Category: English

I am the sole heiress of the Sterling family empire, but my gender is considered a flaw. Everyone said the three foster sons my father groomed were the true heirs, while I was just a placeholder. They never spared me a glance. I courted Liam Sterling hundreds of times, only to receive his countless looks of disdain. I thought he treated all women with such cold indifference, until I saw him kneel before Lily Blackwood, the chauffeur’s daughter, swearing an oath: “I only agreed to marry her to repay the Sterling family for raising me. Once I take control of the Sterling empire, I will marry you with the grandeur you deserve. As long as Seraphina Sterling doesn’t hurt you, I can give her a few million to live out her days abroad.” “You are the only wife in my heart.” On the eve of the shareholders’ meeting, my father asked me who I would choose. I recalled the evasive gazes of those three men and smiled: “After all, I am the Sterling heiress. Marriage should maximize benefits.” “I choose Alexander Thorne of the capital.” My father frowned: “Alexander was paralyzed in a car accident five years ago. He’s not only wheelchair-bound but also impotent. Are you sure?” Chapter 1 My voice was soft but firm. “In our class, true love is a myth. Since it’s all about profit, naturally, I choose the Thorne family, which offers the greatest benefit.” My father’s expression was grave. “That may be so, but of the three boys I raised for you, did none of them catch your eye?” My father loved my mother deeply, but she died of a sudden brain hemorrhage the year I was born. He couldn’t bear to remarry, yet he couldn’t rest easy leaving the vast Sterling empire solely in the hands of a woman. Following a friend’s advice, my father adopted three orphaned boys. He wrote his will early on: whichever one I chose would help me run the company and suppress the other board members. My father loved me, but that didn’t conflict with his belief that a woman couldn’t hold up the enormous Sterling Corporation alone. I looked at my father. “Although Alexander is paralyzed and impotent, I can use IVF to have his child. He is also the sole heir of the Thorne family. Rather than choosing an orphan to support the Sterling family, it’s better to choose a powerful ally.” My father nodded. “Since the three of them didn’t have the ability to win your heart, there’s no need for them to stay in the Sterling Corporation.” If I merely said it was because Liam didn’t love me and I didn’t want to force him, my father would surely make Liam kneel before me and question what right a foster son had to refuse. I didn’t want my father to use years of kindness to blackmail Liam, nor did I want to force Liam to marry me, creating a resentful couple. Moreover, the words Liam had spoken had thoroughly chilled my heart. Parting ways amicably was already my greatest mercy. As he walked out of the office, my father glanced sideways at Liam. After obediently seeing my father off, Liam turned and frowned at me: “What did you tattle about this time?” His eyes were full of disgust and impatience, as if I had committed some heinous crime. Before I could speak, Chase next to him sneered: “Isn’t it obvious?” “Probably complaining that we three didn’t include her or pamper her.” The remaining one, Noah, also looked disdainful. “I say, Miss Sterling, the old days are gone. Do you still think having some money makes you a princess everyone must revolve around?” The three of them united against a common enemy, using sharp words to sting me. I was baffled. “If none of you want to marry me, why did no one ever tell my father?” Although my father intended to groom them as potential husbands, he never forced it. As long as they said no, my father would immediately prepare a sum of money to send them abroad to live freely. In the end, they just couldn’t let go of the wealth behind the Sterling name. Noah, the most hot-tempered one, clicked his tongue impatiently: “That sounds nice, but you know we’re living under your roof. We’re just dogs raised by the Sterling family. What right do we have to refuse?” Liam looked at me with a grim expression. “If you want to choose me, then choose me. I just hope you won’t make things difficult for the other two in the future.” Hearing this, Noah and Chase were instantly moved. Seeing Liam’s expression of self-sacrifice, I only felt immense bitterness in my heart. Before I could say anything, Lily suddenly appeared. Seeing me, she acted frightened and hid behind Liam. Liam instinctively blocked Lily. “She didn’t do anything. Just let her go today.” I looked at them in confusion, only to find that the three who were supposed to protect me were all shielding Lily, afraid I would bully her. Chapter 2 Five years ago, when Lily first came to the Sterling estate, she gave me a hair clip. I gifted her a bracelet worth a hundred thousand dollars in return as a welcome gift. Unexpectedly, just as I opened the pastry box, Liam snatched it away. He scolded angrily, “You want to snatch the keepsake Lily’s mother left her too?” I looked at Lily in confusion, wanting her to explain that she gave it to me voluntarily. But Lily suddenly knelt down, weeping like a pear blossom bathed in rain. “It wasn’t the Young Miss who snatched it; I gave it to her voluntarily.” “The Young Miss is very good to me. She even gave me a bracelet. I really don’t feel wronged.” She kowtowed to me repeatedly. This scene made the three boys red-eyed, reminding them of their own foster status. They questioned me righteously: “Even if you are the Sterling family heiress, you have no right to force someone to give you their mother’s keepsake, right?” “Although the hair clip isn’t worth much money, its meaning is far beyond this bracelet worth a few tens of thousands. Give the hair clip back to Lily immediately!” “Truly as domineering as ever, only caring about your own happiness regardless of others’ lives.” My face changed instantly, but thinking there might be a misunderstanding, I thought clearing it up would be fine. Suppressing my anger, I handed the hair clip to Lily, but she didn’t catch it firmly. The hair clip shattered instantly. She bit her lip and shouted at me: “Since the Young Miss would rather destroy it than return it to me, why put on an act?” Liam, who always hated seeing the poor bullied, immediately threatened with a cold face: “Apologize to Lily right now, or don’t blame me for breaking the engagement!” At that time, I had already confessed to Liam, saying I wouldn’t marry anyone but him. Liam used this as leverage to force me to bow to Lily. I was too young then and dared not risk losing my beloved to defend myself. I could only lower my head and apologize with red eyes. But this apology lasted for a full five years. Since then, whenever Lily saw me, it was like a mouse seeing a cat. She would either suddenly kneel or burst into tears. But I did nothing… I looked at Liam coldly: “If you’re really afraid I’ll bully Lily, just tie her to your belt at all times.” It was clearly a sarcastic remark, but Liam frowned and said: “Are you threatening me? What do you want to do to Lily?” Noah clapped his hands and pointed at me. “Is it because we three gave the ‘Ocean of Stars’ to Lily, and you’re planning to use that as an excuse to bully her?” Chase looked at me with cold eyes. “You have everything, but no one ever celebrated Lily’s birthday. It’s just an ‘Ocean of Stars.’ Is it necessary to hold onto it?” My eyes turned cold. “‘Ocean of Stars’?” The “Ocean of Stars” was an underground aquarium that had been under construction since my birth. In the southeast, there was a piece of top-tier imperial green jade. Through the shimmering seawater, it refracted beauty like a cosmic galaxy. It was nearing completion half a year ago. My father entrusted the finishing work to Liam, making him responsible for presenting the “Ocean of Stars” to me at my birthday party in a month. But now, this gift that belonged to me had become Lily’s. My gaze fell on Liam. He was in charge of the final stages of this project. Without his approval, no one could enter the unopened aquarium. Liam looked a bit guilty under my gaze and turned his head angrily: “Lily has always lived in the countryside, busy making a living, and never properly seen the stars. I just wanted to fulfill one of her wishes. Besides, doesn’t the ownership of the aquarium still belong to you?” “Stop being unreasonable. At worst, I’ll announce our engagement at your birthday party in a month. Are you satisfied now?” Seeing Liam’s charitable expression, I almost thought I was the adopted one. But no one present realized anything was wrong. Instead, they all felt it was unworthy for Liam. “Why make such a big sacrifice? Seraphina is willful, capricious, and vicious. Marrying her is worse than becoming a monk.” “I’m afraid Seraphina will be so happy she won’t know north from south. Her long-cherished wish is finally coming true.” “Boohoo, Brother Liam, please don’t ruin your life’s happiness for me. I’ll kneel and kowtow to Sister Seraphina. I’ll be her slave; I’ll do anything…” My throat was dry as I spat out a sentence: “I won’t marry you.” Liam raised an eyebrow in surprise and suspicion. Noah and Chase looked at each other, terrified I would say I wanted to marry them. Being so despised by the three I grew up with, I was afraid I would cry if I didn’t leave immediately. I turned to leave but was grabbed by the wrist by Lily. Her eyes were red, and she knelt to me again: “Please don’t make things difficult for Brother Liam. The three of them were adopted by your Sterling family and are inherently inferior. If you are angry because they gave the ‘Ocean of Stars’ to me and want to complain to Uncle Sterling, I am willing to apologize to you with my forehead.” She started kowtowing bang bang bang, and soon her forehead was red and bleeding. Liam helped her up from the ground with heartache, turning to glare at me: “You say you won’t marry me, then have the guts not to choose me when the time comes! What kind of skill is it to retreat in order to advance and make things difficult for Lily?!” “Don’t you just want to take the opportunity to complain and force Lily away?” I looked at Liam coldly. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, but rest assured, I will absolutely not choose you as my husband.” I thought Liam would let it go at that, but unexpectedly, he grabbed my hand: “If you don’t choose me, who will you choose? Chase or Noah?” “Noah loves art and wants to go abroad for further studies. Chase yearns for freedom. Is harming one of me not enough? Do you want to attack them too?” Liam took a deep breath. “As long as you promise not to make things difficult for Lily from now on, I can marry you. Stop making a fuss, okay?” His eyes were full of exhaustion, as if he had been tortured by me for a long time. I looked deeply at Liam. “Everything will be as you wish.” He was afraid I would bully Lily, and even more unwilling to marry me. When I married Alexander Thorne, all his worries would be solved. Chapter 3 I hadn’t sought out Liam for a while, until the day of the birthday party, when he appeared with a cold face. Chase and Noah followed behind him, looking unhappy. I frowned at my assistant. I had clearly said the engagement partner to be announced today wasn’t them, so there was no need to invite them. But the assistant shook her head frantically, with a look that said, “I didn’t know; they came on their own.” I sighed helplessly, preparing to pretend I hadn’t seen anything. The guests below were warmer than me, greeting the three of them one after another. “Young Master Liam is truly young and promising. The project you secured last month must have generated millions in revenue, right? No wonder Miss Sterling is devoted only to you.” But I was the one who negotiated that project; Liam just went to sign. “Young Master Noah has a bad temper but hates evil as if it were his enemy. Miss Sterling surely won’t be wronged following you.” I sneered inwardly. The one who bullied me the most happened to be Noah. He viewed me as a viper, wishing he could execute me on the spot. “Young Master Chase is also a handsome talent. Miss Sterling choosing you isn’t wrong either. Anyway, please take care of us in the future.” The three of them were like fish in water at my birthday party, acting like the hosts. I frowned, wanting to stop this farce, but the three of them looked down at their phones simultaneously. Before I could react, Noah’s face changed first. He rushed to me in a few steps and slapped me. My head spun from the hit, and I almost fell to the ground. Everyone was frightened by this scene, dodging away, afraid to cause trouble. Liam clenched his hands into fists, stopped Noah who wanted to strike again, and turned to look at me with gritted teeth: “We have already come here like goods for you to choose from. What are you still dissatisfied with?” “Do you have to drive Lily to death?” I was baffled. Seeing my expression, Chase felt even more disdain in his heart. “You took advantage of our absence from Lily’s side and dared to hire someone to kidnap her. I tell you, you won’t get your way!” As soon as this sentence came out, I immediately understood that Lily was playing tricks again. The guests present were either my father’s friends or business partners. I was slapped in front of them, yet no one stopped it. My heart sank. Presumably, they believed the Sterling family wouldn’t fall into my hands, so they dared not easily offend the three of them. I covered my face and looked at Noah with cold eyes. “Apologize!” Noah glanced at my red eyes and spoke sarcastically: “Lily almost lost her purity. What do you have to feel aggrieved about just being slapped?” “Boohoo~” Lily ran in crying, her dress tattered, making people suspect if she had encountered something. Liam quickly took off his suit jacket and draped it over Lily, turning to look at me with disgust: “You truly are as scheming as ever. I will absolutely not marry a woman like you!” Chase, who was usually quiet, stood in front of Lily with a cold face: “Your mother couldn’t give birth to a boy to inherit the family business, so she tried every means to bring us three back as tools. We have accepted our fate, but I didn’t expect you to be insatiable.” “Since that’s the case, there’s no need to maintain this superficial peace.” He turned and left, not caring about the Sterling family’s face at all. Before leaving, Liam arrogantly dropped a sentence: “I will marry you, but you will just be a decoration in the future. If you want me to protect the Sterling family’s assets, you must behave yourself.” I laughed. Had they forgotten? Without me, the Sterling family wouldn’t have adopted them. Seeing the three of them about to leave, someone finally wanted to stop them. But I shouted with a cold face: “Let them go!” Lily glared at me provocatively, as if she had won the whole world. I stood there without saying a word until the assistant said anxiously: “What should we do? All three of them left. Who should you choose?” Other guests also frowned. “As a woman, she has to marry sooner or later. If the three foster husbands who know her well don’t want her, who else can she marry?” I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes, smiling as I raised my red wine glass to toast everyone: “Guests, presumably everyone knows that today, besides being my birthday party, is also my engagement party.” A cold, handsome face appeared on the huge projection screen. Everyone gasped. “Isn’t that Alexander Thorne of the Thorne family in the capital?!”

