Category: English

Before dying, my childhood sweetheart said he would leave his entire inheritance to his first love. “Sarah, she’s different from you. You’re a maid, but she’s a dancer. She’s been elegant all her life; she needs money to live comfortably for the rest of her days.” “Besides, if you hadn’t staged that car accident back then, she and I wouldn’t have been separated.” “You used your kindness to demand repayment and ruined my entire life.” “If I could do it all over again, I’d rather be a cripple than have anything to do with you.” He was full of grievances, yet he never mentioned that I missed two college entrance exams to save him. Later, to help him recover, I gave up my dream of aerospace engineering and switched to nursing. I signed the agreement to waive the inheritance and nodded softly, “Okay.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the college entrance exam, right when he was racing his car to win back his first love. I pretended not to know anything. In this life, I don’t want to have anything to do with him either. 1 As soon as the morning exam ended, my dad grabbed me and quickly ran back to the car. He started the car, while my mom was responsible for explaining. “Do you know about Ethan dating early? Today is the college entrance exam, but that girl broke up with him. Ethan…” I didn’t need to hear the rest; I knew it clearly. Just like in my previous life, Ethan got into a car accident while chasing his girlfriend and lost the use of his legs. The only difference was that this time, I watched Ethan go to his doom with my own eyes, then continued to finish the afternoon exams. When we arrived at the hospital, two doctors had just wearily come out of the operating room. “The accident was too severe, and the rescue was delayed a bit. He’s alive, but there’s a high probability he won’t be able to stand up again. If recovery isn’t good after surgery, amputation might be necessary.” Upon hearing this, Ethan’s mother, Mrs. Wen, burst into tears. Mr. Wen supported her, his face also full of grief. My parents stood there, stunned. “It’s a pity Ethan studied so hard for so many years, only to have an accident at this critical juncture.” My dad signaled my mom to shut up with a look. After Ethan was wheeled out, the four parents surrounded him. Only I stared blankly at my own hands. Slender and long, without calluses, nor the swollen and deformed joints from touching cold water for a long time. I was truly reborn, and the two exams I took in the afternoon were also real. In my previous life, Ethan’s first love, Mia, broke up with him on the day of the college entrance exam. To win her back, Ethan didn’t hesitate to take Mr. Wen’s car and chase after her. Seeing this, I was worried about Ethan’s safety, so I followed him. But I witnessed that tragic car accident with my own eyes. To send him to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible, I missed the two exams in the afternoon. I, who usually scored nearly 700 points, only got over 400 points in the college entrance exam. I wanted to repeat the year, but Ethan suddenly knelt and confessed his love. He said, “The doctor said if you hadn’t risked danger to pull me out of the car, both my legs would probably have been amputated.” “You gave up two exams for me and missed the aerospace major. I am willing to be responsible for you for the rest of my life, if… if you don’t mind me.” Years of secret love suddenly had a sequel at this moment. For a while, I didn’t even know how to react. “Then, what about Mia?” Ethan’s eyes were full of hatred, “If it weren’t for her, how would I have become like this!” “I hate her too much!” After hesitating for a day, plus the change in college entrance exam policies, and Ethan claiming he couldn’t leave me, I agreed. Missing my favorite major, I enrolled in nursing to help Ethan stand up again. For the next few decades, I had been helping Ethan with rehabilitation training. He said he didn’t like outsiders coming into the house, so laundry, cooking, massage, and rehabilitation were all done by me alone. I took care of him meticulously until he stood up again. He was unwilling to be mediocre and wanted to start a business, and I was the one running errands for him. But on the day his business succeeded and he held a celebration banquet. I heard him ask his assistant, “Did you invite the dancer named Mia to be my companion today? Did you invite her?” The assistant nodded but hesitated, “Mr. Wen, what about the madam?” Ethan looked at himself standing straight in the mirror and sneered. “Madam? She’s just a maid.” I stood behind the door, clutching my dress in humiliation. Perhaps God opened his eyes, and Ethan ended up in the ICU again due to complications. But before he died, he left all his inheritance to Mia. He even transferred the only few hundred thousand dollars in my name to Mia. “Sarah, she’s different from you. You’re a maid, but she’s a dancer. She’s been elegant all her life; she needs money to live comfortably for the rest of her days.” “Besides, if you hadn’t staged that car accident back then, she and I wouldn’t have been separated.” “You used your kindness to demand repayment and ruined my entire life.” “If I could do it all over again, I’d rather be a cripple than have anything to do with you.” After working hard for half my life, I became a penniless pauper who only knew how to do rough work. In my previous life, I had already paid the price for being love-struck. 2 This time, I watched Mr. Wen and Mrs. Wen cry without saying a word. “Old Wen and I only have Ethan as our son in this life. We poured all our heart and blood into him. Ethan was clearly a good child with excellent character and academics, but how did he date early?” “I’ve asked around. That girl is an art student with terrible grades. The college entrance exam isn’t important to her at all! But she can’t ruin Ethan at this time, boohoo…” My mom sighed beside them, “That girl too. Ethan had such a big accident for her, and she doesn’t even come to see him.” Mrs. Wen stood up abruptly with hatred in her eyes. “We are not unreasonable people, but that girl ruined my son; she has to come and apologize no matter what!” Mrs. Wen got up to find Mia, but before she took two steps, Ethan’s shouting came from the ward. “Mia, Mia!” I followed at the very end and walked in. Ethan’s head was wrapped in gauze, both legs were fixed, and he was struggling to get up but couldn’t. Because I didn’t follow him, it was said that Ethan was in a coma in the car for over an hour before he was found by a teacher who called 911. Treatment was delayed, and the injuries were more severe. The doctor said the probability of amputation was very high. Mrs. Wen ran over, holding back tears. “Don’t move, son. The doctor said you can’t move around; the wounds haven’t healed yet.” Ethan looked at his legs, stunned for a moment, and pretended to be relaxed: “It’s okay, isn’t it just a fracture? It’s not a big deal.” “Look, I can still move.” Ethan tried to move his legs, but there was no reaction. His expression gradually froze. With each attempt, he also showed anxiety. “Why can’t my legs move? The anesthesia must not have worn off yet, right?” Mr. Wen and Mrs. Wen had tears in their eyes but didn’t know how to speak. “Speak! Say something!!” Ethan pressed the nurse call button himself. After the nurse came in, he started questioning. “What’s wrong with my legs?” “Say it! What happened to my legs!!” The nurse was startled. Just as she wanted to speak, Ethan suddenly hammered his legs heavily. “Why can’t they move at all!” Ethan was emotional, and two or three people couldn’t hold him down. But seeing him like this, a trace of pleasure inexplicably rose in my heart. I walked up to Ethan and said word by word: “Keep hammering your legs. Right now your legs are just paralyzed, but if you keep hammering, maybe they’ll need to be amputated.” Ethan froze as if hit by the word “paralyzed”. “Pa-paralyzed?” Mrs. Wen finally couldn’t help but burst into tears. Mr. Wen also said, “Dad knows the ins and outs of this matter. You’ve become like this, that Mia…” Before he finished speaking, Ethan suddenly said: “It has nothing to do with Mia.” “It was me being anxious and driving privately.” I lowered my eyes and smiled. Is favoritism defending you in front of everyone even if you caused my paralysis? This car accident had nothing to do with me no matter how you look at it, but in my previous life, Ethan could recklessly pin the accident on me. Love and lack thereof are indeed obvious. In my previous life, he said he would rather be a cripple than have anything to do with me again. In this life, he continues to be disabled, while I took the college entrance exam and prepared to fulfill my dream. Everyone gets what they wish for. 3 This time I didn’t offer to stay with Ethan. I stayed for a while and went home. But the next day, Mrs. Wen fell ill from anxiety. After all, Ethan’s driving without a license as a minor was exposed by the media, and the internet was full of insults against Ethan. Mr. Wen couldn’t handle it alone, so helplessly, my mom arranged for me, who had just finished the college entrance exam, to go over. Seeing that it was me, the excitement Ethan had just raised faded. I ignored him and just sat quietly playing with my phone, thinking as long as he was alive, it was fine. But when the nurse came to change the dressing, Ethan was very uncooperative. “Bed 18, time to change dressing.” Ethan turned his head with red eyes, “No need.” The nurse was helpless but not surprised at all, looking like she was used to it. “If you don’t change the dressing, your leg condition will only get worse.” The nurse tried to untie the gauze on Ethan’s leg on her own. “I said no need!” Ethan knocked over the iodine in the nurse’s tray, and the tray crashed to the ground with a clang. I frowned and stood up. In my previous life, Ethan couldn’t accept his legs becoming like this either, but he wasn’t as bastardly as now. After carefully recalling, I discovered the difference. In my previous life, after Ethan’s accident, I went to find Mia and persuaded her with good and bad words, and Mia came to visit him the next day. But this time, news of Ethan’s car accident spread throughout the school, but Mia didn’t make a move. Ethan was venting his anger. The nurse lady was extremely wronged but had to finish her work. But before she could touch him, Ethan actually reached out and pushed the nurse’s shoulder. “I told you no need, do you not understand human language! Are people in your line of work all so cheap? Can’t you understand the patient’s…” Unable to bear it anymore, I raised my hand and slapped Ethan across the face. “If you don’t want treatment, just check out. What are you going crazy for here?” The nurse wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and went out to get medicine again. “Bed 18…” I took the medicine and threw it on Ethan. “If you want to die, hurry up. If you don’t want to die, change it yourself.” The nurse gave me a grateful look and went out as if relieved of a heavy burden. I silently felt sorry for this young lady in the private hospital for encountering such a beast as Ethan. Ethan glared at me angrily, panting like a mad lion. “Sarah Qiao, what right do you have to hit me!!” Looking at the swelling on his face, I finally felt a little relieved. “Before you court death, look at your parents. Your mom fell ill, your dad’s hair turned white overnight. What reason do you have to act up here?” “Just because Mia didn’t come to see you? Then why don’t you go act up at her?” Ethan fell silent after his thoughts were exposed. After a long time, he spoke with a nasal voice, “Did Mia go to the training camp again and doesn’t know about this, so she didn’t come?” I ruthlessly burst his bubble. “The college entrance exam is over. She even went to a class reunion yesterday.” Ethan pursed his lips tightly and turned his head away, obviously unwilling to admit it. When I came back from the bathroom, he had secretly changed the dressing himself. In my previous life, I always felt sorry for Ethan being a patient and took care of everything personally. Later, I turned him into a giant baby who wouldn’t even take his daily medicine unless I sorted it out. Now with no one to take care of him, didn’t he change the dressing himself? After returning home, I looked at Mia’s social media. She had been living a colorful life these past few days. After thinking about it, I clicked open the chat box with Mia. I wanted to see how Mia would treat Ethan in this life without my earnest persuasion. 4 The next day, Mia and I arrived at the hospital one after another. When I came, Ethan looked dead inside; when Mia came, Ethan looked like a living person. His eyes were shining, “Mia, you finally came.” “How did you know I was hospitalized? It’s hard for you in such hot weather. Sarah Qiao, go buy Mia a cup of bubble tea.” Even though I had no feelings for Ethan in this life, I was still laughed at out of anger. In my previous life, I gave up repeating a year and chose nursing, allowing him to stand up again from paralysis. Not only did he not think I worked hard, but he also treated me as a maid, saying that the car accident was deliberately designed by me to be with him. Sure enough, the one truly loved doesn’t need to do anything; just standing there is winning. I stood still, and Mia also crossed her arms and said coldly no need. She kept her distance from Ethan. “I didn’t come here to drink bubble tea.” “Ethan, what exactly do you mean? Your driving skills are poor and you had an accident, now you want to involve me and make me responsible for you?” “Are you crazy? Your car accident happened after I broke up with you. I have nothing to do with you anymore, understand?” It was the first time I saw that expression on Ethan’s face. Astonishment, embarrassment, and forcing a smile. Looking very miserable. He stammered a bit, “Mia, no… I didn’t want you to take responsibility, I…” Mia scolded him back coldly. “Do you think I don’t know you deliberately had people spread the news of your car accident at school? Aren’t you just trying to morally kidnap me!” “The more you act like this, the more disgusting I find you! You insisted on pestering me yourself; do you still want to delay my whole life?” “Don’t contact me again in the future. I’m telling you for the last time, I’ve broken up with you!” Mia walked away, and Ethan actually shed two tears. In my previous life, he didn’t cry before dying, didn’t cry when learning of paralysis this time, but was moved to tears by a few words from Mia. I raised the corner of my lips vengefully. “It’s almost time to fill out college applications. I’m going back to choose a school.” “Uncle Wen has to take care of Auntie Xu. You should hire a caregiver here for now.” I said a bunch, but Ethan didn’t listen to any of it. But it didn’t matter. I just needed to complete the orders from my parents. I just heard that Ethan had a high fever that night and was urgently treated again.

