Category: English

The night my in-laws were kidnapped, my husband went camping with his first love. I didn’t try to stop him. I just called the police immediately. In my last life, I had stopped him. He went to save his parents, but he never went to be with his first love. Later, his first love was mauled to death by wolves in the mountains, her body mutilated beyond recognition. Afterward, Julian became a silent shell, until I was pregnant and about to give birth. He threw me into those same deep mountains. “Anya Smith, if it weren’t for you, Serena wouldn’t have died!” “How can you live so peacefully? I want to watch you suffer every single pain she endured!” Torn apart by wild beasts, I died, taking my unborn child with me. When I woke up again, I was back on the day my in-laws were kidnapped. This time, he didn’t join the rescue. He got his wish and saved his first love, but his hair turned completely white overnight. I screamed in terror, my eyes snapping open. Drenched in cold sweat, my clothes clung to me. The phantom pain of flesh being torn still lingered. I instinctively reached down, touching my flat stomach. Listening to the frantic beat of my heart, tears streamed down my face like broken pearls. I fumbled for my phone and checked the time. I had been reborn. Back to the day my in-laws were kidnapped. Soon, the kidnappers would call, demanding a thirty-million-dollar ransom to be delivered within thirty minutes, or they’d kill them. Julian and I grew up together. Our parents had always planned for us to marry. Whether it was a family alliance or my own feelings, I was destined to be his wife. I knew he had an ex, but his family didn’t approve of her. Before we married, I’d asked him if he was marrying me willingly. If he was marrying me because he loved me? He’d said yes to everything. I stepped into our marriage with a hopeful heart. But after the wedding, he grew distant and cold. He was still in contact with his ex. I pretended not to see, not to hear, staying silent. I loved him. I didn’t want to lose him, and I didn’t want to lose our marriage. For that, I paid with my life, and I also caused the death of the child I’d carried for ten months. Given a second chance, I wouldn’t make the same mistakes. I watched Julian Hayes run down the stairs, and slowly rose from the sofa. When our eyes met, he looked at me and said in a low voice: “I won’t be home tonight.” I didn’t say anything, turning my head to look at the phone next to the sofa. It was ringing – the kidnappers. I quickly picked up and put it on speaker. “Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are with us. Thirty million dollars ransom, deliver it to Liberty Square in thirty minutes. If you dare call the police, I’ll kill them immediately!” The kidnapper’s voice boomed into Julian’s ears. He merely frowned slightly, then let out a scoffing laugh. “Anya Smith, is this supposed to be funny?” “Is it fun having them both play along with your little act?” I stared at his face, remembering him watching me descend into hell. Ten years of love had already vanished into thin air. “Julian Hayes, you heard the call. What you do is your business, I’m not getting involved.” “If you want to believe it’s an act, fine. Whatever.” “But let me emphasize this one more time: I am not playing games with them.” Perhaps my tone was too calm, because Julian hesitated for a moment. But in the end, he turned and strode out the door. Last life, when the call came, Julian believed the same thing. But I knew I wasn’t playing an act with his parents, so I did everything I could to stop him from leaving. After a night of searching, his parents were rescued. But as soon as they were safe, he left. When he returned, he brought back news of Serena Cross’s death.

He blamed everything on me. After Julian left, I immediately called the police. Thirty million dollars was no small sum, and they wanted it in cash. I couldn’t just produce it instantly, and there was no guarantee the kidnappers would release them even if they got the money. So I had to call the police, let the professionals handle this. After I dialed 911, the local precinct dispatched officers. But before they arrived, I got a call from someone familiar. “Ma’am, it’s Officer Miller. Are you and Julian having a fight?” My brows furrowed. I asked in a low voice: “Why are you calling me?” “Well, you called the police, right? We’re acquaintances, but filing a false report isn’t a small thing. You and Julian can argue all you want, but you can’t be so reckless.” “Julian and Serena have nothing going on. If you keep acting out like this, you’ll just make Julian a laughingstock.” After listening for a while, I finally understood what he meant. “What are you implying? Julian told you I filed a false report?” A silence stretched on the other end. I let out a soft laugh, then said firmly: “Officer Miller, I advise you to dispatch officers immediately and handle this situation. Otherwise, I’ll file a formal complaint.” Officer Miller scoffed: “Anya Smith, don’t treat everyone like Julian, at your beck and call. I’m not your private security. You crazy woman, Serena Cross is worth more than a strand of your hair.” After hearing that, I hung up. Then I redialed 911, and also filed a complaint against Officer Miller. The other officers arrived about fifteen minutes later. They asked me a few questions and listened to the recording of the first call. Everyone looked serious. They quickly traced the incoming number, but it wasn’t registered. Calling back led to a disconnected line. We could only wait for them to call again. The officers were waiting, and I was contacting my private financial manager. “How much liquid cash do I have in my accounts?” “Seventeen million? Prepare all of it.” After hanging up, I called Julian’s uncle, Mr. Harrison. Hearing about Mr. and Mrs. Wallace’s kidnapping, he gasped: “Who did this? Is Julian there?” “I don’t know who the kidnappers are, and Julian went camping with Serena. Uncle, the kidnappers want thirty million in cash. I can’t raise enough on my own. How much can you contribute? I’ll pay you back in a week.” “Child, you’re saving my brother! Don’t talk about paying back! How much more do you need?” “Thirteen million.” “Don’t worry, I’ll get it.” Thirty minutes passed quickly. The other party called again. I quickly answered. The technical officer beside me immediately started tracing the call, but shook his head a moment later; they couldn’t pinpoint the location. My heart sank further. I heard the person on the other end say sternly: “Time’s up. Has the money been sent?” “Not yet. Please give me more time. My husband isn’t here, and I don’t have that much money on hand.” “I told you, if the money isn’t here on time, I’ll kill them!” I pleaded frantically: “Don’t hurt them! You want money, right? Killing them means you won’t get any money, won’t that be a failure? Just give me another thirty minutes, and I promise I’ll have the money ready.” As soon as I finished speaking, I heard my in-laws’ screams from the other end of the line. The kidnapper’s sinister voice returned: “Thirty minutes. Five fingers each! “If you want to stall, keep stalling!” After the call ended, Officer Miller appeared at the doorway. He had heard the last part, and now stared at me, his face ashen.

He stammered, trying to explain: “Julian called me and said it was the elders playing along with you, just to keep him home…” I couldn’t be bothered to speak. The police officer beside me said: “Call Julian. Tell him what’s happening.” Officer Miller acknowledged and stepped aside to make the call. From his phone, I heard the line was busy. I thought of my mother-in-law’s delicate nature, how she’d need someone to blow on her fingers if hot water touched them. Now, who knew how much pain she was in. I took a deep breath to calm myself and quickly called Mr. Harrison. His line was also busy. A few minutes after I hung up, Mr. Harrison called back. Before I could even ask if he’d raised the money, I heard him sigh and say: “Anya, it’s not that I want to lecture you, but how could you use such a thing to trick your elders? Your father-in-law and mother-in-law dote on you, but you should also advise them to be reasonable. If I hadn’t asked Julian, you would’ve given me a heart attack.” At that moment, my heart died. “Julian told you this was our act? Uncle, you don’t have to believe me, but can you reach my in-laws? The police are right here with me.” The person on the other end sighed repeatedly, then said: “Julian has someone else in his heart, child. If it’s too much, just divorce him. That way, you’ll both be free.” I hung up the phone. Officer Miller finally got through to Julian. Officer Miller said: “Julian, come back quickly. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace really seem to have been kidnapped.” The voice on the other end wasn’t Julian’s, but Serena Cross’s. “Officer Miller, are you guys playing along with Miss Smith’s act too? Your Julian is grilling right now. I’ll call him to the phone.” After her words fell, I heard Serena relaying Officer Miller’s message. Julian didn’t even take the call. He just said to Serena: “Hang up. That crazy woman Anya Smith, she never wants anyone to be happy.” The call ended. Officer Miller looked at me, his brows furrowed. I lowered my gaze and smiled bitterly: “I have no idea, but they want the money delivered to Liberty Square. Even though I don’t have enough, I have to go. If I go as bait, won’t that increase your chances of solving the case?” The female detective beside me said: “Ms. Smith, I’ll go deliver it instead.” I smiled: “What if the kidnappers recognize me? If you go, won’t that just provoke them? You can protect me from the perimeter. I’ll go myself.” Since no one had a better plan, they agreed to my request. When the kidnappers called again, I lied, telling them I had gathered enough money. I asked them to confirm the delivery location, where I would deliver the money, and they would release my in-laws. I heard a cold laugh, followed by a chilling reply: “Fine.” A sudden unease gripped my heart. Before he hung up, I quickly asked: “I need to hear my in-laws’ voices.” “What’s the rush, Ms. Smith? You’ll see them soon enough.” With that, the call disconnected. I had my financial manager withdraw the cash. Dragging a suitcase full of money, I drove to the location the kidnappers specified. Then I received another call from the kidnappers, telling me to go to the underground parking lot; my in-laws were waiting for me there. I ignored the money; the police were upstairs. I sprinted to the underground parking lot. I found my mother-in-law’s car in the parking lot. The doors were open. They both had their throats slit, blood gushing out. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I ran frantically, dialing 911 as I went. “Someone has been slit in the throat at Liberty Square’s underground parking lot. Please hurry!” I clutched their hands tightly: “Mom, Dad, hold on! The doctors will be here soon!”

“I’m calling Julian. I’m telling him to come right now.” They looked at me weakly, shaking their heads. “Anya, after we’re gone, divorce Julian. Your father’s and my stocks, properties, funds, and cash are all for you. We’re sorry.” I choked, shaking my head frantically: “No, you didn’t do anything wrong to me. It’s my fault for not getting enough money, for delaying. It’s my fault.” “Anya, don’t blame yourself. It has nothing to do with you. The kidnappers never intended for us to live.” I kept calling Julian, his phone ringing endlessly, but no one picked up. I sent him a SnapChat message. “Julian Hayes, Mom and Dad are badly hurt. Come back quickly.” The message sank into the sea, met with silence. I kept sending messages, kept calling… Until they slowly closed their eyes, Julian remained out of reach. The ambulance arrived, but there was no need for resuscitation. I stood up, my vision swam, the world spinning. I grabbed the car door frantically, and a hand steadied me. I turned to see Detective Evans, the officer who came with me. “Ms. Smith, the money wasn’t taken. The kidnapper who came for the money fell from a height during the arrest and is currently unconscious.” “Please accept my condolences.” None of us slept that night. Everyone returned to the precinct. After I gave my statement, the forensics team collected evidence from Mr. and Mrs. Wallace’s bodies. There was more than one kidnapper, but only one had been caught. Given the heinous nature of the crime, the atmosphere at the precinct was tense. They were determined to apprehend all the culprits. After the police finished collecting evidence, I contacted the funeral home. Julian still hadn’t returned my calls or messages. I sent notifications to his family and friends. But I didn’t notify Mr. Harrison again. He learned the news from others and called me in a rage. “Anya, aren’t you going too far? Even if you and Julian aren’t getting along, your in-laws treated you well. Is this how you honor your elders? How could you joke about their lives and deaths?” I waited for him to finish his tirade before slowly speaking: “I’m at the precinct. I just finished my statement and arranged for the funeral home. If you don’t believe me, you don’t have to attend the funeral. I didn’t intend to notify you anyway.” A moment of silence on the other end, then he said in a low voice: “You say you’re at the precinct? Let a police officer talk to me!” Just as I was about to hand the phone to Detective Evans, I heard a police officer’s voice from the other end: “Mr. Harrison? This is Riverside Precinct. We need your cooperation in a case!” When Mr. Harrison was brought to the precinct, I was still there. He lunged at me when he saw me: “Anya Smith! Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you say you weren’t acting? You killed my brother and sister-in-law, you murderer!” I looked at him coldly, and said faintly: “I did tell you. I even asked you for money. It was Julian Hayes who told you not to believe me. Julian Hayes killed his parents, and you were his accomplice!” His face went pale, his lips trembling as he brushed past me. I turned to watch his retreating back, raising my voice: “Uncle, when I called you, the officers working on the case were all right here, listening.” He didn’t turn back, but I saw his regret. Detective Evans was still beside me. I turned to her. “You can go back to work. I’ll just wait for the funeral home staff.” She shook her head slightly, apology in her eyes: “I’ll wait with you.” While waiting for the funeral home staff, I called my lawyer. “Mr. Davis, please draft a divorce agreement for me. I’m divorcing Julian Hayes.”

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Damien Thorne’s colleague was pregnant, about to give birth. She showed up at my door, heavily pregnant, demanding something for the baby, right as I was decorating our wedding home. “I just donated sperm to her,” he said, sounding utterly innocent, “I have nothing to be ashamed of towards you.” With that, he actually took her to the mall to pick out baby gifts. I immediately blasted our family group chat on SnapChat, canceling the wedding. But everyone thought I was being dramatic. Mrs. Thorne said with grave seriousness, “Damien is good-looking and highly educated. Such excellent genes should be passed on. It’s almost a contribution to society, you know.” Mr. Thorne scoffed, “He didn’t cheat. Why are you making such a fuss?” My dad was so furious he almost had a heart attack. “Stubborn fool! How dare you cancel such a good marriage?” My mom cried until she nearly fainted. “If you break off this engagement, you’ll never get married in your life!” My eyes blazing red, I shot back, “Then I’ll stay single forever!” But then, a message popped up on my phone: “Scarlett Hayes, when will you choose me?”

That evening, Damien Thorne carefully helped Willow Frost through the door. They had bought a huge box of toys for their unborn child. Willow gently stroked her pregnant belly, and they exchanged a loving glance, their faces beaming with the joy of soon becoming parents. Seeing me, Willow smiled and handed me a small gift box. “Scarlett, this is a special gift I picked out for you. I just found out how much this whole thing bothered you, so consider it… a small apology from me.” I didn’t even look, tossing the gift box straight into the trash. Willow’s smile instantly froze, and tears streamed down her face like a broken necklace. “Scarlett, I… I’m so sorry.” She choked back sobs, cowering behind Damien. Damien immediately shielded her, looking at me with a helpless expression. “Scarlett, don’t be like this.” “I was just responding to a call for responsible donors. Willow is a free spirit and wants a child but not a husband.” “We’re just colleagues, truly nothing more.” “Just colleagues?” My voice trembled. “Exchanging good mornings and good nights every day? Sharing a single playlist? Shielding her from aggressive co-workers at office dinners? Driving her home the long way after late nights at work? Those are ‘just colleagues’?” He rubbed his temples tiredly. “Here we go again. Haven’t I explained all this? You’re always so suspicious, overthinking everything.” I let out a cold laugh. His explanations were ridiculously flimsy — just normal colleague interactions, a senior looking out for a junior. They were full of holes, yet I chose to believe him, time after time. But five years of a relationship… I wasn’t willing to let it end like this. Gritting my teeth, I pointed at Willow’s belly, testing him. “Fine, let’s say I’m overthinking it, that I misunderstood you two!” I stared hard at Damien, pushing him. “Make her get rid of that baby, and I’ll pretend nothing happened. The wedding will go on as planned.” “Impossible!” Damien’s voice shot up, then he forced his anger down. “The baby is Willow’s. I have no right to decide that.” Willow’s face instantly went pale. She suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me with a thud. She clutched her belly tightly, her voice choked. “Scarlett, there’s truly nothing between me and Damien. The baby is eight months along, and he was just kicking me. I can’t, I can’t…” She cried, her face tear-streaked, her whole body shaking. Damien’s face was tight, he struggled for a few seconds, but his resolve crumbled. He helped her up, offering a helpless smile. “Scarlett, asking her to terminate the pregnancy now, what’s the difference between that and tearing her heart out?” I stared at him, a cold smirk playing on my lips. “What, feeling sympathetic now?”

Damien clearly flinched, then his face contorted in pain. “I never thought you could be so cruel. If this is a condition for marriage, then we truly aren’t meant for each other… Let’s break up.” “Scarlett, Damien is innocent, don’t take your anger out on him!” Willow suddenly burst into loud sobs. “Blame me if you want, I just can’t bear to lose this baby… But I’ll prove our innocence with my life right now!” Before her words even faded, she lunged towards the balcony, as if to throw herself over. My heart leaped into my throat, and I instinctively started to rush forward. Damien, already frantic, was faster. But before either of us could reach her, Willow collapsed onto the floor, convulsing with sobs. Damien pulled her into his arms, his entire body trembling. After a long moment, he looked up, his eyes icy as he stared at me, still standing rooted to the spot. “Scarlett Hayes! Your baseless accusations almost killed Willow!” His gaze was frigid, like he was looking at a stranger. “She’s just a young woman, pregnant. You might stand by coldly, but I can’t.” His voice was shaking. With that, he carefully lifted Willow into his arms, walked up to me, and snarled, “Move!” I stood frozen, my mouth opening. “I didn’t mean to…” “Damien, the baby… I think the baby’s coming.” Willow suddenly let out a weak whimper, then fainted. “Willow!” Damien’s face instantly went ashen. He forcefully shoved me aside and rushed out the door, carrying Willow. I fell to the floor, biting down hard on my lip, but I couldn’t suppress the icy dread swirling in my heart. I stayed awake until dawn, my phone finally lighting up with a message from Damien: “Last night, I was too anxious, and my words were harsh.” “Scarlett, I’m sorry.” My nose stung, and tears instantly welled up. For years, he was always the first to apologize after an argument, and I would always forgive him. But this time was different. I couldn’t forgive this. Before I could reply, he sent another photo. It was a picture of him with a newborn. The tiny infant was cradled carefully in his arms, and he looked down at the child with eyes as tender as spring water. “Willow had an early delivery, but thankfully, both mother and daughter are safe.” “The baby looks a lot like me.” “She has no family or friends, so I need to stay at the hospital for three days.” “Let’s postpone the wedding for a week. I truly can’t handle anything else right now.” These seemingly ordinary words, every single one of them, pierced my heart. I numbly stood up, tearing down the wedding photos from the wall one by one, then picked up scissors and shredded my wedding dress. My fingers trembled uncontrollably as I packed my suitcase. Just as I zipped it shut, Mrs. Thorne pushed open the door, a barely concealed look of delight on her face. “Damien asked me to bring him some fresh clothes to the hospital. And as a grandmother, I’m eager to see my little granddaughter.” Seeing me silent, she warmly took my arm. “Scarlett, Damien was wrong this time, he shouldn’t have hidden the sperm donation from you, it hurt your pride. But it’s not some unforgivable crime, right?” “Auntie knows your feelings run deep. You can’t just throw it all away over a small thing like this, can you? What you said in the group chat yesterday was just anger talking, let’s not take it seriously.” “Come, come with me to the hospital to see the baby. Give Damien an out, and we’ll just put this whole thing behind us.” I was dragged along like a lifeless doll, and by the time I snapped back to reality, I was standing at the hospital room door. Willow lay weakly in the hospital bed, her pale face still streaked with tears, clearly having suffered a lot during childbirth.