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Dickie Duncan had a mistress. And she’d given him twins. He hid them well. But not well enough. So I took the children. Dickie’s retaliation was swift and savage. In the biting, twenty-three-degree cold, he tied our son, Leo, to a flagpole on a golf course and left him there for four hours. When I found him, his skin was a mottled, terrifying blue, his lips purpled. His breaths were faint, ghostly little puffs of air I had to press my ear to his chest to hear. “Dickie!” I screamed until my throat was raw, the taste of blood on my tongue. “Isn’t Leo your son, too?!” “And what about Seraphina’s children? Aren’t they mine?!” he roared back, his eyes bloodshot, manic. He swung the golf club in his hand, bringing it down hard on Leo’s small back. I heard the sickening thud, a muffled crack of bone. My son’s cries faded into a weak whimper. “If you don’t bring my children back today,” Dickie snarled, his voice a low growl, “I’ll make you watch him die.” My legs gave out from under me. I crumpled to the frozen ground, my teeth chattering so hard I bit my lip, drawing blood. “…Northwood,” I choked out. “The lodge.” He dropped the club and left without a backward glance. By the time he returned, my son, our Leo, had succumbed to severe hypothermia. He had closed his eyes forever. … I rushed into the hospital, cradling my son’s unconscious body. The hallway outside the ER was sterile and cold, chilling me to the bone. When the doctor finally emerged, he pulled down his mask and shook his head, his expression heavy. “Severe pulmonary infection, leading to multiple organ failure. He was brought in too late. We did everything we could.” I collapsed onto the floor, the air stolen from my lungs. Just yesterday, he had his arms wrapped around my neck, whispering, “Mommy, I won the chess tournament!” How could he be a cold, lifeless body today? All I’d wanted was to use those twins to shock Dickie back to me, to make him see what he was losing. I never imagined the price would be Leo. A tidal wave of regret crashed over me, pulling me under. After arranging for my son’s funeral, I was a ghost in my own home. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink, just lay in the darkened room, a hollowed-out shell. On the evening of the fourth day, Dickie finally came home. He saw me in bed and strode over, his voice hard as stone. “Chloe, because of your little stunt, the twins had an asthma attack. They’ve been in the hospital for four days! They’re only four years old, how could you put them through that?” Four? My Leo… he was only seven. How was he supposed to endure what you did to him? My chest heaved, but my throat was so raw from screaming and crying that I couldn’t make a sound. I could only stare at him, my eyes burning with a hatred so deep it felt black. “Luckily, Seraphina is understanding. She’s willing to let it go this time. In the future, try not to be so petty.” He paused, then pulled a velvet box from his briefcase and set it on the nightstand. His tone softened slightly. “Leo’s at that winter camp, right? I had to do what I did the other day. I just wanted to scare you, I never meant to actually hurt him. He’s a boy. A little cold builds character.” “I bought this for him. It’s a limited-edition model kit. Give it to him when he gets back. I have to go be with Seraphina and the kids. I won’t be home tonight.” He turned and walked away. I stared at the box, my heart feeling like it was being sawed apart with a dull blade. He didn’t know. He didn’t know our son was never coming back. With a surge of strength I didn’t know I possessed, I scrambled out of bed, a wild scream tearing from my throat, and snatched the velvet box. I hurled it against the wall. It exploded, showering the floor in a rain of plastic and splintered parts. … A week passed before I could manage to get out of bed and sip a few spoonfuls of broth. As I held onto the banister, making my way unsteadily down to the living room, I saw him. Dickie, who I hadn’t seen all week, was walking through the front door. With him were Seraphina and their twins. He met my dead-eyed stare without flinching. “Since the secret’s out, we might as well be open about it.” “I’ve decided to have Seraphina and the children move in. It’ll be easier for me to take care of everyone.” “From now on, you and Leo will have to get along with them. I want to enjoy having all my children under one roof.” The words were so absurd I wanted to laugh, but the tears had long since run dry. My son’s body was barely cold, and all he could think about was playing happy families with his illegitimate children. The incandescent rage cooled into something utterly frigid. “Dickie,” I said, my voice a dry rasp. “I want a divorce.” His face darkened instantly. “Chloe, what the hell are you on about now?” What was I on about? Yes, when I first discovered his other family, I had been hysterical. I couldn’t accept that the man who had once knelt in the snow and sworn he would love only me for the rest of his life had broken that promise just five years into our marriage. I cried. I begged. I even kidnapped his other children. And I paid for it with my own son’s life. Never again. My cracked lips moved, the sound like gravel scraping stone. “Dickie, since you have a perfect family with Seraphina now, I’ll get out of your way.” “Chloe!” he roared, his eyes stormy. “Who in my circle doesn’t have a woman on the side? All I did was have another family, why do you have to be so damn dramatic about it?” “Even with them living here, you will always be my lawfully wedded wife. Leo will always be the eldest son of the Duncan family, the primary heir. Nothing can change that! You should be grateful!” Grateful? The word struck me as so utterly insane that I felt a dizzying sense of disconnect. I remembered years ago, Dickie and I in law school. He’d pursued me relentlessly for three years, winning me over with countless handwritten letters and breakfast delivered to my door every morning. When he proposed, in a chapel filled with roses, he swore I was the only love of his life, that he would never betray me. Now, those vows were a punchline. Our love was ash. And our only son was dead by his hand. And he wanted me to be grateful? How could I possibly be grateful? Sensing the tension, Seraphina spoke up, her voice a soft, gentle murmur. “Dickie, honey, if Chloe can’t stand having us here, maybe I should just take the children and go. I don’t want to upset her…” “Don’t you move, Sera,” Dickie snapped, pulling her close. His gentle tone with her was like a knife in my ear. “You and the children are staying right here. I bought this house. No one is kicking you out without my permission.” He shot a cold glare in my direction. I looked away, my gaze landing on the mantelpiece. The twins were on their tiptoes, reaching for the three crystal snow globes displayed there. A vise gripped my heart. “Don’t touch that!” I shrieked. Startled, the children jumped back. The snow globes tumbled from the ledge, shattering on the hearth in a cascade of glittering fragments. The twins burst into loud, wailing sobs. Seraphina’s eyes immediately filled with tears. “Chloe,” she accused, her voice trembling, “if you hate me, take it out on me! Why do you have to scare the children? What have they ever done to you that makes you hurt them again and again?” Dickie was livid. He stormed over and slapped me, hard, across the face. “Chloe, have you lost your goddamn mind? These two have health issues! You already scared them into an asthma attack once. If anything else happens to them, how will you pay for it?” But I couldn’t hear them anymore. All I could see were the three broken snow globes. I lunged forward, not caring about the sharp edges, gathering the glittering shards in my hands. The glass sliced into my palms, blood welling up, but I felt nothing. We had made these. Leo was five. The three of us, on a trip to Switzerland, had blown the glass ourselves. My son had said that every snowflake was unique, just like our family. The perfect combination. Now, my son was gone. The snowflakes were shattered. My world had collapsed. The grief I had suppressed for days finally broke through. I clutched the cold, sharp pieces to my chest and let out a raw, keening wail. Dickie’s brow was furrowed in annoyance. “What is it now, Chloe?” Seraphina feigned concern. “Chloe, dear, are you… remembering something sad?” “Just leave her,” Dickie said, his voice ice as he wrapped an arm around Seraphina’s shoulders. “If she wants to cry, let her cry it out.” They took the children and went upstairs. I stared at the broken glass in my hands, my heart a dead, empty cavern. After a long time, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Yes, police? I’d like to report a crime.” … After hanging up, I looked around the opulent mansion. This wasn’t my home anymore. I wanted to leave immediately, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, and I had to go back to my room to rest. Half an hour later, I had packed a small suitcase with my things and Leo’s most precious belongings. I was dragging it out of the room when I ran into Seraphina in the hallway. With Dickie gone, her mask was off. She blocked my path, a smirk playing on her lips. “Running away from home, are we? There’s really no need. I’ll be the lady of the house soon, but you could always stay on as one of the maids.” “Get out of my way,” I said, pushing her hand aside. I didn’t use much force, but she let out a sharp cry and stumbled backward, crashing into a decorative cabinet with a loud thud. An enraged roar echoed from behind me. “Chloe, what the hell are you doing?!” Dickie strode toward us, his face a thundercloud. Seraphina immediately scrambled up and limped into his arms, tears streaming down her face. “Dickie, it’s not her fault… I just lost my footing and twisted my ankle…” But Dickie wasn’t listening. His eyes were like chips of ice as he glared at me. “You just can’t leave her alone, can you? Are you not happy unless you’re hurting Seraphina and the children?” At this point, I had no energy left to argue. I picked up my suitcase to leave. Dickie blocked me. “Where do you think you’re going?” I took a deep breath, my voice as cold as my heart. “I’m moving out. I wouldn’t want to interrupt your perfect family reunion.” His expression turned venomous. “You have to make this ugly, don’t you? What successful man doesn’t have a few women? If you walk out like this, what’s to stop me from tying your son to a flagpole in the freezing cold again?” A violent tremor ran through me. My son… how dare he mention my son. I stared at him, rage burning in my chest. He seemed to remember something. “Speaking of which, where is Leo? Winter camp should be over by now. Where did you hide him? First you hide other people’s kids, now you’re hiding your own?” Leo. He finally remembered Leo. But he didn’t know. He would never see Leo again. The thought of my son was a physical pain, so sharp it stole my breath. Tears streamed down my face. “Leo… he…” I clutched my chest, sobbing uncontrollably. “Leo’s dead! You froze him to death!” “That’s bullshit!” Dickie’s face was contorted with fury. “No one dies from being out in the cold for a bit! Get your story straight before you lie, Chloe! Cursing your own son… you’re one sick mother.” I was drowning in tears, with no will to argue anymore. I pushed past him, determined to leave. But he snatched my suitcase. As we struggled, a piece of paper slipped out of my bag and fluttered to the floor. “What’s this?” Seraphina picked it up, her voice laced with curiosity. She read it aloud. “Deed of Purchase… Cemetery Plot… for Leo Duncan…” The color drained from Dickie’s face. He ripped the paper from her hand. His eyes scanned the document, and a murderous rage filled them. “Chloe, you’d forge something like this just to get back at me?” he roared, slapping the paper against my cheek. “I’m telling you, my patience has a limit! You keep this up, and Seraphina will be Mrs. Duncan before you know it! And the Duncan Corporation will go to her sons!” The edge of the paper cut my skin, leaving a thin line of blood. I wiped it away, my heart completely empty. “Do whatever you want. I don’t care anymore.” “Chloe, when are you going to stop this madness?!” Compared to his fury, I was eerily calm. “I’m not being mad. I just want to leave.” Dickie’s eyes glinted. He ground his teeth. “You are my wife. And you’re not going anywhere without my permission.” I tried to push past him again. Suddenly, he moved. A sharp, brutal chop to the back of my neck. The world went black. … I came to twenty minutes later, sputtering as a glass of ice water was thrown in my face. I opened my eyes to find myself tied to a sofa in the bedroom, unable to move. “Awake?” Seraphina stood over me, her face a mask of scorn. “Look at you, Chloe. Empty eyes, blank expression… you’re like the living dead. No wonder Dickie fell for me.” “Let me tell you a little secret,” she cooed. “We were together even before you got married. Dickie always said you were too uptight, like a board in bed. So boring. Not an ounce of the passion I have.” Her words didn’t touch me. Who Dickie loved was irrelevant now. She crossed her arms, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. “Oh, and by the way, your son really is dead, isn’t he? I was the one who told Dickie to tie him up and teach him a lesson. I didn’t think he’d be so fragile. Just like his mother. Useless.” “Soon, I’ll be Mrs. Duncan. Everything this family has will belong to my children. And you, Chloe, you will have nothing! Hahaha…” Hearing that, the last of my composure shattered. I glared at her, my voice shaking with rage. “Seraphina, you will pay for this.” “Pay for it?” She laughed. “Let’s see who pays first.” With that, she bit down hard on her own lip, drawing blood. Then she grabbed a heavy glass ashtray from the table, smashed it against her own forehead, and let out a bloodcurdling scream. “Ahhh—!” The door was kicked open. Dickie rushed in. “Sera, what happened?” She threw herself into his arms, sobbing. “Dickie, I was just trying to bring Chloe some water… she knocked it over and… and she hit me with the ashtray! Look, I’m bleeding, it hurts so much…” “Chloe!” Dickie roared, his eyes blazing with a cold, murderous fury. “I’ve been too lenient with you! You’re not going to learn until you’re staring at your own coffin!” He raised his hand to strike me again. Just then, the sound of urgent footsteps and a sharp, authoritative command cut through the air. Several uniformed police officers burst into the room… “Dickie Duncan, you’re being investigated for the death of your son. Please come with us.”