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The night my sister Elara returned from dialysis, the house felt suffocating with despair. Curled frail on the sofa, she whispered that I shouldn’t overwork myself at my new job. Dad squatted on the porch, smoking, having sold our family land to pay for her treatments. My fiancé Chris, who’d always protected Elara like a sister, arrived muddy from work and pressed his wages into Dad’s hand. They all mourned how fate targets those who’ve already suffered. Only I knew the truth. Watching my reflection, my nose bleeding again, I washed my crumpled leukemia diagnosis down the sink. At dinner, Dad broke the silence. “Talia, your sister needs a kidney. You’re a perfect match.” I looked at the hope in Elara’s eyes, set my chopsticks down, and said coldly, “No. Having one kidney would ruin my life.” Dad slapped me. Chris called me heartless. I stormed out, renting a cheap place near the hospital—five hundred meters from the organ donation center—just waiting to die. … My rented room was in the sub-basement, two floors down. The air hung thick with the smell of mildew day and night. The only window was a tiny slit near the ceiling, barely big enough to show a sliver of the concrete sidewalk above if I stood on my toes. I looked at myself in the small, cracked mirror. My face was a ghostly shade of white, tinged with blue. A familiar warmth filled my nostrils, and blood began to trickle down again. I tilted my head back on instinct, stuffing a tissue against the flow. This was the fourth time today. The doctor had told me that APL M3, my type of acute leukemia, had a high cure rate with aggressive treatment. But that meant money. A lot of money. Elara’s kidney failure also demanded money. Fifty thousand for the transplant, and then a lifetime of anti-rejection medication. Our family was already broke. The property was sold. Dad was hauling bricks at a construction site, and Chris was working three jobs a day. If I chose treatment, Elara would die. If I didn’t, and gave her my kidney, I could at least save her the cost of buying one from a donor. The math was simple. My phone buzzed violently in my pocket. It was a text from Chris. “Talia, where the hell are you? Your sister just passed out from the pain!” “Are you even human? That’s your sister! It’s just one kidney, it’s not going to kill you!” “Just come back. We won’t force you to donate right away. At least come to the hospital for a final compatibility check. I’m begging you.” I read the words and a bitter laugh escaped my lips. Blood trickled down my throat, its coppery taste making me sick. Compatibility check? The moment they drew my blood, the abnormal markers would expose everything. My kidney would become “defective,” and Elara’s only hope would be gone. I had to be the selfish one. My fingers trembled as I typed a reply. “No money, no kidney. Give me fifty thousand dollars, and I’ll consider it.” I hit send. Less than three seconds later, his call came through. I didn’t answer. I just blocked his number. I didn’t need to hear it. I knew he was cursing me, calling me a soulless, money-grubbing parasite. Good. Hate me. Hating me is better than feeling guilty for me. I curled up on the damp, single mattress, the taste of blood in my stomach churning with nausea. But I couldn’t throw up. If I started, I might not be able to stop. To protect this kidney for Elara, I had to keep my body functioning, however barely. I grabbed the cheap bottle of vitamin B from the table, poured a handful into my palm, and chewed them down dry. They were useless against my disease, but they were a small comfort, a placebo for my fraying mind. This room was only five hundred meters from the organ donation center. I had measured it myself. If I died fast enough, if I could crawl there fast enough, this kidney could be transplanted into my sister’s body while it was still warm. A sudden, violent cramp ripped through my stomach, as if someone were twisting a knife inside me. The pain sent me tumbling from the bed to the floor, my forehead slick with cold sweat. The painkillers were in the drawer, but I couldn’t take them. Most painkillers are toxic to the kidneys. I couldn’t let Elara have a damaged one. “Just hold on, Talia… a little longer… it’ll stop soon…” I bit down hard on the corner of the blanket, curling into a tight ball in the darkness. My phone screen lit up, a notification from a “favorite.” Elara had posted on social media. The picture was of her arm, covered in needle marks from the dialysis. The caption was just one sentence: “I guess blood isn’t always thicker than water. In my next life, I don’t want to be the older sister.” Tears broke free, mixing with the blood on my face. Elara, I’m so sorry. Next life, let me be the older sister. By the third day in the basement, I had lost track of night and day. The bruises bloomed across my skin, purple and angry, as if I’d been beaten in my sleep. I knew what they were. Petechiae. A sign my platelet count was crashing. I took out my concealer and began layering it over my arms. The tube was almost empty by the time I managed to cover the most gruesome of the marks. A frantic pounding echoed from the door. “Talia! I know you’re in there! Open up!” It was Dad’s voice, laced with murderous rage. My heart skipped a beat. How did they find me? I scrambled up from the floor, moving too fast. The world went black for a second. Leaning against the wall for support, I stuffed all the bloody tissues into a garbage bag and tied it shut. I dusted a thick layer of powder on my face until I looked merely pale, not like a walking corpse. Only then did I open the door. The moment a crack appeared, a rough hand shot through, grabbing the collar of my shirt. SMACK! The slap was so loud it made my ears ring, and the world spun. I stumbled backward, knocking over the small table behind me. Dad stood in the doorway, his eyes bloodshot. Chris was right behind him, his face a mask of disgust and disappointment. “You animal!” Dad roared, pointing a trembling finger at me, his spit hitting my face. “Your sister is in the emergency room, fighting for her life, and you’re hiding here?” I licked the metallic tang of blood from my lips and forced myself to stand straight. I couldn’t collapse. Not yet. I smoothed my messy hair and managed a brittle, cruel smile. “You want me to stop hiding? Then pay up.” I held my hand out to Chris. “Fifty thousand. Not a penny less. Money in my hand, and I’ll go to the hospital and let them carve me up.” Chris stared at my outstretched hand, and the last flicker of light in his eyes died. He had held that hand countless times. Now, he looked at it as if it were something vile. “Talia, what happened to you?” he asked, his voice raspy with disbelief. “The Talia who would starve for two days to save a stray cat, where did she go?” “People change, Chris,” I sneered, turning away from him. “A stray cat didn’t ask me to carve out a piece of my body. This is a kidney. I want to get married, have kids. What if my husband resents me for it? Is it so wrong to ask for a little compensation?” Dad was shaking with rage. He raised his hand to strike me again. Chris stopped him. “Don’t, sir,” Chris said, his voice as cold as ice. “She’s not worth dirtying your hands over.” He pulled an envelope from his bag and threw it at me. It hit me in the face, the sharp corner slicing my cheek. “Here’s ten thousand dollars. It was my savings for our wedding. From this moment on, we’re done.” “Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be Elara’s sister. And you sure as hell don’t deserve to be my wife.” The thick stack of bills scattered across the filthy floor. I crouched down, picking them up one by one, blowing off the dust. “Only ten grand? How pathetic,” I scoffed. “Fine. For old times’ sake, I’ll take it. But as for the kidney? Forget it.” “You…!” Dad grabbed a broom from by the door and lunged at me. I slammed the door shut just in time, locking it with a loud click. All their curses and accusations were left on the other side. Outside, Dad kept kicking the door while Chris tried to pull him away. “Let’s go, sir. Begging a piece of trash like this is useless. I’ll sell my blood, I’ll take out a loan from a shark, whatever it takes! I will save Elara!” Their footsteps faded away. I leaned my back against the door, my body slowly sliding down until I was sitting on the cold concrete. Only then did I let myself gasp for air. A mouthful of blood erupted from my lips, staining the cash in my hands. This was the money Chris had saved for three years. For our wedding. I carefully wiped the money clean and tucked it into a small metal box under my pillow. There was already over four thousand dollars in there. Money I had saved over the years from odd jobs, from skipping meals, even from selling my hair. It was still not enough. I’m sorry, Elara. I’m not strong enough. I couldn’t get you the fifty thousand. I looked at my blood-soaked hands and smiled. That slap was a good one, Chris. Forget me now. Marry Elara. She’s kinder than I am. She’s better. Most importantly, she’s about to get a healthy kidney. And I was about to become a rotting corpse. The night after Chris left, a fever took hold of me. My bones ached with a deep, gnawing pain, as if they were being eaten by ants. I knew I didn’t have much time left. I had to get everything in order while I was still lucid. With great effort, I pulled an old backpack from under the bed. Inside was the Organ Donor Designation form. I had secretly picked it up from the Red Cross a month ago. The volunteer there, seeing how young I was, had urged me to think it over. I remember smiling and saying, “I just want to do something good. You never know, I could choke on a glass of water tomorrow. At least this way, I won’t go to waste.” I took out a pen. My hand was shaking so badly that my own name came out jagged and crooked. In the section for “Designated Recipient,” I wrote out “Elara” one careful stroke at a time. I was terrified of making a mistake, as if a single stray mark would cause the kidney to lose its way. After filling it out, I sealed it in a waterproof document pouch and hung it around my neck. This was my passport. My final offering before I went to meet my maker. With that done, I took out my phone. I wanted to leave them something. But I looked terrifying. My face was ashen gray, my lips were cracked and bleeding, and my gums were so swollen they barely covered my teeth. If Elara saw me like this, it would break her heart. She was so smart. She had always understood me best. I rummaged through my things and found the red dress. I’d bought it last month, a painful splurge of thirty dollars. When I brought it home, Dad had yelled at me for being wasteful. Elara didn’t say anything, but I saw the reproach in her eyes. The truth was, I bought it for today. I put on heavy makeup. The reddest lipstick, the thickest foundation. I even put on a pair of oversized, gaudy sunglasses to hide my sunken eyes. I propped my phone up on a cup of instant noodles and started recording. The woman in the frame wore a tacky red dress and smiled like she didn’t have a care in the world. “Hey… Dad, Elara… and you… Chris.”

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My boyfriend and my brother’s fiancée killed themselves together. They left a joint suicide note that went viral, making my brother and me the absolute villains—the heartless family members who drove the ‘fated lovers’ to their end. Grant blamed me for dating Leo—a man who was nothing more than a pretty face and a club promoter. I blamed him for falling for Skylar, the conniving saint who had him wrapped around her finger. We despised each other’s choices, and we were always trying to trip the other up. Now, the hatred was boundless. I hired people to trash every last thing Skylar owned. He scattered Leo’s ashes into the ocean. We finally exhausted ourselves, swearing we would never see each other again. He went overseas, becoming an aid doctor for an NGO. I stayed behind, opening a small, exclusive place called The Broth House. I became the local legend—the “Broth House Beauty” who could fix any ailment with a bowl of soup. 1 The cashier had gone home after the last delivery was confirmed. I stayed to close up. On the small TV above the counter, the news was broadcasting the return of the celebrated international aid doctor, Grant Bell. The former scion of a powerhouse family was now the ultimate white-coat hero. The media was in a frenzy over his return to The City. I barely registered the throbbing in my finger until I looked down—a small gash from clearing the knives. I cleaned the wound quickly, ready to lock up and head home. Just then, a girl walked in. She was beautiful, with an innocent, almost startled look. “Thank God you’re still here, Boss,” she said, looking relieved. “Can I get an order of the Signature Seafood Stew?” Due to my declining health, it was the only dish I made now. And it was sold out. The girl’s face fell, filled with disappointment. “Last time I got some, my brother said it was the best thing he’d ever eaten,” she explained. “He just got back from overseas. I wanted to surprise him with it.” “I can’t believe I rushed here for nothing.” She pulled out a wad of cash. “Please, I’ll pay ten times the price. Twenty times! Could you please just make one batch?” Before I could refuse, the door opened again. It was Drew. He stopped dead when he saw me. He quickly whispered to the girl, “Willow, let’s just go to another place. Grant will like anything you get him.” “No.” Willow was gentle but firm, refusing Grant’s best friend, Drew. She turned back to me, smiling. “Boss, I know it’s an imposition, but my brother is always busy abroad and has a serious stomach condition. He barely ate anything I brought him last time—except for your stew. He must really love it. Could you please make an exception?” She was polite, and the request wasn’t out of line. I couldn’t refuse. I told her to wait outside and walked to the back kitchen. My steps felt heavy, dragging. It wasn’t the sudden re-introduction of my past that weighed me down. It was the fact that my illness—late-stage cancer—was accelerating. It was incurable, and I was living on borrowed time, kept functional only by pain medication, waiting for the inevitable. “Drew, my brother is on his way to pick me up. Will you go wait outside for him and just have him come straight here?” I could hear them in the dining area. Drew was trying to convince Willow to leave. “You and Grant should just go. I’ll grab the stew and bring it to you.” Drew clearly didn’t want the two of us—the former disaster siblings—to be in the same room. Our last few encounters had been borderline psychotic. On the television, Grant was still smiling for the camera, though his eyes held that familiar, untouchable coldness. “I have a sister,” he was saying. “I came back to The City to spend time with her, as she’s been alone for too long.” My hand froze. I looked up and saw the rose tattoo on his arm. It was inked right where a deep, ugly scar used to be. A scar I put there with a broken piece of ceramic. I almost ruined his hand that night. I had the crisscrossing scars on my back—whip marks he’d given me. I remembered the blood, the fear that a bone might be fractured. We’d been locked in a cycle of mutual destruction for years: I’d do the unforgivable, and he’d do the unthinkable, each aiming to inflict maximum, soul-crushing pain. But neither of us could actually kill the other. We were blood—the closest and farthest kin in the world. And because of that, I knew with chilling certainty: the sister he spoke of was not me. Outside, Willow was ignoring Drew and gossiping. “I heard Grant used to have a real sister here in The City—a complete mess, addicted to dating male escorts, who even caused his fiancée’s death. Is that true?” I kept cleaning the produce, pretending I couldn’t feel Drew’s nervous eyes darting my way. “Grant!” The wind chime above the door jingled, followed by Willow’s bright, excited laugh. “How did you get here so fast?” She rushed into his arms. The awkward tension in the shop shattered. Grant caught her, a genuine, fond warmth flashing in his eyes as he lightly ruffled her hair. “Why so frantic, Willow? What if you fall?” “I’m not scared.” Willow clung to his arm, radiant. The elegant, soft-spoken girl was now bubbly and adorable around him. “My brother would never let me get hurt.” Seven years. I hadn’t expected this reunion, or this sudden, gut-wrenching contrast. Our eyes met across the counter. No hysteria, no raw hatred, just the calm, unnerving silence of strangers. Willow introduced us, radiant. “Boss, this is my brother. He’s the doctor on the news.” I just hummed in response and turned back to the stove. Drew edged closer, lowering his voice. “Avery, today is Grant’s birthday… can you just not provoke him?” He remembered the old days when we would go to war on sight. He paused, then tried again: “Willow is only eighteen, completely innocent. She knows nothing, so if you—” The Signature Seafood Stew was bubbling furiously in the pot. I stirred it slowly. “She is definitely more ‘well-behaved and sensible’ than I ever was.” Grant returned after sending Willow to the car to wait. “What is it, Avery? Planning something against my sister already?” His smile was tight, his eyes full of suspicion and pure loathing. Drew’s hands clenched into fists, bracing himself for the old Avery. I turned the heat off and packaged the stew, sliding the container across the counter. “Signature Seafood Stew. Thank you for your business.” Willow ran in, her eyes lighting up when she saw the container. “Brother, you just flew in, open it and eat a little!” She looked at Grant with such genuine, intimate warmth. Grant, who always hated eating outside, surprisingly opened the package and started drinking the stew, spoon after spoon. “It’s good, right? You loved it last time!” Willow’s eyes were glued to his face, full of pride and delight. “I had to beg the boss for ages just to get her to make it!” Grant lowered the spoon, his expression suddenly bland. “It’s fine, I guess. Nothing special. Maybe I was just starving last time.” “Really?” Willow didn’t believe him. She leaned in, tasted a spoonful, then playfully glared at Grant. “That’s a lie! It’s delicious!” Seeing the slight smirk on his face, she instantly understood and playfully hit his arm. “Oh, Grant! You tricked me!” She was teasing; he was smiling. But the moment those warm, smiling eyes swept past me, they would instantly turn cold. “Grant, welcome home!” The door chime signaled the arrival of a horde of his friends, squeezing into the small space for an impromptu party. One of them saw me, jaw