And Damien was gently holding the baby, softly humming a lullaby. Mr. Thorne, for once, was smiling. “Damien is an airline captain. Let’s call this child ‘Skye’ then, to inherit the aviation career!” “What nonsense!” Mrs. Thorne chided him. “A girl can’t be named something like that!” She eagerly reached out to hold the baby. But Damien turned away. “Mom, you don’t know how to hold her properly. Don’t hurt her.” Catching sight of me in his peripheral vision, his eyes lit up. “Scarlett, come look at her. Aren’t her tiny hands and feet just adorable?” He leaned in to kiss the baby, then stopped abruptly, looking flustered like a naughty child. “No, no, Dad can’t pass on any germs to you.” I had never seen this childish side of him before. So this was what he was like, clumsy yet tender, as a new father. He was eager to show off his joy to the world, but I was the one person who shouldn’t have been included. I forced a stiff smile and turned to leave. But Damien quickly followed, carefully holding the baby out to me. “Scarlett, look, don’t her nose and mouth look exactly like mine?” I lowered my eyes. The tiny face did indeed resemble him, as if molded from the same clay. The resemblance stung my eyes, and my throat suddenly constricted with pain. I coldly pushed the swaddled infant away, looking into Damien’s expectant eyes, suddenly unwilling to give him what he wanted. “Take her away. She’s so annoying to look at, I can’t stand it.” The baby let out a wail. Damien’s eyes instantly turned cold. He gently patted the baby, comforting her with a pained expression. Mrs. Thorne’s gaze cut at me like a knife. “You’re the most annoying one here!” Mr. Thorne pointed directly at the door. “You’re not welcome here. Get out!” Willow, in the hospital bed, suddenly woke up. “Scarlett…” She pleaded with the Thorne family. “I’d like to talk to Scarlett alone for a moment.” Once the hospital room door closed, Willow’s face wore an apologetic expression. “Scarlett, I don’t want to break you and Damien up. He really loves you. Actually, that night, Damien was drunk, and we just…” My mind buzzed. “It wasn’t sperm donation?” She turned her face away. “Damien said he wanted to keep it from you, afraid you’d be sad.” “By the time I found out I was pregnant, it was already three months. He was very angry then, saying he’d give me a lump sum to keep quiet once the baby was born, and that I should never mention it again.” “Then why are you telling me now?” I stared at her coldly. “Why did you deliberately show up pregnant? Why didn’t you keep it from me forever?” She clearly hadn’t expected me to call her out so directly. Her face changed color several times, then she just pressed her lips together, silent. I laughed sarcastically. “Now that he and I have broken up, and your baby is born, you two can live happily ever after as a family of three. What else are you worried about?” She suddenly glared at me, an eerie smile curving on her lips. The next second, right in front of me, she deliberately rolled straight off the hospital bed, hitting the floor with a thud. Then she shrieked in terror. “Scarlett, I know I was wrong! Please, please don’t hit me!” I was utterly dumbfounded. Before I could react, a strong force pulled me away. “Slap!” My cheek burned, and I instantly tasted blood in my mouth. Mr. Thorne’s face was livid as he pointed at me. “You insolent brat! Is the hospital a place for your tantrums?” He raised his hand to strike again, but Damien quickly blocked him. “Dad, she’s my fiancée. I’ll handle this.”

He pulled me into the corridor and found some ice, carefully pressing it against my face. I mumbled, looking down. “I didn’t push her…” “Mmm.” He responded flatly, neither getting angry nor asking for clarification. I knew him too well. This silence was the loudest form of denial. If he believed me, he would have argued fiercely for me. If he didn’t, he would just stay silent like this. But if he didn’t believe me, why was he still being so gentle? Tears spilled from my eyes, dropping one by one onto his hand. He snatched his hand back as if burned, then stood up. “If you’re going to stay here and make Willow and the baby uncomfortable, then just go home.” I desperately grabbed his sleeve, a sob catching in my voice. “Just trust me this one time, please?” He sighed deeply, prying my fingers off his sleeve one by one, as if completely disillusioned. “Scarlett, I can overlook all the things you’ve done, because I love you, after all. But at least, you should be honest with me.” A familiar phone ringtone suddenly sounded – Willow’s exclusive ringtone. “How much further to enter your heart, how much longer until I can get close to you…” I once asked him, “Is it appropriate to have a special ringtone for a female colleague?” He looked genuinely puzzled. “The girl just likes that song. It was nothing, just a casual thing. Don’t overthink it.” I watched him answer the call, then walk away without looking back. I sat numbly on the bench, half my face swollen and red. I suddenly started to laugh and cry at the same time, like a patient given a terminal diagnosis. He told *me* to be honest, but had he been honest himself? I went back for my luggage, intending to go to my parents’ house, but their video call came through. Dad clutched his chest, his finger shaking as he pointed at me and cursed. “The Thornes said you ran to the hospital, throwing a fit and hurting the poor girl who just gave birth. What were you thinking? The Chief of Staff is a friend of mine, he called to ask us what was going on! You’ve completely humiliated our family!” Dad started to gasp violently again. Mom quickly gave him his medication, then turned to glare at me. “Damien explained everything clearly; he and that girl are just colleagues. Why do you have to be so extra, trying to push them together?” Catching sight of the injury on my face, she sneered, “Serves you right!” “What exactly did I do wrong that you’re all blaming me?” I took a deep breath, my voice hoarse. “Why do you all believe outsiders over me?” “Believe you about what? Tell us!” My parents spoke simultaneously. Looking at their unmoved faces, I suddenly deflated. “Never mind.” I hastily hung up the video call. I couldn’t let them see my tears again, or it would only lead to that familiar line: “What else can you do besides cry?” At that moment, I didn’t know where I could go. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was a message from Asher Maxwell: “Scarlett Hayes, when will you choose me?” “Now.” Without a second thought, I immediately replied. This guy, who had once been an academic disaster, barely scraping by in high school, had transformed himself in his senior year, pushing himself to get into the same university as me. After that came years of relentless pursuit. A hundred confessions, a hundred rejections from me. Who would like an academic disaster, even worse than a slacker? Even if he was sunny and handsome, with a smile that made your heart skip a beat, it was a no-go. After college graduation, Damien and I got together. Asher went to Switzerland to study, but his messages never stopped. From daily warm greetings, to sharing trivial life details, to the recurring question every few days: “When will you choose me?” I had never replied, but he was like a tireless robot, never giving up.

Thinking this, I sent another message: “Getting married in three days. You’re the groom. Satisfied?” “Bang!” The door was kicked open violently. Damien stood there, his face dark, his eyes fixed on me. “Scarlett Hayes! What the hell did you do to my clothes?!” “What…” “Shut up!” He lunged forward, grabbing my wrist and slamming me against the wall. I had never seen him like this. His eyes were bloodshot, and his breathing hitched. “I wore that shirt you sent me to hold the baby, and in less than ten minutes, she broke out in a rash and went into respiratory failure! She’s in the ICU now!” “She’s a newborn baby! Scarlett Hayes, you better give me an explanation!” “I didn’t do anything!” My wrist burned where he gripped it. I struggled desperately. “Let go of me first…” Before I could finish, he swung his fist. I instinctively closed my eyes and turned my head. There was a loud bang beside my ear as his fist slammed hard into the wall next to me. When I opened my eyes, I saw blood seeping from his knuckles. My voice trembled uncontrollably. “Damien, were you… were you really going to hit me?” He seemed to snap awake, frantically releasing his grip and pulling me into his arms. “Scarlett, I… I panicked for a moment. I’m sorry.” “I told you, I’d overlook anything you did. But this time, you’ve gone too far. Willow is crying, saying she wants to die with the baby. Go kneel down and apologize to her, please?” Hot liquid dripped onto my neck. “Just for me. I promise you, if you apologize, we can still get married.” This man, who hadn’t shed a single tear even when he broke his ribs during flight training, was crying now. Men cry when they have a weakness. Willow and the baby must be his weakness. I stared at his trembling shoulders, and suddenly, I smiled. “Alright, I’ll go apologize.” He visibly relaxed, a huge weight lifting from him. “We’ll go to the hospital right now.” He reached for my hand. I shook it off, my face devoid of expression. “I’ll walk by myself.” “Okay,” He nodded, then urged, still worried. “Hurry, I’m afraid Willow will have a breakdown…” As soon as we reached the emergency room door, Willow immediately dropped to her knees, clutching my leg. “Scarlett, please, you can take my life if you want, just let the baby be safe.” She sobbed hysterically, her whole body shaking. I was so angry I laughed. I reached down to pull her up. “Stop acting. I’m the one who should be kneeling, begging Miss Frost to let me go. I don’t want Damien anymore, you can have him.” She suddenly looked up, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. Then she instantly reverted to a terrified expression. “No, it’s not like that. Damien will always be yours. How could I ever dream of him? I just want to live quietly with my baby.” “Get up!” I completely lost my patience. She suddenly grabbed my hand. I shook it off in disgust. But she used the momentum to fall backward, hitting her head with a thud on the floor, then let out a piercing scream. “Enough!” Damien rushed over to help her up, looking at me as if I were some terrifying monster. “Scarlett Hayes, if you don’t want to apologize, then don’t come! Willow just gave birth, and the baby is still in critical condition. How can you be so cruel to her?” I lowered my head, unsure what else to say. He wouldn’t believe me anyway, would he? After a long silence, Damien laughed mockingly. “Never mind. What did I expect you to explain? I’ve seen you hurt Willow and the baby with my own eyes, time and again. Go home. You’re just making things worse here.”

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My Mother-in-Law Tried to Force Me to Adopt My Husband’s Bastard Child My husband, Caleb, and I had been married for three years, and I still hadn’t gotten pregnant. My mother-in-law, Brenda, showed me my medical report, claiming it proved I had a physical defect that made conception difficult. So, Brenda insisted I go to the hospital where she worked to undergo IVF. For a whole year, I endured 621 injections, so many that walking became a painful ordeal. Yet, I still couldn’t get pregnant, and despair consumed me. Caleb felt terrible for me and suggested I take a trip to clear my head. But when I returned home a month later, I found several used condoms in the bedroom Caleb and I shared! Seeing those condoms, my stomach churned with anger. I immediately called Caleb, who was at work, and roared into the phone: “Caleb! Get your ass home right now! I’m divorcing you!” Caleb rushed home, his face a mix of confusion and panic. “Riley, what did I do? Tell me what’s wrong, I’ll fix it, I don’t want a divorce!” I stared at him, my voice devoid of emotion: “Then why did you cheat?” Caleb’s eyes widened in shock. “Riley, that’s not true! How could I ever cheat on you!” I sneered, pointing to the used condoms in the bedroom: “The evidence is right here, and you’re still trying to deny it! I’m divorcing you, no discussion!” Caleb looked at the condoms, a blank look on his face. He stammered, incoherent: “No… I didn’t cheat… I don’t even know… where did these come from?” I replied sternly: “Stop pretending. There’s nothing left to discuss! We’re getting a divorce!” Caleb anxiously moved closer, gently trying to take my hand. “Riley, don’t you trust me? I really didn’t cheat!” His voice was filled with an uncontrollable mix of hurt and pleading. I violently shook off his hand, stating resolutely: “Tomorrow, I’ll have my lawyer draw up the divorce papers. Make sure you sign them.” Just then, Brenda, who had gone grocery shopping, returned. Seeing Caleb, she frowned disapprovingly. “Caleb, I know you’re happy your wife’s back, but you’re supposed to be at work. Why are you home? Did Riley call you back?” I sneered, not bothering to respond. Caleb anxiously turned to his mother: “Mom! Please, help me talk to Riley! She wants a divorce!” Hearing this, Brenda’s temper flared. She pointed a finger at my face and yelled: “Riley! What is the meaning of this? You’ve been married into our family for three years, and your womb is still empty! You’re the one with the problem, you useless, barren woman! My son is a saint for even putting up with you, providing for you, even paying for you to go on vacation! And the moment you return, you want to divorce him? I never imagined you were such a vile woman!” She didn’t give me a chance to reply, continuing: “My son has treated you well, hasn’t he! Since you married into our family, you haven’t done a single chore! My son works himself to death all day, and if you so much as hint you want his cooking, he’ll make it for you without a word of complaint!” “My son always puts you first, and what about you? You can’t even have a child, and you have the nerve to bring up divorce! You women are truly evil-minded!” Brenda grew more agitated with each word, eventually clutching her chest, looking as if I was about to make her collapse. I watched her coldly, my voice dripping with sarcasm: “Your son cheated, why shouldn’t I get a divorce?” Brenda immediately became agitated: “What are you talking about? My son would never cheat! Are you slandering him?!” Caleb tugged at Brenda’s arm, his face desperate as he asked: “Mom, there are used condoms in my bedroom. Do you know anything about them?” 2. Brenda froze, her eyes flickering. “I… I put those condoms there.” A flicker of guilt crossed Brenda’s face, quickly replaced by a mysterious glint. “They’re special! A good luck charm I found!” I stared at Brenda in disbelief, my eyes wide with shock: “Mom, why would you keep used condoms?” Caleb also looked at his mother, dumbfounded: “Mom! What are you doing! You made Riley completely misunderstand!” Brenda pursed her lips in annoyance. “It’s because you two haven’t gotten pregnant, isn’t it? I was trying to help you! To give you a helping hand!” Caleb looked at his mother, a bewildered smile on his face: “How could used condoms help Riley and me?” At this, Brenda’s eyes lit up, her voice rising slightly with excitement. “Those young neighbors next door, they got pregnant! They always used condoms, but they still ended up conceiving. I picked these condoms out of their trash! I washed them thoroughly! If you two use them, maybe you’ll ‘catch’ their pregnancy luck and get pregnant too!” I stood rooted to the spot, feeling like that sentence was utterly preposterous. Caleb was clearly startled too; he said nothing, and silence stretched in the room. Finally, Brenda broke the stalemate. She looked at me with displeasure, a deep impatience etched on her face: “Fine, if you weren’t so useless and couldn’t get pregnant, would I even bother with this?” The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, accusing me through tears. “I’m at this age, and all I want is a grandchild. Am I wrong? My heart is breaking over this!” Hearing her cry, I instantly felt overwhelmed. Annoyed, I turned and walked back into the room, tossing a remark at Caleb: “She’s your mom, you handle her.” That night, I curled up in bed. Caleb quietly slipped in beside me, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “Riley, I’m so sorry. You went through so much today. Mom is just too desperate for a grandchild, please don’t take it to heart.” I mumbled an absent “Mmm,” and didn’t respond further. Caleb paused, then hesitated, asking: “Riley, why do I feel like your attitude has been strange ever since you came back from your trip?” 3. I frowned, saying impatiently: “I’m too tired today.” The next morning, I was barely awake, sitting at the dining table. Brenda immediately brought over a bowl of dark, murky liquid, saying mysteriously: “Riley, drink this while it’s hot. These are expensive, top-grade medicinal herbs I managed to get my hands on. They’ll help you conceive!” I eyed the bowl suspiciously, unable to believe that what Brenda called “good herbs” were anything legitimate. “Mom, what kind of herbs are these? We shouldn’t drink random stuff without a doctor’s advice!” Brenda’s face immediately fell, her eyes glaring at me. “What do you mean by that? I went through so much trouble to get these herbs, and you’re already disgusted? If you weren’t so useless and couldn’t get pregnant, would I even bother?!” Brenda started to cry and complain again, and I really didn’t want to hear her lecture, so I picked up the bowl and quickly drank half of it. But as the liquid level dropped, and Brenda’s so-called “medicinal ingredients” floated to the surface, I felt a wave of nausea, my stomach churning. “Mom! Is that… placenta?!” I gagged and burst out, spitting up as I confronted Brenda. Brenda saw me vomit everything out and exploded in rage. She immediately furrowed her brows, grabbed the bowl, pinched my jaw, and started pouring the soup down my throat. “You brat, why did you throw it all up? Don’t you dare! I spent a fortune and pulled strings to get this placenta! Finish the rest of it, don’t leave a single drop!” 4. Caleb sat by, his struggle clearly visible on his face. Finally, under Brenda’s fierce glare, he hesitantly said: “Riley, Mom’s doing this for your own good.” I struggled to escape Brenda’s grip, but she had immense strength from years of hard labor in her youth, and I couldn’t break free. Tears mixed with the foul-tasting liquid plastered my face. Brenda watched with satisfaction as all the broth went into my stomach. “Riley, you really need to try harder. I’ve put so much thought into getting you pregnant!” The smell of the placenta soup seemed to linger deep in my throat. I rushed into the bathroom, clutching the toilet and violently vomiting. Caleb stood at the bathroom door, helpless, his face full of guilt and helplessness. “Riley, please don’t blame Mom. She’s just too desperate; don’t take it to heart!” I sneered; every time, he just talked, never actually doing anything. “Enough, Caleb.” I was desperate, but my voice was calm. “Please leave. I don’t want to see you right now.” He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, silently closing the door. Outside, I heard his and Brenda’s voices arguing. Brenda’s sharp voice pierced through the door, clear as day: “What’s wrong with me! I went to all that trouble to nourish her body, and that’s wrong? So what if she threw up? That just means the medicine is working! You don’t know anything! I’m doing all this for the sake of our family’s bloodline!” Ignorant! I felt a chill run through me, unable to breathe. Over the next few days, Brenda’s behavior became much more subdued. She stopped forcing me to drink those dubious tonics and stopped trying strange methods. One afternoon, Caleb was called out by Brenda to buy soy sauce. I was sitting on the sofa, chatting with my best friend. Brenda suddenly sat beside me. She rubbed her hands together, a ingratiating, fake smile on her face. “Riley,” She lowered her voice, sounding secretive, “Mom came up with a new idea these past few days. It’s guaranteed to work, and you won’t have to suffer so much anymore.” My heart sank, and I looked at her warily, not replying. She continued, full of self-satisfaction: “You see, your body… it has defects, you really can’t get pregnant.” She pursed her lips. “That placenta soup was supposed to be a powerful tonic, but there’s still no sign of a baby. Mom’s getting anxious!” I cautiously started a recording on my phone, sensing that what she was about to say would be utterly absurd. “So?” Brenda slapped her thigh, her eyes shining. “Mom figured it out! Why stick to one path when it’s clearly a dead end? Let’s try a different method. Caleb’s body must be fine, his genes must be excellent! The problem, then… it’s with you.” Her hand pointed unceremoniously at my stomach. “Mom met a girl these past few days,” Brenda leaned closer, her voice laced with coaxing, “Old Mr. Smith’s daughter from the next neighborhood, Ashley. Mom saw her, and her physique, you can tell she’s fertile! Big breasts! Big butt! And she’s young, only twenty-one! I specifically asked, and she’s perfectly healthy in every way. Her family is poor; a little money will do!” I stared at Brenda’s face, which was plastered with a righteous expression, utterly incredulous. My voice trembled slightly with anger. “What are you trying to do?” “Oh, it’s obvious, isn’t it!” Brenda looked at me as if I was slow to understand. “Let Caleb try with Ashley! Once Ashley gets pregnant, we’ll bring the baby home after it’s born, and you can just pretend it’s yours, tell everyone it’s yours! How great is that! You won’t have to suffer through injections and medication anymore, and you’ll get a baby for free! Isn’t this wonderful? You won’t have to feel guilty towards our family anymore! Mom is thinking of you, you know!” 5. “Thinking of me?” I sprang to my feet, my anger skyrocketing. “You want my husband to sleep with another woman to have a child, then bring it back for me to raise? This is your idea of ‘thinking of me’? Are you insane?!” Brenda was startled by my outburst, then she grew enraged herself. She stood up, pointing a finger at my nose and yelling: “Riley! Don’t be so ungrateful! Who am I doing this for? Isn’t it so you can keep your place in this family! You can’t have children yourself, and you won’t let me think of other ways! Do you want our family to have no children at all? How selfish can you be! You get a child for free, what more could you be unhappy about?!” The more she spoke, the more righteous she felt, her voice growing louder, her face flushed crimson: “I’m telling you, this is settled! In a couple of days, I’ll bring Ashley over for dinner! You’d better be sensible! Once Ashley gets pregnant, you’ll have a child, and everyone will be happy! If you dare to ruin my plans, I’m not done with you! You useless, barren woman, you have no right to be picky!” “Everyone happy?” I was trembling with rage. “Brenda, listen to me clearly! First, Caleb is my husband, not some breeding stud! Second, I am a human being, not a tool for your family to produce children, nor a tool to raise someone else’s child! Third, your filthy, utterly idiotic idea, don’t even think about it! You dare bring that Ashley woman into this house, just try it!” “How dare you speak to me like that?!” Brenda was completely enraged by my direct address and defiant attitude. She raised her hand to strike me. “You’ve gone too far! Let me teach you a lesson!” Just as her palm was about to land, Caleb stood in the doorway, clutching a bottle of soy sauce. His face was ashen, clearly having overheard the end of the argument. He looked at us, the tension thick in the air, especially at Brenda’s raised hand, and roared: “Mom! What are you doing?!” Seeing her son return, Brenda instantly adopted an utterly aggrieved expression, pointing at me and wailing to Caleb: “Son! You’re finally back! Look at your wife! I kindly tried to help her solve the child problem, and not only is she ungrateful, she curses at me! She said the most awful things! She even tried to hit me! What did I do wrong to marry such a disaster into our family…” Caleb’s gaze darted back and forth between me and his mother. He hesitated, unsure whose side to take. He probably only heard my defiance and Brenda’s tearful accusations. I looked at him, at this husband who once said he cared about my injections and always put me first. Seeing the hesitation in his eyes now, and his instinctive partiality towards his mother, my heart sank completely. I didn’t explain. I just spoke to Brenda, slowly and clearly, every word also for Caleb: “Brenda, cut out your disgusting theatrics. And you, Caleb.” I turned to him, my eyes icy. “Control your mother. Otherwise, between us, there will truly only be a divorce agreement left.” With that, I didn’t spare either of them another glance, turned, and strode into the bedroom. Leaning against the door, my body trembled uncontrollably. Outside, Brenda’s shrill wails and Caleb’s frantic attempts to console her echoed. In that moment, only one thought remained in my mind: I had to leave this house! Leaving that suffocating home, I dragged my suitcase back to my parents’ house. Seeing their haggard daughter, my parents’ eyes welled up with tears. My mom hugged me tightly, heartbroken: “Sweetheart, what happened? Why are you back by yourself?”