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1 I once saved lives by extracting venom for antivenom. I was rewarded with a life sentence for selling counterfeit medicine that killed a patient. In truth, my adoptive brother, Julian, diluted my serum for profit. When it failed, my parents forced me to sign a confession to protect him. My fiancée, Jessica, threw acid in my face, destroying it forever. I spent twelve years in prison, released early for good behavior. Now I shovel pig manure on a remote farm. Julian, in a publicity stunt, was bitten by a coral snake during a livestream. Now he’s dying. My family hunted me down. My parents knelt in the mud, crying, “You have to give him a transfusion! He’s your brother!” My sister, Ava, held a knife to my throat. “Save him, or I’ll send you back to prison for life.” My fingers traced the scars on my face. I smiled bitterly. They’d forgotten: years ago, to ensure my silence, they injected me with a sedative. A drug that permanently destroyed my ability to produce new blood. … “Jim, are you really planning to rot in this shithole for the rest of your life?” My sister, Ava, stepped out of the car, immaculate in a designer suit. The stench of the pig farm hit her like a physical blow, and her face turned a sickly shade of green. She pinched her nose, her brow furrowed in disgust. There was no warmth of a reunion in her eyes, only contempt. I stopped the rhythmic swing of my shovel and wiped a smear of stinking grime from my forehead. I didn’t say a word. I just watched them. Twelve years. I survived twelve years in that sunless cage. For the six months since my release, I’ve lived like a stray dog. They never once came to see me. No one would hire an ex-con, a “counterfeit drug dealer,” except for this pig farm at the edge of the world. And now, here they were, the whole family, rolling up in their luxury cars, storming this forgotten corner of the country. Had they finally remembered they had another son wasting away out here? “Jim, are you deaf? Can’t you even greet your own parents and sister?” my father, Richard, demanded. His voice was laced with its usual authority, but I could hear the sharp edge of desperation straining beneath it. “Let the past be the past,” he continued, softening his tone. “We’re family. Blood is thicker than water. Just swallow your pride, and the doors to our home will always be open for you.” I stared at his face, a mask of false generosity, and felt bile rise in my throat. Had they ever, for a single moment, considered me family? Slap! Before I could answer, Ava stepped forward, intending to wipe my face clean. But when I pulled down my mask, revealing the melted, grotesque ruin beneath, her hand froze mid-air. The sterile wipe fell from her trembling fingers and landed in the muck. Her eyes darkened for a fraction of a second. “How did it get this bad… If you had just listened back then, if you hadn’t been so greedy and sold that fake medicine, Jessica wouldn’t have… lost her temper like that.” Ava sighed, her voice dripping with pity. “Never mind. What matters now is saving a life. Julian is in trouble.” “He was trying to educate his followers, got bitten by a coral snake during a livestream. The venom is shutting down his organs, and the hospital’s blood bank doesn’t have a matching antivenom.” “You did the research. Your body has the antibodies.” “Come with us. Save Julian, and we’ll let everything you did in the past go. Mom and Dad will forgive you.” In their eyes, I had served twelve years for a crime I didn’t commit, had my face melted off, my body broken, and in the end, I was supposed to be grateful for their forgiveness. I twisted my lips into a sneer. The scarred tissue on my cheek pulled tight, a familiar, searing pain. “He got bit because he’s a greedy, stupid fool.” My voice was a dry rasp, like sandpaper on stone. “You bastard!” Richard’s face darkened. He raised a hand to strike me, but my mother, Eleanor, caught his arm. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her perfectly maintained face etched with exhaustion. She ignored the filth on the ground and rushed to my side, grabbing my hands, her manicured nails digging into my manure-caked skin. “Jim! I know you’ve been wronged! I know you’re angry!” Eleanor’s voice trembled. “But Julian is your brother!” “He’s always been so fragile. Not like you. You grew up tough in the orphanage, you’re strong. Giving a little blood won’t hurt you, right?” “I’m begging you, son. Do it for me. Please, save him! If you save him, I promise you, you’ll get ten percent of the family fortune! How does that sound?” I looked at this weeping woman. This was my mother. To her, Julian’s life was a precious treasure. Mine was just a resource to keep him alive. Because I was “tough,” because my life was cheap, I was the one who had to be sacrificed. I was about to wrench my hands away when a blinding flash went off. I turned my head and saw her. Jessica. The woman who had once sworn she would marry no one but me, and then personally destroyed my face. She was holding her phone, the camera pointed directly at me, live-streaming. Her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke to her audience, her voice breaking. “Everyone, this is Jim.” “Even though he made a terrible mistake, even though his actions cost someone their life and ruined my future…” “At this critical moment, I still hope he can find it in his heart to remember the bond of brotherhood and save Julian.” “Jim, I know you hate me for what I did. But I only did it because I loved you so much! You drove me crazy with what you’d done!” “If you’ll just save him, I’ll get on my knees and apologize to you right now! Please, I’m begging you, don’t be so heartless!” The chat exploded. Comments scrolled past in a blur. [OMG, Jessica is a saint! This killer should just die, and she’s still begging him!] [Is Jim even human? His own mother is crying like that and he’s just standing there?] [Cold-blooded animal. He deserves to shovel shit for a living!] Jessica’s mastery of emotional manipulation was flawless. I stared at her perfect, beautiful face, then pointed to the centipede-like scars that covered my own. “This is what you call ‘loving me too much,’ Jessica? This is how you show your love?” Her gaze flickered away for a second. “Can’t you just let the past go?” she shot back, her voice rising. “Julian is dying in the ICU right now! Why do you always have to be so selfish? Why can you only think about your own damn pain?” I looked at this collection of people I was supposed to call my family. Suddenly, the cesspool I was standing in felt cleaner than their hearts. “I’m not going.” “My blood is filthy. It’s not worthy of your precious Julian.” I dusted the grime from my clothes and turned to leave. “Jim, I didn’t want it to come to this. You’re forcing my hand.” Ava’s face turned to ice. With a flick of her wrist, four massive men emerged from the second car. They grabbed me like I was one of the pigs, slamming me down onto the concrete ground slick with wastewater and dung. My knee hit the ground hard. I felt a crack radiate through the bone. I struggled, but it only made things worse. The foul liquid flooded my nose and mouth, and I choked, unable to breathe. Seeing me subdued, Richard switched tactics, playing the good cop. He pulled a check from his jacket and shoved it into my pocket. “One million dollars. For your blood.” “Jim, I’m not forcing you. I’m teaching you how to be a man.” “Look at yourself. You’ll never make this much money in your entire life. With this, you can leave this place. You could even get plastic surgery.” “This is for your own good!” I struggled to lift my head, my eyes locking on the check. It was just like twelve years ago. Julian had switched out my serum with a diluted counterfeit, selling it to patients and causing three deaths. When the scandal broke, they had stood over me with that same condescending charity. “Jim, Julian is too fragile for prison.” “You’re the older brother. You take the blame for a few years. When you get out, everything the family has will be yours.” I refused. And then came the sedative, injected against my will, followed by twelve years in hell. “I can’t… sell it… My blood… it’s… bad…” I gasped, trying to explain. But Richard wasn’t listening. “So it’s not enough money, is that it? You just want to get back at Julian?” “Jim, don’t be so greedy!” Just then, Eleanor rushed forward and fell to her knees in the mud with a sickening thud. She didn’t care about her expensive clothes. She grabbed my filthy hands, her sobs tearing through the air. “Jim! Please! I’m on my knees, I’m begging you!” “Julian is dying! Only your antibodies can save him! He’s your brother!” “Just take pity on your mother, please, save him!” For a fleeting moment, my heart clenched. This was, after all, the woman who gave birth to me. Seeing her kneeling before me, a sliver of hesitation pierced my resolve. I opened my mouth, about to say something. But her next words plunged me into an abyss of ice. “Your life is already ruined!” “You have a criminal record. You’re an ex-con. Your face is destroyed. This is all you’ll ever be! You’re worthless!” “But Julian is different! He’s a huge influencer, a star! He’s going to inherit the family business! He has a brilliant future ahead of him!” “Jim, just think of it as… a final contribution! Give your useless blood to Julian. It’s the last useful thing you can do for your brother!” “I’m begging you!” That tiny flicker of hope that had ignited within me was instantly extinguished, shattered into dust. I stared at the weeping woman, and the absurdity of it all was suffocating. “Enough of this bullshit!” Ava had lost all her patience. She pulled a small fruit knife from her purse, its sharp point pressing against my carotid artery. “You’re still on parole, aren’t you, Jim?” “What do you think would happen if, during that period, someone reported you for attempting to manufacture illegal drugs again? Or perhaps… for stealing from the pig farm?” “I’m one of the best lawyers in the state. If I want to, I have countless legal ways to make sure you rot in that cell until you die.” “So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to walk in there, give your blood, and take the money? Or are you going to go back to prison right now and die inside?” The sharp sting on my neck brought everything into focus. I wasn’t afraid of going back to prison. I was just disgusted. This was my sister. A celebrated attorney. Using all her knowledge of the law to destroy her own brother. I didn’t feel fear. I was long past that emotion. I just felt tired. So incredibly tired. If you want my blood this badly, then take it. I closed my eyes and stopped fighting.

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Jasper Thorne posted a video of me walking out of the bathroom, wrapped only in a towel, to the group chat. All the rich trust-fund babies who used to chase me were in there. And Jasper was the prettiest of them all. 【That’s Jasper for you. What’s the Ice Queen taste like? Let us have a turn?】 【Jasper sacrificed a lot for this. Seducing the valedictorian just to get revenge for his little stepsis.】 【Cold-hearted man. Telling the genius he has cancer right before Finals. I saw her eyes were red for days.】 【He’s dumping her right after graduation.】 I heard Jasper send a lazy voice memo in response. His voice sounded completely different from the pitiful act he put on in front of me. I had been skipping school frequently to stay with him at the hospital. My grades were free-falling. Jasper lay weakly in the hospital bed, pulling out a forged cancer diagnosis report, his eyes swimming with fake deep affection. “Audrey, I’m sorry. I’m dragging you down. Don’t spend any more money on my treatment.” He knew that to pay for his “medical bills,” I was already penniless. Jasper was waiting for me to give up on him. He never expected me to pull out another $50,000 in life-saving cash. The group chat pinged again: 【That bitch! What does he have besides a pretty face?! Why did Audrey fall for him!】 【Audrey sold her apartment for him! That was her mother’s only inheritance!】 【Shameless piece of trash. Holden, did you tell Audrey the truth yet?】 【WTF! Idiot! Wrong chat! Jasper is in this one! Delete it, quick!】 The messages were frantically deleted one by one. On the hospital bed, Jasper’s face turned ghostly pale. 1 Academics came easily to me. Since childhood, as long as I wanted to, I could be number one in my grade. I also inherited my mother’s good looks. Except for being poor, I had almost no flaws. In middle school, my mother married a wealthy businessman. She left me a bank card. “Don’t contact me in the future. I will deposit money for you every year.” She claimed to be single to the public. She didn’t want my existence to affect her second marriage. I felt nothing. I took her card and told everyone I was an orphan. I was born emotionally detached. My mother didn’t like me. She preferred daughters who sweetly called her “Mommy,” even if they were stepdaughters. Her social media was soon filled with photos of another girl—the businessman’s daughter from his previous marriage. Her name was Chloe Zhao. She had bright, flashy looks. My mother would half-hug her, while Chloe pouted, showing a very reluctant fake smile. For the first time, seeing someone else’s smile felt blinding to me. Life was bland and boring. My only pleasure was finding people who could stir my emotions. So, I moved. I bought a small, six-hundred-square-foot apartment in the best school district and transferred into Chloe’s high school. 2 Just as I felt when I first saw her photo, Chloe hated me on sight. She led her little clique to constantly bully me. I didn’t argue with her. I simply bailed on school the week before the critical Statewide Mock Finals. Our school had been ranked second to the crosstown rival for too long. My grades were consistently number one. The administration would never want to see me skip the test. When my homeroom teacher called, I mustered up a timid voice: “Mrs. Davis, can I change classes?” “Change classes?” The teacher quickly picked up on the wrongness in my tone. She softened her voice. “Is someone in class bothering you? Don’t be afraid, I’ll handle it for you!” I stammered, “No, no. It’s just… I don’t get along very well with the class.” I hung up the phone and put away the feigned anxiety and cowardice. I knew I had never been a good person. I always return a favor. Two days later, the teacher called me into the school. Schools have cameras. The teacher spent a whole day reviewing footage. After realizing Chloe had been targeting me, both subtly and overtly, for two months, she immediately reported it to the administration. The school took it very seriously. Chloe stood in front of the entire assembly, eyes red, choking back tears as she read her apology. She lost all face at school. From then on, she hated me venomously. “It’s all her fault! If she didn’t have good grades, the teachers wouldn’t protect her like that!” “Fake! Total pick-me!” “Holden! Speak up! Are you going to help me or not!” Outside a corner coffee shop, Chloe was crying and clinging to a guy. The guy whispered comfortingly, “Don’t cry. Jasper and I will definitely help you.” “Really?” Chloe looked up, her nose bright red from crying. “What do you want me to do?” “Find someone to ruin her reputation, then post the photos in the group chat. I want to see what right that bitch has to be arrogant then!” Chloe’s voice was poisonous. The guy was tall. He pulled her into his arms and smiled with playful cruelty. “A sheltered poor girl is worth my princess crying like this? Wait till I train her. I’ll make her crawl on the ground and lick your shoes.” 3 My boring life suddenly got a lot more interesting. For example, many people suddenly wanted to be my friend. They were all either rich or noble. “Audrey, that new Michelin star place is great. Let me take you.” Holden was in Class 11. He was 6’1″ and skilled at flirting. He was one of the people Chloe turned to for help—her cousin. He had good looks, a good family background, and loved fooling around with girls. He made his pursuit of me public. Because he was the only guy I occasionally replied to, rumors spread in class that we were dating. My teacher called us into the office. The teacher from Class 11 was sitting next to her. Holden’s teacher was a stern man. He looked coldly at Holden and said, “Focus on your studies. If your own grades are bad, don’t influence others. I’ve already called your parents. Write a 1,000-word reflection by tomorrow.” “Also, I talked to your parents yesterday. They don’t agree with you studying art. Don’t think art is a shortcut. Your art teacher told me your ideas are too chaotic and not suitable for exams.” Holden clenched his fists tightly. His teacher was rattling off like a machine gun. It was noisy. When his teacher said one more time that Holden shouldn’t affect my studies, I interrupted him. My eyes held no other emotion. “Mr. Evans, he won’t have any impact on me. I will get first place.” The Class 11 teacher choked on his words. Just as he was about to explode, my teacher blocked him like a protective mother bear. “Alright, alright, you both go out now.” 4 After that, Holden pursued me even more fiercely. He sent bags, money, and looked for various boring topics to talk about. If he were chasing my mother, it would have worked. A pity. My mother had numerous suitors in the past. I was tired of seeing these tricks long ago. I looked at Holden wearily and rejected his advances. “Your grades are too low.” Holden looked aggrieved. “Audrey, not everyone can learn as easily as you.” “But you have talent in painting.” Holden’s expression changed. The playful look dissipated, and he sat up straight. “Do you really think I have a talent for painting? The teachers all say I draw randomly and don’t follow the rules.” “Yeah.” I responded. “You don’t think it’s me being a degenerate?” He asked again. Then, he began to complain that his family wouldn’t let him touch a paintbrush and wanted to send him abroad. I interrupted him. “Okay, I’m going home.” If he were an experienced old player, he would know not to reveal his weaknesses to a woman who didn’t love him yet. He would be manipulated. “Audrey, do you want me to teach you how to paint?” Holden’s eyes were the best feature on his face—a pair of passionate peach blossom eyes. I liked beautiful things. I looked at him and said with a smile, “Your eyes are very beautiful. Teach me how to draw your eyes.” His ears turned bright red, and the hand holding the paintbrush trembled for a second. No matter how much of a player he was, he was only eighteen. Occasionally, he revealed a touch of innocence. I looked at his ears and chuckled lightly. This was the person who said he would make me kneel on the ground and lick shoes? Nothing impressive. I compared his artwork with the horrible thing I just drew and said regretfully, “It seems I don’t have talent for painting.” Holden laughed. “Audrey, you are really cute.” I put down the paintbrush. “The painting got dirty. I don’t like dirty things. The same applies to men.” Holden’s face changed. He looked into my eyes. I was looking at the new painting under his hand. The eyes in the painting were mine. Those eyes were calm, without any love or ripples. He forced a smile and left in a panic. I detected a malicious gaze. Chloe was staring fixedly at the paintbrush that had fallen on the ground. Holden treated his paintbrushes like treasures, but today he left one behind. I picked up the brush and threw it into the trash can. Maybe the person would change later. I hoped it would be more interesting.