dropping, then discreetly nudged the others, pointing. I was exhausted. I picked up my bag and started walking toward them. Several people instinctively backed away, a few even making moves to turn and leave, as if afraid I might attack them. Right. I started learning martial arts in middle school. During the years Grant and I were tearing each other apart, they often got caught in the crossfire. One guy once hired someone to jump me to ‘avenge’ Grant; I broke a few of his teeth instead. One friend quietly asked Grant, confused: “Grant, what’s going on?” Grant was silent, subtly moving to shield Willow. “I’m closing up now. Could you all please leave?” “Sister,” Willow suddenly grabbed my arm. “Can’t you let us stay a little longer?” “No.” I pulled my arm away, stood at the doorway, and looked at them blankly. “Please leave.” Grant scoffed, looking me up and down. “A business owner who doesn’t want money? Name your price for the evening, Avery. You can personally serve us.” I only repeated, louder: “Please leave.” A sudden shove sent a sharp pain up my arm. I gasped, stumbling to the floor, my bag scattering its contents. I scrambled to gather everything, but a hand clamped violently onto my chin. The next moment, a black card was flung onto my face. “The money on this is more than enough to buy this miserable little shop and you.” I slapped his hand away, quickly collecting my things, and used a stool by the door to leverage myself up. The rage was a white-hot sickness. His ‘friends’ laughed. The guy who shoved me snickered. “Grant, Avery looks pretty desperate these days. Maybe throw her a bone. She’s willing to bend over for a few hundred bucks.” He pulled out a few hundred-dollar bills and threw them at my feet. “Pick them up, they’re yours.” I picked up the nearest potted plant and smashed it across his ankle. As he doubled over, howling, I grabbed his hair and slammed his head against the bar. Blood gushed from his forehead. “You’re too soft to be running your mouth around me,” I sneered. In one quick motion, I turned, delivering a round of sharp slaps to the other loudmouths. “That’s what you get for shooting off your mouth.” Then I took the container of leftover stew—the one I’d packaged for my own dinner—and poured it directly over the head of the worst offender. Rice, eggs, and herbs dripped down his face, instantly turning him into the most humiliated mess in the room. The air went silent. No one dared to challenge me. These few seconds were enough to remind them of the days I ruled their fear, a fallen queen who would never be a tame little chick. Drew stayed far back, sighing, “Why did you have to provoke her?” Willow rushed up to me. “Boss, even if they were wrong, you shouldn’t hit people!” Her eyes were clear and wide, like a princess who’d never seen the real world. I looked right at Grant. “Take your people and get out!” “You are going too far!” Willow was furious that I yelled at her brother. She raised her hand to hit me. I snatched her wrist and whipped my hand back, delivering a stinging slap to her cheek. “What about it?” I said, enunciating every word. “I am this toxic.” Willow began to cry. Grant pulled her into his arms, soothing her, his face darkening. The familiar, intense hatred I knew so well blazed in his eyes. “You can hit me, Avery. I won’t retaliate against you.” He looked at her tear-stained face. “But you should never have touched her.” A line of men in black suits appeared at the door. They squeezed into my small shop. “Smash this place.” Grant gave the order. The men scattered. CRASH! The shop window shattered. CLATTER! Pots and pans crashed to the floor of the kitchen. I stood at the doorway, rain and cold wind hitting my face. It was so cold. “It’s just a shop. Send the bill to Bell Industries’ accounts payable. I’ll pay for the whole thing.” Suddenly, the prescription pill bottle in the counter drawer was knocked to the floor and rolled to my feet. I snatched it up, but Grant lunged, seizing my hand, his gaze narrowed on the prescription. “What is this?” “Melatonin,” I lied, pulling free and swallowing four pills. The label did read ‘Melatonin,’ but he scoffed. “Four pills at once? You’re trying to kill yourself.” He snatched the bottle and threw it out into the heavy rain, then walked away with his entourage. I ran out into the downpour, retrieving the bottle. The pain flared, cold and bone-deep, and I collapsed onto the wet ground. I sat in the rain, shivering, and swallowed two more pills. These were prescription controlled pain medication. From half a tablet a day, I was now taking six at a time. The cancer was eating me alive. I knew I didn’t have long.

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My mom was critically ill, in a moment of terminal lucidity, she made a will in the ICU. “Ms. Lewis, you want to make a will, right?” “Yes, while I’m still clear-headed… I, I want to explain the inheritance issue.” Mother took a deep breath. Although her voice was weak, every word was articulated clearly. Lawyer Lee took out a pen and notebook, his gaze behind the glasses becoming serious: “Okay, Ms. Lewis, please go ahead.” “Besides the house in our hometown, I still have 1.48 million in my bank card.” This sentence exploded in the ward like a bomb. I looked at my mother in disbelief. When did she save 1.48 million?? She was a retired old lady with a monthly pension of just over 2,000. “Leave the house in our hometown to Felix.” My brother smiled slightly upon hearing this, as if expecting it. That house was worth 2 million. “As for… the sav-savings… also leave to Felix. My dowry jewelry in the old house goes to Sarah.” Mother finished speaking tremblingly, but her tone was very firm. The air in the ward seemed to freeze. I felt my breathing stop for a moment. I stared blankly at my mother, ears buzzing, as if all sounds became distant and unreal. “Mom…” “Wh-what did you say?” I opened my mouth, my voice so dry I could hardly make a sound. Mother’s gaze still lingered on Felix, as if she didn’t hear my voice. Her fingers gently stroked her son’s hand, eyes full of tenderness and pity. “It hasn’t been easy for Felix these years, struggling outside, suffering a lot.” Mother’s voice was weak but firm, “Leaving this house and savings to him is a small token from me as a mother.” My brother was also hit by the unexpected huge surprise! Eyes shining, he quickly hugged mother excitedly, saying emotionally: “Mom, Mom, I don’t want it… You have to live a long life, your son hasn’t been filial to you yet.” I felt my heart being clenched hard by something, breathing became difficult. I looked at my mother’s pale face, suddenly feeling extremely strange. From childhood to adulthood, mother’s gaze had never stayed on me for so long, let alone speaking to me in such a gentle tone. “Mom, what about me?” I finally couldn’t help but speak, voice trembling slightly: “I am also your daughter.” Only then did mother turn to look at me, but her eyes lacked the warmth I expected. Her gaze was still sharp, even with a trace of impatience. “Sarah, you have been sensible since childhood, I don’t need to worry about you.” Mother’s voice was cold. “You have a stable job and good income, can take care of yourself. Felix is different; he needs this house.” I felt my eyes heating up, throat blocked by something. I wanted to say something, but found my voice choked up. “Ms. Lewis, are you sure you want to distribute it like this?” Lawyer Lee pushed his glasses, tone calm and professional: “According to the law, children are equal in inheritance rights. If you don’t have a special reason, it might cause some legal disputes.” Mother’s eyes suddenly became sharp. She stared at Lawyer Lee, tone carrying unquestionable firmness: “This is my decision. Felix is my son. Leaving the house and savings to him is only right and proper.” Felix stood aside, with a complex expression on his face. He looked at mother, then at me, seeming to want to say something, but finally just lowered his head and held mother’s hand tightly. “Mom, don’t say that.” He finally spoke, voice somewhat hoarse: “Sister is also your daughter, I…” “Felix, you don’t need to say anything.” Mother interrupted him, tone carrying a trace of exhaustion: “This is my decision. No one can change it.” I felt my heart sinking bit by bit. Looking at mother’s familiar yet strange face, I suddenly realized I never truly walked into her heart. Growing up, no matter how hard I tried, mother’s gaze always stayed on my brother. I once thought as long as I was excellent enough, mother would see my existence one day. But now, I finally understand, some things are destined not to change. “Mom, I know.” I finally spoke, voice calm enough to surprise even myself: “Don’t worry, I won’t fight for it.” Mother seemed surprised by my answer, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She opened her mouth, seeming to want to say something, but finally just sighed lightly. “Sarah, don’t blame mom.” Her voice suddenly softened, with a trace of exhaustion and helplessness: “Mom just… just hopes Felix can live a little better.” I didn’t answer, just nodded silently. I felt my eyes heating up, but I held back the tears. I knew, at this moment, I must be strong. Lawyer Lee looked at me, then at mother, and finally recorded the content of mother’s will in his notebook. The atmosphere in the ward became heavy and oppressive, only the ticking of instruments sounded exceptionally clear in the silence. “Ms. Lewis, I have recorded the content of the will.” Lawyer Lee closed the notebook, tone calm: “If you have no other requests, I will handle the relevant procedures as soon as possible.” Mother nodded, showing a tired smile: “Okay, trouble you.” Felix stood aside, expression joyful yet complex. He looked at mother, then at me, seeming to want to say something. But finally just lowered his head, holding mother’s hand tightly. “Mom, rest well.” He said softly, voice choking slightly: “I will always be with you.” Mother’s eyes softened. She gently patted her son’s hand, showing a gratified smile. I stood aside, watching this scene silently. I felt my heart being stabbed hard by something, the pain almost suffocating me. I knew I had lost the last trace of hope. “Mom, I’m going out first. You rest well.” I said softly, voice carrying exhaustion. Mother didn’t answer, just nodded lightly. Her gaze still lingered on my brother, as if she had forgotten my existence. I turned and walked out of the ward, gently closing the door. The lights in the corridor were dazzling and cold. I leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath, trying to calm my emotions. Chapter 2 [Mom, why are you always like this? Brother is your child, am I not?] [Why do you always favor him? You give him whatever he wants, but what about me? Taking care of you in old age, serving you hand and foot. Not to mention your inheritance, I can’t even get a word of concern!] I stood in the corridor, trembling all over, tears swirling in my eyes. How I wanted to rush into the ward to question my mother. But I couldn’t… Thinking of my mother sitting on the sickbed, my heart was full of grievance and confusion. I didn’t understand why, since childhood, mother always pampered my brother in every way, but was always cold to me. I remember when I went to school with my brother as a child. Every morning, mother would prepare a sumptuous breakfast for my brother, while I could only eat some leftovers casually. Once, I couldn’t help asking my mother: “Mom, why does brother have eggs and milk, while I only have steamed buns?” Mother replied without lifting her head: “You are the older sister, you should yield to your brother. He is still growing and needs nutrition.” I lowered my head, silently gnawing on the hard dry bun, heart full of grievance. After entering junior high, my grades were always good, ranking among the top in the grade every exam. I thought as long as I was excellent enough, mother would look at me more. But that was not the case. Once, I ran home excitedly with a full-mark test paper, wanting to share my joy with my mother. “Mom, I got full marks in this exam!” I said excitedly. Mother was peeling an apple for my brother, gave a “hmm” without lifting her head, then continued to hand the peeled apple to my brother: “Felix, eat more fruit, it’s good for your body.” I stood there, the test paper in my hand gradually becoming heavy. Watching mother gently wipe my brother’s mouth, my heart felt sour. Since then, I never actively shared my grades with my mother again. Chapter 3 After graduating from high school, I was admitted to a key university. I thought after leaving home, I could get rid of mother’s partiality and start a new life. But unexpectedly, mother’s indifference to me didn’t change because of distance. Every time I called home, mother always hung up after a few hurried sentences, as if I was just an insignificant person. And my brother Felix, although his grades were poor, mother always worried about him. After Felix failed the college entrance exam, mother sought connections everywhere and spent a lot of money to find him a private university. Knowing this, my heart felt even more unbalanced. I didn’t understand why after working hard for so many years, I still couldn’t get mother’s approval. After graduating from university, I found a decent job, and life gradually stabilized. I thought I could finally get rid of mother’s shadow and start an independent life. But unexpectedly, a phone call from mother broke my peace. “Sarah, your brother is getting married, the family doesn’t have enough money, can you help him?” Mother’s voice came from the phone, tone carrying a trace of pleading. I held the phone, heart feeling bitter. I knew mother would never actively look for me unless it was for my brother. “Mom, I have my own life too. I can pay part of brother’s wedding money, but not all.” I tried to make my voice sound calm. Mother was silent for a while, then said coldly: “You are the older sister, you should help your brother more. His marriage is a big deal, you can’t be so selfish.” My heart felt like being pricked by needles. I didn’t understand why mother always put my brother’s needs first, while my feelings were never valued. In the end, I still paid 150,000 for my brother’s betrothal gift and banquet. But unexpectedly, the bride had been married to my brother for less than a year. She despised my brother for being useless and unable to earn money, so she divorced and ran away. And my 150,000 also went down the drain. That was my hard-earned money saved hundred by hundred. Chapter 4 To take care of mother, I also brought her to my side these years. She stayed for ten years. I tried my best to give the best I could. When it was most difficult, my husband and I would rather save money living in a basement to rent a small master bedroom with good lighting and ventilation for mother. But mother still complained often. I could only work harder, often working overtime until late at night. Whenever I opened the door, I would always see mother sitting on the sofa sleepily. Then nagging at me: “Always waking me up late at night… sleep earlier in the future, don’t disturb me…” I could only apologize repeatedly. Then go to the kitchen to grab a bite and sleep. Although work was hard. But being able to eat meals made by mother, my heart still felt sweet. This was one of the few moments I felt mother’s care. But unexpectedly, a year ago. Mother suddenly fell ill. I also rushed to the hospital every day. The hospital corridor smelled of disinfectant. I sat on the bench outside the ward, heart full of complex emotions. Looking at the thin and weak mother on the sickbed, my heart felt sour. Although mother was always indifferent to me, seeing her lying on the sickbed, I still couldn’t help feeling heartache. “Mom, how do you feel?” I asked softly. Mother opened her eyes, looked at me, then said lightly: “I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me.” My heart ached like being pricked by needles. I didn’t understand why mother was still so cold to me at this time. Just then, brother Felix rushed to the hospital. “Mom, how are you? I heard you were sick and rushed back immediately!” Felix rushed to the bedside as soon as he entered, tone full of anxiety. Seeing Felix, mother immediately smiled: “Felix, you came? Mom is fine, don’t worry.” I stood aside, watching mother’s gentleness to my brother, heart feeling sour. Her hand gently patted Felix’s hand, eyes full of maternal love, as if he was her only concern. And I, standing here, was like an outsider, even breathing seemed redundant. I silently withdrew from the ward, standing in the corridor, tears flowing unconsciously. Chapter 5 Three days later, mother left, very peacefully, as if she just fell asleep. Her face was calm, mouth even carrying a faint smile, as if finally letting go of all concerns. Before passing away, she held Felix’s hand tightly, rambling a lot: Urging him to take good care of himself, work hard, start a family early… And to me standing aside, she just glanced lightly, lips moved, but finally said nothing. I ultimately didn’t wait for half a word of instruction from mother. Not even calling my name once. After the funeral ended. I returned to my hometown disheartened. In an inconspicuous corner, found my mother’s old dowry jewelry box. I opened it, greeted by a burst of dust and moldy smell. Looking at these dowry items mother once stroked, My heart felt even more uncomfortable, just wanted to get rid of them quickly. Never wanted to remember mother again. And my brother looked at the worn box in my hand. Somewhat gloatingly said: “Sis, don’t worry, I won’t fight you for this!” “This is the thing Mom valued most. No matter if it’s worth a few cents, you have to keep it well~” I looked at him lightly, saying nothing. Don’t know since when, the brother who loved following behind my butt calling “sister” “sister”, also became so snobbish. Finally, I took the jewelry box to a jewelry pawnshop. My voice was a bit hoarse: “Please help me see how much these things are worth, pawn them all.” The clerk took the jewelry box, observed carefully for a while, wiping and tapping, then suddenly showed a surprised expression. Then changed several old masters back and forth. Finally an old master asked with a trace of uncertainty in his tone: “Madam, are you sure you want to pawn all of them?” I nodded weakly, just wanting to dispose of them quickly. The clerk nodded, then turned the pawn value amount towards me. My legs went weak, almost couldn’t stand steady, holding the counter, brain buzzing, as if the whole world was spinning. Why… why is it like this? My heart tightened inexplicably, and the clerk’s next words made me break down instantly!

