the one angry about this, shouldn’t I? But he pursed his lips tightly and drove fast. Even running two red lights. As soon as we arrived, Bella was taken to a room by Grandfather. “Whose child are you carrying? If you can’t get engaged, get rid of it immediately.” “Girls of our Sterling family are not allowed to have children out of wedlock.” Even from far away, Grandfather’s roar could be heard. And Bella’s sobbing. Liam looked worried. He pulled me over, looking serious, and persuaded me again: “Chloe, you see how hard it is for Aunt Bella.” “Go tell Grandpa that you can’t have children, and Aunt Bella is the surrogate carrying the child for you.” “You’re afraid of pain anyway. With this child, you won’t have to give birth yourself.” I slapped his hand away: “For your aunt, I have to say I’m infertile? Are you sick? Is this child yours?” Liam’s face darkened, obviously displeased: “Chloe!” He said heavily. “What nonsense are you talking about? How could I do such a thing?” “Didn’t you agree in the car just now?” I sneered: “The things you’ve done, I’m afraid we couldn’t finish listing them in a day.” Liam grabbed my wrist: “Chloe, if you still want to marry me, accept this child and stop spreading rumors about me and Aunt Bella. Otherwise, we break up.” “Think about it.” Before I could answer, he pushed me and turned to leave. When the banquet was about to end, I wanted to say goodbye to Grandfather. At the corner, I was suddenly dragged to the terrace by Liam. 3 Bella was waiting there. Eyes red. Liam gripped my wrist hard, his voice cold as ice: “Chloe, you must give a definite answer today. Is it okay to put the child under your name?” I struggled hard but couldn’t break free. “Liam, let go. You care so much about this child, it must be yours.” After saying this, I saw a moment of panic in Bella’s eyes. Liam gripped even harder, my wrist hurting. “Still spreading rumors about me. I’ve really indulged you too much.” His other hand pinched my chin forcefully: “Grandpa scolded Aunt Bella today. Are you satisfied seeing Aunt Bella embarrassed?” “If I had known you were such a vicious woman, I wouldn’t have accepted your pursuit back then.” Whenever he argued with me before, he always said he regretted accepting my pursuit. I would immediately admit defeat and start coaxing him. No matter where the fault lay, it was all my fault. I apologized softly and made promises until he reluctantly accepted. But this time, I suppressed the anger in my heart and said softly but firmly: “It’s not too late now. Let’s break up!” Liam was stunned for a moment. He let go of my wrist and took a step back. His suspicious gaze swept over my face again and again: “Chloe, are you serious?” Before I could answer, he said again: “You know me. If I agree to break up, you won’t even have a chance to regret it.” “In the future, don’t say break up easily in front of me.” After speaking, he turned and walked out. I also turned to leave. This place, this Sterling family, would have nothing to do with me in the future. Just taking a step, Bella pushed me hard. In desperation, I grabbed Bella’s arm. She and I rolled down the terrace steps together. I was pressed under Bella. It hurt too much, so I pushed her. She rolled onto the ground. Turning halfway, I sat up and slapped her face hard. Using too much force, my palm hurt. Hearing the commotion, Liam turned back. The blurted “Auntie” echoed through the entire banquet hall. He rushed over, kicked me away, and picked up Bella. “Auntie, how are you? Where does it hurt?” Bella was incredibly weak: “Pain, pain. She hit me.” Bella pointed at me, tears flowing instantly. Liam looked at me with eyes spitting fire: “Chloe, I won’t spare you this time. Just you wait.” “Aren’t you going to ask for the reason?” Shouting this sentence, tears swirled in my eyes too. Partly from pain. Partly because Liam always unconditionally believed Bella, not me. It had been like this for three years. After speaking, he picked up Bella and walked out. After two steps, he turned back: “Chloe, follow us to the hospital. If anything happens to Aunt Bella, I will definitely call the police.” His tone contained a thousand years of ice. My whole body hurt. Especially my legs. When Bella fell, she landed right on my legs. Elbows hit the ground, now covered in blood. My injuries were more severe; anyone with eyes could see. But Liam seemed blind; he only had Bella in his eyes. I stood up with difficulty, grabbed my down jacket, and got in the car with them. Liam drove faster than when he came, even almost hitting the guardrail. Asking while driving: “Auntie, don’t sleep, we’ll be at the hospital soon.” That tone, as if his aunt was about to die. Hearing his words, Bella pretended to be extremely uncomfortable. But she was just scrolling on her phone a moment ago. At the hospital, after drawing blood, Bella even asked me to press the cotton swab for her. After pressing, I quietly kept the cotton swab. After a checkup, Bella was fine except for a little anemia. Even the baby was growing steadily in her belly. Hearing Bella had anemia, Liam broke out in a cold sweat from nervousness. “Anemia? How can this be good?” “Right, Auntie has a rare blood type, and Chloe has a rare blood type too. She can transfuse her blood.” He dragged me in front of the doctor. 4 The doctor looked at him sarcastically and said: “Women all have a little anemia. This is normal. No need for a blood transfusion at all.” But Liam didn’t listen to the doctor at all. “You must give her a transfusion today. She is a pregnant woman. You can’t take responsibility if something happens.” The doctor wanted to persuade again, but Liam showed his business card. “My family invested in this hospital. If you don’t want to lose your job, draw blood and transfuse it now.” Seeing Liam’s obsession, I wanted to break free and leave quickly. Seeing my reluctance, the doctor said helplessly: “Even if we draw this lady’s blood, we have to get her consent, right?” He looked at me inquiringly. “I am not willing. Why should my blood be given to someone else?” Liam gripped my wrist tightly: “Chloe, you have to understand. Auntie is a pregnant woman and cannot be harmed.” “She can’t be harmed, but I can, right?” My voice trembled with anger when I spoke. I didn’t know that the man I had been with for so long was such a jerk. Hearing my words, Liam hesitated for a moment. But he still didn’t let go of my hand: “Chloe, be obedient. After the transfusion for Auntie, we will go get the license tomorrow.” “Haven’t you always wanted to get it? I will definitely not break my promise this time.” While trying hard to shake off his hand, I shouted “Let go! Let go!” He still wouldn’t let go. And started calling security to come and hold me. In desperation, I dialed Noah’s number: “Save me—” Before Noah could answer, the phone was knocked to the ground. Noah’s voice continued to come from the receiver: “Chloe, what’s wrong? Where are you?” But the noisy surroundings drowned out Noah’s anxiety. Several people pushed me into the blood drawing room. I couldn’t move at all. My menstrual flow has always been heavy, so I have always been anemic. Treated many times, but no obvious effect. Liam clearly knew. He even introduced me to a Chinese medicine doctor before. But when facing Bella, he could be deaf, mute, and blind. My health in his eyes was not worth a single hair of Bella’s. Tears flowed uncontrollably. Watching the nurse’s needle about to pierce my arm, I closed my eyes in despair. Just then, messy footsteps approached. Seven or eight people ran towards this side at the same time. “Who dares to draw my wife’s blood?” It was Noah.

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Everyone knew it was a sweet deal to be the side piece of Preston Thorne. I, his wife, was the reason. I didn’t just ensure his mistresses received a top-tier benefits package with platinum healthcare and generous trust funds; I even arranged for regular overseas retreats and exclusive medical checkups. People joked that catching Preston Thorne’s eye was like landing a C-suite position in the infidelity market. Naturally, he became the most coveted man among young, ambitious women in our circles. But this time, the girl he fixated on, a young woman named Summer, refused to be bought. She was fiercely devoted to her long-time, penniless boyfriend. The night before Preston planned to use his power to coerce her, I initiated intimacy with him, a desperate attempt to delay him, to buy her time to escape. The next morning, Summer was gone. Preston discovered my sabotage, and in a rage, he had me committed to a private psychiatric facility. He stood over me in that sterile room, his expression terrifyingly calm, as he issued his final warning. “Kin,” he said, using the nickname I loved, “just promise me you’ll stop interfering, and I can have you back home. You’ll resume your life as Mrs. Thorne, with every luxury and privilege that entails.” Finally, I gave a soft nod. I had just learned, before I was taken, that my brother, Jared, had lost everything in a bad investment. He was drowning in debt. Only with Preston’s sudden capital injection had he avoided bankruptcy and disgrace. For my brother, I had to stop fighting. I had to disappear. 1 The driver had just picked me up from the facility when a devastating pile-up occurred on the highway. The car flipped. The driver was instantly unconscious. I was severely injured. As the paramedics rushed to the scene, I surfaced briefly through the agonizing pain. Even in that state, my hand instinctively fumbled for my phone to call Preston. The line rang for a long time before it was answered. I swallowed the coppery blood pooling in my throat and managed to gasp, “Preston, I…” His voice, when it came, was laced with irritation. “Didn’t I send the car for you? I told you I’m busy. Kinsley, be sensible, okay?” The earpiece suddenly burst with chaotic noise. Then, a familiar voice cut through the static. It was Summer’s despairing scream: “Preston Thorne, do what you want with me, but why would you hurt him?” Preston’s reply was low and even, yet it sent a chill colder than any ice through me. “Summer, I warned you. If you dared to accept his proposal, I’d ensure he spends the rest of his life in a wheelchair.” So, the fragile, pure ideal he was so keen to protect was named Summer. I suddenly remembered why her voice was so familiar. It was the same frantic pitch I’d heard that first night I discovered his infidelity, the night I smashed every valuable object in our penthouse. Preston always managed to push people past their breaking point. Over the phone, Summer was weeping, begging him to leave her boyfriend alone. As I finally lost consciousness, her desperate pleas shifted. “Please, be gentle…” Her sobs of rage melted into fragmented, tiny gasps of pleasure. I woke up to find Preston sitting on a lounge chair nearby, casually scrolling on his phone. He noticed my gaze. He hesitated, then reached out a tentative hand, as if to check my temperature. I turned my head away. “I’m fine,” I rasped. Preston scoffed, his expression hardening, and he withdrew his hand instantly. “Kinsley, you’ve just come back, and you pull this stunt? Don’t you think it’s time to rein it in?” My brain seized up. A stunt? “I’ve told you countless times,” he continued, “no one will ever threaten your position. You are, and always will be, my only wife. What benefit is there in fighting with a girl fresh out of college, getting yourself into this state?” He thought the horrific accident was a pathetic attempt to compete with Summer. A move for attention. I opened my mouth, but the truth felt utterly meaningless, stripped of all weight. “I apologize. There won’t be a next time.” I didn’t argue. There was nothing left to say. Preston seemed satisfied by my capitulation. My brother had called that morning to tell me Preston had arranged the funds to pay off his next installment. See? I just had to be invisible, to know my place, and Preston would solve all our problems. “If you’re miserable, Kin, you should go. Get a divorce. I’ll figure out the money.” My arm ached from holding the phone. I knew the truth: the entire Thorne portfolio—cars, property, everything—had been seized and auctioned. The massive debt was still a gaping hole. Jared, who once lived in a two-thousand-square-foot river-view penthouse, had been beaten by debt collectors and was now in a damp, shadowy basement. It had taken three days for his life to collapse. I heard Preston had found him curled up on a tiny cot, pale, with blood on his lips. His blanket didn’t even cover his feet. A container of untouched microwave pasta sat on the floor. We were utterly defeated, completely cornered. Now, Preston offered the car, the house, the money. All he asked was for me to be blind, to be a ghost who enabled his beautiful romance with the ideal girl. Given our situation, how could I refuse? I managed a weak smile. “I’m not miserable. I’m just being blind. I can do that.” After my release from the hospital, I attempted to become the perfect, compliant wife. I stopped asking about Preston’s whereabouts or spending habits. When Preston needed a ride home, drunk after a business dinner, I gave the chauffeur Summer’s number. When he mentioned a craving for the seafood bisque I used to make, I routinely called Summer and asked her to deliver it. When he needed custom cufflinks matched to a new suit, I told Summer to contact his private tailor. … Three months into this routine, Preston did something unusual: he called to say he was coming home for dinner. 