Category: English

It was the 99th time Tessa and I were supposed to get our marriage license. After a single phone call, she told me she had to take her uncle for a medical check-up. We’d have to do it another time. I was about to protest when a stream of text suddenly materialized before my eyes. 【Don’t. Just let her go.】 【In your past life, your girlfriend insisted on going with her uncle. You went back to the observatory alone and predicted that the dormant volcano next to Fenton Creek would erupt tonight. You intercepted Tessa and forced her to go back to the village, saving her grandfather.】 【Her uncle, Adrian, was diagnosed with terminal cancer during his solo check-up. In despair, he threw himself from the hospital roof.】 【After Adrian’s death, Tessa blamed you for everything. She laced your dinner with rat poison and killed you.】 … I froze, every muscle in my body locking up. As the text continued to flicker, a searing pain erupted in my abdomen—the phantom memory of being poisoned, so vivid it felt like it was happening all over again. Seeing me stunned, Tessa’s voice sharpened with impatience. “Sean, get out of my way! I have to get my uncle to the hospital!” I stared at her familiar face, a storm of emotions churning inside me. Could she really hate me so much over Adrian’s death? Enough to murder me? Tessa and I had worked together for years at the Volcano Observatory. Proximity had blossomed into love. But she’d always been honest about one thing: she’d been in love with her sickly uncle, Adrian, since they were children. Adrian was her grandfather’s adopted son, and her grandfather had strictly forbidden any romantic relationship between them. She never brought it up again, but her feelings for Adrian remained something more than familial, yet not quite a lover’s. She could never fully commit to us. I loved Tessa deeply and was still willing to marry her. I did everything I could for her, hoping my devotion would eventually win her heart. But it wasn’t long before she asked Adrian to move in with us. She gave him the master bedroom and relegated me to the guest room, claiming his poor health required round-the-clock care. I told myself it didn’t matter. They were just family. … “Are you even listening to me?” Tessa’s shrill voice sliced through my thoughts. I snapped back to reality and quickly turned to my computer. I pulled up the eruption forecast data, printed it, and shoved it in front of her. “Mount Vulcan is going to erupt at midnight. A VEI-4, at least. The mountain is right next to Fenton Creek!” Tessa snatched the report, her eyes barely scanning the page before she ripped it to shreds. She slapped me hard across the face, the force of it leaving a fiery sting on my cheek. “All you care about is getting that stupid piece of paper! You’d even make up a lie about a dormant volcano coming back to life just to stop me from taking my uncle to his appointment?” “That piece of rock next to Fenton Creek hasn’t moved in a thousand years, and you’re telling me it’s going to erupt tonight? Do you think I’m an idiot?” I fought back the rage building in my chest and explained calmly, “I’m not lying. The seismic activity under Mount Vulcan has been increasing. Even dormant volcanoes can reawaken…” She cut me off with a cold laugh, her eyes dripping with contempt. “Your data is garbage! I’m taking my uncle to the hospital, and if you say one more word of this nonsense, we’re through!” With that, she grabbed my car keys and left without a backward glance. After she was gone, I ignored the throbbing pain in my face. I emailed the report to my superiors and hailed a cab to Fenton Creek. I had to get her grandfather out myself. I had to make sure he was safe. The car had barely pulled out of my neighborhood when my boss, Evans, called. His voice was stern. “Sean, what the hell are you playing at? What is this report you just submitted? A dormant volcano erupting?” My heart sank. “Sir, it’s real—” “Real? Bullshit!” he roared. “Tessa already called me! She said she needed to take a family member for a check-up, but you were insisting on getting married today, so you made up this ridiculous story!” “Sean, have you lost all professional integrity? Not only are you treating your work like a joke, but you’re using a volcanic eruption as a punchline! I’ve already retracted your report. You need to take a good, long look at yourself.” “Evans, I’m not joking,” I said, my voice weak. “The data is solid. I’ve run the models a dozen times. There’s a genuine risk of an eruption tonight…” “Hello?” He’d already hung up. Frantic, I dialed the Director’s number, hoping for one last chance. But after I explained, his voice was like ice. “Mr. Evans has already briefed me. Sean, your actions are grossly irresponsible. As of now, you’re fired.” I stood there, stunned, the phone slipping from my hand. Fired? Just like that? Because of Tessa’s words, all my work, my professional judgment, was dismissed? I couldn’t believe Evans and the Director would ignore my data analysis and just take her word for it. Her grandfather had worked hard his whole life, raising a large family. He’d always been kind to me. I couldn’t let him be consumed by fire and ash. This was about more than just him; it was about the hundred-plus lives in Fenton Creek. There was no time to waste. I forced myself to calm down and called her grandfather. “Grandpa, the mountain next to the village, Mount Vulcan, is going to erupt tonight! It’s dangerous! You need to talk to the village chief and get everyone to evacuate now!” He sounded surprised. “What? Mount Vulcan’s gonna blow? That can’t be right.” “It’s true, Grandpa,” I pleaded. “Please, trust my expertise. Find the chief and get everyone out of there. Immediately.” He agreed, but a knot of dread remained in my stomach. Five hours later, the taxi finally reached Fenton Creek. The villagers were in the fields, working as usual. No one was evacuating. I found her grandfather and the village chief in the community hall, drinking. I rushed in. “Grandpa, why haven’t you organized the evacuation? I told you the volcano is erupting tonight! It’s already afternoon!” He put down his glass and shot me a dismissive look. “Evacuate? Stop spreading nonsense! Tessa already called. She said you were lying, just trying to scare people.” The chief chimed in with a cold snort. “Sean, you can’t go around doing things like this. Just because you’re a little jealous of Adrian, you pull a stunt like this? You know how much time and money it would cost to move everyone and everything? It’s not right.” Just like the Director, they didn’t believe me either. Before I could explain, her grandfather kicked me hard in the shin. The pain was so sharp I nearly collapsed. He pointed a finger at me, his voice full of scorn. “Get out of here! Stop embarrassing me!” I clenched my jaw, fighting through the pain in my leg, and tried again. “Grandpa, Chief, I’m not lying! Mount Vulcan will erupt tonight. I’m a researcher at the Volcano Observatory. I’ve run all the numbers. At midnight, the eruption will be at least a VEI-3, possibly even a 4!” The chief hesitated, hearing the conviction in my voice. But her grandfather just scoffed. “My granddaughter Tessa studies volcanoes too, so how come she says it’s not going to erupt? You think my own flesh and blood would lie to me? I told you, you’re just making this up because you don’t want her with Adrian!” I took a deep breath and dropped to my knees in front of the chief, my voice trembling. “Chief, I’ve loved studying nature my whole life. I majored in geology. I’ve been working at the Observatory since graduation. I’ve dedicated more than twenty of my thirty years to studying volcanoes. I am not wrong about this. If the volcano doesn’t erupt tonight, I’ll accept any and all consequences.” The chief frowned, seeming to waver. But then her grandfather let out a cold laugh. “You were just fired for filing a false disaster report! Don’t think I don’t know. Tessa got the notification and told me all about it!” Hearing this, the chief’s face hardened. “Get out of here! Go! Stop causing trouble!” I threw caution to the wind, pulled a card from my pocket, and held it out to him. “Chief, this is my debit card. It has over seven thousand dollars in it. It’s yours. Just please, use the money to get everyone out. People, livestock, valuables—everything. There’s still time. If the volcano doesn’t erupt, that’s more than enough to cover the costs. No one loses anything.” The chief stared at me, then at the card, his expression complex. Her grandfather grabbed me and started dragging me toward the door. I clung to the doorframe, my eyes wide with desperation as I yelled at the chief. “Chief! If I’m right, if it’s a VEI-4 eruption, Fenton Creek will be wiped off the map! Your parents, your children, your grandchildren, you—everything will be gone! Are you really willing to gamble everyone’s lives on this?” The chief stood up, taking the bank card from my hand. “I’ll trust you this one time, son. I’ll consider this a loan. But if nothing happens, Sean, you’ll have to answer to me.” Her grandfather watched, dumbfounded, as the chief left the hall. I let out a sigh of relief. “Grandpa, come on, let’s go home and pack!” He just cursed at me for being unfilial, for shaming him in front of the village. I endured his temper and followed him home. But when we got there, he shoved me outside and locked the door. I stood outside, yelling, pleading with him, but he completely ignored me. Hours later, my throat was raw, my voice gone. I tried calling Tessa, hoping she could convince him. The call connected, but before I could speak, Adrian’s voice, slick and smug, came through. “Tessa’s busy. What do you want?” I swallowed my fury. “Adrian, Fenton Creek is in danger! Her grandfather has to leave with me now. Put Tessa on the phone, or you call him yourself!” He just laughed. “Sean, stop with the drama. Tessa told me you’re a liar.” “Guess where we are now?” I had no time for his games. “We’re at a hotel next to the hospital,” he continued, his voice dripping with malice. “Tessa’s in the shower. Her appointment isn’t until tomorrow, but she insisted we stay here tonight. Said it would be… inconvenient with you at home.” “Haha, why do you think it would be inconvenient, Sean?” Then he hung up. I gripped my phone, my knuckles turning white. It was already past nine o’clock. I looked toward the dark silhouette of Mount Vulcan in the distance. The sky above its peak was glowing with a faint, ominous red. Time was running out. Fenton Creek was isolated, the only village at the foot of the mountain. Far in the distance, I could see the taillights of the last convoy of villagers disappearing. Now, it was just me and her grandfather. But that isolation was also a curse. The nearest town was dozens of miles away. If I didn’t leave by nine-thirty, I wouldn’t make it out either. I turned on my phone’s camera, pointed it at myself, and yelled toward the house. “Grandpa, look at the sky! It’s glowing red! If you don’t believe me, believe your own eyes—” Before I could finish, a heavy ceramic planter sailed through the air and crashed down on my head. Pain exploded behind my eyes. Warm blood streamed down my face, and my vision exploded in a wash of crimson. From inside the courtyard, her grandfather’s voice rained down curses, as if I were the devil himself. “How did Tessa end up with a lying piece of trash like you! My family has farmed this land for generations! That mountain has never made a sound! Why would it erupt the moment you show up? You’re just cursing me, wishing me dead, you bastard—” The blood was too much. I couldn’t stand any longer. I stopped the recording and stumbled toward the village entrance where the taxi driver was waiting. When I got in the car, he stared at me, horrified. “What happened to you? You’re bleeding everywhere! Hey… don’t get that on my seats!” I managed a weak, bitter smile. “It’s okay, I’ll pay for the damages. Just drive. Get us to the next town.” “And don’t stop until we’re there.” The driver nodded and peeled out. I drifted in and out of consciousness in the back seat. I don’t know how long I was out, but through the haze, I heard it. A deep, distant, deafening, world-shattering roar. The volcano had erupted.