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I’m the only daughter of the Su family. The price of being worth hundreds of billions was being kidnapped three times as a child. My father assigned me a hundred bodyguards. Even going to school required three bulletproof cars for escort. “Choose a husband. Let him guard you day and night.” I chose Julian, who was the gentlest to me. But on our wedding day, he withdrew all my bodyguards. I was tied up on a rooftop, the kidnapper’s knife against my neck. On the other end of the phone, Julian sneered, “Chloe, are you for real? You got thugs to bully Mia. She’s the real victim. Who are you putting on this show for?” “I just let your bodyguards protect her for 24 hours, to let you taste what it feels like to be scared.” I counted the chime of the rooftop clock. Every hour, I lost a finger. 24 hours later, my blood ran dry, and my heart died. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I chose my husband. In my father’s hand were still those eight photos. This time, my finger swept right past Julian and pointed to the cynical smiling face in the farthest corner. But my father said, “This person is already dead.” 1 I stared at the eight photos in my father’s hand. My fingertip swept past Julian’s gentle, jade-like face without hesitation, pointing straight to the face at the very bottom, with slightly tanned skin and a roguish smile. My father was stunned. “Chloe, didn’t you like Julian the most? Why choose Xander?” I clenched my fingers tightly, nails almost digging into my palm. Xander, athletic since childhood, was also a famous playboy in our circle. His skin was tanned dark, spending all day at the racetrack and nightclubs, the women around him more glamorous than the last. My father looked down on him and casually threw him a hard job in a remote mountain area to get rid of him. But I remembered, in my past life, when I was tied up on the rooftop, blood draining drop by drop, the moment I jumped off the rooftop, the last thing I saw was Xander rushing over like crazy. His face was full of terror and heartache. “Him.” My voice trembled. My father frowned, took out his phone to search his contacts, and suddenly paused awkwardly. He hadn’t even saved Xander’s number. How ironic. These eight were all his adopted “sons,” but Xander didn’t even deserve a contact name. The chief assistant called back quickly. “Chairman, Xander passed away last month in Yungou Village. He encountered a mudslide.” My father sighed. “Chloe, pick another one. Julian is actually…” “I won’t pick anymore.” I stood up abruptly, my throat tight. “Except for him, I don’t want anyone.” In my past life, those so-called “brothers” were either fawning over Julian’s cousin or watching my jokes coldly. Reliving this life, I’d rather die alone than be stabbed by their hypocritical gentleness again. I walked out of the office in a daze, my mind full of Xander’s last look. If even he is dead, who else in this world would risk their life for me? Suddenly, a cold hand grabbed my wrist hard. I looked up. It was Julian. Mia stood beside him, her slender body leaning slightly on him, the corners of her eyes still red, as if she had suffered a huge grievance. Although Julian looked gentle, the words he spat out were stiff. “Chloe, Mia isn’t feeling well. Your hot spring villa is empty anyway, let her go there to recuperate for a few days. She hasn’t been sleeping well lately and keeps coughing.” If it were before, I would have softened and nodded long ago. But this time, I just glanced at them lightly. “I don’t agree.” After speaking, I directly called my little assistant. “Lock the villa gate tight. Don’t let any messy people sneak in.” Julian’s face changed abruptly. “Chloe!” He grabbed my wrist, his grip painfully strong. “She’s my cousin, she’ll be your family in the future too. Can’t you be a bit sensible?” I sneered and flung his hand away hard. “Who’s family with you?” His pupils contracted, as if stung. “What kind of crazy fit are you throwing? Just because Mia wore your hairpin last time? Your room is piled with jewelry, what’s wrong with letting her wear one?” Mia started sobbing at the right time, tears hanging on her eyelashes, about to fall. “Julian, forget it… Miss Su looks down on me, I, I didn’t deserve it anyway…” I was too lazy to watch this drama anymore and turned to leave. “I said no means no.” Back in my room, I covered myself with the quilt and slept. The dizziness of rebirth was still churning in my mind until a harsh ringtone woke me up. “Miss!” The little assistant’s crying voice came. “Mr. Fu took Miss Xu and broke into the villa! I couldn’t stop them; those bodyguards listen to him…” I sat up abruptly. The scenes of being kidnapped in my past life flashed before my eyes. Those bodyguards who were supposed to protect me did the same thing, following Julian without hesitation, leaving me alone with the kidnappers. When I rushed into the villa, a bodyguard dared to reach out and stop me. “Eldest Miss, Mr. Fu ordered that no one is allowed to disturb.” “Slap!” I slapped him hard across the face. “Eating my food but listening to others?” I trembled with anger. “Get out now!” The moment I pushed open the inner room door, the scene before me made my blood freeze. Chapter 2 2 Amidst the steaming hot spring mist, Mia leaned weakly against the edge of the pool, her cheeks flushed with an unnatural redness. “Cousin, I feel so dizzy…” Before she finished speaking, her body went limp, and she slid towards the bottom of the water. Julian jumped into the pool without hesitation and scooped her up. Water droplets slid down his tense jawline, dripping onto Mia’s exposed shoulder. “Julian,” I interrupted coldly, “I said, you are not welcome here.” He stiffened, and Mia in his arms trembled slightly. “Chloe!” A trace of panic flashed in his eyes, immediately replaced by anger. “Do you have to be so aggressive? She almost fainted! Can’t you stop being so mean!” Mia suddenly broke free from his embrace, knelt before me with a “thud,” and kowtowed heavily on the floor. “Eldest Miss, I’m sorry! It’s all my fault!” Blood trickled down her pale cheek. Suddenly, she lunged forward to hug my legs, but the next second, as if pushed, she fell back into the pool. She struggled painfully in the water. “Help! I have a cramp…” Julian jumped in again to pick her up. When he got ashore, his eyes were full of disgust as he looked at me. “Chloe Su, you’ve gone too far!” He suddenly reached out and pushed me into the pool. “Bang!” My arm hit the pool wall hard, instantly bruising. “If you bully Mia like this again,” he said coldly, holding the shivering Mia, “I won’t marry you.” Watching their departing backs, I climbed out of the pool wretchedly. “Everyone who let them in today, get out!” While I was changing clothes, the little assistant ran over in a hurry. “Eldest Miss! We found a lead on Xander!” I rushed to Yungou Village overnight. The mountain roads destroyed by heavy rain were muddy and difficult to traverse. Just as I settled down in the town, a pair of large hands suddenly grabbed me. The person dragged me into a dark alley, a warm palm covering my mouth tightly. I looked up in horror and met a pair of eyes as bright as stars. “Xander?!” He quickly let go, his face under the mask flushing red. “Eldest Miss, why did you come to a place like this…” “Aren’t you dead?” My voice trembled. He scratched his head embarrassedly, revealing that cute little canine tooth. “There was a mole in the project here. I used the mudslide to fake my death and flush out the mole.” “You know this trick?” I was a bit surprised. His smile suddenly dimmed. “Did I disappoint Eldest Miss? Did you… always think I was stupid?” My heart convulsed with pain. Anxious, I grabbed his hand. “Listen! You must come back before the wedding on the 8th!” He stiffened, his eyes instantly turning gray. “Okay, your wedding, I’ll definitely be there.” “Dummy,” I stamped my foot in anger, “I want to marry…” “Boss! The mole is running!” A shout came from the distance. He backed away in panic. “Eldest Miss, it might be dangerous here, go back quickly! I’ll go to the wedding!” Xander’s hurried retreating figure soon disappeared at the alley entrance. I stood there, a thousand thoughts surging in my mind. In my past life, he was the one I paid the least attention to among the eight. Everyone said he was all brawn and no brains, only hanging out at racetracks and outdoors. Unlike Julian, always in a suit, strategizing behind gold-rimmed glasses. But the most marginal businesses, the trickiest relationships, were always thrown to Xander to handle. But thinking about it now, these so-called “marginal businesses” involved dealing with the most difficult characters from all walks of life. Without the skill to navigate all sides, how could they be handled properly? On the way back, I had someone remake the electronic invitation and send it to Xander. It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that the phone lit up with a notification. “Miss, the groom’s name is wrong, remember to change it.” The “typing” indicator above the chat box flashed for a long time, and finally, he added another sentence. “Don’t worry, I will definitely come to the wedding.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. He wouldn’t believe whatever I said now; better to explain face to face when he comes back. My phone kept vibrating. Julian sent message after message: “Mia needs your apology.” “Don’t be so willful.” I tapped the screen and deleted him from WeChat without hesitation. Chapter 3 3 Knowing Xander was still alive and far more outstanding than I imagined, my mood brightened like never before. I started preparing for the wedding. That day, I pushed open the glass door of the bridal shop, and a pungent perfume smell hit me. “Cousin~ Look, do I look good in this?” Mia’s sugary voice instantly gave me goosebumps. She was wearing the wedding dress my mother custom-ordered for me, admiring herself in the mirror. Julian looked at her gently. “Mia, you look good in anything.” “Oh, you~ Cousin knows how to coax people best~” Mia spun around coyly, the smell of cheap perfume filling the air. I suppressed my anger and walked forward. The moment Julian saw me, his face visibly froze. He subconsciously stepped forward, blocking Mia, his voice deliberately gentle. “Chloe, don’t misunderstand. Mia isn’t in good health, she might… might not make it to her wedding day. She just wanted to experience wearing a wedding dress.” Mia started coughing. I interrupted coldly, “Take it off.” Mia’s eyes reddened immediately. “Eldest Miss, sorry, I just envied you too much.” She tremblingly grabbed Julian’s sleeve. “It’s all my fault, don’t blame Cousin…” Julian’s face sank. “You’re going to marry me sooner or later anyway. What does it matter if she wears it? Can’t you be considerate and let her be happy?” “I said, take it off.” I repeated word for word, my gaze sweeping over the trembling shop assistants. “Since when did others get to try on the wedding dress I ordered?” Two assistants scrambled to help Mia take off the dress. Her fair arms had red marks from the tight fit. Mia cried like a pear blossom bathed in rain. “Sorry, I’m cheap, I don’t deserve to wear such good clothes!” Suddenly, her legs went weak, and she fell towards the ground. Julian rushed forward to catch her, turning to roar at me, “Chloe Su, are you satisfied?” “Disinfect it three times.” I frowned in disgust. “Don’t leave a single scent.” Mia covered her face and ran out. Julian glared at me with an iron-green face, finally slamming the door as he left. At night, the little assistant leaned close to my ear mysteriously. “Eldest Miss, guess what? That Mia who pretends to be weak all day got hit by a car today! Heard her leg is broken!” She gestured excitedly. “If you ask me, this is retribution! Knowing Julian is your fiancé, she still sticks to him all day, acting like a little white flower. Disgusting!” I gently swirled the red wine glass, a sneer curling my lips. “Who told you Julian is my fiancé?” The little assistant’s eyes widened, almost spilling the fruit platter in her hand. “Eldest Miss, you mean…” “Go tell the wedding planner to change the groom’s name.” I took a sip of wine. “Change it to Xander.” “Great!” The little assistant clapped excitedly. “Eldest Miss! Although Julian looks okay, he has no boundaries, hanging out with Mia all day. He’s just a central air conditioner.” I couldn’t help smiling. Even the little assistant saw it so clearly. How was I so blinded in my past life? Love indeed blinds people. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but sigh softly. Early the next morning, just as I stepped out of the company gate, my vision went black, and a sack was suddenly pulled over my head! “Who?! Let go of me!” I struggled desperately. The other party roughly stuffed me into a car. My back hit the car door hard, making me gasp in pain. Familiar fear swept through my body instantly. Memories of being kidnapped in my past life surged like a tide. “Please! I’ll give you however much money you want!” My voice couldn’t stop trembling, tears soaking the blindfold. The only response was suffocating silence. Until that familiar scent drifted into my nose, Julian’s usual cologne. My heart sank to the bottom. “You… what exactly do you want…” “Someone wants me to teach you a good lesson.” He deliberately lowered his voice. Even though I had decided not to marry him, his actions at this moment still made my heart ache so much I couldn’t breathe. “Bang!” An iron rod hit my leg hard. The severe pain made my vision go black. Tearing pain came from my heart. I endured it and didn’t expose his disguise. I curled up in the corner of the carriage, tears silently soaking the sack. At the last moment before losing consciousness, I heard his cold voice, “Remember this lesson.” Chapter 4 4 The iron rod hit my leg with dull thuds. One, two, three… Fifteen hits in total. The sound of bones cracking was clearly audible. I fainted from the pain and was thrown in front of the Su family gate. The smell of disinfectant in the hospital was pungent and unpleasant. Mia’s voice came from the VIP ward next door. “Cousin, you accompany me every day, it’s too hard on you!” My heart ached as if crushed. Julian, to vent anger for Mia, you could be so cruel! “Daughter!” My father rushed in and hugged me tightly, his voice trembling. “Who did this? Dad will make him wish he were dead!” “Dad, I’m fine.” I forced a smile despite the pain. “Change a batch of bodyguards for me!” “By the way, Xander is still alive. After we get married, he will protect me too.” After my father left, I leaned on crutches and went to the window. In the garden downstairs, Julian was carrying Mia on his back, spinning around. She whispered something in his ear, making the tips of his ears red, and he smiled so gently. That was a smile I had never received. The day before the wedding, Xander arrived travel-worn, still carrying the scent of soil. He carefully took out a smooth jade stone from his bosom. “Eldest Miss, wedding gift!” “The groom is finally back.” I smiled and took the jade, deliberately raising my voice. Xander stood frozen on the spot, his eyes red instantly, lips trembling but unable to speak. The assistant whispered to me that Julian hadn’t been seen for days. I sneered. He was waiting for me to bow my head and admit my mistake, waiting for me to cry and beg him to come back for the wedding. Unfortunately, his calculations were wrong. At night, my phone vibrated suddenly. Mia sent a video. In the frame, she and Julian were entangled together, unsightly. But soon, the video was withdrawn. “Clumsy.” I sneered and turned off the phone. This trick was laughable. Standing by the window, I saw Xander standing alone under the starry sky, looking up at my window. He waved at me, his smile warm and firm. At this moment, my heart settled down like never before. Early on the wedding day, my phone rang. “As long as you apologize to Mia, I’ll come marry you immediately.” Julian’s voice was still high and mighty. “No need.” I hung up the phone decisively, a sneer curling my lips. At the wedding venue, guests whispered. “Why hasn’t Julian come yet?” “Are they going to cancel the wedding?” I turned a deaf ear, walking onto the red carpet holding Xander’s arm. His arm muscles were tense, yet he carefully controlled his strength, afraid of hurting me. “Let’s congratulate Mr. Xander and the Eldest Miss of the Su family!” The emcee’s voice resonated through the hall. Just then, the banquet hall doors were pushed open violently. The latecomer Julian stood at the door, his face pale, the bouquet in his hand dropping to the ground with a “thud.” I curled my lips and, under his incredulous gaze, actively kissed Xander.