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Everything I did was for today. I laced my brother and sister-in-law’s dinner with rat poison, then sat back and watched them eat every last bite. My sister-in-law, being on a diet, barely touched hers and managed to survive. My brother wasn’t so lucky; he flatlined in the ambulance. My parents died when I was young. It was my brother and his wife who raised me, who put me through school. The neighbors rushed in, calling me a heartless monster, a beast with no soul. But they didn’t know the truth. I had been waiting for this day for a very, very long time. 1 The wailing rose and fell, piercing the silence of the night. Mrs. Higgins, the neighbor from 4B, was the first to burst in. She let out a high-pitched scream when she saw my brother Brad and his wife, Karen, convulsing on the floor. Simultaneously, the approaching sirens sliced through the night air. “Sarah! What did you do to them?” Mrs. Higgins’s hand trembled as she pointed at me, then threw herself over Karen. “Hang on, honey! The ambulance is almost here!” Other neighbors flooded the hallway, blocking the door, whispering and pointing. Two officers pushed through the crowd. They took one look at the bodies on the floor. “Did you do this? These are your family members. Why would you do this?” My expression didn’t change. I looked the cop in the eye. “That’s right. I killed them.” The neighbors gasped. Their eyes filled with horror. Someone couldn’t hold back their anger. “Why? Why would you do such a thing! After your parents died, Brad and Karen took you in. They treated you like gold! They didn’t even have their own kids for ten years because they didn’t want you to feel neglected!” “When you first got here and got sick, Karen ran home three times a day to make you soup. And this is how you repay them? You ungrateful wolf!” As the police led me away in handcuffs, the neighbors spat at my feet, calling me a murderer, an animal. In the interrogation room, the young officer slammed his hand on the table for the fiftieth time. “Why did you kill them?” “I already told you,” I said, leaning back. “I was setting them free.” Seeing I wasn’t going to crack, he grabbed his baton and got in my face. “Since you were eight, they fed you, clothed you, sent you to college. Did you learn nothing? They were your family, your saviors. How could you?” “Your niece was only six months old. She never even got a chance to see the world.” I smiled at him, unfazed. “That’s exactly why I sent the whole family on the trip together. Consider it my way of repaying them.” “Besides, the world isn’t much to look at. Dying early means reincarnating early. Isn’t that better?” “How can you smile about killing a baby?” Before he could lose it completely, the older detective beside him held him back. “Your brother had stomach cancer, but he never went to the doctor because he was saving money for your tuition!” I feigned surprise, widening my eyes innocently. “I didn’t know that. But hey, everyone dies eventually. Isn’t it better he’s not suffering anymore?” “And your nephew. He had a congenital heart defect. Your brother and sister-in-law skipped meals to save for his surgery!” I shrugged. “I didn’t decide his genetics. Besides, heart defects are hard to cure. Why waste the money?” The young cop raised the baton, veins bulging in his neck. “Don’t do it, Miller,” the old detective warned. Miller threw the baton against the wall with a loud clang. Just as he turned to storm out, I spoke up. “Do you really want to know the reason?” He spun around, nodding intensely. “I want donuts. Specifically, the glazed ones from Joe’s Bakery.” “You’re playing me!” Miller’s hope turned instantly back to rage. “I can’t do this. She’s stone cold!” He slammed the door behind him. Well, that was easy. Kids these days have such short fuses. 2 The next day, a different young officer walked in. It was Leo. He held a box of donuts from Joe’s Bakery. “Bought these for you.” I looked up, genuinely surprised. He was my college classmate. “Long time no see, Sarah.” I didn’t expect him to end up here right after graduation. And I certainly didn’t expect to be his prisoner. “Leo. Congratulations. Bright future ahead of you.” The old detective watched us silently from the corner. “Can you tell me why?” Leo asked, his voice gentle, just like it used to be. I stared at the donuts. Leo was the golden boy of our class. The light I could never touch. Once, when I was walking back to the dorms after a shift, two thugs cornered me. Leo was the one who passed by and saved me. He helped me out of trouble more than once. He was one of the few friends I had. “I don’t want donuts anymore,” I said. “I want chili. From that diner on 4th and Main.” “I’ll go get it.” As Leo left, the old detective spoke up. “You went to the same university. Why destroy your life like this?” His eyes were full of pity. “People die,” I said. “Sooner or later.” He wouldn’t give up. “Every action has a consequence. If you cooperate, maybe you can get a lighter sentence.” “Lighter sentence?” I laughed. “First-degree murder? Are you treating me like a toddler?” The room fell silent. Leo returned thirty minutes later. I took a sip of the steaming chili. Ptui. I pushed it away. “I don’t want it.” “What do you want? I’ll buy it,” Leo said, wiping the spill with a napkin. I rattled off a list of snacks. Leo didn’t hesitate. He went out again. When he returned, he wasn’t alone. Emily, my college roommate, stood behind him. The moment she saw me, tears streamed down her face. Still a crybaby. “Sarah, you’re not this kind of person! I don’t believe you killed anyone, let alone your whole family.” She hugged me, sobbing. “Tell them! There has to be a reason, right?” I looked at the old detective behind them. “You brought her here. You’ve done your background check on me?” “But I stand by what I said. I killed them to set them free. Saves resources.” I patted Emily gently. “Stop crying. You look ugly when you cry.” She went pale, gripping my hand. “I don’t believe it. You aren’t like this!” “It is what it is. Believe it or not.” 3 Emily pulled out her phone and shoved the screen at me. “This is us walking back from our part-time jobs. You said you wanted to earn money for your nephew’s surgery. You wanted to take your brother and Karen to the beach.” “You bought toys every month to mail home. You sent every cent you earned to them.” “I saw how much you loved them… You wouldn’t do this. Right?” The video showed a younger me, talking about a future that never existed. I closed my eyes and stopped talking. Emily left, crying, begging me to speak up. “The case is high-profile,” the detective said. “Public pressure is mounting.” Watching Emily leave, I let out a long breath. “You win. I’ll tell you the truth. But before I speak, I want to see my sister-in-law.” The detective arranged it. I saw Karen in the hospital. She survived, but her organs were failing. She was in a wheelchair. Seeing me, she immediately started screaming. “We raised a dog and it wagged its tail! We raised you for ten years and got a murderer!” She coughed violently, attracting a crowd of patients and nurses. Seeing the audience, she turned up the volume. “We worked while sick to pay for your school! I picked you up every day from elementary through high school so you wouldn’t be bullied!” The crowd whispered. “Picked her up in high school? They really treated her like a princess.” Karen continued. “When you were a sophomore, your brother took a knife for you defending you from a thug! He was in the hospital for a month!” The crowd looked ready to tear me apart. I stood there, calm, letting her talk. “We moved near your college just to be close to you! We promised to buy you a car!” “And you threw your six-month-old niece off the balcony!” Karen broke down sobbing. People pointed fingers. “What a monster.” “Why don’t you just die?” If not for the police, the crowd would have drowned me in spit. 4 An old man stepped out of the crowd, raising his cane. “I don’t care about jail. I’m old. An animal like this deserves to die!” He whacked me. Hard. Once, twice. I didn’t flinch. I hadn’t touched him, yet I was taking a beating because of Karen’s lies. The cops intervened gently because of his age. He huffed and walked away. Karen wailed louder. “Your nephew waited for you every day! And you kicked him into the river! No body, no grave!” “Kill her! Kill the beast!” the crowd chanted. Hospital security had to rush in to hold them back. Two older women comforted Karen. “My husband was your brother! When your parents died, nobody wanted you. We took you in! We gave you the best of everything!” She looked at me with pure venom. “You evil demon.” “She needs to die,” a woman hissed. “Yes, death penalty.” The police next to me looked nervous, fearing a riot. In the heavy tension, I suddenly laughed. “Karen, you still have a talent for spouting garbage.” Karen’s face went pale. She stopped crying. “Did you poison the food?” I nodded. “I did.” “See! I told you! Oh, if I knew… we should have never brought you home.” She sighed, playing the martyr. Someone grabbed my hair, trying to force me to the ground. Leo blocked them just in time.

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1 To test my loyalty, my wife, Seraphina, hid her identity as a billionaire heiress for three years. The year our son was born, she came back into my life, revealing who she truly was. But just as she did, our son, Noah, was struck by a sudden illness that required a fortune to treat. That’s when her first love, Julian, reappeared, accusing me of being a gold-digging social climber. “Seraphina, he’s only after your money. How else do you explain the timing? The moment you reveal your identity, the child suddenly needs a massive amount of cash?” The look my wife gave me turned to one of pure contempt. That night, a group of men snatched our son. Right in front of me, they stuffed him into a burlap sack and began beating him with clubs. Just then, Seraphina emerged from a nearby luxury car, arm-in-arm with Julian, a cold smile on her face. “Leo, you love money so much, so I’ll give you some! You said he would protect you? Let’s see how much your precious mutt is worth!” I crawled to their feet, clutching their pant legs, begging Seraphina to spare him, reminding her that she was his mother too. She looked down at me with icy detachment. “Enough. It’s just a dog. Stop the theatrics.” … I stared blankly at the woman before me—my child’s mother. The sheer, crushing pain made my mind grind to a halt. I could almost hear the creak and groan of gears inside my head, like a machine on the verge of breakdown. It took a long moment for her words to register. “What did you say? What dog?” My question only intensified the scorn on her face. “I said, it’s just a dog. Even if you’ve had it for years, you can’t possibly treat a dog like it’s your actual son, can you?” Seraphina thought the thing in the sack was my pet dog, Buddy. The misunderstanding hit me like a physical blow. My lips trembled as I scrambled to explain. “Seraphina, that’s not Buddy in the sack! Buddy ran away a few days ago! That’s our son, Noah! That’s Noah!” “Please, get him to a hospital! He might still be alive!” I scrambled on all fours, trying to snatch the sack from the men to prove I was telling the truth. Seeing my bloodless face and a desperation she had never witnessed before, a flicker of unease crossed Seraphina’s features. She took a step forward, about to check the sack for herself, but Julian placed a hand on her arm, sighing dramatically. “Leo’s acting is a marvel. It’s a shame he never got an Oscar. Sera, are you really going to stand here and watch his performance? I’m heading back.” He added, “Besides, if it were a child, wouldn’t it be crying after a beating like that?” “This is what people from the bottom are like. They’ll spin any lie for a bit of money.” His words were like a switch. Seraphina’s face hardened, and that fleeting moment of concern was instantly replaced by disgust. “Enough!” she snapped at me. “You said your dog was a warrior who served on the battlefield with you. Let’s see just how tough he really is!” At her command, the men raised their clubs and began beating the sack again. I tried to lunge forward, to shield the sack with my own body, but her bodyguards pinned me to the ground. “No! Please, he’s so small! Let him go! Beat me instead! Beat me!” In my despair, all I could do was slam my forehead against the pavement, again and again, a desperate, useless plea to the two people standing over me. My life, my dignity—none of it mattered compared to my son’s. Seraphina looked away, a hint of discomfort in her eyes, but Julian wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close and casting a triumphant, mocking smile in my direction. No one listened to my hoarse screams. In the suffocating darkness, my cries of anguish mingled with the sickening thud of clubs, weaving a net of pure despair. A dark crimson stain began to seep through the burlap, spreading into a pool of blood on the asphalt. Finally, amid my soul-shattering roars of agony, the small life inside the sack went still. The men holding me down released their grip. In an instant, I was on my feet, scrambling to the sack, clutching the blood-soaked, mangled bundle to my chest. Seraphina, apparently bored with the show, gave a dismissive wave of her hand. She and Julian slipped back into their car and sped away. The night wind was cold, and a violent shiver wracked my body. “Noah, you must be cold. Daddy will give you his coat.” I tore off my jacket and wrapped it tightly around the small, broken form. I knew I was fooling myself, but a desperate, insane sliver of hope remained. What if? What if Noah was strong? What if he hadn’t left me yet? Clinging to that impossible hope, I ran to the hospital. “Help me! Please, save my son…” The medical staff took the burlap sack from me with looks of confusion. When they opened it, a nurse screamed. I didn’t hear her. My eyes were fixed on the doctor. “Doctor, can he be saved? Is there still time?” The doctor looked at me with an expression I couldn’t decipher—pity, perhaps, or something stranger. He finally let out a heavy sigh. “Sir, in a situation like this, we recommend you contact the police first.” His words shattered my last hope into a million pieces. I took a deep, shuddering breath and finally forced myself to look inside the sack. The small child who used to smile at me was no longer recognizable. He was a ruin of flesh and bone. I couldn’t even make out his face. After the initial, searing pain, a cold, hard rage began to build inside me. The death certificate was issued quickly. I went to the police station and reported everything, from beginning to end. Hours later, an officer came and sat down beside me. Noticing my deathly pale face, he hesitated before speaking. “Mr. Thompson, my deepest condolences. The area where this happened… there are no security cameras. It’s going to be difficult to find evidence.” “But please, rest assured, we will get you justice.” I nodded, numb. Just then, my phone rang, breaking the heavy silence. I answered. It was Seraphina, her voice sharp with annoyance. “Where are you? Why aren’t you home yet? And where is Noah?” A bitter, hollow laugh escaped my lips. The absurdity of it all made even my anger feel distant and light. “Noah? Didn’t you have him beaten to death? His body is still at the morgue. Would you like to come see it?” Her voice turned shrill. “Leo, what has happened to you? Are you so desperate for money that you’d lie about our own son?” “Julian was right about you. You’re nothing but a manipulative, gold-digging parasite!” I was too tired to argue. I just wanted the law to give me and my son some semblance of justice. After leaving the station, I returned to the funeral home in a daze. The mortician had done their best, but the violence Noah had endured was too severe. His small face could not be restored. In a fog of grief, I started to wonder if this was all just a nightmare. Just a month ago, he was nestled in Seraphina’s arms, gurgling and smiling at me, calling me “Dada” in his sweet, baby voice. I had held both their hands and promised them a happy future. Back then, Seraphina would blush and lean in to give me a kiss filled with love. All those happy moments were still so vivid. How had everything changed so drastically in just one month? The next day, I got a call from the police. “Mr. Thompson, we’ve apprehended the men who assaulted your son.” My heart leaped. I rushed to the station. The men who had beaten Noah were there, but the real culprits, the ones who gave the order—Seraphina and Julian—were nowhere to be seen. A wave of pure fury washed over me. I lunged forward and grabbed one of them, a punk with bleached hair, by the collar. “Where is Seraphina?! Where is Julian?! Why aren’t they here?!” The punk’s eyes, wide with a mixture of mockery and malice, met mine. He feigned a plea. “Hey man, I didn’t mean to kill your kid! I swear, I thought it was a vicious dog that had been biting people in the neighborhood!” I knew then. They were here to take the fall. All the blood rushed to my head. I swung my fist, smashing it into the man’s face. “Mr. Thompson, calm down! This is a police station!” officers shouted, pulling me away. As I struggled, unable to move, I saw the men exchange subtle, triumphant smirks. No matter how many times I insisted to the police that there were others behind this, after a brief investigation, they were let off with a slap on the wrist. The case was closed with insufficient evidence to prosecute the masterminds. Only the hired thugs were arrested. The evidence all pointed to the bloody weapon, but the hand that wielded it remained hidden in the shadows. In that moment, I understood. With enough money, facts could be twisted. The truth could be buried. All the strength drained out of me. When I returned to the funeral home, an attendant asked me when I wanted to schedule Noah’s cremation. A few days later, the day of the cremation arrived. The staff at the funeral home, noticing how my hair had turned gray in just a few days, approached me cautiously. “Sir, do you need to keep the child’s body for evidence?” I shook my head. I didn’t want Noah to suffer any longer in this world. I leaned over the small, refrigerated casket, my tears falling freely as I said my final goodbye. Noah, next time, make sure you’re born into the right family. Grow up happy, without a care in the world. “You can proceed with the cremation now.” It was over quickly. I had braced myself for this moment, but when I saw the small urn, my eyes burned with fresh tears. Just as I was about to leave, a group of people blocked my path. Julian let out a low whistle. He turned to Seraphina, who was standing beside him with a furious expression, and said provocatively, “Well, look at Leo. He’s really committed to the part. He even came to the crematorium for the full effect!” His words were gasoline on the fire of her anger. Without a word, she strode forward and slapped me hard across the face. “Leo, I am so disappointed