2 After the meal, as I mechanically laid out his suit for the next day, he grabbed me and forcefully pushed me against the wall. “Kin,” he murmured, his voice tight, “you’ve been so good lately. Too good. It’s not like you…” As his kisses trailed down my face, the unmistakable scent of Summer’s favorite gardenia perfume quickly saturated my senses. The room’s temperature spiked, making the cloying fragrance even more intense. A sharp, violent wave of nausea surged in my throat. I forced myself to endure it. But then, in the heat of the moment, Preston called out Summer’s name. My mind went blank. I clenched the pillow so hard my knuckles turned bone-white. Then, with a sudden, animalistic burst of strength, I shoved Preston away. I stumbled to the bathroom and collapsed by the toilet, dry-heaving. Preston followed me, his eyes narrowed. Seeing my desperate retching, the desire in his eyes vanished, replaced by irritation. He leaned against the doorframe. “What’s wrong with you?” I couldn’t answer, the sound of my continuous heaving echoing off the marble. He quickly lost patience. He merely threw a dismissive remark over his shoulder: “Go to the doctor tomorrow and get checked out.” The roar of his car engine faded as he drove away, taking my sleep with it. Curled up in the corner of the bed, I fought against the intense physical discomfort, but it was useless. I got up. While rummaging for an over-the-counter remedy, I found it in the back of the cabinet: a tacky, cheaply made pearl necklace whose metal settings had begun to fade. The cold metal suddenly burned in my palm, forcing me almost to drop it. I remembered the toughest year of Preston’s life. We were twenty-two. His father had cut off all his funds to force him to start from the bottom. The millionaire playboy, accustomed to spending six figures a month, was living on a two-thousand-dollar salary, wearing clothes from a strip mall, and sharing a cramped dorm. I’d felt sorry for him and secretly split my allowance with him. Under the moonlight, his voice had choked up. “Kinsley, I’m so lucky to have you.” To buy me a birthday gift, he worked himself to exhaustion, taking on extra shifts until he was dizzy. When he finally presented the pearl necklace, his face was flushed. “The quality is terrible compared to what you have in your closet, Kin. If you don’t like it, you can just tell me…” I didn’t refuse. I took off my latest designer necklace and wore the cheap pearls for a year. For a long time, that necklace had served as Preston’s symbolic ‘get out of jail free’ card. Snapping out of the memory, I walked to the balcony. I wound up and threw the necklace with all my might. It disappeared into the flowerbed below, vanishing without a trace. Two months later. I had an unexpected visitor. Summer. She was wearing the latest couture suit and a heavy, expensive watch. Even her diamond earrings were a pair Preston had spent a fortune on at a recent auction. I knew she had accepted his twisted, possessive love. And like so many women before her, she had come to tell me to leave my marriage. “He doesn’t love you anymore. There’s no point in clinging to this title,” she announced. “And I need that ‘Mrs. Thorne’ title to clear my name from being a home-wrecker.” But I needed that title too. I only had my brother left. I could concede anything else, but not this. Not the protection of the Thorne name. Seeing my lack of response, a flicker of genuine hatred crossed her eyes. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up. “Kinsley, why couldn’t you control Preston?” she shrieked. “Why did you let him ruin me and my boyfriend?” “My life is a mess because of your incompetence! You’re the reason I’m like this!” “If I can’t be happy, you and Preston—the two people responsible for this—won’t be happy either!” She lunged at me. Her full weight hit me, and my waist slammed into the metallic corner of the breakfast table. The agonizing pain stole my breath. I tried to push her away. But before I could exert any pressure, she suddenly collapsed onto the floor, sweeping the dishes and cutlery onto the tile with a crash. I turned back just as Summer cried out, clutching her abdomen. The fabric beneath her quickly turned a horrific crimson. Was she… pregnant? The housekeeper’s sharp scream filled the air, followed by Preston’s frantic shout from the foyer. The next second, a stinging, savage blow landed across my face. My lips immediately tasted of blood. “Kinsley!” Preston’s voice was a roar. “I thought you had learned your lesson these past months, but you’re still doing this? You’re still incorrigible!” An unspeakable bitterness, sharp and metallic, rushed up my throat. I choked out a weak defense. “I didn’t push her…” Preston didn’t even pause to hear me. He scooped Summer into his arms, his movements swift and protective, and rushed out the door. The man who could stay impassive during billion-dollar negotiations was now trembling slightly as he ran. A week later, Jared called. “Kin, could you just ask Preston why he suddenly unlinked the repayment account? If it’s too much trouble, forget it…” 3 I mumbled an acknowledgment, knowing my proud brother would only ask if he were truly desperate. When I called Preston, he answered immediately, as if waiting for my call. “What card? Oh… that one. I thought it was being fraudulently used, so I unlinked it. Is there a problem?” Preston’s tone was dismissive, yet his words landed like a heavy hammer blow to my heart. My hands nervously twisted the hem of my shirt. I forced myself to beg. “But my brother can’t wait, Pres. Can you… can you please be merciful to me just one more time, like you used to be?” Pres. It had been a long time since I’d used the intimate short form of his name. Silence fell on Preston’s end. A moment of rustling, and then Summer’s voice came through. “Kinsley, you know the company is under a lot of financial pressure right now? You and your brother are like a bottomless pit—no matter how much he gives you, it’s never enough. You’re going to drag him down.” Financial pressure… My mind flashed back to the morning headlines: “CEO Preston Thorne Spends Millions for Love! Ten-Million Dollar Villa and Luxury Cars Gifting Titles to Summer!” The financial pressure was caused by that, wasn’t it? An endless bitterness spread across my tongue, a searing, agonizing pain. “Preston put me in charge of this matter,” Summer continued. “If you can placate me, he’ll naturally help your brother with the money.” I agreed without hesitation. “I’ll text you the address. Come see me tomorrow, and I’ll tell you what to do.” I never imagined the address Summer sent would be my house. Standing outside, looking at the familiar stone façade, felt like gazing into a distant, lost life. The peach tree by the gate was blooming. The day Preston and I planted it, he’d asked me, “Do you know the language of the peach blossom?” I shook my head. He leaned in, gently biting my left ear, his hot breath making my head swim. “Kinsley, I want to be a prisoner of your love.” A spring breeze pulled me back to the present. I gave a self-mocking smile and entered the yard. Inside, through the sheer white curtains of the massive glass wall, the sunlight illuminated the furniture. I saw two bodies entwined on the chaise lounge—my mother’s favorite piece of furniture. Preston’s breathing was ragged. His voice was a mix of temptation and threat. “So we agree, you won’t take it too far.” Summer chuckled, playfully pushing his shoulder. “You gave me the house. Why are you suddenly so possessive?” He gave her the house? I lost control and stormed inside. “The house? Did you really give her the house?” Preston detached himself from Summer and slowly wrapped his silk robe around himself. “Yes. The paperwork is being finalized.” The moment those words left his mouth, a ringing filled my ears. I couldn’t hold my emotions in check any longer. I rushed him, beating my fists against his chest like a lunatic. “Why would you give it to her? You promised! You said as long as I behaved, you’d transfer the title back to me! Preston, why her? Why!” He grabbed my flailing hands and violently shoved me onto the sofa. Though the cushions were soft, the impact sent a sharp, dull ache through my abdomen. “She lost a child. This house is her compensation,” he said flatly. “If you had lost a child that day, I would have compensated you too.” “And Kinsley, don’t forget why you’re here.” In that instant, I forgot how to cry, how to scream, and even how to hate. When a sliver of rationality returned, Summer was dressed. “Kinsley, I haven’t quite decided how to punish you yet. How about… you get down on your knees and beg me?” Looking up at Summer’s arrogant, triumphant gaze, a wave of intense humiliation washed over me. But I knew I couldn’t refuse. Silence fell over the room. For a moment, I only heard a soft, muffled thud. It wasn’t my knees hitting the floor. It was my backbone, straight for twenty-six years, finally and completely shattering. Summer smiled. “I don’t have all day to wait. You know this house. You know where the security cameras are. If I check the feed and you’re not kneeling, I’m afraid I won’t be able to help your brother.” She looped her arm through Preston’s, and they walked out. The pain in my stomach intensified. I could barely straighten up. Every time I tried to shift or stand, the camera in the corner gave a little mechanical whir. The person watching seemed to be reminding me that if I ran, if I stood up, my brother would be ruined. As night fell, I suddenly felt a gush of warmth between my legs. In the faint moonlight, I saw my trousers were completely soaked in blood. Terrified, I called Jared. I cried that I was dying, that I was bleeding too much. My brother arrived, still in his restaurant uniform from his part-time job. He lifted me, his arms trembling, and ran to the waiting ambulance. “Kin, stay awake! Look at me!” “Kin! Don’t you dare close your eyes!” Just before the doors of the operating room closed, through the haze, I saw Preston. In all our years of marriage, it was the first time I had ever seen him so completely undone.