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It was a rainy night. I left work early and headed home. The moment the key slid into the lock, I heard it – sounds from our bedroom. Muffled moans, ragged breaths. My hand froze mid-air. Brooke had said she was working late tonight, wouldn’t be home for dinner. But now, there were clearly two people in our bedroom. I pushed the door open quietly. The living room was a mess. A pair of women’s heels tossed carelessly by the entrance, a man’s dress shoes slumped beside the sofa. On the coffee table, two red wine glasses with dark, crimson residue. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and the sounds grew clearer. “Brooke, you’re so wet… He can’t satisfy you at all.” That voice. I knew it all too well. Ryan, my best friend since childhood, my colleague, the man I trusted most. “Don’t talk about him. Let’s just enjoy ourselves…” Brooke’s voice was so alluring, so *foreign* to me. I’d never once heard her speak to me in that tone. In our three years of marriage, she’d always been distant, cold, as if simply going through the motions. But now, in another man’s arms, her voice was sweet as honey. I pushed the bedroom door wide open. The two people on the bed instantly froze. Brooke shrieked, scrambling to pull the duvet over herself. Ryan rolled over, his face a roadmap of guilt and embarrassment. “Alex, let me explain…” “Explain what?” My voice was eerily calm, even to my own ears. By all rights, I should’ve been roaring, raging, maybe even grabbing a knife. But I just stood there, staring coldly at them. “Alex, we…” “We didn’t do anything!” Brooke cut Ryan off, her voice sharp enough to scrape paint. I laughed. I laughed until my eyes stung with unshed tears. “Didn’t do anything? So you two were naked in my bed, discussing work?” Brooke’s face instantly flushed crimson. Ryan scrambled out of bed, fumbling into his clothes. “Alex, man, this whole thing…” “Man?” I repeated the word, each syllable chilling the air. “Ryan, we’ve known each other for twenty years. Do you really think I’ll ever call you ‘man’ again?” He froze, the shirt in his hand dropping to the floor. I turned to Brooke. The woman I’d loved for five years, married for three. She huddled in the duvet, her eyes darting away, unable to meet mine. “Brooke, I’m asking you, how many times has this happened?” “How many times? I told you, we didn’t do anything!” She was still trying to deny it. I walked to the dresser and pulled open the top drawer. Inside was a box of condoms, clearly well-used. I picked up the box and shook it at her. “Are these ‘work supplies’ too?” Brooke’s face went completely white. Ryan was dressed and trying to sneak away. “Stop!” I called out to him. “Ryan, you think you can just *walk away*?” “Alex, we…” “We’re nothing to each other anymore.” I looked at the man who’d been my brother since childhood. We went to school together, got into fights, got punished by teachers. We were roommates in college. After graduation, I recommended him for a job at our company. I treated him like my own brother, and he was sleeping with my wife in my bed. “You two carry on. I’m leaving.” I turned and walked out. “Alex!” Brooke jumped out of bed, naked, and ran after me, grabbing my arm. I shook her hand off. “Don’t touch me. You’re tainted.” The words slapped her across the face. She froze there, her eyes instantly welling up. “Alex Greene, what right do you have to say that to me?” “What else do you even *do* besides work? All you care about is making money!” “When did you ever care about me? When did you ever spend time with me?” “Ryan at least knows how to make me happy, he buys me presents, he takes me to the movies!” “And you? What else can you offer me besides money?” I stopped and turned back to her. This woman standing before me, accusing me. The woman I poured my entire salary into every month, bought designer bags for, funded her entire lifestyle. The woman I thought was my wife. “Brooke, you’re right.” “I really can’t give you anything but money.” “But starting today, I won’t even be giving you that anymore.” I walked out of the house without looking back. The rain was still falling, icy cold on my face. I stood by the apartment complex entrance, unsure where to go. This place I’d called home for three years suddenly felt alien. That place I thought was my home, turned out to be only *my* home. My phone rang. It was Ryan. I ignored it. It rang again. Still him. I turned it off. Rainwater dripped down my hair into my eyes, salty, like tears. But I didn’t cry. I just felt tired. So incredibly tired. Tired enough to lie down on the ground and never get up. But I couldn’t. I still had things to do. I was going to make them understand the cost of betraying me.

I stayed at a nearby hotel for the night. I didn’t sleep a wink, my mind replaying the scene from earlier. At dawn, instead of going straight to the office, I went to a private investigation agency. “Mr. Greene, I understand your situation.” The detective was a middle-aged man, Mr. Davis, who looked very professional. “We have extensive experience with infidelity cases.” “However, I must warn you, some truths can be far more brutal than you anticipate.” “I want the whole truth.” I pushed my bank card across the desk. “No matter how brutal, I need to know everything.” Mr. Davis nodded, taking the card. “Give me a week.” After leaving the detective agency, I went to the office. Ryan was already there. Seeing me enter, he immediately stood up. “Alex, about last night…” “During work hours, address me as Mr. Greene.” I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop. “Mr. Greene, can we talk?” He walked over, his voice barely a whisper. “Talk about what? Project progress?” I stared at the screen without looking up. “Alex, don’t be like this. We’re friends…” “I said, during work hours, address me as Mr. Greene.” “And please, stay away from me. I’m worried about catching something contagious.” Coworkers started noticing the tension between us. Ryan’s face flushed crimson, and he retreated awkwardly to his desk. At lunch, he followed me again. “Alex, I know you’re angry, but…” “But what? But you couldn’t help yourself?” I stopped and looked at him. “Ryan, tell me, how long has this been going on?” “How long has what been going on?” “Don’t play dumb. You and Brooke, how long?” He lowered his head, unable to meet my gaze. “Over a year…” Over a year. That meant they started their affair just two years into my marriage. And I, like a complete fool, still considered him my best friend. I often invited him over for dinner, had Brooke cook his favorite meals. Turns out, those dinner invitations were just creating opportunities for them. “Alex, listen to me…” “What else do you want to say? That you two are true love?” I sneered. “That you’re in love, so I should just bless your union?” “No, that’s not it. Brooke and I…” “Your relationship means nothing to me.” I looked him in the eye. “But you betrayed me. I won’t forget that.” “Alex…” “And don’t call me Alex. We’re not close.” After work, I didn’t go home. Brooke called me over a dozen times, but I didn’t answer. Finally, she sent a text: “Alex, let’s talk. This isn’t as serious as you think.” Not as serious as I think? My wife cheating on me with my best friend isn’t serious? What *is* serious then? I texted back eight words: “Nothing to discuss. Prepare for divorce.” She immediately called. I hung up. She called again. I hung up again. Finally, I blocked her on SnapChat. The next morning, Brooke was waiting for me outside the office building. She had on a pristine full face of makeup and the Chanel coat I’d bought her. She looked truly miserable. “Alex, why aren’t you answering my calls?” “We’re married. Can’t we just talk things out?” Passersby and our coworkers were all staring. I didn’t want to make a spectacle right outside the office. “Follow me.” I led her to a nearby coffee shop. “Alright, what do you want to talk about?” “Alex, what happened yesterday was an accident.” Brooke reached for my hand. “Ryan had too much to drink, and so did I. We weren’t thinking clearly.” “It was a mistake, a moment of weakness. Don’t take it seriously.” I pulled my hand away. “A moment of weakness? A year-long moment of weakness?” She froze. “How… how did you know?” “Do you think I’m stupid, Brooke?” I looked at her. “Brooke, we’ve been married for three years, and you’ve been cheating for over a year.” “That means our *actual* marriage lasted less than two years.” “And in those less than two years, you never loved me anyway.” She tried to argue, but her mouth opened and closed, and nothing came out. Because I was speaking the truth. Our marriage was a mistake from the start. She pursued me in college, and I thought she liked me. After graduation, she wanted to get married, and I thought she loved me. But now I understood. All she wanted was a man who could provide a stable life. A man who was reliable, decent, and easy to control. And Ryan, he offered her passion and romance. Things I apparently couldn’t provide. “Alex, I admit I made a mistake.” “But we can still start over.” “I’ll change. I’ll cut off all contact with Ryan.” “We can live happily. We can just pretend nothing happened.” I laughed. Just pretend nothing happened? What does she think I am? A doormat? Her personal garbage disposal? To be thrown out and picked up whenever she pleased? “Brooke, do you really think that’s possible?” “Every night, I’ll lie in bed, wondering what you and he did on that bed.” “Every time I see you, I’ll remember that night’s scene.” “Do you really think I can live a normal life with you anymore?” Her face grew paler and paler. “So, what do you want?” “A divorce.” I said it so casually, as if discussing what to have for dinner. “We’ll sell the house, split the money evenly.” “Everything else will be divided too.” “From now on, we’ll be strangers.” Brooke jumped to her feet. “Alex Greene, don’t go too far!” “You bought the house, yes, but I’ve contributed for three years too!” “I did the laundry, cooked, cleaned the house – doesn’t that count for anything?” “And who do you think you’ll find better than me? Without me?” “Look at yourself, what else can you do besides make money?” “Boring, bland, emotionless. What woman would ever truly want you?” Her words were like daggers, piercing my heart. But I didn’t argue. Because she was right. I was boring, bland, and emotionless. That’s why she cheated. That’s why my best friend betrayed me. That’s why I felt like a joke. “You’re right.” I stood up. “Precisely because I’m like this, you should be relieved.” “Leaving me is your escape.” “You can go find those ‘interesting’ men, like Ryan.” “He’ll be leaving the company soon. You two can finally be together, happily ever after.” With that, I turned and walked out. “Alex!” She screamed my name from behind me. I didn’t look back. I knew what she wanted to say. Threats, pleas, or more insults. But it was all useless. My heart felt dead. Dead to her, dead to this marriage, dead to this so-called love. — PAYWALL —

Three days later, Mr. Davis called me. “Mr. Greene, the investigation results are in.” “However, this situation is quite complex. I recommend you come in.” I put down my work and went straight to the detective agency. Mr. Davis handed me a thick file. “Mr. Greene, are you prepared for what’s inside?” I nodded, opening the file. Inside was a thick stack of photos and documents. The first photo made me freeze. It was Brooke and Ryan at a hotel entrance, dated a year and a half ago. Which meant their relationship started even earlier than Ryan had admitted. I continued to flip through. Photos from every angle, every location, every time of day. Hotels, restaurants, cinemas, parks. They were dating, dining, watching movies like a normal couple. And me? I was at home, waiting for her, making her late-night snacks. “Mr. Greene, according to our investigation, your wife and Mr. Ryan’s relationship has indeed been ongoing for about a year and a half.” Mr. Davis pointed to the photos. “And judging by the frequency, they met more than three times a week.” “Sometimes during lunchtime on weekdays, sometimes in the evenings.” “Your wife often used working late as an excuse to meet him.” More than three times a week. That meant she spent more time with him than she did with me. I kept flipping through the photos. Suddenly, I saw a picture that filled me with absolute fury. It was taken the day after our wedding anniversary. I remembered I’d worked late that night, and Brooke said she was meeting up with girlfriends. But in the photo, she and Ryan were embracing and kissing at our favorite restaurant. She was wearing the necklace I’d given her, the dress I’d bought her. Using *my* money to go on dates with another man. “This isn’t even the worst of it.” Mr. Davis flipped to another page. “Look at this.” It was a stack of hotel receipts. Starting from a year and a half ago, there was one almost every month. The room fees were all paid with Brooke’s credit card. My secondary card, to be exact. Which meant she was using *my* money to book hotel rooms with another man. My hands started to tremble. Not from rage, but from a terrifying calmness after reaching the peak of fury. “Is there anything worse?” My voice sounded unnervingly steady. Mr. Davis hesitated. “There’s one more thing that might be a significant blow.” “Tell me.” “Based on our surveillance, your wife and Mr. Ryan have been looking at houses.” “More specifically, they were looking at houses… for their wedding.” I froze. “What do you mean?” “They plan to get married and are preparing a new home.” Mr. Davis handed me another document. “These are their house viewing records, and the real estate agent’s SnapChat messages.” “Your wife told the agent she would be divorcing soon and needed a new house for her wedding.” I read through the SnapChat messages. Brooke wrote that her husband was a boring man, incapable of anything but making money. She’d been waiting for the right moment to divorce. Now she’d finally found true love and was ready to start a new life. The agent even wished her happiness. “And this.” Mr. Davis handed me another printout. It was a screenshot of Brooke’s SnapChat conversation with her best friend. “‘I’m sick of Alex. All he cares about is work and money, no romance whatsoever. Ryan’s different; he knows how to enjoy life, how to treat a woman right. Now, every day I just look forward to seeing him. Being with Alex feels like visiting a graveyard.’ And then: ‘Once I get half the house and the savings, I’m telling Alex everything. He’s such an honest fool, he’ll definitely split everything with me.’” Reading that, I finally understood. This wasn’t just an affair; it was a conspiracy. She wanted to take our shared assets and start a new life with Ryan. And I? I was just a tool in her plan. A cash cow, a temporary placeholder. Once she’d squeezed all the value out of me, she’d kick me to the curb. “Mr. Greene, are you alright?” Mr. Davis asked, concerned. I shook my head. “I’m fine. I’m *great*.” I gathered all the documents and put them back in the file. “Mr. Davis, can these documents be used as evidence in court?” “Yes, they can. We have a professional notarization process.” “Then please arrange that.” I stood up. “Also, I have another request.” “Go ahead.” “Please investigate Ryan’s background, including his financial status, personal debts, and any professional misconduct.” “I want all the dirt on him.” Mr. Davis nodded. “Understood. That should take about a week.” After leaving the detective agency, I didn’t go straight back to the office. Instead, I went to a law firm. “Mr. Greene, based on the evidence you’ve provided, you have a significant advantage in this divorce case.” The lawyer said after reviewing the documents. “However, I advise you not to confront her immediately.” “First, secure your assets to prevent her from transferring them.” “Then, officially file for divorce.” I nodded. “Please help me with that.” “I want her to leave with absolutely nothing.” The lawyer paused. “Mr. Greene, according to family law, even in cases of infidelity, asset division won’t be drastically different…” “She used my money to book hotel rooms with another man. Does that count as misappropriation of marital assets?” I cut him off. “Furthermore, she was planning to transfer assets, and I have evidence of that.” The lawyer reviewed the documents again. “In that case, you can definitely secure more of your rights.” “I will devise a detailed strategy for you.” It was already afternoon when I returned to the office. Ryan saw me and immediately walked over. “Alex, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you all morning.” “Personal business.” I sat down and resumed my work. “Alex, about Brooke…” “I said, personal business.” I didn’t look up. “Also, you’ll be responsible for the project report next week.” “Huh? I thought we agreed you’d do it?” “Plans change.” I looked at him. “Your performance hasn’t been great lately. This will be good experience for you.” Ryan’s face clouded over. The project report was a thankless task, requiring extensive preparation and carrying significant responsibility. If anything went wrong, it would be his fault. “Alex, are you doing this on purpose?” He asked in a low voice. I stopped typing and looked at him. “Ryan, are you questioning my professional judgment?” “No, I just feel…” “Feel what? That because we’re friends, I should go easy on you?” I stood up, raising my voice slightly. Coworkers around us looked over. “Ryan, I’m going to say this again: in this company, I am your direct superior.” “You are simply to execute orders. You don’t have the right to negotiate.” “If you have an issue, you can complain to upper management.” Ryan’s face flushed crimson. He wanted to say something, but ultimately just nodded. “I understand, Mr. Greene.” Watching him fume, I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. This was just the beginning. I was going to make them understand the cost of betraying me. And there would be more.

That weekend, I didn’t go home. Brooke had sent me countless messages, from apologies to pleas to threats. I didn’t reply to a single one. I stayed in my hotel room, organizing the information I’d gathered. The detective’s report, the lawyer’s litigation plan, and some insights I’d discovered myself. Brooke didn’t know it, but I knew far more about her and Ryan than they could ever imagine. For example, Ryan actually had another girlfriend, working in another city. They’d been dating for three years, and her family was pressing them to get married. But Ryan kept stalling, saying he was too busy with work. It was all because of Brooke. He was stringing two women along, enjoying Brooke’s company while maintaining his relationship with his girlfriend. A classic scumbag move. Another example: Ryan had recently lost a lot of money on the stock market. He’d secretly been taking cash advances on his credit cards to play the market and was now heavily in debt. His monthly salary wasn’t even enough to cover his credit card payments. He’d been frequently asking Brooke for money, claiming it was for investment projects. But Brooke didn’t know that the money she gave him was just going to fill the holes in his stock market losses. Also, Ryan actually had a terrible reputation at work. He often shirked responsibility, blaming others when problems arose. There were several times when projects went wrong, and I was the one who bailed him out. Coworkers were polite to him on the surface, but secretly, they all looked down on him. All this information, I’d observed and accumulated over the years. Before, I considered him a friend, so I tolerated it. Now, all of it became my weapon. My phone rang. It was Brooke. I hesitated for a moment, then answered. “Alex, you finally answered!” Her voice was choked with sobs. “Where have you been these past few days? I’ve been so worried about you.” “Worried about me?” I sneered. “Worried I’d die and you wouldn’t get your share of the assets?” “Alex, how can you say that to me?” “I genuinely care about you.” “I’ve been reflecting these past few days. I know I made a mistake.” “I’m willing to change. Can we please start over?” Her acting was still so good. If I hadn’t seen those SnapChat messages, I might have actually fallen for it. But now, I just felt sick to my stomach. “Brooke, do you really think we still have a chance?” “Of course, we do! We’re married. What challenge can’t we overcome?” “I’ve already made things clear with Ryan. We won’t see each other again.” “I’ll delete his contacts, change jobs, move – whatever you ask.” “Just please forgive me.” She spoke tearfully, and if I hadn’t seen the evidence with my own eyes, I really would have been moved. But now, I just felt nauseated. “Alright, I’ll give you a chance.” I intentionally softened my tone. “Really? Alex, I knew you loved me most!” “But I have a condition.” “What condition? Tell me, I’ll do anything.” “I want to see all your SnapChat messages with Ryan from the past year and a half.” The other end of the line went silent. “And all your hotel receipts, date photos, everything.” “If you truly want to start over, there should be no secrets.” “Alex, this…” “What? Can’t do it?” “It’s not that I can’t, it’s just that I don’t think it’s necessary…” “Then there’s nothing more to discuss.” I was about to hang up. “Wait!” She quickly called out to me. “I can show you, but you can’t get angry when you see them.” “I won’t get angry.” My voice was as calm as still water. “I just want the truth.” “Okay, I’ll come home tonight. We can talk things through properly.” I hung up the phone and sneered. Brooke thought she could still manipulate my emotions. She didn’t know that I was completely over her. Tonight, she would show me some “carefully selected” SnapChat messages. Deleting the most vicious ones, keeping some that looked “harmless.” Then she’d cry and say she was just misled by Ryan, and now she realizes her mistake. A classic cheater’s playbook. Too bad I’d already seen the full version. At 8 PM, I returned home. Brooke had cooked a table full of food, waiting for me. All my favorite dishes, the aroma filling the air. She was wearing loungewear, with light makeup, looking gentle and virtuous. In the past, I would have been touched by such warmth. Now, I just wanted to end this charade quickly. “Alex, you’re back.” She came forward, trying to hug me. I sidestepped her. “The documents?” Her smile faltered slightly. “Let’s eat first. The food’s getting cold.” “I’m not hungry. The documents?” I sat directly on the sofa. Brooke bit her lip, then pulled out her phone from her bag. “Alex, let me just say, these messages might make you uncomfortable…” “Hand it over.” I held out my hand. She handed me the phone, her voice trembling: “Don’t get too upset when you read them. A lot of those were just said in anger…” I took the phone and started scrolling through the messages. As expected, they had been filtered. All the vicious remarks were gone, leaving only phrases like “I’m so conflicted,” or “I feel terrible about Alex.” It made it seem like she was truly suffering from guilt and remorse over the affair. “That’s all?” I handed the phone back to her. “Yes, that’s all.” She watched my expression nervously. “Alex, you see? Even though I made a mistake, you’ve always been in my heart…” “Brooke.” I cut her off. “Do you really think I’m that easy to fool?” She froze. “What do you mean?” I pulled out my phone and displayed the SnapChat screenshots Mr. Davis had sent me. “Look at this.” The moment she saw the screenshot, her face went instantly white. It was the full, unedited SnapChat conversation between her and her best friend. Including the line where she said being with me felt “like visiting a graveyard.” “Alex, this… where did this come from?” “It doesn’t matter.” I put my phone away. “What matters is that you’re still lying to me, even now.” “I gave you a chance to be honest, and you chose to continue deceiving me.” “Alex, I can explain…” “No need to explain.” I stood up. “Brooke, we’re getting a divorce.” “Tomorrow, I’ll have my lawyer draw up the agreement.” “I want the house, I want the car, and I want the savings.” “You’ll leave with absolutely nothing.” Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Alex, have you gone crazy?” “Why should I leave with nothing?” “Because you cheated, and because you used our marital assets to book hotel rooms with another man.” I pulled out the hotel receipts. “These are all evidence, more than enough to make you lose in court.” Brooke stared at the records, her body beginning to tremble. “Alex, we were married. You can’t do this to me…” “Married?” I sneered. “Do spouses betray each other? Do spouses deceive each other?” “Brooke, you stopped treating me like a husband a long time ago.” “And now you’re remembering we were married?” She suddenly threw herself at my feet, clutching my legs. “Alex, I was wrong, I was truly wrong!” “Please give me another chance. I promise I’ll change!” “I’ll cut off all contact with Ryan, I’ll never see him again!” Watching her tear-streaked face, my heart remained utterly unmoved. How many times had she cried those same tears for Ryan? “Brooke, do you know what ‘too late’ means?” I crouched down, looking into her eyes. “It means it’s over.” “You missed your chance to be honest, and you missed your chance to apologize.” “Now, you don’t even have a chance to beg for mercy.” I stood up, dusting off my pants. “Think about it carefully. Either an amicable divorce agreement, or we’ll see each other in court.” “I’ll give you three days.” With that, I turned and walked out. “Alex Greene!” She screamed my name, utterly broken. “You heartless man!” “I gave you three years of my youth, and this is how you treat me?” “You’ll regret this! You definitely will!” I walked out of the house without looking back. Regret? My only regret was not seeing her true colors sooner.