in you! You’d go to these lengths just for attention?” “I’m asking you, where have you been hiding Noah all this time?!” My vision swam with red. I clutched Noah’s urn to my chest, a twisted, venomous hatred rising within me. I wondered what her reaction would be when she finally found out it was Noah who had died. Sensing the explosive tension, Julian stepped between us, playing the part of the peacemaker. “Seraphina, don’t be so hard on Leo. Anyone with a billionaire wife would feel insecure. Let me talk to him.” I didn’t know what he was planning, but I watched him warily as he approached. When he reached me, his benevolent mask dropped, replaced by a look of pure malice. He leaned in, his voice a low, venomous whisper. “Do you know why Seraphina still thinks it was a dog?” He slung an arm around my neck, pulling out his phone and playing a silent video. On the screen, my dog, Buddy, was tied down, whining pitifully. A figure entered the frame, gave Buddy an injection, and then, as the dog went limp, stuffed him into a burlap sack. A sack identical to the one they had used for Noah. The devil’s whisper continued in my ear. “You see? A little sedative, and what’s the difference between a man and a dog?” “You and that bastard child should never have existed. You never deserved the life you were given.” Seeing the utter madness in my eyes, Julian’s lips curled into a smirk. He added one final, brutal blow. “Oh, and by the way… your dog was delicious.” All the rage, all the hatred, all the grief in my soul erupted in that single moment. I spun around, grabbing him by the collar and driving my fist into his face. Julian cried out, clutching his cheek while shouting for all to hear, “I was just telling you not to be greedy for Seraphina’s money, to love her properly! Why are you hitting me?!” “I told you I was willing to leave, to stop bothering you!” I couldn’t even see his disgusting, deceitful face anymore. I was running on pure, primal instinct, my eyes blazing as I hit him again and again. Seraphina, momentarily stunned by my terrifying, feral state, snapped out of it and ordered her bodyguards to pull me off him. She walked over to me, her eyes filled with profound disappointment. “Leo, what have you become? A greedy, unrepentant liar who takes his anger out on others! It seems you need to be taught a lesson.” She gestured to her bodyguards, and their fists began to rain down on me. Julian, nursing his bruised face, couldn’t help but smile. “Leo was a soldier, after all,” he remarked casually. “Doesn’t look like this is affecting him much.” Seraphina frowned at his words, then barked at her men, “Haven’t you eaten?! Put some effort into it!” As they beat me, her eyes fell on the urn I was desperately trying to protect. Her gaze sharpened. She strode forward, kicked me over, and before I could react, brought her foot down hard. “NO!” I couldn’t stop her. I could only watch as Noah’s ashes scattered across the floor. I scrambled forward, my hands trembling as I tried to gather what was left of my son. Seeing my wretched state, Seraphina just shook her head. “Utterly hopeless.” That evening, I returned home, clutching the box containing the ashes I had managed to collect, intending to pack away Noah’s things. When I opened the door, I found Seraphina sitting on the sofa, apparently waiting for me. A flicker of relief, one she herself didn’t seem to notice, crossed her face when she saw me. But when her gaze landed on the small box in my hands, her expression hardened with impatience. “Stop the act, Leo. I’m not buying it.” At this point, I was beyond grief, beyond caring whether she was truly ignorant or just pretending. I asked flatly, “What do you want?” My lifeless tone seemed to infuriate her. “It was just a dog! Are you ever going to get over it? I’ll buy you a better one, will that make you happy?” She stood up and pulled a document from the sofa cushions, holding it out to me with an air of condescending charity. “Take a look at this. If there are no issues, sign it.” I stared at the papers. It was a prenuptial agreement. “What is this? We’re already married. What’s the point of signing this now?” My question seemed to confirm her suspicions. This man was only after her money. The thought deepened her frustration and disgust. “Let me be honest with you. The marriage certificate we got… it was a fake.” “And lately, I’ve been very disappointed in your performance. If you sign this, I’ll consider getting a real marriage certificate with you.” So, it was all a lie from the very beginning. From day one, Seraphina had been guarding her fortune from me. I remembered carrying her, wounded, across a battlefield. I remembered her blushing as she asked me to be her boyfriend. It was all a joke. A pathetic, cruel joke. A laugh bubbled up from my chest, raw and hysterical. “Hahahahaha! Fine. I’ll sign.” Seeing me sign so readily, a strange feeling stirred within Seraphina. Could she have been wrong about him? She thought back over the past three years—his unwavering care, his tenderness. She remembered the man who had carried her through a field of death and chaos… The love, the connection she had felt—that wasn’t fake. A wave of regret washed over her. “Leo,” she began, her voice softening, “don’t be so stubborn. I just needed proof that you truly love me. If you just admit you were wrong, we can go back to how things were…” She put the document away, her tone uncharacteristically gentle. I looked at her, my face a mask of scorn. “There’s no need, Ms. Sterling.” “You have what you wanted. You can go now. I’d like to be alone.” She had never been treated with such coldness by me. Her face fell. “Have it your way,” she snapped, turning and storming out. I quietly packed up my things, and Noah’s. Then, with my son’s ashes, I headed back to the war. A week later, in the penthouse office of Sterling Industries. Seraphina held a glass of freshly imported red wine, looking down at the city lights twinkling below. Leo hadn’t contacted her since that day. Even though Julian had been taking her on trips, trying to make up for lost time, a persistent shadow of unease loomed over her. It’s been a while now. He must have realized his mistake, right? She picked up her phone, but as her finger hovered over Leo’s number, she remembered Julian’s words: “Seraphina, you deserve to be worshiped. If you give in once, you’ll have to do it again and again.” She snapped her phone shut. She wasn’t going to spoil Leo. But… it had been so long. Surely, as a mother, she should at least check on her child? With that excuse, she happily opened her phone again and, with a feigned air of reluctance, called the daycare. When the teacher answered, Seraphina asked, a little awkwardly, “Hello, I was just calling to see how Noah has been doing these past few days. His father and I have been fighting… it hasn’t affected him, has it?” There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, the teacher’s hesitant voice came through. “Mrs. Sterling… Noah passed away several weeks ago…” The sound of shattering glass echoed in the silent room.

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Ethan once dated me for a short while. When we broke up, he sneered: “You knew I only dated you because I lost a bet, why are you so cheap?” I didn’t explain, probably because I hadn’t read enough books and didn’t understand the principle of “leaving room for love.” Later, my mother told me that for two people to be together for a long time, love isn’t important; suitability is. I learned my lesson, listed my conditions, and after years of floating in the dating market, I finally found a suitable man. In the cafe, my date and I had a great conversation, even agreeing to have two children after marriage. Suddenly, an exquisitely dressed little boy popped out from nowhere and hugged my leg: “Mommy, why are you here? I missed you so much!” My date’s eyes widened in shock: “You have a child?” Before I could deny it, the little boy put his hands on his hips and answered righteously: “Of course I’m Mommy’s child, my daddy can prove it!” I followed his gaze and saw Ethan standing quietly not far away, hands in his pockets. Congratulations to me, six years after the breakup, I became a mother. 1 “Is this child really not yours?” My date was very skeptical. Of course, I understood his concerns. After all, the dating market is a mixed bag, full of all kinds of people. So I reasoned with him: “Look at me, look at this kid, and then look at the kid’s dad. Do you think we look like a family?” Ethan was too outstanding. He was the kind of outstanding that could be spotted instantly in a crowd even wearing a hat, mask, and the most ordinary T-shirt and jeans. This kid also had red lips and white teeth, and even a Gucci logo on his little leather jacket. My date looked at me, then at Ethan, and nodded convinced: “Indeed, you don’t look like a family. You’re better suited with me.” “I don’t know this kid, but his dad is my high school classmate. Haven’t seen him for years; he’s probably playing a joke on me.” I smiled and patted the kid’s head. My date was more reassured. Just as he was about to sit down and continue chatting, he received an urgent call from his company. I expressed understanding and said we could meet another time. “I’ve already paid the bill. Take your time eating, you can share with the kid too.” “Thank you, next time it’s on me.” I was really satisfied with this date, but as soon as he left, I heard the little boy say: “Your taste is really bad. He’s far worse than my dad.” I smiled and didn’t reply. Just as I was about to send him back to Ethan, I saw Ethan walking towards us. He called the waiter and asked to clear the desserts on the table. “These haven’t been touched yet. Waiter, please pack them for me,” I said gently. Ethan was a germaphobe; he wouldn’t touch anything others had touched. Of course, he had the capital for that. But I didn’t. I thought it was a pity to throw away perfectly good food. “You like these?” Ethan finally spoke, saying his first sentence to me. I looked at him in confusion. “Reorder the desserts on the table, pack them all for this lady.” Ethan opened the payment code on his phone and handed it to the waiter. “Throw away the ones on the table.” “I don’t really like sweets. If you order them, give them to the kid. But don’t let him eat too much; it’s bad for his teeth.” Saying this, I picked up my bag and nodded as a goodbye. “We haven’t seen each other for so many years. After all, we were lovers once.” Ethan tapped his fingers on the table a few times and looked up at me. “Don’t you want to sit down and catch up, Sarah?” 2 I sat back in the chair. The waiter was quick and soon served new drinks. Ethan’s son sat next to him, quietly scooping cake with a spoon. I felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward. He said catch up, but he didn’t speak. “You’re married? How old is your son?” “Four.” I calculated the time and was a bit surprised: “So you got married before graduating college?” Quite unexpected. I thought Ethan was against marriage, but it turned out the rules were for outsiders. When he met the right person, all principles could be compromised. “Were you on a blind date just now?” “Ah? Yes.” I nodded. “How was it? Satisfied?” “Pretty good. We have quite a lot in common.” Both pragmatic and sincere. Ethan sneered, his tone mocking: “Seems you really reached that age where any man will do.” I stopped stirring my coffee, staring at the whirlpool in the liquid for a few seconds, then looked up with a smile and admitted frankly: “Yeah, I’m not young anymore. I want to settle down quickly, otherwise, it will be hard to recover from childbirth when I’m older.” Ethan’s lips pressed into a straight line. This was a sign that he was very unhappy. Normal. He was unhappy most of the time in front of me. I used to be terrified of this and always racked my brains to make him happy. “Don’t you think he looks familiar?” Ethan suddenly pointed at his son and asked me. I listened to him and observed carefully. “Your son doesn’t look much like you. Is he more like his mom? Do I know his mom too?” There were only a few girls close to Ethan that I happened to know. I guessed one by one, but Ethan’s face grew darker and darker. Finally, I shut up tactfully and smiled awkwardly: “Sorry, I don’t have much contact with high school classmates. I don’t remember many of them. How about a hint?” Ethan didn’t speak, and the atmosphere became more and more suffocating. The kid opened his big eyes, looking at me, then at his dad. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Ethan: “Forget it.” He breathed rapidly for a few seconds, then quickly calmed down and handed his phone to me: “Add me on WeChat.” Actually, I didn’t really want to add him. But he kept staring at me, as if he wouldn’t take back his phone unless I added him. I could only take out my phone, scan the code, and send a friend request. “Let’s go.” Ethan put away his phone with satisfaction, stood up, and left first. The kid slid off the chair nimbly and trotted to keep up. After a few steps, he turned back to look at me. I smiled and waved goodbye to him. Actually, I wanted to tell Ethan to pay attention and not let the kid call anyone mom. Then I thought, what does it have to do with me? Why worry about things that don’t concern me. 3 I chose to pack the table full of desserts in the end and shared them with my colleagues at work the next day. “Wow, this dessert shop is expensive. Did you win the lottery?” “Your date bought it, right? This one is generous, unlike those stingy guys before.” “Right, almost forgot you have blind dates every week. How about this one? Did you like him?” I smiled and nodded: “I think this one is pretty good.” “What are his conditions?” I told the truth, and saw my colleagues looking disappointed: “You even consider these conditions?” “But compared to the previous ones, this one is already pretty good.” They chattered, eating cake while discussing my marriage. Perhaps I was a weirdo in their eyes because I had been going on blind dates since graduating from college. Not forced by relatives or friends, going through the motions to save face, but very seriously filtering and chatting. They thought women who were so determined to enter the grave of marriage in this era were fools. But I just knew very clearly what I wanted. I wasn’t a celibate, didn’t reject marriage, nor was I a very firm person who might not withstand the pressure of marriage urging from relatives and friends. Instead of being chosen by men when I’m older, it’s better to take the initiative while young and try to pick one I’m satisfied with. After all, a woman’s age is like a man’s wealth; it’s hard currency. My colleagues said my dates were low quality, nothing outstanding. But I was just a very ordinary woman, with nothing outstanding about me either. People always need to have self-knowledge. 3 After adding Ethan, I never chatted with him. He posted on Moments every now and then, from rock climbing to racing, always surrounded by beautiful women, living a colorful life. I liked liking posts; I found watching other people’s lives interesting and wasn’t stingy with small kindnesses. But I never liked Ethan’s posts. After all, given Ethan’s dislike for me, my like would probably only ruin his good mood. I met my date a few more times, had meals, watched movies, and we both had high approval of each other. On a gentle moonlit night, he asked me nervously and seriously if we could date with marriage in mind. I agreed. Mom was right. Marriage isn’t always about loving each other and living happily ever after. It’s the union of two families to increase the ability to resist risks, while also satisfying the instinct of human reproduction. Many of my colleagues and friends didn’t want children. They said only people whose brains haven’t fully evolved would be full of thoughts about children. Well, maybe my brain hasn’t fully evolved. Dragging down humanity, truly a bit embarrassed. On Monday, I specially took half a day off to go to the hospital. My health wasn’t very good, with irregular periods and dysmenorrhea. Thinking that since I planned to get married, I should check my body first, regulate it in advance, and prepare for pregnancy in the future. The doctor looked at my medical record, wrote some slips quickly, and asked me to come back for a follow-up with the test results. I walked while flipping through the test slips. Before seeing clearly where to do the tests, I heard someone call my name: “Sarah?” I looked up subconsciously and took a few seconds to remember who she was. Bella Feng, a high school classmate. She was pushing Ethan in a wheelchair, just walking out of the elevator. Don’t know what happened to Ethan; his face was a bit pale, and his leg was in a cast. “It really is you. I thought I saw wrong.” She looked me up and down. “You haven’t changed at all.” I knew what she meant. Most girls would undergo a transformative change after college and graduation compared to high school. But I didn’t. I still wasn’t good at makeup, didn’t dress up much, even my hairstyle was the same as in high school, bangs, short bob. “Hello.” I greeted politely. “Long time no see.” There were many test slips in my hand. I didn’t hold them steady for a moment, and they all fell to the ground. Bella subconsciously wanted to help. “No need, no need, I’ll do it myself.” I squatted on the ground picking up the slips one by one. One of them happened to drift to Ethan’s feet. Bella bent down to pick it up, glanced at it, and said in surprise: “Sarah, I thought you were very conservative and absolutely wouldn’t accept premarital sex. You actually had an abortion?” 4 People around looked over. Abortion isn’t shameful in this era, but I still felt inexplicably ashamed. I hurriedly took the slip from her hand, lowered my head, and wanted to leave. “Don’t go.” Bella grabbed my arm. “Are you in a hurry? Haven’t seen each other for so many years, let’s catch up?” Catch up again. Not even a good relationship, what “old times” are there to catch up on? “I’m in a hurry to get back to work.” I broke free from her, forced a smile, stuffed the slips into my bag, turned, and left. I could roughly guess that I would probably become a gossip figure in their small group again. It was the same when I was with Ethan back then. I was too love-struck then, reluctant to separate from Ethan, and because of my cowardly personality, I silently endured a lot of ridicule and eye-rolling. A short scream suddenly came from behind, followed by a heavy “thud.” I looked back subconsciously. Bella had a mix of surprise and fear on her face, standing拘束ly beside Ethan. Ethan was still sitting in the wheelchair, looking calm. Not far away, a phone broken in half lay quietly. Sensing my gaze, Ethan looked up at me expressionlessly, then withdrew his gaze, pressed the switch on the wheelchair, and left in the opposite direction. Bella picked up the phone and trotted to catch up. I thought Ethan was only moody in front of me. Turns out he’s like that with others too. For some reason, there was a subtle balance in my heart.