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I was feeding his prize-winning hound when the livestream of his engagement party reached its crescendo. The bride was radiant. In the comments, someone jokingly asked where I was. “Ashley, what happened to that little shadow of yours? The one who swore she’d never marry anyone but you?” Ashley Hawthorne let out a short, cold laugh, flicking the ash from his cigarette with careless grace. “Don’t bring up that mute. She’s bad luck.” “She has no pride. Even if I threw her out, she’d come crawling back on her knees, begging for me.” The partygoers erupted in laughter. On the other side of the screen, I gently set down the bag of dog food. He was so sure of himself. So sure I would forever be the dog he could summon and dismiss with a wave of his hand. I closed the livestream, unclasped the collar from around my neck—the one engraved with his name—and threw it in the trash. My debt for the last twelve years had been paid with my life. From now on, we were through. I was done serving him. … I had just dragged the battered suitcase I’d used for twelve years to the foyer when the front door was shoved open with brutal force. Mrs. Hawthorne swept in, wrapped in a thick fur coat, her sharp-faced housekeeper trailing behind her. Her eyes landed on the suitcase in my hand, and her face instantly hardened into a mask of contempt. There were no questions, no attempt to make me stay. Only suspicion and disgust. “Stop right there.” Mrs. Hawthorne approached, looking me up and down as if inspecting a potential criminal. “You want to leave? Fine. Open the suitcase.” “The Hawthorne family has housed you for twelve years. Who knows if you’ve developed sticky fingers? We can’t have you stealing from us.” I froze, my fingers digging into the handle of the suitcase. I signed, It’s just my old clothes. There’s nothing of yours in here. “Stop with those ridiculous hand signals! They’re infuriating to look at!” Mrs. Hawthorne waved a dismissive hand. “Housekeeper, search it! Search every inch!” The housekeeper, practically vibrating with anticipation, lunged forward and snatched the suitcase from my grasp. She flipped it over, dumping its contents onto the marble floor. A few faded sweaters, two pairs of worn-out canvas shoes, and a handful of old books on sound design. It was a pathetic, laughable collection. Mrs. Hawthorne prodded the pile of clothes with the toe of her designer heel. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto something in the corner. It was an old pocket watch, its cover worn smooth with age. It was the only thing my father had left me. “I knew it. A little thief.” She sneered, her stiletto heel coming down hard on the watch. A sharp crack echoed through the cavernous hall. I scrambled forward, a desperate cry trapped in my throat, trying to push her away. That was my father’s! That was my life! The housekeeper was faster. She grabbed a fistful of my hair and slammed my head against the floor. I opened my mouth in a silent scream, hot tears blurring my vision. Mrs. Hawthorne ground the watch under her heel, twisting her foot until it was nothing but a mangled piece of scrap metal. “It belonged to a Hawthorne family driver, which makes it Hawthorne family property,” she said, her voice dripping with scorn as she looked down at me. “You eat our food, you live under our roof. The very breath in your lungs is a gift from us. Without my permission, you can’t even take a speck of dust from this house.” She bent down and yanked at the slightly thicker coat I was wearing. “I bought this, too. Take it off.” I refused, clutching the collar. It was the middle of winter, a blizzard raging outside with temperatures well below freezing. Without this coat, I would die. “You’re determined to do this the hard way.” She slapped me, a vicious backhand that sent my head snapping to the side. The taste of blood filled my mouth. “Strip it off her!” The housekeeper and two maids descended on me, forcibly tearing the coat from my body. Dressed in nothing but a thin, worn sweater, I was dragged to the front door and thrown out. “Get out!” The heavy door slammed shut behind me. I fell into a snowdrift, the biting cold instantly seeping into my bones. From inside, I could hear the maids’ fawning laughter and Mrs. Hawthorne’s curses. I pushed myself up from the snow. Barefoot, I began to walk away, step by agonizing step. The snow was already past my ankles. I didn’t look back. I would rather freeze to death on the side of the road than ever return to that hell. The heat in the villa was cranked high. Ashley Hawthorne stumbled in, reeking of alcohol, toying with a lighter Sophia had given him. “Eve, get me some water.” He barked the order out of habit, collapsing onto the sofa. There was no response. Only the hollow echo of his own voice. He frowned, loosening his tie, his voice taking on a raw, irritable edge. “Where the hell did you go? Are you deaf, or just playing the part?” The housekeeper scurried over with a glass of honey water, a sycophantic smile plastered on her face. “Mr. Ashley, that little jinx is gone.” Ashley paused, then let out a derisive snort. “Gone?” He sat up, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on the trash can in the corner. The collar, engraved with his name, lay inside, discarded amongst fruit peels and scrap paper. It had been his “coming-of-age” gift to me on my eighteenth birthday. “Wear this,” he had said, “and you’ll be my most obedient pet.” Ashley stared at the collar for a moment. Instead of anger, a wider, more amused smile spread across his face. He pulled out his phone and sent a voice message to his group of degenerate friends. “Let’s start a pool. How many days until Eve, the little mute, comes crawling back?” “I’ll bet on five.” “Nah, three. It’s freezing out there.” The chat filled with laughter and agreement. “Ashley, the little mute’s got some nerve this time. Running away from home.” “It’s just a game. Playing hard to get. It’s what women do.” Ashley’s voice was laced with absolute certainty. “She can’t live without me.” “It’s like a fish out of water, or a dog without its master.” “Put the word out. Anyone in this city who dares to help Eve Dawson is making an enemy of the Hawthorne family. I’m going to teach her that without me, she doesn’t even have the right to beg on the streets.” At that very moment, I was huddled under the eaves of a 24-hour convenience store, shivering uncontrollably. It had been two days since I’d left the Hawthorne estate. I had gone to every recording studio where I’d ever worked part-time. No one would hire me. Just half an hour ago, I had tried the last studio that had ever shown me kindness. The owner was a man in his fifties who had always been decent to me. But when I knocked, he blocked the doorway, his face etched with apology. “Eve, don’t blame me, kid.” He lowered his voice and pressed a few hundred-dollar bills into my hand. “The Hawthornes put the word out. Anyone who hires you loses their business. I’ve got a family to feed. I’m so sorry.” “You need to go, before someone sees you.” The door closed gently in my face. I stood in the swirling snow, clutching the money, feeling no warmth at all. No ID, no phone, no place to stay. Ashley was trying to kill me. Seven years ago, my grandmother had fallen gravely ill and needed emergency surgery. I had knelt before Ashley, begging him for a hundred thousand dollars. It had been snowing just like this. Ashley and his friends were in the yard, playing darts. He pointed to a tree trunk not far from me and tossed me an apple. “Balance this on your head.” “I don’t lend money,” he’d said with a smirk, “but I do give it away.” “You’re the target, not the apple. For every dart that hits you—and you don’t flinch—I’ll give you ten thousand.” I was shaking with fear, but I had no choice. I placed the apple on my head and closed my eyes. The first dart whizzed past my ear, pinning a lock of my hair to the tree. His friends cheered. The second dart sank into my left shoulder. Agony shot through me, but I bit down so hard I thought my teeth would shatter. I didn’t move. Blood stained the white snow. That day, I took five darts and earned fifty thousand dollars. By the time I dragged my broken body to the hospital, a white sheet was already covering my grandmother. “Even half an hour earlier,” the doctor said, “and we could have saved her.” I stared at the snow-soaked bills in my hand. A black, venomous hatred began to bloom in my heart. Ashley Hawthorne, do you really think I would ever come back? Keep dreaming. On the third day, a fever took hold of me. My head was spinning. To escape the wind and snow, I crawled into an abandoned pedestrian underpass. I curled up in a corner, hugging my knees, my consciousness beginning to fade. Suddenly, a blinding pair of headlights illuminated the entrance. A black Maybach pulled to a stop. It was Ashley’s car. The door opened, and Sophia, clinging to Ashley’s arm, stepped out. “Ashley, darling, I heard there’s a little shop around here with the most amazing chestnut pastries. I want to try them,” Sophia cooed, her voice sickeningly sweet. “Of course. Anything for you.” Ashley’s voice was indulgent and gentle, a tone I had never heard him use. As they passed the underpass, Sophia stopped. She had spotted me huddled in the corner. “Oh my goodness, isn’t that little Eve?” she exclaimed, covering her mouth in mock surprise as she tugged on Ashley’s sleeve. “Heavens, what is she doing sleeping here? She’ll freeze to death in this weather.” Ashley followed her gaze. When he saw my pathetic state, he let out a cold snort, his eyes filled with ridicule. “I knew she wouldn’t last long. Look at her, playing the victim, waiting for me to find her.” I didn’t want to look at them. I struggled to my feet, wanting to leave, but the fever had left me weak. I stumbled and fell heavily back to the ground. Sophia let go of Ashley and clicked over to me on her high heels. She knelt, holding out an elegant hand warmer. “Eve, here, take this and get warm. Don’t be angry with Ashley anymore.” I turned my head away, refusing to touch anything of hers. She leaned in close, whispering so only I could hear. “You looked like a bitch in heat, kneeling on the floor for him that night. What’s the matter? No one wants you now, so you have to sleep in a sewer?” Rage burned through me. I raised my hand to push her away. But before I could even touch her, Sophia let out a piercing shriek. “Ah!” She threw herself backward, landing hard in the snow. She clutched her stomach, her face draining of all color as tears welled in her eyes. “It hurts… Ashley, my stomach, it hurts so much…” “Sophia!” Ashley’s face contorted in panic. He rushed to her side. He didn’t even glance at me. He just kicked me, hard, in the shoulder. I was thrown backward, my back slamming against the rough concrete wall. My head struck a sharp rock. Blood streamed down from my brow. Ashley scooped Sophia into his arms, then turned to glare at me. “Eve, you’re asking for it!” he roared, pointing a trembling finger at me. “If anything happens to Sophia, I’ll kill you!” I lay on the ground, gasping for air, the taste of blood thick in my throat. I saw Sophia, nestled in his arms, flash me a triumphant smirk. But Ashley wasn’t finished. He handed Sophia over to his driver, who had just arrived, and strode back toward me. He grabbed me by the collar and hauled me to my feet. “Kneel and apologize to her!” I bit my lip, staring at him with defiant eyes. No. I did nothing wrong. I will not kneel. “You won’t kneel, is that it?” Ashley sneered and pulled out his phone. “Go to Westwood Cemetery. Dig up the old woman’s ashes. Since her granddaughter is so stubborn, let’s scatter her ashes to the wind. Give her a little encouragement.” My world shrank to a pinpoint. My grandmother was my last line. How dare he. I shook my head wildly, grabbing his wrist, my nails digging into his flesh. “N-no… p-please… don’t!” I gasped, forcing out a broken, airy sound. A cruel, satisfied smile spread across Ashley’s face. “Well, well. The mute can speak after all? Or are you just scared now?” “Then kneel. And bow your head to the ground until Sophia is satisfied.” He let me go. I collapsed to the ground like a broken doll. For my grandmother, I would kneel. I turned toward Sophia and slammed my forehead against the frozen earth. Once. Twice. Three times. The dull thud of my head hitting the ground echoed through the underpass. Each impact was the sound of my dignity shattering into a million pieces. I was dragged back to the Hawthorne villa.