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My mother gave us two choices. Go with her to the Sterling mansion, attend the best private high school with the young master, but be restricted to domestic universities. Or stay in our hometown for school, with the promise of studying abroad after graduation. My sister snatched the first option. “Mom, I want to go to the Sterling mansion with you.” Mom smiled with relief and turned to me. “As the older sister, you should yield to your sister. Sending you abroad later will fulfill my duty as a mother.” Seeing my sister clinging to Mom with a look of anticipation, I knew. She had been reborn too. Unfortunately for her, Liam Sterling would never fall for her. Chapter 1 “Maddie, the employer has a lot of demands. Your sister and I are leaving today. Take care of yourself at home.” After packing, Mom left with Chloe immediately. It was completely unlike my past life, where she stayed ten extra days just to persuade Chloe to go to the Sterling mansion. In our past life, after Mom presented the choices, Chloe also rushed to choose. But back then, she chose to study abroad. After my parents divorced, I was awarded to my dad. For ten whole years, Mom never visited me once, yet I missed her every day. It wasn’t until Dad passed away and the police took me to Mom’s place that I had a mother again. When Chloe chose to go abroad, I was overjoyed. I could finally be with Mom day and night. But Mom wanted to take Chloe with her. She stayed for ten days, constantly trying to persuade Chloe to go. Chloe firmly believed the grass was greener on the other side. She didn’t budge until the employer urged Mom to return. So, I went to the Sterling mansion with Mom and met Liam Sterling. He was handsome, aloof, noble, and a top student. He was the Prince Charming in every girl’s heart. I couldn’t help but fall for him too. I knew the gap between us was like heaven and earth, so I buried that affection deep in my heart. Until after the college entrance exams, Liam, drunk after a party, pinned me against a wall. “Maddie, come study abroad with me, okay?” I turned my face away, restraining myself. “I don’t have the money.” Liam smiled, lighting up the entire basement. “I’ll pay for you.” In that moment, I knew. The person I had secretly loved for three years liked me too. Immeasurable happiness hit me. Excitedly, I told Mom that the young master wanted to take me abroad. What I got was a heavy slap across the face. “You’re not going! When you chose to come to the Sterling mansion, you gave up the path to study abroad. The money I saved is for Chloe.” I covered my face and explained. “The young master said I don’t need to pay; he’ll cover my tuition.” Mom scoffed, looking me up and down with disdain. “Shameless. Climbing into bed for money. weigh yourself properly—look at your status, look at his. “Someone like him is just playing with you. When he gets bored, I’ll be the one stuck with the bill. “Don’t even think about going abroad. If you dare disobey, don’t call me Mom ever again. “And stay far away from the young master. Don’t jeopardize my job.” Perhaps because I lacked maternal love growing up, my biggest fear was losing my mother. Heartbroken, I rejected Liam. But Liam told me solemnly. “Distance isn’t a problem. I can afford plane tickets.” In college, we started a long-distance relationship. He flew back every month to see me. The sweetness of love filled me with hope for the future. When Mom found out we were really dating, she went behind my back and asked Liam to take care of Chloe, who was also abroad. Liam, unaware of our family dynamics, naively looked after Chloe as her brother-in-law. Unexpectedly, one day in my senior year, I received a message from Chloe, along with a photo. Chloe, topless, arms around Liam’s neck, lying in a hotel bed. [Sis, Liam and I are together now. Stop pestering him.] I had been with Liam for three years. I knew he wouldn’t betray me. My first thought was that Liam had been set up. I furiously called Chloe. But I didn’t notice the truck rushing towards me. As my soul left my body, I heard Mom and Chloe talking. “It’s good your sister died. You need to grab the young master’s heart. You’ll be the mistress of the Sterling family.” Chloe laughed triumphantly. “It was smart of you, Mom, to have Liam take care of me abroad. That gave me the chance to take that photo when he was drunk. “I wanted Maddie to give up on her own, but her dying directly is even better. God has eyes. “Once Liam gets over his grief, I’ll make my move.” I always thought that even if Mom was biased, she still saw me as a daughter. I never expected she wouldn’t even shed a tear over my death. Devastated, I floated to find Liam. Only to find him in a bathtub, holding my photo, having taken his own life. Only then did I know. Liam loved me more than life itself. I went mad, using all my strength to trip Chloe as she walked down the stairs. Watching Chloe fall to her death, my soul finally dissipated. I didn’t expect to return to the day we chose our fates. This time, Chloe chose the Sterling mansion. She thinks going there will make Liam fall for her. Too bad she’s wrong. Liam won’t like her. And I will make them pay for what they did in our past life. Chapter 2 As soon as Mom and Chloe left, my aunt used “renovating the room” as an excuse to send me to boarding school early. Before, when Mom worked as a maid at the Sterling mansion, she let us stay at my uncle’s house and paid my aunt a monthly living fee. In my past life, after Mom and I went to the Sterling mansion, Mom increased the fee and asked them to take good care of Chloe. Chloe lived well at my uncle’s house. Now it seems Mom stopped the payments. I didn’t argue. I packed my things and left. Before school started, I had one more place to go. After leaving my uncle’s, I went to the bank. Dad used to deposit a small sum for my birthday every year. Only I knew about that account. I withdrew the money and took a long-distance bus to a remote cemetery. It was stormy that day. I wrapped myself in a raincoat and waited behind a tree. Near dusk, sixteen-year-old Liam rushed in through the rain, followed by several bodyguards. Liam was soaked, his narrow eyes cold, but his steps firm. He walked to a grave and frantically clawed at the grass. “Young Master, the rain is too heavy. It probably got washed away. Let’s look when the rain stops.” Liam acted like he didn’t hear. Just as he was exhausted and despairing, I walked out from behind the tree. “Excuse me, are you looking for this?” I pulled a necklace from my pocket. Liam’s eyes lit up, and he walked over quickly. Seeing him soaked, I raised my umbrella to shield him from the rain. Liam took the necklace with trembling hands, his expression softening. “How do you have it?” In my past life, after we got together, he said his biggest regret was losing the necklace he made with his mother in the summer of his sixteenth year. So, I came to the cemetery. To fix his regret, and to meet him. I shrugged, shrinking into my coat. “The rain washed it down. I picked it up and saw you searching, so I thought it might be yours.” “Thank you. This necklace is very important to me. What reward do you want?” Liam said thanks, but still kept people a thousand miles away. I shivered and said, “Treat me to a cup of instant noodles. I’m cold and hungry.” Liam froze, then burst out laughing. “Deal!” Half an hour later, at my insistence, Liam ate his first cup of instant noodles with me. “I didn’t know instant noodles were this good.” When we were together before, his favorite was instant noodles. After eating, Liam wanted my contact info to thank me properly. I smiled and refused. “If it’s fate, we’ll meet again.” The moment I turned around, I couldn’t hold back my tears. I wanted to rush over, hug him, and tell him everything about our past life. Tell him I missed him like crazy. But that would make me look insane. I didn’t leave my contact because I knew his every move in high school. We would meet again. Liam would think it was fate. Not a plan. Chapter 3 School finally started. The high school curriculum was too easy for me. I began plotting my second meeting with Liam. During the October break, I got a part-time job cleaning at the ice hockey rink. On the third morning, Liam came to practice. I watched secretly from the back. When he was done, I whispered. “You should twist your wrist when passing.” Liam spun around. I couldn’t see his eyes under the helmet, but I felt his shock. “It’s you! You can see my weakness?” How could I? He told me himself. I played dumb. “Just a little bit. Do we know each other?” Liam took off his helmet, eyes sparkling with surprise. I opened my mouth in exaggerated shock. “It’s you!” At noon, we ate together. “You’re a minor, how are you working here?” “Shh! Don’t let the boss know. I’m pretending to be an adult.” “Do you really need money?” “My dad died in a car accident. Mom took all the money and left with my sister. If I don’t work, what do I do?” Liam was silent for a moment. “Practice hockey with me later.” I hesitated. “I still have to sweep.” “Five thousand an hour.” “Yes sir, boss!” Liam laughed again, almost spitting out his rice. After playing in the afternoon, Liam asked me to dinner again. I was about to agree when I saw Chloe watching from outside the rink. “Next time! I have to go.” When paying me, we exchanged contacts. Back at the hotel, Liam texted. [Home safe?] I couldn’t help smiling. But I only replied with a “Mm.” Chapter 4 After the break, I started preparing for the debate competition. In my past life, although I knew Liam, at school he was in Class 1 and I was in the last class. At home, he lived on the top floor, I lived in the basement. We were two parallel lines. It was a debate competition that made Liam see me. This time, I was going to shine even brighter. But when I got the materials ready, I found my high school didn’t plan to sign up. Furious, I took my bedding and slept in the hallway of the principal’s house. The principal couldn’t beat me and finally agreed to let me form a team, but we had to pay our own expenses. Luckily, many students wanted to participate. We prepared and competed together, busy and happy. Liam sometimes texted me. Every time, I would stop and read every word multiple times. Finally, suppressing my eagerness, I’d reply with just a few words. Before winter break of freshman year, I led the debate team to the finals. Liam spotted me immediately. “Another part-time job?” I flashed my school badge. “I’m here for the finals.” Liam glanced at the badge, eyes widening. “You’re the legendary debater from Maple Leaf High.” “Legendary?” Liam looked moved, eyes burning. “For your school to make it to the finals, it’s like a miracle. “Half the audience today is here for your captain. Introduce me later.” Just then, a teammate ran over. “Captain, our seats are over there. Let’s go!” Liam froze, his look changing. I punched the air, smiling confidently. “See you in the arena, Student Liam!” There were four teams in the finals. We played against another school first. Having done this in my past life, I knew the topic and the opponent’s weaknesses. Unsurprisingly, we crushed them. Throughout the process, I felt a familiar gaze getting hotter. When Liam competed, I sat in the audience opposite them. Just like in the past life, he was calm and composed, dismantling the opponent’s arguments methodically. After he won, I saw him looking for me, so I dragged my classmates away. Feelings—the more you can’t have them, the more you crave them. When Liam texted, I only replied “Busy.” The next day in the grand finals, Liam and I sat opposite each other. In the past life, he was first speaker, I was second. I knew his style and used to cover his flaws. Now, his flaws became my points of attack. An hour later, Liam stood up and extended his hand. “Congratulations!” Familiar warmth came from his palm. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the tears. Leaving the venue, Liam was surrounded. Even losing, he was still the star. But Liam squeezed out of the crowd and walked toward me with his long legs. He smiled, eyes full of complex emotions. “Maddie, can I buy you dinner this afternoon?” The aloof god actively inviting a girl to dinner. The scene was silent for a second, then erupted in screams. “Am I blind? Liam is smiling at that girl.” “Buying her dinner too? OMG! I can’t imagine eating with Liam.” “She’s pretty too, and she won.” Teammates pushed me forward. “Captain has time, go eat!” “You two eat, we’ll sit at the kids’ table.” I looked up, about to nod. Suddenly, someone rushed out of the crowd. “Maddie! Impossible, how could you…” Chloe’s twisted face magnified. Just as she lunged to push me, Liam blocked me with a dark face. Whispers rose from the crowd. “That’s the daughter of the maid at Liam’s house. Always following him.” “Says Liam will love her, but he doesn’t even look at her.” “A toad wanting swan meat. Doesn’t know her place.” Exactly! Even swapping fates, Liam would never like Chloe.