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The first time I tried to end my life, I had just walked into the living room and saw the face of the fake young master—Brody Whitlock. It was the same face as the nanny who had spent five years tormenting me. My parents found me and pulled me back, their eyes red and panicked. They promised, “We’ll never let him appear in front of you again.” The second time, I was by the edge of the pool. Brody “accidentally” shoved me in. I gave up fighting, letting the water take me, pull me down into the deep, quiet dark. I woke up again to the sight of my parents’ horrified faces. They swore by my bedside, “This time, we will make him pay.” The third time, Brody locked me inside a walk-in closet. As the air grew thin, and the suffocating darkness closed in, I finally gathered the strength to call out for help. The call connected. I heard my parents’ voices, tired and laced with a desperate resignation: “Can’t you just… let go of the resentment, Asher?” “That was his mother’s crime, why are you punishing him for it?” I quietly ended the call. In the narrow darkness, I slowly hugged myself. I’m sorry, Mom and Dad. I couldn’t let go of the resentment. So, I chose to let go of you. 1 The oxygen inside the closet was growing thin. The last flicker of self-preservation made me want to fumble for the handle, to find the release. The whole closet was swallowed by the dark, exactly like the damp, moldy basement I’d grown up in. I managed to shake off the trembling long enough to pull out my phone, needing a single sliver of light. But the battery was on its final bar. It illuminated the space for barely a few seconds before dying again. I smiled, a bitter twist of the lips. Asher, isn’t this the freedom you wanted? But why was I crying as I stood on the very edge of death? I closed my eyes and drifted back to the moment they found me. I was pulled out of that basement for the first time, finally seeing the warm, actual sunlight. For the first time, my mother held me. Her scalding tears fell, tracing paths down my cheek. Her voice shook as she spoke: “Asher, my darling. Mama’s bringing you home.” But when we reached the house, the first thing I saw was Brody’s face—the spitting image of the nanny. That was when I truly shattered. I scrambled frantically for a pair of scissors. Mom thought I was going to hurt Brody, and she scrambled to shield him. Dad yelled at me, a sound filled with sheer terror. “Are you insane?!” But I turned the scissors on myself. Once. Twice. Mom rushed me, holding me again, her body shielding mine this time. Even my father, always so rigid, had bloodshot eyes. “Your father and I were wrong…” “Please, don’t hurt yourself. We promise he won’t come near you again.” After that, I genuinely didn’t see Brody at the house. Until the annual family gathering. I saw him again, surrounded by the extended Whitlock relatives, like a tiny prince holding court. The whispers of the staff drifted to me on the cold air. “Even if he’s not the heir by blood, they’ve raised him for fifteen years. There’s a bond.” “The real son’s only been back for a few months. How can he compare?” I stood out in the chilly breeze, my body numb, shaking uncontrollably. Then I watched Brody, his smile twisted with pure malice, walk toward me and shove me into the water. “Guess what? Who do you think Mom and Dad actually prefer? You, or me?” He jumped in after me. My parents must have heard the splash. They came running in a panic. Two figures appeared in the water, but neither was swimming toward me. My throat was filling, my consciousness blurring away. It’s okay, Asher. I told myself. You’ve lived through worse. One more time won’t change anything. The next time I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. Mom was sitting by my side, her face an open map of guilt. “Asher, I’m so sorry. Brody was screaming for help, and we thought he was the one drowning.” “Next time, you have to tell us exactly what’s happening, sweetie. Only then can we rush in to save you.” Dad swore to me, “I will make him pay for this.” The next day, Brody was grounded from his video games for a single afternoon. And then, later, Brody locked me in the closet. I wanted to tell them I was hurt. But they told me to let go of the resentment. Mom and Dad, I truly couldn’t let go. Because I was already dying. 2 The next time I opened my eyes, I was floating out of the closet. Was I saved? Mom had said that the first thing I should do when I woke up was call for them, so they could rush in and take care of me. So I went downstairs, whispering, “Mom? Mom?” The living room lights were on. My parents had come back. But so had the person I least wanted to see—Brody. My body instantly froze. Hadn’t they promised I wouldn’t have to see him again? Mom was sitting on the sofa, letting out a sigh. “Asher has been through a lot of trauma in the last few years, honey. Sometimes he acts out, and sometimes he’ll even try to make you look bad.” “He even called us just now, saying you locked him up again. Brody, I know you’re a good boy. Don’t hold it against him. Will you and your father and I go apologize to him in a minute?” I stood still, stunned. My parents thought I was lying, that I was trying to frame Brody? But… I was saved, wasn’t I? I slowly turned, floating back toward the closet. The little boy inside was curled up in a corner, quiet as a doll. I realized the truth then. I was dead. I gave a weak, bitter smile. It’s fine. It doesn’t matter. I didn’t want to trouble Mom. I could let her believe I’d lied. The conversation downstairs continued. Brody hugged a plush toy and pouted. “But Mom, you always take Asher’s side. Is it because I’m not your real son that you don’t love me anymore?” Mom laughed, stroking his hair with a deep, doting affection. “How could you think that? You are and always will be my little prince.” “I even bought T-shirts for both of you—they’re the Starfall Saga Limited Edition ones, the ones you love. They’re in Asher’s closet. Why don’t you go try yours on, and bring the other one out for Asher? Tell him it’s a gift from you.” Brody’s face lit up, and he skipped toward the closet. But he stopped abruptly at the door. His smile looked strained. “Mom, actually, I suddenly don’t feel like wearing the collaboration T-shirt.” Mom frowned. “Why the sudden change of heart? I bought them already. Just try it on…” She stood up, walking slowly toward the closet. Then the doorbell rang. 3 Mom turned around, relieved by the interruption, and opened the door. Standing on the threshold was the woman who had abused me—the nanny, Brenda. My blood ran cold. My entire phantom body trembled uncontrollably. Brenda’s face was squeezed into a fake, fawning smile. “Mrs. Whitlock, you asked me to come today…?” Mom gave a simple, cool “Mhm.” “I wanted you to see Brody one last time. Then, you take the money, and you disappear forever.” I stood paralyzed, my hands and feet freezing. Shouldn’t this woman be in prison for child abuse and kidnapping? Why was Mom paying her, letting her walk free? Had Mom forgotten that this was the woman who hurt me? I desperately ran toward Mom, wanting to scream the truth. But no matter how loudly I shouted, she couldn’t hear me. Brenda quickly looked over Brody, accepted a thick bundle of cash, and signed a document for Mom. Mom frowned, hurrying her. “Take the money and leave immediately. Don’t let Asher see you.” “And keep your mouth shut once you’re out. I used all my resources to get you bailed out for a reason. I don’t want a stain on Brody’s future.” At that final sentence, I felt like I’d been drenched in icy water. She knew. Mom had known all along. I sniffed, my ethereal nose feeling a sharp, familiar sting. But Mom, what about me? Brody’s future would remain pristine; he was the little prince raised in a garden of love. But my future had already been destroyed, years ago, in that basement. Mom finally seemed to remember me. “Dad will be home soon. I’m going to call Asher down for dinner.” “Brody, remember to apologize to Asher later. Your father and I can only bring you back home permanently once he forgives you, understood?” Brody gave a reluctant, muttering “Mhm.” Mom searched the house but couldn’t find me. Frowning, she asked Brody if he’d seen me. Brody stammered, avoiding her eyes. “I… I think he was throwing a tantrum this afternoon and hid in the closet…” 4 Mom sighed and tapped lightly on the closet door. “Asher, come out for dinner, okay?” No response. Mom tried again, patiently coaxing. “I brought Brody back to apologize to you today. Acknowledge your mother, won’t you?” Still, silence. Mom finally lost her patience. She pounded heavily on the door. “Asher Whitlock! How long are you going to keep this up? If you don’t answer, I’m just going to open the door!” She angrily gripped the doorknob, ready to open it, but Brody suddenly called out to her. “Mom, don’t worry about him! Let’s just eat first!” He blinked nervously. “I’m hungry, Mom.” “Fine! Then let him starve himself in there! Let’s see how long he can cross me!” Mom turned and walked straight back to the dining table. I stood beside the table, wringing my hands in a state of confused sadness and a strange relief. At least, Mom wouldn’t see my body and lose her appetite. After Brenda finished serving the last dish, Dad finally came home. He was carrying a celebratory cake, his whole demeanor cheerful. Brody ran over and hugged him. “Dad, you’re home! Is that my birthday cake?” I saw a gentle look on Dad’s face that I’d never seen before. “It is! Made especially for you!” Mom looked uncertain. “Honey, today… is also Asher’s birthday.” Dad froze, his face clouded with awkwardness. “Oh, right… Asher hasn’t been with us long, I completely forgot…” He paused. “Should I… should I go buy another cake for Asher?” An uncomfortable flicker crossed Mom’s face, but the frustration over the closet incident hardened her expression. “Forget it. We forgot. We’ll just celebrate Brody first.” “He’s being stubborn anyway. He doesn’t mind missing his birthday.” Brody piped up loudly, “Exactly! Why should you have to buy an extra cake just for him?” “He doesn’t even belong here. Mom said I’m her little prince!” Yes. I don’t belong here. I’d never had a birthday celebration before. I stared at them blankly, feeling a stream run down my face, though I quickly blinked it back. It’s okay. I’m dead now. It doesn’t matter if I have a home. I secretly watched the cake, seeing Mom slice it. Brody’s piece was the biggest, topped with strawberries. He sat between Mom and Dad, truly looking like a prince. The family was happy and whole, and the cake was quickly disappearing. Only after they were full and content did Mom remember the original purpose of the evening—Brody was supposed to apologize to me. Since I wouldn’t come out, Brody would have to be sent back to his boarding school. Brody began to cry and protest, refusing to leave. “Why? This is my house! Why do I need his permission to live here?” “The dorms at school are awful. I want to come home, I want to be with Mom…” Brody burst into loud, wrenching tears. Mom’s eyes softened with pain. “Honey, maybe we should let Brody stay tonight. It’s getting late.” Dad hesitated. “But don’t you remember? When Asher first came home, he almost… he almost killed himself just seeing Brody…” Before Dad could finish, Mom suddenly broke down. “Asher, Asher! It’s always Asher! Why did he have to come back and ruin our entire family?” “Brody may not be our biological son, but we raised him for fifteen years! Asher’s only been here for a few months, and now Brody has to suffer and live in a boarding school because of him! Brody is my child too, how am I supposed to bear that pain?” I stood silently to the side, sad and lost. Maybe I shouldn’t have been found. If I had just died in that basement, no one would have known, and I wouldn’t have been a burden to anyone. Dad sighed, gently patting Mom’s shoulder. “Alright, alright. If you want him to stay, he can stay. Brody is my son too. Of course I care for him.” “Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll go talk to Asher and tell him Brody is staying for one night.” Mom, her eyes still red, nodded, gesturing toward my direction. Dad stood up and walked to the closet, tapping patiently on the door. “Asher, come out, okay? Brody really wants to apologize to you for his mother’s actions.” “I know you have resentment in your heart, but that was all in the past. You’re fine now, aren’t you? You have to look forward, Asher. Be a good boy. Stop fighting with your mother and father, and come out.” Dead silence filled the living room. Dad’s face darkened. He was about to speak again when Brody, who had just been crying and begging to stay, spoke up meekly. “Mom and Dad, maybe… maybe I should just come back in a few days…” But Mom’s voice was firm. “No. Brody, we are not catering to his temper. Sweetheart, just open the door!” Dad nodded and turned the handle. But no matter how hard he pulled, the door remained firmly shut, unmoving. “What the hell? Is it locked?” Hearing this, Mom looked at Brody, confused. “Brody, you said Asher locked himself in out of a tantrum. How could the door be locked from the outside?” Brody looked down, trembling, not daring to say a word. Mom finally felt a cold dread crawl up her spine. “Brody, did you lock Asher inside? Get the key out right now!” “Asher has been in there all day. He must be terrified!” She wrestled the key out of Brody’s tightly clenched fist. Her voice was frantic as she handed the key to Dad. “Open it quickly! Get Asher out!” But Dad stood frozen, trembling uncontrollably. “Honey… A few days ago, we had the exterminators in because of the moths. We… we told them to seal all the gaps around the closet door…” Mom’s eyes widened. A terrible realization hit her. She pushed Brody away like a maniac and ran to the closet. Her palm was soaked with sweat, and she kept chanting my name. The key rattled in the small lock, finally turning the mechanism. The moment the closet door was pulled open, a wave of stagnant, heavy air rushed out and hit her. Mom stumbled back, covering her mouth, and tears instantly flooded her eyes. Dad stood completely still, all color drained from his face, his hand shaking so badly he could barely hold the key.