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When I was three months pregnant, my CEO husband, Julian Reed, suddenly handed me a divorce agreement. He wanted to divorce me to marry his “white moonlight” (first love), Sophia Turner, because Sophia was pregnant. He didn’t want Sophia to bear the stigma of having a child out of wedlock, nor did he want her child to be illegitimate, so he wronged me, his legal wife. In my past life, I refused to divorce even unto death. Julian and I fought and argued, and I even threatened suicide. In the end, both my unborn child and I lost our lives. Reliving my life, this won’t happen again. I signed the divorce agreement without any hesitation. That very night, I went to the hospital and terminated the pregnancy. Later, after Julian finally appeased Sophia, he came to ask me for remarriage. He knocked on my door carrying bags of baby products. Looking at my flat abdomen, Julian’s pupils shrank: “Where is our child?” I looked at him and smiled: “Aborted! The day you divorced me, I aborted it!” 1 “Chloe, to prevent Sophia from being criticized, I have to divorce you and marry her. Don’t worry, after she gives birth, I will divorce her and remarry you.” When Julian Reed handed me the signed divorce agreement, I had just been reborn. Looking at this familiar yet strange face, listening to his shameless words, physical and psychological repulsion made me slap Julian’s hand away. The divorce agreement fell to the ground. Julian glared at me with a dark face. Beside him, Sophia Turner’s eyes were filled with tears, “Sister Chloe, it’s all my fault. For the sake of the child in my belly not being called a bastard, I beg you! I’ll kneel for you!” She pretended to kneel, naturally impossible to actually kneel down. Julian hugged her distressedly. He hugged another woman tightly in front of me, his pregnant wife, looking at me with deep disappointment: “Why are you so unreasonable? I said it’s just a fake divorce, doing this is only to help Sophia. Sophia saved me back then, I can’t leave her in the lurch! Why can’t you understand me?” Looking at Julian’s disappointed gaze, I remembered my experience in the previous life. In my previous life, I loved Julian so much and was just pregnant, how could I agree to such an absurd thing. I firmly refused to divorce, crying and making a scene. Julian was extremely disappointed in me. If I didn’t sign the divorce, Julian couldn’t marry Sophia, and couldn’t let Sophia give birth legitimately. Worried that Sophia would be cyberbullied and lose her reputation, Julian used extraordinary means on me. He personally set a trap to make me look like a woman who cheated in marriage and was promiscuous and shameless. Looking at the overwhelming public condemnation against me, I was stunned. I called Julian wanting him to clarify for me, but Julian blocked me. Finally, while being chased by paparazzi, the car I was driving suddenly malfunctioned, crashed into the bridge pier of the cross-sea bridge, and rushed into the sea. Before dying, the cold and salty seawater kept pouring into my nose and mouth. That despair and pain made me shudder. Across from me, Julian, holding Sophia, said coldly: “Chloe Vance, let me tell you, you have to divorce whether you want to or not! I tell you, if you don’t listen, I have plenty of means to make you divorce obediently!” The means he spoke of was to turn me into a slut, an object of everyone’s scorn, causing the death of both me and my child. Having experienced Julian’s means, how could I still be obsessed? I pulled the corner of my mouth: “No need for means, I’ll sign! Immediately, right now!” 2 Seeing me pick up the divorce agreement from the ground and calmly sign it, Julian looked surprised. Tentatively asked: “Then we go to City Hall now?” “Okay!” I agreed without any objection. Knowing the true face of this man in front of me, how could I let myself fall into a predicament again. Leaving him is the first thing to do. Seeing me agree so readily, without arguing or making noise, cracks appeared on Julian’s face. I knew what he was uncomfortable about. He just thought I would make a big scene and refuse to divorce. Now that I did as he wished, he was unhappy again. He wanted to see me live and die for him, wanted to see me unable to leave him, showing a humble and broken look. Julian wanted to take all the good things. Why didn’t he think about how there could be such cheap things in this world? Coming out of City Hall, I walked silently towards the car I came in. Seeing me calm from beginning to end, showing no reluctance nor looking at him once, Julian finally couldn’t help it. He stopped me as I was about to leave: “Chloe, I might not be able to come back to accompany you in the future. Remember to call me if you need anything.” “No need. Since we are divorced, we should act like it. It’s better not to interact. After all, you are about to marry Miss Turner. Us contacting each other would be unfair to Miss Turner.” I dropped these words, got in the car, and went straight to the hospital. From registration to finishing the surgery and checking into the postpartum center, it took me less than four hours. Lying on the bed in the postpartum center, a message came on my phone. It was from a strange number, a custom wedding dress priced at millions, air-freighted roses. And a five-star hotel ballroom, gold-plated invitations, and a diamond ring symbolizing loving only one person in a lifetime. Needless to say, it was Sophia using a side account to show off to me. Have to say, Sophia knows how to provoke me. When I was with Julian, his family suffered an economic crisis and was penniless, having nothing. Julian and I were forced to squeeze into a basement less than ten square meters, eating instant noodles, chased by debt collectors everywhere. What I fancied was Julian’s talent, him as a person. So I was willing to suffer with Julian. When we got married, Julian was still in the struggle stage. Julian gave me nothing for the wedding. We just went to City Hall to get the certificate and then ate a bowl of spicy hot pot together. At that time, Julian held my hand and swore that one day he would compensate me, giving me the best of everything in the world. Later, after Julian became successful, he never mentioned compensating me, and I never thought about asking for compensation. I thought with true love, we could depend on each other until old age. I didn’t expect a lifetime to be only a short five years. The compensation Julian promised me was all given to Sophia. Because Sophia once helped him, he wanted to repay Sophia. In my past life, I asked Julian more than once, why did he have to marry her to repay Sophia? Julian said this was Sophia’s wish, Sophia’s only request. He put Sophia first but ignored me, the wife who tasted all the bitterness with him. In my past life, I didn’t feel anything wrong at all, actually foolishly wanting his love. I really didn’t die unjustly. 3 I ignored Sophia’s provocation and calmly ate the nutritious meal prepared by the postpartum center. Seeing me unmoved, Sophia stopped. I ate and drank enough and prepared to rest. Suddenly another message came on my phone. This time it was Julian: “Chloe, have you had dinner? is the baby fussing?” I didn’t reply. A few minutes later, Julian sent a long explanation message: “You were wronged today! Sorry Chloe! Believe me, the person I love is you. I have nothing to do with Sophia. I did this only to repay kindness. Don’t worry, once Sophia gives birth to the child, and her child has a legal identity, I will divorce her and remarry you.” I couldn’t help laughing out loud reading his message. In the previous life, he didn’t have these explanatory words, only impatience and calculation towards me. He clearly knew I loved him deeply, clearly knew I was pregnant. Yet he was willing to design me so cruelly for so-called repayment of kindness. Before dying, I always believed there was love between Julian and me. But after dying once, I understood that in Julian’s heart, I probably couldn’t even compare to a strand of Sophia’s hair. Otherwise, how could he bear to make such a shameless request to me, how could he design me so despicably? I ignored Julian. I just had surgery and needed rest. Only by recovering my body can I do the next things. I turned off my phone and let myself fall into deep sleep wholeheartedly. I recuperated in the postpartum center for a week. At the end of the week, my body recovered quite well. Leaving the center, I turned on my phone and saw at a glance the dense missed calls and messages, all from Julian. Divorced strangers now, don’t understand why he called me so many times. I didn’t care about his intentions and drove home. Getting out of the car, I actually saw Sophia. Sophia stood at the gate making a call, her face fierce to the extreme. Seeing me, Sophia froze, immediately hung up the phone and walked quickly towards me. Without outsiders, Sophia was no longer that delicate and weak appearance. She walked up to me in three steps and cursed: “Chloe Vance, where the hell did you die these past few days?” 4 I frowned looking at Sophia’s face distorted with anger: “What does where I go have to do with Miss Turner? Don’t you think you are meddling too much?” “You think I want to manage you? You damn woman, you deliberately didn’t answer Julian’s calls, right? Thought you agreed to divorce because you figured it out, didn’t expect you to pull this stunt. Chloe Vance, I underestimated you!” Sophia was really angry, spit flying, no image at all. I looked at Sophia’s distorted face feeling a bit disgusted, ignored Sophia and went straight into the house. When opening the door, Sophia roared angrily behind me: “It’s all because you bitch played missing, delaying my wedding with Julian.” I turned off my phone for a week to have peace, thought Julian and Sophia had already got the license and held a grand wedding. Didn’t expect not yet. Sophia blamed me for not being able to hold the wedding with Julian. She really can’t distinguish clearly. What does this have to do with me? I said calmly: “Miss Turner, Julian and I have divorced. What he wants to do has nothing to do with me. I have no reason or obligation to report my schedule to him. Also, since you and Julian are preparing to get married, please control your man well. Don’t let him disturb me like a mad dog. I am very disgusted.” I told the truth, but Sophia went crazy with anger. Cursed at me: “Chloe Vance, you bitch, you think playing this trick will make Julian soft-hearted towards you. Let me tell you, stop dreaming! With me here, Julian won’t remarry you! Never in this life!” “Who said I want to remarry Julian? Trash should stay in the trash can. I think you two are very compatible. Being locked together for a lifetime is best.” I slammed the door shut, isolating Sophia’s curses outside. Half an hour later, Julian rushed in. He broke in and questioned me angrily: “Where did you hide these past few days? Why didn’t you reply to messages? Why didn’t you answer calls? Do you know how worried I was about you? I looked everywhere for you during this time. If I didn’t find you, I was going to call the police!” Looked for me? Worried about me? Does Julian look like he loves me that much? Loved me but forced me to divorce to marry another woman? Loved me but let me carry infamy and die with the baby? I looked indifferently at Julian’s flustered appearance and said slowly: “Julian Reed, we have divorced. We have no relationship anymore. Don’t you know the principle that I have no responsibility or obligation to reply to your messages and calls?” Julian was stunned hearing me say this: “So you deliberately didn’t reply to my messages or answer my calls these past few days?” “Yes! A qualified ex should be like dead, never contacting. From now on, I won’t reply to your messages or answer your calls. Hope you understand.” 