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Everyone in the gilded world of New York’s elite knew the titan Gaten Wolfhard had one weakness: the girl he’d raised as his own. A girl who was spoiled, arrogant, and unbearably possessive. So much so that even at my own wedding, she stood on a balcony in a dress that was a blatant copy of my own bridal gown. Making me, the actual bride, look like a pathetic fool. This continued until my family and I orchestrated Gaten Wolfhard’s spectacular downfall. Only then did the little princess come to me, bowing and scraping, begging for my forgiveness. I just laughed in her face. “You were so jealous before, weren’t you? You wanted to be Gaten’s bride yourself,” I said, my voice dripping with ice. “Well, congratulations. May the two of you live happily ever after—in prison.” 1 As I walked down the aisle, my eyes were drawn upward. There, on a small second-floor balcony, stood the girl. She wore a white gown nearly identical to mine, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed down at my fiancé, Gaten, waiting for me at the altar. And Gaten was looking right back up at her. The moment stretched, turning me, the bride, into a sideshow clown. My father, whose arm I held, clenched his free fist, but I gently pressed his hand down, a silent command to stay calm. Whispers slithered through the pews, impossible to ignore. “Who is that girl? Wearing white to a wedding… does she have any class at all?” A young woman beside her tugged at her arm, hissing, “That’s Mia, the girl he’s raised for eighteen years. They’re practically inseparable!” “Please, everyone knows what she’s after. But the Wolfhard matriarch couldn’t stand her. Forced Gaten to marry Seraphina Shaw instead.” Finally, under the searing glare of his mother, Gaten reluctantly tore his gaze away from the balcony. Someone quickly pulled the girl, Mia, from view. A moment later, she reappeared at Gaten’s side, stripped of the white gown and now wearing a simple dress. I smiled serenely and continued my procession, the picture of poise and grace—exactly the kind of “blue-blooded lady” the old Mrs. Wolfhard demanded for her son. Then, right in front of Mia, I let Gaten place the ring on my finger. We exchanged vows under the watchful eye of the officiant. I could see Mia’s eyes growing redder, her knuckles white. Gaten’s expression was a thundercloud. I watched them both, a flicker of cold amusement in my eyes. Oh, does your heart ache for her? I thought. Good. Let me make it worse. Just as Mia looked about to break, I reached out and grabbed her hand, my face alight with a warm, welcoming smile. “You must be Mia,” I chirped. “From today on, you can call me Mom.” A collective gasp went through the crowd, followed by a ripple of suppressed laughter. I maintained my dignified smile, looking down at her with mock maternal affection. “They say a daughter is her father’s first love. In your case, that seems to be quite literally true, doesn’t it?” My smile never wavered. But for Mia, it was as if I had stripped her naked in front of the entire world, exposing the secret she held closest to her heart. Under the weight of a hundred curious, mocking eyes, she turned and fled, her face burning with shame and fury. Gaten made a move to follow, but I held his arm in a vise grip. My smile remained plastered on my face. “For the sake of the Wolfhard-Shaw merger, darling husband, I suggest you plaster on a smile and let’s go greet our guests.” He shot me a look of pure hatred but clenched his jaw and, swallowing his rage, allowed me to lead him into the crowd. 2 The wedding was a resounding success, cementing the powerful new alliance between the Shaw and Wolfhard dynasties. In the weeks that followed, Gaten was consumed with managing the overseas aspects of our new joint venture, leaving him no time to mediate between his new wife and his precious ward. So, I had to take matters into my own hands. When the car pulled up to Gaten’s private villa, I saw my custom-monogrammed luggage strewn across the manicured lawn like discarded toys. And there she was, standing at the front door with the air of a reigning queen, a smug smirk on her face, waiting for me. I may have married for business, but I was still a Shaw, raised with every privilege. The maid who had come with me from my family home saw the scene and her hands curled into fists. “Miss Seraphina, just say the word.” I held up a hand to stop her. Stepping out of the car, I calmly walked over and picked up an emerald necklace lying at Mia’s feet. I straightened up, my eyes glinting as I looked at her. “Do you have any idea how much this necklace is worth?” Mia tossed her head back. “That’s junk for poor people. I wouldn’t be caught dead in it,” she sneered. “My vanity is covered in jewels Uncle Gaten bought me. I could give you a dozen if you beg nicely.” The words had barely left her mouth when I gave my maid a subtle nod. She understood instantly. She strode forward and delivered a slap so hard the sound echoed in the quiet, upscale neighborhood. Mia staggered back, clutching her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief. My maid laughed coldly. “Who the hell do you think you are, talking to my lady like that?” Then, following another silent cue from me, she grabbed the struggling girl and forced her to her knees at my feet. I tilted Mia’s chin up with one hand, studying the pampered, delicate face. Then I slapped her. Twice. Hard. Gaten lived in a row of exclusive villas, and the houses weren’t far apart. The sharp, cracking sounds drew curious neighbors to their windows. Seeing the raw humiliation on Mia’s face, I let out a soft laugh. I didn’t care who she was or what she meant to Gaten. I, Seraphina Shaw, return every slight with interest. If you make me unhappy, I will make your life a living hell. I ground the stiletto heel of my shoe into the delicate knuckles of her outstretched hand. “Mia,” I said, my voice dangerously soft, “I know you’ve been by Gaten’s side for over a decade.” “But let me give you a piece of advice. Know your place.” “There is only one mistress of this house. If you had what it takes to make Gaten marry you, I wouldn’t be here. But you don’t. So you will learn to live under my roof, by my rules.” “Bury those pathetic little fantasies of yours, or I will beat them out of you. I’ll do it every single time, until you learn your lesson.” Mia opened her mouth to curse me, but I cut her off with two more swift slaps, leaving her sputtering with a mouthful of blood. Just then, a man who had been watching from the next villa couldn’t stand it any longer. He ran over and grabbed my raised hand. “Seraphina, that’s enough! Mia is just a child!” Without missing a beat, I redirected my swing and slapped him across the face. He recoiled, his hand flying to his cheek in the exact same pose as Mia. I raised an eyebrow. “Connor Vance. I suggest you stay out of things that don’t concern you.” “Mia is a legal adult. If you want to play house with her, that’s your business.” “But I am the mistress of the Wolfhard estate. This is a family matter. I’m disciplining my ungrateful stepdaughter. What business is it of yours?” Connor’s face flushed with anger, but I shut him down with one final sentence. “My family’s company, Shaw Industries, just acquired a thirty percent stake in your father’s corporation. We are now his largest shareholder.” My voice dropped to a silky threat. “So if you don’t want to cause problems for him, I suggest you leave. Now.” With that, I nodded to my maid. She grabbed Mia by the hair and dragged her into the villa like a sack of trash. 3 There was no blood relation between Mia and Gaten Wolfhard. But he truly had raised her like a delicate doll, sheltering her from the world. Her bedroom was even right next to his. According to the Wolfhard family staff, it was because “Miss Mia” had frequent nightmares, and Gaten needed to be close by to comfort her to sleep. I laughed out loud. The household staff, already aware that I was not a woman to be trifled with, lowered their heads nervously. “So,” I said, a dangerous smile playing on my lips. “That makes me, the new Mrs. Wolfhard, feel rather… superfluous. Am I just a prop in their twisted little psychodrama?” The head butler immediately understood. He turned and ordered the staff to move Miss Mia’s belongings to a room on the first floor. I watched, my expression glacial, as her things were carried downstairs, piece by piece. I didn’t care what their relationship had been before I arrived. But if Mia was stupid enough to challenge my authority in my own home, she would learn that my patience was non-existent. The Wolfhard-Shaw merger was in its critical early stages. No one would dare to cross me. It seemed news of his “little girl” being mistreated traveled fast. Gaten came home that night. At dinner, I was the picture of elegance in a pale green silk sheath dress and a simple shawl, every inch the perfect high-society wife. I smiled graciously as I ladled soup for him. But as I placed the bowl before him, he shot me a look of pure contempt. Then, he backhanded the bowl, sending scalding soup flying across the table. Droplets splattered onto the back of my hand, raising an immediate, angry red welt. Across from us, a flicker of triumph crossed Mia’s face before she masked it with a look of practiced pity. Gaten sneered. “Does it hurt?” “Did you think about Mia’s pain when you were hitting her this morning?” “Seraphina, who the hell do you think you are?” Mia stood up, her voice trembling as she played the part of the concerned peacemaker. “Uncle, please, it’s all my fault. Don’t fight because of me.” But I slowly straightened up, the demure and gentle expression gone from my face, replaced by a cold fury. I looked Gaten dead in the eye. And then I slapped him, hard, across the face. “Gaten,” I said, my voice like steel, “let me return your words to you.” “Who the hell do you think you are, to speak to me like that?” The sound of the slap echoed in the silent dining room. A perfect red handprint bloomed on his cheek. The diamond on my wedding ring had caught the light for a second before it connected, leaving a thin, bloody scratch across his perfect cheekbone. Mia let out a horrified shriek and rushed to his side. “Uncle, are you okay?” she cried, gently touching his face. I stared at the two of them, clinging to each other. Then, I let out a cold laugh, grabbed a dinner plate, and smashed it on the floor. The porcelain shattered, and by a stroke of perfect luck, a sharp fragment flew up and sliced Mia’s eyelid. She screamed, clutching her eye. Gaten, his face contorted with rage, lunged at me, but my bodyguard, a man built like a mountain, stepped between us. Smiling, I bent down and picked up a jagged piece of the broken plate. And I started walking toward Mia. 4 Gaten knew exactly what I intended to do. He struggled against my bodyguard’s iron grip, his voice a furious roar. “Seraphina! You dare!” I ignored him, giving my personal maid a look. She moved instantly, grabbing Mia’s arms in a grip so tight she couldn’t possibly break free. Then, with the porcelain shard in her other hand, my maid made two quick, clean slashes. Two deep cuts blossomed on Mia’s pretty face. Mia screamed, a raw, piercing sound, and stumbled backward, her hands flying to her ruined cheeks. I stood by the table, arms crossed, and calmly picked up a glass of red wine. I raised it in a mock toast to Gaten, a triumphant smile on my face. “Gaten,” I said, my voice sweet as poison, “if you didn’t want to play by my rules, you shouldn’t have married me.” “You came to my family for help. You brought me into this house. That makes me the one in charge here.” “Who does this little brat think she is, trying to challenge me?” I brushed an imaginary speck of dust from my dress and rose gracefully. “Consider this a small price for her insolence.” “If she ever tries something like this again, I wouldn’t hesitate to make her blind or deaf.” With a final, chillingly polite nod to Gaten, I turned and walked out, my staff following in my wake. While all this was happening, my maid had already called the old Wolfhard estate, painting a dramatic picture of how Miss Mia had humiliated me, and how Gaten had sided with her against his own wife. With the merger just beginning, the Wolfhard matriarch was terrified I would run back to my family and jeopardize the deal. By the time I finished delivering my ultimatum to Gaten, a car from the main estate was already waiting at the gate. Without a backward glance, I got in and was driven away. That night, after the Wolfhard matriarch had exhausted herself trying to soothe my “hurt feelings,” she was ready to storm over to Gaten’s villa and deal with Mia herself. But I played the part of the magnanimous wife. “She’s just a girl, acting out,” I said with a sigh. “It’s not worth making a fuss over.” The old woman was so moved by my “grace and understanding” that she immediately gifted me several priceless pieces from her private jewelry collection.

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My husband posted a family photo. The first comment under it read: [Dude, I think you’ve got a garden growing on your head.] [Your kid looks absolutely nothing like you.] [Five years of raising another man’s bastard and you’re smiling like the cuckold you are!] Marcus couldn’t stop staring at the replies. The more he read, the angrier he got, until he was screaming about divorce. To prove my innocence—to myself, as much as to him—I agreed to a DNA test. Only to find out that the child wasn’t his… or mine. 01 The instant I stepped through the front door, before I could even drop my bag, a stack of papers slammed into my face. A sharp corner grazed my cheek, leaving a thin, stinging line. Marcus Thorne stood in the center of our living room, his face a chilling mask of fury. “You filthy bitch!” His voice was a gravelly snarl ripped from the back of his throat. “You actually had the gall to put horns on my head!” I froze, bewildered. It took several seconds for me to bend down and gather the sheets scattered across the hardwood floor. My eyes scanned the dense, clinical jargon until they snagged on the final, bolded line: [Conclusion: Marcus Thorne is excluded as the biological father of Jace Thorne.] Boom. The world tilted. All the blood in my body rushed to my head, leaving me breathless and dizzy. I looked up, shaking my head in utter disbelief. “No, Marcus! That can’t be right! They made a mistake. Jace is absolutely your son, I swear to God!” “Swear to God?” He laughed—a short, vicious sound that held no humor. A second later, his hand was moving. CRACK! My left ear immediately began to ring, a high-pitched, insistent drone. My cheek felt like it had been set on fire. I stumbled backward, managing to brace myself against the shoe cabinet. “Audra Quinn, you’re still lying!” Marcus lunged forward, his large hand clamping down violently on my throat. He shoved me against the wall. “Tell me! Who was it? Who was the bastard? When did you sneak around? Tell me!” The impact jarred my spine. A paralyzing sense of suffocation washed over me. I clawed at his wrist, desperate to break his grip, but it was like struggling against concrete. “There was no one else! I don’t know why the test says this…” “You don’t know?” He leaned in, his eyes bloodshot and bulging. “Are you going to tell me next that the hospital swapped the babies?” His grip tightened, cutting off the last trickle of air. “Ha! You were the only mother who had a boy on that floor that night! I remember everything! I even took a picture the minute the nurse brought him out!” Black spots danced at the edge of my vision. The room blurred into a shimmering pool of light and shadow. Was this how I was going to die? Just as consciousness began to recede, a small voice broke through the panic. “Mommy!” A tiny figure burst from the bedroom doorway, running full tilt and slamming into Marcus’s leg. 02 Jace balled his small fists and pummeled Marcus’s thigh. “Bad Daddy! Don’t hit Mommy! Don’t be mean to Mommy!” “Get off me, you little bastard!” Blind with rage, Marcus didn’t even look down. He swung his leg out and kicked. Ugh—! A sickening thud. Jace flew backward, landing hard on the floor. “WAAAH—!!!” A heart-rending scream echoed through the quiet apartment. Jace! My child! I found a surge of primal strength I didn’t know I possessed. I bent my knee and drove it with all my might into Marcus’s groin. “Agh—!” The hand choking me finally released its hold. He fell to the ground, writhing in agonizing pain. Air flooded back into my lungs, triggering a harsh, racking cough. But I ignored it all. “Jace—!” I scrambled, crawling toward my son, frantically checking him for injuries. Thankfully, his thick winter clothes provided some padding. He wasn’t physically hurt, but he was hysterical. “You bitch, I’m going to kill you!” Recovering enough to breathe through the shock of pain, Marcus spotted a nearby dining chair. He grabbed it and raised it high, aiming for me and Jace. No time to think. I spun and shielded Jace’s small body with my own. CRASH! A searing pain erupted across my back, causing my body to convulse. Jace, pinned beneath me, was rigid with terror, the crying instantly arrested. Just then, a furious pounding started on the front door. Mr. Henderson, our neighbor from across the hall, roared: “What the hell is going on in there?! Are you tearing the place apart?! Keep it down, it’s the middle of the damn evening!” A sliver of hope pierced the terror. I drew a deep breath and screamed, my voice raw and desperate: “Help! Please! Call the police!” BANG, BANG, BANG! The door-banging intensified. Mr. Henderson yelled, “Open this door right now! Or I’m calling 911 myself!” 