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My husband, Ethan, was diagnosed with low sperm count, so we decided to try IVF. Just before the embryo creation, I caught Ethan swapping my eggs with his first love, Chloe’s. I didn’t make a sound. I just swapped the eggs back. While I was at it, I also switched Ethan’s sperm with my ex-boyfriend’s. Twenty-five years later, Chloe showed up at my door, crying and clinging to my daughter: “My darling daughter, I’m your real mother!” 1 My daughter, Lily, and I returned home from a medical partnership trip abroad and were stunned. A huge crowd of distant relatives I rarely saw had gathered. It looked like the Ford family was having a reunion. The most glaring presence was Chloe, sitting in the middle of the sofa, crying. Ethan, my “good husband” who was rarely home, was holding her tenderly, comforting her softly. I raised an eyebrow, dropped my suitcase, and looked at Ethan: “What’s the occasion? So lively.” Lily stood behind me, arms crossed, glaring at Chloe with disgust. She already sensed who this woman was. My mother-in-law sat in the main seat, looking uncomfortable, hesitating to speak. Before Ethan could speak, Chloe threw herself at Lily, crying pear-shaped tears: “My darling daughter, I’m your real mother!” Lily dodged nimbly, frowning in disgust as if Chloe were something dirty. She stepped back, voice cold: “My mom’s name is Hannah.” That child, truly my heartwarming little jacket. I held Lily’s hand, gave her a reassuring look, then raised my hand and slapped Chloe across the face. The crisp sound echoed in the living room. “Don’t claim relations randomly.” My voice was cold, eyes like knives. Ethan shot up, helping Chloe up distressedly, pointing at me and roaring: “Hannah, are you crazy? How dare you hit Chloe!” He raised his hand as if to hit me. Lily was quick, stepping forward and slapping Ethan too. “You dare hit my mom?” Lily’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried unquestionable authority. Ethan froze, angry and furious, raising his hand to hit Lily. But Chloe grabbed him, crying fake tears: “Ethan, don’t hit her, that’s our daughter!” Her act of maternal love made me want to puke. Ethan lowered his hand, glaring at Lily viciously: “If not for your birth mother’s sake, I’d teach you a lesson today!” Lily sneered: “Heh, I’d like to see what ability you have to teach me.” Her sharp gaze was just like mine when I was young. I secretly rejoiced, truly a daughter I raised carefully! 2 An elder relative coughed, trying to suppress the chaotic scene. “Everyone quiet down!” His deep voice carried undeniable authority. Everyone gradually quieted down, eyes focused on the elder. He looked at Ethan: “Ethan, why did you call everyone here?” Ethan took a deep breath, as if gathering courage. He put his arm around Chloe’s shoulder, looking deeply affectionate. “Actually, today, I have important news to announce.” He paused, gaze sweeping over everyone, finally landing on Lily and me. I watched him quietly, seeing what monkey business he’d pull. “Lily, she… she’s not Hannah’s biological daughter.” Ethan’s voice wasn’t loud, but it exploded like a bomb in the living room. Lily turned sharply to look at me, eyes full of shock. I gestured for her to stay calm. The surrounding relatives whispered, like a school of sharks smelling blood, excitedly restless. “Back then, when we did IVF…” Ethan paused, as if difficult to speak, “The doctor said Hannah’s egg quality wasn’t good… Not to hurt her desire to be a mother, I swapped them with Chloe’s…” This idiot was sneaky, and now he was framing me! Ethan’s malicious gaze landed on me, seemingly expecting me to explode in rage. But I was calm and composed, so he had to continue performing. “Today, I called everyone here to witness…” He looked affectionately at Chloe, “Lily recognizing her biological mother.” The surrounding relatives instantly exploded. “Lily isn’t Hannah’s daughter, she definitely has to recognize her birth mother!” “Exactly, the hen that doesn’t lay eggs has occupied the Ford family daughter-in-law position for so many years, it’s time to step down and yield to the worthy!” “Hannah has dominated the Ford family business these years, now that the truth is out, it’s time for her to step down from Ford Group!” Listening to these discussions, I sneered inwardly. These ill-intentioned relatives had been suppressed and cleaned out of company management by me in recent years. They only profited from year-end dividends and were very dissatisfied with me. They were now happy to watch the show, seeing Ethan and me fall out, so they could return to the company to get a piece of the pie. Lily looked at the relatives who didn’t hide the greed in their eyes, her grip on my hand tightening. I spoke: “I gave birth to Lily, she will only be my child.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it was resounding. Chloe put on a helpless look, sobbing: “Sister, how long are you going to deceive yourself?” 3 I wasn’t deceiving myself, Lily was indeed my child. Did Ethan and Chloe really think they could fool me? Back then, Ethan had low sperm count, so we decided on IVF. Before the embryo creation, I accidentally caught Ethan sneaking around with a nurse moving my egg storage locker, and heard him happily calling Chloe, saying he had swapped her eggs. At the time, I didn’t make a fuss. Without a word, I turned and gave the doctor a million dollars to swap back with the extra eggs I had retrieved earlier. I also “kindly” had the doctor swap Ethan’s sperm with my ex-boyfriend’s. The day of embryo creation, Ethan and I witnessed the birth of the “miracle” together. He was abnormally happy, probably thinking it was his and Chloe’s child. Watching his foolish look, I almost died laughing inside. These years, watching him treat Lily well like a jumping clown, I felt so refreshed. He wanted to cheat me, but didn’t expect to be a happy father for over twenty years. Ethan interrupted my memories, mocking me, “Stubborn duck, although Lily was born from your belly, the egg wasn’t yours! Her biological mother is Chloe.” My tone was calm, but with a hint of provocation: “Are you daydreaming?” “If you don’t believe me, let’s do a paternity test!” Ethan said firmly, “I also want a divorce! You treated me like a dog, forced me to marry, I’ve done my duty being with you for twenty-five years!” When he proposed divorce, a look of joy appeared on his face. Seems like he thought about it for a long time. Heh? He dares to say he’s done his duty to me? Marrying him for twenty-five years, I’ve been a widow for twenty-five years. When I raised the child alone, he was having an affair with Chloe. When I fought in the business world to support the Ford family, he was indulging in luxury and dissipation in entertainment venues. But he was wrong about one thing, I didn’t become his dog because I loved him, Marrying him was just to get the status of Ford family young mistress and control Ford Group. And now, Ford Group is completely under my control. So, Ethan has no use anymore! “Divorce is fine,” I shrugged indifferently, “But there’s no need for a paternity test, I’m sure Lily is my child.” Lily looked at me, eyes firm: “Mom, I believe you.” Ethan and Chloe instantly got anxious. “Lily, don’t you believe Dad?” Lily ignored him, just snuggling close to me. Just then, a boy looking like a college student burst in. He walked straight to Lily, shouting excitedly: “Sister!” Everyone present was stunned. One extra mom was one thing, how did an extra brother pop up? 4 Looking at the boy who resembled Chloe, I had a suspicion. This must be Ethan and Chloe’s illegitimate son. Kept it hidden well, didn’t let me find out for over twenty years. Seems like this show is more exciting than I imagined. Mother-in-law sat at the head, looking at the boy, dignified without anger: “Ethan, what’s going on?” The atmosphere in the living room solidified again. The boy looked red-eyed, like he was about to cry. “Sister, my name is Noah, I… I always knew about your existence.” He stammered a bit, voice not loud, but with a tremor. He stole a glance at me, then quickly lowered his head, as if afraid I’d blame him. “My… my mom, she often talked to me about you, saying you’re excellent, very beautiful…” Chloe sobbed appropriately, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, shoulders trembling. “Lily, my darling daughter, Mom has really missed you these years…” She looked up, eyes teary, as if she had suffered a huge grievance. “Noah he… he also always missed you, we often secretly went to see you…” Noah quickly nodded, eagerly adding: “Really! Sister, I went to your school just to… just to be closer to you…” He took out a stack of photos from his pocket, carefully handing them to Lily. “These are your photos, I… I secretly took them…” Lily took the stack of photos, flipped through them roughly. Photos of her wearing graduation gowns, smiling brightly; tired after dance practice; debating with classmates, in high spirits… Lily felt goosebumps arise. All these years, a pervert-like guy was hiding near her, stalking her, secretly photographing her! Ethan wasn’t idle either, walking to Mother-in-law, pointing at Noah, tone heavy. “Mom, this is the Ford family grandson! Today the relatives are also here to witness, you… you recognize him!” Ethan was a bit smart, he knew after Father-in-law passed away, the one with the say in the Ford family was actually Mother-in-law. He invited the relatives over just to pressure Mother-in-law to recognize this child. He was certain if Mother-in-law agreed to let Noah recognize his ancestors and return to the clan, I would have nothing to say. After all, for twenty-five years, he also observed my obedience and filial piety to Mother-in-law. Noah was clever, immediately turned to Mother-in-law, respectfully called out: “Grandma!” Mother-in-law looked at Noah, then at me, eyes complex, didn’t immediately respond to Noah. I knew Mother-in-law loved me. I couldn’t bear Mother-in-law being in a difficult position, so I spoke to break the silence, “Ethan, letting this illegitimate son recognize his ancestors and inherit the Ford family is your real purpose, right? Why drag Lily into it!”