Monday morning, my mood was surprisingly good. My colleagues sensed the change and asked if I had good news. I just smiled and didn’t explain. Ryan, on the other hand, looked preoccupied, stealing glances at me from time to time. Brooke must have told him about the divorce. At 10 AM, Ryan walked to my desk. “Alex, can we step out and talk?” “During work hours, if you have something to say, say it here.” I didn’t look up. “It’s… not very convenient.” He glanced at the surrounding colleagues. “Then there’s nothing to discuss.” I continued typing. “Alex!” He grew agitated, his voice rising. Everyone in the office looked over. “What is it, Ryan?” I looked up, feigning innocence. “Is there a problem?” He wanted to say something, but seeing so many eyes on him, he swallowed his words. “No… nothing.” “Then go back to work.” I lowered my head again. “Oh, and the project report I assigned you last week is due tomorrow.” “How’s it coming along?” Ryan’s face instantly went white. He’d been so wrapped up in Brooke’s affairs these past few days that he hadn’t focused on work at all. Not a single word of the project report was prepared. “I… I’m still organizing it…” “Oh, well, better get on it.” I checked my watch. “You have twenty-four hours. That should be enough time.” Ryan gritted his teeth and returned to his desk. I knew he hated me, but he didn’t dare act on it. At the company, I was his direct superior. Plus, he was guilty and didn’t want to escalate the situation. At lunch, Ryan followed me again. “Alex, please, let’s find somewhere to talk.” His voice was pleading. I looked at him, then nodded. “Fine. Conference room.” There were only two of us in the conference room. Ryan closed the door and turned to face me. “Alex, Brooke told me everything.” “Told you what?” “About the divorce.” He took a deep breath. “I know you hate me, but please don’t make things difficult for Brooke.” “She’s innocent. It’s all my fault.” I almost burst out laughing. Now he wanted to protect Brooke? “Ryan, do you really think you’re a knight in shining armor?” “No, I’m not. I just don’t want to see Brooke get hurt.” “Then why didn’t you think about hurting her family when you cheated?” I looked at him. “Or did you just assume I didn’t deserve consideration?” He froze, opening his mouth to speak but failing. “Let me tell you, what happens between me and Brooke has nothing to do with you.” I stood up. “You should be more concerned about yourself right now.” “Myself?” “Yes, yourself.” I looked at him, my eyes devoid of emotion. “Ryan, do you think betraying me comes without a price?” His expression changed. “Alex, what are you going to do?” “You’ll find out soon enough.” I patted his shoulder. “Oh, and don’t forget tomorrow’s report.” “Mess it up, and your quarterly performance bonus is gone.” With that, I pushed the door open, leaving Ryan alone in the conference room. At 3 PM, I received a call from my lawyer. “Mr. Greene, the asset protection measures are in place.” “All accounts under your wife’s name have been frozen.” “Additionally, a mortgage has been registered on the property deed, preventing her from disposing of it privately.” These were measures to prevent Brooke from transferring assets. Though aggressive, they were highly effective. “She should have received the notification by now,” the lawyer continued. “I expect she’ll contact you very soon.” Indeed, less than half an hour later, Brooke called. “Alex Greene, what the hell are you trying to do?” Her voice was furious. “Why did you freeze my accounts? Why can’t I withdraw any money?” “Because half of that money is mine.” I said calmly. “You have no right to dispose of marital assets before the divorce agreement is signed.” “You’re insane! How am I supposed to live?” “That’s not my problem.” “Alex Greene! You’re going too far!” “I’m going too far?” I sneered. “Brooke, when you were using my money to book hotel rooms with another man, did you think that was ‘too far’?” “When you were planning to take half my assets and marry someone else, did you think that was ‘too far’?” The other end of the line went silent. “I… I wasn’t planning to marry anyone else…” “No? Then what about that condo in [upscale neighborhood] you and Ryan were looking at?” She was utterly speechless. “Brooke, you still have two days left of the three-day deadline I gave you.” “Let me know your decision.” I hung up. My phone immediately rang again. It was Ryan. “Alex, listen to me…” I hung up directly. He called again, and I hung up again. Finally, I turned off my phone. The next morning, Ryan, as expected, hadn’t prepared the project report. “Ryan, where are the documents?” I asked him in the conference room. “I’m sorry, Mr. Greene, I… I was last night…” “Last night what?” “I… I wasn’t feeling well…” “So, being ‘unwell’ means you’re exempt from your responsibilities?” I looked at the other colleagues present. “Colleagues, do you think feeling unwell is an excuse for not completing your work?” Everyone shook their heads. In this situation, no one would stand up for Ryan. “Ryan, as a core member of this project team, you failed to complete the report on time.” “This will affect the entire project’s progress.” “I am officially issuing you a warning.” “Any similar occurrences will result in further disciplinary action.” Ryan’s face flushed crimson, but he didn’t dare argue. Because I was speaking the truth. He simply hadn’t done his job. After the meeting, Ryan followed me. “Alex, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” “Doing what on purpose?” “You’re deliberately messing with me! Because of Brooke!” I stopped and looked at him. “Ryan, are you suffering from delusions of persecution?” “What do you mean, I’m deliberately messing with you?” “The report was assigned a week ago. This is normal work procedure.” “You failed to complete it, and I’m giving you a warning. This is normal management procedure.” “Where exactly is the problem?” He tried to argue, but couldn’t find a reason. Because procedurally, I had done nothing wrong. “Also, from now on, do not discuss personal matters in the office.” I continued. “This is a workplace, not your private chat room.” “If it happens again, I’ll consider reassigning your duties.” With that, I turned and walked away. Ryan stood rooted to the spot, his fists clenched at his sides. But he didn’t dare act on his anger. Because he was guilty, and he knew it. More importantly, he was now a fish on a chopping block, completely at my mercy. In the afternoon, Brooke called me again. “Alex, let’s meet.” Her voice sounded utterly drained. “I’ve thought it through. I agree to the divorce settlement.” “Good. Tomorrow at 3 PM, at the lawyer’s office.” “No, Alex, I mean…” “Mean what?” “I agree to the divorce, but the asset division…” “Fifty-fifty.” I cut her off. “Brooke, you have no room for negotiation.” “Either accept, or we’ll see each other in court.” “But…” “No buts.” I hung up. Ten minutes later, Ryan stormed to my office desk. “Alex Greene, you can’t do this to Brooke!” The office instantly fell silent. Everyone stared at us. I slowly looked up at him. “Ryan, I warned you not to discuss personal matters in the office.” “I don’t care what’s private or not private! You’re just getting revenge!” His voice was loud enough for the entire floor to hear. “You’re abusing your power to get back at me, and you’re making Brooke leave with nothing!” “What’s the point of this?” People in the office started whispering. Though they didn’t know the exact details, they all guessed the general situation. I stood up, my voice calm: “Ryan, you are shouting loudly in the workplace, disrupting your colleagues’ work.” “You are suspended, effective immediately.” “What?” “Pack your things immediately and leave the company.” “Await further notice from HR.” Ryan froze. He hadn’t expected me to suspend him outright. “Alex Greene, you can’t do this!” “I can. Because I am your direct superior.” I looked at him. “And your behavior just now constitutes serious misconduct.” “Security!” I called out to the door. Two security guards walked in. “Please escort this gentleman out.” Ryan looked at me, his eyes filled with rage and resentment. But in the end, he could only slunk out of the company, humiliated, under the gaze of everyone. Watching him walk away, I felt no guilt whatsoever. This was the price of betraying me. And this was just the beginning.

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I was in a car accident and ended up in the hospital. Suddenly, I had an urge to tease my boyfriend. “Who are you?” I asked, watching Lucas’s face freeze. I was about to laugh when Lucas suddenly pointed to his best friend Quinn and said, “I’m your boyfriend’s friend. He’s your boyfriend, Quinn.” My expression stiffened. But Quinn stepped forward and said, “That’s right, I’m your boyfriend.” I forced a smile and said, “Then take me home.” Quinn took me back to his place. He said I’d always lived there. Looking around at a place devoid of any traces of my life, I nodded along, playing blind just like him. I slept in his bed for a while, then wanted to get some water. As I was about to leave the room, I overheard a conversation from the living room. “Quinn, do me a solid and pretend to be Lily’s boyfriend for a while.” “Aren’t you worried she might suddenly regain her memory?” “If she does and gets angry, I’ll just smooth things over. She loves me so much, she wouldn’t really leave me anyway. It’s just that things have gotten a bit stale between us lately. This is a good chance to take a breather and have some fun on the side.” “Looks like you and Charlotte have really hit it off, huh? You just want to play around with her for a bit?” “You know me too well. But of course I love Lily more. While Lily’s with you, don’t you dare touch her. Though among my bros, I trust you the most. You seem to really dislike Lily anyway.” I stepped back barefoot, then made some noise at the door before walking towards the living room. Quinn quickly hung up and came over when he heard the sound. “The floor’s cold. Why aren’t you wearing slippers?” Quinn hurried over and scooped me up, placing me on the sofa. “I’m thirsty,” I said, unsure where to find water. “I’ll get it for you.” Quinn went to the water dispenser and poured me a glass. He sat beside me and asked, “Anywhere else feeling uncomfortable?” I shook my head after drinking the water. He reached out to smooth my messy hair, leaning in to kiss my forehead. I froze, remembering I’d just heard Lucas tell him not to touch me. I also thought Quinn disliked me. But now… When he kissed my lips, I turned away. He casually stroked my face, “You don’t remember. We’ll take it slow, let you get used to me again.” It seemed this Quinn guy was deceiving his own friend too.

When Quinn brought me to the private room, it was already lively inside. A group of rich heirs fell silent when they saw me arrive, looking towards Lucas in unison. “Oh, Lily’s here! Do you remember me? I’m Charlotte, your college roommate!” the girl sitting next to Lucas greeted me. Quinn led me to sit down. I looked at her and shook my head, “I’m sorry.” “That’s alright, we can all get to know each other again,” Charlotte said, intimately leaning on Lucas’s shoulder. This former college roommate turned friend seemed to be flaunting her closeness to Lucas now that she thought I had amnesia, barely concealing her smugness. Lucas also appeared to relish being intimate with another woman in front of me, as if getting a special thrill from it. “How nice that both you best friends’ boyfriends are in this circle!” “You can all hang out together often, memory loss or not.” The other friends all understood the situation but tacitly agreed not to say anything, seemingly taking perverse pleasure in watching an oblivious person being publicly betrayed. They continued playing games. Lucas and Charlotte were eating the same cookie, their mouths getting closer with each bite. “Kiss! Kiss!” everyone started chanting. In the charged atmosphere, Lucas and Charlotte shared a deep kiss. Afterwards, Charlotte shyly nestled in Lucas’s arms, sneaking a smug glance at me. Lucas held Charlotte contentedly. Then I lost a game and had to take a penalty – kissing someone for 30 seconds. Everyone fell silent, curious who I would choose. Surely I wouldn’t instinctively pick Lucas? Lucas seemed nervous, avoiding eye contact. He apparently didn’t want me to have an instinctive reaction so soon. Quinn beside me also tensed up. I smiled and said, “Of course I’ll pick my boyfriend.”

I said this as I turned to Quinn, “Shall we?” I clearly felt Quinn relax. He looked at me steadily and leaned in. I took the initiative to wrap my arms around his neck and kissed him. “Woah,” came a chorus of surprised sounds. These people may have seen Lucas embrace other women and kiss them, but they certainly never expected to see me do this with another man. So they let out surprised “woahs”, but then suddenly fell silent. Quinn seemed to kiss without restraint, pursuing aggressively. His tongue swept through my mouth, chasing and entangling with mine. His arm around my waist tightened, as if wanting to swallow me whole. After 30 seconds, I pulled away to see Lucas’s face dark with anger. That’s why everyone had suddenly gone quiet. How laughable. Quinn gently wiped away a bit of moisture at the corner of my mouth. “What’s wrong with everyone? Didn’t I just take my penalty?” I asked, feigning confusion at the strange atmosphere. “Lily may have amnesia but she’s certainly not shy with her boyfriend,” Charlotte’s words dripped with sarcasm at my apparent stupidity. Lucas looked even more displeased. I went to the restroom outside, but overheard voices coming from the stairwell. “Quinn, I told you not to touch her. That was out of line just now.” Lucas’s voice was cold. “It was just a game. She has amnesia – did you expect her to choose you, who has a woman by his side? That wouldn’t make sense. I’m the boyfriend you personally chose for her now.” Quinn’s tone was light. Lucas fell silent, then said, “Fine, just be careful. I don’t believe you’d actually be into Lily and sleep with her, but try to avoid intimate contact if you can. It must be hard for you to tolerate too, right? I feel bad putting you in this position.” “Hmph, you know me well,” Quinn replied.

Back at Quinn’s villa. He grabbed my arm as I was about to enter my room. Without a word, he lowered his head and kissed me. “Mmph-” I tried to turn away, but he held me firmly. He pressed me against him forcefully, gripping my chin as he kissed me aggressively, not allowing any rejection. It was so intense I could barely breathe. After a long while, he finally pulled back and stroked my face, saying softly, “We made progress today, didn’t we? We can gradually get more familiar.” I looked up at him, dazed. His actions seemed completely contrary to what his friend had said. I didn’t understand him. Lucas and I came from very different backgrounds. He had worked hard to get me to accept him step by step. Later, I met some of his friends, a group of rich heirs, especially Quinn. It was common knowledge in their circle that Quinn disliked me and looked down on me. He always had a somewhat contemptuous attitude towards my relationship with Lucas. I used to avoid him whenever possible. But after I “lost my memory” and Lucas forcibly paired me up with him as a couple. He kept taking advantage to do things like this. Was it to get revenge on Lucas for pairing us up? … My job as a designer was quite flexible, so I often worked from home. Quinn knocked and came in, “You’ve been working hard. There are fireworks tonight, let’s go watch.” We rushed to the lakeside where the fireworks were being set off. Lucas and Charlotte were standing in the best spot, watching the grand fireworks display. Charlotte leaned against Lucas, suddenly jumping up happily to plant a kiss on his cheek, looking so adorable. Lucas smiled at her, tapping her nose playfully. He turned and saw us. Lucas stiffened for a moment when he saw me, then quickly pretended nothing had happened. Charlotte also noticed us, “Oh, you guys are here!” “Lily, perfect timing! Can you take some photos of me and Lucas?” Charlotte called out, handing me her phone. Lucas’s expression faltered as he glanced at me. “I’m so happy today. Lucas set off these fireworks just for me. I want to capture this moment forever,” Charlotte said, gazing at Lucas lovingly as she went to his side. Lucas’s expression softened as he put his arm around her. My hand holding Charlotte’s phone froze. So Lucas had organized this grand fireworks show for Charlotte.

I looked through the viewfinder at their embracing figures. Lucas held Charlotte tenderly, while she leaned against his chest with a blissful, contented smile. The magnificent fireworks in the background created such a romantic scene. I silently took their photos. Lucas had once set off fireworks across the entire lake for my birthday too. Charlotte had volunteered to take photos for us then. I was probably just as happy and blissful as Charlotte was now. Back then, Charlotte had said wistfully, “I’m so envious of you two. I hope I’ll find someone who treats me that well someday.” I had reassured her that she would. Now, it seemed she really had. Quinn took the phone from my hand, “That’s enough. You’re not here just to be their personal photographer.” He tossed the phone back. Lucas caught it and handed it to Charlotte. … After the fireworks show, Charlotte and I went to the restroom. It was too crowded, so I decided not to go after all. But on the way back, I overheard the two men waiting for us talking again. “You and Charlotte seem to be having a great time. When’s the last time you and Lily were this happy?” Quinn was saying. “It’s true, being with Charlotte lately feels like rediscovering what I once had with Lily. Charlotte is even sweeter and more attentive than Lily. She makes me feel comfortable and happy,” Lucas replied. “Then why not just let things be? Charlotte does seem more your type. Lily can be quite stubborn sometimes, causing you a lot of frustration, right?” Quinn said. “Quinn, Lily and I have years of history. It’s not something I can just end on a whim.” “Charlotte says she’s not expecting anything long-term. She’d be content just enjoying our time together while it lasts. Such a silly girl,” Lucas sighed. “Hmph.”

Back at the villa, Quinn suddenly embraced me and kissed me. Then he pulled back slightly to look at me seriously, “Lily, you know what? You’re the best version of yourself. You don’t need to compare yourself to anyone.” I stared at him in shock. It was as if he was responding to Lucas comparing me to Charlotte. How… how did he understand me so well? He knew all my little habits that Lucas had forgotten, my favorite candies, favorite foods, favorite movies… He was pushing things further than before. I didn’t object. He looked at me in surprise, then swept me up in his arms and carried me into his room. Lucas had been my only man. When he first pursued me, I was full of distrust. But his sincerity and determination, his attitude towards my grandmother and the help he gave her in private, moved me. Later, when his parents disapproved and cut off his finances, I thought that would be when he realized our differences. But he didn’t give in. Instead, he worked part-time jobs with me while we attended classes. In the end, his parents relented out of concern for him. That’s when I truly started a relationship with him. When my only grandmother passed away, he held me close and said I still had him. He said he would always be by my side. A relationship that was once so deep had now completely changed. If that’s how it is, then I’ll learn to love a new man.