5 I just stated the facts calmly, but Julian was furious. He kicked over the coffee table: “You actually did it on purpose? I thought you were sensible. Didn’t expect you to be such a person. Chloe Vance, you disappointed me too much!” Looking at Julian’s flustered appearance, I really didn’t understand: “Mr. Reed, we are divorced. What I do has nothing to do with you, similarly what you do has nothing to do with me. When you proposed divorce, you should have been very clear about this, right? What does acting like this mean now? I remind you that your marriage partner is still here. You doing this will make her look bad.” Julian looked at me with unimaginable gaze: “Are you angry with me? Are you doing this on purpose? Chloe Vance, you clearly know my divorce with you is just an expedient measure.” “There is no expedient measure. Divorce is divorce, bridges are bridges, roads are roads. Mr. Reed, according to the divorce agreement, this house belongs to me now. Please don’t appear here in the future, okay?” Julian didn’t believe I wanted to cut ties with him from the bottom of my heart, still thinking I was playing hard to get: “Chloe Vance, I know you are angry with me. You are saying these words deliberately to anger me.” “No! You misunderstood! I really want to cut ties with you completely and never meet again from the bottom of my heart.” “Haha! How is that possible? Chloe Vance, stop saying angry words. I know your feelings for me. You love me so much, you can’t leave me, let alone we have a child.” Julian knew how much I looked forward to having a child with him. Married for five years without a child, finally getting pregnant, I was careful every day. Eating and drinking according to scientific methods, I would nag him about the child several times a day, looking forward to the child’s birth. In Julian’s view, the child was my life, the bond maintaining my relationship with him. Julian didn’t know I had already aborted the child. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. When he spoke again, he had sorted out his emotions: “Chloe, I know you and the child have been wronged! How about this, I won’t hold a grand wedding with Sophia, we’ll just get the certificate. This should calm your anger, right?” When Julian made concessions, I clearly saw disbelief in Sophia’s eyes. A few days ago, she used a side account to show off her million-dollar wedding dress, air-freighted wedding roses, five-star hotel wedding hall, and the one-and-only diamond ring. Now Julian canceled it with one sentence. How could Sophia endure it? Sophia cried, looking pitiful. “Julian, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have troubled you, to prevent Chloe from misunderstanding you and becoming distant. I better not marry you.” Seeing Sophia cry, Julian immediately felt reluctant: “I promised to help you! The marriage won’t change. I will definitely let the child in your belly be born legitimately.” “No need. This child was an accident, shouldn’t have appeared. I’ll go abort it!” Sophia said covering her face crying and ran out. Julian froze for a moment, then chased after her. I sat on the sofa without moving. A few minutes later, Julian’s exclamation came from outside: “Sophia! Sophia wake up!” Then after a short while, the car roared away. I received a text from Julian: “Chloe, Sophia got emotional, fell and fainted. I have to take her to the hospital. Be good.” Hehe! At noon, I received a message from an anonymous number: “Your husband is mine now!” The picture was Julian gently feeding Sophia. I exited without expression, followed by another anonymous message. I thought it was a provocative message from Sophia. After seeing the content clearly, my face changed instantly.

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The set was buzzing, but all I could focus on was the fact that my assistant had messed up my lunch order. Again. I glanced down at the container. Seafood bisque. The moment I lifted the lid, a delicate, briny aroma wafted up. I’d just wrapped a scene in the water, and a deep chill had settled into my bones. My stomach ached with a hollow, gnawing hunger, but my eyes instantly spotted the problem. “There are shrimp in this.” I looked up at her. “I’m allergic to shrimp.” Her face went blank for a second, then drained of all color. “Oh my god, Olivia… I’m so sorry. I was in such a rush, I completely forgot.” This was the seventh time. The first time, she handed me a pair of sunglasses from a rival brand right before a press event. I caught it just in time, narrowly avoiding a PR nightmare. The second, she rushed onto the red carpet to “fix my dress,” only to faint from low blood sugar, sparking a media frenzy with headlines about me overworking my staff. The third, she spilled a latte all over a veteran actress’s designer gown. She sobbed and apologized, all while shooting these teary, pleading glances at me. The actress was furious, and despite my endless apologies, I was branded with the reputation of “disrespecting a senior.” And so on. Just like now. She stood there, hesitating, as her eyes slowly welled up with tears. “Then… then please don’t eat it. I’ll eat it myself… You can just take the money out of my salary.” I didn’t say a word. Her meager salary couldn’t even begin to cover the cost of the messes she created. My silence seemed to panic her. She fumbled for her phone, her thumbs flying across the screen. A few seconds later, a wave of relief washed over her face. She looked up, forcing a bright, eager smile. “It’s okay, Liv! Alex said he’s on his way. He’s bringing you something else.” I had already started to turn away, but those words stopped me dead in my tracks. My phone buzzed softly in my pocket. [Alex: Is my princess angry with me?] [Alex: I’m bringing you that butternut squash soup you love. Don’t be too hard on the new girl. Everyone makes mistakes.] [Alex: Wait for me, baby.] The tone was so casual, so familiar. As if this kind of cleanup operation was something he’d mastered. Lily was the younger sister of his high school sweetheart, the one who had passed away far too young. Her family was struggling, her education was mediocre, but she was undeniably pretty. After graduating, she couldn’t find a job, and her parents were about to marry her off to some old bachelor in exchange for money to pay for her brother’s wedding. So, she went to Alex. And then, he sent her to me. For her to “learn the ropes,” he’d said. But I knew better. The girl had ambition. She had her sights set on Hollywood. Seeing that I wasn’t responding, she hugged the container of soup to her chest and mumbled, just loud enough for me to hear, “It’s a shame to waste food. I guess I’ll just have to eat it myself.” I didn’t bother replying. I just turned and climbed into my trailer. 1 Half an hour later, Alex arrived. I’d already showered and was sipping a cup of hot ginger tea. He saw me, but instead of an apology, the first words out of his mouth were a defense of the girl. “Come on, Olivia. It was just a lunch order. Why are you giving a young assistant such a hard time?” A lump formed in my throat. “I haven’t eaten all day to look good on camera. I just spent hours in freezing cold water for three different scenes. I’m cold and I’m starving.” I stared straight at him. “And besides, the Golden Griffin Awards are in two days. If I had eaten that soup, my face would be swollen and covered in hives. Do you honestly think I could walk the red carpet like that?” “Have you forgotten what that award means to me?” “That was the first role I landed after spending a year in a hospital bed, learning how to walk again. It’s a milestone, Alex. It’s the symbol of me getting my life back.” He was silent for a couple of seconds, his expression finally softening. He reached out and gently pinched my cheek. “Alright, my little princess. Don’t be angry anymore.” He placed the new container of food in front of me, handed me a spoon, and started rubbing my shoulders from behind. It was the same gentle care he’d shown me when I was recovering. After I’d been crushed by a falling piece of scaffolding while pushing him out of the way, he had tended to me for a year. He washed my hair, changed my clothes, even did my laundry. On the surface, it was the same devotion. I took a bite of the soup, then pointed to the designer coat draped over the sofa. “That couture piece. Didn’t you say you were picking it up for me on your trip to London? Why is she wearing it?” His hands froze on my shoulders. He instinctively glanced outside the trailer. “Why did you take her coat?” he asked, his voice suddenly sharp. “It’s freezing out there. What if she gets sick? It was her birthday, and she really wanted a gift. I saw how much she loved it, so I gave it to her.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You have so many clothes you never even wear. What’s the big deal about rewarding a hardworking girl?” I looked up at him. “Alex, I am your fiancée. Not your property.” “Shouldn’t you have at least asked me before giving away my things?” Her being poor was her problem. Why was I expected to carry the weight of her life? And what exactly had she done to deserve a reward? He didn’t try to soothe me. Instead, his brow furrowed in disapproval. “Olivia, I bought that coat.” “Even if it was a gift for you, it was my money that paid for it. I can give it to whomever I want.” In that instant, it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. I could still hear his voice on the day we got engaged, promising that as long as he was around, I’d never have to spend a cent of my own money. From jewelry to a simple pair of socks, he would provide everything. How quickly things had changed. How clearly the lines were now being drawn. He must have seen the tears welling in my eyes, because his resolve finally broke. He pulled me into a hug. “Liv, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.” “Just… don’t hold it against Lily. Her sister… back in school, she was the only one who was ever kind to me. I’m just trying to repay that kindness.” I was so tired of hearing that excuse. “If you want to repay a debt, then give her a job at your company. Make her your assistant. I can’t have her on my team anymore.” Half an hour ago, I had already called my agent and told her to fire Lily. She would have gotten the news by now. Sure enough, a moment later, the sound of hysterical sobbing erupted from just outside the trailer. Alex stepped out. When he returned, his face was a mask of cold fury. “All she wants is a job so she can have a decent life!” “You fired her for ‘incompetence’? You know that will ruin her chances of getting another job in this town! How hard is it to fetch coffee and run errands? What is so incompetent about that?” This was the second time he had yelled at me for his new assistant. It felt like being plunged back into that icy water, and I started to tremble. “Alex, are you really fighting with me over a complete stranger?” He didn’t answer. He just snatched the coat from the sofa and stormed out without a second glance. 