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One year after faking my death, I was scrolling through an anonymous Q&A forum. [Question: What is the most ruthless thing you’ve ever done to get ahead?] The comments were full of petty office politics. I was about to close the app, bored. Until a familiar profile picture caught my eye. She claimed that with a simple trick, she ruined the life of the precinct’s golden girl. [She was the Captain’s fiancée and our best undercover agent.] [During the raid, I deleted her emergency distress signal.] [I even suggested the Captain go after the ringleader first, telling him she was experienced enough to protect herself.] [As a result, her cover was blown. She fell into the hands of the cartel and was tortured for seven days and seven nights. When she came out, her mind was gone.] [Later, with just one sentence from me, the Captain committed her to a psychiatric hospital.] [Last year, there was a fire at the asylum. I heard she didn’t make it out and was burned to ash.] [And tomorrow, I’m finally marrying the Captain!] The comment ended with a smug smiley face emoji. Calmly, I liked the comment. Looking at the burn scars on my arm, I decided to give her a surprise tomorrow. 1 The post went viral, shooting straight to the top of the thread. Sophia’s comment was pinned, with thousands of replies underneath, mostly sycophants. [Queen behavior! That’s playing the game on hard mode.] [This user is brilliant. Ruthless but effective!] [With skills like that, no one would dare mess with you at work!] Sophia, clearly high on the praise, posted a photo. In the picture, two hands were intertwined. The man’s hand had distinct knuckles and a visible scar on the web of his thumb. That was Luke’s hand. Years ago, he almost severed a tendon blocking a knife for me. He said it didn’t matter if his hand was ruined, as long as he could still hold mine. Back then, I cried and laughed, calling him cheesy. Now, that hand, which once swore to protect me to the death, was tightly gripping another woman’s. The diamond engagement ring on their finger was designed by me. I had begged countless jewelers and revised the draft dozens of times to get it made. But the ring I had waited so long for never ended up on my finger. Funny how life works. Some people in the comments started to wake up. [Wait, the OP intentionally didn’t save someone? This isn’t just ruthless office politics; this is murder!] [That’s a human life. Isn’t the OP going too far? Bragging about this?] Seeing the tide turn, Sophia replied instantly with a “crying face” emoji. [Everyone misunderstood! The situation was urgent. I genuinely thought the signal was an accidental touch. After all, the location was in the middle of nowhere.] [If I knew she was suffering there, I would have risked my life to save her!] Then, she started her performance. [Besides, this became a lifelong pain for the Captain. I just wanted to help him move on.] [The dead are gone. I posted this to remind everyone to cherish who is in front of them. I didn’t expect to be misunderstood like this…] A few sentences dripping with fake innocence, and she twisted the narrative back. [So that’s how it is. Undercover work is high-risk; sacrifices happen.] [She was thinking of the bigger picture. Don’t blame yourself, sis.] [Exactly. The living need to keep living. Helping the Captain heal is a good deed.] Reading these twisted comments, I let out a cold laugh. Just then, my phone screen lit up. A text message popped up. It was from Luke. [Tara, I’m getting married tomorrow.] [If you can see me from heaven, will you bless me?] Looking at the message, I felt a wave of nausea. Marrying the woman who killed me, while texting his “late wife” for peace of mind? I turned off the phone and tossed it aside. Luke, since you want a blessing so badly… Tomorrow, I’ll deliver it to you personally. 2 Two years ago, I was the pride of the force and the love of Luke’s life. We were the envy of everyone in the Major Crimes Division. To take down a human trafficking ring that had been operating for years, I volunteered to go undercover. Luke disagreed at first and gave me the silent treatment for three days. He yelled at me, eyes red, “Tara, are you crazy? Do you know what kind of place that is?” In the end, I hugged his waist and pleaded, swearing I would come back unharmed and do all the housework for the rest of our lives. Only then did he relent, choking back tears. “If you lose a single hair, I’m holding you responsible.” It took me six months to infiltrate the inner circle of the leader, Vargas. On the day of the raid, I broke into Vargas’s core data center. On his computer, I found the complete list of victims and the distribution chain. I even found the location of a group of girls they hadn’t moved yet. Hiding in the electrical room, I sent the signal to Luke on an encrypted channel. The moment it sent, I relaxed. I imagined that after the mission, we would get our marriage license and go on our honeymoon. However, the response I got was a cold laugh. “Officer Vance, leaving so soon?” I whipped around. The blinds were torn down violently, and a hand dragged me out like a dead dog. I was dragged into a tin shed, my hands handcuffed to a water pipe above my head. Pain radiated from my shoulder to my whole body, but I gritted my teeth and didn’t make a sound. Because I knew Luke would be here soon. Luke said that as long as he received my signal, no matter how far, he would be there in thirty minutes. But I stared at the door. Thirty minutes. Two hours. A whole day passed, and the door didn’t move. Vargas sat in front of me, legs crossed. “Looks like your Captain doesn’t care about you that much, huh?” I spat out blood. “Don’t get cocky. He’ll be here soon. None of you scum will escape!” Vargas didn’t get angry. He just ordered someone to pull out my fingernails on my left hand. I screamed in agony, cold sweat soaking my clothes instantly. The next day, Vargas had a TV brought in. The news channel was broadcasting: “Police dismantle a major criminal den, rescuing three hostages…” On screen, Luke looked dashing in his uniform. Sophia stood beside him in a decent dress, like a supportive wife, straightening his tie. They looked at each other and smiled, a picture-perfect couple. In that moment, my blood froze. That location wasn’t Vargas’s headquarters at all! “See that?” Vargas grabbed my hair, forcing me to look at the screen. “Do you still think he’s coming for you?” I didn’t believe it. Luke wouldn’t abandon me. Something must have gone wrong. But Vargas seemed to enjoy my breakdown. He threw a phone at me. “Make a call. Consider it your last words.” Trembling, I picked up the phone and dialed that number. Ring! It was picked up after one ring. Like grabbing a lifeline, I rasped, “Luke! Save me! I’m at…” “Tara?” The voice on the other end was Sophia’s sweet, cloying tone. My voice cut off. “Luke is at the commendation ceremony. He can’t come to the phone right now.” “You’re really too much, sending a location in the middle of nowhere just for attention.” “What, giving up on the mission? Trying to trick Luke into coming out to play some wilderness survival game with you?” Before I could explain, the call ended. My distress signal was treated as a ploy for attention by her. I closed my eyes in despair, the phone slipping from my hand. For the next few days, I lost track of time. To pry open my mouth and get the identities of other agents… They used every torture I knew, and some I didn’t. Day four, day five, day six… I lost count of how many times I passed out, only to be woken by ice water for another round of pain. On the seventh day, while the guard was drunk. I used a broken toothbrush handle I hid under my tongue to saw through the ropes bit by bit. Dragging my broken left leg, I crawled out through a dog hole. 3 After escaping, I inched towards the highway down the mountain. Every inch I moved, the broken bones ground together, causing suffocating pain. Black spots danced before my eyes. My consciousness was on the edge of collapse. I don’t know how long passed before I heard sirens in the distance. It was Luke’s convoy. My eyes teared up instantly. I knew he would come for me. Just seeing him, getting a hug like before, would make all this suffering worth it. I gritted my teeth, dragged my broken leg, and crawled desperately toward the light. Rounding the last corner, I froze. Searchlights illuminated the entire plaza. A celebration was being held on the giant LED screen. Luke and Sophia stood hand in hand in the center of the stage. Sophia smiled, shyly accepting an interview with the host. Flowers were everywhere; applause thundered. “Congratulations, Captain Luke! Not only did you destroy the den, but you also got the girl. Double happiness!” The host’s voice echoed through the speakers. I knelt at the edge of the plaza, trembling all over. A female reporter noticed me. She gasped, and the camera instantly zoomed in on my face. Flashbulbs popped incessantly, blinding me. My clothes were tattered strips, barely hanging on my body. I instinctively raised my hand to block the light, but my arm shook so badly I couldn’t cover anything. Luke noticed me. I reached out to him, lips moving, silently calling his name. I thought he would rush over, take off his jacket to cover me, and protect me like before. But he only frowned, a flash of disgust in his eyes. “Tara?” “You sent false intelligence, allowing the main suspect to escape, and you still have the face to show up here?” I froze. False intelligence? I opened my mouth to explain, but only a raspy wheeze came out. I shook my head desperately, my crippled hand waving wildly in the air, tears streaming down my face in anxiety. Sophia walked over then. With a look of perfectly practiced concern, she approached me. “Tara, how did you get like this?” Saying that, she draped a jacket over my shoulders. She was dressed revealingly underneath; I immediately saw the dense hickeys on her neck. Sophia noticed my gaze and smiled slightly. “Pretty? Luke did it last night.” She leaned in close, lowering her voice. “While you were being tortured by traffickers, Luke couldn’t keep his hands off me every night.” “He said it would be better if a fool like Tara died, so she wouldn’t cause trouble and delay his promotion.” My blood froze instantly. Sophia finished speaking and let go. The jacket slipped from my shoulders, taking the remaining rags of my clothes with it. I was naked, completely exposed to every lens. Reporters snapped photos like madmen, thousands of eyes slicing through my dignity. Instinct drove me to grab the fallen jacket, but I touched the hem of Sophia’s dress. Sophia fell backward, collapsing on the ground. Her eyes turned red instantly, tears flowing on command. “Tara, I know you’re jealous that I’m with Luke.” “But this incident was your fault.” “You deliberately sent the wrong location. If Luke hadn’t been alert, we would all have died there!” The crowd was in an uproar. Luke strode over, shielding Sophia behind him. The love in his eyes when he looked at me was gone, replaced by endless ice. He took out handcuffs and locked them on my wrists. He said I was a deserter, a traitor, and he was taking me to the station for interrogation. Comrades who once fought beside me held down my shoulders. Under the public gaze, I was shoved into a police car like a criminal. 4 In the interrogation room, Luke sat opposite me. He rubbed his temples wearily, then looked up with red eyes full of disappointment. “Tara, why did you do it?” “You knew how important that operation was. Why send a fake location?” “Do you know that if Sophia hadn’t warned me, we would all be dead?” I wanted to explain, but my throat was ruined, and my hands were crippled. My gestures were grotesque and laughable. Luke watched me, frowning deeper. “Enough. Stop acting.” “Sophia told me everything. She said she picked up your call that day, and you cursed her.” “She said you didn’t want me to get the credit, so you sent false intel.” Sophia again. I stared at him. Luke stood up irritably, pacing back and forth. After a long time, he stopped. “Tara, just sign the confession. Admit you were confused for a moment, and I can overlook the past.” “You’ve been with me for years. I know you.” His tone softened, even carrying a hint of pleading. “You just couldn’t get over your jealousy and acted impulsively.” “The whole precinct is watching. Just say the word, and I can keep you safe.” Trembling, I grabbed the confession on the table and tore it to shreds in front of him. Luke’s face went completely cold. “Stubborn.” Sophia walked in, linking her arm with Luke’s. “Luke, Tara is mentally unstable right now.” “If the media films her ranting, your election for Chief next month will be ruined.” “Besides, she keeps screaming that I harmed her.” “If we don’t control this, the precinct’s reputation will be destroyed by her.” She paused. “Why not send her to the psychiatric center on the south side?” “It’s a closed facility. It will let her recover in peace and protect your future.” Luke fell silent. He looked at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He raised his hand as if to touch me, but his fingers trembled uncontrollably in mid-air before dropping weakly. “Tara, listen to me. Your mental state is dangerous. You need mandatory treatment.” “I’ll visit you every day. This is for your own good.” I stared at the man I had loved for five years, my stomach churning. I struggled to stand up, wanting to rush out. But Luke just watched coldly, then subdued me easily with a takedown. A needle pierced my neck—a heavy dose of sedative. Before losing consciousness, I heard Luke holding me, saying: “Tara, be good. When you’re better, I’ll come get you.” I stayed in the mental hospital for three months. Luke, who said he’d visit every day, never showed up once. Sophia, however, came every week, rain or shine. Every time she visited, she flaunted something new—from limited edition bags to couple rings—showing off Luke’s love for her. Sophia also bribed the orderlies to mix drugs into my food daily, torturing me in new ways. Late one night three months later, the hospital caught fire. In the chaos, I used a piece of wire I had hidden to pick the lock and escaped. Later, I heard that after the fire was put out, Luke knelt before the ruins for three days and nights. Crying like a child, fainting several times. I just found it utterly laughable. For the year I was “dead,” I lived under a fake name, healed my body, and uncovered the entire truth. Now, it was time to take everything back. The next day, the wedding of the century was being held at the city’s finest hotel. Luke wore a white suit, still handsome enough to turn heads. Sophia wore a couture wedding dress, smiling like a blooming white lotus. The officiant asked loudly: “Luke Sterling, do you take Sophia Miller to be your wife? For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…” All the guests watched them with smiles. Just as Luke opened his lips to say “I do.” I kicked open the heavy doors of the banquet hall. Wearing a black floor-length dress, I walked in slowly. Sophia glimpsed me, her smile freezing instantly. Her bouquet hit the floor with a thud. Luke whipped around. The moment he saw it was me, the color drained from his face. I tilted my head with a smile, and under everyone’s shocked gaze, asked slowly: “Luke, are you sure you want to marry her?”