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After my best friend and I died, we both simultaneously reincarnated as the unborn fetuses in my mother-in-law Eleanor’s womb. At that moment, the original fetus in her belly had already stopped beating due to a fall. Just as Mom was heartbroken and about to undergo an induced abortion, my best friend and I quickly intervened. 【No, Mom! If you have an abortion now, you’ll just be handing an opportunity to your husband’s old flame’s daughter!】 【Exactly! Don’t you dare go through with it! We’re both alive and well in here!】 Mom, who was just about to sign the consent form, froze. I quickly wiggled inside her belly, revealing a secret only we knew. 【It’s me, Mom! Your daughter-in-law! You organized my funeral with your own hands, and secretly sent me so many gifts to take to the afterlife, remember?】 【To come back, we gave away everything we had in the afterlife! We’re still racking up spiritual debt for this!】 My best friend and I spoke one after another, terrified Mom would agree to the abortion. Mom, however, was stunned. She looked down at her belly, forcing a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. “I must be grief-stricken to the point of hearing things.” With that, she reached for the pen again. Panicked, I flipped over in her belly, making sure she felt a distinct kick. 【No, Mom! It really is me! I’m back to help you!】 【Yeah, yeah! If you die now, we’ll have to go back to suffering in the afterlife!】 Mom gasped, her mouth open, and whispered. “Is it really you? Sophia?” I nodded furiously inside her belly, forgetting she couldn’t see me. My best friend groaned at my clumsiness and quickly chimed in. 【And me, her best friend! You absolutely cannot go through with the abortion now, or you’ll just be handing everything over to your husband’s first love’s daughter on a silver platter!】 Seeing that Mom still didn’t understand, my best friend and I began to explain the whole story, back and forth. My death was orchestrated by Alex, all so he could be with his first love, Jessica. And my best friend… she was just an innocent casualty. Jessica wasn’t just Alex’s first love, the one he could never let go of. She was also the daughter of the woman my father-in-law, Richard, was completely obsessed with when he was younger! Richard and Alex not only knew about this, but they also planned for Mom to never have another child, so they could eventually bring Jessica into the family as their own, as if she were a daughter! By then, Mom would not only lose her fertility forever, but she’d also be unknowingly raising the child of her husband’s old flame! Mom listened to us, her face paling, and abruptly stood up: “So, all these years, Richard kept finding excuses to go abroad—it was all to see *that woman*!?” I clenched my tiny fists, responding furiously. 【Yes! He took Alex with him! They’ve been scheming against us for ages!】 【Mom, I spent a fortune in the afterlife to get us some serious powers, and I even managed to make us boys! We *have* to make those two despicable men pay for what they did!】 My best friend was seething with indignation. 【Not only that, Mom. You thought you just lost your footing and fell, right? No, they deliberately poured water there, setting a trap for you!】 Mom was absolutely livid, and my best friend and I immediately felt uncomfortable, quickly reassuring her. 【Mom, don’t get too angry too fast. You need to steady yourself first. That’s how we’ll get our revenge.】 After I finished, my best friend suddenly remembered something important and quickly spoke up. 【But before all that, could you please go and say some prayers for me? The afterlife… it’s expensive, Mom.】 Hearing us, Mom waved off the nurse and turned to leave.

She bought a large bouquet of fresh flowers and candles, then drove to a suburban cemetery. As she paid her respects, she couldn’t help but feel a wave of sadness: “To think you’re still worrying about survival on the other side… it breaks my heart.” I interrupted her somber thoughts: 【Please don’t be sad, Mom. We have important things to do later.】 【Exactly! The most crucial thing now is to get justice for us, and help you reclaim everything that’s rightfully yours.】 Just then, an unpleasant voice came from behind us: “Aunt Eleanor, what are you doing here, mourning that short-lived person?” Jessica, arm in arm with Alex, her tone dripping with impatience. “The doctor said the baby couldn’t be saved and you need an abortion immediately. Running off like this just makes everyone worry.” Alex stood beside her, his face grim. “Mom, don’t make a scene. Come back to the hospital with us.” Inside Mom’s belly, I was absolutely fuming. 【Pfft! Worry? They’re probably worried we’re not dead *enough*! Those despicable bastards!】 My best friend was just as enraged, grumbling. 【Are you hearing this? Is that how a human being talks? Your own mother disappears, and instead of asking if she’s safe, you immediately blame her—this son truly doesn’t deserve the way you raised him!】 Mom’s body visibly stiffened. She stared at Alex, her voice trembling slightly. “Alex, don’t you have anything else to say to your mother?” Alex avoided her gaze, his tone hardening. “What’s the point of saying any of that now? Getting back to the hospital and taking care of business is what’s most important.” Jessica quickly jumped in. “That’s right, Aunt Eleanor. Facing the pain now is better than letting it drag on. You take care of yourself, and maybe you’ll have another chance later.” Her words sounded like comfort, but every single one was a knife stabbing at Mom’s heart. 【Bullshit! She’s practically cursing you to never have children again!】 I wished I could jump out right then and kick her. Mom took a deep breath, her chest heaving. My best friend and I could both feel her sadness. “Fine, I’ll go back with you.” Mom suddenly became calm, even forcing a smile. 【You’re really going?!】 My best friend sounded panicked. I, however, understood Mom’s meaning. 【Yes! Why not? Just wait and see how Mom slaps them both in the face!】 Mom ignored the two of them, turning and walking away. Alex and Jessica exchanged glances, probably thinking Mom had finally accepted her fate, and hurried to follow her. Back at the hospital, the atmosphere was oppressive. Jessica acted like the lady of the house, ordering nurses around one moment, then “comforting” Mom the next. “Aunt Eleanor, don’t force yourself. It is what it is. The baby being gone is God’s will; you need to accept it.” Alex sat nearby on the couch, head down, playing on his phone, only occasionally echoing Jessica’s sentiments. “Mom, Jessica’s right. Just listen to the doctors.” Mom’s eyes were closed; she didn’t say a word. 【Oh my god, I can’t take this anymore! Has Alex completely lost his damn mind? What kind of dark magic has Jessica put him under?!】 My best friend was restless beside me. 【Calm down, wait for it. Wait for the doctor.】 Even though I was furious, I knew we had to keep our composure. Just as I was thinking this, the door opened, and the doctor who had recommended the abortion walked in. “Mrs. Richard, have you made a decision? If you’re ready, we’ll schedule the procedure.” Jessica immediately cut in. “Doctor, Aunt Eleanor has made up her mind! She agrees to the surgery! Please schedule it now!” Mom opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Alex and Jessica. “Who said I agreed? I want another check-up.” Alex shot up from his seat. “Mom! What are you doing? No matter how many times you check, the result will be the same!” Jessica pouted. “Aren’t you just making things difficult for the doctor? The sooner it’s done, the sooner you can relax.” “I want a check-up.” Mom repeated, her eyes fixed. The doctor, probably used to dealing with all sorts of distraught family members, simply nodded and agreed. Once in the ultrasound room, Jessica’s mouth didn’t stop, every word dripping with sarcasm. Alex remained silent, tacitly approving all of Jessica’s words and actions. But after a while, the doctor’s expression changed. He stared at the screen, letting out an incredulous gasp. “This… how is this possible? The heartbeats have returned, and they’re incredibly strong!” Alex and Jessica, hearing the commotion, rushed over. “Doctor, what did you say?” Alex looked utterly bewildered. “Impossible! You said the heartbeats had stopped!” Jessica shrieked. The doctor ignored them completely, his full attention on the screen. “Not just that! Mrs. Richard is carrying twins! Both boys, and they’re developing perfectly!” “Twins?! And boys?!”

Grandpa had arrived. He must have heard the news and rushed over, his face a mix of shock and uncertainty. 【Well, well, if it isn’t the old jerk himself!】 Max sneered. Alex and Jessica’s faces instantly turned deathly pale. Especially Jessica, her expression was like she’d seen a ghost. Grandpa practically lunged at the ultrasound screen, his breathing ragged. “Doctor, are you absolutely sure? It’s really two boys?” “Absolutely! Mr. Richard, look, both heartbeats are strong and clear.” The doctor pointed to the screen, explaining. Grandpa looked at Mom, his eyes incredibly complex. After a long moment, as if making a sudden, firm decision, he spoke to Alex in a gravelly voice. “From today on, your mother needs complete rest. Don’t you dare disturb her without reason!” Alex and Jessica were unceremoniously escorted out of the room by Grandpa. As Jessica was being led out, she struggled. “Uncle Richard, we were just worried about Aunt Eleanor…” Mom gently stroked her belly, a smile playing on her lips, tinged with sadness. 【Mom, don’t be sad over that ungrateful idiot!】 I quickly wiggled my tiny hands and feet inside her belly. 【Exactly!】 Max immediately chimed in, 【Don’t get upset and hurt yourself, or those two jerks will just be happy!】 Mom took a deep breath. Right, now wasn’t the time for sadness. Grandpa was incredibly efficient. That same afternoon, Mom was transferred to the top-floor VIP suite. She was even assigned a dedicated nurse and nutritionist. Mom lay on the soft hospital bed, her face expressionless. 【Finally, a break.】 I stretched my tiny limbs inside Mom’s belly. 【This place is way more comfortable. You need to take it easy, Mom.】 【Seriously, I was so stressed out earlier, terrified you’d actually sign that paper.】 Max shivered, still a bit shaken. Mom’s hand rested gently on her belly, her eyes slowly firming with determination. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone manipulate me again.” The next few days were calm. Grandpa visited Mom’s belly daily, asking the doctors about our condition, ensuring his two grandsons were well. His attitude towards Mom also softened considerably; he even proactively suggested getting her a more comfortable car. Mom simply responded faintly. She knew this newfound kindness was entirely dependent on the children in her belly, and therefore, incredibly fragile.

Days turned into weeks. Max and I tried to be as well-behaved as possible inside, and the pregnancy proceeded surprisingly smoothly. During this time, Alex tried to visit a few times, but was always turned away with the excuse that Mom needed undisturbed rest. Grandpa remained noncommittal; his entire focus was on his soon-to-be-born sons. Jessica had also quieted down, no longer showing up in person, but her petty actions never stopped. For example, rumors mysteriously circulated around the hospital about Mom being a “high-risk, older mother” and that “the babies might not be healthy.” Or, Grandpa would occasionally receive anonymous calls, subtly implying that Mom was emotionally unstable and unfit to raise children. But none of it could shake Grandpa’s deeply ingrained preference for male heirs. The Richards had plenty of money; as long as it wasn’t a serious illness, they wouldn’t care. Mom didn’t even bother investigating who was behind the sabotage; she simply quietly instructed her staff to gather evidence. Finally, the day of delivery arrived. Mom’s labor was astonishingly smooth. In less than ten minutes, Max and I arrived, one after another. When the doctor came out to announce the good news, Grandpa was so excited he nearly cried tears of joy, shaking the doctor’s hand repeatedly in gratitude. Mom was wheeled back to her room, exhausted but her eyes bright. The nurse held us both. “Mr. Richard, look, the elder young master’s eyes and brows are just like yours, and the younger young master looks so clever.” Grandpa leaned in to look, a continuous smile on his face. He examined us carefully, his eyes full of warmth. I mustered all my tiny strength and beamed a smile at Grandpa. Grandpa was immediately filled with surprise and joy. “He smiled! He smiled at me! This child, he’s destined to be close to me!” Max was not to be outdone, waving his little hand at Grandpa. Max and I took turns charming the old man, and we scored a ton of cash from him. This left Alex and Jessica absolutely furious. That night, the nursery door was gently pushed open. A shadowy figure crept in stealthily, heading straight for my incubator. 【Oh no! It must be Jessica, coming to do something to us!】 【It’s okay, watch this.】 Max said, and immediately began to cry loudly. Not wanting to be left behind, I also started wailing. The next second, the lights in the room flashed on. Mom and Grandpa burst in together. The nurse, caught red-handed, froze in place, her face as white as a sheet. “What are you trying to do to my grandson?!” Grandpa’s voice was trembling. The nurse collapsed to her knees, stammering incoherently. “I wasn’t trying to do anything, I was just looking at the babies…” “Looking at the babies requires sneaking around in the middle of the night?” Mom immediately put on a distraught act, clutching Grandpa’s hand. “Richard! Someone is trying to harm us! If we hadn’t found out, what would have happened to our babies?!” Grandpa was absolutely furious and immediately summoned the hospital administration. Under intense pressure, the nurse quickly confessed that she’d been instructed to ‘take the babies and make it look like an accident.’ As for the person who instructed her, she only said she was contacted via anonymous calls, received money, and didn’t know their specific identity. But everyone knew exactly who it was. After this incident, Grandpa’s security measures were elevated to the highest level. He personally selected trustworthy nannies and bodyguards, brought Mom and us back to the family estate, and strictly limited Alex and Jessica’s visits. Jessica clearly sensed the change in circumstances and temporarily chose to remain silent. But only a few days later, Alex and Jessica arrived uninvited. Jessica’s face was pale, her eyes swollen red. The moment she walked in, she dropped to her knees before Grandpa, startling everyone

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The day of my dad’s birthday, I found the car charm I’d spent a week meticulously crafting tossed in the trash. I put away the car keys I was planning to give him and went to confront him, only to be met with a harsh slap across my face. “I raised you this big, and this is all you give me? You complain constantly that we favor your brother and give him all the money, but have you seen the pure gold bracelet Kevin gave me? You still have the nerve to freeload in our house!” “Get out! If you cause any more trouble, I swear I’ll disinherit you!” It was pouring rain, and I was kicked out of the house in my pajamas. I turned around and saw my dad post on SnapChat: “Raising a daughter is worse than raising a dog.” When I saw the gold bracelet on his wrist, I froze. Wasn’t that the same gold-plated bracelet I’d bought him when I got my new car? On my dad’s sixtieth birthday, I had an expensive gift ready for him early that day. I drove my newly purchased car downstairs, then went up with the car keys in hand. The moment I stepped through the door, I found they’d already finished eating. I paused, a flicker of annoyance crossing my face. “Mom, didn’t we agree you’d wait for me to celebrate since I’d be home late?” Before my mom could answer, my brother, Kevin, sneered from the side. “Who do you think you are? You come back empty-handed and still expect a meal?” We’d never gotten along, so I shot back immediately, “No matter what, I don’t constantly drain Mom and Dad’s pockets. Besides, who says I didn’t bring Dad a gift?” I started to pull out the car keys as I spoke. My dad’s car was a decade-old used Honda. It had no AC in winter and no ventilation in summer, but he’d never brought himself to replace it. I’d recently made a decent chunk of money from my business, so I meticulously picked out a brand-new SUV worth a good fifteen thousand dollars as his birthday gift. Before I could finish, Kevin scoffed. “You ungrateful brat. I bought Dad a gold bracelet this year. And you think *that* pathetic thing is a gift? I’ve never seen anyone so shameless.” “Dad thought it was trashy to hang in his car! He tossed it ages ago.” The specific color I wanted for the car wasn’t available at the local dealership; it needed a few more days to arrive. Afraid I’d miss the birthday, I had specially made a car charm in advance and gave it to Dad. My craftsmanship wasn’t perfect, and that charm took me a solid week to make, leaving several holes pricked in my fingers. Kevin’s words made me laugh, but it was a bitter, angry laugh. “Mom, Dad, did you hear what Kevin just said?” My gaze fell on Mom’s evasive eyes, and my expression hardened. “Dad, did you really throw away my gift?” A flicker of guilt crossed Dad’s face, then vanished as he bellowed at me. “Who taught you to talk to your father like that? Are you *questioning* me?” I ignored him, just staring him down. “Dad, I’m just asking you one thing: where’s the gift I gave you?”

Dad’s silence chilled me to the bone. I slammed the door, ready to leave, but Mom stopped me. She pulled me into the bedroom, trying to soothe me. “Lily, I accidentally threw that car charm away, thinking it was trash. Don’t blame your dad.” “Today’s your dad’s sixtieth birthday. Just for my sake, don’t make a fuss over something so small and spoil the day for him.” My heart ached with resentment, but looking at Mom’s tired, worn face, I softened. I reluctantly agreed not to make a scene about the car charm, but all my enthusiasm for giving him the car vanished. I felt listless, unwilling to speak. Mom went out to talk to Dad and Kevin, leaving me alone in the bedroom to calm down. My mind was racing, and I paced restlessly in the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a red corner peeking out from under the pillow. I pulled it out and found it was a property deed. But as far as I knew, we didn’t own any property. Ever since Dad’s business failed, our old house had been sold, and we’d been renting ever since. My heart hammered in my chest. I slowly opened it. Kevin’s name, in big bold letters under the owner’s column, deeply stung my eyes. Kevin had been unemployed since dropping out of community college, struggling to even support himself. Where would he get the money to buy a house? There was only one possibility: Mom and Dad bought it for him. The realization hit me, and a wave of fury surged from my feet to my head. Months ago, I was misdiagnosed with gastric cancer. I called Dad, crying. He was silent for a long time before finally saying, “You know our family’s situation. Your mom and I spent half our lives working to pay off debts. Your illness is a bottomless pit…” The transfer date on the property deed was the *exact same day* I received that terrible misdiagnosis. So, the family wasn’t broke. Buying a house for Kevin was just more important than my life. Thinking this, my heart turned to ice. I clutched the property deed and stormed out of the bedroom.

“Slam!” I threw the property deed heavily in front of Dad. “You bought Kevin a house? The down payment alone must have been over ten thousand dollars. Where did you get the money?” Mom quickly scurried over to calm me. “Lily, what are you talking about? We’re still in debt; where would we get money to buy a house?” I scoffed. “Then what’s this property deed all about?” A flicker of panic crossed Mom’s eyes, but she forced a laugh. “This… this is fake. Your brother’s got a girlfriend, and her family is well-off. He was afraid of being looked down upon, so he made a fake document to keep up appearances.” Did she take me for a fool? I stated plainly, “Fake? Then let’s call the city records office. Faking official documents is a crime.” Mom shut her mouth. Kevin jumped in again. “Lily, don’t be crazy. So what if I have money to buy a house? It’s none of your business!” I didn’t even want to dignify him with a response. I pulled out my phone, ready to call the police. “Since you can’t explain where the money for the house came from, let’s call the police and investigate.” “Smack!” Dad’s slap made my ears ring, yet my mind felt strangely clear. Dad pointed at me, yelling. “What’s all this fuss about? I paid for this house for your brother!” “Your brother is filial; he gave me a solid gold bracelet for my birthday. And you? A worthless, crappy car charm.” “Raising a daughter is worse than raising a dog. We should’ve drowned you the day you were born…” “Get out! Get out, I don’t have a daughter like you!”

In the pouring rain, I was beaten and cursed as I was driven out of the house. My head spun with fury; I don’t even remember how I got downstairs. Just as I sat in the car, trying to compose myself, a SnapChat message from Mom came through. “Lily, don’t argue with your dad. He had a bit to drink today for his birthday, his mind isn’t clear. He didn’t mean to hit you. Don’t worry, Mom has already scolded him, so don’t hold a grudge.” “Be careful on your way home. Mom cured your favorite salted fish for you. Remember to come back and get it in a few days.” “Only you get some. Your dad and brother? We won’t give them any.” In the past, hearing Mom say something like that would have made at least half my anger disappear. Dad always favored Kevin, and while Mom didn’t have much say in the family, she usually sided with me a little more. Like the salted fish – only I loved it in our house. Dad had told her many times not to make it; it was time-consuming and messy, filling the house with a smell. I’d also tried to persuade her, telling her her back wasn’t good, and curing fish took half a day sitting down. Plus, it was cheap and delicious to buy outside now. Mom wouldn’t listen. “If my daughter likes it, Mom will make it. What they sell outside has additives; Mom’s is all-natural, good for your health. You work so hard, with Mom’s salted fish, you can eat two more bowls of rice.” She’d rub her back, carefully packing the salted fish into my bag as if it were treasure. Every time I saw her like that, I’d instinctively soften. But now, that property deed kept flashing before my eyes. Did Mom really think that property deed was fake? I didn’t reply. Just as I was about to drive away, an algorithm pushed a post onto my feed.

I don’t know why, but I clicked on the post. The title was “Raising a daughter is worse than raising a dog!” I recognized it as Dad’s post because he’d attached a screenshot from a security camera. It was a still of me, just moments ago, holding the property deed and confronting him. Though it was only my back, anyone familiar with me would recognize the out-of-control, raging woman as me. In Dad’s description, I became an unforgivable, unfilial daughter, while Kevin was portrayed as a thoughtful, model son. Someone commented below, suggesting he might be showing favoritism towards his son. Dad quickly defended himself: “What do you mean favoritism towards my son? Our family values family bonds above all! Kevin has never caused his mom and me any trouble since he was little, and he even gave me a pure gold bracelet for my birthday.” He even gave an example. A few months ago, he saw me at a restaurant celebrating a stranger’s birthday and giving them two bottles of expensive wine. Then, for his own birthday, I only gave him a worthless car charm. “This kind of daughter is raised to be someone else’s property! We should have drowned her at birth!” I scrolled through in silence, feeling utterly powerless. That man was my client; my entire year’s business hinged on him. My client had no other hobbies, just a fondness for good wine. I’d specifically pulled strings to get him two bottles of rare, vintage wine. Later, Mom secretly told me Dad was upset. I tried to explain that it was for a client. But Dad wouldn’t let it go, constantly mocking me whenever we met. To avoid making Mom uncomfortable caught in the middle, I again pulled strings to buy him two bottles of equally expensive wine. I never imagined he’d cherry-pick the worst parts, leaving out all context, turning it into undeniable proof of my disrespect. With pictures and “facts,” the online sentiment quickly turned against me.