03 Marcus had no choice but to unlock the door. Mr. Henderson stormed in. His eyes immediately fixed on me, crumpled on the floor. The purplish-red fingerprints around my neck, the blood trickling from my lip. Jace was curled in my arms, shaking like a leaf. On the floor beside us was a small puddle of yellow liquid. Rage flashed across the neighbor’s face. He pointed at Marcus. “You sick animal! How could you beat a woman like this?!” He reached for his phone, ready to dial. “Hold on, buddy, you need to see this!” Marcus grabbed the man’s arm, shoving the paternity report into his hand. His eyes were red-rimmed and filled with what looked like genuine despair. “This cheating slut was sleeping around! The kid isn’t mine! I’ve been raising another man’s bastard for five years!” Mr. Henderson instinctively glanced at the report. When he looked up, his expression was entirely different—filled with contempt. “Well, well. You make a mess like that, and you have the nerve to yell for help?” I shook my head violently, trying to explain. “It’s not like that! I didn’t…” Mr. Henderson scoffed, cutting me off. “Save it! I hate loose women like you! The absolute worst kind of trash.” He turned to Marcus, slapping him roughly on the shoulder, his voice filled with sympathy and resentment. “Listen, man, I get it. I totally do. My ex-wife, she ran off with a fitness trainer. Cheaters are all the same, man. I shouldn’t have gotten involved. Just pretend I was never here. Do what you gotta do.” He started to walk away. I somehow found the strength to lunge forward, grabbing the cuff of his trousers. Tears mixed with the blood on my face. “Please… help me… call the police…” “Get off me, you dirt!” Mr. Henderson kicked out, catching me hard on the shoulder! I tumbled backward, crashing into the overturned chair, stars exploding behind my eyes. He brushed off his pant leg, as if wiping away a disgusting stain. Then, with a stern face, he addressed Marcus. “A word of advice, pal. Gag her mouth. You don’t want some clueless idiot hearing the noise and actually calling the cops. That’ll complicate things.” Marcus’s eyes lit up. “Thanks, man. You’re a lifesaver.” Mr. Henderson nodded, gave me one final look of utter disgust, turned, opened the door, and stepped out. THWUMP. The door shut with chilling finality. My last thread of hope snapped. 04 Click-clack. Marcus double-locked the door. He turned slowly, staring at me with a malevolent, chilling smirk. “So, Audra Quinn. You think you’re tough now? You wanted to call the cops?” I held Jace tightly, looking up to meet his gaze, my voice a broken rasp. “Marcus, I’m going to tell you one last time. I never cheated on you. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can do.” Every word felt like a needle in my lungs, but I forced the rest out: “Let’s get a divorce. The house, the savings, I don’t want any of it. I just want Jace.” “Divorce?” He sneered. The sound hadn’t even died when— SMACK! Another slap landed without warning. My ears screamed with the force of the blow, and a tooth came loose. He leaned down, his thumb stroking my split lip. The gesture was deceptively gentle, but it sent shivers of pure terror through me. “I’ve changed my mind. There will be no divorce. “You cheated me for five years, you piece of garbage. I’m not letting you off that easy…” His eyes fell on Jace, who was trembling in my arms. “And this little bastard, too.” He grabbed Jace’s arm and yanked him away from me! “Mommy—!” Jace’s scream was piercing. “Shut up!” Marcus roared, covering the child’s mouth and nose with his other hand. Jace’s cries were muffled into broken whimpering sounds. His small feet kicked uselessly in the air. “Look closely, Audra Quinn.” He clamped his hand around Jace’s neck, forcing the child’s face toward me. “His little life is in my hands now. If you dare to scream again, if you dare to think about calling the police…” His fingers tightened ever so slightly on Jace’s neck. Jace’s face began to flush red from the lack of air. I cried, shaking my head. “Stop! I won’t do anything. Marcus, let him go, please!” Marcus finally loosened his grip, a look of satisfied malice on his face. He lifted Jace and walked toward the bedroom. 05 The days that followed blurred into a living nightmare. Marcus stopped going to work. He spent his days drinking at home. An empty bottle, a meal that wasn’t to his liking, even bad weather outside—any of it was an excuse to beat me. The nights were the most humiliating. He would roll over at any time. If I resisted, he would give a slow, chilling smile. “What’s this? Playing the virtuous wife now? “Do you want to wake up the little bastard and let him watch, too?” Hearing that, all the fight drained out of me. I became utterly limp. I would just stare blankly at the ceiling, allowing him to use my body as he pleased. I had tried to escape. I had come so close. So close. One night, Marcus was finally in a deep, drunken sleep. I scooped up Jace and crept to the door. I had just cracked it open when I ran right into Mr. Henderson. He blocked my path. “Well, well. Out for a little stroll, are we? Can’t keep your legs closed, huh?” Before I could beg, he turned his head and yelled into my apartment: “Hey, Marcus! Check on your little tramp! She’s trying to sneak out again!” What followed was Marcus dragging me back by the hair, all the way from the entryway to the center of the living room, where he beat me until I blacked out. I couldn’t get out of bed for three days. There wasn’t a patch of unmarked skin on my body. After that, a heavy-duty security chain was installed on the front door. The spare keys were hidden in a place I couldn’t reach. 06 The terror and trauma of the past week finally broke Jace. He developed a high fever. His skin was frighteningly hot. He was drowsy, muttering “Mommy” faintly in his sleep. I knelt on the floor, begging Marcus. “Jace’s fever is too high, he needs a doctor, please…” Marcus sat on the sofa, legs crossed, slowly sipping his whiskey. He didn’t even look up. “The bastard can die for all I care. “I’m starving. Get in the kitchen and make me some food.” He kicked me hard. A muffled cry of pain escaped me, but I swallowed the tears, grabbing his pant leg, pleading desperately. “Please, let me take Jace to the ER first. I’ll do anything when I get back, please! He’ll get brain damage!” He leaned down, his breath reeking of alcohol, his eyes cold and vicious. “I’m going to say this one last time. Cook. “Waste one more minute begging, and I’ll kill him right now. Do you believe me?” I believed him. How could I not? All the pleas died in my throat. I released his leg, pushed myself up on wobbly limbs, and stumbled into the kitchen. I turned the gas stove knob. The blue flame whooshed to life. I looked back through the kitchen doorway. Jace was a little patch of scarlet on the sofa, his body twitching with occasional convulsions. Marcus poured another glass of whiskey, tilting his head back to drink it down, not sparing Jace a single glance. A cold certainty settled over me. If things went on like this, both Jace and I would die. I stood there in silence for a long time. Finally, I picked up the bottle of cooking oil and poured the entire contents into the pan. I scooped several large spoonfuls of granulated sugar and sprinkled them over the oil. The oil began to smoke. The sugar slowly melted. Brown bubbles—boiling, viscous, and deadly—gurgled up. “What the hell are you doing? Did you die in the kitchen?” Marcus’s impatient, angry roar came from the dining room. CLANG! The sound of a chair being roughly pushed back. “Are you trying to get another beating? I’m talking to you, why aren’t you answering?” His footsteps were at the doorway. Now. The instant Marcus leaned in to peer around the corner, I hoisted the pan and flung the contents directly at his face. The scalding oil arced through the air. “AARGH—!!!” A horrifying, piercing scream erupted. The sickening smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

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My childhood friend, Sawyer, funded the development of a new type of bionic leg. It was meant to replace human legs, helping paralyzed patients walk normally again. To make his sponsor happy, Sawyer strongly insisted on being the first test subject. But who could have expected the machine to malfunction during use? To save Sawyer, my legs were caught in the gears and ground into mincemeat alive. Sawyer was filled with guilt, swearing to protect me for life. But turning his head, he complained to his sponsor: “She has no legs now; she can only crawl on the ground like an animal every day.” “You don’t know, every time I sleep with her, I feel like a bitch is in front of me.” Hearing this, I completely broke down, rolling down the stairs wheel and all, falling to my death. Opening my eyes again, I returned to the day Sawyer’s sponsor developed the bionic leg. 1 The Lab. Chloe Zhou announced excitedly and excitedly. “Ta-da~ Miss Chloe is announcing good news!” “My new bionic leg experiment has come to a perfect end. This research, which is about to go down in history, is now just short of a human subject for testing. If the test passes, it can be on the market!” “Now let me see who is willing to be my first guinea pig? I’ll treat them to breakfast for a week.” The senior brothers immediately laughed and joked around. “Your experiment hasn’t even been tested, and you dare to find a human subject? Do you think we’re stupid!” “That’s right, for your breakfast, we might break our legs. It’s not worth it. Hurry up and find an animal to test first.” Chloe Zhou immediately put her hands on her hips and pouted, snorting with dissatisfaction. “Fine, you mortals just don’t believe in Miss Chloe’s strength. When the test is successful and it goes on the market, you’ll be crying!” As soon as the words fell, my childhood friend, Sawyer Ping, immediately volunteered. “Since they all have no eyes, let me be the first guinea pig for Miss Chloe Zhou!” Seeming afraid that Chloe Zhou would refuse, he actively started putting on the bionic leg. In my past life, seeing this scene, I immediately went forward to dissuade him, including other senior brothers who also started persuading. After all, this hasn’t been tested yet, and rash experimenting could have unimaginable consequences. But all the words couldn’t stand against Chloe Zhou’s delicate smile: “I knew Senior Brother Sawyer was the best to me.” So he plugged it in without hesitation, and then screamed in pain. I was worried about accidents, so I stood by watching. I pulled him out immediately, but my legs were rolled into minced meat. But in this life, I just took two steps back, crossed my arms, and watched appreciatively. The senior brothers took turns persuading Sawyer Ping, but he wouldn’t listen. Everyone looked at me, asking me to persuade him. After all, in everyone’s eyes, we were childhood sweethearts who grew up together and were even engaged. So I also spoke up hypocritically. “Sawyer, this is very dangerous. Don’t try it. After the experiment passes and there are no problems, you can be the little junior sister’s guinea pig again.” “Otherwise, if there’s really an accident and your legs are gone, what will you do? You are still so young; it will be too late to regret later.” Chloe Zhou immediately snorted with dissatisfaction. “Senior Sister Li, I think you are jealous that I developed the bionic leg before you, so you are deliberately pouring cold water.” “But Senior Brother Sawyer is the best to me; he won’t listen to you.” After finishing speaking, she provocatively acted coquettishly towards Sawyer Ping. “Senior Brother Sawyer, am I right?” Sawyer Ping nodded dotingly. “Yes, yes, yes, whatever my little junior sister says is right!” “It’s just an experiment, Ari, don’t make a fuss.” Hearing this, the smile on my lips became brighter. I also specially took out my phone to start recording all this. This wonderful moment is worth my lifelong aftertaste! 2 Sawyer Ping seemed afraid that any of us would stop him. His movements were very fast. After putting it on, he grinned at us. “It’s a pity you didn’t participate in the test.” “It feels very comfortable to wear. Even before pressing the switch, I can feel the support on my calves. This can not only allow paralyzed patients to stand up but also allow people with poor physical strength to climb mountains.” “Little junior sister, you are amazing! Let’s witness this miraculous moment!” After speaking, he pressed the switch excitedly. In a flash, sparks flew, and the air was filled with a burnt smell. Immediately afterwards, Sawyer Ping’s screams of pain resounded. “Ah——” “My leg, help! Help!” Sparks burst out, but the flames were small and not dangerous. But even so, Chloe Zhou was frightened, covering her mouth and screaming, then trying to run out. It was the senior brothers who stopped her quickly and shouted. “Chloe Zhou, the switch is right next to you. Hurry up and turn off the switch!” “Don’t run. This is the experimental product you developed; only you understand it best. Turn it off quickly!” “Hurry up, or Sawyer Ping will be strangled to death!” Chloe Zhou shook her head frantically. “No, it’s too scary. I’m afraid.” “You are his brothers, you save him, or Senior Sister Li saves him. She is Senior Brother Zhou’s fiancée; she saves him!” After finishing speaking, she pushed me towards Sawyer Ping and then ran out of the lab. This escaping from battle at the last moment directly made Sawyer Ping miss the best rescue time. Blood and minced meat flowed out from the gaps of the bionic leg, bright red and dazzling. I couldn’t help licking my lips; it was really good-looking. Although I still wanted to appreciate his painful screams and struggles for a while longer. But if I don’t take action, I’m afraid he’ll die here. That would be too cheap for this animal. So I pretended to react, feigning urgent concern: “Sawyer, hold on, I’m coming to save you. You must be okay!” “The power cord is burned out, and the fuse has blown. Conventional methods of turning it off won’t work. I can only try to use scissors to cut the connecting wire for you. Although it’s dangerous for me and I could easily be crushed, I’m willing to do it for you!” “What are you still doing standing there? Call 911 quickly!” In this instant, everyone would feel that I loved him incredibly. For him, I could even give up my life. 3 The ambulance arrived very quickly. Sawyer Ping, whose lower body was mangled into a pulp, was rescued by me. I was covered in blood, but not a drop was mine. After five hours of emergency rescue in the operating room, his life was barely