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On our tenth anniversary, my deaf husband, Ethan, disappeared all morning. Assuming he was preparing a surprise for me, I joyfully went to the hotel we agreed on. But what awaited me was his guilt-ridden confession: “I’m sorry, I cheated.” My mind went blank. The stain of bright red on the sheets stung my eyes. Ethan rubbed his forehead, looking defeated. “Sarah, this was an accident neither of us wanted. We were both drunk.” His “female bro,” Chloe, clutched the duvet tightly, breaking down in tears: “I’m not a virgin anymore. How am I supposed to get married in the future…” Ethan was silent for a long time. “I’m sorry. I’ll take responsibility.” I held back my tears. “What about me?” Ethan couldn’t speak. I laughed sarcastically, tears bursting from my eyes. “Let’s get a divorce.” “No, I won’t divorce you even if I die.” Ethan took off his hearing aids with red-rimmed eyes, refusing to communicate with me. I looked at him in despair. My phone vibrated, a message popping up from my ex-boyfriend: 【Sarah, stop being mad at me, okay?】 1 “Miss Song, I won’t ruin someone else’s marriage.” Chloe lifted her head stubbornly, the teardrops clinging to her lashes threatening to fall. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask Ethan to take responsibility.” She sobbed twice. “I won’t be a homewrecker!” Chloe stumbled out of bed. Ethan tried to support her, but she dodged him. She put on her clothes, wiped away her tears, glanced at Ethan with red eyes, grabbed her bag, and rushed out the door. My nails dug deep into my palms. Ethan looked anxious, quickly put on his clothes and hearing aids, brushed past me, and chased after her. I collapsed weakly onto the bed. A while later, Ethan returned, looking like he’d lost his soul. His gaze met mine, and he frowned disapprovingly. “How could you treat Chloe like that? She’s innocent.” I widened my eyes slightly in disbelief. Ethan’s brows knitted tight. “Isn’t she?” I gripped my phone tightly, turned my head away with tears in my eyes, and choked out, “Am I not innocent too?” Ethan fell silent. He scratched his head irritably. “We just had a little to drink while discussing business with a client. I didn’t expect things to develop like this…” “Chloe was a virgin… I have to take responsibility for her.” Ethan’s head hung lower and lower. A sarcastic smile hung on my face. “So should I go find my ex-boyfriend to take responsibility for me?” Ethan was momentarily speechless. “That’s not what I meant.” I laughed, tears blurring my vision. “You still care that I wasn’t a virgin.” Ethan got anxious. “I don’t! You know how much I love you.” “But you slept with someone else, and you want to take responsibility for her.” Ethan’s voice trembled. “But I don’t love her!” “I just accidentally made a mistake while drunk. Can’t you forgive me once for the sake of our thirteen years of relationship?” Ethan squatted in front of me, trembling as he held my hand. I lowered my head to hide the tears about to fall. “I promise I won’t sleep with another woman again, and I won’t drink anymore, but…” He lowered his head. “This is my fault. I must take responsibility for Chloe.” I broke free from Ethan’s hand and looked up into his eyes. “How do you plan to take responsibility? Be with her?” Ethan didn’t make a sound. I took his silence as a yes. “Let’s divorce.” Ethan pursed his lips, avoiding my gaze. “Chloe isn’t in a good state. I’ll go find her first.” “Wait for me… I’ll handle this matter properly. I won’t divorce you.” “I only love you.” Ethan stood up and left in a hurry. I propped up my head helplessly, tears falling uncontrollably. My phone popped up with a new message. 【I won’t badmouth Ethan anymore. I can apologize to him face-to-face for what happened before.】 【Don’t ignore me. I’ve been given the cold shoulder by you for thirteen years, please…】 I replied with trembling hands. 【I want to go home.】 The reply came instantly: 【I’m coming to pick you up now. Wait for me.】 2 Returning to the home I shared with Ethan, my gaze swept over the small, damp apartment. For the first time, I realized that having grown up in luxury, I could endure so much hardship for a man. To accompany him for work, I left home and came to S City, thousands of miles away. Here, I had no friends or relatives, only Ethan. But he… Wiping away the moisture at the corners of my eyes, I went back to the room to pack my luggage. My elbow accidentally bumped Ethan’s mouse. The computer screen lit up, displaying his WeChat chat window. It was the chat interface with Chloe. My pupils contracted as I scrolled mechanically with the mouse. The more I read, the colder my heart grew. 【Ethan oppa, wanna come out for a drink tonight?】 【Sarah is mad again? Women are like that, love throwing tantrums. You coax her.】 【My stockings ripped. Buy me a pair downstairs and bring them up. Don’t overthink it, I’m asking you because you’re my bro.】 【The coffee you just drank was pretty good, I took the rest. Bought you a bubble tea, left it on your desk.】 … After reading the chat history, blood rushed to my head, and I swayed. I barely steadied myself by holding onto the desk, nails digging deep into the wood. Tears fell onto the desk, splashing. Memories surged. The scene of Ethan’s confession replayed in my mind. Holding a huge bouquet of red roses, he knelt before me, swearing devoutly: “From now on, I will only love Sarah Song.” “I will never let Sarah suffer a bit of grievance or shed a single tear.” “Heaven and earth be my witness, I will never have a second heart.” He broke his promise. I bit my lower lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. The wedding photo on the wall suddenly fell, making a loud noise. I walked over to pick it up, fingers tracing the photo. When we first got married, Ethan and I were tight on money. We only registered the marriage and didn’t hold a wedding. When conditions improved slightly, Ethan spent a month’s salary to take wedding photos with me. In the photo, Ethan held me with eyes full of love, his lips pressing against my forehead. It was too ironic. I numbly picked up the scissors, cut the photo into pieces, and threw them into the trash can. A sound came from the entryway. Ethan was back. Seeing me at home, Ethan’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Chloe is missing.” “Mhm.” I responded. He frowned. “Why do you have this attitude?” My eyelashes trembled. “Then what attitude should I have?” Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his eyes were full of disappointment. “Sarah, you really feel like a stranger to me.” “The old you was kind and tolerant, helping everyone in need. But now, how did you become so…” I clenched my fingertips, interrupting him. “You said it yourself, that was before.” “I’ve changed, happy now?” The living room fell silent. I threw the marriage certificate in front of him, looking calmly into his eyes. “Let’s go get a divorce now.” Ethan was getting frantic. “How many times do I have to say it? I won’t divorce you.” “Why can you give up our thirteen years of feelings so easily!” I raised my hand and slapped him across the face, choking out with red eyes, “You gave up first.” I knocked his hearing aids to the ground. Ethan covered his face in a daze, speechless for a long time. He silently bent down to pick up the hearing aids and put them on. Ignoring my resistance, he pulled me into his arms. “I’m really in a difficult position. Can you understand me a little, wifey?” Dull pain spread across my chest. I wanted to push him away, but my body felt too heavy to lift my hands. “Chloe is young and fragile inside. Encountering something like this, she easily thinks dark thoughts…” “I’ll accompany her for a while first. Once her condition improves, we’ll make plans.” “In the future, can you stay away from her?” I felt like I was struck by lightning, speechless for a moment. The abrupt ringing of the phone interrupted us. Ethan took out his phone in confusion and swiped to answer. The next second, his pupils shook violently. “What did you say!” 3 Chloe was in a car accident. Ethan dragged me to the hospital. Before entering the ward, Ethan instructed me with a serious face: “Apologize to Chloe later.” I frowned. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?” Ethan explained to me with a tired and helpless look: “If you hadn’t hurt Chloe, would she have gotten into a car accident?” I laughed out of anger. Inside the ward, Chloe whimpered painfully and called weakly towards the door: “Ethan, Sarah, don’t fight because of me.” “I’m fine with anything… as long as it doesn’t affect your relationship.” Ethan forcefully pulled me in. “Quick, apologize to Chloe.” Sharp pain shot through my arm. I shook off Ethan’s hand. “You two slept together. What did I do wrong? Why should I apologize!” Chloe’s face instantly turned pale, her shoulders trembling as she started to cry. “My purity is gone…” “My parents will beat me to death. I can’t get married anymore…” Ethan glared at me. “Sarah!” “With my purity gone, I might as well die.” Chloe looked like she wanted to get out of bed with empty eyes. Ethan hurriedly held her in his arms, preventing her from getting out of bed. Chloe buried her face in Ethan’s chest, clutching his clothes, crying like a pear blossom bathed in rain. “Don’t worry about me. I don’t need you to care.” “Just let me die. What’s the point of living!” Ethan stroked the top of Chloe’s head with heartache. “I’ll take responsibility. Trust me.” My vision went black, and I felt pain in all my internal organs. “Ethan!” Ethan, with his back to me, stiffened and took off his hearing aids. Chloe, crying out of breath, wrapped her arms around his waist. I didn’t have the courage to watch any longer. Clutching my aching chest, I left with heavy steps. It was already dark when I got home. I sat on the sofa with a splitting headache. My tears had dried up, and my throat was too hoarse to speak. Ethan called me. After connecting, there was silence on the other end. After a long while, he spoke with a hoarse voice: “Sorry, I was impulsive just now.” “I’m almost home. I bought you a gift. Let’s have a good talk later.” “Stop treating Chloe like that. She’s the victim.” “Apologize to her properly tomorrow, and don’t appear in front of her again in the future.” I gripped the phone tightly and spoke with difficulty: “Do you remember what day it is today?” The other end fell silent again. “Talk when I get home.” The call ended. I slid weakly from the sofa to the floor. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something under the sofa. I subconsciously reached out and pulled it out. It was a file folder with the logo of the Shen Group. The Shen Group is a rising corporation in recent years. It is said that their boss, like Ethan, is hearing impaired. Turning the folder over, Ethan’s name was written on the back. I frowned and opened the folder. Inside was a thick stack of bidding documents. Opening the bidding documents, my face instantly turned pale. Eager to verify, I took out my phone and searched for the CEO of the Shen Group. The webpage was clean; nothing could be found. A flash of inspiration struck, and I clicked on Chloe’s WeChat Moments. 【March 25th】 【Bags cure all diseases. Thanks to a certain bro who prefers to remain anonymous.】 The picture was a cute selfie of her carrying the latest top luxury bag. Zooming in on the picture with two fingers, there was an all-too-familiar hand in the bottom right corner. Only, he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. My fingers trembled as I continued to scroll down. 【March 1st】 【The necklace matches my outfit today perfectly. Thanks to Boss Shen for caring about his little assistant.】 The picture was of her wearing a white dress and a pink diamond necklace. Boss Shen, little assistant. The string in my brain snapped. I had mentioned this necklace to Ethan once. I liked this style very much, but its price of 5.2 million was an astronomical figure for me now. Ethan joked that he would buy me one when he got rich in the future. But now it was worn around Chloe’s neck. 4 In my memory, Ethan was an orphan, very poor, so poor that he relied on student loans and part-time jobs for college. When he first started college, he only had an old-style phone, and his lunch and dinner were plain steamed buns. He couldn’t afford hearing aids and had difficulty communicating with classmates, always alone. As the class monitor, I felt sorry for him and paid for his first pair of hearing aids. After graduation, Ethan had a job but was still poor as a church mouse. He was so poor that my parents didn’t want me to marry him. But I still resolutely got the marriage license with him. To prove a point, I never asked for a penny from my family. The new pair of hearing aids on his ears now were also bought by me. But according to the timeline of the Shen Group’s founding, Ethan became rich a year after graduation. Yet he still lied to me that he was poor, unwilling to even pay for a wedding. The apartment we lived in was rented. Thinking back, Ethan always asked me for money with various excuses. My monthly salary was spent on the family and him. And I never saw his salary. Severe pain came from my heart. I clutched the fabric on my chest, cold sweat seeping from my forehead, a sense of suffocation surging towards me. I fumbled for a plastic bag and put it over my mouth, breathing heavily to prevent fainting from hyperventilation. Ethan called me just then. “Sarah, I’m not coming back for now. Chloe is threatening suicide; I have to stay with her.” Ignoring what he was saying, the survival instinct in my mind forced me to ask him for help: “Ethan, I feel so bad, come back quickly.” Ethan’s voice was full of exhaustion: “Sarah, stop pretending.” “Chloe’s situation is really critical right now. If I don’t go, she’ll die.” “Stop making a scene, okay? I’ll accompany you after I deal with this.” Before I could speak, he quickly hung up the phone. I looked at the phone screen desolately. My ex-boyfriend’s message popped up: 【Sarah, I’m almost there】 After recovering a bit, I propped myself up. I found Ethan’s bank card from the cabinet and opened the balance inquiry page on the computer. I typed the password with trembling fingers. Because of nervousness, I typed it wrong several times. After unlocking it, I froze on the spot. The long string of zeros after the bank account made my ten-year marriage seem particularly ridiculous. My legs went weak, and I fell to the ground. Tears blurred my vision. Together for thirteen years… Ethan had been lying to me all along. I bit my lip hard and climbed up from the ground. Operating the computer, I transferred half the money from Ethan’s card. The phone popped up a new message: 【Sarah, I’m here】 I stumbled, supporting myself against the wall, to the balcony. My childhood sweetheart, Leo Lu, stood under the streetlamp in a black suit, his car parked beside him. Not seeing him for thirteen years, he had matured a lot, with a touch of melancholy in his eyes, no longer the sunny boy from before. Perhaps sensing my gaze, he suddenly looked up, meeting my eyes. Driving all the way from home, Leo’s eyes were bloodshot. In an instant, my nose soured, and tears started falling again. Leo panicked a bit and walked quickly upstairs. I opened the door and crashed into a warm embrace. Leo hugged me tightly. The accumulated grievances finally couldn’t be held back at this moment. Leo patted my back gently, soothing me with a hoarse voice: “I’m here, don’t cry.” “No matter what happens, I’m here.