“This woman is terrifying! She must have rage issues!” “A daughter like this is worse than no daughter at all!” “This type of woman is just asking for trouble; are outsiders more important than her own father?” “This is why people in our country don’t want to have daughters. Girls always abandon their families for outsiders!” Kevin was also jumping in the comments, stirring the pot. “My sister is in the import-export business; she even has a small company. For Dad’s sixtieth birthday, such an important day, she only gave him a car charm. Who knows if she’s really broke or just stingy with Dad. We can’t say anything, because if we do, she’ll just accuse Mom and Dad of favoring their son.” Dad replied below: “Even if she gave me a gold bracelet, I wouldn’t want it. Who knows if her money came from some shady dealings?” “Not like my good son. He earns his money honestly, and Dad is happy to receive it.” The two of them portrayed a perfect picture of fatherly love and filial piety. My blood boiled. When I started college, Mom and Dad cut off my allowance and tuition, claiming money was tight. I worked tirelessly, juggling multiple part-time jobs, just to scrape through university. After graduation, I started my own business. The moment I had some savings, Mom would cry poor, and soft-hearted, I gave her a card, transferring money into it every month. In fact, many of the items in their home were purchased by me out of my own pocket. In contrast, Kevin spent a fortune on community college only to drop out. Now, he sat at home all day, doing nothing, relying on others for support, and gave Dad a cheap, gold-plated bracelet whose authenticity was questionable. Yet *he* was the model son? The community was small, and Dad’s post didn’t hide his IP address. Soon, “righteous” netizens were threatening to dox me. “Expose her! This unfilial daughter’s true colors should be seen by her business partners. Let’s see who dares to work with someone like her again!” My vision blurred. I’d worked my ass off for years; I absolutely couldn’t let this fabricated post ruin my career. Clutching my phone, I rushed upstairs, determined to make Dad take down the post. The front door of the house was ajar, and snippets of three voices drifted through the slightly open gap.

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My deceased elder brother left me two things: a multi-million dollar company, and my little nephew. The day my nephew was kidnapped, the kidnappers demanded ten million dollars within 24 hours. I immediately called my wife, telling her to withdraw the money from my brother’s personal funds to save him. Her refusal was ice-cold. “You can’t. He had a son, not a money tree. What life is worth ten million?” Her inhuman reply ignited my fury. “The company and the money, they were all left by Michael. It’s only right to spend it on his son!” “Right?” My wife scoffed. “The little money Michael left all those years ago wasn’t even enough for your nephew’s tuition. We’ve shelled out plenty ourselves. I’m just protecting *our* family’s best interests.” I didn’t believe her. I immediately called the school for verification. “Sir, your nephew, Leo, was sent to school with your wife’s assistant’s son. Leo is here in school, it’s the other child who hasn’t shown up, isn’t it?” I asked for a headshot from the assistant’s son’s school file. Staring at the photo, the spitting image of my wife, I smiled. Then, I dialed the kidnappers’ number. “My family has no money. Do what you want.” 1 My sister-in-law, Scarlett, was already frail. Hearing her son had been kidnapped, she collapsed on the spot and was rushed to the ICU. Fearing the kidnappers might realize their mistake, I quickly and secretly picked up my nephew from school and hid him at a friend’s house. I then rushed back to the hospital to see Scarlett. A nurse approached with a bill. “Mr. Alex, Ms. Scarlett’s ICU bill is substantial and requires immediate payment. We need three hundred thousand dollars.” I acknowledged her, dialing the company’s CFO. The phone rang for a long time before it was picked up. The CFO’s voice was hesitant. All company assets Michael left behind were under my wife Victoria’s management. “My apologies, Mr. Alex. Ms. Victoria has instructed that all large expenditures require her personal signature and approval.” “That’s my sister-in-law, a board member of the company! She’s lying in the ICU right now!” “Mr. Alex, we’re very sympathetic, but Ms. Victoria specifically instructed us to prevent operational risks from ’emotional expenditures.’” Risks? My sister-in-law was fighting for her life, and she was calculating risks? I hung up, my heart heavy, and just sat stunned by the ICU doors. Through the glass, I could see Scarlett’s pale face. Victoria finally arrived. She wasn’t alone. Her assistant, Marcus, was with her. They both wore expressions of false concern. Marcus even carried a fruit basket. I stood before Victoria, my voice icy. “What are you doing here?” She smoothed down her coat, a hint of reproach in her eyes. “Alex, don’t be like that. Marcus and I came to see if there’s anything we can do to help.” “Victoria, you’re a hell of an actress. You’re using company money to support this man’s child, and now you…” Marcus immediately stepped forward, looking at me with a pained expression. “Mr. Alex, I know you’re distressed, but Ms. Victoria is in a difficult position too!” Victoria gave Marcus a solicitous glance, then turned to me. “Alex, watch your words. Show some class, please?” I suppressed the surging anger, pointing to the ICU payment window. “My sister-in-law’s medical bills. They need your signature.” Victoria frowned. “I can’t approve it.” “Why not?” “Company funds need to maintain liquidity for unforeseen emergencies. Her illness is a money pit; any investment offers no positive return for the company.” “Besides, we need to secure *our* future. That’s what truly matters.” I felt all the blood drain from my body. “Victoria, you monster!” I clenched my fists. Marcus immediately stepped in front of her. “Alex, what are you doing?!” Victoria peeked out from behind Marcus. Marcus smoothly supported her. “Ms. Victoria, don’t get upset. Mr. Alex is just too worried. He doesn’t understand company operations.” Victoria let out a soft huff. “Ignorance requires accepting reality. The business world has no room for sentimentality.” Victoria handed me a document. An “Emergency Authorization to Manage Company Affairs.” “Sign it. Then I’ll see if finance can squeeze out a few thousand dollars.” I stared at her. “Victoria, does it really have to come to this?” The atmosphere was awkward. Marcus offered a forced smile. “Mr. Alex, Ms. Victoria actually cares about your nephew.” “See, Ms. Victoria just got me this new bulletproof model. Over ten million dollars.” “She said things are unstable outside and we need to upgrade our security. If your nephew comes back safe, I can give him a ride to and from school in this car.” Marcus pulled out a car key from his pocket and pressed it. Down in the parking lot, a brand new Mercedes S680 flashed its lights. News of my nephew’s kidnapping became an excuse for him to get a new car? “Victoria! You have money to buy him a car, but not to ransom my nephew?” I pointed at her. Victoria slapped the document onto the long bench by the ICU entrance. “What do you know? Buying a car comes with a proper invoice, an official expense, tax-deductible. Can a kidnapper give you a receipt?” “Alex, your emotions are unstable right now. You’re not fit to handle company matters.” “Sign it, or I’ll not only cut off Scarlett’s medical funds but also declare you mentally unstable and have you committed.” My fingers trembled with rage. “Get out!” The farce ended unhappily. She used the most professional excuses to pull off the most despicable schemes. Conventional methods wouldn’t work against this viper. I had to be more ruthless than her.

I pawned a vintage motorcycle Michael had left me, just enough to cover Scarlett’s medical expenses. Michael had hired Victoria as a professional manager during his lifetime, hoping to steer the family business onto the right track. He practically orchestrated my marriage to Victoria. I once thought this was Michael’s grand plan, never imagining it was to aid Victoria. In the years we were married, Victoria often said: “Alex, I’ll take care of the business. You just live your life.” I believed her. But she had schemed to steal everything I had. I had to reclaim what belonged to my family. The next day, I went to the company’s headquarters. Pushing open the door to Michael’s top-floor office. The scent of a distinctly high-end perfume—Victoria’s favorite. The office layout had completely changed. Michael’s beloved bookshelves and books were gone. Replaced by sleek, minimalist decor of cold metal and glass. Several cleaners were clearing out miscellaneous items. Among a pile of discarded things, I saw a familiar framed quote. It was a piece personally inscribed by Michael: “Family first, everything else follows.” I rushed over, pulled the framed quote from the trash, and carefully put it aside. “What are you doing at the company?” Victoria walked out, holding a report. “This is my brother’s office!” Victoria glanced at the framed quote. “Strictly speaking, this is the CEO’s office. And I am the acting CEO.” She pointed to the pile of my brother’s belongings. “Outdated structures hinder growth.” She walked closer, reaching for the framed quote, but I stopped her. “This sentimental clutter, which generates zero value, should be purged.” My heart clenched painfully. It hurt so much. She called Michael’s legacy trash! She wasn’t just after Michael’s estate; she wanted to erase every trace of Michael’s legacy here. “Victoria, you ungrateful snake! Without Michael…” “Silence!” Victoria’s face turned ugly, a flicker of disdain in her eyes. “I’ve tripled the company’s market value with my capabilities. What I’ve gained is my rightful reward.” “Sign this ‘Overseas Licensing Agreement for Key Technologies’.” I opened it and saw that it would license several of the company’s most valuable patents at a low price to an offshore company under her control. “I will never sign it.” Victoria wasn’t surprised. She pulled a medical report from her drawer. She looked at the report, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. “I’m pregnant. We’re having a baby.” She looked up at me, her eyes cold. “Idiot, do you know how much risk this agreement mitigates for ‘our future family’? Hundreds of millions!” “My child deserves the best security!” She framed draining the company as being for my own good. “Victoria, you disgust me.” “Disgust?” Victoria let out a short laugh. “The business world only acknowledges winners.” She walked up to me. “Sign it.” I snatched the agreement, throwing it forcefully at her feet. “Get lost!” The agreement scattered across the floor. Victoria calmly smoothed her hair. “You’ll pay for your impulsiveness, Alex. Anger is the most useless thing in this world.” She turned, pressing the intercom on her desk. “Security, please escort Mr. Alex out of the company. Finance, freeze all his spending permissions.”

I was “escorted” by security out of the company Michael had founded. Standing before the familiar building, I felt like an outsider. I needed help. But every one of Michael’s old colleagues and friends I contacted politely declined. Victoria had already spread rumors that I was emotionally unstable due to family changes. She wanted everyone to isolate me. I arranged to meet a respected family friend, hoping he could mediate. When I booked a restaurant table online and went to pay the deposit, a message popped up on my phone: [Notification: Your business card has been suspended by the primary cardholder. For inquiries, please contact Ms. Victoria.] All my consumption cards were linked to company accounts. She had cut off all my financial lifelines. I couldn’t even afford a single meal. My phone chimed—a new social media post from Victoria. The picture showed her and Marcus picking out gifts at a toy store, with a salesperson behind them holding piles of boxes. Beneath the image was a line of text: [Company quarterly perk: birthday gifts for employees’ families.] She was using my brother’s company to provide perks for her secret son. Just then, the doorbell rang. “Mr. Alex, your delivery.” I opened the box to find high-quality knock-off LEGO models from Wish. A moment later, Marcus sent me a message: “Mr. Alex, Ms. Victoria said you’re a bit tight on cash lately. A man shouldn’t be without money when he’s out, so she transferred you 500 dollars. Spend it wisely. This toy set is for Caleb. She said once your nephew is safe, she, as his aunt, should show some appreciation.” It was a blatant insult. My stomach churned, and I immediately rejected the transfer. I would make those two pay! I went to Michael’s study, the only place Victoria hadn’t touched. I had to find a weapon for retaliation, even if it was just a tiny clue. As I thumbed through Michael’s books, his voice and image flashed before my eyes. When I picked up a copy of “Game Theory” that he had reread countless times, I felt something odd about the cover. I peeled back the inner lining of the cover. A stiff business card slipped out. I tremblingly picked up the card. It bore only a name and a phone number. Kira. On the back inner page, in Michael’s handwriting: “Brother, Victoria is a deeply cunning woman, a business prodigy. I made you marry her to revitalize the Sterling Group.” “But if Victoria ever harbored other intentions, you’d need ruthless tactics to break the deadlock.” “Conventional legal channels won’t work against her. You’ll need a more formidable shark to deal with her.” “Go find this Kira person.” “She was an old friend of mine; she left the country because of me. But she will help you.” “Tell her I never forgot her.” Finishing the note, I wiped the dampness from my eyes. Finally, I wasn’t fighting alone. Michael had laid a plan. I dialed the number. “Who is this?” A pleasant female voice. “Ms. Kira, I’m Alex, Michael’s brother. My brother asked me to contact you. I need your help.” The other end of the line was silent for a moment, then a cold laugh. I recounted the company’s situation to her. “Victoria? I know her. The woman who has a calculator for a soul.” “She’s draining the company Michael left behind, using a complex capital maneuver.” “Capital maneuver? She’s mastered your brother’s game?” “I need your help. But right now… I might not be able to afford your fee.” “Fee? Your brother never paid me during his lifetime. I guess I owe him from a past life.” Kira cut me off. “Bringing down someone so utterly devoid of gratitude like Victoria, that in itself is an interesting proposition.” “Send me all the documents. I love dissecting a seemingly foolproof scheme.”

Kira’s actions were lightning fast. The very next morning, she called. “Your family’s situation is worse than I imagined.” My heart sank. “Victoria is a master of finance. She played your brother’s game very well.” “What do you mean?” “She feared you’d use company money, so she laid her trap early.” “The very day the kidnapping happened, under the pretense of mitigating market risks, she funneled all the company’s liquid assets into an offshore long-term real estate trust fund.” My mind buzzed. “What does that mean?” “It means the company has no cash flow left.” “That money is locked in for three years.” “If you want to withdraw it early, you’ll lose at least eighty percent of the principal, and the process is extremely complicated; it’ll take at least ten days, if not longer.” Kira’s tone was serious. “To prevent you from touching the money, she placed a self-destruct lock on the company’s finances.” “She locked herself in too.” I understood. Victoria thought it was my nephew who was kidnapped. She assumed I would use company funds at any cost to save him. So she made the first move, bleeding the company dry. But she miscalculated one thing. One thing that would destroy her. I hung up the phone and drove straight to the company headquarters. This time, I wasn’t stopped. Victoria seemed to have anticipated my arrival; the front desk simply gave me a temporary visitor’s pass. I pushed open the door to the CEO’s office on the top floor. Victoria and Marcus stood together, laughing happily as they pointed at blueprints for a children’s play area. Seeing me enter, Marcus immediately sobered. Victoria slowly put down the blueprints and leaned back in her executive chair. “Had a change of heart? Come to sign that authorization?” Her tone carried a hint of condescension. I ignored her, walking directly to her. “I’m here to talk about the ransom.” Victoria looked as if she’d heard the funniest joke. “Alex, are you still dreaming?” “I’ve made it very clear. The company won’t pay a single dime.” “Your nephew’s life isn’t worth ten million.” She repeated the cold words, her eyes full of contempt. Marcus, beside her, nodded in agreement. “Mr. Alex, Ms. Victoria is also thinking about the company’s long-term development. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you.” I watched them, finding it utterly ironic. “I agree with you.” I said calmly. Victoria paused, clearly not expecting that. “A child’s life is indeed not worth ten million.” I paused, my gaze sweeping over Marcus’s tense face. “Especially when that child’s family doesn’t have that much money.” Victoria’s smile froze. “What exactly are you trying to say?” “I’m saying, the kidnappers didn’t take my nephew.” I pulled out my phone, opening the encrypted video the kidnappers had sent me. In the video, Marcus’s son was tied to a pillar, his mouth gagged. The kidnapper, wearing a mask, spoke: “Our patience is running thin. If we don’t see the money by tomorrow at noon, you’ll be collecting a corpse!” Victoria stared at the screen, the color draining from her face. “No… this can’t be… this is definitely fake!” She shrieked, completely losing her usual composure. “Fake?” I sneered. “Then why don’t you call the school right now and ask?” Victoria fumbled with her phone, her fingers trembling as she found the school teacher’s number. The teacher’s polite but confused voice came through the phone. “Ms. Victoria? Hello. Leo was picked up by his uncle yesterday.” “Impossible!” Victoria’s voice was hoarse. “Then who was absent yesterday?” “Oh, you mean Caleb. His father called in, reporting him sick for three days.” The call ended. The office fell into a dead silence. Victoria’s phone slipped from her hand, falling onto the carpet. Her face was as white as a sheet. She finally understood. The child kidnapped, from start to finish, was never my nephew. It was her and Marcus’s secret son. Victoria lunged at the computer like a madwoman. “Money! Quick! Transfer the money!” She screamed at Marcus, frantically operating the online banking herself. Marcus nodded, equally panicked, and pulled out the company’s security token to authorize the transfer. “But Victoria, the company account is empty.” Victoria didn’t hear him. She entered the amount and clicked ‘transfer’. A red warning box popped up on the screen. [Insufficient available balance. Transaction failed.] She collapsed into her chair, her eyes vacant. She knew. To stop me from using company money, she had personally locked all the funds. She had personally cut off her own son’s lifeline. She violently lifted her head, glaring at me, her eyes filled with venom and desperation. “Alex… you…” I walked to her, enjoying her agony. “So quick to transfer the money. You’re really desperate. It seems he truly is your son!” “I never thought you’d go to such extremes to prevent me from saving my nephew.” “Locking down all the company’s cash.” “Now, it’s your own son on the line.” I mimicked her earlier tone, enunciating each word. “Didn’t you say a child’s life isn’t worth ten million?” Victoria’s lips were bitten raw and bleeding, her body trembling violently. Despair—I was seeing it on this woman’s face for the first time. She suddenly knelt before me. “Alex, I beg you! You… you must have a way, right?”

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It was Christmas, and I bought a bunch of cookies from the live stream endorsed by a famous actress. I posted a comment: 【These cookies are delicious! Can a seventy-year-old grandma eat them?】 To my surprise, the actress, Brittany Blackwood, somehow picked my comment out of the furiously scrolling feed. She rolled her eyes dramatically: 【Buying for your grandparents? Seriously, don’t insult my cookies, okay?】 I was so furious, I unleashed a torrent of comments: 【Oh, a celebrity, huh? Big deal! Mocking someone’s elders, have you no shame?!】 I went viral overnight, and the actress was blasted and topped the trending list. Soon after, one of Brittany Blackwood’s extreme fans stabbed me to death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of that live stream. 【My dearest, you’re so gorgeous and your voice is like an angel! Just a few more words and my ears will be pregnant!】 【Dearest, you work so hard, please rest!】 【When are you updating with new photos, dearest!】 The comments on my phone scrolled by furiously. On the screen, the exquisitely made-up actress, Brittany Blackwood, sat perched on her seat. It was her usual ‘good side’ – always the right cheek for the camera, with a strategically styled hairstyle that always hid half her face. If there were no gifts in the comments, she’d pout impatiently, only cracking a smile when one appeared. In a fake sweet voice, she clasped her hands to her chest: “Thank you for all your support, meow meow!” The comments section instantly went wild. The sharp pain of the knife tearing into my body still lingered. I hadn’t fully recovered my wits, but the image of the woman before me was incredibly clear. My mind went blank, but my body remembered the past, and my fingers flew across the screen, typing out a few words: 【Can grandparents eat your cookies?】 Sure enough, the actress rolled her eyes, just like before: 【Who wants to sell them to old people?! Seriously, don’t insult my cookies, okay? Do your grandparents even deserve them?】 My fingers flew across the screen, bombarding the comments: 【Why don’t my grandparents deserve them?! How is selling them to seniors an insult to you?! What’s wrong with hard-working people earning a bit of cash to buy something nice for their elders?? Don’t you have any elders in your family?】 【If I’m not mistaken, consumers have the right to ask about a product, right? I’m just exercising my rights, why are you being so sarcastic and snide? Are you trying to challenge consumer protection laws?】 【I used to think you were a brilliant actress for playing such convincing idiots, but turns out you weren’t acting, you really are that dumb!】 After I furiously typed for a few minutes, the comments section became eerily quiet. Ten minutes later, the trending topics exploded. #Shocking! The Real Reason She Plays Idiots So Well!# #BrittanyBlackwood:Don’tInsultMyCookies# #Don’tYouHaveAnyEldersInYourFamily# My words instantly went viral across the entire internet. But Brittany Blackwood wasn’t one to back down either; she immediately mobilized a bunch of influencers to spin the narrative in her favor: “It was just an innocent slip of the tongue, yet someone maliciously twisted my words. Is society too harsh on celebrities?” She immediately got roasted so badly, her own mother wouldn’t recognize her: 【Her own grandparents were humiliated right to their faces, and they’re supposed to just take it? Look at her condescending attitude when she said that. This wasn’t a mistake; it’s just pure classlessness!】 【Even though Brittany’s words weren’t great, is it really okay to keep attacking a young girl like this?】 【Bro, your ‘little girl’ is practically thirty! By that age, someone like Meryl Streep had already won every award, and your darling is still playing dumb and acting cutesy! Have some shame!】 【I was raised by my grandparents. If anyone ever talked to them like that, no joke, I’d be even angrier than this young lady!】 After putting down my phone, I called a nurse to remove Nana Rose’s IV drip and bought dinner, coaxing her to eat. But then, a girl wearing a mask suddenly walked into the hospital room and asked, “Are you Stella Hayes?” I nodded, bewildered. The next moment, the girl suddenly rushed over and knocked Nana Rose’s dinner over. Juice spilled everywhere on the bed, and food stained Nana Rose’s clothes. “You and your grandma actually have the nerve to eat! Do you know what you’ve done to Brittany?!” “Eat, eat, eat! Why isn’t there poison in this food to just kill you both?!” I realized Brittany Blackwood’s fans had doxxed me and tracked me down. I wasn’t about to put up with her, so I grabbed a mop and shooed her out of the room: “A celebrity’s fans reflect their own character!” “You’d better watch your words. Consider it good karma for your idol, and show some respect to other people’s elders.” While responding, I recorded the entire incident on my phone, deciding to call the police afterward to ensure an official outcome. This place wasn’t safe anymore. Later, Brittany Blackwood’s agency called, claiming she was young and spoke carelessly, and they were willing to compensate me for emotional damages if I contacted Brittany Blackwood’s agent immediately. But when I tapped on the agent’s profile and sent a message, they left my message on read. I opened TikTok again, only to find Brittany Blackwood’s fans had already “forgiven” her on my behalf: 【This sister has already reached a private settlement with our Brittany!】 【It was all a misunderstanding, everyone knows our Brittany is known for being a ray of sunshine in the industry, her character is undeniable!】 I had no idea about any of this! Checking my DMs, they were filled with hateful slurs. 【Trying to piggyback off my dear’s fame, huh! My dear is already so pitiful having to work overtime on Christmas, and now she has to deal with your attitude!】 【So what if selling cookies to you is an insult! You’re so pathetic you probably can’t even afford a decent meal, talking to you makes me sick!】 【I heard you’re a model, walking major runways at such a young age. You’ve probably slept with plenty of people privately, haven’t you? Should I post your contact info and let everyone ‘take care of your business’?】