saved. Uncle Song and Auntie, who rushed back from abroad immediately, both had eyes swollen red from crying. They reprimanded the principal and professors who came to console them. “What is going on here? My good son was sent to school, and he almost lost his life.” “Is this the result of my annual donation of five million? Who approved such a dangerous experiment? Why wasn’t a professor watching by the side? Are you all useless? Does this school still want to remain open!” The Song family is a big family in New York’s elite circle, once standing at the top of the pyramid. Their strength and connections are unquestionable. Just as the professor wanted to explain, Chloe Zhou hurriedly rushed to answer and shift the blame: “Uncle and Auntie, this is all an accident. It was Senior Brother Sawyer who actively wanted to do this experiment; the professor didn’t know at all.” “Senior Brother Sawyer becoming like this now is caused by Senior Sister Li Jinhe not turning off the power in time. She was standing by the side at the time, and among everyone present, her professional level and practical operation are the strongest. Only she could have saved Senior Brother Sawyer.” “If she had taken action immediately, Senior Brother Sawyer wouldn’t have become like this.” After finishing speaking, she looked at me with red eyes full of sorrow and indignation. “Senior Sister Li, why are you so vicious? Senior Brother Sawyer just turned 22. How can you be so cruel?” “You are childhood sweethearts and even engaged. He treats you so well. You are really too much!” This ability to counter-accuse is really master level. Other senior brothers in the same laboratory looked complex and lowered their heads. This silence was an admission. If Chloe Zhou hadn’t bought them off, then only Sawyer Ping remained. Sure enough, he spoke weakly and with difficulty. “Ari, I love you so much. How can you treat me like this?” “It’s true that I didn’t accompany you to watch a movie the day before yesterday because the experiment was too busy. You can be angry and ignore me, but why didn’t you save me? Do you hate me that much?” If it were just Chloe Zhou’s words, I could still refute and explain. But these words from Sawyer Ping would completely nail me to the pillar of shame for ruining him. My whole family would owe him. Then they would justifiably occupy my family’s property to further strengthen the Song family. It really is killing two birds with one stone. It’s just a pity that I filmed a video in advance. 4 Auntie Song questioned me with a livid face: “Li Jinhe? Is what my son said true?” “My son hasn’t treated you badly these years, right? Your uncle and I also claim to have taken good care of you. Whenever there are good things, we always save the first one for you. Is this how you treat my son?” “Do you have a conscience!” I was not polite either and retorted directly. “Auntie, I know you are very angry, but wait a moment before being angry, because I am angrier than you now.” “I risked my life to save Sawyer, but ended up being slandered by him and Chloe Zhou together. If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have saved him!” As soon as these words came out, the ward fell silent. Sawyer Ping looked at me in disbelief, not expecting me to still be so stubborn at this time. The corner of Chloe Zhou’s mouth held the arc of a successful scheme. She calculated that my temper was not good and would definitely get angry. At that time, my reputation for bad temper and viciousness would definitely spread. This matter would also completely dissociate from her. And just at this time, my phone was already connected to the TV, directly projecting the video recording the entire process of Sawyer Ping’s accident. Before the accident happened, Sawyer Ping’s proactive diligence and ingratiation. When the accident happened, Chloe Zhou, who was scared into screaming, shirking responsibility, and finally fleeing. In the end, it was me who disregarded the danger and rushed up to save people, me who asked classmates to call 911, which completely saved Sawyer Ping. Being exposed by me, Sawyer Ping not only didn’t apologize but became angry from embarrassment: “Li Jinhe, why did you take a video? What are your intentions?” “I am your fiancé. You should have risked your life to save me. You clearly could have saved me earlier, but you deliberately delayed the time. You just wanted to harm me!” Uncle Song angrily shouted: “Enough, Sawyer Ping, there should be a limit to your nonsense!” “Li Jinhe doesn’t owe you anything. That she could disregard her life to save you in such a critical situation is already worthy of you and worthy of us!” “You brought this matter upon yourself. Knowing there were risks, you actively wanted to experiment. Now you deserve it!” After teaching his son a lesson, he looked at Chloe Zhou with cold eyes. “It’s you who caused my son to become like this.” The aura was too strong. Chloe Zhou was scared and cried directly, legs weakening and almost kneeling down. Sawyer Ping hurriedly played the hero saving the beauty: “Dad, this matter has nothing to do with Chloe Zhou. It was me who initiated it!” Just as the words were finished, Mrs. Song’s slap landed hard on Chloe Zhou’s face. A dozen slaps directly caused her face to swell up, all the skin broken. “Our family kindly funded you, and this is how you requite kindness with enmity, right?” “Seducing my son is one thing, but also almost harming my son’s life. I tell you, my son is ruined, and don’t you think about having an easy life either!”

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I used my status and wealth to force the housekeeper’s son, Caleb Vance, to marry me. We’ve been married for two years. I control his life. I boss him around. I treat him like he’s still the help. Today, he annoyed me again. Just as I raised my hand, ready to slap that stoic look off his face, a stream of floating text boxes scrolled across my vision: [Ugh, I hate this bratty villainess! She has such ‘Princess Syndrome.’ Why hasn’t the Male Lead divorced her yet?] [Let her throw a tantrum. This slap is the final straw. It’s what makes him go cold. When her family goes bankrupt next week, he’s going to steal their last project.] [Does the villainess know? Her daddy is broke!] [Total ruin. She ends up jumping into the ocean.] [Meanwhile, our Male Lead’s tech startup goes IPO. He’s not the poor boy she bullied anymore. He’s going to live happily ever after with the Heroine!] I froze. My hand hovered inches from Caleb’s cheek. He looked down at me, confused. “Why did you stop?” 1 When Caleb walked in with the groceries, I smashed a glass on the floor. He paused, set the bags down, and walked over to me in three long strides. His voice was low, gentle. “What’s wrong?” I crossed my arms, glaring. “Why did you hire that girl I hate at your company?” Caleb looked genuinely baffled. “Who?” My anger spiked. He didn’t even know who I hated! I had definitely mentioned her. I raised my hand, ready to slap him like I used to. That’s when the weird text appeared. I froze. Me? The villainess? My family is going to go bankrupt? My dad and brother in jail? My mom dying of depression? Me… jumping into the ocean? And Caleb, my husband, living happily ever after with her—Emily Clarke—the “Heroine” the text mentioned? I stared into space for too long. Caleb gently took my wrist. “Why didn’t you hit me?” I let out a dry, awkward laugh and pulled my hand back. “It’s your company. Obviously, you can hire whoever you want.” The floating text popped up again: [Why did she stop?] [Doesn’t matter. He’s already sick of her. Wait until he meets our gentle, sweet Heroine.] Caleb frowned. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “Send me the list of all new hires from the past month.” I sat on the sofa, panic rising in my chest. Bankruptcy? Jail? I couldn’t afford to annoy Caleb anymore. I watched him crouch down to pick up the glass shards. Then he went to the utility closet for the mop. “The salesman said this glass was shatterproof,” I muttered, feeling guilty. Caleb paused. I thought I heard a small chuckle. “It’s better to let your temper out than keep it in.” After cleaning the living room, he sat next to me. “HR is compiling the list. Want to tell me who it is?” “I don’t manage your hiring,” I deflected. But under his patient gaze, I finally cracked. “Emily Clarke.” The comments flooded my vision: [LMAO. Does the villainess think he’s going to fire the Heroine?] [They have similar backgrounds! They are soulmates!] [The Heroine isn’t bratty. She would never make the Male Lead cook instant noodles at midnight or wash her feet.] 2 My temper, which I’d just suppressed, flared up again. I was furious. Caleb did those things because he wanted to! I never forced him to wash my feet! “Emily Clarke? Your college roommate?” Caleb’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t hire her. I didn’t even know she was there.” “I’ll check tomorrow. I’ll give you an answer after work, okay?” I pouted. “Okay. But you’re not allowed to see her.” Caleb nodded. “I have no intention of seeing her.” He took the groceries to the kitchen. [Wow. The villainess is trying to stop fate?] [Don’t worry, the official couple always meets. She can’t stop it.] I tried to ignore the floating text. At noon, I had texted him a menu of what I wanted for dinner. I peeked into the bags—he had bought exactly what I asked for. “Wait,” I called out to his back. “You worked all day. Let the housekeeper cook.” Caleb’s eyes flashed with amusement. “Are you worried about me?” “I just… I’ll cook. You like my cooking.” He walked into the kitchen anyway. I stared at his back. Does Caleb really hate me? Is all this kindness just him biding his time? The next day, I went to my parents’ estate. Mom, Dad, and my brother seemed normal. “Bro,” I asked tentatively. “Is the company okay? Any financial trouble?” My brother’s face changed for a split second before he scoffed. “We’re flourishing. Don’t jinx us.” “We had a small cash flow issue a while back, but it’s resolved,” my mom added. “Just focus on your life with Caleb.” My heart sank. They were hiding it. They’ve always spoiled me. They told me I was born to enjoy life, not worry about money. At noon, Caleb texted. Caleb: No menu today? What do you want for dinner? I replied: I’ll eat out. That evening, Caleb came home and handed me a file. It was Emily Clarke’s termination paperwork. “I really didn’t know. Since you’re unhappy, I fired her. I gave her three months’ severance.” [No way! Did he actually fire the Heroine?] [The villainess doesn’t know, but the leads met at the coffee shop downstairs today! Fate is unstoppable!] [Whatever. He’s just tolerating her for now. He’ll realize Emily’s worth soon.] Reading the comments, I felt defeated. I shook my head. “It’s fine.” “I overreacted yesterday. Sorry.” Caleb didn’t look happy. He studied me closely. “Really? No tantrum?” “Sloane, is something going on?” “Nothing,” I lied. 3 Since I couldn’t stop Caleb and Emily from falling in love, I decided to minimize the damage. Maybe if I wasn’t such a witch, Caleb would help my family when we went broke. I started liquidating my assets. I returned all the bags, dresses, and jewelry I had just ordered. It hurt. That limited-edition blue mermaid dress took months to secure. After college, I opened a high-end piano studio. I barely managed it, letting hired staff run the show while I shopped and went to concerts. Now, I sat in the studio, staring at the ledgers. Headache. I didn’t understand any of it. Caleb messaged again about dinner. I replied: I sent the menu to the housekeeper. She’ll cook. The “typing” bubble appeared for a long time. Caleb: Is my cooking bad lately? Caleb: Tell me what to fix. My head throbbed harder. Me: No. You work hard. You should rest. Another long pause. Caleb: I told you, I’m not tired. I didn’t reply. When I got home, there were three cookbooks on the coffee table. Me: ? Before bed, Caleb gave me a goodnight kiss. This was a rule I made on our wedding night. He had followed it religiously for two years. The annoying text floated by: [Ew, gross. When does the villainess die?] [Stop kissing her, Caleb!] I turned my head away. Caleb paused. He gripped my chin gently but firmly, turning my face back, and kissed me anyway. He wasn’t as gentle as usual. I cursed at him. He kissed my forehead softly. “Sorry.” But he didn’t stop. 4 On Caleb’s mother’s birthday, I tactfully didn’t mention going. I just had my assistant send a gift. The comments were buzzing. [This is it! The birthday scene! This is where he falls for the Heroine!] [Emily lives next door to Caleb’s mom. She’s going over to celebrate!] I squeezed my eyes shut. Caleb called me. I had just drifted off to sleep. “Are you busy this afternoon?” I suppressed my usual wake-up rage. “Mmhmm.” Silence. “Okay.” By late afternoon, I couldn’t help it. I drove to his mom’s modest apartment complex. At 6 PM, I saw Caleb and Emily walking out of the gate together. Just like the comments said. Emily was holding a birthday cake box. Tears pricked my eyes. I don’t get it. Why am I the villain? Aside from forcing him to marry me when he was vulnerable… I haven’t done anything evil. Okay, I’m bossy. I have a bad temper. I’m spoiled. But Caleb never complained. Was his patience all an act? Was he just enduring the humiliation until he could destroy my family? If I ask for a divorce now, will he still crush us? 5 Caleb’s mom, Mrs. Vance, was our housekeeper for as long as I can remember. She was a single mom. My parents let her bring Caleb to live in the carriage house on our estate. The first time I saw him, he was skinny and tan. On my eighth birthday, I had a huge party. I was wearing a princess dress, surrounded by friends. I went to the bathroom and heard Mrs. Vance in the utility room. “I’m sorry, baby. I was too busy. I didn’t bake your cake.” “It’s okay, Mom. I know you work hard.” After using the bathroom, I cut a huge slice of my tiered cake and brought it to the utility room. Caleb looked at the cake, then at me. “I don’t need your pity.” I blinked. “I’m not pitying you. I’m wishing you a happy birthday.” He froze. “Thanks.” “We have the same birthday,” I beamed. “We’re fated.” He smiled then—a rare, genuine smile. “Happy birthday.” I don’t remember when I started liking him. We didn’t interact much. Just exchanged birthday wishes once a year. Maybe it was when he hit puberty and suddenly got hot. I am shallow, after all. Or maybe it was when we were twelve. An earthquake hit while we were in the basement wine cellar. We were trapped for hours. He kept talking to me, keeping me awake. He gave me a single piece of chocolate from his pocket. “I can’t take it,” I said. “Take it,” he insisted. “You gave me this chocolate originally.” My brother had brought it back from Europe. I had given a box to Caleb. “Because I gave it to you, you’re giving it back?” “No,” he said in the dark. “Even if someone else gave it to me, I’d give it to you.” “Why?” “I… don’t want you to die.” “Idiot,” I whispered weakly. “We can split it.” It was a tiny piece of chocolate, but we survived. 6 Caleb grew up to be brilliant. Even in faded jeans, he stood out. He was always top of the class. In junior year, I confessed to him. He rejected me. “I need to focus on my studies.” I cried my eyes out. I was rich, beautiful, and kind(ish). We were perfect! After high school graduation, I tried again. “Exams are over. Will you date me now?” He looked at me with a complex, deep gaze. “No. I don’t like you.” I was furious. I swore I’d move on. For four years of college, I tried dating other guys. But none of them were Caleb. My friends called me pathetic. When I was twenty-two, my mom told me Mrs. Vance quit. Trouble at home. Caleb’s deadbeat dad had returned after fifteen years, bringing a massive gambling debt. The loan sharks had taken Mrs. Vance. I found Caleb. I put on my haughtiest pose. “I’ll pay the debt. But you have to marry me.” I would have paid it anyway. But to my shock, he nodded. So we got married. After the wedding, Caleb treated me like a queen. He was patient with my jealousy and my tantrums. I thought we’d grow old together. Until the floating text appeared.