2 Lily was successfully soothed. Not only that, but Alex pulled some strings and landed her a small supporting role, the fifth female lead, in the very movie I was starring in. While he was arranging all of this, I was alone in my hotel room, running a high fever. The cold had seeped into my legs, and every movement sent a sharp, needle-like pain through them. The old terror of my injury, of being crippled again, came rushing back. I swallowed my pride and called him three times. Each call went straight to voicemail. Later, lying in bed in a daze, I tried to pinpoint where everything had gone so wrong between us. At two in the morning, the door creaked open. Alex was back. He carried the faint, sweet scent of flowers, and he was clearly in a good mood. Before he could even reach my side of the bed, a soft knock came from the door. “Alex? I just… I feel like I need to make this clear. I really don’t need any special treatment. I can make it on my own. I’m not afraid of hard work.” It was Lily. “And this coat… I really can’t accept it.” Her voice was thick with unshed tears. “When you said it was a birthday present, I was so happy. I just never imagined it would make your sister so upset. She fired me because she was angry… I don’t mind being treated unfairly, but I can’t stand the thought of you being blamed because of me.” Alex’s voice softened, laced with an unmistakable note of pity. “Once a gift is given, you don’t take it back.” “Didn’t we already talk about this? Since she won’t let you be her assistant, and you love acting, then be an actress. I’ll invest in you, I’ll open doors for you. You just focus on your work and don’t worry about anything else.” Lily looked up, her eyes red-rimmed but her expression defiant. “Thank you, Alex. I’ll work as hard as I can. But since this coat belongs to Olivia, I think I should give it back… We’ll be on the same set now, and I don’t want to be targeted again…” Alex was silent for a few seconds. “Lily, don’t be naive.” “The way to get ahead is to learn how to use the resources you’re given, not to cling to some useless pride. Olivia is experienced, she’s a talented actress. Learn from her, build your network.” “As for the clothes, she has more than she could ever wear. She’s just throwing a tantrum with me. You wear it with confidence.” He paused, then added, “Actors need to look the part. That credit card I gave you, don’t be afraid to use it. Buy yourself some decent clothes.” As he spoke, he gently took the coat from her arms and draped it over her shoulders. “Wear this. You’ll catch a cold.” My eyes were closed, but I heard every single word. That coat was supposed to have been part of my outfit for the red carpet. The door clicked shut. Alex turned and his eyes met mine. He froze. “You’re awake?” I said nothing, just watched him. He seemed to realize his position, and the explanation came smoothly, as if rehearsed. “The girl has potential. It’s not a bad investment. You can mentor her a bit on set, it’ll be a good way to repay that old favor for me.” His tone was so gentle, as if he were discussing the weather. “I’ve explained everything. Don’t be jealous anymore. Nothing is going on between us, I swear.” A bitter, absurd laugh almost escaped my lips. “I’ve never heard of repaying a debt like this. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she’d saved your life.” “That’s enough, Olivia! Have you become so jealous that you can’t even tolerate the memory of someone who’s long dead?” His shout left me stunned. I knew his old flame was a sensitive topic, but he had never exploded at me like this before. He had been incredibly busy lately. We hadn’t seen each other in over two weeks. If it hadn’t been for Lily, I probably wouldn’t have seen him at all this time either. I wanted to say more, but a raw, scratching feeling in my throat made me bite my tongue. Three days later, after finishing my promotional events, I returned to the set. The first person I saw was Lily. She was standing there in a tight, crimson dress, a look of bold confidence on her face. I glanced down at the revised script pages that had just been handed to me. It was absurd. The film was nearly finished shooting, yet they had added dozens of new scenes for a complete novice. “Congratulations on the award, sis.” She smiled at me, a picture of innocence. “I’m looking forward to you showing me the ropes.” I was already in costume, my feet throbbing in a pair of prop heels rigged with dull nails for a torture scene. Standing was agony. “I can’t teach you. Find someone else.” I tried to step past her, but she grabbed my arm. “Olivia, is it that you look down on people like me? People who didn’t come from a fancy acting school?” I looked at her. It was as if she had prepared this speech. She raised her voice, making sure everyone around could hear. “I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.” “I don’t want to be known as some trophy girl who depends on a man.” “There is nothing going on between me and Alex. You don’t have to resort to firing me and badmouthing me to get back at me.” “Since you’re so bothered by my presence, why don’t we have a fair competition? Let’s see who really shines in this film.” I could barely stand. “Your business has nothing to do with me, and I have no interest in your childish games.” Lily let out a soft laugh. “Always so high and mighty, aren’t you, Olivia?” “You’ve never had a hard day in your life. You have no idea what it’s like to be truly desperate.” “You can’t act out that kind of raw, gritty pain.” “But I can.” “And this time, I am going to be brilliant.” 3 Before the official shoot began, the director pulled me aside. “Today’s scene is going to be… a bit intense.” He was vague, his eyes filled with a weary resignation. “The investors specifically requested it. I’m sorry, but I need you to play along.” I scanned the new pages. [The heroine, pushed to her breaking point, has a hysterical argument with the villain. In the chaos, the villain slaps her across the face.] The scene was short, and it was entirely designed to be Lily’s star moment. Before I could say anything, she was already in position opposite me, her smile sweet and docile. “Olivia, this is my first time doing such an emotional scene. We might need a few takes. Please be patient with me.” Her words were apologetic, but her eyes held no remorse. First take. “Action!” She raised her hand, and the slap landed. Smack. The sound was sharp and clear. I froze for a split second. A stage slap is always faked, a trick of angles and sound. It’s never real. The director didn’t call cut. But she let out a small gasp, her eyes immediately turning red as she broke character. “I’m sorry, director. I just couldn’t find the right emotion.” Second take. This time, she hit harder. Smack. I bit the inside of my cheek, and the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. The director frowned but still didn’t stop the scene. “Let’s go again.” Third take. Fourth take. Each time, she would claim her “emotions weren’t right” or simply refuse to continue the scene. And each time, her hand struck my face with more force than the last. My cheek started to go numb, a dull ringing in my ears. The crew began exchanging uneasy glances. The set fell silent, but no one dared to speak up. She was the “newcomer,” the one being “looked after.” And I was the “veteran,” the one who was supposed to endure it. Fifth take. The moment her hand came up, I finally snapped. I shot my arm out, grabbing her wrist. With a sharp twist, I reversed the motion. SMACK. The sound of my palm connecting with her cheek was sickeningly solid. Someone on set gasped. She stumbled backward dramatically, her arm slamming hard against the sharp metal corner of a prop cabinet. “Ah!” Blood immediately welled up, staining her sleeve. Lily crumpled to the floor. After a beat of stunned silence, she burst into loud, theatrical sobs. “Olivia… why are you targeting me like this?” “I’m just a newcomer… This was all in the script! I was just trying to do a good job with my acting…” “Even if you don’t like me, you didn’t have to hit me so hard…” Her wails echoed through the soundstage. I stood frozen, my palm still tingling. The director finally jolted into action, yelling, “Cut!” People rushed to her side. Someone called for a medic. That night, a carefully edited clip of the incident went viral. 「VETERAN ACTRESS OLIVIA REYNOLDS LOSES CONTROL, VIOLENTLY ASSAULTS NEWCOMER ON SET」 The video had no sound. There was only the image of my hand striking her face, and the shot of her collapsing to the floor in tears. The comments section was a landslide. 【Who does Olivia think she is just because she won a few awards? Does that give her the right to bully people?】 【I heard that new girl used to be her assistant and that Olivia bullied her constantly. She probably couldn’t stand sharing a scene with her, so she used it as an excuse to lash out!】 【Wasn’t there a story last year about her mistreating her assistant and making her faint on the red carpet? I guess all those villain roles she plays so well are just her showing her true colors!】 Every old accusation was dragged back into the light. I was about to issue a statement, my agent’s fingers flying across her keyboard, when the door to my hotel room burst open. It was Alex. His face was a thundercloud. “Are you out of your mind, Olivia?” He grabbed my arm, his grip so tight it hurt. “It was just a scene! Did you really have to hit her that hard? She could have permanent scarring on her arm, do you have any idea what you’ve done?” I didn’t speak. I just slowly removed the ice pack from my cheek. The swollen, bruised skin was stark under the bright hotel lights. He stopped short. His tone finally softened, but only slightly. “…She’s new. She doesn’t know any better.” “You’re the veteran here. Couldn’t you have just let it go?” A dry laugh escaped my lips. “How much more should I let it go? Should I have offered her my other cheek so she could get a matching set?” I placed my tablet on the table and opened a file. “This is the complete, unedited security footage from the set.” “I’ve had a backup since day one.” The video was clear, the timeline undeniable. The color drained from Alex’s face. “You can’t release this!” He lunged forward, slamming his hand down on the screen. “She’s just starting her career. If you post this, you’ll destroy her life.” “Bullying a senior actress before you’ve even made a name for yourself? That’s a death sentence for a newcomer.” I looked at him, and it was like staring at a stranger. “And what about me?” He opened his mouth, but no words came out. I continued, “So I’m just supposed to get hit, get dragged through the mud online, and have my name ruined?” I pulled the tablet back. “Not only am I releasing this, I’m also breaking up with you. It’s clear I’m no longer your priority, so there’s no reason for us to be together anymore.” “What are you talking about?” He panicked, reaching for my hand again, but I slapped it away. “There’s no room for me in your heart or your head anymore. I get hurt, I get bullied, and the first thing you do is defend the person who hurt me. I’m not a masochist, Alex.” He was about to argue, but suddenly, the custom ringtone he had set for Lily chirped from his pocket. He answered the phone. He only listened for a moment before his expression changed completely. “What did you say?” His eyes shot to mine, wide with shock. “…Lily’s pregnant?”