In my previous life, facing those malicious DMs, my mental health completely deteriorated, but I still pulled myself together, working day and night to make ends meet. Until one day, at the hospital, while paying Nana Rose’s fees, an extreme fan suddenly rushed over and plunged a knife into my stomach. “How dare you insult my dear! This is what you get!!” This time… I took screenshots of all those DMs, along with evidence of the fan harassing Nana Rose and me in the hospital room, and sent them to a lawyer. After consulting with the lawyer, I organized their response and these photos and posted them on Ins, with the caption: 【All insults and infringing acts have been documented. I will use legal means to defend my rights.】 【Also, I hope certain celebrities can control their fans and stop letting them loose like attack dogs.】 It immediately shot to the top of the Ins trending list and wouldn’t budge. People who were bored out of their minds at home during Christmas immediately launched into a heated discussion under my post. The powerful backers behind Brittany Blackwood couldn’t delete comments fast enough. The online discussion surged, and all the dirty laundry Brittany Blackwood had painstakingly hidden was dug up. Turns out, the reason I was allowed to rant for several minutes in the live stream before being kicked out might have been staff retaliation. Apparently, a staff member had angered the spoiled Ms. Blackwood, who, with a smiling face but venom in her eyes, suddenly grabbed the microphone from the table and smashed it fiercely at the employee. This completely enraged the team, which is why they didn’t immediately step in to silence me when they saw me passionately ranting in the live stream. She really was universally disliked! Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Brittany Blackwood had no choice but to post an apology on Ins herself. But no one bought it. Righteous netizens flooded her comment section, tearing into her. Within minutes, the thin-skinned Brittany Blackwood deleted her apology post. Soon after, someone posted photos of Brittany Blackwood being rushed to the hospital after fainting from anger. Seeing her pathetic sight, still wearing a mask even in the hospital, afraid of passersby catching her face. I smiled. This is all it takes to get to her? Last life, when she incited her fans to cyberbully me, why didn’t she think about how I couldn’t take it? Don’t worry, the real show is yet to come. After the long holiday weekend, I sent Nana Rose, who had recovered from her illness, back home. A modeling reality show reached out to me. In my previous life, consumed by the shadows, I refused. But this time, I accepted immediately. Because I saw Brittany Blackwood’s name on the judges’ panel. I knew very well this was to help Brittany Blackwood whitewash her image. Under the cameras, she would inevitably make things difficult for me. After all, when a spoiled heiress is angry, how dare we commoners resist? A few days later, when I arrived on set. I found that filming had already begun. The director had clearly told me there would be no filming today, so I just splashed water on my face and threw on some casual clothes. To my surprise, the moment I opened the door, a camera was shoved right into my face. And on the opposite judges’ panel, Brittany Blackwood feigned surprise, covering her mouth: “Oh my gosh, darling, how could you come dressed like that? Weren’t you told to get made up beforehand? You’re being so disrespectful to the production team!” As expected, comments immediately started mocking me: 【She looks like that and she’s a model? I feel like my grandma could wash her face and get dressed up and do better.】 【Haha, she’s still making fun of our Brittany. Our Brittany effortlessly outshines her just by sitting there, okay?】 【Um… are you guys serious? I think the model girl is prettier than Brittany Blackwood?】 【Anyone whose eyes aren’t working upstairs can donate them to someone in need, just saying.】

It wasn’t until I’d been insulted from head to toe that the production assistant finally came to greet me: “Ms. Hayes, you’re over half an hour late. You can’t do that next time!” Brittany Blackwood skipped over to me as well: “So you’re Ms. Hayes! You really are a beauty! Let’s get along well these next few days!” I looked at the woman whose smile didn’t reach her eyes. I scoffed. In my previous life, when I was cyberbullied, I sent her countless messages asking for help, but they all fell on deaf ears. I commented under her TikTok, but within seconds, my comments were deleted, and I was blocked. I went to her agency, but they simply handed me a cease and desist letter, demanding I shut up. In desperation, I could only plead with Chloe, my best friend in the city, to meet her in person. Chloe waited for a long time and finally saw Brittany Blackwood, heavily disguised, at the city airport. She quickly FaceTimed me, and I used all my strength to shout to her: “Ms. Blackwood! I’m the person involved in the cookie incident! Please release a statement for me, I really can’t go on!” The woman, her face completely obscured by a mask, paused, turned, and looked at me. In her eyes was a coldness and disgust I would never forget. As if I were some dirty thing, and even a few seconds of contact with me repulsed her. Then, her bodyguard rushed over and smashed Chloe’s phone. In the lingering fragments of our call, I clearly heard a sneer: “She didn’t think about the consequences when she was spewing insults, and now she wants help? Dream on!” “You poor people are truly desperate for fame, even trying to use our Brittany for clout. Look at yourselves! How dare you ask for help? Humph!” That was the most condescending tone I had ever heard. Chloe grew anxious: “She’s already been punished, isn’t that enough? Do you really need someone to die to be satisfied?” The other side impatiently tutted, then spoke with a tone of false generosity: “It’s her own problem if she can’t cope; why blame us for that?” “Alright, alright, fine, we’ll help her find a good therapist. We’ll even cover the costs, how about that?” Then she turned and walked away. But I never saw any “therapist” until the day I died. Are our lives, the lives of ordinary people, truly so insignificant? That was the question I wanted to ask her most in my previous life. But this time, the question I wanted to ask had changed. Brittany Blackwood, do you truly think we’re all just scum in your eyes? The camera stood between us, waiting for my outburst of fury. But I didn’t get angry. Instead, I smiled and took Brittany Blackwood’s hand: “I’m alright, not exceptionally beautiful, but definitely better than a face that’s been under the knife and still looks like nothing.” The smile instantly vanished from her face: “Ms. Hayes… what do you mean by that?” She recoiled, like a startled deer. Tears welled up in her eyes: “I know you’ve always had some misunderstandings about me, but I genuinely want to get along with you.” “But you’re right, because of my issues, I’ve caused you trouble, and I’m willing to apologize.” Saying this, she bowed to me, about to stand up. However, I suddenly reached out and pressed down heavily on her back: “Hey, an apology needs sincerity. I haven’t forgiven you yet, why are you getting up already?” Brittany Blackwood’s carefully cultivated look of grievance almost crumbled.

I smiled, withdrawing my hand, not forgetting to pat her shoulder: “Alright, alright, your acting is so terrible that even that little performance was a struggle. I really can’t ask you to act any more parts.” 【Whoa, so much tension right from the start! I’m definitely tuning in for what happens next!】 【What is she playing at?! My girl already apologized, and she’s still so aggressive, it’s making me furious!】 【Actually, Brittany Blackwood was very polite. For someone of her distinguished background, lowering herself to apologize is quite something. What more do they want?!】 【The one above, there’s zero benefit to speaking for the rich.】 I ignored the comments and directly sat on the talk show sofa. The person next to me turned and gave me a thumbs up: “Impressive.” I almost laughed out loud when I saw who it was. It was Liam Knight. He had been forced into a “screen couple” marketing strategy with Brittany Blackwood, but under her team’s unilateral manipulation, he became the sole scapegoat, labeled a “heartless jerk” and sent to the top of the trending list. Before I could speak, Brittany Blackwood’s sweet, complaining voice came from behind me. “Liam, hurry and check if I’m showing anything! I’m so scared of flashing the camera.” Liam’s expression changed. An image of Brittany Blackwood’s revealing videos posted on international platforms also flashed in my mind. She’d be dancing to finger-heart challenges without a bra, her chest and nipples practically shoved into the camera. She certainly didn’t seem scared of flashing then. The reason I knew so much about her, even her international videos, was because… I had been her fan for a while. That was during a low point in my life when I couldn’t find meaning in living. Brittany Blackwood had just starred in a series of hit dramas, always portraying bright and sunny characters. That’s when I noticed this sweet-looking girl, believing a strong heart hid beneath her delicate frame. She said: “I’m a celebrity, I enjoy so many things ordinary people don’t, what do I have to be sad about?” I became her fan, feeling that people should be as brave as she was. At the big company’s annual gala, she gradually moved from the most obscure spot to the center stage over a few years. This truly inspired me, giving me a reason to live. But later I found out that she was still in an obscure spot that night; she had simply ignored warnings and stolen Liam Knight’s spot to stand so prominently. She even ignored colleagues who kindly reminded her, insisting on her “strong female lead” persona. Only then did I realize that her “sunny” words weren’t encouragement at all. They were bragging, blatant bragging about her celebrity status. I completely unfollowed her. It was ironic how things had come to this with my former idol. She looked at Liam Knight, her eyes sparkling, chattering endlessly: “Liam Knight, don’t you think Stella is pretty? Don’t you think Stella is prettier than me?” This was a blatant trap; any answer would earn him netizens’ wrath. But Liam Knight went head-on: “Yes, she’s definitely prettier than you.” The comments section immediately exploded: 【What is Liam Knight saying?! Stella Hayes, have some shame! Trying to break up Liam and Brittany’s power couple?!】 【Liam and Brittany are old news, my dear has a new partner now.】 【Even if they’re old news, Liam Knight knowingly came on this show when Brittany was here, which means he’s an ex-boyfriend who can’t forget her! Liam Knight is definitely jealous, that’s why he’s using Stella Hayes to get under my dear’s skin!】 Brittany Blackwood clearly hadn’t expected such an answer, and she chuckled awkwardly: “What’s wrong with you today? So merciless!” Comments flooded in, sympathizing with Brittany Blackwood. Liam Knight, however, gave her a strange look: “Didn’t you ask that question hoping I’d answer that way? Can you stop writing your own script?” Brittany Blackwood’s eyes darted around, then she suddenly pouted: “So… are you trying to argue with me?”

What a picture of innocent fragility, a real fake goody-two-shoes! Too bad the public isn’t blind. Another guest couldn’t help but shake his head: “Ms. Blackwood, do you feel sick if you’re not setting traps for people?” A flicker of disgust instantly crossed Brittany Blackwood’s eyes, but she quickly forced another smile: “Alright, alright, I was just joking. Why are you so serious?” She put on a naive and adorable act, then leaned into my embrace: “Oh, Ms. Hayes, I hear you’re a dancer. How about you dance for us now, and let us see your grace, okay?” “The Queen of Dance herself is here. Dancing in front of her is like trying to show off in front of a master!” Saying that, I smiled and looked towards Seraphina Stone on the judges’ panel. She became a principal dancer in a prestigious company in her teens, instantly soaring to become one of the world’s most outstanding dancers. Tickets for her performances sell out in less than ten minutes. She is undeniably the light of the dance world. She has seen only the best dancers; a minor dancer like me would just make her laugh. “Oh, come on, even after a gourmet feast, sometimes you crave a simple snack, don’t you? Stop being modest! Come on, just one!” “Even if you don’t dance the whole piece, a few steps will do! Can you bear to disappoint us?” Brittany Blackwood hugged me even tighter, almost pressing her entire body against mine. But where the camera couldn’t see, she “accidentally” pinched me. The pain made me involuntarily stand up. To my surprise, Brittany Blackwood immediately covered her mouth: “Wow! Looks like she’s too excited to sit still! Come on, come on!” A few members of the directing team exchanged glances: “Brittany is inviting you so enthusiastically, if you keep being shy, you’ll seem ungracious!” “Just dance for us! If you don’t want to do anything too difficult, a little ‘Baby Swan’ will do!” “Yeah, yeah, I haven’t seen such a childish dance in ages, it makes me nostalgic for childhood!” “Enough!” Seeing everyone getting more and more out of line, Seraphina Stone’s face darkened. “If she doesn’t want to dance, she doesn’t dance. How can so many people pressure a young woman? You should be ashamed.” “Teacher Seraphina, you’re taking it too seriously! You’re so fierce, I thought you hated me!” Brittany Blackwood reached out and hugged Seraphina Stone again, even nuzzling her head against her: “You’re so fierce; no wonder everyone is scared of you. Luckily, I’m not, otherwise, I bet you’d be bored with no one to play with!” 【My dearest is so adorable, I’m practically bleeding from my nose! I can almost smell her perfume!】 【Teacher Seraphina looks calm, but she’s totally been charmed by the cuteness!】 【Teacher Seraphina’s gaze, helpless with a hint of indulgence, I’m kind of shipping it. The high-maintenance celebrity and the steady dancer, knowing but not saying.】 【Teacher Seraphina, don’t let that bad woman cause trouble between you and my dearest! She’s not even worth your attention!】 My lips twitched. Shipping, shipping, always shipping. If your life is so messy, fix it! Stop ‘shipping’ everyone you see! I barely swallowed down my curse words when the director’s voice came through my earpiece: “Dance now!” I immediately stood up and looked around. Oh no, something’s wrong. “What are you waiting for?! Dance!” I continued to play dumb. “Breach of contract fee: three million.” I extended my arm and drew a circle in the air: “Everyone, what would you like to see? I’ll do my best to accommodate.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299218”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

Today marks my fourth wedding anniversary with Liam. But instead of celebration, I got a call from the law firm. It was Liam’s chief legal advisor, his voice tinged with something odd. “Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Hayes has been sued by Ms. Chloe Miller for alleged unlawful restraint. Your presence is required as his legal spouse.” My fingers gripping the phone felt icy. Another one of Chloe’s tricks. Over these past four years, similar stunts have been endless. This was just that woman’s twisted way of asserting her dominance, another pathetic drama. Yet, I still went. Because I was Liam’s only legal wife, and that was my obligation. The top-floor conference room at the law firm was aggressively cold. As I approached, I saw Chloe through the glass door. She was complaining, half-showing off, half-feigning victimhood: “Mr. Evans, don’t you think he’s absolutely out of line? He just kept me all alone on a private island for three whole days and nights, not allowed to go anywhere!” The assistants nearby looked unfazed, as if they’d seen it all before. One assistant leaned closer to the intern beside her, whispering: “This isn’t a lawsuit, it’s a public display of affection. Mr. Hayes spoils her rotten. It’s just a couple’s game, blown out of proportion to get his wife to witness their drama.” The intern nodded, realization dawning: “So that’s why Mrs. Hayes was notified as per procedure?” “Exactly, just to rub it in.” Those whispers, big and small, stabbed at my heart, one after another. I pushed open the door and sat on a corner sofa. Not long after, Liam arrived. He strode in, clad in a black designer suit, radiating an icy aura that instantly dropped the temperature of the entire room by several degrees. But the moment he saw Chloe, all that coldness seemed to melt away. He gently stroked her hair, his movements tender: “My bad. I shouldn’t have kept you locked up. Are you still mad?” Chloe pouted, feigning annoyance. Liam pulled a velvet box from his pocket and opened it. A dazzling pink diamond brooch lay quietly inside. “I bid on this for you a few days ago at an auction.” He pinned the brooch to Chloe’s chest. “Don’t be mad anymore, hmm?” Chloe looked surprised and delighted, but still kept up her act. Liam smoothly pulled her into his embrace, then leaned in and kissed her. Throughout it all, I felt like a transparent spectator, forced to watch my husband’s intimacy with another woman. Liam, still holding Chloe, turned around, as if he finally noticed me in the corner. His gaze swept over, pausing slightly. Chloe leaned in his arms, openly admitting: “Liam, I asked Mr. Evans to notify her. You’re not mad at me, are you?” “It’s fine.” Liam uttered two indifferent words. Those two words were like a sharp knife, plunging into my heart. My thoughts, pulled by that piercing pain, involuntarily drifted back to the past. Four years ago, it wasn’t like this. Back then, Liam’s sister, Lily, and I were the best friends in the world. I had once feared that intimidating man. But later, I discovered that while Liam was cold to everyone else, he had an unimaginable tenderness reserved only for me. He remembered my period and would prepare warm drinks and heating pads in advance. He built a cozy, elaborate shelter for a stray cat beneath my dorm window, simply because I’d once casually mentioned feeling sorry for it. Whenever I left the house, he’d always find reasons to be by my side, protecting me completely. Little by little, I lowered my guard. We were madly in love for two whole years. During those two years, I was a princess, adored and cherished by Liam. But a sudden disaster crushed all that beauty into dust. After our wedding, Lily and I were shopping when we encountered an armed robber. In the chaos, Lily pushed me away with all her strength, screaming: “Rose, run! Go get help!” I turned and ran, but didn’t get far before an unprecedented, sharp pain erupted in my stomach. The pain was so intense, everything went black, and I lost consciousness. When I woke again, the world had changed. Two terrible pieces of news hit me simultaneously. First, the doctor told me I had stomach cancer, late stage. Second, Lily resisted and was brutally stabbed to death by the vicious criminal. I didn’t even have time to process the sudden tragedies before I was engulfed by Liam’s overwhelming hatred. His eyes bloodshot, he gripped my shoulders tightly, roaring questions at me: “Why didn’t you save her? Why were you the only one who ran?!” My heart twisted in agony. I looked at this man, who had just suffered the profound grief of losing his sister. How could I bear to tell him that his wife also didn’t have long to live? I couldn’t let him endure the double blow of losing both his sister and his wife at the same time. So, I chose silence. And my silence, in Liam’s eyes, was an admission of guilt. From that moment on, all the love in his eyes transformed into an all-consuming hatred. To get back at me, he found Chloe, a woman who bore a slight resemblance to my features. He lavished all the affection he once gave me, and then some, on that fake. My hand instinctively went to my lower abdomen. It was still flat, but the cancer cells inside had long since spread throughout my body. I remembered the latest medical report I received three days ago. The doctor looked at me, sympathy in his eyes, as he pronounced my final deadline. “Mrs. Hayes, I’m so sorry, but you have at most one month left.” One month. A sorrowful curve touched my pale lips. Well, good. This endless torment was finally nearing its end. Lily, wait for me. I’ll be there to apologize soon.