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Alison, my wife, had rules. Strict, non-negotiable rules. I couldn’t use the private bathroom tucked into the corner of her executive suite, and I definitely couldn’t leave a single one of my personal items—not even a jacket or a pen—on her desk. It was about control, not cleanliness. I knew it, but after seven years, I’d learned to live with it. Then her little assistant, Alan, managed to spill coffee all over his pristine white shirt. Before I could even register the mess, Alison was ushering him into the restricted bathroom, telling him to shower. Not only that, she walked straight to a discreet drawer in her desk, pulled out a pair of men’s underpants, and handed them to him. My own pair. The expensive brand I only bought in New York. I felt a violent spike of pure, distilled rage. I grabbed her wrist—hard. “Clean freak? You won’t let me leave a pencil here, Alison! You won’t even let me kiss you during sex! But him? He gets to use your private shower and wear my boxers?” My voice was raw, boiling with years of forced distance and unanswered longing. A laugh, sharp and mocking, sliced through the tense air from inside the bathroom. “Because she loves me more than she ever loved you, big brother!” Alison yanked her arm out of my grip as if my touch was acid. She immediately began rubbing the spot I’d touched with a paper napkin. She didn’t offer a single word of explanation—only that familiar, frozen silence and a look of cold, contemptuous distaste. Then, right in front of me, she walked toward the bathroom door and casually began chatting with Alan, their voices light and conspiratorial, filtering out into the otherwise silent office. I pulled off my wedding ring—seven years of gold—and flicked it into the waste bin. “We’re done,” I said, my voice dangerously even. “Divorce. I don’t need a wife whose ‘cleanliness’ is just a weapon against me.” Inside, Alan’s laughter died instantly. The air thickened into something brittle and silent. I turned, ready to walk away forever, just as a group of sales associates, weighted down with massive shopping bags, hurried through the outer door. “Mr. Thorne, good afternoon!” “These are the new designs Mrs. Thorne commissioned for you. You are truly a lucky man, sir. Mrs. Thorne clearly adores you.” “Honestly, she wouldn’t even let us touch the bespoke items with our bare hands, said you don’t like anyone touching your things.” The sales staff, rushing to gently arrange the expensive luxury bags on an empty console, beamed at me with practiced deference. My heart was a block of ice. In seven years of marriage, Alison had never bought me a single gift. The brand was one I’d explicitly told her I didn’t like. I knew, with absolute certainty, that every single one of those luxury items was meant for her little assistant. Right on cue, Alison and Alan emerged from the bathroom. Alan was wearing a crisp white shirt and a pair of trousers that, infuriatingly, fit him perfectly. He carried an air of impish, feigned innocence. He walked past me and snatched one of the leather shopping bags the saleswoman was about to hand me. “These are for me,” Alan announced, his voice dripping with triumphant spoiled entitlement. “They’re from Alison. Not for any other man. You people are blind if you think otherwise.” The scene instantly froze. The sales team stared, shocked, from me to Alison. When they saw the soft, almost maternal affection in Alison’s usually icy gaze as she looked at Alan, they snapped their mouths shut. She truly never cared about my face. She would happily stomp my dignity into the dirt in front of anyone. “Do you like them all, Arlo?” she asked, using her pet name for Alan. “I do, but my place is too small for all this, I can’t put it…” “Then leave them here,” Alison interrupted smoothly. “If you want to wear them or change, don’t ask my permission. Just come in and take what you need.” Alan grinned, a bright, smug expression. He darted a sidelong, challenging glance at me. He expected me to erupt, to throw a jealous, impulsive tantrum like I had in the past. But this time, I didn’t. This time, I was simply done with Alison. The sales associates held their breath, terrified. The expensive goods were not for the powerful husband, but for the wife’s lover. “Look at you,” Alison said, her tone softening with mock exasperation. “Your collar’s still crooked. You’re like a child.” She raised her hand, pale and elegant as porcelain, and adjusted the lapel of Alan’s freshly laundered shirt. They were standing so close, leaning into each other, a tableau of domestic bliss meant only for him. The sales people muttered quick goodbyes and practically ran from the room. They couldn’t get out of there fast enough. And I knew, in that instant, the news of my public emasculation would be all over the city by the end of the day. “Why don’t you two just strip naked and make out?” I asked, my voice dangerously low and coated in ice. “Wouldn’t that be more comfortable?” At the sound of my biting sarcasm, Alison pulled away from Alan, her face contorting with anger as she whirled around to face me. “Christian Thorne, that is enough!” she snapped. “I have put up with you for long enough.” “What’s wrong with you? Do you have nothing better to do than follow me around, looking for a fight?” I tugged hard at my tie. I worked twelve-hour days. I barely had time to eat, let alone “follow her around” to start trouble. “You’ve got it backward,” I corrected her. “I’m the one who’s put up with you. I’m beyond done. I’m finally accommodating your ‘cleanliness,’ and I’m walking away so you and your little boy toy can parade your affection in peace.” “Divorce. That’s all I want.” Smash! Enraged, Alison snatched the heavy, crystal paperweight from her desk and hurled it at my head. I didn’t have time to duck. The impact was immediate. Blood warmed my face, dripping steadily from a gash above my brow. Neither of us spoke. We simply stood there, glaring at each other through the chilling silence and the smell of fresh blood.

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To get under the skin of the insufferable Hawthorne triplets, I made a point of saying it loud and clear at the family dinner. “So, have the three of you decided? Which one is going to be the lucky groom in this arranged marriage?” They practically shoved each other away, disgust written plainly on their handsome faces. I was about to randomly point and choose when a little girl suddenly appeared at my side. She claimed to be from eight years in the future. “Mommy, I finally found you.” She threw herself into my arms, then looked up at the Hawthorne brothers. “Daddy, you’re here too! You really, really love Mommy, don’t you? You follow her everywhere. No wonder when she said she didn’t want you anymore, you had to go find a rooftop to… cool down.” “Wait a second!” The little girl’s eyes went wide. “How do I have three daddies?!” 1 The entire room fell into a dead silence. After what felt like an eternity, the eldest triplet, Arthur Hawthorne, was the first to react. “What nonsense are you talking about, kid?” He then shot me a cold look. “I get it, Stella. This is another one of your little ploys, isn’t it? You hired an actress.” Before I could argue, the little girl in my arms puffed out her cheeks in anger. “Daddy, are you trying to make Mommy mad? Candy won’t help you get back in her good graces this time!” “Who’s your daddy?!” all three of them snapped in unison. “Well, it’s either you, or him, or him,” the little girl said, pointing a chubby finger at each of the triplets in turn. “When Daddy stands with his brothers, Candy gets confused.” “You must remember your father’s name,” Arthur pressed. “Umm, I only know his last name is Hawthorne.” “You don’t even know his first name? And you expect us to believe this isn’t an act?” The little girl got flustered. “It’s because he always calls himself Mommy’s good little puppy!” 2 I took a sip of water and nearly choked. Was that something you could just say out loud? The Hawthorne brothers’ faces were a thunderous shade of black. Normally, no one would believe such a ridiculous story. Except… the little girl’s features were a perfect, miniature version of theirs. Down to the sharp jawline and the intense eyes. If you looked closely, you could even see a faint resemblance to Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne. The little girl, Candy, tugged on my sleeve. “Mommy, which one is my daddy?” “…How should I know?” My brain was about to short-circuit. That was a question far beyond my pay grade. “Oh, right, I remember now!” Candy clapped her hands. “At this time, Mommy and Daddy’s relationship was still really bad.” Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “It was because my auntie was bullying Mommy, and Daddy helped her do it. He regretted it for a long, long time afterward.” 3 It was like she was dropping a series of bombs. The room fell silent once again. My stepsister, Luna, immediately panicked. “Little girl, you shouldn’t tell lies!” “I’m not lying,” Candy said matter-of-factly. “My mommy is allergic to shellfish, but you always sneak seafood sauce into her dipping bowl.” As she spoke, I glanced down at the small bowl in front of me. The one Luna had just brought over. My father had even praised her for it. “Luna, even though you’re not our biological daughter, you’re more thoughtful than one. She’s so kind, always helping her sister adjust. Stella, you should learn from her.” Candy picked up the bowl and trotted over to my father, Robert Shaw. “Grandpa, you can taste it if you don’t believe me.” Robert was still in a state of shock. But before he could respond, Candy spun around and called out to the family chef. “Never mind, let’s ask Angus. Grandpa Angus, can you smell this? Is there seafood sauce in here?” Angus had been our family’s chef for nearly a decade. He took one sniff and nodded decisively. “Yes, there is. It’s the new brand of oyster sauce I just bought. That’s the smell.” In an instant, every eye in the room swiveled to Luna. Her face was pale with panic. “I… I just forgot my sister was allergic. I swear it wasn’t on purpose.” Her eyes welled up with tears. Arthur’s brow furrowed with concern for her. “I believe Luna. She’s not that kind of person.” “I believe her too. We’ve known her since she was a little girl,” the second brother, Julian, chimed in. The youngest, Wyatt, followed suit. “Are you all really going to believe some random kid who appeared out of nowhere?” The three of them stood up, ready to escort the now-sobbing Luna from the room. As he left, Wyatt shot me a look and drew a finger across his throat. The message was clear: if he found out this was a stunt I’d orchestrated, I would pay. But honestly, I was more curious than they were. Who was this kid? Because I couldn’t stand a single one of the Hawthorne brothers. 4 The Hawthorne triplets despised me because, for the first twenty-three years of my life, I had lived on a ranch out west, surrounded by horses. I had only been found and brought back to my biological family three months ago. I still remembered the day I returned. In front of everyone, Luna had asked me with a saccharine sweetness, “Sister, I’ve been in your place for so long. I hope you don’t mind?” I said, “I do.” Luna, clearly not expecting my bluntness, burst into tears. The triplets immediately rushed to comfort her, and that’s when their animosity toward me began. But I was only telling the truth. Luna was adopted from an orphanage simply because she bore a slight resemblance to me. By then, I’d been missing for three years. To soothe their grief, my parents adopted her and let her take my place. Her name, Luna, meant “blooming”—a new life for them. She was obedient and sweet. But whenever my parents started making plans to search for me again, Luna would conveniently come down with a fever or a headache, tying them down. Over time, the search for me was forgotten. She had lived comfortably as their only daughter for years. Now that I was back, it was time for a reality check. She needed to understand whose life she’d been borrowing. As for the Hawthornes next door, our families had a long-standing marriage agreement. The bride was supposed to have been Luna. Now, it was me. None of the four of them were happy about it. Funny, neither was I. Every time I saw the three brothers grinning like idiots around Luna, I wondered if fate was plotting the downfall of the Hawthorne dynasty. How could anyone be so monumentally stupid? Case in point: the day after the dinner party. A DNA sample from Candy had been sent for testing, but the results weren’t back yet. Still, they were already scrambling to pledge their allegiance to Luna. “Who do you think Candy’s father is?” “Well, you can rule me out,” Julian, the second brother, said with absolute certainty. “I’m allergic to country girls. I couldn’t possibly touch Stella.” “It’s not me, either,” Arthur, the eldest and most serious, said, adjusting his glasses. “I would rather become a monk than be with Stella.” Wyatt, the youngest, chimed in, “Don’t look at me. I can’t stand her. Marrying her and having a kid? You might as well just kill me now.” “It has to be a setup,” Arthur concluded. “Stella hired a child who looks like us because she was afraid none of us would agree to the marriage. She’s disgustingly desperate.” “Yeah, that must be it.” What a bunch of idiots. Did they think they were so clever? They didn’t even bother to lower their voices when they were bad-mouthing someone. Hopeless. I was sitting just inside the window, sharing a snack with Candy. “They’re saying such mean things about us,” I whispered to her. “How are you not sad?” “There’s nothing to be sad about.” Candy swung her little legs, perfectly calm. “The time is almost here.” “What time?” “The time for Daddy to fall in love with Mommy.” “And how do you know that?” The little girl puffed out her chest with pride. “Because I peeked at Daddy’s diary, of course!” 