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388526”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My year-end bonus finally came through. Three hundred for me, eighteen thousand for everyone else. My general manager, Mr. Wang, clapped me on the shoulder, his smile dripping with false sincerity. “Claire, you’re young. Don’t focus on the money. Focus on the platform we provide.” I smiled back, nodded, and accepted the pathetically thin red envelope. A week later, my contract expired. The company did not renew it. On the day I left, Mr. Wang was popping champagne to celebrate. His phone, however, wouldn’t stop ringing. 01 The red envelope, stamped with the company’s gold-foil logo, lay in my palm, as light and brittle as a dead leaf. Three hundred dollars. The number registered in my brain without stirring a single emotion, just a pool of stagnant, silent water. I walked back to my desk, a forgotten island in a sea of files and sticky notes, tucked away in a neglected corner. The air was thick with the scent of celebration—a heady mix of perfume, coffee, and money. “Holy crap, eighteen thousand! Hermès bag, here I come!” “Where are we celebrating tonight? Three-Michelin-star, nothing less!” “My husband just called and told me to transfer it to him for the mortgage, lol.” Faces, distorted with excitement, swam before my eyes. They held up their phones like victory flags, the glaring bank transfer notifications a testament to their triumph. I sat down, a blank expression on my face, a spectator at a feast that had nothing to do with me. Mark, the colleague who loved to dump his grunt work on me, made a point of sauntering past my desk. He held his new iPhone so close to my face I could see the pixels, the “180,000.00” on the screen cranked to maximum brightness. “Hey, Claire, got yours?” he drawled, his voice slick with smug satisfaction. I didn’t look up. My eyes were fixed on the dusty keyboard in front of me. “I did.” “In this economy, for the company to be so generous… we really picked the right team.” He lingered, his voice just loud enough for the surrounding cluster of desks to hear. “It all comes down to ability, you know? The capable ones do more work. But sometimes, it’s just luck. Can’t expect a free ride forever.” Every word was a poisoned needle, aimed directly at me. A few stifled snickers rippled through the air. My fingers, resting on the keyboard, curled into a fist. My nails dug into my palm, a sharp, grounding pain. I still didn’t look up. I just opened my laptop. The screen flickered to life, reflecting my plain face and black-rimmed glasses, my expression a perfect mask of indifference. Ping. Ping. Ping. The department’s group chat was blowing up. It was the general manager, Mr. Wang. He’d sent a huge digital red envelope with the caption, “Great work, team! Let’s keep the party going tonight!” The chat was instantly flooded with “Thank you, Mr. Wang!” and “You’re the best, boss!” stickers. I tapped on the envelope. “Too slow. All envelopes have been claimed.” I closed the app, glanced at the member list. Mr. Wang had tagged everyone. Everyone except me. It wasn’t an oversight. It was deliberate. A public execution, carried out by a man in a position of power. He wanted everyone to know that I, Claire Chen, was insignificant. A heavy, cold stone settled in my chest. The internal office phone on my desk let out a piercing ring. “Claire, Client A’s system crashed again. Handle it. Their CEO is furious.” It was Mark’s voice, laced with impatient authority. Client A was notoriously difficult. Their system was ancient, plagued with problems. A cursed project no one wanted to touch. Whenever trouble brewed, the mess landed squarely on my desk. “Okay,” I said, a single word, and hung up. I opened the CRM, pulled up all of Client A’s files, and started analyzing the problem. In the bottom right corner of my screen, an inconspicuous icon began to flash. It was Sarah from administration. “Claire, don’t let them get to you. They’ve all lost their minds.” In this cold, sterile office, Sarah was the only one who called me by my first name. Seeing her warm message, my frozen heart stirred with a faint pulse. I typed back. “It’s okay, Sarah. I’m used to it.” Was I really? Or was I just numb? Numb to the pain, numb to the anger. I closed the chat window and navigated to a deeply encrypted folder on my D drive. Inside, there was only one file. I opened it. A dense spreadsheet filled the screen. Client Name, Project Details, Order Value, Key Contacts, Private Phone Numbers, Family Birthdays, Children’s Hobbies… For three years, every single deal I had personally closed, every client I had personally nurtured—it was all here. This was the data behind Mr. Wang’s “glorious achievements” in his reports, the ammunition he used to curry favor with the higher-ups. This was my final hand. After I was done, the group chat lit up again. Mr. Wang had posted: “To celebrate our department’s record-breaking performance, all expenses tonight are on me! We’re not going home sober!” Another wave of fawning praise followed. I opened the text box and typed a few words. “Mr. Wang, I’m not feeling well. I’d like to request leave from the dinner tonight.” I hit send. No reply. As expected. I shut down my computer and started to pack my things. There wasn’t much to pack. A few technical books, a three-year-old mug, and a dying potted plant. I placed the books in a cardboard box and picked up the mug. The company logo, a gift from my first day, was faded and barely legible. For three years, I had been like that logo, my presence here growing fainter and fainter, until I had almost disappeared completely. I opened a drawer and took out a pre-prepared handover document, placing it on the desk. It detailed the procedural steps for all the work I was responsible for. As for why those clients would call my personal phone with a problem at two in the morning… As for why the most demanding client would only accept proposals written by me… As for the “special relationships” that were maintained through personal care and favors… Sorry. Not a word of that was in the handover document. I threw the dying plant into the trash, along with three years of frustration and resentment. 02 In the final week before my contract expired, Mr. Wang’s exploitation reached a fever pitch. He summoned me to his office, a corner suite with a panoramic view of the city’s financial district. Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, so bright it hurt my eyes. He leaned back in his expensive leather chair, his fingers drumming a light rhythm on the polished mahogany desk. “Claire, this project is yours.” He pushed a thick file across the desk. The cover read: “Apex Group Strategic Partnership Proposal.” Apex Group. The company’s largest, most important, and most difficult client. I opened the file. After two pages, my heart sank. It was a new, incredibly complex, custom request involving multiple technical hurdles. And the client wanted to see a complete first draft in three days. Three days. It was an impossible task. This wasn’t just exploitation; it was sabotage. “Mr. Wang, three days is too tight. The technical feasibility study alone will…” “Claire.” Mr. Wang cut me off, that signature, knowing smile plastered on his face again. “I know it’s difficult. That’s why it’s a test.” He stood up, walked around the desk, and placed a heavy hand on my shoulder once more. “You’re young. Don’t be so quick to say no. The company has invested so much in you. It’s time we see what you’re really made of.” He leaned in closer, his voice low, laced with the smell of stale liquor and hypocrisy. “Your contract is up soon. Whether or not we renew it depends on your performance this time.” A naked threat, sugar-coated with the word “test.” My stomach churned. I didn’t argue. I just picked up the file, which felt as heavy as a block of lead. “I’ll do my best.” As I left his office, Mark immediately appeared at my side, his face a mask of undisguised glee. “Congrats, Claire. Mr. Wang is giving you a real opportunity. Work hard, and you might just get to stay.” His voice was low, but loud enough for the whole office to hear. Everyone was watching me, as if I were a character in a play. Pity, mockery, indifference. Their gazes wove a giant net, trapping me in the center. I returned to my desk and dropped the file with a dull thud. In that moment, I knew with absolute certainty that Mr. Wang had no intention of renewing my contract. He just wanted to squeeze every last drop of value out of me before tossing me aside like trash. If I succeeded with this project, the credit would be his—a testament to his “strong leadership and capable team.” If I failed, the blame would be mine—proof of my “incompetence and inability to perform.” I was the final stepping stone in his climb to the top. I opened my laptop and stared at the impossible task before me. I felt no anger, no despair. Just a terrifying, preternatural calm. For the next three days, I became a ghost in the office. During the day, I sat at my desk, organizing files and dealing with the miscellaneous tasks Mark and the others threw my way. At night, when the office was empty, filled only with the hum of the air conditioning, my real work began. Sarah couldn’t stand to watch. At eleven o’clock one night, she placed a hot cup of coffee on my desk. “Claire, stop. It’s not worth it.” She looked at my bloodshot eyes, her face full of concern. “You’re going to ruin your health for this company, and who’s going to care?” I took the coffee. The warmth from the mug spread through my fingertips but didn’t reach my heart. I managed a tired smile. “It’s okay, Sarah. Just seeing things through to the end.” She sighed and didn’t press further, just quietly cleared away the empty takeout containers on my desk. After she left, I didn’t open the complex project file. I picked up my phone and dialed a number. The contact name was “Mr. Miller – Apex.” The call was answered quickly. A steady, slightly weary voice came through the line. “Hello?” “Mr. Miller, good evening. This is Claire Chen.” “Oh, Claire,” his tone immediately warmed. “It’s late. Is everything alright?” “Mr. Miller, I wanted to confirm a few technical details about the new strategic partnership proposal directly with you, to make sure we’re on the right track.” I didn’t bother with any so-called corporate procedures, because I knew that for Mr. Miller of Apex Group, I, Claire Chen, was the most efficient procedure. For the past three years, every time their internal system had an emergency failure, no matter the time of night, I was the one who responded immediately, solving the problem remotely. Every time they had a wild, blue-sky idea, I was the one who stayed up all night creating a prototype that matched their vision. His trust was never in my company; it was in me. “Of course. Go ahead.” Over the next hour, I worked directly with the project’s final decision-maker to hammer out all the core details and technical pathways. He’d raise a technical challenge, and I’d immediately offer three viable solutions. I’d mention a resource constraint, and he’d immediately approve the allocation of internal group resources to support it. Everything that Mr. Wang saw as a “barrier” or a “challenge” was, for me, simply a problem to be solved. Three days later, as the first rays of dawn streamed into the empty office, I printed out a one-hundred-and-twenty-page, flawless proposal. I placed it neatly on Mr. Wang’s desk. Then, I went back to my own computer and selected all the folders I had created for the “Apex Project” over the past few days. They contained all my notes, technical prototypes, communication records with Mr. Miller, and the final source files for the proposal. I hit “Delete.” And then, I emptied the recycling bin. All traces were gone. At ten in the morning, a beaming Mr. Wang strode into the office. He saw the proposal on his desk, flipped through a few pages, his satisfaction practically radiating from him. He walked to the center of the office and cleared his throat. “Everyone, I have some great news! The Apex project… our team has, against all odds, secured it!” “This proposal is outstanding. It perfectly showcases our department’s incredible strength and professionalism!” A round of thunderous applause erupted. He basked in the praise and adulation, never once looking in my direction, never once mentioning my name. It was as if the proposal had sprouted from his desk on its own. He clutched the document, the result of my three sleepless nights, like a trophy and marched proudly toward the senior executive’s office. I watched his retreating back, my eyes cold and empty. I knew that the final tie between me and this company had just been severed. By my own hand. 03 The day my contract expired, the weather was beautiful. The sky was a washed-out blue, clear and cloudless. At ten in the morning, an email from HR appeared in my inbox. “Dear Ms. Chen, due to business adjustments, your employment contract will not be renewed upon its expiration today. Please complete all departure procedures by 5:00 PM. Thank you for your three years of service.” Cold, corporate jargon, without a single extraneous punctuation mark. I read the email once, then again, and then deleted it. The office was a hive of activity, or at least, feigned activity. No one looked at me. No one spoke to me. I was an invisible woman, about to evaporate from this space. Only Sarah came over and gently patted my shoulder, saying nothing. But the warmth of her hand let me know I hadn’t been completely forgotten. Mr. Wang didn’t even show his face today. He probably didn’t see the need. Or the worth. A tool, used and discarded. Why bother with a final glance? At three in the afternoon, my phone vibrated. A text from Mr. Wang. “Wishing you a bright future.” Four words, as if they’d been fished out of an icebox. I stared at the message for a few seconds, didn’t reply, and just long-pressed to delete it. The departure process was unnervingly smooth. Hand in my badge, sign the papers, receive my proof of employment. Everyone I interacted with offered a professional, soulless smile. As if I were just a visitor, not an employee who had poured three years of her life into this place. I walked out of the office carrying a small cardboard box. Inside was just a book, a mug, and my personal notebook. I had arrived with nothing, and I was leaving with not much more. As I passed through the large glass doors, I paused instinctively and looked back. A grand champagne party was in full swing. Mr. Wang stood at the center of the crowd, radiating success. He raised his champagne flute high, his voice booming with unshakeable pride. “Everyone! I have some incredible news!” “Because our team did such an outstanding job securing the Apex Group project, creating immense value for the company, I have just been appointed by the board as the Vice President for the Southern Region!” A roar of applause and cheers erupted in the office. Streamers and confetti rained down, a surreal, theatrical display. Everyone crowded around Mr. Wang, toasting him, showering him with flattery. He stood in the spotlight, basking in his moment of glory. A pedestal I had built for him, piece by piece. My gaze cut through the noisy crowd and landed on his face, flushed red with excitement. I smiled. A genuine smile. There was no bitterness, no resentment. Just the cold, detached amusement of watching a clown perform. I turned and walked away, not looking back. The warm sunlight fell on me, chasing away the chill that had settled in my bones for three years. I hailed a taxi at the curb. As I settled into the back seat, I took out my phone, opened my contacts, and found the number for “Mr. Miller – Apex.” I composed a text message. “Mr. Miller, I have resigned from my previous company as of today. Thank you for all your support. I wish you all the best.” I hit send. Almost instantly, my phone buzzed. A reply from Mr. Miller. “Claire, where are you headed next? I’ll only work with you from now on. Give me a call when you have a moment.” I read the message, the smile on my face deepening. Next, I opened my messaging app and selected a group I had named “Core Clients.” There were ninety-nine contacts in it. Every single one of them was what Mr. Wang referred to as his “most important resources.” I typed the same message and sent it as a mass text. Outside the car window, the city’s skyscrapers flew by. I knew that a storm was about to break in the glittering glass tower I had just left behind. 