I walked out of the law firm, and a fiery red sports car brazenly screeched to a halt in front of me. The window rolled down, revealing Chloe’s face, etched with a victor’s smile. “Get in.” She said in a sweet voice from the driver’s seat, her boastful intent undisguised. Liam didn’t even look at me, he just commanded: “Get in. Don’t make me say it twice.” I got in. Every inch of air in that cramped space suffocated me. The car started, speeding along the riverside highway. Suddenly, a ball rolled into the middle of the road, followed immediately by a toddler. Chloe panicked, yanking the steering wheel wildly, mistaking the accelerator for the brake and stomping on it. The sports car shot straight for the guardrail along the river. In the split second before impact, I clearly saw Liam lunge forward. He shielded Chloe with his own body. From beginning to end, he didn’t spare me a single glance. “Crash—” A deafening impact, then the chilling cold and darkness of plunging into the water. Icy river water surged in through the shattered window, frantically flooding my mouth and nose. My heart, in that moment, turned utterly cold. Before I completely lost consciousness, the last thing I saw was Liam smashing open the car window. He carried the already unconscious Chloe, swimming strenuously towards the surface, his back to me. I woke up in a hospital, to the sound of a man’s voice, thick with suppressed fury. “Why isn’t she awake yet?!” It was Liam. My heart gave an uncontrollable tremor. I heard the doctor holding my medical chart, trying to explain: “Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Hayes’s unconsciousness might not just be due to drowning. Her physical condition…” Before he could finish, he was interrupted by an anxious nurse’s voice. “Mr. Hayes! Ms. Miller is awake and crying, looking for you everywhere!” The hospital room door was pushed open, and Liam’s tall figure appeared in the doorway. Our eyes met, mine having just fluttered open. The anxiety and suppressed anger that had been etched on his face because I hadn’t woken up quickly vanished the moment he saw I was conscious. He turned without hesitation towards Chloe’s room, not sparing me another glance. I slowly closed my eyes, a faint, bitter smile escaping my lips. It’s better this way, that he doesn’t know about my illness. Otherwise, he’d probably just scoff at it as karma, then complain I was dying too slowly and disgusting him. I discharged myself. Returning to the empty villa, my heart was as still as stagnant water. I began to calmly arrange my final affairs. First, I went to the old photo studio on the corner that had been there for decades and took a portrait for my funeral. In the photo, I wore a clean white shirt, a calm smile on my face. But my eyes held an unyielding stillness, a deadness. I went to choose the simplest white ceramic urn for myself. Holding that small urn, imagining myself curled up inside it in the end, I felt an immense sense of peace. Finally, I took a cab to the cemetery. In front of Lily’s tombstone, I laid down the white roses I carried. “Lily, I’m so sorry.” “I’ll be joining you soon.” I whispered my illness and my impending death. “Rose.” I stiffly turned my head. Liam was standing not far away, also holding a bouquet of white roses. And by his side, intimately linked to his arm, was Chloe.

Liam stepped forward and kicked aside the white roses in front of the grave. “How dare you even show your face here?” His voice was filled with hatred. “Get out! Don’t desecrate my sister’s resting place!” I leaned on the tombstone, slowly rising to my feet, my throat dry and hoarse: “I just wanted to see Lily.” “See her?” Liam laughed as if he’d heard the most absurd joke. “What right do you have to see her?” He suddenly reached out and shoved me violently against a nearby tree. His rough hand clamped tightly around my slender neck. “Why didn’t you save her back then? Why did you let her die such a terrible death alone?!” His eyes bloodshot, he roared each word, as if he wanted to tear me apart. Suffocation instantly enveloped me. Oxygen was slowly withdrawn, the shadow of death loomed, yet I felt a sense of release. I stopped struggling, slowly closing my eyes. Dying by his hand, perhaps that was a form of atonement. Just as my consciousness began to fade, the pressure on my neck suddenly eased. Liam threw me aside, his chest heaving violently. A fleeting, complex mix of pain and struggle flickered in his eyes, too quick to grasp. I leaned on the tree trunk, coughing violently. Chloe walked up delicately, taking Liam’s arm: “Liam, the sun’s so hot here. Let’s go quickly. Don’t waste time on such a malicious person.” The struggle in Liam’s eyes receded, replaced by his usual cold indifference. He gently placed the white roses in front of the grave, not looking at me again. “Oh dear, my foot hurts so much.” Chloe suddenly cried out delicately. Liam immediately knelt in front of her, naturally scooping her onto his back. He carried her steadily down the cemetery steps. Watching that familiar back, my heart felt like it was being repeatedly cut by a knife. I suddenly remembered Liam carrying me like that once before. That time we went to church to pray, the long stone steps made my legs weak. I refused to move, and he smiled helplessly, his eyes full of affection. Then he knelt down and carried me. He walked steadily, whispering in my ear: “Rose, I’ll carry you for life.” Back then, Lily had been teasing us, calling us clingy. His promise still echoed in my ears, but now, another woman was on his back. I silently followed behind them. Liam placed Chloe in the car, then turned to see me, commanding with icy eyes: “Get in.” Seeing me hesitate, he added impatiently: “Every second you stay here, I feel sick.” I numbly got into the car, sitting in the back. Inside, Chloe deliberately pressed her whole body against Liam. She enticed him in a highly provocative tone: “Liam, I want you to…” Liam’s body tensed, his desire easily ignited. He slammed on the brakes, stopping the car at a secluded riverside viewpoint. He turned his head and uttered a single word to me: “Get out.” I stared at him in disbelief. “Get out.” His voice was brutal. I trembled as I pushed open the car door and stepped out. As soon as I was on my feet, the car door was violently slammed shut, then locked. Immediately, the fiery red sports car began to rock violently, rhythmically. At the quiet viewpoint, the woman’s deliberately suppressed, yet seductive moans, and the man’s heavy breathing, clearly penetrated the car windows, tormenting my eardrums with each sound.

Tears streamed down my face, only to be instantly dried by the river wind. I couldn’t help but remember my first time with Liam. Back then, he was so careful, his movements gentle and restrained, afraid of hurting me. The tenderness and love in his eyes almost melted me. But now, less than a few feet away from me, he was indulging in pleasure with another woman, raw and direct. Just to vent primal urges. My heart twisted in agony. I don’t know how much time passed before the car window finally rolled down. Chloe leaned back in the seat, looking languid. Her face flushed with post-coital satisfaction, she signaled that I could get back in. I pulled open the car door, and the heavy scent inside made my stomach churn. “Liam, what if I get pregnant?” Chloe’s voice held a hint of feigned worry. Liam started the car, his tone gentle: “Then we’ll have her. A daughter as lovely as you.” A daughter. Those words were like a bolt from the blue. I remembered, they had once passionately discussed our future children. He said if it was a daughter, she had to be like me. He would spoil her into the happiest little princess in the world. But then he also said that his most cherished princess would always be me, his one and only. Those promises that once made my heart tremble with sweetness now seemed as distant as a past life. Chloe leaned sweetly on his shoulder, playfully saying: “Then we’ll have to keep trying hard when we get back.” Back at the villa, Liam and Chloe no longer held back. Traces of their indulgence were left everywhere: on the living room sofa, in front of the bathroom mirror, on the study carpet. The explicit sounds were incessant, day and night, tormenting me like a curse. Meanwhile, I could only lock myself in my room, repeatedly tormented by the excruciating pain of cancer. Each time the pain struck, I could only bite hard on the corner of the duvet, spitting out blood with a metallic, sweet taste. Inside the room, it was the silence of approaching death. Outside, it was unrestrained revelry. Life and death, at this moment, formed the starkest contrast. I left my room to get water and saw Chloe in an apron, busy in the kitchen. Liam sat at the dining table reading a newspaper, the scene possessing an absurd sense of peaceful domesticity. Chloe saw me: “Sister, come eat with us.” Liam didn’t even look up: “Don’t be difficult.” I was forced to sit at the table, looking at a plate of charred, unidentifiable objects. Liam, however, calmly picked up a piece, put it in his mouth, and even dotingly told Chloe: “Delicious.” I remembered the first time I cooked for him. It was just as bad, but he ate every last bit. Then he gently ruffled my hair and said his Rose was the most amazing girl in the world. The bitterness of memory welled up in my throat. I managed to eat one bite of the dish, and my stomach immediately churned. A metallic, sweet taste I could no longer suppress, I rushed into the bathroom, violently vomiting into the sink. The white ceramic instantly stained crimson with dazzling blood. Chloe followed me in. Seeing this, her eyes immediately reddened: “Sister, what do you mean? Do you hate the food I worked so hard to make so much? Are you doing this on purpose for Liam and me?” Liam rushed in when he heard her. His face darkened instantly. He quickly strode forward, pulled Chloe into his embrace, and softly comforted her. He looked up, his gaze sweeping over me like I was a disgusting piece of trash. “Since you hate eating so much,” He began, “Then starve for a few days and reflect properly.” “Security! Lock her in the basement.”

Two security guards stepped forward, grabbed my arms, and roughly dragged me towards the basement. A cold, damp air hit me, mixed with the musty smell of dust. I didn’t even have the strength to struggle. The excruciating stomach pain and the icy cold in my heart brought me to the brink of fainting. I was thrown in without mercy. Liam didn’t look at me once, simply holding a pitifully crying Chloe in his arms and turning to leave. In the darkness, I curled up on the cold ground. For two whole days, I had no water. Hunger and stomach pain tormented me in turns, wearing down my last bit of life force. It wasn’t until the third day, the eve of Chloe’s birthday party, that the basement door was finally opened. Liam had me released, looking down at my pathetic state from above. “Chloe’s birthday party, you’ll organize it personally. If anything goes wrong, you know the consequences.” Like a corpse, I numbly nodded. The birthday party was extremely lavish. The entire villa was dazzling with lights and colors, bustling with guests. After a few rounds of drinks, Chloe, holding a glass, walked seductively towards me. “Sister, it’s my birthday today. Where’s my present?” Undisguised provocation gleamed in her eyes. “I didn’t prepare one.” I replied calmly. Chloe’s gaze fell on my neck, where a beautiful necklace hung. It was the only keepsake my mother had left me. “Then give that to me,” Chloe’s tone was as if it were her right, “I really like it.” I instinctively shielded the necklace on my chest: “Not this one.” “Why not?” Chloe’s eyes immediately reddened. She looked aggrievedly at Liam who had rushed over. “Liam, I just want a birthday present.” Liam’s eyes turned cold. “Give it to her.” He commanded me. “This is all my mother left me…” My voice trembled uncontrollably, pleading one last time. I remembered when my mother died, I cried until I couldn’t breathe. It was Liam who held me tight, promising again and again in my ear that he would always be with me, and would love me well on my mother’s behalf. But now, this very man was about to personally take away my last keepsake of my mother. Liam lost his patience and simply signaled his security guards. “No! Don’t!” I struggled frantically, but was held down tightly by two security guards. I watched helplessly as the thin chain was torn off and fell into Liam’s hand. He personally put it on Chloe, praising her softly: “It suits you well.” He led Chloe back to the center of the party, hand in hand. I collapsed onto the ground, feeling utterly cold. I wanted to leave this suffocating place. As soon as I stood up, I was blocked by Chloe’s friends. They dragged me to a secluded corner, where obscene insults accompanied by a hail of punches and kicks rained down on me. “Shameless hussy, clinging to Mrs. Hayes’s position!” “It’s your honor that Chloe wants something of yours, how dare you refuse?” I curled up on the ground, abandoning all resistance and cries for help. It hurt, it hurt so much. But how could physical pain compare to even a fraction of the agony in my heart? When another kick brutally landed on my abdomen, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and violently turned my head, vomiting a large mouthful of blood. That dazzling crimson instantly terrified the women whose eyes were blazing with fury. Just then, an icy voice rang out above their heads. “What are you doing?!” It was Liam.

Chloe’s friends’ faces turned ghostly pale, and they hastily explained: “Mr. Hayes, it’s not our fault! She started spitting blood herself!” Chloe ran over, preemptively grabbing Liam, who was about to step forward: “Liam, don’t let her trick you! She’s doing this on purpose, faking it with a blood pack, trying to ruin my birthday party!” Liam’s steps faltered. The momentary waver in his eyes quickly vanished. He looked at me, curled up on the ground: “Since she loves acting so much, let her put on a full show.” He turned to the security guards: “Throw her into the backyard pool. Let her sober up properly. Don’t pull her out until sunrise.” That night was early winter; the temperature was already close to freezing. One security guard couldn’t help but remind him: “Mr. Hayes, someone could die.” “If she dies, she dies.” Liam responded indifferently. I was roughly dragged to the backyard by two security guards and thrown into the icy pool. The biting cold instantly enveloped me, suffocation and excruciating stomach pain hitting me simultaneously. I struggled in the freezing water. Through my blurred vision, I saw the boisterous party inside the villa. And Liam and Chloe intimately embracing under the lights. A night passed. When I was pulled out, I was barely clinging to life, with a relentless high fever. I was thrown back into my room, left to fend for myself. In the days that followed, my pain became more frequent, spitting blood was common, and my consciousness often blurred. During one agonizing bout of pain, I hallucinated, as if I was back five years ago, when he still cared for me. I instinctively picked up my phone and dialed that familiar number. Like every time I felt unwell before, my voice was choked and filled with complete dependence: “Liam… I feel so bad…” On the other end of the line, there was a long silence. Just as I thought he wouldn’t respond, Liam’s voice came through the receiver: “What’s wrong?” I snapped back to reality, realizing how ridiculous my actions were. My heart was tightly squeezed. I frantically hung up, buried my head in the duvet, biting my teeth as I silently wept. Finally, I swallowed a handful of painkillers and drifted into a groggy sleep. I don’t know how much time passed before a bucket of cold water was dumped over my head, jolting me awake from my slumber. Chloe stood by the bed, looking down at me: “Sister, I found a man for you. How about you try out another man?” As soon as she finished speaking, a creepy man walked in through the door, approaching the bed with a lecherous grin. My eyes widened in terror, desperately recoiling. Just as the man’s filthy hand was about to touch me, I violently pushed him away. Barefoot, I rushed out of the room, heedless of everything. The moment I burst out of the room, I bumped head-first into a firm chest. I looked up in terror, meeting Liam’s bottomless eyes. My clothes were disheveled, my face streaked with tears, still shaken. Chloe, however, cried and threw herself into Liam’s arms, starting to slander me: “Liam, I can’t believe she was in the room with a strange man, boohoo, how could she do this to you…”

Liam grabbed my slender wrist. He roughly dragged me back into the room, slammed me onto the bed, his tall figure looming over me. “Rose, are you really that desperate?” He demanded, his voice laced with venom. I didn’t want to explain anymore. “Yes! Whose fault is it that you can’t satisfy me? If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being so useless!” Those words completely ignited Liam’s fury. He leaned down and bit my lip hard, the heavy taste of blood instantly spreading between our mouths. A metallic, sweet taste in my throat, I turned my head, and another mouthful of blood spewed out. Staining the pristine white bedsheet a horrifying red. That dazzling red patch made Liam pause, his gaze frozen for a moment. But quickly, that flicker of hesitation was replaced by deeper mockery. “Your sins aren’t atoned for yet. Want to die? Not that easy!” He said coldly, “I’ll torment you for life! Until death do us part!” He dragged me, wearing only a thin nightgown, outside the villa, ordering me to kneel in the early winter wind. In the middle of the night, freezing rain began to fall. Rain mixed with tears, soaking me completely. I knelt on the hard gravel path, freezing until my consciousness blurred, eventually losing all sensation. One afternoon, I struggled out of bed to get water, only to hear Chloe’s panicked cries from downstairs. “Liam! What do I do… I… I think I hit someone with my car!” I leaned on the wall, struggling to reach the top of the stairs. I saw Chloe throwing herself into Liam’s arms, trembling with tears. She recounted in terror how she had been drunk driving and hit a pedestrian, who was now critically injured and unconscious, and their family had already called the police. After a brief silence, Liam comforted her: “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Liam’s gaze fell on me, standing at the top of the stairs. “You go.” I stared at him in disbelief. Liam’s tone was unquestionable: “You take the fall for Chloe.” Looking at this man who would personally send me to prison, my heart ached to numbness. I remained silent, accepting all this absurdity. I was taken to the detention center, taking the blame for all of Chloe’s crimes. In that dark, damp environment, I spent the longest three days. Repeated fevers, full-body pain, but I said nothing, just quietly waited for my life to ebb away. On the third day, Liam’s assistant picked me up. The assistant looked at my emaciated, almost unrecognizable appearance, a flicker of pity in his eyes. “Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Miller has been diagnosed with severe heart failure, her condition is critical. Mr. Hayes is scouring the world for a suitable heart donor for her. He asks you to behave yourself lately and stop causing trouble.” Heart failure? Needs a heart donor?

There wasn’t a single ripple of emotion on my face, but my hand hanging at my side, clenched uncontrollably. “Take me to the hospital.” My voice was hoarse. The assistant drove the car to Liam Corp.’s private hospital. Outside the ICU on the VIP floor, I looked through the large glass window and saw the scene inside. Liam gripped Chloe’s hand tightly on the hospital bed. “If a suitable donor isn’t found, use mine! Immediately conduct compatibility tests for Chloe and me!” The doctor tried to dissuade him, looking troubled: “Mr. Hayes, your blood type doesn’t match Ms. Miller’s. This won’t work…” “I don’t care!” Liam cut him off, “I said, at all costs! Don’t you understand?!” I just stood there, quietly watching his frantic appearance for another woman. My heart ached so much I couldn’t breathe. I leaned on the cold wall, slowly crouched down, burying my face in my knees, silently weeping. A thought suddenly flashed through my muddled mind. My blood type was the same as Chloe’s. I wiped away my tears, slowly stood up, and walked alone to the attending physician’s office. “Doctor, I’d like to get a compatibility test.” The results came back quickly. Highly compatible, fully meeting donation criteria. Holding that thin report, I stood by the window and suddenly smiled. I decided to use this heart, already scarred and riddled with holes, as the last gift for Liam. And to settle the debt, the life I owed Lily. I signed my name on the Living Organ Donation Consent Form. The next morning, I was woken by voices. Liam was standing by the window on a call. After hanging up, a look of joy appeared between his brows. “The hospital found a living organ donor, surgery is scheduled for next week.” “You stay put, don’t cause me any trouble.”

Liam became busy with Chloe’s surgery. My world fell completely silent. The surgery date was set for Liam’s birthday. This day, which he once cherished above all, now existed only for another woman. On the morning of his birthday, enduring excruciating pain, I personally cooked him a bowl of longevity noodles. It was the last thing I could do for him. As he finished getting dressed, I held up the steaming bowl and called out to him. “Liam, have some noodles.” My voice was very soft, carrying a barely perceptible plea. Liam turned around, filled with impatience. He violently knocked the bowl to the ground. The ceramic bowl shattered, noodles and broth splattered everywhere, a complete mess. “I don’t have time to waste on you.” He said coldly, “Today is a more important day for Chloe than anything else.” With that, he strode away without looking back. I looked at the mess on the floor and slowly smiled. You won’t eat the longevity noodles… Then I’ll just give you your birthday present directly. I returned to my room, changed into a clean white dress, and then took a cab to the hospital. I changed into a surgical gown and lay on the operating table. Through a thin curtain, I could clearly hear the sounds from the next room. I heard Liam gripping Chloe’s hand, comforting her in a gentle voice: “Chloe, don’t be afraid. I’ll wait for you outside until you’re done. Once you’re better, we’ll get married.” This scene suddenly reminded me of many years ago, when I had fibroadenoma removal surgery. He had also waited anxiously outside the door, holding my hand, telling me again and again not to be afraid. A doctor approached me for the final confirmation: “Ms. Rose, are you sure you want to proceed with the living heart transplant? Once it begins, there’s no turning back.” My gaze passed through the gap in the curtain, falling on his tall figure outside. I slowly nodded. “I’m sure.” Cold anesthetic was slowly injected into my veins, and my consciousness began to blur. Memories I had deliberately sealed away flashed uncontrollably in my mind. His clumsy, flustered appearance the first time he prepared warm sugar water for me. His domineering insistence on carrying me back to bed when he found me staying up late to read. His anxiety in a crowded place, holding my hand tightly, afraid I might get lost. The sparkling starlight in his eyes when he proposed to me grandly under a sky full of fireworks. … If there’s a next life… Liam, let’s not meet again. I whispered my last wish in my heart. I shed my last tear, my long, curled eyelashes gently fluttered down, and I completely lost all sound. The heart monitor connected to my body, its screen displaying a flatline, emitted a piercing, sustained beep. On the other side, the operating room light went out. The surgery was successful. Liam breathed a sigh of relief, a long-lost smile finally gracing his face. The attending physician came out and stopped him, asking as a matter of routine: “Mr. Hayes, the donor’s body is next door. Would you like to pay your respects and express your gratitude to the donor?” Liam’s mind was completely filled with Chloe at that moment, but out of basic courtesy and gratitude, he still nodded. He followed the doctor to a solemn room. In the center of the room, a body covered with a white sheet lay there. Liam reached out, his fingertips trembling slightly as he pinched a corner of the white sheet, preparing to lift it.

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