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On New Year’s Day, eighteen bodies washed up in the downtown river. My girlfriend, a forensic pathologist, dropped her half-eaten dinner and disappeared into the precinct for the autopsy. She was buried in work, completely off the grid for seven days straight, and our wedding had to be postponed for the ninety-ninth time. When I heard the case was finally solved, I went to the precinct to bring her home. But when I pushed open the door to the morgue, I found her on the autopsy table, tangled in the arms of her junior colleague. “Sera… the case is closed,” the young man murmured, his voice laced with possessiveness. “Does this mean you have to go back to him?” She let out a soft, breathy laugh. “What are you worried about? Even if I marry him, I’m always available whenever you want me.” “Then… can we postpone the wedding? Just one more time? I don’t want to let you go.” Before the last word left his lips, my phone buzzed. A new message lit up the screen: “Another case just came in. We’ll have to push the wedding back again.” A bitter, hollow smile stretched across my face. I turned away and dialed a number. “Dad,” I said, my voice flat. “I’m ready to come home and take over the family business. The arranged marriage… I’ll do it.” … Not far from me, Wyatt and Seraphina were still wrapped around each other. “I’m so jealous of Cole, Sera,” Wyatt whispered, his voice thick with desire. “Why does he get to marry you? I should punish you for it.” Seraphina’s cheeks were flushed. “Why would you be jealous of him?” she purred. “What I give you… is so much more than he’ll ever get.” “I’ll let you have me any way you want. Any position you can dream of. But him? He still thinks I’m some kind of germaphobe. He wouldn’t even dare to touch me…” My blood ran cold. Seraphina was right. In the seven years we’d been together, she’d always claimed to have a severe aversion to physical intimacy. Because I loved her, I never pushed. I thought that as long as I could be with her, a lifetime of platonic love would be worth it. But the scene unfolding before me was a knife twisting in my gut. “But you’re still going to marry him,” Wyatt pouted. “Sera, can’t you just leave him?” “I can’t.” Seraphina sighed, a hint of frustration in her voice. “He did three years in prison for my father. I have to repay that debt.” She leaned in, pressing a placating kiss to his lips. “But don’t you worry. I’m yours.” “These past seven days? I took a leave of absence. I went home with you, met your parents, had New Year’s dinner with them. We had a wedding. We even signed the marriage license.” “As for Cole Donovan? He’ll never touch me. He’ll be the fool living out his life with a fake marriage certificate.” “A sham marriage. That’s how I’ll repay my debt to him. Anything more… he can forget about it.” The words struck me like lightning. I was frozen to the spot. So that’s what she thought of me. Years ago, her father had committed a serious crime. She had come to me, crying, begging me to take the fall for him. Seeing her so heartbroken, I’d agreed. My father, one of the wealthiest men in the country, was so furious that he disowned me. I became a pariah, my name and face dragged through the mud online. I spent three excruciating years in prison, and when I got out, I had lost everything. But Seraphina had promised she would be eternally grateful. She said she would always love me, that she would marry me. I thought it was all worth it. But then, every time we were about to get married, she’d get a call from the precinct. A new case, an emergency. She had to go. And now, after the ninety-ninth postponement, I finally understood. I had been a fool to think she was just a dedicated professional. She was lying to me. She never wanted to marry me. She was postponing our wedding for Wyatt. In fact, while I thought she was consumed by a major case these past seven days, she had secretly married him. She had been playing me from the very beginning. My body trembled, my vision blurring with rage. My heart, piece by piece, turned to ice. It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that Seraphina stumbled through the door, her steps unsteady. When she saw me sitting there, not immediately jumping up to get her slippers as I usually did, she frowned. “What’s wrong with you?” “You saw my text about the wedding, right?” Her words were a fresh stab of pain. Seeing the look on my face, her voice sharpened. “Cole, don’t tell me you’re getting mad again!” “Every time I mention postponing, you get like this! Do I owe you something? Can’t you be more understanding? My job is demanding! You think I want it to be this way?!” Her face was a mask of irritation, as if I were the one being unreasonable. “I’ve been doing autopsies all day. I’m exhausted. I don’t have the energy for your drama.” I glanced at the fresh, angry red marks on her neck and let out a cold snort. “An autopsy, huh? You must have had a very… strenuous day.” A flicker of unease crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by righteous indignation. “Exactly! Cole, just look at yourself!” “You don’t have a job. You live in my apartment, eat my food, and all you do is obsess over this stupid wedding! You’re like some bitter, neglected housewife!” Her words were a thousand tiny needles, piercing my heart. She was right. I didn’t have a job. But that was her doing. After my release from prison, her father, who had attempted suicide to evade justice and ended up paralyzed, was moved from a care facility into our home. She’d taken my hands, tears in her eyes, and said: “Cole, you probably won’t find a good job with your record. Why don’t you just take care of my dad?” “You know how much he sacrificed to raise me. I can’t trust him with anyone else.” “Don’t worry about work. I can support you. I don’t want you to struggle.” “You took the fall for him for my sake. You can take care of him for my sake too, right?” Looking into her tear-filled eyes, I had agreed. Seraphina seemed to think my days consisted of simple caregiving. The reality was a living hell. Her father, bitter and broken, took out all his humiliation on me. He would hit me, scream at me. He was completely dependent, and I was the one who had to clean him, feed him, deal with his bedpan. On top of that, every household chore fell to me. I was on my feet from dawn till dusk. Because I loved her, I endured it all. I never once complained. And now, she had the audacity to call me idle. “You should think about it, Cole. Without me, you’d have starved to death by now.” “Yes, you did a few years in prison for my dad, but that was your choice! Stop holding it over my head!” “I let a useless freeloader like you take care of my father. You should be grateful.” “So I’m warning you, stop throwing these tantrums. If you actually manage to piss me off and I leave, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” Listening to her arrogant, self-righteous tirade, I started to laugh. What Seraphina never knew was that the “useless freeloader” she looked down on was the sole heir to the Donovan family fortune. Countless heiresses were lining up for a chance at an arranged marriage with me. In fact, I had recently reconciled with my father. He had agreed to let me inherit the family business and to welcome Seraphina into the family. I had been planning to surprise her on our wedding day. But now, I realized, there was no point. I looked up at her. “You’re right. I do need to think things through.” “Seraphina, we’re done.” She stared at me for a second, then burst out laughing. “Getting bold, are we, Cole? You’re so desperate to get married you’re actually threatening to break up with me?” “Go on then. Get out. Without me, you won’t even have a roof over your head.” The disdain in her eyes was a cold hand, squeezing the life from my heart. “Sera? Are you guys fighting?” Wyatt’s voice suddenly drifted from the doorway. “Did I come at a bad time?” He shot me a provocative grin and held something out to her, his voice dripping with insinuation. “You’re so careless, Sera. You left this… in my car.” My eyes followed his hand. For a few seconds, my mind went blank, then a wave of violent nausea washed over me. It was a piece of her lingerie. Seraphina blushed, giving him a playful glare. “Why didn’t you just give it to me at work tomorrow?” “I was worried you might need it tonight. I mean, being with Cole… it’s not like being with me…” He trailed off, his gaze flicking to me with malicious amusement, feigning a slip of the tongue. “Oh, sorry, Cole. I didn’t mean it like that…” My fists clenched. A cold, humorless smile touched my lips. “You don’t have to worry about my performance.” “Seraphina,” I said, my voice flat, “I’m being serious. We are over.” With that, I turned to leave, not sparing either of them another glance. “Cole!” Seraphina lunged, grabbing my arm, her face a mixture of exhaustion and a flicker of something that looked like panic. “Stop this, okay?! It’s the middle of the night! Where are you going to go?” She took a deep breath, her tone shifting to one of placation. “I know, you just want to get married. Fine. I promise. We’ll do it next week. No more postponements, okay?” She pulled out her phone, showing me a chat history. “Look. All the arrangements, the guest list, I’ve already booked everything.” “I was going to surprise you, too.” “Let’s just talk about this tomorrow. Don’t cause a scene in the middle of the night.” I looked at the photos on her screen, and another wave of pain washed over me. I had made all the wedding arrangements myself, months ago. I didn’t need her to lift a finger. The photos she was showing me… they were probably from the secret wedding she’d had with Wyatt just a few days ago. The audacity of her, to use that to lie to me now. But she had a point. It was late. It wouldn’t be convenient to have my father send a car. I took a deep breath, forcing down the rage, and went back to my room. Seraphina must have thought I’d given in. She didn’t even bother to follow me.