04 Mr. Wang’s celebration was at its peak. Champagne bubbles danced in crystal flutes, reflecting his glistening, self-satisfied face. “To our glorious future! Cheers!” He raised his glass, ready for another round of adulation. Just then, a shrill, insistent ringing cut through the joyful noise like a knife. It was his personal phone. Mr. Wang frowned, annoyed by the interruption, and glanced at the caller ID. “Apex Group – Mr. Miller.” The annoyance on his face was instantly replaced by a fawning smile. “Excuse me, everyone. A call from our most important client, no doubt to congratulate us.” He preened under the envious gazes of his colleagues and sauntered to a corner to take the call. “Hello, Mr. Miller! You’ve got great timing, I was just…” His enthusiastic greeting was cut short by an icy voice on the other end. “Mr. Wang, I am officially informing you that Apex Group is terminating all existing and future business with your company, effective immediately.” The smile on Mr. Wang’s face froze, like a cheap wax figure melting under a hot lamp. “Mr… Mr. Miller? What do you mean? We just signed the strategic partnership…” “You lost your most important asset.” The voice on the other end was devoid of emotion, like a judge reading a verdict. “That’s all.” Beep… beep… beep… The line went dead. Mr. Wang stood frozen, phone in hand, his mind a complete blank. Most important asset? What did that even mean? Before he could process the shock, the phones in the office began to ring, one after another, as if a switch had been flipped. His work phone, his assistant’s phone, the main company line at the front desk… Suddenly, the office was filled with a frantic, heart-stopping cacophony of ringing. “Hello, this is…” “Hello, this is Eastward Tech. I’m calling to inform you that we are cancelling all our current orders.” “What? Why?” “No reason.” Mark hung up one call, his face pale, only for another to immediately come in. “Hi, this is the procurement manager from Blue Ocean Logistics. We will not be renewing our contract for the next quarter.” “Mr. Lee! Mr. Lee! Please, let me explain!” “There’s nothing to explain. We only deal with Claire.” “Claire?” One by one, familiar names echoed from the other end of the line. Apex Group. Eastward Tech. Blue Ocean Logistics. … These were the crown jewels of Mr. Wang’s presentations, the “loyal clients” he had bragged about countless times. And now, as if by a coordinated signal, they were delivering the fatal blow in the coldest way possible. Terminating partnerships. Cancelling orders. The smell of champagne still hung in the air, but the laughter and celebration had been replaced by a dead silence. Only the incessant ringing of the phones, like a death knell, echoed in the hearts of everyone present. The women’s faces were stricken with panic, the men were at a complete loss. The subordinates who had been fawning over Mr. Wang just moments before now avoided him like the plague. Mr. Wang collapsed into his leather office chair, his eyes vacant. His assistant, trembling, handed him an emergency report. His gaze fell on the list of client names, crossed out in red ink, searing his eyes. These were the “connections” and “achievements” he had been so proud of. He had always believed these clients were loyal to him, to the company’s platform. Now, he was discovering just how wrong he had been. “Claire…” He mumbled her name, a dazed, uncomprehending sound. He suddenly remembered something and, like a drowning man grasping at a straw, began frantically searching his phone for Claire’s contact information. Just then, with a loud bang, the door to the senior executive’s office was kicked open. The company founder, a normally composed man in his sixties, was red-faced, his eyes blazing with a rage that was almost palpable. He stormed up to Mr. Wang and slammed another report onto his face. The papers scattered to the floor like a flurry of hopeless snow. “Wang!” The founder’s voice trembled with fury. “Is this your idea of a huge success?!” “Is this the regional vice presidency you brought me?!” “Half of the company’s orders… gone! In one afternoon!”

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This summer, my mom forced a blind date on me. I refused, flat out. But my entire family ganged up on me, a relentless barrage of texts and calls insisting he was an honest, decent guy—the kind you couldn’t find even if you searched with a lantern. With their blessing and encouragement, this man forced his way into my life. He sold my limited-edition perfumes, my custom-made historical gowns, my jewelry, all for pennies on the dollar on eBay. For the sake of family harmony, I endured it. Until he got rid of my cat. The cat I’d had for seven years. My lifeline. In that moment, the dormant madness in my blood awakened. If you won’t let me live, then none of us will. 1 Only two children remained in the after-school classroom. My phone vibrated. The screen lit up with a text from Mark. Just seeing his name made my stomach churn. This summer, my mom had bullied me into a blind date. Mark, thirty, a grade school gym teacher, looked decent enough on the surface. I’d rejected him on the spot, telling him I had no interest in getting married. But it was like he didn’t understand English. He immediately turned his attention to charming my mother. Fixing leaky pipes, changing lightbulbs, gossiping with her for hours. My mom was completely won over. She gave him the spare key to my apartment. I tapped on the text message. The words leaped off the screen. [Sarah, that cat of yours seemed like bad luck, so I took care of it.] A roaring filled my ears. It was followed by a series of long voice messages. I played them, and the sound, harsh and loud, echoed in the empty classroom. “A cat that eats hundreds of dollars’ worth of food a month? That’s just wasteful.” “We’re going to build a life together. We need to save that money for our future kids.” “Also, your mom and I discussed it.” “Starting next month, you’ll hand over your paycheck to me.” “It’s not good for a woman to have too much money. They tend to spend it foolishly.” “If you need to buy something, just write me a list. I’ll approve it.” Approve it? Who the hell did he think he was? I dialed his number immediately. “Sorry, the user you are trying to reach is currently busy.” He was on another call. I immediately called my mother. It rang twice, then disconnected. I tried again. Straight to voicemail. My fingers went cold. Snowball wasn’t just a cat. She was my reason for living. In my junior year of college, I was diagnosed with severe depression. I came close to jumping from my dorm room window. It was Snowball who bit onto the cuff of my jeans, pulling me back with all her might. She had stayed with me through countless sleepless nights, licking away my tears. And now, Mark had “taken care of her”? I turned to the two children still hunched over their homework. “I have an emergency. How much longer until your parents get here?” One of the boys looked up. “My dad just texted. He’s downstairs.” The other girl said timidly, “My mom will be another ten minutes.” I couldn’t wait. I asked Mrs. Evans from the classroom next door, who was still packing up, to watch the girl. I grabbed my bag and bolted. The elevator was on the top floor and wasn’t moving. I spun around and burst into the stairwell, taking the steps two at a time while sending Mark a frantic voice message. “Mark! Where is Snowball?” “If you’ve laid a single finger on her, I will kill you!” I burst out of the building and hailed a taxi. “The Willows apartments, and step on it!” The car sped off. Mark replied. It was a picture. An empty cat carrier, tossed next to a dumpster on the side of the road. [It’s just an animal. Why are you getting so worked up?] [Sarah, you’re too emotional. How are you going to raise children like this?] I stared at the photo, my eyes burning. I recognized that dumpster. It was right outside my apartment building. Not only had he been in my home, he had thrown my family in the trash. My eyes stung, but I didn’t cry. In moments of pure rage, tears don’t come. Only the urge to kill. The taxi screeched to a halt. I threw a hundred-dollar bill at the driver without waiting for the change. I sprinted into the complex, straight for the dumpster. The carrier was there, but the cat was gone. I searched frantically, tearing through the surrounding area. The bushes… under the cars… the flowerbeds… “Snowball! Snowball!” My voice was raw. No response. Usually, the moment I called her name, she would come running, meowing and rubbing against my legs. Now, there was only a dead, heavy silence. The only sound was the rustle of leaves in the wind. I stood under a streetlight, my shadow a distorted, monstrous thing. My phone vibrated again. Mark: [Stop looking. I drove her to the river and set her free.] [If we’re going to make a clean break with the past, it has to be a clean break.] [And don’t blame me. Your mother approved it.] The river? Snowball had always been frail, and easily frightened. Leaving her by the river was a death sentence. My hand tightened around my phone, my vision turning red. If you won’t let me live in peace, then tonight, no one is going to sleep well. 2 The last six months had been a living nightmare. Mark was like a piece of gum stuck to my shoe, impossible to get rid of. With my mother’s backing, he had invaded my life without a shred of decency. The first time, he had picked the lock to my apartment. I came home from work to find him sitting on my sofa, cracking sunflower seeds, the shells scattered all over the floor. I called the police. The police came, and so did my mother. She pointed a finger at my nose and screamed, “You ungrateful child! He’s your boyfriend! What’s wrong with him coming to see you?” “And you called the police? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” The police, seeing it was a domestic dispute, mumbled some platitudes and left. The second time, I came home to find my perfume cabinet empty. It was a collection I had spent three years curating—limited editions, discontinued fragrances, and a few custom historical gowns. It was worth thousands of dollars. I confronted Mark. He was indignant. “What’s the point of all that junk?” “I sold it for you. The money’s safe with me.” “We’ll need it when we get married, for the down payment on a house, for renovations.” “Sarah, you need to learn to be practical, not waste your time on such frivolous things.” I was shaking with rage. I told him to give me the money. My mother chimed in from the side. “Mark’s right! You’ve always been a spendthrift.” “The money is safer with him. It can be your dowry.” I should have taken a knife to him then and there. But I held back. I thought, as long as I don’t agree to marry him, he’ll eventually give up. I was wrong. With a bully, tolerance is encouragement. My restraint had only emboldened him. And now, he had laid his hands on Snowball. The riverbank was a vast, dark expanse. It could take me a whole day to search it all. For Snowball’s sake, I went straight to my mother’s building. This apartment was once my home. Now, it was Mark’s sanctuary. Standing in front of the security door, I took a deep breath. I could hear the television, and laughter. It was Mark’s voice. “Mom, look at this comedian. He’s hilarious.” “And your cooking is amazing. So much better than any restaurant.” My mother’s delighted laughter. “If you like it, eat more. You can come for dinner every night.” What a warm, loving family. A picture of domestic bliss. The loving mother and her filial son-in-law. And I was the unwanted outsider. I took out my key and slid it into the lock. The people inside seemed to hear the noise. Mark’s voice stopped. “Is that Sarah?” My mother scoffed. “Good. She’s back. She needs to be taught a lesson.” “Treating a cat like it’s royalty. It’s ridiculous.” The door opened. Mark was sprawled on the sofa, his feet propped up on the coffee table. My mother sat beside him, peeling an apple for him. My father was in the armchair, reading a newspaper. When they saw me, Mark didn’t even move. He just looked at me out of the corner of his eye. “Well, well, look who’s here. Back from your little adventure?” “Did you find your precious furball?” My face was a thundercloud as I strode into the center of the living room. My mother frowned, about to launch into a tirade. “Where is Snowball?” I stared at Mark, my gaze unwavering. He took a bite of the apple with a loud crunch, chewing with relish. “Didn’t I tell you? The river.” “I don’t remember the exact spot. I just threw her out.” “It’s just an animal. Is it really worth all this drama?” My mother slammed the fruit knife on the table. “Sarah! Look at yourself! What have you become?” “You walk in here with that long face, who do you think you are?” “Mark did this for your own good!” “That cat is full of germs! What about when you get pregnant?” “It’s gone. We can just buy you a toy cat.” For my own good? I looked at the woman who had given birth to me, who had raised me. She was a stranger. A complete and utter stranger. She had never once asked me what I wanted. Only if Mark was satisfied. In her version of my life, I was just a prop, a means to an end to fulfill her grand plan of “daughter gets married and has babies.” “I’ll ask you one more time.” “Where. Is. Snowball?” I pulled a box cutter from my bag. The blade glinted in the light. The air in the room instantly froze. The newspaper slipped from my father’s hands. “Sarah, what are you doing? Put that down!” Mark stared for a second, then let out a derisive snort. “Who are you trying to scare?” “Sarah, you don’t have the guts to kill someone.” He stood up, his six-foot frame towering over me. “Go on. Do it. Right here,” he said, pointing to his chest. “If you don’t, you’re a coward.” My mother rushed over, her hand raised to strike me. “You rebellious brat! How dare you threaten your husband with a knife?” “Put it down!” Her hand connected with my cheek. A sharp, stinging pain. The force of the blow snapped my head to the side. I tasted blood. Slowly, I turned my head back, and a slow, cold smile spread across my face. 3 “I’m not kidding.” The tip of my blade was pointed steadily at Mark. The amusement on his face deepened. “Sarah, you’re really committed to this act, aren’t you?” “Fine. You want to know? I’ll tell you.” He sauntered over, his face close to mine. He lowered his voice, speaking in a whisper only I could hear. “I tied a big rock to that little beast.” “Dropped it right under the Bridgeview Road overpass.” “It made a nice little ‘plop’ sound. Sank real fast.” “Probably all bloated by now.” My Snowball. She was terrified of water. Even a bath made her howl. How desperate must she have been, in that dark, cold river? Was she waiting for me to save her? But she couldn’t wait any longer… I plunged the box cutter forward.

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