5 I was about to tell her that snooping in diaries was wrong when Wyatt’s voice cut through from outside. “Anyway, I’ve had it with Stella. As soon as those test results come back, I’m going to make her pay!” “Sigh…” Luna, who had been silent, let out a soft, delicate sigh. The three of them immediately swarmed her. “What’s wrong?” “Are you not feeling well, Luna?” “I was just thinking… even if the child is an actress, you can’t escape the arranged marriage.” The brothers fell silent. Arthur was the first to speak. “I won’t agree to it. I’m going to marry you, Luna.” “Get lost. Luna wants to marry me, right?” Wyatt shot back. “What are you two talking about? It’s obviously me!” Julian interjected. “Please, don’t fight!” Luna said, cutting them off. “My sister gets to choose first. It doesn’t matter what any of you want.” “But Luna, are you really okay with that?” She lowered her eyes, her voice thick with martyrdom. “Stella is the real daughter of this family. I stole her place for all these years. It’s only right that she gets to choose first.” Wow. I had to admit, I loved her attitude. Even if it was a complete act, the words were music to my ears. My little sister was being so magnanimous. It would be a shame to let her “good intentions” go to waste. I stood up and tapped on the window. “Sorry to interrupt, Luna, but did you mean what you just said?” Wyatt glared at me. “Were you eavesdropping?” “I was. What are you going to do about it?” He, of course, could do nothing but glower. I turned back to Luna. “You were serious just now, weren’t you?” Luna nodded. “Of course. I feel terrible for taking your place, your family… So now, whatever you want, sister, I’m willing to give it to you.” “That’s wonderful.” I pointed a finger at the three clueless brothers. “They are all currently my potential fiancés. Until my marriage is settled, please have some self-respect and stay away from them.” “Stella, are you crazy?!” “Are you out of your mind?!” Luna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “But… but we grew up together! We’re very close…” Oh, so we were playing the innocent card. Two could play at that game. I was about to counter with my own brand of saccharine manipulation when Candy spoke up from beside me. “You just promised to let my mommy have whatever she wants. Were you lying to us?” The little girl’s eyes were wide and round, pure and innocent. She then turned to the three brothers. “Daddy taught Candy that lying is bad, right, Daddy?” “…Who’s your dad?!” Wyatt finally snapped. He had the shortest fuse of the three. “Stella, don’t push it! I’ve been putting up with you for Luna’s sake, but this is too much! Apologize to her right now, or else—” “Wait, I remember now,” Candy’s eyes lit up. “Daddy talks a lot. Is it you?” “…” Wyatt’s face turned beet red, and he was rendered completely speechless. Just then, the butler came running out, looking flustered. “The DNA results are in! The child… she is the young miss’s daughter! And she is a Hawthorne!” Every head snapped in his direction, waiting for him to continue. “But the child’s biological father is…” The butler paused, as if the words were difficult to say. “All three of you… are her biological father!”

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The day we graduated, Adrian and I had one last time together. A breakup fuck. Afterward, he lit a cigarette and passed it to me with practiced ease, a smirk playing on his lips. “When I find a wife,” he mused, “I’m definitely not marrying the kind of woman who smokes after sex.” A lump formed in my throat. I managed to ask him why. He just said, “Celine, I like them innocent.” I was silent for a long time after that. Then I cut off all contact. The next time we met, he was my new boss. To save us both the awkwardness, I handed in my resignation. But he cornered me in the office, his hand braced against the door. “It’s been five years,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble. “One more time?” I dropped my gaze. “I can’t. I have to pick up my daughter from school.” 1 The air in the room went still. Adrian froze. I tried to push myself off his lap, but his arm clamped around my waist like a steel band, holding me fast. The searing heat in his eyes cooled to a dark, unreadable shadow. The usual mask of calm control he wore so well finally cracked. He gritted his teeth. “How old is she?” I hesitated, then answered softly. “Three.” Three, not four. And we had been broken up for five years. The child had nothing to do with him. He clearly understood that, too. I tried to stand again, and this time, the hand on my waist let go. As I reached the door, his voice, now laced with suspicion, stopped me. “I remember your file. It says you’re unmarried.” My steps faltered for a fraction of a second, but I steadied myself and turned back, my expression placid. “We just got the license a little while ago.” “Just got the license, but your kid is three?” I nodded, my face a picture of serene confidence. “That’s right. We had her before we got married.” Adrian didn’t reply. His sharp gaze swept over my hand, lingering on the cheap wedding band I wore. A dismissive laugh escaped his lips. I didn’t feel a shred of shame. I held my hand up, showing it to him, almost poking him in the eye with it. Just as I saw the anger beginning to spark in his eyes, I made my escape. Back home that night, I let out a long, heavy sigh. Sometimes, a well-placed lie is the most effective tool for dealing with unforeseen trouble. I’d bought the ring at a dollar store the day before. Cheap, but it did the trick. It would be enough, I thought, to extinguish any lingering embers of affection Adrian might have held for me. Sure enough, my resignation was approved the next day. HR came to tell me personally that afternoon. I had one week to hand over my work, and then I was free. Normally, the process took a month. A week was unheard of. It wasn’t hard to guess whose influence was behind that. I nodded and started briefing the new intern on my duties. She was a sweet, enthusiastic girl named Violet. For the entire time I was training her, she made sure I never had to buy my own breakfast or afternoon tea. As quitting time approached, Violet looked at me, a shy expression on her face. “Celine, would it be okay if I left a little early tonight? My boyfriend is taking me to dinner.” I was in a bind. It wasn’t that I couldn’t let her go, but I also needed to leave early to pick up my daughter. Seeing me hesitate, she grew anxious, pressing her palms together and pleading. I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s fine, go ahead.” She thanked me profusely and started packing up. “My boyfriend’s coming down to get me now.” I was surprised. “He works here too?” Violet gave me a mysterious look. “Not exactly, he’s…” Her words were cut short by a deep, magnetic voice. “Ready to go?” 2 My entire body went rigid. If it had been a voice I’d never heard, I might have looked up, curious. But this voice, unfortunately, was one that had haunted my nightmares for the past five years. On the nights so dark I needed pills just to find sleep, Adrian’s words would echo in my ears. “Celine, you’re too good for me. I’ll just corrupt you.” “Celine, you should learn to smoke. It’s cool when a girl smokes. I want to see a different side of you.” I fell for it all, every word a sweet poison. I learned. I changed. Starting in my sophomore year, I went from just another girl with a crush on Adrian to his girl on the side. Eventually, I beat out all the other upperclassmen and freshmen to become his girlfriend for three years. The day he accepted my confession, the weather was awful, the wind howling. He had just dropped off a girl from his year after a date, his car parked right under the women’s dorms. His long, elegant fingers held a cigarette, his arm resting lazily on the open window frame as he leaned back with his eyes closed. The wind scattered the ash into the air. I threw on a jacket, ran downstairs, and knocked on his window. Banking on the sliver of special treatment he always reserved for me, I told him how I felt. In that moment, the roar of the wind seemed to fade, as if the world had hit pause. I waited for his answer. Adrian turned to look at me. He took out another cigarette, his dark eyes deep and bottomless, yet pulling me in with a fatal attraction. On impulse, I took it from him and put it to my lips. My damp mouth brushed against his fingers, and he didn’t pull away. His playful expression softened into something like silent permission. All he said was: “Look at the good girl, not so good anymore.” At the time, I was so lost in his eyes that I completely missed the true meaning behind his words. I didn’t understand until graduation day. It was the last time he asked me to a hotel, and the last time we ever saw each other. After we were finished, he handed me a cigarette with that familiar, practiced motion. “When I find a wife, I’m definitely not marrying the kind of woman who smokes after sex.” I choked back a sob and asked him why. Adrian smiled, a plume of white smoke curling from his fingertips. His tone was more serious than I had ever heard it. “Celine, I like them innocent.” Tears blurred my vision, and I forgot how to breathe. Innocent. He said he liked them innocent. But once, he had whispered that I was too innocent, too good, that he didn’t know what to do with me. Only now did I finally understand what he meant. Because I wasn’t the good girl anymore, he had filed me away in the category of girls you could play with. 3 I pulled myself from the memories, my face a calm, emotionless mask again. Violet, seeing her boyfriend, excitedly grabbed her bag and hurried over to him. Then she suddenly turned back to me. “Celine, don’t you have to pick up your daughter, too? We can give you a ride.” I was about to refuse, but Adrian walked straight over, picked up my bag from my desk, and headed for the parking garage without giving me a chance to say no. The atmosphere in the car was unnervingly silent, broken only by Violet’s occasional chatter. Adrian tapped a light rhythm on the steering wheel, giving her brief replies while his eyes kept flicking to me in the rearview mirror. Violet, probably sensing my discomfort, tried to start a conversation. “Celine, when you work late, does your husband usually pick up your daughter?” The word “husband” caught me off guard. It took me a second to process. Then I just shook my head and made an excuse. “He works out of town. He’s not back very often.” She nodded with an “ah, I see” expression, her gaze falling to the cheap ring on my finger. “Is that your wedding ring? It looks a little faded.” Her voice was casual, but the words were sharp. “It looks like something you’d get online for ten bucks.” “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that! Please don’t take it the wrong way.” Violet quickly turned to apologize, but I saw the flicker of disdain in her eyes, a strange sense of superiority she couldn’t quite hide. And why not? Compared to my fifty-dollar diaper bag, her Hermès was in a different universe. Before I could respond, a soft laugh cut through the tension. Adrian reached over and ruffled her hair, his smile full of affection. “It’s okay. You didn’t say anything wrong. No need to apologize.” Then, his eyes met mine in the mirror. His tone was light, as if making casual conversation, but the words were aimed directly at me. “People with no money are always so proud. If you’re this blunt, aren’t you afraid of getting on someone’s bad side at work tomorrow?” He was talking to Violet, but the message was for me. A seemingly careless comment that was a blatant defense of her, and a subtle warning to me. I pretended not to hear and turned to look out the window. I had heard countless variations of the same sentiment during our three years together. That I wasn’t good enough for him. And I agreed. The gap between us was immense. My family wasn’t poor, but we were comfortably middle-class at best. The Courtlands, however, weren’t just wealthy; they were a powerhouse of influence and prestige. Right from the beginning, Adrian had been clear. “Celine, you can be my girlfriend, but you’ll never be my wife.” I knew. I had always known. I guarded my heart carefully, never crossing the lines he had drawn. But in moments of intense passion, my resolve would waver. A voice would whisper, Just try. What if you succeed? So, just before graduation, I asked to see him. He picked me up early that day. He parked on a quiet side street on campus, and the driver got out to wait at a distance. He turned me around in my seat. The dappled shadows of the sycamore trees danced with the sunlight, stabbing at my eyes. An hour later, Adrian was leaning back against the seat, his white shirt damp with sweat, a sheen on his forehead. The window was cracked open, and a cool breeze swirled inside, dispersing the smoke from his cigarette. I looked at him and finally asked the question. “Adrian, do you love me?” More than wanting to know if he would marry me, I needed to know if he had ever loved me. He looked at me, his usually teasing eyes holding a rare seriousness. “We’re about to graduate.” In that instant, I understood. We’re about to graduate, so it’s time to break up. 4 The car pulled up to the curb in front of the daycare. I opened the door and got out. My daughter, who had been standing by the entrance holding her teacher’s hand, saw me and waved happily. I hurried over, thanked the teacher, and bent down to my daughter. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Mommy’s late today.” “Have you been waiting long?” She tilted her little face up at me and pointed. “Is it because of that man that you were late?” Startled, I followed her finger and turned around. Adrian was standing behind me. I had no idea when he’d gotten out of the car. The usual careless swagger was gone, replaced by a heavy gravity. And a flicker of something I couldn’t quite identify… joy? I froze, my hand tightening on my daughter’s. He walked over and slowly crouched down in front of her, his gaze fixed on her sweet, angelic face. Adrian’s voice, usually so cool and detached, softened. “How old are you? What’s your name?” I didn’t say a word. I didn’t stop him. We had been together for three years. I knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t believe me unless he saw her with his own eyes. I looked at my daughter, my expression gentle, and gave her hand a small, meaningful squeeze. She got the hint. “My name is Poppy,” she said clearly. “And I’m three years old.” Phew. I let out a quiet breath of relief. Adrian stared at the little girl, at the eyes and brows that were a startling echo of his own. The initial rush of paternal joy that had been rising within him was instantly extinguished by her words. The questions he was about to ask died in his throat. Poppy was premature, and because I’d been malnourished during the pregnancy, she was smaller than other kids her age. Besides, with a child that young, it was hard to guess their exact age. After breaking up with Adrian, I had blocked him on every social media platform. He, in turn, had made no effort to keep tabs on me. We were like two intersecting lines. We’d had our brief, tangled moment, but once pulled taut, we returned to our separate paths. We had lived in the same city for five years. I won’t deny that I had fantasized about seeing that familiar car at an intersection, of us crossing paths by chance. But it never happened. We were moving in different orbits, each with our own rhythm, our own destination. Even under the same sky, we lived in different worlds. That night at home, my daughter tugged on my shirt, her face a mask of confusion. “Mommy, I’m four. Why did we have to lie?” She was right. Why was I teaching my child to lie? Perhaps, I thought, because I didn’t want to invite trouble into our lives. Not long after our last meeting, I discovered I was pregnant. I considered ending it. But lying there on the table at the clinic, I hesitated. A stubborn defiance burned inside me. I admit it, I was bitter. Even if we can’t be together, I thought, at least I’ll have a child who shares his blood. So I went through with it alone. But the moment I held that tiny, pink bundle in my arms, I was overwhelmed with relief. I knew I had made the right decision. This was my child. Half of her was me. She didn’t belong to anyone else. She deserved a chance to see the world. … After putting Poppy to sleep, I got a call from the head of HR. He told me not to bother coming in tomorrow. I frowned. “Whose decision was that?” He paused for a moment on the other end, clearly not intending to answer. I didn’t press the issue. One day sooner or later made no difference to me. 5 After leaving my job, I didn’t look for another. Instead, I opened a small children’s clothing studio, with my daughter volunteering as my adorable model. Thanks to her cute face and my hard-won video editing skills, I managed to build a small following. Between scattered orders and the occasional ad sponsorship, I could make ends meet, and even save a little. I thought that quitting my job meant I was once again free of Adrian. But I was wrong. He showed up at my door with a paternity test. I wasn’t surprised. The night before, while I was giving Poppy a bath, she had a troubled look on her little face. She clearly had something on her mind but didn’t know how to say it. I pretended not to notice and kept washing her hair. After a while, she finally spoke in a small voice. “Mommy, I saw that man at school again today.” I didn’t respond, continuing to lather the shampoo. Fearing I was angry, she waved her soapy hands in the air to reassure me. “He didn’t talk to me! He just patted my hair and then he left.” “Mommy, you’re not mad, are you?” Looking at her anxious little eyes, I sighed, a wave of helplessness washing over me. For a child, parents are their entire world. When Poppy started talking, her first word was “Mama.” Her second was “Dada.” But there was never anyone to answer that second call. When she was three, she asked me why all the other kids had a mommy and a daddy, while she only had a mommy. I didn’t hide the truth from her. I didn’t lie or spin some tale about her father being far away. I told her, “You have a father. Your father and I just chose not to be together. He might not even know you exist in this world.” “You can choose to find him, and you can even choose to live with him, but I can’t promise he will accept you. It was my mistake to have you without telling him.” I showed her a picture of Adrian. My daughter is very smart, with a child’s sharp memory. She recognized him instantly that day at school. But she didn’t approach him.

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On Ethan Sterling’s twenty-eighth birthday, someone gifted him a woman right in front of my face. Abandoning my usual gentleness, I smashed my wine glass, wrecked the banquet, and left home with my luggage alone. Everyone said the destitute Mrs. Sterling wouldn’t last three days and would come back begging. Ethan didn’t care at all: “An orphan girl, where can she go without the Sterling family?” But countless three days passed, and some even suspected I had died out there. Ethan called me for the first time, only to find the number was no longer in service. Later, at a famous painter’s exhibition, a portrait of a side profile made Ethan lose his composure. He offered an astronomical price to buy the painting. Lucas Miller smiled apologetically: “This is the portrait of my wife I’m most satisfied with. I can’t bear to part with it.” 1 It was Ethan Sterling’s twenty-eighth birthday party. I wore the most exquisite and beautiful gown, appearing on Ethan’s arm. As soon as we walked down the steps, Ethan let go of my hand and left me there. Everyone’s gaze followed Ethan. I was forgotten in the corner. People presented gifts to Ethan one after another. He signaled the butler to put them away with a faint expression. Until someone presented a beautiful woman. Everyone’s eyes turned back to me. Sympathy, amusement, mockery. Over the years, I had seen too many of these malicious gazes. Ethan’s originally expressionless face showed a moment of daze. That beauty looked too much like his dead first love. “Giving me a woman in front of Mrs. Sterling, you guys are bold.” Ethan smiled playfully. The gift giver flattered: “Mrs. Sterling is generous, I’m sure she won’t mind.” It wasn’t that I wouldn’t mind; they just counted on me not daring to mind. An orphan girl raised by the Sterling family. How dare she say “no” to the new head of the Sterling family? Ethan twirled the wedding ring on his finger, smiling: “Since Mrs. Sterling agrees, take her down…” Before Ethan finished speaking, I had already walked a few steps to his side. Looking at the beauty in front of me. The gift giver really put thought into it, knowing exactly what Ethan liked. I suddenly felt a little tired. I seemed unable to listen to Grandma’s words anymore to maintain the dignity of Mrs. Sterling. I gently pushed the champagne tower behind me. The beautiful crystals piled up collapsed with a light touch. Broken glass and wine splashed everywhere, and the banquet scene was chaotic. Someone exclaimed: “Mrs. Sterling has gone crazy!” 2 I ruined Ethan’s birthday party. But he didn’t seem to care much. The butler had already arranged for the guests to leave, and servants were cleaning up the mess. That beauty was kept, standing quietly beside Ethan. Even her personality seemed very much like Ethan’s first love. In comparison, I really seemed crazy. Ethan played with the beauty’s fingers in one hand, looking at me and speaking casually. “Why so angry? “If you don’t want to see her, I’ll let her live outside. “Don’t worry, I swore to Grandma that I would never touch your position as Mrs. Sterling.” The woman beside him also spoke to persuade me. “Mrs. Sterling, why be angry? A man like Mr. Sterling wouldn’t have just one woman. “I just admire Mr. Sterling and won’t affect your status.” I took off the ring on my hand. Placed it on the table in front of Ethan. He raised an eyebrow. “Returning the ring to you.” Ethan picked up the ring and tossed it into the air. The diamond ring flashed brilliantly and fell back into his hand. He threw it backward to the woman behind him: “For you. Mrs. Sterling throws away a ring worth millions just like that.” Ethan stood up and sneered, instructing the butler. “Find a few teachers to teach Mrs. Sterling etiquette. I don’t want to see such rude things again in the future.” He walked a few steps and turned back. Threw his own ring on the ground. The ring rolled on the ground and stopped at my feet. “Since you don’t want the ring, throw them all away.” 3 Ethan left with the people. The roar of the car engine leaving was particularly obvious in the night. The butler sighed beside me: “Madam, why provoke Mr. Sterling? You know he has resentment towards you.” I picked up the ring at my feet and threw it into the trash can. “Uncle Chen, go busy yourself, don’t worry about me.” The butler sighed and left. I went upstairs alone, took off the complicated and exquisite gown. Changed into a white T-shirt, found a suitcase, and took out all the clothes belonging to me from the closet. Other couples quarrel and can consider divorce agreements. But my connection with Ethan was so shallow that only a ring remained. No one would have thought that for the wedding of the century that caused a sensation in the city, the bride and groom didn’t even have a marriage certificate. I still remember what Ethan said at the wedding. “Only Sarah’s name can be on my household register. Ava, you shouldn’t have married me.” But what could I do? I still married him, married the person I liked for seven years in my girlhood. Thinking that one day I could move him. But in the end, I lived as Mrs. Sterling in name only in everyone’s eyes. When I dragged my luggage out, the whole villa was quiet. Just like the rainy night when Grandma just brought me back. Thirteen-year-old Ethan stood on the stairs, looking at me coldly. But turned to the kitchen. Brought me a cup of warm milk. 4 I booked a flight. Six hours of flight, then three hours of car ride, back to the remote small town in the south. They say people want to return to their roots when they get old. But actually, a homeless person will also miss their hometown very much. Even if there is no relative left in that hometown. I rented a small courtyard in the town. The dialect was familiar yet strange. I was young when I left and had been in North City ever since. I had long forgotten how to speak it. Fortunately, the person living in the courtyard next door was also an outsider, just arrived before me. That day when buying vegetables, I couldn’t understand the old lady’s dialect, and he helped me out. The next day I made corn fritters to thank him for his help the day before. Only then did I know he was a painter sketching here. He looked like he just graduated from college, radiating enthusiasm and youth. Away from the personnel matters of North City. In such a simple environment, I suddenly realized I was only 25 years old. But because I was in the Sterling family, always holding the airs of Mrs. Sterling. I actually felt like I was old and decrepit. I bought flowers from the street, and the small courtyard was filled with Chinese roses by me. A small rocking chair was placed next to the flower bed. Although a bit simple, everything was to my liking. The garden of the Sterling family was full of yellow roses that Sarah liked, and an expensive piano was placed in the glass flower house. That was specially designed by Ethan for her back then, and no one could touch it. Grandma wanted people to pull out those roses. It caused Ethan to lose his temper. “If the roses are gone, I don’t need to return to this home either.” No one mentioned this matter again, and Sarah and those roses became a restricted area of the Sterling family.

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