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The day I won the Oscar, thanks to resources from my boyfriend, he found someone new. Later, to pave the way for his new lover, he stole my endorsements and movie roles. When I confronted him, he laughed mockingly, his tone cold. “You started out just like her. Give her a turn.” I didn’t argue. I simply deleted his name from my acceptance speech. Later, my secret social media account was exposed, documenting every moment of my love for him. My ex-boyfriend found me, eyes red and looking utterly broken. “Did you really love me that much?” I smiled and shook my head. “It’s all in the past.” Chapter 1 A mysterious tycoon spent forty million dollars to celebrate the wrap of rising starlet Bella Lin’s new drama. The news instantly hit #1 on Twitter. In the fan-captured photos, Bella sat in a convertible, eyes shining as she watched the fireworks and the massive billboard. People said her smile was sweet, just like mine used to be. But my attention was on the corner of the photo, where I could faintly make out the elegant brow and nose of a man. Just from that silhouette, Bella’s fans identified him. Lucas Sterling, CEO of Sterling Group. The comments were filled with how perfect they looked together, shipping them like it was the wedding of the century. My agent, Sandra, saw my pale face and scoffed. “Jealous? When I tried to set you up with sponsors before, you weren’t interested.” “You said you wanted to rely on your own talent. Why are you envying someone else now?” Envy? Hardly. It was just a pang of melancholy seeing my ex-boyfriend with another woman. Since we blocked each other, our only connection was the monthly transfer to my account. Four thousand dollars. Memo: Living expenses. So, seeing that woman receive forty million dollars worth of affection stirred something in me. I forgot how long ago it was when I told Lucas: “I love acting, but I make so little right now. I have to be frugal.” He hugged me tightly, heart aching for me. “It’s okay. My money is yours.” Back then, his family had frozen his cards to “build his character.” He only had a salary of four thousand a month, but that fool was willing to spend it all on me. Maybe that’s why seeing such a grand gesture now felt so bittersweet. I opened my secret Twitter account, @HiddenLoveDiary, and typed: [Day 99 without him. Still miss him.] Chapter 2 Before we even reached the event venue, Sandra exploded again. “Chloe! Your endorsement got snatched!” “How could they do this? We were about to sign the contract, and they backed out last minute!” Seeing me calm, even trying to comfort her, she got even angrier. “Aren’t you mad? Do you know what being the Asia-Pacific ambassador for Dior means for you?” I knew. But the person who snatched it was Bella Lin, and the man behind her, Lucas Sterling. If he wanted to make someone a star, he would bring the best of everything to her feet. I just happened to be in the way. After walking the red carpet, I saw Bella sitting in the seat that was originally assigned to me. She looked around curiously with her doe eyes. “Why are you here?” I asked. The moment she saw me, tears welled up in her eyes. Although her acting was mediocre, her timing for tears was impeccable. Just as a teardrop fell, Lucas arrived. Among the crowd of beautiful people, his looks weren’t the flashiest, but his cold, aristocratic aura set him apart. Facing Bella, his voice softened. “Why are you crying?” He reached out to wipe her tear. They were truly inseparable. Bella wiped her eyes and stood up timidly. “Maybe I upset Chloe. She doesn’t want me sitting here.” Lucas looked at me with displeasure. “Chloe, don’t be unreasonable.” “Just give her the seat.” I should have been understanding and left. Maybe the forty-million-dollar news had messed with my head, because I actually argued back. “I begged Director Su for this seat next to him. Why should I give it up?” Funny enough, I originally sought out Director Su for Lucas’s sake. Now I was being asked to move, also for his sake. Fate is a cruel jokester. As soon as I spoke, Bella cried harder. Lucas looked up, glaring at me coldly, a sneer playing on his lips. “Didn’t you climb up using a sponsor too? Can’t you empathize with her?” “Didn’t you do anything for resources back then? Why act so high and mighty now?” I was speechless. This was the first time Lucas humiliated me for another woman. He was right. We were both women relying on powerful men. What right did I have to speak? Chapter 3 When I first started dating Lucas, I didn’t know he was the heir to the Sterling empire. I was an extra in Hollywood, playing corpses, stunt doubles, anything to get on camera. Sometimes I’d bring an extra box lunch home to share with Lucas. “Today they brought a real horse to set! But the lead actor couldn’t ride, almost fell on his butt!” I told him about my dreams, my ambitions. He, who grew up in luxury, would stuff cheap food into his mouth and laugh at my stories. Later, Lucas climbed the corporate ladder quickly. I found out he was the Sterling prince. I was angry he hid it, but after he coaxed me for two days, I forgave him. “Omg, my boyfriend is a super rich heir!” I was laughing in my sleep. I recorded it on my secret account. [@HiddenLoveDiary: Day 561 with him. He’s a secret billionaire! No more suffering for me!] That tweet went viral. Comments were full of lemon emojis (jealousy). Soon, I stopped being an extra. I asked him for the best acting coaches, the best trainers. Top movies that actresses fought tooth and nail for… I got invitations without even auditioning, just because Lucas made a call. I was living the dream. That night, I was excited until late. On the way home, he was silent. Near our house, Lucas suddenly spoke. “Chloe, do you love me, or the resources I can give you?” I froze, tongue-tied. He laughed self-deprecatingly, cupped my face, and touched his forehead to mine. “I don’t know why you’re so desperate to build a career.” “But as long as I’m here, you can relax.” Such a proud man, bowing his head for me. I should have been flattered. But, if one day you fall for someone else, what happens to me? We are from different worlds. How would I even see you then? [@HiddenLoveDiary: Day 611 with him. I’m getting scared.] Chapter 4 My mind went blank. Sandra pinched me hard before I realized I won. Best Supporting Actress. An Oscar. The applause and the heavy statue told me this wasn’t a dream. I scanned the audience. Lucas stood out. No mockery, just looking down, seemingly expecting something. I read out the names in my speech, one by one. Until the final pause. I once told him, when I win an Oscar, we’ll go public. I glanced at Bella in the audience. She looked pale, like a defeated rooster. So, I swallowed the last name and calmly thanked everyone else. “Thank you, Chloe. A netizen asks: You had so many expensive resources early in your career. Is there really a sugar daddy behind you?” The host was sweating. Someone else was setting me up. I looked at him for a moment, then laughed, raising the microphone. “Instead of a sugar daddy, let’s say a lover. We dated as equals. No one depended on anyone.” “I don’t deny that because of him, I had a professional team and great teachers.” “But I never tried to get things I didn’t deserve. Winning Best Supporting Actress today is the result of my hard work.” I stood tall, no cowardice. I used Lucas. There’s no shame in that. Even now, I don’t regret using his money to climb higher. “Do you still love him?” Lucas sat up straight in the audience, staring at me intently. He seemed to forget that long ago, I loved him humbly. “Lucas, I didn’t just care about my career. I wanted to be closer to you.” “I can’t just be a useless trophy wife.” “Calm down. Can we just… be together properly?” That day, the snow was heavy. Lucas walked fast. I fell behind him. I screamed his name, but he didn’t turn back. Later, the doctor applied medicine to my wounds. I flinched in pain. The doctor comforted me like a child. “It’s all over now.” I met Lucas’s gaze, smiled, shook my head, and told him what the doctor told me. “It’s all over now.”

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My older sister never really liked me. She was cold, distant, and sometimes downright mean. She stole my toys. She tore up my homework. But after a building collapse that buried us both, everything changed. My sister suddenly became a different person. Chapter 1 My sister, Harper, is five years older than me. When Mom was giving birth to me, there were complications. Harper, just a toddler then, was terrified. She screamed and cried, yelling, “Put her back! I don’t want a bad sister!” It became a family joke, but the truth was, she never really warmed up to me. We were polar opposites. I loved Barbies; she loved Power Rangers. I loved singing and dancing; she loved kickboxing and MMA. By the time I was mastering ballet, she was a black belt in Taekwondo. Naturally, I never won a fight. My parents never gave her the “you’re the older sister, let her win” speech. Whenever I ran to them crying, clutching my bruised arm, they’d just shrug. “You poked the bear, kiddo. We can’t help you.” My “newborn protection period” expired the moment I learned to walk. I didn’t get the memo, though. I kept provoking her. After countless beatings, I finally understood the hierarchy of our household: Might makes right. And Harper was the Supreme Leader. Being adaptable, I tried sucking up to her. I’d bring her water, offer to massage her shoulders. Harper would just glare at me suspiciously. “Chloe, what are you plotting?” The audacity! I was just trying to survive! However, the Supreme Leader had a weakness: Grandma. Grandma raised Harper until I was born. She always took my side. “Harper, why did you make Chloe cry again?” “You’re the big sister, you need to know better.” And where was seven-year-old me? Hiding behind Grandma’s legs, chirping, “Yeah! Big sisters are supposed to be nice!” I was bold only because Harper wouldn’t hit me in front of Grandma. Our parents knew Harper felt sidelined, so they tried to balance it out at home. They told her: “It’s okay to be a kid sometimes.” They told me: “Sisters should support each other. Keep taddling, and you’re on your own.” I was a tyrant at Grandma’s house and a peasant in my own home. So, I learned quickly: apologize fast, apologize loud. Chapter 2 Harper was a vault. While I apologized at the speed of light, she kept her mouth shut tight. In third grade, we had a writing assignment: “My Hero.” I thought about it for a long time and wrote about Harper. I used every fancy adjective my eight-year-old brain knew. It was basically a fan letter. When I proudly showed it to her, she ripped it in half. “Garbage. Rewrite it.” I was devastated. I ran to Mom, sobbing. “Harper tore up my homework!” Mom patted my head. “It probably wasn’t very good then. Ask her to help you rewrite it.” “It was good! She did it on purpose!” Mom was busy. “Harper, help your sister.” So Harper dragged me back to our room and shoved a giant rainbow lollipop in my mouth. She never apologized. She just bribed me into silence. And I fell for it every time. I rewrote the essay. Harper said the first one was too superficial. “You have to praise a person’s character, not just their face,” she lectured. Later, that torn-up essay disappeared. I assumed I lost it and asked Mom for a new notebook. Chapter 3 I had a healthy amount of fear and respect for Harper. She was ruthless, quiet, and brilliant. As much as I hated to admit it, she was a genius. Just… icy. Especially to me. We rarely had a peaceful conversation. Our biggest fight happened on my twelfth birthday. Harper was a junior in high school, swamped with AP classes and SAT prep, but she came home for the party. Mom got me a huge cake with a pink bow. Lots of friends came. I got tons of gifts. Including one from the neighbor’s kid, Leo. It was an adorable teddy bear. Leo said his dad brought it back from London just for me. When Harper came home, I showed it to her. “Isn’t it cute?” She glanced at it and gave a dismissive nod. That night, after the guests left, I took the bear into Harper’s room. She was studying. She didn’t look up. “What?” I sat on her bed, swinging my legs. “When do you go back to school?” “Tomorrow.” “So soon?” I pouted. “Can’t you stay?” “No.” I slumped. She turned around and pulled a box from her backpack. “Happy Birthday.” I froze. She rarely gave me gifts. “Open it later.” “Thanks, Harper,” I stammered. She looked at the bear in my arms. “Who gave you that?” “Mr. Miller next door. From London.” Harper’s face changed instantly. She snatched the bear, opened the window, and threw it out. We lived on the first floor, so it landed in the bushes. “Why did you do that?!” I yelled. She closed the window calmly. “Don’t go get it.” I ignored her. I put her gift down and ran outside. Harper followed me. The bear was in the mud. Just as I stepped into the bushes, she grabbed my arm. “I said, leave it.” “Let go! It’s my birthday present!” I screamed, wrestling my arm free. I don’t know if I was strong or if she let go so she wouldn’t hurt me. But she beat me to the bear. She picked it up and ripped its head off. She held up the ruined toy. “You still want it?” I stared in shock, then stomped my foot. “Harper! What is wrong with you?!” Mom and Dad ran out. “What’s going on?” Harper didn’t say a word. She walked past us and dropped the shredded bear into the dumpster. “I hate you!” I shoved her and ran to my room. My parents held a family meeting in the living room that night. “Why did you throw away her bear?” Mom asked. “I didn’t like it,” Harper said, face blank. I pointed at her. “See?! She’s crazy!” They scolded her and told her to buy me a new one when she got a job. I went back to my room and threw a tantrum on my bed. Then I saw the box on my desk. I opened it. It was a vintage CCD digital camera. I was obsessed with photography back then. My parents’ phones were full of my selfies because they wouldn’t buy me a phone until middle school. I always begged to use Harper’s phone. She always said, “Dream on.” I never thought she remembered what I liked. That camera must have cost her months of allowance. My anger vanished. The next morning, before she left for school, I begged her to take a picture with me. She agreed on one condition. “Stay away from Mr. Miller and his family.” “Okay,” I promised. Two years later, the Millers moved away. That morning, as the garbage truck came, I saw a small black square fall out of the torn bear’s body. It looked like a camera lens. Chapter 4 Harper went to college out of state. Mom said she was independent. Low maintenance. Grandma died when I was in eighth grade. Harper cried for days. Her eyes were swollen shut. She knelt by Grandma’s grave, whispering secrets I couldn’t hear. Before my high school entrance exams, I got a package from Harper. It was a plush bear, similar to the one she destroyed. And a note: [Good luck, Chloe.] I sent her a selfie with the bear. [Received!] She replied: [Good.] Still so cold.

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