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Ten years ago, Declan was the one who first introduced me to story-driven RPGs. Near the end of the game, I asked him, “I really liked the High Elf I met this morning. Why can’t I find her anymore?” Declan stroked my hair and explained, “She was an NPC who gave you a quest. When the NPC’s task is over, you never see them again. Even if you found a way to glitch to her location, you wouldn’t be able to talk to her.” “But if you really want to interact with her, you can always start the game over.” I sat there, gripping the controller for a long time, then I looked at him seriously. “Declan, you have to promise to marry me someday. Otherwise, you won’t ever see me again, and you won’t be able to talk to me.” The adults laughed, and Declan just smiled. No one took me seriously. Which is why, later, when he decided to marry someone else, he was so utterly reckless. But life is not a game; there are no do-overs. And I was, genuinely, the NPC who would disappear. 1 Two years after Declan and Serena married, I fought my way into the solo finals of the Zenith Siege Global Championship. When the players came on stage for the global broadcast, the esports community erupted. Since my sudden withdrawal and disappearance two years ago, everyone had assumed I’d retired due to an accident. They never imagined I’d switched to the individual circuit. I had no choice. Declan’s influence, as the CEO of Vortex Global, was too vast. If I’d stayed in team play, he would have found a way to control or manipulate my teammates. I was a lone wolf now, owning my wins and my losses. The grueling day-long Grand Finals concluded, and I smoothly secured the Global Solo Championship. In Bratislava, the golden confetti rained down on me, but there was no one to celebrate with. I was twenty-three years old. The road to future championships would only get harder. I lowered my head, kissing the trophy with a profound, quiet reverence. It was a chilly evening, and I didn’t dare walk alone in the unfamiliar city, so I sat outside the stadium entrance, trying to calm my mind. I remembered my eighteenth birthday—my first offline tournament win. When it ended, my teammates and I went to a greasy-spoon diner for an all-night celebration. Declan sat in his Maybach parked on the street, watching over me until dawn. He hated the smell of grease and smoke, so after that night, every time I had a competition, he would pre-arrange a chic restaurant and treat all my teammates and fans to a late-night feast. He wanted me to be happy playing the game, and he wanted everyone to look out for me just as he did. So he preemptively managed every person connected to my career. But now… I pulled my jacket tighter, stopping the thought. I stood up, put up my umbrella, and started walking toward my hotel. A local staff member, a young woman, rushed up to me. “Ms. Qin, Mr. He, the CEO of Vortex Global, is looking for you.” She dialed a number and held the phone out. Expected. The face-reveal broadcast had happened five hours ago—more than enough time for Declan to pull strings and contact the staff here. The call connected immediately. “Kira! Is that really you? I…” Declan hadn’t even finished his sentence when the call cut out, the signal dissolving into static. The staff member frowned and tapped the screen a few times. “Huh? The signal here is perfectly fine. What’s going on?” “Mr. He? Mr. He, can you hear me?” “I can hear you! Give the phone to Kira!” Declan’s voice was sharp, desperate, sounding like he might leap out of the speaker. The staffer quickly handed me the phone, but the moment it was near me and Declan spoke, the signal became abysmal. I quietly pressed End Call. No need to struggle. You can’t win against the universal law. The staffer took the phone back, switching SIM cards, sweat beading on her forehead. “Ms. Qin, could you give me your contact number? Mr. He sounds like he needs to reach you urgently.” I gave her my number, indifferent. Declan wouldn’t be able to get through anyway. As I turned to leave, the staffer called out again. “Ms. Qin, Mr. He just messaged me. He said he’s boarding a flight now and will arrive in Bratislava tomorrow night. He told me to tell you not to wander off. You must wait for him to find you.” “He also said…” She looked at me, a little hesitant to relay the rest. “He also said that if you insist on pursuing your career in esports, you should forget any notion of being able to run away.” Her eyes were complicated, no doubt trying to decode the drama between Declan and me. I smiled, thanked her, and walked away. The truth is, Declan shouldn’t have come. I was even more certain of this the next evening when I saw the news report about a traffic accident. The car carrying Declan inexplicably lost control and slammed into a stone pylon, flipping completely onto its side. The driver was unharmed. Declan was rushed to the hospital with a severe head injury. His assistant finally got through to my phone. “Ms. Qin, where are you? Mr. He is in the ICU, critical condition. I’ll send a car to pick you up.” I refused. “I am neither his family nor his spouse. It is not my place to visit.” I hung up and boarded the plane home. Staring out the window, I couldn’t help but wonder if Declan remembered that ordinary afternoon ten years ago. Did he remember the words he had spoken himself? The NPC’s task is over, you never see them again. Even if he found a way to glitch to my location, he wouldn’t be able to talk to me. I had given him the loophole, the solution—to marry me—but he hadn’t listened at all. The bullet fired years ago was now hitting him square in the forehead. Every world is full of NPCs. And my job was to push the relationship arc between Declan and Serena. As an NPC, I was seemingly destined to be the backdrop for the Son of Destiny, just a tool to advance the main plot through interaction. But sometimes, I wanted to be the main character. Like in the story of my love with Declan. We had an arranged childhood engagement, and he, three years my senior, was so meticulously attentive that he gave me the grand illusion that I could fight the world’s pre-scripted main arc. I knew exactly when Declan was meant to fall for Serena. So I tried to take proactive steps. During his freshman year, he was supposed to meet Serena, a classmate. They were meant to be instantly drawn to each other, both strong, intelligent, and driven. Serena came from an ordinary background, and with me—the rich girl he was engaged to—in the way, they were supposed to hesitate and struggle, even with their mutual attraction. My purpose was to create the love triangle, the emotional friction that would slowly, painfully make them realize they were each other’s true love. Then I, the NPC, would be discarded, and they would live happily ever after. That was the original script. To fight the universal script, I forced Declan to go to an international university. Everyone thought I was crazy at the time. Declan had only planned to stay stateside to be near me, fighting for the best score on the domestic college entrance exam just so he could be available. That time, I broke his heart. “If you have to train in the youth league and can’t come to Edinburgh with me, why on earth are you forcing me away?” “Do you know what that distance means to us?” “Are you… are you planning to break up with me?” I shook my head, repeating “No.” No one missed him more than I did. He was my future fiancé, but also my brother. He looked out for me more deeply than my own parents. The separation felt like peeling skin from bone. Yet everything that followed proved how futile I was. The universal script only needed a single, unexpected fellowship grant to send Serena to Edinburgh as well. My efforts were pale and pointless against the world’s rules. They still met. They still got to know each other. Six months after he left, Declan came home for the holidays. I rushed to the airport to pick him up, only to find him with Serena. Compared to my still-unpolished self, they looked perfect together—a golden couple fit for a magazine cover. The sight stung. That night at home, I was direct. “Do you like her?” Declan gave a strained, nervous laugh. “What are you talking about? She’s just a classmate.” The flicker of panic in his eyes wasn’t well-hidden. He had developed feelings. I hired someone to look into their interactions abroad, just to see how far things had gone. If they had held hands or kissed, I would have ended things immediately, played my part for a few years, endured the wedding, and quietly bowed out. But they hadn’t done anything overtly romantic. Even their dinners were always in group settings. Declan found out I had investigated Serena and exploded at me for the first time. “I told you nothing is going on. Why would you hire a PI to check up on her?” “Serena is a simple girl who earned her way through sheer effort, with help from a scholarship. Don’t you dare try to sabotage her.” The defensive look in his eyes cut me to the core. Tears welled in mine as I asked, “Is that who you think I am? A tyrant who uses her wealth to crush others?” Seeing my distress, Declan slowly calmed down. “I’m sorry, Kira. I overreacted.” I accepted his apology, placidly. But after that day, I stayed at the training base more often and rarely went home to the family mansion. Since I wouldn’t go to him, Declan came to me at the base, day after day, rain or shine. I saw him off at the airport when his break ended. He gave me a light hug. “Kira, let’s stop being angry, okay?” “I’m transferring to a university in Chicago after this semester.” My parents scolded me, saying I was immature for constantly causing trouble and making Declan rearrange his life. Declan only smiled and said it was his fault for not giving me enough security. Chicago and our home base were on opposite coasts. He’d be geographically separated from Serena. He reported his schedule to me daily and shared his location. Especially once I turned twenty-one and started entering major tournaments, Declan, a senior in college, never missed a single one of my offline competitions. The cross-country red-eye flights became as habitual as drinking water for him. I slowly started to believe that I could trust him one more time. So, on my twenty-first birthday, when Declan proposed, I accepted. “Kira, we’ll register the marriage next year when you turn twenty-two.” I held out my hand for the ring. And I told him again, seriously, “Declan, you have to keep your word.” “If you marry anyone else, I will truly disappear.” He smiled, accepted my warning, and pulled me into a soft embrace amidst the cheers of our friends. “Don’t worry. Even if you run to the ends of the earth, I’ll find you.” But only a few days after my birthday, Serena came back home. She returned the day I was scheduled for my first international competition. We’d checked my bags, and then Declan took a call from Serena. Immediately, he decided to cancel his trip to accompany me. He apologized profusely, explaining in detail that Serena was facing a terrible, complicated mess. I cut short his lengthy explanation. I knew why she was back and when she’d return better than he did. I turned and walked toward security, telling Declan just one thing: “Just remember to marry me.” Relieved that I hadn’t thrown a tantrum, Declan smiled. “Of course, I will.” He watched me go, not knowing that this single glance would be our last for several years. Two of my teammates suffered from serious jet lag and anxiety, leading to critical errors in the competition. We didn’t even make it to the podium. Vicious fans started calling us idiots, hurling obscenities. Because I was the only girl, someone even threw a piece of trash that hit me. Outside the stadium, in fifteen-degree weather, we stood bowing and apologizing until midnight, then walked back to the hotel on empty stomachs. On the way, we were held up by armed robbers and stripped of everything. One of the robbers, panicked, fired a shot. The bullet grazed my thigh. We made it to the hospital. Since it wasn’t a life-threatening injury, they told us to wait. At dawn, a teammate finally borrowed a phone to call for help, and we all called home. I’m an NPC, lacking deep emotional ties to my parents, so I called Declan directly. But the first thing he said when he picked up was: “Kira, I’m so sorry. I have to marry Serena.”

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For three years, since the day our son was born, my wife has suffered from unexplained mutism, a silence the doctors blamed on a severe psychological block. For three years, Jocelyn hadn’t spoken a single word to me. She’d stand by, silent, even if the carbon monoxide alarm was screaming. She never soothed our baby when he cried or fed him when he was hungry. When my small construction business went under, I didn’t have a second to mourn. I started driving for every delivery app—DoorDash, Uber Eats, you name it—just to pay the bills, all while still dragging Jocelyn to endless therapy appointments and specialists. That day, after working a grueling fourteen hours, exhaustion had turned my brain to mush. I was backing the van into our driveway and didn’t see her. I didn’t see that she’d let our three-year-old, Leo, play right behind the tires. The crunch beneath my back tire was sickeningly familiar, yet utterly foreign. A sharp, brief cry, then nothing. My legs gave out. I forced myself to move, my hands shaking so violently I could barely scoop up Leo and rush him to the car. Jocelyn just stood there. Silent, impassive, like she always did. She looked at the scene—at her own child—as if it were a scene playing out on TV, nothing to do with her. I finally snapped. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard, the years of silent suffering bubbling into a primal scream. “You saw him! Why couldn’t you shout? Why did you put him there? What twisted psychological problem makes you watch your own son die? Are you trying to kill me too?” I was hysterical, veins popping in my neck. But Jocelyn wouldn’t—couldn’t—open her mouth. The three years of dead silence had finally broken me. I was ready to collapse, to surrender to the despair. That’s when it happened. She pushed through the small crowd that had gathered, and for the first time in 1,095 days, she spoke. It was soft, barely a whisper, but the sound slammed into me like a physical blow. “Marcus…” Marcus Wells. Her first love. The man she never stopped calling her ‘forever ex.’ Her psychological block wasn’t a disorder. It was us. 1 I slumped against the waiting room wall at the ER, my hands clasped so tight my knuckles were white. A man like me shouldn’t beg, but I was begging. I was praying to a God I hadn’t spoken to since I was a kid. Please, let him live. Just let him live. Jocelyn? I didn’t want her anymore. Leo was so small, he could barely string a sentence together. I hadn’t taken him anywhere. I hadn’t shown him the ocean or the mountains. I hit myself, hard, across the face several times. Why was I so tired? Why was I so careless? Why didn’t I check the rearview camera one last time? The work fatigue had been instantly replaced by the raw, suffocating terror of a father. Why was fate so cruel as to make me the one to kill my own child? The emergency room light blinked off. The doctor, his scrubs soaked with blood, walked out. “He has multiple fractures. A rib pierced his heart. We stabilized him, but he needs to go to the ICU immediately. Prepare yourselves, family.” I hit the floor. The back of my head slammed against the concrete wall, and the world went dark. When I woke up, Jocelyn was standing over me, her face lined with a familiar, manufactured concern. She poured me a cup of weak hospital coffee. Still silent. I was too tired to press her. Too exhausted to chase the truth. It didn’t matter anymore. We used to dream about the day her voice came back, how happy we would be, a perfect family of three. But now I knew the truth. She wasn’t unable to speak to us; she was simply unwilling. A dead calm settled inside me. I spoke into the silence. “Jocelyn, we’re done. We are getting a divorce. Three years ago, you said you were a burden, and you were right. I hate you for it.” She recoiled as if I’d struck her. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She shook her head desperately. She typed quickly on her phone and showed me the screen. ‘I am devastated about Leo. We need to get through this together.’ Talking about Leo made my eyes burn again. How could I believe her? How could I convince myself that I had hallucinated that single, clear word? When my son’s life was hanging by a thread, she abandoned us. She broke her vow of silence for the man she never let go of. Her forever ex. I didn’t want to talk anymore. I just walked to the glass divider to look at my son. This was all my fault. Just give Daddy one chance, kid. I’m taking you away from here. We don’t need her. I swallowed the tears, forced myself into a functional state. ICU costs were crippling. I had to go back to work. That same morning, I called a realtor and listed our house. I was peddling snacks and drinks out of my delivery van later that week when a buyer called me. He was viewing the house and commented on how immaculate I kept the place, impressed by my work ethic. Then he saw a photograph of Jocelyn. His demeanor changed. “Oh, you’re a friend of Mrs. Reid? That makes this easy. Mrs. Reid is a generous woman, a true partner. Any man lucky enough to marry her gets a built-in venture capitalist. She backed her husband’s company with everything she had.” My smile froze solid. I didn’t understand what he was talking about. He chuckled, explaining. “Mr. Wells’ business is booming. He’s our biggest vendor now. I need him for my contract, so this house? Just name your price. I’ll make sure it closes.” Marcus Wells? My hands, calloused and scraped from loading up my beat-up delivery van, felt like a pathetic joke. From the conversation, I learned the horrifying truth: Jocelyn had funneled my money—our money—into Marcus’s company, becoming his silent, major shareholder, while watching my business fail and our family sink into penury. A searing pain bloomed in my chest. I excused myself to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face, trying to regain control.

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